 By Staff
August 10th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The 2017-18 Fall/Winter Live and Play Guide – the City of Burlington’s guide for information on recreation, sport, culture programs and festivals and events is now available online.
Printed copies are available for pick up at recreation centres, City Hall (426 Brant St.), Burlington Tourism (414 Locust St.) and Burlington public libraries.
The online Live and Play guide allows you to review and share program information as well as register for programs directly from any computer or mobile device. View the online guide.
An interesting program that has become quite popular is pickle ball, a trending sport that is taking the world by storm. Easy to learn, Pickleball can be geared to a wide range of ages and skill levels, from those new to the sport to the most seasoned players.
 Burlington offers registered lessons for Pickleball players of all levels. Many drop-in times and locations are also available. These drop-in programs are designated as beginner or intermediate levels and provide flexible, convenient opportunities to enjoy the sport.
In coming years, Pickleball in Burlington will expand to include more advanced lessons, advanced drop-in times, and tournament play. For now, we encourage advanced level players to play with similarly skilled partners and opponents or to respectfully adjust their level of play to the level of others.
More on the program online.
 By Staff
August 10th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
It is one of the events that those living downtown know about and make sure they get to the Performing Arts Centre early enough to get a seat.
 It is the annual Jazz on the Patio – a joint effort between the Performing Arts Centre and the Burlington Downtown Business Association that is free.
Those who get there are treated to some of the smartest – sweetest jazz you are going to hear in this town.
And there is a cash bar,
And – given the way weather has played with us this summer – in the event of rain, the performance will be moved inside the venue.
 Jane Bunnett The line up this year includes:
Friday, August 11
JANE BUNNETT & MAQUEQUE –
7:00pm – 9:00pm –
Four-time JUNO Award winner, two-time Grammy nominee soprano saxophonist/flautist Jane Bunnett brings the soul of Cuba to the hearts of Canadian music-lovers. Along with her new and exquisite all-female sextet: Maqueque.
Saturday, August 12
LAILA BIALI –
7:00pm – 9:00pm,
Biali is an award-winning Canadian pianist and vocalist, who has has been garnering world-wide recognition for her music. Her accolades include SOCAN Composer of The Year, and Keyboardist of The Year at Canada’s National Jazz Awards.
 Amanda Martinez Saturday, August 12
AMANDA MARTINEZ –
3:00pm – 5:00pm
Amanda Martinez is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter whose music blends her unique Mexican and South African roots with flamenco soul. Her solo CDs have garnered her multiple nominations for Latin Jazz Performer of The Year.
Sunday, August 13
KELLYLEE EVANS –
3:00pm – 5:00pm
Born in Scarborough, Kellylee Evans is a chameleon-like performer, whose natural charm and improvisational jazz vocal style have shined on her adventurous journey through jazz, soul, pop and hip-hop over the past decade.
Every square inch of the patio is taken up – some people sit on the sidewalk on the other side of the street to listen to the music.
It is unfortunate that Performing Arts staff have in the past taken up some of the prime space – this is a public event – not a perk for staff.
The downtown lifers know a good deal and they arrive in droves.
 By Staff
August 9th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
If someone calls you, s6ays they are from the city and asks to make an appointment to come to your home and inspect water and gas meters inside your home – you should know the call is fraudulent – the city isn’t going to call and offer to help you.
That is not the business municipal governments are in
The city continues to receive reports of phone calls being received by Burlington residents from an individual claiming to be a City of Burlington employee. The caller asks residents to set up an appointment time to inspect water and gas meters inside their homes. These are fraudulent phone calls
Residents who have called the number displayed on their call display got the “number not in service” message.
The fraud unit at Halton Regional Police Service as well as Halton Region and Union Gas have been notified.
The city is also posting information on its social media sites about the fraudulent calls.
If it looks too good to be true – you should know it isn’t. Municipal governments don’t call citizens – they do respond to citizen complaints.
