Fire victims thankful for donation offers, but decline
The family whose home was destroyed by fire after a gas main ruptured yesterday has asked the people of Milton to save their donations for those who truly need them.
Hamid Khan, who lived in the Bennett Boulevard home with his wife, eight-year-old son and five- and three-year-old daughters, said he appreciated the sentiment behind the donations but added that he had insurance to cover the damage and a “good job” to provide for his family during the days ahead.
He added: “God bless those who want to give.”
So far Shoeless Joe’s, the Salvation Army and Mattamy Homes have offered to act as drop-off locations for giving families.
See article for more…
1159AM UPDATE
Many thanks to the people who over the last 18 hours have emailed me offering to help these families in need. Its been a busy time for a lot of people involved from the fire / police department, to the Union Gas employees working until 330AM last night to the dozens of volunteers to help out at EC Drury school for the heating centre.
There are currently plans in the works with Salvation Army to co-ordinate a drop off for the famlies involved in the fire and I should have an update soon. So far to my knowledge there are 2 other locations for people to drop off items. One location is Shoeless Joe’s in Milton (thanks to Z1035 tweeting that info) and the other location is the Mattamy Sales office at Derry Road and Trudeau.
If you want to drop off at the Mattamy Sales office you can go during business hours (today 1PM to 8PM, Friday from 1PM to 6PM, Sat & Sun 11AM to 6PM) up until this Sunday December 19th.
I’ll try to find out the hours for Shoeless Joes and update this post as soon as I can.
Kashif from the Hawthorne Villager, who is a good friend of the family involved also is accepting any items people are willing to donate. His email is kashifabrar@gmail.com
I should also have an update on a bank account to help out the family as well. Stay tuned!
As at 1300 hours, Union Gas advises that approximately 400 homes have service restored. They hope to have the remainder completed this afternoon.
815AM UPDATE
Just received a call from Hawthorne Village PS and school classes are on for today despite the fire damage and Union Gas workers across the street.
745AM UPDATE
It looks like half the homes have been brought back online throughout the night by Union Gas workers. Many of you have emailed me around 2 or 3 AM saying that they were there…wow thats amazing. Union Gas stated this morning they are looking at getting everyone back up by later on this morning. If someone can stay home today as they go around or if you can have a neighbour with your key it could speed things up. If not, they will leave a contact number and as soon as you get home … call and they will have someone out very soon.
Again, I will try to find out how we can help this family out because I along with other people have been blown away by the tweets, emails and phone calls of concern and support fo this family, especially at this time of year. I was just on air with Scott Fox from Z1035 Morning Show (click HERE for the interview)and HE’S been called as well by hundreds of people on how they can help out. THIS is why Milton is the best place in the world! Updates will be coming soon.
1149PM UPDATE
Some gas services have been restored for homes in the affected area. I was at the warming centre at EC Drury earlier this evening and spoke with the represetnatives at Union Gas. The number of homes affected are approximately 500, instead of the originally reported 1200. They are running into some delays due to water in the pipelines that has to be removed.
Ive asked them to send me updates as the process goes and I’ll do my best to update this site as it comes in.
I spoke with Regional Chair Gary Carr (who is at the warming station as we speak) and he updated me that the union gas worker who was injured suffered second degree burns to his face and is at Milton Hospital with family. Everything looks good so far.
I also wanted to say big thanks to other Milton Councillors who came out to the warming station to lend a hand. Regional Councillor Colin Best, Ward 2 Councillor Greg Nelson and Ward 8 Councillor Zeeshan Hamid. We have a great team and this just proves it more.
AGAIN…there is a warming centre at EC Drury set up for people with no heat and they will put families up at the Best Western overnight so please, if you are at home and its cold especially with small children, head out to that area. Union Gas is doing what they can to get people up and running and it might be by the early hours of the morning before all service is restored.
Stay tuned!
806PM UPDATE
Ive uploaded CHCH News coverage of todays events. They were there on the scene and did extensive coverage of today’s fire and have an interview with the home owner as well. Great Job CHCH News.
Regarding homes that are currently in the process of having their gas turned off, PLEASE NOTE that there is a warming centre at EC Drury School on Ontario Street. It will get cold tonight and if youre by yourself, or dont think you can stay warm PLEASE go to the warming centre. Better safe than sorry.
More updates to come.
737PM UPDATE
For some more information on today’s events go to MILTONSEARCH.COM and their coverage of the fire. Between tweets of todays events, phone calls from obviously stressed out and scared residents in Ward 6, its been a busy day. Many people have been asking how they can help this family out. From what Ive been told by Councillor Colin Best is that the Red Cross has been called in and taking care of the immediate needs of the family. I should have more information tomorrow on how you can help out.
From the last news release I’ve received Mayor Gord Krantz is still on the scene from about 630PM onwards reviewing the progress. Thanks to everyone who tweeted, re-tweeted updates from myself and others on the scene and for your generous inquiries to help people out. THIS is what makes Milton the best place in the world.
Say a prayer for the family involved and I will have some more information tomorrow.
721PM UPDATE
NEWS RELEASE
December 15, 2010
Structural fire contained in Milton’s Beaty neighbourhood
On Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at approximately 2:30 p.m., a structural fire occurred at the intersection of Clark Avenue and Bennett Blvd in Milton. The fire is suspected to have been caused by damage to a natural gas line.
The fire has now been extinguished by the Milton Fire Department, and the area is safe for residents.
Three of nine interconnected townhomes at the intersection of Clark and Bennett have been affected by the fire. Approximately 10 to 20 homes in the area were evacuated.
Non-life threatening injuries were sustained by one Union Gas worker, who is currently in hospital.
