The Chatham Voice, Aug. 31, 2023

Hospice Gala returns Oct. 20

By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com

Time is quickly running out to get your tickets to this year’s Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation’s Benefit Gala.

There are only a few tickets remaining for the Oct. 20 event, which takes place at the Chatham Armoury.

One of the area’s biggest fundraising events of the year, the annual Gala raises funds for the Chatham-Kent Hospice, a 10bed facility offering endof-life care and support for local families.

Ginny Hawken, chair of the Gala organizing team,

said the event is more than just a fundraiser.

“It is very important for fundraising, but not only the dollars we raise in one single event, but also for the awareness and all the people we reach in one evening,” she told The Voice. “Hearing the heartfelt story that comes from one of our client families. It’s an emotional evening, but also one of celebration.”

The formal evening features a gourmet meal prepared by The Chilled Cork and offers those in attendance an opportunity to bid on a variety of memory-making experiences in a live and silent

auction while learning more about the impact of hospice in the community.

Supporters will also have the chance to win a .50 carat diamond from Ridgetown’s Mitton’s Jewellers.

This year’s event has added a new fundraising wrinkle, the golden tickets. One hundred such tickets have been sold for this year’s Gala, Hawken said. One lucky ticket will be pulled from that bunch, and it will allow the ticket bearer the opportunity to choose an item from the silent auction table without having to bid on it.

Also added this year is a DJ for an after-auction party. Hawken said rather than just calling it a night after the silent auction ends, people can stay and enjoy themselves, extending the evening.

In its sixth year, the Benefit Gala has raised more than $332,000 for hospice care in Chatham-Kent, including $98,000 in 2022.

“The support from our business community and Chatham-Kent residents has been nothing short of extraordinary,” Hawken said in a media release. Tickets are $175 per person, including a $50 tax receipt. Call 519-354-3113 ext. 2300 to get tickets.

Toppled trees smash into homes

By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative pamwrightlji@gmail.com

Three minutes.

That all that stood between Nancy Kamarlingos and a towering maple tree that fell on her house during Thursday evening’s ferocious storm.

The Gregory Drive resident said she was in her living room with the hydro out when she received the tornado warning alert on her cellphone. After looking out the front window, she made the decision to move to the back of the house. Husband Nick was already in bed.

“I went to the back and two or three minutes later, the tree came down,” Kamarlingos said, noting the incident happened around 11:15 p.m. in the north Chatham neighbourhood.

Ironically, the couple, which has lived in the bungalow since 2021, just completed a major renovation – including putting on a new roof – earlier this week.

But Kamarlingos isn’t complaining.

“I feel fortunate,” she told The Voice while waiting in her yard Friday morning for the insurance company to show up.

“Nobody was hurt,” Kamarlingos added. “A house can be rebuilt...it is what it is.”

The Gregory Drive couple weren’t the only people to have a tree fall on their house in the intense weather. A small house on Stanley Avenue was also crushed by a large tree. Neighbours said the lone female resident had to be rescued by Chatham-Kent Fire and Rescue, however, that was unconfirmed as of press time.

Elsewhere in the same neighbourhood, a maple was toppled across Murray Street blocking vehicle access to the Victoria Park Place homeless shelter.

The storm wreaked havoc across Southwestern Ontario, and Chatham appeared to have more than its fair share of damage. The sound of chainsaws could be heard buzzing throughout the city as people

began what may prove to be an extensive cleanup.

Chatham-Kent was also hard hit by power outages. According to Tomo Matesic, vice-president of engineering and operations for Entegrus, more than 12,000 customers were without power after the storm in Chatham alone. Outages were also reported in Tilbury, Bothwell and Erieau.

Matesic said crews worked throughout the night with help from Entegrus’ St. Thomas division and Bluewater Power from Sarnia.

“Thanks to the teams that helped us,” Matesic said, noting the damage was “exclusively caused” by downed trees and limbs, with north Chatham being especially impacted.

The utility would like to remind residents to avoid downed power lines. Matesic said the rule of thumb is to stay back 35 feet, or the length of school bus, in order to stay safe.

Pam Wright/The Chatham Voice Mere minutes after a tornado warning on her cellphone prompted Nancy Kamarlingos to retreat from the front of her house on Gregory Drive, this large tree smashed into her home, hitting where she had been standing.

BUS TRIP TO MCMICHAEL COLLECTION

Transitional housing

By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative pamwrightlji@gmail.com

The sign on the door says closed, but it remains unclear if anyone is still living at CK Extended Stay on Michener Road in Chatham.

That has officials concerned, according to Chatham-Kent housing stability worker Jeff Wilkins.

According to the paralegal, CK Extended Stay workers representing the property’s owners are doing everything in their power to evict folks – despite the fact there’s an application before the Ontario Landlord Tenant Board (LTB) to stop such actions.

According to Wilkins, residents are being offered $150 to move out as part of a “cash for keys” incentive, as well as an offer of a ride to their next destination.

“I didn’t want to believe they are trying to evict people when this matter is before the courts,” Wilkins told The Voice recently. “But that is exactly what’s happening.”

Calls and messages to Jody Jarett and Joe Todd,

both said to be employed by the owners of CK Extended Stay, went unanswered as of press time.

The Extended Stay saga began the last week of July when residents at the former Super 8 Motel learned the facility was closing its doors for renovations July 31.

The announcement led to fear and mass confusion for tenants, with many complaints to the Chatham-Kent Legal Clinic.

On Aug. 14, an application was filed with the LTB asking the agency to determine if people living at the site are actual tenants. Wilkins said they are, as CK Extended Stay’s address at 25 Michener Rd. is the address tenants have on their legal documents. Because of that, ushering tenants out or pressuring them to move, without providing 90 days official notice, contravenes existing regulations, he said.

“They (owners and representatives) are well aware this is before the courts,” Wilkins explained, adding the Chatham facility does not fall under any exemptions to LTB legislation.

If found to be in the wrong, the owners of CK Extended Stay may have to let people move back in at the same fee they were paying when they left.

However, Wilkins said there is a lengthy waiting

period for a LTB hearing – which could be up to at least two years.

He said it likely means CK Extended Stay tenants will never return and some could end up on the street.

“These are vulnera-

ble people that are hard to house,” Wilkins explained. “For whatever reason, they can’t stay at the shelter. They’ll either be couch surfing or on the streets. They’ll never come back.”

Wilkins said he’s cur-

rently waiting to hear from the CK Extended Stay’s legal department. The property changed hands in 2021, opening as a place for people transitioning into permanent housing.

“I didn’t want to believe they are trying to evict people when this matter is before the courts, but that is exactly what’s happening.”

- Jeff Wilkins

We are sadly lacking

The recovery from the vicious storms that struck Chatham-Kent last week told us a great deal about matters.

