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Friday, August 9, 2024
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Volume 40 No. 32
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Bluevale 170th set for weekend
Down the stretch It was another sunny day for horse racing on Sunday as the Clinton Raceway helped celebrate the Civic Holiday Weekend with its annual Ladies’ Day at the races, welcoming the women of the community to watch the
races and dress for the occasion. Of course, there are only a handful of race days left in Clinton this summer, with the season culminating with the annual Charity Driver’s Challenge, set for Sunday, Sept. 1. (John Stephenson photo)
Plowing Match coming to Bayfield This year’s Huron County Plowing Match, the 96th in history but marking the 100th anniversary since the first match, will be held on Aug. 15-16 at the home farm of the Vermue family at 36118 Bayfield River Road near Bayfield. The hosts are Koos and Nathalie Vermue and their children along with Huron County Warden Glen McNeil and Central Huron Mayor Jim Ginn. Dignitaries from the Huron County Plowmen’s Association who are hosting that day include President Steve Hallahan, Vice-President Ross McIntosh, Second Vice-President Maranda Klaver, Ontario
Plowmen’s Association Advisory Councillor Brian Wiersma, Treasurer Margaret Vincent and long-time Secretary Joan Ryan. The association’s directors include Don Dodds, Paul Dodds, George Townsend, Neil McGavin, Neil Vincent, Brian Wiersma, Steve Corbett, Jeff McGavin, Brian McGavin and Mark Ryan. The match will run right into the Bayfield Fair, which is traditionally held on the third weekend of August. Gates for the fair open on Friday, Aug. 16 at 5 p.m., right when greetings will be brought for the match’s annual banquet on the site. There are activities planned for
the fair throughout the weekend. Read more about the fair elsewhere in this special issue. As for the plowing match, it begins on Thursday, Aug. 15 with Junior Day - which has historically served as the achievement day for the 4-H Sodbusters Club, a crucial breeding ground for the Huron County plowing champions of tomorrow. The youngsters will be practising out in the fields between 9-11 a.m. that morning ahead of lunch, which will be served at 11:30 a.m. Following the mid-day meal, the 4-H achievement day will take to the fields from noon until 3 p.m.
Stingers lose their first game By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen With an 8-7 defeat at the hands of the Milverton Millwrights - just their third win of the year - the dream of a perfect season for the
Belmore Stingers is over as the team drops to a record of 13-1. The teams clashed in Milverton on Thursday, Aug. 1 and it was the home team that prevailed after Belmore made it through the first two thirds of the season
without losing a game. Of course, the Stingers are still well ahead in the Huron County Fastball League standings with their 13-1 record and 26 points, trailed by the second-place Continued on page 8
Meanwhile, indoors, the Princess competition will go ahead beginning at 1 p.m. Lillian Beyersbergen-Oakes, Sarah Van Nes, Jillian Simpson, Hailynn Greidanus, Emma Greidanus and Lily Shapton will all be competing to see who will succeed Rachel Wilts and be the next Huron County Princess. That will do it for Junior Day as the organizers, competitors and volunteers will then turn their attention towards Friday, Aug. 16 and the 96th annual Huron County Plowing Match. Breakfast will begin the morning and nearby Bayfield Berry Farm will be doing the cooking so you don’t have to. Registration opens at 8 a.m., followed by the land draws at 9 a.m. and the beginning of the competition at 9:15 a.m. The competitors will be busy in the fields until lunch, which will be served between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The Queen of the Furrow contest Continued on page 2
This weekend, the community of Bluevale will celebrate its 170th anniversary with a special homecoming - three days of fun and reminiscing intent on showing the world that the people of Bluevale are “Here for a Dam Good Time” to quote the event’s slogan. Things get going just after 4 p.m. on Friday night when the refreshment tent opens. It will remain open until 1 a.m. Kids’ activities will go ahead from 4-7 p.m. and there will be a fish fry dinner (a ticket is required) from 5-7 p.m. that night. There will be a family movie night from 7-8:30 p.m. and some musical entertainment will end the night; first Haley McNeil from 7-9 p.m. and then Weekend Never Ends from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday begins with the refreshment tent open from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. - the same time that the homecoming parade will begin - 11 a.m. Kids’ activities will run from noon to 7 p.m. that day and Bronson Line will liven up the air with some music from 1-4 p.m. There will be a mechanical bull and a rock-climbing wall available from 1-5 p.m. and the event’s muchanticipated cornhole tournament will run from 2-7 p.m. The petting zoo will be open from 3-5 p.m. and then a beef supper will be served up by Cardiff’s BBQ Catering from 4:40-8 p.m. (a ticket is required). From 5-8 p.m., Blyth’s The Lucky Charms will perform, followed by Highway 21 from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Meanwhile, from 7-8:30 p.m., there will be a family dance as well. On Sunday, there will be a kids’ fishing derby at the dam from 8-11 a.m., followed by a church service (at the church) from 9-11 a.m. The car show in downtown Bluevale will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the history display at the hall will go from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Colin Brown Designs will be giving some chainsaw demonstrations between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Johnny Borton will perform on the musical stage from 1-3 p.m. and then the Zoo to You animal show will go ahead from 4-5 p.m. in the hall. For more information, visit bluevalehc2024.ca online or find Bluevale’s 170th Homecoming on Facebook.
PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024.
Five to vie for Queen of the Furrow crown
The next in line On Friday, Aug. 16, a new Queen of the Furrow will be crowned as the Huron County Plowing Match goes ahead at Koos and Nathalie Vermue’s home farm on Bayfield River Road in Central Huron near Bayfield. Each of the five young women will be looking to succeed 2023/2024 Queen Rachel Gras, centre. From left: Grace Hoggarth, Amber Siertsema, Gras, Brooklyn Hendriks and Queenie Pentland. Absent is Mackenzie Terpstra. (Scott Stephenson photo) Continued from page 1 will begin in earnest at 1 p.m. with the contestants’ speeches at 1 p.m. Amber Siertsema, Gracie Hoggarth, Brooklyn Hendriks, Queenie Pentland and Mackenzie Terpstra
will be competing to see who will succeed Rachel Gras and become the next Huron County Queen of the Furrow. After the speeches and a break for the judging, the Queen contestants
The Citizen
will make their way to the fields for the plowing component of the competition at 2:45 p.m. Tillage demonstrations, courtesy of the Huron County Soil and Crop Improvement Association, will be
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ongoing from 2-4 p.m. and there will be extra activities from 1-4:30 p.m. Greetings for the banquet will be brought at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 5:30 p.m. from Cardiff’s BBQ Catering and featuring, among other things, donated chicken courtesy of Maple Leaf. Over the course of the banquet, the day’s awards will be handed out and a new Queen of the Furrow will be crowned. There will also be a silent auction over the course of the night. The Huron County Plowmen’s Association has said that both the new Queen and Princess will be part of the Bayfield Fair parade, which is scheduled to make its way up Bayfield’s main street beginning at 11 a.m. the next day - Saturday, Aug. 17. QUEEN OF THE FURROW At this year’s Huron County Plowing Match, five young women will vie for the title of Huron County Queen of the Furrow, following in the footsteps of recent queens like Maranda Klaver, Luanne McGregor and, most recently, Rachel Gras, who will turn over her crown that night. BROOKLYN HENDRIKS Twenty-two-year-old Brooklyn Hendriks of RR3, Lucknow is the daughter of Casey and Cathy Hendriks. She has most recently worked at Alexandra Marine and General Hospital and her hopes for the future are to carry on the family farm. GRACE HOGGARTH Eighteen-year-old Grace
Hoggarth is the daughter of Karen and Chris Hoggarth. She currently works for Roberts Farm Equipment in the Bobcat parts department and hopes to continue working in the agricultural industry in the future. QUEENIE PENTLAND Queenie Pentland is the 18-yearold daughter of Paul and Rosemary Pentland. She was homeschooled and lives on her family farm near Nile where she helps raise speckle park cattle. Queenie enjoys gardening and helping her big sister with their flower business. AMBER SIERTSEMA Amber Siertsema, 24, is the daughter of Ken and Dianne Siertsema of Blyth. She works at Bootlegger in Goderich right now and hopes to continue working with the community in the future. MACKENZIE TERPSTRA Twenty-two-year-old Mackenzie Terpstra is the daughter of Jason and Michelle Terpstra of Brussels. She grew up on her family’s hog farm just outside of Brussels and has just finished four years of studies at the University of Guelph and will be returning in the fall for a fifth year. Her goals for the future are to find a fulfilling role in the agricultural industry and discover new ways to get involved in her community. PRINCESS COMPETITION At this year’s Huron County Plowing Match, six young women will be competing to succeed Continued on page 3
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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024. PAGE 3.
Brussels’ Stevenson wins Ont. bronze
An annual tradition While Rachel Wilts from the Blyth area has served the Huron County Plowmen’s Association dutifully over the past year as its Princess, the time has come for her to step aside and another young woman will take the reins. Six have thrown their hats into the ring. From left: Lillian Beyersbergen-Oakes, Emma Greidanus, Wilts, Hailynn Greidanus, Jillian Simpson, Lily Shapton and Sarah Van Nes. (Scott Stephenson photo)
Six on 24/25 Princess ticket Continued from page 2 Rachel Wilts as the next Huron County Plowing Match Princess. The competition will be held entirely on Junior Day - Thursday, Aug. 15 - with the speeches commencing at 1 p.m. LILLIAN BEYERSBERGENOAKES Lillian Beyersbergen-Oakes will be entering Grade 9 at F.E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham this fall. This is her third year competing in the Huron County Princess competition. She is the daughter of Kerry Beyersbergen and the late Mike Oakes. She enjoys the outdoors, drawing and hanging out with her friends and family. EMMA GREIDANUS Emma Greidanus is the daughter of Jill and Grant Greidanus of Goderich. She is 15 years old and attends Clinton’s St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School, where she is an honour roll student in the French Immersion program. She enjoys playing soccer and
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ringette, as well as being involved in volunteering and fundraising for her sports and other events in her community. HAILYNN GREIDANUS Hailynn Greidanus is 14 years old and this is the first time she is taking part in the Princess competition. She will be attending St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School this fall. She lives on a veal farm with two horses and two dogs. Her interests include playing broomball and volleyball, spending time with animals and horseback riding. She is a member of 4-H and part of the Belgrave Brussels Beef Club and the Vet Club. LILY SHAPTON Lily Shapton is the daughter of David and Sarah Shapton of South Huron. The 14-year-old Shapton attended South Huron District High School in Exeter where she is involved with 4-H, her school and community bands, along with other school activities. She enjoys horseback riding,
playing the saxophone and raising her flock of sheep and goats. JILLIAN SIMPSON Jillian Simpson is the 13-year-old daughter of Jenna Becker and Billy Brand of Zurich. She will be attending St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School in Clinton in the fall. She is the oldest of five younger siblings. She enjoys figure skating, baseball, volunteering with the Zurich Agricultural Society and farming with her family. Simpson is also the current Junior Ambassador with the Clinton Spring Fair and loves giving back to her community. Simpson’s future plans are to attend the University of Guelph for Agriculture Business. SARAH VAN NES Sarah Van Nes is the 13-year-old daughter of Robert and Andrea Van Nes of Ethel. She will be entering Grade 9 at St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School in the fall. In her spare time, she enjoys sewing, drawing and reading.
All to save you from wrath to come!
(Brooks, "The Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures") Christians, spend your days in admiring the transcendent love of Christ-in undergoing hellish punishments in your stead! Oh pray, pray hard that you "may be able to comprehend what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of that love of Christ, which passes knowledge!" Ephesians 3: 18-19 The love of Christ put Him upon these bodily and spiritual sufferings--which were so exceeding great, acute, extreme, and universal--and all to save you from wrath to come! His miseries, sorrows, and sufferings are unparalleled, and therefore Christians have the more cause to lose themselves in the contemplation of His matchless love. Oh, bless Christ! Oh, kiss Christ! Oh, embrace Christ! Oh, cleave to Christ! Oh, follow Christ! Oh, walk with Christ! Oh, long for Christ --who for your sakes has undergone insupportable wrath and most hellish torments! Oh, look up to dear Jesus, and say, "O blessed Jesus, You were accursed-that I might be blessed! You were condemned-that I might be justified! You underwent the very torments of hell--that I might forever enjoy the pleasures of heaven! Therefore I cannot but dearly love You, and highly esteem You, and greatly honor You, and earnestly long after You!" A Grace Gem Submitted by: Immanuel United Reformed Church Listowel, ON 519-291-3887
A weekend to remember Lerissa Stevenson of Brussels brought home a bronze medal from the Ontario Summer Games after playing an integral role in her softball team’s quest for provincial gold in London earlier this month. (Photo submitted) The 2024 Ontario Summer Games were held in London, Ontario this year and Lerissa Stevenson from Brussels and her softball team, the Huron Perth Nationals U17 Tier 1, based out of Crediton/Exeter Ontario, had earned a spot to compete. After finishing their Canadian Qualifier in Oshawa with a 4-2 record, the team was ranked third in the Ontario Summer Games’ eightteam tournament. The local girls’ team plays its regular season games in
Exeter/Crediton as part of the Grand Valley Fastball League, where the club sits in first place with a 9-1 record among the 14team league. The Nationals have also competed in the tournaments in Ohio and Quebec to prepare for the season. The Ontario Summer Games opening ceremonies were held on Thursday, Aug. 1 at Western Alumni Stadium, featuring Drives the Common Man, Eagle Flight Singers, the athletes’ parade, Continued on page 9
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Low-cost Vaccination Clinic Blyth Veterinary Services 234 Queen St. S., Blyth Friday, August 16 | 1–4 pm Saturday, August 17 | 9 am–12 pm
St. Helen’s Community Hall 85656 St. Helen’s Line
Please bring your dogs on leashes and cats in carriers. No appointment needed.
Wednesday, September 4 | 1–4 A partnership of Blyth Veterinary Services and Huron Perth Public Health
PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024.
