The Citizen - Oct. 29, 2020

4 • Editorials 8 • Silver Stick 9 • Obituaries 31 • Winners

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The

THIS WEEK

Citizen

Huron County’s most trusted independent news source

Thursday, October 29, 2020

Volume 36 No. 44

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0

Contest winners unveiled

By Denny Scott The Citizen

A little deceiving Local hockey teams took to the ice in their first games over the past week, though for most it was against players they’ve traditionally shared a bench and a changing room with. Above, two Blyth Brussels Minor Hockey Association U15 squads, Blyth Burgundy (in white) and Blyth Black faced off against each other, playing to a high-scoring

14-11 decision for the Burgundy squad. The games are significantly different for players, including being three on three and having no real stoppage in play. In such matches, penalties result in immediate penalty shots instead of any lasting punishment. Above, even though it’s a three-on-three match, there still is plenty of traffic in front of the net. (Hannah Dickie photo)

The votes are in and The Citizen’s staff has decided which Halloween costumes impressed us the most.

With approximately 30 entries, most of which were in the Under-12 category, it was a difficult choice, but four winners were chosen.

In the Under-12 category, nineyear-old Sadie Toll captured the win dressed as “the old granny”.

Local cosplayer Ella Sawchuk captured the 12-18 category with her rendition of Miss Frizzle from The Magic School Bus, specifically the episode of the beloved classic show where Frizzle’s class learns about bees.

The 18+ category was taken by Jackie and Kris DeWit who were dressed, respectively, as a scarecrow and an Oktoberfest reveler.

Brenda Empey submitted the winning photo for the Pets category.

She dressed her family dog BJ as a crow to be able to join the all-crowbased home security system.

To see the winners, turn to page 31.

Each winner will receive a prize from The Citizen and our sincere thanks for taking part.

As for the rest of the cute, spooky and spectacular costumes, they will be available for viewing online at huroncitizen.ca as well as spread throughout this issue of The Citizen.

Thank you to all who contributed.

Huron County turns down hospice funding request

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Huron County Council has turned down a request for funding from the Huron Residential Hospice that would have enabled the location to access upper-tier funding for further expansion.

Council made the decision at its Oct. 21 meeting, which was held remotely through Zoom, after receiving a presentation earlier this month. Hospice representatives

were seeking $650,000 from the county to assist with the hospice’s $2.7 million capital campaign. If the county had granted the hospice the amount requested, it would have led to an additional $680,000 from the provincial government.

The capital campaign funds would be used for phase two of construction adding two additional beds to the existing four ($1.3 million), paying down debt from phase one of the project ($850,000)

and padding the reserves ($550,000).

In his report to council, Treasurer Michael Blumhagen said the county’s $650,000 would have been put towards phase two construction of the project, while the provincial funding would be used to cover most of the debt from phase one.

He also noted that while the provincial government provides the hospice with 50 per cent of operational costs, equating to $105,000 per bed, per year, that

HP COVID-19 numbers climb Over the past week, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Huron and Perth Counties has climbed to 143 according to Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH).

The count is up by three confirmed cases from last Monday, and one case remains active in the two counties.

As far as specific areas, Central

Huron has had the highest number of cases in Huron County with 14 confirmed. Bluewater has had 13 confirmed cases. South Huron has had 10 confirmed cases. AshfieldColborne-Wawanosh, Goderich and Huron East have each had three confirmed cases while North Huron and Morris-Turnberry have each had one. Howick remains

without a single confirmed case.

In Perth County, Stratford has had 38 confirmed cases, the most in the county, followed by North Perth at 19. Perth East has had 17 confirmed cases, Perth South has had eight, West Perth has had seven and St. Marys has had six.

For more information, visit hpph.ca.

funding does not allow for capital expenses.

Blumhagen told council that the two additional beds being proposed could bring in $210,000 more per year, which, when economies of scale are realized, would reduce the per-bed day cost from $738 to $476 because existing staff would be able to cover the two new beds. However, he noted that the additional funding

Daylight Saving Time Ends Clocks go back one hour Sunday, Nov. 1 at 2 a.m.

had yet to be approved by the provincial government.

He also told council that if the province were to approve funding for the two new beds, the long-term financial stability of the hospice would be greatly improved, provided costs were kept in line with current levels.

While several councillors Continued on page 2

PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020.

HC releases G2G tunnel project funds

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Huron County Council has authorized staff to provide consent to Regional Tourism Organization 4 (RTO4) to utilize the remaining Goderich-to-Guelph (G2G) Rail Trail funding to construct a tunnel underneath Blyth Road to further connect the trail.

The issue was up for discussion at council’s Oct. 21 meeting with a report presented by Director of Economic Development Cody Joudry.

In his report, Joudry said the trail is nearly complete from end to end with the exception of two major projects west of Blyth: crossing the Maitland River and crossing Blyth Road.

The funds date back to a memorandum of understanding between RTO4 and the county for $100,000 for the trail.

The county’s funds were contributed in 2018 and have

been held by RTO4 since that time.

A number of options were presented for crossing Blyth Road, but the preferred option, according to Joudry’s report, was to create a tunnel underneath Blyth Road, which was considered the least expensive of three options presented (the other two were realigning the trail to cross the road at a more convenient location or to bring the trail up to the grade of the highway).

The total cost of the project is anticipated to be $275,000, so council authorized the release of the funds to G2G Inc. once it has been confirmed that the corporation had secured the remaining project costs, which would be $175,000, minus the $100,000 from Huron County and RTO4.

Joudry also noted in his report that releasing the funds, which have already been allocated, would not require an additional financial contribution from the county.

Council approved the recommendation.

The solution to COVID-19 starts

with keeping yourr distance.

•Wear a face covering.

•Keep 2m apart from anyone outside of your household.

•Limit your close contact to your household only.

•Wash your hands often.

A gourd-looking costume It was a tough call for The Citizen’s staff to pick the best costumes in the newspaper’s first annual Halloween costume contest with entries like nine-month-old Oliver van Heesch, submitted by his grandfather Henry van Heesch, in the running. See page 31 for the winners. (Photo submitted)

Hospice decision not based on site, service Continued from page 1 expressed concerns with the request when it was first presented, some had softened to the idea at council’s Oct. 21 meeting, saying they planned on voting in favour of the request, despite the county’s current moratorium on grants.

Several councillors insisted their criticism was not an indictment of the hospice but a financial decision for the county, adding they had only heard positive things about the site.

Others said they saw it as the continued downloading of public health costs onto counties and municipalities and they didn’t want to support that process.

While some councillors did speak in favour of the request, in the end, council voted against it.

After the decision was made, Huron Residential Hospice Executive Director Willy Van Klooster issued a statement to The Citizen.

“While we are disappointed with the outcome, we respect the process and acknowledge that county

councillors have a challenging job.

Councillors are faced with making difficult decisions and we understand that not all requests can be fulfilled. We heard from council members consistently how much they value the Huron Hospice residence and understand the value it has for Huron County residents,” Van Klooster said in his statement.

“This decision by council does not stop our plans to expand from four to six beds at the hospice so that this end-of-life care can be provided to more people in Huron County. The residence is often at capacity with a waiting list. It may take longer for us to complete the capital campaign before undertaking the phase two addition. We know we can count on support from the residents of Huron County to expand our services to meet their needs.

“Huron Hospice has provided hospice palliative care in the county for over 25 years. We will continue to provide our full range of services while the capital campaign continues.”

Stopping the spread starts with you. o ou Visit ontario.ca/ /c coronavirus to learn more Paid for by the Government of Ontario

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020. PAGE 3.

Blyth wins feature spot in reworked Hicks song

Telling the tale Blyth’s Floyd Herman was the voice behind the winning video entry for the community to London’s Pure Country Stompin’ Ground Throwdown. As a result of the win, country star Tim Hicks reworked his tune ‘Stompin’ Ground’ to include verses about Blyth. (Photo submitted)

By Denny Scott The Citizen Blyth was named the winner of London’s Pure Country Stompin’ Ground Throwdown last Friday, earning the village a featured spot in a special version of

Tim Hicks’ country hit ‘Stompin’ Ground’.

Hicks, while on the air with Pure Country 93’s Gary Taylor, announced Blyth as the winner, edging out Teeterville, Wallacetown, St. Marys and Dunnville.

Blyth’s entry into the contest was

spearheaded by Susan Hubbard, cochair of the Blyth Community Betterment Group (BCBG).

“I was listening to [the former] BX93 [now Pure Country 93], and they asked what makes your town Country, and I thought, that’s everything that we’re about in

Blyth,” she told The Citizen on Monday.

Hubbard reached out to Annie Sparling, the chair of the BCBG, and asked to set a meeting so the group could come together to try and put together an entry.

“There were a lot of great ideas and it kind of evolved from there,” Hubbard said.

The group put together a video entry with Walton resident Nick Vinnicombe’s media company, Lake Affect Media, and when she first saw it, Hubbard said she was impressed.

“The video was amazing,” she said, adding Vinnicombe and narrator Floyd Herman did a great job.

When she saw the video, and compared it to the other entries, Hubbard said she had a feeling that Blyth could go all the way. That instinct was justified on Friday when the announcement was made and she heard the reworked song.

“The song is good,” she said. “Tim did a good job incorporating everything.”

Hubbard also said the song may be part of celebrations going forward like next year’s Rutabaga Festival, which is hosted by the BCBG. She said she’s heard the song multiple times, including when it was played just after the announcement at 5 p.m. last Friday.

Hubbard said she wanted to thank

everyone who supported the bid and helped with the video.

As for Hicks, he told Pure Country 93 that he was able to work a significant amount of Blyth facts, landmarks and activities into the reworked tune.

“I watched and rewatched Blyth’s entry video, [in] which a fellow named Floyd was the narrator,” Hicks said. “I tried to work those words and those ideas and the events and what not into the syllables of ‘Stompin’ Ground’.”

Hicks said he tried to hit as many of the landmarks and facts of the community as possible in the recording.

“We managed to work in the County of Huron, country roads, leather mills, cool shops, theatres, craft beer – Cowbell Beer, tractor pulls, pipe bands, Pioneer Threshers Reunion and the Rutabaga Festival,” Hicks said, adding he even managed to include Pure Country 93. “There’s a lot going on in two verses and a chorus.”

Hicks later told CTV that it wasn’t easy working everything in, highlighting the fact that he’d never worked the term Rutabaga Festival into a song. He also admitted he had to look up what the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association reunion entailed.

The song, alongside the announcement are available on Pure Country 93’s website at iheartradio.ca/purecountry/london/

Caldwell preparing agricultural, rural assessment

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen East Wawanosh native and University of Guelph professor Dr. Wayne Caldwell is now in the late stages of a study assessing the capacity of municipalities to respond to evolving rural and agricultural issues.

The research has been conducted across the Greenbelt region near Toronto, including nearly 70 lowerand upper-tier municipalities. The goal, Caldwell said in an interview with The Citizen, is to understand municipalities’ ability to deal with rural and agricultural issues and, eventually, how that capacity could be improved.

He said the results thus far have varied dramatically with some having effective procedures in place to ensure rural and agricultural interests are being served while other municipalities have not even factored in the world of agriculture into the decision-making process.

“A thriving agricultural sector in Ontario is dependent upon a knowledgeable and supportive municipal sector. As the nature of municipal government and agriculture evolves, municipalities need to ensure that they have the capacity (staff, time, expertise) to respond to new and emerging agricultural issues (including climate change, cannabis production, agritourism, etc.). It is equally important that [elected municipal] officials understand the needs of agriculture and are well positioned to make timely, relevant decisions in support of the agri-food sector and the economy of rural Ontario,” reads the executive summary for the study on Caldwell’s website.

“Research examining municipal capacity and rural and agricultural outcomes is relatively sparse, the most recent comparable study being conducted in the late 1980s. [Gary Davidson, former Director of

Planning for Huron County, in his 1988 piece Assimilation and Accommodation: County Planning in Transition] provides historical context to the varied efforts of Ontario municipalities in relation to rural issues. His research examined the capacity of 13 upper-tier planning departments and determined a variety of challenges (staff resources, outdated policies, expectations) impacting rural areas and rural economic development.

Many of the issues identified in Davidson’s research persist in the present and point to a sustained relationship between municipal capacity and the ability to deliver on critical planning mandates; the study being undertaken by Dr. Caldwell aims to build on this research and contribute to a more complete understanding of this relationship.”

With the world of agriculture changing so rapidly, Caldwell said some municipalities simply don’t have the planning capacity to keep up. Studying throughout the Greenbelt region, he said that not every municipality has made consideration of agriculture in its planning a priority.

One example, he said, has been cannabis production, which is relatively new in Canada. He said he has heard stories of families having to move from their houses because of their proximity to a cannabis production facility, with some telling him it’s more challenging to live next to a cannabis facility than most agricultural operations. And while some municipalities aren’t purposely turning their backs on rural and agricultural policies, some simply don’t have the capacity for it.

One aspect of planning along the Greenbelt that Caldwell’s research looked into is the planning complement.

For some municipalities, there is a planner for every 10,000 residents, while in others, there is 0.1 planner for every 10,000 residents. That is a

tremendous difference from municipality to municipality when it comes to the volume of work.

His research has also pointed out that so few farmers serve as councillors in that area any longer, making it difficult to find a farmer’s perspective on planning matters without seeking out their input.

In the study’s executive summary, it says there was a “mixed methods” approach to the research. This means Caldwell and his team will use surveys and interviews with municipal planners and elected officials in addition to a literature review and policy analysis.

Caldwell said it’s similar to Huron County’s rural lens planning tool, which was championed by Huron County Warden Jim Ginn with plenty of work from Caldwell.

However, it’s different in that the county’s planning guidance tool focused on rural issues with a wider scope, whereas Caldwell’s new research is strictly focused on agriculture.

Too often, he said, planning and agriculture have a relationship that is really just about imposing regulations on operations, rather than finding ways to aid agriculture.

He hopes his research and subsequent findings will help to change that.

Caldwell says he’s preparing the final report on the study, which will be delivered by the end of the year, but so far the team has found several distinct observations, including the importance of a relationship with farmers, the need for strengthening the relationship between planning and economic development, the need for strengthening relationships between municipalities and the provincial government, enabling comprehension of agriculture with planners and how having a positive relationship with academic institutions can pay off for municipalities.

Caldwell looked to his own program at the University of Guelph,

saying he and the school make a conscious effort to ensure the planners that graduate are wellversed and educated on rural and agricultural issues. However, while the University of Guelph may graduate between 25 and 30 students per year, other universities that may not be instilling that focus in their students are graduating between 300 and 400 students per year, making it an uphill battle.

When the study is done, Caldwell and his team will present the final report to The Greenbelt Foundation.

The report will include not only the findings of the research, but provide recommendations for how to better position municipalities to respond to

and support the agri-food sector throughout the planning process.

Caldwell said he is happy with the findings of the study and hopes to expand it province-wide in the future.

For more information on the project and other projects of Caldwell’s, visit his website at waynecaldwell.ca.

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Are You Born Again?

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) 3. Practicing Righteousness “Everyone that does righteousness is born of Him” (1 John 2:29) A man who is born again, or regenerated, is a holy man. He endeavors to live according to God’s will — to do the things that please God — and to avoid the things that God hates. He wishes to continually look to Christ as his example, as well as his Saviour — and to prove himself to be Christ’s friend, by doing whatever He commands. He knows he is not perfect. He is painfully aware of his indwelling corruption. He finds an evil principle within himself, which is constantly warring against grace and trying to draw him away from God. But he does not consent to it, though he cannot prevent its presence.

Though he may sometimes feel so low that he questions whether or not he is a Christian at all, he will be able to say with John Newton, “I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in the eternal world. But still — I am not what I once used to be! By the grace of God I am what I am.” What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again? (to be continued next week) A Grace Gem Submitted by: Immanuel United Reformed Church, Listowel, ON 519-492-1359

PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020.

Editorials & Opinions

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

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Keeping the herd safe Following the rules is sometimes difficult, and the longer that this pandemic holds on, the harder it is to stick to the two-metre physical distancing and to remember to keep a spare mask in the glovebox. (Is it now a maskbox?)

While other areas of the province and country are experiencing spikes in case counts, Huron and Perth counties have remained relatively unscathed. We are now two weeks past the Thanksgiving holiday and it appears most people in our region followed the guidelines and stuck to smaller family gatherings or stayed outdoors. With only one active case in the region, we are luckier than most and we definitely want to stay that way.