First off, the people of C-K are incredible. In neighbourhoods across the municipality, people were seen helping one another clean up. Whether it was picking up small branches, or hauling out the chainsaw to cut up large branches that fell in the high winds, oftentimes, neighbours didn’t even have to ask for assistance.

That’s what the great people of Chatham-Kent do.

Thanks to the out-of-town power companies, such as Bluewater Power, for lending assistance to Entegrus and Hydro One crews who were taxed to the max. That helped restore power more efficiently with trees down over hydro lines across the municipality following the storm.

All those downed lines and flooded streets showed us all something important: We just aren’t equipped to deal with the new normal in our weather patterns. There are streets that are nearly a kilometre long in Chatham that have only four storm grates on them. That’s just unacceptable.

The amount of hydro infrastructure above ground and at the mercy of Mother Nature is unbelievable. It’s also something we all take for granted until nature clobbers us.

Storm and sanitary sewers still flow together in parts of C-K and elsewhere, another situation none of us should stand for. It’s past time to keep the raw sewage out of our rivers and lakes.

But it all takes money, and open eyes at city halls across the region, for something to be done.

Now, as we patted the people of C-K on the back for their mutual support effort, we have to wag a finger at them over their driving habits. At the best of times, there are plenty of drivers in our region who really could benefit from patience behind the wheel, and possibly some additional driver training.

Throw in downed branches hither and yon, and take away the power to traffic lights and you have periodic mayhem.

Most people used the four-way-stop mentality, but of course you have some impatient individuals who just had to force their way through. We can all be safer on our roads.

Our letters to the editor policy

The Chatham Voice welcomes letters to the editor. Our preferred method to receive letters is via e-mail to bruce@ chathamvoice.com (use “Letter” in the

Where is the integrity?

subject line).

You can also drop them off or mail them to us at The Chatham Voice, 71 Sass Rd., U. 4, Chatham, Ont, N7M 5J4.

Chatham Voice advertising policy

or penalty to either party. Liability for errors or non-insertion is limited to the amount paid for the cost of space occupied by the error. Claims of errors must be made prior to the next publication date.

Editor: Re: The Chatham Voice article “C-K councillor faces 90-day pay ban” by Pam Wright, published July 28. Regarding the above. Directly and/or indirectly integrity is alluded to 22-plus times. However, in reading and studying collaborating documentation, integrity is sadly lacking.

On Aug. 14, C-K, council accepted Integrity Commissioner Mary Ellen Bench’s recommendations as outlined in her 47-page report. By a vote of 13-3, Coun. Rhonda Jubenville was found in violation of C-K council’s code of conduct.

Events leading up to this alleged violation began when C-K denied a request by Right to Life Kent to fly their flag. In attempting to bring council together, Jubenville proposed a

motion to fly only three governmental flags – federal, provincial and municipal, a motion that would ban all special interest flags from flying on municipal buildings.

This is exactly what Norwich and Exeter municipalities have done.

Understandably, this was disappointing for groups that have been flying their flags for many years. However, as more groups and causes arise, what’s fair for one should be fair for the other. Governments are political institutions and not social entities.

Although council voted the motion down 12-5, everything went south to the point that Jubenville received harassing messages and even death threats.

Also troubling is the

fact that the Integrity Commissioner is keeping the complainants’ identities anonymous while quoting their accusations in the report. However, Jubenville’s social media posts, newspaper reports and full-page commentaries, including her photographs are spread all over.

Where is fairness and straightforwardness of conduct? With C-K council? C-K staff?

Synonyms for Integrity are principle, goodness, honour, and truthfulness. Although these virtues are lacking in many, Rhonda Jubenville and the three councillors who voted against the recommendations possess them all.

Anne Stewart Wallaceburg

Feds turn down supportive housing plan

By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative pamwrightlji@gmail.com

Regroup.

That is what officials are planning to do after the federal government turned down an application from the Municipality of Chatham-Kent to repurpose the former St. Agnes School in Chatham into a 95-unit supportive housing complex.

A joint partnership between the Hamilton-based charity Indwell and the municipality, the development would have seen a $14-million commitment from the Canadian Mortgage Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) Rapid Housing Initiative, on top of a $9.7-million promise from Chatham-Kent.

Indwell owns the vacant school property, having purchased it from the St. Clair Catholic District School Board in 2021 for $635,000.

Graham Cubitt, director of projects and development for Indwell, told The Voice that while the agency is “perplexed” by the CMHC decision, it doesn’t mean the Christian charity is going to abandon the project.

“We’re not walking away. We just have to figure out how to move forward,” Cubitt said recently. “We’ve been through this before. Sometimes if you don’t succeed on your first try, you just have to try again. The homelessness issue isn’t going away.”

Cubitt said the municipality put together a solid proposal for the project, noting the application process involves “hundreds of hours” of work by professionals.

“Chatham-Kent has made a number of positive moves and good decisions,” he said, with the municipality taking a holistic approach to the homelessness issue.

According to Cubitt, Indwell is in a “stable” financial position and is able to maintain the Croydon Street property while leaders pivot to come up with a new plan.

“We don’t have to have a fire sale,” Cubitt added.

The Indwell supportive housing model is catching on, providing much-needed supportive housing in vari-

ous communities in Ontario. It currently provides housing to 1,100 tenants and opened a housing complex for 45 people in St. Thomas earlier this month. Indwell creates homes for people who are hard to house, including many who face addiction and mental health issues. Along with creating a private apartment space for clients, supports are also available on site, including services, such as counselling and night-time security.

April Rietdyk, C-K’s general manager of health and human services, said the need for such a project has not gone away.

“We are disappointed that Chatham-Kent was not successful in the RHI submis-

sion with Indwell. We understand that the need for housing is impacting communities across the coun-

try. Safe, accessible, and affordable housing is a basic human right,” she said.

MOMENTUM –YEAR TWO–

Gravel roads need upgrades

The Chatham Voice South Kent Coun. Ryan Doyle would like to see Chatham-Kent develop a long-term plan to maintain Chatham-Kent’s 1,785 kilometres of gravel roads

plaints and requests for service on gravel roadways continues to increase.

The first-term councillor raised the concern before council recently, announcing he will be bringing a motion forward at the Sept. 11 meeting.

Doyle said he understands the issue as he comes from a rural background, noting the number of com-

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2023

CROWNE PLAZA, KITCHENER, ON AND

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2023

THE ST. CLAIR COLLEGE CENTRE FOR THE ARTS, WINDSOR, ON

Doors will open at 5:30pm, and the meetings will commence at 6:30pm. Information placed before the Membership on September 18, 2023 and September 20, 2023 will be voted on by show of hands at the meetings.

