The Citizen - Nov. 5, 2020

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Thursday, November 5, 2020

Volume 36 No. 45

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Stratford sees rise in cases

For the children Trick-or-treating was a bit of a mixed bag this year with the COVID-19 pandemic in full swing and public health entities leaving it up to individual families whether to chance the traditional door-to-door activities. With this uncertainty in the air, local service groups took it upon themselves to ensure local children were able to trick-or-treat safely and in costume without risking door-to-door exposure. Above,

the Brussels Optimist Club gave out candy on Saturday at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre, while the Belgrave Kinsmen did the same at the Belgrave Community Centre. There was also a special trick-or-treat event at Huronlea Home for the Aged in Brussels with kids outside in their costumes bringing joy to the residents indoors, all while maintaining physical distancing protocols to ensure everyone’s safety. (John Stephenson photo)

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Huron and Perth Counties has jumped nearly eight per cent over the past week, climbing to 154 from 143 since the pandemic began in March.

Most of the new cases are in the Stratford area and are tied to an outbreak at the Cedarcroft Place Retirement Home where there have been six confirmed cases in residents and two confirmed cases in staff. As of Monday, the outbreak is being treated as active. The two staff cases were confirmed over the weekend, explained Dr. Miriam Klassen, Medical Officer of Health for Huron and Perth Counties in a press conference on Monday.

The breakdown of confirmed cases shows one new confirmed COVID-19 case in Huron County, specifically in Goderich, bringing the town’s total to four. Central Huron has had 14 confirmed cases; Bluewater has had 13; South Huron has had 10; Ashfield-ColborneWawanosh and Huron East have each had three; North Huron and Morris-Turnberry have each had one and Howick continues to be the only municipality across Huron and Perth Counties with no cases.

Stratford saw an increase of nine cases, bringing its total for confirmed COVID-19 cases to 47.

North Perth remains at 19 confirmed cases, Perth East remains at 17, Perth South remains at eight and West Perth remains at seven. St. Marys now has seven cases.

Seip seeks evaluation of campground ownership

By Denny Scott The Citizen After reviewing a service delivery report prepared by KPMG consulting, North Huron DeputyReeve Trevor Seip wants to evaluate North Huron’s involvement with the Blyth Campground.

Near the end of North Huron Township Council’s Monday night meeting, Seip said the township’s ownership and operation of the Blyth Campground is the one part of the service delivery that stuck out for him. He felt council was aware of most of the other issues presented.

“Based on what I’ve seen in [the review], council has done a significant amount of that stuff,” he said, referring to recommendations from KPMG to consider changing if and how services are delivered. “In my mind, arguably everyone’s mind, [that land] is being underutilized. I wonder what we’re going to potentially do with that property.”

While Seip said he was aware of how “emotional” the community is regarding the property, which was highlighted when council considered using part of the campground for the new fire hall, council needs to make a decision regarding the future of the campground land.

North Huron Chief Administrative Officer Dwayne Evans said the future of the campground could be tied to a recreation master plan for which staff was about to issue a request for proposals (RFP).

Through further discussion, it was explained that the RFP was set to be released on Tuesday, the day after the meeting.

Reeve Bernie Bailey said that, with the campground just being approved for use by the Blyth Festival for its 2021 season with a special outdoor show, the decision wouldn’t be one that came soon.

Furthermore, he thinks the campground is an asset to the community.

“I think there is an opportunity there,” he said. “I think you have to have the right people in place to make that opportunity work.”

Clerk Carson Lamb then brought up a recent meeting between Evans, North Huron senior staff and Huron County staff with Blyth Business

Improvement Area (BIA) Chair David Sparling to determine the future of the land. While the BIA has requested a committee to help steer the grounds, that request was deferred, Lamb said, to make sure the work wasn’t being duplicated through the recreation master plan.

Bailey said it was important for the issue to be handled with as much information as possible so council could “chart a path forward” for the land while looking at all the related issues.

Council took no action as a result of the discussion.

CH considers abolishing wards

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Central Huron Council is set to reconsider the municipality’s ward system with an option to abolish it ahead of the 2022 municipal election.

Council discussed raising the issue once again at its Monday night meeting after a report from Clerk Kerri Ann O’Rourke, taking council’s temperature on a number of issues that would have to be settled one year before the municipal

election. She asked council if members would like to reconsider abolishing the ward system, the composition of council or adding a question to the ballot for ratepayers to have their say in the fall of 2022.

Mayor Jim Ginn began the conversation, saying he didn’t see any merit to including a question on the ballot in 2022 or relitigating the composition of council, but he did think potentially abolishing the ward system was worth another look.

He said he felt that, to a certain extent, the ward system had been

made irrelevant in terms of the election when it was revealed that the Municipal Act allows for residents to run in any of their home municipality’s wards, not necessarily the one in which they live. For that reason, he said, it would be worth dropping the ward system.

Central Huron currently has two wards: the east ward, which is comprised of Clinton and Hullett, and the west ward, which is Goderich Township. The shift to a Continued on page 2

PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020.

Representation issue doesn’t prevent A2A support denial of the extension, anyone who wants to start the project will have to do so from scratch. With that being said, he felt council should recommend the extension.

“If we did that, we would keep that $500,000 worth of work that has been done,” he said. “I recommend we give them a six-month extension.”

Bailey then echoed one of the two staff recommendations, stating that any support North Huron gives is predicated on Medina being found to have the legal right to speak for the investors.

Councillor Kevin Falconer wasn’t convinced, saying that the group’s changing representation has ranged from discourteous to the current representative, who is based in Malaysia with no local counterpart.

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Students at Hullett Central Public School celebrated Halloween with costumes, but the masks might have been the ones they we were wearing anyway. Showing off their ‘facewear’ fashion are, from left, Lauren Courtney, Emma Gahan and June Bromley. (Denny Scott photo)

Ward question not on ballot turnout and a clear resolution in order to make a decision that way, but it was up to council if that’s the direction members wanted to take.

Council asked O’Rourke to prepare a report with some options

the group, thus far, has always left issues until the last minute and felt the same thing would continue to happen, and suggested six months was too long to give them. Falconer agreed with Palmer’s sentiment, but said the group has nearly two months now, so let them work within that time frame.

Bailey felt two months wasn’t long enough, but suggested a threemonth deadline.

Falconer said it wasn’t just the timeframe that was worrying, but the fact that this was the second time council had been working with an individual who may not be able to legally represent the entire group, making him worry about moving ahead with it. He then said that, if Medina had proof he could represent the group, there’s no reason he couldn’t move ahead with the project by Jan. 2 of next year, meaning the extension isn’t necessary.

In the end, council recommended that Huron County approve a sixmonth extension, provided that Medina’s position as representative could be confirmed legally by the time the issue comes before Huron County Council. If not, North Huron Council’s support would not be provided.

Citizen

Halloween (?) masks

Continued from page 1 two-ward system was made in recent years, moving from three wards, one for each former community.

Several councillors spoke in favour of the move, with Councillor Michael Russo saying that when he votes at the council table, he does so with the entire municipality in mind.

Ginn concurred, saying that is how he votes and with all councillors voting on all issues, regardless of their ward, voters should be given an opportunity to vote for all of their council seats in an election.

Councillor Marg Anderson asked if that would be the kind of question the municipality should ask on the ballot in 2022, with any change to take effect later. However, O’Rourke discouraged that, saying the municipality would need very high

“They can’t come to an agreement, much less give us any answers,” he said of the group.

Falconer added that North Huron has been made to “look silly” by supporting the project through the rotating cadre of representatives.

Councillor Chris Palmer asked if the A2A group, or subsequent representatives for that organization, had other land in the world they were having the same troubles with.

He said he wondered if they were waiting for the land to become worth selling, but then, like Bailey, changed course to say he could approve it if some kind of security was paid by the group.

Huron County Planner Monica Walker-Bolton said that A2A Developments was involved in other projects, including one in Central Huron that didn’t go ahead, though she noted that the organization was no longer involved in the Maitland Estates project. She then explained that any securities that could be asked for would be based on costs established through engineering reports, which hadn’t been completed yet.

Council then asked Walker-Bolton when the last engineering documents were prepared for the development, to which she said she hadn’t seen anything new since she started handling North Huron’s planning portfolio several years ago.

Falconer then asked if anyone had any background information about Medina and whether he was able to speak on behalf of the group, something that neither Huron County nor North Huron legal counsel had been able to accomplish.

Walker-Bolton said she had spoken to Medina via Zoom, and that his goal was to hire a local consultant to tackle the project once an extension was granted. North Huron Chief Administrative Officer Dwayne Evans then said he had been in contact with Medina and had provided him names of firms that could handle a project of this size, which includes hundreds of residential units of varying densities.

Palmer said the representation for

The

The Citizen North Huron Township Council is conditionally supporting an extension request for the plan of subdivision for the Maitland Estates project, formerly known as the A2A project, despite concerns voiced by council members.

Council, during its Monday night meeting, had to decide whether to support or recommend denial of the extension before it comes before Huron County Council later this year.

The plan of subdivision, which was first granted approval in 2014, is set to expire Jan. 2, 2021 and council members were concerned with nearly every aspect of the project, from how long it had been on the

books to the continuous switches in representation for the group to the prospect of the project actually getting done.

Reeve Bernie Bailey said he was torn on the issue. He wasn’t convinced that the most recent representative, Jose (Jeff) Maria Fernando Suaza Medina, has the legal right to represent the group Bailey also said he was growing tired of the situation.

“My first thought is I’ve had enough,” he said. “Eight years [of hearing about this project] is too much, and it’s never going to change.”

Bailey then reversed course saying that, right now, over 600 owners of the property had invested approximately $500,000 in the process and, if council suggests

regarding the ward system for a future meeting with councillors saying they didn’t want to look into the composition of council or a question on the 2022 ballot any further.

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020. PAGE 3.

Roundabout, lights likely cost the same: Hausser

By Denny Scott The Citizen The intersection of County Roads 4 and 25, London and Blyth Roads, respectively, continues to be a concern for the Blyth Business Improvement Area (BIA), according to Chair David Sparling.

During the BIA board’s Oct. 29 meeting, he broached the issue with several representatives regarding the proposed restructuring of the intersection, including Public Works Manager Mike Hausser and North Huron Reeve Bernie Bailey and Director of Public Works Jamie McCarthy.

Sparling said that, while the BIA isn’t dealing with traffic count statistics, there does seem to be many negative incidents occurring at the intersection. He also said that, while there may be a need for traffic control, the BIA’s major concern is pedestrian safety for both the employees and customers that travel to and from the developments at the south end of the community.

Recently, Huron County Council directed its staff to find a solution for the controversial intersection, which Sparling said was appreciated by the BIA. “The general sentiment is to make it safer,” Sparling said to Hausser, adding that people seem to prefer the idea of a traffic light over a roundabout.

Sparling also said that with the recent influx of cyclists thanks to the Goderich-to-Guelph Rail Trail (G2G), the concerns of cyclist safety should be added to the county’s discussion and decision-making process.

Bailey said something needs to be done and he would prefer a roundabout.

That said, he said he was fine with any solution that resulted in not having to “pick people up off the road.”

“Roundabouts can be scary if you’re not used to them,” he said.

“They are the move of the future, though. They slow traffic down but keep it flowing.

He said there were examples of roundabouts that work and roundabouts that worked but have been hampered by other development in the area, pointing to Listowel.

Listowel’s roundabout is less

effective now, he said, because a traffic light was installed nearby, causing traffic congestion at the roundabout.

From a financial standpoint, Hausser said both the roundabout and the traffic lights will cost approximately the same to install.

With the amount of work that would need to be done to expand and extend the roads for a lightcontrolled intersection, he said, the costs would even out.

“Actually, a set of signals costs more than a roundabout, but it all depends on the geometry,” he said.

Hausser went on to say that twoor three-lane roundabouts can be confusing, but a one-lane roundabout, like what would be considered for Blyth, is simple and straightforward.

In addressing concerns about transport trucks and agricultural implements, he said the Listowel roundabout can manage both and it’s a smaller roundabout than what he expected would work with that kind of traffic.

“There’s no problem there,” he said. “It’s surprising how much a small roundabout can accommodate.”

Pedestrians and cyclists will be a future consideration, Hausser said, as that hasn’t been part of the planning process yet. He said the project will need to go back to the feedback stage to make sure those concerns are being addressed.

He did say, however, that roundabouts will slow traffic, making it easier for pedestrians and vehicles to notice each other.

The project could go ahead as soon as 2022, Hausser said, as he’s pushing to put study and planning funds in the 2021 budget for the site.

Bailey said the project isn’t just a county initiative, but will involve North Huron and Central Huron.

The two municipalities will be responsible, Bailey said, for pedestrian concerns.

Hausser said the process would likely include consultation, though technically, that’s not required for intersection upgrades.

After the county seeks feedback, feasibility will be considered for the different options. After that, construction will happen and, when asked what kind of impact it will have on the community, Hausser said County Road 4 will likely never

be fully closed, despite the additional time and cost that results from keeping the road open during construction.

“We’re going to be looking at a staged approach,” he said. “We don’t want to close the roads [involved]. I know others have done it, but our intent is to stage it to maintain traffic. Whether that’s what will happen, I don’t know. If we do have to do closures, we’ll try and minimize that as much as possible.”

BIA board members asked if the project could be pushed to the shoulder seasons to avoid impacting Blyth’s summer traffic, and Hausser

The Central Huron Business Improvement Area (BIA) and Clinton businesses hosted their annual tiny tot parade on Friday to celebrate Halloween. Participants were invited to put on their Halloween costumes, pick up some treats and show off their spooky spirit. (Denny Scott photo)

by J.C. Ryle Are you born again? This is one of life’s most important questions. Jesus Christ said, “Except a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

It is not enough to reply, “I belong to the church; I suppose I’m a Christian.” Thousands of nominal Christians show none of the signs of being born again which the Scriptures have given us — many listed in the First Epistle of John. (continued from last week) 4. Loving Other Christians “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren” (1 John 3:14).

A man who is born again has a special love for all true disciples of Christ. Like his Father in heaven, he loves all men with a great general love; but he has a special love for those who share his faith in Christ. Like his Lord and Saviour, he loves the worst of sinners and could weep over them; but he has a peculiar love for those who are believers. He is never so much at home, as when he is in their company,

(to be continued next week) A Grace Gem Submitted by: Immanuel United Reformed Church, Listowel, ON 519-492-1359

are good and some who aren’t.

“The question then is how do we design roadways so it is more resilient to that kind of driver error?” he said.

The idea, he said, is to make it so driver error leads to fewer incidents or less dangerous incidents.

Safe-systems approaches are already used throughout the county, he said, pointing to guardrails as a perfect example.

“The guardrails are there to protect drivers from the most severe hazards,” he said. “Drivers will hit guardrails instead of a hazard or other vehicles.”

Spooky strutting

Are You Born Again?

He feels they are all members of the same family. They are his fellow soldiers, fighting against the same enemy. They are his fellow travelers, journeying along the same road.

He understands them, and they understand him. They may be very different from himself in many ways — in rank, in station and in wealth. But that does not matter.

They are his Father’s sons and daughters — and he cannot help loving them. What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

said it was possible, saying the only time he wouldn’t expect to see construction is in the winter.

Hausser said there are two views on road infrastructure: an engineering view that says the incidents at the corner are driver error and can’t be considered the fault of the intersection and the more holistic approach he is taking.

“The safe-systems approach asks how we can make our roads safer by design,” he said.

Hausser explained that, in the safe-systems approach, engineers are assuming “drivers will be drivers” and there will be some who

SCAN ME

PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020.

Editorials & Opinions

President: Keith Roulston • Publisher: Deb Sholdice Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny Scott Advertising Sales: Brenda Nyveld • Heather Fraser

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Marital discord According to CNN, a group of women married to men who support U.S. President Donald Trump are using a Facebook group for support calling themselves the “Wives of the Deplorables”. With some actively seeking separation and divorce, most wanted to commiserate with others who found themselves at odds with their spouses over politics.

