milton issues

Life changing moments

Mike Cluett

Just a quick update on the last post I made about the lights going in on Thompson and Yates…its been delayed. They have completed some of the work but still a lot more to be done. The information I was going on was a posting by Regional Councillor Colin Best on (one of my favourite sites) Hawthorne Villager

So as more details come in on this, I’ll post a further update.

And for those who don’t know, Pat and I found out a few weeks ago that we were expecting NUMBER 2 in the baby department. Anthony has just turned 7 so to go through this all over again, is almost like doing it for the first time. Both Pat and I are quite excited and today was the day we made our journey to downtown Toronto for the ultrasound.

With the birth of Anthony, Pat had developed a very good relationship with her doctor and has chosen to have the baby at Women’s College Hospital. A little out of the way mind you, but the care she got during the last pregnancy was outstanding, and its all about her comfort isn’t it?

So this morning we got up bright and early and made our way to downtown Toronto. I don’t know how many of the readers of this blog do this on a daily basis, but let me tell you something…you have MY respect. I couldn’t see anyone do that drive every day back and forth even if I did live just outside the big smoke…it would drive me nuts.

I did come up with a few ideas (controversial as they may be) for the city of Toronto to raise funds and decrease the dependence on raising taxes of his constituents. I don’t know exactly how it would all work, but you could make the Gardiner Expressway a toll road, similar to the 407 where all funds generated would go to an infrastructure account to improve the roads in the city.

Now many of you out there who commute to Toronto daily might not like that, but it makes sense. The majority of the roads that are heavily used in the city are driven on by people who don’t live in Toronto. I didn’t say the idea would be LIKED by everyone now did I? More on that coming up in another post.

There’s one more Toronto related item Id like to bring up and that’s the Maple Leafs and what a sorry state they’re in at this moment. They’re doing very poorly and no one can deny that, not even the most rabid of Leafs fans out there…it’s BAD. The situation wont get any better just by having guys / fans like myself complain that its bad. The only way its ever going to get fixed is if the ACC stopped selling out. HOW can that happen? The fans who wait in lines for standing room only tickets for all hours, and people who spend HUNDREDS of dollars just to go to a game, will have to say enough is enough and STOP going to games.

There are some bright spots on the Leafs offense including Sundin who is having an amazing start to the season. Andropov shocked almost every Leafs fan out there with the season hes having so far. There is more than that but those are the 2 main shining lights.

The duds of the team can be combined in one word…defense. Mainly idiots like Kubina who have YET, despite his years playing hockey, figured out hes not a forward but defense. He jumps out of position so many times during a game, I’ve lost count and when he does realize hes out of position, POOF…. Goal! He’s not the sole reason for the defense corps woes but he does need some help.

So far this year, my “teams” aren’t doing so well. The Leafs…the Vancouver Canucks…the Ti-Cats…and the San Fransisco 49ers. I have been doing what I can to help keep the faith.

All things being said, with all the problems we face on a daily basis, with work, with sports, with politics, and with everything else. None of it seems important when you’re looking at the screen of an ultrasound and seeing the beating heard of your unborn child.

Lights at Thompson and Yates Drive

Mike Cluett

There are a few sources of information available for Milton residents on the internet.  If you need a good source of local information and news in a one stop shop, you can go to www.miltonsearch.com where they update almost daily on the happenings around town.

One other site that I go to, which I highly recommend, is www.hawthornevillager.com

On this site theres some great background information for one of Hawthorne Village’s first residents and the process it took to build a brand new home.  Great read.

Also included on his site is a forum for not just HV residents, but all residents of Milton.  Its a great source of information on your local community, whats happening around the area, and where residents can vent, complain, and ask for help on a number of items.

One of the many concerns in Hawthorne Village (Ward 1 mainly) is traffic.  While campaigning last year, that issue ranked number one as most residents were concerned about stop signs, traffic flow, and lights.

If anyone drives down Thompson Road south of Derry, you will find there to be a high level of traffic at Yates Drive.  Those who live on the west side of Thompson on Yates have found it increasingly difficult to turn north or south without taking their lives in their hands.  Many residents have asked for and demanded a stop light be installed.

After several months planning through the Town of Milton, it was decided and approved recently that there will be lights installed at this location.  Regional Councillor Colin Best confirmed in a post on the HV forum that construction should be starting soon with a targeted finishing date of October 27th.

I know I can speak on behalf of many residents in that area both east and west on Yates that this is a welcome development.

You can find the post here on the HV website.  While youre at it, register to post and introduce yourself.

New Look to the Blog

Mike Cluett

Trying some new things every now and then so if it looks like somethings been changed….youre right! It has. Let me know what you think. I’ll be trying to make it look a bit better so it might change some more over the next little while.

Im trying to incorporate this blog into my website so it will be easier to go to www.mikecluett.ca instead of this blog. As with everything…a work in progress.

Speaking of a work in progress, the Amazing Race is coming up next month as well. It looks like the teams are now set in place and they wont be accepting any new applicants…BUT we will need lots of people to come out and cheer the teams on.

This race has been many months in the making, and its going to be a fitting end to the 150th Anniversary celebrations. Go to www.milton.ca and click on the 150th logo for more information.

As well, one of the top rated schools (Hawthorne Village Public School) will be having its “WELCOME BACK FUN FAIR” on September 29th starting at 11am. Theres going to be tons of stuff going on so even if you dont have kids in the school…come on by.

Milton Fall Fair this weekend

Mike Cluett

It’s that time of year folks. The world famous Milton Fall Fair is upon us and this year, as every year, looks to top them all.

Check out more information at http://www.miltonfair.com/

Friday, September 21st 2007

3:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Halls and exhibits open to public
3:00 p.m. Midway Opens
(Special Reduced Midway Rates from 3:00 till 7:00 p.m. only!)
5:00 p.m. 2007 Speed Show (Barrel Racing) – Horse Ring #2
5:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. – Beer Tent Open
6:00 p.m Ambassador Competition/ Grand Opening
7:00 p.m. Open Junior Dairy Show – No. 1 Barn
8:00 p.m. Demolition Derby

Saturday, September 22nd, 2007

9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Halls and exhibits open to public
9:00 a.m. Hunter Show Jumper Challenge – Horse Ring #2
10:00 a.m. Pet Show1
0:30 a.m. Heavy Horse Show – Horse Ring #1
10:30 a.m. Truck & Tractor Pull
10:30 a.m. Youth Beef Show – Beside No. 1 Barn
11:00 a.m. Halton 4-H Dairy Calf Club Achievement Day – No. 1 Barn
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m. Beer Tent Open
11:00 a.m. Midway Opens
11:00 a.m. Circus Jonathan – Infield Stage
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Chili Cookoff
11:30 a.m. Light Horse Show – Horse Ring #2
11:30 a.m. Sneezy the Clown-Infield Stage
12:00 p.m. Stylamanders – Infield Stage
12:30 p.m. Craig Douglas – Infield Stage
12:30 a.m. Open Beef Show – Ring Beside Cattle Barn
1:00 p.m. Travel’n Riverboat Show
1:30 p.m. Stylamanders – Infield Stage
1:30 p.m. Terrie – Karaoke By Terrie – Exhibition Theatre
2:00 p.m. Craig Douglas – Infield Stage
2:00 p.m. Kiddies Pedal Tractor Pull Sign (Registration) on the track area by the office
2:15 p.m. Len Lee – Rose Specialist – Exhibition Theatre
2:30 p.m. Silver Elvis – Infield Stage
3:00 p.m. Kiddies Pedal Tractor Pull Commences
3:00 p.m. Neon Rain – Infield Stage
3:00 p.m. Terrie-Karaoke By Terrie – Exhibition Theatre
4:00 p.m. The Stylamanders – Infield Stage
4:30 p.m. Craig Douglas – Infield Stage
5:00 p.m. Martial Arts – Cead Bua – Infield Stage
5:30 p.m. Neon Rain – Infield Stage
6:00 p.m. Mounted Games – Grandstand
7:00 p.m. Demolition Derby Drivers Meeting – Exhibition Theatre
8:00 p.m. Demolition Derby

Sunday, September 23rd, 2007

9:00 a.m. Hunter Challenge and Gymkhana Show
10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Halls and exhibits open to public
10:30 a.m. Lawn & Garden Tractor Pull11:00 a.m. Midway opens.
11:00 a.m. Sheep Show – No. 1 Barn
11:00 a.m. Baby Show – Exhibition Threatre
11:30 a.m. Jonathan Fletcher Band – Infield Stage
12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Beer Tent Open
12:00 p.m. Kiddies Pedal Tractor Pull sign up in track area by office
12:30 p.m. Sneezy the Clown – Infield Stage1:00 p.m. Demolition Derby Drivers Meeting
1:00 p.m. Jonathan Fletcher Band – Infield Stage
1:00 p.m. Kiddies Pedal Tractor Pull Commences
1:30 p.m. Hal Allison – Exhibition Theatre
2:00 p.m. Demolition Derby
2:00 p.m. Skyway Cloggers – Infield Stage
2:15 p.m. Sean James (Ponds & Water Gardens) – Exhibition Theatre
2:30 p.m. Martial Arts – Hundo- Infield Stage
3:00 p.m. Hal Allison – Exhibition Theatre
3:00 p.m. Skyway Cloggers – Infield Stage
4:30 p.m. Halls close
5:00 p.m. Hall Pick-up

Community Road Watch

Mike Cluett

With the new school term beginning and the almost in synch complaints about peoples “bad driving” running rampant throughout the town this article by Halton Region Chair Gary Carr is quite timely.

