The Voice, February 24 2021

Public transit won't be cheap

page 3

Remembering the all-Black Orioles

page 9

Pelham Cares volunteers awarded

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FEBRUARY 24, 2021

Vol.XXV No.7 

page 17

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Column Six

LONE STAR

CRASH

BIG JIM RIPPER

Talk, jargon, and nonsense Language is going (forward) to the dogs

BY COLIN BREZICKI Special to the Voice

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Story, page 18 From left: Tim “Crash” Wright, Joe “Lone Star” Perrotta, Dave “Ripper” Ripley, Jim “Big Jim” Aichele JOHN SWART

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It’s The Augers vs. The Flakes on Nursery Lane

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Tina Tina and Staff

hen my daughter was in SK she came home one day with a story she’d written in a language my wife and I couldn’t understand. It was gibberish, a kind of alphabet soup, but she was delighted with what she’d written.

When I asked her teacher about the story she responded persuasively. She believed writing should be introduced as something that’s fun, an activity children can feel good about, and so she let them write in their own language to start with. If what they wrote made some kind of sense to them that was fine, but it didn’t have to. Same with painting, she said, they should feel comfortable with the medium and have fun with shapes and colours. If they could see a cow in a field that was all that mattered.

In time, by reading, listening and becoming aware of the accepted conventions See COLUMN SIX Page 17

Page 2

The Voice

by Dave Burket

NRPS impaired driving charges ~

Pelham Town Council and Proxy Voting

Corrections at the top: Well, this one was an own goal. In our story last week about Pelham Town Clerk Nancy Bozzato’s coming retirement, we quoted CAO David Cribbs’s praise for Bozzato at some length. Trouble was, the words were actually those of Communications and Public Relations Specialist Marc MacDonald, who reports to Bozzato and who has understandably great professional regard for her. We apologize for the mixup!...Staying with Town Hall: You’ll notice in Mayor Junkin’s column this week that he closes with a fundraising appeal for a young Pelham boy who needs surgery to correct his hearing. We ran a story about the lad a couple of weeks back. The last time the Mayor tried to fundraise for a good cause (the Fonthill Bandshell), one councillor was so incensed that he filed official complaints with everyone but the Humane Society, which ended up costing us taxpayers $18,430 dollars last spring. In view of this, I contacted Junkin to ask whether he was sure he wanted to keep the fundraising mention in the column. After the briefest of pauses and in unmistakably certain terms, he said to leave it in. Will new outrage ensue? You handle the drinks, I’ll get the popcorn going...What a view: This week’s Centrespread is a real treat. A few years back I dabbled in flight simulation scenery design, mostly derived from satellite images.

I began subscribing to a NASA mailing list which, over a decade or so, has provided some great photos, yet none quite as on-target as the one that came in last week. It’s Niagara, shot just a couple of weeks ago. The emailed version wasn’t sharp enough for print, so the nice folks at NASA were kind enough to send us the original, uncompressed image, all 382 MBs of it. As usual, you never really know how something will look in print until it’s on paper, but I’m guessing this is going to look pretty darned good. Check out those currents along the lakeshore! Down toward the bottom, just left of centre, the Dorothy Rungeling Airport is clearly visible. And wondering what that huge, irregular polygon is, east of the river, about halfway up? That’s the Robert Moses Power Plant Reservoir, in Lewiston. That’s a lot of water...

Speaking of refreshing liquids: It seems that if I innocently sign-off enough late-night emails with mention of heading for a scotch, people remember this around Christmastime.

I received three very nice bottles in December, from people who really should have been on the receiving end, rather than giving. But the most remarkable story is attached to a box that a reader dropped at our office last week. It contained a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label, a 12-yearold. Except that it was from 1984—making it a 49-year-old (though whiskey, unlike wine, does not continue to age once bottled). I’ll let the gift-giver tell the tale from here: See CORNER back page

Last week the Voice asked readers to tell us what they thought about certain Pelham Town Councillors lobbying for proxy voting, which would permit councillors to vote on matters without first participating in debate, hearing upto-date information from staff, or listening to public comment. In an editorial two weeks ago, the Voice called this unprecedented move an attempted backroom power grab, and it seems that poll respondents overwhelmingly agree.

1%

13%

Should Pelham Town Council adopt proxy voting?

Yes, with no restrictions, 1%

86%

Yes, but only for unavoidable absences such as councillor hospitalization, 13 % No, 86%

4%

19%

77%

I think that those councillors pushing for proxy voting are doing so because: They are genuinely interested in greater council efficiency, 4% They wish to guarantee that their faction will have the best advantage, 77 % I don't know, 19%

If my ward's councillors vote to adopt proxy voting, I will be:

3%

More likely to vote for them if they run for re-election, 3%

97%

Less likely to vote for them if they run for re-election, 97 %

146 respondents ADVISORY: While safeguards are in place to eliminate multiple votes, this is a self-selected poll, meaning it has no scientific validity compared to a formal random survey undertaken by a professional polling firm.

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Voice

A February 24, 2021

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SIREN Pelham Fire Department Weekly Calls

The Pelham Fire Department responded to 11 calls for assistance from Feb. 12 to Feb. 19.

Friday, Feb. 12 Motor vehicle collision, Hwy. 20, Fonthill Saturday, Feb. 13 Medical assistance, Fonthill Sunday, Feb. 14 Vehicle fire, River Rd., Fonthill Medical assistance, Fonthill Monday, Feb. 15 Medical assistance, Fonthill Tuesday, Feb. 16 Medical assistance, Fonthill Motor vehicle collision, Roland Rd., Short Hills Structure fire, Concord St., Fonthill Wednesday, Feb. 17 Carbon monoxide, no symptoms, Fonthill Thursday, Feb. 18 Carbon monoxide, with symptoms, Fenwick Friday, Feb. 19 Remote alarm, Martha Ct., Short Hills

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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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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.

Donald L. ROBBINS, 23, Fort Erie

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.

Listen to Public Health advice.

Stay home. Stay safe.

Indulgence Bakery Mossimo’s Pelham Street Grille Peter Piper’s Pubhouse DeVries Fruit Farm Beamer’s Hardware Pelham Libraries Bob’s Boys Antiques PharmaChoice Pharmacy Fonthill Fitness Fenwick Pie Company McDonald’s Duffin Appleworks Fonthill Legion Semenuk’s Gas Bar Shoppers Drug Mart Tim Horton’s Giant Tiger Fonthill LCBO Zee Lube Express Care Food Basics Minor Bros Stores Avondale Stores A-1 Market Boggio's IDA Sobeys South Pelham Grill on Canboro Shell on Hwy 20 Circle-K

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P D S A W A N M L R O J O J

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every year. stroys thousands of lives deaths in Canada and deleading cause of criminal Impaired driving is still the ment programs like RIDE. offenders through enforceand the apprehension of offences through education reducing impaired driving lice Service is committed to The Niagara Regional Po-

Pelham David M. GEORGIEV, 36, St. Catharines Andrew DEGRAVE, 22, Welland Allan G. HIPPSLEY, 32, Niagara Falls Michael P. VANHELVERT, 33, Lincoln Richard W. PARRY, 48, Orchard Park NY Jamie HIDALGO, 39, Oakville Justin D. GODDERIS, 33, blood sample. refusing to provide a breath / alcohol in 100 ml of blood, or centration above 80 mgs of with a blood alcohol conby alcohol or drugs, driving nally with impaired driving have been charged crimiThe following individuals vention of the suspension. who are driving in contraStoppers to report those fic Safety Hotline or Crime gional Police Service Trafto contact the Niagara ReThe public is encouraged motor vehicle on a roadway. prohibited from operating a cense Suspension and are Administrative Driver’s Litry of Transportation 90-Day areNow alsothat’s bound by a Miniscruising, charged, Club these individuals Azamara Cruises Book now before this disappears.

In addition to being proved in court. all seven continents lowing charges haveimmerse been yourself in No lines, no hurry, the Region. None of the folon smaller ship’s.

Extended stays offence in port, some overnight impaired driving in with an alleged criminal people included. who are charged tuities Selectlast spirits, wines, Int’l Beers & Grayear! reports the names of those tique hotel at Police sea. Service one cruise at a time araExplore Regional thetime world onboard your bouThis Pelham St., Fonthill 2019—a year to explore the world, alcohol or1400 drugs, the NiagPAST www.niagara.cruiseholidays.com driving while impairedoffi byce@thevoiceofpelham.ca http://www.hooahhvideos.ca/ select voyages Enjoy a and veranda an interior price onyourSanta Raidy Manso (center), attention deterrence toreaders! and we’ll share it for with our Email photoCayo, with aCuba! brief description to BLAST FROM THE DOUBLE UPGRADE EarlyON's Fenwick United Church location.

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The Voice

A February 24, 2021

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TOWN COUNCIL NEWS Connecting Pelham Residents

Detail from presentation on the future of regional transit made before Pelham Town Council on Feb. 16, 2021.

SUPPLIED

Public transit costs projected

BY JOHN CHICK Voice Correspondent “The model where everyone is going to be using transit like they used to has significantly changed,” Hildebrandt asserted.

Robinson said that federal forecasts disagree, and that transit usage across Canada is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels within a few years.

“Nobody’s disputing some [work-fromhome] may stay, the reality is that for the last 100 years or more, when transit has dipped … it has always rebounded,” Robinson said.

The Greater Golden Horseshoe Area is expected to reach a population of around 14 million by 2041, from about 9.2 million today.

Eric Gillespie, the former transit director in Kitchener-Waterloo — a region similar in population and suburban sprawl to Niagara — added that in his experience, supply drives demand with transit, and that Niagara’s system had “plateaued.”

