The Citizen, 2015-02-19, Page 2PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015.
Brussels Legion
Pipes and Drums
Practice
Thursday
evenings
at 7 p.m
Brussels Legion
Contact Don Martin at
519-887-6328
for more information.
An invitation to join our
street band.
Experience not
necessary.
Training available.
Helping each other out
For Tim Waetcher of Brussels, left, sending best wishes to
fellow St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School student Ben
Nonkes, right, wasn’t enough after Nonkes was critically
injured in a single-vehicle traffic collision in 2014. Due to the
accident, Nonkes had to spend time in, and make constant
visits to, hospitals for rehabilitation efforts and students at
St. Anne’s decided to pledge support for the Nonkes family.
To further help with the pledge, Waetcher put his hair on the
line, saying that he would allow it to be shaved off as part
of an auction. Thanks to making great strides, Nonkes
himself was able to do the shaving last Friday after
returning to school. (Denny Scott photo)
Death demystified through chat
Pulling thoughts together on
Friday for a Citizen column is just
out of step for the day and it takes
just a little more concentration.
Monday is a habit, a Friday
deadline? Not so much.
Midway through a month is a
good time to ponder the events.
There’s still a chance to accomplish
something, if that was your need, or
it’s a time to smile in gratitude at the
days spent. For me, February is
always a month of thanksgiving.
Celebrated with hearts and roses,
this month of love, is a great time to
share. Now would be a good time for
a cheque to Food Share, or to a
mission project, or you could
joyfully go and do an overdue visit
or even a spontaneous meet and
greet at Huronlea. Any generous
action would be a good way to share
time and love. Just like the blood
donor folks say – it’s yours to give.
Talking about death is right up
there with discussing sex. With
guidance, comfort and safety
insured, there is now a good number
in our community who can smile
and say death at the same time. Rev.
Elise Feltrin and Rev. Gary Clark led
the people who came to the United
Church, as statements and questions
were offered. We chatted our way
through some of the uncomfortable
aspects of death. Ideas were shared,
questions were asked and everyone
grew. This is part of a three-evening
program to show that shared
knowledge will become wisdom and
death is just a portion of life.
We’re celebrating 50 years of our
beautiful red and white Canadian
flag. It has become part of us and
makes us proud, each time we notice
it flying in the breeze. Like all the
major changes in our lives the flag
debate was intense, so I’ve read and
heard. Lester Pearson was Prime
Minister in 1963 and was set to give
Canada her own flag. The opposition
coming from many places wanted
the British flag to remain ours, even
as we were getting ready to celebrate
100 years as a country.
Perhaps Pearson’s handling of all
the opposition to a new flag was a
practice run for his later endeavours
and why he later earned the Nobel
Peace Prize. With calm direction a
new flag was born and so we
celebrate this week, the 50th
anniversary of our red and white
treasure.
The reports on television this
week show the results of many folks
working together in co-operative
mode to achieve something much
greater than anyone could do
alone. A good thing for us to
remember.
Take care.
Bye now, Betty G.W.
NEWS
FROM BRUSSELS
By Betty
Graber
Watson
Call
887-9231
A NOTE FROM BETTY
By Jo-Ann McDonald
The Friday night supper at
Brussels Legion Branch had a very
small crowd of just under 20
enjoying the supper of sausage and
sauerkraut. The Branch welcomed a
new helper earning volunteer hours
in Jenna Thompson. She helped
Mary and Jo-Ann put out and clean
up the meal. Thanks to Linda Bird
for bartending as BJ was enjoying a
weekend off. This week’s supper
will be roast beef.
The planned Valentine’s wings
and meat draw was cancelled due to
the nasty weather. We hope we
didn’t disappoint too many folks.
Luckily, we have great places to eat
in Brussels.
The General meeting of Brussels
Legion Branch is next Tuesday, Feb.
24 at 7 p.m. and a reminder for all
Comrades to attend.
The notice of motion concerning
the Branch by-laws will be
presented
The youth public speaking will be
held Feb. 25 and everyone is invited
to attend.
