Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAbout2020-07_MunicipalInsight (2)-compressedIn the Municipality of the District of Chester this summer... Voting is so "in" right now... COVID-19 Resources Trails are pretty awesome... The Municipal Election Page 3 lists some recent Let's keep them that will be on October 17. resources for residents. way with a refresher on Check Page 2 for info. trail etiquette (Page 7). FRONT AND CENTRE DURING COVID Communities rally around frontline workers, showing support As we come to terms with the changing en- vironment that comes with a global pan- demic, there is one group that has been stead- fast through it all. Frontline workers have consistently been there for us, delivering essential services, pro- viding care, keeping us safe, and a lot more. Through these challenging times, we have relied on frontline workers to keep us together and our world functioning. As a way to show recognition, the Municipality of Chester asked residents to "Thank a Frontline Worker" in an appreciation program that ran for seven weeks. The public was asked to submit nominations (one per person) for an opportunity to win a draw for one of fourteen $50 gift card from a local business. We drew two names every Fri- day for seven weeks with the first draw held on Friday, May 22. We received an outpouring of responses from the public acknowledging the tremendous dedi- cation of staff in essential positions. The well- deserving winners are listed below. • Cindy Robichaud, OHC Walk-In Clinic Administrator • Mia Armstrong, Chester Pharmasave • Kim Croft, Shoreham Village • Holly d'Entremont, Chester Pharmasave • Carla Cook, Heart to Heart In-Home Care • Barb Corkum, Shoreham Village • Amy Eisner, Heart to Heart In-Home Care • Heather Anderson, Hubbards Pharmasave • Karan Overholt, South Shore Regional Hospital • Sara Shaw, Lunenburg County VON • Nanette Conrad, Richardson's Kwik Way & Garage • Amanda Mosher, Personal Support Worker • Courtney Rhuland, Chester Basin Pharmasave • Donna Marie Peel, Spidle's Your Independent Grocer Thank you to the win- ners, all of the other nominees and those who nominated them. While the roles of frontline workers have been recognized various ways during COVID (also see the inset), their im- pact on the daily lives of every person is greatly understated. Let's take a brief look at how frontline staff at one organization are handling the "new normal" and the impact they have within the community. Closing care facilities to visitors was one of the first steps taken at the onset of coronavirus in our province. During that time, residents and staff at Shoreham Village have worked together to keep safe, keep healthy, and keep occupied. Throughout the challenges that lockdown presents, staff have remained optimistic and continue to create a positive environment for residents through activity, relationships, and the ability to do their jobs, despite adverse con- ditions. Programming - although carried out some- what differently - continues for residents, and with financial support from the United Way, even more programming is happening outdoors. Small groups get together for Bingo (which is the favourite), bowling, outdoor games, trivia, and arts and crafts. Yoga is delivered through a virtual program provided by Amy Graple in Chester. And, residents and staff recently enjoyed a COVID-style Canada Day Celebration with games and the kitchen BBQ. Residents are now permitted to visit with their family members in person outside and are also using FaceTime and Zoom to stay in touch. Staff at Shoreham Village have made a tre- mendous difference in the lives of residents and their families in the face of a serious crisis. They don't do it only because they are being paid. They do it because they care about others and are willing to risk their own safety to make this time more bearable. And it's not just the frontline work- ers at Shoreham. We are surrounded by everyday heroes who were, and con- tinue to be, willing to put themselves between us and a virus to make sure we get what we need: medication, groceries, gas, care, supplies, mail, and much more. The next time you pay for groceries, take an item from a shelf, receive a delivery, or visit a relative in a care facility, give an extra smile and hearty thanks to the frontline workers you en- counter ... From a safe distance, of course! municipal insightmunicipal insight “ “Keeping you informed about July/August 2020Keeping you informed about July/August 2020 your municipal government” your municipal government” Shoreham Village, a long-term care facility in the Municipality ofChester is dealing with the pandemic with optimism and positivity. In your mailbox July 14, 2020. Look for it. Staff at Shoreham Village had lunch on Subway as a well-earned thank you from the local store. COUNCIL & GOVERNANCE Wash your hands Message from the WardenWell, we have been through a challenging past couple of months. We are approaching some degree of normalcy, although with a good deal of uncertainty and a much more cautious approach to every day life. First, I want