Blinded by signs
Council prepares to gut its own heritage protection policy It was a test. A test council appears ready—and willing—to flunk. In 2013, County council adopted the Heritage Conservation District (HCD) plan that had been prepared and developed over the previous two years. After a 135-year-old Picton landmark was demolished in 2010, County residents demanded that […]
Collective impact
Funding new approach to addressing food insecurity The folks behind the Vital Signs working groups just got a boost in their deveopment of a Food Security Collective. The concept of a Collective is a relatively new tool, developed at Stanford University, that codifies the way groups work together to foster social change. “It’s a formal […]
Buried treasure
Avro Arrow model identified after decades in Lake Ontario Nearly two thirds of a century has passed since Jim Johnston was a technician in a top-secret compound at Point Petre, testing military-grade weapons and aircraft. He was an instrumental part of the team that tested the Avro Arrow models that were launched into Lake Ontario […]
Sandbanks Music Festival
Folk-rock darlings Great Lake Swimmers headline concert The fourth annual Sandbanks Music Festival will bring eight rock bands to the Outlet beach amphitheatre on September 16 in a family-friendly concert featuring some of the best food, beer and wine the County has on offer. Organized by Dave Ullrich, who operates the virtual music store zunior.com, […]
In the zone
Dispute over Terminals zoning leads to court On October 27, a group of County residents known as Save Picton Bay will be taking the County to court over a dispute about zoning. Their concern is the use Picton Terminals makes of its property. It’s part of a long dispute between the company and residents concerned […]
New schools
Chaos and concerns cloud first day for some parents Last week, kids got to see a new school situation for the first time and, for some, there were some unpleasant surprises. During an open house on Thursday, some parents confirmed their concerns that Queen Elizabeth, with a smaller yard and smaller building than Pinecrest, would […]
Hopping in
County hops crops growing as craft beer booms The chatter of nature in the big sky, green earth farmland outside Hillier is interrupted by the sudden burst of a noisy motor. Behind the drive shed at Pleasant Valley Hops, a machine processes long strings of the frilly green fruit, separating them from the vine. The […]
Behind the berm
Community group challenging Picton Terminals’ zoning in courtroom this October Neighbours of Picton Terminals, and those living on Picton Bay and those folks who get municipal drinking water from the bay are increasingly alarmed at the industrialization of the property. While the shallow port has a long history of receiving salt, many feel the amount […]
Roads gap
Council wants to know more about County infrastructure Roy Pennell wants council to go on a County roads tour—not so much to lobby for this or that road to be fixed—but rather to help him and his colleagues understand how some roads are chosen for repair and others are neglected. But his fellow councillors were […]
Making room
County wants to build affordable housing, but not for vacationers At a planning meeting last week, County council learned about a new initiative from the province to encourage municipalities to allow for second units to be built on residential properties. It’s billed as a way to increase affordable housing stock at a time when both […]