Order Your Spring Trees Now – Deadline January 25th

Order Your Spring Trees Now – Deadline January 25th
Severn Sound Environmental Association is once again working with North Simcoe Stewardship and the Township of Tiny to distribute tree seedlings.

If you are looking to plant some new trees on your property, this is worth a look.

http://www.severnsound.ca/trees.htm  Severn Sound

Press Release
http://bit.ly/TgwDHm Tiny Township 

Tiny Township Municipal Offices

The Tiny Township Municipal Offices will be closed from Tuesday, December 25, 2012 to Tuesday, January 1, 2013.  We will reopen on Wednesday, January 2, 2013, at 9:00 a.m.  Council and staff would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday!  

Also

Barrier-Free Front Entrance Now Open!     

We are pleased to announce that the front entrance of the Township's Municipal Office is  now open to the public. After several months of construction, the Township can now boast a barrier-free front entrance. The features to increase accessibility include an accessible ramp with heat tracing, automated doors and additional lighting. Upon entering the office, you will note that the floor has been raised to eliminate the need for stairs. The  vestibule was further renovated to include new flooring and larger windows to increase natural light.  The completion of this project assists the Township in meeting its commitment to promote independence, dignity, integration and equality of persons with disabilities. 

ZERO TOLERANCE RESIDENTIAL SMOKE ALARM PROGRAM

Tiny Township ZERO TOLERANCE RESIDENTIAL SMOKE ALARM PROGRAM

http://bit.ly/12Ktfas  Tiny Township

A heads up on this new program that starts in the New Year. Please make sure you have the needed Smoke Alarms and that they work!

“After so many years of promotion and public education initiatives, it is incomprehensible to me that anyone would not understand the importance of working smoke alarms in protecting the lives of themselves and their loved ones and act accordingly,”says Fire Chief Tony Mintof.
Penalties for non-compliance range from a ticketed fine of $235.00 to a charge under the Provincial Offences Act that carries a fine of up to $50,000 and/or one (1) year imprisonment.

FOCA's December Elert is out

The December FOCA Elert is out

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MNR Permit Changes    

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) developed a policy in Fall, 2012 to describe how they would manage their fiscal limitations, while still meeting their mandate. They have now posted proposed regulatory amendments on the Environmental Bill of Rights for public consultation. (Posting #011-7669) 
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Electricity Rates

FOCA is pleased to report reductions for seasonal customers' electricity rates, achieved through our efforts at the Ontario Energy Board. 

Reductions in distribution rate charges totalling $2.04 million have recently been announced for the 159,000-member seasonal class in 2013. 

FOCA remains concerned that the overall costs of electricity for all customers are set to rise  dramatically over the coming years. 
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Great New FOCA Benefit: Discounts on CAA Memberships!

Do you spend much time commuting by car to-and-from the cottage? If so, this is for you:

 FOCA is very pleased to announce a brand new member benefit: save at least $15 on a CAA Membership when you apply or renew through CAA corporate services as part of FOCA. In addition to critical roadside service, your CAA Membership card gets you discounts on a wide range of attractions and travel bookings. Read the details and find out how to apply here: www.foca.on.ca/CAA
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Do not forget to sign up to have the FOCA Elert delivered right you. Sign up on the FOCA home page

View the full December Elert by clicking on the link below
http://bit.ly/R3SoKv  FOCA

Latest Cottage Life Dockside news letter is out

Latest Cottage Life Dockside news letter is out 

http://bit.ly/SWCnG5 Cottage Life

Lot's of good ideas and things to do 

How to make chalkboard wine glasses

Geminid meteor shower takes centre stage

7 creative holiday cookie recipes

Avoid winter woes

How to keep your cottage maintained in the off-season and avoid unwanted surprises come spring.

Books for beer lovers

If you want to boost your beer IQ or incorporate more of it into your cooking, these books are perfect for you. And More

Budget bill will gut Navigable Waters Protection Act

Budget bill will gut Navigable Waters Protection Act

http://bit.ly/TIOtzr  Cottage Life

This is not a good thing, no matter how you slice it... It is a major step backwards in the protection of our waterways across Canada. We need to tell Ottawa how we feel about it.

Great blue herons

Things we love about the cottage: Great blue herons

http://bit.ly/UyezbR Cottage Life

I did not see any at the cottage this year. Did you? This is the first year in a while where I did not see a Great Blue Heron while at the cottage. I saw several in the Dorval area, along the St. Lawrence River.

