The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2008-02-14, Page 2PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2008.By Jo-Ann McDonaldThe week at the Brussels Legionbegan with the Zone councilmeeting. Attending were the branch presidents and or first-vice presidents of the 13 branches in the Zone. The Zone chairmen of the various committees were also to be in attendance. The Presidents gave oral reports on their Branches and hand in a PRO report. The Zone chairmen also give oral reports on what’s happening in their committees and what’s new or wrong. Communication starts at the Branch and moves up the ladder through Zone, District, Provincial, then Dominion. The meeting was chaired by Zone Commander Stew Taylor. The spring Zone convention will be in March in Wingham. Following the adjournment of the meeting, a light lunch and social time followed. The Thursday night darts had 10 players on hand. The first-place team was Sheron Stadelmann, John Harrison and Gord Jacklin. Coming in second were Heather Little, John Stadelmann and Sandra Josling. The high start of the night was by Marlene Little, shooting a 64. The Friday night supper of meatloaf was enjoyed by a good crowd of nearly 25. Thanks to Heather Dauphin for preparing supper. This week will be roast beef. The Branch was a busy place with both euchre and darts taking place. The Huron County dart league played at the Branch. Nearly 64 men took aim at the eight boards upstairs. Downstairs there were 8 1/2 tables of euchre players looking to take first place. The lucky winners of the day were Neil Hatt and Edna McLellan with 68 points. Close behind for second were John and Iola Subject with 67 points. An unusual tie for third place was shared by pairs Carman and Ila Pollock, Stewart and Lois Chamney and Bush Whittard and Henk Vandebroek. The low prize went to Charlie and Sandra Cameron with 47 points. Lucky lone-hand winners for passes to upcoming euchre were Betty Brown and Charlie Johnson. The Sunday night dance was cancelled due to the stormy weather. Dances are every two weeks. Everyone is welcome to come out and enjoy a belated Valentine’s party on Saturday night. Starting at 5 p.m. there will be wings and fries available until 11 p.m. Meat draws will be held during the evening and karaoke will start when anyone wishes to sing. Come out and beat the winter blues and maybe treat your loved one to a night out. Kathy Nichol, author of the petition to build the new Brussels Library on the main street, presented the petition and its 155 signatures to Huron East council at its Feb. 5 meeting. Nichol presented the petition to council, and main street property- owner Dave Rapson was in attendance to submit an offer to council. While no financial details of the offer have been released, council discussed the issue in an in-camera session immediately after Nichol’s presentation. They came back with motions to accept the petition and Rapson’s offer. The petition, which sat in several Brussels businesses for the last few weeks, basically proposes a land- swap for the planned site of the new Brussels Library. As reported earlier by The Citizen, an agreement had yet to be reached between Rapson and Huron East that would move the future site of the Library to the site of the former Brussels Inn, property which Rapson currently owns. However, Rapson formally submitted an offer at the Feb. 5 meeting for council’s consideration. While the Inn was still up, there had been no talk of the Library being built there, but since Rapson decided to demolish the building last month, the property beside the current Brussels Carnegie Library seemed like a very real possibility to many people in the village. “We have so many strengths in this community, but our downfall is the holes on our main street,” said Nichol. “We do this not to be adversarial, it is just a collective direction that 155 people stand behind.” After discussing the matter in closed session, deputy-mayor Bernie MacLellan told Nichol, “I don’t know how soon you’ll hear back from us, but we will be discussing it.” Clerk-administrator Jack McLachlan said more information on the issue can be expected within the next month. While he couldn’t go into details in regards to the proposal or the municipality’s current position on it, he did say that the contractor has not been called and that a move should not change the existing plans too much. As it had planned from the beginning, council hopes to set a public meeting soon, so the public can look over plans and get up-to- date information on the situation. McLachlan says this meeting will be within the next month to a month and a half. Notification that Brussels Fire Department first response agreement was implemented Jan. 14 raised questions yet again at the Huron County counil meeting, Feb. 6. As in discussion in the past, some councillors seem a bit puzzled by the system. Central Huron councillor Bert Dykstra questioned who responds and who makes the decision in certain situations. Dave Lew, manager of land ambulance operations, explained that there is criteria that’s followed for who responds. “Having a unit in an area, does not reduce our response time. I expect what will happen is that we will see assistance at these calls.” Huron East councillor Bernie MacLellan clarified that first response is a service that the fire department chooses to provide. “It is not a replacement for emergency services. It’s an enhancement for a community.” “Are they clear as to who responds to what?” asked Dykstra, adding that he often sees police, ambulance and firefighters at a scene. “We’re paying for three levels of service it seems to me.” Lew said the issue of who responds is in the hands of the disptacher. “We set up tiered response which defines what firefighters are called to. As far as first response, they have agreed to respond to additional kinds of calls.” Morris-Turnberry councillor Dorothy Kelly said that the dispatcher asks specifically what the caller requires. “Police, fire or ambulance. It’s up to the person on the other end.” At the BranchLegion hosts Zone council meeting With all their hearts Grade 4 students of Brussels Public School have been busy selling homemade chocolate hearts for their Helping From the Heart campaign to raise money to help children in Ghana. Students have generously given their time and talents in an effort to make a positive difference in the lives of millions of boys and girls affected by HIV and AIDS. By acting locally and thinking globally, proceeds will be donated to Youth Challenge International’s youth development program. YCI is a non-profit, non-religious, charitable organization which combines community, health promotion and conservation projects in an effort to mobilize individuals, families and communities in addressing the challenges they face. Their teacher Ms Bennett will be volunteering in Ghana with YCI this summer. Anyone interested in supporting Helping from the Heart or learning more about YCI, contact Bennett at 519-887- 9361. (Photo submitted) Council sees petition You've got the news The Citizen now offers electronic subscriptions ZAP! For more information call: The Citizen 519-523-4792 If you have access to the internet you can get the news the same day you do at home, at no extra cost ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD No more waiting days for delivery: You can access the full edition of The Citizen on the day it’s published No exorbitant postal costs. The same local subscription price of $32.00 applies. Go on-line to: www.northhuron.on.ca and click on to subscribe today! Excellent idea for those who live far from home. The Citizen Murray’s Barber Shop CLOSED from Sunday, February 24th will re-open Saturday, March 8th Brussels Legion Valentine’s wings, meat draws and Karaoke. Wings and draws begin at 5:00 pm SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16 NEWS FROM BRUSSELS First response official here By Bonnie Gropp The Citizen By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen