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News - May 17 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Shawn Loughlin   
Wednesday, 16 May 2012 14:49
2012April17Front
Huron County Warden and Huron East Mayor Bernie MacLellan, left, and MPP Lisa Thompson were on hand for the replanting of Treblehill Farms Woodlot, a bush that was severly damaged by the tornado that devastated Goderich and area in August last year. The planting marked the start of the “Trees for Benmiller” project, a program to help landowners replace trees lost during the tornado.  (Jim Brown photo)
Huron County Warden and Huron East Mayor Bernie MacLellan, left, and MPP Lisa Thompson were on hand for the replanting of Treblehill Farms Woodlot, a bush that was severly damaged by the tornado that devastated Goderich and area in August last year. The planting marked the start of the “Trees for Benmiller” project, a program to help landowners replace trees lost during the tornado.  (Jim Brown photo)
 
Council Waives Fee For Me To We Event - May 17 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Shawn Loughlin   
Wednesday, 16 May 2012 14:47
“I’ll put a motion forward to waive whatever we can... so that we can become a we and not a me,” said North Huron Councillor Bernie Bailey in an attempt to assist the annual youth event.
Bailey’s motion, as stated above, was passed during North Huron Township Council’s May 7 meeting in regards to a request from Kathy Douglas, the Huron-Perth Presbytery Youth Minister, relating to the recent Me to We event in Blyth.
Douglas explained that for the first time in the event’s history the cost of running the event was higher than the amount brought in.
The event cost $1,191.88 to run and brought in just $450, meaning the group had lost $741.88 running the event.
The expenses of the event were as follows:
• Signage $25
• Hall Rental $446.88
• Posters $25
• Sound/Lighting Tech $200
• Guest Emcee $495
Despite the fact that Director of Recreation and Facilities Pat Newson explained that the group was already receiving a discounted rate on the rental of the Blyth Memorial Hall for the event, council decided to waive as much of the fee as possible.
Council was informed that, of the $446.88 rental fee, $55 was charged by the Blyth Festival and couldn’t be discounted by the township.
In her letter Douglas explains that the event, which has been running for four years, is believed to have not been as well attended as anticipated due to a combination of cancellations and the fact that it was held at the beginning of the Easter long weekend.
“This had not been our first choice for dates,” she explained in the letter, “but there was a mix up at the theatre around bookings and we could not get our first choice.”
Bailey stated he didn’t want to see an annual event that highlights the talent of youth cancelled over $500.
Blyth’s representatives on council; Councillor Brock Vodden and Deputy-Reeve David Riach, both said they wanted to help the group out but didn’t feel completely comfortable doing so.
“Ideas like this make me tremble. This is a very positive group and the event has been a great success,” Vodden said. “There are great stories of kids blossoming and growing but at the same time we’re setting a precedence.
“Looking at it from one perspective, it is a small amount of money for a good cause,” he said. “On the other hand, we’re very stretched for money.”
“I’ll put a motion forward to waive whatever we can... so that we can become a we and not a me,” said North Huron Councillor Bernie Bailey in an attempt to assist the annual youth event.
Bailey’s motion, as stated above, was passed during North Huron Township Council’s May 7 meeting in regards to a request from Kathy Douglas, the Huron-Perth Presbytery Youth Minister, relating to the recent Me to We event in Blyth.
Douglas explained that for the first time in the event’s history the cost of running the event was higher than the amount brought in.
The event cost $1,191.88 to run and brought in just $450, meaning the group had lost $741.88 running the event.
The expenses of the event were as follows:
• Signage $25
• Hall Rental $446.88
• Posters $25
• Sound/Lighting Tech $200
• Guest Emcee $495
Despite the fact that Director of Recreation and Facilities Pat Newson explained that the group was already receiving a discounted rate on the rental of the Blyth Memorial Hall for the event, council decided to waive as much of the fee as possible.
Council was informed that, of the $446.88 rental fee, $55 was charged by the Blyth Festival and couldn’t be discounted by the township.
In her letter Douglas explains that the event, which has been running for four years, is believed to have not been as well attended as anticipated due to a combination of cancellations and the fact that it was held at the beginning of the Easter long weekend.
“This had not been our first choice for dates,” she explained in the letter, “but there was a mix up at the theatre around bookings and we could not get our first choice.”
Bailey stated he didn’t want to see an annual event that highlights the talent of youth cancelled over $500.
Blyth’s representatives on council; Councillor Brock Vodden and Deputy-Reeve David Riach, both said they wanted to help the group out but didn’t feel completely comfortable doing so.
“Ideas like this make me tremble. This is a very positive group and the event has been a great success,” Vodden said. “There are great stories of kids blossoming and growing but at the same time we’re setting a precedence.
“Looking at it from one perspective, it is a small amount of money for a good cause,” he said. “On the other hand, we’re very stretched for money.”
FOR THE FULL STORY, SEE THE MAY 17 ISSUE OF 'THE CITIZEN'
 
Board Haunted by Past Closures - May 17 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Shawn Loughlin   
Wednesday, 16 May 2012 14:44

BY RITA MARSHALL

 

The ghosts of accommodation reviews past, present and future haunted Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) trustees at their May 8 meeting.
To allow enough space for all the Stratford parents anxious to hear the final decision in the Stratford accommodation review, the meeting was moved into the cavernous gym of Seaforth Public School.
It wasn’t the first time the AMDSB held a meeting in the gym; trustees had also gathered there when it was part of Seaforth and District High School. SDHS was closed ten years ago after an accommodation review was unsuccessfully challenged in court by a group of Huron East citizens. Students in the area now attend Central Huron Secondary School (CHSS).
***
It’s been almost two years since an accommodation review announced Blyth Public School would close. This September, Blyth students will be split up between the new Maitland River Elementary School (MRES) and Hullett Central Public School. But Blyth resident Brock Vodden will not be deterred.
“I am continuing to make every effort to block the closure of Blyth Public School,” he wrote in a letter to Avon Maitland District School Board chair Jenny Versteeg, “but am under no illusion that AMDSB will change its mind in this matter. It will require some form of intervention at a higher level in order to get justice for our community.”
Vodden lists several inaccuracies he said were in the review process, including lack of advertising and lack of representation from Blyth.
In her written response, Versteeg answered that meetings were advertised and that representatives were sent by North Huron and the Blyth Public School council. After parents appealed to the Ministry of Education over the school’s announced closure, a Ministry of Education-appointed facilitator investigated the board’s process and cited it as “exemplary”.
“You are correct in assuming that the Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) is unlikely to change its course regarding the closure of Blyth Public School,” she wrote.
Both letters are available on the board’s website.
The ghosts of accommodation reviews past, present and future haunted Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) trustees at their May 8 meeting.
To allow enough space for all the Stratford parents anxious to hear the final decision in the Stratford accommodation review, the meeting was moved into the cavernous gym of Seaforth Public School.
It wasn’t the first time the AMDSB held a meeting in the gym; trustees had also gathered there when it was part of Seaforth and District High School. SDHS was closed ten years ago after an accommodation review was unsuccessfully challenged in court by a group of Huron East citizens. Students in the area now attend Central Huron Secondary School (CHSS).
***
It’s been almost two years since an accommodation review announced Blyth Public School would close. This September, Blyth students will be split up between the new Maitland River Elementary School (MRES) and Hullett Central Public School. But Blyth resident Brock Vodden will not be deterred.
“I am continuing to make every effort to block the closure of Blyth Public School,” he wrote in a letter to Avon Maitland District School Board chair Jenny Versteeg, “but am under no illusion that AMDSB will change its mind in this matter. It will require some form of intervention at a higher level in order to get justice for our community.”
Vodden lists several inaccuracies he said were in the review process, including lack of advertising and lack of representation from Blyth.
In her written response, Versteeg answered that meetings were advertised and that representatives were sent by North Huron and the Blyth Public School council. After parents appealed to the Ministry of Education over the school’s announced closure, a Ministry of Education-appointed facilitator investigated the board’s process and cited it as “exemplary”.
“You are correct in assuming that the Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) is unlikely to change its course regarding the closure of Blyth Public School,” she wrote.
Both letters are available on the board’s website.
FOR THE FULL STORY, SEE THE MAY 17 ISSUE OF 'THE CITIZEN'

 
 
Citizen of the Year Nominations Wanted! PDF Print E-mail
Written by Shawn Loughlin   
Wednesday, 21 March 2012 10:09

Just as The Citizen’s Citizen of the Year Awards are an annual tradition, so too is the firm reminder to nominate someone you feel is making the community around you a better place.
To date The Citizen has not received a single nomination for either the Blyth and area or Brussels and area communities.
Last year two wonderful, community-minded winners were honoured in the late Rev. Cathrine Campbell in Brussels and Kay Hesselwood in Blyth. We here at The Citizen know there are citizens out there who deserve to be honoured this year and we want to hear about them.
On page 18 of this week’s edition of The Citizen you’ll find a nomination form. The deadline for nominations is April 30, 2012. A decision will be made by a panel of past Citizen of the Year Award winners shortly thereafter.
Please take the time to search your brain for someone who has gone above and beyond the community’s call of duty this year and who deserves to be recognized. We look forward to reading your nominations.

To e-mail a submission for this year's Citizen of the Year Awards, send your name, the name of the person you're nominating and why they deserve to be named this year's Citizen of the Year to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 
Last Updated on Thursday, 26 April 2012 11:41