Lakeshore Advance, 2012-04-18, Page 17Bayfield Shadows ball team fights to save diamond
Vanessa Brown
Clinton News Record
Members of Hayfield's sole
baseball team are stepping
up to the plate to save their
ball diamond.
With youth soccer in Bay-
field swelling to 170 regis-
tered players and no active
minor baseball league, the
Bayfield Recreation Com-
mittee has proposed the
ball diamond be converted
into a third soccer field to
accommodate the growing
number of youth and adult
soccer teams. Stephanie
Allen, a player on the Bay-
field Shadows women's ball
team, addressed her con-
cerns to Bluewater council
on April 18.
"lhe last thing we want is
the uneconomical proposed
plan to deconstruct a perfect
condition ball diamond just
to reconstruct it all over
again on a soccer field," she
said. "As we've all heard the
saying before: Don't fix it if it
ain't broke."
But it seems the soccer sit-
uation is also less than ideal.
Peter Walden and Jeff
Brandon, both members of
the recreation committee,
also spoke at last Monday's
council session. Brandon
said the youngest players -
those on the U6 and U8
teams - are able to practice
on the "mini field" at Paul
Bunyan Campground, but
that option doesn't solve the
problem of overcrowding on
Hayfield's two existing
fields.
"It was brought to our
attention that the best place
for the third field would be
the ball diamond in Bayfield,
and it would be the most
beneficial to keep all the
soccer in one location," said
Brandon, who is also the vil-
lage's soccer convenor.
"Having (a third soccer field)
in Bayfield with the other
two fields will allow us to be
able to host soccer tourna-
ments and clinics, which
only improve our soccer
program and opens more
doors and possibilities for
the kids."
Relying on only one sum-
mer sport for youth recrea-
tion actually closes doors,
according to Allen.
"Keep the opportunity
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alive for diversity in choices
of the recreation in Bayfield
because that is what contrib-
utes to a well-rounded com-
munity," she urged council-
lors. "Do not put all your
eggs in one basket; the cycle
will turn and we do not want
to end up with under-utilized
land dedicated to a single
sport in the next 10 years."
While she applauded the
strength of soccer in Bay-
field, tearing down one of
the county's safest baseball
diamonds would be akin to
erasing a part of the village's
history.
The field's roots trace back
to 1981, when a 16 -team
tournament was held to
raise money for the newly
constructed regulation -size
diamond. Subsequent fund-
raising events were held for
the next four years and
raised over $50,000, a testa-
ment to community spirit,
Allen said.
"Countless of hours from
volunteer contributions
were made only 30 years ago
by several members of our
community in all aspects,
not only in the massive fun-
draising effort, but including
personally sourcing out
materials for construction,"
she said.
The time and effort that
went into building the dia-
mond struck a chord with
deputy mayor Paul Klopp,
who said he's "not about
wanting to move it. Let's
look for some other place
(for the soccer field)."
Brandon's proposal wasn't
meant to upset the baseball
players, he said, but to facili-
tate the growth of Bayfield
soccer with three fields in
one central location.
The final decision is up to
the Bayfield Agricultural
Society, which owns the
land. Mayor Bill Dowson
told the groups that it is
council's responsibility to
help them find a place to
play. The committee needs a
decision soon as soccer sea-
son starts next week.
Agree to disagree
Bluewater Mayor Bill
Dowson informed council-
lors that they will all be
participating in a session
called "How to disagree
agreeably."
Nigel Bellchalnber, a
municipal affairs expert, will
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lead the half-day meeting
that will cost $1,500. I)ow-
son said the funds have
been budgeted.
After numerous dead-
locked votes and a four-
month process to appoint
committee members, Row-
son said the session is
needed to "improve our
ability to work together."
"What we went through in
the last months trying to get a
process in place has created a
lot of concerns from the
public," he told councillors.
As a corporation respon-
sible for millions of dollars,
Rowson stressed the fact
that Bluewater council
needs to learn how to
resolve their differences
more effectively.
"We have lost some
respect in the eyes of they
public, and this is our
opportunity to learn how to
regain and maintain that
respect," he said.
The session will be open
for the public to attend. A
date has not yet been set,
Gardeners and Farmers:
Remember Tetanus Shot!
CONTINUED FROM > PAGE 25
in the skin. Even a splinter is
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Tetanus is an illness caused
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tion of tetanus cases are
caused by minor injuries
people may not think would
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Although the number of
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2008 three people died of tet-
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Adults who have not had a
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while working on their home
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Adults more than 60 years
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were younger. Immigrants to
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many would not have received
tetanus immunization In their
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To avoid contracting tela
nus while working Or playing
outside, the health unit has
recommendations.
1.Ensure that your iin nuni
zation is up to date.
2. Get a tetanus booster every
10 years at your local clinic
or doctor's office. Keep
your immunization record
in a safe place for future
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3. Wear gloves, protective
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4. Be careful when using tools
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