H & H Wood investment, Water Festival, eye exams, buses cancelled

Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall

Weather forecast for Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Today – A mix of sun and cloud. 30 percent chance of showers this afternoon with risk of a thunderstorm. Fog patches dissipating this morning. High 27. Humidex 32. UV index 6 or high.

Tonight – Partly cloudy. 30 percent chance of showers early this evening with risk of a thunderstorm. Low 16.

School buses cancelled this morning

School buses in Wallaceburg, Dresden and Chatham will not be running this morning due to the fog.

Buses in Zones 5, 6, 7 and 8 are cancelled for the morning, while all other buses will still be in operation.

All buses will run this afternoon.

Ontario supporting economic growth in Wheatley

Ontario is providing $195,300 to help H & H Wood Products to purchase new equipment at its main manufacturing facility located in Wheatley and its Tilbury and London, Ontario locations.

The company produces wood products, such as pallets, racks and containers for the food, automotive and agriculture industries.

The project will create 13 jobs and retain 58 positions over a four year period of the investment project.

H & H Wood Products Inc. are investing nearly $2M in the project to purchase innovative capital equipment that will allow for expanded capabilities through automation, reduced waste and increased productivity.

Municipal officials say H & H Wood Products were pleased to learn of the SWODF fund when municipal staff visited the company head office last summer to discuss expansion of the Wheatley, Ontario manufacturer.

“We’re familiar with the expansion project the company introduced as we helped guide the application process,” stated Geoffrey Wright, economic development officer in Chatham-Kent.

“The company were receptive to new ideas and support from local and regional economic development staff through this and other investment opportunities on the horizon.”

Municipal officials say Tuesday’s multi-site investment announcement by a Chatham-Kent based company is another indication the region is a strategic hub for supply chain companies serving the automotive and agribusiness sectors.

“Ontario is committed to helping this forward-thinking company boost economic growth, strengthen the manufacturing sector and create good jobs in Chatham,” stated Jeff Leal, Minister responsible for small business.

“Through the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund, we are enabling this innovative company to succeed and grow by adopting new technologies in order to sharpen its competitive edge.”

More about Chatham-Kent manufacturers and agri-producers:

Municipal officials say their people understand people’s needs.

“We are home to trained professionals with vast experience in custom machining, precision componentry, specialty testing manufacturers and system builders that cultivate success within the agriculture sector, automotive sector, oil, gas and chemical sectors and, the transportation sector,” Municipla officials stated.

“They can handle your stringent quality and exotic material requirements. Successful businesses from around the world have chosen Chatham-Kent to continue their successes.”

More details from the province:

– Ontario is investing $195,300 from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund for this project, supporting an additional investment of $1,953,350 from H& H Wood Products. The project is expected to be completed by December 31, 2020.

– Since 2013, the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund and Eastern Ontario Development Fund have helped to create and retain approximately 40,600 jobs and attracted approximately $2 billion in investment. The funds cover up to 15 per cent of eligible project costs, with the recipient company funding the remainder from its own resources.

– Ontario is accepting applications for the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund from qualified businesses that are growing and creating jobs. Sectors eligible for the fund include advanced manufacturing, food processing, life sciences, information and communications technology, tourism and cultural industries.

– Ontario’s five-year, $650 million Business Growth Initiative is helping to grow the economy and create jobs by promoting an innovation-based economy, helping small companies scale-up and modernizing regulations for businesses.

Water Festival around the corner

A total of 1,800 local elementary students and over 350 volunteers will be part of a growing outdoor educational event being held at the CM Wilson Conservation Area in early October.

The Chatham-Kent & Lambton Children’s Water Festival educates children about water conservation, protection and related environmental issues through fun and interactive activities.

The festival is geared to Grade four and five students.

All activities are linked to the Ontario curriculum in ways that help students achieve the desired expectation in science and technology, social studies, environment, mathematics and physical education.

The three-day festival will run October 3-5 and features over 40 hands-on activities. It is held each year at the CM Wilson Conservation Area just south of Chatham.

“This is a community wide, multi-partner initiative involving over 30 different partnership groups from across the Lambton and Chatham-Kent areas. They deliver this fun and educational event to a growing number of elementary students each year,” stated Don Hector, the festival coordinator.

“The Festival provides leadership opportunities to over 300 high school students who assist in the presentation of the water festival activities, including a French day instructed by local French students. It also provides an opportunity for the community to learn about and enjoy the long-term benefits of protecting our precious water resources.”

The festival activities portray a balanced mix of urban and rural scenarios around water and challenges students to think about their own actions and how they can bring these messages back to their homes and communities in which they live.

About Chatham-Kent & Lambton Children’s Water Festival (CKLCWF)

The local Water Festival was established in 2006 and carried out the 1st festival in 2007. Almost 12,000 elementary students have attended the festival over the past 8 years. Water themed activities include topics on conservation, protection, science, technology and attitude through 42 interactive hands-on activities in an outdoor setting.

Students from all School Boards in the Chatham-Kent and Sarnia-Lambton areas attend this annual event.

For more information visit www.ckwaterfest.com or visit them on Facebook.

Book your child’s back-to-school eye exam

As the new school year begins, Ontario is reminding parents to make an optometry appointment for their children.

Provincial officials say 80% of classroom learning is visual. An annual comprehensive eye exam can identify vision problems and treatment options to help students reach their full potential. Children who have trouble seeing can encounter difficulties at school because their motor skills, social development, attention span and ability to read, write and learn may be affected.

“Annual comprehensive eye exams are important, especially since one in four Ontario students has an undetected vision problem that can impact their ability to learn,” stated Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, in a press release.

“I encourage all parents to schedule an annual OHIP-covered optometry appointment at the beginning of each school year to give their children a healthy start to their education.”

Some conditions such as lazy eye are most effectively treated at a young age. The Ontario Association of Optometrists recommends that every child have their first eye exam at 6 months of age to ensure proper vision development, again at 2 to 3, and subsequently every year thereafter.

“Vision problems that go undetected can negatively impact a student’s learning experience,” stated Mitzie Hunter, Minister of Education.

“With the start of a new school year, we encourage parents to schedule an eye test for their children.‎”

Contact your optometrist if you have concerns about your child’s vision or notice any of the following behaviour:

– Does not make eye contact

– Closes or covers one eye

– Squints or frowns when looking far or near

– Rubs or touches their eye(s) a lot

– Blinks more than usual

– Reacts strongly to light

– Turns or tilts head when viewing objects

– Trips, falls or bumps into things often.

To ensure your child gets the best start to learning, Ontario is encouraging parents to schedule their child’s annual eye exam at the beginning of each school year. OHIP covers annual eye exams by an optometrist or physician for anyone under the age of 20.

Ontario is increasing access to care, reducing wait times and improving the patient experience through its Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care and OHIP+: Children and Youth Pharmacare – protecting health care today and into the future.

More details:

– Beginning January 1, 2018, Ontario will provide free prescription drug coverage for children and youth aged 24 and under, regardless of family income.

– One in four school-aged children has an undetected vision problem that is affecting their learning.

– Only 11.5 per cent of children under the age of 4 and 22.6 per cent of children under the age of 6 have ever been to an optometrist for an eye exam.

Photo of the day

TY @CLWallaceburg for including #CKPS in your baseball challenge event😀 & TY to these #CKPS members! #inclusion pic.twitter.com/VMC02b2KcE

— Chatham-Kent Police (@CKPSMedia) 19 September 2017