Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall
Splash Pad committee requesting loan
The Wallaceburg Splash Pad committee is set to be in front of Municipal council this evening, with the hope of wrapping up their pre-construction fundraising efforts.
Chatham-Kent staff is recommending an interest free loan in the amount of $50,000 be given to the group for the development of a splash pad at Colwell Park in Wallaceburg.
Staff is recommending that the loan be repaid over a five-year period at the rate of $10,000 per year.
The committee has already raised $120,000 through community fund raising initiatives and pledged funds, a staff report says. The committee is close to their target and do not want to wait for another summer
before the residents of the community can enjoy the benefits of the splash pad.
The group is hoping to have the Splash Pad Request for Proposal advertised and awarded soon, so the splash pad can be built and operational by July 1, 2017.
Council is set to vote on the recommendation at the combined regular and planning meeting being held tonight (Monday, April 24) at the Civic Centre in Chatham.
The meeting gets underway at 6 p.m.
Water does wonders
Over 8,000 students in Lambton and Chatham-Kent have participated in “Water Does Wonders Month.”
Super Kids CK officilals say 20 elementary schools in Lambton and 10 elementary schools in Chatham-Kent participated in Water Does Wonders Month which challenged students to bring reusable water bottles to school as a way of encouraging healthy drink choices. Over 8,000 students were provided with water bottles, and qualifying schools received funding for new physical activity equipment after completing the challenge. Throughout the month, students learned about the health benefits of drinking water and the importance of drinking fewer sugar-sweetened beverages to help them be healthy.
General feedback from teachers about Water Does Wonders Month activities included very high enthusiasm and role-modeling amongst students, and significantly more traffic around school water fountains. Some teachers even overheard participating students analyzing and comparing drink labels during their lunch periods, Super Kids CK officilals say.
When asked about her overall impression of the initiative, the Principal at St. Michael Catholic School, Mrs. Knight said, “The Water Does Wonders challenge was very well-received by our staff and students! Our students were engaged and gained a deep and purposeful understanding of the importance of choosing water over other beverages. The learning and inquiry that happened in our classrooms out of this fun challenge was fantastic and we are so thankful to Super Kids CK for taking the initiative to educate our students on this important health issue.”
Water Does Wonders is an initiative of the Healthy Kids Community Challenge, which works to link organizations from different sectors in the community to promote the health of children aged 12 years and under.
The Ontario government chooses themes which focus on encouraging and empowering parents and children to make healthier choices.
The last nine months have focused on promoting water as the beverage of choice to quench thirst. Schools throughout Chatham-Kent and Lambton jumped at the chance to be part of the theme.
130,000 trees on order this spring
The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LTVCA) is gearing up for another full season with 130,000 seedlings this spring. Tree delivery is next week from Sommerville, and Pineneedle nurseries. Thirty-two private land projects will be completed. Additionally, 40 acres of tall grass prairie plantings, and 15 wetland restorations will also be completed. 200 landowners are registered to receive trees with purchases of 10 to 5,000 trees.
Successful winter stewardship evenings raised awareness and promoted new partnership for stewardship projects and included one at Country View Golf Course in Chatham-Kent with guest speaker Mathis Natvik and another at the Middlesex Federation of Agriculture Hall in Mount Brydges. Programs were also advertised with highway signage, social media and website postings. LTVCA’s popular free tree give-away was fully registered in just two days and was set to be the highlight of their Earth Day Celebrations.
“Trees provide habitat and shade; they help to clean our air and water and they protect the soil which promotes water infiltration and reduces erosion and flooding,” LTVCA officials say.
“Tree cover is especially important in large blocks or along natural streams or riparian areas, as a vital element to ecosystems. Enhancing and maintaining forest cover slows climate warming and assists with adaptation by preventing the release and improving the capture of CO2 from the atmosphere. Most importantly, trees go a long way in helping us reduce phosphorus levels flowing off the land into our streams, rivers and lakes.”
If you have a suggestion, story idea, column idea, or if you want to say hello… drop me an e-mail at aaron@sydenhamcurrent.ca.
Photos of the day
April Tuininga sent in these photos of her son Jude enjoying the brand new playground equipment at Colwell Park in Wallaceburg. The equipment was installed recently, and opened up to the public last week. The site will be the future home of the Wallaceburg Splash Pad as well.
Weather forecast for Monday, April 24, 2017
Today – Sunny. Wind becoming east 20 km/h this morning. High 19 except 13 near Lake Erie. UV index 7 or high.
Tonight – Clear this evening then partly cloudy with 30 percent chance of showers before morning. Wind east 20 km/h becoming light this evening. Low 10.
World news
Macron and Le Pen head for French election runoff
AP publishes ‘Trump at 100 days’ transcript
American detained in North Korea, Swedish Embassy confirms
Happy Days actress Erin Moran dies at 56, reports say
French consulate in New York evacuated after reported bomb threat
More than 100 soldiers feared dead after attack on Afghan military base
