Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall
Weather forecast for Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Today – Sunny this morning then a mix of sun and cloud with 40 percent chance of showers this afternoon. Risk of a thunderstorm this afternoon. Fog patches dissipating this morning. High 19. UV index 5 or moderate.
Tonight – Partly cloudy with 40 percent chance of showers. Risk of a thunderstorm this evening. Fog patches developing after midnight. Low 9.
Hundreds respond to CK rental housing survey
More than 250 Chatham-Kent residents have responded to a survey concerning the future of rental residential housing in the community as the municipality prepares for public meetings next week.
“We’ve been pleased by the response so far but we’re still reaching out to get as much input from as many people as possible,” said Chatham-Kent Department Leader of Legislative Services John Norton. “The information we gather will form the basis for how we proceed with issues such as zoning so it is important to make your views known.”
The Legislative Services Team has prepared an online survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LodgingHouseRoomRental and is holding community meetings as it examines rental housing, room rentals, and boarding and lodging houses.
In conducting the review, Legislative Services is considering possible amendments to the provisions of the Zoning By-law which may impact these types of rental accommodations.
The public meetings will be held Wednesday, Sept 6 in council chambers at the Civic Centre and Thursday, Sept. 7 at the RDC Pioneer Lecture Theatre, Ridgetown College.
Both session begin at 6 p.m. and are scheduled for two hours.
Norton said he wants to hear from all segments of the community including landlords, tenants, students, migrant workers and neighbours of rental properties.
“An important part of this review is to consult widely with the public,” said Chatham-Kent Chief Legal Officer John Norton. “”o name just a few, I hope we will hear from many. Opportunity for public comment will be through an online survey and two public meetings taking place in September 2017.”
The survey is online now and paper copies are available at all municipal service centres for those who don’t have Internet access. The survey will be active until Sept. 15.
Construction delayed for nightly closure of Pegley Pedestrian Tunnel
Construction regarding the permanent nightly closure of the Pegley Court walking tunnel – located underneath the Lacroix Street bridge in Chatham along the north side of the Thames River – has been delayed.
Commencement of construction to fully enclose both the east and west access points to the pedestrian tunnel, complete with a lockable gate centred on each opening, was originally scheduled to be complete by September 1, but procurement delays have caused the Municipality of Chatham-Kent’s Public Works Department to postpone construction.
The new anticipated date for completion of construction is September 22.
The nightly gated closure proposed from 7 p.m. to approximately 7 a.m. will commence on a daily basis on approximately Monday, September 25 to increase neighbourhood safety and limit suspicious activity.
Additionally, the nightly closure of the walking tunnel which channels off of the Pegley Court parking lot west of CKHA’s Chatham Campus raises the overall safety of the hospital’s staff, physicians, volunteers, patients and visitors.
United Way campaign kick-off on Friday
The United Way Chatham-Kent is kicking-off their 2017 Fundraising Campaign, with a special event on Friday at The Kent 1874, located at 124 William Street South in Chatham.
Tickets are $20, which includes dinner and your first drink, and will be featuring the musical talents of Tom Lockwood at 7 p.m., followed by the band Rock Steady at 8 p.m.
Doors open at 6 p.m.
The campaign goal will be released at around 8 p.m.
Tickets are available at the United Way offices in Chatham, Wallaceburg, and Tilbury, Betty Brite Dry Cleaners, Musical Strings & Things, Hip Entertainment, online at TheKent1874.com/tickets.html or at the door.
Library giving away books
Chatham-Kent Public Library is giving away copies of Bad Shot, local author Sylvia Taekema’s newest novel.
Between September 5 and September 30, you can visit any branch of CKPL to enter to win a copy.
Bad Shot follows Cody, a 12-year-old basketball player, as he deals with bullying, develops self-reliance, and hones his basketball skills in a fictional version of Chatham. Bad Shot addresses topics of performance anxiety, socioeconomic status, depression, and bullying.
You can find Taekema’s other novels, Seconds and Ripple Effect, by visiting search.ckpl.ca.
