The Voice of Pelham, July 27 2016

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Vol.20 No.21 Vol.20 No.17

V O I C E OF

P E L H A M

PELHAM’S INDEPENDENT INDEPENDENT NEWS NEWS SOURCE SOURCE FROM FROM THE THE HEART HEART OF OF NIAGARA NIAGARA PELHAM’S Wednesday July 27, 2016 Wednesday June 29, 2016

85¢ 85¢

Art not a done deal after all

Parched

Gateway art decision deferred as Council questions cost, value

BY VOICE STAFF

Pelham’s Sid Murray and his detection dog Shadow ready to clear minefields in Kosovo, circa 2000. Landmines and canines, story on page 7.

At Monday’s Council meeting, the Public Art Selection Panel made a presentation outlining the process and results of the Pelham Public Art Commission that would see a $200,000 “gateway” art piece installed at the new East Fonthill Development site.

After outlining their criteria and methodology, which included the collection of public input, the panel then revealed that “Sculpture,”

by Spanish Artist Juanjo Novella, had been selected as the winning piece.

“It wasn’t even close,” said panelist Donna Hinde, “He stood out head and shoulders above the others.”

The presenters not-

ed that the construction of the sculpture was meant to precede construction on the rest of the site, which would allow the rest of the space to be designed around the art and further contribute to its integration into the community. They stated that the site would be ready for installation in the spring, and that if the commission were to proceed immediately, Novella would begin manufacture and production in the near future.

However, a number of Councillors had questions and concerns surrounding the project’s funding and support within the community.

“I have nothing against art,” said Councillor Papp, “but how are we going to pay for this?”

He added that it would be a lot easier to support if costs were offset by a grant or other external funding.

Treasurer Cari Pupo pointed out that the installation had already been approved by Council at the capital budget meeting and that the money would be coming out of the reserve.

However, she also said that staff were seeking to have half the costs covered by the Canadian Cultural Spaces Fund.

Councillor Durley stated that he had heard from a number of constituents who were against the piece. He and Councillor Junkin both questioned the wisdom of spending $200,000 on a project that generated so See IRKED Page 11

Water crisis in search dollar outdoor theatre New zoning by-law in the works$5 million of solution

addition to East Fonthill project

New rules expected to address livestock ownership on farms of under 25 acres

BY ZACH JUNKIN

The VOICE

ers’ Marketing Board said, “This has been an historic drought. It’s likely going to happen again. Some sort of solution needs to be found.”

Town staff report calls theatre “critical to the cultural heritage”

Last week, MP Dean Alrule, with many residents to worry about her two boys lison held a round table expressing surprise that being trampled by an 800 lb. meeting of key industry it even existed. A petition bull in her own front yard. stakeholders from the tenWhat began as an order was circulated to address “I grew up on a farm out STAFF

BY VOICE der fruit, grape growing infrastructure across the country to comply has become a and greenhouse industries through the CCSF. According to full-blown revisiting of the the by-law, signed by over in Wainfleet, on 200 acres 500 people, many of whom with a hundred head of in Niagara.

Memberthe of government of Canada webzoning by-law, as Council At cattheir last regular The meeting, said.Councillors Parliament for Niagara site, the fund aims to support “the directed staff to draft a new were below the 25- acre tle, so I get it,” she Pelham approved an West minimum acreage and qui- “The problem is heapplication doesn’t is hoping find the a longimprovement of physical condiversion of the document at for fundingtofrom etly maintaining a couple of put the resources into con-Cultural termSpaces solution to that the water tions for artistic creativity and Monday’s meeting.

Canada Fund them.” faced the Region’s innovation. The fund supports According to a Town re- cows or horses. These resi- taining or managingwould help crisis pay for the by proposed dents wanted to see changes “It’s very frustrating,” during times the of improvement, renovation and port, staff had been working East Fonthillfarmers Theatre Space.

The Pelham at Marlene Stewart PHOTO that Streit wouldPark. allow for smaller VOICE she said.

“He has tooStaff manyestimate drought. construction of arts and heritage on a new Pool Comprehensive the project will farms to legally keep live- animals for that amount of “Given that include we’re dealfacilities, as well as the acquisition Zoning By-law in late 2014, cost $5,150,000, and will space.” ing interlocking with one of brick the worst of specialized equipment.” but this work was tempo- stock. two acres of Other residents, however, Morden was surprised to droughts on record, of we need To be eligible for funding, aprarily shelved in 2015 due to foundation, the construction expressed concerns about learn the by-law was to findaa water way tofeature help farmers plicants must demonstrate that Planning turnover and an being outdoor stage,

BY VOICEstaff STAFF Canada “to celebrate Canada’s 150th allowing unfettered live- enforced across town survive,” Allison. their organization has been active workload volume. thatwhen would become ansaid outdoor ice “It’s anniversary of Confederation in stock ownership on smaller her complaint had fallen onin the ridiculous that we live bein the execution of their artistic or However, the issue was surface winter, removable 2017,” states the government of CanOn June 20, Council approved the deaf ears. tweenand twostreetscapGreat Lakes and heritage mandate for at least two yanked back of intoan the application lime- properties. seating, storage, ada’s website. “FedDev Ontario is completion for Tammy Morden owns a “I don’t know why they’re have a shortage of water.” years and that their programming light recently when the ing. delivering the program in southern funding from the “Canada 150 Comproperty in Fenwick. Her going after this other guyoutdoor Lentheatre Troup,is who The toparticipants talked is accessible all Canadians.

ApTown attempted to enforce “The criti- grows Ontario with a total allocation of up munity Infrastructure Fund” in order neighbor has three acres and they’re refusingcal to to even tender fruit, noted the seabout a number of options plicants must also be able to proatosection of the by-law limthe cultural heritage of the to $88.8 million over two years.” rehabilitate the Marlene Stewart that directly abut her yard. consider my complaint,” she verity of the situation. to give reports. growers access to iting livestock Community,” states staff re- vide financial Eligible projects must be open to Streit Park Pool. ownership One of these acres has a barn said. “It seems likeport they’ve “What we have is two both irrigation and clean The outdoor theatre project was to Staff properties of 25 acres or submitted to Council.

“It is the public and use the funds to repair, recommended the action to and pasture, and Morden applied it in one area and that months without and any rain. waterslated for use the farm. originally foron design and more. an asset will showcase renovate, or expand existing commuCouncil after the Federal Economsays the animals frequently not in another, in spite of amany There has been nothing,” he They said it’s a matter of construction five to ten years from Pelham’s agriculturpresent forms of heritage, nity infrastructure assets.

They must ic Development Agency for Southern break loose from their pad- formal written complaint.” said. safety, now, food however, the economic potential defor al community expressed arts and other cultural activities.”

Ontario launched the funding for in- provide a minimum of 50% of their dock and trample her yard.

Phil two Tregunnno, concern when Over the next years, the Chair frastructure onthey May learned 21.

See BYLAW Page 6government She says she shouldn’t have See WATER Page 12 of the Tender Fruit about this rarely-enforced federal will be in-Grow- See FEDERAL The fund is being delivered by reFUNDING Page 2 See POOL Page 14 vesting $168.2 million in cultural gional development agencies across

BY VOICE STAFF

Pool improvements funds sought

It’s ridiculous that we live between two Great Lakes and have a shortage of water

Page 2

It’s myVOICE, Wednesday July 27, 2016

IN THE NEWS Pelham man dies in cycling collision

At approximately 7:00 PM Tuesday, July 19, the Niagara Emergency Medical Services, Wainfleet Fire Department and the Niagara Regional Police Service responded to reports of a cyclist collision on Regional Road 27 (River Rd) near Elsie Road, in Wainfleet.

Initial investigation revealed that a 42-year-old male resident of Pelham was riding his road bicycle with a group of riders westbound on Regional Road 27 when he lost control of his bike and fell to the ground, striking his head. One of the other riders in the group was unable to take evasive action and collided with the fallen cyclist. This second rider was uninjured in the collision.

