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Vol.16 No. 33
Weight Management
Weekend Weather Thursday High 20º
The
VOICE www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
Seniors’ fair a success
Friday High 19º
BY SARAH MURRELL
Saturday High 11º
A group of kids playing with Lego wasn’t what most people expected to see at the recent Seniors’ Health and Lifestyle Fair, but they were there among the chiropractors, fitness centres, funeral homes and support agencies. The group, the Lego da Vincis, were at the fair doing research for the next First Lego League challenge, which has the theme of Senior Solutions. Natasha Wells explained the group was at the fair to conduct a survey about falls and seniors. The information will be used by the team to create a Lego robot that will help solve those falls and will be entered in the First Lego League contest, being held at Niagara College. Lego wasn’t the only interesting thing to see a the fair. Pam Overholst of Cruise Niagara said she was at the fair to get the word out that her company is now a Certified Accessible Travel Advocate which means they can help travelers with special needs plan the perfect vacations. “We’re trying to help people realize they don’t have to give up their travel dreams,” she said, noting Cruise Holidays can book cruises as well as tours that are accessible.
Sunday High 7º Source-The Weather Network
Inside The Voice History Walk page 3
Scare Halloween page 7
Sports
page 8 & 9
VOICE Staff
For seniors who want to maintain their physical health and continue doing the things they’ve always enjoyed, Fonthill Fitness’ Debbie Hollinshead said there are many programs for seniors at the local gym. The fair, she said, is a great opportunity to get the message out to seniors, that Fonthill Fitness welcomes all clients at all fitness levels NATASHA Wells shows off a Lego robot built and ages. to demonstrate how a team of students will Frank Adamson, use information gathered at the Seniors’ Fair owner of Kwikfit to win a Lego competition and provide a seNiagara, agreed, nior solution. Sarah Murrell/Voice Photo pointing out that Committee which partnered with while his program may be a bit more strenuous, it’s the Library to host the event. Hatt said he’d been talking with only one, short workout a week vendors throughout the show and is very suitable for seniors. The event, said most vendors, and they were very pleased with was a great way to reach out to the turnout. Hatt added he was a bit surprised by the number seniors. The seniors were enjoying it as of people there, considering the day of the fair was the day well. Russell and Lillie McComb said construction on Regional Road 20 they were enjoying the fair and was amped up to finish paving. Talking with visitors as they left getting lots of good information, just after speaking with Connect the fair, Hatt said they all told him it was a good show and they were Hearing. “It’s been very good,” said leaving with specific information organizer Rick Hatt, chair of the on services they needed or were Legion’s newly formed Seniors’ interested in.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Frustration BY SARAH MURRELL
VOICE Staff As Pelham Town Council and staff begin the process of reviewing, and likely revamping, the Town’s bylaw enforcement system residents continue to be frustrated, and often confused, by enforcement policies. Ross and Gabriele Drabble are not only frustrated by how they were treated by town’s bylaw enforcement department, it’s an issue they feel may impede the sale of their home. Ross explains he was home one afternoon and discovered a letter taped to his front door advising him the barn on his 10-acre property was in contravention of town bylaws. His first thought, he said, was to wonder why the bylaw enforcement officer hadn’t knocked, or rung the doorbell, before taping the envelope to the door. The Drabbles say it wasn’t a good start to their ordeal which began in May and ended two weeks ago, when their 1827 barn was demolished. Throughout the past few months the couple say they felt harassed and as if the bylaw enforcement staff take every complaint as gospel, without vetting the source, and then
aggressively pursue compliance to the letter of the law, even if it doesn’t make perfect sense. Ross says they were about to put their property up for sale when they received the notice the barn wasn’t safe. He had two choices, fix it up or tear it down. Fixing it up, he said, would have been the preferred option but it would have cost more than $20,000 to have it completed in the time frame given by the town so they opted to demolish. Now, not only does his rural, 10-acre “farm” not have a barn the property is encumbered with the bylaw infraction. It’s an issue Ross says he had addressed with the town, asking that the new owners of the property be given the option to repair or demolish the barn and for the property to remain unencumbered by the bylaw infraction. Instead, the Drabbles have to declare to anyone interested in purchasing the land that the bylaw infraction exists. Beyond the fact that Ross feels as though he lost his right, as a property owner, to repair the damage to the barn caused by a wind storm at his leisure and the sale of the house has been made complicated, the Drabbles Please see Historic/page 2