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WIND ERT will hear new remedy evidence in White Pines appeal 9
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THE PICTON
Gazette
Volume 186, Week 27
THURSDAY
JULY 7, 2016
Long-term care beds may be reallocated
STAFF WRITER
Four-year-old Rhys Kelly plays under the parachute on Picton Main Street during Canada Day celebrations last Friday. The grassy play area on Main Street was a popular spot for youth, as was the kid zone in Benson Park. Main Street was packed during the celebration. (Chad Ibbotson/Gazette staff)
Fire at Picton Legion causes $250,00 in damages Electrical fault likely source of blaze JASON PARKS STAFF WRITER
An activated alarm, a closed oak door and fast work by Prince Edward County Firefighters saved the Picton branch of the Royal Canadian Legion Monday evening.
Firefighters were called to the historic Ross-McMullen House just before midnight on Monday and arrived to find a room at the southeastern corner of the building involved with flame. “Upon arrival, the first crew identified a fire in the south east corner of the building,” Prince Edward County fire chief Scott Man-
low told the Gazette Tuesday morning. “They quickly deployed an attack line, knocked out a few window panes and gave it a couple of quick blasts. We were able to reduce the fire and heat in the room until we could gain entry to the rest of the building.”
See FIRE, page 26
Until recently, many in the community have believed a redeveloped Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) was a lock to be built near H.J. McFarland Memorial Home at the age-inplace lands just east of the Picton town limits. That widely held belief, while still in play, may not hold true as a redevelopment update provided by the Quinte Healthcare Corporation (QHC) Monday offers an alternative possibility. QHC capital projects director Bill Andrews confirmed to the Gazette that undeveloped lands adjacent to the current facility have been donated to the hospital group should they wish to redevelop a new PECMH there. The parcel of land is approximately 2.1 acres and are directly north and east of PECMH's helipad and have been donated by Desmond and Elisabeth Norris. Desmond Norris was an active member of the PECMH staff from 1977 to 1992 and carried on a general practice here, starting in 1985.
See LAND, page 24
LOOK INSIDE FOR COUNTY
Inside this week’s edition of the Gazette... OP/ED
Andrews said QHC, as part of an internal process a couple of years ago reviewed all available options for a newly redeveloped PECMH to replace the current house of healing with expectations that the age-in-place site with a campus-style layout with medical offices, Prince Edward Family Health Team space and community support office space being allocated around the new hospital was the direction of choice when it came time to put shovels in the ground. “But no actual decisions had or have been made with regard to a site,” Andrews said. In early spring, QHC was approached by the owner of the land who offered it to the hospital collective as a donation for the building of the new hospital. Andrews indicated QHC had no sense that it was available prior to connecting with the land owner. “This donation has opened another alternative,” Andrews said Monday afternoon.
JASON PARKS
STAFF WRITER
See BEDS, page 24
QHC exploring new site adjacent to current hospital Possible 2.1-acre donation offers alternative to County’s age-in-place campus concept
JASON PARKS
It doesn’t appear the 78 longterm care beds lost when Picton Manor was shuttered will be reinstated within Prince Edward County. When it was announced in the spring of 2012 that the decaying long-term care home was to be closed, some in the community believed the beds the facility held a licence for would be distributed amongst other facilities in Prince Edward County or perhaps a new facility would be built here. After all, with Ontario's second oldest population per capita, this municipality would seem to be in greater need for this type of healthcare than others in the region. That doesn't seem to be the case, however, as Mayor Robert Quaiff let it be known that he has received word from the South East Local Health Integration Network (SE LHIN) that the 78 beds will be reallocated elsewhere in southeastern Ontario.
DESTINATION
More than 5,000 drawn to fragrant lavender fields
Canada’s longest publishing non-daily newspaper, proudly serving Prince Edward County since 1830
A COLOURFUL CANADA DAY
Quaiff warned 78 spots from Picton Manor likely to leave county
CULMINATION
PECI community celebrates with the Class of 2016
6 WEATHER 7 PUZZLES 14 SPORTS 18 CLASSIFIEDS 20
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