Thank you to the folks in our region who are sticking with the guidelines, and thank you to the Huron Perth Public Health team that is helping us all to stay safe! – DS

Three’s company Alright, run the list: Hunter Biden, Mitch McConnell, Nancy Pelosi, Rudy Giuliani, Bernie Sanders, AOC+3 (Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib), Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Andrew Cuomo, Gretchen Whitmer, Kim Jong Un, Vladmir Putin, Xi Jinping and Anthony Fauci. What does this eclectic list of people have in common? None are running for president.

In the final U.S. presidential debate before the Nov. 3 election, the two men actually running for the position – incumbent Donald Trump and former Vice-President Joe Biden – spent less time picking one another apart than they did scrutinizing their opponent’s circle of friends.

Those tuning in hoping for a thoughtful dissection of the issues and the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate will be disappointed, though it was certainly more controlled than the first debate.

Democratic candidate Joe Biden did spend most of his time focused on Trump and his three-and-a-half-year reign. Trump repeatedly worked to tie Biden to the “radical left” to scare undecided voters away with scary socialism and drudged up discredited stories about Biden’s son and the family’s foreign interests.

Debates like last week’s frustrate people with politics. When someone posits that you can never get a straight answer from a politician, debates like last week’s can be used as Exhibit A. With over 223,000 Americans dead from COVID-19, tremendous social unrest, a recession looming and a long, challenging winter ahead for many, there are plenty of issues to debate, but Trump and Biden robbed voters of a thoughtful, insightful debate on those issues. Instead, they chose to pick apart each other’s friend circles and families like a schoolyard yelling match. – SL

Thinking forward Tim Hortons, alongside some other fast food chains, marked Waste Reduction Week (last week) with a number of announcements about how the company, which is synonymous with Canadian identity for some, will be reducing its negative impact on the environment.

The changes range from using different kinds of napkins made from 100 per cent recycled material and 25 per cent less material to using paper-based wrappers for sandwiches and bagels that are recyclable.

One of the biggest announcements, however, was that the company will be working with Loop, a zero-waste platform owned by TerraCycle.

Loop is a pilot program that will allow customers to get their take-out goods in reusable containers that can be returned to the restaurant with a deposit that will be returned when the containers are brought back.

The program will see Loop sanitize and clean the containers before they go back into circulation. The pilot is set to start next year in Toronto.

It’s good to see companies start to take part in these programs because it means that environmentalism isn’t just being considered at the grassroots level. From the federal government changing which plastics are allowed in the country to the province changing the blue box system to private corporations buying in, it shows that the sustainability of humanity is finally being taken seriously by some. – JDS

Letters Policy The Citizen welcomes letters to the editor.

Letters must be signed and should include a daytime telephone number for the purpose of verification only. Letters that are not signed will not be printed.

Submissions may be edited for length, clarity and content, using fair comment as our guideline. The Citizen reserves the right to refuse any letter on the basis of unfair bias, prejudice or inaccuracy. Letters can only be printed as space allows.

Looking Back Through the Years October 31, 1963 Murray Gaunt was victorious in a sanctioned recount after the results of the local provincial election were extremely close between Gaunt of the Liberal Party and Progressive Conservative George McCutcheon.

The recount changed nothing, with Gaunt retaining his 28-vote margin of victory over McCutcheon.

The total number of votes for each candidate did change, oddly enough, with both men gaining eight votes, but then losing five as a result of the recount.

The final tally, under the watchful eye of Judge Frank Fingland of Clinton, was 6,362 votes for Gaunt and 6,334 for McCutcheon.

Brussels Lions Club President Cecil Parker presented the Brussels Recreational Committee with a cheque for $400 on behalf of the club as part of the committee’s ongoing work to install artificial ice in the local arena. The money had been raised through the club’s World Series ticket fundraiser.

October 27, 1971 With the annual canvass for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) on the horizon, The Blyth Standard profiled Harold Vodden and his work to overcome blindness. After operating a bakery with his wife Myrtle before Harold became blind, he would go on to repair radios despite his blindness.

Liberal MPP for Huron-Bruce Murray Gaunt easily swept back into office, winning virtually every poll in the riding and eventually taking the election by over 8,000 votes over Progressive Conservative Lou Boyce from Kincardine.

The Blyth Walkathon went down as one of the most successful fundraisers in Blyth in recent memory. Over 70 walkers took part

in the 10-mile hike, which was expected to break the $1,000 mark.

John Battye was awarded as the fastest walker in the event, reaching his destination in just over 100 minutes. James Oster won the trophy as the youngest walker to finish and William Bromley was celebrated as the oldest, completing the journey at 82 years of age.

November 3, 1999 Blyth and Hullett Township residents were preparing to say goodbye to one of the last “free” services they had with the proposal of garbage bag tags.

Blyth Clerk-Treasurer John Stewart presented councillors with a draft bylaw that would introduce bagtags for users of the BlythHullett landfill site. When asked, Stewart said there were emerging problems with waste management in Blyth that needed to be handled.

Residents were accused of including recyclable and compostable material in their garbage, which compromised the landfill. In addition, there were also stories of non-residents travelling to Blyth early on garbage day to drop their waste in the village to avoid charges from their home villages.

Stewart also said that with the impending amalgamation of Blyth, Wingham and East Wawanosh, the introduction of bagtags could create uniformity across the municipality.

Wingham and East Wawanosh had both been using bagtags, while Blyth had not.

After 30 years of touring across Canada, composer and pianist Frank Mills announced he would be stopping in Blyth as part of the final tour of his career.

The “Group of Five”, comprising the Town of Seaforth, the Village of Brussels and Grey, McKillop and

Tuckersmith Townships, continued its restructuring plans in the hopes of amalgamating in the future.

October 28, 2010 The municipal election votes had been counted and residents had their say resulting in many positions changing hands locally.

Paul Gowing defeated Dorothy Kelly by a two-votes-to-one margin to lead Morris-Turnberry for the next four years, while long-time councillor Edna McLellan lost her seat in the Morris Ward of the municipality, making way for Neil Warwick, Jamie McCallum and David Baker.

Bernie MacLellan won the position of mayor in Huron East, defeating Paul VanderMolen, while Seaforth’s Joe Steffler claimed the deputy-mayor chair over Chris Lee. Also in Huron East, long-time Brussels councillor Frank Stretton lost his seat to David Blaney and Joe Seili, who had decided not to run for mayor in 2010, but take aim at a councillor’s seat.

In Seaforth, Bob Fisher and Nathan Marshall won councillor seats, beating Maureen Agar, Robert Dinsmore and Randy Dayman for the two positions.

Jim Ginn beat out Huron County Warden and Central Huron Mayor Bert Dykstra to take over the top position in the municipality.

In Blyth, David Riach and Brock Vodden were elected to councillor positions, edging out Bill Knott.

Mike Smith opened the Rack and Roost hunting shop in Brussels with a grand opening set for Oct. 30.

The Wingham Ironmen lost to the Kincardine Bulldogs by a score of 32, marking their second loss of the season after several weeks of undefeated hockey to open the season.

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020. PAGE 5.

Other Views Seeing the same things, differently

A

s American voters prepare for election day next Tuesday, I can’t help thinking of the family member we used to speak about as being “wired” differently. If 10 people witnessed the same thing, we said, nine of them would come to the same conclusions, but this guy would see something entirely different.

It seems that about 40 per cent of American voters are like the guy mentioned above.

They look at the antics of U.S. President Donald Trump and see something entirely different than most of us. How else can you explain that, after four years of bending the rules, fanning divisions and mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still scenarios that give him a chance of winning this election.

Polls have shown Democratic candidate Joe Biden with a consistent 10-12 per cent lead, but the biggest surprise is that it isn’t a 25-40 per cent lead, given the behavior of the President.

It’s safe to say that disgust at Donald Trump unites Canadians more than just about any other issue. Even here, though, there are those who can look at the same Trump behaviour and see something entirely different from the majority. Recently Tom More, who describes himself as a Canadian observer of American politics, wrote an opinion piece for Farmers’ Forum, an Ontario-based farm newspaper praising Trump.

“His accomplishments . . . are nothing short of amazing,” More said of the President, crediting him for enticing U.S. manufacturers to bring factories home from abroad, slashing drug prices, cutting regulations and taxes which in turn led to record level jobs for Blacks and Latinos, and bringing peace to the Middle East.

Yet More takes up the President’s complaint

Keith Roulston From the cluttered desk that critics are unfair. “President Trump is the most maligned, defamed and lied-about man of our time. Few people could last one week in the face of the abuse he gets. Imagine going to bed each night knowing there will be new lies about you in the morning. Your enemies have even encouraged people to kill you. Knowing this, would you be willing to stand up in front of thousands of people for two hours? That’s gutsy.”

And More shares Trump’s claim that the Democrats are working hand in hand with the devil to ruin the U.S. “While Trump is the champion of the little guy (he’s pro-family, pro-worker, prolife) the Democratic Party has lurched toward socialism (end to freedom) and extreme environmentalism, while maintaining strong ties to big media, big China, and big companies that squeeze the competition.

“The Democratic Party has abandoned lifelong Democrats and now the only thing standing between the Western World and a socialist hell is Donald J. Trump.” (At least he didn’t pick up the Qanon conspiracy theory that Democrats are part of a plot of pedophiles.)

I try to make it a habit to read or listen to the guys who are wired differently like More. We need to challenge our comfortable positions by listening to people who see things differently, Now, as never before, thanks to social media,

it’s relatively easy to isolate yourself among people with whom you agree.

Ironically, this is a habit that often leaves Trump supporters in a world where he is beyond criticism. If he should lose this election, many Trump supporters will be shocked. Getting their news, as they do, from Fox News, the website Breitbart News or likeminded friends on social media, many probably have no idea that he’s behind in most polls.

And like many of us, Trump supporters tend to take what they like from his record and ignore what they’d rather he not have done. In his entire 800-word article, for instance, More never once mentioned the greatest threat to America today – the COVID-19 pandemic.

This despite the fact, as a Canadian, he has evidence all around him of the difference made by active efforts of Canadian governments to combat the plague versus the “ignore it and it will go away” approach of Trump.

American experts have pointed out that if their governments had followed the Canadian protocols, the American death toll from COVID-19 would be about 85,000, not hurtling toward a quarter-million.

It’s valuable to have out-of-step thinkers among us. Nearly all the developers of valuable inventions like Alexander Graham Bell or Thomas Edison were ridiculed by their colleagues when they started. However, outliers in politics are often more contentious, numbering many authoritarians among them.

If you’re a Trump fan, you’ll love More’s conclusion. “The good news is that he likely will win in November. The bad news is that the Democratic Party didn’t accept the election results in 2016. They’re not about to now.”

But hasn’t it been Trump suggesting he won’t accept results if he loses?

Let’s celebrate outside the box safely

A

mong Halloween, Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day and, on the horizon, Christmas, COVID-19 has taken its toll on regular celebrations this year.

While some people have wanted to persevere and try and make things work under the rules and suggestions from doctors and scientists, others have decided it’s not worth the risk and celebrated events on their own.

With Halloween fast approaching and Remembrance Day shortly after, we are all learning what could work, what won’t work and what just won’t happen and, unfortunately, there are a lot of things falling into that last category.

Remembrance Day ceremonies are being held privately to make sure those who made the ultimate sacrifice are being remembered safely. Halloween parties are supposed to move online, according to Huron Perth Public Health, while trick or treating is going to be limited with rules for how candy should be handed out and what people can buy as treats for the big day.

However, recently, people have started to look to Christmas events like local Santa Claus parades and are turning them into “reverse parades”, where the floats are stationary and the crowds, in cars, tour around them without any risk of contracting COVID19.

While I’m not saying that the reverse parades are a bad idea, I am saying there might be a better idea by looking at my wife’s home: Dorchester.

The village, depending on how that’s measured, has between 4,000 and 9,325 people and is part of Thames Centre. Despite my wife’s arguments to the contrary, it is pretty much a suburb of London.

Every year, my wife and I sit down and figure out how we’re going to celebrate Christmas with our families. We have a

Denny Scott Denny’s Den handful of celebrations to get to in just a few days, so it’s always a discussion about where to be and when.

We traditionally go to Dorchester to visit her father and sister on Christmas Eve because that’s when the village has its Santa Claus parade.

That’s right, the Santa Claus parade is actually on Christmas Eve which must prompt all sorts of questions from younger audience members about how Santa can fit in that visit on the busiest night ever. However, it’s a great tradition as far as I’m concerned.

Every year we grab their local newspaper and time out when the parade will be going by my in-laws’ home and then park ourselves at the bottom of the laneway to take it in. See, the parade goes through every major neighbourhood in the community instead of being limited to a main street route.

It’s not a long parade and, on particularly slushy nights, it can go by pretty fast, but Mary Jane loves seeing Santa.

Am I suggesting that Blyth, Brussels, Clinton, Seaforth, Wingham or any of the other local communities look to host their Christmas Parade on Dec. 24? No. Please don’t. First off, we would likely not be able to cover it in the paper. Secondly, I’d be guaranteed to miss it every year.

No, I’m suggesting that we look at parades that may take a bit longer, but could have fewer entries. Get those parades visiting every house they can in the community, that way

people can stay safe and distanced from others by just sitting at their own property.

Dorchester is a lot bigger than the Huron County communities I listed above and the parade manages to hit the community at large, even my in-law’s home which is surrounded by agricultural fields.

I’m guessing that, come Christmas, we’re going to be in the same situation we are now, if not a worse one due to regular flu season compounding the ongoing pandemic. That means we may not be able to see friends or family and we definitely won’t be able to have parades in the traditional sense. If, however, people didn’t need to do anything but set up some lawn chairs at the end of the lane, brew some hot chocolate and dress warmly to take it in while staying far away from everyone else, we could keep some of these traditions alive.

Again, don’t get me wrong. The reverse parade idea could be a good one. It won’t be one I’ll be particularly looking forward to because driving slowly isn’t fun in my mind, but it shows thinking outside the box. That said, why reinvent the wheel when another community has, for years, been doing exactly what needs to be done to keep people safe and let the younger crowd get a glimpse of Santa?

Regardless of how we end up celebrating Christmas, Remembrance Day or Halloween, let’s keep it safe people. Wear a fabric mask, stay two metres away from others and stay home if you’re sick. Or heck, just stay home period. That’s the safest way we can weather this storm.

Final Thought Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.

– Winston Churchill

Shawn Loughlin Shawn’s Sense

What’s behind the scenes

M

aybe it was all that congratulatory back-slapping in last week’s issue as The Citizen marked its anniversary, but it got me thinking about what we do here every week and how, just like so many other jobs, it runs deeper than the final product.

When Jess was a student teacher, helping with a class at East Wawanosh Public School, I presented, as a guest teacher, a lesson on how to write a story for a newspaper. To illustrate the process of writing a news story, I drew an iceberg on the blackboard, comparing the visible 10 per cent of the iceberg to the written story and the other 90 per cent to the research, interviews and other work that goes into a finished story.

Watching Spotlight recently, the Academy Award-winning depiction of The Boston Globe investigation into systemic abuse and cover-up by the Catholic Church in Boston, I was struck by a quote late in the movie. Once the story is laid bare before the journalists working to uncover it, the finger-pointing begins. Fueled by guilt that they could have done something earlier, the reporters turn on one another. But Liev Schreiber, portraying the real-life Marty Baron, one of the greatest newspaper editors in history, reminds them the process is the job.

“Sometimes it’s easy to forget that we spend most of our time stumbling around in the dark.

Suddenly a light gets turned on and there’s a fair share of blame to go around.”

While those comments can be the perfect way to describe most of the work journalists, especially investigative journalists, do, it really can apply to so many other professions. It’s about research, trial and error and, frankly, getting things wrong a lot of the time.

Using the Catholic Church investigation as a means of explanation, there were plenty of handshakes and at-a-boys when the Spotlight team published some of the most important stories of the last 50 years. No doubt the team would ride that enthusiasm through their Pulitzer Prize win and the recognition the Spotlight film brought them. But what that movie shows so well is the hard work and sacrifice required to publish a story of that magnitude. Doors being slammed in their faces, the threat of physical violence and the potential for serious legal action and financial ruin would more accurately describe the team’s days during the investigation. However, even those sensational days might be a stretch. In fact, most of their days were likely spent poring through directories or court documents or trying to track down victims.

Boring stuff, right? But that’s the job.

Just like a young police officer who thinks he’s signing up for car chases, gun fights and negotiating with terrorists. It must be a shock to the system to sit in a car on a 12-hour stakeout or monitor a speed trap for hours on end. The job is more talk radio than the Lethal Weapon movies.

In fact, right now all eyes are on scientists and doctors as they work to find a vaccine for COVID-19. Most of that work is trial and error.

