Friday Briefing
Friday Briefing: Overdose Alert, a $200K Hospice Milestone and Last Call to Vote
A Public Health overdose alert, Willi's Match hits $200,000 for the hospice, and your weekend guide for Chatham-Kent
By CKNow7 min read
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Morning, CK, and happy Friday. Online voting closes at 4 PM today, Public Health has issued an overdose alert, and a Chatham couple's hospice campaign has hit a big milestone. Here's the week that was.
⛽ Gas & ☀️ Weather
Gas (Regular): Chatham stations run from 172.3¢ at the Shell on Junction Ave to 174.5¢, with the Esso on Queen St at 176.6¢ and the Mobil on Grand Ave E at 179.5¢. Blenheim runs 172.9¢ to 174.9¢, Charing Cross is 173.5¢, Thamesville is 174.9¢, and Dresden ranges from 173.5¢ to 180.9¢. The cheapest fill-ups in the area are at Moraviantown First Nation, from 146.8¢ to 148.9¢.
Gas (Diesel): Chatham ranges from 259.3¢ at the Shell on Junction Ave to 259.9¢ at most stations (the Petro-Canada on Grand Ave W reported 269.9¢ and one Mobil on Grand Ave E 287.3¢). Dresden is 259.9¢ to 264.8¢. Moraviantown is lowest at 233.9¢ to 236.9¢. GasBuddy → · cknow.ca/gas-prices →
Today: A mild but wet start. It's 19° at 8 AM and falls through the day: 15° by 11 AM, 14° in the early afternoon, 11° by 5 PM and 9° by 8 PM. There's a 40% chance of showers until 2 PM, then an 80% chance of a few showers from 3 PM on, so keep the umbrella handy.
This weekend: Clearing up. Saturday is sunny with a high of 11° and a low of 3°. Sunday is sunny and warmer, with a high of 16° and a low of 6°.
📣 CK Spotlight
154 Semenyn Avenue, Unit 24, Chatham
Courtesy of Bridget Blonde, REALTOR®, Nest Realty Inc. Brokerage
Bridget Blonde has a new listing in Chatham built for exactly the kind of homeowner who's done with stairs and yard work. This ranch-style end-unit townhouse gives you a little extra light and yard space, plus a double car garage so January mornings don't start with a windshield scraper. Inside, everything you need is on one floor: a bright living room with a gas fireplace and deck access, an eat-in kitchen with plenty of cabinetry, and a primary suite with a walk-in closet and 4-piece ensuite, plus main-floor laundry.
Here's the part worth knowing: the finished basement adds a large family room, a den perfect for a home office, and a third full bathroom — real extra living space, not just storage. And a $100/month association fee covers snow removal and lawn care, so two of the biggest homeownership chores are simply handled.
🚨 Major Story — Public Health Warns of a Spike in Overdoses
Chatham-Kent Public Health has issued an alert about a rise in drug overdoses and unexpected reactions to substances. CK EMS responded to 13 suspected opioid overdose calls between Friday and Tuesday, more than the usual rate. Windsor-Essex has issued two drug poisoning alerts in the past two weeks, and Public Health says Chatham-Kent has historically seen more suspected poisonings in the weeks after similar alerts in nearby areas.
💙 Major Story — "Willi's Match" Raises $100,000 for the Hospice in Six Days
Chatham couple Willi and Nestor Kirenko have reached a major milestone for the Chatham-Kent Hospice. Their "Willi's Match" campaign raised $100,000 in six days, and with the couple matching those donations, the combined total is $200,000.
