The Voice PUBLISHED INDEPENDENTLY IN PELHAM
Pine Debbie
SALES REPRESENTATIVE pinesold.com
Niagara Real Estate Center, Brokerage Independently Owned & Operated
Vol.20 No.44
CELEBRATING OUR 20TH YEAR
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Freshman legislator says carbon tax better than cap-and-trade The VOICE
MPP Sam Oosterhoff, far left, meets constituents last Saturday in Fonthill.
NATE SMELLE PHOTO
Progressive Conservative MPP for Niagara West-Glanbrook, Sam Oosterhoff dropped by the Fonthill Legion over the weekend to meet with a small group of 15 supporters. His stopover at the Legion was one of three on his tour of the riding during the annual New Year levee on Saturday, Jan. 7. Oosterhoff also visited the Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery in Beamsville and the Community Centre in Mount Hope. Since taking over Tim Hudak’s seat at Queen’s Park last November, the firstyear Brock University student said that he has had a lot to learn. “The first few months in any job there is always a big learning curve, but caucus
Food 111Health Hwy. 20 E., Unit Store 5, Fonthill 111 Hwy. 20 E., Unit 5, Fonthill 905-892-9054 www.healthycupboard.ca
905-892-9054
Mon-Wed 9:30-6:00pm • Thur-Fri 9:30-7:00pm • Sat 9:30-5:00pm
www.healthycupboard.ca Mon-Wed 9:30-6:00pm Thur-Fri 9:30-7:00pm Sat 9:30-5:00pm
FREE
New MPP Oosterhoff talks energy at Fonthill Legion BY NATE SMELLE
Pelham’sPelham’s Health Food Store
has really got behind me,” said Oosterhoff. “The local guys have been great too. The NDP MP Wayne Gates and Jim Bradley have both approached me to offer their help if there was anything I needed.” Although he hasn’t spent much time at Queen’s Park because of the holiday break, Oosterhoff says that he is already frustrated with Premier Kathleen Wynne and the Liberals for doing nothing to bring down the rising cost of hydro. He said he was glad to see Premier Wynne admit that her government made a mistake by allowing hydro rates to skyrocket, but he does not understand why the Liberal are continuing to make the same errors. “If you make a mistake you don’t just keep doing the
Column Six Training: Snobs are right BY JOHN SWART
VOICE Correspondent
You may recognize the type. They’re the ones that are ‘training’ while you're just exercising. They’re all intensity, intervals, personal bests—so pedantic we label them training snobs. You might want to rethink this, because with the improved results that training yields compared to moderate exercise, there’s a bunch more at stake than snob-appeal. The Public Health agency of Canada suggests that 2.5 hours of activity per week is the threshold for achieving the benefits of exercising. Ten years ago the recommendation was an hour per See TRAINING Page 12
See OOSTERHOFF Page 12
Computers and Pelham seniors: Some like them not BY JOHN SWART
VOICE Correspondent
“If someone really wants to talk to me, they'll pick up the phone," grumbles Uncle George, donning his old curmudgeon ball cap. We all have an aunt, uncle, parent, or maybe even a spouse or partner, who feels that using a computer, tablet or smart phone is beyond them, or refuses on principle to become involved. Many studies, including
the Pew Research Center's "Internet and American Life Project,” confirm there There is no doubt that seniors who are computer literate, even to a small degree, are likely to enjoy many social and health benefits, some of which are summarized below. There are cognitive benefits. Keeping active physically is important, but social activity also helps to elevate mood and speed the healing process. Using social media and computer
Do we do enough to keep our seniors connected online? games can assist seniors to maintain cognitive function as they age. There’s also the battle against depression . Older adults who use the internet, especially social media, to keep in touch with family and friends, experience 20% fewer incidents of depression. There is increased independence. When se-
niors can learn about government programs, health advances, music, culture, or fact-check their friends on their own, they will maintain their independence, and frequently their ability to stay in their home, much longer. For those brand new to the internet, these advantages can be life-altering.
A 2013 survey by Statistics Canada shows the trends. In 2010, 40% of Canadians aged 65 and over used the internet. That grew to 47% by 2012, just two years later. For 16 to 44 year olds, the rate is 97%. Where seniors access the internet is significantly different from the younger population. Almost all seniors, 83%, use the internet from home, while only about 5% use public libraries, 4% use a handheld device, and about 19% use a
friend or family's device. So how does the Pelham Public Library rank when it comes to supporting senior internet users? Elaine Anderson, Public Services Coordinator for the library, explains that programs available include computing 101, word processing, new Windows versions, etc. The library gives these offerings jazzy names, like “Mousercize,” “Rent-a Geek,” and “Tech Tips.” Most seniors See SENIORS Page 11
SERVING NIAGARA COMMUNITITES
DON MARR
Sales Representative
DON & MARY MARR: 905-892-0222 (Fonthill) I 905-734-4545 (Welland) I 905-329-1330 (Cell) EMAIL: donmarr@royallepage.ca I marymarr@royallepage.ca
MARY MARR
Sales Representative