Meeting Report by Gail Morningstar Greetings to all our fellow residents and business associates! We hope this report finds you in good health. The March 8 meeting was well attended and very informative. Our guest speaker, Anne Marie DeCicco, spoke about the direction our city is planning. She mentioned the relocation of the London Central Library to the former Bay location in the Galleria. The renovations are scheduled to be completed by summer 2001. A report will be published regarding the use of the old library. Ms. DeCicco slotted early April as designated for discussions about the proposed Recreation Centre to be built on the Talbot block near the new market building. Careful aesthetic planning is needed. Parking downtown, enhanced Policing, road widening for Commissioners and Springbank, a new fire hall in Bryon, Dearness Home and Hospital spending, should we keep London Hydro as our own, are among the items affected by the budget. The budget now has a fiscal year that matches the calendar year. A new initiative to Canada is the Family Main Street Program. It has been successful in the U.S.A. Redevelopment of the Fork of the Thames will implement this program. Soccer has increased from 700 to 25,000 participants over the last 20 years. There is a parcel of land owned by Queens Park, which the city may look into purchasing for sporting events such as soccer. There is a proposal in for 240 more hours of hockey ice time, and Disk Golf at St. Julien Park. We also need 6,000 volunteers for the Summer Games in 2001. A London-based company to market London as a clean, safe and competitive place to live has produced a film. It has been shown in Montreal and other big cities to attract business to London. After viewing the film, many business people spoke out about the Casino at the Western Fairgrounds being a drain on their business. Ms. DeCicco was empathetic but could not comment. However, she did mention directing concerns to the Health Unit Research Project. On behalf of the Hamilton Road Area Business Association members we would like to thank Deputy Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco for taking time out of her busy schedule to speak to our association.

Photo by Ingelbert Lievaart II Anne Marie DeCicco's presentation at the HRABA March meeting was enjoyable and informative. Photo by Ingelbert Lievaart II Steve Plagianos, of Duffy's Cove, shares local community concerns with Ms. DeCicco at the March meeting.

CONTENT

Meeting Report by Gail Morningstar	Message from the Communications Committee by Ingelbert Lievaart II	Message from the Membership Committee by Dave Broostad
Message from the Planning Committee by Mark Whitfield	Benefits and Goals of Membership by Mary Starnaman	Annie Laurie's Lap by Ingelbert Lievaart II
Ana Tirolese Design and Graphics by Ingelbert Lievaart II	What's New! What's What! Who's Who! by Ana Tirolese	Message from the President by George H. Payne

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