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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-02-26, Page 3THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2009. PAGE 3. March 10 the 18-member York University Chamber Choir will take the stage at the Tribute Communities Recital Hall at York University in Toronto under the baton of Blyth native Jackie Falconer. The elite ensemble has been led through the semester by the graduate student conductor and culminates in a masters recital. The music to be performed ranges from the 1601 Thomas Weelkes madrigal ode to Queen Elizabeth I As Vesta was from Latmos Hill Descending to a setting of O Magnum Mysterium by Californian composer Morten Lauridsen from 1994. The singers will also perform the works of William Byrd, Michael Haydn and Fanny Hensel which will see them singing in English, German and Latin. “It has been a difficult journey from the page to the performance but I am excited and honoured to give this excellent music life,” says Falconer of the weekly rehearsals with the ensemble of her peers. “I have learned so much from both Dr Canton and the students. My greatest challenge has been communicating the emotional expression and the intention of the composers to the ensemble. It’s something that’s often overlooked when we think about what a conductor does.” The choir and conductor are counting down the rehearsals until they hit the stage with fellow Choral Conducting Masters Student Cheryl Bowen of North York, Ontario to show off the work they’ve done and the lessons they’ve learned. The performance is part of Falconer’s study that will culminate in a masters thesis this spring. Falconer, daughter of Kevin and Lorie Falconer was raised in Blyth, finding her choral beginnings with the Blyth United Church’s ChoralKids under the direction of Susan Howson and at BPS with Mrs Cronin. She studied voice with Mary Vair of Belgrave and was active in the music program at F.E. Madill S.S. mentored by Vicky Gerth. In 2007 Falconer graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts majoring in Jazz Vocal Performance and was accepted to Masters studies in Choral Conducting with Dr. Lisette Canton. In 2008 Falconer received the W. Lawrence Heisey Graduate Award for creative achievement in the fine arts. She is assistant conductor to the York University Women’s Chorus and Chamber Choir and also leads the York University Singers. As a performer Falconer is currently in preparations to sing with the Mid-America Productions performance of Mozart’s Requiem at Carnegie Hall in New York City in June, 2009. The Emergency Service Training Facility in Blyth has been chosen as the final resting place for the Seaforth Fire Department’s 1980 Ford pumper. A recommendation from Huron East fire chief Marty Bedard was approved by council at its Feb. 17 meeting. The recommendation will see the 1980 pumper from Seaforth be removed from its duties there and donated to Blyth for training purposes. It had been discussed that the pumper might be submitted as scrap metal, but the municipality wouldn’t receive enough in exchange. The initial recommendation was approved by Seaforth station officers and fire board members before it came to council. Clerk-administrator Jack McLachlan, who spoke to the motion in Bedard’s absence, said that there had been an agreement worked out where Huron East’s fire departments would be able to use the facility, under undisclosed terms, in exchange for the donation. Oops!! You get another year older and apparently more forgetful. I missed the deadline last week because I forgot Monday, Family Day was a holiday. We are glad to hear that Sharon Bromley is recovering at home after surgery on Feb. 18. Results of the Feb. 9 euchre are: high lady, Helen Lee, 82; high man, June Patterson, 74; lone hands, Vera Hesselwood, four, and a three-way tie, Doug Cartwright, Lawrence Plaetzer and Edith Glousher with three each; low lady, Dini Nethery, 34 and low man, Wilmer Glousher, 38. The prize went to Marie Bromley and June Patterson. Share the wealth went to Bill Nethery,Vera Hesselwood, Darrell Wood and Willis Bromley. There were 8 1/2 tables in play. The next euchre will be Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Legion Hall. Happy belated 2 birthday to Christine Hoba, daughter of Mark and Andrea Hoba of Clinton who celebrated on Feb. 19. Happy belated birthday to the following people Sharon Jackson, Joan Caldwell, Shirley Giilck all of Blyth and Robbie Lawrie of Bayfield who celebrated on Feb. 22. Happy birthday to Heidi Craig of Atwood who celebrates Feb. 24. Happy birthday to Sharon Bromley who celebrate Feb. 25. Happy birthday to Elsie Walsh, Joann MacDonald and Dana Weber who all celebrate on Feb. 28. Blyth native waves baton in Toronto Township of North Huron Tree Planting Program The Township of North Huron will supply free bare root and bagged trees for planting on residential properties. The Township will have 115 trees available on a first- come, first-served basis, limited to one (1) tree per property. Residents are responsible for picking up trees from the Wingham Public Works Shed, planting and maintenance of these trees. Trees available include Sugar Maple, Native Red Maple, Red Oak, which are bare root trees and Colorado Blue Spruce which are bagged. Specify type of tree when placing order. Place your order early as supplies are limited. The Township of North Huron is promoting a tree planting program for RESIDENTS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HURON To order your free tree or for further information, please call the Municipal Office at 519-357-3550 Ext. 21 by March 3, 2009 Blyth Skating Club Achievement Night Friday, February 27 6:30 pm Blyth Arena 406 Queen Street,Blyth,Ontario Join us Monday or Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. for our FREE weekly Financial Planning session. Our upcoming topic: DO YOU HOLD A “TITANIC” PORTFOLIO? Reserve your seat today! 519-523-9000 or cfp@machan.ca Brian Machan,CFP William Chan,CFP “Best Solutions in Financial Planning” By Marilyn Craig Call 523-9318 From Marilyn’s Desk NEWS FROM BLYTH For the troops The Blyth Legion held a “Support Our Troops” lunch last Thursday where carnations, stickers and coffee mugs were sold to directly benefit Canadian troops in Afghanistan. Attending the lunch and purchasing some of what the Legion had to offer were Jean Nethery, left, and Anne Clark. (Shawn Loughlin photo) At its Feb. 17 meeting. North Huron council approved the purchase of an MDM tabletop folding machine model 307A from MicroAge Basics at the quoted preice of $3,899 plus taxes. *** The staff have cut $389,000 from the draft budget which would leave an increase of 11.31 per cent, $473,000 over the previous year. There is still $389,000 to be cut to get to a two per cent tax increase. *** Director of public works Ralph Campbell will proceed with the preliminary engineering design for the reconstruction of Josephine Street at an estimated cost of $71,000. *** Director of facilities/recreation Pat Newson was authorized to purchase two new hockey nets for the North Huron Wescast Community Complex at a budgetted cost of $1,600. By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Seaforthdonatespumper to ESTF NH trims draft budget