The Citizen - January 20, 2023

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• Editorials • Sports • Healthy Living • Obituaries

The

THIS WEEK

Citizen

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Friday, January 20, 2023

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Volume 39 No. 3

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, ON N0M 1H0

NH staff pitches drastic rec. cuts

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

Traffic out front On Saturday afternoon, the U21 Blyth Brussels Crusaders welcomed the Central Perth Predators to the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre and neither team was able to distinguish itself from the other, ending the game in a 2-2 tie. There was plenty of

hockey action on local ice over the weekend to keep fans busy, whether it was the Crusaders, the Huron Heat, the Wingham Ironmen hosting two games or the charity game between the Goderich firefighters and former NHL players to benefit the Huron Residential Hospice. (John Stephenson photo)

User groups fear for Blyth centre’s future

By Scott Stephenson The Citizen Sports teams, cultural associations, and community groups in North Huron are on edge after a Jan. 12 budget meeting proposal recommended possible cuts to recreation.

A series of recommendations prepared by North Huron Chief Administrative Officer Dwayne Evans included several options for reducing expenditures, such as closing the Blyth and District Community Centre from April 1 to Aug. 31; seeking a third party to be responsible for the Blyth Campground and reducing the Blyth Festival’s marketing grant from $15,000 to $10,000 and discontinuing Municipal Civic Night. Reeve Paul Heffer, in addition, asked for a review of the township’s ability to support two community centres with its population, leading to concern for many for the future of the Blyth centre.

Gord Baxter, Treasurer of the Barn Dance Historical Society, characterizes the possible cuts as, “very, very concerning.” The Barn Dance Historical Society is busy planning a 25th annual celebration to be held at the Blyth arena, May

26-28, 2023, with preparations well underway. This would mark the first time since the pandemic began that the Barn Dance Historical Society’s event would return to a live, in-person format. Baxter worries that a potential summertime arena closure would force the event’s cancellation and deny the community a traditional fundraising opportunity.

Judy Sloan, Past-President of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association, is taking a “wait and see” approach, but acknowledges that any decoupling of the township and the Blyth Campground would be chaotic. The organization uses municipal facilities for meetings year-round and owns several buildings on the campground.

Sloan is in “total shock” about the consideration of a review that could result in the closure of the Blyth arena. “It’s huge [for the community]; it’s needed. We’re so glad to see it being used.”

News of possible recreation funding cuts arrive as the Blyth Festival prepares for its first full season since 2019. Festival General Manager Rachael King understands that council has hard decisions to make, but views cutting services to municipal buildings associated with the Festival as an unfortunate and

complicated obstacle. In 2021, the Festival constructed an open-air, permanent venue located at the campground in Blyth, known as the Harvest Stage, to offer Festival attendees an outdoor alternative for live theatre during the pandemic and beyond. The Harvest Stage utilizes municipal infrastructure like parking and restrooms to accommodate the many thousands of tourists who pass through the community throughout the Festival season. King also lamented the discontinuation of Municipal Civic Night, a networking event to promote the Festival to neighbouring jurisdictions, but says other strategies are being prepared to connect with adjacent municipalities throughout Huron County.

Local sports teams and organizations, already challenged to find ice-time, are fearful that cuts to the recreation budget, a possible permanent arena closure, or splitting ice time with other municipalities will limit their respective teams’ ability to succeed. Shane Taylor, President of the Huron Heat Female Hockey Association, says, “a reduction in the amount of ice time we have at the Blyth arena in the future would negatively impact our hockey

program.” Manny Taylor, CoPresident of Blyth Junior Broomball, believes it is important to give kids a place to play and that taking away programs from youth sends the wrong message. Brett Fischer, President of the Blyth Brussels Minor Hockey Association, is “extremely concerned if [council is] considering a permanent closure of the Blyth arena. There are several negative effects closing the arena would have on the community.”

John Stewart, long-time member of the Blyth Lions Club, hopes that a potential summertime arena closure wouldn’t prevent larger groups and organizations, like the Barn Dance Historical Society and the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association, from being able to use the facilities. He understands the present economic pressure facing the township, but believes a permanent closure of the Blyth arena would result in further economic loss for the community and negatively impact the physical and mental health of people of all ages.

Council’s next budget meeting, originally scheduled for Jan. 27, 2023, has been postponed, and a new date has not yet been determined.

North Huron Council is facing a proposed property tax increase of over 20 per cent, leading to some drastic potential cuts, including closure of the Blyth and District Community Centre over the summer months, further recreation clawbacks in Wingham and a review of the township’s ability to support two community centres at the request of Reeve Paul Heffer.

Chief Administrative Office Dwayne Evans, at council’s Jan. 11 budget meeting, presented 13 recommendations tied to service delivery and a comparison between discretionary and non-discretionary spending.

The recommendations are: • Seeking a third party to operate the Blyth Campground, which would include assuming any operating gains or losses • Seeking a third party to be responsible for the operation of a proposed museum facility, including the assumption of any operational gains or losses • The continued advancing of process-based opportunities to achieve efficiencies and savings • Requesting additional funds from Huron County for the delivery of library services • Reducing the township’s contribution to the Blyth Centre for the Arts for marketing to $10,000 and the discontinuation of Municipal Civic Night at the Festival • Directing two members of council to meet with the Belgrave Community Centre Board to discuss the terms of the agreement between the township and the board and to report back to council • Administering a survey of childcare users to provide a detailed update on the required resources and challenges to deliver each of the township’s four childcare programs • Issuing a request for proposal for grass cutting and trimming for the season at North Huron’s cemeteries • The closure of the Blyth and District Community Centre from April 1 to Aug. 31 on an annual basis.

• The permanent closure of the township-operated fitness centre by May 1 and issuing a request for proposal to lease the space and Continued on page 7

PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023.

Gathering up the taxes Glimpses of the Past with Karen Webster

A

ll throughout history, governments have sought to raise funds by imposing taxes upon their citizens. Some items that have been targeted over the years may seem rather unusual, such in 1698 when Peter the Great, Czar of Russia, taxed men with beards. There was such an uproar about this that the following year, this tax was lifted. At one time, bachelors were taxed in Switzerland.

In 1600s England, the government taxed people according to the number of chimneys on a dwelling and, in the mid-1950s, the municipality of Ridgewood, New Jersey added to its coffers by imposing a levy on televisions by counting the number of aerials on a house.

What is now considered southwestern Ontario, was once the London District, and when the population grew, the district was split in 1841 and the Huron District was created. As well as present day Huron County, parts of Perth and Lambton Counties were also included. The Huron Signal in February of 1850 reported that, in the first quarter of 1849, the taxes collected in the Huron District amounted to 86 pounds, 16 shillings and four pence. Interestingly, folks, whether their taxes were paid or were in arrears, were all named in the newspaper.

Of course, it follows if there are taxes, there must be some way of collecting them, hence the creation of the tax collector.

In June of 1866, an act of parliament split the large township of Wawanosh into two entities.

From The Watson Family, Then and Now, we learn that young Hugh McCrostie, from Concession 11 of the newly-created West Wawanosh Township, was appointed as the municipality’s first assessor and collector. While carrying out his duties, he travelled through the wild wilderness of the township. To be kept safe from animal attacks and the odd vagrant with criminal intentions, he was issued a rifle.

While McCrostie travelled the 12mile-by-six-mile breadth of the municipality, taxes were not the only things that he collected on his rounds. While on Concession One, on the southern boundary of the township, at Lot 19, he met Martha, the daughter of William and Mary Ann Watson and in 1880, Hugh and Martha were married.

Not all monies for taxes were given to the collector while on their rounds. The Huron News-Record of Dec. 16, 1879, reported that J. Taylor, collector for West Wawanosh, was at the hotel in Auburn and “got all the taxes”. J. H. McClinton, collector for East Wawanosh spent a day at D.F. Munroe’s store in the same village receiving taxes there.

In Morris Township, John Mooney farmed on Concession 6 and also began to work as the tax collector for the municipality in 1885, continuing in the position until 1902. He retired after 17 years because of a hearing problem and also to better attend to his own farm. It was noted that in his tenure, no unpleasantness had occurred and that he often had a clear roll with every cent of taxes being paid. The amount he collected

annually ranged from $9,000 to $11,000. He had traversed the whole township, each October, on foot, delivering the tax notices over a period of three weeks.

The Wingham Times reported in 1913 that Gavin Wilson had collected a record amount of taxes

by Dec. 23 with all available taxes on the roll. Local residents were told that “for a new official, Mr. Wilson has made a record of which the ratepayers of Turnberry have just reason to feel proud.”

Another very loyal collector was Wilbur “Wib” Turnbull who farmed on the 15th Concession of Grey Township. When he retired, in 1970, after serving in that capacity for 40 years, he was commended for his

diligence in collecting taxes and was gifted with a pair of carved bookends. Goderich Township also had a dedicated employee in the person of Howard Sturdy. Over the 40 years of his tenure, he had collected $1,731,122.99 and had “managed to do it in such a pleasant way that few had much cause for complaint.” In Hullett Township, Thomas Neilans was congratulated by council in 1946 for 17 years of service.

Not all municipalities had such harmonious relations with their tax collectors. In 1936, the former tax collector for Goderich was taken to court in the light of incomplete bookwork and missing funds. He was unable to explain the discrepancies. At the conclusion of the trial, he could not be found guilty of theft “beyond a reasonable doubt”, however, the judge, in an aside, stated that the former collector was “incompetent”. Repayment of the missing funds was covered by a bond held by the municipality.

The methodology of collecting taxes has changed over the years. In consideration of the amount of work involved, the early collectors were not well paid, receiving only between $60 and $90 a year for their efforts. In 1887, a report came out of Clinton urging that the property owners who paid their taxes ahead of the deadline be given a discount.

By 1948, when the Township of Howick advertised for a new tax collector, it was stated that mailing out tax notices was an option. Fast forward to the present day and we find computerized forms arriving in the mailbox or the inbox and property owners having the option to mail in or drop payment at the local office or even transfer the funds electronically to the coffers of their municipality. John Mooney stated in 1902 that, because of his travels, he knew nearly every adult in the township. How times have changed!

Appreciation to the Huron County Museum Digitized Newspapers and to Cheryl Cronin.

News from the Gentlemen’s Club with the Kansas Farmer Special correspondent to The Citizen as curated by Paul Nichol

W

ell, that Christmas blizzard was sure a whopper. But I tell you what - we had it far worse in the old days. No significant weather event or polar vortex could stop us.

When I was a lad, we embraced winter. Us fellars on the 6th Line made merry of it. The Nichols, the McLellans and Carman Bernard would all go out to play road hockey.

From time to time we would pull in Lenis Miller as a free agent. Lenis always played goal and had a very interesting technique. He would build snowforts around the net to make it impenetrable. (Of course that didn’t conform to the rules of the International Road Hockey Federation so we had to suspend him.)

We would not bother playing until the temperature dropped to -30°C. If it was warmer than that, the frozen

pig turd that we used as a puck wouldn’t skip just right. We played in our shirt sleeves. When it got much colder, we would just roll our sleeves down from the elbows.

Old Tommy Miller always kept a close eye on things. He’d be sure to drive down the road and stop the game as he drove slowly past. He had no particular place to go. He just wanted to inconvenience us.

The McLellans were formidable road hockey players. Carl could shake your martini with a bodycheck. Max stood on defence like the Great Wall of China. David could stickhandle you out of your underpants. And Peggy was as fierce a goalie as Terry Sawchuck. (Pauline was more of a Foster Hewitt. She always preferred to do the play-byplay.) But most of all, we feared Alvin’s blistering slapshot. It could pull the clothes right off your back.

Have We Got Yo our Nu umber?

Clem and Edna had one bitch of a dog. (Ha. Ha. Editor Shawn!) She was a mean sort of a mongrel and we all hated her. One day she shows up, she’s snarly as always and looking for an ankle to bite. Well, Alvin has the puck. He beads his eye and takes aim and fires that puck right at the dog. The force of Alvin’s slapshot was so hard, it went right into one ear of the dog and out the other.

Now, what happened next was for the ages. That miserable canine picked the puck up in her mouth and dropped it across the goal line.

Score: McLellans 1, Nichols 0. I couldn’t make that up. That dog actually ended up playing a game for the Leafs. No, sorry, my mistake - I was thinking of Darwin McCutcheon.

Truthfully Yours TKF.

Dead dline February 17 7,, 2023 for 202 23 Book

The T Citiizen is now plan nning its 2 2023 Telephone Te Bo ook.

Is your number correct in the recently delivered Bell Canada phone book?

Do you have a new listing since that t book was compileed?

Crowded house The U21 Blyth Brussels Crusaders were in action on Saturday afternoon at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre as the locals welcomed the Central Perth Predators to the village. Neither team could inch ahead of the other on the scoreboard, however, as the contest ended in a 2-2 tie. (John Stephenson photo)

If so, please let us know so we can make our phone b book as complete and usefull as possible.

Call 519-523-4792, email: inffo@northhuron.on.ca

WA W ANT TO ADD YOUR CELL PHONE LISTING INSTE EAD? JUST PROVIDE US WITH THE CORRECT INFO EVERY YEAR.

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023. PAGE 3.

NH Council votes to walk away from museum North Huron’s controversial budget meeting last week resulted in council deciding to no longer pursue moving the North Huron Museum and, instead, start deaccessioning the artifacts therein.

The budget may have cost the municipality its partners in relocating the North Huron museum, as Doug Kuyvenhoven, the landowner who was willing to sell North Huron a historic building to house the museum for $1, said he wouldn’t proceed without a guarantee that the museum would be municipally-run.

During council’s Monday night meeting, a deputation was scheduled for a group of ratepayers to request being reappointed as a fundraising committee for the capital costs in relocating the museum. The deputation, however, was cancelled with staff and council explaining that Kuyvenhoven wasn’t interested in proceeding with the possibility of a third-party organization running the museum. As a result, the committee didn’t want to start fundraising for a project that may not go ahead.

In the municipality’s draft 2023 budget, which was presented last week during a special five-and-ahalf hour budget meeting, staff presented the idea of having the museum operated by a third party.

The budget resulted in significant feedback at council, as well as discussion through social media regarding a number of proposed changes, including closing recreation facilities and discontinuing other services.

