The Voice of Pelham, June 14 2017 by The Voice of Pelham

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On Pelham finances, another deferral Column Six Polite meets persistent

Regional Council Audit Committee hears defense of Town practices

His journey coming to an end, our man in Mexico has his patience tested

BY VOICE STAFF The Town of Pelham finally had its chance to address the accusations of financial mismanagement asserted by Port Colbrorne Regional Councillor David Barrick in the motion he presented to Regional Council in March. Speaking on behalf of the Town, CAO Darren Ottaway led a delegation consisting of Interim Treasurer Teresa Quinlin and Deputy Treasurer Charlotte Tunikaitis. Ottaway worked his way through Barrick’s motion, tackling each of the assertions made within it. Referring to Grimsby Regional Councillor Tony Quirk’s accusation that Pelham unleased a “data-dump” at the March 30 meeting to distract Regional Council from Barrick’s motion, Ottaway claimed that these allegations were simply untrue. “The Barrick motion was so full of misinformation and falsehoods that it took 335 pages to go through the 'whereases' that were contained in that motion,” he said. “As you can see there were a lot of documents that had to be provided in order to demonstrate clearly that that motion was unfounded and was false. So, it took some time to put that together. Every piece of paper in this book is relevant. It is not a data dump, it is simply reflecting the responses to Barrick’s motion and its

BY SAMUEL PICCOLO

Special to the VOICE

I Pelham resident Curt Harley, speaking to Regional Council's Audit Committee on Monday. inaccuracies.” Niagara Falls Regional Councillor Bart Maves asked how the Town of Pelham was planning to pay for its $36.2 million Community Centre. Ottaway explained that they were planning to collect $12 million in development charges, $15 million from land sales and $2.3 million through a fundraising campaign. The rest, Ottaway said, will be acquired through the debenture that was approved by Regional Council in 2014. Maves continued his line of questioning, asking Ottaway to clarify what Barrick had defined in his motion as a “Devel-

opment Charge scheme.” Ottaway stated that the motion made reference to a deal between Town of Pelham and Fonthill Gardens — a subsidiary of the Allen Group, a real estate development company. He said it pertains to an area of land in East Fonthill, 32 acres of which is owned by the Town and approximately 33 acres owned by the Allen Group. Ottaway said that because the Allen Group was building a commercial plaza on the land, and owed the Town a significant amount of money in development charges, and the Town owed the Allen Group for

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the road and the parkland they purchased from them, the Town made an agreement to pay the developer in credits. As they came in to apply for various functions at the Town, Ottaway said they would draw down on those credits. When the developer realized that they had more credits than they could make use of, Ottaway said they began selling some of those credits to other developers. Though Ottaway admitted the idea may seem controversial, he asserted that it was permitted by law. “The issue for us was that when Fonthill Gardens

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started to sell credits to multiple other developers it was creating a difficulty on the accounting side for us in keeping track of it,” said Ottaway. “So, it made better sense for us at that point in time to pay the difference. We actually negotiated a two percent discount on that amount so we ended up saving money by paying the remaining balance back to the developer in September of 2016.” Highlighting the “inaccuracies” Ottaway addressed in his presentation, Mayor See AUDIT Page 8

N HELL THERE IS A certain icy area behind velvet ropes kept on reserve for people who are rude to service workers. As my time in Mexico comes to a close, I worry that I am getting nearer to earning a membership card, the bouncers guarding those ropes now memorizing my face so that I may be greeted with the appropriate pomp when they see me coming. In my previous trips to other countries I was swaddled in the conviction that as a Canadian I was part of the politest, if not necessarily the nicest, nation in the world. This conviction was intensified in Europe, where I was, on numerous occasions, jostled, jabbed, bumped, berated, and given good reason to again breathe easy when I returned home, where I could expect apologies for every real or imagined slight and gratefully reciprocate the same. Mexico has been different. I suspect that much of the blame for my shifting sense of politeness belongs See COLUMN SIX Page 16

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The Voice of Pelham, June 14, 2017

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IN THE NEWS

PUBLISHER’S CORNER

Motorcycle fatality in Thorold

by Dave Burket

Now here’s a hole in one: Are you a golfer, by chance? I hope you’re safely buckled into your cart because there’s some big news on the quality golf tournament front. If you’re one of four new voluntary subscribers to the Voice, you will receive one hell of a bonus: 2 free entries to the 5th annual Sobeys Golf Tournament, to be held at the Peninsula Lakes Golf Club on Tuesday, June 20. Shotgun start at 11:30 AM. You’ll enjoy 18 holes of golf, a cart, range balls, dinner, and prizes. The value? $330. Fonthill Sobeys owner Ron Kore has eight tickets left, and he has generously donated them to us as subscriber bonuses. Each of four readers, when taking out a new voluntary subscription to the Voice for $39.95, will receive two $165 tickets to the Tournament. How to get your tickets: Be one of the first four readers to appear at our front counter and take out a subscription at or after 12 noon this Thursday, June 15, and two tickets are yours. But seriously—we mean not before 12 noon on Thursday. No early putters!… Close shave: If you don’t already know, by the way, our office is now in the Sawatzky Dental building, opposite Beamer’s Hardware, in downtown Fonthill. We share the ground floor with the Fonthill Barbershop, which is coming up on its first year anniversary. Strange de Gym had his hair cut there last week and I ran into him on the way out. “I’ve come up with the perfect advertising slogan for these people,” he told me. “We’re the ones who don’t curse!” It seems another local follicle-snipper is known for his expletive-laden commentary, whether or not little tater-tots might happen to be waiting for their end-of-school-year trims. Well, it’s probably nothing they haven’t heard on the playground anyway… Recite the alphabet backwards: As a measure of sobriety or the lack of, it’s always struck me as odd that reciting the alphabet in reverse is an appropriate test, mostly because I can't even do it sober. Anyway, there’s a whale of a long list of impaired drivers this week on the far right of this page. No, Niagara is not suddenly awash in drunks behind the wheel (allegedly), or any more so than usual, anyway. It’s just that the police sat tight on their list for a couple of weeks and if we don’t get it you don’t get it. So that’s roughly 14 days' worth of alleged impairment on display. Come to think of it, maybe we are awash in drunks behind the wheel (allegedly)… Buns and sausage for Father’s Day: Not a saucy euphemism but tips on finding the best of both. Sobeys for the sausage—made fresh in house at the best price in town—and Indulgence Bakery for the buns, because the buns make the man I mean BBQ… Bring back something nice: Sam Piccolo sends us a missive from Mexico this week, where he is soon to return from his trip exploring various locales. It’s his third Column Six, possibly the best one yet. Free TimBits are his. Play ball!

At approximately 7 PM on Sunday, the Niagara Emergency Medical Services, Niagara Regional Police Service, Thorold and Niagara Falls Fire Services were dispatched to a motor vehicle collision on Thorold Townline Road at McLeod Road in Thorold. Initial investigation revealed that a 54-year-old male resident of West Lincoln was riding his 2013 Indian motorcycle northbound on Thorold Townline Road, while at the same time an 18-year-old female resident of Niagara Falls was driving her 2007 Pontiac motor vehicle southbound on Thorold Townline Road. The driver of the Pontiac made a turn onto McLeod Road and the two vehicles collided within this intersection. The motorcycle rider was airlifted to an out-of-town hospital in critical condition, where he succumbed to hi injuries on Monday morning. The driver of the Pontiac did not suffer any injuries. This collision remains under investigation by detectives of the Niagara Regional Police Service's Collision Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses with information are asked to contact investigators at (905) 688-4111, extension 5500.

New Regional Clerk

Niagara Region announced the appointment of Laura Bubanko to the position of Regional Clerk. She will join the Region on

and maintain an inter-municipal transit system. This means Niagara Region can continue alongside St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Welland in creating a single, consolidated transit system for Niagara. It also means Niagara Region Transit can begin to transition from a pilot program to a more permanent service. The bylaw required support from a majority of Niagara’s local municipalities, representing the majority of Niagara electors. The bylaw not only solidifies Niagara Region’s place as a transit provider in Niagara, it generated valuable feedback and discussion between all of Niagara’s municipalities that will be crucial in the design of Niagara’s forthcoming inter-municipal transit system. Work will now get underway to prepare Niagara for a shared transit solution, and future transit infrastructure improvements, such as the implementation of daily GO train service. "This is an exciting step forward to building a transit solution for all of Niagara’s diverse communities,” says Regional Chair Alan Caslin. “Moving Niagara toward an inter-municipal transit system is another great example of the progress we can make when all of Niagara pull in the same direction.” The move toward a unified inter-municipal transit system was the result

Tuesday, July 4. The Regional Clerk is a statutory officer, appointed by Regional Council, who provides administrative, legislative and clerical support to Council and the corporation. Bubanko comes to Niagara from the Town of Fort Erie where, as the Clerk and Manager of Legislative Services, she was responsible for performing the statutory duties of the municipal clerk as well as leading several special legislative projects. Her experience also includes a number of senior positions with the City of Welland, including her time as the Deputy Clerk. Bubanko is assuming the Regional Clerk role from Ralph Walton, who left Niagara Region earlier this year to join Durham Region. Deputy Clerk Natasha Devos had been serving as the Acting Clerk while the organization undertook the recruitment.

Support for intermunicipal transit

Niagara's local munici palities have unanimously supported a Regional bylaw that grants the Region authority to establish, operate

See IN THE NEWS Page 13

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Vol.20 No.48

CELEBRATING OUR 20TH YEAR

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

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Column Six

Growing up British Part 2 of 2: Coronation to embarkation

Vol.20 No.32

Wednesday October 12, 2016

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Apple Day comes to Fonthill

BY JULIE MANNELL

Special to the VOICE

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

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

Repair measures underway last week to correct a construction error in the chicane. truck or an ambulance?” he said. While waiting for the contractor to return to ﬁx

the mistake, the Town has taken measures to temporarily allow passage for vehicles through the neigh-

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bourhood in the short-term. Manager of Public Works Ryan Cook said that after discovering the issue with

the chicane the morning it ﬁrst opened, the Town See CHICANE Page 5

Petition-inspired changes coming to 2017 Summerfest BY NATE SMELLE

The VOICE

Representatives from the Pelham Summerfest committee Candy Ashbee and Bill Gibson presented council with a ﬁnal report on the 2016 Summerfest at the Council meeting on Monday, Nov. 21. Prompted by a story in the Voice in August about a merchant petition to move Summerfest from Pelham Street, in September Town staﬀ met with various stakeholders to hear their complaints, promising at the time that changes in the way Summerfest was mounted would be con-

sidered. The main concerns identified during the community engagement process were security, parking, ensuring customer can access all businesses in town, and liability for damages. How to get all Pelham Street businesses to participate and finding ways to make it beneficial for them to set up a booth were also determined to be of high priority for the committee as they plan for next year’s event. Gibson told Council that the committee is addressing these concerns in a variety of ways. To improve parking, they intend to create bet-

ter signage for out-of-town visitors to designated parking areas and shuttle services. To make participation in Summerfest more enticing to local businesses, they plan to implement a tiered-charge for booths. Under the new system, Pelham Street business owners will be charged the least, other local businesses will pay a slightly higher fee, and vendors from outside Pelham will pay the most. In response to more speciﬁc issues for individual businesses, they will also slightly alter the footprint of the event and make adjustments to security. Another way the committee plans

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to improve the 2017 Summerfest is by sponsoring and working with the organizers of the Thursday Night Bandshell Concert series to select the artist performing on the ﬁrst night of Summefest. They also intend to make more use of the smartphone app they launched in 2016. "We are really going to push it this year," Ashbee said. “It really helps to get people to see what events there are so they can plan out where they are going. We will be able to actually help the merchants and local businesses adSee CHANGES Page 5

FTER LUNCH ON Saturday, Mum and Dad had my afternoon cut out for me. Mum had more brass than anyone I knew, and it had to be cleaned. In addition there was the set of silver ﬁsh-knives and forks which were never used, but which had to be cleaned and put back in their velvetlined box. Next was a walk to the newsagents to pay for the daily delivery of the Daily Mirror. As I said, Dad was a printer, but when he was 37 he had been rejected for a job, as being too old, by the printers of the Beano. For that reason, my favourite comic was not allowed in the house, but while I was paying the papers, the newsagent let me have a 'shoofty' at the Beano. I'd explained my predicament and he understood completely. Sundays were diﬀerent again. Dad would play golf on summer mornings and billiards in winter. Then he'd stop for a 'refresher' at the local and would pick up the prawns, cockles, winkles or whelks we'd be having for tea later. Meanwhile, Mum was roasting the 'joint' and potatoes. I got to make the Yorkshire pud, and mint

See COLUMN SIX Page 14

Full service. Full-time Realtor. Your Fonthill real estate connection.

