The Citizen - December 1, 2023

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Friday, December 1, 2023

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Volume 39 No. 48

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Frayer arrested

Home ice advantage The Clinton Optimist Club held its 41st annual U15 hockey tournament over the weekend and wouldn’t you know it, the locals - the Mid-Huron Huskies - were the last team standing when the dust settled. The Huskies opened with a 2-1 overtime win over the Wingham Ironmen on Friday night, above, followed by Saturday

wins over the Kincardine Kinucks (4-1) and Mitchell Meteors (7-2) and a loss at the hands of the Ilderton Jets (6-2). That all led to a finals showdown between the Huskies and Kinucks, which ended in a 3-0 shutout win, and tournament victory, for the home team.

(John Stephenson photo)

Members of the Huron County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Perth County (OPP), and Stratford Police Service have located and arrested wanted person Karley Frayer.

The Huron OPP Crime Unit, under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), continues to investigate an incident that occurred on Wednesday, Oct. 18, when OPP officers interacted with two individuals.

One individual was arrested soon after the incident. They have been formally charged and remain in custody.

A second person had remained at large since the incident occurred.

On Nov. 22, this individual was located in the City of Stratford and was taken into custody without incident with the assistance of Stratford Police Service.

Karley Frayer, 34 years old of Huron East, is charged with Attempt to Commit Murder, Dangerous Operation, Operation while Prohibited, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000 - section 355, two counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000, Possession of a Schedule II Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking, Failure to Stop after Accident, two counts of Possession of Identity Document and Theft Under $5000 Shoplifting.

The accused is being held for a bail hearing before the Ontario Court of Justice in Goderich.

Clinton shows out for hospital at HPHA session

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Well over 100 people left a recent “Community Connections” meeting hosted by the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) in Clinton frustrated with nearly four years of nightly emergency department closures and uncertain about the future of Clinton Public Hospital in the face of a proposed amalgamation.

The meeting was one of four held last week in every community in which the HPHA has a hospital Stratford, St. Marys, Seaforth and Clinton - to update residents on the achievements made by and challenges facing the organization, as well as the amalgamation, which was first proposed in September and, if approved, would go into effect on April 1, 2024.

At the meeting, HPHA CEO Andrew Williams reiterated what has been the organization’s official position on the matter, which is that local foundations and auxiliaries

will remain in place, local input will be paramount and that the organization has absolutely no plans to close hospitals, lose staff or reduce service levels in any way.

“On September 7, 2023 the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) Board of Directors unanimously agreed to start the process to amalgamate the four corporations of the HPHA,” reads the amalgamation statement on the HPHA website. “Since its inception in 2003, the HPHA’s four hospitals, including the Clinton Public Hospital, St. Marys Memorial Hospital, Seaforth Community Hospital, and Stratford General Hospital, have effectively operated as an integrated organization, including a single Board, Administration and Professional Staff. The HPHA is also the single employer of the hospitals’ employees. “‘This is an important and necessary step for the HPHA as we continue to provide the very best governance to our four hospital

sites, and quality care to those we serve,’ said Board Chair Stephen Hearn. ‘The amalgamation will not affect our staff as they are already all employees of the HPHA, or the programs, services and staffing offered across our sites. It will also continue to ensure our four strong Foundations remain independent and raising funds vital for their own local hospital and healthcare priorities,’ he said.

“This decision is a result of a recent review of the 20-year old Alliance Agreement. Required updates were identified in order to align with the new Ontario Not-forProfit Corporations Act that Ontario not-for-profit corporations must comply with by October 19, 2024, and other applicable laws, such as health privacy laws. These updates, combined with the HPHA’s current, integrated operating reality reinforced amalgamation as the most responsible step in today’s healthcare environment.

“As the HPHA moves forward with the amalgamation process,

interested members of the public will be provided various opportunities to understand the process and provide feedback. The organization is targeting April 1, 2024 as the effective date of the amalgamation to align with its fiscal year.”

Williams told those in attendance that the organization and its board of directors remain as committed as ever to maintaining four strong, viable sites in Stratford, St. Marys, Seaforth and Clinton. However, many in attendance weren’t buying it, feeling that while the future may be questionable for the Clinton Public Hospital, the last four years haven’t been fantastic either, with nightly emergency department closures - implemented in late 2019 as a temporary measure - now stretching to nearly 48 months with no end in sight.

He said it’s foolish to think that the sites won’t change and evolve as needs evolve, but that the organization plans to work to keep all four sites viable and working

within a larger healthcare framework, fitting it with other local hospitals and helping residents in a way that ensures a bright future for all four of the HPHA’s hospitals.

The amalgamation proposal, he said, would codify how the HPHA has been operating for the last 20 years, so, many of the things the organization is doing right now and the sites and assets it has under its auspices, he said, will not change as a result of the proposed amalgamation.

The amalgamation will result in one hospital service accountability agreement with Ontario Health (as opposed to the current number of four), one set of audited financial statements (currently HPHA has five - one for each hospital and one for the HPHA itself) and one funding letter and reporting requirement (currently HPHA has four).

In addition to that streamlining, Williams says other efficiencies Continued on page 26

PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023.

Filmmaker Samuel Scott reflects on frights The Citizen

Once upon a midnight dreary, filmmaker Samuel Scott set off on a perilous journey across the unknowable landscapes of Ontario, Canada. The man was in pursuit of a creature so elusive that there are those who, to this day, believe it is a thing of myths - funding for a feature film. And not just any film a horror film. His quest has brought him to the belly of the beast - deep into the heart of the sprawling City of Toronto. He’s traversed the northlands known as Owen Sound, and stalked the streets of London, which is kind of in the middle. For years, Scott has managed his machinations mostly from the shadows at the edge of night, but his recent win of a film pitch competition at London’s Eighth Annual Forest City Film Festival forced him out into the light just long enough for the cautious investigators from The Citizen’s Horror Hunting Department to track him down for a mind-bending conversation on the subjects of high strangeness, fear, financing, and Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives.

There’s been many a divergence throughout Scott’s expedition to the mouth of movie madness. He went to York University for music composition, did sound design for theatre production, and spent years making music with a band of rivals.

Making music videos for the band gave Scott a first taste of the profane flesh of filmmaking, awakening a ravenous craving within him. He took a job as a production assistant on a film set, and it turned out to be a revelatory experience. “It was like, ‘oh, man they’ll pay me to do this, every day?’ A year later, I was making the schedule. And then I was making the budgets for the sets. I love seeing a movie get put together.”

He eventually started working as a producer on feature films, working with production companies like Collingwood Film Co. But how did Scott come to take on the burden of this wretched quest to make a scary movie in the first place? Like so many terminally afflicted fright aficionados, his mind was irrevocably warped at a tender young age by the irresistible pull of his local video rental store.

“There was a convenience store in Clinton that had VHS tapes, and there was a good horror selection there. They maybe had more horror than anything else, for some reason.

Those VHS boxes were super colourful, and horror movies have the most interesting covers. My parents didn’t really check in to see what I was watching, and what I was watching was [Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives].”

That ill-fated choice of the wrong colourful box at the convenience store in Clinton doomed Scott forever to the ship of lost souls.

“Horror was the main thing that I watched for a long time. It was almost the only thing. There’s this weird thing where you think should I be seeing this? I probably shouldn’t be seeing this. That’s the most exciting feeling. It elevates the whole experience.”

One particularly scarring cinematic experience Scott enjoyed in those times long passed is a trauma common to children of the day. “I think It had a lot to do with where I am now. I watched the first five minutes, and have a vivid memory in my mind - just

Fear and funding in Ontario Clinton-raised multi-hypenate Samuel Scott (a.k.a. Sam Sholdice) outside of the Drake Hotel in Toronto. Scott sat down for an interview with The Citizen on Thursday, (Scott Nov. 23 to discuss several ongoing projects.

Stephenson photo)

constantly picturing that clown. All the time.” He spoke, of course, of Tommy Lee Wallace’s 1990 miniseries starring Tim Curry - a two-part tale of terror so twisted that we oft forget the mindboggling fact that it aired on network television during ‘sweeps’ week. It’s estimated that 1.92 million tape machines recorded copies of that broadcast - it’s thought that many of them are still out there.

A less common childhood obsession also threatened to consume his young psyche. “[Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives] really sticks out in my mind as a formative one. I rented that one over and over again. I hadn’t seen [Friday the 13th] or [Friday the 13th Part 2], and didn’t until years later, because they didn’t have them at the video store. [Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives] looks beautiful. It’s full of great gags. You see characters show up, crush it for one or two scenes, then die in a funny way.”

He’s also a big fan of slightly silly scares, like David Lynch’s offbeat murder mystery series, Twin Peaks. “I love stuff that’s scary and funny. I like practical effects, and a sci-fi bent. Night of the Comet is one of the ones that comes up a lot for me. I like gore, but only when it’s so off the wall, like Evil Dead.”

Scott’s hunger for horror movies has only continued to grow, reaching a level that borders on the insatiable. “Hopefully, I’ll be able to watch all of them before I die.

I’m trying to watch every single one you’re supposed to watch. A movie like A Serbian Film - just don’t watch it. Don’t ever watch it.

Watch 18 straight hours of Twin Peaks: The Return instead.”

Also on Scott’s RADAR - 2022’s Skinamarink. The ultra-low budget tale of Canadian child endangerment was a real phenomenon. “I had really chill parents. For people who grew up terrified by their parents, or other family members, it resonates differently. There’s another movie from earlier this year - Outwaters.

It is, and I don’t use this word lightly, bonkers… I was totally floored. I love things that cannot be comprehended, and that there’s no explanation for; stuff that, rather than explaining, compounds. I’m scared of high strangeness, of cosmic misalignment, of chaos magic, and of forces I don’t believe in. Also, heights.”

So, after decades of witnessing so much cinematic carnage, what films top his list? “I think REC is probably one of the scariest movies I’ve ever seen. It’s genuinely frightening, but it’s also fascinating, from a filmmaking perspective. It’s just so well made.”

REC is a 2007 Spanish foundfootage film that follows a journalist and her camera crew as they become trapped in a quarantined building. It’s a standout entry into the found-footage sub-genre, and not for the faint of heart.

It’s not all about pure love when it comes to horror - Scott sees the potential for a real future in the genre. “You gotta sell movies there’s a business to it, and it’s kind of a viable business. If I made a drama, and it was a great drama, I probably couldn’t sell it. Maybe if it was one of the most incredible movies of all time. But with horror, I can just get a bunch of friends, and some heads exploding, and maybe it’ll sell. Will it sell for more than it cost to make? Maybe, maybe not.

But it will be out there. We’re not trying to make Shakespeare, we’re trying to entertain for 90 minutes.

And not go over budget. And hopefully, get good at it. That’s the world I want to play in.”

Many of the greatest filmmakers of our time started out toiling in the relentless realm of shoestring horror before going on to direct critically-acclaimed films and legendary blockbusters. Steven Spielberg’s (Schindler’s List) directorial debut was the made-forTV classic Duel. Sam Raimi’s (Spider-Man) first film was discount splatter-fest The Evil Dead. His assistant director on that picture? Joel Coen (Fargo).

However, Scott has no aspirations to join that lauded pantheon of cinema gods. “The idea of having $10 million to make a movie terrifies me. Give me half a million and we’ll go do it.”

Scott knows the quest for funds is a just and necessary one, but still finds many of the arcane rituals of film finance to be beyond the limits of his mortal comprehension. “I’m more of a boots-on-the-ground producer - I don’t really understand all that complicated tax stuff yet.

Once we have the money, I translate it into a budget and a day-to-day shooting schedule. We go out and we shoot the movie. Don’t send me to hand out business cards at a conference - for me it’s all about

asking, “If it costs us $1,200 to make this head explode - is it worth it? That’s the fun.”

So when the Forest City Film Festival held a pitch contest for a movie that can go to camera in 18 months, to be filmed at least 50 per cent in London, it seemed like it was worth a shot. “The last movie I produced, The Hyperborean, was at the festival that weekend. It’s one of the oddest movies I’ve ever seen, and I worked on it!” The Hyperborean was directed by Canadian B-movie maverick Jesse Thomas Cook (Monster Brawl) and written by Tony Burgess, the mind behind the brilliant Pontypool.

Cook teamed up with Scott to help work out a winning concept.

Competitors were given four minutes to pitch their ideas, which had to include an overview of the film’s concept, a high-level outline of the team, budget and a shooting plan. Their winning presentation earned them a $30,000 cash grant, as well as funding to put towards things like marketing and legal fees. “There’s also a lot of free labour, and a lot of free gear,” he explained.

But securing these boons is only the first step - it’s no guarantee that their pitch will become a reality.

There’s still much that must be achieved in order to bring his hideous vision to life. “I’m trying not to get my hopes up. Right now, I’m just working on the script.”

He may not be counting on it just yet, but Scott hopes that the project comes to fruition. He finds the prospect of filming in London to be a compelling one, for a lot of reasons - not the least of which are

Babies of the Year

By Scott Stephenson

the potential financial benefits that come along with shooting in the historic city. “In Toronto, a location that could cost you $25,000 a day.

In London, it’s like - ‘here, here’s a big old warehouse. Here’s a giant house. Because they’re there.”

Scott has seen first-hand what can happen to a place when a horror movie shoot descends onto the scene. “The last two movies I’ve produced were in Owen Sound.

Cook makes a movie there almost every year. And one of the things you start to see is businesses reaching out, sending e-mails asking if we’re going to be doing these big catering orders again this summer? A lot of the money for a film goes into the community.

You’re staying in their hotels, going around in their town all day, every day.”

Be it London, Owen Sound, Toronto or beyond, Scott will go wherever he has to. “Working in Canada is great… if somebody offered me a bunch of money to make a movie in L.A, I’d go there.

If somebody asked me to go to Tallahassee, Florida to make three movies, I’d go. If there was funding and community support, I’d absolutely make a movie in Huron County. It’s got a lot of great locations that would look good on film, and I’d love to shoot there. It’s a place where you could make a movie.”

So, take heed, readers - should Samuel Scott secure all that is needed to bring about his macabre movie, don’t be surprised if his next dark endeavour brings his cursed carnival of cinema to a town near you!

2023

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023. PAGE 3.

Bluevale bus crash sends students, driver to hospital

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

A scary morning A frightening incident played out near Bluevale as a school bus on the way to Wingham’s Maitland River Elementary School left the roadway due to snowy weather and poor road conditions.

One student was airlifted to London, while two others and the driver were sent to local hospitals. (Photos courtesy of Scott Miller, CTV)

The Citizen

News when asked why the buses were not cancelled due to weather.

Soldan, who had sent out a weather warning to Huron County motorists on Monday night, ahead of the expected inclement weather on Tuesday, said the crash could have been worse.

“We knew the weather system was coming through the area.

We tried to warn residents, but, you never know when or where conditions are going to be worse or visibility will be the most impacted. Sometimes side roads are better, and sometimes they are worse,” Soldan told CTV News. “Thankfully there weren’t any trees or hydro poles that the bus impacted. There was damage to the front of the bus.

Of course, that will have to be repaired, but that’s not important. It’s about the kids’ safety, and driver’s safety.

Thankfully, they’re all going to be just fine after they heal up from this.”

Elementary School was involved in an incident this morning,” the board confirmed Tuesday morning to media outlets. “Some of the students are receiving medical attention.

[Avon Maitland District School Board] staff are supporting impacted families and students and the investigation as needed.”

Despite the Bluevale area reportedly receiving more than 20 centimetres of snow overnight, no school buses for the Avon Maitland District School Board were cancelled on Tuesday morning, though some in Bruce County were called off for the day.

“We are grateful for the first responders who were on the scene and are extending our full co-operation to the investigative authorities. Safety is always our highest priority, and we sincerely wish all those impacted a full recovery,” said a Montgomery Bus Lines Company spokesperson to CTV

A crash involving a school bus destined for Wingham’s Maitland River Elementary School closed a portion of Clyde Line on Tuesday morning and sent several to hospital.

According to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), the incident occurred at approximately 8:40 a.m. on Clyde Line near Cardiff Road, just south of Bluevale. The crash is being blamed on bad weather.

The bus left the roadway and entered a ditch before it crashed into a private driveway.

The Avon Maitland District School Board said there were seven students on the bus at the time of the incident. One student was air-lifted to hospital in London with non-lifethreatening injuries, while another two were transported to local hospital with minor injuries.

“There was an airlift for one of the kids due to a possible fracture and an The smallest trifles impact to the head. The (Charles Spurgeon) other two were more minor - I think some back “”Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the pain and stomach pain for ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your the other two kids,” Huron head are all numbered!” Matthew 10:29-30 County OPP Const. Craig Soldan told CTV News.

It is most important for us to learn, that the smallest trifles are as much arranged by the God of Providence, as the most startling events. He who The driver of the bus counts the stars—has also numbered the hairs of our heads. Our lives and was also taken to hospital deaths are predestined—but so, also, are our sitting down and our rising up! as a precaution due to a pre-existing condition.

A Grace Gem “A bus that was Submitted by: Immanuel United Reformed Church, transporting seven Listowel, ON 519-492-1359 students to Maitland River

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PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023.

Editorials & Opinions

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

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On the rise By now, most Ontario residents have seen the headlines whirling around food bank usage in the province by a Feed Ontario report, a collective of hunger relief organizations. Blackburn News called it “a crisis in the making” while CTV Northern Ontario says “Food bank usage soars in the province, running out of food in Sudbury”.

In a modern, developed country like Canada, it’s hard to fathom that food bank usage would grow 38 per cent in just one year, the largest leap in usage since 2008’s recession. The Daily Bread and North York Harvest Food Banks report that one in 10 Torontonians are “relying” on food banks, more than double the number last year.

A community is in crisis when so many citizens rely on donations of food to survive. Organizations run food banks and food shares in most communities, making it the only way that many people can get through the month, thanks to donations from others in their community. There is little relief for other areas of a budget like rent, utilities and transportation and, with inflation eating into everyone’s budgets, even people with full-time jobs are finding themselves needing to access food banks. The report said 22 per cent of visitors said housing costs exceed their monthly income, and two-thirds have less than $100 after paying for housing each month. There is no “rent bank” to help them. Now we are seeing the strain on food banks, which are now facing their own financial challenges, in addition to keeping food on the shelves. What happens as the needs outstrip the available resources? – DS

Uploading... please wait One Toronto City Councillor, Mike Colle of Eglinton-Lawrence, claims he is “euphoric” that the provincial government will be taking on the responsibility of both the Gardiner Expressway and the Don Valley Parkway - two of the absolute busiest highways in Ontario.

The city, like many lower-tier governments, was facing a tough road - reportedly a $1.5 billion budget hole and extensive maintenance costs associated with both highways. However, the city has stepped aside on Ontario Place, allowing Premier Doug Ford to do as he pleases with land that’s special to Torontonians and Ontarians alike.

For those dubious of Ford’s government, this is a mixed bag to say the least. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, a critic of Ford’s Ontario Place plans, has put down her sword, but the city will have a rosier future without having to pay to keep up two major highways that, frankly, should have been the provincial government’s responsibility all along.

But, with Ford at the helm, no one can fly the “Mission Accomplished” banner with a straight face. Will he sell the roads to private companies?

Will he flip-flop and send them back Chow’s way in two months? Will he revive Ontario News Now and build a state-of-the-art headquarters on the Gardiner between Lower Simcoe and Rees Streets to fill the Lyndsey Vanstone-sized holes in our hearts? Only time will tell.

Ford’s arrival - with a big bag of taxpayer money in tow - isn’t the white knight arrival it’s being hailed as, considering his track record, but lower-tier municipalities are struggling and councils could fall prey to a deal with the devil, so to speak. This will help Toronto City Council, which, in turn, helps us all, but, like anything with Ford’s government, strict oversight is needed to keep things on track. – SL

Inspiration at home Under the leadership of Rev. JoAnn Todd, Blyth’s Trinity Anglican Church has made a concerted effort to improve its facilities to attract more usage from community groups. Uncomfortable and cumbersome pews have been replaced by padded chairs, the washrooms have been upgraded and are now fully accessible and the kitchen is fully equipped for preparation of snacks and refreshments or elaborate suppers.

Other area churches, now shuttered, were not quite as nimble in response to modern challenges, shifting demographics and diminishing parishioner numbers. Trinity is clearly determined to survive in order to continue doing what it has always done - providing space for community members to be part of something bigger than themselves.