Doctors like Theresa Tam or Anthony Fauci are working their way through this pandemic just like all of us. They’re doing their best, but they’ve been wrong along the way. Now, people want to throw their missteps in their faces, like they’ve never made a mistake.

For Fauci, there’s throwing out a first pitch or being on the cover of Time, but much of his work, and the work of other epidemiologists, is spent, like Spotlight’s Baron said, rooting around in the dark, hoping for some light.

Many careers are more grind than glamour, but often the juice is worth the squeeze.

PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020.

Brussels 2022 homecoming committee struck

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen With the 2022 Brussels Homecoming Committee now solidified as a committee of Huron East Council, Chair Dan Fritz says things are progressing ahead of the village’s 150th anniversary.

At the Oct. 20 meeting of Huron East Council, the committee was confirmed by council with Fritz as chair, Mike Thomas as vice-chair, Deb Seili as treasurer, Crystal McCallum as secretary and Jason Crawford, Brad Beuermann, Pam McLean, Kaitlyn Pipe, John Lowe

and Zoellyn Onn as directors. The event has officially been set for July 29-Aug. 1, 2022.

In an interview with The Citizen, Fritz said the process began in September when he, Thomas and Beuermann began looking ahead to the milestone and considered striking a committee to begin planning for the celebration.

The first meeting, Fritz said, was pretty informal, but they soon began ironing out some details and laying the foundation for the event, one aspect of which was to apply to become a committee of council.

The group began by discussing the

importance of the event. Marking a 150th anniversary for a village is a worthwhile milestone, Fritz said, and should be celebrated.

They have since started a Facebook page for the event and are currently soliciting suggestions for a theme, a logo and a slogan for the event. The committee will likely take a vote on the suggestions at its November meeting, so be sure to make your suggestion soon if you’re so inclined.

Now, Fritz says the committee has been considering some ideas for events and activities at the homecoming, but they haven’t been

too aggressive in beginning their planning with so much uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Certainly, Fritz said, he hopes things have returned to a level of normalcy by the summer of 2022, but without knowing that for sure, it’s hard to plan anything too firmly.

As for his hopes for the event,

Fritz says the committee intends to create an event that provides a good time for all. More planning will take place in the months to come, including subcommittees and plenty of opportunities for people to get involved, but for the time being, they’re trying to keep the committee limited to 10 people to limit the potential for spread of COVID-19.

Cameras considered for recycling area

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Huron East Councillor Zoellyn Onn thinks a solution is needed for Brussels’ communal recycling bins with illegal dumping on the rise.

Onn says the bins are being abused in the village, with people dropping off all kinds of nonrecyclable material, which is resulting in additional disposal costs for the municipality.

Speaking to the issue at council’s Oct. 20 meeting, Onn said she would like cameras installed at the site in order to catch those illegally dumping materials that don’t belong in the bins and charge them with illegal dumping.

In recent weeks, she said all kinds of materials have been found in the bins, including wood, walnuts and asphalt, among other things. If the poor dumping etiquette continues, she said, the waste management company will likely remove the bins.

Public Works Director Barry Mills said he could investigate the installation of cameras at the site and report back to council.

NEWS FROM BRUSSELS

Brussels Legion 218 Catch the Ace Weekly Winner Winning Ticket: Christine Welsh $248 Envelope #14 found the 9 of clubs Estimated jackpot for October 30 is $8,000

Double trouble Brussels natives Beckett Noble, looking very stealthy at left, and his brother Jacoby, dressed to protect and serve, donned their Halloween costumes to take part in The Citizen’s first annual Halloween costume contest. To see the winners, turn to page 31. (Photo submitted)

Now Here’s a Bright Idea!

At the Branch

‘Ace’ draw jackpot nears $8,000

By Jo-Ann McDonald The Friday night Catch the Ace draw was held on Oct. 23 and the jackpot is still waiting to be won.

The weekly winner was Christine Welsh who claimed $248. She chose envelope number 14 and found the nine of clubs. The estimated jackpot for Oct. 30 is $8,000.

Tickets sales are going up and so will the jackpot. The more tickets sold the more the jackpot grows. Get your tickets at Brussels Variety, Brussels Pharmacy, McDonald Home Hardware Building Centre and the Brussels Legion Branch.

Some housekeeping was done at the Branch on Saturday. More plexiglass has been installed where needed. The kitchen received a bit of housecleaning. If the Branch can host any meals this year, the kitchen needed some cleaning after not being used for six months.

Refrigerators had been unplugged and cleaned in March, so only one was running for the break.

The mail-out campaign letters for the Poppy drive should arrive in your mailbox on Friday or the first

of next week. Please consider supporting the Poppy Fund. Poppy boxes will also be distributed on Friday at noon. Monies raised from the poppy drive supports veterans, hospitals, bursaries and many other programs of the Royal Canadian Legion.

This year’s Remembrance Day will be very different from other years. We are urging the public not to attend. The Branch is working on having the service streamed online or we encourage all to watch the national service on television. The Act of Remembrance is the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. The poppy is laid to rest before sunset of the 11th day, in respect of those who served their country. We encourage all, at their convenience, to lay their poppies.

Look for more information in next week’s edition of The Citizen.

Thanks to the Huron East staff who were busy putting up the Remembrance banners on Monday.

They look great and there were seven new banners to hang to make a total of 16 banners. They represent

16 men who served our country during the war and the families have sponsored the banners to commemorate them. Information on the banner program can be obtained through the Branch by calling 519887-6562. We are hoping to hang more banners every year, so contact the Branch if you and your family would like to sponsor a banner.

Members of the executive gathered to stuff the envelopes for the poppy mail-out one night.

COVID-19 pandemic rules were followed and masks were worn while the job was accomplished. The Brussels Cadet Corp, which is unable to meet this year due to COVID-19, usually does this job to support the Legion for their sponsorship. Lots of envelopes to stuff!

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020. PAGE 7.

Legion, church hosting meals From Marilyn’s Desk

By Marilyn Craig Call 523-9318

Decked out While Halloween celebrations and trick or treating may be cramped by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, there’s still plenty of decorations, like these in the north end of Blyth, to take in.

(John Stephenson photo)

Happy Birthday to Danielle Bromley who celebrates Oct. 29 and Cecil Wittich (former minister of Blyth United Church), Waterloo, Oct. 31.

Lloyd Machan has moved to Goderich Place and we wish him all the best.

Blyth Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion is hosting another

take-out luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 12. In-town deliveries are offered.

Blyth United Church would like to thank everyone who supported its drive-thru fall supper making it a success.

The lasagna drive-thru is set for Thursday, Nov. 5 for both lunch and supper at the Blyth United Church.

Have a safe and fun Halloween everyone.

As we go into the dark days of November remember to call a friend or a neighbour just to say hello and let them know you are thinking of them.

Review shows most NH spending essential

By Denny Scott The Citizen North Huron Township Council is faring well in its typical spending according to a third-party analysis of its service delivery presented during a special council meeting last Thursday.

After taking advantage of a funding opportunity through the provincial government earlier this year, council hired consulting firm KPMG to review the municipality’s services and expenses to provide an idea of how council should guide the municipality going forward. The outlook, according to KPMG

Mirror, Mirror Blyth’s Mackenzie Shannon submitted this well-done Snow White costume, complete with apple and the obligatory friendly wild animal that follows around most Disney princesses, for The Citizen’s first annual Halloween costume contest. To see the winners, judged by the newspaper’s staff, see page 31. (Photo submitted)

representatives Chas Anselmo and Katie denBok, is good for the municipality.

“It’s abundantly clear the majority of what North Huron does is because you’re required to,” Anselmo said.

“Seventy-five per cent of services are either mandatory and/or essential. Twenty-five per cent fall into the traditional [or] discretionary [spending categories].”

That portion is 19 per cent traditional spending and six per cent discretionary, Anselmo said, but even that doesn’t give the full picture because some projects, like childcare, are income-neutral and don’t impact the tax base, he said.

Discretionary spending includes the operation of non-mandatory services like airports, trailer parks and campgrounds, Anselmo said, and, in his experience, municipalities are shifting away from those kinds of operations.

Anselmo went on to say that, in a comparative analysis with other municipalities, there were no significant concerns regarding North Huron from KPMG’s perspective.

“There are some outliers,” he said, referring to expenses North Huron has that aren’t in line with other municipalities. “You have a significant variance with police costing, due to having two contracts with the OPP.” Anselmo added that was understandable due to the transition from the Wingham Police Service to OPP coverage in Wingham. Other outlying comparators, he said, included the aquatic centre as no other municipality the size of North Huron has an indoor pool.

“The township does very well for cost-recovery for services when it can,” he said. “Typically we have to flag that and say municipalities aren’t charging enough.”

He said North Huron was charging fair prices for recreational services.

The charges weren’t being used to generate a profit, but also weren’t putting barriers up for use of facilities.

Despite the good news, the report contained a number of suggestions for North Huron Council and staff to undertake to increase efficiency.

The first suggestion was to increase the township’s human resources (HR) and information technology (IT) capabilities, which resulted in a discussion between council and staff.

While council felt there wasn’t enough work to justify a full-time HR or IT professional, staff said

there may be. Several staff members commented that HR responsibilities, which are shared by multiple individuals, could justify a new position.

Currently North Huron outsources its IT responsibilities, however council discussed potentially bringing it in-house.

During the discussion on the two roles, staff suggested those kinds of responsibilities could be shared with other municipalities.

“We do see a need for HR services,” Chief Administrative Officer Dwayne Evans said, adding it could be part-time or shared.

Evans also said North Huron has had “growing pains” with its thirdparty IT provider, saying that every provider has a unique way of doing Continued on page 8

NEWS FROM BLYTH It All Comes Out In The Wash Blyth Laundromat 191 Westmoreland St., Blyth 519-523-9687

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

DIRECT STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM 2020 INTAKE The Township of North Huron is receiving applications for the Direct Structural Improvement Grant Program for the 2020 intake period under the North Huron Community Improvement Plan.

The Direct Structural Improvement Program offers grants to eligible building owners and tenants for interior improvements within the designated Community Improvement Project Areas. The acceptance period for applications is open until November 17, 2020 at 4:30 p.m.

The Direct Structural Improvement Grant Program application form can be found on the Township website or at North Huron Municipal Officer. For inquires and details, please contact the undersigned.

Please send completed applications to: Township of North Huron, Attention: Carson Lamb, Clerk P.O. Box 90, 274 Josephine Street, Wingham, ON N0G 2W0 Email : clamb@northhuron.ca, Phone : 519-357-3550

PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020.

Sports Silver Stick tournaments postponed to 2021-2022

Not this year Annual Silver Stick tournaments, like the one hosted by Wingham in the North Huron Wescast Community Complex and the Byth and District Community Centre, are being pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Above, the Saugeen Storm take on the Mount Forest Rams in Blyth during last season’s Atom-level tournament. (File photo)

After consultation with numerous minor hockey associations, the Board of Directors of the International Silver Stick Association has postponed all Canadian Regional Qualifying tournaments for the 2020-2021 season until 2021-2022.

A memo from the board indicated that the health and safety of the players, coaches, parents and tournament volunteers was of the utmost importance in the decision during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Although this is unfortunate news for our Wingham Regional Silver Stick (this year we would be celebrating 35 years of Silver Stick tournaments), we respect the very difficult decision that has been made by the International Silver Stick Board of Directors,” Wingham Regional Atom Tournament Director Jason Goodall said. “We would like to thank all of our sponsors, volunteers, officials, supporting associations (teams) and arena staff for the dedication that has been provided to us in the past and we look forward to continuing in the future.”

In a typical year, 43 regional tournaments and 11 final tournaments are held throughout North America in the Silver Stick program. The tournaments promote citizenship and international goodwill through Silver Stick Hockey.

To help keep registration costs as

Community centre has IT requirements Continued from page 7 things, which has resulted in changes needing to be made.

Director of Recreation and Facilities Vicky Luttenberger, whose portfolio will soon include childcare services, said HR support is needed due to changing legislation and the number of new staff she will soon have reporting to her.

She also said that IT could be better served in-house, pointing out that, with a third-party provider, issues aren’t always resolved in a timely manner.

She pointed to the North Huron Wescast Community Complex as an example, saying the site has several different software systems, a security system and an access system.

“The systems don’t always run smoothly and are aging,” she said, adding that it can take days for the third-party provider to handle issues.

“Recently we had our front desk down for two days. We’re not the only customer for our [IT provider].”

Deputy-Reeve Trevor Seip said shared HR and IT positions might be an ideal approach. He then asked staff to prepare a report on both HR and IT services in the municipality.

Other potential efficiencies included the creation of a maintenance fee for building permits that remain open after one year, utilizing technology for building services, investigating non-resident user fees/shared service agreements for recreational service, shifting to full implementation of electronic records management, exploring the closure of the Richard W. LeVan Airport and the North Huron Museum as cost-saving measures, exploring the potential divestiture

of the Wingham Trailer Park and the creation of a corporate communication department, which is often part of the office of the Chief Administrative Officer, Anselmo said. That would create a one-stop location for communication with the public.

Several council members noted that many of those issues were already on council’s agenda, with Seip saying that some of the issues have been discussed since the current session of council was instated two years ago.

“Nothing in this report should surprise anyone,” Seip said, adding he felt council was already 25 per cent of the way through the suggestions.

Several council members spoke to the idea of divesting the municipality of the Richard W. LeVan Airport, however council dealt with that in a separate part of the meeting. For a full review of that, see page 32.

Councillor Kevin Falconer asked KPMG’s representatives to elaborate on the fact that North Huron had received less accessibility funding than other municipalities.

Anselmo said the analysis was based on information from 2018, but that he couldn’t guess as to the grant success rates. That information would have to come from the Province of Ontario, he said.

As far as direction stemming from the report, beyond the HR and IT

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report that Seip requested, Seip said any operational issues should go straight to the senior staff and Evans to handle. He also suggested sending specific reports to

committees responsible for them, like the recommendation to investigate closing the North Huron Museum, which is currently being reviewed by a committee.

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low as possible, all proceeds from Silver Stick tournaments held in Wingham are directed to the Wingham Minor Hockey Association, with $15,000 being donated in 2019 and approximately $400,000 since the tournament’s inception in 1986.

For more information on the decision, contact Goodall at allgood05@hurontel.on.ca.

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020. PAGE 9.

Farming, pandemic, the weather being discussed PEOPLE AROUND WALTON

By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570 Weather, farming or COVID-19 are the popular topics of the day in conversation. Not what’s new, where have you been or what have you done? Most answers are nothing new, haven’t been anywhere and just keeping busy around the house. We are all living very boring lives these days, but we are keeping safe that way. Our essential workers are out there everyday doing their part to help keep us safe, to care for our loved ones, keep our children in a learning environment safely, keep groceries available, and much more.

Wearing a mask is not too much to

ask for your safety and the safety of others. Let us all keep up the good work.

Now the weather is always a constant guessing game these days.

It was an absolutely beautiful day on Friday with temperatures above 20°C. It’s hard to believe folks were out in short-sleeved shirts and working up a sweat just walking.

The beauty of the day was shattered by the downpour of rain and high velocity winds that hit the area around 5 p.m.

Saturday brought us all back to the reality of late October with high of only 6°C. Thankfully, there was very little wind blowing, so it was not a bad day for the final day of tournament slo-pitch ball in the three centres of Walton, Winthrop and Seaforth (two diamonds). The group has completed 10 weeks of mini tournaments and they were very respectful of the area. They kept to themselves, cleaned up the area and caused no problems in Walton. They had rules to follow concerning

COVID-19 regulations, given to them by the Huron Perth Public Health.

Farming is the other popular topic.

The weather has everyone stopping and starting with the harvest, but in reality, the crops have been coming off early this year. For some who are done, cleaning equipment up and having it put away before the end of the month is great. There is still lots of corn out there and those with large acreages will be at it for awhile yet. Working the fields, whether harvesting, plowing, discing or vertical tilling, there is still work to be done.

Trick or treat or not – that is the question. Some places are not encouraging Halloween trick or treat activities by children. Those I spoke to were getting ready for tricksters and I hear my bus passengers talking about their costumes. I assume they will be going out. I am sure it will be a scaled back version, with children only going to visit people with

whom they are very familiar. Take care and be safe.

It was a great day to walk on Sunday and the Goderich-to-Guelph Rail Trail (G2G) was the place to be.

It is smooth and beautiful. The wind from Friday has brought down many of the leaves, but is still a very pretty walk and sheltered from any wind in most spots. How lucky we are to have the trail so close in Walton.

