milton

How you can help

Mike Cluett

254PM UPDATE

http://www.insidehalton.com/community/milton/article/918192
(From the Milton Canadian Champion online)

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!

More details to come!

What to do for New Years?

Mike Cluett

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!

Another Donation for Milton Arts Centre

Mike Cluett

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.

We can make this work!

Special Council Meeting Tonight

Mike Cluett

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.

Here is the link to the agenda from Milton’s website.

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.

I’ll see you at the meeting.

 

Halton Police Update

Mike Cluett

File this one under REALLY?  So far this year Halton Police have laid almost 300 impaired driving charges. 

“Halton police report that since Jan. 1, 2010, 295 drivers on Halton roads have been arrested for impaired driving. A total of 123 impaired charges have been laid in Burlington followed by 87 in Oakville, 49 in Milton and 36 in Halton Hills. Police say that of the 13 traffic fatalities recorded in the region this year, alcohol was a contributing factor in four of them.”

It seems that with the increased awareness of the problem and more RIDE programs set in place, some people are not getting the message.  13 people in Halton died unnecessarily in my opinion.  Drinking and driving is totally preventable.  Just dont do it!

After our Milton Community Policing Committee meeting earlier this week, Const. Floyd said that Halton Police will be starting the RIDE program for this holiday season and will be out in full force.

It doesnt take that much of an extra effort to do the right thing.  The Champion article outlines a number of things you can do to help make our roads safer.

• If you plan to drive, don’t drink

• Choose a sober designated driver before partying

• Take public transit, a taxi or ask a friend to drive you home

• Spend the night where the activity is being held

• Immediately report impaired drivers to police

• Always wear your seat belt

Do the right thing…and help make this holiday season safer for everyone.  There are very few people who have had their lives affected by drinking & driving.  Either you know someone personally or know of someone who has lost a friend or loved one due to this totally preventable crime.

If you see someone who shouldnt be driving, try to stop them.  If not, call 911.  You could be saving a life!

And continuing with my previous post on Lock it or Lose it here is another article from the Milton Canadian Champion on unattended vehicles being stolen from peoples driveways.

Unattended, idling vehicles become stolen vehicles: police

Don’t let that warm car result in a cold walk this winter.As the Christmas season and the cold weather have returned, Halton Regional Police are issuing reminders to residents about precautionary measures they can take to prevent their valuables, including their vehicle, from being stolen.

Police say that between Nov. 3, 2009 and Jan. 14, 2010, 25 vehicles were stolen in Halton that had been left unattended and idling by their owners. Fifteen of those thefts occurred in Milton in the Derry Road community.

In Milton, leaving a vehicle unattended with the engine running is illegal under a town by-law and could result in a $75 fine.  An unattended running vehicle that is locked, even if it is in your driveway or in your garage, is still a target for thieves.

Police also warn about leaving car doors open or any items in plain view wherever you park your vehicle.

“Crimes of opportunity occur when we don’t take the necessary precautions such as locking our vehicles and placing items out of sight,” said a Halton police press release.

While there is no guarantee against becoming a victim of vehicle theft, or having your vehicle broken into, Halton police offer the following safety tips:

• Park in well-lit and attended areas

• Never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running. Turn off the ignition and take the keys with you

• Always lock all doors and windows

• Never leave personal identification or valuables in your vehicle. Lock all valuables in the trunk. Don’t tempt thieves by leaving packages, cameras or purses in plain view

• Remove GPS navigation and cellphone devices when not in your vehicle

• Mount CD and MP3 players inconspicuously

• If you have a garage, use it and lock your car

• Never hide a spare key in your car

For more crime prevention ideas, visit www.haltonpolice.ca and follow the link to Community Policing.

And to illustrate this even further, here is this weeks Milton Police Blotter from the Champion.

BMW stolen while left warming

A 2006 BMW 325 valued at $30,000 was stolen from a driveway after the owner left it idling before his drive to work.  The incident on Huffman Crescent took place at 5:15 a.m. Monday.

Computer equipment taken from school

Overnight Monday, a portable classroom at St. Peter Catholic Elementary School on Dixon Drive was broken into.  During the incident a laptop computer and two Alpha Smart keyboards were taken.  Their estimated value is $2,200.

Car stolen during the day

A 2008 white Ford Edge was taken between noon and 9 p.m. November 17.  The car had been parked on Main Street East.