Wednesday, November 8, 2006 · Page 2 Businesses excellence recognized CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Grandma's Attic and the Daily Grind were recognized for moving an existing business to a new or renovated building. Dave Hayes, manager of the Essex Zehrs, was named Volunteer of the Year by a non-BIA board member. Each spring during Essex's Clean Up Day, Hayes provides a barbecue lunch for all participants, Markham-Gay said. The BIA member Volunteer of the Year was Jack Simpson. Simpson, the owner of the Deluxe Restaurant, has been with the association since 1999. A new award category was introduced this year the Essex In Bloom Award. Designed to operate in tandem with the Communities in Bloom competition, the Essex In Bloom contest attracted 25 entries. The winners were announced in late July and recognized at last Wednesday's event. Mary Lou Kwaitkowski earned the Best Blooming Residential Front Yard award. Maplewood Community Garden was honoured with the Achievement Award for creating the first community garden in Essex. The award for the Best Naturalized Garden went to Marilyn and Dennis Guilbeault. Amador Apartments was named the Best Residential Complex, while G.L. Fraser and Associates earned the award for the Best Non-Residential Complex. Wilma Fawdry, a resident of the 200 block of Irwin Avenue, accepted a special street sign recognizing the block as the Best Blooming Street in Essex. Window decorating and parade entry awards were also handed out. In keeping with the evening's historical theme, Shannon Prince, curator of the North Buxton Historic WALKABOUT Dressed as Queen Victoria, Ruth Ann Bonkink takes a stroll with Essex Mayor Ron McDermott during the BIA's Business Excellence Awards Nov. 1. More than a dozen awards were given to businesses and residents. Site and Museum, presented a one-woman performance about a 19th century American slave's struggle to find freedom in Canada on the Underground Railroad. Steve Cook, curator of Uncle Tom's Cabin in Dresden, told the story of Rev. Josiah Henson, who was instrumental in publishing Harriet Beecher Stowe's famous novel. More than 100 people attended this year's event. Markham-Gay said it was the best attended Business Excellence Awards in 25 years. VOTE JIM AUGERMAN O N TA R I O G O V E R N M E N T N O T I C E NOTICE OF STUDY COMMENCEMENT MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION, ONTARIO (MTO) CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND DETAIL DESIGN HIGHWAY 3 RECONSTRUCTION AND WIDENING (G.W.P. 315-98-00) THE STUDY The Ministry of Transportation, Ontario (MTO) has retained Delcan Corporation to conduct the detail design for Highway 3 from 0.5 km west of Essex County Road 34 (Talbot Road), easterly 6.9 km to 0.6 km east of Essex County Road 8. The study area is located within the Township of Sandwich South and Maidstone Township, Essex County. No lies No signs Know Finance 10 Year Army Reservist and Certified Senior Advisor 36 year-old Certified Financial Planner,Proud Resident and Father of 2... Kingsville Council Your Neignbourhood Annual Canada Day Flag Planter! You have 5 votes for Council. Please make AUGERMAN your vote for OUR future! RE-ELECT RANDY VOAKES COUNCILLOR WARD #1 Representing you with a STRONG VOICE and a PROVEN TRACK RECORD Financial points of interest as found in Municipal Debt report. . . * Property tax supported debt has decreased by $2.0 million, since this council took office in 2003. The design for Highway 3 is based on improvements identified in the Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR) and Preliminary Design Report prepared for MTO by Earth Tech Canada Inc. during preliminary design. The TESR completed its public review in February 2006. During Detail Design, the study team will address the first phase of improvements to the Highway 3 corridor as noted above, including widening Highway 3 from two (2) to four (4) lanes; a new pavement structure; drainage improvements; signal and illumination upgrades; intersection improvements and landscaping. THE PROCESS This project is following the planning process for Group "B" projects under the Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities (MTO 2000), with the opportunity for public input throughout. One Public Information Centre (PIC) will be held in association with this study. The PIC is tentatively scheduled for January 2007. Upon completion of this study, a Design and Construction Report (DCR) will be submitted to the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) for information purposes and will be released for a 30-day public review period. Notification of the PIC and submission of the DCR will be published in this newspaper. COMMENTS We are interested in hearing any comments that you may have about this study. Comments and information regarding this study are being collected to assist the study team in meeting the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act. Information will be collected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record. Please send any comments or requests to either of the following: Mr. Dennis Regan Senior Project Manager Ministry of Transportation Southwestern Region 659 Exeter Road London, Ontario, N6E 1L3 Tel.: 519-873-4548 Fax: 519-873-4600 E-mail: dennis.regan@ontario.ca Mr. Henry Huotari, P.Eng. Consultant Project Manager Delcan Corporation 214-1069 Wellington Road South London, Ontario, N6E 2H6 Tel.: 519-681-8771, ext. 247 Fax: 519-681-4995 E-mail: h.huotari@delcan.com * Per household debt will be $368 at the end of 2006, 41% less than it was in 2003, since this council took office. * Debt load per person is $147, down from $264 per person in 2003, since this council took office. * No new property tax supported debt, since this council took office. Note...the financial report supporting this financial position can be found on the town website at townofessex.on.ca under quick links found on the main page or a copy can be obtained at the town hall for your viewing * Proven track record of municipal growth and enhancement while not increasing taxes. * Determined advocate of the new Essex Arena. * Will pursue municipal involvement in auto strategies for municipal economic stability. * Understands the need for industrial zoning which will relieve tax strain and create jobs. * Advocate of quarterly town hall meetings to let taxpayers have their say. * As chairperson of the economic development committee, will continue to pursue enhancement and revitalization of our downtown * Continue my commitment to deal with day by day concerns of the taxpayer. Once again I seek your support on Nov. 13th, 2006. Thanku... yo RANDY VOAKES Councillor Ward #1 Town of Essex