A rare cinnamon teal sighting piques interest Special Supplement to
Literary oasis awaits in Grimsby Grimsby Books a haven for bibliophiles
Niagara Christian Gleaners
Volunteers know the joy in serving
Serving West Niagara & Winona
Kathy Johnson is a birder and photography enthusiast, but birds are not her only subjects. She is a gifted shutterbug with an ability to capture landscapes and other creatures in their natural habitats.
– Page 6
Page 15 – Niagara Christian Gleaners Deliver
In excess of 3.6 million lbs. of fresh food was processed last year and shipped to 10 countries - 14.2 million servings.
Page 18 – Adventure lies within its covers
Books - are an escape and Grimsby Books has all the titles you need to take your own literary adventure.
Page 18 – Chef In
Residence
Chef Jan-Willem Stulp outlines some tasty spring dishes with a side of Canadian patriotism. OUR TEAM
and
15,000 copies distributed in Niagara West,Winona Proudly Published By
100% Niagara owned, and operated by 1602207 Ontario Ltd.
1 Mountain St. Grimsby L3M 3G6
Ph: 289-235-9500
Email: info@wn3.ca
Publisher
Mike Williscraft mike@wn3.ca
General Manager
Catherine Williscraft catherine@wn3.ca
Advertising Sales
Erica Huisman erica@wn3.ca
Graphic Design
Donna Wisnoski
Statements and opinions of writers do not necessarily represent those of the
or
Smithville birder
shutterbug Kathy Johnson captured this cinnamon teal last year at the Biggar Lagoon in Grimsby.
Grimsby Hyundai earns 2024 Hyundai President’s Award of Merit
Grimsby Hyundai earns 2024 Hyundai President’s Award of Merit
Grimsby Hyundai has been honoured as a recipient of the 2024 Hyundai Auto Canada President’s Award of Merit, a prestigious recognition awarded to only 15 out of 225 dealerships across Canada.
Grimsby Hyundai has been honoured as a recipient of the 2024 Hyundai Auto Canada President’s Award of Merit, a prestigious recognition awarded to only 15 out of 225 dealerships across Canada.
Ranked #2 nationally, Grimsby Hyundai has consistently demonstrated excellence, earning this distinction for eight consecutive years.
Ranked #2 nationally, Grimsby Hyundai has consistently demonstrated excellence, earning this distinction for eight consecutive years.
Nestled along the scenic Niagara Escarpment — offering a beautiful test-drive route — Grimsby Hyundai stands out with its commitment to “Friendly People. Five Star Service.”
Nestled along the scenic Niagara Escarpment—offering a beautiful test drive route—Grimsby Hyundai stands out with its commitment to "Friendly People. Five Star Service." The dealership, along with its adjoining collision centre, proudly employs 73 full- and part-time team members dedicated to serving the community.
"We take pride in delivering a dealership experience that’s as friendly as it is professional," says Mario Bruno, General Manager. "Our team is dedicated to
The dealership, along with its adjoining collision centre, proudly employs 73 fulland part-time team members dedicated to serving the community.
“We take pride in delivering a dealership experience that’s as friendly as it
providing fivestar service, ensuring every mascot, often greeting visitors.
569 Main Street West
Grimsby, ON L3M 1V1
is professional,” says Mario Bruno, General Manager.
905-643-1221
“Our team is dedicated to providing five-star service, ensuring every visit — whether for sales, service, parts, or collision
A Strong Commitment to Community
— is effortless and enjoyable.”
Beyond exceptional service, Grimsby Hyundai is also pet-friendly—with Tucker, the dealership’s adorable mascot, often greeting visitors.
A Strong Commitment to Community
Since opening its doors in 2012, Grimsby Hyundai has actively supported numerous local initiatives, including the Rotary Festival of Trees, West Lincoln Memorial Hospital, McNally House, Grimsby Benevolent Fund, West Lincoln Food
Since opening its doors in 2012, Grimsby Hyundai has actively supported numerous local initiatives, including the Rotary Festival of Trees, West Lincoln Memorial Hospital, McNally House, Grimsby Benevolent Fund,
West Lincoln Food Share, Grimsby Chamber of Commerce, Grimsby Public Library, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, and various local sports teams.
Share, Grimsby Chamber of Commerce, Grimsby Public Library, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, and various local sports teams.
Mario Bruno and his family have been proud members of the Grimsby community for over 33 years. In 2024, Mario was recognized with the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Rotary Club of Grimsby for his contributions to the town.
With award-winning service and a deep commitment to giving back, Grimsby Hyundai continues to set the standard for excellence.
Mario Bruno and his family have been proud members of the Grimsby community for over 33 years. In 2024, Mario was recognized with the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Rotary Club of Grimsby for his contributions to the town.
Visit Grimsby Hyundai today and experience firsthand what "Friendly People, Five Star Service" truly means!
With awardwinning service and a deep commitment to giving back, Grimsby Hyundai continues to set the standard for excellence.
Visit Grimsby Hyundai today and experience firsthand what “Friendly People, Five Star Service” truly means!
Grimsby Hyundai’s mascot,
The team at Grimsby Hyundai celebrates their eighth consecutive President’s Award of Merit recognition.
something worth reading or do something worth writing.”
- Benjamin Franklin
There are lot of neat things about being in the publishing game that are interesting and unique.
Working on a lifestyle magazine like ClubWest affords us a whole other level of characters and circumstances that are open to exploration in a way that don’t always fit into the newspaper world.
Take Kathy Johnson, for example. I’ve been going back and forth with Kathy for many weeks about her sighting of some rare birds right on Niagara West’s doorstep. At first I planned to run a small story and a photo in NewsNow but, after getting a little more detail, it was evident there was more depth to her endeavours and a great story to be told.
How many of us were looking for ways to get out - to anything - during COVID?
How many grandparents out there are always looking for a way to connect with their grandkids - AND get them away from all things electronic?
How many people are looking for a simple way to get more exercise and clear their respective minds?
Just about everyone fits into one of those categories, no matter what age. Now, not everyone will have an inquisitive fire lit under them the way Kathy did with birding, but it certainly is something to think about.
Nature is a great get-a-way - and us Niagara West folks are extremely lucky we have it all around us - in abundance. It is something many who have never travelled to experience super dense urban development take for granted. It is easy to do that. We’re spoiled rotten with it.
So take note of Kathy’s tips and get out for a walk in some of our natural amenities. You won’t be sorry.
And just as nature can help you de-clutter your mind, so can a good read. The owners at Grimsby Books can help with that as writer Joanne McDonald notes her piece on the Ontario Street in Grimsby shop. Book stores - on their own - are a rare sight, just like a Kirtland’s warbler or a cinnamon teal. Be sure to check them out.
And before you sit down with a good book on a rainy spring day, you may want to try your hand at cooking Chef Jan-Willem Stulp’s creamy asparagus and potato chowder offered up among his other recipes. What could be better than a hot soup and a good book to pass some time.
Chef also touches on the patriotic themes this month - feelings many of us have been experiencing of late. He notes he has always tried to support local growers for his recipe components and suggests he do the same. Hear Hear!
Mike Williscraft, Publisher, ClubWest Magazine
Donna’s Fashions
More than simply a boutique
As you pass any of the facades of Donna’s Fashions three retail shops, one is immediately drawn to her marvelous window displays of elegant clothing.
When customers walk inside, an array of unique quality clothes and accessories are always on display and you’re greeted with a warm smile by an experienced salesperson ready to help with your shopping.
“Our employees are more than just advisers; they are talented stylists with lots of knowledge about our clothes and can help you build a wardrobe that will fit your body shape and needs,” says shop owner Donna
Butler.
Picking up a few outfits to try on won’t be hard as the styles that Donna offers are timeless and fashionable. It’s when you put it on and feel the quality and tailoring that you realize the pricing is on point.
“I always strive to bring the most value to the tag,” says Donna.
As well, Donna only brings high-quality designer clothing, such as Montreal designer brands; Joseph Ribkoff, Frank Lyman and Uchuu. The majority of her inventory is Canadian. Donna is passionate when it comes to purchasing quality Canadian
collections.
“I recognize the importance of buying local and I think lots of people in our area do too,” she says.
Donna’s mission is to dress her clientele with style and elegance for high-end events or even just for a visit to the grocery store.
She herself takes pride in always being well put together with gorgeous garments.
Visit one of the three locationsGrimsby, Winona and Fonthill - and discover how Donna’s Fashion can upgrade your wardrobe with a few pieces we are sure, will bring you many compliments.
While there, be sure to pick up your own Donna’s Fashions loyalty card, too!
DONNA BUTLER
fowl is done through a lens
By Mike Williscraft
If golf is a good walk spoiled - as Mark Twain used to muse - then birding is a good walk made even better by spotting a rare fowl.
It did not take Kathy Johnson of Smithville long to figure this out when she first started birding as a means to get outside during the onset of the COVID years when she was living in Fergus, ON.