Hildebrandt then took issue with the Niagara’s “Big Three” cities of St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Welland dominating the transit conversation, and by extension the board of the proposed new system.

“What concerns me is the Big Three,” Hildebrandt said. “It seems to me right now, whatever that Big Three wants, they get. And obviously that’s not acceptable.”

Another member of the presentation team, Brendan McIlhone, replied that smaller municipalities like Pelham would normally rotate in and out of such boards, but that those decisions would ultimately be made by Niagara Regional Council.

Junkin, who has been an advocate for public transportation, agreed that the requested financial commitment was a tough sell.

“I don’t know if we’d ever be able to get it this past our residents,” the Mayor said.

Council voted to receive the presentation.

Social gatherings can have deadly consequences.

Development news

Council received a staff report recommending approval of the proposed development at 3 Hurricane Road in Fonthill and appear poised to pass the bylaw at their next meeting.

“I will be supporting this recommendation. I know it’s not perfect,” Kore said, hoping that any disagreements from nearby residents can be worked out with the developer. “He’s really being responsible in my point of view,” Kore added of the developer.

The matter was the subject of a public meeting in November, when some neighbours took issue with fencing and the proposed removal of trees. The low-density See COUNCIL Page 15

Stay home to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Learn more at ontario.ca/covid-19 Paid for by the Government of Ontario

T:15"

Mayor Marvin Junkin opened Pelham Town council’s Feb. 16 virtual meeting by issuing a reminder to adhere to proper protocols.

“I’ve let rules relax,” the Mayor said, referring to letting presenters go over their allotted ten-minute time limit, as well as allowing council members to ask more than two questions at a time. Junkin said that from now on the Town Clerk would be activating a 30-second warning bell for speakers to wrap up.

However, council’s fi rst presenter, Matt Robinson, from the Niagara Transit Governance Study, immediately asked for 12 minutes, saying his presentation would go over the time limit.

“On such an interesting subject as transit, we have no trouble giving you the two-minute leeway,” Junkin conceded.

During his presentation, Robinson laid out the Region’s plan for a fully integrated Regional transit system to be in place by September 2022. However, the Mayor and most councillors took issue with what will be asked financially of the Town to support the project in the next decade.

Ward 1’s Wayne Olson highlighted the statistic that Pelham’s current commitment of $261,000 for transit will increase fivefold to $1.25 million by 2029.

Noting that Pelham currently represents only 8,000 of Niagara’s eight million annual transit riders, Olson said, “that seems to be a little bit out of balance to me.”

Councillor John Wink went further, asking why Port Colborne — with a similar population to Pelham — would pay 30 percent less.

Heather Talbot, a member of the Region’s presentation team, explained that the assessment had been done based on average property values, which are higher here than in Port Colborne.

As such, the transit study is built on the philosophy that municipalities with higher tax bases should provide subsidies for infrastructure that assist lower-income residents — a significant chunk of public transit’s ridership — in neighbouring municipalities.

Councillor Ron Kore asked what the consequences would be if Pelham opted out of the program altogether.

Robinson replied that the transit study was still in the consultation process, and that concerns such as Pelham’s would be gathered as the project moves along.

Ward 3’s Bob Hildebrandt cast doubts on public transit in general, citing a recent visit to Toronto where, “nobody was on the streets.”

He added that the pandemic necessitating many people to work from home may usher in a new era where fewer people commute.

Page 4

The Voice

A February 24, 2021

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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

COTÉ'S COMMENTS Larry Coté

The perils of being a public figure

T

here are some perceptible societal trends and behaviors that should be of concern to all of us. One of those unwholesome and downright dangerous trends is that what used to be vigorous debate now turns so quickly to tactics such as personal denigration, character assassination, physical harm and even the destruction of an opponent’s property.

Likely, one of the most poignant examples of such loathsome behaviors is the recent attack on the houses of democracy in Washington, D.C. It is plausible that many attended this rally with legitimate motives to peacefully protest their perception of an issue. However, it appears that peaceful protesters were infiltrated and incited by others with more divisive and cataclysmic motives and methods. Consequently, many demonstrators, perchance unwittingly, got caught up in what turned out to be an unruly and wantonly destructive mob.

It is to be hoped that such incidents of discordant behaviors that occurred in the US Capitol will not be imported northward, or in any

other direction.

More locally, there are two unpleasant provocations that should shock and disconcert the residents of Niagara.

Such incidents should forewarn of what could become

What a shame that Niagara should attract such national attention

perilous methods to resolve differences within this region. Such gross behaviors should not be tolerated and sobering reprimands need be instituted to curtail such conduct in the future.

The first of these examples is the unmitigated attacks by a few dissidents on Dr. Mustafa Hirji, the Acting Director of Health for the Niagara Region. These shameful attacks were grave enough to be commented on by the Prime

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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

Minister of Canada and the Premier of Ontario. What a shame that Niagara should attract such national attention.

The second example is the resignation of Councillor Lucas Spinosa from Welland’s city council. The reasons given for this resignation are: vandalism at his family business, threats of physical violence against himself, family and staff, and a constant string of online threats and harassments. Upon writing this, what comes to mind is more like a scene from a gangster movie rather than describing incidents in a winsome little community in the midst of the picturesque Niagara Peninsula.

Certainly, the citizens of this country have the inalienable right to object to and criticize the workings and decisions of their municipal, provincial, and federal officials and administrators. However, that right does not license anyone to publicly denigrate or physically threaten to harm these officials, their families or property.

Finally, the healthcare system, the city council and See PERILS next page

Letters Family Day was a hoot and a half Over this past Family Day Weekend, my family participated in the Town of Pelham’s Virtual Family Day Adventure. This involved us completing a series of tasks with our family team, giving us points for the game.

Some challenges guided us to local business websites to find information for fill-inthe-blank questions, while others had us getting more creative and taking pictures of our art projects or videoing ourselves re-creating and acting out scenes. All of the challenges were extremely well thought out, and the variety had us using our imaginations and got

us excited about the possibilities!

We set up an indoor camp and roasted marshmallows over a camp stove, re-created a puck drop in hockey, and who could forget dressing up in our bathing suits for “Dreaming About Summer!”

Our family got increasingly motivated as we climbed in the standings and became exceedingly more competitive, as we were determined to complete all of the challenges.

Overall it was an excellent family activity that See FAMILY next page

7

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

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

Gilberts Flowers

Mayor of Pelham Marvin Junkin mjunkin@pelham.ca 905-658-2986

FLOWERS FOR ANY OCCASION We offer a large variety of fresh flowers and gifts.

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Members of Pelham Town Council Ward 1 Councillor Marianne Stewart mstewart@pelham.ca 289-821-0840

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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

Jill C. Anthony Law Office

Have an Opinion?

BARRISTER, SOLICITOR & NOTARY LETTERS TO THE EDITOR are welcome. Letter submissions should contain the writer’s full name, address and telephone number. Names only will be published. Names may be withheld if compelling reasons are provided. The newspaper reserves the right to change, condense or reject any contribution for brevity, clarity or legal considerations. All material in this publication is protected by copyright. Reproduction is prohibited without express, written permission of the publisher. ADVERTISING: The Voice of Pelham regrets any errors or omissions that appear in advertisements in this newspaper, however, we will not be held responsible for more than one absent or incorrect insertion or for any damages beyond the cost of space containing the error. The Voice is an independent, locally owned and operated publication.

The Voice is a member of the National NewsMedia Council, a voluntary self-regulatory organization that deals with journalistic practices and ethics. If you have an unresolved complaint about news stories, opinion columns or photos, please visit their web site at mediacouncil.ca or call 1-844-877-1163. If you have a complaint about delivery or membership problems, please contact our office at (905) 892-8690. For a summary of Voice ethical guidelines, see www. thevoiceofpelham.ca/ethics

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The Voice

Page 5

A February 24, 2021

OPINION Remembers the Ansley School—and Jim Currie Coincidence or small world, by chance while browsing online for information about the Ansley family and the Riverbend Inn I encountered John Chick’s Column Six article [Now this is what we call a coincidence, Feb. 17, p.1].

When I was a child, my parents often took me to see the Ansley sisters and I knew Jim Currie when we were kids. I remember Olga, Gladys, and Kate, but not the other sisters. I knew Jim had joined the RCMP and the family was so proud of him. I have fond memories of playing Chopsticks on the

piano with Jim and visiting the animals in the barn—I only really remember a horse. I had heard that Jim had cancer.

I never did know the connection between my parents and the sisters. Possibly one or more may have been in nursing during World War I. Several years ago when the Riverbend Inn opened, my husband and I stayed there for a night for old time’s sake for me. Thank you for bringing good memories back.

Barbara Campbell Toronto

Another disappointed TD Bank Fonthill customer Having moved to Fonthill in 2014, I was pleased to discover that the bank I have used since it took over Canada Trust has a branch here, very conveniently situated near the town centre with lots of convenient parking.

Though I now do much of my banking online, it is always a reassurance that the branch is close by when personal dealings with one of the resident friendly staff is necessary. Very rarely is it necessary to have to wait too long to speak with a teller.

Then came COVID and somebody made the decision to close the Fonthill branch,

making it necessary when a visit to the bank was required, to make the longer journey to the much busier branch on Niagara Street in Welland. Fortunately, this was short-lived and soon the Fonthill branch reopened, albeit with the necessary COVID protocols in place.

