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Home My Public Portal About2021-06_MunicipalInsight-compressedmunicipal insightmunicipal insight “ “Keeping you informed about June 2021Keeping you informed about June 2021 your municipal government” your municipal government” In the Municipality of the District of Chester this spring... We'll grant you that! Showing you the money We're almost there! Community investment This year's Capital & Numbers going down and in the form of grants. Operating Budget at a. vaccines going up. We're See Page 3. glance on Pages 4 & 5. still here! Call us (Page 7). The Trail Art Project is an initiative of Recre- ation & Parks Services. It provides opportu- nities to showcase local artists while encouraging trail use and making new connections between trail users and art. CANCELLE D HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU The Trail Art Project starting to take shape An early glimpse of Bill and Donald Gimby's art installation at the East River location. Themed around local cultural and natural heri- tage, the public art installations will be perma- nent attractions along prominent sections of rec- reational trails in the Municipality of Chester and strategically located at access points to our vari- ous communities. A budget of up to $6,000 was allocated to each location, provided by the Department of Munici- pal Affairs and Housing through the Beautification and Streetscaping Program. The artwork is sched- uled for completion and installation by July 30. We are excited to update community members about the project. The seven artists or artist teams selected have been working away on their instal- lations in their homes and their studios, getting ready to put their artwork along the trails across the Municipality. For a sneak peek at the art and to learn more about these talented artists head over to www. chester.ca/trailart and select “Meet the Artists”. You will see what the artists have planned, plus get to know the artists themselves. Over the coming months, trail users who come across artists and Municipal staff working on the trails are welcome to stop and chat about the proj- ect. Keep in mind, we may have small areas closed off to public during construction, or trail closures during installation to ensure everyone’s safety. Watch for announcements on the Recreation & Parks Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Ches- terRecParks) as well as notices posted at the trail to keep trail users updated. You can also call Nadine Hackney, Community Development Coordinator, at 902-275-8503 or email nhackney@chester.ca PARADE SQUARE RENO Phase One of the Beautification Streetscape Project underway Phase 1 of the beautification and streetscap- ing project at Parade Square in the Village of Chester is well underway with the installation of the new pathways now complete (photo). By the end of June, the bandstand roof will be replaced and a fresh coat of paint will be applied. Municipal Public Works staff will begin installing the new benches, picnic tables (one is wheelchair accessible), and a new waste receptacle in late June. Phase 1 should be complete by mid July. Community Economic Development Officer, Heather Hennigar, held the first Public consulta- tion meeting on April 19. The meeting was co-fa- cilitated by Councillor Danielle Barkhouse and Syd Dumaresq. It was a very well attended event with about 30 people, and provided an opportunity to present the project and get feedback from the lo- cal community. Public consultation meetings are on hold right now due to COVID-19 restrictions, but will start up again as soon as public gatherings are allowed. If you would like more information about the project or share your comments, ideas and sug- gestions, please visit our public engagement website at https://www.voicesandchoices.ca/pa- rade-square. Phases 2, 3 and 4 have not been ap- proved by Council and are pending feedback from residents from all districts, consultation with NS Transportation & Active Transit (formerly Trans- portation & Infrastructure Renewal), and land- scape architects. Please contact Heather at hhen- nigar@chester.ca for information. COUNCIL & GOVERNANCEMessage from the WardenThis has been a trying year for all of us, with the most recent COVID restrictions making it even more challenging than ever. The Municipality is doing its best to continue to provide services to support local community organizations and service providers and to help support and promote local businesses. I would like to thank all of you for doing your part to keep each other safe. I would also