Category: News 2020

Google Features Marie Dressler

John Draper

One of things that Google does is to occasionally modify the logo at the top of its search page with a “Doodle”.  Today, for all Canada, the Doodle is a celebration of Marie Dressler’s 152nd Birthday.  See it yourself by going to Google’s home page – click the Doodle and get the results of a Google search for Marie Dressler.  Cobourg Council recently declared today (November 9) as Marie Dressler Day – can we imagine that Google noticed?  Normally, the Marie Dressler Foundation would be holding a Birthday celebration event like they did in 2018 but this year the celebration is virtual. In addition to the Doodle, Google also has a page where they explain what the Doodle is about. … Read complete articleGoogle Features Marie Dressler

Entertainment Update – November 2020

John Draper

The Concert Hall in Victoria Hall is still closed with no opening date; the Firehall Theatre is closed; there are no shows scheduled at the Best Western or United Church – basically all live shows are cancelled for now.  There is one exception – a live show at the Loft on November 22 will be held but it’s already sold out.  It’s a classical concert and the audience is limited because of spacing needs and the performers are not using wind instruments or singing which might cause a spread of the Virus.  (Details at Les AMIS Concerts or the Loft – links below).  Port Hope’s Capitol has cancelled all shows but is holding events like the Annual Christmas Tree display…. Read complete articleEntertainment Update – November 2020

Starbucks coming to Cobourg

John Draper

The famous coffee shop originally planned to come here in 2008 but the financial crisis caused them to put that on hold.  But now they plan to go into the new plaza at the Mall that is currently being constructed.  Lydia Smith raised the subject with Council and Councillor Nicole Beatty who is the Coordinator for Planning said that “it’s been publicly presented that a Starbucks is proposed as a potential business to occupy one of the storefronts being constructed as part of the new exterior building at Northumberland Mall.”  She also provided the plan showing the location – see image below.  Over the past few months, there has been a lot of work at the Mall – a rework… Read complete articleStarbucks coming to Cobourg

Unfinished Business – November 2020

John Draper

Cobourg Council is still struggling to keep up with unfinished business – on September 20th I reported on 16 items on the list with half of them running late.  In particular, in February 2020, the Library Board asked for an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) to define “who does what” with a due date of 20 June 2020.  At the Council meeting on November 2, the board sent a memo to Council that asked, in essence, “What happened?  This is now  urgent!”  Their memo gave an example of the failure of an HVAC unit and Town staff were not very helpful in dealing with it – they basically suggested that they should look after it themselves (with a contractor) despite having… Read complete articleUnfinished Business – November 2020

Remembrance Day – 2020

John Draper

No surprise, there will be no crowds at the Cenotaph this year on November 11 but instead there will be an online ceremony and other things happening.  A Poppy campaign has already started – see details below. On November 11 there will be a Virtual Wreath Laying and Two Minutes of Silence. Also planned are Interviews with Veterans and a Virtual Walking Tour.  The activities are being organized by Cobourg’s Community Services Division in partnership with the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 133 and were announced by the Town on 28 October. The Poppy campaign is already under way: boxes are available at participating businesses, are protected behind plexiglass and were available starting October 30.  Also available for purchase this year… Read complete articleRemembrance Day – 2020

Town and DBIA preparing for Cobourg’s Christmas in 2020

John Draper

Plans are underway for a different kind of Downtown Christmas celebration this year – there will be lights as usual but no turning-on ceremony; instead of the 65th Santa Claus Parade there will be floats but only three of them and they won’t move – but there’s more.  The “downtown corridor” (presumably King Street) will be lined with trees that are to be decorated by the merchants. And residents are not left out – they will be challenged to decorate their homes and the Town will produce a “drive-by map” so others can enjoy.  These ideas were presented by the Town’s Marketing and Events manager, Kara Euale, at a presentation to Council on October 7 and briefly mentioned on my Post… Read complete articleTown and DBIA preparing for Cobourg’s Christmas in 2020

Reducing Plastic Pollution in Cobourg Harbour

John Draper

With Provincial funding, Cobourg has installed a Seabin and some LittaTraps to reduce plastic pollution in Lake Ontario.  The project is part of an initiative by Pollution probe to remove plastic pollution in the Great Lakes.  Working with the Council of the Great lakes Region and other partners the Province has provided $375K in funding to install Seabins and LittaTraps in up to 12 marinas.  Seabins work by collecting floating debris and Littatraps are installed in storm drains to trap debris before it enters the Lake.  Cobourg has one Seabin installed at the North West wall of the fuel dock and three Littatraps (more details below).  At an event today, Mayor John Henderson was joined by MPP David Piccini in… Read complete articleReducing Plastic Pollution in Cobourg Harbour

Northumberland Covid-19 update

John Draper

The virus is not going away anytime soon – cases in Northumberland continue to rise and now Health authorities are setting up more testing locations.  McGill University recently did a survey of 28 experts and their average response was that a vaccine would not be available until June 2021 or even the Fall.  Meanwhile Trudeau has warned that “Christmas may be in jeopardy”.  As of Tuesday this week, there were 48 confirmed cases in Northumberland – up from 46 on Friday. If you meet certain criteria, up till now you could get tested at Northumberland Hills Hospital or Campbellford Hospital but starting November 4, a location in Port Hope will be added. In all cases, an appointment is necessary –… Read complete articleNorthumberland Covid-19 update

Can the Cost of Cobourg’s Services be reduced?

John Draper

Oscar Poloni of consultant KPMG presented to Council tonight the first report of results for the “Municipal Service Delivery Review”. The review was initiated to “to improve the understanding of the services currently provided by the Town and provide better information that will allow the community, Council and staff to make informed strategic choices regarding those services.”  That is, it attempts to answer the question “Can the Town be more efficient and/or reduce costs to Cobourg’s taxpayers?”  Initial results suggest that the only real way to do this is by reducing services and asks Council for direction about possibly reducing recreation and tourism and possibly other services.  But along the way, a survey with 307 respondents found out what residents… Read complete articleCan the Cost of Cobourg’s Services be reduced?

County Safety and Well Being Survey

John Draper

Northumberland County has a mandate for community services such as Affordable Housing, Paramedics, the Golden Plough and income support (welfare) as well as county roads, garbage and economic development. To better understand what residents see as priorities for a range of such services, a survey was conducted from 25 June to 31 July.  Public surveys usually get few participants and this was no exception with only 143 responses received. Of these, 61 were Cobourg residents. Of the 143, 46 were over 59 years of age, 60 were 39 to 58 and 29 were 18 to 38. The results are interesting and will guide the County’s “Community Safety and Well-being Plan”. Major categories were “Personal Safety”, “Feelings about Crime”, and “Environment and Culture” – details… Read complete articleCounty Safety and Well Being Survey