Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall

Weather forecast for Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Today – Mainly cloudy. 40 percent chance of showers. Wind southwest 30 km/h gusting to 50. Temperature falling to plus 1 this afternoon.

Tonight – Cloudy. 40 percent chance of rain showers early this evening. A few flurries beginning early this evening and ending overnight. Wind northwest 30 km/h gusting to 50. Low minus 7.

National Non-Smoking Week

The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit says whether it comes from tobacco, cannabis (marijuana) or hookah pipe, smoke is smoke and you need to limit your exposure to it. That is the main message of National Non-Smoking Week, which runs through Saturday, January 27.

Established in 1977 by the Canadian Council for Tobacco Control, National Non-Smoking Week is a coast-to-coast effort to inform and educate Canadians about the dangers of tobacco use, to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke and to support those who currently use tobacco, to quit.

While most people know there is no safe level of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke, many are unaware of the health risks associated with the exposure to cannabis smoke and smoke from a hookah pipe. Many of the same fine particles, cancer-causing compounds, volatie organic compounds, carbon monoxide and heavy metals are found in both tobacco and cannabis smoke.

The smoke from a hookah pipe can also cause serious health risks, similar to those posed by tobacco and cannabis smoke. Hookahs are water pipes that are used to smoke flavoured specialty-made tobacco and herbal shisha. The charcoal used to heat the product produces very high levels of carbon monoxide, heavy metals, and cancer-causing chemicals. One hookah session involves inhaling 90,000 millilters (ml) of smoke, compared with 500-600 ml when smoking a cigarette.

The Public Health Unit recommends that everyone limit their exposure to smoke – whether tobacco, cannabis or hookah smoke. This is especially important for children, pregnant women, older adults and those with pre-existing health conditions, such as asthma, lung and heart diseases.

For those looking for tobacco quit support, there are free services in Chatham Kent to help:

– FREE Nicotine Replacement Therapy (patch, gum, lozenge, and inhaler) is available for you if you are part of a Family Health Team or a Community Health Centre. Call your health care provider and find out what they can do for you. If you are not part of a Family Health Team or Community Health Centre, call the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit at 519-352-7270.

– FREE Nicotine Replacement Therapy is available for young adults ages 18-29 through Leave The Pack Behind at https://www.leavethepackbehind.org/quitting.

– FREE medication to help you quit is available to individuals on the Ontario Drug Benefit Program. A prescription is necessary for this medication – talk to your health care provider.

– FREE telephone, online chat and text support can be accessed through Smokers’ Helpline at 1 877 513 5333 or www.smokershelpline.ca or by texting “iQuit” to 123456 (charges may apply).

Budget Open House in Wallaceburg on Wednesday

Prior to budget deliberations starting January 30, council and administration will be holding community open houses to gather input from the public on the recommendations and any other budget matter.

The meeting details are as follows:

Tuesday, January 23, 4:30 p.m. to 6 pm
Ridgetown Municipal Office, 45 Main Street E., Ridgetown; and
Tilbury Arena, Ryder Hall, 55 Bond Ave., Tilbury

Wednesday, January 24, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Blenheim High School Cafeteria, 163 Chatham St. S., Blenheim; and
Wallaceburg Municipal Office, 786 Dufferin Ave., Wallaceburg

Thursday, January 25, 4:30 pm to 6 pm
Active Lifestyle Centre, 20 Merritt Avenue, Chatham

The format of these sessions are as follows:

– Open house with one on one discussions with administration and council from 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

– Brief presentation and question and answer period as a group from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Chatham-Kent staff is recommending a 2.27% tax increase this year in their 2018 draft budget.

Read our story, here: 2.27% tax increase proposed in draft budget

Blood donor clinic this week in Wallaceburg, next week in Dresden

Canadian Blood Services is holding a pair of blood donor clinics coming up in the community.

A clinic is being held at the UAW Hall in Wallaceburg from 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 25.

A clinic is also being held at the Dresden Arena hall on Tuesday, January 30 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Visit blood.ca to book your appointment.

Wallaceburg Museum showing Terminator 1 & 2

Bring your own comfy chair, or use one of from the Wallaceburg and District Museum, and settle down to a double bill of the 80’s cult movies starring Arnold Schwarzenegger to be shown in the Jeanne Gordon Hall on Saturday, January 27.

A seemingly indestructible humanoid cyborg is sent from 2029 to 1984 to assassinate a waitress, whose unborn son will lead humanity in a war against the machines, while a soldier from that war is sent to protect her at all costs.

The movies are not suitable for anyone under 14 years of age.

Refreshments are available.

There is free entry and donations are welcome.

The event will run from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Are you up-to-date?

The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit says immunizations and vaccines… you never outgrow the need, from infancy to adulthood.

Immunization is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your children against preventable disease.

When you receive a shot your body creates protection from diseases that can cause sickness, disability and even death.

Did you know?

Vaccines are among the safest tools of modern medicine. Canada is a world-wide leader in vaccine safety and all shots are put through years of testing before they are approved for use.

What if you get behind schedule?

If you’ve missed one or more of your child’s shots, contact your healthcare provider or the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit as soon as possible. They can help you figure out which shots your child has already had and which ones are needed. Remember to have your yellow card ready.

Where can you get immunized?

Call your family doctor or healthcare provider to make an appointment. If you don’t have a family healthcare provider or health card and need to receive immunizations, the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit offers clinics twice a month, at WISH Centre Clinic Services, 177 King St. E., Suite 2, Chatham.

To book an appointment or for more information, contact the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit at 519-355-1071 ext. 5900