Chief Administrative Officer Dwayne Evan’s report included the following recommendation: “That council hereby… directs staff to seek a third party to be responsible for the operation of the proposed museum facility including the assumption of operating gains and/or losses.”

After Clerk Carson Lamb explained that there wouldn’t be a presentation and why, Councillor Mitch Wright said that assuming there would be a third party in charge was jumping to conclusion.

Council debated the issue at length with Wright saying he had a number of unanswered questions,

however Deputy-Reeve Kevin Falconer said most of Wright’s questions had been previously addressed.

Throughout the discussion, council members, several times, asked what the committee and Kuyvenhoven were looking for.

Reeve Paul Heffer said that, after discussing the issue with Kuyvenhoven, the project could only go ahead if council was “100 per cent” agreeing to run the facility and not turn it over to a third-party agent. He later said the issue needed to be handled on Monday and not deferred.

Eventually, Councillor Ric McBurney moved to have North Huron discontinue its museum services, which Falconer seconded, start the deaccessioning process and thank committee members, both those from the fundraising committee and those that helped guide council through its decisionmaking process with the museum, for their effort. Councillor Chris Palmer also suggested thanking Kuyvenhoven for his patience.

Wright said he wished there was

‘Citizen’ welcomes Stephenson

more time to deal with the issue as there were many options not on the table, including working with Huron County on the museum.

Falconer said that had been considered and staff could provide that information.

Falconer then added that he felt it wasn’t right for council to be considering adding another service when it was considering recommendations to cut recreation and culture spending. “We’re debating removing services,” he said. “It’s completely irrational to think we could go forward with new ones. It would be perceived as robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

Wright said he felt that any cut to recreation or culture was inappropriate, and that council should be focusing on the line items in the budget that have increased and try to address those increases.

Palmer said he was “saddened” by the move, saying he wished council had more time to review the issue.

In a recorded vote, Falconer, McBurney, Councillor Anita van Hittersum, Councillor Lonnie Whitfield and Heffer voted in favour of North Huron discontinuing museum services with Palmer and Wright voting against it.

Councillors preach calm on NH budget North Huron Township Council received significant feedback from its budget process during its Monday night meeting, with eight letters decrying staff’s proposal to cut recreation services.

During its budget meeting last week, North Huron Township staff made recommendations including closing the pool and fitness centre at the North Huron Wescast Community Centre, the former during the summer and the latter permanently.

Council received the letters, and also heard comments from the public that the cuts weren’t appropriate and the budget increase wasn’t sustainable.

Councillor Anita van Hittersum said that everyone needs to realize the “devastating” impact those kinds of closures and cancellations could lead to and that council had

already told staff they want to see a lower budget increase proposed in the next draft.

Councillor Chris Palmer, however, said that the draft budget is in its early stages and that nothing is decided.

“That first figure of [a 20.6 per cent increase] is just a starting point,” he said. “We all start high, then we have to get down to it and have to see what we can cut, what we have to do to save money. Don’t be too shocked.”

He then said that council members were “all shocked” when they first saw the budget, but that just means they had to “get down to work and look at changes.”

He said council needed to consider every service when it came to cost savings, but that doesn’t mean anything has been confirmed yet.

Everyone desires to be saved from the pit (Spurgeon, “Our Watchword” #1013, Psalm 70:4) “Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; And let those who love Your salvation say continually, Let God be magnified!”

The unsaved sinner loves a salvation from hell.

The true Christian loves a salvation from sin.

Everyone desires to be saved from the pit, but it is only a child of God who pants to be saved from every false way.

A fresh face Scott Stephenson began his time as a new reporter with The Citizen on Monday, Jan. 16 after the departure of long-time reporter Denny Scott late last year. Stephenson brings years of experience with the Rick Mercer Report television show and other entertainment media endeavours to the table in his new role, as well as several local positions, ahead of accepting this position with North Huron Publishing, which is extremely happy to welcome him aboard. (Shawn Loughlin photo) The Citizen has a brand new reporter to help cover the local beat.

Scott Stephenson is ecstatic to join the news team at North Huron Publishing and to cover stories that matter to local residents of Huron County and beyond.

Scott, and his wife Chelsea, are pre-pandemic transplants to the Huron County area. The couple previously called Toronto home, but are hopeful readers of The Citizen are willing to forgive that transgression. The high cost-ofliving in the city, an out-of-control real estate market, and other cultural factors redirected their search for a permanent home to this corner of the province in 2016.

They successfully escaped the Big Smoke shortly thereafter and feel enormously fortunate to have landed in this area.

Scott is a graduate of Ryerson

University (now Toronto Metropolitan University), having earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in the Radio and Television Arts Program in 2009. An internship with the CBC television show Rick Mercer Report resulted in full-time employment from 2006 until the series finale in 2018. It was a dream come true for Scott to work on that production and he can confirm that Rick Mercer is smarter and funnier than he appears to be on television.

Since relocating to the Huron County area, Scott has worked for Cowbell Brewery in Blyth as a restaurant server, Montgomery Bus Lines in Wingham as a school bus driver, and for 100 Mile Produce in Belgrave selling seasonal vegetables at local markets. Each of these experiences offered an introduction to the people, and

pace, of Huron County but Scott looks forward to delving deeper into the community in his new role as a reporter.

We love the Gospel because it saves us... from selfishness, from pride, from lust, from worldliness, from bitterness, from malice, and from sloth.

A Grace Gem Submitted by: Immanuel United Reformed Church, Listowel, ON 519-492-1359

PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023.

Editorials & Opinions

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

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A community’s centre Just last week, this editorial board wrote about the rising cost facing life in Huron County, specifically from the perspective of Huron East and Huron County Council. Later that week, many Blyth residents were gutted by the news from North Huron Council’s Jan. 12 budget meeting - first that township staff was proposing a property tax rate increase in excess of 20 per cent and that the closure of the Blyth and District Community Centre, temporary or otherwise, depending on who you ask, was being floated as a potential cost-saving measure.

Officially, North Huron Chief Administrative Officer Dwayne Evans proposed the closure of the centre, annually, from April 1 to Aug. 31 when the centre sees less usage than it does in the winter.

Reeve Paul Heffer, however, posed a “question he’s been asking for a while” and requested a report on the township’s ability to support two community centres and artificial ice surfaces that has many Blyth user groups, residents and even the ward’s councillors concerned for the future of the Blyth centre. At that meeting and Monday night’s meeting council has urged patience and calm, assuring residents that no decisions have been made, but Blyth residents are rightfully worried.

Is this a decision in the name of fiscal responsibility to close the centre during months when it’s seldom used, or is this the first step towards a community losing one of its most valued assets? Where will residents and service clubs turn to host events during the summer?

And, if council were to take that devastating step, what, if anything, could the members of the community do to save their centre?

The financial impact facing the township is very real. A tax rate increase of over 20 per cent would be unacceptable by just about any standard. But, a community must offer services to residents both young and old to ensure its viability, sustainability and appeal to potential new residents - especially small families with young children - in order to grow. When Blyth, Brussels and Belgrave lost their elementary schools all those years ago, many feared those losses would spell devastation for our communities. However, innovation and creativity have seen those buildings take on new lives in some cases, while making way for homes in others. And with those schools gone, residents’ attention then turned to the community centres. We may have lost our school, they’d say, but we still have our community centre.

The fear now is that Blyth may be facing the very real scenario of losing its centre as the township faces a tough year. At the Jan. 12 meeting, staff suggested that brighter skies may be ahead with reassessment of homes and a curb in inflation in 2024. The closure of a small village’s community centre, however, would have an impact that would last for generations.

In coverage from Monday night’s meeting, councillors said in the same breath that they need a tax increase that doesn’t bankrupt residents, while realizing the “devastating” impact that community centre closures would have on residents. Both are true, but the fear is that they are mutually exclusive for some councillors who will, feeling they are out of options, take such a drastic measure.

Council and staff will have to get creative in order to hand in a budget that will be palatable to both our elected representatives as well as residents who are already feeling the pinch on their tax bills, grocery bills and any other type of bill you care to name. Having said that, a community is nothing without its people and people are nothing without each other and a sense of belonging. A reasonable tax increase (by North Huron standards) is a daunting request this year and councillors have their work cut out for them, but a reasonable tax increase is irrelevant if we have nothing to show for it. – SL

Prescribing nature A study in Finland has shown that going for a walk in a park, along a lake or in a tree-lined space, may reduce the need for medication for anxiety, asthma, depression, high blood pressure or insomnia. Visiting nature three or four times per week led to 36 per cent lower odds of using blood pressure medication, 33 per cent lower for mental health medications and 26 per cent lower for asthma medications.

While the study couldn’t rule out that perhaps healthier people were more likely to get outdoors in the first place, the results are in line with previous research that showed that people living near green space reap significant health benefits. A 2016 study of 100,000 women showed having access to the most green space reduced the death rate by 12 per cent and a 2019 study found a similar trend when studying green spaces around the world.

Fortunately for residents of Huron County, we not only have an abundance of green space surrounding us, we also have many wellmaintained walking trails for every level of fitness. In addition to parks and conservation areas, the County of Huron has been promoting its managed forests as an excellent way for folks to get out and enjoy nature.

Since our rural way of life relies so heavily on car travel, we have to make time for exercise so why not take a walk in the woods? – DS

Looking Back Through the Years January 20, 1966 The Ontario Milk Marketing Board announced an increase to the price of milk, effective Jan. 16, forcing local dairies to increase prices at the consumer level.

According to R.B. Cousins, owner of the Cousins Dairy, inflationary pressures had mounted considerably in the lead-up to the decision and farmers were left with few options other than increasing prices. Industry officials pointed out that larger container sizes available to the public meant the average price per quart was still lower than it had been several years prior.

The Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Wm. A. Stewart, announced a new white bean research program coming to Huron County. The operation, managed collaboratively by the Ontario Agricultural Research Institute and the Department of Agriculture, focused on testing of “promising new strains” from Michigan and the Harrow Experimental Station in Ontario. Soil and crop specialists investigated the effects of herbicides and insecticides on grower farms throughout the county. “Under this system the local people are an important part in both the planning and evaluation of the tests,” said the Minister.

January 21, 1976 Blyth Public Utilities Commission crews were challenged with finding the source of a small leak in the water main. Foreman Bill Buchanan led the investigation after discovering reduced pressure on the system. The water supply was cut to different parts of town until the location of the leak was determined to be between Wellington and Dinsley Streets on

Mill Street or King Street between Mill and Queen. Additional support was provided by the Public Utilities Commissions of Goderich and Wingham and a special leak detector was brought in, but it failed to determine the location of the leak. The town’s water supply was cut off at night, to refill the reservoir and rebuild pressure on the system.

After receiving a resolution from local health care professionals, Huron County Council called for the resignation of Ontario Health Minister Frank Miller and his top staff if they did not reverse a decision to close the Goderich Psychiatric Hospital (GPH).

Medical staff of Alexandra Marine and General Hospital resolved that the decision to close GPH without local consultation endangered psychiatric care in the county and threatened residents’ right to adequate health care.

The resolution included three recommendations: reversal of the decision to close GPH, immediate withdrawal of plans to close hospital beds in the county, and that the Minister commit to local consultations moving forward.

Huron County Medical Officer of Health Dr. Frank Mills said, “We go from crisis to crisis in health care in Ontario. The closure of the psychiatric hospital will create a vacuum. Unless we take a strong stand now we will suffer and the system will deteriorate. Our health is most important and we need the facility and we need mental health care.”

July 24, 1996 Community members and service clubs came together in Brussels to support Ontarians affected by a devastating ice storm that struck

two weeks prior. Donations of canned food, diapers, batteries, toiletries, firewood and cash were accepted and loaded into trucks and buses bound for eastern Ontario.

Leona Armstrong, retired reeve of Grey Township, was recognized for her contributions to the area over 23 years of public service.

Colleagues, friends, and members of the community joined Leona for a celebration at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre where memories, congratulations and well-wishes were shared. The next day, Leona received the Brussels Citizen of the Year Award at a ceremony held at Melville Presbyterian Church.

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) began accepting applications for an upcoming wild turkey hunter education seminar to be held at the Blyth Public School. Seminar attendance was mandatory for anyone hunting wild turkeys in Ontario and covered topics like wild turkey biology, calling and hunting techniques, hunting ethics and safety procedures. To complete the course, hunters had to pass an examination conducted by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). The seminar series was sponsored by the Quaker Boy World Champion Game Calls and Trebark Camouflage.

January 17, 2013 Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb was in Seaforth to announce a grant of $147,167 for the Brussels Library.

Lobb had previously spoken with Huron East Mayor Bernie MacLellan about the need for improvements at the branch. The move was described as a significant investment in the future of Brussels and the historic library building.

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023. PAGE 5.

Other Views The world is made brighter outside

A

s the days got shorter back before Christmas, our lives were brightened when we looked out the window one day and saw a huge, pileated woodpecker on one of our older maple trees.

I’m not sure if you’ve ever had the opportunity to see one of these magnificent birds. You’d remember if you had. They’re much larger than the woodpeckers we normally see and look like the inspiration for the old Woody Woodpecker cartoon character with a brilliant red tuft of feathers on their head.

Luckily this one didn’t stay very long. We’d have missed him if we were still going to work.

We just happened to look out the window at the right time and there he was. He did a quick test of some of the trees, found no prospects of a quick lunch, and disappeared.

The first time we witnessed this rare creature was at least a decade ago. In that case he found an inviting meal in one of our ancient maples and quickly chiselled a huge hole in the side of the tree making a terrible racket, then flew off. We were left with a tree with a huge cavity that killed off the central spike of the tree and we had to get someone to remove it.

So, there are benefits and deficits in having wildlife in the yard. We’re not seeing nearly the variety of birds this winter. We aren’t putting out many of our bird feeders in an effort to deter field mice from being attracted and building nests under the hood of our car. This past spring we spent more than $3,000 on repairs after mice chewed wiring (carmakers, in an effort to improve the environment, started using tasty soy-based plastic wiring).

Still, we have a suet feeder for birds that like that, including Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers and larger Red-bellied Woodpeckers.

We also see Chickadees, both at the suet and

Keith Roulston From the cluttered desk Finch’s Feast at our only feeder that also attracts Goldfinches and Juncos – although they’ve seldom made an appearance in the mild, early-spring-like weather lately.