 By Staff
July 28, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The southbound lane on Brant Street, just south of Victoria Avenue, will be closed on Saturday, July 29, 2017 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for excavation work.
 Brant Street – looking south – part of the road will be closed for some excavation work.
By Staff
July 24th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Blathwayte Lane from Elgin Street to Ontario Street will be closed daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for two weeks beginning Monday July 31, 2017
Local access will be maintained from Ontario Street.
 Construction adjacent to Blathwayte Lane
By Staff
July 23, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
 The Burlington Canal Lift Bridge will be closed in the evenings to vehicular and pedestrian traffic in both directions between 8 pm and 5 am from Monday, July 24, to the morning of Saturday, July 29
Marine traffic will not be affected.
The closures are required as part of the project to replace the bridge’s controls, drives and cables.
By Staff
July 11th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
 Traffic lights to be upgraded at the Harvester Road – Cumberland intersection. On Thursday, July 13, 2017 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Harvester Road will be reduced to one lane in both directions so the traffic signals can be replaced at Cumberland Road.
While the traffic signals are turned off, Halton Region Police will manage the traffic control.
For more information:
905-335-7671, ext. 7847
By Staff
July 10, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
 Trip planner software down for maintenance. Different kind of plastic has to be used. A system upgrade to Tripplanner.burlington.ca is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. on Tuesday July 11, 2017 until end of service.
This will also affect access to Next Bus information available by phone.
For assistance during this time, please try www.triplinx.ca or Google Transit for online trip planning or access the print-friendly schedules on our website.
 By Staff
July 9th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
August 21st – the Official opening of the brand new and rebuilt parts of the Joseph Brant Hospital will take place – lots of hoopla and everyone being proud of a job well done.
Now we all have to figure out how to use the place.
Getting there will be different; the entrance will be in a different place and the drive will take you along Lakeshore Road as it cuts towards the lake edge.
The hospital communications usually do an excellent job of getting information out and in the early stages there will be all kinds of people on hand to get you to where you want to go.
The public has had to come of with $120 million of the cost of the new hospital – $60 million is being paid by the taxpayer – seperate line on your tax bill and an additional $60 million that is being raised by the hospital Foundation. They are in the final stretch of the fund raising effort.
For the immediate future the graphic below shows you the fundamentals.
 By Staff
June 9th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
It isn’t a big deal until there is a depot of someone being infected with the West Nile Virus (WNV).
 The infections get to us from mosquitoes that care carrying the virus.
A batch of mosquitoes trapped last week in Oakville has tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). This is the first batch of WNV positive mosquitoes confirmed in Halton this year.
“The Halton Region Health Department works diligently to reduce the risk of West Nile virus in our community through both education and preventative programs such as larviciding,” said Dr. Daniela Kempkens, Acting Medical Officer of Health, Halton Region.
“We can all work together to keep our community safe and protect ourselves from West Nile virus by removing standing water sites that breed mosquitos and covering up or applying DEET or Icaridin when outside during dusk and dawn.”
Urban areas are more likely to have mosquitoes that carry WNV. The types of mosquitoes that transmit WNV to humans most commonly breed in urban areas, typically in places that hold water such as bird baths, plant pots, old toys, and tires.
Residents can take the following steps to protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes:
• Cover up. Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and pants with tightly-woven fabric.
• Use an approved insect repellent, such as one containing DEET or Icaridin.
• Avoid being outdoors from early evening to morning when mosquitoes are most active and likely to bite, as well as at any time in shady, wooded areas.
• Make sure your window and door screens are tight and without holes, cuts or other openings.
• Reduce mosquito breeding sites around your home by getting rid of all water-filled containers and objects, where possible. Change the water in bird baths at least once per week.
To report standing water at public facilities or for more information about West Nile virus, please visit halton.ca/wnv, call 311 or e-mail wnv@halton.ca.
 By Staff
July 7, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Canal Lift Bridge will be closed for periods of time between July 10 and July 29, 2017.
