by Essex Free Press Staff With hot dogs and pizza available, cookie decorating, and opportunities to get a picture with Santa, mail Christmas wishes to the North Pole, play holiday-themed games, and listen in on festive music, there were plenty of reasons to head down to the McGregor Parkette on Friday evening to enjoy this year’s Stroll by Santa event.   With all the activities, coupled with great evening weather, this year’s event was a big hit in the small hamlet, perhaps

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative When members of Essex Council participated in the 2026 Budget Walkthrough meeting two-weeks ago, staff presented an average tax increase of 4.92% through the draft budget document.   Having had some time to digest the details inside the draft document, the local decision-makers chiseled away at the tax rate during its around five-hour deliberation meeting on Monday, December 8, settling on an average 2.99%, or 2.66% blended with

- Eight new Paramedic positions and two new ambulances will support two new 12-hour day shifts - by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative After a six-and-a-half-hour budget meeting last Wednesday, members of Essex County Council approved the 2026 Budget with a 2.25%, or $5.1M, increase. That equates to around $44.02 per $350,000 average home.   The 2026 Budget represents a total of $145,144,950M. Every 1% change to the tax rate equals to $1.42M in levy dollars.   When or

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative There was what seemed to be a never-ending line-up that stretched all the way from inside the pavilion at Cottam Rotary Park to the sidewalk on Friday night, as local youths and their families waited patiently for a chance to meet with Santa and Mrs. Claus at their annual free holiday visit.   “This is the biggest turnout anyone can remember,” Cottam Rotary President, Mike Olajos, said, watching families line-up to meet – and get

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative With there being many conversations around the Council table about drainage and how it works, and confusion from the public on the Drainage Act, the Town of Essex invited community members out to the Harrow Arena last Wednesday evening where an informal information session on the topic was hosted.

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Administration for the Town of Essex presented the findings of the first draft of the Industrial Community Improvement Plan (CIP) Study to members of Essex Council during a special meeting held December 1.   Council received the plan.   An implementation plan – coupled with possible funding sources, financial impacts for various scenarios, the return-on-investment opportunities, and resource requirements – will be presented in wha

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Since getting reacquainted with the community, Essex Salvation Army Major Wavey Kearley Birt has come to know just how generous the community is, and she could not be more pleased.   She had a wonderful experience serving the Essex community from 1995-1999, when she had her now late husband, Phillip Birt, worked together to oversee the needs of the Essex Salvation Army. She eagerly stepped-out of a five-year retirement to return t

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative The 2026 Draft Budget was presented to Essex Council during the nearly five-hour Budget Walkthrough meeting on Monday evening, designed to introduce the local decision-makers and ratepayers to the details inside.   An average tax increase of 4.92% – or $208 a year – across Wards 1 through 4 has been proposed. That is for a median single-family detached home. That equates to around $2,200 in property tax, on average from all Wards,

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Though there were some concerns around the table, Council for the Town of Essex unanimously supported Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy in directing Administration to investigate options for an affordable housing subsidy program.  The idea is to have it available to help nonprofits that supply existing affordable residential units in the community leverage grant dollars from upper-levels of government.   The program will be included in the

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Firefighters with Essex Fire & Rescue and several volunteers manned posts throughout the Town of Essex last Friday and Saturday – including at local storefronts and at busy intersections – collecting donations as part of the Essex Region Goodfellows’ annual Newspaper Campaign. Members of the Essex Region Goodfellows will tally the donations collected and present the proceeds to support the Essex Area Food Bank, the Essex Salvation

- CAO Wing On Li hopes to keep part of the façade, offer rec space, environmentally friendly features - by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative In November of 2021 the Town of Essex announced it was to purchase the former Harrow High School from the Greater Essex County District School Board for $845,900, after it had sat vacant since 2016, when the school board closed its doors to students.   Since that time, the Town of Essex completed a building assessment that estim

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Essex residents, and those employed in the area, took the time to show their respects for “those who left never to return,” as part of the local Remembrance Day parade and service at the Essex Centre cenotaph on the morning of November 11.   They were able to think of loved ones who served, as well as strangers, who united to defend their country in the name of peace, during the quiet moment of reflection.   “We are here for those

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Hundreds of young trick-or-treaters lined Talbot Street with their guardians or parents on Friday morning, taking full advantage of the Essex Centre BIA’s Tiny Tots parade.   Every year, the local Business Improvement Area invites Essex Centre businesses to hand out treats during the local event, and youngsters to come collect them in costume as either a practice run for Halloween or as an early day alternative.   Not only does th

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative The Town of Essex presented the anticipated Master Plans for Harrow’s Fairground and Soccer Complex during a well-attended open house held last Thursday evening at the Harrow & Colchester South Community Centre.     Community members and facility users were able to talk to Town staff and members of Council during the open house to share their opinions, concerns, and learn about next steps. Feedback will be collected over the comin

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Halloween season is officially here, and members of the Essex Optimist Club and staff with the Essex Home Hardware provided two great events that took place side-by-side on Saturday to celebrate.   The opportunity provided local youths a chance to try on their costumes a little early and enjoy some fun and games.   Inside a portion of the Home Hardware facility, youths and their families were able to go station-to-station as part

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Tom Bonneau’s parents, and older siblings, instilled within him a sense of community service when he was young; a torch he would carry and help light the way for others during their time of need into his adulthood.   He was recognized for a lifetime of service to the community – through a variety of streams of volunteerism – during the 2025 Essex Citizen of the Year banquet hosted at the Essex Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion (

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative 10-minute parking on King Street to be become two-hour limits A majority of the Town of Essex Council voted to extend the ten-minute parking on King Street in Harrow, near the Post Office, to two-hours, after hearing concerns from Rob Duncan, Owner and Operator of Canadel.   “Parking is pretty deficient in Harrow,” he told members of Council at the October 20 meeting. When the stoplight was put in, he said around half a block of p

by Greg Layson Essex Town Council voted to keep municipal voting status quo Monday night.   After 45-minutes of debate and discussion surrounding online voting, including a hybrid method of internet voting, things will remain the same for the next municipal election, which takes place on October 26, 2026.   Essex Director of Legal and Legislative Services/Clerk, Joseph Malandruccolo, gave Councillors two voting options.   The first was a hybrid method using an online voting p

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Following the flash flood recently experienced in the Harrow and Colchester areas within the Town of Essex on Wednesday, September 24, Mayor Sherry Bondy introduced two Notices of Motion to help look into the matter and potentially find ways to prevent that from happening again in the future.   Both Notices of Motion were first introduced at the October 6 meeting, and after discussion at the October 20 meeting, were supported by C

by Garrett Fodor For more than 56-years, the Town of Kingsville has celebrated the beauty of migration season, while honoring the legacy of one of its most influential residents, pioneering conservationist Jack Miner. This annual tradition is rooted in wildlife preservation and community pride.   This past weekend, cooler temperatures and the unmistakable signs of fall set the stage for the 56th annual Kingsville Migration Festival. The celebration spanned three-days and mult