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The Citizen, 2019-01-03, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019. COMING EVENTS at the BRUSSELS LEGION for January SATURDAY, JANUARY 5 Euchre Tournament at 1:00 p.m. Bring your own partner. $5.00 per person. Cash prizes. Light lunch. ———————— SUNDAY, JANUARY 6 No Sunday Night Dance. ———————— FRIDAY, JANUARY 18 Wing Night and Karaoke Wings 7:00 p.m. Karaoke at 8 p.m. ———————— SATURDAY, JANUARY 19 Euchre Tournament at 1:00 p.m. Bring your own partner. $5.00 per person. Cash prizes. Light lunch. ———————— SUNDAY, JANUARY 20 No Sunday Night Dance. ———————— TUESDAY, JANUARY 22 General Meeting at 7:00 p.m. ———————— Look for this ad the first week of the month only. Auditorium and small meeting room available to rent. Catering available. Info and general inquiries 519-887-6562 or 519-887-6570 By Jo-Ann McDonald Happy New Year to all and welcome to 2019! The Brussels Legion Branch will be continuing with its normal activities for everyone to enjoy. A review of Branch activities during the 2018 year, includes hosting activities for the public and private sector. There were euchres and Sunday dances, karaoke nights, wing nights, dart nights, pipe band practice, weekly fun and fitness and more. The Branch started the Catch the Ace program and has had an excellent response from the community. The first draw jackpot winner was Tracey McArter winning just over $3,700. The second draw only lasted one week with the Ace being found right away. The winner was Darlene McCowan, winning almost $1,000. The third draw is continuing at this time and is at week 13 at the time of going to press. The jackpot was about $3,800. During the spring, summer and fall, the Branch has kept busy with fish fry dinners. The Branch started many years ago doing fish fry meals at the Branch and word of the delicious tasty treat spread across the area. The Branch is now doing upwards of 20 fish fry events a year and feeding thousands of folks the delicious fare. The crew has gone as far as Kincardine and Elora, but now are being kept busy with dinners in the area. The Branch’s biggest event is the Londesborough Lions fry, which feeds upwards of 625 folks, 350 for the Mitchell Lions and many more around the 200 mark. The Branch also has some yearly events we do such as the Tigers three-day fastball tournament. The food booth keeps everyone busy and the Branch is lucky to have so many volunteers for this event. The Branch was part of Brussels baseball days and provided burgers and dogs for the older crowd at night. The Branch has hosted the Brussels Ambassador competition and meal every year and is pleased to support the Brussels Agricultural Society. A silent auction is also held every other year. The Brussels Branch has been pleased to host the Abate Riders on their ride for charity for the last three years and were excited to host a Johnny Cash tribute night in August last year. The Branch started for the first time to host Blyth Festival dinners and did two. Soups for a Cause is the venture started by Comrade Sandra Josling. She makes a dozen varieties of homemade soups and a portion of sales goes to the Branch . The Branch’s new entertainment committee was busy looking for other events to promote at the Branch including special wing nights with local entertainers Adam Cousins and Hailey McNeil. A Beer Bugs trivia night was enjoyed and unfortunately, the Spring Limpix had to be cancelled due to weather, but will be held in the new year. Sports activities for the Branch includes hosting the Huron County men’s dart league two or three times a year. The Royal Canadian Legion has a sports program that includes three levels of competition. It begins with zone, then district and then provincial. There is even dominion competition in some events but not all. The Branch was pleased to host zone darts this past year and a district event. The Branch as been lucky to have an extremely successful darter in Ron Schmidt, who placed third provincially last year in singles play. The Branch is pleased to support the Blyth Brussels PeeWee hockey team in the Legion- sponsored tournament and at Young Canada Week. Youth activities sponsored include public speaking held in February. Students of North Woods Elementary School spoke at the Branch and two speakers went on to zone-level competition. Last year Rowan Gaspirc spoke on “The Heart” and Hailey Beuerman spoke on “The Life of a Hockey Stick” at zone level and did well, but did not advance further. There are also Remembrance Day poster, essay and poem competitions for students. Although the school does not promote this endeavour, it is open to any children wishing to write or draw an entry on Remembrance. There are monetary prizes for successful participants. Watch for details in 2019. Entries are normally due by the end of October. Catering keeps the Branch members very busy from Blyth At the Branch Branch’s ‘Catch the Ace’ fundraiser a hit 401 Albert Street, Box 340, Brussels, ON