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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2021-01_MunicipalInsight1 (2)-compressedIn the Municipality of the District of Chester this winter... Interested in having an impact? Beautiful! Just Beautiful! State of the Art Consider sitting on a Parade Square will Artists named for trail Committee of Council see some improvements. art project. See Page 4 Process on Page 2. See Page 3. for the exciting details! THE VALUE OF ONE Volunteers still volunteer despite the pandemic This year will mark the 20th anniversary of the Municipality of Chester's (MOC) Volun- teer Awards. The awards are celebrated during National Volunteer Week, April 18 to 24, and culminate in a Provincial Volunteer Awards cer- emony held in Halifax. In the 20 years prior to our annual awards banquet, the Municipality recognized volun- teer efforts in a number of ways: ceremonies, proclamations, open houses, receptions, or advertising. Since 2001, volunteers have been nominated for local awards recognizing their contributions to communities - recognition that is well deserved. According to data released by Statistics Can- ada through the 2018 General Social Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating, the value of volunteer time and the non-profit sector in 2017 equalled $55.9 billion nationwide. Volun- teers added over two billion hours to Canada's work effort. Two billion! As part of that national total, more than 410,000 Nova Scotians volunteer, contributing an average of 192 hours per year. That’s almost 79 million hours of volunteering! (taken from the Provincial Government website at https:// novascotia.ca/nonprofitsector/provincialvolun- teerawards/) That effort is not unnoticed, especially this past year. Nova Scotians - and Canadians - have been pushed to limits some of us didn't even know we had. While we have been deprived of social contact, a necessary part of the wellbeing and mental health of many, we have found ways to stay connected and do for others. Instead of organizing community suppers, many organized online kitchen parties. Instead of festivals, volun- municipal insightmunicipal insight “ “Keeping you informed about January/February 2021Keeping you informed about January/February 2021 your municipal government” your municipal government” teers held outdoor concerts complete with safe distance marks! Instead of fundraising events, individuals made masks. Despite obstacles, vol- unteers keep volunteering. It's extraordinary if you think about it. In fact, volunteerism in 2020 was so extraor- dinary that the Province introduced a second volunteer award: the Nova Scotia Strong Award. This new award acknowledges "an individual or group of individuals who volunteer their talents for the greater good in times of hardship or cri- sis." The Nova Scotia Strong Award will be pre- sented during the annual Provincial Volunteer Awards celebration. Volunteers, whether for an organization or on their own, give so much to others. We would like to list every volunteer in our Municipality, or even the hundreds of volunteers nominated and recognized over the last 20 years, but our pub- lication is only a few pages long. Instead, please read the list of volunteers - those with us and those who have passed on - recognized by their peers and selected to receive the Provincial Vol- unteer Award since 2001. • Terry Atherton, Chester • Patricia Bates, New Ross • Barb Boutilier, Blandford • Verna Boutlier, Blandford • Betty Eisnor, Chester Basin • Richard Eldridge, Chester Basin • D'Arcy Enright, Blandford • Merlin Gates, New Ross • Maria Kirby-Breen, East Chester • Bernice Levy, Windsor Road • Cyril McDonagh-Harnish, Blandford • Linda Meister, New Ross • Lloyd Publicover, Blandford • Phyllis Publicover, Blandford • Jenny Rafuse, East Chester • Sharon Rafuse, New Ross • Darren Russell, Chester Basin • Mary Schnare, Chester • Cheryl Scott, New Ross • Don Weagle, Hubbards • Dale Williamson, New Ross • Fred & Mabel Witherall In the coming year, we aren't sure if we can celebrate Volunteer Week together in person or from afar, but one thing is for certain: we will celebrate. A section of this year's campaign poster celebrating National Volunteer Week. COUNCIL & GOVERNANCE Viola Desmond, 2015 Nova Scotia Heritage Day honouree, was an important figure in Nova Scotia's civil rights movement. https://heritageday.novascotia.ca/ Message from the WardenWell, 2020 is behind us, and there is no doubt it was a challenging year like no other that I have experienced. This is not only my first message of 2021 but the first since the October Municipal Election. I would first like to thank you all for your resilience and support of each other over the past year and also your commitment to engaging in our democratic process in October, even though it, in and of itself, was not conducted in its normal format. Congratulations to the new Council and my sincere appreciation to all members for their support and confidence in re-electing me as Warden. I, and my colleagues on Council, are committed to moving our communities forward and meeting whatever challenges we may face, keeping the health, welfare and prosperity of the Municipality, and all of you, at the forefront always. Our community needs more than just the commitment of elected officials, but the community at large. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Municipal Volunteer Recognition Awards. I believe that when you look over the list of those who have, over the past 20 years, have also been nominated for Provincial 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 Holiday Hours and Waste Collection Sched- ule: Municipal Offices will close on Monday, February 15 for Family Day. Kaizer Meadow Landfill will remain open and collection will proceed as usual. Message from the South Shore Tourism Co- operative: With the second wave of Covid-19 currently impacting Nova Scotia, and the likelihood that health and safety risks will remain high throughout the winter months, the South Shore Tourism Cooperative has de- cided to press pause on the 2021 Nova Sco- tia Lobster Crawl Festival. In-person festival events and activities are suspended, but it is possible that some of the festival’s elements will be moved to a virtual setting. Stay tuned! Upgrades to Wastewater Treatment Plant: Iron Maple Constructors was awarded the tender to complete upgrades to the Village of Chester Wastewater Treatment Plant in December. The upgrades were completed and necessary to meet Nova Scotia Environ- ment regulations. Among improvements was the installation of a new ultraviolet treat- ment unit to replace the chlorine gas injec- tion equipment. Thank you to Iron Maple and their sub-contractors for complete the proj- ect on time and on budget. Wastewater Service Study: Council approved the issuance of a Wastewater Service Study Request for Proposal. The study will result in a detailed, evidence-based framework that will provide options for capital projects for the Municipality’s wastewater systems. Stay tuned for exciting news in the future! Request for Quote Awarded: Council award- ed the Heavy Equipment Services contract to R. Schnare & Son Septic & Excavation. The service contract term is for five years. IN BRIEF... 2 recognition, you will personally recognize many and know full well the level of effort they have put into making our communities and the lives of many so much better than they could be without them. These are only a small representation of the efforts of so many that give so much to us all. Thank you so much! Christmas this year was a challenge as many of us were separated from family and friends, not able to gather in the traditional manner. I would like to recognize the creativity of the many community organizations for their efforts in doing their best to promote public safety without losing the magic of the season. Let's start the New Year off with a positive attitude, knowing that as a community, we have the resources and the will to make a positive difference in our lives and those in need. Happy New Year! Thanks for all you do! Sincerely, The Municipality of Chester is inviting citizens to participate in shaping aspects of our communi- ties. We need interested members from the public, like you, to sit on various committees. Currently, there are vacancies on the Audit Com- mittee, Chester Municipal Planning Advisory Com- CALL FOR APPLICATIONS Citizens invited to become involved in decision-making mittee, and the Recreation & Parks Committee. The purpose of each committee is to research, discuss and identify issues relevant to residents and the municipal level of government. Committees make recommendations to Council that result in decisions and policy governing communities on the ground floor. An introduction to each of the three com- mittees is below along with term, number of vacancies available, and district representation needed. Audit Committee: This committee's role is to advise Council and man- agement around risk management, internal control practices, and governance. The Audit Committee has many responsibilities, includ- ing reviewing financial statements with exter- nal auditors, assess- ing risk management policies and processes, overseeing the selection of accounting policies, reviewing new account- ing and reporting stan- dards, and more. More information, such as member criteria, can be found in the Audit Committee Policy P-88 on our website. One vacancy for a two-year term is available. Appli- cations will be received from all districts. Chester Municipal Planning Advisory Committee: This Committee's role is to advise Council about planning matters, including the preparation, amend- ment and administration of the Municipal Planning Strategy, Land-Use By-Law, and Subdivision By-Law. The Committee also advises Council with regard to the Heritage Property Act. More information can be found in Policy P-63 on our website or by reaching out to Pam Myra, Municpal Clerk, whose contact information is listed below. Two vacancies for two- year terms are available. Applications from residents representing Districts 2 and 5 are needed. More information can be found in Policy P-63 on our website. One vacancy for a three-year term is available. Applications from residents representing Districts 4 are needed. Recreation & Parks Committee: This Committee discusses support to local community organizations as well as matters that impact the health and well- being of residents. The Committee provides rec- ommendations to Council on topics such as grants, volunteer recognition, and recreation programming and services. The deadline to apply for vacancies is 4:00 p.m. on February 1, 2021. Forward a letter outlining your skills and why you would like to serve on the com- mittee to Pam Myra, Municipal Clerk, Municipality of Chester, P O Box 369, Chester NS B0J 1J0 or email pmyra@chester.ca or fax 902-275-4771. For information on Committees, check our web- site at https://chester.ca/government/committees- and-appointments. To see district descriptions, look on the back page under Councillors. Joseph Howe: defender of free speech, Member of the Legislature, Premier of Nova Scotia, Lieutenant Governor, and 2016 Heritage Day honouree. https://heritageday.novascotia.ca/3 PUBLIC SPACES Residents and visitors of the Village of Chester can soon look forward to a refresh of Parade Square, near the Lido Pool and Freda’s Beach in Chester. Historically, the popular community space has been used for events, such as Remembrance Day ceremonies, outdoor concerts, weddings, fundrais- ers, and picnics to mention a few. Thanks to a grant through the Department of Mu- nicipal Affairs and Housing 2020-21 Beautification and Streetscaping Program, Phase One of the revi- talization project is set to get underway March 2021. VILLAGE SQUARE REFRESH Beautification grant provides funds for Parade Square improvements In consultation with the Village of Chester Com- mission and the Chester Garden Club, the space will be outfitted with new benches and a paver stone pathway to the Bandstand and Yacht Club. A new pathway will also be installed within the existing gar- den, located in the centre of Parade Square. Other improvements scheduled in Phase One include a fresh coat of paint on the Bandstand, new waste receptacles, and new picnic tables. These improve- ments are funded by a $12,500 provincial grant and $25,000 budgeted by the Municipality of Chester. Council has not approved the three additional phases to the project at this time and have request- ed staff to engage in rigorous community consulta- tion about those proposed phases before undertak- ing next steps. This consultation process will be a six-month opportunity for residents to provide input and will be coordinated by Municipal staff beginning mid-January. While most of the consultation will be conducted online due to COVID-19, residents may contact staff directly. Also important to note is that Council has asked staff to continue exploring poten- tial Federal or Provincial grants to support future phases of the project as they take shape following community input. Redevelopment of the space has been a vision for local architect, Syd Dumaresq, who volunteered to provide a draft sketch of the idea to municipal staff. The proposed concept was divided into four, each designed in such a way so there is an option to sup- port them individually or in combination without compromising the overall project design. Phases Two to Four • Phase Two (2021-22 FY): Compass Rose Circle with new paver stone pathways, new trees, and 10 parking spaces on South Street to re- place those lost in front of the Bandstand. • Phase Three (2022-23 FY): Additional five new parking spaces on South Street, landscaping (new garden beds and trees), benches and pic- nic tables, additional waste receptacles. • Phase Four (TBD): Construction of the Look- out platform, pathway from Compass Rose to South Street, pathway and crosswalk to Look- out platform. Details on www.voicesandchoices.ca, Municipality of Chester’s online public engagement platform. There are several types of illegal dumping that occur in the Municipality of Chester. Ghost Dumping This is when offenders secretly dump garbage at a locked municipal collection site meant to only ser- vice the home owners living in a specific area. The garbage, often unsorted, is left near the collection site, only to be torn open by wildlife because the il- legal dumper does not have a key to open the build- ings where it can be stored securely. Routine examples of ghost dumping can be found at George Brown Road in New Ross and at Mill Lake, near Hubbards. These waste collection sites are fenced and locked. Residents and cottage-owners have a key to the compound and generally use it responsibly by sorting and putting out their limits. Ghost dumpers, on the other hand, do not have a key, do not live in the vicinity or even in the Munici- pality in some cases. COST: $200-$300 to our waste collection contrac- tor for every extra trip they make. In the summer, this cost could be weekly if the contractor decides to charge us. Sometimes they just take the extra at no extra cost. Either way, taxpayers are paying $76/ tonne to process this extra waste at the Landfill. Yeah? What About It? Dumping Yeah? What About It dumping happens in any lo- cation: the woods, someone else's private property, public green space, businesses, you name it. This kind of careless dumping can be anything, such as carcasses, shingles, household garbage, hazardous waste, and more. This kind of dumping usually costs the most and takes more effort to clean up, but is more uncom- mon than illegal dumping at waste collection sites. Examples include shingles dumped on a vacant piece of land, accumulated waste at a known illegal dump site used by multiple people, a refrigerator tossed to the side of a seldomly used road. ILLEGAL DUMPS: trashy, but not cheap Household garbage and construction debris left in public spaces are an expensive eyesore COST: The cost varies depending on the magni- tude of the illegal dump. If this happens on private property, the property owner is usually on the hook for clean up. The cost could range from the price of gas to drive to the Landfill and back or upwards of $3,000 to rent heavy equipment, a dumpster, and la- bour. Generally, the Municipality waives tip fees for illegal dumps for property owners. However, the op- erating cost of $76/tonne still rests with taxpayers. Oh Well, I Tried... Dumping This type of dumping is when people are on the right track to proper waste disposal, but for a variety of possible reasons, surrender to the path of least resistance. While we don't support any reasoning behind il- legal dumping, some reasons could include: • Kaizer Meadow Landfill closed upon arrival or too far; • Type of hazardous waste brought to Kaizer Meadow was not labelled or unaccepted; • Too many black bags for collection; • Too many bulky items or unaccepted items put out for collection; • Public waste receptacle not nearby; • Missed waste collection day or will not be home when collection occurs; or • Unsorted waste was rejected. This waste can be found at public waste stations, at the end of Kaizer Meadow Road, carpool parking lots, the trail, or at the end of someone else's drive- way on their collection day. COST: If it happens on public property, taxpayers pay $200-$300 to our waste collection contractor for every extra trip they have to make. Again, the con- tractor sometimes takes extra at no extra cost. Costs are also associated with our staff time and equip- ment use if Municipal Staff pick it up. The operation- al cost of $76/tonne to process this extra waste at the Landfill applies. We cannot stress enough the need for ownership and responsibility for waste management. Granted there is an increase in disposable products. Yes, more waste is being generated nowadays. Sure, there are fewer "dumps" than a couple of decades ago. However, none of these points can replace common courtesy or taking care of your own waste. Kaizer Meadow Landfill offers free tipping fees to residents up to 1500 lbs per trip. Asphalt shingles brought by residents, whatever the weight, are also free. As an aside, if you are doing renovations and plan to bring construction and demolition waste (C&D), you must bring protective equipment, such as a hard hat, steel-toed boots, safety vest, etc. We accept electronics, hazardous waste, and large items for free from our residents. We are open Sat- urdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. as well as every day through the week. In addition to our site being open, Adams Bottle Exchange in Gold River accepts batteries, cfl lightbulbs, electronics, and paint in ad- dition to refundable containers. We have adjusted our waste collection to include one large, bulky item every two weeks instead of only several times a year. If you are a cottage owner, arrange to have a neigh- bour put out your waste, build a garbage box, or take your waste with you. Additional Costs of Illegal Dumping Besides the noted financial costs, the number one cost is that to the environment through pollution and harm to wildlife. There are also broader costs to the economy associated with potential decreases to property values and tourism. We know that it is difficult to prove illegal dump- ing. We continue to choose to believe that people will make a conscious choice to dispose of waste re- sponsibly or contact us for advice or arrangements. Failing that, if you see illegal dumping happen, please report it to us by calling 902-275-3080. Heritage Day Honouree for 2017 is Mi'kmaq Heritage, deeply rooted in the land and the people for thousands of years. https://heritageday.novascotia.ca/4 COMMUNITY INTEREST Are you a low-income homeowner? Do you spend more than 50 percent of your income to run your home? Direct support is available for eligible homeowners through the Canada- Nova Scotia Targeted Housing Benefit. Working together, we are making housing more affordable for vulnerable people. For information visit: housingns.ca Email: housingsupplements@novascotia.ca Or call: (902) 943-0835 Just over a year ago, a request was made to school administrators by the School Advi- sory Council (SAC) for Chester and Area Middle School (CAMS) to explore the possibility of des- ignating CAMS as a community school. The SAC saw this as an opportunity to increase public access when school-related activities were not taking place and to assist school ad- ministration with the coordination of requests from the public to use the facility after school hours. This mutual use of facilities was seen as a way to strengthen ties with the community and provide space for a variety of activities and pro- grams. CAMS staff readily came on board, and efforts to explore the feasibility of a community school in