Town of Halton Hills Will Once Again Participate in Earth Hour
With unanimous Council support, the Town of Halton Hills will once again join other communities in Canada and around the world in participating in Earth Hour by turning off any unnecessary lights. The objective of Earth Hour is to have as many individuals, businesses, organizations and governments participating as possible. Earth Hour registration is available at: www.EarthHourCanada.org.
Earth Hour 2010 will be celebrated on Saturday, March 27, 2010 between 8:30pm and 9:30pm. Its objective is to increase public awareness of the need to decrease energy use and to take action against climate change. Earth Hour participation is voluntary, fun and informative.
In 2009, Earth Hour reached over one billion people as it was celebrated in over 4,000 cities in about 90 countries. Across Canada, in 2009, Halton Hills was one of nearly 300 participating Canadian communities.
As one of the participating communities, the Town was very successful in its Earth Hour participation as the community collaborated to make this event a success. In 2009, the community achieved a 13.5% energy consumption reduction, representing nearly 8,000kWh or enough electricity to power about 6,500 homes for an hour. The 13.5% reduction can also be translated into over 1,400 kilograms of greenhouse gas savings or the equivalent of not driving nearly 4,800 kilometers.
Speaking about Earth Hour, Mayor Bonnette said:
“Two years in a row, our community collaborated to make Earth Hour a success. This year, we hope to do the same by demonstrating that it is possible to take meaningful and practical local action against climate change. The participation of our residents, businesses and community organizations is key to achieving our goal.
Participation in Earth Hour will build on the Town’s Green Plan and continue to move all of us towards sustainability. It is urgent that we all participate.”
This year, in support of Earth Hour, the Town will:
- Be an official Earth Hour participant. In a show of support, the Town will turn off all non-essential lights at all Town facilities during Earth Hour, without jeopardizing public safety and security, and interrupting regular service.
- Celebrate Earth Hour on Friday March 26th, since Town Hall is closed during Earth Hour on Saturday March 27th. Similar efforts will be encouraged at local businesses and schools.
- Host a FREE family Movie Matinee at the Gellert Community Centre at 2 pm on Saturday March 27, 2010. The movie matinee will feature an environmentally-themed movie. Light refreshments will be provided. Space is limited, so please RSVP your family’s attendance by contacting Jennifer Spence at 905.873.2601 ext. 2290 or at jennifers@haltonhills.ca by Monday March 23, 2010.
- Collaborate with the business community to (i) assist businesses in promoting Earth Hour to their employees and customers; (ii) encourage restaurants to offer special Earth Hour menus; and (iii) encourage special pricing on energy conservation items such as clotheslines and programmable thermostats.
- Encourage Earth Hour registration by drawing for ‘Earth Hour Gift Baskets’. These gift baskets may include such things as a programmable thermostat, energy meter, LED lights, CFL bulbs and other items that can help with energy conservation. To participate, first please register for Earth Hour at www.EarthHourCanada.org. Next, e-mail the Office of Sustainability at jennifers@haltonhills.ca with a confirmation that you have registered and how you will be participating.
- Purchase green power from Bullfrog Power, a green electricity provider, to offset a portion of the Town’s energy use during Earth Hour.
Earth Hour is a symbolic event and it alone will not reverse climate change. Nonetheless, Earth Hour is a high profile opportunity to demonstrate that people working together can make a difference on climate change.
Posted: Mar. 09, 2010 Under: Halton Hills - Georgetown Permanent Link to this Article
Distracted drivers paying the price
One month has passed and the Halton Regional Police Service continues to find people disobeying the new Distracted Driver Legislation laws.
Halton officers have been diligent since February 1st looking for drivers who still talk on their cell phones even though the law prohibits such bad habits. In total for the Region of Halton police have laid 245 charges since the grace period for operating a wire-less communication device or any hand- held electronic entertainment device ended on January 31st.
In Milton an officer’s attention was drawn to a vehicle trying to make a left turn at a major intersection. The male driver had a phone to his right ear with his right hand while his left hand was holding onto a piece of paper and attempting to turn the vehicle.
In Burlington an officer observed a female driver talking on her phone while she was driving. As she approached the intersection of Walkers Line and Palmer Drive but still 20 meters away the light turned red but the driver never touched her brakes as she went through the intersection on the red light narrowly missing a westbound vehicle.
“Its scenario’s like these that create recipe for disaster, said Sergeant Brian Carr”
Commonly asked questions:
Q: What is the fine for an offence under the Distracted Driver Legislation?
A: The fine for the offence is $125. There is also a Surcharge of $25 and a $5 court cost making the total fine $155.00
Q: How many demerit points is a charge under the new Distracted Driver Legislation
A: You will be given 3 demerit points for a charge under the new legislation
Remember to eliminate all driving distractions that includes cell phones, eating, drinking, changing a CD, fiddling with radio dials, talking to a passenger, experiencing emotional distress, minding children, personal grooming, looking at billboards or even other vehicles on the road.
