HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-10-11, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11,2000.
Committee plans rejuvenation of Bly th arena
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
The replacement of an aging arena
floor will be much more than an
upgrading of facilities.
When the Blyth and District
Community Centre board gathered
Monday evening to discuss repairs to
the floor, they and community club
representatives stated emphatically
that the decision to upgrade the ice
surface is crucial to the continued
vitality of the community.
Unlike some negative input
expressed by area residents,
fundraising chair Todd MacDonald
said the choice to not only replace
the floor of the arena but increase the
size, would make it rentable to other
organizations.
Small at just 71’ by 171’, it is
hoped funds can be raised to expand
the 33- year-old floor to 80’ by 190’,
more in keeping with arenas in
Brussels and Clinton.
The increased size will also
improve safety, said MacDonald,
creating more room in the comers
and behind the nets.
Though some have questioned the
usefulness of the Blyth arena
because of the new Wingham
complex, MacDonald and several
board members stated that Wingham
still will have only one ice surface
Council writes off club taxes
Blyth council was informed at the
Oct. 3 session that the provincial
government would provide a 33 per
cent tax exemption on the sale of
local utilities for all municipalities
which were in the process of the sale
prior to the November deadline.
Blyth is currently waiting for
approval from the Ontario Energy
Board for the purchase by Hydro
One.
***
The Blyth Brook Community
Goats reach fl 75
and time will be at a premium. There
have already been requests to move
some ice time to Blyth.
MacDonald stated strongly his
belief in the future need for the
arena. “This place has to exist. It is a
community place.”
East Wawanosh Councillor Fred
Meier agreed, saying he couldn’t see
anything moving from Blyth to
Wingham.
The call for volunteers to work for
the floor replacement began some
months ago. The floor is more than
eight years past its life expectancy
and serious problems with the pipes
canceled two weeks of the hockey
and skating season two years ago.
Board Chair and Hullett Twp.
Reeve Bob Szusz said it is only a
matter of time before the pipes burst.
To that end, the board began
seeking people and community
organizations to spearhead a
fundraising effort with the goal of
having the improvements completed
by the village’s 125th anniversary in
2002.
MacDonald has been unofficially
named chair of the group which will
become a committee of council.
Though just beginning the process,
MacDonald told the board that he
has received tremendous input from
clubs and organizations offering to
do their part.
Greenway Trail committee will once
again host a fall walk. It is set for
Saturday, Oct. 14 at 1:30 p.m.
***
Approval was given for a grant
application to be submitted for the
Ontario Small Town and Rural
Development Infrastructure
Program (OSTAR). The program
assists with the costs of an
engineering study and any
subsequent capital works required to
Reminding everyone of the
magnitude of the project,
MacDonald said, “We need lots of
volunteers. It will take a whole lot to
see this through.”
The committee decided to go with
the larger project of expanding the
ice surface rather than just replacing
the floor, both to bring it up to
standards and improve the quality of
the facility.
No price estimates for the work
have been received.
Szusz added that this improvement
was the next initiative of many
undertaken by the current board.
“There have been a lot of
positives,” he said. “We have
replaced the heating and cooling, put
in a new ceiling, painted and
purchased new curtains. We have
worked hard to make this arena
respectable, keep it viable and keep
it going.”
Blyth Councillor Murray Nesbitt
said it will take the entire
community, including the neighbour
municipalities of Hullett, Morris and
East Wawanosh Twps. to make the
project succeed.
Szusz agreed, noting that residents
from Hullett think of the Blyth and
District Community Centre as their
home arena.
Blyth Minor Hockey President
Joyce Bean asked how the arena’s
meet Drinking Water Protection
Regulations (DWPR).
B.M. Ross and Associates will
prepare the OSTAR application and
undertake the engineering study.
***
A motion was passed to write-off
the taxes for the Blyth Lions Club
and Blyth Lawn Bowling Club in the
amounts of $531.88 and $403.20.***
Authorization was gi-ven for
payment of $2,530.92 to' East
Wawanosh Twp. for repairs to
Cummings Drain.
use would be dictated after
amalgamation, particularly with
Hullett joining Clinton, which is
looking for more teams and players.
