The Voice, November 18 2020

2021 budget discussions page 3 COVID rules enforcement stepped up page 8 Hurricane Road rezoning proposal page 20 Larry “BILKO” Bilkszto

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November 18, 2020

Vol.24 No.46 

Darcy Richardson, CPA, CA | Broker

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Published every Wednesday

Column Six

Managing another lockdown What travelling alone taught me about self-isolation

BY ANGELA CARTER

Special to the VOICE

N Jaxon the horse provokes a big student smile.

BRENDA LANGENDOEN

Cantering into a more hopeful future

BY MEGAN METLER

Special to the VOICE

Horse Cents For Kids is a relatively new charity. The after-school program takes place on Friday evenings and focuses on working with

low-income youth ages eight to 14.

They are given the opportunity to experience farm life, learn life skills and build relationships, and take care of and learn to ride horses. Improving mental health, wellbeing and building confidence of partici-

pants is a beneficial outcome of the program.

“It’s so special and it’s so unique and so I just want to be able to offer it to kids that would not normally ever have this opportunity,” said Brenda Langendoen, Executive Di-

rector of Horse Cents For Kids and co-owner of B’N’R Stables, where the program is located.

Horse Cents For Kids is partnered with different organizations to find See CENTS Page 12

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ot long before the COVID-19 novel coronavirus emerged in our world, I returned from a sixmonth journey around the world. On November 7, 2019, I arrived safely at the Toronto International Airport, where the life of travelers was alive, bustling, and joyful. Much different than today, where it is desolate and filled with cautiousness and fear. Having literally flown around the world through Europe, Australia, New Zealand and back around to North America, I experienced the world at a time that will forever be embedded in gratitude and appreciation for the gift of perfect timing.

As I sit in self-isolation, I can’t help but reflect on how six months of travelling alone in foreign countries, where people didn’t speak See COLUMN SIX Page 10

Page 2

The Voice, November 18, 2020

PUBLISHER’S CORNER

by Dave Burket

Corrections at the top: I knew our run of mistake-free issues was bound to end, but jeez, the last couple of weeks… Anyway, contrary to our boldly asserted subheadline last week, it is Ian Hamilton, not his son William Hamilton (pilot and fine former Voice carrier) who is CEO of the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority. And the Fonthill Lions’ Drive-thru Santa Breakfast event takes place not on Sunday, Nov. 9, but on Sunday, Nov. 29, i.e., two Sundays from now. (The next Sunday, Nov. 9, by the way, is in 2025, sooner than I would have thought.) For a mere $5, you’ll get four pancakes, three sausages, maple syrup, butter, and the satisfaction of contributing to a worthy cause...Another deserving organization: Pelham Cares is well into its modified 2020 Food Drive, having received some 746 boxes of donations on the way to their 3000-box goal. Three weeks remain for you to leave non-perishable (canned, dry) food items and personal hygiene supplies at the contact-less drop-off point near the south entrance at the community centre, Thursdays and Fridays, 8:30 AM to 7 PM, and Saturdays, 9 AM to 3 PM...Current stats: As of Monday, Pelham had seven active cases of COVID-19. The Region’s Acting Medical Officer of Health has some important points to make this week, on page 5...I'll loan you the dimes to drop: The Mayor, as is his weekly custom, also updates us on matters viral in his column, also on page 5. You’ll note that he reluctantly mentions a telephone number [(905) 688-8248, x7590] that Niagara residents may call, 24/7, to report violations of COVID safety protocols. This reluctance is in keeping with His Honour’s generally libertarian outlook. I, on the other hand, have no problem calling the fuzz on COVIDIOTs. This is literally a lifeand-death situation we find ourselves in, and concerns about being polite neighbours take a very far backseat (possibly left behind on the pavement) to staying alive. Now, I realize that the Mayor shares this urgency, as does all of council, as does head of bylaw enforcement and Fire Chief Bob Lymburner.

Let’s all collectively give them permission not to pussy-foot around those who believe themselves to be above the rules, and start handing out some reality-check fines. While we’re at it, I’m with Larry Coté (page 4)—let’s require those claiming medical reasons for not wearing a mask to get a bloody doctor’s note proving it. Enough with the conspiracy theory nonsense...Confidential to T.C.: Thank you for the lovely card and photos sent to the office. We appreciate the gesture...

More drama on the flat screen: Enjoying The Queen’s Gambit? A couple of readers have emailed in with a list of its GTA shooting locations, although the bulk of the series was shot in, would you believe, Berlin. Meanwhile, also recommended, and also on Netflix: The Trial of the Chicago 7. Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing). Ah, 1968. Protesters in the streets, trying to protect democracy from authoritarianism. Sure glad those days are over! Stay safe out there. ◆

Lawyer for Clapp accused says evidence not received

BY JOHN CHICK

Special to the VOICE

The lawyer for Matthew MacInnes, one of two men charged with second-degree murder in the death of Fenwick resident Earl Clapp, said in court Nov. 13 that he has still not received disclosure — meaning evidence — in the case.

“Today is five weeks since the day of arrest,” attorney Andrew Burton said during the short video proceeding.

“We still have not received any disclosure whatsoever, and that is preventing us from taking any steps.”

MacInnes appeared briefly on the video from the Niagara Detention Centre, where he has been held since Oct. 9 — one week after Clapp was killed. Police believe the 74-year-old Clapp was dragged to his

death by a vehicle after happening upon an attempted robbery at his Centre Street property.

Burton asked for MacInnes’ matter to be held over until Nov. 27, and asked to clarify that this date was the same as the next scheduled appearance for MacInnes’ co-accused, Jason Lusted.

“Yes it is,” the clerk said.

Not mentioned was a report that Lusted allegedly attempted suicide at the same Niagara Detention Centre on Nov. 5. The Ministry of the Solicitor General told the Voice on Nov. 8 that an inmate had been hospitalized after being found “in distress,” but provided no further details.

The Justice of the Peace granted Burton’s request that MacInnes return on Nov. 27.

Winter Break Camp registration opens Registration for kids aged 4-12 for the Town of Pelham's Winter Camp opens Thursday, Nov. 19. Beginning just before Christmas, the camp will run from December 21-23. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and likely holiday gatherings, the camp will not run into the New Year.

According to a Town statement, the Niagara Region Public Health Unit approved the winter camp operations plan and will be implementing all rules and regulations required to keep camp participants safe. All campers and staff will be required to wear a face-covering at all times, unless eating or engaging in physical, strenuous activity. All leaders are First Aid and High Five certified. Registration will be $120 and includes three days of camp from 9 AM- 4 PM, and a daily lunch.

