The Citizen - October 28, 2022

Rural Talks to Rural impresses in Brussels

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

With another four days now in the history books, Peter Smith of the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity says the fourth Rural Talks to Rural conference succeeded in bringing rural residents together, which has always been its unofficial mission statement.

The conference went ahead over the course of four days, located at the Brussels Four Winds Barn, marking the first time it had been held outside of Blyth. Smith said it proved to be a great backdrop for the conference, and Paul Nichol of the organizing committee and Community Futures Huron, as well as a Brussels resident, agreed.

Nichol said the sessions were all great and really connected to the community and were at the same time timely and timeless. The four days were themed, with the first day focusing on well-being, the second on housing and the third on climate and community, with the fourth day looking ahead to future considerations.

He said the speakers were world class, which is not uncommon for a Rural Talks to Rural conference, but he really felt it was the best conference yet. Nichol, however, admits that he might be a bit biased, with this year’s event being held in his home community of Brussels.

Smith agreed, saying there was a real sense of community at this conference with how Brussels residents embraced the conference. Attendees ate breakfast at the Brussels Legion every morning and a number of events were open to members of the public. In addition, many of those attending were from Huron East, he said, including many Huron East councillors, which he found very encouraging.

In addition, there were also many familiar faces, like Central Huron Councillor Alison Lobb, Huron East Chief Administrative Officer Brad McRoberts, former Huron County Economic Development Board member Jim Lynn and others, which Smith said helped give the conference a real community atmosphere.

Having good representation locally, in addition to a robust attendance from those coming from around the country and even internationally, Smith said, is essential to the success of the conference, not just to increase attendance, but to diversify the points of view and discussion points.

Singing the blues

Smith said that while the speakers were all excellent, the only direction he gave them was for everyone, during their time on stage, to tell a deeply personal story about themselves. He said that connecting on a personal level is what sets the conference apart and he thought those stories really made for interesting presentations and put forward a sense of community.

Nichol said that, for him and those who were visiting the village, the conference almost served as the jumping-off point that led to hours of conversations every night about what happened over the course of the day.

He also said that the community buy-in, from the team at the Four Winds Barn to those at the Legion was fantastic. He was also impressed with the first-ever R2R Market, which was held on the last day of the conference and brought together plenty of local merchants and producers.

Nichol said that, while he was disappointed that his historical walkabout throughout the villagemaking its way from the Four Winds Barn to Logan’s Mill - was cancelled due to inclement weather, one of his favourite events of the weekend was the Wednesday night concert, featuring Al Lerman.

The Juno Award winner and his band brought together conference attendees, Nichol said, as well as the crowd that would often attend the blues concerts at Cinnamon Jim’s, when it was open years ago, which was a real piece of

Heffer in, Ginn, MacLellan return for next term

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

The ballots have been tabulated and, in many cases, voters chose change around Huron County. As of press time, all of the election results have been classified as unofficial.

NORTH HURON

In North Huron, Paul Heffer is the new reeve, earning 810 votes, representing 44.3 per cent of the vote. The Wingham Ward Councillor unseated both outgoing Deputy-Reeve Trevor Seip (569 votes, 31.1 per cent) and outgoing Reeve Bernie Bailey (410 votes,

22.4 per cent). Newcomer Ranko Markeljevic garnered the support of 38 voters, 2.1 per cent of the vote.

Thirteen people, or 0.7 per cent, abstained from their vote for reeve.

In a very close vote, incumbent East Wawanosh Ward Councillors Chris Palmer and Anita van Hittersum will return to the two available spots, earning 286 and 277 votes, respectively. They defeated Kelly Tiffin, who received the support of 267 votes, or 32.2 per cent of the vote.

In the Wingham Ward, both councillors will be new. Mitch Wright received 820 votes, 41.1 per

cent of the vote and Lonnie Whitfield had support from 527 voters, 26.4 per cent of the vote.

Coming up just short were Stacey Boyd with 451 votes (22.6 per cent), Amy Schiestel with 98 votes (4.9 per cent), Stephen Hill with 61 votes (3.1 per cent) and Tanya Jane Williams with 40 (two per cent).

Eleven people abstained from their Wingham Ward vote.

In North Huron, Patricia Elaine Smith received just over 80 per cent of the vote to be the area’s trustee on the Avon Maitland District School Board, with 1,188 votes. Michel Starenky had the support of

164 voters (11.1 per cent) and Ray Berg received 131 votes (8.8 per cent).

Nearly 11 per cent (179 voters) abstained in the school board race.

Voter turnout in North Huron was 45.9 per cent, with 1,845 of 4,016 electors voting. Five people declined their ballots.

HURON EAST

In Huron East, 30.5 per cent of people voted, meaning that 2,304 of 7,562 electors voted. Ten people declined their ballot.

Incumbent Mayor Bernie MacLellan will return to his post with 70.1 per cent of the vote, the

support of 1,595 people. His challenger, Nancy Craig, received 679 votes, just under 30 per cent of the vote. Twenty people abstained.

In the Grey Ward, incumbent Councillors Alvin McLellan and Dianne Diehl will both return with 305 and 272 votes, respectively, representing 44.7 and 39.9 per cent of the vote. Newcomer Curtis McKinnon received 105 votes, or 15.4 per cent. Six people abstained.

In Huron East, Deborah Logue received the lion’s share of the votes to be the area’s trustee for the Avon Maitland District School

Juno Award-winning blues musician Al Lerman and his band were in Brussels last week to perform as part of the fourth Rural Talks to Rural conference, which was held at the Four Winds Barn. Paul Nichol, a member of the organizing committee, said the performance brought together conference attendees and village regulars often seen at the blues performances of years past at Cinnamon Jim’s in Brussels. (John Stephenson photo)

Conference had community feel

Continued from page 1 connective tissue from the past of the village to the present.

On that note, Nichol said that Dr. Baretta Casey being at the conference, all the way from Hazard, Kentucky also represented a reunion many years in the making.

Casey was instrumental in the creation of what is now the Gateway Centre for Excellence in Rural Health. It was a delegation from Huron East that included people like Joe and Deb Seili and others that made its way to Kentucky to learn about Casey’s Center of Excellence in Rural Health. Having Casey back in Huron East and reconnecting people who were part of that original delegation, Nichol said, was pretty special to behold, especially considering all that the Gateway Centre has gone on to achieve in Huron County.

Smith says he’s already thinking about the next conference, but, as always, it will be a collaborative effort that comes together over the next two years thanks to plenty of input from local stakeholders. However, thanks to the work of Mary Doyle from Rural on Purpose, who was one of the presenters at the conference, the wheels in his brain have begun turning about the potential for a rural futurist planning project, which Nichol said he thought would be a great idea. Smith said it would be a great collaborative effort among the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity, Community Futures Huron and the Gateway Centre.

When looking to the future, Nichol talked about the day themes of this year’s conference. He said that while health care, housing and climate change are all among the most important topics facing rural Ontario today, at the same time, they’re not going anywhere. They’re going to remain issues of concern for years to come, which is another feather in the conference’s cap for its foresight.

Near the end of the conversation, Smith said it was truly inspiring and special to have Citizen Founding Publisher Keith Roulston in attendance for two of the days.

The conference sprouted from an idea of Roulston’s many years ago, Smith said, and he has been involved in the conference since its inception. Having him there, with his years of extensive rural knowledge and curiosity, Smith said, meant the world to him and to many others attending the conference.

Walton-based videographer Nick Vinnicombe was hard at work over the course of the four days making a documentary about the conference, Smith said. He hopes that many of the presentations and panel discussions will be online in the coming months, giving those who weren’t able to attend a chance to learn a bit about what went on. For more information, visit the centre at ruralcreativity.org.

The artistic perspective

Mags Lepine of Defining Doodles was one of the last speakers at last week’s Rural Talks to Rural conference in Brussels. She was on hand all four days and then presented the art she created, inspired by the conference, along the way. (Denny Scott photo)

Logue, Smith claim victory in school board race

Forty people abstained from their councillor vote.

GODERICH

In Goderich, incumbent DeputyMayor Myles Murdock will be the next mayor, succeeding the late John Grace, with 1,844 votes. Murdock beat incumbent Councillor Matt Hoy with 1,496 votes. Sixty-nine people abstained from the mayoral vote.

Trevor Bazinet will be the next deputy-mayor with 1,985 votes, defeating Stephen Tamming with 1,335 votes. Eighty-nine people abstained from the vote.

Liz Petrie (2,632 votes), Leah Noel (2,554 votes), Allison Segeren (2,241 votes), Randy Carroll (2,158 votes) and John Thompson (1,409 votes) will serve as councillors in the coming term. They edged out Chapin Korosec (1,333 votes), Katrina Bos (874 votes), Shawn Thomson (779 votes) and Madeleine Becke (427 votes). Forty-two people abstained from the councillor vote.

The four years ahead

On Monday night, election results across the province rolled in as Ontarians voted for their municipal leaders for the next four years. Several local municipalities, including North Huron, above, held small events to announce the results, welcoming the candidates and their families to celebrate if they proved to be victorious. Above, new North Huron Reeve Paul Heffer, in orange, marked a huge victory as he will lead the township for the next four years. (John Stephenson photo)

Continued from page 1 Board with 1,429 or 77.6 per cent of the vote. Dennis Valenta received 412 votes, just over 22 per cent. Just over 100 people abstained from the school board vote in Huron East.

Incumbent Tuckersmith Councillors Ray Chartrand and Larry McGrath will return for another term, as will incumbent McKillop Councillors Gloria Wilbee and Brenda Dalton.

In Brussels, incumbent Councillor Justin Morrison has been acclaimed, as has newcomer Jeff Newell, while in Seaforth, current Deputy-Mayor Bob Fisher has been acclaimed to return as a Seaforth Ward Councillor, with newcomer John Steffler also being acclaimed.

CENTRAL HURON

Central Huron Mayor Jim Ginn will return for another term with 1,257 votes. He defeated current Deputy-Mayor Dave Jewitt, who garnered 1,147 votes.

Marg Anderson will be the municipality’s new deputy-mayor with 1,477 votes, defeating Jared Petteplace and his 901 votes.

Danny Colquhoun, Jennifer Cox and Everett Smith will serve as the three East Ward Councillors with 934, 1,127 and 923 votes respectively. They bested Jeffery Scholl (595 votes) and Allan Peel (310 votes).

All three incumbent West Ward Councillors - Alison Lobb, Michael Russo and Adam Robinson - have been acclaimed to return to their positions.

In Central Huron, 1,518 people voted for Deborah Logue to be their trustee on the Avon Maitland District School Board, garnering more support than Dennis Valenta and his 516 votes.

MORRIS-TURNBERRY

Morris-Turnberry Mayor Jamie Heffer has been acclaimed to return to his position.

He will be joined by returning incumbent Councillors Kevin Freiburger (720 votes), Jamie

McCallum (689 votes) and Sharen Zinn (590 votes), as well as newcomer Jodi Snell with 587 votes.

Snell’s 587 votes edged out Michie’s 586 by just one vote. Also coming up just short was Dale McFarlan, who received 328 votes.

In Morris-Turnberry, 659 people voted for Patricia Elaine Smith to be their trustee on the Avon Maitland District School Board.

Michel Starenky received 113 votes and Ray Berg had the support of 90 voters.

ACW

Just over 40 per cent of electors in Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh cast a vote (2,377 of 5,861) and two people declined their ballot.

Mayor Glen McNeil has been acclaimed to return to the position,

while Councillor Bill Vanstone will be the next deputy-mayor with 1,480 votes (64.9 per cent). He defeated incumbent Deputy-Mayor Roger Watt, who received 801 votes (35.1 per cent). Ninety-four people abstained from their deputy-mayor vote.

Incumbent Councillors Anita Snobelen, Wayne Forster and Jennifer Miltenburg will return to their positions with 1,298, 1,247 and 1,189 votes, respectively. Joining them will be new Councillors Evan Hickey (1,408 votes) and Curtis Blake (1,328 votes).

Coming up short were incumbent Councillor Gloria Fisher (1,067 votes) and newcomers Patti Wilkins (914 votes) and Peter McKee (824 votes).

Goderich saw a 52.2 per cent voter turnout, with 3,421 of 6,552 electors casting their vote. Thirteen people declined their ballot.

BLUEWATER

In Bluewater, incumbent Mayor Paul Klopp has been acclaimed to another term in the municipality’s top position. John Becker has been elected as Bluewater’s next deputymayor with 1,375 votes.

Greg Lamport has been elected as the Stanley West Ward councillor with 219 votes and Winona Bailey will be the Zurich Ward councillor with 195 votes. Acclaimed are Bill Whetstone as the Bayfield Ward councillor, Scott Harris as the Hensall Ward councillor, Joseph K. Groot as the Hay East Ward councillor, Tyler Hessel as the Hay West councillor and Peter Gordon Walden as the Stanley East Ward councillor.

Thirty-one per cent of electors cast a vote in this year’s election,

with 2,765 of 8,913 people casting their vote.

SOUTH HURON

Incumbent Mayor George Finch will return to his position, earning 2,073 (57.9 per cent) votes. He defeated Maureen Cole, who received 1,506 votes, or 42.1 per cent. Incumbent Deputy-Mayor Jim Dietrich will also return with 2,189 votes, representing 62.1 per cent of the vote. He defeated Karen Brown, who received 1,338 votes, 37.9 per cent of the vote.

Marissa Vaughan and Milt Dietrich will serve as the two Stephen (Ward 1) councillors in the coming term, with 690 and 388 votes, respectively.

The pair defeated Philip Van Raay (361 votes), Dianne Faubert (290 votes), Wendy McLeodHaggitt (298 votes), Wayne (Norris) Desjardine (196 votes), Sheila Preszcator (63 votes) and John  Pond (49 votes).

Aaron Neeb (1,234 votes) and Marc Thomas Denomme (1,114 votes) will serve as the two Exeter (Ward 2) councillors, defeating Barb Ferguson Willard (974 votes).

Ted Oke has been acclaimed as the Usborne (Ward 3) councillor. Robert Hunking has also been acclaimed as the community’s trustee for the Avon Maitland District School Board.

HOWICK

There was no election-night action in Howick, as everyone who put their name forward back in August had been acclaimed.

Incumbent Reeve Doug Harding will return to his position, while Councillor Megan Gibson has been acclaimed to the deputy-reeve position for the coming term.

Incumbent Councillors Doug Hargrave and Marvin Grimes will return to their positions. Rosemary Rognvaldson has been acclaimed to the third councillor position. She ran for reeve in 2018, but lost out to Harding.

apt we are to live and act as if it were otherwise—to speak of... my health, my strength, my riches, my household treasures.

How prone are we to live independent of Him, forgetful of the Divine Hand which fills our cup, and interweaves our life with happiness.

Whatever our prized possession may be—it is His giving. It was He who planted. It is He who waters every moment—who nurtures and fosters delicate stem and leaf and bud and fruit, lest anything may hurt it.

Away with that guilty atheism which dethrones God from the sovereign control over His own world—which speaks of chance, good luck, good fortune, happy coincidences.

Rather, strive to inscribe above every loan given to you by the Great Proprietor, “This also comes form the Lord Almighty!”

A Grace Gem

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

Founding

Editorials Opinions

Sliding in unnoticed

School board elections have traditionally been the sleepy cousin to municipal elections with even lower voter turnouts. The centralization of decision-making probably has a lot to do with that, with most parents and voters feeling quite disconnected from the education system. Once upon a time, a school board consisted of the parents of a one-room school and members could make the decision of who taught their children, what the curriculum was and how it was delivered. Gradually, this has disappeared and the school board superintendents and the trustees that oversee the system now look after thousands of children spread over multiple counties. As a result of this disconnect, many voters ignore the trustee races. In North Huron, over 10 per cent of the ballots returned for the Avon Maitland District School Board position were abstained.

Unfortunately, voter apathy has allowed some factions to use this as almost a loophole, running candidates in school board elections where they perceive a better chance of winning. In Ontario, a so-called “antiwoke” parent group was endorsing candidates who they believed would promote a more conservative curriculum. While trustees in Canada have limited say over what is taught or how it is taught, these groups see raucous board meetings in the United States over sex education, mask mandates, etc. and believe that they can exert the same influence here.

It’s up to us as voters to pay attention to what the trustee candidates are campaigning on and make sure that the education system isn't just an easy way for them to get elected to an office. – DS

Is anybody home?

According to the Toronto Star’s Queens’ Park Bureau Chief Robert Benzie, Premier Doug Ford is planning “sweeping” new housing legislation that will override municipal zoning rules to allow for the construction of duplexes and triplexes and remove rules that favour single-family homes and curb multi-dwelling units. The legislation will also aim to fast track the planning process in a number of ways.

Ontario is experiencing a housing supply crisis - there’s no arguing that. In fact, the Huron County Planning and Development Department is already hard at work at Official Plan changes to increase density in areas throughout the county to tackle this exact problem and developers are snatching up every piece of vacant land they can get their hands on to meet the ever-rising need for housing. The difference is that Huron County professionals are doing so locally with their own knowledge of their community. Residents of this area, more than many others, can speak to government overreach at both the federal and provincial levels and they know it very rarely has a happy ending.

The area needs housing and it’s possible that Ford’s plan to cut red tape may strike some of the right notes, but one has to always be wary when changes are identified as sweeping. This is especially true in a community that has a long history of having its own, rural-specific needs trampled by legislation that is often conceived, debated and confirmed in the province’s larger urban centres.

It was Central Huron Mayor Jim Ginn who, as the Huron County Warden, championed the idea of applying a “rural lens” to any sort of rule-making in the county. Let’s hope that concept isn’t the baby being thrown out with the bathwater as the housing crisis continues to worsen and desperate governments make rash decisions. – SL

The local level

At The Citizen, we are quite attuned to how decisions made at the local level can have an outsized impact on our day-to-day lives. Whether it’s local politics, the impact of volunteers and service groups or the importance of a local economy, we are right there. We occupy a mainstreet office and connect with these locals on a daily basis. Sure, we’ve photographed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a pair of local events and interviewed Premier Doug Ford one-on-one before, but as far as day-today life in Huron County, it’s the locals who keep the world spinning.

That’s why it’s always a little disheartening to see the low voter turnout in municipal elections. Whether you love him or hate him, Trudeau doesn’t have as much of a say in your life as you think he does, and Ford spends most of his time building highways in urban centres. It’s our local councillors who make the decisions that we notice every day, even if we don’t notice ourselves noticing them. They approve housing and development in our towns and villages, adjust speed limits and work to calm traffic in problem areas and support our community centres and halls, volunteer-run events like breakfasts and dinners, fall fairs and reunions and memorable events like homecoming celebrations.

If you’re taking the time to read this newspaper, and specifically this editorial, we’re preaching to the choir. You’re involved, informed and curious about what goes on in your community. The fact remains, however, that, in most municipalities, with voter turnout figures floating between 30 and 40 per cent, it’s more likely that a neighbour or friend didn’t vote than they did and that really needs to change. – SL

Looking Back Through the Years

October 28, 1965

Over 500 people from all across the province (including some who were turned away) made their way to Brussels for Jack Thynne’s farewell concert. Known locally as The Kansas Farmer, Thynne sung, told stories and played violin over the course of the night with the help of a team of other performers.

Dr. John MacKenzie M.D. was set to open a new part-time office in Brussels at the location previously occupied by Dr. Noble. A graduate of Ottawa University and former intern at Victoria Hospital in London, MacKenzie was serving as the medical officer at the Clinton Air School.

Joyce Kellington was honoured by the Brussels Girl Guides with her Golden Cord, the highest honour in Guiding.

After three nights of bowling in Brussels, Willis Knight sat atop the men’s singles standings with 223 points. Barb Bray led the women’s singles with 230 points. Lois’ Lions led the league’s team standings.

October 29, 1975

The roller skating season at the Blyth arena wrapped up, ending one of the most successful years in the sport’s local history. Receipts for the year totalled just under $4,000. After expenses incurred over the course of the year, the profit came in just under $1,500, which would be used for recreation programs throughout the village.

Harold W. Maize filed a negligence suit against the Huron County Board of Education for an incident in which his 11-year-old daughter was injured during a sporting event at Brookside Public School. While the Ontario Supreme Court writ had been filed on Oct. 23, it hadn’t yet been served.

October 29, 1997

Glenna Stephens of the Highland Apartments in Morris Township celebrated her 99th birthday with her friends and family members on Oct. 22. Stephens moved to the village in the 1940s when her husband, a doctor in England, set up a practice in Brussels.

Doug and Marj. Fraser of Walton recently returned from Branson, Missouri, where they took in a Bobby Vinton concert for their 49th anniversary. As part of their special celebration, Doug was able to get on stage with Vinton and sing a love song to Marj. with Vinton for the couple’s anniversary.

Scott Driscoll, a linesman in the National Hockey League, visited the students at Brussels Public School as part of the school’s annual reading program. He spoke about his unique profession and the world of professional hockey and, of course, why reading is so important.

Members of the Furano Natural Studio in Japan made a quick stop in Blyth during their Canadian tour. Five years earlier, the group performed in Blyth, staying with local families.

The ties between the Blyth Festival and Japan dated back to when The Tomorrow Box premiered at the Festival. It would eventually gain a large following in Japan after premiering in Blyth.

November 1, 2012

The Gateway Rural Health Research Institute officially signed a memorandum of understanding with Georgian College. With the partnership in its infancy and not many details available, representatives for the two parties said they were very much looking forward to working together.

President of the centre’s board of directors Gwen Devereaux said it reminded her of the early days of the centre, when a group of community members travelled to Hazard, Kentucky and the concept for Gateway began materializing. In those early days, the centre had partnered unofficially with Georgian College, but no documents had been signed until 2012.

The Blyth Festival unveiled its 2013 season, which would include three world premieres under the watchful eye of Artistic Director Peter Smith.

The season would open with a remount of Dear Johnny Deere, the wildly successful musical from 2012 featuring the songs of Fred Eaglesmith. It would continue with Beyond The Farm Show, directed by Severn Thompson, YorkvilleThe Musical, directed by Donna Feore, Ted Johns’ Garrison’s Garage and Prairie Nurse, written by Marie Beath Badian.

Steve Howson was named the Citizen of the Year Award winner for Blyth, thanks to his work with the Blyth Lions Club and local hockey association. His most recent work with the club included being instrumental in planning a fundraiser for fellow Lion Jim Johnston, who was injured in the tornado that ripped through Goderich and several adjacent communities in 2011.

New and improved LED street lighting in Central Huron’s outlying communities like Londesborough, Auburn and Holmesville was being planned, but the upgrades were likely to result in significant increases on the tax bills of residents of those areas in the coming years.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright

Other Views

Of all the special days that have changed since I was a lad, I’m guessing Halloween may be the one that has changed the most.

These days, Halloween seems second only to Christmas in the inordinate amount of attention given to it, and the money spent on its celebration. Stores start trumpeting their Halloween merchandise before Thanksgiving and the fuss increases right to the last moment.

Halloween, when I was a kid growing up on the farm, was very much a home-made holiday – it’s all we could afford. We might buy a mask, but the rest of our costume was pieced together from what was available around the house. There were probably lots of cowboys, since most boys had hats and imitation six-shooters. There were few girls in our neighbourhood, so I’m not well-informed on their choices in that era.

Once we were costumed, the excitement began. Off we’d walk down the farm lane, joining up with the other farm kids and going from house to house. At each, we’d get homemade candy. (It was in the days before a few malcontents changed Halloween forever by putting razor blades in candy. These sick idiots must be heroes to commercial candy companies!)

I still remember one elderly neighbour who made a game every year about trying to unmask the little visitors, playfully chasing one or more around her kitchen before giving in and offering her candy.

The innocence of those days was changed when it became known, one year, that there was a rabies outbreak in local foxes and other wildlife. I guess rabies had been around but we youngsters weren’t aware of it, and it was in the days before officials dropped baits to inoculate the animals. Neighbours arranged to

Takenote, new council members (and old council members, for that matter, because we do have a number of them in the area) that communication is key to making sure your constituents don’t feel that you’re just rubber-stamping issues and pushing your own agendas.

Whether it’s campaigning for an election or just the regular duties of the municipality, keeping an open line of communication with the people you represent should always be a top priority and, recently, we’ve seen just how important that is.

Take, for example, Ashfield-ColborneWawanosh (ACW) Township Council. A number of years ago, ACW Council members decided it would be best to hold their meetings in the mornings, saying that, if they had significant negative feedback or saw a drop in attendance, they would look at returning to night-time meetings or consider other options.

As was explained by council members during ACW’s all-candidates meetings, that negative feedback never came and attendance didn’t go down. As a matter of fact, some people said there are even more people in attendance at their meetings (though, as someone who sat through those meetings during the tumultuous turbine era, I can tell you that resulted in month after month of standing-room-only meetings).

Council did, however, get some feedback during the all-candidates meetings that the daytime meetings weren’t ideal for everyone. As a result, council decided to start another pilot project that will see evening public meetings, for things like planning issues, held during a monthly meeting on the second Tuesday of every month. Like the move to daytime meetings, council members said if

Keith Roulston From the cluttered desk

drive us from house to house that year, but some of the fun was gone.

On the other side of the holiday, there was less celebration in what older boys would make of Halloween. The most elaborate of these stunts that I remember, took place at the old two-storey Lucknow Public School that I attended, when some industrious boys dismantled an ancient horse-drawn delivery wagon at a nearby business, hoisted it piece by piece to the roof of the school, and put it back together on the roof. There it remained the next day when we returned to school. I never learned how officials got it down when cranes weren’t used.

Not all the trickery from older boys was so cute. When I got older, I remember that part of our same gang set out to shut off the switch to a neighbour’s electricity while he was milking his dairy cattle with his electric milkers. It had happened before, so when we got to the neighbour’s we found a band of wire around the electrical box to prevent us from repeating the stunt. Some of the youngsters simply got into the nearby tool shed and borrowed wire-cutters, cut the wire and turned off the power. We learned later that the farmer had just bragged to his wife on how he’d outsmarted the kids, when the power went out. It was only later, when I began milking myself, that I felt badly about how much time and effort would have been

needed to clean the milkers before milking restarted.

Unfortunately, the vandalism surrounding Halloween just got worse and worse for several years. I recall, in my early years of publishing, that stories would circulate about fires on the main streets of various communities as young people (mostly boys) got together. It’s a side of Halloween that we’re not at all sorry to see disappear.

So now it’s back to being a holiday for little kids. But, oh, how it’s changed! I remember when one daughter moved to the country and bought candy in preparation to welcome young visitors as she had done when she was young. No one came. Later, she learned that all the kids went to town where they could visit more homes and get more candy in the limited time they had before bedtime.

We haven’t had a single Halloween caller for years. We did have the children of a neighbour new to Canada from Europe one year and had to scramble for something to give them, but they caught on quickly and we’ve been alone for years now.

Meanwhile, kids have been given an introduction to capitalism – making the most of your time and resources to accumulate the most you can. For urban residents, where Halloween used to be a chance to get to treat your neighbours’ children, they may not even know the kids who call anymore. They simply dish out more and more purchased candy.

And if the big losers are the homeowners who seem to shell out an endless stream of goodies, the big winners are the stores and manufacturers who sell and make the candy and costumes the kids wear. I’m sure the kids still have fun, but they also learn the modern consumer’s lesson: you can always have more!

Oh, how Halloween has changed Four more years We have a failure to communicate

Denny Scott

Denny’s Den

there was negative feedback, they would look at alternatives.

The move wasn’t without debate, however, as the price for the meetings, which, annually, will be over $23,000 per year if a meeting is needed every single month, ruffled some feathers.

Outgoing Deputy-Mayor Roger Watt, however, hit the nail on the head when he said that saving that small amount of money (small compared to the municipality’s overall budget) paled in comparison to keeping open communication lines with constituents.

Another great example of the importance of communication is the all-candidates meetings that were recently held. Those meetings let voters get to know who was running and who really had the best interest of their communities at heart (and, inversely, who was only in it to push their own agendas). Only time will tell if those forums proved to be a successful way for people to decide who should run their municipalities, but at the very least, they happened.

Some avid readers of The Citizen may have noticed in last week’s issue that we had to borrow a story (with permission, of course) from one of our neighbouring newspapers to keep up with the importance of communication. The story (which covered the Morris-Turnberry all-candidates meeting) proved to be very important, because it was one of the few meetings that allowed

people to hear from the candidates for the school board elections. Unfortunately, I had taken ill the day of the meeting, so I couldn’t attend.

The North Huron all-candidates meeting held in Wingham didn’t include the school board trustee candidates (though, with the number of people on the stage, that might have been done out of necessity). The Blyth Business Improvement Area (BIA) was told by North Huron staff that, as a committee of council, the BIA shouldn’t be holding an allcandidates meeting (though how that squares with other municipalities just straight-up hosting their own all-candidates meetings, I’ll never know).

As a result, the Morris-Turnberry meeting ended up being the only time that people in northern Huron County had the opportunity to hear from the candidates for the school board trustee positions, meaning that was the only chance to hear about their plans for the future and whether or not the candidates wore tinfoil hats, by, you know, saying things like COVID-19 didn’t exist and the world was “conned.” (Don’t bother writing in to refute this, I know people who have lived through COVID-19 and who still suffer the effects of long-COVID. Anyone claiming it isn’t real should seek professional help.)

So, to our new councillors (and to the seasoned ones who may need a reminder), communication is key - don’t forget that you were put in power not just to make decisions, but to relay information, both to and from ratepayers. Congratulations to those who won and, to those who didn’t, maybe, in the words of Strother Martin’s The Captain from Cool Hand Luke , you had a “failure to communicate” with voters. Or maybe you just wore a tinfoil hat.

Shawn’s Sense

Thevotes have been (unofficially) cast and candidates are either basking in the thrill of victory or suffering the agony of defeat. To go back to Seinfeld’s Frank Costanza, who is quickly becoming the patron saint and North Star of this column, guiding it gracefully to where it needs to go: “I’ve got a lot of problems with you people. Now, you’re gonna hear about it!”

There’s a thought, written or unwritten, that journalists such as myself should stay out of the opinion game when it comes to an election. As votes are being cast, we do our best not to sway public opinion one way or another. Our impact, even if we were to weigh in, could be debatable. But, unlike a big daily newspaper that endorses candidates and writes editorials meant to guide voters one way or another, we think it’s right to just let the vote play out.

Now, however, decisions have been made and here are a few observations from my desk.

First off, voter turnout. Come on, guys. As I  churned out quick stories on the results for our website on Monday night, I was proud of a community when it cracked the 50 per cent mark for voter turnout (only one, Goderich, at least according to those that reported that figure). I had to stop myself and think about just how abysmal a voter turnout of half is. Secondly, the results.

There were some races in the community in which, frankly, I wouldn’t have wanted to vote. In Central Huron, for example, Jim Ginn and Dave Jewitt were both very qualified for the mayor’s position. Choosing between them would have almost been a coin flip for me, so I didn’t envy the voters in Central Huron.

In some of our other communities, the surprise really was how many poor candidates received votes. Either people didn’t read up on the candidates, attend all-candidates meetings or just committed themselves to voting against an established name on the ballot, but regardless, the number of votes cast for mean, childish and dishonest candidates is baffling.

Sure they lost - in some cases rather badlybut the fact that votes are even being sent in some of these directions is quite disheartening.

Then we come to the school board trustee race. The Citizen has been called out for not providing enough information on the people running for these positions and that criticism is valid. To be fair, these races had always been a bit sleepy, featuring well-intentioned, if imperfect, people wanting to get involved in the education system, giving it their best.

Citizen Founding Publisher Keith Roulston has often made the point that every time the school board has grown (from one-room schools to the community to the county to now two counties) people have gravitated further and further away from their representation.

