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Vol.20 No.23 Vol.20 No.17
V O I C E OF
P E L H A M
PELHAM’S INDEPENDENT INDEPENDENT NEWS NEWS SOURCE SOURCE FROM FROM THE THE HEART HEART OF OF NIAGARA NIAGARA PELHAM’S Wednesday August 10, 2016 Wednesday June 29, 2016
85¢ 85¢
Pelham scientist’s breakthrough finding
Parched
Dr. Uwe Brand is key member of team measuring prehistoric air samples BY ZACH JUNKIN
The VOICE
850 million years ago, our planet was a much different place. And while scientists have long known that earth’s atmosphere at that time varied significantly from what we see today, its exact composition has remained the subject of spirited academic debate. But that may be coming to an end following a paper published by a Brock University-led team of scientists, including Pelham’s own Dr. Uwe Brand. Up until now, it was estimated that 800 million to 1 billion years ago, oxygen comprised no more than 2 per cent of the Earth’s atmosphere. However, Dr. Brand and his team have turned this theory on its head
Jim Summersides with his Legion of Honour medal.
BOB LOBLAW PHOTO
Knowing how much oxygen there was determines how life evolved
with a custom-built machine, and pieces of halite, a natural form of table salt. Within the halite samples are tiny bubbles that contain atmospheric gasses that were trapped in the rocks at the time they formed. Until now, the bubbles’ contents were too slight to identify
with precision. But by using an extremely sensitive apparatus, the team was able to take accurate measurements, and found that the average oxygen content was actually 10.9%, about half of modern levels and more than five times greater than previously thought. According to Dr. Brand, this discovery will provide scientists with a greater understanding of how modern life came to be. “Knowing how much oxygen there was determines how life evolved,” he said. While humans consume oxygen, scientists know that early life on the planet was much different. “The life forms that evolved at that time were very primitive and they See HALITE Page 3
Potential home demolished $5heritage million dollar outdoor theatre
Jim Summersides, Knight Fonthill Legion member awarded France’s highest national order
addition to East Fonthill project Town staff report calls theatre “critical to the cultural heritage”
BY VOICE STAFF
infrastructure across the country through the CCSF. According to BY VOICE STAFF At their last regular meeting, the government of Canada webPelham Councillors approved an site, the fund aims to support “the On Sunday, Jim Summerapplication for funding from the improvement of physical condisides, a World War II VetCanada Cultural Spaces Fund that tions for artistic creativity and eran and a Fonthill Legion would help pay for the proposed innovation. The fund supports member, was presented the improvement, renovation and East Fonthill Theatre Space. The Pelham Pool at Marlene VOICE PHOTO with a medal awarding himStewart Streit Park. construction of arts and heritage Staff estimate the project will the rank of Knight of the cost $5,150,000, and will include facilities, as well as the acquisition French National Order of the two acres of interlocking brick of specialized equipment.” Legion of Honour. To be eligible for funding, apfoundation, the construction of medal was given to an outdoor stage, a water feature plicants must demonstrate that BYThe VOICE STAFF Canada “to celebrate Canada’s 150th A 200-year-old log house, hidden within a modern shell, was recently demolished in Fenwick. him along with a letter from would become an outdoor ice their organization has been active anniversary of Confederation in arethat Hand-hewn logs visible in the foreground. VOICE PHOTO the French ambassador. surface in the winter, removable in the execution of their artistic or 2017,” states the government of CanOn June 20, Council approved the “This distinction (the LeFor two years during the heritage mandate for at least two seating, storage, and streetscapada’s website. “FedDev Ontario is BY ZACH JUNKIN completion of an application for The building was an orig- former member of the now gion of Honour is the highest war, Summersides, who years and that their programming ing. delivering the program in southern funding from the “Canada 150 ComThe VOICE inal hand-hewn log house disbanded Municipal HerNational Order of France) il- joined the army at age 18, “The outdoor theatre is criti- is accessible to all Canadians. ApOntario with a total allocation of up munity Infrastructure Fund” in order thought to be one of the itage Committee. He addlustrates the profound grat- served with the now famous the cultural heritage of the plicants must also be able to proyears.” to rehabilitate the Marlene Stewart to $88.8 million over two One of the oldestcal andtobest oldest structures in Pelham. ed that there are a number itude that France would like First Special Service Force, states the staff re- vide financial reports. Eligible projects must be open to inCommunity,” Streit Park Pool. preserved homes Pelham Over the years, various ad- of similar sites in Pelham, to express to you,” reads a joint American and CanaThe outdoor theatre project was port to Council. “It is the public and use the funds to repair, Staff recommended the action to was lost last week as submitted the ditions were added onto and where historic buildings the letter. “It is awarded in dian unitrenovate, speciallyortrained asset that will showcase and originally slated for design and expand existing commuCouncil after the Federal Econompotential heritage an building around the home, which had are hidden behind modern recognition of your personal for fierce nity combat. Often re- assets. construction five to ten years from present forms of heritage, infrastructure must ic Development Agency for Southern was They demolished to makemany kept it incredibly well prefacades. “Houses like this, involvement in the libera- ferred to as the Devil’s Brinow, however, the potential for arts and other cultural activities.” 50% theirhome. Ontario launched the funding for in- provide a minimum of way forof a new served. you drive by them and you tion of our country during two years, the frastructure on May 21. Local historians Over werethe next “It was in very good conWorld War II.” See KNIGHT Page 3 federal government will be inSee HERITAGE The fund is being delivered by resaddened FUNDING Page 3 2 dition,” said Sean Young, a See FEDERAL See POOL Pageby 14 the news. vesting $168.2 million in cultural gional development agencies across
You name it, they had the training
Pool improvements funds sought