The 42-year-old cyclist was found to be in critical condition. Resuscitative efforts were unsuccessful and the cyclist was pronounced deceased at the scene of the collision.

This collision remains under investigation by the Coroner’s Office and Detectives of the Niagara Regional Police Services Collision Reconstruction Unit.

Police are asking any witnesses with information regarding this collision to contact investigators at (905) 688-4111, extension 5500.

St. Catharines PSW arrested for sexual assault

On July 18, members of the Niagara Regional Police

Sexual Assault Unit entered into an investigation regarding an elderly male who was sexually assaulted by his personal support worker.

As a result of the investigation, 54-year-old Walter Awramenko of St. Catharines was charged with sexual assault.

Awramenko has been employed as a personal support worker and prior to this incident provided care for a number of individuals.

Anyone with information in relation to Awramenko is asked to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service Sexual Assault Unit at 905688-4111 extension 5100.

Fatal pedestrian collision in Niagara Falls

At approximately 5:30 PM on Thursday, July 21, police and emergency services responded to reports of a pedestrian being struck by a dump truck at the intersection of Victoria Avenue and Ferguson Street in Niagara Falls Initial investigation revealed that a 42-year-old female resident of Niagara Falls was walking her dog and crossing Victoria Avenue when she was struck by a 1999 Western Star dump truck that was turning from

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Pelham Puzzler cracked at last Ferguson Street onto Victoria Avenue. The female was transported to a local hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead. The dog also suffered fatal injuries. The 27-year-old male driver of the dump truck was not injured.

This collision remains under investigation.

Arrest made during stolen bicycle transaction

On Thursday, July 21 members of the Niagara Falls Street Crime Unit conducted surveillance of two males within the City of Niagara Falls riding high-end bicycles.

Investigation revealed that one of the bicycles was stolen, and the two males were arrested.

Further investigation found that the second bicycle was also stolen, and that the males were in the middle of a transaction for one of the stolen bicycles.

As a result, a 45-yearold Stoney Creek man has been charged with one count of Trafficking Property Obtained by Crime under $5,000, and two counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000.

Suspect arrested in Chippawa robbery

In December, members of the Niagara Regional Police Service were called to the IDA Pharmacy located in Chippawa to investigate a See IN THE NEWS Page 3

on vacation!

Steady effort over weeks leads to $330 payoff

BY VOICE STAFF Last Saturday, Fonthill resident Kathy Trussell cracked 7C7A7B4C6B4A4B2A7C2A7B7B4C8C3B3A—the cipher that’s puzzled Pelham for 16 weeks. But the day didn’t start well. Kathy and her husband, Dave, were recently returned from a few weeks vacation in South Carolina.

Early Saturday morning a dejected Trussell was thinking, “Nobody’s ever going to get this.” She says she often devoted a half-hour to the Puzzler here and there over the last four months.

“We got back on Wednesday, and got the paper Thursday, and it was still there...I couldn’t believe that it was over $300 when we got back,” says the retired GM Materials Management Supervisor. Trussell worked at GM in St. Catherines for 20 years, then another seven years in Tonawanda. It was a job that involved numbers—lots of numbers.

“She knew 10-digit part numbers,” says husband Dave, who retired as a teacher with the DSBN last autumn.

“I could quote you numbers still to this day,” says Trussell.

The two met as students at the General Motors Institute in Flint, Michigan, married three years later, and have lived in Pelham for 20-plus years. Both are puzzle and mystery fans.

“If she’s watching a show like a murder mystery,” says Dave, “she’ll have it figured out in the first ten minutes.”

“I’ll go get a sheet of paper and write it down and fold it up and say, ‘Here, hold on to this,’” Kathy says.

She attributes her sleuthing skills to an early infatuation with Nancy Drew. The couple works through various crosswords and Sudokus every day.

Like many Voice readers, Trussell began weeks ago with educated guesses about what the cracked phrase might be, speculating that it may have a local theme.

“I looked at the length of it. I tried to think of phrases like ‘Fonthill is the best

Puzzler winner Kathy Trussell accepts her $330 in gift certificates from Voice Marketing Director, Dave Burket. place in Niagara,’...or a Voice of Pelham theme.”

Trussell went to the internet with each new clue.

“I started looking up ciphers, because it said it was a cipher. I watched a movie

I couldn’t believe that it was over $300 when we got back

with Bletchley Park.”

The British codebreaking effort in WWII, centered in a facility named Bletchley Park, was a fundamental clue. Bletchley Park staff worked feverishly to crack the German ENIGMA machine. Ciphers require keys for decryption, typically but not necessarily machine-produced.

Trussell started wondering about machines in general.

“I thought, okay, keyboards,” and stared at computer keyboards for awhile.

Clearly in need of a break, she and Dave headed to South Carolina.

It was on Saturday morning that the proverbial lightbulb went on.

Looking around the room, Trussell’s glance fell on a machine, a device present in virtually every North American home since the 1930s, a machine miniaturized starting in the late 1980s and made mobile, and which now, 16 years into the

Jennifer Ziraldo introduces 5-month-old Alexander to his 85-year-old great-grandfather Tom Elliott, in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Send us your picture holding The Voice, whether across town or abroad and we’ll share it with our readers. Email your photo with a brief description to

office@thevoiceofpelham.ca

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A more phone-specific clue was “Knott,” referring to Frederick Knott, who wrote the screenplay for Dial M for Murder. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, the 1954 film was released in 3D just as the public grew weary of it. Said Hitch of 3D,”It’s a nine-day wonder, and I came in on the ninth day.”

21st century, rides around in millions of Canadian pockets every day.

Dave recalls Kathy calling out to him from the other room.

“She said, ‘What if we looked at the phone.’ I was doing a crossword puzzle and I said, ‘Do whatever you want.’”

“He didn’t think I’d ever get it,” says Trussell.

She stood and looked down at the keypad on their standard house phone.

“The numbers came out at me—there’s nothing past nine, and then ‘A-B-C.’ Then I started checking it, and I said, ‘Dave! I got a word that makes sense!’”

She kept going, decoding each number and letter pair in turn, until she had, SPRINGHASARRIVED. “I was jumping up and down.”

Spring has arrived is the correct answer, confirms Voice Puzzlemeister Bob Loblaw.

“And this tells you how fast we thought people would crack it,” says Loblaw. “But as the weeks went on we figured, well, maybe not. The prize value just kept climbing.”

The cipher’s key turns out to be a standard telephone dial.

Kathy Trussell realized that “7C” meant, “the third letter associated with the number 7,” and “3A” meant, “the first letter associated with the number 3,” and so on.

But no mystery would be complete without an unforeseen twist.

“Modern telephone keypads add some letters,” says Loblaw. “If you relied only on your iPhone to crack this, you’d end up with RPQINGHARAQQIVED. You need an old-school dial or TouchTone pad to get it completely right.”

The Trussells say they’ll share their winnings with family and friends. In total, the gift certificate loot added up to: Lazy Loon Restaurant, $50; Sobey’s Fonthill, $50; PetValu Fonthill, $50; Shoppers Drug Mart Fonthill, $50; Blue Star Restaurant, $30; Bloomin’ Crazy Garden Centre, $25; Black Pearl Fish & Chips, $25; Moku’s Restaurant, $25; Lifemark Physiotherapy, $25.

The Voice thanks all participating merchants for their kind generosity in sponsoring the Pelham Puzzler.

“Next week we start it all over again,” says Loblaw, tossing in a devilish cackle.

“4B 2A 8C 3B 3C 8B 6B.”

