8 - Southpoint Sun
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Leamington Council defers vote on waterfront plan
By Mark Ribble At their council meeting of May 10, Leamington council heard the details on the Waterfront Master Plan from administration and designers. In the end they voted to defer the decision until June 14 to allow council members to dive deeper into the plan. In August 2019, the municipality issued a request for proposals to complete a Waterfront Master Plan, which was awarded to Think Design. The Master Plan was unveiled to the public via Let’s Talk Leamington online, due to the COVID-19 pandemic interruption to in-person public consultations.
Michael Tocher of Think Design was on hand to walk council through the different steps of the plan, which was divided into eight sub-sections. The sub-sections included an overall plan, Seacliff Park, Gold Coast Road, Robson Road, Rick Atkin Park, Lakeside Marina, Erie Street and Pier, and the Waterfront Promenade. During the web-based public interactive stage, about 340 local residents made comments and suggestions, which included thoughts on development, parking and pedestrian areas. Designers came up with a 15-year master plan that would provide a complete
Community Calendar
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18 LEAMINGTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY MEETS Wednesday, May 18 at 7 pm, Leamington United Church, 9 John St. Speaker: Patricia McGorman. Topic: Beautiful and Beneficial Native Plants for Your Landscape. Come and join us for an evening of horticultural fun and fellowship. More info: Charlie Wright 519-324-5412.. TUESDAY, MAY 24 SWO GLEANERS FOOD FOR ALL LUNCHEON on Tuesday, May 24 from 11:301:30 p.m. at the Roma Club of Leamington, 19 Seacliff Dr. E. Pasta and salad buffet. Goal: $20,000 to send 250,000+ servings of soup (dried soup mix) to Ukraine. Advance tickets $10, at the door $12. Contact SWO Gleaners 519-3267687 or swogleaners@gmail.com. Donations can be made through the website swogleaners.ca or by e-transfer.. TUESDAY, MAY 24 DIGITAL SAFETY WITH CONSTABLE KATHERINE BURT, Community Officer, 11:00 am, Kingsville Community Centre 1860 Division Rd. N. Over 40 exhibitors for health, lifestyle and active living. Learn how to identify and watch for frauds & scams via email and phone. WEDNESDAY, MAY 25 ERIE SHORES TOASTMASTERS Meeting online at 6:00 p.m. every other Wednesday. Develop your Communication and Leadership Skills in a positive, friendly environment. Next meetings is May 25. Visit a meeting and see how you like it! For more info Email: ErieShoresTM@yahoo.com Facebook: Erie Shores Toastmasters or go to ErieShores. toastmastersclubs.org and click on Contact Us THURSDAY, MAY 26 COFFEE HOUSE WITH JOE PERRY - 6:308:30 Musicians, singers, poets, story tellers and all are welcome for a fun free evening with friends. Kingsville Community Centre 1860 Division Rd. N. Free Admission. SATURDAY, MAY 28 GIANT COMMUNITY & CRAFT YARD SALE - Saturday, May 28 from 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. at St. John’s Anglican Church, 60 Erie St. N., Leamington. Anyone wishing to bring household goods or crafts to sell can rent a table ($10) by contacting 519-326-3111 or office@stjohnleamington.org. Proceeds support the Ministries of St. John’s. SATURDAY, MAY 28 COUNTY CLASSIC CHORALE PRESENTS “ON THIS SHINING NIGHT” - Sat. May 28 at 7:30 pm at Faith Mennonite Church, 269 Sherk St., Leamington. Wheelchair accessible. Please wear a mask. Admission by donation in lieu of tickets. SUNDAY, JUNE 12 WINDSOR CLASSIC CHORALE PRESENTS ONE WITH NATURE - a concert at Point Pelee National Park’s Visitor Centre on Sunday, June 12 with shows at 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm. Proceeds go to Friends of Point Pelee. Tickets $20, includes park admission. Visit windsorclassicchorale.org. ONGOING PLAY THE UKULELE WITH LIONEL KNIGHTS - Every Monday beginning June 6 at St. John’s Anglican Church in Leamington. Bring a music stand and your own uke if you can. There will be limited ukes available for use. Cost is $5 per
session, which goes to the St. John’s kitchen to help with their programs. Call Lionel at 519-398-9645 for more info. COMMUNITY ANGEL CLOTHING CUPBOARD OPEN WEDNESDAYS by appointment only, 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Call 519-326-3111 to book your appointment. All are welcome! Free! St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, 60 Erie St. N., Leamington. Donated gently used clothing for men, women and children of all ages. KINGSVILLE COMMUNITY CENTRE CAFE Open Tuesdays & Thursdays 9:00 am to noon. Free Coffee, Free Cookies & Free Wifi. 1860 Division Rd. N. Kingsville. KINGSVILLE COMMUNITY CENTRE TAICHI - Tuesdays & Thursdays 10:00 am - Free drop-in program. Join us for gentle flowing stretching and movements. 1860 Division Rd. N. Kingsville. KINGSVILLE COMMUNITY CENTRE YARN SOCIAL - Tuesdays 10:00 am, Free drop-in program. Bring your knitting or crochet project, share patterns and more. 1860 Division Rd. N. Kingsville. JOIN THE KINGSVILLE FRIENDLY CLUB TO PLAY CARDS every Tuesday and Friday afternoon, 12:45 p.m., at the Unico Community Centre, 33 Beech St., Kingsville. Tuesday is euchre, bridge, cribbage. Friday is euchre, bridge, pepper. Must be 50+ years of age to join. If interested, drop in any Tuesday or Friday.