Editorials & Opinions
Founding Publisher: Keith Roulston Publisher & President: Deb Sholdice Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Scott Stephenson Advertising Sales: Brenda Nyveld
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Take me to the river The ambitious project that France undertook ahead of the Paris Olympics to clean the river Seine is a caveat that the rest of the world should take under advisement. The Seine may be the darling of tourist photos and is central to the life and culture of the city, but it has been illegal to swim in the river for more than 100 years, after centuries of pollution. Officials have kicked around the idea of cleaning it up since the 1980s, but, until the Olympics bid, nothing concrete was done. France has now spent eight years working on the problem with an ambitious $1.5 billion plan that culminated with ceremonious dips in the river by city and sports officials ahead of the start of the games. Unfortunately, despite the celebrations, a heavy downpour resulted in days of delays for the triathlon test runs and then when the women’s and men’s races finally went ahead, some athletes fell seriously ill. Although the illnesses haven’t categorically been linked to the river, the possibility that the Seine was dirty enough to be the cause resulted in Belgium withdrawing from the mixed relay. If cleaning up centuries of mistreatment of a single waterway takes more than a decade and billions of dollars, solutions to climate change on a global scale are going to take a monumental effort by every country and citizen of this planet. – DS
Same as it ever was After calls to turn down the political temperature in the United States after a bonafide assassination attempt, no one, not even the target of that attempt, seems to be heeding the call. An interview with former President Donald Trump as part of the National Association of Black Journalists convention has stirred a lot of pots. First, many were critical of the association to even host Trump, who has, time and again, displayed racist tendencies. Then, veteran journalist Rachel Scott hit Trump with tough questions. He lashed out, calling her line of questioning “rude” and “disgraceful” and then asked aloud if Vice-President Kamala Harris was even Black, returning to the “birther” politics in the vein of asking candidates to produce birth certificates. Some called it disastrous for Trump, which it must have been, as Scott has since faced threats to her life. It’s easy to see this as Trump using a room full of Black journalists not to garner Black support, but to ignite his largely white fanbase, showing them that he’s back, ready to fight and not backing down from dehumanizing language in a room full of those he’s dehumanizing. It’s hard, after all we’ve been through with Trump, to say that, this time, the gloves are off, but, boy... this time, the gloves appear to be off. A combative take on Trump’s famous slogan has pledged to “make racists afraid again”. Trump, in that room, was unafraid - that will ingratiate him to many while infuriating others. A recent poll of Black voters showed 90 per cent willing to vote for Harris over Trump. If Trump doesn’t even try to make peace with Black voters anymore, turning the temperature down could be a concept of the past. – SL
This must be the place In Wilmot Township, the atmosphere is charged with intense outrage as the Region of Waterloo’s plan to seize and clear a sprawling 770 acres of rural land has ignited an uproar within the community. This vast swath of land is being designated for conversion into what’s being promoted as a “shovel-ready site.” The Fight for Farmland group, deeply stirred by awful scenes of crops being ruthlessly torn from the earth, has rallied outside a Wilmot Township Council meeting, fervently protesting. With crops just weeks away from harvest, the destruction not only feels like an extravagant waste, but also an incomprehensible move. The lack of communication from the authorities further fuels the flames of frustration and disillusionment among local residents. Farmers in the area are in a state of profound outrage, denouncing the action as not only pointless, but a blatant misuse of valuable resources. Some have taken a defiant stance, refusing to partake in the crop destruction, which has forced the region to bring in external labour to carry out the demolition. The Region of Waterloo insists that this plowing is part of essential due diligence studies. However, many in the community are left scratching their heads, questioning why such drastic measures could not have been delayed just a little longer. The destruction of these crops is viewed as a direct assault on the community, reminiscent of a scorched earth policy. The suspicious silence from Ministers of Rural Affairs and Agriculture only exacerbates the issue, leaving many troubled by the apparent lack of leadership and accountability. The disregard for land that produces crucial food supplies is a blatant affront to the agricultural community at large. Our leaders owe us a comprehensive explanation for this seemingly reckless and hasty decision. The time for transparency is now. – SBS
Looking Back Through the Years August 10, 1977 Plans for a rodeo in Brussels this year were canceled. The announcement was made during a meeting of the Brussels Business Association (BBA) last Wednesday. BBA president Ken Webster stated that the decision was reached after discussions between the BBA and the Rodeo Club. The Brussels council decided Monday night to postpone a decision on filling the vacancy left by councillor Frank Stretton’s recent resignation until its next regular meeting. Reeve Cal Krauter informed the council that he had received letters from two individuals expressing their willingness to be appointed to the vacant seat. The Brussels council decided Monday night not to renew the taxi licence of a Clinton-area driver who had been renting out photocopies of a licence issued by the village of Brussels. The issue was brought to the council’s attention in a letter from Transport Canada. Officials at Toronto International Airport recently discovered a photocopy of the Brussels licence, issued for $25 to Hank Schoonbeck of ABC Intercounty Communications of Clinton, in the possession of a Toronto taxi driver. Mr. and Mrs. Melville Dennis of Gorrie celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with an open house in the church hall of Gorrie United Church on Sunday, July 31. Mr. Dennis, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Dennis, was born in Wingham and moved with his family to Morris Township near Bluevale as a teenager. Mrs. Dennis, formerly Ethel Wardell, was the daughter of the
late Mr. and Mrs. William Wardell of Strathroy. August 9, 1989 After an unsuccessful search to find a suitable candidate for the positions of dog catcher and by-law enforcement officer, Brussels Village Councillors decided to take matters into their own hands. In a recent meeting, they resolved to personally enforce the by-law against noisy dogs. This decision came after months of trying to fill the roles through various channels, all of which yielded no viable candidates. Mrs. Winona Martin and her daughter, Mrs. Gwendolyne Tooth of Toronto, returned from a 23-day tour that took them through England; France; Belgium; the Netherlands; East and West Germany; Poland; Russia; Finland; Sweden; Denmark; and Germany again. Their journey included two overnight cruises: one across the Baltic Sea to Sweden and the other across a rather rough North Sea to England. Additionally, they experienced two ferry crossings over straits: one over the English Channel and the other over the Kattegat Strait. A Blyth-area woman was taken to the hospital on Tuesday afternoon after being struck by a following vehicle while preparing to turn her car into a gas station on Queen Street in Blyth. The rainy weather on Friday was a welcome relief for both farmers and firefighters, who had been kept busy over the past week battling field fires caused by the dry conditions. August 12, 2004 Something new arrived at the Blyth fairgrounds recently: a log cabin built by John and Jane Cowan
in East Wawanosh in 1861. The cabin made its entrance into town with show-stopping fanfare. It was to become one of the newest attractions at the annual Thresher Reunion scheduled for September. While the structure would require some work, the plan was to restore it to its original glory, complete with furnishings, over the next few years. A crane lifted the cabin, and a float transported it to its new location just west of the windmill. A dead bird found in the Wingham area tested positive for West Nile virus (WNv). This marked the first positive test result for the virus in the region that year. To date, the Huron County Health Unit had submitted a total of 18 birds for testing. The discovery underscored the importance of continuing surveillance and public health efforts to monitor and manage West Nile virus, especially as the season progressed. Health officials advised residents to remain vigilant and to take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites. Huron County’s Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) by-law stipulated that all municipal and public places in the county must be 100 percent smoke-free starting in September. This new regulation aimed to enhance public health and ensure that residents could enjoy clean and healthy environments in public areas. The measure applied to all parks, recreational facilities and other public spaces, making them completely free of tobacco smoke. The department was implementing this policy to reduce the risks associated with secondhand smoke and promote a healthier lifestyle for everyone.
THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024. PAGE 5.
Other Views
How fortunate we are to live here
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hose of us who are, like me, senior citizens these days are so fortunate to live in the time we do. I recall, in the years after we got television, watching movies where old men (or, old then we tend to live longer now) continued to work underground in mines. There was none of the old age security we enjoy today, which allows us, who lived working-class lives, to live in retirement in relative comfort. But somehow, back then, governments realized that they could do something for their voters that the voters couldn’t do for themselves, and their employers were often reluctant to do. Canada’s first public pension plan was introduced in 1927 with the passing of the Old Age Pensions Act. That legislation established a means-tested pension for men and women 70 years of age and over who had little or no income. The rules generally became easier along the way as more and more people became eligible for the pension. (Of course it also meant higher income tax to pay the cost.) The load on seniors, as well as all Canadians, was further reduced in 1968 when a medicare program was implemented. Until then, Canadians faced high medical care costs when they were afflicted by illness. (As a youngster I couldn’t go to hospital with rheumatic fever in the early 1960s because we couldn’t afford the hospital charges. The family doctor regularly came to our home to treat me, and I was much happier than I would have been in hospital.) The Canada Pension Plan was created by federal-provincial negotiations in 1965 in response to growing poverty among retired Canadians. Even though they hadn’t paid into it, senior Canadians were eligible for aid right
Keith Roulston
From the cluttered desk away. It’s my generation that had fully supported the plan all their working lives before they began to use the plan. While life has become easier for seniors, others in society have also benefited. The first children’s allowance was introduced in 1945 the first universal welfare program implemented in Canada, passed under the leadership of Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, the Canada child benefit is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency. It is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age. Launched in 2006, the program targets children under age six (recently extended to age 17). In 2012, under former Premier Dalton McGuinty, the Ontario Drug Benefit program was introduced, providing inexpensive drugs for all but the highest income Ontario seniors. And recently, under pressure from the New Democratic Party, the federal Liberal government has committed to a dental care program designed to give people prepaid dental care - something that has been getting more and more expensive. (When I was going to school in Lucknow many years ago, local service clubs paid for visits to the local dentist for all local public school students.) Most of these programs have been
introduced by Liberal and NDP governments. When they were announced, they were often opposed by Progressive Conservatives at the provincial or federal level - their concern was keeping taxes low. By the time these parties came to power, the programs had become popular with the public and Conservatives quietly went along. Our neighbours in the United States were not so fortunate. There is such a fear of high taxes down there, that things like government medicare coverage are ignored. Fortunate voters are lucky enough to have jobs with companies that offer them medical care through insurance. Others, in a country where most of the hospitals are owned by for-profit corporations, face costs that often add up to thousands of dollars. Doctors, too, are free enterprise allowing them to earn massive salaries. I recall some doctors resisting when free medicare was introduced in Canada and they resented having anyone else to have a say in how much they could charge, as the government did. We became used to government limits and doctors generally accepted (generous) incomes. At the same time, private clinics have been set up in provinces like Ontario, offering faster service, with the government picking up at least a portion of the cost. I’m fortunate to have reached old age in a country as generous as Canada. Still, perhaps it’s unwise of governments to have provided funding, without ever knowing how much I save, for the medical care that has allowed me to live to be 15 years older than my dad was when he died and 10 years older than my mother. Still, I’m fortunate to live in this time in this place that allows me to enjoy old age.
PANIC! EVERYBODY PANIC! AHHHHHHH!!
