Pelham CAO: "That's your problem" page 3 Maple Acre's birthday, with cookies page 7 OPP clears NPCA page 13
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Vol.22 No.6
Wednesday, January 31 2018
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2018 budget increase now 3.5%
Column Six KO'd by H3N2
Cuts made to services, grants to local organizations
Influenza rudely takes up lodging, refuses to leave
BY VOICE STAFF
BY LARRY COTÉ
Special to the VOICE
Following requests by Council to return with budget reductions, last Wednesday Town Treasurer Teresa Quinlin presented a list of proposed cuts that would bring the 2018 budget to a 3.5 percent increase. These cuts include the reduction of Town grants to various local endeavours by $34,500, cutting the tree-planting budget in half, and boosting “supplemental revenue” by an additional $50,000. Quinlin also said that money could be saved by moving a $50,000 snow removal expense to the water and wastewater budget, which is funded by service charges and not property tax increases. Council approved all of the budgetary changes, with the exception of a proposed cut of $10,000 that is to go towards treating for gypsy moths. “We more-or-less promised our residents that,” said Councillor Gary Accursi. “What does that ten thousand represent—less than one tenth of one percent? I favour the reducSee BUDGET Page 14
I
the bank is owned entirely by its members, and that decisions about services offered are made locally. “We all profit when we work together,” she said, before ceding the floor to Reg Sonnenberg, a member of the bank’s board of directors, who emphasized that the bank had employed
N O R M A L LY E N J O Y good health, and for my station in life am in reasonably good shape. However, whatever good germ-resistant immunity I may have had was no match for the Influenza A virus that recently hospitalized me for six days of extreme discomfort. Like many others, I felt reasonably confident that the flu shot I received at my doctor’s office late last year would protect me during this flu season. However, medical professionals have determined that the flu shot variant used this year was mostly ineffective against the H3N2 strain that has been wreaking such havoc across the continent. The medical community estimates that the flu shot commonly used this year is up to about 30 % effective. So we might expect this flu season to be of more pandemic severity and possibly more deadly than previous epidemics. All the more reason for everyone to be more cautious, avoid crowded places and wash-
See AS ONE BANK Page 11
See COLUMN SIX back page
SUPER-SAVERS! Ruby and Flynn Kirwin fork over their dough—saved from doing chores and opening birthday cards—to Pen Financial Branch Manager Kelly Sauriol and Financial Advisor Adam Rempel. The Kirwins joined a couple of hundred other folks at the credit union's grand opening last Wednesday. DENIS CAHILL PHOTO
Pen Financial Credit Union officially opens in Fonthill BY VOICE STAFF
looking down at her notes. “But I’m going to—not because I’m nervous, but because I’m excited.” In front of a packed house of 100plus guests, Sauriol briefly outlined the mission of Pen Financial, a Niagara-based credit union that has been in existence for 60 years, services 21,000 people, and manages $630 million in total assets. Sauriol highlighted that
Pen Financial Credit Union held the grand opening of its new Fonthill branch last Wednesday. At 3PM, Branch Manager Kelly Sauriol stood in front of the tellers’ counter with a sheaf of papers in hand. “I wasn’t going to read,” she said,
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The Voice of Pelham, January 31 2018
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Soup's On warms up St. Kevin's Hall
PUBLISHER’S CORNER
BY WAYNE CAMPBELL
by Dave Burket
Special to the VOICE
First there’s pasta: E.L. Crossley’s rowing team will hold its 22nd annual pasta dinner fundraiser on Saturday. Funds collected will help provide the team with equipment. Doors open at 5PM, with dinner service beginning at 5:30…Then there was soup: The 16th annual Soup’s On event fed a grand crowd last Friday in Welland. Read all about it just to the right. Hey, does that byline look familiar? Wayne, now that you’ve been re-energized by The Post, get that Smith-Corona clacking again! We stand ready for those grafs… Then the main course: Long-awaited in Pelham, by me, at least, the classic British pub fare of bangers and mash has quietly landed at Peter Piper’s Pubhouse. Owner Peter Moore says he’s been doing some tweaks with the menu, with other new additions set to debut in a week or so. The bangers and mash are already there, though, and I will be too, as soon as this edition is wrapped. “Three Guinness-infused bangers on the mashed, with peas,” says Moore, who had me at “three”… Will there be ice cream in the end? Among those mourning the loss of the Lazy Loon are fans of its summer ice cream offerings. Our brief story on the restaurant’s closure continues to rack-up the online hits, sitting at a stratospheric 30,342 at press time. People really loved their Loon. Quiet chirping suggests that the bird may yet fly again, as talk of a new buyer is getting louder… And a double-helping of Coté: Larry Coté is fine now, but he spent some not-very-fine time in Welland Hospital a couple of weeks back, with the flu. He writes about the experience this week in Column Six, as well as remembering Canada’s veterans in a commentary on page 4. Glad to have you back, Larry… After all that eating, work off the excess: Kwikfit is ready to help you prepare for spring. See their offer on page 14… An antacid instead? You'll need one after reading what's on page 3. Happily they are on sale this week at PharmaChoice near Food Basics. 20% off! See the ad on page 7.
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Soup’s On 2018, a soldout luncheon, filled St. Kevin’s Parish Hall in Welland with more than 350 people in three sittings last Friday. During the 16th annual scholarship fundraiser, coordinator Joe Barkovich joked that it was a social gathering of people “with good taste.” A variety of soup selections were prepared by culinary students from Blessed Trinity High School, Ecole secondaire Confederation (Confederation Secondary School), Eastdale Secondary School, Lakeshore Catholic High School, Notre Dame College School, and, Niagara College’s Niagara College’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute along with Stephanie the Lunch Lady. Among the eight choices were smokey bean and bacon chowder, roasted tomato, butternut squash and pear, leak and potato, maple bacon and squash, turkey and wild rice, Vietnamese infused broth with braised pork, and faux pho. Barkovich said the guests enjoying a $10 all-you-caneat luncheon were both regulars and newcomers. The ticket price hasn’t change in the 16 years. Since the beginning, the event grew from a single one-hour sitting to three at 11 AM, noon and 1 PM. A tongue-in-cheek warning about undercover “soup police” ensured a smooth turnover for each sitting. The soup cooks have in-
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Crews from five schools dished-up the delicious. JOE BARKOVICH PHOTO volunteering for community service programs and promoting awareness of injustice issues among students in their schools. Applications for 2018 scholarships will be available in local high school guidance offices this spring. Interviewers will assess applicants on current participation and future commitment to social justice. Soup’s On committee members will present scholarships during high school commencement ceremonies in June.
crease from three to the current seven with Niagara College and Notre Dame among the originals. Over the years, the Soup’s On committee has handed out $45,050 in scholarships. In 2017, four students from Blessed Trinity, Lakeshore and Notre Dame were recipients selected from an impressive group of applicants involved in social justice activities. Those included organizing fundraisers for projects in developing countries,
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Vol.20 No.48
CELEBRATING OUR 20TH YEAR
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
DSBN wants portion of Town park
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Column Six
Growing up British
Vol.20 No.32
Wednesday October 12, 2016
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Apple Day comes to Fonthill
BY JULIE MANNELL
Special to the VOICE
W
BALLOONING INTEREST Grade 6 student Jinja Shepherd explains her experiment on static electricity at the Glynn A. Green Public School's annual science fair last Friday. See story, page 3. NATE SMELLE PHOTO
Public meeting tonight on school issues BY VOICE STAFF As questions continue to mount regarding an email that Pelham Mayor Dave Augustyn quietly sent to a District School Board of Niagara trustee last summer, Augustyn has agreed to address the issue at a public meeting scheduled for this evening, Wednesday, Feb. 8, in Fenwick. Nancy Beamer, speaking for “Names Matter,” a Pelham citizens group lobbying the DSBN to reverse its decision to rename a local public school, confirms that the meeting will be held at Fire Station #2, known locally as the Fenwick Fire Hall, starting at 7:00 PM. While the Mayor has agreed to ap-
Under pressure, Mayor to address email revelation, other E. W. Farr matters pear, says Beamer, DSBN officials associated with the school-naming process have either declined to attend or have not yet responded to the group’s invitation. DSBN Chair, Dale Robinson, to whom Augustyn’s email was addressed last June, has declined to appear, says Beamer, asserting that she would be
“on holidays.” The Voice was unable to independently confirm Robinsion’s intentions. She did not respond to repeated requests for comment on E.W. Farr-related matters before presstime. Beamer, whose group maintains an email list of some 580 residents, says that all members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend the meeting. “We would especially welcome parents and children who are unhappy with the name change,” she says, referring to the contentious decision by the DSBN to consolidate two Pelham See MEETING back page
HEN I WAS young, my father and I would go for long drives along the rural routes of Pelham. We’d blast George Thurgood and roll down the windows because we loved the smell of the breeze, the sensation of crisp Niagara wind beating our cheeks and tangling our hair against our summer-kissed skin. My father was not a sentimental man. He worked in factories and had a Gordon Lightfoot mustache and never shed tears over injuries. Yet something about the Pelham landscape, the hilly backdrop to his childhood and the childhoods of our ancestors, drew him in. He’d stop by a farm or a gathering of woods and, surrendering his manly veneer, tell me a story about the town. This place is precious. This is the earth that granted us life. Here is the place where we happened upon love or here is a site of devastation. On one particular drive sometime in the late ‘90s we stopped at a tree with a plaque. “This tree looks dead,” I said to my father. “It sure is getting there, Julie.” The Comfort Maple is supposedly Canada’s oldest See COLUMN SIX Page 14
Part 2 of 2: Coronation to embarkation
BY VOICE STAFF
A construction error was discovered following the opening of a traffic calming chicane on Haist Street north of Hwy 20 last Monday that prevented large vehicles from passing through. One resident living in the neighbourhood said he contacted the Town after seeing a small schoolbus get stuck as it tried to get through the new traffic calming measure. Later that day while driving behind a cement truck, he said that he became concerned for the public’s safety when the truck had to turn around because it couldn’t get through. “If a small school bus and a cement truck can’t make it through what about a fire
BY HEATHER McLAREN ROHRER
Special to the VOICE
A
Repair measures underway last week to correct a construction error in the chicane. truck or an ambulance?” he said. While waiting for the contractor to return to fix
the mistake, the Town has taken measures to temporarily allow passage for vehicles through the neigh-
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bourhood in the short-term. Manager of Public Works Ryan Cook said that after discovering the issue with
the chicane the morning it first opened, the Town See CHICANE Page 5
Petition-inspired changes coming to 2017 Summerfest BY NATE SMELLE
The VOICE
Representatives from the Pelham Summerfest committee Candy Ashbee and Bill Gibson presented council with a final report on the 2016 Summerfest at the Council meeting on Monday, Nov. 21. Prompted by a story in the Voice in August about a merchant petition to move Summerfest from Pelham Street, in September Town staff met with various stakeholders to hear their complaints, promising at the time that changes in the way Summerfest was mounted would be con-
sidered. The main concerns identified during the community engagement process were security, parking, ensuring customer can access all businesses in town, and liability for damages. How to get all Pelham Street businesses to participate and finding ways to make it beneficial for them to set up a booth were also determined to be of high priority for the committee as they plan for next year’s event. Gibson told Council that the committee is addressing these concerns in a variety of ways. To improve parking, they intend to create bet-
ter signage for out-of-town visitors to designated parking areas and shuttle services. To make participation in Summerfest more enticing to local businesses, they plan to implement a tiered-charge for booths. Under the new system, Pelham Street business owners will be charged the least, other local businesses will pay a slightly higher fee, and vendors from outside Pelham will pay the most. In response to more specific issues for individual businesses, they will also slightly alter the footprint of the event and make adjustments to security. Another way the committee plans
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to improve the 2017 Summerfest is by sponsoring and working with the organizers of the Thursday Night Bandshell Concert series to select the artist performing on the first night of Summefest. They also intend to make more use of the smartphone app they launched in 2016. "We are really going to push it this year," Ashbee said. “It really helps to get people to see what events there are so they can plan out where they are going. We will be able to actually help the merchants and local businesses adSee CHANGES Page 5
FTER LUNCH ON Saturday, Mum and Dad had my afternoon cut out for me. Mum had more brass than anyone I knew, and it had to be cleaned. In addition there was the set of silver fish-knives and forks which were never used, but which had to be cleaned and put back in their velvetlined box. Next was a walk to the newsagents to pay for the daily delivery of the Daily Mirror. As I said, Dad was a printer, but when he was 37 he had been rejected for a job, as being too old, by the printers of the Beano. For that reason, my favourite comic was not allowed in the house, but while I was paying the papers, the newsagent let me have a 'shoofty' at the Beano. I'd explained my predicament and he understood completely. Sundays were different again. Dad would play golf on summer mornings and billiards in winter. Then he'd stop for a 'refresher' at the local and would pick up the prawns, cockles, winkles or whelks we'd be having for tea later. Meanwhile, Mum was roasting the 'joint' and potatoes. I got to make the Yorkshire pud, and mint
See COLUMN SIX Page 14
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While shopping in Fonthill between Friday and Sunday, keep an eye out for Beavers, Cubs and Scouts in front of local stores with bushels of apples. As part of the annual Apple Day campaign, Scouting youth of all ages will be trading apples for donations. The yearly fundraising drive is an important way for young Scouts to connect with the communities they are serving, says Leah Marie of Scouts Canada. “The Apple Day campaign holds a great tradition of being able to have youth interacting within the communities they live in,” she says. “All of the Apple Day donations stay directly within the group that re-
The goal is to have these youth develop into confident and well-rounded individuals
ceives them, enabling youth to have experiences that build character, challenge them, and allow them to try new things. The goal is to have these youth develop into confident and wellrounded individuals, better prepared for success. Apple Day helps to achieve that.”
