hawthorne village

Troy’s Toy Drive

Mike Cluett

We spent Saturday morning walking up and down Main Street in Milton for their 2nd annual Tots on Parade Halloween Party for kids.  Hundreds of the little ones lined the streets in the day light to get treats from store owners courtesy of the Milton DBIA.  It was a fun time and the kids left with bags full of candy and smiles across their face.  It almost felt like Christmas.

For those who know me well, I normally don’t get into the Christmas spirit until much later in the year, much to the shagrin of my wife (who would put up decorations NOW if she had the chance) but this year is a bit different.  While shopping later on with the family, my trusty phone started buzzing away.  It was a message from Troy Newton of Troy’s Diner in Milton.  When Troy calls … you answer!

Troy is now planning this years Troy’s Toy Drive scheduled for December 20, 2010 at his location at Best Western Milton (401 and 25) and this year looks to top last years monumental success.  Each year during this campaign, they raise close to $30,000 in toys for the Salvation Army, Sick Kids Hospital and Halton Women’s Place and Troy wants to beat that number … BIG TIME.

You know an event like this will bring out big time names in our community and there are two no bigger names than Tiger Jeet Singh and Tiger Ali Singh.  You’ll remember the Tigers as just this past summer they put on the first of many Tigerfest live wrestling action during the Downtown Milton Street festival raising over $35,000 for the Milton District Hospital.  Last year the most famous hockey dad in the world (and a guy with the biggest heart in the world) Walter Gretzky was there, and this year it looks like there will be lots of famous names helping out that day and I have the flyer up at the bottom of this post.

If you want to send a donation, make it payable to “Tiger Jeet Singh Foundation, c/o Troy’s Toy Drive”and drop it off and either of the Diners locations on or before the 18th of December.  Breakfast Television will once again make it out to cover this event on the 20th with Jennifer Valentyne hosting the live eye coverage.

Let’s help show the world that Milton is the best place in the world and support Troy’s Toy Drive on December 20th, head on down to the Best Western location from 6AM to 12PM and maybe YOU can be on TV.

You can also get more details as well as video from last years event at Milton Search.com

Post a comment telling Troy, the Tigers and everyone in Milton that you will be there!!!

Milton Remembrance Day Ceremonies

Mike Cluett

Sunday November 7, 2010 starting at 1:30PM.  Please join us as we celebrate Remembrance Day ceremonies at the Victoria Park cenotaph (at Milton Town Hall) and honour our fallen soldiers, our veterans and current members of Canada’s military force.

Please support the Royal Canadian Legion (Milton Branch 136) and buy a poppy from one of the many volunteers and show everyone that you will not forget their sacrifice that helps continue to make Canada and other countries around the world … free.

You can also join the official ceremonies on Thursday November 11th at the Milton Evergreen Cemetery starting at 10:45AM to 11:15AM (190 Ontario Street South) and join in celebrating our freedom.

Lest we forget.

Its sinking in

Mike Cluett

After taking a very long time to return emails, voice mails, tweets and posts over the last couple of days, I can honestly say its finally sinking in.  What really made it apparent that life has changed was the beginnings of the regular courier from Town Hall with information on meetings, seating arrangements and schedules for the next month or so.

In the coming weeks there will be orientation meetings, briefings from town staff, arrangements for the inaugural council meeting on December 6th and many more “things to do” that quickly make your fingers sore updating the Blackberry and of course more to come after that.

I am really looking forward to the challenge of working for the residents of Milton.  With the overwhelming amount of support I received on election night, its something that I do not take lightly.  Of course, I will be relying on a lot of support from Ward 6 voters when it comes to these decisions.  I want to get as much input as possible from you and help grow the interaction we started many months ago.

These decisions wont be easy and it will require a lot of work, consultation, feedback and possibly some disagreements from councillors and residents alike.  But the main thing is that there will be a dialogue…a conversation that has been lacking over the last several years.

I also want to thank publicly the outgoing councillors who didn’t make it this election.  The rough part of elections is that there has to be winners and losers but that doesn’t discount the impact that these people had on our lives in the years throughout our growth.  Paul Scherer, Jan Mowbray, Mike Boughton and Brian Penman all should be commended on their years of service and dedication to Milton.  Other retiring councillors Barry Lee, Wendy Schau and Rick Day also should be congratulated on serving Milton residents.  While we didnt agree on some issues and decisions that were made, I never once doubted their commitment to Milton, and the taxpayers.  Thank you everyone.

I would also like to find out from you what you would like to see on this website, as I will be continuing to use it as a source of information.  Would you like a listing of Town press releases, information on public meetings, openings on town committees, budget meetings etc?  This is going to be your site as well, so I would love some input on what I can do to make it the best source of information in Milton.

In closing, the last couple of nights have been funny in the Cluett household as Pat sees me either running around after dinner looking like I’m getting ready to go canvassing or I’m about to catch up on some much needed sleep.  Im sure things will begin to get more “normal” as we adjust to the new job at hand.

I am humbled by the support I received and very excited at the challenge for the next four years.  I will do my best to listen to as many people as possible and use my skills and abilities to make the best decisions I can for us here in Milton.  I hope that we can all work together to get that job done.

Thanks for your support and I will soon see you again at the doors (mainly because its Halloween this weekend 🙂 )

Halton Police set up online crime reporting

Mike Cluett

From todays Milton Canadian Champion

Cops set up online crime reporting

Halton Regional Police Service has made it more convenient for the public to now report certain types of crime online through their website at www.haltonpolice.ca.

HRPS is one of first police services in Canada to introduce online police reporting as a way to enhance its service to the public.