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It’s myVOICE, Wednesday July 27, 2016

Page 3

The real story behind “Wellington Heights” Proposed fortress was never more than a speculative illustration

BY KEVIN KER, PH.D

Special to the VOICE

While Wikipedia can be a valuable resource, readers must be wary of unverified and misleading information on a website that can be edited by anyone. Pelham residents discovered this recently when Wikipedia was the catalyst to change a school name though the information found there was discovered to be untrue.

A small group of residents have recently done some research into what some called the “New Fortress in Short Hills in the District of Niagara known as the Mountain,” and others “The Fortress that never was,” and still others the mythical “Wellington Heights” near Fonthill. As a result, we have brought a number of new facts to light.

With apologies to the Pelham Historical Calendar and the authors of The Town of Pelham Cultural Heritage Plan of 2012, it has now been documented and confirmed that information published by those institutions was incorrect.

For the proposed fortress in the Short Hills Area, only one farm (200 acres) was expropriated by the government in 1827, not the 900 acres cited in the old historical calendar and on Wikipedia in April 2016 (which has since been updated and references provided). We are sure of this as we have checked the Ontario land registry records and 200 acres were taken by the government (not the military!) by title of surrender.

The land registry records included a notation that this government land was known as The Short Hills Farm when they sold it back to farmers.

These particular lands had been farmed prior to surrender and actually continued to be farmed by local residents based on annual lease arrangements until they were sold by the government as 8 separate 25 acre parcels to such familiar Pelham family names as Haist (Daniel and Michael), Stirtzinger (John), Taylor (Alex) and Delamatter (Martin). These lands straddled Effingham Street and did not include the

highest point in the Niagara peninsula nor Lookout Point Golf Course.

Research to date has also revealed the military could not legally own lands and no activities took place upon the area surveyed other than drawings. This fortress was part of larger plan of twelve fortresses across Upper Canada. Shortly after expropriation of the 200 acres in Short Hills by the government, further land acquisitions were halted as the government realized building fortresses was going to be very expensive and the military identified that they would not have enough soldiers to make any of the proposed military fortresses functional. Instead the government allocated plan funds to the Rideau Canal (which turned out to be far more expensive than estimated) and the citadels in Halifax and Mount Royal (Montreal), the fortress in Kingston and upgrading installations along the St. Lawrence River and eastern Ontario (this includes a Fort Wellington in Prescott that was named and built in

Contemporary map, ca. 1827, illustrating area at issue.

1812!)

Lacking the ownership of the entire tract lands necessary made any names proposed by the military fictional, as they had no authority to give topographical designations. This is no different than any person or

developer arbitrarily proposing to name a large area of land, for example Cherry Ridge Subdivision, without ownership of the land. I am sure of this as my family’s farm and others were purchased to allow for the creation of Cherry Ridge.

SUPPLIED GRAPHIC

According to our research, Wellington Heights never existed except as an incomplete military plan that was never completed, on land that was never purchased, for a fortress that was never built.

Mayors meet with province to discuss Welland Hospital

BY VOICE STAFF A number of local politicians met with the province last week to talk about the future of the Welland Hospital. Welland Mayor Frank Campion, Port Colborne Mayor John Maloney, Wainfleet Mayor April Jeffs and

CAO Michael Smith, and Welland MPP Cindy Forster met with Health Minister Eric Hoskins last Wednesday to discuss keeping the Welland Hospital open as one of three hospitals serving Niagara.

In September of 2012, Dr. Kevin Smith issued a report

2016

Bandshell Series

on behalf of the Niagara Health System that recommended closing the Welland Hospital after the construction of a new hospital in Niagara Falls. The report advocated converting the current facility to an Urgent Care Centre.

At last week’s meeting, Minister Hoskins indicated that no decisions have been made regarding hospital restructuring and stated that the mayors’ presentation was timely. He also indicated that he doesn’t want

Given Niagara’s population, there should be three hospitals to see any movement of health care services within the NHS until final decisions

have been made. Minister Hoskins left the door open for the Mayors and MPP Forster to have further discussions directly with his Ministry officials.

“Given Niagara’s population, there should be three hospitals and it makes sense for Welland to continue to be the hospital in south Niagara as that’s what residents are used to,” said Welland’s Mayor Campion.

“South Niagarians deserve equitable, timely access to elective and emergency services.

We put forward cost effective solutions and innovative ideas to strengthen the Welland Hospital within the Niagara Health System. We had a positive meeting with Minister Hoskins and asked him to extend every consideration to our request.”

“I’m pleased we had such a positive meeting with the Minister that included thoughtful discussion about the health care needs of See WELLAND Page 6

IN THE NEWS continued from Page 2

Jeff Giles as Buddy Holly.

SUPPLIED PHOTO

Legends of the ‘50s

BY JIM CASSON

Special to the VOICE

“Legends of the 1950s” is a world-class musical tribute to Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and “The King of Rock and Roll,”Elvis Presley. Backed by the amazing Memphis Cats band, song highlights include “That’ll Be the Day” “Chantilly Lace” “Great Balls of Fire” and “Hound Dog” amongst other audience favourites. “Legends of the 1950s” features four

international tribute superstars including the incredible Jeff Giles as Buddy Holly, the electrifying piano man Joe Passion as Jerry Lee Lewis, the fun loving Bill Culp as the Big Bopper, and sexy Collingwood Elvis champion Gino Monopoli as Elvis Presley. The night will also feature Kim Ladd as your trustworthy bass player and Jim Casson as that guy from Fenwick who plays drums. For more information, visit Fonthillbandshell.com.

robbery.

The initial investigation revealed that a lone male had entered the pharmacy while armed with a weapon and demanded narcotics.

After receiving a quantity of narcotics the suspect fled on foot toward the area of Willoughby Drive and Welland Street.

Police continued the investigation with the assistance of the #2 District Street Crime Unit and the Forensic Services Unit.

Last Wednesday, after analyzing the recovered evidence, police located and arrested a 36-year-old Niagara Falls resident in relation to the crime.

The accused has been charged with one count of Robbery and one count of Disguise with Intent contrary to section 351(2) of the Criminal Code.

Hepatitis C educational event

Niagara Health’s Hepatitis C Care Clinic and community partners are hosting

a World Hepatitis Day educational event on Thursday, July 28 at the Farmers’ Market in downtown Welland.

The event will raise awareness about hepatitis C and liver health. It will also educate the community about the wide range of services the Niagara Health Hepatitis C Care Clinic and other community agencies offer to residents. At the event, a Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner from Niagara Health’s Hepatitis C Care Clinic and a Registered Nurse from Niagara Region Public Health will offer confidential hepatitis C testing and health teaching to those interested.

Hepatitis C is spread when blood carrying the virus gets into the bloodstream of another person. The virus attacks the liver and if left untreated can result in the development of cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer.

While thousands of Canadians are infected, many are not aware and remain undiagnosed. It is vital to get tested if you think you may have been exposed to hepatitis C.

Niagara’s rate of hepatitis C is higher than the provincial average.

The event runs from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Motorcycle collides with car

At approximately 7:30 PM on Wednesday, July 20, police and emergency services responded to reports of a motorcycle versus motor vehicle collision on Lundy’s Lane east of Prince Edward Avenue, in Niagara Falls.

Initial investigation revealed that a 32-year-old male resident of Niagara Falls was riding his 2004 Suzuki motorcycle westbound on Lundy’s Lane when it came into contact with a 2006 Toyota Avalon motor vehicle driven by a 79-year-old male from Rochester, New York.

The motorcyclist suffered possible life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital where he remains in serious condition. The Avalon driver was uninjured.

This collision remains under investigation.

Tremont Pharmacy robbery

As the result of an ongoing investigation, detectives from the Niagara Regional Police assisted by members of PAVIS Unit have identified the individual responsible for an armed robbery of the Tremont Pharmacy that occurred on July 15, in the City of St. Catharines.

The investigation led officers to an upscale hotel located in Niagara Falls.