BY VOICE STAFF

While shopping in Fonthill between Friday and Sunday, keep an eye out for Beavers, Cubs and Scouts in front of local stores with bushels of apples. As part of the annual Apple Day campaign, Scouting youth of all ages will be trading apples for donations. The yearly fundraising drive is an important way for young Scouts to connect with the communities they are serving, says Leah Marie of Scouts Canada. “The Apple Day campaign holds a great tradition of being able to have youth interacting within the communities they live in,” she says. “All of the Apple Day donations stay directly within the group that re-

The goal is to have these youth develop into confident and well-rounded individuals

ceives them, enabling youth to have experiences that build character, challenge them, and allow them to try new things. The goal is to have these youth develop into conﬁdent and wellrounded individuals, better prepared for success. Apple Day helps to achieve that.”

“Any money raised during Apple Day goes towards improving the Scouting program by providing more outdoor adventures for youth, camping equipment, canoes and paddles, training and many other endeavours that the youth want to experience,” says Marie. Scouts Canada has some 100,000 members across Canada, and carries out programs for boys, girls

Joining their principal, Karen Simpson, at the Sept. 19 Council meeting as part of a delegation from EL Crossley Secondary School, students Abby Loewen and Neenah Williams presented Council with a list of reasons that they should immediately approve the construction of the new sidewalk proposed along Hwy. 20. The asphalt side-

walk/trail is slated to be built between the south side of the road from Timmsdale Crescent to the high school. Because of the large volume of motor vehicle trafﬁc travelling at high speeds through this area, and because of the necessity for students to tread this path on a daily basis, many residents would like to see the sidewalk go in sooner than later. After delivering to Council a petition containing

Many residents would like to see the sidewalk go in sooner than later the names of 450 students calling for a safer walk to school, Simpson handed the

podium over to Loewen and Williams to plead their case. Loewen told Council that because there are a lot of students who have work placements and coop placements during the school year, this is the only route for many of them to travel. As one of the students facing this predicament, Williams said she has had no other option but to walk along the dangerous highway.

www.pennylanesold.com

H EATHER AND P ENNY L ANE S ALES R EPRESENTATIVES

BY JOHN SWART

VOICE Correspondent

and youth ages 5-25. This year the 3rd Fonthill Group, which includes Beavers to Ventures (youth ages 5- 25) will be hitting the streets to drum-up support. Over the weekend, Scouts will be set up in Fonthill outside Sobeys, Tim Hortons, Target Gas station, Fonthill Shopping Plaza and the Pioneer Gas station at the corner of Hwys 20 and 24.

Town Council approves sidewalk to serve E. L. Crossley BY NATE SMELLE

The VOICE

Cell 905.933.3049

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

A longtime Canadian tradition, Apple Day began in 1932 in Saint John, New Brunswick, when Scouts handed out 21,000 apples as a way to say thank you to the community. In return for their generosity, many people oﬀered them donations. From then on Scouts have reached out through Apple Day to raise funds for their programs.

Office 905.892.1702

Column Six It doesn’t get better than Autumn

Longtime Scouting tradition dates to 1932

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Request made of community still peeved at name change

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Column Six

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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“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

NRPS impaired driving charges In an effort to bring further attention and deterrence to driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, the Niagara Regional Police Service reports the names of those people who are charged with an alleged criminal impaired driving offence in the Region. None of the following charges have been proved in court. In addition to being charged, these individuals are also bound by a Ministry of Transportation 90-Day Administrative Driver’s License Suspension and are prohibited from operating a motor vehicle on a roadway. The public is encouraged to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service Traffic Safety Hotline or Crime Stoppers to report those who are driving in contravention of the suspension. The following individuals have been charged criminally with impaired driving by alcohol or drugs, driving with a blood alcohol concentration above 80 mgs of alcohol in 100 ml of blood, or refusing to provide a breath / blood sample. Peter G. HENLEY, 69, Lincoln Leanne E. HICKS, 35, Niagara Falls David G. VEZINA, 49, Barrie Sarah D. BRIDEAU, 25, Welland Chad J. KEAST, 35, St. Catharines Hermelindo G. GUTIERREZ, 43, St. Catharines Deanna L. WHITE 41, Welland Jovito A. CORTEZ 60, Thorold Lathanroy SELVANAYAGAM, 22, Scarborough Zygmount K. ILNICKI, 52, Grimsby David E. RANKIN, 72, St. Catharines Christina L. WHITELEY, 42, Pelham Austin POLMANTEER, 26, Baldwinsville NY Thomas M. COWAN, 48, Niagara Falls Hendrik SCHONEWILLE, 62, St. Catharines Joseph W. DAVEY, 35, Port Colborne Zachary N. JONES, 22, Williamsville NY Zachary J. SMITH, 23, Niagara Falls Constantine KOSSILOS, 33, Niagara Falls Alex J. POPIELA, 25, Orchard Park NY Michelle M. LUXON, 33, Pelham James W. CARRIER, 62, Niagara Falls Vjollca RIGAS, 47, Pelham Wesley B. JENKINS, 30, Charles Town WV Brian K. ADSHEAD, 40, St. Catharines Tyler J. ROUSE, 28, Grimsby Benjamin J. DROSI, 41, Burlington Boris TOPIC, 44, Niagara-on-the-Lake Rebecca M. WATSON, 28, St. Catharines Edwin B. JOSEPH, 40, Brooklyn NY Laura L. BRYCE, 38, Port Colborne Timothy G. THOMPSON, 42, Mississauga Menachen MEHUDAR, 47, Welland David CHIRA, 54, St. Catharines Rosaura LUEVANO, 30, Milwaukee WI Gianni P. DELUCA 51, Stoney Creek The Niagara Regional Police Service is committed to reducing impaired driving offences through education and the apprehension of offenders through enforcement programs like RIDE. Impaired driving is still the leading cause of criminal deaths in Canada and destroys thousands of lives every year.

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The Voice of Pelham, June 14, 2017

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The Voice of Pelham, June 14, 2017

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OPINION

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

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

COMMENTARY / OP-ED Larry Coté The politics of change Warning: What follows here may offend some stiff-necked adherents to the status quo. Please read responsibly.—LC

T C O U L D B E instructive to observe the recent election in the United States and the same proceedings in some other countries which demonstrate that candidates for elected office need not have any previous political experience. One of the timely examples of this development is the recent election in the United States. Put aside, for the moment, the widely diverse reports on the quirks and quacks of #45. He is nonetheless the first US president to be elected without an iota of political experience. His supporters tout the idea that he should be excused from some “mistakes” as he is learning on the job. Also worthy of note is that many of the top advisers that he appointed came from the business world and have no political experience. According to a New York Times article, the newly elected President of France, Emmanuel Macron, claims his is a movement, La Républicque en Marche! and not a traditional political party. President Macron suggests this difference is more than

semantics and is attempting to recruit a new type of citizen-candidate to run for a seat in parliament. Preferably, candidates are to have no political experience, no

But re-electing the same politician time and again is a vote for the status quo allegiance to the traditional parties and hold a firmly held belief that France needs to change. And, according to the Times piece, he is having some success, recruiting among others a female ex-bullfighter, a mathematician, a fighter pilot, a handball champ and a police commander. Many of his candidates are from the ranks of minorities and half are female. In most political campaigns the word ‘change’ is likely to be the most prominent among the promises made by candidates. Comically enough, some long-serving politicians use that same word in

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their campaign speeches and literature. But by re-electing the same politician time and again is a vote for the status quo, the obvious antithesis of change. Therefore, it might follow that if the electorate really wants to effect a change, then voting to re-elect longon-the-job incumbents, time and time again, is not likely to achieve the desired result. To extend that line of reasoning, it follows that electing someone new presents better odds that some measure of change may occur. Some of the electorate desperate to see change and tired of ‘the old gang’ will purposefully avoid choosing candidates from the traditional parties and cast ‘protest’ ballots for a one-issue or an independent candidate. Realistically, such a tactic is a lost vote that will go unnoticed by the traditional parties primarily run by the same old gang. And so it is, this democracy provides each individual with a variety of valued freedoms and choices. One of these choices is to vote for whomever they choose as the best candidate, whether he or she be long on the job, or a newbie long on the ambition to change, but short on experience.

Letters Spend cap and trade income responsibly Your article [Region considering two-forone tree planting policy, May 31, p.1] regarding Brock professor Uwe Brand’s plea to preserve our forests, and have the Region expand its tree planting policy to replace and increase trees to sequester carbon dioxide, is very important. The data Professor Brand used on megatonnes of carbon dioxide is so interesting. According to Prof. Brand, human-originated sources are responsible for 730 megatonnes of the total carbon dioxide emissions of 7,600 megatonnes in Canada this year, with the balance defined as natural processes such as soil degassing (6,600 MT), and wildfires (315 MT). It is in the reduction of natural process-

es that tree replacement is so important. According Prof. Brand, Canada has 318 billion trees, the second largest number of trees on the planet next to Russia. He also mentions that the first auction under Ontario’s new cap and trade program in April of this year generated $472 million through the sale of allowances. Some of this might be used for assisting with a tree-planting initiative. I am most interested in learning what the Ontario government plans to do with the cap and trade dollars. This is the vital component to the success of the cap and trade program. I thought I could find a See CAP & TRADE next page

CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS Member of Federal Parliament

Electoral District: Niagara West

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

Electoral District: Niagara West-Glanbrook Sam Oosterhoff, MPP 4961 King St. East, Unit M1 Beamsville, ON L0R 1B0 sam.oosterhoffco@pc.ola.org 905-563-1755

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

Mayor of Pelham David Augustyn mayordave@pelham.ca 905-892-2607 Ext 317 Members of Pelham Town Council Ward 1 Councillor Richard Rybiak rrybiak@pelham.ca 905-892-2105 Councillor Marvin Junkin mjunkin@pelham.ca 905-684-4870 Ward 2 Councillor Catherine King cking@pelham.ca 905-658-8599 Councillor Gary Accursi gaccursi@pelham.ca 905-892-5528 Ward 3 Councillor John Durley jdurley@pelham.ca 905-892-5388 Councillor Peter Papp ppapp@pelham.ca 905-328-6008

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The Voice of Pelham, June 14, 2017

Page 5

OPINION Letters

continued

Softly, softly comes the charrette A soft-sounding word, "charrette"....frequently repeated by Pelham Town Council members. Simply translated it means a meeting to reconcile differences—in this instance the discussion pertains to the old Pelham arena off Haist Street and the park lands located there. It’s a soft-sounding word but a hard issue. It would be shortsighted to take away a well-used piece of park land that is enjoyed by the public in all seasons. L. Morgan Pelham

CAP & TRADE continued from previous page neat list somewhere, however not so. It is too long and complex to outline here. To get a handle on how cap and trade in Ontario is going to work, you have to do some reading— some people call it research. But I would say it is time well spent. Just google Climate Change Action Plan Ontario (published June 2016). To be of some assistance I shall break down the eight areas of action involved: 1) Transportation— accounts for more than 1/3 of Ontario’s greenhouse gas emissions. 2) Buildings—and the energy they consume, account for almost one quarter of Ontario’s total greenhouse gas pollution. 3) Land-use planning— Support low-carbon communities. 4) Industry and business—Keeping Ontario competitive: A strong centre of modern, clean manufacturing and jobs. 5) Collaboration with In-

