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Haist Street residents say chuck the chicane Column Six "It always works out" BY JOHN SWART
VOICE Correspondent
W
frame building and continued to serve as a meeting place for the Quakers until the congregation split into two groups in 1828. At that time, more conservative members left the Effingham Road site for Pelham Corners, while the followers of Elias Hicks, known as Hicksites, remained where they were. In 1875, the Pelham Hicksites replaced the frame building on Effing-
ALKING THE TALK isn’t always easy. Although I’m zealous about the excitement of cycle touring, with no defined itinerary I’ll admit this one had me a tad nervous. Girona, Spain was the to be the departure point. The appeal was warm sunshine in November, few tourists, unique cuisine, and spectacular Mediterranean scenery. The ‘nervous’ was a longer list. Girona is in the Autonomous Community of Catalonia, which has its own Catalan language. Half of Spain can’t speak it, so what chance would we have? It’s a bit like Quebec and Canada, with olive oil rather than maple syrup. Reconnoitering train policy was useless. Some guidebooks claimed bikes were welcome on all trains, others condemned them to freight trains. Terrain and weather were unknowns too. When palm-shaded Mediterranean beaches are a mere 40 kilometers from the snowcapped Pyrenees, you know there’ll be climbing, and you have no idea what weather the trade winds will blow your way. The biggest ‘nervous’ was that this would be my wife’s first unsupported cycle trip. We’d be carrying 30 pounds of luggage on each bike, and the city of Figueres, with its famous Salvador Dali Museum, was our only firm destination. We'd have no clue
See HERITAGE Page 7
See SPAIN Back page
AFTER YOU, SIR. WHY NO, AFTER YOU. Haist Street residents and local drivers cite duplicate yield signs as a source of confusion. At left, the view headed north. At right, the view headed south, toward Hwy 20. When cars approach from both directions at once, a standoff ensues. BOB LOBLAW PHOTOS BY VOICE STAFF First its installation was bungled by the contractor, according to the Town of Pelham, and now some residents near it say they want it gone.
Residents on Haist Street north of Highway 20 have been raising concerns about the new traffic calming measure since it appeared—and was rebuilt due to construction errors—last November. Meant to slow drivers and improve public safety, the chicane was placed in its current
location following various studies conducted by the Town between 2013 and 2016. Although the idea for the chicane came from the Town’s response to a petition brought to Council by concerned residents living in the Haist Street area in 2013, some residents
say that it's the wrong solution. Oscar Weiland is one of them. Frustrated by the design, Weiland visited 21 homes in the neighbourhood to get a sense of public opinion See CHICANE Back Page
Heritage status of Quaker Meeting House in Council hands BY NATE SMELLE
The VOICE
Residents Carolyn Botari and Mary Lamb stood before Council on Monday, Jan. 9 to present their proposal to protect the Quaker Meeting House/Women’s Institute by designating it as a heritage building. Located at 1411 Maple Street in Fenwick, the building has a rich history dating back to 1875. Botari described the building in detail to Council, explain-
ing how the exterior wood siding, floors, trim and windows are all original to the structure. Botari and Lamb asked Council to pass a bylaw recognizing the structure as an important part of Pelham’s history that deserves to be preserved. “The Society of Friends was an integral part of the establishment of Pelham and its growth and development,” Botari said. “The meeting house’s history and structure have
been thoroughly documented and it has been identified as a priority property for designation, not only by the former Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee, but also by the Pelham Historical Society, as noted in the 2007 document ‘Historically Significant Buildings in Pelham.’” The original Meeting House was constructed in the late 1700s at the corner of Effingham and Welland Road by the Soci-
The Society of Friends was an integral part of the establishment of Pelham ety of Friends, also known as the Quakers. It was replaced in 1807 with a larger
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Page 2
The Voice of Pelham, January 18, 2017
IN THE NEWS
PUBLISHER’S CORNER by Dave Burket
It's really happening... The stuff of nightmares come to life for many, sweet vengeance for others—two days from now Donald Trump will become our southern neighbour's 45th president. Not coincidentally, on Monday, as the world's rich and powerful met in Davos, Switzerland, Oxfam released a report on the distribution of wealth. Just two Canadians, they said, are as wealthy as almost one-third of the rest of the country combined. David Thomson and Galen Weston Sr. are worth $33 billion dollars between them. The disparity between the super-rich and the poor—not to mention the ordinary rich and the middle class—is on the rise, and increasing rapidly. Is it any wonder that populist, nativist politicians around the world are winning elections? We are on the cusp of dangerous times, even in Canada, as our Prime Minister jets off to meet with a billionaire on his private island, and faces ethics complaints over $1,500-a-head fundraisers in the homes of wealthy donors. The Liberals' unofficial status as "Canada's Natural Governing Party" is neither guaranteed, nor, increasingly on both left and right, desired. Speaking of numbers... Last week's mention of Pelham house prices was correct in all respects save for a transposed 6 and 9. Yearon-year, the increase in value was 19%, not 16%. Wait, more numbers...A
reader submits some "creative math." Given that the Maple Acre Library was to be finished by November as an "early Christmas present," then pushed to January 24, then pushed again—tentatively—to Valentines Day, this $1 million dollar project is at least three months late. Does this mean that the Community Centre, at $36 million, will be 108 months late? That's nine years, so let's hope not. Get those kids outside... Our Office Manager, Lori, won't be happy if I don't mention that we have some paper routes open. See the Classifieds! Held over...Our current survey on the E.W. Farr name change has drawn the largest response of any yet. We're extending it for another week, so if you haven't had your say, see the invitation below. Results, and possibly more, next week.
