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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1991-03-06, Page 1Festival wins award Honoured for contribution to Canadian theatre See page 27 Top speakers | Top speakers give speeches at Brussels See page 2 I Sprouts win | Brussels Tykes win tournament See page 15 1- Bd. of Ed. wants Jr. Kindergarten reconsidered After an often heated discussion, the Huron County Board of Educa­ tion (HCBE) trustees agreed to make another plea to the Ministry of Education, reconfirming its op­ Serving Brussels, Blyth, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and surrounding townships. VOL. 7 NO. 09 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1991.60 CENTS Ribbons of remembrance Betty Bodfield, left, and Judy Bondi tie a yellow ribbon on the tree outside of Brussels Public School in honour of Canada’s troops and as a timely symbol of peace. The ribbons, which were donated to the school by Gladys Ellsmore of Country Garden Flowers, were put up Friday, the day the war ended. In a special assembly, the students also received small ribbons attached to Canadian flag pins from MP Murray Cardiff as a reminder of our hope for peace. Blyth puts strings on grant to Festival Blyth Village Councillors voted Feb. 26 to give an increased grant to the Blyth Festival but hold back paving, the. grant until a use agreement has been signed with the theatre. Approval of the grant of SI.900 (up from SI.750) after a presenta­ tion by Festival Treasurer Don McCaffrey and Artistic Director Peter Smith. Councillor Dave Lee brought up the issue, pointing out that the joint-use agreement that position to Junior Kindergarten. At a meeting on February 4. the trustees had made a motion that the matter of long-term planning for the implementation of JK be was supposed to have been signed before construction began had still not been finalized. “Personally 1 have a problem giving money to you when we're still going through the same hoops we were a year ago." he said. Mr. McCaffrey said he thought there had been some progress made in the past year, pointing to the agreement on the moving of the Blyth library branch into the former box office and art gallery in the referred to the executive committee for further consideration. The re­ commendation brought back to the board at its March 4 meeting suggested that no action be taken north wing of Memorial Hall. As for the agreement. “I can’t see any reason it shouldn’t be completed in a short while." He apologized saying the fault was his in not having enough time in his own schedule to be able to finish the details. - Reeve Albert Wasson said that since village officials and theatre representatives met a month ago he could see progress toward wrapping up the agreement. on JK until it is 100 per cent funded by the Ministry. This recommenda­ tion. however, met with conflicting viewpoints among the trustees. Chair Joan Van den Broeck After the theatre delegation left the council returned to the subject. Councillor Lee said “I’m kind of sick and tired of waiting" for completion of the agreement. Councillor Steven Sparling said "I feel very strongly we should continue our support" but as a councillor, he said, he could agree with Councillor Lee’s concerns. He made a motion to give the grant but withhold payment until the agree­ ment was signed. cautioned the board to look very carefully at the wording of the motion before they reached a decision, warning them that it could close the door on any future funding. Trustee John Jewitt, who has been adamant in his opposition to JK, felt that changing the motion would change the board’s position. “We have made it clear we oppose JK and I think we should continue to oppose it even if the government mandates it. I feel what you’re asking is to reword the motion so the true feeling of the board will not be carried through," he said. Paul Carroll, Superintendent of Operations for HCBE, said that while he wanted to make it abso­ lutely and categorically clear that he would support the trustees in whatever position they took, his concern was the embarrassment the board would be caused, should they have to rescind a motion like this at a later date. He suggested the board find a way to restate its intention in a clear, unequivocable wav without closing out any other future options. Trustees Jim Chapman, Norm Pickell and Brian Jeffray agreed that they couldn’t support the motion but for different reasons than Mr. Jewitt’s. “It shouldn’t hinder us from planning,” said Mr. Chapman. Mr. Pickell agreed. “I know the Board has gone on record saying they oppose JK and hoping the Ministry would change their mind, but we can’t hide our heads in the sand.” He noted that there is a limit to the amount of govern­ ment dollars out there to assist school boards with implementing the program. “The first to the trough will get the money.” Mr. Jeffray felt the same way saying that refusing to implement the mandate could see the public dollars being spent in court in­ stead. “I don’t feel like dragging the county through that." Trustee Audry McClennan re- Continued on page 26 Group effort mins Heritage Puzzler prize The gang at JR’s Shake Shoppe in Brussels are the winners of the Heritage Puzzler Contest, The Citizen’s salute to Heritage Week contained in the Feb. 20th paper. The contest featured mixed up photographs of various buildings in the area. The photos had to be pieced together then the buildings identified. The Walton Inn was featured in advertisements spon­ sored bv Dauphin’s Feed and Supply, Brussels Variety, Bain­ ton’s and the Village of Brussels. Callander Nursing Home was fea­ tured in advertisements sponsored by Christmas and Country, Blyth Decorating, Brussels Village Mar­ ket and Remember When. The Crystal Palace in Brussels was featured in ads for McGavin Farm Equipment, Brussels Auto, Old­ field Hardware and McGavin Farm Supply. Belgrave Women’s Insti­ tute Hall was featured in ads for J. L. McCutcheon, Elliott Insurance, Huron Tractor and Sparling’s Pro­ pane. The old Blyth CPR station, now at the Old Mill was featured in ads for Wilson’s Health and Gift Centre. Blyth Festival, Blvth Print­ ing and Walton Inn. "The House", one of the oldest buildings in Blyth was featured in ads by Radford’s Truck Repair, Webster’s, Grey Township and The Book Shop.