Ladies and Gentlemen
Sunshine and warm weather - finally. And to add to the excitement, this past week
the Ontario Restaurant Hotel Motel Association selected
our own Butter Tart Festival as the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Regional
Festival. A great win for Midland and all the folks who make this festival an
annual reality. Mark June 9th for your next butter tart fix.
The
Week Ahead
Monday April 23rd sees the start of
the shipping season in Midland harbor. The
SS Frontenac arrived this week-end and we welcome the Captain (who is a cousin
of our own Harbour Master Rick Lehney) with our traditional Top Hat ceremony. That’s at 11:00 am by ADM in the harbor.
At 6:30 pm Council meets in closed session to discuss an
appointment to the Audit Committee. Then at 7:00 pm it’s the April Council
meeting including:
-
Heritage Merit Awards
-
Approval of the Downtown /Library Safety
project
-
Approval of the 2018 budget – it looks like a
2.2% increase in tax and a 3.5% increase for water/wastewater rates
-
Recommendation to protect the Letherby Home
(422 King Street) under the Heritage Act
-
Direction on recruitment for the Board of the
new MBL Development Committee
Tuesday the 24th sees a very special
event. Approximate 200 volunteers will fan
out across the County to conduct a “point in time” count of all our homeless
and marginally housed residents. This information will be used by the County
and our many social agencies to better target programs to those in need. At 9:00 am County Council will hear a presentation
on the future of Lakehead University in our area. And to complete the day, you are invited to
our Library at 7:00 pm to see the judging of the finalists for the Battle of the
Books – where local students defend a favorite book.
On Wednesday the 25th at 5:00 pm
Anytime Fitness celebrates the opening of their new location behind the Galaxy
Theatre, Mountainview Mall. Come on out and get fit. At 7:30 pm Diabetes Canada
invites you to an evening of discussion on the topic of Diabetes and Your Eyes.
Dr. Daniel Scanlon will answer your questions
on this important topic at the Penetanguishene Legion.
Also at 7:30 pm it’s a Day in the Life at the MCC. Fred
will interview Dan Needles, a very amusing guy with a fascinating life story. He has been a
journalist, a speech writer, a newspaper publisher, a public relations officer,
an author, a playwright, a social commentator and a popular speaker. He is best
known for his Wingfield Farm series which has been performed across Canada, at
the Stratford Festival and on CBC. He’s the recipient of the Stephen Leacock
Memorial Medal for Humour.
A quiet end to the week. On Friday Georgian
Village hosts a staff appreciation luncheon at their location at noon.
Week -
End
Sunday April 29
-
1:00 to 4:00 pm - Chartwell Retirement hosts
an open house at 105 Pillsbury Dr.
Council
Issues Update
Budget
This
week Council should bring the 2018 budget process to a close. The municipal tax
rate increase is likely to be 2.2%. When this is blended with the County and
school taxes your all in tax rate increase should be about 1.5%.
The
2019 budget process starts in a few months. The current Council will start the
process off and the new Council will be the one to approve it. Your vote this fall
will definitely impact the budget discussion.
*****
Many of you have inquired about the Operation Grow
facility operated by Rosewood Women’s Shelter and when it will be ready to sell
its produce to the public. Well the good news is that they are now open for
business at 436 Bay Street. The store front opens 4-6 pm daily during the week.
Your chance to get quality low cost produce and help Rosewood with their critically
important work.
Two years ago the Midland community welcomed its first
Syrian refugee family. The Amirs continue to prosper and have become part of
our local family. Zafec and Ibrahim, the mother and father, are doing very well
with their English lessons. Ibrahim is often seen down at the Town dock with his
fishing rod. Khatchik, the son, continues to work at
Ciboulette as the pastry chef. And Zarmig, the daughter’s big news is that she just
got married to her long-time boyfriend and is going through the process of
bringing him to Canada. Life in Midland.
Gord McKay
The
Year for Forging Our Future - 2018
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