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Halton Region Asks For Input On Communication

Mike Cluett

If you are interested in taking part in the survey by Halton Region, please sign up at www.halton.ca/mvp

This is a great service provided by the Region to get as much citizen input as possible and work towards making things better.  I know that when I speak with residents in Milton about both town and regional issues, many state they don’t know what is being worked on and the time lines of these projects.

It’s our job as elected officials and as governments to do our best to make sure people are informed and that there are resources available to get that information.  If you go to the Region of Halton website www.halton.ca you will find there is a page with all contact information for different departments.  Its called the Social Media centre and I urge you to visit it and follow on Facebook, Twitter and RSS news feeds each one of these areas to stay on top of any changes, news and what’s happening in your area.

Here is the link.

Make sure you register as part of the MVP program on the Halton website and take part in this and other surveys.

I’ll see you at the doors.

Halton Region asks residents to comment on construction information

Release Date: Jan 22, 2013

On Monday, January 28, Halton Region will release a new survey to evaluate the effectiveness of its communications efforts in support of regional infrastructure planning and construction projects.

The survey is part of the ongoing Halton MVP (myViewPoint) survey series that asks an online panel of Halton residents for input on Regional programs and services. The survey results will be used to improve the Building a Better Halton communications program.

“Construction affects all of us in Halton Region,” said Regional Chair Gary Carr. “Our goal is to provide residents, businesses and commuters with useful and timely information that will help reduce the impact of Regional construction on drive times and daily life throughout the region.”

To receive Halton MVP surveys, residents must join the survey panel and complete a demographic questionnaire. Panelists may be invited to participate in up to eight surveys each year on a variety of Regional programs and services. Registration is open to all residents of Halton Region (excluding employees of Halton Region) 18 years of age or older. To register, or for more information about Halton MVP, visit www.halton.ca/MVP.

To participate in the next survey on construction communications, eligible Halton residents must join the MVP panel by Sunday, January 27, 2013.

The Halton MVP survey panel is managed and administered by Jane Armstrong Research Associates on behalf of Halton Region through a secure website. All correspondence, data collection and data analysis are the responsibility of Armstrong Research. The names of panelists, or any other identifiable information, will not be released without written permission by the participant. Individual views will remain anonymous and data will always be analyzed and presented to Halton Region in the aggregate.

The Regional Municipality of Halton serves more than 500,000 residents in the City of Burlington, the Town of Halton Hills, the Town of Milton, and the Town of Oakville. Halton Region is committed to meeting the needs of its residents through the delivery of cost-effective, quality programs and services, including water and wastewater; Regional roads and planning; emergency medical services; waste management; public health; social assistance; children’s and seniors’ services; social/non-profit housing; heritage programs; emergency management and economic development. For more information, dial 311 or visit Halton Region’s website at www.halton.ca.

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Media Contact

Pamela Janes
Communications Specialist
Halton Region
905-825-6000, ext. 7232
pamela.janes@halton.ca

Agreement Reached with Woodbine & Province of Ontario

Mike Cluett

We can breath a sigh of relief … for the time being.  Woodbine Entertainment Group has reached an agreement with the province for 2 more years of slots & horse racing at Woodbine AND Mohawk Racetrack.

Much more work to be done.  I wish it could have been a longer term agreement but I’ll take the good news for what it is…

Interesting about the timing of these announcements….schools, horse racing…Halton related issues.  NOW we need to hear an announcement about Milton Education Village.

Heres a link to the announcement.

Horse Racing in Ontario to Continue

January 23, 2013 2:15 pm

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Ontario is another step closer to a sustainable horse racing industry after reaching an agreement in principle to provide transition funding to the province’s largest provider of horse racing.

The agreement with Woodbine Entertainment Group will ensure races continue at the Woodbine and Mohawk tracks as the industry adapts to a more sustainable model. Agreements with additional race tracks are anticipated to be reached in the coming weeks.

In order to receive transition funding, racetracks will have to meet accountability and transparency requirements. Providing a number of racetracks with transition funding is part of the government’s horse racing industry transition plan, which includes:

  • Continuing the Horse Improvement Program
  • Providing animal welfare supports.
  • Transferring responsibility for the Ontario Racing Commission to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Helping the horse racing industry transition to a more sustainable model is part of the McGuinty government’s plan to ensure increased accountability for the use of public funds.

