hawthorne villager

United Way Milton 5km/10km Walk n Run This SUNDAY

Mike Cluett

This Coming Sunday is the 2nd annual United Way Milton Walk & Run.  This year MANY Miltonians will take to the streets to raise money for the United Way Milton fundraising campaign.  I will be taking part in this years 5K community walk, PLEDGE HERE so my focus wont be the fastest time, but just making it across the finish line.

(From the UW Race website) This years United Way Milton Race will include a 5k  running race (Chip Timed)  and a 1k Kids Fun Run along with our signature 10k running race (Chip Timed) and 5k Community Walk.  The race will take place on Sunday October 6th, 2013 9:00am at the Milton Fairgrounds.

The 10k and 5k running race course will wind its way through the picturesque streets of Milton starting and finishing in the Milton Fairgrounds. The race is competitive and race results will be reported on the website.

This year we will also have a great run for the kids, a 1km Kids Fun Run with a great loot bag to be included with registration.

The 5k Community Walk is for family and friends to enjoy a brisk walk through the streets on Milton to support a great cause.

We’re encouraging all of you to come out for a morning of fun and exercise to support the United Way of Milton and the many valuable member programs they sponsor.

Race Mission: To bring the community of Milton together for a morning of fun and exercise in the spirit of healthy living.

So please take some time to click some links (best one is the pledge page for yours truly!) and find out more about the United Way of Milton and how it helps the over 1 in 4 Milton residents who use a UW funded service.

I hope to see you at the race.

Increased Weed Control Being Considered in 2014 Budget

Mike Cluett

From the Milton Canadian Champion

Town may increase weed control budget

Town councillors have heard the message that residents want better weed control in parks and on boulevards, and will be looking at it when it comes to next year’s budget.

Possibilities for improving the maintenance of the areas include more frequent mowing during dandelion season, or the more expensive option of increasing fertilizer, aeration and over-seeding treatments.

The Town currently spends about $220,000 on upkeep of boulevards and passive park areas. Increased mowing of both would cost about $150,000 more, while the multi-faceted treatment would cost an additional $320,000.

Several councillors said at Monday’s town council meeting that they regularly receive calls from residents about the state of the parkland, and suggested that moving toward fertilizer, aeration and over-seeding would pay off over time. Town sports fields are already maintained using that system.

“The people in the Town of Milton take pride in the appearance of this town and this is a solid investment,” said Ward 6 Councillor Mike Cluett.

The options will be discussed by councillors during the upcoming process to establish the 2014 budget.

Steam Era Returns Labour Day Weekend

Mike Cluett

Many people think that the CNE getting ready to close down is the official sign of the end of summer.  For those of us in Milton, its the Steam Era!

Starting this coming weekend is the 53rd edition of the Steam Era at Milton Fairgrounds.  According to the Steam Era website, their goal is “to advance knowledge, appreciation, and  interest in rural antiques and  our rural agricultural heritage. This is accomplished through the preservation, restoration and renovation of articles, vehicles,  machinery and power equipment of antiquity.”

The Steam Era is an “annual show held by the Ontario Steam and Antique Preservers Association  each year. At the Labour Day weekend show our members exhibit and demonstrate their equipment, models, cars and trucks, along with  craft and other displays for the public.”

So if you’re looking for something interesting to do over the long weekend in Milton, head on down to the fairgrounds and see history come alive in front of you.

Friday afternoon starting at 1pm there is the annual steam era parade through town and its not to be missed.  With all the whistles going off, it would be hard to miss it.  Later on Friday night at 6pm is the corn roast and movie night.

On Saturday there are a number of competitions from the tractor pull to log sawing (which is much more difficult that you would think) followed by more steam games, live entertainment and a talent contest.

More games are slated for Sunday along with mini tractor pulls and on Monday it wraps up with more competitions and the Steam Era Skills competition.  The full schedule of events can be found here.

Come and take part in Milton’s rich agricultural history this long weekend at Milton’s Steam Era and the real unofficial end of summer.

Look forward to seeing you there.

Milton United Way 5K/10K Event October 6th 2013

Mike Cluett

The race is just over a month away and pledges are now open for the 2nd annual United Way 5K/10K run and 5K community walk on Oct 6th.  I’ll be participating this year so feel free to pledge your support here.

Need some incentive?

Meet Ronaldus Maximus of Milton United Way fame.  Notice the hair?  Im sure everyone who meets him notices it.  Here’s the deal.

If I get to $1,000 in pledges I’ll wear a Ronaldus Maximus wig for the race!

All for the United Way of Milton.  So pledge NOW and post a comment to let me know you did.

I would appreciate any support you might be able to give so please be generous and take into consideration that next to being Dave Hester from Storage Wars for Halloween last year, THIS will be something hard to live down.  Again, its all to go help the 1 in 4 Milton residents who use a United Way service.  As our town continues to grow, the need for funding grows as well.

Lets all help be part of the CHANGE … it starts here.

Free Garbage Tags Expire Sept 7th

Mike Cluett

Just a reminder to Milton residents that the Region of Halton free bag tags expire this coming September 7th. After that you will be required to purchase them at $2.00 each.

If you have any questions about the Halton Bag Tag program, please visit this website for more details OR you can call 3-1-1.  The 3-1-1 service is a very valuable tool to use to find out about a number of town and region services, garbage pick up and also where you can report roadside dumping.

Speaking of illegal dumping, thank you to the many residents in wards 1, 6, 7 and 8 for calling and emailing me about these incidents.  In order for these statistics to be included in any future region of Halton reports, they do need to be called in on the 3-1-1 line as well as letting me know.

Before the 3 bag limit was approved by Halton Region council members (unanimously) there were a number of incidents of illegal roadside dumping of household garbage.  After the program was in place we have seen a spike in these occurences and I have been sending this information to both the Town and Halton Region staff for their actions.

What we have been seeing in the last several weeks is residents using town garbage containers to dump their household waste on the garbage pick up days.  These containers are NOT for that purpose.  When people dump their household garbage in the green containers, it attracts animals, rodents and it usually ends up being a big mess.  Add in some wind, and local residents get their areas covered in trash.

If you see any overflowing containers of garbage, please let me know by email mike@mikecluett.ca and call 3-1-1 to report the locations as well.  By working together, we can help solve this problem as we continue with the “growing pains” of a 3 bag limit.

I’ll see you at the doors

Milton Strawberry Festival This Weekend

Mike Cluett

This weekend marks the first official weekend of the summer.  For Miltonians for many years this means Strawberry Festival!

For 33 years running the Milton Hospital Auxiliary has been putting on this amazing event that never ceases to amaze.  Lots of fresh strawberries, ice cream, smoothies … you name it, its there.

The festival is held at the Milton Fairgrounds and goes from 8AM to 4PM.  Get there early for some strawberry shortcake and other goodies.