CJRO News July 3 to July 9, 2023

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

Canada Day started weirdly but ended well. Smoke threatened to cause fireworks cancellations, then thunderstorms and a tornado warning disturbed celebrations in the afternoon. In Embrun a broken water main in the reservoir set off a water use ban, but it was repaired in record time by 9 a.m. By late afternoon skies had cleared so parties and fireworks went ahead.

CJRO has added a new radio show to our extensive lineup. On Fridays from 8 to 10 p.m., Tuesdays from 9 to 11 p.m. and Sunday mornings from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. enjoy The Weekend Jam with longtime Ottawa radio host, The Milkman John Mielke and co-host Zoë Thorne. Listen to food news, dating and relationship advice from Sue McGarvie, entertainment news, life advice, amusing news, and rants and raves.

In other broadcast news our colleagues at the National Campus and Community Radio Association were uncertain if our news would be caught by Facebook’s filters. For the time being it does not seem to have affected us but we will have to wait and see. Facebook has been told by the Canadian government that it should pay the generators of news content, but it doesn’t want to, in spite of benefiting its advertisers by having useful content online. Fortunately CJRO listeners can hear us anytime, anywhere on CJROradio.com.

A new playground has been installed in a new community park on Lucerne Drive in the St-Thomas development in the eastern section of Embrun.

In the City of Ottawa the garbage debate seems to have ended and changes should be in effect in about a year. Key details sent by Councillor Catherine Kitts said there will not be bags, instead there will be a three container limit per week, special waste like diapers will still be eligible for the special consideration program, agricultural operations will be exempt, an education campaign on recycling will commence, and two new solid waste inspectors will be cracking down on illegal dumping.

CBC has reported that documents obtained under Freedom of Information show Ottawa city planning staff were not expecting the Tewin subdivision clearcutting in February. CBC said the developer, the Taggart Group, had only inquired about a limited plan for derecho cleanup seven months earlier. CBC said a “flurry” of emails showed a planner asked if Taggart would be considered an agricultural operation, and noted Taggart was trying to invoke the agricultural exemption. Director of economic development and long range planning, David Wise, also cautioned due to a “public and political lens.”

Carlsbad Springs Optimist Club announced its three-pitch ball tournament made almost $9,800. This year’s changes included hiring licensed umpires, giving the canteen to a food truck, and adding inflatable structures and face painting for children.

Some paving projects to be done this year include 9th Line Road from Victoria Street to Mitch Owens Road—which has started, Piperville Road from Ramsayville Road to Farmers Way which starts July 12th, Devine Road near Rockdale Road which starts July 27th, Saumure Road from Russland Road to Russell Road which starts July 31st, and Mer Bleue from Navan to just south of Renaud Road which starts July 4th going into September. Completion dates will be announced later.

In Ottawa, be reminded that Highway 417, the Queensway, will be closed completely at Bronson Avenue on Thursday, July 13th at 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. on Monday, July 17th, to replace the Bronson Avenue overpass.

Earlier this month Ottawa City Council approved the Ottawa Paramedic Service’s investment plan. The City will hire 14 new paramedics as soon as possible, funded from the tax stabilization reserve fund. Council had hoped the province would provide more funding but it won’t. The City will add 23 new paramedics and two new emergency vehicles each year for three years. The City is also considering 17 new paramedics and one new emergency vehicle each year for three years. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe has asked the province to fund positions to reduce hospital offload delay. Last year 93,000 hours were lost to offload delay. Over 1800 times in 2022 Ottawa had zero ambulances available to respond to calls. In some cases ambulances in neighbouring counties, including Prescott-Russell, were called, leaving those areas without ambulances too.

Homeowners in Ottawa can get a low-interest, 20-year loan through the new Better Homes Ottawa - Loan Program. The loan can be up to $125,000 or 10 per cent of the current value of their home, whichever is less, to cover the cost of home energy improvements. Eligible projects include insulation, air sealing, window and door replacements, heat pumps and water tanks, climate adaptation measures and solar photovoltaic systems. It can be combined with other energy efficiency rebates and incentives. For more information see betterhomesottawa.ca/loans.

Finally, strawberry season is here. Check out Rochon Garden on Yorks Corners Road, between Metcalfe and Edwards. Yum.

Strawberry fields forever. Vetter photos.

If you have News you want included on this weekly report, please email newscjro@gmail.com by Monday mornings.

We have additional content and Local First podcasts at CJROradio.com. Hear us 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. CJRO, last on the dial, first for local news.

Stay tuned now for the CJRO Events Roundup.

CJRO Events Roundup

This Thursday’s Live Music In The Park Series features Matt and Janie James from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (weather permitting) in the gazebo at Victoria Park in Metcalfe. The husband and duo from Metcalfe play a variety of music from pop and jazz to rock and roll.

The Wendover Country Music Festival starts Thursday, July 13th and runs until Sunday, July 16th featuring over 20 musical acts. For information and tickets email info@festivalwesternwendover.ca.

I know there are lots more events out there. So email us to get an event listed. Send it beforehand to newscjro@gmail.com.