Last week, the facilities were put to good use. On Thursday night, the very good people responsible for The Citizen, North Huron Publishing, presented recipients of the Citizen of the Year (COTY) award with their plaques. This was the first time the ceremony was held in-person since the pandemic began and included winners from the past four years. The world is full of problems; this room was full of problem solvers.

On Friday night, “Songs of Hope” hosted by recent Blyth transplant and musical genius Darryn de Souza, packed the church on Dinsley Street. Attendees received exactly what was advertised by de Souza and his incredibly talented band of co-collaborators Kathryn Peach and COTY winners Annie Sparling (2020) and Joe Gahan (2023), and at the end of the evening $2,300 was raised to support Huron Hospice, a result that shifts the context of conversations about “cost of living”.

Seeking inspiration? It already lives in your neighbourhood. – SBS

Looking Back Through the Years December 1, 1966 A number of individuals from Brussels United Church took part in the Preaching Mission Services held at the recently inaugurated St. Mark’s United Church in St. Thomas. Rev. Lloyd Brown, previously of Brussels, served as minister at the splendid new church. Throughout the week, Rev. Gordon Hazelwood from Hamilton, formerly of Walton, served as the guest minister, and the music was overseen by Rev. and Mrs. Iver Basinger from the United States.

Elmer Powe, hailing from Centralia, assumed the role of president of the Huron County Crop and Soil Improvement Association.

His election transpired at the association’s annual meeting in Belgrave, with approximately 180 individuals in attendance.

During a meeting at the Elm Haven Motor Hotel in Clinton, the directors of the Huron County Tuberculosis Association received information that Huron and Perth Counties boasted the lowest incidence of tuberculosis in Ontario. Mrs. Beryl Davidson, the executive secretary of the association from Stratford, reported that the ongoing program in Huron involved conducting a survey of the 23 nursing homes in the county, along with implementing a retirement and pre-employment program.

December 1, 1976 Dr. Frank Mills, the Medical Officer of Health for Huron, informed Huron County Council that failure to agree on establishing a district health council with Perth County might lead the provincial government to compel Huron into a five-county body. According to Mills’ report, if the steering

committee assessing the proposed Huron Perth Health Council advised against moving forward, the provincial response could involve incorporating Huron into the five-part Thames Valley Health Council, covering Oxford, Elgin, and Middlesex Counties, as well as the cities of London and St. Thomas. The report emphasized the undesirability of losing autonomy as a two-county health council and being absorbed into the substantial population of a five-part health council.

Presenting as the guest speaker at the annual meeting of the Hullett Township Federation on Nov. 23 was Doug Fortune, a dairy farmer from the Wingham area and former President of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture. His topic, “The proposed Reform of Property Taxation in Ontario”, captivated everyone in attendance.

On Friday evening, friends, relatives and neighbours congregated in the Walton Community Hall to extend their best wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Shortreed as they embarked on a new chapter in their residence in Egmondville.

Before the delightful lunch, the Shortreeds were called to the front, where Bill Shortreed delivered an address and Allan Searle presented them with a beautiful table pole lamp.

In expressing their gratitude, the couple conveyed heartfelt thanks for the thoughtful gift and appreciation to those who organized the evening in their honour.

December 2, 1998 Douglas Richards, a former resident of the Brussels area, was appointed as the Acting

Agricultural and Rural Representative for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) office in Clinton. Richards, who managed his family’s swine farm near Brussels following his graduation from the University of Guelph in 1980, had served as the OMAFRA swine advisor in the region for the preceding three-and-a-half years.

He assumed the role of Acting Ag. Rep. for a three-month term starting on Nov. 1, succeeding the retired Bob Humphries.

The Blyth Pathfinders, Guides and Brownies came together with the Sparks to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the national Spark organization. In recognition of her role in establishing the Blyth troupe four years prior, Spark Leader Ruth Uyl was also honoured with a special gift.

November 28, 2013 An information meeting on Nov. 21, aimed at investigating the potential transformation of the old Canadian Pacific Railway right-ofway through Blyth into a recreational trail, was largely shaped by concerns raised by adjacent landowners.

The Wingham Ironmen faced an unsuccessful road trip on the previous Friday evening in the Western Junior C Hockey League.

During the match against the Kincardine Bulldogs at the Davidson Centre in Kincardine, the Ironmen suffered a 7-4 setback, with the Bulldogs successfully containing league scoring leader Aaron Armstrong to a single goal.

The North Huron Township Council opted to implement mail-in voting alongside traditional voting for the 2014 municipal election as a strategy to boost voter turnout.

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023. PAGE 5.

Other Views

Canada is so rich, and yet, so poor

E

very time I turn on the news on TV these days, particularly as we approach winter, there seems to be stories about the number of homeless people and the need to find them warmer accommodation than tents for the coming winter.

Municipalities are doing more for the homeless these days than ever before. Yet, no matter if they have warm accommodations for as many homeless people as there were last year, this year there are always more, and our municipalities are always faulted for not doing a better job. Some of this is due to higher interest rates charged by banks and other financial organizations these days after the Bank of Canada raised interest rates to try to kill off inflation. It means people who own rental apartments and houses may face higher costs, and then they, in turn, may seek higher rents - or maybe they simply see an opportunity to increase their profits.

At the same time that some people can’t pay their rent, others are living exceedingly well.

We have relatives (retired) who are on the go full time, whether heading down south for the winter (leaving an empty home) or travelling here and there during the warmer months.

Literally thousands of people in Ontario keep houses in the city and cottages in resort areas – while people live in tents in parks or on the streets.

Meanwhile many of us who may not have two homes, still waste the world’s resources.

It’s the time of the year when our trees drop their leaves. I was recently reading that someone using a gas-powered leaf-blower for one hour, causes as much pollution as driving a car 1,800 kilometres. We have invented so many labour-saving devices like leaf-blowers in recent years that we’ve changed our climate

Keith Roulston

From the cluttered desk (something I must admit has some pleasant aspects as I prepare for a winter in the 2020s compared to the ferocious winter storms of the 1970s).

We’re all guilty. I cut an acre or more of grass during the summer, burning precious gas and causing pollution. This offsets the good done by dozens of trees I’ve planted in nearly 50 years living on our five acres.

When you get to be my age, you have the ability to see just how much more wealth we have today than in, for instance, the 1950s. On one hand, our car makers, with tougher regulations from our governments, have cut the amount of emissions each car creates, yet we now have so many more cars (often two per family) than after World War II. We have built a network of super-highways and the people who can afford to, live farther and farther from work. The provincial government plans to build a new highway north of Toronto, using up prime farmland.

New housing is needed because the federal government is opening up immigration to nearly a half-million people a year who flock to prime areas like Toronto and London, driving these big cities to expand. Canada’s population has doubled since my childhood.

And these people expect more. I get a chuckle when I think of my wife’s parents’

dream house they built in the new suburb of Scarborough after the war. It was a little, 1,100-square-foot, storey-and-a-half house.

Their children moved to 2,500 square-foot, two-storey monsters.

Of course, part of that change came because, while mothers of people my age stayed home and concentrated on their children and homes, wives of people my age often worked, increasing family income. With that, our expectations changed.

What also changed was how often women had the ability to pick up and leave if their husbands didn’t treat them well. Often people who can’t afford today’s rent increases are those who live on a single income.

And so we have the contrast where many people live better than ever, with southern vacations, summer cottages and plenty of labour-saving devices, while a smaller percentage of us can’t afford both rent and food and so live on the street.

It reminds me of the grim lives many of our great-grandparents faced in England, Ireland and Scotland in the mid-1800s when they were willing to risk their lives travelling for weeks on sailing ships for what they hoped would be a better life in Canada than the grim survival they faced in the old country. They found that better life, and it became better and better with each generation. Now we’re in a similar situation with some people who have no “new” (for Europeans, not Native Canadians) continent to move to.

It’s such a strange situation: most of us live better than our grandparents ever dreamed of, while some desperate people live in tents and makeshift shelters in parks and streets. Is this really a Canada most of us lucky ones want to call our own?

It’s the most budget-y time of the year!

D

ecember arrives despite the dedicated efforts of disturbing radicals rallying to rid the region of all cembers, greedily and fiendishly de-cembering one cember at a time until their dreadful and demented dreams of a cemberless situation are clearly seen by those who oppose their nefarious deeds and schemes. The Chaff is back to offer an alternative to the alternative’s alternative. Here we go again.

Budget season has arrived and The Chaff is putting on its “accountant pants”, strapping into its “financial hat” and slipping into its “numbers onesie” to creep and crawl its way to that magical place called balanced. We’ll be tackling the edges, jumping on the margins and doing a little dance all over the comparators because we take this seriously and that’s our serious guarantee to anyone who will listen with their eyes (read).

First, it’s important to stretch. Using your hand, stretch your left eye out and across your right eye. Make sure to breathe steadily. Very good. Now, slowly, let go of the stretch and return your left eye to its socket. Very good.

Now repeat on the right side. This will help you see the numbers with the same clarity available to us. Very good.

Time to get at it and on it and all over it.

Under it too; under it is a great place to start because it makes it easier to lift. Behind it also works. Try out different things and find out what works best for you.

Unfortunately, we regret to inform you that Chaff charges are going up this year. We didn’t want it to have to come to this but we don’t really know what we’re doing, so things kinda just spiraled from there and, I don’t know… I don’t know… (sobbing). We didn’t want it to come to this but we did a survey and one person responded and they said it was “something that they maybe had heard about”.

Scott Stephenson The Chaff Hands are tied here. Chaff fees going up, ummm, let’s say 40 per cent. 50? I don’t know.

Chiff fees are inching upwards by many thousands of miles in 2024. We use the Imperial System to measure Chiff fees because we think it’s an excellent system. Just for Chiff fees though, to help avoid confusion.

Chorf insurance is way up, as you already know, and we’re not immune to this phenomenon. We wish there was something we could do to avoid passing along the cost to you, but we haven’t put thought into any possible alternatives, plus we are disingenuous, so we’re actually just wishing for more wishes. Unfortunately, you are going to have to cover increases in Chorf insurance, because we’re too busy with wishes. (Sung to the tune of “When You Wish Upon a Star” by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington) When you wish upon a Chorf.

We’re getting absolutely hammered by Chaff taxes, so we’re thinking about axing The Chaff tax. Axe The Chaff tax, we say. Axe The Chaff Tax. Let’s say it again, axe The Chaff tax. Axe The Chaff tax. Say it with us! Axe The Chaff Tax. You are getting sleepy. Axe The Chaff tax. Axe The Chaff tax. The sound of these words is permeating a subliminal place in your mind. Axe The Chaff tax. Axe The Chaff tax. I am not wearing glasses and I have never worn glasses. Axe The Chaff tax. Axe The Chaff tax. Make me a sandwich.

We are now selling a new line of Chaff brand

axes with axed taxes (a.k.a no taxes) but some safety surcharges. Axe The Chaff tax. Axe The Chaff tax. Make sure there are pickles on the sandwich. Axe The Chaff tax.

Chaff staff salaries have kinda become the elephant inside the larger elephant. How did the elephant get into that larger elephant? It’s a mystery and so is our staff. Dervid Hamson pulled double duty as Integrity Commissioner and fill-in columnist when regular Chaff staff were on strike. He owes a lot of money to some really bad people, so we jacked up that salary to the max.

Uninym Harold, who looks after the stacks and stacks and stacks of returned Chaffs at the office, is getting a big slice of the elephant pie.

He’s been named Interim Director of Getting Dizzy, Being Silly and Having Fun, so we wish Harold all the best with the new set of responsibilities and adjusted pay grid.

Ignatius Grimwort, well-known author of The Pumpkin and co-creator of The Chumpkin, is invoicing The Chaff monthly but we can’t quite figure out why. We’ll look into it, probably. Actually, we’re not going to do that.

The Devil, we can agree, takes more than he gives. The Chaff interviewed him about autumn leaves in the interest of fairness and transparency. Before the interview, he insisted we sign some kind of legal agreement that needed to be done in blood for some reason.

We didn’t read it and old horny there cackled something about “being in the details” and here we are, stuck in some kind of eternal situation and the cost was our souls. But what are you gonna do?

Quick update: work on The Chaff ramp has stalled indefinitely. Costs continue to come in with little to explanation as to why. That is all the information we have available to us at this time. We said it was a quick update, not an informative one.

Shawn Loughlin Shawn’s Sense

Five minutes at a time

Q

uick apologies to all mi familia out there, but, let it be known that I have never seen any of the Fast and Furious movies. Not the original Fast and the Furious, not 2 Fast 2 Furious, not the Tokyo Drift one and definitely not the newest installment: Fast X. Having said that, one of the lines from that movie that has become inescapable is from Vin Diesel’s Dominic Toretto in the first movie.

He tells Brian O’Conner, played by the late Paul Walker, “I live my life a quarter-mile at a time.” There, he’s talking about street racing, which really captured the hearts and minds of the fans of those films, but I know it’s been adopted and co-opted and all of the other “opteds” in the years since by those who want to make it sound like... well, like, whatever, as I said, I didn’t really watch the movies.

Whatever the people who quote that movie are trying to accomplish by telling their friends and neighbours by saying they live their lives a quarter-mile at a time - again, I have no idea - it made me think about how Jess and I live our lives one five-minute timer at a time.

I might not be wearing a mechanic-looking shirt and I may not be as enticing as Vin Diesel, but it’s still a cool thing to say. And, frankly, according to the internet, which is always right, it takes about five minutes to walk a quarter-mile, so, maybe my life and the life of Vin Diesel’s character in the Fast and Furious movies aren’t so different after all.

Here’s the story. It all starts when my colleagues and I airdropped our cars over some mountains in Azerbaijan - wait, no, that’s a scene from Furious 7. The real story is that my daughter’s life is dominated by timers. I can’t remember how we first brought them into her life, but the timer function on our smartphones has become a third parent in our household.

Leaving the park? Set a timer. Getting ready to leave the house to go to the park? Set a timer. Going to bed? Set a timer. Getting up?

Set a timer. Dinner time? Set a timer. Time to stop watching Paw Patrol? Set a timer.

You get the point. We’re setting five-minute timers to move things along a dozen times a day. And, as you watch that time (literally) tick away, you wonder what else you could be doing that’s a bit more fun, productive, you name it. Now, if we’re outside playing with Tallulah or spending quality time with her, it’s not as though we watch the seconds click away. That scenario would be more at home when she’s watching something on her phone (one of my old phones she uses to watch Netflix or the like). But, when you live your life one five-minute timer at a time, like I do, it really makes you think about time, the value of time and how quickly it can tick on by.

When we’ve been out, whether it’s on the block for a walk or at the park to play, people have always wondered what’s going on when the timer ends and my pocket starts chiming.

It’s funny to think of someone not knowing that that’s what’s going on, when it really is a kind of second nature in our household. There seems to be a timer going in one way or another almost all of the time. Having that clock ticking down, frankly, may stress some people out, but for us, it’s part of our lives.

Tallulah uses it to put off things she doesn’t necessarily want to do. So, as we took her to the calling-all-three-year-olds program at Hullett Central Public School and we thought ahead to her being in school, I think both of us wondered how many times a day she might be asked to do something by her new teacher, only to ask her to set a timer on her phone.

Surely, it’s bound to happen.

PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023.

Video chats don’t compare with visiting in-person A NOTE FROM BETTY

By Betty Graber Watson Call 887-9231 We’re back. The west is doing well and we’re settling in.

One flight to Edmonton, Alberta is well worth it for us. Two brothers with family, one son with a wife and two grandboys make for lots of family time. Of course, we had a good time and they keep inviting us back, so that’s a big bonus.

Hark and Weston are now four and six years old, respectively, so

seeing the growth and changes in wee people is the real purpose of our visits. FaceTime is great for keeping up on their life issues, but to have stretches of time with each of them reminds me how each person is unique. Cards and games keep one happy, while the other has no time for that, but a ball, a hammer or checking the working parts of a vacuum is good. Stirring cookie dough, puddling in water and balloons remains a gold standard for any kid.

My chuckle from this trip was when a goodbye hug one evening from Weston resulted in him announcing, “You smell like Ontario”. To my relief, on hugging Ralph, he answered my question with, “Yes, he smelled like Ontario too”. The discussion stopped there, some things are better just left,

especially with a four-year-old.

Phil usually has one adventure for us. This time it was a visit to “Uncle Wiener’s”. Yes, that’s the name of a store in a strip mall in the industrial area. Rice’s store, from years ago here, is the closest I can think of, for the unique variety available. I had never seen a bone cracker or a chicken plucker, right there with tires, incubators, corn poppers, several eight-foot dinosaurs, wagons, rakes, gloves, fuses, lights and any tool you could possibly need. Who knew so many people needed these things? It’s good to know Uncle Wiener has it.

Getting back into the Ontario mode now, it’s catch-up time for us.

What needs to get done? What can wait? Which meetings are this week and what did we miss? Moving to Ontario time is easier than going

the other way, but it still takes awareness to get resettled.

We’re moving into Advent and the preparations for Christmas have started. Christmas gifts are the main point of several events, both past and upcoming. Family gatherings are getting settled. Churches are preparing for the holy season with music and events that require practice. Parades have been happening around us, and ours is coming Saturday. Dress warmly and enjoy the community spirit.

After the parade, at 7 p.m. join Rev Alex at the front of the United Church for an outdoor time of reminders of the gifts of Advent, such as hope, peace, joy and love. As our world becomes more indifferent, prejudiced and violent, we need to take a stand to offer peace,

At the Branch

Publication honours Ontario’s veterans

By Jo-Ann McDonald We have just observed Remembrance Day for the 104th time; a time to remember our ancestors, our family, our brave servicemen who fought for us and some who gave their lives. The Royal Canadian Legion has a project that helps us to remember those brave men.

The Military Service Recognition Book is a free publication by the Ontario Command of the Royal Canadian Legion that gives a short glimpse into the lives of those who have served, who survived and who died in past conflicts and for those who serve today. The Brussels Legion needs your help to recognize those who served in our area. I am the Chairperson of this project. I can research the service records of World War I veterans, but cannot access World War II records. Your help is needed to provide the service records of your loved ones who did serve. We also need a picture of your relative and a permission form to be signed.

There have been 10 volumes of the Military Service Recognition Book printed for Ontario and we are now working on the 11th. The

Brussels Legion has contributed over 70 submissions for the books.

I am now asking for help to recognize more of our Brussels and area veterans and have their stories in the next volume.

Maybe you have your grandfather’s or grandmother’s service records packed away in a box to be forgotten. Maybe your brother or sister has these records.

Christmas is coming and you will be gathering with family. I urge you to inquire with your family as to where these records may be. I do not need the originals, but copies of enlistment papers or any other paperwork would be appreciated along with information on where they served, for how long, what they did on return from duty, where they lived and family.

Please contact me or the Legion at 519-887-6562, if you would like to have your loved one remembered in the next volume of the book. The Legion has copies of Volumes 1 to 10 available for anyone who would like them. Drop into the Branch for more information or a book.

The week at the Branch began with Cadets meeting on Tuesday evening. Youth can still come out to

join the Corp. Drop in to get information on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

On Wednesday evening, the Lions Club held a very successful and interesting evening at the Legion that dealt with scams and fraud prevention. Over 70 attended to hear Const. Craig Soldan of the Huron OPP speak on how to avoid being a victim of fraud and scams.

The evening was co-sponsored by the Brussels Lions and the CIBC of Brussels.

The Thursday night blind mixed darts had 14 darters come out to play and have fun. The first-place team was that of Sandra and Jim Brown and second-place darters were Evelyn Hillier, Bruce Fischer and Chris Brown. The high shots were by Sandra hitting 140 and Evelyn hitting 105. The second skunk of the year went to Randy White and Georgina Salter. Come out when you can and have some fun for $2. It starts every week at 8 p.m.

Friday night was busy, busy, busy. We will start with the pub grub of chicken fingers and fries being very popular. The Catch the Ace draw was then conducted by

Kathy Burkholder, Deb Ross and Sandra Brown. The lucky weekly winner was Devon Josling and he won $186. He chose envelope number 29 and the seven of clubs was revealed. The estimated jackpot could be $6,500. Get your tickets at Brussels Pharmacy, Brussels Variety, McDonald Home Hardware and the Legion. Pub grub will be chicken burgers this week.

Following the draw, it was time for Stubby D to get the crowd “singing along” with karaoke.

There were lots of good singers to hear and a good time for all.

Then it was time to go upstairs for the “dancing” crowd to enjoy an evening with the Country Versatiles. There is always great music for those who love to dance.