Quick Facts

  • Ten race tracks have reached lease agreements in principle with OLG for its slots facilities. Additional agreements with tracks are to be announced in the coming weeks.
  • The Ontario Racing Commission will work with race tracks to provide a revised 2013 racing calendar as agreements are finalized.

Quotes

Headshot

“This agreement points to a renewed future for horse racing in Ontario. We look forward to working with additional racetracks towards the further development of a new model for a sustainable industry.”

Ted McMeekin

Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

“The transition funding provides much needed stability for the industry. We are pleased with the government’s commitment to ensure the long-term viability of horse racing and breeding which has a proud heritage in Ontario. We look forward to working in partnership with government as we discuss the long term future of a sustainable horse racing industry.”

Nick Eaves

CEO, Woodbine Entertainment Group

Dryer Fire Averted

Mike Cluett

Thanks to Julie Slack at the Milton Canadian Champion, Fire Chief Ellsworth and Randy Korry from Milton Fire Department for their assistance in getting this message out.

In case anyone is wondering I used Iain at www.dryerventcleaner.ca for the work done and highly recommend him.

Councillor has close call with dryer

Mike Cluett shook with fear when he looked at the charred lint that was cleaned out of his dryer last week.

The distinct possibility that a fire was imminent left the Ward 6 councillor stricken with “what-if scenarios” — none of them good.

Cluett and his wife had just returned home from the New Year’s Eve bell-ringing ceremony at Town Hall, tossed a load of laundry into the dryer and sat down to watch television.

Moments later the smell of smoke brought both of them to the second-floor laundry room, but they couldn’t locate a source of fire.

Just to be safe, Cluett, who has lived in the house for three years, said he unplugged the dryer and the next day, contacted an area dryer vent cleaner.

When the cleaner disassembled the gas-operated unit, he asked Cluett to take a look.

“I was shaken when I saw what could have happened,” he said last week, when he sat down with the Champion and fire officials to alert residents to check their own dryers. “This was not a matter of if (it would catch fire), it was a matter of when.”

The cleaner showed him a charred mess of built-up lint that had singed a large portion of the interior dryer. When the drum was completely removed, the black remnants of ignited lint revealed just how close he had come to experiencing a fire.

In his case, his children’s bedrooms are located beside and down the hall from the laundry room.

Cluett said despite regular removal of lint from the trap after each cycle, lint was backed up in the outdoor exhaust duct.

A metal bird protector affixed to the outside of the house prevented the lint in the exhaust duct from properly escaping.

As a result, much of the pipe became blocked with dryer lint. Inside the house, near the gas source, the lint was charred and clearly showed signs of being ignited, Cluett said.

To prevent the build-up, Cluett had the metal cage removed and a louvered air vent installed to allow proper lint escape.

Milton Fire Chief Brian Ellsworth said he doesn’t have numbers, but acknowledged that lint build-up in dryers like Cluett’s has caused house fires in numerous cases across the province.

He suggested residents take measures to ensure this doesn’t happen.

“Check the outdoor ducts, and install a smoke alarm inside the laundry room,” he said.

Milton Fire Department (MFD) fire prevention inspector Barry Kory echoed his concerns, adding that people need to be made aware of the possibility that lint build-up can most definitely be the source of a fire.

“Regular maintenance is a must,” he said.

He also reiterated the importance of not running appliances when residents aren’t home.

“It’s simple, don’t run the dryer when you’re not at home,” Kory said.

In addition to adding a smoke alarm to the laundry room, Kory said the MFD is encouraging the public to install smoke alarms in the garage — another area that has been the source of fire for several house fires in Milton and Halton in the past.

Julie Slack can be reached at jslack@miltoncanadianchampion.com or on Twitter @miltonmusing.

2103 Halton Region Waste Calendar Coming SOON

Mike Cluett

Its the beginning of  a new year and if you were like me, you were trying to get rid of old dated things overt the holidays and putting them in your blue boxes.  Problem is once you start looking you find other things that need to go into the waste…but when.

Worry no more as you will soon have your 2013 Region of Halton Waste calendar delivered to your home.  Mine immediately gets put up on the side of the fridge to remind me of all the different days are in the collection cycle.

Speaking of the holidays.  For those of us in the wards south of Derry Road (mainly wards 1, 6, 7 and 8 ) collection of Christmas trees will begin this coming Monday January 14th and again on the 21st.