I am most interested in learning what the Ontario government plans to do with the cap and trade dollars digenous communities— Partner to reduce emissions and transition to a low-carbon economy. 6) Research and development—Focus on climate science and zero-carbon. 7) Government—Move toward a more carbon neutral public service. 8) Agriculture, forests and lands—Productive, sustainable, and a pathway to creating offsets. We all have to engage in learning as much as possible about cap and trade so we can vote intelligently and not leave it to hearsay and people with vested interests to decide for us. Keith Rae Fonthill

FOLLOW THE MONEY By Jim Pitt Bits 'n' Pieces: A roundup of municipal miscellany Developers Delight: A clever commercial real estate agent has capitalized on the Town’s generosity with an ad for 7 Hwy. 20 East. "Community Improvement Plan in the Area Offers Incentives to Builders including Intensification Cash Grants, Development Charge Waivers & Rebates. Minimum Tax Rebate of 70% per Annum for 10 years. Site is land value. Property is Downtown Core At the Major Intersection. Across from Shoppers Drug Mart. $350,000." The ad also mentions that there is a house with a tenant on the land. Sounds like a no-brainer for prospective developers. As for all those financial incentives, wowsa. We need to defer street repairs, but a minimum 70% tax rebate for 10 years? No problema. What chicanery is this? It seems some affected residents are not fully behind the Mayor and Council's plans to calm everyone down. In fact some drivers are being downright aggressive. The Haist Street chicane is creating a new type of driving challenge. People are speeding through the chicane, laughing and being a nuisance. Ambulances, fire trucks, plows and garbage trucks are plodding through, feeling their way gingerly and slowing everything down. How property values are being affected is anyone’s guess. Here’s a modest proposal to turn local frowns upside down: Incorporate a series of chicanes, say ten in all, and turn Haist into a Challenge Drive. One chicane

The budget for salaries will rocket from $713,000 to $1,325,000. We're catching up to you, Mississauga. was $20,000, so nine more would be a bargain at only $180,000. Organize time trials for various types of vehicles and make it a semi-annual event. A Winter Challenge and a Summer Challenge. Strategic ice patches—like sand traps in golf—could really jazz up the winter event. Invite competitors from all over the Region to Chute the Chicane. Perhaps the Mayor could promote it by donning a jaunty yachting cap—er, rather, crash helmet. Lines on the wall: The Town has been on a growth spurt over the last decade. I don’t mean population-wise; that hasn’t changed much from 2008. We’re up only about 5%. No, I mean the growth in Town staff. In 2008 the Town employed a measly 49 people. It’s a wonder anything got done. Now we have 67 staff, a 27% increase. And just wait until next year when the new Community Centre opens. The Town will be complementing the existing Arena staff of 16 (seven full time, three part time and six seasonal) with

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NEWSFLASH Tell us your story Column Six presents tales of personal triumph, adventure, strange-but-true stories, life-changing events, and looks-back at our past. Did you conquer Everest or kick a bad habit? Did you meet your spouse-to-be in jail or on an African safari? Do you know where Hoffa’s buried? Write it down, send it in: publisher@thevoiceofpelham.ca (You won’t get rich, but you will get paid.)

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four more full time, six more part time and eight more seasonal, for a total of 34 employees for the new arenas alone, bring the Town total to 85—a 73% increase in 10 years. Now that's growth we can cheer about. These numbers will include a Community Centre Manager at $97,000 per year and a Maintenance Supervisor at $90,500 per year, two more future Sunshine listers. The budget for salaries will rocket from $713,000 to $1,325,000. We’re catching up to you, Missis-

sauga. Poth Hole: We all know that with progress and growth come sacrifice. It’s the only way forward and we all must keep moving forward. Change is inevitable, as we are constantly informed, so just pipe down and live with it. In the latest update concerning the cash cow known as the East Fonthill development, things are starting to happen. The CAO is preparing a report on land sales in the coming weeks, See FOLLOW THE MONEY Page 6

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Page 6

The Voice of Pelham, June 14, 2017

COMMENTARY / OP-ED Dean Allison, MP No crying over spilled milk

UNE 1ST WAS WORLD MILK DAY. Another day some might say to celebrate something trivial. But milk production in Canada is serious business. There are nearly 12 thousand dairy farms across the country. Thirty seven hundred farms are in Ontario alone. World Milk Day is an opportunity to explain just what it takes to get that litre of milk on your table. In Canada, it all starts with a system called Supply Management. The basic idea is that by using quotas, farmers produce the volume of milk that consumers are demanding. A price is negotiated for the farmer that covers the cost of production. Supply Management prevents vats of milk that don’t have buyers from being intentionally spilled. The price and supply of milk, cheese, eggs and poultry are all determined by supply management, which has been in place since the 70’s. During that time critics have been calling for the system to be dismantled. They say it over charges consumers while limiting imports with high tariffs. They call supply management an “anti-competitive cartel” and a “protectionist racket.” I’ve heard both sides of the argument on supply management and I believe the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The Conservative Party of Canada has also affirmed its official support for supply management. The system protects the family farm from being squashed by big agribusiness. Consider this. The av-

FOLLOW THE MONEY continued from previous page or would that be months — depends on the number of weeks, I guess. The co-developer is hot on the trail of prospective occupants for land the Town owns. It seems that seven or eight doctors are possibly, maybe, considering committing to a new medical facility. More on that maybe, possibly, in 2018. A major seniors' residence maybe, possibly, could consider building on the site, but more work needs to be done to make the development attractive. The Town, ever proactive and forward thinking, is not dropping the ball on this. They have made building new streets their number one spending priority. The Station Street rebuild is a go. The province said we are too well off to receive any money from them for this project, so, as is our way here in Pelham, we will go it alone. The $2.7 million rebuild will be added to the Town’s credit card. (I hope they get reward points, or at least 4 cents off at Shell.) Station Street provides one of the new entrances to our East Fonthill future. Once you circumnavigate a traffic circle, you will be able cruise down the new Summersides Boulevard to Wellspring Way, pass through the wondrous Woonerf, (be careful here, it’s European), and gaze upon progress. This new $2 million road, along with next year's $7 million Cultural Plaza, will definitely draw in the prospective builders and complete this forward thinking brand new community. I’m breathless with anticipation, or possibly hyperventilating. Meanwhile, Poth Street, in dire need of repair but on the wrong side Pelham, will remain closed until at least September 2018. Crossing over to the other side: The crosswalk at the foot of Church Hill and Pelham Street has undergone a major Town-sponsored study. The study involved video surveillance, photos, staff and public input. It seems that this crosswalk is dangerous. The Re-

Supply management offers them a stable price and keeps the family farm operating

erage dairy farm in Ontario is about 70 milking cows. The average farm in the U.S. is three times that size. The really big players south of the border have as many as 10 thousand cows. There are those who say supply management should be phased out. They say eliminating such regulations would lower the price of milk, eggs and poultry. Then they point to the price of milk and eggs in the U.S. In Canada, dairy farmers don’t receive a dime in subsidies, while U.S. dairy farmers have been milking taxpayers to the tune of $300 million in subsidies every year. How can a Canadian farmer compete with that? Supply management offers them a stable price and keeps the family farm operating. That’s important to consumers. They’ve said repeatedly they want high quality food and they want to buy local. A poll released in April

gion has washed its hands of it. The Town concluded that cars aren’t stopping, traffic is backing up and people are risking life and limb to cross east for their gelato, or west for their salvation. Ever proactive, the Town is considering making the turn off of Church Hill right-turn-only. After allocating millions of dollars to new roads to and through the East Fonthill development, it was necessary to save some money, so forget the originally planned three-way stoplight, a comparative bargain at $130,000. This bold experiment in right-eousness would require drivers heading to the banks, stores, restaurants, post office, Shopper’s, Giant Tiger, PetValu, the Beer Store, Town Hall, and the Library to turn right on Pelham, then left on College Street (where they’ll surely travel at a sensible, law-abiding speed down the College Street slope all the way to Station Street), then turn left (assuming yet another mandatory right turn isn’t in the works) onto Station, unleashed finally to zig-zag their way back to where they were ten minutes earlier. Alternatively, I imagine most people will instead just flip u-turn in the Meridian parking lot, which is bound to make dashing into the lobby to use the ATM a lot like trying to cross Pelham Street at Church Hill, but this time absent even a crosswalk. (Do you think we could get Meridian to put that stoplight in their lot?) Meantime, the merchants and banks and restaurants will just have to adjust to this brave new world. Not only are parking spaces already a rarity downtown, now even driving to them will be a challenge. Councillor Accursi feels it will make downtown more walkable. (One imagines that the absence of customers on sidewalks will give those walkers even more room to roam.) Accursi, ever the visionary, also wants to make the turn out of Pelham Town Square from under the

shows Canadians support and are satisfied with the range, quality and price of dairy. And no, this study was not funded by the dairy industry. The assumption is that prices for milk, cheese, eggs and poultry are always higher in Canada. But that’s not true. Look at a recent price comparison. Loblaws was selling boneless chicken breast for $5.99 a pound. Over the river at Wegmans, boneless chicken breast was selling for $4.49 a pound. Factor in the exchange and that works out to be $6.20 a pound at Wegmans. Poultry farmers aren’t millionaires. They say their share of a restaurant plate is usually less than the tip you give your server. While in the past four years beef prices have risen by 33% and pork by 20%, the price of chicken has gone up just 7.5%. Of the more than 200 million chickens raised in Ontario every year, more than 11% are grown right here in Niagara Region. Poultry and dairy farmers in Niagara believe managing supply to match demand is a good thing. It guarantees farmers a stable price. It means they can walk into a bank confident of getting a loan. The system supports the family farm. If you want to know what would likely happen if we get rid of such regulations in the dairy and poultry business, simply look to Australia. When supply management was phased out consumers continued paying the same prices, while more farmers were going broke and the middle men were eating up the savings.

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Make the library a summer destination BY KIRK WEAVER

CEO Pelham Library

As the school year closes students and parents are likely thinking about how time usually spent in school can be filled with other activities. Students and parents may be looking at this from different perspectives. Students will be looking ahead in anticipation while parents will be seeking meaningful but busy activities. Typically with warm summer weather, thoughts turn to outdoor activities and the Library may not be at the top of the list. However, there are many great things happening at the Pelham Library this summer. We encourage you to consider some of these programs that will help keep young minds active. We offer a range of programs that will be of interest to ages 2-18. For the youngest group, we offer regular story times with lots of active reading and music. A variety of topics are covered and the program is held at both our branches. For school-age children and teens there will be a wide variety of activities. We have the traditional TD Summer reading club to make sure kids continue good reading habits through the summer. For those interested in science, we will offer a series of Mad Science workshops. Pet lovers can drop by on Friday afternoon to enjoy some pet therapy. New this summer will be teen movie nights at Maple Acre. Less traditional activities like a Nerf battle and Lego building challenge are also planned. Adults may need to find some time to relax this summer after the hard work of planning summer activities for the kids. Again, make sure to consider all that the library has to offer. Consider opportunities to learn about beekeeping, raising backyard chickens, or playing bridge. You can take part in coloring for adults, meditation workshops, or researching your ancestry. Regardless of your age, it is our hope that your summer activity agenda will include visits to the Pelham Public Library branches in Fonthill and Fenwick. Check our website often for program details www.pelhamlibrary.on.ca

It's not hard to picture the natural evolution of this bold experiment in commerce-killing

