NewsNow E-Edition April 13 2023

> Grimsby considers taking some meetings offline due to trolls /Pg 11

> Hawk monitoring begins at Beamer Pg 4 > Mother’s Day tea set for Nelles Manor Page 6 > Spin fundraiser for Ukraine relief set Pg 19

Thursday, April 13, 2023

Vol. 11

Issue 50

www.wn3.ca

Proudly serving Grimsby, Lincoln, West Lincoln & Winona

100% Niagara West owned & operated Circ: 29,006

Ready, set, go!!

It was a mad dash for candy as fast as participants’ little legs would run at Saturday’s Beamsville Lions Easter Egg Hunt at Lions Park Beamsville. The egg hunt, snacks, drinks, face painting and more were all part of the fun. For more coverage, please turn to Page 12 for more coverage. McDonald - Photo

DiFlavio, Baradziej walk

Grimsby 5.97% budget hike ratified

By Mike Williscraft NewsNow

Grimsby council approved its 5.97 per cent budget increase for 2023 on April 3 as expected, but two councillors walking

out mid-meeting was not on anyone’s bingo card.

Coun. Nick DiFlavio did not like that he was not given an opportunity to try convincing fellow councillors to

reconsider their support of the budget and Coun. Jacob Baradziej followed DiFlavio out the door after the budget item.

With the minutes from the March 21

budget meeting at council for ratification, DiFlavio needed a motion passed to lift the item to open debate.

His motion was defeated 6-3.

With no motion to

lift, Mayor Jeff Jordan moved on to approval of the budget mintues, which was approved by show of hands.

The approved increase will impact an average assessed

home of $442,000 by $97 in 2023.

While proper procedure was followed in the meeting, DiFlavio did not like that he was not able to comment.

See BUDGET, Page 3

Nelles Manor Museum

1788 Heritage Home & 1812 Battle Site Where History Is Brought To Life

Battle of The Forty

In 1813 the American forces captured Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The British troops retreated to The Forty (Grimsby), followed by the American troops who also stopped at The Forty, before advancing to Stoney Creek.

Although greatly outnumbered, the British forces surprised the Americans at night and caused them to retreat. They reorganized at the Forty and received orders to return to Stoney Creek and farther.

As they prepared to advance they were attacked by a small band of Indigenous warriors and militia from the escarpment and fired on by the British Navy from the lake. The threat of

these combined forces caused them to be ordered to retreat back to Fort George.

The effects of this battle at the Forty on Robert Nelles land changed the course of the War in this area. The Americans had the opportunity to control the entire Niagara Region of Upper Canada and possibly beyond. However, their retreat from the Forty left Fort George as their only position in the Niagara Region. Nelles Manor is a major historic home and battle site in the story of Canada’s development.

As an independent Museum whose annual operations are not funded by government, your support is important to ensure this valuable historic site remains as a part of our heritage.

An original 1812 era sword

Musket fire during a historic re-enactment

BUDGET

From Page 1

“I didn’t think it was right to cut me off. It’s the budget. It’s important,” said DiFlavio, after the meeting.

“The mayor shut down debate.”

As for walking out, DiFlavio was unapologetic. With DiFlavio and Baradziej walking out, Grimsby’s Ward 4 had no representation for the short remainder of the council meeting or in the closed session which followed.

Jordan confirmed after the meeting that proper procedure was followed that when minutes come to council a motion to lift an item for further debate is needed.

The 2023 budget process followed that of recent years with a near-complete document coming to council after a series of internal meetings and discussions.

Jordan and several town staff confirmed several hours were open for budget discussions between department heads and council members for more than a month.

This came after council went through a detailed process to establish a set of strategic objectives, so all items in the budget followed the goals set by council.

“There was lots of opportunity to dis-

cuss the budget and we had a thorough debate at our March 21 meeting.” said Jordan.

A major part of the problem this year was the lack of detailed information and communication at that March 21 meeting.

For example, there was no outline made public of the effort and planning which set the framework for the budget document.

As well, key information with some of the more contentious budget items was simply not brought into the conversation.

On that point, the block hiring of five new positions drew

a lot of interest not only for the way it was presented as an all-or-nothing package but also with the seemingly hefty price tag of $128,000 for a new event planner.

Of the total price tag presented, $60,000 of it is for materials and marketing for Town events. Knocking out the value of benefits, less than half that total would actually be wage.

DiFlavio said he is looking forward to a return of a more detailed and public budget review process for 2024 after council has converted its procedures back to the standing committee format.

General Meeting

Tuesday, April 25th 7 p.m.

It’s the ELECTIONS for 2023/2024 Executive Committee

All Members are invited to participate. 2023 paid membership required. ID required for admittance.

Higher mortgage renewal rates and lower property valuations; A perfect storm for power of sale.

Last year, I predicted that we’d see more instances of homeowners defaulting on their mortgage payments, and mortgage lenders taking legal action to recoup their loans in the form of power of sale. In Ontario, power of sale is the most common legal remedy used by mortgagees of land.

While I take great delight in being right on my predictions, this is not one of those times. Higher mortgage renewal rates are on the horizon for all homeowners this Spring, however, the hardest hit will be those homeowners who hold an alternative-lender or non-prime mortgage. I am seeing renewal rates in the range of 8 to 9-percent from some non-prime mortgage companies. For many homeowners, this higher-rate monthly payment is not sustainable.

In addition, property values have dropped as much as 30% in some areas of Niagara. A lower property valuation may make it impossible for a homeowner to move their mortgage elsewhere in an attempt to obtain a lower rate.

I encourage any homeowner who has a nonprime or subprime mortgage coming up for renewal to contact me for a second opinion before simply agreeing to renew for another 1 or 2-year term with that lender. Pledge 30 minutes of your time with me, and in that 30 minutes, I can provide you with a complimentary mortgage review. My goal is to help you stay in your home, or assist you with a sale plan of action so that you - not your bank, controls your property sale.You’ve got nothing to lose, and possibly thousands to gainCall me.

Beamsville

Margo Wynhofen, B.A.Econ., Principal Broker

Hawk migration monitoring underway

Monitoring of the 2023 spring hawk migration is once again underway as members of the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch (NPH) visit Beamer Memorial Conservation Area (Beamer) daily to count raptor sightings.

Beamer is known as the best vantage point in the Niagara Peninsula, with sightings of more than 14,000 hawks, eagles, falcons, and vultures on average each spring. A variety of birds of prey are seen at the site each spring, as they migrate from

South and Central America, the Caribbean, and the U.S. to their nesting territories in Canada.

Since 1975, dedicated and trained spotters and counters have counted migrating raptors annually at Beamer from March 1-May 15.

Visitors can join other hawkwatchers throughout the season to learn how to identify birds of prey such as golden eagles or red-tailed hawks, which are a few of the first species to be seen in early spring.

Notice of Intention to Designate

50-52 Park Road North

TAKE NOTICE that Grimsby Town Council, on April 3rd, 2023 resolved to issue a Notice of Intention to Designate 50-52 Park Road North; GRIMSBY as a property of cultural heritage value or interest under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.

THE REASON, for the Notice of Intention to Designate is to recognize the physical, associative and contextual value that 50-52 Park Road North contributes towards the Town of Grimsby’s inclusive heritage.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The Large Brick House – The large brick house is representative of the craftsman style typical to Ontario in the 1920s. Key aspects of this style include symmetry, the double flue chimney with decorative stone details, smooth red brick with lime mortar, gable roof with front-facing gable dormer, deep eaves and soffits, stone-cut lintels, stone-cut sills, transom window over front door (3 lite), decorative green wooden trim at eaves and on second story features, enclosed front porch (including red brick knee walls with stone caps, square brick columns, enclosed in 1930), first story box bay windows with flat roofs (including brick and cut stone construction and overhanging roof line featuring green wooden trim), original window and door openings, some original wooden storm windows, poured concrete foundation, rear porch and balcony, original light over front door, original front door, and mature landscaping. The large house on the Gadsby property has ties with notable names within the Grimsby community. The property was originally owned by fruit farmer, businessman, and councilor James Marlow, who initiated the construction of this subdivision. The Gadsby family also lived in the structure while operating the adjacent shoe factory and business, E.J. Gadsby and Sons. The Gadsby Shoe Factory was opened by Edwin James Gadsby, who made the factory a place of innovation and a centre of shoe production in Grimsby during its years of operation. The factory remained in the Gadsby family through 3 generations before being sold by Edwin’s grandson, EJ Gordon Gadsby, in 2022.

The property is physically, functionally, visually, or historically linked to its surroundings. The large house on the Gadsby property is important in defining the relationship between Grimsby beach, Grimsby Town and the QEW.

The Factory – The Industrial Streamline Moderne building is unique in its style because of its timber post and beam construction system with wooden exterior frame, and details such as; the three story structure, original one story structure with multiple story additions, multi-story flat roofs with perimeter parapet, original iron entrance gates to factory/property with brick columns and concrete caps , three arched carriage style loading doors with strap hinges on the oldest section of the building, Original double-hung sash wooden windows (one over ones, four over fours and some wooden storm windows), folding exterior metal fire escape, unique 56 pane patterned glass block window, metal smoke stack, smooth red brick chimneys, unique corner window placement, and identifying feature of Streamline Moderne architecture, original window and door openings, steel fire escape ladder, original wood entrance door with glazing and side lites on the North facade, flat roofed awning over main entrance door, second story wooden loading doors with glazing, second story hoist over loading doors, paneled roof access door, original window and door openings, window groupings, proximity to train station and QEW, proximity to the Gadsby family houses, and mature landscaping.

In addition to simply producing shoes, the Gadsby Shoe Factory created patents on the tongue and boot top, made shoes for soldiers during World War II.

The Industrial Streamline Moderne factory has relationships with important names from the Grimsby community. The property was home to The Gadsby Shoe Factory, which was the creator of various patents and innovations in the shoe making world. It is one of the few remaining historic industrial sites in Grimsby

The Industrial Streamline Moderne factory has been in operation since the 1930’s, and owned by the same family. The building, contents, and grounds have the potential to yield information that contributes to the understanding of a community.

The Shafer brothers contributed to the construction of the buildings and evolution of the site. The Shafer Brothers are significant to the Grimsby community because of the amount of high quality surviving buildings they constructed within the town.

The property is considered a landmark when driving down the highway and service road. This property would have also been a landmark along the original Park Rd prior to the construction of the QEW. Further, newspaper articles spoke to the design of the factory and there was significant emphasis on the design and the use of “shiny materials”.

HERITAGE ATTRIBUTES TO BE DESIGNATED

The Heritage Attributes to be designated at 50-52 Park Road North include:

Large House:

● Craftsman architectural style

● Smooth red brick with lime mortar

● Stone-cut lintels

● Original window and door openings

● Original wooden storm windows

● Symmetrical architectural features

● Gable roof with front-facing gable dormer

● Stone-cut sills

● Original light over front door

● Poured concrete foundation

● Double flue chimney with decorative stone details

● Transom window over front door (3 lite) and 18 pane side lites

● Mature landscaping

● Rear porch and balcony

● Original front door

● Deep eaves and soffits

● Decorative green wooden trim at eaves and on second story features

● First story box bay windows with flat roofs (including brick and cut stone construction and overhanging roof line featuring green wooden trim)

● Enclosed front porch (including red brick knee walls with stone caps, square brick and 15 pane casement windows)

Factory:

● Original one story structure with multiple storey additions

● Multi-story flat roofs with parameter parapet

● Original iron entrance gates to factory/property with brick columns with concrete caps

● Three arched carriage style loading doors with strap hinges

● Historic white and red paint colour scheme

● Metal smoke stack

● Double-car garage door

● Steel fire escape ladder

● Extra-wide wooden door

● Original double-hung sash wooden windows (one over ones, four over fours and wooden storm windows)

● Timber post and beam construction system with wooden exterior frame

● Unique corner window placement

● Second storey wooden loading doors with glazing

● Original window and door openings, window groupings

OBJECTIONS

● Flat roofed awning over main entrance door

● Smooth red brick chimneys

● Proximity to train station and QEW

● Folding exterior metal fire escape

● Unique 56 pane patterned glass block window

● Original window and door openings

● Original wood entrance door with glazing and side lites

● Second storey hoist over loading doors

● Proximity to the Gadsby family houses

● Paneled roof access door with glazing and original colour scheme

● Mature landscaping

Any objection to this designation must be filed no later than 30 days after the date of publication of the notice of intention in a newspaper. Objections should be directed to Bonnie

Nistico-Dunk, Town Clerk, Town Clerk, 160 Livingston Avenue, Grimsby ON, L3M 0J53.

MORE INFORMATION

Any inquiries may be directed to Bianca Verrecchia, Heritage Planner at 905-945-9634 ext. 2122 or by email bverrecchia@grimsby.ca

Last date to file Notice of Objection: May 13th, 2023

Grimsby’s Town Council Approves 2023 Budget

At the Council meeting of April 3, 2023, Town Council approved the 2023 Budget. Council approved the 2023 budget with a 5.97 per cent increase to the Town’s portion of the tax levy, for an overall property tax increase of 6.30 per cent when combined with the regional and educational levies. The 5.97 per cent increase to the Town’s portion of the tax levy results in residential property taxes increase by $97 per year ($8 a month), for an average residential household assessed at $442,000.

Through the 2023 budget, Council is investing in our people, places, and prosperity. The 2023 budget balances valuable services, initiatives, and investments in the Grimsby community while being fiscally responsible, and financially sustainable.

Some of key investments being made to meet Council’s Strategic Priorities include:

• To provide a high quality of life by supporting happy, healthy lives in a wellconnected inclusive community by providing initiatives such as:

• Customer service, communication, and volunteer strategies;

• A change to governance structure;

• The Fire Master Plan;

• Investing in the Transportation Master Plan to support future growth;

• Creating library and cultural strategic plans; and

• Investing in active living infrastructure such as the Peach King Centre Expansion, Whittaker Park, and the 40 Mile Creek Bridge.

• Fostering vibrant neighbourhoods while protecting and promoting our natural environment through:

• Developing strong plans on how Grimsby grows, supported by the Official Plan, the Heritage Study, while balancing emerging legislative changes;

• Protecting and improving our natural environment through the 2 Billion Trees initiative and continued environmental sustainability; and

• Promoting a vibrant, active, safe Grimsby by investing in the Downtown Reimagined project, supporting the Farmers Market, and completing parking studies to support resident and commercial business needs.

• Driving innovation and collaboration in our local economy to benefit everyone by investing in:

• The Town’s website to improve information sharing and attract businesses;

• A tourism strategy to promote the Town of Grimsby; and

• The Asset Management Plan to ensure strategic investments to maximize asset life.

“Our team has spent a tremendous amount of time and effort creating a budget that appropriately balances the needs of residents and businesses today, while ensuring Grimsby has a strong and bright future” said Sarah Kim, Acting Chief Administrative Officer. “We are confident that this budget is a positive step in moving the Town forward to realizing its goals and achieving Council’s Strategic Priorities”.

Mayor Jeff Jordan noted that “approving the budget is a huge accomplish for our new Council, and I would like to thank all of its members for their time, effort, and diligence. This budget will allow us to accomplish our Strategic Priorities, and ensure that residents are provided the services they need both now, and in the future”.

Contact:

Beth Brens Director of Finance/Treasurer bbrens@grimsby.ca

Mother’s Day tea at the manor returns

Nelles Manor Museum will play host to its very popular Mother’s Day Tea on Saturday, May 13.

The manor, located at 126 Main St. in Grimsby, is a 1798 home of Col. Robert Nelles. The grounds are a War of 1812 battlefield site.

“The Mother’s Day event is always sold out, so we encourage

everyone to get their tickets early,” said Kate Pyatt, museum manager.

Tickets, which include a fashion show staged by Donna’s Fashions, are $40 each. The event starts at 1 p.m. For more information, call 289-235-7755 or email: info@nellesmanor.ca

Notice of PassingHeritage Designation Bylaw 23-26

TAKE NOTICE THAT TAKE NOTICE that Grimsby Town Council passed Designation Bylaw 23-26 on April 3rd, 2023 which designates the building known municipally as 115 Gibson Street., under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.O.18, as amended, as a property of cultural heritage value or interest.

IF YOU WISH TO APPEAL TO THE ONTARIO LAND TRIBUNAL (OLT). An appeal of the Designation Bylaw for the Property may be made by filing a notice of appeal with the Town Clerk, Objections should be directed to Bonnie Nistico-Dunk, Town Clerk, P.O. Box 159, 160 Livingston Avenue, Grimsby ON, L3M 4G3. Within thirty days of April 13, 2023.

Appeals to Tribunal shall include:

1. A notice of appeal setting out the objection to the by-law.

2. The reasons in support of the objection.

3. Accompanied by the fee charged by the Tribunal.

AN APPEAL CAN BE FILED BY, Any person who objects to the by-law may appeal to the Tribunal by giving notice to the Tribunal and the clerk of the municipality, within 30 days after the date of publication a notice of appeal setting out the objection to the by-law and the reasons in support of the objection, accompanied by the fee charged by the Tribunal.

FURTHER INFORMATION A copy of the bylaw and background information about the application is available from the municipality by contacting Bianca Verrecchia, Heritage Planner: Email: bverrecchia@grimsby.ca Phone: (905)945-9634 Ext. 2122

THIS NOTICE PUBLISHED on the 13th day of April, 2023. Bonnie Nistico-Dunk, Town Clerk Town of Grimsby 160 Livingston Avenue Grimsby, ON, L3M 0J5

Notice of Intention to Designate 42 Roberts Road

TAKE NOTICE that Grimsby Town Council, on April 3rd, 2023 resolved to issue a Notice of Intention to Designate PT LT 14 CON 2, North Grimsby (FMLY PCL 24), as in RO723459; BLK 52, PL 30M-315 ; GRIMSBY as a property of cultural heritage value or interest under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.

THE REASON, for the Notice of Intention to Designate is to recognize the physical, associative and contextual value that 42 Roberts Road contributes towards the Town of Grimsby’s inclusive heritage.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

42 Roberts Road is a two storey structural stone construction house built in the Loyalist-Georgian Style. The house is built on the foundation of an earlier log cabin Some of the key physical attributes include; the mixture of local stone for the masonry, gable roof, full width porch, two brick chimneys, wooden porch columns with quatrefoil brackets, front door surround, side lights and half columns. The Georgian style was popular among the United Empire Loyalist (UEL) settlers who wanted to construct homes that incorporated a European influence from the architecture of their native countries. The quatrefoil brackets are an unusual feature and are a detail not commonly found within Grimsby. The design can be attributed to medieval influences in Gothic designs.

The wooden lintels above the doors and windows in the earliest portion of the building are another common construction method seen in loyalist architecture. The wooden lintel was phased out and replaced by the use of solid stone, or stone voussoir arches. The later additions on the house utilize some of these building practices. The multiple additions on the house are important in tell the story of how the building has evolved for the occupants over time. The house has had many alterations over the years which can be seen by the in-fill of some window and doors, and the addition of a shed dormer on the West façade.