Chester began. Last December a committee including repre- sentatives from CAMS administration, staff, SAC, South Shore Regional Centre for Education, De- partment of Health and Wellness, Recreation & Parks Services, and Municipal Council met to share ideas and overwhelming support for the project. To determine if this interest was shared by the public, a community needs assessment was con- ducted over the winter. The results of the on- line survey confirmed that community members wholeheartedly supported a community school based in Chester and have numerous sugges- tions as to the types of activities that could be offered. It was at this point when the idea of a "community school campus" was formed that Thank you to Hugh MacKay, who captured this image of Santa Claus "on the road" in New Ross. Chauffer is Lyle Russell, Fire Chief of New Ross Volunteer Fire Department. Santa was in the neighbourhood early December to celebrate during the New Ross Christmas Festival. COMMUNITY SCHOOL CAMPUS A little bit of history behind CAMS and CDS Community Schools would include both CAMS and Chester District School (CDS), and representatives from CDS were included on the committee. Despite some setbacks due to COVID-19, the community school committee made a presen- tation to Chester Municipal Council during a virtual meeting in the Spring. Council gave its unanimous support to explore the feasibility of a community school in Chester. Thanks to the hard work of Recreation & Parks Services staff during the summer, they were able to provide Council with the information it needed to approve the project. Since that time, Nadine Hackney, CAMS-CDS Community School Campus Coordinator for the Municipality, continued to work with school staff and the South Shore Regional Centre for Educa- tion to finalize a community use agreement. The agreement is complete, and Nadine is looking forward to the community accessing fa- cilities in whatever capacity is permitted under current Public Health restrictions. Right now, the public can access the gymnasium and select classrooms for certain activities. When restrictions are lifted, the space can be used for meetings, workshops, sporting events, festivals, birthday parties, and more. While some rental is allowed right now, we suggest contacting Nadine to see if your activity falls within the Public Health guidelines. You can reach Nadine by telephone at 902- 275-8503 or by email at nhackney@chester.ca. Chester Area Middle School, Chester Mona Louise Parsons, honoured for her role in resisting the occupation while living in Holland, later returned to her roots in Nova Scotia https://heritageday.novascotia.ca/5 ROADS ROUNDABOUT There have been a couple of questions brought to the Council table surrounding the round- about in Marriotts Cove recently. Although round- abouts fall within the jurisdiction of Nova Scotia Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal (NSTIR), we thought we would take the opportunity to share their information with residents. Roundabouts were designed to maximize the safe flow of traffic. Because vehicles are traveling in a circle, the speed will naturally decrease and so will the severity of accidents. Also, everyone is going the same direction (counter-clockwise), so unless a driver is going the wrong way (clockwise), head-on collisions are impossible. As you approach the roundabout and prepare to enter, make sure no other vehicles are coming. Vehi- cles already in the roundabout have the right-of-way In aIn a WayWay ism. No matter where it happens, defacing publicly- funded infrastructure is illegal, costly, and just plain wrong. If you would like more information about round- abouts, please visit NSTIR's website at https://no- vascotia.ca/tran/roundabout/roundabout.asp and will not stop to let you in. Then, just veer right to enter the roundabout. There are two lanes: the lane closest to the centre, which keeps going around and around, and the outer lane, which drivers use to exit the roundabout. Keep going counter-clockwise (left) until you get to the road you want to take. When you get to your road, signal right, check for traffic, and then exit. If roundabouts make you nervous, go around a couple of times just to get a feel for it. There's no shame in that! In case you are wondering, the hill in the middle of the roundabout is there on purpose. It keeps driv- ers from being distracted by what might be happen- ing on the other side. That way, drivers can focus on what they need to focus on: looking left for traffic. One other issue Council discussed related to the roundabout, but not related to driving, is vandal- The topic of roads is a source of great interest in our Municipality, and likely across the Province. We receive a fair bit of feedback from residents con- cerning roads; mainly about snow and ice clearing, potholes and other road conditions, maintenance, culverts and ditching, bush cutting, and especially paving. However, all of these issues are the specialty of Nova Scotia Transportation and Infrastructure Re- newal (NSTIR). The Municipality owns only eight roads (listed below) and all of the sidewalks in the Municipality of Chester (MOC). We maintain only the roads and sidewalks we own. • Captains