As part of the repair process, natural gas service to approximately 500 customers in the area may be temporarily interrupted. The natural gas supply has been shut off to the affected residential area of Yates Blvd to the north, Thompson Road to the west, Clark Blvd to the south and Bennett and McDowell Avenues to the east.
Please note that Union Gas representatives will need to enter affected homes and businesses to safely turn on all natural gas appliances and equipment. Union Gas employees or their representatives showing proper identification will be going door-to-door to do this. If residents cannot be at home, please consider leaving a key and access instructions with a neighbour.
In the unlikely event that your home has no heat and you do not have friends or family nearby to visit, Halton Region has opened a warming centre in the auditorium of E.C. Drury High School at 215 Ontario Street South in Milton. The centre will be open as long as needed. Families are advised to bring books, activities, etc., to keep children entertained during their time at the centre. No pets will be allowed in the warming centre.
Please ensure at least one member of your household remains at home as Union Gas representatives need to turn on all natural gas appliances and equipment in affected homes in order to restore gas service.
For continued updates, contact 311 or visit www.milton.ca until the situation has been resolved. For Union Gas customer service, call 1-877-969-0999.
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For further information, please contact: On Duty Staff Sergeant
Halton Regional Police Service
905-825-4777 ext. 2400
As 2010 draws to a close and 2011 is rushing quickly towards us, I wanted to point out a couple of fun events happening at the Town of Milton on both New Years Eve and New Years Day!
Join Mayor Gord Krantz, Milton Historical Society and members of town council at Victoria Park to “SING OUT THE OLD & RING IN THE NEW” for an old fashioned New Years Eve celebration. Bundle up and bring your voices and instruments to sing carols and some holiday cheer. The Mayor and a special citizen will ring in the New Year at midnight. We will be gathering around 1130PM on Friday December 31st in Victoria Park which is right beside Milton Town Hall.
If you cant make it that late, you can join us the next day at Milton Town Hall for the Annual New Years Levee. Join the Mayor and members of council from 2PM to 4PM for some refreshments (courtesy of Troy’s Diner, Tim Horton’s and La Rose Bakery) while the Milton Seniors SONG SPINNERS entertains the crowd with seasonal numbers.
For more information you can email me, contact any member of council or call (519) 853-3772
There are a lot of things to do in Milton this holiday season so please join us in celebrating 2010 and looking forward to a great, prosperous and healthy 2011!
Just before our council meeting on Monday, we were invited to the town hall lobby for a cheque presentation to the Milton Centre for the Arts. Local business MinMaxx added their name to the list of corporate donors by pledging $150,000.
Azim Rizvee, Broker of Record, MinMaxx Realty Inc. stated that “…it is another way for us to pay back to the community where we live and work, and our kids play and study every day. Thank you, Milton, for helping us help everyone we all call “neighbours” through our ongoing partnership!”
Azim and his family make Milton their home as well, so it just seemed natural for them to make a further investment in our community. MinMaxx joins a growing list of major donors that include Mattamy Homes, Holcim, Cogeco, Chudleighs and others who have made major investments in our arts centre.
The Town of Milton’s goal is to have $2.2 million in donations and we are inching ever so close to that amount. You can find out more information about our coroporate sponsors and how you can put your mark on the new Arts Centre by going to www.investinthearts.ca
Many thanks to all of our corporate and personal sponsors of the Milton Centre for the Arts. Every dollar pledged helps offset some of the costs involved in operating the facility. Speaking with many of you during the most recent municipal election campaign I heard that this project, while useful, should have been put off for a few more years until Milton grew and is able to support such a facility from a financial aspect. Unfortunately, we cannot reverse the decision so we as a council have to do what we can to get more involvement from our corporate citizens like the ones who have already donated.
Troy has been hard at work collecting donations for the Toy Drive over the last several weeks. If you walk into the downtown location of Troy’s Diner you will see examples of the generosity of Milton residents on display.
Recently Troy and TigerAli Singh were out buying over $10,000 in toys for the kids. Thats simply amazing.
You can join Troy, the Tigers and many of us on December 20th at the Best Western location of Troy’s Diner where Breakfast Television will be brodcasting live. The list of special guests continues to grow and as soon as I have confirmation, I’ll announce them here.
With the pomp and circumstance of the inauguration of Milton Town Council over, now the work really begins.
Last Monday family and friends of council members and staff filled the chambers to witness the new council for 2010-2014 being sworn in. As I mentioned in my comments that night, it was a very humbling experience. I had a great time meeting with other members of council and their families. There is a feeling amongst all the councillors that over the next 4 years, we will be a close to each other as our families.
Tonight’s meeting will consist of receiving a number of reports (very LARGE reports) that we have been sifting through for the past few weeks regarding the Boyne Survey and the Derry Green Corporate Business Park.
The work doesn’t end there as next weeks meeting we will be receiving the budget documents for review and that begins the process in early January of approving the 2011 budget. (Cue the sounds of pencils being sharpened)
Over the next few weeks as these documents become available I hope that you take some time to review them and provide any suggestions you might have to either myself or other members of council.
In January when I launched my campaign, or what I call my “conversation with Ward 6 voters”, I urged people to get involved in a discussion of ideas with town council. There are a number of councillors who are described as “connected” and they are also looking for input. The only way we can be effective is if we have a two way conversation of ideas to help Milton grow and be as fiscally sound as possible.
The decisions we will be making in the coming weeks will be tough. It will be hard to please everyone. As Councillor Rick Malboeuf made mention on last Monday night that council has been sworn in for 4 years which means we will “be sworn at for 4 years” as well.
I will also try to get as many tweets as possible out tonight. It will be a learning process and I have to see what I can get in while listening to discussion around the table. Easier to tweet from the gallery but we’ll see what happens.
