Volume 3, Issue 31
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
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County Transit Study has huge price tag Leamington Council received a summary report at its Monday, August 27 regular meeting of Council outlining the goals and findings of the County of Essex Transit Assessment Study. This study has already been ‘put on the back burner’ by County Council, but in receiving the report, County Council insisted that it be circulated to all member municipalities. The information presented to Leamington Council revealed this idea is an expensive one, indeed. With projected annual operating costs projected to be around $1,657,000 per year, and start-up capital costs in the range of $1,630,000, it was reported that Leamington could be on the hook for as much as $400,000 in the first year of operation alone.
One more show added for Steel Magnolias Due to popular demand, Sun Parlour Players have added a fourth showing of Steel Magnolias. If you missed the chance to purchase tickets for Steel Magnolias, which will be the first production held in the newly renovated Bank Theatre and Meeting Place on Labour Day weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, now is the opportunity. The theatre is still a work in progress and seating is limited to 100 per show. The added performance will be on Sunday, Sept. 2 at 8 p.m. Tickets are only available by calling 519-326-8805, ext. 2.
Jordan Robinson, a volunteer with the Leamington Salvation Army, and Leamington Real Canadian Superstore Manager James Lea had a line up of carts filled with food donations to load into the school bus supplied by C.A. Bailey for the Stuff A Bus campaign. (SUN Photo)
Move that bus!
By Sheila McBrayne The full size school bus from C.A. Bailey pulled into the parking lot at the Leamington Real Canadian Superstore on Thursday, August 23 and pulled out on Sunday, August 26 stuffed with donations of food and money for the local Food Bank. The first ever Stuff a Bus project was a co-ordinated effort between the Real Canadian Superstore, The Salvation Army and C.A. Bailey. “We’ve had lots of support. I’m so impressed by the amount of support this has received,” said Leamington Superstore Manager James Lea. “We’ve collected food donations before, but I think this has got to be one of the biggest projects we’ve done and the most successful,” he said. Lea recalled the idea originated from a conversation he had with his father, Larry Lea, who works at C.A. Bailey about what the store could do to help the Salvation Army Food Bank. “It was my dad who said ‘what if we parked a bus at the store and filled it with food donations?’,” said Lea. Rose Delbroco, Superstore Community Co-ordinator, took the initial idea and turned it into the Stuff A Bus four-day event, which has helped the Salvation Army stock their shelves in time for back-to-school demand. “My first thought was maybe we should use the smaller bus, in case we didn’t get enough to fill it - it’s a big bus - but I don’t think we’re going to have a problem,” said Lea. In fact, the bus pulled out mid afternoon on Sunday and headed for the Food Bank. Volunteers from South Essex Community Council were on hand to help unload the bus and stock the shelves. Leamington and area residents brought in canned food items, or shoppers at the Superstore could purchase prepared $5 and $10 grocery bags, which contained specific items needed at the Food Bank. Lea said several local packing companies also donated cases of canned items and the Knights of Columbus have donated money so the Food Bank can purchase what it needs. “We’ve just had great support, lots of support from the community. We’re very happy with the project,” said Lea. Delbroco said some of the displaced victims of the Sunset Club fire in July came out to support the barbecue and the event as a way of saying thanks and Paying it Forward.
Jordan Robinson, Leamington Salvation Army volunteer, accepts two bags of donations purchased by PC Financial representative Eileen Stanley as part of the Stuff A Bus initiative. (SUN Photo)