T
errible! That’s the word on everyone’s lips at The Chaff office today as the ominous shadow of Chaff2K looms large. Dubbed the “technological tempest” by some and “trouble, doubled” by others, this computer (and possibly also human) virus threatens to toss our beloved publication into utter pandemonium. The Chaff doomsday-ers are on high alert, forecasting everything from spontaneous combustion of really-dirty desks to the mysterious reanimation of old, forgotten columns. “I am the zombie version of ‘moving the CN Tower from downtown Toronto to the top of Mt. Logan in British Columbia,’” said no one. Dervid Hamson, ever the skeptic, assures us that Chaff2K is nothing more than a storm in a tiny, grimy teacup, while his cousin Chervid Jamson insists it’s the harbinger of a digital apocalypse. “We could see the unimpeded rise of misplaced modifiers, all dangled and jangled!” Jamson wails, clutching his thesaurus like a talisman. The Devil, having taken a brief hiatus from his infernal duties, is bemused by the hysteria, muttering something about “Earthworld problems” while flicking through back issues of The Chaff. “I liked it better when it was The Pumpkin,” said the horny and ornery father of lies. Ignatius Grimwort, our resident IT (infernal terminologist) wizard and part-time necromancer, has been working around the clock, casting incantations and debugging spells to ward off the impending chaos. Yet, as the clock ticks closer to Chaff2K’s rumoured zero hour, the office is a maelstrom of frantic activity. Papers flutter like a flapping disaster and the coffee machine, perhaps in sympathy with our plight, has gone on strike. Will Chaff2K reduce us to a digital
Scott Stephenson The Chaff wasteland of fragmented files and utterly lost minds? Or will it pass as quietly as a qualified creeper on the cresting edge of a sweet and sloppy evening’s creep? Only time will tell, dear readers. In the meantime, we soldier on, ever resilient, ever ready to face whatever comes our way. Countdown to Chaff2K 5... The tension is palpable as we triplecheck our spell checkers, stoically stockpile adverbs, collect unseemly adjectives and caress our own verbs. 4... Grimwort’s incantations reaching a fever pitch, the air around them shimmers with technomantic energy. 3... The doomsday-ers gather in the break room, huddled over a makeshift altar of keyboards and mouse pads, chanting in unison. 2... Dervid Hamson tries to lighten the mood with a joke about ‘doing it’, but his bellowing laughter rings flaccid and hollow. 1... Scott Stephenson, ever the erratic captain of this literary slop, takes a deep breath and hits the ‘Save’ button one last time. 0... Silence. For a moment, nothing happens. Then... Chaff2K Strikes! The screens flicker, the lights dim and a low, ominous hum fills the air. Grimwort’s eyes widen as arcane symbols dance across their monitor. The coffee machine emits one
final, defiant gurgle and goes eerily silent before bursting into flames. And then, the changes begin. Long Weekends Now Short Weekends The first casualty of Chaff2K: our cherished three-day weekends are now truncated to a mere 24 hours. May 2-4? Sorry! More like May 2-1! Punctuation Pandemonium Commas and periods have developed minds of their own and are developing their own secret language: …. ,,, ,,, ,,, … ……. ,,,,,,,,, …. ……… ,,, ……… .. Commas and periods are conspiring against us and they must be stopped at all costs Please excuse the lack of proper punctuation for the remainder of this entry of The Chaff because we can no longer trust periods and commas so we have to resort to run-on sentences that end in exclamation or question marks!? !!!!!!! ????? !!!! ???? !!! Oh no not you too!!!!??!!!!************ Commas and periods, with the assistance of asterisks, exclamation and question marks, with additional support from colons, have taken control of The Chaff. Here is a list of their demands: ……. …. ,,, … !!! ….. ,,,,, …. !!? ???????? !!??...,,,,, ,,,,.....!!!!????: You have 24-hours to comply or risk: !!!!???...,,,,. Yet amidst the chaos The Chaff soldiers on So dear readers stay tuned for the next installment of our adventures in the postChaff2K world ---------------------------------------------------
Shawn Loughlin Shawn’s Sense
The medal count
O
ne thing that a particular sect of people who use social media (predominantly Facebook for this one) like to present is the narrative that they had/have it so much worse than some other group. (You can pretty much name your “other” here - women with men, men with women, older people with younger people, conservative white people with new Canadians, and the list goes on.) We’ve all seen posts like this; you know, “In my day, we worked for what we got” or “We didn’t need safe spaces when I went to school” and so on. It’s not always older people, casting aspersions at younger people, but I think that tends to be the ones you see most frequently. And one thing these folks really don’t like is when they see younger generations discussing how hard things are for them; because they tend to view those generations as being soft everything handed to them, still complaining. That, of course, is not true, but I’m sure that some readers of this paper will have finished the previous paragraph and thought, “And?” One of the names these younger people will hear is that they are the “participant trophy” generation. Rewarded for accomplishing nothing, these people never learn how to fail or, more importantly, how to succeed, is how the story goes, regardless of its authenticity. I grew up playing competitive baseball and my team took home a number of first-place trophies from the local level all the way up to province. I also, as you might imagine, ended up with a lot of participant trophies. And now, in praise of participation trophies. My four-year-old daughter played soccer in Brussels this year. It was her first-ever organized sport experience and, frankly, both the words “played” and “soccer” should be in quotations. She was on one of four teams that took to the fields every Wednesday in her age group. There would be a bit of a warm-up and then the teams would play one another. There were no referees, no one kept score, but the kids always had fun, a few minor collisions and pushes aside. Then, after the last game of the season, it happened. Tallulah received her first medal. It’s very simple and inexpensive, with a generic soccer logo on the medallion and her age division engraved on the back, but it means the world to her now. She was so proud to come home to her mother and show it off, proclaiming that she’d won at soccer. For more than a week now, she’s kept her medal on her bedside table only because we’ve told her she can’t sleep with it. She brings it back and forth to Lucknow most days so she can wear it on the drives and show it off to her grandparents. It really has become one of her most prized possessions - all because she took part in a season of soccer over in Brussels. She can think back to the teammates she got to know and what she learned over the course of those two months and see it reflected back to her in the form of that medal she so loves. That kind of joy, whether she “earned it” in the sense that she won something that someone else lost, is hard to argue with, and that’s what those folks I mentioned earlier are missing in their lives. They could just be crusty, mad at the world or want everyone else to be as miserable as they are, but they’re certainly missing that joy that a four-year-old has when she’s handed a medal for running up and down a soccer field for an hour each week. Thanks to Brussels Soccer for inspiring at least one little girl - one little girl who now can’t wait to come back to soccer, and maybe even try baseball and hockey next year.
PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024.
Brussels Leos feed the crowd at car show
At the Branch
Hundreds enjoy fish
Hamburgers, hot dogs and motorheads The Brussels Leos served up a selection of summer classics like hamburgers and hot dogs at a classic car show held in Blyth on Wednesday, July 31. (Scott Stephenson photos)
Climate havoc changes lives A NOTE FROM BETTY By Betty Graber Watson Call 887-9231 Doesn’t your heart ache when you hear the personal weatherrelated stories on the news? When you put yourself in their place, the story becomes so very real. Fire and floods, wind and debris are all wreaking havoc for a short time, but the long-term effects are ongoing on many, many levels. The news gets old, but lives affected are changed forever. For us, it’s unreal, but for the flooded community or the burnt-out area, it’s their new reality. Like all news when we know someone involved or nearby, we pay attention and listen for the full story. All we can do at this point is be the best we can be to the changing environment and send a few prayers. Take note of the new mural on the Finish Line building. It’s pretty nice and a real day brightener as you head north on Turnberry Street. The kids have hit full stride for
summer. Getting the best out of each day is the goal and watching the activity, they do it very well. Only as they age do they see the need to plan ahead, but, in the meantime, swimming, fishing, biking and lounging are the goals of each summer day. Bluevale vibes are being felt here this week. The plans for the 170th celebration have hit paydirt and the welcome mat is ready. I have brothers heading this way to recall the time of our youth! The Hetherington clan left Bluevale in 1976 and Brussels became the new home base. Health issues had Dad taking a new job as live-in manager/chaperone of the new Elizabeth Street senior apartments for the county. Our Bluevale house on the hill was sold and our lives and treasures dispersed. New beginnings for us all. Starting Friday, we’ll spend time sharing good Bluevale stories and of course, eat, drink and be merry and again keep those treasured memories alive. The entertainment of summer should be enough to keep your mind happy in January. Concerts, gatherings, fairs, plays, festivals, beach time and under-a-tree time are all available now, but not in winter. Get organized and see and do as much as you can to take advantage
of our terrific part of the country, while being grateful that fires and floods are not part of the consideration. Enjoy each other. Bye now. Betty GW
By Jo-Ann McDonald The past week at the Branch has been a week of preparing for a large fish fry. Between ordering fish, getting the help of 15 folks to man the fryers, thawing the 1,000 pieces of fish for the event and then going to the event on Friday night, there is lots to do. Then we had to pick up the refrigerated trailer and load it. The crew then headed to Mitchell to cook the fish fry dinner for just shy of 500 folks for the 150th homecoming of the town. It was held at the Mitchell arena with both take-out and eat-in options available. All went well and everyone was fed by 7 p.m. The crew managed to get the clean-up done in record time and headed back to the Branch for the rest of clean-up and unloading. Working hard for the Branch were Eric and Deb Ross, Bruce and Rhonda Fischer, Rick and Jo-Ann McDonald, Steve and Marni Knight, Randy White, Jayne Ross, Joe Seili, Kathy Burkholder, Karen Cowan, Judy Lee and Patricia Beuerman. While the fish fry crew was away, other Comrades were busy at the Branch. The pub grub for the night was beef on a bun. The Catch the Ace draw was in the hands of Comrades Sandra Brown, Deb Seili
and Jamie Mitchell. The lucky weekly winner was Sarah Overholt, winning $175. Her envelope of choice was number 12 and the king of hearts was revealed. The estimated jackpot for next week could be over $5,500. Tonight’s grub will be pulled pork. The Brussels Agricultural Society’s Ambassador competition will be held at the Branch on Wednesday, Aug. 14 beginning at 7 p.m.
NEWS FROM BRUSSELS
Brussels Legion 218 Catch the Ace Weekly Winner Winning Ticket: Sarah Overholt, $175. Envelope #12 found the King of Hearts. Next estimated jackpot is $5,500.
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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024. PAGE 7.
Beverley Cooper’s new play debuts in Blyth
Judgy Beverley Cooper’s gripping new play, The Trials of Maggie Pollock, premiered at the Blyth Festival on August 2. Based on a true story, it explores the life of Maggie Pollock, who was shockingly convicted of witchcraft in 1919. (Gemma James Smith photo)
By Scott Stephenson The Citizen Beverley Cooper’s latest play, The Trials of Maggie Pollock, debuted at the Blyth Festival last week. The show offers a fictionalized account of the real-life trials and tribulations of a Huron County woman, the titular Maggie Pollock, who was put on trial and convicted of witchcraft in the
shockingly recent year of 1919. Caroline Gillis shone as familymatriarch Orillia in Gil Garratt’s Saving Graceland earlier in the Festival season, and continues to do so in the role of Maggie Pollock. Whenever an actor plays two major roles in one season, there is a great potential for parallels to be drawn between the two. Both Orillia and Maggie are burdened by amorphous factors, hovering far outside their
control - for Orillia, it was the need of a mother to nurture her child, and her child’s child, even when issues like addiction and abandonment make it feel impossible. For Maggie, she is burdened not by her spirits, in which this play places a firm faith, but by persecution in the form of a broad interpretation of an obscure law. Gillis has handled both of these women beautifully this season.
J.D Nicholsen seems to be everywhere at once in this production. There are only five actors in the show, portraying a total of 40 characters - about 30 of those seem to be Nicholsen. He changes hats and voices with a magician-like speed, keeping this historical drama moving at an impressive clip. Amy Keating, Cameron Laurie and Susan Stackhouse as a supporting cast of friends, lovers, ghosts and lawyers also impress with their ability to physically weave together Cooper’s smart, spare epic. Hats off, literally, to Costume Designer Jennifer Triemstra-Johnston and her talented team for bringing this show to life through its wardrobe. Any play about a witch trial is bound to be compared to that most famous of cautionary tales - Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. But The Trials of Maggie Pollock has much more in common with another classic piece of quasi-occult theatre - George Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan. While The Crucible warns against the societal ‘witch-hunts’ of the McCarthy era in 1950s America, Saint Joan is a more cerebral look at the nature of the letter of our laws, and the way in which we weigh the actions of a woman when she challenges the status quo. Both Joan and Maggie have some seemingly incontrovertible proof of their powers - one can correctly find the
true Dauphin in a crowd, and Maggie locates the missing oats. Joan is found guilty of witchcraft by the Inquisitor and the Catholic Church, while Maggie was found guilty by the Ontario Courts system. They are also both believers in the Christian faith they just approach their love of Jesus in a bit of a different way than locals are used to. In the end, it feels like The Trials of Maggie Pollock isn’t really interested in whether or not any particular woman is a witch - the script makes it clear that we are to take for granted that the tenets of spiritualism are legitimate, at least within the confines of the play. Maggie’s spirits may only appear to her, but, on occasion, they move things about the stage. She also knows things she couldn’t possibly know. So if The Crucible is about the social corrosion caused by paranoia, and Saint Joan is about a clashing of faiths, what reflection of ourselves are we to see in the witch trial at the centre of The Trials of Maggie Pollock? You’ll have to see it yourself to find out.
Busy summer season continues By Deb Hakkers Fred and I were on holiday this past week. This year we stayed close to home and just did the things we don’t normally have time to do. Last weekend, we hosted Jerry and Cathy and Ev. and Ron with their camper vans. The original plan was to see two shows at the Blyth Festival theatre, in addition to visiting and campfires after the shows. Fred developed a nasty cough, so we had to exchange our tickets to see shows later, but we still enjoyed the visiting and campfires, which were all outside. The rest also enjoyed exploring the
stores downtown and a bike ride on the trail. We also got a crock of nine-day pickles started and made the dill pickles over the weekend. We still need to get the plum jam made so that we have it to make Dutch cakes for the next year. Mom continues with rehab in Huronlea, where she has settled in and is enjoying many of the activities offered there. She is looking forward to coming to the Richmond picnic on Sunday. She was excited to welcome another great-grandson, Tyler Scott Martin, a son for Heidi and Kyle Martin and a little brother for
Austin. He was born on July 27. This week, we wish a happy birthday to Nancy Wasson on Aug. 11, Rhonda Rickwood on Aug. 12, and Corrine Falconer and Matthew McNichol on Aug. 13. We hope everyone enjoys their special day! We also wish a belated happy 50th anniversary to Bonnie and Herb Shannon, who celebrated with family and friends last weekend. Happy anniversary to Myrtle and Larry Badley on Aug. 8. The Scouts have been on their Annual Canoe Trip. This adventure is something that they look forward to all year and will remember all their lives. A big thank you to the
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adults that make this trip possible. If there is anything special you would like to see mentioned in this column, e-mail mcraig1@tcc.on.ca or call 519-525-8640. Until next week, take care of yourselves and each other and enjoy summer while it is here, because it’s short and fall will be here before we know it!
NEWS FROM BLYTH
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PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024.
Sports Bangers, Tigers, Muskrats tied at 14 points
The back nine The Huron County Fastball League regular season is quickly drawing to an end with more than the first two thirds of the season now in the record books. On Tuesday, July 30, the Brussels Bangers visited Walton to play the Brewers and were less than kind to their hosts, beating them by a score of 11-1. (John Stephenson photo)
Year-end tourneys coming By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen On Monday night, the U17 Brussels Youth Tigers Boys team hosted Cambridge and shut out the visitors by a score of 9-0. Also that night, the U7 Red team played Londesborough II in Brussels, but a score for that game was unavailable at press time. Back on Aug. 1, the U11 Boys played Lucknow on the road and won by a score of 12-10. Also that night, the U13 Girls hosted the Goderich Seahawks Lemon team and fell by a score of 11-2 and the U17 Boys played Cambridge, also on the road, but lost by a score of 17-7. The U7 Red team played Londesborough II on the road that night, but a score for that game was unavailable at press time. On July 31, the U15 Girls lost to the Elma Express I White team by a score of 15-4 in Brussels, while the U9 Black team played Wingham on the road and lost by a score of 16-5. One night earlier, the U11 Girls were in Clinton to play an exhibition game, but nothing could divide the teams and the game ended tied at 15. Also that night, the U11 Boys lost to Benmiller on the road by a score of 10-4 and the U15 Girls beat the Goderich Seahawks Lemon team by a score of 10-9 at home. The U17 Boys played Wilmot II in New Hamburg that night, while the U9 Red team played Ethel on
the road, the U7 Red team played Wingham II, also on the road, and the U-5 Red T-Ball team played Wingham, also on the road, but scores for those games were unavailable at press time. On July 29, the U9 Black team beat Benmiller on the road by a score of 19-5, while the U13 Girls lost to the Elma Express I team by a score of 9-6 and the U17 Boys hosted Sebringville, but lost by a score of 9-7. The U13 Boys hosted Wingham that night as well, and the U7 Red team played Londesborough I and the U7 Black team played Benmiller, all in Brussels, but scores for those games were unavailable at press time. Looking ahead, tonight, Aug. 9, the U13 Girls will begin their yearend tournament in Stratford with a game against the Elma Express I team. The tournament will continue through the weekend, but, at press time, that was the only game scheduled for the Tigers. On Monday, Aug. 12, the U7 Red and Black teams will play Benmiller and Wingham I, respectively, at home, while the U11 Girls will play the Listowel Legends Beirnes team on the road in some exhibition action and the U13 Boys will host Benmiller. The next night, the T-Ball (U5) Black team will play Wingham II on the road, followed by an Aug. 15 contest between the U7 Black team
and Londesborough II on the road. Then, on the weekend of Aug. 1618, the U11 Girls will head to Stratford for their year-end tournament.
