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(Please contact us for corrections/omissions)
2.
We have increased our membership from 360 in July 2006 to
670 with good prospects for continued growth. Kudos to Betty
Van Osch, our membership chair. She has worked diligently
to update our records and improve our ability to communicate
with our expanding membership.
3.
The
encroachment issue remains unresolved. In July/06 the Town
proposed to offer agreements on 9 of 10 encroachments encountered
on recently completed surveys. These “encroachments”most
often consist of fences built illegally into public Waterfront
Road Allowances by neighbouring lakefront property owners.
We contend that all such “soft” encroachments
should be ordered removed, quite the opposite of the Town’s
position back in July 2006.
Our
political action committee, under the leadership of Shirley
Grace, secured strong support from the candidates for Fort
Erie council. We await recommendations from Staff which
will follow after consultations with the Bar Association
and Shorewalk.
We
will urge Mayor Martin and councilors Lockwood, Annunziata,
Shular, Whitfield, Noyes and Steckley to only approve a
report which calls for removal of fence encroachments by
neighbouring property owners.
4.
The
Town’s committed waterfront improvements lag far behind
their targets formed a year ago. Several properties were
slated for improvements but none were. We hope 2007 will
be a catch up year. The money has been earmarked and we
are ever hopeful that “this will be the year of the
waterfront”. In fairness, we must commend the Town
for completion of surveys on Stonemill/Thunder Bay, Bertie
Bay, Windmill Pt. and Centalia Ave. As well they have welcome
signs completed and awaiting installation. Most importantly
we have been assured that budgeted funding unused in 2006
will be carried over into the 2007 budget year.
5.
Thunder Bay Drain: We continue to support improved drainage
for Thunder Bay residents but must oppose the Town’s
proposed primary solution: namely channeling the storm water
over the Thunder Bay Beach. The severe threat to both the
surface of the beach and to the health of the beach-going
public calls for other alternatives to be acted on first.
6.
We
had a successful end of summer waterfront cleanup in September
that targeted several waterfront road allowances along with
Waterfront Park in Crystal Beach. Thanks to Winnie Swalm
and the Friends of Crystal Beach, Kathy Green-Redekop and
Ridgeway Crystal Beach High School, Fred Louws and Fort
Erie Secondary School, Town of Fort Erie Staff, several
council candidates and many other Shorewalk members.
7.
The
Bertie Boat Club and Tony Breton hosted several more Shorewalk
meetings. Many thanks for continued support.
8.
A fundraising committee under the leadership
of John King, Stephen Passero and Susan Haswell was recently
formed and is hard at work. Thanks for a prompt and extensive
report with exciting prospects for 2007.
9.
In January we had our first meeting at Sherkston Community
Centre thanks to hosts Jerry and Sophie Shaubel with support
from Cathy Diplock. We soon will be able to confirm the
date and place for future meetings which will be monthly
thru the winter. Stay posted.
10.
MPP Kim Craitor will present a private member’s
bill in March at the Ontario Legislature on our behalf.
It will propose legislated Right of Passage (walking rights)
along all of our Great Lakes Shoreline. When we obtain the
bill’s number and final wording we will make every
effort to spread the word across the province-a huge undertaking
but well worth the effort when success would bring ACCESS
FOR ALL to our Great Lakes shorelines.
Support
Shorewalk’s efforts to promote this important public
interest bill. Contact your MPP and let him or her know
how important it is for all members of Ontario’s legislature
to vote their support. Contact
Information
11.
Chris
Larocque and Chris Freiburger (our webmaster) are working
on a plan that calls for lakeshore photos to be submitted
for online posting and eventual production of a 2008 calendar.
This was one of the fundraisers proposed by our new fundraising
committee. Look first for a photo gallery on our website
- COMING SOON.
12.
Earl Plato is one of our earliest supporters active supporters.
We noted in the Niagara Falls Review a short time ago a
well deserved tribute to his wide ranging interests and
accomplishments. He has retired from his nature column in
the Review but continues to be active in multiple pursuits
while always putting family first. Thanks Earl and keep
on writing!
ERRORS
OR OMISSIONS? Contact me at 905 658 1505 or [email protected]
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