Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Mayor's office paid Bartolucci's son-in-law $2K a month:
Former cabinet minister and current mayor's office liaison Rick Bartolucci's son-in-law was paid close to $2,000 a month for “communications and advisory services” last November and December, according to annual expense reports posted online this week. Todd Robson is married to Bartolucci's daughter, Angie Robson, who is Vale's director of corporate affairs and sustainability, North Atlantic operations and Asian refineries. Rick Bartolucci helped out on Bigger's re-election campaign last October and is currently acting as a liaison between city staff and developers, a position he said in December is unpaid. According to the expense report, Robson was paid $1,953.80 for each month, for a total of $3,907.60. The money came from Bigger's office budget, which normally totals $636,160 for the year, and came in $3,884 overbudget in 2018, mainly because of an overage in salaries and benefits. The city corrected the overage amount earlier late this afternoon after posting it incorrectly earlier in the day on Friday. Full story can be found here.
Video: These are GrEATer Sudbury's Best perogies:
Sudbury.com is making the best of winter by enjoying the city's most comforting feasts. It's a series we call GrEATer Sudbury's Best. So far you told us where to find GrEATer Sudbury's Best soup, the coziest cafe, best chili, best pasta, best grilled cheese and best diner. Whether you call them pyrohy or pierogi, perogies are a popular dish in Greater Sudbury so we asked you to vote for your favourite. With an overwhelming amount of votes, it was clear that Sudbury is crazy about potato dumplins. Find out who the winner was and what's up next in GrEATer Sudbury's Best, here.
No yolk: This chicken really did try to cross the road in Copper Cliff Thursday morning:
Something fowl was happening in Copper Cliff on Thursday morning. Drivers were treated to a rather unusual site at the corner of Power Street and Municipal Road 55, a chicken running wild and free in the median while passersby attempting to corral the creature. Eventually, some smart cookie went home to get a net. The free-ranger fryer bolted ... you guessed it, across the road, where it was finally bagged safe and sound. The chicken was taken to Wild At Heart Animal Refuge to wait in comfort for its owner to come and return her to her farm. For more on this story, cluck here.
Janes brand chicken nuggets recalled over possible salmonella contamination:
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has announced yet another recall of a Janes Brand product. This time it's frozen breaded chicken that's being recalled over fears of salmonella contamination. Sofina Foods Inc. is recalling Janes brand Pub Style Chicken Nuggets sold in 800-gram packages with a best before date of December 15th. The CFIA says there have been "illnesses associated with the consumption of this product," but it doesn't offer any more details. It's the third time this year the agency has announced a recall on frozen chicken nuggets, after previous notices affecting Compliments brand and Crisp & Delicious brand products. It also follows the recall of Janes brand Pub Style Chicken Burgers last October and Pub Style Chicken Strips in November.
World Water Day: Water Warrior Autumn Peltier honoured at film festival:
March 21 was United NAtions' World Water Day, and Northern Ontario's very own water warrior earned yet another honour this week for her work to protect drinking water. Autumn Peltier of Wiikwemkoong has been raising awareness of water issues since 2015, and last year addressed the United Nations itself on World Water Day 2018 on the subject of protecting drinking water. She has travelled more than 150,000 kilometres to speak at more than 200 different events worldwide. She's been called Canada's youngest water activist. Preceding World Water Day, on March 21, the Grade 9 student at Manitoulin Secondary School was given the Water Docs 2019 Water Warrior Award during the Water Docs Film Festival in Toronto on March 21. Another award was given to her great aunt, Josephine. This year's theme is “Leaving no one behind: Water for all” and focuses on marginalized groups — women, children, refugees, Indigenous people, people with disabilities and others — who are often overlooked, and sometimes face discrimination, as they try to access and manage the safe water they need.
Thorny issue of school bussing boundaries is back in Walden:
The thorny issue of school bussing boundaries has raised its head once again in the Walden area, prompting a heated online debate by residents. In 2017, Sudbury Catholic District School Board administration proposed sending Grade 7 and 8 French Immersion students at St. James Catholic Elementary School in Lively to St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School in the South End. They cited extremely low enrolment as the reason behind the proposal. After an outcry from parents, Sudbury Catholic trustees passed a motion changing school bussing boundaries in the area, meaning future Grade 7 and 8 students from the area wouldn't have the option of being bussed to St. Ben's. Parents are still allowed to send their children in Grade 7 and 8 to St. Ben's if they provide transportation themselves. But at the March 19 meeting of the Sudbury Catholic school board, a delegation of parents who wish to have bussing to St. Ben's restored made a presentation to trustees. Parents opposed to the idea are once again speaking out, with a debate breaking out on social media, including on the Ward 2 Community Board Facebook page. As he also did two years ago, Ward 2 Coun. Michael Vagnini has gotten involved, setting up a community meeting set for this Sunday for residents to discuss the issue. More on this story here.
