Home James, ‘Room at the Inn’, events, Conservation Act

Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall

Weather forecast from Friday, December 15, 2017 to Sunday, December 17, 2017

Today – Cloudy with 60 percent chance of flurries. Wind becoming southwest 30 km/h gusting to 50 this morning. High minus 4.

Tonight – Mainly cloudy. 60 percent chance of flurries early this evening. Wind southwest 30 km/h gusting to 50. Low minus 6.

Saturday, December 16 – Cloudy. A few flurries beginning early in the morning and ending in the afternoon. Wind west 20 km/h becoming light early in the morning. High minus 3.

Saturday night – Cloudy periods. Low minus 4.

Sunday, December 17 – Cloudy with 40 percent chance of flurries or rain showers. High plus 2.

Sunday night – Cloudy with 60 percent chance of flurries or rain showers. Low plus 1.

Home James will get you home safe

Do you have a family or work Christmas party this weekend?

Well, if you decide to have a few drinks… don’t get behind the wheel of your vehicle and drive, call Home James instead.

Call 519-351-3353 and Home James will send out their volunteers, who will drive your vehicle home for you… anywhere in Chatham-Kent.

They are operating every Friday and Saturday night until the end of the year, with New Year’s Eve being their final night of the season.

In its five years of operation, Home James has donated over $50,000 to local youth groups in Chatham-Kent.

Visit homejames-ck.ca for more details.

Upcoming events

– The Thamesville Santa Claus Parade is being held on Friday night. The parade gets started at 7 p.m.

– The Salvation Army Christmas kettles will be out in Wallaceburg until December 23. They will also be out in Chatham and Ridgetown until then as well.

– The inaugural HO! HO! Crafts and Vendors Show is taking place on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Moose Lodge in Wallaceburg. They will be having over 25 vendors to browse through. Entrance fee is a canned good or a donation, but if you don`t bring one, no problem. All donations will be given to the Salvation Army food bank in Wallaceburg.

– The Sarnia Police are setting up at Lambton Mall for the 5th annual Holiday Hero Cram a Cruiser event. They will be set up inside the mall from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a cruiser near the atrium of Toys R Us.

– Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MP Bev Shipley is holding a Christmas open house in Wallaceburg at The Clubhouse at Baldoon on Tuesday, December 19 from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to join Bev, his wife wife Barb and his staff for an afternoon of socializing and treats.

– Magical Storytime, Abracadabra! Is taking place at the Wallaceburg Library on December 19 at 6 p.m. It is recommended forchildren ages 2 to 6. Children can enjoy stories, songs, fingerplays and magic tricks. Drop in and have some fun.

FREE ‘Room at the Inn’ program being offered

The Chatham Comfort Inn located at 1100 Richmond Street is once again offering their “Room at the Inn” program in keeping with the spirit of the holiday season.

“Room at the Inn” provides complimentary accommodations to those from outside of the immediate Municipality of Chatham-Kent who are visiting friends or loved ones at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance over the holidays.

Reservations must be made directly with Admitting Department personnel of the Alliance at 519-352-6400.

The “Room at the Inn” program is offered from December 24 up to and including December 26.

“Being away from home during the Christmas season may not be a choice,” stated Sheila Bateman, General Manager of the Comfort Inn.

“We offer these accommodations to help bring families together during the holidays. It can be a difficult time when a family member is ill. Getting a good night’s sleep is most helpful for patients’ families. The hotel is only a few minutes drive away.”

Guestrooms feature free in-room coffee service, free wireless Internet service, complimentary hot breakfast, and all rooms have refrigerators and microwaves.

The Comfort Inn, completely renovated in 2016, provides easy access to a variety of restaurants and services in Chatham, as well as an in-house fitness room.

New Conservation Authorities Act passes

Conservation Authorities are pleased to see the province “take a bold step” to ensure more resiliency across Ontario watersheds through the passage of Bill 139 which includes a new Conservation Authorities Act (CA Act).

Conservation Ontario officials say the modernizing of this 1946 legislation provides the foundation for Conservation Authorities to strengthen their watershed management role and also develop a more defined role around climate change adaptation.

“The new Conservation Authorities Act signals to us that the Province wants to work more closely with Conservation Authorities and we’re very pleased with that,” stated Dick Hibma, the Chair of Conservation Ontario, in a press release.

“Conservation Authorities are very cost-efficient, capable partners. They already have quite a close working relationship with many provincial ministries which is critical to addressing the economic, environmental and social impacts of climate change and other issues.”

Conservation Ontario is the umbrella organization that represents Conservation Authorities.

Through their monitoring and watershed management programs, Conservation Authorities see the growing impacts of climate change in Ontario’s watersheds on a daily basis.

This includes more frequent flooding, stressed biodiversity, and reduced water levels and flow in streams and rivers.

The Conservation Authorities Act has been under review for two years and has received input from a wide range of sectors including environment, industry, agriculture and municipalities.

The modernized legislation recognizes watershed management as a key tool in helping Ontario to adapt to the impacts of issues such as rapid growth and climate change.

Some of the key changes to the Conservation Authorities Act includes:

– Establishment of a service delivery review table

– Development of a more defined role around climate change adaptation

– Greater transparency and accountability of conservation authorities

– Modernized funding mechanisms

“We look forward to continuing to work closely with the Province to develop and shape the evolving role of Conservation Authorities in managing impacts on Ontario’s natural resources, including important drinking water sources,” Hibma said.

Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities play a central role in the restoration, conservation and management of our important water and land resources and do so in partnership with many different agricultural, environmental, municipal, and other agencies.

Caring for your reproductive health: Cervical screening

The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit says cervical screening is more commonly called a “Pap test” or a Papanicolaou test and is a procedure that removes a small sample of cells from the cervix (the passageway between the vagina and uterus). These cells are examined under a microscope to determine whether they appear to be normal.

Abnormal cells will require follow up, which can include a repeat pap test in several months, colposcopy, or treatment. Colposcopy allows for a closer examination of the cervix to determine the best course of action. Treatment can be offered in order to remove the abnormal cells. If left untreated, abnormal cells can lead to pre-cancerous or cancerous conditions.

Cervical screening should be done for all individuals with a cervix starting at age 21 if they have been sexually active. This includes women who have sex with women, transgender men who have retained their cervix, as well as women who have had had a subtotal hysterectomy (if they still have a cervix). It can be completed during pregnancy if it is time for a repeat test.

Those with a history of normal pap tests should have their pap screening repeated every three years, however anyone with abnormal pap results in the past will require more regular screening. Those that are immunocompromised as a result of illness or medication should typically receive screening on an annual basis. If you have had an abnormal pap in the past or think you might be immunocompromised, speak to your health care provider to see when to schedule your next test. After age 70, screening can be discontinued if there have been at least three negative pap tests completed in the last ten years.

Cancer Care Ontario is an agency of the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care that sends letters to eligible individuals to invite them to have pap screening, provide results and information, and provide reminders for repeat testing. Screening is an important way to maintain your health as it can help prevent cancer or detect it while it is easier to treat.

If you are due for a repeat pap test or are over 21 and qualify, schedule your appointment with your health care provider today.

For more information on pap testing and where to access this service please contact the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit at 519.355.1071 extension 5901.