Save the Dates

Ratepayer Annual General Meeting – May 1, 2013

Our Annual General Meeting will be May 1st at 6:45 pm at Orchard Park Public School. Come to meet neighbours, hear about the Sherwood Forest School Site, and the Medway Valley Conservation Master Plan. We will also have a representative from the city’s by law enforcement staff to talk about student housing issues. Look for a flyer in your mailbox this April.

We will also be electing the Ratepayers Executive. If you are interested in being part of the Executive, please contact Sandy Levin. Information about positions and duties is available
here.

Buckthorn Busting – June 18, 2013

Meet at the Longbow Entrance to the Medway Valley Heritage Forest, Tuesday, June 18th, 5 pm to 8 pm. The rain date is Wednesday June 19th.

Buckthorn is a non native shrub that forms dense thickets that quickly shade out and compete with native species. Buckthorn has been here for about a century; it was planted initially to stop soil erosion. Since then it has become so common that you probably have some on your own property. It has spread into the city’s parks and Environmentally Significant Areas like the Medway Valley Heritage Forest. Come out and “bust some buckthorn.” Students can earn community service hours.

Medway Seniors Series March Social

By popular request, an opportunity to just relax and chat.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 13th from 2 to 3 p.m.
WHERE: Sherwood Library
WHAT: “An afternoon of meeting your neighbours, fun and information”

Beat the traffic downtown and come out to this free event with no registration required. Bring a friend!

For more information, call 519-473-9965.

Medway Creek Subwatershed Study Update

On Thursday, March 7, the city and its consultant presented its work to date on the city’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for the Medway Creek. This review includes the entire portion of the Medway that is in the City of London, and involves all the communities that border the Medway.

The presentation and information panelsfrom Thursday’s meeting are now available.

Also available is a public comment form. Comments and information regarding this study are being collected to assist the study team.

Neighborhood Update – March 2013

MEDWAY MATTERS
On Thursday, March 7 at Orchard Park Public School at 7 pm, the city and its consultant will be presenting its work to date on the city’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for the Medway Creek. This review includes the entire portion of the Medway that is in the City of London.

This year, the City is conducting an update to the Conservation Master Plan for the Medway Valley Heritage Forest Environmentally Significant Area from south of Fanshawe to where it meets the Thames River. This will include a review of trails in the Valley. The proposed timeline is as follows.

A summary of the project and its objectives which was provided by the City is available here. This project will involve all communities that border the Medway, not just ours. Dates and locations of meetings will be on the city’s web site and the community web site and on Facebook. More information will be provided when available.

  • Project start – March 2013
  • Site Inventories – end March to end September 2013
  • Preliminary draft report – late October 2013
  • Public Information Meeting – one at the start of the process (March-April 2013) and one to present results of the study (November 2013)
  • Finalize Phase I report – December 1 2013

TREES
City Council retained money in the budget to replace trees cut due to the Emerald Ash Borer. The replanting of trees cut down this past fall should take place this year.

In addition to the replanting, anyone may request the City to have a tree planted on the City owned portion of your front lawn. The City will assess the site and if appropriate, will add you to their ongoing planting plan (even if you didn’t lose a tree to the ash borer). To make a request:

– visit www.milliontrees.ca
– click on “I Want A Tree” and then click on “Suggest Locations for New Trees”
– Complete the tree request form. Click to submit and then you are done.

You can also call the city at 519-661-5783

INVITATION
The Ratepayers are members of The Urban League of London, an umbrella group for neighbourhood organizations in the city. One of its roles is public education. On Wednesday, March 20, 2013 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, you are invited to:

An Evening with Greg Levine, an Integrity Commissioner
London Public Library
Central Branch- Stevenson & Hunt Room
251 Dundas Street

Please go to http://urbanleagueoflondon-eorg.eventbrite.com/# for more information and to reserve a spot.

Medway Subwatershed Study

The city is updating its study of the Medway Creek as part of its climate change adaptation strategy.

There will be a public meeting held in the Orchard Park P.S. on March 7th from 7 pm to 9 pm. This meeting will provide an overview and discuss draft results to date.

If you cannot attend, you can contact the consulting firm doing the study for the city and request to be on its mailing list and for copies of display boards. The lead is Brian Huston at Dillon Consulting, bhuston@dillon.ca