Her husband, Bob, had recently passed away and a friend of hers, Bob Wright, suggested she get out for some air.
“Bob asked how I was doing because I was alone and the kids were not close. He knew I liked to take pictures because we both entered the fall fair with photos. He
gave me a map,” she recalled.
“He said, ‘I don’t do this for everyone, Kathy, but these are the places the snow owls hang out. So, I went out with my camera and got my first snow owl and got hooked.”
“It was an opportunity to get out of the house, get fresh air and at the time it was good because I wasn’t around anyone. I was just out getting pictures of birds. It was fresh air. It was good for me to have something else to do.”
Almost immediately, she was hooked and for a variety of reasons.
“I enjoyed walking, but I’m not a nature buff. I liked flowers. I liked taking pictures of family and scenes. My hus-
band and I had 35mm cameras. I would see a few people here and there, but we were respecting distancing then. You could talk but you were outside, maybe across a road. It was just great to be out of the house,” Kathy recalled.
An interesting part of her newfound hobby wasn’t even outdoors.
“When I got home, I had to figure out, ‘ok, what birds did I get?” she said.
Soon she was out the door several days a week for many hours at a time. One particularly long trek resulted in some concern.
“I went out one time birding without my phone, because I am not always tied
Kathy Johnson, left, with sister Anna.
The Kirtland’s Warbler, spotted for only the second time (recorded) in
Continued from Page 6 to it, and when I got home I had 10 missed calls. I got a call later in the evening.... “Hi mum, I was going to send a wellness check...She’s a police officer.”
With two kids and their families in close proximity, that’s when Kathy thought a move to Niagara West was in order.
“I think I am young enough to reestablish myself because I taught and lived in Fergus for all those years, the roots were pretty deep. So, I thought I would move closer.”
Once she settled in Smithville, Kathy set about navigating some of the local birding hotspots.
“When I first started birding here I was just doing my own thing, learning the area, so I was not completely lost all
the time – using my GPS to get home. Through that, I met others who were birding and they told me about the Niagara Hawk Watchers and Ontario Birds,” said Kathy.
“Through them I could post pictures that I had taken. They’re great. Often times I would take a photo and just wonder what I got. You also post where you took the photo, general area, Grimsby, whatever, because people will ask.”
“I found wetlands (Biggar Lagoon), someone recommended them to me. I found 40 Mile Creek and 50 Mile Conservation Area as well. I would just drive around, but the wetlands I go to a lot, especially when the weather is nice.”
And she is dedicated to her hobby.
“I go a couple of times a week at least. I’ve taken my grandchildren there.
I take my old digital camera - as I have four grandkids who live close to me. They take the camera and do birding with me,” said Kathy.
“They like it. It gives them a focus. My granddaughter prefers flowers and I said, ‘That’s fine. You take pictures of whatever you like.” My grandsons...I just took them over to the wetlands last week and the younger one remembered, ‘this is where you got the purple martins last year’. And the older one said, “this is where you got your duck, grandma.”
“They just like walking out in nature and photography gives them focus to look for things and become more aware of the nature around them.”
Now, Kathy is out 3-4 times a week for an average of 5-6 hours.
“I like the challenge of how many I can get in a year. The first year I got just over 100. Last year, I got over 180 different species. Now, lifetime, I am over 230 species,” she noted.
“There is always a challenge. Can I get a better shot than I got before? Can I improve the quality?”
And that challenge she creates for herself has led her to some birding rarities.
“I was at the lagoon actually looking for another bird last September. I spotted a mallard (duck) sunning and started to creep up. I’ve taken dozens of those, but the sun was just right and it was set up perfectly so I took another shot, just two,” Kathy remembered.
“Then when I got home, I put the pictures up on the computer and start sifting through what I am going to keep and what I am going to toss. I came to that one and I looked at it and went, ‘Now, wait a second, it’s got red eyes. Mallards don’t have red eyes. What the heck have I got?”
“That’s when I did a little Google search and it came up with the cinnamon teal, but it’s just supposed to be out west. It’s not supposed to be here.”
The cinnamon teal is a species of duck found in western North and South America, so a sighting in Ontario is unusual. It is a small dabbling duck, with bright reddish plumage on the male and duller brown plumage on the female. It lives in marshes and ponds, and feeds mostly on plants.
“I didn’t want to post it until I was sure,
Niagara. Kathy Johnson -Photo
Continued From Page 7 so I threw it up on Ontario Birds because I thought a bigger range of (enthusiasts) may help. It usually takes them 30 minutes to an hour to accept a post. It does not automatically go up. This time, I was talking to my friend, Wendy, telling her I got this really weird bird and I think it’s a cinnamon teal and I said, ‘Oh, it’s just come up in five minutes.”