Continued from page 1 Wingham Hitmen and their record of 8-4 and 16 points. Three teams follow with 14 points each - the Brussels Bangers (7-5), the Brussels Tigers (7-6) and the Monkton Muskrats (7-4). The Elmira U20 team is in sole possession of sixth place with a record of 6-6-1 and 13 points, followed by the seventh-place Goderich Grizzlies with their record of 6-7 and 12 points. The Mitchell Mets (5-5) and Sebringville Sting (5-3) are next in the standings with 10 points each, followed by the Walton Brewers in 10th place with a record of 4-9-1 and nine points. The Fullarton A’s (3-10), kingslaying Milverton Millwrights (3-7) and Wroxeter Rippers (3-10) then round out the standings, each with six points. Currently, the Rippers, with their 0-5 record, is the only team without a win on the road yet this season. Just before the long weekend, the Brussels Bangers were scheduled to host the Sebringville Sting on Aug. 2, but that game was postponed and will be made up at a later date. On Aug. 1, as mentioned, Milverton beat the undefeated Belmore Stingers by a score of 8-7, while the Goderich Grizzlies beat the Brussels Tigers in Brussels on July 31 by a score of 6-1. One day earlier, the Brussels Bangers beat the Walton Brewers by a score of 11-1 in Walton and on July 28, the Belmore Stingers beat the Wroxeter Rippers in Wroxeter by a score of 12-4. Looking ahead, the Belmore Stingers will be in Brussels to play the Bangers tonight, Aug. 9, the same night the Fullarton A’s are due to play the Hitmen in Wingham. The Sebringville Sting were scheduled to play the Monkton Muskrats that night as well, but that game has been postponed and will be played at a later date. On Aug. 10, the Milverton
Millwrights will host a two-team double-header, first playing the Monkton Muskrats and then the Wroxeter Rippers. Then, on Sunday, the Goderich Grizzlies will head to Wroxeter to play the Rippers and the Fullarton A’s will host the Mitchell Mets. On Aug. 13, the Goderich Grizzlies will travel to Fullarton to play the A’s. There are then three games on the schedule for Aug. 14. The Milverton Millwrights will play Elmira in Linwood, the Wingham Hitmen will host the Monkton Muskrats and the Brussels Tigers will head to Mitchell to play the Mets. On Aug. 16, Monkton will be in Brussels to play the Bangers and Elmira will be in Wingham to play the Hitmen. Then, on Sunday, Aug. 18, the Wingham Hitmen will host the Sebringville Sting and the Brussels Bangers will host Elmira. On Aug. 6, the Wingham Hitmen were scheduled to play the Sting in Sebringville, a game originally scheduled for July 21, and the Wroxeter Rippers were due to play the Grizzlies in Goderich, but scores for those games were unavailable at press time. On Aug. 7, the Walton Brewers were scheduled to play the Hitmen in Wingham and Elmira was due to be in Mitchell to play the Mets. The next night, the Brussels Tigers were scheduled to play the Milverton Millwrights in Milverton, but scores were unavailable.
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Summer Sports Pages Coaches and parents We need your team's picture and players' names 1. Please submit team photo A.S.A.P. 2. Please include players' and coaches' names for under photo.
Brussel
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Back ro ite: w, from left: Co row: Ai aches: de Brooke DeWit. n Albers, Conn lyn Jo Fr or Shor tre ont row: Hayd Kellington, Co hnston, Mat t Sh ed. en Bene rn dict, Ad elius Versteeg ortreed, Patri cia Beue el Fisc her, Br , Ty Somers, Br rmann. ook Be Middle uerman idget McCall um n, Jesa Fische , Ryker r, Conn or
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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024. PAGE 9.
Sports
Nationals win provincial bronze at games
Winning ways The Huron Perth Nationals U17 Tier 1 team, featuring Brussels’ Lerissa Stevenson, won bronze at this year’s Ontario Summer Games. (Photo submitted)
Londesborough U13 Girls beat Mitchell This weekend, three Londesborough Legends teams will be playing in year-end tournaments as the local baseball season draws to a close. The U11 team will be in Milverton and the U13 Girls team will be in Stratford, while the U13 Boys team’s tournament location has yet to be reported. Then, on Aug. 12, the U7 Purple team will be in Ethel for a game, followed by an Aug. 14 contest with Wingham at home in Londesborough. The next night, the U7 Yellow team will play Brussels Black in Londesborough and then, on the weekend of Aug. 16-18, the U21 team will play its year-end tournament in Innerkip - the last action on the Londesborough Legends calendar for this season. Looking back, on Monday night, the U7 Yellow team played Brussels Red on the road, just after the two teams played one another in
Londesborough on Aug. 1, but scores for those games were unavailable at press time. On July 31, the U13 Girls hosted the Mitchell Hornets VanNess/Krug team and won by a score of 11-9. Back on July 29, the U21 team beat the Wilmot Thunder on the road by a score of 13-2. Also that night, the U7 Purple team played Brussels and the U11 team played Elma A, both on the road, but scores for those games were unavailable at press time. On Aug. 6, the U11 team played Elma BB on the road, the U9 team played the Seaforth Wolverines at home and the U13 Boys played Wilmot II on the road. The next night, the U21 team played the Fullarton A’s in Londesborough and then, on Aug. 8, the U7 Purple team played Brussels at home and the U21 team played the Innerkip Junior Eagles on the road. Scores for those games, however, were unavailable at press time.
Continued from page 3 greetings from the City of London, the Province of Ontario, and London Hydro. There was also a guest appearance by three-time Olympian and Tokyo Olympic Flag-bearer for Team Canada, Miranda Ayim and a performance from Juno Award-winning artist, Reve! On Friday, Aug. 2 at 11 a.m., the team took on the Waterloo Ghosts Gold team, followed by a game later that day against Brampton. On Saturday, Aug. 3, the girls took on Port Perry. There was a rain delay on Friday morning and the Huron Perth Nationals ahead of their first game against Waterloo Ghosts Gold. The U17 Huron Perth Nationals T1 2024 were victorious against Waterloo Ghosts Gold U17, winning by a score of 4-1. Stevenson got involved offensively, extended the Nationals’ lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning on the way to victory. The girls then won their next game in dramatic fashion, with a 76 walk-off victory over the Brampton Blazers. The game was tied at six in the bottom of the seventh when Stevenson
singled to drive in the winning run. The tournament was back on schedule Saturday morning. The Nationals took down Port Perry Angels-Pipher U17 by a score of 43. Despite the strong efforts from the Nationals on Saturday afternoon, the girls lost to Guelph Gators by a score of 7-2. The girls had to play another game on Saturday evening, in which they defeated the Brantford Bobcats by a score of 6-5. As Sunday morning rolled around, the girls were determined to play their best game yet, despite the heat and having to stay at the Fanshawe College dorms over the course of the weekend. They played Brampton Blazers and won by a score of 9-3. Stevenson collected three hits in that game in another stellar effort on behalf of the Brussels resident to help her team. They had to play back-to-back games. With the next game, both teams were strong in the circle, But the Whitby Eagles were just a little bit stronger at the plate in their 3-1 victory, leaving the Huron Perth Nationals to win the bronze medal at the 2024 Ontario Summer Games.
PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024.
Road trip takes ‘Rural Voice’ through southern HC
A place to explore Rural Voice Editor Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot recently took a road trip for the magazine, exploring some of the off-the-beaten-path attractions in the south end of Huron County, in communities like Bayfield, Grand Bend and beyond. Her first stop, above, was Bayfield Lavender Farm, which is the brainchild of Gemma James-Smith, wife of Blyth Festival Artistic Director Gil Garratt. (Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot photo)
By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot The Citizen Each summer, a Rural Voice writer goes on a day trip to showcase the rural-based sites one can visit in Huron, Perth, Bruce, Grey, Wellington or Oxford Counties. This day trip took place in southern Huron County in June. Driving into the southern part of Huron County, one could easily spend a day in the touristy towns of
Grand Bend or Bayfield. There is lots to see, eat and the beaches are spectacular. If that isn’t your scene and you prefer fields, blue skies, cows, plants, produce and supporting local with a few food breaks, then some of these stops might be what you’re looking for. This day started with a visit to Bayfield Lavender Farm on Porter’s Hill Line north of Bayfield. Enter the wood-lined laneway, pass the new trailer and find your parking
spot in this hidden gem of lavender gardens complete with a folksy store featuring lavender-infused products. Jade Gingerich, who was manning the store, moved to Goderich from Cambridge to work on the lavender farm because it was a “beautiful spot to work”. She also helps maintain the gardens started by Gemma James-Smith, who takes lavender from start to finish, using homedistilled lavender essential oil and lavender hydrosol, a floral water
that’s a byproduct of the steam distillation process. Gemma has no intention of creating a lavender empire. Instead, she wants people to come learn, rest and create. She offers classes (wreath making, water colours, yoga), tours, and is open all summer, closing after Labour Day. I was a bit early and the lavender wasn’t yet in bloom. However, I did feel restful wandering around the gardens, taking a seat on the benches, enjoying the offerings in the store and the large chicken run with colourful hens. It’s worth a visit whether the lavender is blooming or not, but I do want to return in late June and July when the gardens are in their glory. Cost is by donation. I didn’t want to enter Bayfield, even though The Village Bookshop was calling my name. However, I did make a quick stop at the pier. It’s lovely there. People strolling. Boats bobbing. Birds diving. After just a minute to soak in the sun, I was off down Highway 21 then onto Bronson Line so I could visit the family-owned greenhouses called Huron Ridge Acres Inc. Truthfully, I visit here every year. The greenhouse is large and organized with an expansive offering of annuals, vegetables and perennials. Cows! Just before I got there, I pulled over to take photos of some stocky Charolais bulls grazing on a Steckle farm. Cows are always on my agenda when doing a day trip, even if it’s for nothing more than admiring the herd from the side of the road, camera in hand. Greenhouse A few minutes later, I arrived at Huron Ridge Acres and chatted with Brenda Steckle, who started working there 33 years ago and has been fulltime for the last 15 years. She is in charge of the perennials and also helps with retail and wherever else she is needed. After the busy month of May, things slow down just a little. Steckle said perennials are becoming more and more popular as some gardeners are choosing native
plants and others are trying to save money with plants that return year after year. Vegetables are still hugely popular and Steckle said many vegetable plants sold out early. “With food costs rising, people are growing their own,” said Steckle. I left with a few bok choy and swiss chard seedlings to add to my vegetable garden after enjoying the burst of colour in the annual greenhouse. I don’t plant many annuals either but I sure appreciate the bold hues of geraniums, petunias and pansies after a long winter and wet spring. Pizza and Lemonade When travelling in this area, you have to stop in one of the many breweries and wineries on Highway 21. I decided to stop at Bad Apple Brewing Company Ltd. so I could eat a wood-fired pizza amongst the apple trees and see if any musicians were playing. I was too early for a band, but the speakers were belting out old-time rock and roll, so I lingered with my dill pickle pizza (gluten-free crust available) and a blackberry lemonade. Bad Apple manager Erin Traqueair was serving today and she brought my pizza out to a rustic metal table with rocking chairs and the combo of warm sun, rocking motion, pizza and lemonade was most delicious. Bad Apple Brewery serves beer, ciders and wines and has two new wines this season: a strawberry marquette and an apple vidal. Their pineapple blood orange cider is a fan favourite, according to Erin, as is the Cider-Wiss Apple Graf beer. Bad Apple is open all year with seating inside for 60 but it’s hard to beat sitting outside, choosing an oddball table and chairs and settling in. It was hard to leave, but hunger sated, I was off to the St. Joseph Memorial Park, also on Highway 21. History When I first got there, I was a little disappointed. It’s quite small and right beside the busy highway but I Continued on page 11
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SUDOKU Fun By The Numbers Like puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku. This mindbending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test!
Something beautiful A green thumb’s must-visit stop in the south end of the county would be Huron Ridge Acres, which recently celebrated a milestone anniversary. Rural Voice Editor Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot recently swung past on a road trip to learn more from Brenda Steckle, above. (Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot photo)
Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!
THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024. PAGE 11.