When investigators attended the hotel, they observed the accused walking in the area. As officers approached the accused, the man fled on foot. The officers pursued the accused to the intersection of Fallsview Blvd. and Murray Hill where the man was apprehended with the assistance of an on-duty Niagara Parks Police Officer.

As a result, a 41-year-old male of no fixed address was arrested and charged with Robbery with a Firearm, Disguised with Intent, Possession of a Firearm contrary to Prohibition Order and Fail to Comply with Probation Order.

Page 4

It’s myVOICE, Wednesday July 27, 2016

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

OPINION As We See It Council directs staff, not vice-versa

T

WO DRY SPELLS were broken on Monday, as Pelham received its first meaningful rainfall in weeks, and Town Council turned down the chance to spend taxpayer money.

And although the first came naturally enough, the second incident met with unnerving and unwarranted resistance from town staff members.

The evening began reasonably well as the Public Art Selection Panel made a presentation to Councillors outlining the Public Art Commission process, and recommending a piece of art from a pool of three finalists.

While Councillors lauded the panelists’ efforts in gathering public input and vetting submissions, several voiced legitimate concerns surrounding cost, value to residents, and the timing of construction.

Many of these concerns had been brought to their attention by constituents, and so the system seemed to be working as desired.

But things suddenly took an abrupt turn when the town CAO casually explained that Council was wasting

their time because the decision had already been made.

“Money has been budgeted and approved by council, this is strictly for information,” he said with a shrug, later adding that the project was already “well underway.”

But how on earth could anyone have already made a decision on the allocation of $200,000 when they were just receiving the complete information at that very meeting?

Why would staff believe that this was a smart way to operate? Do they often make decisions first and collect data later?

The confusion stemmed from an earlier point in the budgeting process, when Council had ear-marked $200,000 to get the project moving, contingent on final approval.

So the surprise in Council chambers was palpable as the CAO explained that our duly elected officials were all mistaken, and that this part was just a formality.

It makes one wonder what would happen if Council tried saying “no” more often. Heck, maybe this is why they don’t.

Staff work for Council, and the Council works for taxpayers.

Monday’s meeting showed just how muddled this dynamic has become in Pelham.

Councillors discussed the stated desires of their constituents and then were told to go suck an egg.

That cannot be allowed to continue. Elected officials should never be bullied into decisions by hired staff.

Thankfully, Council managed to defer receiving the report, and so avoided complete acquiescence.

Councillors Accursi and Papp may have even taken steps to correct the issue by insisting on Council’s right to make the final decision in such matters, and demanding clarification of their commitment to “red-circled” budget items.

But all of those words will be meaningless unless followed up with action.

If staff are allowed to run roughshod over our elected officials, democracy falls apart.

At that point, a $200,000 sculpture will be the least of Pelham’s worries.



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Letters Legal littering a nuisance Every Thursday morning I am greeted by a landscape strewn with flyers delivered by truck to the homes in the area. Am I the only one who finds this practice unacceptable?

The flyers are tossed into the driveways of our neighbourhoods where many of them lie until joined by another barrage of material the following week.

A case in point: on either side of our residence, two homes have driveways with an entrance/exit on either

side of the lot. There is no chance of mistaking these two homes for anything other than single dwelling residences and yet, regularly, as they did again this morning, they receive two papers, one for each end of the driveway. Fortunately they are quickly cleared away by the inhabitants of these homes.

Even the antenna which stands on the corner of Effingham and Tice, at the top of the Effingham Hill, receives the unwanted pack-

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Members of Niagara Regional Council Councillor David Augustyn mayordave@pelham.ca 905-892-2607 Ext 317 Councillor Brian Baty 742 Memorial Dr. Fenwick, ON L0S 1C0 905-892-5317 Town of Pelham 20 Pelham Town Square P.O. Box 400 Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0 905-892-2607

See LITTERING Page 5

Today's forgotten business stopped advertising yesterday

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age of junk mail. But this property is not so lucky. As you can see from the photo below, the bundles sit there for a long period of time.

This shot shows this week’s and last week’s papers lying in front of the tower, which no one could ever mistake for a residence.

Often these papers are thrown indiscriminately in front of vacant lots. Even worse, they are tossed at an address where no one

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It’s myVOICE, Wednesday July 27, 2016

Exchange students arrive in Pelham

Thank you to emergency responders Recently, our father, Michael, who is 82 years of age and suffering from dementia, managed to elude the staff at the facility where he was temporarily residing. We were all concerned about locating him quickly due to the extreme heat and his unfamiliarity with his surroundings. Fortu-

nately, with the immediate response of the police and a call from a concerned citizen, he was found.

We would like to extend our appreciation for the kindness and compassion shown to all of us by Constables Millin, Cuke and Mitchell as well as Sargeant Lewis. Also, we would like

Page 5

to thank the paramedics who examined Dad and pronounced him to be in good form. We apologize for not knowing your names. We are so grateful to be part of such an amazing community as Fonthill.

Thank you to all!

Michael’s Family Fonthill

Pelham should pay off debt before acquiring more Regional Government has endorsed Pelham’s $36.2 million loan at 3% to be repaid in 30 years for the building of a community centre.

Lately, an outdoor theatre has been added to the centre, at a cost of $5.15 million, putting the total cost at $41.35 million.

To date, no clear repayment schedule or cost of interest has been provided.

At $41.43 million, repayment would cost $1,378,000 over 30 years. Interest would

average $620,000, for a total of $1,998,300 per year.

Assuming 6,500 households, the average cost per household would be $307.

This figure does not include annual operating costs. IF we sell land and collect development charges these figures may come down, but that is yet to be seen.

Maybe these figures will warp the guidelines that Mr. Augustyn is following.

But can we expect some help from upper levels of

government?

For 2013-2014, Mr. Sean Speer and Mr. Charles Lammam of the Fraser Institute came up with the following numbers: Ontario’s government spent more than $10.6 billion on interest that year, with the federal government spending $29.3 billion, and that does not include unfounded liabilities like health care and the public pension.

These are gruesome figSee DEBT Page 8

The Fonthill Lions Club hosted 16 youths from 15 different countries last week as part of a Youth Exchange Program. The students will be here for a month. Mayor Augustyn spent some time talking with each of the students, and presented them each with a Town of Pelham pin. The students are currently camping at Camp Wetaskiwan in St. Catharines.

Pictured with the youth are camp director Bill (far left) and Mayor Augustyn(far right).

LITTERING continued from Page 4 is currently living, but the deliveries don’t stop. They accumulate over the weeks until they are picked up by a concerned resident.

I include a photo taken in front of my home. It shows the ubiquitous bundle lying right beneath a bright yellow sign with black letters “NO FLYERS.” In the past

three weeks and four times in the past six, papers have been tossed right beneath this sign! My complaints have gone unheeded; no matter how much I complain, the papers continue to be delivered there.

Surely this practice is at best a form of legalized littering. At worst it is a waste of resources such as paper and ink, plastic bags, fuel to deliver them… When is it

going to stop?

Perhaps it’s time for others to voice their complaints about this situation and perhaps it’s time for Council to look for other means of distributing this material.

A bylaw forcing the delivery firm to put flyers into rural mailboxes and not tossing them on the ground would be a good start.

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It’s myVOICE, Wednesday July 27, 2016

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

This week in baseball

German Shepherd show in Fenwick

BY MELISSA WELLS

Special to the VOICE

Earlier this month the German Shepherd Schutzhund Club of Canada (GSSCC) held their Otario Regional Show and Breed Survey at Niagara Hundesport in Fenwick. Pictured are Chris and Annette with dogs Normandy (left) and Yardley (right). Normandy was crowned the 12-18 month female champion, while Yardley was named champion of his 3-6 month male division.

VOICE PHOTO

BYLAW continued from Page 1 Morden hopes to see the Town place reasonable limits on livestock ownership, pointing out that other townships have used an “animal units per-acre” system that seems to have met with success.

