The Citizen, 1994-01-26, Page 19THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26,1994. PAGE 19.
Huronlea residents enjoy busy December
By Mary Gibbings
December was a very busy
month at Huronlea. Yes, we had
our first Christmas at Huronlea,
Christmas trees, Christmas
decorations, Christmas music and
of course by Christmas day we had
snow and lots of it. Many programs
were held in December to celebrate
the festival season.
We are pleased to have a choir
(
Blyth Council briefs
Council seeks legal counsel
Following a closed session of
Blyth council a motion was made
at the regular meeting, Jan. 12, to
seek legal assistance with regards
to correspondence received.
Councillor Mason Bailey spoke
against the motion saying he pre
ferred open discussion.
The motion carried.
Until the matter is resolved coun
cil deferred two bylaws, the first to
amend the village's policy for terms
of employment, the second to
amend the job description policy.♦♦♦
Estimates had been obtained for
work area renovations at the
municipal office to accommodate a
counter in Clerk Helen Grubb's
office at the computer and in the
file room. While the project had
been included in the budget for the
past three years it had been vetoed
by previous councillors.
The estimate is $2,944. .
In explaining the need to have
the work done, Ms Grubb told
councillors that the present situa
tion is not appropriate for working
at computer terminals. Office
employee Julie Wheeler often types
with the keyboard in her lap, said
Ms Grubb while the one in her own
office is too high, causing discom
fort in her hands and arms.
"An employee begins to feel dis
respect," Ms Grubb said, adding
Groups get
prov. grant
Paul Klopp, MPP for Huron,
announced Jan. 21, on behalf of
Housing Minister Evelyn Gigantes,
that three groups are receiving
$48,900 in grants to improve the
living environments in their
Ontario Housing Corporation
communities.
The groups include Housing
Partners of Huron County,
$22,892; Association for Planning
Together Forbes Lambton Court,
$22,247; and Planning Together
Committee of Grey County and
Owen Sound, $3,800.
"These groups are working hard
to find creative ways to make their
homes a better place," Mr. Klopp
said. "Our government is
supporting their work through these
grants. It's an investment in our
communities."
These grants are used to
implement local planning activities.
Developing a series of
communication materials for
tenants and purchasing some
equipment are some examples of
how the money will be used by
these groups. "It takes hard work at
the local level to sustain healthy
communities," said Mr. Klopp.
"Enabling communities to develop
their own solutions to local issues
is ideal - they know their
communities best."
These grants are part of the $7.4
million Community Partners
program - a program run by the
Ministry of Housing to help
community groups deal with local
housing problems and provide
basic housing service.
now started at Huronlea. Dec. 1
Leila and Yvonne along with the
residents, gathered around the
piano to sing songs, Every month
we will be having this group
together. Please feel free to join us
in January.
Residents' Council meeting was
held on Dec. 2 in the fitness room.
Many interesting wishes were
heard.
that if she had known when the
office was asked to take over the
PUC billing, which required the
change to a computer system, that
she wouldn't have the proper work
areas she wouldn’t have done it.
Councillor Eugene Cobum made
the motion to approve the work.*♦»
Councillor Mason Bailey asked
Public Works Foreman John Rinn
why snow removal had been done
by hired contractors when the vil
lage had equipment.
Mr. Rinn said that while the vil
lage had done it in previous years
there was more snow this winter
and contractors could do the job
more quickly.
Reeve Dave Lee added that the
contract work was also done with
the intent of prolonging the life of
the equipment.
Councillor Bailey felt that the
work should have been tendered,
however Reeve Lee noted that ten
dering would cost the village more
and that the two contractors, who
are both ratepayers are used equal
ly-
Ms Grubb said the village
receives subsidy money for 50 per
cent of the maintenance costs but
none for capital purchase, which
means to repair or replace the
equipment would be 100 percent on
the village while contracting for
snow removal is not. "Why abuse it
(the equipment) when a local
ratepayer can do it efficiently and
you get 50 percent subsidy?" she
asked.***
Councillor Shirley Fyfe told
council of the break, due to freez
ing, in the sprinkling system at
Memorial Hall which caused flood
ing on the previous Saturday. This
is the second time it has happened.
Councillor Fyfe said the cost of
the repair shouldn't be as high as
last time, however Ms Grubb said
that the insurance does have $1,000
deductible. "The insurance adjuster
said this will be hard to swallow,"
she said.**•
A bylaw passed establishing an
interest rate on tax arrears of 1 1/4
percent per month. Councillor Bai
ley wondered if perhaps when
interest rates are dropping it would
n't be appropriate for the village's
Mappy 1/4 Century
Lori A. A.
on January 26
GOTCHA!
From Your Family
Friday, Dec. 3 it was cooking in
the craft room. The odor of cookies
made staff hungry. Yvonne and
Cathy will be in on regular times to
do baking with the residents.
On Sunday, Dec. 5 Rev. Cam
McMillan, United Church minister
of Brussels led the service in the
chapel at 2 p.m.
A sing-a-long group entertained
in the chapel at 2:30 on Monday
to drop as well. However, Ms
Grubb said the figure was deter
mined by the Municipal Act and by
the county's rate.
Council passed an interim levy
prior to the adoption of the esti
mates for the year.
