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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2001-04-25, Page 1e Citizen Serving the comrriMities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Volume 17 No. 17 Wednesday, April 25, 2001 75 Cents (70c + 5c GST) Auction • raises $16,000 The Maitland Conservation Foundation held its annual dinner and auction Friday night at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. This was the 13th year for the event and it proved to be the most successful ever. Over $16,500 was raised in support of conservation education programs at the Wawanosh Nature Centre. The evening attracted almost 300 guests and featured raffles, a silent auction and live auction. Auctioneer Dave Johnston from Listowel coaxed $5,500 from the audience during the live auction. Auction highlights included a gourmet breakfast and canoe trip down the Maitland river, a week-long stay at a cottage on Lake Huron, autographed NHL memorabilia and a variety of entertainment packages. The evening's success helps ensure that high quality environmental education programs continue to be available to schools and community groups across the watershed. Coffee house April 27 The third annual Coffee House For Cancer is being held at F E. Madill Secondary School in the main entrance gym on April 27 at 7 p.m. The coffee house will consist mainly of musical and dance performances in a casual, yet classy atmosphere. There will be door prizes, and coffee, tea, juice, desserts and sandwiches will be available. Tickets are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $4 for children. A ticket includes one free beverage and one free door prize ticket. Tickets are available at F. E. Madill Secondary School, Sewing Galore in Wingharn, Everlasting Flowers in Lucknow and at the door. For more information contact Sarah Mann at 528-2600 or e-mail evil_sunshine82@hotmail.com Help raise money for cancer research while enjoying local talent. By Janice Becker Citizen staff Moved to a new location for its second year, Grey Central Public School's farm safety and awareness day is planned to educate the students and the community as a whole. Started at Walton Public School a year ago by parents Rita Bowers and Pat Dalton, the day-long event moved to Grey Central this year with Principal Alice McDowell when Walton Public School closed last year. "We are using the Walton model designed by Rita and Pat,' said McDowell, "though we are going to a much bigger scale at Grey due to the size of the school." Approximately 16 presenters will spend April 26 at the school, speaking to the children and any community members who might be interested in attending. Their talks will be about farm equipment, dairy, pork and beef production, farm supply, ATV and motorcycles, bio- security and water quality, just to name a few. Some of the presenters will include representatives from various commodity groups, McGavins and LMS farm equipment dealers, Cooks, Brussels Agri Services, Brussels Agromart, Brussels and Grey Fire Departments, St. Johns ambulance, Huron County Health Unit and the Farm Safety Association. Students will spend the day moving through eight display areas as there are to be two from each sector present. It is hoped a vet will be the guest speaker for the closing assembly and Bowers is to speak earlier in the day on farm safety and its impact. "Our focus is to make children aware and to teach them, before the planting season starts," she said. "Kids need safety reminders." Aside from noting the importance of farm safety because of the rural setting of Grey Central, McDowell said such an event is important because it ties in well with the curriculum in many areas. "The impact of physical demonstrations is important." Members of other school councils have also been invited to attend with the hopes the event will spread to other area schools. Everyone from the community is also welcome to stop by. Families with pre-schoolers are asked to join in. McDowell credited the many volunteers and school council with helping pull together the major undertaking. She provided an overview of what the day was to encompass because of previous experience and co-chaired the committee with school council chair Marie Blake. School secretary Jennifer Cochrane looked after contacting the media. Parents Diane Diehl procured donations and arranged a lunch for the presenters and Peggy Keffer co- ordinated the presenters. Another parent, Jane Zwep, will look after thank you notes. She also said it is through the incredible donations and generosity of several business owners that each child at the school will take home a goody bag filled with safety info pamphlets, pads of paper, pens, stickers, erasers and colouring books. Though McDowell said it is unlikely the farm safety day will become an annual event, she would like to see it take place bi- annually. It is hoped attendance at events such as the Brussels Fall Fair can be used to re-enforce ideas discussed in the spring. The Grey Central Public School Awareness and Info Day will take place "rain or shine", on Thursday, April 26 from approximately 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. HE to consider full-time BR&E officer By Janice Becker Citizen staff Numerous community members and business owners attended the April 17 session of Huron East council to discussion endeavours by the Business Retention and Expansion committee (BR&E). Gwen Devereaux gave a video presentation, telling of the formation of the group, its progress to date and future plans. The aim of the delegation was to seek council's support in the hiring of a full-time economic development officer with a suggested salary of $50,000 and similar annual budget. Devereaux told the gathering that such a person would be key to helping Huron East flourish, to bring new development into the area as well as aid the prosperity of those already located in the municipality. After surveying and speaking with business owners one of the main obstacles perceived was the red tape and administrative procedures with which developers hao to deal. An economic development officer would be the one person with whom business people could deal, where all questions could be answered and help with red tape obtained. "We need a professional out there meeting with business people," said Devereaux. That person could also serve as a resource person and co-ordinator for the business improvement associations in Seaforth and Brussels. If hired, the economic development officer would serve all of Huron East. Council agreed to include the matter in budget talks, said Clerk- Administrator Jack McLachlan in a phone interview. The BR&E was first formed when there was threat of hospital closures and they also worked against the closure of Seaforth District High School last year. The focus of BR&E is to aid in the creation of . a progressive community, said Devereaux. Through the committee's effort, Seaforth was one of seven Ontario communities chosen for a pilot project on economic development sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Fifty-four volunteers were trained to undertake the surveys and the committee "red flagged" hot issues. A community meeting was held to discuss the survey results. A CD of the Seaforth program is being created to help other commurrit,jes looking at economic developmetit. Spring is in the air With spring blooms bursting, projects for this year's National Communities in Bloom competition got underway in Blyth recently. Grade 6-8 students at Blyth Public School had fun showing off their creativity as they painted numerous planter boxes purchased by the Communities in Bloom committee. Lisa Nicholson, right takes a short break from her artwork to check out the tiny bees and insects which will adorn Kate Stryker's section. Grey PS to host farm safety day Inside this week Blyth's 125th Pg. 3 committee plans calendar Pg. 6 Pg. 7 Pg. 13 Pg. 23 Historical Society tours Dunedin North Huron leases fitness equipment Farmers pack hall to learn about Foot and Mouth Festival unveils season poster