Busy beaches raise questions for Region
By Evan Loree For NewsNow
Visitors to the beaches along Lake Ontario in Grimsby and Lincoln should take care before hopping in the water.
The Region of Niag-
ara constantly monitors the water for bacterial levels and often puts out notices cautioning people against swimming.
Though the beaches in Grimsby and Lincoln are currently all
safe for swimming, according to the region’s website, it reported high levels of E.coli at Charles Daley beach in Lincoln July 26.
E.coli is a bacteria found in feces which
causes nausea, vomiting and fever.
The Government of Canada’s webpage on E.coli says most people recover from E.coli by themselves but some require a trip to the hospital.
It can enter the lake as untreated sewage following heavy rain, as runoff from livestock farms or in the form of bird poop.
A sign on the Charles Daley beach tells visitors to check
the water quality on the region’s site before swimming. It also says murky water, nearby birds or recent rain could indicate high levels of bacteria.
When NewsNow arrived at the beach July 26 there was an orange barricade at the head of the beach, offset from the main
See QUALITY, Page 6
Correction
A July 11, 2024, article with the headline “Second Charrois IC complaint nets 45-day suspension” reported that Grimsby Council voted to suspend Councillor Veronica Charrois for 45 days in relation to complaints to the Integrity Commissioner and referred to a previous 15 day suspension handed down by Grimsby Council concerning an earlier complaint. The article should have specified that the suspensions resulted in Councillor Charrois’ pay being suspended and did not suspend her from fulfilling her duties as a councillor. The newspaper apologizes for the error.
(Left) The lower sign tells Charles Daley Park attendees to check with Niagara Region for E.coli levels. (Right) Nahomi Verela and her family were among those cooling off over the weekend despite knowing of the high levels and blue algae warnings. Loree - Photos
Musical summer at Nelles Manor
By Evan Loree For NewsNow
More than 50 people came out to an afternoon concert at Nelles Manor Museum in Grimsby, Monday afternoon.
The Shari Vanermolen Trio filled the outdoor space with the soft sounds of jazz as people in the audience bobbed heads and sipped lemonade under the summer sun.
Grimsby residents Hannah Brown and Thomas Monaghan were camped out on a blanket with their children, one-yearold Charlie and fouryear-old Arthur with Brown’s parents.
“My parents in-law are over from the UK, we thought they’d enjoy it,” said Monaghan. He said the family was looking for
something fun to do and thought the family would appreciate some live music under the sun.
The history of the manor was also a draw
From left, Grace Brown, John Brown, Charlie Monaghan, 1, Hannah Brown, Arthur Monaghan, 4, and Thomas Monaghan sit back and enjoy the performance on the lawn at Nelles Manor on Sunday. Loree - Photo
An investigation has been opened regarding a Friday, Aug. 2 “suspicious” fire at an empty chicken barn in West Lincoln.
“8 District (Grimsby/ West Lincoln/Lincoln) uniform officers and the Grimsby Fire Department responded to a fire in the area of Young Street and Regional Road 12 in Grimsby,” states an NRP release.
“The investigation remains ongoing by detectives with 8 District.”
“At this time there is no reason this could be connected from fires a few years ago,” said Fisher.
The Ontario Fire Marshal was contacted as they would be involved as this is a substantial dollar loss.”
As part of a reciprocal agreement among Niagara West fire departments, Grimsby Fire also attended.
Chief Jim Kay.
In recent years, several suspicious fires have occurred at area farms.
West Lincoln Fire Chief Dennis Fisher does not believe this incident is connected.
“We received a call at 05:41 hours this morning to assist with the fire that was in West Lincoln. This fire was not located in Grimsby but we responded to provide water tanker shuttle through mutual aid operations as this is a rural area with no fire hydrants,” said Grimsby Deputy Fire
“We have a reciprocal arrangement with the Township of West Lincoln for assistance with water supply to fight fires in the rural area of our municipality. Grimsby sent two water tanker units along with four firefighters from its Mountain Street Fire Station along with me to assist for close to three hours. This was a large barn structure - approximately 7,500 sq ft - that was previously used as a poultry operation but it was recently decommissioned and unoccupied at the time of the fire. The barn was well involved by the time West Lincoln fire units arrived.”
