The Chatham Voice, Jan. 26, 2017

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Bruce Corcoran/The Chatham Voice

Rob Devitt, left, and Ken Dean – the supervisor and interim CEO of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance respectively – meet with local media Jan. 18 to discuss progress in revamping oversight at the alliance.

Cash problems at CKHA

By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com

The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance is broke, but not broken.

At an informal meeting with members of the local media on Jan. 18, Rob Devitt, the supervisor of the health alliance, and Ken Deane, the interim CEO, said the alliance is running on empty.

Following years of operating at a deficit under previous overseers,

the CKHA has rung up $10 million in a line of credit and will get no more money from the bank.

Instead, they asked and received a cash advance from the province, getting March cash flow for January.

Deane said he anticipates that by the end of March and the fiscal year, the CKHA will have run a $3 million deficit.

“This is a result of recurring deficits and money spent on equip-

ment,” he said.

It is frustrating and has to stop, Deane and Devitt added.

“We’re spending money on interest each month that does nothing for patient care,” Devitt said. “We are going to work with staff and the physicians to work out a solution.”

If nothing changes, they predict the hospital would face an annual deficit of $8 million by 2018-19.

Continued on page 2

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Two days after fire ravaged three St. Clair Street businesses, all were up and running to some extent.

The building housing Sacwal Flooring, Ideal Decorating and the Lighting & Accent Gallery was gutted by fire Jan. 15, but they had temporary business locations for various elements of their operations, some a literal stone’s throw away from their former location, by the afternoon of Jan. 17.

Ed Caldwell and family at Caldwell Brand Source, right next door on St. Clair Street, welcomed all three businesses inside his operation. Al Birkby and his Ideal team, as well as Jim Kelly and his Lighting & Accent family set up shop on an elevated platform in Caldwell Brand Source.

Canquest hooked up their phone lines, while Maple City Office Equipment brought in desks.

Monica Massa of Ideal said the support from the community – from businesses and the public – has been incredible.

“They graciously opened their doors for us until we nail down a longer-term temporary location un-

til we can rebuild,” she said of Caldwell. “Caldwell has been awesome.

And on Sunday, Re/Max (business neighbours on the other side) opened the doors for us to meet with insurance brokers and all that stuff. The ongoing support is amazing.”

Alanna Aarssen, co-owner of Sacwal Flooring Centres, said her staff has been scattered somewhat, as the sales team is set up in a boardroom inside the municipal economic development office, while an offsite warehouse is being set up to receive product. The support from the community helped make the effort to find temporary locations easier.

“I would like to thank everyone for their outpouring of concern,” she said. “Businesses have pulled together to help us and our customers have been really patient.”

Massa said their customers have been incredible as well.

“Our clients have been pouring in. We’ve had so many good responses that way,” she said. “The community is really pulling for us.”

Caldwell was happy to help out the businesses.

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THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 2

News

$8 million in reductions sought; hope to preserve service levels

Continued from page 1

Deane said the alliance will conduct a benchmark analysis to look at the efficiency of all elements of operations. The goal is to find ways to save $8 million in annual spending by the end of April for the 1,300-employee, $140-million operation.

Deane thinks it is possible to reach that $8 million reduction target without impacting service or staffing, as other similar-sized hospital operations are providing the same level of service for between $5.1 million and $9 million less in annual spending.

Devitt has been in the supervisory role since late summer, appointing Deane as acting CEO shortly after his arrival. Both admitted there has been a great deal of progress to date, as they review how the alliance has operated, and enact changes.

Several key changes have al-

ready taken place, as the former administration has been downsized, and new positions created and filled. Lori Marshall will take over as CEO April 1, and Dr. Pervez Faruqi is the new chief of medical staff.

Faruqi has been a consultant pediatrician at CKHA since 2010 and has held the role of chief of pediatrics since 2013.

“We sat down with our medical leaders to completely redesign the leadership structure,” Devitt said. “I’ve never before done this significant of a reorg. We’ve had just outstanding leadership from the physicians.”

Deane said the whistleblower hotline is up and running, and overseen by a third party to help ensure anonymity. He said he views it as a Neighbourhood Watch of sorts.

“We are going to keep watch on our assets and resources.

Bruce Corcoran/The Chatham Voice

Provincially appointed overseers for the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance say they have inherited a hospital running deeply in the red and an alliance that suffered from poor governance.

We’re collectively protecting our neighbourhood,” he said.

“We’re working to strengthen our workplace and have a good foundation moving forward.”

Taking over after years of operational deficits at the alliance, and a tri-board that looked more like a dysfunctional family than the directors of a hospital, hasn’t been an easy task.

“Three organizations working on two sites is unique,” Devitt said.

“But there are lots of similarities in our supervisory situation. When I look at other organizations, I see a lot of April 1 Space is limited - $20/table overlap, but also a lot of m p 1 8am uniqueness.”

Deane said having three hospital boards All proceeds go to seniors’ programming at the ALC added a degree of complexity to governance more information, contact Jan Reinhardus at the ALC at for the alliance.

519-352-5633 or janreinhardus.alc@ciaccess.com “There is usually a unified view, and that wasn’t the case here,” he 519-352-5633 • 20 Merritt Ave., Chatham said.

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Campus of the alliance in Wallaceburg is an integral element.

Some changes are underway there, as the top two floors are now locked down, with everything taking place on the main floor at this point.

“Sydenham hospital is an important part of our rural health strategy,” Deane said. “We’re working to identify opportunities to redevelop the site into an affordable package. We need to determine what services can be located on that site, as we want to broaden its impact on the community.”

Devitt said the idea is to identify concerns at the facility and work to strengthen it.

The CKHA is also working to create a rural health advisory committee, with members coming from key players in local health care, such as the family health teams, public health, and various geographical sectors of the community. Deane and Devitt hope to see the committee in place in about eight weeks.

Devitt said it will consist of between 12 and 15 people.

“The big issues are accessibility

Fatima Pisquem Distro/Class - Ext.223 fatima@chathamvoice.com

and income inequity,” he said.

“These create a whole different set of problems you just don’t see at larger city hospitals.”

In terms of direct feedback from the public, the alliance overseers have set up askckha. com. The website has financial and governance tabs where visitors can learn more about hospital operations and oversight, and interact with the alliance.

“We’re asking for ideas, comments and questions to better engage the community,” Devitt said.

That includes feedback on the future governance model for the CKHA. There is no mandate to continue with the tri-board structure, for example.

“Our mandate just says, ‘Fix it,’” Devitt said.

He said he could not understate the need to properly rebuild hospital oversight.

“The importance of good governance is crucial to the success of any operation,” he said. “Bad governance usually leads organizations to get off track. Good governance usually leads to becoming an industry leader.”

Michelle Owchar Graphics - Ext.226 michelle@chathamvoice.com

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 3

News

New mega-schools for Chatham?

Option A for Catholic board: Close 6 elementary schools, open 2 new ones

By Mary Beth Corcoran mary@chathamvoice.com

After reviewing options for the future of Catholic elementary schools in Chatham, the Pupil Accommodation Review Committee (PARC) is recommending six of the seven schools be closed and two new schools built, one in north Chatham and one in south Chatham.

In an e-mailed letter to parents of Catholic elementary school students, Director of Education Dan Parr discussed the recommendation of the committee and the process that will follow.

A public meeting with the PARC committee and board staff is being held Jan. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Ursula to present the details of the recommendation from the Initial Staff

Support pours in for fire victims

have a lot on our plate.”

