by Garrett Fodor As spring arrives in Essex, Mayor Sherry Bondy is encouraging residents to take advantage of the warmer weather by coming together to help beautify the town.   This past Saturday, Bondy hosted the third of four “Community Clean Up” events organized throughout the municipality. This latest edition invited residents of all ages to gather at Essex Town Hall before spreading out across the area. Equipped with gloves, garbage bags, and pails, participants walked t

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative After years of planning, investigating the needs, and finding the best location, Harrow is one step closer to getting a new fire station.   During the April 7 Essex Council meeting, the contract for the Request for Tender for the Construction of the new Fire Station 3 was awarded to Gulf Developments for $5,034,519.01, including non-refundable HST.   That was the lowest tender.   The bid was also within budget. During the 2026 Bud

Four regional farmers inducted into Essex County Agricultural Hall of Fame by Essex Free Press Staff   For 32-years, the Essex County Agricultural Hall of Fame has annually highlighted the significant contribution outstanding individuals have committed to the development of local agriculture.   The newest batch of honourees was inducted into this prestigious program last Thursday evening at the annual ceremony hosted inside the Harrow Agriculture Exhibit Hall. This is where t

Essex Gospel Community Church hosts 23rd Annual Easter Egg Hun by Garrett Fodor Brightly coloured eggs dotted the grass as children’s laughter filled the air on Saturday morning, when Essex Gospel Community Church hosted its 23rd annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Essex Soccer Fields. The long-running spring tradition drew more than 1,300 attendees from across the community.   The event has grown steadily over the years, offering families a chance to gather, connect, and celebrate

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative The Essex Accessibility Advisory Committee (EAAC) was able to cross-off a few important tasks off its to-do list in 2025, and accomplish more than identified in the Town’s Accessibility Plan, Essex Council heard at the March 16 meeting.   It is outlined in the Town of Essex’s Accessibility Plan for 2024 to 2029 that the EAAC’s staff liaison will annually provide Council with an update on the status of accessibility initiatives ide

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative The Town of Essex Council adopted a policy that requires additional voting proxy requirements that will apply to Town of Essex Municipal Elections or By-Elections.   The new policy should offer better controls with respect to the Proxy Vote process, “which remains vitally important for in-person voting and ensuring access to the democratic process,” Joe Malandruccolo, Director of Legal and Legislative Services/Clerk, explained in

- Admin directed to present an option to transition the Green Bin program to a levy-funded model, once all municipalities are participating in 2028 - by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative A motion to fund the Green Bin organic collection program from reserves in varying amounts over the next three-years to help residents adjust to having to pay for the new service was turned down at the March 2 County of Essex Council meeting in a vote of 11-3.   Lakeshore Mayor Trace

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative The County of Essex has adopted a Development Charges (DCs) By-Law that will impose an $8,589 fee on developers for new, single-family dwelling homes built when the program is implemented to the fullest extent over a five-year phase-in. The program will kick-in a year later than originally planned, with a start date of January 1, 2028.   In addition, the DC charge for new rowhouses and other multi-dwelling residences at its fulles

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Members of Essex County Council provided unanimous support to Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy’s motion to ask the Essex Windsor Solid Waste Authority (EWSWA) to provide available statistics to date on the effectiveness of the Green Bin organics collection program in each of the County’s seven local municipalities.   The County will also ask for available statistics to date on the effectiveness of the program in urban areas and rural area

by Essex Free Press staff Five weekends of Rail Expo 2026 officially kicked-off on Saturday morning at the Canadian Transportation Museum & Heritage Village (CHMHV), promising to provide area residents of all ages something to do to fight off the winter blues.   Four clubs are collaborating to host the multi-weekend event, including the Windsor Model Railroad Club, the London N’Gineers Model Railroad Club, Brampton N Scale Road Show, and the Sudbury Model Railroad Club.   Thi

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Last week, County decision-makers were bombarded with concern from residents regarding the cost of the Green Bin Program, which is prompting residents to separate food/organic waste from garbage to preserve the longevity of the Regional Landfill.   The regional program is administered by the County of Essex (which includes the seven local municipalities, with the mayor and deputy mayor of each on its 14-member Council) and the Cit

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative The goal of the Pathways Night hosted at Essex District High School (EDHS) last Thursday evening was twofold.   Firstly, the event welcomed the grade eight students from the local feeder schools to help them explore what would be available to them if they were to attend the local high school in the fall. It also helped existing high schoolers to sort out the pathway to their future career, Andrea Nikita explained. She is EDHS’s Li

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative All eyes were on the ice at the Atlas Tube Recreation Centre in Belle River on Sunday afternoon, as an impressive line-up of NHL Alumni faced-off against a team comprised of local Law Enforcement personnel.   This was the fourth annual time the NHL Alumni Vs. Law Enforcement hockey game has taken place in Essex County, Constable Jim Chauvin said, who has been involved with the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics for ove

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