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Vol.24 No.22

June 3, 2020

Darcy Richardson, CPA, CA | Broker

DARCYRICHARDSON.CA 905.321.6292

Published every Wednesday

Ciao for now HAIST CHICANE IS HISTORY

Column Six

Six feet from sanity Living with teens during a pandemic

BY JANE BEDARD

Special to the VOICE

Page 6 DON RICKERS

So much and so little happens constantly these days, so here are some meaningful and mundane observations from my own Quarantine Headquarters, shared with two teenage sons.

First of all, let me say that homeschooling is easy and anyone who says otherwise is not doing it right.

Both my teens are focused on high school math, a subject in which I have neither ability nor interest, so they are basically on their own. Trigonometry is why I jumped out of the first floor window of Mr. Miller’s Grade 10 Math class while he was writing formulas on the chalkboard, just to escape the frustration.

This is not the lesson I can teach to my 15- and 17-year-old offspring, so I try to help them by defining the important trigonometric vernacular. For example: Cos: an abbreviation of See COLUMN SIX back page

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The Voice, June 3, 2020

Wainfleet set to crack down

PUBLISHER’S CORNER

by Dave Burket

The day some thought might never arrive: Monday dawned clear and bright, all the better for a good last look at the much-derided Haist Street chicane. Accepting that Town staff attempted in good faith to mitigate speeding along Haist Street, we must also accept that this wasn’t the best solution.

Absent a dedicated cop with a radar gun, it’s looking like a three-way stop at Brewerton is on deck...A day late and a Loonie short: Dang! The Town may have missed a trick—is that chicane rubble still around? Break it into softball-size pieces and sell them as souvenirs to a grateful driving public as a fundraiser!...Some more folks back in action: Self-described junker “Chile Bob” O’Hara is once again open for business at the corner of Effingham and Canboro, his store still teeming with all manner of bric and brac—and he’s looking for more.

The Fabulous Fenwick Lions are also gearing up for a return to their Fish Frydays (ad, p. 8). That’s fish and chips starting this Friday, June 5, and then running every other week. And the Pelham Street Grille has expanded its takeout hours (ad, p.

7) to accommodate breakfast business....Military involvement north and south: What does say about our society that it takes the Canadian Armed Forces to report on appalling conditions in long term care homes before the wider public pays attention? In his commentary this week, Larry Coté diplomatically wonders whether the profit-motive belongs in seniors care any more than it does in Canadian healthcare overall. We all tend to grow old. Is there a sensible reason that long term care should not be brought under the umbrella of public healthcare?...And south of the border: We have all watched with horror as the US once again erupts into racial strife. My first brush with colour difference as a Yankee child—although I did not understand what it meant until years later—was the first day of Grade 1, when we students lined up outside homeroom. A kid bigger than most walked along the line, pointing at each of us and saying, “You’re coloured. You’re not. You’re coloured. You’re not...” After I was told I wasn’t coloured, I objected. I thought he meant who was, or was not, wearing a coloured shirt. Surely my plaid design counted, right? Then, in 1968, I was an eight-year-old Grade 3 student, and can still picture the stunned faces in a different homeroom the morning after Martin Luther King was shot, an event that precipitated a summer of violent riots across the US. We lived in white suburbs outside Philadelphia, and I well remember adult anxiety during those months about trouble with torches moving west on the train line from downtown, an invasive mob bent on some unspecified harm. It would take a few more years after that for me to begin to understand what it means to live life in North America with dark skin, and that the mob had good reasons to be angry. What will it take to end racism? A good start would be a new occupant in the White House. Let’s hope that our cousins can keep their country from going up in smoke until that blessed day. ♦

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Township takes dim view of bylaw disrespect

BY VOICE STAFF The Township of Wainfleet is gearing up for additional enforcement of its bylaws after a significant spike in illegal activity in recent weeks.

According to a Township statement released Friday, May 29, the Township’s front line staff and Protective Services officials have been fielding an increased number of calls from residents complaining about a variety of offences, including illegal parking, littering, blocking fire lanes and unauthorized open air burning.

"Further investigation revealed that other provincial and federal offences were taking place including trespassing, public drinking and drag racing, as well as failure to comply with the provincial ban on gatherings over five persons under the current state of emergency," read the statement.

“This kind of behaviour is not only dangerously irresponsible and puts public safety at risk,” said Mayor Kevin Gibson, “but it also represents a significant disrespect to our bylaws as the standards of our community and established by council on behalf of the residents of Wainfleet. The lane restrictions from cars parked illegally and in fire lanes, means reduced abilty of emergency responders to do their jobs and could cost someone their life.”

Many of the issues are taking place along the Quarry Road area as people flock to the popular open water location to swim and sunbathe and gather in large groups, some days in excess of 200 people. The location however, is only open for passive use at this point by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA).

“Only passive use such as hiking, birdwatching and dog walking are permitted at this time. These activities allow our community to enjoy natural spaces without gathering in groups or lingering, which can prevent other residents from also en-

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joying the area,” said NPCA CAO Chandra Sharma.

“Given that activities such as swimming and bonfires have never been permitted, this behaviour is quite disappointing as our staff have worked diligently to carefully reopen our Conservation Areas for the safe enjoyment of local residents."

Gibson said Wainfleet council has appointed several additional bylaw enforcement officers in response to increased enforcement responsibilities handed down from the provincial government in response to the recent pandemic.

According to the statement, in response to the recent upsurge in complaints, senior staff have been partnering with other agencies such as the NPCA and the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRP) to address the issues and help to protect public safety. This partnership will see the NPCA authorizing the Niagara Regional Police and Wainfleet’s Protective Services department to enforce provincial and municipal offences on and around the Quarry land.

“We’ve tried to be reasonable and do this the easy way through information and education,” said Gibson, “but since people are not taking this seriously, I guess we have to do it the hard way, through enforcement.”

In addition to ticketing vehicles, officers will be having vehicles towed and impounded. All costs and charges for removal and storage are a lien upon said vehicle, which may be enforced in the manner provided by the Mechanic's Lien Act and Repair and Storage Liens Act.

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The Niagara Regional Police Service is committed to reducing impaired driving offences through education and the apprehension of offenders through enforcement programs like RIDE. Impaired driving is still the leading cause of criminal deaths in Canada and destroys thousands of lives every year.

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From way, way back in February, having a blast in Kaneana, Hawaii!

Dave, Kim, Ryan, and Rachel Stutz. Paul, Tara, Katrina, and Samuel Stutz.

Sandra, Nicholas, Joseph, and Alex Loscavo. And Steve, Heidi, Rebecca, and Jordan Hatt!

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 90Day 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.

Jeremy C. VOKEY, 42, Pelham Mary J. KEAYS, 42, Welland Adrian CRUZ, 28, Welland Darrell G. CONWAY, 51, Welland Peter J. REHAN, 41, Niagara Falls Albert J. TYCHYNSKI, 58, Niagara Falls Randy M. LOCKHART, 55, Niagara Falls Lee Anne MAIOLO, 41, Niagara-on-the-Lake Desiree N. M. L. STEWART, 21, Toronto Michael A. FINLAY, 30, Etobicoke Daniella M. RIZK, 22, St. Catharines Justin C. SMIRTHWAITE, 44, St. Catharines John B. KEOUGH, 62, St. Catharines Melissa A. CORMIER, 37, St. Catharines

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Debris left behind by quarry partiers.

NRPS impaired driving charges

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Vol.20 No.48

CELEBRATING OUR 20TH YEAR

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

DSBN wants portion of Town park

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Wednesday, November 30, 2016

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Oops: No fire trucks for you

Column Six

The Comfort Maple myth

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Haist Street traffic-calming measure a little too effective

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Column Six

Growing up British

BY JULIE MANNELL

Special to the VOICE

W

BALLOONING INTEREST Grade 6 student Jinja Shepherd explains her experiment on static electricity at the Glynn A. Green Public School's annual science fair last Friday. See story, page 3.

NATE SMELLE PHOTO

Public meeting tonight on school issues

BY VOICE STAFF As questions continue to mount regarding an email that Pelham Mayor Dave Augustyn quietly sent to a District School Board of Niagara trustee last summer, Augustyn has agreed to address the issue at a public meeting scheduled for this evening, Wednesday, Feb. 8, in Fenwick.

Nancy Beamer, speaking for “Names Matter,” a Pelham citizens group lobbying the DSBN to reverse its decision to rename a local public school, confirms that the meeting will be held at Fire Station #2, known locally as the Fenwick Fire Hall, starting at 7:00 PM. While the Mayor has agreed to ap-

Under pressure, Mayor to address email revelation, other E. W. Farr matters pear, says Beamer, DSBN officials associated with the school-naming process have either declined to attend or have not yet responded to the group’s invitation.

DSBN Chair, Dale Robinson, to whom Augustyn’s email was addressed last June, has declined to appear, says Beamer, asserting that she would be

“on holidays.” The Voice was unable to independently confirm Robinsion’s intentions. She did not respond to repeated requests for comment on E.W. Farr-related matters before presstime.

Beamer, whose group maintains an email list of some 580 residents, says that all members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend the meeting.

“We would especially welcome parents and children who are unhappy with the name change,” she says, referring to the contentious decision by the DSBN to consolidate two Pelham See MEETING back page

HEN I WAS young, my father and I would go for long drives along the rural routes of Pelham. We’d blast George Thurgood and roll down the windows because we loved the smell of the breeze, the sensation of crisp Niagara wind beating our cheeks and tangling our hair against our summer-kissed skin.

My father was not a sentimental man. He worked in factories and had a Gordon Lightfoot mustache and never shed tears over injuries.

Yet something about the Pelham landscape, the hilly backdrop to his childhood and the childhoods of our ancestors, drew him in. He’d stop by a farm or a gathering of woods and, surrendering his manly veneer, tell me a story about the town.

This place is precious. This is the earth that granted us life. Here is the place where we happened upon love or here is a site of devastation.

On one particular drive sometime in the late ‘90s we stopped at a tree with a plaque.

“This tree looks dead,” I said to my father.

“It sure is getting there, Julie.”

The Comfort Maple is supposedly Canada’s oldest See COLUMN SIX Page 14

Part 2 of 2: Coronation to embarkation

Vol.20 No.32

BY VOICE STAFF

A construction error was discovered following the opening of a traffic calming chicane on Haist Street north of Hwy 20 last Monday that prevented large vehicles from passing through.

One resident living in the neighbourhood said he contacted the Town after seeing a small schoolbus get stuck as it tried to get through the new traffic calming measure. Later that day while driving behind a cement truck, he said that he became concerned for the public’s safety when the truck had to turn around because it couldn’t get through.

“If a small school bus and a cement truck can’t make it through what about a fire

BY HEATHER McLAREN ROHRER

Special to the VOICE

A

Repair measures underway last week to correct a construction error in the chicane. truck or an ambulance?” he said.

While waiting for the contractor to return to fix

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

VOICE PHOTO

bourhood in the short-term.

Manager of Public Works Ryan Cook said that after discovering the issue with

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

Petition-inspired changes coming to 2017 Summerfest

BY NATE SMELLE

The VOICE

Representatives from the Pelham Summerfest committee Candy Ashbee and Bill Gibson presented council with a final report on the 2016 Summerfest at the Council meeting on Monday, Nov. 21.

Prompted by a story in the Voice in August about a merchant petition to move Summerfest from Pelham Street, in September Town staff met with various stakeholders to hear their complaints, promising at the time that changes in the way Summerfest was mounted would be con-

sidered.

The main concerns identified during the community engagement process were security, parking, ensuring customer can access all businesses in town, and liability for damages. How to get all Pelham Street businesses to participate and finding ways to make it beneficial for them to set up a booth were also determined to be of high priority for the committee as they plan for next year’s event.

Gibson told Council that the committee is addressing these concerns in a variety of ways. To improve parking, they intend to create bet-

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

Another way the committee plans

to improve the 2017 Summerfest is by sponsoring and working with the organizers of the Thursday Night Bandshell Concert series to select the artist performing on the first night of Summefest. They also intend to make more use of the smartphone app they launched in 2016.

"We are really going to push it this year," Ashbee said.

“It really helps to get people to see what events there are so they can plan out where they are going.

We will be able to actually help the merchants and local businesses adSee CHANGES Page 5

FTER LUNCH ON Saturday, Mum and Dad had my afternoon cut out for me. Mum had more brass than anyone I knew, and it had to be cleaned. In addition there was the set of silver fish-knives and forks which were never used, but which had to be cleaned and put back in their velvetlined box.

Next was a walk to the newsagents to pay for the daily delivery of the Daily Mirror. As I said, Dad was a printer, but when he was 37 he had been rejected for a job, as being too old, by the printers of the Beano.