to thank your frontline workers for continuing to provide the necessary services to our communities and our local businesses and community organizations for stepping up to the plate in a safe and respectful way to ensure public safety. I would also like to thank my fellow Councillors and staff for their commitment to maintaining service delivery, and, where necessary, enhancing financial aide to individuals, businesses and community organizations negatively impacted in these challenging times. On a more positive note, the Municipality just received our year-end audited financial statements, which demonstrate the continued financial health of our You can contact the Warden by calling the Municipal Office at (902) 275-3554, calling his home at (902) 275-2536, or emailing awebber@chester.ca Civic Holiday Hours: Municipal Offices are closed on Monday, August 3, 2020 for the Civic Holiday. Kaizer Meadow Landfill is also closed and waste collection is cancelled. If your collection day falls on the holiday, please put your waste out on Sat- urday, August 1 instead. Community School Family Growing? Municipal Staff and representatives from the South Shore Regional Centre for Education will work out details for a proposal that could see Chester Area Middle School and the Chester District Elementary School be designated as community schools. Similar to the existing community schools in MOC, the com- munity will have access to both facilities through bookings and planned activities. Stay tuned! Hospitality Policy: Council adopted a policy out- lining what is appropriate in terms of "hospitality expenses". These expenses include meals, accom- modations, gifts, etc. The Policy outlines what con- stitutes a hospitality event and related expenses. Currently, the CAO and Councillors are required to post their quarterly expenses on our web- site. You can review them at https://chester.ca/ government/council/council-and-cao-expenses and you can review the Policy at https://webfiche. district.chester.ns.ca/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=10 01733&dbid=0&repo=CHESTER New Scalehouse Software: Council awarded a ten- der to Paradigm Software to provide Kaizer Mead- ow with computer software that tracks weights coming and going through the Scalehouse. The tender is valued at $31,858.31. IN BRIEF... Since the last report, we received one compliment and three complaints. • Our compliment was directed to our Rec- reation Staff who showcased "backyard ideas" during the COVID lockdown. The ideas were appreciated and shared! Thank you, kind person! Staff are always happy to help (and be complimented!). • A resident reported that our waste col- lector seems to take more than one bulky item during waste collection. The limit is one large item per household per collec- tion, so for those following the rules, it is unfair. After contacting our collector, we were reassured that drivers are careful not to exceed the limits of collection. How- ever, some multiple items are counted as one. For example, a dining room table set could be one table and four chairs, but is 2 counted as one item. Or, a box spring, mattress and bed frame are counted as one item instead of three. • A second complaint was received about the poor internet connection in New Rus- sell. The resident was asking for an update to the current internet improvement proj- ect. The process is with the Canadian Ra- diocommunications Information and No- tification Service, which is reviewing the project. It will then be further reviewed by the Canadian Radio-television and Tele- communications Commission (CRTC). • A resident filed a third complaint about the trail. First and foremost was the amount of litter (cans, bagged dog feces, etc.). Secondary was pedistrian safety is- sues around OHVs. We agree about the litter. There isn't an excuse for it. We re- moved litter receptacles because people were dumping household garbage near REGISTER A COMPLIMENT OR COMPLAINT BY: Calling 902-275-3554. Leaving your name is optional. Emailing the Municipal Clerk at pmyra@ chester.ca Filling in our online form at www.chester.ca under "Contact" or https://webfiche.district. chester.ns.ca/Forms/CCRegister Coming in to see us at 151 King Street in Chester. BOSSBOSS oror BUSTBUST Municipality, both now and moving forward. This is an election year, and I'm sure you are aware, and in this edition of Municipal Insight, we have outlined some of the changes that have had to be made to ensure public safety. Although not the traditional approach, and still not clear on what may change between now and this Fall, I encourage all of you to become engaged and participate as fully as possible. In closing, thank you for your support, and for your involvement in helping make our communities a great place to live and enjoy. Respectfully them. While we expect people to be re- sponsible for their own garbage, it some- times just doesn't happen. As far as OHVs, we are a multi-use trail. Many riders are respectful and adhere to the regulations. For those who don't, the RCMP has com- mitted to making a presence on the trail this