‘Little Free Library’ at CKHA, 3RiversRoll, Author Festival

Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall

Weather forecast for Thursday, August 17, 2017

Today – Cloudy. Showers beginning this morning. Risk of a thunderstorm. Wind becoming southeast 20 km/h gusting to 40 this morning. High 27. Humidex 37. UV index 3 or moderate.

Tonight – Showers ending near midnight then mainly cloudy. Risk of a thunderstorm this evening. Wind southwest 20 km/h becoming light near midnight. Low 21.

Andrew Tompsett (L) and Lori Marshall, President and CEO, celebrate the arrival of the custom-made library donated by the Tompsett family (CKHA)

Little Free Library donated to CKHA

Patients, families and visitors at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) will now be able to borrow or exchange a book at the Little Free Library located in the patient registration lobby of the Chatham Campus.

Little Free Libraries have inspired citizens around the globe to exchange books, build community and use their creativity to design these neighbourhood libraries.

The Tompsetts – a local family from Chatham-Kent – have donated a custom-made Little Free Library to the hospital as a thank you to staff, physicians and volunteers.

“It’s our way to give something back to a hospital that helped us over the past few years to bring two wonderful children into the world,” said Andrew Tompsett in a press release.

“We have been looking for a way to say ‘thank you’ to the nurses, doctors, and everyone who helped my family grow a little bigger. The idea of a Little Free Library just seemed like a great way to do it.”

The Little Free Library will make reading material available for anyone who wishes to take a book. These unique libraries come in various shapes and sizes – the one donated to CKHA has space for a wide variety of reading material for people of all ages. Anyone is welcome to take a book or bring a book to share.

“I’d like to thank the Tompsett family for their thoughtful contribution to our organization,” said Lori Marshall, President and CEO. “The addition of the Little Free Library will enhance the patient experience by offering free reading material to both inpatients and outpatients, as well as their families and friends.”

For more information on Little Free Libraries, visit: www.littlefreelibrary.org.

CKPL seeking local writers for Author Festival

Calling all Chatham-Kent authors!

The Chatham-Kent Public Library is inviting local authors to attend for the Read Local: CK Author Festival this November.

The Read Local: CK Author Festival will be held at the Chatham Branch on Saturday, November 4 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The Read Local: CK Author Festival will be an opportunity for Chatham-Kent authors to meet readers and aspiring writers, connect with other local authors and to promote and sell their books.

Anyone from Chatham-Kent who has written and published a book, in print or as an ebook, is welcome to apply.

Due to space limitations, all authors are asked to submit an application to be considered for this event.

Authors that have participated in past Read Local: CK Author Festival events are welcome to apply however preference will be given to authors who have not participated in an event before.

The application can be found on the Read Local: CK Author Festival page at www.ckpl.ca.

Applications are due by Friday, September 15.

Authors can also contact the library for more information at 519-354-2940.

Invasive species awareness

Ontario continues to combat invasive plants and animals in order to protect the environment and allow people across the province to continue to enjoy rivers, lakes, parks and other green spaces.

Kathryn McGarry, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry and Jeff Leal, MPP for Peterborough, were in Peterborough this week to announce a number of new investments in programs to combat invasive species.

New investments this year include:

– Support for the Invasive Species Centre’s work to further research into new biological control agents for phragmites and dog-strangling vine

– Additional support for the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) Invading Species Awareness Program – which is marking its 25th anniversary – to strengthen the reporting invading species hotline, online tracking system and mobile application, management and eradication of water soldier in the Trent-Severn Waterway as well as public outreach initiatives

– New funding for the Ontario Invasive Plant Council so they can engage municipalities in the development of municipal invasive plant management strategies

– Support for the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations and their work with lake front property owners to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, including A Shoreline Owner’s Guide to Invasive Species

“Over the past 25 years Ontario has had many successful initiatives that have helped to contain and prevent the spread of invasive species in our province, including Zebra Busters and Operation Bait Bucket,” McGarry stated in a press release.

“Through working with our partners, our government is asking people across Ontario to continue to help us protect our ecosystem by keeping your garden free from invasive plants, using only local wood for your campfire and remembering to clean, drain and dry your boat when moving it between waterbodies.”

Government officials say Ontario will continue to support the successful implementation of the Invasive Species Act and regulation through public education and working with neighbouring jurisdictions.

Creating awareness of invasive species and protecting our environment is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.

More details:

– For 2016-17, Ontario is investing $1.6 million in invasive species partnerships.

– Ontario provides annual support to the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters to deliver the Invading Species Awareness Program to track invasive species sightings and provide public education and outreach.

– Invasive species often out-compete native species for food and take over their habitats, threatening both the environment and economy.

– In 2016, Ontario prohibited and restricted 19 invasive species to prevent their arrival, control their spread in the province and protect the environment.

– Sightings of invasive species can be reported using the interactive application at EDDMaps.org/Ontario or by calling the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711.

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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.

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