Way, Aspotogan • Commodore Drive, Aspotogan • Foxwood Drive, Mill Cove • Lake Road, Mill Cove • Landing Drive West, East River • Endeavour Avenue, East River • Millennium Drive, Chester • Parkwood Drive, Mill Cove Snow Clearing NSTIR clears and salts/sands all provincially-owned highways and roads (signed with a green background and white letters). Their levels of service are listed to the right. If your road hasn't been plowed, NSTIR has a great feature on their website that shows where their plows are. Visit https://novascotia. ca/tran/winter/ for information on all the winter maintenance provided by NSTIR. We clear snow from our own roads as well as sidewalks. We also contribute to NSTIR's budget for snowclearing in the Village of Chester. Residents who live on private roads are responsible to keep them plowed. Road Paving and Maintenance NSTIR maintains all roads in our Municipality except private roads and municipal roads (listed above). That means cutting bushes, installing culverts and signs, ditching, paving, filling potholes, and maintaining shoulders. Similarly, we do the same for our own roads (listed above), and residents are responsible for their private road, if they live on one. MOC contributes 50% of the cost for paving some roads owned by NSTIR. These roads fall under a service agreement. Information can be found on our website at https://chester.ca/transportation/roads- and-sidewalks Each year, NSTIR requests that the Municipality prioritize up to ten of the roads in the service agreement for improvement. Municipal Staff apply criteria to the roads and determine which ones are highest priority for paving. Once the list is established, it is presented to SPEAKING OF TRANSPORTATION... Fixing roads, snow clearing, and who does what Council for discussion and up to ten are selected. One of the things that Council has to bear in mind when deciding is that NSTIR only has a budget of $2 million to upgrade service agreement roads for the whole of Nova Scotia. Last year was an exception, and NSTIR added an extra $10 million to their budget, allowing us to sub- mit more roads than usual for paving. Once the list is submitted, NSTIR reviews all sub- missions from other municpialities, their own work plan, and the amount they have to spend (they pay for 50% of the projects). They approve the roads they can and then notify municipalities. Under this service agreement, NSTIR recently contracted Dexter Construction to pave 18 streets (or portions of) in MOC. The work was valued at over $2 million. Roads paved in- clude the roads in Island View Sub- division in East Chester, Frank Swinimer and Lawrence Hatt Roads in West- ern Shore, Ches- ter Shore Road, Duke Street and Prince Street in Chester as well as portions of Trem- ont Street, Union Street, Main Street, Regent Street, Pleasant Street, Chandler Road, and Nauss Point Road. We thank the construction professionals and NSTIR staff for working with us to complete this work and to ensure concerns brought forward by residents and Councillors were addressed. MOC submit- ted a list of ten roads to NSTIR for consideration under the service agreement for the 2021 construction season. If approved by NSTIR, they will tender for and manage the repaving of all or some of the roads listed below. • Pleasant Street, Chester (Central to King) • Union Street, Chester (King to end) • Pig Loop Road, Chester (Duke to Trunk 3) • Adams Road, Western Shore (Trunk 3 to end) • Brunswick Street, Chester (Regent to Union) • Myra Road, Western Shore (Trunk 3 to end) • Stevens Road, East Chester (Trunk 3 to end) • Walker Road, Chester (Victoria to end of pub- lic right-of-way) • Smith Road, Chester (Trunk 3 to end of public right-of-way) • Valerie Avenue, Chester Basin (Lacey Mines Road to end) WASTE MANAGEMENT Folk artist Maud Lewis, 2019 Nova Scotia Heritage Day Honouree, is internationally recognized for her inspiring spirit and artwork. https://heritageday.novascotia.ca/6 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 ser- vice 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. Dear Shabby, While I understand that less plastic is a good thing, and I agree with the plastics ban in prin- ciple, I can't help but miss plastic shopping bags. What can I use instead to line my wastebaskets? What do I put my recyclable paper in when it's waste collection day? What should I wrap on my head when I'm doing a home dye job? ~ signed Wistfully Reminiscent in Western Shore Dear “Wistful”: I hear you, but we must think of the greater good. I purchased a box of 100 kitchen bags that I use for everything that I used to use shopping bags for. They are bigger, sturdier and a lot cheaper than what I paid for plastic bags . For recylable paper, I use clear bags anyway so I don't have to Dear Shabby Friendly waste disposal advice take it down to the curb as often. And coinciden- tally, with the hit stores are taking because of COVID-19, any savings they get is a good thing. *********************************************** Dear Shabby, I live on a private road. Last winter, the waste col- lection truck didn't make it back during a storm. Is there any way that we can find out if the truck won't be back our road? ~ signed Uninformed