For that reason, my favourite comic was not allowed in the house, but while I was paying the papers, the newsagent let me have a 'shoofty' at the Beano. I'd explained my predicament and he understood completely.

Sundays were different again. Dad would play golf on summer mornings and billiards in winter. Then he'd stop for a 'refresher' at the local and would pick up the prawns, cockles, winkles or whelks we'd be having for tea later. Meanwhile, Mum was roasting the 'joint' and potatoes. I got to make the Yorkshire pud, and mint

Wednesday October 12, 2016

FREE

Apple Day comes to Fonthill

See COLUMN SIX Page 14

BY VOICE STAFF

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

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T

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

SUPPLIED PHOTO 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

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-

this minute!

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Request made of community still peeved at name change

See DSBN Page 9

Food 111Health Hwy. 20 E., Unit Store 5, Fonthill

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BY VOICE STAFF The District School Board of Niagara is requesting that the Town of Pelham cede a portion of Cherry Ridge Park for use as a soccer field to serve the students of the new Wellington Heights Public School, formerly the E. W. Farr Memorial Public School, in Fenwick.

Currently under renovation and expansion, the new school will combine students and staff from the previous school and Pelham Centre, where classes are being held while construction continues.

Two letters, containing virtually identical text but signed by different authorities, were sent last week to nearby residents of the park, as well as to parents of Pelham Centre students.

“The DSBN is currently building onto Wellington Heights Public School on Alsop Drive,” states the letter. “The size of the school's addition means the existing small soccer field will be eliminated.

The Town and the Board have been discussing the possibility of working together to create a field for both the school and the

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Pined -Sol Pelham’sPelham’s Health Food Store

“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

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice, June 3, 2020

Page 3

While measures vary, local grocers on board with precautions Many store workers, however, still shun face masks

BY DON RICKERS

Special to the VOICE

For the most part, human decency and common sense have prevailed during the pandemic in Pelham. One need only observe the local grocery shelves brimming with toilet paper as validation. Hoarding, at least for now, seems to have vanished. Meat, fresh produce, canned goods, and most other grocery items appear to be in good supply—with the notable exception of flour.

But what about health and safety precautions, both for customers and store staff?

How do our local food stores measure up? Do they encourage social distancing and hand washing? What about limiting customer volume in the store at any one time, and sanitization of self-checkout stations and handles of shopping carts? Are the parking lots littered with discarded face masks and gloves? Are employees wearing facial protection?

Niagara Public Health statistics released late in May revealed that Pelham had the second highest rate of historical coronavirus infection in the entire Region (Welland has the dubious honour of holding the top spot). Pelham’s rate is 18.3

infections per 10,000 residents. As of this writing, there have been 634 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Niagara, with 58 fatalities. Pelham’s current infection rate per 10,000 residents is second-lowest in the Region.

According to Statista.com, the three largest Canadian food retailers by annual sales are Loblaw Companies Limited ($50 billion), which owns Loblaws, No Frills, and T&T Supermarkets; Empire Co. Ltd ($25 billion), which owns Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, and FreshCo; and Metro Inc. ($11 billion) which owns Metro and Food Basics. All three have conspicuously promoted on their corporate websites the adjustments made to ensure their stores are COVID-free.

These modifications generally include reduction of store hours to allow for more staff rest time and additional cleaning, and establishment of a 7 AM early-opening hour specifically for senior customers and those with disabilities.

The number of customers in the store at one time has been limited. Signage is in place to encourage social distancing, checkout lanes have been reduced in num-

Alone among the pack, Zehr’s, in Welland, offers customers a hand-washing station. ber, floor decals have been applied to space customers in lineups, and arrows now direct traffic flow through the aisles. Use of personal shopping bags has been discouraged, hand sanitizer has been made available at store entrances, plexiglass shields have been in-

stalled at checkouts, and self-checkout scanners and shopping cart handles are sanitized after every use.

Most corporate food retailers have encouraged the use of shields and masks by their employees, although it appears that this has become more of an option

than an edict for staff.

Meredith Maxwell, the Manager of Public Health Communications and Engagement for Niagara Health, said that each local supermarket receives direction for their head office, interpreting and acting on government health poli-

DON RICKERS

cies. Masks and plexiglass barriers are recommended, but not mandatory. Public Health provides guidance and support, but stores which fail to comply with regulations are addressed through municipal bylaw See SURVEY Page 12

Town of Pelham Community Garden Competition 1.

2.

The Town of Pelham, with support from Pelham Beautification Committee, is offering friends, families, and businesses the opportunity to compete for prizes while enhancing the beauty of the Town and creating a positive, socially-safe competition. Ten garden beds are available for sponsorship; each bed is to be designed, planted, watered, mulched, weeded, and maintained throughout the summer by its respective team. Signage will be placed in each bed signifying the sponsor’s name.

Rules:

3.

4.

1. Gardens must be planted with perennials and annuals 2. Gardens must be maintained (mulched, watered, weeded) throughout the duration of the season.The Town will water the beds Wednesday mornings.

3. Entrants must maintain physical distancing while working on their garden beds 4. Entrants are permitted to design beds with plants of their choosing; cannabis is prohibited 5. Beds must be maintained throughout the season to be eligible for prizes

Register:

5.

6.

To register, email Marc MacDonald (mmacdonald@pelham.ca) with a completed, signed waiver form, the name of your family, team, or business (feel free to include a high resolution logo to be placed on your community bed sign), and your preferred garden bed locations (please submit your top 3 choices). Waiver form is available online.

Judging Criteria (Judging Labour Day)

Prizes:

2. Landscape maintenance 3. Landscape design principles and elements 4. Elements of design

1st: $500 2nd: $350 3rd: $250

1. Curb appeal

Garden Bed Locations:

7.

8.

1. North Pelham Gateway Sign – Metler @ Cream 2. Centennial Park – Flag Pole 3. Old Pelham Town Hall – (3-beds) 4. Cherry Ridge Park - Park Sign 5. Harold Black Park – Flag Pole

4th: $150 5th: $100 6-10: $50

6. Peace Park – Cenotaph 7. Peace Park – Park Sign 8. Town Hall – Rear Bed (North Entrance door) 9. Town Hall Rear Bed (South Entrance door) 10. Town Hall Front Beds

All competition details available at: www.pelham.ca/garden-beds

9.

10.

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The Voice, June 3, 2020

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

OPINION

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

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

COMMENTARY / OP-ED Larry Coté Lessons waiting to be learned from the pandemic

I

t is said that experience is the best teacher. If that be true, then there should be some solid lessons learned from this current pandemic. Hopefully, the county’s leadership responsible for protecting their constituents from harm will take these lessons to heart once the pandemic has concluded.

One of the preeminent lessons should be how a society might more befittingly care for its seniors.

Think about this for a moment. An ensuing thought should lead one’s social justice conscience to give top-drawer priority to this primary responsibility.

One need not go to great lengths to rationalize that responsibility but to say that seniors are the people who provided for their progeny and contributed to all that the younger sectors have and enjoy. There is no doubting the seniors laid the very foundation for this nation. They made it better than when they found it. Therefore, they should be honoured and treated to the utmost degree possible. A sizable debt is owed them. Likely, beyond repayment.

For instance, it is important to remember this.

The just-past generation established Canada’s universal health care system.

Therefore, this country’s leadership should painstakingly examine the existing measures, facilities and systems associated with senior care. Such an effort should focus on designing a more appropriate and more caring system appropriate for those who gave their progeny what they have and enjoy. Clearly, this society owes seniors a better care system than the current one that failed to adequately protect them from the miseries, and moralities, of this COVID-19 pandemic. A good start to designing that more caring system would be to make senior care an integral part of the healthcare system.

The matter of whether for-profit enterprises should continue to be part of this system should be cautiously reviewed. The primary objective of corporate entities is profitability.

That objective may at times conflict with what should be the more cardinal responsibility to more fully care for the wants and need of a society’s most vulner-

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able and fragile members.

Another key learning topic is the matter of a perilous dependence on foreign countries to provide the domestic healthcare system with the equipment and technologies to treat the healthcare needs the citizenry expect and deserve.

The widely reported issue of the shortage of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) appears to be at least partly due to the vagaries of the foreign-based supplier dependency. Surely, Canadian enterprises can design and deliver these crucial supplies and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers. In times of crisis, such alien operations may become conflicted on whose needs might be a priority, or most crudely, more profitable. The cost of domestically produced materials of unquestionable quality may sometimes be higher. However, the addition of new jobs to the economy should offset the impact of such a potentiality. Such self-sufficiency in areas crucial to the health, safety and welfare of its citizenry should be one of the most fundamental objectives of a country that cares. ♦

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www.thevoiceofpelham.ca EDITOR & PUBLISHER Dave Burket publisher@thevoiceofpelham.ca ADMINISTRATION Lori Gretsinger office@thevoiceofpelham.ca CONTRIBUTORS Carolyn Botari, Colin Brezicki, Rosemary Chambers, John Chick, Larry Coté, Brian Green, Jenica Hrysko, Maeve Keating, Megan Metler, Bill Potrecz, Bernie Puchalski, Don Rickers, John Swart, Helen Tran, Mike Tucker, Rob Weatherby. Proof Sleuth: Julian Fitch NEWS INQUIRIES & TIPS editor@thevoiceofpelham.ca LETTERS TO THE EDITOR letters@thevoiceofpelham.ca ADVERTISING INQUIRIES advertising@thevoiceofpelham.ca

Put Kore conduct in the rear-view Please allow me to voice my opinion as follow up and support of the previous letter from Bill McInerney [“Accepts Kore’s most recent explanation,” Letters, May 27, p. 4].

I was pleased to hear support for Mr. Kore, who I have also known for better than 30 years, be it a casual bump into, or his dedication to customer service, and I am familiar to his community contributions.

I feel his expressions of sorrow and reactions to immense criticism needs to be a resolve.

I agree that he has taken responsibility for his bad choices!

If I keep in mind, history suggests to me, the only perfect person died on a cross!

How many bad choices have we all made in life. Let’s let it go and stay together to improve where we are going and throw away the rear-view mirror on this issue.

Al Winter Fonthill

CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS Member of Federal Parliament

Electoral District: Niagara West

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

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

Members of Pelham Town Council

Member of Provincial Parliament

Ward 1

Electoral District: Niagara West

The Voice

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

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

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Page 5

OPINION Fonthill Lioness donate

PELHAM AND COVID-19

In spite of these unprecedented times, the Fonthill Lioness have continued to meet via Zoom every month since March. At the May meeting we approved donating over $7,000 to local and Lions charities. This does not include $1,000 that we gave to Jazz Up the Park and $1,000 to McKids.

Local recipients were: Pelham Cares $500, Pelham Library for large- print books $500, Scholarships for E. L. Crossley and Notre Dame for a student that excels in volunteering $500, Wellspring Niagara $400,

Women’s Place $400, Hospice Niagara $300, Family and Children’s services $200, and NHS Welland site $500.

The Lions projects that we supported were: Camp Huronda, Camp Trillium, Camp Dorset, Lake Joe, Effective Speaking, Lions Foundation of Canada, Homes for the Deaf, and Lions Youth Exchange.

Thank you to all, including local business who supported us over the year, to make it possible for us to make these donations.

Fonthill Lioness

Reasonable gun owners not against reasonable restrictions I can only say I wish there was more pressure on the government to show how their changes to legislation would in any way improve Canada’s laws [Shooting sports advocates fire back against gun ban, May 20, p. 7].

Legislation like the new gun laws are just legislation of opportunity which may leave greater loopholes and opportunity for the wrong people to keep getting firearms they should not have. I always remember the quote, something to the effect of, “If you make firearms criminal then only criminals would have firearms.”

I think most reasonable firearms people are not against reasonable restrictions and laws on firearms. I do not want the wrong people to have firearms any more than the far-left people do.

I do not mind well-written and processed laws requiring training, proper handling and storage and use of firearms and ammunition. I have shot a gun in a gun club, and with the military (was never in the mil-

itary), since I was 12. We have many laws that are just not being applied when they should.

I remember a time when I was watching a TV news clip on the Oka reserve a long time ago and the Oka were standing there with guns in hand. Obviously not there to target shoot or hunt, and yet the police did nothing.

What is the use of any law, good or bad, if it is not applied by those we invest the power to do so. Badly written legislation only gives the wrong people loopholes in court that were not there before the legislation is passed. I am sure we will find instances of that coming forward in the future due to the vague way in which so much of this new legislation is written.

If there is doubt in how it can be viewed, the criminals will use that to get off scotfree when they might not have before the

S

Sexy, gentle, loving, and so damn funny, Every day, you get more yummy.

From the moment I looked into your big beautiful eyes, I just knew, deep down, you had to be mine.

As months went on and our experiences together grew, I knew, no question, that I wanted to marry you.