like to thank you for your participation in the Best Of Chester Municipality Business Awards and congratulate the winners and runners up. I thank those businesses and organizations for the services they provide to our community, which is now more important than ever! The Municipality has just passed its Operating and Capital Budget, which is outlined in some detail in this edition of municipal insight. We were able to continue to hold the tax rate while still being abe to move our Municipality forward, hopefully meeting your needs and expectations as a 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 Waste Collection Schedule: Kai- zer Meadow Landfill is closed on Canada Day (Thursday, July 1) and waste collection resched- uled to Saturday, July 3. The Landfill will reopen on Friday, July 2 and collection will proceed as usual. Pop-up COVID Test site: Public Health deter- mines the locations of test sites and has chosen Bridgewater lately for its accessible location and recent outbreak. We will again request that a test site be set up in our Municipality. Staff Changes: In the last issue, we sadly report- ed that our Finance Director, Malcolm Pitman, is retiring in June. We are, however, happy to report that we have hired Tim Topping for the soon-to-be vacant position. He begins June 1, working virtually with Malcolm until mid-July. We also welcome Kavita Khanna as the Assis- tant Director in the Infrastructure and Opera- tions Department. Great to have you aboard! In more "staff change" news, one of our staff people have moved on. Cindy Hannaford, Exec- utive Secretary has resigned from her position. Cindy will be greatly missed throughout the or- ganization after more than 10 years of service, and we wish her well in her next chapter. Keep shining, Cindy Lou! Sponsorships: Council approved Economic Development Sponsorships for the Swing for Shoreham Golf Tournament ($700) and the Golf 4 Charity Event ($100). Community Garden: Council approved the ex- pansion of the community garden located at the Municipal Office property. Eight beds will be constructed, three more accessible and five shorter, raised beds. IN BRIEF... 2 community. The most recent fire at the Landfill, I hope, will serve as a reminder to all of you just how important it is to be careful of what you put in your garbage bags. Although we can't always confirm the cause of these fires, we know that things like small electronic devices, batteries, propane cylinders, butane lighters, flares, etc. are often the cause and should not be put out for waste collection but disposed of in the appropriate fashion. I would like to thank our local volunteer fire departments for their help. They are always there when we need them. Summer is coming and with it, better times, we all hope. The robins are nesting, hummingbirds are back, gardens getting ready, and if we keep up the good work, we will all be able to get together again soon. Until then, take care. Respectfully, HIT THE JACKPOT! Rural Riches Treasure Trove Association holds a weekly 50/50 raffle that supports local organizations in Lunen- burg County. Prior to COVID-19, all you had to do to play was purchase a number from a participating 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. Ru- ral Riches is now online! Visit www.ruralrichesonlineraf- fle.com for tickets. Organizations in the Municipality of Chester that receive support from Rural Riches include PRO Kids, Community Wheels, District #1 Community Centre, and the Chester Basin/New Ross/Chester Lions Club. 3 MUNICIPAL GRANTS The Municipality of Chester recognizes that volunteers and community groups are an in- valuable part of our lives. Whether they are pro- tecting us, feeding our bellies or our creativity, many of us depend on the opportunities provided by community groups. We have several grant programs in place to sup- port non-profit organizations and their contribu- tions to our communities. To the right is a table with an update of who received funding through grant programs this year. We didn't have enough space to list them all, so we will report who re- ceived sponsorship funding and emergency fund- ing in the next edition. Below is a list and description of our grant pro- grams along with deadlines that are available to non-profit organizations serving our Municipality. Council grants: Maximum of $10,000 for non- profit organizations that benefit residents of the Municipality of Chester. Apply once per year by either the May 31 or October 31 deadline. Tourism grants: Also for non-profit organiza- tions that benefit the residents of the Municipal- ity of Chester, but