“It should be enforceable and clearly outline how animals are to be contained,” she added.

Morden and other Pelham residents will have a chance to make these and other suggestions as the Town moves forward in creating the new by-law, as the first draft was presented to Council on Monday, who then directed staff to gath-

A neighbour has filed a complaint with the town against this Farr Street farm.

VOICE PHOTO er input over the coming months.

“Staff proposed that we begin the consultation process on the draft By-law and receive feedback from you and other members of the community and agencies this Fall,” wrote Mayor Augustyn in his blog. “We

will schedule public open houses, meetings with the development community, and a special meeting with Council to receive agency input.”

Staff will then redraft the new by-law using that input.

The Meridian Credit Union Rookie Blue Jays won a very exciting game in Port Colborne on Wednesday, July 20th, beating a strong Mariner team 14-9 in their first playoff game. The evening was full of exceptional hitting highlighted

by T-Ball call up Nico Koppejan hitting 3 for 3 in his first Rookie game and Cole Tresham hitting a 2-run home run in the 5th inning and a Grand Slam in the last inning. Pelham started strong with a 2-0 lead, but were pushed back by strong hitting and fielding from Port Colborne leaving the Blue Jays entering the final inning down 9-8. The Blue Jays fought back in the final inning with 7 hits and 5 runs. Tresham’s Grand Slam was the clear highlight of the night. The bottom of the final inning had Port Colborne’s strongest hitters lined up, but Pelham shut all 3 batters down through great defense.

The Bromac Construction mosquitos won their first playoff game against Port Colborne this week. After a slow start, Pelham took the lead in the 5th inning and held strong for a final score of 10-4. All 4 pitchers, Jason Sviergula, Ethan Krick, Will Horton and Trevor Heaslip, displayed amazing focus on the mound, only allowing 4 runs. Will Horton hit his 3rd home run in three games, along with Jason Sviergula who had a clinch double.

The Pelham Medical Associates Mosquito Rep team lost a couple of tough games against the St. Catharines Majors last week. Monday’s game saw the team up by two going into the 5th inning, behind pitcher Ryan Culig and sharp field-

Andrew Behring trots the bases after hitting a home run last week.

SUPPLIED PHOTO ing plays by second baseman Julian Rubino and first baseman Matthew Oakes. Ben Buttner caught an outfield fly on the run to close out the inning. Tuesday’s game showed promise with great pitching by Mitchell Morden.

The Willowbrook Nurseries Peewee Pelham Panthers won their first playoff game against Beamsville’s Dave Vien Royal Lepage 1312. Connor Denbak was a double short of hitting for the cycle. Denbak’s long ball homer went to the center field fence at Centennial Park! Zack Perna slid into home plate in the second to score. Michael Dykstra and Ryan Harold went 3 for 3.

Harold drove in Joseph Kita in the fifth for the winning run. The team lost their game to Beamsville Campden Fire Fighters 12-5. Ryan Harold started the game with a double followed by Connor Denbak’s double in the fifth. Nathan Denbak pitched 3 strike outs in the scoreless fourth inning.

The Miller Restoration Peewee Rep team competed in an A tournament this

weekend in Orillia. Although the team went 0 for 3, the final scores were very close and the team played well against the bigger centres.

Jake Passmore had several extra base hits to go with his outstanding work at short stop. Brendan Grenville pitched several good innings, walked and contributed several base hits.

Cole Townson, ever the ball magnet in centre field, caught several hard hit flies on the run.

The Fonthill Dental Midget Baseball team extended their winning streak to 4 games with a home field 13-9 victory over St. Catharines. Starting pitcher Wes Gibson and reliever Brock Glenney and closer Josh Stuart combined to limit the offence to just 9 runs. Fonthill responded with 13 runs over their 5 at bats with extra base hits from Graham Albrecht, Ryan Moffat and Ryan Dykstra. Albrecht lead all players with 4 runs scored and 4 RBI’s. This win comes on the heels of an 8-2 victory over Welland on Tuesday.

Cute chicks spotted in Pelham

BY VOICE STAFF Named after their easily recognizable call, the killdeer is a common sight in Southern Ontario’s agricultural areas. Technically considered shorebirds, killdeer often live far from water, and during nesting season they use dry, open areas, farm fields, and meadows to

lay their eggs.

In summer, killdeer live as far north as Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, and the Yukon as well as the southern parts of Alaska.

The killdeer winters throughout Central America.

Sharp-eyed Pelham residents may have seen that the nest itself is merely a shallow depression or bowl

in the ground, fringed by some stones and blades of grass. The nest is well camouflaged, with spotted eggs and a simple structure that make it blend in with its surroundings. Killdeer chicks are considered precocial, which means they can see and forage as soon as they are born.

Flightless for the first few weeks, the chicks stick

close to their parents during that time, relying on camouflage to avoid predators.

The adult birds also assist in this regard, frequently using a “broken-wing act” to distract predators and lead them away from the young.

WELLAND

the meeting with Minister Hoskins that no decisions have been made with respect to further hospital closures proposed by the NHS in Niagara. A planning process is underway at stage one of five and nothing is carved in stone. I will continue to work with the mayors to

keep equitable and timely access to hospital services and care for our residents in the Welland catchment area.

The minister said there should be no further cuts of services during this planning process.”

The Welland Hospital serves a catchment area of 135,000, including many in Pelham, and south Niagara is expected to continue to grow as outlined in the Niagara 2041 Growth Strategy.

continued from Page 3 South Niagara. I look forward to continued dialogue with his office,” added Mayor Jeffs.

MPP Cindy Forster said, “It became clear during

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Page 7

Landmines and canines How a Pelham man’s love for dogs took him on the mission of a lifetime

BY ZACH JUNKIN

The VOICE

Sid Murray has been around dogs for as long as he can remember.

“I was always raised with a dog,” he explained. “My first dog was a Cocker Spaniel and I probably learned to walk on its back.”

As a teenager, Sid’s love of canines continued to develop, along with a deep appreciation for the things they could do. By the time he was 18, he was involved in tracking and obedience training, and taking part in competitions with his animals. It wasn’t long before he was using his gifts to assist local law enforcement.

He recalls his first real assignment, when he helped police locate a woman with dementia who had wandered off.

“That really started it for me,” he said, “taking the

We even earned awards for the amount of drugs... that we found in penitentiaries dog and searching for her and telling the cops just exactly where she would be.”

From there, Sid’s repertoire, and reputation, continued to blossom. He took on a number of different challenges with his dogs. He helped police locate people and explosives. He trained service animals to perform simple tasks for people with disabilities. He even trav-

elled across Western Canada performing sweeps of prisons.

“We’d go in there for two weeks in a motor home and I’d do sweeps around the whole west,” he said. “We even earned awards for the amount of drugs, and, believe it or not, explosives that we found in the penitentiaries.”

Somewhere along the way, Sid realized that this sniffer dog work was his real calling.

“The detection part has always been the most interesting of all with the dog work,” he said.

Then, Sid saw a story on television that would change his life.

“I saw a news clip on the war in Bosnia,” he recalled.

“There was an elderly couple dead on the floor in the kitchen of their farmhouse.

The news anchors mentioned that landmines were

Sid Murray and his dog search for landmines in a predetermined grid. a known problem in the surrounding area. Knowing the capabilities of the dog’s sense of smell, I began to wonder if they could help clear land for the farmers so they could be more productive and safe.”

That was sometime around 1992. He spent the

next few years making connections in Ottawa, and experimenting with different training methods.

He relished the challenge of training a dog for mine work, exploring the effects

SUPPLIED PHOTO

of different soil types, temperatures, humidity and any other factors he could think of.

“It is one thing to find a See STILL ACTIVE Page 10

Potentially toxic algae found in water treatment plant

BY VOICE STAFF The Niagara Region is taking steps to address the presence of blue-green algae detected in very small quantities upstream from the water treatment plant intake at the Decew Water Treatment Plant.

