Heritage railway wants to go “Disney style”
by Roger Varley
Uxbridge council was introduced Monday to the York Durham Heritage Railway’s new CEO who told them the YDHR now wants a new look.
Randall Bird told councillors YDHR needs to change its business plan, be more stringent in its safety requirements and address the problem of “volunteer fatigue.”
“We want to be an attraction, not a bunch of old guys playing with trains,” said Bird. “Most communities would love to have a heritage passenger railway as its core attraction.”
He said if the railway can increase the number of passengers it carries, it will then have funds to be a “first-class restorations location.” To that end, he said, the railway will offer more themed rides, better marketing, a new logo and a major makeover of the railway’s yard at the railway station. He told council YDHR must clean up the yard, paint train cars and engines and maintain the property “Disney style.” As for themed rides, he suggested the possibility of “Old West” railway holdups, something YDHR did about 20 years ago.…continue reading…

TOWN HALL
by Roger Varley
Notes from the April 15 Council Meeting
Jumpstart continues its success: Pat Higgins gave his annual update on Uxbridge’s Jumpstart program to council on Monday, announcing that last year was “outstanding.”
The Canadian Tire store owner said Uxbridge’s Jumpstart, an initiative of the Canadian Tire Corporation, is the No.1 chapter in Canada, raising $77,000 last year, all of which remains in Uxbridge.
Higgins said this year’s Jumpstart games will be held at the arena on July 19, the fifth year for the games. He said he expects 250 children to take part, well above the number who attended the first year. He said the number of places at the games is “probably maxed out.” Parents wanting to register their children for the games day can do so through the township’s summer camps, through the schools or online.…continue reading…

Goodwood News with Bev Northeast
Is spring here? Hopefully we see a turn-around in the weather in the next week or two, and park cleanup can start!
Don’t forget, Sat., May 4 is Treasure Hunt day! From 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., residents can put out on the curb the articles they want to give away – a great way to recycle, reuse and assist others in the community. And on Sat., May 25, from 7 a.m. on it’s the township-wide garage sale! Please put out your freebies that may be left from May 4 so others can pick them up along with the for sale treasures at the garage sale.
Hang a red balloon at the end of your street and on the front of your property to help guide people to both events.…continue reading…

Sculpture to honour late chief librarian
by Roger Varley
Members of council on Monday were given an advance look at a proposed sculpture for the Uxbridge library, designed to honour the late chief librarian, Alexandra (Alex) Hartmann.…continue reading…

One Voice Singers are in the mood for spring
One of the most interesting things about music is the way it defines the seasons of life – both the weather ones and our personal years.…continue reading…

uxperience dancer opens up new world to Creative Connections clients
When dancer Margo Bibby learned that Creative Connections was the charitable organization that would receive the proceeds from this year’s uxperience production, she decided to go above and beyond to help.…continue reading…

St. Paul’s church invites Uxbridge to The Table
On Sunday April 28, at 9:30 a.m., the doors to St. Paul’s Anglican Church will open to invite residents to a “new worship experience” called ‘The Table.’…continue reading…