Huron Expositor, 2005-11-23, Page 7The Huron Expositor • November 23, 2005 Page 7
News_---
All-Girls' Marching Band asks Huron East for funding
Organizers say band will not survive until 50th anniversary in 2007 without help
Susan Hundertmark
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Because it was cut off
after four years of Trillium
funding,, the Seaforth All-
Giris' Marching Band might
not survive until its 50th
anniversary in 2007.
But organizers, who visit-
ed Huron East council ask-
ing for a return to a previ-
ous $1,000 grant from coun-
cil and a mention on the
municipal website, said
they're trying to keep the
band marching forward.
"We just about sell our
souls for it (the band)," said
Penny Breen of the
attempts to make up the
$33,000 four-year grant
from the Trillium
Foundation.
"We're not sure we're
going to make it to our 50th
year in 2007. We'd really
like to have a 50 -year
reunion but to do that, we
need more funding," said -the
band's fundraising coordina-
tor Sharon Thompson.
Thompson told council the
band was hoping to create a
website to be able to reach
band alumni with requests
for funding but doesn't have
the $1,500 necessary to
Canada Day fireworks
will light up Grey's
150th anniversary
Susan Hundertmark
Canada Day fireworks for Huron East will be held
next summer for the first time in Grey ward as the
finale of its 150th anniversary celebrations.
"It's a good idea because it really shows Grey they're
part of the whole group," said Deputy -Mayor Bernie
MacLellan at Huron East's Nov. 15 meeting.
While a location hasn't been officially chosen yet,
Grey Coun. Alvin McLellan said the fireworks would
likely be held at Grey Central Public School, which he
said is "an excellent spot."
MacLellan expressed the concern that those who
attend the fireworks display have an opportunity to
make donations towards the cost since municipal fund-
ing does not cover the total cost.
Grey Coun. Mark Beaven responded that if the gate
doesn't meet the costs, the remainder could come from
the reserves of Grey ward.
Because Grey is celebrating its 150th anniversary
from July 7 to 9, the fireworks display will be mored
from Canada Day on July 1 to July 9, the finale of the
celebrations.
Beaven said the committee would still be applying for
federal funding, regardless of the date change.
"I'm sure it's going to rain on July 1," joked Brussels
Coun. David Blaney.
CONGRATULATIONS
Lorna & Caitlin McKercher are proud to
announce that John McKercher was called
to the Degree of Barrister -at -law and was
admitted to practice at the Bar of the Courts
of Ontario by the Law Society of Upper
Canada on July 21, 2005. John was the
recipient of the award from the Law Society
for the student obtaining the third highest
grades (province -wide for 2004) in the Bar
Admission Course, John practices law with
Devereaux Murray LLP in Seaforth.
build one.
"Because girls get married
and a lot still change their
names, it's hard to find our
girls," she said, adding that
a flood at the former
Seaforth high school build-
ing destroyed a lot of the
band's records.
Breen said the band pro-
vides an opportunity for
girls throughout Huron
County to join a sisterhood,
travel, learn a musical
instrument and become
involved in an alternative to
sport.
"Girls still get short-
changed in rural areas, even
in this time of equality," said
Breen.
Breen gave a history of
the band, pointing out that
its financial troubles began
when it was cut as a school
program in June, 1999.
"With increasing costs for
transportation, instrument
maintenance and replace-
ment, music and uniforms,
the band struggles to find
ways to keep this valuable
program operating," said a
written presentation to
council.
Breen said a third of the
band's membership - or
close to 30 girls - is still
from Huron East.
She pointed out that
Huron East used to give the
band $1,000 but had recent-
ly cut that amount in half.
Grey Coun. Mark Beaven
said the cut was in part
caused by the fact that the
band refused to perform in
the Brussels Santa Claus
parade one year.
But, Breen replied that
the request was made long
after the band was booked
for the Christmas season
and suggested parade orga-
nizers make their booking
next time in the summer.
McKillop Coun. Sharon
McClure pointed out that
the band was not the only
group to have its funding
cut as council looked for
ways to pare its budget.
"You still got something -
others got nothing," she
said.
Seaforth Coun. Joe
Steffler praised the band,
saying he saw them perform
in Florida one year.
"It makes you pretty
proud of being from
Seaforth," he said.
While no funding promis-
es were made, Deputy -
Mayor Bernie MacLellan
told the band representa-
tives that their request
would be discussed during
budget deliberations for
2006.
"It certainly helps during
the budget deliberations to
have heard your side of the
story," he said.
Most children aren't shy about showing
affection. Which makes them excellent
spreaders of the flu.
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