Extended care is available for $8.50/day beginning at 7:30 AM and ending at 5:30 PM. For more information, contact Brittany MacLean, Active Living Programmer, at (905) 892-2607 x372.

Voice

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

NRPS impaired driving charges

POETRY You're Fired!

Trump still wants to run the show Though well he knows, it's time to go.

He points, he threatens, stamps his feet, Be damned if he will say...Defeat.

To him, a battle he has waged And NEVER will he turn the page He won, he tells his loyal base He never will accept...Disgrace.

But even winners sometimes lose If other winners, voters choose.

So pack your bags and head on out The White House's not the place to pout.

Suck it up, Donnie.

S. M. Lazareth

What's That

SIREN Pelham Fire Department Weekly Calls

The Pelham Fire department responded to one call from Friday, Nov. 6 to Friday, Nov. 13, 2020.

Friday, Nov. 6 Motor vehicle collision, Webber Rd., Fenwick

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Use your downtime to start brainstorming and planning.

We're here when you're ready.

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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

SVIERGULA Mon - Fri, 8 AM-6 PM, Sat 8 AM-5 PM

Phil and Merle Gatenby, visiting The Little Mermaid, in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Hvilken fin avis, siger hun!

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.

James D. MOORE, 62, St. Catharines Jeffrey S. PUTMAN, 58, St. Catharines Kenneth S. THORNE, 50, Lincoln Benjamin A. JOHNSON, 37, Niagara Falls Thomas E. S. VILIM, 45, St. Catharines Liam A. RICHES, 24, St. Catharines Michael EVSEYEV, 43, St. Catharines Joseph A. SAVOIE, 56, Niagara Falls

See something, Say something.

The science is clear.

Masks save lives.

Social distancing saves lives.

If you witness violations of Provincial or Regional COVID-19 safety protocols, notify the Region's Environmental Health duty officer at (905) 688-8248, x7590, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Don't allow negligence to endanger us all.

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The Voice, November 18, 2020

Page 3

TOWN COUNCIL NEWS

Introductory slide for part of council's Nov. 9 budget discussions.

YOU TUBE

Progress made in 2021 budget discussions

BY JOHN CHICK

Special to the VOICE

Pelham Council managed to review most of the Town’s 2021 capital budget at a three-hour, Nov. 9 Committee of the Whole meeting, but ran out of time due to its self-imposed 10 PM. curfew.

The meeting ended on a cliffhanger note, with Ward 3’s Bob Hildebrandt complaining that councillors are not provided with annual monitoring reports from staff regarding actual population growth related to encouraged densification in the town.

“I’ve been on council two years, I don’t know the last time this was done,” Hildebrandt said. “I’ve talked to two other communities … of similar size, and they get this type of report. So to me, this is something that has to be included in the budget.

If we’re not going to increase the budget then something else has to be removed from this. If I’m to make planning decisions on intensification, I need the proper reports because I need data to make these proper evaluations. I just can’t do these approvals based on opinion that we need to intensify. I need the facts to be able to justify what I’m asked to approve or not approve.”

Hildebrandt’s remarks came on the department of Community Planning and Development’s slide featuring a $155,000 budget, mostly covering a parking study, environmental impact reports and secondary plans.

Director of Community Planning and Development Barb Wiens managed to answer before the meeting was abruptly ended due to curfew.

“To be frank, we just haven’t had the staff resources to do that, but that is certainly something that staff can do in house,” Wiens said, before Mayor Marvin Junkin ended the meeting.

Mutual frustration between staff and councillors appeared evident at times earlier in the meeting, including when Hildebrandt asked Public Works Director Jason Marr about the possibility of the Town purchasing a “spider” trailer with a boom for cutting tree branches, rather than spending the $190,000 allotted for a forestry truck as recommended by staff. To date, Pelham owns no such forestry vehicle, and is reliant on contractors to cover the backlog of such work. Councillor John Wink supported the truck, saying it would save money in the long run. Marr agreed.

“One of the things this really does is increases the level of service to the public,” the director said. “This will improve our response time.”

However, Hildebrandt’s anecdote about watching a spider boom at work in his neighbourhood led to a debate over that alternative. Marr pointed out such a trailer would still require the purchase of a truck to tow it, as well as a separate wood-chipping trailer.

Junkin agreed with Hildebrandt that the Town consider that alternative, before CAO David Cribbs jumped in.

“We’re way too deep in the weeds here,” the CAO said, suggesting that council move to price the spider and leave the truck as

a conditional item. Members unanimously agreed to do so.

Budget items already listed as “conditional” included the construction of splash pads at Marlene Stewart Streit Park and Centennial Park. Councillor Lisa Haun, however, appeared perturbed when the Town’s water budget included $200,000 for a main to service said splash pad at Stewart Streit Park.

“If the splash pad does not go in, there’s no need for this, right?” she said.

Cribbs concurred, saying the pads themselves, not the water mains, are conditional on grants from upper levels of government.

At other points in the virtual gathering, councillors took issue with items such as a new vehicle for the fire chief, and a longstanding request for an electronic sign outside Fire Hall No. 1 on Highway 20.

It was ultimately agreed upon to wait for more information on other options for the fire chief’s vehicle, while shooting down the idea of the sign and removing its $30,000 price tag from the budget.

Left remaining in the budget was a $50,000 item for a study to consider the rehabilitation or replacement of Fire Station No. 1 itself.

A more pressing fire department-related issue appears to exist at Fire Hall No. 3 in North Pelham. Despite being only five years old, its rear parking lot asphalt is in distress and needs repairs.

“That’s our newest fire hall,” Hildebrandt said. “Something seems wrong.”

Marr said it appears the pavement is compromised by water damage.

“Yes, you’re correct, it’s our newest facility in respect to fire stations and unfortunately we have problems,” Marr said, explaining that any warranty from the contractor that installed it likely expired within a year of construction.

Meanwhile, council voted unanimously to reject spending $70,000 to replace the septic system at Old Town Hall. While Marr made the point that doing the work now while the facility is less-used due to the COVID-19 pandemic was prudent, councillors agreed with Haun’s assertion that, “why spend the money if we don’t need to?”

Staff also earmarked $10,000 for items such as park benches, leading Haun and Marianne Stewart to inquire about “legacy projects” in that area, where private citizens fund such things in memoriam of people who have passed away — a common program in other municipalities.