Lots of cars were parked there over the weekend with lots of bike riders.

The November hunt for deer will begin next week I believe. There will be the activity of deer moving around, so be careful when driving at dusk and dawn. It is prime time for deer to be moving, and fixing cars after collisions with deer are expensive. Take care all and drive safely.

Celebrating birthdays this past week were Brett Lee, Janice McCallum MacGillvary, Michael Parr, Doug Bauer, Wayne Todd, Andrew Groothuis, Teresa Baan, Tanner Leslie, Dan Taylor, Megan

Flaxbard, Murray Dennis, Carol McLachlan, Shannon McGavin, John Steffler and Brianna Williamson. Happy birthday to all.

NEWS FROM WALTON

Obituaries be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.

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

PATRICIA ANN ARRUDA Patricia Ann “Pat” Arruda, loving mother of Maria Miller and Michelle Arruda, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020, on her 79th birthday at Huronlea Home for the Aged in Brussels.

Pat was born on Oct. 21, 1941, near Belgrave, to parents Clifford Richard Logan and Dorothy Alberta Vincent. Her two brothers, Barry Michael (Isabelle) and Clifford Ralph (Linda) still reside in Huron County. Pat married Americo Vicente Arruda on Nov. 7, 1964, and lived in Toronto for over 20 years before locating to Fergus in 1985.

Americo has since passed away. Pat originally studied to become a Mother’s Craft Well-Baby Nurse and later stayed at home with the girls.

Pat will be remembered for her kindness, thoughtfulness and infectious laugh. She was a fun and loving mother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin and friend who will be forever missed.

Visitation was held at McBurney Funeral Home, Wingham on Oct. 24 followed by a private service.

Interment took place at Brandon Cemetery, Belgrave.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Alzheimer Society of Huron County or the Huronlea Residents’ Council would

DEBBRA LENN (DALE) COOK After a courageous six-year battle with ovarian cancer, Debbra Lenn “Debbie” Cook passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side on Oct. 20, 2020. She was 58.

Debbie was the beloved wife and best friend of Stephen Cook for 39 years. She was the adored mother of Michelle and Kyle Courtney, Exeter and Darcey and Kandace Cook, Lucan. Debbie was the grandma of Lucas, Logan, Lincoln; Sophia and Hannah and the sister of Susan and Barry Bromley, Blyth; Tresa Bromley and Linda Lamont, Elmwood; Gordon and Kathy Dale, Whitechurch and Ernie Dale and Maryanne Fitzgerald, Central Huron. Debbie will be fondly remembered by her many nieces and nephews and sisters- and brothersin-law. She was predeceased by her infant son James Leslie Cook (1985), father Leslie Dale (2003), and mother Shirley (Graham) Dale (2018).

Debbie spent most of her life caring for others, right up to the time of her passing. She was always

thinking about the needs of others and putting the needs of herself last.

Debbie’s children and grandchildren were most important in her life. She would never miss an opportunity to cheer them on whether it be in athletics, academics or just finding their way through life. Debbie was a motherly figure to many that weren’t her own, she was only a call away for a late night ride and never forgot to make everyone’s special recipes.

Debbie was the queen of organizing, from her massive lists to ensuring she had everything you need, it was hard to know how she could keep so many things but if you needed it, she had it.

A public visitation was held on Oct. 23 followed by a private memorial service on Saturday, Oct. 24 at Haskett Funeral Home, Exeter.

Interment was at Exeter Cemetery.

Donations to Jessica’s House or Saint Elizabeth’s Health Care Foundation – End of Life Care would be appreciated by the family.

Condolences may be left at www.haskettfh.com

Aged, Brussels. He was in his 80th year.

Tony was the loving father of Bev (Jay) Craddock and the late Diane Albright (2009); grandpa of April, Leeia (Andrew), Shane (Siobhan) and Elyse; great-grandpa of Courtnei, Kaitlin, Charlie, Emmett, Auvi and Hannah and great-greatgrandpa of Sawyer. Tony was the brother of Christine Robinson and the late Mabel and Tommy in infancy.

He will be missed by many nieces, nephews and cousins in Canada and England.

Tony was a great man and an even better dad. He came to Canada from England in 1964 with his young family. Though he had lived all over England and Canada he felt the most at home in Paisley.

He owned and ran the Gourmet Steakhouse in Paisley for over 10 years. He loved to serve his community and was a long-time member of the Paisley Volunteer Fire Department.

He also enjoyed being a Mason with the

Aldworth Masonic Lodge, #235.

Tony cared greatly for his family and had high standards when it came to character. He would often go out of his way and be willing to do without to make sure that the children in his life were cared for above all. He was a kind, considerate man who was always ready to lend a hand or bend an ear. He was always ready for a quick drink and happy conversation. Rarely anyone talking to Tony came away without a smile on their face.

Cremation has taken place. A private family celebration will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers and as expressions of sympathy, donations to the Huronlea Residents’ Council would be appreciated.

Cards of sympathy may be sent to Box 118 Brussels, N0G 1H0.

Condolences may be left at riversidefuneralhome.ca.

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PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020.

From the Minister’s Study

Locusts a reminder to follow God’s law

By Jason Hovius Brussels Community Bible Chapel Locust swarms are particularly hard on East Africa this year. They are the worst since the 1980s or earlier. Maybe you’ve heard of it or maybe some major world news like this has been buried beneath COVID-19 numbers and the American election here in the west.

As you are probably aware, East Africa is comprised of a number of countries that already struggle with extreme poverty and starvation even in the better years. These countries include Kenya, Sudan, and the arid regions of the Horn of Africa comprising Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti and Eritrea. Not only is much of this area desert wasteland, but many of these countries are suffering from various civil wars and terrorist threats. It goes without saying that food security in these regions is low to non-existent.

By the way, Yemen is just across the strait from Djibouti, a distance of less than 30 kilometres at its narrowest point. Locusts are wreaking havoc there as well.

Besides locust invasions, Yemen’s civil unrest and starvation has made the news often in recent years. It is truly shocking and disturbing to read and hear about what happens there on a daily basis. You should research conditions there so you know what’s happening in this world. Do not take the peaceful and free country we live in for granted? Not everyone is as fortunate as we are. It should inspire us to be generous with others.

I have been reading about locusts recently.

All locusts are grasshoppers, but not all

grasshoppers are locusts. Most years they are basically harmless. They space out around the fields and countryside and are not too much of a pest. However, with an abundance of food and favourable hot and humid weather, they transform.

They get bigger (up to three inches long), change colour, eat more (their own body weight per day), breed more, and they congregate. Swarms can include billions of these things, and they darken the sky like an imposing storm cloud. They can even show up as a green blob on radar. If they land somewhere, they eat any plant in sight. Just as people are helpless during a tornado or hurricane, there is little a poor farmer can do against a heavy swarm of locusts.

Locust swarms are rare in the Americas. However, they are common in Africa and the Middle East. It’s no surprise that the Bible mentions them several times. Most famously is the eighth plague in Egypt c. 1500 BC. When the Pharaoh refused to free the Israelites from slavery, God sent a series of plagues to persuade the Egyptians to end their mistreatment of His people. Hail was the seventh plague.

Locusts were sent to eat what little was left of the crops after the hail.

Exodus 10:5 says that there would be so many locusts that the ground would not be visible. The Pharaoh wanted quick reprieve from the locusts, but he didn’t truly repent.

Probably the second most famous mention of locusts in the Bible is regarding John the Baptist’s diet.

Yes, he ate them along with wild honey. Anything tastes good if there’s enough honey with it.

Actually, they are a decent protein source and apparently very nutritious. People still eat them in some countries. For the record, I would try it. Fry some up in butter and give me a call, please.

The prophet Joel also wrote about locusts in his short prophecy. He was warning Israel of an imminent locust invasion that would come as a result of their sin against their God. He then used the locusts to segue into prophecy about a crueler invading army from the north, probably Assyria or Babylon. Then Joel speaks even farther into the future about God’s final judgment, which he refers to as “the great and dreadful day of the Lord”. Some of Joel’s words closely line up with some passages in Revelation that tell us about the battle of Armageddon and the ensuing millennial reign of Christ in Jerusalem.

The locust invasion that Joel described was intended to be taken as a warning nudge from a loving and patient God. He wanted the Israelites to heed Joel’s message and repent before being taken captive by another nation. The locusts served as an object lesson and a symbol of greater judgment in Israel’s future, if they didn’t repent. By the way, they didn’t. By contrast, even enemy Assyrians repented when Jonah preached one sentence to the city of Nineveh.

Someone from our church pointed out that this is very applicable to us in this time in which we live. It is no secret that many in our country want nothing to do with the Bible or even with the biblical principles upon which our nation was founded and by which wealth and services have

Brussels Mennonite Fellowship

been fairly distributed. We redefine words and make up new ones in the name of inclusivity. Like Israel, we despise God’s laws, and just as he sent a locust swarm, God sends us reminders and nudges so that we turn back to him. Perhaps COVID19 is one of these reminders.

According to God’s Word, many more serious things are in store than what we have experienced thus far.

This might be just a little wake-up

call to make us consider the brevity of our lives and the nearness of eternity and judgment.

The good news is that admission of the offense of our sin and faith in Christ’s atoning death and resurrection is enough to save us from future condemnation. Amos did not beat around the bush when he wrote, “Prepare to meet your God” (Amos 4:12). This is good advice. Are you prepared?

The Regional Ministry of Hope St. Paul’s Trinity, Wingham and Trinity, Blyth are now open - join us this Sunday for worship See our Facebook page 10:30 a.m. on Sundays for a live broadcast of our service.

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

Trinity

St. John’s

BLYTH

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9:00 am

St. Paul’s Trinity

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COME WORSHIP WITH US!

10:30 am

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.

Evangelical Missionary Church

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

Nov. 1 International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church Pastor Ernest Dow (Rom.12:2)

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

Call 519-526-1131 to pre-register for Sunday attendance (max.60) Check out our midweek virtual LifeGroups!

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

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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.

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020. PAGE 11.

GET READY FOR WINTER! Home

Auto

Maintenance

Snow Removal

Home Décor

PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020.

Health and safety tips for a clean autumn yard only make the task that much more difficult, which could lead to overworking oneself.

• Avoid overfilling bags: For those who plan to mulch and bag leaves, remember that compressed leaves can get heavy pretty quickly. Do not overfill bags, as they can be hard to move or bring to a recycling centre.

Using a leaf blower to push leaves

into piles will reduce the difficulty of the task, but leaf blowers can be heavy and noisy and gas-powered blowers can produce a considerable amount of exhaust.

Raking leaves can be quite a chore. It is important that homeowners take steps to prevent injury while cleaning up leaves in their yards.

Fraught with peril While raking leaves might seem like a low-impact, if onerous, autumn chore, there are dangers to tackling a clean yard after the leaves start falling. Don’t over-stuff bags as they can get heavy quickly and dress appropriately for the weather. (MS photo) and these tips also make the job safer and easier.

• Wear layers when cleaning up leaves: It may be cool at first, but it’s easy to work up a sweat after raking for awhile. Layers can be peeled off to avoid overheating or hypothermia from sweating in chilly temperatures.

• Pay attention to your posture while raking: James Weinstein, chairman of the Department of

MS – Removing leaves from the yard is a task that homeowners must perform each fall. Thousands upon thousands of leaves can drop from a single tree. Multiply that by the number of trees on a property, and it’s no surprise the task of leaf cleanup can seem so daunting.

Furthermore, not all leaves are shed at the same time, so several clean-up sessions may be necessary before the last leaf is banished from the yard.

Just like removing snow, leaf clean-up can be a taxing job if done by hand. For people unaccustomed to exercise, cleaning up leaves can turn into quite a workout.

According to the Discovery Health Calorie Counter, raking leaves for one hour can burn nearly 292 calories. Shoulders and arms will feel the burn. Raking leaves is considered moderate physical activity, similar to brisk walking.

Those who find themselves straining or out of breath should take a break,

Orthopedics at Dartmouth Medical School, recommends forming a wide base with the feet and holding the rake slightly toward the end of the handle with one hand three-quarters of the way down the handle from the other. Do not twist the spine; move your entire body. Avoid overuse of muscles on one side of the body by switching sides periodically.

• Do not try to rake or blow leaves on windy days: Wind will

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020. PAGE 13.

Shovel snow the right way to avoid injury

Keep it safe For everyone not responsible for a driveway, fresh fallen snow can mean a day of fun. Those who do have to clean out a laneway or two, however, need to practice some basic safety steps to make sure they don’t injure themselves during the winter chore. (MS photo) MS – The beauty of freshly fallen snow is undeniable. Such beauty compels millions of people across the globe to ski and snowboard each winter, while millions more enjoy simply looking out their windows at snow-covered landscapes.

If it were as convenient as it is beautiful, snow would likely be welcomed with open arms whenever

the local weatherperson includes it in his or her forecast. But heavy snowfall can be inconvenient, making it difficult to travel and even creating more work for individuals responsible for shoveling their driveways and walkways.

Shoveling snow can increase a person’s risk for injury, and some may be surprised to learn just how

frequently such injuries happen. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission notes that, in 2018, more than 137,000 people needed medical assistance for injuries that happened while shoveling snow or using snowblowers.

Sprains and strains in the back and shoulders are the most common injuries when shoveling snow. But people can also suffer lacerations and injuries related to belowfreezing temperatures when shoveling snow. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) recommends people keep these safety precautions in mind when shoveling snow this winter.

• Stretch before shoveling: Just like you would do before exercising in a gym, stretch prior to picking up your snow shovel. Warm up your muscles with some light exercise for 10 minutes to reduce your risk of sprains, strains and muscle tears.

• Stay hydrated and take frequent breaks: The AAOS notes that snow shoveling and snow blowing are aerobic activities. Such activities require participants to be hydrated. In addition, taking frequent breaks can help prevent injuries.

• Avoid shoveling snow if you’re at risk for heart attack: Some people should avoid shoveling snow entirely. According to the Harvard Medical School, researchers correlated hospital admissions and deaths due to heart attack the day after it snowed in Canada between 1981 and 2014. Researchers found that the deeper the snow, the more men died of heart attacks. In fact, researchers found that there was a 34 per cent increase in heart attack deaths the day after an eight-inch snowfall, and those rates increased when snowfall increased. Most deaths were men, but both men and women who are at risk of heart attack should avoid shoveling snow, particularly after heavy snowfall.

Adults who are unsure of their heart health should consult with their physicians prior to shoveling snow.

• Use the right equipment: Ergonomic snow shovels can make shoveling less taxing, reducing your risk for sprains and strains. Spacing hands on the tool grip can increase leverage, making shoveling easier and less likely to lead to injury.

• Pushing snow instead of lifting it: The AAOS recommends pushing rather than lifting snow when possible. If snow must be lifted, squat with your legs, knees bent and back straight. When lifting, lift with your legs and do not bend at the waist. Scoop small amounts of snow at a time and

walk to where you want to dump.

The AAOS warns against holding shovels full of snow with arms outstretched, as doing so puts too much weight on the spine. Snow should not be thrown over the shoulder, as such a technique requires a twisting motion that puts stress on the back. In addition, the AAOS notes that heavy wet snow should be removed in pieces and not all at once.

Anyone can be injured while shoveling snow. Such injuries are preventable when certain safety measures are taken.

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PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020.

Dining outdoors offers safety, a new experience or shed can do the trick. In addition, some deck and patio tables are expandable, making them ideal options for hosts who may want to work around social distancing guidelines and serve holiday meals outside this year. • Grill: Charcoal grill devotees may find it frustrating to keep coals lit long enough to get hot so they can keep enjoying grilled meals after summer and throughout fall, winter and spring. A hybrid charcoal/grill smoker that does not expose the fire

to the elements as much as a traditional charcoal grill can do the trick, and such a grill also gives cooks the chance to slowly cook and smoke foods all year long. For those with no special devotion to charcoal grills, a propane grill can light up in a matter of seconds regardless of the weather.

Outdoor dining can be enjoyed year-round, especially when hosts take steps to prepare their outdoor spaces for four seasons’ worth of gatherings.

Rutling Holdings For all your Blyth housing needs Contact: 519-955-2323 agrutledge@hurontel.on.ca

Taking it outside While dining outdoors isn’t a new practice, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased not only the number of meals being taken outside, but also the variety of meals and accompanying events that have to be moved outdoors. (MS photo) MS – Al fresco dining is popular in spring and summer, and that popularity reached new heights in the summer of 2020. With much of the world still grappling with the outbreak of COVID-19 and government officials fearing rising case numbers if indoor gatherings were allowed, many restaurants were limited to offering only outdoor dining to patrons. Such restrictions reintroduced many people to the pleasure of outdoor dining.

Outdoor dining may be synonymous with summer, but there’s no reason why good meals can’t be enjoyed outside year-round.

That’s especially true when homeowners and hosts take stock of certain factors when planning outdoor dining spaces they intend to use all year long. • Lighting: If you plan to keep outdoor dining going after summer, then some extra lighting may be

necessary. The sun sets in late afternoon/early evening in fall and winter, so you won’t be able to rely on natural light to keep the dinner table aglow. Lighting can also make outdoor dining in summer more enjoyable. Outdoor string lights can add a relaxing vibe to a deck or patio. If you intend to string the lights up year-round, make sure poles are sturdy enough to withstand winter winds. • Weather: Tablecloths can add a touch of class to outdoor dining tables. Those tablecloths, however, are only effective if they remain on the table. Summer breezes may not be challenging, but fall, winter and spring weather might make it more difficult to keep tablecloths where they belong.

A simple set of tablecloth clips can ensure the wind doesn't blow tablecloths around while people are eating or completely off the table

when everyone is inside. Hurricane candle holders also can make it easy to maintain the ambiance candles provide without having to worry about the wind extinguishing the candles in one strong gust. • Seating: Guests might have no problem dining on traditional summer barbecue fare like burgers and hot dogs while sitting in camping chairs. But hosts who want to serve meals that require the use of a knife and fork will need to make sure all guests have a seat at the table. A foldable picnic-style table that can be easily stored in a garage

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MS – Many changes are to be expected as fall gives way to winter.

Temperatures drop for much of the country, and depending on where one lives, snow, wind and ice are to be expected.

As beautiful as snow-covered landscapes can be, winter presents unique hazards, notably slippery roads and surfaces.

Chilly temperatures also can put people at risk if they spend prolonged periods outdoors unprotected.

According to the insurance company Carsurance, more than 156,000 crashes occur annually due to icy roads. Roughly 17 per cent of all vehicle crashes happen in winter conditions. Winter hazards are not exclusive to driving, however. That means winter safety involves a consideration of a host of factors. • Changing visibility: While slippery surfaces may contribute to some accidents, visibility can quickly change with winter weather.

Blowing snow can contribute to

whiteout conditions. In addition, fog can be hazardous to drivers, aviators and mariners and contributes to thousands of travel accidents every year, advises the United States National Weather Service. It’s important to slow down, leave plenty of distance, use your lowbeam headlights, and recognize when it may be safest to pull over, such as when visibility is significantly compromised. • S n o w re m o v a l : S h o v e l i n g snow or using a snowblower are common wintertime activities. Yet strenuous levels of activity in cold temperatures could put people at risk of heart attack, particularly if they are not acclimated to physical activity. Always warm up prior to shoveling snow to prepare the body for exercise. Go slowly and take frequent breaks. Avoid twisting and tossing snow over your shoulder, which can contribute to back injuries.

Continued on page 15

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020. PAGE 15.

Saving on heating important during pandemic MS – Comfort takes centre stage each winter. As people look to stay warm, many may be quick to turn up the thermostat so their entire home is toasty warm. But much like cranking air conditioners during the dog days of summer, turning up the thermostat each time the winter winds begin blowing can prove costly for homeowners.

According to estimates from the United States National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association, homeowners spent an average of $911 on home heating costs in the winter of 2019/2020. The winter of 2020/2021 could prove even more expensive, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to force much of the world to practise physical distancing. That means many professionals are still working from home full-time, while even those who aren’t, are no doubt spending more of their free time at home. All those hours spent at home figure to increase reliance on heaters this winter, which means heating bills are likely to go up as the temperatures go down.

Finding ways to save on heating costs will no doubt prove a priority

for many homeowners this winter, and the following are some ways to do just that.

• Add insulation: Extra insulation throughout the house can dramatically reduce home heating (and cooling) costs. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, adding insulation in attics, crawl spaces and basement rim joists can help homeowners save as much as 15 per cent on heating costs.

• Lower the temperature on

your water heater: Another way to trim your energy bill this winter is to lower the temperature on your water heater. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that, for every 10ºF reduction in temperature on their water heaters, homeowners can save between three and five per cent on their water heating costs.

• Close the flue on your fireplace: Fireplaces can keep a home’s inhabitants warm in winter, but only when they’re in use. When

they’re not being used, fireplaces can allow heat to escape a home.

When the fireplace is not being used, close the flue to prevent heat from escaping the house. Keeping all windows and doors closed throughout the day is another way to prevent unnecessary heat loss.

• Have your HVAC system serviced before winter begins: Inefficient HVAC systems cost homeowners considerable amounts of money each year. Annual

maintenance performed by a certified HVAC professional can ensure filters are clean and operating at peak efficiency, saving homeowners the costly trouble of having to turn up the thermostat to overcome dirty systems.

Home heating costs figure to increase this winter as people spend more time at home. Various simple strategies can help homeowners stay warm without overpaying to heat their homes this winter.

Black ice and other dangers Continued from page 14 • Carbon monoxide poisoning: Winter weather means turning up the heat or doing more indoor cooking. Carbon monoxide is produced through the burning of fuel in various forms, including stoves, engines, gas ranges, portable generators, and grills. The National Safety Council says carbon monoxide is an odourless, colourless gas that can go undetected as it builds up in enclosed spaces. Never warm up the car inside of a contained garage. Do not use portable flameless chemical heaters indoors, and have furnaces, water heaters and other fuel-burning appliances checked and serviced by a qualified technician annually. Be sure that carbon monoxide alarms are on every floor of the home, and take it seriously if the alarm goes off.

• Black ice: Black ice is a common winter foe. Black ice forms when temperatures rise above freezing during the day, melting any snow on the ground and causing surfaces to become wet. If the temperature drops once more while the ground is wet, a thin, transparent sheet of ice can form. Black ice also may occur if moisture in the air condenses and forms dew or fog, and then the temperature drops below freezing, says the National Weather Service. Black ice gets its name because it looks black on asphalt roads. However, it also can form on sidewalks and overpasses, or spots shaded by trees or other objects. Slowing down and exercising extreme caution are essential.

Winter is a beautiful season. But it can be just as hazardous as it is aweinspiring. Taking steps to stay safe in unpredictable conditions is a necessity each winter.

Follow The Citizen online for more photos, up-to-the-date information and specials like our #ThrowbackThursday photo albums

239 Huron Road Goderich, Ontario N7A 2Z8 Ph: 519-524-5301 STORE HOURS: Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am - 5:30 pm Friday: 9:00 am - 5:00 Saturday: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm - Sunday: Closed Evenings by appointment only

PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020.

How to keep and maintain a rarely-used vehicle • Disconnect the battery if necessary: Drivers who own two vehicles or families who have only been using the family car in recent months can disconnect the batteries from their unused vehicles to prevent corrosion.

Corrosion decreases battery life and performance. If drivers notice a white, green or blue covering around the battery terminals, posts or cables, corrosion is likely the culprit and the battery will need to be replaced.

• Take the car for a spin: Of course, driving a vehicle every so often is a great way to keep it running strong. Multi-car families that tend to use the same car to shop for groceries or pick up takeout orders can periodically use their other car to run such errands.

Cars are sitting idly in driveways more than ever before. Vehicle maintenance must remain a priority even for cars that rarely hit the open road.

Occasional vehicles With the COVID-19 pandemic, some full-time drivers have been turned into occasional drivers, and their cars, trucks or SUVs into occasional vehicles. Even if a vehicle isn’t seeing the road as often as is normal, maintaining a service schedule is still important and can prevent the time off the road from being more damaging than time on the road. (MS photo) MS – Driving habits changed significantly in 2020. The COVID19 outbreak forced many professionals to work from home full-time. In addition, stay-at-home measures greatly limited how much people could or would travel in their free time. The result was a lot of cars spending a lot of time sitting idly in driveways.

Just because a car is not being driven very much does not mean its

owner can forgo vehicle maintenance. Drivers can take these steps to ensure their vehicles stay in shape even as they’re primarily staying in the driveway. • Adhere to recommended maintenance schedules: Auto manufacturers typically recommend maintenance schedules based on the number of kilometres a car is driven or the length of time since its most recent maintenance appointment.

Keep gutters clean

Whichever comes first may be recommended for fluid changes and routine tuneups, and this rule of thumb should still be followed. Even if a car has barely hit the road in recent months, its fluids, such as oil, are still aging and still need to be replaced. • Turn the car on every so often: Turning the car on, even if you only intend to let it sit idle in the driveway, keeps the vehicle components lubricated by allowing fluids to cycle their way through the engine. Turning the car on also ensures the battery stays fresh and doesn’t die, a lesson many drivers have learned the hard way during the COVID-19 outbreak.

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Keep them clean Fall is the perfect time to tackle any work on your gutter or eaves systems to prevent any problems mid-winter, when it will be more difficult to address issues. (MS photo) MS – Fall is a great time to tackle projects around the house. The weather each fall allows homeowners to make improvements

to their homes’ exteriors without worrying about extreme heat or cold, while interior projects like Continued on page 17

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2020. PAGE 17.

Warning signs for decreasing driving ability out for certain signs that may indicate their skills behind the wheel are diminishing and potentially compromising their ability to drive safely. According to AARP, the following are warning signs of unsafe driving: • Delayed response to unexpected situations: Frequent close calls and narrowly avoiding collisions when other drivers stop suddenly indicate reduced response time that can put aging drivers at an elevated risk of being involved in an accident.

• Becoming easily distracted while driving: Distracted driving has become a significant concern in recent decades, but it’s often associated with young drivers.

However, aging drivers who are easily distracted also pose a safety risk to themselves and other motorists.

• Decrease in confidence while driving: Only drivers will know if they feel confident enough to drive safely, and it’s vital that aging drivers be honest with themselves Continued on page 18

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Making the call While advancing automotive technologies have made it safer for people of all ages to drive, and decreased the number of fatal accidents for drivers 70 or older by 15 per cent over the past 23 years, not everyone is a safe driver. Older drivers need to watch for signs to indicate their driving ability may have become diminished and, as a result, they should consider alternative transport methods. (MS photo) MS – A licence to drive has long been symbolic of independence.

Teenage drivers long for the day they earn their licences and can take to the road without mom or dad riding shotgun, while aging drivers want to keep driving as long as possible so they can come and go as they please in their golden years.

There’s no formula drivers and

their families can employ to determine when it’s time to take the car keys away from senior citizens.

Thankfully, fatal collisions involving older drivers have declined considerably in recent decades. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, collision-related fatalities among drivers 70 and older declined by 15

per cent between 1997 and 2018. A host of factors have no doubt contributed to that decline, including lane-assist technology and forward collision warning systems that have become standard offerings on many modern vehicles.

As much as technology has helped make driving safer for everyone, aging drivers should still keep an eye

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Clogged gutters cause damage Continued from page 16 painting are made easier because homeowners can open the windows to allow for proper ventilation.

Fall also marks a great time to prepare for upcoming projects that can make winter work that much easier. For example, fall is a great time to take stock of your gutters so you can address any issues before leaves begin to fall or the first snowstorm touches down.

Compromised gutters can contribute to water issues in basements and adversely affect a home’s foundation if not addressed immediately, so it behooves homeowners to learn the signs that gutters are in need of repair or replacement.

• Gutters hanging off the home: Gutters were once installed predominantly with spikes.

However, many industry professionals now install gutters with hanger brackets. Why the change? Spikes loosen over time, leading to the gutters hanging off the home. That can contribute to serious issues if left untreated.

Gutters hanging off the home need not necessarily be replaced, but rather secured to the home, ideally with hanger brackets instead of spikes. Brackets hook into the front of the gutter and are then screwed into the fascia of a home. A professional who specializes in gutter repair can perform this task relatively quickly, and it’s an inexpensive yet highly effective solution.

• Gutter separation: Gutters that are no longer fastened together can leak and contribute to issues that affect the home’s foundation, siding and appearance. Clogs and the accumulation of debris can cause gutters to separate because they are not designed to hold too much

weight. Replacement of separated gutters may or may not be necessary depending on how big the problem is and the condition of the existing gutters. If replacement is not necessary, separated gutters may be remedied by securing the joints, another relatively simple and inexpensive fix.

• Peeling exterior paint: Paint that appears to be peeling off your home may indicate that water is seeping over the edge of the gutter closest to your home. When that happens, water is coming down the side of the house, causing the paint

to peel. In such instances, replacing the gutters is often necessary.

• Basement flooding: Not all signs of deteriorating gutters are outside a home. Many homeowners have been flummoxed by flooding in their basements, and such flooding can be caused by aging, ineffective gutters. That’s because deteriorating gutters sometimes allow water to leak near the foundation of a home, contributing to basement flooding.

Fall is an ideal time to inspect gutters and have any issues fixed before leaves begin to fall or harsh winter weather arrives.

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PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020.

Planning makes hanging holiday lights easier

Making it work By following some simple steps, the annual job of putting up and taking down the holiday lights can be made significantly easier. (MS photo)

Scrapes, dents could signal decreased driving ability Continued from page 17 when assessing how they feel when driving.

• Having difficulty moving into or maintaining the correct lane of traffic: Lane-assist technology can help drivers recognize how often they’re staying in the correct lane of traffic. When the warning bell goes off frequently, it might be time for older drivers to reconsider if it’s safe for them to be behind the wheel.

• Hitting curbs when making right turns or backing up: Hitting curbs when turning or backing up indicates drivers may be having difficulty controlling their vehicles and/or seeing the road, both of which indicate it’s no longer safe for

drivers to get behind the wheel.

• Getting scrapes or dents on car, garage or mailbox: These signs also indicate drivers are having trouble controlling their vehicles.

• Driving too fast or too slow for road conditions: This indicates drivers are not as alert to their surroundings as they need to be to stay safe on the road.

It’s not easy for aging drivers to relinquish their drivers’ licences.

Learning to recognize potential warning signs of unsafe driving can help aging drivers make the safest decisions for themselves, their passengers and their fellow motorists.

MS – It begins to look a lot like Christmas when twinkling lights brighten up homes inside and out.

Few things liven up the season more than holiday decorations, particularly clear and coloured lights.

Prior to taking out the lights, ladder and thermos of coffee to get you through the job, it’s important to note that there are right and wrong ways to hang holiday lights.

• Sketch out your plan: Start by taking a few photos of your home from various vantage points. Print out the photos on regular paper so that you can draw your lighting arrangement and decoration placement right on the photos to see how things will look.

• Measure the area: Use a measuring tape to roughly measure the width and height of eaves or other areas of the home where you plan to hang light strands. Calculate how much overall footage you will need so you can purchase all of the lights in one shopping trip.

• Test the lights first: Plug in the lights to be sure all strands are operational.

• Begin where the lights will be plugged in: Start where the lights will be plugged in and then work your way around the house.

• Add to shrubs and trees: Lights also can adorn shrubs and trees.

Lowes Home Improvement says a good rule of thumb is 100 lights for every two feet of tree or shrub to cover. A six-foot evergreen needs at least 400 lights for a basic level of lighting.

• Exercise extreme caution: Accidents can happen when stringing lights. While many professionals use harnesses, homeowners are not always so cautious. Utilize a spotter to hold the ladder and make sure things are safe.

Never set foot on a wet or icy roof.

Do not attempt to string lights in inclement weather.

• Know the wattage: Each outlet can generally hold about 17 amps or

FALL

IS

1,870 watts if the lights are not sharing a circuit with another outlet.

Plan accordingly to ensure you have enough power to handle your lights.

• Use plastic clips: Plastic light clips can be used to hang strands along eaves and gables. They’re specially designed for hanging lights over the gutters. Some slip under the edges of roof shingles. Lights can be hung without staples or nails, which can damage exterior surfaces. Plastic

zip-ties or deck clips also can attach lights along a handrail.

• Use only outdoor extension cords: Be sure the extension cords you use are designed specifically for outdoor use.

• Use a timer: Use timers to ensure the lights turn on and off even if homeowners forget.

Once lights have been safely strung, sit back and enjoy the splendor of a well-decorated house.

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020. PAGE 19.

Tips to prepare your home for long absences • If you will not be draining pipes and turning off the water, set the heating system to 55ºF (13°C) or higher to help keep the interior and wall cavities warm.

• Keep room and cabinet doors open to allow heat to circulate to areas where pipes are located.

• Shut off the water to outdoor faucets as well as the washing machine.

• Close up openings to the house so that rodents and insects cannot get inside and use a home for shelter.

Keep safe with snow and ice • Make sure that gutters are free of debris, which can lead to potential ice dams and water collection around the foundation of the home.

• Hire someone to clear the sidewalks and driveway of snow and ice.

• Remove any tree branches that can be weighed down by snow and ice and fall onto the property.

Make the home look lived in • Forward mail to your winter address, stop newspaper delivery and arrange to have any package deliveries picked up while you’re away.

• Put motion-sensitive exterior lights and interior lights on timers.

Set lights to come on at various times to discourage thieves or squatters.

• Ensure the alarm system is in good working order.

• Use deadbolts to secure doors and windows.

These steps and others can help protect a home while residents are away.

Vacant homes From making a home rodent-proof to discouraging thieves or squatters, steps need to be taken to protect your home before leaving for any amount of time. (MS photo) MS – A vast migration takes place when the temperatures begin to drop in the northernmost areas of the United States and even parts of Canada. No, it has nothing to do with feathered friends finding new roosts or certain mammals getting ready to hibernate. This migration involves the thousands upon thousands of people who retreat from one residence to head to another.

Snowbirds, as these migratory people are often called, are primarily

retirees who split their living arrangements based on weather.

Many spend the spring and summer months in one residence, generally in the northern portion of the country. Once the mercury begins to drop there, they trade that home for another in a more temperate locale, such as Florida, Louisiana, Texas, or even overseas.

The Palm Beach Post reports that about 145,000 snowbirds flock to Palm Beach County alone each winter, raising the population by

Plan ahead to make decorating easier

around 11 per cent, according to the county’s official figures. Across Florida, an estimated 900,000 to one million seasonal residents stay a month or more every winter.

When snowbirds or other people leave their homes for extended periods of time, it is essential that they winterize properties that will sit vacant for months.

Protect against home damage • Consider turning off the water supply completely if you will be away for an extended period of time; otherwise, a burst pipe may result in significant damage.

• Drain all water in pipes by opening the faucets and flushing the toilets to clear the water from the tanks and bowls. Place non-toxic antifreeze in the toilet bowls to prevent any remaining water from freezing.

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DIY decorations When it comes to hitting just the right notes with decorations, there’s no better way to achieve your vision than with a DIY project. (MS photo) MS – The holidays often involve purchasing gifts for close friends and loved ones as well as making a delicious meal the entire family will love. But nothing sets the holiday scene and overall mood more than beautiful decorations and other seasonal accoutrements.

Many people leave no room untouched for the holidays, meaning colour schemes or trinkets may carry through from top to bottom.

Decking the halls this season can be made even easier with some of these handy ideas.

Continued on page 20

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PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020.

Leave some yard natural to help wild animals resource In Habitat says plants and animals depend on one another to survive. During the winter, animals may struggle to find adequate shelter and food, especially when there is a lack of sufficient plant matter available. In turn, these animals may actually take up residency in people’s homes, turning into pests in the process. Bats, field mice and even opossums and raccoons may move indoors into attics or basements, leaving behind waste and damage if they can’t find adequate shelter outdoors.

Homeowners concerned about potential pest infestations can take steps to ensure animals have places to bed down and escape the cold in their yards this winter. These tips can help local wildlife when the temperatures dip.

• Leave parts of the yard wild: Animals can make a nest in leaves or piles of brushwood. Just make sure piles left out are away from the home so curious critters don’t try to get inside. Leave the task of tidying up shrubs and garden borders until spring, as shrubs can be dense areas

Helping furry friends out When it comes time to prepare for the winter, don’t do away with all the natural artifacts of the spring and summer. Animals may be looking for leaves or brushwood to make their home for the winter. Clear debris from the house, but don’t clear the whole yard. (MS photo) MS – Preparing a property for winter involves putting away lawn furniture, raking leaves and removing any annual plants that

have shriveled up and spent the last of their energy. It may be tempting to clean up completely and leave a blank slate in the yard, but by doing

so, you may be robbing wildlife of the resources they need to overwinter.

The nature and conservation

Add scents to sell the holiday Continued from page 19 • Holiday timeline: If you keep holiday photo cards each year, put them in chronological order and hang them from a piece of garland from the mantle or drape on a staircase banister. This can be a fun way to see how your own children or other members of the family have grown.

• Make mini evergreen displays: Clip your favourite pieces of evergreen and push the stems into floral foam. Display in small vases or other containers and place in groupings to emulate an evergreen forest.

• Plan the outside: Exterior illumination and other exterior decorations share the holiday spirit with others. It can be overwhelming trying to visualize it all without a plan in place. Take a photo of the house and map out where you want

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lights and decorations to go. Then with your “map” in hand, you can more readily purchase supplies and start decorating.

• Go for a specific natural colour scheme: If you desire an overall holiday feel but aren’t interested in Santa figurines or kitschy elements, decorating with colour in mind can be key. It’s easy to tie things together with some natural elements in your desired palette. For example, white, gold and green may look beautiful. Put boxwood clippings and white amaryllis flowers together. Pine cones, twigs and holly pieces can add touches to mantels, doorways and table centerpieces.

• Ornaments elsewhere: Who says ornaments only have to go on a

tree? Display antique or favourite ornaments by hanging them from beautiful ribbons throughout the home.

• Scent the scene: Hang something aromatic on the tree to mingle with the pine. Fresh cinnamon sticks tied with twine or ribbon can be nestled among the boughs. Another scented idea is to make pine cone candles and use pine or cinnamon scents to make them smell just like the season.

Holiday decorating gets a hand from some creative ideas. Always follow safety precautions, especially when using candles, hanging lights and plugging in multiple items to electric sockets. With ingenuity and safety in mind, holiday decorations can be extra special.

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to hide for both insects and animals.

• Consider planting animal food sources prior to winter: Plants like elderberry, holly, mulberry, sumac and crabapple will grow in colder months and animals can enjoy them as a vital food staple.

• Don’t forget water sources: Provide access to fresh water and replace as needed if the water freezes. For homeowners with fish ponds in their backyards, use a hot pot to melt a hole in the top of the pond and allow gases that have accumulated underneath to escape.

This allows oxygen to reach fish and frogs in the pond.

• Leave bird, squirrel or bat houses in the yard: This is a fun and crafty project that can ward off winter boredom while also providing a safe place for local wildlife to shelter in winter.

Animals and insects need some extra help to remain comfortable when cool temperatures arrive.

Leaving some clean-up tasks for the spring ensures that there are plenty of backyard habitats available to local wildlife.

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020. PAGE 21.

Entertain outdoors in the winter during pandemic helpful. Use outdoor rugs to insulate from the cold from the ground up.

• Serve hearty foods and beverages: Stews, chilis, soups and other hot foods can help guests warm themselves up from the inside out. Warmed cider, hot chocolate and mulled wines also can be served to help people stay warm.

• Get moving: Incorporate

activities that encourage guests to move around and stay warm. Bean bag tosses, dancing and even sports like flag football can keep guests’ blood flowing.

Entertaining outdoors doesn’t have to stop when the weather cools.

Find ways to stay comfortable and safe when entertaining outside in the cold.

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From fire pits to cozy clothes and warming food and drinks, there are plenty of ways to make outdoor entertaining last most of the year. Through entertaining outside, the risk of catching COVID-19 can be minimized. (MS photo) MS – Upon the arrival of cold weather, people tend to move indoors and limit their time spent in the elements. For those who live in places where there are restrictions placed on indoor entertaining and gatherings, it may be challenging to find ways to spend time safely together as temperatures drop.

The Mayo Clinic states that the COVID-19 virus, as well as other respiratory viruses, are spread from person to person through respiratory droplets released into the air while coughing, talking or sneezing. A person is more likely to inhale these droplets from an infected person while indoors, especially when they’re in close contact with that person. When outdoors, there is a lower risk of contraction.

Outdoor entertaining in winter may be challenging, especially in regard to keeping everyone warm.

The following are some solutions that can help people stay warm and have fun outside.

• Invest in fire pits: Fire pits are an affordable way to heat a patio or another outdoor area. They can be great places for friends and family to gather and enjoy special occasions.

They’re readily available from garden centres and home improvement retailers at a variety of price points.

Permanent fire pits can be built by a homeowner or professionally built by masonry experts.

• Install an outdoor fireplace: A step up from a fire pit, outdoor fireplaces not only add warmth, but

also improve the ambiance and value of an outdoor entertaining area. Set up outdoor furniture right next to an outdoor fireplace and you have a cozy alternative living room where everyone can gather.

• Explore outdoor heating systems: Few things are more effective at warming up outdoor entertaining areas than patio heaters and infrared heaters. These devices are far more effective than average fire pits or fireplaces.

One or two heaters will be enough to keep a large entertaining area warm.

• Keep cozy options available: Guests should dress warmly, but having a basket of throw blankets, scarves and parkas available for extra warmth while mingling is

Beginner bird-watching tips MS – Birds fluttering around the neighbourhood are a common sight during spring and summer, and these welcome guests can be enjoyable to observe as they nest, feed and interact. When the weather cools in fall and winter, many birds seek out warmer climates, but a good number of these feathered friends stick around.

Certain birds can be found all winter long across regions of North America. The Great American Bird Count is a program that is run by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society.

Its purpose is to seek the help of volunteer birdwatchers across North America to observe and count all the birds seen in a 15-minute interval during a four-day data collection period. This program helps identify birds that are most commonly seen in cold temperatures and studies the composition and distribution of the winter bird populations across North America. Birds seen during this time may change from year to year, though certain species are more likely to be around in the winter months.

• Northern cardinals: One of the more iconic winter birds, the bright red cardinals are around much of the year but perhaps most noticeable against the snowy, stark landscape of a winter’s day. Cardinals use their bright, powerful bills to crack open seeds and cut through sugary fruits

to help them survive the winter.

• Tree sparrows: Tree sparrows are large-bodied and long-tailed sparrows with gray and reddishbrown streaking along the edges of

their feathers. They also wear a bright chestnut coloured cap.

Despite their name, tree sparrows spend much of their time on the Continued on page 22

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PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020.

Inviting new feathered friends for the winter defend territory with scolding calls.

• Blue jays: These common, vibrant birds are well known to many people. They are large-crested songbirds with broad, round tails.

They have white or light gray feathering on the underside of their bodies with various shades of blue, black and white on the top. A favourite food is acorns, and these birds are often found on forest edges. Their calls are loud and carry long distances.

• Mourning doves: Many people hear mourning doves before they actually see them, as their soft cooing often comes from roof rafters and tree branches. These birds have plump bodies and long, tapered necks, with a head that looks

Striking colours Some colourful birds can be found year-round, like the well-known Blue Jay, can bring colour and excitement into the dreary days of winter. To help prompt visits from this birds and others, keep fresh water and food available. (MS photo) Continued from page 21 ground feeding. The bird count has unveiled a greater number of tree swallows in recent years. These

birds are insectivorous, so milder winters may be contributing to their increased presence.

• Tufted titmice: Tufted titmice

resemble cardinals in body and head shape, albeit on a smaller scale, but they are pale gray in coloring.

These are bold birds who

Prepare gardens for winter for the garden to thrive in the spring.

• Protect fruit trees: If you have fruit trees, install mouse guards around the base to prevent mice and voles from killing the trees over the winter. If left to their own devices over the winter, mice and voles may eat the bark of fruit trees, killing the trees as a result. The Farmer’s Almanac notes that mouse guards made of fine mesh hardware cloth can effectively protect fruit trees from hungry mice and voles over the winter.

A gardener’s work is never done, and the work to create beautiful spring gardens begins in the fall.

Protecting your buds When winter rolls around, gardens need to be protected to be as productive as possible next season. (MS photo) MS – Gardens provide an idyllic escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. In fact, many gardening enthusiasts typically cannot wait for the spring thaw so they can spend the next several months tending to their plants under the warm sun. But a gardener’s work is never truly done, and the work to make gardens stunning in the spring actually begins during the preceding fall.

Preparing gardens for winter is an important step that can help homeowners ensure their gardens return to full strength in the spring.

The tasks necessary to prepare gardens for winter may depend on what homeowners are planting, but the following are some general maintenance suggestions that can keep gardens safe this winter.

• Remove weeds and debris: Weeds and debris are unsightly and detrimental to plant life in spring, but they can also be harmful in the winter. Weeds and debris left to linger in gardens through the winter provide overwintering spots for insects and can contribute to disease.

So it’s imperative that weeds and debris are removed before the

ground hardens in winter. Don’t wait until the ground becomes firm, as that can make it difficult to remove the roots of weeds, adversely affecting the garden as a result.

• Prepare the soil: The Farmer’s Almanac advises homeowners to gently till the soil in their gardens so they can expose any insects before they settle in for the winter. Once garden soil is exposed, add a layer of compost, leaves, aged manure, and, if necessary, lime, gently tilling it into the soil.

According to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, the only accurate way to determine if lawn or garden soil needs lime is to test it.

Lime makes soil less acidic and reduces soil pH. Low soil pH makes it hard for certain plants to grow, but acidic soil is ideal when growing blueberries. Test the soil for lime and amend it depending on what you hope to grow in the spring so it’s ready to thrive when winter ends.

• Remove dead or diseased plants: Dead or diseased plants should not be left in the garden through the winter. These plants can attract insects and are vulnerable to disease, which can make it difficult

particularly small in comparison.

They tend to be brown to buff colour. When the birds take off for flight, their wings make sharp whistling or whinnying sounds.

• American goldfinches: These birds are sometimes called the “wild canary” of the Americas. They have distinctive yellow plumage that fades in winter to a palette of buff, brown and gray. They're small seedeating birds that often travel in flocks.

Birds may need a little help surviving in the winter. Keep fresh, unfrozen water around and supplement food scavenged with peanut butter, suet and nuts. Brush piles, roost boxes or birdhouses can provide needed shelter.

Winter is on its way.

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020. PAGE 23.

Virtual municipal agriculture forum starts Nov. 18

By Lisa B. Pot The Rural Voice

Cycling from county to county, the two-day Municipal Agriculture Economic Development and Planning Forum is coming to Huron County Nov. 18-19 in a virtual format.

Targeted to those who work in municipal government, the forum is also open to the agricultural community to learn about planning in regards to agriculture and to hear from industry experts as they share their experience in marketing, exporting products and partnering for diversification.

“It is geared to a government audience but when looking at the speakers for the event, they are mostly people from the agricultural industry,” says Huron County Economic Development Officer Alexander Ripley. “There is definitely relevance for producers at the conferences. Especially around the planning side, along with direct selling and innovation.”

In fact, he recommends that the agricultural community attend so farmers and government can have a better understanding of each other.

“This will be a challenging decade and we’ll get ahead if we play well together,” says Ripley.

The two half-day sessions will be supplemented with a virtual tour of some of the businesses highlighted in the sessions.

The conference begins Nov. 18 with three sessions: • Session 1: How Agriculture Exports Can Build Your Rural Community: In 2019, Ontario’s agricultural

exports totaled $16.6 billion. Export brings new revenue opportunities to agri-food businesses in agricultural communities through opportunities for increased sales and profits, stabilization of market fluctuations and enhancing competitiveness.

Local business leaders, including Martin Vanderloo, president of Huron Commodities, will speak on their experience in export markets.

They will explain how municipal planning and economic development is setting the stage for their success.

• Session 2: Direct Selling and Promoting Agriculture in a COVID19 World: COVID-19 impacted farmers in many ways, one of the most significant being an immediate change in sales channels. Businesses had to pivot to brand and sell in this new distanced reality. Speakers will discuss lessons learned and the tools and resources available to municipalities to support and promote agricultural sales locally and beyond.

Speakers include: The Whole Pig owner and operator Teresa Van Raay; Eat Local Grey Bruce Executive Director Jeannine Kralt; Northern Ontario Farm Innovation Alliance Executive Director Emily Potter and Ontario Federation of Agriculture Economic Development and Policy Analyst Danielle Collins.

• Session 3: Partnering for Diversification Along the Agricultural Value Chain: Diversification helps to expand business opportunities from growing new crops, operating agriculturerelated operations to adopting innovative new technologies. The panel members will discuss why

they chose to diversify and how they were supported by their municipal partners in planning and economic development.

Speakers include: Maelstrom Winery Winemaker Brian Landsborough; Huron County Warden Jim Ginn speaking on the Huronview Demonstration Farm; Edgar’s Feed and Seed Owner and Operator Elliot Miller.

The second day of the forum will begin with a session on inspiring innovation.

• Session 1: Agricultural Innovation – How to Inspire Innovation in Your Municipality: How can municipal economic developers encourage innovation in the agriculture sector? Huron County’s AgPrize introduces an element of competitive excitement to the process. Hear about the design, development and execution of this innovative program.

