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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2018-6-21, Page 9For the fathers An annual tradition, the Brussels firefighters were sweating behind the griddle on Sunday as temperatures soared and they served Father's Day breakfast to hundreds of hungry diners at the fire hall. The Brussels firefighters have been serving this special meal to the fathers of Huron County for years and it's always one week before the Grey Fire Department's annual breakfast, scheduled for this Sunday morning. (Quinn Talbot photo) Foundation aids in new hire By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen The Tanner Steffler Foundation has now had a direct impact on the mental health landscape of Huron County with the creation of a pilot project with two local school boards. Steffler's parents John and Heather founded the organization in the wake of their son's overdose death and have since held several events aimed at dismantling the stigma surrounding mental health and lobbying for improved access to services in Huron County. This pilot project has been in the works since last November. It is the first practical change the foundation has been able to affect since its founding. The project calls for the hiring of a mental health and wellness coach who would work jointly for both the Avon Maitland and Huron -Perth Catholic District School Boards. The organization has committed to providing monetary and high-level support to the project that will place the new coach in Clinton for work at both St. Anne's Catholic and Central Huron Secondary Schools for the 2018/2019 school year. The job listing was officially released by the two school boards in early June and the applicants need to respond by Friday, June 22. The foundation has thanked all of those who have attended events or donated in recent months, stating that without their support, the ability to assist in the creation of the pilot project wouldn't have been possible. "Your donations have a direct impact on our community," the post reads. "Because of you, we have been able to provide monetary support to a joint pilot project between the Huron -Perth Catholic District School Board and Avon Maitland District School Board." In an interview with The Citizen, John Steffler said that while he and Heather are happy at the progress being made, the goal is still to have a full-time mental health and wellness counsellor in every high school in Huron County. He said the foundation also hopes to help provide aid in area public schools as well. To keep Tanner's love of music alive, the foundation will be hosting its first annual Six -String Music Fest on Saturday, July 21. The festival will take place at the Seaforth Agriplex and consists of two events. Six -String Summerfest is free for the whole family and will take place between 12-4 p.m. with inflatables, axe -throwing, a children's dime sale, food trucks and four hours of music by local youth. The Six -String Music Fest will then begin at 4 p.m. with live music, a silent auction, opening act Ray Lyell and the Storm and headlined by Canada's top Tragically Hip tribute band, Practically Hip. For more information on the foundation, visit its website at tannerstefflerfoundation.com or find it on any of the social networks. Stevensons install Little Library Free to a good home Carl and Deb Stevenson are the first in Blyth to install a genuine "Little Library" that invites locals and visitors to take or donate books as they see fit. It is located on the front lawn of their Dinsley Street home. (Denny Scott photo) Continued from page 3 had books from borrowers and lenders added. "We hope to have a varied selection for different age groups," Deb said. The library is registered with littlefreelibrary.org, a website that tracks them and, in the near future, Deb will have installed a sign and number identifying the location. A suggestion she received from the organization, via its newsletter, was to put a guest book by the library, encouraging people to say where they are visiting from. "It's been exciting so far, and we're waiting for more people to come," she said. "It's definitely drawn interest." In getting ready for the library's installation, Deb purchased an entire bag of books at the Blyth Festival's used book sale, first reading them herself and then making them available through the library. For more information on little libraries, visit littlefreelibrary.org. BUY? SELL? TRY CLASSIFIED THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2018. PAGE 9. Sawchuk advocates for Blyth crosswalks Continued from page 1 both of those communities have numerous crosswalks and traffic lights installed, whereas Blyth doesn't have either. Howick Reeve Art Versteeg said he was surprised when he read Sawchuk's report to find out that Blyth didn't have a single crosswalk. He wasn't the only one, as several councillors expressed their surprise at the lack of a crosswalk in such a busy community. Versteeg also suggested a solution from Listowel, a community close to him. While the community is equipped with crosswalks, there are also sidewalk bumpouts so that those wanting to cross the street are highly visible to motorists. Huron East Mayor Bernie MacLellan said that it was his understanding that a fully -functional crosswalk with visual and audio signals would cost about $400,000. However, the crosswalk pilot project in Clinton utilizes solar technology and those can be installed in communities at a much lower cost than the standard cost of $400,000 per crosswalk. Huron County Engineer Steven Lund said the crosswalks recently installed in Clinton cost $25,000 each, although approximately $10,000 could be added for each one if sidewalk bumpouts were included. Councillor David Frayne, council's representative on the Coalition for Huron Injury Prevention (CHIP) said that numerous solutions for Blyth have been put on the organization's agenda. Not only will there be a digital speed sign placed there in the near future, but there has been talk of installing crosswalks in Blyth, Londesborough and Huron Park. South Huron Mayor Maureen Cole said she hoped Sawchuk's report would lead to the implementation of a county -wide strategy and policy for the installation of crosswalks. She said that while Sawchuk says there is a need in Blyth, reports need to be prepared and the whole county needs to be investigated because perhaps there is an even greater need elsewhere in the county. Council directed staff to prepare a report on the potential for crosswalk installation in Blyth and throughout the county to be presented to council at a future meeting. Municipality of Huron East SECOND INSTALLMENT OF INTERIM TAXES Property owners are reminded that the due date for the second installment of interim taxes is June 29, 2018. Paula Michiels Finance Manager -Treasurer Municipality of Huron East 519-527-0160 Suws Along The WO Visitor's Guide to Huron County Is eating Up! & SO IS THE NUMBER OF VISITORS TO HURON COUNTY! Will they find your business? LOW RATES HIGH IMPACT Next Issue: id Summer - 14,000 copies Next Deadline is July 13 519-523-4792 info@ northhuron.on.ca stopsalongtheway.ca