The Voice, January 8 2020

Chicane's days are numbered page 3 Former Town Treasurer speaks out page 5 Upset over requested lot change page 6 EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS

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Vol.24 No.1

January 8, 2020

FREE

Ample turnout at MPP's Levee

Column Six

Butternut: one woman's descent into madness

Annual event also draws demonstrators

BY EMILY BOSS

Special to the VOICE

Y

BY VOICE STAFF The Legion parking lot in Fonthill was near capacity on Saturday afternoon, as Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff welcomed visitors to his fourth annual New Year’s Levee. The turnout was a far cry from the six or seven in attendance at his first levee in 2017, according to Dr. Jim Jeffs, a longstanding Oosterhoff supporter, who was all smiles as some 40 or so attendees in the room knocked back hot chocolate and nibbled on cookies.

Outside,meanwhile, about a dozen protesters— some in costume— stood on the sidewalk along Highway 20, many holding signs encouraging passing motorists to honk if they supported abortion rights.

Attempting to make herself heard over what was often a cacophony of obliging drivers beeping away, organizer Jennifer Botari explained that the protest was a joint effort among members of the Canadian Union See LEVEE Page 7

OU CAN HAVE A treat when you can solve the Pelham Puzzler.”

My two-year-old gaped at me.

“Maybe… you should put the paper down for a bit,” my husband cautiously suggested.

“It will be ‘unmistakable,’” I moaned in despair, throwing the Voice down in frustration.

It had begun innocently enough, two nights before.

I was enjoying some quiet time with my husband when I came across the puzzle in the paper.

“Over a hundred bucks in gift cards! How hard could it be?”

An hour and a half later I had gotten nowhere. My husband looked up from his phone and saw me surrounded by the three most recent issues of the Voice.

“I’ll take a look,” he condescendingly offered, picking up one of the papers.

Twenty minutes later he offered a solution, which I happily emailed in. It was after 10 PM. As I gathered

Above, from left, Pelham Town Councillor Bob Hildebrandt and Mayor Marvin Junkin greet MPP Sam Oosterhoff, along with Niagara Regional Councillor Diana Huson, at Oosterhoff's annual New Year's Levee.

Right, some 40 residents turned out for the event, held at the Legion hall in Fonthill.

See COLUMN SIX back page

VOICE PHOTOS

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Page 2

The Voice, January 8, 2020

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

NRPS impaired driving charges

PUBLISHER’S CORNER

by Dave Burket

Rust sets in quick: It’s amazing how even a brief two-week spell away from the usual grind can leave you out of practice.

Truth be told, there were a few more stories on the shelf which could have run in this week’s paper, but yours truly was running low on wattage come Saturday, when it was time to nail down how many pages our inaugural issue of the new decade would be. Plus, there was a certain Town Hall-related kerfuffle to deal with, as may be seen elsewhere. Anyway, point is, it may take a week or two to get back in the groove, so if you’ve submitted a photo or letter or other contribution that hasn’t yet seen the light of newsprint, fear not.

Its day will come!...Gifts, mostly edible: A huge thank you to Eve, Rosemary, Nancy, and Carolyn for supplying us with holiday cookies and incomparably tasty butter tarts, and to Frank and John for supplying bottles of wine and scotch as chasers. Belated thanks also to Ken Crowe for the Green Lantern articles...A new look for a new decade: Check out our redesigned website. It remains a work-in-progress, but it’s a good 80% there. Foolishly, but predictably, I underestimated the effort that would be involved in making the changes, and accordingly found myself, on Christmas night, being talked through yet another technical issue by a nice man in Manila.

Our hosting company may be Canadian, but customer service comes via several time zones.

Take a tour of the new look, and, by all means, if you find a bug let us know...Other bugs you don’t want: This year’s influenza season started ear-

ly and is on track to be among the worst in years, according to various North American health authorities, who add that we’re just at the halfway point, and that it’s still a good idea to get a flu shot if you haven’t already. PharmaChoice, next to Food Basics, says they are well stocked, with no appointment necessary...The jackpot’s up to $150: Fonthill PetValu is now in on the Puzzler, bumping the prize up by another $30. Once again, clues are scattered here and there in this week’s issue.

As you will have surmised, the solution remains elusive. In fact, none of the submitted responses have come close to being correct. This does not mean, however, that they haven’t been wonderfully creative.

Two of the most inventive so far are from Harold Marquis and Graeme Lamb. Here’s the Marquis Solution (note to self: write Bourne-like action thriller called The Marquis Solution): “(1) Clue, ‘Butternut’ is a light brown colour. (2) Page 4 hint, ‘This whole puzzler thing is all Greek to me. Oh well!’ (3) Which of course led to the picture of Tom and Lianne Daley [in Voice on Vacation]. I did think it was odd to have Greek writing in the photo! Using Google Translate I was able to find the name of the Greek philosopher Diogenes.

But even after Google-searching him it wasn't until the last clue that I was able to put everything together. (4) In the Horoscope section under famous birthdays for December 21: The Puzzlemeister (24). Which of course was referring to page 24! After searching for a question or other clue and finding none, I rethought the question and

AND THE (FIRST) AWARD GOES TO Willowbrook Nurseries is the first to be thanked as part of a new Town program recognizing the efforts of local businesses and organizations in beautifying Pelham. Willowbrook received the inaugural thank-you card honour in recognition of their contribution to beautifying downtown Fenwick with landscape materials and expertise. From left, Councillor Mike Ciolfi, Chris and John Langendoen, and Jennifer Pilzecker, Pelham Beautification Committee Chair. The Pelham Beautification Committee will name a recipient each month. Have a deserving company or club in mind? Submit nominees to the committee at beautification@pelham.ca SUPPLIED PHOTO thought about the definition of ‘butternut,’ and realized it was talking about the table colour [in the Lampman’s Furniture ad on page 24], and, on top of that, I chuckled when I realized the smart clue concerning the Greek philosopher Diogenes, who was known for holding a candle or ‘Lamp’ against a ‘Man’s’ face to see if they were honest! Therefore, ‘Lampman.’ So the question is: ‘What is the colour of the table at the front of the Lampman Furniture advertisement on page 24?’”... See what I mean?

Here’s the Lamb Solution: “The Puzzler solution is very obscure.

ce Voonivacation!

I believe significant references are: (1) You stress that the solution ‘is within the pages of the paper,’ an intriguing comment but could suggest that the solution is of a general nature. (2) The various little cartoons also strongly hint that the solution is of a general nature, especially the one which says: ‘Clues could honestly be anywhere!’ (3) Since the solution is in more than one issue, it can not be specific to any particular article. The only commonality between issues are repeat advertisements and classifieds, however I can find no solutions there. So, consid-

The

Pelham Puzzler

ering the above and your comment that the solution is ‘before your eyes,’ I believe you are referring to the newspaper in general. Newspapers are part of the news media, commonly referred to as ‘the press.’ So, I can only conclude that the solution is ‘The Press.’ Now, here's the dicey connection: ‘To press is to squash and a type of squash is Butternut.’"...An entertaining walk, but down the wrong path: The solution is unrelated to any advertiser, or to any advertisement. Cautionary tale: See this week's Column Six. Don't let the mania take root! ♦

Total prize value now:

The solution is before your eyes Search and ye shall find

The

$30 Peter Piper’s Gift Certificate

$30 Fonthill Sobey’s Gift Certificate

Email your entry to:

puzzler@thevoiceofpelham.ca Deadline: 6 PM, Sat., Jan 11 / Good luck!

$30 gift certificate

Read full Puzzler rules and conditions at: http://www.thevoiceofpelham.ca/the-pelham-puzzler/ $30 Minor Brothers Gift Certificate Fonthill

$30 gift certificate

Send us your picture holding The Voice, whether across town or abroad and we’ll share it with our readers! Email your photo with a brief description to

office@thevoiceofpelham.ca

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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.

$150! Voice

The answer is “Butternut.”

What is the question?

Melissa Chetty catches up on the Voice at Southfork Ranch, home of the famed TV show “Dallas."

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.

Alan M. PEARSON, 57, Niagara Falls Joshua G. S. SIDES, 28, Niagara Falls Carla R. ADAMS, 49, Welland Evelyn J. MACMASTER, 55, Niagara Falls Thomas P. SLADE, 22, St. Catharines Ted M. JEFFRIES, 37, St. Catharines Jordan L. VAUGHAN, 18, Niagara Falls Kevin J. SMITH, 31, St. Catharines Andrew C. FIDLER, 41, Welland Daniel P. MURPHY, 29, Thorold Casey J. KNUDTSON, 37, Buffalo NY Frank R. E. SACKFIELD, 39, Brantford Andrew H. GRAHAM, 40, Welland Lauren A. KOUDYS, 36, St. Catharines Stephen J. STADNYK, 54, Welland Simbarashe A. MUWORI, 28, Niagara Falls Taylor M. S. HALL, 30, Niagara Falls Daniel J. COLARD, 30, Sudbury

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I pray daily for the Puzzler solution!