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elham is rich in the number of volunteers that promote a variety of organizations contributing to the fabric of community spirit. One such organization is the Pelham Garden Club — more formally referred to as the Pelham Horticultural Society. The club was founded in 1928, beginning with a club in Fenwick and another in Fonthill. In 1940, with greater access to transportation, the two branches amalgamated. The club started with 68 charter members, and reached a record high of 190 members in 1970. There currently are 85 registered members, with a few members proudly contributing to club activities for over 30 years! The Pelham Garden Club was recognized by the Town in 2018 as it celebrated its 90 anniversary with refreshments in Peace Park.

Like so many other organizations, this year’s club activities have been curtailed by COVID-19. One of the club’s missions, to promote interest and advances

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Like so many other organizations, this year’s club activities have been curtailed by COVID-19 Stop by and have a look!

The club also encourages the planting of trees, shrubs and flowers on both public and private grounds and generally promotes community gardening and outdoor beautification. It is with this support and enthusiasm both from the Pelham Garden Club and the Beautification Committee that the Town has launched the Garden Bed Competition.

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in gardening, hor t ic u lt u r e and related environmental issues, is achieved t h r o u g h Marvin Junkin hosting regular meetings with informative speakers discussing the theory and practice of horticulture.

The monthly meetings have been cancelled for several months. As with all community groups, the Pelham Garden Club benefits greatly with support from other organizations, local businesses, merchants and municipal government. This past November, the club worked closely with the Town’s staff and members of the Beautification Committee to hang boughs of greenery throughout Pelham. Club members maintain the gardens at the Fonthill Library and over time have expanded those beds. This year, through grant money from the Ontario Horticultural Association, a pollinator garden is being created to attract butterflies and bees.

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Page 6

The Voice, June 3, 2020

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

CannTrust back up and running

BY JOHN CHICK

Special to the VOICE

After eight months of being shut down due to federal violations, CannTrust announced May 29 that its cannabis growing licence has been reinstated by Health Canada.

“On February 14, 2020, the company announced that it had completed its remediation activities at the Fenwick facility, and that documentation in support of licence reinstatement had been submitted to Health Canada,” CannTrust said in a statement. “CannTrust will immediately recommence operations at the Fenwick facility.”

Pelham Mayor Marvin Junkin views the development as good news during a challenging time economically.

“It was great news to hear that CannTrust had their growing licence reinstated by Health Canada,” the

Mayor told the Voice. “With so many of the area’s workers facing dire circumstances due to unemployment, it is anticipated that with the licence renewal, this company will be recalling staff.

As always, Town staff will work with CannTrust to help this company to be compliant with the Town’s newly implemented bylaws concerning odour and light emissions.”

CannTrust wouldn’t confirm, however, that all those who lost their jobs in Fenwick during the outfit’s downturn would be rehired.

“The company will match production to the opportunities we see in the marketplace and assess our staff requirements accordingly,” spokesperson Jane Shapiro told the Voice Saturday.

As far as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and its effect on operations goes, Shapiro said, “CannTrust has put in place exten-

sive measures and precautions consistent with public health guidelines to ensure staff can work safely and are protected from COVID-19.”

Pelham’s Cannabis Control Committee (CCC) chair Tim Nohara didn’t want to comment directly on the news of CannTrust’s reinstatement, but highlighted that regulations the CCC has been crafting for several months in advance of the July 15 expiry of the interim control bylaw are nearing completion.

“We view the regulations that the CCC is working on as a triple win for the Town, residents and the cannabis industry,” Nohara said. “Everyone wins when neighbours play in a way that is fair, avoiding adverse effects on one another. The regulations will help define fair rules of play.”

Despite the green light to grow in Fenwick, CannTrust still isn’t sure when its product can get back to the marketplace.

“At this time, the company cannot provide an exact timeframe for when its

The man who triggered the tsunami— whistleblower and former CannTrust employee Nick Lalonde, outside the Fenwick plant, last summer. VOICE PHOTO products will be available in the market, which is dependent upon receiving a response from Health Canada to CannTrust’s licence reinstatement submission with respect to its Vaughan manufacturing facility, which was submitted to Health Canada more recently, on April 24, 2020,” the company release stated.

While CannTrust remains hobbled by months of minimal revenue flows, the company reported that

as of March 31 it had a cash balance of $140 million.

Despite the growing licence being reinstated, CannTrust continues to operate under creditor protection.

Last month it undertook a Sale and Investment Solicitation Process (SISP), designed to gauge interest in the liquidation of company assets.

CannTrust’s troubles began last summer, when a former employee blew the whistle on illegal growing

at the Fenwick site. The affair resulted in the dismissal of its executive team and the layoffs of a large chunk of plant employees. Last October, it was ordered to destroy $77 million worth of cannabis deemed to have been grown illegally. Company stock, which reached a peak of $10.65 USD per share in 2018, fell almost 90 percent before being delisted by the New York and Toronto Stock Exchanges this spring.

Obstructing no more: chicane demolished

BY DON RICKERS

Special to the VOICE

2019 Financial Statements available

The audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019, along with the auditor’s report and tax rate information for the current and previous year are available on the Town of Pelham website at:

www.pelham.ca/budgets

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The Haist Street chicane, located just north of Highway 20, met its demise on Monday as Duffin Contracting went to work with a backhoe and dump truck, while a handful of onlookers watched. Town Council had unanimously voted to remove the chicane last December, but the onset of winter delayed the work.

That the chicane existed at all was the result of several traffic studies looking into ways to curtail speeding in the area, and a petition in 2013 from local residents to address the issue as a safety concern.

Some residents had indicated a preference for speed humps as a traffic calming measure, such as those found on the other side of Haist, south of Highway 20. But the Director of Public Works at the time, Andrea Clemencio, cautioned against speed humps, saying that drivers tend to speed between them, and that they are troublesome for emergency vehicles.

In the fall of 2015, a temporary chicane was created along Haist Street as a pilot project, and traffic speed on the roadway was monitored. When the results showed a substantial decrease in the number of vehicles ex-

Contractors at work.

ceeding the speed limit, a decision was made by staff to erect a permanent chicane.

“The chicane was first discussed while I was a councillor,” recalled Mayor Marvin Junkin. “I remember doing some research on them, and while they were used in Toronto for a short period of time, many were removed because of the difficulties that they presented to transit buses.”

Completed in November 2016, the chicane was problematic from the start. The contractor had to rebuild the obstruction shortly after it was erected, due to construction errors. The chicane was damaged at least twice by tractor-trailers attempting to navigate the narrowed passage. Some drivers

REASONABLE

continued from previous page legislation was passed.

Judges are forced to lean on the side of leniency when confusion reigns.

It was not that long ago that I read an article in a news story that said something to the effect that between 2013 and 2017, serious crimes with handguns was on the rise. What was not said that over a longer period of time, say 1990 to 2020, that serious crimes with guns were actually on the decline and that was Stats Canada’s own database. The problem here is that for any one year, the number of any incidents can rise or fall. If you only take a snapshot of the statistics you can find

DON RICKERS

If you only take a snapshot of the statistics you can find what you are trying to prove what you are trying to prove and have that conclusion backed by the statistics. It is the long term trends, normalized for population growth, that we should be using. I am sure there are more handgun shootings in Canada in 2020 than 1820.

There is also a hell of a lot more people so that would only make sense, but again

seemed confused by the double-yield sign design, when vehicles simultaneously approached from north and south, something that the Mayor acknowledged.

“More then one resident of the Town has questioned the legality of the signage that accompanied this chicane,” said Junkin.

Haist Street residents Oscar Weiland and Geoff Lowe presented council with a petition in 2017, signed by nearly 200 people, urging the obstruction’s removal.

“All the residents on Haist Street north are affected by this ridiculous, stupid, non-functional, ugly, dangerous contraption in the middle of the road,” said Weiland.

it is in the way you prove your conclusion backed by statistics that can be wrong.

Still, news is about making a point and often death, destruction, murder and theft make better news to most of the media and it becomes hard to find evenly written articles that did not have conclusions drawn before they were written and just taking in “facts” to fill the story.

This article seemed reasonably unbiased and that is only what I wish we could see. Sadly media does not fact-check much of what is passed on and people run with the conclusion without asking how the data was handled along the way.

Alex Holland Calgary

GARDEN

continued from previous page during the pandemic, and the decreased staff and service levels available by the Town, voted in favour on May 19 to call on residents to support local growers and spruce -up flower beds that would have otherwise gone unplanted this year.

Ten garden beds are available for sponsorship.

Each bed is to be designed, planted, mulched, watered, weeded, and maintained throughout the summer by its respective team. The Town will water the beds once a week, on Wednesdays. There is no minimum or maximum dollar amount for sponsors to create their gardens. ♦

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice, June 3, 2020

Page 7

Mixed reactions to early school closure

BY MEGAN METLER

Special to the VOICE

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Tuesday, May 19 that schools across Canada would remain closed until the fall. The announcement has caused parents, students and educators to have mixed responses, but many agree that safety should be the number one priority during this global pandemic.

Paul Kuczera, parent of five and Grade 7 teacher at St. Ann School shared with the Voice how the school closure has affected both his students and his kids.

“Here, within the school, I think from class to class it’s different,” he said. “In my class, students have been using the Google Classroom feature for a couple of years now and so I think that for some people it’s been an easier transition.”

Kuczera explained that for some teachers, instructing students online was a new and challenging adjustment. For students in rural areas of Pelham connecting to the internet for classwork and instructions has also been an obstacle.

“We’re coming to the very end of May now, several months in and just talking to a couple of students this week, access to the internet is still a problem. In a couple of cases, they didn’t even have internet at home. So you’ve got a broad range of access and that becomes a problem for students and

the teachers themselves,” continued Kuczera.

The main concern of his right now is those students that have special needs and work in the SPEC-ED department. When the school closure began just after March Break, students requiring one-on-one assistance have been at a loss, he said.

Kuczera explained that an educational assistant, Tina Biernacki, has been reading with students over the phone and assisting them with writing summaries.

Biernacki commented, saying that she has also been making backyard social distancing visits as well as dropping off project materials to students. She is also encouraging students to share recipes with her to make a pandemic cookbook.

“It’s been good in that sense,” said Kuczera, “but that doesn’t make up for the other five hours a day that she would have had direct contact with those students, right there beside them, pointing out how to do a math question or understanding how something works in science. We’re still missing that collaboration piece, the opportunity to work with other students.”

Using Quebec’s school reopenings as an example, Kuczera said that he doesn’t believe Ontario is there yet. He says that sending students back to school right now

Teacher and parent of five, Paul Kuczera, with son Isaac. could be dangerous.

“We now, of course, have the issue coming up with students that are having inflammatory illnesses showing up and how is that tied into this? What if we were to go back early and this kind of thing went through our school system?” he said.

Kuczera adds that when schools reopen for the fall there are likely to be a lot of changes and is interested to see what these will look like.

With five kids at home, he said that it’s been difficult, especially with the warmer weather lately, and it’s a matter of staying on

them to get their work completed.

Pelham resident Charleen Horton said that she one hundred percent believes that closing the schools for the past few months and extending it over the summer was the right decision.

She said that online learning has been going great for her tenyear-old daughter, Piper, and that it’s a good method.

“It’s not so much a challenge, it’s just trying to get ourselves organized,” said Horton, “At the beginning, we were having trouble figuring out what to do, but now that we’ve got a little method going and it’s working very well.

MEGAN METLER

We’ve really come into a routine, so it’s very good.”

Jason Coxon, a parent of two and a resident of Pelham, told the Voice that he understands the importance of the schools closing but has been faced with challenges while adjusting to the new circumstances.

One son was accustomed to having a teacher’s aide with him for most of the day, completing schoolwork, and understanding the information during the shutdown has been difficult.

“I explained to my son how I See REACTIONS next page

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For more information and the monthly program calendar, please visit:

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It’s a free telephone program with group activities and presentations from the comfort of your own home. Programs include health related information, brain stimulating activities, conversations, discussion topics, and connections with peers.

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Page 8

The Voice, June 3, 2020

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

BUSY BEES David Hunt, Marjorie Tuck, Lois LaCroix, and Amber Cuthbertson, all members of the Pelham Garden Club, pause from their work on the pollinator garden at the Fonthill branch of the Pelham Library. The club received a grant from the Ontario Horticultural Society to install the garden, which attracts bees and butterflies to add to the local biodiversity.

DON RICKERS

REACTIONS

continued from previous page was taught math and it’s not taught the same way now. That's why you have tutors and stuff. It's hard for parents because working with your kids sometimes isn't the same thing,” Coxon said. “Teachers are a specific trade and that's what they do is teach and not all parents can.”

