‘Field Naturalists’ speaker series, tree lightning, weather

Foster’s Meats – Morning Coffee

Weather forecast for Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Today – Increasing cloudiness. Rain showers or flurries beginning this afternoon. Wind becoming southeast 30 km/h gusting to 50 near noon. High plus 2. Wind chill minus 8 in the morning.

Tonight – Rain showers or flurries ending near midnight then cloudy with 30 percent chance of flurries. Risk of freezing drizzle overnight. Fog patches developing overnight. Wind south 20 km/h gusting to 40 becoming west 20 near midnight then light overnight. Low minus 1. Wind chill minus 5 overnight.

Nature in Chatham-Kent Returns

The Chatham-Kent Public Library is pleased to host the Sydenham Field Naturalists Winter Speaker Series 2019.

Sydenham Field Naturalists welcome the public to learn about and support our unique ecosystem in Chatham-Kent.

This four part series will feature guest speakers addressing pertinent topics pertaining to Southwestern Ontario environmental concerns.

Sydenham Field Naturalists will meet in Chatham Branch’s meeting room on the last Thursday of the month at 7 p.m.

Everyone is welcome to attend the meetings and no registration is required.

– Thursday, January 24: Larry Cornelis – History of our Local Forests

– Thursday, February 28: Lindsay Buchanan – Tallgrass Prairie

– Thursday, March 28: Dan Mennill – Vocal Learning in Nature: Wild Birds Learn to Sing

– Thursday, April 25: Greg Van Avery – Lower Thames Conservation Area

Please note that Cogeco will be present to film each guest speaker to be broadcasted at a later date.

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

Christmas Wish Tree Lighting ceremony in Wallaceburg on Thursday

The Foundation of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) has launched its 29th Annual Christmas Wish Tree appeal to support cardiac health in the community through the purchase of a transport defibrillator and Holter monitors for Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.

Fundraising appeals have been sent to more than 40,000 homes in the community, and donations can also be made at www.foundationckha.com.

Foundation officials say the Christmas Wish Tree appeal and tree lighting ceremony have become time-honoured traditions in Chatham-Kent.

Members of the community publicly honour family members and friends by making a donation to illuminate one of three different coloured tree lights in support of their local hospital, the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.

This year’s appeal and event highlight the importance of heart health, and all funds will be directed toward the purchase of equipment that helps lessen the impact of heart-related ailments in Chatham-Kent, Foundation officials say.

“In 2017, Chatham-Kent had the highest per capita death rate from heart attacks in all of Ontario, which to me is a staggering statistic,” stated Mary Lou Crowley, Executive Director, Foundation of CKHA, in a media release.

“I’m thrilled that this year, all donations to our Christmas Wish Tree appeal will be used to purchase Holter monitors and a transport defibrillator for CKHA – both of which can help lessen the impact of heart-related illness in our community.”

Starting the week of November 14, members of the community will receive a Christmas Wish Tree Appeal in the mail.

Information is also available online at www.foundationckha.com, via the Christmas Wish Tree logo.

Donations are being accepted online, via mail, over the phone or in-person at the Foundation of CKHA Chatham office at 9 Ursuline Ave.

For all donations received before January 3rd, 2019, the honouree will be listed in both The Chatham Daily News and the Wallaceburg Courier Press each week, starting the week of November 26th.

The Foundation of CKHA will also feature these names on paper Christmas decorations that will be on display at both the CKHA Wallaceburg and Chatham sites.

This year, for the first time ever, two Christmas Wish Tree lighting events will take place.

After the first ceremony was held in Chatham on Monday, the second lighting ceremony will happen at the CKHA Wallaceburg site on December 13 at 6 p.m.

The Wallaceburg event will also feature a horse and wagon which will take attendees around the neighbourhood, in the tradition of holiday events from the past.

The public is invited to both events to enjoy Christmas carols, words from Foundation staff and honoured guests, refreshments, and to view the trees which will be decorated in red, white and silver lights.

Each colour of lights signifies a different level of gifts received through this year’s appeal.

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