Speakers for this session will be Alex Ripley, Huron County Economic Development Officer and AgPrize 2020 round one winners Kate Ayers, Julie Marocha, Yohannes Wondimu, Gokulan Thedchana and Minh Nguyen.

• Session 2: Municipal Capacity Research – University of Guelph: Rural communities and the agrifood sector depend on knowledgeable and supportive municipal councils and staff to thrive. Municipalities need capacity (staff/expertise/time) to respond to new and emerging agricultural issues. Elected officials should understand the needs of rural communities and the agri-food sector to make timely decisions that foster vibrant rural communities and

businesses. The research team will drive positive change in these issue present findings from surveying areas? Peers will discuss current municipalities within the Greater topics to examine trends, impacts and solutions.

Golden Horseshoe.

Topics will be finalized based on For this session, speakers include: Wayne Caldwell, School of interest of participants and may Environmental Design and Rural include: Food security, partnering Development at the University of with conservation authorities, loss Guelph along with Elise Geschiere, and importance of the Rural Third Space, lot creation and severances in Emily Sousa and Regan Zink.

• Session 3: Embracing the prime agricultural areas, engaging local youth in agriculture and Agricultural Systems Approach: This panel will share the cannabis as an agriculture product.

Participants can choose to attend successes, challenges and inspiration around taking an agricultural system for one or both days. Registration for both days is $75 and it is available at approach in a municipality.

Its speakers are: A new paradigm eventbrite.ca. for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, Jennifer Best and Meena Hassanali, York Region; Early implementation outside the Greater Golden Horseshoe, Denise Van Amersfoort, Huron County and Agrifood asset mapping to support ag system Implementation, Marilyn Bidgood, Project Manager, ConnectON. • Session 4: World Café: COVID-19 has put many aspects of agriculture on the public radar in new and unexpected Ten-year-old Edyn Beyersbergen’s ways. How can favourite holiday is Halloween. She municipalities and those along the dressed up as a corpse for The agricultural value Citizen’s first annual Halloween chain collaborate to costume contest to celebrate. (File photo)

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PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020.

Former A2A has new representation, short deadline

By Denny Scott The Citizen North Huron Council members will soon have to decide whether they want to continue to support the

Wingham Creek/A2A development.

The project, which involves hundreds of residential properties that could be developed near Maitland River Elementary and F.E. Madill Schools, is coming to the end

of an extension for its plan of subdivision, without which the land will revert to agricultural property.

The extension runs out Jan. 2, 2021.

“If they don’t get their extension, or don't meet the conditions, the plan

A to B The Huron Heat U15 Segment 1 group took to the ice in Clinton over the weekend to practice.

The Huron Heat club as a whole has no games scheduled yet. (Hannah Dickie photo)

Local church marks anniversary PEOPLE AROUND LONDESBORO

By BRENDA RADFORD Call 523-4296

Londesborough United Church held its Anniversary Service on Oct. 25, back in its sanctuary for the second time since the beginning of this pandemic. This service coincided with Reformation Sunday in the church calendar. The message delivered by Minister Susan McIlveen was titled, “Room to Grow”.

Supporting scripture passages were Deut. 34:1-12; 1 Thes. 2:1-8 and Matt. 22:34-46.

Each of the scriptures talks about the difficulties experienced by those who worked for God to help His faithful people. The same is true for today’s Christians who sometimes question why, if God is so good, are they dealing with difficulties in their lives? We are asked to trust that God is working through us and that His definition of love will enlarge and strengthen us. There is still room to grow in our faith journey.

Marjorie Duizer shared her gift of music that morning playing her harp and singing, “He”, a familiar old song, and “I Have a Dream” from the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

There will be no service in Londesborough United Church this coming Sunday, Nov. 1 as its sister church, Knox United in Auburn, goes back to in-church services with the celebration of its Anniversary Service.

The following Sunday, Nov. 8, both churches will hold services.

Sue Barnett will conduct Remembrance Day services in both churches that week.

Normally, on the first Sunday of Advent, which will be Nov. 29, churches in the area hold White Gift Services conducted by their Sunday school programs. This year that won’t be possible. The Huron County Christmas Bureau, the recipient of the “white gifts”, has been proactive by announcing already that they would appreciate monetary donations in lieu of gifts like toys or clothing. There is a donation bin on the table in the narthex of Londesborough United for donations. Keep that in mind when you attend the next service.

The village population increased on Oct. 18 when a future pupil for Hullett Central blessed the family of Jamie and Shelby [Radford] Geddes.

Maylynn Delila will be a great playmate for big sister, Loretta, who turned one on Oct. 7. The family celebrated her birthday early on Sept. 19. You may have noticed the balloons on their lawn that day.

Welcome to Maylynn.

Congratulations to Dad and Mom, and happy birthday to Loretta.

Before I started this column this week I checked the COVID-19 numbers for the day. Ontario hit a new milestone by exceeding the thousand mark, 1,042. Scary stuff for sure! How naïve we were back in March to think this pandemic would be over by the summer.

According to news sources China has its spread under control and is getting back to some kind of normal.

Every country is dealing with the virus in its own way. Who really knows which decisions are the best?

I continue to be surprised by the large numbers for Great Britain. The best plans still seem to be: wear a mask, wash your hands and keep your distance.

I want to share a neat quote I came across to make you smile in these stressful times and recognize what ordinarily keeps us sane: “Gathering (with members of the different kinds of families that make our lives comfortable) is our superpower, COVID-19 is our kryptonite.”

In a previous column I shared the First Nations Peoples’ belief regarding cardinals. Recently I came across another interesting belief. The Southern Tutchone Natives, who live in the Yukon, believe the northern lights are a message from their ancestors. They believe ancestors dance in the spirit world to reassure the living that they are happy there. What a beautiful thing to remember the next time you watch the aurora borealis.

Since Remembrance Day Services across the country have been made private this Nov. 11, it is heartwarming and respectful to see the memorial banners flying in the village and many towns in the area.

Happy Halloween!

of subdivision will be dissolved,” Huron County Planner Monica Walker-Bolton told North Huron Council during its Oct. 19 meeting.

According to Walker-Bolton’s report, the project is split into three phases: Phase 1, which includes 250 residential lots on 11.45 hectares, and Phases 2 and 3 which, combined, total 8.55 hectares of developed land with 214 residential units.

In her report, Walker-Bolton stated that some of the requirements of the project, including input from groups like Hydro One and Canada Post, have been met.

The report also indicated that the group had found new representation in Jose Maria Fernando Suaza Medina. Called Jeff Medina for short, the new representative took over for Doug Cerson and his firm.

Several council members had concerns about working with the group of more than 600 foreign investors after the problems the development has faced since it was proposed six years ago. Since that time, the project has moved slowly, according to councillors, and endured several changes of representation.

Deputy-Reeve Trevor Seip said that, as a resident of North Huron and councillor, he saw the project as necessary, but one that should have been completed five years ago.

“In eight months, we’ve talked to four different individuals [representing the investors] as it relates to this property,” he said.

“The applicant we have here isn’t the one we talked to three weeks ago. They can’t seem to get to the point where someone has control [of the project].”

He went on to say that, at this point, he has a hard time believing anyone is in control of the operation.

“I can’t believe that, in eight

months, staff and council have talked to four different individuals to get this development going,” Seip said.

The entire experience had soured him on working with the group in the future, Seip said, adding he can’t say whether he would support a draft plan with anyone in the group.

Finally, Seip said that the group has more to lose than North Huron has if the project doesn’t go forward.

While North Huron has put significant staff time towards the project, he said there are other options for North Huron, but only this piece of land for the investors.

Reeve Bernie Bailey said there was work going on “behind the scenes”, however, under WalkerBolton’s advice, he didn’t speak about limitations that could be applied to a renewed extension.

“I don’t know if we can talk about particulars,” Walker-Bolton said.

“We’re working with this new representative for the owners.”

Councillor Kevin Falconer wondered if the new representative would come before council, however Walker-Bolton said the representative, like many of the investors, is based in Malaysia so it would be unlikely.

Councillor Paul Heffer asked if hard deadlines would be set with the new representative, and WalkerBolton said she would have a presentation with that information at council’s Nov. 2 meeting.

Seip said he couldn’t live with giving the group another year, given the history of the project.

“I want to see this go forward or moved off the agenda of this council,” he said.

Walker-Bolton said there would be more information about the project during her Nov. 2 presentation, adding that the extension could be granted with timelines for specific goals to be achieved.

TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HURON BY-LAW NO. 64-2019 REGULATION AND CONTROL OF TRAFFIC PART IV - OVERNIGHT PARKING – WINTER MONTHS Between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. no motor vehicle shall be parked on any or all streets or roadways or municipal parking lots of the Township of North Huron, between the months of November 1 to May 1.

Violators will be fined and will be required to bear the cost of having their vehicle towed away. The owner of any such parked vehicle will be liable for any damage to the said vehicle or to snow removal equipment.

PART IV – GENERAL STOPPING PARKING REGULATION No person shall park, or stop a vehicle on any street other than a oneway street, unless on the right hand side of the street, having regard for the direction in which the vehicle had been proceeding, and unless the right front and right rear wheels or runners of the vehicle are parallel to and distant respectively not more than thirty (30) centimeters from the edge of the roadway, without stopping or parking over a sidewalk or footpath or over any part of the highway where grass has grown or which is not intended for the use of vehicles.

PART IV – OVER DESIGNATED TIME LIMITS No person shall park a vehicle where traffic control signs to that effect are situated on any road at the and between the limits set out for a longer period of time than that set out on the traffic control sign.

Two-Hour Maximum Parking 9:00 a.m.— 6:00 p.m. Monday — Friday inclusive Josephine Street, Wingham, Amberley Road (Highway #86) to North Street/ B Line Road (both sides).

Queen Street, Blyth, North Street to Blyth Road 25 (both sides).

NEWS FROM LONDESBORO

PART III - DEPOSITING SNOW ON HIGHWAY OR SIDEWALK No person shall throw, deposit, or cause to be deposited, any snow, ice or mud as to interfere with the movement of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

By-Law Enforcement Township of North Huron

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020. PAGE 25.

HC tourism recovering from COVID-19 lockdown

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Huron County Acting Tourism Officer Rick Sickinger says that, after a troubling May and June, tourism has rebounded in Huron County in July, August and September.

Sickinger presented his plan for fall and winter tourism in the county to Huron County Council at its Oct. 21 meeting, saying that while many local establishments report seeing

pre-pandemic, or even higher, levels of support, the county needed to prepare for the coming cold-weather seasons, which have not traditionally been popular for tourism in Huron County.

“Despite the harmful impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector this spring, most of Huron County’s tourism sector reported strong sales and activity during the core summer months of July, August and September,” Sickinger said in his report. “Looking to maintain

momentum as much as we can through the fall and support the sector through the slower winter months, [the Economic Development Department] has planned several marketing initiatives and projects aimed at continuing to support the recovery efforts of our local tourism and hospitality industry.”

Sickinger told council that the department is participating in a provincial tourism recovery program through the Ontario Culinary

Tourism Alliance called Great Taste of Ontario. The 14-month program will run from October of 2020 to December of 2021 and include two key components: a passport app that includes up to 15 businesses in each partner municipality and three published itineraries showcasing local culinary and tourism assets.

Those itineraries will be published on the Great Ontario Taste Tour website and then as part of a special 12-page supplement in The Globe and Mail.

Sickinger said the department chose to focus on the county’s breweries and wineries to participate in the first round of the app, which is scheduled to go live this month. He also said the department has submitted two beer and wine tours for the county, one along the coastline and another in the countryside.

Sickinger said the department is also planning a buy-local campaign for the holiday season, working with municipal, Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) and chamber of commerce partners to develop a seasonal campaign.

“The vision is to create a countywide campaign similar to ‘In Your Backyard’ that can be customized for each municipality or community,” Sickinger said in his report. “The campaign will connect to and highlight online shopping, delivery and curbside pick-up opportunities available in our local retail and hospitality sectors.”

In January and February, the department will be marketing a series of activities and tourism packages as part of “Huron Hygge”,

a Huron County adaptation of a popular Scandinavian term which means evoking feelings of comfort and contentment.

Aspects of the project will include arts and crafts getaway weekends, streaming concerts by local musicians, online arts and crafts “make-along” workshops, take-out food/meal delivery options, online cooking classes hosted by local chefs that would include a prepared box of local ingredients allowing people to follow along and make the dish at home, a “Curl up with a Good Book” partnership program with the Huron County Library and a regular Friday night cocktail posted by local breweries and wineries.

Sickinger said the department also plans to hold an annual tourism summit, the first of which is scheduled to take place in January of 2021. The focus of the first-ever summit will be to look at recovery trends and forecasts and to engage with the sector on a Huron County tourism strategy for 2021.

Based on the popular Toronto Winterlicious program, the department hopes to work with local restaurants to offer a county-wide dine-in and take-out program with prix-fixe menus in February of 2021 called Huronlicious.

Other initiatives include the development of a centralized Huron County online events calendar, the creation of new, digitally-mapped experiential trails and a takeover of the Taste of Huron website that will focus on the promotion of local food processors and producers.

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If it weren’t for the COVID-19 pandemic, these Blyth Brussels players may have ended up on the same squad. In the midst of the pandemic, however, the U18 Crusaders have been split in to three teams and, like other Blyth Brussels squads, are facing off against each other and leaving no doubt that they are in it to win. (Denny Scott photo)

Legion service made private The Citizen The Wingham Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion will be hosting a private event for Remembrance Day this year, however Reeve Bernie Bailey thinks barricades should still be set up for crowds.

During North Huron Council’s Oct. 19 meeting, council discussed a letter from the Legion that explained that, due to COVID-19, the annual Remembrance Day service would be made private.

Councillor Chris Palmer said the announcement was a “crying shame” and that his heart went out to people with fallen relatives who would like to attend the ceremony.

While several council members expressed frustration with the modified plan, others saw it as a sign of things to come. Deputy-Reeve Trevor Seip said this won’t be the only event cancelled this year.

“There’s a pretty good chance there will be no Santa Claus parade in North Huron this year,” he said, before saying people need to come to terms with that. “We have to make sure we still have the same respect for these kinds of events and still maintain the understanding that we are in a pandemic.”

Councillor Chris Palmer said council needs to err on the side of caution and respect groups that do so as well to prevent risk to public safety.

Bailey, however, said that barricades should be put up on

streets near the branch because he anticipates people will still attend despite it being closed to the public.

Council took no action as a result of Bailey’s suggestion and received the letter.

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PAGE 26. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 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

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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

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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.

Card of thanks GROSS. The family of the late Paul Gross would like to express our heartfelt thanks for the outpouring of sympathy and support during our time of loss and sorrow. Your cards, kind words or a simple hug will not be forgotten. – Kevin, Mandy, Dawn, Gerald and family.

44-1p -------------------------------------------WIERSMA. A sincere thank you to all who sent cards, phone calls and flowers and to family and friends for visits to make our 60th anniversary very special. It was much appreciated. – John and Florence Wiersma.

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Coming events BRUSSELS 5Rs THRIFT STORE – Due to the COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings, its Annual Meeting and Potluck dinner for 2020 cannot be held. However, all reports that are usually shared will be available at the Thrift Store for you to read from Nov. 4 - 14, 2020. We would appreciate if members would come in, read them and then sign that you have done so. Thank you for your co-operation.

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Maitland Conservation is accepting applications for a GIS Specialist.

Help wanted 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.

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This full time position is based at our office in Wroxeter.

Visit www.mvca.on.ca or call 519-335-3557 ext. 226 for the job description and application details.

The application deadline is Wed. Nov. 4, 2020.

In memoriam

Services

McINNES. In loving memory of my sister Nancy who passed away Oct. 30, 2019.

Memories last forever.

– Very much missed, your brother Bob. 44-1p

FAXING SERVICE We can send or receive faxes for you for only $1.00 per page. The Citizen, 405 Queen St., Blyth. Phone 519523-4792. Fax 519-523-9140. tfn

1. Eat squash.

2. Play squash.

Just two things you can do to reduce your risk of cancer.

Learn more about healthy lifestyle choices.

Call the Canadian Cancer Society Cancer Information Service at 1 888 939-3333 or visit www.cancer.ca.

The Corporation of the County of Huron’s Social and Property Services Department Is currently accepting applications for: Building Contacts at: •52 Bristol Terrace, Wingham, •299 Queen Street, Blyth •134 King/135 James Street, Clinton (1position)

Citizen-To-Citizen

See www.huroncounty.ca for more information regarding qualifications and the application process. Please forward letter of application and resume in one PDF document by 4:30pm, Friday November 13, 2020.

