HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-01-11, Page 1The Citizen
Volume 23 No. 2 Thursday, Jan. 11, 2007 $1.25 ($1.18 + 7c GST)
Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County
Inside this week
Pg. 6
Pg. 7
Pg. 8
Pg. 9
Pg. 13
Juvies Silver Stick
semi-finallists
Atom Lakers make it
to semi-finals
Man celebrates
100th birthday
Farm leaders
applaud Huron E.
Couple marks 60th
years of marriage
Blyth Area Farmers’Market needs
vendors if it is to continue in 2007.
Market co-ordinator Keith
Roulston said the market committee
will decide at its annual meeting
Saturday whether or not to continue
for the coming season.
“Without a good variety of
vendors to attract shoppers there’s
no sense continuing,” Roulston
said. “We started off so strongly
with seven regular vendors back
in 2004 but the original group
has dwindled over the years and
too few replacements have been
found.”
He said the committee, when it
meets Saturday, will look at
alternatives to add variety to the
market. The original mandate of the
market to offer only local produce
and baking and locally-made crafts
will be examined with the
possibility of opening the door to
more flea-market-style goods.
The group will also see if there is
a possibility that local community
groups might share a table on a
rotating business as a bake sale or if
volunteers from the market might
offer some local foods at a booth at
the market which traditionally runs
on Saturday afternoons from late
June to Thresher Reunion weekend.
“Still, the best alternative is if we
find more local farmers or gardeners
to offer fruits and vegetables or
bakers to have bread, pies and other
baked goods,” Roulston said. “The
local shoppers and theatre-goers
have made these their favourite
products over the years.”
Anyone interested in selling at the
market, or volunteering to help it
going can attend the meeting at 2
p.m. Saturday at The Citizen or
contact Roulston at 519-523-4792,
days, or 519-523-9636, evenings
and weekends.
Farmers’
Market
needs
vendors
On display
Hockey fans had the opportunity to see some history on display at the North Huron Wescast
Community Complex this weekend as part of the township’s Hockey Days event. Director of
recreation/facilities Pat Newson contacted the Hockey Hall of Fame about getting the Stanley
Cup for viewing, but got three for one instead. From left Michael VanWyk, Spencer Stevenson,
Dustin Pennington and Matthew VanWyk got a close up of the Hart (MVP), Conn Smythe
(MVP playoffs) and Vezina (goalie) trophies, along with an eight-foot Hockey Hall of Fame
display. Hockey Days came about as a result of the community’s love of hockey and
passionate support of community pride and spirit, Newson said. Its goal was to build on the
momentum of Wingham’s Hockeyville 2006 journey and expand it through all of North Huron.
(Vicky Bremner photo)
The spring-like temperatures this
winter have been pleasant. But will
there be a price to pay?
Forestry specialist Marvin Smith
of Listowel, said that if there was a
continued spell of warm weather
such as that experienced last week,
followed by a deep freeze, there
could be some concerns, primarily
with weaker trees.
“With warm weather the buds can
flush. Every time a tree buds it takes
energy. If the flushing of leaves has
to happen twice, such as now and
again in the spring, that could be a
problem for weaker trees.”
Generally, though, he didn’t
foresee any major losses. Trees, he
said, have many dormant buds. He
told of someone who had cut the top
off a tree, leaving just two branches.
The tree is now growing back. “They
are pretty adaptable to conditions. If
the weather stayed warm for an
extended period and got all the buds
flushing a cold spell would then kill
them off, but the dormant buds
would be there in the spring. The
tree would survive.”
However, he said, fruit trees may
be a different story.
Local weather observer and
orchard owner Boyd Taylor said that
there has been no bud development
on his apple trees, but he was
concerned about the sweet cherries
and peaches.
Also if the warmth were followed
by a quick freeze it could be
disastrous. “If there are buds, the sap
is going up. That’s not a problem in
March or April. But if we suddenly
get a freeze the sap gets caughts up
the tree.”
Taylor said this was what
happened to the orchards in the area
in the 1930s. “It killed all of them. It
was before my time, but they said
you could hear the trees snapping on
the main street of Blyth.”