Now, however, something more sinister appears to be afoot. As reported by numerous outlets (and tackled by Publisher Deb Sholdice on page four), there seems to be a concerted effort to install “anti-woke” trustees in school boards across the province in an effort to roll back the curriculum on certain flashpoint topics that concern extreme right-wing voters.

We saw that in our area. Whether it was Mr. Litter Box, Captain COVID-isn’t-real or Colonel Can’t-trust-the-government, we had people wanting to be school board trustees who, frankly, didn’t appear to have the best interests of Huron County children at heart. Disheartening to be sure, but a reminder that we need to remain vigilant when we vote.

The next four years will be challenging and we’ve now chosen our leaders. Let’s hope we didn’t screw it up.

Lighting the lamp

The U15 Huron Heat BB team was in action on Sunday in Clinton at the Central Huron Community Complex, taking on the South Huron Sabres in one of the teams’ first games of the season. The Heat came out flying, beating South Huron by a score of 2-0. (John Stephenson photo)

Legion hosts Lions, Optimist Clubs

By Jo-Ann McDonald

The Brussels Legion Branch had some busy mornings this week. The Branch had the pleasure of serving breakfast for the 2022 Rural Talks to Rural Conference held at the Four Winds Barn. Breakfast was served from 7-8:30 a.m., so it was an early rise for the Branch helpers. Co-ordinators were Deb and Eric Ross and they had helpers which included Judy Lee, Marni Knight, Perry and Julie Pearce, Deb Seili and Sandra Brown. Great job folks!

This Friday night is karaoke, following the Catch the Ace draw. It is also the Halloween party, so dress

up and come out for some fun.

The winner of the Catch the Ace draw on Oct. 21 was Lynda Smith. She won $161 and chose envelope number three. The queen of clubs was found. The estimated jackpot for this week’s draw is $2,700. This week the pub grub is poutine.

The first Friday in November is the first progressive euchre night. Bring a partner. Call to register at 519-887-6562 by Nov. 2.

The Thursday night darts is in the organizing stage and we hope to be ready to go by the first week in November. Watch for details.

Monday night was a double event

night at the Legion. The members of both the Lions Club and Optimist Club enjoyed roast beef dinners. There was lots of help by our fellow Comrades which made the night go well. Helping for the Branch with set-up on Sunday, were Jo-Ann McDonald, Karin McDonald and Marni Knight, pie-making by Sandra Brown and Jo-Ann and kitchen help and serving and cleanup was taken care of by Judy Lee, Jo-Ann, Marni, Deb Ross, Kathy Burkholder, Deb Seili, Mabel Glanville, Sandra Brown and Nanci Ducharme. It was a great night with a great bunch of workers.

McInness to speak on Foodgrains Bank

By Betty Graber

The harvest continues in our area. The process is a wonder. Watching the labour involved as the seasons move along and the field cover changes, is a marvel. From seeds to mature crops to the processing that gives such a variety of end products to the world, no wonder we watch in amazement yearly as farmers direct a new miracle for our good.

As we share our wealth and resources with the world, it’s good to know the impact charities have. Canadian Foodgrains Bank is seen as one of the top 10 impact charities. For years, our area has supported the Foodgrains Bank, either with crops, product or money. A 15-member board, representing 12,000 congregations across Canada, offers hope to partners in 34 countries. That is one of the strengths of the bank: knowing and working with partners. The need is assessed and food in many forms may be shipped.

Conservation agriculture and the principles are also available to the partners. Leaders are trained with the goal of self sufficiency. Nearly 830 million people in the world are known to have severe hunger and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank offers hope to the starving world.

The United Church in Brussels is hosting Steve McInness on Sunday, Oct. 30 at 11 a.m. You are invited to come to worship and enjoy lunch. You’ll learn more about Canadian Foodgrains Bank from Steve and loose cash during offering and

donations at lunch will go directly to this very good cause. Significant donations will be given receipts. We are blessed and need to share. Imagination is a wonderful thing. Watching the fences at the arena and the piles of dirt in the new development, it’s fun to anticipate the future with these projects in mind. Really, there is more going on than fences and dirt piles.

Halloween is fast approaching and the younger you are, the slower it comes. Hark and Weston in Alberta, have been showing me costumes in various states for a few weeks now. It appears all of October is for dress-up. Good idea.

Stay vigilant. Sloan, 11-year-old grandson in Barrie is part of the new COVID-19 statistics. With vaccines and immunity, the illness tends to be less severe, but still enough to let you know you are not well. So repeat again, get your mask on when warranted and wash your hands as needed, especially when you get home.

Enjoy the last few days of autumn.

Bye now, Betty G.W.

This article goes out to a group of people I hold in high regard: the Brussels Leos Club. Of course, I will take full credit for providing them with my expert guidance in their early years. But to this day, they exemplify all that is good and hopeful about our youth of today.

Take, for instance, their ongoing efforts to raise funds for community betterment in Brussels. I, for one, have donated thousands and thousands of dollars toward their beer bottle drives. As a matter of fact, if all that money had gone to the federal government, we would have paid off the national debt in no time. The last time I was at the Leo Club drop-off, I told them they had to slow things down a bit. I couldn’t possibly drink enough to pay for the entire Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre renovation project by myself. I even had to extort my sometimes friend King William III and tell him he needed to

step up to the plate and quaff some more for the cause. (Although, to give him full credit, it didn’t take too much convincing.)

Some of your readers will recall that the Brussels bottle return was at Bill Moses’ place. He was a fine personage of a man. One time, he said to me, “I can’t understand why you would drink Moosehead, but then again it’s in your blood.” I asked him what he meant by that. He said, “your grandfather liked the Moosehead, and what is more, you remind me a lot of him.” “How so?”

I asked.

“Well, son - first of all, it’s your stature. For instance, you are tall like him, but if you keep drinking the Moosehead the way you do, you’ll soon be as tall lying down as you are standing up.” I replied “No, no, sir.

You are mistaken. You are confusing The Kansas Farmer with his sidekick Slim McClory.” Moses replied that Slim McClory was not slim either, but he was a monkey’s

uncle, whatever that meant.

Well, 30 years later, old Bill Moses was right about my girth. But that’s not all….

He also said, “ your facial features are also similar to your grandfather’s. In particular, it’s your nose. You have the exact same nose as your grandfather.” Admittedly, he was right. To this day we call it the “Thynne Pug”. Not exactly complimentary for our breed of humans, but it’s just something we have to live with in this family. Similar to our high intellect. As always, old Bill was spot on. Of all the fine things they said about him, people still recollect that everyone said, “Bill Moses knows his noses.”

Anyway, what was I talking about? Oh yes. I encourage everyone to support the Brussels Leo Club in their endeavours. They are a great bunch of young folk, despite everything I taught them. Truthfully Yours, The Kansas Farmer.

Burkholders mark 50 years in business in Blyth

By Denny Scott The Citizen

Burkholder Auto Body and Towing is celebrating 50 years in business this year and the Burkholders recently shared some insight into what makes a company last that long with The Citizen

While Bill and Brenda Burkholder are at the helm of the company today, along with their son Shane, it was Bill’s father George and Bill’s uncle John who first had auto businesses in the village, one where the current shop is located and one where the Blyth Laundromat is located now. This was in the early 1960s, Brenda said. George and John eventually went their separate ways, however, in 1972 George returned to the business, starting bodywork and towing.

“Bill was still in high school and worked nights and weekends along with his dad,” she wrote. “He then did his apprenticeship, obtaining his auto repair licence.”

After the untimely death of Bill’s youngest brother Wesley, George and his wife Nellie decided to sell the business and move back to Cochrane where the couple had previously lived. This was in 1981,

she said. In 1983, Brenda and Bill bought the company and have been running it ever since.

Bill and Brenda’s son Shane, who, like his father, grew up working with his dad in the family business, joined in 2006.

Operating a towing business 24 hours a day, seven days a week wasn’t easy, she said, to say nothing of the body shop as well. She said it was draining mentally, emotionally and financially, and also made raising a young family a challenge as well. Bill was also a volunteer firefighter for 40 years. Despite the complications, hard work and perseverance led to loyal customers and a good business, she said.

“Our customer base has continued to grow as we tow and do work for many companies and businesses in Huron and the surrounding counties,” she said.

While the customer base has grown, the company itself has as well, with additions being made to the shop and fleet, as well as a paint booth for larger trucks.

The job can be challenging, she said, but the training and experience that each driver has can make it look easier than it is, even when dealing with high-stress situations like collision scenes or fatalities.

Towing isn’t the same as it was in the past, she said, as vehicles used to be pulled with slings.

“Now you have what is called an under-lift on the back of the tow truck,” she said. “You could not tow them with a sling anymore as they would get damaged because most of the materials are now made of plastic.”

The switch to plastic has also changed bodywork, she said, as cars and trucks used to be built by bolting pieces together.

“Now everything is plastic and snaps together or is held by plastic clips,” she said. “It makes it harder to repair vehicles when factorymade pieces are basically a onetime-use item… and putting on new plastic with old vehicles [results in] them not fitting in the same place.”

Even more changes came through the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, she said, as towing is considered an essential service. She said it was nice to know how important their work is, especially in such a “chaotic and challenging time”.

Brenda said that staying at home while her husband, and now her son, are out on the road is also stressful, as many tow truck drivers lose their lives every year while on

the job. She said that high-speed traffic going past tow drivers puts operators in a vulnerable position, especially if drivers are inattentive. She said that tow truck drivers are considered emergency responders, so the “Move Over Law”, which requires drivers to give space to responders, applies to tow trucks as well. Despite the challenges, the family thanks the community and customers for being with them for the past 50 years, and they look forward to many more years together.

Brenda also shared a number of stories and memories, from the funny to the difficult, that the couple has encountered over the years, with The Citizen, including one time Bill needed to extricate a hearse very carefully from a ditch.

“The undertaker was beside himself as he had a deceased person on board,” she said, explaining Bill had to pull the vehicle out very carefully to ensure the back end of the vehicle did not tilt any further and chance upsetting its contents.

Some stories stretched back to before she and Bill had taken over as well, including one story about a Christmas Day rescue.

“Bill remembers from that time that his dad had a tow truck with a hand winch,” Brenda said in a letter to The Citizen. “One Christmas, George and two friends went to pull a guy out who went into the ditch… . Each person took a turn running the hand winch, including the guy that went in the ditch. It literally took the four of them all day to get the car out.”

As a result, she said, Christmas was late that year as Bill and his

family waited for his father to come home.

Another fond memory of Bill’s, Brenda said, was when he had to tow an armored bank vehicle. While the vehicle was being towed, the driver had to stay in the cab with his firearm while the passenger stayed in the back with the money and, even without an operational vehicle, their route had to be finished.

“Bill had to stop at numerous banks along the way to disperse or pick up money,” she said.

The mood was lightened, she said, when the passenger wanted to stop and pick up some cigarettes.

Brenda also recalls helping to tow a car for an elderly lady and her daughter when the former took a “choking spell” and ended up spitting her false teeth across the dash of the tow truck. The daughter couldn’t believe what had happened, but the mother said she was sure Bill had seen false teeth before.

Bill and Shane have had some memorable trips too, including having to winch themselves out of a tight spot after their truck slid down an icy road while they explained to a customer that it was too slippery to get him out.

“Getting back to the tow truck, they realized the truck had slid down the road and they were stuck and had to put a strap around a tree across the road and winch themselves out,” Brenda wrote.

The story wasn’t done there, she said, as Shane had to dig ice out from along the front tire and hold down the front of the truck until they reached the highway.

Tough loss

Joint service set for next week

the farmers to catch up on some much-needed field work.

Stay safe and give someone a call to let them know you are thinking of them.

By Marilyn Craig

Happy birthday to Dave Craig, who will celebrate on Oct. 28; Danielle Bromley, Oct. 29; Cecil Wittich (former minister at Blyth United), Oct. 31; Mike Courtney and Floyd Herman, both on Nov. 2. Happy birthday everyone.

Did you remember the Monday Morning Smile at Trinity Anglican Church? Monday Morning Smile is a drop-in coffee social time from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Come and join in on the conversations and meet your neighbours and friends.

Mother Nature has treated us well this past week with warm temperatures and no rain, allowing

BLYTH UNITED CHURCH

Student Minister Alex Jebson, welcomed everyone to worship on Sunday, Oct. 23 and introduced the guest speaker Willy Van Klooster, Executive Director of Huron Hospice. Mr. Van Klooster started by saying that the hospice has about 130 volunteers and started about 30 years ago. They have two services that they offer: their members will come to your home and assist you or there is the hospice home just west of Clinton where the members of the family can stay with the family member who is at the last of their journey of life.

He also explained how the home operates. At the present time, it has four bedrooms available. They offer meals for families and there is space for the children to play. In the coming year they are expanding to include rooms for two more clients.

Alex reminded everyone that next Sunday’s service will be a joint service at Brussels United with a guest speaker from the Canadian Foodgrains Bank with lunch to follow.

The Blyth Brussels U13 Local League Crusaders played the Goderich Sailors on Saturday at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre and, unfortunately for the home team, came away with a 9-4 loss in one of their first games of the season. (John Stephenson photo)

Poppy Campaign Chairpersons

Donna Govier & Jim Button

Ironmen win two, climb into fourth place

However, Hanover’s Nick Freiburger scored his first goal of the year at the 3:20 mark to pull the Barons even, assisted by Payton McIsaac and Erick Gulutzen.

In the third period, however, it was all Wingham. Stanbury and Tolton both scored unassisted goals to seal the win for Wingham. Stanbury found the back of the net at the 15:54 mark for his fifth of the year, while Tolton scored his seventh of the year less than one minute from the end of the game.

The Ironmen served five penalties, totalling 10 minutes, while Hanover was assessed four penalties for eight minutes.

Both Garrett Golley for Wingham and Riley McCabe for Hanover spent all 60 minutes of the game in their team’s net. Golley saved 18 of the 20 shots he faced, while McCabe stopped 19 of 23 shots.

As a result of their two wins, the Ironmen have climbed from fifth place in the North Pollock Division of the Provincial Junior Hockey League to fourth.

Barons in third with a record of six wins, one loss, two overtime losses and a tie.

The Ironmen sit in fourth with a record of five wins, four losses and one overtime loss. The Kincardine Bulldogs are now in fifth place with a record of four wins, six losses and one overtime loss, followed by the Walkerton Capitals in sixth with a record of two wins, six losses and one tie. The Goderich Flyers remain in last place with their winless record of 0-10.

The Ironmen remain on the road for the rest of the month, travelling to Kincardine to play the Bulldogs on Saturday, Oct. 29, and then to Goderich for a matinee game against the Flyers on Oct. 30, beginning at 2:30 p.m.

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

After dropping both of their games on the Oct. 14-16 weekend, the Wingham Ironmen have stormed back, winning both of their games this past weekend.

On Friday, the Ironmen beat the Hanover Barons by a score of 4-2, followed by a 3-2 win over the Walkerton Capitals on Saturday. Both wins for the Ironmen came on the road.

On Saturday, Wingham opened the scoring against the Capitals, with Tayt Bramhill scoring his first of the year in the first period, assisted by Kyle Stanbury and Coleson Fischer. Walkerton scored the only goal of the second period, just after the 15-minute mark, to send the game into the third period tied at one. Tyler Ewald was the scorer for the Capitals, assisted by Sam Shakes and J.J. Lavigne.

The teams exchanged thirdperiod goals in the sixth minute of the period - Wingham’s Nigel Kreager, assisted by Josh Pham, at 6:08 of the third period and Walkerton’s Kevin Perrott, assisted by Ewald, at 6:26 - before Wingham’s Bramhill won the game for the Ironmen, putting them ahead by a score of 3-2 at 9:13 of the third period, assisted by Stanbury.

The Capitals served 22 penalty minutes in the game, including a game misconduct for Owen Troyer in the second period for checking from behind. The Ironmen served 42 minutes in the penalty box, including two 10-minute major penalties, both handed out as part of a skirmish at 15:30 of the third period.

The incident alone was responsible for 38 total penalty minutes for both teams. Jonah Burley and Matt Tolton, both of Wingham, were given 10-minute penalties for inciting an opponent during the altercation. Tolton and Stanbury both received four-minute head contact penalties, as did Walkerton’s Caleb Morrison.

Both Wingham goaltender Will Crump and Walkerton netminder Logan Bromley played all 60 minutes of the game. Crump saved 15 of 17 shots, while Bromley stopped 27 of 30 for the loss.

On Friday night, the Ironmen bested the Hanover Barons by a score of 4-2.

It was the eventual winners who opened the scoring, just before the five-minute mark of the first period,

thanks to Josh Pham’s second goal of the year, assisted by Nigel Kreager and Chase Lorenz. Curtis Arnold tied the game for Hanover at 13:24, assisted by Carter Moran and Dylan Richardson.

The two teams again exchanged goals in the second period. Stanbury scored his fourth of the season just 23 seconds into the second period to put the Ironmen up by a goal, assisted by Matt Tolton.

The Mount Forest Patriots are in first place with their undefeated 100 record, followed by the Mitchell Hawks in second with a record of seven wins, two losses and one overtime loss, and the Hanover

The Ironmen then have seven games on the schedule for November, beginning with a threegame homestand. On Nov. 4, they host Mitchell, followed by Hanover on Nov. 6 and Walkerton on Nov. 11. The Ironmen are then on the road for the rest of the month. On Nov. 12, the Ironmen are in Goderich for a game against the Flyers, followed by a Nov. 19 trip to Mount Forest, a Nov. 25 game in Hanover and a Nov. 26 game in Mitchell.

Pine River Cheese returns with new pizzeria

Pizzeria, featuring top pizza chef, Rodolfo Santo, named Chef of the Year by Canadian Pizza magazine.

During this interview in September, there are still signs by the building asking people not to enter because it seems the community just cannot wait. “People are stopping in all the time,” says Duden, whose background is in quality control with both dairy and cannabis plants. She ran her own food safety consulting business and is a certified Safe Quality Food (SQF) auditor.

She said when Pine River closed three years ago, all the equipment was left in the building. With a major cleaning and some repairs, the plant is ready to go once the final certification from Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAFRA) comes in. She expects to be making cheese in October along with 10 employees, three of whom were original Pine River employees.

Back at it

When

By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot The Rural Voice

If you’ve been missing the squeaky curds which rolled off the Pine River Cheese assembly line for decades before the plant closed, be ready… they will soon be available again.

“Everyone wants the curds. And they have to squeak,” says Mary Duden, the new plant manager at Pine River Cheese, which is now owned by Lucknow District Cooperative and the TG Group headed by Joe Gervasi.

Pine River Cheese was in business for over 130 years before it closed in

2019. The plant had a fire in 2009 and was closed for a year, with managers saying they were never really able to recover from the loss. Lucknow and District Co-op bought the plant in March of 2021 and this new partnership with TG Group is revitalizing the cheese plant and creating the Pine River Mercator

One of those is Darlene Richards, who is the packing supervisor. She had been working in the cannabis industry since the plant closed, but once she found out Pine River was opening, she was keen to come back. “I thought it would be a unique venture to get it going again because it was so missed in the community.”

Kristin VanGent agrees. She is the production supervisor and was one of the last employees to walk off the floor in 2019. “My heart was here for almost 10 years so it’s good to come back.”

The new Pine River Cheese will offer the same cheddars and flavoured cheeses for which it was known, which will be for sale in the Mercato (the Italian word for market). Curds will also be offered, of course. However, the former museum is being repurposed, meaning customers can no longer watch the process from the upper viewing area.

Instead, they can choose to sample fresh baked goods, sandwiches and pizza in the restaurant, which will be open for breakfast, lunch and supper. Chef Santo was in-house during this interview and never stopped trying to feed me. In fact, I left with a giant pala pizza baked with cheese and porcini mushrooms in a thick, airy crust, topped with tomatoes, arugula, prosciutto and other good things. The pizzeria will offer three pizza bases - pala, teglia (thin, with a crispy bottom and soft inside) and Detroit (thicker, but light with caramelized cheese on the edges).

Santo said it takes 72 hours to create his signature pizza doughs, a process he learned while working in L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele Napoli. He remembers as a boy, his uncle declaring they were going for pizza. Driving a Fiat at crazy speeds from Rome to Naples, they arrived at his cousin’s pizza store where 8090 people were waiting outside.

“The pizza I had that day was not just a pizza. It was a memory I will never forget because it was so damn good,” remembers Santo.

Though he went on to earn a Master’s in Science, and was schooled in both Canada and Italy, pizza was always his passion. He would return to his cousin’s pizzeria with his uncle, now driving a Mercedes equally as fast, and learned they only made two kinds of pizza - marinara and margherita pizza. But they made 3,000 of them per day.

Santo went on to have a career as executive chef for many locations, including Excelsior Hotels. He’s not totally sure how he ended up living in Kincardine and helping launch a

pizzeria five years into his retirement, except that he is good friends with Joe Gervasi and he loves a new project. He also loves the science of making a good dough.

“Over here, dough is not taken very seriously. It is just used as a vessel to put ingredients on,” says Santo. His doughs require water with a lower pH level and high hydration, so they stay moist for days. Plus, they are filled with air pockets. “It’s a very digestible dough because you do not want to feel bloated after eating a pizza.”

The dough takes 72 hours to make because he uses less yeast, and slows it down to let the enzymes in the flour catch up to reach full maturity and flavour.

Santo is an interesting man and an excellent storyteller. Besides making pizzas, he could probably hold court all day. However, time is needed to tour the plant. Inside, I met the 10 employees in the required attire of white coats and hair nets.

Besides Mary, Darlene and Kristen, the plant has hired Kristy Mostrey as plant administrator, Saagar Mogon as quality lead, Ty Henry as the maintenance manager and millwright, Paul Bedard and Paul McDonald as the dairy processing specialists, Andrew Scott as a millwright apprentice and Kelly Hanniman as a general labourer.

Once the cheese plant is up and running, work will continue on creating an environmentally-friendly space outside the plant. Pine River Cheese sits on 60 acres of land, of which some is farmed and some is protected with a conservation easement. Wildflowers are being planted to increase biodiversity.

In the meantime, Duden is keen to make cheese and bring squeaky curds back to Bruce County.

Sara

Boonstoppel-Pot photo)

Our whole family went to Guelph on Friday evening to cheer on Syd and the Windsor Lancers. She had a cheer squad of 15 and signs (made by the kids) to support her.

By Jo-Ann McDonald

After a week of rainy weather, the sun and wind have brought out the farmers, who are hard at work on their corn. Remember to slow down, as there will be many tractors and wagons on the roads, both day and night. Drive safely everyone.

Our sympathies are extended to the Craig family on the passing of Isabelle Craig. She will be missed by her sons Ross and Murray and the many members of the Craig families. Isabelle was a well-known lady throughout the community. She and her late husband Bill attended and supported many, many functions. She was a member of the Women’s Institute, Seniors’ Club and she loved to attend the Blyth Festival. When they were on the farm, they had laying hens, so they would come to our farm weekly with eggs. It was always a great visit and then they were off to somewhere else. Our condolences to the Craig family.

We have had family from Calgary the past 10 days. Our nephew Mike was here to visit with his daughter Sydney, who is attending the University in Windsor on a soccer scholarship. He picked a good week to watch her play soccer, but a bad week for weather. They had four games over the 10 days he was here. Between game days he was around our area at the farm, watched his great niece and nephew play hockey, had dinner at our home a couple of days, went walking with the dog, went shopping at the Old Mill in Blyth, travelled to Bayfield to see the cottage, and walked around Brussels and relaxed. He did keep busy!

Thankfully, the weather wasn’t too bad, although there was a cool wind. It ended in a 2-2 tie.

Friday was also the day that Rick’s sister Karen flew in from Calgary, so she was also able to be at the game in Guelph. Karen was here to attend a wedding reception of a friend in Lucknow. She was only here from Friday to Wednesday and managed to see soccer, attend the reception, attend the pumpkin walk in Seaforth with four of her great-nieces and nephews and visit with many old friends in Seaforth.

Just a few days from now, it will be Halloween and the trick-ortreaters will be out. Drive slowly and watch for the excited children.

We are near the end of October and there are only 150 days until the end of school in June. There are only 58 days until Christmas and the Christmas break.

Celebrating birthdays this past week were Brett Lee, Janice McCallum MacGillvary, Michael Parr, Doug Bauer, Wayne Todd, Andrew Groothuis, Ray Wheeler,

Teresa Baan, Tanner Leslie, Dan Taylor, Megan Flaxbard, Murray Dennis, Carol McLachlan, Shannon McGavin, John Steffler and Brianna Williamson. Happy birthday to all.

Locals honoured

By Margaret E. McMahon Secretary-Treasurer Guelph Area WI

Members of Guelph Area Women’s Institute met at the Listowel Agricultural Hall on Oct. 19 for their 83rd annual meeting with the theme, “Celebrate With Us – 125 Years of WI”.

Barbara Elg (Lily Dempsey branch) chaired the area convention with 40 in attendance and began by reading the land acknowledgement.

The guest speaker for the day was Kelly Tallon Franklin, the founder and chief director of Courage for Freedom, a Canadian-leading organization, which exists to educate community service providers and police forces on proven strategies to help protect against human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and forced prostitution. Kelly is a respected advocate, author and awardwinning speaker on these issues. She told the members we are all responsible to protect our youth and elderly from exploitation.

Don’t be quiet – speak out! The number to report incidents is 1-833900-1010.

Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario Provincial President Michelle Phillippi was in attendance and presented 125-year anniversary pins to 10 WI members for supporting the Charter Branch of WI.

The area had a 500-word essay competition on “COVID and You”. Margaret McInroy (Walton) placed first, Kathy Bridge (Majestic branch - Brussels), second and Marie McCutcheon (Majestic branch - Brussels), third. Each was given a monetary award and a copy of their essays will be entered into the Guelph Area Tweedsmuir Book.

Anne Innes spoke about Associated Country Women of the World. Their new slogan is “Rural Women in Action”.

In honour of the 125th WI celebrations, the Guelph area is planning to plant a tree somewhere within the Guelph area as part of “Plant a Tree in Ontario”.

Prepare for winter to avoid mishaps on the road

performance, but are not designed to handle extreme winter conditions like snow and ice. Winter tires are specially designed to handle such conditions, making them a worthy investment for drivers who live in regions where it’s not unusual to encounter snow and ice throughout the winter.

• Study up on your engine oil. Some vehicle manufacturers recommend different grades of oil depending on the range of temperatures a car or truck will be driven in. The owner’s manual will likely indicate if the manufacturer recommends using a different type of engine oil in especially cold temperatures. Even if the manual does not include such a suggestion,

drivers can seek the advice of a local mechanic.

• Schedule a pre-winter tuneup. Even if a vehicle is not due for a tune-up, it can be wise to have it looked over by a local mechanic before the arrival of harsh winter weather. A mechanic can check the radiator, hoses and other components that could be affected by especially cold weather in the months to come. If any issues are found, address them immediately. After all, it’s better to be proactive than leave yourself vulnerable to breakdowns in the winter months.

As fall gives way to winter, drivers can take steps to keep their cars running strong and safe in the months ahead.

Get ready

In

MS - Summer and fall can stake their claim as road trip season, and even devoted drivers may admit that winter is generally a less desirable time to take to the open road. The elements factor heavily into that reputation, as fewer hours of daylight, snow and ice are just some of the variables that can make it less enjoyable, and potentially more dangerous, to drive in winter.

In anticipation of adverse driving conditions, vehicle owners can take various steps to prepare their cars and trucks for winter.

• Upgrade your wiper blades. Perhaps nothing is compromised

more than visibility when driving in winter compared to other times of year. Snow makes it hard to see when driving, but fewer hours of daylight also can affect visibility. In fact, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that approximately half of all fatal crashes occur between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., even though the number of drivers on the road during those hours is considerably lower than it is during the daytime.

The difficulty of driving at night is even more significant when wiper blades are not up to the task of keeping rain and snow off

drivers’ windshields. Prior to winter, inspect wiper blades and upgrade them, if necessary. Streaks left on a windshield are a telltale sign that blades need to be replaced.

• Purchase winter tires. Winter tires may not be necessary in regions with relatively mild winters. However, drivers accustomed to winters marked by heavy snowfall and/or icy roads should consider replacing their existing tires with winter tires. Many newer vehicles are now equipped with all-season tires, which the tire experts at Bridgestone note provide great

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Jim Anderson:

519-440-6007

Jason Fleet: Cell 519-525-9473

MS - Homes are safe havens and relaxing spaces for their residents. No one wants to imagine the place they call home putting their health in jeopardy, but that’s precisely the case for people who live in homes where mold is present.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that molds are not usually a problem indoors. However, when they are, molds produce allergens, irritants and potentially toxic substances. Molds can become problematic when spores land on wet or damp surfaces and begin growing. If inhaled, those spores can cause allergic reactions in people with asthma who have mold allergies.

Even people without such allergies may suffer from irritated eyes, skin, nose, throat, or lungs due to exposure to mold. Mold also can affect the home itself, as the EPA notes that mold gradually destroys the things it grows on, potentially leading to costly remediation and renovation expenses.

Mold is sometimes visible in parts of a home. For example, mold problems in a bathroom may be recognizable when tiny black spots are present on surfaces that frequently get wet. Those areas may gradually expand from small

spots and cover larger areas, such as windowsills and areas around the bathtub. Other signs indicating the presence of mold may be less recognizable though potentially just as harmful. That’s one reason why it makes sense for everyone to learn how to spot mold in a home.

• Learn what mold looks like. Not all molds are black. Some are white and look like thread, but they also can have a gray-brown or graygreen tint. When peeling old wallpaper, some people may notice orange, pink or purple growth on the newly exposed walls, and that’s likely mold.

• Identify problems with paint. If paint is peeling, bubbling or cracking, it’s likely indicative of a mold issue. In such instances, contact a mold remediation specialist rather than simply painting over the affected areas with a fresh coat of paint.

• Conduct a smell test. Most molds will emit a damp, musty odour. However, a lack of this distinct and unpleasant smell should not lead individuals to conclude they don’t have a mold issue, as some molds do not produce an odour.

In addition, the EPA notes that the smell of indoor molds can

Gift ideas for the do-it-yourselfer on your list

best left to the professionals. However, many homeowners are eager to get their own hands dirty with various projects, large and small. Having the right tools and gear on hand can make projects go all the more smoothly. Holiday shoppers can consider these ideas as they seek to ensure DIYers have all they need to get the job done.

• Painting time-savers: Painting requires some basic essentials, from paint trays to rollers to brushes. Projects can be made more efficient with innovative products that help save time and reduce mess. One such item is a paint brush cover, which snaps over wet paint brushes between coats so they won’t dry out or require rinsing. Brushes that cut in easily and others with flexible handles for getting in tight places also make painting projects that much easier.

• Cordless drill: A mechanical drill makes easy work of assembly projects and general renovations that require screws as fasteners. A cordless rechargeable drill will be easy to manoeuver when handling projects away from outlets. Going cord-free also reduces the risk of trips and falls on errant cords.

the most versatile tools homeowners can have on hand. A rotary tool can engrave, grind, sharpen, polish, cut, carve and more, depending on the accessory attachment.

• Multi-use ladder: A ladder is a necessity for various projects inside and outside the home. One that can transform into an A-frame, scaffold system, staircase ladder and other configurations helps ensure maximum safe reach for the job at hand.

• Composter: Whether you use an indoor kitchen composter or one designed for outdoor use, being able to generate one’s own compost is great for avid gardeners. Compost, often called “black gold’, is made from kitchen scraps, leaves and other items that break down into a rich fertilizer.

• Tool box/tool organizer: Tool storage is a market all its own. It runs the gamut from rolling metal storage containers to plastic or metal boxes to canvas bags to plastic molded curated kits. Tool organizer kits also come at various price points, so it’s easy for shoppers to choose one that fits their budgets.

