NEXT PHASE OF BAYFIELD MAIN STREET REVITALIZATION UNDERWAY

The Village of Bayfield Main Street Revitalization project started up again mid-September. (Photo by Becky McInnis)

Following a break during the peak tourist season, the Village of Bayfield Main Street Revitalization project started up again mid-September and now construction is back in full swing.

Improvements to look forward to this fall include the installation of sidewalks, street, and pedestrian lighting, paving of the street and landscaping. There are a few parts of the process that the public should take note of.

Road grading along the north side of Clan Gregor Square will temporarily close the road.  A detour has been put in place to navigate the closure.

Hydro One began work on Sept. 12 on the east side of Main Street for new underground hydro line installation.  Hydro One will need to block off some parking areas while installing electrical lines through the conduit.  Conduit installation for the light poles is complete.

Curb preparation and installation began on Sept. 26.  Parking on the west side of Main Street will be restricted during this time.

Sidewalk preparation will start on the west side of Main Street then will transition to the east side of Main Street in the next few weeks.  The direction of the work starts from the south of Main Street and progresses northbound toward Catherine Street.  Driving lanes of Main Street will be open for through traffic.  There will be limited parking in work zones during sidewalk pouring, however, parking will be available in other areas of the Main Street.

Public Works staff would like to send a gentle reminder to walk and drive with care during the next few months as the Main Street Revitalization project continues.  They look forward to the great progress over the weeks to come as the contractors work diligently to stay on schedule and keep a safe construction area for visitors and businesses alike.

Communication with the community as the project evolves is a key component and the Municipality of Bluewater will endeavor to provide updates in the Bayfield Breeze on the first and third Wednesdays of every month.

The “Beautifying Bayfield” bi-weekly construction newsletter will continue to be issued with the construction schedule, info and updates. Click here for the: subscription link. This can be shared with friends and neighbors who may also want to receive the latest information!

Other ways of keeping up with Public Works construction news and updates in the Municipality of Bluewater can be found by visiting:

• The Municipality of Bluewater website
• Huron County Connects
• https://www.facebook.com/BluewaterOntario/
• https://twitter.com/BluewaterOn

CRAFT MARKET AND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT PLANNED FOR CHRISTMAS IN BAYFIELD

The Christmas in Bayfield committee is ready to kick into high gear now that they know the Municipality of Bluewater Council will hear their bylaw exemption request on Oct. 17.

“We are so excited to announce that, pending Municipal approval, we will be hosting a crafter’s market this year and as such we are looking for interested vendors,” said Secretary-Treasurer of the BACC Terri Louch.

Vendors will be considered who create original and unique items which are not mass produced. The market will be outdoors, so participants should be prepared to bring a tent and tables. Please note that tents cannot be hammered into the ground so they must be weighted. Please reach out to villageofbayfield@gmail.com for all the pertinent information and an application. Responses will be sent after the meeting on Oct. 17.

“We are also thrilled to be able to include music and buskers! The Chamber of Commerce will have a 10 x 10 tent set up in the Library Square where we will present all entertainment,” said Louch. “Do you or your group sing, dance, juggle, play an instrument or perform magic?  Would you like to be part of our amazing Christmas in Bayfield weekend?”

There will be 30 minute and one hour time slots available Saturday, Nov. 19 or Sunday, Nov. 20. Interested people are asked to send an email to the email given above with the details and their preferred time slot and organizers will work to include them in the line-up.

“Still on the fence about volunteering to help out? We will have a number of available opportunities which will work with the time and skills you have available,” said Louch. Volunteers are asked to email at the address highlighted above.

Christmas in Bayfield organizers would like to remind everyone that their bottle fundraising drive is going forward as well. Any coins or cash from returned empties can be dropped in the container at Bayfield Convenience and Gifts.

“We could not host Christmas in Bayfield without support from our businesses. Thanks so much to the members who have generously supported Christmas in Bayfield with a donation so everyone can enjoy a fun-filled weekend:  It takes a Village to put this event together, and we are very grateful to have amazing supporters. Where possible, stop in and visit their businesses today!”

To view the list of businesses that have donated to date please visit: Christmas in Bayfield Donors.

