HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-04-15, Page 10•
Page A10 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Good Food Box backs its outsourced carriers
Exercise Programs
(Uving Independently Through Fitness & Exercise)
Nordic Walking Free Demonstration - Poles provided
• Nordic walking involves walking with specialized poles with a
• rubber boot tip that absorbs vibration for walking on asphalt and
propels you forward. • It.also reduces stress to your hips, knees
and ankles and improves stability, balance and posture. • It's easy
to learn, fun and suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels.
Thursday, April 16 @ 12:00 pm
Rale Date: Thursday, April 23 @ 12:00 pm
HUron County Court House Square pavilion.
"Propel your walk into a full-body workout ...just add poles"
Call Nadine or Cheryl at 519-482-9264 for more info
L.I.F.E. is a program of
Town & Country Support Services
Cheryl Heath _ _
sun media
Jane Muegge wants to explain.
In making a presentation before Huron County's April 8
committee -of -the -whole session, OMAFRA's regional in-
formation coordinator set out to spell out how the county's
Good Food Box program came to possess bags made in
China.
The explanation came at the heels of a question about
the bags posed by Councillor Max Demaray (Howick)
during a past council session following a presentation
made about the program that included the presentation
of gift bags filled with locally grown and produced goods
and products.
The ,short answer, says Muegge, is the bags were sup-
plied by a Waterloo company being used by OMAFRA
for buy local, buy fresh -themed programs.
She adds the most important aspect of the presentation
was highlighting local food and
producers and the $30,000 in rev-
enue generated by the Good Food
Box program last year, as well as
the 13,000 volunteer hours allo-
cated to it.
In fielding questions from coun-
cillors, Muegge notes the Good
Food Box program uses reusable
tubs when supplying food. It is up
to the customer to transport the
produce as they see fit.
LET S REVIEW
County Councillor Neil Rintoul
(Ashfield Colborne Wawanosh) is
among those expressing concern
with the new county committee
structure that sees the sometimes -
lengthy board -of -health session
held prior to the first committee -
of -the -whole day each month.
Rintoul says it is gettifig to the
point where some issues are be-
ing needlessly rushed.
• "The way we rambled through
it this morning, I don't think we're
doing due diligence," he says.
Larry Adams, Chief Adminis-
trative Officer for Huron County,
says a review of the current COW
structure will be held at council's
June session:
NEW TO THE COUNTY
Councillors gave a round of
applause to Dr. Nancy Cameron,
Huron County's new medical of-
ficer of health, during her first
COW session.
In addressing the committee,
Cameron notes she has several
years of experience in the field
as she has worked at the Thunder
Bay, Muskoka and Guelph health
units.
BRIDGE REPAIR
The Belgrave bridge will soon
undergo repairs as the COW
has recommended accepting a
Weathertech Restoration Services
$168,691 bid to get the job done.
Similarly, the Benmiller Mill
Race Bridge rehabilitation proj-
ect is set to move forward as the
COW is recommending Jarlian
Construction Inc. for the job as it
had the lowest bid at $312,570.
County council must endorse
the recommendations before the
projects move forward.
The AMGH is taking on an exciting initiative. We are undertaking
renovation of the Montcalm Building (Dr. Dawson's former office)
to create a residence for medical and nursing students training
at the AMGH.
A number of our physicians are involved with training medical
students/residents from the University of Western Ontario,
University of Toronto and Queen's University. This program has
been very successful and we have trainees here on, a monthly basis.
The evaluations indicate the students are pleased with the training
they receive and of course love Goderich. The AMGH is also
involved with training nursing students from a number of institutions
and have recently signed an agreement with Ryerson. We anticipate
an increase in future student nursing placements as well.
One of the best recruitment initiatives is to provide training to these
individuals in the hopes that they may return one day to practice.
.Due to the number of trainees we have in'Goderich and the
expectation this program will continue to expand it has been decided
to create a residence for these students. Renovations have begun.
