The PSA – featuring Terry Callaghan & Mellaney Dahl from the Q92 morning show, and produced by EastLink TV – focuses on the financial impact of a drunk driving conviction.

The idea to create the message followed an April, 2011 interview with Greater Sudbury Police Chief Frank Elsner, where he discussed the potentially devastating financial impact of an impaired driving conviction. From fines and legal expenses, through mandatory ignition interlock installation, and long-term insurance costs.

“I think this is one aspect of an impaired conviction that many people don’t consider,” said Chief Elsner. “Maybe that’s one reason why we still see impaired driving in Greater Sudbury. Even beyond enforcement, education is key to stopping people from making dangerous decisions. Creative and informative messages like this go a long way in helping us do our job.”

The PSA will be simultcast tomorrow on Q92 and EastLink TV, Thursday May 12, at 7:15 am during Terry and Mell’s show. It will also run throughout regular programming on EastLink TV in the coming months and will be available on www.q92rocks.com; www.gsps.ca/en/specializedservices/traffic.asp (Greater Sudbury Police website); and www.whosyourDD.com (the Sudbury Taskforce to Remove Impared Driving Everywhere – S.T.R.I.D.E.)
Terry and Mell hope that people seeing the video will be shocked enough to think twice about getting behind the wheel after drinking. The overall message is to ‘think before you drink’ and make plans to get home safely before you go out.

“We have the opportunity here to deliver an important message to a lot of people,” said Mell. “We want our listeners to understand every devastating impact of impaired driving, so hopefully the next time they’re out for a couple of drinks, they’ll do the right thing and find a safe ride home.”

Terry said he was shocked when he read the figures. “This is many people’s annual salary”, he said, “let’s get some perspective. A year’s salary versus twenty-five bucks for a cab? To me, that’s a no-brainer.”

Sudbury’s Best Rock, Q92 has partnered with STRIDE in an effort to educate, increase awareness and eventually eliminate impaired driving in Greater Sudbury. Everyone assisting with, and appearing in the spot volunteered their time to the cause:

Terry and Mell, Q92 Morning Show
James Janiszewski, EastLink TV
Sergeant Gary Lavoie, Greater Sudbury Police Service
Josee Repele, Grade 12 student at College Notre Dame (and Mell’s niece)
Kate Furlotte, STRIDE and Rogers Radio Sudbury

(The PSA is on youtube at this location)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HcPzN1ZXmA

Greater Sudbury Transit will be running on a Sunday schedule for Good Friday, April 22, 2011 and full schedule Easter Monday, April 25, 2011.

There will be no Blue Box, Green Cart or household garbage collection on Good Friday.

Residents who normally receive household waste collection service on Fridays are asked to leave garbage, Blue Box recyclables and Green Carts at the curb by 7 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, April 23.

Greater Sudbury landfill sites and the Recycling Centre will also close on Good Friday, April 22.

Landfill sites and the Recycling Centre are open on Monday, April 25. Household waste collection services are not affected.

For more information, please call the City of Greater Sudbury at 3-1-1. or follow us on Twitter @greatersudbury.

Some of the questions that will be discussed at the Open House include:
Which proposed routing map best represents residents’ needs?
Should ATVs be permitted on local (public) roads within the City of Greater
Sudbury?
Should the already reduced rates of speed in the legislation should be further reduced?
Should the City limit the hours and times of year that ATVs are permitted on the road?
Attend one of the following sessions to have your say in where ATV’s can go, where they can’t, and help shape your community.

Please join us from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the following venues:

Tuesday March 8th, 2011
Garson Community Centre/Arena
100 Church Street
Garson, ON

Thursday March 10th, 2011
Howard Armstrong Recreation Centre
4040 Elmview Drive
Hanmer, ON

Monday March 21st, 2011
Lionel E. Lalonde Centre
239 montee Principale
Azilda, ON

Monday April 4th, 2011
T.M Davies Community Centre/Arena
325 Anderson Drive
Lively, ON

Please visit http://www.greatersudbury.ca/atvbylaw for more information and to review the proposed maps.

Everyone is welcome. The more the merrier and the bigger the Fair.

To register, visit the Continuing Education Centre at their new location at Sudbury Secondary School, using the Davidson Street entrance, weekdays from 10 am to 11:30 am and 1:30 pm to 3 pm.

Students should bring a copy of their most recent transcript as well as their Birth Certificate and Health Card when they register.

Adult day classes begin Monday, February 28, 2011. FREE credit courses are available during the day to anyone who has been out of high school for at least one semester. Students can earn two high school credits in approximately six weeks.

This semester, the Continuing Education Centre will be offering adult day credit courses in math, physics, art, English, green industries, Individuals and Families in a Diverse Society, exercise science (physical education), career studies and civics.

For more information, visit the Continuing Education Centre at Sudbury Secondary School’s Davidson Street Entrance, call 705-675-5481 or log on to rainbowschools.ca.

Bylaw 2010-1 states that no vehicle shall park on any street within the City of Greater Sudbury during winter months which begins December 1, 2010 and continues to March 31, 2011 from 12:00 midnight to 07:00 AM.

It further states that no commercial vehicle or commercial trailer shall park (if the vehicle/trailer exceeds 2 tons) on any street within the City of Greater Sudbury during winter months beginning December 1, 2010 and continues to March 31, 2011 from 09:00 PM to 07:00 AM.

Anyone caught parking their motor vehicle on the street during that time period is subject to being charged with “Park during night hours in winter months”, contrary to the bylaw and is subject to a $21.00 fine. If the vehicle is found to be obstructing traffic or snow removal they may be subject to having the vehicle towed at the owner’s expense.
Please note that City streets is ALL streets and NOT just major arteries.

In order to survive a fire, occupants need to be provided with an early warning and know what to do when the smoke alarms sound. It’s the law to have working smoke alarms on every storey of the home and outside all sleeping areas. For added protection, it is recommended to also install smoke alarms inside all bedrooms.

Tampering with, or removing the batteries from a smoke alarm is against the law. Failure to comply with the Fire Code smoke alarm requirements can result in a ticket for $235 or a fine of up to $50,000.

“In order for smoke alarms to do their job, they need to have working batteries,” explained Pat Burke, Fire Marshal of Ontario. “Once a year, old batteries should be replaced with new batteries. When you change your clocks this weekend, the fire service wants everyone to take the time to change the batteries in all smoke alarms.”

Smoke alarms should be tested monthly and replaced if they are more than 10 years old. Also, it is important that everyone knows what to do if a smoke alarm sounds. For safety tips to keep your family safe from fire, visit www.ofm.gov.on.ca.

Safety tips:

- Children are asked to cross at intersections only and to refrain from eating anything until their treats have been checked by an adult; they should also choose a costume that fits them properly to prevent tripping hazards;

- Parents should ensure that their children have a flashlight or wear reflective material in order to be seen; also, when checking their kid’s treats, when in doubt – throw it out;

- Home owners should have a clear and well-lit path available for the “trick or treaters” to get to the door safely;

- Drivers are reminded to use extreme caution, to stay alert and to slow down.

Note:

Many residential neighbourhoods have experienced an increase in vehicular traffic due to work being performed on some of the city’s major arteries.  Local residents, especially the children, are not used to this volume of traffic.  Drivers must take that into account when travelling on side streets, especially on Halloween.  Drivers are urged to be patient, to give the right-of-way to pedestrians and other drivers, and to obey all traffic signs.

WORKING TOGETHER FOR A SAFE AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Residents who have not received their voter notification cards are eligible to vote in the municipal election provided they bring ID with them. The ID must display name, signature, and qualifying address. Go to http://elections.greatersudbury.ca/index.cfm?app=w_elections06&lang=en&currID=10431&parID=0 for a list of acceptable ID.

Residents are reminded that ID is required from all electors this year.

On Election Day, polls are open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. To find out where to vote, go to http://elections.greatersudbury.ca/index.cfm?app=w_elections06&lang=en&currID=3919&parID=0

For more information about elections, call 3-1-1 or visit http://elections.greatersudbury.ca