In 1806 following the marriage to his Wife Catherine, Andrews’s oldest son Jonathan Pettit was given a parcel of land that was located adjacent to his father’s land. Jonathan was active in the war of 1812 and was later appointed to a Lieutenant position, Jonathan was stationed in Niagara, he also fought in the battle of Lundy’s Lane, as well as the Engagement at the Forty. In 1820 Jonathan built the stone house which he named “The Evergreens”. The house and farm stayed within the family until 1921.

Jonathan’s son, Jonathan Robins inherited his father’s property and converted the farm use to focus on the raising of livestock, specifically Shorthorn cattle and thoroughbred horses. Jonathan R is credited with improving the Shorthorn cattle breed and was known for his horses. His son Jonathan Ambrose later inherited, and converted the farm to tender fruits and berries instead of livestock, which was becoming a popular economy in Grimsby.

42 Roberts road maintains a deep setback and rural atmosphere that strongly represents the former viewscape of the area, prior to the construction of the surrounding subdivisions. The property is representative of the once large and substantial family owned farms that contributed to the success of Grimsby.

42 Roberts is physically and visually linked to its surroundings. When Jonathan Pettit built his stone house it was at the beginning of the farming economy in Grimsby. The area surrounding “The Evergreens” was all newly cleared agricultural land with few neighbors. Jonathan created a steady income source through farming the land, so much so he had tenant farmers that lived on the same lot (38 Roberts). He built a farm that was sustainable through generations, allowing his sons and grandsons to inherit a working-farm. 42 Roberts Road is the oldest surviving structure in the immediate area, and has significant ties to the Pettit’s and their surrounding estates. Historically the surrounding large parcels were also owned by members and descendants of the Pettit family.

HERITAGE ATTRIBUTES TO BE DESIGNATED

The Heritage Attributes to be designated at 42 Roberts Road include:

Defining elements of the house:

• Georgian architecture

• Two brick chimneys

• Window and door openings

• Low pitched gable roof

• Full width porch

• Masonry, built of local stone, with a lime mortar

• Front door surround

• Long landscaped driveway from Roberts Road

• Grouping of trees between the heritage resource and Evergreens Drive

OBJECTIONS

• Porch columns and quatrefoil brackets

• Wooden window and door lintels

•Symmetrical front façade

•Views from Evergreens Drive

•Intentional planting of evergreen trees surrounding the property

Any objection to this designation must be filed no later than 30 days after the date of publication of the notice of intention in a newspaper. Objections should be directed to Bonnie Nistico-Dunk, Town Clerk, Town Clerk, 160 Livingston Avenue, Grimsby ON, L3M 0J53.

MORE INFORMATION

Any inquiries may be directed to Bianca Verrecchia, Heritage Planner at 905-945-9634 ext. 2122 or by email bverrecchia@grimsby.ca

Last date to file Notice of Objection: May 13th, 2023

West Lincoln families hop to community centre Egg hunt

Hopping onto the fire truck, four little bunnies (L-R) Cooper Hendriks, 6, Harper Hendriks, 7, Paisley Long, 5, and Tessa Long, 7 are under the watchful eye of West Lincoln firefighter Steven LeClair.

The Lika siblings, Aleeah, 3, Leo , 2, and Arjanna, 4, are having a great day.

The Easter Bunny took time to visit with some friends (L to R) Angelina Vitale, 7, Gianluca Vitale, 5; Vienna Vitale, 4; Jack Calabrese, 2, and Leo Calabrese, 5.

Scrambling around hay bales on the splash pad, youngsters raced to find hidden eggs.

It was a successful candy run for Emily, 3, and Liam, 10 months, with their mom Irina Shestatova.

Harper Bakai, 4, cuddles Pippi the alpaca from Triple C Farm Sanctuary & Petting Farm.

Photos By Joanne McDonald

Notice of Intention to Designate 38 Roberts Road

TAKE NOTICE that Grimsby Town Council, on April 3rd, 2023 resolved to issue a Notice of Intention to Designate PT LT 14 CON 2, North Grimsby (FMLY PCL 25), as in RO566208; PT 7, 30R-10341 ; GRIMSBY as a property of cultural heritage value or interest under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.

THE REASON, for the Notice of Intention to Designate is to recognize the physical, associative and contextual value that 38 Roberts Road contributes towards the Town of Grimsby’s inclusive heritage.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

38 Roberts Road is a two storey structural stone construction house built in the Loyalist-Georgian Style. Some of the key physical attributes include; the mixture of local stone for the masonry, gable roof, and window placement. The wooden lintels above the doors and windows in the earliest portion of the building are another common construction method seen in loyalist architecture. The gable on the South façade of the house would have originally faced the entrance on Main Street West, before Roberts Road became an opened Road.

38 Roberts road is directly associated with the Pettit Family. Andrew Pettit one of the first United Empire Loyalists who settled in Grimsby in 1797. Andrew was a recipient of a Crown land grant and was gifted land in cons 1 and 2 on lot 14.

In 1806 following the marriage to his Wife Catherine, Andrews’s oldest son Jonathan Pettit was given a parcel of land that was located adjacent to his father’s land. Jonathan was active in the war of 1812 and was later appointed a Lieutenant, Jonathan was stationed at Niagara, and also fought in the battle of Lundy’s Lane, as well as the Engagement at the Forty. Jonathan built the Tenant House to accompany the main house, known as “The Evergreens” at 42 Roberts Road. The main house was built in 1820, and the tenant house was built shortly after, both buildings feature early wooden lintels. The Tenant house was in the Pettit family until 1921, when there were no longer any men in the family to inherit the farm.

The dwelling at 38 Roberts Road has the potential to yield information about the substantial role farming had within the community. The Pettit farm transitioned from orchards, to livestock farming and were recognized for their very specialized farming knowledge that they brought with them from New Jersey. The Pettit’s further transitioned to berry farming once they realized the unique climate of Niagara could sustain the specific type of crop, creating a more profitable tender fruit farm.

The property is representative of the once large and substantial family owned farms that contributed to the success of Grimsby. Historically the Pettit family owned over 200 acres of land, farming orchards, cattle and tender fruit and berries over a period of 100 years. Farms this large in the area would’ve had a large impact on the town, providing food and income to the residents.

38 Roberts gives an example of what housing would look like for tenant farmers of prosperous families. To have a surviving example of both the tenant house and the main house in situ provides an important image into the character of Roberts Road and how a well-established family like the Pettit’s supported the growth of the town around them.

Yes, 38 Roberts Road is physically and visually linked to its surroundings. When Jonathan Pettit built his stone house and Tenant house, it was at the start of the farming economy in Grimsby. The area surrounding “The Tenant house” was all newly cleared agricultural land with few neighbors. Jonathan created a steady income source through farming the land, so much so that he had the Tenant house built to house farmers that lived on the land.