List of stops is endless in southern Huron County because this outlet helps them pay their bills,” says Anneke. When I close the door behind me after leaving Zielman’s, I only have to take a few steps to meet another young entrepreneur, Bekah Pfaff of Havasu Coffee Co. It was late afternoon by this time and coffee was needed. So was the crème brûlée donut, the lavender donut, the scones and gluten-free brownies but I stopped at two donuts - one for me, one for my daughter at home. She wasn’t pleased there was a bite out of hers, but hey, it was research. Donuts to Die For The coffee was amazing, the donuts even more so, and Bekah served up both with a big smile and friendly spirit. Bekah is also a Zurich native and says starting a business in a small town can be daunting, but the local support has been amazing. “That’s what is nice about small towns,” she said. Havasu has been open for two-and-a-half years and is open five days a week. Bekah loves dealing with customers and has a fair hand at baking, which means I’ll be returning next time
I’m travelling to the Zurich area. There were many other places I could visit on my list to purchase some homegrown goods including The Whole Pig in Dashwood, Hayter’s Farm for turkey on Dashwood Road as well as Farm Little on Mill Road outside of Bayfield which is where I did stop on my way home. Farm Little Lucas and Kelsey Seeberger grew up in families who harvested and preserved their own food. After purchasing a stone mill, Lucas began milling locally-grown, certified organic grain into flour. Kelsey focused her efforts on growing vegetables and produce. They also grew two children and the family is grateful to be part of the local food economy in Huron County. That was it for this daytripping tour. As always, there are so many places to visit but I like to stop at the small-town, rural-minded, agricultural-infused businesses and tourist destinations to celebrate our farming heritage, our farming present, and sustain our farming future.
Something crafty Anneke Zehr-Beyers of Zielman’s Goods and Gifts was another welcome stop on Rural Voice Editor Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot’s recent road trip through the southern end of Huron County. (Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot photo) Continued from page 10 misjudged its intent. This is not a nature park to take a 10 kilometre hike. Rather it’s a testimony of the fortitude of the community’s early French settlers, with plaques describing how they farmed and lived. Following winding, cobbled paths, you read about the history of St. Joseph, including Narcisse Cantin who grew up in the little community of St. Joseph. Narcisse, a grandson of one of these settlers, showed an entrepreneurial spirit by the time he was 17. He started buying cattle from local farmers and shipping them by rail from the Hensall station to Buffalo. Narcisse envisioned St. Joseph as a port with hydro electric plants and an electric train system. He imagined docks, a warehouse and a summer resort area. First came the building of a sawmill, a tile and brick yard, a novelty factory, organ factory and winery. Next, Cantin created a spectacular building, the New Balmoral Hotel, a block-long, three-storey structure which sat at what is now the corner of Highway 21 and Huron County Road 84. Completed in 1907, the Balmoral is said to have cost $250,000, and was to be Cantin’s centrepiece for his resort. However, the splendor of the Balmoral was never experienced. For more than 10 years, Cantin predicted the opening of a rail line from Hensall west. When that did not happen, the major means of travel for his intended clients vanished. This park recalls the history of St. Joseph and Cantin’s dream at the intersection of Highway 21 and Zurich-Hensall Road (County Road
84) across from the site where the majestic Balmoral once stood. My belly digested my meal while I devoured the history in this park so I was ready to keep going into the town of Zurich. Zurich is witnessing a rejuvenation of its downtown and one place I wanted to visit based on the cheerful vibe of its online presence was Zielman’s Goods and Gifts, owned by Anneke ZehrBeyers in partnership with her mom. Vendors, Crafters, Creators Anneke was inspired by “David Rose”, a character on the Canadian hit show Schitt’s Creek to open a store that offered natural products created by local artisans. A lifelong resident of Zurich, Anneke learned business skills from her mother who ran a floral shop and tea room in town years ago. “I’ve seen the rise and fall of businesses on Goshen Line and, these past three years, there has been a comeback,” said Anneke. Zielman’s is a large store, featuring coffee, bath bombs, clothing, towels, earrings and other gifts. Everything is beautifully presented and the spacious floor plan makes for a wonderful wander as you pick up gifts for future showers and birthdays. Anneke is good with her smartphone, but a little frustrated (in a good way) that when she features husband Steve Beyers, the “likes” on her Instagram posts increase exponentially. But hey, business is business and Steve does help at the store when he isn’t farming. Anneke’s vision is to support local artists and creators who need a communal space to sell their products. “People depend on me
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PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024.
Mitchell hosts reunion PEOPLE AROUND WALTON By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570
Last week was a busy one, but the long weekend was a welcome relief. Rick and I worked at the fish fry in my old home town of Mitchell and saw quite a few folks I knew. On Saturday, we went down to the Mitchell Legion for the “Born in the 50s and 60s” gathering. It was a great time and we saw many old classmates and others. Congratulations to Whip (William) King and Kelsey Strong, who were married a couple of weeks ago. The wedding was held at the home of the bride’s parents near Gorrie. It was a beautiful day for the wedding and the reception was held in the nicely-decorated shed. A wonderful day is the report I had. The newlyweds then left for a wonderful 10-day honeymoon that started in Greece and, after a sevenday cruise, ended in Venice, Italy. They report a great time. Welcome home neighbours! The month of July has passed us by and it is now just under four weeks until the start of school. Usually it is the month of July that kids are away to camp or grandma’s house or they go on trips or camping or to cottages. August hits and then it is time to think of new school clothes, backpacks and school supplies. It will only be a blink and the month will be gone. Enjoy the next four weeks! A much shorter, though still great trip was enjoyed by Susan, Sarah and Nicole Alexander and a friend. They went to Chicago to enjoy the Windy City and to go to a George Strait concert, which was fantastic. They toured the waterfront and took pictures at many of the sites. They report having a great time. Welcome home. Belated congratulations go to Dave and Karen Hastings on celebrating their 50th anniversary. I am sure their family of Dave, Darryl, Don and Krista and spouses, spoiled them for their special day. One day last week, there were about 20 Oldsmobiles from the 1960s and 1970s touring the area. They were invited to stop at the McGavin museum. Neil McGavin gave them a tour of the place and they were very impressed with all
they learned. Great for Neil and Walton! Our condolences to the Taylor/Hesselwood family on the passing of Luann Taylor. She will be missed by husband Ken and son Taylor, her sister Janet and sisterin-law Brenda Finlayson and Brian. She loved family, flowers and friends. Our sympathies to all. What a beautiful mural now painted on the side of the Finish Line Refinishing building. I am not sure of the artist’s full name, but portertheartist is the signature. It only took a few days and it is fantastic to see. A comment was made by Dorothy Cummings that “when we have six feet of snow, we can dream of the sunny south” just by looking at the beautiful glowing sun, palm trees and tranquil water. The backside of the building also has two murals, so stop and take a look at both. Portertheartist was busy on the weekend and another drawing is taking shape on the front of the building. Very nice! Congratulations to Bruce and Michelle Blake on celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. They returned to their honeymoon place, Blue Mountain in Collingwood, to celebrate. They went zip-lining and rode the mountain coaster, which was fun, but a little scary. Happy anniversary! Celebrating birthdays this past week were Courtney Pryce, Heidi McClure, Jodi Houston, Kristen Grobbink, Bruce Godkin, Angela Huether, Kenneth Huether, Adrienne Wakabayashi, Ken Glanville, Erin Mitchell, Marie Mitchell, Laurie Grobbink, Darryl Houston, Lisa Huether, Heidi Bachert, Gregory Humphries and Brian McGavin. Happy birthday to all.
Foaming at the park After the success of its first foam party, the Blyth Kids Club held another one at Blyth Lions Park on Friday night. It wasn’t as well-attended, likely due to the threat of inclement weather, but those who were there enjoyed themselves. (John Stephenson photos)
39th Annual Citizen of the Year Award Nominations Open Pictured from left, Joe Gahan and Megan Lee-Gahan being presented their 2023 Citizen of the Year award by North Huron Publishing editor Shawn Loughlin.
There are so many people out there who do so much to improve their community. This is your opportunity to show your appreciation for all they do.
Each year a committee chooses an outstanding citizen from each of the Blyth and area and Brussels and area communities and wider Huron County area to receive an award for contribution to the community. If you know someone you think should be honoured, please fill in the form and send it in. You may attach a longer explanation of why you think your nominee should win, if you like. If you have nominated someone before and they didn't win, we encourage you to submit again. Emailed submissions can be sent to Shawn Loughlin at editor@northhuron.on.ca I nominate ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ as Citizen of the year for
q
Blyth & area
q
Brussels & area
q
Huron County
I feel she/he deserves this award because ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS FROM WALTON
Nomination Deadline September 27, 2024. Name and phone number of nominator Fax: 519-523-9140 Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0
THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024. PAGE 13.
BLYTH Y 519-523-4244
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4R method ensures profitability, productivity: OFA By Mark Reusser, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture Fertilizer is one of the most important tools on the farm, providing crops with the nutrients they need to grow, but can’t get from the soil alone. It’s also an expensive resource that requires careful management to ensure nutrients are available to crops when needed, and not lost to the environment. Farmers are doing their best to manage nutrients effectively to limit emissions from fertilizer that can be lost to the atmosphere in the form of greenhouse gases that can impact the environment. Nutrient losses can also have a negative impact on water quality and aquatic species. That’s why it’s important that nutrients on the farm, whether fertilizer or livestock manure, are managed sustainably - and this is a responsibility that farmers take seriously. My family and I farm in Waterloo Region where we grow crops, and we follow the principles of an initiative called 4R Nutrient Stewardship. It lets us improve the economics of farming, crop productivity and fertilizer efficiency while also benefitting the environment by ensuring we use the right source of fertilizer at the right rate applied at the right time and in the right place.
This is a formula that many farmers have long followed already; after all, using too much fertilizer or applying it in a way that wastes the nutrients instead of making them available to the crops to use just doesn’t make sense. Participating in the program means we’re not just following sustainable practices, but can also prove what we’re doing. One of the most important 4R best management practices for farmers is testing their soil at least once every four years and using those results to develop farm or even field-specific recommendations for nutrient use. That way, we’re only giving the crop what it actually needs. Other activities include working fertilizer into the soil as soon as possible after application to minimize losses, not applying nutrients on frozen or snowcovered ground, respecting minimum setbacks to protect environmentally-sensitive areas, keeping detailed records and more. Losses also cost farmers money, as nutrients lost are not available for crop growth. The 4R method is also known as “nutrient use efficiency”, as it allows farmers to use a suite of best management practices to ensure nutrients are applied at a time and place and in a form and at a rate that can be best used by crops. This also minimizes losses to the environment and
economic losses to the farmer. Nationally, 4R is co-ordinated by Fertilizer Canada. Here in Ontario, it is agricultural retailers businesses that sell seed and fertilizer and provide agronomic services to farmers like soil sampling or crop growing advice that achieve a 4R certification and deliver the program to farmers. I also serve as a board member of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and one of my roles is to represent farmers on the provincial 4R Steering Committee. Through this committee, the OFA works with other farm and commodity organizations, as well as the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, to enhance and expand the certification program, develop resources for farmers and agricultural retailers, work on the Fertilizer Use Survey for Ontario and raise awareness of the benefits of 4R nutrient stewardship in the agricultural community. I’m proud of the progress that’s being made to advance sustainable practices - approximately one million acres of cropland in Ontario are currently 4R certified. Many other farmers are using those practices even without certification. According to the 2023 Fertilizer Use Survey results, for example, more than two thirds of Ontario corn growers are following basic 4R principles on their farms -
an increase of 3.5 per cent from 2020. There is more work to be done, however, to encourage and support more of Ontario’s agricultural retailers to become 4R certified so they can offer the program to their customers, and that more farmers are aware of its benefits and principles. Our Steering Committee is working on activities like reviewing and updating audit standards,
reducing the record-keeping burden of the program for retailers and completing an economic analysis of 4R practices. As farmers, we have a responsibility to future generations to farm sustainably, minimize climate impacts and look after our air, soil and water. At the same time, we must ensure our farms remain profitable and productive and 4R nutrient stewardship is an approach that lets us do that.
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BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK REPORT For the week ending August 2, 2024 Total Receipts: 1,285 cattle; 971 lambs, sheep and goats Tuesday – Fed cattle sold $3 - $5 higher. Cows sold strong at steady prices, with fed cows selling higher. Thursday – Good veal sold $5 - $10 higher. Lambs sold barely steady. Sheep sold higher. Goats sold steady. Friday – Calves sold fully steady. Yearling steers sold $2 - $4 higher. Yearling heifers sold $8 - $10 higher. Fed Cattle: There were 80 fed cattle on offer: Choice Fed Cattle: $255 – $269 Second Cut Fed Cattle: $245 – $254 Aged and Medium Fed Cattle: $225 – $240 Holstein Fed Cattle: $200 – $225 Greg Higgins of Brussels, consigned 12 head. Two black fats weighed 1,475 lbs. and sold for an average price of $268. George Hinz of Monkton, consigned seven head. One charolais fat weighed 1,580 lbs. and sold for a price of $269. Cows: There were 210 cows on offer: Beef Cows: $170 – $220 up to $235 Good Holstein Cows: $158 – $169 up to $220 Medium Holstein Cows: $145 – $157 Bulls: $185 – $224
Stockers: There were 800 stockers on offer:
Walter Beef Farms Ltd. of Mildmay, consigned seven head. One black cow weighed 1,430 lbs. and sold for a price of $235. Sluys Holsteins Inc. of Clinton, consigned four head. One holstein cow weighed 1,455 lbs. and sold for a price of $220. Ryan Van Osch of Lucknow, consigned one charolais bull that weighed 1,885 lbs. and sold for a price of $224. Veal: There were 165 veal and 30 bob calves on offer: Beef Veal: $270 – $289 Good Holsteins: $250 – $271 SL Heavy Holsteins: $240 – $260 Heavy Holsteins: $220 – $240 Medium Holsteins: $235 – $249 Plain Holsteins: $210 – $234 Holstein Drop Calves: $335 – $1,350 / HEAD
Lambs: Under 50 lbs.: $340 – $345 50-64 lbs.: $310 – $347 up to $355 65-79 lbs.: $307 – $327 80-94 lbs.: $289 – $327 95-109 lbs.: $286 – $306 110 lbs. and over: $285 – $285 Sheep: $235 – $267 up to $277 Ger Miedema of Hanover, consigned 39 head. Five lambs averaged 54 lbs. and sold for an average price of $355. Allan Ribbink Livestock of Tiverton, consigned 38 head. Nine lambs averaged 91 lbs. and sold for an average price of $322.