N0G 1H0 Phone: 519-887-6336 ~ Fax: 519-887-6438 email: riversidefuneralhome@hotmail.com www.riversidefuneralhome.ca Nominate someone you know who doesn’t have a subscription to The Citizen but should! Promoting our Community CitizenTh e $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, December 13, 2018 Volume 34 No. 49 RESPONSE - Pg. 3 Morris-Turnberry Mayor calls for autonomy CONCERT - Pg. 6 Brussels Ministerial comes together for show FUNDING- Pg. 2 Education Minister in Blyth to hand out grants Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0 INSIDE THIS WEEK: Seaforth’s Fisher elected Huron East Deputy-Mayor 4-H Clubs awarded Seaforth Councillor Bob Fisher isHuron East’s new deputy-mayor, besting two others who put their names forward at the inauguralmeeting of Huron East Council onDec. 4. Fisher, Tuckersmith Councillor Ray Chartrand and Grey CouncillorAlvin McLellan all let their names stand for the municipality’s second- in-command position. This came after Huron East eliminated the at- large deputy-mayor position,reducing the size of council from 12members to 11 just ahead of October’s election. It was Fisher who nominatedChartrand for the position.Chartrand then paid the favour back by nominating Fisher. Former Deputy-Mayor Joe Stefflernominated McLellan for theposition. Fisher told his fellow councillors that he has lived in the community for over 40 years. In addition, he has been a councillor for 12 years andspent nearly 40 years in business, allexperience he felt would aid in being the deputy-mayor. Fisher also listed a number ofprojects he’d like to see undertakenor continued both in Huron East and in Huron County. In Huron East, Fisher said hewanted to see the municipality’scommunity centres better utilized and to promote a harmonious relationship between residents of all of Huron East’s five wards. At the county level, Fisher said hewanted to see a greater focus ontourism, saying that Huron County could easily be the Prince Edward County of southwestern Ontario. Healso said that while the county’saccessibility advisory committee has done a lot of great work, there is still more to be done.Fisher also said that, as someonewho is legally blind, he also hoped that being named deputy-mayor would inspire others with disabilities saying that if they “get [their] ass off the couch and do something” like he has they can accomplish anything.McLellan said that his decades of experience as a councillor and on numerous boards and committeeswould make him an ideal choice forthe deputy-mayor position. He said that being self-employed would ensure that he wouldn’t missany meetings, adding that he hates tomiss any council meetings. He said he had been asked if he The Huron County 4-H Leaders’Association Awards Program wasrecently held at the Seaforth Agriplex, recognizing 4-H members for their efforts throughout the year.COUNTY AWARDS Loretta Higgins won the Murray Cardiff Award for Top All-RoundMember.The Don Pullen Award for highest overall score in the county went to Evy Verschaeve. She also won theDedication Award for dedication tothe club. The Warden’s Novice Award for first year competitive member with the highest score wentto Emily Datema. The Ben Lobb Award for the junior member with the top essay went to Kayla Drennan.Emily Franken won the OntarioPlowmen’s Association Award for outstanding agricultural 4-H member as well as the LongstandingGraduating Member Award. Shealso received her graduation seal. The Citizen-Rural Voice Awards for press reporter book competitionawards went to Dugald McIntosh (first) and Mercedes Prout (second). The Huron County 4-H Leaders’Association Award for clubsecretary book competition were awarded to Emily Bieman (first) and Kayla Drennan (second).The winning team for the countyGo for the Gold Competition was the South Huron Sheep Club Team which consisted of Amanda Bos,Rachel Gras, Grace Hallahan andEvy Verschaeve. The Top Gate Sign Award for the White Christmas The snow was falling on Friday night as Clinton held the final Santa Claus parade of the Huron County season, bringing residents and visitors out to the town to help celebrate the holiday season. One of the main attractions of the parade every year is the Clinton Pipe Band, seen here appealing to the ears of all in attendance. (Nick Vinnicombe photo)Continued on page 12 REALIZE YOUR DREAM IN IT TO WIN IT: brought to you by the Libro Prosperity Fund, Wingham BIA, North Huron Economic Development Committee, Huron County Economic Development and Community Futures Huron. Enter the In It to Win It contest to Win! $10,000 Prize Package. Receive invaluable (mandatory) business training to give you a good foundation in your dream to expand an existing business or establish a new business on Main Street in Wingham. Full details at www.northhuron.ca Contest opens December 12 Applications will be accepted until January 25th, 2019 at 4:30 pmForms are available online or at the Township of North Huron office at 275 Josephine Street in Wingham