The bridge will be closed overnight to vehicular and pedestrian traffic in both directions between 8 pm and 5 am during the following periods:
from Monday, July 10, to the morning of Saturday, July 15
from Monday, July 17, to the morning of Saturday, July 22
from Monday, July 24, to the morning of Saturday, July 29
 Rush hour and marine traffic will not be affected.
This schedule may change because of weather conditions or logistical requirements. PSPC will publish notices regarding any schedule changes.
The closures are required as part of the project to replace the bridge’s controls, drives and cables.
The replacement of key components of the bridge’s lift system will extend its serviceable life, meeting the needs of both marine and vehicular traffic in the area.
 By Staff
June 21, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
This is good news – timely as well.
The Nelson pool and splash pad are targeted to reopen on Saturday, July 15
The Recreational swims will be held daily between 10:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. Lap time swims can be found at: www.burlington.ca/
 Bigger and better – but no sponsorship. In 2015 the city announced that “with two severe winter seasons back-to-back, the steel tank at Nelson Pool has seen an accelerated rate of deterioration,” said Chris Glenn, director of parks and recreation. “Ensuring public safety is our top priority, and thus the need to keep Nelson Pool closed.”
Getting the pool re-built generated some vociferous debate when Ward 4 Councillor Jack Dennison wanted to hand the job off to the private sector and have a new pool in for the following summer
City manager James Ridge suggested a plan like that was not very prudent and that 2017 was the more likely with 2018 a possible opening date as well.
When the announcement on the made on the size of the pool and when it was most likely to open the city also released a report on possible sponsorship for the pool.
During a discussion on fund raising for the Nelson pool reference was made to the consultant’s analysis which estimated value for a Facility Naming Sponsor could range between $300,000 to $350,000. It is also recommended that the payment terms could be as follows:
• $30,000 – $35,000* annually for an agreement term of 8 to 10 years
• Incentive to pay upfront: 15% discount = $297,500 – $250,500
• Paid within 3 years: 10% discount = $315,000 – $270,000
There doesn’t appear to have been a taker for this deal.
Look for the photo ops when the pool opens. We recall watching Mike Wallace get himself soaked at the opening of a splash pad in Ward 3 – he was the Member of Parliament at the time.
Perhaps all seven members of city council will take a leap into the water.
By Staff
June 15th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Due to road closures, there will be temporary detours in place as follows:
Routes 3 and 5 from Friday, June 16 – Sunday, June 18:
 Some of the buses will not be on the streets they are normally running on. Beginning Friday, June 16 at 3 p.m. through to Sunday, June 18, 2017, Brant Street will be closed from Lakeshore Road to Caroline Street.
Routes 3 and 5 will use John Street up to Caroline Street. For service, please move to stops north of Caroline or to the downtown Transit Terminal (430 John St.).
Routes 4 and 10 on Saturday, June 17:
For the Sound of Music Parade on Saturday, June 17, portions of Drury Lane and James Street will be closed between 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. resulting in detours to Routes 4 and 10 during this time.
For service to Route 4, please move to New Street or north of Woodward Avenue on Drury Lane. Route 10 passengers can still board their buses at the downtown Transit Terminal (430 John St.).
By Staff
June 10th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
While there are still some that argue the merits of climate change the rest of us need to pay attention to the weather warnings issued by the Region
For the balance of the weekend we are into the Region has issued an extreme heat and humidity warning that came from Environment Canada.
 Starting Sunday, June 11 forecast temperatures are expected to reach at least 31 degrees Celsius with overnight temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius for two days, or when a humidex of 40 or higher is expected for two days.
Especially at risk:
• Older adults (over the age of 65), infants and young children, people who work and exercise in the heat, people without adequate housing and those without air conditioning.
• People who have breathing difficulties, heart problems, kidney problems or take heat-sensitive medications.