summer to curb any reckless or unsafe behaviour. Questions? Returning Officer Samuel Lamey or Assistant Returning Officer Pamela Myra Municipality of Chester 151 King Street, PO Box 369 Chester, NS B0J 1J0 902-275-3631 or election@chester.ca With the Province's announcement that Municipal Elections will proceed on October 17, 2020, many municipalities in Nova Scotia are deciding what that will look like amid concerns around COVID-19. Council for the Municipality of Chester dis- cussed this very topic during their July 2 meet- ing and ultimately decided that electronic vot- ing is the safest option for their constituents. Having researched what other municipal units are doing, the Assistant Returning Officer re- ported that 76% of decided municipalities are opting for all electronic voting (19/25 that we heard from), and all opted for electronic voting during the Advanced Poll. This wasn't the only deciding factor for Council. They also consid- ered safety of voters and polling officers, cost, and potential line-ups at the polls. THE RACE IS ON! ELECTIONS A GO Province "OK's" Municipal/School Board Elections for October Elections Nova Scotia shares their latest information with us to help us assemble our Voter List. We use their information plus rely on residents to contact us with updated information about their residency. We will mail letters to confirm our information in July, so if you don't receive one by July 31, you may not be on "the list". We will use that information to send you your Voter Information Letter that tells you how to vote, who the candidates are in your district, a personal identification number (PIN) to vote electronically, and reconfirms all of your residency information like address, name, district, etc. YOU WILL NEED THIS LETTER to vote! If you don't get your letter by September 30, please contact us ASAP using the information below. Voting in the Advanced Poll will begin on October 6 and end on October 14. There is NO voting on October 15 and 16. Then, voting will resume on the official Election Day, which is October 17. Please watch for the next edition of munici- pal insight for information on candidates, voting procedure and eligibility, and where the elec- tion results will be found. If you are interested in throwing your hat into the ring as a candidate, please contact Pam Myra for some very important information that you should know. Welcome to the race! Find more resources at https://chester.ca/covid-19 3 COVID-19 RESOURCES Do you have clients or know of people affect- ed by the COVID-19 pandemic? Do you or they have difficulty trying to determine what benefits are available to help? Access all the benefits and financial relief measures supporting Canadians in one, simple, easy-to-use location. The Financial Relief Navi- gator (FRN), is an English and French online too providing a one-stop portal to help vulnerable Canadians access critical emergency benefits and financial relief from governments, financial institutions, telecoms and internet providers. While other tools focus exclusively on emergen- cy benefits, the FRN collectively pulls together relief measures from all of these entities. United Way Centraide Canada is proud to support the development of Prosper Canada’s Financial Relief Navigator alongside United Way Greater Toronto, TD Ready Commitment, Bridgeable, and Maple Leaf’s Feed Opportunity. https://financialreliefnav.prospercanada.org/ FINANCIAL RELIEF TOOL LAUNCHES United Way and partners develop tool for Canadians During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a great deal of people helping people - neighbours, businesses, patrons, or even ran- dom strangers. Those instances see many of us through these hard times, whether we are the giver or the receiver. We would like to shine a light on one of those examples that is happening in our Municipality. Many of you may know Erin Gore as a woman of action who gets things done. If you want re- sults, ask Erin and she will give you results. She has been a trusted staple of her community for DOUBLE HELPING OF HELPING Resident sews masks for others and then donates proceeds many years as a teacher, volunteer, and friend, among many other valued roles. When we approached her to provide Munici- pal Staff with her handmade, fabric face masks, she immediately agreed. When we offered to pay her, she wasn't so agreeable. One other thing you should know about Erin: when her mind is made up, it's made up. Not only did she provide staff with quality masks in an unbelievably short period of time, but she donated all of the money back to PRO Kids (minus materials, of course). While she was filling our order of almost 100 masks, she continued to help other individuals and organizations by sewing their masks as well and making weekly trips to Halifax to volunteer with Souls Harbour. We don't know how you do it, Erin. If you would like to purchase a face mask for $10, Erin offers a wide variety of patterns in me- dium and large sizes. Please drop by or contact her at 902-275-5864. She keeps only the cost of materials and donates the proceeds to PRO