“We’re neighbours. It’s Massa said at Ideal they right next door so they were able to determine can keep an eye on what’s what inventory was lost going on,” he said. “We and to whom it was desjust wanted to help.” tined. They are already Thanks to telephones reordering the items. and the Internet, all three She said she and Birkbusinesses are still func- by anticipate being back tioning. to doing installations as “ We ’ r e early as the fully op- “I would like to thank end of the erationweek. everyone for their al. We just “We’re redon’t have outpouring of conordering our loca- cern. Businesses have and people tion,” Mas- pulled together to help are telling sa said. “A us and our customus they arshowroom en’t worers have been really is great to ried,” she have, but patient.” said. “Our we work - Sacwal’s Alanna Aarssen c l i e n t s with people have been on other levels as well. so understanding. It’s We go out to people’s awesome. They won’t be homes.” without their product for Kelly agreed, adding long.” while they don’t yet have Aarssen said Sacwal inventory, customers can personnel are reaching still choose items off their out to its clients as well. website, lightingandac“We will be working centgallery.com. diligently to contact our “We still have our low- customers to make arest price guarantee,” he rangements to get their said. “We still have that material in,” she said. electronic presence.”

To contact Sacwal FloorFor all three operations, ing Centres, call 519-354it’s back to business as 6121. they look for a temporary To reach the folks at Idehome and make plans to al Decorating, call 519rebuild.

351-8500.

Shannon Kelly of the For the Lighting & AcLighting & Accent Gal- cent Gallery, it’s 519-354lery said they are work- 4456. ing to fill orders that The end goal at this time were already placed, is to build a new home at and encourages custom- the same spot on St. Clair ers to call in and remind Street. them of any outstanding “This is a great location orders “because we still in a great community. We

Report from last September.

In addition to building two new schools, the French Immersion students currently at Monsignor Uyen would be transferred to Our Lady of Fatima, the youngest of the school buildings in Chatham, built in 1978.

“The Pupil Accommodation Review Committee (PARC) for the Chatham Catholic elementary

schools completed its review, involving the school communities of Our Lady of Fatima, St. Vincent, St. Agnes, Monsignor Uyen, St. Joseph, St. Ursula and Georges P. Vanier,” Parr said in his letter. “After a full and vigorous review, which involved an extensive examination of reports and data regarding the current school facilities; considering and weighing questions and

concerns of parents; and assessing what is in the best interests of Catholic students for the future, the PARC has come to the consensus that it supports Option A, as outlined in the Initial Staff Report.”

The PARC also identified some additional considerations, should the Board of Trustees vote to move forward with Option A, Parr stated. Superintendent of Education Deb

Crawford, who has acted as Chair of the PARC, will now prepare a report on behalf of PARC members, which will be submitted to Trustees on Feb. 14. The Board of Trustees will make its decision on the future of Catholic education in Chatham at its regular meeting March 28. The final decision regarding any future capital projects rests with the Ministry of Education.

Continued from page 1

Bruce Corcoran/The Chatham Voice

The office of the Ontario Fire Marshall concluded the fire that destroyed the location of three local businesses, Sacwal Flooring, Ideal Decorating and the Lighting & Accent Gallery recently was accidental. It has left the three businesses without a permanent home.

will rebuild,” Aarssen said.

Meanwhile, their tem-

porary host – Caldwell – suffered some loss from the fire as well. He said

a room full of high-end mattresses suffered extensive smoke and heat

damage, estimating his losses at between $80,000 and $100,000.

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PAGE 4

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26,2017

News

1.96% tax hike on the table for C-K But a 2.59% hike would mean no more bridge closures, GM Kelly says

years, we’ll be in plan.

“This is a big “Our infrastructure a better position, step forward for assets still have a long though,” he said.

Thomas Kelly, Municipal councillors received our community,” way to go before they general manager their first look at the 2017 draft he said. are fully funded. Over He added there the next several years, of infrastructure budget Wednesday night, and and engineering are faced with a potential tax is a pressing need services, lobbied increase of nearly two per cent. to increase the we’ll be in a better council at the Chatham-Kent CAO Don funding for infra- position, though.”

- C-K CAO Don Shropshire meeting to comShropshire said the 1.96 per cent structure. mit the one per “Our infrastrucproposed tax increase includes the one per cent commitment to ture assets still have a long cent increase to infrastructure. increase funding to infrastruc- way to go before they are fully He also brought forward an alture via the asset management funded. Over the next several ternative proposal to help fund bridges at a faster rate.

Kelly recommended the approval of $3.5 million be transferred from reserves to go towards bridge repair funding.

And he also wanted a three-year 0.63 per cent increase applied directly to bridges.

With that funding increase, Kelly said the municipality’s bridge issues would vanish.

Don’t let your pet’s paws freeze!

By 2018, the current inventory of 825 bridges The snow, cold, ice and wind aren’t just a nuisance for humans, our pets can would remain open, also suffer from these rough winter conditions. While some smaller animals are including 22 municipal perfectly content to spend most of their time indoors, other animals like dogs bridges that are curlove to be outside in the fresh air. It’s a pleasure they should not be denied.

But how can you keep them safe during the cold weather? The following tips can rently at risk of being closed. Two bridges – help. one on Morris Line and The first thing you have to keep in mind is how long your pet spends outside. the other on Pollard – The younger and healthier your pet, the longer it’ll be able to tolerate the cold. would be repaired to a The animal’s race, breeding and even its personality will also influence this load-posted state. One time period. The best way to gauge the right amount of time is to watch the of the aging bridges inanimal’s reactions when the two of you are outdoors. If your pet seems to be side Maple Leaf Cemeuncomfortable, inactive or uninterested, it’s time to bring it indoors. tery in Chatham would Then there are environmental factors such as deep freezes and storms, which also remain a vehicular will certainly cut the animal’s outdoor time short. Roads that have been salted bridge, while the other can also irritate your pet’s paws. would become a pedesIf despite having taken these precautions you notice that your pet’s paws are trian-only crossing. injured or have accumulated ice, wipe them off with a damp cloth to soothe In terms of infrastructhem. You can also wrap its paws in a warm blanket if you suspect the animal ture funding, bridges has gotten too cold. Having said that, however, never use warming accessories and culverts don’t even to warm up your top the list of areas that pet because they are the most underfundcan burn the skin. ed. That dubious honour Finally, you might goes to municipal roads, want to consider followed by storm sewbuying your pet ers and then bridges and Tire New & Used Tires culverts. Road funding a fitted coat and Repairs Top Notch Service boots. You ap$15 That’s Just How We Roll! preciate wearing 10 Indian Creek Rd. East these warm items Chatham ( Just. E of Queen) 519-351-3636 in the winter and so will your pet!

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By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com

is more than $28.6 million, or 20 per cent; ag$15 million ricultural $10.7 million, or eight short each per cent; and industrial $6 milyear, Turner lion, or four per cent. said, while Chatham Coun. Derek Robertstorm sewer son, chair of the budget comwork is about mittee, was impressed with the $12.6 million proposed budget. In the past, short, and the municipal service review bridges and efforts at times placed some culverts are Derek Robertson controversial services and infrashorted by structure, such as the Bothwell more than $8.5 million annually. Arena last year, on the closure Mike Turner, the municipali- list. Not so this time around. ty’s chief financial officer, said “I thought the feel of the meetthe pressures on the budget this ing was radically different than year came from the Consumer from past meetings,” he said.

