Get prepared for some major disruptions downtown, according to the Town of Bancroft’s Public Works Manager.

Perry Kelly says phase one of construction is set to start on Tuesday, September 6th. It will encompass the west side of Hastings Street North from Bridge Street up until the courtesy crosswalk at the Scotia Bank. Kelly says he hopes everything can be completed before everything freezes up this fall.

Kelly says there will be no on-street parking in the construction zone so that they can keep two-way traffic moving through the town. The pedestrian sidewalk on the east side of Hastings Street North will be accessible, and Bonnechere Excavating (BEI) will be helping people cross the street. They will also be speaking with business owners in the construction zone to make sure there is minimal disruption to their operations.

Kelly adds that there may be a little mayhem in the first few days, and they will be working to make the transition as seamless as possible. He is urging everyone to be patient, and keep an eye open for signage. Construction staff will meet at 6 AM on Tuesday to break ground.

The build includes brand new sidewalks, curbs, gutters and pavement. Kelly says they have also added SmartCity tech to their streetlights. This will equip the lights to allow for different colour settings in the future. Courtesy crossings will also be removed, and replaced with a push-button pedestrian crossing. Kelly says these upgrades will slow down traffic, promote more walking, and improve the downtown as a place for shopping and experiencing parks

Kelly says he welcomes both negative and positive comments about the new build. They can be emailed to mainstreetmakeover2022@bancroft.ca.

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With school already underway for some kids and starting soon for others, police are urging you to drive carefully in the morning and afternoon when you see buses on the road.

“Motorists are reminded to exercise caution due to the expected increase in pedestrians, cyclists and school buses, and to give themselves extra commuting time,” says OPP Provincial Constable Barbara Hunter. “Students will undoubtedly be excited to get back to school and may forget some of the rules required for safe travel.”

Hunter says officers will be keeping a close eye on bus routes and roads with schools on them, like Monck Street in Bancroft, to make sure people are stopping for school buses when their safety lights come on.

“The fine for failing to stop for a school bus is $400 to $2,000 and 6 demerit points for the first offence,” Hunter says. “Subsequent offences carry a fine between $1,000 and $4,000, six demerit points and [up to six months of] possible jail time.”

Meanwhile, if you’re a parent and your child will be cycling or walking to school this year, Hunter says you should have a conversation with them about the rules of the road and how to travel safely.

Written by Steve Berard

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Police will be on patrol for the final weekend of the summer.

The East Region detachments of the OPP will be focusing on what they call “The Big Four”. This will include impaired driving, distracted driving, aggressive driving, and making sure seatbelts are used. These are the biggest contributors to injuries on roads, waterways and trail systems.

They are urging all motorists to slow down this long weekend, and to take time to reach their destination. They urge everyone to buckle up, and don’t drink and drive.

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Anyone planning to hunt for turkeys in Ontario this October can now purchase tags.

Wild turkey tags cost $26.33 each, and only one is allowed per hunter. You’ll also need to get a small game hunting license if you don’t already have one.

Only bows and shotguns are allowed for turkey hunting. Bows are allowed for the entire month of October in wildlife management units that have a turkey season, while shotguns are only allowed between October 11th and 23rd.

“Party hunting,” where a group of licensed hunters work together even when only one has a valid tag for an animal, isn’t allowed with wild turkey.

It’s also illegal to hunt turkey using live decoys and electronic calls, and to hunt turkeys in a place where bait has been deposited within the past seven days.

You can read the full list of regulations for turkey hunting on the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s website.

Tags are available for purchase at hunting license issuers, participating ServiceOntario locations, or Ontario Fish and Wildlife’s website.

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A power outage has affected a huge swath of Hastings County.

Hydro One says customers between Coe Hill and Madoc are without power. It’s part of a bigger outage between Peterborough and Lanark. The outage has affected 9,904 customers.

Hydro One is currently investigating the cause of the outage. They expect it to be repaired by 5 PM this afternoon.

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It seems like more people are using their cottages all year.

A recent Federation of Ontario Cottagers Association survey found that one in four respondents to a recent survey found that they use their waterfront property year-round. They add that while the number of respondents represents only a fraction of waterfront property owners, they may mean a larger shift in how people live. They say their findings line up with a shift in urban real estate starting to get “out of reach” for some people.

The Association has decided to launch a survey to build on these findings. They want to know if people use their property more, less, or the same amount over the last few years. They also want to know if people have year-round access to their properties. You can find that survey here.

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All 20 shows of Mama Mia at the village playhouse have been sold out.

Tweed and Company say that despite offering an extension of their shows, every seat has now been spoken for. They add it’s an “absolute joy” to be playing to packed houses and screaming crowds over the last few weeks. They also add their future is bright in the Town of Bancroft.

Their next show is All About Anne, a celebration of Anne Shirley, put on by the Spirt of Maud Theatre Company. The show series is a fundraiser for the North Hastings Inspiration Place. For ticket information, click here.

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If you haven’t registered as a voter in this year’s municipal election yet, the process is about to become more difficult.

VoterLookup.ca, an online service hosted by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, closes on September 1st.

The website allows users to check if they’re a registered voter, and keep important information like their address, name and citizenship status up-to-date.

Starting on the 1st, if you still need to register or need to update your information, you’ll need to contact your home municipality’s office, fill out an application, and ask that the Clerk do it.

If you want to use the online platform before it becomes unavailable, click here. Election Day is October 24th.

Written by Steve Berard

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Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation are invited to see how land-claim negotiations are going.

The Algonquins of Ontario (AOO) will be presenting the latest information at an event hosted at the Makwa Community Center in Pikwakanagan. The event is open to all members of the first nation and will take place on Saturday between 9 AM and 4:30 PM and on Sunday from 9 AM until 3 PM.

The weekend will feature discussions about Algonquin genealogy and family connections. There will also be a talk about the benefits of the land claim. An opportunity will be provided to discuss questions and concerns about the land claim.

The Algonquins of Ontario’s land claim includes some nine million acres of land from North Bay to the far eastern point of Ontario and encompasses nine upper tier counties. The AOO says that the treaty will provide certainty about the ownership, use and management of land and natural resources among them and every else in the settlement area. They add it will reaffirm the honour and pride of the Algonquin people, ensure their survival and prosperity, and raise awareness about their history and culture.

The post Algonquins of Ontario to provide latest update in treaty negotiations appeared first on My Bancroft Now.

The Bancroft Detachment of the OPP is investigating a break-and-enter, and is asking for the public’s help.

Police say they received a report of a break and enter on Maxwell Settlement Road in the Town of Bancroft. They believe it was done between 8 AM and 6:30 PM on August 19th. They add firearms were stolen in the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bancroft OPP at 1-888-310-1122, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

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