Saturday was the first family Christmas and the Knight families gathered. They enjoyed a turkey dinner provided by the catering crew of the night. Nearly 50 Knights gathered after a fun couple of hours of learning pickleball at the arena. The Legion crew included Sandra Brown, Kathy

hope, joy and love to the world.

Preparations are part of the fun of any event, so take time to enjoy.

Bye now. Betty GW

NEWS FROM BRUSSELS Burkholder, John Lowe, Perry and Julie Pearce and Linda Bird on what was a good night for all.

On Monday night, the Lions Club held its regular meeting. Members enjoyed a chicken dinner for their meal. It was a good meeting with the Leo Club making several presentations. The kitchen staff included Linda Bird, Marni Knight, Judy Lee, Jo-Ann McDonald and Deb Ross.

That ends the catering for the month of November and we thank all who gave some time to help out at the Legion. We have six banquets/events in December and some help would be appreciated if able. Maybe you can’t help, but could make a couple of pies. All help is appreciated.

Mark your calendar for the Brussels Legion Christmas Draws and entertainment. Friday, Dec. 15 will be the night to come and enjoy a pre-Christmas night out. Draws and entertainment by Stelle and Carter will add up to a great, fun night at the Branch. Come out and enjoy and mark your calendar now.

Brussels Legion 218 Catch the Ace Weekly Winner Winning Ticket: Devon Josling, $186.

Envelope #29 found the 7 of Clubs Next estimated jackpot is $6,500

Preventative measures The Brussels Lions Club and Brussels CIBC hosted a Scam and Fraud Prevention night at the Brussels Legion on Wednesday, Nov. 22. Attendees received a presentation from the OPP and had the opportunity to ask questions. In the above photo, Lion Paul Mutter (right) is seen addressing the crowd with Huron OPP Constable Craig Soldan (left) standing nearby, appreciating Mutter’s humourous remarks. (John Stephenson photo)

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023. PAGE 7.

Craig recovering in Clinton

Sweet music Cappy Onn and Kevin Carney of Jelly Bean Blue were among the buskers lending their talents to the Blyth Friday initiative, which encouraged people to spend Black Friday shopping in Blyth, rather than online on one of the biggest American shopping days of the year. (Scott Stephenson photo)

By Deb Hakkers As many have noticed, this column was missing from last week’s paper. Marilyn has been ill and is currently in Clinton Hospital where she is receiving excellent care from Dr. Seevaratnam, and the staff. She has asked me to write her column until she is able to return.

Since last week’s birthdays were missed, and to Mom this is a very important part of her column, we are going to wish a belated happy birthday to Chad Wheeler on Nov. 26, Sydney Bromley on Nov. 29 and Chris Meier on Nov. 30.

This coming week, we wish happy birthday to Thelma Manning on Dec. 2, Sheila Rintoul on Dec. 3, Jamie Craig and Linda Plaetzer on Dec. 5, Jon Hakkers on Dec. 6 and Gerald Hakkers on Dec. 7. I hope everyone enjoys their special day!

As I am writing this, the

The Reading Web with Cindy Norgate

A

h, the holidays. This is the time for Santa Claus parades, cozy socks, and Hallmark movies. Everything glitters and there is a brightness and festive feeling in the air. However, for many children and their families, this wonderful feeling doesn’t exist.

In fact, the happiness others feel as they share what they want for Christmas can make some children not only sad, but angry as well.

Often children will begin to “act out” during this time of year because it reminds them that, as the little boy in Polar Express said, “Christmas just never works out for me.”

In fact, a friend of mine told me this story many years ago. “When I was a little boy, upon my return from the holidays, my teacher asked each of us to share, out loud, what we received for Christmas. (I have no desire to ask children to express this out loud in a classroom because not

every child has the luxury of a mound of gifts, but I digress from my friend’s story.) This particular year, I had gotten everything on my list, as usual, so I was happy to talk about my new race car set and all the other presents under my brightly-lit tree. The teacher finally got around to a little boy in my class I’ll call Glenn. Glenn was a boy that wore dirty clothes and whose hair always looked unwashed.

On the playground, Glenn usually played by himself and, seemingly, had no friends. The teacher said, ‘Glenn, what did you get for Christmas?’

The room was silent as we anxiously waited for him to answer. He paused for what seemed like a long time, sighed, and said, ‘I got an orange.’

“My classmates thought he was joking, mostly because the children in my class were fortunate and found themselves on Christmas morning knee-deep in toys. For Glenn,

however, he wasn’t joking. The class began to laugh. He hung his head low, and the teacher went on to the next student. My heart sank. From that time on, I’ve often wondered what happened to Glenn. I’ve had a secret hope in my heart that Glenn “made it big” in whatever career he chose and didn’t succumb to the cycle of poverty that besets so many.

Glenn’s story also changed me in that it taught me a lesson in humility and gratitude.”

As we continue our topic of character education and children, I want to discuss the word empathy and share how you can involve your children in learning how to be an empathetic individual. I want to add here that I believe children should learn empathy toward others all year long and not simply during the holidays, so please hear me. I urge you to practise this with your children beyond December.

MAITLAND VALLEY CAMERA CLUB

Photography by Gail Jaycock

snow is falling outside with what is being called our first storm of the season and although the weather may be frightful, the snow does make the Christmas lights sparkle and it helps cover up the dreary November landscape.

Hopefully the snow will inspire us to find our spirit of Christmas and be as excited about the season ahead as are the children I am surrounded by each and every day.

The Blyth United Church is hosting an outdoor Advent decorating service on Friday, December 1 at 7 p.m. and communion for the first Sunday of Advent on Sunday, Dec. 3 at 11 a.m.

The United Church Women are hosting their Christmas potluck on Wednesday, Dec. 6, at noon followed by carols and fun. Everyone is welcome.

Please continue to send information for this column

Empathy is our capacity not just to understand, but to share in the feelings of others. How do we teach this to children to make sure it goes into their long-term memory and active vocabulary? Aside from modeling active listening and teaching your children to do the same with others, the Boys and Girls Club states, “It’s natural to want to shield children from hardships happening in the world, in your community or even in your family, but kids and teens benefit from open and honest conversations. These conversations help expand their worldviews and understanding of others. When your child asks tough questions (‘Why did Jade say she isn’t getting presents this year?’) or doesn’t understand a topic (‘Why does Levi’s family celebrate Hanukkah, not Christmas?’), lean into these moments and use the opportunity to start a conversation.”

I also recommend choosing to do

to Mom’s e-mail or phone, or you can contact me at 519-5258640 (evenings only please).

Until next week take care of yourself and those around you.

NEWS FROM BLYTH

things such as asking a family to dinner, volunteering at local community organizations, and donating items for Christmas to charities. Allow your child or grandchild to physically place the gift in the box or red bucket. This helps him or her to feel as though they are a part of this process.

As we leave it here for this week, and enter this holiday season, let’s remember Glenn and children like him who, along with their families, are hurting and often embarrassed by their situation. Please be sensitive to this and teach your child or grandchild to be aware when sharing their good-fortune stories with others as, sometimes, little sets of ears are listening, and those ears might be going to bed hungry with no toys to play with.

“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.” - Amelia Earhart

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PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023.

Sports Six Heat teams heading for tournaments this weekend

Even Steven On Saturday, the U11 BB Huron Heat welcomed the Owen Sound Ice Hawks to Blyth for some regular season action. However, when the final horn sounded, there was nothing to separate the two teams and the game ended tied at two. (John Stephenson photo)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen This weekend will be a busy one for six Huron Heat teams, as they head to tournaments across the region.

Three teams - the U11 C, U9 C and U9 HL Heat teams - will be in Exeter to take part in the annual South Huron Pink on the Rink Tournament, while the U13 HL and U15 C Huron Heat teams will be in St. Thomas for the Panthers on the Prowl Tournament and the U9 B team will take part in the annual Woodstock Wildcats Tournament.

The U11 C Heat will open their tournament on Dec. 1 with games against the North Middlesex Junior Stars and the Upper Maitland Mustangs, while the U9 C Heat will play the Chatham Kent Crush 1 and 2 teams over the course of the day.

The U9 HL Heat will first play the

North Middlesex Junior Stars, followed by a game with the Upper Maitland Mustangs.

The U13 HL Heat will play the Kitchener Lady Rangers that day in their tournament action, followed by a game with the Flamborough Falcons, while the U15 C Heat will first play the Belmont Blazers before taking on the tournament host St. Thomas Panthers.

In Woodstock, the U9 B Heat will first play the Brantford Ice Cats on Dec. 1 before playing the host Woodstock Wildcats on Dec. 2, followed by a game with the London Devilettes later that evening.

Also that day, the U11 C Heat will play the Lucan Irish and the South Huron Sabres, continuing their tournament journey, while the U9 C Heat will also play the Lucan Irish, followed by a game with the Ilderton Jets.

Back at it After a 2-2 tie with the Owen Sound Ice Hawks last Saturday, the U11 BB Huron Heat play again this Saturday, welcoming the Ayr Rockets to the Blyth and District Community Centre. (John Stephenson photo)

The U13 HL Heat will take on the Windsor Wildcats and the U15 C Heat will play the Lambeth Lancers, while the U9 B Heat will first play the Woodstock Wildcats and then the London Devilettes.

The U9 HL Heat will play the Bluewater Hawks that day, followed by a game against the Twin Centre Hericanes.

In regular season action on Dec. 2, the U11 BB Heat will host the Ayr Rockets in Blyth, the U13 C Heat will be on the road to play the Twin Centre Hericanes, the U13 BB Heat will be in London to play the Devilettes, the U18 BB Heat will host the South Huron Sabres in Clinton and the Senior team will be in Wilmot to play the Wolverines.

The next day, Dec. 3, the U15 BB

Heat will welcome the Wilmot Wolverines to Clinton and the U13 BB Heat will play the St. Thomas Panthers, also in Clinton, while the U13 C Heat will play the Wilmot Wolverines C team on the road.

On Dec. 7, the U18 C Heat will welcome the Lucan Irish C team to Blyth, followed by a Dec. 8 game between the U9 B Heat and the Woolwich Wild in Clinton and an exhibition game between the U13 C Heat and the Kincardine Kinucks in Blyth.

That weekend, the U13 BB Heat will be in Guelph for a tournament, while the U13 HL team will be in Mount Forest for some tournament play.

The U13 BB Heat will play the Mississauga Hurricanes and Durham West Lightning on Dec. 8, while the U13 HL team will play the Walkerton Capitals and then the Kincardine Kinucks.

Tournament action continues the next day as the U13 BB Heat will play the Ayr Rockets and the Burlington Barracudas, while the U13 HL team will play the South Bruce Blades and the Mount Forest Rams.

In regular season action on Dec. 9, the U9 C Heat will host the South Huron Sabres for some half-ice action in Seaforth, while the U9 B Heat will play the Woolwich Wild on the road, the U11 HL Heat will play the Mooretown Lady Flags HL team on the road, the U9 HL team will host the South Huron Sabres in Seaforth, the U11 BB Heat will welcome the London Devilettes to Blyth, the U11 C Heat will be in Central Perth to play the Predators C team, the U13 C Heat will also be on the road to play the Central Perth Predators C team and the U18 C Heat will be in Wilmot to play the Wolverines C team.

On Sunday, Dec. 10, there is a full slate of games scheduled for the Central Huron Community Complex in Clinton. The U13 C Heat will host the Stratford Aces C team, the U11 HL team will play the Mooretown Lady Flags HL team, the U15 BB Heat will play the Walkerton Capitals and the U9 C and U9 HL Heat teams will play two St. Marys Rock teams. Also that day, the U11 BB Heat will be

on the road to play the London Devilettes, the Senior team will host Belmore in Hensall, the U18 C Heat will welcome the South Huron Sabres HL team to Seaforth and the U15 C Heat will be on the road for a game with the St. Marys Rock C team.

Looking back, on Nov. 26, the U11 C Heat and the U11 BB Heat were both on the road - playing the North Middlesex Junior Stars C team and the London Devilettes, respectively - and both games ended in scoreless ties.

The U18 C Heat welcomed the West Oxford Inferno C team to Seaforth, but that game ended in a 2-2 tie, while the U11 HL Heat beat the Bluewater Hawks HL team on the road by a score of 4-0. The U9 B team was on the road to play the Guelph Junior Gryphons and the Senior team hosted Milverton in Hensall, but scores for those games were unavailable at press time.

On Nov. 25, the U13 HL team lost to the Lambton Attack HL team in Goderich by a score of 4-0, while the U13 C Heat beat the Woodstock Wildcats C on the road by a score of 1-0 and the U11 BB Heat tied the Owen Sound Ice Hawks by a score of 2-2 in Blyth.

Eight teams were on the road that day. The U13 BB Heat tied the Windsor Wildcats at one, the U18 BB Heat beat the Cambridge Roadrunners by a score of 5-0, the U15 C Heat beat the Woodstock Wildcats C team by a score of 3-1, the U13 BB Heat triumphed over the Windsor Wildcats 3-0, the U11 HL Heat beat the Ilderton Jets HL team by a score of 3-0, the U18 C Heat beat the South Huron Sabres HL team by a score of 7-0 and the U15 BB Heat beat the Guelph Junior Gryphons by a score of 5-2.

The U9 C Heat team was in St. Marys to play the Rock that day and the U9 B team hosted the Guelph Junior Gryphons in Seaforth, but scores were not kept.

On Nov. 22, the U11 BB Heat lost to the Ayr Rockets by a score of 10, while, on Nov. 21, the U15 BB Heat beat the Wolverines in Wilmot by a score of 1-0 and the U15 C Heat hosted the Central Perth Predators C team in Seaforth, but the game ended in a 2-2 tie.

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023. PAGE 9.

Sports U11 Rep Crusaders have rocky start to Silver Stick

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen The U11 Rep Blyth Brussels Crusaders had a tough start to their Wingham Silver Stick Tournament journey on Monday night, suffering a 13-0 loss at the hands of the team from Georgian Shores in the team’s opening contest.

The U15 LL Crusaders were on the road that night for some regular season action, losing by a score of 4-1 to the Drayton Defenders, while the U18 Rep team was in Walkerton and lost to the Capitals 2-0.

On Nov. 26, the U11 LL Crusaders lost to the Drayton Defenders on the road by a score of 9-0, while the U11 Rep team also played the Drayton Defenders on the road, but came home with a 4-2 win in their pockets. The U8 Black and Burgundy teams welcomed two Goderich Sailors teams to Blyth that day, but scores for those games were not kept.

On Nov. 25, the U21 team beat the Minto Mad Dogs by a score of 2-0 in Blyth, while the U13 LL Crusaders lost to the Mitchell Meteors by a score of 6-4 in Brussels and the U18 Rep team tied the Minto Mad Dogs 3-3 in Brussels. The U7 White team played the Howick Hornets on the road, while the U8 Black and Burgundy teams took on two Goderich Sailors teams on the road and the U7 Black and Burgundy teams hosted two Zurich Thunder

teams in Blyth, but scores were not kept for those games.

On Nov. 24, the U11 LL team lost to the Wingham Ironmen Yellow team in Brussels by a score of 10-1 and the U15 Rep team beat the Mitchell Meteors D team on the road by a score of 4-2.

The U11 Rep Crusaders took on the Central Perth Predators on the road on Nov. 22, but lost by a score of 7-3, while the U13 Rep team fell to the Listowel Cyclones, also on the road, by a score of 6-4.

On Nov. 21, the U13 Rep Crusaders welcomed the Saugeen Shores Storm to Brussels and lost a high-scoring affair by a score of 87, while, on Nov. 20, the U15 Rep team beat the Wingham Ironmen by a score of 6-0 and the U18 LL team tied the Mitchell Meteors at three, both in Blyth.

Looking ahead, the U11 LL team was in Listowel to play the Cyclones 2 team on Nov. 28 and the U13 Rep team hosted the Kincardine Kinucks in Brussels, while the U11 C Crusaders continued their Silver Stick journey on Nov. 29 with a game against the Walkerton Capitals, but scores were unavailable at press time.

Also on Nov. 29, the U13 LL team welcomed the Mid-Huron Huskies 2 team to Blyth and the U15 Rep team was in Hensall to play the Mid-Huron Huskies D team, but scores for those games were unavailable at press time.

On Friday, Dec. 1, the U21

Crusaders will play in the Lucknow Silver Stick Tournament, beginning with a game against Central Perth.

The action continues the next day for the locals, who will first play Shallow Lake and then Tavistock as the tournament continues.

Also on Dec. 2, the U8 Black team will be on the road for a game with Central Perth, while the U9 MD team will play the Mid-Huron Huskies in Seaforth and the U13 LL Crusaders will play an exhibition game with the Sailors in Goderich.

The next day, the U8 Burgundy Crusaders will welcome Central Perth to Blyth, while the U7 White team will play the Mitchell Meteors on the road, the U11 LL team will host the Listowel Cyclones 2 in Blyth and the U9 LL team will play the Mitchell Meteors, also in Blyth.

On Dec. 4, the U15 Rep team will host the TCDMHA Rebels in Blyth, followed by a Dec. 5 game between the U18 LL Crusaders and the MidHuron Huskies 1 team and Dec. 6 games between the U7 White Crusaders and the Howick Hornets in Brussels and the U15 LL Crusaders and the Wingham Ironmen in Blyth.

On Dec. 8, the U13 LL team will head to St. Clements to take part in the Richard Vollmer Memorial LL Tournament. In regular season action that night, the U11 LL team will host the Goderich Sailors Black team, the U11 Rep team will play the Kincardine Kinucks D team and the U21 team will host the

Saugeen Valley Steelheads, all in Brussels.

On Dec. 9, the U9 LL team will play the Mid-Huron Huskies in Seaforth, while the U7 Burgundy team will play the Wallace Sabres on the road and the U7 White and Black teams will be in Lucknow to play two Huron-Bruce teams and the U18 Rep team will host the Huron-Bruce Blizzard in Brussels.

On Sunday, Dec. 10, the U8 Burgundy team will play the

Wingham Ironmen, the U9 LL team will play the Goderich Sailors and the U11 LL team will play the MidHuron Huskies 1 team, all in Blyth, while the U9 MD team will be on the road to play Mitchell Meteors MD and the U21 team will be in Arthur to play the Vipers.

Also that night, the U11 Rep Crusaders will host the Mitchell Meteors D team in Blyth and the U18 Rep team will in Goderich for a game against the Sailors.

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Scramble in front The Clinton Optimist Club hosted its 41st annual U15 hockey tournament at the Central Huron Community Complex over the course of the weekend. Above, the Wingham Ironmen took on the Kincardine Kinucks on Saturday, with Kincardine winning by a score of 5-1, while, to the right, the Mid-Huron Huskies battled the Ironmen in the tournament’s opening game on Friday night, triumphing in overtime by a score of 2-1.

(John Stephenson photos)

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PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023.

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Ah, here we are in December.

The holly jolly Christmas month!

The countryside is brightening up with the beautiful colours of Christmas lights, as folks decorate for the season. They always look brighter when there is snow on the ground, but we can put that off until closer to Christmas. I wrote that paragraph when the skies were clear, rather than the snow squalls of Monday and Tuesday. Guess we will have some white stuff after all.

I have noticed on my trips to town that there are still some florals at the cemetery. The winter winds cause havoc and they can be completely destroyed during snow storms and then the grounds keeper will have the mess to clean up in the spring. They are sometimes found in the neighbour’s field. Maybe stop by and make sure they are very secure or take them home until next year.

Our beautiful weather from two weeks ago has been replaced with cold, breezy and dull weather. The sun is so much nicer and that makes the day seem better. Next will be snow. We will have to get used to it, because it is coming.

It is time for a reminder for the country folks with mailboxes.

Don’t forget that when you blow the laneway of snow, you also blow around the mailbox, including a clear path to approach and a path away from the box. Three feet in front of the box will not cut it. It is hard enough to reach the mailbox, without three feet of snow between the box and car. Getting stuck is no fun, especially if you are not home to help the mail person. Please remember the mail person.

The second suggestion for rural folks who receive a lot of parcels is a container to put them in. You don’t know what the weather will be doing the day your parcel arrives and you would hate to have something ruined because it was packed in paper or a cardboard box and it is raining. Some folks use garbage or Rubbermaid containers with a lid and put a sign on them for parcels. This also keeps your packages out of sight in case of “light fingers”.

Steve and Brad Knight had some extra help last week to get the corn harvest done. Sister Joanne and husband Weldon came from the east to help. Weldon was given the job of driving the combine, which he handled like an expert. Even Joanne got into the action and took the combine for a spin around the field (with the help of supervisor Steve).