Arches right-turn-only as well, meaning your only choice is north toward Highway 20. It’s not hard to picture the natural evolution of this bold experiment in commerce-killing. All Pelham turns could be switched to right-turn-only. Imagine the savings! Now that would be proactive, forward thinking (well, forward and to the right) progress! College Street residents, you might want to buckle-in for a few hundred highly annoyed drivers speeding down your leafy street daily. Better install a chicane. Splendour in the grass: Pelham is in the process of entering The Green Street Challenge. In a worthy attempt to get people to participate in unstructured outdoor play and put down their cell phones and iPads and enjoy some fresh air and physical activity, Fenwick residents will be delighted to know that Canboro Road, downtown, will be covered in sod. This grassy oasis will be “planted” on Saturday, August 19 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pelham will be, as usual, the first community in Niagara to participate in this Challenge. Cost to the Town, a tiny $1,000. Councillor Junkin observed that Centennial Park, which, being a park, is already covered in grass, and is a mere 300 meters away. The rest of Council was not deterred by this underhanded attempt at logic. So on August 19, kindly exit any actual parks, get off your lawns, put down your bats and balls, kick off your soccer shoes, get off your bicycles and walk, hike or even drive down to Fenwick, find a parking

spot (there are at least eight), and enjoy the Challenge of breathing country air. The donated sod will be re-gifted to a worthy charity, so if you know any charity in need of a lightly used lawn let Recreation Director, Vickie vanRavenswaay know. WiFi availability has not been confirmed, but sod it. Put away those devices! Biker Wars: It seems Welland has one-upped our Town Hall. This cannot go unchecked and our leaders are acting even as you read this. Bicycle repair stations and a bike-friendly map are in the works. These stations, costing merely $2,000-3,000, will be installed in various parts of town. Harold Black Park was mentioned. Surely it would be a Grumpy Gus who points out alternatives including the (multiplying) gas stations around town that already have air pumps. Or that cyclists could continue to pack a small repair kit along with their water bottles, air pumps and cell phones. No matter. It’s good to see the Town anticipating all our needs, real and perceived. A Pelham Heritage Moment: On June 5, Pelham Council decided not to designate 1 Hwy. 20 West as a heritage building under the Ontario Heritage Act. The site had been used since Jacob Osman built an inn in 1830 on what was then Canboro Road. The building will likely be demolished to make way for a residential/commercial building. Councillor Accursi said he understood the historical significance, “but you have to be practical.” Councillor Rybiak said

the planners' report justified the denial. Councillor Durley said the interior pictures of the building told “the whole story.” Councillor Papp said he supported the decision, saying the location is a hallmark for people coming into town. The Mayor wholeheartedly agreed with the recommendation not to register the building as historic. The volunteer Heritage Committee was dismantled at the beginning of this Council's term. Heritage issues have fallen to the Planning Department. This Pelham Heritage moment is brought to you by the Mayor, Councillors and senior administration of the Town of Pelham. Cheer Unaffordability: The Niagara Real Estate Association released their May sales numbers and they are inspiring—if you are a real estate agent. From May 2016 to May 2017 prices rose from a Region-wide average of $319,000 to $403,000, a 28% increased, but if you look at the numbers closer a trend may be appearing. Yearover-year sales were down 6% in May. Listings were up 20%. May is traditionally the hottest month for house sales. NOTL tends to skew numbers because prices are now averaging $804,000, up from $591,000, a 36% rise. In the GTA, from June 1 to June 9, condo listings are up 11% while sales are down 22%. House listings are up 34% while sales have fallen 44%. The hinterlands around Toronto can expect to see similar numbers in the months ahead as people rush to the exits. Pelham Community Centre update for May: The CAO informed Council that the Community Centre continues to progress ahead of schedule despite losing 16 days to rain. Phases 1, 3 and 4 are complete and the remaining steelwork will be completed by mid June. Tender 2, the largest, has closed with the results being in line with expectations. Masonry will be completed by mid- December. We look forward to reading the Oversight Committee's June 19 report. Oh, wait. That’s confidential.

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The Voice of Pelham, June 14, 2017

Page 7

Father's Day Show and Shine returns for 7th year Free event attracts enthusiasts from all over Niagara BY VOICE STAFF Once again, families will have a chance to celebrate Father’s Day with their community this Sunday, June 18, at the 7th Annual Father’s Day Show and Shine. The free event is to be held at the Pelham Friends Church at 940 Haist Street, across from Harold Black Park. The day’s festivities begin with a casual worship service at 10:30 AM, followed by a BBQ chili cook-off and the always popular Car and Bike Show. “Everyone is welcome, and welcome to bring something on wheels – a car, motorcycle, bicycle, atv – we’ve even had stock cars and RV’s in the past,” said lead Pastor Mathew Bradbury. “We also have a number of car and motorcycle enthusiasts in our community, so it’s a fun day for everyone to share with their families.” All of the proceeds raised from the donations collected through the BBQ and Chili Cook Off will be given to the Open Arms Mission (OAM) in Welland. Bradbury said OAM will use the funds to provide food to people in need, and for programs designed to re-

This remains a casual event for the whole family

duce poverty in the community. “We support OAM in a variety of ways, and this BBQ is one small way to contribute and draw attention to the hidden needs out there. We want to help them make a lasting difference. We really care about addressing homelessness and poverty and appreciate the compassionate and loving ways that Open Arms Mission (OAM) brings practical help and hope to people in need,” said Bradbury. “We really desire to see resources raised for OAM, but that is not the focus. It is simply a free event for families right in their own neighbourhood. This remains a casual event for the whole family – some-

Some choice wheels on display at last year's Show and Shine event. SUPPLIED PHOTOS thing unique where anyone can feel free to join a worship service or simply hang out among the cars and bikes.” Registration for car, bike, boat and tractor enthusiasts to enter their vehicle into the 7th Annual Father’s Day Show and Shine begins at 11 AM, and the

show, BBQ and children’s activities will go on until 2 PM. In the event of stormy weather, Bradbury said the BBQ and casual service will still go ahead. For more information on Open Arms Mission visit their website at: www.openarmsmissionwelland.com.

Former Pelham Fire Chief Jim Phelps’s family, friends and fellow firefighters gather for a photo after Fire Station 3 was named in his honour.

NATE SMELLE PHOTO

Town names Fire Station #3 after former Chief Jim Phelps BY NATE SMELLE

The VOICE

Family, friends and a small army of firefighters packed Town Council chambers on June 5 to honour Pelham’s former fire chief Jim Phelps. Serving with the St. Catharines Fire Department for nearly four decades, Phelps joined the Pelham Fire Service as a volunteer after his retirement in 1994. While serving in Pelham he took on the role of acting Fire Chief on two separate occasions before he retired again in August 2012. Phelps passed away in April at the age of 82. "I knew Jim for many years and

he was a friend, a brother and a mentor and I think he is I think he is well worth this honour," said Pelham Fire Chief Bob Lymburner. In recognition of his monumental career and lifetime of service, the Town decided to name its newest fire hall “Chief Jim Phelps Pelham Fire Station 3.” An advocate for replacing the temporary Short Hills Fire and Rescue station, Phelps was also involved in the design process and construction of the new facility. Lymburner said the Fire Service plans to have Phelps’ name adorning the building as soon as possible. Present for the unveiling of a drawing of the new fire station was

Phelps’ son Jeff Phelps. Thanking the Town and the Pelham Fire Department for honouring his father, Jeff said, "Dad spent the majority of his retirement years working for the Town of Pelham, but he did it willingly and he loved every minute of it. He enjoyed buying trucks and fixing problems, that was his thing. We really have to thank the Pelham Fire Service for the memorial they did for our father. It was really touching." Mayor Augustyn described Chief Phelps as a “strong part of the fire service community.” He recalled how Phelps became the interim fire chief from 1995 to 1999 after his initial retirement, and then again

in 2010 when the Town was in need of a Fire Chief again. Augustyn said the Town greatly appreciated the dedication that he gave the community. “Even when we needed another chief in 2010, he stepped up and did that being both the chief and the district Chief,” he said. “He wasn't the type of Chief who just spent his time doing paperwork during the interim period. He was involved in ensuring that all of the things we needed to do to get caught up, were done so that when the baton was passed to Chief Lymburner the department was in really good shape. He really turned the service around.”

Chief Jim Phelps.

SUPPLIED PHOTO

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The Voice of Pelham, June 14, 2017

PSAC to host age-friendly forum BY VOICE STAFF The Pelham Seniors Advisory Committee (PSAC) is partnering with the Thorold Age-Friendly Committee, the Welland Senior Citizens Advisory Committee and the Niagara Age-Friendly Community Network to hold a oneday forum –—Celebrating Age-Friendly Niagara. The regional event is to be held on Wednesday, June 21, at Amici’s Banquet and Convention Centre in Thorold. The forum is intended to create a dialogue and networking opportunities to better understand the steps to creating more age-friendly communities in preparation for the tsunami of older adults 55plus in the coming decades. The Master of Ceremony for the day will be John Storm, host of Cogeco’s Taking Niagara by Storm. Chair of PSAC, Gail Hilyer said the organizing committee is honoured to have The Honourable Dipika Damerla, Minister of Seniors Affairs, deliver a speech during the morning session which is entitled Celebrating the Older Adults – First 150 Years. A panel of speakers has also been

assembled for the forum, including Sarah Webster, Knowledge Broker, Ontario Age-Friendly Communities Planning Outreach Initiative, and other panelists from Niagara, Durham, Brantford and Halton who will share their best practices and initiatives related to creating an age-friendly environment. The featured panelists from the Niagara Age-Friendly Network will be Domenic Ventresca and Doug Rapelje. Hazel McCallion — the longest serving Mayor of Mississauga and current Chancellor of Sheridan College —will be delivering a keynote address. The theme for her afternoon session is Empowering the Older Adult – Next 150 Years. “Today’s older adults are different that yesteryear’s senior,” said Hilyer. “They are well and active, living longer and healthier; contributing to their communities, provide support to their families, volunteering, consumer in the local economy and donor to worthy causes.” Hilyer said an age-friendly world enables people of all ages to actively participate in commu-

nity activities and treats everyone with respect, regardless of their age. Honouring the elders within a community in such a way creates a place that makes it easy for older people to stay connected with the people that are important to them. Age-friendly communities help people stay healthy and active even at the oldest ages and provides appropriate support to those who can no longer look after themselves. “Increasingly governments, cities and communities worldwide are making commitments to becoming age-friendly by better adapting their structures and services to meet the needs of their aging populations,” she said. “The promotion of an age-friendly community has implications for the general population in that they are not just elderly-friendly, but they also have positive benefits for the broader community and its members. This will be an informative day.” For more details on the Celebrating Age-Friendly Niagara forum, and ticket information, visit www. Thorold.com.

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

Pelham Street business owners respond to Summerfest changes BY NATE SMELLE

The VOICE

Taking into consideration input from local business owners, the Pelham Summerfest organizing committee recently acknowledged that it would be implementing several changes tailored to improve this year’s event. The concerns addressed by the committee were originally raised during a public brainstorming session last fall, spawned by a petition from local business owners to move Summerfest from Pelham Street to a less intrusive location. Upon reviewing these concerns, the committee has decided to: alter the footprint of the event to provide better access to businesses on Pelham Street south of Church Hill, and to make improvements to security, shuttle services and parking. Despite the changes, the owner of Wheel Class Automotive and Hot Rod Parts, Paul Hammond, believes Summerfest has strayed from its original intention. In the beginning, he said, the event was created to help Pelham Street business owners recover from the slump they experienced due to road work that prevented customers from easily accessing their businesses. Though Hammond is happy to see the footprint change on Friday to better accommodate businesses like his, he feels this concession will not benefit his business. “There was a guy here this morning with a $100,000 hot rod and he would not park down the street three blocks and leave it there while he walks here to get some-

thing,” said Hammond. “That won’t happen. These customers of mine will not come in during the festival. Instead of helping the local businesses, they’ve got all of these people coming in here that aren’t from Pelham. Now it’s nothing but a big party, and it’s more about the Town of Pelham making money.” Hammond said he does not want to come off as negative, but in his opinion the changes made by the committee to make Summerfest beneficial to all Pelham Street business owners do not go far enough. In general, he said, a business like his does not really have an opportunity to benefit from such an event, because it would not make sense to set up a booth to sell highend auto parts. If anything, doing so would open his merchandise up to the potential of being damaged. As the originator of last year’s petition, Hammond would still like to see the three-day festival moved. “It works for some people, but not for me — and I’m not the only one,” he said. “Other people love it because they make a lot of money when this happens, but it’s not good for every business, let’s put it that way. All we’ve ever asked for from day one was not to stop it, but just move it—move it off Pelham Street. It’s that simple.” Owners of Cruise Holidays of Niagara, Pam and Jim Overholt, are hopeful that the committee’s changes will improve access to their business and others in the vicinSee CHANGES Page 19

Town to temporarily transform Fenwick's main street into lawn BY VOICE STAFF During their June 5 meeting, Pelham Town Council announced that it will be teaming up with Young Sod Farms to encourage local children to put down their handheld electronic devices and Come Alive Outside. As part of the Green Street Challenge, the Town is planning to close a section of Canboro Road in downtown Fenwick on Aug. 19 and cover the pavement in sod.

