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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-06-02, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2005. Editorials /“W......... ■ Opinions Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Heather Armstrong & Dianne Nonkes 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 $30.00/year ($28.04 + $1.96 G S T.) in Canada; $85.00/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. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 PAP REGISTRATION NO. 09244 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON NOG 1 HO email: norhuron@scsinternet.com Canada We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. The Citizen P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca jjocna eg™ Member of the Ontario Press Council We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright Building for the wrong future In the 30th anniversary edition of our sister publication The Rural Voice, University of Guelph professor Ann Clark looks at the future of agriculture and rural life in general, and wonders if a coming oil shortage will drastically change our way of life. In the article, both Clark and Dr. Gord Surgeoner president of Ontario Agri-Food Technologies, see the increasing shortage of petroleum as reshaping our lives. Surgeoner, ever the optimist and believer in the miracles of genetic engineering, sees higher fuel prices creating new opportunities for farmers to grow crops that produce replacements for fossil fuels. Clark, however, sees our current high-energy-input way of life as unsustainable. “What’s rural Ontario going to look like if you have oil at $100 U.S. a barrel?” she wonders. Our food system currently sees the average bite of food in the U.S. travel 1,500 miles before reaching the plate of the consumer. What happens if we’re dependent on food travel1 mg that far and the cost of transportation soars? Clark suggests food may be grown and consumed closer to home, reversing the current trend. More and more manufacturing is shifting to China or India. What happens if shipping costs explode? Could we afford to ship goods halfway around the world? Would we have any alternative if we’ve closed our factories here? In recent years, in rural Ontario we’ve been reshaping our lives to reflect a suburban, car-dependent way of life. Instead of a quick jaunt uptown for groceries and other needs, or in the case of farm families travelling three or four miles to town, we’ve become dependent on 10-20 mile trips to a regional shopping centre. This shift comes at a time some experts suggest declining oil reserves make high gas prices inevitable. We live in one of Canada’s most prolific breadbaskets and our Huron County economy depends on the income from those farms. But if petroleum costs soar, how economical is it to continue to use 10 calories of fossil fuel energy (from fertilizer to pesticides to fuel to making the steel for tractors) to create one calorie of food energy? We’re building an economy and a lifestyle based on cheap energy at a time when most experts say cheap fuel is a thing of the past. Are we shaping a future that doesn’t make sense given the reality that’s about to be dealt to us? — KR Do the people know best? Voters in France turned down European Union’s constitution, Sunday, perhaps dashing the dream of a “United States of Europe”. Given Europe’s history of rivalry leading to wars, it’s perhaps disappointing that European Union seems less likely following the vote. A Europe that acts together rather than feuds and fights is in the best interests of the world. Yet 55 per cent of French voters also rejected the sense that a way of life they cherish might be compromised through rules set outside their borders. The bigger-is-better philosophy which has led to everything from mega-cities to municipal amalgamation in rural Ontario has left many people feeling they have no control over their lives or futures. The French have struck a blow for taking back control. — KR Letter to the editor Looking Back Through the Years THE EDITOR, My name is Ruth Robins. I am in charge of getting items together for giveaway bags, for Campvention 2006. I know a year is a long way off. But when you are doing this on your own, and you’re handicapped, that year goes by quickly. What 1 am looking for are advertising items such as pens, pencils, rulers, note pads, items that are useful ... I will need 850 if that is at all possible. I will need these as soon as you can supply them. Let me tell you about NCHA/FCRV Campvention. This is a large group of campers from the U.S.A, and Canada. We come together once a year, camping in tents to RVs and motorhomes for seven days. There are 'things to do for everyone, from youths to senior citizens, even retirees, even pet parades. The biggest event is the Crowning of the International Queen, who goes through the same routine as Miss America. Every year a region is picked from the U.S. or Canada to hold this campvention. It is made up of several states. Last year it was in Michigan. This year it is in West Virginia, and in 2006 it will be in Canada (Ontario) and in 2007 