Happy New Year everyone.

For those of us who enjoyed the fact there was very little snow on the ground, we sure got an eye opener yesterday.  While the amount of snow was nothing to write home about, it was a reminder that we really havent hit the peak of winter yet and more of the white stuff will be coming….stay tuned for that.

I didnt get a chance to blog about it on New Years Day but I had the opportunity to attend the New Years Levee at Town Hall and the induction of the newest members of Milton’s Walk of Fame.  More on that later but it was quite the enjoyable day that ended with Walter Gretzky serenading my wife.  (Dont worry, she came home with me)  Walter Gretzky, as if it hasnt been said a million times already, is an amazing man. 

During the levee there were a number of children running around and he was right there with them, entertaining them and helping them sneak extra pieces of cake and cookies.  Always with a smile on his face, he definatly is someone to be admired.  He was there from beginning to end signing autographs making sure he didnt miss anyone who wanted to speak with him.  Mr. Gretzky is truly a gentleman.

Whenever there is something to be done in his community, or any community for that matter, you can always count on Walter being there to lend a hand.  He helps out regularly in the Town of Milton and especially with Troy Martin from Troy’s Diner in a number of charitable events.  I wish that the world had a few more Walter’s.

The Milton Canadian Champion has put out its top news stories in Milton for 2009 and I thought it was quite interesting to see how many changes there have been in the last 12 months.  The story that had the biggest impact on Milton would be the closure of Meritor and SKD putting hundreds of people out of work.  Other obvious choices like the tornado that hit Milton (and pretty much ignored in the main-stream media of the area.  I guess it was because no one died or the rest of Ontario STILL hasnt realized that its the GMA (Greater Milton Area) 🙂

Feel free to comment on the news stories from the Champion.

Milton’s auto parts sector was hit hard this year, with two businesses closing their doors and putting hundreds of people out of work.  After 55 years in operation, Meritor Suspension Systems Co. announced its plans in March to permanently close its Steeles Avenue coil springs plant by the end of the year, leaving 165 people unemployed.  The decision, which the company said was made to reduce overall capacity and costs, left long-time employees and Miltonians shaking their heads in shock and disbelief.  Around the same time an Ontario court approved the sale of SKD Automotive’s assets, leading to the closure of the Wheelabrator Way plant, which employed 220 people.  The sale and shutdown of the plant had been widely expected since SKD went into creditor protection earlier this year.

Storm, tornado wreak havoc

Mother Nature was less than kind to Milton this year, with a severe storm pummeling the town in April and a tornado blowing through in August.  Both incidents left behind a messy trail of downed hydro wires and trees, along with damaged homes and businesses.  The tornado, which largely hit the older parts of Milton, was an F1 on a scale that ranges from F0 to F5. An F1 storm can produce winds up to 180 km/h.  Starting at about 5:30 p. m. on the night of the tornado, the sky filled with lightning and torrential rain pounded down. The twister made its appearance between 6:30 and 6:40 p. m. Several residents described a noise that sounded like a train roaring through.  Afterward, the community rallied together to help the tornado victims.

Raitt under fire

Halton MP and Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt made headlines several times this year, starting when she came under fire after a binder that included documents marked secret was left behind at the Ottawa bureau of CTV. The politician’s press secretary resigned for the indiscretion, and Raitt also offered to resign but Prime Minister Stephen Harper didn’t accept it.

Shortly after that, the new MP was caught on tape describing the country’s medical isotope crisis as a “sexy” situation easily solved with more money. Raitt apologized for the comments she made in a private discussion and said she never intended “to show any disrespect” to cancer sufferers and their families.  Later in the year, Raitt was under attack in the House of Commons for circumstances surrounding a Halton Conservative Association fundraiser. The MP was questioned on why an employee of the Toronto Port Authority (TPA) — the government agency where Raitt was CEO— sent e-mails about the fundraiser.  Raitt’s press secretary acknowledged in an e-mail to the Champion that “this use of Toronto Port Authority resources is inappropriate.” She also said the error was an isolated occurrence and such incidents wouldn’t occur again.  The local politician was also criticized for a cement association lobbyist’s involvement in selling tickets for the fundraiser. Raitt agreed to refrain from contact with the lobbyist.

Hit-and-run driver guilty

Three years after the hit-and-run death of 18-year-old Lauren Cooper, a man was found guilty of leaving the scene of the accident.  The Milton girl was tragically struck and killed by a pickup truck — driven by 37-year-old Halton Hills man Stephen Alchin — while rollerblading just metres from her Second Line home on the night of July 13, 2006.  Alchin was sentenced to 12 months in jail. Lauren’s mother, Deborah, said although it doesn’t change anything, the sentence conveys something important.

“It sends out the message that you can’t walk away. You have to take responsibility.”

Attack at skateboard park

Ten young people were swarmed and robbed — and one was stabbed — by thugs armed with a knife, bat and semi-automatic handgun at the Milton Skateboard Park.  The group of men and women aged 18 to 25 were hanging out at the Thompson Road park when they were approached by four masked men in black, who demanded personal items from the victims. A 20-year-old Georgetown man was stabbed in the shoulder; he was taken to Milton District Hospital and released.  An extensive police search was conducted that included the canine unit, but with no success.

Milton teen mourned

Bishop Reding School students mourned the loss of 15-year-old Anthony Marziliano, whose lifeless body was discovered floating in the Trent Severn Waterway while on a fishing trip with his friend. Foul play wasn’t suspected.  Students gathered for a prayer service at the school to remember the teen. A Facebook page, which garnered hundreds of members, was also created in Marziliano’s memory. 

Push for hospital expansion continues

Miltonians showed overwhelming support for the Friends of Milton Hospital’s ongoing push for a much-needed hospital expansion by signing almost 35,000 petition postcards addressed to Ontario’s Minister of Health.  “The incredible enthusiasm in this community is amazing,” said Pete Pomeroy, cochair of the Friends of Milton Hospital.  A second group, the Milton Hospital Action Committee, also circulated a similar petition to present to the provincial legislature.

H1N1 clinic draws thousands

In a turnout that no one expected, more than 3,500 people flocked to the region’s first H1N1 vaccination clinic at the Halton Regional Centre.  Shortly thereafter the Halton Region Health Department opened clinics across Halton that initially provided vaccines to high-risk individuals and later to all residents who wanted it.  The H1N1 virus hit Halton hard early in the year, with 219 confirmed cases in spring and summer, with the majority of cases being school-aged children. Schools were major sites of transmission.  The second wave of outbreaks started in the fall, with eight to 10 people being admitted to local hospitals daily with influenza-like symptoms.  Three Halton residents died from H1N1 influenza this year.

Mourning family awarded $3 million

The family of a much-loved local dentist who died five years ago finally got some of the justice they’d been seeking in a lawsuit that awarded them more than $3 million.  A jury found responsible an Orillia-area tavern, its operator and the bouncer working the night Dr. David Dumencu died from head injuries sustained during a brawl in the bar’s parking lot.  David’s widow, Sue, said she was pleased that someone had finally taken ownership of what happened.  She also said the case wasn’t about money, but rather about loss of life.

Olympic flame comes to town

Miltonians came out by the thousands to see the Olympic flame pass through Milton on its journey across Canada.  Joyce Scott, Kathy Kulina and Kevin DiGiuseppe were the three local torchbearers among the 14 who carried the flame along Main Street from Bronte Street to James Snow Parkway.  “It was definitely an experience I’ll cherish forever,” Kulina said.  The community spirit continued at the Milton Lions Club Hall, where more than 500 people turned out for a Knights of Columbus pancake breakfast.