This long weekend grocery store workers get a break
This long weekend the grocery stores in Barry’s Bay will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, so that the front line workers can enjoy some much-needed rest.
Thank you to essential workers who keep our grocery stores safe and open. Have a great weekend!
Metro shoppers can help Food Bank
For the next two weeks residents shopping at Metro have a choice of how to help their local food bank. Each time a customer adds $2 to their bill at check-out, Metro corporate will match the donation. The company will match a single $2 donation per transaction but if you want to donate more, owner Neil O’Reilly reminds shoppers that you can buy items and put them in the drop-box at the door as you leave the store. For monetary donations larger than $2 the standard Madawaska Valley Food Bank options apply:
- e-mail transfers to mvfoodbank@gmail.com
- online donations through Canada Helps at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/9655
The next Food Bank session takes place on April 14.
New emergency measures to protect first responders
Ontario has made an emergency order that will allow police, firefighters and paramedics to obtain COVID-19 positive status information about individuals with whom they are coming into contact. During this pandemic, it is crucial that first responders have access to this critical information when they are preparing to respond to an emergency in order to protect themselves and the public and help stop the spread of this virus.
The information disclosed will be limited to an individual’s name, address, date of birth, and whether the individual has had a positive COVID-19 test result. Strict protocols will be enforced to limit access to this information and will only be used to allow first responders to take appropriate safety precautions to protect themselves and the communities they serve.
Once the declaration of emergency is lifted, this data will be made inaccessible to first responders.
Warner,S. Solicitor General’s Office(2020,Apr.6) Ontario Takes Additional Measures to Protect First Responders During the COVID-19 Outbreak [statement]
Planning house and garden jobs?
Since the province ordered further restrictions on essential businesses during the pandemic, Barry’s Bay Home Hardware has been closed on Sundays and has offered customers curbside pickup on advance orders placed by phone at 613.756.2794 or by email to bbcustomerservice@homehardware.ca Please observe physical distancing; orders may be picked up near the Garden Centre.
Something to look forward to when beaches are open again
During its first online meeting on Tuesday, Madawaska Valley Council approved a grant agreement to increase accessibility to the waterfront. A floating wheelchair and mat system will allow visitors and caregivers to more easily access sand beach and water. MV Recreation and Community Development Coordinator Stephanie Plebon gave credit to resident Charlie Stoppa and to Madawaska Valley Association for Community Living for their collaboration on the grant application. A similar system has been installed at Bonnechere Park.
Non-medical no-sew face mask
For people who can’t sew or don’t have a sewing machine, here is a do-it-yourself face mask pattern that we spotted earlier this week in The Guardian. You can use a T-shirt or handkerchief to make it. Click HERE for complete instructions including the correct use of a non-medical face mask.