NELLES
From Page 3 for the family.
Brown said there was something “romantic” about seeing how people used to live.
“When we see something like a historic house, we want to go and visit,” she said.
Museum founding director Bill Thompson said everything earned at the museum’s concerts go back into maintaining the museum.
“How can you spend a better afternoon,”
he said, gesturing to the musicians and their listeners.
Though the summer season is rapidly coming to a close, there’s more to look forward to at the historic 1798 home.
The museum’s summer concert series, Music at Nelles Manor, comes to a close with its fourth performance from Natalie Walker Aug 18 at 2 p.m.
Vehicular enthusiasts have the annual vintage car show to look forward to on Aug. 24 at 10 a.m.
Museum manager Kate Pyatt said they feature everything from Ford Model Ts to more modern classics like DeLoreans, Pontiac Firebirds and more.
Pyatt said they only have space for about 15 cars but people interested in displaying their antique vehicles can reach the museum at: info@nellesmanor.ca.
The museum is also participating in the Grimsby Arts Walk Sept. 21 and hosting its annual harvest tea Oct. 5.
QUALITY
From Page 1 walking path.
An attached notice dated July 19 cautioned residents about blue algae in the water but said nothing about E.coli levels.
The sign and barricade was gone for a second visit.
According to the region’s website, blue algae can cause itchiness, nausea, fever and diarrhea if exposed.
The Ontario government’s website says blue algae looks like “green pea soup or turquoise paint” and forms clumps of scum. It thrives in shallow, still water.
Victor Verela, a cleaner from Hamilton, visited the beach with his wife and two of his children on July 26.
Eight-year-old Nahomi and 15-year old Brismar were out splashing in the waves with some other kids while their dad sat back in the shade.
Verela said he noticed the set-aside barricade when he arrived but it was not clear to him why
he and his family shouldn’t swim.
He and his family weren’t the only swimmers at the beach.
“We saw the people going. We were like, ‘OK, it should be. It’s fine to go inside,’” he added.
Originally from Mexico, Verela said he didn’t talk to many people at the beach because English was his second language, making it hard to communicate.
It also made it harder to be informed about the water quality, he said.
Verela was not aware he could check the Region’s site for water quality updates.
He said he felt a little “different” about his children swimming, knowing about the contaminants and would have chosen a different spot had the beach been blocked off.
Mike Usenica of St. Catharines wondered why there was no sign warning visitors of E.coli levels, having missed the one referencing blue algae on
his way in.
He suggested the signs should be at the top of the park hill, near the parking lot.
He appeared surprised the water was contaminated, saying E. coli tends to build up in still water or after heavy rainfalls, neither of which applied to the beach that day.
Usenica did not check the region’s website for water quality updates.
The St. Catharines resident worried about the kids in the water but was not overly concerned for his own safety.
“I’d go in but I’d make sure I’d shower later,” he said.
His brother Eric Usenica, daughter Alanna Usenica and three-year-old granddaughter Lotus were also at the beach, but none were too concerned.
“My granddaughter won’t go in herself. Just to her knees,” he said.
Her mother said
she avoids swimming when she knows there’s E.coli in the water.
“I don’t need to get sick. I don’t need her to get sick,” Usenica said.
The family members said the region could be doing more to warn people about contaminants in the water.
Regional spokesperson Courtney Westerhof said the Region posts water quality statuses to its website, but does not close beaches because of elevated E.coli levels.
“In the event there was significant health hazard and the beach needed to be closed, the Region would work with the municipality to ensure there was no access to the beach,” she said in an email.
Water quality is tested once or twice a week, she added.
And beach-goers should always take their own precautions and consider beach
conditions, Westerhof said.
Usenica said the region seems to be saying “use at your own risk.”
Asked if the region’s protocols were effective deterrants, Westerhof said the region’s protocols are above the provincial standard.
Gregory Ford, vice president of clean water advocacy group Swim Drink Fish told NewsNow the province has “a pretty good recreational water quality standard,” compared to other places around the world.
However, Ontario passed legislation in 2018 that changed water quality standards to permit swimming at Ontario beaches with twice as much E. coli in the water.
Ford said bacteria levels are measured by counting E. coli organisms in a 100 milliletre sample.
Health units take five of these samples
when testing beach water quality.
Under the old rules, towns had to notify residents of bacterial risks if the test found 100 E.Coli organisms in the sample. The new rules changed that to 200.
Ford said Toronto still abides by the old standard.
According to Swim Drink Fish’s swim guide, which provides up-to-date information about beach water quality in Ontario, Niagara uses the new standard when testing it’s beaches for E. coli.
The province also mandates that should any water sample measure 400 counts of E.coli, the beach is to be closed, Ford said.
“If it was just on that 200 cusp, that threshold, I might still go swimming. But that’s a personal choice that I think everyone needs to make for themselves,” Ford said.
An orange barricade with a July 19 notice from Town of LIncoln warning visitors about blue algae has been set aside from the path to Charles Daley Park beach. Loree - Photo
Three-year-old Lotus with mom Alanna Usenica at Charles Daley Park’s beach. Loree - Photo
"Zoi and her team were an absolute pleasure to work with. From our first meeting to the quick sale of our home we knew we made the right decision in working with Zoi and her team. The professionalism and commitment to detail were exceptional. Her experience was evident. If Zoi said I will be there at a certain time she was there or completing the task she set out to do. Her enthusiasm and passion for her clients from beginning to end was outstanding. She truly is a gem that we are so happy to have had the pleasure of meeting and working with.” - Petra & George M.
Friday night RIDE nets
One DUI resulted from RIDE checks in Grimsby and Welland Friday night.
Niagara Reginal Police stopped approximately 180 vehicles and inquired if any of the drivers had consumed any alcohol or drugs earlier in the evening.
In total, 11 drivers had to provide a sample of their breath for analysis. One driver was arrested for Impaired Operation – Exceed Blood Alcohol Concentration.
One rider provided a false name and was arrested for obstructing Peace Officer. Upon
one DUI
learning the rider’s identity, police charged the rider with driving while under a Criminal Code suspension, failure to comply with release order, breach of probation and failing to wear a proper helmet on a power assisted bicycle. The passenger was arrested for failing to comply with a release order.
The Niagara Regional Police Service remains committed to reducing impaired driving offences through education and the apprehension
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Volunteers pitch in to help pollinators grow
By Evan Loree For NewsNow
A few dedicated volunteers came out to the Val Fleming Butterfly Garden at Rotary Park in Lincoln to work on one of the town’s pollinator gardens on Saturday morning.
PAUL LEWIS SETTIMI
They were led by Sean James, an ecolandscape designer and master gardener, who’s been caring for the garden since it was first installed.
“This is our third year actually, I think, looking after the garden,” he said.
James was brought on by Ontario Green and the Fleming Foundation, which partnered with the town of Lincoln to plant the pollinator garden in 2022.
“We’ve picked a mix of plants that provide nectar and plants that are what we would call host plants,” he said.
Host plants like the blazing star and golden rod provided food for insects, which then became food for birds.
Gardeners need to plant host species like these to support the next generation of wildlife, he explained.
James said most of the gardens he works on are made up of native species, which support more local wildlife.
“350 species of insects feed on goldenrod and have to feed on goldenrod, which is amazing,” he said.
Oak trees, also
a native species, feed 500 species of moths and butterflies alone.
Non-native species, like the Norweigan maple, feed only one kind of insect and do not promote biodiversity, James said
“Not only do they do nothing, but they spread and push out our native species and all the things that would feed on them,” he said.