Some of the participants found out shortly after the last election and were gob-smacked that their husbands were Trump supporters while they had voted for Hillary Clinton. But it begs the question, how can a couple not know each other well enough to understand each other’s beliefs on abortion, immigration, human rights, health care or about 100 other topics that might give you some hint as to a political leaning? These are not remote subjects that would rarely come up in conversation. These are topics that cross our paths multiple times every day. Two people in a long-term committed relationship would have to actively avoid these topics to not talk about them at some point.

If politics is not something you care enough to discuss at the dinner table or while watching the evening news, would it trouble you enough to join a public support group on social media? Perhaps politics should begin at home. You don’t have to agree with your partner, but you should understand your differences. – DS

The few over the many The team picture of the Los Angeles Dodgers with their long-awaited World Series trophy will forever serve as a time capsule of how many in the United States refused to make sacrifices and compromise their concept of freedom at the expense of their well-behaved neighbours.

Justin Turner, the Dodgers’ 35-year-old third baseman was removed from game six of the World Series after he tested positive for COVID19. The Dodgers won the World Series later that night and Turner returned to the field to celebrate with his team, despite repeated attempts to get him off the field, which Turner “emphatically refused”.

Turner was seen multiple times celebrating on the field not wearing his mask and kissing his wife. However, the time capsule moment will be the team picture in which Turner is not wearing a mask, sitting right next to the team’s manager Dave Roberts, a cancer survivor. How many were put in harm’s way by Turner’s selfish decision?

While the Major League Baseball Players’ Association is working to gather facts, there is plenty of blame to go around. Turner’s teammate Joe Kelly said he wasn’t surprised Turner was infected as the team’s “secure zone” was just steps away from an open golf course. Meanwhile, others are saying Major League Baseball needed to be more forceful in keeping Turner from the field. But the fact remains that Turner, who knew he had COVID-19, actively put lives in danger.

Greater oversight and regulation is required if professional sports are going to move ahead, there’s no doubt about that. However, whether you’re Justin Turner, Justin Bieber or someone from Brussels named Justin, you need to care about keeping others safe. Only when that attitude takes hold will the world move on from COVID-19. – SL

Not quite the end With talk of vaccines for COVID-19 both across the world and just across the provincial border in Quebec, it’s important that everyone remembers that a vaccine will not end the COVID-19 pandemic.

A vaccine for the current forms of COVID-19 could be available in early 2021, however, as Dr. Horacio Arruda, Quebec’s National Director of Public Health has said, that doesn’t mean the disease will be wiped out quickly, or at all. Having the vaccine isn’t the same as everyone being vaccinated. Arruda says it’s going to take time to vaccinate everyone and encourages everyone to not think the pandemic will be over next year.

A vaccine for the disease seems to have been sold as the end of the virus, but that’s not true – as a matter of fact, the vaccine is just a single part of wiping out a disease, alongside education and isolation.

Take, for example, smallpox, the only disease considered eradicated by humans according to the World Health Organization. That declaration, made in 1980, came well after the vaccine for the disease was first introduced in 1796.

Smallpox isn’t a great analog for COVID-19 because smallpox was only transferable to and from humans and COVID-19 can be a lot harder to identify. Between the similarities in presentation of COVID-19 and other diseases, in addition to the fact that it can be carried and transmitted asymptomatically, it will be much harder to track and control this disease. That’s also saying nothing of the ill-informed individuals railing against vaccines that may try to avoid the COVID-19 vaccine, creating pockets where the disease might thrive.

So while the vaccine’s creation, arrival and implementation will be worth celebrating, it won’t be the end of COVID-19. The disease will likely be around for longer than those of us who can be inoculated. – JDS

Looking Back Through the Years November 7, 1963 A landmark of Brussels, the old bell tower, was taken down to make way for a new Legion building. The tower’s bell would find new life, being moved to the fire station.

Work on the new Legion building, which would have a splitlevel design, was set to commence soon. It was said the building would include a self-contained auditorium.

The Bunny Hop Rabbitry of Brussels was named the winner of several first-, second- and thirdplace awards at the recent Guelph Rabbit Show. One of its animals also received the honour of being named “Best of Breed” at the show.

The Majestic Women’s Institute held several euchre parties in the village in an effort to raise money for the new artificial ice surface at the Brussels arena.

November 3, 1971 While Halloween pranks were more subdued in Blyth than they had been in past years, there was still some concerning behaviour in the village, according to The Blyth Standard. Some of the village’s elderly residents reported being harassed by young people, who were also accused of uprooting vegetables and throwing them around the village as well as cutting off the steel flag pole in front of Memorial Hall.

The Blyth PeeWee hockey team played its first exhibition game of the season and won by a score of 7-2 over Wingham.

November 10, 1999 Anger boiled over at the November meeting of Huron County Council over demands that the county pick up the costs of disbanding the Wingham Police Force.

Through lawyer John Skinner, the town argued that the county would

be responsible for the costs of severance packages and pension adjustments associated with disbanding the force in order for a county-wide contract with the OPP to move forward.

Huron County councillors were not happy with the situation, which put the county between a rock and a hard place. Goderich Township Reeve Laurie Cox equated the situation to “blackmail”, while Stanley Reeve Jack Coleman felt amalgamation in northern Huron County could be compromised if the policing situation couldn’t be squared away.

“Last year I had plenty of calls from Wingham saying, ‘we want our police force,’” Coleman said, adding that he didn’t see how Blyth, Wingham and East Wawanosh could effectively amalgamate until the policing situation in Wingham could be resolved. “That puts it back to seven municipalities that won’t be amalgamated.”

In an effort to find a compromise, the county’s administration, finance and personnel committee proposed an interest-free loan to Wingham for any costs related to disbanding the local police force, but that was turned down by the town, which further angered councillors.

“I don’t see why we should owe Wingham one dollar,” said Hay Reeve Jim Love.

The Walton Community Hall was now bustling with activity, which was a marked change from five years earlier, when residents feared it was on the brink of closure after years of serving the community.

Members of the Majestic Women’s Institute in Brussels were in the midst of preparing for the organization’s 60th anniversary.

November 4, 2010 Henry Exel, 72, of Brussels, and 20-year-old Roman Sturzenegger both died when their vehicles collided head-on in a Halloween night collision just south of Blyth.

Exel’s wife Margaret remained in hospital at the time in serious, but stable condition.

OPP Constable Joanna Van Mierlo said police had not yet found a mitigating factor in the collision.

She said that while it was getting dark at the time of the crash, she didn’t think it would have been dark enough for visibility to be a factor.

The Huron County Federation of Agriculture had a new president in Marinus Bakker of RR3, Auburn, who ran unopposed for the position, succeeding Wayne Black, also of RR3, Auburn, who opted to retire after serving two years as the president of the federation.

Ron and Sharon Douglas were honoured with the Huron County Federation of Agriculture’s annual award for outstanding contribution to agriculture at the federation’s annual meeting held on Oct. 28.

The Douglases operated the Pigmobile for Ontario Pork, which toured the province every year, reaching thousands of people.

Bicycles for Humanity, a local initiative to collect bikes and send them to Namibia, collected over 700 bicycles for the project. As part of the project, the shipping container housing the bicycles would, upon arrival in Namibia, be turned into a bicycle workshop, providing jobs for a handful of locals who would then be trained to be bicycle mechanics.

Elliott Nixon Insurance Brokers Inc. was set to celebrate its 100th anniversary with a special ceremony at Memorial Hall on Nov. 13.

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020. PAGE 5.

Other Views How the virus became political

W

hen a hurricane, flood or some other natural disaster hits a country, people may complain that their government didn’t respond to help victims quickly enough, but they generally don’t question if the emergency happened at all. But when the natural disaster of COVID-19 struck, some people conveniently believe that the danger doesn’t really exist.

The most obvious example of the school of thought is south of the border, where many feel that, because the energy is invisible, it is overblown or non-existent. However, we’ve had our own demonstrations against pandemic restrictions across Canada. Most European countries have also witnessed anti-restriction protests as well.

Libertarian demonstrators complain governments are using the fear of the virus to take away the rights of citizens – making them wear masks and preventing them from partying with their friends at home, in bars or restaurants, and hurting churches by forbidding large indoor gatherings.

I’m sure there’s not one premier or prime minister who wouldn’t gladly have given up this “power grab” to have seen their citizens continue in pandemic-free serenity. Good leaders have been pressed beyond their comfort zones in order to help protect their citizens from the terrible consequences of COVID-19’s spread. Politicians who normally would like to see the word “deficit” erased from the dictionary, found themselves borrowing money to help hospitals deal with a flood of patients or prevent the disease from sneaking back into long-term care homes and killing vulnerable residents.

Most of our leaders have demonstrated concern and empathy for the victims of the pandemic, both the victims and those who

Keith Roulston From the cluttered desk were hurt when their businesses were shuttered by regulations designed to curb the disease’s spread.

After nine months of high-pressure decision-making, these leaders must be exhausted. Yet they must be careful about getting the rest they deserve for fear of providing ammunition for critics on social media and opposition politicians who will jump on any sign of “slacking”.

But the real politicization of the pandemic comes from the right of the political spectrum.

One of U.S. President Donald Trump’s most unforgivable tactics is that he managed to turn a harmless square of material that covers the mouth and nose into a political symbol. Those who wear a mask – even if they’re Fox News reporters covering his maskless rallies – are mocked. He ridiculed Joe Biden, his Democratic Party opponent, as somehow weak because Biden wore a mask. He discourages the use of a key life-saving tool.

Trump’s minimizing of the seriousness of the pandemic is perhaps unsurprising when you remember his obsession with a strong economy. For years, he saw his ticket to reelection being tied to good jobs and low taxes.

Suddenly, it’s 2020, election year, and the pandemic sends the economy into a recession.

No wonder he wants to pretend it isn’t happening. (The irony, of course, is that if he had shown the strong leadership in tackling

the pandemic that other countries’ leaders did, he would likely have seen his popularity soar.)

But Trump can only get away with his alternative universe because so many people want to believe what he says. When he claimed last week that the reason the U.S. death toll from the virus was so high was because doctors somehow get paid more if a patient dies from COVID-19 than from some other disease, you could almost see his believers itching to Tweet the news to their friends.

Trump believers (and all those who are anti-mask and anti-restrictions) are unreachable by those who would hope to expose them to the truth. Instead they cling to the “alternative facts” they get from the Twitterverse or right-wing news channels and websites. Trump has long since indoctrinated his followers that they can’t trust anything spread by the “fake news” newspapers, radio and mainstream television.

Meanwhile, other reliable sources were undermined. The President preferred the uninformed opinions of Dr. Scott Atlas, who has no expertise on the epidemic but supported the President’s view that the pandemic isn’t that big a deal. Ignored were his top scientists, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Dr. Deborah Birx, Coronavirus Response Co-ordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force. They stopped going to meetings of the Task Force when they realized the President wasn’t listening to them.

Years after COVID-19 is conquered, the continued fascination for researchers will be how a substantial portion of the population could convince themselves that truth wasn’t true and that it wasn’t worth wearing a mask to fight off this terrible killer.

Ec Dev: Your tax dollars against you

E

conomic development can be a very important part of making a community succeed when it comes to attracting and retaining new development, ranging from residential to commercial to industrial projects. Economic development can also hamstring local businesses by trying to replace what they do for free.

Don’t believe me? Look at Huron County’s economic development team and their new “Christmas Wish Book” project that aims to put local products in an online catalogue in an effort to retain local customers.

Does that sound like a great idea? Well it should. The county’s economic development professionals blatantly ripped it off. You’re currently reading The Citizen, either online or in paper format, and that kind of advertising is exactly what newspaper businesses do every year for Christmas: we encourage local businesses to advertise what they’re selling and put it directly in front of local readers through our print and online presences and in front of a wider audience with our website and social media tie-ins.

Economic development professionals have been a burr under my saddle since I started at The Citizen. I showed up on a Wednesday, if memory serves, and, on the Friday, I checked my company-provided e-mail for the first time (which had previously been used by Editor Shawn Loughlin when he was in my place).

One of the first e-mails I saw was sent out by North Huron’s Economic Development Officer. It was, and I’m not exaggerating at all here as I may be prone to do in this space, a tax-funded attempt to rip money away from local newspapers and other media.

The e-mail allowed local businesses and restaurants to advertise specials they had going on over the weekend for free. It was put together by a North Huron staff member, meaning that the tax dollars paid to North

Denny Scott Denny’s Den Huron were being used to steal business away from some of the very same people paying said tax dollars.

That practice still goes on. Every Friday, because once upon a time I attended an event in Central Huron and made the mistake of putting my e-mail address down, I receive an e-mail called “What’s Happening in Central Huron” where upcoming events are advertised, for free, instead of, you know, supporting local businesses which, in turn, employ local people who then buy locally.

Print media isn’t an easy industry to be in.

We’re constantly seeing our hard work coopted by other forms of media which seem to attract more advertising opportunities. That, however, is a reality of our world. That’s a challenge we can face by producing a better editorial product than the next guy.

Fighting against our own tax dollars though, is a difficult proposition. No matter how hard we fight to attract advertisements, we’ll never be able to have, in the case of Huron County, an entire tax-funded department that can offer free, or next-to-free advertising by subsidizing it with tax dollars.

Good economic development professionals and departments find new and innovative ways to attract people to their communities. Those projects often include local media as a way of telling the story and advertising naturally follows.

Poor economic development professionals and departments take something someone else is doing and find a way to claim it for

themselves through government funding, be that grants or literally being employed by a municipality or county. Unfortunately, because everyone seems to want to fall over themselves fawning over these modern day Emperor’s New Clothes-style professionals, those kinds of people can continue to fail upwards.

Heck, we’re even fighting the Huron County Library now which is putting out calendars advertising events that aren’t even hosted by local library branches.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that people don’t need to know what’s going on in their communities. I’m saying that there is already an inexpensive, established way to reach out to your communities. More than that, we offer it alongside a lot of critical local news, important local events and photos of everything from Christmas concerts to parades. It’s the whole package.

That’s what these economic development professionals can’t match, and everyone should remember that if they’re asked to participate in this program. Projects like Huron County’s Christmas Wish Book initiative are doomed to obscurity because you need a reason for people to check it out and sharing it to Facebook and Twitter isn’t going to do that.

In a newspaper or on the television or over the airwaves on the radio, the advertisements are part of something bigger that draws people in.

So local advertisers, when it comes time to figure out what you or your local business associations are going to do to advertise Christmas this year, think it through. Would you rather pay your local newspaper, which in turn will tell your tale when you have anniversaries or open new businesses and employ local people to shop at your stores, or would you rather pour funding into an organization you already pay through your taxes? From my seat in the den, it’s not a hard choice to make.

Shawn Loughlin Shawn’s Sense

Head(line) of the class

H

ow many times have you been talking with a friend or a family member about something in the news and one of you has neglected to elaborate on a talking point, saying they only read the headline?

We’ve all done it and we’ve all been in those conversations, so it appears Twitter is working to help people read beyond the headline.

Twitter, after being beaten into submission over misleading Tweets sent by fake news outlets and the president of the United States, has been more aggressive in its fight for the truth, banning known disinformation and tagging Tweets known to contain inaccurate or distorted information. Now, the company, one of the leading distribution systems for news, is urging its users to read an entire story, not just the headline, to fully understand an issue.

In recent weeks, Twitter users about to engage with a questionable story have been hit with a warning, saying “Headlines don’t tell the full story” and urging readers to read the full article online before choosing whether to post it to their followers.

The Twitter Communications page said that after including this prompt, opening the article increased by 40 per cent. The number of people opening the article before Tweeting it out increased by 33 per cent and many ended up not spreading the story after reading it.

This came after some alarming findings, especially for someone like me who does what I do for a living.