Registration to participate in the 39th Annual Meeting will open at 9:00am on Friday, August 25, 2023 and close at 4:59pm on Monday, September 11, 2023.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Annual Meeting is to receive and vote on the Annual Report of the Board of Directors and President & CEO; the Report of the Treasurer on the Financial Statements; the Report of the Auditor; the Report of the Audit Committee; the Report of the Nominating Committee; the Appointment of the Auditor; the Election of Directors; the Special Business placed before the Members regarding amendments to the Credit Union’s Bylaw No. 1; and to transact such other business as may properly come before an Annual Meeting of Members.

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

This year, there are two (2) vacancies on the WFCU Board of Directors, with both positions for a three-year term.

The Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors has successfully completed their role in ensuring that there are a sufficient number of qualified applicants to fill the two (2) positions.

The following Members put forth their application by the deadline of noon on Friday, June 16, 2023, and met the requirements of the candidate application and nomination process.

Vic Neufeld Dr. Patti France

No election of Directors will take place at the Annual Meeting and no further nominations will be accepted. Therefore, Members will be asked to receive the report of the Nominating Committee and to elect the two (2) candidates by acclamation.

NOTES

1. The proposed amendments of the Credit Union’s Bylaw No. 1 are subject to approval as special resolutions of the Membership of the Credit Union. A special resolution cannot be amended. A copy of the proposed Special Resolution, an explanatory note of the amendments to Bylaw No.1, and the Board’s reasons for proposing the amendments are available at all branches and WFCU’s Head Office, as well as via www.wfcu.ca, as of September 1, 2023.

2. As directed and as stated in the Credit Unions and Caisses Populaires Act, 2020, “the credit union shall make copies of the audited financial statements, the auditor’s report and the audit committee report available for inspection, by any member, at the meeting at which the statements and reports are to be placed

SPECIAL BUSINESS

The new Credit Unions and Caisses Populaires Act, 2020 (“the Act”) came into force March 1, 2022, and is effective for all Ontario credit unions. The Financial Services Regulatory Authority (“FSRA”) regulates credit unions through this new principles-based statutory framework by administering regulations and rules, such as the new Sound Business and Financial Practices Rule.

The intent of the amendments to the Act, Regulations, and FSRA Rules is to enable credit unions to better serve their Members and remain competitive in the financial services marketplace while preserving the soundness of the regulatory system. To address the amendments to the Act, the Credit Union Bylaw was reviewed, updated and amended. By way of a special resolution, the Board of Directors will be recommending the amended WFCU Credit Union Bylaw No. 1 to the Membership.

DATED THE 24th day of August, 2023 BY ORDER OF THE BOARD

Spiders?

Susan Stockwell Andrews Corporate Secretary

39TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Call

before the Members and at the offices of the credit union and electronically at least 10 days before the meeting.” Eligible Members wishing to inspect the audited financial statements are asked to contact Susan Stockwell Andrews, Corporate Secretary at corporatesecretary@wfcu.ca to arrange an appointment to do so.

3. Members of the Credit Union wishing to attend the meeting must register to attend by visiting wfcu.ca or calling 519-974-WFCU (9328).

4. Only Members according to the records of the Credit Union as of August 24th, 2023 (the “Record Date” according to the Credit Union’s By-Law No. 1) shall be entitled to vote at the meeting.

Ants?

Currently the municipality resurfaces some 525 km. of gravel road annually at a cost of approximately $4.5 million. Chatham-Kent also spends about $1.4 million each year on dust suppressant for roads.

The motion coming forward requests that administration develop a long-term strategy, to be considered in the 2024 multi-year budget process, that would include prioritizing upgrades to surface treatment or pavement for roadways that are key connectors or where traffic volumes warrant improvements.

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Buses loaded with support

The recent Fill the Bus one-day campaign was a success, according to or-

ganizers.

The event, which saw school buses placed in front of various grocery stores throughout

Chatham-Kent, collected school supplies and non-perishable food items.

Organized by CK Help-

ing Hands, the collective items stayed in the communities in which they were collected. Here in Chatham, organizers said they collected nine skids

of snacks and school supplies. Outreach for Hunger food bank also received $831 in donations.

First Student and Badder donated the use of the

school buses, and drivers from the two bus organizations donated their time to drop off and pick up the buses, as well as deliver the gathered items.

The Chatham Voice

Contributed image

Tim Haskell and Brenda LeClair, of CK Helping Hands and Outreach for Hunger, were just two of the many volunteers on hand Aug.19 for the annual Fill the Bus campaign, collecting school supplies and non-perishable food items at various stops in Chatham-Kent.

Program to provide access to job training

By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative pamwrightlji@gmail.com

Second chances. That’s the theme behind a unique provincial program aimed at bringing

Ontarians with criminal records and those on social assistance into the labour force.

Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton made the announcement in Dresden Friday, pledging an additional $160 million to help 100,000 people access training for a plethora of jobs – including skilled trades – that are currently going unfilled in Ontario.

McNaughton said the program – the first of its kind in Canada – will help address a historic labour

shortage while providing opportunity for people who have been unable to enter the job market.

The minister said the critical shortage requires a new approach to bring “all hands-on deck,” noting that for too long, too many people “have been forgotten and treated as second class citizens.”

McNaughton said the province is “leaving no stone unturned to ensure we give anyone who wants a job and a paycheque they can be proud of, a shot at the Ontario dream. Whether you’ve been on social assistance

for 10 months or 10 years, we’ll help you.”

There are currently 800,000 people in Ontario who rely on social assistance, including hundreds of thousands of people whose criminal records hold them back from obtaining good jobs.

McNaughton said the number includes a majority of citizens who are “willing, able and eager to work,” noting the segment includes people “who made a mistake in the past.” But even though they never reoffend, almost half remain on social assistance

– even 15 years after the incident occurred and the person has paid their debt to society.

Flanked by Depencier Builders employees currently at work on the DeMall Group subdivision, McNaughton announced the new round of funding that brings Ontario’s total investment in the Skills Development Fund Training Stream to more than $860 million.

McNaughton said the program will be delivered through public/private partnerships.

Continued on page 13

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$160M for job training

Continued from page 12

He cited Chatham-Kent’s Vision Us initiative as a success story from the last round of Ontario’s Skill Development Fund. A $465,000 investment is now preparing 24 local youth to work in the construction industry.

Participants in the free SkillsShift program that started in July receive a six-week course that includes training in construction basics, blueprint reading, scissor lift certification, financial literacy, soft skills, mentorship and $1,125 for equipment and transportation. Participants also benefit from a two-week paid job placement with a local employer.

McNaughton said he will be asking the business community to get on board with the program and give people a chance, noting money is available for clients of all ages for training people in health

care, auto-manufacturing, information technology, hospitality as well as the skilled trades.

“If we don’t solve this problem, nobody wins,” McNaughton told the gathering.

“Those struggling to find meaningful work will watch life pass them by and resort to crime, drugs and other behaviours that tear families and communities apart.

“These are people who made a mistake in the past who want to put in an honest shift,” he added.

