If you're one of the thousands of motorists who use Highway 102 for your daily commute to and from downtown, I want to give you some important news you need to know: unfortunately, you're going to be facing a major detour, both inbound and outbound.
It's to allow provincial crews to construct the new interchange to connect the busy highway with the extension of Larry Uteck Boulevard. Soon, they'll need access to the highway itself, to erect the overpass sections and run the various utility cables across.
I've been advised these diamond-shaped detours will begin at the end of November and continue until April.
As a fellow motorist, I plan to be extra careful out there while all this is going on. I ask you to do the same.
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Now's your chance to help make our community a safer place.
Halifax Regional Police have declared a gun amnesty for November which means, for the rest of this month, you can turn in any firearm in your possession without penalty.
Police are being partnered in this amnesty by Henry's Cameras. Thanks to the public-spiritedness of this company, everyone who turns in a functional firearm will receive a Henry's Camera gift card for a Sony digital camera. If you turn in ammunition or a non-working firearm, you'll receive a gift card enrolling you in Henry's School of Imagining.
Here's how the amnesty works: simply call 490-6977 or email gunamnesty@halifax.ca and police will arrange to have the items picked-up. (For safety's sake, please don't take the guns to the police.)
Each item will then be tested, to determine whether it has been involved in criminal activity. If it hasn't, it'll be destroyed.
I hope you'll take advantage of this amnesty.
Perhaps someone left you a gun in their will, or maybe it's a rifle you never got around to registering. It might even be a firearm you came across after it had been discarded by a criminal.
The thing is, with an amnesty, it doesn't really matter how you came by it. What's important now is, this is the right time to do the right thing, for all our sakes.
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Tell me, as a resident of HRM, what do you expect from your municipality? Which issues do you consider most important? What's your perception of the services you receive?
Actually, I'm giving you a little advance notice of a big new survey our municipality will launch this month, to learn what's on your mind.
Initially, the survey will select a random sample of about 15,000 households from which we expect about 2,400 responses.
If you're one of them, please take the opportunity to complete the survey online, by mail or by telephone. (We're hoping you'll opt for online, partly because it costs less!)
This is an extensive survey containing a lot of important material so please be prepared to spend some time answering it.
In addition to those questions I just shared with you, we'll be asking what you enjoy most about living here; how well you think the municipality is doing; and whether you feel your voice is being heard.
We'll be seeking your views on public safety, transportation, recreation and leisure choices and we'll want to know your thoughts on the environment and what things you'd like to see built or fixed.
What you tell us will ensure HRM remains a great place in which to live, work, learn and play.
You'll be helping shape council's direction as well as having an impact on budget and planning decisions for next year and beyond.
Please have your pencils or keyboards ready, should you be asked to participate.
So there you have it. Thank you for your time and I hope I see you back here, next week.
Now it's your turn. Get in touch with me here at city hall at kellyp@halifax.ca or by phoning me at 490-4010.
You can contact Mayor Peter Kelly at city hall at kellyp@halifax.ca or by phoning 490-4010.