Board members said all arena
agreements with regards to levies
and use would remain in place for
the time being. The WOAA (Western
Ontario Athletic Association) still
has a policy about playing for the
closest community, said Hullett
Councillor Marg Anderson.
As a kick start to the fundraising
campaign, the committee is holding
a Win a PT Cruiser for Christmas
contest which features four early
bird draws.
With 1,500 $50 tickets, members
of the committee, arena board
members and community residents
will be out in force selling chances
on the automobile.
The early bird prizes include 10
more free tickets on the PT Cruiser,
tickets to a Maple Leaf game, an
autographed print and autographed
Curtis Joseph jersey.
Anyone interested in purchasing a
ticket can call a 24- hour line at 523-
4256, ext. 29 (Jim Gilmore) for
VISA or Mastercard orders.
Those wishing to volunteer their
CLtt y,e.a>c
services and time to the committee
can contact MacDonald at 523-4942.
40thj$nniversary
"But they who wait for the Lord
shall renew their strength."
Isaiah 40 vs. 31a
John and Florence Wiersma
Please join us with our family in
celebrating at an
Open House
on Saturday, October 14,2000, D.V.,
from 2-4 p.m. at the
Clinton & District Christian School,
243 Princess St. E., Clinton, ON.
Best Wishes only please.
Aubrey and Marie Toll,
R.R. #3 Blyth, have celebrated
three special events this year.
On December 28,1999, they
celebrated 55 years of marriage.
On March 19, 2000, Aubrey celebrated
his 80th birthday
and on October 13, 2000,
Marie will celebrate her 80th birthday.
Congratulations on reaching these
milestones from their family of four
children, 10 grandchildren and
three great-grandchildren.
Best Wishes from Avon and Al
Corneil, Vaughn and Marlene Toll,
Cheryl and Tom Cronin and their
families, all of the Blyth area, and
Kerry Toll and Greer Black
and family of Calgary.
Continued from page 11
Martin, Linwood, weighing 650 lbs.
sold for $157.50. A limousin steer
veal consigned by Richard Horst,
Listowel, weighing 630 lbs. sold for
$153.50. Eric Nonkes, Auburn,
consigned by one red steer veal
weighing 645 lbs. which sold for
$144.
Lambs, under 50 lbs. sold $60 to
$132; 50 - 64 lbs., $107 to $175; 65
- 79 lbs., $115 to $142; 80 - 94 lbs.,
$112 to $125; 95-110 lbs., $105 to
$120.
Goats sold $32 to $175.
Sheep sold $34 to $64.
Stockers: steers, under 400 lbs.,
sold $138 to $198; 400 - 499 lbs.,
$140 to $193; 500 - 599 lbs., $137 to
$165; 600 - 699 lbs., $130 to $155;
700 - 799 lbs., $ 116.75 to $ 139; 800
- 899 lbs., $101 to $132.50; 900 -
999 lbs., $97.50 to $133; 1,000 lbs.
and over, $102 to $128.
Heifers, under 300 lbs., sold $146
to $167; 300 - 399 lbs., $116 to
$194; 400 - 499 lbs., $135 to $161;
500 - 599 lbs., $129 to $148; 600 -
699 lbs., $114 to $139.50; 700 - 799
lbs., $104 to $137.50; 800 - 899 lbs.,
$107.50 to $135.50; 900 lbs. and
over, $100 to $125.
It’s My
Paper
Old UOimc
Countru jBrcakfast
Sunday, October 15
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
at Londesboro Hall
• Eggs • Bacon • Sausage
• Pancakes and Homefries
Adults........................................$5.00
Children Under 12...................$3.00
That's what you can say when you read The
Citizen. All around us in the past few years
newspapers have been changing hands like
plastic "houses" in a Monopoly game but since it's
first issue on October 23,1985, The Citizen has had
just one owner: the people of Brussels, Blyth and
northern Huron County. It's your paper because it's
owned by 48 shareholders in the area.
The Citizen
I Serving the communities of BMh and Brussets ond nalhem bfeiron Countvl