Roughly 300,000 jobs in the province are going unfilled each day, McNaughton said, adding the worker shortage threatens the economy, as well as Ontario’s ambitious infrastructure goals that include building 1.5 million homes by 2031.

Funding applications

are now being accepted until Nov. 17. Eligible organizations include employers, employment service and training providers, labour unions, community, business and industry organizations, including hospitals, Indigenous band office and training services, and other service system providers

The first three funding rounds have supported close to 600 projects in the province.

Dr. Dennis Atoe Greg Hetherington

Pam Wright/The Chatham Voice

Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton, along with Vision Us executive director Phillip Mock, left, announces a new round of funding aimed at training people on social assistance with a special emphasis on those being held back by outdated criminal records.

Province pledges another $11M for Wheatley

By Mark Ribble

The Southpoint Sun

Ontario government officials visited Wheatley on Aug. 23 to announce a new $11-million funding package to the Municipality of Chatham Kent — earmarked for fallout from the August 2021

explosion in Wheatley.

Ontario’s Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry

Graydon Smith took to the podium to make the announcement, which separates into $8 million for direct emergency expenses such as gas monitoring, security and ongoing external investiga-

tions; $3 million to support Chatham-Kent’s ongoing risk management and investigation efforts to add more safety infrastructure to the explosion site; and an additional $225,000 to help fund the Wheatley Task Force.

Continued on page 15

Public Utilities Commission for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent Municipal Class Environmental Assessment

Public Utilities Commission for the Municipality of Chatham Kent Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Water and Wastewater Master Plan – Notice of Study Commencement

Water and Wastewater Master Plan (Approach #1)

Notice of Public Information Centre #2

The Public Utilities Commission for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, through its consultant AECOM has initiated a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA) Master Plan study to develop strategies for water and wastewater servicing to accommodate existing service areas and future growth.

The Public Utilities Commission for the Municipality of Chatham Kent through its consultant AECOM has initiated a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA) Master Plan study, to develop strategies for water and wastewater servicing to accommodate existing service areas and future growth.

The study will document existing conditions, provide population forecasts, complete water, and wastewater modeling, engage key stakeholders and the general public and based on the most recent versions of the Chatham-Kent Official Plan, Secondary Plans and Comprehensive Review documents, evaluate potential short- and long-term alternative water and wastewater servicing strategies over the next 30 years at 5, 10, 20, and 30 year intervals, including high level costs.

Public Information Centre (PIC) #2

The study will document existing conditions, provide population forecasts, complete water, and wastewater modeling, engage key stakeholders, Indigenous Communities, and the general public, and evaluate potential short and longterm alternative water and wastewater servicing strategies over the next 30 years, including high level costs.

Process

A second PIC will be held for the study to summarize work completed since PIC #1, the alternative water and wastewater servicing strategies (including their evaluation) to address the problem and opportunity statement, the preliminary recommended water and wastewater servicing strategies to meet Chatham-Kents planning and future requirements and describe the next steps in the process.

This PIC will be held in an online format with a narrated video and is scheduled to be available for viewing on August 21st 2023 with the comment period closing on September 5th,2023. The information presented at PIC #2 will be available for the duration of the study. To access the PIC materials, please visit the ‘Lets Talk’ Chatham-Kent at https://www.letstalkchatham-kent.ca/chatham-kent-water-and-wastewater-master-plan.

How to get involved

The MCEA study will be completed in accordance with the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act and will follow Approach #1 of the Municipal Engineers Association Municipal Class EA (as amended in 2015) Master Planning process. At the conclusion of the study, a suite of recommended water and wastewater projects will be identified including the MCEA Schedule (Schedule A, A+, B or C) for each project in the study area. This Master Plan will be completed at a broad level of assessment, therefore requiring more detailed investigations at the project specific level for any recommended Schedule B and C projects.

The PUC invites anyone with an interest in the study to provide feedback and help inform the decision-making process. To provide feedback, request more information or if you want to be placed on our mailing list for updates, please contact us at:

Dhana

Paul Adams, CPT Project Manager Environmental Planner

Chatham-Kent PUC

226-312-2025

Niriella, PhD., P.Eng, P.E.

x4338

dhanan@chatham-kent.ca

AECOM

519-963-5873

Paul.adams2@aecom.com

The Public Utilities Commission for the Municipality of Chatham Kent (PUC) wants anyone with an interest in the study to have an opportunity to provide input, which will help the project team in the decision-making process. Public Information Centres (PICs) will be held to provide information and receive feedback. PICs maybe held in a virtual format. We will publish invitation notices to the PICs in local newspapers and on the Municipality’s website www.letstalkchatham-kent.ca/chatham-kentwater-and-wastewater-master-plan

Additional comments and questions can be received throughout the project and will be further encouraged following PIC#3 which is scheduled for September 2023. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record of the Study.

For more information or if you want to be placed on our mailing list for updates, please contact us at:

Dhana Niriella, P.Eng

Project Engineer

This Notice was Issued on July 19th, 2023.

Chatham-Kent PUC

226-312-2023 x4338

dhanan@chatham-kent.ca

Paul Adams, CPT Environmental Planner

AECOM

519-963-5873

Paul.adams2@aecom.com

Contributed image

Chatham-Kent–Leamington MPP Trevor Jones, left, listens as Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry Graydon Smith discusses additional funding for Wheatley in the wake of the two-year-old gas explosion.

‘Wheatley Strong’ impresses minister

Continued from page 14

The task force is a group formed by residents and businesses to support community redevelopment.

Chatham-Kent–Leamington

MPP Trevor Jones was happy to welcome Smith to Wheatley.

“I’m proud to be from this community,” said Jones. “I want to extend a welcome to everyone here from the community.”

Smith talked about getting the sense of incredible strength within the community.

“On my car ride in, I noticed a sign that said ‘Wheatley Strong,’” he said. “This community has certainly been all of that.”

Smith also announced that the province will continue the business and resident support program that has been in place since early in the investigation.

When asked what the plans were for the future of Wheatley,

the minister indicated that the focus is to get back to normal eventually.

He said there is still lots to be done with regard to mitigating the risk surrounding the blast zone, but that with the venting currently in place, they believe the area is safe.

Chatham-Kent CAO Michael Duben said that the plan to purchase the business properties within the blast zone is moving forward with the intent to do an underground investigation and then turn their attention toward redevelopment of the area.

Chatham-Kent Coun. and member of the Wheatley Task Force Lauren Anderson said that the task force is looking at ways to rebuild uptown, once the properties are purchased and the underground investigations allow for it.

A total of 11 property owners are involved in the business

talks.

Another dozen families are still not back in the homes they were in when the blast occurred two two years ago and it was clear that residents in attendance at the announcement were looking for more answers than they received.

Smith told the crowd that, “We are committed to ensuring that our plan also aligns with your needs.”