THIS WEEK'S SURVEY QUESTION Should the District School Board of Niagara reverse its decision to rename E. W. Farr Public School?
Find a link to the survey from our website, www.thevoiceofpelham.ca/farr or find it from our Facebook page. Look for results in next week’s Voice!
Fenwick driver does 165km in 80km zone
Niagara Regional Police traffic units carried out what they called “Project High Flyer" for three days last week on the roads of West Lincoln. Police say the ongoing project is designed to reduce traffic collisions caused by vehicles travelling at high speeds. 8 District officers and members of the Traffic Enforcement Unit issued 12 tickets for speeds greater than 30 km/h over posted limits. Three drivers had their vehicles and drivers licences seized for seven days for stunting. One driver, a male resident from Fenwick, was found travelling on Regional Road 20 near Bismark at 165 km/h in a 80 km/h zone. The second driver, a male resident from Welland, was clocked on Victoria Ave near Regional Road 20 at 132 km/h in a 80 km/h zone. The third driver, a 19-yearold male from Dunnville, was found travelling 143 km/h on Caister-Gainsbourough Townline Rd, also in an 80 km/h zone. Drivers charged with stunting face fines of between $2,000 and $10,000 upon conviction. Project High Flyer will continue throughout 2017.
Cruiser damaged in Pelham
Early last Wednesday morning, a Niagara Regional Police Service SUV patrol cruiser was severely damaged when hit by an oncoming car on Webber Road near the intersection of Balfour Street. A little after 7:30 AM, an officer was stopped on the side of Webber with emergency lights activated for another incident. A tow truck was also present for the initial call. Police say that the road was covered in black ice. An oncoming car tried to slow
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hospital as a precaution and later released. The 53-yearold female pedestrian was also taken to a local hospital where she remains in serious condition. Any witnesses to the collision are asked to contact detectives at (905) 688-4111. after seeing the police and tow truck emergency lights, but lost control and hit the cruiser. The officer suffered minor injuries, was treated in hospital as a precaution and released. In response to rumours late last week regarding the identity of the driver, the driver’s condition, and whether the car involved was an official vehicle, police spokesman Sgt. Robert Schottlander responded that vehicle was privately owned by the driver. “If there was any evidence of alcohol it would have been investigated without question on either driver,” he said. Schottlander said that no criminal charges were laid and none were pending.
Ten car collision at Port Food Basics
Last Sunday just before 1 PM, police, fire, and medical services responded to a multi-vehicle collision that involved a pedestrian within the parking lot of the Food Basics grocery store in Port Colborne. Police say that a 70-year-old male driver and his 70-year-old female passenger, both from Port Colborne, were travelling within the lot in a 2000 Ford Windstar van. The driver lost control of the van, continuing through the lot striking nine other vehicles. During this sequence, a 53-year-old female pedestrian, also from Port Colborne, was walking to her vehicle and was struck by the out-of-control van. The occupants of the van were transported to a local
Brock prof on Trump press conference
In 15 years teaching American politics, Paul Hamilton has never seen anything like it. “I’m surprised by how little he has changed from the primaries,” the associate professor in the Department of Political Science said of President-elect Donald Trump. “He doesn’t seem to have absorbed much of the sort of manners of the office. “You would think meeting Obama, touring the White House, nominating people for Cabinet, that all of those things would have sobered his mind, but it doesn’t appear it has.” Hamilton watched with interest last Wednesday as Trump officially addressed the media for the first time since winning the election Nov. 8. Trump’s acrimonious relationship with the media continued as he called out certain reporters by name and wouldn’t take questions from CNN, calling the network “fake news.” “The testiest I’ve ever seen Obama or Bush was nothing compared to that,” Hamilton said. “It was astonishing. He seems to treat the press as an irritant, which they can be, but he can’t treat them that way.” Trump is set to take the oath of office on Friday to become the 45th President of the United States.
Pelham Beautification Committee seeks members See IN THE NEWS Page 11
Grill on Canboro
NRP impaired driving charges 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. Nathan H. DAVIES, 36, Niagara Falls Frank J. ATTWOOD, 39, St. Catharines Jimmy L. BRIDEAU, 29, St. Catharines April L. H. COLLINS, 40, Niagara Falls Michelle R. COLOSIMO, 33, Amherst, NY John A. STEWART, 45, West Lincoln Ritney M. COX, 23, Toronto Katrina M. GRAY, 47, Buffalo NY The Niagara Regional Police Service is committed to reducing impaired driving offences through education and the apprehension of offenders through enforcement programs like RIDE. Impaired driving is still the leading cause of criminal deaths in Canada and destroys thousands of lives every year.
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The Voice of Pelham, January 18, 2017
Page 3
Habitat for Humanity Niagara’s Fonthill ReStore manager Jodi Krah, right, and the Dynamic Duo Volunteer Award winners Gail and Dave Learn.