in Mill Cove Dear "Uninformed": If a storm is a-brewin', listen to CKBW for a can- cellation notice or call Solid Waste Services at 902- 275-2330. If collection is cancelled, a reschedule date will be posted on www.chester.ca, on the Munici- pality's Facebook and Twitter accounts, or an elec- tronic notice will be sent to your email if you have subscribed to collection notifications on the web- site. If it isn't cancelled, make sure your private road is plowed and salted and that your collection area is accessible. *********************************************** Dear Shabby, My Christmas tree is finally out of the house! I love Christmas as much as the next person, but when it's been up for so long that you have to dust it, it's time to say goodbye. What should I do with it since there isn't a Christmas Tree Collection? ~ signed Twiggy in New Russell Dear "Twiggy": Just put it out for collection on your regular day. Instead of having a special collection for Christmas trees, trees are collected as a bulky item that you can put out every two weeks. Waste Collection starts at 7:00 a.m. WASTE PROGRAM NOTICES A reminder about some of the lesser known program changes Below are some reminders about waste pro- gram changes that might not affect you of- ten enough to stick in your mind. • Protective equipment: If you plan on visit- ing the Landfill and need personal protec- tive equipment, please bring your own. We are not lending equipment because of COVID-19. You don't need protective equipment to visit the Public Drop-Off or Household Hazardous Waste site, but if you are disposing of construction and de- molition waste, you will be directed to the collection area near the Landfill itself. Pro- tective equipment (hard hat, safety boots, gloves, and vest) are needed in areas be- yond the Administration Building. • Used oil and antifreeze containers: These containers are now banned from landfills but can be dropped off at our Household Hazardous Waste site instead. The ban includes used oil containers (50L or less), used antifreeze containers (50L or less), oil filters, diesel exhaust fluid containers (50L or less), lubricating aerosols, and automo- tive parts cleaner. • Paint and paint cans: In addition to paint, residents can also bring empty paint cans and empty aerosol paint cans to Kaizer Meadow for disposal. An alternate loca- tion is Adam's Bottle Exchange in Gold River, which is the location of the ENVIRO- DEPOTTM. • Paper recycling: Please do not bring boxes of recyclable paper to the Public Drop-Off at Kaizer Meadow. When we dump the re- cycling bins at the Drop-Off into the con- Recyclable paper is like bleach. Clean plastic is like your new black pants. The two don't mix. (hint: put your clean paper in a separate recycling bag) tainer that goes to Halifax Regional Munic- ipality for processing, the boxes open and the loose paper creates a litter issue. We have enough litter to pick up as it is! Please bag your recyclable paper when you bring it to Kaizer Meadow. • Christmas trees: You can place your Christ- mas tree out during regular collection. It will be collected as a bulky item. • Items with Freon: Appliances or items with Freon in them cannot be placed curb- side for collection, even if the Freon is removed. Air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, some water coolers, and dehu- midifiers are examples of appliances with Freon in them. All of those items can be taken to the Kaizer Meadow Landfill for disposal. • Waste Collection Calendar: The 2021 Waste Collection Calendar was sent to residents through Canada Post in Decem- ber. You can access it, along with other valuable information, on our website at https://chester.ca/waste-recycling. If you would like a paper copy but didn't receive one, contact Solid Waste Services at 902- 275-2330 or email solidwaste@chester.ca. PROPERTY SERVICES The close-knit community of Africfille, built by descendants of Black Loyalist and Black Refugees, is the 2020 Heritage Day Honouree. https://heritageday.novascotia.ca/7 WINTER STORMS AND DRIVING Be prepared this winter with these tips on winter travel Severe winter storms and blizzards can re- sult in school and business closures or early dismissals, unsafe travel conditions, and wide- spread utility disruptions. Environment Canada tracks weather systems to mitigate potential effects, but winter storms can strike with little notice. In the event of an upcoming storm, • consider your travel requirements and re- vise plans to stay off the roads if possible; • pack a vehicle emergency kit including shovel, blanket, food, booster cables, and flashlight and put it in your vehicle; • check on family members and neighbours for assistance; • charge battery-operated devices, such as cell phones, laptops, and radios; and • consider how you would cope with being home (shelter in place) for three days or more, possibly without power, and ensure you have appropriate supplies. Once you know how you and your family could cope and you have the supplies you need, relax in the knowledge that you have done what you can. Settle in to enjoy the storm. If you lose power, notify your electric utility provider and practice safety measures, such as: • Have flashlights and