“Any money raised during Apple Day goes towards improving the Scouting program by providing more outdoor adventures for youth, camping equipment, canoes and paddles, training and many other endeavours that the youth want to experience,” says Marie. Scouts Canada has some 100,000 members across Canada, and carries out programs for boys, girls
Joining their principal, Karen Simpson, at the Sept. 19 Council meeting as part of a delegation from EL Crossley Secondary School, students Abby Loewen and Neenah Williams presented Council with a list of reasons that they should immediately approve the construction of the new sidewalk proposed along Hwy. 20. The asphalt side-
walk/trail is slated to be built between the south side of the road from Timmsdale Crescent to the high school. Because of the large volume of motor vehicle traffic travelling at high speeds through this area, and because of the necessity for students to tread this path on a daily basis, many residents would like to see the sidewalk go in sooner than later. After delivering to Council a petition containing
Many residents would like to see the sidewalk go in sooner than later the names of 450 students calling for a safer walk to school, Simpson handed the
podium over to Loewen and Williams to plead their case. Loewen told Council that because there are a lot of students who have work placements and coop placements during the school year, this is the only route for many of them to travel. As one of the students facing this predicament, Williams said she has had no other option but to walk along the dangerous highway.
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and youth ages 5-25. This year the 3rd Fonthill Group, which includes Beavers to Ventures (youth ages 5- 25) will be hitting the streets to drum-up support. Over the weekend, Scouts will be set up in Fonthill outside Sobeys, Tim Hortons, Target Gas station, Fonthill Shopping Plaza and the Pioneer Gas station at the corner of Hwys 20 and 24.
Town Council approves sidewalk to serve E. L. Crossley BY NATE SMELLE
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Second year Beaver with the 3rd Fonthill Group, Russell Letford offers a fresh apple to shoppers in Pelham during the 2015 Apple Day campaign. SUPPLIED PHOTO A longtime Canadian tradition, Apple Day began in 1932 in Saint John, New Brunswick, when Scouts handed out 21,000 apples as a way to say thank you to the community. In return for their generosity, many people offered them donations. From then on Scouts have reached out through Apple Day to raise funds for their programs.
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Column Six It doesn’t get better than Autumn
Longtime Scouting tradition dates to 1932
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BY VOICE STAFF The District School Board of Niagara is requesting that the Town of Pelham cede a portion of Cherry Ridge Park for use as a soccer field to serve the students of the new Wellington Heights Public School, formerly the E. W. Farr Memorial Public School, in Fenwick. Currently under renovation and expansion, the new school will combine students and staff from the previous school and Pelham Centre, where classes are being held while construction continues. Two letters, containing virtually identical text but signed by different authorities, were sent last week to nearby residents of the park, as well as to parents of Pelham Centre students. “The DSBN is currently building onto Wellington Heights Public School on Alsop Drive,” states the letter. “The size of the school's addition means the existing small soccer field will be eliminated. The Town and the Board have been discussing the possibility of working together to create a field for both the school and the
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The Niagara Regional Police Service is committed to reducing impaired driving offences through education and the apprehension of offenders through enforcement programs like RIDE. Impaired driving is still the leading cause of criminal deaths in Canada and destroys thousands of lives every year.
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In an effort to bring further attention and deterrence to driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, the Niagara Regional Police Service reports the names of those people who are charged with an alleged criminal impaired driving offence in the Region. None of the following charges have been proved in court. In addition to being charged, these individuals are also bound by a Ministry of Transportation 90-Day Administrative Driver’s License Suspension and are prohibited from operating a motor vehicle on a roadway. The public is encouraged to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service Traffic Safety Hotline or Crime Stoppers to report those who are driving in contravention of the suspension. The following individuals have been charged criminally with impaired driving by alcohol or drugs, driving with a blood alcohol concentration above 80 mgs of alcohol in 100 ml of blood, or refusing to provide a breath / blood sample. John S. DOLHON, 71, Buffalo NY Gonzalo A. ALVAREZ, 39, St. Catharines Alicia R. BALICKI, 32, St. Catharines Zachary B. DOUGLAS, 24, Niagara Falls
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“I start work at 2:30 PM and school lets out at 2:15 PM so I can’t take any other route,” Williams explained. “I have had friends, family, teachers and other community members reach out to me in the past about how this is unsafe and how there should be another alternative for us.” Looking ahead to winter, when she will need to walk this path three or four times See SIDEWALK Page 2
HERE IS NO BETTER time to cycle than Fall. It matters not whether you’re new to the sport, a seasoned recreational cyclist, racer, touring rider or mountain biker; we all have reason to look forward to autumn. Summer’s heat has faded, and the streams of sweat that ran from soggy helmets into our eyes are now just slight perspiration. Fitness is peaking from lots of saddle time, making those tough climbs of Spring a breeze in Autumn. It’s hard to beat the feeling of beginning a crisp, cool Fall ride with a slight shiver, knowing your efforts will soon warm you perfectly. The hues of Autumn are outstanding. A Pelham route as simple as following our southern boundary is one that would make most Toronto cyclists jealous, especially when our forests and fields are ablaze with colour. Begin from Harold Black Park, and zig-zag south along Effingham Rd toward the Welland River. If you’re new to cycling, it’s important to know south is the direction away from any hills. If you avoid the morning and evening weekday rush hours caused by those travelling through Pelham between Wainfleet See AUTUMN Page 3
Indulgence Bakery Mossimo’s Pelham Street Grille Sobeys Fonthill Peter Piper’s Pubhouse DeVries Fruit Farm Beamer’s Hardware & TV Fonthill Library Black Pearl Fish & Chips Bob’s Boys Antiques Moku’s Family Health Pharmacy Fonthill Fitness Fenwick Pie Company McDonald’s Fonthill Legion Semenuk’s Gas Bar Target Store Tim Horton’s Giant Tiger Pelham Town Hall Pub on the Hill Zee Lube Express Care Lazy Loon Minor Bros Stores Avondale Stores A-1 Market Sobeys South Pelham Grill on Canboro Pelham Library Ridge Berry Farm Circle-K
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Poth Street culvert to remain unrepaired until 2019 Resident claims CAO told him: "You could sell your house and move." BY SAMUEL PICCOLO
The VOICE
An effort by Councillor Richard Rybiak to include the repair of Poth Street in the 2018 budget was defeated by Council last week, meaning that it will be at least 2019 before the road is re-opened. Only Councillor Catherine King voted with Rybiak. Town Staff recommended the project be deferred until 2019, as initially revealed in the draft budget released in December, but Poth resident Bruno Villalta was given the bad news even before this. On December 5, heavy winds felled a tree across a section of Poth, marooning several homes (including Villalta's) between the closed bridge and the fallen limbs. The next day Villalta, who is 75, went to Town Hall to speak with staff about the issue. "I talked to [Director of Public Works] Andrea Clemencio and the CAO [Darren Ottaway],” says Villalta. "And I was told that there wasn't any money, and that it wouldn't be done until 2019." Villalta says that he asked the two what he was supposed to do, explaining that his wife is in a wheelchair and that he has a heart condition. A fallen tree or heavy snowfall could mean that an ambulance can't reach them. There are currently several precarious looking trees along the same section of road. "And the CAO told me, 'Well, you could sell your house and move.'" (Neither Ottaway nor another Town staffer who witnessed the exchange responded to requests for comment. Just before press time, Pelham's Public Relations and Marketing Specialist, Marc Macdonald, confirmed that Ottaway and Villalta spoke, but that the CAO asserted he did not tell Villalta that he could sell his house if he was unhappy.) Villalta says that he doesn't want to sell his house. "I bought a property on a two-way street, not a one-way street." He says he knows that the Town isn't obligated to re-open the closed portion of the road, but had hoped that it would still move quickly. "When the trees were down, we were blocked in for forty-five minutes. Forty-five minutes—that's the
Town of Pelham CAO Darren Ottaway at a December Town Council meeting.