Price Index’s 1.7% “This budget increase for op- “This budget does not does not threaterational needs, threaten the interests en the interests and approval for of our large and i n f r a s t r u c t u r e of our large and small small commuspending. There communities. We don’t nities. We don’t is also 1.31% hike have the ugliness of a have the ugliness coming from list where we are clos- of a list where approved coun- ing libraries and pools. we are closing licil decisions, as braries and pools. well as the Low- We can really get down We can really get er Thames Valley to business in a hurry.” down to business Conservation Au- - Coun. Derek Robertson in a hurry.” thority’s budget Next up for the increase. The financing for the budget process are the open asset management plan also houses around the municipaliadds one per cent in spending ty next week. All begin at 4:30 for infrastructure. p.m. and staff will present the Assessment growth, increased budget information briefly at 5 funding from the province and p.m. uploading of Ontario Works On Jan. 24, open houses take items to the province helped place at the Brunner Centre on lower the combined figure for Wallace Street in Thamesville the proposed 2017 budget to the and Ryder Hall of the Tilbury 1.96 per cent mark.

Arena on Bond Avenue. On Assessment on the average Jan. 25, the Blenheim District home in CK, a $163,000 bunga- High School Cafeteria on Chalow, was $3,039 in 2016, includ- tham Street in Blenheim and ing school taxes. If approved, the Wallaceburg municipal ofthe proposed 1.96 per cent in- fice on Dufferin Avenue play crease would add about $60 to host to open houses. The Active that amount.

Lifestyle Centre hosts the final Residential taxes made up 68 budget open house at its Merper cent of tax revenue from ritt Street location in Chatham municipal sources last year, on Jan. 26. comprising more than $97 milFollowing the municipal staff lion of the more than $143 mil- presentations will be the opporlion collected locally. tunity for Q&A sessions with Commercial taxes made up the public.

THE CHATHAM VOICE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

PAGE 5

News

United Way raises $1.7M

By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com

There were a lot of sevens, but no nine.

Contributed image With a $1.9-million goal this Members of the United Way of Chatham-Kent Youth Committee unveil the $1,707,707 total raised in this year’s campaign at a breakfast Friday. year, the United Way of Chatham-Kent announced Friday place Jan. 20 at the Links of Kent face each and every day. I also United Way’s funded programs ception was that once the campaign ends, there was about six morning the campaign raised at a breakfast meeting, spon- realize how lucky we are to have and services in 2017,” he said.

The money raised by the cam- months in down time. $1,707,707, nearly $200,000 short sored by Advanced Realty Solu- organizations like the United “In reality, the campaign gets of its goal. tions, Ross Insurance Brokers Way making a difference in the paign will start being distributlives of the people living right ed locally almost immediately. us the most attention, but there Tom Slager, Director of Re- Inc., and 94.3 CKSY. United Way volunteers will re- is just as much work going on source Development for the Slager credits co-chairs Patricia here in Chatham-Kent.”

Wright and Pratt both received view funding applications and with the delivery of services and United Way Wright and Steve Chatham-Kent, “It is what it is. We Pratt for doing a assistance from the United Way make recommendations to the review of the funding,” he said. thanked the com- worked really hard great job leading at points in their lives. Pratt said United Way Board of Directors “We also go through every single thing that happened in the munity for its sup- and faced some big this year’s cam- he appreciates the chance to give in the coming weeks. back.

For Slager, the work never campaign and review them to port. paign.

“If I had to sum up the 2016 really stops. He said the per- see what can be done better.”

“It takes thou- challenges. Things can “They were with one sands of people to change. Sometimes amazing. A bond campaign make this work. you know those chang- formed between word, it would be ‘gratWe really appreci- es are going to happen them during the itude’ – gratitude for ate how so many and you can plan for campaign. They the countless volunteers people stepped could split up and who donated their time up and made this them. But when you divide and con- to serve on our camhappen,” he said don’t, you can’t.” quer. They had paign cabinet, running - United Way’s Tom Slager of the campaign. complete trust in a workplace campaign Despite falling one another,” he or a special event; gratishort, Slager said he was very said. “They were fantastic, in- tude for the courageous proud of the campaign team and spiring people to be around in individuals who came forward and shared their proud of the dollars raised. the campaign.”

“It is what it is. We worked realWright was happy to be in- deeply personal stories with strangers, family, ly hard and faced volved. some big challeng- “I am very proud of “It was an hon- friends, co-workers and es,” he said, de- what our community our to be a part neighbours to help them clining to go into was able to accomof the United understand the real imspecifics. “Things plish, thanks to an Way campaign. pact donors make on the can change. SomeI am very proud lives of the recipients of times you know amazing team effort.” of what our com- their contributions; and those changes are - Co-chair Patricia Wright munity was able most importantly, gratPlus EDF & Tax going to happen to accomplish, itude for everyone who and you can plan for them. But thanks to an amazing team ef- chose to invest their Add a Tire Rotation for $15 00 when you don’t, you can’t. We fort,” Wright said. “It was an hard-earned dollars to (regular $29 95) just had some unforeseeable incredible experience and it re- support the children, inthings happen.” ally opens your eyes to the hard- dividuals and families The campaign touchdown took ships people in our community who may need to access

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Continuing to give back to her community, Christine Fairbairn will be hosting a second free dental hygiene day next month.

A registered dental hygienist, Fairbairn officially opened the doors to her new clinic in Chatham, Bright Smiles Community Dental Hygiene, in July of 2016 and started Give Where You Live.

The program is designed to

provide dental hygiene services to people in the community who may not have the resources to get proper dental care.

On Feb. 13, Fairbairn, in partnership with the Chatham Kent Public Health Unit, will host the free dental hygiene day at her clinic.

“We will be providing free dental cleanings and fluoride treatments to adults in our community as well as free toothbrushes and toothpaste

for families, Healthy Smiles sign up, and information on oral health,” Fairbairn said.

If you or a family you know would benefit from this day, please call Fairbairn at Bright Smiles to book an appointment at 519–351–0711.

A Chatham native, Fairbairn’s goal is to not only own and operate her own business, but to help people in her community who need it, but can’t necessarily afford it.

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THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 6

Budget choices await After hearing from the public during this week’s budget open houses, municipal council gets down to business next week, shaping the 2017 budget.

Staff came forward recently with a draft budget that contained a proposed 1.96-per-cent hike. Starting below two per cent is pretty aggressive, especially when you consider more than half of that is to start improving funding to our aging infrastructure. For years, bridges, storm sewers, roads, etc., repeatedly got pushed to the rear.

Other shinier budget issues tend to get to the front of the line. Council traditionally handles them, sees where it stands in terms of a proposed tax increase, and then deals with lifecycle infrastructure funding, or lack thereof. Delaying or underfunding lifecycle spending has left the municipality shorting infrastructure maintenance and replacement to the tune of about $44 million a year, as it barely covers half of what staff says is warranted.

So, not only did staff come forward with the proposed increase that sends funding to infrastructure, Thomas Kelly, general manager of infrastructure and engineering services, told council if it added 0.63 per cent to the proposed increase – shifting it up to 2.59 per cent as a starting point – something special could happen.

No more bridges in the municipality would close. We have in excess of 800 of them across Chatham-Kent. Five have closed already and 22 more are on the cutting block for the near future.

Furthermore, some of the bridges with the biggest price tags – such as the Lord Selkirk Bridge in Wallaceburg and the Third and Fifth street bridges in Chatham – are due up for repair or replacement in the coming years.

Kelly’s proposal is to pull $3.5 million in reserve funding that was earmarked for other infrastructure work that council recently shot down and put it to bridge maintenance, along with the 0.63 per cent increase and a portion of the overall infrastructure increase.