Septage Management in Tiny

Septage Management in Tiny

There are serious concerns about the direction of the septage management study being undertaken by the Township of Tiny. 

The study appears to be progressing toward a pre-determined conclusion based on campaign promises of a “Made in Tiny” solution, with only cursory investigation, analysis and review of other alternatives. By narrowing the study to a single alternative at this stage, Tiny may be compromising long-term, environmentally responsible action in the name of short-term economies. Alternatively, Tiny may be about to waste significant tax dollars if the chosen alternative is rejected by the public once a site has been selected for septage disposal.

Septage management in Tiny has received very limited attention judging from the lack of press coverage and the weak attendance at three public meetings held during the first phase of the Class Environmental Assessment by R.J Burnside and Associates. Only 28 people attended the first Public Information Centre presentation in July 2011, 34 attended the second PIC presentation in November 2011 and 28 attended the third PIC presentation in June 2012. Over half of the attendees at each meeting consisted of staff and members of the Project Advisory Committee. At this stage, residents of Tiny are simply not aware of the proposed solution, or of its implications. Neighboring residents are equally unaware of the potential collaborative opportunities which have seemingly been ignored by their elected representatives.

On August 13th Tiny Council approved a motion to proceed with a Class 3 and Class 4 Environmental Assessment of the construction of a full septage treatment works in Tiny. The motion passed by a vote of 4 to 1, with Mayor Millar opposed. 

Passage of the August 13th motion pre-empted a public debate of the final Burnside report of alternatives. It also terminated any further discussions with neighbors such as Midland or Waypoint regarding collaboration on the treatment of sewage and septage in the region, even though:

     a) It is truly a regional issue, not just a Tiny issue. In addition to the 9400 residences in Tiny, approximately 1300 private septic systems in Midland and Penetanguishene are currently serviced by haulers who use spreading sites in Tiny for disposal by land application.

     b) Midland’s Waste Water Treatment Plant is only half utilized. While Midland has been searching for income opportunities from neighboring communities to alleviate their budget shortfall, Midland residents appear completely unaware of the opportunities afforded by collaborating with Tiny on septage disposal. This single project could generate up to $0.6 million in annual tipping fees, compared to the $1.75 million over 58 potential savings opportunities recently identified by KPMG.

     c) Waypoint is considering the construction of a new Waste Water Treatment Plant, which could be designed to incorporate sewage and septage from neighboring communities. The Burnside report cites “unknowns … related to project timing, funding and the basis for charges at the plant, who would be the lead municipality, wastewater quantity and quality, etc.” as the basis for rejecting this alternative. None of these excuses would pose a major challenge in the face of serious commitment to action.

The “Full Septage Treatment Works” alternative selected by Tiny Council involves technologies, yet to be evaluated, such as alkaline stabilization, anaerobic digestion, composting, geo-tubes, lagoons and/or reed filter beds. These technologies may well be feasible and economical. However, they fall short of a best-in-class solution in this age of environmental awareness. 

The site has yet to be identified, although the 54-acre former North Simcoe Hunters and Anglers site (now the Tiny Community Centre) and the Tiny Public Works site have long been rumoured to be the preferred locations of certain Council members. Regardless of the final selection, there is a strong probability that the storage and disposal of sewage without treatment in a modern Waste Water Treatment Plant will elicit a neighborhood reaction, possibly rivalling the Site 41 situation.

Mayor Millar made a motion at Council’s November 26 Committee of the Whole meeting to separate the costs of the next study phase from the 2013 budget in an attempt to reopen debate before $400,000 of taxpayer’s money is spent on a doomed single-alternative process. The motion failed, but may yet stimulate public awareness and encourage further negotiations with Midland and Waypoint in what could and should be a win-win solution.

Terry Breckenridge

President Clearwater Beach Ratepayers Association 

How do I remove rust from well water?

Q&A
THE QUESTION
How do I remove rust from well water?

THE ANSWER
That rusty colour is from the well water’s excess iron content. High levels of iron (more than 0.3 milligrams per litre) can affect the taste, smell, and colour of your water, and can stain laundry, plumbing fixtures, or kitchen utensils. Happily, you can usually remove it.
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Get the rest of the answer at Cottage Life
http://bit.ly/Ss5CPb

Gifts for the book-loving cottager

Gifts for the book-loving cottager

http://bit.ly/UNlRVw Cottage Life

Some great cottage based books for the cottager in your life.