The Voice, March 11 2020

Gypsy moth spray to be limited page 3 Sugar bush open for sweet business page 10 Best coach in Canada page 17 EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS

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Vol.24 No.10

March 11, 2020

Published every Wednesday

Jacques honored as Citizen of the Year Sold-out crowd celebrates at Old Town Hall

Darcy Richardson, CPA, CA | Broker

DARCYRICHARDSON.CA darcy@revelrealty.ca 905.321.6292

Column Six

Sunshine State standoff Searching for a warm shower, two Canadians find themselves in hot water

BY BILL ELUCHOK

Special to the VOICE

B

his aunt Yvonne Rickert.

Michael and his father, Marcel Jacques, mingled easily amongst the arriving guests, smiling and shaking hands and accepting congratulations, gifts, and well wishes.

etter start packing!”

Brenda grumbled as she brusquely entered our second-floor Florida motel room, the one with a non-working phone and few if any motel amenities, and — I’ll mention it now — no running hot water.

“We’re being evicted.”

“What?” I replied disbelievingly. “Are you kidding me?”

“No, we have to get out,” said Brenda. “She said she’s calling the police.”

The “she” is this case was the unsmiling young motel clerk who, a halfhour earlier, kept repeating, “It’s not my problem” when Brenda and I had gone in to point out the lack of hot water in the bathroom, and to press the case for a move

See JACQUES Page 3

See COLUMN SIX back page

F O O R P

Michael Jacques with, from left, mom Debbie, sister Kaila, dad Marcel, and MP Dean Allison.

BY HELEN TRAN

Special to the VOICE

Michael Jacques, author of “Can’t Read, Can’t Write, Here’s My Book,” was honoured as 2019’s Citizen of the Year during the Fonthill and District Kinsmen’s Citizen of the

Year Dinner last Tuesday at Old Pelham Town Hall. The Citizen of the Year award is granted in recognition of service to the community.

At starting time, the hall was already set for the grand affair, and there was a personal touch to each table— every few place settings was

punctuated with a little sign featuring a quote from readers who had reviewed Michael’s book.

Members of the Jacques family were effusive in their praise of Michael.

“He has very supportive parents and a very supportive family,” said

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The Voice, March 11, 2020

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NRPS impaired driving charges

PUBLISHER’S CORNER

by Dave Burket

Prepare for a lot less shade: With Pelham Town Council deciding against a large-scale spray program to combat a predicted heavy gypsy moth infestation this spring, I guess we’ll all need to slather on a little more sunscreen. As reported on page 3, council opted last week to spend only what was originally budgeted for the 2020 spray program, even though updated estimates from an outside consultant indicate a far more worrisome infestation than might have been predicted as council and staff prepared this year’s budget last autumn. Particularly puzzling was staff pushback on whether the Town has the ability to send special bills to homeowners.

As Councillor Mike Ciolfi pointed out, the Town already sends out water bills. The Town also manages to send various other notices via Canada Post. It’s frankly not credible to assert, 40 years into the widespread use of computers at all levels of government and business, that sending a $50 bill to each property owner in Pelham is a Herculean task. Echoing Councillor Ron Kore’s retort, that’s what staff are paid to figure out...Heralding the past: A hat-tip to the “Mayor of Fenwick,” Gary Chambers, for dropping off a nice pile of Pelham Heralds and other items for the archives last week. And his spouse, Rosemary, alerts us to a new history display at the library’s Maple Acre branch about Ebert’s Garage, in Fenwick. She poses this intriguing riddle: “What do Floyd Ebert, Guy Lombardo, and moonshine have in common? Check out the new display for the answer.” Sadly no word on moonshine samples...

Beverages are included here, though: Continuing the history theme, the Pelham Historical Society (ad, p. 5) presents a talk on the Humberstone summer resort, this coming Saturday, at the Lookout Ridge Retirement Community. Refreshments shall be served...And here, too: Peter Piper's is throwing their usual St. Paddy's bash (ad, p. 9). Enjoy! ♦

SNOW KIDDING During the last big snowfall a couple of weeks back, the Petrie family, in Fonthill, decided to build a pal for their year-and-a-half old Bernese Mountain dog, Zoe. The snow-pal’s name? Snoe!

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Exercise + Cash + Fresh air

A Pelham man who allegedly struck and killed a woman walking along Effingham Street with his car last November has been given a court date.

Michael Bond, 51, will appear on March 24 at the Welland Provincial Offenses Court at 445 East Main Street.

He is charged under the Highway Traffic Act with careless driving causing death, driving while under suspension, driving with no vehicle license, and operating an

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On Saturday, November 30, 2019, a 66-year-old Ridgeville woman was walking along Effingham Street, between Foss and Welland Roads, when she was struck and killed by a southbound vehicle, allegedly driven by Bond, according to police.

The woman was declared dead at the scene.

Her name has been withheld at the request of her family.

Bond, who was driving a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta, was uninjured in the collision.

Since no criminal charges have been laid, he is not in detention.

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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.

The

Congratulations

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In an effort to bring further attention and deterrence to driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, the Niagara Regional Police Service reports the names of those people who are charged with an alleged criminal impaired driving offence in the Region.

None of the following charges have been proved in court.

In addition to being charged, these individuals are also bound by a Ministry of Transportation 90-Day Administrative Driver’s License Suspension and are prohibited from operating a motor vehicle on a roadway. The public is encouraged to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service Traffic Safety Hotline or Crime Stoppers to report those who are driving in contravention of the suspension.

The following individuals have been charged criminally with impaired driving by alcohol or drugs, driving with a blood alcohol concentration above 80 mgs of alcohol in 100 ml of blood, or refusing to provide a breath / blood sample.

Suzanne M. BOLES, 45, St. Catharines Tara C WERSTLER, 38, Niagara Falls Brandon J. PERRI, 18, Thorold Michael H. BOWMAN, 27, Arthur Melissa L. CHERRY, 26, Milton Avery J. L. CORFE, 22, St. Catharines Muhammud M. AWALE, 23, St. Catharines Christopher A. RENNIE, 48, Thorold Desmond R. J. VANBEEK, 25, Thorold

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The Comfort Maple myth

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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

The VOICE

Cell 905.933.3049

T

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

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

Office 905.892.1702

Column Six It doesn’t get better than Autumn

Longtime Scouting tradition dates to 1932

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-

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Request made of community still peeved at name change

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

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

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

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

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

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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

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The Voice, March 11, 2020

Page 3

TOWN COUNCIL NEWS Town chooses limited gypsy moth attack plan

With Mayor Marvin Junkin providing the tiebreaker, Pelham Town Council voted 4-3 to proceed with a gypsy moth control program previously budgeted at $150,000 during its March 2 meeting. “Option 2” as it is known, will focus on the aerial spraying of public lands and privately-owned trouble spots based on the conclusions of yet-to-be finalized spray blocks. This expenditure had already been included in the Town’s 2020 budget.

The decision came after a presentation from outside consultant BioForest and subsequent debate among councillors. BioForest manager Allison Craig told the group that based on this winter’s gypsy moth egg masses, 61 percent of surveyed plots in Pelham are forecasted for severe or heavy defoliation risk in 2020 due to the pests. Thirty-one percent of plots are considered at moderate-to-light risk.

As in past years, hot spots for the pests are forecasted to include trees along Canboro Road and Effingham Street, along Pancake Lane, and in central Fenwick and south of Fenwick.

The $150,000 budget would pay for a helicopter or light-plane spraying of 33 hectares of public land and 90 hectares of at-risk private property, according to Public Works Director Jason Marr.

For reference, last year about 45 hectares of private land was sprayed. An important aspect of the plan would also be to communicate to residents not living inside the spray zones that there are steps to take at their own expense, including tree bands.

Armed with this information, council members and Town staff commenced arguing.

Ward 2’s Ron Kore asked Treasurer Teresa Quinlin if every homeowner in Pelham could simply be billed a flat $50 fee to combat the foliage-munching menace, creating an instant fund of $300,000-plus.

Quinlin said the system wasn’t set up to handle a flat fee, and noted that last year’s controversial experience with gypsy moth billing cost the tax clerk a significant amount of time because it had to be manually sorted.

“I’m not trying to be rude, but that’s what we pay people to do,” Kore replied.

Councillor John Wink interjected, reminding Kore that the $50 number he was citing was based on the average estimated cost to a Pelham landowner, and that the flat fee would end up costing a resident with a smaller property more money than it should.

“I’m just trying to save the trees,” Kore said.

CAO David Cribbs argued in favour of including any such fee for affected residents in their individual property tax assessments and said the average number was immaterial.

“Property tax is about the only progressive tax this country employs, because people tend to live in homes that are equivalent to their incomes,” Cribbs said. “The focus for council this evening cannot be on the fifty dollars.”

Other councillors, such as Mike Ciolfi and Lisa Haun— who along with Kore voted against the plan — expressed concerns about moving forward with the existing $150,000 budget.

Excerpt from a report presented to council by consultant BioForest .

“We’re running out of time again, we’re going to be in the same situation we were last year,” Ciolfi said. Haun wondered whether money could come from the provincial government to help combat the issue, and if pushing a decision back was an option.

Marr effectively said no, that spray block plans need to be finalized as soon as possible.

“We’re up against the clock,” he said.

The Public Works Director did say, however, that more hypo-

thetical money from the province could be applied to the plan at a later date. Marr said that ideally an aerial plan of attack would be finalized by May 1.

Haun also asked why Pelham was doing such heavy lifting on the gypsy moth problem when surrounding municipalities appear to be doing next to nothing.

According to Quinlin, West Lincoln has a meager $7,000 budgeted for the issue this year, while Junkin recounted a recent conversation with Welland Mayor Frank

SUPPLIED

Campion in which Campion said he didn’t even know what gypsy moths were.

Those municipalities, however, appear to be ignoring the pest at their own peril. According to BioForest’s Craig, both the Niagara and Norfolk regions are some of the most severely affected areas in Ontario.

“Norfolk is pretty heavy as well, possibly the CAO brought them here,” Ciolfi joked to Craig See COUNCIL Page 6

Home Methods for Gypsy Moth Control Gypsy Moth is in the egg stage between early September and late April. Egg masses can be found on tree trunks, branches, buildings and on objects around the house.

As one egg mass contains about 300 eggs, by destroying them you significantly reduce the number of caterpillars that emerge in spring.

Scrape off egg masses with a dull knife and place them in soapy water for a few days before discarding them in the garbage. If they fall to the ground crush them with your shoe.

Late April to Late May Place sticky barriers, or bands on the tree trunk. Wrap duct tape around the tree trunk and apply a thin coat of sticky material (commercially available at most garden centres) to the duct tape. Alternatively you may use a double band of duct tape, the outer band with the sticky side out. This band will prevent smaller caterpillars from climbing the tree.

Mid-May to Early June Spray with bacterial insecticide, Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki (Btk). The primary objective is to protect vulnerable trees from moderate to severe defoliation.

Reducing the nuisance factor caused by the presence of gypsy moth is an additional benefit of this treatment Consider having your trees sprayed with Btk by a licensed pesticide applicator if: • There are a high number of egg masses that cannot be removed mechanically from the trees.

• Large numbers of egg masses are on susceptible tree species, primarily on oaks, birches, beeches and spruces.

• If damage that is caused by gypsy moth feeding is severe for at least one or two previous years, another severe defoliation event may cause the decline or death of the host tree.

Late May to August Replace sticky bands with burlap (cloth) bands. Trap and destroy caterpillars by placing burlap (cloth) bands on trees.

Wrap burlap that is approximately one metre wide around the tree trunk, tie it at the middle with a rope and fold it. Caterpillars feed at night and find shelter from the heat during the day.

They will congregate under the burlap. Destroy caterpillars from under the burlap every late afternoon before they crawl back to the canopy to feed. Caterpillars can be killed by squishing them or placing them in soapy water. Use this method until all the caterpillars finish their life stage, usually in August, and turn into cocoons and laterinto adult moths.

Stay up-to-date with information and updates for Pelham’s gypsy moth spray program, FAQs, policies, and more by visiting and subscribing to:

www.pelham.ca/gypsy-moth

Page 4

The Voice, March 11, 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 Cathy Baillie Library so much more than books

F

or as long as I can remember, libraries have always been my safe place.

A place to turn off the outside world, get lost in an activity or book, search for the next adventure or learn just about anything. It’s no wonder that it was the first place that I felt at home when we moved to Fonthill.

One of the earliest stories that is in heavy rotation in our family lore, is that rather than have books read to me as a child, I would take the book and read the book back to my grandparents.

The only problem was, at the time I couldn’t read. I would memorize whatever story was read to me, and then the next night I would paraphrase the book back.

Fast forward to kindergarten and there are stories of me coming home and baffling my mother with stories of the Triceratops. My mother had to find an encyclopedia and learn about dinosaurs so she could understand what I was talking about.

Growing up, I read as often as a could. Devouring books in one day. Sometimes two at a time. Books and learning were everything to me. I even watched television shows about

books. Eighties shows on TVO such as “Read all about it,” and “Reading Rainbow.”

When I was old enough, I would ride my bike to the library and take out book after book. Each visit I felt like

In moving to Fonthill, I experienced a cautious sort of kindness.

Folks were pleasant, but standoffish.

I was selecting new friends to meet. One of my favourite was the song book for the Phantom of the Opera.

In my teens, as the computer became more prevalent and schoolwork had to be typed, the library became my access point. I could also take out CDs and DVDs and all sorts of media that I wouldn’t have been able to afford otherwise. In university, I would get lost in the stacks and spend hours reading books and articles that may or may

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not have been on whatever subject I was studying at the time. When I had my son, the local library was where I took him for music time or story time. The library was my home away from home for much of my life.

We moved to Fonthill from Scarborough a little less than two years ago.

We didn’t know anyone in town but fell in love with the century-old house that we bought and the beauty of the neighbourhood. We learned about various local activities and made the Thursday night farmers market our go-to summer activity. We were blessed with amazing neighbours and continued to customize our life in Pelham. What I didn’t fully expect to have happen when we moved to Fonthill was how much of an outsider I felt like.

In moving to Fonthill, I experienced a cautious sort of kindness. Folks were pleasant but standoffish. I was often asked how I am connected to the area as they don’t recognize my last name. I am from Scarborough. I was born and raised in east Toronto. I don’t have roots in the community.

Being from Scarborough, I

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Appreciation from the North Pelham Youth Association The North Pelham Youth Association would like to thank everyone who came out to the Community Dinner on February 22 at the North Pelham Hall.

The funds raised are gratefully received as they are needed to maintain the hall for the use of various community members and groups who rent it.

The response, in fact, was overwhelming, as we sold out the number of meals expected within the first hour! The Youth Association apologizes to those we could not accommodate, and we sincerely hope they will come out again for future dinners. We will try to adapt to accommodate more people next time.

It is very heartening to experience such a significant level of support from all the communities we serve.

Thank you for your support!

Kathy Keenan, Secretary North Pelham Youth Association

See LIBRARY next page

CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS Member of Federal Parliament

Electoral District: Niagara West

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

Electoral District: Niagara West

The Voice

Letters

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

Mayor of Pelham Marvin Junkin mjunkin@pelham.ca 905-658-2987 Members of Pelham Town Council Ward 1 Councillor Mike Ciolfi mciolfi@pelham.ca 905-892-0077 Councillor Marianne Stewart mstewart@pelham.ca 289-821-0840 Ward 2 Councillor Ron Kore rkore@pelham.ca 905-933-3805 Councillor John Wink jwink@pelham.ca 905-892-4475 Ward 3 Councillor Lisa Haun lhaun@pelham.ca 905-892-5877 Councillor Bob Hildebrandt bhildebrandt@pelham.ca 905-892-5647

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The Voice, March 11, 2020

Page 5

OPINION Government's tactics are insulting

Cannabis operations aren't affecting property values? Look at this listing.

Ontario Education Minister Steven Lecce’s latest bargaining tactics are an insult to teachers and to the public in general.

This is because they aren’t bargaining tactics at all. Bargaining involves sitting down at the table with your opposition, not throwing out your so-called “concessions” at a news conference.

Class size is a huge issue for teachers because it affects their interaction with students every day. To say that schools have an “average” class size of 23 does not mean that teachers walk into classes of 23 every day. If a school has to run a senior class of Physics, for example, for 15 students, then there will have to be classes of 30 or more to settle on the average.

As well as an average class size, there must also be a cap on class sizes. It’s interesting to note that the private school which Mr. Lecce attended (St. Michael’s College School) boasts small class sizes as one of its advantages.

Mr. Lecce says that the government is listening to parents.

Likely they observed that the majority of Ontarians are on the side of the teachers, which could lead to big headaches for them in the next election. Solution: call a press conference and crow about “concessions,” with the added remarks about the government not being "the bad guys at the table,” which of course means that the teachers’ unions have been “bad guys” in the negotiations.

Please, Mr. Lecce, leave your media announcements regarding negotiations until a settlement is reached.

David Fowler Wainfleet

I remember hearing claims from cannabis business leaders and from the previous council and Mayor that cannabis operations could raise Pelham property values. We were told that we should embrace these operations with open arms, because our properties could escalate in value (never mind that our children already can't afford to buy a house in Pelham, but that's another story).

At their February 18 meeting, Pelham Town Council reviewed assertions in Town staff's Cannabis Land Use Report, including that there was "minimal property value impact from proximity to cannabis growers.” When asked by a councillor why no such examples were cited in the report regarding the Niagara peninsula, staff’s response was that they had no such local examples to use, and only had supporting

data from eastern Canada.

Luckily (or not), I believe we do now have local data.

Drive from Town Square for 7 KM west, along Hwy 20. A 135 x 209 foot parcel at 690 Hwy 20 West has been for sale since at least March 2018, or two years. It first went on at $149,900. In August 2018, the price dropped to $139,900.

The price has now been reduced to just $129,900.

Empty lots in Pelham are prized, easily fetching several hundred thousand-plus.

When was the last time a lot of this size in Pelham, about 1/2 acre, was priced so attractively?

Well, the devil is in the details. It's all about Location, Location, Location.

You see, this lot is at Hwy 20 and Balfour, across the street from CannTrust. If this lot had been out of the sight (and smell) of CannTrust, then surely it would

have been very attractive in the hot Pelham market.

Zoned Commercial Rural,

Why should a dishonest corporation benefit, while punishing the Pelham seller?

and suggested for different uses, no one is even interested in pumping gas there, let alone building a home.

Why should a dishonest corporation benefit, while punishing the Pelham seller?

The real estate listing reads:

"Building lot in Pelham Ontario. Easy Highway access. Gas and electricity available .49 acres. Zoned commercial rural can be changed to agricultural to allow for a home to be built.

Cleared lot. 209.51 feet X 135.00 feet. Located on the southeast corner of Hwy 20 and Balfour Rd." This is the only piece of data I can find today, but it is available and it is relevant.

I expect more examples are out there.

I encourage my fellow residents to share. And it's common sense. The industrial look and offensive smell of cannabis grow operations will LOWER property values, due to the naturally high (pun not intended) level of Volatile Organic Compounds in the cannabis plant. Not the smell of smoking it. The smell of growing it.