💙 Want to give? Donate to the Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation here →
📰 This Week's Full Recap
🗳️ Last call to vote online. Online voting closes today at 4 PM (you'll need your mailed Voting PIN and date of birth). Advance polls run today from 10 AM to 4 PM and Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM, and Election Day is Monday, Oct. 26. Find your ward and candidates →
🏛️ Chatham-Kent's municipal clerk is retiring. Judy Shantz, clerk and director of municipal governance, is stepping down after 36 years with the municipality. Read more →
🌳 Native trees go in at McNaughton Avenue Public School. Volunteers planted more than 60 native trees in the first phase of a roughly $15,000, NatureCK-led project to transform an under-used green space in the schoolyard. Read more →
🏞️ J.G. Taylor Park revitalization is complete. The committee says the final phase of the three-year, five-phase project is done. Read more →
🎨 Cultural Hall of Fame names six inductees. Brent Foster, Ron Sparks, James Snyder, Yejide Kilanko, Kevin McMillan and Joseph W. Storey will be honoured Thursday, Oct. 22 at 6 PM at the Chatham Cultural Centre, with a silent auction of local art. Admission is free. Read more →
🎃 Ursuline College's Lancers Scare Hunger returns. Students head door to door in Chatham on Wednesday, Oct. 29 from 5 to 8 PM collecting non-perishables for Outreach for Hunger. Leave your porch light on and set items out. Read more →
🏠 Free radon detectors at the library. Adult cardholders can borrow one for 35 days; leave it in the home for at least 30 days. Read more →
💉 Fall vaccines. Public Health is urging residents to plan for COVID-19, flu and RSV shots. Public rollout of flu and COVID-19 vaccines begins Oct. 26 for eligible members of the general public. Read more →
👓 Don't skip kids' eye exams. Public Health reminds parents that regular exams catch vision problems early, and OHIP covers them for children and youth 19 and under. Read more →
🚛 OPP launch Project Safe Haul. The campaign runs Oct. 13 to Nov. 1 and checks that commercial tractor trailers are well maintained and drivers meet safety standards. Read more →
🚓 Thanksgiving weekend enforcement. Chatham-Kent Police report 163 Highway Traffic Act violations during Operation Impact, including seven RIDE checks. Read more →
🚓 Police seek help after Chatham assault. A 31-year-old man was injured in an assault around 4 PM Monday, Oct. 12, near Grand Avenue East and Taylor Avenue. Police are asking anyone with information to come forward. Read more →
🎭 Theatre Kent's "Come From Away" nears 70% sold. The show runs Nov. 12 to 14 at the Chatham Capitol Theatre as the company approaches its 50th anniversary. Read more →
🎪 Together CK Grant applications close Oct. 31. The municipality is accepting applications for 2027 events and projects. Read more →
Around Wallaceburg
🌱 Students transform school gardens. Horticulture students at Wallaceburg District Secondary School laid stone, added soil and mulch, and planted perennials donated by Canadian Tire Wallaceburg. Read more →
🌴 Tropical Tan and Palm Tree Boutique turns 10. The shop at 208 Margaret Ave. holds an open house Saturday, Oct. 17 with storewide sales, door prizes, cake, coffee and tea. Read more →
⚽ Kids' sports still open. Registration is still open for ages 3 to 8 in basketball, soccer, volleyball and more. Sign up online, by phone at 519-360-1998, or at your local municipal centre. Read more →
🏒 Frank Dymock Classic needs one more team. Wallaceburg Minor Hockey is looking for one more U13 team for the tournament, Oct. 23 to 25. Read more →
🚓 Impaired driving charge in Wallaceburg. Police allege a 48-year-old Wallaceburg man was arrested after a traffic stop on McNaughton Avenue about 10:43 PM Tuesday. Read more →
🐱 Sons of Kats VIP Night is Oct. 23. Pet and Wildlife Rescue and Sons of Kent Brewing Co. will reveal the winning cat and beer label at the brewery in Chatham. Read more →
📌 Community Bulletin
Introducing Community Bulletins. List events, jobs, fundraisers, things to buy or sell, volunteer calls and more, all in one place. Post yours free at cknow.ca/bulletin, or get it right here in the newsletter for $35 by replying back to this post or visiting cknow.ca/advertise
🙋 Volunteers Wanted — Chatham-Kent Boards & Committees. The municipality is accepting applications through October 30 at 2 PM. Learn more →
🎃 Halloween Bash at the Barn — Blenheim. Red Barn Brewing, October 23, a fundraiser for the Children's Treatment Centre Foundation of Chatham-Kent. Event details →
🍺 Part-time bartender wanted — Wallaceburg Moose Lodge 1156. Smart Serve required and weekends available. Drop your resume at 110 Duke Street,
🎉 Weekend Event Guide
Friday, Oct. 16 — Online voting closes at 4 PM; advance polls 10 AM to 4 PM. Heartwork PD Day #8 (John D. Bradley Convention Centre, time TBA). Wallaceburg Haunted Museum (7 PM, $5). The Comic Strippers (7:30 PM, Capitol Theatre, $76.63).
Saturday, Oct. 17 — Advance polls (10 AM to 4 PM). CK Animal Rescue Dog Coat and Sweater Sale (9 AM, Active Lifestyles Centre). The Garage Gallery (10 AM, Blenheim, free). Kid's Club: Trick-or-Treat (11 AM, Dresden library branch, free). DIY Lip Balm (1 PM, Chatham library branch). Tropical Tan and Palm Tree Boutique 10th anniversary open house (Wallaceburg, 208 Margaret Ave.). Wallaceburg Haunted Museum (7 PM, $5). Neil Diamond Tribute Show with Jay White (7:30 PM, Capitol Theatre, $66.50). Hellarious (8 PM, Kiwanis Theatre, $43.99 to $65.99).
Sunday, Oct. 18 — Nothing is listed yet on our events page, so check cknow.ca/events for late additions. Coming up: Cultural Hall of Fame induction (Thu., Oct. 22, 6 PM, Chatham Cultural Centre, free). Fri., Oct. 23: Eye 4 Art opening reception (7 PM, Thames Art Gallery), Halloween Bash at the Barn, Tom Arnold at the Capitol Theatre (8 PM). Sat., Oct. 24: Spooktacular Halloween Party (11 AM, Camlachie Community Centre, free). Sun., Oct. 25: A Taste of Ireland (6 PM, Capitol Theatre). Election Day is Monday, Oct. 26.
See the full lineup at cknow.ca/events →