“Be sure to watch for further updates on the Christmas in Bayfield Facebook and Instagram pages where we will continue to highlight those who are making a difference in our little village!”

Anyone who would like to donate is asked to please email villageofbayfield@gmail.com.

FINAL TWO HIKES OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED

The Bayfield River Valley Trail Association (BRVTA) reminds hikers that the Woodland Trail will be closed for the month of October for turkey hunting season.  Please abide by the posted signs.

There will be two guided fall hikes in the coming weeks: Climate Change on the Great Lakes and National Take a Hike Day.

On Saturday, Oct. 22 at 11 a.m., environmental educator Michele Martin will lead a walk through the village and down to the waterfront, pointing out how climate change is affecting the area and what people can do to help.  Those interested are asked to meet at the Clan Gregor Square Gazebo for a walk lasting about 90 minutes.

The final guided hike of 2022 will be on Mavis’ Trail  and the Taylor Trail on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. National Take a Hike Day celebrates the nearly 300,000 km of trails in Canada, 80,000 of which are in Ontario.

This little hike of 3.5 km will start at the Varna Complex parking lot and take participants  through evergreen and deciduous forests, over small streams, and down to the Bayfield River.  A map can be found at Mavis-Taylor Trail.

For questions or more information contact Ralph Blasting via email at rjblastingjr@gmail.com or call 519 525-3205.

SWEET CALICO IN NEED OF A HOME

Kalissi (Submitted photo)

Bayfield’s Forgotten Felines (BFF) has so many wonderful cats and kittens looking for their forever families right now that they have temporarily closed their doors to intakes.

“We currently have over 60 kittens and have many waiting to come in,” explained Penhale. “We will be doing an adoption event at Pet Valu in Goderich in October.”

The adoption event at the Pet Valu in Goderich will be held on Oct. 22-23 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Kalissi is the Adopt a BFF cat of the week.

This gorgeous, young Calico is quite affectionate but underweight and struggling with a few health issues. None of these concerns appear to be life-threatening and hopefully, she will recover quickly and will be looking for her forever home in short order.

Anyone who might be interested in adopting Kalissi is asked to please email bayfieldsforgottenfelines@gmail.com for more information.

The adoption fee is now $200. Adopted cats are vetted, shots are up-to-date and they are also spayed or neutered. Donations are also always appreciated. E-transfers can be sent to the Rescue’s email or email to arrange for a drop off or pick up of donations. Cheques can be mailed to Bayfield’s Forgotten Felines, P.O. Box 33, Bayfield, ON, N0M 1G0.

TASTE OF HURON OFFERS MANY WAYS TO SAVOR LOCAL FOOD AND DRINK

Taste of Huron logo

Taste of Huron invites Huron County residents and visitors to support local farmers, producers, suppliers and chefs as they savor the flavor of local food and drink this October.

“Participants are sure to feel good about celebrating the Huron Harvest at several events while enjoying the food we grow, produce and prepare,” said Project Coordinator Karen Stewart.

The following is a full lineup of activities from Oct. 7-23 at locations across the County.

The Taste of Huron Night Market will be held on The Courthouse Square in Goderich on Friday, Oct. 7 from 4-8 p.m. The evening market will include vendors, food and drink, music and family-fun entertainment including a free magic show, art installation and more, all presented in an atmosphere of community celebration.

Saturday, Oct. 8, Taste of Huron brings special programming to the Goderich Farmers’ Market, Thanksgiving Edition. Cooking demonstrations by chefs and a cookbook author will highlight locally-sourced ingredients.

Participating farm-to-table restaurants from across the County will feature their own unique in-house menu options through Taste of Huron’s “Huron Harvest Tables” dining program.  Prix Fixe, three-course menus, for $55, will be available throughout the 10 days of this program, Oct. 13 – 23. Suggested pairings with local wine and beer products will also be available at each site.

Restaurants taking part in the dining program are: Cowbell Brewing Co., Blyth; Eddington’s of Exeter, Part II Bistro, Goderich; The Lake House of Bayfield, The Little Inn of Bayfield, Bayfield Brewing Company’s Public House.; Black Dog Pub and Bistro, Bayfield; and The White Squirrel Restaurant, Zurich.