Tillie Clapp Fenwick

LIBRARY

continued from previous page

Union does not speak for all farmers on Wet'suwe'ten dispute

learned, meant that I was (am?) a GTAhole, an unknown, a stranger.

So, in those early days with my daughter in a stroller, I made my way to the Fonthill library. On our very first visit, we were welcomed and told that there was a family activity that was going on in the children’s area. We missed the story component of the activity, but were invited to participate in the craft. We stayed for two hours. Only later did I find out that this was a registered activity with a fee. Perhaps, it was the lost and desperate aura of a mom with an energetic toddler that had the organizer welcome us so quickly but whatever it was, I can say that in those early days in Fonthill, it was the first time that I felt truly welcomed.

I’ve gone on to learn about all that our mighty library has to offer. In a town that in many respects seems to struggle with change, the library continues to evolve. The library is not just a place to check out books. It is a community hub that utilizes new technology and ways of knowing to bring people together. Of course, I can check out a book (or two or three) but I can also learn about makerspace tools like 3D printing, or can access STEM resources to feed my daughter’s desire to build and learn how things work. However, I can also count on the library to be a place that regardless of where I am from, or what my name is, or what I want to learn about, I will be welcomed. ♦

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I would like to take exception to the opinion piece by Ayla Fenton [Commentary, “NFU supports Wet’suwe’ten,” Feb. 26, p. 5] stating that the National Farmers Union stands in solidarity with Indigenous land protectors.

This is an expected response from left-leaning union officials. I just wonder how many National Farmers Union members would be in support of their Board of Director’s position if they were polled individually, particularly those farmers who are having difficulty getting their crops to market due to illegal blockades of rail lines across the country by so-called supporters of the Wet’suwe’ten Nation.

From what I have read and understand, there are 13 hereditary Wet’suwe’ten chiefs, of which eight have voted in favour of the Coastal Gas-

link pipeline. Of that eight, three are women who have practically been ostracized and treated rather badly since then, due to their support for the pipeline and the economic benefits it would create for their fellow citizens.

In addition, all of the Wet’suwe’ten elected band councils are in support of the pipeline. I thought we lived in a democracy here in Canada but I guess that does not apply to the Wet’suwe’ten Nation, where five angry old men can derail the futures of how many of their own citizens.

Also, what about the rest of Canada who are not Indigenous? Do we not have any rights anymore? Why should the rest of us have to be subjected to dangerous and illegal rail and public road blockades that disrupt our daily lives and jobs because of five people who want to get their own way at ap-

parently any cost.

I have also read that the natural gas that the Coastal Gaslink pipeline will bring to the B.C. coast will be liquified and shipped to China, where there are currently a number of new coal-fired electricity generating plants being built. Surely natural gas is a better alternative for the environment than burning coal! How can this not be a win/win for the environment as well as Canada’s economy?

There will be a number of good-paying jobs available to the Wet’suwe’ten people during construction of the pipeline. As well, who can be a better choice to monitor the pipeline on an ongoing basis through their territory that the Wet’suwe’ten people should there be any leaks or other problems See NFU next page

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Page 6

Letters

The Voice, March 11, 2020

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

continued

NFU

continued from previous page discovered with the line?

Also, Canada should NEVER consider surrendering one iota of sovereignty to the United Nations.

Most UN Members cannot run their own countries effectively. Why should Canada tolerate a disfunctional group like the UN telling us how to run Canada?

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has stated that Canada is a country administered by the rule of law (witness his comments to the Chinese with respect to the detention of Meng Wanzhou).

So why does the rule of law apply only to selected citizens of Canada? Obviously, it does not apply to Indigenous people who seem to be able to take their grievances and force them on the rest of us with impunity. If the Ontario Teachers Unions started blocking rail lines and roads with their current dispute with the government, how long would it take the police to enforce injunctions in that case?

(By the way, I support the government’s position with respect to the teachers).

I think it is very disappointing and disheartening that the Canadian economy can be brought to a standstill by a weak federal government unable to make or act on any decision, and by five angry old men who wish to continue live in the past.

D. Toner Pelham

The Town of Pelham—Home of the gypsy moth Formerly known for its trees and lush tree canopy, welcome to the new home of the gypsy moth. At last week’s council meeting the Mayor and Councillors Stewart, Wink and Hildebrand chose to ignore a consultant’s report on the horrendous gypsy moth infestation in Pelham and voted to spray only 7% of the severely infested properties in the town.

The consultant found that 1,200 hectares were severely infested (that’s were there are 2,500 gypsy moth egg masses or more per hectare). If you’re not sure what the size of the land mass is that the infestation occupies, it’s 1,200 hectares … put another way, that’s 12 square kilometres.

Each of those egg masses can contain up to 1,000 gypsy moth eggs, so that’s 2.5 million gypsy moths that can hatch per hectare. For the average residential lot in the town, that’s about 218,000 gypsy moths per property. The interesting fact is the consultant found that many of the

a resident can deal with a million of these critters on their own, and banding trees doesn’t seem like the answer. The Town doesn’t band trees.

Spraying trees on your own if you can find someone to hire means that everyone would have the expensive cost of hiring a private arborist company to come out to spray their trees (twice, two weeks apart) over a very short time period—i.e. while the gypsy moths are still very small and consume the spray. This seems highly unlikely that this could be done by the limited number of boom trucks they have and the enormity of the town’s infestation.

It’s as though the Town has decided to say, “We know you have 100 mice in your house, so we’re going down to he hardware store today to get enough bait to kill seven. See you next year!”

Can you imagine if the Region said to front-line health workers dealing with the coronavirus that they had

secured masks for 7% of the workers?

How will the Town decide out of all the severely infested properties whether your house is one of the lucky ones that will get sprayed? In an effort to put residents first, would they forgo spraying municipal properties?

It’s my view that the Town’s response to the gypsy moth crisis is neither appropriate nor proportionate to the severity of the matter at hand. Why pay big money to expert consultants for their advice only to ignore them to the detriment of your citizens?

If you want to keep up to date on the what’s going on in the Town of Pelham with its gypsy moths, The Pelham 294 (& More) Gypsy Moth Coalition has a Facebook page you can join. Look for STOP THE FRASS at www.facebook.com/stopthefrass or @stopthefrass.

Graham Ashdown Fonthill

Fact-checking gypsy moth figures At the Town Council meeting last Monday, Director of Public Works Jason Marr said the estimated cost would be $880/Ha or $1,040,000 to spray 1200 Ha (600 Rural and 600 Urban) at $880/Ha. Using these figure, Treasurer Teresa Quinlin estimated the average cost per resident would be $118.

I understand these figures don’t lie, but my vetting process seems to paint a much different picture.

I believe it is closer to $528,000, or approximately

COUNCIL

continued from Page 3 during her presentation, referring to Cribbs’ previous job in Norfolk County.

CCC shoots back, asks for more cash

areas are 40 or 50 times worse than that 2,500 egg masses per hectare threshold, meaning each property owner could be dealing with eight to ten million of these voracious defoliators in their front and back yards this year.

From May to August it means you’ll likely be dealing with the gypsy moths and their frass (excrement) dropping into your potato salad and Mai Tai’s should you dare to BBQ this summer. Oh, and if you’ve not yet experienced this, it’s a full time job cleaning up driveways, decks and walkways—just from a slip and fall hazard standpoint—not to mention the hours of fun you’ll have picking it off your clothes before entering the house.

For 93% of the severely infested lands that the Town has decided not to spray (or that will have the gypsy moth killed in some other fashion) it means these critters are ready to procreate and gain their grip on the town. Frankly, I’m not sure how

Cannabis Control Committee (CCC) Chair Tim Nohara provided another update to council on the committee’s work, and took issue with verbiage in a staff report that said a second public meeting regarding cannabis regulations would be required in May. “[It] is not accurate,” he said.

“Since December 11, staff has been fixated on locking down a date for a second statutory public meeting that they originally proposed for May … it’s premature for council to make a decision for a second public meeting until a draft proposal for a bylaw is ready. We are waiting on our first draft.”

Junkin, playing the self-described role of “devil’s advocate,” urged Nohara to follow Planning Act procedure.

“We’ve all read the letters from the [cannabis] producers,” the Mayor said, referring to what amounts to early legal challenges to the committee’s efforts. “And they were concerned about ‘lack of process’ that the Town has followed. If we start taking shortcuts … their lawyers know what the Planning Act calls for, and it just seems incredible to me, that the amount of work that you guys have done, that for the sake of following a couple of procedural steps, that we’re willing to take the risk of having a first battle fought on

half the estimate in Report #2020-017. Unless Zimmer Air has a new price list out for 2020, last year and in 2018 they charged $250/Ha for spraying rural property and $880/Ha for urban property. So the budgeted Town amount should be: 600 Urban Hectares would cost $528,000.

600 Rural Hectares would cost $150,000 Total Cost is $678,000 Minus the $150,000 already in the 2020 budget, the total cost is $528,000, or approximately $65 per

process.”

Nohara replied that the CCC is indeed following procedure — and they just don’t have materials ready yet.

“Pre-setting dates when we’re not ready with amendments puts the quality of our work at serious risk and adds unnecessary stress to our team,” he said. “When we have a meeting, we have to have draft materials to present.”

With that, Nohara also asked the Town for more money for consultant fees.

“I didn’t realize they were asking for money tonight,” the CAO said, appearing to be caught off guard. “[But] council doesn’t want to handcuff the good work of the CCC on the goal line.”

Using Nohara’s input, Cribbs estimated that the cost would be about $30,000. He suggested that those funds first be drawn from any leftovers in the planning budget before setting aside new money.

