Thank a bus driver, ‘Budget Talks’, upcoming events

Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall

Weather forecast from Friday, October 13, 2017 to Sunday, October 15, 2017

Today – Mainly cloudy. 30 percent chance of drizzle this morning. Clearing this afternoon. Wind becoming southwest 20 km/h near noon. High 20. Humidex 25. UV index 4 or moderate.

Tonight – A few clouds. Increasing cloudiness overnight. Low 13.

Saturday, October 14 – Cloudy with 30 percent chance of showers. High 21. Humidex 25.

Saturday night – Cloudy periods. Low 16.

Sunday, October 15 – Cloudy with 60 percent chance of showers. Windy. High 22.

Sunday night – Cloudy periods. Low 6.

Upcoming events:

– The Chatham-Kent Fall Home & Leisure Show is taking place this weekend in support of the Foundation of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. Admission to the show at the John D. Bradley Convention Centre is $4 per person. The show takes place on Friday from 4 p.m to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will feature vendors and members of the Chatham-Kent Home Builders Association.

– DNR Outdoor Power Equipment is celebrating their 3rd Anniversary on Saturday, October 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
They will be holding an open house, sales bonanza and a FREE barbecue as part of the celebrations. People will have a chance to win a $250 gift certificate.

– A Quarter Auction is being held at the Old Czech Hall in Dresden on Saturday in support of C-K Animal Rescue. Specifically, to help with the care of animals in the foster program, emergency surgeries, vaccinations, and spay and neuter medications. The auction runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and features only one and two quarter bids.

– Looking ahead to next week, the Women Helping Women group is holding a meeting and dinner on October 19 at Country View Golf Course. The group is made up of local women who come together to learn about, advocate for and support women and girls in developing countries. For more information contact Gert at 519-358-5374.

– The Wallaceburg-Walpole Island First Nation Health Coalition is inviting the public to a consultation meeting on public hospital reform. The meeting is being held at the Royal Canadian Legion Br. 18 in Wallaceburg on Thursday, October 19, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

– The annual Fashion Show, in support of the Wallaceburg and District Museum, is taking place on Thursday, October 19 at The Clubhouse at Baldoon. The event will be an elegant evening of fashion, wine and hors d’oeuvres. Advanced tickets are required, the cost is $25, and they can be purchased at the Museum.

– The Wallaceburg and District Museum is holding their annual ‘Haunted Museum’ once again this year. The show itself will be on October 21st and 28th from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., however there are some opportunities to help the group prepare for the event ahead of time during some decorating days. Contact Myrna Jewell at glasstownplayers@gmail.com for more details.

CLASS Celebrates National School Bus Safety Week and Bus Driver Appreciation Day

Chatham-Kent Lambton Administrative School Services (CLASS) is urging children and parents to say a special ‘thank you’ to the many dedicated bus drivers, who ensure students arrive safely at school every day.

CLASS is a consortium which provides bus transportation each day to more than 17,000 students of the St. Clair Catholic and Lambton Kent district school boards, across Sarnia-Lambton and Chatham-Kent.

National School Bus Safety Week is held every year throughout North America during the third week of October.

“This annual observance is a great opportunity for each of us to recognize the important work of our school bus drivers and operators,” says Kent Orr, CLASS General Manager.

“We ask that our students and parents join us in showing our appreciation to the women and men who keep our students safe on the ride to school and back home every day.”

School Bus Driver Appreciation Day, which is also a nationally recognized observance, falls on Wednesday, October 18, 2017.

Author coming to Chatham Library

As a part of CKPL’s National Novel Writing Month celebrations, the Chatham-Kent Public Library is hosting a writing workshop and book talk with author Jaqueline Garlick.

People are invited on Wednesday, November 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Chatham Branch as Jaqueline offers tips for surviving and succeeding during National Novel Writing Month. Jacqueline will also be discussing her latest books, Soleil and Tick Tock Plot: How to Speed Write the Next Blockbuster eBook. Copies of both books will be available for purchase at the program.

The program is free and open to everyone. Registration is not required.

Jacqueline Garlick is the author of the young adult steampunk trilogy The Illumination Paradox and the young adult contemporary romance/thriller If Only series. Jacqueline received a 2013 LYRA award and Indie B.R.A.G medallion for Lumiere, the first book in The Illumination Paradox series. Jacqueline has recently published several books on writing and is currently working on two novels for adults.

To find out more about programs and events at Chatham-Kent Public Library, visit www.ckpl.ca.

Share your ideas for the 2018 Ontario budget

Ontario launched Budget Talks this week, an online consultation that allows the public to help shape policies and programs that will be part of Ontario’s future.

The government will provide up to $5 million to fund up to five proposals identified and voted on by the public as part of the 2018 Budget.

Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance, and Yvan Baker, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance, made the announcement in Toronto.

This is the fourth year in a row the government has engaged the public in the development of the Ontario budget through Budget Talks, and the second year that funding will be allocated directly to citizen-led proposals.

“Innovation is the driver of good policy,” Sousa said in a press release.

“The ideas brought to life through Budget Talks have shaped policies that are delivering results for people in communities across the province. Each year, we look forward to tapping into the skills and experiences of Ontario’s best and brightest as we deliver on the priorities that make a real difference in people’s lives.”

Through Ontario.ca/budgettalks, people are invited to share ideas on five focus areas, including child care, seniors, small business, students and healthy living.

To be eligible, proposals must:

– Be submitted online by midnight on November 3, 2017

– Be for a new fund, pilot project, study, event or digital service

– Fall within the scope of the Ontario government to deliver

– Help support one of the five focus areas outlined on Budget Talks

– Require a one-time investment of no more than $1 million

– Show progress or completion by spring 2019

– Engaging the people of Ontario in the budget process is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.

“Ontario is making it easier for more people to get involved in developing our plan to grow our economy and support programs that they rely on,” Baker stated.

“Budget Talks is an innovative online consultation that provides people with a unique opportunity to engage with their government and their communities.”

More details:

– In January 2018, people will be able to comment and vote on ideas generated during the first phase of Budget Talks.

– In 2017, people submitted 404 ideas, wrote 923 comments and casted 19,229 votes as part of Budget Talks. Reducing and preventing food waste, improving digital services for libraries and accessing digitized health data were the three ideas that received the most public votes and were included in the 2017 Budget. View the project tracker to follow our progress, as we work to implement the ideas.

– Ontario is the first province to commit to funding ideas from the public as part of its budget.

Photo of the day