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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-01-22, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2009.EditorialsOpinions Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie GroppAdvertising, Ken Warwick & Lori Patterson The CitizenP.O. Box 429,BLYTH, Ont.N0M 1H0Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152,BRUSSELS, Ont.N0G 1H0Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.comWebsite www.northhuron.on.ca Looking Back Through the Years Member of the Ontario Press Council The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels,Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc.Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $34.00/year ($32.38 + $1.62 G.S.T.) in Canada;$105.00/year in U.S.A.and $175/year in other foreign countries.Advertising is accepted on thecondition that in the event of a typographical error,only that portion of the advertisement will becredited.Advertising Deadlines: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth.PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141PAP REGISTRATION NO. 09244RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON N0G 1H0 email: norhuron@scsinternet.com Letters to the editor Jan. 21, 1965 A Brussels rink won first prize at the Howick Lions Club’s bonspiel. They defeated a Harriston rink for the trophy. The rink was: George Mutter, William Stratychuk, Max Oldfield and Jack McDonald. Two new members of Brussels council took the oath of office at the inaugural meeting. They were I.G. Campbell and J.L. McCutcheon. The Gentleman’s Club raised $50 to be given to anyone in the village who suggested the name of a physician who might set up practice in the village. In the club’s column published regularly in The Post, they said it didn’t matter if the doctor was Irish, Scottish, Hindu or African. “We will even take a Welshman.” Elected to the United Church session in Ethel were Carl McDonald and Earl Mills. Andrew Bremner, Bob Bremner, Ralph Rowland and Gordon Clark were named stewards. Playing at the Lyceum Theatre in Wingham was PT 109, the “true story of the war-time experiences of the late president John F. Kennedy. It starred Cliff Robertson and Ty Hardin. The weekend feature, also starring Robertson, with Jane Fonda and Rod Taylor was Sunday in New York. Local bowlers won prizes. The high for single scores went to Marilyn Higgins and Dave Hastings. Jan. 16, 1974 Discussion of a possible Huron County central fire brigade dispatching office dominated the county council meeting. Most councillors were in agreement that a feasibility study should be done through the Fire Marshal’s office. If eight area residents had their way there would have been a new cash crop on Huron farms. The residents of a farm, located north- east of Blyth appeared in Goderich court charged with “growing marijuana without a licence.” The group, however, was not taking the charges lying down. They circulated a petition and collected 8,500 signatures calling for the legalization of marijuana and hashish. Most of the signatures came from London, Kitchener and Guelph, and were primarily from universities. Jan. 15, 1986 In a day when marriages melt faster than snow, few couples matched the success of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Turnbull of Brussels. The war-weary world was still longing for the end of the First World War when the couple was married on Jan. 9, 1918 at the home of the bride’s father, John McGavin in McKillop Twp. They farmed in Grey Twp. for more than 50 years before moving to Brussels, where Mr. Turnbull said when interviewed by The Citizen on the occasion of their 68th anniversary, they “didn’t intend to stay so long.” East Wawanosh set wage increases. The grader operator would now be paid $10.44 an hour. The road superintendent’s pay was increased from $10.40 an hour to $10.95. Kathleen McLennan took over the Sunoco station and restaurant and renamed the business Kate’s Kitchen. A former Bluevale resident, McLennan had been managing a convenience store in Stratford, prior to coming to Blyth. Kraft grated parmesan cheese was selling for $3.49 per 250 gms at Scrimgeour’s Food Market. Prime rib was $2.99 a pound, while cheese was on sale for $3.99 a pound. Benmiller Ski Club was offering memberships at $25 per person. A delegation from the Huron Plowmen’s Association appeared before county council to seek support in having the 1992 International Plowing Match in Huron. Huron County department heads were granted a salary increase, but not until after more than four hours of discussion by council and a recorded vote. The new salary included a four per cent cost of living increase in each of the three years of the schedule. For 1986 the medical officer of health would get $$61,672; Huronview administrator, $41,002; social services administrator, $35,334; clerk-treasurer and administrator, $55,172; engineer, $51,272; deputy clerk-treasurer, $47,450; planning director, $48,542; county librarian, $36,894 and the museum director, $35,412. Jan. 17, 1996 Brussels area residents were concerned that the health unit office in the village would close. Residents felt that the health unit’s presence would be greatly