MS - Home improvement projects enable homeowners to transform their homes into their ideal living spaces. According to

iProperty Management, most homeowners in the United States spent between $5,000 and $10,000 improving their homes in 2018. And

it doesn’t stop there, as home improvement sales are projected to reach $465 billion in 2022.

Various renovation projects are

• Lawn care subscription service: Home improvements extend to the exterior. In addition to mowers, trimmers and garden shears, DIYers may benefit from subscription products that improve on property care. These formulations are customized to the specific needs of homeowners’ lawn or landscaping greenery and are shipped right to their door.

• Rotary tool kit: This is one of

• Organizing units: Organizing units are available in prefabricated kits that are easily assembled when needed, as well as custom-made products that are installed by a professional. They may be an option for a handy person looking to organize tools and other items for home repairs.

Do-it-yourselfers can be even more handy with tools geared toward their interests and needs.

Preserve your landscape work over winter

MS - Landscapes are vulnerable to the elements during the cold weather months. Everything from de-icing products to hungry animals to the weight of snow can affect trees, shrubs and other plants.

Just because certain greenery will go dormant during the winter doesn’t mean landscape maintenance ends when the mercury dips. Homeowners can take certain actions to winterproof their properties and safeguard landscapes so they recover more readily when spring arrives.

• Utilize barriers and deterrents. When resources are scarce, animals will be on the hunt for anything that’s edible, and that includes whatever greenery is growing on a landscape. Physical barriers in garden beds and around trees can help prevent damage caused by moles, voles and deer. Line the bottom and sides of garden beds with garden cloth to prevent groundburrowing animals from getting in from beneath, suggests the gardening resource I Must Garden.

Wrapping shrubs in burlap or covering them in temporary netting can deter deer, who will seek accessible food sources over the winter. Erect fencing around new trees to keep deer away from the bark and lower branches.

Make the yard less attractive to deer and burrowers by opting for fat-based suet cakes to feed birds rather than loose seeds and berries in feeders, which herbivores will enjoy. Also, don’t overwater or mulch landscapes too early. The loose soil and warmth of the mulch may entice moles and voles and other rodents to stick around in those areas and feed on plants.

• Use a safer melting product. Investigate options in snowmelt products, as traditional rock salt can injure buds and branches and kill lawns. In addition, avoid piling salted snow in one area of the landscape, as it will concentrate the salt in that spot. Spread out snow piles to help minimize the damage to delicate plants.

• Secure saplings and juvenile plants. Harsh winds and battering snow can damage young plants. Use stakes and lattices to secure them so they’ll be better able to withstand the weather, suggests Total Landscape Management, a commercial and residential landscaping company.

Promptly remove snow from branches to help trees and shrubs; otherwise, the weight of ice and snow can break off branches and cause irreparable damage.

• Erect a snow barrier. Prior observation tends to educate homeowners about which areas of the landscape are most vulnerable to snow drifts and blustery winds. During the winter, winds often blow in from a northeasterly direction, but each homeowner can make his or her own assessment. Put up a tarp between two stakes to serve as a “snow fence” that protects vulnerable areas of the landscape from blowing snow.

• Keep plants cozy. Wrap plants in burlap, garden blankets and plant domes to insulate them from cold weather and some animals. Move container plants into a garage or shielded area for the winter.

Winter can place landscapes in peril. A few strategies can provide protection.

Simple maintenance can extend your car’s life

to replace the timing belt, but drivers can ask their mechanics to keep an eye on their timing belts. One issue many drivers encountered in the early months of the pandemic when people were driving less frequently was timing belts that were failing long before they reached the projected mile markers. That’s because infrequent driving can hasten the demise of the timing belt. This is something for aging drivers who no longer drive a lot to keep in mind.

• Take care of the brakes and associated components. The experts at Popular Mechanics urge drivers of older vehicles to replace their brake fluid every two years. Popular Mechanics also advises drivers whose cars are more than seven years old to replace the rubber brake lines when major brake work is required.

• Pay attention to oil levels. The older engines get, the more oil

they’re going to burn. So drivers of older vehicles should check their oil levels more often than they would if their vehicles were brand new. This also is a great way to discover leaks before they lead to potentially significant issues.

• Don’t skip maintenance appointments. Even if you’re still driving less due to the pandemic, it’s best not to skip recommended maintenance intervals. That’s true for drivers of all cars, but especially those whose vehicles are aging.

Routine tune-ups and oil changes, which may need to become more frequent the older the vehicle gets, can keep cars running smoothly and protect the engine.

The rising cost of new cars is compelling millions of drivers to keep their cars longer than they might have anticipated. Some simple maintenance measures can help those cars run strong for years to come.

Keep it strong

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, vehicle prices have risen and supply chain issues have sometimes resulted in long waits for purchased cars or trucks. As a result, some people have decided to stay with their current vehicles for longer than anticipated and they’ve found that, with some simple maintenance, they can keep those older vehicles running well for years to come. (MS photo)

MS - New cars have been costly for quite some time, but those costs have spiked considerably since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. That unprecedented rise has led many motorists to wonder how they can get more mileage out of their existing vehicles.

According to data from Kelley

Blue Book and Cox Automotive, the average cost of a new car in September of 2021 was just over $45,000 U.S. That marked a $3,000 increase from June of 2021 and a $5,000 increase from the end of 2020.

Drivers who can’t afford to keep up with the rising cost of new

vehicles can take these steps to keep their existing cars running smoothly for years to come.

MS - Individuals work hard to save enough money to purchase their homes. And the hard work doesn’t end there. Once homeowners settle into a new home, they may set their sights on renovations that suit their individual needs. And even when buyers find a home that needs no such work, maintenance requires homeowners’ utmost attention.

All that hard work is perhaps one reason why seniors may be a little reluctant to downsize as they advance through their golden years.

In addition to the sweat equity homeowners put into their homes, all the memories they’ve made within their walls can make it harder to put a home on the market.

Downsizing is a difficult decision that’s unique to each homeowner.

Seniors who aren’t quite certain if downsizing is right for them can consider three key factors to make a decision that’s in their best interests.

• Cost: Perhaps no variable affects senior homeowners’ decisions to downsize their homes as much as cost. No one wants to outlive their money, and downsizing to a smaller home can help seniors reduce their monthly expenses by a significant margin. Even homeowners who have long since paid off their mortgages can save substantial amounts of money by downsizing to a smaller home or even an apartment or condominium. Lower property taxes, reduced

insurance premiums and the

• Take care of the timing belt. Engines may get all the glory, but they cannot run smoothly without a fully functional timing belt. Engines need various components to do their job, and those components must do so at the right time for the engine to run smoothly. Fully functional timing belts help to synchronize movements, but belts must be replaced every so often.

Owner’s manuals may note when

Some signs you might have electrical problems

MS - Homeowners know that all sorts of issues can affect a home. Issues can run the gamut from the merely annoying to the unsafe. Electrical issues fall into the latter category, posing a significant safety hazard if left unchecked.

According to the home safety experts at UL (formerly known as Underwriters Laboratories), learning to recognize warning signs of electrical wiring issues can greatly lower the risk of house fires. House fires pose a significant threat, as the Electrical Safety Foundation International notes that electrical malfunctions cause more than 50,000 house fires each year.

UL indicates that the majority of those house fires can be prevented, and learning to recognize signs of electrical problems in a home is a key component of home fire prevention.

• Dimming or flickering lights:

The UL notes that light fixtures do not typically draw a substantial amount of power, so dimming or flickering lights is not often indicative of an issue with a fixture. Dimming or flickering lights could indicate that the circuit the lights are on is overburdened, most likely by large appliances sharing the circuit with the lights. If dimming and flickering lights are a problem, homeowners can speak to an electrician about moving the fixtures to another circuit or installing a new line specifically for major appliances.

• Odours: Odour emanating from an outlet, fuse box or breaker panel should be reported to an electrician immediately. The odour, which some homeowners indicate smells like fish, could be a result of an overheated circuit. Odour coming from an outlet, fuse box or breaker panel could indicate a significant

electrical issue, so homeowners should not hesitate to report this problem to an electrician. Odours can sometimes travel through HVAC systems as well, so homeowners should take note and call an electrician even if their outlets do not smell.

• Hot outlets/switch plates: Outlets and/or switch plates that are hot to the touch are another indicator of an electrical issue. UL notes that outlets that become hot even when nothing is plugged into them could be wired incorrectly. In such instances, an electrician will need to fix the issue, and in the meantime it may be best for homeowners to flip the breaker or remove the fuse for the outlet.

• Frequently blown fuses or tripped breakers: According to UL, circuit breakers and fuses have a built-in fail-safe that is designed

Downsizing requires thought Potential for danger

Big decision

If it’s time to downsize, winter can be a great time to start making some preparations for the big transition. Here are some tips to help you go smaller and maybe even save a little money. (MS photo)

Continued from page 15 pay for fewer repairs are just some of the ways downsizing can save seniors money.

• Space: Many people love the extra space that single-family homes provide. But seniors can take a walk through their homes and see how many rooms they still use on a consistent basis. If much of the home is unused, seniors can probably downsize without adversely affecting their daily lives.

• Market: The real estate market is another factor to consider when deciding if the time is right to downsize. A seller’s market can help seniors get the biggest return on their real estate investment, potentially helping them make up for meager retirement savings. For example, home prices skyrocketed across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, making that a great time for sellers to put their homes on the market. Seniors selling to downsize may capitalize on such spikes since they won’t be looking to turn around and buy larger, equally expensive homes once they sell their current place. If the market is down and seniors can withstand the work and cost a little longer, it may be best to wait until things bounce back in sellers’ favour.

Downsizing requires careful consideration of a host of variables.

No two situations are the same, so

seniors should exercise due diligence to determine if downsizing is right for them.

Not all

in

are obvious. Here are

Consider home fire safety this holiday season

MS - Safety might not be the first thing people think of as the holiday season approaches. Faith, celebrations, decorations and holiday dinners all come to mind when considering the holiday season. But that doesn’t mean safety should be left out of holiday planning.

Fire safety bears special consideration during the holiday season, when the prevalence of fire hazards like Christmas trees, holiday lighting displays and other decorative items increase the risk for home fires. Such tragedies can be averted with a few simple safety measures.

• Tend to your tree. Live Christmas trees are awe-inspiring,

but they also pose a significant fire risk. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) urges celebrants to purchase only healthy trees with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched. Such trees are less likely to dry out, especially when well-watered throughout the season. Dry trees can catch fire more easily than healthy trees if embers from nearby fireplaces or candles drift in their direction.

• Recognize that location matters when decorating. The NFPA notes that Christmas trees should always be placed at least three feet away from any heat source, including fireplaces, space

Deck the halls (safely)

While the holiday season is about getting together and celebrating, there are also some fire safety concerns that need to be kept top of mind to ensure that the most wonderful time of the year doesn’t turn tragic. (MS photo)

Mold requires immediate attention

Continued from page 12 differ depending on the type of mold present in the home. Homeowners who have

experienced mold issues in the past should not ignore a foul odor simply because it smells different from a previous infestation. Contact

a mold remediation professional if you suspect an unpleasant smell could be a byproduct of mold. Mold can be harmful to homes and humans. Anyone who suspects their home has a mold problem is urged to contact a remediation specialist as soon as possible.

MS - A rapid rise in the cost of living will undoubtedly prove to be one of the major stories of 2022.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, energy prices rose by 41.6 per cent in the 12-month period that ended in June 2022, marking the highest 12-month increase since April of 1980.

The significant spike in energy costs is somewhat misleading, as the bureau considers motor fuel prices, which rose more than 60 per cent in the 12-month period ending in June 2022, part of the energy category. However, during that same period, electricity prices rose by nearly 14 per cent while natural gas prices increased by 38 per cent.

Both of those increases were more significant than the more publicized rise in food prices, which rose by right around 10 per cent.

Families need to eat and many professionals now must return to inperson work after years of pandemic-related remote working, which means they must confront higher fuel costs. That leaves little room to save money in those areas. However, there are ways for families to reduce home energy costs without adversely affecting their quality of life.

• Run appliances during offpeak hours. According to the United States Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, the best time to use appliances in a home is when overall electricity use is low. Though this time changes depending on the season and can vary based on geography, both agencies note that after 9 p.m. and before 9 a.m. are generally the offpeak hours in most areas.

• Strategically use your shades and blinds. The energy providers at ConEd estimate that about 40 per cent of unwanted heat comes through windows. Strategic use of curtains, shades and blinds can keep heat out on hot days, thus allowing homeowners to turn the thermostat up on their air conditioning units in summer. Opening curtains, blinds and shades

the winter months

on winter mornings and afternoons will allow more sunlight in, allowing homeowners to control heating costs more effectively.

• Reorganize your refrigerator. There are plenty of contradictory strategies regarding how best to store foods in a refrigerator so the unit consumes as little energy as possible while still keeping foods fresh and chilled. But various energy providers, including ConEd, recommend that consumers avoid packing a fridge too tightly. By allowing cold air to circulate within the refrigerator, the refrigerator won’t need to work as hard, and thus consume as much energy, to keep foods cool.

It’s important to note that the

opposite should govern how the freezer is packed. Packing frozen items tightly in the freezer will help the refrigerator work a little less hard.

• Turn off the lights. Estimates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration indicate that electricity for lighting accounts for around 10 per cent of electricity consumption in homes. A concerted effort to turn off lights in rooms that aren’t being used can help consumers save money.

Rising utility bills are compelling millions of people to seek ways to trim their energy consumption. Thankfully, there are many ways to do that without upsetting daily routines.

Continued from page 16 to prevent overloading. Sometimes a tripped breaker is a result of an aging appliance. One way to detect that is to plug in the product to more than one outlet in the house. If each breaker trips, then the appliance is likely to blame. However,

Tips for keeping a basement project budget-friendly

aging finished basements might not have been renovated in adherence to codes, which could lead to costly violations down the road. An inspection in advance of a remodel can give homeowners an idea of what they will need to do to bring the basement up to code. Local officials also can provide a list of necessary permits and a detailed description of requirements to ensure the remodeled basement adheres to code.

• Soil: Soil surrounding the home should be tested prior to beginning the project. Radon is an odourless gas found in soil that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes can increase individuals’ risk for lung cancer. Radon can seep into basements and increase that risk even further if it is present at elevated levels in the soil surrounding a home. Radon tests are simple and inexpensive, and no basement remodel project should begin without first conducting such a test.

Finished basements are valuable spaces. Homeowners who want to finish or remodel their basements

should consider a host of factors before beginning the renovation.

MS - A fully finished and functional basement is a dream for many homeowners. Such a space, when completed, can serve as an entertainment space, a man cave, an artist’s studio, or any number of additional functions.

Despite their usefulness, finished basements are something of a rarity. In an analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction, the National Association of Home Builders® found that only around 24 per cent of single-family homes built in 2018 have basements. Homeowners who do not currently have a finished basement but are considering such a project can approach the remodel with a few key factors in mind. Careful consideration of these factors can ensure the project is budgetfriendly and worthy of homeowners’ investments.

• Investment value: Conventional wisdom among home renovation and real estate experts suggests that a basement remodel is best if done to satisfy current inhabitants and not necessarily to appeal to prospective buyers once the home is put up for sale.

Remodeling magazine reports that a mid-range basement remodel costing around $70,000 will provide a return of around $49,000 (or 70 per cent) at resale. Though that’s not a poor return on investment, homeowners who are remodeling a basement solely for the potential return on investment at resale can find other projects that provide a greater return.

• Foundation: The foundation of the home must garner ample consideration before beginning a basement remodel. Certain foundation issues, such as soft concrete, cracked or curved outside walls and cracks in the flooring, are indicative of significant issues with the foundation. These issues can be costly to address, and they must be remedied before the basement remodel can begin.

• Existing space: Some homeowners may have bought their homes with partially finished basements or even finished areas that they simply want to remodel. In such instances, a pre-remodel inspection from a licensed home inspector can save homeowners lots of money and heartache over the long haul. Partially finished or even

MS - Mother Nature can be harsh on a lawn, and it’s up to homeowners to nurse their lawns back to health after they endure the elements. That’s often the case when winter ends and homeowners uncover signs of damage to their lawns.

