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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-03-26, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2009. THE EDITOR, I am truly alarmed with the state of the local fire department. At a recent meeting in Bluevale it was obvious that the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry wants to stay with the area fire board as it exists now or form a new fire board with North Huron, if Howick decides to leave. However, it was made clear at the meeting that the Twp. of North Huron does not want to talk to Morris-Turnberry on this subject. It appears that they don’t even want to talk to their own ratepayers as I am not aware of any public meetings that have been called to explain the situation. I find it very interesting that Article 14 of the Fire Board Agreement that came into affect in 1984, has clauses allowing a municipality to terminate its participation in the agreement. However it must give notice not less than one budget year in advance which North Huron had done. But later on in the article it states that there must be a minimum of two appraisals. This has not been done to date. At the Bluevale meeting it was indicated that Howick and North Huron were alright with that. Regardless of what they say, that is not what the agreement says. Ratepayers of North Huron are on the hook for the cost of the appraisals no matter what. If the council of North Huron gets their wish, to take over the fire department, they will have to buy out the partners. When all is said and done the cost could go close to $1 million. Who will be paying the bill, the ratepayers? What are the advantages. I can see no advantage. Will we be getting better fire protection? No! When it comes to buying new equipment who pays 100 per cent of the cost? Well, the ratepayers of North Huron of course. As it is now we pay about 45 per cent with the other municipalities picking up the balance. This system has worked well in the past and it should work well in the future. North Huron taxes are high. If you want them to go even higher do absolutely nothing. If you want to try to control or limit the increase phone the reeve and members of council. Let them know you are unhappy with the state of affairs. I think that our elected officials owe us, the ratepayers, an explanation. Yours truly, Tom R. Willis, Wingham. Letter Writer fired up over North Huron’s decision The Ontario Genealogical Society – Huron County Branch has announced its 2009 season which includes a varied menu of interesting presentations. “This is the year to get serious about family research, finding your roots, looking up the family tree, finding the ancestors – whatever you want to call this growing activity,” said Huron Branch chair Brock Vodden. “Whether you are an internet user or not, there are more resources available to you than ever before to help you in your search. Also, because more and more people have been bitten by the bug, you may have others in your family willing and eager to share the task with you. The secret that all newcomers to genealogy need to uncover is where to find the most reliable and accurate information.” Vodden said, the first step is relatively easy: jotting down all of the members of the immediate family, most of whom are known and remembered. Then move into unknown territory. “Many beginners experience a situation where they cannot get past a certain generation of ancestors. This point is known as a “brick wall”. They may need some help figuring our what to do next. Some brick walls last for years; others need only a friendly hint, another place to look, another avenue of research, and the wall comes tumbling down – until you reach the next one! We admit that the research task sometimes becomes very intense and even frustrating. But the satisfaction of discovering another family link, a previously unknown story about the family, the solving of a family mystery – these make up for all the head scratching and the baffling days. The satisfaction has to be experienced to be understood.” Vodden said there is a great resource available right here in Huron County: the Huron County Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society. This group holds monthly meetings that feature topics that are both interesting and useful, but the group offers much more to both the “newbie” family researcher and those with lots of experience. Everyone is welcome to attend their meetings. People can join the society if they wish to get their publications: the quarterly newsletter, Rooting Around Huron from the local branch, and several publications and other services from the Ontario Genealogical Society. The Huron County Branch has members from all across Canada and many other countries. The Branch has an excellent library, replete with all kinds of useful information resources many of which are not available anywhere else. They not only cover Huron County, but many items relate to surrounding counties as well as other parts of the world. Most important of all, there is a group of dedicated volunteers who are ready to