The Voice, July 15 2020

Two more candidates in Ward 1 page 3 Not so peachy on the beach page 8 It’s a Texas-sized 10-4 from Swart page 14 EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS

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Vol.24 No.28

July 15, 2020

Darcy Richardson, CPA, CA | Broker

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Published every Wednesday

Honouring one of their own

Column Six Vacations during the plague My Vegas trip was cancelled, so I booked a colonoscopy BY JANE BEDARD

Special to the VOICE

M

any of us have had to cancel much anticipated travel plans this summer. So what do you do to find some adventure or tickle that spa itch? While travel is still restricted, other things are opening up which might check a few of those boxes. Think about that feeling you get when you lie down on a table, naked, and anticipate the strong hands of a therapist gently kneading out your tired, stiff muscles. The room is dark, the music soft. The aromatherapy candles are wafting butterfly wing breezes of lavender and lemongrass. The therapist has squirted some apricot kernel oil into his/her strong hands which he/she rubs together to warm them up, ready to apply them in firm, slippery strokes across your

F O O R P SOCIALLY DISTANCING AT SIX FEET APART, MEMBERS of the Pelham Fire Department lined Brock Street last Wednesday, July 8, forming an Honour Guard to pay tribute to retired department member Bruce Stazyer and his family. Stayzer passed away at home on July 4, at age 86. He served as an active firefighter for 31 years, and was an Association member and executive for 49 years. Stayzer’s widow, Louise, rides in the cab as Fonthill Volunteer Fire Association member Yvon Audette drives the department’s classic 1939 Ford Bickle pumper en route to Stazyer’s final resting place at Fonthill Cemetery. DON RICKERS

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Page 2

The Voice, July 15, 2020

NRPS impaired driving charges

CANADA DAY PLANNING GROUP REPORT

PUBLISHER’S CORNER

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

by Dave Burket

And then there were...five? There are now almost as many candidates running to fill the Ward 1 council seat left open by the passing of Councillor Mike Ciolfi as ran in 2018—six then, five now. We interview two more this week, starting on page 3. Both Maria Brigantino and Wayne Olson bring interesting capabilities to the mix. We’re working on nailing down interviews with candidates Colleen Kenyon and James Federico for next week’s issue. The first candidate in the race, Steven Soos, who had a heart attack the same week his interview appeared (coincidence, we hope, and he’s recovering well), has not responded to Voice inquiries as to his ward of residence. While the rules say that anyone who lives in, or owns property in Pelham (or the spouse of any such person), may run for office in any ward, we are increasingly hearing that some voters in Ward 1, with its uniquely rural and agricultural concerns, are not looking favourably on candidates who live elsewhere, and especially not in Fonthill. At this point, only James Federico and Wayne Olson live in the ward…The bucks roll in: As of this writing, 26 donors have contributed $1280 to resident John Harding’s GoFundMe effort on behalf of Mayor Marv Junkin, whose salary was dinged $4000 by Town Council in what was perceived by some as a personal dig at the Mayor rather than a decision based on the facts of the case. Reached Monday, Harding says he’s pleased by the results so far, though he wonders whether early, relatively large donations put off folks who might have come in with $5 or $10 contributions. He says that he’ll continue the effort through the coming weekend then pull the plug, so if you’re inclined to fork over a fiver there’s still a chance...A need to get Fit Kwik: I think I need to consult with local fitness club proprietor Frank Adamson. In the service of cleaning our eavestroughs last week, I climbed up and down a mere 8-foot ladder a few times, yet the next morning it felt like I’d been through a triathlon. Sure, I don’t get much exercise, but this was ridiculous. I’ve joined gyms twice in my life— once at 20, and again at 30—and lasted about six months both times. As a friend back in the day put it, to work out regularly is to live a life of constant ache. He wasn’t wrong. That said, a little fitness is worth some pain...Pitter-patter, boys: One of the effects of lockdown for many, including us, was the discovery of television shows that we’d previously missed or skipped. One that we’d skipped was “Letterkenny,” the Canadian sitcom on Crave, because it looked like a bunch of dumb characters doing dumb stuff. How wrong that was. Set in a fictitious rural Ontario town of the same name, the characters and dialogue are wonderfully, profanely clever. You really need the subtitles on to keep up...Let the people speak: There’s a fair amount of meat in this issue, including some eloquent letters. Keep them coming, as we wait another week to see if Niagara makes it into Stage 3. ♦

Voice

Seeing red and white on July 1 If you were seeing red and white on July 1st in Pelham it was not your imagination! The Canada Day Planning Group knew we had to think outside the box—or in this case outside of Harold Black Park this year. So the idea was born that we would instead take the Canada Day celebration to the streets and screens of Pelham. We offered house decorating kits to the first 250 respondents, and they went in only a few hours! Our group was able to secure more kits to include even more of our enthusiastic neighbours. A small, dedicated team of volunteers comprised of Mel Groom, Janet Cripps, Lance Wiebe, all of the Rotary Club of Fonthill, along with support from Leah Letford, Special Events and Festivals Programmer for the Town, got in their cars and delivered the decorating kits to over 425 homes in Pelham! This was no small feat and took days to complete, as we navigated the streets and delivered to houses in every corner of the town. We did not leave out the younger ones either, with a bike decorating contest that showed their creative designs. The Canada Day planning group was also able to showcase great Pelham talent on screen with a virtual celebration that included Yoga by Isabelle, Zumba with Patti Brown and her Zumba Crew, and some fantastic songs by Copper & Iron and By Design, all hosted by our own local actor Darren Keay. You can still watch the virtual celebration on the Town Facebook page or website. It is obvious there are a lot of proud Canadians living in Pelham and why not— this is the best country in the world! So now you know the story behind all the red and white you saw here in our Town both in person and on screen. Shout out as well to all our new neighbours in town who were very involved and decorated enthusiastically. We can’t wait to celebrate again in person when it is safe to do so.

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on vacation!

Vacation Time Machine A Year Ago This Week!

organizations, just reach out and you will be welcomed with open arms. On behalf of the Canada Day Planning Group, comprised of Marylou Hilliard, Steve Pellerin, Fred Arbour, Bill King, Lance Wiebe, and Leah Letford, who represent the Fonthill and Fenwick Lions and the Rotary Club of Fonthill and the Town, to all who participated in our “unique” Canada Day Celebration, a special thanks for the funding provided by the government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage Celebrate Canada Program. Until next year! Marylou, Fred, Steve, Bill, Lance and Leah

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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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The Comfort Maple myth

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Wednesday, November 30, 2016

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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

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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

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-

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

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

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.”

“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.

www.pennylanesold.com

H EATHER AND P ENNY L ANE S ALES R EPRESENTATIVES

BY JOHN SWART

VOICE Correspondent

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

The VOICE

Cell 905.933.3049

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Second year Beaver with the 3rd Fonthill Group, Russell Letford offers a fresh apple to shoppers SUPPLIED PHOTO in Pelham during the 2015 Apple Day campaign. 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.

Office 905.892.1702

Column Six It doesn’t get better than Autumn

Longtime Scouting tradition dates to 1932

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Request made of community still peeved at name change

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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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Indulgence Bakery Mossimo’s Pelham Street Grille Peter Piper’s Pubhouse DeVries Fruit Farm Beamer’s Hardware Pelham Libraries Bob’s Boys Antiques PharmaChoice Pharmacy Fonthill Fitness Fenwick Pie Company McDonald’s Duffin Appleworks Fonthill Legion Semenuk’s Gas Bar Shoppers Drug Mart Tim Horton’s Giant Tiger Fonthill LCBO Zee Lube Express Care Food Basics Minor Bros Stores Avondale Stores A-1 Market Boggio's IDA Sobeys South Pelham Grill on Canboro Shell on Hwy 20 Circle-K I'm just as curious as you are! It's all explained on p. 10!

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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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So for all you new folks, as you can see you made the right move coming to our town! Welcome and don’t be shy to get involved in all the volunteer groups here, as we could use your support! If anyone would like to join the Canada Day Planning Group or help out in other volunteer

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. Cvetko ZAGAR, 74, Welland Brandon A. BAKER, 22, Niagara-on-the-Lake Thomas D. MULLIGAN, 28, Niagara Falls Eyner M. GUZMAN, 36, North York Christopher J. WHALEN, 31, St. Catharines Maria KEMP, 55, Niagara Falls Mikayla SCOTT, 20, Baden

“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

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The Voice, July 15, 2020

Page 3

WARD 1 BY-ELECTION 2020

Maria Brigantino.

Wayne Olson.

DON RICKERS PHOTOS

Two more candidates announce for open council seat Maria Brigantino: Strategic thinker who synthesizes diverse ideas into achievable action plans And then there were three—Maria Brigantino filed her paperwork last week, becoming the third candidate for the vacant council seat in Pelham’s Ward 1. Steven Soos and Wayne Olson are also running for the seat. Brigantino’s avowed passion for creating healthy lives, strong communities, and “making an impact” is the catalyst for her interest in seeking a seat on the Pelham council, she said. Born and raised in Fort Erie and Niagara Falls, Brigantino now resides not in Ward 1 but

Wayne Olson: Retired Chartered Accountant and business executive turned community volunteer

in Fonthill, with her family. Growing up on a farm in BY DON RICKERS With 15 years of municipal, Elgin County imparted many Special to the VOICE health care management, lifelong lessons for Wayne Oland executive consulting/ son. The most enduring was coaching experience, Brigantino’s current the importance of families and farm comentrepreneurial business venture is working munities working together. with women who are struggling with eating Olson hopes to continue applying the indisorders, via her brand M-PATH. structive principles he learned on the farm Brigantino’s formal educational back- and over the course of his successful manground includes an undergraduate degree in agement career, but this time to the council chamber. He is running for the vacant seat See BRIGANTINO Page 11 in Pelham’s Ward 1 in this fall’s by-election.

s p m a c r e mm u S ! ck a b e ar The Recreation, Culture and Wellness department revamped summer camps to accommodate Public Health regulations. Call 905-892-2607 x372 or visit the camp website to learn more.

A Ward 1 resident, Olson lives in Fenwick, having relocated from Port Dover a decade ago. “I think it's really important to be involved in the community in which you live. I’ve learned a lot about different communities, and in my view, Pelham gets a lot of things right. I’d like to see the restoration of trust and transparency, certainly. And I like Pelham’s sense of inclusivity…there's a tre-

l oo P m Pelha ! n e p o w no Please be aware that there will be no drop-in programs and registration must be completed in advance. Register online (pelham.ca/register) or call 905-892-9696.

Campers will enjoy a fun-filled week of games, activities, crafts, sports, and more! Each week, campers receive a visit from the Pelham Library and a special guest. Camp groups consist of 2 staff and 8 campers. Junior campers (ages 4-7) Senior campers (ages 8-12) $185/week regular camps $195/week speciality camp Extended care available (7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.) $38/week or $8.50/day Learn more about camps and updated health and safety precautions at:

www.pelham.ca/camps

See OLSON Page 11

www.pelham.ca/pool

Page 4

The Voice, July 15, 2020

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

OPINION

The opinions expressed in submitted commentary and letters to the editor are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the Voice of Pelham.

The Voice of Pelham is a 1211858 Ontario Limited publication David Burket, Publisher 2-1428 Pelham St., P.O. Box 1489, Fonthill, ON L0S1E0

COMMENTARY / OP-ED Diana Huson, Regional Councillor The Great Mask Debate—why I’m in favour

O

n Wednesday, July 8, Regional Chair Bradley called a special meeting to consider a regional mandatory mask bylaw in public indoor spaces. Such a bylaw would be temporary but allow for a consistent mask policy across all 12 of Niagara’s municipalities, including Pelham. Currently, there are 17 municipalities across Ontario where masks are mandatory. St. Catharines has already approved this and is finalizing a draft Monday. If successful, they’ll join the Niagara Parks, Brock University, Niagara Health and a variety of local business who have already implemented a mandatory mask policy. So, depending on where you are, where you shop, what you are doing, or what town/city you may happen to be in—you may or may not have to wear a mask indoors. Clear as mud. What happened to the “Niagara together” approach that worked so well for us? I’ve listened carefully to both cases for or against mandatory masks. I’ve also done an online poll to hear directly from residents as to whether they support this.

The results were divided. Those who were strongly opposed often expressed concern that wearing a mask is an infringement on personal freedoms. I’ve

The most pressing reason we should do this is that we’re simply not out of the woods yet

even received emails stating that the government and “state-controlled” media are using the coronavirus as a tyrannical weapon of fear to kill off small business and the middle class. (I’m not entirely sure how to respond to that one.) I understand the concern for person freedom, but as a Board of Health we have to focus on the health of the community. Surely wearing a mask, although inconvenient or uncomfortable, is

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worth the potential of saving a life? Some opponents have insisted that masks deprive people of oxygen or can create lethal doses of toxic gas. This is not supported by science. And if we think about this, health care professionals wear masks every day for hours on end without issue. It just doesn’t make sense. I’ve also heard that masks would be detrimental to our business community. In a survey by the South Niagara Chamber of Commerce, 61% of businesses were actually in favour of mandatory masks. They cited concern for the health and safety of colleagues, employees, customers, families and friends. Some also indicated that they don’t want to argue with people as to why they need to wear a mask. They can simply defer to the bylaw. The most pressing reason we should do this is that we’re simply not out of the woods yet. COVID-19 is still a threat and we can’t risk a relapse. A third of Niagara’s businesses say they may need to close. Our unemployment rate has skySee FAVOUR next page

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Oosterhoff responds to hydro rate concern Thank you for your note about our hydro rate changes [“Open letter to MPP Oosterhoff on hydro rates,” July 1, p. 6]. It is an important issue, and one that many people have asked about. I know many families in Niagara West have been forced to stay home due to COVID-19, and they are using energy during the peak time of the day, which has created an extra financial burden for many families. The Ontario government wants to help relieve that burden. That is why we introduced a new “COVID-19 recovery rate” of 12.8 cents per kilowatt hour at all times of the day.

The fixed price will be in place from June 1 to October 31. This fixed price is higher than the winter off-peak price, which stood at 10.1 per kilowatt hour. However, it is significantly lower than the mid-peak rate of 14.4 per kilowatt hour and the high-peak rate of 20.8 per kilowatt hour. This change ends up saving the vast majority of households money, and means lower hydro costs for the majority of consumers. Thank you again for the note! Sam Oosterhoff, MPP Niagara West

CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS Member of Federal Parliament

Electoral District: Niagara West

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

Dean Allison, MP 4994 King Street Beamsville, ON L0R 1B0 Dean.Allison@parl.gc.ca 877-563-7900

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Member of Provincial Parliament

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The Voice

Letters

Sam Oosterhoff, MPP 4961 King St. East, Unit M1 Beamsville, ON L0R 1B0 sam.oosterhoffco@pc.ola.org 905-563-1755 Members of Niagara Regional Council Councillor Marvin Junkin mjunkin@pelham.ca 905-658-2987 Councillor Diana Huson diana.huson@niagararegion.ca 905-324-3094 Town of Pelham 20 Pelham Town Square P.O. Box 400 Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0 905-892-2607

Councillor Marianne Stewart mstewart@pelham.ca 289-821-0840 Ward 2 Councillor Ron Kore rkore@pelham.ca 905-933-3805

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Councillor John Wink jwink@pelham.ca 905-892-4475 Ward 3 Councillor Lisa Haun lhaun@pelham.ca 905-892-5877 Councillor Bob Hildebrandt bhildebrandt@pelham.ca 905-892-5647

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Page 5

OPINION Pelham trees again under threat We were very struck, in being both angry and saddened, in reading Mike Jones’ letter of last week [“For the love of trees,” Letters, July 8, p. 7]. Having resided in Fonthill for nearly 40 years, we were very hopeful when the Urban Forest Guideline was passed by Pelham Town Council back in 2000 that the trees of Pelham would finally be protected and treasured. Having attended a number of meetings on that issue, that was a council which listened to its residents and worked together! More and more of late we are becoming convinced of the opposite. It is extremely troubling when our elected officials along with our public employees simply ignore the request (as made by Mike Jones) for explanatory information on why a tree was being removed; this necessary to determine if prescribed procedures were followed and ultimately was it truly justifiable for taking down a healthy tree. We have seen disrespect for Pelham’s trees in full view relative to the recent (and ongoing) construction of Pelham Street (north). A very old sugar maple was taken down as it apparently interfered with the new sidewalk and curb (yet other trees with nearly the same physical alignment to the sidewalk and curb were thankfully untouched), and it was purportedly rotten. Yet, when we viewed the tree after it had been hacked to pieces, to our eyes very little rot was in evidence. We will sadly miss the spectacular fall colours which radiated from that tree. In various other sections on Pelham Street, trees have had their bark damaged and wood gouged through seemingly oblivious machine operation, while many tree roots have been hacked away and left exposed. Many of the old cherry blossom trees look very stressed and we certainly hope they will survive this assault so they can continue to bless us with their beautiful spring blossoms. To all of this, we wonder where is the oversight of the Town during this construction project? Why was this allowed to happen? If these trees die, who will pay for their removal and for the planting of new trees (I suspect it will be the taxpayers). Bottom line is, seems to us there is a growing cavalier attitude in this town that trees are a mere convenience and the minute they become inconvenient, then down they come. We respectfully request that our elected representatives and Town officials without delay address Mike Jones’ request, and that going forward they truly submit to both the spirit and the letter of the law as concerns Pelham's Urban Forest Guideline. Graham and Edie Pett Fonthill Editor’s note: The Voice has requested comment from the Town regarding its rationale for removing the tree on Station Street that has sparked ongoing neighbourhood concern. Look for a story in next week’s edition.

FAVOUR

continued from previous page rocketed. Our children are stuck at home, seniors have been locked up in the hospital or in long term care without visitors, and more importantly 62 people have died. The cost is too great. A mandatory bylaw is not about forcing people to wear masks who can’t. It’s about staying vigilant against a virus that has crippled us in both human and economic terms. It’s also temporary. The proposed bylaw would expire October 1. If we “flatten the curve” or “crush the curve” or whatever you want to call it, then by that date I expect it would be lifted. And despite the concern over enforcement, we’ve had very little enforcement with mandated limitations to in-person gathering. Instead we focused on education, and it worked! You don’t wear a mask to protect yourself from other people, you wear it to be considerate, respectful and mindful of the health of others. I’ve been consistent on this issue. I’m supportive. It’s temporary, it has the ability to prevent spread, and it’s effective. Plus, it’s gotten the overwhelming support from the medical community such as Dr. Hirji from Niagara Region Public Health; Dr. Tam, who is Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer; and also the World Health Organization. There’s a wave of municipalities and public health units putting this in place. It’s just one tool available to us to keep the most vulnerable people in our community protected. It’s time Niagara stepped up and took leadership on this issue. #maskupniagara ♦

PELHAM AND COVID-19

Mayor Marvin Junkin

Town facilities reopening smoothly

A

fter being open again for at least a couple of days, Town facilities have experienced few problems. Pelham is leading most Regional municipalities when it comes to the number of facilities that we have opened. While some Town Halls will not be opening until after Labour Day, our Town Hall opened last Monday. Town Hall, with an active screening process, has had a flawless re-opening. The staff working inside the building are very happy with the testing protocol in place, as it raises their level of safety. At the community centre, everyone from players to parents dropping

these players off have been strictly adhering to the rules in place, and the directional Marvin Junkin markings on the floor. Everyone realizes that if rules are broken, and social distancing is not practiced, staff will be forced to shut down the facility. With only Pelham and Niagara Falls having ice this summer, parents are quite happy not having to drive to the next closest facility, in Burlington. With an acute shortage of ice in the Region this summer, staff will be putting ice in the second rink, late July

Back in the May 13 issue of the Voice, I wrote a letter that called the actions of the Pelham councillors "reckless" for trying to muzzle Mayor Junkin, as I equated their activities at council to a misfiring engine. Since then the antics of this council just keep getting even more nefarious and low and behold it is always the same three/four councillors—Hildebrandt, Haun and Stewart—finally joined by their ringleader, Kore. If this council, who I will refer to as "The No Comment Gang," would spend the same amount of time and energy in conducting business, representing the taxpayers and being frugal with our budget, as they have in undermining the Mayor and stabbing him in the back, maybe a lot more would be accomplished. Mayor Junkin ran for office for ethical reasons and his actions still show his commitment to the taxpayers, for all of Pelham. This council isn't yet 50% into its mandate and you are already losing the faith of many taxpayers. The "Gang" of councilors has seen an opportunity to strike out at the Mayor, since they know that in any vote it is 4-to-2 with one seat vacant. Instead of thinking about taxpayers’ pockets, your vindictive actions have threatened to undermine the financial and ethical fabric of Pelham. Beyond COVID-19 and the "loaded gun" actions of Kore, we then move on to a parking study that was recommended to be moved to 2021, since the financial impact of COVID-19 alone might cause a financial shortfall /deficit for Pelham. Indifferent to that, Haun's motion of spending $60,000 on a parking study be passed now, she already knew that she car-

ried her votes, with her other "Gang" members. What did Mayor Junkin say? "For two years now we have had a budget come in at 7% and we cannot bring in another one, three in a row at 7%. The taxpayers can’t afford it.” What was the reaction from the “No Comment Gang"? No comment, it fell on deaf ears. So as tax-paying, long-term residents who would you want representing us all? A Mayor who says it straight with no sugarcoating, or a group of four who won't listen and won't comment. While I disagree with spending $20,000 on a by-election in my ward, because I felt the third-place person would fill the void and save some needed tax dollars, I tallied up the money misfired by these four councillors. This total takes into account the other facts of lost trail grant money totaling $75,000, plus here is the latest that gets to the “Kore” of the problem—a wasted $18,430 for a report that wasn't necessary, and was founded out of the reckless vindictiveness towards a Mayor that we the people of Pelham elected, is in itself undermining the very ethics of our community and is making Pelham look like an example of how a municipality shouldn't be run, not only within the Region of Niagara, but to the rest of Ontario. The total dollars wasted in just a short three months based on bad fiscal decisions is $173,430. Plus you still have $200,000 unfunded to the Cannabis Control Committee for a grand total of $373,430. I ask the "No Comment Gang" where are you going to find $373,430? The Mayor that you just unnecessari-

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ly penalized $4,000 seems to be the only one warning council that there "cannot" be another tax increase. None of us know our personal economic damage from COVID-19, and the Region is hurting, but there can be no more deaf ears, no more egos. To Councillor Kore, according to the sign entering Pelham there are just over 17,130 good honest residents. If my calculation is correct you owe everyone of us a Loonie and a dime. If you gave everyone of us that as we enter your Sobeys with masks on, that would payback the $18,430 with interest, to we the taxpayers who you took it from. If not, shame on you 17,130 times, and keep your groceries. This council, who we elected in good faith, is dysfunctional and four councillors have done their "worst" to undermine it. You have roughly two years left on your mandate. Try this: support each other, support our Mayor and before you spend our money treat it like your own. Surely you can check your egos at the door and stop the backstabbing antics and try to do your best to defend the wishes and actions of the people that elected you. Look at it this way—so far you have been a bad example to your community and who in their right mind would run in a by-election to join such a backstabbing gang. This is the second half of the mandate and if you continue to act the same way as the first, we will have the last say. Work as a team, do your homework, get your facts straight, and stop acting like "The No Comment Gang!" Richard Kavanagh Fenwick

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The swimming pool is now open, with swimming lessons offered in two-week sessions. The first session is full, with three more sessions having spots available. A family can make a reservation to rent the pool for x-number of hours during the day. It is apparent that citizens want to continue moving forward, as witnessed by the overwhelming registration numbers for our facilities. It is unfortunate that basketball will have to wait until September 3 to re-open, as per the rules from the province. Basketball teams can, however, use the outdoor courts in the Town. Until next week… ♦

Councillor Kore owes every Pelham resident “a Loonie and a dime”

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Page 6

Letters

The Voice, July 15, 2020

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

continued

Time for a change

Always vote for something, not against

I usually don’t approve of political jokes as I’ve seen too many of them get elected, which appears to be the case with the Pelham Council members. I’m reminded of the story of a thief who attempted to rob a man, yelling, “Give me your money.” The gentleman, shocked by the sudden attack, said, “You cannot do this, I’m a Pelham Council member!” The thief then said, “In that case, give me my money!” In reading of the council members’ wasteful, shameless and petty attacks on the Mayor, and refusing $75,000 to pave the Steve Bauer trail, I am wondering if they are educated beyond their intelligence. It is a sad day when council can’t deal with Pelham’s problems when, in fact, they are the problem. There was supposed to be a breath of fresh air with the new council. Unfortunately, it seems that politicians and diapers have one thing in common: they should both be changed regularly… and for the same reason. It’s time to change this council once again, but keep the best Mayor that Pelham has had—he deserves better. Bruce Rayner Fitzroy Harbour

I'm not sure how many people reading my letter can say this, but I don't think I've ever passed on the opportunity to vote in an election, at any governmental level, since I became old enough to vote. I certainly don't take this privilege for granted, nor should anyone else. Unfortunately it often takes mistakes, scandals or complete incompetence by already elected officials to motivate people to vote. And while it's great that it lit a fire under them to get out and be a part of the electoral process, they will often fall into the trap of making choices they might soon regret. I truly believe that when voting, one should never vote against someone or something, but always vote for someone or something. When you exercise your right to vote, I feel that you should never look down that list and make your choice based on who you are not going to vote for and simply choosing someone else that you may know nothing about. There are many examples of how this kind of voting has clearly impacted the political landscape at all levels. I have no doubt that there are some people in Ontario that chose to vote against the previous Liberal gov-

Keith’s Pie Recipe Book update Thanks to everyone who donated. I hope you enjoy the book. Thanks to all the sponsors. Almost all the books have been picked up or mailed out. The bills are all paid, so I wrote two cheques for $2000 each for Pelham Cares and the Royal Canadian Legion. When Todd first proposed this venture, our goal was $1000. We just couldn’t believe what transpired. Thank you, Carla Strickland, for all your work to make this so professional and Dave at Pelham Printing who put up with me changing my mind. Thank you Peggy Palmer for everything. I don’t think the editor will allow me to take over the Voice so I can thank everyone individually. Your names will take up the whole paper! Due to more demand for the Recipe book, we are going to do a final, limited run. If you are interested in ordering one, please call me at, 289-820-7004. All proceeds from this run will go to fighting pancreatic cancer. Vilma Moretti Fonthill

ernment that have now found themselves questioning who they elected. Another great example was the Orange wave during the 2011 Canadian Federal Election in Quebec. If I recall correctly, there are stories of seats being won by NDP candidates that had never set foot in their own riding or even spoke French, all because voters chose to go against the Bloc Québécois. Locally it looks as though we have our own example of how this kind of voting unfolds. Pelham was the only municipality in Ontario during the most recent elections to not have a single member of council re-elected, to any position. As clearly recorded in the news and opinions presented by the Voice, there is no doubt that there were those that voted against the previous council without taking a serious look at who they were voting for. With all the recent news regarding some of the current council (see above for, "mistakes, scandals or complete incompetence by an already elected officials"), I can safely assume that there are those who are questioning their own choices in the last election. In the 12 years I have lived in Pelham, I have personally interacted in one way or another with every member of the

Mask bylaw?

Too easy to dismiss “troublemakers”

When science supports mask-wearing in public spaces why hasn't Pelham mandated the same? Louise Morgan Fonthill

Is it the politics of dancing, or the political jungle, or are they synonymous? Todays politics question every aspect of governance. As seen on this council, the divide that is occurring does not meet the needs of the

WHY RE/MAX?

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previous council, as well as about half of the currently elected officials. I have the highest respect for anyone who chooses to take on the important role of being responsible for making decisions for our communities, as it is not an easy task. But the onus truly falls on us as the voters. If your heart is set on voting against someone or something, I implore you to make sure you know who or what you are voting for. Take ownership of your decision. For most, the ability to research and reach out to their local candidates is right at their fingertips. I have no doubt that come the next election, there again will be those voting against someone. The antics and foolishness of this current council (for example, how could Stewart, Kore and Hildebrandt turn down a $75,000 grant from the province to help improve our community?) makes me consider voting against someone, especially those specific councillors. But I know I can't and won't do that. I will take a long hard look at the options and vote for making our community better place to live, and sincerely hope everyone else will do the same. Joe Marchant Fenwick

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Letters

The Voice, July 15, 2020

Page 7

continued

TROUBLEMAKERS

continued from previous page were they elected to represent us as residents but also that the residents pay them to sit in office. I heard a great phrase the other day that says, “If you’re not angry, you’re not paying attention.” (Without prejudice.) It seems, though, when we have a voice and we are angry about issues happening, we only get lip service from this Town and are considered troublemakers. Examples: Lip service over how a policy for zoning was put in place but whether to apply it or not is at staff discretion. Why have a policy? And what has council done? Nothing. Lip service over a tree taken down on Station Street that was not diseased, and all we ask for is a copy of the arborist’s assessment

and nothing is done. Council did nothing. Lip service over the fact that there has been over ten residents living on Emmett Street that have had a water and/or sewer backup that has turned homes upside down, and council and staff have done nothing, when the street was slated back in 2013 to be revitalized. We will all continue to be angry because we care about this town and we elected this council to care too and be completely transparent, take responsibility and ownership and not fend us off. We are tired that we are hearing we are just troublemakers because we are not…we are residents who love this town we live in, and we want answers, and we expect more than lip service. And we expect much more from this council. Cari Pupo Fonthill

May yet be hope for E. W. Farr I was happy to see Vilma Moretti calling attention to the E. W. Farr renaming controversy [“E. W. Farr controversy—five years on,” Letters, July 1, p. 7]. Her synopsis of the opposition was correct and inclusive of the various steps taken at that time in attempting to dissuade the DSBN from proceeding with that renaming. The strongest argument against it at that time was that any name which would appear to be connected with the Duke of Wellington would never be acceptable due to his reprehensible character. One might take it from that that there was really no objection to the DSBN renaming the school, but only to that particular name, Wellington Heights School. The DSBN appears to have regarded the process as merely an administrative matter. Concerned citizens of Fenwick and other areas within Pelham saw it differently. The school, when it was built, was

immediately recognized locally as a monument to E. W. Farr. Putting his name on the school memorialized his well-deserved tribute. Similar actions have been carried out with other area schools. The DSBN appears not to have noticed that they were dealing with a situation involving an edifice that was both monument and memorial and therefore would elicit strong emotional disbelief and opposition from local residents should they attempt to change things. Their offer to name the school library for E. W. Farr as compensation was lame if nothing else. Why not a broom closet? His name made the whole package when attached to the outer school wall. Take down the name and you have removed any evidence that the building had been serving as a monument to him. At the same time you have desecrated his memoSee HOPE Page 9

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The Voice, July 15, 2020

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FIRST PERSON

Reporting during COVID: Low spirits and high tempers at Lakeside Park Beach BY MIRIAM HAN

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Special to the VOICE

TAY SAFE. STAY HEALTHY. Beach closes at dusk.” That was the message on the lonely sign at the edge of the Lakeside Park Beach parking lot in St. Catharines. Standing near it, I surveyed the crowd of beachgoers. For 7:30 on a Wednesday evening during a July heatwave, the turnout was impressive. The parking lot was full, and a steady stream of people of all ages were heading towards the water, carrying coolers, towels, and beach toys. My task as a reporter seemed relatively

simple—write an article about social distancing at the beach. I had prepared my notepad, pen, camera. As I stepped onto the sand already sticky with sweat, I put on the latest addition to my reporting arsenal: a face mask. Since the pandemic began, wearing a mask during assignments has changed my interactions with others. Instead of approaching with a friendly smile and open expression, I am now merely a pair of eyes above a square of cloth. I have had to pay close attention to how I speak and gesture. Using a bulky zoom lens (to maintain social distancing) also makes my presence more conspicuous.

Despite this, I was optimistic as I headed onto the beach. People were laughing and chatting, throwing frisbees, and unfurling towels. Groups seemed to be more than two metres apart. In a time of negative news and uncertainty, and after weeks of lockdown, I understood the need to enjoy some freedom on a summer evening. There were more safety signs closer to the shore. They repeated the message to “STAY HEALTHY, STAY SAFE,” as well as to not touch surfaces, maintain two metres of social distancing, and to stay home if one was feeling sick. As I got closer to the water, the heat seemed to seal the mask to my face. How-

ever, the true discomfort came from the realization that I was the only person at the beach wearing one. While many beachgoers were friendly and continued to enjoy themselves, the longer I lingered on the beach the more I realized my journalist gear was starting to attract glances of annoyance, suspicion or a certain rueful acknowledgement—my mask was reminder to all that COVID-19 was, unfortunately, still around. It was also increasingly clear that the beach was crowded, and the social distancing inconsistent. While numerous groups had placed their towels far apart, many beachgoers who were strolling on the

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The Voice, July 15, 2020

beach did not social distance, even though there was ample room to do so. Despite the closure of the playground, carousel, and shaded picnic tables, people were still gathered, some in groups of more than ten. One father let his young son play on some of the playground equipment, despite the numerous signs warning that the playground was closed. He said that he brought his son to the beach once every few weeks and that he had no concerns about safety despite hundreds of people around him not wearing masks. “This coronavirus is just like the flu,” he said with a large friendly smile as he

patted his son on the head. “If you get it then you get it, it just happens. We only wear our masks at church, right buddy?” The next person I approached was not nearly so welcoming. A tall, bald man, who seemed the leader of a group of 20, already bristled as I approached. “No pictures. No questions. Please go,” he said. Sensing that the heat wasn’t doing favours for anyone’s mood, I thanked him and retreated back to the beach. I wondered how the interaction would have gone if I, like the rest of the beach, had not been wearing a mask. Another beachgoer was also wary as I approached, and asked that I not take her

HOPE

continued from Page 7 rial. Our society does not look kindly on such irreverence! The DSBN has changed somewhat from the time of this controversy. Half the former members were defeated in the most recent civic elections. The other half, who participated in this fiasco, are still present. I hope they will read this and realize

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photo. “As long as everyone is separate, safety issues honestly aren’t a big deal for me,” she said, shading her eyes from the sun. She seemed to search my face, and again, I felt almost guilty for wearing my mask. At the same time, I felt that even the friendliest smile in the world couldn’t mitigate the fact that if I was reminding the entire beach that the pandemic still existed, the unfortunate reality was that it did still exist. Feeling discouraged, I resolved to finish my photo-taking and then go home. However, as I continued on my way, I realized that I was being followed by the tall bald

the true damage that their decision created. Perhaps, together with newly elected members, they may see an opportunity here to revisit this situation and restore the name, E. W. Farr Memorial Public School, to the outside of the building where it truly belongs. Then we will have both monument and memorial back where they have long been treasured! Allen Wale Fonthill

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MEGAN METLER

Page 10

Pelham pool opens for the summer BY MEGAN METLER

Special to the VOICE

The Pelham Pool, located at Marlene Stewart Streit Park, reopened on July 6 with changes to keep everyone safe throughout the summer months. Residents are eager to cool off with the recent hot temperatures. According to the Town website, there is a mandatory screening process prior to entering the pool area and those participating must arrive in swimwear as the pool house and change rooms are closed to the public. The washrooms on the outside of the pool area remain open. Registration for all programs must be

completed in advance and there are currently no drop-ins. There is a new updated schedule available on the website and a change of sessions and classes available. Social distancing continues to be in effect while in the pool, and fewer patrons are being admitted at a time to ensure safe distances between swimmers. The pool slide is currently shut down for the summer. Sanitation measures are being put in place and staff close the pool every hour between programs to clean frequently touched areas. If you or someone in your household is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, stay home and self-isolate. For more information on the rules and regulation changes, or to register for swim time, visit pelham.ca.

BEAUTY AT HOME Charlie and Lynn Johnson, at 1328 Haist Street, Fonthill, are the most recent recipients for the Pelham Beautification Committee’s ‘Thank You Card’ initiative. The couple have been hard at work this past year transforming their front yard into a garden oasis. The front yard was dug down two to three feet with a resulting curvilinear design with well-placed plants and garden art. Those driving by and watching the progress are now well rewarded with the view. The Committee commends Charlie and Lynn for their efforts in beautifying their home and the community at large. From left, Charlie and Lynn Johnson receiving the Thank You card from Jen Pilzecker, Chair of the Pelham Beautification Committee. The Committee will name a recipient each month. Individuals are encouraged to submit potential recipient recommendations to: beautification@pelham.ca CYNTHIA ROBERTS

Nominations for Councillor, Ward One Nominations can be filed in person or through an agent by appointment. Faxed or electronic submission are not acceptable. Nominations will be received by the Town Clerk from June 16, 2020 to July 31, 2020. To make an appointment to file nomination papers, contact: Nancy J. Bozzato, Town Clerk 905-892-2607 X 315 njbozzato@pelham.ca

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What is the role of a Council Member?

To represent the public and to consider the well-being and interests of the municipality; To develop and evaluate the policies and programs of the municipality; To determine which services the municipality provides; To ensure that administrative policies, practices and procedures and controllership policies, practices and procedures are in place to implement the decisions of council; To maintain the financial integrity of the municipality; and To carry out the duties of council under the Municipal or any other act.

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The Voice, July 15, 2020

BRIGANTINO

continued from Page 3 Health Sciences from Western, and a Masters in Organizational Leadership from Medaille College, in Buffalo. She also hold a number of professional certifications related to her training as an executive coach and certified change coach. On her campaign website, Maria4Pelham.ca, Brigantino describes herself as a “strategic thinker who synthesizes diverse ideas into achievable action plans.” Speaking with the Voice last week, Brigantino said, “My whole framework and mindset is established around how we work together as a team…and council is a team, right? The goal is not to be adversarial. My goal is to build relationships. I'm a lifelong learner with lots of credentials, but at the end of the day, it's about experience and passion.”

OLSON

continued from Page 3 mendous reservoir of skills and abilities in this town,” he said. After graduating from high school in 1968, Olson enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces and served for eight years, primarily at the London, Ontario base. It was a practical decision, as it financed his future university studies. Olson left the Forces as a commissioned officer. Pursuant to his army stint, he attended Western and the University of Windsor, earning undergraduate degrees and ultimately his chartered accountancy (CA) status. He worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers for a while in agribusiness accounting, and then joined Ford Motor Company as an agricultural equipment field representative in Southwestern Ontario. Through his long association with Big Brothers and Big Sisters (Olson served as national president for a term) he crossed paths with Magna International boss Frank Stronach, who took a shine to Olson and hired him as a group manager at the giant Aurora-based global automotive supplier, overseeing several manufacturing plants and some 6000 employees. “Frank told me that, coming from a farming

Employed by the Niagara Regional government early in her career, Brigantino worked in a number of different departments, including Public Health. She went to the Town of Lincoln to become the Director of Community Services, where she gained experience on master planning for parks and neighborhoods, and liaised with service groups. “My skills and competencies revolve around problem solving, and asking tough questions. I understand how business is done from a legislative framework perspective.” Brigantino is a firm believer in trusting the expertise of municipal staff, and feels that Pelham is wellserved by excellent leadership that deserves respect. “When I worked at the Region, and the Town of Lincoln, I came to appreciate how much time and research goes into preparing a report for council,” she said. “If the due diligence is there, and there's a

background, I was practical and self-sufficient,” recalled Olson with a smile. He looks back fondly on his association and friendship with Stronach. While with Magna, Olson served as Director of the Automotive Parts Manufacturer’s Association of Canada, which involved him in negotiations of the Free Trade Agreements between Canada, the USA, and Mexico to replace the Auto Pact. Olson’s career also took him to Sweden, where he was managing director of Segerstom, a large European automotive manufacturer that provided consulting and parts for Volvo. Since his retirement, community service has been Olson’s focus. And it’s a long list of accomplishments. He has been a director with Pelham Cares, Community Support Services of Niagara (Meals on Wheels, other services for the aged), the Welland Museum, and the Pelham Historical Society. Volunteer hours have been logged for the Salvation Army, Welland Food Bank, and Marshville Festival. He has also found time to serve as a member of the Welland Affordable Housing Task Force, Pelham Seniors Advisory Committee, and the Royal Canadian Legion (Fonthill). “I've been working to address the isolation of seniors

good argument and a logical analysis about financial impact, short term and long term outcomes, then council should defer to the experts [on staff] and act on their advice.” She also believes there is good value in engaging consultants where appropriate. The local cannabis issue is a case in point. “From the council meetings that I watched, the consultant was making adjustments, identifying best practices, and seeing how existing government legislation has impacted other regions of the province,” said Brigantino. “The industry is a revenue generator…but let's ensure people are still able to enjoy their homes in the community.” Brigantino also sees value, on an as-needed basis, of calling on experts like the Integrity Commissioner. “They have no skin in the game. They're not from the community. They don't know any member of

and others at risk in this pandemic. It’s easy to slip into anxiety and depression in these times. They depend on solid leadership in the Town to help them through the crisis.” With his lengthy career in business and management in the rearview mirror, Olson’s latest gig is a bit of a divergence: school crossing guard. He appears somewhat overqualified. “They had a sign in front of the Fire Department that said volunteer crossing guards were needed. So I took my application in to Bylaw Officer Craig Genesse. During my interview, he said ‘We’ve never had a crossing guard candidate who helped negotiate the Free Trade Agreement,’” Olson recalled with a chuckle. The regular banter as a crossing guard with students, parents, and teachers is a tonic for Olson. “It’s the best job in the

Page 11 council personally, and they come up with recommendations,” she said. “It's council's job, once they've got all the necessary information, to follow the recommendation of experts. You paid $18,000 for an impartial view, so apply the recommendation.” Asked for her views on the current council, Brigantino responded, “I don't know them individually. And I always like to know a person personally before making sort of comment because you don't really know somebody from just from following a media perspective.” Brigantino does insist that politicians act in strict accordance with legislation already in place (such as the Public Libraries Act and the Municipal Act). Given that the entire council (with the exception of Mayor Marv Junkin, who was previously a councillor) was new this term, Brigantino suggested that, “It’s a learning

world for a retiree,” he said. “I have wonderful colleagues. They're all very different. As my wife says, I have the ability to get along with all different types of people.” Turning to discussion about recent issues (including formal investigations) surrounding Pelham council, Olson said, “My business background has taught me to focus on the purpose of things, the broad objectives, the challenges…not individuals, and not personalities.” He is reticent to comment on apparent rifts within the current council, saying, “I can be responsible for myself, but really can't be a judge of what other people do.” However, he acknowledges that these personal distractions do not serve the Town well. As far as Pelham’s financial recovery is concerned, Olson believes the munici-

pality is on the right track. “I think they've done quite a remarkable job of late…not just the elected officials, but the Town staff and volunteer committees. I've just been following it from the outside, but it seems there are some very competent people… and some really good young people, too,” he said. Asked by the Voice about the $75,000 provincial grant which could have gone to refurbish the Steve Bauer Trail, Olson responded, “Accessibility issues have a way of turning into health issues. We’ve got an aging population here. And it's important for seniors to

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get outside, to exercise and socialize. With that in mind, I don’t think I would have voted against the grant, especially when the local committee [Pelham Active Transportation Committee] recommended taking the funding.” Olson will soon have flyers and election signage, and his campaign website may be found at: wayne4wardone.ca “I have quite a team of people behind me already,” he said. The by-election will be held on Tuesday, September 15. Only those registered in Ward 1 are eligible to vote.

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curve for everybody. We really need to just focus on the future, working together, and leaving the past behind. It’s all about creating positive relationships so that we can address Town business. I've heard of some adversarial relationships and viewpoints, and I don't think that's serving the Town well. This council needs to move forward and start delivering.” Locked in the COVID pandemic’s embrace, Brigantino agreed that we are in unchartered waters, navigating through the new norm. “It's a challenge, but it has forced a lot of businesses to pivot and see new opportunities, along with the risks.” Brigantino stressed that there are grant opportunities that need to be promoted and communicated. “We really need to leverage support for those small and medium-size businesses that are hurting.”

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COMMUNITY Events April 13

Posted Event Submissions Standards April 8United Church Fenwick

If your organization is hosting an event that would be of interest to the community, www.fenwickunited.com www.gladtidingschurchofgod.com you may submit an events profile by sending your community events information to Central editor@thevoiceofpelham.ca Some restrictions apply. Event submissions that meet Region Ads included the acceptability standards of Old The Silk VoiceMill of Pelham will then posted untilpleasure the date the hotel in was be offset by our HANDLEBARS withweekly. thepapers lack of traffic we This14The ad isCommunity to beadvance. printed by all participating Ontario of your Events Calendar is updated Please provide continued fromevent. Page The hotel had no record encountered. as much notice and information as possible including the date, time and description of our reservation, and the We didn’t know if the than a restaurant, with of your event. The Voice of Pelham reserves right tosparse edit fortraffic space. receptionist politelythe asked was because shallow steam-table trays offering any variety of meat you might imagine. Old 300’s advertising was truthful— there was not a vegetable to be seen anywhere. Brisket and fries were recommended, so we ordered what we thought was an appropriate weight of meat. It collapsed our paper plates. Sitting on the patio below a God Bless Johnny Cash poster we gnawed our way through a delicious Texas red-meat BBQ dinner washed down with Lone Star lager. Fredericksburg is in the heart of Texas Hill Country, and touristy because of its German heritage and wineries. We arrived on our bikes the Friday of Fredericksburg’s world-famous (?) Chuckwagon Cookoff weekend, thankful to know that we’d booked a room at

if I was sure I’d booked the Old Silk Mill in Fredericksburg, Texas? Apparently I wasn’t the first person to book a room at the Old Silk Mill in Fredericksburg, Virginia for travelling in Texas. After assuring the receptionist in Virginia that we didn’t need the room held until we could cycle there that evening, we felt fortunate to find a room at the Fredericksburg, Texas Days Inn for just $169 US. Willow City Loop, thirty kilometers north of Fredericksburg, is alleged to have the most stunning spring wildflowers in Texas, so we rode it the next day. The fields and valleys we discovered were truly beautiful, stretching as far as the eye could see in a few places. Three to be exact. Our disappointment with the scarcity of flowers

others had spread the word that Texas Hill Country was seriously oversold, or if it was the three signs on the turnoff to Willow City. They read: “Loose Livestock,” “Private Road Next 13 Miles, No Parking On or Off Road, Violators Will Be Prosecuted,” and “Road Subject to Flooding.” We were undecided whether we’d prefer to be drowned in a flood or gored by a Texas Longhorn steer. The highlight of the day was a stop at the Knott in the Loop Saloon, a biker bar (definitely not cyclist-type bikers) in Willow City, population 72. We were welcomed, although we were the only patrons not wearing leather. The sign above our table read, “If you think of something we need, bring it next time. The management.” Odessa to Fort Stockton

FENWICK Avondale Stor Fenwick Sub S Golden Grill Devries Fruit F Ridderikhoff M

the following day was a humbling and enlightening ride. The Texas Transportation Commission is authorized to set speed limits of up to 85 miles per hour if the road warrants. The shortest, and most heavily travelled route between Odessa and Fort Stockton was such a road, forcing us to use Google maps to navigate the very few paved alternatives available. Thirty-five kilometres into the desert, our paved road of choice evaporated into an unrideable sand track. A short backtrack brought us to a rundown mobile home, the only habitation we’d seen for a half hour in any direction. We banged on the door to ask for directions, hoping we’d missed a turn, but fearing we’d have to retrace the 35K back to the main road. Eventually, a young fellow came to the door. He assured us there was no way forward on bicycles, then offered to drive us in his truck 20K along the sand

track to a paved road. The road on the map was actually a railroad paralleling the dirt track. We learned he lived with his grandmother; they preferred it out here where they weren’t bothered; his brother had gone into Fort Stockton for work and wound up in unspecified trouble; he worked doing some tree planting for a friend; they didn’t socialize much, etc; none of which stopped him from assisting us when we were in need. We thanked him profusely, paid him generously for his gas, and continued to Fort Stockton in 39C temperatures. Once there, we fittingly endorsed Fort Stockton’s historic reputation as a place where Comanche Indians, cattle rustlers and American soldiers came to find water, buffalo, or just a stiff drink. We’ll finish with the tour along the Rio Grande in next week’s issue. ♦

FAITH LIFT

continued from Page 15 tians who appear to be following Christ (attached) but show by their lack of fruit that they really aren’t (and will be detached). Jesus’ vivid word picture relates to us today as much as it did to His listeners back then. Each of us chooses how close or how distant we want to be to the Lord. The Lord’s will is obvious. He wants all of us to be spiritually close or intimate with Him so that we can experience joyful, meaningful and abundant lives (verse 11). I hope that describes you. If it doesn’t, and you realize you’ve been spiritually distancing yourself from God, then there’s no better time than right now to change that. ♦

Rob Weatherby is a retired pastor and a current member and deacon at Fonthill Baptist.

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The Voice, July 15, 2020

Page 13

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IN THE NEWS

ON THE BEACH

continued from Page 9 Wow. That escalated quickly. At this point, I was doubly glad that I had my mask on, to hide the range of emotions (fear, amusement, shock, exasperation) running across my face. A bystander pointed out to the man that this was a public area, and no one wanted to see that. He became even more angry, and then said to me, “You know what? I know 27, 37 guys, who can follow you home and take a photo of you.” This statement was considerably less funny. Feeling unnerved and threatened, I decided that it was best to leave before the situation escalated further (or worse, he might make good on his threat to flash the entire beach). What followed was a first in my reporting career—I had to leave the beach in such a way so that I could keep an eye over my shoulder in case I was followed. I took the safest route to my car and then crawled through the passenger seat so that no one would see me entering. I flopped onto the driver’s and after checking my surroundings for any potential stalkers, I started the car, feeling somewhat

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Despite signs warning that the playground was closed, a father takes his son to play on the equipment, saying, “If you get it, then you get it—it just happens.” MIRIAM HAN PHOTOS like a short, sweaty, overheated James Bond. As I drove home I reflected on the mask, which I had thrown onto the passenger seat. It lay there, crumpled, and seemed as dissatisfied as I was with how the evening went. The simple

square of fabric, meant to protect me, had actually turned me into a target. I spent the rest of the evening getting down the details of what happened for an incident report that I would later file with the NRPS. As I felt more shaken

than stirred, there was no martini for me. However, I did order a fresh batch of masks. Perhaps, I thought, James Bond would have more luck on the next assignment, with a friendlier face mask in floral patterns and paisley. ♦

At approximately 10:45 PM on July 7, emergency services personnel (Police Fire, EMS) responded to the area of Lakeshore Road and Camelot Drive in Wainfleet for a report of a single vehicle rollover. According to a police statement released the following day, 6 District (Port Colborne) uniform officers arrived on scene and found a 2005 grey Dodge Ram pickup truck on its roof with two males inside. They were extricated from the truck by members of the Wainfleet Fire Services. One of the passengers, a 25-year-old from Port Colborne was pronounced dead at the scene. The second passenger, a 21-year-old, also from Port Colborne, was transported to a local hospital by paramedics from Niagara Emergency Medical Services with life threatening injuries. The driver was located on scene and treated by paramedics from Niagara Emergency Medical Services for his minor injuries. He was transported to a local hospital. Detectives from the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Collision Reconstruction Unit took over the investigation and were assisted by the NRPS Forensic Services Unit and Traffic Enforcement Unit. The driver of the pickup truck, Brocque John Cote, 20, of Port Colborne, has been arrested and charged with the alleged criminal offences of: Impaired Operation of a Conveyance cause Death, Impaired Operation of a Conveyance cause Bodily Harm, Impaired Operation of a Conveyance exceed Blood Alcohol concentration. Upon being medically cleared at the hospital, Cote was transported by officers to the NRPS Prisoner Management Unit to be held pending a bail hearing. Cote has been issued an Administrative Driver’s Licence Suspension (ADLS). According to the statement, an ADLS is issued to anyone charged with similar driving offences. The ADLS prohibits Cote from operating a motor vehicle for 90 days from date it was issued. The identity of the deceased is not being released out of respect for the next of kin. The investigation into this matter remains ongoing by detectives. Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or have any information is asked to contact detectives at 905-688-4111, extension 9170.

Page 14

The Voice, July 15, 2020

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

FROM THE HANDLEBARS

by John Swart

A southwest Texas adventure

T

wo weeks, self-supported on a bicycle, is sufficient time to be smitten by a destination, its culture and its geography. That the source of infatuation, especially during the presidency of Donald Trump, would be southwest Texas seems beyond belief. There is no halfway in southwest Texas—you go all in, or you fold. The residents we met were open, honest and graciously helpful, yet projected a low tolerance for pretense or deceit. In Texas you can be fined $10,000 for carrying a concealed weapon, yet

open carry is allowed if you have a license. The landscape is so overwhelmingly barren and harsh that it intimidates you into discovering its subtle beauty. The plan, back in 2018, when the following unfolded, was to bicycle for two weeks in April. We’d cycle 300K north from San Antonio through Texas Hill Country, take a day to drive almost 500K west to Midland-Odessa near the New Mexico border, then ride 1200K south and east back to San Antonio via the Mexico border along the Rio Grande River through Big Bend National Park. My pitch to brother-

in-law and cycling bud Mart went like this: Do you want to ride southwest Texas in April? We’ll ride in Hill Country where Lance Armstrong trained. Wildflowers will be in bloom everywhere. Big Bend is so remote there won’t be any traffic. We get to climb the Chisos, Glass, Santiago, and Chinati mountain ranges —all in five days. As usual, I had Mart at “do you want to ride….” Our wives, displaying southwest Texan cynicism, were skeptical that we would fly to Texas to ride amongst wildflowers, but were happy to be rid of us. We met in San Antonio, assembled our bikes in the hotel room, and headed to Blanco the next morning. San Antonio is modern, relatively wealthy, and en-

The winner! Best BBQ restaurant entrance after a 100K ride. Old 300 BBQ, Blanco, Texas. JOHN SWART

dowed with many bicycle friendly roads, which helps when you’re trying to cycle out of a city with two and a half million people for the first time. One hundred flowerless kilometers later, we arrived at Blanco, and entered the divergent world of rural southwest Texas. The Blanco County Inn was spotless, cold beer was available at the gas station across the road, and hanging above a rifle mounted

on the wall was a sign that read, “We don’t call 911.” We asked a couple girls who had stopped to chat with each other through their pick-up truck windows in the middle of 4th Street, where the best place to eat was. In unison they pointed to nearby Old 300 BBQ , claiming it was, without question, the best barbeque in Texas. Old 300 was advertised as, “A rustic, western-themed outpost for meat and sand-

wiches.” The layout was no frills and purpose-built. Just inside the solid wood entrance door were two minimally restored work benches topped with six vintage galvanized steel washtubs filled with beer on ice. Chalkboards with the day’s menu, priced by the pound, lined the wall. The order counter looked more like a butcher shop See HANDLEBARS Page 12

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Voice

HOROSCOPE

ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, there is a lot you want to say to someone special, but for some reason the words get stuck on your tongue. You may need a little more time to formulate your thoughts. TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 The adage “look before you leap” is never more pertinent for you, Taurus. Weigh all of your decisions carefully before you start any new projects this week. GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 Try to keep the peace with other people this week, Gemini. Lead by example rather than telling others what to do. This approach will be more warmly received by others. CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 You may want to look up old friends who you haven’t seen for a while, Cancer. You may be feeling sentimental or sociable and a simple text or phone call can be effective. LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 You like to have the final say in all matters, Leo. But there is a fine line between taking charge and being a control freak. Let others’ reactions help you fine tune your delivery. VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 You will be able to get to the root of problem this week if you put in some serious effort, Virgo. It may involve receiving and analyzing feedback from many different people. LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 This week’s overall outlook is positive for you, Libra. However, you may have to work a little bit for that positivity. The attitude you present is what you will get in return. SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 Scorpio, embrace your creative

side rather than your analytical side. Employ your creativity this week and you may be surprised at the results. SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 You may have to rethink certain principles that you have adhered to for years, Sagittarius. After some reflection, you may realize life has changed and you must adjust. CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 It may not be easy to get things done this week, Capricorn. You might find it challenging to muster up the energy to be effective. If so, look to others for motivation. AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, lately you have been challenged to assert yourself in many different ways. You tend to thrive in a leadership role, but don’t let the stress get the best of you. PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 Many things come to you naturally. Examine your strengths and figure out how to be as productive as possible in the days ahead. FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS JULY 12 Phoebe Tonkin, Actress (31) JULY 13 Harrison Ford, Actor (78) JULY 14 Dan Reynolds, Singer (33) JULY 15 Gabriel Iglesias, Comic (44) JULY 16 Carli Lloyd, Athlete (38) JULY 17 Luke Bryan, Musician (44) JULY 18 Kristen Bell, Actress (40)

SOLUTIONS DOWN 1. Chairs 2. Pencil 3. Upstairs 4. Ad 5. Television 6. Tailed 7. Admen 8. Clavier 9. KY 12. Disc 13. Unco 17. Dow 19. Asian 20. Torne 21. Enate 25. Peacemaker 29. Fro 31. Ulnas 32. Taegu 33. Appel 35. Spacemen 38. Panther 41. Muncie 43. Ursine 44. Secret 45. Ear 46. Atop 47. Mews 49. Daunt 56. DA 57. DY

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. CPU 4. Attack 10. HEP 11. Deadly 12. Du 14. ANS 15. Lima 16. Indict 18. Elevate 22. Scoria 23. Venison 24. Cowslip 26. ID 27. Eira 28. Refs 30. Rant 31. UTA 34. Saris 36. Nee 37. Lapp 39. Coop 40. Nepa 41. Me 42. Nauseam 48. Agendum 50. Create 51. Sultana 52. Escrow 53. Huck 54. Mir 55. PS 56. Denied 58. ENE 59. Artery 60. Net

Enjoy out Take-out Fish & Chips Fridays! From our family to yours...stay safe

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The Voice, July 15, 2020

Voice

FAITH LIFT

by Pastor Rob Weatherby

CROSSWORD

T

Social distancing

At first, it meant staying one metre apart but as the number of infections rose it increased to two metres. The idea is to stay far enough from another person so that the infection cannot be passed on through the air or through touch. This new (and necessary) discipline got me thinking about another idea — spiritual distancing.

in the Gospel of John in the New Testament. In chapter 15, Jesus describes a word picture that His hearers can visualize. In verse 1, Jesus identifies Himself as a grapevine (well known in Israel but also to us in the Niagara region) and God the Father as the gardener tending the vineyard. In verse 5, Jesus explains that His followers are the branches attached to the vine. He then encourages His followers to stay closely attached (or spiritually intimate) with Him. If they do, then there are good results. We will be very fruitful

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Have you been spiritual distancing?

he coronavirus has not only changed our lifestyles, it’s changed our vocabulary. The names for the disease — coronavirus or COVID-19 — are new, of course, but one new term that has now become very common is “social distancing.”

Page 15

(verse 5). This means that the good fruit of the Spirit (like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) will grow in our character. And this will also lead to the fruit of helping others on their journey to find God. Another good result will be answered prayer (verse 7). However, the results of spiritual distancing are foreboding. Jesus says that these branches will be cut off (verse 2) and burned (verse 6). This is probably a reference to nominal ChrisSee FAITH LIFT Page 12

Spiritual distancing

This new term (that I just invented) means keeping our distance from God. Many people are quite good at it and have practiced it for some time. We are not surprised when people who describe themselves as atheists, agnostics, humanists, etc., keep their distance from God. But there are also many nominal (in name only) “Christians” who live their daily lives as practical atheists, distancing themselves from God. Recently, however, I read that Bible sales have been on the rise over the last few weeks. That’s a good sign that some people are sensing a greater need to connect with God and His Word than they did before. The number of on-line spiritual inquiries and people who say they are praying regularly has also increased.

Spiritual intimacy

The opposite of spiritual distancing is spiritual intimacy or drawing close to God. One of my favorite passages of Scripture is found

Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

Word Search: Newspapers

Find the words hidden vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and backwards. AUDIENCE BEAT BROADSHEET BULLETIN BYLINE CIRCULATION

CLIP ART COLUMN COLUMNIST COMMUNITY CUTLINE DECK

DISTRIBUTION EDITION EDITOR HEADLINE LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD

NEWSPAPER OBITUARIES OPINION POLICE BLOTTER SPOTLIGHT TABLOID

ANSWERS ON PAGE 18

Page 16

The Voice, July 15, 2020

COLUMN SIX

layers of cherries, pineapples and papaya and leans against the side of my tall, frosty glass. Day five is back with the sole intention just like that because I do of making you feel better. get a steady stream of liqCan you feel it? uids, but of the clear variety Nice. again. All day! Don't even Go ahead, pick up the think about spoiling that phone and call him/her. with food. No food, silly. Make an appointment. You At 3 PM the party really deserve this. gets going and I swallow a But wait, the call goes to few pills. No, I don’t know voicemail and you hear the what they are, but I’m on reassuring words of your vacation and am open to old friend, the receptionto everything! Happy Hour ist: “…thank you for your starts at 4 PM, just like at patience during these unany all-inclusive, and the precedented times…hope bar opens with the house you are safe…bookings are specialty—it's a fruit punch now open…to be fair to clithat I get to chug just like ents whose appointments I’m in a poolside drinking were cancelled pre-COVID… competition. The goal is to therefore, we are currentdown this solution, an enly looking at wait times of tire liter of it, in just a few up to two months…please minutes. I don’t win anyhold…” thing, but I do hang on the The crash of your phone promise of frequent bowel hitting the wall snaps you movements leading to drop back to reality. You need in dress size by the end of this. Online shopping, here I come! Similar to my last all-inclusive experience in the MP for Niagara West MP MP for Niagara West MP MP for Niagara West MP Dominican Republic, where and andand I spent most of one evening and the entire next day in the washroom after eating MPP for Niagara West MPP Niagara West MPP forfor Niagara West MPMPMP some questionable shrimp, I set up camp in the en suite and begin my Netflix binge-watch of Dead to Me, Season 1. Hey, travelling is an adventure, right? And sometimes adventures involve unexpected bumps in the road (I say to myself in the sexy Australian accent The topics included inupdate this update will The topics included this update will be on on The topics included in in this will be onbe I’ve adopted for the eveJOIN ZOOM MEETING ning.) information on federal and provincial supports for small business. Day six is the biggie. information federal and provincial supports small business. information onon federal and provincial supports forfor small business. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89702782359?pwd=MWw0NE03QnI3REQrRzdRdVZvTmFOZz09 What’s even better than Ifare you are interested in participating, If you are interested participating, If you interested in in participating, waking up after all that please email either Dean or and Sam and details will be emailed to you. drinking, without a hangplease email either Dean Sam and details will be emailed you. please email either Dean oror Sam details will be emailed toto you. over, is that I get to keep Please note that space is limited. Please note that space limited. Please note that space is is limited. going, keep chugging another liter of fruit punch. At 5 AM! What am I, back in college? It’s a little tough to keep down and the last few To Contact Dean Contact Dean To Contact Sam ToTo Contact Dean Contact Sam ToTo Contact Sam gulps seem to splutter and 1.905.563.7900 1.905.563.7900 1.905.563.1755 1.905.563.1755 1.905.563.7900 1.905.563.1755 overflow out of my mouth, but I can do this. I’m on vadean.allison@parl.gc.ca dean.allison@parl.gc.ca sam.oosterhoff@pc.ola.org sam.oosterhoffco@pc.ola.org sam.oosterhoff@pc.ola.org dean.allison@parl.gc.ca sam.oosterhoff@pc.ola.org cation and I’m a winner! Season 2 of Dead to Me is www.deanallison.ca www.deanallison.ca samoosterhoffmpp.ca samoosterhoffmpp.ca www.deanallison.ca samoosterhoffmpp.ca riveting, full of unexpected continued from Page 1

better than two months. But it’s okay. I’ve found the perfect outlet. It’s selfcare to the extreme. Sure, you need to have a doctor’s referral, but I got that over the phone, and after that, it was sweet sailing. It’s time to book a colonoscopy. You’ve been talking about it for a while now, and it never seems to be the right time, so why not bite the bullet and do it? After all, I only had to wait one week for the appointment! Take that, nail salon! I won’t bore you with the details of what prompted the pursuit of such an escape, but let me tell you, it should be on everyone’s bucket list. It’s kind of like a six-day spa but for the first four days, instead of wandering about in my plush bathrobe, plucking from a cornucopia of fresh fruits and

vegetables, cheeses and crackers, lattes and chardonnays or perhaps from that other buffet, where I might sample a corned beef on rye with fries and a beer, I kind of get to eat none of these. But white rice is good. And pasta (with no tomato sauce). And white bread. And ground, white meat. And don’t forget those clear liquids. They’re so exotic and plentiful: Apple juice and white grape juice and yellow and orange sports drinks (not blue, red, or purple because they can look like blood in your colon, haha.) And water! So much water! Glug, glug, glug. Oh yeah, you feeling this? Day five is a really special day. I’m sitting at the swim-up bar, while a waiter brings me non-stop piña coladas, each with a plastic sword which stabs through

Dean Allison Dean Allison Dean Allison

Sam Oosterhoff MPP Sam Oosterhoff MPP Sam Oosterhoff MPP

Will be holding a Zoom on-line Will be holding Zoom online Will be holding Zoom on-line Will be holding aaaZoom on-line COVID-19 Recovery information session for Small Business information session for Small Business information session for Small Business Information Session. Friday, April 24 from 10:00 am — 11:00 am Friday, April 24from from 10:00 am 11:00 am Friday, April 24 10:00 am ——11:00 am Friday, July 17, from 10 AM to 11 AM

Meeting ID: 897 0278 2359 Password: 767302 Dial in: 1-647-374-4685 or 1-647-558-0588

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca twists. My appointment isn’t until 4:30 in the afternoon, so I get to lounge around all day. No, I’m not allowed to eat or drink anything, so I just keep reminding myself of shopping for clothes that will compliment my new figure. I can almost see a rib popping out beneath my chest, which makes me ecstatic. Oh, what the hell, I’ll just put on a bikini, take a few selfies and send them to my old college roommate, the model. You know, I think she’s pregnant again anyway, so it’s a good time to reach out and congratulate her. Before I know it, I’m being chauffeured to the offsite portion of my trip (read: clinic). I fill out the typical COVID questionnaire and am escorted to my prep room. Finally, I get naked (from the waist down) and lie on a table. I get a brief massage on my arm as a nurse hunts for a vein to stick in the anesthesia port, then she whisks me off to meet my team. It’s all very exciting, meeting my very own team. I do feel special. A man in mask and gown inserts a tube into the port in my arm, puts his face close to mine, and utters the six words I’ve been longing to hear for so many years: You’ll be asleep within ten seconds. I quickly ask if I can take him home with me but the lines around his eyes only crinkle me a smile from above his mask as he turns to confer with a nurse. The chatter goes on for several minutes and I get anxious that I will still be awake when the doctor sticks a camera where the sun don’t shine, which was not advertised in the brochure. In a panic, I shout out, “Hello! I’m still awake over here! Shouldn’t I be asleep? Hello?” My nurse puts a soothing hand on my arm and replies, “You’re awake because it’s over.”

I take in my surroundings. I have been wheeled back to my original prep room. “Hey, look where I am!” I announce to her, like it’s news to both of us. “I’m back here, where I started!” My sister picks me up and takes me home, where I’m supposed to introduce foods slowly. So I slowly drink a smoothie. Then I slowly eat two turkey burgers, a salad, a bowl of strawberries, two Rice Krispy squares, an ice cream cone, a bag of chips with onion dip, and a large Caramilk chocolate bar, followed by a bowl of cereal. So much for the shopping spree. At 7 the next morning, I am awakened by the sound of the garbage truck outside. Yikes! When my husband is away, I usually take the garbage out, but with all this pampering, I must have forgotten. Just as I am about to bolt out of bed, a rerun of the previous day’s events plays out in my head: Yesterday, I was at that weird spa…that appointment was for Thursday…today must be Friday… garbage day is Monday… what is all that noise about? I lie and listen for another moment and realize, to my horror, that the cacophony of noise is not coming from the street, but is emanating from my excised stomach, complaining about the overdose of ingredients of the previous evening. It’s what always happens after a holiday—it’s tough to come down and get back to reality. As travel remains uncertain, and after the success of my first outing, I’m inspired to seek out more adventure and self-care. Now that I’ve conquered Colonoscopy River, perhaps it’s time for a trip back to Mammogram Mountain. Sure, getting in and out can be a bit of a pinch, but finding those clear skies with unobstructed views of the scenery is always worth the effort! ♦

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