Taste of Huron’s Oktoberfest on Ontario’s West Coast, a Bavarian celebration, kicks off Friday, Oct. 14 at the Exeter Farmers’ Market.  Walter Ostanek (Canada’s Polka King) will set the tone during a concert from 4-6 p.m., while market-goers enjoy samples from local wineries and breweries, as well as traditional German sausage paired with mustard and sauerkraut. Then, on Saturday, Oct. 15, three farm visits are supplemented with opportunities for learning and fun through Eat Local Huron’s “Farm Crawl” (a pay-what-you-can activity).

The participating farms are Trick’s Creek Farm, Clinton; Farm Little, Bayfield and Cedar Villa Angus Farms, Zurich.

Oktoberfest continues when five wineries and five breweries in Huron County serve as stops along the “Vine & Ale Trail” on the weekend of Oct. 15-16. Aside from offering samples of their in-house beer and/or wine, each brewery and winery will be paired with a local food truck, restaurant or caterer allowing visitors a taste of delicious bite-sized fare on tasting plates featuring locally grown and produced ingredients. Entertainment will be available at each site to enhance the atmosphere and participants may travel via self-guided driving tours or by a free shuttle service available first-come, first-served from four sites within the County (Blyth, Goderich, Bayfield and Exeter). The Vine and Ale Trail runs both Saturday and Sunday from 1- 5 p.m. Passports are valid for samples at three sites either day.

Participating Breweries are: Bayfield Brewing Co.; Bad Apple Brewing Company, Bayfield; River Road Brewing and Hops, Bayfield; Square Brew, Goderich; and Cowbell Brewing Co, Blyth. Wineries taking part are: Maelstrom Winery, Seaforth; East Street Cider Co, Goderich; Dark Horse Estate Winery, Grand Bend; Hessenland Inn and Shatz Winery, St Joseph; and Cornerfield Wine Company, Bayfield.

The Bavarian bonanza continues Saturday night (Oct. 15) with R’oktoberfest, an open-air concert featuring Bif Naked and Coleman Hell at River Road Brewing and Hops at 6:30 pm. Gemütlichkeit!

Taste of Huron wraps up with an information sharing and networking opportunity for Huron County producers, growers and chefs. “ Bounty of the County”, a B2B industry event will be held in Clinton at the Libro Community Hall on Oct. 19.

For more information about all these fabulous events and ticket links, please visit tasteofhuron.com.

Taste of Huron is coordinated through a Huron Community Futures and Huron County Economic Development partnership.

PERMITTED HUNTING ALLOWED IN DESIGNATED FORESTS

The days are getting shorter but the public use of Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) properties continues to be strong and will even increase with the beginning of fall hunting seasons.

ABCA is the largest single owner of forests in the watershed. The forests have been acquired over the past 60 years for protection of water, soil, and habitat but they are important passive recreation areas for thousands of citizens as well. When people purchase a Hunting Permit, they are permitted to hunt at certain ABCA properties designated as Conservation Forests where hunting is permitted. Many of these properties are multi-use, and ABCA urges property users to be aware of hunting seasons that may be open during their visits. Hunting is not permitted at any of ABCA’s properties categorized as Conservation Areas. Hunting is also prohibited at L-Lake Management Area in Port Franks and Linfield Wildlife Area near Varna.

“The hunting permit system offered by ABCA provides an opportunity for individuals and families to spend time outdoors, where hunting is permitted with a Hunting Permit,” said ABCA’s Manager of Stewardship and Lands, Nathan Schoelier. “Regardless of the permitted recreational activity, it is important that property users are aware of, and respect, property boundaries; follow all rules and regulations that may apply; and that they respect other property users to ensure that everyone is able to spend time in nature, in a safe and enjoyable manner.”

Hunters can purchase an annual permit which applies to a section of properties such as Hay Swamp or a Super Permit which allows them to hunt on all the properties where hunting is allowed. They can choose an annual permit or a three-year permit. People must respect neighboring landowners, follow all applicable legislation, and provide proof of $2 million insurance in order to receive a Hunting Permit for hunting. This insurance is usually provided through their membership with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters.

For maps of areas where hunting, with a purchased Hunting Permit, is permitted, and those areas where hunting is not permitted, visit the abca.ca website at this link: Hunting. The Hunting Permit application form is also located on this page.