Now I am in receipt of a letter from TD, advising that my branch at 1439 Pelham St. is closing on Friday, July 16, 2021, at 6 PM. Why? Was the closure during the onset of COVID just a trial run to test if patrons could manage without this branch? Or is it that it just does not generate

enough profit for the shareholders? Surely someone has done their due diligence and discovered that with all the development—and that’s another totally upsetting story — in this area, then there is going to be a much larger population in need of banking services.

I am very disappointed with this decision and am giving careful consideration to cancelling all my accounts with TD and moving to a closer financial establishment.

Mike Athay Fonthill

PELHAM AND COVID-19 Mayor Marvin Junkin

Vaccine waiting game continues; Help Emmett

T

he good news on the vaccination front this week is that studies in various countries are showing that when increasing the time period between the first and second dose it seems to make the Pfizer vaccine more effective. A study concerning Israeli healthcare workers shows that the first dose is 85 percent effective and adding the second dose within one month after the first, as is currently recommended, provides little added protection in the short term. In fact, one Canadian scientist contends that the length of time between the two doses could be safely extended to nine or ten weeks.

By extending the time frame between doses more people could be vaccinated with the first dose before having to circle back to do the second dose. Hundreds of thousands of shots are set to arrive each week for the foreseeable future, and we can only hope that all levels of our healthcare system have the logistics in place to deliver them at an expedited pace. I have heard from many of our seniors who are living on their own as to how anxious they are to receive their first shots.

Latest statistics show that Canada now ranks 50th when compared to other countries and their vaccination rate. Israel leads the way with 80 percent of their population vaccinated, and the US ranks 5th on the list with

just over 17 percent of Americans vaccinated.

The Americans are still on track to have 100 million citizens vaccinated in Biden’s first 100 days in office. Canada currently has 1.3 million residents given the first dose.

In Niagara there were 26 new cases on Friday with the number of deaths in the region at 365. The number of active cases in Pelham had dropped to nine with all residents self-isolating at home. The positivity rate in Pelham was at 2.3 percent, which is classified in the low category. week or two ago an article appeared in the Voice about a little boy named Emmett Gervason. He was born without an opening in his left ear for sound to enter. His story can be found at gofundme-an-ear-foremmy. His parents have located a doctor in the US who can perform corrective surgery to give Emmet hearing in this ear—at a cost of $250,000 dollars. His parents, Amanda and Aaron, could use some help paying this amount of money. Funds raised to date are just a little over $53,000 dollars. Please, let’s show this family that we all strongly believe in the adage, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Please go to the website, read about little Emmett and his family, and search your hearts and pockets for a donation for this little guy’s operation. His family says thank you. Until next time… ◆

A

PERILS

continued from previous page many other organizations have faced unrelenting stresses and unfamiliar challenges associated with the COVID pandemic.

Under such persistent pressures, there may be occasional errors and unintended outcomes as a result of those responsible to get us through this pandemic with the least amount of harm. There is plenty of evidence to commend most of these decisions and actions and we should celebrate those good outcomes. While there may have been errors and unintended consequences, we should conscientiously avoid mob-like behaviors and threatening our decision makers with personal harm.

Canadians are known around the globe to be above such behaviors. Let us not tarnish that reputation by countenancing unseemly conduct. ◆

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continued from previous page I thoroughly enjoyed. The challenges were creative and had us thinking while bringing many laughs and fun moments as a family.

A big shout-out to everyone at the Town of Pelham and the sponsors who made this event possible and worked throughout the weekend to bring a fun adventure to so many families!

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Page 6

The Voice

A February 24, 2021

Lusted, MacInnes back in court in March

Letters continued

BY JOHN CHICK Voice Correspondent

Possible to be compassionate towards all living beings Once, when volunteering by selling tags to raise money for a local animal rescue group, I well remember a few irate people.

Why? Simply because the money being raised was for animals and not children.

Janet Gritter's letter “Animal losses more moving than human?” [Letters, Feb. 17, p.7] reminded me again how some people make it a competition between humans and animals. Why? Can there not be enough compassion and concern in one's heart to care about both?

What happened to this unsuspecting deer was horrific and violent. Then the hunter(s)

took it further by leaving blood and guts on display for all to see with no thoughtful respect to anyone coming to the park to enjoy the day.

Humans make their own choices and they know there are sometimes consequences, but this pregnant deer had no choice when her life and her twins' lives were taken in 2021.

And yes, Janet, I do oppose hunting and any such form of violence towards all lives, whether human or animal.

Faye Suthons Wainfleet

Open letter to the government of Canada We have very a serious situation in this country. Google and Facebook, two of the richest companies in history, control the on-ramp to the internet highway in Canada. They decide what we as a sovereign nation see and don’t see in the news. To make matters worse, they take the news produced by Canadians and don’t pay for it.

Meanwhile, all Canadian news media companies, big and small, are suffering for two reasons: First, they don’t get paid for their content by Facebook and Google. Second, Facebook and Google take over 80 percent of all Canadian digital advertising industry revenue.

These massive American companies get virtually all of the revenue and don’t pay for content. Movie content doesn’t work that way in Canada. Music content

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

doesn’t work that way. TV show content doesn’t work that way. So why is news content treated differently?

Hate and fake news will be all that's left to distribute

We only have to look south of the border to see what happens when real news companies disappear and social media platforms distribute divisive, fake news.

We need to support healthy,

independent, diverse news companies as the backbone of our democracy.

This is urgent. It’s a fact that news companies across Canada are going out of business. COVID-19 is accelerating the decline. Journalism jobs are disappearing. That means real news keeps disappearing and hate and fake news will be all that’s left to distribute.

Let’s not let this happen in Canada.

But there is good news.

Australia has figured out the solution. They created a law that forces the trillion-dollar monopolies to pay fairly for news content. This costs the taxpayer absolutely nothing.

We strongly encourage the government to move quickly.

Canada needs your leadership.

John Hinds President/CEO News Media Canada

Jason Lusted, one of two men charged with second-degree murder in the death last autumn of Pelham resident Earl Clapp, appears to be on to his third lawyer since his October arrest. A representative for Toronto attorney Andrew Furgiuele told a St. Catharines video court Feb. 17 that Lusted had requested a change of solicitor from Legal Aid Ontario, and requested a threeweek adjournment as they awaited a re-

sponse. The court agreed to bring the matter back on March 10.

Details of the case are subject to a publication ban.

Lusted’s co-accused, Matthew MacInnes, will appear again March 19. MacInnes’ lawyer, Andrew Burton, told the court that he had a Crown pre-trial meeting scheduled, in hopes of setting a judicial pre-trial after that.

Regional Council committee rejects motion to invoke state of emergency

BY DON RICKERS Voice Correspondent Steven Soos’ frustration boiled over as he described last Tuesday’s virtual meeting of Niagara Region’s Public Health and Social Services Committee, at which he and Niagara Falls City Councillor Wayne Campbell presented a motion to invoke a formal state of emergency in Niagara related to mental health, addiction, and homelessness.

The committee opted to go with an alternative motion put forward by Fort Erie Regional Councillor Tom Insinna, and seconded by Rob Foster, Regional Councillor for Lincoln. In what Soos and Campbell consider a “watered-down motion,” the Region officially “acknowledged” that a “significant crisis” exists in Niagara in regard to these issues, but stopped short of declaring a state of emergency.

Activist Steven Soos. DON RICKERS Soos disagrees vehemently with the nomenclature in the motion.

“They can't accomplish the goal with this motion,” he said. “Changing the words from ‘emergency’ to ‘crisis,’ and ‘declare’ to ‘acknowledge,’ doesn't guarantee any immediate funding. In my motion for the state of emergency, the province is legislated that they must respond.

They passed a watered-down

Niagara Falls Wayne Campbell.

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SUPPLIED

motion from what we were offering, one that acknowledges a crisis, but not a state of emergency. Do you know what ‘acknowledgement’ does? It does nothing,” lamented Soos.

Insinna’s motion instructed Regional Chair Jim Bradley to send advocacy letters to the appropriate federal and provincial ministries,

SHOP LOCAL. SAVE LOCAL The Voice Z

Councillor

See MOTION Page 14

Z

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice

Page 7

A February 24, 2021

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Page 8

The Voice

A February 24, 2021

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POETRY

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orning mist, like tiny puffs of frozen, icy air, rises from the water, transforming the stark, black land and skeletal trees into an artist's paradise.

Morning mist, a voluminous, fragile veil rises, surrounds me, clouding my world, my pristine judgment. I peer at once through floating haze and half-closed eyes at phantom beauty, a mystical deer, frozen in time upon the island's

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S. M. Lazareth, Feb. 20, 2021 Image courtesy Doug Palmer

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The Voice

Page 9

A February 24, 2021

Remembering the St. Catharines Orioles Few now recall Ontario’s first all-Black hockey team

BY DON RICKERS Voice Correspondent Donna Ford’s father, Richard Nicholson, never spoke of having ambitions to play in the National Hockey League. But she thinks he probably dreamed about it.

Nicholson, who died 25 years ago, was a member of the St. Catharines Orioles, the first Black hockey team in Ontario. He, and many other members of the team, were descendants of Adam Nicholson, a prominent member of the Black community in St. Catharines, who settled in Niagara around 1850 after escaping slavery in Virginia via the Underground Railroad.

“The Underground Railroad brought former slaves to Niagara from all over the US. Many put down roots here, like my great grandfather, Adam, who settled in McNabb, in an area that’s still farmland today in Niagara-on-the-Lake,” said Ford. “They found work, and got paid for the first time in their lives.

They could now afford to buy homes, and that's what

they did.”

The hockey team was sponsored in 1932 by three white businessmen: local quarry operator Ben Walker, H.G. “Touch” Wood (owner of Dominion-Consolidated Transport), and florist Wally Walker. The Black men who composed the team were members of the Salem Chapel - British Methodist Episcopal Church in St. Catharines, long associated with slavery abolitionist and political activist Harriet Tubman.