“Those people who have been here a long time may not know that that’s even an option,” Haun said.

Stewart moved to market such an endeavour, but Cribbs needed clarity.

“You’re approving or you’re not approving this,” he said. “There really isn’t a third lane here. You have an item before you which if passed, will lead staff attempting to purchase $10,000 worth of public park furniture.”

See BUDGET Page 14

Panthers Den Concession Hours

Monday 5 - 7 p.m.

Friday 5 - 7 p.m.

Tuesday 5 - 8 p.m.

Saturday 8 a.m - 4 p.m.

Wednesday 5 - 8 p.m. Sunday 12 - 4 p.m.

Thursday 5 - 7 p.m.

When you visit the Meridian Community Centre, you can get a bite to eat, something to drink, and take care of your equipment needs. The Panthers Den concession and the Pro Shop run by Goods Sports Excellence is now open.

Welcome back!

MCC PRO shop now open!

Thursday 5-9 p.m.

Friday

5-9 p.m.

Saturday 9-5 p.m.

Page 4

The Voice, November 18, 2020

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

OPINION

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

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

COMMENTARY / OP-ED Larry Coté To mask or not to mask—it's not really a question

T

his uncontrollable pandemic continues to rage and rampage populations here and practically everywhere.

The predicted second wave is upon us and threatening to swamp our healthcare systems. The medical community continues their valiant efforts to treat victims and find ways to control the spread of this terrible virus. It appears that a vaccine may be on the horizon but is hardly yet close at hand.

One of the strategies associated with the fight to control, and hopefully eliminate, this viral attack is the matter of wearing a mask. There are some few who refuse to don a mask and the rest of the population is having trouble unmasking the reasoning of these rebels. Admittedly, there may be some who have a medical reason for not wearing a mask. Such alleged cases should require certification by a medical practitioner and not just a self-proclamation.

However, before going further into this matter, one might legitimately ask what might be my qualifications to advocate for the wearing of masks? I do not claim to be a medical doctor. I do have two

university degrees that presumably helped my ability to reason and enhanced whatever modest skills I might possess. But even more important than this formal education, I graduated with

My case was triaged behind two other stretcher cases... diagnosed closer to death than I

the class of H1N1 survivors.

This particular graduation was a very enlightening, and I must say a joyous occasion.

Succumbing to that virus was an unwelcome actuality in light of the fact that I was inoculated with the flu vaccine prior to the onset of that flu season.

I took to my bed with the typical flu symptoms. Headachy, chills, runny nose and the like. However, even in that bedridden state and with

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my wife’s homemade chicken soup, these conditions worsened. Soon thereafter I was having difficulty breathing, turning blue, becoming weaker and lightheaded.

My wife called 911 and an ambulance was dispatched.

The EMTs quickly diagnosed my oxygen deficiency and rushed out to the ambulance to get the oxygen equipment.

Soon thereafter I was en route to the hospital. I distinctly remember the technician in the back watching over me when he told the driver no need to use lights and siren as I was responding well to the oxygen application.

Upon arrival at hospital, my case was triaged behind two other stretcher cases carrying patients who were diagnosed nearer to death than I. After a short while, I was admitted to the emergency ward and examined every which way and back. I won’t go into the details of my six-day stay in the emerg but to say I had a collapsed lung and, unbeknownst to me, was diagnosed as a victim of COPD. This lung disease most probably due to my years of smoking tobacco.

See OP-ED next page

1428 Pelham Street, P.O. Box 1489, Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0 Office open: Monday - Thursday 8 AM - 2 PM

(905) 892-8690

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

Those who wish to learn will find a way Reading the Globe and Mail online last week, one paragraph jumped out at me, practically smacking me in the face and starting a chain reaction.

"In high schools, readjustment to the curriculum is worrying experts who fear students aren't getting a proper learning experience. Others are calling it a huge problem that is causing significant learning losses."

These two profound sentences stopped me dead in my tracks. At 88, a cancer survivor, retired teacher, wife to the same man for 67

years, mother of three, grandmother of two, great grandmother of two, I feel I have a little bit of experience to share. This I know. So do you. Not all learning takes place in a classroom setting. My thoughts go back to an attic and Anne Frank.

No curriculum is without flaws. If someone truly wishes to teach or to learn they will find a way. All of our children, wherever they are learning, rest assured if they want to See LEARNING Page 7

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 905-658-2986 Members of Pelham Town Council Ward 1 Councillor Marianne Stewart mstewart@pelham.ca 289-821-0840 Councillor Wayne Olson wolson@pelham.ca 905-933 6033

Today's forgotten business stopped advertising yesterday

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

Jill C. Anthony Law Office

Have an Opinion?

BARRISTER, SOLICITOR & NOTARY LETTERS TO THE EDITOR are welcome. Letter submissions should contain the writer’s full name, address and telephone number. Names only will be published. Names may be withheld if compelling reasons are provided. The newspaper reserves the right to change, condense or reject any contribution for brevity, clarity or legal considerations. All material in this publication is protected by copyright. Reproduction is prohibited without express, written permission of the publisher.

ADVERTISING: The Voice of Pelham regrets any errors or omissions that appear in advertisements in this newspaper, however, we will not be held responsible for more than one absent or incorrect insertion or for any damages beyond the cost of space containing the error. The Voice is an independent, locally owned and operated publication.

The Voice is a member of the National NewsMedia Council, a voluntary self-regulatory organization that deals with journalistic practices and ethics. If you have an unresolved complaint about news stories, opinion columns or photos, please visit their web site at mediacouncil.ca or call 1-844-877-1163. If you have a complaint about delivery or membership problems, please contact our office at 905-892-8690. For a summary of Voice ethical guidelines, see www.thevoiceofpelham.ca/ethics

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The Voice, November 18, 2020

Page 5

OPINION COMMENTARY / OP-ED Dr. Mustafa Hirji

PELHAM AND COVID-19

A COVID-19 message to Niagara

C

ases of COVID-19 have continued to rise in Niagara, including a daily record of 63 cases in one day last week.

Provincially, we are likewise seeing record numbers of daily cases. In Niagara, since the start of October, we have lost at least 13 more of our fellow residents to death from COVID-19.

In the spring, COVID-19 cases were controlled by a lockdown that forced us to stay home. By limiting our social interactions with others, we were able to reduce the spread of infections. However, that came at significant economic and social cost.

The provincial government has been attempting to take a balanced approach to reducing the spread of infections: reducing social interactions enough to slow the spread of infections, but also limiting the harm to the economy and social life. Unfortunately, given that infections continue to rise in Niagara, that balance has not yet been found.

