Monthly Archives: January 2017

01.28.17
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Bankruptcy an undesirable fare at Cox Cabs


city_scope_logo-cmykAn independent player in the movement of people and parcels around St. Thomas and environs since 1944, taxis branded as Cox Cabs picked up their last fare early this year.
A victim of a market re-brand or idled by bankruptcy?
The former, insists owner Jamie Donnelly, who purchased Cox Cabs from the late Terry Banghart in 2011. Banghart took part ownership of the company in 1993 and sole ownership in 2003. He began as a driver with the firm in 1973.
“We started re-branding about three months ago and we have completed it now,” Donnelly told City Scope recently.

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01.27.17
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The big top is big news


For time immemorial, it was one of the rites of summer . . . the circus is coming to town.

While the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus may be folding its big top this May after 146 years, St. Thomas will be home to its very own big top this summer.

circusjpgIn August, St. Thomas will play host to an authentic European-style circus – the Canadian Swiss Dream Circus – billed on its website as “incredible displays of acrobatic, balance, aerial stunts and thrilling acts, the cast of the Canadian Swiss Dream Circus is a show that audiences won’t want to miss.”

Artistic director Marco Baumgartner invites audiences to “Catch the high-spirited and pulse-racing thrills by the most famous artists under our Big Top. Never before has such an amazing cast of this calibre been seen in Canada.”

Exact dates and ticket prices will be announced shortly for the circus under the big top to be held adjacent to the Elgin County Railway Museum.

big-topMassive may be a more appropriate description. The tent is 16,0000 square feet in size, holds in excess 0f 2.000 in grandstand seating and 1,000 for catered events. The stage measures 1,260 square feet.

Ever wanted to hold your own event under the big top? Well it will be available from July 15 to October 15 for groups and special events such as concerts, weddings, corporate functions, trade shows and the like.

The undertaking is a joint venture between the St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation and Railway City Tourism, with $25,000 in financial support from the Ontario government.

For more information, visit railwaycitybigtop.com.

The spirit of Jumbo surely will be brought back to life under the big top this summer.

 

01.21.17
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The downtown garbage doesn’t migrate to warmer climes


city_scope_logo-cmykIf you’re thinking the downtown core is again this winter cloaked in a decidedly shabby mantle, your mind is not playing tricks.

That observation has not escaped the attention of Downtown Development Board chairman Earl Taylor.

“The city took away our garbage cans again this year,” advised Taylor in a recent conversation, “and you know what happened two years ago.”

That would be the stretch of winter in 2015 when – and we’re not joshing here – the city undertook a study to determine what happens when you take away most of the garbage cans along Talbot Street.

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01.16.17
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Better prepared to ensure change is coming — MPP Jeff Yurek, following candidate nomination meeting


The next provincial vote may be almost 18 months distant, but in Elgin-Middlesex-London the riding association and MPP Jeff Yurek are rarin’ to go.

At a candidate nomination meeting held Saturday at the St. Thomas Seniors Centre, about 100 party faithful threw their support behind the two-term MPP. The mood was upbeat and Yurek said there is no fear of an early jump out of the gate.

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01.14.17
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Pencil-sharpening time as council tackles 2017 budget


city_scope_logo-cmykThe first of three 2017 budget meetings was held Monday at city hall with the second in the series on tap this coming Monday at 4 p.m. where the focus will shift to proposed capital projects and grants.

The 2017 draft budget requires a municipal tax levy increase of 3.44 per cent. However when you factor in an additional $41 million in residential assessment, that reduces the proposed levy to a 2.32 per cent increase.

Proposed capital projects this year total $36.3 million in expenditures. Continue reading →

01.07.17
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A big ‘if’ looming over proposed west end community hub


city_scope_logo-cmykIt’s fast approaching the one-year anniversary of the announcement last April the city has extended a conditional offer to London developer Shmuel Farhi to purchase a vacant plot of land on the south side of Talbot St., between William and Queen streets, and extending to Centre Street.

The site is being considered for development of a community hub to house the Ontario Works department and the Central Community Health Centre, both currently occupying office space along the north side of Talbot Street. The possibility also exists the site could be used for affordable housing units.

In the intervening months, the city has undertaken due diligence. Time is becoming a factor, however, as the lease on the Mickleborough building at 423 Talbot Street current home of Ontario Works and also owned by Farhi, expires later this year.

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01.04.17
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Sutherland Saga on hold to start the new year


23jt01sutherlandjpgIt was a case of hit the pause button Tuesday at the Elgin County Courthouse as the Sutherland Press building saga entered a new year.
A scheduled hearing between the City of St. Thomas and David McGee, owner of the four-storey structure, failed to get off the ground  when his lawyer, Valerie M’Garry, was unable to attend due to illness.
McGee is challenging an unsafe building order issued Oct. 28 by the city that gave him until Dec. 15 of last year to provide a detailed work plan and schedule repairs to begin by next Monday at the boxy tribute to the city’s industrial era.

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