NATE SMELLE PHOTO
Habitat Niagara puts families, environment first Fonthill ReStore will see second anniversary this spring
BY NATE SMELLE
The VOICE
S
INCE IT FIRST OPENED ITS DOORS in April 2015, Habitat for Humanity Niagara’s ReStore in Fonthill has been making life easier for homeowners and families throughout Niagara. As one of two home renovation outlets in the region (the other being in St. Catharines) the Fonthill ReStore provides people with a variety of opportunities to help their community, protect the environment and save money at the same time. For less than typical retail prices, eco-conscious customers can purchase new and gently used building supplies, furniture, kitchens, lighting, appliances and décor without having to pay HST. Making use of quality materials, furnishings and household items that would otherwise end up in the landfill is just one of the ways the ReStore benefits the environment, says Store Manager Jodi Krah. “We do everything we can here to be environmentally conscious,” she says. “We test everything that is donated to us, so if something doesn’t work we salvage every possible part. We have a bins for salvaging and recycling e-waste and metal. If we get something in that doesn’t work, we do our best to repurpose the parts that could be used elsewhere.” Another of the ways Habitat Niagara reduces the environmental footprint of the community is through their salvage program. Saving people an average of $600 to $800 in contractor and disposal fees, Krah says their salvage crew will arrange a time that works with their client’s timeline to come into their home and remove kitchens, bathrooms, windows, doors and other usable items. Adding to its value, individuals who donate through the salvage program receive a tax receipt for their donation once it is sold. “It is incredible to see what our volunteers will bring back from a salvage,” Krah says. “Sometimes people will just want to give their kitchen a makeover so we will get a complete kitchen that is like new. Our vol-
unteers are also skilled in what they do, and are very careful to leave the space clean and ready for the contractors to get to work.” Seeing a full truck of donations pull up is always an exciting moment for Krah. Taking in so many items from community members over the years, Krah says she has realized how monumental every donation is. For instance, last summer she says there were two brothers who had recently lost their father and showed up with three truckloads of his possessions that they could no longer keep. While unloading the last few boxes from the final load, the brothers presented her with their father’s very special clock. Seeing the tears in their eyes as they reminisced about the clock, Krah says she gained a new sense of appreciation for their donors and the donations they receive. “It donned on me at that moment that people are giving their memories to us. Pelham residents are amazingly generous. They’re giving us donations because they want to help Habitat, not because they want to get rid of their stuff.” All proceeds generated from sales at the ReStore go towards helping Habitat Niagara build affordable homes for families in need of assistance. By mobilizing volunteers and community partners, Habitat Niagara has their sights set on breaking the cycle of poverty, creating a world in which everyone has a safe and decent place to live. Krah says she can’t say enough about how important volunteers are to their organization. “We really can’t function without our volunteers,” she says. “They’re here because they love the mission of Habitat for Humanity. They are the best workers you will ever find because they know that by doing a good job we are able to raise more money and help more families.” Krah says each of the staff and volunteers
at the Fonthill ReStore bring unique skills to the table. Having so many talented individuals working together towards the same goal in such a friendly atmosphere, creates an enriching environment, she says. “One of our volunteers, who is 80-yearsold and is a plumber by trade, spends a lot of time working with and training our younger volunteers and co-op students from E.L. Crossley and Centennial High School,” Krah says. “It’s so nice to see people from different generations learning from one another. I just love the camaraderie and how everyone benefits from that.” Each member of the ReStore’s team of volunteers and staff are essential to Habitat Niagara’s success in their own way. Gail and Dave Learn began volunteering at the ReStore before it was even open to the public. Originally Gail’s idea to get involved with Habitat Niagara, they now spend two days a week volunteering together. While Gail helps out in the retail space, Dave is often in the shop repairing and testing electronics, lights and other mechanical donations. Recently the couple were awarded the ReStore’s Dynamic Duo Award for their service. “We love it here,” Gail says. “It’s different every time you are here so it’s always very interesting and a lot of fun. Dave is a jack-of-all-trades so he is able to help fix a lot of the donations that need to be repaired.” As a member of the Niagara Poverty Reduction Network, Habitat for Humanity Niagara also strives to help families in Niagara improve their lives through homeownership. Since being established in 1993, Habitat for Humanity Niagara has built 57 homes for families throughout the region. This year another construction is planned in Fort Erie as part of their Canada 150 Build initiative.
Low-income families who currently live in substandard housing, who are willing to volunteer 500 hours of sweat equity and who are willing to repay a zero-down payment, interest-free mortgage, are invited to apply to the home ownership program. The ReStore in Fonthill is located at 2499 Hwy 20 East, and is open Monday through Friday from 9AM until 6PM, and Saturday from 9AM until 5PM. Donations can be dropped off Monday through Saturday from 9AM until 4:30PM. For more information about the salvage program, contact 905685-7395 x401 or salvage@habitatniagara. ca. To apply to their home ownership program, visit www.habitatniagara.ca, or contact 905-685-7395 x403.
Realtors help build the product
When Habitat for Humanity Niagara approached Brad Johnstone, vice president of Royal LePage Niagara Real Estate Centre, about supporting its home building efforts for 2016, Johnstone said that his team would be thrilled to help out—not with just one build, but all of them. The Royal LePage Niagara team signed up for one Adopt-a-Build-Day on each of the Habitat’s construction sites last year, giving 32 realtors an opportunity to help build four Habitat homes across the Niagara region and raising $10,000 in donations. “Royal LePage Niagara supports many charities throughout Niagara,” said Johnstone. “Our team is built with values of giving back to our communities, and our team is excited to continue support Habitat for Humanity.” Habitat’s Construction Manager and Crew Leads teach volunteers the skills they need to do the tasks scheduled for their day. “Royal LePage really stepped up and set a precedent amongst other realtors,” said Alastair Davis, Habitat Niagara’s CEO. “They are a true community leader and partner of Habitat’s, helping to build stronger communities and support local families.” With Habitat Niagara’s build schedule underway for 2017, Royal LePage Niagara confirmed their ongoing support on each of the builds for yet another year, engaging their realtors and giving back to the community where they work. To find out how you can get a team involved in the Adopt a Day sponsorship program please visit www. habitatniagara.ca/adopt-a-build-day .