The sap was definitely on the
move. Taylor said that even prior to
the new year, the maple, cherry and
walnut trees at his farm were
running sap during trimming.
Local horticulturalist Robert
Hunking agreed that if trees and
shrubs got too advanced it could be
harmful. However, he added, that
there are many ‘ifs’ involved in that
scenario. “If the warm spell was
long enough, if February was
brutally cold, it could hurt them.”
While Hunking said he has seen
signs of life with early spring bulbs,
this is not a problem.
While Smith noted that the
unseasonably high temperatures had
had an impact, it was one he
believed that is experienced other
years. “I remember other years
where there was a warm spell. It was
maybe not as long as this one has
been, but I’m not sure it’s that
unique.”
“The same questions arise any
time it gets that warm. But it likely
isn’t a serious problem in the long
run. If it went on much longer,
things might be different.”
The same holds true for this year’s
winter wheat. Brian Hall, crop
specialist with OMAFRA, said that
this weather has brought some
concern. However, “as long as it
doesn’t stay so long that the wheat
starts to grow it shouldn’t be too
bad.”
Hall did say that the issue right
now is more with flooding in the
fields. Another worry is if the
temperatures fluctuate severely. “If
you have these five-10 degree days,
then a sudden drop to below 20 it
would probably hurt more than if it
stays mild.”
Especially if there’s no snow prior
to the freeze. “It’s the snow cover
that would protect the crop from
really cold temperatures.”
On the positive side, however, Hall
said the warm weather has provided
an opportunity to replant areas that
were killed out from flooding.
“This weather is a good
opportunity for growers who have a
stand where there are thin or bare
areas to actually go out, if there’s a
good frost and put some wheat in
there.”
Should the winter stay mild, Hall
foresees another concern down the
road. “We count on the cold to
reduce the pressure of insects and
pests, not just on the crops, but for
lots of things.”
However, as anyone in Huron
County knows the season can turn
around pretty quickly.
“Everyone is anticipating that
there will be a bit of winter here yet.
But there are some questions,” said
Hall.
Happy
day for
Ball’s
Friends
There were many smiling faces in
the lobby following the Jan.
3meeting of Huron County council.
About 25 Friends of Ball’s Bridge
were present to hear councillors
approve a recommendation that will
eventually see ownership of the
historic structure handed to Central
Huron and Ashfield-Colborne-
Wawanosh. The two lower-tier
municipalities will then work with
the Friends to keep the bridge open
to light traffic.
Also in the recommendation is a
one-time payment from the county
of $250,000 to assist with bringing
the structure up to standards.
The recommendation came about
as a result of a meeting between
representatives from the two
municipalities and Friends.
In her presentation to council
Friends co-chair Rebecca Garrett
said that their committee is
“committed to finding a unique
solution for a unique bridge”.
She quoted Roger Dorton, one of
Canada’s foremost bridge engineers,
who wrote the code for Ontario’s
bridges. “Here we’re talking about a
bridge that doesn’t get much traffic
and if it is renovated for cars only,
it’s never going to get a lot of usage.
It sits in an amazingly attractive
setting visually and it hasn’t been
salted. From a heritage point of view
this is the Ontario pin-connected
truss bridge that should be
renovated.”
Not everyone agreed, however.
Huron East councillor Bernie
MacLellan expressed his opposition
several times during the discussion.
“I’m not sure why we’re going down
this road. This is not part of the
county’s road system anymore. We
built a new bridge to replace this
one. It does not need to be a county
responsibility.”
He added that it was unfortunate
the county hadn’t seen fit to take the
bridge down 20 years ago when it
was replaced. “There may have been
wisdom in that decision at the time,
but it’s costing us now. I don’t see
why the ratepayers of Huron should
have to pay $250,000 towards a
bridge that does not belong to the
county.”
Central Huron councillor John
Bezaire noted, however, that there
are many boundary bridges no
longer owned by the county.
Addressing his remark to
MacLellan, he said, “That’s kind of
a bold statement considering there’s
a number of these bridges that
(aren’t county-owned) anymore,
many of them in Huron East. Be
careful what you wish for.”
Bezaire did however, question
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen
Will we pay for this ‘spring’?
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen
Continued on page 12