Now, rather than having to go to a Halton police station or call the non-emergency line at 905-878-5511, people can use the new HRPS online police reporting system to report lost property, theft of property valued at less than $5,000, theft from vehicle, and damage or vandalism to their home or vehicle.

The offence must have occurred within Halton, there must be no known suspects, and it must not be a crime in progress.

To report a crime in progress, the public is advised to call 9-1-1.

“People today lead incredibly busy lives, and this is one way we can help them get back to their day as quickly as possible after their vehicle has been broken into, or their property has been lost, stolen, or vandalized,” said Chief Gary Crowell, adding, “It also is a tremendous convenience for people who may live outside of Halton, but unfortunately were a victim of one of these types of crimes while within our jurisdiction.”

Since starting testing of the new system, the Service has received 112 police reports, with the vast majority being filed by Oakville and Burlington residents.

The three most commonly reported crimes using the new system are theft from auto, theft of property and property damage.

The system is secure, confidential and easy to use. People are required to have a valid email address, and should disable any pop-up blockers before filing their report online.

Complete instructions and an FAQ are available on the Service’s website at www.haltonpolice.ca.

Landslide Victory for Cluett

Mike Cluett

From the Milton Canadian Champion

Mike Cluett, 2010 candidate for Milton's Ward 6.

CLUETT, Mike 1216 (78.71%)

SOOMRO 329 (21.29%)

Mike Cluett has become the new councillor for Ward 6 following a landslide victory.

The father of two said he was motivated to get into public office to ensure a positive future for his offspring, and last night he got off on the right foot to do so.

Cluett said he was pleased with voter turnout in the new ward.

He said: “We tried to get as many people out as possible as the number of voters going out to the polls has been dropping the last couple of years.

“Considering this is a new ward I think we did well.”

He added that his first order of business in office would be to tackle the budget and to ensure councillors start “sharpening their pencils.”

His opponent, Maqsood Soomro, conceded defeat saying running for office had been a “wonderful experience.”

He said: “I think I did better than a lot of people expected, but there always has to be one winner and one loser.”

Today Is Election Day

Mike Cluett

Its been over 10 months since I began my campaign to become the local councillor for ward 6.  On January 11, 2010 I visited town hall and filed my nomination papers and started what was to become a tiring, yet satisfying campaign.

Over these past 10 months I have met many of you, a couple of times over, and heard what issues you find to be important.  In this time I spoke about 3 main things…responsible financial management, neighbourhood safety and accountability.

The first item of business for the new council will be to review the 2011 budget which has a projected 6.91% increase to the mill rate.  You have told me you want value for your dollar and you want your taxes spent wisely and this rate increase is simply too much.  Council needs to review line by line each item in the budget so we can see whats working, what isn’t working and where we can find savings.  I have made the promise I wont support the 2011 budget if the increase is over the rate of inflation.  I hope my council colleagues will work hard over that budget process to see if we can find the savings and give you value for your tax dollar.

We’ve talked about neighbourhood safety at length as well.  Im glad my opponent has been reading my blog since he started his campaign mid September and now understands this is an important issue.  Over the months and in fact the last few years, I have been talking about the importance of neighbourhood safety on our roads.  The town of Milton wants to become a pedestrian friendly town, but we need to look at options like traffic calming devices and other ways to slow down vehicles in the residential area so that all pedestrians are safer.  We’ve discussed the idea of a signalled crosswalk near Kennedy Circle and Thompson Road as there are people who would like to take advantage of the great splash pad and soccer fields on one side or others to go to Shoppers Drug Mart or Metro or the Dollar Blitz to shop without packing the kids in the car to travel less than 500 metres.  Over the next four years I want to bring these ideas forward and I need your input and help to get it done.

Last but not least, we talked extensively about accountability.  About being there when you call or email and giving you a quick response.  Ive promised, as I have done over the last 4 years, to update you on whats going on in Milton, at Town Hall, and how it affects you using this website/blog and other forms of social media like Facebook & Twitter.  During some important council meetings  you can find me sending updates through Twitter on what was going on, and when the decisions are made.  Its something I will do my best to continue as councillor, even though I’ll be sitting at the table, Ill make sure you can follow along.  Either by Twitter or what we hope to do is stream the meetings online so you can see whos working for you and asking the questions that need to be asked.

So now the brochures have been delivered and the doors have been knocked on and I’ve done my best to meet as many of you as I could over the last 10 months.  I leave it in your hands to make the decision on who you feel is the best candidate to represent all Miltonians at the council table.  If you havent made that crucial decision yet, I ask that you review my website and that of my opponents and see who has the plan for a better Milton.

You can vote today starting now at 10AM to 8 PM tonight.  If you live north of Clark Blvd in Ward 6 you will be voting at Guardian Angels on Bennett Blvd – and if you live south of Clark Blvd you will be voting at Hawthorne Village School also on Bennett Blvd.

If you have any last minute questions, call my cell (647) 888-9032!

Thank you everyone for making this a fun campaign.  Ive enjoyed meeting everyone and discussing the issues and while some of us disagreed we still came to the conclusion that the dialogue needs to continue and we need to work together to make Milton a better place.  I am humbled by the support I’ve received and the pledges of support and the volunteers who have worked endlessly to help me get the message out and for that Im eternally grateful.

I’ll update the blog once the polls close and the results come in.  Afterwards I will be at Ned Devines celebrating with other candidates, supporters, friends and family so feel free to drop by tonight (I’ll be there roughly after 9ish) and say HI!

Until then….I’ll see you at the polls.