We don’t have a flock of noisy, bossy Bluejays this year since we cut out the feeders for birds seeking larger seeds like sunflowers.

Still, we spot these birds flying around the yard. We haven’t seen the shyer Cardinals, though one year we had as many as five pairs at the feeders.

During the fall days, we generally had a visit each day by a small flock of turkeys.

When I see the birds today, I have to remember being on hand to watch when the Ministry of Natural Resources was releasing birds captured farther south in an effort to re-establish a native population after they disappeared a century ago. I think they were successful!

When we still had snow on the ground, I sometimes spotted evidence that we had deer in our yard during the night, though I haven’t had visual proof. Other winters I’ve risen early enough to spot a few deer in our orchard, pawing the ground for windfalls, but this year perhaps there’s more variety in the bush and fields.

I understand the deer population is high right now. Certainly that’s believable from seeing the number of hunters around our property during the deer season. I have to remember when the season is, or see the

hunters, to remember not to be outside and making a possible target, even if most hunters are careful.

We have both red squirrels and black and grey squirrels living in our yard. At least they’re in the yard. One year they built a nest in the car and had babies.

Years ago, squirrels liked to inhabit our attic. That hasn’t been a problem for a long time now since we had the soffit covered with aluminum, keeping the squirrels out. Mice were also eliminated when we had our old back-kitchen and woodshed replaced with a nice, new addition that blocked all the possible entrances to mice (so far). So their alternative is the car, despite plenty of suggested deterrents.

That makes our neighbour’s cat a welcome visitor. We haven’t kept a cat for several years.

To be a real deterrent to mice, a cat needs to be outside at night when the mice are active. So having our neighbour’s barn cats visit and feast on any mice is a treat.

Our other visible delight are the rabbits that we see hopping around the yard. They do little damage, although usually they chew on evergreen bushes outside our back window, though they don’t do any long-term damage.

This year, with little snow (lately), they don’t even bother those plants.

I’m sure we also have visits from foxes and wolves at night when we’re not active and don’t know about it. Hopefully they like mice.

So, good and bad, our natural visitors provide interest on our rural property. Since this is normally the hardest part of the winter, last Monday being Blue Monday and all, it’s brightened by the opportunity to enjoy nature.

Human activity – wars and politics and all – can be forgotten simply by looking out the window.

This week's Maitland Valley Camera Club Photo of the Week comes from local photographer Gail Jaycock, who captured this image of a squirrel looking right back at her as it took a time­out to rest on a tree branch.

Shawn Loughlin Shawn’s Sense

A new beginning s you’ll see in this week’s issue of The Citizen, we’ve hired a new reporter.

Scott Stephenson has joined the team after Denny Scott decided that it was time for him to move on after over 12 years with us.

This whole process has been challenging, but it has also brought me back. It’s been a long time (about 16 and a half years) since The Citizen and all it does was new to me. To go through the interview process several times, explaining in detail the origin story of this newspaper and what makes it special, brought me back to the time when I first learned it.

The unique ownership structure and the way the newspaper is connected to the community is always a joy to talk about and I’m always amazed to find someone in the community who doesn’t necessarily know all about it. But really it just got me thinking about all that goes into learning a new job, a new community and a new way of life. It reminded me about some of the urban sensibilities that I brought with me as a brand new resident of Huron County (I was living in an apartment in Goderich at the time).

It reminded me about my first day at The Citizen, when I left Goderich for Blyth about 20 minutes or so sooner than I needed to, as I wanted to be prepared in case of traffic. It reminded me about standing in our old, old office (across the street in the home of what was until recently Stitches with a Twist) and asking how long it would take to drive to Memorial Hall. As I came up with some ideas for stories for Scott to help him hit the ground running, it really reminded me of a time when I was not nearly as connected to the community as I am now; back when I knew almost nobody and people would come up to me on the street and welcome me to town.

Now the roles have shifted after so many years and I’ll be the one who is directing someone else to the people he’ll need to talk to and get to know in his time ahead. Maybe not so surprisingly, in all that time, I’ve made a ton of contacts and know, for the most part, where to send Scott to find what he’ll be looking for and to get the answers he’ll need.

Speaking about the local councils he will now have to cover and going over the issues of the day, for example, has been eye-opening.

On my second day on the job, for example, all the way back in October of 2006, I covered a Huron East Council meeting. I had been to a local council meeting only once before and that was back in Pickering when my baseball team received an award from the Town of Pickering (before it achieved “City” status in 2000). It may not surprise you that we didn’t stay for the entirety of the proceedings.

Now, I’m likely one of the more well-versed local folks when it comes to local politics, which is only natural when it is a big part of your job.

Another thing I would learn is how accessible everyone here is (and was). One of my early assignments was to head to the aforementioned Memorial Hall and take pictures of a behind-the-scenes guided tour by then-Artistic Director Eric Coates. To begin the tour, Coates listed his many acting accomplishments, all of which I feverishly wrote down in my notes. And yet, as I would soon come to realize, I would be seeing Eric (and other accomplished Canadian actors) on the street just about every day, going about their lives as members of the community.

The Citizen has meant a lot to me for so many years. It has become part of my very identity in this community, so it’s nice to share that again now with someone new.

A

PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023.

At the Branch

Beef Producers hold annual meeting at Legion

By Jo-Ann McDonald The catering committee continued to be busy in the second week of 2023. Wednesday evening was the annual meeting of the Huron County Beef Producers and

the 50 people attending enjoyed a roast beef dinner prior to their meeting. Staff included Judy Lee, Marni Knight, Linda Bird, Kathy Burkholder, John Lowe and Jo-Ann McDonald.

The next day, the Branch was the venue for a workshop for the Ontario Nurses Association Local 21. They held meetings in the morning and then had a lunch break. They were served soup,

sandwiches and squares by Sandra Brown, Linda Bird and Deb Ross.

Catering can take a break now for a couple of weeks.

The Thursday night mixed blind darts resumed after a Christmas break. There were 15 darters keen to get back into action. The firstplace player was Sandra Brown and in second place were Rhonda Davis and Chris Brown. The high shots of the night were made by Sandra, hitting 160, Jim Brown with 126, Steve Hall with 123, John Stadelman with 114 and Louise Poirier hitting 107. I think some people were practising over the holidays! Everyone is welcome to come out and play at 8 p.m. on Thursday nights. No experience necessary and it costs just a toonie.

The Friday night Catch the Ace

draw was overseen by Lisa Glanville, Deb Ross and Joan Smith. The lucky winner of the evening was Wendy Marks winning this week’s prize of $200. She chose envelope number 31 and the queen of hearts was revealed. The jackpot is growing with an estimated $6,000 to be won this week. Get your tickets at Brussels Pharmacy, Brussels Variety, McDonald Home Hardware and the Legion. Many folks enjoyed beef on a bun for pub grub, so we are going to have it again. Tonight is our monthly euchre night and we have a full slate of players.

The tickets have arrived for the Valentine’s Day dance with the Lucky Charms playing. Drop into the Branch and pick up your tickets today.

McNeil acclaimed as Chair of WOWC

Even Steven The Blyth Brussels U21 Crusaders took on the Central Perth Predators at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre on Saturday afternoon. The teams played a tight game, ending in a 2-2 tie. (John Stephenson photo)

Life is a journey says columnist A NOTE FROM BETTY

By Betty Graber Watson Call 887-9231 January is a thought-provoking month. One moment you’re looking ahead with wonder and anticipation, and the next you’re fussing about the year past and wondering how that will determine the events to come. So, the thoughts race around in the head, not ready yet for action.

The world seems to be in high gear, perhaps because I belong to the superior age group (old) in society, I can’t keep up. Oh no, I don’t want to. Each stage of life has the good and the bad that go with it.

The past prime years are what you make them, just like all the other life stages. Do you recall the teen years as hassle-free or the parenting years as all joy? Each day is what we make it, handling the details offered that day. Balance is what we need in life, and only you know what sends you off. Know yourself.

Do what you need to, in order to see the world as good. The speed that the world is going only concerns us if we need to hop into it. Don’t waste your thinking time about issues that are not your business or not will affect your life. Enjoy the quiet times of January.

January can have a depressing effect on us. The festivities are over and done, the cookies are getting a

little stale, the anticipation and visiting of Christmas has finished.

This is the time to connect.

Reaching out to see what is happening outside your walls.

When our thoughts are diverted, it gives us a chance to see what’s happening elsewhere and appreciate where we are in life. It is important to know yourself and see when your thoughts are not good for you. The AA organization has a slogan that challenges: don’t allow stinkin’ thinkin’. When you feel your thoughts are going in the wrong direction, stop. Yes, stop and think about something totally different. You are better for this, and you’ll also make for much better company.

Writing a column in January is a challenge as outings are limited, social events are scarce and travel remains questionable on many

NEWS FROM BRUSSELS

levels. With this one, I recall Frankie Thompson, our butcher, when I first started this writing.

Discussing the paper one day, I told him, on slow days, I just made it up.

I was rewarded with his blank stare and then his wonderful laugh. Yes, enjoy the moment.

For this month, think about the people who came and went in your life and what part of that time affected you and your outlook on life.

A new mat, a Christmas present, says it all for me: life is a journey, enjoy the ride.

Bye now, Betty G.W.

Huron County Warden Glen McNeil has been appointed Chair of the Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC), while Councillor and former Huron County Warden Jim Ginn, has been appointed Chair of the WOWC Economic Development Committee. Both McNeil and Ginn have been active members of WOWC for multiple years. They will hold these current positions until January of 2025.

“I am honoured and humbled to have been placed in the position of Chair, to represent Western Ontario, and I look forward to continue advancing the objectives and advocacy of the WOWC,” said Huron County Warden and WOWC Chair Glen McNeil. “2023 will be a critical year for the WOWC in terms of advancing its priorities and implementing its projects, particularly with diversifying our housing stock, attracting a skilled workforce and addressing mental health and addictions issues in our communities.”

“Regional Economic Development is absolutely vital in rural communities,” said Huron County Councillor Jim Ginn. “It is critical that we have systems and processes in place that support collaboration on regional initiatives. I’m eager to help foster this type of collaboration in Southwestern Ontario in my role as Chair of the WOWC Economic Development Committee.”

Both McNeil and Ginn assumed their positions after they were elected by acclamation during the organization’s Annual General Meeting held at the Elm Hurst Inn, Ingersoll, on Friday, Jan. 13.

Committee membership will also include the following Wardens and Past-Mayors: Cathy Burghardt- Jesson (Middlesex), Basil Clarke (Simcoe), Alison Warwick (Thames – Centre) and supported by WOWC member CAOs, Regional Partners and Economic Development specialist staff.

Brussels Legion 218 Catch the Ace Weekly Winner Winning Ticket: Wendy Marks, $200 Envelope #31 found the Queen of Hearts Estimated jackpot for January 20 is $6,000

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023. PAGE 7.

Heffer questions whether NH can support two centres Continued from page 1 equipment for fitness centre services • The annual closure of the Wingham pool for July and August, beginning this year • The discontinuation of free recreation programs and the encouragement of more sponsored programs • A staff-developed recreation subsidy program for low-income North Huron residents.

“Change is not easy and as with any change, there is going to be negative feedback. Council’s role is to make decisions in the best interest of the entire municipality,” Evans said in his report to council.

“There is one budget for the entire municipality and, with the exception of street lighting, water and wastewater, all costs incurred are paid for by all taxpayers.”

He added that there are some

services best delivered by the private sector, while others are best provided by the public sector.

“When considering the recommendations of this report, it is important to remember that there are some goods and services that are best provided by the public sector, and some goods and services that are best provided by the private sector,” Evans said in his report.

“Just because the township has traditionally been the provider of a service does not mean that it is the only method of delivering the service to the residents of North Huron.

“A general rule of thumb used by many economists has been that the public sector should provide the services that the market (private sector) is unwilling to provide. This ensures that municipalities (which are typically less innovative and slower to adapt) are not competing

with private sector businesses that often operate more efficiently and innovatively,” he said in his report.

Other things worth noting in the 2023 draft budget, Evans said in his report, is the decommissioning of the Howson Dam, the completion of accessibility ramps and doors at the township office, the completion of the new council chambers, the completion of several projects at the North Huron Wescast Community Centre that are funded by the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP). He added that new capital projects include improvements to Cruickshank Park, the tennis court and Wingham Trail expansion and the improvements to the HVAC system and flooring at the municipality’s childcare facility in Wingham.

The proposed property tax collection for the year is $8,154,992

Kick save and a beauty The Pro Hockey Heroes, a team comprised of former National Hockey League players, took on the Goderich firefighters on Sunday in an effort to raise money for the Huron Residential Hospice. The professionals would eventually come out on top, but Goderich goaltender and Blyth native Jeff Elliott did his part, stopping this shot from Dave McLlwain, a Seaforth native who spent 10 years in the NHL. (John Stephenson photo)

in the draft budget, which is over $1 million higher than in the 2022 budget and nearly $500,000 more than what was proposed at North Huron’s first budget meeting, held late last year.

Property tax collection rates sat at 3.47 per cent in 2021 and 6.28 per cent and are now proposed to be 20.65 per cent in 2023. That represents a 7.25 per cent increase from the 13.4 per cent figure that was proposed at council’s first budget meeting.

Much of the discussion at the meeting surrounding Evans’s 13 recommendations, some of which were met with more support than others, with councillors concerned about cutting too much, especially in the department of recreation.

Heffer began the meeting with a statement that would re-appear later in the meeting, asking councillors to keep an open mind to the recommendations being presented and asking themselves if a community of about 5,000 can support two community centres. He suggested the township making the absolute best use of one, while making alternate uses for the other as something to be considered.

He also suggested that the township should not be in the business of operating a campground, similar to the discussion that happened during the previous term of council when the township divested itself of its airport.

He also called for better relationships with neighbouring municipalities and searching for better shared services in order to provide the most, at a reasonable cost, for all area residents.

Heffer then asked councillors what they felt the final tax rate increase should be and, while some answers varied, they settled on somewhere between six and eight per cent, citing the effect of inflation, which is about six per cent for the year.

Evans said staff would be happy to prepare a final draft of the budget with current service levels and the

proposed tax increase, but he felt that would be unacceptable to council. He felt that staff could make some small cuts to bring the proposed increase down to between 16 and 18 per cent, but that council would have to make some hard decisions to bring it down further than that. He also cited council’s request for a review of discretionary and non-discretionary spending and the service delivery review completed by KPMG during the previous term of council.