He tries to bring a more hands-on approach to his two sons while learning from home. Some of the recent activities they’ve been working on are projects in the garage, learning safe tools, changing light bulbs, reading recipes and measuring out fractions.

“So I’ve been trying to get them more basic skills, more practical work than desk work because you can only spend so much time at a table,” said Coxen. “It's already hard enough with people being boxed in and stuck in their homes. But at the end of the day when you’ve got to sit down at the

Families and caregivers come play and learn at our new EarlyON centre in Pelham.

table and get the work done, it can be very challenging for parents and students.”

Mia Colangelo, a Grade 8 student at St. Ann School told the Voice that learning from home has been all right but she enjoys being in a classroom much more.

Some challenges she has faced are lacking direct access to teacher instructions, not being present in a learning environment, and missing friends.

“The school closure has definitely changed a lot of big events. My graduation has been cancelled, end of the year trips, and summer school may have to be online,” Colangelo said.

E. L. Crosley student Lauren Knafelc shared that she’d rather be learning in a classroom as well.

“I’ve faced challenges with accessing work and working productively,” said the Grade 11 student.

Notre Dame Student Council President Ella Boon also commented on the recent situation.

She said that learning online has become increas-

ingly difficult, especially while she’s working a full-time job and that her teachers have been very understanding during these tough circumstances.

“Learning online is not very easy. It is hard to focus on school in a home environment,” said Boon.

To stay busy, she has been trying to stay outside as much as possible and finds that getting fresh air every day has been beneficial.

The COVID-19 outbreak has also altered big plans for her.

“Unfortunately, this pandemic has affected several events in my life such as my prom, my graduation, my last days of high school, as well as my summer trip to Montreal,” said Boon.

“My hopes are that my fellow classmates and I will be able to reconnect in the fall for a graduation ceremony.”

On May 19, Ford said, “The safety of our children is my top priority and one thing I will never do is take unnecessary risk when it comes to our children.”

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The Voice, June 3, 2020

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Page 9

Page 10

The Voice, June 3, 2020

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

“Crafting for men” goes digital during lockdown Niagara Fly Tiers, denied their weekly meetings, get together online

observers was Dr. Earl Hunt, a wellknown St. Catharines surgeon. Dr. Hunt was so taken with the art that he invited Paul and other interested anglers to his office on Yates St. in St. Catharines and cleared out a storage room for them to practice tying flies.

They continued to meet there every week for many years but when Dr. Hunt sold his building they were offered space in a long-closed fishing store in Port Dalhousie called Fishful Thinking. They met at different locations when the fishing store was sold, until finally landing in the basement of St. Andrew’s Church in St. Catharines where, between October and April, they have had (until March of this year) their weekly sessions for almost 20 years.

Every community in Niagara is represented among the Niagara Fly Tiers, from The Falls to Fort Erie, Welland, Pelham, St. Catharines, Vineland, Jordan, and points in between. Some, like Paul and Gary and Tom, have been tying for many

BY BRIAN GREEN

Special to the VOICE

Paul and the boys have been meeting every Tuesday evening during the fall and winter for more than 40 years to tie flies and tell fishing tales to while away the months when they can’t be on the water, fly rods in hand. They call their group of around 25 enthusiasts The Niagara Fly Tiers, and over the years the membership has changed but the enjoyment of crafting the delicate and beautiful lures from feathers and fur and bits of tinsel has not.

But now, unable to meet in the church basement where they have tying-benches and lighting, coffee machine and TV monitor for closeup views of the evening’s fly, they have

been meeting remotely through a program called Cluster that allows each tier to post his latest creation and receive the comments and applause of the rest of the group. It lacks the social interaction that is such a valuable part of the weekly gatherings, but keeps the friends in contact and provides a forum for discussing materials and techniques and new discoveries.

Paul Furminger, Tom Meade, and Gary Kosinsky were among the originals who first began meeting to tie flies 40 years ago and are still active with the group today. Paul recalls doing a fly tying demonstration at the Queensway Hotel back in 1976, and among the fascinated

Welcome Back

years, while others are new to the craft and count themselves fortunate to be learning from the best.

Some are avid, even fanatic fly fishers who produce flies that have the goal of tricking fish, while others never put their creations in the water. For them, tying flies is an end in itself. “Crafting for men,” it has been called.

Randy Greenall is a recent addition to the club, having joined three years ago at the invitation of his cousin, Morgan Stanford (who himself joined as a teenager and is now approaching retirement).

Randy says it’s certainly easier and probably smarter to buy your fishing flies online, but tying your own flies has its rewards.

“The mechanics of tying fur and feather to a fishing hook can be done by most everyone with ten fingers, a few tools and a little patience,” says Greenall.

“You can make it as complex or as simple as suits you. Some get involved in fly tying initially due to a

misguided attempt to save money.

Others find a Zen-like peacefulness in the methodical complexities of the build. It’s what you make of it.

In my case I’ve found a lot of joy in the camaraderie of like-minded fellas who have all fallen down the same rabbit hole as I have.”

With the online forum that has been forced on them to share their craft, the group has now expanded to include friends who live too far away to attend the Tuesday evening gatherings. David Breault chimes in from Prince George, B.C. and Brenda Clarke has joined from the other side of Hamilton. She posts the flies that she creates to donate to the Niagara Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada for their Healing Waters Program to teach fishing and tying to injured Canadian soldiers. Brenda took up fly tying when she saw a demonstration at a store while on vacation Florida.

Immediately intrigued she returned for more lessons, began tying as a hobby without any intention of

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The Voice, June 3, 2020

Page 11

Opposite page, Paul Furminger (centre) and members of the Niagara Fly Tiers on a Tuesday night in happier times. Left, Posting his creations from Prince George, B.C., David Breault is new to fly tying, and thanks to the online site he can get advice from experts in Niagara. Top left, this “Lady Paul” salmon fly was tied by Gary Kosinsky as a “wall hanger”… not for fishng. Top right, trout flies are more likely to be tiny, like these Blue-winged Olive Mayflies.

SUPPLIED

fishing. But what to do with all the flies she was tying? The Healing Waters Program provided the answer and last year she joined the soldiers at the Legion in Fonthill to give each a box of her hand-crafted flies and help teach them the basics of tying. Several other members of the Niagara Fly Tiers are also part of the local TUC Chapter and participate in the conservation work it does along with the Healing Waters initiative.

Each week when they were able

to meet, one of the group would lead the others in tying a fly of his choice. A GoPro camera recorded the process in closeup and sent the image to a large-screen TV so everyone could get a good view of the materials and the technique for assembling them on the barbless hooks they use to facilitate catch and release. Flies vary depending on the species of fish sought: tiny (5 mm) mayflies that float on the surface for trout, sinking shrimp imitations for saltwater bonefish,

mouse imitations made of deer hair to attract bass, slinky 6-inch torpedoes that entice pike, and so on.

Every fly has a name, some clever, some fanciful, some evocative, catalogued in one of the thousands of books written on the subject of tying flies: Deceiver, Despair, Grey Ghost, Wooly Bugger, Muddler Minnow, Royal Coachman. The materials are as varied as those found in any sewing cabinet: thread in every colour and thickness imaginable; hair of deer, elk, badger, muskrat, squirrel; feathers from peacocks, ducks, partridge, grouse, pheasant, and many other more exotic birds; tinsel, wire, floss, and much, much more. Many of the materials are produced specifically for fly tying, but many more are found in craft stores, fabric shops, and novelty shops, while still others are provided by hunter friends.

Among the many flies that have

been posted on the Cluster site over the past months, most members of the club agree that the prize for most intricate and skillfully tied fly goes to Gary Kosinsky, for his Lady Paul salmon fly, a creation he says took about five hours to tie. Would he fish with it?

“Not on your life!”

New tiers use the site to show attempts that aren’t quite right and seek advice, and some show flies they have had fishing success with, while others post pictures of flies that are enjoyable to tie or impressive to look at.

Sharing expertise is a hallmark of the club, as Randy Greenall asserts, “There’s so much knowledge and experience in the room. The club is lucky to have several members that are worthy of National Treasure status. It's a joy and somewhat mesmerizing to watch them build a fly.”

Fonthill resident Paul Verroche, a member for about 15 years, has provided much of the recent technical innovation to the club, including the use of the camera and TV monitor.

He also produces an annual photo album of the year’s flies and tiers and events. He points out the varied skills of the group from wood carvers to painters, from musicians to bamboo rod builders. “Our Tuesday meetings offer way more than just a way to learn to tie a fly,” he says.

“There is a wealth of skills across a broad base from many walks of life and age groups. We have much to learn from each other.”

The online site can’t reproduce the camaraderie of the weekly meetings, but gives the group a connection to their treasured Tuesday night sessions and provides a sense that come next October, they’ll be back in the church basement “tying flies and telling lies.”

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The Voice, June 3, 2020

Tyler Stephen Grummet Forever in Our Hearts

May 20, 1998 - June 4, 2015

You left us without warning, not even a good-bye, And we can’t seem to stop asking the question why?

We didn’t see this coming, it hit us by surprise, And when you left us that day, a small part of us died.

Your smile could brighten anyone’s day, no matter what they were going through, And every day for the rest of our lives, we’ll be missing you. xo

U

a

SURVEY

continued from Page 3 enforcement.

Last week, the Voice did a walk-through of a dozen food stores likely to be frequented by Pelhamites, to check on COVID-19 accommodations. Store websites and Facebook pages were also visited to view what messaging was going out to the public.

The good news is that all the big-three chain grocery stores were implementing safety procedures in accordance with corporate directives. Independent grocers had also made changes, but their efforts were, generally, a bit below the overall standard set by the corporate chains. All stores appeared overtly clean and orderly.

Perhaps the most topof-mind issue is the wearing of protective masks or shields. Some grocery stores in Ontario have actually implemented policies which require not just employees, but all customers to don facial coverings. Most grocers have left it to the discretion of the individual shopper.

CTV News reported on May 4 that customers at Longo’s, an independent grocery with locations across the GTA, are now required to wear masks or face coverings while shopping in the food stores. In a news release, Anthony Longo, the president and CEO, said, “As a family business, our number one priority is the health and safety of our team members and customers.”

Children under the age of two are exempt from the rule, and masks are available for purchase at the stores.

Speaking to the Canadian Press on May 7, Michael Bryant, the executive director and general counsel for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, said stores requiring customers to wear masks is a concern because, “You’re giving store employees a new power that

they are exerting over other people to deny them entry.”

Public health officials had not initially recommended the wearing of masks when the pandemic began, but early in May, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, changed her tune. She amended her earlier advice, and urged people to wear non-surgical masks when in situations where physical distancing was difficult to maintain.

Dr. Samantha Hill, president of the Ontario Medical Association, told CTV News on May 23 that masks or shields are not a replacement for physical distancing in public, or hand washing, but wearing one adds an extra layer of confidence.

"Your mask protects me, my mask protects you," she said.

Even Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the USA, told CNN on May 27 that wearing a mask is a valuable safeguard, and shows respect for other people.

"I want to protect myself and protect others, and want to make it a symbol for people…it’s the kind of thing we should be doing," said Fauci.

A summary of observations at Niagara grocery providers patronized by Pelhamites follows, in alphabetical order. Also provided is a record of the number of health citations for each grocery in the past twelve months. Bear in mind that these citations can be minor or major in terms of safety risk. Go online at Niagara Health for specific reports of all the stores listed.

Niagara Public Health inspectors conduct regular inspections of businesses in the Niagara region to assess if they comply with all health regulations. These regulations include hand washing and hygiene procedures for employees, disinfection and sterilization of equipment, cleaning and maintaining of counters and

surfaces, and food storage, handling, and preparation.

Critical infractions are corrected immediately, and follow-up inspections are done as required. No business is given advanced warning of an upcoming inspection.

Big Red Market, Richmond Street, Thorold The store is open early Monday through Friday, 8 AM-9AM for seniors and atrisk individuals. Cart handles and public surfaces are sanitized. All staff observed wearing masks. Only ten customers permitted to enter at one time, and only one family member at a time.

COVID responses are front and centre on their website.

Big Red has had two Niagara Health infractions over the past 12 months.

Commisso’s Fresh Foods, Thorold Stone Road, Niagara Falls Plexiglass hygiene barriers have been installed at all checkouts, as well as additional floor markings and decals to ensure people adhere to social distancing guidelines. Sanitizer is available at the entry door, as are gloves for all customers who want them. Only 30 shoppers are allowed in the store at one time. All staff members wear a mask and gloves. Customers cannot bring their own shopping bags into the store. Commisso’s has been cited twice in the past 12 months for safety non-compliance.

Costco, North Service Road, St. Catharines Cited once for health non-compliance in the past year. Costco insists that all staff wear facial protection.

Standard corporate safety measures are in place.

