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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2001-09-26, Page 4Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil 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 $28.00/year ($26.17 + $1.83 G.S.T.) in Canada: $62.00/year in U.S.A. and $100/year in other foreign countries. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement wilt 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 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada ttiough the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Publications Mail Reg. No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mail Agreement No. 40050141 S The Citizen P.O Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM 1HO NOG 1H0 Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca its uu Member of the Ontario Press Council gm:1733M pcna 40 CNA ,t/ Looking Back Through the Years A win for all It was just four years ago this fall that former Stratford Mayor Ted Blowes spoke to the Blyth Business Association's fall dinner to urge local residents to join the Communities in Bloom program. Led by then-BBA president Bev Elliott, Blyth took up the challenge and this past weekend received the national championship for its population category. The national honour goes first and foremost to the hard-working leaders who provided the drive to make this happen and further to those community members who were inspired to spruce up their yards, streets and parks to a level that impressed the national judges and won this award. But beyond those directly involved, Blyth's win should be an example for all small communities as to what can be done when people take up a challenge and work together to make i, happen. Blyth is certainly not blessed with the greatest natural setting. There's no lake, no impressive riverside, no mountains or impressive hillside setting. But Blyth residents have been working together to make the best of what they've got. The Greenway has turned the once-ugly old railway lands into a much-praised recreational and scenic attraction. The business association has set an example of how a downtown can be improved. People, even some businesses, have turned their yards into small showpieces. The lesson should be that small communities have one asset over larger ones: that they can mobilize community spirit and work together to accomplish great goals. In winning the Communities in Bloom national competition the leaders of the Blyth committee have done just that, and have reaped the rewards. — KR Let's grow up If ever there was a silly, self-indulgent, useless controversy it was all the fuss made in the media and among Canadians in general about the "meaning" of the perceived snub when U.S. President George Bush didn't mention Canada as he listed off the examples of the "friends" who had come to his country's aid since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. One can only imagine what President Bush said when he was being briefed for his meeting with Prime Minister Jean Chrdtien on Monday and was informed of the furor that he had caused by his omission. "Good grief I've got 6,000 dead and I'm trying to fight a world-wide war on terrorism and I've got to take the time to remember to mention Canada so they don't go into a national crisis? What kind of country are they anyway?" Surely we must be the least self-confident country in the world if we have to hang on every word in a speech by a neighbouring leader, seeing insults if we're not mentioned. Our media and opposition parties, always ready to find some reason to criticize the government, were happy to find some message of displeasure from the Americans. Watching a recent documentary on the early Trudeau years when Canada, fresh from its centennial celebrations and feeling self-confident, was seized by Trudeaumania, it's hard to figure out how this proud country descended to become pathetic, approval-seeking wimps. — KR Letters to the Editor PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2001 Editorials Opinio THE EDITOR, Monday I started a "peace pilgrimage" walking to Goderich and my MP's office as part of a prayer for peace and healing. I arrived there by 8:48 a.m. Tuesday morning, two weeks from the time the first plane struck the World Trade Centre. I held a period of silence and prayer. I felt led to undertake a night of walking, prayer and meditation. We in North America have experienced the awful violence and destruction of war. For most of us the closest we truly came to it was through the media, experiencing it on our TV screens as we have experienced days and weeks and months of warfare in other lands affecting other people. But there is a realization that the scenes of death and destruction were not someone and somewhere else. We react with horror and outrage, not here, 'not us. I think of my two daughters. How I love them. How precious they are to me. And I have some inkling of the terrible loss thousands are experiencing. And I think with shame of the more than a million Iraqis who have died since the Gulf War when power plants, water purification and sewage treatment plants were bombed and sanctions have kept them from being repaired. And I realize that if we don't want this to happen in New York or Baghdad or Toronto