Aaron M. Bowman of Teeswater, consigned three head. One red veal weighed 930 lbs. and sold for a price of $289.
Goats: Meat Kids: 425.00 – 480.00 Dairy Kids: 350.00 – 440.00 Mature Bucks: 300.00 – 400.00 Mature Does: 220.00 – 260.00
Boern View Farms Ltd. of Gadshill, consigned five head. One holstein veal weighed 710 lbs. and sold for a price of $271.
Rob and Jeanette Versteeg of Gorrie, consigned eight head. Seven kid goats averaged 51 lbs. and sold for an average price of $480.
William G. Curry of Markdale, consigned two head. One black white face bob calf sold for $1,350/head.
Shirley Archambault of Auburn, consigned eight head. Four kid goats weighed 61 lbs. and sold for an average price of $465.
Top Quality Steers: Under 400 lbs.: $365 – $700 400 – 499 lbs.: $515 – $555 500 – 599 lbs.: $400 – $555 600 – 699 lbs.: $442 – $474 700 – 799 lbs.: $396 – $411.50 800 – 899 lbs.: $369 – $390 900 – 999 lbs.: $327 – $344 up to $356 1,000 lbs. and over: $304 – $328 up to $332
Reidholm Farm of Moorefield, consigned 26 head. Nine black heifers averaged 761 lbs. and sold for an average price of $360. Two black heifers averaged 620 lbs. and sold for an average price of $415. Luke S. Martin of Eganville, consigned 32 head. Twelve charolais heifers weighed 985 lbs. and sold for an average price of $332.50. Ten charolais heifers weighed 937 lbs. and sold for an average price of $337.50.
Top Quality Heifers: Under 400 lbs.: Too few to establish a market 400 – 499 lbs.: $205 – $330 500 – 599 lbs.: $417 – $447 600 – 699 lbs.: $342 – $405 up to $415 700 – 799 lbs.: $320.50 – $360 800 – 899 lbs.: $285 – $337 900 lbs. and over: $302 – $337.50
Ornan Martin of Elmira, consigned 23 head. Three charolais heifers averaged 1,000 lbs. and sold for an average price of $315.
Satchell Farms of Gadshill, consigned 71 head. Five simmental steers averaged 742 lbs. and sold for an average price of $411.50.
10:00 a.m. Fed Cattle, Bulls & Cows
Mike Groot of Credition, consigned six head. Four black steers averaged 811 lbs. and sold for an average price of $390. Mervin C. M. Martin of Holyrood, consigned 26 head. Twelve charolais steers weighed 1,140 lbs. and sold for an average price of $312.50.
BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd.
UPCOMING SALES TUESDAYS THURSDAYS
9:00 a.m. Drop Calves 10:00 a.m.Veal 11:30 a.m. Lambs, Goats & Sheep
FRIDAYS
10:00 a.m. Stockers Visit our webpage at: www.brusselslivestock.ca email us at: info@brusselslivestock.ca
Call us 519-887-6461
PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024.
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Articles for sale s Help wanted WE OFFER A WIDE selection of Poly outdooor furniture in 11 difffferent colourss at approx. half price of competitionn. Located 2 blocks north of Whitechhurch at 382 Whitechurch St. Clearaance pricing on gazeboes. -------------------------------------------GREY Y,, S-SERIES FOR F RT TRESS scooter; purchased Auugust 2023; used briefly due to decliining health; in new condition; phonne evenings. 519-523-4223 for more details. --------------------------------------------
Card of thaanks
ROOM FOR A BOARDER IN BRUSSELS You get 860 sq. ft. apartment. Yo Bedroom, bathroom, living room with fireplace. Personal fridge with freezer, parking and wifi. We share kitchen and laundry room. No pets. Long term tenant preferred. Call 519-505-0092 to view and discuss.
Articles for sale HOSPIT TA AL BED, fully electric with 1/2 rails, therapeutic Gravity 6 pressure distribution mattress. Used only once. $1,300 (paid $2,500) Wingham 519-357-1771. ------------------------------------------GERBERS FIREWOOD SER RV VING you for over 15 years. Y Yo our number one source of quality slabwood and bodywood. Delivery available. No Sunday calls. 519-274-1236, 519441-2085. ------------------------------------------SHADE TREES , SPRUCE , White Pine, Cedars, windbreaks and privacy hedges, Shrubs, Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Sweet & sour Cherry Trees at (Emanuel E.M. Martin) Martin's Nursery 42661 Orangehill Rd, Wroxeter ON N0G 2X0. ------------------------------------------THE CITIZEN IS AV VA AILABLE TO purchase at these locations - Auburn E Esso, B Belgrave l Vaariety V i , Blyth Bl h F Food d Market, Blyth V Vaariety, Blyth Ultramar, Brussels Foodland, Brussels Vaariety, V Clinton Convenience, Clinton Foodland, Fogal's YIG (W Wiingham), Wingham Mini Mart, Seaforth Foodland, Fincher's (Goderich), Goderich Victoria St Shell, Canadian Tire Gas Bar, Goderich and The Citizen offffice in Blyth. ------------------------------------------REPRINTS OF PHOTOS taken by Citizen photographers are available to purchase. All are in colour. 4x6 $5.00, 5x7 - $6.00, 8x10 - $10.00. Phone to order 519-523-4792 or email info@northhuron.on.ca
GREIDANUS - The fam mily of Leo Greidanus would likee to thank everyone for the love and support shown to us during thhis difffficult time, be it flowers, food d brought to the house, a card or a ddonation to a cause. Being there, withh and for us, means a lot to the familly. A special thank you to the nurses and doctors at Seaforth Community H Hospital and Stratford General Hosppital. Thank you to Haskett Funeral Home for their dedicated service, and to each of the pallbearers. Y Yo our kindness k and caring remains with us. Eileen, Tony To y,, Steven, Krista and d families.
Help wanted
South Kinlloss Winter M Maintenance Services RFQ PW202 24-08-01 The T To ownship of o Huron-Kinloss is accepting q quotations for contracted winter maintena ance services in the southern a area of the former hip for the 2024-2025 winter season. Kinloss T To ownsh Bid forms may be picked up at the Municipal O Offffice in Ripley or downloaded fro from om the T To ownship website at: www w .huronkinloss.com (Bids and T Te end ders, under T To own Hall tab at top p of home page). This RFQ is subject ubject to Council approval, and the lowest or any bid is not necessarily y accepted. Completed bids s will be accepted either in persson or via Royal mail until 2:00 p.m. August 22, 2024 as follows: John Yungblut, Director of Public Works PO Box 130, 21 1 Queen Street, Ripley, ON N0G G 2R0
Notices
Nottices
Helpp wanteed STEVE HANEY TRUCKING IS looking for a full-time driver to haul bulk in Ontario. Weekends We offff, home at night. Three years AZ required and clean driver ’s abstract. Based out of Seaforth. Call Steve 519-615-2130. stevehaney2@gmail.com -------------------------------------------
Personals Are you pregnant and unsure about your future? Contact Ramoth House. We can help you discover your We parenting potential. Y Yo ou can get more information about our services on our website www.ramoth.ca or by phone 519-323-3751 or email: offffice@ramoth.ca -------------------------------------------
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ANNU UAL GENERAL MEETING Monday M y,, August 26 5:00 p.m. W Wingham Columbus Centre RSVP to Dorothy at 519 35 57 3562 x 101
Citizen-To-Ci o itizen “SW WA AP S HOP” ad • Free ad up to 25 2 words, person to person only (no businesses), b items valued at $1,000 $1 000 or less. l P Price i mustt b be iincluded l d d iin your ad d.Y Your ad will run three times Yo unless it sells faster! • The Citizen rese erves the right to limit the number of items ems or ads per person.
Call 519-52 23-4792 or email: info@northhuron.on.ca @northhuron.on.ca FREE - 4’X18’ above ground pool, almost new large ppump, large sand filter, ladder and two ccovers. Come take it 32-3 away. 519-357-8918. ------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Sttihl FS45-Z gas weed whacker. $50; Sunnbeam Cool Mist 2.6L humidifier withh new filter. $25. 32-3 Wingham 519-3577-2768. ------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Breeakfast in Bed? Brand new, never used.. Over-the-bed metal table with auto toouch, 15x30 tabletop. 32-3 $115. Wingham 519-357-1771. ------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Neeed a boost? Brand new, never used Metrro lift/recliner chair, wer adjust to headrest, medium size; pow d lumbar areas. $999. footrest, back and 7-1771. 32-3 Wingham 519-357 ------------------------------------------------FOR SALE - 200 02 T To oyota Camry XLE, good engine, 223,000 , kms.;; transmission, AC. Clean interior. Needs rust repair, possibbly subframes. Many miles left in it. Caall 519-612-2986. 32-3 -------------------------------------------------
WA W ANTED D TO BUY - Free-standing heavy duty ty garment rack; two door wardrobe. Preferably in Wingham area. Call Wingham, ham, 519-357-2768. 32-3 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------FOR SALE LE - Three piece luggage set. One large, e, one smaller, plus carry-on bag. Burgundy, like new, $45 or best offffer. 519-357-1691 -357-1691 31-3 -----------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Y Yaamaha keyboard, pedal, carrying case, stand and amplifier; $500, Wingham. 519-357-1722 30-3 --------------------------------------------FOR SALE - W Wo orx 40V battery weedeater. 13”, two years old, moving, no longer needed. $125. 519-357-9694 30-3 --------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Kreisler apartment-size piano and bench, $300; 7 ft. toboggan $30; Burgundy reclining lift chair $25; lawn sweeper $50. Call Wingham 519357-2768 30-3 --------------------------------------------FOR SALE - Used Poulan 15.5 hp with new 38” blade 5 speed lawnmower. $500; Assorted farm tools - picks, shovels, sledges - no handles $5 each. 519-335-6998 30-3
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Ont. dev. charges have cost ACW says report By Scott Stephenson The Citizen
According to a report from Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh (ACW) Treasurer Ellen McManus presented on July 16, the province’s changes to development charges through the “More Homes Built Faster Act” (MHBFA) caused the township to lose approximately $156,000 in revenue. The report states that the loss occurred between November of 2022, when the MHBFA went into effect, and June of 2024, when it was replaced by “The Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act” (CRTTBMHA). The MHBFA was intended to spur on the development of new housing by removing barriers perceived by the province to be preventing growth. Under the MHBFA, development charges were to be discounted by 20 per cent in year one, 15 per cent in year two, 10 per cent in year three, and five per cent in year four, with rates returning to full in year five. The CRTTBNHA legislation repealed the mandatory phase-in of development charge rates that had been introduced by the MHBFA. McManus’s report posits that the township will be able to recoup the revenue losses that ACW incurred under the MHBFA, and states that, as a result of the CRTTBNHA, the township’s development charge rates have now been replaced with the same full rates that were calculated in the township’s 2022 Development Charges Background Study. ACW’s current development charges brochure has been updated to reflect these updated development charges. The elimination of the discounted rates for developers means that ACW should have the ability to recover the funds needed to pay for the capital services required to make any new developments possible, while limiting the burden of those new developments for residents.
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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024. PAGE 15.
Sunday worship hosted at Procters’ pond
NEWS FROM BELGRAVE PEOPLE AROUND BELGRAVE By Linda Campbell Call 357-2188
Worshippers gathered at Ken and Lila Procter’s pond on Sunday, Aug. 4. Rev. Colin Snyder welcomed everyone. Scripture readings were taken from Exodus 16:2-4 and 9-15,
Ephesians 4:1-16 and John 6:24-35. Rev Colin’s message was entitled “The Good Old Days”. Hopefully, weather permitting, August church services will be at the pond at the back of Ken and Lila’s farm. (In case of rain the service will be held in Knox United Church). On Tuesday, Aug. 13, the community coffee break will be held at the Community Centre from 9:30-11 a.m. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy coffee, snacks and fellowship. Birthday greetings are extended to Brenton Lebold on Aug. 4. We hope you had a fun day. Our granddaughter, Callie Campbell,
will be three on Aug. 11. Have a fun day. We have had a lot of hot, dry weather and were blessed with good weather for the long weekend. Finally, we received some muchneeded rain. It will help the lawns and the gardens.
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Pondering life’s questions On Sunday, Aug. 4, worshippers assembled at Ken and Lila Procter’s pond. Rev. Colin Snyder led the service. Weather permitting, August services will continue at the pond; otherwise, they will move to Knox United Church. (Submitted photos)
Obituaries
PAULINE ADAMS It is with great sadness that the family of Pauline Adams announce her passing Sunday,
Aug. 4, 2024 at the age of 101. Pauline will be dearly missed by her daughters, Andrea Pettigrew of Winnipeg, Carolyn Smith of Kinloss Township, Mary Lou and her husband John Stewart of Blyth, Janet Watterworth and her husband Duncan MacPherson of Goderich, and Colleen and her husband Terry Zinn of Ashfield Township, along with her many treasured grandchildren and their families. Pauline was predeceased by her husband Robert Adams, her sons John and Dave Adams, as well as sons-in-law Ken Pettigrew and Reg (Mac) Watterworth. Visitation was held from the MacKenzie and McCreath Funeral Home, Lucknow on Wednesday, Aug. 7, followed by a private funeral service. Interment at Greenhill Cemetery, Lucknow. Donations to the Wingham Hospital Foundation would be greatly appreciated as expressions of sympathy. Condolences may be left at www.mackenzieandmccreath.com
Remembering your loved one Honour your loved one by placing their obituary in
The Citizen. This is a free service provided by The Citizen. We encourage you to share the story of your loved one in a special remembrance of their life. Cards of thanks can be placed in our classified section, starting at just $ .00.
PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024.