A 2016 study by computer scientists at Columbia University and Microsoft found that 59 per cent of links posted on Twitter are never clicked. And while it’s less scientific, there is also the case of the fake Science Post article that circulated a while back. The post carried the headline of “Study: 70 per cent of Facebook users only read the headline of science stories before commenting” and was shared over 125,000 times on the fake news website. The story, if anyone was so inclined to click on it and read it, was composed entirely of filler text known as lorem ipsum.

Twitter’s solution to the problem was not to ban the sharing of such stories, but rather to add another step that made people work to share stories to their followers and ask them to stop and think if sharing a story is really what they want to be doing.

How to capture a reader’s attention and encourage them to read an entire story is at the very heart of what we do here at The Citizen.

Certainly it doesn’t always work and, on the flip side, we have received criticism for a headline here or there that readers felt has misrepresented the story after they’ve taken the time to read it from start to finish.

In the heyday of big newspaper operations, being a headline writer was its own job. There is an art and science to it, so people can be forgiven for falling in love with a headline and deciding they know all they need to know and don’t have to read the whole article. That, I would say, indicates a well-written headline.

However, now with online news and social media, I fear headlines are now meant to shock, rather than inform. Perhaps the more salacious, attention-grabbing headlines are the ones seeing clicks, rather than those that have been well composed, informing the reader.

We even see it on The Citizen’s Facebook page. Readers will post under stories or send us messages about headlines they’ve read, asking questions that would be answered if they’d read the entire story. So, take your time and be informed. Twitter is right; especially now, we need to look beyond the headlines and learn as much as we can before sharing.

PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020.

At the Branch

Remembrance banners raised throughout Brussels

The hunt continues The Brussels Legion hosted its Catch the Ace draw on Friday evening with an estimated jackpot of $8,000. Above, Kathy Burkholder holds the drum while Jo-Ann McDonald draws the week’s winning ticket. Darryl Smith earned $276 for being picked, but didn’t find the ace of spades, so the jackpot continues to grow. Next week’s jackpot is estimated to hit $8,500. (John Stephenson photo)

By Jo-Ann McDonald The week started at the Brussels Legion Branch with envelope stuffing for the mail-out Poppy campaign. Comrades Sandra Brown, chairman of the Poppy committee, Kathy Burkholder, Nancy Bridge, Judy Lee, Jo-Ann McDonald, Eric and Deb Ross and Jim Brown stuffed 1,000 envelopes in a record time of 90 minutes.

Many of you will have seen the banners now hanging from the light standards on main street. There are 16 banners commemorating those who served their country during the World Wars or Peacekeeping duties for our country. We thank the families who have sponsored the

banners in remembrance of their loved ones. We now have banners for William Henry Stiles, World War I -161st BN.,C.O.M.F.; John Richard Mitchell World War II - Army; Harold Logan Huether, World War II - RAF No.9 Sqn.; Dave “Scotty” Hastings, World War II - Army; Herbert Walter Rowe, World War II Governor General Horse Guards; Stanley Herbert Rowe, World War II - The Lincoln Welland Regt.; William James Coutts, World War II - Army; S. Bevan Elliott, World War I - CEF 3rd BN. Machine Gun Corps; Forrest “Bush” Whittard, World War II - Army RCSC; Joe Dauphin, World War II - The Black Watch; Carl B. Gowing, World War

II - Army; William Harris Bell, World War I/World War II - Military Police; James Gordon Workman, World War II - Navy; Cecil Alfred Judson Moore, World War II Navy; Arthur McLean, World War II - 27th Armoured Division; Edwin Ross Bennett, World War II Military Police and LCpl. William Goll, World War I - 16th Cdn.Scotch BN. The banners are a wonderful addition to our main street during this time of remembrance. Please take time to look at the banners and pause and remember.

We encourage anyone who wishes to commemorate their loved ones with a banner to contact the Branch

to find out the particulars and have them ordered for next year.

It is the week before Remembrance Day and the Legion is busy preparing for a very different Remembrance Day, the most important day in the Legion year. It is the day to recognize the sacrifices made by the men and women who served our country in the past and who serve today. The symbol of remembrance is the Poppy and the Royal Canadian Legion began the annual Poppy campaign last Friday, which is the second Friday before Remembrance Day. During this pandemic, things have had to change. The normal door-to-door campaign could not happen and the person-to-person collection at the grocery store or other places did not happen. A mail-out campaign and the Poppy boxes are in stores as usual.

The start of the campaign had Poppy committee members at the Legion on Saturday morning.

Comrades Sandra Brown and Kathy Burkholder had a table with Poppies available for those who went by.

Donations to the Poppy Fund are held in trust and there are very specific guidelines authorized by the general bylaws of the Royal Canadian Legion to the usage of the funds. The basic purpose of Poppy funds is to provide immediate assistance to ex-servicemen and women in need. This may include food, shelter or medical attention for them. Bursaries are also provided from the Poppy fund trust. Bursaries can be applied for by the children or grandchildren of ex-service personnel. More information on bursaries can be obtained from the Branch. Poppy funds can also be used for medical equipment for hospitals. The Brussels Branch has made donations to the four local hospitals each year.

Why do we wear the Poppy?

Because the Poppy is the symbol of remembrance. It is also a symbol of respect. The poem “In Flanders

NEWS FROM BRUSSELS Fields” was penned in 1918 by Dr. John McCrae. It was a few years later in 1921 that it was adopted by the Royal Canadian Legion as the symbol to be used every year to remember. It is a symbol recognized around the world. The Poppy is worn on the left lapel, close to the heart. It is not worn on the right or on a hat, but the left side. It is a sign of respect for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives in their act of duty for their country and for you. It shows respect for those who returned, battered by conflict and the atrocities of war. We wear the Poppy with respect and wear the Poppy to remember. Lest we forget.

This year is a very different year with the pandemic upon us. No large gatherings are allowed so the Royal Canadian Legions are respecting the rules. There will be no public service for the people to attend. A service will be held with only a limited number of Legion members in attendance. The service can be viewed on the Brussels Legion Facebook page. Please join us then.

We invite all to place their Poppies Continued on page 8

Brussels Legion 218 Catch the Ace Weekly Winner Winning Ticket: Darryl Smith $276 Envelope #37 found the Queen of Clubs Estimated jackpot for November 6 is $8,500 4H otion Prom

Deadline November 6

WHO’S LOOKING AT YOU?

cal p Lo Sho Promo

Deadline November 12

Put your business in front of the RIGHT eyes!

The Citizen has special interest issues coming up. l Caroets She

Heading back to the pineapple The Brussels Optimists marked Halloween during the COVID-19 pandemic with a physicallydistanced trick-or-treat event at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. The drivethrough event required everyone to follow strict safety protocols. (John Stephenson photo)

Deadline November 20

Call or email our marketing specialists today!

519-523-4792 ads@northhuron.on.ca

ink ’t Dr Don Drive &

Deadline November 20

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020. PAGE 7.

BIA budget process starts $1,480 over earnings

By Denny Scott The Citizen

The first draft budget for 2021 for the Blyth Business Improvement

Area (BIA) includes significantly higher expenditures than expected revenue, however some leftover funds from 2020 may cover the shortfall.

During the BIA board’s Oct. 29 meeting, Treasurer JoAnn Todd presented the budget as a starting point for the group to have a final budget prepared soon.

Helping out The Blyth Firefighters’ Association recently donated $1,000 to the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund, which places automated defibrillators throughout the area to help prevent loss of life.

From left: firefighters Al Dery and Robb Finch, fund founder Patrick Armstrong and firefighters Jeff Josling, Greg Jeffray and Josh Wesselink. (Denny Scott photo)

Core projects that the BIA wants to tackle including keeping wayfinding signs up to date ($750); bringing in a guest speaker ($1,500); general administrative expenses, including the group’s annual audit ($1,535); support for the nowindependent Blyth Outdoor Market ($400); support for the Hometown Holiday Weekend hosted by the Blyth Community Betterment Group ($1,500) and advertising expenses, including new welcome packages for local businesses and general advertising ($1,500) for a total of $7,935.

The BIA will bring in, through its levy, $9,665 with an additional $250 being charged to associate members, making a total of $9,915, leaving just under $2,000 for other projects.

Projects being considered include producing a welcome guide for the Blyth Campground (which may see more use as a result of people investing in recreational vehicles due to COVID-19, Chair David Sparling reported at an earlier meeting) at a cost of $1,000, the Flower-Me-Blyth project at $800 and replacing the village’s main street banners costing $2,200.

Todd said that, with those projects included, the budget would fall $1,480 short of balancing, some of which may be covered by surplus funds from previous years.

Sparling said the banners are definitely in need of replacement and that need has been highlighted by the Blyth Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion’s Remembrance banners.

“Seeing those banners, it shows our banners might need to be replaced,” he said. “We need to figure out what we’ve got and what we can do.”

Chris Johnston of Meshwork Media suggested that, given the influx of cyclists into Blyth due to the Goderich-to-Guelph Rail Trail (G2G), the BIA should invest in bike racks.

Sparling said there are bike racks now behind the pharmacy, however Vice-Chair Shane Yerema of Hotel Lux said that having bike racks in front of stores, instead of at a central location, might be a good idea.

No action was taken by the BIA on the project. The BIA board received the report including the draft budget for further discussion at future meetings.

Frustrating situation a provincial rule

By Denny Scott The Citizen

After the revelation that the Blyth BIA was following strict provincial rules when it came to finances, Chair David Sparling hopes neighbouring BIAs are doing the same.

During the BIA’s Oct. 29 board meeting, Sparling said North Huron Clerk Carson Lamb had determined

that strict rules were what led to the onerous way that money, outside its levy, comes to the BIA. In a previous meeting, Sparling said he hoped the rules could be changed as, under North Huron’s rules, any amount of money, no matter how small, had to go through North Huron Council before it could be dispersed to the organization.

“We talked about the money flow last [meeting],” he said. “Any funds, beyond the levy, [have] to go to North Huron who, then in turn, send it to us.”

Sparling said Lamb discovered that wasn’t a North Huron requirement, but a provincial one.

“To that end, I’ve asked Carson to reach out to other clerks in hopes that all the other municipal clerks and BIAs would follow a similar process,” Sparling said.

Aside from making sure everyone is following the rules, Sparling said the move would also make sure the Blyth BIA isn’t at an unnecessary disadvantage.

“I’m sure, just as we weren’t aware, that there are other BIAs or

councils that might not be aware,” he said. “This is a provinciallymandated process. That’s just the way it is. Kudos to Carson for picking up on something that most everyone else around has missed.”

Sparling said that, as a result of the revelation and the fact that the recently-independent Blyth Outdoor Market (which was run by the BIA) doesn’t have the ability to manage the changeable letter signs for the BIA, the BIA will be reaching out to local service groups to see if they are interested.

“If they aren’t interested,” he said, “we’ll have to talk to Carson to figure out how that can be done without sending a $25 fee to be approved by council every week.”

NEWS FROM BLYTH Laundromat Blyth Laundromat 191 Westmoreland St., Blyth 519-523-9687

Have A New Addition?

Remember the fallen From Marilyn’s Desk

By Marilyn Craig Call 523-9318

Game on The Blyth Brussels Minor Hockey Association’s U9 Black and U9 Burgundy Crusaders took to the ice on Saturday in a head-to-head match for bragging rights. While no score was available as of press time, the two teams fought hard throughout the game. (John Stephenson photo)

Happy belated birthday to Mike Courtney (40th) and to Floyd Herman, who celebrated Nov. 2; Hebo Siertsema, Nov. 3; Matthew Abell-Rinn, Nov. 5; Keyonia Pawitch, Nov. 6; Jeff Nesbitt, Nov. 7 and Gary Clark, Waterloo (former minister of Blyth United), Nov. 10.

Happy Anniversary to Edgar and Renske Daer who celebrated Nov. 4 and Dave and Belinda Marshall, Nov. 11.

Let us all remember our veterans this coming week. Remembrance Day will be celebrated very differently this year because of COVID-19, but we can celebrate with the few veterans who are living and those who have passed away in our hearts.

Blyth United Church is hosting another drive-thru dinner on Thursday, Nov. 5. They are also making Christmas pies again this year.

Just a note of interest when I looked out my back door on Oct. 31 the full moon was just coming up and it was a perfect orange in colour.

How fitting for Halloween evening.

Stay safe and have a good week.

Let everyone know about your new bundle of joy!

Call for prices and details

519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114

The Citizen

Blyth Legion Branch 420 November 11, 2020 Notice Remembrance Day Service Cancelled Door-to-door Poppy Campaign Cancelled Donations can be sent to Blyth Legion Branch 420 PO Box 206, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 Attn: Poppy Fund We will remember them

PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020.

Trick-or-treating numbers down due to COVID-19 PEOPLE AROUND WALTON

By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570

It has been another week of a mixed bag of weather, but with enough good days to keep the harvest going for most. It is a good feeling when you can see your year’s work come to fruition and be a success. There is still corn out there, but bit by bit, it is disappearing. The men and women who are going to be deer hunting this week will wish it were all gone, but there is still some out there. Remember when the deer

hunt is on, the deer are moving more at dawn and dusk, so be wary when driving.

Sunday was quite the day for weather as we had a peek of what will come this winter. It started not too bad with some sun but that soon disappeared during the afternoon.

Snowsqualls and flurries, high winds and cold temperatures on Sunday made it a good day to stay inside.

Monday dawned clear and bright, because of the changing of the time, and was cold, but sunny. Slippery roads were soon cleared off by around 9 a.m. and the temperatures started slowly heading up. We look forward to the nice week they have predicted.

It is grandbaby news again for Ken and Val Pethick. They have welcomed a second grandchild and this time a girl! Proud parents are Rick and Alicia who welcomed lovely Isobel on Thanksgiving weekend. Big brother Ian is excited about the new baby. Alicia’s parents

and happy nana and papa are Rob and Sue Farrish. Congratulations to all.

Halloween is always a fun night.

Scary, colourful, imaginative, interesting and funny costumes are great to see. It was a big decision for parents as to whether to allow their children to go out trick-or-treating this year due to COVID-19. I was prepared for about 20 but had a grand total of seven. Mind you, six of them were our grandchildren. We had Spiderman, Ironman, Superman, Super Mario, Boss Baby, scary cheerleader and Princess Elsa with excited giggles and laughter and, of course, thank yous from all.

Checking with friends, I found a varying number of visitors including zero, 11 and 15. Admittedly, Halloween trick-or-treater numbers have been going down over the past few years with not as many young families here in the country. Even my town friends had much lower numbers than other years.

I understand that Leola Hood is in hospital and we hope she is feeling better soon.

We say goodbye to Wendy Marks from the Brussels Foodland to a new job and say hello to Nanci Ducharme at the Brussels Pharmacy part-time.

Good luck in your new jobs ladies.

Celebrating birthdays this past week are Brent Alexander, MacKenzie McGavin, Janine Knight and Davis Steffler to complete October. November begins with Judy Lee, Marvin Bachert, Peggy Humphries, Garret Mader, Johnny Ryan, Kevin Coleman, Allison Black, Bruce Blake, Connie Cook, Alexis Terpstra, Lila Olson, Darryl Hoegy and Chris Stevenson.

Happy birthday to all.

Public welcome to drop off Poppies at cenotaph Continued from page 6 at their convenience at the cenotaph.

We ask all to pause and reflect at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month. We will remember them.

This is the second month of the early bird membership drive and the winner will be announced next week. There is still one more month to be an early bird and to win your

dues. Drop into the Branch or send your $50 dues to Box 128, Brussels.

The Catch the Ace draw was held on Friday evening. The weekly winner was Darryl Smith and he won $276. He chose envelope number 37 and revealed the queen of clubs. The estimated jackpot for week 24 is $8,500.