Homeowners cannot begin to repair winter lawn damage until

they learn to identify it, and the following are some telltale signs that winter took a harsh toll on a landscape.

• Wilted grass: Many things can cause grass to wilt over the course of winter, so homeowners may have to put on their sleuth’s cap to determine why grass that was healthy as recently as late fall is

now wilted as the spring bloom begins. Grass that’s adjacent to walkways and driveways might have wilted due to the application of de-icing solutions. Such products can prevent the formation of ice on driveways and walkways. However, when they’re tracked onto the grass by people or animals or blown there by winter winds, grass can wilt.

A deep watering in spring can flush any lingering solution from the lawn. In future winters, homeowners can be as careful as possible when applying de-icing solutions, making a concerted effort to avoid spreading any onto the grass and limited applications to areas of the driveway and walkways that are not close to the grass.

• Brown patches: The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) notes that brown patches in a lawn often develop after heavy snowfall. Such patches tend to develop where large piles of shoveled snow were deposited, so homeowners can inspect alongside driveways and walkways. The NALP advises homeowners to rake away part of the brown patches first. If green tissue is emerging beneath, then the lawn will likely be fine in due time. However, if the area beneath is not green and surrounding areas are already turning green, homeowners may need to rake up dead tissue

before applying topsoil to the affected spots. Once topsoil is spread, some grass seed can be spread and the grass should regain its green glory.

• Gray or pink grass: Another indicator of winter lawn damage linked to snow is gray or pink grass. The NALP reports that this is a byproduct of snow mold caused by lingering snow. Action may be unnecessary, as the NALP notes these circular patterns often go away on their own. If not, raking the affected areas might be enough to get the lawn on the road to recovery. If the issue continues to linger after raking, a topsoil application and subsequent seeding may be necessary.

These are three common signs of winter lawn damage in areas where snowfall is significant during the coldest months of the year. Homeowners concerned about their damaged lawns are urged to contact a local landscape professional to correct any issues that linger into spring.

Continued from page 17 heaters, heat vents, candles and even overhead lights. If decorating with candles, never place them on the tree or on tables where other flammable decorations have already been placed. Chanukah menorahs should never be placed near curtains or other decorations.

• Turn off all lights and extinguish all lit decorative items when leaving the home or going to bed. Lit candles and menorahs should never be left unattended. The NFPA recommends turning tree lights and exterior decorative lights off when leaving the home or going to bed.

• Utilize a fire screen on fireplaces. Embers can catch on trees, decorations or anything else that’s flammable if they escape the fireplace. Fire screens prevent that from happening by ensuring embers from burning logs stay in the fireplace. Like candles and menorahs, fires burning in a fireplace should never be left unattended. Make sure all embers have been extinguished before leaving the home or going to bed.

• Keep discarded trees away from your home. A 2014 analysis from the NFPA found that none of the 10 days with the largest share of Christmas tree fires were before Christmas. Dried out trees still pose a fire risk even after they’ve been

has metal flakes, or ask the technician if he or she sees flakes when you bring it in for service.

Flakes indicate the engine is creating too much friction and slowly chipping away at the components.

• Trouble starting: Failure to turn over is a clear indicator of engine troubles. It could be the battery, but if the battery is new, look for other causes.

405 Queen

519-523-4792

MS - Without a functioning engine, a car is just an expensive driveway ornament. Engines keep vehicles moving, much in the same way the heart provides oxygen and blood to keep the human body running strong.

Modern engines are a mixture of mechanical moveable parts and complex computerized systems. Many different parts work in unison to keep a vehicle moving. Engines can be challenging for experienced mechanics, not to mention downright confusing for people who are unfamiliar with what’s under the hood of their vehicle. But any vehicle owner can learn to recognize certain signs that an engine may be on its last legs.

• Engine shaking: An engine that is shaking while running may just have bad spark plugs or loose or damaged hoses, offers Sturtevant Used Auto Parts in Wisconsin. However, if those fixes don’t work, it could be an indication of a deeper problem that requires a mechanic, such as fuel intake system issues, compromised motor mounts or timing belt problems.

• Excessive smoke: An engine in trouble typically has to work harder. That results in heating up more quickly, which can lead to overheating. Smoke may be white, blue or black (each colour indicates a separate problem). Any sign of excessive smoke is a reason to

consult a mechanic.

• Warning lights: The dashboard tends to light up when the car is started, and one by one those lights diminish as the car’s computer checks that all systems are working correctly. If the “check engine” light remains on, it is notifying the driver of a problem. The issue could be a faulty sensor, or something more ominous. Mechanics can hook the vehicle up to a scanning tool that runs diagnostics to “speak” to the car’s computer helping to diagnose the issue, advises How Stuff Works.

• Strange noises:  Popping or tapping noises may suggest that gasoline is igniting prematurely in the combustion chambers of the cylinders. Grinding noises may tell you that the starter motor needs to be changed or replaced.

Transmission issues also can produce grinding sounds. Generally speaking, if the car is making sounds it does not normally make, schedule a service appointment.

• Poor fuel efficiency: Engine trouble may cause the car or truck to consume gas faster than normal, according to the car information site Carsoid. The engine or one of its components may be faulty. Problems could arise in the spark plugs, oxygen sensor or fuel injector.

• Metal flakes: If you change your own oil, check to see if the oil

some tips to watch for to stay ahead of major repairs that could seriously jeopardize your engine as you enter the fall and winter months. (MS photo)

Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending Oct. 21 were 2,455 cattle and 519 lambs and goats.

On Tuesday, fed steers and heifers sold actively at steady to stronger prices. Choice steers and heifers sold $180 to $194 with sales to $195. Second-cut cattle, $168 to $179. Aged and medium-fed steers and heifers, $140 to $167. Holstein steers and heifers sold $120 to $166. Cows sold on a slightly easier market.

On Thursday veal sold on a

steady market. Lambs, sheep and goats, all sold steady.

On Friday, calves sold steady, yearlings sold higher and yearling steers sold steady.

John Richardson of Harriston, consigned seven head. One black steer weighed 1,485 lbs. and sold for an average price of $194.

There were 300 cows on offer. Beef sold $92 to $127; good holstein cows, $90 to $112; medium holstein cows, $79 to $89; bulls, $122 to $170.

There were 120 head of veal on

offer. Beef veal sold $200 to $220; good holsteins, $198 to $220; SL heavy holsteins, $190 to $219; heavy holsteins, $145 to $207; medium holsteins, $180 to $195; plain holsteins, $145 to $180.

Grant Bergsma of Londesborough, consigned four head. One holstein steer weighed 725 lbs. and sold for a price of $220.

Lambs under 50 lbs. sold $300 to $460; 50 - 64 lbs., $300 to $310; 65 - 79 lbs., $282.50 to $345; 80 - 94 lbs., $236.50 to $345; 95 - 109 lbs.,

$214.50 to $242; 110 lbs. and over, $205 to $214.

Sheep sold $100 to $270.

Goats: billies sold $150 to $400; nannies, $100 to $250; kids, $350 to $430

Harold Zettler of Teeswater, consigned 14 head. Six lambs averaged 81 lbs. and sold for an average price of $344.

Top quality stocker steers under 400 lbs. sold $307.50 to $360; 400 - 499 lbs., $274 to $334; 500 - 599 lbs., $253.50 to $283; 600 - 699 lbs., $241.75 to $270; 700 - 799

Thompson announces fertilizer challenge at Seaforth-area farm

of Agriculture (OFA) sent out a press release lauding the FAST program.

“The OFA has identified madein-Ontario solutions to increase the availability of domestic fertilizer options as the key success of Ontario’s food production and processing industry,” said OFA President Peggy Brekveld. “Farming is a challenging profession with many factors such as weather that are beyond our control. Investing in domestic fertilizer solutions is a smart move that will help farmers minimize risk and maximize production.”

According to the OFA release, Ontario farmers spent more than $1.2 billion on commercial fertilizer and

which is expected to increase this year following rising prices.

For more information on the program, visit Ontario.ca.

lbs., $236 to $264; 800 - 899 lbs., $247 to $259.25; 900 - 999 lbs., $247.75 to $258.25; 1,000 lbs. and over, $233 to $245.25.

Top quality stocker heifers, 500599 lbs. sold $225.75 to $263; 600 - 699 lbs., $229 to $246; 700 - 799 lbs., $212 to $230.50; 800 - 899 lbs., $201 to $226; 900 lbs. and over, $200 to $216.

Allan Snowden of Wingham, consigned 16 head. Ten charolais heifers averaged 829 lbs. and sold for an average price of $226.

Allan Aitchison of New Liskeard, consigned 75 head. Eighteen charolais heifers averaged 809 lbs. and sold for an average price of $217.75.

Adam Doerkson of Mildmay, consigned 107 head. Eighteen red white-faced steers averaged 870 lbs. and sold for an average price of $259.25.

Steve Pastoor of Kerwood, consigned 55 head. Ten charolais steers averaged 1,053 lbs. and sold for an average price of $245.25.

By Denny Scott The Citizen

The provincial government is challenging businesses and individuals in the agricultural sector to find a better, local way to make fertilizer available to prevent supply disruptions in the future.

Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson, alongside her Parliamentary Assistant MPP Rob Flack of Elgin, Middlesex and London, announced the Fertilizer Accelerating Solutions and Technology (FAST) Challenge on Sept. 23 at Cantelon Farms Ltd. in Seaforth.

Thompson said the program is an opportunity for the agricultural sector to support farmers, especially since food security had become such a concern over the past several years.

Between the war between Russia and Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic, she said, the precariousness of the supply chain that keeps farmers operating, and thus keeps consumers fed, had been highlighted and, to change that, the

government was looking to make local fertilizer production more accessible through the program.

She said that, after consulting with farmers and agricultural organizations for months, the provincial government was making a targeted investment in fertilizer, making $2 million available through the FAST program.

Thompson said the details of the program are still being worked out, however applications will open on Oct. 5 and run through Nov. 2.

The goal of the program, she said, is to focus research and development opportunities in the agricultural industry to focus on local production.

Ontario Grain Farmers Chief Executive Officer Crosby Devitt and Flack also spoke to the issue, with Devitt highlighting the supply chain problems and volatile markets and the negative impact those had on farmers through interruptions like those happening due to the Ukrainian conflict.

Representatives of commodity groups in the agricultural sector were on hand for the announcement, and some had

questions about the program, including the specifics, which Thompson said would be spelled out in the application process. They also asked why $2 million was being offered when other industries, specifically the automotive industry, had been supported with 100 hundred times that amount.

Thompson explained that the lower cap was to create competition within the program and make sure the best ideas were the ones that found funding. Flack agreed, saying that the “accelerating” aspect of the program was important, as the country imports significant amounts of fertilizer or ingredients for fertilizer.

“We need to speed it up,” he said, “and get it where it needs to be quicker.”

The challenge will be run by Bioenterprise Canada, Thompson said, later identified as a national non-profit business accelerator that works with Ontario-based companies to facilitate funding opportunities.

Not long after the announcement was made, the Ontario Federation

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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.

ETHEL COMMUNITY CENTRE, Annual Harvest supper, Oct. 30. Drive-Thru Supper, pickup from 46 p.m. Turkey and all the “fixings”. Adults $15, youths $10, children $5. For tickets call Sue 519-887-9642.

IRISH COWBOYS IN CONCERT, Friday, Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m., Trinity Anglican Church, Blyth. Beer and pretzel reception at intermission. Admission is free. Free-will offering accepted. Enjoy an eclectic mix of musical genres from this talented Goderich-based band. All proceeds to Huron Hospice. 42-2

AUBURN DISTRICT LIONS CLUB Breakfast, Auburn Memorial Community Hall, Sunday, Nov. 6, 8 - 11 a.m. Adults $12, Children $6, preschool free. Maple syrup supplied by Robinson’s Maple Syrup. Eggs supplied by Egg Farmers of Ontario. Proceeds to Huron County Christmas Bureau. 43-1

DRIVE-THRU LUNCH AND supper at Blyth United Church, Thursday, Nov. 10. Lasagna, caesar salad and dessert, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 - 6 p.m. Tickets $20. Take-out only. Delivery available. Pre-order to: 519-523-9274. On Nov. 10: 519-523-4224. 43-2

CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGE Craft Show, Saturday, Nov. 12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Auburn Hall. All proceeds going to Grade 8 students Hullett for year-end trip. 43-2

pair of snowtracks, $40. 519-357-9467.

SALE - four Hankook I-Pike winter tires, P215/60R 16 on Ford

rims, roughy 50% wear left, $100 for

set. 519-887-9137.

SALE - Honda self-propelled lawn mower, top model, 2 years old, excellent condition, new price $819, selling for $500. 519-3573608 or 519-357-7240 (Wingham).

FOR SALE - John Deere tractor, 38" deck, grass catcher and hydrostatic, runs well, new battery, asking $900. Bernard Dupuis, 519482-7262.

FOR SALE - upper and lower kitchen cabinets, L-shaped, 10'x7', plus misc., best offer over $500; single upper cabinet with six doors, 8'Lx3'Hx15" deep, best offer over $100. 519-523-4711. Phone for viewing.

FOR SALE - set of four winter tires with rims, Toyo 245/70R17, off Jeep 2017, $800; one all-season tire, Goodyear on rim, P245/70R17, $125. 519-357-2150, call evenings.

FOR SALE - assorted clay flowerpots of all sizes; painted wooden chairs and old wooden window frames; cream cans and steel wheels for the outdoor rustic look. For details or pics, 519-3576589.

FOR SALE - 7 foot McKee snow blowers, single auger in good condition, $975. 519-887-9083.

FOR SALE - day bed with mattress in excellent condition, $225. 519-887-9083.

FOR SALE - tan Ikea tub chairs with removable, washable covers, excellent condition, 30 inches (79 cm.) wide and 30 inches (79 cm.) deep, one chair for $50; 2 chairs for $75. Wingham, call 519-357-3393.

Growing Project

harvest

By Linda Campbell Call

On Sunday, Oct. 23, the guest speaker at Knox United Church, Belgrave was Elwin Garland. The scripture lessons were read from Jeremiah 14: 7-10, 19-22, 2 Timothy 4: 6-8 and 10-18 and Luke 18: 9-14. His message was entitled “The Road to Graceland”.

On Oct. 30, Elwin Garland will again be the guest speaker. It is that time of year when the harvest of the 20 acres of corn at George and Elizabeth Procter’s will be happening in the next few weeks. In preparation of making our annual contribution to the Foodgrains Bank, just a gentle reminder that you can now make your donations. This is our 21st year for the Belgrave Community Growing Project and what a wonderful opportunity to participate in an outreach program that is indeed one of the most proven and successful ways to help address the issue of world hunger.

Since the inception of the projects, we have donated over $370,000 to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. This has to be one of the most cost-effective outreach programs the church can participate in as a congregation.

Because of the approximately 4:1 contribution of funds from the Government of Canada, International Development Agency, we have, to date, contributed well over $1.85 million to help people less fortunate than those of us living in a land of plenty.

Please, if you have not already done so, consider making a donation to the Community Growing Project. A cheque made

payable to Knox United Church, Belgrave and indicating on your cheque or envelope that it is for the Growing Project or Foodgrains Bank would be very much appreciated. The church welcomes any and all who would like to give us a helping hand with this worthwhile project. This can be your way of helping alleviate some of the misery and suffering in the world.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Rebecca Buchanan and family in the sudden loss of her partner Darren Tanner on Oct. 14.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Jack Walker in the loss of his wife Lynn and to Shawn and Erin Walker, Dean and Jen Walker and Lauren Walker and families in the loss of their mother and grandmother.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Mary Hunter in the loss of her husband Jim Hunter on Oct. 23 and to Glen Hunter, Danny Hunter and Joyce and Keith VanCamp and families in the loss of their father.

Last week was school bus safety week. If you see a bus driver this week or anytime, thank them for the great job they are doing.

2022 Welcoming Week a success: Nonkes

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

At Huron County Council’s Oct. 19 meeting, Immigration Partnership Communication Officer Mark Nonkes brought council up to speed on another successful Welcoming Week celebration.