Kids. If you have a similar story or stories that you would like to share, please forward them to communications@chester.ca and we will post them on our Facebook page (with the person's permission of course!). Many of us are reeling with the effects of COV- ID-19 - physically, mentally and financially. While we continue to face this extraordinary chapter of our collective lives together, our experiences can be very different, especially if our livelihood is affected. Some are struggling to support themselves and their families. Property taxes should be the least of their worries while trying to get back on track. Because of this financial burden, the Prov- ince of Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Federa- tion of Municipalities announced a new financ- ing program valued at $380 million. As a result, Council for the Municipality of Chester (MOC) adopted a Policy that will assist property owners who are negatively affected by a loss of income or other financial hardship di- rectly related to COVID-19. Eligible residents can apply for low-interest fi- nancing to pay property taxes over a period of 30 months at an interest rate of 1.35%. Deadline to apply is July 31, 2020. Eligibility Requirements • Must own a primary residence within the Municipality of Chester. ONE-TIME PROPERTY TAX ASSISTANCE Financing available for property owners affected by COVID-19 • If you own a primary residence, then a sec- ondary cottage/summer residence is also eligible for the program. • Property tax account must be in good standing (cannot be in arrears). • The program is for residential properties, which include tourism operational (B&B), but not Airbnbs. • Commercial properties are not eligible. • Residential rental properties are eligible. Eligible residents are encouraged to complete the intake form found at https://nspropertytax- program.ca. MOC staff will review the form and contact you. For a link and more information, visit https://chester.ca/government/property- taxes-and-rates/covid-property-tax-financing Don't touch your face 4 TOURISM Maintain physical distancing of 6' and wear a mask if that isn't possible 5 COMMUNITY INTEREST HIT THE JACKPOT! Rural Riches Treasure Trove Association holds a weekly 50/50 raffle that supports local organizations in Lunenburg County. Prior to CO- VID-19, all you had to do to play was purchase a number from a par- ticipating vendor and play it every week for $2 for a chance to win half the pot. If you didn't play your number and it was drawn, you didn't win. In light of COVID-19, game play was slightly modifed. Rural Riches is now online! Visit www.ruralrichesonlineraffle.com for tickets. Organizations in the Municipality of Chester that receive support from Rural Riches include PRO Kids, Community Wheels, District #1 Com- munity Centre, and the Chester Basin/New Ross/Chester Lions Club. Healthcare Heroes ROCK! was the inspiration for these lovely painted rocks dropped off at the Municipal Office in May. The program was launched by the Health Services Foundation to recognize the tremendous amount of dedication and courage shown by local healthcare workers. The rocks were collected and used to line the pathways to South Shore Regional and Fisher- men's Memorial Hospitals. We miss you and we hope you feel the same way - so let’s reconnect! Go check out the Municipality of Chester’s Facebook and Instagram page where the Recreation Summer Staff will post updates about summer programs, online camps, the recreation hotline and online recreation resource, and hints regarding our community chalk obstacle courses. You don’t want to miss out on these updates, so head over to Municipality of Chester on Facebook and @chestermuni on Instagram. Community Events Thursday, July 9 to 23 'Doors Wide Open!' Community Art Exhibit. Chester Art Centre is opening their doors to show what artists, arti- sans, and creatives of all age and skill have been creating during these unprecedented times. Drop by the Centre Wednesday to Friday between 10am and 2pm. Pandemic protocols for hand sanitizing and two metre space dis- tancing of maximum 10 attendees at a time are in place. Wednesday, July 15 & Thursday, July 16 Pre-booked tours for Lordly House from 10am to 2pm. To schedule a tour, call 902-275-3826 or 902-275-5179. Saturday, July 18 & Sunday, July 19 Oak Island Tours starting 1pm. Cost per tour is $5 per per- son. To pre-book call Danny Hennigar, 902-275-3718. Sunday, August 2 Bonny Lea Farm Lobster Trunk Sale from 10am to 1pm. For more than 30 years we have been serving up 600 lob- ster dinners. Our lobster is sponsored by Clearwater and all proceeds support our specialized programs for adults living with an intellectual disability. This year, due to pub- lic health protocols, we will not hold a dinner. Instead, our Bonny Lea Farm Lobster Trunk Sale is a drive thru – LOB- STER ONLY – event. Pick up is from 10-11am; 11am -12pm and 12-1pm at two locations - Chester District School and Clearwater Parking Lot on Bedford Highway. Choose your pick-up time and location when purchasing a ticket. The event will follow all current