Blue-green algae, also called Cyanobacteria, are bacteria that form naturally in lakes, rivers and wetlands with warm, slow moving shallow water that gets abundant sunlight and nutrients.

A bloom occurs when a large number of these cyanobacteria build up. Cyano-

bacteria can produce toxins that are stored in their cells, and which can be released in water when the cells rupture or die. These toxins can pose a risk to the health of humans and animals. In Canada, the cyanobacteria species more commonly found produce microcystins, which are toxins that can affect the liver and nervous system.

While no toxins have been detected at this time, testing for toxins in these algae will continue daily.

Tests conducted have shown that there is no toxin in the water at the treatment plant, nor upstream from it.

Therefore, there is no risk to public health.

The Region’s Public Works and Public Health departments are working with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to monitor and prevent any potential future risk to the public.

Water treatment processes have been adjusted to remove algae that might enter the water distribution system. Water is being tested daily.

The Decew Water Treatment Plant supplies drinking

water to St. Catharines and areas of Thorold, Lincoln, and Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The Region will continue to monitor the situation will notify the public should any changes occur.

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It’s myVOICE, Wednesday July 27, 2016

IN THE NEWS Downtown walks with the Welland Museum

The Welland Museum is offering patrons a chance to exercise mind and body with an insightful walk about town, featuring the city’s oldest and most interesting buildings.

The Museum will be hosting a summer series of Downtown Walking Tours.

This year, all walks will be held on Thursday evenings for the month of August, and will also include September 1. Each walk is approximately 1.5 hours long and will commence at 6:00PM from the Museum’s booth at the Merritt Island Supper Market, with the exception of the August 11 walk, which will begin at the museum.

Pre-registration is required. There is a cost of $10 per person, or $8 for Museum members.

For more information, or to register, please call the Welland Museum at 905732-2215.

Marineland tops Worst Tanks list

International animal protection organization, In Defense of Animals, released a list of the Ten Worst Tanks for Dolphins and Whales in North America last week

that named Marineland as the worst in Canada, and second overall.

The group claims the The Ten Worst Tanks list “exposes and represents the misery and suffering of the oceans’ most intelligent and complex mammals in captivity.”

A news release from the group further states that “whales and dolphins are subject to astonishing rates of premature death, captivity-related injuries, forced removal of babies from mothers, and solitary isolation. Many are confined to swimming endless circles in cramped tanks, deprived of healthy social groups, and forced to endure invasive reproduction techniques, polluted water, dangerous transport, and brutal exploitation of their sociable natures through “swim” and “petting” programs.”

Marineland holds Canada’s last captive orca, 40-year-old Kiska, who was captured from her native Icelandic waters as a baby. Kiska has outlived at least seventeen other orcas with whom she has shared the tank over the years. Observers have pointed to her severely worn down teeth from self-injurious and compulsive gnawing, dorsal fin deterioration, signs of being underweight, and

intermittent bleeding from her tail as indicators of compromised health.

The list was selected from more than 60 facilities from southern Canada to Mexico in which almost 1,000 whales and dolphins are on public display.

Ontario challenges residents to spend more time in nature

The Ontario government and Ontario Parks are challenging people across the province to spend more time in nature and develop new healthy habits.

Inspired by the David Suzuki Foundation’s 30x30 Challenge, the Ontario Parks 30x30 Nature Challenge encourages people to spend at least 30 minutes per day in nature for 30 days. This year’s challenge begins in August.

The province believes that spending time outside each day will help to form a beneficial new habit that supports a healthy lifestyle.

Research shows that interacting with nature is good for both physical and mental health, from reducing stress and strengthening the immune system to reducing the risk of certain types of cancer and lowering blood pressure.

DEBT continued from Page 5

College Street Montessori nurture explore enrich

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If you are looking for an enriching and loving environment for your

BY KIRK WEAVER

CEO Pelham Library

The Maple Acre Branch of the Pelham Public Library has served its community for over 95 years.

The Library has been well loved and well used as the cultural and informational heart of the community.

As a result of community growth and demand for more library books, programs, building accessibility and up to date technology, it was time for the Maple Acre branch to reinvent itself.

The branch is getting a face-lift and expansion, keeping the charm of yesterday by restoring the historical original library building and surrounding it with an updated and accessible addition.

Now that the shovels are in the ground and the work has begun, the Pelham Public Library Board and staff are looking forward to the new Maple Acre Branch completion.

The Town of Pelham has provided funding of one million dollars for the building construction.

The Library is responsible to provide the funding for the materials, equipment and furnishings.

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Artist’s rendition of the library’s new design.

SUPPLIED GRAPHIC

puter technology are needed to create a library that is comfortable and accessible to all.

We have some funds set aside from past donations, but we anticipate needing to raise an additional $50,000 to make the facility first class for the community.

We are asking you to be a part of this exciting time.

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repay our current $6 million debt. Sell the land, collect the fees, collect the donations, and present Fenwick with their new library.

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Dave Burket www.fonthillelectric.ca

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This giant bowl of fortune cookies is on the house, folks. At long last, the Pelham Puzzler is solved!

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It’s myVOICE, Wednesday July 27, 2016

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

COMMUNITY EVENTS & CLASSIFIEDS EVENTS

Community Event Submissions If your organization is hosting an event that would be of interest to the community, you may submit an events profile to office@thevoiceofpelham. ca Some restrictions apply.

Event submissions that meet the acceptability standards of The Voice of Pelham will be posted until the date of your event.

The Community Events Calendar is updated weekly.

Please provide as much notice and information as possible including the date, time and description of your event. The Voice of Pelham reserves the right to edit for space.

relaxed atmosphere and prizes. TF FABULOUS FENWICK LIONS FISH FRY Friday July 14 29, 2016, 4 – Page 7 pm, Centennial Park, 999 Church St., Fenwick.

Come and enjoy Niagara’s Best Fish and Chips For details see our website: www.fabulousfenwicklions.org N20-21

Place your ad by email or phone office@thevoiceofpelham.ca Hours: Mon-Thurs, 8 AM - 2 PM (905) 892-8690

$50 for six-week session.

MEDITATION Please bring either 2.5 For beginners and more mm double-pointed nee- experienced levels. Bring dles or a circular needle a pen and notebook. Sat., For Sale items priced at $100 or under run free! at least 32” long. Pelham July 30 from 2-4 p.m.

Private, non-commercial sellers only. Ads must be placed through Facebook. Other rules and restricPublic Library. www.pel- $3.00. Please register tions apply. See the Voice website for details. Click hamlibrary.on.ca 905- ahead. Pelham Public Lithe FREE CLASSIFIEDS button on the top menu bar at: 892-6443. N20-20 brary. www.pelhamlibrary.

THE VOICE of Pelham Wednesday, August 27, 2014 http://www.thevoiceofpelham.ca/ 892-6443. N20-20 on.ca 905-892-6443.

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a volunteer tech tutor.

BIRTH Includes use of laptop or BYOG (bring your own ANNOUNCEMENT PELHAM LIBRARY’Sgadget).

COMPUTER CLINIC Saturdays 12:30 Lennon Mae Zwierschke SUMMER ART CAMP Register payGet help “One-to-One Help” with– a3:30. volunteer techand tutor. with web browsing, The webmail Happy Place, Pelahead in person. $5.00 account set-up, e-books, social media, editing sharing your Wes andand Katelyn are happy ham’s Community Art per 1/2 hour. Pelham to announce the arrival of photos andannouncmore. Includes useLibrary. of laptop or BYOG their (bring your own gadget).

Studio proudly Public www.peldaughter Lennon Mae. es our 9th year of Art hamlibrary.on.ca.

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MIND CRAFT July 25-29, and 20 inches long.