Now, we’ll wait and see how council proceeds.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 26,2017

Opinion

More benefits from teaching style Sir: I couldn’t wait to get home to read “Helping students live their faith,” in the Jan. 19 Chatham Voice.

I read it three times no less, but sensed something was missing.

What exactly was it that Steve Churchill, the Grade 11 university English teacher wanted to create for his students “that will leave them forever changed?”

I certainly agree it’s not Shakespeare. Good grief, I’m a great grandmother and I had to endure that stuff way back when.

Commendable as solving community problems of poverty and hunger are, however, and not

said disparagingly, even Jesus said, “the poor you’ll always have with you, but you’ll not always have Me,” Matthew 26:11.

I believe the ‘missing link’ for Churchill is found in a book much older than Shakespeare’s, but one which is as current as today’s headline news, namely the Bible.

I also believe it was the truths recorded in this book that prompted Grade 11 Ursuline College student Madison Herreweyers to form a pro-life club.

From Genesis to Revelation, young people will

find everything they need to understand who they are, why they’re here, and where they’re going. It even includes a guide to show them the way.

How exciting the English class will be when boys and girls read, write, talk, and study poetry, wisdom literature, prophecy fulfilled and yet to be fulfilled, the patriarchs, history, creation, and the words of Jesus spoken as He walked on this earth approximately 1 to 33 A.D. Using 21st century skills as Dan Parr, Director of Education suggested, they will be on the

cutting edge to study the Bible’s relevancy, reliability, and its historical and geographical authenticity.

Imagine their joy when events happening in Israel, Jerusalem, Lebanon, Jordan or Gaza, etc., are reported on the TV channels of our nation and they know these same places from their Bible studies!

These are the truths that will “leave them forever changed.”

Steve Churchill, you are a remarkable teacher!

Your students are blessed to have you.

Anne Stewart Wallaceburg

Toxic dump on Trump fails: reader Sir: Poor looser Democrats just couldn’t take it like men. Obama’s ongoing rhetorical gibberish, claiming that investigations into Russia’s suspect interference in the past U.S. election had nothing to do with the fact that his side lost,

was yet another last minute surge to halt Trump’s inauguration.

In Obama’s final year-end press conference he claimed to have threatened Vladimir Putin with consequences regarding this

delusion last September in China.

What a courageous claim now that he’s on his way out.

I wonder is that the same China that forced Obama to exit his presidential jet through the

buttock of his plane as an act of disrespect to the U.S.? I can’t see Trump doing that.

In their secular bewilderment, the Democrats still don’t get it.

Brock Turner Chatham

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THE CHATHAM VOICE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

PAGE 7

Voice Homes

Your Dream Home awaits you . . .

Published within The Voice paper every Thursday!

Call today for advertising rates!

519-397-2020 darlene@chathamvoice.com • bruce@chathamvoice.com

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Jim McLachlin

519-358-3984

Broker

519-352-7781

Res:

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BROKERAGE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

email: jm4homes@ciaccess.com • website:www.chathamontariohomes.com

Newly Listed

66 Molengraaf Way

This Ewald built home has it all . . . hardwoods, lovely master with ensuite, 2 +1 bedrooms, huge family room with fireplace, loads of storage and ready for you. $349,900.

NOW IS THE TIME TO LIST AND CAPTURE THE SPRING MARKET. CALL ME TODAY FOR A NO OBLIGATION CONSULTATION

Just on the edge of the city, backing on the river, 3 to 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 1/2 car garage, nearly an acre and no traffic. This is a large home ideal for the growing family. $364,900

This is a very clean unit with updated flooring, updated kitchen, 2 bedrooms and backing onto the parking lot. Uniquely, it has its own laundry. Condo fees $215 per month including heat. $106,900.

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Deborah (Deb) Rhodes Sales Representative

Successfully Selling Real Estate Full Time Since 1989 DIRECT: 519-401-5470 • debrhodes@royallepage.ca

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9091 McDowell Line

Condo

$99,900 975 Grand Ave. W.

Just Listed

Large building on large lot with many potential uses just a minute from Ridgetown. High traffic location. Building and lot only for sale. Does not include business.

Glitter’s Fun Eatery - 162 King St. W. -

Here’s your chance to own this popular Downtown Chatham eatery landmark!! Close to Capital Theatre and New High Rise Condo development. Owner is retiring. Phenomenal Yearly Sales. Call Deb for details

$5.00/FT.2

Mike Smyth Sales Rep.

15/21 McKeough Peifer Realty Inc.

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519-784-5470 34 Raleigh St.

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Exceptional professional office building with

Walking distance to Downtown core. Numerous uses great existing tenants. Building is being convertpermitted - restaurant, retail, office to name a few. Variance ed to gas heating. Special incentives offered for granted for closer set back to street line. Call Deb for details. first 2 general practitioners! Call Deb for details.

THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 8

CHATHAM OFFICE 34 Raleigh St.

Peifer Realty Inc.

519-354-5470 BLENHEIM OFFICE

BROKERAGE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

Kelly-Anne Appleton* 519-365-7155

Steve Carroll* 519-355-9774

42 Talbot St. W.

519-676-5444

D L SO 21665 MERLIN $424,900

Fabulous 4+1br, 2 storey home on paved road with numerous upgrades on a 1 ac lot in the country. Call David 519-350-1615.

Irene Dierckens* 519-437-5711

7627 RIVERVIEW LINE $729,900

Quality custom built home on a beautiful river lot.

Call Brian Peifer 519-436-2669.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

THE CHATHAM VOICE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

VISIT OUR BLOG! Stay up-to-date on home ownership.

www.royallepagechathamkent.com

Chatham-Kent MLS Sold Ends - for the year of 2016.

We sell more houses than any other office in Chatham-Kent.

Royal LePage Peifer has 35.2% of the Y-T-D market share of the combined top 5 brokerages in Chatham-Kent.

Source: MLS Data, Chatham-Kent Real Estate Board, January 04, 2017.

19386 FARGO, BLENHEIM $429,900 Stunning 4br, 2.5 bath 2 storey home renovated and added on to.

Call Elliot 519-358-8755 or Penny 519-360-0315.

36 BIRMINGHAM $665,000 Exquisite 5 + 1br, 3.5 bath Bouma built 2 storey backing onto the creek. Call Pat 519-360-0141.

136 TECUMSEH $439,000 Beautiful custom built 3+1br, 3 bath brick 2 storey home.

Call Brian Peifer 519-436-2669.

877 CHARING CROSS $925,000 Everything you could want! 5br, 2 storey with a beautiful yard.

Call Brian Peifer 519-436-2669.

PAGE 9

Serving Chatham-Kent Since 1968 Realtor On Duty

Monday-Friday 8:30am-6:00pm Saturday 9:00am-1:00pm

7 ST. ANDREWS $680,000 Beautiful custom built 3br, 3.5 bath executive stone rancher beautifully landscaped.

Call Wayne 519-436-4810.