The County of Huron is an equal opportunity employer. Accessibility accommodations are available for all parts of the recruitment process.

Applicants need to make their needs known in advance.

Only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted. Information is collected solely for the purpose of job selection under the provisions of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

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➨ 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 – 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 -----------------------------------------WANTED – College student wanting Singer sewing machine in good condition. Ph. 519-887-6568.

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.

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

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

43-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE – used Stellato wheelchair, max. 250 lbs., thick cushioned, non-tilt back, $150.

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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. 43-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE – four Bridgestone Blizzak winter tires on rims, fit Chev Traverse or 6 stud G.M. Used one season. Price negotiable. 519357-3008.

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020. PAGE 27.

Agriculture

519-523-4311

www.ruralvoice.ca

BLYTH 519-523-4244

www.hurontractor.com

Brussels Livestock report

Cows sell on easier market, veal steady Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending Oct. 22 were 2,080 cattle and 497 lambs and goats.

On Tuesday fed steers and heifers sold steady. Choice steers and heifers sold $138 to $145 with sales to $149. Second-cut steers and heifers sold $130 to $138. Aged and medium-fed steers and heifers sold $100 to $125. Cows sold on an easier market. On Thursday veal sold steady. Lambs and sheep sold higher and goats sold steady. On Friday, first-cut calves sold steady.

Second-cut calves sold on an easier market. Yearlings sold on a strong active trade at steady prices.

L & A Black of Proton Station, consigned 11 head. One charolais steer weighed 1,555 lbs. and sold for

an average price of $149.

There were 300 cows on offer.

Beef sold $70 to $80 with sales to $82.50; good holstein cows, $64 to $74; medium holstein cows, $56 to $63; D4 cows, $45 to $55.

Kevin Rennick of Monkton, consigned three head. One red cow weighed 1,630 lbs. and sold for a price of $82.50.

There were 18 bulls selling $77 to $106.50.

Bob Pinkerton of Cargill, consigned two head. One red bull weighed 1,130 lbs. and sold for a price of $106.

There were 140 head of veal on offer.

Beef veal sold $175 to $200 with sales to $217; good holsteins, $130 to $138 with sales to $150; SL heavy

holsteins, $125 to $130; heavy holsteins, $112 to $120; medium holsteins, $115 to $125; plain holsteins, $85 to $110.

Robert Hess of Ayton, consigned three head. One holstein steer weighed 795 lbs. and sold for a price of $138.

Lambs under 50 lbs. sold $313 to $352; 50 - 64 lbs., $342.75 to $355; 65 - 79 lbs., $323.50 to $331; 80 - 94 lbs., $300.50 to $326; 95 - 109 lbs., $278.50 to $291; 110 lbs. and over, $240 to $245.

Sheep sold $100 to $200.

Goats: billies sold $150 to $350; nannies, $100 to $200; kids, $250 to $368.

Ungerer Farms of Thedford, consigned 20 head. Ten lambs averaged 74 lbs. and sold for an

average price of $331. Lynn Campbell of Mitchell, consigned 10 head. Two kid goats averaged 59 lbs. and sold for an average price of $368.

Top quality stocker steers under 400 lbs. sold $285 to $310; 400 - 499 lbs., $230 to $260; 500 - 599 lbs., $220 to $256; 600 - 699 lbs., $194.50 to $228; 700 - 799 lbs., $187 to $206; 800 - 899 lbs., $183.50 to $195; 900 - 999 lbs., $180 to $192; 1,000 lbs. and over, $169 to $178.

Top quality stocker heifers, 400 499 lbs. sold $191.50 to $216; 500 599 lbs., $178.50 to $213; 600 - 699 lbs., $179 to $205; 700 - 799 lbs., $168 to $182.50; 800 - 899 lbs., $171 to $185; 900 lbs. and over, $155 to $164.

Ezra B. Martin of Wallenstein, consigned 20 head. Ten charolais heifers averaged 602 lbs. and sold for an average price of $205. Ten charolais steers averaged 575 lbs. and sold for an average price of $244. Allen Snowden of Wingham, consigned 11 charolais heifers that averaged 859 lbs. and sold for an average price of $174.

Allan Aitchison of New Liskeard, consigned 69 head.

Twelve black steers averaged 870 lbs. and sold for an average price of $187.75. DustinMcCabe of Pictow County, Nova Scotia, consigned 51 head.

Eight limousin steers averaged 966 lbs. and sold for an average price of $189.25.

Survey finds farmers rebounding from COVID-19 sales, and in some cases, reduced

By Hugh Simpson, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture expenses.

Although several positive and After several months of enduring the effects of COVID-19, the optimistic responses were received Ontario Federation of Agriculture indicating recovery, resilience and (OFA) reached out to its members to adaptation, many of our members gather valuable input on how their shared serious concerns about the farm businesses have fared, both broader economic circumstances. positively and negatively, through The survey revealed that 60 per cent the pandemic. Evidence shows a of Ontario farmers are concerned future that appears brighter and more about a global recession, while 55 optimistic than the doom and gloom per cent are concerned about we experienced in the beginning financial impacts to their farm stages of the COVID-19 crisis. As businesses and 52 per cent disclosed we continue to advocate for their concern for trade and supply Ontario’s agri-food sector and our chain issues.

Business interruptions are being 38,000 farm family members, the OFA intends to use these results to felt by farmers across the map. identify opportunities for further Current challenges in abattoir support as we continue to navigate processing capacity, decreased market prices and reduced sales due our road to recovery.

At the beginning of October, the to restaurant closures have created OFA launched a survey to take the significant hardships in the livestock pulse of the agriculture industry and and poultry industry.

Our farm business experienced a better understand how farm families across Ontario have adapted through direct and significant impact due to the pandemic. The survey garnered closures in the restaurant and food nearly 700 member responses with service industries. As a farmer who many indicating a more positive markets most of our product to the outlook compared to the OFA’s trio restaurant sector, our revenue has of surveys in the spring. It is clear taken an immediate hit as COVIDthe input received showed 19 restrictions continued to hinder significant improvements from the operation of restaurants.

The inability to conduct business previous responses.

The results indicated that many farm businesses have slowly transitioned out of the unpredictable phase of COVID-19 and have started adapting to new strategies to maintain, or even grow, their business despite the challenging state of the economy. In several instances, greater public interest in local food and supporting local businesses has resulted in an uptick in local food sales, direct farm marketing and online opportunities.

One-third of respondents have experienced positive benefits this season, including new Adel Fischer had a great backdrop customers, increased for her agricultural entry to The consumer interest and Citizen’s first annual Halloween awareness, new costume contest. Check out the direct/online marketing opportunities, increased winners on page 31. (Photo submitted)

Cowgirl

as usual has topped the list of impacts experienced by Ontario farmers. Forty-three per cent of farmers stated they’ve had to alter their business to cope with the pandemic, with many experiencing delays and disruptions sourcing parts or materials for their equipment.

With no projection or timeline on restrictions, my farm business made the decision not only to pivot our strategy to build an online retail model, but also market towards food processors instead of solely restaurants. Building a new revenue stream takes time, but losing one dramatically affects a business immediately.

Farmers also identified ongoing labour shortages and those who use the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) had to modify their operations considerably to comply with pandemic health and safety protocols, costing significant time and money. Support from the provincial and federal governments through the Enhanced Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program has alleviated some of the cost burden associated with modifying agricultural operations, including

employee work stations, housing and transportation.

Ontario farmers have been regularly faced with labour shortages and gaps, but the COVID19 crisis has intensified these issues.

To help combat labour shortages, the OFA launched Feeding Your Future, a project funded through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to connect agri-food employers to job seekers and to help address labour shortages and training needs on the farm.

While we have seen great improvements in the anticipated negative outcomes of the pandemic, many farms and local businesses are still struggling with reduced prices, decreased consumer sales and the absence of agritourism.

One of the hardest things Ontario farmers have had to do is navigate through unfamiliar waters and adjust to a new method of running their farm business operations. From price reductions, labour shortages, market turmoil, lack of processing capacity and loss of agritourism business – every farm in Ontario is dealing with its own unique situation. We understand that even though we’ve seen improvements,

there is still a long way to go on our road to recovery.

Thanks to our valued members for taking the time to share your issues, concerns and feedback. We will continue to monitor the impacts, listen to our members and relay information to support Ontario farm businesses. As an industry and family, we will persevere, work together and hope for the promise of a better year ahead.

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PAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020.

Staff to report on purchasing conservation area

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen The next step in the Maitland Mills project is now under investigation by Huron East while council considers whether to secure ownership of the Maitland Valley Conservation Area in Brussels.

Huron East Council considered a proposal that would name the municipality as the owner of the property, though the purchase would be made by the Trust. The Trust would serve as the management board for the land on behalf of the Maitland Mills Association.

The association was formed several years ago with the intention of rehabilitating and preserving mills in both Brussels and Gorrie for generations to come after they had fallen into disrepair over the years.

The proposal also indicated that Huron East would maintain its current financial commitments to the

land, including grass cutting and liability at the site.

The motion was made by the Trust at its Sept. 17 meeting and then presented to Huron East Council at its Oct. 20 meeting.

While the motion wasn’t officially considered by council at the Oct. 20 meeting, council did discuss it with several council members expressing their concern with the proposal.

Mayor Bernie MacLellan asked why the municipality would want to own more land, asking what the advantage would be for Huron East to own the conservation area.

Councillor John Lowe, who also serves on the Trust, said it would be another green space for the municipality. In fact, much of the maintenance for the area is already handled by the municipality, so things wouldn’t change much as a result of the municipality owning the property, said Councillor

Zoellyn Onn, who also serves on the Trust.

Council directed staff to prepare a report for council on the prospect of

the property purchase to be presented to council at a later date.

Spooky sights Homes around the area, including this one in Blyth, are ready for Halloween. (John Stephenson photo)

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Entry is through a covered walkway and porch into a foyer with a coat closet to the left.

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The master suite, which looks out to the back garden, has an extra-wide window sill that could double as a window-seat. The en-suite, with a linen closet adjacent, includes double sinks and a soaker tub with a tiled surround, as well as a show stall. The walk-in closet will be spacious enough for any couple’s clothing and accessories.

A second linen closet is located just outside the second bedroom, which shares a threepiece bathroom with the third bedroom.

The laundry room includes a tub and will also serve as a mudroom, thanks to access to the double garage.

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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020. PAGE 29.

‘Reverse’ Santa Claus parade considered in Seaforth

A sign of the times The Seaforth Lions Club is aiming to host a ‘reverse’ Santa Claus parade this year due to COVID-19. A ‘reverse’ parade sees floats, like the Huron East float from last year’s parade, shown above, stay still while those taking it in drive around in their vehicles. (File photo)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen The Seaforth Lions Club is hoping to proceed with a new kind of Santa Claus parade next month with the

blessing of Huron East Council.

Cathy Elliott spoke to the proposal at Huron East Council’s Oct. 20 meeting, asking council to bless the event and authorize the closure of Hensall Road between 7-8 p.m. on

Friday, Nov. 27, the night of the parade.

The parade, Elliott explained, would be almost like a reverse parade, where the floats would be aligned along Hensall Road for one

hour while residents and others can drive the route, directed along the way by Lions Club members, and see all of the floats before exiting onto the highway.

Elliott told council she has been planning the event extensively with the Lions Club, including informing the nearby Hensall Co-op location of the parade in order to ask farmers not to bring in corn during that hour.

She told council that she felt the parade would bring a level of normalcy to the community in a year that has been anything but normal.

Councillor Gloria Wilbee asked if the town’s downtown businesses would be open that night, a practice which has traditionally been a staple of the Santa Claus parade. Elliott said she couldn’t say for sure, but that if she received a positive response from council, a suggestion that local businesses be open that night would then go to the Business Improvement Area (BIA) for consideration.

Mayor Bernie MacLellan said

council needed to consider the advice of Huron Perth Public Health Medical Officer of Health Dr. Miriam Klassen, who has advised against hosting parades this holiday season. However, he wasn’t sure if this exact proposal had been presented to Klassen as an alternative. With everyone in their car, in their own bubble, MacLellan felt it was the safest way to carry out a parade alternative.

Elliott agreed, saying that having people in their own cars is manageable, whereas having pedestrians would be too difficult to police. She said there would be strict enforcement on that and pedestrians would not be allowed to take in the parade on foot.

Council discussed the issue further later in the meeting with unanimous support for the idea, as long as it’s carried out in a safe manner.

Staff will prepare a bylaw for council’s next meeting to close the road for the time of the parade to be voted on at council’s Nov. 3 meeting.

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PAGE 30. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020.

Who was the first child born in Blyth?

Ronald McBain, eleventh child of Kenneth and Elizabeth McBain was born June 11, 1852 in a log cabin on the site of present day Blyth Inn. Read about these people in the Blyth Repository of History.

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The Citizen, Oct. 13, 1999

The Citizen, Oct. 27, 1999 The Citizen, Oct. 27, 1999

The Citizen, Oct. 7, 2010

The Citizen, Oct. 13, 1999

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020. PAGE 31.

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PAGE 32. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020.

NH council declares airport site surplus

By Denny Scott The Citizen

North Huron Township Council has declared the Richard W. LeVan Airport surplus, making it available for purchase if the right offer comes along.

“This doesn’t mean that North Huron is selling it,” Deputy-Reeve Trevor Seip said. “It means we’re looking at reviewing offers.”

The decision came after a lengthy discussion during a special meeting last Thursday morning that started with Reeve Bernie Bailey saying he believed the municipality should close the airport, but not put it up for sale until negotiations regarding the site with Morris-Turnberry concluded.

While the closure and potential sale of the airport was one suggestion made in a municipal service review by the KPMG consulting firm earlier in the meeting, Director of Public Works Jamie McCarthy also put together a report on the site, requesting that council give direction on the site and the surrounding farmland.

McCarthy explained that the site is currently maintained by one parttime worker and, in the winter, the helipad is kept clear for ORNGE emergency helicopters.

She said if council wanted to proceed with any changes to the site, councillors needed to keep in mind agreements with the hangar owners, APEX Helicopters and the local air cadets. She said there are several options for council to consider, including continuing the operation without fuel and services, development of a long-term plan to make the site sustainable, partnership opportunities or selling the airport. Selling the airport could also involve selling the farmland, she said.

McCarthy explained that the cost of running the airport is largely offset by the rental of that farmland, however, annually, there is approximately $20,000 that comes from general expenses.

Deputy-Reeve Trevor Seip, who was chairing the discussion as Reeve Bernie Bailey had left the seat for it,

said staff needed direction to proceed.

Councillor Paul Heffer asked if anyone had inquired about buying the airport and Chief Administrative Officer Dwayne Evans said there had been inquiries, but he couldn’t speak to their seriousness.

Bailey then spoke, saying that North Huron was in no position to own and run an airport, but that the accompanying land could be worthwhile to the municipality.

“I have no problem selling the airport, but I want the land nearby to be commercial, industrial or residential,” he said. “The rest of the land, the agricultural land, we should hold on to for a year.”

Bailey explained that, as part of the ongoing cross-border servicing negotiations with Morris-Turnberry, members of the North Huron negotiating team had suggested those lands be given to North Huron in exchange for North Huron providing service to developable land in Morris-Turnberry at the north end of Wingham.

“If we haven’t made a deal in a year, we sell it,” he said. “It’s in Morris-Turnberry and we should [divest] ourselves of it.”

Councillor Chris Palmer said the farmland should be kept. Without the airport, the rental cost would earn the municipality $68,000 annually, less the taxes to MorrisTurnberry.

After a lengthy debate about whether the municipality should hold on to the airport, Councillor Kevin Falconer made a motion that staff proceed with designating the airport property surplus, but only the airport property and not the remainder of the property, which includes 235 acres of agricultural land and 136 acres of woodlot.

Evans explained that council will be accepting offers on the property, but, per Seip’s concerns, council did not have to sell any property until it authorized a sale agreement. Evans said council could also make sure that whoever purchases the airport continues to make the helipad accessible for ORNGE emergency services.

No more sin bin The Blyth Brussels U18 Crusaders have been split into three teams who are facing off against each other in modified games due to COVID-19. The changes include a three-on-three format and most penalties resulting in a penalty shot, like the one shown above during a game last week. (Denny Scott photo)

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Ladybug Loughlin While Tallulah Loughlin and her ladybug costume didn’t qualify for The Citizen’s first annual Halloween costume contest (due to being the daughter of one of the judges, Editor Shawn Loughlin), that doesn’t mean she can’t earn an honourable mention. (Shawn Loughlin photo)

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