whose activities and initiatives are tourism-related. Apply once per year by either the May 31 or October 31 deadline. Major Projects grants: This grant program is available once every two years to non-profit groups for project amounts of $10,000 or more. MOC contribution is up to 70% to a maximum of $100,000. Funding for this grant comes from the Wind Revenue Reserve. Deadline is January 31. Recreation Grants: The deadline is usually the first Friday in October. These grants are available as support to non-profit groups within the Munici- pality of Chester who offer recreational opportu- nities to the community. District grants: District grants are usually for special events happening in the Municipality of Chester. Groups are eligible for this grant even if they have applied under another program. If your group has a request under this program, please contact your District Councillor (info on back page) before applying. Economic Development Sponsorship: This grant is intended to sponsor events or initiatives within the Municipaity that support business growth and employment, increase visitor attraction, and/or promote MOC to residents and visitors. One ap- plication, to a maximum of $1,500, can be submit- ted anytime throughout the year. Youth Sponsorship: This is for youth aged 21 years and under who have won their way or are selected to attend a recognized event at provin- cial, national, or international levels. Applications are received all year round and max out at $2,000. Leadership Training: These funds cover up to 50% of registration fees associated with training or certification in coaching and leadership posi- tions. There is a catch: the skills and knowledge gained must be shared within the Municipality. Groups can receive one grant per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31), except for District Grants, which can be combined with other grants. Learn more about municipal funding and find applica- tions at https://chester.ca/government/grants- and-sponsorships If you don't find an application, or if you would like to discuss the best grant options for you, please call 902-275-3490 and speak to the knowl- edgeable staff in Recreation & Parks Services. MUNICIPAL GRANTS REPORT What's new, what's been distributed, and what you can apply for. ORGANIZATION APPROVED GRANT USED TOWARDS . . . Aspotogan Arts & Crafts $500 COVID Supplies and contactless card reader Aspotogan Fitness Club $2,000 Gym renovations Aspotogan Heritage Trust $1,200 Street light project Aspotogan Recreation Association $1,500 Provide recreation and leisure activities Basin Gardeners Association $550 Presentations and workshop expenses Basin Rec Park $1,500 Facility upgrades Big Brothers Big Sisters $3,650 Improve mentoring in Chester area Card Lake Park $2,000 Annual operating grant Charing Cross Garden Club $550 Garden and beautification activities Chester & Area Family Resource Centre $5,000 Annual operating grant Chester Art Centre $3,500 Open Studio Outreach Program and Chester Sculpture Festival Chester Basin Fire Department $1,000 Laptop and DNR gear Chester Brass Band $2,500 Facility upkeep during COVID Chester Castaways $4,500 Hockey NS Fees and ongoing/seasonal expenses Chester District Soccer Association $1,900 Purchase nets, provide sanitization and signage Chester Farmers Market $4,000 Rental at Church Memorial Park Chester Garden Club $550 Upkeep Cove Garden, Parade Square, and Bulletin Board Chester Merchants Association $4,000 Advertising, prizes, masks, etc for outdoor event and Christmas in the Village Event Chester Municipal Heritage Society $1,550 Pig Roast and fireworks Chester Playhouse $100,500 Christmas in the Village Event and renovation project Chester Tennis Club $1,794 Purchase tennis equipment (balls & racquets) Christmas Daddies $100 Program donation Church Memorial Park $51,500 Annual operating grant and community garden Community Wheels $8,000 Annual operating grant District 1 Community Centre $5,000 Operating expenses and water system replacement East Chester Recreation Association $1,000 General operations - water and plowing Forest Heights Community School $2,700 Grad event support and outdoor equipment/seating Forties Community Centre $5,000 Parking lot expansion and Oktoberfest Fox Point Mill Cove Beach Committee $1,200 Deck at Mill Cove Beach Friends of Chester Competitive Dancers $3,000 Competitions, costumes, and training Heritage Handwork $500 Facility rental Hubbards & Area Business Association $1,000 Greenhouse and community garden upgrades Hubbards Area Lions Club $3,900 Electrical upgrades for new propane