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The Citizen, 2019-09-05, Page 1 CitizenTh e $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, September 5, 2019 Volume 35 No. 35 PANEL - Pg. 14 Deeper Roots series explores ‘a good death’ FESTIVAL - Pg. 19 Second Phillips Studio show brings a message CHARITY - Pg. 3 Blyth woman takes over charity run leadership role 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: 58th annual Thresher Reunion set for this weekend BIA to host parking meeting The Blyth Business Improvement Area (BIA) is putting pedestrian traffic and parking concerns for the community front and centre for discussion at its Sept. 26 meeting. BIA Executive Chair David Sparling said that he had planned on dedicating a portion of the meeting to allow BIA members to air concerns about pedestrian safety. After hearing from North Huron Councillor and BIA representative Kevin Falconer, however, Sparling decided to add parking concerns to that mandate. “We need to put a proper voice to it,” Sparling said. Falconer, during the meeting, said he had been hearing a lot about parking concerns in downtown Blyth, most of which were attributed to a shortage of available parking spaces during matinees at the Blyth Festival. “They bring traffic downtown during business hours, and it’s difficult for customers to find parking in or anything adjacent to the downtown core,” Falconer said. “There have also been questions about potential parking problems during the [annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association].” He said he wants to find a solution that isn’t just moving parking from one street to the next. Sparling said those problems would likely continue to get worse, and said that 90-minute parking limits would be implemented for the parking spots north of the Blyth Pharmacy. “It’s a real issue,” Sparling said. “We need to hear where North Huron is coming from and what [the municipality is] looking at.” The meeting is set to include North Huron representatives, as well as, at Falconer’s suggestion, emergency services personnel and possibly Huron County staff. Sparling said the meeting venue or time wouldn’t change to increase the possibility of attendance and will still take place at 8:15 a.m. at the Blyth and District Community Centre. He did say, however, that members could send in their concerns and opinions on parking and pedestrian safety to be discussed at the Sept. 26 meeting on their behalf. Correspondence can be sent to Sparling at chair@blythnow.ca. This year, the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association will be holding its reunion for the 58th time, building on generations of tradition that began around an East Wawanosh kitchen table in the home of the Hallahan family. This year’s reunion will be held under the watchful eye of Doug McCann, the president of the association. He took over for Peter Hendriks, who was the youngest president in the organization’s history. He and his father Henry were the first-ever father and son to both serve as the association’s president. Bruce Shillinglaw’s 1929 20- horsepower Waterloo is the reunion’s featured steam engine, while Allis Chalmers tractors will also be featured. Jim and Helen Fisher are the proud owners of this year’s reunion’s featured car, a 1959 Ford Galaxie. After members of the association and other volunteers worked to set up the reunion site on Labour Day Monday, campers were welcomed to Blyth on Tuesday morning. On Tuesday and Wednesday, there were a number of special musical events for those on the grounds, including jam sessions and an old- tyme dancing get-together. On Thursday, there will be a breakfast tractor parade, a relatively- new tradition that sees dozens of attendees and residents drive their tractors to a nearby town for breakfast and return to Blyth afterwards. Past destinations have been Walton, Auburn and Clinton. At 1 p.m. that day, there will be a special Plough Day event just outside of Blyth at one of the Hubbard family’s fields. Organizers Ed Daer has always described Plough Day as an excuse for those bringing antique farm machinery to the reunion to get out into the fields and play with their toys. On Thursday night, there will be three jam sessions at 7 p.m. Glen Hodgins will emcee the session in the tent, while Annie Pritchard will emcee in Shed 2 and Tom Melady will oversee the action in Shed 3. In the auditorium, Doug McNaughton will lead a special fiddle workshop, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Friday of the reunion has always been designated as Elementary School Activity Day and Senior Citizens Day. The day begins when the gates open at 8 a.m. Displays, indoor and outdoor vendors, student activities, working displays and the Lifestyles program will all begin at 9 a.m. and run until 4 p.m. At 10 a.m., the fun tractor pull will begin, as will the horse demonstration, followed by the first threshing demonstration of the reunion, which begins at 11 a.m. The Blyth United Church will be serving lunch from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the auditorium of the Blyth and District Community Centre. Also at 11 a.m., the Irish Cowboys will take to the main stage and perform until 4 p.m., taking a short break for the opening ceremonies, which are scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on the main stage. At noon, the potato-picking demonstration begins, while at 1 p.m., the special events begin and the fun tractor pull resumes, followed by the second threshing demonstration of the day at 1:15 p.m. At 4 p.m., the 50/50 draw will be made on the main stage, just before the daily parade begins. The annual fish fry, which has been taken over by the Blyth Lions Club for the first time, also begins at 4 p.m. at Blyth Lions Park. In the upper hall, the Blyth United Church volunteers will be serving up dinner from 4-6 p.m. The Twilight Serenaders, a reunion favourite, will be playing in the tent beginning at 6 p.m., while the Stone Boat Pullers will take over the tractor pull track at 7 p.m. On Friday night, Richard Lobb will emcee a jam session in Shed 2, while Tom Melady will head up the jam session in Shed 3. The Country Versatiles will put on An annual tradition that will be celebrating its 99th year this September, the Elementary School Fair in Belgrave brings together area students to show off some of their skills. This year’s fair will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 11. The fair began in the days of one- room schoolhouses and continued to celebrate local students and the agricultural way of life after larger schools were built throughout Belgrave, Blyth and Brussels. With the closure of several local schools years ago, the fair was expanded to include students from Wingham. Since that decision was made, the fair has continued to thrive and expand. The day begins at 11:15 a.m. with a parade to the Belgrave ball diamond where there will be a number of presentations from local politicians, school board representatives and students and the opening ceremonies. In recent years, the fair has also created an ambassador program. This year’s ambassador is Bryn McInnes, taking over for James Speer. After the program at the Belgrave ball diamond, the action moves indoors to the Belgrave Community Centre, where all types of produce, school work and other accomplishments of local students are celebrated. There is also an extensive program outdoors as well, including a 4-H livestock show, food vendors and other local exhibitors, which has continued to grow in recent years. School Fair set for Sept. 11 Annual tune-up Much of the equipment used for the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association is only taken out of storage once every year, so there are times when minor repairs or improvements are necessary before they can do their job for the masses over the weekend. This year’s reunion, the 58th in history, is set for this weekend with plenty to see, do, hear and taste and it’s all thanks to the association volunteers who spend their Labour Day Monday setting up at the Blyth campgrounds every year. (Shawn Loughlin photo) By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Continued on page 18 By Denny Scott The Citizen