Before tackling the recommendations, Councillor Anita van Hittersum asked if staff was prepared to present any cost-saving options that didn’t recommend closing facilities or clawing back services and Evans said that his recommendations were just a starting point and that council could decide to do anything it wished.

Councillor Mitch Wright, agreed, saying he didn’t feel council could cut its way to success. Cutting programs and closing facilities, he said, could only be done once and would only cut costs in the shortterm, where he felt that much of the big-ticket items in the capital budget should be where council focused its attention.

In regards to the first recommendation - attracting a third-party to manage the Blyth Campground - Evans said bringing in someone to assume the potential losses and gains associated with the campground would save the township over $70,000.

Furthermore, he said a third-party company could better manage the campground, something the township has not really had the ability to do in recent years.

Deputy-Reeve Kevin Falconer said the township simply doesn’t have the resources to use the location to its full potential, so he felt this could be an opportunity for North Huron, calling it an underutilized asset that could be used better.

That motion was carried. The motions passed at this meeting will Continued on page 19

Morning Smile set From Marilyn’s Desk

By Marilyn Craig Call 523-9318

Happy birthday to Beverly Walden and Joan Clark, who will celebrate their birthdays on Jan. 20, Mark Caldwell will celebrate his birthday on Jan. 22 and Mary Rouw will celebrate her birthday on Jan. 24. Happy birthday everyone and enjoy your special day.

Happy anniversary to John and Anne Nesbit, who will celebrate their anniversary on Jan. 22.

Here are the winners of Jan. 16 euchre: First prize winners were Darlene Chilton with a score of 68 and Carol Lahey with a score of 75; second prize winners were Linda Campbell with 66 and Cheryl Buckham with 68. Susan Harman and Lou Lahey both had four lone hands and Darlene Chilton and Marie Millian won shared the wealth prize.

Would you like to have a smile, a giggle, or a full blown out good

laugh? Come out to the Monday Morning Smile gathering at Blyth Trinity Anglican Church from 10 11:30 a.m. and join in the fun and conversations and enjoy a coffee and a cookie or two.

I can’t remember a January like we have been having this year with no snow. The spring flowers and flowering trees do not know whether they are to be budding out or are to stay dormant.

Shop Local incluudes Local Advveertisiing

When you buy an ad from us, you are supporting ti local. l l Our O eentire ti staff t ff - editor, dit publisher, bli h repporter, t sales l rep. production coordinator, designer, photographer, columnists, coorrespondents, freelancers, proofreaders and mail crew all live and spend right here in Huron County.

County Mark Zuckerberg and Google probably won’t send a photographer to your event or a reporter to interview nterview the chair of your service club or attend five municipal councils on your behalf.

We have 2000 newspapers that go out every week that are each read by an average of four people. le. These readers shop locally, so this is a win-win-win scenario.

Suppor t your community newspaper so that it can suppor ppor t you!

NEWS FROM BLYTH

PO Box 429 Blyth, ON N0M 1H0

The Citizen

519-523-4792 huroncitizen.ca

PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023.

Sports Ironmen still in fourth after weekend split The Mount Forest Patriots remain in first place in the division with 45 points and a record of 22-5-0-1, followed by the second-place Mitchell Hawks with 40 points and a record of 18-7-2-2 and the Hanover Barons in third place with 38 points and a record of 17-7-2-2.

The Ironmen are in fourth place with a record of 16-10-2-1 and 35 points, followed by the fifth-place Kincardine Bulldogs with 30 points and a record of 13-12-3-1, the Walkerton Capitals in sixth place with 10 points and a record of 4-19-

1-1 and the last-place Goderich Flyers with nine points and a record of 4-23-1-0.

The Ironmen play their next three games at home. They welcome the Mitchell Hawks to Wingham on Friday, followed by a matinee contest against the Hanover Barons on Sunday, Jan. 22. The Kincardine Bulldogs next come to Wingham to face the Ironmen with a game scheduled for Jan. 27.

The Ironmen finish up the month on the road, in Walkerton taking on the Capitals on Saturday, Jan. 28.

Crusaders to play host this weekend

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen This weekend, the Blyth and Brussels Crusaders will play host to plenty of visiting teams in both Blyth and Brussels as January nears its end.

On Friday, Jan. 20, the U8 Burgundy team will play the Sailors in Goderich, while the U21 Crusaders will play the Mid-Huron Huskies in Clinton.

On Saturday, the U6 team will host Central Perth at the Brussels,

The Wingham Ironmen held their own against the division-leading Mount Forest Patriots on Friday night in Wingham, going back and forth with them until eventually falling by a score of 7-4 in a game marred with plenty of penalties and a number of fights. The Ironmen would fight back on Sunday, however, and defeat the Walkerton Capitals by a score of 3-1. (John Stephenson photo)

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen The Wingham Ironmen remain in fourth place in the North Pollock Division of the Provincial Junior Hockey League after splitting their weekend games.

On Friday night, the Ironmen lost by a score of 7-4 to the divisionleading Mount Forest Patriots, followed by a 3-1 win over the Walkerton Capitals on Sunday.

The clash between the Ironmen and the Patriots was marred with penalties and fights, with the two teams amassing a collective 115 penalty minutes over 36 infractions.

Elijah Brahaney of the Patriots opened the scoring in the game just 1:09 into the first period with a power play goal, his 20th of the season, assisted by Brody Leblanc.

Mount Forest’s Dylan Szymanowski then scored his 14th goal of the year at 13:14 of the first period, assisted by Jared Rowe.

Szymanowski then scored his 15th goal of the season at 9:55 of the second period, assisted by Riley Torrie, on the power play.

Wingham would get on the board, however, with Noah Wettlaufer scoring his fourth goal of the season, an unassisted marker, at 11:40 of the second period.

Szymanowski then completed his hat trick with an unassisted goal, his 16th of the year, at 15:11 of the period.

Jonah Burley of the Ironmen then struck back, scoring his sixth goal of the season at 17:20 of the second period, assisted by Kyle Stanbury and Austin Becker.

Turner Mckenzie scored his first goal of the season for the Ironmen at 2:21 of the third period, assisted

by Noah Bloemberg.

Mount Forest would then score two straight goals, with Evan Dewar scoring his fifth at 4:37 of the period, assisted by Matthew Weiler, and Ben Tenhag scoring his ninth of the year at 6:35 of the period, assisted by Brahaney.

Wingham would claw back with a goal by Noah Bloemberg, his ninth of the season, at 10:13 of the period, assisted by Turner Mckenzie and Burley, but the Patriots would score the final goal of the game, thanks to a power play goal scored by Caleb Cribbin, his 25th of the year, assisted by Brahaney and Bryan Richardson.

Tristan Szymanowski won the game in net for the Patriots, stopping 27 of the 31 shots he faced, while Garratt Golley took the loss for the Ironmen, stopping 21 of the 27 shots he faced. Evan Knight would play the final 7:39 minutes of the game, stopping two of three shots.

Dylan Szymanowski of the Patriots, thanks to his hat trick, was named the first star of the game, followed by Turner Mckenzie as the second star with one goal and one assist, and Tristan Szymanowski and his performance in net for the Patriots as the game’s third star.

The Patriots were assessed 48 minutes of penalties over 16 infractions, while the Ironmen served 67 minutes in the box over 20 infractions.

On Sunday afternoon, the Ironmen hosted the Walkerton

Capitals in Wingham, winning the game by a score of 3-1.

It wasn’t until the second half of the game that the first goal was scored. Nate Bloemberg found the back of the net for Wingham at the 11:32 mark of the second period, his 10th of the season, assisted by Wade Robinson and Nigel Kreager.

The Ironmen would then double their lead at 17:06 of the second period thanks to a goal scored by Josh Dales, his third of the season, assisted by Tyson Fischer on the power play.

Walkerton scored its first goal of the game at the 1:19 mark of the third period, with Graham Gateman scoring his sixth of the year, assisted by Trevor Fischer and Tyler Ewald.

Josh Pham, however, would seal the deal for the Ironmen, scoring an empty-net goal, his fourth of the season, at the 19:53 mark of the third period, assisted by Austin Becker and Coleson Fischer.

Garrett Golley won the game in the Ironmen net, stopping 16 of the 17 shots he faced, while Logan Bromley took the loss for the Capitals, stopping 19 of the 21 shots that came his way.

The Capitals spent just 10 minutes in the penalty box over six infractions, while the Ironmen served 14 minutes on seven penalties.

Coleson Fischer of the Ironmen and his one assist was the first start of the game, followed by Capitals’ goaltender Logan Bromley as the second star and Nate Bloemberg and his one goal for Wingham as the third star of the game.

Last Call for Babies!

Babies of the Year

Back and forth

Morris and Grey Community Centre, while the U11 Rep team will be in Wingham for a game with the Ironmen.

The U7 Black team will host the Wallace Sabres in Brussels, while their Burgundy counterparts will also play a team from Wallace, but on the road.

The U15 Rep Crusaders will host the Goderich Sailors in Blyth, while the U13 Local League team will welcome the Huron-Bruce Blizzard in Brussels and the U13 Continued on page 15

2022 EXTENDED UNTIL JANUARY 20TH!

Don’t miss your chance for an authentic newspaper clipping for your child’s scrapbook

Join the gallery of new faces in The Citizen's baby photo display January 27, 2023 Email a jpeg of your little one born in 2022 along with a writeup which includes full name, birth date and parents' names and then call us, stop in or pay by e-transfer, credit card or mail a cheque (payable to North Huron Publishing) to prepay.

ONLY $30.00 (must be prepaid) Please Complete Baby's Full Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Birth Date _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Parents' Names _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

$30.00 Enclosed

DEADLINE - January 20 at 2:00 pm Email: info@northhuron.on.ca 519-523-4792

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023. PAGE 9.

A Guide to

Enjoy a new year and a healthier you!

PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023.

Keep active, stay healthy after retirement outdoor tasks could help a person meet this quota in a way that doesn’t seem like exercise at all.

• Play games with grandchildren: Little kids may inspire older adults to be more active, as it can be difficult to keep up with those youngsters. Take infants or toddlers for walks or push them in strollers. Attach a child seat or towing carriage to a bicycle and ride around the neighborhood. Play games that require movement, such as hide-and-seek or Marco Polo in the pool. If it’s snowing, have a snowball fight or make a snowman in the yard.

• Take up a new hobby: Find hobbies that incorporate physical activity. Perhaps learning to salsa dance or taking Zumba® will be fun? Pickleball has caught on across the nation. The sport is a mix of tennis, racquetball and badminton that caters to all ages. Joining a bowling team is another way to get active and meet new people.

Physical activity is important at any age. Seniors can explore fun ways to stay in shape and be active to reap all the benefits of exercise.

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offerings: Community senior centres often fill calendars with a vast array of activities, some of which can include physical activities. Hikes, walking tours, dances and other activities all serve as entertaining ways to get out and about while meeting some fitness goals.

• Garden or do yard work: The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotions says adults should get 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. Raking leaves, mowing the lawn, digging in flower beds, trimming bushes, and other

r

MS - The human body is a marvel. How the body transforms over the course of an individual’s life is one of its more remarkable qualities, and those changes never cease, even as individuals near retirement age.

The changes associated with aging include physical transformations, but also more subtle shifts the naked eye cannot see. For example, metabolism slows as individuals grow older, and aging also can lead to a decrease in bone density and muscle mass. These changes affect how men and women at or nearing retirement age should approach their diets in recognition of the various ways their nutritional needs change at this point in their lives.

Any modifications to a diet should first be discussed with a physician, but the following are some ways aging adults can use diet to combat age-related changes to their bodies.

• Prioritize protein. The authors of a 2010 study published in the journal Current Opinion in Nutrition and Metabolic Care recommended that older adults consume between 25 and 30 grams of protein with each meal. The researchers behind the study concluded that such consumption could limit inactivity-mediated losses of muscle mass and function.

• Overcome reduced production of vitamin D. WebMD notes that people over 65 typically experience a decrease in natural production of

Exercise also can foster socialization with others, helping people overcome boredom and isolation.

As individuals get older, they may not be able to participate in all of the activities they enjoyed as youths, but that doesn’t mean older adults must resign themselves to sedentary lifestyles. There are plenty of entertaining ways to remain physically active that can accommodate any limitations a person may have. Explore these methods for staying active.

• Explore senior centre

MS - Physical activity is an important component of overall health. Health experts advise that exercise can increase lean body mass, prevent conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, improve balance and positively affect mental health and cognition.

are a few ways seniors can stay active without committing too much of their time. (MS photo)

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023. PAGE 11.

Healthy baking options can change your dishes puree can serve as a sugar substitute.

• Make it a “dates” night. Much like figs, dates can be pureed and serve as a sugar substitute.

However, WebMD notes that pureed dates will not be able to replace all of the sugar in a recipe.

One cup of pureed pitted dates with a half of a cup to one cup of water can replace as much as half of the sugar a recipe calls for.

• Replace butter with avocados.

It’s not just sugar that can make baked goods so unhealthy. Many baking recipes call for a substantial

amount of butter. California Avocados notes that avocados can replace butter at a one-to-one ratio when baking. So, if a recipe calls for one cup of butter, bakers can replace that with one cup of pureed avocados. WebMD warns that avocados have more water than butter, so bakers may want to reduce the temperature in their ovens by 25 per cent and bake the foods a little longer.

• Replace white flour with whole wheat flour. White flour is often the go-to for amateur and even professional bakers. But white

flour is processed, which removes the bran and germ of the grain, thus stripping white flour of much of its nutritional value. Whole wheat flour is not processed, so it retains its nutritional value. Baking with whole wheat flour may require a learning curve, and some bakers prefer to use a mix of whole wheat and white flour to preserve the flavours they’ve grown accustomed to.

Baked goods may never pack the most nutritious punch, but there are ways for amateur bakers to make such foods a little more healthy.

Fibre, vitamins are crucial to diet as seniors grow older

A new way of thinking While baking can be fun, the tasty results may not always be the most healthy meal you eat that day. Here are some healthy alternatives to keep the fun of baking, but with some healthier results. (MS photo) MS - Baking sessions are a beloved family tradition in many households. But such sessions may not be as revered by family physicians, as baked goods are often prepared with ingredients, like sugar and butter, that aren’t necessarily sound additions to a person’s diet.