public health protocols. Saturday, September 19 (raindate - Sept 20) 7th Annual OHC Yard Sale at our Health Centre (3769 Hwy 3, Chester) from 9am to 1pm (postponed from May due to COVID-19). Volunteers and donations needed! If you are Spring (i.e. COVID) cleaning and can`t store your items till September, contact Lisa Aiken 902-483-1666 email: lisamarieaiken@gmail.com or Janice Moreside 902-275- 8184 email: moresidejanice@live.com. Call to volunteer or to make arrangements for early collection. Please call 902-275-3554 for info regarding Provincial Senior’s Tax Rebate Program. PROPERTY SERVICES Take care of your physical and mental health. Visit https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/staying-healthy/ 6 Recyclable paper is like your foot.Clean plastic is like a rusty nail.The two don't mix. (hint: please put your clean paper in a separate recycling bag) Municipal Water Strategy Update Survey wraps up, analysis begins, Phase II in the works Download theR6RECYCLES app and never miss another collection day. Create a personalized collection calendar Find out "What Goes Where" Receive notifications by email, text or phone Receive real time alerts on weather-related service disruptions Play our "What Goes Where" sorting game No smart phone or tablet? No problem! Visit https://chester.ca/ waste-recycling/r6recycles for the same features. If you frequent the Public Drop Off at Kaizer Meadow Environmental Management Cen- tre, you will have noticed that we changed the location of the curb stops. We are asking users to respect the curbs as they are there for an important safety reason. In the past, pick-up trucks were driven to the very On June 5, the Municipality of Chester’s Resident Water Survey closed after pro- viding a two-month window for residents and businesses to share their thoughts on water is- sues. Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete either the paper survey received in the mail or the online version on the Mu- nicipality’s Voices & Choices website. We’re still consolidating the data from all the completed surveys, so we don’t yet have an exact count of how many responses we received. However, there are certainly well over 1,200! So what’s next? Once the survey data con- solidation has been completed, Coastal Action, our partner in this project who bring 25 years of experience in environmental monitoring and management, will then undertake a thorough analysis of the responses. This analysis will trace the themes of what is top-of-mind concerning your perspectives on water quality and quan- tity. We’ll then use this information to figure out next steps and determine what we will need in terms of resources, partners, and information to achieve those steps as part of a comprehensive Municipal Water Strategy. Ideally, this Strategy will provide a framework that is flexible and responsive in facilitating pro- grams, services, and projects that work to ad- dress our Municipality’s challenges and oppor- tunities when it comes to water supply, water conservation, water protection, and drought management. There’s a lot of work to do to make the Municipal Water Strategy a reality, to learn what’s needed and what’s possible – and it begins with hearing from you, our residents and businesses. After all, a safe, sufficient water supply is critical to our quality of life in the Mu- nicipality of Chester. As an important first step, the Resident Water Survey helps us gain a more thorough under- standing of the impact of water issues on com- munities throughout our Municipality. Instead of simply amassing a broader range of numeri- cal data, what we’re actually attempting to do through this survey is look through the eyes of Municipal residents and businesses so we can better focus and prioritize our actions and re- sources and work towards the long-term sus- tainability of our surface water and groundwa- ter resources. THE TRUCK (or car) STOPS HERE! edge of the dumping platform so the tailgate overhung the ledge which led to a couple of in- stances where users fell into the collection bins. This could have led to significant injury. So, to avoid this from reoccurring, we put the extra safety measures in place. If a hazard is identified, we must try to prevent it from happening. This means that if someone is caught backing up over the curbs in an effort to get closer to the bins for dumping, we could ask you to leave the site. Waste Collection starts at 7:00 a.m. Didn't get a 2020 calendar? Call 902-275-2330! Stay informed about • waste collection routes • sorting waste • program changes • holiday schedules • public drop-offs WE HAVE A CONNECTION If you need service or to connect to the central sewer, make application now so it can be reviewed, approved and ready for connection. Call us at 902-275-1312 or email publicworks@chester.ca MUNICIPAL PROPERTIES Atlantic Bubble - YEAH!7 The Municipality of Chester operates 46 kilome- ters of trail on the abandon railway from Mar- tins River to Hubbards. The route connects our com- munities, serves as a safe off-road passage within our villages, and features some of the