generator, pumping of oil tank, and Christmas with Santa Hubbards Community Waterfront Assoc. $500 Washrooms Hubbards-Tantallon CAP Society $1,000 Provide Internet and equipment to residents Lun. Co. Seniors’ Safety Partnership Soc. $6,100 Annual operating grant New Ross Community Care Centre $1,000 Housing market study New Ross Consolidated School $4,400 Outdoor rink at NR Fair Grounds and SAC community initiatives New Ross Family Resource Centre $5,000 Annual operating grant New Ross Farmers Association $5,000 Dining hall upgrades New Ross Regional Development Society $2,490 New Ross Christmas Festival and update Strat Dev Plan Rural Beautification New Ross Trails Society $10,732 New culvert on Popner Hill Trail, trail building tools (shovels, rakes, axes, etc) Ocean Swells Community Association $1,000 Maintain facility Royal Canadian Legion, Br. 144, Western Shore $5,000 Repair ballfield netting and playgroup equipment Royal Canadian Legion, Br. 79, New Ross $1,000 Ham supper and fireworks at Christmas Festival Sherbrooke Lake Camp $15,000 Building three new cabins with ramps Shoreham Village $2,950 Virtual connections programs Shoreham Village Senior Citizens Apt Assoc $2,000 Purchase propane generator for Rec Centre South Shore Fieldhouse Society $2,500 Facility upkeep/programming South Shore Pipes & Drums Association $1,000 Instructors South Shore Tourism Cooperative $3,693 Creation of a new South Shore Website St. Stephens Anglican Church Musical Friends $5,500 Music and veggie gardens for residents and purchase instruments Through The Years Daycare $5,500 Operating costs Together We Can Community Society $67,500 Parking lot expansion, walking trails and Halloween and Christmas Events United Way of Lun Co $1,200 Match employee donations VON of Lunenburg County $1,000 Increase seniors quality of life Western Shore & Area Improvement $1,375 Halloween Event and Christmas wreaths Western Shore & District Fire Department $1,000 Halloween Event TOTAL $380,584 4 Revenue $2 8 , 2 7 0 , 9 3 5 The revenue that the Municipality receives can be broken down into two categories: Tax Revenue and Non-Tax Revenue. Tax Revenue Sources $20,469,348 % of TOTAL REVENUE Property Tax $ 15,044,727 Area Rates*5,254,312 Private roads**170,309 *Area rates are for streetlights, sewer charges, fire protection (which is returned to fire commissions and valued at $2,106,848), and waste collection. **Private road revenue is collected from homeowners who want to improve their road. We charge a rate to their taxes, hold it in a reserve, and then return it to them when they are ready to start their improvements. Non-Tax Revenue Sources $7,801,587 Landfill* $ 3,602,434 Grants**1,230,145 Reserves transfers 1,205,476 Wind turbine 730,000 Other revenue 815,722 Sale of services 217,810 *Landfill revenue is from commercial tip fees and from our other municipal customers and partners, like Valley Waste. **Grants we receive are from the provincial or federal government. ****Sale of services is when we work for other municipalities or for permit application fees. 2.6% 53.2% 0.6% 18.6% 12.7% 4.3% 4.3% 2.9% TOP 5 Expenses TOP 5 Expenses for MOCfor MOC These are the five largest expenses in the Municipal Budget (not including our mandatory contributions) #4 Waste Collection $1,559,375 #5 Taxation Services are expenses related to property taxes as well as all of MOC’s finances. $1,137,867 Property Services $1,841,223 Property services incur costs related to engineering and public works, municipal properties, and planning services. We will work on, • Village Plan Review • parks and playgrounds • continuation of well upgrade lending program • trail maintenance (with Recreation Services) • water quality testing • signage Transportation Services $592,405 Transporation services include municipal roads, sidewalks, and streetlights. This year, we also earmarked money for J-class road upgrades. OPERATING & CAPITAL BUDGET Off the top, we pay mandatory contributions for certain provincial services and certain municipal services provided by other agen- cies. Required contributions towards provincial services equals $5.46 million: Education $ 5,204,374 Corrections $ 233,337 Housing Authority $ 30,900 Municipal services provided by others equals $2.52 million: RCMP $ 1,967,994 Assessment $ 349,827 Library $ 69,000 Provincial roads $ 198,123 0.8% 2021-22 Capital Budget $7,718,316 + Some of the capital projects scheduled for the upcoming year. • Trail bridges • Wild Rose Park washroom renovation • East River trail parking • Wharf repairs • Boat launch upgrade MUNICIPAL BUDGET 5 FISCALYEAR2021-22 *excludes