Having an extra hand around means a lot and things get done that little bit quicker. They had to return home before the Knight Christmas, but really enjoyed the week they were here.

The Walton Hall Coffee Chat had a great bunch and some new faces

join for the morning social. There were about 15 out to enjoy coffee and special treats brought by friends of the hall. The next Chat is Dec. 9. Mark your calendar now.

We will see if we can do something special!

The Walton Hall held its annual Turkey dinner on Sunday and it was a sell-out again. They served 150 in the drive-thru style and all went well. The hard-working crew of the hall included Margaret McInroy, Judy Lee, Judy Emmrich and JoAnn McDonald, and they appreciated the extra help from Jane Zwep, Marni Knight, Murray and Sherry McCall, Rick McDonald and Chris Lee and the Walton Institute ladies, such as Helen Craig, Brenda Perrie, Marion Godkin, Margaret and Ruth Axtman. They had a preparation day on Saturday during coffee chat, so we killed two birds with one stone!

The McDonald family gathered on Saturday to celebrate my birthday. First, we gathered for pictures with Santa. Then came back to Scott and Alicia’s for snacks and chats. Then we went to the Blyth Inn for a birthday dinner.

It was a very nice afternoon and not a lot of work for anyone.

Nice!

Returning from a fabulous family vacation are Ken and Deb Janmaat and 21 members of their family.

They went to the Dominican Republic to a family-friendly resort. They had a great time and the grandchildren tell me they went swimming in the pool and in the ocean, enjoyed snorkelling, saw awesome colours of coral, went swimming with the dolphins, enjoyed the food at many different restaurants and had a really great time during the week away.

Welcome back.

On Monday, the second deer hunt in Huron County began. Hunters will be out, deer will be moving any time, but dusk and dawn for many.

Lots of trucks will be travelling the roads and the bright orange attire of hunters will be seen. Be aware and drive safely.

Celebrating birthdays this past week are Craig Gillis, Jo-Ann McDonald, Brad and Brent McKague, Nick Zwep, Abigail Lejcar, Ronja Boettcher, Kaitlin Williamson and Bryce Ryan. Happy birthday to all!

NEWS FROM WALTON

PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023.

Central Huron turns down pumper truck

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

Mayoral greetings Huron East Mayor Bernie MacLellan, Councillor Justin Morrison and others were on board the municipality’s float, above, in the Seaforth Santa Claus parade, which, of course, included Santa and Mrs. Clause, below, which made its way through the town on Friday night. (John Stephenson photo)

Brussels debenture approved

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Huron East Council has opted to pay nearly $2 million towards the renovation and expansion of the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre through a debenture, despite it not sitting well with some councillors.

Councillors Bob Fisher, Larry McGrath and Ray Chartrand voiced their opposition to the decision, feeling that perhaps borrowing from the municipality’s own reserves or partnerships with the local community trusts could be explored.

However, Chief Administrative Officer Brad McRoberts said he felt as though council had already provided the direction based on a decision made in regards to financing for the project back in 2021.

“At a special meeting held on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021 at 7 p.m., council approved, through Confirmatory Bylaw 74-2021, that the Municipality of Huron East finance an additional $1,241,300 on top of the previously approved $648,400 with a 20-year debenture

for the municipality’s total costs of the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre addition and renovation. This made the total amount of the debenture to be $1,889,700,” McRoberts said in his report to council, presented at council’s Nov. 21 meeting.

“Earlier this year (July 18, 2023), council approved temporary borrowing to meet construction expenditures and authorized longterm borrowing for the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre renovation and expansion through the debenture agreement with the Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation. As the final step of this process, it is recommended that council approve the debenture of $1,889,700 over the period of 20 years, effective Dec. 1, 2023.”

Fisher asked how far down the road council was in terms of the financing decision and Director of Finance and Treasurer Stacy Grenier said it would be a lot of work to find alternatives now.

McRoberts agreed, saying it would strain staff resources to change course now. Furthermore, he said that the municipality simply didn’t

have a lot of available cash flow to fund projects right now, so a debenture was a necessary evil in order to pay the bills associated with the project.

In a recorded vote, Mayor Bernie MacLellan, Deputy-Mayor Alvin McLellan and Councillors Dianne Diehl, Gloria Wilbee, Jeff Newell, John Steffler and Justin Morrison voted in favour of the debenture, passing it, while Councillors Chartrand, Fisher, McGrath and Brenda Dalton voted against it. As they voted, Diehl and Wilbee both noted that they were voting in favour of the proposal, but with regrets.

Central Huron Council has authorized further improvements to murals within Clinton as part of the newly-unveiled Mural Trail in the town.

Council approved a recommendation at its Nov. 20 meeting, stating that two more murals be restored by Bevin Finlay using the remaining $15,500 in the mural restoration budget, which is part of Community Improvement Co-ordinator Angela Smith’s economic development budget. The two remaining murals are the Clinton Spring Fair mural, which is one of the biggest in Clinton, and the Sharing Herbal Knowledge mural, which is among the smallest.

Both were painted by Allen Hilgendorf.

She noted that one of the murals that had been restored and reinstalled came in significantly under budget - $14,500 under budget due to the installation team already being in Clinton and it being a lower-level installation - so that money could now be used for some of the town’s other murals that have not yet been improved.

“The [Community Improvement Co-ordinator] budget had $30,000 approved for the mural restoration project - $15,500 remains in the budget,” Smith said in her report to council. “With that balance, both of the remaining murals can be digitally restored and possibly the smaller one printed on panels and installed. The murals deteriorate more each year due to the elements.

The more faded they are, the more difficult and time-consuming it is for the restoration artist to recreate them. “At this point in time, $9,000 will cover restoring both of them.

Although the budget will not cover the installation of the larger mural, we would at least have the digital images complete and therefore effectively stopped the further loss of the images due to weather

fading. If sufficient funds remain, we will have the smaller mural installed.”

If the costs will cover the installation of the smaller mural, Artech, which did the previous mural work for Central Huron, will be contracted to install it as well.

Council approved the request. *** Council turned down the purchase of a new pumper for the Central Huron Fire Department, which had been recommended for approval by Fire Chief Jeff Lipskie.

Lipskie recommended that council approve the lowest tandem axle bid from Fort Garry Fire Trucks in the amount of $733,789, plus the non-refundable HST. Several councillors voiced their concern over the cost of the truck and wondered if current equipment could suffice during what has been a tough budget period. However, Lipskie championed the purchase, saying it wouldn’t be paid for until late 2025 or even early 2026. Also, as part of Lipskie’s recommendation, the department’s 2011 pumper truck would be moved to “reserve” status, while its 1997 pumper would be sold as surplus.

Lipskie told council that the tenders would only be good for another day or two after the meeting, meaning that, if council wanted to guarantee the bid prices, the decision would have to be made at that meeting. However, with the motion being defeated by council, the department will now have to wait at least a little bit longer for a new pumper truck purchase to be authorized. *** Council approved a $1,000 sponsorship for a Huron Manufacturing Association (HMA) Scholarship Award for 2023.

Council was presented with three potential price tiers - $500, $750 and $1,000 - and Councillor Alison Lobb spoke in favour of the sponsorship, recommending the $1,000 grant, which was approved.

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023. PAGE 13.

The Citizen’s 3rd Annual

Home Cooking for the Holidays

A beautiful collection of recipes shared by our readers ~ for our readers.

Enjoy them with your family and friends.

PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023.

Home Cooking for the Holidays!

s

Sides, Salad

Buttery Glazed Carrots PREP TIME: 15 minutes COOK TIME: 10 minutes TOTAL TIME: 25 minutes SERVINGS 4 servings Glazed carrots are a flavorful side dish that's so simple to make! This recipe can be doubled to feed a crowd.

Method: 1 pound carrots cut into 1/2" x 2" sticks 1/2 cup water 2 tablespoons light brown sugar tightly packed 1 1/2 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup* or honey 1/4 teaspoon salt plus additional to taste, as needed black pepper to taste Method: Combine carrots, water, brown sugar, butter, and maple syrup in a skillet over medium heat.

Stir occasionally until butter is melted. Increase heat to medium/high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, cover, and cook 8-10 minutes or until carrots are just becoming tender when pierced with a fork. Remove lid and turn the heat up to high, continue cooking until water is evaporated and carrots are coated in glaze.

Season with salt and pepper and serve warm. Notes: *I recommend using maple syrup but you can substitute honey instead or leave it out entirely You can use fresh or frozen, whole or baby carrots for this recipe. Ensure the carrots are about the same size so they cook evenly, cut the thicker ends in half if needed.

Fresh garden carrots will cook faster than store bought carrots. You can make glazed carrots in the microwave. Place carrots in a dish and add about 1/2" of water.

Cover and microwave for 6-7 minutes or until carrots are tender.

Add glaze ingredients and cook 1-2 minutes more.

Home Cooking for the Holidays! Home Cooking for the Holidays! Home Cooking for the Holidays!

Amazing German Red Cabbage

Teriyaki Sirloin Steak

Ingredients: 5 cups shredded red cabbage 1 cup sliced apples 1/4 cup white sugar 2 tablespoons butter 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar 3 tablespoons water 1 1/4 teaspoons salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves Method: Place cabbage, apples, sugar, and butter into a large pot. Pour in vinegar and water, then add salt, pepper, and cloves. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until the cabbage is tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Enjoy!

Marinade: 1/2 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 2 teaspoon ground mustard 2 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 to 1 1/2 lb. steak In a large plastic bag marinate meat for at least 8 hours or overnight. Grill steak for 5-8 minutes on each side.

– Anne (Caldwell) Cottel, Crediton, ON

Overnight Tangy Salad Ingredients: 3 cups rutabagas, grated 2 carrots, grated 1 green pepper, chopped 1 medium onion, finely chopped 2 – 3 celery stalks, thinly sliced Marinade: 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup vinegar 1/4 cup oil 1/4 teaspoon celery seed 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard 1/4 teaspoon onion salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Mains

Chicken Curry 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 or 2 Bay leaves 1 tablespoon curry powder (or more!)

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard pinch cayenne 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon brown sugar 2 small onions, chopped 1/2 cup celery, diced (plus celery leaves if available) 1 chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces 3/4 cup mushrooms, chopped 1/2 cup raisins 1 cup apple, chopped 2 – 4 tomatoes, peeled and chopped 4 teaspoons flour 1 cup chicken stock, boiling Method: Heat oil.

Sauté onions, celery, sugar and all seasonings. Add chicken pieces and brown over high heat.

Add mushrooms, raisins, apples and tomatoes.

Cook a few minutes until softened. Sprinkle on flour and cook a few minutes more. Add stock, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

– Deb Caldwell

Combine salad ingredients in large bowl.

Combine marinade ingredients, pour over the vegetables and mix well. Refrigerate overnight.

Keeps 1 to 2 weeks.

– Deb Caldwell

Season’s Eatings!

– Evelyn Caldwell

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023. PAGE 15.

Home Cooking for the Holidays!

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HURON COUNTY’S NEWEST COOKBOOK CELEBRATES COMFORT, CONNECTION AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION THROUGH FOOD From appetizers to condiments and main dishes to desserts, Huron County’s newest cookbook TASTES LIKE HOME: AROUND THE WORLD IN HURON COUNTY was just released and you’ll want a copy.

As the culmination of a community arts project, where three professional artists led participants through a storytelling and an art workshop where they created whimsical masterpieces in a variety of mediums, a unique cookbook shares recipes from some of Huron’s life-long residents and some of Huron’s recent newcomers.

From South African Bobotie, Polish Golabki, Indian Dosa and Syrian Kibbeh to American Peach Cobbler and Canadian Apple Dumplings or Whiskey Pumpkin Pie you’ll find these recipes and plenty more that embody comfort foods and traditional fare from around the world.

Mark Nonkes, Manager of the Local Immigration Partnership, highlighted that the cookbook represents growing cultural diversity being reflected within our communities. “In Huron County, Statistics Canada data tells us that there are 52 languages spoken and the immigrants from countries around the world have chosen this area as a place to call home. This cookbook celebrates culinary cultural heritage from 13 nations.”

At $10 each, TASTES LIKE HOME: AROUND THE WORK IN HURON COUNTY makes a great stocking stuffer. You’ll want to pick up a copy for yourself, too, so you can

Home Cooking for the Holidays! Home Cooking for the Holidays! Home Cooking for the Holidays!

salute your Dutch friends and neighbours with a traditional holiday treat called Oliebollen (there are two versions of the recipe in the cookbook!).

TASTES LIKE HOME is available at any branch of Huron County Library or at the Huron County Museum, 110 North Street in Goderich.

This project was made possible through a partnership with Huron County’s Cultural Services, Economic Development (Taste of Huron) and Local Immigration Partnership departments and was funded in part by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Mutton Pulao 3 lbs. (1.5 kg) mutton (washed and cut in medium pieces 3 medium onions (sliced) 5 cloves black peppers - 12-15 whole 3 black cardamon 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic (paste) 1-inch ginger piece cumin seeds - 1 tablespoon nutmeg - 1-2 pieces mace - 3 coverings green chilli 8-10 1/2 cup yogurt salt - 2-3 tablespoon (as per taste) 1/2 cup vegetable oil 3 cups basmati rice (washed and soaked for 30 minutes).

Method: Add meat in a large pot of water, add cloves, black peppers, 2 cardamon, nutmeg, mace, half cumin seeds, piece of ginger, 1 spoon of salt and half of the garlic paste.

Bring to boil then let it simmer for one and a half hours or until meat is tender. Remove the meat and set aside. Strain the broth and discard all spices.

Put oil in a large pan, let the oil shimmer then put sliced onions and fry it on medium heat until it turns golden brown. Add garlic paste, fry for a minute and add half cup of water and cover the pan with lid. Add the mutton and fry it until oil gets separated. (on high-flame). Add 6 cups of mutton broth, bring it to boil and add salt as per taste.

It’s a right time to add green chillies. Add soaked rice and boil it for 10-12 minutes. Let rice soak all broth, When liquid is evaporated, wrap the lid with a clean kitchen towel and place the lid on pan. Let the rice get cooked in the steam on low flame.

Remove the pan from stove when rice is perfectly cooked. Mutton Pulao is traditionally served with mint raita (yogurt), fresh salad and Kebab of Choice.

– Humaira Hashmi, Pakistan

Kibbeh Syrian fried kibbeh, also known as "kibbeh krass," is a delicious dish made from ground meat, bulgur wheat, and aromatic spices. Here's a traditional recipe for making Syrian fried kibbeh.

Ingredients: For the Kibbeh Shell/ dough: 2 ½ cups fine-ground bulgur wheat 500 grams of ground beef or lamb (a mix of both) 1 large onion 1 teaspoon black pepper 2 teaspoons salt 2 teaspoons smarjoram 1 teaspoon paprika Cold water Vegetable oil for frying For the Filling: 500 grams of ground beef or lamb 2 medium onions finely chopped. ½ teaspoon black pepper 2 teaspoons salt ½ teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon allspice 2 tablespoons ghee ½ teaspoon cardamom (optional) 2 tablespoons pine nuts (optional) Method: Preparing the Kibbeh Shell/ dough: Wash the bulgur several times, and leave it

completely soaked at a cold temperature for about half an hour. Squeeze the bulgur out any excess water. You want it to be as dry as possible. Add the salt, black pepper, paprika, marjoram and allspice to the bulgur and mix it well. Grind the bulgur, meat, and onions in a meat grinder. It is possible to add a little cold water or ice blocks while grinding, if it's too dry, as they contribute to each other and give it softness to the kibbeh. It is important to grind it twice to make the kibbeh.

Preparing the Filling: In a medium-sized pot, put the ghee and place the pot on medium heat. Add the meat and stir until its water dries and turns brown. Add the onions and stir for 2 minutes then add the salt, black pepper, allspice, paprika, and cardamom and pine nuts. Continue stirring for another one or two minutes or until the meat is fully cooked. Remove from heat and let it cool.

Shaping and Filling the Kibbeh: Prepare a small pot and put a little water and ice so that you have cold water to form the kibbeh. Wet your hands with a little cold water and take small handful the kibbeh dough. Shape the kibbeh

into a small ball and start by placing your finger in the center of the ball and wrapping the dough around the finger to form a hole in the ball of kibbeh dough.

Place a teaspoon of the filling inside the kibbeh ball. Close the dough well over the filling and shape the kibbeh into an oval shape with pointed ends and place it in a wide tray. Complete the formation of the rest of the kibbeh dough. Wet your hands with a little water whenever necessary while you are shaping the kibbeh.

You can shape the kibbeh into ovals, or you can shape them into small round discs.

The choice is yours.

Frying the Kibbeh: Heat vegetable oil in a deepfrying pan or pot to about 350°F. (175°C). Carefully place the kibbeh in the hot oil, a few at a time, and fry until they turn golden brown and crispy, which should take about 5-7 minutes.

Remove the fried kibbeh with a slotted spoon and place them on paper towels to drain any excess oil. Syrian fried kibbeh is often served hot with yogurt, tahini sauce, or a simple salad.

Enjoy your homemade Syrian kibbeh!

– Sonia Almassad, Syria

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PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023.

Home Cooking for the Holidays!

Home Cooking for the Holidays! Home Cooking for the Holidays! Home Cooking for the Holidays!

Magic Chicken Pie

Mains Jinjau Rosu A Japanese take on a Chinese dish. It was one of Aimi's favorites when she was growing up in Japan.

Ingredients: 1 lb. beef, sliced thin (flank or sirloin works well) 1/2 cup flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon sesame oil (vegetable oil is fine) 1 tablespoon minced ginger 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1 1/2 cups green peppers, sliced thin 1 1/2 cups bamboo shoots, sliced thin (potato is fine too) 1 tablespoon sesame oil (vegetable oil is fine) for frying Cooked white rice Sauce: 5 tablespoons sake (a dry white wine is also fine) 3 tablespoons oyster sauce 3 tablespoons soy sauce 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar Method: Mix together ingredients for sauce, set aside. Season flour with salt. Mix beef with sesame oil then add flour.

Toss until coated. Add oil to pan, heat over medium high heat until oil is shimmering.

Add garlic/ginger, cook for about 30 seconds (before it starts to brown) Add the meat. Once the meat starts to change color, add the bamboo shoots (or potato).

Stir-fry for a few minutes for bamboo shoots. If cooking potato, stir-fry until it starts going soft. Add the green peppers. Stir-fry for a few minutes (or until they just start going soft). Add the sauce, mix well, and bring to a boil. Cook until the sauce has thickened.

Adjust seasoning with salt if needed. Serve with white rice.

– Mike and Aimi Caldwell

This delicious chicken pie casserole makes it’s own biscuit top and creamy gravy as it cooks!

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 50 minutes Total Time: 1 hour Ingredients: 4 tablespoons butter 2 cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts, shredded 2 cups fresh or frozen vegetables your choice 1/4 cup onion chopped 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 2 cups baking mix like Bisquick 1 1/2 cups milk 1 1/2 cups rich chicken stock 2 chicken stock cubes 10.75 oz can cream of chicken soup Method: Preheat oven to 350˚F. Cut the butter in chunks and place in the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Place in oven to melt butter; remove when butter is melted. In a large bowl, mix the milk and baking mix; set aside.

Dissolve the stock cubes in the liquid chicken stock.

Place the soup in a bowl and gradually mix in the stock mixture to keep the mixture smooth. Set aside.

Assemble casserole as follows and DO NOT MIX OR STIR INGREDIENTS: Distribute shredded chicken over melted butter evenly.

Distribute veggies over the chicken evenly. Distribute the onion over the veggies evenly. Distribute the cheese over the onion evenly. Pour baking mix batter over the top evenly.

Pour the soup/stock mixture over the top evenly.

Place in preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until top is beginning to brown. Remove from oven and let stand 10 minutes before serving.

– Anne (Caldwell) Cottel, Crediton, ON

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023. PAGE 17.

Home Cooking for the Holidays!

Apple Cranberry Crisp Cook time: 30 Min Prep time: 15 Min Serves: 6 Ingredients 4 large apples of your choice 1 cup fresh cranberries 3/4 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup oats (Not Instant) 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon 3/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional) 1/2 cup butter, room temperature Method: In a medium bowl mix together the flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix in the softened butter. Slice apples. Butter an 8x8 square baking dish.

Add apple slices and cranberries to the dish.