Brian Peifer Broker of Record Cell 519-436-2669

Elizabeth Peifer* 519-436-8959

Amber Pinsonneault* 519-784-5310

Patrick Pinsonneault** 519-360-0141

Brian Preston* 519-355-9868

Deborah Rhodes* 519-401-5470

Bev Shreve** 519-358-8805

Brandice Smith* 226-626-4838

David Smith* 519-350-1615

Ron Smith* 519-360-7729

Larry Smyth** 519-355-8686

Michael Smyth* 519-784-5470

Patti Vermeersch* 519-355-6800

Carson Warrener* 519-809-2856

Cindy Weaver** 519-360-0628

Elliot Wilton* 519-358-8755

Penny Wilton** 519-360-0315

58 BLOSSOM $329,000 Brand new 4br, 4 bath 2 storey home. Over 2300 sq ft finished living space. Call Pat 519-360-0141.

Eric Fitzgerald* 519-436-4865

Includes High Grossing Business Ronald Franko** 519-355-8181

Catie Hawryluk* 519-809-4268

Michael Gibbons* 519-365-5634

New Listing 66 MOLENGRAAF $349,900 Beautiful 2+1br, 3 bath Ewald built bi-level, very well cared for.

Call Jim 519-358-3984.

20400 COUNTY RD 42, TILBURY • $1,400,000 Inventory & equipment incl. 60’x120’ all steel Vertec building on 4.77 acres at Hwy.401. 5 bay doors, 5 ton overhead crane. Call Ron 519-3607729 or Brandice 226-626-4838.

4628 TALBOT TRAIL $322,888 3 yr old 4br rancher on the Lake Erie bluffs. Call Brian K 519-3656090 or Chris 519-350-1402.

20438 KENESSERIE, RIDGETOWN • $596,000 Hobby farm on just over 5 ac’s.

Custom built 4br, 2 bath brick & stone bungalow. Call Brian Peifer 519-436-2669.

9091 MCDOWELL $364,900 3br, 2.5 bath ranch on a treed piece of paradise backing onto the River. Call Jim 519-358-3984.

9565 RIVER LINE $880,000 Five star executive 3br, 5 bath, brick 1.5 storey home on the Thames River. Call Amber 519-784-5310.

11523 RONDEAU, MORPETH $388,888 Completely renovated 3br, 2 bath 1862 sq ft ranch. Call Brian K 519-365-6090.

Brian Keenan* 519-365-6090

Industrial Wayne Liddy* 519-436-4810

George McDougall* 519-360-7334

June McDougall* 519-358-5199

Jim McLachlin** 519-358-3984

Sylvia Moffat** 519-355-8189

Ghassan (Gus) Najjar** 519-355-8668

Heather Najjar** 519-355-8666

Kristen Nead** 519-784-7653

929 CHARING CROSS $229,900 3br, 2 bath bi-level sitting on a 1/2 ac treed lot with many updates. Call Jim 519-358-3984.

10 HIDDEN VALLEY $227,900 Incredible 3br, 1.5 bath, 3 level side split completely renovated.

Call Wayne 519-436-4810.

Northside Location

Glitters Fun Eatery

15 / 21 MCKEOUGH $120,000 This property is zoned institutional.

Could be re-zoned to commercial or multi-unit residential.

Call Mike S 519-784-5470.

162 KING W $799,900 Thriving turnkey restaurant operating since 1983. Excellent sales with great profits. Call Deb R 519-401-5470.

915 RICHMOND $179,900 2.15 ac site on Richmond. Easy access to Hwy. 401. Zoned M1.

Call Bev 519-358-8805.

25 COURTYARD $299,000 Very spacious floor plan, enclosed lanai, double car garage, all brick with mature landscaping.

Call Sylvia 519-355-8189.

Chris Papple* 519-350-1402

V/L ANTRIM, HOWARD TWP $114,900 One of a kind 2.08 acre parcel backing onto Klondyke Creek.

Call Kristen 519-784-7653.

35 PRINCESS ST. S. $69,900 One floor 2br vinyl sided bungalow with very nice oak kitchen.

Call Brian Peifer 519-436-2669.

119 CARTIER $224,900 Spacious 4br raised rancher backing onto a farmer’s field.

Call Ron Franko 519-355-8181.

19170 DOUGLAS, BLENHEIM • $489,900 Incredible unique custom built 3br, 2 bath rancher on 1.19 ac lot near Lake Erie. Call Andrea 519-359-2482.

Vacant Lot 29971 OAKDALE $20,000 Large (3/4 acre) lot in Croton.

Quiet area & paved road.

Call Bev 519-358-8805.

200 KEIL S $499,000 11 Acres zoned industrial.

Call Mike Smyth 519-784-5470.

St. Clair Estates 72 HOLLAND $189,900 3br rancher with hardwoods, newer windows & detached garage. Call David 519-350-1615.

148 REGENCY $168,888 1248 sq.ft., 2br, 2 bath custom modular home with beautiful landscaping. Call Brian K 519-365-6090.

Steps from the beach!

Andrea Okopny* 519-359-2482

3 SOUTH HAMPTON $588,888 Unique 2+2br, 2.5 bath custom built sprawling brick rancher.

Call Eric 519-436-4865.

155 GRAND AVE. W. $199,900 Great business opportunity to take over an existing operation + the land & building. Call Brian Peifer 519-436-2669.

130 DUNKIRK $85,900 Mint, 2br, 2 bath, open concept with beautiful 3 season sunroom & many updates. Call Steve 519-355-9774.

15144 LONGWOODS, BOTHWELL • $139,900 Picture yourself in the country.

3br bungalow on a full ac lot.

Call Kristen 519-784-7653.

19393 CLEVELAND, CEDAR SPRINGS • $124,900 Great 2br home with attached garage & small work shop.

Call Penny 519-360-0315 or Elliot 519-358-8755.

18 - 18 1/2 HILLYARD $129,900 Spacious seperately metered duplex. Each unit has own laundry, c/a & furn. Call Andrea 519-359-2482.

6620 MIDDLE, S BUXTON $229,900 Completely refurbished 3br bungalow on a unique property on double lot. Call Gus 519-355-8668.

Immediate Possession

Don’t Miss Out!

86 VAN ALLEN $95,000 2br, 1 floor bungalow. Large kitchen with eating area. All appliances incl. Call June 519-358-5199.

17996 RONDEAU $179,000 Own a 3br waterfront cottage in Rondeau Park with endless sunsets. Call Larry 519-355-8686.

364 WELLINGTON W $179,000 Great location & well maintained brick triplex. All 1br units. Many improvements. Call Amber 519-784-5310.

41 ADELAIDE S $159,000 Well maintained triplex, great income property, all units rented.

Call Amber 519-784-5310.

Broker** Sales Representative *

THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 10

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26,2017

Voice Homes Peifer Realty Brokerage Independently Owned & Operated 42 Talbot St. W., Blenheim

Penny Wilton, Broker

519-360-0315 • penny@pennywilton.com

Elliot Wilton, Sales Rep.

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BEST of Chatham-Kent

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Stunning 4 BR, 2.5 bath country home with fenced yard & detached shop Open concept living, main floor master & awesome basement. Built beyond standards with many upgrades! $429,900

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NEW LISTING

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19386 Fargo Rd., Blenheim

90 Sleepy Meadow Dr., Blenheim 3 BR, 2 bath brick rancher. Open concept with vaulted ceilings and fireplace.

Premium hardwood and high end finishes.

Gorgeous landscaping! $379,900.

Serving the people Chatham-Kent for over 30 years!

Peifer Realty Inc. BROKERAGE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

Wayne Liddy, Sales Rep Cell 519-436-4810 email: wliddy@royallepage.ca

Open House - Sunday, January 29 • 1-3pm 10989 River Line $ 959,900

Situated on 3.2 acres on the water.

This 3,500 sq.ft. rancher boasts 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, huge great room, 20ft cathedral ceilings, gourmet kitchen, master 14’x 23’ with 225sq.ft. en suite. Also featuring guest/granny suite, 40’x48’ heated workshop, games room and wet bar. Constructed to I. C. S. standards. One of a kind home!