Volunteer gardener Sharon Pfeifer said she’d been watching the butterfly garden at the Fleming Center grow over the years and jumped at the opportunity to come out and get her hands dirty.
“Native plants are my passion project,” she said.
Austin Azevedo was working on his high school volunteer hours at the garden.
“I could definitely see myself going into horticultural landscaping and maybe one day making my own business out of it,” he said.
James said it was “really important” to educate people about native plants and pollinator gardens because of a “global collapse of insect populations.”
Despite the decline, he was optimistic for the future.
“A lot of the people getting into our profession are doing so because we can fix the world. It doesn’t matter what you’re interested in. Horticulture can fix it.”
James and his volunteers can be found at the Rotary Park garden the first Saturday of every month and are always looking for additional volunteers, he said.
Anna Mammadova joins a couple other volunteers early Saturday morning at Beamsville’s Rotary Park maintaining a polinator garden. Loree - Photo
6th Annual Volunteer Pay Subscription Drive
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OBITUARIES
Vanamerongen, Jacoba (Joka) nee Vroegop
After 85 years of God’s blessings, Jacoba VanAmerongen passed into glory to be with her Saviour on Monday, August 5, 2024 with her family at her side. Born in Scheveningen, the Netherlands on September 28, 1938, the fourth of six children born to Dirk and Jacoba Vroegop, Joka emigrated to Canada in 1958 to join her fiancé David VanAmerongen. They were married the following year and were blessed with six children. Joka was a dedicated, faithful, loving Christian, wife, mother, and grandmother, using her creative talents to serve her family, friends, and church community even after her diagnosis with Alzhiemers late in her life.
Jacoba was dearly loved and will be missed by her husband David, her children Rick VanAmerongen, Rob and Joyce VanAmerongen, David and Pam VanAmerongen, Connie VanAmerongen, James and Linda VanAmerongen, and Jennifer and Ed VanderVegte, as well as her 22 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren. She is survived by her sister Catja Vroegop and Jan Rijdes, her brother Hans and Magteld Vroegop, brothers and sisters in law Maarten Taal, Klaas Visser, John and Margriet VanAmerongen, Anne VanAmerongen, Henk and Jenny VanVeen, Valerie VanAmerongen, Diane Stroop, Charlie and Anna Piper. She was predeceased by her granddaughters Arielle and Amanda VanAmerongen, her sister Adrie Taal, brothers Cor and Dirk Vroegop, her brothers and sisters in law Alie Vroegop, Tiny Vroegop, Joanne Visser, John and Willy Ludwig, Henk VanAmerongen, Bert VanAmerongen, and George Stroop.
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” - Psalm 121: 1-2.
Visitation will be held from 3-5 PM and from 7-9 PM on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at GRASSIE CANADIAN REFORMED CHURCH, 480 Woolverton Road, Grimsby, where the funeral service will also be held on Thursday, Aug 8 at 11:00. There will be a private family interment before the service.
OBITUARIES
Petersen,
Margaret Jeannine (Jean) Aug. 29, 1930 - July 28, 2024
Passed away peacefully at McNally House in Grimsby adjacent to the site of the Nelles fruit farm where she grew up. Daughter of Allen and Lilla (Kitchen) Nelles. Beloved by her son Glenn Petersen and his wife Deborah Coon-Petersen. Fondly remembered by cousins, and by friends at St. Elizabeth’s Village in Hamilton where she lived for many years. Mom enjoyed farming, gardening, nature, hiking, photography, playing organ/piano, knitting, and all sorts of puzzles. Special thanks to numerous PSWs from Bayshore Healthcare and all the wonderful people at McNally House. Cremation has taken place. No public service is planned. Donations to McNally House Hospice would be appreciated. Condolences may be made online at donaldvbrown.ca.
