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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-02-24, Page 22PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2005. PEOPLE AROUND WALTON By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570 Better late than never. We wish Henry Grobbink our best in his recovery from hip surgery six weeks ago. He's doing just great and is walking with a cane or crutches. Way to go Henry! Our sympathies are extended to Gene and Joyce Marcuccio and family on the passing of Joyce's stepmother in Renfrew. Joyce, accompanied by daughter Dawn, spent three days in Renfrew with famil} and attending the funeral. We welcome Heidi McClure back from her trip to Switzerland. Accompanied by her brother Bill, and wife Darlene and their son Luke, she spent 10 days overseas. They HE begins budget talks By Mark Nonkes Special to The Citizen Huron East councillors started sharpening their pencils as first round budget talks began at the Feb. 15 meeting. While preliminary figures indicated a 20 per cent tax hike for 2005. council instructed staff to take another look at the books and bring back a more manageable tax increase of four or five per cent. "Every department has to cut a certain wad out." said McKillop councillor Sharon McClure. "Our rural people are really starting to suffer." added McKillop councillor Ferg Kelley. Under contention were two big ticket items, a new grader and a new Brussels firetruck. "It's better to buy new stuff than buy new icpairs." said councillor Joe Steffi er. The new firetruck is expected to cost $23O.()()() while the grader is estimated at $300,000. Some council members thought the purchases were manageable if they turned to their capital equipment reserve fund. Mayor Joe Seili explained the firetruck' the department wants to replace is a 1950s tanker. "It should be in a museum." Seili said. "1 m not going to tell a ratepayer vour road looks good, but, by the way il there is a fire you could cook." Seili added. Councillor Mark Bcavcn said when he talked with some members ol the Brussels Fire Department most realized the new' truck may not be purchased this year. Beaven suggested pulling half the amount lor a truck away this year, then buying it in 2006. When questioned about the grader, public works co-ordinator John Forrest reminded council the machinery was on last year’s budget as well but cut then too. “You can only fix things so much," Joe Stettler sympathized. Other suggestions were to slash some road construction projects or the economic development budget. Much later in the meeting, after budget talks had wrapped up. deputy-mayor Bernie MacLcllan asked council to consider downloading some of its buildings, m particular the Vanastra Curling Club. Council will look al a revised had a great visit with their sisters. Margarite and Hannah, who reside in different areas of Switzerland. They also visited with their parents’ relatives. The last time the four Natcr children had been together for a visit was in 1998 and they really enjoyed their time together. Darlene and Luke did some skiing, while Heidi and Bill enjoyed watching from the chalet. It was wonderful and even the nine-hour flight home from Zurich to Amsterdam to Toronto wasn’t that bad. Any holiday with family is always a holiday to remember. The birthday boy. Jim Smith, celebrated more than one party for his 96th birthday. On Friday, over 50 gathered at JR's to enjoy coffee and cake and wish Jim a happy birthday. Jim's family gathered at the Walton Inn on Sunday to enjoy a delicious birthday dinner. About 17 family members including Ron. Gerald and Donna and their families had a great time together at the Inn. Spending the weekend in Orillia and no gambling was Jo-Ann McDonald. I attended along with my sister Nancy from Ayton, a reunion budget again in upcoming meetings. On a positive note, treasurer Brad Knight reported that since the new policing agreement was drawn up. Huron East saved more than $115,000. The new policing On bended knee It was a bit of a balancing act at first for this group of skaters as they attempted a portion of one of their routines planned for the upcoming talent show. The children are members of the Blyth Skating Club. (Vicky Bremner photo) Adam Hamilton