Don’t Miss Out!

151 Talbot St. W., Blenheim

Unique 2 + 1 BR, 2 bath century home. Large kitchen with patio access, tall ceilings and a main floor master. $159,900.

Open House - Sun. Jan. 29 1-3pm

44 Mary St., Thamesville

26 Jackson St., Blenheim 2 BR, 1 bath bungalow with a large kitchen area. Mud room at front and rear entrances. Nice size lot! $62,900

8 Chestnut St., Ridgetown Beautiful 3+1BR, 2 baths, 1.5 story home with lovely lot and low traffic location. Main floor master with full ensuite. Book your tour today! $189,900.

99 John St., Blenheim

Spacious 3 BR, 2 bath ranch. Massive living room & large master with ensuite.

Beautiful large lot with mature trees and gardens. $174,500.

4 BR, 1.5 bath. Main floor laundry, livingroom plus den and a lovely covered front porch. All bedrooms on same floor. $89,900.

103 Chatham St. N., Blenheim

14006 Talbot Trail, Chatham-Kent

Bright & conveniently located 3BR family home offers exceptional value. 2 living areas, main floor master, fenced yard & detached garage. $129,900.

One of a kind stone 2 storey home. This 5BR, 1.5 bath has irreplaceable wood work & wood floors. Mature trees & a distant view of Lake Erie make this 3.3 acre property magnificent. $349,900.

7 St. Andrew’s Pl. $ 680,000 Beautiful custom built 3 bdrm, 3 1/2 bath executive rancher.

Stone exterior w/ 3 car garage.

12’ ceiling with crown mouldings, open concept living/dining room.

Yard is beautifully landscaped, a totally private retreat. Master suite w/ bedroom, dressing room and 5pc. bath. Gourmet kitchen w/granite. Exercise room, media room, 21’x25’ storage/workshop.

This is a must to see.

for a virtual tour visit wayneliddy.com

Peifer Realty Inc.

BROKERAGE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

72 Holland Ave

Clean well cared for south side 3 BR rancher. Upgraded vinyl windows and exterior doors hardwood floors. Detached garage.

Call David for a personal viewing.

Merlin Rd

Over 3000 square feet of luxurious living. Oak hardwood flooring and crown moulding throughout. Stainless steel kitchen appliances and granite. 4 baths, finished basement up to 6 BR. Over an acre of grass. Seeing is believing.

David Smith Sales Representative

Peifer Realty Inc.

519-350-1615

BROKERAGE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

Cell:

Peifer Realty Inc.

BROKERAGE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

519-359-2482 Res:

519-354-4714

Looking for an investment?

Cell:

Patti

Business:

Sales Rep

519-355-6800 Vermeersch 519-354-5470

Have questions?

Need Advice?

Now is the time to call me!

Service and dedication are my mottos.

Andrea Okopny Sales Rep. Bus. 519-354-5470

Exceptional custom-built rancher with 3-bay garage.

Advertise for as low as $68/week

Look no further! Here is an upper and lower duplex where the tenants pay the utilities and each has their own FAG furnace, central air and in unit laundry.

Upper rents at $600 + utilities, lower rents at $657 + utilities. Call Andrea today for full details!

Wonderful 3 BR rancher with formal dining room, LR with cedar ceiling. Huge family room w/gas fireplace, office, laundry plus gourmet kitchen with granite and a new magnificent 3 season room overlooking the acre property. A one of a kind home that could be yours! Call Andrea at 519-359-2482 today!

Celebrating 38 years selling real estate. Hoping to serve you in 2017!

Delivered to over 19,000 homes Colour on every ad Local graphic artist for all your design needs!

Give us a call today! 519-397-2020

bruce@chathamvoice.com • darlene@chathamvoice.com

THE CHATHAM VOICE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

PAGE 11

News

Well group asks Ombudsman to investigate municipality

By Mary Beth Corcoran mary@chathamvoice.com

Mary Beth Corcoran/The Chatham Voice

Pete Hensel, a farmer in Dover, holds up a jar of his well water, which looks fine to the naked eye. It is the microparticles in the water that are of concern to him, from a well that has been just fine for close to 70 years.

Heavy metal levels worry Dover farmer

By Mary Beth Corcoran mary@chathamvoice.com

Dover farm owner Pete Hensel wants someone to care that his well water, good for close to 70 years, now has concerning levels of heavy metals.

At a press conference at his farm in the former Dover Twp., Hensel said he had his well water tested back in 2012, at a cost of $400, before wind turbine construction began around his property. He held up a jar of his water, which looked clear.

“Here is a sample of what my drinking water looks like now. To the naked eye, it is the same

as it looked back in 2012 before anything in my general area changed,” he said. “Almost all of the elements that were tested are higher in my 2016 analysis than they were in the 2012 analysis.”

Those elements include arsenic, barium, lead, selenium and uranium.

Some of the numbers he said, are not exact because it couldn’t be determined if the readings were due to the elements being dissolved in the water or if they were in the microparticles of Kettle Point black shale that the water is carrying.

“These microparticles aren’t visible to the eye

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and I drink, bathe, wash clothes and cook with the water, so does it really make any difference?”

Hensel questioned.

Arsenic levels are up 10 times the level of 2012, barium is one and half times above the acceptable Ontario Drinking Water Standard, lead is up 13 times, selenium up 25 times and most concerning, uranium levels were up 500 times the 2012 tested levels.

Continued on page 12

The grass roots group Water Wells First (WWF) filed a complaint Jan. 19 with Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dube, asking him to investigate Chatham-Kent Mayor Randy Hope and council for “negligence in performing their duties of office” in regards to issues with the North Kent Wind Farm project north of Chatham.

This past fall, the municipality requested and received party status in an Environmental Review Tribunal appeal hearing regarding conditions of the provincial permit allowing North Kent Wind Farm to build industrial wind turbines in Chatham-Kent.

During the hearing, WWF spokesperson Kevin Jakubec said he provided detailed information on the bedrock under the North Kent water aquifer that supplies wells, which is comprised of Kettle Point black shale known to contain heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury, lead and uranium.

North Kent Wind provided its own report, prepared by Golder and Associates, which said there was little risk to the aquifer and contamination of surrounding wells. Mayor Randy Hope and municipal legal counsel John Norton publically stated

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during the mediation process that the Golder report was sufficient evidence that the wells were not at risk from pile driving into the bedrock.

Jakubec maintains that the Golder report was commissioned by the wind farm company and contains flawed information, and said the municipality was negligent in not requesting an independent review of the report to ensure its validity.

“At no time to the present did the mayor and council request an independent review by an expert geologist to the accuracy of the statements made in the Golder report to verify the risk assessment,” Jakubec said in a statement. “Had they performed their duties of office properly, they would have discovered the Golder report is critically flawed. The bedrock described in the Golder report is not the Kettle Point black shale formation underlying Cha-

Continued on page 12

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tham-Kent.”

“Had they just done that way back in October, we believe they would not have made those statements and would have joined WWF in asking for the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to be more proactive; they would have asked Dr. (David) Colby (Chief Medical Officer of Health) to be more proactive and not make statements that he thinks the water is safe without actually testing the water in Dover,” Jakubec added.

WWF is asking the Ombudsman to investigate and determine if the municipality’s reliance on the Golder report constitutes a conflict of interest as the municipality received money from North Kent Wind.

“They relied on a report that is in error. We believe they have a responsibility to this community; to the natural resources of this community.”

