Kore returns page 3 Alleged Effingham thief nabbed page 8 Two 7-year-olds raise $1000 for Pelham Cares page 16 EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS
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Column Six A country Christmas Take a walk in the Short Hills and find the perfect tree BY IAN CUMMING
Special to the VOICE
T
including operating impacts on the library. "The Province came to the rescue, not just for Pelham, but municipalities across Niagara and Ontario," said Mayor Marvin Junkin. "This
his is my story of a wonderful Christmas in the Short Hills of St. Johns West. It is about a week before Christmas and I am downstairs in my grandparents' section of our home. I am having a plate of hot porridge smothered with sugar, gazing out their back kitchen window. There has been a beautiful snow fall of about ten inches last night. The blue jays and red cardinals are everywhere. We live upstairs, and my grandparents and uncle live downstairs in our old home built in the early 1800s. The large French windows let in a lot of sunshine during the day. My grandparents have two old fashioned gravity-fed oil stoves classified as Quebec heaters. Upstairs, Mom has a propane heater affixed to our living room wall as well as a Quebec heater in her bedroom, which has to be manually refilled. These three Quebec stoves exhaust into the
See CASH Page 21
See COLUMN SIX Page 18
VISIBLE FROM THE SPACE STATION It wouldn't be Christmas without Jim and Rosemary Dougan's way-over-the-top holiday display on Haist St., near Welland Ave., in Fonthill. The quiet whir of air compressors mixes with the excited giggles of awestruck kids on the sidewalk enjoying the moment. BOB LOBLAW BY VOICE STAFF The Town of Pelham will receive just shy of $1.3 million dollars—$1,298,000— from the Province of Ontario's COVID relief for municipalities phase two funding. In total, for 2020, the Town has re-
ceived just over $1.7 million dollars between phases one and two. This second phase of funding, announced last Wednesday, builds upon the first phase of the federal-provincial Safe Restart Agreement undertaken this past summer. According to a Town statement, the
funding allows municipalities to deliver critical services and programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring towns and cities avoid operating deficits in 2021. Phase two funding represents total lost revenue related to COVID-19 and additional expenses incurred,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OVER THE LAST YEAR. ENJOY THE SEASON AND PLEASE BE SAFE. Al Slattery, President, St. Catharines Mazda 161 Scott St., St. Catharines 905-684-6318 www.stcatharinesmazda.com
Our family is blessed to live in a community that values legacy and fully appreciates good neighbours. So to all, we wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a Festivus for the Rest of Us. Tina
Page 2
The Voice, December 23, 2020
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
NRPS impaired driving charges
PUBLISHER’S CORNER
by Dave Burket
Call it the wrap-up issue So here we are: Near the very end of a very bad year, pretty much no matter how you slice it. Before we take a brief glance at the carnage just past, let’s embark our usual meandering walk through the Forest of Tidbits...Mini-Christmas for Mini-Puzzler winners: After two weeks and an extra clue, the Mini-Puzzler has been solved. Last week’s hint, in this space, was a remark that we thought the Puzzler was so simple that readers could just “phone it in,” which succeeded in pointing at least a couple of entrants toward, yes, their phones. The Puzzler was a puzzling-looking item itself—an orphaned QR code, which for the sake of illustration remains in place this week on p.20, below the DeHaan Flooring ad. This is one of those you-have-to-knowit-to-see-it sort of items. Why would a QR code be sitting all by itself, the Puzzler detectorist may wonder. And also, what’s a QR code? Well, since you asked, it’s a type of machine-readable barcode, like we’ve seen for decades now on just about every retail item out there, and the QR stands for “Quick Response.” Wikipedia, not stinting on detail, tells us that it was developed in Japan, in the mid 1990s, for their automotive industry. QR code data can be numeric, alphanumeric, binary, and kanji—Japanese writing characters—and can contain a crapload more
data, in scientific parlance, than your granddad’s old UPC barcodes. Sometime over the last few years, cellphone makers added QR code recognition to their smartphones. Turn on your phone’s camera, point it at a QR code, and wait for whatever information is encoded to pop up on your screen. Four readers did just that by last weekend’s deadline, and in the Christmas spirit the Puzzlemeister has directed me to award all four entrants—Cathy Foreman, Jan Blanchard, Jim Vanderhoek, and Carolyn Botari—a $20 Minor Bros. gift card each. Congratulations, winners! And note that as a purveyor of feed to livestock—among its many other offerings— Minor Bros. is classified as an essential service and thus will presumably remain open during the coming lockdown (but, you know, call first)...Another contest, this time for the kids: The Pelham Tree Conservation Society is running a poster design contest for the wee ones into early January. At last word, there were $200 or so in gift card prizes to be awarded. Check out their Facebook page for details, which you’ll find through this shortened link (the original Facebook link goes on like War & Peace): https:// bit.ly/3mAroTH… Seeing things clearly: I stopped into Thomas TV in Welland last week and got to chat-
Voice
ting with manager Tyler Thomas. I mentioned that a friend of mine had recently worked out how far TV image quality has come in just over 20 years. My friend, clever with numbers as he is, calculated that a standard TV screen back in the 1990s produced about 210,000 pixels-worth of information. The first HDTV (1080p) standard produced 2 million pixels. The 4K sets of recent years produce 8 million pixels. The newest 8K sets produce 33 million pixels. Between the 1990s and now, consumer television image quality has jumped 15,500 percent in resolution. And don’t forget the colour depth and brightness—there was a display model on the store’s wall that was so bright that it might have been better viewed through sunglasses. Thomas acknowledged there’s inevitably a point of diminishing returns. From sofa to screen, can you really spot the difference between 4K and 8K? Anyway, kids, pity your elders, who never got to see their favourite actor’s pores or hairpiece seams on The Brady Bunch or Mod Squad or Bonanza… The finale that couldn’t come soon enough: With Monday being the shortest day of the year (southern Ontario sunset at 4:44!), 2020 is ten days from being history as I write this. Now the days start getting longer on the slow climb back to spring, a trek that’s
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shaping up to be particularly painful as we head into a new, 28-day lockdown on Saturday. As you’ll see when you dive in to this week’s issue—a behemoth 28 pages, the largest of the year—we invited a wide range of folks to contribute their thoughts about 2020. Overall they tend to be more optimistic than I. The fact that we are now being locked down again is a sad testament to our collective inability to do what’s best for each other, and a significant reason for it is pretty clear. The sociopath president south of the border has spent the last 11 months catastrophically mishandling his country’s pandemic response, and the collateral damage includes many Canadians, and many in Europe, swayed by the cynical “personal freedom” nonsense spouted by His Orangeness. Wearing a face mask became a political, not public health, issue, and with that we were doomed. On the bright side, #45 is the only US president ever to lose the popular vote twice, get impeached, and lose re-election—by now, several recounts later, a loss that’s pleasing occurred repeatedly. On January 20 the malignancy will be excised from the White House— and this, as much as any COVID-19 vaccine, is 2021’s brightest hope… We’re taking a break: The Voice is off for the next two weeks—back on Jan. 13. May you and yours
stay safe in the meantime. We wish all of our shareholders, staff, contributors, carriers, and you, the best of holidays… One last thing: Can you believe it? There’s a birthday coming up. Next year the Voice turns 25. ◆
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The Pelham Fire Department responded to six calls for assistance between Friday, Dec. 11 and Friday, Dec. 18. Friday, Dec. 11 Medical assistance, Fonthill Motor vehicle accident, Canboro Rd., Fonthill Remote alarm, Tice Rd., Fonthill Monday, Dec. 14 Medical assistance, Fonthill Wednesday, Dec. 16 Motor vehicle accident, Effingham St., Shorthills Friday, Dec. 18 Motor vehicle accident, Victoria Ave., Fenwick
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The Niagara Regional Police Service is committed to reducing impaired driving offences through education and the apprehension of offenders through enforcement programs like RIDE. Impaired driving is still the leading cause of criminal deaths in Canada and destroys thousands of lives every year.
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Before loading up his sleigh at the North Pole, Santa and his trusty dog Snowball check out last week's edition of the Voice. Safe travels on Christmas Eve, Santa!
In an effort to bring further attention and deterrence to driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, the Niagara Regional Police Service reports the names of those people who are charged with an alleged criminal impaired driving offence in the Region. None of the following charges have been proved in court. In addition to being charged, these individuals are also bound by a Ministry of Transportation 90-Day Administrative Driver’s License Suspension and are prohibited from operating a motor vehicle on a roadway. The public is encouraged to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service Traffic Safety Hotline or Crime Stoppers to report those who are driving in contravention of the suspension. The following individuals have been charged criminally with impaired driving by alcohol or drugs, driving with a blood alcohol concentration above 80 mgs of alcohol in 100 ml of blood, or refusing to provide a breath / blood sample. David L. CICCIARELLI, 35, Niagara Falls Michael G. MAC DONALD, 62, Port Colborne David J. LENG, 59, Fort Erie Charlotte C. KENNEDY, 58, St. Catharines David J. MCMANUS, 36, St. Catharines Rick SZABO, 31, Welland
See something, Say something. The science is clear.
Masks save lives. Social distancing saves lives.
If you witness violations of Provincial or Regional COVID-19 safety protocols during weekdays, notify Pelham Bylaw Enforcement, at (905) 892-2607 x203. At night and on weekends, call the Region Dispatch line, at (905) 984-3690.
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TOWN COUNCIL NEWS
Tensions flare over airport; Kore returns, berates Mayor BY JOHN CHICK
Special to the VOICE
Like the noisy afterburners on the discontinued Concorde jet, tensions burned hot over the status of Pelham’s airport at Town Council’s Dec. 14 meeting. In council’s last virtual gathering of 2020, representatives from the Niagara Central (Dorothy Rungeling) Airport Commission— including Pelham’s representative, Ward 3 Councillor Lisa Haun —made a presentation covering the aerodrome’s operations and financial state. During a wide-ranging discussion, Mayor Marvin Junkin took aim at Haun and Town of Pelham staff for neglecting to inform council that the airport had sought and obtained from the province relief from $10,000-worth of municipal property taxes— a financial hit the Mayor said came as news to him and council. “I was very surprised when I learned that the airport commission had applied for, and was granted, a reduction in property tax to be paid to the Town of Pelham,” Junkin said. “It is my belief that the town’s representative to the board, Councillor Haun, has a fiduciary commitment to the Corporation of the Town of Pelham, and as such, should have made council aware that such an application was being made. I’m also extremely disappointed that Town staff, when made aware of this application, did not inform council of this event. That’s $10,000 less that Pelham
Councillor Ron Kore, lower right, turns on his camera long enough to upbraid Mayor Marvin Junkin in response to Junkin's assertion that Councillor Lisa Haun failed to communicate with council on a tax matter. YOU TUBE residents aren’t going to be getting. I dare say that if I was going to go [to Fonthill] and ask 30 or 40 people, ‘Do you know we have an airport, and do you know we spend $27,000 of tax money subsidizing it?’ I’d bet a lot of money that not too many residents know we have an airport.” A visibly seething Haun shot back. “I recognize your intent there was to insult me, however, certainly there was no secrets [sic] whatsoever,” she responded. “In
fact, our CAO and clerk were made aware that we used an organization, actually, to do some of the paperwork to help [the airport] with that $10,000 savings.” Haun then added that a tax loophole that classifies the airfield as a farm allowed for the reduction to Town coffers. “The reason, and you’re well aware of this as well, Mr. Mayor, and that because is because the airport is, in fact, ‘farmed.’ So because it is a farm and it’s cash-cropping, which you yourself
would know about, they’re able to get an agricultural tax or a farm tax benefit]. So that is what that is all about, and there were no secrets … so please don’t infer that anything was kept secret from you.” Amid Junkin’s response, Haun ally Councillor Bob Hildebrandt interjected, asserting a point of order, which was neither properly specified nor addressed under standard parliamentary procedure, with Hildebrandt instead continuing to speak on, saying,
“This is talking about the airport commission, this is not going after the integrity of another councilor.” To that, Junkin replied, “We’re talking about budgetary objects and we’re talking about taxes paid to Pelham residents.” At that point, after keeping his camera turned off for the majority of the meeting, Ward 2 Councillor Ron Kore—in his first words to council since his last appearance on Sept. 23, after which he took his second leave of absence this year— also shouted for a point of order, which likewise failed to be properly handled under procedural rules, and Kore too continued speaking. “Isn’t it your job to do your job to make sure that information is given to you?” Kore scolded Junkin. “No, I don’t believe that my job as Mayor is to look after every committee, Councillor,” Junkin replied. “Well, let me tell you,” said Kore. “You run the Town, you should have known that there was a $10,000 credit.” “You’re right, Councillior, I should have known,” Junkin said, explaining his original point. “It should have been information brought from the committee to council. You’re exactly right.” Not unlike a dinner guest caught in the middle of a family argument, one of the other representatives on the airport board—Welland Councillor Leo Van Vliet— jumped in to change the subject. See COUNCIL Page 19
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The Voice, December 23, 2020
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OPINION
The opinions expressed in submitted commentary and letters to the editor are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the Voice of Pelham.
