By Norman Jack, CFRA News, August 12, 2016
Residents on well systems are being advised to conserve water as eastern Ontario enters a severe drought.
Water levels area so low that there are fears some wells could run dry.
The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority says not enough rain is in the forecast to make up for the current shortfall, and levels in rivers and lakes are expected to continue to drop.
By Michelle Baker Nash, Ottawa Community News, August 12, 2016
Ever wonder what the sound of a non-revving engine sounds like?
Or how long it takes (or costs) to plug in and charge an electric vehicle? What about the range, the performance, the space?
Will I feel like I am peddling my car a-la Fred Flintstone? Or will I be able to get up to top highway speed in under 60 seconds?
By Jennifer McIntosh, Ottawa Community News, August 12, 2016
The city wants your input.
City staff and consultants kicked off a round of public meetings asking for opinions on community connections to Stage 2 light rail stations in the west end.
At the Aug. 10 meeting at Algonquin College, residents were asked to evaluate plans for connections to the future Iris and Baseline stations.
By Liz Payne, Ottawa Sun, August 11, 2016
Canada’s public health agency is reporting the country’s first fetus with “severe neurological congenital anomalies” resulting from the Zika virus.
Thousands of babies have been born with microcephaly (abnormal smallness of the head) and other birth defects since the Zika epidemic began in 2015 in Brazil, other parts of South and Central America, and elsewhere. Earlier this year, the World Health Organization declared the mosquito-borne virus a public health emergency of international concern.
By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, August 12, 2016
Catch the sunset while you still can — the city is planning to install large steel gates to prevent people from getting onto the Prince of Wales Bridge.
The city’s plan is to spend $250,000 on the barriers, said Coun. Jeff Leiper, who’d rather see the city invest in making the popular spot safer.
By Mark Kristmanson, Ottawa Citizen, August 11, 2016
I am often reminded that one of the most distinctive aspects of the National Capital Region is the sheer natural beauty of Gatineau Park and its close proximity to the urban core.
Just 15 minutes from Parliament Hill, Gatineau Park is a popular destination for millions of residents and visitors. Hundreds of kilometres of trails, numerous lakes, breathtaking forests and vistas and abundant wildlife make it a precious and unique Canadian treasure.
By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, August 12, 2016
The city’s transportation head has assembled a team to find a design solution for the Booth Street bridge.
John Manconi, the general manager of OC Transpo, assumed oversight of transportation planning after the recent management shakeup at city hall. Manconi said he has briefed Mayor Jim Watson and transportation committee chair Keith Egli on the Booth Street bridge.
“The transportation committee chair and mayor have encouraged us to find a solution that responds to the needs of all users of this corridor,” Manconi said in an email.
By Emma Jackson, Ottawa Metro News, August 11, 2016
The O-Train line will once again be less train, more bus for the next two Sundays as OC Transpo completes routine maintenance on the rails.
On Aug. 14 and 21, Route 107 will run parallel to the line between Greenboro and Bayview stations approximately every 15 minutes during the O-Train’s usual Sunday hours, a city statement said.
By Lucy Scholey, Ottawa Metro News, August 11, 2016
Smokers will be asked to butt out or leave the Bayshore Shopping Centre property starting Monday.
The west-end mall announced a new non-smoking policy that applies to not only the inside, but also to the outside of the building. That will mean no smoking near the entrance, parking areas or sidewalks.
According to a news release, it’s the first Ottawa mall to go completely smoke-free, inside and out.
By Vito Pilieci, Ottawa Sun, August 10, 2016
The Town of Arnprior updated residents Wednesday afternoon that an emergency warning not to consume or bathe with the water coming from their taps will last until at least Friday at 5 p.m. — and could be extended.
According to an advisory from the municipality bordering the northwest corner Ottawa, the warning follows an unexpected loss of pressure in the water distribution system. The city said Wednesday afternoon that it was due to planned water-main construction in the morning.
By CBC News Ottawa, August 11, 2016
Yes, the heat warning rolls on and on. Looks like relief won't be here until Saturday, and even then the temperature will be in the mid to upper 20s.
A high of 35 C is expected Thursday, and with the humidity factors in it'll feel more like 41. Just great. There's a high UV index of eight, so slap on the sunscreen.
Special Perseid meteor shower forecast for overnight. Taking in the Perseids? They're set to peak between 3 a.m. and dawn, so that's the best time to have a look.
By Randall Denley, Ottawa Citizen, August 10, 2016
If you have spent any time in the newer suburbs of Ottawa, you will be familiar with what now constitutes a neighbourhood. Driven by the city’s mania for suburban density, houses are shoehorned in and the streets are crowded with cars that won’t fit in the too-short driveways or the too-small garages.
Shopping is a strip mall or big-box store that you drive to. There might be a tiny park for children or a soccer field somewhere in the vicinity.