I’ll see you at the doors.  Here’s the press release from Region of Halton

Halton’s 2013 Waste Management Guide and Collection Calendar delivered to homes next week

The 2013 Waste Management Guide and Collection Calendar, which has everything you need to know about waste collection in Halton Region, will be delivered to homes starting the week of January 14. The Calendar is effective February 1 and includes a schedule for Blue Box, GreenCart, garbage, bulk and yard waste collection, information on the Halton Waste Management Site and details about upcoming waste collection changes that begin April 1, 2013. Residents can also view their Waste Collection Calendar online at www.halton.ca/waste.

“The 2013 Waste Management Guide and Collection Calendar is a quick reference tool for residents to locate important information about all of Halton’s Waste Management programs,” said Gary Carr, Halton’s Regional Chair. “I encourage everyone to review the calendar to learn more about the upcoming waste collection changes that will assist in increasing our diversion rate, which will extend the life of our landfill and save future taxpayers $15 million.”

The 2013 Waste Management Guide and Collection Calendar once again features Halton’s talented young artists who were selected as the Calendar Cover Art Contest winners. This year marked the fifth annual art contest that ran in the fall of 2012 asking children from kindergarten to grade eight to create the 2013 calendar cover using the theme of “recycle and compost more to make less garbage.” One entry from each of the four Local Municipalities was selected to have their creative design featured on the 2013 calendar cover. Winners include Hannah Kim from Burlington, Allison Scott from Halton Hills, Hannah Kellhammer from Milton and Zohaa Zafar from Oakville. The four winners will be recognized late January at a small event with Halton’s Regional Chair, Gary Carr.

If you have not received your 2013 Waste Collection Calendar by January 28, please contact Access Halton by dialling 311 or use the online Service Request Tool at www.halton.ca/wastetools. You can also follow Halton Waste Management on Twitter @HaltonRecycles, on Pinterest, visit their blog at www.haltonrecycles.ca and watch HaltonRecycles on YouTube.

For more information contact Halton Region by dialing 311 or 905-825-6000, toll free 1-866-442-5866, TTY 905-827-9833 or visit www.halton.ca.

The Regional Municipality of Halton serves more than 500,000 residents in the City of Burlington, the Town of Halton Hills, the Town of Milton, and the Town of Oakville. Halton Region is committed to meeting the needs of its residents through the delivery of cost-effective, quality programs and services, including water and wastewater; Regional roads and planning; emergency medical services; waste management; public health; Ontario Works (formerly social assistance); children’s and seniors’ services; social/non-profit housing; heritage programs; emergency management and business development. For more information, dial 311 or visit Halton Region’s website at www.halton.ca.

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Media Contact:

Sharon Will
Communications Specialist
Halton Region
905-825-6000 x 7490
Sharon.Will@halton.ca

MCRC Trivia Night Sat March 2nd 2013

Mike Cluett

SAVE THE DATE!

Every year Milton Community Resource Centre (MCRC) holds its annual trivia night and every year it gets bigger and bigger.  Last year we sold out tickets very fast so if you want to go send me an email mike@mikecluett.ca to book your spot.

One of the committee’s I sit on through my town council duties is the Board of Directors for MCRC.  When I first moved to Milton, I had personally experienced the MCRC program with my son Anthony and was very impressed.  They do wonderful work for the children of our community so its a great program to support.  MCRC is also a Milton United Way supported organization.

From the MCRC Website:

Milton Community Resource Centre (MCRC) is a Not–for-profit, multi-service organization that provides services to children and families of Milton and the surrounding communities. Through our Ontario Early Years Centre and our Family Resource programs we provide early learning programs for children, their parents and caregivers at minimal or no cost to participants. MCRC’s parent resource library offers a variety resources and workshops including access to our parent educators. Through our Licensed Child Care programs, MCRC provides quality early learning and care at an affordable cost and subsidy is available for eligible families. Collaboratively with Halton Region Children Services, MCRC operates The Halton Resource Connection, which provides training, support and resources to individuals and organizations working with children and youth.

Tickets are on sale now at the reception desk at 410 Bronte Street South – $20 per person or $150 per table of 8.

Dont you dare miss this!  Its always a blast.  Stay tuned to my Twitter account for sample questions from last years event.

Senior of the Year 2013 Nominations Are Open

Mike Cluett

Do you know an outstanding senior? Nominate him/her for Senior of the Year 2013!

This award helps to build respect and honour for community residents, fosters community pride, and recognizes and values diversity.

Nominations are due February 8, 2013 at 4:30 pm.  For nomination forms and criteria, visit the Senior of the Year page.