The Voice of Pelham is a 1211858 Ontario Limited publication David Burket, Publisher 2-1428 Pelham St., P.O. Box 1489, Fonthill, ON L0S1E0
COMMENTARY / OP-ED Larry Coté Put on a happy face in 2021
B
efore I sat down at the keyboard to write a year-end wrap, I asked my adult children what news items I might highlight in such a piece. Both quickly responded with the similar advice that “people are sick of hearing all those goings on about Trump, masks, the virus and all that stuff.” Ah, as the saying goes, from the mouths of babes. (My daughter, who is a grandmother herself, should love me for that!) So this piece is not going to try and balance the good with the bad but rather focus on the good. Maybe, just maybe, such a “good” dosage will help readers greet 2021 with a dose of optimism and hope. We need our newspapers to do more of that. Strange beings we are, we have become accustomed to anxiously await the arrival of our news source to present us with the bad news of the current news cycle. As always, there were plenty of news stories in a year that many will want to forget. In the parlance of the more optimistic, let’s not get stuck in the mire of the bad and the ugly and get on with celebrating some
good news. It is unlikely that the good news sources will overtake the bad anytime soon but we would do well should such dreams come true. Let’s give it a try. Fifteen-year-old Gitanyali Rao was chosen by Time
Let's get on with celebrating some good news
magazine to be “Kid of the Year” in 2020. She is being recognized for her astounding contributions on issues from contaminated drinking water to opioid addiction and cyberbullying. At age 12, she developed a portable device to detect lead in drinking water. Gitanjali is a high school sophomore in Denver. How momentous is this news? For some 90 years, Time has named a “Person
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of the Year” on the cover of their last issue of the year. This year they initiated the “Kid of the Year.” This 15-year-old was one of 5,000 stories about our youth. Isn’t that an amazing good news story worthy of more headlines in 2020? Did you know that in 2020, the rate of the warming of our planet was slowed down? This upward warming trend over the last number of years, if it were to continue, was threatening our very existence in only a few decades into the future. However, the warnings from environmental scientists appears to be making an impact in the reduction of air, water and land pollution that has gone on unabated for decades. There appears to be some notable increase in the awareness of people that measures to reduce pollution reach all the way down to the kitchen sink. The conversion to electric cars is but one good example of that trend. Isn’t that a good news story worthy of being a topmost story for 2020? In 2020, there have been so many advancements in healthcare and medical reSee OP-ED Page 19
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www.thevoiceofpelham.ca EDITOR & PUBLISHER Dave Burket publisher@thevoiceofpelham.ca ADMINISTRATION Lori Gretsinger office@thevoiceofpelham.ca CONTRIBUTORS Jane Bedard, Carolyn Botari, Colin Brezicki, Rosemary Chambers, John Chick, Larry Coté, Brian Green, Miriam Han, Megan Metler, Bill Potrecz, Bernie Puchalski, Don Rickers, John Swart, Helen Tran, Mike Tucker, Rob Weatherby. Proof Sleuth: Julian Fitch NEWS INQUIRIES & TIPS editor@thevoiceofpelham.ca LETTERS TO THE EDITOR letters@thevoiceofpelham.ca ADVERTISING INQUIRIES advertising@thevoiceofpelham.ca
Council "antics" prompt holiday check-in I haven't written a letter for quite a while, but the antics of Pelham Town Council just keep repeating themselves. Here we are with a budget and a tax increase during a pandemic that will impact all businesses and residents who live within Pelham's boundaries. While council spent its time playing 3 vs. 3 with Ron Kore not representing his constituents at all, I will say again that it is dysfunctional to waste taxpayer money and time wrangling over non-essential issues, and both the ombudsman and emergency pre-
paredness costs are repetitive and wasteful. In the Nov. 18 issue of the Voice, new Councillor Wayne Olson gave a detailed outline of what he had found in his research of finances within the Town Hall of Pelham. No one should be shocked that this Town is living paycheck to paycheck and has no financial recovery plan in place. The most shocking news was the foreSee ANTICS Page 6
CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS Member of Federal Parliament
Electoral District: Niagara West
Dean Allison, MP 4994 King Street Beamsville, ON L0R 1B0 Dean.Allison@parl.gc.ca 877-563-7900 Member of Provincial Parliament
Electoral District: Niagara West
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Sam Oosterhoff, MPP 4961 King St. East, Unit M1 Beamsville, ON L0R 1B0 sam.oosterhoffco@pc.ola.org 905-563-1755 Members of Niagara Regional Council Councillor Marvin Junkin mjunkin@pelham.ca 905-658-2987 Councillor Diana Huson diana.huson@niagararegion.ca 905-324-3094 Town of Pelham 20 Pelham Town Square P.O. Box 400 Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0 905-892-2607
Mayor of Pelham Marvin Junkin mjunkin@pelham.ca 905-658-2986 Members of Pelham Town Council Ward 1 Councillor Marianne Stewart mstewart@pelham.ca 289-821-0840 Councillor Wayne Olson wolson@pelham.ca 905-933 6033
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Ward 2 Councillor Ron Kore rkore@pelham.ca 905-933-3805 Councillor John Wink jwink@pelham.ca 905-892-4475 Ward 3 Councillor Lisa Haun lhaun@pelham.ca 905-892-5877 Councillor Bob Hildebrandt bhildebrandt@pelham.ca 905-892-5647
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OPINION Charm of Fonthill fading fast I have read the letters in the Voice regarding Fonthill and what it is becoming. I totally agree. I came to the Niagara area often to visit with my brother's family. I thought it would be so nice to live in Fonthill, a small town with small homes and lots of beautiful trees. Just driving on the streets of Fonthill made me happy. When I first retired, I went to live in Keswick to be near one of my daughters. However, Keswick has now become a bedroom town for people that work in Toronto. It is nothing but large, closely packed homes with no trees and no gardens. I didn’t like
PELHAM AND COVID-19 living there any longer so I thought, let’s look for a home in Fonthill. I was lucky enough to purchase a home here. I enjoy my home, and going on the Bauer trail that is close to me. However, now Fonthill is becoming another Keswick— large, closely packed homes with no trees, no gardens and no green space. And yes, the old Fonthill will become a memory just like my previous town is. Shame on you, Town of Pelham officials, for letting the developers take over. Geri Jansen Fonthill
TD Bank revisited In the November 18 Voice, I suggested that the TD Bank may have overstepped itself in accessing the Federal government’s CEWS (Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy) program. CEWS was designed to subsidize 75 percent of a worker’s salary if he/ she were to be “on leave” rather than “laid-off.” This means that if an employee is on leave and the employer pays 25 percent of the normal wage, the worker receives full salary. When employers receive the funds from the federal government, they direct it to employees. The individual remains an employee of the company and receives full salary but normally resides at home and is not involved in work. My letter stated that over 200 Toronto Dominion bank branches had been closed in Ontario plus many more across Canada. The letter was not in-
tended as a criticism of the Fonthill TD branch but of the general policy of the “TD Bank Corporation” in handling the COVID-19 crisis. All of the major Canadian banks met to discuss the best response to the COVD-19 crisis. Inexplicably only the TD Bank decided to close hundreds of branches across Canada. The TD Bank announced that there would be no job losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Why was the TD Bank the only major bank to take this action and how was it able to close hundreds of branches with no job losses? The question was raised, “Did the TD Bank receive funding through the CEWS program for the hundreds of employees who were ‘on leave?’” Contacts with government officials, TD personnel and media outlets failed to provide a simple yes-or-no response. Following my original
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letter, TD officials made contact and suggested that a retraction was in order. However, no yes-or-no response to the question of CEWS payments was provided. You can draw your own conclusion as to why this question remains unanswered. The question goes beyond the TD Bank conundrum. The CEWS program is the single largest direct-spending measure of the government's COVID-19 response. The public deserves clarity and transparency when billions See TD Page 21
Despite challenges, Town rose to the occasion of 2020
C
ongratulations! If you are reading this, then you have survived one crazy
year! I can remember, like most Canadians, reading in January about some obscure virus happening in China that some alarmists were forecasting could conceivably go worldwide. Yeah, right! Three months later all of our lives were greatly altered. In the following, I will attempt to focus on Town business as it unfolded throughout the year, in spite of the virus causing everyone to keep adapting their plans. In January, council heard from the Bandshell Committee, telling us that the upgrades to Peace Park were completed, except for the new light standards, which had to be installed along the newly poured concrete path. The park had been re-graded, re-sodded, some trees removed, and electrical infrastructure installed. The new light standards were installed in the spring. Wow, are they nice! If you haven’t seen it already,
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please take a walk in the early evening, and enjoy the effect. Hopefully, sometime in 2021, the park can Marvin Junkin be rocking! Also in January, I had a somewhat memorable meeting with the Library Board, with a sold-out, standing-room-only audience in attendance. I really enjoyed this meeting and I believe it was invaluable in opening up long-needed communication between the Library Board and council. We actually had plans to meet in a roundtable discussion to find more common ground and continue to communicate, but COVID-19 dashed these plans. However, the Town CAO and I have had two very productive meetings with the Library Acting CEO, Amy Guilmette, and the Board Chair, Nicole Nolan. These talks are ongoing and I believe that sometime in the new year the Library Board will have an announcement to make.
In April, all of Pelham residents were saddened to learn of the passing of firstterm Councillor Mike Ciolfi. He was a great councillor and an even better person. His presence is sadly missed at council. Like all businesses and local governments, Pelham was headed into a two-week lockdown, forcing management to have a hard look at laying off staff. Altogether, senior management laid off 32 workers for varying amounts of time. Thankfully, by summer they were all back on the job. Even with the lockdown, Planning staff continued to process building applications so that area builders were ready to go when restrictions were lifted. The housing market has remained strong in Pelham throughout the summer, and by the end of December the Town will be on track to have issued a comparable number of building permits this year as last. This strong growth in house construction is projected to See JUNKIN Page 16
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ATTENTION WORLD WAR II VETERANS If you would like to receive a commemorative pin from the VETERANS TRIBUTE PROGRAM, contact the Legion at 905-892-6293, or Sharon, at 905-892-5177, before Dec 29 with your name and service number to receive the pin. Royal Canadian Legion Branch 613 Talbot Trail 141 Hwy. 20 E., P.O. Box42 Fonthill,ON, L0S1E0 Tel: 905-892-6293 Fax: 905-892-9470
905-892-5002
Family Dentistry NEW PATIENTS WELCOME 1428 Pelham Street, Fonthill
NEWSFLASH Tell us your story! Column Six presents tales of personal triumph, adventure, strange-but-true stories, life-changing events, and looks-back at our past.
Anyone with eyes can plainly
S E
Did you conquer Everest or kick a bad habit? Everyone has a story. Tell us yours! NOW ALSO ACCEPTING FICTION— SHORT STORIES UP TO 2000 WORDS! Write it down, send it in: publisher@thevoiceofpelham.ca (You won’t get rich, but you will get paid.)
Advertising in the Voice works! advertising@thevoiceofpelham.ca
Page 6
Letters
The Voice, December 23, 2020
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
continued
ANTICS
continued from Page 4 cast that included successive years of 12% tax hikes on the horizon and a $33 million dollar debt load towards the community centre. Pelham is in financial trouble and only one councillor shone some light on our plight. Services and repairs in this Town are being deferred, but here is, in my mind, what needs to be considered. Right from the start, Pelham Council, past and present, knew that the elephant in the room is the MCC. Carrying such a debt load, like an albatross, is not manageable for our small population. What seems to be the path that council has taken is the urbanization of Fonthill and East Fonthill to try and increase Pelham's population and tax base. One of the projects is the urbanization of the infrastructure on Pelham Street. Pelham needs the tax money. Fonthill is
a myriad of strip plazas on its east side, south side, and west side, with more on the horizon. Recent articles and letters over the past weeks in the paper seem to illustrate pushback concerns from residents over development clashing with our trails and treed land scape. The Town planners are responsible for this, just as the Town planners and CAO and council were responsible for allowing Fenwick to be turned in to Pot- ers-ville, with three outside investment speculators trying to impose their will and lawyers on our agricultural and residential landscape in Fenwick. The Steve Bauer Trail originally was part of an abandoned railway line. Back in the 1980s the Pelham Snowmobile Club used to mark and maintain it as a trail for all to use, whether you hiked, cross country skied, or snowmobiled. We kept the trail groomer in my backyard on Spruceside, and in agreement with the Rec-
reational Dept. of Pelham maintained it as volunteers at no cost to the taxpayers, until motorized vehicles were banned by the Town, which was a slap in the face to the volunteers and snowmobile club. Today the trail is a cost to the taxpayers of Pelham and part of it is paved and trees have been cut down and now development encroaches upon it, and may one day threaten its viability. It has taken 30-plus years ,but the “urbanization of Fonthill” is coming to fruition and being encouraged by our politicians and Town planners because it fits their need and they/we need the money—or our taxes may go up to 12 percent, as Wayne Olson found out. While I personally believe that no healthy tree should be cut down—only dead ash trees—this town needs to maintain as much greenscape as possible. What is the point of having a trail running through a concrete jungle?
While I believe it is too late to turn around the urbanization path that Fonthill is on, there is still time to save Ridgeville and Fenwick from the same plight. The small-town feel is leaving Fonthill and being replaced by high- density housing. I am glad that I moved from Fonthill 20 years ago out to rural Fenwick, where there is still a sense of community and our own unoffficial mayor. While Pelham's town planners have already tried to impose their development rules on east Fenwick and already allowed cannabis to surround us, we will fight back because where do we go from here if Fenwick and Ridgeville also lose their small-town feel? So here we are, surviving the wrath of a pandemic at Christmas, with a divided Town Council, layers of lawyers fighting each other over pot in Pelham, a cash-strapped council that may need to make a decision to “sell the albatross” and restore our fi-
nancial stability, without having to urbanize the whole of Pelham. Is this the ultimate price we pay, in order to have a community centre? Every Christmas season my family watches Jimmy Stewart in It's a Wonderful Life, dealing with the cash-strapped pressure of Bedford Falls, trying to stop it from becoming Pottersville, under the wrath of developer Henry Potter. In the end the community of Bedford Falls prevails. While this story is fiction, my wish is that while it may be too late for Fonthill, it isn't too late for Fenwick and Ridgeville. While some CAOs and urban planners might disagree with me, there is no room for an urbanized Pottersville (Pot-ersville) within my Fenwick. I like my affordable small-town feel and the close knit community within. Merry Christmas! Richard Kavanagh Fenwick
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
The Voice, December 23, 2020
Bond trial delayed BY DON RICKERS
Special to the VOICE
Page 7
Fonthill Legion serves up holiday spirit BY DON RICKERS
Special to the VOICE
The driver who collided with and killed a 66-yearold Fonthill woman on Effingham Street over a year ago will not have his case tried until the spring. Michael Bond, 52, currently of no fixed address, is charged under the Highway Traffic Act with careless driving causing death, driving while under suspension, driving with no vehicle license, and operating an unsafe vehicle. Miranda Vink, manager of court services for the Niagara Region, told the Voice that a judicial pre-trial was scheduled for December 9, but was closed to the public. Only the Crown and licenced defence representatives, or the unrepresented accused person, were eligible to attend the pre-trial.
Vink said that the matter has been put over to February 23, at which time a five-day trial period will be set. The unemployed and homeless Bond last told the Voice that he has decided to represent himself in court and plead not guilty to all charges. While he has said that he has no clear memory of how the collision came about, Bond also asserts that the pedestrian stumbled and fell into the path of his vehicle while he was driving south on Effingham Street on the morning of November 30, 2019. However, visibility was clear and road conditions were excellent, there was no oncoming traffic, and the accident occurred on a straight section of roadway with clear sight-lines.
Al Crowe has been a Legion volunteer for 19 years. He is at Fonthill’s Talbot Trail - Branch 613 pretty much every day, helping out as necessary. Lately, his culinary skills have been required in the kitchen, carving turkey and preparing meals for the Christmas deliveries to be made on December 23 and 24—these in addition to the regular meals delivered every Friday to shut-ins in Fonthill and Fenwick. Legion president Toni McKelvie told the Voice that 700 meals are being prepared, to be delivered free to about 300 local addresses in Pelham and adjacent communities. She has ordered 700 pounds of turkey and 300 pounds of ham, along with huge quantities of stuffing, veggies, and desserts. She has a staff of eight drivers and ten volunteers in the kitchen. All the meals are cooked and assembled, and then frozen and stored prior to delivery before Christmas. It’s the only way they can manage such a huge order. “We are happy to provide a Christ-
Al Crowe carves a turkey in the Legion kitchen last week. mas meal for seniors, veterans, shutins…and anyone else in need of a good feed,” said McKelvie. “They can call
DON RICKERS
the Legion at 905-892-6293 and leave their name and address, and we’ll add them to the list.”
From all of us at the Town of Pelham to all of you, we wish you and yours all the joys and magic of the holiday season and a Happy New Year.
-Mayor Marvin Junkin, on behalf of Pelham Town Council and Staff
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Page 8
The Voice, December 23, 2020
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
Spate of E∞ngham thefts Neighbours assert petty thieves and drug dealers operating from trailers BY DON RICKERS
Special to the VOICE
The Pelham Neighbourhood Watch group on Facebook was abuzz recently, as residents reported thefts and drug trafficking around Highway 20 West and Effingham Street. Niagara Regional Police spokesperson Jesse Vujasic told the Voice that an investigation of thefts around Hipwell’s Motel on the morning of Friday, December 11, led to the arrest of Donald Lush, age 45, of no fixed address. He is charged with seven counts of theft under $5000, and four counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5000. Much of the stolen property was recovered by police. Lush, who had outstanding warrants and appeared on the NRP’s online “wanted list,” was held in custody, and appeared in court on December 12, 2020. The manager of Hipwell’s Motel told the Voice that Lush had been a registered guest at the motel for one night, and that the motel “does not generally allow long-term stays.” Kumud Patel said that even if customers pay in cash, they must present photo identification as a condition of registration. A sign at the front desk supported her comment. A resident who answered the door at a home next to the motel identified herself as Mrs. Bond. She said that she had been victimized as well by the thefts that occurred late at night on Thursday,
Donald Lush, 45, as seen on the NRPS "Wanted" web page, prior to his arrest on Dec. 11. NRPS December 10, as thieves attempted to break into her husband’s garage. She has security cameras in place, and said that she called the police when she detected the intruders. Bond’s husband, Norman, is in the hospital, having suffered a stroke several months ago. His prognosis is not good, said his wife. Norman’s son, Michael, previously lived with the couple. The name Michael Bond will be familiar to many, as he is currently awaiting trial on a several charges related to driving the vehicle which collided with a pedestrian on Effingham Street last November, killing her. According to both Bond and his stepmother, they have a stormy relationship. When her husband went into the hospital, Mrs. Bond demanded that Michael leave the
Two of the broken-down trailers and vehicles that litter the landscape behind a home on Highway 20 West, near Effingham St. DON RICKERS property. The police were called to enforce her wishes. According to Mrs. Bond, individuals living in run-down trailers at the back of the property were friends of Michael’s, and she demanded that they depart as well. Neighbours, who wish to remain unnamed for fear of reprisals, assert that Norman Bond owns the driveways adjacent to his property, which are access points for the remote, wooded area in the back. One neighbour said, “We witnessed drug deals happening at the end of the drive, not far from where our kids were playing. It all started last April. There most definitely were people living back there. It was at its peak in July. They knew
Bundle up
NIAGARA
2020 is almost over, but COVID-19 is still here, and we need to work together to stop the spread this holiday season.
we had cameras…I called the cops on them a ton of times.” Asked about drug deals being conducted on the property, NRP spokesperson Vujasic responded that due to privacy laws and the fact that no charges were laid, the NRP cannot speak to the issue. The neighbours said that they had met with Norman Bond at least twice regarding their concerns. “He was kind of fishing to see how much we knew about what was going on back there,” she said. “We told him, ‘We have cameras… we see everybody coming and going…we know what's going on.’ The word on the street was that it was a big heroin and fentanyl operation.” Two Canadian flags are still fly-
ing amidst the abandoned vehicles, an incongruity considering the decidedly illegal conduct neighbours allege was occurring. “They marked the places of the drug rendezvous,” said a neighbour. “I have a video of two of the guys that used to live back there… they ended up being charged with a break-in at a Welland high school.” Peter Criscione, a communications consultant with Niagara Region, said that he could not comment on police investigations, but noted that the Region’s Social Service Department did have its Assertive Street Outreach Team investigate the site in question recently, and “found no homeless persons present.”