“I told her it says, ‘Confirmation. Where did you find this?”
“Wendy hung up on me. She said ‘I’m in the car, goodbye’, and she was off to go find it. She put it up on the Ontario Bird site and I put it up on the Niagara site. I also put it up on something called Signal so people could see the photo. That is a local site where put bird alerts out.”
“Within the hour, there were dozens of photographers down there trying to get a picture of the bird, so it was nice that it stayed around for about a week-and-ahalf swimming around in the reeds. They figured it may have come in with a flock of green teal ducks that were there at the time...just a guess.”
And with the cinnamon teal, the challenge was prevalent to seek a better shot, but it didn’t work out.
“I went down a few times to try to improve my shot, but the first two were the best. I met all kinds of people. There was a couple from Ottawa, a couple from Rochester, NY., people were coming from all over to see this bird, so it was pretty cool,” said Kathy.
Biggar lagoon has proven a great place birders and those just looking to get outside, but Kathy has also had a lot of
success along the 40 Mile Creek and around the Elizabeth Street Pumphouse Park.
“The lagoon is extremely well maintained. They do an awesome job there. The ponds are a great opportunity. I have seen so many birds back in that main pond....It’s an easy walking trail of crushed stone. They groom it regularly, so it is fairly smooth.” she said.
“The 40 Mile Creek is a little gem. There are all kinds of birds stopping along there.”
But it is not just birds which catch her eye.
“I take pictures of everything, birds are just far more available. I take pictures of frogs, whatever is out there,” she said.
“The pumphouse park has a nice walking trail and it’s great they are fixing the bridge there, too.”
That park, she added, is a great place to spot warblers in the spring - which happened to be the subject of another very rare sighting - a Kirtland’s warbler.
Kirtland’s warbler, also known in Michigan by the common name jack pine bird, or the jack pine warbler, is a small songbird of the New World warbler family. Nearly extinct just years ago, populations have recovered due to the conservation efforts.
It is a neat gray-and-yellow bird and one of the rarest songbirds in North America.
“It was five feet away from me at eye level, almost too close for my lens. I showed it to my two friends and said, ‘this doesn’t look like anything we’ve been shooting? We also go on an app called Merlin. You can upload a photo and Merlin will give suggestions as what kind of bird you may have. It didn’t
match anything,” Kathy recalled.
“Another gentleman coming through looked at it. He walks through there all the time and he knows birds very well. He said, “Kathy, I think you’ve got a Kirtland’s there.”
“I looked at him and said, ‘Oh, is that a good one?”
“That’s a rare one,” he confirmed.
“So I went on Signal. My friend Wendy posted it to say I had found this. Within a half hour there was a dozen to 20 bird photographers down there. He only stayed one day. He was there that day and evening and the next day it was gone.”
Grandchildren Jack and Evie Johnson.
Grandchildren Callen, left, and Declan Wright.
An inquisitive fox. Kathy Johnson - Photo
Continued From Page 8
During the past century, timber rotations and fire suppression proved incompatible with the birds’ needs, and Kirtland’s Warblers spent nearly 50 years on the Endangered Species List.
But aside from specific locations, Kathy is always on the lookout, so don’t be surprised if you spot her one day just stopped along a sideroad.
“I just drive around. The beauty of where I live in Smithville is I am about a half-hour from any place. I’ve gone to Dufferin Islands in Niagara Falls. There’s quite a few lovely birds up at the top of the falls. Chippawa Conservation Area, that’s another nice place with a great trail round it. Morgan’s Point just south of here, there are a lot of warblers and redheaded woodpeckers,” said Kathy.
But those are all specific locations and, sometimes, birds don’t follow GPS to get to those destinations.
“A lot of the photos I have gotten lately are at the fields that are flooded. A couple of weeks ago, five minutes from my house, there was a couple of hundred tundra swans out in a field,” she said.
“You just have to drive around and watch. In the early stages, I used to just take pictures of everything I saw and then went home and figured out what it was.”
“This area is fabulous because you have the lakes. You get a lot of ducks that come in the winter time like the long-tails, the scoters...they’re all lake birds. But then you have these areas with ponds where you get all the variety of other birds that like those areas, so it really is ideal – the variety and number of birds that we have in this area.”
Socializing, fresh air, exercise, disconnecting from technology - birding has it all.