battery-powered lighting ready. If you need to use candles, place them in a sturdy base and 12" away from other items. • Do not bring generators indoors. Ensure area around generator is well ventilated. • Select a space heater that shuts off if it tips over. Also, keep it 3' away from other ob- jects and turn it off at night. • Turn off the stove and clear the burners and oven to prevent a fire when power is restored. During or after the storm, clear around your 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. VILLAGE PLAN REVIEW Review and update coming up to one-year mark The review and update of the Chester Vil- lage Secondary Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law continues to be a priority project for the Community Development and Recreation Department. Since beginning in January 2020, significant progress has been made, including: • Received applications and formed the Chester Village Planning Advisory Com- mittee (VPAC). This group is responsible to oversee the work of staff and provide recommendations to Council. • The Committee meets monthly has and completed a review of existing Secondary Planning Strategy policies. • Staff met with several stakeholder groups to share information and hear concerns. Staff also set up a kiosk at several events in August 2020 to solicit feedback and input from the public. While many of the meetings are held virtually, members of the public can participate by con- tacting us in advance of the meeting. Groups or individuals who wish to present or speak to the Committee may also contact staff to arrange an appointment. Over the winter months, the VPAC will con- tinue to meet to discuss a variety of issues and topics and ultimately provide direction to staff. Additionally, drafting of the new documents is beginning which will lead to additional public engagement opportunities to be scheduled in 2021. Please register with the project website to stay up to date: voicesandchoices.ca/villagere- view. If you prefer, you may contact staff directly by phone: 902-275-2599 or email: planning@ chester.ca to ask questions or obtain more in- formation. Seconds matter in an emergency. Without clearly posted civic numbers to guide them, emergency ser- vice responders can sometimes have difficulty locat- ing the address of a 911 emergency. Please make sure that your civic number sign is visible and cleared of snowbanks! Emergency services are most familiar with, and pre- fer, the clearly visible blue and white reflective civic number signs. You can purchase these signs at the Municipal Office. Order forms are available at www. chester.ca/------. Signs cost $14.00 (prepaid). If you would like a sign mailed to you, please add $3.00 to cover postage. Contact Planning and Development Services at (902) 275-2599 or email civicaddress@chester.ca if you have any questions regarding your civic address. SNOW AND CIVIC SNOW AND CIVIC NUMBERSNUMBERS EMERGENCY MEASURES outside oil tank, hot water exhausts, furnace and dryer vents, secondary entrances, and fire hydrants. If a severe winter storm traps you in your ve- hicle, remember these tips: • Pull off the road and turn hazard lights on. Remain in your vehicle as rescuers are most likely to find you there. • Do not set out on foot unless you can see a building close by where you can take shel- ter. • Conserve fuel. Run the engine and heater about 10 minutes each hour to keep warm, cracking a downwind window slightly to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. • Huddle with other passengers and use your coat for a blanket. • In extreme cold, use road maps, seat cov- ers, floor mats, newspapers or extra cloth- ing for covering - anything to provide ad- ditional insulation and warmth. • Once the severe weather has passed, you may need to leave the car and proceed on foot. Follow the road where possible. Tweet of the Week Our most popular post for December... Question: why would a hacker send a scam email to the email address they stole? Shaking our heads... LinkedIn: Find us on LinkedIn by searching "Municipality of Chester" and get the latest updates on municipal careers, opportunities for business and development, and community investment news. 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! District #1 East Chester, East River to Northwest Cove Andre Veinotte 902-277-1409 District #2 Simms Settlement, Hubbards to The Lodge Floyd Shatford 902-275-7868 District #3 Chester and part of East Chester Danielle Barkhouse 902-277-1624 District #4 Chester Basin and Chester Grant Allen Webber 902-275-8373 District #5 Gold River to Martins River, including Beech Hill Abdella Assaff 902-277-2765 District #6 New Ross Tina Connors 902-277-1095 District #7 Middle River to Haddon Hill/Windsor Road to Sherwood Sharon Church 902-277-1301 Municipal Districts Municipal Districts and Councillors and Councillors HAVE YOU SEEN THIS BROCHURE? If you have seen this brochure in your mailbox, please approach with extreme enthusiam. Articles inside are believed to be entertaining and informative. Investigation of programs should lead to https://ca.apm. activecommunities. com/doc If you have not seen this brochure, contact your local Recreation Services at 902-275- 3490 immediately.