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The Voice 26662 Bearline Rd. Front Pag e Pos t-it 519-355-1201 December 3, 17, 24 www.doverduds.com
YOUR Independent Community Newspaper THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2020
Vol. 7 Edition 26
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An impressive display of Christmas lights recently seen along Gregory Drive East near Victoria Avenue in Chatham is bound to put any Scrooges into the holiday spirit with a quick drive or walk to the area.
Reaching out for food assistance By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com
While The Gift delivered food and toys to thousands of Chatham-Kent residents and helped fill Christmas hampers for a number of holiday charitable efforts, the shelves at one of Chatham’s food banks remain in need of filling.
Brenda LeClair of Chatham’s Outreach for Hunger said the huge need this year means that the food bank did not receive as much from The Gift as many people think. “We received two skids of boxes. Most of it was toiletries. There was very little food,” she said. “We really appreciated it, but we still have
a need. That’s the nature of the business.” LeClair said she was scheduled to stop by The Gift’s Richmond Street operation on Dec. 7, but a weekend giveaway to those in need left the shelves bereft of food. “I was scheduled to go to pick up our donation, but I was told it all went out the door,” she said, adding the need is
certainly there. “They got food out to the community; they did a great job.” But the pressure remains for Outreach for Hunger. “Our numbers have increased because of COVID. We have to keep up with that. We have to make sure people get fed,” LeClair said.
Continued on page 2
Of sidewalks and stiff competition By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com
A local business owner wonders what $50,000 a year in property taxes gets her. In Rachel Schwartz’ mind, it’s a broken sidewalk in front of their Richmond Street building, and municipally run competition. Schwartz, who with her husband Daniel Whittal own 330 Richmond Street in Chatham, home of Whittal + Company Law, The Brio Academy and several other local businesses, said 2020 has been a challenging year. But it’s been more challeng-
ing due to the poor condition of the pedestrian sidewalk in front of the building on a main Chatham street, and branching out only to find a local competitor in the form of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. The sidewalk, Schwartz said, is a serious safety issue. But it’s nothing new. “We’ve tried to maintain it as best we can. It gets worse every year,” she said. “I think the sidewalk itself is broken and it’s just sinking. It’s lower than the boulevard and our lawn. We have a river there most of the time.”
Continued on page 4
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