Country Corner Market, Quaker Road, Welland There is nothing on the store’s website about COVID-19 precautions, but there is a mention on their Facebook page. Sanitizer is available at the entry door, and signage encourages social distancing.

None of the staff were

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca observed wearing masks, and Country Corner was the only store visited which did not have a plexiglass barrier at the checkout counter, where the cashier and customer stand less than two metres apart. The store was cited three times in the past 12 months by Niagara Public Health.

Farm Boy, Fourth Avenue, St. Catharines All staff members don a mask at Farm Boy. Standard corporate safety measures are in place. The store has been cited once in past year for being in non-compliance.

Food Basics, Highway 20, Fonthill This store had no health citations in the past 12 months. Food Basics limits the number of customers for entry at one time, has sanitized carts, has plexiglass shields in place at the checkouts, and other safety measures. Some staff were observed wearing masks… but not all. An employee told the Voice that masks are provided by the store, but employees can choose not to wear them.

Giant Tiger, Fonthill Shopping Centre, Highway 20 The store manager met customers at the door with hand sanitizer, having wiped down shopping carts. All staff were wearing clear plastic shields. Traffic flow containment, plexiglass barriers at checkouts, appropriate signage…all in place. The store had one health inspection citation in the past year.

Pupo’s Food Market, Maple Ave, Welland There was nothing on Pupo’s website or Facebook page about COVID precautions. Only one staff member, behind the meat counter, was observed wearing a mask. Plexiglass screens at checkout counters were present, although there were no traffic direction indicators in the aisles.

Signage was displayed suggesting social distanc-

ing. Health inspections cited them twice in the past year for non-compliance.

Sobeys, Highway 20, Fonthill When the Fonthill Sobeys franchisee tested positive for COVID-19 in April, head-office dispatched a team of investigators. The store was sanitized, and new safety directives for staff and customers were communicated. On a visit early last week, the store appeared clean, with cart handles sanitized, plexiglass shields in place at the checkouts, and traffic flow indicators on the floor. The franchisee, Ron Kore, who is also a Pelham Town Councillor, was present, wearing a mask. Many Sobeys employees were not following his example…very few were wearing masks on Tuesday.

For whatever reason, by Thursday all employees appeared to be wearing shields or masks. The store had one health inspection citation in the past year.

Sobeys, South Pelham Road, Welland Standard Sobeys safety precautions were in place.

Most staff were not wearing masks. The store received no health citations in past year.

Walmart, Welland A staffer was observed sanitizing every self-serve checkout after each use, and entry was controlled to limit the number of shoppers in the store at the same time.

Plexiglas barriers had been installed at all checkout counters, and traffic arrows and decals were adhered to the floor. Many staff were observed with no facial mask or shield. The store had no health citations for non-compliance in the past 12 months.

Zehr’s, Welland Some staff were wearing masks, but most were not.

Standard corporate precautions were in evidence.

Zehr’s was the only grocery visited with a prominentSee SURVEY Page 14

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Quarantainment Pandemic Diversions for the Homebound The Voice, June 3, 2020

Page 13

FICTION Faith

By Eveline van Berkum

H

igh up in the Alps of Switzerland was the little wooden hut where Francois lived, like so many other boys in Switzerland. But the little brown structure which was Francois' home was different from other Swiss homes in that it was smaller and had a poorer appearance. Francois lived there with his mother's sister and her husband.

He had neither father nor mother. He remembered distinctly the story he had been told of his mother's life and his own childhood.

She had been kitchen-maid in the splendid palace of the Bourbon kings in France, the palace of Louis XV, the Bien Aime. She fell in love with a young man who was engaged in dusting the bed chamber of the very king himself—an exalted position, and they were married with the gracious consent of His Majesty himself.

For one short year they lived in happiness and then a son was born to them, Francois. That was in 1773.

Another year of happiness ensued. Both parents remained in the palace and they were still there when suddenly his Majesty was taken ill with the smallpox, that very serious and dreaded disease which often resulted in death. Such was the case this time. His Majesty died, deserted by the majority of his relations, servants and friends.

But a few remained. Among these was Francois' father, who to the last day carefully dusted his Majesty's bedroom. But the disease was extremely contagious, and on the day after his

Majesty's death, the servant was taken ill. After a week of struggle, he also joined his Majesty in spite of his wife's patient nursing, and Francois was was left a fatherless child. But more misfortunes seized the widowed woman. A new king was about to ascend the throne and he issued a proclamation that all those who had been in the presence of the late king or who had been near a person sick with the disfiguring disease, should leave Versailles before a certain date. That meant Francois' mother! She had always been an obedient subject and realized the necessity of the measure. Imagine if the beautiful queen should ever fall ill—she was too lovely to go to Heaven yet!

But what was the widowed woman to do? She had no relatives in France and no one would take care of her since she would no doubt harbour the germs of smallpox. Long she thought one night, and suddenly it flashed on her tear-clouded memory that she had a sister in Switzerland. The sister was a compassionate woman and would certainly let her work to earn the daily bread for her son and herself. But how was she to get there? She concluded that she must walk.

Perhaps some kind peasant along the road with a cart would give her and her charge a ride as far as he went.

One morning she set out, her darling in her arms, with what money and valuables were left to her cast in a bag on her shoulder. With tears in her eyes she took a last look at the domains of the dynasty she had served

The situation was shortly made clear with the aid of the local clergyman who read the document that the woman had caused to be written some days previous by another clergyman, explaining all. The childless couple took the child into their simple home, cared for him and were rewarded by a sturdy, good-looking boy, in spite of the fact that they were very poor.

so faithfully. She realized how much she had respected his Majesty, who owned all France, who had so many nobles pay court to him, who made all the laws, who spent so much money for feasts in the palace, which she helped to prepare and taste of—yes, his Majesty must be very powerful for he could do exactly as he pleased.

She suffered great privation, and a long time after she had left Versailles she reached the foothills of the Alps. Far away she saw the snowy peaks and thought of days of hardship, cold, hunger and fatigue that were still in store for her and her child before she should reach her destination. Five days later she realized that she was becoming ill. She suffered from the cold, her feet were wet, her child was so heavy and food was scarce, for there were not many houses bordering her path. Still she struggled forward, with courage never daunted by the frozen formidable heights above her. Yet every day she felt weaker, and when

she had at last reached the higher level, she knew that she could not live long.

However, she inquired and found out that she was not far from her sister's home.

One afternoon she caught sight of it, but distances in the mountains are deceiving, her steps were slow and tiresome, and she only reached it after dusk. Her child had suffered very little during the perilous trip, but now she knew that her mission was fulfilled and her strength ended. With a dull thud she fell against the door of the cottage; her child, wrapped in cloths and shawls, fell into the snow. Bright shone the stars and full was the moon—the heavens could not have provided a more gentle setting for the death of an ancient Greek hero.

The child began to cry, for though not a gust of wind blew, the atmosphere was bitterly cold. The people inside, alarmed, came out and found the woman and her child. Soon she was recognized, and also the child, for it bore a striking resemblance to the mother.

When he was sixteen, he was given the last wishes of his mother regarding himself, through the mouth of the same clergyman who had been present at his mother's funeral. He was told the story of his parents and how he came to Switzerland, and also his mother's last wishes, which urged him to seek employment in the service of the French king, whoever he might be at that time, and to think always of France as his native land. Moved to tears, the boy had pledged his faith and left for the little brown building that he considered his home.

For two years now his only playmate and friend had been the girl from the nearest house some distance down on the same mountain. This was pretty Adele, her mother's only child. She had a sweet disposition, but yet she was a little spoiled and haughty.

She had no father—he had died while rescuing a lone-

ly traveller from an avalanche years before—and her mother was a well-todo lady, who lived with her people, Adele's grandparents, who further spoiled the only child. But Adele was not without her good qualities—she was generous, intelligent, witty, unafraid of the dangers hidden in the mountains surrounding her.

Adele loved the outdoors and spent long hours in tramping up the mountains and picking the gay flowers that covered the slopes in the summer, and sliding down the paths in the winter. She herded the few cattle, her grandmother's pride, but she loved animals and this was no tedious task.

Francois was very fond of her, but he was never very certain whether his liking for her was reciprocated.

True, her people were very kind to him; they had given him more pleasure than he could ever hope to return.

Often they had invited him to their house, which was much bigger than that of Francois' aunt. There they had looked through the illustrated books (there was a whole shelf full of them), they had gone down the mountain path on Adele's sleigh—it was a real one, with runners, and went, oh, so smoothly; they had taken him oftentimes See FAITH Page 16

At the Woodlands of Sunset, we are pleased to serve our Residents and Families and to be an integral part of Pelham/Welland society.

During this unprecedented time, we have had the pleasure of being on the receiving end of exceptional community support and generosity. A huge thank you to everyone who helped celebrate the dedication of our staff!

Thank you to the Barnes, Trach, Spadafora, Policella, Dempster, Ventresca, Christensen, McCarron, Kelpin, and Carter Families! Our thanks to Lookout Point Golf Club, Pupo’s, WinBig Niagara, Country 89, Starbucks, Dove, P&G with the Canadian Dental Hygienists, Vermeer’s, Just Tulips, Holy Trinity Church, the Book Depot, and Tim Horton’s. A special thank you to the “Chocolate Bar Angels” for the surprise treats.

We are proud to be part of a supportive, giving community. Stay well!

Woodlands of Sunset

Saturdays 12:30 – 3:30. Register and pay ahead in person. $5.00 per 1/2 hour. Visit www.pelhamlibrary.on.ca or call 905-892-6443 for more details.

Page 14

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For more information Call Today from 9-10647-350-2558. am and Thursdays at Fonthill Bandshell for 9-10:30 am.

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pelham.ca or call 905 892-2607, ext 329.

HAMPER DAY FOR PELHAM CARES of Purchase fresh fruit and vegetables at the Market or bring aPlaces non-perishable Classifi foodBethany itemOCNA to fill Network the hampers at eds the Ads Pelham Farmers Market on Sept. 4.

Christian Reformed Church First Presbyterian Church

Portable sawmill service.

Beamer’s Pro Hardware I will come to your home or farm and custom mill your logs.

Firewood & lumber alsoSobey’s available. Call Rob Patterson, FENWICK McDonald’s 905-401-4948, Avondale Stor riverwood@primus.ca Fonthill Legion

Josh DeHaan Flooring “For all your flooring needs”

We offer in-stock specials: • pre-finished hardwood

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Call us to see the products that are available & visit our showroom.

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602 Metler Rd., North Pelham

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Pelham Evangelical Friends Church www.pelhamfriends.ca

Concordia Church Week Lutheran of 105 Welland Rd., Fonthill

Fonthill Baptist Church www.fonthillbaptistchurch.ca

Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 1369 Rice Rd., Fonthill

Ridgeville Bible Chapel ridgevillebiblechapel.com

Fenwick Church of Christ www.fenwickchurchofchrist.ca

Fonthill United Church www.fonthillunited.com

Kirk on the Hill Presbyterian Church 1344 Haist St., Fonthill

St. Alexander Roman Catholic Church www.stalexander.on.ca

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COMMUNITY Events April 13

Posted Event Submissions Standards April 8United Church Fenwick

If your organization is hosting an event that would be of interest to the community, www.fenwickunited.com www.gladtidingschurchofgod.com www.pelham.cc www.stannfenwick.com you may submit an events profile by sending your community events information to Central editor@thevoiceofpelham.ca Some restrictions apply. Event submissions that meet Region Ads included if your already has a hitch, a FAITH HANDLEBARS SURVEY theLIFT acceptability standards of The Voice of Pelham will then be posted untilvehicle the date suitable four-bike rack starts at $200. continued from Page 17 continued from Page 18 continued from Page 12 This The ad isCommunity to be printed by all participating Ontario papers of your event.

Events Calendar is updated weekly.

Please provide Once you have the ability to transport as much notice and information as possible including the date, time and description Once you have the ability to ly displayed hand-washing open. All the trails mentioned below your bikes within Niagara, family-orimade us, loves us, died for ented trails of every variety are availof your event.

The Voice of the right to editforfor space. arePelham paved orreserves fine stone dust suitable us, and wants a personal station. The store has been relationship with us.

I leave you with these faith-filled verses from the New Testament…

• “Cast your cares upon Him (God) for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) • “Have no anxiety about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) And this is my prayer for you… “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”

(3 John 2) Amen!

Rob Weatherby is a retired pastor who keeps looking up… way up.

any age or bike style, and are off public roads.

Pelham’s own Steve Bauer Trail has many sections that are perfect for even the youngest two-wheeler. In Fonthill, the trail from Port Robinson Road to Merritt Road is treed with small ponds and ditches to entertain young kids, whereas the section from Merritt Road to Welland Road is open and sunny. A ride around Woodstream Park then into the smooth, wood-chipped path toward Spruceside Crescent is forested and flowered. Watch for the abandoned kids’ fort as you ride.