In good times and bad, there's always the library for refuge BY KIRK WEAVER
CEO Pelham Library
The Globe and Mail published an editorial piece titled, As 2016 Crashed in Flames, Libraries were the Last Good Place.” While the author did not paint a positive light on the global events of the past year, she did make some important observations about the role libraries play
in the community. Libraries are intended to be a place for everyone. No matter your station or lot in life, you can come to the library to receive service, seek information and participate in programs offered. We are a public space where citizens can gather, discuss the weather, or debate deep philosophical issues. We strive to be
as open and welcoming as possible to everyone, although pleasing everyone all the time is a tall order for any organization. I certainly wouldn’t suggest that the Pelham Public Library is the last good place in Pelham — far from it. However, it is a worthy objective for us to be a place where anyone in our community can feel good and comfortable.
Over the past year the Library Board has spent a significant amount of time considering how we can best respond to the changing role for libraries as community hubs. Part of our mission is to engage and enrich our community. This, in combination with significant capital investment made by the Town and the community in our facilities, means
we are well positioned to meet the expectations of this growing Town. That may mean introducing new services, revamping dated services, or simply putting a more community-focused emphasis on traditional programs. We look forward to hearing from you about how we are doing or suggestions for improving what we do. The Globe and Mail arti-
cle tells the story of a father who took his son to visit all 100 Toronto Public Library branches over a six month period. In 2017 I encourage you to visit as many of Niagara’s 12 public library systems as you can — some with a single branch, some with multiple locations. See what they offer, check out the differences. We think you will be enriched by the experience.
Page 4
The Voice of Pelham, January 18, 2017
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OPINION
The opinions expressed in submitted commentary and letters to the editor are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the Voice of Pelham.
The Voice of Pelham is a 1211858 Ontario Limited publication David Burket, Publisher 2-1428 Pelham St., P.O. Box 1489, Fonthill, ON L0S1E0
COMMENTARY / OP-ED Larry Coté We get the politicians we deserve
A
T SOME POINT in the past politics was considered a venerable profession and attracted mostly honourable persons to the practice. Undoubtedly, there were instances of skulldrudgery on the hustings and in the ranks. It is not counter-intuitive to think that the electorate could err in its collective judgment and vote in a party or person that turned out to be akin to square peg in a round hole. As history reveals, the collective wisdom eventually wises up to its errors and often corrects misdeeds in the next political cycle. On occasion elected persons have been ousted even before their term had run its usual length. Unquestionably there have been and are many honourable politicians who have distinguished themselves and are always above reproach. The majority one might idealize. However, if recently reported public reactions are any indication there seems to be a near seismic shift in how politics and politicians are perceived by a growing number of people. These negative perceptions appear
to be on an upward trend and result in the continual decline in voter participation and turnout. Alarmingly, this apathy is most prevalent among younger voters. It appears those who have tuned-out or turned away from the traditional parties, candidates and politics have disparaged the process and thrown in the towel. If this be so, this can be a serious threat to the foundations of democracy. One danger of lowered participation rates is that the process can be hijacked by unrepresentative individuals, groups or otherwise devious types that do not have the welfare of the majority in mind if they were to take the reins of power. Certain political analysts in their efforts to explain the mindset of the electorate suggest that some recent election outcomes indicate they are ‘fed up’ with the so called ‘status quo.’ These discontents postulate there are too many disgusting incidences of noxious behaviors, unwarranted entitlements and glaring deficiencies in the ways of governing and the practices of some politicians. Further, they contend that these defamed incumbents may be
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too long in the tooth. Critics observe the age of many politicians to be much beyond the average age of the population they purport to represent. There is a popularized notion that the first priority of too many politicians is to get re-elected. The antithesis of change. And so now comes the crucial question. How to resuscitate the tarnished images of politicians and the besmirched practices of politics to honourable and respectable levels? An equally important question is who is going to initiate and lead such a challenging but worthwhile effort? One such answer is inyour-face simple and doesn't require a revolution. It is you. You have proven time and again the truth of that proscription. You need overcome your apathy (maybe while holding your nose) and re-engage with the democratic process. You might opt to choose a party that best aligns with your convictions and then do what is needed to return politics to where it belongs — by the people and for the people. The suitability of politicians and the health of democracy relies on you doing just that. After all is said and done, you get what you deserve.