Many people I spoke with during the last municipal campaign talked very passionately about road safety. In fact it was one of the core parts of my campaign. Unlike some other candidates I ran on issues that were important to Miltonians and had a plan of action for each. For every resident I talked to, I always brought up this organization as the ones to contact and find out more information. Road safety is very important…even more now that we have our kids walking through the streets to the bus stops and along the sidewalks to school.

We have all experienced it. The car speeding down the street at an obviously high rate of speed with what we all assume to be reckless abandon while a number of students are trying to cross the street to get to the school bus. I live on Yates Drive at March Crossing and I seen my share of speeders. Many of them not realizing that they are driving at excessive speeds or if they do notice, they don’t seem to care.

Many people plead from their porches and from the sidewalks to those who feel it necessary to exceed the speed limit on our residential streets and endanger the lives and safety of all of us, but most importantly our children. Those pleas go unheard.

The police cant be at every street corner in every part of town, although at times we would like nothing better than to see those who break the law get punished. The Community Road Watch program is set up for just this reason.

It really shouldn’t have to come to this but here’s what you can do. Thanks to Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr for including this in his recent guest column in the Oakville Beaver.

Participating in Road Watch
Gary Carr, Guest Columnist

Published on Sep 08, 2007

As the Chair of Halton Region, I have the pleasure to sit on the Board of the Halton Region Police Service (HRPS).

As a member of the police service board, I have the opportunity to hear about the community programs HRPS is involved in with the community, as well as their ideas for new projects that would benefit our community.

One very exciting project currently being run in Halton Region is the Community Road Watch program.

This is a community-operated program that gives residents the opportunity to report aggressive and unsafe drivers through a Citizen Report Form to police.

Here’s how the citizen report is processed:

The first time a citizen report is received, an information letter is sent by the police to the registered owner of the vehicle explaining that their vehicle was observed being operated in an unsafe manner at a specific time and location, and asks them to remember to drive safely on Halton roadways.

If the vehicle owner was not driving their vehicle, it is their responsibility to speak with the person who was.

The second time a citizen report is received on the same registered owner, a repeat letter is sent from the police with the potential for personal contact from a police officer to address the problem.

A third report against an owner will result in a third letter and a personal visit from a police officer.

If you observe a dangerous act of aggressive driving on the roads in Halton Region, please consider taking the time to submit a Citizen Report Form.

You can fill out the form online, or place a completed form in one of the secure drop boxes that are located throughout the community at participating police stations, businesses and libraries.

Copies of the form can be faxed to the Halton Region Police Service at 905-845-0381.

The information you provide in the reports is held in strict confidence by Halton Regional Police and you will remain unidentified.

Please fill out the forms as completely as possible to provide the police with the most information possible.

All completed forms are picked up on a regular basis and verified by the police for accuracy. I encourage you to participate in this program and help to keep Halton streets safe from dangerous and aggressive driving.

To fill out a Citizen Report Form, or for more information about the Community Road Watch program, please contact the Halton Regional Police Service at 905-825-4777 — South Halton; 905-878-5511 – North Halton, or visit the website at www.hrps.on.ca.

Changes

Mike Cluett

Well its been sometime since Ive put fingers to keys to come up with something. Over the past summer as Im sure many of you experienced, its been quite busy and its hard to find the time to do anything other than summer time activities, prepare and plan for school and get into the “summer’s over” mentality.

This summer has been an exciting one for me. My first attempt at coaching was a success. Just a couple of weeks ago we had an end of season party by the splash pad near Guardian Angels school and Team Chudleighs drank pop, ate pizza and talked about our great season and all the fun we had.

My goals for the team were simple yet still a challenge. The first goal was obviously to have fun. No one gets into sports when they are kids to NOT have fun, and I wanted to make sure that at the end of every practice and every game each one of my teammates had fun. The second goal was to give them a bit more knowledge on the game of soccer. With the help of my assistant coach Gary Hans, we acomplished that in spades. Each one of the kids came out with a bit more knowledge and love for the sport and if it wasnt for Gary and his help, it would have been much harder for me to do….again “THANK YOU” Gary. I’d coach with you anytime.

It was a bit emotional during that party as each one of the kids came up and thanked me for the fun season and they hoped I’d be their coach next year…that was the best gift of all. I created my own trophy by taking our game ball from the season and got each one of them to sign it. Its something I’ll be keeping for a very long time…and for sure, If all goes well, I’ll be back next season to coach (if theyll have me)

As for Milton and the happenings politically its been rather slow. There were some major changes to user fees in town and more will be coming on the impact of those increases in a coming post.

The summer was good to us and I hope the fall is just as good … if not better. The chill of fall was in the air over the weekend and soon the leaves will be turning as we all begin to look forward to an autumn of changes. The ride never seems to end.