The Twins Are Love & Love your b°ys families ^°Ur 9ir!s Nichole Hinschberger of the girl cousins on my side of the family. There were six of us at my cousin’s beautiful cottage on Sparrow Lake. It was a great lime of remembering our younger years, our grandparents and of our times together growing up. As with a lot of people, weddings and funerals are the only times we see each other so this was a really special get-together. Hopefully we will carry this on every year. There were 16 teams participating in the McGavin bonspiel at the Seaforth Curling Club on the weekend. Rick McDonald. Steve Knight, Scott McDonald and Greg Medd with Carmen Bernard filling in on game one. placed second in the first draw and had a great day. Joan Pcrric had returned from a four-day visit in Ottawa area with her sister. Gaye, flying from Hamilton to Ottawa, the 47-minute flight was quite enjoyable. Upon landing, she was whisked off by her sister to a speed skating oval where her sister speed skated, and Joan just skated, they also skated on the Rideau Canal, which just reopened after experiencing a thaw, the entire agreement provides the municipality with basic policing services instead of contract policing and a guaranteed number of officers in Huron East at any given time. It also eliminated the police services board. seven-km. route. At the other end, they donned their snowboots, and walked to the ice sculpture park. There they saw sculptures and lunched before skating back to the other end of the Rideau Canal. They went cross­ country skiing at Gatineau Hills and downhill skiing at Wakefield, Quebec. They had great weather for this very busy four days. Returning from a cruise on the Norwegian Sea cruise ship were Ron and Betty McCallum. They met friends in Houston, Texas where they boarded the ship to cruise the eastern coast of Mexico and Central America. They stopped in Cozumel. Belize and Cancun. They began and ended their week­ long trip with cool weather, but had a great four days in the middle. Always nice to get away. Returning from a two-week holiday to Ixtapa, Mexico were Harold and Pearl McCallum. Paul and Dianne McCallum and Wayne and Joyce Hartman. They enjoyed hot weather and a great resort. The men spent a day of deep-sea fishing and caught a couple of marlin which they will display on the wall when they arrive after being mounted. Flea market, day trips and just lying around and relaxing was the main order of the holiday. Birthdays celebrated last week include Murray Houston, Denise Hulley. Meagan Campbell, Mary Mann. Nelson Ryan. Brian Dolmage. Jim Smith. Brittany Hymers. Alex McDougall, Jenna Marlene, Doreen Welsh, Helen Brenie. Steve Blake, Kathy Clark. Tyler Williamson, Kevin McNaughton. Steve Knight, Christopher Becker, Joel Dalton, Bruce McDonald, Tamara Williamson. Happy anniversary to Arnold and Chantelle den Dekker, Neil and Doris Williamson and Martin and Catharine Baan. r r 'The Brubachers of Ethel ffte.&tau>iant and Siakeiy. I REAL Home-cooked meals! | [ Come and try our cinnamon buns. I Mon. - Fri. 7:00 am 'til 6:30 pm; j Sat. 8:00 am - 6:30 pm; Sun. Closed | ! 887-8659 in Ethel Q I Available now . ..-4 Blue Roses Rip MacNe.il WED. APRIL 20, 2005 - 7pm —— MEMORIAL IIAII - BLYTH — Tickets available at: Blyth Festival Office, Blyth General Store, Ernie King Music (Goderich & Wingham). Dixie Lee in Clinton. Credit Card Orders: 1-800-465-7829 FROM WALTON Stubear moves on On the second Sunday in Lent, worshippers were greeted by Karen Hoegy. Members of the board and session, trustees, stewards and the congregation then took part in the covenanting service. Tyson McGavin returned Stubear for the time for the Young at Heart. The stubear is now off for a holiday with Tyler and Brook Leslie Ribey. The senior choir anthem was Abide With Me. The scripture reader was Heidi McClure. Rev. Joan Tuchlinsky’s reflection was on knowing Jesus and knowing about Jesus. Discussion in groups followed the reflection. The offering was collected by Howard Hackwell and Keith Wilbee. World Day of Prayer is Friday, March 4 at St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church at 7:30 p.m. Many youth activities are coming up, so check the bulletin board. Regal orders are due this Sunday, Feb. 27 to Monique Baan.