“Building on the success of Newcomer Welcoming Week 2021, the Huron County Immigration Partnership celebrated Welcoming

Week from Sept. 9-18, 2022,” Nonkes said in his report to council. “The initiative was designed to foster a sense of belonging, celebrate cultural diversity in our communities, and underline the importance of welcoming new residents, especially immigrants, to our communities.”

The week-long event series consisted of eight events: a multicultural movie screening on Sept. 8, a welcome hike at the

Maitland Woods on Sept. 10, the Huron Multicultural Festival on Sept. 11, a welcome hike at the Sifto Loop on Sept. 14, a webinar on welcoming and inclusive workplaces on Sept. 15, a “Welcome to Wingham” evening on Sept. 15, a barbecue at Clinton’s Harvest Festival on Sept. 17 and the creation of Welcoming Week displays and signage throughout the Huron County Library system over the course of September.

Nonkes said 20 people attended the movie screening of Peace by Chocolate at the Huron County Museum and there were eight participants in the welcome hike at the Maitland Woods.

He said that 1,500 people attended the Huron Multicultural Festival in Goderich, which marked a return to in-person festivities for the long-celebrated event.

Four people took in the welcome hike at the Sifto Loop, while 38

people attended the webinar and 20 people were at the “Welcome to Wingham” evening.

Three thousand people attended Clinton’s Harvest Festival, Nonkes said in his report, and four branches of the Huron County Library participated in creating displays for Welcoming Week.

Council congratulated Nonkes on the success of the events and thanked him for his hard work on Welcoming Week.

Obituaries

fundraiser. It’s no wonder she received an Ontario Trillium Award for her volunteer work.

Her love of genealogy led her to co-write the West Wawanosh history book, published in 1996. Ultimately, it was her love of family that grounded her, and encouraged her travels across Canada, Australia, China and Europe. She was a compendium of knowledge, always ready to help remove a stain, or perfect a recipe, and her gardening abilities were second to none. She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her.

community with the Women’s Institute, the Seniors Club in Blyth, the Foresters, and the Maitland Valley Conservation Area. Isabelle loved to partake of the Blyth Festival and never missed a show. She loved to garden and show off her prize flowers to other gardeners. Isabelle loved her community and enjoyed going to events at the Westfield Hall and all over the county. She also loved animals and had a menagerie to share with the grandkids. We will miss her pies, her butter tarts and her unique laugh.

missed by all who had the privilege to be a part of her life.

In keeping with Tara’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A celebration of Tara’s life will be held at a later date. Arrangements were entrusted to Haskett Funeral Homes, Seaforth.

Donations to Melanie’s Way, Rescue Angels Society or Ugly Mutts Dog Rescue – Helping Save Lives would be appreciated.

Messages of condolence may be forwarded through the funeral home’s website at www.haskettfh.com.

In keeping with Steve’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A celebration of Steve’s life will be held at a later date. Arrangements were entrusted to Haskett Funeral Home, Seaforth. Donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation would be appreciated by the family.

Messages of condolence are welcome at the funeral home’s website at www.haskettfh.com.

June Marie Robinson passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Oct. 18, 2022, at Alexandra Marine and General Hospital in Goderich.

June was born on June 14, 1927 to Gershom Nixon Johnston (18941973) and Ella Maude Elliott (1892-1985). She moved to the Robinson family farmhouse in 1946 after her marriage to David Edward “Ted” (1921-1999), and lived there until her death. She was predeceased by her husband of 52 years, siblings William, Elliott (Mary), Donelda (Stewart Smith), Ariel (Charles Wood), Kenneth (Donna), Jim (Idella), and Janet, and her siblings-in-law Jean (Herbert Dainty), Gordon (Lavina), Doug Williams, and Clifford Simpson.

June was the devoted mother of James (Donna Brown), William (Susanne Perrin), Judith (Norman Stoner), and Janice (Michael Clarke), the beloved grandmother of Patricia, Heather, Karen (David), Jennifer (Edgar), Iain (Elaine), Catherine (Kevin), Kyle, Christopher (Morgan), Katelyn, Rebekah, and William, and the great-grandmother (“GG”) of Caleb, Wesley, Edward, Laila, Blake, Clara, Dillon, Noah, Harlow, Ethan and baby Stoner.

She is survived by her siblings Lois McMichael, Alice (Clarence Ritchie), and Jack, and sister-in-law Irene Simpson. June will be lovingly remembered by her children, grandchildren, siblings and many nieces and nephews who have fond memories of holidays at the farm with Aunt June.

Loved wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and community member, June dedicated her life to the service of others. She was an active participant in the Donnybrook United Church Women and the Auburn Women’s Institute, as well as a leader of 4-H for over 30 years. June was an avid supporter of any causes her family worked on. For example she participated in the Huron Hospice annual “Hike for Hospice” fundraiser every year, and was frequently the event’s top

The family received friends and neighbours at the Robinson home farm on Monday, Oct. 24. Visitation was also held at the McBurney Funeral Home, Wingham on Tuesday, Oct. 25 until the funeral service. Interment took place at Wingham Cemetery. The funeral was recorded and is available to watch on the funeral home website.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Huron Hospice (https://www.huronhospice.ca), the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital (Goderich) or the charity of one’s choice would be appreciated.

Online condolences may be left at www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com

Friends and family were received at Riverside Funeral Home on Tuesday, Oct. 25 for visitation, prior to the funeral service. Interment was at Brussels Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers and as expressions of sympathy, donations to Cranbrook Presbyterian Church or the Autism Society would be appreciated.

Condolences may be left at riversidefuneralhome.ca.

Steven Maxwell of Seaforth, passed away peacefully at his home on Oct. 17, 2022. He was 63.

Wingham Memorials

HELEN “ISABELLE” CRAIG

Mrs. Helen “Isabelle” Craig (née Clark), passed away peacefully at Huronlea Home for the Aged, Brussels on Oct. 19, 2022. She was in her 93rd year.

Isabelle was the beloved wife of the late Bill Craig (2011) and the loving mother of Ross Craig, North Bay and Murray Craig, Brussels. She was the dear grandmother of Bruce (Sheona) Craig, Heather Craig, Ian Craig, Nichole (Amar) Chahal, Melissa Craig and John Patterson and Melanie (Louie) Langlois and the loving greatgrandmother of Arden, Camden, Ewan, Cara, Kevin, Lane, Annabella, Lily, Cierra and Hudson.

Isabelle was predeceased by children Nancy, Roger and Mary, brother Donald, daughter-in-law Stephanie and granddaughter Elyssa.

Isabelle was active in her

TARA PRICE

Tara Lee (Berardelli) Price, Seaforth, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of her family, at Jessica’s House on Oct. 22, 2022. She was 41.

Tara was the beloved wife and partner of Reegan Price for over 11 years and the loving mother of William Luigi Price. She was the proud daughter of Sheryl and Luigi Berardelli, Carlisle, and the daughter-in-law of Gail and Bill Price, Seaforth. Tara was the dear sister of Kristina Berardelli (Marc Conflitti), Flamborough; sister-inlaw of Carly Price-McKenzie (Peter), Toronto and the adored aunt of Finley McKenzie.

Tara was a lover of animals. Throughout her life she fostered and helped to find homes for many dogs, rabbits and birds. She was a fervent champion of equal rights and a devoted advocate for women’s empowerment in business. Tara was a natural leader in business, and in life, she always achieved the goals she set for herself. Tara’s pride and joy was her son William, and she will be greatly

Steve will be missed by his good friend Nancy. He was the proud father of Heather Martin (Chris), Samantha Maxwell, Stacey Dodge (Aaron), and Mike Maxwell, the loving grandpa of Garren, and Diesel; Jakob; Mathew, Sean, Jordyn, and Landon; Savannah, Sophie and Mia and the dear brother of Susan Morden (Jamie), Michael Maxwell, Sheila Labine (Rene), and Shelley Hampton. He will be fondly remembered by the Eden Springs family and missed by his pug Percy. Steve was predeceased by parents June (Dupee) and Wally Maxwell.

Steve was a big-hearted, athletic outdoorsman. He loved to fish and hunt, and he was a local fisherman’s guide in Huron County. Steve always helped anyone in need and had a big heart and gave the best hugs. He also loved to play sports, including baseball, and was a big Chicago Blackhawks fan.

Remembering your loved one

Honour your loved one by placing their obituary in

STEVEN MAXWELL

Veterans’ flags up in Londesborough

on Oct. 27, as it was an “anything but a backpack” day. I envision boxes, bags, suitcases or perhaps a pillowcase. Fun day!

“We all get discouraged at times. Just remember that growth is more like a spiral than a straight line. Discouragement is inevitable – and so is rejoicing.” Snowflakes in October are discouraging, but they make us appreciate the sun even more.

In my information regarding the staff who are dealing with the children attending Hullett Central, I forgot to mention that Lise Mack continues to be the crossing guard in the village. Because there are no children who need to cross the highway this year on their way to and from classes, Lise now assists with their safety crossing Londesborough Road right in front of the community hall.

It would be fun to watch how the children got their “things” to school

On Oct. 31, the pupils are encouraged to wear items that are orange, purple and black. Halloween accessories, like face paint or hats, etc. are also allowed. The older students are planning special activities for Kindergarten and the primary classes. Each room will have some observance of the day.

I see that the Canadian and Central Huron flags in the village have now been replaced with Remembrance Day flags. It continues to be a wonderful way to remember the men and women who fought for our freedom. One only has to think on the situations in Iran and Ukraine to again be grateful we live in Canada.

As I wrote this column, we were dealing with five straight days of rain and, occasionally, snow pellets. However, until then, we have had a beautiful autumn season. It has been a number of years since the trees displayed so much colour. The reds are particularly brilliant this year and the countryside was ablaze with colour. Unfortunately, once this rain and wind are done with us

the trees will likely have shed a lot of their foliage. But meteorologists say if the warm temperatures and sunny days linger for a time so will those colours.

The morning worship at Londesborough United Church was called a 60th anniversary service, a service of thanksgiving for the United Church Women – past, present and future. It was a service full of memories –memories of working together, learning together, socializing together, building friendships and supporting our faith community over 60 years. It was also a celebration of ministry, outreach activities, fundraising, leadership, laughter and tears, survival and looking to the future.

Additionally, it was a service of thanksgiving to the women who have served during those 60 years with their time, talents and knowledge. A bouquet on the memorial table was placed by Sherry Postma in memory of all UCW members who are no longer with us.

Current President Catherine Allen and her executive are to be commended for arranging a service that touched the hearts of everyone present that morning. Lighting candles of honour were Brenda

Radford for the past, Catherine Allen for the present and Kim Roetsicoender for the future. Also taking part in the service were Ann Adams and Helen Lobb.

During the children’s time Crystal Whyte and the children put Mr. Potato Head together to enforce the idea that the church is made up of many parts, all of which are important to the whole. This reinforced the scripture reading from 1 Cor. 12:12-26.

Under the direction of Marsha Szusz, several ladies offered special music for the celebration. A time of fellowship followed in the Sunday school room at the close of the service.

Obituaries

Loewen, Chris and Nicole Casemore, Chanda Casemore, Kate and Cam Longson and Tim and Katrina Van Camp and the greatgrandpa of Brody, Kash, Carsen, Sydney, Jarrett and Morgan. Jim was the dear brother and brother-inlaw of Vera and Bill Buchanan, Edward and Kathy Hunter and Marlene Hunter. He will be lovingly remembered by Mary’s family as well as many nieces and nephews.

Jim was predeceased by his daughter Gwendolyn MacLean and parents Howard and Merle (Wood) Hunter, sister Rosie Stolk and brother Robert Hunter.

Jim was the devoted husband of Mary (Durham) Hunter, Goderich and the loving dad of Joyce and Keith Van Camp, Cayley, Alberta; Dan Hunter, Belgrave and Glen Hunter, Exeter. Jim was the cherished grandpa of Marilyn

A private family graveside service was held at Brandon Cemetery, Belgrave. A come-andgo celebration was held at the Belgrave Community Centre on Friday, Oct. 28.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Huron Hospice, Clinton would be appreciated.

Online condolences may be left at the funeral home’s website at www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com.

Bright and early

Fun

Princess Street report coming

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

Central Huron Council has requested a report on potential traffic-calming measures for Princess Street in the north end of Clinton, where many of the town’s schools are located.

Councillor Marg Anderson raised the issue at council’s Oct. 17 meeting, saying community representatives had met with those from the schools as well as the Ontario Provincial Police about increased speeding activity in that area.

Anderson put forward the idea of installing speed bumps on that road,

as recent alternatives such as designating it a community safety zone, which doubles speeding fines, didn’t seem to have the impact council had hoped it would.

Roads Manager Brady Nolan said that while it was certainly possible to install permanent speed bumps on the road, they would be a “nightmare” for snow removal crews. As an alternative, he suggested temporary speed bumps on the street that could be removed during the winter months. He said he had been in contact with the Town of Goderich and said the municipality could rent some temporary speed bumps from Goderich with the option to buy if

council was satisfied with the results. However, he said, there was no commitment to buy if council was unhappy with them.

Anderson put forward a motion to that effect, asking for the installation of temporary speed bumps, but it was defeated.

Deputy-Mayor Dave Jewitt said he was concerned about the lack of notice and communication for the residents of Princess Street if speed bumps, temporary or otherwise, were to be suddenly installed.

He did, however, say he would be in favour of a report to consider all traffic-calming options for the street. Council then passed a motion requesting that report.

Anne Wilson Schaef assures us:

JAMES HUNTER

Jim Hunter, formerly of Belgrave, passed away at Alexandra Marine and General Hospital, Goderich, on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022. He was 92.

The Londesborough and Area Lions Club held its famous olde-tyme breakfast earlier this month in an effort to raise money for displaced Ukrainian families who are now calling Huron County home.

By Rev. JoAnn Todd

Trinity Anglican Church, Blyth and St. John’s Anglican Church, Brussels

Many of you may know that I live on a sheep farm, and have for more than 40 years. I’ve made it a bit of a hobby to watch the behaviour and activities of our sheep – and their shepherds!

Have you ever watched livestock grazing in a pasture field? They just kind of walk around with their heads down most of the time, grazing, chomping their way across the field. When they come to a fence, they either turn away from it and keep grazing or follow along the fence line. Every now and again they’ll look up and see what’s on the other side of the fence – and, if the pasture looks better on the other side, they’ll walk the fence and try to find a hole to get through, or, they’ll push against the wire or the wood and make a hole. It doesn’t take much of a hole for sheep to get through – if there’s even the look of a gap in the fence, there’s bound to be at least one ewe on the wrong side.

There are two kinds of ewes, actually – those that just unknowingly graze their way through a hole that just might be in the fence, and those that look for the holes and push their way through – and often two or three others will follow the lead ewe through the break in the fencing. And, for a while, the sheep on the wrong side of the fence are quite content, grazing there. But what is really interesting about these sheep on the other side of the fence is their behaviour once they realize that they’re lost and that they’ve been separated from the rest of the flock.

Some just stand quietly looking at the fence, looking a bit lost. Most get panicky, noisily bleating and running up and down along the fence line, looking for the hole that they went out of so they can get back to the right side of the fence; back with the flock from which they’ve separated themselves, back where they know they belong.

In their panic, they usually go right past the hole that so attracted them out of the field in the first place, or blindly start charging the fence, trying to create a hole. And they can get further and further away from the home flock. Often it’s the sound of their baa-ing that alerts us that somebody’s lost, generally sheep are pretty quiet out on the pasture. Sometimes it’s just a matter of going to the closest gate,

opening it and calling the ewes and watching them go through the gate. Sheep really can learn to know and trust their shepherd’s voice! But, with the more skittish ewes, well, we have to get behind them and guide them up to the gate or, in extreme cases, we’ve actually had to create a new gap in the fence –large enough for them to easily see, just so we could get them safely back home. It can be quite an adventure at times! And the sheep that aren’t lost? Well, they tend to ignore the noisy lost ones, they don’t seem to care, after all, they’re where they’re supposed to be!