Ciolfi also used the opportunity of Nohara’s presence to put forward a “dark skies light pollution bylaw” for staff to look into. While the CCC is actively working on a bylaw to regulate odour from cannabis producers, Ciolfi asserted that the matter of light pollution was emerging as a separate issue.

Perhaps not coincidentally, earlier in the meeting, council received a presentation from Fenwick resident Wayne Liebau about the dangers, by his assessment, of light pollution. Suggesting the Town of Pelham adopt an outdoor lighting policy that would mandate “smart” and “respectful” lighting, he cited medical data

household.

What happened to the commitment the Town promised its citizens at the October 23 public meeting?

What happened to the Bioforest Report ($25,000) which identified and recommended the Town spray 1200 hectares of severely infested tree canopy within Pelham?

What happened when the Town staff balked at the idea that it was too onerous a task to collect that $1.04 million by invoicing each household $118 for spraying

as outlined in Option 4?

Here are the options that were presented to council: Option 1—Don’t do any spraying. Just educate the citizens on what to do.

Option 2—Spray all municipal property and whatever property the Town can spray with the rest of the $150,000 budget less $40,000 for administration.

Option 3—Spray the 1200 hectares of severely infested properties within the entire municipality at a projected cost of $1,040,000.

Option – 4—Spray about

warning of the dangers of disrupting people’s circadian rhythms.

“The warning signs are clear,” Liebau said. “The American Medical Association notes that pervasive nighttime lighting disrupts various biological processes … including possible carcinogenic effects.”

A 2019 National Geographic article said that the increase of light pollution worldwide is harmful to both humans and wildlife, and cited attempts by major cities such as Toronto and New York to mitigate lighting effects on bird migration, while “minimizing and controlling blue-rich environmental lighting.”

Pupo vents to council

Emmett Street resident Cari Pupo got her chance to tell her side of the story to council regarding her battle against an illegal duplex operating across the street from her home. An emotional Pupo, who served as Town of Pelham Treasurer from 2008-17, didn’t mince words in her criticism of municipal staff.

“I can say it’s been a very long year,” she said. “And since it’s been such a long year, I’m expecting more than 10 minutes.” (Presentations to council are usually allotted no more than 10 minutes.)

Pupo first raised her concerns to the Town about the illegal duplex at 42 Emmett last summer, but asserted that the municipality had done nothing. The issue came to a head in early November, when a young man who lived in the duplex entered Pupo’s home and acted in a threatening manner.

“It took a break-in in my home … and to have it downplayed, you

Former Town Treasurer Cari Pupo.

YOUTUBE have no idea …” Pupo said, tearfully trailing off.

The 25-year-old man, Austin Cappa, told the Voice after the incident that he was intoxicated and went into the wrong house. “[It] was an absolute mistake on my part, I was under the influence of alcohol and thought I was dreaming,” he said at the time. “I sincerely apologize for absolute idiotic conduct.”

Pupo has maintained, however, that Cappa was trying to intimidate her because of her opposition to the duplex, which is owned by Cappa’s parents.

“You knew on September 23,” Pupo said of staff being alerted to the duplex matter.

Town representatives had inspected the building on that date, but found no reason to believe it was operating as an illegal duplex at the time, in part because one of

600 Hectares within or adjacent to urban boundaries for approximately $500,000.

Strangely, the only option that council actually voted on was for Option 2 and I don’t even recall the motion being put forward by a councillor. Mayor Junkin and Councillors Wink, Hildebrandt and Stewart voted for it. The Town would ensure all its properties were sprayed first and any remaining amount would go towards to spraying a bufSee FIGURES Page 14

the units was not furnished.

“Everybody’s [being treated inconsistently],” Pupo said. “In the paper it said, Quaker Road, ‘rules are rules, you have to follow them.’

Alan [Crescent], ‘rules are rules, you have to follow them.’ [But] this house, it’s ‘do whatever you want.’”

She also relayed the trauma of Cappa entering her house illegally — for which he was not charged by the police, but only ticketed for trespassing— and having to leave her son to confront him while she went for help from other neighbours after calling authorities.

“You have no idea what it was like when I had to leave my son in the basement and go run for help because I didn’t know how long it would take 911 to get there,” Pupo said. “This Town doesn’t listen to anything we have to say.”

Pupo found a sympathetic ear in Councillor Kore, who asked staff why 42 Emmett wasn’t considered a duplex.

“The definition of a duplex is quite specific in the bylaw,” said Director of Community Planning and Development Barb Wiens. “It didn’t meet the technical definition of duplex.”

The CAO explained that the Town handled the matter correctly with the information they had at the time, and pointed out that the illegal entry incident was separate from the zoning concern.

“We took the [duplex] complaint seriously, we deployed 100 percent of the resources at our disposal,” the CAO said. “Thereafter, evidence was presented [that a second See COUNCIL Page 14

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The Voice, March 11, 2020

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The Voice, March 11, 2020

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

Conservation Authority recognizes volunteers

BY BRIAN GREEN

Special to the VOICE

2020 marks the 29th year that the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority has hosted an awards ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of individuals and groups who volunteer to protect and enhance the Niagara Peninsula watershed.

“Our volunteers and partners are the heart and soul of our programs, events, and our communities,” said Kerry Royer, NPCA Community Outreach and Volunteer Co-ordinator. “This special evening is about them and we hope everyone had the opportunity to socialize with potential partners...and felt appreciated and acknowledged.”

Some 350 attendees braved a blustery evening on Wednesday, February 26, to drive to the West Niagara Agricultural Centre and Fairgrounds, in West Lincoln, to participate in the awards ceremonies. They represented the 791 volunteers who contributed almost 15,000 hours to the Conservation Authority’s various events and programs.

Of special note among the many awards presented were the 2019 Award of Merit recipients. The Youth

From left, new CAO and Secretary-Treasurer Chandra Sharmaa, Foundation Chair Tom Insinna, and former CAO and Foundation Board member Gayle Wood.

SUPPLIED Award went to Grade 10 student Kyle Joung, of Welland, who is credited with 279 hours of volunteer work in 2019. Mickey diFruscio, of Thorold, received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his long service, having been on the NPCA Board of Directors from 1994 to 2019, and spearheading the Authority’s monarch butterfly initiative, among other projects.

Group Awards were presented to

the Friends of Malcolmson Eco-Park and the Niagara Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada for their work on Twelve Mile Creek.

This was the first public event for the new Chief Administrative Officer and Secretary-Treasurer of the NPCA, Chandra Sharma.

She told the crowd how impressed she was at the numbers of community volunteers who participate in the work of the

AWARDS SEASON CONTINUES Forget the Oscars. The real action was at a recent Fenwick Lions dinner, where two top awards were bestowed upon three deserving members.

From left, Lions Bill King and Bert Marissen received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, named for the Lions International founder. This is the highest form of recognition, and its recipients are models of exemplary service to club and community. Right, Lion Jeff Pickup received a Helen Keller Fellowship award, which recognizes Lions for their “untiring service,” including in support of deaf people of all ages.

SUPPLIED Authority, and added that, “volunteers are incredibly important to our organization’s ability to complete its work… and [we] encourage more members of the community to get involved with us in 2020.”

The recently elected chair of the NPCA’s Board of Directors, Brenda Johnson, acknowledged the large turnout on a wintry night, and said, “We know that you don’t volunteer count-

less hours for thank-yous, but we’re going to thank you anyway!”

The NPCA Foundation is the fundraising arm of the organization and has recently been restructured after allegations of mismanagement and incompetence. The new Foundation Chair, Tom Insinna, referred to the recent “trying times” in his remarks, and received applause when he assured the audience that

“there will be no more trying times.” He assured the volunteers that the Foundation would be actively supporting their efforts.

Presentations on Birding and Tourism, the Comfort Maple, The Niagara Chapter of Trout Unlimited’s “Healthy Twelve Mile Creek” program, and Pathstone: The Connection Between Nature and Mental Health, rounded out the evening.

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The Voice, March 11, 2020

Page 9

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! But first: ST. PRACTICE DAY! Saturday, March 14 ➤ Murphy’s Irish Stout on special Corned Beef & Cabbage, $10 At 2 PM it’s JESSICA WILSON At 8 PM it’s BARLEY BRAE

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The Voice, March 11, 2020

Sunshine and smiles in the sugar bush Opening day brings out the crowds, sappy jokes, at Agape Valley

BY HELEN TRAN

Special to the VOICE

Clear skies and warm sunshine lit up the Agape Valley Sugar Bush’s opening day last Saturday, March 7.

The 140-acre farm is located on Kilman Road in Ridgeville and has been in operation under the Hartwick family since 1992. While admission is free, the revenues from the breakfast, and honey and syrup products, help to fund the Agape Valley Day Camp.

The parking lot was already busy shortly after 9 AM, with the breakfast hall full of families enjoying a meal of pancakes, fried eggs and sausage.

Despite the crowd, mother and daughter Grace and April Falardeau waited only about ten minutes for their breakfast. This was their fifth year visiting, citing the “yummy food” and the sugar bush tours as their reason for returning.

Outside, volunteers Joshua Koole and Nathan Wan were pouring taffy onto snow to cool into lollipops.

Respectively, their favourite things about the farm were “tapping the trees” and “seeing all the people here.”

A row of wooden animal sculptures just outside the breakfast hall led to Trevor Koorneef, a chainsaw carver who was at Agape to display his handiwork for third year running. All of his material is “ethically sourced” from reclaimed wood. As for his creative process, Trevor explained that he either picked the wood based on

a particular idea that came into his head, or he would look at a particular piece and sense a shape underneath the lumps of bark.

