>Evan’s Ride for Autism in Smithville this Saturday, Pg 5 > Biodigester update coming July 17 Pg. 5 > Saturday was a Southward kind of day Pg 7 > Lincoln Touch-A-Truck draws big crowd Pg 10 Thursday, June 8, 2017 Vol. 6 Issue 5
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Up Front Auxiliary’s Strawberry Tea next Tuesday
Mountainview Christian Reformed Church Hall is the place to be next Wednesday, June 14, to take in some early local strawberries. West Lincoln Memorial Auxiliary will host its annual Strawberry Tea, one of the first Rites of Summer in Niagara West. Tickets are $10 each and available at the door. A fashion show hosted by the ladies at Tous Jours in Grimsby will also be part of the fun.
Central hosts year-end Fêtes
Fêtes du Printemps, is set for Thursday evening, June 8, at Central School. From 4-8 p.m., Central French Immersion School, has food trucks, a bouncy castle, a DJ, and a bunch of activities - with a wristband purchase. Contact Betsy McRae for more information 905-975-4865.
Special service
Merritts United Church in Smithville will recognize its 162nd anniversary with a special service this Sunday, June 11, starting at 11 a.m. Lunch will follow. Guest speaker is Peggy Beckerson. Guest soloist is Mary McBean.
Meester steps up! Meester Insurance came to the rescue for FORT (Foundation Of Resources for Teens) last week donating $30,000 to keep the organization’s West Lincoln location running. The intensely popular centre would have had to close due to shortage of funds. On hand were: Back (L to R) Tim Bartels, Heartland Farm Mutual president Carlos Rodriguez, Meester Insurance owner Brian Vanderhout, FORT
executive director Beth Shaw, Lisa Palcso, Elizabeth Hadler, Penny Charlebois, and Steve DeHaan. In front: FORT Caistor programmer Denielle Newlove and FORT resource developer David Vandersteen. “We’re still reeling from shock This is a massive gift and could not have come at a better time. This donation literally saved that centre,” said Shaw.
Despite Ombudsman’s censure,
“I’d do it again,” says Ald. Steve Berry By Mike Williscraft NewsNow Much like in 2016 when the Ontario Ombudsman cited significant Municipal Act infractions by Grimsby Town Council, members were shaking their collective heads Monday night at a second censure. As noted in the June 1 edition of NewsNow,
the Ombudsman cited council for a series of infractions related to conducting meetings inappropriately behind closed doors. A series of guidelines were suggested, many of which were implemented with bylaw changes at Monday night’s meeting. While there were some similarities to the 2016
Ombudsman discussion, where it differed was with an admission that the rules have changed and best practices must change - with considerable debate about just what the rules are. However, Ald. Steve Berry was unapologetic. “That December 5 meeting, I called that. I thought it was needed.
I’d do it again,” said a defiant Berry, citing his long tenure on council. “Things have been done this way for a long time.” Berry noted, at that time, he had information which he deemed important to inform other members of council as council acts as the shareholder of Grims-
by’s hydro interests, Niagara Power et al. Ald. Nick DiFlavio told Berry he did not need to take the sole blame for the issues cited by the Ombudsman. “There have been plenty of meetings over the years and always in closed session because we were always told it See MEETING, Page 3