HERITAGE ATTRIBUTES TO BE DESIGNATED

The Heritage Attributes to be designated at 38 Roberts Road include:

Defining elements of the house:

• Georgian architecture

• Wooden window and door lintels

• Low pitched gable roof

• Window and door openings

• Mixed stone cladding with interspersed Grimsby sandstone

OBJECTIONS

• Masonry, built of local stone, with a lime mortar

• Two bay front façade

• Stone gatepost beside the driveway

Any objection to this designation must be filed no later than 30 days after the date of publication of the notice of intention in a newspaper. Objections should be directed to Bonnie Nistico-Dunk, Town Clerk, Town Clerk, 160 Livingston Avenue, Grimsby ON, L3M 0J53.

MORE INFORMATION

Any inquiries may be directed to Bianca Verrecchia, Heritage Planner at 905-945-9634 ext. 2122 or by email bverrecchia@grimsby.ca

Last date to file Notice of Objection: May 13th, 2023

Notice of Intention to Designate 122 Main Street East

TAKE NOTICE that Grimsby Town Council, on April 3rd, 2023 resolved to issue a Notice of Intention to Designate PT LT 7 CON 2, North Grimsby (FMLY PCL 3) as in RO385903; GRIMSBY as a property of cultural heritage value or interest under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.

The Reason for the Notice of Intention to Designate is to recognize the physical, associative and contextual value that 122 Main Street East contributes towards the Town of Grimsby’s inclusive heritage Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The dwelling built in 1897 at 122 Main Street East was constructed with clay brick construction and sits on a cut stone foundation. The window openings feature segmental arches with header brick detailing above the voussoirs. The original window openings are completed with cut stone sills and some of the original wood windows still remain. The front façade of this structure is dressed with a wrap around porch, decorative fretwork and a unique double stacked porch over the original entry way. The entrances contain the original wood carved doors. The roof line of this structure is quite ornate with matching chimneys on either side of the hipped roof and an additional chimney in the rear of the structure. The historic fish scale slate tiles can still be found on the wraparound porch and the stacked porch.

The dwelling as 122 Main Street East has a high degree of craftsmanship and artistic merit. The dwelling acts as an excellent example of the style of housing historically found along the Main Street East corridor at the end of the 19th Century.

The dwelling at 122 Main Street East provides insight into the successful tender fruit farming industry that put the Town of Grimsby on the map. The development of the farm house estates along Main Street is also directly linked to the introduction of the HG& B electric railway that provided an opportunity for produce to be shipped further and faster then ever before.

The dwelling at 122 Main Street East is physically, functionally, visually and historically linked to its surroundings as it contributes to the Council identified Cultural Heritage Landscape along the historic Main Street corridor. The scale, mass and form of the historic dwelling contributes to the cohesive collection of traditional farm house estates that continued to fill the significant streetscape as the Main Street developed, and further as the prosperity of the fruit industry heightened. The remaining farm house estates act as vestiges of the past that visually depict the successful tender fruit industry.

HERITAGE ATTRIBUTES TO BE DESIGNATED

The Heritage Attributes to be designated at 122 Main Street East include:

Defining elements of the house:

· Exterior clay brick construction with stretcher bond

· Original window openings

· Original doorways · Wood doors with wood detailing and inserted glass panel

· Cut stone sill and lintels · Roof line

· Stepped clay brick chimneys

· Front facing secondary gable · Setback from Main Street East

· Wrap around and stacked wood porch, porch fretwork & porch roof line (fish scale slate shingles)

· Wood windows – one over one pane division with a segmentally arched top sash

· Cut stone foundation – cut stone foundation is placed in a coursed formation and paired with a lime based mortar

OBJECTIONS

Any objection to this designation must be filed no later than 30 days after the date of publication of the notice of intention in a newspaper. Objections should be directed to Bonnie Nistico-Dunk, Town Clerk, Town Clerk, 160 Livingston Avenue, Grimsby ON, L3M 0J53.

MORE INFORMATION

Any inquiries may be directed to Bianca Verrecchia, Heritage Planner at 905-945-9634 ext.2122 or by email bverrecchia@grimsby.ca

Last date to file Notice of Objection: May 13th, 2023

Rotary chips in to help FORT

Grimsby Rotary used its April 6 meeting as a great time to donate $2300 raised at its 2023 CanAm Bonspiel to FORT.

This was the 67th Bonspiel and the first since the pandemic. Curlers who attended the event came from

Ontario, North Carolina, Michigan and Arkansas.

“The generosity of the curlers is much appreciated and the funds will help provide recreational and resource services to youth in our area,” said event cochair Charles Daly.

HAT TRICK HOCKEY

Week Twenty-Two

Be sure to look online at: wn3.ca to see the full standings. but here are some of the leaders and lucky random draw winners:

• $15 gift certificate courtesy of Teddy’s Food. Fun & Spirits. Jeff Michener

• $15 gift certificate courtesy of Cole’s Florist. Owen Kearse

• $15 Gift Card courtesy of Canadian Tire Grimsby. Sean Krumpek

• Large. 3-Item Pizza. Pick-Up Only. courtesy of Gino’s Pizza. Jeff Fretz

• $15 Gift Card courtesy of Tim Hortons Grimsby. Phil Heinen

Winners can stop by the NewsNow office to pick up their winnings.

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Sharon Rizzuto, left, and Charles Daly, right, of Grimsby Rotary Club present FORT’s Gijs de Groot with event proceeds of $2,300.

Grimsby considers taking some meetings offline

By Mike Williscraft NewsNow

Internet trolls have Grimsby council considering taking some Town meetings offline in an attempt to protect potential committee laymembers. The discussion arose during an outline of planned terms of reference for the re-implementation of the Town’s standing committee format at council’s April 3 committee of the whole meeting.

“We bought into this. We all got elected and we knew that our faces are going to be on there, but other people don’t,” said Coun. Don Howe, referring to potential lay members who may assume positions on a Town committee.

“Are we exposing lay members, citizens, to trolls...that crawl out from a rock and take what’s on the YouTube feed that we’ve got and diminish them?”

Councillors Veronica Charrois, Jennifer Korstanje and Lianne Vardy all agreed some

sort of “protection” needs to be considered.

“This is a very slippery slope,” Coun. Jacob Baradziej noted.

“We’re, borderline, going down the censorship route. I want to be as transparent as possible. Being as transparent as possible comes with consequences.”

Mayor Jeff Jordan noted, too, that transparency is a priority.

