Patrick Raftis

WELLINGTON COUNTY – The County of Wellington has launched a pilot program offering one-on-one service to help low-income residents reduce their home energy use and costs, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

CLIFFORD – The Minto-Mapleton Family Health Team (MMFHT) will be able to provide primary health care to hundreds of additional residents after receiving more than a half-million dollars in provincial funding to add two nurse practitioners, a practical nurse and a receptionist to the team’s roster.

GUELPH – The coming transition of the province’s Blue Box recycling program from municipal to producer responsibility offers both benefits and challenges for the County of Wellington.

GUELPH – The County of Wellington will contribute $160,000 toward capital costs of establishing a permanent EarlyON Child and Family Centre in Centre Wellington.

MAPLETON – A Family Day Fun Fair featuring everything from pickleball to public skating will be held at the PMD arena in Drayton on Feb. 19.

MAPLETON – Council here is weighing alternatives to raising building and planning fees by massive amounts suggested in a consultant’s report aimed at attaining “full cost recovery” for the services.

MINTO – Town council has agreed to support organizers of a new outdoor life show in Clifford with free use of the local arena for the event this spring.

MINTO – Town council has approved two signage grants through the municipality’s Community Improvement Program (CIP) to assist a local charitable enterprise with its expansion plans.

MINTO – A bylaw amending zoning on a lot in Palmerston to facilitate a high-density development was approved by town council on Jan. 23.

GUELPH – Wellington County council has approved a 2024 budget with a 4.6% increase to the local tax levy. The increase will cost residential taxpayers $30 for each $100,000 increment of their home's valuation.

MAPLETON – A public meeting on rezoning proposal to permit a dog breeding kennel and recognize an existing bed and breakfast use on a rural property in the township drew questions about lost tax revenue and respect for township bylaws from some Mapleton councillors.

MAPLETON – Building permit fees here need to rise by 18 per cent across the board, and planning fees by 84 per cent on average in order to achieve full cost recovery according to consultant’s reports presented at a public meeting.

WELLINGTON COUNTY – Three local paramedics were among 65 from across the province to receive Governor General Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal bars at a ceremony at Queen’s Park on Dec. 13.

HARRISTON – Recently retired after nearly 50 years in veterinary medicine, Dr. Terry Fisk has no doubts about his chosen career path. “The only thing I ever wanted to be was a veterinarian," he said.