At the time of writing, we have nine days to go in the federal election and I don’t know whether to laugh
or cry. What I do know is that working in a local campaign is a test of stamina and an act of courage and I
congratulate those from all parties who did so. It is not for the faint hearted.

On Saturday, May 7th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Rideau Town Centre, 235 Gore Road, the Merchants are hosting Yoga For Change, the largest Yoga class Kingston has ever seen. The class is part of National Mental Health Week, and a tribute to Jen Leeder, the former co-owner/operator of Life Yoga. In recognition of Jen and the energy she brought to her work and life, you are invited to make a donation and join in, even if you’ve never attended a yoga class before.

2011 is the UN’s International Year of Forests, so the MacLachlan Woodworking Museum is preparing for its own forest celebration by planning a special exhibit at its Arboretum.

The Museum currently houses numerous exhibits for the whole family, including the outdoor Frances K. Smith Arboretum with over 20 types of trees on display. The Arboretum receives a fresh look this season with brand-new tour brochures and exhibit panels. The most recent addition, the International Year of Forests exhibit, focuses on the importance of forests in our everyday lives, and the future of sustainable forestry. Both additions are scheduled to be installed this spring.

Before you start looking at homes, visit your Mortgage Agent for a mortgage pre-approval. The agent will look at your finances and determine the mortgage amount that you can afford. The maximum amount you qualify for depends on a number of factors, but the most important are your household income, your down payment and your existing monthly debt obligations.

Started by students from Queens University in 2008, Living Cities has a vision for Kingston’s green spaces that takes local food to a whole new dimension.

“Our goal is to close the circle in cities – tying composting and rainwater collection into food production to reduce waste and food miles all at once”, says Nathan Putnam, the company’s founder. “We start by turning grassy spaces in the city into miniature farms.”

Kenn Feigelman, a proud Kingston East resident, is the only Canadian to be selected to participate in a ground breaking project off the coast of Belize. The project, SeaBase1, is an underwater research habitat where scientists can work without worrying about weather conditions, air supply, decompression sickness, or any other condition inherent to diving.

The Kingston East Business Association (KEBA) formed in February, 2010, when Terry Telford from Kingston East News invited local business owners together to network. The simple networking meeting soon turned into a formal association which now promotes Kingston East Businesses and participates in events.

The Fort Henry Heights Skating Club (FHHSC) recently participated in the Annual Trillium Interclub Skating Competition at the Henderson Arena. For the third consecutive year, FHHSC won the First Place Trillium Interclub Trophy for the highest total in cumulative event points.

La Salle has a diverse student population which is made up of rural and urban families and military and non-military families. Recently, students and staff at La Salle celebrated a week of diversity and were honoured to host two high-profile guest speakers. Jeremy Dias gave an entertaining and perceptive talk on homophobia and racism and Jackson Katz gave an inspirational lecture to the community on gender violence and sexism.

Leonore Foster, Pittsburgh District’s former Councillor has been inducted into the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Roll of Honour. Nominees for the Honour Roll can no longer hold an elected office in municipal, provincial, territorial or federal government and have distinguished themselves by having a proven record of sustained exceptional service to municipal government in Canada as well as exceptional service to the goals and objectives of the FCM.