Limit close contact to your household
Stay home and get tested if you’re feeling unwell
Wear a mask
Wash your hands
Practice physical distancing
Only go out for essential trips
Doing just one of these things isn’t enough – we need to practice them all. So bundle up Niagara, and let’s get through this together.
FOR MORE INFO GO TO NIAGARAREGION.CA/COVID19
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
The Voice, December 23, 2020
Page 9
2020 Ontario Budget Ontario’s Action Plan: Protect, Support, Recover PROTECTING SENIORS
SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES AND STUDENTS
Ontario is proposing new tax relief to help seniors live safely at home longer through the new Seniors’ Home Safety Tax Credit for the 2021 taxation year, providing a 25 per cent credit on eligible renovations of up to $10,000. Ontario will be increasing the average daily direct care for seniors to four hours a day per resident. This will help ensure resident needs are being met and that residents have a higher quality of life. The government is also investing an additional $761 million to build and renovate 74 long-term care homes across the province, including $38,205,194 across Niagara. In Niagara West, Shalom Manor in Grimsby is receiving an additional investment of $13,046,544, helping them build 128 new spaces.
SUPPORT FOR JOB CREATORS AND BUSINESSES Ontario will address the job-killing high costs of electricity, saving medium-size and larger industrial and commercial employers about 14 and 16 percent respectively, on average, on their electricity bills. Ontario is reducing property taxes on job creators and levelling the playing field by lowering high Business Education Tax (BET) rates for over 200,000 employers, or 94 percent of all business properties in Ontario, to a rate of 0.88 per cent. The government is also ending a tax on jobs for an additional 30,000 employers by making permanent the Employer Health Tax (EHT) exemption increase from $490,000 to $1 million. With this additional relief about 90 percent of employers would pay no EHT, saving them $360 million in 2021–22 that could be reinvested in jobs and growth.
The government is supporting students, parents and learners by once again offering one-time payments to parents. Ontario is also leading the nation in school funding for COVID-19 by making $1.3 billion in resources available to school boards. Eligible parents or guardians will receive a one-time payment of $200 for each child up to age 12 and $250 for each child or youth up to age 21 with special needs. Parents can apply for the Support for Learners program at: https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-support-learners Recent investments in Niagara West include 587 new elementary student spaces with the construction of a new joint elementary school between the District School Board of Niagara and Niagara Catholic District School in Wainfleet, as well as 276 new elementary student spaces and 49 new child care spaces with the construction of an addition to Smith Public School in Grimsby.
SAFE RESTART AGREEMENT In an historic agreement, the Government of Ontario, in partnership with the federal government, is providing up to $4 billion in urgently needed one-time pandemic assistance to the province’s municipalities. Locally, in addition to the $31 million received by the Regional Municipality of Niagara and twelve lower tier municipalities in August, MPP Oosterhoff announced an additional $4 million for social services relief funding and additional $17 million for infrastructure, roads, storm sewers and COVID-19 relief.
RURAL BROADBAND The Ontario government is investing another $680 million to improve broadband and cellular access across the province, particularly in rural and remote communities, including Niagara West.
WEST LINCOLN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL REBUILD WORK CONTINUES Architecture firms, B+H Architects and mcCallumSather, have been selected as the planning, design and conformance (PDC) team for the eagerly anticipated redevelopment of West Lincoln Memorial Hospital. Infrastructure Ontario and Hamilton Health Sciences have initiated the process to find a design-build team for the project - shortlisted teams will be invited to respond to a request for proposals, or RFP, which is expected to be released mid-2021.
SAM OOSTERHOFF MPP - Niagara West
4961 King St. E, Unit M1 • Beamsville, ON L0R 1B0 T: 905-563-1755 TF: 1-800-665-3697 Email: sam.oosterhoffco@pc.ola.org
“I hope this helps illustrate the facts about the changes the government is making. As always, you are encouraged to contact my office for any assistance you may require.”
Page 10
The Voice, December 23, 2020
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
2020 YEAR IN REVIEW Gary Accursi, Former Town Councillor
A few thoughts at year's end EDITOR'S NOTE: Earlier this month, the Voice invited a selection of community members to contribute their thoughts about the unparalleled year now coming to a close. We present their responses in alphabetical order, and thank each respondent for taking the time to write such thoughtful, insightful essays. We begin with former Pelham Councillor and mayoral candidate Gary Accursi, in effect the de facto voice of the loyal opposition to the current Town government. (While all of Pelham Town Council was asked to participate, Councillors Hildebrandt, Stewart, Haun, and Kore did not acknowledge the Voice's invitation.)
T
he Town of Pelham continues to be a great place to live, work and play, and despite the growth and changes to our community it remains and will remain a small Town filled with caring, concerned citizens. Change is inevitable and necessary for a community to remain vital. Growth and intensification is necessary to afford the costs of maintaining what we have. Managing these changes demands an informed and educated council—one free of personal biases, one steeped in the knowledge of governing legislation, and one willing to make the tough decisions because they are the right ones and not because they are the most popular or because they meet personal whims. I have been dismayed by the
current council’s behaviour, and have expressed this several times in these pages, hoping that a light would go off and they would begin to act as educated adults charged with the important mission of running the community. Alas, it appears that this is not about to happen. Let’s consider a few of the “interesting decisions” that they have made. Throughout the year this council— which pledged to be frugal and money savvy—has spent money relentlessly, budgeted-for or not. Off-budget spending included hiring a shared in-house lawyer, a policy planner, and heavy funding of the Cannabis Control Committee. Poor, uninformed decisions in the planning area have resulted in numerous LPAT appeals, for which the Town had to hire an outside law firm and planner—all because council ignored Town planning staff. All these appeals will be for nought and I predict that the Town will lose them all. On the cannabis front, instead of engaging with the industry, this council chose to form a committee which excluded them. The result is expensive legal challenges, currently estimated to cost in excess of $300,000. My guess is that this is a low number if the industry decides to take this all the way. Council decided to punish the Mayor for a minor impropriety identified by the Ombudsman. They voted against the recommendations of the Ombudsman
and decided to make the “punishment” more severe. The Mayor, instead of discussing the matter, left in a huff and the Acting Mayor read a statement from Councillor Ron Kore, who had declared a conflict. Mature? Not! Gong show? Yes! Communication and an apology on both sides could have avoided the Ombudsman altogether. That’s what adults do. What about land sales. Several sales have transpired, however, some with “interesting” twists. In one proposal for townhouses south of the community centre, the developer offered up a free pathway across their land as a continuation of the pathway which runs through the East Fonthill development. Several councillors held up this development over this generous offer until the developer dropped the idea. He was amazed at the Town’s response. In another significant sale, the land was sold substantially below market (my opinion based on previous and current sales) to a developer who had held the Town hostage— only to subsequently win the right to buy the land which was in dispute. Council also dithered over the sale of the old arena lands and subsequently sold the lands some $500,000 below previous offers. I am constantly amazed by this council’s lack of regard for the recommendations of their professional staff. It seems that sever-
al (read Haun, H i l debrand and Kore) think their personal opinion trumps all— including those of the professional staff and those regulations encased in upper-tier legislation. The recent discussion about hiring a consultant to review our emergency management plan at a cost of $20,0000 dollars, when the existing plan clearly was effective over the last year, is a classic example. I could list many such examples but space does not permit and I am sure you get my drift. The absence of Councillor Kore certainly affected council’s functionality during the past three months. This council seems to be evenly divided (depending on Marianne Stewart’s mood at the time), and, as evidenced in the recent budget meetings, motions are easily defeated by a tie vote. Important decisions failed because of a split council and an absent councillor. Kore returned Monday and it was apparent that his attitude toward the Mayor has not changed. The triumvirate of Kore, Haun and Hildebrandt is alive and well, as evidenced by an exchange between the Mayor and Haun over a lack of transparency by Haun— and I might add staff—with respect to the successful application by the airport commission to have
its property taxes to Pelham reduced by some $10,000, based on a provincial decision that designated part of the airport as agricultural land. When the Mayor raised the issue, the buddy system kicked in and Kore and Hildebrandt came to Haun’s defense. Honestly, a little communication would have gone along way. A monthly report by Haun with respect to the functioning of the airport commission would have cleared up this mess, and would have avoided the rather embarrassing confrontation between parties in front of a visiting delegation. In fact, much of what was discussed with the delegation from the commission could have been dealt with by the local appointee—read Haun—well before the delegation appeared. It should become mandatory that councillors sitting on various boards and commissions file a report, if not monthly then at least bimonthly, to keep everyone on the same page. Knowledge is power. Communication is king! 2020 will undoubtedly go down as an historically difficult year for all, but like the dawn of a new day we can see a brightness emerging with the approval of the Pfizer vaccine, and with several others in the offing. Keep the faith, stay strong, continue to follow COVID-19 safety guidelines, and we will all emerge from these dark days. Wishing all a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year. Stay safe! ◆
Thank you to our community for all of the support and kindness you have shown us this year. Best Wishes for 2021. From the Community of Lookout Ridge
1505 Lookout Street Fonthill, ON L0S 1E5 lookoutridge.ca (905) 892-9218
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
The Voice, December 23, 2020
Page 11
2020 YEAR IN REVIEW Jane Bedard, Humorist
Hindsight is 2020
I
f a picture is worth a thousand words, can a word create a thousand pictures? I think so. How would you picture the word hope or despair or love? Every answer is unique. Below are some words that I came up with that symbolize the year 2020 for the Bedard family. What will your words be? Ah, January. That was a good month. Do you remember January? We made plans. Remember plans? We made New Year’s Resolutions—one thing or a list of things we’d like to accomplish over the next twelve months. That all seems pretty absurd now, doesn’t it? After January, the word accomplish took on a whole new meaning, as in: I put on pants today–what an accomplishment! You may recall last year’s Word of the Year was they: a pronoun used to describe a person whose gender identity is non-binary. That word showed we had come a long way as a people. The word for this year: pandemic. Talk about coming a long way. In what seems like a very long way away, last January I went to Florida with some friends. I walked the beaches, went shopping, played tennis, swam in the Gulf. As tame as that all sounds, in retrospect it was more like the Roaring ‘20s; it was New York in the ‘70s; it was like my first pair of Lululemon yoga pants. January was an all-night beach party compared to the next eleven months. Then came February, and over in Asia the cracks had turned to crevasses, which began to spread
beyond their borders like that tiny chip in my windshield I ignored until it was too late. In the early days of WWII, when the Japanese were invading China, many Americans postured, “Oh, those poor people way over there in China. I do hope they’re going to be okay,” oblivious to the fact that the enemy was already airborne and heading towards their backyards. Like those naïve people, I buried my head the sand, which happened to be Florida sand, because that’s where I went again in the first days of February, with my husband. We arrived, unfettered, on Sunday to stay with my in-laws. On Monday we watched the news. On Tuesday, we changed our flights. On Wednesday we got our Canadian butts back to Canadian soil before those crevasses turned into deep valleys. The troops had landed on North American soil, all the “un” words surfaced: unprepared, unprecedented, unpredictable. Apparently, the world had come undone, and I had toilet paper to buy. The frenzy for food and other essentials was like a failed experiment in human nature. It was Panic at the Disco. Just off the plane, I arrived late in the game to the grocery store and walked over the remains of several bodies that had been trampled in the aisles like fans at the ’79 Who concert, except all in the name of antibacterial wipes. Ahh, I love the smell of COVID in the morning. March came in like a lion cub
and went out like a full-grown lion—it was inevitable. My kids came home from school one day and didn’t leave for six months. A pandemic (our word for the month/ year) was officially declared and our world became very small. We watched a lot of news and even more Netflix. Our well-worn route to the gym emptied out and our new exercise—walking— grew from a half hour to an hour to two hours, holding h a n d s with my husband or six feet apart with a friend. New restrictions popped up daily. Emails came in cancelling appointments—doctors, dentists, and orthodontists. But it was on March 17, at 2:05 PM, when I opened the email from my hairdresser, that this pandemic became very real. It was like how people remember where they were when Kennedy or Lennon or Reagan were shot. It took no time for my hair to declare a state of emergency. Women (and some men) gave each other nods of solidarity, silently acknowledging each other’s grey roots; this is when I truly understood the meaning of, “We’re all in this together.”
Merry Christmas and HAPPY NEW YEAR
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April merely happened. Our normally overflowing calendar was bare, and there was a feeling of numbness in the air, despite the improving weather. Everyone in our home was appreciative of being able to work online—well, not so much the kids, but adaptability became an oft-used word for all of us and for the rest of the world. On the news we saw people dying alone and spoke to friends who had lost someone dear, and we wept. We watched acts of bravery and self sacrifice, and we were moved to tears. We listened to President Trump consider injecting bleach as a means to kill the virus and we cried tears of laughter— and then we wept for our neighbours south of the border. In the aftermath of every Presidential press conference, the word we used was incredible. The flip side of all of these tragedies was the creativity that was born out of the boredom. Every social media site exploded with homemade and professional videos satirizing the bizarre circumstances in which we found ourselves. They made us laugh and brought us comfort by showing us that there were others out there facing the same challenges. If we were to pick one word to represent our family on any given day, it would be play. We play
sports and games as much as we possibly can, so when COVID-19 shut down our sports programs, we shuffled around like zombies until we bumped into golf—one of the few options available at the time. In May, we started to play so often that we eventually joined a small nine hole, par three course nearby and by the end of the summer had played close to 70 rounds! I have golfer’s elbow to prove it. I also have a sore wrist from repetitive dealing in over a hundred Euchre games and a stiff neck from leaning over a 500-piece puzzles depicting the Beatles’ White Album. By June the conspiracy theorists were beyond frenzied. This was the BIG ONE—the one they had been predicting for decades: the key to Area 51. And while it’s not like they were actually celebrating a victory, I felt like I had to keep banging on the metaphorical adjoining bedroom wall to ask them to keep it down: “What, again? You just finished! Where do you find the energy?!” The evidence of a global government and big pharma coup was finally palpable for them. The “leaked” and prepared videos and documents and covert language, which used to be only decoded by a few, were out in the open for all to see. Misinformation flirted with information, which was then censored, which then added another layer of conspiracy, and the cycle continued. They are convinced
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Page 12
The Voice, December 23, 2020
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
2020 YEAR IN REVIEW Colin Brezicki, Novelist
A year to forget?
