HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-12-30, Page 12Page 12 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, December 30, 2009
An eye on waste
Facing a Feb. 2011 closure date, the
Mid -Huron Landfill set out to cut
down volumes and extend its life
by undergoing adjustments to house a full-
time hazardous waste depot, as well as a
clear bag policy. If both proved successful,
it was hoped to divert enough waste to keep
the landfill open, and save the municipalities
of Goderich, Central Huron, and Huron East
the cost of transporting their waste to South
Huron.
A yard waste depot was created at the
Public Works yard at 361 Cambridge St.
The town, along with Try Recycling out of
London, began operating the depot in late
March.
With the clear bag policy introduced this
March for Mid -Huron users, tonnages have
been reduced by one third of the previous
year. It was reported by GSS August 12 that
waste levels entering Mid -Huron are down
to 65 per cent of 2008 figures, with Goder-
ich throwing out closer to 50 per cent of its
previous tonnage.
In May, garbage containers on The Square
had become convenient receptacles for
vents in Review
20M
household waste. Parks Superintendent Mar-
tin Quinn told Goderich Town Council that
his department checked a number of public
bags and containers and found it was made
up of '60 to 70 per cent' household waste.
A walk on The Square
March 18 article in the GSS re-
ported that Town Council was
ooking to promote the walkability
of the community by making one of its most
identifiable trademarks pedestrian -only.
Deputy Mayor John Grace asked the BIA's
Tom Fincher to consider closing The Square
off to vehicle traffic on Saturdays, creating a
pedestrian• only downtown mall.
The query sparked controversy throughout
Goderich, and the pages of the GSS.
In April, Grace said he was encouraged
by the amount of public debate sparked by
the suggestion, even if some of it is based
on misunderstanding. Grace dispelled a
public perception that The Square would be
closed to traffic every Saturday, a move that
could spell trouble for downtown business.
• At least 1 in 3 people
could still get H1N1.
Instead, Grace said the traffic closure would
take place only during summertime events
that draw larger amounts of foot traffic to the
core.
Stopping by in 2009
In April, the Livery Spring Fling Film
Festival announced that it would wel-
come One Week director Michale
McGowen to its fifth annual display. McGo-
wen attended the screening of his work, One
Week, and stuck around afterward to take
part in a short question and answer period
for area film buffs April 3.
Finding that sweet spot in life was the re-
current theme in Michael 'Pinball' Clemons
April 17 address to a crowd of about 140 at
the Columbus Centre in Goderich. The for-
mer CFL player and coach of the Toronto
Argonauts. was guest speaker at the Huron
Women's Shelter dinner and fundraiser. He
also made stops earlier in the day to God-
erich District Collegiate Institute and St.
Anne's Catholic Secondary schools.
Speaking to a group of 150 reps from lo-
cal service clubs at a special inter -club meet
at the Goderich Legion May 14, the 27th
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario James K.
Bartleman stopped into Goderich. He spoke
to the crowd about the importance of serv-
ing communities.
In June, an estimated 220 people con-
verged at the knights of Columbus Centre
to hear one of Canada's foremost science
journalists and broadcasters speak on wa-
ter issues, climate change and the need for
alternative energy sources. The Ausable
Bayfield Maitland Valley Drinking Water
Source Protection Region invited Bob Mac-
Donald, host of CBC Radio's Quirks and
Quarks and TV Ontario's Heads Up! to visit
Canada's prettiest town June 23 at the Co-
lumbus Centre.
Award-winning broadcaster and iconic
Canadian news anchor and author, Peter
Mansbridge made a special breakfast ap-
pearance at the Columbus Centre Dec. 14
for a Goderich Rotary Club charity fund-
raiser. Mansbridge's message was a simple,
but powerful one - Canada cares.
• Half of those in hospital with
H1N1 have been under 24 years old.
• 1 in 5 people hospitalized
with H1N1 have ended up in
intensive care and/or on ventilators.
• More people have been sick this
year from theft compared to the
pasts flu seasons.
• flu season continues
until April.
Only you can make the decision to get the 111111 flu shot. Shots are available
at health care provider offices, workplace clinics and many other locations.
Visit: ontario.ca/flu