First time grandparents FASHION AND BLING SUMMER PROGRAMS Jay and Wendy McPherson, Aug FONTHILL 15-19th and ART FOR KIDS AND TEENS BANDSHELL PRESENTS DE TEMPS ANTAN and Rod and Lori ZwierWARS CAMP. Please visMad Science, TD SumSince 2003, Éric Beaudry, André Brunet and Pierre-Luc Dupuis have it intheorchard.org or call mer Reading Club, Stony schke. Great grandparents Earl and Marlene Holderney, been exploring and performing time-honoured from the stomp905-892-1709 for more Stories, Party with Origa- melodies Chuck and Carole McPherdetails Pelham St. mi musical Yoda, Parachute Party, ing/ 1433 grounds of Quebec’s past. Using fiddle, accordion, harmonica, son, Joyce Zwierschke and Fonthill.

N20-23 and of theother Beanstalk Mary Lou guitar, bouzouki and aJack number instruments, ourCoupland. three virtuosos Invention Convention, We would like to thank the blend boundless energy with the unmistakable found only in WEEKLY EUCHRE The PROBUS “Ology” Workshops, DIY joie staffdeatvivre St. Catharines hosEVERY FRIDAY Club of Pelham pital and a special thanks to Day Show Fridays, Air-p.m. traditional Quebec music. runsPaper from 7-9 EVENING Travis Banks is the Re- plane Workshop, and lots Dr. Campeau.

7:30 pm – 10:00 pm, search Scientist, Bioin- more great fun. See www.

PELHAM MAKING WORKSHOP North Pelham Youth formatics at theLIBRARY Vineland CARD pelhamlibrary.on.ca for SPACE FOR RENT Hall, 1718 Maple Street, Research andcards Innovaandlearning registera earMake six with falldetails themes, variety of techniques. Materials Treatment Room at Studio 20, Fenwick (Just north of tion Centre.

He is aAtcore ly. registration, Pelham Public Library. are provided. time of please enquire about needed.

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Easytools parking, lots of Tice Road); $3./person, member of the Genomics 905-892-6443. TF foot traffic. Perfect for health Tues., 10 – 12:30. $10. Please register ahead.

Visit www.pelhamprizes awarded.

TF Section andSept. works16closepractitioner, reflexologist, RMT, ly with the vegetable, or-905-892-6443GO library.on.ca or call for more details.nutritionist, etc. Contact Krysta PELHAM COMMUNITY namental and fruit tree Ages 10-18. If you enjoy for more info: 289-687-0814 CHURCH breeders at Vineland. On strategy games such as (voice or text). Avail Sept 1.

TF FENWICK LIONS FISH FRY 461 Canboro Rd., Fenwick July FABULOUS 28th he will talk on chess or Othello, you will Wednesday Worship & his work at treats the Centre. the straight Japanese game Tasty with funds enjoy heading back into the community.

Haddock, WANTED Communion Service First N20-21 of Go. J.P. will be here to french fries and much more. Runs Sept. 9 from 4-7 p.m. & Third Wednesday of PELHAM HERALD introduce new players to every month @ 2:00 p.m. this 2,500-year-old game Seeking copies or archive of issues of the Pelham TF and to EQUIPMENT help more experiPELHAM MINOR HOCKEY SALE past Herald.

Other periodical enced players hone their publications produced within Buy, sell or trade used equipment at the Pelham Arena.

Aimed to provide A CAPPELLA NIAGARA games. Mondays begin- Pelham of any vintage also PELHAM cheaper options for players in this upcoming season.

6 from wanted.Runs ContactSept.

Dan Holman MEN’S CHORUS EVENTS ning July 11. 3:45 – 4:45. breaks for July and LIBRARY 9-12 in the morning. Free. Drop in. Pelham 905-892-8690 TF resumes meetings at 7 PM Public Library. www.pelon Aug. 2 at the Welland hamlibrary.on.ca.

905- pelhamlibrary.on.ca. 905TGIF CRAFTING 892-6443.

P20-24 MUDFEST Community Wellness DropPELHAM 892-6443.

TF in with your portable Centre, 145 Lincoln St. craft Men and women will be back in the mud as the second run on the year is and enjoy time with SOCKS FROM Come and Sing! It’s good other crafters. Fridays BRIDGE held at Bissil’s Hideaway.

THE TOE UP for you! N20-21 from 1-3:30. $2. Pelham Partners and refreshLearn how to knit mini ments provided.

ExpePublic Library. www.pelsocks (yarn included) BINGO IS BACK rienced bridge directors NIAGARA REGIONAL EXHIBITION hamlibrary.on.ca.

905from Sock Addict Elaine at the Royal 892-6443. TF are here to assist. Mon., Rodeo, games and live entertainment headline this years exciting event.beIt Anderson.

You MUST Canadian Legion, Hwy Aug 8, 15, 29, from 10 – runs fromTUTOR Sept. 11-14 at the Welland Fairgrounds. #20, Fonthill on Saturdays 12:15. $6 per week or $30 able to cast on, cast off, COMPUTER & 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm. Every per 6-week session.

Pel- knit and purl in order to GADGET CLINIC one welcome, enjoy our “One-to-One Help” with ham Public Library. www. sign up. Wed., July 20BIG MOVE CANCER RIDE Aug. 25 from 2 – 3:30.

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Still active with his dogs, Pelham’s Sid Murray looks back on rewarding career continued from Page 7 buried IED of a half a ton,” he explained, “but now we were talking about a small explosive 0-10 cm under the earth that only takes 8 grams of pressure to set off.”

Sid was curious to know how his dogs would perform, and finally, seven years later, he would get his chance.

It was now 1999, and Sid had been approached by the Canadian International Demining Core about starting up a program in Bosnia Hergz to teach locals how to train and handle mine detection dogs.

Sid would spend seven months training a dozen handlers, including the first female mine detection dog handler in that country. He returned to Canada for the

winter, and was approached WALKING CLUB once again to work with his Interested in walking in Pelham? Join them Tuesdays at the Pelham Arena dogs Shadow and Kye, this time from in Kosovo.

9-10He amaccepted and Thursdays at Fonthill Bandshell for 9-10:30 am. There along with one other hanis no fee for this program. For more information, please contact jcook@ dler, and in May of 2000 they pelham.ca would become orthe callfirst 905 892-2607, ext 329. team to get accredited in that country.

HAMPER DAY FOR “You knew there were PELHAM CARES mines all over the place bePurchase fresh fruit and vegetables at the Market or bring a non-perishable cause some villagers had to fill hampers at the Pelham Farmers Market on Sept. 4. been food hurt item before wethe got there,” he said.

Sid remembers that time as one of the highlights of his career.

“It was basically just me “The day that I left KosoHis own operations manand my dog working,” he vo, they had a group of fe- ager was also wounded by a recalled. “Working with that Event Submissions Standards mine. dog every day, seven days a male deminers for the first organization is hosting event that“One would be of interest to the community, time,”anhe said. girl “They went up in the week,If your running them three was going up her lane, and mountains with a group of timesyou a week, it was really may submit an events profile by sending your community events information to she knelt on a stone that locals,” he explained. “They enjoyable.” editor@thevoiceofpelham.ca Some restrictions apply.

Event submissions that meet were way up in the mounStill, the danger and im- she thought would be safe. the acceptability standards of The Pelham will then posted until no the date Under theVoice stoneofwas a mine tainsbeand I have idea portance of the work he was that blew her leg off andisalwhy,weekly. but he Please startedprovide probdoingofwas not lost on him. your event.

The Community Events Calendar updated most killed her.” ing for some reason, and

COMMUNITY Events

as much notice and information as possible including the date, time and description of your event. The Voice of Pelham reserves the right to edit for space.

stepped on a mine. It blew his leg off, and threw him into another area, where he landed right beside another mine.”

“I saw him two days later,” he added. “He was all stitched up, and a leg was gone, but luckily he was still alive.”

