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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-05-10, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2000. Editorials & Opinions Publisher, 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 $27.00/year ($25.24 + $1.76 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 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 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Publications Mail Reg. No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mail Agreement No. 1374990 The Citizen P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 • Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 e-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com A/ocna (*cna Member of the Ontario Press Council Keep on working together What makes small communities special places to live is the commitment of people to make their community better. That commitment to improvement is being demonstrated again by area people this spring. In Brussels, efforts are under way to spruce up the town by painting a mural. In Blyth, several groups are working to beautify the village as part of the drive the Communities In Bloom competition has instilled. As well, the Blyth Lions Club is spending $15,000 to $20,000 to improve Lions Park. Small communities are at a disadvantage over large centres. While there’s plenty of individual initiative, we’ve got too few individuals to be able to accomplish a lot without some sort of community intervention. As well, we have such a small tax base that we can’t expect local government to provide as many things as large cities do through the taxation of industries, office buildings and large housing projects. But what we do have is people who are willing to work to improve the community. Yes there are those who sit back and let others do it but there are many others who will work the hours necessary to make sure their community is the better for it. ■ These are the people that make small town life so enjoyable — and their secret is that, unlike those people who can’t be bothered getting involved, they’re having fun working with their friends and neighbours, and feel good about it too. — KR No reason but independence Quebec Premier Lucien Bouchard hit the nail on the head this past weekend when he told 2,000 delegates at a party convention that “The raison d’etre of the Parti Quebecois is to give Quebec a country.” Vowing to make independence the “effort of every moment, on every possible front, involving everyone,” Bouchard made it evident that behind every action, every decision of his government, there will be the unexpressed purpose of undermining Quebec voters confidence in Canada. Canadians’ tolerance for democracy must truly be unique in the history of the world. Quebec voters have already voted twice to remain in Canada but the battle goes on. No matter how many times the people vote against independence, the Parti Quebecois will keep holding referenda in the hope they might find a time when enough people will support independence (or some vague term like sovereignty). Even now, when polls say most Quebecois want no part of another vote, the government insists there’ll be one. That means the provincial government will be looking to sow the seeds of division, picking fights with the rest of the country so that voters will get angry enough to vote for separation. In this situation, it’s important for the rest of Canada not to give Bouchard the issue he needs. It means turning the other cheek no matter what kind of provocation he provides. One wonders, though, how long Quebec voters will continue to elect a party that says its only reason for being is to separate, while at the same time voters say they don’t want independence.— KR Bring back inspectors Despite teachers complaints about the provincial government’s demand for written tests to judge their competency, many parents and voters support some sort of measure to see if a teacher is doing his/her job well. The issue for both parents and teachers, however, is if written tests are the right way to go about making a judgement. If the government really wants a good judgement of the work of teachers, why not bring back the inspectors whose job was terminated back in the Bill Davis era? The inspectors went into every classroom every year to watch for a while and see how teachers taught and how students responded. It wasn’t a perfect system — some teachers were better an fooling the inspector than they were at teaching children — but it recognized that teaching is not a question of knowledge but of how a teacher could communicate knowledge to students. Inspectors would cost more than a written test, but if we want a top­ notch education system isn’t the extra cost worth it? — KR Looking Back Through the Years Letters to the Editor THE EDITOR About three weeks ago, we wrote regarding the Hostas for Hollyhocks perennial exchange. We’ve had a great response, but area folks still have about one week to join the exchange. You don’t have to have any plants to exchange. Maybe you'd like to just get started with a perennial bed and need some plants to get going. Please join up, it will be fun. Our first draft will be out by May 24. Mail your $5 along with your name, address, telephone number and the plants you would like to acquire or those you plan to give away to: Perennial Exchange, Communities in Bloom, PO Box 130, Blyth, ON, NOM I HO. Yours truly, Blyth Blossoms Nationally in 2000 Committee May 7, 1975 Officials of the Blyth Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion informed the Blyth recreation committee that they were willing to contribute a new front curtain and blinds for the windows in the Memorial Hall theater. Earlier on The Ladies Auxiliary had donated money towards the fixing up and renovations to the Hall. Work began on the Opportunities For Youth project which will attempt to bring the history of Blyth to light and to life. Called Blyth ‘77 the project will research the history of the village in preparation for the Blyth centennial. Premier Davis indicated that he strongly opposes any proposed increase in the price of natural gas. Ontario has calculated that the price will be $120 a year for the average Ontario family using natural gas for cooking and heating. Central Huron Secondary School presented Irving Berlin’s “Annie Get Your Gun”. Movies playing in the area included; Chinatown, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. May 9,1990 The Blyth Women’s Institute celebrated its 80th anniversary with a guest list of 90 members, past presidents and special guests. Past presidents on hand for the celebration were Winnie Johnston, Audrey Walsh, Luella McGowan, Jean Nethery, Eunice Emke, Pat Taylor, Isabelle Craig and Lenore Davidson. Huron County Board of Education trustees approved a 13.4 per cent education tax increase at a marathon session. Brussels taxes increased by 5.4 per cent. East Wawanosh applied to the Ministry of Culture and Communications for a book publishing grant in the amount of $2,000. Vaughn Toll, RR3, Blyth shipped two Clydesdales to Merrimack, NH to be part of the Budweiser team. Two popular figures in Huron County were honoured by county council. A unanimous decision was made to rename the county’s annual scholarship to Centralia College as the Huron County/Don Pullen Scholarship. Pullen recently retired as ag rep. Also honoured was former Huron bureau chief for CKNX Radio and Television, Glen Creamer. Brussels 4-H members served tea at Rammeloo’s Rest Home in Blyth. Members Vvere Michael Rammeloo, Michael Laffin, Willy Laffin, Heather Somers, Laura Douma, Andrew Rammeloo and Victoria Richards. Classical pianist Elyakim Taussig entertained at Blyth Memorial Hall. Huron studied a proposal to merge the Huron County historic Jail Board with the Huron County Museum. May 10, 1995 Taxes were up in Morris and West Wawanosh Twps. Morris’s rate jumped 6.73 per cent while West Wawanosh approved an increase for the public sector of 7.1 per cent. Premier Bob Rae joined MPP Paul Klopp as he opened his Goderich campaign office. John Stewart was named new Blyth clerk. The date for the Brussels firehall’s grand opening was set. Kendra Carter of Blyth led the Law Enforcement Torch Run through the village. Students at Walton Public School planted trees provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources. Tim Lowey of Blyth was working in the Ukraine relief organization. Belgrave Trinity Anglican congregation held its final service May 7. The church amalgamated with St. Paul’s in Wingham. Two area families opened gardening businesses. Primrose Gardens opened at the north end of Blyth while Greyhaven Garden opened just west of Londesboro. Robert Hunking of the Auburn area was re-appointed for a membership on the Beginning Farmer Assistance Program Review Committee. Ross McCall of Brussels was named to a two-year term as a member of the Livestock Financial Protection Board. Blyth Lions marked 50 years of community service. Local twirlers took top spots at Batonfest in St. Marys. Jennifer McDonald placed third in the 11-12 category, Lesley Elliott place fifth in the 13-14 category and Rachel Elliott placed first in the seven-eight category. East Wawanosh taxes were up by .76 per cent, while Grey had no increase. Gorrie began getting interest in the restoration of its historic mill.