From Fenwick, the Gerry Berkhout Trail is a flat and easy trip into forests, fields and busy swamps with a surface suitable for all tire widths. For these two trails, bring your own snacks, or find post-ride treats in downtown Fonthill and Fenwick.

Both trails, and many more routes, are marked on the Pelham Cycling Map, available at Town Hall and Meridian Community Centre when they reopen.

A bike rack for cars, vans and SUVs capable of carrying three bikes can be purchased for approximately $100, and

able. Details for each trail listed below can be found with an internet search.

The Welland Canal Trail is educational and refreshingly cool in summer.

Thorold, Welland and Port Colborne all have age-suitable refreshment stops to reward intrepid cyclists. Forty-two kilometres paved.

The Merritt Island Trail in Welland is a great first trip, running between the Welland River and recreational canal. Five kilometres paved.

The Gord Harry Conservation Trail is a green corridor between Port Colborne west and Lowbanks, that includes the Wainfleet Bog and Wetlands, horse farms, limestone quarries and wind turbines. Short detours lead to Lake Erie beaches along the way.

Twelve kilometres stone dust.

The George Nicholson Memorial Trail in Port Weller East parallels the Welland Canal Harbour before turning into Lake Ontario along a man-made spit terminating at a lighthouse. Its unique waterfowl habitat and excellent views make it worth the drive from Pelham. Jones Beach is a bonus. Three kilometres stone dust.

transport your bikes within Niagara, family-oriented trails of every variety are available

The Friendship Trail between Port Colborne and Fort Erie offers excellent refreshment stops, a Saturday Farmer’s Market and splash pad for kids right on the trail in Ridgeway, and Lake Erie swimming access. Twenty-four kilometres paved.

The Regional Niagara Bicycling Committee Bicycling Map shows 13 additional marked trails, and is available online. When you’ve completed these, get the Best Bicycle Park & Rail Trails in Ontario guide to find 65 more options, also available online. Who knows, Pelham’s second Steve Bauer may be waiting to be discovered. ♦

cited twice in the past year by health inspectors.

There are few certainties associated with the current pandemic, but we should expect facial protection to be ubiquitous in the foreseeable future. Journalist Olga Khazan, writing in the Atlantic magazine on May 22, quoted a public health non-profit executive who referred to the mask as “the condom of our generation.”

The HIV/AIDS epidemic made condoms mainstream years ago, as people became cognizant of the dangers of unprotected sex. Gradually, condoms were grudgingly accepted. It may eventually be true of facial coverings.

As Khazan noted, “We will be wearing things on our faces for a long time.

You can choose between a mask and a shield, but you can’t choose ‘nothing.’”

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice, June 3, 2020

Page 15

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RECRUITMENT

continued from Page 19 of 5-foot-10 guard Lequan Hylton.

The four main returning players are Johnnie Richardson, Rahim Bardi, Sterphone Augustin and Kennon Larmand.

“Those are the four who are building blocks and Reese Radobenko will be back as another solid support guy as will Connor Joliffe,” Mosley said.

The signings were the culmination of lots of work

by Mosley.

“The process for me starts with early identification six to eight months ago for some of them and then following up emails of players who are interested in coming into the program,” he said.

Normally, he would invite guys in for some training sessions or workouts, either as individuals or with other players from the Knights.

“I can’t do that so I have to rely a lot on game film and speaking to their coaches to get a full picture of their playing skills, but also their character,” Mosley said. “Those are two big pieces for us.”

The pandemic has made things much more difficult.

“You get inundated with

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emails from guys who are interested in coming and playing but all you can offer them now is an opportunity to possibly come in and work out if and when things break.”

That makes it difficult for Mosley to make definitive decisions.

“It would be much easier if you had them in the building and had them in the gym to see them against each other or against your returning players. Now you have to go a little bit on game film and I watch a lot of game film. The problem is some players come from smaller schools and they don’t have access to game film,” he said. “You get a real mix of that and you have to trust that it is all going to work out and there will come a time when you can get guys in the gym to make some final decisions regarding the roster.”

In normal times, Mosley’s team would already be practising twice a week with returning players and prospective players who live three or four hours away.

“It would be a mix of skill training and scrimmaging to assess players.”

He is presently hosting two Zoom meetings a week to touch base with his players and exchanges countless texts with them as well.

OLA, Minto Cup cancelled

BY BILL POTRECZ

BPSPORTSNIAGARA.COM

The Ontario Lacrosse Association junior A season and 2020 Minto Cup are the latest casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Canadian Lacrosse Association announced it has cancelled all 2020 national championships because of the pandemic. As well, the OLA junior A season has been cancelled.

“Obviously it’s a disappointment for sure, but it’s kind of a relief because of all the different speculations we had throughout the process,” St. Catharines Athletics general manager Jeff Chcoski said. “It’s done, we can put it away, and now we can focus for next season.”

The Athletics, who were to host the Minto Cup this summer in conjunction with the Canada Summer Games, will host the championship of Canadian junior A lacrosse in August 2021.

“The health and safety of our players and everyone in the lacrosse community are our top priorities,” CLA president Shawn Williams said.

“We recognize that national championships are important to lacrosse players of all ages. The CLA will be preparing for the 2021 national championship season and we look forward to having our lacrosse family back together once again.

“The decision was made with the support of the box lacrosse and field lacrosse sectors and in consultation

with the CLA’s member associations.

Health and safety, travel concerns, venue closures and many other factors were taken into consideration.

Return-to-play or return-to-activity is in different phases across the country, which provides unique challenges based on geography to our Canadian lacrosse community.”

The A’s spent the off-season loading up to contend for the Minto Cup and feature a roster of about a dozen 20-year-olds, including key players such as Carter Zavitz, Tom Whitty, Alex Simmons, Kealan Pilon, Owen Friesen and Mason Kamminga.

“Our next challenge now, as a league, is to get the 1999s (players born in 1999), to return for next season,” Chcoski said. “The problem with that is the OLA wants it, but that doesn’t mean the CLA wants it or BCLA (British Columbia Lacrosse League) wants it or Alberta wants it.

“It’s going to be a process. It will probably be announced in August whether the 1999s will be eligible.”

Chcoski feels the only fair thing to do is give the graduating players one more season.

“That’s what they’ve done in the NCAA, that’s what they’ve done in the under-19 World Field Lacrosse Championship,” he said. “It’s definitely happened all over. The OLA will get written responses from all junior teams to send to the CLA just to show how strong we are making

sure we make sure the 99s get to play their final year.”

Chcoski, who contacted the coaching staff and players ahead of the announcement, admitted it will be an odd summer without lacrosse.

“I don’t know if it’s officially sunk in yet,” he said. “We did a lot of legwork to put this team together back in December and January. A lot of work was already put into this season by a lot of people, so how weird is it going to be? It’s going to be weird.

We’re lacrosse guys. We’ve been doing this since we were kids and to have a whole summer off like this is going to be weird. One of our coaches said to make sure you spend a lot of time with your family this summer because next summer is going to be wild.”

Other national championship cancellations include the Mann Cup, the Minto Cup, the Presidents’ Cup, the Founders’ Cup, the Alumni Cup, the First Nations Cup, the Ross Cup/ Victory Trophy, 16U Box Lacrosse Championship, 16U Girls Box Lacrosse Championships, 14U Box Lacrosse Championship, 14U Girls Box Lacrosse Championships, 12U Box Lacrosse Championship, and the U19 Women’s Field Lacrosse Championship. For the most part the 2020 host organizations will be hosting in 2021.

The 16U Boys and Girls Box Lacrosse National Championships were slated to be held in St. Catharines.

Page 16

FAITH

continued from Page 13 when they went with the horses to the city, buried in the green valley where the river flowed. His aunt was poor and did not have a horse, so that he would never have gone to the city if it had not been for his friendship with Adele. But Francois had never done anything for her that she would ever remember. He had given her a carved picture-frame on her birthday which she had seemed to like, but it did not seem to draw her closer to him.

She was Swiss and he was French. She was stolid, not easily moved to tears or smiles, he was filled with love for that country beyond the mountains; was easily affected—like the Frenchman he was—by the mere mention of tragedy, and his happiness flowed out of his heart whenever Adele invited him. She despised this weakness of his as well as his intense patriotism for the country which she thought he would surely never see again. She had little enough of imagination to realize what France was to him, even if he had told her of his mother's will. Often the sad truth dawned upon him that she was far removed from him, although they were great friends.

How profound their friendship was no one could guess—that had yet to be proven.

One day, when he was nineteen, Francois was in the little village buying some groceries for his aunt.

There was a commotion as if something important was happening. Shortly he found out there was a messenger from France who was going to read a proclamation within half an hour. Was it any wonder that Francois stayed to hear it? A messenger from France! Just to see him would delight Francois. In a half-agony of joy, the boy passed the long half hour.

Precisely on time did the messenger ascend to the elevation in the centre of the square. All the inhabitants of the town had gathered to listen—they had no idea what he was about to say.

“I, the messenger of His Majesty Louis the Sixteenth, King of France and all French dominions beyond the sea, where the sun never sets, announce to you, citizens, that his Majesty is in grave need of special guards to protect him and his family. Therefore, O Citizens, if any of your sons are considered worthy of serving his Majesty, King Louis the Sixteenth of France, have the kindness to report to me this week in the village tavern where I shall rest. There I shall give you further details of your task.”

Thus it happened that, a few months later, Francois was a member of the Swiss Guard of his sacred Majesty which was lodged in the Tuileries Palace in Paris. The wishes of his mother were now fulfilled.

He was serving the French monarch in a splendid red uniform, in which he was taught to shoot cannon. He received a few sous each

The Voice, June 3, 2020 day (more than he had ever received in one month in Switzerland) but rather bad meals. He was fairly contented, but for an occasional longing for Adele, the mountains and the sound of the cow bells. His special friend was a boy of his own age from another part of Switzerland, but Adele was neither mentioned nor forgotten. The farewell had been strange. Adele that week had had one of her cold moods, had spoken little and she had shown little emotion. But this had not daunted him and, knowing Adele, he knew that he could still think of her as a friend.

The times in France were very unsettled. No one in the Guard knew why, except the Commander, but he, of course, kept silent.

They were not allowed to mix with people on the street, but were kept secluded in a barrack. There was a daily routine, only broken on Sundays, when they were given extra good meals. They knew that France was at war, but why and where they could but conjecture. Something was hidden, something that was to happen, something awful. Francois felt it, a mysterious sixth sense told him.

In June something did happen, but less awful than he had felt. One day they were told to be ready for an emergency. A great mass of crudely armed people had gathered before the Palace and presented a petition to the Assembly which was also housed in the Tuileries. They entered the palace and insulted their Majesties, but no order for action was given to the Guards, much to Francois' disgust. How terribly ill-mannered were these subjects of the king! He must do something to stop them; and the Queen, too— she was so very beautiful— he could not understand how they had dared to come so near her. Next time that should happen ... well, he would do something, he, Francois, would tell these people with ... with a couple of cannon balls.

The situation did not improve—France was being defeated abroad, Paris was very excited, the Guards had to practice harder.

Francois' curiosity piqued him badly—why did they not tell the Guards what was happening? Why, they were his Majesty's own guards and they were not allowed to know!

Late in the evening of August the 9th, 1792, the Guards were ordered to remain awake in arms, because some plot seemed to be brewing. At midnight a tocsin sounded. All Paris was in the streets. The Guards were stationed at vantage points in the Palace. The supreme hour had struck. No longer was there any doubt that things were going to happen and bad things. The large National Guard, the one that was always stationed around the Tuileries and beside the great gates, was strengthened by reserves; they stood, holding their weapons with grim faces gleaming in the torchlight, ready for action. The sky was

clouded and it would have been pitch-dark but for the many lanterns in the hands of the warrior-citizens.

The latter gathered thicker and thicker around the king's home, pushing the National Guards away with their pikes and shouting and screaming and singing revolutionary songs.

They were becoming more furious every moment. Already the sound of clashing weapons was heard—the order of resistance and use of force was given to the National Guard—but it was too late. They disappeared, outnumbered, from the scene of their murdered commander.

By this time it was already the breakfast-hour.

But the fates had ordained that few people in Paris should have breakfast that day. The Swiss Guards were in action, defending the old palace whence their Majesties had fled for refuge in the Assembly. The mob had become an army, poorly organized, but vast, omnipotent and determined to win a victory. His Majesty's last orders had been given several hours ago—to fight— and no other had arrived from the Assembly, so they fought, for his Majesty.