NEWS FROM WALTON

MUNICIPALITY OF MORRIS-TURNBERRY PUBLIC NOTIFICATION FOR CONCRETE CULVERT ON McCALL LINE NORTH OF BLYTH ROAD

PUBLIC NOTIFICATION THE PROJECT: The Municipality of Morris-Turnberry has initiated a public notification and consultation process to consider options associated with the McCall Line Culvert (M020) which spans the Murray-Lamb Drain along McCall Line, approximately 250 m north of Blyth Road (as shown on the accompanying key plan). Recent inspections of the structure have identified some deterioration of structural components. The Municipality is considering all reasonable options in conjunction with the public notification and consultation process, including: 1) Replacement of the existing concrete culvert with a cast in place culvert , 2) Replacement of the existing culvert with a precast culvert, 3) Closure and removal of the existing culvert and bank stabilization of the Murray-Lamb Drain.

Keeping it safe Huronlea Home for the Aged staff members did their best to keep Halloween going despite COVID-19 with a special trick-or-treating event at the site on Oct. 31. While it was through glass, the event did allow residents to see the ghouls and goblins in their costumes. (John Stephenson photo)

Neews depends endss on facts. ts. Whe Where are you our facts ts coming com ng from? ro

PROJECT TIMING: The Municipality intends on having all of the design work completed in 2021 for the chosen option to be executed between July 15 and September 30, 2022.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCREENING PROCESS: The planning for this project is following the planning process established for Schedule ‘A+’ activities under the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) document.

Schedule ‘A+’ projects are pre-approved pending public notification. The purpose of the public notification is to inform the public of municipal infrastructure projects in their area.

Comments from the public will be directed to the Council of the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry where they will be considered during the decision-making process.

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT: Public input and comments are invited for incorporation into the planning and design of this project. The Municipality requests all comments be received by November 27, 2020, at the address listed below. Any comments collected in conjunction with the study will be maintained on file for use during the project and may be included in project documentation.

With the exception of personal information, all comments will be directed to Municipal Council and become part of the public record.

News Media Canada is a passion ssionate advocate for the news industry. We support our mem mber m publications in their pursuit of quality journalism nalism.

Wee believe that when society has factss they can W trust, better decisions will be made.

For further information on this project, or to review the Municipal Class EA process, please contact the Director of Public Works for the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry. Municipality of Morris-Turnberry, 41342 Morris Road, P.O. Box 310 Brussels, Ontario N0G 1H0. Telephone 519-887-6137 ext. 227 or email malcock@morristurnberry.ca newsmediacanada.ca

Mike Alcock, Director of Public Works This Notice issued October 30, 2020.

Municipality of Morris-Turnberry

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020. PAGE 9.

519-523-4311

www.ruralvoice.ca

Agriculture

BLYTH 519-523-4244

www.hurontractor.com

Brussels Livestock report

Fed steers, heifers sell steadily at sale Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending Oct. 30 were 2,132 cattle and 615 lambs and goats.

On Tuesday fed steers and heifers sold steady. Choice steers and heifers sold $135 to $149 with sales to $142. Second-cut steers and heifers sold $128 to $135. Aged and medium-fed steers and heifers sold $105 to $125. Cows sold on an easier market. On Thursday veal, lambs and goats sold steady and sheep sold higher. On Friday calves sold on a strong active trade at steady prices. Yearlings sold on a strong demand at slightly higher prices.

Southlore Farms Inc. of

Palmerston, consigned five head.

One gold heifer weighed 1,360 lbs. and sold for an average price of $138.50.

There were 300 cows on offer.

Beef sold $72 to $80 with sales to $85; good holstein cows sold $63 to $67; medium holsteins cows, $53 to $60; D4 cows, $40 to $50.

Doug and Amy Miller of Lucknow, consigned three head.

One charolais cow weighed 1,920 lbs. and sold for an average price of $88.50.

There were 12 bulls selling $79 to $110. Murray Preece of Wyoming, consigned one black bull that weighed 1,325 lbs. and sold for an average price of $110.

There were 120 head of veal on offer. Beef veal sold $156 to $190 with sales to $220; good holsteins, $120 to $130 with sales to $135; SL heavy holsteins, $115 to $125; heavy holsteins, $102 to $118; medium holsteins, $110 to $120; plain holsteins, $75 to $110.

Paul Pennington of Mildmay, consigned seven head. One holstein steer weighed 745 lbs. and sold for a price of $135.

Lambs under 50 lbs. sold $172 to $257; 50 - 64 lbs., $289 to $326; 65 - 79 lbs., $289 to $315; 80 - 94 lbs., $273 to $280; 95 - 110 lbs., $260.50 to $268.

Sheep sold $125 to $200.

Goats: billies sold $150 to $350;

nannies, $100 to $200; kids: $250 to $375; meat, $300 to $375; dairy $200 to $325.

Shepherd Creek Farms of Staffa, consigned 23 head. Eight lambs averaged 105 lbs. and sold for an average price of $265. Brian and Craig Salverda of Londesborough, consigned 20 head. Sixteen lambs averaged 72 lbs. and sold for an average price of $307.

Top quality stocker steers under 400 lbs. sold $260 to $280; 400 499 lbs., $242.50 to $265; 500 599 lbs., $229.50 to $246; 600 699 lbs., $209 to $223.75; 700 799 lbs., $185.50 to $201; 800 899 lbs., $190 to $199; 900 999 lbs., $191.50 to $198.25;

Safety paramount as harvest winds down

By Rejean Pommainville, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture As we near the tail end of this harvest season, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) wants to ensure that our farming families have the resources and tools they need to stay safe on increasingly busy country roads.

Traffic is heavy throughout the province, especially near urban and suburban areas, as rapid development has led to urban sprawl.

Statistically, the average person is generations removed from the farm.

Therefore, it is not common for the majority of motorists to have the knowledge or awareness of how to interact safely when sharing the road with heavy, large agricultural equipment. As a community that cares for each other’s well-being, farmers must be proactive by strictly following road safety rules to accomplish the goal of getting crops off and ensuring everyone returns home safely.

Harvest is an extremely busy time where the stakes and external stressors are high. Remember to take the time to put safety first on roadways, on the farm and for your family. When drivers are in an impatient rush behind you, be alert for them to pass you at unexpected times. Additionally, watch carefully as you turn onto public roadways and make left-hand turns across traffic.

When driving farm equipment on the highway, be mindful that the best practice is for your machine to be on the paved portion of the road, not the shoulder. Although it is not against the law to drive your equipment on the shoulder, it’s important to be aware of the weight and stability of your load. Shoulders are not built to support heavy vehicles and could result in a dangerous outcome.

Remember to always stay alert and focused. Stay off your smartphone; the rules for distracted driving also apply when you are driving farm equipment. Operating your equipment is a large responsibility that should not be taken lightly.

For farm equipment, be sure there is a visible slow-moving vehicle sign on all pieces of machinery that travels roadways. This includes tractors, combines, self-propelled

vehicles, sprayers and any implement being towed.

Furthermore, keep your maximum speed to 40 kilometres per hour and take the time to check twice for drivers who may be anxious to race past and signal well in advance when turning on and off busy roadways.

Working well into the night and early morning is often unavoidable during harvest. To guarantee that you are visible to drivers, keep your lights on for safety. Lights must be on farm equipment from 30 minutes before sunset to 30 minutes after sunrise. However, the best practice to ensure your safety is to keep them on around the clock. Farm equipment on public roads must have two white headlights and one red taillight. All towed implements must have at least one red taillight.

Road safety is important for everyone. With farmers being only two per cent of the population, the rules, protocols, safety measures and regulations may seem overwhelming. However, there is an onus on the general public as well to keep farm equipment and roads safe.

Consumer-based road safety campaigns continue to be developed, which contain farm safety knowledge for the average motorist.

Recently, the Simcoe County Federation of Agriculture partnered with the Ontario Provincial Police’s

central region to remind drivers to slow down, have patience and share the road with farm equipment.

Lindsay’s Volunteer Fire Department also took to social media to promote road safety during harvest, advising their followers “to take a deep breath, slow down and realize these farmers are out there to harvest the crops that turn into food on your table.”

I am especially pleased with the Russell Federation of Agriculture’s “Mud on the Road” pilot project in partnership with the Township of Russell. The project addresses the danger of mud on the roads caused by agricultural activities. Farmers who opt-in are provided with two road signs that indicate to motorists the possibility of mud on the roads and to proceed with caution. After the fieldwork is completed, farmers are still responsible for clearing the road of mud per the municipality’s bylaw.

This year, the OFA undertook a social media campaign spanning from spring to late fall using the hashtag #farmsafe as a means to share facts, reminders and resources with our membership. Additionally, the OFA developed its own road safety video directed at consumers to educate them on slow-moving vehicle signs, equipment blind spots, etc. It is always encouraging to see

members sharing these resources to increase awareness and accountability within the community.

Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. It is always worth taking the extra few minutes to double-check signs, lighting and to refresh your farming team of the rules of the road. For more road safety tips, visit ofa.on.ca/roadsafety. We are wishing you all a safe and bountiful harvest.

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PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020.

Christmas decorations, cards a good way to distract PEOPLE AROUND LONDESBORO

By BRENDA RADFORD Call 523-4296

For those families that decided to celebrate Halloween by trick-ortreating door-to-door, it turned out to be a fairly pleasant evening. The snow and rain didn’t make an appearance, the wind died down for a time and the blue moon lit everything up nicely.

I have discovered a few more facts about that blue moon. Blue moons are a phenomenon that happen only every two-and-a-half years. The last one to happen on Halloween was in 2001. And Saturday’s blue moon was visible, depending on the cloud cover, in all time zones for the first time since 1944. Technically speaking this was a mini-moon because the moon was the farthest

from the earth in its orbit.

Sunday was “fall back” day as well, meaning Ontario turned back from daylight saving time to eastern standard time - perhaps for the last time. A second reading has passed through Queen’s Park to have Ontario always be in daylight saving mode. The success of this bill depends on whether Quebec and New York state will agree to do the same. British Columbia is also waiting to make this change.

Changes are being considered south of our border as well.

Daylight Saving Time (DST) was introduced during the First World War to conserve energy (why waste all those daylight hours when most people are still in bed?) and extend working hours. However scientists and health authorities claim that changing the clocks twice a year gives people jet lag for days and accidents increase for a period of time until our bodies adjust.

Staying on DST means our days will seem longer heading into the winter months when people start suffering from the winter blahs. And

daylight hours at this time of year are few enough. This week we are looking at darkness before most of us have our suppers. Makes us pine for those long summer evenings.

And, this year, with the isolation of COVID-19 those feelings of depression will be worsened, I expect.

The Spanish Flu lasted in some form for nearly three years. But it did end and so will COVID-19. But we must just try to stay positive each day and realize how wonderful it will be when we can breakout and be more relaxed.

So stay the course with distancing, wearing masks and washing hands.

Call a friend, write letters, read a new book, learn something new, get crafty, etc. Remember small social gatherings are possible and restorative when handled carefully.

Just stay away from weddings and celebrations in the larger centres.

It’s a cinch that Christmas celebrations will be different from the past in most homes. So I began to think.

All those decorations we have

stored since last year may seem unnecessary this December. But just seeing them around the house can cheer up even a dark winter day in any December. Why not knock yourself out decorating just for your own household? And think of the hours you will fill thinking about something other than COVID-19 while you work. Sometimes the idea of doing something is really the stumbling block. But once one gets started, the project takes on a life of its own and doing it gives a feeling of satisfaction.

Perhaps this is a good year to expand the Christmas card list. Just writing an address or a name on a card conjures up all kinds of good memories. And maybe even add a short note with the card. We all need to be remembered during these rather lonely months. Even in a time when lots of messages come by way of social media, getting a note/card/letter in the mail is still special.

December is always a busy month for Canada Post and they are expecting to be swamped this holiday season. So do your mailing early and avoid disappointments.

Incidentally, are you wearing your poppy?

Sue Barnett will be conducting Remembrance Day Services in both

Londesborough United and Knox Auburn Churches this coming Sunday, Nov. 8.

As the Remembrance Day Services at cenotaphs this year have been closed to the public due to the pandemic, this will be a chance to remember our veterans and current armed forces.

Be reminded there is a bin for monetary donations in the narthex for the Huron County Christmas Bureau.

NEWS FROM LONDESBORO

The Citizen wants you to stay connected wherever you are in the world with an Spooky physical distancing Students at Hullett Central Public School were welcome to wear their Halloween costumes on Friday as long as it included a cloth face mask (and no other kind of masks). Above are some of the top costumes from Mrs. Middleton’s class. From left: a skeletal Emmitt Shortreed, Hudson Greydanus keeping law and order and Gabi Randall in her witch’s best. (Denny Scott photo)

CH spends $31,000 on decorations

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Central Huron Council will be purchasing seasonal winter lights for Clinton from the City of Oakville for just over $31,000.

Council discussed the issue at its Oct. 19 meeting, considering a motion that would fund the purchase from unused money from the Mayor’s Mingle budget (an event that didn’t go ahead this year) and the facilities reserves.

Community Improvement Coordinator Angela Smith spoke to her report at the meeting, saying she had procured the lights, which aren’t necessarily tied to the holidays, but rather to winter, in the hopes that

they could be up in Clinton for longer than just the holiday season.

The lights would cost $25,760 and the brackets would cost $4,800 with a shipping estimate of $1,000.

Several councillors, however, thought that was high for lights to get to Clinton from Oakville, to the point that Mayor Jim Ginn suggested he could go pick them up himself or the municipality could send one of its trucks to pick them up.

However, not all councillors were on board with the purchase of the lights, which had originally been purchased by the City of Oakville in 2019. The 40 lights were only used for one year, according to Smith’s report.

Councillor Marg Anderson said she didn’t feel the municipality should be spending over $30,000 on Christmas lights in the year of a worldwide pandemic. Furthermore, she wasn’t happy that more money was being spent in Clinton with smaller communities like Londesborough, Auburn and Holmesville again being left out.

Councillor Alex Westerhout, however, saw it in a completely different light, saying that if there was ever a year to brighten up the community and restore some normalcy, this was it.

Council approved the purchase of the lights, but directed Smith to discuss pick-up of the lights to skirt the $1,000 in shipping costs.

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020. PAGE 11.

BIA continues to push pedestrian safety initiatives

By Denny Scott The Citizen After pushing for pedestrian safety in Blyth to be a priority for North Huron and Huron County Councils

for a full year, the Blyth Business Improvement Area (BIA) was told some big changes are coming for the community.

Both North Huron Director of Public Works Jamie McCarthy and

That’s the spooky spirit Soryah Patterson, a student at Hullett Central Public School, took full advantage of the Halloween spirit day the school held on Oct. 30. Students were welcome to wear their costumes or black and orange or, in Patterson’s case, a bit of both. (Denny Scott photo)

Committee review approved

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Council has authorized a review of council and citizen appointments to committees with a deadline for comments to be received by Mayor Bernie MacLellan and Chief Administrative Officer Brad Knight

by Nov. 17.

At the Oct. 20 meeting, MacLellan said that while council was at the midpoint of the current term, when some appointments are traditionally shuffled, he felt it might not be appropriate this year due to the massive interruption to most committees as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

MacLellan said he hoped to have a review complete and in front of council for approval at the Dec. 15 meeting. The process would begin with any comments or suggestions being brought to the municipality’s administration committee in late November ahead of the review returning to council.

Chief Administrative Officer Brad Knight said advertisements will be placed in local newspapers and on the municipality’s website on Dec. 2 with a deadline for submissions of citizen appointments of Dec. 11, which would allow for a resolution to confirm appointments to be presented at council’s Dec. 15 meeting.

He added that currently there is only one vacancy that needs to be filled, which is on the Brussels Community Development Trust. *** At its Oct. 20 meeting, Huron East Council voted to accept the tender of McLean Taylor Construction Ltd. of St. Marys for the replacement of the

municipality’s T-13 bridge, which is on Kinburn Line at Front Road. The total cost of the tender is just over $2.25 million.

In his report to council, Public Works Director Barry Mills said the bridge was originally constructed in the 1930s, so it now needs to be replaced with a wider concrete girder bridge in order to accommodate larger vehicles and agricultural equipment.

The winning bid from McLean Taylor was $2,255,216.76, including taxes, as the lowest tender received.