T
he future ain’t what it used to be, said Yogi Berra, who had a way of making truth sound like nonsense (a welcome reversal). As for the past, many would agree this year’s a good one to put behind us. We were all of seven days into 2020 when the World Health Organization was notified of a new virus originating in a wet market in Wuhan, China. Two months later the WHO declared a global pandemic. Without question, COVID-19 is the most significant event of the year, with 67 million confirmed cases and 1.5 million deaths worldwide. Whole countries were shut down for weeks. The good news is that 43 million people have “recovered” and three vaccines have been found. Otherwise, the past year may well be remembered not so much for what happened as for what didn’t. In Canada alone we lost the Calgary Stampede, the CNE, Stratford, the Shaw Festival, Carabana, Pride parades, Cirque de Soleil, the Memorial Cup, and the CFL. Everything else happened differently. Professional sports resumed their schedules in vast, empty stadiums. The Stanley Cup came back to Edmonton for the first time since Gretzky days and was taken home by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Technology came into its own as never before with
businesses, schools, universities, churches and families going virtual. Masks became the order of the day, except for those too selfish to bother. Restaurants spilled onto the streets once the weather permitted al fresco dining, and not a few have since gone under. So have Darth Vader, James Bond, Diego Maradona, Kobe Bryant, Alex Trebek, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Congressman John Lewis, and former Prime Minister John Turner. Some 13,000 Canadians lost their lives to the coronavirus while the nation approached bankruptcy bailing out the millions who lost their livelihoods. The US led the global death toll while its president declared it in turn a hoax, a conspiracy, a minor ailment, and something that was already behind us. Eventually he came close to telling the truth when he declared, “We’ve learned a lot. A tremendous amount has been learned” —if he meant COVID is not the common cold. He was impeached, then found not guilty by the Senate, and finally became the first president in history to lose the same election three times. Among the events that COVID pushed into the “also ran” category for the time being were climate change, massive bush fires in Australia and forest fires in Brazil, Siberia, Oregon and California. Floods in India, Pakistan and Fort McMurray. Hurricanes sprang up too often for the alphabet to keep
up. And to complete the biblical list, a plague of locusts descended on Delhi. Man’s inhumanity to man continued unabated in 2020 with 23 people killed in a shooting and arson rampage in Nova Scotia. There were ugly riots in Hong Kong as China tightened its grip on the city-state, and huge anti-racism protests across the US and Canada triggered by the copknee-on-neck murder of George Floyd. In Canada the railroads ceased to run for a couple of weeks as Indigenous people sought to reclaim their land. Across the pond, Britain departed from the EU and the Windsor-Markles removed their brand from the Royal Family’s, events that if you missed them will no doubt be included in Season something of The Crown. It was a year when being a leader became an unenviable job. Some managed better than others but they could only be as effective as their populations allowed. Containing the spread became a grim game of whack-a-mole as hot spots appeared without warning, most tragically in long-term care facilities. Scenes of relatives standing outside the windows of incarcerated parents and grandparents were almost too painful to
look at. And yet for all the d e spairing h e a d lines and exponential rise in infections and deaths through the year, we were given something to cheer about. Our healthcare workers, front-line doctors and nurses, teachers, grocery store workers, restaurateurs and many others have faced constraints that doubled the challenge of their work, as they risked daily exposure in keeping our lives as close to normal as possible. They don’t make the headlines and they don’t make hero pay, but they keep life going, literally in our hospitals, and figuratively everywhere else. With a brother who’s a doctor and a daughter who manages a Toronto bookstore I know a little of the added stress and peril in the daily lives of those who underpin our health care and our economy. Parents know only too well the added stress of online learning while many would confess to knowing only too little of the material they’re trying to help their kids with at home. Unless they’re teachers themselves they likely don’t know what it’s like to work past midnight marking assignments and configuring to-
morrow’s online lessons along with the non-virtual equivalents for the cohort in the classroom. I’ve never taught through a mask to masked kids who can’t leave their seats and who are dependent on me to divert them with interesting stuff so they don’t think about the virus outside that has stolen part of their childhood. Using hand-sanitizer a dozen times a day and wiping down surfaces were never part of my teaching workload. Neither was fear. “The day never ends,” says Kelly Main, a high school teacher in Waterloo. “It never ends. I think we might be headed for some real burnouts.” On the plus side they work with children, many who possess wisdom in their hearts. I see their messages on the painted stones placed by mailboxes around my neighbourhood. The artwork is delightful and the words simple enough. Courage. Love. Hope. Kindness. I’ve noticed that the message isn’t lost on a lot of people—strangers who wave from across the street or nod a silent greeting as we queue outside the supermarket. Will 2021 and the vaccine return us to normal? I doubt it. Normal is ever-changing and so are we. As Alice said, “I can’t go back to yesterday —because I was a different person then.” So were we. Who we’ll be now is up to us. ◆
Best wishes for a
MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, AND A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR JOHN WINK
Councillor - Ward 2
y r r e M ristmas Ch and a
HAPPY NEW YEAR Wayne Olson
May this season of joy mark the start of a blessed and peaceful year to come. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Mayor Marvin Junkin and Family
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! Best wishes to you and your family this holiday season. DIANA HUSON | REGIONAL COUNCILLOR diana.huson@niagararegion.ca
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
The Voice, December 23, 2020
Page 13
2020 YEAR IN REVIEW John Chick, Journalist
We are still more alike than we are different
I
was invited to write this retrospective of this year-unlike-any-other, and had no idea where to go with it. After an annus horribilis like this, what can you
say? If you spend any amount of time on Twitter — and trust me, consider yourself gifted if you do not — you’re treated to a second-by-second bombardment of all the world’s ills and injustices, all framed through the lens of grandstanding and “influencer” self-absorption. The general malaise from that sours me on opining too much about the sad state of the planet, be it the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, or legitimate social issues I am barely qualified to write about. My main personal takeaway from 2020 is my ability to be on a Zoom conference call with Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri one moment, and the next be witnessing a virtual Zoom courtroom appearance by inmates from the Niagara Detention Centre— all from the relative comfort of my former dining room. The surreal nature of this, of course, is a testament to how fortunate I am that my employers didn’t cut bait on me once the economic impact of the pandemic hit — at least not yet. Others, including some of my own friends, have not been so lucky. One of the things my late dad stressed to me — along with telling me to carry identification (unless operating covertly), so that authorities could ID my body in the event I am killed—or, when making a bed, facing the open ends of pillowcases towards the inside of the mattress so that snakes cannot crawl inside them— is that all of us, no matter how privileged, are one-to-three bad breaks away from truly hard times. How this shakes out for Donald J. Trump in coming years remains to be seen. For real folks, however, these difficult
times are no joke, and it’s a reality too many have dealt with this year. In the grand scheme of things, of course, we’ve gone through economic downturns and crises before. Yet CNBC-speak doesn’t soften the blow for those who have lost their jobs and livelihoods, or seen them drastically curtailed. So, in an effort to be as a cliché as possible in this season of giving, do what you can, if you can. That doesn’t mean just cash or canned goods for charities. It means favouring area small businesses over the multinational chain corporations that, while they do employ local people, do not make staffing decisions based on daily bottom-lines. It means considering nearby take-out restaurants or other services — even if you have to go out and get it because they aren’t digitally linked to Silicon Valley delivery systems. Support starts locally. I haven’t been inside a bar in ten months, easily the longest such personal streak since approximately 2003. While neither myself nor my wallet has missed it all that much, my thoughts are with the bartenders and wait staff that routinely put up with a cavalcade of antics for the uncertain promise of tip money. When this pandemic is over, God willing, I imagine I must go back to one— despite the fact that one particular establishment I frequented in the past has permanently shut down. Community can still be a thing wherever you live, even in an age of further cocooning. And to take it a step deeper and venture into even more-sudsy territory, heed the words of rapper T.I.: “Stop looking at what you ain’t got, start being thankful for what you do got.” In the year 2020, I’m thankful that my family and friends are —touch wood —relatively healthy. I’m thankful my wife and I actually strengthened our relationship
despite working wildly different jobs and shifts from the same small house, and that we even had the opportunity to do so. I’m thankful that the circumstances of this wacky year also allowed me to spend more time with my best friend, a Siberian husky named Arty. The Coles-notes version here is that my brother-in-law got a puppy almost exactly ten years ago, not long before he embarked on a near-decade long educational/career journey that today sees him in Texas. Long story short, the dog now lives with us in said small house. When he’s not howling for chicken to eat or utilizing his hardwired wolf nature to growl at various displeasures, I drive him around in search of new adventurous walking locations, making various non sequitur observations to him. Enjoy the ride, I guess. That’s important, because even if the world wasn’t a literal dumpster fire, that’s what you’re supposed to try and do. Because, just as an example, I’ve got highly disturbing news for you: There are tens of millions of people south of the border (plus an untold number of similar thinkers here in Canada) who are currently liv-
ing and functioning in an alternate version of reality, where Trump won the U.S. presidential election, had it stolen from him, and that the political party of the man that legitimately beat him is run by an evil cabal of — wait for it — pedophiles. Not to take a sledgehammer to the glass coffee table of any attempted merriment here, but to say that the future is unknown is as massive an understatement as it has ever been. The tendency to sentimentalize the holiday season is as old as time, and syrupy year-end retrospectives are likely written much better elsewhere than here. But if it’s possible for you, start with it and use the festive season to respect the difference and diversity of your fellow humans. Even if you cannot literally walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, consider trying to envision it, regardless of — or perhaps, especially because of — their different age, race, religion or social status. Step back from the rancor for a moment and try and see the humanity and basic character in people, even the ones you vehemently disagree with personally or politically. They’ve got parents, children, siblings, dogs, cats, ferrets, snakes, whatever. They’re people, and we’ve all been through a lot this year, some much more than others. Merry Christmas—or whatever your reason for the season is—and Happy New Year. ◆
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Page 14
The Voice, December 23, 2020
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
INSPECTIONS
2020 YEAR IN REVIEW David Cribbs, Pelham Chief Administrative Officer
continued from Page 26
All things considered, Town in good shape
A
s for everyone, the events of 2020 took Town staff by surprise. Fortunately, several members of the Town’s senior leadership team have advanced accreditation in “incident management,” which is civil-service speak for leading during emergencies. Our skills, knowledge and aptitude were certainly tested during those first few months of the pandemic, and in short spurts since that time. I am pleased to report that both as a community and as a municipal corporation, Pelham endured well. Pelham was the first municipality in Niagara to re-open an arena, the second to open the pool, one of only two that offered kids camps, the first to open Town Hall, albeit by appointment only. The community in turn responded well: the tennis club picked itself up very early on, Pelham Cares partnered with Town staff to deliver groceries to the house-bound, the library was a regional leader in commencing pick-up-only service, and the Town’s trail system has never seen more use. In sum, the community looked after its own and
kept moving, safely. On the economic front, there have of course been challenges, financial losses, and more than enough stress and anxiety for virtually everyone. I want to clearly acknowledge the reality of financial pain and suffering present in both the community and the region. Good moves authorized by council included expanding restaurant patios (without additional fee or charge) and deferring payment of taxes and water bills for the early months of the pandemic. Council’s decision to open the second ice pad at the community centre produced over $170,000 in additional revenue for the Town, which helped offset COVID-related losses. The temporary layoff of 32 Town staff and 11 library staff was difficult and unpleasant, but it also dramatically reduced the losses incurred by both organizations. Even with a dip in construction and a six-week period during which the Town was not issuing building permits, Pelham’s assessment growth in 2020 is an impressive 2.82 percent. That number deserves some greater analysis: the Town continued to grow at a pace
well above inflation, even in the face of a pandemic. It’s proof positive that our community is and remains a highly desirable place to live. The other notable econom ic improvement is in the s i z e of the To w n’s cash position. In m id-D ecember, the sale of the old arena lands closed. A reputable developer has paid a significant price and will ultimately be building a community that is very much in keeping with the neighborhood around it. The province has just announced the Phase II COVID-19 funding, wherein the Town and Pelham Library have jointly been awarded almost $1.3 million. The Town finishes the year with millions more in cash than it had at the start, and has transformed unproductive assets (land slated for sale) into future tax-paying
revenue streams. The municipal corporation is now much healthier than it was 18 months ago and will have a much easier time meeting its financial o b l i g ations. S o w h at’s on for t h e horizon known as 2021? In September council updated the action items contained within the Town’s strategic plan. This session allowed for a good debate about priorities and where efforts (and results) need to be focused. Arising from that, top priorities include updating the Town’s 1987 zoning bylaw, putting the final touches on the Town’s regulatory approach to industrial-scale cannabis growth, reviewing the operational model for library services, succession planning, an upgrade to the electronic complaint system, municipal tree policy and oper-
Sam Oosterhoff, MPP
ations review, a delegation of authority bylaw and an exploration of the potential for one or more “business improvement areas” to assist with economic recovery. There are several other things being worked on as well. When I step back and reflect, I can truthfully say that council and staff fully appreciate that residents want a high quality of service from the Town. While 2020 involved a deviation from course to address the existential health threat, the Town has pulled through and in fact there are have been many accomplishments at Town Hall. Heading into next year, please know that Town Council has an ambitious agenda of action items which both staff and elected officials intend to deliver upon. Pelham deserves no less. On a personal note it is both an honour and a privilege to serve this community. I feel considerable pride on a daily basis to be working with this team of talented and committed staff. The move to the Niagara Region has been a great one and I very much enjoy living, working and playing here. Be well, stay safe, wear a mask, wash your hands, and get the vaccine when it becomes available! ◆
Niagara West
Merry Christmas, and a healthy and blessed 2021!
Merry Christmas &a Blessed 2021 to the people of Pelham - Councillor Bob Hildebrandt
Beamsville Town Centre
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III summons (elevated fine) being issued for infractions under the Reopening Ontario Act, O.Reg. 364/20. Officers also issued 48 formal warnings and conducted 178 “educational conversations.” The Region said that these inspections are in addition to those conducted by local area municipal bylaw offices. Since March, Niagara Region has redeployed staff to assist with the enforcement of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act and the Reopening Ontario Act, and Niagara Region’s Face-Covering By-law. “To date, the vast majority of Niagara residents and businesses are diligently implementing provincial regulations to keep our community safe,” read the statement. Residents are able to submit complaints regarding inadequate COVID-19 measures by contacting their local municipality’s by-law office, or calling Niagara Region’s dispatch line after hours at 905-984-3690 or 1-877-552-5579. Last week Niagara Region also partnered with a provincial multi-ministry team in a three-day education and enforcement campaign across Niagara. From Dec. 14-16, Provincial Offences Officers were to visit hundreds of local businesses, said the Region, to provide guidance on how to operate safely and comply with COVID-19 prevention requirements outlined in the Reopening Ontario Act.
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
The Voice, December 23, 2020
2020 YEAR IN REVIEW Diana Huson, Regional Councillor
Page 15
2020 YEAR IN REVIEW Wayne Olson, Pelham Councillor
Small acts of kindness make big difference Look beyond the next bend
A
t this time last year COVID-19 was just a blip on our radar. We had heard of a curious respiratory illness making its way through international circles, but it seemed far away and unlikely to hit our shores. What a difference a year can make. Last week I found myself oddly envious of a friend’s video of their dog at the dog park. The dog and another dog were roughhousing. Complete strangers. Clearly not from the same household. Not a mask in sight. They were blissfully oblivious to the pandemic, breathing and slobbering all over one another. Their joy was infectious. I admired them. I also reflected on what a strange thought this was, yet it's completely reflective of our times. I'm ready to move from 2020! I bet you are too. I’m writing this on Sunday, December 13. Niagara Public Health has just confirmed an additional 65 cases on Saturday and 71 cases today. Three new outbreaks have also been declared, including one at the Welland hospital, bringing our total active number of outbreaks across Niagara to 18. Our active case count sits at 337. We’ve also received a strong indication that Niagara will be moved into the red zone by Christmas, and along with it be impacted by a slew of new restrictions. The news seems grim. Needless to say, this was not what I envisioned for my first term as your Regional Councillor. The pandemic came upon us so quickly in those initial few months it was hard to stay up to
date and share information in a constantly changing environment. News of a vaccine couldn’t arrive soon enough. Yet I expect there may be further confusion as public health officials determine how best to roll it out, who should take priority, storage, distribution, supply and all of the other factors that go into a national vaccination program that was needed, quite frankly, yesterday. Please know that we’re all still trying to figure it out and do the best we can to help protect our communities. It’s been a difficult year for everyone, some more so than others. We’ve missed milestones. We’ve cancelled plans for the future. We’ve lost loved ones. But our community stepped up in a meaningful way. We kept connected to our loved ones and reached out to our neighbours. We picked up some groceries where we could. Our community groups jumped into action for those in need. We’ve supported our local businesses. We embraced a caring and compassionate mindset towards those around us, and we’re better for it. I would encourage you to please keep doing so! You never how much a small act of kindness can
make a big difference in someone’s life. So instead of an update on the budget or the inner workings of our Regional government, I hope you’ll entertain a message of a more personal nature. Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic is a marathon, not a sprint. It will take a bit more time. It will take patience, endurance and perseverance. It may also take a change of perspective. Most of us have a roof over our head. We have access to food, safe drinking water, and medical attention. Some of us can work from home. We can Zoom with family and friends or call them on the phone. We can go out if we have to. Thankfully the shortage of paper towels and toilet paper ended months ago! Most of us are in general good health. Some are feeling the ill effects of the physical separation from family and friends, but with time I believe we will recover. At the beginning of the pandemic, we emphasized the message that “We’re in this together.” Let’s double down on that message. Let’s find strength in a difficult situation, find courage to continue on and pause and reflect on the things that are important to us. There is so much in life to be thankful for and we can help lighten the load for others by being there for one another. I wish all of you the very happiest of holidays, and good health in the new year. ◆
O
ne day last spring, I climbed down from the tractor to stretch my legs and walk a bit on a winding old sugar bush road. I hadn’t walked down this road in perhaps 60 years. Each bend in the road was like reading through the pages of a scrapbook. There were the big ruts made years ago by old tractors long since retired. There were the small trees that were now huge maples. The forest can be quite a noisy place in the spring. The more I walked the more I wanted to walk. I started was looking forward to the next bend in the road and what I would see next. The old sugar shanty should be right around here. One of my favourite chores was to help Grampa Jones with the maple syrup. The best time was Saturday, when I got the stay up all night with Grampa in the shanty. It was like the best camping trip in the world. We would listen to the hockey on the radio and talk about the things we wanted to get done in the coming weeks. Gramma Jones always made the best chocolate chip cookies and brownies, the kind with a layer of marshmallow. The other day a good friend said that he loved being in the barn when the cows were being milked. I had to think about that one a bit but he was right, as usual. There is something about smell that triggers memory. Grampa treated his cows and cats
like people and they all had a name. There was a great sense of peace and calm when we were all there together. I came to believe that animals were placed here for the mental health of human beings. The old sugar shanty is a ruin now but I kept walking because I soon had to get back to work. I didn’t want to retrace my steps, so I took a less familiar path that took me into a different part of the woodlot. I was getting closer to the place where the wild flowers grew. Gramma Jones and Mother made sure they went there every spring. And there they were, the most beautiful wild blooms. I had my cellphone and I took the accompanying picture. I hope that you like it. The tractor beckons but gives plenty of time to remember and think about things. We are fortunate to live in a great, giving community. This year, let’s look beyond the next bend in the path and beyond ourselves. There are a lot of folks who are isolated. Pick up the phone and call them. My sister recently called an old public school friend and they talked for two hours even though they hadn’t seen each other in 50 years! Thank you to the Voice for this opportunity to write to you. I hope that you like the flowers. My warmest wishes for the holiday season and hopes for a healthy future. ◆
Page 16
The Voice, December 23, 2020
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
Spirit of Christmas starts young Two 7-year-olds raise some $1000 for Pelham Cares
JUNKIN
continued from Page 5 continue through 2021. In the spring, Town staff and the new union repre-
senting the Town’s outside workers signed a first-time collective bargaining agreement. It was a tribute to both sides that an agreement was made satisfacto-
Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year The staff of Dekorte’s Landscaping
Savannah Salter and Evelyn Seppala. “Happy,” the girls responded, knowing that families with children their age will have food on the table and treats to eat at this festive time of year. They love their school, A. K. Wigg. “My favorite activity is craft-
ry to both parties while remaining on amicable terms. Land sales in East Fonthill continued throughout the year, totalling some $5.3 million dollars. This money all went to pay back the bridge loan that the Town had taken out to cover the construction cost of the community centre. Also sold in the fall was the old arena site for $2.5 million dollars. Having both ice rinks open for the summer was both financially rewarding
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ing,” said Savannah. “I like recess,” chimed in Evelyn, grudgingly acknowledging that the respite from the classroom did not qualify as an academic subject. Savannah has been a Beaver for one year, while Evelyn has been
and again a sign of the diligence of Town staff to get the Town assets open for our citizens both quickly and safely. Many municipalities that usually had summer ice in years gone by did not open their facilities this summer. Pelham also ran day camps for children, offering the kids a token bit of normalcy and no doubt giving stressed-out parents a badly needed break. In early fall, Pelham, like all other municipalities, received a COVID-19 compen-
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sation payment, part of a $4 billion dollar fund provided by the federal government. This payment was to compensate the municipalities for the extra cost of COVID-19, such as cleaning and sanitizing expenses, along with any revenue that had been lost to date. A second payment, to be made before Christmas is pending. In the fall, council awarded the tender to fix Sulphur Spring Drive to a local contractor. At the urging of council, this contract was a design build, meaning that the contractor will be responsible for not only the construction of this project, but also for the design. Bill Duffin, the contractor who was awarded the contract, is also the contractor that designed and built the wall that has successfully held back the hill on the old number 8 highway, between Jordan and Vineland. According to Bill, “That hill hasn’t moved an inch since I put the retaining wall up in 1991.” I believe the project of Sulphur Spring Drive is in good hands. This project is slated to be completed by the autumn of 2021.
