Latest news with #SoapboxDerby
CTV News
18 hours ago
- Sport
- CTV News
‘It's about community engagement'; First annual SOHO Soapbox Derby is smashing success
Dozens of families and residents of the SOHO neighbourhood lined South St. in London, Ont. for the first annual Soapbox Derby. You couldn't wipe the smile off nine-year-old Xavier Soares' face after winning the junior division of the first annual SOHO Soaper. 'This is the first time, like me racing an actual day,' said Soares. 'I had never raced in my life.' Dozens of families and residents of the SOHO neighbourhood (South of Horton Street) lined South Street in London, Ont. for the first annual Soapbox Derby. 062125 The 1st annual SOHO Soapbox Derby had 34 entries. (Source: Brent Lale/CTV London) 'We've encouraged kids and parents or companies to build soapboxes and we're rolling them down the ramp or using a push start down to the end,' said Mark Thomas, chair of SOHO community association. Soares' car, named 'SoHomie #1' crossed the finish line first in the championship heat. He edged out the 'Stanley Coupe' driven by Jack Rice of St. Thomas. 'It was good, he was catching up there, but I kept pushing through and never gave up,' said Soares. Rice, 14, had one of the more popular cars, built by him and his father to replicate the Stanley Cup. 062125 Jack Rice, 14, in his 'Stanley Coupe' which finished 2nd in the Jr. Division of the 1st annual SOHO Soapbox Derby. (Source: Brent Lale/CTV News London) 'The car's inspired by all the Canadian teams who pursue the Stanley Cup each year,' said Rice. 'Also, all the Canadians who win it because there's lots of Canadians on all the NHL teams. We had a local race in our neighborhood a few years ago, so we just rebuilt the outside, remodeled it into the Stanley Cup.' The first annual event had 34 entries. You could buy a kit from the organizers, but if you were building your own, they emphasized individual creativity. 'We got the 'Beaver Brigade' or the 'Soho Popo', just a bunch of different cars,' said Thomas. 'It's actually impressive. All we did was say, build it out of wood, and make sure you push the Canadian pride this year specifically'. Their goal is to grow the event each year as the SOHO area boom continues. 062125 London City Councillor David Ferreira takes a run down the South Street hill during the the 1st annual SOHO Soapbox Derby. (Source: Brent Lale/CTV News London) 'It's just about trying to build pride in this community and get community engagement,' said Thomas. 'We have a lot of people that live in SOHO. We call people that live here and do more, 'SoHomies'. Just kind of drive that home that you have to do more than just live. So, we're trying to get that message across to everybody.'
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Conneaut approves three union agreements
Jan. 29—CONNEAUT — City council approved three collective bargaining agreements at a Monday meeting. All three agreements are retroactive to Jan. 1, and end Dec. 31, 2027. The agreements are between the city and the police, corrections and civil employees unions. The city's police and corrections officers were represented by the Fraternal Order of Police, and civil employees were represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Conneaut City Manager Nick Sanford said he was thankful everyone involved in the negotiations. "This was very well-done, I think," he said. The city will be updating its zoning map at the request of the Planning and Zoning Department, Sanford said. "This is a very worthwhile investment for I think about $400," he said. Sanford was in charge of the last zoning map update in 2014, he said. The Ohio Department of Transportation is still bidding a road improvement project for Broad Street, Sanford said. "The anticipated start of construction still remains in alignment with traditional construction summer work around Memorial Day," he said. "The time would be fairly soon for us to start having conversations with the stakeholders, who would be most impacted." The Soapbox Derby and D-Day Conneaut will be two events impacted by construction, he said. Sanford said the city's Public Works Department has been attending to potholes made from weather over the last few months. The city is still waiting to hear if a loan from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has been approved, Sanford said. "It's been oddly cumbersome with the [Ohio] EPA," he said. The city filled its police lieutenant position for the first time since 2010, Sanford said. "We have promoted Michael Bertolasio to the position of lieutenant," he said. Jason Rivers was also promoted to police sergeant. Sanford said AT&T withdrew its proposal to require Ohio municipalities to pay for relocating telecommunication lines. The city passed an ordinance at a Jan. 13 meeting, which supported a legal challenge to the proposal by the Ohio Municipal League. The city was among 153 Ohio local governments to support the challenge, he said. "Kudos, certainly to this council, and to the others, who were part of making that happen," he said.
