By Stephen Vance, Editor
The dog days of summer are here. Warm temperatures, at times working their way to stifling, oppressive temperatures have wrapped their arms around our area, and they've been squeezing tight.
The month of August - my least favourite time of year. Hot, sticky, and often unpredictable, I've long thought that the best thing about August is that...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
What would happen if you put seven people in a room, and you asked them to agree on an order of one large pizza? Would you have a unanimous agreement on what toppings to order? Or would you have some of the seven people lobbying for mushrooms on half, while others debated which type of cheese...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
At their next meeting, Meaford's council will be presented with a request to establish an automobile idling control bylaw. Possibly the only surprise in the previous sentence is that Meaford doesn't already have such a bylaw.
After some highly unscientific polling of people I talked to over the past week, most of the people I raised the...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
On, Tuesday July 14, a special meeting will be held in Meaford's council chamber, when a Joint Compliance Audit Committee (JCAC) will meet in order to determine if a request for the audits of campaign expenses of two mayoral candidates who sought election in the October 2014 municipal election should move ahead.Failed mayoral candidate Ray McHugh...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
Big numbers – they have the ability to anger some while at the same time providing comfort to others. Big numbers – they can be transparent, they can be confusing, and often they are wildly deceptive.
Whenever I see people getting worked up over a big number, or whenever I receive a press release from any level...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
Exams are over, school is out, and the warm weather has arrived – sort of. It's time for summer to really begin, and what better way to kick off summer than with a huge Canada Day bash? And where better to have said bash than in the Municipality of Meaford?
I've lived in Meaford for a decade...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
Council's approval of a pilot project that will allow licenced sidewalk patios in the downtown core could be a giant step forward for all businesses in the municipality.
One of the comments often heard about Meaford is that it is a 'drive-through town', with little to catch the attention of a passing motorist, not enough to prompt...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
For the past eight years, the beginning of June has marked the opening of the Meaford Farmers' Market at the Rotary Harbour pavilion, and today market organizers are set to begin their ninth season.
As far as community initiatives go, Meaford's farmers' market is a genuine success story. It's no simple task to get a farmers' market...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
It has been painful to watch over the past few years when council reviews requests for community grants, and decides who and what to fund, and for how much.
What might seem a simple task is turned into a long, drawn-out, confusing affair caused primarily because this council, and the previous council, just can't follow the policy...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
With a few simple words at council's May 11 meeting, Meaford's Deputy Mayor, Harley Greenfield, seems to have created concern amongst councillors. Enough concern that Mayor Barb Clumpus called a closed meeting this week to discuss and seek legal advice.
What did the Deputy Mayor say to bring about a closed session meeting for council and...