Fall Neighborhood News

Federal Election

You should be getting your voter information card soon. It should list your polling place. If you don’t receive one, you can check the Elections Canada web site to see if your name is listed – http://www.elections.ca – or call 1-866-249-5752

Advanced polling is October 9th to 12th, noon to 8 pm at Cherryhill Village Mall.

Remember, due to changes in legislation you must prove your identity and address with a driver’s license or other official identification. The voter information card is NOT a piece of ID.

Environics has done polling in our riding of London North Centre. The most recent poll was taken Sept 19-20 of 540 residents. The margin of error is 4.2% 19 times out of 20. You can download the complete study here.

Walk in the Medway

Nature London is hosting a walk in the Medway Valley Heritage Forest Environmentally Significant Area on Sunday, October 4th at 1:30 pm at Longbow and Wychwood. Come and enjoy our natural wonder.

And a reminder, please stay on marked trails, don’t use closed trails, and keep your dogs leashed – it is not an off leash dog park. For official trails see the trail map.

Rental Housing in our Area

If you are unsure if a house that is being rented is licensed under the City’s rental licensing by law, you can check at
http://www.london.ca/online-services/Pages/Property-Inquiry-System.aspx

If you are having concerns with students living in a rented house in the area, the Western Housing Office is a good resource for dealing with student issues. There is very little the City can do as it is not illegal to rent houses out, nor is there a way to make it illegal. However, you should call the police if there is a rowdy party and also notify the housing office at Western. The best person to contact to deal with problem students is Glenn Matthews the Western housing officer. His contact information is glenn@housing.uwo.ca or phone 519 661-3787 x83787 and ask him to pay the students a visit.

Traffic

No word on when the public meeting on the Sarnia Road and Western intersection will take place. If you live east of Sleightholme you are to get a notice in the mail.

Traffic Rules changed September 1

Sharing the road has also become more costly when it comes to unsafe practices. Dooring — that is, when a parked car door is opened suddenly, causing a cyclist or another vehicle to slam into it, can rack up hefty fines as of Sept. 1. The increased set fine has jumped to $365, but costs could reach up to $1,000. The offence carries a penalty of three demerit points upon conviction.

The new laws also require drivers to keep at least one metre between the motor vehicle and the bicycle when passing cyclists on Ontario roads, where possible. The penalty is a $110 set fine and two demerit points; make the mistake in a community safety zone, and the set fine goes up to $180. According to the province’s 2012 road safety report, 26 cyclists died after being involved in collisions.

Cyclists are also facing costly charges if they don’t properly light their bikes. At nighttime, dusk and dawn, bicycles are now required to sport a white or amber light on the front, and a red light or reflector on the rear, along with other appropriate reflective materials. The price for ignoring the requirements is a set fine of $110, up from the previous $20 fee.

Drivers must now leave a safe passing distance between themselves and tow trucks stopped on the roadside to provide assistance. Failing to slow down and move over for a tow truck can result in a set fine of $490.

Effective January 1, 2016, drivers must yield the whole roadway to pedestrians at school crossings and pedestrian crossovers.

In Motion Community Challenge – a Health Unit project

This is a 31 day challenge held in October. All you need to do is track and submit your physical activity minutes for one month to help make London and Middlesex County “Canada’s Healthiest Community.” For more information, go to www.inmotion4life.ca