difference between living and dying," says Villalta. After the road was first closed last April, Villalta says that Mayor Augustyn told him that the road would be reopened within weeks. All throughout the summer and early fall, Villalta was told by the Town that repairs remained possible for 2017. When it became clear that a 2017 fix wasn’t going to happen, Villalta hoped for action in 2018. After Rybiak’s motion failed on Wednesday, the Mayor suggested that residents of Poth could “find solace” in trying to have their homes reassessed and their taxes reduced. To Villalta, this comment is tantamount to suggesting that homes are less valuable on Poth now that the Town won’t re-open the road, noting that the Town’s CAO has told him that if he doesn’t like the situation, he could sell his house and move, and the Town’s Mayor has told him that his house might not be worth as much anymore. Not only did the defeat of Rybiak’s motion last week indicate that the road won’t be reopened this year, there was some suggestion that Poth’s closure could be even lengthier. In written comments, Ottaway asked Council, “Is this repair going to create wealth? Do the nine
parcels generate wealth?” At a meeting with several Pelham residents earlier this month, Ottaway said, “Even if we had fifty billion in the bank, I’d be hard pressed to recommend that project to Council at this point. It doesn’t make any practical sense, whatsoever…Sulphur Springs is not a priority for us right now, and neither is Poth.” Ottaway said that residents of Poth need only turn the other way out of their driveways. Ottaway spoke of the “good old days,” when culverts could simply be put in the ground without extensive oversight. “Municipalities had done it on the cheap, resulting in accidents, lawsuits, and eventually government regulation. In order to meet the regulation, we’ve got to spend a million bucks.” Ottaway said that he’s just posing a question: “Is it a responsible use of taxpayers’ money to replace a culvert for one person because they chose to live in an area that is in a rural setting?” Ottaway asserted that he was only asking the question, not responding to it. But in the same meeting, he seemed to give an answer. “They’ve exercised their constitutional right to live wherever they want, and yet
now their expectation is that everyone else has to pay for that,” he said. “I don’t think that’s fair.” In this meeting, Ottaway called a home in the area a “bad investment.” “You chose to live there,” he said, addressing a hypothetical Poth resident. “That’s your problem. I’m sorry, that may sound harsh.” Ottaway said that residents in rural areas are subsidized by Fonthill residents, since the taxes paid by rural residents aren’t even enough to cover the cost of plowing snow on their streets. Villalta and his neighbour, Steve Jevcak, take issue with the suggestion that the repair boils down to whether spending the money in a rural area is a responsible investment. “It’s not the Township of Fonthill, it’s the Town of Pelham. We’re in Pelham,” says Jevcak, calling it a reasonable expectation that the Town maintain all of its roads, regardless of where they are inside of the boundaries. Rybiak expressed a similar sentiment during discussion in Council, after Mayor Augustyn and Councillor Gary Accursi speculated that spending the money to repair Poth was not the best use of funds. “I’m not sure that this expenditure is quite as discre-
They've exercised their constitutional right to live wherever they want, and yet now their expectation is that everyone else has to pay for that. I don't think that's fair.
tionary as some are suggesting,” said Rybiak. “This isn’t like we don’t have [the road] now, and we’re deciding where to spend the money or where it will make the biggest impact. We have a road. People live on a road. People who live there have particular needs and concerns. I think we ought to open it sooner rather than later.” Rybiak conceded that the proposed $1 million cost was a stumbling block for the project. Last week, several Councillors asked Director of Public Works Andrea Clemencio if any sort of less costly fix was possible. Clemencio said that it was not, though added that her department would continue to look at other options. Steve Jevcak went to Town Hall to talk about the repair of the culverts.
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“I’ve been inside them to look,” he said. “They’ve failed at the bottom and so the sides have constricted in. The culverts are smaller now, which is why the material above them sunk and the road caved in. But the way those culverts were built—with long bolts on the inside—was so that parts of them could be replaced. All you’d have to do with these is put jacking posts inside to push the walls apart, put the new piece over the failed one, and then re-align the shape of the culvert. Then pave the road and it’s good for another forty years. They’re not going anywhere.” Jevcak lived on the road when the existing culverts were installed. “They assembled them right on the street. We had See POTH STREET back page
Page 4
The Voice of Pelham, January 31 2018
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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 Taking care of Canada's veterans
I
MMEDIATELY AFTER the end of Word War II there was period of much appreciated peace that helped to heal the devastating after-effects of that terrible conflagration. Following the end of that war Canada downsized her military, as there appeared to be very few threats to the ensuing peace. Also, due to its relatively small population, the Country could not afford to maintain a large, costly armed services contingent. So in the years since 1944, Canada became well known and admirably acquitted herself as peacekeepers whenever international skirmishes broke out. Although having only a small military component, Canada could muster a unit to join a few others in response to a United Nations request for peace keepers. These were non-combatant roles and these units became internationally recognized as the Blue Berets. Their job was to serve as a type of police force and to be a buffer between some former combatants engaged in some type of dispute. However, a number of years ago the government of the time decided that Canadian troops could be used in more near-combative capac-
ities and thus abandon the reputation and former role as keepers of the peace. Thus, in the patois of warfare, these soldiers were again being put in harm’s way, although politicos avoided acknowledging these placements were in combat zones. Effectively, Canada hung up the blue berets in favor of combat helmets. Some Canadians were concerned with this dramatic about turn in the mission of Canada’s armed forces. One of the reasons behind that opposition was, and is, Canada’s poor record in taking care of her veterans. To put it bluntly, Canada has failed miserably in taking care of those who devote(d) their lives to protecting this Country. In his campaign to become Canada’s PM, Justin Trudeau was adamant about the federal government’s “sacred obligation” to those who fought and those who were injured in their service to Canada. At present, the urgency of that advocacy seems to have lost some momentum. While in the PM’s office, Steven Harper, in defending against a lawsuit launched by injured Afghan soldiers, argued that the government
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www.thevoiceofpelham.ca PUBLISHER & EDITOR Dave Burket publisher@thevoiceofpelham.ca NEWS WRITER Samuel Piccolo ADMINISTRATION Lori Gretsinger office@thevoiceofpelham.ca CONTRIBUTORS Carolyn Botari, Larry Coté, Nick Saltarelli, John Swart, Kirk Weaver
did not have a “sacred obligation” to veterans. Also, during his tenure, Harper replaced the lifetime pension for veterans with a one-time lump-sum payment. Actuaries reported that many of the veterans would outlive the value of that payment. Also, some advocates for veterans claim the pension amounts being discussed do not allow for any sort of viable retirement. The current government is making some progress with improvements to some veterans affairs programs. But, in the vernacular, it’s like pulling teeth. Hopefully, a unanimous Parliament will soon move quickly to introduce the necessary legislation that will insure the veterans who have served this great Country get fairly treated. Only then will justice be served. It should be an unarguable axiom that if Canada sends its enlisted men and women into any sort of harm’s way, then it is obliged to properly take care of these soldiers upon their return. Larry Coté is a retired professor of business. He was awarded a Governor General’s Medal for his community involvements.
Letters College, treat Pelser right I read Mr. Solomon’s and Mrs. Robb’s letters to the editor regarding Dr. Pelser and was very confused. Dr. Pelser admits he forgot to pay the membership fees when they were due. I personally spoke with the College’s Complaint Department. A gentleman called Darren stated the College would not suspend a doctor for failing to pay his dues on time — they would demand he pay them now. Dr. Pelser did so. The College then stated it wasn’t in a timely manner, and suspended him. Yes, Mr. Solomon, Dr. Pelser is not a Canadian citizen. So what? Over 790 new non-Canadian doctors were allowed to practise their trade in Ontario just in 2015. Dr. Pelser is not in a minority standing here.
You go on at length about the great College. One thing not mentioned is that the province granted the College a degree of self-discipline under the condition they must first and foremost act in the interests of the public. When Dr. Pelser was censured, appointments he had set up for his patients with specialists were declared void. A lady waiting to see a specialist as to possible breast cancer (she had waited four months so far, and another three more was due before the appointment time) now has to find a way to start all over again. And there were quite a few more cancelled specialist appointSee PELSER Page 5
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
Mayor of Pelham David Augustyn mayordave@pelham.ca 905-892-2607 Ext 317 Members of Pelham Town Council
Member of Provincial Parliament
Ward 1 Councillor Richard Rybiak rrybiak@pelham.ca 905-892-2105
Sam Oosterhoff, MPP 4961 King St. East, Unit M1 Beamsville, ON L0R 1B0 sam.oosterhoffco@pc.ola.org 905-563-1755
Councillor James Lane jlane@pelham.ca 905-892-2607
Electoral District: Niagara West-Glanbrook
Members of Niagara Regional Council Councillor David Augustyn mayordave@pelham.ca 905-892-2607 Ext 317 Councillor Brian Baty brian.baty@niagararegion.ca 905-892-5317 Town of Pelham 20 Pelham Town Square P.O. Box 400 Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0 905-892-2607
Ward 2 Councillor Catherine King cking@pelham.ca 905-658-8599
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Councillor Gary Accursi gaccursi@pelham.ca 905-892-5528 Ward 3 Councillor John Durley jdurley@pelham.ca 905-892-5388 Councillor Peter Papp ppapp@pelham.ca 905-328-6008
Community Centre project updates: www.pelham.ca/pcc
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OPINION Letters
FOLLOW THE MONEY By Jim Pitt
continued
PELSER continued from previous page ments we are aware of. How does that do no harm? Yes, Mrs. Robb, the doctor forgot to pay his dues on time. But, as I had explained to me by a representative of the College, they wouldn’t cancel or censure a member for that. They would merely tell him to pay right away — which he did. They censured him regardless. Dr. Pelser was told he could start practising again— once the College determined when the “start date” was going to be. This violates the College’s own Transparency Project rules. Try to get information on Dr. Pelser from the College. What’s the status of discussion matters as they are proceeding? Have they been added to the physician's profile? The Transparency Project rules (set by the College itself) state they will do so. Where is it? They refuse to speak about it. College, do the right thing. Follow your Transparency Project rules. Get off your collective behinds and stop playing demigods because you didn’t get your money on time. I spoke with three doctors to get medications my wife and I needed. They all asked what happened to our regular doctor. When we stated he was censured, and what for, they all shook
their heads. “I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes for the next year,” stated Doctor #1. “Well they’ll make him regret he didn’t jump when they said how high,” Doctor #2.
...stop playing demigods because you didn't get your money on time
“Those guys will make his life a living hell for as long as they want to,” Doctor #3. The College is living up to the doctors’ statements. We need a doctor we can go to for treatment. If we wanted to change doctors right now, it’s impossible. Our case histories are in Dr. Pelser’s files and he is forbidden to go to his office! And considering he has received no payment for services rendered since July 2017, how would you like to be in his shoes? With or without that ribbon tied around your finger! Dennis Cheel Fonthill
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UST LIKE THE BU Y ERS A RE extremely happy in a rising market, they have to appreciate that the same decision could go the other way.” Brad Carr, President, Mattamy Homes Canada. As I mentioned in a previous column, many rules have changed since January 1 regarding the purchase of a house in Canada. These rules were imposed to attempt to restore order in a chaotic housing market that has been rising to levels that are putting people into financial peril. As I write this, debt levels in Canada have reached even more highs and the results of this debt binge are beginning to show. An Ipsos survey discovered that 33% of debt holders can’t make regular payments. Forty-eight percent of those surveyed said they have less than $200 left at the end of the month. Four in 10 say they have borrowed too much. One in 5 have credit card balances higher than their life savings. Forty percent of all mortgages come up for renewal this year. Interest rates have gone from 0.50% to 1.25% in six months. Variable rate loans, home equity loans, lines of credit and variable rate mortgages are all more expensive now. A 1% increase in interest rates requires an additional 8.3% of income to make the payment on an average mortgage in the GTA. To get approved for a mortgage re-
quires passing a stress test that adds 2% to the mortgage rate, meaning most borrowers will have to prove they can pay a mortgage at 5.54%. The average Ontario resident owed $154,000 in 2016. Paying down that debt cost an average of $12,500 per year. This will rise to $15,500 by 2021. Many municipalities have also acquired an enormous level of debt on the expectation that this market will pay for all of their expensive projects. But how did we get here? After the Great Recession of 200809, central banks dropped interest rates to encourage spending and to discourage saving. People were given access to cheap money with few questions asked. This cheap money encouraged a spending spree in Canada that saw house valuations rise to ever higher levels. Governments, large and small, used this mania to push up costs to new developments by raising land prices and development fees and by maximizing the number of units built on the land. Condominiums were seen as the way to really get the most bang for the buck. As housing prices continued to rise, money was borrowed or gifted from the Bank of Mom and Dad or secured through 2nd or even 3rd mortgages at high rates of interest. This became the new normal. It’s truly different this time everyone said, especially the real
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estate industry. People tend to follow the herd. It’s easier to go along with the majority of one's peers. Decision-making is simplified if we are all doing the same thing. This mentality explains
A 1% increase in interest rates requires an additional 8.3% of income to make the payment on an average mortage in the GTA the proliferation of SUVs on the road. It also explains Bitcoin, social media and distrust of news sources. It also is the reason housing is just like any other investment. When it’s rising, everyone, including local municipalities, jumps on board. When it’s falling, everyone will try to run for the exits. Some, like a municipality, will have See FOLLOW THE MONEY next page
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NEWSFLASH Tell us your story! Column Six presents tales of personal triumph, adventure, strange-but-true stories, life-changing events, and looks-back at our past. Did you conquer Everest or kick a bad habit? Did you meet your spouse-to-be in jail or on an African safari? Do you know where Hoffa’s buried? Write it down, send it in: publisher@thevoiceofpelham.ca (You won’t get rich, but you will get paid.)