Email: inittowinit@northhuron.caor call the Project Co-ordinator at 519-441-7629. Continued on page 15 By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Recipient will be announced in the last paper of the month. Riverside Funeral Home will sponsor one new subscription per month. Call, email or fax your submission to Riverside Funeral Home - include person’s name, complete mailing address and your name and number. Happy New Year and welcome to 2019! The new calendars are hung, new date books started and plans made for events that will unfold as this year comes to pass. Ah yes, another new beginning. What shall we do with this new year? As all the wise people of the world understand, we need to remember the past in order to improve for the future. Please note, it does not say to relive or redo the past, it suggests that we learn from it and do new things that improve life. That is the tough part, seeing what is and the possibilities of what could be. The reason some groups and communities work well together for a long period of time is that a variety of people are welcomed and needed to get the best of any situation. We need the wise ones, who can recall history for what it was, we need the planners to take care of the details and we need the dreamers who show us the possibilities of the future. When plans are made, and all present speak honestly and hear details with respect and an open mind, the world can move. So often folks don’t listen, don’t ask and have their mind made up before the gathering starts. We live in a community, we are entitled to be heard but a group makes the final decisions and our job is then to see the wisdom of that and then sweetly be supportive for the good of community. We need to upgrade the arena. For me, it’s Hallelujah. A community needs gathering places, places to welcome the many interests and needs that come our way. We know that in the 1970s our community leaders grabbed the opportunity to keep alive such a place, an important part of Brussels, Morris and Grey. The world changes regularly and 40 years is a long time to think something still works. So, to the leaders of the community centre improvement project, you are a high point in my 2018. The offer of your time, talent and leadership to a project of this magnitude is my hope for the future and a reassurance that rural communities will continue to do what we do best – look after each other! My low point for the year seemed to never end. A provincial election that saw people voting against someone, with limited knowledge of the mandate of the next premier. As Canadians, our reputation is that we look after each other with the weakest link in any situation being cared for. As the days since the election have passed, respect for many of our fellow citizens has diminished and ways to show concern and support dismissed. We all know of places that our taxes could be better spent, but details, history and dreams are often not ours to access. For me the sadness comes when communication is limited and the appearance of ignorant “fixing” is daily in the news. My wish for the future would be when things are changed, a clear process is offered – job loss, guaranteed income, respect for the people involved. Once again, all we can do is be aware. My hope here is for honest improvement in the lives of all our citizens. Back to Brussels and a review of 2018 saw new life with babies born, new people living here and new roles in life, new degrees and certificates that opened new ways to be. The circle of our lives also saw significant losses this year in death of partners and family and friends and the hard work of coping with life, changed forever. We each can name people in our circle that we miss dearly, knowing they want us to live fully with their good memories. Gains and losses are part of our every day and a year in review reminds of that. A few for me – the realities of being an Alberta grandma is a plus for WestJet. Our gain of having the keen wisdom of Hillary MacDonald as our student intern and on ordination led to our loss to Calgary. The United Church of Canada governance since 1925 was a celebration as we move to Region 8, named the Western Ontario Waterways, (WOW). Vacations from Balsam Lake, to Prescott, to Saskatoon, to Perth and, of course, places in Alberta bring joy followed by pensiveness of the fragility of time. So may this new year give you peace as the days pass. May it bring joy to you and those in your circle of life and may you live in hope and love in the days to come. Betty G.W. NEWS FROM BRUSSELS By Betty Graber Watson Call 887-9231 A NOTE FROM BETTY 23 Orchard Lane (West end of Brussels) Winter Hours starting January 1st 519-887-6883 Wed. - Fri. 8 am - 5 pm Community centre plans a high point of 2018 A traditional meal As is tradition at North Woods Elementary School, the student body celebrated the holiday season with a school- wide meal last month, dished out by parent volunteers and staff. (Photo submitted) Continued on page 8