depreciation costs $28,270,935Expenses TOP 5 Expenses TOP 5 Expenses for MOCfor MOC These are the five largest expenses in the Municipal Budget (not including our mandatory contributions) #2 Transfers to Reserves This is all of the money that we are saving for future projects, such sewer system repairs. $3,059,392 #3 Fire Protection, which includes all of the funds collected on behalf of fire commissions. $2,298,498 #4 Waste Collection $1,559,375 Environmental Services $1,462,237 These are services related to sewer, solid waste, and our wind turbine. At the land- fill, projects include a leachate treatment plant upgrade, renovations at the public drop-off, and heavy equipment (#1 expense on the left). Sewer projects will see development of a wastewater strategy and equipment up- grades. Government Services $2,468,259 Government services incur costs related to Council, Administration, Taxation, and IT services. This year, in addition to regular operations, we will work on an Accessiblity Plan, Municipal Water Strategy and Action Plan, Wastewater Strategy, IT infrastructure upgrades, procurement improvements, and a Funding and Investment Strategy. We will also distribute grant funding to organizations and provide COVID relief. Property Services $1,841,223 Property services incur costs related to engineering and public works, municipal properties, and planning services. We will work on, • Village Plan Review • parks and playgrounds • continuation of well upgrade lending program • trail maintenance (with Recreation Services) • water quality testing • signage Transportation Services $592,405 Transporation services include municipal roads, sidewalks, and streetlights. This year, we also earmarked money for J-class road upgrades. Recreation & Cultural Services $891,261 These services incur costs related to recreation programming and opportunites, grants, and heritage and cultural properties like libraries. This year, some of our focus will be on the trail with surface upgrades, bridge evalu- ations, parking improvements in East River, and the Trail Art Project. We will also work on Year One of our Open Space Implementation Plan and continue with the community school pilot for CAMS and CDES. Economic Development $746,588 Services related to economic development include programs and supports for com- mercial sector, business retention/attraction, the EcoPark and tourism. This year, attention is on a site assessment of the EcoPark at Kaizer Meadow, events and awards, rural internet, and tourism initiatives. OPERATING & CAPITAL BUDGET Protective Services $737,584 Protective services incur costs related to animal control, by-law enforcement, building and fire inspection, emergency measures, fire protection, and public health (provincial contribution). + 2021-22 Capital Budget $7,718,316 + #1 Kaizer Meadow Landfill is the largest municipal expense we have. Fortunately, it is offset by just as much revenue. $3,422,691 Some of the capital projects scheduled for the upcoming year. • Trail bridges • Wild Rose Park washroom renovation • East River trail parking • Wharf repairs • Boat launch upgrade • J-Class Road rehabilitation (cost-share program with Province) • Active Transportation (sidewalks to enhance walking routes) • Repairs to Annex Building • Wastewater needs assessment • Trail planning and design on municipal open space properties in East River, Beech Hill, Middle River, and Castle Rock MUNICIPAL BUDGET WASTE MANAGEMENT 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 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. Waste Collection starts at 7:00 a.m. SOLID INFORMATION ABOUT WASTE This isn't just a bunch of garbage... Below are some reminders about waste pro- gram changes that might not affect you often enough to stick in your mind. Protective equipment: If you plan on visiting the Landfill and need personal protective equipment, please bring your own. We are not lending equip- ment because of COVID- 19. You don't need pro- tective equipment to visit the Public Drop-Off or Household Hazardous Waste site, but if you are disposing of construction and demolition waste, you will be directed to the collection area near the Landfill itself. Protective equipment ( hard hat, safety boots, glasses, and vest) are needed in areas beyond the Administration Building. Used oil and antifreeze containers: These con- tainers are now banned from landfills but can be dropped off at our House- hold Hazardous Waste site instead. The ban includes used oil containers (50L or less), used antifreeze con- tainers (50L or less), oil filters, diesel exhaust fluid containers (50L