> Dr. Gary Benson weighs in on WLMH rebuild announcement / Pg 19 > GAMRU wraps a busy season Pg 7 > Bentley receives Harris Fellowship Pg 8 > WL Chamber hosts home show Pg 13 Thursday, December 6, 2018 Vol. 7 Issue 31
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GO still a go: MPP
Up Front Breakfast with the Santa
West Lincoln Memorial Auxiliary will host breakfast with Santa this Saturday - Dec. 8 at 8 a.m. at the Peach King Centre. Tickets are $5pp or $20 for a family of five. The popular Santa’s Closet will be part of the fun.
Fantasy of Trees closes Sunday
Rotary Club of Grimsby’s Fantasy of Trees will close out its 2018 season this Sunday. Admission to the event, hosted at Grimsby Museum, is free. Tickets are sold for participants to win spectacularly decorated trees. Raffles and a silent auction is also part of the mix. Hours are: Wed-Fri, noon-8 p.m. and SatSun noon-5 p.m. For imformation, call 905945 5292.
Fiddling fun this Saturday
Fiddle champ Scott Woods returns to Niagara West this Saturday, Dec. 8, for a fundraising performance for Rose Cottage Visiting Volunteers. Tickets are $25 for the 2 p.m., concert, hosted at Providence Christian Reformed Church, 4845 King St., in Beamsville. For info, call 905-309-5071.
Circ: 26,529
By Mike Williscraft NewsNow Much like Mark Twain, reports of the Grimsby GO station’s death have been greatly exaggerated. Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff says reports the planning of the Grimsby GO station have not been “stopped”, rather, it has been altered to make it more economically viable. A letter released last week by Phil Verster, president of Metrolinx - the body which oversees GO transit - noted that his organization has been informed the government wants to seek pubic-private partnerships to build Ho-Ho-Holidays! GO stations. They say No, that is not Premier Doug Ford behind that beard. It was a big week in Niagara West with a positive this move not only will announcement on the future of WLMH and Santa made his initial appearances, including closing out save taxpayers money, Saturday’s Grimsby’s nighttime parade. For full coverage, please see Pages 10-11. McDonald - Photo See GO, Page 3
Prompt WLMH rebuild pushed by premier All current services to remain at WLMH, but door left ajar for long-term closure of ORs By Mike Williscraft NewsNow Premier Doug Ford was emphatic. “I am here today to commit to the good people of West Niagara that we are going to build you a new hospital,” Ford proclaimed last Wednesday morning. Ford made the proclamation at a press conference held in a basement meeting
room at WLMH, accompanied by Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Christine Elliott, Minister of Infrastructure Monte McNaughton and Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff. A key part of the announcement, too, was Elliott stating definitively all current services at WLMH will remain. Ford, who spent part of
the morning touring the facilty and visiting with staff and patients, said the longawaited rebuild is long overdue. “Our government has made it a priority to end hallway healthcare,” said Ford. “That’s why we are here today, to help the folks here in Grimsby and around West Niagara to have better ac-
cess to high-quality health care they deserve.” He credited the staff with working through difficult conditions to deliver the best possible care. “You have the best front line health care staff. I had an opportunity to meet the nurses, the doctors the support workers here in Niagara. They are all fantastic See REBUILD, Page 2