***Cindy's LCO (Liquor and Beer Store) update***

New hours:  Sunday and Monday closed.  Tuesday to Friday, 12-5.

Stay safe and healthy everyone.  

****Canada Post update****

As of March 31st, Post Office hours will be reduced to 10 AM to 4 PM.  The same limits as listed below remain in effect.

Canada Post is limiting customers in the building:

1.  Only one person at the counter at a time

2.  Only one person in the mailbox area at a time.

Please respect these safety measure, to keep Canada Post employees as well as customers safe.  Canada Post is a crucial service to keeping our county going during these difficult times.  

****Please see the update from McKinnon's Fresh Mart, below.  

McKinnon's freshmart- Effective March 25, 2020. 

Dear Valued Customers:

We will only be allowing 10 customers in the store at a time to allow for proper social distancing and encouraging only 1 family member to do shopping-please let's not expose the children if we don't have to! 

All bulks foods will be prepackaged and be minimal on the shelves to limit unnecessary handling, if there is something you require and do not see it on the shelf, PLEASE ask!

Hours will be as follows: Tuesday:       8AM - 6PM, 

Wednesday:   8AM - 9AM Seniors only; 9AM - 6PM regular hours, 

Thursday:       8AM - 6PM, 

Friday:           8AM - 9AM Seniors only; 9AM - 8PM regular hours, 

Saturday:       8AM - 5:30PM until further notice. 

We are doing the best, we can at trying to keep our community and those around us safe, so we ask that everyone adheres to these changes. 

Keeping yourselves, your families, and our staff safe should be everyone’s priority. Thank you for your continuous support, and we are look forward to the opportunity to serve you.

*******Update to the story originally published.  Please see information about the Northern Credit Union's Services********************** 

Update on Northern Credit Union

Northern Credit Union is currently operating under reduced hours and screening and and landmarks for social distancing are in place.

On Friday March 27, we are expecting an influx of members as pensions are deposited.  As a result, we will be limiting the number of people that will be allowed in the building at one time as we deem necessary, to protect the employees.

We are currently operating on very limited staff and appreciate everyone's patience. We are available by phone,on line banking and ATM.

If you are not signed for these services, please call us for assistance.  If no one answers please leave a message as the the call volume is extremely high and we will get back to you.

Citizens of Ontario, yesterday, were greeted by the news that Ontario was closing more non-essential facilities and many citizens were left wondering what was to be closed and what was to be open.  The province left everyone hanging, indicating they would announce the list today, however by the late evening, they had released the list.

In terms of Hornepayne, due to our limited retail sector, the community will see little change with this newest set of restrictions, however there may be some changes. 

To date, some retail outlets have adjusted their hours.  The LCO store at Cindy's is open 12-6.  Home Hardware is also limited in hours, open from 11-5.  The Post Office, which operates under  Federal  jurisdiction, is open regular hours.

As you go to the Freshmart, you will notice they have installed reminders to keep social distance in the form of lines on the floor, and reminders in text on the floor, to social distance.  This is a key move by our new Freshmart owners, Jeff and Sherri McKinnon!  A great way to keep their service open, while helping us to keep healthy and safe. 

Hornepayne.com is committed to helping our community see its way through this crisis.  Please respect the guidelines released by health professionals, especially the social distancing.  Just because you have not felt any symptoms, does not mean you have not contracted it, and you can easily spread it.  Social distancing is so important.  While we are not confined to our homes, let's keep our distance, even from family and friends.  Walks should still feature the 2 metre spacing....even with children.  We have such a small community and while our hospital staff is phenomenally professional, an outbreak in Hornepayne would be devastating, so let's all do, all we can to prevent the spread of the virus!  

What a few days, in the world!  Even since we last updated the big local news in regards to the spread of COVID-19, things have been moving quickly.

Further below, you will see the announcement from Hornepayne Community Hospital and their response to the situation, from a medical point of view.  As well, the municipality has closed the arena, curling club and library, and will reconsider the operation of the town hall, in the near future.  The Anglican church has cancelled future services, until further notice.

Mayor Cheryl Fort, has posted an interview with  Dr. Joannou, outlining the basics around the pandemic, as well as how to approach it from a personal, as well as from a larger societal perspective.   

Many people are questioning the extreme measures that our country is taking, however on an international scale, there have been two examples of dealing with the pandemic, that clearly indicate our approach is the best way.  In particular, South Korea, a country of about 50 million people, and obviously close to the original epicentre of the outbreak, China, treated the situation very aggressively and they were able to slow the growth, which is the goal.  Spain, Italy and Iran, did not aggressively deal with the spread of the virus, and as a result, they are dealing with a real crisis.  If, as a country, we want to limit the spread, or at least slow it, so that the health care system is not overburdened.

For further information from Health Canada, follow this link:   https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html 

As of about 4:15 this afternoon, the Ministry of Education announced the closure of all publicly funded schools in Ontario, for a two week period, after March break.  Schools will re-open on Monday, April 6th.  For more information, please see the CBC story here:   https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-government-closing-schools-1.5495736 

Just to clarify, "publicly funded" does not refer only to what we call "public schools".  It refers to all schools that are funded by the province.  All elementary and secondary schools, all Francophone schools and all Catholic schools will be closed.  The only schools not closing, are private schools, that parents pay for.  They too may choose to close, but are not being closed by the Ministry of Education.

Schools expect to receive more information tomorrow, and they will share it with their families, as best as they can as tomorrow is the last day of school.  Please also check with your various school board websites.

Please see the important message from Hornepayne Community Hospital, regarding Coronavirus Precautions.  .

In tonight's updates, we provide you information about a school strike date for Hornepayne Public School, some legion news and municipal council news regarding this week's council meeting, to be held at Hornepayne Elementary and Secondary School!