How about you?

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice, January 8, 2020

Page 3

TOWN COUNCIL NEWS

Much maligned chicane headed for history books

BY JOHN CHICK

Special to the VOICE

Pelham Town Council circumvented some added bureaucracy at its December 16 meeting, unanimously voting to remove the traffic “chicane” that narrows Haist Street north of Highway 20.

The widely lambasted traffic-calming measure has drawn criticism from local residents for its confusing double-yield sign design, as well as challenges over its very necessity.

The matter wasn’t even on the docket at council’s Committee of the Whole meeting, but Ward 2 Councillor Ron Kore brought it up and wouldn’t let it go after a discussion about another traffic-calming project in the RicePort Robinson Roads area.

Public Works Director Jason Marr advised against voting to remove the Haist Street chicane— installed in 2015 to the consternation of many residents in the area—saying that it would be better for Pelham’s Active Transportation Committee to return a policy report first.

Kore disagreed.

“Today we don’t have that policy. Why can’t we remove it and then vote on the policy later,” he said. “I don’t get that.”

Last August, Haist Street residents Oscar Weiland and Geoff Lowe made a presentation to council that included a petition signed by approximately 190 people that supported ridding the roadway of the contraption that

forces oncoming traffic to yield to each other. Weiland complained that trucks bound for his farm further north on Haist often can’t get through the narrow passageway.

Mayor Marvin Junkin seemed to side with staff on the issue, but ultimately left the decision up to council.

“I don’t understand what the rush is to put this to vote before we have a staff report, but that’s just me,” he said.

CAO David Cribbs conceded that there appears to be enough consensus now to abandon the chicane, referring to the petition and the fact that another staff report on the issue would require needlessly duplicating that process.

“Council at the end of the day remains supreme,” he said. “It would absurdist to force people to re-sign something.”

The chicane isn’t going anywhere yet, however, mostly because it’s winter. Marr doesn’t expect it to be removed until at least the summer, with road resurfacing needed, post-knock-down.

“To be clear,” he said, “that work will not take place until we have a contractor aboard.”

Councillor John Wink included an amendment to include a threeway stop at Haist and Brewerton Boulevard, just north of the chicane site. While this in theory would create a new traffic-calming measure to offset the loss of

Its demise on the horizon, a view of the controversial chicane, a traffic-calming measure installed on Haist Street, north of Highway 20, almost exactly two years ago.

VOICE FILE PHOTO the chicane, Marr said that existing traffic engineering has determined a stop sign isn’t warranted at the intersection.

“It would, however, resolve sightline issues that are in place,” he said.

Elderly homeowners seek fee relief

Council heard a presentation from Quaker Road resident Del Laney, who finds herself at the mercy of the Town’s bylaw rules in regards to having a rental unit inside her house, while needing to pay for accessibility renovations.

Laney and her husband Rick originally built a “granny suite” for her mother in 1999. After her mother died, they rented the unit out to another elderly person. There were

no issues with this arrangement until 2015, when the Laneys were involved in a serious automobile accident that rendered her husband disabled. Their subsequent attempts to make accessibility upgrades to the house have hit the brick wall of bureaucracy, with the Town—per provincial requirements— telling them they must pay to re-zone their property as a triplex before they can be granted a necessary building permit.

“This is a human rights issue,” Laney said. “I didn’t think anybody would say no to accessibility.

This is no more than a cash-grab.”

Director of Community Planning and Development Barb Wiens sympathized with the Laneys, but said that because their neighbourhood is zoned “R1” — meaning

single-family dwellings only — rules are rules.

“Staff are certainly understanding of Mr. and Mrs. Laney’s position and their need for the renovations but we’re caught in this predicament where the current house doesn’t meet the zoning bylaw requirements,” Wiens said.

Laney didn’t put a price tag on the cost of the accessibility upgrades, but said it was “major,” and may require an elevator for her husband.

Notably silent on the issue was Ron Kore, who has vocally opposed the idea of basement apartments and secondary units in Pelham homes.

See COUNCIL NEWS Page 6

Niagara Region Transit is now available in Pelham Route 70A/75A picks up residents at the Meridian Community Centre and connects them to Welland and St. Catharines

Plan your trip by downloading the Transit App from the app store or by visiting niagararegion.ca/transit

Page 4

The Voice, January 8, 2020

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

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

As We See It An overreaction that only raises more questions

W

HAT, EXACTLY, IS PELHAM Town Hall worried that former Treasurer Cari Pupo will say?

Pupo was dismissed in 2017, for reasons never made public, during a time of financial upheaval.

As noted in the introduction to her commentary on page 5, Pupo contacted the Voice over our holiday break and said she had a message she wanted to impart to Pelham residents.

In the normal course of business, a news outlet will typically not fact-check letters to the editor or opinion commentaries, as opinions are inherently subjective. "Man-made climate change deniers are idiots" or "Trudeau's smarmy smile is nauseating" aren't objectively provable or disprovable.

Pupo's statement, however, contains assertions involving conduct by identifiable individuals. The responsible course of action is to request comment from such individuals, and to give each an opportunity to respond however they wish.

Last week the Voice copied relevant portions of Pupo's remarks to those concerned, requesting their response. Well, one would have thought the newspaper had mailed anthrax to Pelham Town Hall.

Late Friday, the paper received the letter reproduced at right. Clearly intended to intimidate us into spiking Pupo's commentary, it only reinforced the notion that she has something to say that Town Hall fears will be said.

But who might be afraid? No one at the top.

The letter was not authorized by CAO David Cribbs—he was on vacation in Mexico. It was not authorized by Mayor Marvin Junkin. It was not authorized by Town Council, whose members were unaware of the letter's existence until the Voice sent them a copy.

Reached for comment, Junkin responded:

"I had a meeting with senior staff on Friday morning, at Town Hall, to discuss the implications, if any, to the Town if the Voice were to publish the article it had received from Cari Pupo. It was decided at that meeting not to do anything until Monday morning, when the Town CAO would be returning to work. I then went home and worked at putting metal roofing on my house. When I climbed down and checked my phone some five hours later, I was very surprised to find that staff had contacted Town lawyers and sent a letter to the Voice, without any input from me, and definitely without my knowledge. I can only assume that they decided that this decision was above my pay grade—after all, I am just an elected official. For the record, I never would have approved of sending the letter. It was a very stupid thing to do, reminding me of a nottoo-long-ago media desk episode."

Reached over the weekend upon his return from vacation, CAO David Cribbs diplomatically declined to identify who authorized the letter in his absence, or whether it was appropriate, saying, “The Town of Pelham respects the role of the media and celebrates free agency to make fair commentary as a necessary part of a functioning democracy. The Town also takes its obligations seriously under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to protect staff from bullying and harassment.”

Thus we are left scratching our head.

"Disgruntled former employee" can be a cheap way to discredit a legitimate whistleblower. One such individual almost single-handedly brought down a billion-dollar cannabis producer last year. What else might Pupo say if not restricted by a non-disclosure agreement? And who most wishes that she just keeps quiet? Two questions that for now remain unanswered. ♦

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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

1428 Pelham Street, P.O. Box 1489, Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0 Office open: Monday - Thursday 8 AM - 2 PM

(905) 892-8690

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca PUBLISHER & EDITOR Dave Burket publisher@thevoiceofpelham.ca ADMINISTRATION Lori Gretsinger office@thevoiceofpelham.ca CONTRIBUTORS Jane Bedard, Carolyn Botari, Colin Brezicki, Rosemary Chambers, John Chick, Larry Coté, Gloria J. Katch, Maeve Keating, Brian Green, Megan Metler, John Piccolo, Bill Potrecz, Bernie Puchalski, John Swart, Mike Tucker, Rob Weatherby NEWS INQUIRIES & TIPS editor@thevoiceofpelham.ca LETTERS TO THE EDITOR letters@thevoiceofpelham.ca ADVERTISING INQUIRIES advertising@thevoiceofpelham.ca

Members of Pelham Town Council

Member of Provincial Parliament

Ward 1 Councillor Mike Ciolfi mciolfi@pelham.ca 905-892-0077

Sam Oosterhoff, MPP 4961 King St. East, Unit M1 Beamsville, ON L0R 1B0 sam.oosterhoffco@pc.ola.org 905-563-1755

Councillor Marianne Stewart mstewart@pelham.ca 289-821-0840

Electoral District: Niagara West

The Voice

Mayor of Pelham Marvin Junkin mjunkin@pelham.ca 289-929-2681

Members of Niagara Regional Council Councillor Marvin Junkin mjunkin@pelham.ca 289-929-2681 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

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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 905-892-2607 Councillor Bob Hildebrandt bhildebrandt@pelham.ca 905-892-5647

Jill C. Anthony Law Office

On the

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, January 8, 2020

Page 5

OPINION COMMENTARY / OP-ED

Cari Pupo

Setting the record straight Editor’s note: Ever since her dismissal by the previous Pelham Town Council, in May 2017, the Voice has sought to interview former Town Treasurer Cari Pupo. As Treasurer during a period of significant financial stress—particularly related to the Town’s East Fonthill adventures and misadventures—Pupo’s insight as to what went wrong (and sometimes right), and at whose direction, is unique. On her departure from Town Hall, however, she signed a non-disclosure agreement. The NDA has so far limited what Pupo can offer specifically about her knowledge of what transpired to take Pelham, by the reckoning of some, to the brink of fiscal meltdown. Over the holidays, Pupo con-

M

Y NAME IS Cari Pupo and until spring 2017 I was the Treasurer for the Town of Pelham. This is my story, which I will break into sections so the residents of this town can understand exactly what is happening.

