Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall

Weather forecast for Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Today – A mix of sun and cloud. 30 percent chance of flurries early this morning. Wind northwest 30 km/h gusting to 50 becoming light this morning. High minus 6.

Tonight – Increasing cloudiness late this evening. Wind becoming south 30 km/h gusting to 50 overnight. Low minus 8 with temperature rising to minus 2 by morning.

Wallaceburg’s Southwest Regional Credit Union wins for Hospice

Thanks to the staff at the Southwest Regional Credit Union Wallaceburg Branch, the Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation was awarded $2,500 to be used towards ongoing operating costs.

Terry Acs, Financial Services Administrator, was motivated to nominate Hospice for a national contest hosted by CUETS Member Card/Mastercard services after a co-worker’s family utilized the Chatham-Kent Hospice multiple times.

Financial institutions were encouraged to nominate a local charity making an impact in their community.

Jodi Maroney, Executive Director – Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation recently attended Southwest Regional Credit Union’s Annual General Meeting to receive the donation.

“We are touched that Terry took the time to nominate Hospice for this award and are thrilled and grateful that we were chosen. The ongoing support we have received from Southwest Regional Credit Union is amazing,” Maroney said.

The Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation is responsible for the fundraising activities needed to support Chatham-Kent Hospice.

Their mission is to enhance the financial sustainability of the Chatham-Kent Hospice by working with the community to raise funds, awareness and understanding to enable compassionate, quality near end-of-life experiences for the residents of Chatham-Kent.

Their annual fundraising goal is $850,000.

Beautifying Chatham-Kent ahead of the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo 2018

The Beautification Committee of the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo 2018 (IPM 2018) is preparing to welcome tens of thousands of visitors to Chatham-Kent.

Planning sessions are already underway.

Anyone wanting information is invited to take part in an information meeting Monday, February 5 at 1 p.m. at the Park Avenue Business Centre in Chatham.

“Our vision is to showcase Chatham-Kent, attract visitors and have them want to return,” says Linda Henderson, beautification committee chair.

She says the theme is Machines and Marigolds, and encourages residents and businesses to use the lime-green and blue Chatham-Kent colours. These are also the colours of the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo 2018 that will be held in Pain Court September 18 to 22.

“The official flower is the Bonanza Yellow French Marigold, which can be planted in early June and still be vibrant in September,” Henderson says.

“There can be central displays in each of the communities of Chatham-Kent, and individual property owners can showcase their own imaginations.”

Henderson points out that Chatham-Kent citizens have a long award-winning tradition of beautifying their homes, businesses, schools and community buildings with the goal of attracting visitors to our communities.

“The displays throughout each community do not have to be identical,” she says.

“And creativity is certainly encouraged. In the past, displays have often incorporated disused and antique farm equipment, and so we have included the idea in our theme for the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo 2018.”

As many citizens have taken part in Chatham-Kent beautification campaigns in past years, Henderson says she is optimistic that the February 5 information meeting will be well attended.

She says she would be happy to speak to community groups about how they can become involved. Henderson can be reached through the IPM 2018 Facebook page, or by email at beautificationipm2018@gmail.com.

Additional information can be found online at www.plowingmatch.org/ipm2018.

Dresden blood donor clinic

A blood donor clinic is 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.

Canadian Blood Services manages the national supply of blood, blood products and stem cells, and related services for all the provinces and territories (excluding Quebec).

They operate an integrated, pan-Canadian service delivery model that includes leading an interprovincial system for organ donation and transplantation.

Their national scope, infrastructure and governance make us unique in the Canadian healthcare landscape.

Canadian Blood Services is regulated as a biologics manufacturer by Health Canada and primarily funded by the provincial and territorial ministries of health.

Canadian Blood Services is a not-for-profit charitable organization.

Buses cancelled in Zone 1 and Zone 4

Buses in Zone 1 and Zone 4 are cancelled today due to icy road conditions and blowing snow.

All other Zones running as normal.

Since buses in Zones 1 and 4 are cancelled due to inclement weather, exams at all Sarnia-Lambton secondary schools will be cancelled for the day and the exam schedule will be pushed back one day.

More information is available on the LKDSB website, here.

Nearly one million prescriptions filled for free through OHIP+

Since January 1, more than 950,000 prescriptions have been filled for children and youth for free through OHIP+, the largest expansion to medicare in Ontario in a generation.

Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, was joined by Ottawa MPPs John Fraser, Bob Chiarelli, Marie-France Lalonde, Yasir Naqvi and Nathalie Des Rosiers today at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa to mark the milestone and ensure local families are aware of the program.

“A month in, over half a million children and youth have already benefited from free prescription drug coverage in Ontario,” Hoskins said.

“OHIP+ has not only improved the health and lives of young people, but it has also helped lift the financial burden off families. We want everyone in Ontario to feel this kind of freedom, so they can make better choices and increase the quality of life for themselves and their families. This is a significant first step towards our vision of universal pharmacare that will help bring free drug coverage to everyone.”

Ontario is the first province to provide free drug coverage to all children and youth 24 years of age and younger. Since the program began on January 1, 522,158 young people and their families have already benefited from having access to free prescription medications.

Through OHIP+, more than 4,400 prescription drugs are covered, including asthma inhalers, drugs to treat depression, anxiety, epilepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, antibiotics, insulin, diabetes test strips, birth control and many others.

All people have to do is present their Ontario health card number and a valid prescription for an eligible medication at an Ontario pharmacy to receive free drug coverage through OHIP+.