Pelham’s Director of Recreation, Culture and Wellness, Vickie van Ravenswaay, expressed her excitement about the initiative, stating “It’s a new event with new corporate sponsors and it’s exciting to see different people and businesses come forward with such a unique event.” Barb Christopher of Young Sod Farms has agreed to donate the sod for the Green Street Challenge. After Dekorte Landscaping lays the sod, Pelham fire-

fighters will be tasked with keeping it from drying out for the duration of the day. While the event will take place from 9 AM to 5 PM, Fenwick’s main street will remain closed from 7 AM to 7 PM. Councillor Marvin Junkin said he was skeptical about the program at first, pointing out that Centennial Park was just around the corner. Looking at the idea from another angle he said if the citizens and the business

This will draw attention to outdoor play

community were behind the event, and if the street would be left in good con-

dition afterwards, he could see no harm in it. Councillor Gary Accursi said he could see the value of the program as a “greening” initiative and in terms of engaging the community and promoting local business. He sees the new event as a celebration of the community. “This will draw attention to outdoor play in a very unique and inventive way,” he said. “I think this is an event we need to get behind. I’d

like to see this become an annual event. I can’t think of a better place to have it than Fenwick because it’s an ideal spot. It celebrates the business community in the downtown core as well as in the rural areas.” To give back to the community in another way, van Ravenswaay said that once the event is over the sod will be donated by Young Sod Farms to local charities that can make use of it.

Cankerworms in Pelham? Town says no, readers say "help" BY VOICE STAFF Cities across Canada have been reporting an increase in insect infestations this year. Throughout southern Ontario this spring, cankerworms seem to be doing the most damage. Infestations of cankerworms have gotten so bad in Mississauga that one Councillor has even called for the aerial spraying of infested trees to prevent the trees and parks from being destroyed. Cankerworms – also known as inch worms – occur every 10 to 15 years an exist for about two to

AUDIT continued from Page 1 Augustyn put forth a motion to remove the 12 “whereases” that comprised much of Barrick’s motion. Though Barrick disagreed with Augustyn’s assertion that the statistics he used were inaccurate, Barrick said, “I am fine with removing the whereases because I am only really interested in reaffirmation of Taxpayer Affordability Guidelines.”

three years at a time. Upon hatching in the spring, they feed for approximately six weeks before they burrow underground until they emerge as moths in mid to late autumn. At this stage in their lifecycle, they lay their eggs in the tree tops and the cycle continues. Healthy trees can survive a cankerworm infestation, however experts say that if an infestation persists for several years it can damage or kill the tree. After readers contacted the Voice to express concerns that trees in their neighbourhood were being

Augustyn thanked Barrick for supporting the motion, and suggested they meet to discuss why Barrick believes his interpretation of the figures he used in the original motion to be true. Augustyn then presented a second amendment, which indicated that Barrick’s second clause was also no longer relevant because the Town had provided their audited financial statements, and because the auditor disclosed that a management letter was not

required. After the Audit Committee passed the first two motions, Augustyn presented another which would remove the Town of Pelham from the third clause calling specifically on the municipality to develop Taxpayer Affordability Guidelines, and replace it with “all area municipalities.” The majority of the Committee liked the idea of all municipalities in Niagara developing such guidelines, and eventually agreed upon the wording

devoured by the pest, we reached out to Town Hall for comment. Public Relations and Marketing Specialist, Marc MacDonald, asserted that so far Pelham has seen two instances of gypsy moths, however no cankerworms. “At this point,” he said, “there hasn’t been an identifiable need to address this issue on a large scale as it appears to be isolated.”

Reader-supplied image of what local residents assert are cankerworms.

of the motion to list each of the municipalities. Niagara Falls Regional Councillor Selina Volpati then presented a motion to defer the decision regarding the changes to Barrick’s motion until the September meeting of the Audit Committee. Commenting after the meeting, Councillor Tony Quirk said that he was disappointed that the Town was not better prepared to back up it defense with more documentation.

“The Committee has asked for additional information regarding the motion,” said Quirk. “We have deferred the decision until the September Audit Committee to allow Pelham staff an opportunity to provide additional information. It was disappointing that the Town's Auditor was not able to attend as there were specific questions to the audited financial statements that went unanswered.” For his part, Councillor

SUPPLIED PHOTO

David Barrick remained unconvinced that Pelham’s financial practices are in keeping with good goverance. “It's clear through the formulation of a concerned residents group in Pelham called ‘DEBT’ that Mayor Augustyn may fool some people some of the time but cannot fool all people all the time,” said Barrick. “Regarding the Town of Pelham's finances, they can put lipstick on a pig but it's still a pig.”

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The Voice of Pelham, June 14, 2017

Page 9

DeVries Strawberry Social to raise funds for youth with Lyme Disease Annual Fenwick fundraiser coming this Saturday BY VOICE STAFF For some 30 years, the DeVries family has been operating their fruit farm in Fenwick. Seven years ago, they launched their first Strawberry Social in partnership with Pelham Cares to bring the community out to their farm and to raise awareness for Pelham Cares. This Saturday, June 17, DeVries Fruit Farm will once again be hosting its annual Strawberry Social. Farm owner Dan DeVries said this is the second year that they will be using the popular event as an opportunity to raise funds for a specific community member in need. Last year, DeVries donated the proceeds from their Strawberry Social to the Seehagel family to help with their 3-year-old son Jed’s recovery after he suffered a tragic lawn mower accident. By the time the day was over they had exceeded their expectations, raising $5,000 for the family. DeVries said the overwhelming support showed them how generous the people in Pelham can be. “The way they gave was from the bottom of their hearts,” DeVries said. “People didn’t come just because they were expecting strawberries and ice cream, they came because they knew there was a need and they wanted to give. We

started to get a lot of people coming out in the morning and then they just kept coming and coming and we were like, ‘Wow’. It makes you feel really good to know that we could help.” After coming across an article in the Voice about 15-year-old James Eliopoulos and his four-year struggle with Lyme disease, DeVries said he decided to donate the money raised this year to Eliopoulos and his family. Learning of the Sponaugle Wellness Institute in the United States — a centre that specializes in diagnosing and treating Lyme disease — the Eliopouloses chose to take their son to the clinic in Florida. Unfortunately, the treatments are not covered by OHIP. Considering the treatments cost about $5,000 per week and usually last 12 weeks at a time, the family has found itself struggling to keep up with the costs. “We read there was a need for support and right then and there we decided that he would be our recipient for this year,” said DeVries. “We are hoping to see the same kind of great turnout as last year.” Students With Information About Ticks (SWAT) from John Calvin Christian school in Smithville will be

SECOND FAMILY Dan DeVries, center left, with the Mexican agricultural workers he calls his "second family." DeVries says the men come from all over Mexico—from mountain villages, along the coasts, from central highlands to the Yucatan. Most have been coming up for seven to ten seasons, arriving in mid-April, returning home in late October. The farm provides room and board, and pays for airfare. When asked a few minutes after this photo was taken, DeVries named each man. Pictured are Leandro, Mateo, Carlos, Antonio, Jesus, Mosiset, Roquey, Jimi, Alvero, Miguel, and Felipe. DAVE BURKET PHOTO

taking part in this year’s Strawberry Social as well, handing out information about ticks and how to prevent them from spreading Lyme. Pelham Cares will also be on site to accept food donations for families in Pelham in need of as-

sistance. DeVries said there will also be wagon rides, ice cream and of course lots of freshly picked strawberries. He said families will also have a chance to pick their own strawberries if they are interested in taking home some of the seasonal

deliciousness. “Strawberry season is an awesome time of the year,” he said. “Temperatures are usually warming up and they’re the first delicious fruit of the season.” The Strawberry Social

will take place on Saturday, June 17 at DeVries Fruit Farm at 825 Canboro Road in Fenwick, and will run from 10AM until 2PM. Or more information about DeVries Fruit Farm and the Strawberry Social visit: www. devriesfruitfarm.com.

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The Voice of Pelham, June 14, 2017

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

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WINE ME UP It was all smiles at the annual Ridgeville Sidewalk Sale last Saturday. Top, Whitby's Henry Street High School class of 1981 (presumably not the entire class) are called back to the wine tour bus by driver Alan. The graduate who travelled farthest came from Michigan. Far left, the four Lises: Giroux, Daniel, Schuster, and Walsh at LeVillage. Did we lise anyone out? Left, Bobbi Lococo and Patricia Pafford hanging at Sweet Thoughts.

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The Voice of Pelham, June 14, 2017

Page 11

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The Voice of Pelham, June 14, 2017

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

AN ALPINE VIEW If you haven't been down to the Canadian Tire or Walmart stores on Woodlawn in Welland lately, you're in for a surprise. Seemingly overnight the Atlas landfill site has gone from

Welland partners with Niagara College on landfill BY VOICE STAFF The City of Welland, Dillon Consulting, and Niagara College are embarking on a year-long project to create an Atlas Landfill Remediation Concept Plan (ALRCP) for the retired landfill site on Woodlawn Road. Commencing the project this month, the college’s School of Environmental & Horticultural Studies (SEHS)

will collaborate with City of Welland staff, and landscape architects from Dillon Consulting to develop the site for public use. The Atlas Landfill remediation site stands 220 metres above sea level, and towers some 40 metres above its surrounding landscape to the west of the Canadian Tire and Walmart stores off of Woodlawn Road. According to the city

of Welland, the landfill site has nearly reached its operational lifespan. A plan is accordingly necessary to research options, consult with the public, and plan for legislated closure and future land use opportunities. Niagara College’s SEHS program covers waste management, contaminated site management, ecological restoration, public

consultation, and horticulture/landscaping, all key components of a landfill closure project. Under the supervision of Niagara College faculty and Dillon Consulting, students from the SEHS will provide city staff with research on the site, and design a public engagement program to gather stakeholder input from key target audiences. This information will

be included in a report that will provide options and recommendations for the ALRCP. Proposed timeline for the Atlas Landfill Remediation Concept Plan: Online Survey week of June 12; Public Engagement Session 1 on June 28 - 6:30 p.m; Public Engagement Session 2 on Sept 6 (tentative); Concept Plan Rollout September 29, 2017; Concept Plan Presen-

tation to Council in October 2017; Detailed Design Process by Niagara College October 2017 - June 2018. “There is a lot of public interest on the future of this site, along with discussions on potential opportunities,” said Mayor Frank Campion. “We’re looking forward to hearing from the community and partnering with Niagara College.”

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The Voice of Pelham, June 14, 2017

Page 13

m molehill to mountain. While a large machine is visible at left, ordinary dump trucks barely register along the ridge.

DAVE BURKET PHOTO

IN THE NEWS continued from Page 2 of a comprehensive report titled, “Niagara Transit Service Delivery and Governance Strategy.” The report, which was based on comprehensive community consultation, calls for the creation of a consolidated transit service to provide inter-municipal transit service to all of Niagara. Pelham’s likely participation is virtually nil, however, with the Town’s own, limited bus service the only

local option.

Memorial for Welland Canal’s fallen workers

Regional Council has ap proved $234,000 in funding for the Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial, to be constructed near Lock 3 at the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canal Centre in St. Catharines. The funding is provided through the Region’s Waterfront Investment Program. The memorial project, which

has a design concept in place, will honour the 137 men who died during the construction of the present-day Welland Canal. The memorial will be located within a park offering “opportunities for interactive learning about the history of the canal and its importance to Niagara,” according to a Regional news release. “The 137 men came from all corners of the Niagara region, from eight provinces and 12 countries,” says St. Catharines Mayor

Walter Sendzik. “The memorial will be a special place for our entire community to remember and reflect on their sacrifices.” The total project cost is $1.2 million dollars, with most of the cost covered by other grants, contributions from local municipalities, the marine industry, local businesses, the labour community and private donations.

