4 13 15 19
The
THIS WEEK • Editorials • Agriculture • Obituaries • Entertainment
Citizen
Huron County’s most trusted independent news source
Thursday, August 5, 2021
$1.50 GST included
Volume 37 No. 31
Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0
Plowing Match going ahead By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen
Pounding prowess As part of last week’s iteration of the Blyth Community Market, the Fashion Arts Creative Textiles Studio (FACTS) ran a flower-pounding program which saw participants make some unique designs by hammering
some flowers. The program was open to those of all ages, including those who just managed to keep their grip of the hammer. From left, Jalyssa and Aleida Brink and Mackenzie and Sarah Malpass. (Denny Scott photo)
The Huron County Plowing Match is moving ahead as a oneday, invite-only event on Friday, Aug. 20, after having to cancel the 2020 match as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The match will be different than any other, as it will only be open to plowing competitors from Huron and Perth Counties. There will be no Queen of the Furrow or Princess competitions and it will not be open to spectators, in order to comply with COVID-19 protocols and keep participants and volunteers safe. Ross and Barbara McIntosh will serve as hosts for the match at 80089 Division Line in Central Huron, just a few kilometres west of Seaforth. The Plowmen’s Association held a special meeting last Thursday night to decide whether to move ahead with the match. After receiving guidelines from Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH), in line with recommendations from the provincial government and the Ontario Plowmen’s Association, members of the Huron County Continued on page 3
Brussels Homecoming begins one-year countdown By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Last Thursday marked the beginning of the one-year countdown until Brussels Homecoming 2022, a weekend that will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the village. The committee marked the occasion with a modest Facebook post, but there are plenty of reasons to celebrate, with the event now less than a year away. Co-chair Dan Fritz says that members of the committee are still in the planning phase of the event, but that some wheels are now in motion. Merchandising Chair Brad Beuermann has been working with several local suppliers - Tammy King of Solace Spa and Dorothy Cummings of Barmy Tech about some ideas. Fritz said the final product line will be approved at the next meeting in the hopes that pre-orders will be open at the beginning of October, with sales
to begin after Remembrance Day. Fritz said that directors Sherrie Oliver and Pam McLean are also working on a handful of ideas for a launch party and Fritz says details should be released soon. Fritz says that Co-chair and Events Chair Mike Thomas has received approximately 40 submissions for event proposals for over the course of the homecoming weekend. Thomas is now working through them in an effort to create a draft schedule. Many of those proposals came by way of a meeting in June, which allowed community groups and service clubs to make proposals, though no events have been finalized yet. At that meeting, several groups and individuals proposed hosting open houses, meals or activities to keep people busy over the course of the weekend. Monique Baan proposed an open house at the Brussels Library, saying it’s possible some former residents hadn’t been back to the
village since it was renovated years ago. The library is traditionally open on Saturdays, she said, but she would also be willing to staff an open house on the Sunday of the homecoming weekend. She also suggested an element of Brussels history with the help of the Huron County Museum. While Baan said she had not yet checked with the museum, she suggested that perhaps the museum could supply some items of Brussels history to be displayed at the library
over the course of the weekend. Alex Jebson, student minister at the Brussels United Church, suggested that the church could host an informal coffee, tea and conversation space at the church. He also said the church is happy to volunteer its space, whether it be the sanctuary or the lower hall, for any other groups or displays that need a home over the course of the weekend. Sandra Brown and other Brussels Legion representatives said the
Branch would like to host a fish fry dinner for the homecoming. She said it would be best for the meal to be the same day as the parade (a date for the parade has yet to be set, though Fritz did note that at the last homecoming it was held on Saturday at noon), but that any day over the course of the weekend would be fine. The Legion could also be open for pub nights throughout the weekend, with karaoke being a Continued on page 11
Klassen eyes vaccination goal By Denny Scott The Citizen Despite climbing numbers of COVID-19 vaccinated individuals in Huron and Perth Counties, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Miriam Klassen says vaccinations in those under 40 are falling behind. During a Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH) teleconference held
last week, which will now be held bi-weekly, she said that vaccination in demographics under 40 are slowing, with groups sitting between 59 to 63 per cent, which is between 16 and 18 per cent lower than the total vaccination statistics for Huron Perth. She said fullyvaccinated statistics for the group are even lower, with demographic groups under 40 sitting at 30 to 46
per cent having had a second dose, which is between 18 and 34 per cent lower than overall statistics. Klassen said there are a number of benefits to being vaccinated, on top of the protection provided against COVID-19. “For example, fully-vaccinated individuals may not be required to self-isolate if they are identified as Continued on page 14