Just as staying home limited social interactions and slowed the spread of infections in the spring, that same dynamic is needed now to slow the spread of infections. Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, recently advised all Canadians that we need to reduce our in-person social contacts in order to control COVID-19.

I am therefore urging everyone in Niagara to:

Mayor Marvin Junkin

Higher Niagara infection rate prompts move to Orange status

O

See HIRJI next page

n Friday, Nov. 13, the Ford government moved various municipalities/regions up the colour chart, meaning they would be subject to stricter rules involving businesses staying open and some businesses closing down altogether. Residents will be facing stricter rules regarding movement, and who they are allowed to socialize with. The changes came into effect this Monday, with the exception of Toronto, which moved into the red zone on Saturday.

Niagara Region has now been downgraded from yellow (protect) to orange (restrict), Regions in the orange category must abide by stricter rules for contact tracing at bars and restaurants, with no more than four people seated at a table. Sports and recreation facilities cannot have any spectators, other than a parent or guardian supervising children, and

be an invasion of their right to freedom. Yet these same people accept so many other rules that restrict their absolute freedom such as the rule that they not drive their cars through a park or children’s playground. Does not a posted speed zone infringe on their freedom?

Some of these maskless wonders subscribe to the notion that the pandemic is a hoax as proclaimed by their most favourite elected official, #45, south of the

border. Perhaps they would be willing to console the 10,968 Canadian families that have lost loved ones to the virus with that preposterous construct. Remarkably, such people live among us and, at times, masquerade as normal folks.

Those who refuse to wear a mask should be required to remain indoors and never allowed to venture out in public until the pandemic is over. Otherwise, just wear the damned mask! ◆

■ Limit in-person social interactions to people within your household. Minimize interactions with people who don’t live in your house and one or two persons who are essential to maintaining Dr. Mustafa Hirji physical and mental health (e.g., caregivers, social supports to someone who lives alone). This means you should avoid in-person social interactions with friends, with co-workers when not at work, and with extended family. When dining at restaurants, going to the movies, or partaking in other social activities, you should limit it to your household members.

■ Stay home if you have any symptoms of illness, however mild. While it is cold season now and many of us are used to mild infections at this time of year, a mild illness could be COVID-19 and may be much more severe for someone else who might catch it from us. By staying home if sick, we protect everyone else in our community.

To help support this, our local restaurants, bars, wineries, breweries, and other food and beverage service operators will soon begin to ask for information including if you have any symptoms of illness before you can dine with them, and to ask that you

all users of the facilities must answer a questionnaire.

For full details please see the Public Marvin Junkin Health website, www. niagararegion.ca/health/ No sooner had the provincial government made these announcements than the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce (GNCC) issued a press release calling for this blanket order to be rescinded, taking note of the particular restriction that only family members living in the same household can sit at the same table when dining out. The GNCC feels that this order is unfairly attacking businesses that have been following all the rules passed down from Public Health, and it is their view that private parties held by residents are the main cause of these

super-spreader events that for the most part are causing the surging number of COVID-19 cases, not only provincially but also nationally.

I personally received a call from a resident, who works for a winery in Lincoln, who also thought the government was barking up the wrong tree. She relayed to me that last Saturday, while in St. Catharines, she noticed a large house party next door, with very few people wearing masks. When she attempted the report the event to authorities, she was told at each number that she had reached the wrong authority, please try a different number. The third official attempted sent her back to the first, so she just gave up. Upon phoning Niagara Public Health and retelling this story to a nurse, she informed me that the following is the correct numSee JUNKIN next page

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continued from previous page Since that diagnosis, every time I see a smoker I feel a pang of sorrow for that person damaging their lungs with every puff. It is likely their bodies will pay dearly for that despicable habit in the not-so-distant future.

Fortunately, I survived this H1N1 viral attack, and other than a somewhat lessened lung capacity, have no lingering after effects that I am aware of. I mention that because it it is reported that this COVID-19 virus may leave some victims with after effects that could linger for some while and maybe even for life.

And so it is, based on that learning experience, I believe that I can speak with some credibility about the issue of wearing or not wearing masks during this current pandemic.

When I encounter persons not wearing masks I want them to know that my reaction is trepidation mixed with more than a dallop of ire. Why is it that they don’t care about the welfare of others they encounter? How is it that they can ignore the medical science that has proven beyond a shadow of doubt that masks are very effective in reducing the spread of this deadly virus? Even if they doubt the validity of the medical science, could they not err on the side of prevention and comply with the urging of the medical community? How is it they choose to ignore this particular law but choose to obey traffic laws and other laws such as those that require one to wear clothes when in public?

Some who don’t comply with the benefits of wearing masks claim the rule to

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www.thevoiceofpelham.ca Column Six presents tales of personal triumph, adventure, strange-but-true stories, life-changing events, and looks-back at our past.

Did you conquer Everest or kick a bad habit?

Everyone has a story. Tell us yours!

NOW ALSO ACCEPTING FICTION— SHORT STORIES UP TO 2000 WORDS! Write it down, send it in: publisher@thevoiceofpelham.ca (You won’t get rich, but you will get paid.)

R A

C

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Page 6

Letters

The Voice, November 18, 2020

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

continued

JUNKIN

HIRJI

ber to call when reporting an offence under this order: (905) 688-8248, extension 7590, is available 24/7. Ask for the Environmental Health duty officer. I hesitate to include this number, as I don’t want Pelham to be a place where people are phoning the authorities about their neighbours. Instead, I hope that everyone acts responsibly from the start because it is the right thing to do.

It should also be noted that when a region moves into the orange category, enforcement is stepped up and fines, not warnings, will be the norm.

Although the cooler weather is upon us, health officials are stressing that it is still very important to get outside for exercise and fresh air, and to eat a healthy diet. Keeping fit and eating healthy is always a good thing, but even more important in these times.

A special thank you to everyone at the Fonthill Legion Branch 613 for holding a Remembrance Day ceremony even in these difficult days, allowing the residents of Pelham the opportunity to pay their respects to those who have served and those who continue to serve our great nation. It was my privilege to be a small part of the ceremony. Thanks to everyone involved.

Until next time…

confirm that you are dining only with your household or persons essential to maintaining physical and mental health.

As always, when outside of our household, we should continue to keep two metres distance from others, wash/sanitize our hands frequently, and wear face coverings routinely indoors and when we cannot keep two metres distance outdoors.

