In this week's episode of "Good Morning from Rockland" the new, weekly breakfast show by TVC22 host Thomas Stockting provides a news round up including: COVID-19 Update as 6 cases of Omicron are detected in the EOHU; The municipality of Russell provide online summaries; Clarence-Rockland Library closes due to COVID; Volunteers come together in Hammond to talk climate action; Could a local food portal be the answer to rising grocery costs; & a new Warden for the United Counties of Prescott-Russell.

NEW WARDEN

After a turbulent 2021, the reign of Mr. Stephane Sarrazin as Warden for the United Counties of Presecott Russell has come to an end. As the mayor of Alfred-Plantagenet steps aside he has other targets for 2022 as he will be seeking the provincial seat for glengarry-prescott-russell this year as he looks to take the next step in his political career. Filling the warden shoes for 2022 is Mr. Daniel Lafleur, Mayor of Casselman who was sworn in at the United Counties Chambers in L'Orignal on Thursday evening.

COVID-19 UPDATE

At the time of recording there were 51 cases in the United Counties of Prescott-Russell, of which 17 were in Clarence-Rockland. Much like across the rest of the province, COVID-19 cases are on the rise and the 7 day rolling average is now up to 43.1 in Prescott-Russell. Vaccination rates are slowly creeping up too, with 80% of the local population now fully immunized and 85% partially vaccinated. We are now approaching close to 20,000 booster shots as well. 

With Omicron stealing all the headlines and threatening to put a very real damper on the festive spirit, Dr. Paul Roumneliotis, the Medical Officer for the Eastern Ontario Health Unit spoke of the plan to help stem the spread.

When and how will this end? Is a question on many residents' lips and as we approach a fifth wave and the third year of this pandemic I asked Dr. Roumeliotis just that...

LIBRARY CLOSURE

A member of staff at the Clarence-rockland Public Library has tested positive for COVID-19. The staff member, who is double vaccinated and has mild symptoms, attended work on Monday December 13th and all colleagues who came into contact with her are currently isolating and awaiting test results. None of them are symptomatic. The EOHU are said to “not be worried” about exposure to the public as the Library has followed all Public Health measures.  The Library is closed due to half their staff currently isolating but could reopen as early as next Tuesday.

TACKLING RISING GROCERY COSTS

As many of you have probably heard the cost of your weekly grocery shop is set to get a little higher come the new year. Earlier this week I spoke to Tom Manley, the Executive Director of the Eastern Ontario Agri-food Network about how their Food Portal, which allows consumers to shop straight from local farmers online, could help you cut some costs in the new year.

CLIMATE ACTION TALK

This past weekend a Community Assembly on the Global Environmental and Ecological crisis was held at the Hammond Golf Course. The event consisted of workshops and discussions between community members of the Prescott-Russell Region on how to combat climate change on a global scale, as well as a local one. Reporter Bruce de la Cruz spoke with Stephanie Marcil, one of the organisers, about how the event went, and the present situation of climate action in the UCPR.