The other five tenders received ranged from $2.56 million to $2.97 million.

The bridge will be financed by the federal and provincial governments, as well as by Huron East. The federal government will pay $1,282,050, while the provincial government will pay $854,614.53 and Huron East will pay the remaining $427,435.47.

Mills told councillors that the tender came in under the pre-tender estimates and the Huron East portion of the project will be included in the municipality’s 2021 budget, coming from the bridge reserves.

He also added that the T-13 bridge is the largest single expenditure in the municipality’s five-year forecast of bridge needs.

Check out The Citizen’s website for more photos of local Halloween celebrations

Huron County Manager of Public Works Mike Hausser attended the Blyth BIA board’s Oct. 29 and both were involved in discussions surrounding the projects being undertaken in the village.

BIA Chair David Sparling explained that, in October of 2019, the BIA started pushing for changes to the community to make it more walkable and safer for pedestrians, including new sidewalks, marked parking on side streets and trafficcalming initiatives.

Sparling said many of the requests had been met as best they could, pointing to McCarthy’s work on the projects, as well as the work of her predecessor Sean McGhee.

The progress isn't just due to the work of North Huron staff, however, as Sparling noted that Huron County staff have been working on projects like the ongoing crosswalk installation and fixing curb issues.

He also pointed to the fact that parking that belongs to his company, DEAMS Holdings, beside the Blyth Pharmacy, had been turned into 90minute parking spaces to help keep parking available downtown. As part of that change, two more accessible parking spaces were created, bringing the total to three downtown, Sparling said.

THEATRE PARKING Sparling said that he believes the idea of permanently removing parking in front of the Blyth and Community Memorial Hall is important. The change would guarantee emergency vehicles can access the property.

Previously, the BIA had indicated that those parking spaces, which are taken out of use during the Blyth Festival season’s productions, should be permanently changed to provide a drop-off point for the theatre and hall, as well as making sure emergency vehicles and personnel can access the site.

Sparling said events happen in the hall year-round, regardless of whether the theatre is in operation or not.

“There can be an emergency for any sized event at any time,” he said, adding those spaces in front of the building need to be clear for emergency vehicles.

Sparling pointed out that, over the past several years, there hasn’t been an emergency during any theatre productions, but there had been emergency calls outside of that time, illustrating the need.

Sparling also suggested that North Huron continue to pursue making the alley behind the theatre a noparking zone, save several spots right beside the Blyth Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. He said the reason for that ask was the same as the spaces on mainstreet in front of the theatre: to make sure emergency services could access the buildings that back on to the alley.

SIDE STREETS Sparling said one of the outstanding requests the BIA had made is to have lines painted on side streets, limiting parking to one side to increase safety and to make sure driveways aren’t blocked by inappropriately-parked vehicles.

He asked McCarthy if she could speak to the issue, and she said that it could be reviewed.

She said that kind of work takes place in late spring or early summer as the paint sets best then, and could be considered for next year.

“I still need to take a look at what that would entail and what the project looks like, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t be doable,” she said.

The request was geared to prevent dangerous driving conditions and was really driven home for Sparling several years ago.

At the time, he was parked on Dinsley Street and, due to vehicles parking on both sides of the street, the narrowing caused an incident where his vehicle was struck by an agricultural vehicle on the road.

As part of the discussion, Sparling also reiterated the need to eliminate double parking on Dinsley Street in front of the Blyth Festival’s Phillips

Studio performance space.

Blyth Festival General Manager Rachael King said the space won’t be used for performances this year, so it shouldn’t be as problematic as it has been in the past.

Sparling, however, has previously suggested making the boulevard in front of the building a drop-off location for the performance space to prevent parking on the boulevard and on the street.

BLYTH CC IMPROVEMENTS Sparling said the improvements to parking and pedestrian safety at and around the Blyth and District Community Centre were a bonus for the community given recent announcements by the Blyth Festival.

Originally, the BIA had discussed ways to encourage people to park at the community centre in the summer and walk downtown for events and Blyth Festival productions. The group also wanted people to be aware that parking was available on the north side of the community centre.

Sparling said that, with the announcement of the Blyth Festival considering outdoor performances at the former soccer field at the Blyth Campground, which surrounds the community centre, having parking signs and the spaces well-indicated was going to be a boon for all involved.

On top of that, he said the new sidewalks installed along streets that lead to the community centre are a great benefit for the community.

Sparling said the final suggestion from the BIA for the community centre area was to put crossings at King and Gypsy Streets to make it safer for pedestrians to move from the arena to the community’s downtown core.

SPEED SIGNS Sparling told Hausser that the existing speed sign at the southern limit of the community has been appreciated by the village’s Continued on page 18

PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020.

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020. PAGE 13.

REMEMBRANCE DAY 2020 Clinton Chapel • Blyth Chapel

Falconer FUNERAL HOMES

Blyth, Brussels banners celebrate fallen veterans on Remembrance Day

519-482-9521

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

Christopher M. Smith Mark R. Rushton Amanda Rich

They gave their tomorrows, so we could have our today....

Lest we forget Dave Boonstoppel SALES REPRESENTATIVE

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Remembering them Blyth Road, Blyth

519-523-9990 Owners/Operators Jenny & Bill McGrath Jr.

After Central Huron erected banners celebrating and honouring local veterans, other local communities followed suit. The Brussels Legion first offered the opportunity several years ago, while Blyth first hung theirs this year. Above, Sandra Josling, left, Nanci Ducharme, centre, and Jamie Mitchell, all from the Brussels Legion, showed off their banners several years ago, celebrating loved ones who served their country in World War II. (File photo)

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The Blyth Legion has seen a tremendous level of response to its Remembrance Day banner program this year, erecting over 20 this year with more to come next year. North Huron public works staff put up the banners last week on lamp posts along the main street. (Denny Scott photo)

As we are unable to be together this year, we ask community members to observe a moment of silence at 11:00 am to honour those who served.

Remembering those who gave of themselves for our freedom

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for the rest of the year.

After they went up last week, McBurney said he was impressed with the final product. “I think they look impressive,�

McBurney said, adding that having local merchants to help with the project has been a real blessing. “We’re lucky in Blyth to have Blyth Printing and Stitches with a Twist to have helped us out on this.�

With the banners being up for only a week, McBurney said the Legion is already getting calls from families wanting to have them made ahead of Remembrance Day next year. “It’s a good way to honour and remember them,� McBurney said of the veterans being honoured on the banners, especially during a year in which no open-to-the-public Remembrance Day ceremony will be held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Brussels, Legion representatives followed the lead of Central Huron, which was the first area community to honour its veterans with main street banners. Mitchell said he was approached by a representative of a company that produces the banners and decided to float it to the Branch’s executive, which was in favour of rolling out the program in Brussels.

Mitchell and executive members Sandra Josling and Deb Ross opted Continued on page 14

Brussels Legion

STEVEN NIXON

Bus: 519-357-2222 • Cell: 519-531-0252 Email: nixon@execulink.com Web:www.stevennixon.com 318 Josephine St., WINGHAM, ON N0G 2W0

This year, the Blyth Legion facilitated the creation and erection of 22 banners honouring local veterans.

This comes two years after the Brussels Legion started a similar program.

The programs in both villages have been successful. In the first year, Blyth has produced 22 banners and organizer and Blyth Legion Second Vice-President Jim Button expects that number to grow next year. In Brussels, Legion President Jamie Mitchell says the village is up to 17 this year after beginning with just three in 2018.

In 2020, of all years, the banners will serve to honour those who served their country and made the ultimate sacrifice. With Remembrance Day ceremonies not open to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the banners will keep veterans in the minds of locals and visitors alike.

In Blyth, the banners, which sit atop light standards on the main street of the village, were erected last week for the first time, marking a milestone for the Legion.

Button, who spearheaded the initiative earlier this year, worked with Blyth Printing and Stitches with a Twist, both Blyth main street

businesses, to produce the banners. In addition to the great local craftsmanship, Button said both businesses looked favourably upon the Legion with a reasonable price for each banner. He also felt good about being able to support two local businesses in the creation of the banners.

The first Blyth banner to be created featured well-known veteran Russell Cook and it was posted as an example in the Stitches with a Twist front window for residents to see.

Button, who drives for OneCare, says he had seen banners celebrating veterans in surrounding communities and felt it should definitely be adopted in Blyth. After taking on a more active role in his local Legion membership as second vicepresident, Button asked about the banners and was told that while it had been suggested before, nothing ever came of it.

He said the village’s veterans deserve to be remembered and honoured for all they gave to their community as well as to their country. The conversation began casually last fall, but picked up steam earlier this year.

Blyth Legion President Ric McBurney said the banners will fly in Blyth for the month of November and then be displayed in the Blyth Legion

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PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020.

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020. PAGE 13.

REMEMBRANCE DAY 2020 Clinton Chapel • Blyth Chapel

Falconer FUNERAL HOMES

Blyth, Brussels banners celebrate fallen veterans on Remembrance Day

519-482-9521

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

Christopher M. Smith Mark R. Rushton Amanda Rich

They gave their tomorrows, so we could have our today....

Lest we forget Dave Boonstoppel SALES REPRESENTATIVE

Cell: 519-440-2444 Office: 519.600.4949 34 Main Street South, Seaforth

Email: propertiestownandcountry@gmail.com

Remembering them Blyth Road, Blyth

519-523-9990 Owners/Operators Jenny & Bill McGrath Jr.

After Central Huron erected banners celebrating and honouring local veterans, other local communities followed suit. The Brussels Legion first offered the opportunity several years ago, while Blyth first hung theirs this year. Above, Sandra Josling, left, Nanci Ducharme, centre, and Jamie Mitchell, all from the Brussels Legion, showed off their banners several years ago, celebrating loved ones who served their country in World War II. (File photo)

TRUCK REPAIR INC. 83012 Humphries St., Walton

Lest we forget

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Township of North Huron

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L Cook & Anne Elliott 519-523-4590 Les 273 Hamilton St., Blyth, ON blytheastsidedance@tcc.on.ca

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Remembering those who fought for our Freedom.

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Remembering those we lost...

CONSTITUENCY OFFICES Blyth Office: 408 Queen Street, PO Box 426 Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 Ph: 519-523-4251

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Unfortunately we are not able to gather as a community this year.

We ask everyone to join us livestream on Facebook at 10:45 am.

Please observe a moment of silence at 11:00 am for our fallen heroes.

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The Blyth Legion has seen a tremendous level of response to its Remembrance Day banner program this year, erecting over 20 this year with more to come next year. North Huron public works staff put up the banners last week on lamp posts along the main street. (Denny Scott photo)

As we are unable to be together this year, we ask community members to observe a moment of silence at 11:00 am to honour those who served.

Remembering those who gave of themselves for our freedom

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for the rest of the year.

After they went up last week, McBurney said he was impressed with the final product. “I think they look impressive,�

McBurney said, adding that having local merchants to help with the project has been a real blessing. “We’re lucky in Blyth to have Blyth Printing and Stitches with a Twist to have helped us out on this.�

With the banners being up for only a week, McBurney said the Legion is already getting calls from families wanting to have them made ahead of Remembrance Day next year. “It’s a good way to honour and remember them,� McBurney said of the veterans being honoured on the banners, especially during a year in which no open-to-the-public Remembrance Day ceremony will be held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Brussels, Legion representatives followed the lead of Central Huron, which was the first area community to honour its veterans with main street banners. Mitchell said he was approached by a representative of a company that produces the banners and decided to float it to the Branch’s executive, which was in favour of rolling out the program in Brussels.

Mitchell and executive members Sandra Josling and Deb Ross opted Continued on page 14

Brussels Legion

STEVEN NIXON

Bus: 519-357-2222 • Cell: 519-531-0252 Email: nixon@execulink.com Web:www.stevennixon.com 318 Josephine St., WINGHAM, ON N0G 2W0

This year, the Blyth Legion facilitated the creation and erection of 22 banners honouring local veterans.

This comes two years after the Brussels Legion started a similar program.

The programs in both villages have been successful. In the first year, Blyth has produced 22 banners and organizer and Blyth Legion Second Vice-President Jim Button expects that number to grow next year. In Brussels, Legion President Jamie Mitchell says the village is up to 17 this year after beginning with just three in 2018.

In 2020, of all years, the banners will serve to honour those who served their country and made the ultimate sacrifice. With Remembrance Day ceremonies not open to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the banners will keep veterans in the minds of locals and visitors alike.

In Blyth, the banners, which sit atop light standards on the main street of the village, were erected last week for the first time, marking a milestone for the Legion.

Button, who spearheaded the initiative earlier this year, worked with Blyth Printing and Stitches with a Twist, both Blyth main street

businesses, to produce the banners. In addition to the great local craftsmanship, Button said both businesses looked favourably upon the Legion with a reasonable price for each banner. He also felt good about being able to support two local businesses in the creation of the banners.

The first Blyth banner to be created featured well-known veteran Russell Cook and it was posted as an example in the Stitches with a Twist front window for residents to see.

Button, who drives for OneCare, says he had seen banners celebrating veterans in surrounding communities and felt it should definitely be adopted in Blyth. After taking on a more active role in his local Legion membership as second vicepresident, Button asked about the banners and was told that while it had been suggested before, nothing ever came of it.

He said the village’s veterans deserve to be remembered and honoured for all they gave to their community as well as to their country. The conversation began casually last fall, but picked up steam earlier this year.

Blyth Legion President Ric McBurney said the banners will fly in Blyth for the month of November and then be displayed in the Blyth Legion

Blyth Legion

Thank you to all our Veterans

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PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020.

REMEMBRANCE DAY 2020 Local Legions hope to expand banner programs

Not this year One of the most treasured traditions in so many communities across Canada, Remembrance Day will look much different this year than it has in past years, with

ceremonies being closed to the public. That means scenes like that above, taken in Brussels just a few years ago, won’t be visible this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (File photo)

Remembering those who Fire fought for our freedom Department of North Huron Brian E. Wightman

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Continued from page 13 to lead the way by example, procuring banners of their own to honour loved ones who served their country and have since passed away.

Mitchell’s banner honours his great uncle who served in the army in World War II. He says that it’s great to honour veterans on Remembrance Day, but members of the community should be really thinking of these men and women the other 364 days of the year as well and this project should help.

Both Mitchell and Button say the program has exceeded expectations and that they’re very pleased with the response they’ve seen.

Mitchell said the banners are really essential to acknowledging and honouring the sacrifice local veterans have made in years past.

Remembrance Day, he said, is his favourite day of the year, so it will be hard to not have a service open to members of the public this year, but the banners will reinforce his view that veterans need to be honoured and remembered every day.

Button agrees, saying the banners are a key component in educating residents both young and old about those who served their country from their community.

Both Legion representatives hope to continue to expand the banner program in their respective villages, creating more banners and expanding the program.

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020. PAGE 15.

Hensall Hikers hear from Yates on trail walk

Learning by hiking While the 4-H motto is to “Learn to do by doing”, the Hensall Hikers 4-H Club has been learning by hiking during its recent meetings. In October, the club took to the Menesetung Bridge trail in Goderich under the guidance of local historian David Yates. (Photo submitted)

By Lily Shapton On Saturday, Oct. 3, the Hensall Hikers Walk on the Wild Side 4-H club met for meetings five and six at the Menesetung Bridge trail in Goderich. These are the last meetings for this club. The club has been very blessed with great outdoor weather this fall for meetings. On Oct. 3 it was slightly on the cooler side and with a drizzle of rain. This straightened out and the sun appeared for the afternoon. This did not take away from the fun though.

The meeting started at the large rock. After opening the meeting with the 4-H pledge, the guest for the morning meeting, David Yates, was introduced. David is a local historian with a wealth of knowledge about the trail and the local community.

He told members the large rock is 60 tonnes of rock and was moved from Benmiller to the location at the trail head. Members walked over the trestle bridge and talked about the location and routes of railroads past and how they align with the two major highways in the area, Hwy. 4 and Hwy. 8. David talked about how the Huron settlers would have seen a much different landscape than we do today.

