>NewsNow’s Best In The West: A salute to top area businesses, Pg 1A-24A > Catch The Ace funds dispersed Pg. 3 > Habitat ReStore opens doors Friday Pg. 6 > Lincoln Chamber hires new manager Pg. 7 Thursday, July 27, 2017 Vol. 6 Issue 12
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Lincoln moves to RFP stage of transit plan No fee for initial test ridership By Mike Williscraft NewsNow Town of Lincoln is moving on to the next phase - the request for proposal (RFP) stage with its transit study. “Council endorsed the next step of staff issuing an RFP for a service provider,” said CAO Mike Kirkopoulos. “We are definitely taking a very incremental approach to transit, but hope that over the next 18 months we will gauge the success of this new transit service.” The Town of Lincoln’s intra-municipal pilot project’s main objective is to introduce and expose residents of Lincoln to a local transit system in an effort to better gauge citizen and community need, desire and readiness for this new municipal service offering. Council chambers was full for a meeting last week with more than 40 residents in attendance showing overwhelming support. “Transit systems are an important element of complete communities as they pro-
mote equity among the town’s residents by ensuring access to reliable, affordable transportation to access town amenities, services, and businesses,” said Mayor Sandra Easton. “Public transit is key to community livability and sustainability.” The Town of Lincoln’s transit pilot aims to: 1. Provide mobility to members of the community; 2. Contribute to a higher quality of life, including improved health and community participation rates; 3. Facilitate economic development and support labour workforce development/accessibility; 4. Support future plans for sustainable development and intensification, as outlined in the Town’s Official Plan, and; 5. Support the introduction of the future GO train service in Lincoln. The Town is not purchasing any capital as a result of this pilot and there will be no fee for use as part of the initial pilot.
Sweet harmonies
Members of The Reeds Harmonica Band serenade a big crowd at Smithville United Church’s July Strawberry Social. A big crowd turned out for treats and tunes.
Early gateway kiosk returns impressive It has been a Titanic struggle to keep things afloat with the tourism kiosk at Grimsby Gateway, but early returns from summer traffic have proven the effort has been well worth it. Ald. Dave Kadwell - who has
volunteered at the kiosk along with Brian Purdy, Bruce Manion, Jack Watt and several other - told town council July 17 that 1,000 visitors stopped at the counter on the May long weekend and another 1,500 on
Rolling to new heights
Canada Day weekend. Given volunteers are only there parttime, the numbers are major, said Kadwell. “I just can’t say enough about the the volunteers. We are lucky to have them, said Kadwell.
Bekah Akerley of Grimsby, second from left, was a silver medal winner at the Master Bowlers Association of Canada Nationals Championships. Members of the Teaching Ladies team are (L-R) Courtney Forsyth, Bekah, Kim Cronier, Pam Gergley, Kendal Hole and coach Brenda Pankoff. For more details, please see Page 5.