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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-10-16, Page 1Huron East council passed a bylaw at its Oct. 6 meeting that will officially begin the process of designating the Brussels Library as a site of historical significance. Council first saw the bylaw, drafted by architect John Rutledge, formerly of Brussels, at its July 22 meeting. Chair of the heritage committee Charlie Hoy was on hand to discuss the bylaw with councillors and to answer any questions they may have had. One of the initial concerns with the bylaw was how detailed it was. The wording, however, Hoy said, was the least of the committee’s concerns. He was more concerned with the basic exterior facade maintaining its integrity, rather than tying any future owner’s hands with regulations that would limit what type of windows could be used, for example. Councillor Larry McGrath said he had worked on historically- designated sites where snags like that posed a problem for the simplest of repairs, but Hoy insisted this was not one of the committee’s main concerns. Council was also not interested in a restrictive bylaw, as it still hopes to sell the building. McGrath, however, was not alone in his skepticism. Throughout the journey of the Brussels Library, both present and future, prospective buyers and deal-makers had questioned the extent to which the bylaw would tie a future owner’s hands on renovations and with future tenants. Councillor David Blaney eased councillor’s minds however, saying that as of the end of July, he had received several calls of interest regarding the building. Currently, however, the building still sits in Huron East’s hands. The bylaw focuses on the Carnegie library’s outdoor facade. As both Hoy and Blaney pointed out at the July 22 discussion over the initial bylaw, limiting changes on the interior would be absurd, seeing as how the interior had already been changed. At the meeting, Hoy cited a study done in the communities of Bayfield, Seaforth and Goderich that found historical designations drive up the cost of properties, not lower it. Hoy said people are eager to be part of a historically-designated building, because with that distinction comes the understanding that the building has been well-maintained over the years. Citizens were given a 30-day period to object to the designation. Huron East received no objections. While the term Field of Dreams was first used by other Huron East councillors in reference to the municipality’s Huron East Health Centre project, it was mayor Joe Seili who trusted that if he built it, they would come. He did and they have. Last week Huron East cut the ribbon on the Centre with clerk- administrator Jack McLachlan happily reporting that the building is at full occupancy. McLachlan, in fact, said the municipality had to turn several tenants away. It has been well-publicized that one of the centre’s main tenants is the ever-expanding Huron community Family Health Team in addition to the award-winning Healthkick Huron and the recently- launched Gateway Rural Health Research Institute. Several members of Huron East council as well as a healthy contingent of tenants and interested parties from all over the county were in attendance last week as the facility was opened for an open house. Community Development Leader and catalyst behind the Gateway Rural Health Research Institute, Gwen Devereaux was in a main meeting room giving a presentation on the institute while everyone else was free to explore the centre’s many rooms and the entire staff was available for a meet and greet. In addition to the institute and Healthkick Huron, the Huron community Family Health Team is now staffed with a psychologist, a social worker, a dietitian, a pharmacist, a nurse practitioner and a primary care physician. The centre is also equipped for ample training that will hopefully see students come to Huron County to learn and stay in Huron County to work, Devereaux said. The Centre was not without its challenges. Council voted on several issues over the last year that saw the Centre up and running so soon. On Jan. 8, council voted to officially accept a the tender of Smith Construction and begin construction. The Jan. 8 vote had its doubters, however, Seili spurred council along, saying he was sick of the delays and that costs were only going to rise the longer council waited. The project was originally tendered for just under $2 million with council approving an addition Health Centre opens Beep beep Jacob Josling, three, grandson of Blyth fire chief Paul Josling, climbed behind the wheel over the weekend at Blyth fire hall’s open house on Saturday afternoon. The hall was opened and hot dogs were on the grill because of fire prevention week, which wrapped up this weekend. (Shawn Loughlin photo) Library bylaw passes Haunted Huron this weekend CitizenTh e $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008 Volume 24 No. 41FITNESS- Pg. 8North Huron picks updownsizing challenge SPECIAL - Pg. 11Fall home improvementsection beginsGOODWORKS- Pg. 7Former resident bringsbikes to NamibiaPublications 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: This weekend, Huron County is inviting one and all to get into the spirit of Halloween Haunted Huron, the only county- wide Doors Open event in Ontario, has activities from the north to the south boundaries beginning Friday until Sunday. At 7:30 p.m. visitors and residents can choose between watching a film in Bayfield and taking a community ghost walk in Exeter. At 8 p.m. author, geographer and photographer Ron Brown will be giving a reading in Seaforth. Brown has photographed and written books on the country’s vanishing landscapes, telling the stories of ghost towns and railways. The comunity ghost walk theme is starting in Wingham at 8 p.m. with psychic Kelly Elson leading folks through the North Huron Museum in Wingham. Along the way she will tell people the energies and impressions she receives from the building and its artifacts. Seaforth’s community walk is at 9 p.m. starting at the town hall. Saturday begins with the Dawn of the Dead breakfast in Bayfield’s Town Hall at 8 a.m. followed by horse drawn carriage rides through the historic village. At 10 a.m. there is a sacred architectural tour in Seaforth, with Adolfo Spaleta. This will look at the unique architecture of churches and Spaleta will translate some of the confusing jargon that defines the elements used to create houses of worship. The tour begins at Northside United Church. There will also be a tour that day in Brussels led by John Rutledge. This tour focuses on the village’s main street and their styles, signficances, and beauty. The tour begins at 2 p.m. from the Brussels Library. The heritage walking tour in Bayfield is 1 p.m., the same time as the children’s party in Goderich, while Clinton’s walking tour begins at 2 p.m. There are also four author readings that day. Terry Boyle will be at the Brussels Library at 1 p.m. Boyle has travelled Ontario researching ghost stories. He travels to the ‘haunted’ properties, speaks with employees or residents and investigates the history. Brown will be in Goderich at 3 p.m. while John Melady will be in Egmondville at 7:45 p.m. From 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Wingham there will be a children’s party at the North Huron Museum. Children must be accompanied by an adult. This gathering of goblins will have games, activities and face painting. Jodi Jerome will take others on a walk through the town as she unearths some of Wingham’s darker secrets. There are also ghosts walks in various communities as well that evening, while they will be showing the Rocky Horror Picture Show in Goderich. Sunday begins with another Dawn of the Dead breakfast in Bayfield and a book signing by Boyle. Heritage walks will be in Wingham at 10 a.m., and Clinton at p.m. On the psychic side of things, there is a reading in Egmondville at 10 a.m. with a psychic walk through the historic Van Egmond House. On Saturday and Sunday, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. visitors can take a backstage tour of Blyth Festival. Another stop is the Connell House at 88 Patrick St., Wingham, where they will hear the chilling story of former owner Jesse Smith, his alleged murder ad rumours that his ghost still walks his regular route home in the evenings. While many events are free, there is a small fee attached to others. For a complete list and more information, visit the website at www.hauntedhuron.com By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Continued on page 6