Fall 2020

Dear Residents,

I hope you and your family are keeping safe and well in these times. 

Fall is here with its beautiful and bright colours. I hope everyone has had a chance to visit the Multi Use Pathway (MUP) on both sides of Hwy 48. If you need to partially drive there, please park at the Library and/or at the community centre and walk down Vinegar Hill to the entrance of the trails. Please be courteous and respectful to the homes that are close to some of the entrances, do not park in the " NO Parking" areas or block driveways. Emergency vehicles need to be able to safely reach all entrances at all times. Our bylaw officers patrol the areas and you will receive a ticket if parked illegally. 

Just as we thought things were improving with Covid-19, we are starting to see an increase in numbers. Please remain diligent, keep your distance from others outside of your bubble and wear a mask, if necessary. Masks are mandatory in all indoor public spaces including common areas in condo and apartment buildings. 

The City has been taking a measured approach to re-opening our Recreation facilities and programs. The pandemic and its financial impact continue to affect the City’s ability to deliver services and operate our facilities in the way we have in the past. As a result of a spike in the number of covid cases, as of Sept. 19, the Province decreased the limit on indoor social gatherings to a maximum of 10 ppl and outdoor maximum of 25 ppl. However, we have good news: the Varley Art Gallery, Markham Museum, some fitness centres are now open with restrictions; the ice and tennis courts on Angus Glen Community Centre and the pool at the PanAm centre are also available. Hopefully soon, more facilities will be opened. Please check the covid-19 information page for more information on the City website. 

Our students are now back to school and many are bicycling or walking to their school. I encourage all parents to be careful when driving on our local roads, as well as to remind your kids the importance of road safety. Slow down, be kind and responsible while driving. Safety on the road is a mutual responsibility. Please read the attached flyer on bicycle safety and share it with your family and friends.

Below you will find a variety of information on what is happening in Markham, especially in Ward 4.

I'm always available to hear from you. Give me a call or send me an email with your concerns and comments. 

Stay safe, stay healthy and continue to follow the covid rules and guidelines. The pandemic is not over yet.

Regards,

Karen 

Do you have curb appeal for thieves?
York Region Police shared this crime prevention circular for you to view and share with your community. Stay safe! Report any suspicious activity to https://www.yrp.ca/en/Online-Reporting.asp. Emergency? Call 9-1-1

From left to right: 1^st Vice District Governor Lion Barry MacDonald, MLC President Scott Young, local Councillor Karen Rea, Director of Recreation Mary Creighton, Past Cabinet Secretary Lion Jim Doak  

Rodents in Markham - I have received a number of calls from residents that have spotted rats on their properties.

Recently, Orkin pest control was quoted in a local paper saying: "Rodents have migrated to residential neighbourhoods, with higher than usual waste from people working and studying from home." 

They provided five tips to help prevent rodents from entering your home:   

Seal cracks or holes with caulk or foam and install weather stripping around windows and doors. 

• Keep shrubbery at least a metre away from the home exterior.
• Eliminate moisture sources, such as clogged gutters.
• Keep food preparation areas clean inside the home and thoroughly clean spills and crumbs. 
• Clean trash cans regularly and ensure they are covered tightly.

The City Waste Management department does not encourage the use of backyard composters as they will also attract rodents to your property. Our waste pick up is one of the best and all food waste should be put into your green bin which is picked up weekly. If you still own a composter, do not put food in the container. Any items that go in the blue bin should be washed and cleaned of any food residue to stop contamination. 

Operations - Constructions Rules

If you are doing renovations to your home and are going to occupy either the City boulevard or part of the road, a road occupancy permit is required. Click here to access the application form.

An overnight parking exemption is also required for any machinery that is left on the street overnight. 

A message from York Region - residents might be eligible to receive financial assistance for rent, mortgage payments, utilities and other housing costs through two programs:  Homelessness Prevention Program and  Housing Stability Program 

You can find out more about these supports and if you are eligible by visiting York Region website or by calling Access York at 1.877.464.9675.

Affordable Housing - opportunity from MICAH (Markham Inter‐Church Committee for Affordable Housing)
Are you a senior (60+) who wants to live close to many amenities in the Village of Markham? 
See attached or visit www.micahinmarkham.ca 

SCAM ALERT! Have you been contacted by a contractor claiming to work for the City of Markham who offers to resurface your driveway? THIS IS A SCAM. 

Ride for Refuge - Saturday, October 3
The Ride for Refuge is a family-friendly fundraiser that helps support charities who provide refuge and hope for some of the most vulnerable people.
Gather your friends and register - select one of 15 ride freestyle fundraising activities, mix and match within your team. Do what you can when you can. Not able to participate but would like to help, please consider making a donation to the team at 360kids.

Wildlife at Milne - Update on the Turtle nest
On my last newsletter, we included a photo of a snapping turtle laying eggs on Milne Conservations park. A local resident shared the photo with us, and our City staff added a temporary fence to protect the eggs. Unfortunately, the nest had been dug up by natural predators and the eggs were all gone.  
Predation of the nest is one of the main factors that dramatically reduce the survival rates for the hatchlings, especially in urban areas. Raccoons, foxes, skunks and opossums often eat snapping turtle eggs.
Luckily, later in August, the resident contacted us to let us know that she found another nest with one little turtle stuck inside the chamber - with a help of a twig, she got him out and set him on his way to the pond. What a great story!
We thank all involved in protecting the eggs and encourage our residents to report to us. Anything that we might do to help increase the chances of having a few of the hatchlings survive, is well worth the effort.

Markham Food Bank needs our help. For donations, please follow this link:  https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/markham-food-bank/