HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2006-06-15, Page 1The race is on
The sounds of motocross racing were in the air near Walton as riders took to the track at the
Lee farm on the weekend. The event was a qualifying series sponsored by Kawasaki. There_
were over 1,160 entries. This will .be the last race at Walton until the huge national event in
August. (Vicky Bremner photo)
Grey fire dept. marks 50th
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e Citizen
Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County
Volume 22 No. 24
Thursday, June 15, 2006
$1 (93c + 7c GST)
Festival
artists
nominated
for awards
Members of the Blyth Festival's
2006 season Company were
recently nominated in Toronto for
the prestigious Dora Mayor Moore
Awards.
"It's wonderful that Blyth can
attract directors and designers• of
such stature," says artistic .director
Eric Coates.: "We're honoured to
have these incredibly talented
craftspeople here. Our work
premiering new scripts provides
them a unique opportunity and
escaping the city and relocating to
the beautiful rural countryside of
Huron County for a few-weeks
each summer is tremendously
appealing."
Honorary artist, costume and set
designer_ of Another Season's
Harvest. Shawn Kerwin designed
the set of The Monument produced
by Obsidian Theatre Company
nominated in the Outstanding
Production of a Play Category.
KerWin was also nominated for
Outstanding Play Design for the
same play as well as for
,Outstanding Costume Design for
'St. Christopher.
Blyth's set and lighting designer
for The Ballad of Stompin' Tom,
Steve Lucas was nominated for
Outstanding Set Design for
i blood.clan' - one wonihan story).
In the Outstanding New Play or
New Musical Category, Rebecca
Picherack (lighting designer - Lost
Heir).was nominated for lighting
design for Bombay Black as well as
Outstanding Lighting Design for /
Know and Feel That Fate is Harsh
But I am so Loath to Accept This
and Rough House. -
In the Outstanding Production;
Outstanding Set Design, and
Outstanding Lighting Design
categories Glenn- Davidson (Set
. and Costume Designet; -
Schoolhouse) received recognition
tor set and lighting design ot The
Last Day.s of Judas Lvcariot.
Davidson was also nominated in
the Outstanding Set Design
Continued on page'22.
Women
chosen
top
Citizens
The Citizens of the Year in both
Blytli and Brussels are women, who
have been residents of their
communities for a long time and who
are well-known for their
volunteerism and kindness to others.
Lois van Vliet has been a resident
of Blyth for 42 years. A nominator
creditted her for her kindness and
compassion. "She takes seniors
shopping and delivers home-baked
goodies to them on holidays."
van Vliet currently serves as
secretary for the Horticultural
Society. She helps plant and
maintain flowerboxes, picks up litter.
decorates the hall and co-ordinates
the potluck supper. She submits news
of the Society to The Citzen.
She is a patron and volunteer of the
Blyth Festival and served. on the
hoard of directors for 13 years.
As a member of Blyth United
Church. van Vliet is currentl,
serving as elder and member of the
archival. joint needs, assessment and
Women's Day Out committees. A
nominator stated that she compiled
and edited the 150th anniversary
cookbook and helps at funeral
luncheons. She is the flower co-
ordinator and decorates the
sancturary for special holidays.
"Lois has a passion for 'gardening
-'and is known for -her beautiful
flowers around her home on main
street, a nominator stated. "She
actively participated in Communities
in Bloom and was recognized with
best Welcoming Walkway and-Fall
Decoration."
Phyllis Mitchell. formerly ot
Walton, now of Brussels has given
countless hours of volunteer service
to both communities. She has helped
with catering groups. church groups
and bridal showers. She has hosted
parties for people who are moving
away.
But Mitchell is probably most
well-known for her love of music
and sharing that love with others.
She, often with grandson Jamie, in
whom she has instilled 'the same
passion. provide special music at
church services with their violins.
Mitchell also entertains at nursing
homes.
In addition to volunteering.
however, nominators telt Mitchell
deserving as well because of her kind
and generous heart. "She is the one
- who is first to arrive at someone's
door .if they've been ill or suffered a
loss with a bouquet of flowers and a
pot of homemade soup," a nominator
stated.
When she and her husband moved
from the family farm, she re-opened
the successful bed and breakfast in
their new Brussels residence. Her
good nature, interest in others and
wonderful cooking keep visitors
coming hack.
van Vliet and Mitchell will receive
a plaque from The Citizen in
recognition of this honour.
On June 25, Grey firefighters are
celebrating the department's 50th
anniversary with -the annual
breakfast at the fire hall in Ethel.
The department extends a special
invitation to all former members to
join the 21 current members in
celebrating the department's
achievements at the breakfast.
The department hopes that many
community members will come and
enjoy the breakfast.
Special anniversary hats and a
2007 calendar will be for sale.
Proceeds from the breakfast, and .he
sales of these items will be used to
purchase additional equipment for
the department.
In April 1956 Grey Twp. council
purchased a 1942 International
firetruck from Brussels Motors. The
truck had an open-air cab which was
quite an experience during the
winter. This truck is still owned by
the department.
That June, council passed a by-law
"to establish and regulate a
Volunteer Fire Brigade.-
By November, 27 firefighters were
on the rolls and the east end of the
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor •
North Huron council learned at its
June 5 meeting 'that the original
estimate for the installation of an
HVAC (heating ventilation air
conditioning) unit for the Wingham
Children's Centre was low.
The price of $50,000 had been set
to cover the cost of a unit housed
township shed was being remodeled
to accommodate the fire truck and
the volunteers.
The 1962 pay for firefighters was
$3 for the first hour and $1 an hour
after that.
A1953 Fargo pumper was
purchased from the Blyth Fire
Department for $3,000 in 1968.
In 1969 the Maitland Telephone
Systems set up a five-telephone
system for the fire department.
Phones were set up in the homes
of five firefighters. Operators then
called these firefighters to give the
location of the fire. •
Today, most Of Grey Twp.'s
firefighters keep their equipment at
home and when paged, respond
'directly to the call.
In 1974 a 1972 Chevrolet with a
tank built' in Winthrop, was
purchased as a water truck. A new
water truck was put into service in
1990.
A1975 GMC pumper was also
purchased and was used until it -was
replaced by the new pumper in-2005.
In 1976 a new work shed was
built, and the fire department took
only on the rooftop, said clerk-
administrator Kriss Snell. "This
would have been a system on top of
a roof with external ductwork," he
explained.
The architect recommended
against this saying it would interfere
with future roofing repairs and did
not include required _ professional
fees or any internal construction.
He suggested a four unit HVAC
over the former shed in Ethel.
Initially most of the department's
work was fire-related.
Over the years that has changed
and now, the department responds to
automobile accidents where they
extricate injured people from
vehicles, and to medical calls where
they assist paramedics.
The firefighters are people who
agree to drop whatever they are
doing to respond to a fire or medical
emergency
They must also agree to obtain the
specialized training necessary to
provide these services and to use the
specialized equipment.
In addition to the dedication of
the firefighters, the decision
of councils throughout the years
to fund the services, and the
leadership of the chiefs and- deputy-
chiefs have been essential
ingredients in the departments
survival and success.
Past chiefs inchide: George Cook,
George Pearson, William Brown,
Bob Cunningham, Doug Evans,
Gordon Engel, John Engel, Gary
Earl and Calvin Semple.
system, said Snell, that would be
$90,000 with professional fees. It
would mean less impact on the roof
and there would be no external
ductwork.
The project, could be phased in
over two years, to spread the costs
out. This, however, would then raise
the cost to $101,200.
"Personally, I don't like to see.
Continued on page 3
Day care HVAC estimate low