Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms that swept across the region left thousands of people without electricity this morning and cause some localized flooding on roads.

The Gardiners Road underpass was flooded by a torrential downpour around 5:30 this morning but the water had cleared a few hours later.

Utilities Kingston had to deal with two power failures.  It had restored power to one area by around 8:00 a.m. and hoped to have the power back on for all customers by noon.

About 3,800 Hydro One customers in a portion of Kingston’s west end were also left without power this morning.  It was restored for all but about 250 customers by around 8:00 a.m.

Pedestrian Hit

A crash involving a pedestrian and a vehicle during yesterday afternoon’s rush hour in Kingston resulted in minor injuries.

Kingston Police say the pedestrian was struck at the intersection of Gardiners Road and Taylor Kidd Boulevard shortly before five yesterday afternoon.

The person was taken to hospital and no charges have been laid.

Motorcycle Crash – Victims

The victims of the motorcycle crash on the Loyalist Parkway in Prince Edward County on Saturday have been identified.

46 year old Darren Philip Williams of Quinte West and 58 year old Edgar Wayne Boone died when a car collided head on with three motorcycles riding with a group of five others.

A 65 year old man from Sydenham was taken to hospital with serious to life threatening injuries.

Police say the driver of the car was an 83 year old man from Brighton and he was with an 80 year old woman.  They both suffered serious injuries.

Leadership Change – CFB Kingston

Canadian Forces Base Kingston will be officially getting a new commander today.

Colonel Steven Kelsey will take over leadership of the base during the change of command ceremony in Thompson Drill Hall at seven tonight.

Colonel Francois Chagnon has been base commander for the past two years.

Health Concerns

Survey says – long waits in hospital emergency rooms is the number one health concern of the public and health care providers in Kingston and across southeastern Ontario.

The South East Local Health Integration Network says more than 15 hundred people completed surveys and it spokes with close to four hundred others during open houses and focus groups.

The two other big issues that stood out in its survey…the quality of care patients receive and communication between patients and health care providers.

The Southeast Local Health Integration Network says it will use the feedback to work on improving health care.

Energy Cafe

Kingston is launching its initiative to create a community energy plan.

The city is inviting people to its first Community Energy Cafe this evening.

Mayor Bryan Paterson says creating a smart economy means finding innovative ways to localize energy generation and improve on the efficient use of energy.

The city is hoping business owners and the public will attend the session at tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the Tett Centre on Kingston Street West.

The city is working with the Kingston Economic Development Corporation, SWITCH Ontario and the Chamber of Commerce to develop the plan over the next 16 months.

Entrepreneurial Funds

Budding entrepreneurs in the Kingston are can get a little help starting their business from the Community Foundation of Kingston and Area.  The Foundation has established a microloan program.  People who are trying to launch a new business can apply for the loans of up to $10,000.

You have to be 18 year old or older and live in Kingston, Frontenac County or Loyalist Township.

Ferry Captain Retires

It’s a big day for one of the captains of the Wolfe Islander.

Brian Johnson is retiring after almost 35 years of working on the ferry.

Johnson started as a deckhand in 1981.

He’s well known to people who frequent the ferry and says retirement will give him more time with family and to complete his book, Ferry Tales.

Ferry News

Kingston and the Islands MPP Sophie Kiwala is expected to make an announcement about the Wolfe Island Ferry today.  Kiwala is holding a news conference with Frontenac Islands Mayor Dennis Doyle and the Regional Director of MTO on the Barrack Street ferry dock at 10:30 this morning.