THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2023. PAGE 7.
Thompson honours Snell for six decades in business leadership role in the company. Snell says Aitken is, “the heart of the business now.” Despite her reduced workload, Snell remains a very active presence in the store. She can often be found greeting customers, offering advice on fashion choices, and sharing stories about her long and successful career in the retail industry. And while she no longer has to work as hard as she used to,
Snell's passion for the business has not diminished in the slightest. As Aitken takes on an increasingly important role in the company, she carries on the proud tradition of excellence that her mother and father built over many decades. And with Snell still an active presence in the store, customers can rest assured that The Old Mill will continue to be a beloved fixture in the community.
McLellan victorious From Marilyn’s Desk By Marilyn Craig Call 523-9318
Honoured Last week, Huron-Bruce MPP and Provincial Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson, left, presented Glenyce Snell, right, and Amanda Aitken, centre, with a certificate to mark 62 years in business for The Old Mill. (Scott Stephenson photo)
By Scott Stephenson The Citizen Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson paid a special visit to The Old Mill just south of Blyth on Friday, March 24. Thompson presented a certificate to Glenyce Snell, founder of the historic business, in honour of her remarkable achievement of 62 years in operation. Snell's journey to success began after she graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 1960. At that time she would pack her vehicle with leather garments and apparel, travel across a vast territory, stretching from Owen Sound to Sarnia, and sell her wares. With an unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality products at affordable prices, Snell has
managed to keep her business thriving for over six decades. When Snell first opened a store in Blyth, many people doubted her ability to succeed. Even her own father expressed skepticism, telling her, “nobody will come to Blyth.” Despite these doubts, Snell remained determined to make her business a success. Drawing inspiration from popular factory outlets in the United States, Snell believed she could replicate that success in Ontario and built her business into a destination for shoppers from all over the province. Snell credits advertising efforts for the business's longevity and fondly recalls attending trade shows in France and England to stay upto-date with the latest fashion trends. Snell's success at The Old Mill
was not achieved alone. Her late husband Richard was her partner in business and in life, and together they grew The Old Mill into the thriving enterprise it is today. Thompson quipped, “Behind every successful woman is a supportive husband.” Thompson went on to commend Snell’s achievements, stating that the dedication and hard work she has put into her business have helped make Ontario's rural economy strong. During her university days, Thompson found weekend employment at The Old Mill to help fund her studies. As Snell enters her seventh decade in business, she has begun to step back from day-to-day operations at The Old Mill. But the business remains very much a family affair, with Snell’s daughter, Amanda Aitken, taking on a
CH tax rate up 7.52 per cent Continued from page 3 additional motions at the meeting before getting to the business of the budget. Council voted to finance the municipality’s new utilities work centre by way of a loan debenture of $1,466,740 over 10 years at an estimated rate of 3.98 per cent and approved the Isaac Street reconstruction project for the tendered amount of $2,265,916.76, excluding HST. Birnam Excavating Ltd. was the successful bidder of the five respondents. Submitted prices ranged from Birnam’s price of $2,265,916.76 to the Kurtis Smith Excavating Inc. price of $3,348,400. Both tenders excluded HST. To achieve Boyes’ recommended 8.79 per cent tax rate increase, he proposed the following cuts: removing land clearing at the Bluewater Youth Centre ($50,000), costs associated with the Langlois development ($66,000), work on Community Centre Road ($30,000) and work for the Holmesville Hall parking lot ($42,833). However, to reach the 7.52 per cent tax rate increase scenario, council also implemented Boyes’ next three cost-saving recommendations:
removal of the tax stabilization reserve contribution ($50,000), remove Cutter top coat or reduce road reserve contribution ($13,440) and remove Whitehead top coat or reduce road reserve contribution ($41,600). While the Bluewater Youth Centre land clearing can be scrapped from this year’s budget, Boyes said in his report to council, the municipality would still have to fund a species-at-risk study for the land, resulting in just $50,000 in savings for the project, which has been budgetted at $100,000. While some councillors had dabbled with the concept of removing or halving two economic development projects - mural updates in Clinton and Destination Central Huron endeavours, budgetted for $30,000 each - those projects remained untouched in the budget. The total levy for the year, including the 7.52 per cent increase, will equate to a total of $8,857,955.41. This tax rate increase is part of a total levy increase of 9.68 per cent, which results in an additional tax burden of $50.29 per $100,000 of
residential assessment and an increase of $106.11 on an average single-family home in Central Huron. When grouped with the Huron County increase of 6.5 per cent, which was recently approved and finalized by Huron County Council, and a zero per cent increase from local school boards, Boyes said the overall tax rate impact for Central Huron residents in 2023 will be an increase of 6.26 per cent. This results in a total of $719.03 in taxes for Central Huron purposes per $100,000 of assessment in 2023, $500.94 for the county and $153 for the school boards. Boyes will now prepare a tax rate bylaw including a 7.52 per cent tax rate increase for Central Huron purposes to be considered for adoption at council’s April 24 meeting.
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Sympathy is extended to the family of Barb Musty, who passed away on March 21. Barb lived in the area for a few years and then she and Murray moved to Listowel. Happy birthday to Carla Pawitch, who will celebrate on April 3 and John Stadelmann, who will celebrate on April 5. Hope you both have a good day to celebrate. Winners of March 20 euchre were: first, Edna McLellan, 78, and Robert Thomas, 75; second, Shirley Wood, 72, and Mac Brooks, 71; lone hands, Veronique Harman, four, and Jewel Plunkett, five, and share the wealth, Gord Haggitt and Donna Walsh.
Monday Morning Smile is a coffee time from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Trinity Anglican Church in Blyth. Come out and have a laugh or two. It is time to get out that Easter bonnet and have it ready for Monday, April 10.
NEWS FROM BLYTH Drop by the store to an nswer a skill testing question, to be entered into a draw for a gift certificate,, no purchase necessaary, one entry per persoon. Contest runs: April 1 - April A 8
398 Queen Street Blyth, Ontario Phone: 519.523.4276
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