I had two or three items that I was thinking about writing up, when I realized there was a theme to them – cleaning, renovating and improving the way our communities look.
The first item came to my attention last week at Trent Hills council when it approved a $9,250 Community Improvement Program grant to help Nidaj Handa, owner of 62 Bridge St. East in Campbellford, restore the bricks, install new windows and paint the woodwork on the building that is home to Your #1 Sewing Centre and the new Aliign Pilates studio.
I had already seen the work underway and taken a few pictures of the improvements, which are still going on. As well, the building will get a new accessible washroom, although for some reason the renovated front includes a concrete lip that makes it tough for those using walkers and wheelchairs to get in. The estimated cost of the commercial façade and accessibility project is $85,000.
On Monday evening I attended the annual meeting of the Downtown Campbellford Business Improvement Area. In addition to electing a new board, the meeting included a discussion of actions needed to improve the shopping area and attract more customers.
Noah Noon, co-owner of the new Humble Noon art supply shop, asked for some action on one of my pet peeves – the garbage and derelict bike under the bridge on the east side of the Trent River.
I walk that stretch most mornings and have grumbled about the bike for more than two years. As well, time and our climate are doing a number on the wooden posts and their metal bases and tops. The metal steps to Front Street are also rusted.
BIA president Eva Allaire assured Noon that the group would follow up with the municipality to get the bike removed.
On my walk this morning I took some fresh photos of the water side mess and one other spot further up Bridge Street that bothers me. That’s the derelict newspaper boxes outside the post office. All the companies that put those boxes on the street have gone out of business and they are never used, other than as garbage receptacles. I hope the BIA will add them to its streetside clean up plans.
Caring clean up on Friday
In other good clean-up news, the United Way Northumberland will hold its first Trent Hills Day of Caring this Friday, Oct. 23 with action in Campbellford, Hastings and Warkworth.
“We have a variety of jobs that include helping prep gardens for winter, to cleaning and organizing food bank shelves,” said Janine Lameiras, Community Outreach & Development Coordinator for the United Way. “We are working with: Incredible Trent Hills, Five Counties, Campbellford Fare Share, The Bridge Hospice, YMCA, Hastings/Roseneath Food Bank, Memorial Multi-care Lodge, and the Campbellford Memorial Hospital Foundation.”
Lameiras said there is still time to volunteer, if you’d like to help out. You can contact her at development@nuw.unitedway.ca
The day will start with breakfast at the Campbellford Legion at 7:30 a.m. and wrap up back there at 2 p.m. for a BBQ. The United Way has been holding such days in Cobourg for 27 years and this is the first here.
See the candidates
Candidates from all five wards and the two mayoral hopefuls will be at the Aron Theatre on Thursday. Wards one to three will be taking questions from 7-8 p.m.; then wards four, five and the wannabe mayors will be on tap at 8:15 p.m. Doors will open at 6:30. I hope the popcorn stand is ready for action, hot air may make people hungry.