Though baked goods may never rival vegetables in nutritional value, there are ways for amateur bakers to

make these beloved foods a little more healthy.

• Replace sugar with a fig puree. Figs are nutrition-rich fruits that serve as significant sources of calcium, potassium and iron.

WebMD notes that figs also are excellent sources of fibre. Soaking eight ounces of figs in water can soften them before they’re pureed with between a quarter to a third of a cup of water. The resulting fig

ordinary people doing extraordinary things WorkHorseSC located at 158 Beech Street, Clinton across from the Raceway.

We welcome you in to our small athletic strength and conditioning facility for all ages and stages of fitness.

Our non intimidating family atmosphere is a great place to start your fitness journey.

• A big emphasis is on gaining strength safely, improving mobility, stamina, balance and cardiovascular health.

• Small group sessions lead by certified coaches can scale the program to meet every fitness level, keeping you safe while attaining your health goals.

• Heading into in our eighth year of operation I want to thank our loyal members who put their faith into us daily for their strength and fitness needs Whether you are new to fitness or a conditioned athlete training for your sport there is a place for you here. We look forward to serving you.

Also home to Drew Reinhardt Physiotherapy Services drewreinhardtpt@gmail.com Please feel free to contact Jen with any questions you may have E-mail jen@workhorsesc.com

Continued from page 10 vitamin D. Vitamin D is not naturally found in many foods, so aging men and women may need to rely on supplementation to ensure their bodies get enough of it.

Vitamin D helps with antiinflammation, immune system support and muscle function, among other benefits. So it’s vital that aging men and women find ways to get sufficient vitamin D. • Consume ample dietary fibre.

The National Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging notes that fibre plays an important role in the health of older adults. Fibre has been linked with heart health, healthy digestion, feeling full and preventing constipation, which the online medical resource Healthline notes is a common health problem among the elderly. Though the NRCNA notes that older adults need slightly less fibre than their younger counterparts, it’s still a vital component of a nutritious diet.

The feeling of fullness that fibre consumption can provide also is

significant, as it can ensure adults who aren’t burning as many calories as they used to aren’t overeating in order to feel satisfied.

That can make it easier for such adults to maintain a healthy weight.

• Monitor intake of vitamin B12. The NRCNA notes that vitamin B12 is involved in a host of important functions in the body, including nerve function and the formation of red blood cells.

Vitamin B12 is most easily found in

animal products, which many aging men and women must largely avoid due to other health concerns. In such instances, men and women can discuss supplementation with their physicians as well as alternative food sources of B12, such as fortified cereals, salmon and other items.

Bodily changes related to aging increase the likelihood that men and women will need to alter their diets in order to maintain their overall health.

Dr L McCarthy • Dr K Alton • Dr S Doorn 9 Patrick St. W., PO Box 88, Wingham, ON N0G 2W0 Tel : 519-357-1282 • Fax: 519-357-4509 email: reception@winghamoptometry. com

PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023.

An early start bodes well for long-term health contributor to these statistics. At home and in school, adults can encourage physical activity as an effective means to prevent obesity. The Department of Health and Human Service recommends that children and adolescents aged six and older get at least one hour a day of moderate or vigorous aerobic activity, such as running or biking. Muscleand bone-strengthening activities also are recommended. Kids who learn early on to appreciate physical activity reap long-term

benefits that extend well into adulthood.

• Avoid tobacco: Tobacco and nicotine vaping products can contribute to many negative health conditions. Youngsters who avoid these products throughout their lives may improve longevity and reduce their risk for various illnesses.

Children who learn healthy behaviours at a young age are more likely to continue those good habits into adulthood, which ultimately benefits their long-term health.

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Healthy from the beginning A foundation of healthy living, established when children are young, can have a huge impact on them as they grow into adults, fostering a healthy lifestyle. Here are some tips to help start your children off on the right foot. (MS photo) MS - Long-term health is not something that many young people routinely consider. After all, it’s easy to feel invincible during one’s childhood and adolescence. But the steps that young people take early on can affect their health as they get older.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, establishing healthy behaviours during childhood and adolescence is more beneficial to long-term health than trying to change poor behaviors in adulthood. The following are some ways young people can set the course for healthy outcomes throughout life.

• Prioritize healthy foods: According to the childhood recreation group Mountain Kids, habits and actions performed subconsciously are hard to break

because repeat habits trigger dopamine in the brain, causing pleasurable feelings that reinforce the behaviour. So grabbing a slice of cake after school for a snack becomes rote. Instead, stocking the refrigerator and pantry with sliced fruits and vegetables, low-fat yogurt, lean protein like hummus and whole wheat dipping crackers can set the course for more responsible eating behaviours.

• Eat meals and shop together: Kids can learn what healthy eating and portion control looks like if it is modeled by their parents. Children should be involved with reading nutrition labels and understanding the ingredients that comprise the foods they commonly eat. When dining out, choose restaurants that utilize menus that indicate the caloric content of meals. Children

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will learn to recognize and embrace nutritious foods and that can continue into adulthood.

Eating as a family also benefits mental health. Stanford Children’s Health says eating together as a family can encourage children’s confidence in themselves and improve communication. Children who regularly converse and interact with their parents may be less likely to engage in substance abuse or act out at school.

• Increase physical activity: The CDC says 21 per cent of American adolescents aged 12 to 19 are obese, and two in five students have a chronic health condition. A sedentary lifestyle may be one

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023. PAGE 13.

BLYTH Y 519-523-4244

+XURQ7UDFWRU FRP

Brussels Livestock report

Lambs, sheep, goats all sell steadily at weekly sale Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending Jan. 13 were 1,625 cattle and 764 lambs and goats.

On Tuesday, fed steers and heifers sold actively at fully steady prices. Choice steers and heifers sold $190 to $200. Second-cut cattle sold $180 to $189. Aged and

medium-fed steers and heifers sold $150 to $180. Holstein steers and heifers sold $125 to $168. Cows sold actively higher.

On Thursday, veal sold actively at steady prices. Lambs, sheep and goats sold steady.

On Friday, calves and yearlings sold on a strong active trade at fully

steady prices.

K/C McAlpine of Ailsa Craig, consigned seven head. Three gold heifers averaged 1,433 lbs. and sold for a price of $196.00. Two gold steers averaged 1,478 lbs. and sold for a price of $197.50.

There were 450 cows on offer.

Beef sold $99 to $127.50; good

Left, right, left The U15 BB Huron Heat welcomed the Bluewater Hawks to the Central Huron Community Complex on Sunday, only to send them home after a 2-0 shutout loss. (John Stephenson photo)

Condolences offered to locals PEOPLE AROUND WALTON

By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570

It was another great week for travelling on the roads of Huron County. A little foggy one morning, but not bad the rest of the week.

The first three weeks of January are done and there are only seven weeks until March Break. Today, Jan. 20, you will see lots of kids around as it is a day off for the children. Drive carefully.

This great weather also has the local wildlife kind of confused.

There seems to be lots of raccoons out and about, maybe because of the milder temperatures. They unfortunately have forgotten how to cross the roads safely. Skunks are having the same problem. Last week I did see two bald eagles soaring and two foxes out for a stroll. One of the foxes was in our yard taking a stroll late at night.

Just a reminder to folks if they have news to share to give me a call. Been on a trip? Folks love to hear about new places they might want to visit. The COVID-19 pandemic put a damper on so many things, so let people know the great things you have done or changes in your family or awards you have received or just any happy news you would like to share. The Citizen is your community paper, so contribute some news. Just call me!

We have just finished another stint of grandparenting. We had the three McDonald children - Brea,

Wes and Nate - for four days.

During the four days, there were four hockey games and one practice. Thanks to a couple of other parents for taking an extra child with them, everyone made it where they needed to be.

Scott and Alicia were in Las Vegas on a work-related seminar and workshop for Alicia’s job. They had a great time. They went golfing the day before the conference, went to the Las Vegas Golden Knights vs. Florida Panthers hockey game, “walked” through the very high-end shopping mall and saw some beautiful works of art, went to a normal mall, walked the original strip of Vegas and went to a circus/burlesque show under the “big tent” at night or in the “off” time. They enjoyed the break and it is only a few weeks before income tax season starts in earnest for accountants.

Our sympathies to the Wheeler families and to Lori Wheeler née Moore on the passing of her husband Scott Wheeler of Victoria, British Columbia. He will be missed by his children Nicholas, Benjamin, MacKenzie and Mitchell and their families. He was the son of the late Bill and Delores Wheeler and was the brother of Todd, Dale, Murray and Dean and will be missed by all his extended family members. He was the brother-inlaw of Deb Ross. Our condolences to all.

Our sympathies are extended to Mary Jane Pearson on the passing of her husband Danny Pearson. He will be missed by his children Jana, Dan and Tom and their families. He was the son of the late Alec and Edna Pearson, and the brother of Scott and Steve. Dan was a people person, a great fellow to talk with and a community guy. A life-time Optimist member, Danny had an

avid interest in politics and worked in the Murray Cardiff constituency office in Brussels for 13 years. He loved sports, including baseball, curling and golf. He liked to keep busy and worked for the Fischers during the spring and fall for many years driving tractor.

I met Dan first through curling, then watching ball, throughout the years at functions, where a cheery hello would be heard and then before he moved to Listowel when he would drop in for a haircut. It was always a pleasure. Our condolences to the Pearson family.

Celebrating birthdays this past week include Don Baan, Jeff McGavin, Gordon Mitchell, Brenda Dalton, Holly Mitchell, Doris Williamson, Dianne Huether, Murray McCall, Brett Stevenson, Cody Glanville, Harvey Shaw, Jacob Schmeltzer, Heather Clarke Joan Ritchie, Marni Knight, Nicole Hodgson, and Angela Fraser.

Happy birthday to all.

NEWS FROM WALTON

holstein cows, $95 to $124; medium holstein cows, $75 to $94; bulls, $101 to $141.

There were 125 head of veal on offer. Beef veal sold $220 to $238; good holsteins, $210 to $229; SL heavy holsteins, $195 to $229; heavy holsteins, $180 to $226; medium holsteins, $190 to $209; plain holsteins, $175 to $189.

Grant Bergsma of Londesborough, consigned three head. One holstein steer weighed 735 lbs. and sold for a price of $228.

Bennewies Livestock Inc. of Bornholm, consigned five head.

One holstein steer weighed 750 lbs. and sold for a price of $229.

Joan Vincent of Wingham, consigned three head. One limousin steer weighed 1,000 lbs and sold for a price of $238.

Lambs, 50-64 lbs. sold $314.50 to $380; 65 - 79 lbs., $321.50 to $337; 80 - 94 lbs., $244.50 to $322.50; 95 to 109 lbs., $227.50 to $249; 110 lbs. and over, $213 to $221.

Sheep sold $125 to $250.

Goats: billies sold $250 to $400; nannies, $100 to $200; kids: meat, $350 to $465; dairy, $275 to $325.

Carman and Cheryl Bridge of Kincardine, consigned 16 head.

Nine lambs averaged 73 lbs. and sold for an average price of $337.

Top quality stocker steers under 400 lbs. sold $245.50 to $272.50; 400 - 499 lbs., $280.75 to $330; 500 - 599 lbs., $293.50 to $337; 600 699 lbs., $267.50 to $304; 700 - 799 lbs., $271. to $288; 800 - 899 lbs., $248.50 to $267; 900 - 999 lbs., $249.75 to $279; 1,000 lbs. and over, $228.50 to $235.75.

Top quality stocker heifers, 400 -

499 lbs., $230 to $249; 500 - 599 lbs., $227 to $247; 600 to 699 lbs., $225 to $245; 700 to 799 lbs., $196 to $230; 800 to 899 lbs., $211 to $226; 900 lbs. and over, $210 to $220.25.

Levie Sherk of St. Clements, consigned 20 head, Five red heifers averaged 802 lbs. and sold for an average price of $226.

Craig Simpson of Glencoe, consigned 15 head. Fifteen charolais heifers averaged 992 lbs. and sold for an average price of $220.25.

Sidney W. Bauman of Wallenstein, consigned 15 head.

Two black steers average 948 lbs. and sold for an average price of 279. Willjonathan Farms Ltd., of Goderich, consigned 58 heard. Nine charolais steers averaged 707 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

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SUDOKU Fun By The Numbers Like puzzles?

Then you’ll love sudoku. This mindbending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test!

Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023.

Classified Advertisements – RATES – 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

Accommodations FOR RENT - ONE WEEK Vacation time at Parkway International Resort in Kissimmee, Florida. Two bedroom, 2 bath, kitchen, laundry - 10 minutes to Disney World, five minutes to Old Town. Pick your time. Phone 519482-5243 for more details.

03-2

Help wanted Help wanted Help wanted Help wanted EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Administrative Co-ordinator – 24 month contract Visit the Township of Huron-Kinloss website to view these employment opportunity. https://www.huronkinloss.com/en/townhall/careers.aspx

Coming events SING! SING! SING! – COME sing with us! The Seaforth Harmony Kings. All welcome, Tuesday nights, 7:15 p.m., Seaforth Public School.

Experience the joy of singing fourpart harmony. For information call 519-887-9181.

03-1b -------------------------------------------JANUARY TAKE-OUT LUNCH – Meat loaf lunch with dessert. $12.00 Trinity Anglican Church, Blyth.

Tuesday, January 24, 11:45 a.m. 1:00 p.m. For ordering/pick-up time call 519-523-9396 or email: mcgregor@ezlink.ca.

Order deadline: Monday, January 23.

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Let us know!

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HELP WANTED Auto Body Repair Person Full Time or Part Time Hours negotiable Experience always an asset but not necessary Will train ....................................

Please bring résumé in person to 290 Blyth Road, Blyth or Email: burkholder-towya@ezlink.ca Only those considered will be contacted

Tenders

Articles for sale 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 -------------------------------------------REPRINTS OF PHOTOS taken by Citizen photographers are available to purchase. All are in colour. 4x6 – $5.00, 5x7 – $6.00, 8x10 – $10.00. Phone to order 519523-4792 or 519-887-9114. tfn -------------------------------------------THE CITIZEN IS AVAILABLE TO purchase at these locations – Auburn Co-op, Auburn Esso, Belgrave Variety, Blyth Variety, Blyth Food Market, Blyth Ultramar, Brussels Foodland, Brussels Variety, Clinton Convenience, Clinton Foodland, 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.