The province previously announced a $26 million investment to manage the risks posed by old oil and gas wells and subsurface gas migration hazards to help keep people and communities safe. That program is ongoing. To date, $29.5 million has been invest-

ed to plug 415 wells across the province.

Three of those wells are in the blast zone in Wheatley.

Getting ready for school:

- Pick a backpack that is the correct size, has padded back/shoulder straps and has reflective material.

- Stay home if you feel sick.

- Know your full address and phone number.

- Avoid contact with strangers, in person and online.

Riding your bike to and from school:

- Always wear your helmet.

- Ride on the side, in the same direction as traffic.

- Use hand signals.

- Follow traffic lights and stop signs.

- Know the rules of the road.

- Avoid all distractions, such as cell phones and earbuds.

- Be aware of vehicles around you.

Parents:

- Establish some ground rules regarding school.

- Teach peaceful conflict resolution.

- Know your childs’ school routine and friends.

- Act upon the first signs of trouble.

Safety Tips

Walking to and from school:

- Always look both ways before crossing the street.

- Always walk to school on a mapped out route that your parents know and use the same route everyday.

- Know the “safe zones” on your walking route like schools, community centre, libraries, places you know you can get help in an emergency.

- Use a “buddy system” with children and parents from your neighbourhood.

- Follow the traffic rules, signs and signals, always crossing at crosswalks, if no crosswalk, cross at well-lit intersections.

- Do not talk to strangers or get in any vehicle with someone you do not know.

- Make sure you know your phone numbers (parents home, cell, work) your address and emergency numbers.

- Avoid using cell phones and/or listening devices while walking.

- Always go straight home, do not go anywhere else without permission.

Welcome Back to School

495 Grand Avenue West, Chatham 519-352-0440

SPONSORS

School Bus Safety Tips

IN-KIND SPONSORS

-

Know your bus symbol

- When waiting at the bus stop, stand at least five giant steps away from the curb.

- Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop, the door opens and the driver gives you the okay before approaching the bus.

- Make sure the bus driver can see you. Always take at least ten giant steps forward before crossing in front of the bus, and never cross behind it.

- Listen to directions.

- Talk quietly on the bus, so you don’t distract the bus driver, and always follow his or her instructions.

Proudly Helping Kids from across Chatham-Kent for the past 74 years

Your support of the Festival of Giving makes a difference!

KEEP KIDS SAFE.

Know the Rules.

Make sure you know and follow these school bus safety rules for motorists. It’s not only smart; it’s the law!

Yellow Flashing Lights signal that the bus is getting ready to stop and load or unload children. This means you should slow down and prepare to stop.

Red Flashing Lights & Extended Stop Arms signal that the bus has stopped, and children will be entering or exiting the bus. This means you should stop your car and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop sign is withdrawn and the bus resumes moving. As always, be alert and watch out for children whenever you are behind the wheel.

Note: It is illegal to fail to stop for a stopped school bus that has its overhead red lights flashing or its stop arm activated. If you don’t stop, you can be fined $400 to $2,000 and receive six demerit points for a first offence. If you are convicted a second time within five years, the penalty is a fine of $1,000 to $4,000 and six demerit points. You could also go to jail for up to six months. In Ontario, school bus drivers and other witnesses can report vehicles that have illegally passed a school bus. As the vehicle’s registered owner, you may receive the fines if the driver is not charged. If you do not pay the fine, you will not be able to renew your vehicle permit.

The Children’s Treatment Centre Foundation would like to thank our sponsors, virtual guests and volunteers for supporting this year’s 19th Annual Festival of Giving, in a new way! Funds raised by the CTC-CK Foundation directly supports therapy and services that our children and youth so richly deserve. ctcf-ck.com

Help Stop Harassment and Bullying

Everyone wins with the Children’s Treatment Centre Foundation’s Festival of Giving!

Remember . . . Back to School Safety includes teaching children to respect themselves and ALL others! 24 Hour Crisis Line: 519-354-8688

presentation, or for information about sexual assault / harassment / abuse / exploitation, please call the crisis line during business hours.

Website: cksacc.org • Facebook: @CKSACC • Instagram: cksacc

Let’s keep our eyes wide open for all the children walking, biking and riding to school this fall . . .

Slow down and take your time . . . their future depends on you.

Parents, make sure kids travel to and from school safely with these tips for taking the bus.

CasaBella the Thames

New patient info sharing plan launches

The Chatham Voice

New technology to streamline the transfer of patient information in Southwestern Ontario has taken a big step forward.

Beginning Aug. 16, four area hospitals and a number of long-term care homes within Erie St. Clair connected to a state-

of-the-art health information exchange system designed to allow for the seamless sharing of upto-date patient records.

Along with the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, Windsor Regional Hospital, Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare and Erie Shores Healthcare are joining the Ontario

eHub Health Information Exchange. As well, a total of 28 LTC homes within the Erie St. Clair region will join 29 London-based LTC homes and 12 London-area hospitals with the system that provides health-care workers with instant access to information. It allows care providers to start patient care

Did you know that exercise stimulates memory and that adequate sleep improves concentration? Over time, various studies have shown that healthy lifestyle habits — like eating well, exercising daily for 30 minutes and sleeping 8 to 12 hours per night — contribute to greater academic success. As a parent, you could ensure your child thrives in school by helping them adopt the following habits:

• Eating a well-balanced breakfast every morning that includes whole grains, fruit, dairy and a source of protein (peanut butter, tofu, eggs, etc.).

• Consuming at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

• Restricting foods that carry little nutritional value (fried foods, chips, soft drinks, sweets, etc.).

• Exercising daily (playing sports, walking to school, biking, jumping rope, etc.).

• Avoiding activities that stimulate the brain right before bed (video games, TV, etc.).

right away by eliminating the need to wait for the patient’s history, as well as removing the need for unnecessary tests or delays.

According to a recent media release from TransForm Shared Services Organization, the patient information project utilizes the hospitals’ instance

of the Oracle (Cerner) Health Information System (HIS). By the end of 2024, the goal is to connect all 63 hospitals across Ontario, using the Oracle system, with LTC facilities in various regions using PointClickCare for electronic health records.

The flagship initiative – dubbed Project AM-

PLIFI – was created in part in response to the COVID-19 pandemic which highlighted a need to strengthen health-care integration.

Program director Andriana Lukich said the “twoway exchange” of patient health information provides improved visibility

Continued on page 19

Healthy lifestyle habits for greater academic success

• Finding time to relax every night with the help of a warm bath, soft music, a good book.

• Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day.

It’s a well-known fact that children learn from example, so be a good role model for your son or daughter: eat well, exercise often and keep your stress level to a bare minimum.

By prioritizing a healthy lifestyle at home, you’ll not only help your offspring excel in school, but also pave the way for a lifetime of good health!

Eating well, exercising often, getting enough sleep — it’s important to adopt healthy lifestyle habits to achieve greater academic success.

