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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-06-14, Page 1Citizen i___ £ bWse^s . I,IMF - - 1 Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Volume 16 No. 24 Wednesday, June 14, 2000 75 Cents (70c + 5c gst) Pg. 7 Pg- 8 Pg-15 Pg- 22 Pg-23 County unveils ambulance strategy Siblings make their mark with Madill track and field team Congregation buys former restaurant Blyth actor enjoys life on the farm Paul Gross impresses in Stratford’s ‘Hamlet’ Gallery plans exhibit A trip down memory lane is coming to the Bainton Gallery Blyth Festival. In celebration of its 25th season, the gallery will feature its Silver Anniversary Exhibition called “From the Collection of ...” On display at the gallery will be a variety of work on loan from collectors who purchased the art at the Bainton Gallery over the past quarter century. Curator Bev Walker of Blyth describes the exhibit as “an eclectic collection of goodies from private collectors over the past 25 years.” Among the pieces included will be raku by Jennifer Ellion, a silk construction by Elizabeth Taylor, a wood engraving by Gerard Brender and a Brandis and folk art by Bud Oke. There will also be a piece from the gallery’s very first art show and a quilt from the juried quilt show. Information about the artists and their artwork will be available at the exhibit. “From the Collection of...” will run from June 14 to July 8. The official opening with remarks from the curator and the chairwoman of the gallery committee will take place on June 23 at 5 p.m. in conjunction with the other special activities planned for the gala. Admission is free. For more information call (519) 523-4345. Canadian Blood Services holds clinic in Brussels It is a life force to which few of us give very little thought until it is needed. Canadian Blood Services will be hosting blood donor clinics in Brussels and Mitchell next week. The Brussels clinic will be held June 20 from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. The Mitchell event will be June 22’ Having teddy bear fun It was a great day for the junior students at Blyth Public School, June 8, when senior students planned and ran a teddy bear picnic for their schoolmates. The children were entertained with numerous games, allowed to eat lunch in blankets in the gym with their favourite cuddly creature and watched movies with all their furry friends. Lauren Cronin takes her turn at I Wrote a Letter to My Love as the children moved through different activities on the playground. Former Blyth resident brings •war experience into classrooms By Janice Becker Citizen staff A former Blyth resident and long time educator has discovered a new and exciting way to bring the experience of war veterans to secondary school students across the province. In co-operation with Royal Canadian Legion branches. Stewart Toll is heading a campaign to bring the writings of Captain George G. Blackburn to students. Noting the vividness with which from 5:30 to 9 p.m. also at the com­ munity centre. Anyone from the age of 17 to 71 (61 if a first time donor), at least 110 lbs and in good health is welcome to donate. It must be at least 56 days since the last donation and three days since a dental visit. Donors are asked to bring photo and signature identification. Blackburn wrote his trilogy, Toll said, “Seldom have I been so touched by the written word. 1 have read many books on World War II, but nothing like these. The three books to which Toll refers are Where the Helt are the Guns?, The Guns of Normandy ., ~ .. ond The Slewart Toll Guns <>f Victory. .“So many texts are written in a politically correct manner," he said. “They don’t tell it like it was." Toll, who has always had an interest in history, particularly Canada’s involvement, said he has met students who have read Blackburn’s books and they want to know more. Toll’s mission to bring the true story of war to students began over a year ago when he met with Blackburn and the book's publisher regarding his plan to get the information into schools. Boards of education across the country were contacted by Toll. The Prince Edward Island ministry approved two of the books and the Ontario government approved The Guns of Normandy as a supplementary text for Grade 10 history. This spring tne Dominion Command of the Legion endorsed the project after a presentation by Toll. If local branches wish to purchase the books for a school, the publisher will offer a discounted price. Information on ordering can be found in the June issue of the Legion publication Reveille. “1 feel very good about (this project),” he said as he works with ministries and teachers groups where interest continues to grow. Toll has also formed a small committee which reviews books for recommendation to the Dominion Command and local branches. Brussels PUC fate still undeeided By Bonnie Gropp Citizen staff Still undecided about the future of its PUC, Brussels council learned at the June meeting that the issue just keeps getting more complicated. Clerk-Treasurer Donna White presented a report during which she noted that as time runs out things seem to be changing more rapidly. “We are frustrated. The sell option is looking like the only choice we may have.” White and Commissioner Henry Exel attended a meeting in Windsor and came away satisfied with what they offered. “They indicated they would provide a complete package for approximately $30 per customer a year.” Windsor’s preference, she said was that ali the remaining utilities in Huron come to Windsor as a group. Later, however, at a meeting with London Hydro, it was learned that the cost of the Customer Information System, which was included in Windsor’s offer, would be over $200.000 for a small utility. For that reason an amalgamation with London was suggested. Because of the huge difference in price, the matter is being further investigated with Windsor as their pricing was only verbal. Whether or not Windsor would want huge up­ front costs is unknown, said White. White, who has also attended a meeting in Collingwood and three manager’s meetings, all since the end of April, said she was given authorization from the PUC to hire Bill Townend to complete some of the financial requirements to project electricity rates. “We are certainly making every effort to gather all the information we can,” she said. Also, Reeve Ralph Watson received a letter from the province stating that if the municipality was not ready for market opening, the energy board could transfer operating responsibilities to another party. "I don't know who this would be through because no one else is ready,” said White. Early last month, there was a joint meeting with Seaforth PUC to discuss the future of the two utilities. White said. The consensus then was to amalgamate and not sell. “At the last PUC meeting, I was confident that the best option was to amalgamate and move forward with purchasing service from Windsor, and a recommendation passed to that effect. However, in light of the new information, the only two options may be to amalgamate with a larger utility or sell, so Seaforth hasn’t yet decided.” She noted that Stratford seemed to be the preferred choice. "But if we could sell as a group it would be better than Brussels selling to one and Seaforth another.”