We know the past eight months have been challenging in how we have had to adjust our personal lives, and this is another way we will need to temporarily adapt. However, our personal actions are the biggest determinant of COVID-19 spread, and our choices of how we interact socially with others will determine if we control COVID-19 and save lives, or if we will allow COVID-19 to spread further and necessitate more provincially-imposed restrictions on our social lives and economy.

I believe that if we successfully reduce our social interactions to just our households, we are well-positioned in Niagara to be able to reduce our COVID-19 case counts, keeping our community safe and healthy, and allowing some more openness for the holiday season. ◆

continued from previous page

continued from previous page

Dr. M. Mustafa Hirji is the Acting Medical Officer of Health for Niagara Region.

Open letter to Mayor Junkin

What's going on with TD Bank

I object in the strongest terms to the proposed developments either side of the Steve Bauer Nature Trail, and either side of Summersides Boulevard. I have watched the explosive and intensive housing development without accompanying parks, the concomitant loss of remaining natural, bio-diverse wetlands and green space within our town boundaries. I alternately want to scream or weep.

It seems that our Town Council and planners have no vision for a sustainable and liveable community.

The planning department and council cannot see that in the short term, any money earned for Town coffers ravaged by the white elephant money pit, a.k.a. the Meridian Community Centre, will in the long term ruin our quality of life. This policy will destroy any remaining biodiversity by digging up and paving over trees and wetlands. The costs of such rampant building aren’t fully offset by the fees paid by developers and the wear and tear on roads and demands on infrastructure and resources are immense.

The storm-water basins do not constitute real, ecologically viable ponds, and the widespread use of pesticides in the new neighbourhoods will kill off any remaining amphibians.

In the proposed plans the Bauer Trail would become just a walking path bordered by a few trees, no longer a “nature trail.” It was sweet this past spring watching children hunting for tadpoles in a pond by Summersides Boulevard and along the Bauer Trail, but if the proposed developments go through there won’t be any more frogs, wildflowers or natural habitat for birds and other animals.

The old arena property has been sold for housing. This recreational parkland will also be lost. Please rethink these plans for our town as we need real parks and wildlife corridors for our wellbeing.

Most of us chose to live in Pelham because it was a slower, quieter, greener and friendlier place than a big urban center. If we’re bankrupt, sell off the Meridian Centre if necessary. Don’t let bad planning or developers’ greed and ambition continue to ruin our town.

E. J. Smith Fonthill

A challenging year indeed!

The Federal Government has provided a panoply of programs to deal with the crisis.

The best-known program, “CERB” (Canada Emergency Response Benefit), was available to many people who lost their jobs due to the virus.

Although “CEWS” (Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy) is less known, the cost of the program has grown to $83.6 billion this fiscal year, making it the single largest direct spending measure of the government's COVID-19 response so far.

What is the CEWS program? CEWS was designed to subsidize 75% of a worker’s salary if he/she were to be “furloughed” rather than “laid-off.” This means that if an employee is furloughed and the employer pays 25% of the normal wage the worker receives a full salary. When employers receive the funds from the federal government, they direct it to employees. The individual remains an employee of the company and receives a full salary but normally resides at home and is not involved in work.

Over 200 Toronto Dominion bank branches have been closed in Ontario plus many more across Canada. The TD Bank claims that the closures are to fight the COVID-19 pandemic with particular concern for rural communities. Requiring rural customers to drive several miles to a bank in an urban area is counterproductive in fighting the spread of the virus.

Residents in rural communi-

The Canadian contingent gathers at Queenston Heights Park.

Don't let bad planning or developers' greed and ambition continue to ruin our town

ties should be encouraged to avoid urban centers and large crowds of people.

Banks are far more capable of enforcing social distancing than restaurants and other businesses that opened weeks before the TD branches reopened. Local banks rarely have to deal with large numbers of customers who are moving throughout the premises looking for a variety of different items. Banking clients are accustomed to a rigid regimen of lining up in a defined area. Furthermore, the bank employees are well-protected in rigid positions behind protective barriers.

The CIBC and Royal Bank branches in Fonthill (my location) remained open for business, but the TD Bank branch closed early and did not reopen until Monday, October 5, 2020.

Protection from Covid-19 does not explain the TD bank closures.

As widely reported at the end of March, TD Group President and CEO Bharat Masrani announced that none of the bank’s 85,000 employees would lose their jobs as a result of the virus.

What motivated the TD bank closures even though other banks in the same communities remained open and how were no jobs lost despite hundreds of bank closures?

CEWS provides a possible answer.

Has the TD Bank abused the intent of the program by See TD BANK next page

SUPPLIED

Rotary polio fundraiser a success

BY VOICE STAFF Cooler temperatures, occasional rain, and winds up to 25 MPH did not deter some 80 cyclists and walkers throughout the morning of Saturday, October 24, World Polio Day. As American Rotarians unloaded bicycles in the parking lot of the Niagara Falls Aquarium, their Canadian counterparts gathered by the Rainbow Bridge at the Duty-Free Shop. Several of the Rotarians from the “Best of Friends,” Rotary District 7090 tried waving to one another as they held Canadian, American, and Rotarian flags.

Dozens of miles were cycled and walked by the international group to help raise funds for the first ever Rotary District 7090, Dr. Ron Mergl Memorial— Pedal for Polio event. After cycling from Niagara Falls Aquarium to Academy Park, Rotarians were met by Lewiston, NY Deputy Mayor Victor Eydt, who noted that 99.9% of polio cases have decreased since 1998, and the world stands on the threshold of eradicating the disease.

On the Canadian side, cyclists and walkers began their journey at the unusually quiet Rainbow Bridge. When reaching Queenston Heights Park, they were welcomed by Rotary District Governor Frank Adamson and Queenston Lord Mayor and Rotarian, Betty Disero, along with June Mergl, the widow of Dr. Ron Mergl, for whom the ride was named.

According to a Rotary statement, the organization says that it has contributed some $1.8 billion toward eradicating polio. With a matching donation that will be made by the Bill and Linda Gates Foundation, District 7090 Pedal for Polio has totaled nearly US $200,000 to date.

THE SNACK REPORT Paul Snack reports that his neighbour Jocelyn Baker, in Fenwick, found a unique way to social distance and hand out Halloween candy. “Only one kid got hit in the choppers,” says Snack, “but he was very happy to receive his loot, one way or another.” From last reports, there were no major casualties from launched Halloween sweets.