Prevention tips:
• stay cool;
• avoid strenuous outdoor activities;
• seek shade from the sun;
• spend time in air-conditioned places, such as shopping malls and community centres; and
• drink plenty of cool liquids, especially water.
• Visit friends and neighbours who may be at risk and never leave people or pets in your care unattended in a car.
If you or someone in your care experiences rapid breathing, headache, confusion, weakness or fainting, please seek medical attention right away.
By Staff
June 9th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
During the Dinner on the Bridge event, Route 1 will not service York Boulevard between Highway 6 and Dundurn all day.
For service into Burlington, please move to stops on York Boulevard, east of Dundurn.
 Dinner is being served on the bridge How did the organizers of “Dinner on the Bridge ever manage to convince people at Hamilton’s city hall to shut down a major road? I suppose just the way Burlington shuts down Lakeshore Road for a road race.
 By Staff
May 31, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
They come in at the rate of a couple every day.
Most of them are immediately evident as phishing attempts and they get discarded.
From time to time there is a message that catches the eye (we once got caught by a United State Postal Service scan – we were expecting a parcel and we thought this was a part of the delivery notice)
This scam was aimed at TD Bank customers – we don’t bank with TD so we knew it was a phishing attempt.
However for those people who are TB Bank customers it might have read as a real notice and you might have responded.
 The use of a photograph can be deceiving. Whenever there is something important – your bank calls you. They don’t want to lose you as a customer over what is a technical matter.
This one was good – look it over and see if you can identify the flaws.
Remember the cardinal rule – if in doubt – don’t.
By Staff
May 29, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Rossmore Blvd. southbound between Princess Blvd. and Balmoral Ave. will be closed on May 31, 2017 for tree removal.
 There are leaves on those trees at this time of year.
By Staff
May 12, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
A section of New Street west of Guelph Line to Martha Street will be closed overnight on May 16 and 17 for road resurfacing.
 New Street west of Guelph Line to get a new layer of asphalt next week. Tuesday May 16, 2017
Location: New Street from Martha Street to Teen Tour Way
Time: 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Wednesday May 17, 2017
Location: New Street from Teen Tour Way to Guelph Line
Time: 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
By Staff
May 10th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The weather damage was worse than the Rob Peachey, manager of parks and open space realized.
Significant erosion has resulted in the pedestrian bridge closest to Lake Ontario in Paletta Lakefront Park has been closed to ensure public safety.
 Paletta Mansion, the property was once owned by Laura Secord has a number of small bridges on the property. Spring rains took out one of those bridges. There has been damage to the bridge supports and creek banks as a result of last week’s storms and wave action from Lake Ontario.
An engineering consultant has deemed the bridge unsafe for public use and has recommended the bridge be removed.
Plans for the removal of the bridge are underway and the area is being fenced-off with signage posted.
The bridge is expected to be out of service for an extended period of time.
 By Pepper Parr
May 8th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
It’s an annual event – the 18th and an occasion when the police pull out all the stops and show the public what they do and how they do it.
 Mini robots will be on display. Much of the equipment the police have to serve and protect a community is on display. There will be demonstrations where police officers work with a member of the K9 unit.
 K9 unit on patrol Takes place Saturday May 13th between 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m at HRPS Headquarters 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville.
Rain or Shine: No Pets Please.
There will be HMC Connections volunteer interpreters (Arabic, Urdu, Chinese, Spanish, Polish, Punjabi, Russian, Korean, Portuguese and French) available through the Information booth
 Police officers going through a training exercise. ASL interpreter services available through the Information booth and ASL interpreting for all stage presentations
Live Demonstrations and Interactive Displays, Family-Friendly Entertainment and Rides are part of the day.
The HRPS Pipes & Drums and Chorus will be on hand – all the celebrate what the police do and to celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Children’s Safety Village
 Chief Tanner takes the salute A BBQ provided by Troy’s Diner ($)
FREE Admission & On-Site Parking
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