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The Citizen, 1999-12-22, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1999. C itizenTheNorthHuron Aocna ^CNA P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont NOG 1 HO Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil Member Ontario Press Council E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $27.00/year ($25.24 + $1.76 G.S.T.) in Canada; $62.00/year in U.S.A, and $100/year in other foreign coun­ tries. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth. We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright. Publications Mail Registration No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mail Agreement No. 1374990 Would anyone listen? It’s a question that has probably intrigued most generations since the first Christmas 2000 years ago: if Christ was to be born today, instead of then, would anyone listen to him? Certainly even in those days, the son of a poor carpenter was not a like­ ly candidate to change the world. It was a time of the distant might and glory of the Roman Empire, a time when local leaders in Israel were content to align themselves with imperial rulers. The rich were very, very rich and many, many in the country were poor, including Joseph and Mary. They were so poor they ended up giving birth to Jesus in a stable. Imagine that scenario today, a time when, increasingly, we judge peo­ ple’s standing in their community by their possessions. As the century turns we tend to blame the poor for their own problems and have little sympathy for those who are “losers” in a society bent on rewarding win­ ners and punishing losers. Today everything that Jesus taught seems to be in opposition to all the tenants of modern society in which wealth and power are worshipped. Yet his teachings changed the world and made Christianity the largest religion in the world. The words are simple but the meaning is great. Listen, for instance to the Beatitudes: Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Simple words that hold so much power and beauty, they seem at odds with everything society values today. Just as Christianity spread despite the power of the political forces of 2000 years ago, however, so can the real power of Christ’s teachings still overcome the greed of our era and create a world fit for both rich and poor. — KR Photo by Connie (Hoggart) White Looking Back Through the Years From the files of the Blyth Standard, Brussels Post and North Huron Citizen Public schools and community A recent column in a Toronto newspaper on the value of a public school education system holds some truths for people in rural communities as well. Writer Fred Freedman and his wife are both doctors and could afford to send their children to private schools as many of their neighbours do, but Freedman argued that private schools promoted elitism and undermined democracy. There’s an unspoken sense among some parents of well-to- do children that “if public schools are good enough for the children of the poor, then they aren’t good enough for my kids,” he said. But it is his comments on the role of the school in the community that ring true for rural areas. “Communities are built around social interaction and the major interaction is that of families through their children. Therefore the focal point for many communities is the local school. “When children don’t attend the local school, a centre is lost. Kids don't know their neighbours; parents don’t know the children and parents of their children’s friends.” The point is, education is something more than the transfer of informa­ tion from a teacher (or a computer) to a student. Bottom-line thinking tries to reduce education to this kind of industrial process, and reduce schools to factories in which children are programmed with the technical information they need to pursue good jobs in the future. But the school experience is much more than just being filled up with information like so many jars on an assembly line. School is about build­ ing friendships, about learning to get along with those who are not like you. School is about developing a relationship with teachers who become mentors, not just brain-programmers. When a school is taken out of a community something is lost to both the community and the education process. Next to the family, the strongest unit of society is the community. When education is removed from the community, students are cut off from interaction with their own neighbours, their own neighbourhood. Children attending schools in far- off communities have a sense of being displaced. Education within the community helps build communities. — KR Dec. 26, 1979 Allan Campbell of RR1, Seaforth was re-elected president of the Huron Plowmen’s Association. Vice-presidents were Ken Duncan and Ross Eedy. Graeme Craig was secretary-treasurer. Lil McLaughlin and Jean Storrar sold the Blyth Kitchen Cupboard to Irene and Harm Thalen. Bob McKinley the Progressive Conservative MP who represented Huron for 14 years announced that he wouldn’t be seeking re-elec­ tion. Three candidates were rumoured to be vying for the Huron Bruce riding’s Torie candidacy. They were Murray Cardiff of RR1, Ethel, Bruce Shaw of Exeter and Jim Hayter Sr., of Goderich. Eleanor Bradnock, secretary of the 125 Birthday committee pre­ sented Auburn’s mayor Warner Andrews with a friendship plaque and key to Auburn, Michigan. Blyth skaters passing test were: Margaret Boer, Lissa McDonald, Dawn Flynn, Shelly Wasson, Lynn MacDonald. Dec. 19, 1989 Blyth Festival’s most successful season ever at the box office turned into its biggest deficit ever. The Festival attracted 47,000 people during the summer averaging 72.67 per cent paid attendance for each performance. This brought an increase in box office revenues of $93,000 but reduced government grants and unexpected expenses left the organization with an accumulat­ ed deficit of $74,892. Blyth firefighters were called to a house fire in the Auburn-area. Flames were shooting from the chimney as they arrived and smoke was pouring from the attic. Total damage was $1,000. An organization meeting for a new Toastmaster’s Club in Brussels was held. Toastmasters International is a non-profit educa­ tion organization which helps peo­ ple develop skills in communica­ tion and leadership. The Brussels club joined more than 6,800 clubs in 50 countries. A Blyth man was credited by police for preventing what could have been a more serious accident when a horse spooked, dragging a buggy carrying three Old Order Mennonites into the side of the transport truck. Robert Brak of was hauling salt near Elmira when the horse leaped in front of the truck. Brak jackknifed the trailer into a snow-filled ditch but the horse con­ tinued swinging the buggy into the back end. Lionel Wilder of Hay Twp. was the new Huron County warden. Scott Johnston received the Ed Watson Award and the National Trust Award at the 4-H Awards Night. Shannon Hallahan was the winner of the Huron Dairy Equipment Award. She also won the Auburn Co-op Trophy for Reserve Champion Dairy Calf at Seaforth Fair. Dec. 21, 1994 The Blyth Optimists welcomed four new members Sheron Stadelmann, Carol McDonnell, Lisa Rammeloo and Dan Baarda. The Brussels Scouts had five new members join their pack: Matthew Elliott, Philip Leger, Mark Kroll, Brian Oldfield and Vincent Bauer. Hullett Twp. received an infra­ structure grant for a new municipal building. Thanks to the quick thinking of Jordin Rutledge, 10, of Auburn, his mother, Sharon Little survived a brutal shooting in North Carolina. For his deed, Jordin* won an Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Award. John Gaunt of the Belgrave area was elected chair of the Ontario Bean Producers Marketing Board. A former East Wawanosh native retired after nearly 34 years with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs. Alan Scott is the brother of East Wawanosh councillor Murray Scott. In a turnaround of outstanding proportions, Blyth Festival posted a surplus of $146,000 on its 1994 season after a deficit of $196,000.