Tractors arrived often to pick up any who were eager to learn about the process of tapping and refining sap into maple syrup.

I'm here to buy maple syrup too...and it's a beautiful day for an opening

Sheena and Richard Piersma’s three children, Olivia, Naomi, and Emilia, were bursting with excitement as they sat on the hay bales and waited for the tractor to start moving.

“It’s a yearly tradition for us,” said Sheena, “and today is the perfect day to be here.”

“Agape means love, unconditional love,” said tour leader Nate Farr, with a smile. He wowed syrup aficionados with a demonstration of the ancient art of collecting maple syrup sap. The history lesson involved an axe, a stone from a crackling fire, hot caul-

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The Voice, March 11, 2020

Page 11 drons, and a lot of steam.

The farm became busier as the day progressed, with the crunch of boots on snow mingling with the sound of laughter. By noon, the parking lot was nearly full.

Walking through the woods, visitors could smell both the bonfire and the hot maple taffy being cooled into fun shapes for children to consume. The tour continued past a thawing creek and a maze of sap collecting “lines” before circling back to a group of buildings.

“The jokes at the maple farm are super sappy,” said Trevor Hartwick, who proceeded with a detailed explanation of the evaporation process to turn sap into 100% pure maple syrup.

Aside from the sugar shack, there were other buildings that visitors could tour, including a milling room, a candle-making room, a maple taffy shack, and shops filled with maple syrup, candy, and cookies.

Another product of the farm is honey, which has brought 88-year-old Clifford McAllister back for 20 years.

“I’m here to buy maple syrup too,” he said, “and it’s a beautiful day for an opening.”

The farm has upgraded its sap collection and syrup refining process over the years, with the most recent being the replacement of almost all their main sap collection lines from black to blue tubing. This improves the collection, since the best syrup is made from slightly frozen sap. The black tubing attracted too much heat, affecting the texture of the liquid.

Owner Tim Hartwick mingled and chatted with both visitors and volunteers and even gave a demonstration of the sap vacuum in action as it sucked out the sap from the main tapping lines to fill large metal tanks.

The tractor ride back to the main entrance was packed, many riders’ hands sticky with maple sugar candy. The return to the breakfast hall revealed a growing line of visitors waiting to order breakfast, and an ever-growing crowd waiting for another round of tours, young syrup fans eager to be pumped full of sugar.

On average, say the Hartwicks, some 50,000 will visit the farm over the course of a season. The Agape Valley Sugar Bush will be open for tours every Saturday in March, and every day of March Break, as well as the first Saturday of April, from 8:30 AM-3:30 PM. For information, call (905) 8924273.

Left, Nate Farr offers a history lesson on traditional methods of refining sap into syrup. From lower left moving right: Grace and April Falardeau wait for breakfast; Ben Cretney pours taffy; Kaylee Kerr displays the pure beeswax she'll use to create candles; and Olivia, Naomi, and Emilia get ready to ride.

HELEN TRAN

Page 12

The Voice, March 11, 2020

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

JACQUES

continued from Page 1 A month prior, when Michael’s selection as Citizen of the Year was announced, he was relaxing in his parents’ home dressed in a soft plaid shirt and jeans. The oasis of quiet was broken by the phone ringing, which Marcel would hurry to answer. Michael said that his book started from humble beginnings.

“It just started as a daily journal… it was just my story.”

He recorded the first draft of the book alone in his room, using his computer’s talk-to-text function.

These days, the book is sold on stands in every Sobeys in Ontario. Michael and Marcel went on a tour of the east coast sponsored

by Sobeys, with new bookstands appearing in Sobeys located in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Jacques family receives phone calls almost constantly, with requests

Above, MP Dean Allison greets Michael Jacques. Centre, guests help themselves to the buffet. Right, a place setting. for Michael to speak at events and schools, congratulations from family and friends, and queries from agencies and publishers interested in marketing his book. A sequel is in the works, with family and friends contributing chapters that they’ve written about Michael’s effect on their lives and perspectives.

In the last 12 months, Michael has conducted some

120 presentations. He was also appointed to the Minister’s Advisory Council on Special Education (MACSE) by the Ontario Education Minister. On the international level, Michael was also recognized with a feature on the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust website (QCT), which “uses its network, platform and resources ...to support young leaders in realizing their dreams

NIAGARA’S

and hopes for the future,” and to “bring about positive change for now and the generations that follow.”

Despite Michael’s many achievements at the age of 28, he smiled when asked about his next goal and said that he feels like any “normal” 28-year-old who wants to make friends, have a drink, and get his driving license.

“We’re all normal, in our own way,” he said. “Don’t give up. Don’t be afraid to fail. Anything is possible.”

Weeks later at the dinner, Michael shook hands and greeted guests with confidence as if he had done so for years. He expressed both nervousness and excitement about making his acceptance speech.

Michael’s sister Kaila Jacques, who was instrumental in the editing, publi-

cation and formatting of his book, said she was proud of her brother.

“I feel like he was always destined for great things.

Thanks to him I learned so much about empathy and compassion and that’s why I feel like he’s making so connections with so many people in town.”

Those connections were on display Tuesday evening, with the hall filled to capacity. There were many reasons to celebrate that night: Michael is the youngest Citizen of the Year, the Kinsmen are celebrating their 100th anniversary, and it was the largest Citizen of the Year dinner they had ever organized.

“I’m sorry some of you had to park in Vineland.

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Member Brian Iggulden in his welcoming remarks.

After the singing of O Canada and the saying of grace, all present tucked into their steaming hot dinner, with musical accompaniment by Lindsey Mills.

MP Dean Allison brought greetings from federal Canada. He spoke of Pelham’s community closeness, thanked everyone coming together to honour Michael and his achievements, and presented Michael with a scroll.

“You are walking amongst giants,” he said, referring to previously chosen Citizens of the Year. “You are loved, by the family and friends you have here. It is never too young to make a difference, never too young to lead, and never too young to inspire.”

MPP Sam Oosterhoff also made a speech from his place at the head table.

“I am absolutely blown away by [Michael’s] ability to touch so many people,” he said. He also presented Michael with a scroll, joking that it was every politician’s duty.

Mayor Marv Junkin was out of the country and unable to attend, so Councillor Mike Ciolfi spoke on his and the Town’s behalf.

“Michael encompasses the determination, dedication, friendliness, and good-natured spirit that this town is known for,” said Ciolfi. “We are all incredibly proud to call you one of ours. We are all proud of you and what you do for this community.”

Linda Wright, director of Community Living Ontario, also made a presentation.

“I have been asked by Community Living Ontario to bring our wishes to Michael on this very special night. We are your biggest champions and we all think you are an absolute rock star. You have brought so much awareness to our work and we couldn’t be more grateful about that.”

“We don’t have any scrolls,” she quipped.

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The Voice, March 11, 2020

Page 13

Old Town Hall was filled to capacity. Right, eight previous Citizens of the Year pose for pictures with Jacques.

JACQUES

continued from previous page Pride was the theme of the night, with another short speech

by Kailee Jacques.

“Every single person in this room has been inspired or motivated or changed because of my brother,” she said. When she became emotional, Michael was quick to place an encouraging hand on her arm.

Even though many family members, friends and Kin Life Members insisted repeatedly that the night was “all about Michael,” the man in question took the time during his own speech to thank the Kinsmen, the people who nominated him, his friends and coworkers, and his family.

He thanked his mother for being his “cheerleader,” and accepted his sister’s hug when it was his own turn to become emotional during his speech. He also announced

that it was his father’s birthday, and led the hall in a round of Happy Birthday.

“I never had a strong voice before,” said Michael, “and I want to say thank you to everyone who helped me out, to find the confidence.”

He also emphasized that he wished to encourage others to be confident, to find their own voice, and to be heard.

The Citizen of the Year award plaque was then presented to Michael by Brandon Young, president of the Fonthill Kinsmen. Brandon cited Michael as an inspiration in his own life growing up with autism.

After the speeches concluded, there were many photo ops. Michael stood with those past Citizen of the Year recipients present, including Gail Hilyer, David Swan, Gary and Rosemary Chambers, John Wink, and Ron Kore.

Michael’s principals from elementary school, Ralph DeFazio,

Dean Stunt, and Terry Grand, were in attendance, as well as coworkers from Sobeys, whom Michael described as “like family.” Michael insisted that he take a photo with his grandmother, to compare with a shot of them together that appears in his book.

Camera flashes lit up smiles as the dishes were cleared and guests began to leave. As the hall emptied, Kinsman Kevin Twomey emphasized that both Michael and Brandon had achieved much despite the obstacles that life had placed in their paths.

“Look at Michael, and look at Brandon,” said Kevin. “All you need is enthusiasm and the desire and ability to lead. Nothing should stand in anyone’s way to do anything.”

Like those around him, Michael regarded the future with optimism.

“Whatever happens next, it’s gonna be great. I’m excited,” he said.

Acceptance speech

by Michael Jacques Thanks everyone for coming. I would like to thank the Kinsmen club for announcing me Citizen of the Year. It means a lot to me for the recognition.

I’d also like to thank the people in the community who nominated me. It means a lot to me as well that you think I deserve this honour.

I’d like to thank my family. You always believe in me and support me.

My dad, also known as my executive assistant, banker and personal chauffeur. My mom is my biggest cheerleader, and sometimes she can embarrass me. My sister and her husband are also a big part of my life too. They do all the design work for my book, my social media and website. It takes a team behind you to get things done. But also it takes a community behind you, because so many people buy and support my book, people who know me and people who don’t know me. This means a lot and I feel happy that people want to know me.

