HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-07-02, Page 1A couple interested not just in their hometown, but in the deep roots that
formed it, and a life-long resident deeply committed to the betterment of her
community have been chosen as Blyth and Brussels Citizens of the Year.
The committee unanimously selected Brock and Janis Vodden of Blyth
from among a group of worthy nominees. The Voddens have led walking
tours around the village for visitors, have opened their home to people
searching genealogy and have tirelessly worked to document Blyth’s history.
Some of their efforts were published in the Huron Historical Notes last
year.
“The many hours of research in Blyth history done by Janis and Brock
Vodden entitles them to this nomination,” said one of the submissions for the
honour. “Unless documented, each year of delay means less history will be
preserved. Future leaders will benefit knowing the history that made this area
what it is today.”
Rene Richmond of Brussels was nominated by several different people for
her commitment to the village and its residents. “It is second to none,” said
one.
Richmond visits shut-ins, volunteers in the UCW and United Church, the
thrift shop, the Huronlea Auxiliary and was a member of Morning Star
Lodge. She has attended meetings of the local business group where, a
nominator said, she brings new ideas to the table.
“She drives people to appointments and helps whenever asked for
whatever cause.”
Richmond’s contributions to various community celebrations over the
years were also noted by her nominees. “She has done more for our town
than anyone I know,” said one. In addition to all of the things listed above,
the person commended Richmond for taking initiative. “She works hard to
improve and decorate the town. She takes the lead in too many projects to
name.”
The Citizen of the Year Award is sponsored annually by The Citizen.
Recipients are chosen by a committee from a list of nominees submitted by
local residents.
The awards will be presented at a later date.
Last week’s decision from the
Avon Maitland District School
Board has already sparked one
appeal and more are sure to follow.
A petition with over 70 signatures
was submitted to the Ministry of
Education last Wednesday on behalf
of Blyth says community
representative Ernest Dow. And
there is currently a similar petition in
the works in Belgrave, says
Accommodation Review Committee
(ARC) co-chair Mark Beaven.
The board is currently consulting
with the Ministry of Education and
its legal counsel in preparing its
response to the appeal says
superintendent of education Mike
Ash.
Beaven says the board had already
made its decision long before the
process even began.
“It’s an absolute farce, the fact that
[the board] would go through these
motions with absolutely no intention
of listening to the ARC,” he said. “If
they were listening, it was very clear
that the only way the communities
were in favour of closing the schools
was if they got a modern, new, K-8
facility.”
Michelle MacDonald, parent of
three children and member of the
Hot Stove Group, also says she is
very disappointed with last week’s
outcome and adds that she feels
deceived by the process.
Beaven, along with several others
felt the board breached its end of the
agreement, adding F.E. Madill
Secondary School into the review as
a possible receiver school after the
process had already begun.
Several community members
disagree with the board when figures
of excess space at F.E. Madill are
mentioned. They say that teachers,
while afraid to come forward, are
concerned about space at the school
now, let alone when dozens of Grade
7 and 8 students are incorporated
into its classrooms.
Under the approved scenario, Ash
says, there is no discussion of any
accommodation reviews across the
board with any of its secondary
schools.
Trustee Colleen Schenk says that
one of the turning points for her was
a bus trip to Stratford to see the
Grade 7 and 8 students in a
secondary school setting. After
talking to several parents, she says,
who were very against the proposal
when it was first raised, and have
“done a complete turnaround,” she
saw that the process works.
She said that while the proposal
has had its detractors, and that she
hasn’t spoken to anyone specifically
in Blyth, she has had several people
throughout North Huron speak to
her in support of the proposal.
She was encouraged in Stratford
by the heightened proficiency in
programs like music, science and
gym, which came as a result of
facilities like a fully-stocked music
room, a science lab and a
gymnasium.
She did say, however, that
declining enrollment was definitely
an area of concern with F.E. Madill,
especially with the new high school
in Walkerton. She said the loss of
students in Wingham, and
potentially a high school due to
declining enrollment would be
“devastating.” She also said that she
felt the process proceeded fairly.
“I have been a trustee for a very
long time and I try to be a very
active trustee,” she said. “In these
matters, I think you have to do what
you feel is right in your heart and I
felt this decision was best for the
kids.”
In April, staff proposed closing
Blyth and Turnberry Central Public
Schools and have Wingham, East
Wawanosh and Hullett Central
Public Schools inherit the orphaned
students. However, earlier an
application made by the board in
October pertaining to North Huron
was approved for $8.8 million in
funding just weeks ago.
While the funding made the
construction of a new school in
North Huron possible, it also raised
doubt in the community of the
integrity of the process, says
Beaven. With an application being
made for a K-6 school in October,
before the accommodation review
process had even begun, there have
A helping hand
Forks are fine, but when the food is delicious and your motor skills still haven’t quite developed
so you can scoop it in fast enough, 14-month-old Mitchell Terpstra is quite content to leave the
job to someone else, in this case Eline Terpstra. They were among the diners at the Grey
firefighters breakfast on Sunday. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
CitizenTh
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$1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, July 2, 2009
Volume 25 No. 26HEALTH- Pg. 15Golf ‘fore’fitness and fun THEATRE - Pg. 19 Johns and Amos ‘orate’ontopics in Blyth season openerGOOD WORKS - Pg. 12Majestic donates to BrusselsLibrary building fundPublications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 PAP Registration No. 09244 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0INSIDE THIS WEEK:
Citizens chosen
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
Residents petition Ministry over board decision
This year’s Bluewater Kennel
Club’s All Breed Dog Show and
Obedience Trials, featuring typically
100 registered breeds, is set to run
on July 7-9 in Blyth.
Clinton-area club member
Florence Pullen said, “We’re a
fairly small club, so there’s a fair
amount of work for everyone, but we
enjoy it. Because we’re in the
middle of the week, we’ve never
been able to draw the number of
exhibitors that some of the weekend
shows get, but we have a beautiful
site.”
Pullen said, “Everybody that
comes just raves about our site and
the food. The Anglican Church
women always do a great job with
the food.”
Pullen is expecting a good crowd
and crossing her fingers for good
weather.
Entries at last year’s show were
down, which Pullen attributed to
rising fuel costs.
This year, she attributes the slight
decline to the uncertain economic
times currently looming over the
United States as well as the new
passport regulations to travel over
the border, which may have hindered
several travellers.
She says that typically between 40
and 50 per cent of the participants in
the show are American.
In addition, Pullen says, there is
also a big dog show in Woodstock
on the following weekend that
people will be gearing up for.
She says that in the afternoon on
July 9, she expects that very few
dogs will be left as many may have
already begun travelling to
Woodstock for the competition
there.
“By Thursday afternoon, I suspect
the only dogs here will be the best in
show winners.”
Last year the show introduced a
new rally course. After a successful
first run, this combination of
obedience and agility is back again
for 2009.
Pullen says the obedience trials
will run through the mornings and
into the early afternoon, while the
rally trials will run throughout the
afternoon. All the while, agility trials
will be running behind Shed 3 at the
fairgrounds.
Admission was raised slightly last
year, but remains the same this year.
It will cost $3 per adult to attend the
show and $2 per child 12 and under
and pre-schoolers will be able to
attend the show for free.
All proceeds from the gate will
benefit the Huronia branch of the
Humane Society.
The dog days of summer come to Blyth this week
Continued on page 6