TransForm program to increase efficiency

Continued from page 18

into the patient’s or resident’s clinical condition upon admission to a health-care facility.

“Through the completion of discrete data reconciliation, clinicians at both the hospital and long-term care home will spend less time manually entering clinical information from paper, reducing transcription errors,” Lukich said. “Patients are expected to experience higher quality of care and a reduced need to reshare their story and clinical history repeatedly across care settings.”

CKHA president and CEO Lori Marshall said the system will save time and benefit patients.

“Ensuring our patients and those who care for them can exchange accurate health information quickly

and efficiently, particularly those from long-term care homes who may have cognitive issues, is an important step forward in providing top-notch health care to our community,” Marshall said. “We have an aging population, often with complex needs, and being able to access up-to-date information at the time a patient arrives helps provide the best care in the most efficient manner possible.”

St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton is the delivery partner leading Project AMPLIFI over a three-year period and is supporting sites across Ontario to implement a bi-directional data exchange between longterm care homes and hospitals. The initiative is being aided with the support of TransForm.

Notice of Open House Ridge Landfill, Waste Connections of Canada

In the spring of 2023 Waste Connections of Canada initiated an Environmental Screening Process under Ontario Regulation 101/07 (Waste Management Projects Regulation) and the Environmental Assessment Act to increase the annual fill rate at the Ridge Landfill. The landfill currently receives 1.3 million tonnes of non-hazardous solid waste per year and it is proposed to increase to 1.6 million tonnes per year. This increase of 300,000 tonnes will enable Waste Connections to meet the increased demand for disposal capacity from its current customers. All proposed changes will occur within the Site's existing and approved waste footprint and Site boundaries.

The Ridge Landfill has been serving in the Municipality of Chatham -Kent community for 50 years and has an excellent environmental track record. The Ridge Landfill provides disposal capacity for the industrial, commercial and institutional (IC&I) customer base in central and southern Ontario and residential waste from the Municipality of Chatham -Kent Waste Connections is committed to being a responsible partner in Chatham -Kent and working collaboratively with the community.

Environmental Screening Report (ESR) Update

An initial Open House was held on July 26, 2023 to explain the ESR process to the public and provide the opportunity to ask any questions.

You are invited to our second Public Open House!

The purpose of the Open House is to get your input on the project and to participate in the development of the ESR.

Time & Date: September 13, 2023 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Location: John Legue Building, Talbot Trail Place, 24 John St. West, Blenheim, ON

Work has been completed to identify and evaluate possible impacts associated with increasing the annual fill rate at the Ridge Landfill. Preliminary results of this evaluation will be available at the second Open House for your review and comment.

The ESR will be submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) for review. At that time, the public, Indigenous comm unities and other interested persons will be informed through a Notice of Completion when and where the ESR can be reviewed.

Consultation

Public consultation is a very important aspect of the ESR process Our second public open house will be held on September 13, 2023 (see text box above). Members of the public, agencies, Indigenous communities and other interested persons are encouraged to actively participate in the planning process by attending consultation events or contacting Waste Connections to provide information, comments or to ask questions.

Consultation events will be published in local newspapers, distributed to those on the project contact list; and posted at www.ridgelandfill.com . Please visit the website under our Contact Us page to be added to the project contact list.

For further information please contact:

Cathy Smith

Project Manager

Waste Connections of Canada

T: 519-358-2860

E: catherine.smith@wasteconnections.com

All personal information included in a submission – such as name, address, telephone number and property location – is collected, maintained and disclosed by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change for the purpose of transparency and consultation. The information is collected under the authority of the Environmental Assessment Act or is collected and maintained for the purpose of creating a record that is available to the general public as described in s.37 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Personal information you submit will become part of a public record that is available to the general public unless you request that your personal information remain confidential. For more information, please contact the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change’s Freedom of Information and Privacy Coordinator at 416-327-1434.

Community Events

Thursday, August 31, 2023:

• The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham open 11:00am-9:30pm. Kitchen open for lunch 11:00am1:30pm. Come check out our daily specials. Senior Euchre starts at 1:00pm. Everyone is welcome.

Friday, September 1, 2023:

• Adult Colouring at the CKPL Chatham Branch Community Living Café. 2:00pm until 4:00pm. Come and connect with people of all ages and skill levels while colouring away the stress of the day. Come alone or bring a friend. No registration required, come and go as you please.

• Fabulous Friday Food at the Merlin Legion from at 4:30 - 7pm. Pulled pork on a bun with fries & veggie dessert included $13.50 tax included.

• The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham open 11:00am9:30pm. Kitchen open for lunch from 11:00am–1:30pm. Supper served from 4:00–6:00. No orders after 5:30pm. Tonight’s specials are Meat Loaf or Fish & Chips, $13.00. Take out is also available by calling 519351-8733 or 519-351-5639. Fun Darts start at 7:00 p.m. Everyone Welcome

• Friday night supper at the Chatham Moose Lodge, 850 Richmond St is a honey garlic chicken dinner with potatoes, vegetable, salad and a bun. Dine ins $12 and pickups $13. Please call 519352-8291 daily to place an order. Everyone welcome.

Saturday, September 2, 2023:

• Morning Breakfast Program at First Presbyterian Church (corner of Fifth St. and Wellington). A delicious and nutritious breakfast served free of charge from 9:30am10:30am. Take out only.

• Cash Raffle in support of CK Animal Rescue will be drawn at Dresden Art in the Park. There will be 10 prizes for a chance to win. Tickets $4 each or 3 for $10. E-transfer: chathamkentanimalrescue@ gmail.com. Password: Raffle. Including your email and phone number so we can contact you if you win. Must be 18 years of age and older.

• The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham open 11:00am–9:30pm. Meat draw at 3:30, 4:30 and 5:30pm. Kitchen open for from 3:00pm–5:30pm. Entertainment by Allen James from 4:30-9:30. Come check out our menu. Everyone Welcome

Sunday, September 3, 2023:

• Creekside Church - 10:00 a.m Sunday’s at the Active Lifestyle Centre, Merritt Ave. Haven’t been to church in a while? Come find community with us. creeksidechurch.ca.

• The Chapelaires will perform for the Dresden Christian Concerts on the property of Total Grain Systems (1233 North St. in Dresden). Rain location is Dresden Christian Reformed Church. Starts at 6:30pm. Listen from your vehicle or bring your lawn chairs. The concert is free but an offering will be taken.

Tuesday, September 5, 2023:

• Chess Club at Chatham Branch of CKPL. 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Drop in program. Great opportunity to learn new strategies by playing with different players. All ages and all skill levels are welcome.

• The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham open 11:00am9:30pm. Kitchen open for lunch 11:00am–1:30pm.