“It’s a great way to meet people. We share when we have finds. You meet so many nice people that are willing to share information with you,” said Kathy.
“The other thing is, the number of times I have stopped my car on the side of the road listening for a bird or looking and cars stop to check that I am ok. It’s lovely. The same thing has happened to my girlfriend, Cindy. People slow down and ask if everything is ok. We just hold
up the camera and people smile and wave at you.”
“It is a really nice pastime that has a lot of great perks to it.”
A perplexed raccoon. Kathy Johnson - Photo
Fun is more than child’s play. Indeed, there is much to be said in favor of adults having some fun. Health experts say recreation brings balance to people’s lives and is imperative for health and wellbeing. They are cognitively stimulated, more creative, energized, and relaxed with regular recreation, especially when leisure time is enjoyed outdoors in nature.
Adults may not be as naturally inclined toward recreational activities as children, so they may need a little inspiration to find the right opportunities to have a little fun.
The following are several ideas to get any adult on a path toward having fun:
• Volunteerism: Volunteering one’s time can be as physically active or as sedate as one requires. Volunteer work can run the gamut from beach sweeps to pick up coastal trash or calling Bingo numbers at a nearby senior center. Volunteer work be fun and provide a sense of purpose. Cooking: Adults can take cooking classes to expand their culinary skills and explore different cultures through cuisine. An added benefit of cooking class is the tasty end results that come from each lesson.
• Bowling: Bowling is a fun recreational activity that promotes social engagement and friendly competition. Individuals can join leagues
and test their skills against other players.
• Camping: Whether you’re in a tent, directly under the stars or in the comforts of an RV, camping can be the perfect recreational activity for people who want to enjoy the great outdoors. Many people come together on a campground to socialize and enjoy some fresh air.
• Dancing: Dancing can be a creative outlet for individuals of any age, and it also promotes physical fitness and wellness. There are many different dancing styles, so it’s possible to find a discipline that fits with a little trial and error. Dancing classes taken as a couple can be a wonderful opportunity to bond with a partner.
• Gardening: Gardening is accessible to anyone, regardless of space. With a little dirt and some gumption, anyone can experience the joy of nurturing plants. Those who grow herbs or produce can supplement their pantries with extra ingredients.
• Trivia nights: People who want to strengthen their mental skills can enjoy trivia nights hosted by local establishments. Trivia nights are a fun way to pair food, socialization and some healthy competition.
Adults have many different options when it comes to fun recreational activities to keep them engaged.
Niagara Christian Gleaners: saving food – saving lives
By Joanne McDonald
It’s 7:45 a.m. and already the sound of chopping punctuates the air at Niagara Christian Gleaners (NCG) in Smithville.
The shift doesn’t start until 8 a.m. but the volunteer workers know that the fresh fruits and vegetables that pass through their hands will next be touched by the hands of a hungry person. They are a giving bunch who know the joy in serving. And there is much work to be done.
In a world where food insecurity for so many exists in a disparate reality with the abundance of food that is produced, the Gleaners are chopping, dicing and dehydrating local surplus produce that would otherwise be left to waste.
A record 3,605,950 lbs of fresh food
(1,635,631 kg) was processed at NCG last year – 14.2 million servings of food aid shipped to major recipients including Eswatini, Africa, Ukraine and Romania in Europe, as well as Niger, Chad, Canada, Guatemala, Cuba, Poland and Haiti.
“Last year finished strong at Niagara Christian Gleaners and we were once again humbled by the countless lives that are being impacted through this ministry,” said general manager Pete Wierenga.
The business model is straightforward – farm fresh produce is donated to NCG, they process it with volunteers and donor money, and then they give it all away.
Purchasing the land in 2017, the Gleaners raised $2.8 million for build-
ing and equipping the 15,000 sq. ft. plant and were debt free when the doors opened September 29, 2018.
Wierenga said then, “that what had been accomplished in one short year was nothing short of a miracle.”
But miracles tend to multiply at NCG. Just three years later, they added a second commercial dehydrator, doubling the annual processing capacity from two to four million pounds of fresh food. That created a need for more storage and space for volunteers to work safely. The board of directors expanded the facility last year, adding two more coolers and a 7500 sq. ft. addition.
And you guessed it, another miracle. “We needed $1.3 million and raised that in 12 weeks with no government support,” Wierenga said.
