The Creemore
ECHO
Friday, May 29, 2020 Vol. 20 No. 22
www.creemore.com
News and views in and around Creemore
INSIDE THE ECHO
The Bottom Line
Business Time
PAGE 7
PAGE 5
COVID-19 financial impacts tallied
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Fountain sculpture moved to storage
Library goes curbside Abbey Scott photo
The Children’s Dress-up Dance bronze sculpture was removed from the fountain Tuesday. It will be stored until it can be replaced on its base in its new place in the Village Green.
Masks now recommended when shopping by Trina Berlo Wearing cloth masks and finding a new kind of normal life are all part of learning to live with COVID-19, says Dr. Charles Gardner, Medical Officer of Health, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. It is now recommended that people wear masks when interacting with others. Gardner said formerly, the health community’s position was that masks may be useful in situations where physical distancing is difficult, but that there were risks associated with wearing a mask improperly because it causes the wearer to touch their face more often. Now, it is
recommended that homemade cloth masks be worn when in close contact with others, reserving medical masks for professionals and patients. “It’s important to know that the evidence shows that if they’re helpful, they’re helpful in preventing transmission from the wearer to other people and not the other way around,” said Gardner, noting all the other precautions need to be taken. Ministry of Health has released specific recommendations on how to choose, wear and care for appropriate face coverings used in public where physical distancing is not possible. Gardner said modeling has shown
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CYLINDER REFILLS
Clearview parks re-open with restrictions Clearview parks, including dog parks, are open to the public, but playground equipment, washrooms and changerooms remain closed. Clearview Township continues to take direction from the Ontario Government, the County of Simcoe and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. On Tuesday, the province announced, “the government is permitting the reopening of some outdoor recreational amenities, including outdoor sports facilities and multi-use fields, offleash dog areas, and outdoor picnic sites, benches and shelters in parks and recreational areas… Outdoor playgrounds, play structures and equipment, fitness equipment, public swimming pools, splash pads and similar outdoor water facilities will remain closed until later stages of the province’s reopening plan.”
Village Green site prep begins, fountain to be relocated by Trina Berlo On Tuesday, Creemore’s iconic Children’s Dress-up Dance bronze sculpture by Ralph Hicks was removed from its fountain base to allow for site prep work on the Village Green. The sculpture will be kept in storage until it can be replaced on the fountain in its new location. The fountain is to be moved to the south, beside the Bank Café, and will be located beside water jets, to create a water feature where children can play. The stage, will now be located beside the grocery store parking lot, for better protection from the weather, sound, and sightlines. Its arched roof design has been inspired by the interior of old train stations. Stuart Lazier of Creemore Community Foundation, the proponents of the park redesign, said the cost estimate of the park project is up to $1.6 million. After the closure of (See “Proponents” on page 3)
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that isolation has prevented 24,700 cases in Simcoe Muskoka. He said the local incidence rate continues to decline, while the province overall is seeing an increase in confirmed cases. The doubling rate has increased to 86.5 days, compared to 32.7 the week prior, which is a good indicator that the spread of the virus is slowing. The total number of cases reported as of May 28 is 460, with 80 per cent of people having recovered. There haven't been any new deaths this week related to COVID-19. Total deaths remains at 36. Seven people (See “Testing” on page 9)
Clearview Public Library will be offering curbside service at its Creemore and New Lowell branches as of June 10. Curbside service for pick-up and drop-off will be available Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Materials can be requested by phone to the Creemore Branch, at 705-4663011, or the New Lowell Branch, at 705-424-6288, or reserved online at www.clearview.library.on.ca. Check out times will be scheduled in 20-minute windows. Materials will be placed in a paper bag, along with the receipt, on a table inside the entrance at the pre-arranged time, when staff will greet patrons through the closed door. Should someone miss their window, the material will be brought back into the branch and an alternate date/time for pick-up will be arranged. The Stayner Branch will remain closed until the move to the new facility at 269 Regina Street is complete. The inter-library loan service will remain closed.