Sprinkle the butter mixture over the fruit. Bake 375˚F oven for 30 minutes. For a 9 x13 pan I fill it with sliced apples and 3 cups cranberries, 1 bag. And I double the topping recipe.

– Anne (Caldwell) Cottel, Crediton, ON

Apple Maple Walnut Slow Cooker Bread Pudding 8 cups bread cubes (dry) 3 cups chopped apples 1/2 cup cranberries or raisins 4 eggs 3 cups 2% milk 1 1/4 cups maple syrup 3/4 cups chopped walnuts or pecans Method: Place bread in slow cooker.

Mix the apples and cranberries in a large bowl.

Mix together the eggs, milk and 3/4 cup of the maple syrup. Pour over bread, making sure bread is moistened. Cook on low for 4 hours. Top with nuts and remaining maple syrup when 30 minutes is left remaining in cook time.

– Amanda Stone

Boiled Custard

Gumdrop Cookies

My Grandmother Dean always told me about making homemade boiled custard. Every Christmas she made a homemade coconut cake, and it was magazine worthy in my eyes.

We drizzled the custard on top of the cake, and then poured ourselves a bit in her special Christmas cups. She always set a special Christmas table with beautiful poinsettia dishes.

This recipe has been adapted by my favourite Southern chef, Paula Deen.

3 cups whole milk 1 cup heavy cream 1 whole vanilla bean or 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 8 large egg yolks 3/4 cup sugar Method: Prepare the bottom of a double boiler with simmering water. Put the milk, cream, and if using, the vanilla bean in the top of a double boiler and bring it to a simmer over direct medium heat. Transfer it to the bottom half with its simmering water.

In a heatproof bowl, beat together the sugar and egg yolks until it is light and smooth and ribbons off the spoon. Slowly beat in a cup of the hot liquid to temper the eggs, then slowly beat the eggs into the hot milk and cream. Cook, stirring constantly until the custard is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes. Take the top pot from the heat and continue stirring until it has cooled slightly, about 4 minutes more. Remove the vanilla bean, if used. Stir in the extract, if using, and if serving cold, stir until it is cooled, then let it cool completely and refrigerate until well-chilled.

1/2 cup shortening 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup white sugar 1 teaspoon. vanilla 1/2 cup coconut 1 cup oatmeal 1 cup flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

– Cindy Norgate

Graham Cracker Squares Line a cookie sheet with tinfoil.

Lay graham crackers out on tinfoil. Sprinkle with slivered almonds or pecans Boil 1 cup of butter and 3/4 cup brown sugar for 2 1/2 minutes. Pour butter/sugar mixture over the graham crackers and nuts. Bake at 400˚F for 7 minutes.

Drizzle with melted chocolate. Cool and break apart.

– Rachael King

1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup gumdrops 1 egg Method: Mix together and drop by spoonfuls on to baking sheet. Bake at 350˚F for 1012 minutes. Makes 40 cookies.

– Evelyn Caldwell

2024 Passes on Sale Now! Take advantage of our Multiple Passes at fabulous discounts until December 31, 2023 These Passes make a great Christmas gift for the theatre lover in your life!

(Passes do not apply to Huron County Christmas Carol playing in December 2023) The Flex Pass (6) - $258 Redeemable for six tickets for the 2024 Season. Enjoy six plays with a $42 discount!

The Flex Pass (4) - $175 Redeemable for four tickets for the 2024 Season. Enjoy four plays with a $25 discount The Flex Pass (2) - $88 Redeemable for two tickets for the 2024 Season. That’s a $7 discount!

2024 Bonanza Pass (4) - $175 Redeemable for four tickets – one for each play featured at Bonanza Weekend in 2024 (date to be announced). Bonanza Weekend includes four incredible plays as well as special events (details available once the season is announced). Enjoy four plays and more over Bonanza Weekend with a $25 discount!

Purchase Blyth Festival Passes by calling 877-862-5984 or visiting blythfestival.com PLEASE NOTE: Prices include taxes. Please add $6 handling fee per order.

Passes are exclusive to the 2024 summer season and are not refundable. Passes cannot be redeemed for cash and must be redeemed for tickets in advance of performances.

Photo by Terry Manzo.

Desserts

Home Cooking for the Holidays! Home Cooking for the Holidays! Home Cooking for the Holidays!

A Huron County Christmas Carol is back, a holiday adventure the whole family can enjoy!

We are so excited to bring this beautiful show back, adapted from the Charles Dickens classic and directed by Gil Garratt with original music by John Powers.

Running from November 30 to December 22, 2023 in the Blyth Memorial Hall “Of all the many versions of Dickens’ story I’ve seen this is the first that is truly moving...”

- Christopher Hoile, Stage Door A Huron County Christmas Carol tickets start at $20* ($10 for youth under 25) and may be purchased by calling 877-862-5984 or visiting blythfestival.com *December 8, 15 shows are buy two or more tickets and all tickets in the order are 50% off. (Maximum 10 tickets per order).

PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023.

Home Cooking for the Holidays!

Desserts Fudge Puddles Ingredients 1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1 egg 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/4 cups flour 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup milk chocolate chips 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract pecan halves Method: Preheat oven to 325˚F. Stir flour, baking soda and salt together. Cream butter, peanut butter and both sugars. Mix in egg and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Stir the flour mixture into the creamed mixture. Form into 48 balls, 1 inch each. Place each ball in one compartment of a mini muffin tin. For the filling, melt chocolate chips.

Stir in condensed milk and vanilla, mix well. Bake in preheated oven for 14 to 16 minutes or until lightly browned.

Remove from oven and immediately make wells in the center of each using a melon baller. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes then carefully remove. Fill each shell with chocolate mixture. Top with pecan half.

– Brenda Nyveld

Home Cooking for the Holidays! Home Cooking for the Holidays! Home Cooking for the Holidays!

Mom’s Butterscotch Rhubarb Pie

Helen’s Sweet Potato Casserole (Dessert!)

4 cups rhubarb, cut into 1" chunks 1/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup flour

3 cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes (or yams) 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/4 cup sugar (or fructose) or 1/2 teaspoon Stevia 1 egg 1/4 cup softened butter 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 teaspoon salt

Topping: 1/4 cup butter 1/3 cup brown sugar 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup flour Method: Pour boiling water over rhubarb, let stand 5 minutes and drain. Line a deep 9” pie plate with pastry. Combine flour, sugar & rhubarb and fill pie shell with this mixture.

Cream butter, sugar, salt and flour. Crumble this mixture over rhubarb. Bake at 425˚F. for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 375˚F and bake for 20 minutes more. (Convection: 425˚F. for 8 minutes, then 372˚F. for 17 minutes). Cool, slice and serve.

– Deb Caldwell

Holly Cookies 6 tablespoons butter 24 large marshmallows ½ teaspoon vanilla Green food colouring Combine and slowly pour over 2 ½ cups corn flakes.

Drop by teaspoon onto cookies sheet into circles.

Decorate with pieces of maraschino cherries. Allow to cool.

– Rozalynn Schlosser, Wroxeter

Method: Cook and mash the sweet potatoes. Mix all base ingredients and put into greased casserole dish. Mix topping ingredients and spread over the base.

Bake at 350˚F for 30 minutes.

– Deb Caldwell

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Taai Taai Ingredients 1 cup corn syrup 1 cup water 1 cup brown sugar 3 1/2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon anise seed Pinch of salt 1/2 teaspoon salt Method: Boil syrup, water and brown sugar. Set aside to cool. Mix together and stir wet ingredients. Bake in an 8 inch square pan at 350˚F. for 30 minutes.

– Shelley Kroes

TOPPING: 1/8 cup softened butter 1/4 cup gluten-free flour 1/4 brown sugar 1/2 cup chopped pecan

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023. PAGE 19.

Desserts

Vanilla Cake with White ChocolatePeppermint Frosting This recipe is dedicated to my Grandmother Tressie who always made sure each of the grandchildren had a new pair of pajamas for Christmas, lots of food and hugs, and a homemade cake with crushed candy canes on top. (Adapted by Taste of the South Magazine) Vanilla Cake with White Chocolate-Peppermint Frosting Ingredients 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened 2 cups sugar 5 large eggs, separated 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup whole buttermilk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract White ChocolatePeppermint Frosting (recipe follows) Garnish: white chocolate curls, crushed peppermint sticks Method: Preheat oven to 350˚F. Spray 2 (9-inch) cake pans with baking spray with flour.

Line bottoms of pans with parchment paper; spray again. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar at medium speed with a mixer until fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking soda. Add flour mixture to butter mixture in thirds, alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture, beating until combined after each addition. Beat in vanilla. In another large bowl, using clean beaters, beat egg whites at high speed with a mixer until stiff peaks form.

Stir one-fourth of egg whites into batter. Gently fold in remaining egg whites. Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, approximately 30 minutes. Let cool in pans 10 minutes. Remove from pans, and let cool completely on wire racks. Spread White Chocolate-Peppermint Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake.

Garnish with peppermint and white chocolate, if desired.

White ChocolatePeppermint Frosting Ingredients: 1 cup white chocolate morsels 6 tablespoons heavy whipping cream 4 ounces cream cheese, softened 2/3 cup unsalted butter, softened 5 cups confectioners’ sugar (frosting sugar) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon peppermint extract 1 tablespoon whole milk Method: In a medium bowl, microwave chocolate and cream in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until melted and smooth, approximately 1 1/2 minutes.

Let cool completely. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with a mixer until smooth. Beat in white chocolate mixture. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar and extracts, beating until smooth, adding 1 tablespoon milk, if needed.

– Cindy Norgate

Monkey Bread This is a favourite in our family. Our granddaughter Hannah loves to bake this and bring to family gettogethers.

3 pkgs. Pillsbury biscuits 1 cup sugar 2 teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin spice 1 cup butter 1/2 cup brown sugar Method: Prepare a bundt pan by greasing it with butter.

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Cut each of the biscuits into 4 pieces. Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a large plastic Ziploc bag and put the biscuit pieces in the bag, close it and shake it. Take all the biscuit pieces out and arrange them in the pan. In a small saucepan combine 1/2 cup of the cinnamon sugar mixture, (discard the extra) combine also the brown sugar and butter. Bring it to a boil then remove it from heat when the sugar has dissolved, then pour it over top of the biscuit mixture.

Bake for about 30 minutes until done and take out of the oven. Allow the pan to rest for 5 minutes then flip it with a plate underneath. Use your fingers to grab the amount you want and enjoy.

– Evelyn Caldwell

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PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023.

Home Cooking for the Holidays!

Home Cooking for the Holidays! Home Cooking for the Holidays! Home Cooking for the Holidays!

Extra Special Pear Pie

Desserts Slow Cooker Apple Crisp It's a quick easy dessert that doesn't take up premium oven space while preparing your Christmas dinner. The last step is important to give it a crisp top.

Topping: 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup oats ½ cup light brown sugar ½ cup white sugar ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg pinch salt ½ cup butter, cut into pieces Apples: ¼ cup white sugar 1 tablespoon cornstarch ½ teaspoon ground ginger ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon 6-8 cups apples - peeled and sliced 2 tablespoons lemon juice Method: Make the topping: Mix flour, oats, brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt together in a bowl.

Add butter and mix with your fingers or a fork until coarse crumbs form.

Make the apples: Whisk sugar, cornstarch, ginger, and cinnamon together in a small bowl.

Place apples in a large oval slow cooker.

Stir in cornstarch mixture. Add lemon juice and toss to combine. Sprinkle topping over apples. Cover and cook until apples are tender, on High for 2 hours. Turn off the slow cooker, partially uncover, and let stand until topping has hardened, about 1 hour.

– Monique Baan

1 unbaked pie shell 7 - 8 ripe pears (preferably Bartlett) 3/4 cup white sugar 2 - 3 rounded tablespoons all-purpose flour 3/4 cup sour cream 2 tablespoons lemon juice Topping: 1/2 cup brown sugar packed 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ginger 1/4 cup soft butter or margarine Method: Preheat oven to 350˚F. Slice peeled pears into the unbaked pie shell. Mix together the white sugar and the two to three tablespoons of flour. Stir in the sour cream and lemon juice, mixing well to blend. Pour over pears. For the topping mix together brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and ginger, with a spoon or pastry blender cut in the soft butter until mixture is crumbly.

Sprinkle over top of pears.

Bake for approximately 1 hour.

crumbs, icing sugar and nuts.

Mix well. Press mixture into an ungreased 8-inch cake pan. To make icing; heat chocolate chips and butter together in a saucepan over low heat; stir until smooth.

Spread over top of peanut butter mixture and let stand until set. Cut into squares and enjoy!

– Deb Sholdice

Misc.

1 cup flour 1/2 cup brown sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder pinch of salt 1/2 cup raisins 1/2 cup milk Topping: 3/4 cup brown sugar 1 tablespoon. butter 1/4 teaspoon. nutmeg or cinnamon 2 cups of hot water Method: Combine the first six ingredients above and put in a greased baking dish. Mix together the topping ingredients and pour mixture over batter.

Bake in moderate oven for 30 or 40 minutes.

– Evelyn Caldwell

Cheeseball

Jean Pare’s Peanut Butter Treats

Use a food processor to keep it simple. This is an intuitive recipe. It’s cheese, you can’t mess it up!

Ingredients: 2 (8 oz.) blocks cream cheese 1/2 to 1 block sharp cheddar cheese, grated 1 to 2 green onions or equivalent in chives, roughly chopped 1/2 bell pepper, any colour, roughly chopped Dried spices, dill, garlic, chipotle chili (optional) Salt, to taste

We all love Jean Pare’s Company Coming series of down to earth recipes that you can make from things that you actually stock in your kitchen. She has been my go-to for great tasting treats to impress the family for holidays.

1/2 cup butter 1 cup smooth peanut butter 1 cup graham cracker crumbs 2 cups icing sugar 1/3 cup chopped walnuts 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 3 tablespoons butter Method: Heat butter and peanut butter together in a large saucepan over medium heat; stir well until smooth.

Remove from heat and add

Method: Add cream cheese to food processor and mix until slightly softened (I like to start by first cutting cream cheese into small blocks).

Add about 1/2 block of grated cheese and pulse until lightly mixed. Add green onions, peppers and optional spices and pulse until mixed.

Add additional cheddar cheese until you reach the consistency you like. Add salt, to taste (you won’t need much, if any, if serving with salted crackers). Put mixture into a serving bowl, or attempt ot shape it into a ball, if you’re brave. Serve with your favourite crackers.

I like Toppables and Ritz.

– Alison Oliver

– Anne (Caldwell) Cottel, Crediton, ON

Quick Pudding

Brown Sugar Dressing 3 tablespoon brown sugar 1 tablespoon salad dressing 2 tablespoon milk 1 tablespoon vinegar or 3 tablespoon brown sugar 3 tablespoon cream 2 tablespoon vinegar Method: Combine ingredients. Good on lettuce.

– Evelyn Caldwell

Caesar Salad Dressing 1/4 cup olive oil 1/4 cup milk 1/4 cup parmesan cheese 2 garlic cloves (crushed) 2 tablespoon mayonnaise splash Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard Method: Mix above ingredients and enjoy over fresh, crisp romaine lettuce.

– Evelyn Caldwell

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023. PAGE 21.

Rhubarb Slush

Misc.

Savory Pork Spread This is an annual Christmas tradition in FrenchCanadian households. It’s not truly the holidays until I’ve spread a thick slab of it on buttered toast. The few Christmases in my life where cretons have been missing just don’t count. I’m not lying about my age, I simply subtract those years. This recipe is closest to my mother or aunt’s recipe, which came from my grandmère Fernande. I seem to recall them using whole cloves. Wild! My sister will sometimes go rogue and add pulled pork to the mix.

No matter how you make it, it’s best served in warm pajamas with bed-head.

Ingredients: 1 onion, finely chopped 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped 2 tablespoon of duck fat, beef tallow or your preferred animal fat.

1/2 lb. of ground pork 1/2 lb. of ground veal (you can use pork here as well if you prefer) 1 cup of milk 1/2 cup of white wine 1/2 cup of chicken stock 1 1/2 teaspoon of salt 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon of all-spice dash of parsley dash of tarragon 1 cup of quick oats Warm up a heavy pot/casserole on your stovetop on medium heat, soften onions and garlic in the fat. Add the meat, milk, white wine, chicken stock, salt and spices. With a wooden spoon, break up the meat and mix all the ingredients together.

Cover and simmer for 35-45 minutes, stirring regularly.

Add the quick oats. Continue to cook uncovered until all the liquid is evaporated (appox. 15 min). Add parsley and tarragon, taste and add spice if necessary.

Fill ramekins or small pots/jars and let cool. Put them in the fridge for at least 4 hours until thoroughly cold.

You can freeze surplus, and thaw overnight in the fridge for a breakfast flavour extravaganza. Serve on buttered toast with fresh ground pepper.

Bon appétit!

– Sebastien Grainger

8 cups rhubarb 6 cups water 1 can frozen pink lemonade 1/2 cup lemon juice 1/2 cup strawberry jello powder 1/2 cup sugar to taste* (see note) Bring rhubarb and water to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until soft, drain. Allow 30 minutes to drain rhubarb.

Discard rhubarb. Add the rest of the ingredients. If juice is cold you may want to warm to dissolve the jello powder. Pour into ice cream pail and freeze, stirring every hour until slush. Let it freeze completely and enjoy a taste of summer. To serve scoop into punch bowl until 1/2 full.

Fill with gingerale or ice cream.

Note: * before adding sugar, taste to see if sweet enough with the jello powder. Adjust sugar to taste.

Steele Wool Farm Rick and Marg Steele

• Grass Fed Freezer Lamb • Honey Garlic Sausage • Pepperettes • Burgers 38689 Moncrieff Rd., R.R. #3 Blyth, Ont. N0M 1H0

An on line farmer’s market, open year-round Delivery to your door, anywhere in Huron County eatlocalhuron.ca

519-526-7446 rmsteele@hurontel.on.ca

Kurtis Smith Excavating Inc.

For all your excavation needs including septic system installations and repairs Supplying Brussels/Blyth Area with all types of sand, gravel and stone

BRUSSELS • 519-887-8855 • KURTIS CELL 519-496-1871

– Evelyn Caldwell

Easy Creamy Vanilla Fudge This is really yummy fudge.

It's creamy, easy, and tastes great. Try adding nuts, cranberries, or whatever you like!

Ingredients: 3 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar 6 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons milk 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1 pinch salt Method: Grease a 9x5-inch pan; set aside. Mix confectioners sugar, butter, milk, vanilla, and salt in a 3-quart saucepan over low heat until mixture is hot and creamy.

Pour into the prepared pan; refrigerate until fudge has set, about 2 hours. Cut into squares and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Wholesome goodness - grown & made here!

Merry Christmas

77697 Orchard Line, Bayfield 519-482-1666 Please follow facebook/Instagram for updates & operating hours

Offering our best this Holiday Season

• fruit wine, hard ciders, fruit liqueurs & fruit spirits (Schnapps) • baking • preserves • sweet ciders & fruit juices Farm Store is open for shopping & taking reservations for our Tasting room

Wild Hog Country Market 2785 Line 34, Stratford 519-271-0606 Hours : Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 8 to 5 pm Thursday 8 to 8 pm Saturday 8 to 4 pm Closed Sunday and Monday

– Joan Caldwell

Merry Christmas!

Armstrong’s Home Bakery Baking It Merry!

Order Early!

Bringing our Holiday Best to you!

226­980­7807 (Exeter, ON) sherri@makeawishcakes.com www.makeawishcakes.com

Made Fresh Daily • Honey baked bread • Assorted rolls • Seasonal fresh fruit tarts • Cookies and squares • Soups and sandwiches • Pies • Cakes made-to-order • Gluten-free goods

Bulk Food Store • Baking supplies • Gluten-free products • Candy • Popcorn • Scooped ice cream Take home or eat here in our dining area

Lucknow 519-528-2211 39006 Huron 84, Hensall (Between Hensall & Zurich)

519­236­4979 Open Hours: 9:00 to 5:00 Thursday, Friday & Saturday

PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023.

Paying tribute to a Canadian comedy legend

Headliner A tribute comedy show took place in Toronto on Wednesday, Nov. 22 to honour comedian and writer (Jon Sturge Tim Steeves, who passed away last year. photo)

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

In the days before I came to be a reporter here at The Citizen, I had the good fortune to spend 12 years working in the production department of a show known as The Rick Mercer Report (RMR).

In the realm of Canadian television, RMR was a show unlike any other show, and working there was a job unlike any other job.