natural beauty of the South Shore. As a multiuse trail, it is enjoyed by walkers, cyclists, HAPPY TRAILS Excuse me, you dropped something Illegal dumping hurts us all - staff, taxpayers, and businessesIllegal dumping is the unauthorized disposal of solid waste. We have a number of examples, including: • Depositing household waste at recepta- cles located in public areas, such as parks or wharves, that are meant to be used by passersby. These types of receptables pre- vent littering. • Dumping residential or commercial waste on private or crown land without the per- mission of the landowner. This also in- cludes the time your neighbour missed the garbage truck by minutes and drove their waste down the road, ahead of the truck, and deposited it at someone else's driveway. By the way, if this happens to you, the deposited garbage is now your responsibility if it's rejected. • Putting waste out too early for collection, unless it is contained in a closed garbage box or at an approved site. • Putting waste in public waste sites, such as the one at Mill Lake, if you do not have permission to do so. • Littering in any location that doesn't be- long to you. Actually, even if the location does belong to you, there's a chance that you will be cited for "unsightly premises". If you are a culprit of illegal dumping, stop do- ing it. Even though you may feel that you're get- ting away with something, you aren't. If some- one reports you, you risk getting a fine. You're punishing yourself and your taxpaying friends by driving up waste collection costs, and you are degrading the look of our neighbourhoods. Many businesses depend on the look of our Unfortunately, images of illegally dumped material, like this one, are not uncommon in the Municipality. neighbourhoods to attract visitors who spend money. We get one chance at a first impression. It would be a shame if that impression drove away customers. Besides, with free curbside collection and free tip fees for residents at the Landfill up to 1500 lbs, illegal dumping is unnecessary. To report someone illegally dumping their waste, please call us at 902-275-2330. You can schedule a time to have your boat pumped out at the Municipality of Chester's pump out lo- cated at the Chester Back Harbour Wharf; more commonly known as the Red Cross Wharf. Call the Infrastructure & Operations Department at 902-275- 1312 for an appointment between Monday and Fri- day from 7:00am to 3:00pm. Handy tips to remember: • Social distancing during appointments required. • Make sure your boat is secured (tied up to) the wharf. • When tying up, make sure your boat bumpers are up against the wharf. • Pump outs are easier when the tide is high. • If your sailboat has an extra long keel, you should tie up at the end of the wharf during high tide. Any vessels blocking the boat pump out location at the wharf will be asked to move or shall be towed at owners’ expense; as per Policy P-13 Sections 2(b),(h). Also, a few other things that may be of interest to boaters: • Municipal floats are in. Please be mindful of ten- der crowding and monopolizing space at public floats and docks. • Wharves are open and ready to use. Be respect- ful to other boaters and remember the 24-hour rule: Boats cannot tie up to the sides of munici- pal wharves for more than 24 hours and cannot be tied to the front for more than two hours. • Do not block the pump out! A-BOATA-BOATTIMETIME off-highway vehicles and even horseback riders. In the winter, you may come across people on snow- mobiles, skiing and snowshoeing. While we normally have a fair number of trail us- ers anyway, we have noticed that use has increased significantly (not surprisingly). Which means it is probably a good time to remind everyone of the rules and best practices when adventuring out onto the trail. Trail Etiquette The best way for all trail users to have a safe and enjoyable experience on the trail is to be polite and courteous to each other. • Respect the trail and adjacent landowners. • Always be aware of other trail users. • Stay to the right when approaching fellow trail users. • Obey all posted signs. • Clean up after your pets and keep them on a leash. We cannot stress this enough. • Walkers can't always hear someone approach- ing from behind. A friendly "hello" or ding of your bell is appreciated. • Off-highway vehicles should always be extra cautious when meeting another trail user, preferably pulling over to the side of the trail and stopping while the other person passes. Trail Rules You are responsible for your own safety while on the trail; therefore, exercise caution at all times. Please keep in mind the following rules while using the trail: • Motorcycles, automobiles, trucks, sport utility vehicles and amphibious vehicles are not per- mitted at any time. • The maximum speed is 20km/hr by any mode of transport. • No person shall use the trail between 11:00pm and 6:00am of the following day. • All pets must be on a leash. • No hunting or trapping is permitted. • No person shall have in their possession or dis- charge a loaded firearm or bow. • No person shall have in their