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The Citizen, 2019-03-21, Page 7THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2019. PAGE 7. Lions Club hosting celebratory event for Ansley The Blyth Lions Club is hosting a special open house to celebrate Mikayla Ansley and her worldwide- winning essay, “Kindness Matters” next month. The club will celebrate Ansley on Sunday, April 14 at Memorial Hall from 3-5 p.m. There will be special presentations and an address from Ansley herself, including a recitation of her essay, at approximately 3:45 p.m. Ansley and her parents, Mike and Katie, have just returned from New York City where Mikayla presented her essay and received her Lions Clubs International Peace Essay trophy and a cash prize of $5,000 U.S. After first triumphing at the club and district levels, Ansley’s essay was then chosen as the best in Multiple District A, which encompasses all of Ontario and Quebec, before moving onto the international competition. The Citizen broke the news of Ansley’s win in late February, which then led to the family’s trip to Manhattan earlier this month. The competition, which was spearheaded by Lions Clubs International several years ago, invites students between the ages of 11 and 13 with visual impairments to write an essay on their answer to peace. This branch of the competition was established as an answer to the organization’s peace poster competition but for students with visual impairments. The essay details Ansley’s battle with bilateral retinoblastoma, a rare form of ocular cancer that caused her to lose her left eye and most of the vision in her right. Ansley said many people were very kind to her family at a time when both of her parents, Mike and Katie, had to quit their jobs to take her to the hospital on a regular basis. She also details the steps she’s taken to pass kindness on in recent years, whether it’s a fundraiser at her school, writing letters to world leaders or simply exchanging a smile. Ansley wrote that the smallest acts of kindness on a daily basis can change the world. Mikayla’s journey in the competition began through her father, Mike, who is a member of the Blyth Lions Club. Long-time Blyth Lions Club member John Stewart informed Mike of the competition, specifically aimed at children between the ages of 11 and 13 with visual impairments. From there, Mike and Katie mentioned it to Mikayla and she was immediately interested, although she says she has never considered herself much of a writer. Mikayla has won numerous awards for her public speaking achievements over the years, a forum she says she much prefers. With her limited vision, she said, the physical act of writing or typing on her iPad can be exhausting. However, she committed to writing about a topic she’s passionate about and asked her father to proofread for her before she submitted the essay late last year. Before Mikayla turned the essay over to her parents, she said she was confident she had done a good job, knowing it was a good opportunity to get the message of kindness across. NEWS FROM BLYTH Let us Wash Your Drapes Blyth Laundromat 191 Westmoreland St., Blyth 519-523-9687 401 Albert Street, Box 340, Brussels, ON N0G 1H0 Phone: 519-887-6336 ~ Fax: 519-887-6438 email: riversidefuneralhome@hotmail.com www.riversidefuneralhome.ca Nominate someone you know who doesn’t have a subscription to The Citizen but should! Promoting our Community CitizenTh e $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, December 13, 2018 Volume 34 No. 49 RESPONSE- Pg. 3 Morris-Turnberry Mayor calls for autonomy CONCERT- Pg. 6 Brussels Ministerial comes together for show FUNDING - Pg. 2 Education Minister in Blyth to hand out grants Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0 INSIDE THIS WEEK: Seaforth’s Fisher elected Huron East Deputy-Mayor 4-H Clubs awarded Seaforth Councillor Bob Fisher is Huron East’s new deputy-mayor, besting two others who put theirnames forward at the inauguralmeeting of Huron East Council on Dec. 4. Fisher, Tuckersmith CouncillorRay Chartrand and Grey CouncillorAlvin McLellan all let their names stand for the municipality’s second- in-command position. This came after Huron East eliminated the at-large deputy-mayor position,reducing the size of council from 12 members to 11 just ahead of October’s election.It was Fisher who nominatedChartrand for the position. Chartrand then paid the favour back by nominating Fisher. FormerDeputy-Mayor Joe Stefflernominated McLellan for the position. Fisher told his fellow councillorsthat he has lived in the community for over 40 years. In addition, he has been a councillor for 12 years andspent nearly 40 years in business, all experience he felt would aid in being the deputy-mayor.Fisher also listed a number ofprojects he’d like to see undertaken or continued both in Huron East and in Huron County.In Huron East, Fisher said hewanted to see the municipality’s community centres better utilized and to promote a harmoniousrelationship between residents of all of Huron East’s five wards. At the county level, Fisher said hewanted to see a greater focus on tourism, saying that Huron County could easily be the Prince EdwardCounty of southwestern Ontario. Healso said that while the county’s accessibility advisory committee has done a lot of great work, there is stillmore to be done.Fisher also said that, as someone who is legally blind, he also hoped that being named deputy-mayorwould inspire others with disabilities saying that if they “get [their] ass off the couch and do something” like hehas they can accomplish anything. McLellan said that his decades of experience as a councillor and onnumerous boards and committeeswould make him an ideal choice for the deputy-mayor position. He said that being self-employedwould ensure that he wouldn’t missany meetings, adding that he hates to miss any council meetings. He said he had been asked if he The Huron County 4-H Leaders’Association Awards Program was recently held at the Seaforth Agriplex, recognizing 4-H membersfor their efforts throughout the year.COUNTY AWARDS Loretta Higgins won the MurrayCardiff Award for Top All-RoundMember. The Don Pullen Award for highest overall score in the county went toEvy Verschaeve. She also won theDedication Award for dedication to the club. The Warden’s Novice Award for first year competitivemember with the