HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2018-01-04, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2018.
Year in review: BPS makes way for CCRC in March
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G ryON'
End of an era
After decades of educating the future leaders of Blyth and
demolished just a few years after it was closed by the Avon
final open house celebrated the school's history before the
JANUARY
A special New Year's Levee to
kick off the village's 140th
anniversary year was a great success
according to organizers.
The event included a symbolic
Christmas tree burning, musical
performances and sled dog
demonstrations by Blyth's own
Siertsema family.
Blyth Cowbell Brewing Company
was named Ontario's best new
brewery based on a poll conducted
by the Ontario Beer Network.
The local company garnered 835
votes, which edged out Stray Dog
Brewing Company and its 718 votes
for the top spot.
Huron County Council decided
to press pause on the funding
process for the Canadian Centre
for Rural Creativity in Blyth.
Council felt that the organization
had failed to meet some conditions
set out by the county regarding the
funding and wanted to see them met
before the next round of funding was
to be released.
Tim and Donna Prior of Brussels
became the first Huron County
residents to erect a barn quilt. The
quilt was designed by Cheryl
Gardiner of Gardiner's Gate and the
Priors hoped they would be the first
of many to adorn their barns with the
artwork ahead of the International
Plowing Match in September.
North Huron Township found
itself needing a new fire chief after
the resignation of David Sparling,
who had been a firefighter for
decades.
FEBRUARY
beyond, Blyth Public School was
Maitland District School Board. A
building came down. (File photo)
Less than nine months after being
the first major hire of North Huron
and Morris-Turnberry's ambitious
shared services agreement, Director
of Public Works Jeff Molenhuis
resigned from his position.
Gary Clark, the minister for both
Blyth and Brussels United
Churches, announced that he would
be moving to Forest Hill United
Church in Kitchener after spending
almost 10 years in Blyth.
Morris-Turnberry Fire Prevention
Officer James Marshall also
resigned from his position with the
municipality. He first began with the
township five years earlier in a part-
time capacity, eventually becoming
a full-time employee along the way.
Following the resignation of
Molenhuis, North Huron and
Morris-Turnberry Council officially
voted to dissolve the shared services
agreement that had earned them
such praise one year earlier.
Blyth resident Crystal Taylor, who
had worked extensively with the
Blyth Legion and with the Blyth
140th Anniversary committee, was
announced as the winner of the
Sergeant Margaret Eve Award from
the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund.
The award annually recognizes the
community's volunteer of the year.
Taylor said that when she first
received word that she was being
honoured in such a way, she was
shocked.
Huron East Council approved the
creation of a new Community
Improvement Plan (CIP) for
Brussels that would see financial
incentives given to those who
improve their buildings in the
downtown core.
Huron County Council directed its
staff to produce a report on the
intersection of Blyth and London
Roads after much discussion at
various levels.
There had been numerous
collisions at the intersection in the
previous months and several
concerned citizens brought the issue
first to North Huron Council and
then to Huron County Council.
Severn Thompson, a woman with
a life-long history with the Blyth
Festival, was named the associate
artistic director of the Festival.
The Festival had not had an
associate artistic director since
current Artistic Director Gil Garratt
held the position several years
earlier.
MARCH
A report from consulting firm
KPMG outlined a number of missed
opportunities for North Huron's
Emergency Services Training
Centre. The main issues outlined
were delays in finalizing programs
and changing directions in the
provincial government over the
course of the centre's lifespan.
Huron East firefighters were
preparing to lace up their skates for
a charity hockey game in which they
would be taking on Ontario
Provincial Police officers, all in an
effort to raise money for Huron
County Victim Services.
Huron County Council decided to
take a wait-and-see approach to the
intersection of Blyth and London
Roads. While a petition had been
presented and concerned citizens
had spoke to both Huron County and
North Huron Councils, the county's
public works department suggested
that the intersection was on the cusp
of major development and that the
county should wait and see what
those changes meant for the
community.
Central Huron Council voted to
retain its ward system after some
discussion regarding abolishing it.
Councillors felt it was important to
keep the wards for community
identity, among other factors.
A final open house was scheduled
for the former Blyth Public School
building, as it was set to be
demolished later in the month.
Former students, teachers and
community members were all
welcomed back to the building to
enjoy it one last time.
The communities of North Huron
and Huron East mourned the passing
of Paul Josling. Josling served as the
fire chief in Blyth for decades and
worked for years as Huron East's
chief building official.
Ryan Ladner was named the new
chief of the Fire Department of
North Huron. A graduate of Humber
Continued on page 7
Broken Dryer?
Blyth Laundromat
191 Westmoreland St., Blyth
519-523-9687
Central Huron Secondary School
The Grade Eight Student
and Parent Open House
and Information Evening
is scheduled for
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10TH
at 5:00 pm beginning
with a spaghetti dinner
for grade 8 students and their parents.
There will be a guided tour of the school
including grade 9 subject areas
starting at 6:30.
The evening will conclude with door
prizes given out in the cafeteria
at 8:30 pm.
A snow date is scheduled for Thursday January 11th.
A new era
The first bank barn in decades was raised in Brussels in May as the Brussels Four Winds Barn
and Event Centre began its journey in the community. Crews were on hand in early May to
raise the bones of the structure. Construction would continue throughout the year with a
hopeful opening in 2018. (File photo)