Karan Casey to perform in Goderich this weekend By Scott Stephenson The Citizen
Songstress This weekend, Irish singer Karan Casey will perform at the 32nd annual Goderich Celtic Roots Festival. (Liadh Connolly photo)
Soon, Irish singer Karan Casey will be packing her bags and coming to Huron County for a weekend of sharing her voice with the guests of the 32nd annual Goderich Celtic Roots Festival (GCRF). Casey may currently reside on the other side of the Atlantic, but that didn’t stop the acclaimed singer from connecting with The Citizen using video chat technology ahead of her arrival. It won’t be this well-traveled artist’s first time in this vast nation; over the years, she’s played at folk music festivals in Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and Vancouver Island. GCRF Artistic Director Cheryl Prashker has been working on bringing Casey to Goderich for years, but now, in 2024, the stars (and schedules) have finally aligned. “I’ve been talking to Cheryl for a long time, and trying to get there,” Casey explained. “I’m delighted that it actually worked out this year - I can’t wait!” Music has been a part of Casey’s life for as far back as she can remember. She comes from a very festive family, full of singers. “We had a lot of parties,” she recalled. “And we just sang - we were supposed to just have a song. You
Dedication As the Blyth Festival marked its Bonanza Weekend, the Margaret Stephens Stage was also officially dedicated in Memorial Hall. Artistic Director Gil Garratt, left, and members (John Stephenson photo) of the Stephens family were on hand for the occasion.
Decoration service Aug. 25
Licensed Lay Worship Leader Sue Barnett led the morning worship at Londesborough United Church on Sunday, Aug. 4. Her reflection was based on the scripture passage, John 6:24-35. In the last verse of that passage, Jesus says to His disciples, “I am the bread of life.” Mrs. Barnett reminded the people gathered that day that Jesus feeds our souls and that we will find purpose in life when we turn our lives over to Him. A reminder to area folk that the
Hope Chapel decoration service will be held on Sunday, Aug. 25 at 2 p.m. Kevin Hulley is turning 65 and he is celebrating on Sunday, Aug. 18. Community well-wishers are invited to drop by his home that afternoon for a garden party featuring music by The Wilson Brothers. What a cheery sight that field of sunflowers is as one enters the village from the north. If you haven't noticed it yet, it is west of the highway behind the first few houses along there. It’s a bit depressing to realize we are now into August, but the bales of straw all nicely spread across the wheat fields is also a pleasant sight. Amazingly, my spring pot of pansies continues to cheerfully welcome all who come to our front door. Their cute faces will soon be replaced by mums, I’m afraid. Carl Nesbitt has had a second operation and could use some
weren’t actually allowed to go to the party unless you had a song, or a poem, or a dance.” Having a song at the ready wasn’t just for special occasions - Casey could be called upon to join her family in song at any moment. “My dad is a really good singer. He would take us off in the car, and we sang - we had to have a song. And it would be a mystery tour, and you sang your way around the area... and my mother always had the radio on - it was just a big part of growing up in Ireland - you had a song. You had to be able to do something at the party.” Casey loves so much more about her culture than its wonderful music; she also loves traditional Irish food and mythology. “I like the stories of An Cailleach,” she explained. “It’s kind of the old Irish word for a wise woman, or I suppose, witch. She’s supposed to be very powerful - she was born before the seas and the sun, and the silt and the land. She makes the mountains, she picks up rocks and puts them down. She whips up the wind, and she wallops the skies. She’s kind of the omnipotent presence that can bring in the wintertime. She lays down the winter and brings in the spring, and the summer - she’s a cyclical giver of harvest. She’s said to get very cross at times, if people are bad to the land.” Unsurprisingly, there have been many Irish songs composed about this powerful entity over the centuries. Following a childhood steeped in Irish traditional music, Casey grew into a voracious fan of many different musical styles. When she was in her early twenties, she spent two or three nights a week singing jazz in Dublin. She eventually moved to New York City to pursue a future as a singer. For 10 years, she performed at venues all over New York, three or four times a week. “I had a long kind of lead time in,” she observed. That long lead-in time led Casey right where she wanted to be. “I
was looking, really, to start working with Solas - and that’s really what started me off.” After several fruitful years with the innovative folk music supergroup, Casey branched out and found further success as a solo artist. She may be known primarily for her mellifluous interpretations of traditional Irish songs, but Casey is also influenced by some of the great singers of North America. She reeled off just a few of her favourites. “There’s Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Joni Mitchell - your own Joni Mitchell - Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Bobby McFerrin.” Casey is looking forward to seeing several performers in Goderich this weekend. “I’m really looking forward to seeing Matt and Shannon Heaton,” she said. “And Rory Makem - I love Rory.” She’s also looking forward to playing this weekend with frequent collaborators Niall Vallely and Niamh Dunne. Huron County has many residents with Celtic heritage, and they will certainly be coming out in force this weekend, but this world-class festival really does have universal appeal for people from all over the world. Casey can understand why that’s true. “I think it’s accessible,” she said. “There’s beautiful melodies that are very old, and there’s quite a lot of longing and dispossession in the songs. That seems to resonate with people... maybe it’s in their DNA, but it’s also slightly the exotic. The modes, the way they fall on your ear - it’s slightly different. And it leans into melodies, and people love a good melody. Even if we don’t know it, we love a good melody... it brings people together to feel a sense of belonging. And it lets us commune, you know, in whatever setting, through song. I think it's very powerful, you know. It’s a very potent experience. You have to be careful with what you do with songs.”
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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024. PAGE 17.
From the Minister’s Study
Jesus’ words are a wake-up call for us all: Allen By Douglas Allen, Huron Chapel Evangelical Missionary Church, Auburn I might be dating myself in drawing attention to hockey broadcast legend, Don Cherry, but hopefully some of you will be familiar with the name. For more than 30 years, he appeared on CBC’s Saturday night broadcasts of NHL hockey games. You might remember him for his outspoken and often controversial opinions, but its more likely because of his flamboyant wardrobe. When accompanied by his co-host, Ron MacLean, who favoured the more conservative dress code of a white shirt and tie, with a dark sports jacket, Don certainly made a statement with jackets that were colourful and often boldly patterned! It was his experience as a player and coach that made him very knowledgeable about the game. Thus, his insightful commentary during the games was immensely popular. We may have forgotten the controversial political statement that resulted in his contract not being renewed, but it’s certain that we remember his on-air dress code. One thing is for sure, he wasn’t anything like most other television sports announcers! We have all met someone, whose personality or behaviour - or even dress code - made them the exception to what would normally be expected in a particular setting. They might see their choice as a way to “break the ice” between them and others; for instance, a brightly-coloured outfit in a situation involving primary-aged children. For others, it might be a case of wanting to express one’s own identity, regardless of what others might think of them. To some, Jesus was such a person. He not only didn’t “fit in” with what was expected of a spiritual leader, but he didn’t want to. It was bad enough that he wasn’t born to the right family or carried the right educational credentials, but from the perspective of the religious leaders, he just seemed to flaunt his unique way of doing things. But as hard as it was for them to accept him as genuinely a man of
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Evangelical Missionary Church
Sunday, August 11, 10:30 a.m. Pastor Mike Stanley speaking on Foundations: God's Word (Nehemiah 8:1-8)
God, there could be no denying that he was special. Very early in Mark’s Gospel, we read how the people “were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, not as the scribes.” (Mark 1:22) Just a few verses later, after Jesus had healed a man possessed by an evil spirit, we are told that the people “were all amazed.” As a result, they questioned among themselves, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” (Mark 1:27) It’s hard to ignore the evidence concerning his unexpected abilities and so reports concerning him spreads quickly throughout the region. So, everywhere Jesus went, people kept coming to him. Nowhere did Jesus illustrate his departure from social norms more than in his choice of people with whom he wanted to spend time. One thing he had in common with other rabbis was the practice of teaching those who wished to accompany him as he walked from one place to another. They would have their eyes opened on the day that his route took him alongside a tax collector’s booth occupied by Levi (or Matthew). We aren’t told anything about the conversation that passes between Jesus and Levi, with the exception of Jesus inviting Levi “to follow him” (in other words to become a student of his). As Mark tells it, Levi wasted no time accepting the invitation. He gets up, leaves everything behind, and joins Jesus. This man has obviously recognized that Jesus has something to offer
that he wants to experience. The fact that he chose to follow Jesus ought to have been seen as a good thing, except the man was a tax collector! Levi was part of a company of Jews whom the Roman authorities employed to collect taxes from their countrymen. To participate in this practice was unthinkable to most Jews and earned them the reputation of being a “traitor to the Jewish people.” If that weren’t bad enough, they would routinely demand payments in excess of that required by the Romans. The excess would be “pocketed” as their personal income. As a tax collector for the Romans, one might get rich quickly, but have very few friends! It is a common theme in the Gospels that, as a result of an encounter with Jesus, people’s lives were transformed, and Levi is no different. Levi is not content with keeping the news to himself; he just has to tell others what had happened to him and who was responsible. And so, Levi hosts a dinner for Jesus to which he invites fellow tax collectors and others whom most would consider to be “sinners”. Consider what is taking place. Jesus is the invited guest to a reception that includes on the guest list, several people whose character and behaviour make them hated by almost everyone. And yet he is willing to sit and eat with them! The watching Pharisees (the guardians of religious law) are enraged by Jesus’ choice to do so, for in that culture, to dine with someone was a sign of intimacy.
BMG Community Centre (upstairs room) 800 Sports Drive, Brussels Childcare and Sunday School provided for children 0 to 8 during the sermon
Worship and Prayer Time Loving Fellowship Expository Preaching
Blyth United Church “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 Outreach project for July and August is back-to-school supplies for the Women’s Shelter.
119 John’s Ave., Auburn 519-526-1131
St. Paul’s-Trinity Anglican WINGHAM 11:00 AM
519-357-7781 • email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca www.regionalministryofhope.com Weekly service live-streamed at 11:00 a.m. on our Facebook page or on youtube @St. Paul’s-Trinity Anglican Church Wingham.
Contact Alex at ministter.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com y @g Website: b brusselsandblythuc.ca P.O. Box 359,, Brussels ~ 519-887-6259 P.
Services are live-streamed and can be found by searching n “Blyth Christian Reformed Church”
brusselscommunitybiblechapel.ca
See you in September
On-site and online - live.huronchapel.com
Trinity Anglican BLYTH 9:00 AM
We are invited i to Worship with Me elville Presbyterian each week at 11 a.m.
No Services for the month of August
Nursery & Sunday School during worship
Come Worship with Us!
No services ser vicess at at Brussels Brussels United during the e month of August August
Golden G ld sheaves h off harvest h t are God’s good gift
at 10 a.m.
The Regional Ministry of Hope
U United Chu ur urch
Sundays at 10:00 a.m. All Are Welcome
Sunday, August 11
else would shun. We don’t know what took place during that meal, but, as the guest of honour, he would have the opportunity to speak. We can only imagine what Jesus would have said to his audience, but we can be certain it would have included the assurance of God’s acceptance of even the sinners whom everyone else would reject. No one is beyond his love and mercy. In fact, Mark informs his reader how “there were [already] many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.” (Mark 2:15) The question for us is whether we show that same attitude in relationships in which we can share the love of God, whether formally, as in a church setting, or informally as neighbours. Are there people whom you and I have been neglecting simply because of their reputation? How we perceive them? I suggest that Jesus’ words are intended to be a “wake-up call” for each of us to recognize and that we should heed Jesus’ call that we be welcoming to anyone and everyone we meet!
BRUSSELS S
Worship with us at Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
IInterim i P Pastor El Elwin i Garland G l d 250 Princess St., Brussels • 519 887 6388
They would think that he should have known better and avoided any association with such “scum”! You can imagine them muttering amongst themselves in voices that were no doubt designed to be overhead: “Why does he eat with such despicable people?” When Jesus heard this, he reminded them that “Healthy people don’t need a doctor - sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” (Mark 2:17) I wonder how long it took for those Pharisees to realize they had just been judged for their attitude. They were guilty of the worst traits that often characterize traditional religion: jealousy, hypocrisy and religious formalism. But they had an additional problem: in believing themselves to be righteous, they saw no need in themselves for the message Jesus came to deliver. Jesus would gladly associate with sinners because he loved them and he knew that they needed to hear what he had to say, even if that meant people that most everyone
Join us Wednesday mornings for conversation in the garden starting at 10 am Contact Alex at: minister.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churches blythunited@tcc.on.ca ~ 519-523-4224
MEL LV VILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS
Sunday, August 11, 2024 11:00 am - 12 noon We welcome the Brussels United Church family to our worship servicees this month, along with all who would like to join us. Doug Sargent will lead us in praise and prayer to God. Soup & More 2 Join us every Friday from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. for lunch. This free meal is made possible by the Brussels churches and many volunteers working together to serve our community. c All are welcome! For pastoral care concerns please call 519-524-7512 2
PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024.