missed by the community. Farm equipment dealers and manufacturers in Huron were aiding people in Pennsylvania after a record snowfall hit the state. More than 40 new and used snowblowers were shipped to help farmers dig out. Brussels Mennonite Fellowship congregation had a lot to celebrate, when after 16 years of existence they symbolically burned the mortgage to the hall. While church council chairperson and interim leadership Paul Greenwood held the document, elder Elwin Garland struck the match for the ceremony. DEAR EDITOR, The Bicycles for Humanity Huron County chapter is pleased to say that on Wednesday, Jan. 14, the shipping container was loaded at Spring Breezes Greenhouses in two and a half hours thanks to many helping hands. We loaded it with 383 bicycles of various sizes, 38 bicycle tires, and 43 bicycle tubes, pails of bicycle parts, two tool kits, various bicycle seats, helmets, and carriers plus nine boxes of books. The container is now on its way to the port of Walvis Bay, Namibia, Africa. These bikes will indeed bring joy to the lives of those who receive them. The committee wishes to acknowledge that it was a great community effort, and by all working together this project was completed in just over three months. With hundreds of people donating bicycles and the financial support of our local churches, groups, individuals and families the goal of collecting 400 used bicycles and raising $12,000 was exceeded. With the help of people at collection points, help in preparing the bicycles and loading the bicycles, and help in fundraising we saw that it’s fun to work together, and that many hands make light work. The project ended with a musical celebration evening at the Blyth United Church featuring the Men of Note and Durnin Brothers, slides of the bicycle collection, coffee, tea, cake and goodies. Way to Go Huron County –you did it! Jack & Sylvia Nonkes, Rev. Gary Clark, Shirley Gross, Emmy and Mike Zandwyk and Connie Goodall The Bicycles for Humanity Committee THE EDITOR, Congratulations! On the morning of Jan. 14, I had the opportunity to watch a first-class snow removal crew in action. Not only were the streets plowed, but sidewalks were completely cleared. The crew working in unison, like a well-oiled machine. Not a detail was missed including the steps of public buildings. I have lived in various towns and cities and the performance I witnessed this morning was outstanding. An outsider looking in Regards, Jim Gilmore, Waterloo We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright Adapting to our environment In a society where people are always worried about their rights and unequal treatment, we residents of the snowbelt have a case to make for being treated unfairly. Our winter weather shapes everything in our lives living in “the lee of Lake Huron” as the weather forecasters call it when they’re predicting, once again, flurries or snowsqualls that we’ll get when the rest of the province goes untouched. But nature doesn’t listen to a judgement of the Ontario Human Rights Commission so, unfair or not, we must adapt to the conditions under which we live. Some people, particularly when they’re driving, don’t seem to think so. If the speed limit sign says 80 kmh or 90 kmh they seem to think that means they have a “right” to go that speed, even if the roads are covered with snow that may hide icy spots underneath. (Not only that, since everyone knows the “real” speed limit is higher than the posted limit, these drivers generally drive faster.) But just as there’s nowhere to go for us to appeal the unfairness of our snowbelt weather, there’s no appeal to the laws of physics that make it impossible to stop a two-tonne vehicle quickly or change direction on a slippery surface. The weather and physics aren’t going to change. We are the only ones who can. In a global world, we feel we must live by the rules the rest of society has adopted: to get places in a hurry, to accomplish more such as by talking on a cellphone while we’re driving. In the long run, however, these things matter little if we don’t get where we’re going safely. Adapt to your environment. Slow down and drive safely. The lives of yourself, your family and other drivers who share the road with you are more important than a schedule. — KR Dealing from strength Peace, however temporary, has finally descended on the residents of Gaza after 22 days of conflict costing hundreds of lives. How long the peace will last is questionable because both the Hamas government of Gaza and the Israeli government insist on dealing from strength. Israel blockaded Gaza to try to make people turn against their government. Hamas insisted on retaliating by sending rockets into Israel. Israel retaliated by invading Gaza to stop the rockets. Nobody won: hundreds of thousands of Palestinians lost. Hamas refuses to accept Israel’s right to exist. Israel is determined to root out what it considers a terrorist government, but by invading, only creates more hatred and frustration leading to more recruits for terrorism. The problem with dealing from strength is that nobody wants to make the compromise it takes to bring peace. It may feel good to strike back, but it just prolongs the hatred, death and destruction. — KR &