Burkholder Auto Body & Towing

DEPUTY CLERK The Municipality of Central Huron is a friendly, vibrant community of over 7,800 with a unique mix of urban, agriculture and lakeshore. We offer diverse opportunities to live, work and play. We are currently seeking qualified applicants for the position of Deputy Clerk.

Reporting to the Clerk, this Senior Management position is responsible for the daily administration of the Clerk’s Department including corporate Records Management, Licensing, Council and Committee meeting management, assisting with the coordination of Municipal Elections, and more.

The Deputy Clerk supports the Clerk in the performance of all statutory duties in accordance with applicable legislation.

A job description for the position and information about the Municipality of Central Huron is available at www.centralhuron.ca The ideal candidate will have: • Progressive experience in Municipal Government; • Post-Secondary Diploma/Degree in Public Administration, Political Science, Law, Business Administration or related field; • Completion of or working towards the AMCTO Accredited Municipal Professional, Diploma in Municipal Administration, Municipal Administration Program, or similar; • Have knowledge of the Municipal Act, Municipal Elections Act, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and any other related regulations/acts/statutes/legislation; • Excellent organizational, communication and interpersonal skills.

This is a full time, 35-hour-week position with evening meetings.

Competitive salary with benefit package to commensurate with experience. We invite interested applicants to forward a covering letter and résumé by noon (12:00 p.m.) Friday, February 3, 2023 in confidence, to: Human Resources, Box 400, 23 Albert Street, Clinton, Ontario N0M 1L0 or by email: humanresources@centralhuron.com This is a non-union position in a union environment. Terms and Conditions of employment as per all Human Resources policies and procedures of the Municipality of Central Huron. We are an equal opportunity employer and support applicants with disabilities.

Accommodations are available upon request throughout the recruitment process. Please email your request or call (519) 606-1223. We thank all applicants for their interest and advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Personal information being collected will be used in accordance with The Municipal Act and The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and shall only be used in the selection of a suitable candidate.

Call or email us today

Looking for work?

Check out the classifieds!

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

Tenders

FARMS FOR SALE BY TENDER Kenneth Hunking and Shirley Norman invite tenders for the purchase of their two 50-acre farms located at 39158 Hullett-McKillop Road and 82688 Limekiln Line, Auburn Ontario, legally described as Part Lot 35, Concession 13, Hullett, Municipality of Central Huron, with house, shed and 81 workable acres more or less.

For tender forms & other particulars contact: Devereaux Murray Professional Corporation 77 Main St. South, Seaforth, Ontario N0K 1W0 Phone: (519) 527-0850 x. 234 Email: tsmith@devereauxmurray.ca Tenders to be submitted by 12:00 noon on Thursday, February 2, 2023 Highest or any tender not necessarily accepted

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

Let us help you turn that junk into $$ • Free ad up to 25 words, person to person only (no businesses), items valued at $1,000 or less. 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.

Call 519-523-4792 or email: info@northhuron.on.ca FOR SALE - Quantity of 57 old magazines from 1951-1958.

Popular Science, Popular Mechanics, Science and Mechanics, Mechanics Illustrated. $10. for all. Wingham 519-3572850 03-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE - Legmagic exerciser to strengthen hip, thigh and leg muscles, $100. Clinton 519-2339124.

03-3 ------------------------------------------

FOR SALE - air fryer, brand new, bought for over $200, will sell for $85; handmade hooked mats, brand new, Shillcraft yarn. 519-612-1112.

51-3 -----------------------------------------FREE - CPAP machine for a person experiencing sleep apnea.

Wingham, 519-357-1722.

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FOR SALE - Honda H580 snowblower, plug-in option for starting, $500. 226-880-1948.

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

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

THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023. PAGE 15.

Sports U9 Heat head to Belmont Blazers Tournament

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

The thrill of victory The U15 BB Huron Heat defeated the Bluewater Hawks by a score of 2-0 on Sunday in Clinton, thanks in part to this goal being celebrated above after finding the back of the net. (John Stephenson photo)

U21 Crusaders beat Capitals Continued from page 8 Rep team will play the Walkerton Capitals, also in Brussels. The U21 team will play host to the Hanover Falcons in Blyth that night.

On Sunday, the U6 team will play the Thunder in Zurich and the U8 Black team will welcome the Goderich Sailors to Blyth.

The U11 Local League Black team will play the Listowel Cyclones in Blyth, followed by a game between the U11 Local League Burgundy team hosting the Goderich Sailors White team, also in Blyth.

The U11 Rep team will play the Central Huron Predators in Blyth that night, while the U18 Local League Crusaders will head to Listowel for a game against the Cyclones.

On Monday, Jan. 23, the U15 Local League team will play the Wingham Ironmen in Blyth before the U18 Rep team takes to the local ice, welcoming the South Bruce Blades for a game.

The U15 Rep team will be on the road, playing the Mid-Huron Huskies in Seaforth.

On Tuesday, Jan. 24, the U18 Local League Crusaders will play the Mid-Huron Huskies in Brussels, while, on Jan. 25, the U13 Local League Crusaders will welcome the Mid-Huron Huskies to Blyth and the U13 Rep team will play the Huron-Bruce Blizzard, also in Blyth.

On Friday, Jan. 27, the U11 Rep team will play the West Grey Warriors in Brussels, while the U21 team will play the Mid-Huron Huskies, also in Brussels.

The U18 Rep team will play the Mid-Huron Huskies on the

road in Clinton that night.

Looking back at the week that was, on Wednesday, Jan. 11, the U13 Local League team ended a home game in Blyth with the MidHuron Huskies in a 3-3 tie, while the U15 Rep team lost to the Mount Forest Rams on the road by a score of 6-2.

The U11 Local League Black team tied the Mid-Huron Huskies in their first game of the Ernie Clayton HL Tournament with both teams managing to score eight goals each in their Jan. 13 contest.

As part of the Bradford Blue and Gold Classic, the U15 Local League team played the Kanata Blazers, winning by a score of 2-0.

The U13 Rep team lost to the Mid-Huron Huskies on the road by a score of 3-1, while the U11 Rep team beat the Central Perth Predators at the Elma-Logan Arena by a score of 8-1.

The U18 Local League team lost to the Mitchell Meteors on the road by a score of 4-0. The U15 Local League Crusaders’ game against the Howick Hornets was cancelled, while the U9 team played the Howick Hornets in Brussels, but a score was not kept for that game.

On Saturday, Jan. 14, the U11 Local League Black team continued its Ernie Clayton HL Tournament action with a 4-0 loss at the hands of the Warkworth Bulldogs, followed by another loss, this time to the Waterford Yellow team by a score of 4-2.

The U15 Local League team lost their next game in the | Bradford Blue and Gold Classic, falling to the Kanata Cookie Monsters by a score of 6-1, followed by a 5-2 win over the

Cumberland Dukes later that night.

The U13 Rep team played the Kinucks in Kincardine, but a score was unavailable at press time. The U9 team welcomed the Mitchell Meteors to Brussels, but a score was not kept for that game.

The U21 Crusaders fought to a tie with the Central Perth Predators in Brussels that evening, with both teams scoring twice.

On Sunday, Jan. 15, the U9 team travelled to Zurich to play the Thunder, winning by a score of 104. The U21 team also won, beating the Capitals in Walkerton by a score of 3-1.

The U11 Local League Burgundy team played the Listowel Cyclones in Blyth that evening, but a score was unavailable at press time.

On Jan. 16, the U15 Local League team played the Mid-Huron Huskies in Blyth, while, the next night, the U9 team played Zurich in Brussels, the U15 Rep team welcomed the Drayton Defenders to Brussels and the U18 Local League team played the Capitals in Walkerton, but scores were unavailable at press time.

On Jan. 18, the U13 Local League team travelled to Mitchell for a game with the Meteors, while the U11 Local League Burgundy team was also on the road to play the Meteors in Mitchell. The U13 Rep team hosted the Goderich Sailors in Blyth, but scores for those games were unavailable at press time.

On Jan. 19, the U15 Local League team played the Vipers in Arthur, while the U18 Rep team played the Shallow Lake Lakers on the road, but scores for those games were unavailable at press time.

This weekend, the U9 HL White Huron Heat team will travel to Belmont for the annual Belmont Blazers Tournament. On Friday, Jan. 20, they have two games scheduled against Bluewater Hawks teams.

Also that night, the U11 B Heat will host the Lucan Irish in Clinton, while the Senior team will take on Belmore on the road.

On Jan. 21, the U9 HL White team continues its tournament play with a game against the London Devilettes, followed by a game with the London Green Devils. Also that day, the U9 B team will play the Wilmot Wolverines in Seaforth, while the U9 HL Black team will play the St. Marys Rock in Seaforth, the U11 B Heat will welcome the London Devilettes to Seaforth and the U15 BB Heat will be on the road to take on the South Huron Sabres.

On Sunday, Jan. 22, the U13 B Heat will welcome the Kincardine Kinucks to Goderich, while the U18 BB Heat will play the Southpoint Stars in Clinton and the Senior team will play the Upper Maitland Mustangs in Hensall.

On Tuesday, Jan. 24, the U9 HL Black team will play South Huron in Seaforth, while the U9 B Heat will be on the road the next night to play the South Huron Sabres.

Looking back, the U11 HL team beat the Woodstock Wildcats HL Black team on the road by a score of 1-0 on Jan. 13, while the U18 C Heat played to a 1-1 tie with the Lucan Irish in Seaforth.

On Saturday, Jan. 14, the U13 B Heat played to a scoreless tie with the Wild in Woolwich, just as the U11 HL team did with the B.A.D. Blazers in Seaforth.

The U11 B Heat were able to separate themselves from the London Devilettes on the road, winning by a score of 2-0, while the U18 C Heat beat the South Huron

Sabres on the road by a score of 31.

The U18 BB Heat beat the Sarnia Lady Sting in Clinton by a score of 1-0. The Senior team played Milverton on the road that night, but a score was unavailable at press time.

On Jan. 15, the U15 BB Heat beat the Bluewater Hawks by a score of 2-0, while the U13 B Heat beat the Mount Forest Rams by a score of 32 in Goderich and the U18 BB Heat beat the South Huron Sabres by a score of 3-0, also in Clinton.

The U11 B Heat lost to the St. Marys Rock on the road by a score of 3-2 and the U11 HL team lost to the St. Thomas Panthers, also on the road, by a score of 3-1.

The U18 C Heat had better luck on the road, however, beating the London Devilettes by a score of 40.

The U13 C Heat played the Lucknow/Wingham 86ers in Clinton, but a score was unavailable at press time, while the U9 HL Black team played the Jets in Ilderton and the U9 B team played the Wild in Woolwich, but scores were not kept for those games.

The Senior team also played Belmore that night in Hensall, but a score was unavailable at press time.

On Jan. 16, the U9 B Heat played the London Devilettes in a half-ice game in Seaforth and the U15 BB Heat played the Walkerton Capitals in Blyth on Jan. 19, but scores were unavailable at press time.

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PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023.

Obituaries

AUDREY LILLIAN (BRADBURN) ADAIR Audrey Lillian (Bradburn) Adair of Molesworth, passed away at Listowel Memorial Hospital on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. She was in her 97th year.

Audrey was the wife of Jack Adair and the mother of Lynne and Bob Burford, Keith and Debbie Adair, Anne and Doug Young, and Gerald Adair, all of Stratford. She was the grandmother of Pamela and Dean Peckham, Darryl Burford, and Jason Adair and Melissa Verstoep, all of Stratford; Brooke and Ben Groothuis, Kitchener; Sarah Young and Dave Leung, Bowmanville, and Laura Young and Mark Hayman, Ajax, and the great-grandmother of Jack and Matthew Peckham.

Audrey was the sister of Shirley Keys, and Murray and Joan Bradburn, all of London. She was predeceased by her parents Melville and Hester (Johnson) Bradburn, and by her sister Ruth Ballagh.

Visitation was held at the Eaton Funeral Home, Listowel on Tuesday, Jan. 17. The funeral service was held on Wednesday, Jan. 18. A private family interment was at Molesworth Cemetery.

Memorial donations to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Molesworth, or Listowel Memorial Hospital would be appreciated.

Online condolences may be left at www.eatonfuneralhome.ca.

DANIEL “DAN” ALEXANDER PEARSON Daniel “Dan” Alexander Pearson, passed away peacefully on Jan. 11, 2023. He was 76.

Dan was the beloved husband of Mary Jane (Kropf) for 47 years and the loving dad of Jana Maddocks and Clark Wallace, Dan and Linda Pearson and Tom Pearson and Linda Sayavongs. He was the grandpa of Sasha and Harry Van der Wal, Reece Maddocks and Chloe Rocheleau, Evan, Ryan, and Katelyn Pearson, and “GG” of Liam and Caleb Van der Wal. Dan was the brother of Scott and Gail Pearson, and Steve Pearson and Joan Hatcher and brother-inlaw of Teri Pearson and Helene Brassard. He will be missed by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Dan was predeceased by parents

Alec and Edna, brothers Jim and Doug Pearson and brother-in-law Barry Hatcher.

Dan was the master of small talk; he could chat to anyone about anything. He was gregarious, optimistic, and well known in his community. Dan was a life-time member of the Brussels Optimist Club. He loved curling and played baseball at the tri-county level. Dan was an avid golfer, a sport he enjoyed playing with his sons, grandsons, and many friends. He was political, working at the Brussels constituency office for 13 years and loved a good discussion about federal politics. Dan was a great at-home bartender making caesars and tall rum and cokes. But mostly, Dan loved his family. He instilled a level of respect and the notion of work hard/play hard. He enjoyed spending time with his grandkids and great-grandkids, always taking the time to explain and educate, but not forgetting the importance of having fun. Dan was a welcome addition to any gathering and brought many smiles and laughs with him. He will always be remembered for his outgoing personality.

As per Dan’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a celebration of his life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers and as expressions of sympathy, donations to Muscular Dystrophy Canada would be appreciated.

Condolences may be left at riversidefuneralhome.ca.

