Bancroft this Week

Co-ordinator says camp needs more help

Experience Summer Camp has hosted another successful Jail and Bail — but it’s going to need more help this year to offer kids the same quality of adventures they had last year.

Mumps case identified in area counties

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health announced it had confirmed the case mid-May. Project manager for public health Bill Sherlock couldn’t reveal more on where the case was for patient confidentiality, but said area residents should be aware of mumps symptoms.

Alice’s Pantry celebrates grand opening at new address

“What I like to say is our family grew bigger so we had to buy a bigger house,” said Alice Martin, owner of Alice’s Pantry, at the store’s grand opening of its new location May 24.

Candidates debate, Kramp says PCs will ‘fire’ hydro CEO

North Hastings residents want concrete answers — not “fluffy” ones — from their MPP candidates.

That might not be thunder you hear

Mark your calendar for July 6 to 8. Bancroft’s annual festival is celebrating its seventh year in 2018 and spreading its wings, because organizers are of the opinion that this region is perfect for a motorcycle rally.

Policing services: municipalities still handcuffed

Let’s start with what has happened on policing costs for small rural municipalities in the past 10 years serviced by the OPP. The increases have been massive and in Hastings Highlands and Bancroft (both with about 4,000 permanent residents). We are now being charged about $2.2 million per year...and our neighbours are in similar boats. It’s a huge download of costs, but more importantly, municipalities have virtually no ability to influence the service, unlike the way it used to be some years ago. So it’s funding accountability but with no responsibility for the service, performance, staffing, compensation, operating budget, etc.

Know your enemy

That’s right, with the warm weather come all those little things that carve out your flesh to feed their young. We’ve all had a few good chunks taken out of us by this year — just waiting for the point in the season where you’re more bug saliva/venom than blood and they give up on you altogether.

Hastings Highlands appoints new councillor

Hastings Highlands council has appointed Dorothy Gerrow to fill its vacant seat.

Development plan to move forward

Bancroft will be moving forward with its Economic Development Strategic Plan now that it has received provincial Rural Economic Development grant funding sufficient to complete the work.

Water report confusion at committee

New information concerning the excess water believed to be leaking into Bancroft water treatment plant sewer lines has come to light. LATER: Smart meters not recommended & Running your water all winter has a cost & Blocked bypass saves extra processing