or Kabul then we must break the cycle of violence and vengeance leading to more violence and vengeance. For if my patriots are your terrorists and your patriots are my terrorists we will not end the cycle. If our response is to try to "bcimb somebody back to the stone age" we will simply strengthen the grip of violence on our world. We will strengthen the hold of fanatical hatred on those who survive even as we express it in our own behavior. We must say no to terrorism and violence, both theirs and ours. And we must look for creative and lasting solutions to the forces of hate and violence in our world. Following the war of 1812, in which the Americans captured York (Toronto) and burned the Parliament Building and British troops took Washington D.C. and burned the White House and Capital, a peace treaty was concluded which was remarkably creative. Richard Rush of the US. State Department and Britih Ambassador Continued on page 5 Sept. 24, 1986 A record number of people attended the Blyth Festival during the previous summer, surpassing the theatre's own projections. More than 36,000 attended performances of the five plays presented during the season. Leading the attendance rating was Gone to Glory, by Suzanne Finlay, which filled an incredible 95 per cent. After existing in a state of bureaucratic limbo for three years, the last section of the Canadian National's Kincardine Subdivision, which ran through Brussels, Wingham and Lucknow was possibly - to close down by Christmas. Blyth Legion presented a cheque to Clinton Public Hospital for 'the purchase of a water bed for chronic care patients. Brussels celebrated its 125th fall fair. Huron County's top showperson was a young girl from RR2, Bluevale. At the Seaforth Fair 4-H Achievement, Donna Johnston won the all-round sweepstakes competition trophy by taking top place in the sheep showman class with her lamb Sweet Pea, then going on to capture the highest marks in the sweepstakes by showing in turn, a horse, a beef calf, a dairy calf and a market lot. The Brussels Bulls had four practice sessions with approximately 40 players in attendance. Pat Brigham became the new librarian in Blyth. Sept. 25, 1991 The Huron County Board of Education and its almost 300 secondary school teachers 'announced that a - new collective agreement had been ratified. The agreement called for a 5.5 per cent increase in grid salaries, retroactive to Sept. 1, 1991. As of that date the minimum and 'maximum teachers' salaries would be $28,852 and $62,415 respectively. The hard realities of the recession showed up in the attendance totals of the Blyth Festival, where despite adding more performances, overall attendance dropped seven per cent of the previous year. Mr. Barrington joined the staff at Brussels Public School. Winners of the Norman Parks Garrett Memorial Scholarships received their awards at the Central Huron Secondary School commencement: Cathy McDonald, Kim Medd, Karrie McClinchey, Jane Whitmore, Lisa Watson, Christine Stadelmann, Sandra Hessels, Scott Cronin, Darryl Elliott and Deanna McDougall. Belgrave Bantams Boys won the WOAA championship by defeating Wellesley in playoffs. Team members were: Brandon Coultes, Mike Golley, Mark Olsen, Brad Robinson, Wayne Fischer, Scott Rintoul, Keith Todd, Peter Gusso, Coach Bob Kikkert, Shawn Walker, Todd Machan, Brent Robinson, Jason Kieffer, Coach Ruth Olsen and Coach Hugh Todd. Member of Duff's United Church bid farewell to Rev. Bonnie Cole Aural and her family, husband Oz and daughters, Liz, Barb and Sarah Lamble. An era ended in. Brussels as Callander Nursing Home closed. Maitland View Apartments opened in Brussels. Luella and Jack Mitchell closed their store in Brussels, the 50 to $1 Store, which had been in business for almost 60 years. Sept. 25, 1996 Brussels residents raised $4,236 for the Cancer Society at the Terry Fox Run. It was ,hats off to Blyth Public School which along with six other Huron elementary schools and one secondary school received a special directors award for School of the Year. The school had pulled together integration in terms of tieing together community outreach and technology. A Few Good Men's ball team presented the Canadian cancer Society with a cheque for $850. Sept_ 23, 1998 Organizers of the Brussels Terry Fox Run were pleased with the final tally. The total raised was $5,049, with 95 participants. To mark its 50th anniversary, organizers of the Belgrave turkey supper were re-introducing the concert concept, once part of the celebration. B&W Trailblazers were marking 10 years of good grooming. Betty Battye was named Blyth's Citizen of the year. With the provincial government insisting on the closure of excess space in schools, the Avon Maitland District School Board trustees began looking over options. A recommendation put the following schools on the list: Walton PS. Turnberry, PS, Vanastra PS, Atwood Satelitte, Clinton PS, Colborne PS., Falstaff PS, Hensall or Stephen or McCurdy PS, Juliet PS, King Lear PS. Mitchell PS, Mornington PS. Portia Satellite and South Perth Centennial PS. Seaforth PS could be closed or converted to .IK to Grade 6. There were also recommendations affected secondary schools_ Blyth artist Jason Lucio maintained the family tradition capturing four major awards at a wildlife carving competition.