DON JOSEPH POPPE On Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, a beautiful sunny morning, Donald Joseph Poppe peacefully passed away at London University Hospital. Don was born in Seaforth on Mar. 30, 1971 to Willy and Wilhelmina Poppe and was one of eight children. He will be dearly missed by his siblings and their families: Linda Sinnamon (Brock), Lisa Rapien (Brad), Jim Poppe (Nicole), Brian Poppe (Liz), Rose DeJong (Dan), Rick Poppe (Ange) and Steve Poppe (Janine). He is also survived and dearly missed by his mother-and father-in-law Deb and Gord Phillips, sister-in-law Niki Saunders (Scott), and brotherin-law Toby Phillips (Ange).

Don and his wife, Amanda, were high school sweethearts and were happily married for 31 years. They had four children Jordan, Justin (Hayley), Ryan and Grayce who gave him great joy and of whom he was immensely proud. They, in turn, were immensely proud of their dad and loved him dearly.

Don was a very special Opa to Joseph and Timmy, and always had cheese balls, jujubes and jellybeans on hand for them.

Don was well-loved by many and

will be greatly missed by friends and family alike. He was always helping others and would give the shirt off his back to help a friend.

Don could often be found with a hammer in one hand and a coffee in the other.

Don was predeceased by his parents, Willy and Wilhelmina; and nephew, Eli Rapien.

Visitation was held at Haskett Funeral Home on Wednesday, Jan. 18.

Don’s funeral mass was held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Dublin on Thursday, Jan. 19 followed by a lunch at the Dublin Pavilion Hall. Father Philip presided. Spring Interment will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Dublin.

Donation to the London Health Sciences Foundation - Clinical Neurosciences Program would be appreciated by the family.

ROBERT JOHN (BOB) McCOOL Robert (Bob) John McCool of Clinton, passed away peacefully at Huronview Home for the Aged, Clinton, on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. He was in his 78th year.

Bob was predeceased by his wife Berthena (Cruickshank). He was the loving partner of Mary Elliott for 24 years; the father of Rob (Patricia), and Anjela McCool (Dave Gackstetter), and the proud grandpa of Holly and Owen McCool. Bob was the brother-inlaw of Gwen McCool and the loved uncle of Scott Wolfe (Agnes), Mark Wolfe, Danny McCool, Connie (Arnold) Dawson, and Beth McCool.

Bob was also survived by many great-nieces and nephews and

cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, Fred and Dorothy McCool, siblings Paul McCool, Doris (Roy) Green, Jane (Orval) Wolfe and by his parents-in-law Jimmy and Emma Cruickshank.

Bob worked at the Clinton Piano Factory as a teenager before taking over the home farm. While farming, he worked at Champion Road Machinery for 27 years in the machine shop. He had a genuine love of farm equipment and operated his own used farm implement business. He never missed an auction sale. Bob was known to have a good sense of humour, extensive knowledge of tractors and a love for farming.

Friends were received at the Falconer Funeral Homes, Clinton, on Tuesday, Jan. 17. A celebration of Bob’s life will be held at the Huron Fish and Game Club in Clinton on Saturday, Jan. 21 from 1- 5 p.m.

As expressions of sympathy, donations may be made to the Junior Farmers Association of Ontario to support new farmers or to the Alzheimer’s Society.

Interment will be at Bayfield Cemetery.

Messages of condolence for the McCool family are welcome at www.falconerfuneralhomes.com.

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HILDA MAY JACKSON Hilda Jackson (nee Egger) of Elmira and formerly of Clinton passed away peacefully at Chartwell Long Term Care Home in Elmira on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023.

She was in her 93rd year.

Hilda was the beloved wife of the late James Stanley Jackson (2009) and the dear mother and mother-inlaw of Doug and Donna Jackson, Fergus, Suzanne and Windsor MacDonald, Timmins, Kathy and Dave Newman, Belwood, Bill and Elaine Jackson, Kincardine and Lois Reinink, Blyth.

She will be lovingly remembered by her 24 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren. Hilda was the sister of Ethel and Sam Byers, Dunnville. She will be lovingly remembered by her daughter-in-law Dianne and her husband Gilbert Gieb, Clinton and fondly remembered by many nieces and nephews.

Hilda was predeceased by her son Kenneth (2004), son-in-law George Reinink (2021), sister Rita and her husband Emil Strebel.

Friends were received at Falconer Funeral Homes - Bluewater Chapel in Goderich on Wednesday, Jan. 18 and on Thursday, Jan. 19 from 10 a.m. until the funeral service at 11 a.m.

Following the service, family and friends were invited to the Knights of Columbus Hall, 390 Parsons Court, Goderich for a time of fellowship and refreshments.

Spring interment will be in Baird's Cemetery, Stanley Township.

As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations to the Huron Hospice Bender House would be greatly appreciated.

Messages of condolence for the Jackson family are welcome at www.falconerfuneralhomes.com.

Honour your loved one by placing their obituary in Owned and operated by Mac and Donna Andersoon Assisted by Mandy

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023. PAGE 17.

From the Minister’s Study

God calls those who need the occasional wake-up

By Rev. Alex Jebson, Blyth, Brussels United Churches I was three or four years old. I remember standing in Mom and Dad’s room, picking up the creamcoloured receiver with one hand, and grasping the coiled cord in the other hand so hard that all the colour drained from my fist. It was my first time answering the phone. I can’t remember at this point who it was exactly on the other end of the line. It might have been the farmer the next concession over, the minister or a telemarketer.

But whoever they were, I can assure that they got their eardrums blown out when I very quickly and forcefully yelled, “Hello?... I’m scared!” I slammed the receiver down and ran out of the room in a panic.

Not my finest moment, but I can attest that, over the years, I’ve gotten a little bit better with my phone etiquette. A little bit. But there is a great biblical precedent of being afraid of the call, or otherwise feeling some type of way about it.

We have to ponder – how do we react to the call from God? What are we to hear?

There’s a couple of call stories in particular that reflect this worry about answering the call. The first is one that might be familiar, that of the young Samuel and the old priest Eli (1 Samuel 3:1-20). We find Samuel, unlike a certain other child, eager to answer the call. This is what he had been doing his entire life. Being dedicated to service as a child, Samuel was in a position where he offered his youthful enthusiasm and support to the aged Eli, the priest in residence at Shiloh.

You would think a young teen might have some difficulty having the motivation to stumble out of bed in the middle of the night to cater to someone else, but this was the life that Samuel knew.

Yet, in his third time stumbling from the straw bed and clamouring down the temple hall, Samuel was getting a little disgruntled. The voice had to be Eli’s; nobody else would want to call him. It never crossed his sleep-desiring mind that God might be speaking to him.

God’s voice hadn’t been heard in ages; long-gone was the time when Moses and God were having chats on mountaintops, or God was gabbing with Abraham in the desert. And even if God was suddenly feeling chatty now, God would call the top dog Eli before some nobody servant boy.

Unlike Samuel, who was at least taking the call, Eli had been letting

Evangelical Missionary Church

Sunday, Jan. 22, 10:30 a.m.

Pastor Mike Stanley, “I am The Way, the Truth, and the Life” (Jn.13:31ff)

God go to voicemail for decades.

Appointed as a judge over Israel, Eli was supposed to have his finger on the pulse of God’s works and will for God’s People. However, Eli had long ago hung up on any advice from God, or taking what he believed his calling to be into other areas of his life. Called to lead and embody God’s love and justice, instead his sons were running wild, he wasn’t taking threats to the People seriously, and he was not willing to pass on the torch. Eli was turning a blind eye and blocking his ears, at a time when God was so desperately trying to get through on the party line.

Or perhaps your relationship to God’s call is taking a bit more of a pessimistic tone these days. The call story I can think of that relates is that of Jesus’ disciple Nathanael (John 1:43-51). Living centuries after Eli and Samuel, Nathanael was duly skeptical of the buzz going around about God’s “new thing”. Nathanael had gotten his hopes up before with past persons who showed promise of being the Messiah, only for the call to get cut short. And Nathanael was living in a culture whose main talking point was the Word of the Lord being rare

in those days. Nathanael and countless others were tired of and numbed to the false alarms.

Hearing his friends gush over this new nobody, Nathanael offers a snarky remark: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” To be fair, it was a pretty good soundbite for a disillusioned chuckle of disappointed observers. Forget ignoring the call like Eli, Nathanael and others were pretty sure the line was completely disconnected.

In tumultuous times like these days, when illness and violence and injustices are aplenty, it definitely feels like we are in the time of Eli, where “the Word of the Lord was rare”. Though we are assured that the lamp of the Lord hasn’t gone out, we struggle to see its glow. The winter chills and the Christmas blizzard we just had may have some of our community feeling extra isolated these days, and the cacophony of information thrown at us and voices crying out for justice from the margins make calls hard to hear.

Perhaps you’re identifying with Samuel at this point in your discipleship journey. We might be so conditioned to serve in a particular way and answer to

particular people, that we might not fully comprehend when it is God who is speaking to us. We might not think ourselves worthy to take down the message. We feel too small and insignificant, and we are kind of busy just trying to keep our heads on straight in the midst of a chaotic situation.

Perhaps you’re more of a Nathanael at this point. Less confused, more pessimistic. You might question whether anything good can be found at times like these, and if we are good enough to inspire such goodness ourselves.

Nathanael’s remarks have a part of self-deprecation in there that might dissuade some from their callings; are the Nathanaels, the Samuels, the Galilean nobodies good enough to be called and claimed? Will we get the call?

Through the confusion and doubt, God’s calls to our biblical figures were still heard loud and clear.

God’s call was able to cut through

Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Join Us In 2023, As We

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and compel them to answer because God knew these figures more deeply than they could ever realize.

God knew from the time Samuel was in the womb that he would grow up to be open and willing to serve others. God was persistent in making the calls, and through the Spirit stirred Samuel to seek out the source. Through the calling that God had given to Eli long ago, Eli was able to help guide the young Samuel to understand who it was that was so eagerly beckoning.

Time and time again, God demonstrated that it was often the least and the unexpected who were charged with great callings and important messages, upheld in God’s own assurance and the helpful discernment-guiding of others. Where others might not have thought Samuel of great enough rank to take the call, God saw a chance to ring in a new thing in ways that caused people to pause Continued on page 20

MEL LV VILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

winghamunited@hurontel.on.ca winghamuc.webs.com

BRUSSELS

Sunday, January 22

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. John’s

BRUSSELS 12 NOON

St. Paul’s Trinity

9:30-10:30 a.m.

We extend a loving welcome to all to join us downstairs as Dou ug Sargent leads in worship, praise and prayer to God. A time of fellowship p 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 p by the Brussels’ churches and many volunteers working together to serve our coommunity.

All are welcome!

For pastoral care concerns please call 519-524-7512

WINGHAM 10:30 AM

Come Worship with Us!

BRUSSELS S

U United Chu ur urch S Sunday y, Januaryy 22, 2023 we invite you to worship with us at 11 a.m.

All are welcoome

Fridayy,, January 27 at 2 p.m. p ~ Everyone is invited to “Games T Tiime” Bring a friend and a favourite game or play one of ours.

Sundayy,, February 5 ~ Lunchh after Church followed by our Annual Meetting.

Contact Alex at ministter.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.co y @g om Website: brusselsandblythuc.ca brusselsandblythuc b ca P.O. Box 359, Brussels ~ 519-887-6259 P.

Sunday, January 22 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

For additional details please visit: brusselscommunitybiblechapel.com

Blyth United Church Sunday, January 22 at 9:30 a.m.

Nursery & Sunday School during worship

On-site and online live.huronchapel.com Men’s Breakfasts - Heartland Clinton Jan. 21 8 a.m., Huron Chapel Jan. 28 7:30 a.m.

119 John’s Ave., Auburn 519-526-1131

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."John 1:1 Outreach project is the Northern Huron Connection Centre in Wingham

Contact Alex at: minister.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churches blythunited@tcc.on.ca ~ 519-523-4224

Worship and Prayer Time Loving Fellowship Expository Preaching

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

PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023.

ers t t e L THE TO

OR T I ED Broomball President Taylor goes to bat for Blyth arena

Knotted up The U21 Blyth Brussels Crusaders welcomed the Central Perth Predators to the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre on Saturday afternoon. The teams played to a 2-2 tie as neither was able to find that third goal and claim victory. (John Stephenson photo)

THE EDITOR, I am writing on behalf of the Blyth Junior Broomball League in regards to the proposed idea of closing the Blyth Community Centre, which was discussed at the council meeting on Jan. 12.

I am currently the president of this organization and have been for the last five years. This, in my estimation, is an incredibly bad idea. We at the current time have 136 kids playing broomball from all the local municipalities. These include: North Huron, Huron East, Central Huron, Morris-Turnberry along with four other municipalities. Not to mention that our Blyth Junior Broomball League is one of the biggest broomball centres in the province.

If the arena were to close, it would have a devastating effect on the sport. Considering the number of kids and teams from other centres that are involved, it would

be impossible to try to relocate to another centre. We use the ice Friday nights along with Saturday afternoons. Our ice time does not take into account the senior league, which uses the ice on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Considering the amount of ice time needed along with hockey, it just doesn’t seem feasible to close this centre.

While I do agree with the idea of fiscal responsiblity, it must be accomplished with the least amount of collateral damage. The number of people who would be detrimentally affected must be taken into account and weighed with any decision made. The number of children and families who would be affected is simply too great for the council to ignore.

Broomball has been a part of the community for decades and must not be ignored.

Thank you.

Jorge (Manny) Taylor President Blyth Junior Broomball

Arena needed for mental, physical health, says Fischer THE EDITOR, The Blyth arena is a huge part of our minor hockey program. Blyth Brussels Minor Hockey is very disappointed that the Blyth arena is even being considered for closure.

Our association has kept the same amount of ice rentals for a number of years. Combined with other users, the Blyth ice schedule is full weekly.

Without schools in these small communities, arenas are the hub where people meet to socialize and watch sports activities. It brings people to town to support local businesses.

Parents and kids want to play in their local arena. The Blyth arena is a big part in keeping kids active and healthy both mentally and physically.

Brett Fischer President Blyth Brussels Minor Hockey

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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023. PAGE 19.

Cost savings of summer closure questioned Continued from page 7 further inform council’s next budget meeting, which has yet to be set, and none of these decisions are final.

The second recommendation, regarding hosting a museum in the township, was deferred. A delegation was scheduled to speak to council at its Jan. 16 meeting and council felt it was too early to make a decision until that delegation had an opportunity to address council.