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When fall arrived this year, that was when the Town’s finance department started to put the finishing touches on the budget for next year. I had stated back in late spring that I would not be happy with a budget that had a property tax increase greater than 2%. The proposed Town budget, if passed in January by council, allows for an increase of 4.7%. However, the virus and its effects are responsible for 2.8% of the increase. Next year, if we can eliminate many of the costs associated with COVID-19— plus hopefully gypsy moths will be on a downward cycle—I am confident that we can bring in a 2% or less increase. One other step council has taken is the hiring of a Town Solicitor. Jennifer Stirton will be shared among the municipalities of Fort Erie and Wainfleet. We as a Town simply cannot afford to continue to pay $750/hour for legal advice on the cannabis issue, or any other issue for that matter. The Region is aiming to bring in a 2% tax increase, and by deferring some capital projects this goal appears to be achievable. Restaurants in the Town, like restaurants across the Region, are feeling the financial crunch of COVID-19. Please give them as much business as you can, be it take-out, or dining in with family members. I can assure all residents that you have a group of highly motivated professionals working for you inside Town Hall. In two years as your Mayor, I continue to find this job very interesting and very rewarding. It’s an honour to be your representative at Regional Council and at all official functions that I attend. That being said, they are days that I long for yesteryear when a stubborn Holstein was my biggest problem. Merry Christmas to all, and may the New Year bring you and yours much happiness. ◆
O
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This season
involved for three. Meetings are normally held at Fonthill United Church, but with COVID-19 hanging about, meetings are via Zoom sessions. The girls won’t be Beavers next year. In Grade 3, they advance to Cubs.
F
Evelyn Seppala and Savannah Salter put their seven-year-old heads together a few weeks back, thinking of a way to help the less fortunate in Pelham at Christmas time. The Grade 2 students at A. K. Wigg Public School are Beavers with the Third Fonthill Scouting Group, and as part of their North Star Award certification, they needed to perform a community-based project. The girls decided to raise money for Christmas hampers, a Pelham Cares project, by preparing a “speech” to deliver at the front door of the homes in their neighbourhoods in Fonthill, as they asked for donations. Evelyn’s mother, Julie, is a Bea-
ver leader, and gave helpful hints to the girls as they prepared their door-to-door sales pitch. Many people gave cash at the door, while others arranged an e-transfer. The final tally was a remarkable $510 for each girl, a total of $1,020. The next step in the plan? “We’re going grocery shopping,” said Evelyn. “We need to buy food and bring it to Pelham Cares.” Evelyn’s mom has been told by the charity that “pickles, clementines, nuts, and chocolates” should definitely be on the list. Fifty local families will receive Christmas hampers and benefit from the charitable labour of these youngsters. So how does their fundraising success make them feel at Christmas time?
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The Voice, December 23, 2020
2020 YEAR IN REVIEW John Piccolo, Golf columnist
Page 17
2020 YEAR IN REVIEW Don Rickers, Journalist
Every pandemic its silver lining This year in the rear-view mirror
I
started to write a column about the goings-on of golf during this year of pandemic, and specifically a story I saw on the CBC about how The Royal Ottawa Golf Club, one of the most prestigious in the country, took advantage of a government wage subsidy program, even though they likely made more money than at any other point in their history. It is a sordid tale of entitlement and short-sightedness and likely depressing for most, and, I think, we need little more positivity at the moment. So perhaps I will add the Ottawa affair to some other nefarious things that go on in the golf world and save it for later. In a nutshell, if you owned a golf course in Ontario this year and didn’t make money, give it up. You obviously have no idea what you are doing. There are some really bright owners in this game and some who may be more qualified to drive the beverage cart and all of them have a smile glued on their face like bad plastic surgery. What about next year? Who the hell knows. On the professional side of the game there is a youngish man by the name of Bryson Dechambeau who caused a big kerfuffle when he decided he was going to try to do something most said was impossible—combine the world of long drive with the world of golf. You might be thinking that guys in the long drive competitions are golfers but that isn’t quite true. Some of them are quite good at the game (not great good) but others do nothing but try to hit a golf ball as far as possible. Generally they get eight whacks at it and only have to get one in play on a grid that is 45-60 yards wide. They look more like Russian shot putters than golfers. They don’t need to chip or putt or even own a set of irons. They play loud music and act a little like wrestlers the last time I saw it. Players like Tiger and Rory and Phil would be curious to watch these guys but never take them seriously beyond the “holy cow” factor. Hitting a golf
ball 450 yards is amazing but on the PGA tour and, even on Sunday morning at Peninsula Lakes, you don’t generally get eight tries (any more than three lost balls on a consistent basis and you should take a couple of weeks off and then quit) and the fairway is rarely 60 yards wide. In “real” golf you have to go find it and be able to hit it again or the penalties are quite harsh. This has been enough to keep the tour players in check. Until Bryson. Bryson is not like the other guys. More than anyone in recent memory he will try anything to gain an advantage. H e was a very good player on tour for a few years but certainly not dominant. So Dechambeau decided he was going to look more shot-puttish (by gaining 40 pounds) and swing his driver as if it had pissed him off. You don’t have to like him or agree with him but you can’t argue with the results. He has won twice with this technique including the US Open. I’m not sure his body will hold up to the strain of the unnatural weight gain and the force of swinging the club that hard, that often, but he has certainly generated discussion. That is the way the world works. Dislike the guy for taking too long to hit a shot, for being a Trump supporter, trying to get a free drop because he is afraid the ants might get him, but not for pushing the envelope. Hope everyone has as great a holiday as possible. We have along way to go but will get there. Take advantage of the wonderful opportunities there are of living in this region and this country. Make sure you reach out for help if you need it and offer it up if you can give it. Peace. ◆
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here is an old proverb that “hindsight is 20/20,” meaning that we have perfect vision and understanding when looking back on occurrences. The expression is usually a retort, an excuse really, to an admonishment after having made a bad decision. And let’s face it. In 2020, we made a lot of bad decisions. Where to start? COVID-19 is as good a place as any. Governments were slow to react to the dangerous virus from Wuhan, and it spread like wildfire. People adopted safety protocols with varying degrees of conviction, and conspiracy theories abounded, which eroded trust in our political institutions, and in each other. Medical facilities were quickly overwhelmed, and the body count spiraled upwards. Last time I checked we were at 1.65 million dead (14,000 in Canada), and it’s far from over, folks. The restrictions and lockdowns have seriously damaged global economies, gutted the job market, and decimated the meager savings of many families. Unemployment was at its highest level since the Great Depression. Income inequality got worse, and corporate profits at Amazon, Walmart, Microsoft, and Apple went through the roof as big tech got even bigger. Some components of our economy may never fully return to normal…that’s the sad reality. Think airlines, hotels, food and beverage services, the motion picture industry, education, retail stores, oil and gas. They were all hard-hit by the pandemic, and face a tumultuous business environment for the foreseeable future. Working from home in the pandemic became the new reality for many, which was good news for pets, as rescues and adoptions soared. Greenhouse
gas emissions actually dropped, as travel and industry slowed. Hurricanes and wildfires set records, and NASA said we endured the hottest year on the planet since 1880, when weather recordkeeping commenced. The top infectious disease expert in America, Dr. Anthony Fauci, says 85 percent of the population need to be vaccinated to achieve “herd immunity,” and 60 percent would be the threshold in order to start bringing case numbers down to a manageable level. In Canada, our government and medical authorities are fast-tracking the roll-out of vaccines, which were developed in record time. Fauci told the press he won’t be seeing his own kids this Christmas, in order to minimize potential transmission of the virus. He has urged others to make the same painful choice, and shrink their bubble. It was impossible not to be drawn into the melodrama south of the border. With the highest voter turnout in more than a century, Donald J. Trump (aka Orange Julius, Trumplet hinsk in, the Tangerine Tornado) lost an election, or had it stolen (his version). In the process, his divisive rhetoric polarized America like never before. More than a month later, most of the staunchest Republicans have come to terms with the fact that Joe Biden will soon be President, having received approval of the Electoral College. Even Vladimir Putin has called Joe to offer congratulations. Of course, there's still one very noticeable holdout. Trump himself hasn't conceded. From
one Donald to another: this is the opportunity to polish your golf game full-time. Go-go to Mar-a-lago. I worry about the most powerful country in the world being run primarily by old men, and was glad to see Biden chose an accomplished, middle aged woman, and one of colour, to be his VP. We rely on a strong relationship with our American cousins, and not simply because tens of thousands of us escape the Canadian winters to bath in the sunshine of Phoenix, Boca Raton, and Myrtle Beach. But as PM Pierre Trudeau commented during a Washington DC visit 50 years ago: “Living next door to you is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered the beast, one is affected by every twitch and grunt.” The elephant has been especially cranky this year, and Canada-US relations need a serious reset. 2020 was a year of anti-racism protests, of Black Lives Matter, on both sides of the border. Microsoft computer experts confirmed that evil techies from Russia, China, and Iran have been hacking us, including attempts to manipulate the US presidential election. Malware and Ransomware seem to be ever-present. If I was a college student right now, my major would be cybersecurity. It’s a ticket to a guaranteed, high-paying job. Most mornings, it was hard to open up my Macbook and not read news reports of pain and suffering around the globe. War and famine are a constant presence in dozens of countries, like Sudan, Somalia, and Iraq, See MIRROR Page 27
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The Voice, December 23, 2020
COLUMN SIX
continued from Page 1 brick chimneys on both side of the house. This is the first winter without my father, who passed away in the spring of 1963. Around that same time, my grandfather’s best friend also passed away. During the day and night, the house is always cozy and warm. With these large French windows, we really enjoy the beautiful scenery outdoors. It truly is a beautiful Canadian winter wonderland. Sorry— I am drifting, just remembering the day. Anyway, my grandfather says to me, “Een, are you ready to go?” I guess because my mother’s name is Jean it just seemed easier to call me Een. “Yes, Grandpa just give me minute,” and within five minutes I am bundled up and ready. Today my grandfather and I are going hiking and exploring in the woods. We will cut down not just one, but two Christmas trees for the house. Grandpa will haul the one back for the downstairs and I will bring back my first tree for the upstairs in our shared home. We go around to the back of the house and my grandfather fetches his old bow saw that he and his older brother would use to cut wood for their parents in their younger years. He also gives me a nicely sharpened axe to carry on our journey. We are both now ready to venture into the woods, the two great explorers Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett. The snow is deep and as we enter the woods the branches are all laden with the fresh fallen snow. We go along a beaten path down the short side hill out back that has been there forever. As we turn a corner we come upon the peace and tranquility of the sparkling brook making its way through the snow. We get to one of grandfather's favorite spots, where he likes to just stop, listen and think. It’s a fresh water spring where many times a week he will come to get water and watercress all year round for the house. Nothing compares to having a watercress and cheese sandwich. As he takes out his pouch of Daily Mail tobacco to roll himself a cigarette, I wander over to the old
rake which has been abandoned for years. This old piece of equipment, as well as an old roller, was used on the farm in the olden days, when horses were the only source of power to pull these old contraptions around. It really is a rustic setting and I believe my grandfather really craves the peace and quiet in a world that is changing so quickly. He finishes his cigarette and we now continue on our journey. As we start climbing the old horse path, we come to a clearing which was once a field. It’s overgrown with neglect but it's still interesting to hear my grandfather relate the stories to me of when he and his brother Rob used to work the farm. Uncle Rob passed away in the early ‘50s, before I was born. It sure is a beautiful day out in the woods and I see a few possible pine trees but our adventure is far from being over. As we go through another valley and up another hill, I am amazed at how much ground we have already travelled over. I say to Grandpa are you sure you know where we are going, and with this we come to another piece of old farm machinery. “Believe it or not, Een, this is an old binder that we also used on the farm.” I realize there were no worries now because my grandfather knew every inch of this land. This was his terrain, an area he knew like the back of his hand. An area I would get to know just as well as I would grow into my teen years. We continue on our journey because there are little sisters, my mother and grandmother waiting patiently for our return. As we go around the next bend, I now realize why we have gone to the farthest border of the old farm. Everywhere I look I see hundreds of pines, beautiful future Christmas trees. But now the problem is to find just the right one. My grandfather spots a nice little short one, because that is the height of the tree my grandmother likes in her living room, on the fancy side of the house. It took me a little longer but I too found the perfect tree. With the enthusiasm of youth, I cut down my first Christmas tree and Grandpa and I begin our return journey home. With a new exhilaration, we pulled our trees behind
us, and even though the snow was deep our trail was already blazed, and we made it home within the hour. Passed the old binder, the old field down into the valley pass the spring, over the stream and up the hill with the old house in site. Like proud pioneers and explorers Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett have returned home. Little sisters are both shrieking with joy. Mom and Grandma beam with pride to see such wonderful trees. Within hours both trees are set up, the lights, garland and bulbs are affixed, and before you know it both floors have the intoxicating smell of fresh pine wafting through the house. Yes, it was a good adventure. The season is about to really rock and roll in our home. Day after day it seems so many friends, neighbors and relatives are stopping in at the old Highland View. Maybe it's just for a cup of tea and a scone, like our milkman would enjoy at the end of a long day delivering door-to-door in the neighborhood. An old friend of my grandparents, he would save our
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca place as a last stop for hot tea and warm conversation. Or for others something possibly stronger, like some Christmas cheer that my grandfather has hidden in the basement with his favorite Scottish whisky glasses. There is no internet, no cell phones, no computers, but within the week this house will be as busy as any modern-day home. Networking just seemed a natural part of my grandparents and parents' era but with a more old-fashioned way of keeping in touch. In my grandparents' parlor, above the piano would be hung hundreds of Christmas cards with delightful greetings and warm messages. They would be hung on strings evenly spaced on strings above the old upright Mason and Risch, which was angled in to the corner between the two French windows. A very organized room, it was a reflection of my grandmother’s mind and her refined upbringing in Edinburgh, Scotland. Upstairs would be the same in my mother’s domain but with a different feeling, because she was born in rural Canada and has three small children. Actually, my grandfather, my uncle and mother were all born in this house in St. Johns West. Now with two large families interconnected and with friends and neighbors stopping in, this house is becoming like Grand Central Station. As Christmas Eve and Christmas Day unfold the sweet smells of my mother’s and grandmother’s cooking fill our home. The tables will be put endto-end in the kitchen and dining/ living room on Christmas day, and with so many folks arriving there never seemed an end to all the settings on the tables. But no matter— everyone was fed and surprisingly enough everyone got along well with each other. As a youngster these experiences form a solid foundation for my understanding of Christmas. The season continues on, day after day, with just as much enthusiasm as Christmas, but still the best is yet to come. It’s now New Year's Eve and everything is getting organized for the big party. In the two living rooms downstairs all the folding chairs are getting set up everywhere. The old piano has been cleaned and nicely polished, for
soon Uncle Dave will be playing, with cousin Bill accompanying him on the harmonica. The beer is outside in the snow keeping cold, the whisky and glasses are in the basement for a quick pick-me-up, and my grandmother’s fine china is all ready for the ladies to have a nice cup of tea and a raisin biscuit. It’s about 7 PM and my sisters and I are perched at the top of the stairs to get a good view of all those who will be attending the party tonight. The doors open with no hesitation and with a friendly ease everyone is greeting and wishing each other a Happy New Year. The conversation is lively and happy, the laughter is loud and bright and at the same time Uncle Dave is playing a song on the piano by ear. He is also joking and throwing out one-liners, pulling everyone back into the fun. Well, it's just about time for the clock to strike midnight. There are no televisions on in the house, no one is watching the ball drop in New York City. This is just a neighborhood party with everyone singing Robbie Burns' song Auld Lange Syne. The end of the evening is near. Soon everyone is putting on their coats to head home. Although it has been a great party there are things to do the next morning. Some folks are farmers, and chores have to be started bright and early. Others have something to do just because it’s the beginning of a brand-new year. No matter how bad things can get for all of us I am still amazed at how resilient we all are and how we can still joke and have a little fun. All that I have related to you is a memory from yesteryear. The old homestead and farm are long gone, being absorbed into the Short Hills Provincial Park. Most of the people I have talked about are as much ghosts as is the old hamlet of St. Johns West itself. Once in a while the sparkle of that time reappears again, especially when there is snow in the air and families are venturing out to the Short Hills to cut down a Christmas tree of their own at one of the local growers and creating new memories of their own. So, if you get bogged down with the stress of our modern times, try to relax, and remember things will always get brighter again. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. ◆
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The Voice, December 23, 2020
continued from Page 3 “I just want to take a moment to thank all of Pelham’s council for sitting and listening to us,” Van Vliet said. “They’ve been difficult questions, we knew that coming into this meeting that you would be well-versed … we’re here to cooperate with you.” Those difficult questions stemmed from Pelham’s financial responsibility for the airport— which includes a $27,000 budget request for 2021. Earlier, Ward 1 Councilor Wayne Olson highlighted statements showing the airport has $245,000 in the bank as a reason why cashstrapped Pelham shouldn’t give the operation a grant this year. “You have to remember a lot of that money we have in the bank is borrowed money,” Van Vliet replied, saying the funds are for a needed septic system upgrade. “I’m not sure I agree,” Olson said, citing the airport taking out a loan for $40,000. “I’m wondering about what authority the airport thinks it has to encumber the Town by taking out a loan in the airport’s name. I don’t think you have that right.” Van Vliet said that as a shared operation between Pelham, Welland, Port Colborne and Wainfleet, the airport commission was able to do that. “I disagree with you, we do have that right,” Van Vliet said. “We
OP-ED
continued from Page 4 search that it is difficult to highlight the most significant. However, the development of the vaccine to combat the current pandemic has to be near the top of most people’s list. It normally takes five years, or more, for medical researchers to develop vaccines for a
have borrowed money in the past.” Olson also challenged Van Vliet over the commission’s decision to apply for a specific type of COVID relief funding, a move that federal rules appear to prohibit. Responsibility for the airport, which sits fully inside Town of Pelham borders, was handed over to the four municipalities from the federal government in the 1970s. Junkin reminded the group that there has been ongoing talk of uploading the airport to Niagara Region, but there has been little movement in that area. Welland Councilor Adam Moote said, however, that the Region is currently undertaking an examination of the airport. “The board has proceeded as if the Region is not taking over,” Van Vliet said. “To sit on our hands and do absolutely nothing is not what we were appointed for.” The aerodrome, which cannot host large jets due to limited runway length, has five aviation-related commercial operations onsite, plus the local air cadet wing. Ward 1 Councilor Marianne Stewart supported the continued funding of the airfield. “I see having an airport as a winning situation,” she said. “Besides the [property] tax revenue, there’s a definite economic spin-off to our community for the restaurants or places for people to stay,” she added, though Pelham has only a single motel within its borders, and council members in-
multiple of health threats. This time, these researches broke all records and in the course of less than a year came up with a formula that works. That news story should be more than a poke in the arm and deserving of banner news coverage. Here is an example of a good news story on the local front. The Fonthill Legion was recognized by that or-
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cluding herself cracked down on short-term rental properties earlier this year. Junkin then pressed the board on whether the airport’s multiple hangars are all being used for aviation purposes. “This Town has every right to know the leases, and what those hangars are being used for,” the Mayor said. “Because I know two hangars, and I’m not going to mention what they’re being used for, but they are quite against Pelham zoning bylaws.” Haun said she didn’t know what Junkin was referring to. “I’m not sure exactly what you mean by non-aviation hangars,” she said. “Every hangar we’re aware of, is in some shape or form related to aviation.” Junkin wouldn’t publicly say what the structures in question were being used for. “I’m certainly not going to say it here because I haven’t been inside of them, but I know...at least two of those hangars are definitely non-aviation,” he said. Other board members also pleaded ignorance on the matter. “It would be helpful [to know], because they would be in violation of the lease,” Port Colborne councilor Gary Bruno said. Olson later summarized the boisterous discussion by saying that coming from an aviation family, he supported the airport, but wanted concessions in terms of Pelham’s financial responsibil-
ganization's Board of Director’s magazine for their “Heat and Serve” program. This handful of volunteers led by the local Legion president, Toni McKelvie, will have prepared, delivered and served more than 9,000 meals this year to veterans,
ity. “[It] looks to me like we’re stuck with each other, we’ve got to make the best deal possible,” Olson said. “You’ve got some of the greatest teachers and learners in our community who are part of your user group.”
Splash pad supported
Council voted to support a splash pad project at Centennial Park in Fenwick to be funded partially by the COVID-19 resilience fund. The remaining $237,000 would be funded by development charges. A second proposed splash pad at Marlene Stewart Streit Park in Fonthill would be funded by another grant, but would require significant water infrastructure upgrades.
Odds and ends
Council unanimously voted to ratify the site plan agreement for the new strip plaza development east of Wellspring Way along Hwy. 20. Councillor Bob Hildebrandt did not speak further about concerns he raised at the Dec. 7 meeting about the safety of included drive-thru plans. During the Town’s COVID-19 update, CAO David Cribbs prepared council for the likely eventuality of a spike in coronavirus cases in January, citing media reports that some 30 percent of Canadians planned to ignore physical distancing requests over the holiday season.
seniors and shut ins in Fonthill and area. These free-ofcharge, full course meals were an important source of healthful nutrition for these physically challenged members of this community. Isn’t such a program and effort in our community
“Under [provincial level] red, we could be returning to ten people per facility,” Cribbs said. That will mean the suspension of several activities at the community centre, and resulting financial impacts. Indeed, last Friday the province moved Niagara to level red, beginning this past Monday. In some good news, Fire Chief Bob Lymburner credited community centre staff for helping save the life of a 67-year-old individual who suffered a cardiac episode while playing hockey recently. Staff, and a volunteer firefighter the man was playing with, were able to administer assistance using the onsite defribrillator. “It was a registered save, and through the efforts of staff and the fire crews, there’s someone there to enjoy Christmas,” Lymburner said to a show of thumbsup from councillors. Junkin opened the meeting by apologizing for a “hot mic” incident at the last virtual council meeting. “I uttered a phrase that should be never be used by any elected official,” the Mayor said. “I apologize if anyone heard this and was offended.” Junkin was heard saying “Jesus Christ” during the Dec. 7 meeting, drawing the ire of a handful of residents belonging to the same church congregation. (See sidebar, next page: The Case of the Invisible Councillor.)
worthy of a good news label by any measure or standard for a good news story? Well, there you have it. Doctor Larry’s OTC prescription to overcome the
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The Case of the Invisible Councillor
PELHAM LIBRARY CARD MAKING WORKSHOP Make six cards with fall themes, learning a variety of techniques. Materials are provided. At STAFF time of registration, please enquire about tools needed. BY VOICE Tues., Sept. 16 10 – 12:30. $10. Please register ahead. Visit www.pelhamIn the new reality of meeting via Zoom, the library.on.ca or call 905-892-6443 for more details. video-conferencing software now universally
employed to connect remote users to various gatherings—including municipal council FABULOUS FENWICK LIONS FISH FRY meetings—the basic rule would seem to be Tasty treats with funds heading straight back into the community. Haddock, self-evident: to participate, turn on your camera. french fries and much more. Runs Sept. 9 from 4-7 p.m. Yet by the Voice’s estimate, upon his return to council last Monday, after the second of two leavesPELHAM of absence MINOR during 2020, Ward 2 CounHOCKEY EQUIPMENT SALE cillor Ron Kore spent nearly three-quarters of Buy, sell used equipment the one hour andor46trade minute meeting with his at the Pelham Arena. Aimed to provide camera turned off. The in-person equivalent cheaper options for players in this upcoming season. Runs Sept. 6 from would be ducking under the council horsein the morning. shoe,9-12 or leaving council chambers for extended periods without explanation. Asked whether Kore’s invisibility posed a PELHAM procedural issue, MUDFEST Town Clerk Nancy Bozzato told the Voice it camewill down ensuring Men andthat women betoback in the mud as the second run on the year is Councillor Ron Kore's camera remained off that a quorum is maintained. held at Bissil’s Hideaway. for extended periods on Dec. 14. YOU TUBE “Members of Council are asked to keep their cameras active during the meetings,” said Bozzato. “On the 14th, it was Councillor Kore’s NIAGARA REGIONAL EXHIBITIONthat a quorum is present at all times.” first meeting following a leave and he may not Kore did not respond to a Voice request for games andprotocols. live entertainment headline this years exciting event. It have Rodeo, recalled the meeting I will be comment asking why he had not kept his messaging him to request that the camera be runs from Sept. 11-14 at the Wellandcamera Fairgrounds. on. enabled going forward so that I can be certain
BIG MOVE CANCER RIDE The Big Move Cancer Ride is a non-competitive ride taking place on Sept. Things are not what you would have wantFAITH LIFT 7. Proceeds for the Big Move stay in Niagara and support theloss, Walker Famed. There’s been a recent a financial continued from Page 23 problem or a relationship breakdown. We’ve ily Cancer Centre. all been living through a global health crisis fire to ward off the night chill. As someone and some loved ones won’t be with us this observed, “The only thing perfect about the year. CLUB first WALKING Christmas... was the baby.” Don’t give up. Think of Mary and Joseph. It’sInterested true. In the of all this politi-Join them in midst walking in Pelham? Tuesdays at the Pelham Arena cal, economic, social and emotional stress Keep your eyes on the Lord. And like the first Bandshell Christmas, although messy, can from something 9-10 am and Thursdays at Fonthill for 9-10:30 am.you There and mess, wonderful was taking still have a merry, Christ-centred one! ◆ place. God was becoming a man in the form is no fee for this program. For more information, please contact jcook@ of a baby. And this child would become the Rob Weatherby is a retired pastor who will be pelham.ca Savior of us all. or call 905 892-2607, ext 329. reading Luke 2:1-20 again with his family on The missing letters in my title for some Christmas Eve. of you this Christmas will be the letter “s”.
HAMPER DAY FOR PELHAM CARES Purchase fresh fruit and vegetables at the Market or bring a non-perishable food item to fill the hampers at the Pelham Farmers Market on Sept. 4.
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Page 21
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Concordia Lutheran Church 105 Welland Rd., Fonthill
Fonthill Baptist Church www.fonthillbaptistchurch.ca
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 1369 Rice Rd., Fonthill
Ridgeville Bible Chapel ridgevillebiblechapel.com
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Kirk on the Hill Presbyterian Church 1344 Haist St., Fonthill
St. Alexander Roman Catholic Church www.stalexander.on.ca
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of taxpayer dollars are allocated to private corporations. What other private corporations received taxpayer dollars through the CEWS program? There is no “privacy issue” involved as no individuals who benefited need to be identified. The federal government needs to disclose the names of the corporations and the amount of money each received. The public and thousands of small businesses who are struggling to survive deserve to have the details of the CEWS program brought out of the darkness and into the light. Ken Fisher Fonthill
funding is game-changing, and we are grateful to receive such a significant amount to help offset lost revenue and not ask our taxpayers to carry any of that burden." In August, Pelham received $428,500 plus $18,334 for transit in the first phase of funding. At the time, year-end estimates suggested revenues would be short just over $220,000. According to the Town, the second phase announcement ensures that Pelham will not be carrying a deficit into 2021—at least not due to COVID-19.
continued from Page 5
continued from Page 1
"This is great news for Pelham," said Teresa Quinlin, Director of Corporate Services and Treasurer. "Working through the COVID-19 pandemic tested all of us, and from a financial standpoint, we operated conservatively and appropriately, always with the best interest of the municipality and its residents in
mind." Town Council recently deferred the passing of the operating and capital budgets for 2021, pausing their completion until the second phase of funding arrived. Council will likely now consider these budgets in early-to-mid January. In Niagara, Pelham received the third-highest amount in phase two funding, behind only St. Catharines and Niagara Falls, despite having a fraction of those cities’ populations. Nearly $17.5 million dollars was distributed among the Niagara’s 12 municipalities, and the Niagara Region government. “Our government is committed to working in good faith with our municipal partners as they face unprecedented challenges,” said Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff in a statement. Quinlin told the Voice that Pelham faced a hurdle in phase one funding, which was based solely on the number of households in each of the province’s 444 municipalities—and Pelham has fewer house-
We are very happy that we received what we applied for
holds than Port Colborne, Niagara-on-the-Lake, or Thorold, despite all four towns having similar population sizes. “So we received a lower [phase one] grant.” Quinlin said that the phase two grant application was a different story. “We went line-by-line on the budget to identify lost revenues and additional expenses due to COVID-19 pressures on our operating budget. It was a very time-consuming
process, but it was very important since we wanted to capture the true impact of COVID-19 to the Town’s operations and receive funding to offset this impact. We are very happy that we received what we applied for.” Quinlin stressed that the application was a team effort between herself and the Deputy Treasurer, Charlotte Tunikaitis. “This is important to mention this since we both worked on this application 100 percent together.” Services and programs in the Town continue to operate on a slightly modified basis. Town Hall remains open by appointment only, and programs at the Meridian Community Centre are available based on the health and safety protocols set forth by the province and Niagara Region Public Health—which may be set to change as the Voice goes to press on Monday, with Niagara Region being moved into the red COVID protocol zone, and a rumoured 28day grey level lockdown starting in southern Ontario on Dec. 24.