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www.thevoiceofpelham.ca MANAGING EDITOR & PUBLISHER Dave Burket publisher@thevoiceofpelham.ca NEWS EDITOR Nate Smelle editor@thevoiceofpelham.ca ADMINISTRATION Lori Gretsinger office@thevoiceofpelham.ca CORRESPONDENT John Swart jswart7@cogeco.ca LETTERS TO THE EDITOR letters@thevoiceofpelham.ca ADVERTISING INQUIRIES advertising@thevoiceofpelham.ca
Don't give up on E.W. Farr fight Are the concerns of the people of west Pelham being heard by the District School Board of Niagara? Should the Minister of Education, Mitzie Hunter, be asked to intervene? E.W. Farr, the school, has been part of the history of west Pelham for some 58 years, named in memory of a man who influenced children and education throughout the Niagara Peninsula for decades. My husband and I attended E.W. Farr; our children and our grandchildren also
Member of Federal Parliament
Electoral District: Niagara West
Dean Allison, MP 4994 King Street Beamsville, ON L0R 1B0 Dean.Allison@parl.gc.ca 877-563-7900 Member of Provincial Parliament
Sam Oosterhoff, MPP 4961 King St. East, Unit M1 Beamsville, ON L0R 1B0 sam.oosterhoffco@pc.ola.org 905-563-1755
Members of Niagara Regional Council Councillor David Augustyn mayordave@pelham.ca 905-892-2607 Ext 317 Councillor Brian Baty 742 Memorial Dr. Fenwick, ON L0S 1C0 905-892-5317 Town of Pelham 20 Pelham Town Square P.O. Box 400 Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0 905-892-2607
attended. I would like to think that our great-grandchildren someday could have the same opportunity. The legacy of E.W. Farr and how he inspired students to make a difference in their community should be something a school should teach students about and be proud of. I know my children and my grandchildren are proud. It’s not too late to make the change. Don’t give up! Sharon Farion Pelham
Pelham Cares thanks community The
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Mayor of Pelham David Augustyn mayordave@pelham.ca 905-892-2607 Ext 317 Members of Pelham Town Council Ward 1 Councillor Richard Rybiak rrybiak@pelham.ca 905-892-2105 Councillor Marvin Junkin mjunkin@pelham.ca 905-684-4870
Pelham Community never ceases to amaze us! From holding events and providing donations, to volunteering, it is never more evident than during the Holiday Season! A highlight of our year, the recent 26th annual Pelham Community Food Drive was again a resounding success! With over 300 volunteers donating their time, the event was organized, donations were collected, date checked, sorted, and transported to our facility on Hwy 20. Following the retirement of Gerry Berkhout and his
family, Pelham Cares and community partners assumed responsibility for the door-to-door collection, in addition to the sorting operation. Special mention goes out to Fonthill and District Kinsmen, Fonthill Lions Club and Fenwick Lions Club, who have been working with us since September, to ensure the event would run smoothly. Staff from the Town of Pelham ensured we had updated maps. Various social clubs provided financial support for the advertising. See CARES Next Page
Ward 2 Councillor Catherine King cking@pelham.ca 905-658-8599 Councillor Gary Accursi gaccursi@pelham.ca 905-892-5528 Ward 3 Councillor John Durley jdurley@pelham.ca 905-892-5388
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CARES continued from Page 4 The response to our call for volunteers was truly overwhelming, with many long time Pelham Cares volunteers, hockey teams, basketball teams, families, and students from local high schools and Brock University coming together to make it happen! Other holiday traditions included the OPP Auxiliary food drive, the seasonal food drive at Sobeys Fonthill, and the 27th annual Fonthill Volunteer Fire Association toy drive. The many toys and gifts collected were distributed to our client families, as part of our Holiday Hampers. Again this year, Pelham Cares received a number of grants which have supported our programs and services. An impressive number of community events held throughout 2016 by individuals, business, schools, and churches have resulted in food and/or monetary donations. And, our local media provided their support through attending events, and graciously including many articles in their publications. The food collected through all these efforts provided for families and individuals in need in 2016, through the holiday season, and will be distributed into the spring and summer of 2017. Monetary donations received will assist us in subsidizing food donations, and continuing our Youth Sponsorship and Transportation Programs. As we bring another year to a close, a special mention goes out to our many dedicated volunteers, from providing direction to our organization, maintaining our facility, representing us at community events, sorting food, transporting food, shopping, driving, etc., we could not do it without all of them! On behalf of the Board of
The Voice of Pelham, January 18, 2017
Page 5
DO YOU KNOW THE WAY TO SAN JOSE... Directors of Pelham Cares, staff, volunteers and clients; a heartfelt thank you goes out to the Pelham community for your support again this year! Too numerous to mention individually…including the schools, churches, service groups,
youth groups, media, businesses and individuals….. once again your generosity will go far to help families in need in this wonderful community of Pelham! Tracy Holmwood President Board of Directors Pelham Cares
Recently the PineSold Atom AE Panthers played in the International Silver Stick hosted by Pelham. The boys worked hard but lost out in the semifinals. During the tournament they had the opportunity to host the San Jose Jr Sharks from California at the old Pelham barn. CHRIS PASMA PHOTO
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The Voice of Pelham, January 18, 2017
ONALD TRUMP will be the next president of the United States of America, a fact that does not sit well with many millions of Americans, and many all around the world. From their perspective, Donald
Trump is a racist and misogynist, and because Hilary Clinton actually won the popular vote, Donald Trump has no right to be the next president. In protest, a slogan has been created: “Not My President!” This slogan
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FAITH & FAMILY Commentary by Pastor Daniel Calgagno
"Not my President" encapsulates the feeling that in the hearts of many, Donald Trump neither represents their views, nor speaks on their behalf. The anti-Trump segment of the population is experiencing firsthand the reality of a democracy: that one group gets to dictate to another who will govern them. A democracy at least gives everyone a chance to vote for their choice, which is a step up from how things used to be: in the past, under a monarchy, nobody would have a say in who governs the people. Furthermore, whether anyone liked it or not, a monarch would have unilateral power to govern however they wanted. Interestingly, this is why in the
Bible God actually warned the people of Israel against having a king. In 1 Samuel 8:10-18, God spelled out just how dangerous it is to centralize power, as the worst of society will try to gain that power for themselves. A king or a queen can send their citizens off to war, tax them mercilessly, and—barring violent revolution—there is not a thing the people can do about it. Thankfully, here in Canada, despite our tie to the British monarchy, we no longer live under the dictates of a single ruler; instead, we now live under democratic rule. But is a democracy the ideal? As we are seeing, in a democracy there is a good
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca chance that the person elected will not necessarily be someone you believe represents you. And sadly, we have seen all too often that even though power changes hands every few years, the pattern is the same: our leaders often send our young people to war, tax us to oblivion, and impose on us all forms of rules and regulations. So really, what is the ideal form of government? In an ideal society, each individual’s rights would be recognized and protected: the right to be sovereign over their own lives and their property. The role of government would simply be to protect these rights. And rather than having one group that maintains a monopoly over that role, each individual would be able to choose for themselves who represents them and who can protect them. This view of government (or lack of government, if you will) seems radical, but it is the only po-
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sition that does not result in the current America situation: to have someone over them whom they feel does not represent them. What about Donald Trump? In all honesty, I am cautiously optimistic about Donald Trump as president. I believe the media has mischaracterized him and misrepresented some of his views, and I believe some of his positions on policy will bring about positive change in the economy and in foreign relations. That being said, Donald Trump is “Not My President,” and not just because I live in Canada, and not even because of the areas in which I disagree with him. It is because I do not believe that anybody should assume governing power over another without a person’s consent. I am not anyone’s ruler and no one is yours! The more we each recognize this truth, the better chance we have at having a peaceful and prosperous world.