A resolution was passed to
request an extension to the deadline
for PRIDE expenditures.♦♦♦
Council supported a resolution
from Clinton asking that the gov
ernment look at changing the legis
lation to relax restriction on
elevators for the handicapped.
The legislation presently states
that the use is to be specifically for
handicapped persons.♦♦♦
A letter was received from Lynda
Lentz, development co-ordinator
for Blyth Centre for the Arts thank
ing the village for its consideration
of the festival's request for an oper
ating grant in 1993.♦♦♦
Council was informed that the
Blyth branch of the Royal Canadi
an Legion had questioned Blyth
Centre for the Arts about why the
Honour Roll names had been
removed from the front stage area
and put at the back of the hall.
Councillor Fyfe said she had
asked Artistic Director Janet Amo<
as to the reason and was told that
they had been moved during the
summer performances. Ms Amos
told Councillor Fyfe they will be
returned to the front stage area at
the end of this season.’ *♦*
Councillor Eugene Coburn
questioned the advertisement for
the hiring of a meter reader for the
village. "We have cut back hours
on staff, but this looks like it's for a
long-term thing," he said.
Reeve Lee and Ms Grubb said
that reading the meters is not actu
ally the job of village staff, but is a
person hired by the Blyth Hydro
Electric Commission. While the
PUC Foreman had read meters in
the past originally it had been the
job of one person, they said. It was
felt that it would be best to go back
to this system, though village staff
would read meters if there was a
need.
PAUL J. PICKERING
TRUSTEE IN BANKRUPTCY
AND FINANCIAL CONSULTING
Call for EREE Consultation!
Days, Evenings, weekend
appointments available.
CALL TOLL FREE
1-800-561-7451
J. Paul Aitken,
Manager
3 Rattenbury St. East, Clinton
CLINTON: (519) 482-1241
HEAD OFFICE:
111 Waterloo St.,
' LONDON, Ontario
afternoon.
The December birthday party
was on Tuesday, Dec. 7. The Blyth
Swinging Seniors provided the
program and cookies for the
afternoon. Many thanks to the
seniors from Blyth for helping us
out.
Leila and Brenda were in the
craft room helping residents make
tray favours for the Christmas
meal.
On Wednesday, Dec. 8, the
Brussels hymn-sing group
entertained at 2 p.m. in the chapel.
On the Friday night the Gorrie
Bible Fellowship Group entertained
the residents at 7 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 12, Rev. Paul
Acton, the Anglican minister from
Brussels and Blyth, led the service
at 2 p.m.
The 4-H Club of Brussels visited
Huronlea on Monday, Dec. 13.
Under the leadership of Melody
White, they brought cookies and
entertained the residents at 6:30
p.m.
It was off to Blyth Public School
on Monday to see the Christmas
concert at 2 p.m. It was very much
appreciated to be asked and it was
nice to see the Huronview residents
at the same time. While we were
away the sing-a-long group
entertained the residents that were
not able to go.
The next day, Tuesday, it was off
to Brussels Public School to see
their Christmas concert
On Wednesday, Dec. 15 about 39
boys and girls from the Walton
Public School visited Huronlea to
entertain the residents. Many
thanks go to the teachers of these
three schools for the great work
they do and also for thinking of the
residents. You are invited to come
to Huronlea any time.
Rev. Banks and his wife led a
sing-song with the residents on
Dec. 16.
Friday morning it was baking in
the activity room with Yvonne and
Cathy.
TOMMY
HUNTER
ll\l CONCERT
Saturday
February 26 - 8 p.m.
MEMORIAL HALL
Blyth
Tickets: Av? liable At;
$20 Advance Blyth Festival Ticket Office
. ’ tu n Carol’s Candies and Collectables
$25. At The Door CredH Ofderg 1
CXXIMZXDZVS COUNTRY GEIVTLEIVIZKIM
Brussels Public School Grade 2
and 3 visited Huronlea and
entertained the residents. A small
gift was given to the residents.
On Sunday, Rev. John Vaudry,
Wingham led the service in the
chapel, then Monday afternoon toe
tapping music and Christmas music
was the entertainment for the
afternoon provided by the Huron
Strings. Thank you Marie and your
group for coming all the way from
Clinton to entertain.
Tuesday it was Tea Time in the
apartment dining room. Don
Dunbar played Christmas music
and everyone sang Christmas carols
and enjoyed the goodies.
The Community Caroilers sang
Christmas carols in the halls on
Wednesday, Dec. 21. Wednesday
afternoon Dorothy and Harold
entertained the residents in the
sitting room.
Let's not forget every Friday it is
Bingo Time in the fitness room.
Yes Helen, Roy and B.J. are
playing bingo with our residents.
Don't forget in 1994 to join this
lively event at 2 p.m.
The ladies fellowship group of
Brussels Mennonite Church
provided a Christmas gift for
residents who did not get one to
open on Christmas day. Everyone
dressed in their best clothes. It was
snowing outside, it was Christmas
day, everyone in the sitting room
enjoyed opening their gifts.
Sunday, Rev. Randy Banks of
Walton and Bluevale United
Church led the service at 2 p.m. in
the chapel.
I would like to thank every
volunteer who has helped us out in
1993 and hope it will carry on in
1994. Many thanks to all of you for
everything you have done. A
Happy New Year to everyone at
Huronlea from the staff and
residents.
To anyone in the hospital, a
speedy recovery. To those who
have lost a loved one our sympathy
goes to the families.
I