> Expensive surgery last pain relief hope for Grimsby’s Sydney Gill /Pg 15 > Casablanca EA out, review requested Pg 5 > NRP warn of tax fraud schemes Pg 6 > ‘Tis the season for Spring Home Improvement Pg 7-11 Thursday, March 28, 2019 Vol. 8 Issue 45
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Up Front Peach Kings home Friday
Going into Wednesday night’s Game 4 in Wellesley up 2-1 in the series, the Grimsby Peach Kings will return home for Game 5 Friday night at 8 p.m. Parking and a shuttle from Blessed Trinity’s parking lot have been planned for what is sure to be a packed house.
Mental support launches April 4
The Jeff McKillop Memorial Fund, in connection with Niagara United, will bring MAPS (Mental Health Awareness Peer Support) meetings to West Niagara starting next Thursday, April 4. Meetings will be held at the Grimsby Pumphouse from 7-9 p.m. “The meetings will be a safe, supportive and non-judgmental place to gather and work on us,” said organizer Jenn McKillop.
Lions wild game dinner next week
Jordan Lions Club hosts its annual wild game dinner Friday, April 5 at 6 p.m. at St. John’s Anglican Church in Jordan. Bison ribs, wild boar stew, cultured duck breast and venison are all on the menu. Tickets are $50pp. Call Ray, 289-237-0593, for tickets. It will sell out!
Circ: 26,529
5.63% tax hike a “great” budget, says Mayor Bylsma By Mike Williscraft NewsNow West Lincoln Twp. council approved a 5.63 per cent tax increase to ratepayers Monday night. The impact is $67 for each home with an average assessed value of $364,000. The move, according to Mayor Dave Bylsma took care of some long overdue infrastructure issues as well as some unexpected expenses, while looking ahead. Rural road and bridge repair has been a longstanding sore point for many. Four bridges are slated for updating this year, two of those were supposed to be done in 2018, but were bumped. Other new costs include IT/maintenance, a customer service/
admin clerk, library programming and three new West Lincoln Community Centre staff. The latter was a sore point for Bylsma the last couple of years as staffing costs at the WLCC was an item never factored in by the previous council. “Historically, I was the only one raising the issue of staffing but never received any answers. It was one of the main reasons I never voted for it,” said Bylsma, noting that impact on the levy alone is 1.75 per cent. “Overall, if you subtract the five per cent we inherited (on the WLCC), it’s a great budget with a great focus on rural infrastructure.” See BUDGET, Page 3
Hot stuff, comin’ through!
Wilma Lounsbury, left, and Barb Robinson set out some of the dishes prepared for Monday’s Seniors Potluck at the Lincoln Centre. Marks - Photo
Grimsby whittles budget hit to 8.97% Unexpected capital projects, bad investments impact 2019 tax levy By Mike Williscraft NewsNow A budget process which has included dealing with additional biodigester investments and a $1 million Peach King Centre floor repair, Grimsby Council has arrived at a projected 8.97 per cent
tax increase. The increase on the Town portion of the tax bill will translate into $74.44 on an average assessed home of $380,000. Among the key expenditures: • $1 million will be directed
from the Federal Gas Grant to pay for the replacement of one ice rink surface at the Peach King Centre; • $100,000 approved for the museum, library and art gallery for overdue repairs; • $1,894,000 approved for equipment and maintenance
for parks and recreational programs • $6,027,000 to public works for overdue improvements to various roads, bridges and Lake Ontario shoreline protection; • $118,000 approved for new See GRIMSBY, Page 3