Stephen Vance, Editor
In the world of municipal politics, optics can be everything. That's why it was somewhat surprising that, before approving the five new library board members at council's Monday meeting, Mayor Barb Clumpus read a prepared statement carrying the title 'A Value Statement regarding Library Services for all residents of the Municipality of Meaford'.Surprising not due to the...
Stephen Vance, Editor
If you're a winter hater like me, the term 'January thaw' always sounds so appealing; an oasis in the middle of the winter desert. Until it begins, and then you remember that a January thaw also includes chilly damp air, cold rain, and thawing snow that freezes overnight making roads and sidewalks slippery the next morning.
We've had...
Stephen Vance, Editor
One thing we can say with certainty about Meaford residents is that they are passionate, and will fight for their community when necessary. We've seen evidence of this recently with the circulation of a petition aimed at voicing concern that Meaford's hospital could lose its operating room. The passion of Meaford's residents is one of many things...
Stephen Vance, Editor
An important unanswered question in the wake of last week's library board fiasco is just how was council able to prepare a plan after all five volunteer library board members resigned on Monday and Tuesday of last week, execute the plan, then have a bylaw prepared with the names of four people to appoint to the board...
Stephen Vance, Editor
Unless an agreement can be reached very, very soon residents in the Sydenham area of the municipality will lose their long-held library privileges at the Owen Sound North Grey Union Public Library. Should that happen (and by absolutely no means should Meaford's council allow that to happen) residents of the former Sydenham Township will have every right...
Stephen Vance, Editor
December has arrived, the holiday season is upon us. Colourful lights twinkle in the night, storefronts are adorned with shiny displays, carols stream through unseen speakers... and as at any other time of year, moronic idiots continue to drink and drive.
Sorry, did 'moronic idiots' sound a little harsh? How about selfish potential murderers? Vehicular terrorists?
Police services across...
Stephen Vance, Editor
Meaford Mayor Barb Clumpus referred to the budget approved by council to be presented at the December 5 statutory public meeting as “remarkable”, however, while it is a very good budget, “remarkable” is not the word I would use.
After all, space travel is pretty remarkable, the fact that we can send photos, videos, and text through the...
Stephen Vance, Editor
If you've been feeling a sense of deja vu after reading after reading about the Meaford Library Board terminating the contract with the Owen Sound North Grey Union Public Library (OSNGUPL) which allows Sydenham residents full use of the facility, it's because we were in pretty much the same situation five years ago.The Meaford library board sees...
Stephen Vance, Editor
Today is Remembrance Day. A time when we as a nation (as an entire Commonwealth in fact) take some time to stop and reflect on war and the countrymen (and women) who we have lost in battle, defending freedom.I've never been personally touched by war. Like many in this fine nation, I am the first generation of...
Stephen Vance, Editor
Remember when public input sessions for municipal budgets would see turnouts of 150 (mostly angry) residents or more? My, how things have changed – but why?
Three public input sessions for the 2017 municipal budget were held last week in Annan, Bognor, and at the Riverside Community Centre, and none of the three meetings managed to attract even...