transformation of the waterfront in Leamington. Cost will come in around $33.7 million over that 15 years with an average of about $2.5 million per year. Of that $33.7 million, about $12 million would be taken up with property purchases. According to Tocher, the community responded well to the public consultation phase. “We received lots of good input,” he told council. Among the recommendations for Seacliff Park were additional shade opportunities, more picnic areas, bicycle parking, a lookout deck and basketball courts. Highlights of the plan for Gold Coast Road include acquiring private lands south of the roadway, connecting the pier to Seacliff Park and expanding the public beach with development opportunities for restaurants and retail. Over at Rick Atkin Park, the plan is to redo the playground structure, improve accessibility throughout and add new public washrooms. At the Lakeside Marina, the plan includes parking lot reorganization, crosswalks, a new pavilion and lookout and fishing platforms. The Leamington Dock — a longtime destination for cruisers, couples and families – will also be in the plan for upgrades with a connection between the promenade and Seacliff Beach, updates for the pedestrian pier and
fishing platforms. The promenade itself will get a facelift with enhancement of the current amenities and a connection to Foster Avenue. There are many components to the plan, with public input collected over the past few months being considered every step of the way. The plan is broken down into three phases with a five-year plan, a 10-year plan and a 15year plan encompassing the various phases of improvement. Councillor Tim Wilkinson asked specifically about the traffic issues
near the dock and Burgess Refreshments area and said he thought the plan for the pier fell a little short. “What’s been shown for the pier isn’t what I was hoping for,” he said. “We need a cherry on top when it comes to the dock. We need a signature restaurant, rooftop patios and that sort of thing.” Town Engineering Project Manager Alex Del Brocco said that he wasn’t sure if the dock could support another restaurant the size of what used to be there. “There is an opportunity to have those things
along the Gold Coast area,” he said. Wilkinson was also concerned about parking for big events such as Hogs for Hospice. The plan does call for some additional parking in the area but would never be enough to accommodate the number of people who attend those big events. Mayor Hilda MacDonald spoke about a deferral until council has a chance to dive deeper into the plan and Wilkinson made a motion to do just that. The motion was carried and council will discuss the plan further at their June 14 meeting.
CANDIDATE DEBATE AT BANK THEATRE
Three of the seven Chatham-Kent Leamington candidates for the upcoming provincial election faced off in a friendly debate at The Bank Theatre on Monday 16. The event was organized by the Leamington District Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with The Bank Theatre and about 54 interested voters attended. Bank Theatre President Corey Robertson served as moderator and asked a series of questions to each candidate, with rebuttals allowed from the other two participants. Rick Nicholls, left, current MPP for Chatham-Kent Leamington, representing the Ontario Party, was part of the panel along with Audrey Festeryga for the Liberals (middle) and Brock McGregor for the NDP. The other candidates either did not respond to the Chamber’s invitation or declined to participate. SUN photo
KINGSVILLE COMMUNITY CENTRE GUITAR WELLNESS - Thursdays 4:00 pm, Free drop-in program. Group guitar lessons to enhance physical, emotional and spiritual wellness. 1860 Division Rd. N. Kingsville. IF YOU WANT TO DRINK, THAT’S YOUR BUSINESS If you want to stop, we can help. Call Alcoholics Anonymous: 519-999-1234. MELO CLINIC & PREGNANCY CENTRE, 75 Erie Street South, Unit 103, Leamington, offers free and confidential services provided by registered nurses. Pregnancy tests, STI testing & treatment. Call 24/7 for confidential support 519326-0612. Business calls 519-326-3821. www. pregnancycentre.net. T.O.P.S. - Take Off Pounds Sensibly - Meetings are held every Tuesday evening at the Leamington Half Century Centre, 160 Talbot St. E. Weigh-in from 6:00 - 6:45 p.m. Meeting 7:00 - 7:30 p.m. First meeting is free. For more inforamtoin call Joan at 519-326-2388. Everyone welcome. COMMUNITY TAKEOUT IS AVAILABLE at Leamington United Church, 4:00 - 5:00 pm every Monday. St. John’s Anglican Church also has takeout meals available every Wednesday from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Food is available from St. Vincent De Paul at St. Michael’s Parish 226-340-7233, Salvation Army Food Bank, The warming Cross at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Food Cupboard at St. John’s Anglican church, The Bridge (ages 14-24), Food Pantry at Parkdale Variety, neighbourhood pantry at Erie South and Marlborough and the Angel Pantry at St. John’s Anglican Church. All are free. All are welcome.
CELEBRATION OF LIFE
Memorial Service & Celebration of Life For
Alexander (Sandy) Baird Morgan SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2022 1:00 - 3:30 PM
at The Pavilion at the Roma Club, 19 Seacliff Drive East, Leamington
The formal Memorial Service and Celebration of Sandy’s Life will commence as close to 1:00 p.m. as possible. When the service is concluded, attendees may stay on and continue the celebration with other attendees. There will be finger foods and a cash bar available. The Pavilion is located at the rear of the Roma Club. Drive to the back of the large parking lot and you will see the Pavilion. We will look forward to seeing all of you at the Celebration of Sandy’s life. Please mark your calendars if you are able to attend.
Thank You
To Whom It May Concern: I, Mark D. Lougheed, a lifelong resident of Essex County and at my current location 703-705 Talbot Rd. E. for 35 years, would like to genuinely thank the members of Leamington Fire Services for their swift and professional service on the evening of Thursday, May 12, 2022. That barn has been the basis of my very existence since 1985. The quick and thorough reaction of LFS saved numerous vehicles as well as the barn and tools, basically my livelihood and ability to support myself. Words cannot express my gratitude. I don’t know the names of the actual firefighters, I was distraught and overwhelmed that evening and didn’t get their names. I would like to personally thank each individual for their service. Mark Lougheed
