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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-12-20, Page 4PAGE 4, THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 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 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1HQ Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website wwv'.northhuron.on.ca A5 J^ocna <*§na Member of the Ontario Press Council Definitely ‘community centres’ In arguing strongly for the Blyth and District Community Centre to get a larger portion of the money from the sale of Blyth Hydro, Councillor Robbie Lawrie hit the button on a subject that applies to many more communities than just Blyth. With old municipal boundaries gone, Lawrie warned, things like arenas will be essential in keeping communities alive. Those places that can’t keep their arenas will suffer, he warned. Communities like Belgrave and Belmore provide an excellent example of how a community can survive even when there is no legal entity anymore. There’s no Belgrave or Belmore “council”, yet the communities have worked hard to provide a community centre in the form of an arena. In doing so, they provide an inspiring model for what places like Brussels and Blyth can do with more resources than the smaller hamlets can muster. But Belgrave and Belmore also ihow there’s something much more important than just having a facility. It’s the community-wide effort that makes those arenas possible that reallv builds the community. With no big tax base to fall back on, the people of those hamlets have worked hard to make it happen. That’s going to be the key to keeping communities alive: being dedicated to making it happen. Blyth’s arena expansion, for instance, will only be successful if people get behind it whole heartedly. Just getting the money, whether from a windfall like the Blyth Hydro sale, or provincial grants, won’t have the same community-building power that full public participation will accomplish. We can keep communities like Brussels and Blyth alive, but only if we’re willing to follow the example of places like Belgrave and Belmore and roll up our sleeves and work at it. — KR Thanks for the hard work Our municipal councils are having their last meetings these days and all the councillors deserve our thanks for their hard work and dedication over the years. There is little thanks, or even respect, for being a municipal councillor, especially in the current era. Councillors are people who only get called if there’s a problem we want to complain about. They are people we’re all sure we know better than. We’re all sure that we could govern better if only we weren’t so busy to take the time. But the point is we don’t take the time. We’re too busy with our own lives to dedicate our time to our village or township. We’re not ready to make the tough decisions and to stand up to the criticism this brings. It’s only a few individuals who are willing to sacrifice their own time to support the community. For more than a century, in some cases for 140 years, councillors have been working hard to shape what Huron County has become today. We have them to thank for excellent roads, safe water, modern fire protection, first-class recreational facilities and all the other things that make up our modern communities. The pay was never good. The community support was often luke­ warm. Sometimes long, dedicated careers were rewarded with electoral rejection. At least we can say “thanks a lot”.— KR A light shines through Photo by Vicky Bremner Looking Back Through the Years Dec. 22, 1960 The new Brussels Public School was to be open for classes in the new year. For the first time children five years of age were required to attend kindergarten. The school secretary was Mrs. E. Elliott. The Brussels branch of the Upper Canada Bible Society held its meeting at the Brussels United Church. Mrs. James Smith presided over the Majestic WI Christmas meeting. Donations of $25 and $5 were given to the Library board and the Children’s Aid Society of Huron County respectively. A committee to pack and deliver Christmas boxes of treats to shut-ins was named. They were: Mrs. Charles Davis, Mrs. Robert Gemmell, Mrs. Florence Michel, Miss Millie McFarlane and Mrs. W. H. Bell. Mrs. Harmon De Vries, a native of Holland, gave an interesting topic, Christmas at home by a New Canadian, in which she told of customs in her homeland compared to Canadian customs. Snow tires could be purchased at Bridge Motors, Brussels, starting at $14.96. Wayne Lowe was the winner of the East Huron Centennial Committee draw for the mantle piece which had been displayed in Grant’s window. Winners of the Home and Business Place Christmas Decoration competition sponsored by the Brussels Horticultural Society were: Homes - first, Mrs. E. Shurrie; second, Mrs. Jos Brewer; third, Mrs. Jack Lowe. Business Place - first, BMG Telephone Co.; second, Wood’s Store; third, Scotch Thistle Restaurant. The Christmas dance at Cranbrook Community Hall featured the music of the Mercey Brothers. Smith’s Orchestra played for the New Year’s dance at the Ethel Community Hall while Garnet Farrier’s Orchestra played for the Walton crowd. The newly elected WMS officers were: president, Mrs. Elston Speiran; first vice-president, Mrs. Mac McIntosh; second vice- president, Mrs. Carman Baker; secretary, Mrs. Cliff Morrow; treasurer, Mrs. Everett Robinson; pianist, Mrs. Leslie Lake; Temperance, Mrs. Fred Cox; supply, Mrs. Carman Baker; press, Mrs. Mac McIntosh; missionary monthly, Mrs. McKay; community friendship, Myrtle Locking, Mrs. Gordon Speiran; baby band, Mrs. Harvey Smith; missions band, Mrs. Lindsay McKay, Mrs. Carman Baker. WA officers were: president, Mrs. Herman Whitfield; first vice- president, Mrs. Leslie Lake; secretary-treasurer, Mrs. Leslie McKay. Dec. 18, 1985 Leona Armstrong of Grey Twp. became the first female warden in the history of Huron County on Dec. 10 in a ceremony at the Huron County Court House in Goderich. Outgoing Warden Paul Steckle of Stanley Twp. presented her with a ceremonial key. Warden Armstrong was unopposed for the office. Blyth Reeve Albert Wasson took the oath of office for the first time at Huron County council’s inaugural meeting in Goderich on Dec. 10. Dale Newman, president of the Brussels Lions Club presented a cheque for $5,000 to an area family to help with the building of a wheelchair accessible addition to their homefor their son. A community planning grant of $27,283 has been awarded to the County of Huron, Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs Bernard Grandmaitre announced last week. Mr. Grandmaitre said the grant will be used by the county to prepare and industrial land use and opportunities study. A copy of the Huron County Atlas was recently presented to the Ethel branch of the Huron County Public Library. Dec. 19,1989 Scott Johnston of RR 2, Bluevale received the Ed Watson Award and the National Trust Award at 4-H Awards Night in Clinton, December 1. Brenda Teichart of National Trust, and Joan Bergsma, director of 4-H Leaders Association made the presentations for Champion 4-H Market Hog and Swine Showman at Seaforth Fall Fair, respectively. Shannon Hallahan, of RR3 Blyth, was the winner of the Huron Dairy Equipment Award which was presented by Yvonne Knight. Shannon also won the Aubum Co-op Trophy for Reserve Champion Dairy Calf at Seaforth Fair, which was presented by Anita Bos, 4-H leader. She tied for first place with Sharon Ramsey for the Bank of Montreal Awards for outstanding journalistic talent in 4-H Press Reporter.