CJRO News December 12, 2022 to January 8, 2023

Hello, bonjour, and welcome to CJRO News on CJRO Radio. I’m Candice Vetter, reporting from Embrun.

Welcome to my final News broadcast of 2022. We’ll be back at work January 9th.

First, please take note that CJRO Radio Bingo previously scheduled for December 16th, this week is cancelled. The next Bingo will be Friday, January 13th at 7:00 p.m. Get tickets at Jude's Pizza in Vars, Carlsbad Variety at the corner of Russell and Boundary Roads, and Rene's Corner at the corner of Piperville and Anderson Roads. Cards are $5 each. Proceeds go to Optimist Clubs in Vars and Carlsbad Springs.

Physician and MPP for Don Valley East, Dr. Adil Shamji, recently released a leaked report from Ontario Health, which shows ongoing and accelerating deterioration of Ontario’s healthcare system. The report says in September emergency room length of stay increased by over 17 per cent compared to a year before, and increased by 40.5 per cent for admitted patients. This report shows the healthcare system deteriorated on nearly every measure despite lower-than-normal patient volumes. The majority of ER visits for admitted patients were completed in up to 45 hours, but some took longer. Ambulance offload times increased from 83 minutes to 90 minutes, and the daily average number of patients waiting for an inpatient bed during the month of September increased from 883 to 946.

Eastern Ontario Health Unit is advising residents that the flu is hitting young children especially hard this year and children's hospital admissions are on the rise. Influenza is different from Covid 19. It can cause severe symptoms and complications in some people, and this year's flu strain is putting more people in hospital than ever before. However, good news is the flu shot is reported to be very effective this year, as the vaccine used is very similar to the flu strain currently circulating. Vaccinations are available at pharmacies.

The provincial government is also allowing pharmacies to prescribe Paxlovid for persons with Covid 19, as it must be taken within five days of onset of illness.

In memory of Jonathan Pitre, Russell resident and Nashville songwriter Tara Shannon is holding her 7th Annual Holiday Benefit Concert, this Saturday, December 17th at the Embrun Community Center Hall at 8 Blais Street. She will appear with her full band and will also feature performances by Erica Brighthill, Rory Taillon, Sam Stone, Wade Foster, Yvan Petit, Jessica Pearson, and The Canadian Steppers. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite and at the door.

The Metcalfe Farmers Market will hold its Christmas Farmers Market with over 60 local producers and artisans, on Saturday, December 17th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Take note that it will be at the Greely Community Center at 1448 Meadow Drive in Greely, not in Metcalfe.

Russell Township is offering a holiday camp for children aged six to twelve, at the Russell Youth Centre December 27th to 30th , and January 3rd to 6th, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Register before December 21st on the Township’s Booking portal. The Township is also hiring extra camp staff to help out – visit its Job Postings webpage to apply.

There will be no walking at the Carlsbad Springs Community Centre on December 26th, 2022 or on January 2nd, 2023. The Walking Club resumes on January 4, 2023, 6020 Piperville Road, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The Carlsbad Springs Community Association is seeking teen volunteers to help with activities once a week at the Carlsbad Springs Youth Nights at the Community Center on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Youth Nights are for young people aged 7 to 12 and free of charge. Contact Maureen Mackie at 613-297-6392 for more information.

The Russell Horticultural Society’s Living Locally Fair will go ahead this year for the first time since 2020. The popular market at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School in Russell will be Saturday, January 21st from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Organizers are asking vendors to register soon, at livinglocallyfair.ca.

Russell Kin Club’s Catch the Ace jackpot is now $194,000. The weekly prize is estimated at over 9,000. Tickets are $10 and are available online and at many local retail locations.

Don’t forget we also have additional content up at CJROradio.com. Check for photos, videos, News too late for broadcast, media releases, News text, email conversations with public officials, and the last couple of years of Local First podcasts. It’s all here on CJRO—everything your community needs to know.

Tune in at 107.7 or 107.9, follow us on Facebook, listen to our podcasts on cjroradio.com or on the Tune-In and Radio Player Canada apps. I’m Candice Vetter for CJRO News. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I’ll talk to you next year.