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The Voice of Pelham, January 18, 2017
Page 7
FONTHILL LIONS WELCOME TWO NEW MEMBERS The Fonthill Lions Club kicked off the New Year by inducting Gerry Glaves and Cathy Berkhout-Bosse. Glaves is a funeral director and joined the club to become more involved in the local community. Berkhout-Bosse is a real estate broker and the second female to join the club. She was sponsored by her father, Gerry Berkhout, who celebrates his 50th year as a Lion. The father-daughter team is a first for the Fonthill club but a growing trend among Lions International. From left: Sponsor Doug Gaylor; sponsor of Gerry Glaves, Zolton Dohar; Cathy Berkhout-Bosse with her sponsor Gerry Berkhout; and club President, Robert Yungblut.
Heritage call is Council's to make continued from Page 1 ham with the white meeting house currently located on Maple Street. Botari said it was moved there by the Women’s Institute in 1929. Since the early 1970s, it has also been used to showcase the Model Railroad Club’s displays. Lamb and the Historical Society want to have a plaque installed at the site, describing the building’s historical significance. “I recently took a group of ladies from St. Catharines, 25 of them actually, around there, because they wanted to look at the old buildings and I was rather embarrassed to see that there was nothing to show that that was in fact the original Quaker meeting house,” Lamb said. Acknowledging the value of celebrating the community’s heritage, Councilor Marvin Junkin suggested unveiling plaques for other heritage sites that have been created by the Historical Society. He said there are already four existing plaques for that could be installed at local sites. These include: Kinsmen House on Pelham Street, the Moore House on Tice Road, the Comfort House on Cream Street and the Pollard House next to Pelham’s Old Town Hall. Councilor Gary Accursi recently visited the Quaker Meeting House/Women’s Institute along with Lamb, Botari and an engineer. Seeing the good state of the original features firsthand, Accursi recommended that Council defer any repairs or changes to the building untilMS they261 haveC-M made a decision Gasregarding Chain Saw whether it should 0receive heritage $ 13 VE designation. SA He also requested that Town staff investigate whether the building would still have to meet cc / acces3.0 kW / 4.95 kg (10.9 lb)* the province’s 50.2 new sibility requirements if also itavailable for $729.95 STIHL Arctic™ version were to be designated a heritage building.
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The Voice of Pelham, January 18, 2017
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
A NUMBER OF READERS WONDERED at the appearance of a mysterious device last week on Pelham Street in Fonthill. What appeared to be a microphone sat atop a pole strapped to a lighting standard. Did CSIS mistake Isis at Hwy 20 with ISIS elsewhere? Not to worry, says the Town. It's a traffic measuring device, "managed by a specialized transportation, traffic, transit and parking planning firm to assist in finalizing a traffic [impact] study, as required by a proposed development application." Reached for comment, Mayor Augustyn said that the Town was not able to reveal what the proposed application was for, or on whose behalf, since it had yet to be formally submitted. The cost for the device was the applicant's responsibility. BOB LOBLAW PHOTOS
Pelham petitions province for fire funding BY VOICE STAFF
Fonthill and District Kinsmen
are accepting submissions for their annual
Pelham Citizen of the Year Award, 2016 The guidelines are... you cannot be a sitting politician, and must live or work in Pelham. The Citizen of the Year should exemplify volunteerism, and positive community activism. Submissions must be in writing, and postmarked no later than Friday, January 27, 2017
Send submissions to:
The Kinsmen Club of Fonthill & District P.O. Box 906, Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0
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During their meeting on Monday, Jan. 9, Council supported the resolutions passed by the townships of McMurrich/Moneith and Hornepayne, calling on the provincial government to incorporate funding for fire services into its new infrastructure strategy. Because it is mandatory for municipalities to be responsible for fire prevention, fire protection and public education, Councilor John Durley believes the fire service should be defined as critical municipal infra-
structure, and therefore be funded accordingly. “We have an excellent volunteer fire service and certainly any funding that we could get in that regard would make us even stronger,” said Durley. Most of the 449 fire departments in Ontario operate on a volunteer basis, while only 32 are considered full-time. Durley explained that although municipal fire departments and associated assets represent critical municipal infrastructure, there is currently no provincial or federal for equipment, train-
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ing, maintenance, operating or the capital requirements of local fire departments. Councilor Richard Rybiak seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. The petition will now be sent out to local MPs and municipalities that have volunteer fire services. Pelham’s Fire Chief Bob Lymburner is unsure whether requesting the government grant funds on a permanent basis is necessary. He said the government usually puts grants in place for a period of time then pulls them. According to Lymburner,
the United States has a huge grant program that funds fire departments on a permanent basis but it is quite costly. “The American model is very pricey, our tax base supports our department and being volunteer it is very affordable. Full time departments such as St. Catharines use over 90 percent of their operating budget to pay wages and benefits,” he said. “I would expect funding to become available again in the future, however asking the government to grant funds on a permanent basis is a stretch.”
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Town financial auditors explain process VOICE
THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY of Sobeys shoppers and the efforts of Sobeys Fonthill staff,some 50 bags of food and the monetary donations were collected during their recent Holiday Food Drive and Fundraiser. From left: Lori Grande, Pelham Cares; Gina Mann, Sobeys; and customers Bettina Allen and Cheryl Prevost. SUPPLIED PHOTO
Fonthill Lumber site sold to developer BY VOICE STAFF The former Fonthill Lumber property on Hwy 20 in Fonthill was sold last week to a developer whose identity and intent could not be verified by press time. Though rumours have been circulating around Town—including the improbable notion that a mosque was planned for the site—its immediate destiny remains unclear. For some 50 years, the location was home to a lumber yard and truss company. According to Mayor Dave Augustyn, the
new owner is “planning a mixed-use development that not only includes highway commercial uses— which are currently allowed under the Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw — but also the potential for residential uses.” This week the developer of the former lumber yard will be meeting with neighbours in the area to discuss his intentions with the property. There is also a public open house scheduled for Monday, Feb. 6, 5 PM at Pelham Town Hall to present the plans.
THE VOICE OF PELHAM
past. Creative Director He also said that there Tarja Barton didn’t appear to be any Council was given a preemailmajor events in 2016 that sentation by Trevor Fergugraphics@thevoiceofpelham.ca would significantly impact son of Deloitte at their Jan. the Town’s financial state9 meeting, breaking down Marketing Director ments. how THE the company plans Dave to Burket “That's not to say that conduct Pelham’s municiemailthere are not been signifpal audit. advertising@thevoiceofpelham.ca icant things that happened Throughout the process, 905.892.8690 at the Town over the course Ferguson said his firm will Approved By:year,” he said. of the communicate regularly and “Obviously with the deopenly with Council and velopment that's a pretty senior Town staff in acbig thing, and we are going cordance with professional to take a look at that and standards. He explained further that incorporate it as part of our audit planning process.” Deloitte would be conWhile the audit is taking sidering areas of risk and place, Ferguson said Depotential fraud, as well as loitte will assist the Town following the Town’s revein meeting current and funue streams. With respect to fraud, ture accounting and regulatory requirements. Ferguson said there are They are also responsispecific things that Deloitte ble for providing the Town is obligated to investigate with independent auditor’s as the Town’s external aureports as required. ditor. Mayor Augustyn con“It's not meant to raise gratulated Deloitte for any red flags whatsoever,” their successful bid to resaid Ferguson. new their contract as the “Every single audit of Town’s auditor for the next any financial statement in Canada must consider the five years, reminding Ferguson that the firm would risk of fraud and we need to do that as your audi- need to audit the Town as if it were a developer in retors.” gards to the municipality’s Ferguson told Council that Deloitte has never role with development in east Fonthill. found anything unusual as Ferguson said that in orthe Town’s auditor in the
BY VOICE STAFF
Advertiser Fonthill Ltd they would der toRlectric do this engageName in a “scoping exerContact cise.” Taryn Wilton
“Any of those accounts Contact Phonehave, especialthat you 905.401.5748 ly new accounts that you wouldemail have created over Contact the past year particularinfo@fonthillelectric.ca ly related to development, those would be scoped-in first,” Ferguson said. Date:of interest to “They are us so we're going to make sure that we do a pretty good level of auditing on those accounts. Things like development credits are sensitive areas where there could be some estimation, there could be some valuation estimation in terms of the number of credits and the valuation of those credits. Those are some of the things that we're going to need to look at this year as they pertain to your financial statements.” They also intend to look at estimates that were made as part of last year's financial statements to get an idea of the outcome of those estimates this year. Ferguson said this helps them to get a feeling as to whether there is a tendency for the Town to overstate or understate when estimating.
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Page 10
The Voice of Pelham, January 18, 2017
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
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Page 11
IN THE NEWS continued from Page 2 Committee meetings are open to the public and are held once a month at the Town of Pelham municipal offices. The meeting schedule for 2017 is still to be decided and will be posted when available. According to a Town press release, the following are “Terms of Reference” for the Committee: Establish and maintain an outreach program to consult the community on beautification goals and priorities and to report back to the community on past initiatives; Examine the best practices to achieve beautification goals that were determined through community outreach; Establish and regularly review/update a committee Strategic Plan in alignment with the Strategic Plan of Council; Advise Council regularly on prioritized beautification initiatives, complete with best practices, budget and resource needs; Measure and review the effectiveness of implemented recommendations; and be cognizant and communicate to Council the budgetary needs of the committee to carry out these duties. No specific contact information was provided. Interested parties may reach the Town at (905) 892-2607.
Niagara rush hour is rush minutes
Unlike other parts of Canada, the Niagara Region is
virtually free of traffic congestion, according to a recent study released by the Canadian Automobile Association. The study, which focuses on highway traffic, is the first of its kind undertaken nationally by CAA. It shows that time-of-day traffic congestion adds only five to six minutes to daily drive times and focuses only on Niagara’s international bridges and a short stretch of the Queen Elizabeth Way. “As you might suspect, the study confirms Niagara enjoys substantially fewer traffic snarls than other municipalities. It’s fair to say that Niagara’s rush hour is really just rush minutes,” says Rick Mauro, CAA Niagara’s Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations. “In Toronto, traffic congestion adds 36 minutes to the daily commute,” Mauro noted from the study, “so, we’re lucky we don’t have to battle heavy highway congestion every day.” According to the CAA study, congestion and traffic bottlenecks are the single biggest contributor to road delay, far outpacing traffic accidents, bad weather and construction. Traffic is a major source of stress for Canadians. Canada’s top 20 traffic bottlenecks are in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Quebec City, and collectively cost drivers more than 11.5 million hours of their time every year and burn an extra 287 million litres of fuel per year.
sip, eat, chat, repeat! Better prescription strategy for seniors
Canada needs a national strategy to address inappropriate prescribing practices that lead to the unsafe use of medications by seniors, says the author of a new study from the Institute for Research on Public Policy. Seniors are the heaviest users of prescription medicines in Canada. On average, two-thirds take 5 or more prescriptions drugs over the course of a year and one-quarter take 10 or more, says Nicole Bernier. “It is estimated that as much as half of the medications given to seniors are taken incorrectly or are overprescribed, increasing the likelihood of adverse drug reactions and interactions.” “When it comes to seniors’ health, prescribing practices are too often based on little or no evidence, and as a result they can be inappropriate and even dangerous. Much more can and should be done to address this serious health issue for our aging population,” Bernier concludes.
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The Voice of Pelham, January 18, 2017
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Chicane wrong solution say Haist St residents
SPAIN continued from Page 1 where we’d be spending the nights. The knowledge that whatever happened would be my fault (so cliché, but true in this case) was more frightening than the terrain and language. Still, a round-trip flight to Barcelona for $475 was pretty hard to ignore. “Hey Els, want to go to Spain for 10 days with the bikes, do a little touring? Leave in a couple weeks?” I quizzed, not sure what answer I was hoping for. “I could go with that” was her response. We compromised on a plan—hotel reservations for the first two nights in Girona and the last two in Barcelona, and we’d take our chances on the road the remaining nights. Flights and transfers went smoothly, and the bikes arrived at the same airport as us in Barcelona, always a good thing. The Renfre train ticket agent—greasy comb-over and a bit of lunch stuck to his protruding stomach—was more concerned with an attractive co-worker than whether or not we took our bikes on the train to Girona. Girona was beautiful, the hotel superb, and I mused, “See, it always works out.” The ‘no parachute’ leg of the trip couldn’t have begun better. A converted rail trail passed through the heart of Girona and led 45 downhill kilometers to the Mediterranean coast at San Felieux. We cycled this traffic-free path through ancient farms and olive groves, close enough to touch the dark, shiny leaves. Centuries-old cathedrals blessed and protected their tile-roofed villages from atop small hills, each image a potential postcard. In San Felieux, with rain and darkness setting in, the first three hotels we find are closed for the season and I’m expecting ‘the look.’ Thankfully, a Dutch receptionist welcomed us into
continued from Page 1
Girona or bust...adventures ahead. the last hotel in sight. While enjoying a delicious Catalonian dinner, my bornin-the-Netherlands wife marveled at how we found this great Dutch hotel on the Costa Brava. "See, it always works out,” I said, smiling. Late the following afternoon, we’re climbing a long mountain road to the village of Begur. The incline becomes so steep that a young couple riding a scooter on the road beside us must paddle their way along with their feet. We dismount and push our bikes the last hundred meters. At the summit, signs for hotels point down another hill toward craggy, isolated beach coves, and we follow them. The road descends like a Catalonian rollercoaster—too steep to ride with heavy luggage. We walk our bikes one-and-a-half precipitous kilometers to the beach. Every hotel
JOHN SWART PHOTO
is locked tight, the area deserted, and I realize a hill too steep to ride down surely won’t be ridden up. I don’t have to wait long for ‘the look’ this time, or a protracted explanation of the risks involved in always assuming the cup is half full. A sweaty hour later we’re back in Begur at the exquisite Hotel Aiguaclara, an 1866 Sea Captain's mansion converted into 10 guestrooms, opening antique wooden doors to a balcony overlooking the cathedral and historic town centre. Someone told someone of our plight, and the owner had opened this room for us although the small hotel was closed for renovation, which he was painstakingly doing himself. As I raise a beer to Els’ glass of wine and confidently say, “See, it always works out,” I’m secretly wondering how much longer our luck will last.
regarding the chicane. Weiland said of the 21 neighbours he spoke with 18 expressed their opposition to the traffic calming measure chosen by the Town. “All the residents on Haist Street north are affected by this ridiculous, stupid, non-functional, ugly, dangerous contraption in the middle of the road,” said Weiland. Another reason Weiland opposes the chicane is that he asserts it will negatively impact homeowners moving into nearby subdivisions now under construction. He said it will also disrupt the commute for drivers taking the back roads to St. Catharines and other points north. “Reducing a well-traveled two lane road into a narrow pass through oneway-at-a-time is confusing and extremely dangerous,” he said. “Disrupting two-lane traffic flow is not an acceptable solution to the problem. It is also a waste of taxpayers’ money.” Residents also point to the yield signs on both sides of the chicane as causing unnecessary confusion when vehicles simultaneously approach from north and south.
Other residents in the area have stated that they would rather have speed bumps as a traffic calming measure, such as those found heading down the hill on Haist, south of Highway 20. Director of Public Works, Andrea Clemencio, explained that research by the Town found that speed humps were problematic on the south side of Haist because drivers tend to speed between the humps. The study also revealed that cars have been damaged by the speed bumps and that they are especially troublesome for emergency vehicles and patient transfer. Clemencio said that while the Town has received a few complaints about the chicane, she had yet to hear of anyone who wanted it to be removed. She said there have been more people expressing their thanks to the town for taking public safety seriously. Clemencio asserted that many individuals have told her that they feel safer and that the effect of the chicane was noticeable. “We do see an improvement in the speeds, and will be conducting a quantitative study when the snow season is over — since snow [and] ice affects our measurement technology,” she said.