Is that a plough or a plow? Glimpses of the Past with Karen Webster The term “plough” is the English spelling of the term, while “plow” is a more North American version. Either way, these terms refer to the science and skill of cultivation of the soil that many take quite seriously. “Plow” will be used in this column even though, in some periods, the spelling was “plough”. ig things are coming up in the Bayfield area on Aug. 15 and 16 when the Huron County Plowing Match will be held at Vermue Farms on Bayfield River Road. The concept of having a competition for plowing prowess is not a new one; in fact, such competitions in Huron had their nucleus in 1842 with the formation of the Huron District Agricultural Society. It was on Feb. 14 of that year that Dr. William “Tiger” Dunlop and William B. Rich, Esquires and both Justices of the Peace, met with several others to form a group dedicated to the fostering of top agricultural crops, superior animal-breeding techniques and admirable soil management. Because of Dunlop’s duties as the area’s MPP, he delegated his duties to the county sheriff, John MacDonald. From the Goderich Signal’s “Looking Back” section of the Dec. 19, 1918 edition, we are allowed a look at the early days of agricultural contests. The Signal article relates that a competition was held in October of 1842 with many participants coming from a “distance of forty miles of miserable roads”. Subscribers donated funds for the competition and, at the inaugural match, the total premiums (prizes) amounted to 25 pounds, 17 shillings and six pence. The following year, when the society held its main competition in Goderich on Sept. 25, the categories were horses, cattle, sheep and hogs, grains, seeds, dairy and roots. There was also a category that included
B
cloth, flannel and blankets that had to be made on the farm from growth from that farm of the previous year. The society’s plowing match took place later. At that time, several smaller plowing matches were held throughout the district, such as the one held at the farm of Samuel Camochan in Tuckersmith Township. The winners were Jas. Broadfoot, Robt. McCartney, Jas. Lansborough, Geo. Sproat, Robt. Camochan and Wm. Lansborough. The annual Plowing Match of the Huron District Agricultural Society was held in Goderich on Oct. 31 at the farm of Matthew Black, Goderich Township. Some of the rules set out included: ground to be plowed was one third of an acre; time allowed from stake out to finish, four hours; open to horses or oxen; any member of the society, his sons or his servants were eligible; and plowing to commence at 10 a.m. sharply. By 1850, plowing was no longer a part of the Huron District Agricultural Society’s agenda. The implements used over 180 years ago could scarcely be recognized as plows when put beside today’s versions. For primitive plows, a farmer looked for a crook of a tree of hardwood such as oak. On the bottom of the crook, a piece of iron was attached and handles were fashioned along the upper part of this “plow”. Add in an attachment for the power source such as a horse, oxen or even another person and the rig was complete. The term “walking plow” is apt because the farmer and his trusted horse or most likely, oxen, covered the field one row at a time at a slow pace. A few years ago, a woman was encouraging her elderly father to get more exercise by walking. His reply was that he had already walked more than a lifetime’s worth behind a horse and plow. More sophisticated plows made of
iron were forged by the small foundries found in many local towns and villages. These businesses made plows as well as all sorts of farm and household items. In the Aug. 25, 1853 edition of the Huron Signal from Goderich, we learn that the Goderich Foundry offered plows in addition to threshing machines, separators and stoves. As well, many blacksmiths were quite adept at creating and maintaining farm implements.
There were many companies in southwestern Ontario that manufactured walking plows. Some names that have come to light are Massey-Harris (Weston, Woodstock, Brantford), Cockshutt (Brantford), Joseph Fleury and Sons (Aurora), David Maxwell (St. Marys), Watsons (Ayr), and Oliver Chilled Plow Co. (Hamilton). Of particular note is the name of William Henry Verity, a young Englishman who arrived in Exeter to open a blacksmith’s shop in the north end of the village in the area once known as Francistown. He eventually opened a small foundry and manufactured reapers, mowers and the celebrated Verity plows, as well as other agricultural implements. In 1892, Verity Plow
Company joined with MasseyHarris and the plant was moved to Brantford. Huron County’s own Plowmen’s Association dates back to 1924, at which time the competition was held on the farms of John Work and Harvey Bryans. Prizes for competitors in the horse-drawn plow section were $15, $12, $10 and $8 for each class with the tractor classes each receiving slightly higher prizes. Throughout the years, the science of plowing a straight furrow with a progression of improved plows has persisted with only a few years’ interruptions until the present era when dedicated plowers will once again ply their skills at the Huron County Plowmen’s Match later this month.
Continuing service Recently, Scouts Canada recognized six Blyth Scout leaders with significant awards of merit for their continuing leadership with the First Blyth Scouts group. From left: Erica Clark (Cubs), Bar to the Medal of Merit; Peter Nonkes (Cubs), Medal for Good Service; Adam Wilts (Cubs), Bar to the Medal for Good Service; Gerald Hakkers (Troop Scouts), Medal for Good Service; Allan Storey (Troop Scouts), Medal for Good Service, and Jessie Hakkers (Troop Scouts), Medal for Good Service. (Photo submitted)
Busin ness Dire ector ry Dave Frranken F ra k
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THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024. PAGE 19.
Entertainment & Leisure
Fiárock joins Celtic college and festival
Fiárock stars Intercontinental quartet Fiárock brings their considerable musical experience to Goderich for the 32nd annual Celtic Roots Festival. Nicolle Fig, a skilled traditional singer and bodhrán player, sat down with The Citizen to discuss her musical journey and how her band came together. (Scott Stephenson photo)
By Scott Stephenson The Citizen
They may have only been performing together for a short period of time, but the intercontinental quartet Fiárock has arrived in Goderich with a considerable amount of musical experience in tow. The Citizen caught up with one of the band's members, Nicolle Fig, right before one of the festival’s nightly free concerts at The Square last Monday night. It’s easy to see why Fiárock was asked to come to this year’s Goderich Celtic Roots Festival they’re not just an extremely talented band, they’re passionate about musical education, too. Fiárock was just as excited to teach at this year’s Celtic College as they are to perform at the festival this weekend. This year’s college has been a huge success - the members of Fiárock are just four of the 50 talented teachers that have spent this past week passing on their knowledge to over 250 adults and 75 children. Fiárock is composed of Nicolle Fig, Clíona Halley, Darragh Carey-
Kennedy and Evan Powell. Earlier this summer, the band took to the stages of two music festivals in Spain - one in Granada, one in Madrid. They also traveled to London, England, where they performed at the Irish Cultural Centre Hammersmith. Fig is known for her skill as a traditional singer and her distinctive bodhrán style. She’s been teaching music for many years, and is now an in-demand educator with a very popular YouTube channel. She got her start at a young age, when she was growing up in Mexico City. “I think I was about 11 when I got into music. I was listening to the Jackson 5 album I’d just bought, and I started singing along to one of the tracks. I still remember that feeling of ‘Oh! This is kind of nice!’ Something just kind of clicked.” Years later, Fig and her family moved from Mexico to Texas. When she was still in high school, she joined a musical theatre guild at
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the nearby university. “When you get to a certain age, you’re allowed to take lessons at the university level,” she explained. “I was taking voice lessons, and attending all the musical theatre stuff that was happening at the university.” After that, Fig then went to a boarding school in Dublin, where she studied classical liturgical music. While she was there, she went on a tour of Ireland. “I heard Irish music, really, for the first time - I loved it.” When she applied to university in Ireland, she applied to two programs - Contemporary Music and Dance, and Traditional Irish Music and Dance. “I auditioned for both, and I got into both. I first decided to go with Contemporary Music and Dance, but during orientation, it was seven other girls in Contemporary, and there was like, 45 ‘traddies’, or traditional Irish musicians. I looked around the room and said ‘I’m in the wrong place - I want to be with them... a fun fact about Ireland - at one point, it was ‘The Place’ for
learning - if you wanted to learn, you would go to Ireland, because they knew Greek, Latin and Irish. They’d be writing the Book of Kells, and loads of stuff - it was really cool.” That decision to pursue the music of the land started Fig down the path to meeting her future bandmates. She enjoyed working towards her BA in Limerick so much that she decided to carry on and earn her Master's Degree. The global pandemic may have made Fig’s schooling a little more complicated, but it didn’t slow her down. “I needed to collaborate with musicians to do something online, so I did that with Clíona. I’ve known Clíona for years - our friend, Derek Hickey, the box player, put us in contact.” Clíona Halley hails from Cork, and plays a variety of instruments in a number of styles. Among her weapons of choice are the concertina, the fiddle, the piano, and the violin, and she teaches concertina workshops in Ireland. Halley had already received her Masters in Irish Traditional Music Performance when banjo player Darragh Carey-Kennedy began attending the school in pursuit of his BA. Carey-Kennedy, originally from Tipperary, has been teaching traditional Irish music since he was very young, and recently received his teaching qualification from Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, earning the high achiever's award in the course. He began collaborating with Fig and Halley on some video performances. At that time, Fig was living in Austin, Texas, when she met American pianist Evan Powell. Powell’s interest in Irish music began while he was pursuing a Bachelor’s in Jazz Performance at Florida State University. His passion for music has led him to lecture on subjects like improvisation both in North America and abroad. The four musicians came together, despite being rather far apart at the time,
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bringing together all their individual musical experiences and influences with their shared love of musical education, and Fiárock was born. Each act that can be found at the festival teaches a subject of their choosing during the weeklong Celtic College, and Fiárock decided to teach an ensemble class as an entire band, which makes sense, as they are a band that is well known for their high energy, improvisational performances. “If you have no paper in front of you, you have no notes in front of you all the music is within you, and within everybody else. And then you just come together, and you perform it together, and it all works out - somehow it just keeps going!” Over the past few days while teaching in Goderich, Fiárock has become part of Huron County’s Celtic community. “The people have been very lovely, very helpful,” Fig said. “Everyone in the festival has been absolutely lovely. The host that we’re staying at, as well - everyone is so nice! We haven’t made it to the beach yet, but they say it’s really pretty, and that lots of people come here for that. We really want to go!”
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PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024.
Heron Valley performing in Huron County
With Pryde Scot Abigail Pryde in Goderich on Monday, Aug. 5. This weekend, Pryde’s band - Heron Valley - will perform as part of the Celtic Roots Festival. (Scott Stephenson photo)
By Scott Stephenson The Citizen
Every year, the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival (GCRF) brings performers from all over the world to Huron County. While the opening ceremonies at Lions Harbour Park take place on Friday, most of the participating artists will have already been in town for several days at that point, teaching at the annual Celtic College and putting on free concerts on The Square. This year, there are over 50 musicians who have come from far and wide to teach, sing, dance, and make merry in Canada’s prettiest town. It’s a real whirlwind of a week for these international visitors, and so The Citizen sought out one of those visiting artists for a quick chat about what it’s been like to turn up, tune in, and make music as part of the 32nd annual GCRF. This isn’t Abigail Pryde’s first
time in Goderich; her band, Heron Valley, blew audiences away as part of last year’s festival. Although the band had arrived in town very recently, they’d already spent an entire day teaching at the Celtic College. “I’m still a bit jet-lagged,” she admitted, “so if rubbish comes out of my mouth - we’ll have to see.” Heron Valley’s line-up has fluctuated a bit over the years, but the band is always made up of musicians who hail from all over Scotland. They’re currently performing as a four-piece original members Pryde and Callum Cronin, and newcomers Ben Muir and Kenneth Macfarlane. This year, they’ll be performing together on the Main Stage after Karan Casey on Saturday night, and on the Dailey Stage midday on Sunday. Among the unique things about the GCRF are the workshop stages,
where different visiting musicians are thrown together for a set. You’ll be able to find the members of Heron Valley in various workshop sets throughout the weekend, but there’s one Pryde is especially anticipating. “One that I’m very excited to do is myself and Archie Fisher. I’ve been a huge fan of Archie’s - I’ve learned his songs all the way through my key years and through university, but I’ve never actually met him. I do sing one of his songs - it’s called ‘The Final Trawl’, and I quite often teach it as well, so it will be lovely to get to sing with him. It will probably be one of the highlights of my life, to sing alongside Archie.” The band has been teaching an ensemble course at the college this week. “It’s very informal. I think because of the style of music that we play, and the way we learned it at home - it’s very social. Scottish traditional music is always very social - it’s music for dancing. So when we’re teaching classes, we want it to be more of a social event, where people are coming up with ideas together, rather than us being the teachers - it relaxes people a little bit, and this music is music for fun... they are still learning things, obviously!” Pryde is also the teacher for the Scottish Songs course and Playing for a Ceilidh. “It’s tunes specifically for Ceili dances. I think that’s my favourite class. I get everyone to get up and dance, and they’ve not signed up for a dance class. It takes people out of their comfort zone a little bit, but they get it in the end.” The college, the free shows in The Square, and the weekend
festival in Lions Harbour Park may seem like a lot to pack into one week, but that’s just the tip of the Celtic iceberg - there are also the pub sessions, which happen all Friday night at The Park House. “I loved the pub!” Pryde exclaimed. “There was so many amazing players, and it was really nice to see such enthusiasm from all levels of players. And also, there’s an aspect to it that’s very inclusive. I think a lot of places you go, it can feel a little bit like, about the ones who can play the fastest, or the ones who can make the most noise, but I think it’s really, really inclusive here. So that was a highlight for me - seeing so many people joining in.” Beyond the festival itself, Pryde finds that there’s a lot to appreciate about Huron County. “I love, particularly, the community aspect of this town... everyone is so kind. I know people probably say that all the time, but everyone is really kind... I also very much enjoy the bacon - good bacon. My host made me this bacon this morning, and it was incredible. I’ve never had bacon like that.” The skilled fiddler from Argyll described the bacon she’d been served by her billet host as being neither the standard streaky strip nor a thick flap of peameal. “It was somewhere inbetween. And this is why I said it because I don’t really like the really thin stuff. The really thin bacon. Maybe this is terrible for your report, but it was really good bacon.” Even though she spends a great deal of time immersed in Celtic culture, Pryde still finds time to enjoy other forms of music. “I’m
not solely a traditional player, I kind of like everything! I think a lot of players, all their playlists and things are just full of everything. So I love all music... I really love Greta Van Fleet, and on the other spectrum, I love Sabrina Carpenter... I’m broad - just chuck me into any gig. I went to an Elbow gig with my friend - I’ve never been an Elbow fan, but she loves them, and it was an incredible gig.” Broad musical tastes aside, Pryde still believes that Celtic music has something that other musical styles don’t. “Modern songs, there’s a chorus you can sing along to, but people got together back in the day to sing together and to tell stories, and I think we miss that a lot in modern society... it’s something that people don’t realize they miss until they’re doing it. To share tunes and songs and stories with each other is so special, and I think there’s not really anything else like that, so when people get into it, and get involved in traditional music, they suddenly realize how special it is.” She may have started her week feeling a bit jet-lagged, but Pryde is never worried about having the energy required to hit the stage and perform the rest of Heron Valley. “I think we just love it so much. This sounds really cheesy, but it is totally in our blood. It just comes out so easy. And you know, you don’t play music for the money- we play it because we love it. It’s like a high when you’re finished, rather than being exhausted - straight after, it’s the biggest high you could ever get…. When you get to your bed, that’s when you realize you’re exhausted.”