Going into our offices in the CBC every day was a true joy - one that offered me the singular experience of playing a bit part in

the lives of some extraordinary people.

One of those people was staff writer Tim Steeves - a relentlessly funny stand-up comedian from Sussex, New Brunswick. When Rick Mercer came to Walton, or to congratulate the students of Kincardine District Secondary School for their impressive fundraising contribution to the “Spread the Net” campaign, he came armed with an arsenal of jokes written by Tim Steeves, along with other brilliant RMR writers like George Westerholm, Rick Currie, Greg Eckler, Chris

Finn and the late Irwin Barker.

We lost Tim in October of last year to pancreatic cancer, and his absence has created a giant void in the Canadian comedy scene. Last week, I was lucky enough to head back to my hometown of Toronto for a spectacular night of comedy at the east end iteration of The Comedy Bar to honour the legacy of one of our nation’s greatest stand-ups.

I started out on RMR as a production intern - there was no reason for anyone on the creative side of things to pay me any mind at all, which was a good thing, as I found the prospect of interacting with any of those wildly talented minds to be fairly terrifying. At my first end-of-season party, when I finally did have a chance encounter with one of the show’s otherworldly funny men, it was with none other than Tim Steeves. As I remember it, Tim was about 15 feet tall, with a shock of jet black hair and eyes of fire. He had a way about him that put me at ease right away, a quick camaraderie that made me feel like I was really part of the team.

Associate Producer Nik Sexton had a similar first experience with the man. “I met him on my first day at Mercer, and he took me under his wing right away. He always made me feel like I belonged there - that’s important. A lot of people don’t have that ability.”

That evening evolved and then devolved, as evenings sometimes do, and I found myself engaged in a gentlemanly wager with Tim. It was a wager won by no one, and I awoke the next morning to the cold light of day, fearing that the error of my overplayed hand would result in my dismissal from the show instead, I was offered a full-time job. And that was how I met Tim Steeves.

I later learned that Tim Steeves was the wagering sort. Production Assistant Matt Tosoni remembers their dynamic fondly. “He was the most competitive man I ever met, and I loved competing with him, win or lose, just for the energy.

Competition was love.” Tim Steeves also held a regular poker game that became a thing of legend around the office. I was invited to attend on more than one occasion, but always declined - I was too scared. I enquired with RMR Supervising Producer Tom Stanley as to whether or not he had ever been to the poker game, to which he

replied, “Oh, no - he always invited me, but I was too scared!” Having never attended, the Tim Steeves poker game will remain forever in my imagination to be the height of decadence and depravity.

Over the years, I got to know Tim much better, but I never stopped being intimidated by him. He was brutally hilarious, prone to bouts of undue passion and wild generosity.

He taught me, and countless others, about the importance of always ordering an extra burger when getting take-out. He called this burger “the rodeo clown”, and it was for anybody who happened to turn up in need of a sandwich.

That’s next-level generous, and should become standard practice nation-wide. His stand-up was fearless and perfect and strange - a cerebral pummelling full of whimsical honesty. He could be a consummate bully, but when he bullied you, it was because you deserved it. When he was empathetic, he was utterly empathetic, and when he was wild, he was utterly wild, and I consider it to have been an absolute honour to have played the small part in his life that I did. Just watching him be funny made everyone around him funnier.

Tim Steeves was infuriating, irascible and untranslatable.

At the show, the audience was packed in, and the line-up was stacked with some of his closest friends, family members and favourite people - each one of them taking the time out of their Wednesday night to step into that void and honour this titan of comedy in their own way. It was homage in its truest sense of the word - an expression of high regard offered in payment as a way of showing respect and attesting to the worth and influence of another.

Favourite jokes were recited, the anecdotes were flowing, and there was a little QR code at every table

that you could use to order drinks and the waiter would just bring them right over. Whether it was Eckler’s recollection of a favourite race car bit, or Rob Nickerson’s well-rehearsed reminiscences, it felt like Tim was in the room.

When Tim’s good friend Dave Hemstad came out to close the show, he reminded the crowd of Tim’s oft-repeated mantra - “make it nice”. Whether it was a joke or a game or a bet or a pot of chili, Tim believed in making it nice. There was so much of Tim’s energy in Hemstad’s performance, there were moments when it was like you could see him.

The evening also included video tributes from the Premier of New Brunswick Blaine Higgs, comedian Tim Rykert and television stars Rick Mercer, Brent Butt and Mark Critch.

Comedy is a thing of tremendous power - when it’s done just right, it produces a harmoniousness capable of real healing. It wasn’t just a show, it was an elegy - a hilarious elegy for a giant of a man. It was the funniest wake, and the most bittersweet of parties. After the show, there was much eulogizing to be done by the congregation that gathered at the bar, but it was Hemstad who summed it up best when he said “Tim Steeves was the Elvis Presley of Canadian comedy.

He was an absolute rebel who wore his thousand-pound heart on his sleeve. He was an endless champion of new comedians and all comedians. He wanted you to be truthful, he wanted you to be honest, he wanted you to be real.

He was upset in the face of the artificial. The world is a slightly dimmer place without him - he wanted everybody to shine bright.”

I miss Tim Steeves, and I very much appreciate having the space here to say so. I did my best to make it nice, and I hope it’s good enough.

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And... march!

The Seaforth All Girls Marching Band was among the several musical acts filling the air with love (and music) last Friday at the Seaforth Santa Claus parade. (Jon Stephenson photo)

Start or renew your subscription today by phoning 519-523-4792 or online at huroncitizen.ca or by e-transfer to accounts@northhuron.on.ca (please include your name and address in the message or mail cheque made payable to

NORTH HURON PUBLISHING INC. P.O. Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023. PAGE 23.

BLYTH Y 519-523-4244

+XURQ7UDFWRU FRP

519-523-4311

www.ruralvoice e.ca

Huron County 4-H hands out 2023 awards

Dedicated to 4-H Rachel Gras of the Winthrop area, right, served as an Ontario 4-H Ambassador this year and, on Friday night, Darrell Bergsma, left, presented her with the county’s 4-H Dedication Award. (John Stephenson photo)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Last Friday night, the best and brightest in Huron 4-H were honoured at the Libro Hall in Clinton within the Central Huron Community Complex.

Dozens of young people were honoured for their agricultural efforts over the course of the year, spanning

many clubs and aspects of farming.

The winners were: • The Secretary Book Award: The Huron Ag. Explorers Club (awarded to the club because it had a rotating secretary) • The Citizen/Rural Voice Press Reporter Award: Emily Maas Huron County Goat Club • The Lisa Thompson MPP Award for Champion Goat at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Lily Shapton

• Champion Goat Showperson at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Lily Shapton • Top Novice Member of the Huron County Goat Club: Sean Thomas • Joan Van Sligtenhorst Award of Merit for Top Member in the Huron County Goat Club: Lily Shapton • Joan Van Sligtenhorst Award of Merit for Reserve Showperson at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Natalie Weenink • Joan Van Sligtenhorst Award of Merit for Reserve Goat at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Jake Hessels Lucknow Sheep Club • Lisa Thompson MPP Award for Champion Sheep Showperson at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Gabby Johnston • Shillalah Farms Award for the Champion Ewe Lamb at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Rory Jamieson • Lucknow Sheep Leaders Award: Max Johnston • Lucknow Co-op Award for the Top Novice Member in Huron County Sheep Clubs: Karl Kraft South Huron Sheep Club • The Old Mill Award for the Sheep Club member with the highest score: Loralei Gross • The Green’s Meat Market Award for Champion Market Lamb at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Reese deBoer • The Miedema Meats Award for Reserve Champion Market Lamb at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Tysen Greidanus • The Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers Award for the Reserve Champion Sheep Showperson at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Evy Verschaeve • The Riegling Accounting Award

for Reserve Champion Ewe Lamb at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Molly Bolinger • The South Huron Sheep Club Leaders Award: Emily Datema, Loralei Gross, Evy Verschaeve, Annabelle Keys, Tysen Greidanus and Natalie Weernink Libro Project Book Awards • Novice: First, Henry Drennan; Second, Aiden Currie, and third, Myles Theophilopoulos • Junior: First, Mercedes Prout; Second, Hayley Davidson, and third, Carson Williamson • Intermediate: First, Halle Barton; Second, Grace Theophilopoulos, and third, Andrew Metske • Senior: First, Michaela Rodger; Second, Megan Metske, and third, Brook Hendriks Volunteer Recognition Awards • One year: Carol Bruinsma, Rachel Gras, Mary Ellen Gross, Rebecca Hessels, Tyler MacPherson and Meaghan Theophilopoulos • Five years: Reba Jefferson, Amy Parsons and Sarah Shapton • 10 years: Stefan Gubelmann, Denise Iszczuk and Jolande Oudshoorn • 15 years: Monique Baan, Mary Lynn MacDonald and Curtis McNeil • 35 years: Kim Higgins • 40 years: Brian McGavin • 4-H Ontario Outstanding New Volunteer Award: Sarah Shapton • Hoegy’s Farm Supply Award for the winning team at the Huron County Go for the Gold competition: Rachel Gras, Amanda Bos, Katrina Gubelmann and Paige Bruinsma

Huron County Swine Awards • Huron County Pork Producers Award for the members with the highest score in the Central Huron Swine Club: Brook Hendriks • Dodds Century Farm Award for the Champion Market Pig at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Reese deBoer • Meridian Credit Union Award for Champion Swine Showperson at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Mackenzie Terpstra • Huron County Pork Producers Second Award for Reserve Champion Showperson at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Brook Hendriks • The Bruce Bergsma Memorial Award for the member with the most improved score: R.J. Townsend • The BMO Award for the top novice Swine Club member: Emily Bieman Huron County 4-H Members Recognition • Six clubs completed: Emily Datema, Holly Gross, Jack Riegling, Kara Shapton, Natalie Weernink and Thomas Weernink • 12 clubs completed: Alex Coultes and Olivia Johnston • 18 clubs completed: Lily Shapton • The Gay Lea Award for completing 24 clubs: Alycia Coultes • 30 clubs completed: Brook Hendriks • 60 clubs completed: Emily Bieman • Kubota Canada Awards for youth leaders: Emily Bieman, Brook Hendriks, Rachel Gras and Halle Barton • Kubota Canada Awards for Continued on page 25

BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK REPORT For the week ending November 24, 2023 Total Receipts: 1,611 cattle and 998 lambs and goats Tuesday - Fed steers and heifers sold on an easier market.

Thursday - Veal sold strong at prices $5 - $10 higher. Lambs, sheep and goats sold on a strong active trade at steady prices.

Friday - Calves sold actively at prices $5 - $10 higher. Yearlings sold actively at prices $8-$10 higher.

Fed Cattle: Choice steers and heifers: $225 – $235 Second cut cattle: $218 – $224 Aged and medium: $180 – $207 Holstein steers and heifers: $154 – $207 Henk Dejong of Fordwich, consigned seven head. Three black steers that weighed 1,475 lbs. and sold for $230.

Cows: There were 251 cows on offer: Beef Cows: $138 – $189 Good Holstein Cows: $130 – $155 Medium Holstein Cows: $121 – $128 Bulls: $134 – $189 Veal: There were 135 head of veal on offer.

Beef Veal: $228 – $270 Good Holsteins: $265 – $283 SL Heavy Holsteins: $260 – $275 Heavy Holsteins: $245 – $255 Medium Holsteins: $230 – $245 Plain Holsteins: $180 – 215.00 Drop Calves: $260 - $800 / HEAD James Vander Heide of Mitchell, consigned eight head. One holstein veal weighed 845 lbs. and sold for $283.

Lambs: Under 50 lbs: $280 – $440 50-64 lbs: $275 – $335 65-79 lbs: $275 – $310 80-94 lbs: $242 – $291 95-109 lbs: $246 – $267.50 110 lbs. and over: $190 – $230

Goats: Mature: Billies: $300 – $400 Nannies: $100 – $225 Kids: Meat: $350 – $465 Dairy: $250 – $410 Jordan Ernewein of Walkerton, consigned five head. Five lambs averaged 79 lbs. and sold for an average price of $310.

Dennis Dietz of Mildmay, consigned three head. One kid goat averaged 65 lbs. and sold for an average price of $465.

Top Quality Stocker Steers: Under 400 lbs.: $255 – $417 400 – 499 lbs.: $337 – $412 up to $437 500 – 599 lbs.: $326 – $397 up to $412 600 – 699 lbs.: $320 – $390 700 – 799 lbs.: $279 – $353.50 up to $374 800 – 899 lbs.: $296.50 – $344 900 – 999 lbs.: $296.50 – $331.25 1,000 lbs. and over: $275 – $319

Top Quality Stocker Heifers: 300 – 399 lbs.: $227.50 – 365 up to $372 400 – 499 lbs.: $257 – $349 up to $385 500 – 599 lbs.: $245 – $339 up to $340 600 – 699 lbs.: $255 – $309.50 700 – 799 lbs.: $214 – $271 up to $316 800 – 899 lbs.: $261 – $265 up to $276 900 lbs. and over: $207 - $262 up to $288 Bill Consitt of Staffa, consigned 47 head. Sixteen charolais steers averaged 963 lbs. and sold for an average price of $331.25.

Adam Doerksen of Mildmay, consigned seven head. Seven charolais steers averaged 1,043 lbs. and sold for an average price of $319.

Jon Small of Tiverton, consigned 10 head. Five red white-face heifers averaged 745 lbs. and sold for an average price of $316.

Luke S. Martin of Eganville, consigned six head. Three charolais heifers averaged 948 lbs. and sold for an average price of $288.

BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd.

UPCOMING SALES TUESDAYS 10:00 a.m.

Fed Cattle, Bulls & Cows

THURSDAYS

9:00 a.m. Drop Calves 10:00 a.m.Veal 11:30 a.m. Lambs, Goats & Sheep

FRIDAYS

10:00 a.m. Stockers Visit our webpage at: www.brusselslivestock.ca email us at: info@brusselslivestock.ca

Call us 519-887-6461

PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2023.

Majestic Classified Advertising – RATES – Card of thanks Help wanted Help wanted WI meets

20 words or less only $8.00 + HST Additional words 20¢ ea. + HST

DEADLINE 2 p.m. Tuesday Phone 519-523-4792 e-mail: info@northhuron.on.ca

Articles for sale To all persons who have any houses, lands, tenements, farms, ships, vessels, goods, wares or merchandises to be sold or let, may have the same inserted at a reasonable rate.

North Huron Publishing 405 Queen St., Blyth for particulars.

-------------------------------------------GERBERS FIREWOOD SERVING you for over 15 years. Your number one source of quality slabwood and bodywood. Delivery available. No Sunday calls. 519-274-1236, 519441-2085. 01-50p -------------------------------------------2005 Toyota Echo, as is. Phone Blyth 519-525-9377.

-------------------------------------------CHRISTMAS GIFT BASKETS!!

Available at Maitside Orchards!

Order any size, or choose from our selection! All products are locally made! 23 Orchard Lane, Brussels.

519-835-0099 -------------------------------------------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 519-523-4792 or email: info@northhuron.on.ca tfn -------------------------------------------THE CITIZEN IS AVAILABLE TO purchase at these locations – Auburn Esso, Belgrave Variety, Blyth Variety, Blyth Food Market, Blyth Ultramar, Brussels Foodland, Brussels Variety, Clinton Convenience, Clinton Foodland, Charlie’s Variety in Clinton, Fogal’s YIG in Wingham, Wingham Mini Mart, Seaforth Foodland, GT Mini Mart in Seaforth, Fincher’s in Goderich, Goderich Victoria St. Shell and The Citizen Blyth.

-------------------------------------------WEBWOOD TRUSS WINTER SALE - 10% discount on roof trusses and floor joists. We do residential, commercial and agricultural. For details and/or quote call 519-335-3551 and ask for Zach.

See News Happening?

Let us know!

The Citizen Call or email us today

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

TAYLOR, JIM. After I received the card and list of all those who donated from the 10th line and vicinity (current as well as former neighbours), I realized how many people did not receive a personal thank you. Please forgive me and accept this as your very own sincere thank you. The peace lily is beautiful, and I am so pleased that you honoured Jim’s request that donations be made to the Belgrave Community Centre. I also want to acknowledge and thank the two “Js” (Jean and Joan) for spearheading this collection. You people from East Wawanosh are truly the best and I will always consider the 10th and 12th “home”. Doris Taylor and family -------------------------------------------IVES. Thank you family, neighbours, friends and Anglican Church family for helping me celebrate my 90th birthday. Ella Ives.

Coming events You're invited to attend a Christmas Concert “Let it be Christmas” presented by the Junior Amabile and Decapo Choirs of London. Sunday, Dec. 17 at 2:30 at Clinton United Church. Tickets $20.00. Call 8876401 or 482-7148. Proceeds to support Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

Hosted by Fields of Faith Committee/Clinton United Church.------------------------------------------TAKE-OUT HOME-COOKED MEAL!! Dec. 16, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Let us cook for your family!!

Delicious ham meal including caesar salad & roll. $19.75 (dessert extra charge). Order by Dec. 15. Maitside Orchards, 23 Orchard Lane.

Brussels 519-835-0099. 226-9712395.

-------------------------------------------Karate Christmas Special!

SCHWEITZER'S MARTIAL ARTS 8 weeks plus uniform only $139.50!

Taxes extra. Beginners only. Join now or give as a gift. Special ends Jan. 6, 2024. Group classes for ages 4 to adult. Classes taught by Renshi Becky Schweitzer, 4th Degree Black Belt and 12X World Karate Champion Location at Fresh Wind Revival Centre, 21 Lloyd Street, Wingham. Call 519-580-1418 or e-mail becky_schweitzer@hotmail.com www.schweitzersmartialarts.com -------------------------------------------Merry Little Christmas Food Market at St. Ambrose Church in Brussels on Saturday, December 2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join us for a hot lunch, lots of baking for sale and fun activities for the kids.

--------------------------------------------

Maitland Bank Cemetery, 42636 Hydro Line Road, Seaforth, Ontario -Maitland Bank Cemetery Board is looking for a Caretaker to start in the Spring of 2024. A job description is available upon request. Please send resumes to Secretary Lorri Ann Moore, Box 536, Seaforth, Ont. N0K 1W0 or by email nsucmaitbkcem@hotmail.com. Serious inquiries only please.

--------------------------------------------

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 420 is looking for

PART-TIME BAR HELP Must have Smart Serve Résumés mailed to: Royal Canadian Legion PO Box 206 Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 Att.: Ric McBurney or email: ricormel@ezlink.ca

Notices

Notices

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND OTHERS IN THE ESTATE OF ANDREW ANTHONY VANDERHEYDEN All persons having claims against the Estate of Andrew Anthony Vanderheyden, late of the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, in the County of Huron, who died on or about the 13th day of November, 2022, are hereby notified to send full particulars of same to the undersigned on or before the 6th day of December, 2023 after which date the assets of the Estate will be distributed by the undersigned having regard only to the claims then filed.

DATED at Goderich, Ontario this 9th day of November, 2023.

NORMAN B. PICKELL Lawyers & Mediators 58 South Street Goderich, ON N7A 3L5 Lawyers for the Estate Trustees

Personals Post Abortion Healing. Are you suffering from the emotional aftermath of an abortion? For support and healing please call Project Rachel at their confidential number 1-888-355-1110. eow

Wanted WANTED: Looking for 'Auburn' and area branded shirts, t-shirts, sweaters, etc. for an Auburn quilt project. Local businesses, church or service groups, celebrations and sports teams. New or used, any size or condition. Also looking for a Blyth Bulldogs hockey sweater. Call Lynn or Doug anytime at 519-4400118.

--------------------------------------------

Make their day extra special Advertise it in

The Citizen Call or email us today for the details

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

All word ads in The Citizen classifieds are put on our webpage at www.huroncitizen.ca

“SWAP SHOP” ad Call 519-523-4792 or email: info@northhuron.on.ca • Free ad up to 25 words, person to person only (no businesses), items valued at $1,000 or less. Price must be included in your ad.Your ad will run three times unless it sells faster!

• The Citizen reserves the right to limit the number of items or ads per person.

FOR SALE - Nine bins of RC Cars and parts. Bodies, controllers, power supplies, tires, plus much more. $400.

Full list and pictures - call or text 519588-6751.

47-3 --------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Approximately seventy 45 rmp records. Some Rolling Stones, one Elvis, one Anne Murray, etc. Call for song titles or author. 519-3572768.

47-3 --------------------------------------------FOR SALE - China cabinet $75; drop leaf table $50; cradle $75. Blyth 519-525-9377.