In Luke’s gospel, he tells us about

this mixed group of folks who were gathered around Jesus - sinners of various types – the “less than desirable citizenry” shall we say, and there are some law-abiding Pharisees and scribes too. Jesus even sat and ate with the societal outcasts – the sinners – and that was an out-and-out defiance of the religious laws. The religious people were not happy with Jesus spending so much time with “those kind of people”, and he even encouraged them to come and be with him. This was not proper behaviour – good religious folk kept themselves apart from sinners, nor did the religious ones “take kindly to the possible

repentance of those who lie outside their definition of the redeemable” . They were very clearly the wrong kind of people, and not to be associated with, never mind welcoming them into the community. There were rules about this sort of thing! So Jesus, being Jesus, senses a teaching moment here, and tells them a couple of stories.

The first was about how a shepherd left his flock of 99 sheep

to search for the one that was missing. Stories of sheep and shepherds; this would be familiar territory for the people who were listening – there are many sheepand-shepherd stories in the Hebrew scriptures. Comparing people to sheep is an ancient metaphor. Everyone would have known that the shepherd was a metaphor for God and the sheep were the people. The idea that God, the

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Continued from page 27 shepherd, would actually abandon the entire flock to seek out one lost sheep was radical enough, but to leave 99 to go and find one? That just doesn’t make sense from a risk perspective. Looking for a lost sheep in the rough Judean mountain terrain, full of wild predators, would be significantly more challenging than cutting a fence and chasing a lost ewe through it. Then the shepherd threw a party to celebrate the finding of the lost one. Well, that was almost too much to believe. If I put on my farm business hat, hosting the party could cost as much or more than the value of the sheep that was found! So, what does that tell us about God’s values? The joy in the return and welcoming home of even a single lost one was not only worth the efforts, but worthy of celebration!

People who are on the margins of any societal group, the so-called “lost ones”, know how people feel about them. And like those sheep who get lost from our flock, we know too that some of society’s marginalized folk can exhibit some unusual behaviours. Some may be like the sheep that just inadvertently slips through a hole in the fence –not really aware at first that they’re lost from the rest, and just wandering around. Others may be more like the noisy sheep that call out when they’re lost, and this noisy conduct may manifest itself in different behaviours in people. Some quietly walk the fence-line

looking for a likely hole to get back into the pasture, others will run along the fence until they’re exhausted and then quit looking, and just lie down and await their fate. And yet, here was Jesus, telling these “lost sheep” they were just as important as the others in the synagogue – and that God was actually out looking for them, to bring them back to the fold, and their return was worthy of a party!

Imagine if you were one of the “sinners” or poor folk who was listening to this story. How would you feel knowing you were loved and worthy?

Just to make sure his listeners get the point, Jesus tells them a second story, and he increases the stakes in a few ways. The woman in the second story loses one of 10 silver coins, a full 10 per cent of her savings. And she does all she can to find that lost coin – she turns her house upside down in the search until she finds it. And when she does find the coin, she too throws a celebration, which would probably cost as much if not more than the coin she found! And you know what else is really interesting about this story? “No other parable in the new Testament presents a woman as a metaphor or allegory for God.” Pretty inclusive thinking for its time - and for some today it’s still pretty radical!

Well, who are we in this story?

Do you identify with one of Jesus’ disciples listening to the stories? Or do you feel like the lost sheep or maybe you feel more like one of the

sheep in the home flock? Or are you maybe the searching shepherd or the woman sweeping? When I gave thought to this question for myself, I have to admit, somewhat “sheepishly” (pardon the pun), that I’ve always considered the churchgoing people as the flock, the “found ones”. We’re the ones in church, after all. Upon reflection, that’s probably a bit presumptuous and a bit arrogant. It makes me kind of like the ewes in our home flock who are on the right side of the fence, the ones who ignore the noisy upset ewes on the outside, quite content to be where they are. And it makes me a bit like the Pharisees too, if I’m honest, quite content to be on the “inside” as it were, and maybe feeling a bit smug about it too.

Perhaps you feel maybe a little more like the lost sheep or lost coin, waiting for God to find you, not sure just where you belong? If you’re feeling like the lost one, be reassured by this parable. God goes to many lengths to find us –even if the lost ones don’t realize they’re lost. God knows they’re lost, and God does not give up on any of us. We are all of God’s flock.

There are times in everyone’s life when we feel lost, alone or abandoned or feel like we’ve lost the way and wonder if God’s really there. There are times we absolutely know we’ve gone the wrong way and wonder if God will take us back, because we’ve really messed up. As Jesus told his listeners, “… there is joy in the presence of God’s

angels when even one sinner repents.” (Luke 15.10 NLT) God keeps searching for us, doesn’t give up on us, carries us when we’re hurt or we’ve given up. And when we do finally come to God, when we are found, the joy of God and all the angels for one who returns to God is incalculable and inestimable. The cost is unimportant, what is important is the return – that we have returned to God, to Jesus for our salvation.

Then there’s the flip side of the coin – so to speak. We, the ones

who think we are “in” the flock, and quite content to be here thank you very much, who maybe look upon those others as the lost ones, is it just possible with this attitude that we’re not as righteous as we think we are? Might it be that we are, in fact, just as lost? There’s a bit of a reality check. That was the attitude of the Pharisees, after all. The “repent and turn back message” is there for all, no matter on which side of the fence we find ourselves. We all belong to God’s flock. We are all valuable to God. Amen.

Blyth Lions receive funding to improve G2G Trail

The tourism sector is vital to the economy and jobs in Wellington County, Waterloo Region and Perth and Huron Counties. The members of Blyth Lions Club view 500,000 urbanites at the east end of the Goderich to Guelph Rail Trail and all Huron County residents as potential visitors to Blyth and area. Blyth businesses have learned that cyclists stay longer and spend more. Observers of Queen Street traffic through town invariably remarked on the volume of visitors clearly arriving via the Goderich-toGuelph Rail Trail (G2G).

Last week, the Blyth Lions Club received a non-repayable contribution of $100,000 from Regional Tourism Organization 4 Inc. (RTO4) to initiate improvements to the G2G Trail.

There are 67 points of entry where users can begin their trip to Blyth. This project is intended to ensure these entry points are consistently attractive, inclusive, informative, safe and enjoyable across a variety of seasons and weather conditions.

This is part of an overall Government of Canada investment of over $78 million, which includes an almost $10-million top up to FedDev Ontario’s original $68.5million contribution for 11 Regional Tourism Offices and Indigenous Tourism Ontario.

This Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) investment will help to attract new visitors and drive economic growth in the community of Blyth and surrounding area.

“The tourism sector is important to the economy, jobs and

livelihoods in Wellington County, Waterloo Region, Perth and Huron County. This Government of Canada investment, through FedDev Ontario and RTO4 will ensure businesses in Blyth and area have the tools to enhance experiences and offerings to attract visitors and be well-positioned to drive economic growth in Huron County,” said The Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.

“On behalf of the 37 members of the Blyth Lions Club, I wish to thank the Government of Canada and the Federal Economic Agency for funding to support tourism in our area as well as promoting inclusive physical activity through

the use of the G2G Trail for all ages of our population,” said Fred deBoer, President, Blyth Lions Club.

“We are immensely grateful to the Government of Canada and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario for the ability to support local businesses and organizations in

Waterloo, Wellington, Huron and Perth Counties, like the Blyth Lions Club. Projects like this will make an impact on the road to recovery and reimagination by allowing stakeholders to make strategic investments in product and destination development,” said Andrea Gardi, Executive Director RTO4.

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The laundry room has room for a stacked washer and dryer, as well as a sink and a handy shelf for sorting and folding. The linen closet is located just outside the door.

Bedroom No. 1, at the front of the home, shares a three-piece bath with the second bedroom.

Exterior finishes include horizontal wood siding on

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The Citizen, Oct. 11, 2012

The Citizen, Oct. 25, 2012

The Citizen, Oct. 11, 2012

The Citizen, Oct. 22, 1997

Entertainment

Art students make their mark for 10x10 Sale

By Denny Scott The Citizen

Twenty students from Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton are participating in this year’s 10x10 for 2022 Art Sale fundraiser for the Blyth Festival, and the pieces represent more than just the artists’ ambitions.

Julie Gillam, the art teacher at the high school, told The Citizen that having students take part in the auction is a means of teaching them a number of different lessons, including supporting the community, valuing their own work, helping them to find their voice and supporting mental health by promoting art in the community.

“We’re using the community and school to celebrate art, but also using it as a way for students to have their voice and get it out there and help with mental health,” she said in an interview with The Citizen

Online learning and lockdowns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic proved to be a challenge for some students when they returned to the classroom, Gillam said, so she was looking for ways to get students involved in their community, once again. That includes activities of the past like the poster contests hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion and art projects like Clinton’s Artist’s Alley, as well as new options like the 10x10 sale.

While Gillam first looked at the project as an opportunity for some of her Grade 10 students, eventually, the approachability of the project saw more and more students get involved.

“It’s a win-win all around,” she said. “Students are learning, giving their artwork back to the community and donating for a good cause.”

Gillam said the project provided a unique opportunity to challenge students to think about what people would want to see and buy.

“We had to think about what people would want on their walls,” she said. “We talked about the needs of the community and what

they might want to display, and how the role of the artist fit in with that.”

Gillam said students had to look differently on their art than if they were creating for social commentary or comparing their work to museum pieces.

The project also provided a chance for the students to realize that there is a financial value to the work they put into their art. Gillam said she tried to impress upon the students that the time they put in has a value and that would be reflected in the auction.

The final products provided by the students covered a variety of subject matters and moods, Gillam said.

“We had seasonal work, like pumpkins and ghosts,” she said, adding that didn’t surprise her because artists often work with what is around them. “We also had some students put a lot of thought into what people would find beautiful in Huron County. We had mountainscapes and other landscapes and a lighthouse.”

She said one other student decided to focus on a science fiction starship, which at first she was going to advise against, but then decided that if he enjoys that, there will be other people who enjoy it as well. She said it was among several she thought would be great for a child’s room. Other pieces included a very intricate look at a subway station and nature through a painting of a duck.

Gillam said the project was a very good learning experience.

Kelly McIntosh, the Audience Development Co-ordinator and Artistic Associate for the Festival, told The Citizen that the work is “incredible” and that the Blyth Festival was grateful to receive the submissions. She was very excited when she and Gillam first connected and was extremely happy with the result of the partnership.

The pieces will be on display online and up for auction as of Nov. 1, with the bidding closing on Dec. 1. For more information, visit blythfestival.com.

Sale. On the left, Olivia Decker and Julia Wynja show off their creations, while on the right, art teacher Julie Gillam drops the pieces off at the Festival’s Memorial Hall offices. (Courtesy photos)

Libro donates $46,000 to three local projects

Giving back

Libro Credit Union has announced the recipients of the 2022 annual granting program, investing a total of $317,000 with $46,000 supporting three projects in Huron and Perth Counties.

“We are excited to contribute to

the amazing work these organizations are doing to impact the quality of life for so many,” said Carolina Triana of Libro. “Every year we are impressed by the innovative programs that these groups are delivering.”

HE to swap graders

Huron East Council has authorized Public Works Manager Barry Mills to trade one of the municipality’s graders for a new one after sustained maintenance problems over the past 12 years.

Mills presented his report to council at its Oct. 18 meeting, which was held in-person in Seaforth. The trade-in, offered by Jade Equipment Company Limited, would require Huron East to pay just over $200,000 to upgrade its grader (a difference in value of $198,300, plus the municipality’s portion of the HST, which is $3,490.47).

“The municipality’s 2007 G960 motor grader has had a history of ongoing issues and repairs; mainly engine and several transmission failures,” Mills said in his report to council.

Mills called the Volvo grader model a “lemon” and said that other municipalities have experienced similar issues with the 2007 G960 Volvos. Chief Administrative Officer Brad McRoberts agreed, saying one of his previous employers had had all of the same issues Huron East was having.

Mills detailed a number of repairs and replacements on the machine that have been covered under warranty and others that have not been over the last five years. Since 2017, Mills said, the grader has cost Huron East over $160,000 in maintenance costs, compared to $86,634.57 for the municipality’s 1995 Champion and $73,661.04 for its 2005 Volvo during that same time period.

All three graders were used between 606 and 639 hours each year, but the 2007 Volvo’s average maintenance cost per usage hour was in excess of $42, compared to $23.82 for the 1995 Champion and $17.95 for the 2005 Volvo.

Mills began working with Jade Equipment to find a solution to the municipality’s ongoing problems with the 2007 machine.

“Staff approached Jade Equipment about options on how we can deal with the ongoing issues, as Jade is also incurring costs by sending mechanics to the site, providing a loaner and floating the grader back and forth,” Mills

said in his report. “Ric Ross, the vice-president of Jade, proposed a fair trade-in option to eliminate the ongoing issues between Jade and the municipality. He offered to trade in our 2007 Volvo that has 9,325 hours for a 2016 Deere 770G with 3,330 hours.”

Mills said the proposed asking price for the 770G Deere is just under $260,000. The municipality would receive $60,000 for its 2007 machine, leaving $198,300 to be paid for by Huron East.

The purchase, Mills told council, would include a one-year warranty with parts and labour. He added that a new grader now costs nearly $600,000 with a lead time of approximately 10 months.

Mills said he consulted with the municipality’s two foremen and they agreed that the graders are comparable and, in their estimation, the 2007 Volvo would only continue to give the municipality problems. He also told council that, with winter around the corner, he needed reliability in the coming months.

While the municipality would have to spend just over $200,000 for the new grader, Mills anticipated saving approximately $64,000 per year in maintenance costs that would have been spent on the 2007 machine.

He recommended taking $100,000 from Huron East’s equipment reserves and the balance from its vibrancy fund to fund the grader exchange. Council agreed and passed a motion concurring with Mills’ recommendation.

Libro proudly supports programs and projects across southwestern Ontario that are helping to grow prosperity. At a celebration event in Stratford, Libro recognized the following 2022 grant recipients from the Huron Perth area:

• Facile Perth - Workshops, independent planning and facilitation ($20,000): Facile Perth assists people with disabilities and their families in Perth and Huron Counties to plan for and build a good life in community. They offer independent facilitation supporting people to recognize their strengths, name their goals and implement plans to achieve a purpose-driven life. This grant will contribute to independent planning and facilitation on an individual basis to families and to the development of workshops where family members will gain knowledge on important areas including financial literacy and employment.

• The Local Community Food Centre - Mighty Meals ($6,000): Mighty Meals is an eight-week program that’s delivered once a week in partnership with the Children’s Aid Society, that provides instruction on easy-toprepare meals for families being supported by a Society family worker. This is a virtual program, where instruction is provided for parents and children to take part in preparing a meal together. A meal

kit is sent home each week to families, so they have everything they need to create the meal. In addition, there is a question and answer session held each week.

• United  Way Perth HuronProject: Northern Huron Connection Centre, Wingham ($20,000): Connection Centres serve to address both short- and long-term solutions to the local challenge of homelessness. Shortterm solutions come through the offering of laundry and shower facilities, food and a place out of the heat or cold. In the longer term, Connection Centres allow vulnerable members of our community to connect with trusted highly-trained advocates (including peer support by individuals with lived experience), who can focus on working with clients to direct them to the services and supports they need, helping lift them out of homelessness. Connection Centres are a uniquely rural response to the challenge of homelessness, addressing Perth-Huron’s vast geography. This grant will contribute to the Northern Huron Centre (NHCC) in Wingham.

FROM IRELAND TO THE QUEEN’S BUSH

Author

THE LITTLE BOOK OF WOODLAND BIRD SONGS

Brings

Libro Credit Union recently donated over $45,000 to three local projects, including the North Huron Connection Centre in Wingham through United Way Perth-Huron. From

left: Shawn Lawler of Libro, Lisa Harper of United Way, Ryan Erb of United Way, Marty Rops of Libro, Tanya Quipp of Libro and Debb Finch of Libro. (Courtesy photo)

HURON

MIGHTY MACHINES