Zorra-Now-Fall 2025-WEB

2 Zorra Now | Fall 2025 Zorra Now | Fall 2025 3 Message from the Mayor School is back and our children and all the vehicles that move them are on the roads. It’s also #harvest2025 and all the ag vehicles are on the roads. All of these people are our neighbours, our friends. Our roads are busier than ever, school buses, farm equipment, cyclists, and pedestrians are all sharing the same space and they’re all part of our community, please watch for them, so everyone gets home safely. For Zorra Council, budget season is approaching. As, always, Zorra Council remains committed to building a vibrant, prosperous, engaged, and environmentally conscious community, guided by our strategic plan every step of the way. Zorra’s financial situation is strong. We have retired several older expensive assets and replaced them with newer, less expensive ones. Our reserves are in good shape, and we have strong policies in place for the services that cost the most money like roads, recreation, and fire services. We just had our annual third party financial audit and it was positive. So, I’m expecting, as always, an intense budget debate about priorities, but ultimately a good budget. You can follow those deliberations through agendas online (link in this Zorra Now) and in person at council meetings, or online live and recorded on Youtube. Happy back to school and #harvest2025 ! Marcus Ryan Mayor, Zorra Township (and Warden, Oxford County) email: mryan@zorra.ca Phone: 1.519.425.2338 Zorra Now Magazine is published electronically and paper copies are available at all Township Facilities. If you have any questions or comments or would like to advertise in the magazine, please contact: Karen Martin, Director of Corporate & Protective Services Township of Zorra 163 Brock Street, PO Box 189 Thamesford, ON N0M 2M0 Ph. 519-425-2305 Toll Free 1-888-699-3868 kmartin@zorra.ca www.zorra.ca COMMUNITY EVENTS & SERVICES MAGAZINE 4 Township Department Information 15 Zorra Celebrates 50 Years! 17 Senior/Volunteer of the Year 18 Battery Disposal Info & Staff Announcements 24 Township & Community Contacts In this issue... 28 Township Community Information 31 Thamesford Lions Club For up-to-date library information and hours call your local branch or visit DISCOVER YOUR OXFORD COUNTY LIBRARY Oxford Reads: This year’s book is Life in Two Worlds: A Coach’s Journey from the Reserve to the NHL and Back by Ted Nolan. Join us for our Oxford Reads Gala on Friday, November 7 at the Market Centre in Woodstock. Stay tuned to www.oxfordreads.ca for gala details and a full list of Oxford Reads programs. UPCOMING PROGRAMS Organizing from start to finish When: Wednesday, September 17 at 6:30 p.m. Where: Harrington Branch Adult program and space is limited. Please register. Ox on the Run at the Embro Fair When: Sunday, September 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Where: Embro Fairgrounds The Worm Wrangler When: Saturday, October 11 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Where: Thamesford Branch Family program and space is limited. Please register. Truck or Treat When: Saturday, October 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Where: Ingersoll Branch Cooking demonstration with Chef Jed Lau When: Tuesday, November 18 at 6:00 p.m. Where: Thamesford Branch When: Wednesday, November 19 at 6:00 p.m. Where: Harrington Branch Adult program and space is limited. Please register. For up-to-date library information, hours and program details, call your local branch or visit www.ocl.net . First-term councillor encourages others to consider entering a race 20 Harrington Homecoming Centennial 34