I also wanted to thank my second

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family, Sobeys, and my boss Ron, for helping me out with lots of things. They were the first people to sell my book in stores, and now I think everyone has a book in the Niagara region. The Sobeys family is a big part of this community and I’m happy to be there when I’m not on tour.

Lastly, I didn’t always have a strong voice. I found it through organizations like Community Living and Special Olympics. So I have to thank them.

They gave me confidence and accepted me for myself. Then I started volunteering to share my perspective and stand up for people who are different.

Then I was able to write a book and now that is what I use to share my story and present to communities all around Ontario and Canada. This is how I connect to so many people. It’s important for me to give back because I want to change how people see those with a disability. I want to make our world more accepting and inclusive. That it doesn’t matter if you have a disability you can do anything and the sky is the limit.

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The Voice, March 11, 2020

COUNCIL

based on ‘managed’ growth and I am doing my due diligence in ensuring that it is indeed the Town that is doing the managing versus the developers.” In the end, Haun requested that staff prepare a report to address her concerns. (See sidebar, this page.)

continued from Page 6 unit] was in fact occupied.

Keep in mind at the time, this was an alleged zoning infraction. It’s not a critical health or safety issue … it’s extremely unfortunate that the other incident occurred, but that’s not foreseeable when we’re talking about land use planning.”

According to Pupo, Cappa no longer lives at the address.

Loading up

Returning to a topic she broached a week earlier, Councillor Lisa Haun queried Planning Director Barb Wiens on the Town’s approach to billing property developers for charges owed to the municipality by “front loading” them— requiring payment in advance. Haun had raised

FIGURES

continued from Page 6 fer zone surrounding Town property.Any additional remainder would be used to spray a few areas of private property and the rest of the citizens would have to fend for themselves or refer to Option 1.

It was surprising Mayor Junkin voted yes, because

Summerfest still a top-10

Councillor Lisa Haun. YOUTUBE the same issue at council’s strategic planning meeting on February 24, and received the same answer then as she did last week— the Town already requires developers to pay development charges up front, before construction starts.

Asked later by the Voice to clarify what, in her view, the Town should be doing differently, Haun responded, “I ran my campaign

moments earlier he said even although he had no infested trees on his property he would gladly pay $200$300 to spray, if it was going to protect the tree canopy within our Town.

Councillor Kore, Ciolfi and Haun all voted no. They thought the spray area had to be expanded. $500,000 would cover approximately 600 hectares and would cost

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Developers, the Town, and who pays for what

BY DAVE BURKET

The VOICE

Councillor Wink began the meeting by noting that Summerfest was ranked among the province’s top 10 festivals for the sixth time in nine years, according to Festivals & Events Ontario, an industry trade group.

Asserting that there are more than 2,000 festivals in Ontario each year, Wink thanked organizers. “It’s a strong tribute to the Town and the work that’s been put in by the Summerfest Committee.”

At the last two Pelham Town Council meetings, Ward 3 Councillor Lisa Haun has questioned Town staff on how the municipality derives payment from real estate developers, expressing concern that the Town may not be doing so with sufficient speed. At last Monday’s council meeting, Director of Planning and Development, Barb Wiens, agreed to prepare a report for council to address Haun’s concerns.

That report may end up looking a lot like this overview.

each resident approximately $50, but the staff strongly pushed back on this suggestion, making the point that it was too onerous an invoicing task and therefore made it unacceptable to them.

Sometimes it appears that staff chooses to present information to council in a manner that determines one option enjoys preference over other options, not because it works best for the council or citizens but because it appears to work best for the staff.

During the last year, I

have attended a number of council meetings and it has become obvious that members of council struggle with making decisions with less than full disclosure.

The organization needs to change how it does things.

Hopefully, our new CAO can provide leadership with open and transparent communications.

There is no outcome where misleading the public today is beneficial tomorrow. Trust is not a renewable resource.

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Based on research and reporting the Voice has done over the past four years, particularly related to the Town’s East Fonthill development, the municipality already appears to be charging developers the maximum amounts permitted, and receiving these funds—or guarantees—before construction begins.

Last week, the Voice reached out for an update from Wiens, who confirmed that at the time of building permit issuance, the builder pays all building permit fees, cash-in-lieu of parkland dedication fees, if applicable, and Town, Regional and Catholic School Board development charge fees.

When a developer receives approval for a development, such as a plan of subdivision, the developer pays for all the costs associated with building the new roads, installing all the infrastructure—water, sanitary and storm sewer systems, street lighting, gas lines, telephone, cable, sidewalks, street trees, street signage—for the subdivision.

The Town does not pay for any of these works, Wiens said. The Town receives from the developer financial security, in the form of cash deposits and/or letters of credit from the developer’s financial institution, for all of these works at the time a subdivision is granted its final approval. The Town does not allow any construction of works to commence until it has received the financial securities from the developer. The securities are to ensure that all these works get installed in accordance with the Town standards.

The securities are returned to the developer after the works have been installed and after an agreed-upon maintenance period.

Dir. of Planning and Development, Barb Wiens. SUPPLIED Wiens said that Town engineering staff inspect the new works to ensure that they are installed in accordance with Town standards prior to releasing any securities back to the developer. If there are deficiencies, the developer must repair or remediate the deficiency.

If the developer does not, the Town can draw on the developer’s securities and undertake to do the repair or remediation of the deficiency itself.

The developer also pays an administration fee, which is to cover Town staff costs to administer the subdivision agreement. The developer pays for all the costs to develop a subdivision up front, and the Town takes ownership and maintenance of these services after the maintenance period has expired and Town staff are satisfied that all the services and roadway have been installed and constructed in accordance with Town standards.

Development charge fees (commonly referred to as “DCs,” or the mildly redundant “DC charges”) are used to pay for growth-related infrastructure—recreation and fire service improvements to existing services—that are required See CHARGES next page

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Maplethorpe had no objecFABULOUS FENWICK LIONS FISH FRY tions to the switch to centre treats with funds heading straight back into the community. Haddock, from Tasty the wing.

“I think centre is a good fit french fries and much more. Runs Sept. 9 from 4-7 p.m. for me,” she said. “I played centre for my whole life except PELHAM for a couple MINOR of years in HOCKEY EQUIPMENT SALE midget. It was more natural Buy,I like sell toor follow trade the used equipment at the Pelham Arena. to provide because Every Aimed five years the depuck cheaper and you’re options allowed to.” velopment charges bylaw is for players in this upcoming season.

Runs Sept.

6 from continued from previous page Maplethorpe feels her inreviewed, said Wiens, and 9-12production in the morning. creased can be updated to reflect current to accommodate the new attributed to experience. growth development trends, growth.

“Just a little more configrowth predictions and serFor example, said Wiens, dencePELHAM this year, I MUDFEST think,” she vices required to service the if an existing water main said. Men “Coming as a freshnew growth, so that the fees andinwomen will beneeds backtoin be theincreased mud as the in second run on the year is man nobody really knows collected through developsize to provide the new deheldabout at Bissil’s Hideaway. anything you or how to ment charges are as realistic velopment with the same play with you. Now I’ve been as possible. On an annual balevel of service that the explaying with a couple of them sis the development charges isting community receives, NIAGARA REGIONAL EXHIBITION for a year and it’s easier to are increased based on the charges cover Rodeo, games and livedevelopment entertainment headline this years exciting event. It play with people you know.” construction price index. that portion of the costs to Page said even with addiMeanwhile, the Reruns from Sept. 11-14 at the Welland increase the size Fairgrounds. of the wational attention for the oppogion has its own developter main. Thus, if a six-inch sition, Maplethorpe has conment charges bylaw, which water main needs to be intinued to produce. deals with growth-related BIG MOVE CANCER RIDE creased to eight inches so “Some other teams are costs for Regional services, that a new subdivision has TheupBig Move taking onSchool Sept. picking on her andCancer play- Ride is a non-competitive ride while the place Catholic the appropriate water suping the body better and she Board also has its own de7. Proceeds for the Bigply Move stay inthe Niagara and support the Walker Famto service developstill slinks by them,” Page velopment charges bylaw, ment, development charges Cancer Centre. said. ily “She’s a pretty slippery addressing growth-relatcover the difference in cost player ed costs associated with between the six-inch wa“She leads her line. She schools. ter main to the eight-inch WALKING CLUB gets the puck. She loves getPelham—like all local water main. In this examting the puck.” in walking in Pelham? Join them Tuesdays municipalities in the ReInterested at the Pelham Arena ple, the Town would be reMaplethorpe, who is magion—collects the Regionsponsible for the costs re9-10 am and Thursdays at Fonthill Bandshellal for 9-10:30 am. There joringfrom in biochemistry, joined development charges on lated to replacing six-inch Brockisafter beingfor exposed to behalf of contact the Region and no fee this program.

For more information, please jcook@ portion of the water main, Niagara while on a tournathe Catholic School Board since this services pelham.ca or call 905 892-2607, ext 329.the ex- at building permit stage. ment in the area in Grade 9. isting development, while “I just wanted a change.

On a quarterly basis, the the fees collected through It’s a lot different around Town pays these charges to development charges would HAMPER DAY FOR PELHAM CARES here. The coaching staff was the Region and the Catholic for the growth-related fruittoandpay vegetables at the Market or bringBoard a non-perishable reallyPurchase nice and fresh got me School that have been costs only, not existing income,” she said. collected onon their behalf. food item to fill the hampers at thereplacement.

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The Voice, March 11, 2020

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FAITH LIFT

continued from Page 19 came seriously ill but survived.

Three years later his citizenship was revoked and he was exiled to West Germany. In 1976 he moved his family to the U.S., where he continued to write (and where the KGB continued to harass him).