Page 22
The Voice, December 23, 2020
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
THE BALANCED LIFE
by John Swart
In the end, each of us had our own 2020
S
tanding legs astride my bike, on any fall weekday in the parking lot at Harold Black Park, surrounded by the retired men and women that will be my riding mates that day, I would always ask each one, “How are you doing? Is everyone good? Husband, kids, family?” When the question inevitably came back to me, my response was, “It’s a great time to be retired in Pelham.” Everyone agreed and pensively shared a smile or quiet laugh, but it was obvious their thoughts were elsewhere, and although my answer wasn’t dishonest, it felt selfish. Yes, we miss not
hugging the grandkids, and our international travel has been paused, but we are so, so fortunate in every other measure used to evaluate 2020. My wife and I have no work-day time clocks to punch, no kids to pilot through school or daycare, and since June, no parents in extended care to worry about. Our lifestyle allows us to maintain the protocols required to stay safe, and we have the comfort of knowing that if something goes wrong, OHIP, private insurance, and the best of medical treatment are there for us. Rediscovering Ontario by bicycle and kayak, and the
simple pleasure of being outdoors, encountering other people at a social distance, has been a more than ample temporary substitute for broader excursions. Hobbies, volunteering, and individual sports have kept us active and fit, and the relentless parade of neighbourhood friends walking past our home each day has reinforced our sense of community. Switch to any Saturday morning, when the group forming at Harold Black comprises many riders who are still working, with kids in university or high school, and my introductory questions are different, respectful of the situation 2020 has put these friends in. I’ll ask, “How are you doing? Is working from home still going okay? How are your kids doing with remote learning?” When the questions are directed back to me, “It’s a
Bath time 2020 in the garage. Custom-designed tubs for each grandkid, and silly fun all around. JOHN SWART great time to be retired in Pelham” would be an insensitive and callous response to this group coping with broken routines and continual daily uncertainties, underscoring how differently 2020 has impacted everyone. There is no universal story for 2020 in review—not in Pelham, Can-
ada, or the world. I reply to these friends, “Everyone is fine, thanks for asking,” and switch the conversation to my sexy new tubeless bicycle tires. Our kids and their family’s daily patterns have been turned upside down, yet even here we have been fortu-
nate. What could be more fun than Christmas lights in July, flickering in the garage to celebrate our two granddaughters’ birthdays? Cake and hot chocolate are placed on two separate tables—one for my wife and me, one See BALANCED Page 27
Voice
HOROSCOPE
ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 Someone could be extremely generous to you soon, Aries. It may be out of the goodness of his or her heart, or it may be because of a guilty conscience. You may never know. TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 Avoid power struggles at work or even among your circle of friends, Taurus. It is not worth the trouble to get involved, and things will calm down soon. Keep your distance. GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, this week may be well suited to contemplation about certain decisions that have been on your mind. Find a quiet place and put all of the puzzle pieces together. CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, if you feel like you are ready to make a difference in someone’s life, then be honest about what you can take on. You may need a little help along the way. LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 Leo, if you need someone to motivate you, seek out a trustworthy friend with your best interests in mind. A qualified mentor might be the way to go. VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, sometimes a daily routine can land you in a rut. This is the time to change things up a bit. Mix up your regular schedule by trying a new activity or taking a trip. LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 Rough patches will quickly smooth over if you don’t fret about them, Libra. Just have a little patience and everything will work out for the best. SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 Right now stability means much
more to you than taking risks. Stick with those people who support you, and don’t worry about sitting on the sidelines for a bit. SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 Sagittarius, you may not realize it, but you have been slowly pulling back from those around you for some time now. Make a concerted effort to focus on important relationships. CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 A healthy hobby like exercise can be just what you need at the moment, Capricorn. Slowly increase your workout frequency and take a friend along for the ride. AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, try to be artistic this week. Don’t worry, you don’t have to create a masterpiece. Working on creative projects can be a form of meditation and help alleviate stress. PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 You are open to change more so than other people you know, Pisces. It’s a good thing, because last-minute changes are coming. FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS DECEMBER 20 David Wright, Athlete (38) DECEMBER 21 Steven Yeun, Actor (37) DECEMBER 23 Finn Wolfhard, Actor (18) DECEMBER 24 Ryan Seacrest, TV Host (46) DECEMBER 25 Annie Lennox, Singer (66) DECEMBER 26 Chris Daughtry, Singer (41)
SOLUTIONS DOWN 1. MIA 2. OLD 3. ALE 4. BEMIRE 5. SACHEM 6. OBI 7. CLAM 8. HONES 9. IO 10. FABRE 11. ACCELERATOR 13. MACABRE 15. ISO 17. CANNES 18. RAG 21. CHEESECAKES 23. PHM 24. MAR 27. SALOL 29. CELEB 32. DOL 34. VAN 35. CABANA 36. ANIMALS 39. GAT 40. SAD 43. CARESS 44. DENISE 46. HURST 47. RMA 49. SERRA 51. MAD 54. SEER 59. DDT 60. CAB 61. ADO 62. TIN 64. HM
CROSSWORD ANSWERS
SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. MOAB 5. SOCHI 10. FAILLE 12. ABLOOM 14. ACADEMICIAN 16. AC 18. RBC 19. ISH 20. MECCA 22. ARE 23. PROEM 25. SHAN 26. GEL 27. SHE 28. MAC 30. EBN 31. EDAM 33. REVERE 35. CAROL 37. LASES 38. ANALOG 40. SENE 41. BIT 42. LAC 44. DAB 45. CHR 48. AMOS 50. TAMED 52. AUM 53. NARES 55. RAN 56. KRA 57. AL 58. REDEDICATES 63. SHREDS 65. SADIST 66. MARTS 67. EBON
Enjoy our Take-out Fish & Chips Fridays! From our family to yours...stay safe
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The Voice, December 23, 2020
Page 23
FAITH LIFT
by Pastor Rob Weatherby
Me_ _ y Christmas!
F
ill in the blanks. No brainer? Just a minute. Have you ever looked seriously at the first Christmas? It was not quite as idyllic as the Hallmark card you’re going to receive in a few days. Let’s take a closer look.
Servitude
Life in ancient Palestine was not easy. Most people were peasants eking out a living from the land. Their crops and their cattle were their prized possessions. But life was not only hard economically. The Jews were not masters in their own land. Roman General Pompey had conquered Palestine in 63 BC and since then they had lived in political servitude to Rome.
Stress
As if the economic, political and social environment was not bad enough, there was one more stress. The upcoming census required Joseph to register in his ancestral hometown of Bethlehem, a 100-mile journey to the south. The timing was not good. Mary was in the final stages of her pregnancy. She needed rest, not the rigors of a long journey on a donkey’s back. Safety was also an issue. They would be carrying their tax money and robbers would be lurking along the way. But leaving Mary behind was not an option
either, given public opinion. And so, the journey was made and just in time. The birth pangs began. The usually quiet village of Bethlehem was now brimming with people and commotion. There was not a decent place to overnight, much less have a baby. They finally found a cave where animals were kept and made the best of it. No hospital. No doctor. Joseph was a carpenter, not a midwife. And as with any birth, it was a rather messy affair. No hot water. No clean blankets. Just a few strips of cloth and a nearby bonSee FAITH LIFT Page 20
Scandal
Living in these harsh economic and political realities was a young engaged couple, Joseph and Mary, anticipating their wedding day. At least they had some glimmer of happiness in their otherwise gloomy lives, right? Wrong. One day, Mary confided to her fiance that she was pregnant and her explanation about an angelic visitation seemed, well, unbelievable. Joseph planned to break the engagement. But one night he had a dream in which the same angel explained that Mary’s story was true. The baby in her womb was very special and her conception was unique. Now Joseph and Mary knew the truth. But what about their extended families and their neighbors in small-town Nazareth? No angel had appeared to them. And so, a cloud of suspicion and scandal hovered over them. The rumor mill speculated that an over-eager Joseph must be the real father despite all denials.
Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!
Word Search: Sweet Treats
Find the words hidden vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and backwards. BAIN MARIE BAKED BATCH BEAT BIND BOIL
CARAMELIZATION CHILL CLARIFY COAT COCOA COMBINE
CONFECTION CORN SYRUP CRUMBLE DISSOLVE DRAGEES ICING
LOLLIPOP PASTE SIFT SUGAR THERMOMETER TRUFFLE
ANSWERS ON PAGE 22
Voice
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Page 24
The Voice, December 23, 2020
Voice
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
BLT Bites Some people may argue that bacon should be its own food group. Bacon has the potential to improve any recipe with its salty, addictive flavor, but it is equally delicious all on its own. It’s found in breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Those who have tried chocolate-covered bacon also may insist that bacon holds its own as a dessert. Bacon is a salt-cured pork product that is made from pork belly or less fatty back cuts. Just as there are many different ways to incorporate bacon into favorite dishes, there are several methods to preparing the food, including in a fryer, on the stovetop, in a microwave, or in the oven. While each chef has his or her preferences, oven cooking may produce the most consistent results. According to The Spruce Eats, bacon is fatty so it needs to be cooked slowly at a low temperature so that most of the fat renders away while leaving the finished product crispy and golden brown. To achieve this most easily, arrange bacon slices on a sheet pan and place in the center rack of a cold oven. Close the door and turn the oven on to 400 F. Check the bacon after 17 to 20 minutes. The bacon is done when it is golden brown but not excessively crisp. Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the bacon slices and how quickly the oven reaches temperature. Remove the sheet pan and transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any fat. Cooking bacon in this manner also enables home chefs to prepare a greater amount of bacon at one time, which can be beneficial when feeding a hungry crowd. When you have a batch of bacon, transform it into any number of different recipes, including this variation on the classic BLT sandwich. BLT Bites are great as an appetizer for the holidays, or for mouth-sized morsels while watching a game.
2020 YEAR IN REVIEW Helen Tran, Journalist
Resolved: No resolutions
F
or me, the year 2020 began with a post-divorce to-do list from my therapist. It seemed pretty standard: get a new hobby, live more in the moment, read a pile of self-help books, travel, practice regular self-care, and maybe go on a date or two. This seemed doable enough. As I rung-in the new year, I closed the chapter on a ten-year relationship and was about to hurl myself with frenzied optimism into a new decade. Now that I was a single parent of a baby and a toddler, with hours of therapy under my belt, I felt like I had no choice but to welcome 2020 with open arms. After my rather tumultuous 2019, things could only get better, right? On my kid-free weekends, I practiced self-care by cooking a fancy breakfast for one, enjoyed with a cup of tea as I read the daily news. I fo-
cused on lighter fare: celebrity tabloid fodder, the wardrobe of the Duchess of Sussex, reviews of the latest Hollywood blockbuster releases, and so on and so forth. Admittedly, my awareness of COVID-19 during this time was vague, and every time I encountered an article about it, I scrolled past with a dismissive, “Well, that’s worrisome but at least it is happening somewhere else.” Looking back, I marvel at my obliviousness. Little did I know, but even in January, COVID-19 was already at our doorstep. My newly acquired photography hobby took me to Toronto every other weekend to catch sunsets, and with each subsequent visit I noticed more and more people in public transit and the streets wearing cloth masks. Hmm, I remember thinking. How odd. In March, on assignment for the Voice, I attended a dinner event hon-
crackers, such as RITZ® cup spring mix salad slices cooked bacon grape tomatoes, sliced teaspoons mayonnaise
The Voice k
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See RESOLVED Page 26
From our Staff, Board of Directors, Shareholders, and Delivery Carriers
1. Cut the bacon into 1-inch squares. 2. Chop salad mix into small pieces and mix with mayonnaise. 3. Scoop a teaspoon of salad on each cracker and place a piece of bacon on top. 4. Top with a slice of grape tomato. 5. Munch.
t Ask abou le b a il a v A REBATES
ouring local author Michael Jacques. I shook hands with Councillors Ron Kore and Mike Ciolfi, and laughed as they traded jokes. Everyone was free with their hugs and handshakes and cheek kisses. Only a week later, Justin Trudeau would announce a lockdown in an attempt to contain the coronavirus outbreak and “flatten the curve.” As the initial two weeks of lockdown stretched into eight months of social distancing, I would remember the dinner event with a mix of nostalgia and sadness. Physical contact and indoor social gatherings could no longer be taken for granted. Life itself seemed more fragile than ever—Ciolfi would pass away in April after testing positive for COVID-19. As I continued to cover events for the Voice, I found myself slowly but surely adapting to the “new normal”:
Wishing you and your family peace and joy for the holidays and the very best for the New Year.
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Page 25
The Voice, December 23, 2020
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TOWN OF PELHAM 2020 HOLIDAY CARD WINNERS Town Council was presented with this year's 12 holiday card contest winners at its meeting last Monday. Congratulations were extended to artists extraordinaire Mira, Emily, Madelyn, Brooke, Zach, Annaleigh, Maude, Isabelle, Lucy, Trinity, Kathleen, and Nathan. TOWN OF PELHAM
FLYING OUT THE DOOR Last Monday’s Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser at the Pelham Street Grille saw orders pouring in, so much so that owners Catherine and George Lafreniere aren’t sure how many they served—inside and take-out—but they know they raised a whopping $1750 in three hours. All proceeds went to Pelham Cares. RIC GRETSINGER
FOREST THROUGH THE TREES Pelham Tree Conservation Society (PTCS) organizer Mike Jones invited Town and Regional councillors on a walk along the Steve Bauer Trail last week. Jones says his group wanted to point out the amount of vegetation and number of trees that were threatened by the planned extension of Station St. “At the end of the walk, I believe that we were walking on common ground,” says Jones. From left, Ward 2 Councillor John Wink, Regional Councillor Diana Huson, PTCS members Dave Nicholson, and Mike Jones, Ward 1 Councillor Wayne Olson, and PTCS member Graham Pett. SUPPLIED
Page 26
The Voice, December 23, 2020
2020 YEAR IN REVIEW John Wink, Pelham Councillor
POETRY
Through it all, Town staff persevered
I
t was a year that none of us could have imagined. COVID brought issues to our lives that caused us to change the way we live, work and interact with others. Events such as the Easter Egg Hunt, Canada Day Parade, Thursday Night Bandshell and Summerfest had to be canceled due to COVID. It is these types of events that help make Pelham special. COVID also hit home when we lost a good councillor and friend in Mike Ciolfi, which rocked our community. As well we lost a good man, Earl Clapp, to a senseless act of others. Throughout the year I am proud of staff for what they have had to endure and accomplish. They have been proactive in the way council meets and communicates. Zoom meetings have allowed council to continue to serve our residents but I must admit the council has had its challenges and the sense of team has diminished. The residents of Ward 1 made a good selection in the by-election and Councillor Olson is proving to be a good asset to council. Staff have worked well ensuring protocols have been established, and the fact that we were able to have two ice surfaces available throughout the summer while other communities choose not to, provided Pelham much needed revenues at the Meridian Community Centre. The Senior Leadership Team had to make tough decisions with respect to staffing, protection of employees, financing, and exploring grant opportunities. In 2019 residents made it very clear that they wanted to mitigate odour, light and
RESOLVED
continued from Page 24 trying to smile with my eyes from above a cloth mask, conducting interviews over the phone (“Sorry, you might hear my kids and my cat in the background”), and using a longer telephoto lens to maintain social distancing. My journalist adventures were varied and people’s reactions to the pandemic vastly different, but one thing became very clear— many people had never experienced this degree of isolation from others before. As lockdown continued through April, then May, then June, then July, it seemed as if time had lost most of its meaning. Weeks would go by in what seemed like a blink. Yet a day would drag on for what felt like years. I cancelled my post-divorce travel plans. My self-help books collected dust. I would call a friend in the morning, then talk to them again in the afternoon with as much excitement as if a week had gone by. I would dress in my work clothes at home to trick my brain into being more productive, but as I juggled online teaching, freelance work, and being a mom, I often felt less like a professional working mother and more like a crumb-covered court jester. Now, I was reading every single COVID-related article I came across. In my worried mind, I felt that if only I could learn enough about this mysterious, invisible foe, perhaps I could conquer it, or protect myself better. If only I could keep on top of the numbers, of the scientific developments, I could predict when the ordeal would end. My daylight hours were devoted to my children and assuring them through word and deed that
noise emissions from cannabis operations and wanted this done regardless of the cost. Special thanks to the Cannabis Control Committee, who worked tirelessly with staff, outside consultants and lawyers to make recommendations to council. Amendments to the official plan, zoning bylaws, fortification bylaws and odorous bylaws have been adopted by the Town in 2020. We now face litigation challenges from the cannabis operators and $200,000 has been budgeted to defend our bylaws in 2021. The dark skies bylaw should be completed early next year. Another highlight was adopting a bylaw to address short-term rentals, which was a major concern for town residents. The Town made progress in selling most of the Town-owned property in East Fonthill. Proceeds were applied to a bridge loan that the Town had procured when the Meridian Community Centre was built. The sale of the old arena was a long time coming, and proceeds of the sale will fund Town projects that were completed in 2018 and 2019. In the fall of this year council completed a strategic planning session to prioritize action items to be completed in 2021. To review these items I invite readers to review the Strategic Plan on the Town website, found in the Town Hall section under plans and reports. I look forward to 2021 and to get back to a more normal way of life for all of us. Keep well and be safe. ◆
despite the changes in their life, everything was “fine.” At night, I would grieve alone for things big and small: for those I knew who had passed away from COVID, for the visits my parents should have had with their grandkids, for birthday parties, for going to the movie theatre, for shaking hands with strangers, and for hugging friends. There were good and bad moments during lockdown. My best friend, who is high risk and immunosuppressed, has barely left her house since March. Her mother has had to walk past anti-masker protesters more than once. My own mother would cry after video chats with her grandkids. “I just want to hold them,” she would say, before and after every Zoom call. One time when I went grocery shopping to acquire the precious trinity of toilet paper, disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer, I realized I was actually excited to see strangers! One morning, during a period of particularly low spirits, I spent two hours photographing dewdrops on my front lawn. Another time at home, my three-year-old daughter congratulated me for putting on real clothes instead of pyjamas. During one sunset-chasing adventure, I had a spontaneous conversation with a masked stranger as we shouted greetings at one another from opposite ends of a bridge. She told me a story about a swan and a fox that I will never forget. I created a special “pollinator” garden with my daughter, and we spent many happy hours planting flowers and observing bees and butterflies. I perfected the art of wearing a
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Jane Bedard
Doug Ford’s Night Before Christmas – 2020 T’was the night before Christmas, when all through the town Not a creature was stirring, we were close to lock down Hand sanitizer was placed by the chimney with love In case old St. Nicholas had forgotten his gloves
And then in a twinkling, he rang the doorbell Did he wake up the children? I thought, “Bloody hell!” As I swore in my head and was turning around Ford pushed the door open and came in with a bound.
