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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-09-15, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1999. C itizenTheNorthHuron >cna P O Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil Member Ontario Preee CouncilE-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of S27.00/year (S25.24 + S1.76 G.S.T.) in Canada; S62.00/year in U.S.A, and S100/year in other foreign coun­ tries. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth. We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright. Publications Mail Registration No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mail Agreement No. 1374990 E ditorial IZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZj Time to start planning The deadlines for amalgamation are set and time is moving irreversibly toward the time when the legal entities now known as Brussels and Blyth will no longer exist. It’s time to start putting plans in place to allow the communities left to remain healthy. When there are no longer municipalities called Blyth and Brussels, when there are no longer village councils that meet once or twice a month, the villages’ world doesn’t have to end. Their world will change, however, and many of the easy relationships won’t be so easy. Take the situation in Blyth this past weekend, for instance. The village was more like a small city with visitors to both the Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion and the Blyth Festival jamming the town. Both those organizations have grown because of their friendly, and ever-helpful relationship with the local council over the decades. When Blyth is only a small part of the new municipality, that kind of relationship will be more difficult. At present, if someone has an idea for improving their village, a quick visit to the local council has given the opportunity to gain support. With larger municipalities, it seems likely the councils will become focussed on providing infrastructure like roads and streetlights, and any economic development energy will be centred on the largest community in the groupings — Seaforth or Wingham. To stay vital, Brussels and Blyth must begin now to put in place some sort of community-based mechanisms to focus on ways to improve the community, to seek new and innovative ways to promote economic growth, and to marshall the resources of the community to support the current activities by various clubs and organizations. We cannot react as we have so far to amalgamation. We cannot afford to just sit back and see what happens. We must begin to look for answers to what happens after amalgamation or many of the good things these villages have to offer will be lost. The time to start is now.— KR So much given by so many Casual visitors to Blyth this past weekend could be excused for wondering what the heck was going on. Cars lined the village from one end to the other as thousands of visitors to the Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion were added to the hundreds that regularly have attended the Blyth Festival daily all summer long. These two events are a testament to the power of volunteers, as are the Brussels Fall Fair and the Belgrave, Blyth and Brussels School Fair, also being held this week. You could call it the “third way” between private enterprise and government initiative. Volunteer-led organizations enrich the life of the community, sometimes directly such as the hundreds of thousands of dollars the Thresher Reunion pumps into the Blyth economy each year, but often more quietly. Think of the parks local service clubs have provided. Think of the added safety through Block Parents groups. Think of the beauty added by Horticultural Societies. For the most part these volunteer groups work quietly behind the scenes and never receive a lot of publicity or praise. Too often we forget how much they contribute. Rural life would be much emptier without the many, many hours contributed by volunteers.— KR Loosen the purse strings Canada’s military made the news twice in the past week, once when a leaked document suggested budgets cuts might kill the Snowbirds aerobatic team and once when Prime Minister Jean Chretien announced Canada would provide up to 600 peacekeepers for East Timor. The two items show the government seems to want to have it both ways. Apparently the military has been told it must cut its budget again. Dating back to the days when bases like Centralia and Clinton were closed in the 1960s the defence budget has been a constant target for government spending cuts. In a time of peace it’s natural not to want to spend a lot of money on the armed forces. Yet even in peace, we want our forces to remain active We have provided peacekeepers around the world. Our fighter jets attacked Yugoslavia to bring peace in Kosovos. It’s all good, but it’s not cheap. If we want to continue our proud tradition of building a peaceful world, we must be willing to give the forces the resources they need. — KR Photo by Janice Becker Looking Back Through the Years From the files of the Blyth Standard, Brussels Post Sept. 12, 1979 Hullett was not interested in buy­ ing fire protection from the town of Seaforth. Seaforth had announced the previous summer that it was pulling out of the Fire Area Board (FAB) and forming its own depart­ ment. The town offered to sell pro­ tection to the present township members of FAB. The Blyth Belgrave Community Hockey School was set to start. Ties between Bodmin, Eng., and Bodmin, Canada were the topics for the Huron County Historical Society meeting. An Auburn area woman, Mrs. Elizabeth Plunkett located some papers she had stored away which helped The Blyth Standard update its files in preparation for micro­ filming. Once updated and filed the papefs Uotfld be available to any­ one through the Huron County library system. Mrs. Plunkett sent in 17 papers, which were needed to help complete 1972 and 1973. Sept. 13, 1989 Margaret Cronyn of RR2, Blyth was crowned Brussels Fair Queen. There were to be two new events at this year’s Brussels Fall Fair, a mini tractor pull and a pet show. Training camp opened for the Brussels Bulls. Rev. Cam McMillan was the new minister at Brussels United Church. Jennifer Vanass received her county honours 4-H pin. A ribbon cutting celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Belgrave UCO branch founding. Rev. David Fuller was appointed rector of St. John’s Anglican in Brussels and Trinity Anglican in Blyth.-----------------—I and North Huron Citizen Huronview got 81 of the total 224 beds in a new home for the aged under a proposal accepted by county council. Heather McGavin of the Walton- area was crowned Queen of the Furrow. Sept. 14, 1994 Over 16,000 attended the Pioneer Thresher Reunion in Blyth. Helen Gowing was named Blyth’s Citizen of the Year. An appreciation night was held for Murray Cardiff in recognition of his 13 years of service to the people of Huron-Bruce as MPP. Mason Bailey threw his hat into the election ring seeking the posi­ tion of Blyth reeve. Joanne King was the Brussels Terry’s Team Member. Bainton’s celebrated its 100th anniversary.