The Thursday night darts had 10
darters venture out on a very chilly
night. Winners were: first, Kaye
Smith and Marlene Rutledge;
second, Wayne Smith and Sandra
Josling; high shot, Sandra, 140 and
high start, Marlene, 115.
At the Branch
Brussels branch
general meeting set
Thompson plugs WI’s 75th at Legislature
Members of the Majestic
Women’s Institute began their
February meeting by enjoying a
delicious lunch at Cinnamon Jim’s
restaurant. President Ruth Bauer
welcomed everyone and passed
around a Valentine’s blessing. The
Institute Ode and the Mary Stewart
Collect were repeated. Secretary
Leona Armstrong read the minutes
of the January meeting and treasurer
Marie McCutcheon gave the
treasurer’s report.
A CD was received from Huron
Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson showing
her speaking in the Provincial
Legislature on Dec. 1, 2014 about
Majestic’s 75th anniversary. Yvonne
Knight gave the Huron/Perth
Executive meeting report.
Members were reminded to mark
their calendars for the Associated
Country Women of the World church
service at Zion United Church on
April 26 and the District Annual on
May 27 at the Listowel Agricultural
Hall. The theme for the District
Annual is “Life is a Party”. Walton
WI and Majestic are in charge of In
Memoriam and each WI is
responsible for some short
entertainment. Feb. 19 is WI Day
(118th Anniversary). 2015 is the
100th anniversary of 4-H.
The roll call was answered by
showing a picture of your present or
previous pet and telling a story about
them, which proved quite
interesting. February being pet
therapy month, Ruth Bauer told
about the benefits of pet therapy. It’s
well known (and scientifically
proven) that interaction with a
gentle, friendly pet has significant
benefits. Ruth also told members
about interesting places she visited.
Feb. 15 being the 50th anniversary
of the Canadian flag, the dos and
don’ts of the national flag of Canada
were given. A collection for Coins
for Friendship was taken followed
by the singing of O’ Canada.
Mark McIntyre
Hearing Instrument Specialist
25 Years
Experience
Dispensing
Hearing Aids and
Troubleshooting
MCINTYRE HEARING CARE
HOME VISITS
Serving Wingham and Listowel area
1.888.552.2613
Hearing Aids • Hearing Tests
Repairs to All Makes
M-T’s MVCA assessment rises
Morris-Turnberry Council is
looking at a slightly larger piece of
the Maitland Valley Conservation
Area (MVCA) levy pie this year
thanks to assessment increases.
At council’s Feb. 3 meeting,
councillors were informed that if the
budget passed, Morris-Turnberry
would be responsible for 4.6 per
cent of the nearly $3 million levy for
the organization, which represented
a 4.6 per cent increase over what the
municipality had paid last year.
“This is based on re-assessment,”
Gowing said. “Ours has gone up
more heavily because of farmland.”
While the municipality isn’t one
of the higher-percentage
municipalities in the MVCA, with
lakeshore municipalities being
responsible for between 10 and 15
per cent higher, paying $57,000
wasn’t something on which
councillors weren’t sure they
agreed.
“We don’t really have a choice in
this, do we?” asked Councillor
Sharen Zinn.
Councillor Dorothy Kelly said the
municipality could object to it but, if
the majority of municipal councils
covered by the authority agreed to it,
their objection wouldn’t matter.
“We can comment on this and
attempt to show your disfavour or
favour for it, but, at the end of the
day, it’s the majority of the
stakeholders who hold sway,”
Mayor Paul Gowing said.
Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer
Nancy Michie pointed out that, after
another increase, Morris-Turnberry
Council had voiced its displeasure
with the increases last year, but since
the majority of municipalities
approved it, the budget and levy
Brussels Royal Canadian
Legion Branch 218
Public Speaking
Contest
Wednesday, February 25
6:00-6:30 pm - Doors open for registration
7:00 pm - Speeches begin
Public Welcome
Snow date ~ February 26
Continued on page 10
By Denny Scott
The Citizen