Niagara Health “better than Canadian average”

According to a news release from the Niagara Health System, a report that measures hospital performance across Canada shows that Niagara Health is performing better than the Canadian average in a number of areas. The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) “Your Health System” report shows that Niagara Health is performing better than the Canadian average for: See IN THE NEWS Page 18

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The Voice of Pelham, June 14, 2017

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

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GENNINGS, Ken (Kenneth Robert) Passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 10, 2017 at NHSWelland Hospital at 64 years of age. Loving husband of Marilyn for 39 years. Proud father of Matthew (Kate) and Meghan (Alexander). Dear son of Marian and the late William Sr. He will be missed by his siblings William Jr. (Nadia), Bruce, Linda (Wayne) Sackfie, Laurie Mauro, and Holly (John) Kiss. He will be fondly remembered by brothersin-law Ian (Susie) McCausland and Neil (Jan) McCausland, and by his many nieces, nephews, and family members. Predeceased by his parents-in-law Bruce and Doris McCausland, and his brother-in-law David McCausland. Ken was a graduate of Brock University and Brock College of Education. He was a teacher and principal at several

OBITUARY

elementary schools throughout the Niagara Region and an instructor at the Brock University Centre for Continuing Teacher Education. He was an active member of many teams in the Welland hockey and slo-pitch leagues. Family and friends will be received at Pleasantview Funeral Home, 2000 Merrittville Hwy., Fonthill on Thursday, June 15, 2017 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A private family service will be held on Friday. Interment at Pleasantview Memorial Gardens. Memorial donations to the Walker Family Cancer Centre, the Juravinski Hospital in Hamilton, or the HNHN LHIS (formerly CCAC) would be appreciated by the family. Please share your condolences, memories, and photos at www.pleasantviewcemetery.ca. Special thanks to St. Elizabeth home care personnel, especially nurses Linda and Megan, and Dr. Sobkowski, Dr. Marcaccio, and Dr. Carle for their care and compassion.

KNISLEY, Lillian (nee Beckett) On Tuesday, June 6, 2017, Lillian Knisley (Beckett) passed away in her 94th year. Visitation was held at the LAMPMAN FUNERAL HOME, 724 Canboro Road, Fenwick, Ontario, on Wednesday, June 7, 2017, from 6:00-8:00 PM. Funeral service in the Lampman Chapel Thursday at 11:00 AM. Interment followed at the North Pelham Cemetery. If so desired, memorial donations to the Canadian Cremation Society or the charity of your choice appreciated by the family.

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MCPHERSON, Betty Theresa (nee Gamble) 1929-2017 Betty passed gently into the Lord’s hands on Tuesday, June 6, 2017. Wife of Milton Hartford McPherson (1925 – 1998), she is survived and will be greatly missed by her sister Donna Hill, her 5 children and spouses, Grant, Mark, Penny (Lane), Barry, and Guy, her 13 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Betty was born and raised in North Pelham and lived most of her life in the Pelham area. She had a strong faith in God and her faith saw her through many loses in her life. Many thanks to so many people and especially to daughter-inlaw Brenda for faithfully taking her out every week for many years. Her family welcomes friends and relatives to join them in the celebration of her life at Tallman’s Funeral Homes, 3277 King St., Vineland, on Sunday, June 11th from 7:00 – 9:00pm. The Celebration Service will be held Monday, June 12th at 1:30pm at The Church of the Nazarene, (Niagara Heights) 136 Confederation Ave., Thorold. Interment will follow at the Lane Cemetery; reception will be at Tallman’s in Vineland. If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society. “A wife of noble character who can find? Her children arise and call her blessed: her husband also, and he praises her.” (Proverbs 31). Online condolences at www. tallmanfuneralhomes.ca

The

Voice 905-892-8690

Find the Voice at these locations: Indulgence Bakery Mossimo’s Pelham Street Grille Fenwick Pie Company Sobeys Fonthill DeVries Fruit Farm Beamer’s Hardware & TV Fonthill Library Black Pearl Fish & Chips Bob’s Boys Antiques Moku’s Fonthill Fitness Curves McDonald’s Fonthill Legion Semenuk’s Gas Bar Target Store Tim Horton’s Giant Tiger Shoppers Drug Mart Zee Lube Express Care Lazy Loon Minor Bros Stores Avondale Stores A-1 Market Sobeys South Pelham Broken Gavel Restaurant Grill on Canboro Petro Canada Mtvl. Hwy. Renewed Thrift & Vintage Ridge Berry Farm

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The Voice of Pelham, June 14, 2017

Page 15

We sell grass... ...by the roll

Young Sod Farms is a small family business with deep roots in the Niagara Region, which has been striving to achieve quality service and consistent products since 1958.

Family owned and operated A properly established and maintained lawn is not only a lifetime investment, adding to the value of your property, it also offers a wide variety of environmental, community, and economical benefits, including: Cooling Effect The front lawns on a block of eight average homes has a cooling effect of 70 tons of air conditioning. Dust & Air Pollution Control Turfgrasses trap an estimated 12 million tons of dust and dirt released annually into the atmosphere.

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COLUMN SIX continued from Page 1 to my deep dislike for being sold things, which happens constantly here. My dislike for it, I’m sure, comes from years of watching Western New York television, where local commercials for car dealerships and dubious lawyers instilled in me a desire never to own a vehicle and never to do anything requiring rescue by bail bond. This quirk, which no doubt began harmlessly, has worked itself into an advanced character flaw, so much so that if I were stranded in a desert, dehydrating into a stiff, human chamois cloth, and the only water vendor around tried to woo me with an Oasis oasis jingle, I’d probably gesture rudely and keep crawling. During previous trips I was in countries where I blended in well, ethnically speaking. If I walked down the sidewalk like I belonged, and mastered the accent on a few local idioms, I could pass as a native. But in Mexico, while my particular shade of Caucasian may be over-represented on billboards as a hue representative of success and the good life, it is certainly not found commonly in the streets. Effectively, I have been walking around for seven weeks with an epidermal beacon that flashes: “The currency in my country is strong compared to yours. I am rich in Mexico. I can afford to buy two of everything you are selling.” Plus, I’m taller than most Canadians, let alone Mexi-

The Voice of Pelham, June 14, 2017 cans, so this particular beacon has not gone unnoticed. Since I stepped off the plane I’ve been offered anything you can imagine, and a lot of what you don’t want to. I was taking all of this attention pretty well, I thought, and getting good at smiling apologetically and saying, “No, gracias,” with enough force that the peddler or boot-polisher or tour guide or random teenager encouraging me to take magic mushrooms in the middle of the jungle on a 45-degree day would give up his efforts but not feel as though I were being rude. But last week in Mazunte, a beach town on the Pacific, I just about came unglued. While there are only a thousand people in Mazunte, there are at least ten taxis, the drivers of which honk, ceaselessly, at passers-by. “Taxi?” they shouted at me again and again. Finally I turned to one and said: “To where? I have no shoes on and I’m walking towards the beach, which we can both see. And besides, where else could I be going, with no luggage? This whole town is a ten-minute walk end-to-end, and there are buses that go to the next town, anyway, for a tenth of your price!” All of this came out haltingly in Spanish, and I suspect far less coherently than the version I’m giving you, but it worked and the driver left me alone. I walked on, now feeling ashamed. I probably should have been. The driver was only trying to find a fare—that is to say, doing his job—and

the continued presence of so many taxis in the town is proof of sufficient demand. I’ve seen many Mexicans taking taxis for trips that could more easily be done by bus or on foot. This, perhaps, has contributed to the origins of the “lazy Mexican” stereotype. On the whole, people here work hard in difficult conditions, but when they are not working, they are indeed idle. This is because nearly everything is available nearly everywhere. After a hard day or week or lifetime of work, hauling cement by hand or hawking food in the market, it is cheap— and highly desirable—to sit still and have everything brought to you. Aside from the washroom, you could easily pass months here sitting on a bench in a city square not wanting for anything. In the morning, women push around carts with large pots of steaming tamales, which they sell in a sandwich for a dollar, with coffee for just a few cents more. Pre-cut fruit is wheeled around too, and by lunchtime there are tacos and quesadillas and popsicles on offer. You can sit on your bench and buy the newspaper and have your shoes shined while you read it. If the absence of a shower in the square gives rise to predictably unpleasant body odour, swapping clothes is a snap. More women will come around with shirts, shawls and dresses, along with trinkets and jewelry you can take home as souvenirs. All of this selling and

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Dusk descends in Oaxaca. sitting reached its apex the other day when I went to baseball game in Oaxaca City. Baseball is big in Mexico, though this wasn’t apparent at the stadium, where there were just a few hundred fans scattered among 7,200 seats. When buying my ticket, I considered getting a spot in the outfield ($1 CAD) but in the end decided for the expensive seats ($3.50 CAD) right behind home plate. This was a good decision, since there was no one at all in the outfield, and no refreshment service either. This service was well on par with that in the city squares. There was at least one vendor for every ten fans, and, again, anything

could be bought. I counted five different kinds of nuts—the peanuts that you expect at a ball park, but also pistachios, brazil nuts, almonds, and cashews. There was hot chocolate and cold chocolate, coffee and iced coffee, tacos, tamales, empanadas, nachos, and ice cream. It was the beer vendors that pushed me up to the edge. Just in my section behind home plate there were six of them, and they circulated in a pattern, meaning that there was always one within earshot. The strategy was to wage a war of attrition against the willpower of the audience. However irritating the approach was to me—no one else seemed

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Page 17

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The Voice of Pelham ad size Pelham Directory Evangelicalad Friends Church Service Haist St., Fonthill w:2.5” x940 h: 1.75”

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The Voice of Pelham, June 14, 2017

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mood in long-term care Niagara Health is also better than the Ontario average for administrative efficiency, for expenses in departments like finance, human resources, communications and administration. Niagara Health showed a stable performance in line with the Canadian and Ontario averages in the following areas: —Emergency Department wait times for physical initial assessment. —Hip fracture surgeries within 48 hours —Hospital deaths following a major surgery “Measuring our perfor-

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cers from #3 District Detective Office and Uniform PaThis ad is to be printed trol, a CDSA search warrant was executed in Welland. As a result, police say they located cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, MDMA, marijuana, and cash. The combined value of drugs seized was some $3,100. Jeremy McGilvery, a 31-year-old Welland resident who was the main target in this investigation, was charged with: Possession of heroin for the purpose of trafficking; possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking; possession of cocaine for the purpose of

possession of Conserving Watersheds Act. Follow us on Twitter,trafficking; The omnibus bill amends MDMA for the purpose of by all participating Ontario papers trafficking; possession of several legislative instruLike us on Facebook.marijuana for the purpose ments including the Conof trafficking; and possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000. Also arrested on various possession charges were Alicia Cass, 32, of Welland; Douglas Ray Bishop, 30, Port Colborne; and Lisa Scott, 37, of Welland.

NPCA leads among conservation authorities

At the end of May, the Ontario government introduced Bill 139, the Building Better Communities and

servation Authorities Act. According to an NPCA news release, nearly all the amendments to the Act have already become part of NPCA's Best Management Practices introduced through the implementation of their 2014-2017 Strategic Plan. The process of appointing members to the NPCA Board remains unchanged. Term lengths are amended from three years to four See IN THE NEWS Page 22

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The Voice of Pelham, June 14, 2017

Page 19

CHANGES continued from Page 8 ity. Whether the changes will have made a difference, Pam said will not be known until after the event wraps up. “I think they know what the problems are, so it’s just a matter of having a presence and control,” she said. “They’ve obviously listened and tried to figure out what will work, so at least we will have accesses to our businesses on Friday.” Security was another of the issues many of the business owners identified as one of their main concerns at the Town’s brainstorming session last fall. To improve security in 2017, the Summerfest committee plans to increase the number of security personnel and narrow the entrances to the festival area to ensure security personnel can adequately assess all entrants. Measures will also be taken to improve lighting and fencing within the festival area. The committee has also requested an increased presence by the Niagara Regional Police. Welcoming these improvements, Overholt said she thinks narrowing the entrance way to Summerfest to better control and monitor the crowd is an especially good idea. As Summerfest continues to evolve year after year, she advises the committee to start asking different questions as they move forward. “The Town is very responsible when it comes to clean up, so I have no issues

It would be nice if they could have it somewhere else with that,” she said. “But, I think we need to look to the future. I’m not against having a drink but we have to ask, what element does alcohol draw? You try not to be a bah humbug person, and be an old ‘Scrooge’ who doesn’t want to be involved in anything, but it’s not that. It changes the whole business environment.” Summerfest committee member Councillor Gary Accursi explained that they have also taken steps to improve the shuttle service offered during Summerfest by increasing the number and capacity of buses and revising the routes. He said there will be more incentives for people to use the shuttle service and better promotion this year. Having experienced the troubles with the shuttle service firsthand at Summerfests gone by, Overholt was encouraged to see efforts being made to help bring people into town more efficiently. “If they figure out how to help shuttle people into town that would be a really positive thing,” she said. “People were getting frustrated with the delays and the buses being full. People are impatient so they would just drive and

then have to fight to find parking. It can get crazy. Hopefully their plan works because it will encourage more people to come to town.” Though they appreciate the committee’s attempts to make Summerfest less disruptive to their business, like Hammond the Overholts believe the best way to improve the festival is to move it to a more suitable area. Pam suggested that hosting Summerfest in East Fonthill would help to solve many of the current issues while at the same time highlighting the new community centre and other developments. “It would be nice if they could have it somewhere else,” she said. “Personally, it would be a much more pleasant environment if it was near a grassed area. It would be nice to have a larger area where people can spread out, have a decent amphitheatre or staging where a band can play and people can set up chairs. It’s pretty cramped over there. Ideally it would be nice to have it in a park or near the new community centre. It could be the perfect place, it has washrooms, it’s a place where people can go inside and sit down, they could have vendors there.”