48-3 --------------------------------------------FOR SALE - 2 sets of winter tires 245-70 R17 on rims, 235-70 R16 not on rims. Best offer. 519-357-2150.

47-3 --------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Black leather pull-out couch. New. $150. 519-274-4478.

47-3 --------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Snow Joe 40V 15" cordless snowblower. Paid $299 when new. Asking $160. 519-271-3969.

47-3 --------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Church pew. Purchased at Brussels United Church auction.

Good condition. Dimensions: 3’ high, 2' deep, 6'5" long. $200. Call or text: 519-588-6751.

47-3 --------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Antique buffet $100, china cabinet $50, collection of M&M candy dispensers $10-$20 each. 519-482-3648.

46-3 --------------------------------------------FOR SALE - BF Goodrich snow tires. Only used for one season. 80% tread remaining. Size 235/55/20 great shape. $500. Call Len at 519-4825243.

46-3

BY BEV CRADDOCK The Majestic Women’s Institute met on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 130 p.m. in the meeting room of the Brussels Library.

Convenor Marie McCutcheon welcomed members and guests to her presentation on flower arrangements using dry, fresh, artificial flowers and foliage and reminding all to think, in the spring, about flowers and greens you may want to collect throughout the growing seasons. Roses, for example, are wonderful fresh, but you can then tie them up upside down, dry them out and use them again in a dry arrangement experiment with other flowers, buds, blooms, etc.

Your vase choice is very important. It can make or break arrangements. A floor arrangement vase will draw your eye from the ground up, especially if you place an accent like large flower greenery, bird, etc. with it. This will give the appearance of a very large arrangement.

Also try to remember that a tiny vase with a small flower, sprigs of herbs, sage and lavender are always nice about the house, in kitchens, powder rooms and entrances, for example.

When arranging a table display, remember guests like to see each other, so keep them at a sitting height.

Everyone was then invited to make an arrangement in jars with flowers, accents and greenery. All the arrangements turned out great, so hats off to Marie, she really knows her flower arranging.

Marie welcomed all to tea, coffee and cheese and crackers she had provided.

The Majestic Women’s Institute members were then called to order

by President Doreen Marks, who opened with a Remembrance Day reading. The minutes were read, the financial report was reviewed, a list for Christmas boxes and other seasonal donations was made and toys will be collected for the Salvation Army toy drive.

Christmas cards will be completed after the Unfinished Objects (UFO) meeting, scheduled for Dec. 5.

The Brussels Majestic Women’s Institute met on Oct. 11 at 1:30 p.m. at the Brussels Library.

Doreen Marks then introduced meeting convenor Yvonne Knight, who spoke about the women of the Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario and read from a book detailing the “ordinary and extraordinary” stories of local members and their experiences over the course of their Women’s Institute memberships. Some wrote about joining, while others wrote about different life events. Yvonne also reminded those in attendance about the basics of being a member: Be informed, inspired, always learning, upbeat, involved and enthusiastic.

Yvonne knows this all too well, as she has been a member for 60 years. However, she remembers even further back, attending meetings with her mother as a child before becoming a member herself.

Yvonne also took the time to speak about her favourite topic: her flower garden.

The members then had a quiz on body parts and the three winners won four o’clock seeds as prizes.

Doreen then ended the meeting with another reading called, “When you thought I wasn’t looking”.

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023. PAGE 25.

Hendriks wins Murray Cardiff Citizenship Award

Awarded Brook Hendriks, left, is this year’s winner of the Huron County 4-H Murray Cardiff Citizenship Award - one of the most coveted awards handed out by the organization.

Matt Cardiff, grandson of the late Murray Cardiff, presented the award last Friday night at the Libro Hall within the Central Huron Community Complex. (John Stephenson photo) Continued from page 23 long-standing graduating members: Brook Hendriks, Olivia Johnston, Nick McArter, Colton Metske and Michaela Rodger Belgrave Vet. Club • The Heartland Vet. Services Award for the top member in the Belgrave Vet. Club: Josephine Kraft • The Vet. Club Leaders Award for the Top Novice Member in the Belgrave Vet. Club: Warren Greidanus • The EthoGuard Award for the most dedicated member of the Belgrave Vet. Club: Lukas Greidanus • EthoGuard’s Second Award for leadership in the Belgrave Vet. Club: Holly Gross Libro Life Skill Awards • West Wawanosh Outstanding Member: Clara deBoer • West Wawanosh Lives up to the Motto: Haily Hanna • Hensall Outstanding Member: Halle Barton

• Hensall Lives up to the Motto: Myles Theophilopoulos Judging Competition Awards • Cloverbud Leader’s Award for Top Cloverbud Judge: Lyla Fisher • Hensall District Co-op Award for Top Novice Judge: Lily Van Dieten • Hill and Hill Farms Award for Top Junior Judge: Janelle Parsons • Anonymous Award for Top Intermediate Judge: Mercedes Prout and Natalie Parsons • Hill and Hill Farms Award for Top Senior Judge: Megan Metske and Evy Verschaeve • CIBC Award for Top Overall Judge: Megan Metske and Evy Verschaeve • Veldman Farms Award: First, Emily Bieman; Second, Megan Metske, and third, Lily Shapton • Top Club in Attendance: First, South Huron Sheep Club; Second, Huron Dairy Club, and third, Huron Swine Club Belgrave Brussels Beef Club

From one winner to another Huron County Warden Glen McNeil, right, presented Hailynn Greidanus with the 2023 Warden’s Award at this year’s annual Huron County 4-H awards ceremony.

McNeil won the award in 1967 as the novice member with the highest score in their first-year competitive club. (John Stephenson photo)

• Maple Ridge Beef Farms Award for Top Junior Showperson at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Tyler Boven • Huron County Beef Producers Award for the Top Novice Beef Club member: Trace Boven • Rail Line Farms Award for the Top Novice Showperson at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Clay Hoggart • Stan Jackson Awards for the winners from the Huron County Championship Show at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Champion Market

Animal, Tyler Boven; Reserve Market Animal, Trace Boven; Third Market Animal, Olivia Johnston; Reserve Breeding Heifer, Hannah Boven; Third Breeding Heifer, Tori Cutting, and Fourth Breeding Heifer, Troy Coultes Lucknow Beef Club • Brussels Agri-Services Award for Champion Showperson at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Nolan Neitzel • Time View Farms Awards for Champion Senior Showperson at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Nolan Neitzel • W.J. Bill Sproul Memorial Award from the Auburn Lions to the first-place group of three at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Megan Metske, Colton Metske and Troy Coultes (a combination of members from the Belgrave Brussels and Lucknow clubs) • Higgins Line Farm Award for Champion Intermediate Showperson at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Andrew Metske • Stan Jackson Award: Highest Score in Beef Club, Megan Metske; Fourth Market Animal, Annie Davidson, and Champion Breeding Heifer, Colton Metske • TD Canada Trust Award for Champion Sweepstakes Showperson at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Nolan Neitzel • The Brandon Metske Award: Colton Metske Central Huron Dairy Club • CIBC Award for the highest score in the dairy club: Loralei Gross • Orr Insurance Award for Champion Calf at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Loralei Gross • Auburn Co-op Award for Reserve Champion Calf at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Bree Dykstra • Midwest Co-op Award for Champion Showperson at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Rachel Gras • D&D Glass Award for Reserve Champion Showperson at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Loralei Gross

• Dairy Club Leaders Award for Top Novice Dairy Showperson at the Seaforth Fall Fair: Karl Kraft • Huron Holstein Award for the member with the highest and second-highest score exhibiting a holstein calf: First, Loralei Gross, second, Holly Gross Sodbusters Club • Steve Corbett Award for the highest score: Brendan Hickey • McGavin Farm Equipment Award for the novice member with the highest score: Cole Hugill • Townsend Tire Award for the club’s youngest member: Peter Albers • Sodbuster Leaders Award for the most improved member: Joel Fleet • Ross Gordon Memorial Award for the best crown on Junior Day at the Huron County Plowing Match: Clayton Hern • Bill Leeming Memorial Award for the member with the best finish on Junior Day at the Huron County Plowing Match: Wyatt Govers • TD Canada Trust Award for the top plow person at the Huron County Plowing Match: Clayton Hern • AgVise Award for the Huron County member with the most points at the International Plowing Match: Dugald McIntosh Huron County Awards • Ontario Plowmen’s Association Award: Brook Hendriks • Top Gate Sign Award: Jessalyn Hendriks • Dedication Award: Rachel Gras • Warden’s Award for the novice 4-H member obtaining the highest score in their first-year competitive club: Hailynn Greidanus • Don Pullen Award for the 4-H member earning the most points in their club work: Lily Shapton • Murray Cardiff Citizenship Award for the top all-round 4-H member in Huron County who best exemplifies the goals and aims of 4-H: Brook Hendriks.

Obituaries Sandra was a kind person; she was easy to get along with and had a warm and giving heart. Sandra loved to sew and interact with her pets, who will miss her companionship.

Cremation has taken place.

In lieu of flowers and as expressions of sympathy, donations to Adopt a Pet Rescue would be appreciated.

Please send donation cheques to Box 340, Brussels, N0G 1H0.

SANDRA MARLENE (née Cousins) CAMERON Sandra Marlene (née Cousins) Cameron passed away peacefully at home with her partner of almost 60 years, Charlie, by her side on Nov. 26, 2023, in her 76th year.

Sandra was the Mom of Ross and Eva, Todd and Jen, and Neil Cameron; the Grandma of eight grandchildren and great-grandma to 13. She was the sister of Jen Howel and Don and Annette Cousins.

Sandra will be missed by fuzzy and feathered friends Paula, Tigger, Buddy, Bizzy and Browny. She was predeceased by her parents, Donald and Florence Cousins.

SUE (Gillespie) JOHNSTON At Huronlea Home for the Aged in Brussels, on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, Sue (Gillespie) Johnston of

Wingham passed away at the age of 74.

The beloved wife of the late Jim Johnston, who predeceased her in 2007, Sue was the loving Mom of Rob and Amanda Johnston, Kim Johnston and Kent Brittain and mother-in-law of Connie Johnston.

She was the cherished Grandma of Kesha and Travis Clarke, Austin Johnston and Alicia Ireland, Desiree Johnston, Rayna and Blake Johnston, Abi and Blake Brittain and great-grandma of Scarlett and Doreen Clarke and Maverick Johnston. Sue will be missed by her brothers Wayne and Marion Gillespie, Barry Gillespie, brotherin-law Harold and Etoile Johnston and by her many nieces, nephews and friends.

Sue was predeceased by her son, Rick Johnston, and parents, Robert and Isabel (Reevie) Gillespie.

Visitation was held at McBurney Funeral Home, Wingham, followed by a funeral service in the funeral home chapel and a reception at the Wingham Sportsman’s Club.

Interment will take place in the spring at Wingham Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Diabetes Association would be appreciated.

Online condolences available at www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com.

PAGE 26. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023.

ED, staff shortages, local control discussed at meeting

Concerned citizens Well over 100 people filled the Libro Hall within the Central Huron Community Complex last week to discuss the current state and future of the Clinton Public Hospital amid a proposed amalgamation with the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance’s other three hospitals in Seaforth, Stratford and St. Marys. HPHA CEO Andrew Williams, inset, outlined the (Shawn Loughlin photo) organization’s proposal and answered questions well into the night.

Continued from page 1 will be realized as a result of the proposed amalgamation, though there will not be any traditional cost savings or jobs lost as a result of the move.

Williams also detailed the ongoing recruitment and retention challenges facing not just HPHA, but the healthcare field throughout the region and the country, and, really, most employers in the country. He said that several qualified positions remain vacant at the Clinton hospital, but that some promising trends are pointing in the right direction. However, he said, the fact remains that Canada is a country in which the number of jobs is greater than the number of people.

Recruitment for smaller hospitals is especially challenging, he said, where on-call shifts are more frequent and there are fewer people to do more work. Competing with larger urban centres, from which many of the potential candidates hail, given the differences between working in a rural setting versus and urban setting, makes bringing professionals to the area very challenging.

It’s with that being said, Williams added, that the community, the culture and its amenities are the best selling points when recruiting not just healthcare professionals, but their families as well, with promises of a great community, full of great people and with plenty to offer. Furthermore, he said that the Clinton emergency department notwithstanding its nightly closures - has a lot to be proud of, including its short wait times for patients and its success in admitting or moving patients in a timely fashion, far quicker than many urban centre hospitals.

Following Williams’ presentation, which included presenting several staff members with awards, lauding the work of the Clinton Public Hospital Foundation and the hospital’s auxiliary, and the potential expansion of the pediatric surgery program at the hospital (to alleviate wait times in London) those in

attendance asked questions for nearly two hours, expressing concern for the future of the hospital and openly questioning the motives of the HPHA and its board of directors, with many feeling the Clinton site has been underserved by the HPHA. QUESTION AND ANSWER Several people asked about the future ownership of the Clinton Public Hospital, the land it sits on and its assets if the amalgamation were to be approved and Williams said there would, effectively, be no change, other than in name. The HPHA has ownership of the site now, through the nature of the organization, and that would continue under amalgamation.

However, some felt that the paperwork associated would be very important to the community.

Long-time Central Huron Councillor Alison Lobb and former Clinton Public Hospital Foundation President Michael Falconer both felt the land should continue to be owned by the local community, harkening back to former Minister of Health Frank Miller and his plan in the 1970s to close many smaller hospitals throughout the province.

What saved Clinton Public Hospital from the chop in those days, Lobb said, was its local ownership and the fact that it had been established without the use of provincial funds.

Falconer agreed, saying that Premier Doug Ford and his majority Conservative government could make a similar decision - “in his wisdom” - and the local hospital would be well served to be ready for a decision like that being made on such a whim.

In regards to local representation, a number of people criticized what they perceived to be a lack of local input on the board of directors.

Furthermore, the amalgamation would mean the end of Local Advisory Committees (LACs), but Williams said the organization intended to create a Community Council that would allow for local representation from all four of the hospitals’ catchment areas.

Clinton Public Hospital Foundation Chair Darren Stevenson

addressed the composition of the local LAC, saying there are only a handful of members on it. The board of directors would need a two-thirds majority to vote in the proposed amalgamation, with votes coming from the LAC. However, he alleged that the board of directors had been blocking the addition of new LAC members, essentially as a “waste of time” to add members to the council that, if amalgamation is approved, would be disbanded anyway. However, Stevenson said, if the LAC carried a full, 10member complement of members, there would be a more robust local voice to potentially vote against amalgamation, if that was the wish of the members.

Board Chair Stephen Hearn, however, rebutted, saying he said he didn’t want to waste people’s time, not that it was a waste of time.

Williams reiterated that the board of directors has no intention of closing hospitals or reducing services and they would be misguided to think that the board would be motivated by anything other than providing residents with the best possible healthcare.

Furthermore, he said, unravelling the fabric of the HPHA and sending each hospital to be on its own would be time-consuming, costly and ill-advised after all the work that’s been done by the four hospitals together.

Gord Lavis, who had served on the LAC as well, was also critical of the lack of Clinton representation on the board of directors and said he had been muzzled and intimidated by the board of directors in his fight for the hospital, which he said was near and dear to his heart. He said that while he felt HPHA had done a good job for three of the four hospitals, the Clinton site was being left behind, specifically citing a decline within the last 15 years or so.

Lavis and Williams would banter back and forth throughout the night, with Williams eventually asking Lavis to agree to disagree with him, adding that he didn’t intend to

assassinate Lavis’s character publicly and asked that Lavis give him the same courtesy.

Lavis persisted, however, saying that, after he had left the LAC, he continued to do his own research, speaking with those involved in healthcare in Goderich, whose Alexandra Marine and General Hospital amalgamated with the South Huron Hospital Association in Exeter to form Huron Health Services (HHS) back in February.

He said he found the culture was different with that hospital and that was how it found success. As a result, he said, the Clinton Public Hospital should consider joining those two hospitals as part of HHS, a proposal that was not only met with applause from those in attendance, but encouragement from representatives he spoke with from both Goderich and Exeter, he said.

Dr. Maarten Bokhout, who practised at the hospital for many years, was in attendance and preached pressing the pause button on amalgamation before a number of foundational issues had been squared away, such as returning the emergency department to its former glory. He said creating a realistic and achievable timetable for its return to full hours would earn HPHA some trust with members of the community and those in attendance. From there, perhaps, further steps could be taken.

In regards to staffing levels at the hospital, especially in its emergency department forcing its nightly closure, an emotional Jessica Vanderhaar, who said she had worked as a nurse at the hospital for a decade, addressed Williams and those in attendance.

She told of her dismissal in 2022 after refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 while both pregnant and breastfeeding, noting that she was among a handful of nurses who were dismissed at that time for refusing the vaccine.

She also lamented the lack of alternatives to vaccination that had been rolled out in other professions, such as more frequent testing or increased personal protective equipment, saying she and others were not provided with any alternatives.

Williams did say that, yes, a small handful of people were terminated from HPHA for refusing to be vaccinated - he said those people numbered in the teens of the HPHA’s 1,300 employees - but that HPHA was the first hospital in Ontario to “draw a line in the sand” and mandate vaccination, which was then widely accepted by hospitals across the province. The policy had just been revisited the previous week, he said, and HPHA remains firm in its stance regarding COVID-19 vaccination.

The issue would resurface occasionally over the course of the night, despite the fact that low staffing levels forcing the nightly closure of the hospital’s emergency department date back to the fall of 2019, well before the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, with Williams reiterating HPHA’s stance.

Other residents focused on staffing and recruitment over the course of the night, but from the perspective of attracting younger professionals. One speaker said that Clinton is the educational hub of the county with thousands of students being educated in the town every day. Outreach and early recruitment in the schools of students already living in Huron

County would be a step in the right direction, she said.

Williams agreed, but stated that HPHA is already very active in area schools, running several programs and workshops in the hopes of interesting Huron County students in a career in local healthcare.

Several people in attendance were also concerned about the future of the Clinton Public Hospital Foundation and Auxiliary, both of which have spent decades raising money for the local hospital.

They wanted to ensure, first, that the bodies would remain intact and, second, that people could donate to them knowing that their money would be spent on equipment that will benefit the local hospital.

Williams assured those in attendance that will be the case and that nothing will change on that front. In fact, he said, the plan is to include strengthened verbiage in the amalgamation documents to ensure that is enshrined within them.

Stevenson also said that would be part of the foundation’s continued mandate to ensure that any of the money raised by the foundation and donated to the hospital remained within the community, which he assured people is a top priority for the foundation.

As a somewhat ominous ending to the nearly-four-hour meeting, returning to the importance of keeping hospitals, as they are, open in Huron County, Williams said that an elephant in the room that had yet to be discussed is the future of the county’s five hospitals. All of the hospitals, he said, were built around the same time and are aging at the same rate. He called the cost of building a new hospital in today’s economic climate “daunting” and said there would be some challenging discussions ahead for healthcare in Huron County someday, so it’s wise for HPHA and others to maintain what they have for as long as they can.

As for the amalgamation itself, Williams said that it has been formally recommended by the board of directors, dating back to September. If it goes ahead, it will have to be approved by the provincial Ministry of Health with a goal of coming into effect on April 1, 2024 to coincide with the HPHA’s fiscal year.

For more information on the proposed amalgamation or to read up on the proposal or the HPHA’s frequently-asked questions regarding the proposal, visit its website at hpha.ca.

Thank you to everyone who participated in Blyth Friday!

Stuff Your Stocking Contest Winners Barb Gretzky is the winner of the Grand Prize Stuffed Stocking.

Grace van Niejenhuis is the winner of the Home Hardware Prize.

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023. PAGE 27.

From the Minister’s Study

Look to Jesus as the Prince of Peace says Stanley

By Pastor Mike Stanley, Huron Chapel, Auburn The news that is dominating the headlines right now is the conflict going on in Israel and Gaza. If you are like me, you might be feeling overwhelmed and confused on how to think about the situation.

There are so many opinions and voices that bombard us, and they seem to be so polarized, and so extreme in their views that it is hard to conceive how they can be speaking about the same situation.

The result is an escalating conflict, and the proposed solutions are so at odds with each other that they seem irreconcilable. How do we make sense of what is going on? Where is the hope for peace?