Last year, an astonishing 1,095,261 lbs. of potatoes, 443,250 lbs of zucchini, 387,990 lbs. of apples, 365,500 lbs of eggplant; 335,651 lbs of carrots and 211,131 lbs. of cabbage, along with turnips, peppers, rutabaga, pears, beets, parsnips, sweet potatoes, asparagus, cauliflower and onions, rolled through the plant’s production lines to be chopped, washed, diced, dehydrated, packaged and packed for travel. The fully loaded brightly lettered transport trailer leaving the NCG lot is a beautiful sight.
In the big picture, NCG is a gamechanger, leading a shift in cultural thinking about food. Recent data
Niagara Christian Gleaners Smithville plant.
Volunteer Millie Knegt seals packages of nutritious food at the Smithville plant.
Continured From Page 13 suggests that one-third of all food the world produces never gets eaten, one billion meals a day. Up to 40 per cent of food, it suggests, is lost or wasted along the value chain exposing a major blind spot in global food systems.
It’s complicated – ranging from food that is rejected because it doesn’t meet the picture-perfect standards demanded by consumers in some parts of the world, to countries where a lack of resources such as transportation or storage and refrigeration means food cannot be preserved. More than just a waste of resources, the consequences are especially egregious in a world where millions are hungry every day.
“Our mission statement is tripletiered,” NCG board chair Jack Smit said in the spring report. “Feed the hungry. Bless our local growers and volunteers. Share Christ’s love with everyone.”
As a business model, much of the work could be automated, but NCG creates meaningful opportunities and a welcoming community for volunteers of all ages and abilities, “and that matters as much to us as the food we produce,” Wierenga said. More than 68,000 volunteers hours got the work done last year.
“None of this could have been accomplished without the blessings of God and the hard work of our army of dedicated volunteers.” An average of 65 people and sometimes up to 100 volunteers
turn out for a shift. “It works beautifully for us,” Wierenga said.
“These people are here because they want to be. The joy on their hearts to serve is real,” Wierenga said.
“We are simply doing this together with the common goal as the body of Christ. That is our identity. We have a common purpose and we do it together in a way that uses everybody’s gifts and abilities.”
And it doesn’t hurt that the generous break time involves coffee, home baked desserts, birthday celebrations, lively fellowship and the trifecta from Wierenga – a news update, prayer, and the highly anticipated joke of the day.
Niagara Christian Gleaners general manager Pete Wierenga with children in Eswatini, Africa.
ESWATINI, AFRICA
The Gleaners work with distribution partners including The Luke Commission, Samaritan’s Purse, Barnabus Aid, Global Aid Network, Warehouse of Hope and Wells of Hope.
Earlier this year, a NCG team travelled to Eswatini, their first trip to Africa, to see firsthand how the food aid was being distributed and used.
“Our purpose was to see what impact our food was having, to understand why a country like that is challenged with food security to the degree that it is, and to experience a bit of what these people experience,” Wierenga said.
“In Eswatini we saw the sheer scale of poverty, whole regions and small cities of people living with a lot of material hardship.”
“Food is basic, it’s needed, and it’s always the most vulnerable in society that hurt the most regardless of what is happening,” he said.
The Luke Commission is NCG’s distribution partner, boots on the ground, in Eswatini, “an amazing place where they dispense medical care to the very poor, free of charge.” It’s completely donor funded and is the largest recipient of food aid from NCG. The Smithville-based team met with clinic founders Echo and Harry VanderWal and were present for the twice-yearly cataract surgery clinic staffed by American surgeons who removed at least 200 cataracts in the space of a week.
“People who were completely blind got them removed and could see the next day,” Wierenga said. They left with bags of NCG food to ensure they would have something to
Hardworking volunteers (L-R) Jake Thiessen, Douwe Vandermeulen and Walt Neufeld share a morning’s work chopping potatoes.
Helping hands unload food aid in Eswatini, Africa.
Operations manager Ryan Veldhuizen with student volunteers chopping carrots.
Continured From Page 15
eat while they were healing. The food aid from Smithville was also being sent to school-based nutritional programs.
It was hard to witness the poverty. There is a high prevalence of HIV, with despair, trauma, vulnerability and crime tied closely into the system.
“Our approach is we’re a conduit of mercy. We’ve been given so much. Now the test we want to pass is what are we doing with it, how are we helping others who have so little.”
For more information visit the NCG website, email info@niagaragleaners.org or call 905-359-5028. They are located at 6251 Spring Creek Rd., in the Smithville Industrial Park. Local high school students can earn their volunteer hours and younger students can tour the facility. There is an easy registration form and volunteers are always welcome.
A 7,500 sq. ft. addition provides warehouse space for the record 1,635,631 kg (3,605,950 lbs) of fresh food that was processed and distributed in 2024.
