Santa Claus isn’t coming to town until next week

The deadline to apply for a rebate for the Newfoundland and Labrador government’s home heating supplement program is Wednesday, Nov. 30. Households with an adjusted family income of $100,000 or less for the 2021 taxation year are eligible to receive $500, with households earning more than $100,000 and less than or equal to $150,000 eligible to receive a partial rebate of no less than $200.

An application needs to be filled out and submitted in order to receive a rebate, and the applicant must provide furnace or stove oil invoices for the period from Oct. 1, 2021 to Nov. 30, 2022, verifying they’ve purchased at least 250 litres of furnace or stove oil during that time. More details about how to apply to the program can be found online at gov.nl.ca/fin/homeheating-supplement-program.

SANTA IN MOUNT PEARL AND ST. JOHN’S

The 67th annual Mount Pearl Santa Claus Parade is back on Saturday, Dec. 3, taking place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The parade is hosted by the Mount Pearl Lions Club, and attendees are encouraged to bring loose change and non-perishable food items for volunteers to collect along the parade route. More information about the parade can be found at facebook.com/mountpearllionsclub.

After being postponed due to weather over the weekend, the Downtown St. John’s Santa Claus Parade will make a second attempt to fly into the city on Sunday, Dec. 4, at noon (the event will be moved to Dec. 11 in the event of inclement weather). Bring a non-perishable food item or loonies and twoonies in aid of the Community Food Sharing Association — Newfoundland Power employees will collect them along the route starting at 11:45 a.m. Canada Post employees will collect letters to Santa.

Need a lift to the parade? Ride the Metrobus Santa shuttle for free. More information can be found online at downtownstjohns.com.

FESTIVE FAMILY FUN

Commissariat House in St. John’s will be open to visitors Saturday, Dec. 3, and Sunday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for traditional seasonal greenery, holiday music, a taste of Christmas pudding, Christmas crafts and more. Visitors are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for the Community Food Sharing Association.

VOYENT ALERT! APP IN USE

On Thursday, Dec. 1, the City of Corner Brook will begin to use the Voyent Alert! app to inform residents about road closures, water outages and tender notifications. Residents who were signed up for the city’s previous distribution app, Mailchimp, must opt in to the new system in order to consent to its use.

As of Dec. 1 Mailchimp will no longer be used.

Voyent Alert1 will allow residents and visitors to create and follow multiple locations such as “Kids School” or “Mom’s House” for which they would like to receive notifications. Any event or communication related to their followed locations will be forwarded to them via their preferred communication method, including downloading and using the app, getting a text, getting an email, or getting voice to text on a landline. The voice-to-text landline is a great option for anyone who does not have internet access or a cellphone.

The service is free, and easy to use. To register:

1. Download and install the Voyent Alert! app form the Apple App or Google Play stores.

2. Register online at www.register.voyentalert.com.

3. Call 637-1508, 637-1535 or 6371596 and a staff member will help you register.

Once registered, check the available topics frequently, as the city has plans to expand the list of topics for which it will use the service.

APPROVAL NEEDED FOR DWELLING

An application for a new dwelling in another community will be before St. John’s city council on Monday, Nov. 28. The parcel of land is on Thorburn Road in Portugal Cove-st. Philip’s but because it’s within the Broad Cove River watershed the decision rests with the capital city.

Any development of land within the watershed is subject to Section 104(4) of the City of St. John’s Act and must be referred to the city for review and approval.

According to a decision note prepared for council on the application, a development permit was issued by the St. John’s Metropolitan Board giving approval to replace the dwelling on the property in 1988. The original dwelling was removed, but a replacement was not constructed at the time.

According to the note, the St. John’s development committee reviewed the application and has concerns with allowing new development in the watershed. Also, the provincial Urban and Rural Planning Act does not allow non-confirming use of land to be resumed more than six months after the initial window of time has expired, so allowing it more than three decades later would contravene that act. Staff is recommending council deny the application.

DOWNTOWN SNOWCLEARING CONTRACT

Three bids were received by the City of St. John’s for one year of snowclearing and ice control services in the downtown area, with one coming in less than half of the other two. The bid results, and a recommendation to accept the lowest one, are on the agenda for council on Nov. 28. The lowest bid is $370,000, while the other two bids each exceeded $800,000.