NHH announces new PFAC members
By Cecilia Nasmith
The senior management report at October's Northumberland Hills Hospital board meeting announced three new Patient and Family Advisory Council members.
The three were selected after the hospital's recent open call for interest for program opportunities aligned with their experience and areas of interest – Lisa van der Vinne of Cobourg in Surgical Services, Barry McMahon of Port Hope in the Intensive Care Unit and Alexis Smith of Colborne in the Baby Friendly Initiative and Maternal and Child Care.
The council has experienced steady growth since it was formed in December 2016. Members are now active at NHH in three ways – as equal partners on all core-program Quality and Practice Committees, on departmental assignments, and on special projects that are both corporate- and council-driven. They are a key part of decision making throughout the hospital, working with front-line staff, managers, physicians and board members on continuous improvement to the experience of those receiving care at NHH (and their families).
The monthly report spotlighted one recent project that reflected the input of inaugural council member David Harnden, a former patient of the Rehabilitation unit – an updated patient-family education brochure to enhance communication with patients and their families during their stay in the Inpatient Rehabilitation and Restorative Care units, developed by the Post-Acute Specialty Services Quality and Practice Committee.
With recent experience of their own at NHH, from surgical services to maternal-child care and caregiver support, the three newest council volunteers are looking forward to a more direct involvement ith staff, physicians and other caregivers to find more ways of enhancing the patient and family experience at NHH.
McMahon stepped forward because of his belief in volunteering.
Having recently given birth at NHH, Smith wants to lend her experience to enhance breastfeeding supports and services for new moms like herself.
Van der Vinne hopes to use her surgical-services experience to give back to the program and the professionals who supported her and, by extension, the community.
Calls for interest are issued when opportunities arise, but expressions of interest can be submitted at any time. For more information, visit Patient and Family Advisory Council | Northumberland Hills Hospital.
Wanted – young tech innovators with an APPetite For Change
By Cecilia Nasmith
Students aged 15 to 29 who are interested in developing mobile apps – and who are passionate about using their skills to make a difference in the community – are invited to register for Northumberland county's APPetite For Change Appathon taking place Nov. 15 and 16.
This is the county's first Open Data initiative following the launch of its Digital Strategy in August.
This appathon will encourage a community-driven innovation-based approach to addressing local food-security challenges. Participants will work in teams (whose make-up will be determined at the event) to build a mobile app or digital framework designed to help community members in need to access local food supports.
The county's Community and Social Services Department maintains resources about local food supports to share with clients, the county's press release said. Concepts developed at the appathon will highlight possibilities for further improving access to details about local food banks, community dinners, community gardens and other food-related resources.
At the end of the second day, each team will present its submission to a panel of judges that includes Cobourg Mayor (and county councillor) John Henderson, Northumberland chief administrative officer Jennifer Moore and Northumberland Director of Community and Social Services Lisa Horne. The prize will be a $100 Amazon gift card for each member of the winning team.
Northumberland County thanks Esri Canada for its sponsorship of this event, which will run from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 15 and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 16 at the county building (555 Courthouse Rd., Cobourg). The deadline to register is Nov. 8 – visit www.Northumberland.ca/appathon to sign up.
Port Hope launches My Port Hope community-engagement tool
By Cecilia Nasmith
The Municipality of Port Hope is pleased to announce the launch of My Port Hope – a new community-engagement tool and council newsletter that allows residents, business owners and visitors to share their ideas with council, municipal staff and members of the community.
Mayor Bob Sanderson stated in the municipality's press release that community engagement continues to be a priority with members of council.
“The launch of this on-line tool and newsletter offers another channel of two-way communication between the municipality and our community, and delivers a platform to continue to circulate ideas and feedback,” Sanderson said.
“The Council Newsletter will be a conduit of information to our community, providing Strategic Plan and major-project updates on a bi-month basis and ensuring that we continue to deliver consistent, open and transparent communications from our council and staff.”