The group followed the path out to the Tiger Dunlop tomb where they discussed the history of the people laid to rest there and the impact they had on their community during their time. David encouraged members to keep a journal of the pandemic as a record of what they did and how they felt during this time for their children and grandchildren.

The members had worked up an appetite after the hike, so they paused for a physically-distanced lunch, taking in the changing fall colours around them. Before starting

the afternoon, they enjoyed some hot chocolate to help warm them up.

For the afternoon and the sixth meeting, the group focused on mental health and the health benefits of enjoying nature with senior member Lauren Bos. They focused on how they felt at the beginning, middle and end of the hike. Lauren is a 4-H Ambassador and her project is a Mental Health Walk which she organized for Oct. 24. Members decided to use this activity as the club Achievement Day. They hiked the Sifto Loop, which was a very nice walk. They passed the historic 200-year-old oak tree that David had told them about earlier in the day and paused to think about everything this tree has seen in its lifetime.

Lauren went over some breathing techniques at this time.

Before setting off in single file, it was decided that they would be quiet and take in the sights and sounds along the trail and note how they felt along the way. Then they paused as a group at the opening towards the lake and discussed how they felt and what they heard along the way. After a few minutes of taking in the view of the lake, they made their way back to the start of the trail. It was a busy fall day on the trail, so they reviewed hiking etiquette. Members stopped at one of the lookouts and talked about land erosion and how to spot where it is happening and preventive measures to be taken.

The group completed the meeting with some cool-down stretches, reviewed upcoming events and brainstormed other ideas for upcoming clubs. Junior Leader Emily Bieman kept track of the steps taken for the day and they did over 10,000 in the short time they had been out for the day.

North Huron to consider ec. dev. professional

By Denny Scott The Citizen North Huron Council agrees with the recommendation of its economic development and recovery committee and will soon begin investigating the hiring of an economic development professional.

During council’s Monday night meeting, the recommendation came forward with Councillor Kevin Falconer saying it made sense.

“The economic development committee is made up of business people,” he said. “It’s a great organization for brainstorming and thinking of ways to promote businesses in our community and drive economic development.”

Where the group fell short, however, was implementation, Falconer said. Members all have their own businesses to run, so enacting plans has been difficult.

Councillor Chris Palmer was against the move, asking if North Huron could really afford to hire someone, especially given the recent service delivery review prepared by KPMG Consulting, which suggested North Huron Council consider hiring information technology and human resource professionals.

“This is a hard thing for me to accept,” Palmer said. “Yes, we need land, area [and development], but salaries are [already] growing by $122,000 this year after increasing by $140,000 last year.”

Palmer was speaking of both the grid movements and cost of living adjustments made to staff wages for the 2021 budget, which had been discussed earlier in the meeting. He

said it will require significant assessment increases to cover those costs before considering hiring another professional.

“We can’t afford this stuff,” he said.

Falconer agreed that the tax base is already stretched thin, however

North Huron Council couldn’t continue to do the same thing and expect different results, saying new stores and new development won’t happen without someone to push for them.

Palmer then said he thought Chief Administrative Officer Dwayne

Evans was handling the position.

Evans said he was, but in a passive way.

While he could handle inquiries that came to the municipality, he wasn’t out “knocking on doors” to try and bring development to North Huron.

Palmer then asked about other municipalities with economic development professionals and Bailey pointed to Palmerston and Harriston in the Town of Minto which, he said, were very successful in terms of development because of Continued on page 18

Spend more time in the Kitchen!

The Citizen now accepts Visa & MasterCard by phone Order from the comfort of your own home • advertise • subscribe • buy books Call our Blyth office 519-523-4792

PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020.

Classified Advertisements – RATES – 20 words or less only $7.00 + HST. Additional words 20¢ each + HST. 50¢ will be deducted if ad is paid in advance

DEADLINE 2 p.m. Monday in Brussels 4 p.m. Monday in Blyth Phone 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114 e-mail: info@northhuron.on.ca

Accom. wanted APARTMENT WANTED, NO steps, one or two bedroom, Brussels or Listowel. Phone 519-418-9349.

44-2p

Announcement We Endure (™) is here,and heavy equipment is coming to Blyth, while: Joe Cur and Jill bide on the hill saviouryng a Sirius slotteryng. They hunger around to be euchered and crowned by the fodder of the Trompe de lies fodder ryng. ©2020. Usgirls Edging. All Rights Reserved.

Articles for sale Card of thanks Coming events Coming events GERBERS FIREWOOD SERVING you for over 10 years. Your number one source of quality slabwood and bodywood. Delivery available. No Sunday calls. 519-656-2057, 519441-2085.

01-50p -------------------------------------------REPRINTS OF PHOTOS taken by Citizen photographers are available to purchase. All are in colour. 4x6 – $5.00, 5x7 – $6.00, 8x10 – $10.00. Phone to order 519523-4792 or 519-887-9114. tfn -------------------------------------------THE CITIZEN IS AVAILABLE TO purchase at these locations – Auburn Co-op, Belgrave Variety, Blyth Variety, Blyth Food Market, Blyth Ultramar, Brussels Foodland, Brussels Variety, Clinton Convenience, Clinton Foodland, Dean’s Valu-Mart in Wingham, Wingham Mini Mart, Seaforth Foodland, GT Mini Mart in Seaforth, Fincher’s in Goderich and The Citizen Blyth.

COUSINS. A sincere thank you to all who sent cards, phone calls and personal congratulations and to family and friends for visits making our 60th anniversary very special. It was very much appreciated. – Merle and John Cousins.

45-1 -------------------------------------------WILSON. Many thanks to my friends and neighbours for the cards, flowers and phone calls while I was in the Stratford and Clinton Hospitals. Many thanks to Frank and Sharon for all the care they give me.

– Thelma.

45-1p

Very Merry Community Christmas Weekend Supporting • Shopping • Staying Local Friday, Nov. 20 - 5-9 pm Saturday, Nov 21, 10 am - 6 pm Sunday, Nov. 22, noon - 4 pm

Wingham Knights of Columbus 519-887-9422 COVID-19 protocols in place

Help wanted

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NEED A BABYSITTER? Grade 12 F.E. Madill student available for before and after school childcare in Wingham. Résumé and references are available on request. Contact information: call/text 519-357-8189.

Email: annapittock7@ gmail.com 44-2p

Citizen-To-Citizen “SWAP SHOP” ad “One person’s junk is another’s treasure”

Let us help you turn that junk into $$ ➨ Free ad up to 25 words, person to person only (no businesses), items valued at $1,000 or less. Your ad will run three times unless it sells faster! ➨ The Citizen reserves the right to limit the number of items or ads per person.

Call 519-523-4792 or email: info@northhuron.on.ca FOR SALE – a solid wooden desk 36"x72", $40; a Maple Leaf super tilt wheelchair, 45 degree tilt, comes with roto cushion and pump, used one year and in excellent condition, $350. 519-523-9771.

45-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE – seven dozen clean wine shop bottles at $6 per dozen.

Great for making your own wine.

Two rubber stable pails, $10 each.

519-357-2797.

45-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE – lots of puzzles, 1,000 pieces and 500 pieces, $1 each or make a deal – great winter pastime.

Proceeds to Wingham Hospital Auxiliary. Call 519-357-2768.44-3 ------------------------------------------

FOR SALE – one full box of maple hardwood flooring (from McGlynn’s), price negotiable. 519357-3117.

44-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE – several car covers for sale, cheap. Call Bud 519-5263331.

43-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE – four Cooper snow tires with rims off 2015 Dodge Journey, 225/65R17, $200. 519887-6605.

43-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE – four Bridgestone Blizzak snow tires 235/75 R16 on G.M. 6 stud 1/2T steel rims, 10/32" tread, $200. 519-526-7263.

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All word ads in The Citizen classifieds are put on our webpage at

www.huroncitizen.ca

BLYTH LEGION TAKE-OUT ONLY Luncheon Nov. 12, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Ham and scalloped potatoes, $10 (pumpkin torte included). Intown deliveries only. 519-523-9294.

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020. PAGE 17.

Obituaries

JOHN EDWARD GREEN John Edward Green of RR3, Wingham passed at Wingham and District Hospital on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. He was 77.

John was the loving husband of Arlene Green and devoted dad of Sherry and Doug Shiell, RR5, Wingham and Kevin Green and Teresa Wall, Wingham. He was the cherished grandpa of JD and Kate Shiell, Matt Shiell and Abbie, Ryan Shiell, Shaelin Green, Shelby Green and Spencer Green and Lexie and great-grandpa of Tatum Shiell.

John was the dear brother of Rhonda Green and Fred de Boer and Terry and Lisa Green and brother-inlaw of Aileen Wilkinson. John will be lovingly remembered by his nieces Ann, Marilyn, Tara, Darcy and Keri as well as special family, Jake and Stephanie Eishenhofer.

John was predeceased by his parents Cecil and Florence Green and brother-in-law Ken Wilkinson.

John was born in Collingwood on Aug. 23, 1943. He married the love of his life, “his Evi,� the former Arlene Wilkinson on Feb. 23, 1963.

John and Arlene bought the butcher shop from Percy and Jean Deyell in 1971 and semi-retired in 2005.

He was an innovator in the agriculture and meat industry serving the needs of Wingham and area for over 30 years. John still played an essential role in Green’s Meat Market even after his retirement. However, when he was not working, he and Arlene loved to travel and camp.

His love for his family and his farm, the place where he enjoyed his bush, horses and woodworking was undeniable. John was a jack of all trades, he was loving, kind, hardworking, and a devoted business man, husband, dad and grandpa.

There will never be a day that goes by that he is not thought of with fondness and dearly missed by all who knew him.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a private family service was held at McBurney Funeral Home on Nov. 3.

Interment will take place at Wingham Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Wingham and District Hospital Foundation – Oncology Unit would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.

Online condolences may be left at www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com.

Hiseler, great-granddaughter Amanda Hardy and sisters-inlaw Eleanor Hiseler, Donna Craig and her husband Mel and Mary Taylor and her husband Jack.

A private family graveside will be held on Thursday, Nov. 5. Rev. Colin Snyder will officiate. Joan’s final

resting place is at Wingham Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Braemar Residents’ Council or the Alzheimer Society of Huron County would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.

Online condolences may be left at www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com.

Centre receives gift JOAN CHRISTINE ARMSTRONG Joan Christine Armstrong passed away at Braemar Nursing Home, Wingham, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, one day shy of her 90th birthday.

Joan was the beloved wife of Tom Armstrong of Wingham and the dear mother of Marion and Roy Taylor, RR 2, Auburn; Marlene and Merv Baker, Wingham; Noreen Walker, Wingham; Terry and Sheila Armstrong, RR 1, Lucknow and Jeff and Donna Armstrong, RR 4, Clinton. Joan was the loving grandmother of 12 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and two greatgreat-grandchildren.

Joan was the dear sister of Stan and Barb Hiseler, Bracebridge. She was predeceased by her parents Larry and Marion (nĂŠe McLeod)

Leslee Squirrell, president of Bayfield Centre for the Arts, a nonprofit, is pleased to announce that the Bayfield property required to bring the centre to life has been acquired, allowing the vision of an accessible, world class project to move forward. “Mac Voisin and Marcela Bahar have graciously donated a significant financial gift allowing us to purchase the building on the Southwest corner of Hwy. 21 and Cameron St, Bayfield. The property is now available for the development of the visual arts centre and allows our fundraising for the project to begin.� said Squirrell. “Without Mac and Marcela’s generosity and belief in the Bayfield Centre for the Arts, the property we needed to develop the project could have been lost to the open marketplace�. “This state-of-the-art facility will benefit generations to come.

Marcela and I are proud and delighted to be part of this project.

The Bayfield Centre for the Arts has strong leadership and solid

community support in Bayfield and Huron County and we now have the perfect location on Hwy. 21,� said Voisin.

The Centre is a visual arts centre that will provide for the education and practice of all visual arts including new media, photography, painting, pottery, woodworking, glass, fibre arts and many others on one campus. The centre will include an art gallery that brings renowned exhibitions to the residents and visitors of Huron County together with outreach initiatives that include festivals and mobile art programs to Southwestern Ontario residents. “Mac Voisin and Marcela Bahar have given us the chance to move forward with our vision of a centre for education and appreciation of the visual arts in Huron County. We are incredibly grateful and excited about the future,� adds Squirrell.

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PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020.

Thompson announces funding for Kincardine school Kincardine is getting a new senior school.

Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson made the announcement last week as part of the province’s 2020/2021 Capital Priorities Program to support the growing

community in and around Kincardine and to provide students with a modern learning environment. Thompson confirmed that $26.4 million will be invested in a new facility to accommodate over 880 students. This investment is part

of a larger capital program Premier Doug Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced last week.

“I have advocated for a new senior school in Kincardine for years because there is no denying that the current footprint is limited with

respect to accommodating growth,” Thompson said. “This investment also goes beyond bricks and mortar our government is investing in a new senior school so we can provide students with access to modern classroom settings and the latest technology which will lead to new opportunities and lifelong success.”

Jan Johnstone, Bluewater District School Board Chair and Trustee for the Municipality of Kincardine/Township of HuronKinloss, welcomed the news.

“A replacement facility for Kincardine District Senior School has been a long-standing top goal of mine as area trustee and I am ecstatic to see this project come to fruition.

Thank you to the Ministry of Education for recognizing the need in Kincardine, and to our local MPP, our many community and municipal partners, board staff and trustees, parents/guardians, students and others whose ongoing hard work and advocacy have made this a reality,” she said.

Kincardine Mayor Anne Eadie says she is also thrilled with this announcement about education.

“We are seeing investments in our

infrastructure, our local hospital and health care and now in our local education. It is reassuring to know that the province recognizes the potential and the future of this municipality,” she said.

Thompson noted the Ontario government is investing $550 million in accelerated funding to build 20 new schools and make upgrades to eight existing facilities.

She said it is critical that Ontario continues to invest in safe and modern schools that meet the needs of students, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ontario government is also generating nearly 900 new licensed child care spaces across the province.

Lecce said the investments are needed. “This government firmly believes that your children deserve to learn in state of the art, modern, technologically connected and accessible schools. We will continue to take action, like the new Kincardine District Senior School, to ensure students are safe today and well into the future by approving more new school buildings and permanent additions and increasing access to child care for working parents.”

ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION - BRANCH 420 BLYTH

At a distance The Belgrave Kinsmen helped keep trick-or-treating alive and well in the village with a special physically-distanced event on Oct. 31 at the Belgrave Community Centre. (John Stephenson photo)

Ec. dev. position requires review Continued from page 15 the municipality’s economic development officer.

Deputy-Reeve Trevor Seip said hiring an economic development professional would require North Huron staff and council to set out

benchmarks to make sure the investment was worthwhile. He said the last economic development officer the municipality had was more of a community development person, and that economic development wasn’t necessarily tied

to that person’s efforts.

“This needs to be a long-standing commitment,” he said. “They need to prove their worth.”

Council carried a motion to investigate hiring an economic development professional.

Temporary crossing set for Blyth Continued from page 11 residents, if BIA feedback was any sign, and asked if a similar sign could be installed at the north end of the village.

Hausser said that would be difficult. While the sign has proven successful at controlling speed, Hausser said, it was a pilot project and the signs are no longer being made.

“It’s there permanently,” he said, after explaining the sign had proved its efficacy. “We all like this sign, but it’s no longer available.”

He said other sign systems will be tested and he will add the northern limits of the village as a potential testing site.

STREET CROSSINGS While Hausser understands the desire for the village to have crosswalks across Queen Street (County Road 4), Huron County isn’t allowed to simply paint crosswalks on streets anymore.

He explained that, as a temporary measure with the proposed work at County Roads 4 and 25 being researched, a temporary crossing is

being considered for the intersection of Queen and Wellington Streets that will be similar to those in Clinton, however that’s the limit of what they can do. The units in Clinton are activated by pedestrian and having flashing yellow lights to indicate that vehicles should stop.