PAUL SNACK

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

Letters

The Voice, November 18, 2020

continued

Hunting and farming not comparable In response to your letter, Mr. McLeod [“Hunters hunt where the game is,” Letters, Nov. 11, p. 7], I have some points to make.

You equating me to someone complaining about a farmer spreading manure is truly unfounded. During my lifetime I have actually shovelled it and not minded in the least. In comparison, you’re so put off by goose and duck "calling cards" that you justify killing them.

We do not know you personally or other hunters hunting near our home; therefore, not feeling comfortable with someone, we have no idea what their capabilities are to just immediately trust their ability to do what is right. Firearms can injure and kill. I do not like gambling on the safety of pets and family, thank you.

In the past we’ve had bullets bounce off our roof.

The Niagara Region is now very populated with new subdivisions spreading dai-

ly and taking habitat away from wildlife at an alarming rate. So naturally wildlife is becoming more concentrated so that is probably why duck and goose “calling cards” can be seen.

Hunted animals do not always die a humane death when taken out by a hunter. I recently learned of a fawn shot in the shoulder that panicked, then was hit by a car and thrown into a ditch to die. Another "hunter speak" —we hit vital organs so the animal dies quickly without pain. Oh, the fairness of it all.

Meanwhile, in the early morning hours of Thursday, November 12, between 6 and 6:30 AM, illegal hunting took place on our private property on Regional Road 27 opposite Green Road.

Two hunters dressed in camouflage outfits trespassed on private property and illegally hunted in the pitch dark, like poachers.

Hunters are not to hunt

TD BANK

continued from previous page “furloughing” an excessive number of employees for an excessive length of time? The very fact that other major banks, under identical conditions, have not followed suit is evidence enough that the actions of the TD Bank may amount to corporate overreach and a betrayal of public trust.

Multiple attempts to discover if the CEWS program has provided funding to support the TD Bank closings have proven fruitless. Correspondence with various elected officials, financial executives, and the Ontario Financial Ombudsman have provided no answer to the simple yes or no question: “Did the TD Bank receive funding through the CEWS program to pay its furloughed employees?”

Vance Badawey (MP for Niagara Centre) replied: “I am not saying yes. I am saying that we do not have access to this information and so we cannot know whether or not they are on CEWS.” The Financial Consumer Agency of Cana-

LEARNING

continued from Page 4 learn they will. Perhaps they are not learning according to a curriculum designed for a so-called normal year and normal circumstances, but they are learning. They are absorbing life’s difficult lessons, which will be of great value as they navigate

until half an hour after sunrise.

Message to these two illegal hunters —you were spotted as you threw the dead deer into the back of your pickup, a white RAM, and it was noted you are approximately 50 years old.

This has been reported to the Ministry of Natural Resources as well as the Niagara Regional Police. You have absolutely no business on our 12 acres of property shooting next to an extremely busy Regional Road 27.

To any other hunters thinking of doing any type of illegal hunting on our property, any day or night of the week, think again, because you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The entire neighbourhood has been told and are watching.

Do not even venture to set foot on our private property, or, above all else, harm any wildlife, especially the deer.

Faye Suthons Welland

The solution to COVID-19 is

in your hands.

• Wear a face covering.

• Keep 2m apart from anyone outside of your household.

• Limit your close contact to your household only.

• Wash your hands often.

da (FCAC) replied: “…due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), as you are aware, banks have closed some branches without giving notice. Although providing advance notice of a branch closure to bank customers and the public is required under law, under exceptional circumstances, banks can temporarily close their branches without notice. In these cases, banks can close branches if the closure is temporary and is caused by events beyond the control of the bank.”

This action by the TD Bank is itself an infraction because the banks closed abruptly without notice, with no rationale provided and no indication as to when the banks would reopen. When the banks did eventually reopen there was no prior notice provided.

A list of the TD banks closed in Canada is available on their website, www.tdcanadatrust.com Caveat: If anyone can provide clarification on this matter I would appreciate it. I hope that my suspicions are wrong and if they are I apologize and offer a mea culpa.

Ken Fisher Fonthill

through unexpected dark waters.

I have forgotten much of what I learned in school but I have never forgotten who my teachers were, beginning with my parents. Learning is like the dawn. It happens every day!

In closing I submit a quote from a fearless young woman, Anne Frank (1929-1945),

whose learning took place in a secret room during a war. Regarding children and learning: “Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right path, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands.”

Shirley M. Lazareth Fonthill

Rotary and E. L. Crossley food drive partners

BY VOICE STAFF The Rotary Club of Fonthill is partnering with E. L. Crossley’s Interact Club to support their Holiday Food Drive. In previous years, the Interact Club has undertaken “Christmas Cheer,” an initiative to support some 30 families in need and provide them with gifts and food to brighten their holiday season. This year, with the COVID pandemic, the Interact Club has had to rethink how Crossley students can continue to support their community safely.

Crossley's Holiday Food Drive will run from next Monday, November 23, to Friday, December 4. Families able to donate are encouraged to send in items with their Crossley students.

On December 4, Rotary members will collect all donations in a “safe and physically

distanced fashion,” according to a Rotary statement, load them into their cars, and deliver them to the community centre in support of the Pelham Cares Annual Food Drive.

Rotary and Interact encourage those without children attending Crossley, but who still wish to take part in the food drive, to take items directly to the community centre. Collection there is now taking place on Thursdays and Fridays between 8:30 AM and 7 PM, and Saturdays between 9 AM and 3 PM. Items in particular need are: side kicks and hamburger helper, chili and stews, canned fruit; juice boxes and school snacks; flaked ham/turkey/chicken; Jello and pudding mix; cookies and baking supplies; laundry detergent and paper towels; and shampoo and conditioner. Food items should remain within their marked best before dates.

Stopping the spread starts with you.

Visit ontario.ca/coronavirus to learn more Paid for by the Government of Ontario

Page 7

Page 8

The Voice, November 18, 2020

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

Niagara intensifies COVID enforcement as status moves to orange

BY DON RICKERS

Special to the VOICE

Some Fenwick apartment residents fail to mask-up

BY DON RICKERS

Special to the VOICE

Christine Carr, a resident of the Canboro Gardens apartment complex at 704 Canboro Road in Fenwick, is masked, and frustrated.

She has called Mayor Marvin Junkin, Town of Pelham bylaw officers, and Niagara Health authorities regarding the unwillingness of her fellow apartment dwellers to abide by the health edict to mask up.

“The managers are good people and are trying their best. They have put up notices and talked to residents, but many tenants refuse to comply,” said Carr.