To find out more about programs and events at Chatham-Kent Public Library, visit www.ckpl.ca.
Ontario taking measures to battle opioid crisis
Ontario is providing urgent relief to those affected by the opioid crisis, including adding more front-line harm-reduction workers, expanding the supply of naloxone, and creating new rapid access addiction clinics in every region of the province.
Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, and Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, were at St. Michael’s Hospital recently to announce that the province is investing more than $222 million over three years to enhance Ontario’s Strategy to Prevent Opioid Addiction and Overdose.
“The devastating impact of opioid use disorder and overdose has reached every community in Ontario, and crosses all demographics,” Hoskins stated in a press release.
“Our government has been working closely with partners across the province to combat this urgent issue for more than a year, and we are continuing to strengthen our strategy and increase harm reduction, addiction treatment and other supports. It is through this collaborative, evidence-based and comprehensive approach that we will be able to effectively address this crisis and save lives.”
These new investments, which build on previous commitments and will help ensure people with opioid addictions have access to holistic supports that address the full spectrum of needs, include:
– Adding more front-line harm-reduction workers across the province
– Expanding the supply of naloxone, including more access for at-risk individuals by distributing the overdose reversal drug through emergency departments, and exploring more opportunities to make nasal spray naloxone available to people in Ontario
– Expanding Rapid Access Addiction Medicine Clinics across the province, which provide people with immediate and ongoing addiction treatment, counselling and other mental health supports and boosting access to community-based withdrawal management services and addictions programs
– Expanding proven harm-reduction services, such as needle exchange programs and supervised injection sites.
“We are updating and expanding our strategy as the opioid crisis evolves,” Williams stated.
“By providing local communities with the tools they need, we are equipping them to help each and every Ontarian in a personalized and informed way. Short-term solutions are not enough — we are committed to this journey for the long-term.”
Additional new and expanded initiatives include:
– Partnering with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health to expand addictions treatment and care provided in family health teams across the province
– Collaborating with the Ontario College of Family Physicians to mentor health care providers on appropriate prescribing of opioids for pain management and treating patients with addiction
– Working with Indigenous communities to enhance culturally appropriate mental health and wellness programs and funding for new or expanded Indigenous Mental Health and Addictions Treatment and Healing Centres
– Developing addictions treatment and services targeted to the unique needs of youth
– Improving data collection and monitoring to support early warning activities.
More facts:
– With these new and additional investments, and the government’s commitment to invest $20 million annually in Ontario’s Chronic Pain Network, over the next three years Ontario is investing more than $280 million to combat the opioid crisis in Ontario.
– Beginning this fall, Ontario is investing an additional $222 million over three years to fight the opioid crisis, including over $15 million to support health care providers on appropriate pain management and opioid prescribing; over $7.6 million to increase addictions treatment in primary care; $70 million on long-term support for people who have addiction disorders; $9 million to add more front-line harm-reduction outreach workers in communities across the province; and, beginning in 2018-19, $20 million over two years for specialized support for Indigenous communities and developmentally appropriate care for youth.
– Previously announced initiatives in Ontario’s Strategy to Prevent Opioid Addiction and Overdose include initiatives to modernize opioid prescribing and monitoring, help people in pain get appropriate treatment, and improve the safety and health of people who are addicted to opioids.
– The updated Opioid Strategy incorporates feedback from broad public consultations with health care providers, professional associations and colleges, academics, front-line workers, and people who use drugs and their friends and families.
– The province’s 10-year funding agreement with the federal government will also help to support this plan.
Photo of the day
Awesome photo taken by Staci Modde, owner of Wallaceburg Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic, out at Mitchell’s Bay. Beautiful!
World news
Hurricane Irma makes its first landfall in the Caribbean
Hurricane Irma intensifies to an ‘extremely dangerous’ category 5
Australian government defends marriage equality vote in High Court
Reactions pour in following the decision to wind down DACA
Antidepressant drugs traced in Great Lakes fish
Over 100,000 people displaced by flooding in Nigeria
Giant fireball lights up the sky above BC and Alberta ☄️
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.