The children were nestled, restless in their beds While nightmares of online learning haunted their heads With Papa deep in slumber, I poured a nightcap And stared at the pile of presents to wrap
He was dressed in a suit, from his neck to his toes Having come from a meeting at Justin Trudeau’s With a case full of needles from the local drug mart He stepped clear around me—two meters apart
When out on the road there arose such a noise I sprang from the table and knocked over some toys. I ran to the window, crashed into a lamp Stubbed my toe on the sofa and swore like a champ
His eyes they were weary! His dimples were hidden His cheeks may have been rosy, his nose was forbidden His mouth could have frowned from the fatigue of his task But along with his chin, all was hid by a mask
The guy parked out front in the new fallen snow Kept the engine running, like he had somewhere to go When what to my watering eyes should appear But some headlights that blinded—was Amazon here?
Some blue latex gloves he pulled over his paws Then he lowered his visor, was this Santa Claus? He had a broad face, a big and round fellah But he smelled when he approached me, just like Nutella
With a tired old driver, and an engine that roared I knew in an instant, it must be Doug Ford More rapid than rumours, he ran to the back Opened the truck and began to unpack
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf And I coughed when I saw him in spite of myself But a wink of his eye and a twist of his vials Soon gave me to know it passed clinical trials
“Now dash here, now dash there, now prance like a vixen If I keep up this pace, my shoes will need fixin’! From the top of the night, to the light of the sun I must bring vaccines, I can’t forget one!”
He spoke not a word but went straight to his work And rolled up my sleeve, then turned with a jerk And swabbing my arm to avoid an infection He jammed in the needle—my COVID injection
I hadn’t expected him in my jurisdiction Because of the implemented travel restrictions Still, up to my door Doug came with his stuff His arms full of equipment, he was looking quite rough
He sought out my household and did the same thing They thought a mosquito had caused such a sting But I heard him exclaim, ere he pulled into gear Happy Christmas to all! And a happier New Year!
Region COVID inspections conducted BY VOICE STAFF Niagara Region’s Business Licencing team continues to work with Niagara’s local municipal bylaw offices to enforce Provincial COVID-19 emergency regu-
work shirt and blazer on top and comfortable lounge pants on the bottom for work Zoom calls. Trump was voted out. I contacted friends, family, and fellow parents far more than I would have prior to COVID, and also reconnected with many old friends from my past. I even managed to go on a socially distant date. As I sat on the opposite corner of a picnic blanket and watched my companion point out constellations, I marvelled that I had waited 30 years to gaze at the stars, listen to jazz music, and be told that I was lovely. Overall, I found that the pandemic slowed down time for me and forced me to pay attention to the little things. I had to learn how to balance my anger at all the
lations. According to a Region statement released earlier this month, between Sept. 18 and Nov. 28, Regional bylaw officers conducted 251 inspections of businesses across Niaga-
injustices the pandemic brought to light with compassion for my fellow humans. The pandemic brought out many things in people, good and bad, but it also emphasized the need for physical connection, to see the ones we love, and to hold them. Everyone I knew was dealing with the pandemic in different ways, and in different circumstances — I had to remind myself frequently not to judge others, and to focus on doing my (admittedly small, compared to the endeavors of frontline workers) part to stay in, wear my mask, and to help keep the community safe. With nothing to distract me, I threw myself into my hobbies and discovered a passion for landscape and macro (close-up) pho-
ra, including bars, restaurants, retail locations and others. Those inspections have resulted in 32 Part I Provincial Offence tickets ($750 fine) and three Part See INSPECTIONS Page 14
tography. Over the course of the year, my camera would take over 240,000 photos of sunsets, flowers, and my children. As for my children, as much as they drove me crazy with their constant requests for snacks, Paw Patrol, and The Lion King soundtrack, I was also aware that normall, they would be in daycare from 9-to-5. Due to lockdown, I was blessed with eight more hours every day with them than I normally would have had. Although my sanity took a hit, I was there for my son’s first word and his first steps. My daughter learned how to plant flowers with me before she could speak a sentence, and then months later once she could speak a sentence, she asked me, “Mommy, are we going to plant flowers again next spring like we did before?” There are only a few days left of 2020. There is a vaccine, and possibly an end in sight. Going forward, there are many things I will try not to take for granted ever again: hugging my family and friends, chatting with coworkers in the office, striking up conversations with strangers, getting together with family for holidays, going to the movie theatre or shopping. I look forward to the day that my parents can hug my children without fear and I can shake hands with my coworkers without smelling of Purell; to the day when people can mingle, mask-free at local events, and stand next to one another instead of staying six feet apart. I have no resolutions for 2021, except to carry on, to live cautiously where it concerns the virus, but to let life surprise me in all other ways, and most of all: to plant new flowers with my daughter and son in the spring. ◆
Page 27
The Voice, December 23, 2020
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MIRROR
continued from Page 17
STAYING WARM
and others you likely haven’t heard of, or can’t pronounce. Indians and Pakistanis are still fighting in Kashmir, like they’ve been doing since 1948. Almost 8000 died in Mexico this year due to drug wars amongst the cartels. And close to 20,000 have been killed or died of disease or malnutrition in that “graveyard of empires” called Afghanistan. Closer to home, Pelham observed the passing of respected councillor Mike Ciolfi, and in the by-election that followed, overwhelming chose Wayne Olson as his successor, a man of similar gravitas. Residents continued to worry about higher taxation and urban intensification, bemoaning the perceived loss of the municipality’s small-town vibe. Citizens were appalled at the tragic death of Earle Clapp in a senseless crime, and rallied to support his family, because that’s what good neighbours do. Amongst all the tragedy in 2020, there were countless acts of valour, compassion, dignity, sacrifice, discovery, and understanding. And glimmers of hope as well. We have gone through life-changing events this past year, and have the scars to prove it. Life can indeed be fragile. I am hopeful that this holiday season will provide some sense of respite. A time to pause, reflect, and ultimately celebrate our individual and collective blessings. For even in a pandemic, we have much for which to be thankful. ◆
HINDSIGHT
continued from Page 11 they’re right. I hope they’re not but the word conspiracy was often the subject line of my inbox. In July the word was mask, as the government announced that face coverings were now mandatory in any indoor public space, and we adapted to that, too. I wore one when I got my hair done, which was the highlight of my month. Thank goodness businesses were up and running but gone were the smiles, hidden behind a protective veneer. Never before had we paid so much attention to eyes, relying on their twinkle and the crinkle around them as a substitute for the warmth and friendliness that a smile used to provide. Seeing my kids wearing face coverings gave me a feeling of lost innocence; in their experience, only the bad guys wore masks, but now everyone was hiding behind a disguise. As a protective mama bear, we rarely went anywhere where they had to wear one, not even to restaurants, although by July we also reinvested in takeout—you know, to support local business, and definitely not at all because anyone needed a break from my cooking. August saw us maintaining our stay-cation mode, and stay-cation is the word of the month. We did manage three days at our brother-in-law’s cottage (for those were precise number of days when he wasn’t there) where we soaked up the sun and the beach and the change of scenery. It was a loaner and a much-appreciated respite from the Groundhog Days of the previous five months. There was no way to book a cottage of our own, just like there were no trampolines, bikes, basketball hoops, hot tubs, or exercise equipment to buy—everyone was trying to find ways to distract themselves from the lack of summer activities; mean-
BALANCED
continued from Page 22 for our kids and their kids. Later that evening, after a warm, giggly sponge bath in a big blue wash tub hidden in a corner of the garage, those lucky little girls and their parents got to go camping in our tent trailer, right in the driveway. When we Skype with our son and his wife in Jordan—where a year they intended to spend working, exploring, and gaining an insight into another culture has instead become lockdown upon lockdown, while they watch an over-extended autocratic country crumble financially and socially—we are happy they are still physically safe and coping mentally. Although they are in a difficult situation now, technology keeps us in touch, and they are able to look toward a bright future elsewhere in the months to come. It just doesn’t seem appropriate to say that so far our 2020 has been challenging and interesting, pretty decent actually, because so many have not shared our good fortune.
The Fonthill Lions and Lioness visited Pelham Cares last Wednesday to drop $600-worth of gift cards, plus toques, mittens, scarves, socks, and pyjamas. Presenting the gifts were Lions President Steve Pellerin and Lioness President Pat Norton, with Cares Coordinator Jennifer Dube at centre. SUPPLIED
while, the heat engulfed us like the insides of the sold-out pizza oven that we also missed out on during the pandemic buying spree. Some of our favourite sports opened up and our laundry increased proportionally, a sure sign of happiness in our house. Suddenly September was upon us, and school openings procrastinated until midmonth, giving everyone ample time to worry about online or in-class learning. The word worry is another word that would be acceptable for any month this year, but I’ll apply it to September as we worried that the kids were going back to school, and then we worried that they might come back again. We gave our kids the choice, the response to which took about a millisecond. The subtext of their answer was, “Get me out of here so I can get back to my people, even if it means going back to school to do it!” Off they went with backpacks and masks, going with the flow and playing along with their teachers to experiment with what worked and what didn’t in the new Trial and Error Education System. All that schoolin’ interfered with our golf and tennis games, but such is the sacrifice of the learned. With October came Thanksgiving, and I began to refocus on what it is to be thankful. It’s too easy to slip into sentimentality or mourning for all that we’ve lost, and there has been so much loss—of life, of employment, of assurance, of comfort, of safety. And as I wrote this piece, I had to keep pulling myself up, back to a place of lightness and humour, my usual default. Sometimes it’s not so easy. So I looked around for things that lifted my spirits, like the ridiculous Halloween light and inflatable display on Haist Street that I love so much. I hoped it would appear and it did not disappoint. Not everyone had given up on joy—like the shop owners and clerks who were smiling and helpful from behind their visors and plexiglass barriers,
Even this simple statement appears uncaring, brushing off the pain of those who have lost family, friends, jobs and relationships, even their mental health, to the angst and stress of the pandemic. 2020 will not be over on December 31. It isn’t twelve pages in a calendar like every other year. 2020 has dealt us each a different hand of cards, offering challenge and opportunity for the future. What will signal the end of 2020? Was it last week, when the first vaccine was administered in Britain, or will it be the day the last needle punctures the last arm in Chad or East Timor? Will it be when we board an airplane or cruise ship again, or cross the border into United States to head south once more? Or when daycare isn’t a decision taken each morning, but returns to being part of a routine? The answer is different for all of us, and in my opinion, any meaningful review of 2020 must wait until we’ve all played our cards. No one ever does a critical review of their self-rescue preparations
while I shopped for Thanksgiving dinner for four, instead of 24. Not everyone had given up on commitment and service—like the hospital and front line workers, who continued to work long hours and treat the sick and worried, even though we no longer banged our pots and pans in support of them each night. Not everyone had given up on dedication—like the volunteers who brought people food or medicine or the neighbour who checked in from six feet away. And not everyone had given up on compassion. There were signs of kindness everywhere, and while they’re not funny, they helped me move to a place of mindfulness and gratitude, which is the word for this month. As our cases of COVID-19 went up in November, so did our Christmas decorations. Never have I seen such an early display of lights, Santas, reindeer, and Woody and Buzz decked out in holiday gear. Once again, Haist Street came through with enough candlepower to register on a passing satellite. People needed something to look forward to and preparing for Christmas scratched that itch, even though Christmas would be a very different event. For us, that gathering will duplicate Thanksgiving—party of four, please, no need for the valet parking. Our eldest son, out in Vancouver, will not be coming home for the holiday for the first time due to travel restrictions, which breaks our hearts, but it’s for the greater good, and we were buoyed somewhat by the rumours of a few vaccines racing to the finish line. I’m not sure which we were more excited about, however—the vaccine or Biden’s win in the election. The implications of both bring a sense of confidence in the future and we hope they will be equally effective in restoring sanity after the chaos of 2020. December 14: the first vaccine had been administered in Ontario. There are many words to describe this event and this month:
when they’re bobbing in the wind and waves of Georgian Bay beside their overturned kayak kilometres from shore. We just struggle to get our boat upright and our butt back into it. We may take a split-second as we’re underwater kicking free of our inverted boat to promise ourselves that if we get out of this, we’ll reevaluate our preparation and reflect on what we might do better, how we might change our approach. Safely back on shore a day or month later, will we rethink and reset, or forget all about it, just like our New Year’s resolutions, and be in the same situation next time? Do we come out of 2020 with a desire to become involved — in the community, politically, socially—and physically and mentally stronger for all we’ve learned, and in many cases, endured, or do we slide back into relative indifference? We know that we are all in this together, that no person is more valuable than another, and that without working together, we can achieve little. We understand that
hope, relief, scepticism, impatience, resistance (can’t forget the conspiracy folks), fear, fatigue. For most, it is the Christmas present they’ve been waiting for. For others, it came too late. At least almost all of us could celebrate that Joe Biden won the election again this month. This December was also the 40th anniversary of John Lennon’s death and his words are more meaningful than ever: And so this is Christmas I hope you have fun The near and the dear one The old and the young A very merry Christmas And a happy New Year Let's hope it's a good one Without any fear When I asked my son to come up with one word to describe this year, his reply wasn’t pandemic or Covid or even Kung Flu; it was family. We are one of the lucky ones to have made it through this year relatively unscathed—that we still not only love each other, but actually like each other, is a bonus. After 11 months together in close proximity, we know each other so well that we often finish each other’s…sandwiches (a running joke in the house). I’m trying to think of what next year’s word could be. After the bizarre events of this year, there’s no telling, but I do hope with all my heart that it’s HUG! I look forward to hugging all the people all the time so don’t shy away if I come at you on the street. Folks, we’ve all been in this together for some time, now let’s all get out of it together, too. I hope that you can find happiness in your holiday, and much love in your New Year, and that Biden wins the election again in January. ◆
truck drivers can be as courageous as first responders, and grocery store employees are as essential as personal support workers. Will these truths become platitudes as time passes, or are they now ingrained in our hearts and minds, forever to form our appreciation of one another? 2020 will be the year that we know, without doubt, the costs our civil ideologies and societal attitudes place upon the underprivileged, disenfranchised, and vulnerable members of our society. Do we have the strength to make the necessary changes, and make our world work better for everyone? Can we bridge the gap between the apparent quick success of scientists, researchers and medical specialists, who combined their wisdom and creativity to create a vaccination for the coronavirus, and the need for similar international cooperation on climate change and equality? We’ve learned the nuances between caution, prudence and fear, and how our decisions impact others. We know that personal free-
dom without accountability is little more than disguised self-interest, that we don’t have to be religious to be thankful, and that through gratitude we build resilience and strength. We’ve recognized that the extraordinary restorative power of our natural environment is no greater, or less, than that of a special relationship with another person—and we need both more than we believed. My review of 2020 is unfinished. It is the year we spent being told what to do and when to do it, while simultaneously having an opportunity to open our eyes and view the world around us with clarity and intimacy. As we all write the endings to our own personal reviews of 2020, may yours include many of the positives that we have experienced and an optimistic view of the future —for all of us. It’s been great fun to share my stories and thoughts with you this year. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday season, and may your 2021 be the very best it can be. ◆
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The Voice, December 23, 2020
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
SANTA’S HELPERS For 31 years, the Fonthill Volunteer Firefighter’s Association has hosted an annual Christmas Toy Drive on behalf of Pelham Cares. This year, volunteers gathered at Fire Hall #1 to put together gift bundles, which went out to families last Thursday. Pelham Cares Coordinator Jennifer Dube thanked the Pelham Fire Department, the Town of Pelham, St. Alexander Church, Oliver and Rust, and Pleasantview Funeral Home for their support, “as well as the entire community for their amazing toy donations.” SUPPLIED
HOLIDAY HOURS
Thursday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve, 9 AM - 2 PM Friday, Dec. 25, Christmas Day, closed Saturday, Dec. 26, Boxing Day, 12 - 4 PM Sunday, Dec. 27, 12 - 4 PM Mon-Wed, Dec. 27 - 29, 10 AM - 4 PM Thursday, Dec. 31, New Year's Eve, 10 AM - 2 PM Friday, Jan. 1, New Year's Day, closed
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Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!