Competing in the Niagara District Hockey League against white teams from Fonthill, Jordan, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Port Weller, Thorold, and Welland, many of the games were played outdoors, including inside the locks of the Welland Canal.

The Orioles wore orange sweaters with black stripes on the arms and the letters “TST” stitched across the chest for Toronto-St. Catharines Transport, the name of Woods’ trucking company. In fact, the team name

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Mike Nicholson, a descendant of pioneering hockey player Adam Nicholson, was an outstanding player in his own right, captaining the Brock University team in the late 1960s. He is seen here with former Head Coach Ed Davis (1969-70).

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was eventually changed to the “St. Catharines Transports.”

And yes, they faced prejudice on the ice.

Some opponents actually refused to play against them. A 2016 Sportsnet ar-

ticle quoted journalist Bill Humber, who wrote about the Orioles in his book, A Sporting Chance: Achievements of African-Canadian Athletes. Humber noted that, “You can make as strong a case that [Canadi-

ans] were open-minded and liberal as you can make that we were close-minded and racist. Both arguments can be made if you look at the entire history of the Black athlete in Canada.”

The Orioles were mostly

ignored by the press of the 1930s, and on the rare occasion they garnered attention, they were presented as something of a novelty.

After the team disbanded in See ORIOLES Page 16

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The Voice

A February 24, 2021

The Centrespread Winter on the Niagara River This image, acquired on February 4 with NASA's Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8, shows the snow-covered landscape around the Niagara River in midwinter. Some of the features pictured here are seasonal phenomena, while others have been in the works for millions of years.

See WINTER Page 12

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice

A February 24, 2021

Page 11

Page 12

The Voice

LUXURY GALORE

A February 24, 2021

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Every since high school, Matt Vandervelde has had a passion for carpentry and specialized craftsmanship.

“I started out doing a lot of finishing carpentry,” said Vandervelde. “I love doing trim, windows and doors in particular. But I’ve done pretty much everything— basement framing, drywall taping, sanding, and finishing, you name it.”

Vandervelde grew up in Fergus, a small town just north of Guelph, but relocated to Niagara when he got married (his wife has roots in the region).

Matt Vandervelde.

DON RICKERS

For six years he has been a skilled tradesman, working mostly in general purpose construction and renovation for companies that did creative interior and exterior design with custom homes.

His employer started to expand the business towards Oakville and Toronto, which meant more travel to jobs outside the region.

At that point, Vandervelde decided to strike out on his

own.

“My preference is to focus on the local area, and maintain my passion for small, custom jobs,” he said. “I’ve

dant water in the Niagara River flows extremely fast, preventing much ice from forming on this part of the river except in the coldest years. Upstream (south of this image), steel booms are installed each winter to prevent Lake Erie ice from entering the river and potentially damaging the water intake areas of hydropower plants. Relatively warm weather in December and January has kept Niagara River ice to a minimum this year. The warmth also contributed to record low ice cover across all of the Great Lakes for the time of year.

The river is substantially

lower in elevation than the surrounding landscape— the result of 14,000 years of water cutting down into the rock at the same time that the land was lifting up after the last ice age. For this reason, the river downstream of the escarpment does not migrate laterally or flood its banks the same way that other rivers might.

Deforestation and agriculture took off in the 18th century, followed by urbanization that has accelerated in the past 100 years. In this image, roads and major cities appear dark gray. Agricultural lands—including plenty of vineyards positioned to take advantage of

the lakeshore’s moderated climate—remain mostly snow-covered.

Also note the thin, darkgreen line running diagonally across the land through Lewiston, NY. This is the location of the Niagara escarpment—a cliff face formed by millions of years of erosion. It is extremely steep and lacks snow cover in this image, making the evergreen trees (mostly eastern white cedar) stand out.

Niagara Falls once flowed over this part of the escarpment, but erosion from the force of the water caused the falls to retreat about seven miles (11 km) upstream to their current position.

The fast-flowing water eventually flows into Lake Ontario, where it disrupts the currents flowing eastward along the shoreline.

The river water is low in suspended sediments and appears here as a dark plume where it mixes with the sediment-rich (green) water of the lake. The lake’s west-to-east longshore current is also evident in the patch of frozen water east of Port Weller harbor.

Water on the east side of the harbor’s breakwater structure stays calm, allowing it to freeze easily.

See CRAFTSMAN Page 14

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The Niagara River drains all of the upper Great Lakes (Superior, Huron, Michigan, and Erie), making it one of the largest rivers in North America by volume. This perspective shows the portion of the river north of Lake Erie, where it flows northward over the Niagara Escarpment, plummeting over the falls, and passing through the Niagara Gorge along the way toward Lake Ontario.

Note the striking contrast between the snow-covered ground and the dark, unfrozen river. The abun-

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The Voice

Page 13

A February 24, 2021

Fonthill lawns fouled by road salt and sand

BY DON RICKERS Voice Correspondent Helen Wismer has lived on Pancake Lane since 1965, and says she has never before experienced what happened after last Wednesday’s snowfall. “[The snow removal crew] took all of the dirty snow off the median between the sidewalk and the street, and blew it onto people's property,” said Wismer. “Now we've got this salt and sand that's going to be melting into our front lawns….one lady has had her whole garden covered. I don’t know why they didn’t take it away by truck and dump it somewhere.”

She said that in the spring she is used to raking the median, “because of all of the gravelly stuff,” and sweeps it out onto the road, to be cleaned up by the industrial sweeper vehicle that comes along twice yearly, spring and autumn.

Director of Public Works Jason Marr told the Voice that his staff prioritizes clearing of the main roadways with trucks and snow plows after a heavy snowfall. The Town has hired a private contractor to clear sidewalks in Pelham, and it was the contractor’s workers that blew the gritty snow accumulation onto the lawns.

‘In the downtown areas, we start to get piles

Niagara Centre MPP Jeff Burch.

SUPPLIED

Burch again NDP pick for Niagara Centre

BY VOICE STAFF

Helen Wismer surveys the road debris on her Pancake Lane lawn. of snow building up, and we routinely receive complaints,” said Marr.

Although there might be a small amount of salt in the road mix, Marr said it is usually comprised of pure sand, and is spread after a

snowfall to provide traction on Pelham roadways.

With regard to Wismer’s complaint, Marr said that the spring rains will likely flush most of the sand through the lawns, but his crews will survey proper-

DON RICKERS

ties for any snow-clearing-related damage. Marr said that issues will be addressed with the contractor, since there is a clause in the contract regarding repairs to lawns damaged during the winter.

New Democrats in Niagara Centre have selected incumbent MPP Jeff Burch to be their candidate in the 2022 provincial election. Burch served two terms as a St. Catharines city councillor, is the past CEO of the not-for-profit Niagara Folk Arts, and is a former union leader and representative for frontline healthcare workers. Since his election to Queen’s Park in 2018, Burch has served as the Official Opposition Municipal Affairs critic.

“I’m honoured to accept the nomination to be the NDP candidate in Niagara Centre again,” said Burch in a press statement, “and I thank local New Democrats for their support. It has been disappointing to watch Doug Ford make the same mistakes again and again during the pandemic, and his decision to keep putting money and politics ahead of public health has had a devastating impact on our community. We can bounce back from this, but we must invest in hospitals and schools, and help small businesses and workers.”

A lifelong resident of Niagara, Burch lives in Thorold with his wife, Linda, and 12-year-old son, Jackson.

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The Voice

THE BALANCED LIFE continued from Page 18

cured lawn. Any of the Boys would do your drive before their own just to stake their territory.

And that territory, the turf where they can exert their control on Nursery Lane, is dwindling. Of the ten homes settled along the east end of Nursery Lane, a mere three of us have resisted the soul-stealing, mechanical advance of snowblowers.

But there are cracks forming. One of these tradition-bound neighbours had two healthy, helpful sons whom he had driven to hockey practices for an eternity. They, in turn, paid their dues by shovelling the driveway without fail — until this fateful day. One son had left for university, the other chose snowboarding at the pit over family chores this beautiful winter morning.

The East End Boys could taste it, one of the few holdouts was ripe for the picking. They knew they could catch the owner of this driveway in a weak, snow-stacked moment, and addict a new user to their diabolical ways.

It would not happen to my driveway. Not on my watch. I pressed the garage opener in a panic, then jumped up and down at the edge of the snow, waving my arms and screaming at Steve with the determination of a madman marooned on a deserted island pleading to an airplane overhead. It was no use.

His snowblower was roaring, and Steve was intent, directing the snow and ice missiles flying from the single, rotating metal nostril of his machine onto the cable TV box near the road, determined to bury it until April. I charged down my snow clogged driveway in Birkenstocks and T-shirt.

Shouting over the blower, I thanked Steve profusely for his kind efforts (it’s Pelham and I’m Canadian), then bewildered him by sternly suggesting he and his snowblower leave my property.

Was it my fault? Had I been too ambiguous earlier in the season, just saying to Steve that I enjoyed clearing my own snow, rather than stating unequivocally that I didn’t want his or any of the Boys help?

No, it wasn’t my fault. Joe “Lone Star” Perrotta to the west, Dave “Ripper” Ripley to the south, these East End Boys and long-time neighbours had learned not to mess with my snow.

The damage was done — the Boys had had enough. I’d stirred up

a hornet’s nest of unmuffled four stroke mayhem, and as garage doors on every side opened, I sensed my time had come. Lone Star’s massive John Deere raged as it emerged from its den, as might a grizzly bear looking to gorge on a run of spawning salmon.