Sid would spend a year in Kosovo before returning to Bosnia and picking up that original program where he left off. He worked in that area for 3 more years, training teams and clearing mines.

He would earn not only the respect of the local people, but also that of the dog-handling community, eventually earning global recognition as a top trainer and handler.

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“In all the things I’ve done, demining was the most impressive,” he says with a smile.

To this day, the Pelham resident and his dogs have found more explosive devices than every other sniffer dogs in Canada put together. Even now, Sid remains active in his work. He continues to fly across the country at a moment’s notice, doing plane security on the East Coast one day, and searching for accelerants in a Winnipeg house fire the next. But he will always look back fondly on those years he spent in Europe, helping people live safer lives by demining the land around them. A man and his dog, not so far removed from that boy of 18, working together and doing what they love.

to re W

NE

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

It’s myVOICE, Wednesday July 27, 2016

Page 11

IN THE NEWS 4 drivers arrested for stunting

Last week members of the Niagara Regional Police Service Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) conducted operations throughout the Region.

On July 19, police stopped a vehicle in St. Catharines that failed to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic at an intersection.

As the light changed from red to green the driver quickly entered the intersection to avoid having to wait for oncoming traffic, and in doing so nearly collided with an oncoming vehicle.

The driver was also found to be driving without a valid driver’s licence, licence plates or insurance policy.

Later that same day, a driver was observed travel-

ling at an excessive rate of speed on the Queen Elizabeth Way weaving through traffic. The male driver was stopped for speeding 160 km/h in a posted 100km/h zone.

On the evening of July 22 in the town of West Lincoln police stopped two drivers who were both speeding more than 50 km/h over the speed limit. Their speeds were 141 km/h and 148 km/h in a posted 80 km/h zone.

In all four occurrences, each driver was arrested and charged with the offence of Stunting Driving under the Highway Traffic Act. These charges include an immediate mandatory 7-day driver’s licence suspension and 7-day vehicle impoundment. In addition, the drivers will be required to attend court and upon

conviction could face fines as high as $10,000.

Brand ambassadors integral to wine industry, says Brock study

Brock researchers have found that cultivating evangelism through ritualization among key audience members plays an important role in reputation building for Ontario wine producers.

Maxim Voronov and Wesley Helms, professors from Brock University’s Goodman School of Business, examined how wine connoisseurs — individuals that were highly identifiable within wine culture — became advocates for Ontario wine.

They found wineries’ interactions with connoisseurs can foster a connection that

may turn these individuals into evangelists — passionate advocates of Ontario wine.

“Much like going to church, the ritualized tours, wine tastings and events create social interactions that connect evangelists to winemakers and the wine itself,” said Voronov, a research fellow at Brock’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute.

These ritualized interactions were found to play an important role in generating not only sales among consumers, but in creating devoted, unsolicited advocates for the product.

Region support for Pelham refugee resettlement committee

Last week, Niagara Re-

gional Chair Alan Caslin announced that the Syrian Refugee Resettlement Committee of St. Ann Parish, in Pelham, and the Syrian Armenian Refugee Committee of the Armenian Community Centre in St. Catharines, were the successful applicants to the Niagara Region Support for Syrian Refugees Fund.

“Our Regional Council is excited to support these two organizations that are providing services and assistance to Syrian refugees living in Niagara region.

Through the generosity of Niagara residents’ fundraising efforts, these organizations will help new families integrate as they make Niagara their home,” stated Caslin.

Gary Kavazanjian, Manager of the Armenian Com-

munity Centre in St. Catharines, was pleased that his organization was a recipient of the funds, noting that “to succeed, sponsored refugees need people supporting them and housing arranged for them and these funds will enable our organization to achieve that goal.”

Members of St. Ann Parish have experience resettling refugees and the SRRC has 20 core members dedicated to supporting two related Syrian refugee families in Niagara.

Committee Member Joan Crowther highlighted that “this funding will assist our committee to welcome the new refugee families to Niagara and ensure that they have appropriate support for successful integration into the local community.” .

Irked Councillors defer art decision continued from Page 1 sponded out of 15,000, perhaps there is not a lot of interest,” he said. “I would have difficulty supporting it at a cost of $200,000.”

Hinde countered that public art is meant to generate conversation, and insisted that communities who invest in public art receive value from it.

“I’ve never been involved in a public art project that did not have controversy surrounding it,” she said, adding that “community after community have documented the value of having public art.”

Councillors Rybiak and King supported her position and praised the piece.

“The Town receives an awful lot of value that cannot be completely measured in dollars and cents… by the presence of art in the public realm,” Rybiak said. “If we could get it for $200,000 it would be a steal.”

The lively debate was further muddled when it became clear that Council was not entirely sure what

Staff considered the project already to be approved

exactly they were voting on. Councillor Accursi questioned staff as to the consequences of a deferral, and was informed by CAO Darren Ottaway that the presentation was strictly for information, and that staff considered the project to already be approved.

“Money has been budgeted and approved by Council, this is strictly for information,” he said. When asked for clarity, he repeated that statement verbatim.

“This presentation was to provide council with information about the process in its totality,” he added. “This project is more than well underway.”

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Several Councillors expressed shock at these remarks.

“My understanding, when this item came up,” said Accursi, “was that it was red-circled with other sort of contentious discussions while we waited to see it shake out.”

Councillor’s Papp, Junkin, and Durley echoed this sentiment.

“I’m having reservations because my understanding was the $200,000 was to move the process along and we would be doing a final approval of “yes” or “no” at a future time,” said Durley.

Ultimately, a motion was put forward to defer until further information could be provided at the next Council meeting. This motion passed 4-2. Councillor Papp also expressed a desire to clarify “red-circle” budget approvals in the future, with Accursi adding that Councillors should retain the right to the final decision in such matters.

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Page 12

It’s myVOICE, Wednesday July 27, 2016

A water gun irrigates a vineyard in St. Catharines.

WATER continued from Page 1 velopment and dealing with climate change.

Philip Wiley, a St. Catharines Vineyard owner who spent the weekend deploying and monitoring irrigation equipment as it provided much needed water to his grapes, confirmed a need for collaboration and practical solutions. He hopes to see a system in place in the fu-

ture that would give farmers access to the many water sources in the area, such as twelve mile creek. Although costly, he believes such infrastructure would quickly pay for itself, especially if these trends continue, as he suspects they will.

“You have to plan for this, you assume the worst,” he said. “Hope for the best, but assume the worst, and right now we are at our worst.”

Niagara growers’ access to water is an issue that’s

Firefighter scholarship winner

VOICE PHOTO

resulted in numerous studies. The infrastructure costs could run upwards of 100 million dollars.

“There is no other issue that we’ve been talking about that is more important or more relevant,” claims Town of Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton And according to Allison, the time to act is now.

“We know what the options are. We need the political will to proceed,” he said.

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

BY ZACH JUNKIN

The VOICE

Last week, the Fonthill Volunteer Firefighters Association presented their $500 scholarship to Gregory Beckett.

The scholarship was created in memory of Ian Hildebrand, the son of an association member who passed away in a car accident. It is awarded on Ian’s behalf to a secondary school student moving on to a post-sec-

ondary institution.

“Students submit their transcript and a two-page essay outlining why they have chosen their particular career path,” explained volunteer firefighter Phil Toffolo. “Based on those criteria a committee then selects the candidate.”

Phil was pleased to announce Greg as this year’s winner.

“I’ve known Greg most of his life, and we really liked his application,” he said.

Greg plans to study border security at Niagara College this fall.

“I want to help protect people,” he said.

Greg plans to use the money to help pay for books, and hopes that he can use it to better himself and help further honour Ian’s memory.

Pictured above, Fonthill volunteer fire fighter Phil Toffolo with scholarship recipient Gregory Beckett, and Greg’s mother, Dianne.

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