Real Estate Brokerage
263 Chestnut Street
Spotless 2 storey with main floor family room.
February 7, 2013 Volume 8 No. 40
Drive Clean not useful - Yurek
Emissions test
Health unit gets new home Cold weather hasn’t of the new Elgin
MPP Jeff Yurek
If you’re one of the drivers caught in the new rules for Ontario’s Drive Clean program, MPP Jeff Yurek can sympathize. “I think at this point they should be taking the money that’s invested in this program and use it elsewhere to help our economy turn around.” The program, started 13 years ago under then Premier Mike Harris, now collects $30 million from automobile owners in Ontario. This number comes from the 2012 Auditor General’s report. A report that Jeff says questions the effectiveness of the program. The number of phone calls he’s received on this issue this month alone backs that question. “I’ve had numerous calls, emails and Facebook messages concerning the emissions testing. I tell you, all of last year I may have gotten one or two, so the fact that the Auditor General came out with her report at the end of 2012 and now my office is receiving numerous complaints on the program, that raises quite a bit of red flags.” Ron Buchanan of Ron’s Auto, a licensed e-test facility, sees things differently. “First of all, the program is viable and it is needed. People do no maintain their vehicles.” He says the point of the program is “to See EMISSIONS/page 2
SUPER SPECIALS Chinese New Year (February 10)
& Valentine’s Day
See page 5 for details or call 519-633-6500
219,900.00
$
519-633-1640 • www.theweeklynews.ca
The new Public Health building is right on schedule, so says Dave Warden, Chair of the Board of Health for Elgin-St. Thomas. “It’s our hope to be moved in by midNovember of this year. Child and Family Services take over that [former] building on December 31, 2013.” Family and Children Services of St. Thomas and Elgin will be moving into the building that currently houses the health unit on Edward Street, where they have been operating from for the past 20 years. What this new building means for residents is upgraded services, as staff will finally have the room to run the increased number of programs the public health departments deals with. An earlier report identified a need for 30,000 square feet of space to have programs run effectively. Dave says various proper-
slowed construction at the site St. Thomas Public Health building
Nick 527 Talbot Street,Visscher St. Thomas, Broker of Record 519-637-2300 Call/text 519-933-4714 www.elginwebsite.com www.elginrealty.ca
More space needed for gardens
Good growing
Long-term food sustainability that has low impact is what Brigitte Cosens wants. That’s why Brigitte, a founding member of the Community Gardens group in St. Thomas, is looking to open a third green space in the City of St. Thomas. It’s also why she needs input from residents on where it would be possible to have such a garden. A nurse by day, and health-conscious at all times, Brigitte found herself, along with husband Mark, attending a meeting in London held to gauge the interest in setting up a community gardening program in St. Thomas. There she met a few like-minded individuals and so the From left, are: Mike Miedema, Hira Vice President, Justin Harper, Hira Senior Project Manager, group was formed. The first garden Cynthia St. John, Executive Director, ESTPH, Heather Jackson, Mayor of St. Thomas, Jack Coucklocation the group acquired was on uyt, Mayor of Aylmer and vice chair of the Board of Health, Dave Warden, Board of Health Chair, Isabel Street in St. Thomas. When Elgin County Warden Cameron McWilliam, Tom Bes, Hira Project Manager, Dr. Frank Warsh, Acting that didn’t work out, they moved Medical Office of Health for ESTPH and McMichael Ruth, architect with Tillman Ruth Robinson. to their permanent homes at Kains ties were looked at during the process, tractors in November 2012. The same and St. Catharine and First Avenue. but the new site at 1230 Talbot Street company is responsible for building the Anyone who knows of a good lowas chosen because it’s still accessible Husky – Car/Truck stop near Belmont cation for a third garden can call to residents, and at just under three and Presstran Industries - Expansion. Brigitte at 519-637-6390 or email acres there will be room for future needs “Everything’s right on budget and will her at stthomascommunitygarden@ and expansion, if necessary. remain that way,” says Dave. “I will make hotmail.com Elgin County Warden Cameron Mc- sure that it stays on budget.” Currently the group, started in William congratulated board of health Two of the main factors for determin- 2010, has 52 gardeners, more than members and staff, telling them how im- ing the best site included if it was ac- 100 people who visit the site and portant it is that the city has good health cessible (on a bus route) and that it was two pieces of land on which to garand welfare in order to make it grow. clean. den. Each piece of land is divided So far, the project is coming in on Ground for the new building was bro- into 10 by 10 plots, as well as some budget. Ten million dollars was set aside ken on January 30, 2013 and architects, See GOOD GROWING/page 2 to see the project through from begin- HIRA representatives, local officials and ning to end, including the $6.8 million members of the Board of Health and construction tender awarded to local Public Health were in attendance. construction firm HIRA General Con-
Caring Cupboard thanks community
With monetary donations up over Christmas, but food donations down overall, Caring Cupboard Manager Brian Burley wants to thank everyone who donated, stressing that without donors, there
After 7 incredible years, it’s time for a well deserved rest...
would be many people in the county who would go home hungry. So far St. Thomas has been fortunate in that area. Since 2008, the food bank has had a 16 per cent rise in need, not including this Janu-
ary, one of the busiest Brian can remember. “This January, just this month, it was the busiest January we’ve ever had. I know Christmas is hard on everyone, so it doesn’t surprise me
that it’s up, but it’s the busiest one yet and I hope it doesn’t stay at this level.” If the numbers stay high, Brian says the Caring Cupboard will have to look at
St.Thomas/Elgin
See CARING CUPBOARD/page 2
GOING OUT OF BUSINESS
INVENTORY LIQUIDATION
www.new2youauto.ca
Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat. 8am-3pm
1- January 31, 2013 - St. Thomas - Elgin Weekly News
St.Thomas/Elgin