VIA Rail – Service Resumes

For the first time in three and a half weeks passenger trains will be rolling through Kingston today.

VIA Rail is resuming partial service today on the Toronto to Montreal and Toronto to Ottawa routes.

Service hasn’t operated since a blockade on Wyman Road in Tyendinaga started on February 6th.

10 of the protesters were arrested during a police operation to break up the blockade last week.

 

Charges – Burning Grill Crash

Kingston Police have charged a 25 year old man from Godfrey with impaired driving after a car crashed into the sign at the Burning Grill Restaurant.

Police say a car trying to pass several other vehicles fishtailed…hit one of the other vehicles and then went off the road and hit the restaurant sign.

The man was treated in hospital for injuries and released.

 

Coronavirus Update – Number of Cases

There are now 27 cases of the COVID-19 virus in Canada.

Three new cases of the virus were confirmed in Ontario on Saturday and another four were confirmed yesterday.

That brings the total of Ontario cases to 15, though the first three to be diagnosed have now been cleared of the illness.

Eight cases have also been reported in B-C and one in Quebec.

Officials across the country continue to insist the risk of the virus spreading in the community is low.

 

COVID-19 – Be Prepared

KFL&A Public Health is encouraging residents to take steps to be prepared for the spread of COVID-19.  It issued a news release yesterday saying there are currently no cases in the KFL&A area…but says this could change very rapidly.

Medical Officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore says residents of the area should be prepared to isolate themselves in their homes for 14 days in the event they…or someone in their home…becomes ill with COVID-19.

That means making sure you have enough supplies for two weeks…plus have all of the arrangements in place in case you need to self-isolate.

 

Smoking-Vaping Charges

It sounds like stores in Kingston are playing by the rules when it comes to tobacco sales.

A KFL&A Public Health report says 20 people and businesses were charged with violating laws regarding smoking and vaping last year.

Only two of the charges last year were for stores selling vaping products.

The rest of the charges were for people smoking or vaping in areas where it isn’t allowed.

 

Basement Flood – Utilities

Utilities Kingston is once again offering financial assistance to prevent basement flooding through its Preventative Plumbing Program.

Homeowners can get up to $3,000 to install sump pumps, backwater sanitary valves and other measures to prevent sewer backups and basement flooding.

Details about the program and applications are available on the Utilities Kingston website.

 

Tampon Tuesday

The United Way of Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington has launched a program called Tampon Tuesday to collect feminine hygiene products .

President and CEO Bhavana Varma says the agency knows feminine hygiene products are among the most requested items at local food banks and shelters.

Donations can be dropped off at the United Way office on Bagot Street…the United Steelworkers office on Albert Street, Energetics Health and Fitness on Fortune Crescent, Secura Financial on Gardiners Road  and the Lennox and Addington Youth Hub in Napanee.