Sunday February 11, 2018

Ladies and Gentlemen

I recall a few years back when there was speculation that the town of Buffalo, New York would have to be abandoned due to the heavy snow fall.  Well…..

The Week Ahead

A busy Monday February the12^th, to start the week.  At 7:30 am the NSCFDC Marketing Monday series continues at the Midland Library. This week’s topic - Social Media – Choosing the Right Platform and Getting Results.  Please register in advance at www.nscfdc.on.ca/upcoming-events.php

While we are at the Library, I have a week’s worth of information about all of their upcoming events.

·         Every day until after Valentine’s Day the Library is having Blind Date with a Book. Patrons can come into the library and select a blind date book (which has been festively wrapped). They check out the book based on just a few profile hints, and who knows, it just might be love! This was a super popular initiative last year and we’ve brought it back due to the demand & fun feedback. (FREE)

·         Monday, Feb. 12^th – Wiggle, Jiggle & Dance (this program happens each Monday from 11am – 11:30 until the end of April) Gentle stretching, movements, rhymes & songs for parents & babies from 0-18 months. (FREE)

·         Tuesday, Feb. 13^th – Teen Tuesday – Movie day – Spiderman Homecoming (with free snacks provided).   (we have a teen Tuesday event each week from 4:30pm – 6:00pm with a different activity each week, and of course, free snacks for the teens) (FREE)

·         Wednesday, Feb. 14^th – Storytime with Miss Bonnie (happening every Tuesday and Wednesday morning from 10:30 – 11:30) (FREE)

·         Thursday Feb. 15^th – Baby Got Bounce (Every Thursday morning from 10:15 – 11:00am until the end of February) Songs, stories & rhymes for babies aged 0-18 months. (FREE)

·         Friday February 16^th - French Conversation Club – Every Friday from 11am – 12pm. Improve your French without the pressure of a classroom environment. Join our friendly conversation group to work on your French skills. All levels welcome. (FREE)

Ladies and gentlemen, we do have an amazing Library.

Also on Monday at 10:00 am the OPP Transition Committee meets at the Town. At 6:30 pm Council holds a special meeting to address:

-       Update on the OPP transition

-       Amalgamation of police reserves to ensure we track the costs associated with the transition and better manage funds derived from the wind-up

At 7:00 pm it is the General Committee meeting at the Town. The agenda includes:

-       Direction on improving our management of bio-solids at the wastewater plant

-       Update on the Midland Forward project

-       Update on actions in support of Council’s strategic objectives. Please refer  http://www.midland.ca/Pages/Council-Strategic-Plan.aspx

-       Legion request to waive an encroachment fee arising from a sign for their building

-       Approval for Butter Tart Festival 2018, set for Saturday June 9^th

And lastly at 7:00 pm, Brookside Music presents Moscow Sounds at the MCC.

Tuesday and its County Council at 9:00 am. Key items for Council include new initiatives for affordable housing development in rural areas.

Wednesday the 14^th is Valentines Day. What better way to celebrate your special someone than with a fun dinner-theatre. Good Morning Apocalypse invites you to “Bad Dates” at the MCC at 6:30 pm. The comedy show embraces the dark side of Valentine’s Day and all the broken hearts it leaves lying in its wake! From blind-dating Debra to a harrowing date gone wrong at Count Chocula’s castle. Good food – good fun.

On Thursday February 15^th  the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs hosts a day-long meeting in Newcastle  to discuss building a stronger rural Ontario. This is an important meeting for Midland and rural communities as it gives us a stage to address many of the systemic issues that negatively affect our long-term survival - everything from needed changes to municipal finance, to infrastructure deficits, to the unique challenges of rural affordable housing will be on the table.

At 1:00 pm the Midland Bay Landing Steering Committee meets to address the changes to its mission in light of the new Municipal Development Corporation authorized by Council.  At 7:30 pm A Day in the Life interviews Mr. Max Eisen, a Hungarian Jew who survived Auschwitz-Birkenau, the notorious Nazi concentration camp. At the age of 15, Max became a slave labourer at the camp. He suffered under horrific conditions in Auschwitz, survived the infamous “death march” in January 1945, and endured a long journey of physical and psychological healing. Max is one of a group of Holocaust survivors who has dedicated the latter part of his life to teaching the next generation about morals and ethics. That’s at the Midland Cultural Centre

Friday the 16^th sees me at County again for the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. But if you want to have fun, this is your day. Drop into the Town office and see what staff is up to on “Hawaii Day”, as they bring a little warmth to a cold winter climate. If you would rather be outside you may wish to try the skate trail and frosty winter fun at HHP Discovery Harbor from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.  http://www.discoveryharbour.on.ca/dh/en/Home/index.htm . And if you are looking for something different, how about a murder mystery courtesy of Huronia Museum. This dinner- theatre entitled “It Came from Little Lake” starts at 6:00 pm. For tickets please see:

https://huroniamuseum.com/events-2/it-came-from-little-lake-murder-mystery/

Week - End

Saturday February 17

-       10:30 am - The Penetanguishene Winterama parade down Main Street

Council Issues Update

Service Delivery Review

The Service Delivery Review Committee will wrap up its work this month.  Its final report presented over 60 recommendations for changes to the Town’s operation. The report stressed the need to apply modern IT solutions to many of the Town’s functions; to streamline the controls over financial management in all departments and improve our voice-mail system to better serve our citizens. These changes will be implemented in a staged fashion over the next few years.

OPP

Training is underway for the MPS staff that has transitioned to the OPP. They are likely to be back in our community in early March. For staff that is not transitioning, their salary and benefits will be continued until the arbitration process concludes, likely next month. At that point they will be protected by the employment contract terms approved under the police arbitration process.

The transition has been difficult for many. The Town its doing its utmost to ease the process. We are thankful for the many years of service that the MPS has provided to Midland. We look forward the continuation of this level of service to the community under the OPP.

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Two items for the following week;

1)     Monday the 19^th is Family Day. Town offices are closed.

2)     The NSCFDC is hosting an Employer Breakfast on February 22^nd at 7:00 am at the Brooklea. The speaker will be Brian Wasliw, an employment and labour lawyer who will address the impact of Bill 148 and how it is affecting local business. Please pre-register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EmployerBreakfast2018

Gord McKay

The Year for Forging Our Future - 2018