“I feel really strongly about the transparency aspect. In this day and age, if we have people like that that come and attack us, I feel –whether it is a member of the public or one of council – we need to put the full extent of the law on the people doing the harassment,” said Jordan.

“Reducing our transparency because of the risk of being harassed is just not the way to go.”

It was noted the terms of reference are considered a “living document” and will be reviewed regularly.

Notice of Intention to Designate 54 Park Road North

TAKE NOTICE that Grimsby Town Council, on April 3rd, 2023 resolved to issue a Notice of Intention to Designate 54 Park Road North; GRIMSBY as a property of cultural heritage value or interest under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.

The Reason for the Notice of Intention to Designate is to recognize the physical, associative and contextual value that 54 Park Road North contributes towards the Town of Grimsby’s inclusive heritage.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

This one and a half storey house, with a gable roof that runs the length of the house, was a common building style known as post-war. The style of this building is known as “Victory Homes”, which comes from the completion of the World Wars, and the need for functional affordable homes to house Veterans returning to Canada. The simple construction methods, useable attic space and small floorplan made this style of housing popular.

The property has relationships with several important names from the Grimsby community, including James Marlow and the Gadsby family. The Gadsby Shoe Factory is also located on the neighboring property and it was a place of innovation and production of shoes for Grimsby and all of Canada during the years of operation. There is also a physical connection between the factory and the small house, a wooden frame addition that extends between the structures.

The property is physically, functionally, visually, and historically linked to its surroundings. It is important in the relationship between Grimsby beach, Grimsby Town, and the QEW. Park Road, when the factory was built, went all the way to Lake Ontario. Today it is separated by the highway, it also has a relationship with the rail lines adjacent to the property, the railway used to have a stop located a short distance from the parcel and would frequent the factory to ship its goods. The dwelling is also located along what was the main entrance to the Grimsby Midway Park and Chautauqua campground.

HERITAGE ATTRIBUTES TO BE DESIGNATED

The Heritage Attributes to be designated at 54 Park Road North include:

● Concrete foundation

● Shallow eaves and soffits

● Steep pitch gabled roof

● Symmetrical architectural features

● Wooden frame link to factory with bow bay window and gabled dormer

● Unique corner window placement

● Original window and door openings

● Proximity to train and QEW

OBJECTIONS

● Original white and red colour scheme

● Mature landscaping

● Proximity to other Gadsby structures

Any objection to this designation must be filed no later than 30 days after the date of publication of the notice of intention in a newspaper. Objections should be directed to Bonnie Nistico-Dunk, Town Clerk, Town Clerk, 160 Livingston Avenue, Grimsby ON, L3M 0J53.

MORE INFORMATION

Any inquiries may be directed to Bianca Verrecchia, Heritage Planner at 905-945-9634 ext.2122 or by email bverrecchia@grimsby.ca

Last date to file Notice of Objection: May 13th, 2023

Lincoln kids scramble finding Easter eggs, thanks to Lions

After several years of rain and damp for Beamsville Lions Easter Egg hunt, Saturday’s edition of the event welcomed perfect conditions at Beamsville Lions Park.

“It could not have been a better

day,” said Lions event organizer Frank Arsenault.

“It really could not have gone any better. We had a great turnout and a lot of positive feedback. It was a great year.”

Photos By Joanne McDonald

Vellekoop siblings (L-R) Morgan, 2, Hannah, 4, and Zach, 12, in the back, lined up for face painting by Lily Bretzlaff.

(Left) Simmone Lewis, 2, checks out the truck with Lincoln Fire & Rescue firefighter Matt Leach.

(Right) Wide-eyed Maisie Hazell, 4, meets the Easter Bunny.

(Left) Skylar Treble, 5, turns her laser focus to finding eggs.

(Right) Fourteen-month-old Jackson Czajkowski is on a mission.

(Below) Guyzy Wizey and Miss Daisy entertain Ethan Franklin, 5, and his brother Dylan, 6.

Ellie Redmond, 7, shares her chocolate with Mason Mitchell, 1.

Fusion Latina: bringing Cuban/Argentinian flavours to Niagara West

A common thread among entrepreneurs is passion. Andrea Darvich and iovel Lopez examplify that.

The couple both left successful careers, Andrea in banking insurance and iovel a road and bridge construction foreman, to open Fusion Latina in Beamsville.

“We wanted to bring a taste of our cultures to the community, something different, a place where they would feel like home from the moment they walked in,” said Andrea.

“We wanted a place where everyone is greeted with respect, a place that is affordable and caters to all families budgets,”

Their children are supportive of the en-

Biz Beat

deavour, while they focus on their studies, but Andrea’s mother

pitches in.

“My mother bakes our famous Argentinian cookies called: Alfajor de Maicena which is a very popular item in our sweet menu,” said

Andrea.

As for their other menu items, iovel takes great pride in his cooking efforts.

“We use fresh ingredients and a local meat supplier,” said iovel.

“The Cubano sandwich is a traditional one offered in many restaurants but what makes ours stand out is the cooking process. The pork is marinated 24 hours and roasted for another eight hours to the desired consistency, tenderness and flavour. The bread is fresh and the right firmness to make this sandwich a special one,” he said.

Calling ahead for take-out is recommended to avoid waiting - especially during the lunch and dinner hour - 905-563-7494.

Andrea Darvich and husband iovel Lopez with their popular Plato Cubano - marinated beef, rice and beans with fried plantains.

We Pay Top $$ For Scrap Vehicles

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9530 Silver St., Caistor Centre 905-957-8111

Many of the little hamlets that once surrounded the village of Grimsby are now gone and forgotten.

One that is neither gone nor forgotten is the hamlet of Grassie located on Mud Street at the corner of Woolverton Road.

A Small Drop of Ink

By Dorothy Turcotte

Grassie to villages between Hamilton and Buffalo.

when a blowtorch accidentally set the building on fire.

Notice of PassingHeritage Designation Bylaw 23-27

TAKE NOTICE THAT Grimsby Town Council passed Designation Bylaw 23-27 on April 3rd, 2023 which designates the building known municipally as 8 St Andrews Avenue, under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.O.18, as amended, as a property of cultural heritage value or interest.

IF YOU WISH TO APPEAL TO THE ONTARIO LAND TRIBUNAL (OLT). An appeal of the Designation Bylaw for the Property may be made by filing a notice of appeal with the Town Clerk, Objections should be directed to Bonnie Nistico- Dunk, Town Clerk, P.O. Box 159, 160 Livingston Avenue, Grimsby ON, L3M 4G3. Within thirty days of April 13, 2023.

