May 4, 2020

By: Chris McLeod

4/5/2020

5 Things You Need To Know

May 4th is the 125th day of the year. There are 241 days remaining until the end of the year.

Doug Ford announced on Friday that select workplaces and businesses will be allowed to reopen on today with strict safety guidelines in place.

Here’s the official list of businesses permitted to reopen:

  • Garden centres and nurseries with curbside pick-up and delivery only;
  • Lawn care and landscaping;
  • Additional essential construction projects that include:
    • shipping and logistics;
    • broadband, telecommunications, and digital infrastructure;
    • any other project that supports the improved delivery of goods and services;
    • municipal projects;
    • colleges and universities;
    • child care centres;
    • schools; and
    • site preparation, excavation, and servicing for institutional, commercial, industrial and residential development;
  • Automatic and self-serve car washes;
  • Auto dealerships, open by appointment only;
  • Golf courses may prepare their courses for the upcoming season, but not open to the public; and
  • Marinas may also begin preparations for the recreational boating season by servicing boats and other watercraft and placing boats in the water, but not open to the public. Boats and watercraft must be secured to a dock in the marina until public access is allowed.

Provincial officials continue to emphasize that — although certain businesses are being permitted to reopen — it is critical that people continue to stay home, practise physical distancing and only go out for essential reasons.

The PPE Drive Drop Off is open again today.

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has set up a drop off site to gather personal protective equipment (PPE) for front line health care workers.

Thames Campus Arena is open for the public to leave their donations of medical masks, gloves, face shields, goggles, and medical gowns.

The drop off station is open from 10-2:30 Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. Donors can bring their donations inside the main front doors of the arena, place them on the table in the ticket area and exit the building for social distancing. Donations must be dropped inside the building.

Insects called Murder Hornets have made their way to North America for the first time ever.

These hornets are up to two inches long and a bee expert at Washington State University says they are, “like something out of a monster cartoon.”

The murder hornets kill up to 50 people a year in Japan and their stingers are so long and powerful that they can penetrate beekeeping suits. Fortunately, they don’t usually attack people, but when they do, look out.

They’re also a huge predator to honey bees and just a few of these hornets can completely destroy a hive in a few hours. Honey bees are already in a lot of trouble, so this is a new predator they really don’t need.

Four sightings have happened in Washington state and British Columbia. There’s no word on how the hornets got here, but experts are working on trying to trap them to keep them from spreading.

Police in Brampton received a complaint on Saturday evening of a “five-to-six foot” alligator on the loose.

After a brief investigation, police determined it was just a large beaver.

Today is Star Wars Day. May the 4th Be With You is the unofficial holiday celebrating the Star Wars franchise.

Disney+ is celebrating by streaming Rise of Skywalker two months early. All nine Star Wars movies are available on the streaming service There’s a FREE 7-day trial on for a limited time.

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