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THE CHATHAM VOICE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26,2017

News

The sharing of information Thursday, January 26, 2017 • CK Reads: Trivia Olympics from 7:00pm8:30pm. Pub quiz style challenge. Questions from sport to pop culture, history to music, geography to science. Register as an individual or team of 2 by calling 519-354-2940 or visiting searach.ckpl.ca and searching “trivia”.

Saturday, January 28, 2017 • Training for Volunteers who wish to assist at the New Beginning House for overnight supervision of the homeless men who use the haven. A police check is required. Call 519-351-4010 to register.

Monday, January 30, 2017 • Senior Euchre at The Chatham Legion, William & Colborne St., Chatham. 1:00pm.

Tuesday, January 31, 2017 • Book Club from 2:00pm-4:00pm at Tea Connection, 15 King St. E., Chatham. Call for details 226-671-0081.

• Travelling Medicine Show PD Day at the Chatham-Kent Museum from 9:00am-4:00pm (early drop off 8:30am, late pick-up 4:30pm) Starts in Studio One and explore the Museum. Campers will learn all about travelling medicine shows and showmanship. Children will create their own quack device, potions, labels and posters. $36/child, ages 8-12.

Register at www.cktickets.com, call 519-3548338 or visit 75 William St. N., Chatham.

• Meal and fun darts at The Chatham Legion, William & Colborne St., Chatham. Dinner 5:30pm-7:00pm with choice of pork, roast beef or fish and chips for $9.00. One meat draw. Fun darts at 7:30pm.

• Stew Luncheon at BR. 243 Royal Canadian Legion, Ridgetown. Sponsored by the Legion Ladies Auxiliary from 11:00am-1:30pm. $7.00.

Wednesday, February 1, 2017 • Pepper and fun darts at The Chatham Legion, William & Colborne St., Chatham.

Pepper at 1:00pm. Darts at 7:00pm.

Saturday, February 4, 2017 • Child identification program from 1:00pm4:00pm at the Masonic Lodge, 430 Riverview Dr., Chatham. ( across from Casa Bella Restaurant) Do you have all the current information readily available for police to use in an emergency? Bring your child to have this information recorded and put on disk for you. No charge. Sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Chatham-Kent and the Masons. For information contact 519-352-2431.

Thursday, February 2, 2017 • Open euchre and bingo at The Chatham Legion, William & Colborne St., Chatham. Open euchre at 1:00pm. Bingo starts at 7:00pm.

• Meat draw and dance at The Chatham Legion, William & Colborne St., Chatham. Meat draw from 4:00pm-6:00pm. Dance from 4:30pm-9:30pm featuring Blast from the Past.

Friday, February 3, 2017 • Have Drama FUN this PA Day! Join Take A Bow Productions at the Chatham Cultural Centre - Kiwanis Theatre from 9:00am4:00pm. Early drop-off and late pick-up offered. Please bring your lunch and snacks. $44.00 with all materials included. Go to www.cktickets.com or call 519-354-8338 or Chatham Culture Box office at 75 William St. N., Chatham.

• Training for Volunteers who wish to assist at the New Beginning House for overnight supervision of the homeless men who use the haven. A police check is required. Call 519-351-4010 to register.

• Open euchre, shuffleboard and 2 person euchre at The Chatham Legion, William & Colborne St., Chatham. Open euchre at 1:00pm. 2 person registration at 6:30pm and play at 7:00pm. $5.00 per person. Open shuffleboard at 7:00pm.

• We Love to Paint It! PD Day at the Thames Art Gallery from 9:00am-4:00pm (early drop off 8:30am, late pick-up 4:30pm) Paint in acrylic, material play with glue and salt watercolours, to a little abstract swipe painting.

A trip to the Art Gallery and experimenting with rollers, tape and paper collage. All materials supplied. Please bring a peanut free lunch and snacks. Dress for a mess. We may go to the park at break so please bring warm coat and mitts. $40/child. Register at www. cktickets.com, call 519-354-8338 or visit 75 William St. N., Chatham.

• Free PA Day program at First Reformed Church, corner of Lacroix and Indian Creek Rd., Chatham. 8:30am-3:30pm for ages 4-10.

Featuring Therapy Dogs and Mad Science followed by crafts, music, stories, exercises and sports. Lunch and snacks are all provided at no cost. Call 519-351-0046 for registration.

Space is limited.

• 24th Annual Curl for Cancer at the Chatham Granite Club. Fun and prizes for all!

Curlers and first timers welcome! Enter as an individual or form a team! Includes hot lunch, snacks and two 6-end games of curling. $20.00. $100 min. in pledges. Call 519-3523960.

Sunday, February 5, 2017 • Sunday Brunch of the Chatham Granite Club, 41 William St. N., Chatham. 10:30am1:00pm. All you can eat pancakes, bacon, eggs, sausages, muffins, home fries, coffee cake, fruit, juice, coffee and tea. Adults $10.00. Children 4-12 $5.00. Under 4 is free.

PAWR at the animal shelter phone number for lost and stray pets and issues at the dog parks: 226-996-9969 daytime. Emergency and after-hours number: 519-784-6146.

Animal Cruelty and neglect cases call direct 310-7722 or 310-SPCA. Submit your coming events to bruce@chathamvoice.com or michelle@chathamvoice.com

When I learned the municipality was going to broadcast its Jan. 18 staff budget presentation to council over Facebook, I decided to give it a try.

Normally, as a journalist, you attend the event and report on site. In this case, that would have been council chambers at the Civic Centre.

But I wanted to see how well the social media experiment would work, and looked at it from the perspective of a member of the public who could only access the information via social media.

Now, I did build in some contingency planning. I managed to obtain a PowerPoint presentation of the draft budget prior to the meeting, and set it up to speak with Derek Robertson over the phone following the meeting.

The presentation lasted a little over an hour, and there were only a few hiccups. Early on, as people joined the feed, the video buffered – delaying and skipping slightly.

It happened a couple of other times during the presentation, but nothing major.

Bruce Corcoran And on two other occasions, I received the “Something Went Wrong” message where the video feed just stopped. I just clicked on the link on the municipal Facebook page, and picked up where things left off.

Overall, it was a good experience. I commend the municipality for setting the feed up, as not everyone has Cogeco cable.

A bonus element from the Facebook streaming was that the video remained up on the municipality’s page. I reviewed some of it that night, and again the next morning, which proved very helpful. It was as if I’d plunked a voice recorder down and captured the entire meeting.

Turbines to blame for water issues: farmer

Continued from page 11

“As I looked over the complete list of metals and elements analyzed, there are none that will not hurt any human being if excessively exposed,” Hensel said. “It’s the long-term health effects over 20 to 25 years. Not me, I’m going to die anyway, but what about the young people?”

The Dover farmer said he has been asked by all levels of government why he thinks the wind turbines are the cause of the problems with his well.

“I feel through the process of elimination that it could not be anything else. I have lived here for in excess of 75 years and I think of changes that have taken place and what could have caused the Kettle Point shale and minerals it contains from approximately 70 feet underground to start appearing in my drinking water,” Hensel said.

No explosions, earthquakes, bombings or other major happenings have occurred, he noted, even when four holes were drilled for oil wells about 35 years ago near his property. He noted those holes were drilled, not driven into the ground like the supports for the wind turbines were.