The slaughter was terrible. Francois had never imagined anything could be so cruel. He worked hard and courageously. Those ill-mannered people would be shown how to behave with sacred royalty. But towards the end of that day he realized that the Swiss Guard could not sustain mob violence as strong as that of enraged Paris. Many of his comrades had already fallen—he himself had several times come within an ace of death; his left hand was bleeding and his fine red uniform was dirty and torn. His ammunition was giving out. Fewer and fewer red coated Guards were left around him. Suddenly a bullet whizzed towards him, close to the ground.

He felt a great pain in his thigh and fell to the foot of his cannon in a swoon.

A few hours later he was once more conscious of his position. There was not a Guard to be seen and the dull clashing and howling had moved to another side of the building, where the Assembly was being besieged. He realized that they had left him as dead and that now was his chance to escape with his life, or whatever there was left of it, for his leg hurt severely. Already it was dark; not a soul could be discerned. With infinite courage and faith he crept from under his cannon. He tore off his red coat, for people would recognize him too easily in it. Shivering a little, he tried to walk. He moved inch by inch; where was he going? He did not know, but his instinct led him westwards along the Seine and to the bridge over it. There he would hide!

How strange that he had not thought of that before!

There he could rest his weary limbs for the night and plan a course of action. He knew that he could neither remain in Paris nor return to Switzerland as a defeated soldier. Would Adele not then despise him

OBITUARY

HILTON, Tara May 24, 1968 May 25, 2020 Passed away in St. Catharines, Ontario in her 52nd year. Raised in Lennoxville, Quebec, Tara met Martin while at university, and they were later married in 1995.

Trained as a Social Worker at the University of Calgary, Tara started her career with inpatient Social Work in Sydney, Australia and then shifted to children services.

Upon her return to Canada, she worked with children with special needs for over a decade at the Niagara Children’s Center.

Tara loved reading, rock concerts with friends, long walks and coffee time, but most of all she found reward in her dedication to children and, specifically, her own children. Tara will be lovingly remembered by her husband, Martin (Devitt), and children: Graham, Grace and Elise.

She is survived by her parents, Don and Nora Hilton; sister, Krista Hilton (Fr. Tom Vaughan, Joy & Ivy); brothers-in-law: Hart Devitt (Mary Ann, Alex & Lauren); Craig Devitt (Jen, Maddy & Ben). Tara made a profound difference in the lives of those she touched through her family, friendships, and work. Her loss will be deeply felt by all. In memory of Tara, please donate to Hospice Niagara. A gathering to remember her life will be held at a later date. more than ever?

Hesitatingly he crossed the old bridge over the softly gurgling river. It seemed as if he was in another world.

Far away he heard the confused din of arms. He was all alone. A single star in the river caught his eye; the heavens were calm and serene. The soothing murmur of the waves beating the grey old arches calmed his distracted mind and a lone lantern at the end of the bridge cast long shadows on the pavement. A strange feeling swept over the lonely young man. He had not found the earthly paradise in his mother's country; his faith in the king of France, whom he had supposed all-powerful, was shaken to its foundations. In Switzerland he had not been completely happy—there were always those spells when he felt himself a forlorn and despised creature, when he feared that Adele did not return his liking for her and was cold and moody.

Was he perhaps prideful?

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OBITUARY

KIERS, Albert Jan August 15, 1937 May 28, 2020 God in His infinite wisdom has called His child, husband, father, grandfather and greatgrandfather Albert Jan Kiers home on May 28, peacefully at home. Albert leaves behind his wife of 56 years Freda Kiers (nee DeVries). He will be sadly missed by his son Tony (Anita) Kiers and Chantal, Danielle and Jayden; his daughter Wendy (Brian) Kremer and Brittany (Ralph) Terpstra, Kristyn, Dean, Rachel, Patrick (Shelby), Deacon, Landon, Emmett, Tamara (Dave) DeBoer, Mackenzie and Riley; his son Jerry (Jeniffer) Kiers and Sierra, Cassidy and Cadence; his daughter Marita (Jim) Wagner and Morgan, Adam, Brent and Maya; his daughter Laura Kiers and Bryce, Sage and Drestin Terhaar. Albert was predeceased by his son Michael (1966) and grandson Tyler (1993).

Psalm 116:15-Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. Due to the Covid-19 situation, there will be a private family visitation arranged as per current restrictions at Lampman Funeral Home, 724 Canboro Rd, Fenwick, Ontario. You are invited to witness the Funeral Service for Albert Kiers via Livestream on Monday, June 1st, 2020 at 1:30pm.

For access to the service please visit the Wellandport United Reformed Church website. A private rite of committal will take place at Pleasantview Cemetery following the service Was there some quality he possessed that could be blamed for his not finding bliss anywhere in this vast planet? Had his ambition to do something, something great, led him on a wrong path? Should he have remained in the mountainous country, where armies could not easily penetrate, and herded the village cattle in the summer?

He had reached the end of the bridge and was descending the bank to his prospective hiding-place.

His thigh ached and he was all but breathless. With difficulty he crept under the stone structure. Some reeds crackled under his feet. He sat down with his arms clasping his knees, and prepared for a period of meditation with his eyes fixed on the slow-moving current. Suddenly he felt something move behind him. He stretched out a trembling hand to feel what it might be. It was

OBITUARY

Ruth Gerlinde TATZEL, February 25, 1925 May 22, 2020 It is with broken hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Ruth on May 22, 2020. The love of her life, Karl, was by her side as he had been for 79 years. Earlier in the evening, she had her whole family around her, which was all she ever wanted. She was born in Graz, Austria to Alfred Schifko and Hildegard Gregorčič. She met Karl in 1941 and they were married on November 16, 1945. They immigrated to Canada in 1951 and settled in Toronto. She worked hard throughout her life becoming a retail district manager while at the same time doing all the bookkeeping for Karl’s company, KT Precision Machine & Tool Shops Inc, and meticulously maintaining her home.

She was fiercely proud of her children, Ruth (the late Terry) and Timothy (Barbara). Her grandchildren, Andrea (George), Jodie (Curt), Stephanie (Adrian), Alexandra (Matthew) and Juliana (Trevor) were the lights of her life. She was the dear great grandmother of Trysten, Grace, Cameron, Nolan and Jack.

She is also survived by relatives in Austria. Thank you to Flo and all of her dedicated staff from I’m Here Homecare for their kindness and excellent care. The family wishes to express their gratitude to Dr. Peter Pringle for his exemplary care. A private family service is being held. There will be a funeral mass at a later date. Memorial donations to the Alzheimer’s Society would be appreciated.

Arrangements entrusted to the DAVIDSON FUNERAL HOME, 135 Clarence Street, Port Colborne. Online guest register and condolences are available at www. davidsonfuneralhome.com something furry. A dog, he thought. Poor forlorn creature, just like Francois, had sought its shelter under the bridge. Now he would have a warm companion during the chilly night. But no, it was not a dog, it was bigger, colder... He kept on feeling.

The creature moved—it was a human being. Was it another soldier or a citizen, who would kill him if he discovered that Francois was a Swiss Guard?

He pulled the form from under the bridge. Suddenly he gazed on the fair face before him. The eyes See FAITH back page

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The Voice, June 3, 2020

Voice

FAITH LIFT

by Pastor Rob Weatherby

CROSSWORD

I

The enemy is fear

President Franklin Roosevelt famously declared in his 1933 inaugural address: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” That statement helped to calm nerves during the Great Depression. However, as the world emerged from the Depression it was hit with a new global crisis, a world war. London’s response during “The Blitz” (the Nazi bombardment of England) in the early years of World War II was, “Stay Calm and Carry On.” That too helped Londoners to emerge from the rubble and rebuild.

Prime Minister Winston Churchill inspired his countrymen when he uttered these words, “We shall never, never, never give up!” These were all pieces of good advice.

And they were all basically saying the same thing: don’t let fear paralyze you or make you panic; keep pressing on, don’t give up, and things will get better.

faith during these challenging times…

• “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

• In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” (Prov.

3:5-6) • “You (God) will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3) • “I will say to the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’ Surely He will save you… from the deadly pestilence… You will not fear…

Faith focused on God

Here is some timeless advice on where to put your

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

Find the words hidden vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and backwards.

FALLING LEAVES FARFALLE FIREWORKS FISH FLARES GLITTERING

905-774-5498 905-892-0322 905-643-3754 905-685-7353 905-382-7878 905-899-3431 519-443-7770

We've got what you need right here, at home!

See FAITH LIFT Page 14

Weekly Word Search

BROCADE CAKE CHRYSANTHEMUM CRACKLING RAIN CROSSETTE DAHLIA

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the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.” (Psalm 91:2-6) These verses all come from the Old Testament.

Many more passages in Scripture say the same thing. Notice that they not only emphasize faith but that our faith is in the right person. Yes, we listen carefully to the medical advice of our doctors and the safeguards recommended by our political leaders.

But ultimately we should place our faith in someone far greater— the one who

The answer is faith

The Bible completes the advice given above. While recognizing that it’s important to stay calm, resist panic and not give up, it also directs us where to put our faith. People could conclude from the above advice that they should trust themselves or other people or fate or good luck.

The Bible directs us to put our faith in someone far bigger than ourselves —God.

Canborough Fonthill Fulton Niagara-on-the-lake Stevensville Wainfleet Waterford

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Replace fear with faith

t’s easy to be fearful these days. I don’t need to recite the alarming stats which seem to grow every day. So, what is a healthy way to respond?

Page 17

MINE PATTERN PEONY PISTIL ROMAN CANDLE SALUTE

SHELL SPIDER STROBE TAILS TOURBILLON WATERFALL

1. Japanese classical theater 4. Chess pieces 9. Pieces of writing 14. Doctors’ group 15. Capital of Guam 16. Type of turtle 17. Swiss river 18. MLB Hall of Famer 20. Places to sit 22. Fancy rides 23. One of Washington’s Tri-Cities 24. Without class 28. Male child 29. Keeps you cool 30. Biblical place 31. Italian city 33. District in central Turkey 37. Job for a grad student 38. Central nervous system 39. Arrange in steps

41. Witch 42. Promotional material 43. Having certain appendages 44. Approaches 46. One who did it (slang) 49. Of I 50. Blood relation 51. Works out 55. Female given name 58. Isaac’s mother (Bib.) 59. Makes someone happy 60. Creative 64. Small, faint constellation 65. S. American trees 66. Makes simpler 67. Neither 68. We all need it 69. Unique plastic utensil 70. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (abbr.)

1. Civil Rights group 31. Long, leafless flower stalk 2. Metropolis 32. Categorize 3. Badgers 34. Loads 4. Regular business given to 35. Indicates position a store 36. Unreasonable 5. Gets older 40. Dorm worker 6. A bundle of banknotes 41. Dweller 7. Midway between north and 45. Welsh female name meaning northwest “snow” 8. Takes to the sea 47. Offering again 9. Prestigious film prize: __ d’or 48. National capital 10. Baltimore ballplayer 52. Firm, dry and brittle 11. Removed 53. 007’s creator 12. Term of respect 54. Allied H.Q. 13. Genus containing pigs 56. Mackerels 19. Illumined 57. Month of the Hindu year 21. One who symbolizes 59. Not odd something 60. Belonging to a thing 24. Member of a Turkic people 61. “Boardwalk Empire” actress 25. The academic world Gretchen 26. “Key to the Highway” bluesman 62. Religion 27. Hang-ups 63. Equal, prefix ANSWERS ON PAGE 18

Page 18

The Voice, June 3, 2020

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FROM THE HANDLEBARS

by John Swart

With bicycle use growing, Niagara trails beckon families

U

nintended COVID consequences are working in favour of bicycling right now, but with a major twist.

Organized events, races, and bicycle tourism are suffering as travel and group size restrictions preclude such gatherings. However, family and recreational biking are experiencing rapid growth— music-to-theears of cycling advocates and Active Transportation supporters.

Overall bicycle sales in the first quarter of 2020 are up 31%, and much of the increase came in late March.

Fifty-three percent of bike shop owners say they are

doing better this April and early May than during the same period in 2019. (These are American stats from Bicycle Retailer and Industry News. Our Canadian industry doesn’t provide detailed information.)

The growth isn’t coming from old guys and girls in spandex on expensive road bikes. E-bike sales are up 81%, gravel bikes 20%, kids’ bikes 59%, adult lifestyle bikes 121%, and trailers and trail-a-bikes 77%. Growth is in the families and nonsport riding sectors.

Of the 44% of Americans that own bicycles, 21% are riding more since the pandemic.

Anecdotally, this

reflects what we see in Pelham—kids cycling in small groups more frequently, families riding together, and couples of all ages dusting off bikes and riding in pairs.

Fifty percent of bike owners in the same survey said they were planning to ride more after the pandemic.

Could this actually happen?

Have kids and young families rediscovered some of the benefits and joys of cycling?

Will suspension of many traditional organized summer sports for kids make cycling an attractive option?