or less), lubricating aerosols, and automotive parts cleaner. Paint and paint cans: In addition to paint, resi- dents can bring empty paint cans and empty aero- sol paint cans to Kaizer Meadow for disposal. An alternate location is Adam's Bottle Exchange in Gold River, which is also the ENVIRODEPOTTM. Paper recycling: Please do not bring boxes of recyclable paper to the Public Drop-Off at Kai- Recyclable paper is like a glass of orange juice. Clean plastic is like toothpaste. The two don't mix. (hint: put your clean paper in a separate recycling bag) zer Meadow. When we dump the recycling bins at the Drop-Off into the container that goes to Halifax Regional Municipality 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. Items with Freon: Appliances or items with Freon in them cannot be placed curbside for collection, even if the Freon is removed. Air conditioners, re- frigerators, freezers, some water coolers, and de- humidifiers are examples of appliances with Freon in them. All of those items can be taken to the Kaizer Meadow Landfill for disposal. Compact Fluourescent Bulbs: Bring your CFLs to the hardware stores in Hubbards and New Ross as well as Kaizer Meadow. Batteries: Disposable and rechargeable batteries do not belong in the waste stream. You can drop them off at the Landfill at our Haz- ardous Waste site, the Municipal Office, or Adam's Bottle Exchange. Waste Collection Calendar: The 2021 Waste Col- lection Calendar was sent to residents through Canada Post in December. 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. If you want important waste collection information delivered right to your inbox, sign up for Waste Collection Notices on our website at www.chester.ca and click on "MANAGE SUBSCRIPTIONS" on the front page. With tick populations growing in Nova Sco- tia, it's important to protect yourself and your family while enjoying the outdoors all year round. Ticks have two things going for them: they are very small, which makes them hard to spot, and their bites are painless. They can also carry bacte- ria and tick-borne viruses, like Lyme disease. This is why it's important to take precautions when spending any time outdoors. Ticks live in or near woods, shrubs and long grass. They like to hang around until a host walks by. They will hitch a ride and then look for ex- posed skin so they can attach themselves. To avoid contact, wear socks with your pants tucked in and closed-toed shoes. Light-coloured clothing is also recommended as is insect repellents con- taining DEET or Icaridin. They attach themselves to a host in order to feed on its blood. Since their bites are painless, it may be some time before they are noticed, so TICKS RUIN EVERYTHING Be aware and prepare for these nasty parasites tick-checks should be a regular part of your rou- tine. Check yourself, your family members and your pets for unwanted dinner guests. The dia- gram on the right shows the common areas that ticks like, but they have been known to bite other areas as well. If you find a tick, grasp it as close to the skin as possibly with tweezers. Gently and slowly pull it straight out. Wash the bite with soap and water or alcohol hand sanitizer. Flush the tick down the toilet, drown it in rubbing alcohol or freeze it in a baggie before throwing it in the garbage. Don't crush it with your bare fingers. If you feel ill after a tick bite, see your doctor. Finally, spread the word. Tick-borne illnesses are serious. Follow @nshealth on Twitter and Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness on Facebook and share and retweet their posts on tick safety. For resources and more informa- tion, visit their website at www.novascotia.ca/ ticksafety. COMMUNITY INTEREST 7 COMMUNITY WHEELS NEEDS YOU Positions open on organization's Board of Directors The Municipality Of Chester Transportation (Community Wheels) Society is currently accepting applications for its Board of Directors. If interested, you could join a volunteer board that supports community transportation for resi- dents of the Municipality of Chester. Community Wheels is a not for profit, rural com- munity-based transportation service offering pre- booked accessible, affordable and safe rides. The directors commit to attend 10 Board meet- ings annually that are approximately 1.5 hours long. Currently meetings take place with online conferencing. Executive and policy committees meet as required several times per year. The Board seeks diversity and parity amongst members. We are seeking members at large as well as individuals with a financial background to fill an upcoming Treasurer position. 