Hausser explained that just putting a crosswalk on the street isn’t permitted, and those crossings require lights like the crossings on County Road 4 in Clinton.

Those crossings, however, have problems, he said, the biggest one being that the lights are set up on between sidewalks and parking areas, which puts them far back from the road and out of the line of sight of drivers if they aren’t paying attention.

OTHER ISSUES Sparling said the controlled crosswalk that is currently being installed in Blyth between the Blyth Pharmacy and the Pick-A-Posie and FACTS gallery space, is a benefit to the community.

“It’s a good win for the town,” he said. “It’s not just for people going

across the road. The presence of stop lights (for pedestrians) on main street will reduce traffic speed through the town.”

Sparling also said that several projects and suggestions were yet to be acted on, including changing parking on Mill Street to accommodate overflow from the main street and the future of the former North Huron public works building (which was the fire hall prior to that).

Correction In the Oct. 22 issue of The Citizen, a picture of members of the Wingham Hospital Auxiliary shopping at the Red Apple in Wingham was featured. The members were buying supplies for houses used by locum doctors, prospective doctors and visiting medical students. The homes being furnished are owned by the Listowel Wingham Hospitals Alliance and not the auxiliary, as was printed. The Citizen apologizes for the error.

The Poppy Campaign money collected in 2019 was $4,960.05 THE FOLLOWING IS A REPORT OF THE POPPY ACCOUNT

POPPY ACCOUNT Bank Balance Sept. 30/19 Collected in 2019 Campaign Total EXPENDITURES Poppy Supplies Printing & Advertising Posters, Poems & Essay Contest Prizes Parkwood Hospital Visit & Bursary (Veteran's Comfort) & Charitable Foundation & donations

$8,631.92 4,960.05 $13,591.97

TOTAL RECEIPTS TOTAL EXPENDITURES BANK BALANCE SEPT. 30/20

$13,591.97 3,971.81 $9,620.16

$764.03 568.51 600.00

2,039.27

The Legion has a supply of canes, crutches, wheelchairs, walkers, raised toilet seats for any person in our district who may require the use of them. A special thanks goes out to the Legion and Ladies Auxiliary members and any others who have assisted in making this one of the best poppy campaigns ever. Poppy Week will go from October 31st to November 11th.

Poppy Chairperson Donna Govier would like to thank all who made the 2019 Campaign a success, final calculations indicate gross receipts approaching $4,960.05 earmarked for service to veterans and their families. As the 2020 campaign approaches it seems appropriate to thank all who donated during the door-to-door canvass last November. A special thanks to all the businesses and organizations for their continuing support and also to comrades Shirley and Ric. Yours truly, Poppy Campaign Chairperson Donna Govier

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020. PAGE 19.

From the Minister’s Study

Battle persecution against your faith: Dow

By Ernest Dow, Executive Pastor Huron Chapel EMC, Auburn Have you ever been picked on?

It’s not very nice, is it? Makes you feel sorry for yourself, and probably mad at the perpetrator.

I was blessed with a relatively sheltered existence, having two older brothers who actually got along fairly well and didn’t demean me, even though I was at least four years younger. But I do recall one time getting picked on at school. I was in Grade 9 at Mitchell District High School, which back in those days meant you were fair game for the rite of initiation, having to do the bidding of Grade 10s such as roll an egg up the floor on the aisle of the bus using your nose, etc. Then once while I was waiting to get on the bus after school – I don’t know why this particular day, maybe I was looking especially “dorky” and “frosh” – two fellows I knew from playing baseball came up behind me and gave me a “wedgie”. How embarrassing! One of them was a big strapping fellow half again as heavy as me, so it would have been stupid to retaliate. I had to just suck it up and try to forget about how foolish it made me feel.

Sunday, Nov. 1 was “International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church” (see IDOP.ca). Our episodes of getting “picked on” here seem tame compared to what those in other countries have to endure on account of their faith. Those who are persecuted are having to put up with indignities and pain much worse than being given a wedgie. They are hurt by being beaten, captured and sold as slaves, thrown into prison as treasonous for even mentioning God. How are we to respond to evil?

The Apostle Paul in Romans 12 (921) suggests three things. First, hate evil. “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”

(Rom. 12:9) Now, “hate” is a strong word; are we sure it’s okay? God Himself hates evil, and commands us to do likewise. “Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts.”

(Amos 5:15) Psalm 11:5 tells us, “The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates.”

Note here we are hating the essence of the evil thing itself, not the person perpetrating the sin.

There’s a difference! We’re to “love our neighbour”, even those who treat us badly.

Next, we can respond to evil by helping those who trouble us, or in other words, by finding ways to bless them. Persecuted Christians

Evangelical Missionary Church

Watch Livestream OR Pre-register to Attend Sundays 10:30 a.m.

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find ways to become agents of blessing in their communities.

Philip is a believer from the country of Bangladesh. When Philip saw members of his isolated tribal community dying because of a lack of access to medical care, he prayed and asked God to intervene. He says, “I never thought that God would open the door through me!” After receiving medical training, Philip can now offer both medicine for the body and medicine for the soul to his brothers and sisters, as well as his Buddhist neighbours.

Scripture says, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” (Romans 12:14) Our natural instinct is to retaliate when others hurt us, to get back at them, to “get even”. Jesus’ disciples saw their Master whipped and beaten and a crown of thorns jammed onto his head by cruel, battle-hardened Roman soldiers. Yet, He did not retaliate, but prayed for His torturers to be forgiven.

The Bible admonishes us, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil... Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” (Romans 12:17a,19) Our trust in God as Sovereign and Almighty means we can leave Him in charge to settle any scores, to rightly and with perfect justice mete out punishment to any who deserve it. We can “leave room for God’s wrath”, not feel like we have to take matters into our own hands like divinely-appointed vigilantes.

In the Central African Republic, some 30,000 Christians have been targeted by Islamic attackers over

the past eight years. Yet they are somehow empowered by God’s grace to show love and forgiveness toward their persecutors. Some had to flee with only the clothes on their back when gunmen attacked their villages. How would we feel, having to live in makeshift shelters in refugee camps? How would we feel if our church was burned down and only the roof left?

So far we’ve seen: we respond to evil by hating it in its essential “evilness”, but also helping or blessing those who persecute us. In fact we can go so far as to heap grace upon those who oppose us, to the point that evil is overcome by good.

The Apostle Paul urges the church at Rome, “‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will HEAP burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

(Romans 12:20f).

Quite the figure of speech – heaping hot glowing coals on someone’s head! Not literally, of course – but surprising them by Holy Spirit-inspired goodness, treating them kindly instead of hurting them in return, modeling for them how they ought to be conducting themselves toward others, as Jesus did. So doing, even evil will be overcome – by good.

Jesus taught His followers in the Sermon on the Mount, “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...” (Mt 5:44) That’s so hard! To do that requires reliance upon God’s Spirit – we just don’t have it in our natural humanness, that’s so bent on “justice” for “just us”, that doesn’t

BRUSSELS

United Church This Sunday we look forward to worship with Alex Jebson via YouTube “Brussels and Blyth United Churches” Contact Alex at minister.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com Keep Safe. Be Kind.

MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS

want mercy to be shown to those who’ve damaged and deprived us.

But Jesus taught and practised it all the way to the cross.

For the image of “heaping burning coals” on someone’s head, recall the time King Saul was out chasing David in the wilderness, seeking to kill this brave warrior who was becoming so popular and (Saul supposed, mistakenly) a challenge to his throne. More than once David spared Saul’s life when it was in his power to kill him. On one occasion, Saul chose to relieve himself by entering the very cave where David and his men were hiding. Although David’s men told him “Here’s your chance!” David refused to get back at Saul. The goodness of his act is not lost on the king when he finds

out. David shouts to the king after he’s a safe distance away and shows the corner of the king’s robe that David cut off, clear evidence that David could have struck down the king and put his troubles to an end.

“When David finished saying this, Saul asked, ‘Is that your voice, David my son?’ And he wept aloud...

‘You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly... The LORD delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the LORD reward you well for the way you treated me today.’” (1Samuel 24:1619) So, we can heap burning coals on the head of our persecutors by doing Continued on page 21

Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Praise God — Our Worship Service has resumed (Covid safety protocols are in place) BMF Mission = our church exists to GROW in the teachings of Jesus to LIVE by His example, and to CONNECT people to Him

Worship Service at 10:00 am

250 Princess St., Brussels • 519-887-6388 • Pastor Ken Gazley

The Regional Ministry of Hope Join us this Sunday for worship in person or via our Facebook page 10:30 a.m.

Rev. JoAnn Todd, Rector 519-357-7781 email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca The­Regional­Ministry­of­ Hope

Trinity

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Blyth United Church This Sunday we look forward to worship with Alex Jebson via YouTube “Brussels and Blyth United Churches”

DRIVE-THRU

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Thursday, November 5 Call to order 519-523-9421 (Sharon) Contact Alex at minister.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com

Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churches blythunited@tcc.on.ca ~ 519-523-4224

Worship indoors at 9:30 am Please wear a mask and use the sanitizer at the door Virtual worship still available each week at "St. Andrew's and Melville Sermon" on Youtube.

Brussels Soup and More 2 is cancelled until further notice.

519-357-5273

Our 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. services have resumed with a limited capacity.

Services are live streamed and can be watched by searching “Blyth Christian Reformed Church”

BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743

THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH

OUR CHURCHES HAVE RE-OPENED. WELCOME BACK. Brussels: St. Ambrose Saturday ~ 6:00 p.m.

17 Flora Street Wingham: Sacred Heart Sunday ~ 9:00 a.m.

220 Carling Terrace Listowel: St. Joseph’s Sunday ~ 11:00 a.m.

1025 Wallace Avenue N. Facebook: Search for St. Joseph/Sacred Heart/St. Ambrose Live Sunday Mass, Sundays at 10:00 a.m.

PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020.

Ag Prize winners announced

Getting creative With traditional trick-or-treating left as a grey area in the province, local service clubs took it upon themselves to continue Halloween traditions without asking children to go door-to-door. On Saturday, the Brussels Optimist Club handed out candy to trick-or-treaters in a drive-through event at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre.

(John Stephenson photo)

Earlier this year, the County of Huron Economic Development Department introduced a challenge question competition, AgPrize 2020, which invites participants to submit their proposals on innovative solutions for the agri-food sector.

Strong submissions for each question category are eligible to win a cash prize.

The first round of challenge questions closed earlier this summer with submissions received from across the country. The county congratulates the following winners: Communicating with Customers: The dairy industry has a great story to tell, but communicating effectively with consumers remains a challenge.

Kate Ayers won this category for her work on the website www.renudefood.com and her proposal to develop innovative podcast content as a way to help the industry connect with local communities and all Canadians.

Recyclable Maple Syrup

Tubing: Ontario’s maple syrup producers need to find a home for their used sap tubing. The tubing is technically recyclable, but it can be difficult to do so profitably and efficiently. A four-person team of Julie Marocha, Gokulan Thedchana, Yohannes Wondimu, and Minh Nguyen won this category for their in-depth research on best practices for the maple syrup tubing recycling process. This team was able to develop a list of the end products this tubing can be recycled to create.

The next round of challenge question categories opens on Nov. 9 with the opportunity for anyone to participate. All submissions must propose a technically feasible, economically viable solution to the chosen challenge question. Winning submissions for each category will be eligible for a prize of up to $2,020.

When designing AgPrize, the Economic Development Department looked for real-world problems that

required creative, outside-the-box solutions. AgPrize 2020 will help generate opportunities to resolve long-standing challenges in agriculture, while building a culture of innovation and encourage Canadians to think about where food comes from.

For a list of challenge questions and details on how to enter AgPrize 2020, visit huroncounty.ca/ economic-development/ agprize2020/.

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020. PAGE 21.

Three charged for trespassing at Bluewater centre Three Huron County residents aged 20, 21 and 22 are facing trespassing charges after they were caught in the former Bluewater Youth Centre, located south of Goderich last week, police said.

The Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a call around midnight on Oct. 27 reporting there was a group of young people livestreaming on a popular social media site from the former Bluewater Youth Centre. The OPP reports that officers responded to the former correctional facility and through some investigative steps they were able to locate and identify three trespassers that had been inside the building.

Police say one of the trespassers was attempting to grow his social media presence by filming the event. *** According to police, OPP and emergency services attended the scene of a two-vehicle intersectionrelated crash that took place east of Bluevale last Thursday.

At approximately 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 30, Huron County OPP, Huron County Paramedic Services and North Huron Fire Department responded to the crash scene located at the intersection of Amberley Road (County Road 86) and Brussels Line (County Road 12).

Police say that preliminary investigation indicates the driver of a compact car was attempting to cross Amberley Road on Brussels Line when his vehicle was struck by a sport utility vehicle that was travelling eastbound on Amberley Road.

The OPP reported that the driver of the car was airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Police said one of the occupants from the sport utility vehicle was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Amberley Road was closed between Harriston Road and Brussels Line through Oct. 30.

Brussels Line was also closed between Jamestown Road and Harriston Road with police advising the public to avoid the area. *** Police say a resident of AshfieldColborne-Wawanosh (ACW) will be heading to court later this year to answer to some charges following a traffic stop late last month.

On Sunday, Oct. 25 at approximately 12:03 p.m., police say a Huron County OPP officer observed a compact vehicle travelling southbound on Josephine Street in Wingham being driven by a known suspended driver.

The OPP reports that a traffic stop was conducted and upon confirming the driver was suspended the driver was placed under arrest. A search incident to arrest resulted in police seizing a small quantity of suspected methamphetamine.

Police say the driver, a 42-year-old male from ACW, has been charged with the following offences: Possession of a Schedule I Substance - Methamphetamine, Driving While Under Suspension, Drive Motor Vehicle - No Validated Permit, Fail to Have Insurance Card and No Clear View to Front. He was released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for Dec. 21 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Goderich. *** Huron County OPP says the investigation continues after the theft of a pickup truck from a business located in Clinton late last month.

Sometime between 4 p.m. on Oct. 20 and 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 21, an unknown party entered onto the James Street property whereupon they forced their way into a workshop and stole the pickup truck parked inside.

The stolen truck is described as a red, two-door, 1998 GMC Sierra 1500 with an aluminum tool box in the rear bed.

The keys to the truck were left inside the vehicle. *** A Seaforth resident is facing charges of Impaired Operation and Impaired Operation 80 Plus following a traffic stop that took place late last month, according to the OPP. Police say that, on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at approximately 10:26 p.m., a Huron County OPP officer was patrolling eastbound on Huron Road near Whys Line when he observed a vehicle ahead travelling in an erratic manner.

Police say the officer initiated a traffic stop and, upon speaking with the driver, it became apparent to the investigating officer the driver was impaired by alcohol. The driver was arrested and was transported to the Clinton OPP Detachment for breath tests. Two samples of breath were supplied to the Intoxilizer Technician and both samples were analyzed to be over the legal limit.

The OPP report that the 37-yearold driver from Seaforth has been charged with Operation While Impaired and Operation While Impaired Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) 80 Plus. He has since been released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for later this fall. *** Police say a Goderich resident is facing over a dozen charges after he was tracked down by Valor, a sevenyear-old German shepherd OPP canine, and his handler from the West Region OPP Canine Unit late last month in Wingham.

The OPP report that, on Oct. 23 at approximately 2:12 a.m. a Huron OPP officer initiated a traffic stop of a sport utility vehicle at the edge of Wingham on Kerr Drive. The driver failed to pull over and immediately fled from the officer. He led the officer on a short chase before he drove his vehicle down a dead-end road and skidded into a guard rail.

Upon doing so the driver exited his vehicle and immediately fled on foot.

Police say officers set up containment and with the help of Valor. Officers tracked the fleeing suspect to a garden shed on Josephine Street. Also during the search, Valor sniffed out a package of suspected methamphetamine the suspect had discarded.

