> Salute to Grimsby Secondary School grads’ class of 2018 / Pg 7-10 > Drum Down the Sun tonight (Thurs) Pg 5 > Lincoln Fire hosts hot time Friday Pg. 6 > Thanks for Evan’s Ride’s best year: letter Pg. 15 Thursday, June 21, 2018 Vol. 7 Issue 7
www.wn3.ca 100% Niagara owned & operated.
Proudly serving Grimsby, Lincoln, West Lincoln & Winona
Circ: 26,529
Up Front Saturday lunch at St. Alban’s
PK gone to the dogs...
St. Alban’s Church in Beamsville will host a Strawberry Lunch & Penny Sale this Saturday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. St. Alban’s Church is located at 4341 Ontario St., Beamsville, across from Shoppers Drug Mart. Cost for the lunch is $10, all inclusive, per plate. Homemade strawberry shortcake, croissant sandwich with side salad, tea, coffee. All welcome.
Busy Saturday at Peach King
Next Monday, June 25, the Lincoln Seniors’ Club will host a pot luck supper at the Lincoln Centre on Central Avenue. Attendees are asked to bring one large dish to share in addition to and their own plate, cup and cutlery. Entertainment to follow supper – The Lincoln Leapers. Call Barb at 905-562-4015 for more details.
Historic home under review
Grimsby council voted Monday night to contract an architectural firm to assess work needed at 133 Main. St. E to bring the derelict building up to the Town’s property standards.
...At least for one day. Grimsby Peach King Centre’s east pad was taken over by FORT’s annual Mutt Show. The arena floor was busy throughout the day. Here, Susan Punko takes a break to give Victor, a Boston terrier-pugg mix, a few minutes of attention. Victory is a therapy dog with Therapy Tails. Williscraft - Photo
NPI shows Town the money By Mike Wiliscraft For NewsNow All that was missing from Sean Straughan on Monday evening was a red suit with puffy white trim. Straughan, chair of Niagara Power, was at Grimsby Town Council to present the largest dividend cheque to be handed over by the utility to date $414,000. “We wanted to get the good news out before the summer recess,” said Straughan. In making the presentation, he stressed the importance of having an asset which can put its resources back into the commu-
nity unlike “faceless companies which take the money and it disappears.” Mayor Bob Bentley lauded the hydro board and employees for their efforts noting some of the hurdles which had to be cleared in the last year. “When you went through that rate application...they skinned us pretty good for the capital work you needed to be done,” said Bentley. Asked what factors were included in generating the $414,000, Grimsby Power CEO Remy Fernandes, who
was part of the presentation, said in an email, “This presentation is being made in accordance with the Shareholder’s policy at Niagara Power Inc. This cheque is based on the previous year’s audited statements (2017) and performance - approved by the boards. Straughan provided more detail, however, noting a new rate structure applied for in 2016 powered the contribution. “That cheque was strictly the result of the 2017 operational results of Grimsby Power. Each year they may declare
a dividend,” noted Straughan in an email Tuesday morning. “It has nothing to do with any other financial instrument that may exist. “2017 was the first full year of the new rates (rate rebasing) the company had applied for in 2016. The process is every five years and the first year is usually the best.” Ald. Steve Berry noted at council that hydro crew has also had a stellar record when it comes to safety. The utility has been accident free since 2008 - which translates into more than 350,000 hours
or accident-free work. While Ald. Carolyn Mullins noted hydro had “given back to the Town” $1.5 million since 2011, Berry said that amount was more than $8 million including dividends and interest on promissory notes the Town holds. Noting he wants the “facts to be known”, Berry said suggestions Niagara Power and its various companies be sold off are premature. Ald. Dave Kadwell suggested the Town should proceed with a valuation of its biggest asset just as part See CHEQUE, Page 2