DSS will beautify their schoolyard, naturally
Susan Kucera is helping to organize a tree planting project at David Stoddart School (DSS) that has the support of the DSS Beautification Committee, which includes inclusion specialist John Waldie and Carol Pickering, the school principal. The Communities in Bloom committee has also been a part of the project, alongside Brenda Slade of As the Crow Flies.
“The plan is to bring nature to the school grounds,” said Kucera. “There will be three lines of trees planted. One by the bus parking lot, one down by the swing playground inside the fence by the highway, and the third will go across the top of the field hill by the blue playground equipment.”
Kucera applied for grant funding through Tree Canada’s Greening Canada’s School Grounds grant program, and received $3,500 that will cover the cost of the trees and planting.
According to their website, Tree Canada has helped to “green” more than 600 schools since 2008. Clinton will join the list of Canada’s greened schools following this summer’s project.
The DSS tree planting project also received $1,800 from the Clinton and District Community Forest to help cover the cost of items like wheelbarrows, shovels, hoses, rakes and composting equipment.
After the project, the equipment will be used for tree maintenance at DSS.
“We start work on July 22,” said Kucera. The trees will be planted by the end of July and the planting will be done properly by hired help, she said.
The first full day of school in September will be “tree day”, Kucera added. Children will finalize the top fill of the tree wells and wheelbarrow in all of the mulch. There will be a few small trees to plant that day as well.
Kucera said she plans to make a presentation about the trees and the project to the public on September 19 at 5 p.m. during the school’s Welcome Back Barbecue.
Fire Department election results
The Clinton Fire Department (CFD) held its election of executive officers on Monday, April 1. The election was overseen by village councillor David Park. Wayne Walch was re-elected as fire chief, while John Englehart was elected deputy chief. Karl Hansen was elected first captain and Bernie Nieuwenhuis was elected second captain. Treasurer for the year ahead is Karl Hansen, while Jim Rivett takes on the position of secretary.
May council highlights
Mayor Susan Swan participated in the annual Clinton Parade on May 25, when she rode down Highway 97 in a stylish convertible. Village CAO Monika Schittek also participated and was chauffeured in a vintage vehicle, too.
Debra Arnott of Community Futures updated council on all that Community Futures has been working on during the regular council meeting of Wednesday, May 8. Arnott advised that Community Futures has given out 50 loans in the village and $190 million has been directly invested into the region with loans averaging $23,800 each. Community Futures offers business counselling and training opportunities locally, he said, and has raised $2.3 million in support for communities affected by wildfires.
The village held a special meeting of council on Friday, May 10 to approve the draft Audited Statements as presented at the regular council meeting of Wednesday, May 8. During the special meeting of May 10, council received the 2019 Financial Plan and took part in the third reading of Bylaw No. 558 (2019-2023 Financial Plan) as well as the first, second and third reading of the Tax Rate Bylaw for 2019.
Council held another short special meeting on Monday, May 13 to read and adopt Bylaw No. 560 (the Building Regulation Amendment Bylaw), and to read and adopt the 2019–2023 Financial Plan Bylaw No. 558 for a final time.
Councillor Rivett reported on the Clinton Health Care Auxiliary meeting that took place on Tuesday, May 14. She noted that Bev Grossler was in attendance to represent Telehealth. Grossler informed the group that a new part-time staff member was hired for the health centre to begin work in the first week of June. She will be available at the clinic every Tuesday.
The Clinton and District Community Forest recently granted the auxiliary $5,000, which will be put toward the purchase of a vital signs machine and a bariatric chair.
Do you have Clinton news? Contact Raven Nyman at ravenbrookn@hotmail.com.
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