The 28-year-old driver from Goderich is facing the following charges, according to OPP: • Flight from Peace Officer • Dangerous Operation • Operation While Prohibited five counts • Failure to Comply with Release Order • Possession of a Schedule I Substance - Methamphetamine • Driving While Under Suspension – 2 counts • Operate a Motor Vehicle Without Insurance • Operate Unsafe Vehicle • Use Plate Not Authorized for Vehicle He remained in custody with a court appearance scheduled for Oct. 28 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Goderich. *** Huron County OPP officers are

currently investigating the theft of a trailer that was stolen from a property in Blyth last month, Police say the trailer had been parked beside a shed near the Greenway Trail in Blyth. The trailer was taken sometime between 10 a.m. on Oct. 18 and 5 p.m. on Oct. 20.

The OPP say the trailer is described as a red, homemade, 20foot-long, dual-axle flatbed trailer with one-foot-high metal sides. *** Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers are actively investigating a recent break, enter and theft that took place in the north end of Wingham.

Sometime between Oct. 28 and Nov. 1, those responsible forced entry into a storage shed/shop located on Josephine Street North.

Once inside the premise the thieves located and stole two youth sized all-terrain vehicles (ATV). One is yellow and the other is green.

Any person with information regarding these events should immediately contact Huron OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or (519) 482-1677.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward.

Hate only the evil Continued from page 19 good to them; we can help them by blessing them, including praying for them; yet we can also adopt God’s view of things by keeping on hating the essence of the evil thing itself.

May the Lord have mercy on Christians around the world who are

suffering persecution, torture and deprivation on account of their testimony about Jesus. May God help them to keep overcoming tribulation, to be strong against discouragement and depression, and to be bold in testifying to others about the peace and joy Jesus gives.

Citizen-To-Citizen “SWAP SHOP” ad “One person’s junk is another’s treasure”

Let us help you turn that junk into $$ ➨ Free ad up to 25 words, person to person only (no businesses), items valued at $1,000 or less. Your ad will run three times unless it sells faster! ➨ The Citizen reserves the right to limit the number of items or ads per person.

Spreading the joy Thanks to a special trick-or-treat event at Huronlea Home for the Aged in Brussels, residents were able to take in the colourful costumes on Halloween. (John Stephenson photo)

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PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020.

Blyth BIA secures funding for outdoor music

By Denny Scott The Citizen During the Blyth Business Improvement Area (BIA) board meeting on Oct. 29, Chair David Sparling reminded members to not park on Queen Street, the village’s main street.

He said that, through reviewing main street, many business owners and employees were parking not only on main street, but also in front of other businesses.

“Park in the alley behind the store,” he said. “If that won’t work, park further down the side streets.”

Sparling said that main street parking spots and parking spaces on side streets close to downtown are key for customers and make it easier for people to shop downtown. *** When discussing correspondence during the BIA board’s Oct. 29 meeting, Chair David Sparling said he had received an e-mail from an associate member expressing that

the BIA wasn’t doing enough for businesses in Blyth. The e-mail specifically mentioned four businesses.

Sparling reached out to the identified businesses, and found they had no specific concerns or requests of the BIA, adding there may have been some miscommunication regarding the issue.

Sparling reminded the board and everyone else at the meeting that the BIA is there to help businesses, and encouraged anyone with

Looking back Ninety-nine per cent of the time, a goalie is looking forward towards the action, but every once in a while, the action moves behind the pads, which is always a moment of panic for any goalie. This was the case on Sunday afternoon as the Blyth Brussels Crusaders U15 Black and Burgundy squads took on one another in Blyth. (John Stephenson photo)

R2R20 sessions detailed Rural Talks to Rural (R2R) began with a conversation wondering what a conference would look like with rural people talking to other people about what was going on in their community. From that conversation it has grown from a local event to an international one – with rural people coming in from around the corner and from the world to share ideas and deepen the conversation on and about rural.

R2R20 is going to be virtual this year and organizers are excited to be co-producing the conference with the Goderich to Guelph Rail Trail Charity (G2G). The G2G story is like many rural stories – it began simply as an idea – and through dialogue, with people from different walks and talks, a vision was created. There have been challenges along the way but through it all the folks at the G2G listened and they adapted and they grew a groundswell of volunteers. And through all of the change they have continued to connect to people, to rural communities, with a social, cultural and physical infrastructure project that impacts the health and wellbeing, of so many.

The G2G Rail Trail Experience is a project for next generations and it’s also something to be enjoyed right now. Co-producing R2R with them is an opportunity to share the journey with another rural institution that has proven itself a builder toward inclusive, sustainable and healthy rural communities.

At R2R20, there will be a number of sessions, including: • This Rural Life: is a noon-hour session - noon to 1 p.m. weekdays during the conference with folks from across Canada talking arts, local government, entrepreneurship, the future of rural tourism, the necessity of rural broadband and there will be sessions on agriculture, wellness and rural media.

• The Evening Panels: run between 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. and will include workshops, a story circle, rural research from across Canada and the globe, what’s going on with agricultural technology and investment. R2R20 will take a look at the challenges and opportunities of the gig economy, explore Food Security and the impact of COVID19 on our healthcare workers. There will also be a discussion following a presentation by the University of Guelph on an extensive Huron/Perth COVID-19 survey.

What’s happening with A1 and our connection to technology is on the R2R menu in two workshops, and there is a panel looking at wicked problems, and a crowd taking a run at the future of rural.

• LIBRO Saturday: Nov. 28 – 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. is a day about community/environment/climate action.

• End of the Lane Conversations: These are two-tothree-minute videos from Canadians living in this unique time answering the questions: how are you now and

what does the future look like to you? Videos will be available to delegates for the run of R2R20 leading to the Libro People’s Awards on Nov. 28.

• Two Virtual Art Galleries: “Ends of the Earth” virtual art gallery from ArtWorks/Mulgrave Road Theatre in Guysborough, Nova Scotia, and “I’ll Tell You the Rest Later” with images from the interior of BC featuring the work of playwright/photographer Kelly Rebar will also be on display.

• The Friday Shindig: Nov. 27 – hosted by Cowbell Brewery is a time to network while enjoying a beverage – maybe listen to some music – and perhaps you might want to step up at the Speaker’s Corner to talk about your experience at R2R20 – what thoughts you have for us moving forward.

• The Virtual Community Lunch: on Nov. 28 – a recipe and how-to video provided by Chef James Eddington of Eddington’s of Exeter will close R2R20.

To register and see the complete R2R20 schedule go to r2r2020.eventbrite.ca

Get information on Huron County attractions on the Stops Along The Way website at stopsalongtheway.ca

concerns or requests to reach out to him.

“We will do our best to help you grow your business,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of resources… but we can find help.” *** The #shiftyourspend initiative that the Blyth BIA bought into with Community Futures Huron has shown that, if residents do 10 per cent more of their shopping in Blyth, it could create 11 new full-time jobs.

As part of the project, five local store owners will participate in an in-depth review of their operations to determine how to best generate more customer traffic.

Sparling said he was happy with the results and the turnaround, saying that it gives people a tangible goal.

“This is a total win for our community and businesses,” he said. *** The Blyth BIA is participating in the Huron County Economic Development Christmas Wish Book project, inviting local businesses to submit products or services that are unique to the area to encourage shopping locally.

Through using funding that was earmarked for projects that didn’t happen due to COVID-19, the group will be advertising both the #shiftyourspend initiative mentioned above and the wish book project.

The project will see an online catalogue of local goods and services available to drive local shopping, according to Sparling.

The board approved the spending, and is inviting local businesses to reach out to the BIA if they are interested in taking part in the project. *** The Blyth BIA is considering working with the international organization Darksky.org to capitalize on Blyth’s relative remoteness.

The organization shows, through its website, where tourists can go to take in night skies that aren’t overly

illuminated by light pollution.

The idea came from Cat O’Donnell of The Wonky Frog who said that, with the trails, the campground and local accommodations, Blyth had everything necessary to take part in it.

The BIA will be looking at what changes can be made to lighting in the community to help create special events centered around taking in the night sky. *** The Blyth BIA has secured $5,000 in funding from Community Futures Huron to replace the aging speaker infrastructure in the village’s downtown core.

The speaker system will allow the BIA to play music throughout the downtown core as was done in the past, however, due to licensing costs, only Canadian music can be played.

During the BIA board’s Oct. 29 meeting, Sparling said that the installation of the new system should start soon.

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020. PAGE 23.

SLED funds approved despite Bailey’s criticism

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Huron County Council approved $90,000 in Supporting Local Economic Development (SLED) grants at its Oct. 21 meeting.

Council approved nine projects,

each of which received $10,000. For this year’s intake, however, there were more applications than money available, meaning applications were turned away.

The approved grants include: • Central Huron: Installation of automatic door openers through a

cost-sharing program with private businesses to increase accessibility and “shopability” in Clinton.

• Exeter BIA and South Huron: The creation of a scavenger hunttype activity entitled the “White Squirrel Hunt” for visitors to explore Exeter.

A unique year With the COVID-19 pandemic drastically altering many aspects of life, costumed trick-ortreaters at the windows and doors of Huronlea Home for the Aged, spreading joy from a safe distance supplied some normalcy for the residents and an opportunity for many residents to see loved ones while showing off their Halloween costumes on Saturday. (John Stephenson photo)

• Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh: To aid in the conversion of land owned by the municipality into attainable housing developmentready land and market those opportunities to developers.

• Goderich: To create a salt minefocused tourism experience that would be virtual in nature, designed for mobile devices.

• Howick: To install WiFi hotspots at the Gorrie pool and create an internet café at both the Howick Community Centre and Belmore Community Arena.

• Bayfield Centre for the Arts: To create an open-air film series in Pioneer Park as part of an effort to establish an annual film festival.

• Morris-Turnberry: To establish an incentive to businesses to develop in Morris-Turnberry by offsetting costs associated with connecting to services.

• Huron Waves Music Festival: To partner with John Miller, the founder of the Stratford Music Festival, to create an annual spring-time music festival in Exeter.

• Huron East: To develop a large painted mural in Seaforth with the artist who developed the butterfly mural on the Square in Goderich, as well as creating artisans’ alley signage and marketing material.

Projects that were not approved include a request to install lights on the Radome in Vanastra, the establishment of a visitor kiosk or information centre and a partnership with local businesses to create bus tours in North Huron, the utilization of the Bayfield Community Centre for corporate meetings and to modify Virtual High School content

to include Christ-centred content for the Christian Virtual School.

While councillors had little to say about the list of projects to be approved, North Huron Reeve Bernie Bailey took the opportunity to criticize the Morris-Turnberry application, saying that if the municipality can apply for funding to offset service connection costs, all municipalities should be doing the same. And while he said he didn’t feel that it met the criteria of the SLED grants, Warden Jim Ginn and county staff assured him that the request did meet the criteria, otherwise it wouldn’t have been recommended for approval.

Bailey said he felt that by approving the grant for MorrisTurnberry, it was putting other municipalities in Huron County at a competitive disadvantage.

Morris-Turnberry Mayor Jamie Heffer didn’t have much to say in his municipality’s defence, just that, clearly, the request did meet the criteria, so he didn’t see why it shouldn’t be considered.

No one else spoke against the Morris-Turnberry application, but Goderich Mayor John Grace said he didn’t feel it was appropriate for one municipal representative to criticize an application made by another municipality. He said he didn’t like “the tone” with which the criticism was levelled either.

Ginn supported the application, saying staff members had done their job and the application fit the criteria, so it was only fair to consider it alongside the rest.

Council approved the grants with Bailey not supporting the motion.

Greener Pastures Fund surpasses $500,000 raised Blyth Cowbell Brewing Company is pleased to announce it has achieved a major milestone with its Greener Pastures Community Fund.

As of Oct. 30, 2020, Cowbell has raised and donated over $500,000 in support of vital programs at Ontario’s four children’s hospitals.

Cowbell has been raising the funds, one nickel at a time, since May of 2016 - and 100 per cent of funds are donated.

The Greener Pastures Community Fund is just one of the ways Cowbell gives back to the broader community. “The entire team at Cowbell Brewing appreciates the support for our beer, our people and our story, from our guests and

customers across Ontario. Thank you for making this possible,” says Alecia Anderson, Cowbell’s Director of Greener Pastures.

• Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa: Funds are directed to the art therapy program, helping young patients and family members with healing and selfexpression through art. This program is provided by accredited art therapists.

• SickKids, Toronto: A specific donation has been made to the epilepsy classroom, as well as continuing support for the greatest priority needs within patient care, research and education that have life changing and saving effects on young patients and families.

• McMaster Children’s Hospital, Hamilton: Donations are directed toward renovations to the pediatric hematology/oncology clinic.

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“Thanks to the healthcare heroes for the sacrifices made every day, and especially during this time of such uncertainty. Their service, commitment and courage deserves our deepest gratitude and sincere appreciation,” says Anderson.

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• Children’s Hospital, London: Ongoing support for the music therapy program for patients to improve areas of health, functioning and well-being within a therapeutic relationship with an accredited music therapist.

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PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020.

Sweet Books For Christmas Gift Giving

A MOOSE IN A MAPLE TREE (Board book) If you want to give someone a unique Canadian take on the 12 Days of Christmas this book will do it, with everything from salmon leaping to mounties and beavers building. Beautifully illustrated.

RETIREMENT ROCKS: Canadian Boomers Invest in Life Retirement opens new possibilities and this book provides practical and sensible advice on re-charging you attitude and re-designing your life with revealing questions and exercises. $24.95

JACK OF ALL TRADES AND MASTER OF NONE Farmer, mechanic, merchant, construction worker and musician, Robert D. McClinchey lived a fascinating Huron County life. In words and photos he and his grandson Greg tell the story. $23.95

CANADIAN JINGLE BELLS Take a flying tour of Canada with Santa Claus and his sled pulled by beaver in this charming illustrated children’s book. Travel from the Yukon and Yellowknife to the west coast and all the way east to Newfoundland. $19.95

THE SOAPMAKER’S COMPANION Here’s a comprehensive guide to making your own soap complete with recipes, techniques, explanations of what makes the process work and diagnosis of problems. $28.95

IN SEARCH OF YESTERDAY David Turner, whose stories have appeared in The Rural Voice and other periodicals, provides a collection of stories about growing up in rural southern Ontario in the second half of the 20th century. $23.95

A DOG TO GIVE AWAY Dr. Dave has become acquainted with many animals throughout the years, but not one has had as much impact on his practice, and his life, as Lug, the stray he invited to stay. This book will warm the hearts of anyone who has ever loved a dog. $12.95

DANCE OF THE HAPPY SHADES This is the book that earned Alice Munro a devoted readership, revealing the countryside of Southwestern Ontario and its many small sufferings and unanticipated emotions. $20.00

BEYOND REACH Set in Perth County and in the Muskokas, this novel follows three generations of women who struggle to connect with each other. It explores chronic depression and how it affects not only the one who suffers from it but the whole family. Local author Sandi Plewis highlights the need for women to find their voices and claim their own power and takes readers on a journey of selfdiscovery and hope. $25.00 (10% of sales will be donated to Huron Hospice).

JOY OF QUILTING Wit and wisdom from Helen Kelley, the most popular quilting columnist in the U.S. Through these entertaining and light-hearted yarns.

You’ll experience her insights into the warmth and enjoyment of quilting. 224 pages, hard cover. $22.95

THE KNITTING ANSWER BOOK A 24-hour hotline for knitters, this book answers questions on everything from needle sizes and yarn weights to dropped stitches, tight ribbing, chart reading and cutting edges.

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OUR LAND OF MILK AND HONEY The hard work and bravery of Dutch families who came to Canada after World War II is a story worth telling. B.B. Carmen Johnson recalls the 1948 journey of her family, the de Haans, to Huron and their experience since. $30.00

HORSE CRAZY 1001 fun facts, craft projects, games, activities and know how for horseloving kids in this nearly400-page book. Author Jessie Haas provides practical information on all things equine. Designed for kids 8 and up. $25.95

Check out our books for all ages at....

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