BEFORE YOU SET YOUR VEHICLE IN MOTION – HANG UP & BUCKLE UP
Posted: Mar. 05, 2010 Under: Halton Region Permanent Link to this Article
Fire Protection & Prevention Services Weekly Incident Summary - February 22 to 28, 2010
Monday February 22, 2010
10:44 Hours – Fire Crews responded to the report of an alarm activation at 5079 Fourth Line in Erin Township. En route to the call, the call was downgraded. A relative of the homeowner had forgotten to turn the alarm off after entering the home. No assistance was required.
16:40 Hours – Fire department staff responded to 6 Apple Blossom Court for a CO alarm activation. The homeowner mentioned that there were readings earlier in the day. The house was thoroughly checked and no readings were present.
18:43 Hours – Fire Fighters responded to the area of 308 Eaton Street for a gas leak. Union Gas was already on scene. The area was checked and construction crews had earlier cut a 1 ¼” gas line. Most of the gas was staying in the ground with some rising. Fire fighters advised residents to check there basements for the smell of gas. No further assistance was required.
Tuesday February 23, 2010
11:15 Hours – Fire Fighters responded to 265 Guelph Street in Georgetown for
an alarm activation. The call was downgraded on the way to the call. Construction crews are in the process of taking down a part of the building and accidentally broke a sprinkler head. Fire crews returned to their stations.
13:55 Hours – Staff responded to 171 Guelph Street in Georgetown for an alarm activation. Upon arrival staff was notified that the power was out in the area and this caused the activation.
17:01 Hours – Fire Fighters responded to 10 Main Street South in Georgetown for an alarm activation. All residents were out of the building and the RP advised staff that a tenant had hit a heat detector with furniture while moving. The apartment was checked and no further assistance was needed.
Wednesday February 24, 2010
22:36 Hours – Fire Crews responded 92 Corey Circle for a public assist. The homeowner advised that their TV set had blown. We checked the outlet in the house with a thermal imaging camera and there were no other issues.
Friday February 26, 2010
02:53 Hours – Fire Fighters responded to 8851 Sixth Line in Halton Hills for a structure fire. Milton Fire Department responded first to this call. They were met by intense heat and smoke coming from the basement of the split-level 2 storey home. Quick, aggressive actions by fire fighters contained the fire to the basement level of the home. The remainder of the home suffered extensive heat and smoke damage. Shortly after receiving notice Halton Hills Fire Fighters responded to support and complete the firefighting operation. Staff remained on scene for a number of hours making sure the fire didn’t extend into any hidden voids in the basement. There were no injuries to staff or the public. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
15:24 Hours – Fire department staff responded to 137 Mill Street East in Acton to assist Halton EMS.
16:21 Hours – Fire Fighters responded to the report of a bus accident on Glen Lawson Road in Acton. Upon arrival the bus was off the road in the ditch and partially on its side. The two children and bus driver were removed from the bus. The bus was checked for oil and fuel leaks nothing were found. No other action was required.
Saturday February 27, 2010
17:52 Hours – A boiling pot of water caused a smoke alarm to activate at 1 Craig Crescent. The call came in from CHUBB and was downgraded to a check call. The house was checked and nothing was found.
16:37 Hours – There was a CO alarm activation at 63 Stewart MacLaren Road. Fire department staff checked the residence with a multi unit detector and nothing was found. One of the two Co detectors in the house had activated. The homeowner was advised to replace the unit.
20:20 Hours – A duty crew was called out to investigate a hydro line arcing in the area of 13678 Highway 7 in Georgetown. Upon arrival staff noticed the hydro pole was on fire half way up. The embers and debris from the pole were extinguished. Highway 7 was closed from Trafalgar Road to 22 Sideroad. Once Halton Hills Hydro arrived we returned to the station.
Sunday February 28, 2010
01:05 Hours – A snowplow hit a gas line in the area of 129 Main Street South in Georgetown. Fire Fighters were able to turn of the gas at the meter. Union Gas was called in to repair the meter.
12:21 Hours – Fire Crews responded to 9400 Sixth Line in Halton Hills for a check call. Smoke alarms in the residence had been going off but there was no smoke or fire. The smoke alarms were checked and it was noticed that there was water in one of the units. No further assistance was required.
18:14 Hours – Fire department staff responded to 22 Scene Street for a CO alarm activation. The house was checked for CO and nothing was found. The other interconnected units in the house were checked. The homeowner was advised to change out the unit as quickly as possible.
Milton Fire reported one call into Halton Hills this past week.
Friday February 26, 2010
02:53 Hours – Milton Fire Fighters responded to 8851 Sixth Line in Halton Hills for a structure fire.
Emergency Preparedness – Get a Kit, Make a Plan, Be Informed and Get Involved.
Posted: Mar. 04, 2010 Under: Halton Hills - Georgetown Permanent Link to this Article