Fonthill Lions of yesteryear.

SUPPLIED PHOTO

"We Serve"—100 years and counting On June 7, Lions Clubs around the world celebrated the 100th anniversary of Lions International. "This is a special time for our members," explains Fonthill Lions Club President, Robert Youngblut. "For the past 100 years, Lions clubs have served their communities and touched the lives of millions of people.” Lions Clubs International was built upon two words: "We Serve" and the Fonthill Lions are known throughout the world for creating this motto. In 1954, Fonthill Lion Doug Stephenson submitted this simple yet powerful phrase into the Lions International motto contest and it was chosen from 6,000 entries. The Fonthill Lions Club started with 24 members in 1945, receiving its charter on April 3, thanks to sponsorship from the Welland Lions Club. Throughout their history the Fonthill Club have hosted a variety of fundraising events and have been strong supporters of sports and recreation in the

Town of Pelham. “We have fond memories of our Fonthill Carnivals, Walk-a-Thons, Soap Box Derbies, Parades, Canada Day BBQs. The list goes on and on. Being a Lion is a family affair and contributing to youth projects has always been a big part of our legacy of service," said Yungblut. The 7.5 acre Lions park, now the Gord L. Klager Park, named after Charter Member Gord Klager, was purchased in 1970 by the Lions Club. The park continues to serve the community today and recently became home to Canada’s first sanctioned FPV Drone Racing Course. “The Centennial milestone is an opportunity to reflect on our past and plan for our next century of service” Yougblut adds. "Our Club is in a rebuilding phase. We welcome new members to join us and help us keep doing what we do best – serving others."

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The Voice of Pelham, June 14, 2017

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PELHAM

Pieces From Our Past

Noble barns in Pelham's past, and present BY CAROLYN BOTARI

Special to the VOICE

EN TION THE word ‘barn’ and almost everyone has some sort of story to tell. It may be memories of sweaty days spent stacking thousands of bales of hay in the mow, or cold, dark mornings milking cows. Tales of swinging on ropes in the hay mow, straws-fights with friends, barn dances, and even the occasional— and literal— roll in the hay abound. Even the smells of a barn bring back a flood of memories for many. Those who have never had the pleasure to set foot in an old barn have probably seen at least one of these magnificent structures gracing our back roads—truly outstanding testaments of architecture and the subject of paintings, poems, and photographs. To the farmers who own and use them, barns are a place of work, where animals are housed, grain and hay stored, and machinery repaired. For the early settlers, the barn was the most important building in their lives. Many family stories tell of the building of a barn before the family home. The barn was crucial to a family’s survival as it was the place to store the food that would feed the family and animals throughout the winter. By the end of harvest, the barn would be packed-to-bursting with what the family prayed would be enough food supply to see them through till the following growing season. The barns of our first settlers were simple wooden structures, planned and built with function in mind. The central aisle or ‘bay’ was usually the threshing floor. After be-

For the early settlers, the barn was the most important building in their lives ing harvested, the sheaves of grain were laid on the floor of the central isle. The family and hired hands would then use flailing tools to thresh or beat the kernels and remove them from the stalks. The grain would then be separated from the stalks and stored for winnowing. Winnowing had to be done on a windy day. Doors at both ends of the barn would be opened to allow the wind to whistle through. Farmers used this natural force to separate the crushed kernels from the husks or chaff. The threshed grain would be loaded into a shallow tray and tossed in the wind which would blow the lighter chaff away, allowing the grain to fall back in the tray. The grain was then poured into storage bins for animal feed or for later transport to mills to be grist. Hay was stored in the loft above the threshing floor. Platforms were piled with hay, and, using a pulley system, lifted up to the mow and unloaded there. Some barns featured a remarkable piece of 19th century simple technology, which saved time and labour—a rack lifter. Two large four-foot wooden wheels supported on long round poles were located high in the eaves of the barn. When wagon-loads of loose hay were brought into the barn, the top of the wagon, the "rack," was lifted up through ropes running through the wheels (the

Above, the Haist barn on Effingham Street. Top right, the date carved above the door on a barn on River Road. Right, the rack lifter in a barn on Metler Road. Top left, a barn that was demolished on Welland Road to make way for the East Fenwick expansion. SUPPLIED PHOTOS

rack lifter). This way the loose hay could then be pitched down into the mow instead of the old fashioned laborious way of pitching the hay up into the mow. Many barn designs were influenced by the ethnic traditions of the farmers, building materials of an area or by the distinct style of the professional barn builders of an area. Gothic gables, fancy scrollwork, and ornate cupolas were not uncommon on many barns. Over the past two centuries, Pelham has seen hundreds of these stately structures come and go and today only a handful

survive in usable condition. Very few Pelham barns predate 1900. One such barn is the Haist barn at the top of the hill on Effingham Street. The original barn was destroyed by fire in the early 1890s. The present barn was built in 1893 by Michael Haist, and was described in a newspaper thus: “The new building is 36’ by 60’, with 18-ft posts, and hip roof, 4 ft. longer than the former barn.” Farm families took great pride in their barns. It was common practise to chisel barn-raising dates into the foundation stones, or

carve them into supporting timbers. A Pelham barn on River Road even has the date carved over the main entryway, possibly celebrating the birth of a new farm. Our old barns are symbols of our rural past surrounding us in the beauty of wood. There are no nails in the framing of the oldest barns, only carefully fitted posts and beams, often more than 60 feet in

length, held together with wooden pegs. The marks of the axe or adze remind us of the settlers whose hands built the barn. Barns were the centre of life on the farm and can still today teach us about the history of life on a farm. It is the sheer size, massive frames and cathedral-like interiors of old barns that make the last remaining barns treasures in our community.

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Page 21

This week in baseball BY MELISSA WELLS

Special to the VOICE

The weekly "This Week In Baseball" articles overview the activities of various Pelham Minor Baseball Association teams. Teams span from T-Ball to Midget age with several rep teams representing Pelham across the region. The Group 92 Mechanical Rookie Rep Panthers are the new team on the block, as this is Pelham's first year fielding a team in the Rookie Rep division. The players are getting used to each other and making great strides in practices and games. The coaching staff is dedicated to growing the players and getting them ready for following years of baseball. In the first weeks of league play, the Panthers lost the first two, but had a big win in the third game. It was great to see the kids enjoy their first win. The schedule gets busy the next few weeks with games and tournaments and the players are anxious to get going. Many thanks to our sponsor, Group 92 Mechanical Inc., and the parents for the support and encouragement. The Miller Restoration Mosquito Rep team had a very exciting 6-5 win this week against the Binbrook Bisons on the road. Matthew Oakes missed an over the fence home run by about 1 metre, legging it out for a double instead. Catcher Cameron Wells tagged out two runners at the plate, one after attempting a Coghlan-style leap around. Maverick Halstead caught a timely pop-up and Max Myers effortlessly caught a long fly ball in left field. Solid pitching by Andy Nawrocki, Mitchell Morden and Connor Jolicoeur kept the game close enough for an astounding last inning tag out by Julian Rubino after a steal attempt of second. The Pelham Medical Associates hosted the second annual Pelham Peewee tournament this weekend for eight visiting South-

Group 92 Rookie Rep team celebrates forst win. CORY SMITH PHOTO

ern Ontario teams. The first game was won 12-4 over Waterdown with starter Ethan Wells pitching five strong innings with MVP battery mate Wyatt Gibson calling the pitch selection. A tie against yet undefeated Kawartha on Saturday afternoon left the boys just short of advancing to defend their 2016 tournament title. Beautiful catches by Jake Laewetz and Nate Girling in the deep outfield keep the game close while the bats when to work. A triple by Cole Townson and multiple singles by game MVP Jake Passmore contributed to the run production. A leaping line drive catch by second baseman Will Baltrusiunas kept the game at a tie and allowed Wyatt Gibson to pitch the complete game.

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continued from Page 18 years, and clear language is provided allowing for reappointment of Board Members. Board meetings are mandated to be open to the public, subject to exceptions in bylaws. The NPCA has furthered accessibility by live-streaming board meetings since March 2016. The NPCA asserts that it is the only conservation authority of the 36 in Ontario to live-stream its meetings. Conservation authorities will be required to establish advisory boards. The NPCA Strategic Plan identified a need for further stakeholder engagement, and the Community Liaison Advisory Committee held its first meeting in late 2014. Currently, only two conservation authorities have such committees. Most recently the Board recognized the importance of broadening its sector representation by adding a member of the Métis Nation. The province has introduced clear language allowing authorities the ability to make bylaws, including an accountability and transparency subsection regarding records retention, code of conduct for members, and conflict of interest guidelines. The NPCA implemented a records retention policy this March, the first in the history of the organization. At the last board meeting, a sub-committee was formed to strengthen the code of conduct. The Act also requires that bylaws are made public, which the NPCA has done. The Act prohibits all straightening, changing and diverting of a watercourse, and development in their area of jurisdiction. Regulation-making power for authorities is removed, and prohibition is enacted. However, conservation authorities can issue permits to allow prohibited activity. Conservation authorities can refuse to issue a permit if the activity may jeopardize the health or safety of people or their property, or if the activity is likely to affect flood control, erosion, dynamic beaches, pollution, or the conservation of land. The act provides further clarity that conservation authorities interests and mandate are specific to hydrology, and in-line with the initial intent of Conservation Authorities Act in 1946—to keep people and their property safe from the effects of flooding and erosion. Conservation authorities may now issue stop-work orders for the straightening, diversion, or interference of a river, stream, creek or watercourse, or for interference with a wetland. The NPCA says it believes in a “process of compliance over conviction.” A person or corporation that has been issued a stop-work order by an authority will have the option to a hearing and may appeal the decision to the Minister. Maximum fines for violations have increased to $50,000 for individuals, and $1,000,000 for corporations.

Daily fines may be issued for non-compliance. “It's our hope the rest of the 36 conservation authorities in Ontario will follow the lead of the NPCA and implement their own changes as quickly as possible," says authority Chair Sandy Annunziata.

Rural homelessness

A study released last week challenges the popular perception that homelessness is only an urban phenomenon. "Homelessness and Hidden Homelessness in Rural and Northern Ontario” asserts that homelessness is widespread in rural and northern communities, if less visibly than in cities. The report includes perspectives gathered by a study team including researchers from Laurentian University, the University of Guelph, Lakehead University, and Ontario Municipal Social Services Association representatives. The study involved service providers, service managers and individuals with “lived experience” from rural and northern parts of the province. The report explores individuals living in temporary, provisional accommodations or in situations that are unsustainable. This population can be described as “hidden” because they usually do not access support and services. The study also confirms that it is often difficult for service providers to identify and record people who may be experiencing homelessness: only 32 percent of service providers in rural and northern areas reported that records are kept to document the level of homelessness. “Without the willingness of many individuals to openly share their thoughts, views and experiences with homelessness, including those with first-hand experience serving individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness, this report would not have been possible,” says Norman Ragetlie of the Rural Ontario Institute. “We are grateful to all those who contributed and hope the report can be a springboard for further dialogue about how we can collectively respond to these real challenges.”

