Morning, CK, and happy Friday. An eye-opening stat about our flood risk, a packed house for local candidates, and a genuinely great weekend of events ahead. Here's the week that was.
📣 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.
⛽ Gas & ☀️ Weather
Gas: Prices around Chatham range from 167.9¢ at Esso (22216 Bloomfield Rd) up to 179.3¢ at Mobil (664 Grand Ave E) today. Check today's cheapest stations on GasBuddy →
Weather: A gorgeous end to the week. Morning starts cool at 14° and sunny. Afternoon warms to 24° (feels 28°), still sunny. Evening cools to 19° and stays clear. Overnight settles at 17°. Great conditions for everything happening this weekend.
🌊 Major Story — CK Tops Ontario's List of Flood-Prone Homes, 2nd in Canada
A new Statistics Canada report puts Chatham-Kent at the top of the list for the highest percentage of homes in high flood-hazard areas of any Ontario municipality — and second highest in the entire country.
🗳️ Major Story — Candidate Open House Draws 250+, Mayoral Hopefuls Talk Taxes and Spending
This week's Growth Alliance candidate open house drew more than 250 attendees, with mayoral and council candidates fielding real questions on consultation, taxation, and municipal spending directly from residents.
📰 This Week's Quick Stories
🐔 Backyard chickens debate continues. Chatham-Kent's backyard chicken pilot could stick around if council finds consensus. Read more →
👶 Newborn Cuddle Program launches at CKHA. Volunteers will provide comfort and skin-to-skin contact for newborns whose families can't always be present. Read more →
🏛️ Trevor Jones named Ontario's Minister of Labour. Jones, who has ties to the Chatham-Kent area, moves into the role after previously serving as Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Agribusiness. Read more →
🚴 Chatham man to bike 500km for Alzheimer Society. A significant personal challenge for a cause that touches a lot of local families. Read more →
🥎 Chatham Diamonds win U15 provincial championship. Their fourth provincial title in five years — a genuinely remarkable run. Read more →
🚔 Labour Day traffic campaign yields over 1,000 speeding charges. A stark number from the OPP's enhanced enforcement over the long weekend. Read more →
💜 Crisis Centre distributes support stickers to 200+ businesses. The Sexual Assault Crisis Centre's initiative helps local businesses signal safe, supportive spaces. Read more →
🚲 Ward funding expands adaptive bicycle program. Councillors McGregor and Finn helped secure funding for more adaptive bikes through the Children's Treatment Centre Foundation. Read more →
🎂 John Murray celebrates 100 years. A century of a full life, celebrated this Sunday. Read more →
🏒 Maroons offer ticket discount for home opener. Read more →
🗳️ Three more names on the school trustee ballot. Ellen Sinclair, Tracy Bernicky, and Chris White have all entered public board trustee races. See the full candidate list →
🏆 Sports roundup: the Sharks won their opener, the Bluebirds added former pros to the roster, and the Tigers won their OBA title. Read more →
🏗️ Former St. Ursula school demolition finally underway. Nearly a year after Chatham-Kent finalized its $1.7 million purchase of the former St. Ursula Catholic School property on Lacroix Street, demolition of the vacant building is now underway — clearing the way for future affordable housing on the 4.4-acre site.
🎉 Weekend Event Guide
Today, Friday, Sept. 11 — Chatham-Kent International Food Festival and Art in the Park, both at Tecumseh Park, starting 3:00 PM.
Saturday, Sept. 12 — A packed day and night: Thamesville Crossroads Car Show (8 AM–4 PM); Kids Club: Bean-tastic Mosaics (9–10 AM, Chatham Cultural Centre); Fraser Frase Comedy, Magic & Hypnotist Show (3:30 PM, Kiwanis Theatre); 90's Tribute Night (doors 7 PM, Kiwanis Theatre); Take It to the Limit — an Eagles tribute (7:30 PM, Capitol Theatre); PK ALL DAY hip-hop album release show (doors 8 PM, The Fortress). Also: "I Must See The King" Elvis tribute, and Oliveira Equipment Demo Day in Tilbury.
Sunday, Sept. 13 — Kent County Wedding Show.
Restaurants, home services, real estate, auto shops and more — all in one place. Free to search, free to list.
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