The headlight on Ripper’s aptly named Brute pierced the sky like a U-boat’s periscope searching for prey—any driveway nearby that wasn’t cleared. You could tell by the steady rupp, rupp, roar, rrup, rupp, roar, that Ripper had installed a high performance piston and planed the Brute’s cylinder head in the off season. He was desperate to unleash all that newfound, icethrowing power.

Was I standing in front of NASCAR’S championship starting grid, four souped-up snowblowers ready to ravage my driveway? After consultation with his crew chief, Jim “Big Jim” Aichele, piloting his vintage Craftsman ten-horsepower, 32-inch cut monster, had put chains on his machine. More traction to overcome any puny defence I might offer. Big Jim’s battle-scarred steel warrior hadn’t been in a decent scrap since leaving the snowbelt of Kitchener-Waterloo years ago, and would surely stop at nothing to attack the snowbanks of east Nursery Lane.

Further up the street, Tim “Crash” Wright stealthily poured Race Gas, a high octane additive, into the fuel tank of his weapon of choice, a fierce dual-stage Poulan Pro. The smell of 104-plus octane filled the air, a blend so potent that it pressed the rules of engagement.

Crash didn’t care, didn’t even try to hide, calmly staring me down as I peered his way. His sophisticated machine was all speed and strategy, Fonzie to Big Jim’s burly Potsie.

The four East End Boys lined up, side-by-side in an impenetrable, socially distanced phalanx, ready to remove every last flake of snow and ice from driveways and sidewalks within their turf. All that stood between what was left of the untouched snow on my driveway and these predators, was one short length of Town sidewalk from which the snow was as yet not removed.

Engines revved, blower augers clanked into gear, sparks flew, drivelines snatched and tires spun, except of course on Big Jim’s chained behemoth.

Lone Star’s

Our minds still talk to you and our hearts still look for you.

But our souls know that you are at peace.

machine led the charge toward my yard, devouring the snow remaining on the sidewalk like Desert Storm took Iraq. I had crossed a red line in the snow, one I wasn’t even aware existed, and my driveway would pay.

A moment of indecision struck me. Were the snowblowers actually part of Mother Nature’s plan?

Did she intend for those beautiful snowflakes—which had travelled so far on her harsh February winds, only to land on the street and be crushed beneath the tires of commuting SUVs and sporty imports on essential trips—to fly again? Were they destined to be scavenged from the ground like a drunk floored in a bar fight, then set free to fly in the crisp morning air from the maw of a snowblower...one last time?

My resolve stood firm as I summoned my internal Harrison Ford, and called those East End Boys’ bluff. There is too much great history in this neighbourhood, and thankfully cooler heads prevailed —this time. But I knew that the gauntlet had been thrown and they would come another time without mercy, perhaps when I was running an errand, away from home for an hour. Somehow, at some time, they would find a way to snowblow my drive.

Successful military strategists throughout the centuries have always preached, “The best defense is a good offence,” or was that a thousand Canadian house league hockey coaches.

The very next night the sky was a mass of fluffy falling snowflakes, with another 20 centimetres predicted. I set my alarm for 1 AM and brought my trusted snow shovel into the safety of the foyer. I told it to relax, that I’d never forsake it, and that tomorrow, before those outrageous machines were even awake, we’d have the last laugh.

Together, my shovel and I would silently slip into the midnight darkness and clear the driveway of every single East End Boy while they slept, and take our neighbourhood back. Not only would we clear the snow from their properties, we’d remove the street’s white blanket for five metres to the left of each driveway.

There would be nothing for the plows to deposit as they lurched down Nursery Lane in the predawn light. The East End Boys’ metal monsters would go hungry until another day. ◆

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

MOTION

continued from Page 6 and for staff to prepare reports and updates related to the health crisis.

Insinna told the Niagara Falls Review that there is “nothing of substance” that goes with a state of emergency declaration, and said his motion will effectively “reach out to those in the province who hold the purse strings.” He further said that declaring a state of emergency on the collective issues of homelessness, mental health and addiction “would be an injustice and detraction from each issue.”

Soos begged to differ.

“Councillor Insinna should familiarize himself with emergency management legislation, because he's totally incorrect in this situation. He also said additional powers are not granted when calling for the state of emergency. But the municipality gets increased procurement bylaws through a state of emergency, so he's not on the ball here. And I would appreciate if he corrected himself before spreading that as the message to the public.”

It wasn’t an ask for money, said Soos.

“There would be no cost to the Region, because in a state of emergency situation, the province is responsible for the procurement funding.”

Soos expressed frustration that the Region’s top official did not champion the original motion.

“Chair Bradley has the power

here…why he's so openly against it is a mystery to me. I'll leave him to explain that.”

Campbell voiced similar sentiments in a conversation with the Voice.

“Both Steven and I were taken aback during the meeting, and somewhat flabbergasted that this was put before us,” he said. “Clearly, there was some politicking behind the scenes. My sense is that a lot of politicians make decisions based on what's best for getting re-elected.”

Insinna’s proposal, a “counter motion,” had been prepared in advance of the meeting, said Campbell.

The issue is a personal one for Campbell, whose own daughter’s mental health struggles culminated in her suicide in 2013.

Several years ago, Campbell said he attempted to convince the provincial government to create a ministry of mental health. There are 13 ministries, all of which are funded in different ways in dealing with mental health. He maintains it would not cost the taxpayer any additional monies. “[The ministries] are all working in silos. I got so many deaf ears…I didn't get anywhere with it.”

In a Facebook post, Campbell reviewed the statistics on mental health, homelessness and addiction in Niagara, which he called “damning.” Statistics Canada data shows that Niagara’s self-harm See MOTION Page 20

CRAFTSMAN

continued from Page 12 been doing a fair bit of work in Grimsby and Hamilton, but I would love to keep it even more close to home,” he said.

With house prices skyrocketing, many homeowners have concluded that it is more prudent to spend money on renovations, rather than sell their existing home and move into an upgrade. Even in a pandemic, the demand is high for skilled tradesmen.

I'm really good at bending aluminum, so any job involving exterior siding, soffits, fascia, window and door trim, that’s a specialty of mine,” said Vandervelde.

Taking on various small projects allows him to keep his inventory low by sourcing his materials through local suppliers. “Most of my doors I get from Niagara Pre-Hung Doors in Fonthill, and all my aluminum for siding and eavestroughing comes from Dun-Rite Aluminum here in Welland,” he said.

Free estimates and references can be provided by contacting Vandervelde at Canadian Carpentry in Welland at 226-820-1261, or via email at canadiancarpentry19@gmail.com

I’ve got your back Count on me for one-on-one service, better savings, and coverage that’s customized for you.

Stop in, call or click.

Dad (John), Mom (Shirley), Brother Tom, Sister Sue Phillips, and families

Bob Kilyk, Agent 21 Highway 20 West Fonthill ON L0S 1E0 905-892-5721 bob.kilyk@desjardins.com www.bobkilyk.com

1211027 CN.1

Christopher (Chris) Edward Burger September 17, 1969 February 26, 2011

A February 24, 2021

Certain conditions, limitations and exclusions may apply. Desjardins Insurance refers to Certas Home and Auto Insurance Company, underwriter of automobile and property insurance or Desjardins Financial Security Life Assurance Company, underwriter of life insurance and living benefits products. Desjardins, Desjardins Insurance and related trademarks are trademarks of the Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec, used under licence.

Valerie Ann Lane

Forever Missed and Forever Loved Valerie Ann Lane passed away on February 20, 2011, a er a very long and courageous ba le with liver disease. She is cherished by her brothers Greg and Jim, sister-in-law Tuula, and Peter, her companion of 10 years.

Many friends and colleagues at St. Edward's Catholic Elementary School also remember her dedication to her special needs students.

She will never be forgo en.

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The Voice

Page 15

A February 24, 2021

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THREE

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PELHAM LIBRARY’S COMPUTER CLINIC Mon-Thurs, 8 AM to 2 PM. $20Help” giftwith card “One-to-One a volunteer tech tutor. Get help with web browsing, webmail account set-up, e-books, social media, editing and sharing your IN PERSON photos and more. Includes use of laptop or BYOG own atgadget).

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BUSINESSES. FONTHILL BANDSHELL PRESENTS DE TEMPS ANTAN Yard & Shed MOVING of Pelham and Central Niagara Burke’s Masonry SALE, Large collection FONTHILL Since 2003, Éric Beaudry, André Brunet Pierre-Luc Dupuis have THEand VOICE IS 100 PERCENT E. L. Crossley Keith’s Restau of Christmas and OF holiday $10 gift card time-honoured been exploring and performing melodies from the stomp- Bricklaying, tuckpointing, COMMUNITY-OWNED CELEBRATING 25 YEARS PUBLICATION decorations and household Churchill Natural Meats Target Store step repair, granite ing grounds of Quebec’s musical past. Using fiddle, accordion, harmonica, Shoppers Drug Mart Pennzoil Quick coatings, brick slices items, SAT. AUG. 30, 8AM- Fonthill Library guitar, bouzouki and a number of other instruments, our three virtuosos Lazy Loon 1PM 625 METLER RD, 905-682-7061. blend boundless energy with the unmistakable dealso vivre found only in CAO David joie Cribbs said he expected Town of Pelham Pharmasave COUNCIL FLOORINGP18-28 NORTH PELHAM MASONRY REPAIR P18-23 to move continued from Page 3 traditional Quebec music. Show runsNiagara from 7-9 p.m.into red, but that staff are Cafe on Main Avondale Stor ALLTYPE MASONRY

Z

ready when that changes.

“We will be prepared to react whatever development calls for four new homes to day that ends up happening, the MCC can PELHAM LIBRARY CARD MAKING WORKSHOP be built around the existing structure on reopen that day,” the CAO said. the large property.

Despite some comMake six cards with fall themes, learning a variety of techniques.

Materials Lymburner reported that Pelham had ten plaints, most of the public feedback had active cases of COVID-19 as of Feb. 16, and provided. At time of registration, please enquire about tools needed. been are supportive. said that 100 percent of Niagara’s longWard 1 Councilllor Marianne Tues., Sept. 16 10 – 12:30.Stewart, $10. Please ahead.

Visit www.pelhamtermregister care facility residents had received however, raised the spectre of the proposed their fulldetails. dosage of vaccines. library.on.ca or call 905-892-6443 for more new units doubling, pending Pelham’s exHaun again brought up the issue of chilpected bylaw changes regarding second dren playing in the vicinity of stormwater dwelling units (SDUs). Wink responded by FABULOUS FENWICK LIONS FISHdrainage FRY ponds — in this case skating or saying that he didn’t expect every home playing hockey on their frozen waters. in Pelham to build SDUs in the future, and Tasty treats with funds heading straightLymburner back into said the community.

Haddock, that bylaw enforcement also supported it. french fries and much more.

Runs Sept.

9 from p.m. was on top of4-7 it. “We’re there on a regular Separately, Stewart issued a notice of basis,” he said. motion regarding her proposal to have Later, councillors addressed the lack of staff report back on a pre-application comPELHAM MINOR HOCKEY EQUIPMENT fencing SALE around some drainage ponds. Hilmunity meeting protocol between develdebrandt moved a motion to work out an Buy, sell or trade used equipment at the Pelham Arena.

Aimed to provide opers and neighbours. Stewart introduced approach for fencing or other engineering the idea a few months back, basing it on a cheaper options for players in this upcoming season.

Runswhich Sept.was 6 from buffers around the ponds, secsimilar program that exists in Burlington. onded by Wink.

Cribbs said a report could 9-12 in the morning.

The report is expected in May, although be ready by summer.

Councillor Lisa Haun asked if it was possible to move it up. CAO David Cribbs and Odds and ends PELHAM MUDFEST Director of Community Planning and De■ Council unanimously approved authorizvelopment Barb Wiens said no, given Men and women will be back in the mud as the second run on the year is staff’s existing workload with zoning by- ing $5,000 to go toward a memorial for the held at Bissil’s Hideaway. late Councillor Mike Ciolfi, although Trealaw changes.

Cribbs said that even May remained am- surer Teresa Quinlin said that the funds would currently fall outside the Town’s bitious, but promised to notify council by AprilNIAGARA if there wereREGIONAL any delays. EXHIBITIONoperating budget. Haun—who is chairing a committee on the memorial — said that Rodeo, games and live entertainment headline this years exciting event.

It ideally most of the $5,000 would not be COVID-19 update runs from Sept. 11-14 at the Wellandneeded, Fairgrounds. as the plan is to solicit charitable Fire Chief Bob Lymburner told council donations from the public. that he and most officials in Niagara had ■ Olson highlighted a water distribution expected Region to moveRIDE to the red BIG the MOVE CANCER system report that lauded Pelham’s water level instead of grey-lockdown last week, supply. Publicride Works Director Marr The Big Move Cancer Ride is a non-competitive taking placeJason on Sept. and conceded that it led to some “busithanked Olson for the kind words. “Our nesses ahead out- in Niagara and support the Walker Fam7. getting Proceeds for of thethemselves” Big Move stay system is a tight system and our water opside Pelham. erators do a good job at maintaining that ily Cancersaid Centre.

Hildebrandt the decision led to system in ensuring we are providing clean, “mass confusion” among Pelham resisafe and reliable drinking water to the dents, but Lymburner said that the Town Town of Pelham,” Marr said.

WALKING CLUB remained on top of the matter, keeping the ■ Cribbs introduced the Town’s new soliccommunity centre closed as per regulaInterested in walking in Pelham? Join them Tuesdays at the Pelham Arena itor, Jennifer Stirton, to council. tions.

from 9-10 am and Thursdays at Fonthill Bandshell for 9-10:30 am. There is no fee for this program. For more information, please contact jcook@ pelham.ca or call 905 892-2607, ext 329.

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The Voice

A February 24, 2021

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Holy Trinity Anglican Church holytrinityfonthill.org

Pelham Evangelical Friends Church www.pelhamfriends.ca

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

Fenwick Church of Christ www.fenwickchurchofchrist.ca

Fonthill United Church www.fonthillunited.com

Kirk on the Hill Presbyterian Church 1344 Haist St., Fonthill

St. Alexander Roman Catholic Church www.stalexander.on.ca

Fenwick United Church www.fenwickunited.com

Glad Tidings Church of God www.gladtidingschurchofgod.com

Pelham Community Church (United Church) www.pelham.cc

St. Ann Roman Catholic Church www.stannfenwick.com

FAITH LIFT

ORIOLES

consequences of sin.

It doesn’t mean we won’t sin again (I wish). It does mean, however, we will have the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives to empower us not to sin but to live lives which are holy, healthy and helpful. It also assures us that when we die physically someday, we will be welcomed into an eternal home in heaven because our sins have been covered and cancelled by Jesus’ death on the cross. Now, that’s something to celebrate!

The verdict To be meaningful, the decision to receive or reject this spiritual vaccine (of what Jesus did for us) is mine and yours to make. God respects and does not violate our free will.

With COVID-19, most Canadians will gladly get vaccinated but some won’t. My hope and prayer is that the same will happen with the spiritual counterpart as well. The Good News is that you can get your vaccination right now. It’s only one sincere prayer away! ◆

the early 1940s, the players’ families remained a closeknit group in St. Catharines, still attending church and raising their kids together.

Ford remembers when former St. Catharines Standard sports editor Jack Gatecliff wrote about the Orioles, and ran a picture of the 1937 team.

“He referred to them in the headline as, ‘Canada’s only all-Black ice hockey team,’ which was incorrect, because there was a whole league of Black teams in Nova Scotia,” said Ford.

(The Colored Hockey League was founded in Nova Scotia in 1895, and some 400 players were involved in the all-Black league over its three-decade existence.)

continued from Page 19

Rob Weatherby is a retired pastor.

continued from Page 9

“Jack changed the headline when the error was pointed out,” said Ford.

As time passed, Ford, who resides in St. Catharines, found fewer references to the Orioles in the media. That all changed when a young Brock University student, Lauren Wilks, knocked on Ford’s door five years ago, and ended up producing the most thorough research of the team as part of her 2018 master’s thesis entitled, “Presenting the Orioles: A Historiographical Analysis of Black Hockey History in St. Catharines.”

Wilks’ dissertation documented how the history of the Orioles has been “overlooked, erased, and ignored.” She maintained that “the erasure is indicative of broader sociological issues of race and racism, as the

historic exclusion and (non) remembering of non-white athletes contributes to our understanding of sport history in the present. By neglecting to include athletes of colour in the mainstream history of sport, sports historians are contributing to the whitewashing of Canadian sport history.”

Another descendant of Adam Nicholson, Mike Nicholson, played for the Brock University ice hockey team in 1968 (then known as the Generals in the pre-Badger days) and was named captain a decade after NHL trailblazer Willie O’Ree broke the colour barrier with the Boston Bruins. Nicholson’s father, Hope, captained the St. Catharines Orioles in the late 1930s.

An article in Brock News

quoted the team’s coach at the time, Ed Davis, as saying “a Black hockey player with a captain’s ‘C’ on his chest was unheard of, but it was a natural decision to make Mike captain because of the quality of man he was. He was a gentleman on and off the ice.

We were proud that he was the face of the team.”

Nicholson played a few seasons professionally for the Erie, PA Lions after graduating from Brock, then returned to Canada and attended the faculty of education at the University of Toronto.

He enjoyed a 40-year career teaching English, and credits Brock for putting him on the road to success.

The Badgers honour Nicholson with a sportsmanship award in his name at the annual Brock athletic banquet.

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice

Page 17

A February 24, 2021

Six Pelham Cares volunteers win Ontario Volunteer Service Awards The Ontario government recognized the outstanding contributions of volunteers last Thursday, including 58 individuals from Niagara.

A total of 6,658 volunteers from across the province received the Ontario Volunteer Service Award. Over the past 34 years, some 250,000 volunteers have been recognized.

Pelham Cares had six recipients, with MaryAnn Hicks, Graham Jackson, Jane Jackson, and Brenda Wild all honoured for five years of volunteer service. Marty Kicul was recognized for ten years, and Carol Chapman for 20.

COLUMN SIX

continued from Page 1 of grammar, our daughter learned to write properly.

She went on to study English at Queen’s, then publishing at Ryerson, and she now manages a bookstore in Toronto. She reads more books in a week than I do in a month. Being introduced to writing freestyle without the compulsory figures apparently did her no harm.

I recently stumbled onto a website called the Random Word Generator that produces words like those my daughter invented when she was six. At the click of a key you get “Elislang,” for example, or “pectioniela” and “overally.” The app’s stated purpose is to release creativity and inspire the writer in all of us.

Yes, it’s all gibberish, but if it works why not? Yet there’s a downside to all this. Now that language can mean whatever you want it to mean, or mean nothing at all, we’re beset by people who use it solely to manipulate. I’m thinking of those who govern us, educate us and sell us things, all through the medium of jargon.

Here’s a crash course in current buzzwords.