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– The Tallman Family”
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Brian G. Culp 905-641-5945 (Cell) bculp2@cogeco.ca
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Poilievre not a “progressive”: reader Letter
Dear Editor, In response to your editorial of July 4th, while I agree with most of your assessment, I have to take exception with calling Poilievre a “progressive”.
That’s like calling the wolf circling the hen house a vegetarian.
cut social services that will make Harper look like a rookie Republican.
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Poilievre is a die hard Milton Friedman- Ronald Reagan trickle down deconstructionist who if given the opportunity will dismantle labour safety laws, restrict voting rights, attack unions with Right to Work legislation , undermine the courts and
A decade of Harper’s trickle down economics (trickling down to offshore tax havens) only helped the Oil & Gas sector while crippling Ontario’s manufacturing.
There’s a reason Premier Ford is distancing himself from Poilievre, he knows that P.P will be a repeat of the Harper legal battles, street protests and divisive politics.
As for Trump crossing the border… stock up on white flags and running shoes. NATO’s Article 5? Don’t hold your breath.
Claude Marcotte Grimsby
Poilievre’s AXE the TAX bumper sticker is nothing more than a dog whistle to rile up the permanently disgruntled fringe base and to protect his oil and gas connections once he leaves office. Let me remind your readers of Harper’s “I will not tax income trusts” in 2006 only to tax income trusts in 2011.
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Helping hands
Sharon Pfeifer volunteers her time once a month to help maintain the pollinator garden at Rotary Park in Beamsville. Loree - Photo
Volunteer efforts appreciated
There are some dedicated - and very quiet - volunteer efforts underway with many groups and in many activities across Niagara West.
Those who put in time supporting the pollinator garden, as highlighted in this week’s edition are one. Grimsby has others who are helping out Monarch butterflies, which you will read about next week. There are many others.
People who put in time organizing events, coaching all manner of sports and activities, drivers who help seniors get around and/or deliver them meals...I could go on and on.
All these efforts make our communities the great places in which to live. For that, they deserve thanks. M.W.
Still two years to turn it around
Anyone who has read my offerings over the years knows I go pretty “hard in the paint” - to coin a basketball term for max effort.
Whether I worked for someone else, corporate or independent publisher, I put in the same effort as I do working for myself...a one-trick pony as it were.
At no time have I said I was perfect. Far from it. When I make a mistake, I have no problem saying so and have regularly - without fail - printed many Letters to The Editor over the years pointing errors in my thinking or differing opinion from readers.
I welcome it.
So it was notably odd to have a threatened lawsuit threathened by Grimsby Coun. Veronica Charrois over an error - 100 per cent it was an absolute mistake - published back on July 11 without have anyone, not a single person, note there was an mistake printed.
The error, as clearly stated in the correction on Page 1 - which is only fair since that is where the original story regarding the multiple infractions which Grimsby’s Integrity Commissioner found Coun. Charrois in breach of originated. Coun. Charrois has been in my office for a variety of reasons and sent me Facebook messages on varied topics,
too. It would have been so easy to do something like that again, anything to note the error. Instead, she had a lawyer send a letter.
I can assure you, good reader, the same correction would have run in the next edition, July 18, had I known.
But the delayed and escalated reaction is symptomatic of the issues which have blighted Grimsby council. There is no discussion; no consideration of differing opinion; no common sense.
One is either 100% wrong or 100% right with no consideration of having a thoughtful discourse to reach a point of understanding halfway in the middle - or anywhere close to it.
You’re either brilliant or an idiot. Not an ounce of grey to be found between black and white on issues around the council table.
In this case, while no grey area exists with the error, there was a lack of
common sense.
A simple, but absolute error to not note Charrois’s 45-day suspension, as passed by council, was pay only and did not hinder her from performing her duties in the slightest.
I really don’t expect the issues at council to change. The die is cast, I’m afraid.
However, some place along the line people have to get over themselves and start thinking for the good of the Town as a whole instead of just trying to get back at others for a perceived wrong.
The fact this councillor would rather call a lawyer and spend I don’t know how many thousands of dollars to get the same thing in which a phone call or office visit would have culminated.