Volunteers have loading the truck down to a fine art.
Niagara Christian Gleaners volunteer Margaret Feenstra with two girls in Eswatini, Africa.
Greatest adventure lies ahead Grimsby Books is literary haven for readers
By Joanne McDonald
Three minutes of bibliophile bliss. A man - booklovers would call him the perfect man – walked into Grimsby Books with a plan to surprise his wife with a ‘grab all the books you can’ in a 60-second birthday shopping spree. Two minutes to browse and 60 seconds for the mad dash.
The big day arrived, the timer was set for a 60-second countdown and you can watch the adventure @grimsbybooks on tiktok.
Reach for any shelf in this indie book store and you will find the signature
touches of co-founders and owners
Caitlin Bailey and Taylor Brown. They stepped through the looking glass when they opened the store in July 2023 and have since created a literary haven in the downtown core.
It was a long-held dream to open a book store. And once they made the decision – it was a Tuesday night – they had signed the lease by the following Wednesday.
“We jumped feet first, jumped off a cliff,” said Brown. And what followed was a whirlwind of long hours to renovate and paint.
“It was really scary. It was a lot of money to pour in and hope for the best. But Taylor and I did it together. We shared the load and still found time to read.”
They’ve set themselves up in an environment where it’s not an excuse to read; it’s mandatory. “We call it market research,” says Bailey.
“We have to be up to date with what people are reading to provide personalized book recommendations,” says Brown.
“We factor that into our reading load.” Brown and Bailey are unique characters in their own right. Dedicated to both
Grimsby Books owners Caitlin Bailey, left, and Taylor Brown.
Photo - Joanne McDonald
Continued From Page 18 raising their families and running a business, they’re super smart, friendly, well read and creative - with a bit of an antiestablishment vibe. You won’t find dieting or self-help books on these shelves.
“We’re really listening to people and gearing our recommendations to what they want.”
The shelves have been carefully culled to carry mostly new books and releases by exciting authors with a broad spectrum of genres including fantasy, science fiction, romance and horror.
“It’s a treasure hunt,” says Brown. Recently the store has brought in a large selection of new books and there are new releases all the time.
They also stock a small, well curated selection of used books. The splash of sky blue along a top shelf tells readers the Hardy Boys are in the house. The neat row of press backs conjures up Christmas mornings where mystery was wrapped up and waiting under the tree for eager young sleuths to solve The Mystery of Cabin Island or the Secret of the Lost Tunnel.
And both vividly recall the books that first nurtured their own love of reading.
For Bailey it was the Seventh Tower series. “My Grade 4 teacher read all six books to us that year and it brought the whole class together.”
For Brown, it was the Twilight series and Throne of Glass series that got her hooked on reading.
LOCAL ECONOMY
In an age dominated by big box and online shopping giants, independent bookstores have a vital impact on the local economy. Statistics indicate that for every $100 spent at a local business $68 remains within that community.
‘It’s all about access, about opening up a channel to an indie store where the money is directly going back into the community,” says Brown. “The money from Grimsby, stays in Grimsby.”
“We bring a lot of authors into town
Grimsby Books is a treasure trove of brand new releases. McDonald - Photos
for meet and greets and book signings and we open the door to the community to attend.”
‘Caitlin and Taylor are such a joy, a true representation of what it means to be a book lover and a part of such a wonderful inclusive community. Grimsby Books is a must for anyone passing through the Niagara region,’ says Becka Mack, author of The Playing for Keeps Series.
Grimsby Books’ social media presence is also plugged into the reading community. It draws many customers from out of town who add the Grimsby location to their book store road trips. “After they shop, they go downtown and explore the rest of Grimsby,” Brown said.
BOOK SIGNINGS
Grimsby Books has caught on in a big way with the book signing circuit bringing exciting authors and their followers to town, including Nicki Pau Preto, Crown of Feathers trilogy and Bonesmith; Samantha M. Bailey, A Friend in the Dark;
M.K. Lobb, Seven Faceless Saints and Disciples of Chaos; Brianne Sommerville, If I Lose Her; Heidi Reimer, The Mother Act; Sarah Allingham, The Grimsby Peach Kings; Kristen Ciccarelli, Heartless Hunter; Alexandra Kitty, A Different Track; and Felicia Ketcheson, Sketching Rebellion.
Authors Ashley Tate, Twenty-Seven Minutes; Becka Mack, Consider Me, Play With Me and Unravel Me; and Megan McSpadden, An Unexpected Path, joined them last April on Canadian Independent Bookstore Day.
