The Citizen, 2007-12-20, Page 7THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2007. PAGE 7.
Holiday spirit
Brussels Public School Grade 4 student Caitlin Scarrow
dug deep into her pockets and generously donated nearly
$25 in change to the Huron County Christmas Bureau last
week. Scarrow’s contribution was disguised in a decorated
yogurt container wishing someone an exciting Christmas
on it. Also pictured is Earl Dolmage of the Christmas
Bureau. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
With a curator no longer in place
for the North Huron museum,
council finds itself faced with a
disgruntled tenant.
A letter from the board of
directors for the Barn Dance
Historical Society was included in
council’s Dec. 11 agenda. The board
expressed concern that as the
building is currently not staffed or
open to the public, the museum is
really only a storage area for the
Society’s memorabilia.
They stated they are withholding
rent as they feel there should be an
adjustment in the fee.
The Society pays $1,920 twice a
year to store the Barn Dance
Museum in the basement of the
North Huron museum.
Clerk-administrator Kriss Snell
said the agreement between the
township and the Society does not
deal with hours of operation.
Noting that housing the two
collections in the same facility
makes sense, councillor Archie
MacGowan said he would like to see
the relationship continued. He
suggested that a response be sent
informing the board that currently
the museum is in a “state of
transition”.
Snell said it’s possible the new
economic devolopment officer will
have to have office space in themuseum building, so someonewould be there to open the buildingto visitors.
Councillor Greg McClinchey had
concerns over what he called “dual
function, saying that economic
development requires that
individual’s full attention.
He also asked if anyone had ever
been turned away from the museum.
People currently can come to the
municipal office to ask to see the
museum collection and Snell said
that no one had ever been told no.
Councillor Alma Conn expressed
some frustration over the method the
Society was using. “We rent the
place, you pay it.”
Deputy-clerk Kathy Adams noted
that having their collection housed
in the museum has given the Society
the luxury of a full-time staff person.
“They haven’t had to have any
staffing for their facility for a couple
of years,” she said. Deputy-reeve Murray Scott added,however, that the Society had at onepoint made a contribution towards
the curator’s salary.
Snell said he had done a cost
comparison and felt that the Society
was getting a “fair deal”.
MacGowan suggested a meeting
to see if they could come to a
resolution. “Withholding rent is not
the wisest thing to do.”
When Caitlin Scarrow couldn’t
decide what local kids might want
for Christmas, she didn’t give up.
She put it into their hands.
Scarrow, a Grade 4 student at
Brussels Public School, saved for
weeks, piling change into a small
yogurt container and when it came
time to give, she had saved nearly
$25 for the Huron County Christmas
Bureau.
The money, as she put it (in
writing on the side of the container)
was to make someone’s Christmas
exciting.
The one-of-a-kind container is
enough to brighten up a Christmas
on its own. Scarrow took the time to
decorate it with construction paper
and colourful drawings of candy
canes and other Christmas figures.
Not to mention her personal
inscription on the side as well.
“Well, I didn’t know what the kids
would want for Christmas, so I
thought if I gave them money, they
could get what they wanted with it,”
she said.
Scarrow’s mother collects change
in a large jar, she said, and it inspired
her to do the same.
Earl Dolmage from the Christmas
Bureau said he had never seen
anything like it, especially from
someone so young. He visited
Scarrow at school to thank her in
person and to tell her what a unique
and generous contribution she had
made.
He said that while Wingham
United Church was full of generous
donations from many area schools
and drop-off points, Scarrow’s
donation was one that definitely
stood out.
Scarrow said that she had never
done anything like this before, but
that she hopes to again.
The Christmas Bureau has been up
and running for 50 years and helps to
bring a happy holiday to over 1,000
needy children in Huron County.
There were drop-off points all over
the county, in addition to each
school doing its part.
North Huron responds to Barn Dance Society concerns
The Holiday Season is a time for family and friends
to gather and celebrate the joy this season has to
give. At Clinton Public Hospital, St Marys
Memorial Hospital, Seaforth Community Hospital
and Stratford General Hospital, we believe in the
importance of family, the pursuit of good health and
working together to provide the best we can for our
communities.
The Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance, Alliance
Board and Local Advisory Committees, Physicians,
Staff, Volunteers, Auxiliaries and the Foundations
wish you a happy and healthy Holiday Season.
At this time of year, Emergency Departments are
extremely busy. As always, patients will be seen in
order of urgency. YOUR PATIENCE IS
APPRECIATED DURING THIS BUSY
HOLIDAY SEASON.
VISITORS: If you have a fever, cough or
diarrhea — please, consider the patient — and
do not visit.
“Thank you for caring for us, as we care for you”
Clinton Public Hospital
St. Marys Memorial Hospital
Seaforth Community Hospital
Stratford General Hospital
WE WISH YOU WELL!
HURON PERTH HEALTHCARE ALLIANCE
GREY FIREFIGHTERS
thank everyone for their support
over the past year and wish everyone a
Merry Christmas and a
safe and happy New Year.
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Tickets $5.
from any Grey Firefighter
Season’s
Greetings!
We would like to wish
all our family, friends
and neighbours a
Merry Christmas and
all the best for 2008!
– Kay Buchanan and
Arie Vandiepen
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Brussels student
donates uniquely
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
By Bonnie GroppThe Citizen