For more detailed property boundaries, please visit the ABCA website at: Mapping Portal. 

ABCA does not receive government funding to cover the costs of property management and stewardship on their conservation lands so Hunting Permit fees help to cover costs of property ownership such as property taxes, signs, and inspections. Schoelier said he wishes to remind people that off-road vehicles such as all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), side-by-sides and dirt bikes are strictly prohibited on all ABCA properties, and all properties managed by ABCA.

RATEPAYERS’ ASSOCIATION ORGANIZES DEPUTY MAYOR CANDIDATES MEETING

All across the province voters will be going to the polling stations to elect Municipal Officials for the next four year term on Oct. 24.

In the Municipality of Bluewater, there are positions for one Mayor, one Deputy Mayor and seven Ward Councillors. Two thirds of these candidates have been acclaimed to their positions this election.

“In Bayfield, Bill Whetstone has already been acclaimed as our Ward Councilor and Paul Klopp has been acclaimed as Mayor of Bluewater. This leaves only the Deputy Mayor and French School Board Trustee positions open for Bayfield Ward constituents to decide,” said Brian King, a director with the Bayfield Ratepayers’ Association (BRA).

Along with Klopp and Whetstone, Scott Harris, Hensall; Peter Walden Stanley East; Joseph K. Groot, Hay East; and Tyler Hessel, Hay West have all been acclaimed to their seats around the council table until the next election in 2026.

“This may seem like a ‘who cares at this point’ moment but be aware that every vote counts at Bluewater Council and Huron County Council so it is important that we elect a Deputy Mayor who is favorable to Bayfield issues and concerns and will help us all to achieve our goals for Bayfield. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor represent you on Huron County Council,” said King.

Two candidates are contesting the Deputy Mayor position: John Becker and Alwyn Vanden Berg. Both currently on council Becker representing Hay East and Vanden Berg, Hay West.

The BRA are inviting voters to attend a Deputy Mayor Candidates Meeting on Saturday, Oct. 8, starting at 10 a.m. in the Bayfield Community Centre, to hear from these two candidates for Deputy Mayor of Bluewater.

“Find out who will support Bayfield at Bluewater and Huron Councils. There is significant importance of voting for the position of Deputy Mayor. There are nine members on Bluewater Council, including seven Ward Councillors. Since our Ward Councillor has only one of these votes, the Deputy Mayor could cast the deciding vote on any issue affecting Bayfield,” explained King. “In addition the Deputy Mayor will be one of two Bluewater representatives on Huron County Council.

“More of your taxes go to the County levy than to Bluewater and Huron County Council has the final word on many important issues affecting the Municipality including Planning and Zoning direction and setting the County budget. The quality of Deputy Mayor is critical to everyone’s interest.”

There are two other races in the municipality. In Zurich, incumbent Shawn LaPorte is being opposed by Winona Bailey and in the Stanley West Ward, Councilor George Irvin is being challenged by newcomer Greg Lamport.

Positions on the Huron Perth Catholic District School Board and Avon Maitland District School Board were filled by acclamation. Races are being run for the French Public and French Separate School Board Trustee positions.

David O’Hara and Joseph Vandermeer are competing for the French Public spot while Sylvie Barbeau-Chmielewski and Meghan Reale are opposing each other for the French Separate position.

Canadian citizens who are 18 years of age and are residents, owners or tenants of property, including campgrounds, can vote in Ontario’s upcoming municipal and school board elections.

The Municipality of Bluewater Election will be conducted using internet and telephone voting. Voter cards will be mailed out this week to all registered voters in  the municipality.  The cards will also include a special code to allow people to vote either by e-mail or telephone. People can confirm that they are registered at Voter Look Up.

The voting period will open on Oct. 11 at 9 a.m. and will close on Oct. 24 at 8 p.m.

Visit the municipal website at www.municipalityofbluewater.ca for more information.  Anyone with questions regarding the municipal election, should contact the municipal office at 519 236-4351.

“Of all the elections held in Canada the Municipal Election is the one that affects us all most personally, at the local level. Remember, it’s about your local issues, your local taxes and your future,” concluded King.