possession an unloaded firearm or bow unless permitted un- der the Wildlife Act. As added security, the RCMP have recently an- nounced their intention to patrol the Chester Con- nection and Dynamite Trails to ensure the shared trails are being used safely. The RCMP encourage ATV riders to wear appropri- ate safety gear, be aware of hazards and changing weather, and to avoid riding alone. For other simple tips, read their news release here: https://www. rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/news/2020/lunenburg-district- rcmp-says-see-the-trails-summer For mapping and trail highlights in the Municipal- ity of Chester, please visit our website at https:// chester.ca/recreation-parks/trails or call Recreation and Parks Services at 902-275-3490. Of course we miss you. We just want you to be safe, that's all. Please consider using online or drop-off options for municipal services. www.chester.ca for payments, applications, tax rebate forms, and contact information. The votes are in and the list is out! With 11,621 votes cast, residents have chosen their favourite local businesses in 23 categories in our Best Of Chester Municipality Business Awards. The winners and runners-up (in brackets): Best Artisanal Retailer The Village Emporium (Chez Glass Lass) Best Building Services Chester Electrical, Plumbing & Heating (Toadz Odd Jobs) Best Building Supplies Store Chester Building Supplies (New Ross Home Hardware) Best Community Space Blandford Community Centre Forest Heights Community School Lordly Park Best Farm/Forestry Business Ross Farm Museum (Integrity's Haven Equine Rescue Centre) Best Garden Services Oceanview Garden Centre (Downey's Pitcher Plant Nursery) Best Gas Station Golden Nugget AFN (Chester Basin Petro- Canada) Best Grocery/Convenience Store Spidle's Your Independent Grocer (Foodland) Best Health/Beauty Services Valerie's Hair Studio (Between Friends Hair Studio) Best Health Care Provider Chester Family Dental Centre (Massage Haven) Best Manufacturing Business South Shore Metalworks (Hawboldt Industries (1989) Ltd.) Best Marine Services Business South Shore Marine (Gold River Marina) Best Mechanic/Auto Shop Jeff's Old Volks Home (Chester Service Centre Ltd.) Best Non-Profit Group Integrity's Haven Equine Rescue Centre (Lighthouse Food Bank) Best Pet Services Your Friend and Mine Pet Supplies (Oceanmark K9 Resort) Best Place to Have Coffee Imperfections Cafe (Kiwi Cafe) Best Place to Stay Oak Island Resort & Conference Centre (Mecklenburgh Inn) Best Professional Services Scotiabank Chester (New Ross Credit Union) Best Real Estate Company Tradewinds Realty (Peter Reeves, RE/MAX South Shore Realty) Best Restaurant The Fo'c'sle (Gold Bean Cafe) Best Spa/Fitness Facility Luna Salon Spa & Boutique (NILU Gym & Fitness Centre) Best Specialist Retailer Julien's Bakery (Kiwi Cafe) Best Vendor at a Farmers’ Market Julien's Bakery (Higbee's Berry Farm & Nursery) Questions? Contact Heather at hhennigar@ chester.ca or call 902-275-4138. Tweet of the Week Our most popular post for May... Not surprisingly, a COVID-related post, but it's one of the more positive ones. QR Code: Download a QR Reader app on your mobile device (eg. iPhone). Hold it over the code while your device scans it, and it will open our website directly. Here, you will find all of the latest updates, minutes, tender information, and more. Twitter: Search for @chestermun or @ChesterRecParks in your Twitter account. Follow us and get regular updates and notifications about municipal issues, including live tweets from Council meetings. Facebook: Visit www.facebook.com/ChesterMunicipality and learn about events and stories happening in the area. If you have something to share, message us! We will post your event or photos! Instagram: Follow us at chestermuni to see photos of municipal events and daily life in the Municipality! Tag us in your pics! YouTube: Subscribe to modcvideo for our latest videos. We have a channel showcasing some of our outstanding attractions and businesses, and we are hoping to add more! Municipal Districts and Councillors #1 East Chester, East River to Northwest Cove Marshal Hector 902-277-2982 #2 Simms Settlement, Hubbards to The Lodge Floyd Shatford 902-275-7868 #3 Chester and part of East Chester Danielle Barkhouse 902-277-1624 #4 Chester Basin and Chester Grant Allen Webber 902-275-8373 #5 Gold River to Martins River Abdella Assaff 902-277-2765 #6 New Ross Tina Connors 902-277-1095 #7 Middle River to Haddon Hill Windsor Road to Sherwood Sharon Church 902-277-1301 Community Development & Recreation Building Services 902-275-3080 Fire Inspection Services 902-275-3080 Planning Services 902-275-2599 Recreation & Parks 902-275-3490 Finance & Information Services General Inquiries 902-275-3554 Taxation Services 902-275-3554 Tax Rebate Program 902-275-3554 FOIPOP Officer 902-275-3554 Infrastructure & Operations Public Works 902-275-1312 Solid Waste/Landfill 902-275-2330 Water/Wastewater 902-275-1312 Corporate & Strategic Management Communications 902-275-4107 Council Inquiries 902-275-3554 Economic Development 902-275-4138 CONTACT USCONTACT US