highest score wentto Emily Datema. The Ben Lobb Award for the junior member with the top essaywent to Kayla Drennan.Emily Franken won the Ontario Plowmen’s Association Award for outstanding agricultural 4-Hmember as well as the LongstandingGraduating Member Award. She also received her graduation seal. The Citizen-Rural Voice Awardsfor press reporter book competitionawards went to Dugald McIntosh (first) and Mercedes Prout (second).The Huron County 4-H Leaders’Association Award for club secretary book competition were awarded to Emily Bieman (first) andKayla Drennan (second).The winning team for the county Go for the Gold Competition was the South Huron Sheep Club Teamwhich consisted of Amanda Bos,Rachel Gras, Grace Hallahan and Evy Verschaeve. The Top Gate Sign Award for the White Christmas The snow was falling on Friday night as Clinton held the final Santa Claus parade of the Huron County season, bringing residents and visitors out to the town to help celebrate the holiday season. One of the main attractions of the parade every year is the Clinton Pipe Band, seen here appealing to the ears of all in attendance. (Nick Vinnicombe photo)Continued on page 12 REALIZE YOUR DREAM IN IT TO WIN IT: brought to you by the Libro Prosperity Fund, Wingham BIA, North Huron Economic Development Committee, Huron County Economic Development and Community Futures Huron. Enter the In It to Win It contest to Win! $10,000 Prize Package. Receive invaluable (mandatory) business training to give you a good foundation in your dream to expand an existing business or establish a new business on Main Street in Wingham. Full details at www.northhuron.ca Contest opens December 12Applications will be accepted until January 25th, 2019 at 4:30 pmForms are available online or at the Township of North Huron office at 275 Josephine Street in Wingham Email: inittowinit@northhuron.ca or call the Project Co-ordinator at 519-441-7629. Continued on page 15 By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Recipient will be announced in the last paper of the month. Riverside Funeral Home will sponsor one new subscription per month. Call, email or fax your submission to Riverside Funeral Home - include person’s name, complete mailing address and your name and number. International recognition As the sponsoring club behind Blyth’s Mikayla Ansley’s winning entry into the Lions International’s Peace Essay competition, the Blyth Lions received a plaque recognizing the day. From left: long-time Lion John Stewart who received the plaque in New York, President Barney Stewart and Youth Opportunities Committee Chair Shawn Loughlin. The club is holding a special event to honour Ansley’s win on April 14. (Denny Scott photo) By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Last pie day of the season set Ushering worshippers at Blyth United Church on the second Sunday of Lent, March 17 were Emily Phillips and Marilyn Craig. Susan Lyman was guest organist and Katie Dockstader, choir director. John Stewart ran the Power Point. Trish MacGregor was guest speaker. She drew everyone’s attention to the announcements printed in the bulletin. Special attention that the pie makers will be making turkey pies on April 3 and beef pies on April 10. These will be the last pie making days until the fall. If you wish to order call Donna Moore at 519-523-9855. Trish extinguished the second candle of Lent on the altar table. The hymn “Throughout These Lenten Days and Nights” was sung. The call to worship was said responsively and the opening prayer was repeated in unison. Trish showed some pictures on the Power Point. She asked the congregation if they were scary or not scary. Some were scary to some of the congregation while others weren’t scary. The children’s hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” was sung. The scripture reading was from Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18. The responsive hymn was Psalm 27 and the gospel reading was from Luke 13:31-35. The choir sang the anthem, “I want to Pass It On”. Trish’s message to the congregation was “Seeing Goodness of God in the Land of the Living.” March 17 was the second Sunday of Lent. It is a season for personal reflection and many mixed emotions. The season gives us a chance to name the things that bother us. God is okay with us complaining and lamenting. Trish gave the congregation paper and pencils and asked everyone to write down things that were happening to them and to ask God in prayer to help with these things that were happening to us. God gives us permission to lament. Often when we talk to God about our problems they become God’s problems too. Seek the Lord and in days of troubles God will help us through these days. The hymn “Come to My Heart” was sung. The offering was received followed by the singing of the response “We Give Thee But Thine Own”, the offertory prayer repeated in unison, the prayers for the people and saying of the Lord’s Prayer. The last hymn, “How Firm a Foundation” was followed by the commissioning and the benediction and the singing of the “Threefold Amen.” Everyone was invited for coffee, treats and fellowship. By Marilyn Craig Call 523-9318 From Marilyn’s Desk Happy birthday to Taylor Wharton who celebrates March 22. There were six tables of shoot in play on Tuesday, March 12. Winners were: first, Dorothy Carter; second, June Thomas; third, Ethel Walker; most shoots, Jewel Plunkett; share the wealth, Lorna Ellis, Jewel Plunkett and Nancy Turner. The next shoot game is on Tuesday, March 26 at Blyth United Church. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. with cards beginning at 1 p.m. Come out and enjoy the fun and laughter. Mother Nature is being kind to us this week. What beautiful weather we are having. Spring must be just around the corner. Many of our snowbird friends will be coming back after a long winter. Carter, Thomas win shoot Yes - I want to save money. Enclosed is $38.00 for a 1-year subscription Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . Postal Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . On-line subscriptions available too at www.northhuron.on.ca You probably already do... if you subscribe to Save up to $2450 a year off newsstand price The Citizen Phone or mail cheque made payable to North Huron Publishing to: P.O. Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0