There is a section of a book in the Bible called Ephesians that can help us. It is part of a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to a church in the ancient city of Ephesus (modern-day Turkey). In the letter, he is dealing with some conflict in the church between those with Jewish background and those who are not. Here is what it says: “Christ Himself is our peace. He made both Jewish people and those who are not Jews one people. They were separated as if there were a wall between them, but Christ broke down that wall of hate by giving His own Body. The Jewish law had many commands and rules, but Christ ended that law. His purpose was to make the two groups of people become one new people in Him and in this way make peace. It was also Christ’s purpose to end the hatred between the two groups, to make them into one body, and to bring them back to God. Christ did all this with His death on the cross.

Christ came and preached peace to you who were far away from God, and to those who were near to God.” (Ephesians 2:14-17) I guess the first thing we need to understand is why there is conflict in the first place. On the surface, it might seem as though it is a conflict over land, but if we go back in history, we will find that the conflict goes much deeper than that.

We find this history recorded in the book of Genesis in the Bible, with a man named Abraham. God made the promise to Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation, but Abraham didn’t trust God to provide a son with his wife, Sarah, because they were quite old, and so he had a child with her maid servant Hagar, and the child’s name was Ishmael.

Later, God miraculously did provide a son, Isaac, to Abraham and Sarah.

Evangelical Missionary Church

Sunday, December 3, 2023 1st Advent - Hope ~ 10:30 a.m.

Pastor Mike Stanley, "God's Covenant Fulfilled" (Matthew 1)

Ishmael is known to be the father of the modern Arabic nations, and Muslims also claim Muhammad as a descendant of Ishmael. Isaac had two sons, Jacob and Esau, and God later renamed Jacob to Israel; the father of the nation of Israel. These two nations intersect several times throughout history. Israel came out of Egypt and settled in the land around 1200 BCE and they lived there right through until about 130 CE. In 70 CE, the Roman Empire completely destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem. This was the start of the dispersion of the Jewish people.

It was after a revolt by the Jews against the Romans in 130 CE that the Emperor of Rome renamed the region Palaestina, instead of Israel.

By the 600s, the region was under Arab control and pretty much all the remaining Jewish people were gone. By 630, Muhammad and the Muslim armies had conquered most of this area and settled there.

In the late 1800s, there started to be a movement of Jews returning to settle in what used to be their homeland of Israel, known as Palestine at that time. In 1948, after

World War II, Palestine was under the control of the United Kingdom and they proposed, to the recentlyformed United Nations, the division of Palestine into a Jewish and an Arab state. Israel was granted independence and declared a nation again (interestingly, up to then, Jews living in Palestine would have been considered Palestinians).

Since that point, there have been ongoing conflicts and wars between the Arab nations and Israel, most notably the Six-Day War in 1967, and the Yom Kippur War in 1973.

Border lines and occupied areas have changed throughout this time.

You can see that this conflict over land goes back about 3,200 years; but it is not just a battle over land, the conflict is much deeper than that… it is religious. Both peoples believe their right to the land is given to them by God, and so their motivations are strongly rooted in their religious beliefs, and their beliefs are carried out in their actions.

When we understand the background of the conflict, the hope for a peaceful solution seems hard

Celebrate Jesus the Light of the World at

russels Mennonite Fellowship Sundays at 10:00 am All Are Welcome 250 Princess St., Brussels • 519 887 6388

The Regional Ministry of Hope Weekly service live-streamed at 10:30 a.m. on our facebook page or on youtube @St. Paul’s-Trinity Anglican Church Wingham.

The Regional Ministry of Hope www.regionalministryofhope.com 519-357-7781 email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca

Trinity

BLYTH 9:00 AM St. Paul’s Trinity

WINGHAM 10:30 AM

Come Worship with Us!

BRUSSELS S

United Chu U United ur urch

Sunday, December 3 at 10 a.m.

BMG Community Centre (upstairs room) 800 Sports Drive, Brussels **Please note our new location** Childcare provided for children aged 0 to 4 during the sermon

Welcome to Advvent 1 Worship W Sundayy, Decembe er 3 ~ 9:30 a.m.

Come, the invitation is open to all, share in God’s message for us.

Outdoor Addvent Decoration Service, Saturdayy,, Decemberr 2 at 7 p.m. (dress for the weather) Contact Alex at ministter.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com y @g Website: brusselsandblythuc.ca b P.O. Box 359,, Brussels ~ 519-887-6259 P.

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

MEL LV VILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS

Sunday, December 3, 2023 11:00 am - 12 noon We extend a loving welcome to all to join us as Rev. Peter Nijjp leads us in worship and the sacrament of Holy Communionn on this first Sunday of the Advent Season. A time of fellowship to follow.

Soup & More 2 Join us every Friday from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. for lunch. This free meal is made possible by the Brussels churches and many volunteers working together to serve our community. c All are welcome!

NORTHERN HURON-PERTH CATHOLIC FAMILY OF PARISHES All are welcome to visit or join with us, and to become disciples of Jesus, sharing in Christ’s mission.

Brussels: St. Ambrose Saturday ~ 6:00 p.m.

17 Flora Street

For pastoral care concerns please call 519-524-7512 2

Blyth United Churrch

Wingham: Sacred Heart Sunday ~ 9:00 a.m.

220 Carling Terrace

Outdoor Advent Decoration Service

Sunday, Decemberr 3 at 11:00 am Communion

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

1025 Wallace Avenue N.

Isaiah 40:1 Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God d.

Nursery & Sunday School during worship On-site and online - live.huronchapel.com 119 John’s Ave., Auburn 519-526-1131

Worship and Prayer Time Loving Fellowship Expository Preaching

For additional details please visit: brusselscommunitybiblechapel.ca

Friday, Decemberr 1 at 7 pm

Watch for us in Blyth Christmas Parade Dec. 9!

particular section of land on the planet, it was about what it means to be children of God. Right from the beginning, God’s desire is that everyone would be one of His people. Israel was supposed to be an example to the rest of the world of how great it is to be loved by God, in order to draw others to Him. The problem is that instead of inviting others to come to know the one true God, the Jews separated themselves from everyone based on their religious laws. These religious laws have to be followed perfectly Continued on page 30

to fathom, but that is where the Bible passage comes in. It goes right to the root of the problem… the religious issue. It says that “Christ Himself is our peace”, and that He “broke down the wall of hate by giving His own Body…with His death on the cross”. How does the death of a Jewish carpenter at the hands of the Romans almost 2,000 years ago bring peace to a situation between Jews and Palestinians today?

That promise that God gave to Abraham many centuries ago was not really about the possession of a

Outreach pproject j ffor December is “Gifts f with V Viision”” Contact Alex at: minister.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churches blythunited@tcc.on.ca ~ 519-523-4224

Website: nhpc.dol.ca

Telephone: 519-357-2435

PAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023.

Community leaders celebrated at ‘COTY’ reception

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

Last Thursday, North Huron Publishing hosted its first Citizen of the Year Awards night since 2019, awarding winners from the past four years at Trinity Anglican Church in Blyth.

It was a full house, with several dozen in attendance, including nominators, past Citizen of the Year Award winners and several members of the community. Citizen Publisher Deb Sholdice, Editor Shawn Loughlin and Reporter Scott Stephenson conducted the ceremony.

First, Annie Sparling was honoured as the 2020 Citizen of the Year Award winner for the Blyth community. She won the award thanks to her extensive involvement with the Blyth Community Betterment Group and persistence in resurrecting both a Blyth Santa

Claus parade and the popular Rutabaga Fest.

Sparling was unable to attend and sent her regrets and thanks.

Bob Kellington was then honoured for posthumously winning the 2020 Citizen of the Year Award for Brussels.

Kellington passed away in 2020, but had dedicated much of his life to volunteerism. He was heavily involved with the Brussels Lions Club and organized fundraisers for his local church and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, a cause for which he was especially passionate.

Marguerite Thomas, Kellington’s widow was unable to attend, but shared a message of hope for other widows and widowers, suggesting that friends and family check on survivors for weeks, months and years after their spouses pass away.

“We didn’t die when our spouses did,” she said.

The 2021 winner of the Blyth

Citizen of the Year Award was also awarded posthumously - David Cartwright, who had decades of volunteerism with the First Blyth Scouts and Trinity Anglican Church, the very building in which the celebration was taking place.

David’s wife Shari and daughter Brittany were both on hand to help celebrate David’s legacy.

The 2021 Brussels Citizen of the Year Award winner, Zoellyn Onn, was in attendance and thanked everyone for nominating her and recognizing her efforts in the community.

Onn won the award thanks to her extensive involvement in Brussels as a member of the Brussels Horticultural Society, Brussels Agricultural Society and Brussels Lions Club, serving as president of the latter two organizations. She is also the founder of the Brussels Fairy Door Trail and had been instrumental in bringing a number

of initiatives to fruition, such as the return of the Brussels Farmers’ Market, the community choral group Sing Sing Sing and more.

In her capacity as a Lions Club member, she also served as a mentor and leader for the Brussels Leo Club, which has accomplished much within the village since being revived just over a decade ago.

The 2022 Blyth Citizen of the Year winner was Lissa Kolkman, who won due to her work with the Friends of the Village of Blyth group, serving as one of its most prominent members and as its liaison to North Huron Council.

She and her fellow volunteers have worked to beautify the village and maintain its public gardens for many years, in addition to hosting the Christmas wreath competition and Easter Egg hunt on the Greenway Trail.

She has also volunteered with the Blyth Festival and Blyth

United Church over the years.

Kolkman was in attendance as well and simply thanked those who nominated her and supported her win, saying she was honoured to be listed among such notable volunteers and community members.

The 2022 Brussels Citizen of the Year winner was Margaret McInroy thanks to her work with the Walton Women’s Institute and the Melville Presbyterian Church, including its bestselling anniversary cookbook, in addition to working with Soup and More 2 and other fundraisers throughout the Brussels and Walton communities.

McInroy took the opportunity to address those in attendance, thanking her nominators and those who selected her as the winner.

She said her spirit of volunteerism can be chalked up Continued on page 29

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023. PAGE 29.

Past four years of ‘COTY’ winners honoured Continued from page 28 to the encouragement of two men one was her father Wilfred Shortreed and the other is her husband Rick. As a child, Margaret said she was encouraged to be part of a team and to take that commitment seriously. And when she was encouraged to volunteer, she was also pushed to go the extra mile and be a member of the executive, which she still practises to this day.

The 2022 (and first-ever) winner of the Huron County Citizen of the Year Award, Karen Webster of the Wingham area, was also in attendance that night.

Webster was honoured for her work with the Blyth Repository of History, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Wingham and the Meals on Wheels program, among others.

She has gone on missionary trips and created pre-cut personal protective equipment kits for the Wingham and District Hospital in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when personal protective equipment was at a premium.

She thanked everyone for the honour and said it was humbling to be recognized among so many other inspiring volunteers.

To end the evening, the 2023 winners received their plaques and were honoured.

Joe Gahan and Megan Lee-Gahan were recognized for their invaluable work in founding the Blyth Kids Club, which is always expanding to include new programming and offerings, such as soccer, hockey, arts and crafts, disco nights and summer parties.

Joe acknowledged the gracious support of the community saying that, thanks to extensive donations, the club is now free to all, while Megan thanked all of the club’s volunteers and patrons who have made it such a force within the village.

The 2023 Brussels winner, Roxane Nicholson, was honoured for her work with the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre’s Inspiring our Future campaign, raising money for the renovation and expansion of the centre.

The campaign’s fundraising goal was increased several times as costs rose and it still exceeded that final

$2 million number by more than $500,000. She has also been extensively involved with the North Huron Community Food Share over the years.

Nicholson thanked the entire campaign and all of its volunteers for the work involved, as well as her family members, who she said are often roped into helping with her endeavours through being “volun-told” to do things.

She also thanked The Citizen, saying that without a powerful local newspaper, local projects, achievements and activities would not be heralded throughout the community as they are.

The final winner of the night was Wayne Clausius from the Grand Bend area.

Clausius began his career as a volunteer in 2009, putting his name forward to help with The Salvation Army in Goderich and his role in the community only stood to grow from there.

For over a dozen years, Clausius worked with the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program. In its first year, just over a dozen people applied, compared to what is now hundreds of people. The program has since retrieved millions of dollars for low-income people and families, putting money back in the pockets of those who need it most.

Clausius is currently a resident of Jessica’s House hospice in Exeter and was presented his award by Sholdice and Loughlin on Sunday, Nov. 19 at a small event that included Clausius’s children, other family members and some of his fellow volunteers.

In an e-mail to The Citizen, Clausius said he accepted the award on behalf of the more-than 20 volunteers who have helped him administer the program over the years.

Nominations for the 2024 Citizen of the Year Awards will open within the first few months of the new year. Consider nominating someone whose work in the community within that year has improved life for those around them.

Nomination forms will be published in The Citizen on a regular basis or nominations can be e-mailed directly to Loughlin at editor@northhuron.on.ca.

Recognized Citizen of the Year Award winners were presented with plaques at an event held on Thursday, Nov. 23.

Above, Editor Shawn Loughlin addresses the crowd. Right (above), Reporter Scott Stephenson (left) and Publisher Deb Sholdice (right) with 2023 Brussels COTY winner Roxane Nicholson (centre). Right (below) Loughlin (right) with 2023 co-Blyth COTY winners Joe Gahan (left) and Megan Lee-Gahan (centre).

Below, Sholdice (right) with 2023 Huron County COTY winner Wayne (Shawn Clausius (left).

Loughlin photos)

/

Scott

Stephenson

HEY SNOWBIRDS! Stay up-to-date on the news at home by switching your regular subscription to our E-edition while you are away Call or email us today 519-523-4792 info@northhuron.on.ca

PAGE 30. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023.

Wilbee speaks on ‘Journey with Angels’ at Knox PEOPLE AROUND BELGRAVE

By Linda Campbell Call 357-2188

Gloria Wilbee was the guest speaker at Knox United Church, Belgrave on Sunday, Nov. 26.

Gloria’s message was entitled “Journey with Angels”.

On Sunday, Dec. 3, Murray Scanlon will be the guest speaker.

Everyone is welcome.

On Friday, Nov. 24, cards were held at the Belgrave Community Centre. The results were: high gold card, Judy Hahn; high white card, Al Webster.

They are looking for more players so come out and join in if you are interested. The next cards are on Friday, Dec. 8 at 1 pm. Everyone is welcome.

On Sunday, Nov. 26 the Campbell families held their Christmas get-together at the Belgrave Community Centre, which was beautifully decorated for the festive season. This year Linda Campbell and some of her family - Chris, Lori

and Joseph Campbell - hosted the event.

After Chris said grace and welcomed everyone, a bountiful buffet was enjoyed. The afternoon was spent visiting, catching up on the latest happenings and a Christmas card exchange was held.

Linda Campbell conducted various contests and the afternoon was brought to a close with hugs and hopes for a safe trip home. The weatherman was calling for snow

and it did arrive later.

Karen and Alessandra Gagne of Texas visited for a week with Karen’s mother, Arlyn Montgomery.

Due to inclement weather on Tuesday, the Community Coffee Break was cancelled.

Find God’s peace this Christmas season Continued from page 27 in order to have a relationship with God who is perfect.

The problem is that none of us as humans are good enough to keep these laws perfectly. We all fail and, like any law, there is a judgment for breaking it. The judgment of God comes at the end or our life when we go before Him, and if we are found guilty of breaking His laws, then the consequence is an eternal death. Thankfully, part of God’s promise to Abraham and the Jews who would follow is that He would send a Saviour to satisfy the judgement of God. And that Salvation would not only be for the Jews, but for anyone who would receive it.

That is where Jesus comes in.

Jesus was not just a Jewish carpenter; He is the very Son of God. This is what we celebrate at

Christmas, that God put on flesh and lived as a human. Jesus was the only one able to perfectly obey the law of God. So, when He was killed on the cross, even though He was innocent, He was able to take our judgment on our behalf. In other words, He took our penalty of death on Himself.

For us now, being a child of God is not through obeying God’s laws, but rather through trusting in Jesus, that His death has freed you from the judgment you are under.

This is what that passage means when it says that “Christ Himself is our peace”. That is referring to our peace with God; instead of being enemies of God, Jesus’ death has brought us into a peaceful relationship with God as His children. That is the most important peace we need to have in our lives.

It is that peace between us and

God that is the foundation for peace with others. You see, when we become one of God’s children, then that is our primary identity of who we are. The Bible talks about how we are now citizens of heaven. That is why it says that Jesus has made those who trust in Him “one people”. It is not our earthly nationality that matters, it is our heavenly one. How can there be hatred between us if we are brothers and sisters as children of God? As the passage says, “It was also Christ’s purpose to end the hatred between the two groups, to make them into one body, and to bring them back to God.” That is how Jesus’ death on a cross 2,000 years ago can bring peace to the situation in Israel and Gaza today. It starts with Jews and Palestinians accepting Jesus as the only way to get back to God.

Once we are part of God’s family, we can forgive and love one another as fellow children of God and have peace. It is the same for you and me; to have peace we must believe that Jesus is truly the Son of God, that He died in our place and offers us the way back to God. Whether you are near to God, or far from Him at this moment, Jesus’ offer is open to you. May you find God’s peace this Christmas season.

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023. PAGE 31.

‘Songs of Hope’ fundraiser a huge success

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen

Blyth’s Trinity Anglican Church held a charitable concert in support of Huron Hospice on Friday, Nov. 24. “Songs of Hope” was hosted by Huron County newcomer Darryn de Souza, with performances from a stellar array of local talent.

In 2018, Rev. JoAnn Todd and her congregation made the bold choice to invest in a grand piano, and the move has certainly turned out to be a savvy decision - seeing acclaimed pianist and musical director de Souza sitting at the church’s keys stirs up the feeling that perhaps this man and this instrument were destined to come together. De Souza kicked off the show with Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” - a fitting choice. The little church was packed with people - once each comfy chair was filled, latecomers sat on the old wooden pew at the back, folding up their winter coats as makeshift padding.

Guests were entertained by the song stylings of another area transplant, Joe Gahan, also known as “Irish Joe”. Gahan takes on just a little bit of the spirit of each crooner he covers - be it Elton John or Elvis Presley. Gahan and de Souza met relatively recently, through a chance encounter at the gas pumps

Joe Gahan

in Blyth, but they already have an undeniable chemistry.

Annie Sparling of Blyth has an absolutely heavenly voice - a perfect fit for the show’s ethereal setting. Accompanied by de Souza’s piano skills, she sang uplifting classics like “Edelweiss” and “My Favourite Things”, her lilting voice amplified by the church’s out-ofthis-world acoustics.

Kathryn Peach of Blyth is also a force to be reckoned with. Every one of the songs she took on had a revelatory quality, and her take on Adele’s “Someone Like You”, needs to be heard to be believed. It would have blown the roof off of a lesser venue.

All four performers came together to close the show with a beautiful rendition of “Let It Be” by The Beatles, and it just drove home what a ludicrous amount of musical talent Blyth has at its disposal these days. Each one of these artists is truly gifted, and they’ve chosen to share those gifts in support of a most worthy cause.

Huron Hospice is one of the foremost facilities providing endof-life care in Ontario. It is staffed by nurses and trained volunteers who work to provide healthcare, improve the quality of life and reduce suffering for those nearing the end. Hospice care allows

families to stay together just a little bit longer, and provides a home-like environment for those who choose to spend their final days there. Huron Hospice is a remarkable example of what can be achieved when we face the inevitable and embrace it together. Trinity may be a small church - even at full capacity, it holds about 100 people. On Nov. 24, the congregation raised $2,300 for Huron Hospice - a new record for the ongoing concert series.

Just like all four of the unbelievable artists who performed at the “Songs of Hope” concert, Huron Hospice offers its services free of charge.

The organization receives funding to cover some of its services, and relies on donations for the rest. It also relies on the generous contributions of time from volunteers, who do everything from tending the grounds to greeting visitors.

If you are interested in volunteering and giving the gift of your time to Huron Hospice, you can contact Volunteer Coordinator Deb Shelley at 519525-8648, or by e-mail at deb.shelley@huronhospice.ca.

Annie Sparling

Kathryn Peach

Sudoku Solution

Darryn de Souza

Time to Celebrate!

Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, retirement or some other special event, show them how much you care with an announcement in The Citizen.

2" wide x 3" high

4" wide x 3" high

includes colour

includes colour

$30 + tax

$60 + tax

The Citizen Fantastic Four The ‘Songs of Hope’ benefit concert held at Trinity Anglican Church on Nov. 24 raised $2,300 for Huron Hospice. All four of the incredibly talented performers who participated in the show are residents of Blyth. (Scott Stephenson photos)

Call or email today 519-523-4792 info@northhuron.on.ca

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