Huron Expositor, 2005-05-04, Page 1010 - THE HURON EXPOSITOR, May 4, 2005
SHARE WITH US
Women's Shelter, Second Stage Housing and
Counselling Services of Huron is celebrating twenty
years of service. We are creating a collection of stories,
poems and anecdotes to be made into a book.
We would like to hear from you if ...
You are a past or current volunteer or board member?
You are a past or current user of services?
You are a friend or relative of someone who was helped?
You are a regular donator?
You are a past or current staff member?
�^ COLLECTING YOUR VOICE!
Written submissions can be sent to
Box 334, Goderich, ON, N7A 4C7 or emailed to
michele@womenshelter-huron.ca
You can also call one of the editors to tell your story.
Please call Gail at 565-2435 or Liz at 527-2483 to share.
Lunch with
Margaret
Saturday,
September 24,
2005
Knights of Columbus
Atwood Hall, Wingham, ON
Tickets are $30
per person
Silent Auction
Tickets available at the following locations
ONLY on May 7, 2005 from 10 am to 1 pm
;oderich
Snchers -The Square
:lintoa
:ross Roads -Main Street
:xeter
:xeter Golf Club Kirkton Road,
.E. of Exeter
Wingham
The Gift Chest -Josephine St.
Bayfield
Village Book Store -Catherine St.
Seaforth
Nifty Korners - Main Street
sponsored by Women's Shelter, Second Stage Housing and Counselling
Services of Huron in celebration of 20 years of service.
News
Visiting community exhange members
say town of Brussels shows promise
By Jason Middleton
Expositor Staff
While Brussels might not
have made a great first
impression, a group of
visitors from Watford taking
part in a community
exchange program said the
town shows promise.
Last Wednesday. the group
presented its findings to a
roomful of Brussels
residents, business people
and representatives from
Huron East.
"We did have some
negatives and 1 didn't
sugarcoat this at all," said
Wayne Morris, Watford's
group representative and a
town councillor.
According to the First
Impressions Web site, the
aim of the community
exchange, which is sponsored
by the Ontario government, is
to offer a new perspective on
a community's appearance,
services and infrastructure
and help communities learn
about their strengths and
shortcomings.
Between October and
April, approximately 10
communities across Ontario,
including. Seaforth, took part
in the First Impressions pilot
project.
The Watford group visited
Brussels on April 1 and said
they were impressed with the
community's pool and the
This is just the beginning .. .
Ground School Starts
Tuesday, May 17
Stratford Air Services
Call today 2714881
8
i;
0
C�
T
a
a.
Maitland River which runs
through town.
The group said their initial
impression of town was that
Brussels was an eye catching
town, with attractive
storefronts with many empty
stores.
During an hour long
presentation, Morris brought
up many of the good aspects
of the town, as well as the
negative aspects.
When Morris brought up
the topic of downtown
Brussels, he paused and said
"Whoa!,.
"We think the potential is
tremendous," Morris said,
adding he knows that rural
communities and businesses
are dealing with the fallout
from agricultural issues such
as BSE.
"Your stores that are open
are very well kept," Morris
said, stating that the group
really liked Brussels'
hardware store.
"If they are a vacant
building they've got to be
kept up to some kind of
standards," Morris said.
The group from Watford
wanted to see what direction
Huron East council is taking
in regards to property
standards, a vacant store plan
and how much money they
were willing to spend to help
Brussels turn around.
"(We) would be afraid if
council didn't have a five or
10 year plan, that new
councils might decide just to
let the community die," the
report said.
Morris suggested that
property owners get rid of
graffiti and dirt from the
storefronts and think about
putting up posters made by
children at the school.
"When you drive through,
it will be something you will
see plus rather than minus,"
Morris said.
The group also suggested
that Brussels try and capture
the interest of the
snowmobiling community by
making a lodge where
snowmobilers could eat and
sleep.
The group also criticized
the Brussels Medical Centre
saying that it is "very small
and not user friendly."
They said that the medical
centre should be more
friendly to mothers with
children, seniors and the
handicapped by making more
direct ways to get into
offices.
Trying to recruit a full-time
doctor to the area would also
benefit the community, the
report said.
The group . also heard
worries from citizens about
Brussels not having an
ambulance station nearby.
When asked if they would
locate their business in
Brussels, the study group said
that it would be difficult to
locate a retail or service
business in Brussels.
Possible businesses, the
report suggests, which could
thrive would be a bed and
breakfast, gas station or pizza
restaurant.
When asked if they would
consider locating a
manufacturing business in
Brussels, the study group said
that although taxes are
affordable, finding a skilled
work force might be a
challenge.
As for visiting the
community as a tourist, the
study group said that
Brussels is not a destination
for tourists, yet.
"However, the group
pointed to the river and plans
for Logan's Mill as possible
future tourist attractions.
"With the right effort from
council and the residents
Brussels has great potential,"
the report said.
"Many of the vacant stores
appear to have all the right
interior design to create an
era gone by atmosphere
which would be unique," the
report said.
Huron East Mayor and
Brussels -area resident Joe
Seili said that the group was
right on the mark.
"I think their assessment of
Brussels is exactly what
we've been trying to tell
people around," said Seili.
"We've got a great
community. Let's boost on it
and let's work on it."
Jason Middleton photo
Trust donation
Seaforth Business
Improvement Association.
(BIA) chair Danica
McNichol receives a
cheque for $4,000 from
Seaforth Community Trust
board member Lou
Maloney at the BIA's
meeting Monday evening.
The donation will be used
to help the BIA purchase
iron cast sculptures,
planters, and signs at a
cost of $8,377. The new
additions, which will be
attached to hyrdo poles,
should be expected to
arrive this summer.
The good news is,
you can get your kids vaccinated
for this kind of vehavipun:
Believe it. or not, your kid can die from kissing. Or sharing a bottle, a straw, even a smoke or
lipstick. It's called meningitis C and sharing saliva spreads it. Basically, bacteria infect the
bloodstream and the lining of the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include headache. Fever.
Fatigue. A stiff neck. Sensitivity to light.. Dizziness. And a red, blotchy rash. They could lose
their hearing. An arrn or a leg. Worse, more than 1 in 10 who get infected die. So talk to your
kid about getting their free vaccination. Clinics are being held in your community and in
most schools, for 15- to 19 -year-olds. Call your local public health unit for more information.
Or talk to your doctor, visit: www.healt h.gov.on.ca, or call 1-877-234-4343, TTY 1-800-387-5559.
Protecting your health.
Ontario