Appeals to Tribunal shall include:

1. A notice of appeal setting out the objection to the by-law.

2. The reasons in support of the objection.

3. Accompanied by the fee charged by the Tribunal.

AN APPEAL CAN BE FILED BY, Any person who objects to the by-law may appeal to the Tribunal by giving notice to the Tribunal and the clerk of the municipality, within 30 days after the date of publication a notice of appeal setting out the objection to the by-law and the reasons in support of the objection, accompanied by the fee charged by the Tribunal.

FURTHER INFORMATION A copy of the bylaw and background information about the application is available from the municipality by contacting Bianca Verrecchia, Heritage Planner: Email: bverrecchia@grimsby.ca

Phone: (905)945-9634 Ext. 2122

THIS NOTICE PUBLISHED on the 13th day of April, 2023.

Bonnie Nistico-Dunk, Town Clerk Town of Grimsby

160 Livingston Avenue Grimsby, ON, L3M 0J5

At one time, this was a busy community with three stores, a flour and feed mill, a post office and an implement shop with a dance hall upstairs.

The heart of the town was the railway station. The T. H. & B railway took passengers, cattle and produce from

The first permanent settler was George Grassie, a Scotsman who established a blacksmith shop at the main intersection of the village. S.S. #5 was built in 1911 to serve the growing community.

The first railway station was built in 1895, and served the community until 1937 when it was destroyed by fire.

A maintenance crew was preparing to paint the building

A recently decommissioned station was brought from Port Davidson to replace the building. This building was closed in 1955, and sold as a house which was moved to South Grimsby Road 16. This burned, too, in 2003.

The post office always spelled the name Grassie, but the railway spelled it Grassies which probably should have an apostrophe to indicate a possessive of the Grassie family.

It is still known by both names.

Hot dogs, hot chocolate, hot coffee all part of Grimsby Kinettes’ egg hunt

After conferring with her sister, Keira, Jemma Pollack makes her penny sale draw choice. About $500 was raised to be split between Cystic

Donna Young, right, of event sponsor The Lynn Fee Team hands out one of many coffees appreciated by parents. Coffee, hot chocolate and Timbits were donated by Beamsville Tim Hortons.

Marco and Liliana Timperio of Grimsby drop off their food donations for GBF to Grimsby Kinette Easter egg hunt sponsor Lynn Fee.

Charlotte Ward was definitely more interested in what was in her basket than adding to it.

Fibrosis Canada and McNally House.

Mom Laura Lamarre, a veteran of the Kinsmen egg hunt as a child, helps her son, Cooper, gather his chocolate treat in Centennial Park.

Please call to place your classified ad 289-235-9500

OBITUARIES

Bell, Helen Marie

January 2, 1951 – April 6, 2023

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother, Helen Marie Bell, who passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 6, 2023 at McNally House Hospice in Grimsby with her family by her side. Beloved wife of the late Ed (William Edward Bell). Sadly missed by her children Duane (Samantha) Bell, Amber (Michael) Sanford, Penny (Glenn) Peters, Edward Bell and Derek Bell. Cherished grandmother to seven wonderful grandchildren Carter and Sydney Bell, Maggie and Sarah Peters, Paighton Bell, Mackenzie and Autumn Bell. Grandmother to her adorable grand dogs, Katie, Stanley and Frank. Sister to Albert (Peg) Hayes and Joe (late Lorraine) Hayes. Sisterin-law to John (Margaret) Bell, Don (Valerie) Bell, Dianne (late Bob) Goddard. She will be missed by her many extended family members and close friends. Predeceased by her parents Margaret and Vincent Hayes and siblings Theresa Gunn, Lenny Hayes and Mary Gunn. Born in Charlottetown, PEI, Helen made the move to Ontario in her late teens where she eventually met her late husband. She made the most of her later years by facing adversity with tenacity and grace. She enjoyed her time at Maplecrest Retirement Village by making many new friends and enjoying games and day trips. Special thank you to the staff of Maplecrest Retirement Village, West Lincoln Memorial Hospital and McNally House Hospice for their love and care for our mother. Cremation has taken place and Celebration of Life will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the McNally House Hospice, and would be sincerely appreciated by the family. Arrangements entrusted to STONEHOUSE-WHITCOMB FUNERAL HOME, GRIMSBY, 905-945-2755. www.smithsfh.com

OBITUARIES

MADDEN, John David

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of John David Madden on March 31st 2023, age 73 years. After a battle with cancer with loved ones around him, John peacefully passed away. Predeceased by his parents Beatrice and Rev. Ewart Madden and daughter Magdeleine (Maggie) Madden. Loving father of Kate Madden (Braeden) and grandfather to Lavoie Bales. Long time partner and dear friend to Kim Woods. Brother of Ted (Shirley), Carolyn (Dave), Allen (Vivian), Bev (Bruce), Paul (Jackie), Mary (Gary). Uncle to many nieces and nephews. John was a retired Toronto Police Officer with 33 years of service. Cremation has taken place.

A celebration of John’s life will take place in the summer on Providence Bay, Manitoulin Island, his favourite place to be. In lieu of flowers, donations to cancer research would be greatly appreciated. Funeral Arrangements entrusted to Denning’s funeral home of Strathroy, Ontario.

MORRIS, Eleanor

On March 2nd, 2023, suddenly and unexpectedly, Lea passed away at West Lincoln Memorial Hospital. Thank you to C Ward nurses for their excellent care. As per Lea’s wishes, cremation has taken place. Lea will be missed by cousins, Rick and Barb, and her wonderful neighbours.

CELEBRATE RECOVERY

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“Celebrate Recovery

(CR)” 12 step Christian Recovery for Healing, Help and Hope.

ALL WELCOME!

Wednesdays at 7 pm. Forestview Community Church, 132 Lake St, Grimsby. For info. or help, CR@forestviewcommunitychurch.ca 905-945-9529

LAWN ROLLING & AERATION

HANDYMAN SERVICES

SPecialized in carPentry - Painting, Small renovations, Fence & Decks. Hardwood & Vinyl Flooring. Senior discounts. Serving all West Niagara. Call Angelo 289-439-1485 rubbiSH & Junk reMoVal. Call Ken 905-973-3235

GAS GUY

Advertise in the Classifieds or Business Directory. Call 289-235-9500

ROOFING

roofing Over 25 years of experience.

Shingles and Flat Roof warranty. Call Ken 905-973-3235.

VEHICLES WANTED

carS, truckS, old farm machinery for scrap or repair. We pay cash. Flatbed service. 905-386-6181 or 289-686-5059

front & backyard. Call Ken 905957-5731.