Converse. Problem solve. Work with people instead of against them. Common sense.
As I have implored Grimsby council last term and, sadly, again this term, please set aside petty grievances and get the wheels of the Town turning more smoothlymuch more smoothly. There was such a sense of relief when this new bunch got in - optimism, hope.
The air is gone from that balloon but there are still two more years to at least try to turn it around. The Town deserves it.
MIKE WILLISCRAFT
Delivered via Canada Post
Poilievre manipulating understandable anger: reader
Dear Editor,
I couldn’t help noticing that more than half of the “Poilievre could be more stately” letter was devoted to outlining Trudeau’s faults when addressing Poilievre’s lack of stateliness and policies.
Kind of reminds me of someone’s ‘Canada’s broken and only Trudeau’s to blame’ mantra, which sounds awfully familiar to someone else’s ‘the U.S. is broken and it’s all Biden’s fault and I’m the only one who can fix it’ spiel.
(For the record, no one denies there’s been issues with Trudeau’s governing, including his unforgivable reneging on electoral reform, because look at where the antiquated FPTP system has gotten both the U.S. and Canada so far.)
As for stateliness, I’m not sure Poilievre understands what the concept means. From his constant bellicose behaviour in the House of Commons (“wacko” anyone?), to his most recent “I am also happy the suspected shooter is dead. Democracy must prevail” comment, stateliness does not appear to be his forte.
Simplistic slogans and phrases like ‘Axe the Tax’ (which includes axing the rebate cheques most Canadians get) and ‘powerful paycheques’ (how exactly? increased minimum wage? limits to corporate profits?) are more his strength. As if the carbon tax, like Trudeau, is the primary reason behind all of Canada’s woes…
But more importantly, let’s
look at how Poilievre’s (Stephen Harper’s progeny, and make no mistake, as head of the IDU whose sole goal is to elect as many global right-wing parties as possible, Stephen’s still behind the scenes in this rehashed Reform government) style and stated intentions are, in fact, similar to Trump’s.
For this we can check Poilievre’s past record as a 20 year+ career politician to see what he’s accomplished besides ditching his glasses (who knew a makeover could be so expensive?!), and to what he says now to find some relevant comparisons.
Like Trump, he purports to be an anti-elitist standing up for the common man all the while courting corporations and lobbyists, so you can bet your bottom dollar any future policies won’t hurt grocery store CEO billionaires or other corporate elite.
Speaking of courting, Poilievre is now also giving speeches in churches in hopes of gaining yet more Christian and social conservative votes, something even Stephen Harper, an evangelical Christian himself, didn’t do. Anyone remember Trump and his Bible photo-op, who is still banking on Christian voters today without appearing to have even a single Christian bone in his own body?
Poilievre has said he’d consider the use of the notwithstanding clause, something a
few provincial Conservative premiers have been doing of late as well, but it would be a new milestone for a federal leader. Hmm, I hear an echo of “I’ll be a dictator on Day One…” by the now criminally-immunefrom-prosecution Trump.
And given his distaste for social support (voting against a National School Food Program and promising to shut down supervised consumption sites for people with addiction problems that will cause even more deaths), would he have implemented CERB or CEWS (the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy that groups like Stephen Harper’s consulting firm willingly took) had he been PM during COVID-19? Oh dear, it looks like a single axe may not do.
Poilievre needs to stop falsely blaming Trudeau and the carbon tax for inflation and just about everything else under the sun, and we all need to demand answers about specific solutions, proposed policies, planned program cuts, etc., because reducing taxes alone isn’t going to decrease things like rent and food prices, or stop corporate profits from ballooning.
In short, he’s manipulating people’s understandable anger over the cost of living and lack of affordable housing (a global issue) without addressing the real causes, and if elected he’ll continue to serve the wealthy few. Unfortunately, just as with Mr. Project 2025 Trump, too many can’t see through his fake populist shtick.
Christa Bervoets