help you find what you need and give suggestions to you on your research. The library is located in the log cabin in front of the Huron County Museum, 110 North St., Goderich and is open from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, April to Nov. 4. The library contains a great many external publications, but the most useful resources for the Huron County researcher is material prepared by the branch’s own members, based on their own research and knowledge of Huron County history and families. This is material created explicitly for Huron county research. The schedule of programs for the year is presented in an advertisement in this paper. The meetings occur on the first Wednesday of each month, April to November, except for July when the meeting shifts to July 8, because of Canada Day. The meetings take place in the Theatre of the Huron County Museum at 7:30 p.m. There is time in the evening to chat with people informally and get to know others who are sharing an interest in family research. For further information about the Ontario Genealogical Society or the meetings, contact Vodden by calling hiim at 519-523-9393 or by e-mail at hbvodden@ezlink.on. ca THE EDITOR,For the Brussels Homecoming, theBrussels Girl Guides started a largeproject of having a flowerbed in front of the dam. The girls started this project from a pile of topsoil that was placed there for them. It was really something to see the girls work so hard at this, little five and six-year-olds helping the older girls with their little shovels and pails, flattening topsoil and moving it from here to there. The girls worked hard at fundraising and selling cookies to purchase the flowers and other articles for their bed. We purchasedstepping stones and the girls thatwere members that year put theirhandprints on them, then we painted each of their names under their handprint. We had a gift given to us from one of the girl’s moms and it was a large stone painted into a turtle. There were lanterns on our cedar fence and solar dragonflies around the solar fountain. The girls were very proud of their flowerbed and can’t wait until spring comes to back and start working in it. A lot of the girls get to look and see their names still on the steppingstones.As a leader I get the onerous taskof going to our next meeting and telling the girls that we will be getting our flowerbed ready but they won’t see their names on the stones or anything else that they worked so hard to get. Some people didn't seem to have enough to do on their March break except to take all of the articles from the flowerbed. The dragonflies flew to main street, lanterns were destroyed and we don’t know where the rest has ended up. I am sad, frustrated and disgusted,not for us, the leaders, but for thegirls who have worked so hard tohave something that they are a part of, an accomplishment that everyone sees. It is bad enough when people’s property is vandalized in town but how dare you do this to these girls. The cost for the girls is $250 - $300. If you happen to be reading this article and you are a part of the villainous group that destroyed these flowerbeds maybe you can come and help the girls out by selling their 40 cases of cookies to get some money to replace the articles. Maybeif you have nothing better to do inyour spare time you should come outto a few of the girls’ meetings and they will teach you what respect, honour and trustworthiness is all about. As for the community, if you happen to see stepping stones with handprints, solar dragonflies, lanterns, solar rock and our turtle, please let us know. If anyone happens to hear who the culprits are we would like to know that too. Janet Mitchell, 1st Brussels Girl Guides. OGS-Huron announces programs ANNOUNCING THE TWENTY-NINTH SEASON Huron County Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society Begins April 1, 2009 This is our schedule of programs for 2009. Everyone is welcome to attend. Note: Program content is subject to change without notice Place: The Theatre of the Huron County Museum, 110 North Street, Goderich Time: 7:30 p.m. First Wednesday of every month from April to November, except for July when we meet on July 8. Our genealogical research library is located in the log cabin in front of the Museum and is open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. April 1 to November 4. Wed., April 1 Building a Community Memory Brock Vodden Wed., May 6 Beginning Genealogy Arlyn Montgomery — Getting Started Wed., June 3 The British 1881 Census: Stephen C. Young, Project Interesting Facts and Tips Manager of Family Search, Salt Lake City, Utah Wed., July 8 Lost and found: Late news Reg Thompson from the 1860s Wed., Aug. 5 Learning about the Maxwells Wendy Prince Industrial Family of this Area Oakville, Ontario Wed., Sept. 2 Stump the Panel A select panel answers your questions Wed., Oct. 7 To be announced Wed., Nov. 4 Family Portrait Night Various members Tales of genealogical sleuthing, triumph and tragedy, skeletons, closets, and things that go bump in the night. Letter to the editorMischief makers ‘villainous’ says Guider