The third recommendation was ongoing with staff and didn’t require a motion.

The fourth recommendation, to ask the county for more funding to host libraries in the township, was also carried, with van Hittersum asking if more funding for childcare facilities could also be requested, which council approved.

Council also directed staff to reduce its annual advertising contribution to the Blyth Centre for the Arts from $15,000 to $5,000 and to discontinue Municipal Civic Night.

Evans’s recommendation was that council reduce the contribution to $10,000, but Councillor Chris Palmer suggested trimming it

further. Council also suggested reviewing further contributions at the end of the 2023 season.

Falconer, however, saw the discussion as part of a bigger one regarding the township’s advertising budget and asked for a staff review of advertising contributions being made by North Huron, which council approved.

Palmer said that the Festival posted a surplus at the end of the 2022 season and, if the Festival was indebted, he said he would feel different. But, with challenging times ahead financially for the township and the Festival in the black, he felt that reducing North Huron’s contribution made sense.

Council carried that motion.

The sixth recommendation, to meet with the Belgrave Community Centre Board to review the current deal between the two, was also passed.

Evans said the township annually contributes between $50,000 and $60,000 to the centre. Palmer said he would be happy to be part of those discussions to see if there were opportunities for cost savings, adding that the centre is important to the community.

There was also a recommendation to include Morris-Turnberry Council in a potential meeting to discuss a shared services opportunity, however, Clerk Carson Lamb said that the current agreement is between North Huron and the board, so council would be inviting in a third party that is not part of the agreement.

Council also voted in favour of the seventh recommendation, directing staff to survey childcare users and provide a detailed update of the required resources and challenges associated with the township’s four childcare programs.

Falconer asked that childcare expansion to Blyth, which he has been asking for for years, be included in the review, which council approved.

For recommendation eight, regarding issuing a request for proposals for grass-cutting at the township’s cemeteries, council was also in favour. However, Falconer recommended expansion of the scope, saying that if cost savings could be found in grass-cutting for the cemeteries, perhaps they could be found elsewhere in the township, which council approved.

Scramble out front On Sunday afternoon, the U18 BB Huron Heat welcomed the South Huron Sabres to the Central Huron Community Complex for a contest that would eventually go the way of the home team by a shutout score of 3-0. (John Stephenson photo)

Barnett to lead Knox service PEOPLE AROUND BELGRAVE

By Linda Campbell Call 357-2188

Sincere sympathy is extended to Kathy McCracken on the loss of her mother Jackie (Rennick) Fines, who passed away on Jan. 7 at Huronlea Home for the Aged in Brussels. Sympathy is also extended to the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The congregation was blessed to have Lila Procter lead the service at Knox United Church on Sunday, Jan. 15. After the lighting of the Christ candle, the Call to Worship was read in unison. After researching, Lila was able to comment and enlighten the congregation on chosen hymns and scripture verses.

Mackenzie Wightman accompanied all the hymns on the piano with Lila Procter and Paul McLaren on their guitars.

Licensed Lay Worship leader Sue Barnett will be the guest speaker at

Knox United Church on Sunday, Jan. 22. Everyone is welcome.

Florence Wightman’s daughter, Marilyn, from Prince Edward County was a guest at her mother’s and came to help celebrate her mother’s birthday.

The Community Coffee Break is on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 9:30-11 a.m. at the Community Centre. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy fellowship, coffee and snacks.

Sudoku Solution

The ninth recommendation - the closure of the Blyth and District Community Centre between April 1 and Aug. 31 - was the first of three r e c r e a t i o n - r e l a t e d recommendations that dominated much of the discussion of the day.

Director of Recreation and Community Services Vicky Luttenberger told council that, during the summer months, the facility is used by the Rutabaga Festival, the Barn Dance Society, a rally car group, the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association and others. She also pointed out that, during those months, the staff carry out maintenance and repairs at the centre that are not possible during the winter when the ice is in.

Evans, however, suggested that, if the centre was to be closed during the summer months, that those staff could be redeployed within the municipality to handle other tasks, including maintenance at parks, which Luttenberger said is already among the tasks being taken on by the staff in the off-season.

Evans also said that, it was his intention with the recommendation, that, even if council voted to move ahead with the recommendation, that the centre could be opened for groups that wished to rent it out, but that it would remain closed otherwise.

Palmer and Wright both spoke against the recommendation, saying they didn’t see the potential for cost savings. Palmer went even further, saying he felt the recommendation lacked relevance to the discussion and should be deleted. A motion to that effect, however, was defeated.

Falconer felt the Blyth centre was being targeted and felt that, if council wanted to review costs and potential savings, the same review should be applied to all of the township’s community centres.

Several councillors, however, didn’t feel that would supply an apples-to-apples comparison when the different services provided in Blyth and Wingham were considered.

Falconer added that he didn’t necessarily disagree with closing the centre in the summer months, given what Evans had said about community events going ahead, but that he felt the same principle

should then be applied townshipwide.

Palmer disagreed, but reiterated that council didn’t want to close any arenas and that, even if the Blyth centre were to close during the summer months, it would be available for rentals, which didn’t constitute much of a change from the current model.

Evans reiterated his earlier stance, saying that staff has brought in a budget with a 20.65 per cent proposed tax increase, council wants an increase of between six and eight per cent, and someone needed to decide how to get there, balancing the needs and the wants of the community.

Palmer and Wright said that before they could weigh in further, they really needed to understand the potential savings associated with a summer closure, as that had not been provided by staff.

Wright then put forward a motion to investigate potentially closing the Blyth centre in the summer months after staff provided a detailed report on costs and potential savings offered by the move, which council approved.

The 10th recommendation - to close the fitness centre at the North Huron Wescast Community Centre in Wingham - was also met with opposition.

Wright said he would be fine with investigating bringing on a third party to manage the centre, as per Continued on page 20

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NEWS FROM BELGRAVE

PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023.

Heffer’s arena review request sparks concern

Continued from page 19 Evans’s recommendation, but now with the set closure date of May 1.

Luttenberger then spoke to council about the importance of recreation to the community, saying that not all benefits to residents can be measured in dollars and cents.

She said that the recreation facilities and programs in North Huron are bouncing back after years of the COVID-19 pandemic and, while they need more time (five years had been forecast), the results are indicating that they are well on their way.

She also pointed out that, before the pandemic, council had harmed the centres by the imposition of non-resident user fees, which not only resulted in lost users from other municipalities, but residents who cancelled memberships in solidarity. She said she has been working hard to bring the centres back to their pre-pandemic levels and that process is ongoing.

Luttenberger told council that recreation centres and parks all run at a loss and have never been designed to make money, saying that they “provide benefits to

residents you can’t measure in dollars and cents.” She specifically cited the Wingham and Blyth community centres and the Blyth Campground, saying those assets mean so much to the community and that closing them or altering how services are delivered would cause damage to the community and harm the township’s reputation with residents.

She said her department is working hard to return to the 2019 service levels and that they are getting there, they just need the opportunity to flourish further.

To the backhand The Goderich firefighters took on the Pro Hockey Heroes in Goderich on Sunday in an effort to raise funds for the Huron Residential Hospice. Despite the firefighters’ best efforts, the retired NHL professionals proved to be difficult to beat, triumphing in the contest by the tight score of 11-10. (John Stephenson photo)

Tell God you’re here: Jebson Continued from page 17 and ponder, through the ears and words of the sensitive and attentive Samuel.

Knowing that Nathanael was more hardened than the open Samuel, the Word made flesh, Jesus, opted for a more stunning revelation of his calling. Jesus wanted to assure Nathanael that he was more than worthy enough to accept a calling as disciple, and what better way than to prove that Jesus knew who Nathanael was and what he could do before Nathanael himself knew Jesus. This shock, this recognition and affirmation of identity and purpose, was enough to bowl Nathanael over, and for him to eagerly accept the call.

And God’s call is still ringing for us today. Through the din and clamour of our times, God is able to reach out to us and inspire us because it is God who fashioned and sustained us all our years. Even when you don’t think God is calling you at this point, chances are God is still reaching out. God’s knowledge of us and our abilities, and God’s persistence in reaching out, inspires us to do likewise towards God. It is a mutual persistence, a party line of voices and hearts eager to share the Good News and aid in God’s new thing. We don’t need to come in knowing all the answers; we just have to be open to what God is saying.

The Womanist preacher Rev. Shantell Hinton Hill puts out the call this way: “When your purpose is your priority, your location and position won’t be problematic…

When God calls, your readiness will provoke God’s revelation.”

God has shown time and time again

that anyone and everyone can be called to aid in God’s work.

At times, we have to bite the bullet and identify with Eli. Part of our being known and named by God is understanding that God wants us to live and act as beloved children, to our greatest potential.

In this love, in this potential to new callings, God brings us to reflect on where our actions might be harmful, and when our established ways and thoughts might not best reflect our call. In God’s calling us, our calls might be renewed and transformed from time to time. But we take this openly and in stride, because we are renewed and transformed in God’s grace.

It is God who calls us and deems us worthy, rather than society’s standards of “usefulness” or “productivity”. So don’t count yourself out, even if others try to!

Perhaps take this time to listen, to be open to God’s call in various ways, or listen to the voices of God’s children calling out the injustices faced in the past couple of years.

Speak words of comfort and faith to one another. Share wisdom and compassion with one another.

Reach out to one another with the attentiveness of Samuel and the wondrousness of Nathanael. And most importantly, in your lives of faith, hear this: you are known, you are loved, you are renewed, and you are called to be a child of God and a support for all God’s children.

You are called, those who feel small and insignificant. You are called, those desperately seeking or doubting God’s assured presence.

You are called, those who need the occasional wake-up call. Just

answer and say, “Hello, I’m here.”

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Van Hittersum then asked that a report be prepared on all of the township’s recreation costs and potential for savings, so council could better understand the kind of savings to the township if certain decisions are made.

Falconer said he was concerned that any real cuts to recreation were being proposed in Blyth, calling the village the “sacrificial lamb” for the budget process. He said that assets like the campground and the arena pre-date amalgamation and were taken on by the community to better the village and that it was disheartening to have to fight for them in this way.

Heffer reminded him that the township is North Huron now and that council is charged with making decisions in the best interest of all of North Huron.

Palmer said he didn’t feel Blyth was being attacked, but that council needed to think through any drastic action on recreation. He said he was in favour of finding savings, but that some of the proposals being discussed, if approved, would have a drastic impact on people’s lives and that needed to be thoroughly considered.

The 11th recommendation - to close the Wingham pool annually for the months of July and August found some favour with council, as Evans said those months, historically, are the least busy for the pool.

Luttenberger, again, came to the defence of recreation, saying that closing the pool for such a long period of time would have an effect on the health and well-being of residents. She suggested, instead, that if council was committed to closing the pool for eight weeks, that they be scattered throughout the year.

Council then supported the final two recommendations, which would be the discontinuation of free recreation programs (instead

moving to a paid model) and the development of a subsidy program for those who are unable to pay.

After the 13 recommendations had been considered, councillors were then free to make motions ahead of the next budget meeting, which is when Heffer asked for a staff review of the community centres in Blyth and Wingham, asking if a community of about 5,000 could support both.

He said he wanted to look at the possibility of using one centre to its full potential and using the other as a “facility for whatever”, suggesting that the township could put its effort into making one centre work.

Falconer said he felt Heffer was driving for the closure of the Blyth arena and said that if council was considering closing one arena, perhaps it should be Wingham’s, which has a far higher debt load than the centre in Blyth if council is hoping to save money.

Heffer said he wasn’t lobbying for the closure of one arena for another, just for a report on the township’s ability to support two.

Council approved Heffer’s request for a report.

Wright then asked if council could prepare another report on finding potential savings with as little of an impact on services as possible, which council also passed.

Falconer then asked for a report from staff about a third-party operator coming in to manage the Blyth arena if council were to decide to close it. Palmer protested, saying council was not considering closing one of the arenas, but Falconer allowed his motion to stand, which was approved.

The next budget meeting was set for Jan. 27, but Clerk Carson Lamb said that, with staff’s to-do list, he felt it should be held at a later date.

Council adjourned the meeting with the next budget meeting date yet to be determined.

UC continues Ukraine support

Wow! Isn’t it wonderful to see the sun these last few days? We have surely been dealing with a dreary stretch, and how long can winter be now that we are halfway through January?

Someone in this household has been watching more hockey than usual since Christmas thanks to two World Juniors tournaments. So, naturally, I have seen my share of snippets of games. I have been impressed by the calibre of play by these teenagers. The men’s hockey teams needed to be 19 at the beginning of this season of play and the women’s tournament was labelled as under 18.

What a wonderful experience it is for those young people to play in events of such a high calibre. Being able to showcase their talent is one thing, but they gain so much in the way of maturity that will benefit them in many other aspects of their lives. Events such as these make us realize just how the world has shrunk in the last quarter- century.

The term a global community comes to mind.

I was also impressed by the interview we watched at the end of the final game with Canadian player, Connor Bedard. He is a player with a great hockey future ahead of him and exultant at having helped Canada win the tournament, in reply to the question about his feelings he replied, “This is not about me: this is about our team.” A mature reply for a 17-year-old player.

This next is an aside revealing the odd way my mind works at times. I know the question of uniforms, at any level of sports teams, is major.

How best to represent a country, team, the colours, etc., is really big business. I loved the socks worn by the men’s team - a stylized red maple leaf. However, watching Sweden play in the uniforms of royal blue pants and helmets and bright yellow shirts was like watching a team of Minions.

Licensed lay worship leader Sue Barnett led the morning worship at Londesborough United Church on Sunday, Jan. 15. Her scripture readings were Isaiah 49: 1-7: Psalm 40 and John 1: 20-42. In her message, Mrs. Barnett suggested congregants make a New Year’s resolution to double their commitment to God and add prayer to every day.

In her time with the children, she talked about being a good disciple

of God by being a mentor/example to other children in their daily activities.

In the Minute for Missions, those gathered for the service learned that the United Church of Canada is sending food and hygiene kits to the people of Ukraine. Nearly eight million people have left Ukraine since the war with Russia began almost a year ago and 90 per cent of them are women and children.

These kits are a reminder to the recipients that the world has not forgotten them and hopefully the items will be of benefit to them.

NEWS FROM LONDESBORO