In 1978 Harvard University awarded him an honorary literary degree. In his commencement address, Solzhenitsyn bravely critiqued his host country. While appreciating the freedoms of the west, he lamented that it was spiritually weak, lacked traditional values, and was “mired in vulgar materialism.” His painful life experiences lent a moral authority to his words.

Insightful words Over the decades, Solzhenitsyn had written with conviction and insight. Here are a few examples.

“The battleline between good

and evil runs through the heart of every man.”

“Everything you add to the truth subtracts from the truth.”

“Can a man who's warm understand one who's freezing?”

“If I were asked today to formulate as concisely as possible the main cause of the ruinous revolution that swallowed up some 60 million of our people, I could not put it more accurately than to repeat: ‘Men have forgotten God; that's why all this has happened.’”

When the Soviet Union collapsed, his citizenship was restored and in 1994 he returned to Russia. He died of heart failure in Moscow in 2008 at age 89.

Solzhenitsyn was a courageous prophet who was unafraid to criticize the atheism of the east or the materialism of the west.

His words still ring true today. ♦ Rob Weatherby is a retired pastor.

CEDAR KEY

continued from Page 18 his motel lobby-cum-living room to recount tales from an implausible life.

If he ran the motel at a profit for ten years, the owner would give it to him. Someone else he had worked for as a sixteen-yearold kid recently bequeathed him a twenty metre sailboat. Hutton owned an art gallery upstate somewhere with $13,000,000 worth of inventory. He had recently hosted a New Year’s barbecue for 300 people on the motel deck.

He called us “bro,” and insisted we take a plate of pulled pork smothered in barbecue sauce from his smoker for free.

Hutton rented his last room on a handshake, never budging from his recliner, and told the couple he’d need a half hour to prepare it.

“I think he’s the real deal,” Ted

said as we sat there alone.

“I think he’s full of it,” was my reply.

I bought him some beers, talked to him, got him drunk, helped him forget

Hutton returned in a few minutes, locked the office door as he showed us out, then offered to buy us a few beers. We declined, thanked him for the pork, and went to our motel room.

At breakfast the following morning, we encountered Hut-

ton again in a worn, wharf-side restaurant, piling into eggs, bacon and hash browns.

As we joined him, he motioned to a fellow eating alone on the restaurant deck, staring out into the Gulf.

“Met him at a bar last night, he’s just driftin’ through,” said Hutton in a gravelly whisper. “He lived with his mother for years, caring for her. She just died. He’s totally lost. I bought him some beers, talked to him, got him drunk, helped him forget.”

As I wondered if we’d once again entered the twilight zone of Hutton’s exaggerated imagination, he rose from the table to leave, and asked the waitress what he owed.

“The guy at that table over there covered it,” she replied, glancing at the deck.

My riding buddy Ted wore a huge “I told you so” smirk, and I sheepishly wondered if maybe the sailboat and art gallery really did exist. ♦

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice, March 11, 2020

Sporting Green The Niagara

“Success is a science; if you have the conditions, you get the result.”

Oscar Wilde

Page 17

Down Florida way, John Swart meets a character 18

The Voice and TheVoiceofPelham.ca | March 11, 2020

Brock coach best in Canada Former high school coach succeeds at next level

BY BERNIE PUCHALSKI

BPSPORTSNIAGARA.COM

The newly minted Ontario University Athletics’ and U SPORTS’ women’s basketball coach of the year deftly deflects the credit to others.

“To me, it’s more a reflection of the players,” Brock head coach Mike Rao said. “I don’t put too much credence into it because it’s an award you get because [Melissa] Tatti makes some shots, Sam [Keltos] makes some shots and Jess [Morris] makes some shots.

You end up on top and all of a sudden you are given this award. It is more of a team award and a players award than anything else.”

Tatti, who was named the OUA player of the year, feels Rao deserves a lot of credit for guiding the Badgers to a 17-5 regular-season record, a yearlong residence in the U SPORTS top 10, an OUA championship and a berth in this week’s U SPORTS championship.

“He’s awesome. He’s the coach of the year and it’s well deserved,” she said. “He turned this program 360 degrees around. Three years ago, Brock was the worst team in the OUA and now we are the best team in the OUA which is crazy to even say that.”

Tatti points to a lot of attributes

which make Rao special.

“He’s very personable and he’s hard on us but he treats us like people at the same time,” she said. “When you have a coach that treats you with mutual respect, you want to win for him as much as you want to win for yourself.”

More than 30 year of coaching experience benefits Rao, but that’s only part of the equation.

“That helps, but we are such a family and he’s not just our coach,” Tatti said. “He is like our second dad and that makes the whole experience that much more special.”

Tatti was the OUA scoring leader this season and she gives Rao full

No sophomore jinx

BY BILL POTRECZ

BPSPORTSNIAGARA.COM

Cassidy Maplethorpe is a puck hound.

The 19-year-old centre is among the most offensively gifted players for the Brock Badgers women’s hockey team, something she attributes to her desire for the

puck.

“I was always a puck follower,” the Alberta native said. “I was never really defensive. I was drawn to the puck so I could never play defence.”

Maplethorpe said her touch

credit for that accolade.

“It took about a year and a half of him being in my ear about more arc, cock your wrist, continually telling me the same three things and I finally got it the last semester.”

Tatti had three straight 30-plus point games during one stretch of the second semester.

Assistant coach Rick Lostracco, who has known Rao since he was six, isn’t surprised by Rao’s coaching prowess but is a little surprised that Brock head’s coach was able to have so much success with limited recruiting to start his tenure at Brock.

“His players will go through a wall for him,” Lostracco said. “He knows

around the net comes from her ability to read the play.

“It was knowing where the puck was going to be,” said Maplethorpe, who laughed when kidded by head coach Margot Page about her silky hands. “I would somehow always end up with it on my stick and when it’s on your stick, you can score.”

Maplethorpe collected four goals and 12 points in 24 games as a rookie and has increased her

how to treat them. He knows when to kick them and he knows when to pat them.”

The recognition is a little bit of vindication for Rao, who is taking the same approach at Brock that he took as a successful high school boys basketball coach at Notre Dame in Welland. Not many thought it would work in women’s university hoops.

“I can only be who I am and I can’t coach any other way,” the 61-yearold Welland native said. “That’s what I know, that’s who I am and that is what I do. I always thought if it was going to work, that was fine. If it was going to fail, it was my idea and at least I did it my way.”

production substantially to nine goals and 17 points in 22 games in her sophomore season.

“She was always a scorer,” Page said. “She had some really good offensive stuff last year.

“I think she’s kind of come in a little more confident and a little bit more of overall player as well, not just a scorer. She takes pride in her points and her silky hands.”

But Page said Maplethorpe is more than just a scorer.

Coach Mike Rao.

BERNIE PUCHALSKI

“She also takes pride in her overall game. One thing we’ve noticed from last year is she’s moving her feet better. She was not as quick last year. She was gliding a lot but now she’s moving her feet and she’s tough to knock off the puck because of that. She’s strong on her feet.”

Page moved Maplethorpe to centre this season, a switch which See HOUND Page 15

Page 18

The Voice, March 11, 2020

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

FROM THE HANDLEBARS

by John Swart

Lesson from Cedar Key Island

A

palachicola, Florida, is the only place I’ve ever had a beer bottle thrown at me while riding my bike. The unkempt driver of the pick-up and I were both creeping slowly along the main street in town, with no other vehicles in sight, and he still missed. Perhaps it wasn’t his first beer that morning.

Florida’s panhandle falls short of the vibrant, art deco scene of Miami Beach, and lacks the boisterous stock car and motorcycle groupies of Daytona.

It’s primarily pine forests, swamps, and decaying mobile homes, but there was little traffic, it was warm,

and definitely off the beaten path.

My friend Ted and I were cycling through the Forgotten Coast of Florida, from Panama City south to Cedar Key Island, along the Gulf of Mexico.

It’s tough to cycle inconspicuously in rural Florida.

High-visibility, florescent-coloured riding jerseys, black stretch tights and shiny bicycles sporting fashionable bike-packing gear pretty much announce you ain’t no local.

This is the land of camouflage coveralls and unlaced work boots. Truck mufflers are traded for gun racks, and social hierarchy is determined by the con-

tents of your truck bed.

An endlessly yapping, snarling hunting dog in a cage is more prized than fishing poles and a bait cooler. If the mutt shares the truck box with an all-terrain vehicle covered in mud and swamp grass, life is good. Lash a dead deer or a couple gutted wild boars to the ATV’s racks, and you could likely run for sheriff.

I’ll take this over the urban banality of Panama City or Pensacola any day, though, where bug-infested swamps become “scenic marshes and waterfowl habitat” in the language of real estate brochures.

And there were lessons to be learned from the goodold-boys it’s so easy to stereotype, as I’d soon learn from Mark Hutton, of Cedar Key Island.

Hutton was a burly,

Historic downtown of Cedar Key, Florida. red-bearded ex-U.S. Navy diver who had a certificate from President Jimmy Carter verifying that he had dived in every sea and ocean in the world. He was

boiling grouper-head stew when we arrived at his nine-room motel, erected on pilings above dead coral reefs, allowing Gulf tides to ebb beneath it.

NICK FOX

Hutton checked us in, left momentarily to make up a room for another guest, then rejoined us in See CEDAR KEY Page 16

Voice

HOROSCOPE

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The Voice, March 11, 2020

Voice

FAITH LIFT

by Pastor Rob Weatherby

CROSSWORD

T

Young man

Solzhenitsyn was born in 1918 in Russia one month after the end of World War I. Sadly, his father died in a hunting accident before his birth and he was raised by his mother (who never remarried) and an aunt. Like most Russians, their faith was Russian Orthodox.