We can circle back and move forward. The organic bandwidth is what it is, but if we do a deep dive we can unpack our true North Star. If we all give 110%, at the end of the day our impact will empower the grassroots. There’s been a paradigm shift in thinking, so now we utilize best practice to pick the low-hanging fruit and incentivize the team. Thinking

“We are forever grateful for the dedication these particular volunteers have shown, and are happy to recognize their years of service this fashion,” said Jennifer Dubé, the organization’s Coordinator of Client Services.

Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff, along with fellow local MPPs Jennie Stevens, Jeff Burch, and Wayne Gates, attended the online ceremony.

"The incredible efforts of these individuals and organizations improve the lives of everyone in Niagara," said Oosterhoff. "I want

to express my deep appreciation to our local volunteers and service organizations, whether they serve in local long-term care homes and hospices or promote the cultural and historical fabric of our local communities."

The Ontario Volunteer Service Award recognizes individuals for continuous years of volunteer service at a single organization such as hospitals, seniors centres, and community associations.

April 21 is the deadline for submitting Ontario Volunteer Service Award nominations. An organiza-

tion can nominate up to nine volunteers, with a maximum of six adults. Nominees must be Ontario residents, and active members in an organization that has existed for at least five years.

Other awards are available, including the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers, recognizing the outstanding contributions of volunteers between 15 and 24 years old who have been involved with a charity or non-profit group, and have been role models for other young people.

The June Callwood Outstand-

how this impenetrable shield outside the box and onboard- ness, and relatedness, origof crap-speak can persuade ing new ideas will raise the bar inated in humanistic psythe unwary to believe that chology but now run amok, while leveraging synergy. Our what is advertised has al(and largely misunderstood), board will operationalize town ready been achieved, that in corporate culture. They hall strategizing. their “dining experience” is strike me as a kind of verbal A friend recently posted a done deal, that Cisco has abuse. this on a FB thread about She refers to an online “BS indeed “woken the world up language use. I think he was and moved the planet a little Generator” that serves up joking, but would it not all closer to the future.” Maybe ways to impress your collook and sound the same if this is what politicians of leagues. Three successive he wasn’t? all stripes mean when they cursor clicks on my screen Jargon is the Emperor’s incant “going New Clothes—an forward” during illusion of meantheir robust deing and a parody liveries of word of itself. salad.

Whoever is So what’s the versed in the jarbig deal, we ask. gon does not have They’re just to say what he words, aren’t thinks, does not they? even have to think It’s impossiit properly. The ble to ignore that jargon takes over words are now this task.(Theoso important we dore Adorno). have language Writing and police to microspeaking are manage our use ways of thinking of them. They hit and feeling. Jarthe correct key or gon relieves the the cancel button user of the need if they perceive or to do either. imagine a nuance To illustrate: of racism, sexwhen I say my ism, homophobia plan isn’t working, or other slurs. the meaning is There are words clear; but saying that have no place there’s been a loss of functional- Published in 1981, it's the sort of book that a plain-speak- in civil discourse, though we should ity detaches the ing editor carries around the world for 40 years. VOICE always remain meaning.

The free to debate phrase, like all told me I could drive granular unsettled issues in language jargon, becomes immunized against accountability. It’s synergies, strategize impact- that communicates.

Jargon isn’t hate speech all smoke and mirrors, and ful convergence, and deliver but it can have sinister uses. robust interfaces. Four more now the hallmark of public There are dark implications clicks showed me how to utterance in any profession.

Dr. Nancy Miller has writenvision user-centric deliver- to using words that look innocent but camouflage evil. ten about our struggle to ables and dynamic paradigms, In 1961, when American orchestrate visionary machine grasp words whose meanlearning, incentivize proactive politicians were spraying ings appear self-evident but the Vietnam invasion with aren’t at all when examined. eyeballing, and disintermediscented terms like pacifiSome of her examples like ate out-of-the-box channels. cation, liberation, collateral Writer Joe Morin explains self-actualization, connected-

damage and friendly fire, the trial of Adolph Eichmann was taking place in Jerusalem. He too spun a defensive web of fallacy, using terms like emigration specialist to describe his genocidal role, and evacuation transport to describe the death trains. He also remarked that constant difficulties were caused by various offices in a bureaucratic

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manner, but that various types of possible solutions were discussed. These solutions included plans for murdering all the Jews in German-occupied Europe.

Language is the heart of any culture, as Dr. Miller reminds us. It’s much more than the dress of thought.

It’s how we think. Or choose not to. ◆

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Page 18

The Voice

A February 24, 2021

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca "Crash" Wright preps his machine with a potent highoctane fuel mix before going mano a mano with The Flakes.

THE BALANCED LIFE

by John Swart

JOHN SWART

In rumble for the street, The Flakes don't stand a chance

M

uch like Thin Lizzy stridently proclaimed years ago, the East End Boys are back in town.

Guess who just got back today?

Them wild-eyed boys that'd been away, Haven't changed, had much to say, But man, I still think them cats are crazy

This would be the East End of Nursery Lane, and the Boys are the notorious local snowblower gang. No razor-sharp shanks or smuggled Brooklyn heaters for these cats— they’re armed with high performance, super-tuned,

ear-splitting snow blowers, a mass of whirling metal teeth designed to shred each and every of Mother Nature’s gentle snowflakes that dare fall on their driveways.

How did I know we’d had a massive snowfall in the early pre-dawn hours of last Tuesday, even before I’d thrown off the covers and left the warmth of my bed? Neighbour Peter Halenko, aka Ladderman, had unleashed his vintage Sears snow blower upon the piles of snow, ice and dirty gravel-salt mixture the snow plow had deposited to block the end of his driveway.

Like a synchronized swimmer gasping air before flipping beneath the water, Ladderman’s eager snow-

blower would inhale a massive mouthful of snow and ice, flag for a second while digesting the frozen snack, then spew the crystalline spittle in all directions.

My excitement was palpable, like the terrier that swirls in circles at the door when you reach for a doggie-walk bag. Today I would be freed from the confines of my basement workout dungeon, not condemned to watching my 126th pointless DVD while bending and stretching and lifting ugly, dead weights. I would wear my most stylish cycling sunglasses, my jauntiest toque, my new winter tights, and clear the snow from my driveway the old-fashioned, comforting way, one respectful shovelful at a time. I’d move this silky white bounty with love, placing each cubic portion in exactly the right spot on the lawn, in harmony with

Mother Nature’s intentions.

Each shovelful would be an excuse to flex and primp my athletic apparel and environmental values in front of the East Street Boys.

As I gulped down a steaming coffee and an incredibly nutritious breakfast, anticipating a morning spent communing with the snow, one flake to another in a white

heaven, my wife screamed in horror, “Steve’s snowblowing your driveway.”

How dare he! I had started training back in September for this day. Months of shovelling-specific exercises.

It’s not the arms. Shovel with your biceps and the game is over in no time. It’s all about the core, the obliques and the erector spinae muscles. Fif-

teen shovelfuls over the right shoulder, 15 over the left.

Breathe deeply as you thrust the shovel into the snow, exhale forcefully as you swing it over your shoulder, and you can go all day with the rhythm of a Maasai warrior running down a wildebeest.

When I heard the weather forecast Monday evening, I even carb-loaded on pasta to increase my glucose reserves.

No matter how well intentioned, Steve was not going to snowblow my driveway and deprive me of my due.

But this is the insidious way the East Ends Boys spread their metallic tentacles throughout the neighbourhood, generously snowblowing neighbours’ driveways and walkways, determined to strike even before the Town’s sidewalk plow can rip the frozen sod from your maniSee BALANCED LIFE Page 14

V oice HOROSCOPE ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, you may be falling behind on keeping resolutions, but that is alright. It’s easy to get back on track once you set your mind to it. Ask a friend to keep you accountable.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, right now your mind is focused on “the more the merrier” but you have to find ways to safely connect with others. Keep everyone’s health in mind.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 It may have seemed like the last few months of 2020 flew by, Gemini. A new year provides a chance to restart, slow down and smell the proverbial roses.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 This week can prove to be epic if you just go with the flow a little bit, Cancer. Let others take the lead and simply follow along. You never know where things will lead.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 Leo, figure out how to align your priorities with what you do for a living. It could mean changing careers. Even though it may seem risky right now, start exploring the waters.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, some down time and R& R can do a body good. Ask your partner to cover for you and then reciprocate so you can both unplug and refresh.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, a midweek business proposition or a real estate endeavor may present itself. This could lead to some exciting changes for your family.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 You don’t mind defending your opinions or your ideals, Scorpio.