The house will be set up with 4 bedrooms, kitchen, living room and
two bathrooms. Although the house is not very large, it will be
tastefully decorated and fully.furnished with all the "comforts of
home". We are committed to purchasing new appliances, beds,
bedding, furnishings and other necessities for the residence.
•
The hospital is not funded for this type of project. The Town of
Goderich has generously contributed $7600 towards the renovation
of this building with the AMGH absorbing the remainder of the cost.
We are looking for financial assistance in furnishing the house.
If anyone is interested in making a monetary donation or would like
to learn more about this project please contact Heather Glenister in
the AMGH Foundation Office 519.524.8689 ext. 5375 or
Stephanie Page in Administration 519.524.8689 ext. 5271.
We are committed in providing recognition for your contribution.
This will include acknowledgement at the official opening, in the
newspaper and a tax receipt for amount donated.
Thank you!
AMGH Medical Recruitment and Retention Committee
r�.
CLEAN -WATER PROJECT
Huron County's Clean Water Project, which is funded to
the tune of $250K each year, is making a positive impact.
So says Doug Hocking, of the Maitland Valley Con-
servation Authority, in a report to councillors on the gains
made in 2008.
The project's latest funded addition, designed to help
landowners decommission manure -storage sites, is yet
another success story, he says, noting seven projects were
completed by year's end.
In addition, he says, the project is now instituting a
Payment for Environmental Goods and Services (PEGS)
project that saw 42 acres of valley land returned to pasture
in 2008.
In all, there were about 215 projects initiated with 188
completed last year, for a total of $191,000 in grants, with
an estimated value of $678,000 for the county.
Since the program began in 2005, 975 projects have
been implemented with $873,000 in grants allocated and
an 84 per cent project -completion rate.
"It's a pretty good batting average," says Hocking.
Other projects completed last year include the planting
of 127,000 trees and shrubs for 37 kilometres of wind-
break, 55 decommissioned wells, and 13 erosion -control
projects.
"We're doing good things,' says Hocking, of the project,
which sees the MVCA and Ausable Bayfield Conserva-
tion Authority deliver the programs to residents under the
direction of a committee. Indeed, the groups' efforts are
receiving such good reviews that other regions, including
Wellington County, are looking at adopting the program.
SNOW BARRIER?
Coun. John Grace (Goderich) envisions a highway lined
with trees asfarasthe eye can see.
The idea, says Grace, is to build a living snow fence
to mitigate the effects of Old Man Winter when the snow
begins to fly.
Dave Laurie, director of public works, says while the
idea has been considered by the county, the problem is the
trees have to be planted far enough back from the road to
avoid a snow -trailing effect. .
That reality, says Laurie, means private property owners
would have to be on board with the plan.
Meanwhile, County Warden Ken Oke notes tree plant-
ing interferes with utility corridors.
Coun. Neil Vincent says while he supports the concept,
a project of that scale would likely. require the province's
financial backing.
In that same vein, Coun. Deb Shewfelt (Goderich) notes
a multi -stakeholder partnership in Bruce County, includ-
ing Bruce Power, has been effective in planting wind-
breaks along area roadways.
"It does make quite a difference," he says.
BUY LOCAL, BREAK THE LAW
County treasurer Dave Carey says one drawback of
implementing a county -backed buy -local policy is the
province has a law in place that bans discriminatory buy-
ing practices.
"You can't discern according to geography," he says,
adding the county can change its policy but, "you would
be in contravention of the law."
While County Warden Oke notes the province is look-
ing at changing that law, Carey points out it has to do so.
EGG FRIENDLY
The COW is endorsing an Ontario egg producers' re-
quest to allow producers to continue to manage business
as they see fit.
In moving the motion, Coun. Joseph Seili (Huron East)
says, "In this province we have freedom of choice of what
we want to buy."
The resolution was crafted in response to a growing
movement that is asking various government bodies and
suppliers to only purchase organic eggs produce by free-
range chickens.
In noting there were all types of eggs in the province,
the county warden questioned the assertion Chinese eggs
were in the marketplace.