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The Voice of Pelham, January 31 2018
Letters
continued
Monologues didn't adhere to the suggested script
FOLLOW THE MONEY continued from previous page nowhere to turn but to the local taxpayer (or banks with blinders on, willing to make risky loans). Most will have to cut spending, or let go of workers, or both. And it's unlikely that Sunshine Listers will be the first to go. Whitby, Ontario is just down the road from the town where I grew up. It was a nice town with great older homes and a good,
The students who wrote the scripts spoke their own written words, heartfelt, gathered from their own personal feelings
dustrial, on the residents of the Town of Pelham, as well as the effects of development on the town's environment. It is a good thing the Mayor did not attend. He may have been disappointed. The message the students were conveying to the audience would not be in line with the message I understand the Mayor is preaching to the residents of our town. What I came away with, after the curtain fell, was that the students were more in favour of keeping the small-town look of Pelham, rather than, as Joni Mitchell sang, the paving of paradise. Pamela Robb Fonthill
solid industrial jobs base. The town—or city now, I suppose—is situated about 35 minutes from downtown Toronto, on a good day. It has GO train service, Highway 401 and access to Highway 407, which has just been extended. It is a commuter town and it has grown a lot over the last few years. Mattamy Homes is one of the largest house builders in North America, the largest in Canada. They have built homes all over the GTA and
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Doesn't buy bullying claim
that current development actions of this Town Council have had on the minds of the young residents of our town. The students wrote the scripts and performed the scenes with the theme of the effects of development, residential and in-
I attended the presentation last week at E. L. Crossley High School, an unnamed production written and performed by Ms. Benson's drama class. The production, according to Ms Benson, didn't get an abundance of rehearsal time. Still, to the students' credit, each scene flowed fluidly and the dialogue was well written and articulated. Yes, overall, the play may have lacked a bit of spit and polish, but this production totally made up for it with sincerity, honesty, and raw personal emotion. The students who wrote the scripts spoke their own written words, heartfelt, gathered from their own personal feelings, and the personal information and emotions they were able to soak up from interviewing or listening to local folks who were invited into their classroom to speak. I was surprised to hear from Ms. Benson, during a wrap-up discussion at the end of the play, that Mayor Augustyn had been one of the guests invited into their classroom. Mayor Augustyn, as an invited guest, took the opportunity on that day to give the students his version and vision of development in Pelham. I got the impression from Ms. Benson’s description of the Mayor's time with the students that he put on a very "corporate"- type dog-and-pony show presentation, with lots of visuals of the new community centre, and a speech about the wonderful attributes it will bring our community. I don't doubt his words were sincere and spoken from his heart. I noticed the Mayor of Pelham did not attend the production, and Pelham Town Councillors were no-shows too. I cannot dispel the thought that our Town Council missed a valuable opportunity to see for themselves the impression
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continue to do so. Last January they opened Phase 1 of Queens Common, 100 lots located off the new Highway 412 that links the 401 to the 407. Phase 2 of this development has just been announced and purchasers of Phase 1 are shocked to see that the same houses, on the same sized lots, are being sold for up to $90,000 less than what they paid a year earlier. Neither Phase has begun; it’s all just dirt for now. But these houses should be built by February 2019. It seems the new house
I look at people who keep reaching into my pockets for more money as bullies. That is exactly what the Town has done and they expect us to smile and thank them for having a vision of a traffic-snarled little suburb with a nice hockey rink that cost twice as much as it should and half as much as what they can afford. And the Mayor feels like he is the one being bullied. Okay then. Jonny Haub Via Facebook
Pelham DEBT meets with Town staff In early January, the DEBT Committee extended an invitation to Mayor Augustyn and staff to attend a meeting to discuss the many outstanding questions that have accumulated over the past two years. On January 10 we received a response from the Town Clerk that a convenient time for that meeting was Friday Jan 12. The time was changed three times to accommodate staff and the Mayor. The meeting was set for 1 PM. However, at 10:30 Friday morning we received an email stating the Mayor would not be attending. We proceeded with the meeting discussing some of our questions with the CAO, Town Treasurer and Town Clerk. As we outlined at the beginning of that meeting, there were many taxpayer questions that have arisen from: 1) the East Fonthill development; 2) the rapid increase in Town debt, both long and short term; 3) the depletion of our reserves and the fact that councillors seemed to be unaware of this fact until a closed-door Sept. 5 meeting; 4) the questions raised by examination of both KPMG reviews. The DEBT Committee represents concerned citizens of Pelham who still have questions, many of which arose after reviewing the KPMG report. We were disap-
market in Whitby, a highly desirable place for commuters to live, has slowed down since the new rules and higher interest rates have come into effect. Mattamy Homes is a large company. It probably purchased the land for this development when prices were much lower. It can afford to lower prices and still turn a profit, so long as prices don’t continue to drop. “Company president Brad Carr says some housing developments stall when the market dips and Phase One buyers should be happy
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pointed when the Mayor and Town Councillors withdrew their support for the Town Hall type meeting they had promised to hold. The fact that councillors claim they have done enough is further evidence that they are ignoring the concerns of the taxpayers who elected them, and of their unwillingness to address these concerns. This assertion, and their vote not to hold a follow-up meeting, was done prior to some of the councillors having read the contents of the two KPMG reports for which we have paid close to $100,000. There are many questions that have been accumulating over the past two years. At our meeting on Jan.12, given time constraints and the absence of the Mayor, we asked only a few of the questions that need answers. After our meeting, the DEBT Committee felt further clarification was needed on some of the answers we received and we have sent a list of these to the Town Clerk. We are awaiting the replies. Once we have received those answers, we will disseminate the responses to you, the taxpayers. We look forward to setting up future meetings with the Town to discuss the remaining questions. Nancy Beamer Pelham DEBT
Mattamy is pushing forward.” (CBC News) The message here is that Mattamy Homes doesn’t have to build these houses and probably won’t if it doesn’t make financial sense. In a rising market the developer can simply pass on the extra costs imposed by municipalities to the buyer. In a falling market the builder must absorb the costs or wait it out and build when the market conditions are more favourable. There are only two reasons I can think of for people to buy a house two years before it is to be built. Either they are suffering from FOMO, fear of missing out, and have decided they better buy anything now or be priced out forever; or they are speculating that house values will go up even more and they could sell the unfinished home for a profit. Either way, the best thing that could happen for them would be for Mattamy Homes to cancel the project due to diminishing profits, refund their deposits and consider themselves lucky
to walk away financially unscathed. This should serve as a cautionary tale. If you are in the market for a house, wait. If you got pre-approved prior to the rule changes it would still make sense to wait until prices are more affordable and selection is greater. There is no need to rush into anything. Prices are falling. Many people are in way over their heads. Mortgages have to be renegotiated at higher rates. The market may very likely become saturated with houses for sale. The rush for the exits by the herd will become a stampede. Remember, the herd rushed into this market when prices were high. The herd isn’t really that clever. For municipalities that have banked land sales and development fees into their budgets in order to offset the ridiculous tax increases they keep adding onto every year, I hope they have a Plan B; but somehow I don’t think they, like the rest of the herd, are smart enough to be that forward-thinking.
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Page 7
Reborn Maple Acre celebrates first birthday Library branch's million-dollar makeover pays off BY SAMUEL PICCOLO
The VOICE
The Pelham Public Library’s Maple Acre Branch celebrated its birthday last Tuesday, marking the first anniversary of its re-opening after the construction of a new wing. “I had my grandkids with me today, and we just had to stop by,” said Kathy Gorman, who lives in Fonthill. “I had a birthday card in the car, but thought that it was a bit much.” Gorman’s grandchildren, Lukas and Marissa, had become so engrossed at the Fenwick branch, playing with other kids in the children’s section, that they hadn’t wanted to go back to the Fonthill branch, where an “Art Buddies” event was ongoing. Plus there were cookies. “I’ve only had one,” said Lukas, as he stood between the counter and the cookie cart. Circulation clerk Brynley Eckhart smiled, and said that she thought he had exerted impressive self-control. “I would have had a lot more than that,” she admitted. In 2013, the possibility of Maple Acre’s shuttering provoked an uproar in Fenwick, and eventually Coun-
cil authorized a $1 million renovation and addition to the branch. Part of the old building was demolished and replaced with a much larger modern structure attached to a heritage wing. “On snowy days before, we might have seen just five people—and that’s for an eight-hour shift,” said Eckhart. She turned to Library CEO Kirk Weaver for the exact new numbers. “We were at 20,000 in 2017,” said Weaver. “The last time that the Maple Acre Branch had the same kind of hours that we have was in 2012. That year there were only 8400 people in the library.” Weaver attributed this to
Delicious cookies sang their siren song to Lukas Gorman, who courageously resisted temptation.
VOICE PHOTO
See REBORN Page 11
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The Voice of Pelham, January 31 2018
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The Voice of Pelham, January 31 2018
CHANGE IS IN THE AIR It was unseasonably warm and sunny on Sunday, the sort of January day that can lull the unwary into believing that spring is just around the corner. The literal corner in this case was Lametti Drive and Riley Avenue, two streets you’ve probably never heard of. That’s because they’re inside the new East Fonthill development, officially closed to all but construction vehicles. These buildings look nearly finished. Soon the siding will be up and the sod laid down. But spring wasn’t around the corner after all. Environment Canada put out a special weather statement on Sunday night, and by Monday afternoon the flakes were back. There’s surely more to come before it’s safe to lay down that sod.
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The Voice of Pelham, January 31 2018
Letters
continued
MPP offers help with Pelser situation Back in early October of 2017, my office started receiving a large volume of calls and emails from concerned patients of Dr. Pelser, whose certificate of registration expired due to failure to renew. I know there has been some confusion in the community regarding this matter, and I hope to answer some of the questions that have been brought up. Attempts from my office to reach Dr. Pelser’s office were unsuccessful, and so my office contacted a liaison at the College of Physician and Surgeons. The College could not provide my staff with specific information due to privacy reasons; however, they did outline the renewal process for all doctors in Ontario. If a doctor has a private practice, he is required to renew his license on a yearly basis on or before June 1st. The College of Physician and Surgeons makes every effort to remind doctors of their renewal date, and for
whatever reason Dr. Pelser did not renew his license. The College has recommended that should you require a new family physician, you may contact their Advisory Services Department at 1-800-268-7096 ext. 603 and they will assist you in finding a doctor in the area who is accepting patients or accessing your medical records. Or, contact my office at 1-800265-3697 and we will do our best to connect you with a local family doctor. As your local MPP, I will continue to work toward assisting Dr. Pelser in renewing his license with the College of Physician’s and Surgeons; however, our office has yet to hear from Dr. Pelser directly. Should Dr. Pelser choose to contact my office, I will do everything possible to assist him. I am committed to ensuring that all citizens, and in particular our frail seniors get the medical help they need. Sam Oosterhoff, MPP Niagara West - Glanbrook
NURSERY HELP Greenhouse/Nursery Maintenance nursery growing container grown perennials,
Wholesale vines,Large flowering shrubs, nursery, evergreens & dwarf trees seekinghas a wholesale greenhouse operation individuals whoopen desire career in horticulture. We are in position in atheir maintenance department. Person need must of general as with well as those skilled in the have labourers experience repair and maintenance of growing, managementElectrical, and shipping of nursery stock. greenhouses. plumbing, carpentry, welding Plant and knowledge experience an asset. youan areasset. other and handyman skillsis would also If be an individual skills and Candidate dedication must Licenseswho arehas notorganizational necessarily required. as well as agood willingness to work as a team player, we look have organizational and communication skills and forward to hearing from you. Wages will commensurate good work habits. Excellent compensation and benefit with experience. Resumes maywith be dropped of between package commensurate qualifications. Pleasethe send in hours confidence of 8:00a.m.-4:30p.m. Thursday 8:00a.m a completeMonday resumetowith salary or history to: -12:00 noon on Fridays at:
Willowbrook Willowbrook Nurseries Nurseries Inc. Inc.
Attention: Human Resources 935Victoria Victoria Ave., Fenwick, ON ON L0S1C0 935 Ave., R.R.#4, Fenwick, Attention: Human Resources Or email: jane@willowbrooknurseries.com No phone calls please. 8AM-4PM, Fri: 8AM-12N Office hours: Mon-Thur, thank you for your No(We phone calls please. Weapplication, would like however to thank all applications, only those considered will be notified.) although only those considered will be notified.
NURSERY HELP STAFF OFFICE SUPPORT
Glynn A. Green holds reading day BY VOICE STAFF Glynn A. Green Elementary School held a community reading day last Friday, inviting Pelham residents from varying occupations to speak about their jobs to a class and to read a story. Glynn A. Green principal Pam Voth said that she has organized these days at her past schools in honour of family literacy day, which fell on Saturday. “All of the kids were so engaged,” said Voth. “Literacy is about more than just reading. It’s about listening and communicating.” One of the visitors for the day was Kyle Dunkley from Meridian Credit Union, and Voth said that this meant that the students even got to learn about financial literacy. “Kyle was the most nervous, because he had never done anything like this before. And he was the one that the class kept in there for forty minutes, asking questions. I had to pull him out because the bell was go-
Sugar/Wax. Professional Body Sugar and wax is a safe, gentle and Pelham Fire Prevention Officer Will Underwood sparks some conversation. effective solution to hair extraction for men and women. student’s archaeologist fastudents had their eyes ing to ring.” opened that their might be ther, and Voth’s son, a film Students also heard from a job for them there somestudent at Niagara College. the library’s Jennifer BenLA’s and BA’s are available. “We had someone from time down the road. It was nett, Pelham’s fire prevenVOICE PHOTO
tion officer Will Underwood, Mayor Dave Augustyn, a
Habitat for Humanity come in,” said Voth. “Our senior
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Wholesale nursery looking for Office Support Staff for the Wholesale nursery growing container grown perennials, shipping season. Responsibilities vines, spring/summer flowering shrubs, evergreens & dwarf trees seeking would include assisting shipping, data entry, preparing individuals who desire in a career in horticulture. We are trucking in paperwork, printing tags, andasgeneral office duties. need of general labourers as well those skilled in the The successful applicant possess good organizational growing, management andmust shipping of nursery stock. be capable of multi-tasking and be Ifable work as Plant skills, knowledge and experience is an asset. youtoare part of awho team. position would working longer an individual has The organizational skillsrequire and dedication spring season. Position as wellhours as a during willingness to shipping work as a team player, we could look lead to to full-time office will commensurate forward hearing fromemployment. you. WagesWages will commensurate with experience. can beofemailed with experience. ResumesResumes may be dropped betweento thejane@ dropped off between the hours hours willowbrooknurseries.com, of 8:00a.m.-4:30p.m. Monday to Thursday or 8:00a.m 8AMon to Fridays 4PM, Mon-Thur, or 8AM-12N, Fri, or mailed to: -12:00ofnoon at:
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www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
great.”
continued
Saviours, now's the time Has anyone stepped up to run against the Mayor? We need to be reading about them NOW to form opinions of what they stand for and their accomplishments running a growing town. So many questions and no straight answers ...other than we have NO expendable cash left. No new trees, no fixing potholes, basically one way into town and one way out. Would love to hear candidates' answers to our numerous problems. Surely these councillors are to replaced at the same time. We thought we were moving to a great little community, but then again where we came from our leader was “Hurricane Hazel,”and
like her or lump her she listened, acted or gave you a
So many questions and no straight answers
great reason “why not.” My goodness, this tax increase is immoral! John and Linda Graham Fonthill
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Wholesale nursery growing container grown perennials, vines, flowering shrubs, evergreens & trees is seeking individuals who Wholesale nursery growing container grown perennials, like to flowering work with shrubs, plants. evergreens We have opportunities for part time vines, & dwarf trees seeking (April, May, June) and fulla time positions. Plant knowledge individuals who desire career in horticulture. We areand in experience is an asset but notas necessary. We have openings in need of general labourers well as those skilled in the the following areas: • Grower, Management, • Tag Printing, growing, management and • shipping of nursery stock. • Tagging Plants, and • Shipping. If you isareananasset. individual who are has Plant knowledge experience If you organizational as well as a willingness to work an individual skills whoand hasdedication organizational skills and dedication as awell teamasplayer, we look forward to hearing fromplayer, you. Wages will as a willingness to work as a team we look be commensurate withfrom experience. Resumes be emailed to forward to hearing you. Wages willmay commensurate jane@willowbrooknurseries.com or dropped off between the hours with experience. Resumes may be dropped of between the of 8:00a.m.-4:00p.m. Monday to Thursday 8:00a.m -12:00 noon hours of 8:00a.m.-4:30p.m. Monday to or Thursday or 8:00a.m on Fridays at: on Fridays at: -12:00 noon
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The Voice of Pelham, January 31 2018
Page 11
REBORN continued from Page 7
Presenting their donation to Wellspring Niagara. From left, Branch Manager Kelly Sauriol, Wellspring Executive Director Ann Mantini-Celima, Pen Financial CEO Ken Janzen, and credit union board member Reg Sonnenberg. DENIS CAHILL PHOTO
As one bank branch sets to close, another opens continued from Page 1 as many local businesses as possible in the construction of the new Fonthill branch. Sonnenberg handed over to Pen Financial CEO Ken Janzen. “I have notes too—not because I’m nervous, but because if I didn’t I’d go on for a day,” Janzen joked. He touted Pen Financial’s committment to local charities, saying that “fifty percent of every ATM transaction will be donated.” Murmurs arose in the crowd. “I mean fifty cents!” said Janzen with a laugh. “That’s why they write these things down.” Janzen also announced Pen Financial’s planned donation of $25,000 to its future neighbour, Wellspring Niagara, the cancer support service currently constructing its new centre a few hundred metres from the bank. He introduced Ann Mantini-Celima, the executive director of Wellspring Niagara. “We receive no government funding, and so rely on these sorts of partnerships in the community,” she said, before detailing some of the services that Wellspring offers to those suffering from cancer. The bank has been involved in other charitable efforts in the area, and Janzen mentioned specifically the Rotary Club’s Mudfest held last year. “I wouldn't say that I was proud to participate—it’s a young man’s game,” said Janzen, though reassured the room that his personal reservations about the Mudfest didn’t lessen Pen Financial’s commitment to the cause. The first politician to speak was Regional Chair Alan Caslin, who said that he had first started with Pen Financial in 1970, when he was a paper boy. “When I’m talking about
the credit union, I don’t need notes,” said Caslin, emphasizing his personal connection to the bank. He outlined the history of the company, saying that it was started because none of the major banks were willing to make the accommodations that farmers in Niagara needed. Caslin also spoke highly of the bank’s place in East Fonthill, and said that he was happy to see the crowded room. “I see people I’m proud to be friends with,” said Caslin. Following Caslin, it was Pelham Mayor Augustyn’s turn to speak. He also lauded the bank’s charitable efforts. Instead of the conventional ribbon cutting, a leaf garland was strung out in front of the tellers’ counter. Pen Financial representatives joined the politicians in snipping away. The branch has big, west-facing windows, and the photographers present were shifting around, directing the scissor-wielding group to move forward and
back, into and out of the afternoon sunlight. “Please eat!” Sauriol told the crowd once the photos had been snapped, pointing at the tables laden with cheeses, sandwiches, and vegetables. Wine was served in real glasses. Fenwick resident Mike Tucker, working on his second or third sandwich, denied that he was at the event solely for the food, and drew attention to a paper on the main desk. “I came to sign the sheet for Fenwick residents,” said Tucker. “Because RBC is closing, they want to see if they can do something.” Though Tucker doesn’t bank with Pen Financial, he said that he was supporting the effort given the importance of having a bank in Fenwick. Pen Financial’s Rhonda Taylor said that the bank is very much in preliminary stages of thinking about Fenwick, but said that RBC’s planned departure was noted. “We know that residents are concerned, and we want
to hear from them,” she said. “We have no preconceived ideas, and we are making no promises, but we do want to get a group of Fenwick residents together and hear from them. Maybe there’s something that we can do.” Elsewhere in the room, enough attendees had filtered out that it was again possible to move without jostling others, although two guitarists playing in a corner were drowned out by the hubbub. In addition to the wine and guitars, Pen Financial was ambitious in its party planning, with caricature artist Caroline Holroyd also on hand to draw pictures. One unwilling subject—the Voice reporter who wrote this article— tried to talk his way out of the treatment, but she promised him that it would only take a moment and quickly started drawing with a Sharpie, looking up at him and then down at the page. “You’re one of a kind,” she said to him in reassuring tones. “You’ve never met another you, have you?”
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the many options that the new building provides. “The library isn’t just a place for books anymore. It’s a public space—so we have a meeting room, and children’s area, and this lounge area. We can have events here now, so we have a kids book club and a science buddies program. Some of the enrolment in these programs is higher here than in Fonthill,” he said, sitting in the lounge area. Weaver credited the library’s staff for the creation of interesting programming and for attracting residents to the new branch, and said that they’re always looking for ways to improve. Fenwick resident Lynn Shatford waved hello to Weaver. “Happy anniversary,” she said to him. Weaver thanked her and reminded her that she and her family had been the first visitors to the branch upon its re-opening a year ago. “That’s right,” said Shatford. “It’s been a great year— this place is so wonderful.” On Tuesdays, Weaver works out of the Maple Acre, which he says is a nice change from Fonthill. Previously, the branch was open just two days a week, and with one staff member. “Now that it’s bigger and we have more people coming through, we have two librarians here whenever it’s open. They really love it here, don’t they?” he said, turning to Eckhart. “Maybe I should go out of the room when you answer.” Eckhart laughed. “I was one of the librarians working here before the renovations, and now we all get to work here at least one shift a week,” she said. She pointed to the floor-to-ceiling windows at the library’s front. “There’s so much natural light here, and the carpet is so comforting.” Lukas Gorman stood on that carpet in his socks.
In addition to programming, Weaver explained that the library had initiated a “roaming collection,” meaning that instead of remaining at one branch, books and movies are cycled between the two branches. “This way someone will be able to come here and not see the same titles all of the time. We want to find ways to have people come into the branch. Because if they come once, they’re probably going to come back,” he said. Kathy Gorman lives in Fonthill, though her grandchildren live in Fenwick, giving her enough reason to visit Maple Acre. Just before the library closed at five, she was still in the children’s room with Lukas and Marissa. “I want to go,” said Marissa. “I want to stay,” said Lukas. “All right,” said Gorman. “How about two more minutes?” Lukas and Marissa nodded in agreement and went back to tinkering with their toys. Both of them go to school in Fenwick, and Gorman said that the library’s close proximity to the newly reopened Wellington Heights Elementary School meant that a lot of students stop in the library on their way home from school. Gorman worked at a school herself, teaching for many years at E. L. Crossley after beginning her career at Welland High. “Things were different in those days, but we had such respect for the immigrant families,” she said. “A mother came in on parents night, dragging her troublemaking son by the ear. ‘If my Frankie does anything wrong, you tell me,’ she said. Well, we felt a little sorry for Frankie after that.” She looked down at Marissa, who was now pretending to cut through a table with a plastic saw. “All right, it’s time to let the librarians go,” she said. “And grandma has roast chicken for you at home.”
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Page 12
The Voice of Pelham, January 31 2018
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WALKING CLUB This ad is to be printed by all participating Ontario papers Interested walking in Pelham? JoinEvents them Tuesdays at the Pelham Arena Places of inWorship and from 9-10 am and Thursdays at Fonthill Bandshell for 9-10:30 am. There First Presbyterian Tidings Church of God please contact jcook@ Pelham Evangelical Friends Church is no Church fee for this program. For Glad more information, 602 Metler Rd., Fenwick 1 Pancake Lane, Fonthill 940 Haist St., Fonthill pelham.ca or call 905 892-2607, ext 329. Fonthill Baptist Church 1414 Pelham St., Fonthill
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OPP clears Conservation Authority of criminality BY VOICE STAFF The Ontario Provincial Police announced last week that it has concluded its investigation into the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. The OPP was asked by the Niagara Regional Police Service to look into the NPCA in November 2016, following the publication of activist Ed Smith’s “A Call for Accountability at the NPCA.” In his document, Smith alleged that contracts had been improperly swapped at the Authority, and that the organization was riddled with conflicts of interest. In response, the NPCA and its former CAO Carmen D’Angelo sued Smith for defamation. Though Justice James Ramsay ruled late last year that key allegations made by Smith were untrue, he also threw out the suits, saying that Smith had not demonstrated malice and that a governmental organization should not be suing its critics. A press release last week from the NRP said that the OPP’s Anti-Rackets Branch, “led by a Major Case Manager of the Criminal Investigation Branch, conducted an investigation and have concluded there is no evidence of criminal wrongdoing.” NRP Chief Bryan MacCulloch said that he would like to “personally thank the investigative teams involved for their thorough investigation and attention to bringing
this matter to a conclusion.” Following the announcement, Smith said that he was confident that the OPP completed a thorough investigation, though said that he remains critical of the NPCA. “While the fact that no criminal wrongdoing was discovered is encouraging, it is important to note that there are still many unanswered questions about the management of the NPCA and their use of our tax dollars,” said Smith. Smith criticized the Authority’s depiction of the OPP’s announcement. “Once again the NPCA leadership has used language in a fashion that tends to obfuscate the truth,” he said. “The OPP found ‘no criminal wrongdoing’, that is not the same as finding ‘no wrongdoing’ as the NPCA headline states. The two are very different issues.” Smith disputed the NPCA’s assertion that the judge had found all of his criticisms to be without merit. “The Justice actually found that many—most—of the issues in my report were actually not challenged by the NPCA,” said Smith, whose report took aim at the NPCA’s environmental policy and governance practises. “There were never any allegations of corruption,” he said. NPCA Chair Sandy Annunziata shot back at Smith, taking issue with his suggestion that the core of his complaints were about poli-
cy and governance. "Mr. Smith continues his habitual pattern of deliberately misleading the public,” said Annunziata. “The OPP Anti-Rackets Branch does not launch investigations simply because a resident ‘has questions on governance.’ It does so when allegations of corruption and criminality are made and pushed its way. Mr Smith’s back-pedalling on his motives is astonishing considering the amount of public resources wasted in investigating his baseless claims.” In a 2016 email to Regional Councillor Brian Heit, Smith wrote that he had submitted his report to the Peel Police Fraud Squad, and that an officer from that department had recommended that he also go to the NRP. At the time, Niagara Region was considering hiring Carmen D’Angelo, who had previously led the NPCA, as its new CAO. “What if you were to find out that he is the subject of a police investigation,” wrote Smith to Heit. “Is that enough for you guys to make a reasonable case to at least defer this?” In its failed suit, the NPCA alleged that Smith’s motive was to “harm Mr. D’Angelo’s prospects of being hired” as the Region’s CAO. Last week, Smith said that in his email to Heit he was repeating what he had been told as he un-
derstood it. “I did not send it to the public, and certainly never expected it to be made public. I have not made allegations of fraud and corruption against the NPCA, in fact I have tried to be careful not to.” Annunziata said that the NPCA only disputed in court the allegations that it considered to be libellous, and countered Smith’s other concerns with policy announcements. In addition to announcing a one million trees initiative, and launching the I (Heart) NPCA campaign, the authority has attributed confusion over its role to the ongoing renegotiation of responsibilities with the Niagara Region. Regional Councillor and NPCA board member Tony Quirk confirmed that the Auditor General continues to review the Authority, and said that he was pleased that “both Judge Ramsay and the OPP have confirmed there is no corruption or criminal activity at the NPCA.” Quirk was confident that that the Auditor General’s report will vindicate the NPCA, saying that he expects it to further confirm “that the NPCA has evolved from an agency in crisis in 2010 to a competent organization today.” Pelham Regional Councillor and NPCA board member Brian Baty said that the announcement provided “an incredible amount
of relief from the relentless attacks on the NPCA during months of allegations, and uninformed councillors and councils making motions of censure without any recourse for NPCA Board members or staff to refute these allegations, and external calls to appoint an auditor and even a provincial supervisor.” He added, “The recent update to the provincial Conservation Authorities Act confirms best practices that are already in place at NPCA. The OPP report confirms that we have acted within the law in all regards, and the anticipated Auditor General Audit has been embraced by all 15 NPCA Board members and staff as we anticipate a comprehensive and positive outcome by June of this year on all aspects of our operations over the last several years through a value-for-money audit.” In addition to the OPP’s announcement, the NPCA last week revealed the cost of its failed lawsuit against Smith. Despite previous indications that the information would not be forthcoming, the NPCA’s board decided to reveal the cost, which it said totalled $146,757. The NPCA was ordered by Ramsay to pay Smith $131,076 for his legal costs, bringing the entire cost of the ordeal to nearly $280,000. Smith said that he is looking forward to the results of the Auditor General’s report.
Page 14
The Voice of Pelham, January 31 2018
OBITUARY
In Loving Memory of Eva It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Eva (Schlarb) Jason in her 87th year. She peacefully and contentedly was welcomed into the loving arms of her saviour Jesus, knowing she was surrounded by her family, early Friday, Jan 12th, 2018. She leaves behind her devoted loving husband, Robert A. Jason, her loving sons Fred (Heidi) and Chris (Sherri) and her seven grandchildren: Rachel, Erik, Ben, Rebecca, Caleb, Jared and Gracie, who loved their Oma deeply. She was born in Rajevo Selo of German stock in the former Yugoslavia in 1930 and then moved with her family to Schlarbhofen (Rosenheim) in Germany. After immigrating to Canada, Eva met the love of her life, Robert, in Ottawa while working as a translator. They started their family and moved to St. Catharines where Robert was a history teacher. Then they built a house in Fenwick and lived here for 40 years and raised a family. Eva is in her Eternal Home now with Jesus.
Councillor John Durley studies the 2018 budget.
BUDGET
a problem, are going to do it there, too? Once it’s started, where would it end?” Lane responded. In addition to the changes that brought the budget to a 3.5 percent increase, Quinlin also listed items that Council could choose to further reduce. Councillors did not have an appetite for these additional cuts. “I don’t know that I’d be comfortable with the other reductions,” said Mayor Dave Augustyn. “You’re getting very close to the bone here.” Council eventually voted in favour of the changes that would allow for a 3.5 percent increase, with the inclusion of the gypsy moth money for this year. In the budget changes that Council did approve,
continued from Page 1 tions to 3.5 percent, but with putting the gypsy moth back in.” Councillor Jim Lane disagreed. “I’m not sure that $10,000 in the big scheme of things is going to do much on the gypsy moth population,” he said. “If you’re going to do something, be aggressive, don’t just throw ten thousand bucks at it.” Director of Public Works Andrea Clemencio clarified that the money was to go towards a specific area, where residents had complained about Town trees in a park. “If you’re going to do an isolated area, and someone else in an isolated area has
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Quinlin outlined a series of alterations to human resources costs that, despite basically netting out to nothing, resulted in substantial discussion. First, there was confusion as to which positions Quinlin was referring to, since she used different names for the community centre positions than did Human Resources Director Paula Gilbert. Gilbert and Quinlin had a brief, indirect disagreement, where Gilbert said that she used standardized terms, and that she “didn’t know where” Quinlin had got her terminology. Quinlin responded, several times, by saying that she was using the terms from the senior management team discussion.
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca After the semantics were tamed, Council looked further at the staffing of the community centre. The week before, staff told Council that an information desk employee had been cut from the budget, but this time the desk had been added back in. “Why could we not consider using volunteers for this service?” asked Councillor Gary Accursi. “We have seniors always looking for involvement in this community. Always have kids looking for hours from the high school.” Town Director of Human Resources Paula Gilbert responded by saying that volunteers wouldn’t be able to do the same things as staff, including collecting money. Director of Recreation Vickie VanRavenswaay said that the Town is “hitting hard” on the seniors’ ambassador program. \ “In the future, it would be ideal if we could have that information centre staffed from early morning to nine at night with community minded people,” she said. “From the get-go, I’m not sure if we can do this.” Accursi said that he feared that the Town is burdening the facility with excessive amounts of labour cost. “We don’t know what to expect,” he said. “All that we need is one employee going out to our beloved press, saying that the community centre couldn’t afford to pay a staff member.” Following Accursi’s grilling over the planned staffing, Mayor Dave Augustyn commented that staff were getting mixed messages
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from Council. “Last meeting, we all said, ‘Hey, let’s make sure we have enough people there.’” “I never said that,” interjected Accursi. “Well, others did then,” said Augustyn. “Council needs to be certain in deciding this, the direction that we want to go, to make sure that we’re there to welcome people. What I look for is how we’re going to resolve this.” Augustyn concluded by referencing the new centre’s planned budget, saying that despite everything, the new community centre will be “cheaper than that thing that loses us money on Haist Street.” “Those arena revenues,” asked Accursi, “are they based on contracts that we’ve entered into? Are they tight numbers?” Vanravenswaay said that they were. “Are the salaries that would be expended to run programs allocated to the PCC as well? We haven’t just posted the revenue side? Including the camp counsellors?” he followed up with Vanravenswaay. She said that the appropriate portions of all salaries, including the camp counsellors, had been included in the community centre’s expenses. In turning to the capital budget, Council agreed to move up a planned $60,000 expenditure to help drainage in Ridgeville, though it will be done pending the freeing up of funds during the year. Councillor Peter Papp concluded the meeting by thanking staff for their work on the budget. “This is the most important year in the history of the town. We’re about to take on the most significant, the most difficult, the most rewarding projects of our lifetime. We have established a legacy,” he said. He commended staff for being resilient throughout what he called a “tumultuous year.” “To my colleagues,” he said, turning to the other Councillors, “I’d like to see all of us back…We should embrace, fully endorsee, and be very very proud of what we’ve been able to do over the past year, and what we’re going to be doing over the next year and years to come.”
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The Comfort Maple myth BY JULIE MANNELL
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BALLOONING INTEREST Grade 6 student Jinja Shepherd explains her experiment on static electricity at the Glynn A. Green Public School's annual science fair last Friday. See story, page 3. NATE SMELLE PHOTO
Public meeting tonight on school issues BY VOICE STAFF As questions continue to mount regarding an email that Pelham Mayor Dave Augustyn quietly sent to a District School Board of Niagara trustee last summer, Augustyn has agreed to address the issue at a public meeting scheduled for this evening, Wednesday, Feb. 8, in Fenwick. Nancy Beamer, speaking for “Names Matter,” a Pelham citizens group lobbying the DSBN to reverse its decision to rename a local public school, confirms that the meeting will be held at Fire Station #2, known locally as the Fenwick Fire Hall, starting at 7:00 PM. While the Mayor has agreed to ap-
Under pressure, Mayor to address email revelation, other E. W. Farr matters pear, says Beamer, DSBN officials associated with the school-naming process have either declined to attend or have not yet responded to the group’s invitation. DSBN Chair, Dale Robinson, to whom Augustyn’s email was addressed last June, has declined to appear, says Beamer, asserting that she would be
“on holidays.” The Voice was unable to independently confirm Robinsion’s intentions. She did not respond to repeated requests for comment on E.W. Farr-related matters before presstime. Beamer, whose group maintains an email list of some 580 residents, says that all members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend the meeting. “We would especially welcome parents and children who are unhappy with the name change,” she says, referring to the contentious decision by the DSBN to consolidate two Pelham See MEETING back page
HEN I WAS young, my father and I would go for long drives along the rural routes of Pelham. We’d blast George Thurgood and roll down the windows because we loved the smell of the breeze, the sensation of crisp Niagara wind beating our cheeks and tangling our hair against our summer-kissed skin. My father was not a sentimental man. He worked in factories and had a Gordon Lightfoot mustache and never shed tears over injuries. Yet something about the Pelham landscape, the hilly backdrop to his childhood and the childhoods of our ancestors, drew him in. He’d stop by a farm or a gathering of woods and, surrendering his manly veneer, tell me a story about the town. This place is precious. This is the earth that granted us life. Here is the place where we happened upon love or here is a site of devastation. On one particular drive sometime in the late ‘90s we stopped at a tree with a plaque. “This tree looks dead,” I said to my father. “It sure is getting there, Julie.” The Comfort Maple is supposedly Canada’s oldest See COLUMN SIX Page 14
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Part 2 of 2: Coronation to embarkation BY HEATHER McLAREN ROHRER
Special to the VOICE
A
Repair measures underway last week to correct a construction error in the chicane. truck or an ambulance?” he said. While waiting for the contractor to return to fix
the mistake, the Town has taken measures to temporarily allow passage for vehicles through the neigh-
VOICE PHOTO
bourhood in the short-term. Manager of Public Works Ryan Cook said that after discovering the issue with
the chicane the morning it first opened, the Town See CHICANE Page 5
Petition-inspired changes coming to 2017 Summerfest BY NATE SMELLE
The VOICE
Representatives from the Pelham Summerfest committee Candy Ashbee and Bill Gibson presented council with a final report on the 2016 Summerfest at the Council meeting on Monday, Nov. 21. Prompted by a story in the Voice in August about a merchant petition to move Summerfest from Pelham Street, in September Town staff met with various stakeholders to hear their complaints, promising at the time that changes in the way Summerfest was mounted would be con-
sidered. The main concerns identified during the community engagement process were security, parking, ensuring customer can access all businesses in town, and liability for damages. How to get all Pelham Street businesses to participate and finding ways to make it beneficial for them to set up a booth were also determined to be of high priority for the committee as they plan for next year’s event. Gibson told Council that the committee is addressing these concerns in a variety of ways. To improve parking, they intend to create bet-
ter signage for out-of-town visitors to designated parking areas and shuttle services. To make participation in Summerfest more enticing to local businesses, they plan to implement a tiered-charge for booths. Under the new system, Pelham Street business owners will be charged the least, other local businesses will pay a slightly higher fee, and vendors from outside Pelham will pay the most. In response to more specific issues for individual businesses, they will also slightly alter the footprint of the event and make adjustments to security. Another way the committee plans
Pine Debbie
to improve the 2017 Summerfest is by sponsoring and working with the organizers of the Thursday Night Bandshell Concert series to select the artist performing on the first night of Summefest. They also intend to make more use of the smartphone app they launched in 2016. "We are really going to push it this year," Ashbee said. “It really helps to get people to see what events there are so they can plan out where they are going. We will be able to actually help the merchants and local businesses ad-
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Haist Street traffic-calming measure a little too effective A construction error was discovered following the opening of a traffic calming chicane on Haist Street north of Hwy 20 last Monday that prevented large vehicles from passing through. One resident living in the neighbourhood said he contacted the Town after seeing a small schoolbus get stuck as it tried to get through the new traffic calming measure. Later that day while driving behind a cement truck, he said that he became concerned for the public’s safety when the truck had to turn around because it couldn’t get through. “If a small school bus and a cement truck can’t make it through what about a fire
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Request made of community still peeved at name change The District School Board of Niagara is requesting that the Town of Pelham cede a portion of Cherry Ridge Park for use as a soccer field to serve the students of the new Wellington Heights Public School, formerly the E. W. Farr Memorial Public School, in Fenwick. Currently under renovation and expansion, the new school will combine students and staff from the previous school and Pelham Centre, where classes are being held while construction continues. Two letters, containing virtually identical text but signed by different authorities, were sent last week to nearby residents of the park, as well as to parents of Pelham Centre students. “The DSBN is currently building onto Wellington Heights Public School on Alsop Drive,” states the letter. “The size of the school's addition means the existing small soccer field will be eliminated. The Town and the Board have been discussing the possibility of working together to create a field for both the school and the
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FTER LUNCH ON Saturday, Mum and Dad had my afternoon cut out for me. Mum had more brass than anyone I knew, and it had to be cleaned. In addition there was the set of silver fish-knives and forks which were never used, but which had to be cleaned and put back in their velvetlined box. Next was a walk to the newsagents to pay for the daily delivery of the Daily Mirror. As I said, Dad was a printer, but when he was 37 he had been rejected for a job, as being too old, by the printers of the Beano. For that reason, my favourite comic was not allowed in the house, but while I was paying the papers, the newsagent let me have a 'shoofty' at the Beano. I'd explained my predicament and he understood completely. Sundays were different again. Dad would play golf on summer mornings and billiards in winter. Then he'd stop for a 'refresher' at the local and would pick up the prawns, cockles, winkles or whelks we'd be having for tea later. Meanwhile, Mum was roasting the 'joint' and potatoes. I got to make the Yorkshire pud, and mint See COLUMN SIX Page 14
See CHANGES Page 5
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Wednesday October 12, 2016
Apple Day comes to Fonthill Longtime Scouting tradition dates to 1932 BY VOICE STAFF While shopping in Fonthill between Friday and Sunday, keep an eye out for Beavers, Cubs and Scouts in front of local stores with bushels of apples. As part of the annual Apple Day campaign, Scouting youth of all ages will be trading apples for donations. The yearly fundraising drive is an important way for young Scouts to connect with the communities they are serving, says Leah Marie of Scouts Canada. “The Apple Day campaign holds a great tradition of being able to have youth interacting within the communities they live in,” she says. “All of the Apple Day donations stay directly within the group that re-
The goal is to have these youth develop into confident and well-rounded individuals ceives them, enabling youth to have experiences that build character, challenge them, and allow them to try new things. The goal is to have these youth develop into confident and wellrounded individuals, better prepared for success. Apple Day helps to achieve that.”
Joining their principal, Karen Simpson, at the Sept. 19 Council meeting as part of a delegation from EL Crossley Secondary School, students Abby Loewen and Neenah Williams presented Council with a list of reasons that they should immediately approve the construction of the new sidewalk proposed along Hwy. 20. The asphalt side-
walk/trail is slated to be built between the south side of the road from Timmsdale Crescent to the high school. Because of the large volume of motor vehicle traffic travelling at high speeds through this area, and because of the necessity for students to tread this path on a daily basis, many residents would like to see the sidewalk go in sooner than later. After delivering to Council a petition containing
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H EATHER AND P ENNY L ANE S ALES R EPRESENTATIVES
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A longtime Canadian tradition, Apple Day began in 1932 in Saint John, New Brunswick, when Scouts handed out 21,000 apples as a way to say thank you to the community. In return for their generosity, many people offered them donations. From then on Scouts have reached out through Apple Day to raise funds for their programs.
“Any money raised during Apple Day goes towards improving the Scouting program by providing more outdoor adventures for youth, camping equipment, canoes and paddles, training and many other endeavours that the youth want to experience,” says Marie. Scouts Canada has some 100,000 members across Canada, and carries out programs for boys, girls
and youth ages 5-25. This year the 3rd Fonthill Group, which includes Beavers to Ventures (youth ages 5- 25) will be hitting the streets to drum-up support. Over the weekend, Scouts will be set up in Fonthill outside Sobeys, Tim Hortons, Target Gas station, Fonthill Shopping Plaza and the Pioneer Gas station at the corner of Hwys 20 and 24.
Many residents would like to see the sidewalk go in sooner than later the names of 450 students calling for a safer walk to school, Simpson handed the
podium over to Loewen and Williams to plead their case. Loewen told Council that because there are a lot of students who have work placements and coop placements during the school year, this is the only route for many of them to travel. As one of the students facing this predicament, Williams said she has had no other option but to walk along the dangerous highway.
“I start work at 2:30 PM and school lets out at 2:15 PM so I can’t take any other route,” Williams explained. “I have had friends, family, teachers and other community members reach out to me in the past about how this is unsafe and how there should be another alternative for us.” Looking ahead to winter, when she will need to walk this path three or four times
HERE IS NO BETTER time to cycle than Fall. It matters not whether you’re new to the sport, a seasoned recreational cyclist, racer, touring rider or mountain biker; we all have reason to look forward to autumn. Summer’s heat has faded, and the streams of sweat that ran from soggy helmets into our eyes are now just slight perspiration. Fitness is peaking from lots of saddle time, making those tough climbs of Spring a breeze in Autumn. It’s hard to beat the feeling of beginning a crisp, cool Fall ride with a slight shiver, knowing your efforts will soon warm you perfectly. The hues of Autumn are outstanding. A Pelham route as simple as following our southern boundary is one that would make most Toronto cyclists jealous, especially when our forests and fields are ablaze with colour. Begin from Harold Black Park, and zig-zag south along Effingham Rd toward the Welland River. If you’re new to cycling, it’s important to know south is the direction away from any hills. If you avoid the morning and evening weekday rush hours caused by those travelling through Pelham between Wainfleet
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T Second year Beaver with the 3rd Fonthill Group, Russell Letford offers a fresh apple to shoppers in Pelham during the 2015 Apple Day campaign. SUPPLIED PHOTO
Town Council approves sidewalk to serve E. L. Crossley BY NATE SMELLE
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The Voice of Pelham, January 31 2018
East Fenwick planning continues
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Residents receive more information on likely development BY VOICE STAFF Another public meeting on the East Fenwick secondary plan was held on Saturday morning at the Fenwick Fire Hall, with planners and Town staff presenting on the next stage in the planning process. In September, SGL Planning’s Ute Maya-Giambattista showed residents the two options for the plan, which are the Town’s guidelines for developers in an area between Memorial Drive and Welland Road at Balfour Street. One of those options had two dense centres, south of Canboro Road, whereas the other had three, less-dense areas, with the third coming north of Canboro. On Saturday, Maya-Giambattista told the crowd that the latter is the one that has been selected. “We were trying to learn what makes Fenwick Fenwick,” she said. “Maple Street seems to be a good representation of what Fenwick is. It has a sidewalk, large trees, and generous front setbacks.” Maya-Giambattista outlined the goals of the plan, which she said SGL had collected from the community. First, she said, any development had to be walkable. Residents want single-detached homes that fit with the nature of existing housing, but many also expressed interest in housing variety, so that they don’t have to leave Fenwick when they get old. To achieve these objectives, and to meet provincial guidelines that require new development in urban zones to be high density, Maya-Giambattista said that the plan was arranged so that homes along existing streets will match existing homes. “[But] on the inside of the subdivision, the density will be greater,” she said. Pointing to a map on screen, she explained that some of the planned development area is already designated as a wetland, with more study to be done to see if more land will be similarly labelled. Following the presentation, the dozens of residents in the audience asked questions of both Maya-Giambattista and Town Director of Planning Barb Wiens. The two addressed the stormwater management system that will be in place, with several ponds built to manage water that will drain from the development after it is paved over. “But that’s just to do with stormwater,” said Rick Kavanagh, a resident who lives south of the East Fenwick area. “I’m concerned with how all this excess drainage is
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Fenwick residents discuss the East Fenwick secondary plan on Saturday. VOICE PHOTO going to impact groundwater. I’ve got a twenty-two foot drinking well that has been great all these years.” Wiens told him that engineering studies will be done on groundwater to determine how best to mitigate any changes that will occur as a result of the new homes. Drainage issues were of primary concern for many in attendance on Saturday. “They have no idea where the water’s going,” said ‘Mayor of Fenwick’ Gary Chambers. “It’s all quicksand underneath. Fenwick floats.” After the meeting broke off into table groups, Chambers asked SGL Planning’s Yasaman Soofi about the matter. “I don’t see where the water goes after this pond,” he said to her, pointing at the bottom of the plan. “I just see a white space on the map.” Soofi admitted that she didn’t know where the water would be going either, but promised Chambers that studies would be done as part of the remainder of the process. “There needs to be a downstream study,” he said. Soofi agreed. “You don’t want that to be absorbed later.” Fenwick resident David Horton was similarly concerned about the drainage issue, though he sympathized with Soofi. “You get paid what you get paid, and you’re the one here who has to take all of the flak…But still, all of that water is going to be released onto private property, and then they’ll have to deal with it,” he said. “And I don’t think that’s right.” Chambers also made mention of his concern that owners of larger properties downstream would be footing more of the bill for drainage. “They charge people who are on a municipal drain for the cleaning and maintenance of it,” he said. “All of the people in the subdivision, who’ll be living on postage stamps, won’t have to pay anything, or they’ll pay fifty bucks. It’s the farmers who’ll get slapped with a big bill.” Mayor Dave Augustyn, who attended the meeting, agreed. “That’s a good point about the assessment,” he said to Chambers. During the meeting, Fenwick resident Lynn Shat-
ford, who lives on Sunset Drive behind where the development will take place, asked about the timeline on the project. Wiens said that there remains a substantial amount of the planning process, including a final secondary plan, Regional approval, and specific plans made by the developer. According to Wiens, the study of the remaining woodlot will take a year, since a full habitat cycle of all four seasons must be observed. “After that, it all depends on the landowners,” said Wiens. “It could be three, five, or even ten years. The shortest would be two or three years.” Maya-Giambattista said later that she expects that it will be at least five years before development begins. Resident Paul Bryant asked Wiens who will pay for the initial infrastructure required for the new development. “The developer will pay for the servicing of the new roads,” said Wiens, “and the cost of infrastructure that will go in on existing roads and also benefit existing houses will be shared between developers and the Town.” Maya-Giambattista invited attendees to write points that were important to them on the big planning maps on each table. A number of comments concerned the percentage of dwellings intended for seniors, while others worried about the potential for land expropriation along Canboro Road for the building of a planned bicycle route linking Fenwick and Fonthill. But despite the concerns raised, and especially the unanswered ones about drainage, the tone of the meeting was markedly less contentious than the one in September. There, numerous residents were upset by the prospect of development at all. Soofi said that she understands why people can be bothered. “I grew up in Regina. There was so much [bad] development around there—all big box stores,” she said. “When people have experience with bad development, there’s a lack of trust. We’re trying to build some trust with residents here.” SGL will present the latest plan to Council in February.
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COLUMN SIX continued from Page 1 ing your hands frequently throughout the day. It’s also good reason to get the shot, if you haven’t already. Up to 30% protection is still better than 0% protection. Most experts think that flu viruses are spread mainly through droplets generated when people with the flu cough, sneeze or talk. These airborne bits then settle on objects that people touch with their hands and inadvertently put their hands to their mouth or nose. This is why it is absolutely crucial that you wash your hands frequently throughout the day and use a hand sanitizer when a wash basin is not near at hand. I have no idea from whom or where I picked up my infection. Once exposed, the incubation period before the onset of symptoms is two to four days. During that time I had been at a number of places and in contact with a number of people and so I can not pinpoint an infection time, place, or person. Maybe it was a door knob, the handle on a shopping cart, using the credit card machine, or the gas pump handle. There are so many places that the virus has taken up residence that the list is endless. My symptoms started with a sore throat which I assumed and treated as the onset of a common cold. Soon thereafter, I began with an almost non-stop coughing spell and noticeable shortness of breath. My wife drove me to the Emergency Clinic at the Welland Hospital, which was chockfull of coughing, wheezing and hacking patients, young and old. I was diagnosed as having the flu and given a prescription for Tylenol and released. I returned home and took to my bed. Within hours I was trembling, incessantly coughing and gasping for
The Voice of Pelham, January 31 2018 air. My wife called 911 and an ambulance arrived within minutes. Thankfully, the two attendants were very capable and reassuring. We quickly arrived at Welland Hospital and again joined the long lineup of desperately ill-looking patients awaiting assessment. Interestingly and reassuringly, the ambulance attendants do not leave you until you are off-loaded from ambulance stretcher to hospital stretcher. I am certain that the medical personnel immediately recognized the symptoms and quickly wired me up to the diagnostic equipment including an oxygen mask. Antiviral and antibiotic solutions were administered intravenously. Numerous blood samples were drawn for testing and analysis. As part of the diagnostic regime I was x-rayed, CAT scanned, echocardiographed, and given a respiratory test. We are very fortunate to have this level of medical expertise and technology in our local hospital. Due to the very contagious nature of this virus I was isolated in a room and all who administered to me or came near me were required to wear masks, gowns and gloves. After a couple of days a doctor visited my bedside and advised that I had been diagnosed with Influenza A and that I had also a serious infection of pneumonia. She said that due to the severity of my infections that I would be treated very aggressively with antivirals, antibiotics and Tamiflu. And so the parade of intravenous drips became my constant companions day and night. One of the complications associated with the flu is the body’s inability to hold blood oxygen levels within the normal range. This condition requires the ministration of oxygen through a
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mask. Basically, the lungs do not efficiently extract this life-sustaining gas from the air one is breathing. Fortunately, as the lungs became less infected and less obstructed this condition will clear.
The medical staff were absolutely the very best one could imagine I can not complete this journal of my experience with H3N2 without commenting on the care I received while in Welland Hospital. The medical staff were absolutely the very best one could imagine. I remain very impressed and equally grateful for their professionalism, compassion and abundant TLC. The Emergency Clinic was well beyond capacity with some few patients being treated in the corridors. Yet the medical staff were more than up to the challenge of working under such circumstances. As an end-note to this medical episode I can hardly imagine that anyone would entertain the thought of the closing of this absolutely crucial fixture in our community. In the past, I have been passively concerned and against the inane notion to close the Welland Hospital. However, from this day forward I will loudly proclaim my opposition to such an unwarranted and unwholesome proposition. Whenever, however, and wherever, lend your support to maintaining the Welland Hospital site. There may come a time when you, or a loved one, will be in need of this life-saving facility.
Poth Street resident Bruno Villalta in front of the closed culverts last week. Villalta says that Town CAO Darren Ottaway told him that if he didn’t like the situation on Poth, he could sell his house and move. VOICE PHOTO
POTH STREET continued from Page 3 old hippie vans back then, and we could drive right through the culverts,” he says. “I know I’m old school, and that now everybody’s liable for everything. I know things have to be done by the book,” says Jevcak, though he added that he was frustrated and felt he was not being listened to when he went to the Town. “I got very upset,” says Jevcak, who was eventually asked to leave. “If I had seen someone acting like I was, I would’ve thought they should be thrown out too. But still, they weren’t listening to me.” The road was first closed when a crack opened. The Town erected wooden barriers to stop cars from driving over it. Months later, a resident of the area filled in the gap with loose asphalt. “Someone did that so that it would be passable for emergency vehicles,” said Jevcak. “The wooden barriers were still there. But then when the Town saw that it had been temporarily repaired, they came and put concrete barriers up so that no one can pass.” Jevcak acknowledged that some may see the closed road as a minor inconvenience, and that it even cuts down on traffic in front of his house. “But I calculated it out—it adds a couple kilometres to my trip each day, and you mul-
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tiply that by however many days the road is closed,” he said. Jevcak also pointed to a topsoil business that operates on both sides of the bridge. “He used to be able to bring his backhoe across the bridge to get to his property. Now he has to go all the way around the block with the backhoe.” Bruno Villalta first recounted his meeting with Ottaway to the Voice on the day that it occurred, but said at the time that he wanted to wait and see if the repair could be added to the 2018 budget. In explaining why he wanted to hold off on going public with his interaction with Ottaway, Villalta said that he worried doing do would push the repair of the road even further into the future. “You don't want to antagonize them too much, because then they will punish you for it.” But now that it has been confirmed that no repair will be forthcoming this year, Villalta said that he wants the rest of Pelham to be fully aware of his situation. When Rybiak’s efforts was defeated, and after the Mayor suggested requesting a tax reassessment, Villalta left the room silently after sitting through over two hours of budget discussion. “I appreciated Rybiak’s efforts, and the vote of the other Councillor,” said Villalta later. “I still have faith that the rest of Council will come to their senses and do something.”
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