HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-04-30, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2009.
Honoured
The Melvin Jones Fellowship is the highest form of recognition conferred by
the Lions Clubs International. Blyth Club members Gord Jenkins, left, and
John Stewart, right, recently received the honour. The fellowship has helped
Lions International meet humanitarian needs worldwide. District A9 Governor
Al Leach made the presentation. Also pictured is Blyth Lions president Bev
Blair. (Photo submitted)
THE EDITOR,I am very concerned thatthe young people of Belgraveand surrounding area seem to
want to destroy all the good
things the Belgrave
Community Centre Board is
trying to provide for the
sports activities in the park
and surrounding area.
During the last month,
garbage has been burnt in the garbage can, and was left burning; all the light fixtures and sockets
have been torn from the
ceiling of the picnic area; a
broom handle has been
shoved through the control
box for the field lights; as
well as most of the items
stolen or broken from the
sports box – the base-linerand supplies. Just this weekend the lidwas removed from the drain
at the front of the arena, and
thrown down into it.
The community centre
board is working hard to
make this a user-friendly
facility for everyone, and just
a few young people seem to
think they can destroy all thework we do. Parents! Do you know where your young people are at night and
do you know what they are
doing?
Please take the time to talk
to your young people and
encourage them to respect theproperty that is being kept upfor their use. If any one ofthem happen to be seen doing
this damage, the police will
have to be called. All this
damage is very costly to
repair.
Please help us keep thegrounds ready for all the ballgames and parties thissummer.
Thank you,
Muriel Coultes
Booking Co-ordinator for
the Centre Board.
Letter to the editorConcerned resident has advice for parents
Councillor speaks out
against AMDSB option
If North Huron is successful
in obtaining the government
funding from two recently
announced grants, there will
be some big projects done in
the township.
Clerk-administrator Kriss
Snell outlined the programs
for council at the April 20
meeting. However, he noted
that the timeline is extremely
tight as applications must be
in by May 1.
“We are certainly
appreciative of the funding
being available but the
timeline is challenging.”
Snell noted that while Blyth
Memorial Hall is a big project
that the township is
considering, he has been told
that it isn’t eligible. “Which is
confusing, because the
guidelines aren’t available
yet. But I’m taking them at
their word.”
As municipalities can apply
for three projects under the
Stimulus grant, Snell
suggested the township apply
for assistance in building a
new firehall in Blyth,
improving and expanding the
washroom and showers
facilities at the campground,
and renovation to the exterior
of the town hall in Wingham
as well upgrading the
HVAC.
The second fund, Snell
suggested could be used
towards building Mill Street
in Blyth from McConnell to
Drummond Streets.
“This will be expensive, but
if we’re getting two-thirds of
it we can do it. It would solve
a lot of drainage problems in
Blyth.”
Snell said he had done a
“rough calculation” and if the
township got the funds for all
of these projects it would
amount to $4.2 million to be
borrowed until the money
comes in.
Councillor Archie
MacGowan noted that the fire
hall is one of the “most
frightening” projects facing
the municipalities, and that
they “have to deal with Mill
Street” as well.
Snell said they were going
to do Mill Street “in chunks”,
but “but this will fast track”
the project.
MacGowan asked if the
treasurer had investigated yet
what borrowing $4 million
would do to cash flow for the
township. “We need to
analyze where we’re going to
be because if it restricts us
financially then it inevitably
lands on the backs of
taxpayers.”
Snell noted that these big
projects are something the
township is going to have to
do and now is the time when
the “money is there and the
interest is low.”
“We probably won’t have
better timing,” noted
MacGowan.
“If we apply for all of them,
then we might have a chance
of getting something,” said
councillor Alma Conn.
Council approved Snell’s
recommendation to try for
funding for all four projects.
Continued from page 1
ideas but many parents are
not. We want our children to
have the benefit of going to a
school that will help them
have access to programs and
opportunities that will assist
them in becoming those
leaders, they deserve nothing
less from us.
For the board members this
decision will require great
reflection and careful
consideration and I would
encourage them not to be
restrained by conventional
thinking. To have the courage
to find a way to make the
CENH recommendations a
reality, to realize the impact
this could have on our
children’s future.
There is a rise in negative
sentiment and it is not
directed at the ARC
recommendations, it is in fact
being directed at the process
and the belief that this
outcome was predetermined
and the belief that parents
with children in the CENH
accommodation review area
are not interested in settling
for second best for their
children.
Robert Kennedy often
paraphrased a quote from
George Bernard Shaw when
he said, “Some men see
things that are and ask why? I
dream of things that never
were and ask why not?” That
is all that the members of the
accommodation review
committee are doing they are
saying that we have a dream
for our children and they are
asking “why not?” Yes they
are aware that this is not a
dream that will come easily
but those things that will
make the biggest difference
seldom do.
Should the board decide
that the committee’s
recommendations have merit
the road will not be without
its challenges. There will be
bumps along the way but I
believe that to achieve great
rewards one must take
risks—nothing in this world
of great proportions has ever
been achieved without taking
great risks or without great
courage.
And as to the question of
what can citizens and parents
can do, well many have been
involved in the meetings that
have been held since last
September, but I would
encourage anyone to attend
the future meetings of the
school board that are being
held between now and June
23 and make your wishes
known.
Sincerely,
Archie MacGowan, Parent,
Wingham resident, North
Huron councillor.
NH to apply for grants
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen