Cannabis, rental bylaws passed page 3 Two more Ward 1 candidates page 8 Tree losses prompt pushback page 11 EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS
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Rad ripper grabs that summer air TRANSLATED FOR THE REST OF US: The skilled gentleman takes flight—said accomplished skater being Dustin Taylor, of Fonthill, showing his stuff at the Isaac Riehl Memorial Skate Park last Saturday. DON RICKERS/VOICE PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
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The Voice, July 22, 2020
IN THE NEWS
PUBLISHER’S CORNER
by Dave Burket
Seeing the forest through the (non-resident) trees: Not so much a correction as a clarification. Last week I mentioned that anyone who owns property or lives in Pelham can run for elected office here, and in any ward, not just the one they live in. Accurate as far as it goes. However, the Municipal Election Act also permits anyone who rents property in Pelham to run for office here. “Sure,” you’re saying to yourself, “someone who lives in a rented home or apartment should be able to run—they live here, too!” Actually, hold that thought, because it’s only half correct. In fact, “renting property” does not automatically imply that the renter must live there. It’s entirely legal for a candidate to qualify to run for office in Pelham by renting an office space, or a corner in an office, or a farmer’s field, or potentially a garage space—all while continuing to reside in, say, Port Colborne, or Hamilton, or Winnipeg. (That last commute might be a tough one, post-COVID.) This all came up after Ward 1 candidate Steven Soos initially declined to answer when asked which ward he lived in. After the Voice went to press last week, Soos did respond, reporting that he has rented a room in a family member’s home in Fonthill, where he says he has resided since March...And two more are in: Fenwick’s James Federico and Fonthill’s Colleen Kenyon have entered the Ward 1 race, and are interviewed in this issue. I know it seems like a long time away, but there are only seven more editions between now and Election Day, September 15. Go backwards seven editions and it was June 3, with the Haist Street chicane’s removal on the front page. Doesn’t that seem a bit like yesterday?...Open at last: With Niagara set to enter Stage 3 this Friday, there will surely be no shortage of patrons ready to flee the noise and heat of dining next to Highway 20 in favour of inside service again. Mr. P, we’d like to reserve our usual table please! Bring on the wings!...Big numbers from the Legion: Contributor Ric Gretsinger reports that the Royal Canadian Legion Fonthill served 6512 free meals to seniors over the course of the last four months, an incredible figure for the all-volunteer kitchen and delivery operation. The program has ended, but Friday Fish Fries will be back in September...Speaking of the Legion: Remember that envelope containing five crisp $100 bills that showed up a couple of weeks ago? The loot will be distributed as follows, with $100 each going to the Legion, Harmonize for Speech, the Fenwick Lions’ Guide Dog program, the Fonthill Bandshell, and Pelham Cares. Thank you to everyone who made suggestions...The goodie bag: What should be waiting for me last week at the office but a handsome bag full of Niagara Region Police Association swag, namely a lapel pin, a fridge magnet, a hefty coffee mug, and a mysterious plastic clip featuring eyes that follow you, Mona Lisa-like, sort of (see above). Thanks, Cliff! ♦
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Niagara enters Stage 3
The Ontario government is allowing Niagara, and seven more regions, to enter Stage 3 on Friday, increasing the number of businesses and public spaces that will reopen across the province. According to a provincial statement released Monday, July 20, the decision was made in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and was based on “positive local trends of key public health indicators, including lower or low transmission of COVID-19, ongoing hospital capacity, public health capacity to conduct rapid case and contact management, and a significant increase in testing.” “While we want as many people back to work and taking home a paycheque again as possible,” said Premier Doug Ford, “it’s important for everyone — no matter what stage your community is in — to remain on guard and keep following the public health advice.” The following public health units will be allowed to move into Stage 3 on Friday, July 24, at 12:01 a.m.: Durham Region Health Department, Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit, Halton Region Health Department, Hamilton Public Health Services, Lambton Health Unit, Niagara Region Public Health Department, and York Region Public Health Services. These regions will join the 24 public health regions that entered into Stage 3 on Friday, July 17. The fol-
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Pedlar becomes Pelham
Effective this week, the James L. Pedlar Funeral Home, in Fonthill, is changing its name to Pelham Funeral Home, Ltd. There is no change of ownership, with Tina Sidler, owner since 2011, remaining the funeral director. “We are simply changing the name to honour the fact that we serve the entire community of Pelham,” said Sidler. “We wish to focus on a name that highlights our beloved community.” Like her predecessors, Sidler lives above the funeral home, saying that her philosophy has always been, “You don’t go to work, you live the work.”
lowing regions will remain in Stage 2 until local trends of key public health indicators demonstrate readiness to move into Stage 3: Peel Public Health, Toronto Public Health, Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. According to the statement, the Chief Medical Officer of Health and public health experts continue to closely monitor the evolving situation to advise when public health restrictions can be further loosened or if they need to be tightened. For regions in Stage 3, gathering limits will increase to a maximum of 50 people indoors and a maximum of 100 people outdoors, with physical distancing in place. Gathering limits apply to all social gatherings and events, as well as some higher risk activities and venues. Gathering limits do not apply to settings such as beaches, parks, restaurants and bars, but measures to enable physical distancing may limit capacity at any given time. Testing is available at any of the province’s 144 assessment centres currently open. To find your closest assessment centre, please visit On-
HDS worker tests positive
One staff member at Hotel Dieu Shaver has tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently self-isolating at home. According to a statement released on Sunday, July 19, the facility says that there are no other known cases within the hospital involving either staff or patients. As a precautionary measure, and in adherence with Public Health advice and directives, some identified staff have been asked to isolate at home, and a “small number” of identified patients have been placed in precautionary isolation. Visitor restrictions have been further increased “until such time as the matter is resolved and cleared by Niagara Public Health.”
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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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Growing up British
Vol.20 No.32
Wednesday October 12, 2016
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Apple Day comes to Fonthill
BY JULIE MANNELL
Special to the VOICE
W
BALLOONING INTEREST Grade 6 student Jinja Shepherd explains her experiment on static electricity at the Glynn A. Green Public School's annual science fair last Friday. See story, page 3. NATE SMELLE PHOTO
Public meeting tonight on school issues BY VOICE STAFF As questions continue to mount regarding an email that Pelham Mayor Dave Augustyn quietly sent to a District School Board of Niagara trustee last summer, Augustyn has agreed to address the issue at a public meeting scheduled for this evening, Wednesday, Feb. 8, in Fenwick. Nancy Beamer, speaking for “Names Matter,” a Pelham citizens group lobbying the DSBN to reverse its decision to rename a local public school, confirms that the meeting will be held at Fire Station #2, known locally as the Fenwick Fire Hall, starting at 7:00 PM. While the Mayor has agreed to ap-
Under pressure, Mayor to address email revelation, other E. W. Farr matters pear, says Beamer, DSBN officials associated with the school-naming process have either declined to attend or have not yet responded to the group’s invitation. DSBN Chair, Dale Robinson, to whom Augustyn’s email was addressed last June, has declined to appear, says Beamer, asserting that she would be
“on holidays.” The Voice was unable to independently confirm Robinsion’s intentions. She did not respond to repeated requests for comment on E.W. Farr-related matters before presstime. Beamer, whose group maintains an email list of some 580 residents, says that all members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend the meeting. “We would especially welcome parents and children who are unhappy with the name change,” she says, referring to the contentious decision by the DSBN to consolidate two Pelham See MEETING back page
HEN I WAS young, my father and I would go for long drives along the rural routes of Pelham. We’d blast George Thurgood and roll down the windows because we loved the smell of the breeze, the sensation of crisp Niagara wind beating our cheeks and tangling our hair against our summer-kissed skin. My father was not a sentimental man. He worked in factories and had a Gordon Lightfoot mustache and never shed tears over injuries. Yet something about the Pelham landscape, the hilly backdrop to his childhood and the childhoods of our ancestors, drew him in. He’d stop by a farm or a gathering of woods and, surrendering his manly veneer, tell me a story about the town. This place is precious. This is the earth that granted us life. Here is the place where we happened upon love or here is a site of devastation. On one particular drive sometime in the late ‘90s we stopped at a tree with a plaque. “This tree looks dead,” I said to my father. “It sure is getting there, Julie.” The Comfort Maple is supposedly Canada’s oldest See COLUMN SIX Page 14
Part 2 of 2: Coronation to embarkation
BY VOICE STAFF
A construction error was discovered following the opening of a traffic calming chicane on Haist Street north of Hwy 20 last Monday that prevented large vehicles from passing through. One resident living in the neighbourhood said he contacted the Town after seeing a small schoolbus get stuck as it tried to get through the new traffic calming measure. Later that day while driving behind a cement truck, he said that he became concerned for the public’s safety when the truck had to turn around because it couldn’t get through. “If a small school bus and a cement truck can’t make it through what about a fire
BY HEATHER McLAREN ROHRER
Special to the VOICE
A
Repair measures underway last week to correct a construction error in the chicane. truck or an ambulance?” he said. While waiting for the contractor to return to fix
the mistake, the Town has taken measures to temporarily allow passage for vehicles through the neigh-
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.
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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
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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.
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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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Has the Covid taught a lesson Have you figured out the plan, Together we are greater Than the sum of just one man. Do you care? Can simple words provoke a feeling Can they help to guide your way, Overcome "Invincibility " Lead you to a wiser day? Do you know? We are all in this together And the fittest may survive But together we can do it Keep each one of us alive. DO YOU CARE? If you do, I beg of you Wear a mask!!! Keep your distance!!! Give us all A fighting chance. IF YOU CARE S. M. Lazareth
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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Sue and Bernie Law off the Rock of Gibraltar, part of a “wonderful” cruise hitting ports in Spain, France, and Italy, arranged by Cruise Holidays.
As you watch the numbers still unfold, As the daily tallies are retold, Do you care?
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“I start work at 2:30 PM and school lets out at 2:15 PM so I can’t take any other route,” Williams explained. “I have had friends, family, teachers and other community members reach out to me in the past about how this is unsafe and how there should be another alternative for us.” Looking ahead to winter, when she will need to walk this path three or four times See SIDEWALK Page 2
HERE IS NO BETTER time to cycle than Fall. It matters not whether you’re new to the sport, a seasoned recreational cyclist, racer, touring rider or mountain biker; we all have reason to look forward to autumn. Summer’s heat has faded, and the streams of sweat that ran from soggy helmets into our eyes are now just slight perspiration. Fitness is peaking from lots of saddle time, making those tough climbs of Spring a breeze in Autumn. It’s hard to beat the feeling of beginning a crisp, cool Fall ride with a slight shiver, knowing your efforts will soon warm you perfectly. The hues of Autumn are outstanding. A Pelham route as simple as following our southern boundary is one that would make most Toronto cyclists jealous, especially when our forests and fields are ablaze with colour. Begin from Harold Black Park, and zig-zag south along Effingham Rd toward the Welland River. If you’re new to cycling, it’s important to know south is the direction away from any hills. If you avoid the morning and evening weekday rush hours caused by those travelling through Pelham between Wainfleet See AUTUMN Page 3
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The Voice, July 22, 2020
Page 3
TOWN COUNCIL NEWS
Cannabis, short-term rental bylaws finally passed BY JOHN CHICK
Director of Community Planning and Development Barb Wiens said. The core rules remain the same, however. Short-term rentals will not be permitted unless the homeowner can convince council to make a zoning amendment. Existing bed and breakfast establishments — which are owner-occupied and not rented by absentee landlords — have been grandfathered in. Junkin asked Wiens if that aspect means a bed and breakfast could be passed along to a new owner if a property is sold. Wiens replied that would only be permitted if there was no cessation of operation during the property’s sale period.
Special to the VOICE
Two major pieces of legislation that have consumed local politics for a number of years were passed by Pelham Town Council during its July 13 virtual meeting. Most notably, council unanimously ratified official planning and zoning amendments to deal with cannabis producers — two days before the expiry of the Interim Control Bylaw that had frozen cannabis producers from establishing new operations or expanding existing sites. “In the end I believe that the product of the work is a very good balance between providing a path forward for future operations should they wish to consider locating in the town, and protecting the overall public interest,” said Nick McDonald, President of Meridian Planning Consultants, which worked closely with the Cannabis Control Committee (CCC) to craft the regulations. “I think we struck a real good balance,” McDonald told council during his presentation. Before the meeting, Niagara Region gave the CCC a formal exemption to the official plan and zoning bylaw amendments. The new bylaws are highlighted by mandating producers to apply for rezoning for any new grow-op, adds specific definitions for indoor and outdoor operations, and enforces issues around odour and lighting, while setting guidelines for setbacks. Cannabis production
Council switches path on trail funding
Pelham Town Council, joined by some senior staff and PATC Chair Bea Clark, on July 13. will remain classified as an agricultural endeavour. Yet McDonald added that until the government of Ontario comes up with a more uniform approach to cannabis production, Pelham is in a unique position to chart its own course. “Until the province does come out with guidelines, it is up to municipalities to figure out a path forward,” he said. Mayor Marvin Junkin thanked the CCC, represented by Chair Tim Nohara, for the group’s hard work over the past year.
“On behalf of council, Tim, we thank you for the time of life you have donated to this,” the Mayor said. “It was worth it, we’ve got a bylaw that is both defensible and protects the rights of the citizens, while allowing the [cannabis] industry their rights.” Nohara said that the late Councillor Mike Ciolfi, who was on the CCC, would have been proud of the final product. “Thank you for trusting us with this,” Nohara said. “I’m sure somebody dear to all of us—‘Big
e v a h u o Do y ? u o y n i e r i f e h t
YOUTUBE
Mike,’ I’ll quote you Mr. Mayor—is very pleased this evening.” Council also unanimously passed a new bylaw for shortterm rentals in Pelham, a little over a month after it was referred back to staff. The amendments removed short-term accommodations from being permitted in medium-to-high density residential and in any other types of houses, except for single detached dwellings. “I think we have captured the changes council was looking for,”
Almost a month after voting down the paving of a large stretch of the Steve Bauer Trail, council heard from Pelham Active Transportation Committee (PATC) Chair Bea Clark, and unanimously heeded her plea to reconsider. During its June 15 meeting, Councillors Bob Hildebrandt, Ron Kore and Marianne Stewart voted instead to devote Town resources to the removal of rumble strips on Canboro Road. This was despite $75,000 in funding from the provincial government being available only until the end of this year, specifically earmarked for cycling and accessibility-based infrastructure. Because the vote See COUNCIL Page 10
a n e r A r e t i p i c c A ! n o o s g n i m o ice c
Are you looking for an opportunity to make your community stronger and safer? If the answer is yes, consider becoming a volunteer firefighter in Pelham.
Ice rentals are available in the Accipiter Arena. Physical distancing guidelines and at-the-door health screening is required for everyone entering the building.
Join a group of dedicated, passionate, and community-focused volunteers assisting the community in fighting fires, providing fire safety and guidance, and supporting residents through various charitable initiatives.
Ice is available for rental beginning July 27, 2020.
The number of female firefighters is increasing, however, is still lower than other volunteer opportunities. Everyone is encouraged to apply.
Ice time is available in one-hour blocks. Change rooms are not available and skaters are asked to come dressed. When inside the building, users are asked to keep two metres apart from one another. Floor stickers and signage will help guide users.
Recruitment takes place from July 17-31.
Looking to rent ice this summer? Call 905-892-2607 x329.
To fill out an application, visit: pelham.ca/fire or visit Station 1 on HWY 20, Fonthill.
www.pelham.ca/fire
www.pelham.ca/mcc
Page 4
The Voice, July 22, 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 Larry Coté The pandemic, leadership, and societal change
M
uch has been written about COVID-19 and how rapidly it spread to almost every country on the planet. Historically, few viruses have had such devastating effects around the globe. Fortunately, medical scientists have developed vaccines that reduced the severity of past viral attacks and protected many people from contracting those diseases. There has rarely been a pandemic as widely spread and resistant to treatment as the COVID-19 strain. Many countries have been peculiarly hard hit and suffered greatly by the spread of this contagion within their borders. Yet there are other countries that have been relatively successful in limiting the damage this virus has inflicted on their economies and populations. Some in the medical community have made a fascinating correlation between the severity of the pandemic within a country and the gender of the leadership in that country. The seven countries most devastated by this virus are the United States, Brazil, Russia, Spain, United Kingdom, Italy and France.
Notably, all seven of those countries are lead by men. The seven countries that appeared to best manage the COVID-19 crisis in their jurisdictions are Germany, Taiwan, New Zealand, Iceland, Finland, Norway and Denmark. Coincidentally, or otherwise, the head of state for each of those countries is a woman. That coincidental comparison is interesting for a number of reasons. First and foremost among those reasons is the fact that the women’s rights movement has been making significant news in recent years. It is now a fact that 25% of most political assemblages are comprised of women and this percentage is on an upward swing. Although women in politics is only one-quarter, it has vastly increased from only a few years ago. Prime Minister Trudeau appeared to encourage the cause by ensuring that one half of his cabinet was to be female. It is also notable that women’s wages for equal work with men has made headlines in recent times. Studies have demonstrated that women earn 87 cents for every dollar earned by their male coun-
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terparts doing the same work. That differential has been shrinking, year by year, as the women’s equality movement tackles the inequalities that have persisted for many years. It is improbable that anyone will credibly rationalize the happenstance that countries lead by male politicians suffered more severely than those lead by females. Might it have something to do with the fact women occupy most of the caring roles in their societies? The seniors among us have lived a long life and consequently have observed, been affected by, participated and promoted many changes in society. One of the most notable has been the maturing role of females in a fast-growing number of areas and aspects of society. Some few men may resist and resent the more prominent roles women will increasingly inhabit in future societies. On the other hand, modern men will welcome and be comfortable living and working with the other half of the population. Perhaps then, in the not too distant future, women and men will become fully equal partners. ♦
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www.thevoiceofpelham.ca EDITOR & PUBLISHER Dave Burket publisher@thevoiceofpelham.ca ADMINISTRATION Lori Gretsinger office@thevoiceofpelham.ca CONTRIBUTORS Jane Bedard, Carolyn Botari, Colin Brezicki, Rosemary Chambers, John Chick, Larry Coté, Brian Green, Miriam Han, Megan Metler, Bill Potrecz, Bernie Puchalski, Don Rickers, John Swart, Helen Tran, Mike Tucker, Rob Weatherby. Proof Sleuth: Julian Fitch NEWS INQUIRIES & TIPS editor@thevoiceofpelham.ca LETTERS TO THE EDITOR letters@thevoiceofpelham.ca ADVERTISING INQUIRIES advertising@thevoiceofpelham.ca
Enthusiasm in Ward 1 race is good to see I was talking to Gary Chambers the other day, a.k.a, “the Mayor of Fenwick.” We agreed that it is great to see so much enthusiasm with all the new candidates throwing their hats into the ring to serve Ward 1. Gary and his wife Rosemary graced the cover of the Voice of in 2014 as the first couple to share a Fonthill and District Kinsmen Club Pelham Citizen of the Year title. It is such an honourable quest to serve our families and businesses as an elected councillor. This “midpoint in the term” election presents many opportunities for
Pelham. It is a good distraction from all the pressures the pandemic has thrown at us. It is an opportunity to encourage a reset in our existing council and return them to the municipally mandated balanced number of councillors. It adds fresh ideas and a chance for our very capable council to show their amazing qualities and why we elected them. We also discussed everyone’s heartfelt loss of Mike Ciolfi. He was a councillor who always responded to a phone call or email See RACE next page
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
Members of Pelham Town Council
Member of Provincial Parliament
Ward 1
Electoral District: Niagara West
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 The death of rural Wainfleet In 2017 the Region of Niagara began the process of rewriting and updating the Regional Official Plan based on current provincial policies. The following are three quotes from a Regional Director of Community and Long Range Planning in response to an enquiry about Wainfleet’s likely future population and growth: 1) “...a lower population target has been assigned based on the updated 2011 and 2016 census and to recognize Wainfleet as historically low growth with a limited potential to accommodate future growth...” 2) “...has produced a new Preliminary Growth Option that has Wainfleet growing from 6540 people to 7480 people between the years 2016 and 2041 — this translates into an annual growth of 38 people per year...” 3) “...You will note that Wainfleet has been projected to have minimal growth over the horizon of the Region’s Official Plan. The reason for this minimal amount of growth is that Wainfleet has no designated urban areas and the Region’s recently approved Master Servicing Plan does not plan or envision the extension of municipal services (i.e., water and sewer) to the Township...” Based on 38 people per year and a figure of 2.6 people per single detached family residences (Regional Planning figures) that sets a development target of a maximum of 14.6 (15) res-
RACE
continued from previous page from the people he served so well. Mike always left the citizens with a, “don’t worry, I will take care of you” feeling. That trustworthy character trait runs through his whole family. One summer day in 2019 his wife was walking past my daughter’s house with a friend and my daughter’s dog ran out to the road barking at them. My daughter quickly ran out to apologize and Mike’s wife said not to worry they were
PELHAM AND COVID-19
idences per year between 2016 and 2041. Currently on the Township’s planner’s books we have the still unresolved Lakewood condominium of 40 permanent residences, the approved addition of 58 all-year permanent residences on the trailer park in the northwest of the township, 14 residences in the sub-division in Wainfleet hamlet, and most recently the proposal for an additional 72 condominium units in the recently purchased Long Beach Resort. That is 184 potential residences in process today, or the next 12 years of development as recommended by both the province and the Region. This figure does not include the number of residences already approved and under construction across the municipality today. There remain a large number of Wainfleet residents who still hope that Wainfleet may remain primarily an agricultural and rural community. Unfortunately it is becoming more and more apparent that neither their own elected council nor their planning department are even listening to them. There can be no one living in the township unaware of the ever- growing number of construction vehicles on our inadequate roads today or the runaway development being planned and approved. Andrew Watts Wainfleet
fine. Then, while standing there on the road talking, the discussion turned from pleasant weather to the gypsy moths flying everywhere and the worry they brought. Twenty minutes later, Mike Ciolfi pulls into my daughter’s driveway to hear her concern. Wow! Mike didn’t know any of us before he came over. He was just being a great elected councillor. Even though we will never be able to truly replace Mike Ciolfi, he will always
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Detour on the road to Stage 3, but we got there eventually
O
ne week ago, certain areas of the province moved to Stage 3 of the reopening process. The province wanted all areas to experience four weeks of Stage 2 opening procedures, with the maintenance of low numbers during this time, before advancing to Stage 3. Because the Niagara Region was one week later than these other regions in advancing to Stage 2, our advancement to Stage 3 was delayed one week. In Stage 3, more restrictions will be loosened, and nearly all businesses and
public spaces will open, as long as they follow public health advice. B u s i n e s ses that won’t Marvin Junkin be allowed to open in Stage 3 are amusement parks, and water parks, buffet-style food services, private karaoke rooms, saunas and steam rooms, and table games at casinos and gaming establishments. Also not allowed in Stage 3 are overnight stays at camps for children. In order for a Region to
move into Stage 3, not only must it have been in Stage 2 for 4 weeks, it must meet certain requirements on four public health indicators. They are: (1) the health system must be operating at a certain percentage below capacity. As of late last week, there were no coronaviris patients in any Niagara hospital. (2) the virus spread and containment must meet provincial standards. (3) the Region must show a certain level of incidence tracking capacity. (4) the public health system in general must not be stressed or
overburdened. Of course, no matter what level of openness we are at, we all must continue to do the big three— frequent hand-washing/ sanitizing, maintaining physical distancing, and wearing a mask where physical distancing is a challenge. It was disappointing to see the jump of 10 new cases reported last Saturday, after several days of zero or single-digit numbers. Let’s hope that as we enter Stage 3, we remain vigilant and take care to protect ourselves and others. Until next time…
See the sign, pass the cash: the Made in Ontario logo There’s never been a better time to support our local communities by consciously choosing to purchase locally grown, manufactured and produced goods. Thanks to the new Ontario Made logo that was unveiled last week by the provincial government, it is now easier than ever before to identify products made within Ontario’s borders. To support local, simply look for the Ontario Made logo when you are shopping within your community. Having the ability to recognize Ontario products should make it easier for
consumers to choose local and keep their dollars in the province. With more than 14.5 million consumers in Ontario, the opportunity to make a conscious choice to support provincially grown, made, and manufactured products could give our province a new economic boost. Ontario’s agri-food sector has been a longtime champion of encouraging consumers to purchase lo-
cally grown and produced food. Promoting Ontario grown products fosters innovation and collaboration between local businesses, deepens communit y connection and resiliency, improves the environment, and creates meaningful jobs for Ontarians. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) welcomes this renewed focus on supporting provincial businesses and products.
This new initiative aligns with OFA’s Producing Prosperity campaign, which encourages governments to invest in our rural communities and the agri-food sector to stimulate economic development, job creation, and economic growth. Encouraging consumers to buy local and making it easier to identify Ontario-made goods and food products is an investment in communities across the province. Bruce Buttar Director Ontario Federation of Agriculture
live in our memories and has set a good standard for all of us to strive for. I am suggesting we all vote for Mike Ciolfi to be nom-
inated as the 2020 Kinsman Citizen of The Year. He earned that. We also need to support all the applicants striving for the open
seat on council. Show your commitment, support your community and vote for the candidate that you believe will come closest to the bar
Mike set. Best of luck to all those in the race to represent Ward 1. Thank you. Paul Bryant Fenwick
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NEWSFLASH Tell us your story! Column Six presents tales of personal triumph, adventure, strange-but-true stories, life-changing events, and looks-back at our past. Did you conquer Everest or kick a bad habit? Everyone has a story. Tell us yours! NOW ALSO ACCEPTING FICTION— SHORT STORIES UP TO 2000 WORDS! Write it down, send it in: publisher@thevoiceofpelham.ca (You won’t get rich, but you will get paid.)
Page 6
Letters
The Voice, July 22, 2020
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
continued
Occasional Voice contributor Rosie Culos recently spotted this “gypsy moth brothel” on a maple tree inside the boulevard between Shorthills Place and Pelham Street, in Fonthill.
ROSIE CULOS
Moths, moths, everywhere—they’re back! Recently, I have received several queries from people asking what are these grey brown moths, in seemingly large numbers, suddenly flying around my yard in Pelham? Having spent over 40 years dealing with pests of crops, and answering homeowner queries as a provincial specialist and consultant/researcher, I can tell you the answer is male gypsy moths. And yes, they are still around despite sprays applied this spring. Numbers of moths in my opinion are much lower than other years, but we must be aware no spray is ever 100% effective in controlling this type of pest, and we remain vigilant to protect our landscapes and forests. A single mated female can lay 500 to 1000 eggs. It is important to make the distinction between male and female as these males moths emerge prior to female moth emer-
gence so that can they can be ready to find the females and then mate so egg masses can be laid for next year’s population. The adult moths do not do any feeding nor cause damage and only live about two weeks. Male moths are greyish brown (about the size of a quarter) and can fly. They will survive about one week and will mate with several different females. Females are larger (about the size of a loonie) and whitish with darker zigzag marks. The female cannot fly and will die shortly after laying her eggs. So, what can we do? Well, be aware of females and new egg masses that will overwinter. From government of Canada factsheets, the following should be noted about egg masses and gypsy moth dispersal: Gypsy moths move to new locations by hitching a ride (mainly egg masses) on objects like vehicles, tents, trailers, and lawn
It is important to be thorough when looking for egg masses as they can be difficult to locate chairs to infest new areas. Vacationers, especially campers, should be aware of this and should check their equipment before moving from one location to the next — be it to another campsite or to or from home (since we have them present throughout Pelham)! It is important to be thorough when looking for egg masses as they can be difficult to
locate. Common hiding places include: the underside of branches, tree trunks, fences, firewood, outdoor furniture, swing sets, boats, trailers, under the eaves of buildings. When an egg mass is found, it should be scraped off with a knife and dropped into a bucket filled with hot water and household bleach or ammonia. Check favoured egg-laying sites beneath trees like picnic tables, swing sets, and lawn furniture around the bases of trees, as these provide the moths ideal egg-laying locations to help protection the egg masses from the heat of the sun. Being aware now and doing some preliminary work can help reduce the challenges we will still face with this pest in future years. Kevin Ker, PhD Fenwick
NOTICE OF THE ADOPTION OF OFFICIAL PLAN AND APPROVAL OF ZONING BY-LAW AMENDMENTS CANNABIS POLICIES AND REGULATIONS (File Nos. OP-AM-01-19 & AM-07-19) TAKE NOTICE that the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Pelham passed By-law No. 4251 (2020) on July 13, 2020, which adopts amendment no. 9 to the Town of Pelham Official Plan under Section 22 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, as amended. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Pelham passed By-Law No. 4252 (2020) on July 13, 2020, being a by-law which amends Zoning By-law No. 1136 (1987), as amended, under Section 34 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, as amended, with consideration given to all written submissions relating to the by-law that were made to Council before its decision and all oral submissions relating to the by-law that were made at the public meeting. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that the applicant, a person or public body who before the by-laws were passed made oral submissions at the public meeting or written submissions to Council, or the Minister may appeal to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) in respect of the by-laws by filing an appeal with the Clerk of the Corporation of the Town of Pelham not later than Wednesday, August 5, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. A completed “Appellant Form (A1) Planning Act” which must include the reasons for the appeal(s) and the prescribed fee of $300.00, by certified cheque or money order made payable to the Minister of Finance. The Appellant Form (A1) is on the Service Ontario website. Only the applicant, a person or public body who before the by-laws were passed made oral submissions at the public meeting or written submissions to Council, or the Minister may appeal the official plan amendment and zoning by-law to the LPAT. However, a notice of appeal may be filed in the name of an individual who is a member of an association or group on its behalf. No person or public body shall be added as a party to the hearing of the appeal unless before the by-law is passed the person or public body made oral submissions at the public meeting or written submissions to Council, or in the opinion of the LPAT, there are reasonable grounds to add the person or public body as a party. An Appellant Form (A1) may not be filed by an unincorporated association or group. However, an Appellant Form (A1) may be filed in the name of an individual who is a member of the association or the group. The Town’s Planning consultant’s recommendation report was presented to the Council on July 13, 2020 and can be found online at https://events.pelham.ca/meetings. The complete by-laws are available for inspection in my office by appointment, during regular office hours, and the Town of Pelham website: www.pelham.ca/cannabis DATED at the Town of Pelham, this 15th day of July, 2020 A.D. NANCY J. BOZZATO - CLERK THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF PELHAM P. O. BOX 400, 20 PELHAM TOWN SQUARE FONTHILL, ON L0S 1E0
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The Voice, July 22, 2020
Pelham first in Niagara to file FIR Town way ahead of rest of province in submitting Financial Information Return BY JOHN CHICK
Special to the VOICE
The Town of Pelham became the first Niagara municipality to have its 2019 Financial Information Return (FIR) approved by the Government of Ontario this month, something CAO David Cribbs says is proof that Pelham is making progress at getting its financial house in order. “[This is] the direct result of hard work by the entire corporate services team,” Cribbs said. The FIR is a data collection tool used by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to collect financial and statistical information on Ontario’s municipalities. It’s a document that’s comprised of a number of schedules, updated each year to comply with provincial legislation and reporting requirements.
“The audited financial statements need to be approved by council prior to filing the FIR, therefore there has been a lot of work by staff to ensure that the audit and the FIR were completed on time, even during a pandemic,” Town of Pelham Director of Corporate Services and Treasurer Teresa Quinlin told the Voice. The province’s deadline for municipalities to file their FIRs this year was June 1. Yet as of July 17, only three Niagara municipalities — Pelham, Niagara-on-the-Lake, and the Regional government itself — had filed the information. A scroll through the FIR page on the Government of Ontario website shows dozens of municipalities across the province have yet to file, theoretically putting them all in violation of the Municipal Act. Quinlin said that the filings are critical in enabling the province to determine allocations for grant money. “The corporate services department has worked very hard to meet the ministry’s due date for the last three filings,” she said. “It has been the priority of this department to provide timely and reliable data to council and to meet ministry reporting requirements.” Those interested in viewing the FIR can find the data at https://efis.fma.csc.gov.on. ca/fir/ViewFIR2019.htm
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Page 8
The Voice, July 22, 2020
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
WARD 1 BY-ELECTION 2020
Retired teacher joins the fray Colleen Kenyon would like to see more racial, cultural diversity in Pelham BY DON RICKERS
Special to the VOICE
A former teacher who now puts her energies into “intergenerational community building” is the fifth candidate for the vacant Pelham council seat in Ward 1. Colleen Kenyon lives in Fonthill, in Ward 2, and is a relative newcomer, having moved to Pelham from Kitchener-Waterloo in 2018. (Election Act rules do not require candidates to live in the wards they wish to represent.) She appears undaunted by her inaugural run at political office and the challenge ahead. “As this council sorts through a lot of issues, a sense of perspective and objectivity is required. I really believe I can be the fresh voice that brings that to the table,” said Kenyon. She said that lessons on revitalization she observed in the Region of Waterloo can apply to Pelham as well.
Originally from British Columbia, Kenyon attended the University of Victoria as an undergrad, then went to China to study for two years (she is fluent in Mandarin) before returning to Canada for her teaching degree at UBC. She moved to Ontario many years ago, and was a teacher in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. These days, she puts her creative energy to work running a theatre project at the Meridian Community Centre (MCC) for youth and seniors, for which she received funding through the Niagara Community Foundation. Kenyon also spends time supporting Syrian refugees who have arrived in Canada from war-torn situations in the Middle East. Kenyon doesn’t have a problem with population growth in Pelham per se, but is worried about rifts forming between genera-
Colleen Kenyon. The retired teacher moved to Fonthill from Kitchener-Waterloo in 2018.
tions, and also between the established citizenry and the newly arrived in town. “I really want to get out in front of that, to make sure people find a sense of belonging, to ensure that the welcome mat is out,” she said. “Diversity [racial and cultural] is sadly lacking in Pelham,” said Kenyon. However, she doesn’t want to see
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new residents from foreign lands moving in that don't engage with the community. That's where she sees the “sanctuary city” concept playing a role, in which communities are committed to welcoming refugees and asylum seekers longing for a fresh start in a safe environment. Kenyon said that many refugees come from an agricultural background that would be a good fit for rural Pelham. Another important piece of the population growth mix that she wants to encourage focuses on young people. While collecting her endorsements to run for office, Kenyon said she had many conversations with people who noted their grown children wouldn’t stay in Pelham because of the cost of housing and
general affordability, lack of employment opportunities, and limited lifestyle. “No young adult wants to stay in a community that they feel is only serving an older generation,” she said. A well-connected public transit system in Pelham is vital for young people without a personal vehicle, stressed Kenyon. “We made a great step forward when we brought the bus link, which comes mornings and afternoons to the MCC. So now Niagara College and Brock students can conceivably live in Ward 2 and get to school...but they can’t live out in Ward 1 and do that,” she said. Kenyon supports cannabis as an agricultural industry in Pelham, but said we need to listen to the voices of people whose standard of
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life has been adversely affected. “I am an environmentalist to the core. We're talking about the next generation… the Town needs to think carefully about the moves it makes and the implications.” Asked about Airbnb restrictions, Kenyon felt she didn’t really see such accommodations as an area of commerce that was needed in Pelham, and stressed the need for affordable lodgings for students and others in the community. Kenyon is a huge supporter of the MCC and its programs serving groups of all ages. She knows that some seniors were disappointed that a swimming pool was not incorporated into the design, but feels that perhaps a warm-water therapy pool could be added, which would be appreciated by those of an older generation. Turning to a discussion of Pelham libraries, Kenyon said she has seen libraries transition from places where you have to be quiet and couldn’t eat or drink, to active social spaces with cafes and conversation tables. “We cannot base the models of what we want our libraries of the future to look like on what they have been in the past,” she said. Kenyon is particularly supportive of libraries as an active community resource and gathering place for seniors. “We have a huge seniors population, and we need to serve them well.” Asked by the Voice about her take on the current town council, Kenyon said she sees herself as a consensus builder and mediator. “I think you really cannot comment unless you're in the room…things can go haywire in all kinds of ways. But council unity needs to be re-established,” she said. Volunteer committees in Pelham have done some excellent work in Kenyon’s estimation, and she feels See KENYON Page 10
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The Voice, July 22, 2020
Page 9
WARD 1 BY-ELECTION 2020
James Federico tosses hat in ring Engineer and Fenwick resident champions farmers and rural businesses BY DON RICKERS
Special to the VOICE
James Federico feels that his record of community service, his familiarity with municipal finance and planning policy, and an ability to bring together people of diverse opinions to implement practical solutions, are the top reasons to elect him in the upcoming by-election for the vacant Pelham Town Council seat in Ward 1. He sees the role of council as not simply building for what is currently needed, but for future generations. “Societies flourish when old men plant trees, knowing that they'll never sit under the shade,” said Federico, quoting the ancient Greek proverb. “It’s about our kids and our grandkids. So that’s my horizon…to provide ways for my family to want to stay in Pelham.” Born on a farm in Haldimand County, Federico moved to Hamilton with his parents when he was a teenager, and then it was off to study engineering at the University of Waterloo. He relocated to Fenwick with his wife 15 years ago, and has been there ever since. Federico worked in technical services and facility management at Brock University and Niagara College before creating his own company, in Fenwick, that handles mechanical, civil,
and structural engineering projects. Federico has been a volunteer, coaching minor hockey and soccer, serving on numerous local committees, and helping out at his kids’ schools (St. Ann and Wellington Heights). He chaired Pelham’s Committee of Adjustment, adjudicating minor variance applications, consents and severances. This role bolstered his familiarity with provincial, regional, and local planning policies, as well as understanding property and planning laws, he said. As vice chair of the Architectural Design Advisory Committee for the Meridian Community Centre, he worked with community groups, councillors, and architects to help steer the delivery of the facility. Pelhamites may recall the yellow ramps in front of stores in downtown Fonthill, which allow access for strollers and wheelchairs. That’s a project Federico spearheaded, engaging E. L. Crossley students and local businesses to donate materials for construction. And while he is broadly pro-Pelham and ready to deal with critical municipal issues such as the financial deficit, Federico has a special attraction for the local issues facing residents of
James Federico.
Ward 1. “I live and work in downtown Fenwick. I see the parking problems. Do we need a $60,000 dollar study to understand what the parking problems are? We can take action tomorrow, cheaply, to improve the situation.” Case in point: there are defined parking stalls in downtown Fenwick, but because of the colors of the brick, they are not easily visible. A couple hundred dollars of white paint would address the problem, said Federico. “We’re in transition in North Pelham. Minor Brothers, the Avondale, both are closed. We need a plan to get some retail back there, some reinvestment. The rejuvenation of Fenwick has been
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stalled, and we need to set the right tone. Otherwise, we’ll end up with crumbling infrastructure.” Federico believes it is the role of both the community and the municipality to encourage that investment, and increase density to attract businesses to Fenwick. “I remember walking to the hardware store, walking to the bank. The busi-
nesses today in Fenwick just don't have the foot traffic. We need a little bit denser housing, and more anchor tenants.” He noted the old fire hall in Fenwick, which he and a construction company partner made an offer on to convert into a commercial space, potentially bringing investment, jobs, and more people downtown, was sold
DON RICKERS
to a higher bidder (a developer from out of town), and it has sat vacant for years. “It’s a shame that those kinds of things lead to other events, like the bank leaving town. It's 2020, and everybody's running on metrics… and when you don't have the population to support something, you’re in trouSee FEDERICO Page 11
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The Voice, July 22, 2020
COUNCIL NEWS
continued from Page 3 was tied, under quorum rules the effort to pave the trail was lost. The decision left both Councillor John Wink and Town CAO David Cribbs criticizing Hildebrandt, Kore and Stewart for ignoring the opinions of specialized committees such as the PATC. Last Monday, Clark set out the PATC’s logic for choosing the trail over Canboro Road. “We know that Canboro Road is an important link between Fenwick and Fonthill and many cyclists use it for sure,” Clark said. “Because this project requires extensive road work and the fact that simply removing the rumble strips will not improve the safety of the road for all users of the road, we felt that as desirable as this project was … it was considerably more costly and it could not be completed before December 31st of 2020, and therefore it wasn’t feasible for action at this time.” She then highlighted the grant money from Cycle Ontario, the access to which expires on New Year’s Eve. “Here’s my final pitch—the Active Transportation Committee is asking to please use the Ontario Municipal Commuter Cycling funds that were provided by the Province of Ontario,” Clark said. “Returning the funds, I believe, would not be wise, we are very concerned because given the current funding situation, and the seriousness of
KENYON
continued from Page 8
ry Council and the Seniors Advisory Committee must have input in discussions about future directions with
GREAT DEAL
that both the Youth Adviso-
other issues that municipalities and all levels of government must deal with, we’re pretty sure we’re not going to see funding like this again for quite some time.” Public Works Director Jason Marr also came to the defence of the trail paving, bringing a pleasant surprise in the form of additional funding through a 2021 Canada Summer Games legacy project grant. “Staff thought this was a great opportunity to again bring forward the Steve Bauer Trail paving project as one of those [Canada Summer Games] legacy projects,” Marr said. The legacy grant is for just over $21,000, which if combined with the Cycle Ontario grant puts funds at about $96,000. Furthermore, through competitive tender pricing, Marr said the overall cost projection has come in 30 percent lower than expected, giving the Town up to $120,000 to pave the Bauer Trail from Port Robinson Road south to the town limit at Line Avenue and Quaker Road. Still scheduled for next summer despite the ongoing pandemic, Pelham will host a road cycling race event as part of the Canada Summer Games. Because part of the course includes Canboro Road, Hildebrandt defended his decision at the last council meeting by wondering if the existing infrastructure was safe enough to handle the peloton of riders. “Here’s my concern—we do have this cycling race coming up. I really do consider [the rumble strips] a
big safety issue,” Hildebrandt told Marr. “In speaking with the Canada Summer Games, race organizers have went through the course, they are satisfied with the race route,” Marr replied. “The improvements they are looking at doing along Canboro Road … is much more significant than the removal of rumble strips.” He pegged the cost of removing the strips at $40,000 to $50,000 alone, and said the road will likely have to be widened at some point in the future anyway.
Kore and Haun vote against lands bylaw
As part of a handful of presentations by Fire Chief and Chief Bylaw Enforcement Officer Bob Lymburner, staff issued a report proposing a bylaw that would take certain disagreements between neighbours out of the Town’s hands and provide them with an avenue for civil litigation. At issue is accessing one’s property from another. “The Town does have a somewhat archaic Entry onto Lands bylaw,” Cribbs said, referencing yet another rule on the books from the 1980s. “In a perfect world neighbours always get along. The purpose is to create a system when Neighbour A can inform with adequate warning, that would otherwise be a trespass, but traverse [Neighbour B’s] property to bring equipment — to build a pool, to fix their foundation, whatever that is. Then it ob-
development. Representing the interests of local producers, vendors, and services is a priority for Kenyon. And she’s not talking just about agriculture, but also local small businesses that she feels need greater promotion and awareness. She thinks Pelham can also do more to host events which would bring people to the town.
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca ligates them to put it back to what it was.” The measure would essentially privatize such disputes, and in the report’s words, relieve the Town from responsibility to settle matters in dispute. “Bylaws such as these are increasingly necessary,” Cribbs said. “The reality is construction in urban areas can be difficult.” The measure passed, with Kore and Haun voting against it without providing any elaboration as to why.
COVID-19 reopenings smooth so far
Director of Recreation, Culture and Wellness Vickie vanRavenswaay lauded the Town’s job in opening the pool, its summer camps, and one ice pad at the community centre amid Stage 2 of COVID-19 reopenings during the second week of July. “Obviously our advertising has worked, because that was seamless,” vanRavenswaay said. “What’s common about all three … it’s a new way of operating. You can’t just show up. You either have to register or reserve a space, or reserve a swim time to be able to participate.” She reported that 171 people gathered at the pool for family swims along during the week of July 6-12, two summer camps commenced with more planned, and stated the business case is clear for opening the MCC’s main ice pad, the Accipiter Arena.
Kenyon said she gets agitated in grocery stores by “false advertising” of Canadian grown or locally grown products (noting that the fine print often notes it was packaged in Canada but was sourced in the USA or some other country). “I can't even imagine how the local producers feel about that…seeing cherries available during cherry season that are being
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“There’s high demand for ice time in the Niagara Region, with only three arenas open,” she said. After overhead, vanRavenswaay predicted that the Town could clear another $57,000 in revenue from the opening. As such, Accipiter is scheduled to be available for rentals beginning July 27. “I can confirm that openings have gone extremely well,” Cribbs added. “We’ve got positive feedback from the public and staff. I am unaware of a single complaint. We are the only municipality out of 13 in Niagara to offer … kids camps, full aquatics and ice. We’re the only one to have all three.” Mayor Junkin agreed. “We’ve been right on the front curve,” he said. “The residents want to get out there and resume their lives, with precautions.”
Church Hill/Pelham report referred back
Councillor Hildebrandt succeeded in to referring back to staff a report on the pedestrian crossing at Church Hill and Pelham Street in downtown Fonthill. The T-intersection, which features only a pedestrian crossing light, not a full traffic light, has been a bone of contention for residents for some time. The report stated that there has only been one automobile collision reported at the corner within the past three years, and that other methods of intersection control such as a three-way stop or full T-intersection lights are currently not warranted.
I’m going to have weekly conversations with people about the issues that are top-ofmind in Pelham brought in from somewhere else. I would want to see a huge promotion of interest and knowledge about local crops.” Kenyon’s son is creating a promotional website
highlighting her run for office (www.colforcouncil. com) and is also serving as her campaign manager. She already has a team of canvassers, including a group of ladies with whom she plays ice hockey at the MCC. “To get my 25 endorsements [to run for office], I hopped on my bike, and rode around for four hours. I didn't knock on doors, I talked to people when they were out front of their property,” said Kenyon. “That was a very informative process, and accordingly, as part of my campaign, I’m going to have weekly conversations with people about the issues that are top-of-mind in Pelham.”
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The Voice, July 22, 2020
Page 11
Removed tree on Station—call it the Discomfort Maple Loss of mature trees in Fonthill has residents calling for policy changes BY BRIAN GREEN
Special to the VOICE
Should the mature Silver Maple on Station Street in Fonthill have been removed or not? Voice readers over the last couple of weeks will be aware that there are concerns among some residents that a “perfectly healthy” tree was cut down for little apparent reason. Town staff, bolstered by an assessment from an independent arborist, say that the tree was diseased and due for removal for safety reasons. Councilor John Wink became involved, hoping to mediate a solution, but finally conceded, “I find us at an impasse.” The Town’s Chief Administrative Officer, David Cribbs, concurs. In an email to resident Cari Pupo, one of those protesting the removal, he concludes, “I do not believe that further discourse on this matter is likely to be fruitful.” How did we get to this point? The tree at issue was a mature Silver Maple of about 60 feet in height on Town property in front of a single-family residence on Station Street. The homeowners cited damage to their house and vehicle from falling branches and dangerously poor sightlines along Station from their driveway in asking the Town to consider removing the
FEDERICO
continued from Page 9 ble.” The Royal Bank building illustrates the kind of reinvestment Federico encourages. “It was bought by a guy from Fenwick who envisioned a boutique hotel…in his early 30s whose kids go to St. Ann…a guy interested in the next 50 years here in town. You couldn't have somebody more engaged, more sensitive to the community.” Federico knows that there are certainly people in town who are resistant to change, but to attract young families to Pelham, the municipality
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tree. The Town’s Supervisor of Beautification (yes, there is such a thing) and an independent arborist, Marcus Michaud, hired by the Town to do an assessment, agreed that the tree was compromised and in poor health. The Town did not make the removal a priority and the pandemic further slowed any action, so the homeowners offered to remove it at their own expense rather than wait for the Town to do the work. The arborist’s report noted “moderate tip die-back which is a symptom of root damage.” He went on, “sidewalk construction, ditch maintenance and the excavation for the driveway are the reason this tree had basal rot and needed to be removed. I also believe that regular pruning from hydro was causing stress to this tree.” His report included eight pages of pictures illustrating the “basal rot” in the heartwood of the stump and nests of ants living in the rotted core. In hindsight, Michaud maintains, the Silver Maple should never have been planted in that location in the first place. “Silver Maples are quickly growing trees and become very large, these are
needs to continually update its facilities and services. Of particular concern to Federico are the aging farmers in Ward 1, some of whom want to downsize, but still stay in town. “What are we doing to provide lower-cost housing units, that they can live in comfortably?” Pelham’s Airbnb bylaws make sense for parts of the Town, but need to be modified for rural areas, said Federico. “We’re talking affordability issues for farmers and senior citizens. I look at the successful farms in Ward 1, and all of them have diversified income streams putting value-added on their products.”
Arborist’s eye view: Taken while the tree was being removed, according to an arborist’s report this image shows heart wood rot and ant damage to the sapwood at approximately 60 ft. in height. SUPPLIED not the type of tree that should be planted where infrastructure will be built.” Even so, if a “root protection zone” had been established to shield the roots from construction
Federico feels that a farmer with unused acreage should be able to entertain programs like Harvest Host, in which self-contained RVs and trailers can overnight on their property. Commenting on the Maple Acre branch of the Pelham Library in Fenwick, Federico said, “Libraries are one of the last great public spaces…a meeting place for people, from migrant workers to young teenagers.” He believes there is potential for greater utilization of the library, perhaps via partnerships with volunteer groups. The cannabis issue in Pelham needs to be addressed in a reasonable fashion, said Federico. The industry pro-
such as the driveway and infrastructure maintenance, “I strongly believe the tree would have been in better health.” In sum, the tree was suffering and a potential hazard to the homeowners and pass-
vides tax dollars and jobs, but unchecked odour and light pollution is off-putting for residents in parts of the town. “We need to find the balance. If we put a noxious fume bylaw in place for agricultural products, what happens when a farmer spreads manure on his field? What happens to the guy who gets complaints when he cleans his chicken barn? We need to find a way to make the cannabis producers partners and good corporate citizens.” Dealing with the pandemic has not been an easy process, said Federico. “Looking back at March, did we get it perfect right out of the gate? No, abso-
lutely not. The science is evolving.” He said his three children, all under age 12, are missing their sports and friends, and added, “I'm as antsy as the next guy to get back to some sense of normalcy. We just have to do the best that we can under the circumstances...take responsibility for protecting ourselves and the others around us.” Federico views the current Pelham council as being
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made up of “accomplished people who have good skill sets.” The challenge, he said, is in finding the areas to best utilize these talents, and making the effort to work harmoniously. “I'm here to advocate. I'm not here to agitate. If Ward 1 voters elect me, they'll get representation from someone who's there [in Fenwick] every day.” Federico’s campaign website can be found at: www. jfward1.ca
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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 LIFT acceptability standards of convicted The Voiceofofhis Pelham will then be posted until theevandate was sins and pel films and trained FAITH converted and changed. gelists around the world. This15The ad isCommunity to beleft printed by all participating Ontario papers continued fromevent. Page of your Events Calendar is updated weekly. Please provide Sunday died the next year in Graham insisted on racial as much notice and information possible date, timeinand 1935. Inas a few years,including Graham the integration hisdescription meetings. the life change of repentance of your event. The Voice of Pelham reserves the right to for space. would become an evangeHeedit visited the Soviet Union by walking in one direction, doing a back flip and then walking the opposite way. He once said, “Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile!” Sunday strongly supported Prohibition and preached against the abuse of alcohol. He was married to his wife, Nell, for 47 years and raised four children. Sunday died in Chicago at age 72.
Billy Graham
William Franklin Graham Jr. was born in 1918 when Sunday’s ministry was at its height. He grew up on a dairy farm near Charlotte, North Carolina. His family too was Presbyterian, but Billy was only nominal in his faith. He became a true believer at age 16 when an evangelist (Mordecai Ham) came to town. Graham had gone to criticize but during the preaching
list too, and continue where Sunday left off. Feeling called to ministry, Graham went to Bible school and was eventually ordained as a Southern Baptist minister. During this time, however, he discovered he had the gift of an evangelist. He became well known nationally (and then internationally) in the late 1940s. His wife, Ruth, was raised in China where her parents were missionaries. They were married for 63 years and raised five children. Graham has been called “America’s Pastor” and was a friend to 13 presidents from Truman to Trump. Like Sunday, he held large indoor and outdoor rallies, or “Crusades,” for six decades from 1947 to 2005. Using the technology of radio and television, Graham was able to reach a wider audience. His ministry also produced Gos-
and preached to overflow crowds there. Last summer I met a Russian Baptist leader who helped organize some of those visits. His largest outdoor rally was in Seoul, South Korea, where he spoke to one million people. During his long ministry, he preached to live audiences of 210 million people in over 185 countries (a record). He once said, “My home is in heaven. I'm just traveling through this world.” He died in 2018 at age 99. Billy Sunday and Billy Graham — two believers with humble beginnings who were greatly used by God. Their lives spanned the 20th century and together they spread the Good News of salvation through faith in Christ to more people than they could ever have imagined. ♦ Rob Weatherby is a retired Baptist pastor.
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KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY Two Rotary clubs with a history of working together— Fonthill and Welland—have taken the concept of cooperation a step farther by electing a husband-and-wife duo of presidents. The 2020-2021 term will see Hugh Graham serve for a second time as president of the Fonthill club, while spouse Sandy Graham will helm the Welland club. SUPPLIED
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our bikes the last 43K to Marfa. For Plan B to work, we couldn’t call ahead and risk no for an answer. We would just show up appearing wretchedly exhausted, and take our chances. The shop’s address led us into a residential area, and a spotless single family home with no rental bikes in sight. Although Plan B appeared to be unraveling, there was no Plan C, so I knocked on the door anyway. The surprised young woman that answered informed us that, yes, the guy that lived there used to have a bike rental business, but he closed it a couple years ago. She then volunteered to drive us to Marfa when her husband got home to watch their young kids. Another south-Texas small town stereotype evapourated during our drive. We learned she was a nurse, that her husband contributed to the family income by renovating and flipping homes, and that they planned to retire by 45. No “aw, shucks” here. Presidio, a town of 3900 people on the Rio Grande, turned our media-conceived understanding of Mexican-American border towns upside down as well. Presidio, along with sister city of Ojinago (22,000 population), across the Rio Grande in Mexico, were established in 1683, more than 160 years before the United States forcibly annexed the Republic of Texas from Mexico. Ojinago and Presidio exist as one
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cle, warning lights flashing, approached. The officer relayed that Mart had found a “blacksmith” near Terlingua that had taken a normal bicycle spoke from a scrap bike which he was then able to heat and hammer into the unique spoke Mart needed. Bike repaired, Mart had ridden to our motel, and was waiting for my arrival as his blood pressure slowly returned to normal. What the officer didn’t say was that when Mart’s first ride had dropped him off at a junction in the middle of nowhere, the officer picked him up, took him to the repair shop, then waited to ensure the repair was successful before backtracking to update phoneless me. Next day, an hour’s ride north from the border, we encountered a USCBP secondary border security check along the road out of Big Bend National Park. These checks have been designed to search trucks and other vehicles for contraband and people that have crossed into the United States illegally and escaped primary detection at the border. As we stopped for interrogation while straddling our bikes, an officer asked Mart for his citizenship. For some unknown reason, Mart chose that moment to tell the border guard that he had dual citizenship, Dutch and Canadian. Challenge accepted, the officer demanded both his passports. Mart was only carrying his Canadian documentation, and suddenly we weren’t going anywhere. My Nexus card, issued to trusted travelers
by the United States government, and an understanding supervisor soon got us on our way. In both interactions with federal law enforcement, civility and helpfulness were the ultimate result. As we approached San Antonio, we’d also learn the significant power of the Blue Code, well before the George Floyd phenomenon. In Sanderson, Texas, a threadbare little town of 873 people bypassed by the interstate highway in the 1960s, our extremely modest Budget Inn room lacked curtains. This was because the window glass had been painted over with the same yellow as the interior walls. As we sat in the shade exchanging tales with the South African couple rooming next to us, the two East-Indian proprietors appeared unannounced with huge dishes of rice, vegetables and meat, an unexpected cyclists’ feast. Rather than accept money, they asked only that we give them an excellent rating on Trip Advisor and Booking.com. Smart merchants they were. Sanderson is a perfectly located stop along Adventure Cycling’s Southern Tier trans-America route, and that evening we shared the motel with five other cyclists, including the South African couple who owned a bicycle touring company in Johannesburg and were fulfilling a dream of bicycling across the United States. (We’ve stayed in touch, and they’ve offered us a special deal to come ride in South Africa.) Route 16 into San Antonio was a narrow, shoulderless, truck- in-
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fested highway we should have had the intelligence to stay away from, but didn’t. A siren wailed behind us, then horrible tire screeching and honking filled the air as a driver caught daydreaming slammed on his brakes to avoid rear-ending the huge Texas Highway Patrol SUV pulling in behind us. There isn’t an Ontario newspaper that would print a quote of the furious and flustered officer’s first few words to us, cataloguing in vivid detail the personality traits and incestuous habits of anyone stupid enough to cycle on Route 16. Then he looked at my Share the Road cycling jersey. Share the Road is an Ontario cycling advocacy group formed in memory of Greg Stobbart, an OPP officer killed by a drunk driver while on a training ride. The jersey features OPP flashes on both shoulders. The officer looked at the jersey and asked if I was in the force. I responded that Greg’s widow and I were friends and explained the significance of the jersey. His emotional struggle was obvious. He turned back toward his cruiser and muttered something about us still being stupid, but to take care. Mart and I were dumbfounded — we thought we would be jailed. It would be hubris to believe two short weeks cycling allowed me to fully understand southwest Texans, but, once again, cycling has taught me that stereotyping anyone, for any reason, is counterproductive and self-limiting. ♦
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The Voice, July 22, 2020
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FROM THE HANDLEBARS
by John Swart
A southwest Texas adventure—End of the road
I
n 1974, Donald Judd, a renowned New York City “minimalist” artist and sculptor, purchased 340 acres of desert, including the abandoned U.S. Army Fort D.A. Russell, to house 15 concrete sculptures and 100 aluminum pieces. The location also provided a great view of the Marfa Lights. First described in 1883, the Marfa Lights appear as random flickers. James Bunnell, author of Hunting Marfa Lights, explains the phenomenon. “You might just see mysterious orbs of light suddenly appear above desert foliage. These balls of light may remain stationary as
they pulse on and off with intensity varying from dim to almost blinding brilliance. Then again, these ghostly lights may dart across the desert or perform splits and mergers. Light colors are usually yellow-orange but other hues, including green, blue and red are also seen. Marfa Lights usually fly above desert vegetation but below background mesas.” (A 2004 study concluded that the lights were atmospheric reflections from auto traffic, and earlier theories posited that Native American fires were the source of pre-automotive lights.) Back during this trip in 2018, to reach Marfa, pop-
ulation 2121, we would cycle 147K through the Chihuahuan Desert via Alpine, home of the Texas Cowboy Poetry Festival, promoted as a week of poetry, dancing and conversation dedicated to preserving the history of the American West. The Festival was in its thirty-third year. Billy Crystal’s City Slickers had clearly replaced John Wayne’s True Grit and the Marlboro Man. In theory, we mount our bikes to explore new scenery and countryside, but inevitably it’s the people we meet and unexpected experiences that inform our memories. Southwest Texas provided plenty. You can search Google the streetscape along Route 67, the only paved road available for us to ride to Marfa, until you’re cross-eyed, but you won’t find human habitation or a scrub bush taller than
Texas on the left, Rio Grande in the middle, Mexico on the right — and not a person anywhere in Big Bend Ranch State Park. JOHN SWART one metre. There is a Texas-style picnic shelter at the 80K mark, a concrete table with a roof surrounded by un-emptied garbage cans, the only shade until Alpine, 104K into our ride. Meticulous planners that
we are, we did have a Plan B, should the desert temperature and Texas headwinds make reaching Marfa before dark impossible. A pre-trip internet search showed that someone in Alpine rented bicycles. It seemed reason-
able that we’d visit the shop, lean on the owner’s innate “Brothers of the bicycle” empathy, and ask if we could pay him, or a friend, or anyone he knew, to drive us and See HANDLEBARS Page 13
x
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HOROSCOPE
ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, an opportunity to overcome past injustices or things you may have felt you did wrong presents itself this week. It may arrive out of the blue, but you won’t miss it. TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 Don’t be surprised if an old friend calls you this week and wants to catch up. Expect to reconnect as if no time has passed since your most recent encounter. GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 Try developing a project in secret and working out the kinks before you bring others in on the plan, Gemini. Conduct several trial runs before going forward. CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, when people come to you for advice, it can feel gratifying that others revere you for your expertise and knowledge. This validates your insights. LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 Leo, you feel rewarded after helping people, even if you do not get paid for your service. Your naturally generous spirit can be rewarded in different ways. VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 Someone understands you without having to say a word, Virgo. This is the person you want to permanently have in your camp. Do what you can to make this possible. LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 Financial matters take a positive spin, Libra. This means you can indulge in some creature comforts that may have been out of reach. Enjoy this good fortune. SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 Scorpio, do not be afraid to be
passionate at some point this week. Whether it is a pet project or a relationship, approach it with renewed passion. SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 Sagittarius, if you are single, now may be a time when you spot someone new in the neighborhood who could be a match. Couples will strengthen their relationships. CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 You have a method of expressing yourself that garners many admirers, Capricorn. Keep up the good work and allow others to express themselves as well. AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 Keep a conversation flowing with a lot of great ideas, Aquarius. Avoid falling too far into daydreaming mode so you can serve as the catalyst for great conversation. PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 Shy away from familiar activities and try something completely new, Pisces. Study something you have always enjoyed or try a new hobby. FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS JULY 19 Benedict Cumberbatch, Actor (44) JULY 20 Julianne Hough, Dancer (32) JULY 21 Josh Hartnett, Actor (42) JULY 22 Selena Gomez, Singer (28) JULY 23 Slash, Guitarist (55) JULY 24 Mitch Grassi, Singer (28) JULY 25 Iman Abdulmajid, Model (65)
SOLUTIONS DOWN 1. Oscine 2. Fracas 3. Forelimb 4. AV 5. Retirement 6. Triton 7. Inlet 8. Satrapy 9. TL 12. Span 13. Cute 17. Mom 19. Atilt 20. Tepee 21. Edema 25. Sailfishes 29. Iso 31. Trapa 32. Helos 33. Palms 35. Seaboard 38. Popular 41. Siesta 43. Barley 44. Agnate 45. SMA 46. Cate 47. Ones 49. Erase 56. PB 57. DT
CROSSWORD ANSWERS
SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. Off 4. Artist 10. SRO 11. Vernal 12. SC 14. Car 15. Tilt 16. Pumice 18. Iterate 22. Atonal 23. Rotated 24. Nemesis 26. En 27. Pipe 28. Maim 30. Ylem 31. THP 34. Bises 36. Tea 37. Reap 39. Lone 40. Allo 41. SF 42. Tabasco 48. Pompeii 50. Bagman 51. Assures 52. Ornate 53. A hair on top of the eye 54. A la 55. Es 56. Pasted 58. Ret 59. Breast 60. Dye
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Voice
FAITH LIFT
by Pastor Rob Weatherby
CROSSWORD
The two Billys
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Page 15
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wo men impacted their own generation powerfully for the Lord in the 20th century. They happened to share the same first name.
Billy Sunday
William Ashley Sunday was born into a poor Iowa family in 1862. His father died in the Civil War when Billy was five weeks old. His mother struggled to care for her two boys so sent them to an orphanage. Gifted as an athlete, Sunday became a popular baseball player for the Chicago White Stockings (now the Sox) and then Pittsburgh and Philadelphia during the 1880s. He was well known for his speed in running and stealing bases. He was an agile outfielder and average hitter. While in Chicago, Sunday and some teammates went downtown on their day off. At a street corner, they listened to a preaching team from an inner-city mission and he heard the Gospel. After some soul-searching, Sunday decided to accept Christ and become a believer. He started attending a Presbyterian church near the ballpark. Teammates and fans noticed his changed behavior as he stopped drinking, swearing and gambling. He also began speaking in churches and YMCA rallies. At age 29 Sunday turned down a lucrative baseball contract to work at a YMCA. He was then mentored by a prominent evangelist, Wilbur Chapman. Sunday eventually became the bestknown American evangelist of the first two decades of the 20th century. Large crowds came to hear the “baseball player-turned-evangelist.” He used colloquial English, spoke rapidly, and moved energetically. He illustrated
Billy Graham, left, in 1966, and Billy Sunday, in 1921.
US LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
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!
See FAITH LIFT Page 12
Word Search: Sun safety
Find the words hidden vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and backwards. BRIGHT BURN CUMULATIVE DAMAGE DANGEROUS DERMATOLOGIST
EXPOSURE EYES MELANIN MELANOMA OUTDOORS PEAK
RADIATION RASH RAYS SAFETY SHADY SKIN
SPECTRUM SUN SUNGLASSES SUNSCREEN ULTRAVIOLET VISION
ANSWERS ON PAGE 18
Page 16
The Voice, July 22, 2020
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MAPLES
continued from Page 11 Saturday of a long weekend, which was the first he knew of plans to remove the Station Street tree. He confronted the removal crew but got nowhere. Jones claims that pictures he took of the stump show no rot in the core and, having Googled “stump rot,” he voiced his suspicion that chemicals were poured onto the stump to produce the rot that is evident now. Unfortunately, he has deleted the pictures he took. He further questions why the tree was removed on the Saturday of a long weekend, when Town staff were not available to hear his concerns and stop the chainsaws. The Town developed a policy
The loss of a mature tree is always a sad occurrence and unfortunately it happens on a regular basis
called “Urban Forest Guidelines” in 2000 to account for and protect the canopy. Mike and Carol Jones were instrumental in developing these guidelines with Town Staff of the day. Director of Public Works, Jason Marr, acknowledges the existence of these guidelines, but points out, “Many of the tasks identified in this guideline are not achievable based on the current funding and resources available to the public works department. In 2016 a new forestry and tree policy was presented to council by staff and adopted. This policy is very vague at best.” He promises to develop a new and workable policy for presentation to council, “hopefully this fall. It will most likely also include additional resources required to implement such a policy.” Meanwhile, across town, Graham and Eddie Pett expressed their concern about the Town’s tree policy last week in a letter to the Voice in support of the Jones letter. Co-
incidentally, this week they experienced the issue firsthand when two large maples were cut down on North Pelham Street near their home. Graham Pett contacted the Town and was given the underlying reason for the removal of the trees, an explanation he doesn’t entirely buy: “There is some evident rationale for this destruction (if one trusts the so-called ‘experts’).” Like the Station Street tree, the two on North Pelham were compromised by construction that had damaged the roots sufficiently that in the Town’s opinion, the trees would become a hazard. Though upset by the destruction of trees he saw as healthy, Graham Pett’s main complaint is that there was little forewarning of the work to allow for residents to question the decision or get an explanation in advance of the trees coming down. The issue may come down to transparency (an oft-used word in Pelham, it seems). When asked whether he would have been satisfied if the Station Street tree had been marked a few weeks in advance of cutting, allowing time to question the necessity of the removal, Mike Jones said yes. The arborist’s report may not have satisfied him, but at least he would have been able to have his say before it was too late. He feels that what is necessary is “a process where citizens have a chance to know what trees are to be removed in their neighbourhood and be able
Above, three more images by the arborist showing damage to the Silver Maple on Station Street. Right, reader Graham Pett took this shot as two seemingly healthy maples were cut down near their home. SUPPLIED/GRAHAM PETT
to have a say or second opinion (at their own cost).” Graham Pett, too, feels that prior notification and a chance to review the evidence in favour of removal are necessary steps: “We’re trying to take the high road here with a view that Pelham needs to become a lot … greener and to avoid this kind of shock when two wonderful trees (actually three, as one was taken much earlier in the project) that have been in your lives for 40 some years are turned to sawdust in a blink of an eye.” In a statement to the Voice, CAO David Cribbs also sounded a conciliatory note: “The frustration of the individuals contacting the Town is understandable, and their dedication and passion for Pelham’s trees is commended. We all have a vested interest to maintain the Town’s tree canopy, which the Town demonstrates by its investments in controlling the gypsy moth, by employing an arborist, and by having an annual budget for tree trimming and removal. The loss of a mature tree is always a sad occurrence and unfortunately it happens on a continuous basis.”
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