Principles

I worked at the Niagara District School Board then the Conseil scolaire Viamonde for approximately 20 years. In my tenure on these school authorities I witnessed only two firings.

I was hired by the Town of Pelham, a place that I love, in 2008. My role was to do anything to make sure the ratepayers of this town were taken care of.

However, after the previous Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) was hired, 36 staff were either fired or resigned. The previous CAO was at the Town for only about five years.

I invited everyone with concerns into my office, and openly admitted if we had made a mistake dealing with an issue that we would correct it.

In early 2017, at a public information meeting held at Fire Station #1, with other staff and consultants, I was touted as the best treasurer in the Region by the previous council and the previous CAO. Two weeks later I was given a report by the pre-

tured them once they were done.

Despite my response to them, on almost every occasion council would approve the request, which left it up to me to find out how the Town was going to pay for it with the budget dollars we had available.

tacted the Voice and provided the following statement. Her decision comes after months of continued frustration, she says, with Town Hall on two fronts—what she and other neighbours have identified as an illegal duplex operating on their street; and a flooded basement that she attributes to Public Works inaction. In order to ensure that those named had an immediate and equal opportunity to respond to Pupo’s assertions, the Voice requested comment from former Mayor David Augustyn, former CAO Darren Ottaway, Councillor John Wink, Treasurer Teresa Quinlin, Town Clerk Nancy Bozzato, CAO David Cribbs, and Fire Chief Bob Lymburner. Responses received follow Pupo’s commentary.

vious CAO suggesting I was responsible for harassing staff, which was absolutely false.

Right after this happened, the previous CAO and the previous mayor asked me to push through something that was not approved by council, as they didn’t want it publicly known.

I want this whole town to know that I am an accountant, and have a designation, and if I ever did what they asked me to do I could lose my designation.

I worked hard and long to achieve all of the education I have gained. I want this town to know I would never do it and did not do it.

And being principled, I left the office after the former mayor asked me to push it through because he did not want to make it public, and I told my Deputy Treasurer what had happened.

I left the office deeply upset about what the previous CAO and mayor were doing.

I knew at that point, in early spring, that regardless if I did what they asked or didn’t, I was going to be fired. I went to see a lawyer.

Following my firing, the former CAO asked the current Treasurer to dig up dirt on me so they didn’t have to pay me so much in the termination settlement.

The information that became public by this current Treasurer is absolutely incorrect. We had previous

Boys Club

Cari Pupo.

VOICE FILE PHOTO

say to the public.

I want everyone in this town that I love to know that, as the Treasurer, I worked only for the ratepayers. In my role I did not have the authority to make decisions on how to use the tax dollars we received.

If any ratepayer has an issue with how dollars are spent it is on the council.

Residents can look back at so many videos on YouTube, or go online and get minutes of meetings of Town Council, and see when a councillor asked me if we had the money to fund a request.

I openly stated that no, we did not, that we were already borrowing from the reserves to fund capital projects until we deben-

history, having worked together before at Niagara College. The current Treasurer also worked with the firm that investigated the false harassment complaint made against me. I believe the current Treasurer did what she could to try to hurt me even more than I had been hurt by being fired under false accusations.

Also, it is quite interesting that the accounting firm that was hired to try to explain everything to the public after the Town’s financial problems became widely reported, was also the firm that the current Treasurer used while she worked at Niagara College. I was also told that the previous CAO told them what to

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Earlier, on September 23, for some reason the Town had sent the Fire Chief (who

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is also the chief bylaw officer) to do an inspection of the home. Current zoning clearly states that the neighborhood is limited to single family dwellings.

Please understand the Fire Chief has nothing to do with a zoning violation. But he told a councillor he knew how to handle the matter.

As stated by the current CAO in a recent interview with the Voice, if the Building Department goes in and sees that work outside the scope of a building permit was done to turn a living space into multiple units, then the property owner has to apply for a rezoning application. But in this case, all that we neighbouring residents were told by the Fire Chief was that the house looked better than it did before.

We asked for certain documents relating to this inspection from the Town, through a Freedom of Information request. Some of the documents we received from the Town are false and made up after the fact. They say that certain other staff members were present with the Fire Chief during the

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The Voice, January 8, 2020

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

Fonthill residents hope to nix subdivided lot Town meeting on Alan Crescent request set for next Tuesday

BY JOHN CHICK

Special to the VOICE

In what he has described as “ground zero” for a potential open season on residential zoning challenges in Pelham, a Fonthill resident is fighting a proposal to split a neighbouring property in order to build a second house in what is now a backyard.

Highland Avenue homeowner Robert Jensen and three other neighbours received a zoning bylaw amendment request in early December for the property at 20 Alan Crescent. In it, the developer who owns the corner lot has proposed severing it, and adding a 433 square-metre lot for a single-detached home fronting Elizabeth Drive.

Jensen, whose property borders the land in question to the west, wasn’t happy.

“It’s got the whole neighbourhood up in arms and everbody’s pissed off, because if this happens and they let a small lot like this be created, he could split it again,” Jensen told the Voice last week.

The existing lot is presently 1,268 square meters, according to a Planning Justification Report prepared for the developer, Tony Mancini, which Jensen provided to the Voice. The immediate neighbourhood is currently zoned R1, which is for single dwellings only, with a minimum lot size of 700 square meters. As such, any deviation from these minimums requires a zoning bylaw amendment

—a request which is set to be heard by the Town’s Committee of Adjustment next Tuesday, January 14.

“If he’s able to put an R2 lot in an R1 neighbourhood, then all these lots are susceptible,” Jensen said.

“He’s using justification in the report like urban intensification, and he’s making comparisons to other properties in the neighbourhood, but he’s talking about where there are R2 properties, over on Church Hill.”

Pelham — with its relatively large residential lot sizes and outdated zoning bylaws (which were written in 1987) —could be seeing the dawn of an onslaught of these sorts of zoning proposals. With the provincial government aiming to mandate higher population density, and developers eyeing the area given its relative affordability compared to the GTA, it may be only a matter of time before second homes start popping up on what were formerly single-residence lots.

“They’re getting to the point where the property is worth more than the home,” Jensen said.

For some residents in the more mature neighbourhoods of Fonthill, it’s concerning. “[They will] come into an established subdivision, like this one is, and just decimate it,” Daleview Drive resident Jim Wesley said in Jensen’s backyard.

Jensen added that the provin-

Zoning notice signs on the lawn of 20 Alan Crescent. cial push towards higher density doesn’t mean that existing larger lots need to be subdivided.

“The province wants municipalities and towns to have their own plans,” he said, pointing out that newer areas like East Fonthill are fine, because they are planned and built to higher density specifications.

“They don’t need to start doing it [in established neighbourhoods] to meet their provincial goals.”

Town CAO David Cribbs has previously called for an update to Pelham’s 33-year-old zoning bylaws, and echoed this when reached by the Voice.

“The current bylaw is valid,”

Cribbs said. “That being said, I have gone on record at multiple council meetings advising council that in my opinion it is overdue for a full update. This was a key component of the business case for the new policy planner position, which council approved, in December, for the 2020 budget. The Town has advertised the position and will be interviewing in January or February.”

Constructing a second house on the Alan Crescent lot would see its wall placed right on Jensen’s property line, eliminating morning sunlight, privacy and any view from the sloped landscape.

“The big concern for me is he’s

COUNCIL NEWS

continued from Page 3 Mayor Junkin asked an emotional Laney for understanding as council tries to come to some resolution on the matter.

“You do have to appreciate

re-orienting the lot, so instead of being 7.5 metres from my fence, he wants to build a house on the line,” Jensen said. “If I had known there’d be a house there and had a choice, I could have moved everything [on my property] closer to Highland and planted trees back here.”

Despite his concern, Jensen feels there’s a good chance the application will be denied, and expects several neighbourhood residents to attend the meeting at Town Hall.