At university Solzhenitsyn studied mathematics and physics but his passion was for philosophy, literature and history, which he studied by correspondence.

He served as an officer in the Soviet Army during World War II and was twice decorated. He also witnessed the atrocities of war committed by both sides (Nazis and Soviets) and would later write about them.

At war’s end, Solzhenitsyn made a critical mistake that would define the rest of his life. In a private letter he criticized Soviet leader Josef Stalin. It was discovered and he was sentenced to eight years in a Siberian labour camp followed by internal exile. During this time he began to question the Communist ideology he had been taught in school. He finally abandoned Marxism and re-embraced the Christian faith of his youth.

Prolific author

The reforms of Nikita Khrushchev released him in 1956. Solzhenitsyn was 38 and he was now free to pursue his passion for writ-

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Solzhenitsyn, prophet in exile

he name “Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn” is less known now in the west but his legacy lives on in his numerous works. Who was this Russian novelist, philosopher, historian, and short story writer, with the hard-to-pronounce name, who dared to challenge the Soviet system and paid a heavy price for it?

Page 19

ing (and he had a lot to write about). During this reform period, his first novel One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich (1962) was allowed publication in the Soviet Union. Describing his experiences in the labour camp, it became an immediate success and later a movie.

The rest of Solzhenitsyn’s books were published abroad—Cancer Ward, in 1966 (about his own battle with cancer while in prison) and, In the First Circle, in 1968. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1970 "for the ethical force with which he has pursued the indispensable traditions

of Russian literature.”

August 1914 was published in 1971, and then two years later, The Gulag Archipelago. These books criticized the Soviet system and angered the post-Khrushchev authorities. The latter book sold over 30 million copies in 35 languages. It has been described as “a headon challenge to the Soviet state” and “one of the most influential books of the 20th century.”

In 1971 the KGB tried to assassinate Solzhenitsyn with a chemical agent (sound familiar?). He beSee FAITH LIFT Page 16

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Page 20

The Voice, March 11, 2020

COLUMN SIX

continued from Page 1 to another room, one preferably with hot water in the shower.

Earlier that afternoon we had paid for three nights at a somewhat dilapidated Fort Lauderdale motel, located near the airport where we were hoping to catch our return flight to Buffalo.

We certainly hadn’t planned on spending more time in the south Florida city, but our Caribbean cruise was cut short, with the ship returning to port earlier than planned following an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness. We were spared, but hundreds of other cruise passengers weren’t so lucky.

And so a mad scramble ensued among many of the 3,000-plus cruise passengers for Fort Lauderdale hotel rooms even as our ship was still out at sea. We were certain we couldn’t change our flight plans, so it became a game of motel-room-bingo for us.

I quickly discovered through an online search that our previous hotel was booked solid for the three extra days we were to be in Fort Lauderdale, so I was determined to grab anything available. And there it was — a motel that was available. And close by the airport, too. Swell!

Well, not quite so swell.

Having disembarked from our diarrhea-stricken ves-

sel in 88-degree Fahrenheit heat, we grabbed a shuttlebus to the motel, our newfound beacon of hope and air-conditioned comfort for the next three nights. Once there, we noticed that its roof shingles were being ripped off by a dozen or so workers, and that the entire grounds appeared to be littered by roofing and other construction material.

“Oh-oh,” I thought to myself, hoping that Brenda wouldn’t notice the air of disquiet that was sweeping over me. She had, after all, expressed a concern that the motel I had selected might not be all that it had appeared to be on the motel’s webpage.

I looked at Brenda. She look at me. My gut tensed.

Entering the motel “office” conjured up another premonition. The lobby, if one could call it that, was dark and dank, with a small opening in the wall into another room, a kind of bunker, in which sat the motel clerk—a young woman wearing dreadlocks and a look of indifference—and a man, likely the manager, busily shuffling papers and oblivious to us. Both were seated at desks.

A certain odour hung heavy, although realistically it could have been my own scent of fear.

“Uh, we’re checking in,” I whispered to the girl. “I think you have our reservation.”

Offering up my credit card and settling the account,

Home is not a place, it’s a feeling.

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BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE!

it was out and up, luggage and all, climbing the bare stairway to the second floor (no elevator) and on to our room. Brenda and I were now panting as the two of us, plus the motel clerk, toted our four bags along a series of seemingly endless corridors.

On one hand, there appeared to be no one else staying in the 100-room motel except us. On the other, along the way we passed an elderly couple in one of the corridors. They seemed detached, and appeared to be living there.

“Hi,” I said good-naturedly as we passed them, bags in hand and starting to perspire profusely.

Nada. We were met with blank stares.

Oh-oh,” I thought to myself. Bates Motel, Psycho.

The Overlook, in The Shining. Mental note: Keep an eye out for Jack Nicholson wielding an axe.

Our room at the end of a long hallway seemed okay at first glance. The air conditioner was on. That was good. But there was little furniture in the room. And nowhere to place the luggage. Or hangers for clothes.

The bathroom seemed okay if somewhat bare. And the phone didn’t work at all. We had yet to test for hot water.

The phone problem was solved by a chambermaid, who replaced it with one “borrowed” from another room. Given that she had to get down on the floor to plug it into a hidden jack, I slipped her a five-dollar bill for her trouble. She pocketed it without a word and was gone in a flash.

“Well,” I finally said to Brenda, “I guess it’ll do for the time being, right?”

Brenda looked blankly at me. I didn’t press the point.

Time moves very slowly when one senses he or she is trapped in a situation beyond their control, beyond anything they can do, and living in strange surroundings. Other than the elderly

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

couple we had seen earlier in a hallway, no one else seemed to be living in the motel. Apart from the workmen banging occasionally on the roof, it was eerily quiet.

Bored with our room, we ventured outside. The motel had a swimming pool, did it not? Let’s go and check it out, I enthusiastically suggested to Brenda, hoping to cheer her up.

The pool was indeed there, in an inner courtyard, but no one was swimming in it. And neither would we, despite the outdoor heat and humidity. One reason was that the pool had become a repository for roofing shingles, pieces of scrap lumber and the like.

Deck chairs were scattered haphazardly about.

There was a pool house, but the workmen had been using it on their breaks, and the table and floor were littered with cigarette butts.

Oh, well. There was always the shower in our room, after all. Except, as we quickly found out, no hot water. We even let the water run for 15 minutes. Still cold.

What followed was the trip back to the motel office and a fruitless discussion with the clerk, who was becoming more and more annoyed at our seeming lack of appreciation for our room.

We were getting nowhere and the motel manager had disappeared. Brenda and I returned to the room and wondered if we should cancel our booking and request a refund.

Brenda decided that was going to be our plan and, leaving me alone in the room to ponder our fate, returned downstairs to the motel office for another “talk” with the resolutely unmovable motel clerk.

Minutes passed. I looked outside the door for Brenda to return. More minutes. A half hour. What was happening down there, I wondered. When Brenda finally did return, it was with the

motel clerk’s ultimatum.

“Better start packing.”

The cops were on their way.

As I paused to let this sink in, there was a knock at the door.

“Oh-oh, guess who?” I muttered.

Brenda opened the door.

“Hi, c’mon in,” she said, giving her best touristy smile. “We’re just two tired Canadians trying to get home. We won’t cause you any trouble.”

Outside stood two members of Fort Lauderdale’s finest, a male police officer and his female counterpart, both looking very young and very serious.

“Hi, I guess you know the motel wants you out,” one of them said apologetically.

“We’re just packing our things, officers,” I tried to reassure them.

“This has never really happened to us before.”

The officer politely explained that he and his partner had been sent to “assist” us in leaving the motel. He told us we had been refunded our money (which, as it turned out, was not totally accurate) and gave me a sheet of paper to sign.

By this point, somewhat flustered by having to hurriedly pack our things and by what was happening to us but glad to hear our money was being refunded, I was happy to sign anything, read or unread.

“You don’t want to be here,” one of the officers explained without qualifying just why. “This isn’t the place for you.”

I took it that my choice of motel — and the neighbourhood itself — wasn’t exactly the type of establishment where a couple of elderly Canadian tourists should be hanging out for the night.

Brenda mentioned that since we had nowhere else to go, she was willing to walk down to another nearby motel and check it out for an available room, but

the male police officer said bluntly, “You don’t want to be there either.” Oh-oh.

I then revealed to the police that while Brenda had been down at the motel office trying to arrange a cancellation of our booking, I managed to finally work our phone and find a room for two of our three days at a more established hotel.

But with no means of getting there, the two police officers stepped up and offered Brenda and myself rides to the hotel in their patrol cars.

So into their cars went our luggage and the two of us, Brenda and me each sitting in the back “perp” seats, surrounded by plexiglass and bars. Well, this was certainly unexpected.

For a brief moment, I wondered what our friends or families would have thought about our septugenarian “bust” by the Fort Lauderdale police department as the two police cars raced down Florida State Road 84 to our new hotel.

I pondered the moment.

That morning, I had gotten off a cruise ship three days early and thought it was an unseemly end to a highly anticipated vacation. Then, a few hours later, I’m in the back of a police car being taken for a ride by the local constabulary. Hmm, not bad at all.

“You can add this to your bucket list of things you’ve already done,” the female officer said, smiling at Brenda as both officers delivered us in front of the lobby of our new hotel.

Hotel guests waiting outside for airport shuttles gawked as we — two elderly “perpetrators” —disembarked, neither wearing cuffs. Surprise!

“Not every tourist,” said the cop with a laugh, “gets this special treatment.” ♦ Bill Eluchok is a retired London Free Press editor and reporter now living in Welland.

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