“That leaves only the vibrations caused by driving 28 steel I-beams down to the rock for each turbine

and the vibrations caused by their operation. Don’t forget, these turbines are 75 per cent above ground with rotating blades at the top,” Hensel said. “How much vibration does this cause in the layer of Kettle Point shale near the bedrock? This vibration is what keeps the micro particles suspended and floating in our water source.”

Hensel added that he had his 2012 water sample taken by local well driller Ken Wade and sent to Well Wise, a laboratory recognized by the Ontario Ground Water Association. However, he said the MOECC, the municipality and the wind farm company questioned the “quality of the analysis that was done” in 2012.

John Norton, chief legal counsel for the municipality, said, when asked about whose responsibility ground source water was, the municipality asked that very question of the Ground Source Water Protection Committee (GSWPC), which is part of the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority.

In a deputation to council recently, a representative of the committee said that several years ago area farmers were asked if they wanted private wells under the jurisdiction of the committee and farmers opted against that option.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

‘Proof’ opens ’17 season for Theatre Kent The Chatham Voice

As its first show of 2017, Theatre Kent is presenting Proof, by David Auburn.

The show runs Feb. 2, 3, 4, 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m. in Studio One of the Chatham Cultural Centre.

Director Tracy Morton said the show tells the story of Catherine (Tori Franks), whose recently deceased father Robert (Keith Burnett) was a mathematical genius and a professor at the University of Chicago. Catherine cared for her father through a lengthy mental illness, the spectre of which haunts her as she ponders her own genius and vulnerabilities in the wake of his death.

With the arrival of her father’s former graduate student Hal, Catherine

discovers that a paradigm-shifting proof about prime numbers has been discovered in her father’s office. However, its authorship is a mystery.

A fraught situation intensifies when Catherine’s sister Claire arrives on the scene.

The four-person cast is rounded out by Neil Wood as Hal and Larissa Vogler as Claire.

“I was drawn to the script because I was fascinated by the dynamic of the father/daughter relationship and the influence of nature versus nurture on our emotional and intellectual development,” Morton said.

Proof premiered off-Broadway in May of 2000 but it wasn’t long before it was transferred to Broadway, winning both

THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 13

The Arts/News

Contributed image

Theatre Kent’s production of the award-winning play Proof opens on Feb. 2. The cast, from left, is made up of Keith Burnett, Tori Franks, Larissa Vogler and Neil Wood.

the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play the following year.

Proof is Theatre Kent’s entry into the Western Ontario Drama League Festival.

Tickets for Proof are $18.25 for seniors and $20.25, including box office fees. They are avail-

able through the Cultural Centre box office at 519-354-8338 or online at www.cktickets.com.

cerns forward to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.”

Going forward, with North Kent Wind, baseline testing is being done and Norton said people should let the testing be

completed so they can have recourse in the future, if there is a problem.

“We want to protect the well water of our citizens, but at the same time, don’t want to stop development. There was

the suggestion that the municipality withhold issuing building permits (for the turbines). Jurisdiction was taken out of the hands of the municipality – with building permits, we are obligated

to issue them once the province grants approval,” Norton explained.

“If we tried to withhold them, the turbine company would quickly get a court order compelling us to do so.”

‘They haven’t done their proper due diligence’

Continued from page 11

They state it in the 2017 capital budget, that the municipality promotes itself as being a good steward of our natural resources and yet, even after Walkerton, where they should know they have a statutory duty of care to look after source water even though they have said these are private wells, and somehow want to divorce themselves from responsibility, they do have a requirement to protect this natural resource.

“Our concern and why we’re filing a complaint with the Ombudsman is they haven’t done their proper due diligence, or a proper risk assessment and the question that really begs to be answered is this a conflict of interest? Is it because they have financial gains from these wind farm developments?” Jakubec questioned. “Again and again and again, we don’t see real leadership from Mayor Hope and we don’t see leadership from the council in general. It’s shocking, especially after Walkerton. It’s absolutely shocking.”

When contacted by The Voice, Norton said

he was not aware of the complaint and had not been contacted by the office of the Ombudsman.

“If we are contacted, we will fully co-operate with any investigation and be happy to do so,” he said.

One thing Norton said people need to understand is the matter of issuing approvals for wind turbine construction falls under the jurisdiction of the province alone.

“Authority under the Planning Act was taken away from municipalities in 2009 by the Green Energy Act. We don’t have jurisdiction to approve or not approve,” Norton explained. “We are very concerned with citizens experiencing problems with their wells. We asked for and received party status during the tribunal hearing and the settlement hearing when the appeal was ended by Mr. Jakubec.”

Norton said with an absence of scientific evidence of the impact to wells from wind turbines, he is not sure what it is people think the municipality could have done.

“We have no legal jurisdiction to do anything,” Norton said. “We encourage people to bring con-

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THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 14

Fun Stuff 34 Beethoven’s “Fuer --” 36 Pitch 37 Campus mil. org.

39 Part 41 Man of morals?

43 Mediocre 44 Workweek end (Abbr.)

46 Poisonous 50 Asphyxiate 55 Cattle call?

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DOWN 1 State with certainty 2 Use a drill 3 Use a mop 4 Lethargic 5 Ostrich’s cousin 6 Cage component 7 Without doing anything

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48 Midwest state 49 45-Down, perhaps 50 Knightly address 51 Mex. neighbor 52 Aviate 53 “Hail!”

54 Alternative to 38-Down

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26,2017

THE CHATHAM VOICE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

PAGE 15

CLASSIFIEDS Anniversary

Donna & Dick Arnold are Celebrating 60 years of marriage.

Anniversary

Vacation

Donna (MacDonald) and Richard (Dick) Arnold were married February 2, 1957 at First Presbyterian Church, Chatham, Ont. Standing with them at the alter on the brides side were Elaine MacDonald, Helen Arnold, Elaine Arnold and Dorothy Arnold and on the grooms side were Jack Arnold, Lloyd Bechard, Roderick MacDonald and Gary Fenton. Reception with many family and friends followed at the Grand West Hall Chatham. They honeymooned in Niagara Falls. For all their married life they resided in Chatham, Ont. Blessed with four children Robert, Jaelyne, Scott and Michael who then blessed them with eleven grandchildren.

An Open House will be held on February 4, 2017 from 2:00pm until 6:00pm Kent Belgium Dutch Club | 34 Byng Ave

In Memoriam January 29, 2011 In Memoriam Dennis W.G. Smith They say it’s a beautiful journey From the old world to the new Someday we’ll make that journey Which will lead us straight to you And when we reach that garden We’ll put our arms around you And never part again.

Rowena & Don Smith and family.

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Visit our website daily for the latest news! www. chathamvoice. com

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OBITUARIES

Ralph Edward Sawyers 61, Saturday, January 14, 2017 Denning’s of Chatham

Kimberly Lynn Osborne 50, Tuesday, January 17, 2017 McKinlay Funeral Home

Dona Marion Turner 59, Saturday, January 14, 2017 Denning’s of Chatham

Della Gertrude Kalp 93, Tuesday, January 17, 2017 McKinlay Funeral Home

Kathleen “Kay” Mary Marks 93, Friday, January 20, 2017 Denning’s of Chatham

Dennis Wayne Chambers 66, Wednesday, January 18, 2017 McKinlay Funeral Home

Fran Stothart 70, Friday, Janaary 20, 2017 Blenheim Community Funeral Home

Tina Van Uden 90, Saturday, January 21 2017 Hinnegan-Peseski Funeral Home

Peter Coholan 62, Thursday, January 19, 2017 Blenheim Community Funeral Home

See full obituaries at www.chathamvoice.com

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THE CHATHAM VOICE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26,2017