September 4, 2020

September 4nd is the 248th day of the year. There are 118 days remaining until the end of the year. 3 days until Labour Day.

The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit has reported no new cases of COVID-19 locally. On a what is hopefully a downward trend, there are now 6 active cases, 355 recovered and remains at 2 deaths as of Thursday, September 3, 2020.

Yesterday the province of Ontario recorded 132 new cases.

Municipal service centres plan to reopen in Blenheim, Ridgetown, Tilbury and Wallaceburg to the public on Sept. 8.

With the Sept. 11 tax payment due date approaching, municipal officials continue to encourage customers to place documents and payments (i.e. tax, water/hydro, permits, fines) in the secure drop-boxes outside.

Customers should expect increased wait times upon re-opening, as well as social distancing/maximum customer capacity signage at each office and extended waiting areas. Customers will not be screened prior to office entry, however are reminded to wear face masks and hand sanitize upon entry.

Municipal officials encourage customers to call 519-360-1998 or e-mail ckinfo@chatham-kent.ca to inquire as to available service options such as phone/online payments.

Duct tape sticks as well to the bricks in Toronto as the ones in Chatham-Kent.

When Mark Reinhart began putting up colourful messages on buildings in Chatham-Kent with the material during the earlier days of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said he never expected it to move to another city, let alone the largest in Canada. The idea evolved out of a hashtag Reinhart had been using – #BeApartStayTogetherCK – in his role as arts and culture outreach co-ordinator for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent to engage the community online as people were largely confined to their homes in March.

He soon put up the hashtag in bright duct tape on the back wall of the Chatham-Kent Civic Centre and moved on to places like health-care facilities, schools, arts organizations and some individual homes over the next few months.

Now, Reinhart’s work – called Health and Safety Notes – can be seen in the Parkdale and Queen West communities in Toronto as part of the SummerWorks’ annual arts festival.

The Ice Bucket Challenge has paid off. The challenge, which became hot in 2018, involved dumping a bucket of ice water on your head in order to raise money to find a new treatment for ALS. The stunt raised more than $200 million. Scientists have used the money to create a breakthrough medication. It slows the progression of the disease and allows patients to retain physical function.

Adidas is celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back by dropping a Darth Vader sneaker. Last week, they released a Boba Fett shoe. The ”Darth Vader Superstar” sneakers are black and have soles that read: “I Am Your Father.” The sneakers will sell for $120 when they go on sale on September 17th. 

Categorised in: 5 Things You Need To Know

This post was written by Jen Marsh