Our 2011-12 public skating schedule is now released. For information on hours and rates, please click here.

The Stratford Lakeside Active Adults Association will be hosting its annual Fall/Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, October 22, 2011 from 9:00am to 12noon at the Kiwanis Community Centre, 111 Lakeside Drive.

Stroll through tables and displays of Christmas crafts, doll clothes, knitting, jewelry, woodworking, books, puzzles, and more. Admission is FREE, and door prizes will be given out. Everyone is welcome! To register a booth, or for more information, please call 519-271-4310.

The emerald ash borer is a highly destructive insect pest of ash trees that was discovered in Canada for the first time in the summer of 2002. It has killed a large number of trees in Essex County and the Municipality of Chatham Kent and has made its way into Sarnia-Lambton, Elgin County, London-Middlesex, Perth Oxford, Waterloo, Toronto and Ottawa, as well as many other regions around Eastern Ontario. Left to itself the emerald ash borer moves at an estimated rate of 5-10 km per year. However, the human movement of potentially-infested materials to new areas has significantly increased the rate of dispersal.

The beetle is metallic green in colour and is 8.5-14mm (about ½ inch) long and is about 3mm (1/8inch) wide. The body is narrow and elongated, and the head is flat. The eyes are kidney shaped and usually black.

TreeAzin, a systemic insecticide which received emergency registration from Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency in 2010 for use against the Emerald Ash Borer is a natural product derived from the neem tree and is used in high profile or heritage tree areas or park trees in many municipalities. In 2010, the Community Services Department designated 125 park trees for treatment and treatment was completed June 2011.

At this time we are not treating city-owned street trees. We are monitoring the spread of the insect through the distribution of traps, branch sampling and physical symptoms of the tree. If the homeowner would like the city-owned street tree at the front of their property treated, they may do so at their own expense. The Community Services Department, Parks Division has a list of contractors that can perform the treatment. Please call 271-0250 ext. 243 if you would like the contact information.

City staff will not inspect privately owned trees for the Emerald Ash Borer. Please contact a certified Arborist if you would like your private tree inspected.

http://www.ashtreeinfo.com/

When the final tally of scores was released at the close of the recent District 29 Seniors Games, the Stratford contingent of 108 participants had won second place for the 167 event tournament. St. Mary’s had the highest aggregate, taking first place, while Zurich placed third with a close finish after Stratford.

“Our Stratford athletes and volunteer squad really came through”, summarized Russ Brown, chair of both the District 29 Senior Games organizing committee and the Stratford Lakeside Active Adults Senior Games Committee. Stratford hosted five of the tournament events which were spread throughout eleven communities in Huron, Perth and Middlesex Counties between May 13th and June 16th. These events included crokinole, five-pin bowling, euchre, slo-pitch, and prediction walk.

The bowling competition was won by the Stratford team which included Mike Bomasuit, Lorraine Senecal, ShirleyPautler, Norm Anthony, and Lois Kipler. Ms. Kipler was also named top female bowler of the tournament. St. Mary’s was the second place winner in this event, with Grand Cove third.

In slo-pitch, the St. Mary’s team won first place, while the Stratford Swans earned second, Londesboro third, and the Stratford Steamers fourth.

Red Bickle of Stratford was the top male participating in the 75+ age group prediction walk while Stella Butson, also of Stratford, took a second in the comparable women’s event.

On Thursday, September 1st, Stratford will be represented at the Regional Senior Games being held in Chatham by twenty five local athletes who will compete in five-pin bowling. slo-pitch, and prediction walk. The registration for this event is Thursday, July 7th. Some 1200 seniors are expected to take part in this year’s Regional Senior Games, an increase over the 2010 level of participation of 1000 individuals. The region itself includes eight different districts in Southwest Ontario, from Waterloo and Wellington Counties to Grey/Bruce to Chatham, Sarnia, and Windsor and everything in between.