“I’ve looked at cases where they’ve approved people or given them the variance, and they’re only giving them the variance in cases where they want to build a deck or something,” he said.

there’s a process that has to be followed,” the Mayor said.

“We will work with you.”

Following in camera discussion, council ultimately decided to fast-track the Laneys' application, but not waive any fees.

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Fonthill and District Kinsmen are accepting submissions for our annual

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The Citizen of the Year should exemplify volunteerism, and positive community activism.

Submissions may be mailed or emailed, and postmarked no later than Friday, January 31, 2020

video system failed its first test, with only audio of the meetings available on the Town’s YouTube page.

“New technology hiccup,” Communications and Public Relations Specialist Marc MacDonald told the Voice.

“Our IT staff is on it and will have it up and running for the New Year.”

The new system features multiple cameras in the council chamber that switch to the speaker based on microphone activation.

The Committee of the Whole received an outline of finance-related policies. As part of the Town of Pelham 2019-2022 Strategic Plan, the Town committed to the following as part of the strategic priority to “Ensure Financial Sustainability”: Its Update Reserves Policy, Develop Debt Policy and Develop Cash Management Policy.

Also, as of January 6, the EarlyON child and family centre formerly located at the Fenwick United Church was to have relocated to Old Pelham Town Hall, on Canboro Road in Fenwick.

The and a ists is o nswer ent ns np S ci lo gia n but ag e 2 o i e , t h s ay h f o r w e rc the here is alik s e a que It's stion? life's ing, n o eno a e to d ugh m e is n riv her b u t e yo u t s y te rn a er e uts w ans

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The Kinsmen Club of Fonthill & District P.O. Box 906, Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0 fonthillkinsmen@hotmail.com

Everyone who's anyone searches the Voice for clues

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice, January 8, 2020

Page 7

Decked-out in her Handmaid costume, Jennifer Botari joined demonstrators in front of the Legion hall in Fonthill last Saturday, advocating for abortion rights. MPP Sam Oosterhoff, holding his annual New Year's Levee inside, opposes legalized abortion.

VOICE PHOTO

LEVEE

continued from Page 1 of Public Employees, the Ontario Secondary Schools Teachers Federation, the Society of United Professionals, and Handmaids Local 905, an organization that Botari founded last May, in response to Oosterhoff’s widely reported comment that abortion rights should be made “unthinkable in our lifetime.”

“We have 17 locals across the country now,” said Botari, who was dressed like a character from The Handmaid’s Tale, the television series inspired by novelist Margaret Atwood’s vision of a dystopian future, in which a totalitarian society subjugates women as child-bearing slaves.

“We have 2,700 followers on Facebook,” Botari said, nodding acknowledgment at a passing honker.

The horns weren’t audible inside, and Oosterhoff didn’t appear overly interested in engaging with the protestors.

“We’ll see what happens,” he said. “I fully support the right to protest. I think it’s

a beautiful thing that we live in a country with freedom of speech, which, of course, also includes my right to be very clear about the fact that I believe in pre-born human rights. I’m pro-life and always said I am.”

Oosterhoff noted that the Niagara District School Board was set to join the latest union protest action this Wednesday, with secondary schools closing for the day.

“Our message on that has been very clear.

We’re offering $750 million dollars in a wage compensation increase. We’re moving from 28 students in a class to 25. We’ve moved from four mandatory online learning classes to two. So we’re trying to negotiate in good faith and hope that the unions will reciprocate.”

The MPP cited the cost of living, cannabis, the shortage of long-term care beds, and hydro rates as particular concerns he was hearing about from Pelham constituents.

“If anyone couldn’t make it out today and wants to make sure that their thoughts and perspectives are heard by me, just reach out to my office and we can set up a meeting, or have a call, or read an email.”

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The Voice, January 8, 2020

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

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Former Mayor David Augustyn did not acknowledge a request for comment.

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Pelham CAO David Cribbs responds: The basic allegation doesn’t deserve commentary. The Town’s senior leadership team is gender-balanced, with a slight female dominance: the Treasurer, the Clerk, the Director of Recreation Culture and Wellness, and the Director of Planning and Development are female.

The Fire Chief, the Director of Public Works, and I are male.

I will point out that I am still new to the community and have yet to meet Ms Pupo, so it seems unreasonable to suggest that I am part of a sinister cabal that has ill will towards her.

D

Councillor John Wink responds: As I indicated in an email

Fire Chief Bob Lymburner responds: Ms Pupo has made quite a number of allegations against a number of employees. We as a group would like to answer all your questions through our CAO so he can deliver a clear picture of the situation and clear up any misunderstandings.

D

There have been multiple water and sewer backups on Emmett Street, including at my home, where I

Town Clerk Nancy Bozzato responds: In response to Ms Pupo’s suggestion that documents provided through an Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection Of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) request were false and made up after the fact, please be advised that Section 48(1) of MFIPPA reads: “No person shall: ... (c.1) alter, conceal or destroy a record, or cause any other person to do so, with the intention of denying a right under this Act to access the record or the information contained in the record”...

There are serious penalties associated with such actions as set out in The Act. If the requestor disagrees with a Decision made under MFIPPA they have an option to appeal to the Information and Privacy Commissioner.

I confirm that any documents provided in relation to the MFIPPA request referenced by Ms Pupo were

exact copies of the original documents and were not altered in any way except for specific redactions pursuant to exemptions as set out in The Act.

N

Water and sewer backup

never advocated or supported their position with respect to their Emmett Street property.

A

Finally

Our family lost a beautiful, beautiful boy over the holidays. At just 15 years old, his strength and courage over his three-year battle with cancer has given me the courage to speak out to the residents of this town. ♦

to Ms Pupo on November 17, I confirmed to her that I know the property owners and probably 20% of the people in the town. I did not know that they drove a BMW until Ms Pupo told me in an email. Frankly, I do not care what type of vehicle they drive. Also, contrary to Ms Pupo’s assertion, I am not a volunteer on the Bandshell Committee.

I did receive an email from the property owners on October 22, addressed to Councillor Kore and myself, requesting a meeting with us. On October 24, I responded that this was an issue between neighbours and an issue over zoning regulations. I indicated that the owners’ concerns were more appropriately discussed with Town staff. I advised that I had forwarded their email to the CAO and the Director of Community Planning, and they would be in contact regarding a meeting.

The last comment I would make is about Ms Pupo’s implication that I made comments to staff and council regarding the property owners. This is hearsay and is incorrect. I have

L

had $40,000 dollars worth of damage in my basement.

It is devastating, particularly because this street was supposed to be corrected in 2013, but the work was pushed out, year-over-year,

by Town Hall in order to divert money to the Town’s East Fonthill development.

I have not received a satisfactory response from anyone in Town Hall as to when this work will finally be done.

E

September 23 inspection.

This is not true. We have emails from other Town staff that confirm this.

In addition, we received a report from the Fire Prevention Officer, which is absolutely ridiculous. The Fire Prevention Officer has nothing to do with a zoning issue. Only the Building and Planning Department deals with zoning. When I worked at the Town and we would never send out a Fire Prevention Officer to do an inspection about a zoning violation. Their role is to do fire prevention, smoke detectors, inspecting homes that have fire-related issues, going to schools and making children aware of escape routes. Fire Prevention does not do zoning violations.

Furthermore, one of

our ward representatives, Councillor John Wink, reported to staff and council that the owners of the house were upstanding citizens who drove a BMW. In fact, one of the property owners is a volunteer on the Bandshell Committee with John Wink. When we neighbours requested another inspection of their property, John Wink was the first person they called. If these were upstanding citizens, then why didn’t they follow the proper policies of the Town related to zoning variances? This Town has not dealt with this situation properly and they know it. They are covering up the fact that they failed to do their job.

H

continued from Page 5

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Members of the Fonthill and District Kinsmen Club made a special delivery to residents of Niagara Health’s Extended Care Unit and patients in the Woolcott Wing at the Welland hospital on Saturday, Dec. 14. They spread holiday cheer by delivering poinsettias to patient rooms. The delivery is an annual tradition appreciated by patients, residents and staff.

SUPPLIED PHOTO

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice, January 8, 2020

Linda Kemp, at work accentuating the negative.

ROSIE CULOS PHOTO

"Gotta paint what ain't"

BY ROSIE CULOS

Special to the VOICE

On a Saturday not all that long back, the Festival Room at the Fonthill branch of the Pelham Library was flowing with Negative Energy as the Pelham Art Association welcomed internationally recognized artist Linda Kemp with her Acrylic Painting on Clay-board Workshop.

Kemp is an award-winning artist, author, instructor, and Pelham resident.

Her paintings can be found in government (notably Royal Collection Windsor Castle, U.K.), corporate, and private (including H.R.H. the Prince of Wales) collections worldwide. She willingly shares her knowledge and enthusiasm for painting by trav-

eling worldwide to lecture and conduct workshops.