Residential. Licensed Gas Technician. HVAC, Plumbing, Handyman Installation, Service. Heating, Cooling, Gas Lines. Clogged Drains. Honest, Reasonably Priced. Free quotes. Call Blake 365-889-7838

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4106 Mountain St., Beamsville ON

Big Payout With Progressive Jackpot

Thursday, April 13 - 11 am in the Church Great Hall

Jackpot $1,300 Hot Lunch - Sandwiches available at Noon

Friday, April 14 - 7 pm in the Church Great Hall

Jackpot $1,700 Fresh baked Pizza available at 6 pm

Also $$$ thousands $$$ in cash prizes every week

Friday, April 21, 1-5 pm at St. Andrews Hall

All proceeds fund scholarships for post secondary education for women

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER START WITH A BOOK

Grimsby

6th Annual

Volunteer Pay Subscription Drive

“What a newspaper needs in its news, in its headlines, and on its editorial page is terseness, humour, descriptive power, satire, originality, good literary style, clever condensation, and accuracy, accuracy, accuracy!

Joseph Pulitzer

Dear Reader,

Here we are, against all odds, in our 11th year of publishing. Our little paper that started in the basement of our house has flourished into what you are reading today. We’ve had ups and downs, two printing plant closures, sale of our distribution company, a world-wide pandemic and... we are still here. Because of you, good reader - as well as our loyal and dedicated advertising base - through ensuring great response via your intense readership as well as your generous subscriptions. We truly appreciate your support!

Based on the excellent feedback from previous years’

volunteer pay subscription drives, we have launched Year 6!

Is NewsNow’s independent, accurate voice in the community of value to you? Would you like to support NewsNow in its efforts? This is your opportunity.

If yes, we have refined the infrastructure for our Volunteer Pay System

Simply, this means, rain (or snow) or shine, you will always – each and every week – receive your copy of NewsNow. Whether you live in a single-detached home, apartment, condo or at a business, NewsNow is now everywhere –29,000-plus circulation strong. That will NOT change!!!!

Subscriptions: One Year - $50 suggested

We will back HST out of each payment to make things as simple as possible. You can pay by cheque (bring into the office or mail), credit card (call Catherine at 289-235-9500) or e-transfer (send to: subscriptions@wn3.ca - make security answer - newsnow ) For more information, please do not hesitate to call, email or drop in. All inquiries are welcome!!

Thanks very much for your time and we wish good health to you all!

100% Niagara owned & operated

Our Team:

Publisher - Mike Williscraft

mike@wn3.ca

289-442-4244

General Manager - Catherine Williscraft

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Graphics - Donna Wisnoski

NewsNow is owned & operated by 1602207 Ontario Ltd.

Office Location

1 Mountain Street, Grimsby, ON, L3M 3J6 Ph: 289-235-9500 Ph: 289-235-7848

NewsNow is published EVERY Thursday & delivered to all homes & businesses in Niagara West, 29,006

Got to be in the room to be effective

I still hope for a day when Grimsby council does not obligate this space. That day has not arrived. First, I want to note the exact same thing I said when I spoke with Coun. Nick DiFlavio after last week’s budget ratification meeting on April 3namely, it was 100 per cent wrong for DiFlavio and, for some reason, Jacob Baradziej, to walk out of the council meeting towards the end.

As Nick noted, it was the end, and there was just some housekeeping and councillor comments to close things out, but there was also a closed session after that which both missed. So that left Ward 4 with no representation.

So aside from just being a horrible look, bailing because you didn’t like the way a vote went was simply childish - the ultimate example of “I’m taking my marbles and going home”.

Full house

Heading home from Beamsville Lions Easter egg hunt on Saturday with lots of goodies were Kaia Emard, 2, and her mom Ellen Scholl. McDonald - Photo

Opinions can be funny

In a one-hour span, we had two residents contact our office to outline their passionate beliefs on the truck convoy issue - brought on by a recent Letter to The Editor which highlighted a problem with “freedom” fighters commandeering the Canadian flag as their adopted symbol.

The views of both were intense, to say the least, and it was clear neither would be swayed from their view.

It is great to have strong opinions. It is what makes the world go ‘round. But even if you are dead set in your beliefs, the key to moving society ahead is being open to understanding that others can think differently from you. M.W.

When one thinks back on the most recent, brutal term of Grimsby Council, those in the minority of the G5 could and maybe even should have walked out on several occasions, but they didn’t.

Now, on the reason for the frustration - once I had a chance to speak to many councillors and several staff - it became clear several major points of miscommunication threw gas on a fire which really didn’t need to burn at all.

The main one, which I will highlight since it was a top-

to go through it line by line if they choose and the standing committee format will allow for more detailed discussion as the process distills.

Last but not least, this idea of “protecting” residents from online trolls by dropping public meetings off streaming is preposterous.

ic in this space a couple of weeks back, is the new hire for an events coordinator.

As did other members of council, I questioned the pay scale for this job. In terms of need, yes, I absolutely see the need for a variety of reason which I will leave for another day.

However, the key point of concern related to the cost/benefit analysis of a new hire for $128,000. Well, it turns out almost half of that total outlined in the budget presentation was for marketing and materials related to events. Then benefits for the new hire is also part of that mix, so less than 50 per cent of the total served up during budget discussion. That would have changed the optics on that immediately.

Again, there were several points in the budget presentation which were left wanting, so the bottom line of all this is it will be great for council and taxpayers to see a return of a traditional budget process for 2024.

Council should be able

If it’s a manpower, cost efficiency issue to trim advisory committee meetings, that is one thing, maybe, but standing committees like Finance and Planning absolutely and without question must be public.

Now Grimsby has had its share of clowns roll through the political scene in recent years, but if they choose to let a total nutbar affect how the town operates just because he thinks he’s some sort of YouTube legend, that’s just sad.

I get that the difference is Oopsie is a bit different because he is buying ads through YouTube and pushing his content in front of people who would never see it, but people also consider the source with crap like that - just as they did during the election. So to say the source lacks credibility would be an understatement.

Grimsby council needs to push on with what they deem is best for the town regardless of what any keyboard jockey has to say.

MIKE WILLISCRAFT

Delivered via Canada Post

Cycling event to raise funds for Ukrainian relief

On the heels of three successful fundraising events for relief efforts in the Ukraine, a group of local residents has planned its second Spin for Ukrainian

hosted at 3754 Walker Road’s spin studio in Beamsville. Anyone can attend. For more information, contact Joe Hube at 289-208-4032.