“I feel extremely uncomfortable here. We have waitresses who work in town coming in with no mask. The same with long-distance truck drivers. I have tried talking to some people, and they just ignore me.”

Carr has lived on the second floor in the older portion of the apartment complex (once a high school) for about a year. The building has 81 units. She says she regularly sees many residents coming and going without donning a face mask. Carr also said the building has an antiquated ventilation system, so airborne viruses are more likely to persist indoors.

Anneka Reeves and her husband are the resident managers of the building, owned by Metcap Living.

“Of course we take this very seriously,” said Reeves. “We are disinfecting the building with bleach twice a day, and have posters all throughout the building, noting the bylaw is mandatory. If they are in a common area inside, they're supposed to be abiding by the bylaw. Some do and some don’t. There’s only so much that we can do. I find that in the laundry room, people are wearing masks.”

Asked for comment, Fire Chief and head of bylaw enforcement Bob Lymburner noted that Pelham had recently amended the Town’s mask bylaw to include multi residential buildings.

“Masks should be worn in all common areas of a building and areas should be posted,” said Lymburner. “We will respond to complaints or concerns.”

As of Sunday, there were eight active COVID-19 cases in Pelham.

It was appropriate that bad news should be delivered on Friday the 13th.

That’s the date that the provincial government moved Niagara into a more restrictive pandemic status, from Yellow Alert (“protect” level) to Orange Alert (“restrict” level), based on the Region exceeding the threshold for Yellow Alert infections.

Effective this Monday, November 16, and extending for the next 28 days, Niagara will have stricter limitations on restaurants and bars, sports and recreation facilities, and meeting places, with regard to occupancy levels, operating hours, and time limits.

Businesses are required to screen customers for COVID-19 when they arrive, and limit visits to 90 minutes. Restaurants and bars must close at 10 PM, cannot serve alcohol past 9 PM, and are limited to 50 patrons, with a maximum of four people per spaced table. It is incumbent on the restaurant and bar proprietors to confirm with patrons that they are dining with members of their immediate household or an “essential contact.”

Early last week, as COVID cases continued to rise in Niagara, Regional politicians called for increased enforcement of physical distancing requirements, so as to crack down on people unsafely frequenting bars and restaurants. The Region’s Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Mustafa Hirji, agreed that better enforcement now will help avoid further curtailments down the road.

Hirji said that although enforcement is not strictly the domain of Niagara Health (this action is more often carried out by the Niagara Regional Police and municipal bylaw officers), health inspectors have upped their vigilance at bar and restaurants, particularly in the evening hours.

“If we're not seeing greater compliance, we potentially could move to more onerous enforcement actions,” he said during an online media conference on November 12.

Hirji noted that there have been more than a dozen “outbreak-like” incidents in Niagara restaurants and bars since early October, due primarily to younger people spreading the virus through close contact.

Consequences for businesses failing to abide by the new rules include fines under the Health Protection Promotion Act of up to $25,000 per day.

Public Health inspectors and municipal bylaw officers are also empowered to issue immediate tickets for $750.

Hirji said that in the first instance, if business operators are not aware of the new laws, an information and education process takes place to encourage compliance. He stressed that the purpose of enforcement is not to punish local businesses, but rather to ensure that they are able to stay open safely.

Hirji conceded that one of the challenges with a public health order is that it typically can only be applied to people who have actually been infected with a communicable disease, rather than all restaurant or bar patrons. Responding to an online question about customers who try to skirt the rules, Hirji said that a restaurant is able to institute its own policies with regard to validation if they believe someone could be lying, but “we [Niagara Health] have chosen not to require that of businesses at this time, given the logistics and complexity.”

According to Hirji, the Region’s business licensing team has been working in collaboration with bylaw officers from all of Niagara’s sub-municipalities to actively enforce the emergency regulations enacted by the province. Since the middle of September, bylaw officers have conducted well over 100 inspections of Niagara businesses, which resulted in ten fines under the Reopening Ontario Act. Pelham residents can submit complaints regarding COVID-19 safety breaches by local businesses by contacting Pelham bylaw enforcement during weekdays at (905) 892-2607, extension 204, or by calling Niagara Region’s after-hours dispatch line, which operates 24/7, at (905) 984-3690 or 1-877552-5579.

If Niagara residents do not embrace physical distancing, mask-wearing, and hand-washing, Hirji warned that the infection rate will continue to accelerate, which could move Niagara into the even more restrictive Red Alert zone.

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www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice, November 18, 2020

Page 9

“We are essentially living paycheque to paycheque” Councillor Wayne Olson sounds clarion call on replenishing reserves, reining-in spending

BY DON RICKERS

Special to the VOICE

As a retired chartered accountant, Ward 1 Councillor Wayne Olson knows his way around financial documents.

And the ones he has reviewed recently, regarding Pelham’s fiscal projections, have him plenty worried.

On Monday November 9, Olson participated in a Special Committee of the Whole meeting via video conference, in which the 2021 Capital Budget was presented for discussion. The report was prepared by Treasurer and Corporate Services Director Teresa Quinlin, and Public Works Director Jason Marr.

It included capital requests for over $9 million, of which some $6.3 million was earmarked for road reconstruction. Potentially offsetting this amount were $4.6 million in grant requests.

Olson spoke with the Voice about what he characterized as a troubling deterioration of the Town’s finances over the past decade, attributed, in part, to “some uncoordinated and undisciplined spending.”

Most Pelhamites recognize

Councillor Wayne Olson.

SUPPLIED that the $36 million-plus Meridian Community Centre (MCC) has been the millstone of recent municipal debt. The Town currently owes some $33.4 million in debentures (loans given on unsecured credit), although has no plans to add to this figure.

“Right now, we are essentially living paycheque to paycheque,” said Olson. “Everything's coming out of the tax levy. Nothing's being paid out of the reserves, because the reserves are pretty much depleted. Our level of risk is very high.”

Pelham reserves currently sit at around $3.6 million dollars.

Olson’s view, which he said is shared by most of his fellow councillors, is that there needs to be a sound business case for all budget items.

An example is tree trimming. Subcontractors have been hired in the past to handle most of that task in Pelham. But in the draft budget for 2021, there is $190,000 requested for an aerial truck with a hydraulic lift to trim trees. A frivolous purchase, perhaps? Not according to staffers at Town Hall, who crunched the numbers and figure that the purchase will save taxpayers $70,000 per year.

“The business case for that purchase came to council, and some hard questions were asked,” said Olson.

