The Citizen, 2002-07-17, Page 1e Citizen
Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County
Volume 18 No. 28
Wednesday, July 17, 2002
75 Cents (70c + 5c GST)
125th
needs
help
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
Pg.
Inside this week
Water aerobics at
" BMG pool
Blyth area kids
Pg.3 attend day camp
Locals among
Pg. 7 Madill, St. Anne's
GDCI scholars
Unmasking evil
When the youngest members of the Blyth Festival youth theatre program performed Saturday
morning, goodness won out as the evil king of Jupiter was convinced to become good after
the loss of his two-headed pet. Workshops for five to eight-year-olds and nine to 12-year-olds
were held last week, a precursor to the Young Company program which started July 15. The
13 to 21-year-olds will write and produce a play for performance later in the summer. (Janice
Becker photo)
Old office
to come
down
By David Blaney
Special to The Citizen
The fate of the former
Brusselsmunicipal building was
sealed at the July 9 council meeting
of Huron East when council
accepted a tendei—oi $5,685 from
Total Demolition Inc. to tear the
building down.
The building is all that remains of
the J.T. Wood Woolen Mill which
once occupied all the land between
the corner of Mill Street and the
Maitland River. The main part of
the structure was torn down to make
way for the medical/dental centre.
built in 1967.
The building housed the town
offices for many years after the
former town hall was torn down in
the early 1960s. The space was
exceedingly cramped according to
many of those who used it.
Suggestions that the town offices
be included in the new fire hall
Were not acted on when that facility
was constructed in 1995. Local
residents expressed a desire to keep
the office near the downtown core.
According to Councillor Joe Seili
the decision to tear the building
down was the only practical one.
"We talked to some real estate
agents and decided that what we
would get for it wouldn't be worth
the trouble that might be caused by
the people who might buy it," he
said. "The building is basically
without value."
Apparently the structure is in
need of major reconstruction and
Seili thinks it would take anything
up to $100,000 to repair. "No one
has been on the second floor for
years." he said. "If they went up
there they might end up falling
through the floor."
The current plan would see the
I oundation filled and gravelled
' over. Seili said that in the future it
might he possible to use the land to
straighten the corner to provide a
safer intersection.
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
July 10 was not only Alice
Munro's 71st birthday, but also the
opening of the Alice Munro Literary
Garden in Wingham.
When the project was conceived
by the Wingham and District
Horticultural Society, Ross Procter
of Morris Ward was asked to assist
with the fundraising for the $40,000
garden.
Procter, whose younger sister
Mary Thomas was a classmate and
friend of Munro's, had a long
acquaintance with the author and
said he was more than pleased to
help with the effort.
After being asked by Verna
Sterner in March 2001, to chair the
fundraising committee, Procter said
the idea on him to raise funds was
simple.
Ile and a group .of friends had
been holding A.M. in the P.M.
(Alice Munro in the afternoon)
parties occasionally since 1991.
They would invite Munro, who
spends the winters in B.C., for a
little get together for refreshments
and conversation. Friends would
come from places such as Goderich,
Kitchener-Waterloo and Toronto.
The original group was people of
the same vintage, said Procter.
However, when he decided to host a
fundraising A.M. in the P.M. and ad
was placed in several papers and
people_of all ages and interests were
invited to attend.
"We had about 80 people," he
said.
Both from those attending and
mail-in contributions.
approximately $3.000 was raised.
However, when -the committee
realized the garden would not he
completed last fall, Procter
undertook to contact those Munro
fans again, this time procuring
$4,000.
With the Ontario Trillium
Foundation coming through with
$26,000 in funding this spring, the
committee had raised $36.000
towards the gardea project.
When it came rime to decide just
when the grand opening would be
held, a conversation with Munro's
publisher, Doug Gibson of
McClelland and Stewart, set the date
as July 10. her birthday.
While the local committee had the
responsibility of informing area
media outlets, dignitaries and people
with an interest, Procter said her
publisher had a list of .more than
1,000 contacts. •
The day's events were attended by
well over 500 people, added Procter
including Huron-Bruce MPP Helen
Johns. novelist Jane Urquhart.
University of Ottawa Dean of Arts.
David Staines, Virginia Barber, her
With Blyth's 125th anniversary
celebration just over two weeks
away, there is still one thing needed
-volunteers.
Several people are still needed to
help register visitors as they arrive,
run the dance and aid those looking
after the antique car show.
Some guests have been confirmed
for the opening ceremonies Friday
evening including North Huron
Reeve Doug Layton and Greg
McClinchey, a representative for
Huron MP Paul Steckle. Huron-
Bruce MPP Helen Johns has not yet
responded.
The parade is shaping up with two
bands, two Shriners contingents and
four horse teams booked so far.
- A variety of games are in the
works for the children and adults
alike. Bed races, volleyball, croquet.
bean bag toss, relay, water games
and a dunk tank will keep the
grown-ups interested while the
children can visit with the clowns or-
do a few quick crafts.
The commemorative quilt will be
on display at the school.
The car show and tractor pull will
take people to the fairgrounds
Saturday and Sunday.
The Saturday evening dance,
featuring the 50s and 60s music of
Shroom Jaw, will also be the venue
at which the $1,000 cash calendar
winner will be announced. Those
still wishing to get a chance at the
prize can buy the $25 calendars up
until the time of the dance.
Entries for the photo contest are
still coming in and will be accepted
until July 19.
Several organizations from the
village will be providing food at
various venues including the Lions,
Legion Ladies Auxiliary and the
Continued on page 18
agent of more than 30 years from the
William Morris Agency in New
York, Avie Bennett, chair of the
board and Gibson, publisher from
McClelland and Stewart, North
Huron Reeve Doug Layton and Bill
McGrath, Wingham committee
member for the Ontario Trillium
Foundation. Cactus Jam of Goderich
played music for the event.
.Following a ribbon-cutting at the
garden, guests were invited back to
the Heritage Theatre for more
speeches prior to enjoying a large
birthday cake and refreshments in
the garden. -
Procter said he thoroughly
enjoyed his involvement the
committee.
"Is seems a long time overduelpr
the area to congratulate Alice on her
world-wide fame." he added.
The garden "is located at 273
Josephine St., next to the old. post
off ice and across from the town hall
P/
pg.
Brussels Livestock
ir hosts tournament
ng 1• 'Filthy Rich' a little
different
,, ... ... ......
Procter helps get tribute growing