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. We encourage anyone interested in becoming a Director to apply. For further details, contact the office at 902- 273-2440, email commwheels@sswap.ca or mail us at 23 Collicutt Road, PO Box 187, Chester NS B0J 1J0. Visit their website at www.community- wheels.ca LITTER SUCKS. Litter still a pervasive issue No doubt the Municipality of Chester is one of the most beautiful destinations in Nova Scotia. Like most other places, we are not im- mune to careless littering. Litter is ugly, annoying, and unnecessary. Any- one who has spent even a half an hour picking up trash from the ditch, trail or even their front yard also knows that it's a never ending problem. Each Spring, a new crop of litter rears its ugly head in our otherwise pristine environment. Where does it come from? Sometimes garbage bags are ripped open by wildlife and pieces of trash escape. Maybe it's the product of a long- time illegal dumping site. Some people don't feel responsible for their own garbage and just leave it on the ground, toss it out their vehicle window, or make a sad attempt at half burying it in the sand at the beach. Wherever it comes from, we clean it up in the end. Sure, we get outraged and disgusted, but we use our individual resources, like our time or gas money, and clean it up. The Municipality even offers gloves and bags to responsible citi- zens and groups. So how can we put an end to litter? We aren't 100% sure, but appealing to people's sense of responsibility might help. Remind people that lit- tering is wrong. Send us photos to post on our social media and we will expose littering for what it should be: unacceptable. If you know of a par- ticularly bad location, organize a clean up and advertise it. Tell us about places that a "do not litter" sign could serve as a reminder. Please. Tweet of the Week Our most popular post for March/April... 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: Search ChesterMunicipality or ChesterRecParks 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! The votes are in and the list is out! With 11,981 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 Nancy's Seaweed Soap (The Village Emporium) Best Building Services Chester Building Supplies (Gates Electric) Best Building Supplies Store Chester Building Supplies (Chester Home Hardware) Best Community Space Lordly Park (Forest Heights Community School) Best Farm/Forestry Business Ross Farm Museum (Millett Lumber) Best Garden Services Oceanview Garden Centre (Downey's Pitcher Plant Nursery) Best Gas Station Golden Nugget AFN (Chester Basin Petro-Canada & Chester Irving) Best Grocery/Convenience Store Spidle's Your Independent Grocer (Foodland) Best Health Care Provider Chester Pharmasave (Our Health Centre) Best Health/Beauty Services Luna Salon Spa & Boutique (Valerie's Hair Studio) Best Manufacturing Business Black Harbour Distillers (South Shore Metalworks) Best Marine Services Business Gold River Marina (South Shore Marine Ltd.) Best Mechanic/Auto Shop Chester Service Centre Ltd. (Gold River Auto) Best Non-Profit Group Integrity's Haven Equine Rescue Centre (Chester & Area Family Resource Centre) Best Pet Services Your Friend and Mine Pet Supplies (Chester Basin Animal Hospital) Best Place to Have Coffee Kiwi Café (Imperfections Café) Best Place to Stay Oak Island Resort & Conference Centre (Mecklenburgh Inn) Best Professional Services Scotiabank Chester (New Ross Credit Union) Best Realtor Susan Diamond, Engel & Völkers (Anna King, Engel & Völkers) Best Restaurant Gold Bean Café (Fo'c'sle Tavern) Best Spa/Fitness Facility SENSEA Nordic Spa (Luna Salon Spa & Boutique) Best Specialist Retailer Julien's Bakery (Black Harbour Distillers) Best Vendor at a Farmers’ Market Julien's Bakery (Black Harbour Distillers) Congratulations to all our winners and runners- up! If you have questions about the Awards, please contact Heather Hennigar, Community Economic Development Officer at hhennigar@chester.ca or call 902-275-4138. 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 Municipal Districts and CouncillorsMunicipal Districts and Councillors 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 Contact Us!Contact Us! Community Development & Recreation Building/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 (incl Rebates) 902-275-3554 FOIPOP Officer 902-275-3554 Infrastructure & Operations Public Works/Wastewater 902-275-1312 Solid Waste/Landfill 902-275-2330 Corporate & Strategic Management General Inquiries 902-275-4147 Communications 902-275-4107 Council Inquiries 902-275-4109 Economic Development 902-275-4138