We all understand the physical activity of cycling is beneficial, but I believe that if families new to cycling continue to ride, the reasons will be strongly tied to how biking improves interpersonal dynamics.

Structured responses and

Never too young to start cycling. Social distancing at lunch along the Waterfront Trail. anticipated patterns of behaviour may be upended by spontaneity as families share fresh adventures and discoveries while cycling.

Face to face communication, unfiltered by electronic devices and mindless emojis,

may become fun and cool again on two wheels. Kid’s individual independence and self-reliance may be enhanced by the opportunities cycling offers.

Family cycling is an affordable and healthy ac-

JOHN SWART

tivity. To keep kids of any age participating, it must also be fun, interesting and safe. Niagara Region has a trail network that meets all these criteria, and is now See HANDLEBARS Page 14

x

Voice

HOROSCOPE

ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 Your strong will and courage makes you capable of anything, Aries. Just be sure to use your powers for good; otherwise, it can be easy to get in over your head.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 Add an extra dash of charm to your requests, Taurus. You just may find that things go your way a little more easily. Have a partner work with you on a fun task.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, inspiration flourishes and you may feel some romantic sparks grow as well. Your senses are enhanced by all the things you experience around you the next few days.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 This week your efforts to take care of home and family will pay off in big ways, Cancer. You have a knack for maintaining peace and tranquility even when situations are hazy.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 This week you may be examining your relationships and seeing which areas have room for improvement, Leo. This is your opportunity to really make some important changes.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, a situation arises that can bring you a much-needed financial boost. This boost is a result of the hard work that you’ve put in over the last several weeks.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 Lately you may be feeling more emotional, Libra. Talk about your feelings with someone close to you.

Sometimes speaking about things can help you sort through everything.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 Listen to your dreams this week,

Scorpio. They will guide you where you really want to go in life. Explore all the possibilities that come your way.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 Sagittarius, if you have been in a sociable mood, then embrace every opportunity to gather with friends or family when the opportunity presents itself.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricorn, this is a great week to take credit for all of the things you have accomplished lately. You will gain traction on projects and may even be able to take on new ones.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 A goal to learn as much as possible is drawing you to the people who can offer you important life lessons.

Take opportunities to engage in philosophical debates.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, a hint that comes your way from a friend or coworker can be the clue that you need to achieve a goal that has thus far been out of reach.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS MAY 31 Brooke Shields, Actress (55) JUNE 1 Morgan Freeman, Actor (83) JUNE 2 Abby Wambach, Athlete (40) JUNE 3 Anderson Cooper, TV Host (53) JUNE 4 Angelia Jolie, Actress (45) JUNE 5 Mark Wahlberg, Actor (49) JUNE 6 Drew McIntyre, Wrestler (35)

SOLUTIONS DOWN 1. NAACP 2. Omaha 3. Harasses 4. Patronage 5. Ages 6. Wad 7. NNW 8. Sails 9. Palme 10. Oriole 11. Erased 12. Mam 13. Sus 19. Lit 21. Icon 24. Tatar 25. Academe 26. Segar 27. Snags 31. Scape 32. Index 34. Lades 35. At 36. Senseless 40. RA 41. Habitant 45. Eira 47. Resale 48. Prague 52. Crisp 53. Ian 54. Shaef 56. Ceros 57. Asarh 59. Even 60. Its 61. Mol 62. Tao 63. Iso

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. Noh 4. Pawns 9. Poems 14. AMA 15. Agana 16. Arrau 17. Aar 18. Ted Williams 20. Chairs 22. Limos 23. Pasco 24. Tasteless 28. Son 29. AC 30. Eden 31. Siena 33. Talas 37. GA 38. CNS 39. Gradate 41. Hag 42. Ad 43. Eared 44. Nears 46. Perp 49. Me 50. Sib 51. Exercises 55. Erica 58. Sarah 59. Elates 60. Imaginative 64. Ara 65. Tolus 66. Eases 67. Nor 68. Sleep 69. Foons 70. TSH

Enjoy out Take-out Fish & Chips Fridays!

From our family to yours...stay safe

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“Just play.

Have fun.

Enjoy the game.”

Michael Jordan

The Voice, June 3, 2020

Sporting Green The Niagara

Page 19

Bike ownership and usage on the rise, Swart reveals 18 where to ride

The Voice and TheVoiceofPelham.ca | June 3, 2020

Strong

recruiting

Mosley lands two OSBA players

season for

BY BERNIE PUCHALSKI

BPSPORTSNIAGARA.COM

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a recruiting season like no other for Phil Mosley.

“For all these young kids that I am talking to, it’s sort of anticlimactic.

They can’t fully enjoy all the stuff that goes along with it,” said the Niagara College men’s basketball coach.

“They are all in with the mindset that they are accepted and they are coming and there’s not much talk at their end. It’s like that elephant in the room, but you don’t want to put any negative spin on the excitement they may have.”

After shopping locally by signing Notre Dame standout Shammar Campbell and convincing top local players, Igor M’Baya and Jerwyn Tutanes, to try out, Mosley turned his attention to the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association and signed Vaughan Prep point guard Reggie Williams and Lincoln Prep small forward Rahim Douglas-Charles.

Mosley describes Williams, a 6-foot-1 Toronto native, as probably his biggest signing.

“We believe Reggie will have an instant impact on our program as a combo guard. He is a dual threat guard who can score and distribute the ball with great effectiveness,” Mosley said. “His size will lend well to the defensive end and from everything we have seen, he will be a great fit in our system.”

Williams plans to study in the broadcast, radio, television and film program at Niagara.

“I want to be the best basketball player I can be for this team,” he told the Niagara College athletics website. “I chose Niagara College so I can accomplish that and pursue my love for media production off the court.

While I am developing my skills on the court, I’ll also be developing my skills and a videographer in the BRTF program.”

Douglas-Charles is a 6-foot-2 small forward from Brampton with an inside presence and a mid-range game.

“He’s a good defender and comes from a good program where he has played with great players,” Mosley said. “Five or six of his teammates have gone to NCAA Division 1 or U SPORTS. I know he has played with and against quality players and to me that builds their basketball IQ almost automatically.”

Douglas-Charles also plans to

NIAGARA COLLEGE

study broadcast, radio, television and film.

“Niagara College is the best fit for me going further in my basketball career and they have some really good

opportunities with the program I am going into,” he told the Niagara College athletics website. “I believe I can be really successful at Niagara College both in the classroom and on the

court.”

The two signings should help fit the void left with the loss to graduation See RECRUITMENT Page 15

Page 20

The Voice, June 3, 2020

COLUMN SIX

continued from Page 1 Cosmopolitan, either the magazine or the drink, both are superior at distracting and relaxing—unless, of course, I succumb to the cover of the February issue and stress out about The Biggest Sex Scam in History and Why I One-Hundred Percent Fell for it! Damn, I hate playing the fool!

Tan: a darkening of the skin pigments due to exposure to the sun—and something we don’t have to

worry about despite it being mid-May because, here in the north, it has been grey and continues to bloody snow! Yes, we have a Southern Vortex heating us up at the moment, but this could be temporary. Can we get just a little more evidence of global warming? Maybe get through May without another snow squall?

Sin: A giant Dairy Milk chocolate bar fell off the shelf at the grocery store while I was reaching for the quinoa. This was obviously a sin that I should buy it

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It’s Time for a SPRING Tune-up!

and hide it for a future, single-sitting midnight snack.

The non-mathematical follow-up question is: Why did my kids find it tucked away in the back of my sock drawer, wrapped inside one of my Chapters Indigo, extra-fluffy reading socks?

Cosine: I'm sorry I don’t make enough money to cosine on a loan for you, kids.

And if you’re smart, you won’t become a writer for just that reason.

I have since pawned my kids onto a math teacher friend who is helping them with their online numbers and angles. Homeschooling—check.

Let’s look at grocery shopping next. My boys, they eat a lot. I had purchased a bag (wheelbarrow) of flour from Costco last fall, thinking it would likely last until my progeny left for college. As I continue to avoid work and bake new creations, like my Procrastination Chip Cookies and the house-favorite, Dilly-Dally Cupcakes, my flour supply is waning. You know where you can buy flour these days? Nowhere! The shelves are dusty while we all resort to inhaling comfort foods as a way to make being at home more tolerable and delicious. We may have to start eating fruits and vegetables again if this keeps up.

Mother’s Day…was just the way I’ve always wanted it to be. No guilty, commercial products purchased from the drugstore. I don’t buy into Mother’s Day. I want my kids to treat me extra special every day.

This Mother’s Day forced my family to get creative: Messy, handmade cards, runny Eggs Benedict for breakfast, time for creative yoga, a two-hour walk, a one-hour nap, a hot bath, steak for dinner, and a John Mulaney Netflix special to close out the day. Why shouldn’t every day be like this? Is that really asking

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too much?

Funny you should ask: Has all this quarantining lowered my standards of what’s considered amusing, or are my kids getting funnier? Maybe they’re just regurgitating lines from the various sitcoms they watch (although they don’t know

You know where you can buy flour these days? Nowhere!

that I know what being “master of my own domain” means). Maybe they’ve always been this humorous and I never paid any attention to them. Regardless, spending all this time with them has given me a new appreciation for their comedic abilities, and I encourage them by providing a reliable laugh track. That we are also comfortable enough now to watch shows with adult situations, violence, and coarse language together is not as unsettling as the fact that my youngest now calls me by my first name.

Familiarity breeds consent.

How about we talk about the elephant in the room these days, or, the Conspiracy Theories swirling around the coronavirus. They’re hard to avoid if you’re on any kind of social media and my kids have questions. For those of you not living under a rock, here’s my nutshell summary of current tinfoil hat theorizing: The virus was man-made inside a laboratory in China by the Illuminati led by Anthony Fauci and Bill Gates, who stands to make billions from the worldwide mandatory vaccine, which will incorporate a microchip that will allow us to be monitored controlled and brainwashed

into thinking that this Big Brother machine knows what’s best for us while it increases its power, “saves the world” by decreasing the population, and blocks certain brain receptors so that we only think happy unicorn doughnut thoughts while conditioning us to stay six feet apart because it’s easier for military satellites to distinguish individuals outside of a group and anyone who questions these premises will be hunted down by CSIS for unspecified charges and disappear forever. I think that about covers the current findings.

Now I’m getting paranoid and keep looking over my shoulder to see if there really is an elephant in my room, and I just can’t see it yet. It’s disconcerting and giving me a nervous tic.

I’m not judging anyone who believes in any of these theories—hey, you do you. But here’s one thing I do believe to be true regarding this pandemic: as we over-sanitize and under-socialize, our immune system will weaken from a) loneliness and b) underexposure to the everyday microscopic organisms such as bacteria, fungi and, yes, viruses. Science says that dirt and relationships are good for us and make us stronger. (Dirty relationships are at your own discretion.) I use this science to help keep my children safe—by avoiding frequent cleaning, aside from wiping down all countertops daily with raw meat.

I love them that much.

Now, it’s time to get back to our ongoing euchre war, at which I have lost the last 13 hands. This puts me into a Hulk-like fury, and I ponder the question: If I threw this deck of cards at 25 miles per hour, 55° north of east, the wind blowing due south at 19 miles per hour, what is the third side of this triangle? Surely there is a mathematical discipline ideally suited to solving this, right?

Anyone? Anyone? ♦

FAITH

continued from Page 16 opened and looked into his.

Two hands were raised towards him from under the fur wrap that had hidden them. Soft music seemed to come from the stars that now appeared in splendid array, when he gasped: “Adele.”

But no, it was not Adele, but rather a slender girl whose resemblance to his beloved both shook him to his core and filled his heart with certainty. The two held each other silently, their mutual warmth warding off the cold. It was a sign from the heavens that was impossible to dismiss.

Francois knew then beyond any doubt where—and with whom—his life belonged.

The next day he would set out to return to the only home truly his own, and for the girl that he knew waited for him there. Francois and the waif drifted into sleep, the river flowing quietly below the bank, each dreaming of their own private, golden destinies. ♦

Editor’s note: “Faith,” slightly adapted here, was originally published in the 1937 edition of The Pelham Pynx, the yearbook/literary magazine of the Pelham Continuation School.

(Its principal, Edward L. Crossley, would have a brand new high school named after him in 1963.) Author Eveline van Berkum was a Form 5 (Grade 11) student. There was little that a brief online search turned up to reveal details of Eveline’s life after she left PCS. In 1944, a Robbert van Berkum, possibly a younger brother, was awarded a PCS scholarship (and yes, “Robbert” is spelled correctly). Newspapers in Ottawa and Vancouver reported an engagement in 1952—but the details are behind a paywall. Eveline would be close to 100 now. If you know anything about Eveline, please let us know: editor@ thevoiceofpelham.ca

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