3 • History 4 • Editorials 9 • Commencement 27 • Obituaries
The
THIS WEEK
Citizen
Huron County’s most trusted independent news source Volume 39 No. 27
Friday, July 7, 2023
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Tigers second in HCFL By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen
Baseball and burgers Nothing says long weekend like some time on the baseball diamond. In Londesborough, on Monday night, the U9 team was in action, welcoming the Wingham Blue team to the community for a game. This came at the tail end of the Canada Day weekend that kept
residents busy with breakfasts, dinners, baseball games and horse racing, among many other things. Most Huron County families, however, were likely to take the extra time for themselves, enjoying time together and perhaps a cool drink and some barbecue in their backyards. (John Stephenson photo)
The Brussels Tigers have moved into second place in the Huron County Fastball League standings, maintaining a record of 6-1 with 12 points, just behind the still undefeated Belmore Stingers, who are 7-0. The Milverton Millwrights are in third place with a record of 5-0 and 10 points, followed by the Sebringville Sting in fourth place with a record of 5-2 and the fifthplace Wingham Hitmen, who also have a record of 5-2 and 10 points. The Mitchell Mets are in sixth place with six points and a record of 3-4, followed by the Monkton Muskrats, who also have six points and a record of 3-4. The Fullarton A’s are 2-3 in eighth place with four points, followed by the ninth-place Brussels Bangers who are 1-7-1 with three points and the Walton Brewers in 10th place with a record of 1-5-1 and three points. The Goderich Grizzlies finally won their first game of the season, earning them a step up into 11th place with a record of 1-7 and two points, with the Wroxeter Rippers occupying the 12th and final spot in the standings with their record of 15 and two points. The Grizzlies earned their first win of the season over the Brussels Bangers on June 30 in Goderich by a score of 7-0. This came after three games on June 28. The Belmore Stingers beat Continued on page 8
Blyth BIA readies for Blyth intersection construction By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen The Blyth Business Improvement Area (BIA) executive held its regular monthly meeting on June 29, which will serve as its final meeting until just before the Labour Day weekend. The first order of business from Chair Angela Cullen was an update on the Blyth Farmers’ Market from Becca Brady, who informed the BIA that the market’s hours would be changed from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to 2-6 p.m. to better coexist with frequent Blyth Festival matinee performances scheduled for 2 p.m. throughout the summer. Cullen and other members of the executive lauded the move, saying it would make the market a more convenient stop for both visitors and residents who work throughout the day.
Treasurer David Sparling suggested noting the time change on the BIA’s two signs at the north and south entrances to the village. *** Cullen also reported that, while unofficial, there seemed to be plenty of interest in the suggested blade signs for main street businesses. She said they will be uniform and generic in their description, meaning that, instead of saying “The Citizen”, for example, it would say “Newspaper”. Some business owners had expressed an interest in getting their own, but Cullen has preached patience, saying that if the purchase can all be done at once through North Huron, the uniformity will be an asset and help the downtown core look better. Cullen said she would follow up with North Huron Economic
Development Officer Demetri Makrakos on the signs, relaying the interest from local business owners to him. Sparling also suggested approaching Blyth Printing to produce the signs, when the time comes, as the business has always been “fair” with the BIA when it comes to projects that aim to better the downtown core, of which Blyth Printing is a member. *** Ruth Baxter, President of the Barn Dance Historical Society, donated $500 to the BIA on behalf of the society to thank the group for its work and support of the Barn Dance Campout and Jamboree weekend in Blyth year after year. In a letter to the BIA, Baxter said the group aimed to donate money to Blyth’s service groups after the 25th and final event, held earlier this year, and that included the BIA.
Over that quarter-century, the society has donated nearly $30,000 from proceeds from the event throughout Blyth. *** As part of his update from North Huron Council, Deputy-Reeve and BIA liaison Kevin Falconer welcomed Dawn Benninger as the new recreation lead hand in Blyth. He said the recreation lead hand in Wingham would also see turnover later this year, as the person occupying it is set to retire next month. He noted road construction on Moncrieff Road is scheduled for the coming weeks, but added that the road would continue to be passable as work went on, and he told BIA members that the tender had been awarded for the installation of traffic lights at the problematic intersection of London and Blyth Roads in the south of the village.
That tidbit sparked some discussion, as members wondered aloud when the work would commence, if the intersection would remain open during the work and, if not, what the detour route would be. If there is to be a detour around the village, Sparling said, the BIA should be speaking with North Huron and Huron County about signage encouraging people to shop in Blyth and visit the Blyth Festival while the work is going on. Due to the lack of specific information at this stage (the tender was only awarded one week before the BIA meeting), BIA members decided they would have to take a wait-and-see approach and make some phone calls before they could know more. *** Wonky Frog Studio owner and local potter Cat O’Donnell and Continued on page 7