Welland pool opening delayed

Due to heavy rainfall this spring the city’s outdoor swimming pools have an extended opening date. All three public pools are now scheduled to open Saturday, June 24. City staff continue to prepare the pools for the swimming season; however, extraordinarily heavy rainfall has delayed pre-season maintenance significantly. Public Works staff strive to prepare public spaces for recreational programs on schedule; however; weather does occasionally affect service delivery. The following regular extended schedule begins on June 30, 2017 for the Rosie Smith Pool, Memorial Park Pool, and Maple Park Pool: Weekdays: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m. to 8:00

p.m; Weekends: 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Ball’s Falls donations

School is swiftly coming to an end and Summer Adventure Camp registration has now begun at Ball’s Falls Conservation Area. Hands-on learning, day hikes and exploration of unique historical features are just a few ways children can spend their months off enjoying the outdoors. Two recent investments made from community partners this year will increase camp accessibility and also provide funding for the construction of a new floating dock. In March, Niagara Regional Chair Alan Caslin announced a $10,000 donation using proceeds raised at the 2016 Regional Chair’s Charity Golf Tournament. “Children and families often have limited opportunities to connect with nature —it is my goal as Regional Chair to ensure that every child has the chance to experience the beauty of what our Region has to offer,” says Caslin. The funding is part of a newly established Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation (NPCF) initiative called Eco Kids Camp, which helps send underprivileged kids to camp at Ball’s Falls. Families residing within the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority’s (NPCA) watershed can now apply for a subsidy to help cover both camp and transportation costs for up to three children. Ball’s Falls Conservation Area is the heart of education programming and public education within the NPCA land holdings, hosting some 7,000 students annually. “We’re always trying to find new ways to show children and families the nature that’s all around us,” says Alicia Powell, Educational Program Assistant with the NPCA. “Our pond at Ball’s Falls is home for green frogs and northern leopard frogs, as well as a nursery for toads and insects. Starting in June, we’ll be using the new floating dock regularly for camps, especially the Amazing Amphibians program.” For information on camp programs email Adam Christie or phone 905-5625235 x23.

Elder abuse and fraud

Niagara Regional Police are asking for public assistance identifying a suspect in a financial elder abuse case. On February 17, 2017 an elderly man in St. Catharines received a phone call from a woman claiming to be his niece, asking for financial help. When told he could not help her, the woman began to cry and the victim then agreed to get her the money. The woman said that a man would come by and pick up the money. A short time later the male suspect went to the victim’s house, collected an envelope of money and left on foot. A few minutes later, the See IN THE NEWS next page

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The Voice of Pelham, June 14, 2017

Page 23

IN THE NEWS continued from previous page victim received a second phone call from the same woman, again asking for money. The victim went to his local bank and made a withdrawal. The same suspect returned a second time to collect another envelope of cash and again walked away on foot. The caller never used the victim's name and he says he did not tell her his address. Of note, both the male and female suspects, and the victim, speak Polish. The suspect is described as male, 5'8" tall, medium toned skin, with black short hair and dark eyes, and wearing black clothing. His vehicle is described as a newer GMC Sierra crew cab pickup truck, black with a tonneau cover, chrome bars and after-market spoked rims. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Steve Vandenbos, Central Fraud (905) 6884111 Badge 9123

West Nile season begins

Warmer temperatures are here, and with them come the onset of West Nile virus season. Niagara residents and visitors to the area are encouraged by authorities to take the following protective measures to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes: Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks and shoes when outdoors; Whenever you use mosquito repellent, apply a product containing DEET or Icaridin, and carefully read and follow the manufacturer’s directions; Drain any areas of standing or stagnant water; Make sure all windows and doors in your home have screens. Again this year, low impact larvicides (methoprene and Bti) will be applied to areas on public proper-

Niagara police seek the public's assistance in identifying this man in relation to alleged elder abuse. SUPPLIED PHOTO ty where mosquitoes are breeding on a monthly basis through the summer season. These include catch basins and other standing water sites that cannot be easily drained. In addition, 21 mosquito traps will be placed throughout the region to capture mosquitoes that will be tested for the virus. Niagara residents with municipally-owned catch basins located on their private property can arrange to have the low impact larvicide (methoprene) placed in them by contacting Niagara Region Public Health. Residents can access this service, at no cost, by completing an online form found at niagararegion.ca/health or by calling Niagara Region Public Health at 905-6888248 ext. 7767 or 1-888-

505-6074. West Nile virus is spread by mosquitoes and can cause inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and flu-like illness. The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes that become infected by feeding on an infected bird. Mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus have been found in urban areas.

Brock scholarships to 56 high school students

Dozens of students from high schools across Niagara have been given a financial boost as they start their post-secondary studies. For the third year in a row, Brock University has awarded the Niagara Principal’s Scholarships to two students from nearly every

public, Catholic and private secondary school in the region. Each of the 56 students was awarded $2,500 toward the cost of his or her first-year tuition at Brock, for a total of $140,000. To date, the Niagara Principal’s Scholarship program has awarded some $422,000 to 169 students across the region. “This scholarship was initiated in 2015 as a critical partnership to recognize student excellence within Niagara,” said Beth Natale, Director, Recruitment and Retention. “Offering this substantial financial award is a concrete example of Brock University doing its part to ensure Niagara’s student leaders remain committed to this region, considering Brock and the Niagara region as the top choice for their future.” The recipients for the scholarships are selected by the principals from each school based on a combination of academic achievements and the students’ involvement in school and in the community.

vestigation revealed that McSween has been an active volunteer in minor hockey in Niagara Falls. Investigators are concerned that there are unidentified victims and/or witnesses in the community. Out of a concern for public safety the following on-line usernames that have been identified as being associated with McSween are being released: "TTR GONGSHOW" "Tow Truck Rick" "Rick Tow Truck" Police are requesting that members of the public forward any information related to illegal, suspicious, or inappropriate telecommunications or interactions between McSween and anyone under the age of 18. Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at 905-688-4111 extension 5100. Voicemail messages left over weekends with be returned during traditional business hours.

Niagara Falls child porn arrest

In May, members of the Niagara Regional Police Service, Child Abuse Unit and the Internet Child Exploitation (I.C.E) Unit commenced an investigation into the possible sexual exploitation of children within the Niagara Region. On June 1, Richard McSween, 46, of Niagara Falls, was arrested and charged with luring a child under the age of 18 years for the purpose making child pornography, as well as distributing child pornography in the written form contrary to section 163.1(3) Criminal Code of Canada. Police say that their in-

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In July 2016 the Niagara Regional Police Service Sexual Assault Unit became involved in the investigation of a St. Catharines man for a historic sexual assault. As a result of that investigation, on May 31, Hans Eduard Unruh, 65, of St. Catharines, was arrested and is facing the alleged charges of sexual assault and sexual exploitation, according to Niagara police. An incident allegedly occurred while the accused was a teacher at Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School in the city of St. Catharines between January 2011 and January 2012. Unruh has been employed as a teacher for 25 years. The female victim was 17 years old when the assault took place. The victim and the accused are known to each other as a result of his role as a teacher. Detectives believe there may be additional victims and are asking them to come forward. Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Sexual Assault Unit at (905) 688-4111 ext 5100.

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COLUMN SIX continued from Page 16 or took out a streetlight on impact. The last baseball game I went to was when I finished elementary school. It was a graduation present from my grandparents, eight years ago. Grampsie, as we called him, took me over the river to Detroit, from their home near Windsor, and picked up tickets the traditional way, at the booth. Not being much of a devotee myself, I remember little of the actual game. I do remember Grampsie though. He was a fan of all sports, especially baseball, so much so that one year he and my grandmother skipped their annual vacation and instead spent the funds on an enormous flat-screen television, the better to watch sports by. This was in the early days of high-definition, and I remember talking to him on the phone when they got the thing. “The trip is now sitting in our basement,” he told me proudly. “The picture on it is so clear that last night I could read all of the tattoos during the basketball game.” He was the sort of person who would talk to anyone, anytime, even if they did display those visible tattoos, the one unforgivable sin. Nobody sitting near us at the Tigers’ game had any of them anyway, and by the

150 Canada

I was only 14 when he died, and too young then to appreciate the sort of energy it took to be so polite and inquisitive all the time

top of the ninth, Grampsie was old friends with everyone. This was how it went with him. We’d be held up at the tee on a golf course, and he’d have interrogated the entire group behind us, learning enough about their home, their family, their schooling, and their job to ghostwrite their memoirs. I was only 14 when he died, and too young then to appreciate the sort of energy it took to be so polite and inquisitive all the time. The pace of baseball provides occasion to consider such things. The evening in Oaxaca was spectacular. Early on, the moon slid up above the horizon like a reliever scoping out the mound before it was time for his appearance. When the sun did finally drop, the sky smouldered in blue and violet. The game ended a half-inning early, which didn’t much bother me, though no doubt disappointed the vendors hoping

to sell a few more beers. The refreshment team had anticipated a longer game and a better turnout, and as the fans left they were still trying to sell us food at the exits. “Empanadas, my friend? Half-price now,” one called to me. I glared at him, but still paused at the offer. Because I had refused to buy anything to eat anything during the game—and because even when I’ve eaten a half-dozen empanadas I still find it difficult to refuse another—the deal was tempting. He noticed the hostility and looked away, and at once I could tell how tired he was. He started to walk toward the gates. I thought again about the evening, about the trip, about that icy area of Hell, and, if I had had more time, about Grampsie. I started after him. “Yes, I will have an empanada,” I said. “It’s a long walk home.” ♦

FAITH & FAMILY

Commentary by Pastor Mathew Bradbury

Coaching Coach Dad

OME OF THE BEST SPORTS coaching has more to do with one’s character and how we engage life, than athletics. Coach John Wooden (NCAA) shared rich words, for example, “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” And, “The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.” One of the top coaching tips is simply, coach the whole person – not just the athlete, and take an interest in the whole life of the person you are investing in. Dads have that privilege, beyond the game, to see and invest in the whole life of the children close to them, a relationship with huge potential. I remember the unique relationship one Olympic gold medalist had with his diving coach. The late Mark Lenzi, after every dive, whether his performance was weak or ‘golden’, would climb out of the water and go immediately to his coach to debrief, hear encouragement and perspective. My father, Gib, now in his 70s, has coached me well – not because of all the game-enhancing wisdom he’s poured into me (though he’s had that too), but mainly because he has been a constant listener, empathetic to my feelings, and has held back from using humiliation as a teaching tool. Another essential my father has done for me and my family, is value and try to understand the uniqueness of each individual. Fatherhood can be like coaching in that you feel responsible for the life-success of your kids. I believe that is a gift to Dads, to hold on to the lifelong role of inspiring

your children to believe in themselves and do more than they think they can. Author A.A. Milne (Winnie-the-Pooh), gave us these great words, “You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter that you think”. Sure those are great ideas for Dads to impress on their kids’ hearts and minds – but Dads need that coaching too. Just like Mark Lenzi nurturing his relationship with his diving coach – we fathers have a coach ready to invest in us too. Our ‘heavenly’ or spiritual Father, promises to relate to us – in the quiet and personal times, not merely in a religious atmosphere. In fact, I often find the religious setting an obstacle to hearing God’s coaching amidst all the ceremonial and social busyness. God has made a great investment to show us that He ‘gets us’, sympathizes with every game-play we find ourselves in, and that He really wants to help. He says He has an everlasting love for us – that will not quit, love we cannot earn by our performance – He just loves us. One of my favourite ‘Coach God’ quotes is, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” (Isaiah 30:21). If you, like me, want that kind of coaching and help – He is available, wants new players on His team, and loves making a difference. This Father’s Day, may all you Dads (every age) sense the joy and privilege of the difference you can make, and may you hear the coaching God wants to give you as you take some ‘time out’ with Him during our game of life.