My Port Hope is powered by community-engagement industry leaders Bang The Table, a company dedicated to promoting and encouraging on-line public participation. Specializing in municipal government, the tailor-made on-line tool provides various types of collaborative consultation, including the use of polls, surveys, on-line forums, idea-sharing mechanism, Q&A postings, image sharing and more. It's a platform a number of municipalities have adopted for community members to provide constructive feedback and share positive ideas, solutions and opportunities.
My Port Hope is now live and has begun hosting a few preliminary consultation files to encourage community members to try it out. Staff will continue to add new public-participation forums to the site while working towards centralizing all of the community consultation initiatives on to this new platform.
Users can register at myporthope.ca to use the new engagement tool and receive the bi-monthly Council Newsletter. The site will be monitored and updated regularly, and information will be shared with council in accordance with the municipality's standard practice.
New Amherst Harvest Festival includes Cornerstone fundraiser
By Cecilia Nasmith
New Amherst Village invites you to help make a difference for women and children in need throughout Northumberland County through their Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre Raffle.
Tickets are $5 each or three for $10, available at Cornerstone – as well as at their Oct. 19 New Amherst Fall Harvest Festival.
The grand prize is a one-of-a-kind expressionist artwork by accomplished New Amherst resident Betsy Miller, while the other three prizes are unique package experiences – one night's stay at the new Airbnb suites in New Amherst Village – the ClockTower Suites, The Wilkins and The Carriage House Loft.
The festival itself is a free event hosted by New Amherst Village from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at 950 New Amherst Blvd. (off County Road 2 at Cobourg's west end).
It's a wonderful way to celebrate the harvest season at an open-air market featuring local artisans, farmers, food vendors and local businesses while you enjoy live music by Carl Cotton, Jeff Biggar, Kate Boothman and The Wendy Meadows Trio.
Family activities include face painting, pumpkin bowling, scarecrow decorating and horse-drawn-wagon tours of the community (with stops at all three Airbnb units).
Adult fun includes Warrior Axe Throwing, Northumberland Brewing Company Craft Beer sampling, a pumpkin-carving contest and a pie-eating contest.
New Amherst marketing and community-relations representative Kim Miller said neighbourhood events on a smaller scale have been held at New Amherst before, as well as projects that give back such as food drives and the Community Garden.
“This time we wanted to do something that would benefit the larger community of Northumberland County,” Miller said in the Cornerstone press release.
“Family is the foundation of a community, and we want to do what we can to help Cornerstone support local families in crisis.”
Cornerstone manager of community engagement Janelle Eisler is delighted with the partnership behind this unique fundraising raffle.
“It is wonderful to see residents like long-time Cornerstone supporter Betsy Miller generously offering their gifts of talent to donate our grand prize,” Eisler said.
“And I have seen the three Airbnb suites at New Amherst, and I think they are a wonderful amenity for local tourism.”
Raffle winners will be drawn and announced at 3 p.m. Oct. 19 at the festival and posted on the New Amherst Homes Facebook page the following Monday.
Cobourg Police - Operation Impact
Photo courtesy of Cobourg Police Services
Photo courtesy of Cobourg Police Services
Cobourg Police have conducted enforcement efforts throughout the weekend with the following results;
67 Provincial offence notices being issued including
53 Speeding, Highway Traffic Act sec.128
5 Drive Motor Vehicle no validation on plate ,Highway Traffic Act sec.7(1)(c)(i)
4 Fail to Properly wear Seatbelt Assembly ,Highway Traffic Act sec.106(2)
1 Drive while Child passenger not Properly Secured , Highway traffic Act sec.106(4)(b)
1 Drive Motor Vehicle in contravention of condition, Highway Traffic Act sec.32(9)
1 Disobey Sign ,Highway Traffic Act sec. 182(2)
1 Fail to Surrender Insurance Card ,Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act sec. 3(1)
1 Drive Under Suspension, Highway Traffic Act sec. 53