in Colorado. It is a campvention where you have fun, and meet new and old friends from all over this great North America. I personally started camping in 1982 as a single parent and I am still going at 65. I love it and all that it offers to me. So if at all possible can you help me out with items and door prizes. These can be dropped off with Dave at the Blyth arena. E-mail me please to let me know - Taximama99@aol.com - please use subject FCRV. May God Bless You. Sincerely yours, Ruth Robins, June 2, 1948 Past president of the Blyth Lions Club Bert Gray was chosen District deputy governor. The Blyth Lions executive for the next term was: president, Frank Bainton; Erst vice-president, John Henderson; second vice-president, George Radford; third vice- president. Frank Tyerman; secretary, Grant Sparling; treasurer, Verne Speiran; tail twister, Stan Sibthorpe; lion tamer, Grover Clare; directors, Stuart Robinson, Wilbur Rogers. Gordon Elliott and Norman Garrett. Dorothy Poplestone received word that she was successful in her examination tests and was now fully qualified to assume her duties as librarian at the Blyth Public Library. The poles arrived for the floodlights at the Blyth park. Two carloads of Blyth Masons joined with the members of St. John’s Lodge, Brussels in attending a Divine Service at Duff’s Church in Walton. Rev. Hazelwood delivered the address. Playing at the theatres was: That Hagen Girl with Shirley Temple, Ronald Reagan and Lois Maxwell; You Were Meant For Me with Dan Daley, Jeanne Crain and Oscar Levant; The Great Waltz with Luise Rainer, Fernand Gravat and Mary Scott and Song of the Thin Man with William Powell and Myrna Loy. May 31, 1950 C&G Krauter purchased Echmier’s Store in Brussels. The building had served as a grocery store for 62 years and it was there that Mr. Eckmier learned the grocery business from the late George Thompson. Calvin and Gordon Krauter, operated a plumbing, heating and tinsmithing business. Anniversary services were being held at Knox Presbyterian Church, Cranbrook. Rev. R.G. MacMillan was the guest speaker. The choir was assisted by members of the Presbyterian choir form Ethel. Also performing was a quartettefrom Melville Presybterian Church, Brussels. A musical concert was set for Brussels Town Hall, supervised by Miss G. Campbell. There would be “singing and dancing in costume” and admission was 35 cents for adults and 15 cents for children. The East Huron Agricultural Society dance featured the music of the Eric Scott Orchestra. Admission was $1 per couple. The Great Dan Patch was the feature at Seaforth’s Regent Theatre, while the Capitol Theatre in Listowel was showing Battleground with Van Johnson, John Hodiak and George Murphy. The Union United Church garden party was being held with a play Jumping Jewels presented by the Wallace Young People. May 31,1972 Pete Cardiff was the new president of the Brussels Legion. A cottage was moved from Conestoga to a lot adjacent to Fishleigh Street in Brussels. The owner of the property hoped to retire there in the near future. The Brussels Women’s Institute members created a Centennial quilt containing 1,010 names of people from various organizations. Specials at McCutcheon Grocery included one pound of coffeee for 79 cents and dozen oranges for 59 cents. June 4,1986 Dave Boynton resigned from Brussels council. The executive of the Brussels Legion Auxiliary were: president. Isabel Janes; second vice-president, Bonnie Brewer; executive, Verna Tunney; executive, Kitty Rutledge; secretary, Barb Graber; executive, Bernice McFarlane; treasurer. Marg Taylor and first vice-president, Jayne Ross. President of the Brussels Legion was Kathy Burkholder. Others on the executive were: Marg Bennett, Eugene Janes, Bob Frazer, Forrest Whittard, Charlie Procter, Frank Rutledge, Ross Bennett, Rev. Carpentier, Eric Ross, Gord Nichol and Tom McFarlane. The graduates of the 1985-86 playschool class in Brussels were: Kevin Mutter, Mike Cooper, Shawn Engel, Kyle McDonald, Becky Rapson, Craig Gillis, Michelle Mitchler, Kendra Wilson, Ashley Gropp, Matthew Snyder, Lorraine Blake, Christine Yoon, Sarah Exel, Stephen Oldfield, Ellen Workman and Stephen Beyersbergen. June 3,1998 High winds and thunderstorms knocked down trees and knocked out power in the area. It took 13 hours to restore electricity in Blyth. Paul Carroll retired as director of education for the Avon Maitland District School Board. Neil McGavin was the Citizen of the Year for Brussels and area. The new playground equipment was installed at East Wawanosh Public School thanks to volunteers from the community. A special ceremony was planned to present the new creative playground to residents and parents. The California Cuties were coming to Brussels to take on the local Tigers. The five-man, dress­ wearing group of “exceptional” ball players was reportedly on its final tour after 50 years in existence. With the support of Blyth council to pay the $200 registration fee, the village was to be entered in the Communities in Bloom contest for the first time. Elected to the position of Noble Grand for Morning Star Rebekah Lodge was Sister Elva Brown.