Grimsby Books was home base for a midnight release party launching House of Flame and Shadow by American author Sarah J. Maas.
Bailey and Brown have hosted silent book clubs which are held monthly and story time with Kaley Mills for the younger readers.
‘Grimsby Books is a booklover’s dream – Caitlin and Taylor’s passion shines through the moment you walk into their
Continued From Page 18 store and will stay with you long after. Cozy, inviting, and chock full of treasures. I can’t wait to go back,” said Nicki Pau Preto, author of Crown of Feathers and Bonesmith.
NICHE OF NIRVANA
Canadian Independent Bookstore Day (CIBD) is an important celebration for indie bookstores across Canada, bringing together readers, writers, illustrators and publishers. This year’s date falls on April 26 and Grimsby Books has a few surprises in store.
Bailey and Brown are grateful to everyone who has been a part of their incredible journey, including friends, families and the Grimsby community. “Your unwavering support and encouragement have made this dream a reality.”
For those who can’t imagine life without the physical paper, the print and the
binding of books, Grimsby Books is a niche of nirvana.
Grimsby Books is located 4-6 Ontario St., Grimsby. The store is open Tuesday through Saturday with seasonal hours. “Our hours are always posted on social media and updated on Google.”
Visit: @grimsbybooks for hours, updates and upcoming events; email: grimsbybookstore@gmail. com
Grimsby Books accepts donations and buys used books for store credit. Contact them for details.
Readers are invited to browse their online catalogue of new books. Also available online, eGift Cards make a thoughtful present for book lovers, not only giving them a book but a fun outing to the downtown location.
Quality food options at your door, just look
By Jan-Willem Stulp
We had a chance to get away for a few days this March, and it was a pretty enlightening time.
As we both work in hospitality at the Grand Oak, we are reasonably familiar with different styles of accommodations, cuisines and their cultural variations.
What we were not anticipating was the ingenuity and tenacity of a number of outstanding entrepreneurs in central Ontario.
How these men and women have managed to put together some exceptionally noteworthy venues and businesses was inspiring.
We experienced a ‘tiny house’, as well as a glamping ‘yurt’ and finally a ‘barndominium’.
You can imagine that the variation in available amenities was considerable. Our first stay had no running water...I’m just saying.
When travelling, we tend to venture out to local restaurants, ideally to sample creative ideas and fare, and that’s where we encountered another noteworthy ‘trend’; Canadians have become visibly patriotic! Not in the ‘Happy Canada Day’ sense, to others, but in the way people were truly proud of what they themselves sold, made and produced.
That it has taken a tariff spat to bring this change about is unfortunate, but it is overdue.
We are, after all, a country of hard-working, polite and peaceful people. We are industrious, creative, and dare to take risks. We have lots to be thankful for and have achieved much as a nation, sometimes in spite of the shenanigans going on in Ottawa.
Everywhere we went, ‘Canadian-Made’, or ‘Ontario Grown’ was made very obvious.
We stopped in at a trade show and the same was true there. Everything from wood to leather, plastic items and roofing shingles as well as manufactured items like structures and equipment, all proudly claimed their Canadian heritage. Two different vendors were handing out Canadian flags! Talk about patriotic!
And it’s about time, I say. Regardless of what’s happening south of us, our capacity in Canada to be inventive, resourceful and more-than-capable has long been under-stated.
For as long as we’ve owned the Grand Oak, (14 years this month!) we have been supporters of all things local and so, by default, in season. Spring is around the corner, and we are eagerly looking forward to all of the delights that come with it, especially the culinary ones!
The recipes that follow should hopefully whet your appetite, as virtually everything in them is from Ontario (but not the quinoa). As you get into the season, give some thought to your local entrepreneurs to source what you need.
The reason for paying attention to your local businesses hasn’t changed so much: there are items of excellent quality available for purchase in our neighbourhoods, but then, there always were. What has changed is the context. Our neighbours, friends and families are going to need us to support them.
Nobody knows what the long-term looks like, but I believe we all sense that it’s going to be a bit tense for a while. Seeing Canadians pull together the way we have this past month or so was heart warming and, while we aren’t fans of the political nonsense that has been going on, we welcome the Canadian fortitude it has brought on and are confident we’ll be better for it as a nation. We encourage you to show your patriotism by actively choosing quality Canadian products, where you can. May God keep our land Glorious and Free!
(Chef Stulp co-owns, along with his wife Jane, Grand Oak Culinary Market in Vineland.)
