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Carrot Fest, Santa Claus Parade set to return to Bradford West Gwillimbury in 2022

Carrot Fest, Santa Claus Parade set to return to Bradford West Gwillimbury in 2022

Excitement is in the air as the municipality plans for 19 events in town this year

Finally, Carrot Fest is coming back to Bradford.

Everyone’s favourite vegetable-themed summer festival is planned to return after a two-year pandemic-induced absence this year, taking place Aug. 19 and 20.

It’s one of 19 events planned for 2022 in conjunction with the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury’s Events and Marketing Division. Bethany Kuboniwa, leisure events and marketing supervisor provided councillors with an overview of what’s in store this year during the Feb. 15 committee-of-the-whole meeting.

Six of the events are new this year, including Volunteer Appreciation on April 20, Touch a Truck on May 18, the 10th anniversary of the Bradford West Gwillimbury Leisure Centre on May 28, National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, Multicultural Day on June 27 and Youth Movie Night at a date to be determined.

As well the Santa Claus Parade is set to return in 2022, booked for Nov. 19. Once again, the local Santa Claus Parade will be a night-time affair.

For Coun. Ron Orr, seeing all the events outlined in the report was reason to get excited.

“After two years of what we’ve gone through with COVID… I think it’s going to give you a lot of positive feelings going forward for all our mental health,” he said.

Pre-COVID, overall event attendance was on the rise, with a 30 per cent jump between 2016, where nearly 50,000 people attended local events and 2019, which saw more than 70,000 people attend. Town staff are confident that the enthusiasm for community events remains as pandemic restrictions are lifted and what is hoped to be a more normal spring, summer and fall appears on the horizon.

Not only was attendance on the rise, but sponsorship was also increasing, going up by almost 80 per cent between 2015 and 2019. This year, the town is looking to bring in $125,000 in sponsorship to help put the events on.

A more fulsome town sponsorship policy is in the works and will be brought before council for approval later this year.

“The policy will seek to outline the sponsorship process including sponsorship selection, first right of refusal, and sponsorship benefits,” a staff report stated. “This is an important process to acknowledge as the sponsorship program grows.”

New advertising opportunities will also be explored by the town this year, including on-ice logo advertising and Zamboni wrapping.

Kuboniwa also gave councillors an overview of the proposed road closures for special events in 2022. While there is little difference from past closures for events, such as the Our Lady of Fatima procession, Carrot Fest or the Run for BWG, the recommendation approved by the committee allows for the town’s Director of Community Services Terry Foran to have authority to make minor changes to the planned closures as required.

All events and associated road closures are contingent on the status of provincial COVID-19 restrictions at the time.

 

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West Ottawa High holding ‘FAFSA Friday’ events this month

West Ottawa High holding ‘FAFSA Friday’ events this month

PARK TWP. — A series of weekly workshops at West Ottawa High School is helping seniors prepare for college. 

Advisors at the school are hosting FAFSA Friday events throughout February to help students with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Michigan’s priority deadline for the FAFSA is March 1. 

College advisors Diana Robica and Kevin Bautista provide resources and guidance for students as they start their FAFSA applications. 

“We have different resources we hand out,” Robica said. “We pass those on and tell them to go through and have them start their FAFSA. We help them start it and get familiar with the applications.”

Bautista said they started the workshops because students who complete the FAFSA are more likely to attend college and millions of dollars worth of grants and scholarships go unclaimed in Michigan.

“Last year alone in the state of Michigan, $89 million that was set aside for federal Pell Grant money went unused because students didn’t complete a FAFSA,” he said. “We want as many students to complete (the FAFSA) as possible. A lot of times, they think college isn’t affordable, but completing it lets them know what they’re eligible for federally and, once it gets sent to schools, they can find out if they’re eligible for additional scholarships or aid.”

Students at a workshop Feb. 18 said having advisors to assist them prepare for college has been a big help.

“They have a lot more knowledge than we do and it kind of streamlines the whole application process,” Steven Le said. 

“The whole process of going through all these college applications and everything, it’s really helpful to have them to walk you through everything,” added Breyton Gibbs.

Last year just over 60 percent of WOHS seniors completed the FAFSA. Robica and Bautista said they are hoping to get that up to 70 or 75 percent this year. 

According to the state’s FAFSA completion tracker, which was last updated Feb. 4, West Ottawa had a 37.83 percent completion rate among its seniors. That equated to 199 completed applications, which was up from 194 last year on Feb. 4.

More: Michigan’s priority FAFSA deadline March 1

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The school falls in the middle of local completion rates as of the latest update.

The highest completion rate locally is Black River at 51.56 percent. There have been 33 applications completed so far, down from 37 last year.

Zeeland East is also over the halfway mark with 50.67 percent of the senior class. The school has had 113 students complete the FAFSA, up from 105 this time last year.

Saugatuck has the highest completion rate in Allegan County at 45.88 percent. There have been 39 SPS seniors who have completed the FAFSA, up from 26 at this time last year.

The next-highest completion rate is Zeeland West at 43.77 percent. There have been 116 completed FAFSAs at the school, up from 94 at this time last year. 

So far 69 seniors at Hamilton have completed their applications, which is 36.7 percent of the senior class. This is down slightly from 71 applications at this time last year. 

Holland is currently at a 33.33 percent completion rate with 89 completed FAFSAs. The school had 97 applications done at this time a year ago. 

Fennville has a 28.32 percent completion rate with 32 finished applications. This is up four from this time a year ago.

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelMitch