Stephen Vance, Editor
Week after week, it seems as if we hear our upper levels of government boasting about the billions upon billions of dollars that they will be spending on infrastructure, supposedly in the very near future. Being the 'infrastructure-nerd' that I am, I sure hope it's true, but even more, I hope that many of those billions of...
Stephen Vance, Editor
The scramble is on. The calendar has flipped to a new month that kicks off with one final long weekend of the summer before students return to school, and daily life regains a sense of order and normalcy.While it may be a long weekend - a time for some beach fun or beverages on the deck for...
Stephen Vance, Editor
Former Meaford Mayor Gordon Crapper passed away on Saturday, August 20, just a few weeks after he reached his 90th birthday.
Gordon Crapper served this community as mayor for 12 years from 1979 to 1991 – well before I moved to Meaford. I didn't know Gord well, and if not for this newspaper, I quite possibly would never...
Stephen Vance, Editor
With their initial approval of a vehicle idling bylaw, Meaford's council has adopted a smart approach to the issue.
Rather than beating residents over the head with an all-encompassing (and difficult to enforce) bylaw that would prevent the idling of vehicles everywhere, including private driveways and fast-food drive-thrus, council has instead taken a softer approach that will see...
Stephen Vance, Editor
Meaford's council had a lengthy and lively debate this week about whether to implement a pay for overnight parking system for the relatively few downtown apartment dwellers who own cars, but don't have a parking spot included with their apartments.
All members of council offered their opinions, and asked excellent questions, and there were some valid points raised...
Stephen Vance, Editor
Meaford has a long history in agriculture, so growing things comes as second nature to many in these parts. That growing spirit is clearly contagious as has been seen with recent efforts by members of our community to grow a local music scene and by extension establish some nightlife in this previously quiet little town.
One of the...
Stephen Vance, Editor
The latest round of the Summer Olympic Games will soon be upon us, and whenever the Olympics roll around I am reminded how fortunate I am to not have cable television.
I axed cable from my life about 20 years ago and I have never regretted it – though I occasionally find myself out of the loop, or...
Stephen Vance, Editor
Many in this community might not be aware that the use of skateboards on Meaford roads is prohibited. Surprised? So was I when I first became aware of a 30 year old bylaw that says just that.
Bylaw 24-87, which was approved by the Town of Meaford council in June of 1987, is one of those legacy bylaws...
Stephen Vance, Editor
With respect to the municipal code of conduct acknowledgement form known as 'Form 3', I wouldn't sign it either given provision 'E' in section 5.3.1 of the Advisory Committee and Volunteer Code of Conduct - I simply would not sign it if I were asked to. Not the way it is currently written at least.In saying that,...
Stephen Vance, Editor
The plan approved by Meaford's council on July 4 to run an in-town public transit pilot project, and to explore the possibility of establishing transit service to the neighbouring communities of Owen Sound and the Blue Mountains is a step in the right direction for this municipality.While the plan may have been the result of the municipal...
