Isn’t this a beautiful time of year? Crisp sunny days, pumpkins and Fall colours brighten our lives. People are getting back into old routines and starting new ones; parents are happy to hear that their school-age children will be back in OREC in November; fewer and fewer people are trying to get a look at the sinkhole and I’m back in my office at the town hall.
At the town council meeting held on Sept. 24, council approved a Routine Access Policy. The policy provides clarification to the public, staff and vouncil as to what documents and information are routinely available upon request, and what other documents require review under Part XX Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy of the Municipal Government Act of Nova Scotia.
Along with approving the policy, Mayor Trish Stewart proclaimed the week of Sept. 24 to 30 as Right to Know Week, which supports the principles of openness, transparency and accountability.
A new exhibit, Poetics, by Diane Wile Brumm (Mahone Bay), Shannon Bell (New Glasgow) and Norene Smiley (Pugwash) opened Oct. 5 at the Oxford Riverside Gallery.
Check out the gallery website for details.
Connecting with Community - A Friendly Coffee Drop-In: Want to get to know others in the community? Just need a reason to get out of the house? Want to share ideas? Drop in, chat, enjoy free coffee/tea at the Oxford town hall on Wednesday, Oct.17, from 10 to 11 a.m. and 6 to 7 p.m.
There will be a supervised children’s play area for this event. Can’t wait to see you there.
Home Business Mini-Marketplace: Small businesses are annually celebrated in October and the Town of Oxford wants to use this opportunity to help promote home businesses within the town that you may not be aware of.
If sufficient home businesses have applied, we will open the town hall for shopping on Oct. 24, (afternoon and evening – exact times to be confirmed).
Both youth and adults are welcome to display their products, but space is very limited. Contact me for more information.
Partnering with the Cumberland Business Connector, we are also hoping to provide workshops, in Oxford, to support small businesses and budding entrepreneurs.
They include: Effective Small Business Promotion (in November), Business Start-up Information, and Social Media Marketing.
Watch for more information or contact me to put your name on an email list to receive notices directly.
When community members support local businesses and organizations, we contribute to the economic stability of our town and everyone benefits. Each dollar we spend in Oxford changes hands six more times before it leaves the community.
Supporting local helps to ensure the continuation of local businesses (small and large), services, organizations and opportunities.
Kudos to Oxford Businesses and Organizations promoting our Wild Blueberry claim to fame. An increasing number of Oxford businesses are carrying and advertising blueberry-themed products, blueberry foods and so on. The variety of items is impressive. Some churches and community organizations are also participating when holding events by serving wild blueberry desserts, decorating with a blueberry/blue theme and promoting wild blueberries in their advertising.
We hope you’ll share your ideas as we work together to grow this initiative.
Watch for the new Walk About signs that will soon be posted in town. These were fully funded by the Heart & Stroke Foundation through a grant applied for and received by the town’s Recreation Department. Can you spot all nine signs?
Speaking of walking, don’t forget the walking track behind the school for a change of pace. If it’s a change to skating you’re waiting for, the ice is going in our arena the week of Oct. 15.
For more information on what’s happening in Oxford, check out the town website and follow us on Facebook (Town of Oxford Recreation and Events; Town of Oxford NS: Official Site) or pick up a monthly printed events calendar.
Watch for Oxford news in the Amherst newspaper included in your weekly flyers and check out our bulletin board at the library. If you receive an Oxford water and haven’t opened it yet, check out the fall newsletter inside or pick one up at the town hall.
Communities grow stronger through hundreds of little and big actions that citizens (you and me) take every day. Check out 75 Actions that Build Community on the main page of the Town website (www.town.oxford.ns.ca) and on the town bulletin board at the Oxford Library.
Ruthie Patriquin is the community economic development officer for Oxford. She can be reached at 902-447-2250 or by email at [email protected]