In fact, you are highly skilled at constructive conversation. Your negotiation tactics may be put to the test.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 The early part of the week may be prett y uneventf ul, but things heat up as the week progresses, Sagittarius. You may not have time to do everything you desire.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 Boredom isn’t a bad thing when you desire a respite, Capricorn. While others may be looking for ways to chase away cabin fever, you may be perfectly content snuggling in.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 Unexpected partnerships can yield some amazing results, Aquarius. This may be the opportunity you are looking for at this juncture in your life. Push ahead for the time being.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, momentum swings in your favor and you can sail through all of your tasks and goals in record time. Enjoy the ride.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS FEBRUARY 21 Jordan Peele, Actor (42) FEBRUARY 22 Drew Barrymore, Actress (46) FEBRUARY 23 D’Angelo Russell, Athlete (25) FEBRUARY 25 Rashida Jones, Actress (45) FEBRUARY 26 Nate Ruess, Singer (39) FEBRUARY 27 Kate Mara, Actress (38)

SOLUTIONS DOWN 1. SIMIAN 2. CE 3. ARIES 4. RIDS 5. ALE 6. BYNAME 7. SPIRES 8. CSC 9. HAAS 10. ELLAS 11. MT 12. AERATION 13. FARAD 15. REROUTE 18. TAM 21. CHASTISED 24. MATRIARCH 26. EAT 27. TIP 30. SAROD 32. BAAED 35. TEL 37. RMS 38. MEDUSAS 39. EPISODES 42. GAB 43. MAS 46. LESSEE 47. FRANCS 49. ANIMUS 50. DESKS 52. SAPIR 54. EWE 55. APRIL 57. SALT 59. AERY 62. SLR 63. GUT 66. VA 68. OE

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. SCARAB 7. SCHEMA 13. FIERILY 14. PSALTER 16. AM 17. IDENTICAL 19. RE 20. RICES 22. AAR 23. SAMAR 25. AAHS 26. EMMET 28. SATO 29. DNA 30. SAE 31. SIB 33. TIU 34. STAT 36. PARROT 38. METER 40. AMINE 41. EPILOG 43. MESA 44. DIS 45. DAL 47. FAD 48. RAD 51. USES 53. BEERS 55. ACNE 56. SODAS 58. SWA 59. APHIS 60. AD 61. PASSENGER 64. MK 65. SEVILLE 67. CURIOUS 69. SARTRE 70. STYLES

Enjoy our Take-out Fish & Chips Fridays!

From our family to yours...stay safe

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice

Page 19

A February 24, 2021

FAITH LIFT

by Pastor Rob Weatherby

The parable of the pandemic

T

he year 2020 will probably go down in history as “the year of the virus."

Can you think of any other event in recent history that has had such global impact?

Our hope is that 2021 may become known as “the year of the vaccine."

Jesus was a master at taking something earthly (or physical) and using it to explain something heavenly (or spiritual). They were called parables and were long remembered by people in his oral, story-oriented culture. Our present-day drama has inspired the modern-day parable which follows.

and quickly contaminated the whole human race. The original sin (or act of disobedience) resulted in a “sin nature."that every human inherits at birth. The consequences of this condition are spiritual separation from a holy God, the suffering produced by broken relationships and wrong moral choices, and spiritual death.

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned."(Romans 5:12)

The vaccine

In the physical realm, thankfully we now have

vaccines being rolled out which will protect people from the severity of this disease. Like other vaccines, they may not prevent you from catching it completely but they will enable your body to fight it off better.

The arrival of these antidotes is bringing renewed hope to many people in this new year.

In the spiritual realm, we’ve had a vaccine for two millennia. It too has a name — Jesus. When we receive this vaccine by opening our lives in sincere repentance and faith, we are then saved or protected from the worst See FAITH LIFT Page 16

The virus

We all know more than we’d like to about this virus called COVID-19. The name breaks down as follows: “Co"stands for the word “corona." The “vi"stands for “virus." The “d"stands for “disease." And the “19"stand for “2019," when the virus was identified.

It is a new strain of coronavirus which apparently originated in the city of Wuhan, China, and, being very infectious, quickly spread outward into the region, country and around the world. The consequences of contracting this disease are isolation, suffering and (sadly for many) death.

This global malady has a spiritual counterpart. It’s called “sin." Sin can be described and defined in various ways: disobedience or rebellion to God’s moral law, missing the mark of God’s perfect standard, breaking God’s laws or commandments, and failing to do what your conscience tells you is right. One verse puts it very concisely, “Sin is lawlessness." (1 John 3:4b).

Scripture teaches that sin, too, began with one person

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: Get Organized

Find the words hidden vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and backwards.

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ORGANIZED PAPERS PHOTOGRAPHS PROFESSIONAL RESOLUTION

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ANSWERS ON PAGE 18

Voice

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Page 20

The Voice

Voice

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

4

Creamy Rice with Shrimp and Tomatoes

Busy families may not have much time to spend in the kitchen these days, but they don’t need to devote hours to cooking. Even quick meals can serve up significant flavor.

In the time it takes to boil rice, this recipe for “Creamy Rice With Roasted Shrimp and Tomatoes,” courtesy of “Real Simple Dinner Tonight: Done” (Time Home Entertainment) from the editors of Real Simple, can be put on the table. Arborio rice makes this dish creamy, but if it’s unavailable, long-grain rice also can be used — just follow the package directions for cooking.

Creamy Rice With Roasted Shrimp and Tomatoes Serves 4 2 1 1 1 1 2 8 2

tablespoons olive oil onion, finely chopped cup Arborio rice cup dry white wine Kosher salt and black pepper pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp pints grape tomatoes sprigs fresh thyme cloves garlic

Heat oven to 400 F. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the rice and wine and cook, stirring, until the wine is absorbed, 1 to 2 minutes.

Add 2 cups water and 1⁄4 teaspoon each salt and pepper to the saucepan. Simmer, covered, until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender, 18 to 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, on a rimmed baking sheet, toss the shrimp, tomatoes, thyme, and garlic with the remaining tablespoon of oil and 1⁄2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Roast until the shrimp are opaque throughout, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve over the rice.

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A February 24, 2021

CORNER

continued from Page 2 Some years ago my son was dating a young lady whose grandfather owned a prominent Canadian retail chain, plus, to my best knowledge, a well-known sports team. The said girlfriend inherited the contents of a storage locker.

In this storage unit there were several pieces of high-end furniture plus lots of other goodies.

I was invited one day to look at the contents as my son and his girlfriend decided what they wanted to move into their house or to sell.

I immediately noticed throughout the storage unit several different cases and types of liquor. It was my understanding that the grandfather would on occasion give cases of liquor to his most ardent supporters. I asked my son and his girlfriend what they planned to do with

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

all this alcohol. Their reply was simple, “Take what you want.”

Like a trout rising to a dry fly, I quickly snapped up a number of cases of scotch, rye and vodka.

Unfortunately, a good portion of the alcohol in the vodka had evaporated, however the rye and scotch were just fine. Do you remember the time when Hudson Bay had their own line of liquor? Within the mix of liquors was a Hudson Bay scotch.

I was friends with a retired Hudson Bay employee, so you can guess where that scotch ended up. The Black Label is a small way of thanking you for allowing my comments to be aired in the Voice over the past several years, over which time I have seen how the paper has matured.

Thank you on both counts, sir! In fact, we've just learned that the Voice has been nominated for six awards for work we did in 2020. Details next week. Until then, and as always, stay safe. ◆

MOTION

continued from Page 14 and suicide rates exceed the provincial average, while information on the Region’s own website reports that in 2019, 14.2 percent of secondary students in Niagara had “seriously considered suicide” in the prior 12 months.

Overdose deaths have also increased, with Niagara’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) reporting 625 suspected overdoses in 2020, up from 499 in 2019. In 2021, 55 overdoses have already been logged in the region. Campbell indicated that according to his latest information, 625 Niagara residents (including 144 children) are recorded as being homeless.

“How many more people need to experience these problems before Regional

government supports the initial motion to declare a state of emergency on mental health, homelessness and addiction?,” he asked.

Pelham Mayor Marvin Junkin felt strongly that the Region should have “followed the will” of the 11 lower-tier municipalities which unanimously voted in favour of the motion to declare a state of emergency in Niagara regarding these issues.

“The numbers speak for themselves as to the urgency of the situation,” said Junkin.

At Regional Council’s meeting on Thursday, a decision will be made to support either the original Soos-Campbell motion, or the alternative motion offered by Insinna and Foster.

OBITUARY

WILLIAMS, Robert William October 29, 1935 – February 14, 2021 It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Robert (Bob) peacefully at home with his loving wife on Valentine’s Day. Married to Audrey (Gilbert) for 65 and 1/2 years. Predeceased by his parents Herb and Molly, infant son Ronald, brother Sonny and grandson Jason. Survived by his 3 sons - Robert and Margie, Randy and Noreen, Don and Angela. His 9 grandchildren - Stephenie and Mike Penrose, Christina and Phil Swales, Heather Williams, Michelle and Ryan Hatcher, Celeste Williams, Carrie and Manuel Mayr, Randi and Lionel Lambert, Dennis Williams and Chelsea, Kristen Williams. His 13 great-grandchildren - Ezra, Arlo, Adam, Amber, Avery, Owen, Hunter, Tyler, Patrick, Rebecka, Lillian, Willow, Thomas. His brother Don and Cherie, niece Melody and Mark Halagian and family, nephew Kip and Lynn and family. Robert was a Master Plumber who started working in the trade, alongside his father at the age of 15. He owned and operated Robert Williams Plumbing and Heating Ltd. for 56 years. He ran the business alongside his wife from their family home, which they built with their boys, brick by brick. Robert was a scout leader for North Pelham Youth, a coach for Pelham Minor Hockey and could often be found in the early hours of the morning out clearing off the outdoor rink, making it ready for the teams to play. He had a strong community spirit and sponsored many baseball and hockey teams throughout the years.

Robert will be fondly remembered by his wife, and kids, grandkids and great-grandkids, brother and friends as we continue to engage in some of his favourite pastimes including guitar, harmonica, golf, woodworking, sign-painting, iron forging, fishing, going to the cottage and yard-saling. We would like to thank the kind and caring medical community that has looked after Bob over the years. Due to COVID restrictions a private family ceremony will be held at PELHAM FUNERAL HOME, Fonthill followed by interment at North Pelham Cemetery. The service for Robert can be viewed at https:// youtu.be/Z3A-8n_Fmhw. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Robert’s honor to Grace Christian Reformed Church or Open Arms Mission of Welland. Online condolences may be shared at www.pelhamfuneralhome.ca

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