Today’s special is Spaghetti with meat sauce. Come play Euchre at 1:00 or spend the evening playing Shuffleboard starting at 7:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

Wednesday, Sept, 6, 2023:

• The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham open 11:00am–9:30pm. Kitchen open for lunch 11:00am–1:30pm. Our daily special is meat loaf Dinner. Come check out our other daily specials. We have Fun Darts at 7:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023:

• The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham open 11:00am–9:30pm. Kitchen is open for lunch from 11:00am–1:30pm. Senior Euchre starts at 1:00pm. The Ladies Auxiliary will be holding their monthly bingo. Sale

of cards starting at 6:00 p.m. and Bingo at 7:00. Everyone is welcome.

Friday, September 8, 2023:

• Adult Colouring at the CKPL Chatham Branch Community Living Café. 2:00pm until 4:00pm. Come and connect with people of all ages and skill levels while colouring away the stress of the day. Come alone or bring a friend. No registration required, come and go as you please.

• Please join Chatham-Kent Economic Development Services for a free breakfast and a motivational talk with Mr. Peter Kenyon about stimulating our local economy and community at the John D. Bradley Centre. Breakfast will be served at 8am, followed by the talk and Q/A, wrapping up at 10am. To register for this free event, please visit Growing Communities - Keeping the Tills Ringing and the Community Swinging Tickets, Fri, 8 Sep 2023 at 8:00 AM | Eventbrite.

• Kent Branch Ontario Genealogy Society (Family History) will be featuring on Friday April 14, 2023 at 7 PM  a Zoom meeting presentation. 7:00 PM online. Topic: Where to Find Ontario Land Records on the Family Search Website. Finding land records for our ancestors can be a challenge. Jacqueline Kanyuck from Family Search will join us to demonstrate where and how to find Ontario land records on the Family Search Website. Free and open to anyone to join us online. Simply register on our website at www.kent. ogs.on.ca.

• The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham open 11:00am–9:30pm. Kitchen open for lunch 11:00am–1:30pm. Supper served from 4:00–6:00. No orders after 5:30pm. Tonight’s specials are Pork Loin or Fish & Chips, $13.00. Take out is also available by calling 519-351-8733 or 519-3515639. Fun Darts start at 7:00 p.m. Everyone Welcome

The AVOID PROBATE ROADSHOW is coming to RIDGETOWN at St. Michaels Parish Hall on Thursday September 21st at 7:00PM, hosted by the Catholic Woman’s League (CWL). The Parish Hall is on Maple Street South in Ridge-

town. Jason Laidler will be presenting the Avoid Probate Roadshow and demonstrate how avoiding probate is easier than you think. Learn more at www.avoidprobate. ca RSVP to save your spot - text or call Barb at 416-8567615. Don’t miss this Free Event as space is limited. A one-hour presentation is followed by Q&A. Doors open at 6:30PM for RSVP Guests and at 6:45PM for Non- RSVP Guests, if space is available.

LOVE TO SING? Consider joining the Jubilee Chorus. We perform music in diverse genres that seeks to glorify God and draw others to Him. This fall, we are preparing A Festival of Lessons and Carols to be presented Saturday, December 2 at 7:00 p.m. Only 12 rehearsals – a short commitment – so come, sing new and favourite carols with us. We are looking for new, eager singers age 14 and up, no audition necessary! Come find community and experience all the benefits of joy-filled singing! Rehearsals are on Tuesday nights starting September 12 at Chatham Christian School from 6:52-9:03 pm. Call Cynthia at 226-229-1533 for more information and to register.

The CK Singers community choir will start practice once again at First Presbyterian Church 60 Fifth St in Chatham on Tuesday, September 5th at 7 pm. New members are most welcome. Each practice lasts for 2 hours with a break in between for refreshments. No auditions are required. We sing a variety of music which is provided and our aim is to have fun and entertain in fund-raising concerts and for long term care residents. For more information please contact, Director Nancy Tapley at 519-354-0463 or email nancytapley2@gmail. com or President Bob Mann at 519-397-2942 or email rmann482@hotmail.com

Are you affected by someone else’s drinking? Al-anon can help! Call - leave message519-350-3462

Alcoholics Anonymous, we can help! Information Line 519-360-5246.

Submit your coming events to bruce@chathamvoice.com or michelle@chathamvoice.com

Fun Stuff

CLUES ACROSS

1. Midway between east and southeast

4. At right angles to a ship’s length

9. William Penn’s business partner

14. __ de plume

15. Accomplished soccer coach

16. Bone cavities

17. __ juris: independent

18. Popular Philly sandwich

20. Northern Ireland county

22. Performing artist

23. S S S

24. Lacks flavor

28. Commercials

29. Anno Domini (in the year of Our Lord)

30. Qatar’s capital

31. Indigenous peoples of Alberta

33. Popular footwear

37. Indicates position

38. Anglican cathedral

39. Aircraft part

41. Before

42. Blood group

43. Secretory organ

44 .Fencing swords

46. The small projection of a mammary gland

49. Technological advancement

50. Male parent

51. Dissociable

55. More cold

58. Cape Verde Islands capital

59. Blood disorder

60. Creative

64. Sun up in New York

65. Made angry

66. Relieves

67. Brooklyn hoopster

68. Seasonsings

69. Movable barriers

70. Attempt

CLUES DOWN

1. Occur as a result of

2. Spiritual essences

3. Representative

4. Entering

5. Nobel Prizewinning physicist

6. Midway between northeast and east

7. Consumed

8. Tablelands

9. Kids’ craft accessory

10. Not known

11. Sound directed through two or more speakers

12. A major division of geological time

13. Wild ox

19. Shock treatment

21. Turner and Lasso are two

24. Genus of flowering plants

25. Relating to ductless glands

26. Stock certificate

27. Satisfies

31. Places to enjoy a rest

32. Edward __, author and writer

34. “__ but goodie”

35. One hundredth of a liter

36. Shabbiness

40. TV personality Roker

41. Triangular upper part of a building

45. Speed at which you move 47. Offend 48. A reference point to shoot at 52. Forays

53. Biblical city 54. Blatted

56. Northern sea duck 57. Shabby (slang) 59. Allege 60. Tax collector 61. Whereabouts unknown

62. Chinese philosophical principle 63. Indicates equal

Puzzle answers can be found on page 23

Bowlers to lose clubhouse

By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative pamwrightlji@gmail.com

Chatham Lawn Bowling Club’s iconic clubhouse in Tecumseh Park is coming down.

At a recent meeting, municipal council approved the demolition of the wooden structure that was built in 1925.

According to a report from administration, the building will be decommissioned at an estimated cost of $58,760.

Council also authorized entering into a five-year lease agreement with the club for use of the greens and an equipment shed, with the cost of electricity and water at the site continuing to be borne by the municipality.

Chatham Coun. Allyson

Storey said she has been in communication with members of the club and asked where the issue currently stands, noting the organization has a long history and a “great location that obviously had some challenges as of late.”

In response Chatham-Kent director of parks, fleet and facilities Rob Pollock said discussions with the club’s executive have been ongoing since structural issues about the building were discovered.

“We worked with them to get their stuff out of the building and worked on other accommodations and other plans for the future,” Pollock told council. “As they won’t have space, we’ve talked about a pavilion they can

fundraise for. But we’ve worked with them the entire time and the executive has been happy with that.”

In a recent interview, lawn bowling club president Pete Cadotte said members of the club “are a little bit disappointed” they are losing the clubhouse, noting some believe it could be fixed. Hard times fell upon the building – which included a full kitchen – in 2019, Cadotte said, when thieves vandalized the structure and ripped out wiring, making it difficult to bring the building back up to code.

Subsequently, Cadotte said the municipality hired an outside engineer who determined the building, which perches on McGregor Creek, un-

safe as the building’s footings were compromised. Located on a prime piece of parkland where the Thames River and McGregor Creek meet, the lawn bowling club has been operating at the site since 1895.

As per Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority regulations, no new structures can be built within the floodway where the club sits. The report said the LTVCA is “supportive of removing the structure from the hazardous area.”

Pam Wright/The Chatham Voice Shirley Hogg and Duncan Smith are on the greens of the Chatham Lawn Bowling Club in Tecumseh Park. The group’s clubhouse, shown in the background, is going to be torn down by the municipality this fall after it was deemed to be unsafe. The building was constructed in 1925.

Cornhole tourney fast approaching

during the CornTogether Cornhole Tournament in Kingston Park.

OBITUARIES

Harland Rabideau

80, Thursday, August 17, 2023

Kendrick Funeral Home

Christina Jenkins

79, Sunday, August 20, 2023

Nicholls Funeral Home

Lois “Gail” Masterson (Ritzer)

Friday, August 18, 2023

Life Transitions

Roberta Feica

Sunday, August 20, 2023

Life Transitions

Thomas Peach

65, Monday, August 21, 2023

Life Transitions

Noel Juttens

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Life Transitions

Terry Toulouse

64, Sunday, August 20, 2023

Alexander & Houle Funeral Home

John Tribou

75, Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Alexander & Houle Funeral Home

Patrick McGivern

81, Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Alexander & Houle Funeral Home

Murray Bennett

88, Friday, August 18, 2023

McKinlay Funeral Home

Nicholas Henry “Nickel” Visser

Sunday, August 20, 2023

McKinlay Funeral Home

Maria Teresa Amorini

90, Tuesday, August 22, 2023

McKinlay Funeral Home

Ross Leeson

66, Thursday, August 24, 2023

McKinlay Funeral Home

Theopheil “Ted” DeBolle

91, Saturday, August 19, 2023

Hinnegan-Peseski Funeral Home

Harold Tales

78, Saturday, August 19, 2023

Hinnegan-Peseski Funeral Home

Maria Mastromarino

87, Monday, August 21, 2023

Hinnegan-Peseski Funeral Home

Reg Pepper

88, Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Hinnegan-Peseski Funeral Home

See full obituaries at chathamvoice.com/obituaries

ComeTogetherCK is hosting the fundraiser, which takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tournament is open to participants of all skill levels, and will feature multiple cornhole boards made and painted by community volunteers, and a vibrant

atmosphere that encourages camaraderie and community bonding.

“We’re thrilled to invite everyone to join us for a day of friendly competition and community building,” said Nick Konjuvca, owner of Mamma Maria’s Ristorante,

CTCK volunteer and co-organizer of CornTogether Cornhole Tournament. “Not only will participants have the chance to showcase their cornhole skills, but they’ll also contribute to our efforts in making positive changes within our community.”

5 choices of dishes

Contributed image ComeTogtherCK volunteers are well into the planning stages of their cornhole fundraiser, CornTogether, which takes place Sept. 10 in Chatham’s Kingston Park.

The Chatham Voice The bags will be flying Sept. 10

Classifieds

In Memoriam

Birthday In Memoriam

Obituary

Birthday Happy 100th Your

In loving memory of a dear wife, mother and grandmother who left us 8 years ago, Marian Spears, Feb.15, 1942 - Aug. 31, 2015

August

For Sale For Sale

1998 Volkswagen Jetta 4dr, great shape, safetied. 140,000kms. Asking $2200. Phone 519-3544033 or 519350-0936.

Silk Cemetery Saddle Arrangements. Everyday/ Holidays. Ready-to-go. Many colours available. $40. 519-354-3411

24’ Fifth Wheel Trailer. Rough condition. Set for 15 years. Frame would make a good work trailer. $1000.00. Call 519-397-2337.

Wanted

Wanted to Buy: Antiques, costume jewellery, gold, silver, coins, military, furniture, tools. We Buy AllPaid Cash. 519727-8894.

In Memoriam

June 15, 1952 - August 30, 2018

Irene We carry premium oil based sealer! BACKHOE, MINI EXCAVATOR, TRUCKING & BOBCAT SWEEPER SERVICE

We think about you always We talk about you still You have never been forgotten And you never will. We hold you close within our hearts And there you will remain To walk with us through our lives Until we meet again.

Remembered by husband John, daughters Michaelanne and Shandra and granddaughter Ashley

Home For Sale

111 Van Allen Ave., Chatham. Only $2,000 per month, NO down payment required. Secure VTB mortgage, 30-year, 7% rate will never increase guaranteed. Buyer(s) responsible for their own closing costs such as legal services. Great opportunity for first time home buyers. House has two (2) small bedrooms. New kitchen and laundry appliances. 3pc bathroom with tub. If interested, please Email: xvz7wxn1@anonaddy.me

Wanted

Wanted “Professional Driver” for 1 way trip to Windsor, from Chatham area on Saturday, September 16th, 2023. State your vehicle, make & year and your rate of pay (gas & time involved). Reply with first name “only” plus telelphone #, so I can reach you & best time to contact you. Write to: PO Box 534, Stn Main, #120 Wellington St, Chatham, Ontario N7M 5K6

Patrick McGivern

Peacefully at the Chatham-Kent Hospice, on Wednesday August 23rd, 2023, surrounded by his loving family, Patrick McGivern of Chatham passed away in his 82nd year. Cherished son of the late John and Rose McGivern. Beloved husband and best friend of 64 years, Leona (Demers). Loving father of Terry McGivern (Linda), Tammy McGivern, Shelley Howard (Ron), Todd McGivern (Colleen), Chris McGivern, and Leo McGivern.

Wanted For Rent

Wanted to rent or buy 1 or 4 acres of land in Chatham-Kent area. No buildings or utilities needed. Rural area preferred. 519-352-5414 or 226-6275414.

One bedroom, one bathroom spacious apartment for rent in Thamesville. 3 exits, large yard, fresh paint, new appliances. $1200/month, utilities & wi-fi included. 1st & last, references required. Call 519-917-5446.

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Still always missed, always loved forever, Dan