Children’s services seeking public’s help

February 8, 2017

The availability of child care is linked to economic development, according to Jessica Anderson, executive director of North Hastings Children’s Services. Yet recent cost increases, including a significant increase in their water and wastewater bill, as well as mounting hydro costs, threaten the ability to provide it. Utilities costs were $22,000 in 2016, and will be even higher this year. Anderson has sent a letter to parents and to the community at large asking for donations to keep the child care centre open.

Bancroft lobbies at ROMA

Mayor Bernice Jenkins believes in the “erosion” theory of lobbying: keep bringing the issues up, like waves breaking along a shoreline, and sooner or later some resistance will give way. The prime example here is policing costs. For years, Bancroft argued that the fees it paid for OPP service were unreasonable. Eventually, a new funding formula was developed which significantly lowered the town’s costs.

Wollaston deputy reeve resigns

More evidence of disarray emerged at the Jan. 24 regular Wollaston Township council meeting. The resignation of Deputy Reeve Marilyn Brickles followed the day after the meeting.

Wollaston council visits Bear Ridge Campground

By Jim Eadie Business development is always a priority for municipal governments, but getting there can be an interesting and complex process, as was evident ...

Business Improvement Association plans WWW expansion

Dianne Eastman, while on contract to the Business Improvement Association, developed possible new logos for the town. The first is essentially the current town crest, ...

Council ‘laughing stock’: mayor

Bancroft’s Mayor Bernice Jenkins usually spends her opening remarks at council on developments in county and other levels of government, and on good news announcements. Not so at last week’s meeting. Instead, she delivered a blast at what she feels is a dysfunctional town council. Finding recent behaviour by councillors “bewildering,” she proclaimed that council lacked respect for each other, for the mayor, and for town staff. She declared a lack of team spirit, along with an absence of a common sense of direction.

Sewer mystery continues

By Tony Pearson The math is both simple and puzzling. A little over 800 households and business are hooked up to Bancroft’s sewer system. The ...

MPP starts school closure petition

Prince Edward-Hastings MPP Todd Smith has started a petition to draw attention to rural school closures.

Totem pole shares stories about Algonquin culture

By Nate Smelle After a devastating storm tore through his community in late August 2013, Algonquin elder and artist Dan Bowers came across a massive ...