Linda extended her teaching schedule to conduct her last workshop of 2019 in Pelham.

The Festival Room was filled to capacity with artists of all levels, eagerly waiting to learn from the guru of “negative painting.” The majority of participants were from the Niagara Region.

However, one determined artist came from Ottawa to participate, as she missed Kemp’s Ottawa workshop, which sold out almost immediately.

The goal for the day was to produce a stylized painting of a crow. Kemp took participants through the process step-by-step and left no one behind. The work began with an underpainting to create a

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crow by painting around the crow shape with layers of glazes.

As Kemp explained, “Working in negative painting we paint around the shape. We are shape makers.

Shapes and edges tell the story. The colours we want in the shape we put in the underpainting.”

Kemp encouragingly reminded the group that often work goes through an ugly stage before it gets pretty— she was not kidding. Participants left the workshop with a stylized crow, lots of information, and a positive outlook on negativity.

For information on the Pelham Art Association and upcoming workshops check out www.pelhamartassociation.ca

The Niagara Ice Dogs' mascot, Bones, wags his tail on the ice.

MEGAN METLER PHOTO

Free Rotary Skate pulls big crowd

BY MEGAN METLER

Special to the VOICE

Friends and family gathered at the community centre on Friday, January 3, for a free New Year’s Holiday Skate, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Fonthill.

For an hour and a half, countless skaters of all ages and experience levels took to the ice and enjoyed a fun, family-friendly environment. Some kids were learning to skate and others raced around, playing games. The arena echoed with laughter and talking from both the ice and the stands, where family members sat and watched the goings-on.

The Niagara Ice Dogs Mascot, Bones, joined in on the fun, skating around taking pictures with the participants.

Olga Bailey was watching her granddaughter, Arwen Bailey-Cleaves skate with her parents.

“My granddaughter loves skating here,” said Bailey, “It’s a nice arena and a lovely place for a family to come to.”

Bailey reminisced about when she would take her children skating on the outdoor rinks when they were younger.

She lauded the community centre for its facilities and the importance it has for local children.

Rotary member Paul Snack said that the free skate was aimed not only at bringing attention to their Family Fun Fest fundraising event, but also at providing kids and families an opportunity to have fun and get some exercise on the ice.

Last year’s Family Fun Fest raised some eight thousand dollars for Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Niagara and other important causes.

At the Holiday Free Skate, the Rotary club collected food donations for Pelham Cares.

“It’s really important to us to give back to the community,” said Snack.

“Our motto is service before self.”

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The Voice, January 8, 2020

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

OBITUARY

OBITUARY

LORNE DOUGLAS TICE August 18, 1942 December 26, 2019

Morufat Ogunkoya with her children.

GLORIA KATCH PHOTO

Family goes underground in response to deportation order

BY GLORIA J. KATCH

Special to the VOICE

While most of us were lined up in stores Christmas shopping, about 70 members of various faith groups from the Chinese, Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities lined the sidewalks picketing the federal Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship’s office in Toronto in support of religious freedom, on Saturday, Dec. 21.

Organized by One Free World International (OFWI), which has branches in 28 countries, including Canada, many at the rally were there to support of the Ogunkoya family from Welland, who are facing deportation back to Nigeria. The Ogunkoyas came to Canada to avoid religious persecution, they say, because they converted from Islam to Christianity.

The mother, Morufat, 46, claims she fled the West African nation because her

father, a Muslim cleric, has threatened her life and those of her family several times. Her battle now lies with trying to prove she is in imminent danger to Immigration Canada, which has issued a deportation order.

Majed El Shafie, president and founder of OFWI, said it was important to “show support from different religious groups,” at the rally. Since the recent federal election, there was a cabinet shuffle and Marco Mendicino has been appointed the new Minister of Immigration. Mendicino was elected in 2015 as an MP for the Eglington-Lawrence riding in Toronto.

El Shafie said OFWI obtained a new lawyer to assist the Ogonkoya family.

The organization has also sent Mendicino an official letter to make him aware of this case, and a request

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to use his authority to allow the family to remain in Canada. However, El Shafie

They're the kind of people we would want as Canadian citizens

said Parliament doesn’t resume until January 27 and he isn’t expecting any decision to be determined in the interim. El Shafie plans to present the Mendicino with a petition in support of the family, which is still being circulated through the OFWI website.

The petition was started by Rose City Kids, in Welland, where it obtained 35,000 signatures.

A deportation order was issued to the family in November, after an appeal for asylum was denied. However, El Shafie said the family has since gone “underground.”

When asked if that was the best solution, El Shafie said,“They have no other option. They gave us no choice from what we see.

They either go into hiding or go to Nigeria to be killed.

They are at least safe now.”

El Shafie is hoping the Mendicino will overturn his department’s decision, as another application has been submitted to appeal on “humanitarian and compassionate grounds.”

“The Minister of Immigration and The Ministry of Public Safety has the power to stop the deportation order while the application is in the process and let them be free in the meantime,” said El Shafie. “This is a very, very sad situation, that the young kids have no future,” he added, referring to the Ogunkoya children— Rejoice, 9, Hephzibah, 14 and Victor, 16.

Fonthill resident Debbie Hoffele, a friend of the

Ogunkoya family, and who was at the rally, said since the family went underground the children were pulled from school. Morufat had a job at Embassy Suites in Niagara Falls to support her family, but since the deportation order was issued the government revoked her work permit and any access to medicine, which puts pressure on them to leave.

According to Hoffele, she is unaware if an actual date for removal has been established as yet. Victor also worked last summer and has received awards from Notre Dame Secondary School for being an exemplary student.

Now the family is living in the basements of people’s homes and on charity and donations from church groups and other sympathetic individuals.

According to El Shafie, while it may not be experiencing a large-scale civil war like Syria, Nigeria is “an extremist country no matter where you are.”

His comment was in reference to Immigration Canada’s suggestion to return the Ogunkoya family to Port Harcourt, in Nigeria, where there is a significant population of Christians.

However, Morufat has told immigration that Port Harcourt is only two hours away from where she once lived, and she could be easily be detected by the government as soon as her children registered for school.

“Christians celebrating Christmas get attacked all the time there,” said El Shafie. “Keep in mind that converting to Christianity is a huge crime and her father is an extremist cleric.”

The Nigerian government “turns a blind eye to crimes done to Christians,” he added. “The biggest problem in Canada is that the judges aren’t aware of the atrocities committed.”

When asked if he had experience with previous cases from Nigeria, El Shafie said that two issues were prevalent from refugees there: freedom of religious persecution and female genital mutilation.

“My point is that we’re in Canada and we are the tem-

TICE - Lorne Douglas passed away peacefully with family by his side in Welland on Thursday, December 26, 2019 at the age of 77 years.

Leaving home at 18 to pursue his career, Lorne never lost touch with his Bethel farm boy roots. He worked hard, obtaining his CMA and CPA accounting designations at night while working at Atlas Steels, then moving to senior positions with Bright’s Foods and Procter & Gamble. In retirement, he made deliveries to residents of Fonthill and Welland for Shoppers Drug Mart, a job he loved. He also played hard. Lorne had a lifelong passion for hockey, which he played well into his 60s and coached for many years in Pelham and Welland.

He also enjoyed many hunting and fishing trips with family and friends. His primary joy was his family, for whom he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and to whom he provided constant love, advice, support, and humour, even to his final days. He led a happy life, always with a smile, a joke, or a kind word for those around him. Predeceased by his father Carman Tice (1955) and his mother Vera Tice (2011). He will be sadly missed by his wife Joyce Tice, his children Charlene (David) Duliban and Kevin (AnneMarie) Tice, his grandchildren Nathaniel, Joseph, Charlotte, Isabelle and Sophia, and his siblings George (Coba), Gordon (Helen) and Margaret (Ron). Special thanks go to brother-in-law Jesse Adams for his help with many hospital trips. The Funeral Service will be held at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Fonthill on Saturday, January 25th, 11:00 a.m. followed by a reception.

In keeping with Lorne’s wishes, cremation has already taken place and a private interment will follow at a later date in Overholt Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society. Online condolences may be shared at www. pedlarfuneralhome.ca ple of human rights. We’re a proud nation, but now we are deporting this model family?”

From Immigration Canada’s perspective, the family did not enter Canada through the proper channels.

Morufat originally obtained a visa to travel to the U.S. in 2016. She didn’t seek asylum there and returned to Nigeria. Then she obtained a visa for her children in 2017 to go to the U.S., but she crossed into Canada via Lacolle, Quebec, which is not an official point of entry.

However, Debbie Hoffele said Morufat chose this route “because of all the stuff she heard in the news, she was afraid.” El Shafie added during this time, “there was a flood of refugees crossing in Quebec,” noting that Canadian Immigration was aware there was a refugee crisis in the U.S. While Canada’s immigration rules do not accept third party refugees, Hoffele said, “When you’re afraid for your life and clinging to your family” she under-

CURRAN, John Passed away peacefully with his family by his side at Royal Rose Retirement Home in Welland on Sunday, December 22, 2019 at the age of 90 years. Beloved husband of Nancy (Carpenter). Dear and loving father of Julie Gibson, Christine Curran, John Curran (Colleen) and Andrea MacIntosh (Greg). Much loved stepfather to Sue Andrews (Harry) and Barb Berketo (Brian Leonard). Survived by his 15 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. John was predeceased by his first wife Joan Curran in 1999. Dearly missed by his brother Ged Curran (Sylvia) of Oldham, England and brother-in-law, Harry Shaw of Thorold. John was an electrician at General Motors St. Catharines for 30 years. He was the cofounder of Pelham Soccer in the early 1970’s and went on to coach many teams in the Niagara region. He coached the E.L. Crossley girls’ soccer team, taking them to Hawaii in 2001 and to OFSSA in 2002 when he was well into his 70’s. He was a proud member of the Robert Wood Singers and the Velvetones. John was a devoted member of the St. Alexander’s Catholic Church choir where he served as cantor for more than 40 years. He loved playing golf and was a great supporter of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Manchester United FC and the Oldham Athletics (Latics).

John was also a member of the Pelham Probus Club.

John and Nancy travelled the world making many wonderful friends and memories. John’s family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Royal Rose Place for their outstanding care and compassion. The funeral has taken place. As an expression of sympathy and in lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Steve Ludzik Parkinson’s Foundation or the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Online condolences may be shared at www. pedlarfuneralhome.ca stands why Morufat would try to bring her children here.

Officially the Ogunkoya family has never been denied refugee status in the U.S., and her visas for the U.S. have since expired and she can’t return there.

“I don’t know if she has a Plan B,” said Hoffele, who said she is praying for the family to remain in Canada.

El Shafie said that anyone interesting in signing the petition to keep the family in Canada may find it at: https://ofwi.org/freeogunkoyas “They’re the kind of people we would want as Canadian citizens,” said Hoffele.

“Why is the Canadian government doing this?”

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“Jump off the beam, flip off the bars, follow your dreams and reach for the stars.”

Nadia Comaneci

The Voice, January 8, 2020

Sporting Green The Niagara

Page 11

Winter no barrier to keeping bike-fit, says John Swart

14

The Voice and TheVoiceofPelham.ca | January 8, 2020

Jumping FOR JOY

Kieren Lupish celebrates his win with Team Canada coaches.

BY BILL POTRECZ

SUPPLIED PHOTO

BPSPORTSNIAGARA.COM

Kieran Lupish struck gold in Japan recently.

The 16-year-old Vineland native earned a gold medal in the boys 15-16 category of double mini-trampoline at the 2019 Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships in Tokyo.

The competition took place at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre, the same venue that would also host the gymnastics competitions at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics and served as a test event and a qualifier for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

“I thought I could do well in it because I’ve done well before,” said Lupish, a Grade 11 student at Grimsby Secondary School. “I was second in Spain [at a previous competition] so I expected to do well again. This one had a lot more people so I was thinking I might not do as well, or maybe the same.

“I wasn’t sure how I would do but I had higher expectations than on the other events.”

Lupish admitted he did not have a good feeling after warming up.

“Honestly, it wasn’t a good day at first,” he said. “I was training really bad in the back gym. I was falling and I wasn’t landing anything and I couldn’t really do the mounts.”

Lupish then took a couple of turns on the trampoline he would compete on and felt much better.

“You’re allowed to warmup two touches and did both of my passes for finals and they both went well,” he said. “I just thought I had to do the same thing again and I went out there and did the same thing again.

The one thing that really saved me was sticking. If I wouldn’t have stuck I would have came second. It was that close.”

Lupish recounted the final minutes of the competition as he watched a competitor attempt to beat his score.

“It was pretty crazy. I’ve experienced it before what it was like to be on the team, but winning was crazy,” the said.

“I was sitting there freaking out. I was in first place with one more guy to go and he was the guy who won the prelims. I was a little nervous and he had a higher score than me on his first pass than I did on mine. I saw him land thought it was going to be so close. They finally showed the score and I remember seeing the [number] 1 [next to my name] and I was freaking out.”

Lupish also competed on the trampoline, finishing 30th.

“It didn’t go quite as well as

I hoped,” he said. “It’s a bigger pool because more countries do it. It’s a lot harder.”

He also placed “11th or 12th” in the synchronized component.

“We did decently well, considering the time we competed was the only time we competed together,” he said. “We were warming up and my partner had a little bit of back pain so we had to switch the routine up.

He was in pain but when we got out there we said this is the only one we get and we did it and both finished.”

Lupish, who was accompanied to Japan by his parents, grandfather and great uncle, enjoyed the experience, even if he didn’t get a chance to see as much of the sights as he would have liked to.

“It was pretty cool. Japan is a very interesting country with a different culture. Being in a different culture makes it that much more interesting to compete,” he said. “There were a lot more fans so there was more cheering.

It was interesting. You know you want to do some things. We were going to go to Tokyo Disney one night but knowing I had to compete the next morning I didn’t want to go walking around and get tired. Some stuff I wasn’t able to do but it was all right because it was worth it in the end.”

Badgers help is on the way

BY BILL POTRECZ

BPSPORTSNIAGARA.COM

Help is on the way for the Brock men’s hockey team.

The Badgers headed into the Christmas break with a respectable 10-7 record and welcome forward Jordan Maletta and goaltender Mario Culina to the lineup as they get back into action in 2020.

“We’ll see how they do,” head coach Marty Williamson said. “Both have been out of hockey for a while so there’s some give and take. They look good in practice but games are a different thing.”

Maletta is a former Niagara IceDog who has also played at the professional level before being sidelined by injuries.

See BADGERS Page 13

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continued from Page 14

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My focus here isn’t on the equipment, but a brief description of how it works will help you visualize the set-ups. A company called Zwift is the market-leading software platform now, but there are others. I’ll refer to Zwift only because that’s the one I’m familiar with.

For running, any old treadmill will do. All you’ll need is a footpad (transmitting device), a laptop to collect, process and display the info, and a subscription to Zwift, which starts at around $20 per month.

Cyclists don’t get off quite so inexpensively. You need a bike and a smart trainer, which will set you back between $300 for the most basic, and a couple mortgage payments for a top-end unit.

Your laptop and a software subscription are necessary too.

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al, your bike gets mounted via its against others on Olympic coursWhere do you want to ride to- ‘Julie’ from New Brunswick.” So NIAGARA REGIONAL EXHIBITION rear wheel to the trainer. Sensors es, scenic rides, or special climbs. day? Glasgow? Innsbruck? Alpe Parnell clicks on Julie’s avatar, Week of Rodeo, games livecost entertainment thisdo years exciting event.

It his own cycling avatar starts monitor and communicate speed His take and on the isJanuary interest-6 headline d’Huez? Who you want to ride and and effort information to your ing, and hits home with me. “How with? accelerating to catch her. Shortly runs from Sept. 11-14 at the Welland Fairgrounds. computer, plus much more train- much have you spent on your winthey’re riding side by side through Posted he ing data if desired. This is pro- ter riding clothing and lights?” the skyscraper canyons of New January 2 jected onto your screen or TV, in queries.

York City. Should either want to BIG MOVE CANCER RIDE real time, while your avatar rides Well, there’s the amount I actuchat in real time, and the other acThe Big Move Cancer is a Inon-competitive ride taking place on Sept. through realistic images repreally spend, and theRide amount tell cept, they can do so by connecting Central senting the route you’ve chosen. my wife, either be more their phones via Ant+ or Bluetooth 7. Proceeds forbutthe Big would Move stay in Niagara and support the Walker FamRegion Ads included Matt Parnell, my guide, raced than enough to buy a low-end to their computers. ily Cancer Centre. successfully in Ontario as a young trainer and winter software subWant some hill workouts to person, then went back at it as a scription. And that excludes the train for your Spring trip to Cro“Master A” racer at 40 years old. cost of the mandatory March trip atia? papers Virtual Everesting might be This ad is to be printed by all participating Ontario WALKING CLUB From 2007 until 2012 he worked to North Carolina to get a jump on for you. You can climb all 8850 logistics on several of Steve Bauthe outdoor season. metres of Mt Everest in a continInterested in walking in Pelham? Join them Tuesdays at the Pelham Arena er’s Professional Racing Teams, How far you want to take this uous segment (16 hours is the refrom 9-10 am and Thursdays at Fonthill Bandshell for 9-10:30 am. There and now Parnell is a Senior Bicy- is up to you, the rider or runner. cord), or do a few kilometres each cle Technician at a local sporting To begin, provide the day at a gradient you control until is no fee for thisyou program.

Forsoftmore information, please contact jcook@ goods retailer. Plus, he’s a devoted ware with your height and weight.

Parnell chose the New York City you summit. pelham.ca or call 905 892-2607, ext 329. off-season Zwift bicycle pilot.

Then, only if you want, you can ride, and when he joined, there You need no longer fear settling Parnell enjoys all aspects of do a simple monitored ride or were 2,424 people from around into a sedentary winter. You can his smart trainer, especially how run that will provide your FTP, or world on the same course, in travel the world on your bicycle HAMPER DAY FOR PELHAM CARESthe it motivates him to stick with Functional Threshold Power. The real time! Riders can choose to with friends, from the comfort of Purchase freshoffruit and vegetables Market or bring a non-perishable his training goals in the off seapurpose providing this infor-at the make their names or pseudonyms your family room or basement. son. “If I’d had this back then it item mation is to assist the software accessible, and aMarket dozen oron so Sept. of the 4. You can even earn a badge based food to fill the hampers at theinPelham Farmers would’ve been a whole different “suggesting” the most appropri- leaders are displayed at the side of on how many hours and kilomestory,” he laments. He also enjoys ate rides or runs for you, especial- the screen, including their nation- tres you accumulate: Habitual, riding around the virtual world ly if you’re a newbie, or leaning to al flag.

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Dave Burket

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continued from Page 15 a friend shared with me a definition of insanity. It was this —“Doing the same things but expecting a different result.” I never forgot it. It led him to make a difficult decision involving a major change in his life. He never regretted it.

One of my heroes of faith is Billy Graham. I made my public profession of faith back in 1967, at a Billy Graham-sponsored rally in a hockey arena in St. Catharines. I’ve noticed that over the decades of his ministry, Graham never changed his basic message of calling people to repentance and faith in Jesus.

But the way that message was communicated changed a lot over the years. The name “crusade”

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(a stumbling block to people with Muslim backgrounds) was changed to “festival of hope.” The music changed from hymns to contempo-

Oh, my friend, I wish I could put the church back 2000 years

rary Christian songs. The dress code changed from suit and tie to open-necked shirts and blazers. That ministry continues to thrive today under the leadership of Billy’s son and grandson. They represent newer

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generations reaching newer generations in ways they can understand.

But the message stayed the same. Surprisingly, a “progressive” once criticized Graham for being old-fashioned and putting the Church back 100 years.

With God-given wisdom (I believe) Graham calmly replied, “Oh, my friend, I wish I could put the Church back 2000 years!”

So, which set of seven words will reflect your life in 2020? One set describes a shrivelling soul and a dying church. But the other throbs with new life, hope and promise for you and your faith family! ♦ Rob Weatherby is a retired pastor who hopes to grow older gracefully and grow younger spiritually.

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continued from Page 11 Terms: Due on publication He last played in 2017/18.

Culina is a 22-year-native of Sault Ste. Marie who played in the Ontario Hockey League with three teams. His arrival will take the pressure off Mario Cavaliere, who has played in all 17 games.

“He’s run the whole table for us other than half a game,” Williamson said of Cavaliere. “We’ve put a lot of stress on him and he’s done fantastic for us. I think the backto-back games affected him a little bit and that’s maybe where having a two-goalie setup will make us a stronger team.”

The Badgers overcame a sluggish start — they dropped four of their first five games — before settling in.

“I’m probably a little disappointed [with a 10-7 record] but then when I look back at the circumstances and then unrest we had with the team early with so many players going,” Williamson said. “[Kevin] Hancock came and then he went, and Zack Bowman came and went, and [Dexter] Weber wasn’t ready to play until a month-and-a-half into the season.”

Williamson could only wonder how much higher the team would be in the standings if they would have fared better in back-toback games where they are 0-4.

“If we’ve struggled with anything it’s the inconsistency of back-to-back games,” Williamson said. “The good thing in the second half is we don’t have many back-toback games. Those are the things we’ve got to get better at and keep improving on.

“If we take those game away and split them then you’re 12-5 and that would be really good. We’re not too far off from being exactly where I want.”

Offensively, the Badgers don’t have a player averaging a point per game — Jordan Sambrook leads the team with 14 points in 17 games — but Williamson isn’t worried.

“It’s not like we lack — we’re third in the league in goals scored — we’re not really struggling with offence and we’re in the top two three defensively.

“We can play defence with anybody and offence with anybody. That’s what excites me about this group. There isn’t a huge deficiency in this team.”

See BADGERS Page 16

Page 14

The Voice, January 8, 2020

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

FROM THE HANDLEBARS

NEWLY OPEN!

by John Swart

Riding the London Loop in the shade on a hot day — in Zwift mode.

Winter? No problem!

JOHN SWART PHOTO

W JY NAILS & BEAUTY

20 Hwy # 20 Fonthill (Giant Tiger Plaza)

HAT A CRAZY INTERVIEW process it was to produce this week’s column. First, I met Matt Parnell riding Box Hill in London, England, on the 2012 Olympic cycling course. What a thrill that was.

Then I caught up to him again in northern Italy, on a cycling tour. Matt had started in the south, and slowly made his way through Italy’s beautiful landscapes as he headed toward Trieste.

We finally completed the interview at the base of Cat’s Paw Hill, in New York’s Central Park, while cycling the iconic Astoria Line 8 route, named after NYC’s first subway line.

All this took not quite an hour, the rides were virtual, and you could easily have joined us.

This is the extent that indoor smart trainers have evolved, and why there is no reason to stop cycling or jogging during the winter, even when January blizzards are howling.

Evenings of excruciatingly boring cycling in the basement, pedaling mindlessly on a primitive trainer,

alone, watching endless movies and TV shows, can be history.

Likewise, never again run on a basic treadmill with your earbuds in place, hoping not to fall asleep and experience a quick dismount on your head or butt.

I’m one of those still pounding away on an old trainer, and there isn’t a movie in the Pelham Library I haven’t watched from its saddle. I really needed to catch up on what was happening See SWART Page 12

Voice

HOROSCOPE

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS JANUARY 6 Natalie Wood, Actress JANUARY 7 William Steele, Actor JANUARY 7 Max Steiner, Composer JANUARY 8 Frank S. Nugent, Screenwriter JANUARY 9 Alan Le May, Novelist JANUARY 9 John Ford, Director JANUARY 10 Vera Miles, Actress

E

905-329-0329

SOLUTIONS DOWN 1. Snails 2. Ed 3. Rodes 4. Iran 5. Err 6. Satrap 7. Scopes 8. Chu 9. Rats 10. Athar 11. PT 12. Semester 13. Acres 15. Rereads 18. Mat 21. Sicilians 24. Boulevard 26. Sam 27. Sit 30. Salep 32. Calif 35. Mas 37. Bee 38. Sarcasm 39. Armories 42. Sac 43. Khi 46. Rapine 47. Stanch 49. Analog 50. Ratan 52. Socas 54. CIA 55. Sarsi 57. Nota 59. Seis 62. ROM 63. Dao 66. GE 68. SN

155 HWY 20 WEST

different perspective to fully take them all in. Over the next several days, you’ll be on a mission to correct something in your past.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 A feeling of newness and openness are driving your decisions, Sagittarius. Attend all of the events presented to you; you never know where opportunity lies.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 A new person may come into your life this week, and this can potentially change things forever, Capricorn. Exercise caution but do not be opposed to trying something new.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 A voyage to faraway lands might be on the table, Aquarius. A trip may be just what you need to find that extra energy as you look to shake things up.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, if your romantic relationship lacks spark, you may have to speak up and express your hopes and desires. Embrace all ideas.

SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. Series 7. Scraps 13. Andorra 14. Chatter 16. CA 17. Dartmouth 19. ME 20. Risen 22. Rap 23. Saber 25. Elis 26. Sates 28. Rose 29. SSC 30. Sap 31. Sic 33. UTA 34. Imam 36. Tabled 38. Salal 40. Leers 41. Arises 43. Kiev 44. RMA 45. Par 47. SHF 48. Aar 51. Cons 53. Cacti 55. SRNA 56. Arson 58. Pia 59. Sadat 60. SI 61. Coriander 64. LA 65. Megaton 67. Caisson 69. Sesame 70. Hosing

ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, you have met some people who may have greatly influenced your attitude and partnerships. Even if people are pushing you one way, you have free will to go another.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, if you want to modify something in your life, now is your chance to do it. This is the week to make some concrete changes that will benefit you.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 You have several weeks to understand how recent changes will affect you, Gemini. You may need to get a few new friends in your circle of supporters.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, do not expect any enormous revelations this week, as things will work a lot more slowly. But keep an eye on the sidelines for the little changes that may occur.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 The week ahead should be fairly positive, Leo. As a new phase in your life progresses, you will have the opportunity to express yourself more and more.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 Expect some major movement in your career and love life, Virgo. The two may even be intertwined in some way. You may be floating on air in all this good news.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 Although no major events will come to fruition, this is an excellent week for you to simply sit back and breathe a little. Things will get busy in the weeks to come, however.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 Scorpio, look at events from a

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The Voice, January 8, 2020

Voice

FAITH LIFT

by Pastor Rob Weatherby

CROSSWORD SPONSORED THIS WEEK BY

Seven powerful words

W

ORDS A RE important.

Written and spoken words can inspire and edify us.

Sadly, they can also discourage and destroy us. The words that we say and believe have a huge impact on your life and mine.

I remember being encouraged when someone once told me as a child that I could accomplish anything I put my mind to. Hearing the words “I love you” regularly from family members also laid a bedrock of security and confidence for me growing up.

I’ve also heard stories of children hearing soul-destroying words like, “You’re stupid,” or ,“You’ll never amount to anything.” Often, we tend to believe the negatives easier than the positives, and these cruel words can shape our worldview in ways we don’t even understand.

So, as we enter an exciting new year, let’s look at seven powerful words that can shape us in the days to come. We’ll begin with the negative…

put our full trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord (read Master or Leader) should never change.

But the way we communicate that eternal message to each generation must change so it can be fully understood. The way we worship, the words and music we use, the songs we sing, the format of the service and the construct of our buildings must all change to win a hearing in our ever-changing society.

I remember a church in one of the cities I lived in.

They “did church” the same way for decades. Same format, same music, same

Page 15

HWY 20 FONTHILL

Open 7 days 892-2570

structure. It closed its doors a few years ago. It was faithful to the message but it had failed to understand the necessity to change its methods to the people it was trying to reach. For years It had been in a rut, which is simply “a grave with the ends kicked out.” Enough of the negative. Let’s now look at the positive…

Let’s Try Something New For A Change

These seven words reflect a completely different mindset. They are full of hope, openness and flexibility. Several years ago See FAITH LIFT Page 13

We’ve Never Done It That Way Before

When put in the first person and applied to an individual, these words express fear, timidity and lack of imagination. The famed Russian author, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, wrote, “What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything? Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.”

When applied to a local church, this attitude is a sure recipe for stagnation and decline. The Good News of Jesus’ life, teaching, miracles, death and resurrection doesn’t change. The invitation to everyone to turn or repent from our sins and

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!

Weekly Word Search O W K I Y J E O V W A L Z A F T S N O M

S L I T S U J H H D R A K T Y O A B R A

N U D L S J D D L D M I V O L R A B C Z

A A Z S L V U W V G H R K Y O I B R X Y

B L S U M Y C P X G Z E H O N N O U Z C

E I F S K O S O Y I M P E T U O P J D F

H D Q A I I B D H C K M M H V S E F W M

H Y S N W N U I N C T I O S U E L I P J

T V V E A W Q N L U E T P H P D O N H H

T M O J L Q H W M E J A D C K E O K I S

R E Z A L B L I A R T U F L U C R M Z A

W K S F T F C R M P N R A R Y R U L D S

P X N E G P E L F X O U T F Q E B U E M

W A S I A L T Z J Z P S Q D F M P H Q L

V L B E G N A U S T I N J A V L O S Q Z

A F H N A U X W Y U G O V E A L K Q Y Q

R R A B H J H O L H V X K N D T H T V O

E R A M V T L K N W F D D E N A S H Q H

W R K S R X K H O W I E N A D N O H W S

T Y D M O L U S D Z R U R A B U S C M Z

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

WILLYS HONDA ALFA TOYOTA IMPERIAL SAAB

TESLA HOLDEN EDSEL MERCEDES OPEL SUBARU

TORINO TRABANT AUSTIN SUZUKI TRAILBLAZER YUGO

NISSAN UPLANDER TAURUS NASH OLDSMOBILE WRANGLER

ANSWERS ON PAGE 14

The Voice, January 8, 2020

continued from Page 1 up the papers, my phone’s email alert went off. It was an auto-reply from the Puzzler email address. Apparently we weren’t the first contestants to walk down the same wrong path. The generic information enclosed was enough to tell me the answer we submitted was incorrect. My husband sat back down. We both picked up a paper.

Another hour passed. It was now well past my husband’s bedtime. “I’m going to bed,” he finally said.

“Don’t stay up too late.”

“What do you think this Greek caption says? I need a Greek translation,” was my only reply.

It was after midnight when I suspiciously texted a friend.

“Are you the Puzzlemeister?”

“What does that mean?”

“You know damn well

what it means!”

He didn’t, and he wasn’t.

At 1 AM I found myself outside, in my husband’s robe, rummaging through our recycle bin. As I carefully went through soggy back issues of the Voice, I heard movement on the other side of the chain link fence. I hissed and stamped, assuming it was a raccoon. It was a skunk.

I made a hasty retreat, but not before shaking my fist at the skunk and muttering, Butternut.

I went back to the document I had started writing on my computer and skimmed over the garbled notes.

“Tennyson… Diogenes…

Tree… Squash... Peanuts…

Sherwin Williams paint colour 6389.”

I had a full page of typed notes, and every bit of it seemed useless. I cursed the precious time I’d wasted completing the Word Search (in case an answer was hidden somewhere in

PROUDLY SERVING THE

Alaina Hillier

Doctor of Audiology, Audiologist, Reg. CASLPO

NIAGARA REGION

the remaining letters). Finally, at 2:37 AM, I forced myself away from my pile of papers and went to bed.

Eight hours later my husband was hovering above, jostling me awake.

“Are you… getting up today?”

“The solution is ‘before your eyes...search and ye shall find!’” I muttered.

“Um…how late did you stay up last night?”

“I’m not telling.”

A few hours later, it was my children’s quiet time, and I was once again obsessively reading the paper.

My seven-year-old was lying quietly on the couch beside me. What a waste of brainpower.

“I’ll make you a deal.

You tell mommy what you think of when you hear the word ‘Butternut,’ and if it’s helpful, your rest time is over.”

I gave her a paper to go through, only to spend the next ten minutes explaining the political cartoons to her before losing her completely in “Kids’ Corner.” Another dead end.

Later, when my fouryear-old was asking me a question, I decided to try something new.

“Butternut!” I cheerily answered him.

“What?” He looked at

Hairstyling...

me, unhelpfully confused.

“I’m trying out the word in random contexts to see if it sparks something in my mind!” I enthusiastically told him.

He gave a blank stare, then continued searching for his Lego on his own.

I was now 21 hours into this ordeal and I decided to bring out the big guns. I texted the Mayor.

“Use your mayoral powers,” I begged. “Whatever it takes.”

His reply all but ensured the low quality of this year’s Father’s Day gift.

“I don’t believe my standing will be of any help...Dad” That was yesterday.

Today was when desperation fully took over. I sought my two-year-old’s assistance via threats and blackmail. Though sweet, her response was also incredibly useless.

“Maybe ‘butternut’ means ‘snuggle,’” she suggested, climbing up beside me on the rocking chair.

“It doesn’t. But this is nice too. Keep thinking.”

I mindlessly rocked us back and forth, in constant motion yet getting absolutely nowhere.

Eventually, someone will have to crack it. I just hope the solution surfaces before I go (butter)nuts. ♦

Welland property tax falls

BY VOICE STAFF Welland City Council has approved a tax rate decrease, along with a record $62 million in capital spending for 2020. Welland City Council approved the municipal 2020 tax-supported Capital and Operating Budgets on Dec. 10, after a two-month process that included budget deliberations and a public engagement campaign.

The 2020 municipal budgets will “continue to protect core programs, maintain service levels, invest in infrastructure, maintain the city’s economic competitiveness, and support the city’s growth and development agenda,” according to a City statement.

The tax decrease is -0.65% for all property classes. For the average residential property, assessed at $223,109 in 2020, this results in a $11.21 tax decrease from the previous year, according to the statement.

Welland City Council also approved the Water/Wastewater Operating and Capital Budgets. The cost to enhance water and to treat wastewater for Welland is established by the Region of Niagara. A 6.42% rate increase will be experienced by residents using 75 sq.m/year, which will increase residential bills from $675 yearly in 2019 to $719 yearly in 2020. The 2020 Water/Wastewater Capital Budget is also proposing expenditures in the amount of $4.49 million for wastewater and $4.18 million for waterworks.

BADGERS

continued from Page 13 Williamson would love to see the Badgers hit the ground running.

“We have a very tough schedule and the one thing I learned about this league is you want to be playing the right way at the right

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time,” he said. “When you get into two-out-of-threes, you better be playing well or you’ll go out quick, or like we did the first year, you can have a fantastic run. I like this team a lot and I think we can play with anybody. If we build on our consistency, I think we can be the team that’s standing at the end.”

F

COLUMN SIX

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