“Will current Public Works staffers be handling this job, or will a new employee need to be hired? Will they receive the necessary training and certification? What are the liabilities, the insurance necessities? All of this had to be considered. And the business case was successfully made for the aerial lift forestry

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Mon-Sat, 12-9 Sun, 12-8

Legion President Toni McKelvie speaking on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

Legion sees scaled-down Remembrance

BY DON RICKERS

Special to the VOICE

The Talbot Trail Branch of the Canadian Legion in Fonthill observed Remembrance Day on Wednesday, November 11, beginning at 10:45 AM, in Veterans Park on the Legion grounds.

Services in Fenwick at Centennial Park, in Ridgeville at the Cenotaph, and in Peace Park behind the Town’s municipal offices were not conducted this year due to COVID-19.

Safeguards were built into the program to protect service participants and attendees. The March On/March Off parade was eliminated, and wreaths were laid prior to the commencement of the service. Attendance at the service was limited to comply with local, Regional, and Provincial directives, which included the wearing of masks by all on site. However, dozens of onlookers stood outside the Legion grounds to support the annual event.

EASY

DINE IN OR TAKEOUT! Daily Specials

Live-streaming of the service was provided courtesy of Niagara College.

Speakers included Legion branch President Toni McKelvie and Sargeant at Arms Bill Ashby, along with local politicians or their representatives.

(Text of Mayor Marvin Junkin's remarks appears on page 14.)

Fort Erie pilot Alf Beam provided a flyover in his North American T-28 Trojan trainer aircraft as the service began, followed by Pelham’s Leon Evans in the vintage WWII Lancaster bomber “Vera” 40 minutes later.

Vera—nicknamed for her civil registration number, C-GVRA— is part of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum collection at the Mount Hope Airport. The bomber was built in 1945, one of 7,377 manufactured during the course of the war effort. Vera is one of only two that remain in flying condition.

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The Voice, November 18, 2020

COLUMN SIX

continued from Page 1 my language, has helped me appreciate and make the most of this time we have been given, not chosen. My decision to travel alone unknowingly put me in a position of self-isolation—isolation from my home, my family, my friends and from my clients. I became hug- deprived as I faced the fact that I could not show this affection that has become an integral part of who I am. I couldn’t see the people I loved face-to-face as I did so often, and I couldn’t rely on anyone around me as I did when they were close by. Today I’m in the same situation, only I’m in my neighborhood next to my friends, in

the same city as my family and the same region as my clients. Life is so different and yet it feels so much the same for me. As I sit here looking out my window, I am drawing on that experience from afar to help me stay connected and grounded in our temporary world of physical distance. As you join me in parts of my journey, I hope you are inspired by what possibilities might emerge for you.

Life as I knew it would be substantially different from the moment I landed in Barcelona, Spain, in May 2019, until the moment I landed at the Toronto Airport six months later. Isolation hit me hard when I left my friend Karen after our two weeks together in Spain. I left the comfort of companionship

and ventured into the unknown. It was my first time travelling alone and I had no idea what to expect.

After hours on a train headed north, I was hungry and happy to get out and walk. I left the train station, luggage and backpack in tow, with a purpose of finding a place to eat.

It was 3:30 in the afternoon and not much was open in this small little town. After walking for some time I saw an open door and a patio. I chose a table on the patio and had my first experience being exposed to people who didn’t understand a word I said. They did, however, understand the gestures I made, and the authenticity of my expressions. They served me so well at this restaurant despite not speaking my language. Life would be differ-

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strange bed, in a strange house, in a strange city and in a strange country. Our world today is equally as strange and foreign to us, and we get out of bed every day uncertain as to what might unfold. While the feeling of impending illness that a pandemic brings is so much different than a journey around a strange and unfamiliar world, how we choose to spend each day despite what’s happening around us is really not so different.

That six months went by fast and for nearly every day of it I chose not to listen to the news, to watch TV, or to be influenced by anything other than what I might discover on my own. I was open, adventurous, and brave, persevering through the dark times of loneliness to whole-

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ent travelling alone but I remember feeling it would be okay.

As we navigate this pandemic I see how invaluable our gestures and expressions of gratitude are to those who are serving us right now from the table of healthcare and social service. I don’t understand the intricate language of their worlds, what is required of them during this crisis, and what they are sacrificing in the event that I find myself at their doorstep, but I know that they are ready to serve however they can.

There are no words needed. Their gestures and expressions of care can be seen, heard, and felt by us all.

I am sending out the warmest hugs of immense gratitude and appreciation to all of them.

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The Voice, November 18, 2020

Page 11

Left, the view before getting lost in the Swiss Alps. Centre, the menu for a late lunch in Spain. Right, the alpine view after the author found her way again.

ANGELA CARTER

heartedly enjoying the bright days of being alone. As days, weeks, and months went by, I saw a transformation in myself. Without the influence of my daily norms, of my previous sanctions of life, I was free. Free to make whatever choice mattered to me in the moment, free to decide how I would make the most of my day, and free to explore all my potential and possibilities.

While isolation feels like confinement with a lack of freedom, I do feel the same sense of control over my choices, and that gives me a sense of freedom right now. We know that things will change every day for the next little while and we cannot stop what is happening or ignore the important news. We can, however, have influence and control

within our circumstances and are free to choose where we focus our energy right now.

My thoughts take me to my hike in the Swiss Alps. How wonderful it started out, how unexpectedly it changed and how rewarding the view was at the end. While I may not now be able to physically hike the Alps like I did, I can definitely choose to climb whatever mountain I’m at the bottom of. That mountain today is innovation, new beginnings and transformation. The world as we know it will be different after COVID-19 and similar to how I got lost in the Alps in August last year. I would imagine we’ll get lost on our way through this journey as well. But in the midst of that unexpected experience I discovered how

resilient my body was as it endured a steep and rugged path it had never been on before. I remember how I developed the resilience in my mind of never giving up and never giving in to the possibility of not finding my way. I recall how I overcame the emotions of fear and isolation when no one else was in sight and I couldn’t see which way I needed to go. I can feel how my spirit of hope and the presence of my Auntie Suze from heaven stayed with me so I never felt alone.

Our experiences can help guide us through this rugged, unfamiliar terrain of COVID-19 to what will be a beautiful view on the other side of this unknown mountain. Change is inevitable and the choice to embrace it and find our way through it

is ours to make.

I have peace of mind now as I sit here writing and reflecting. Life as we know it will be different but I feel more grounded as I put things into perspective and draw on my experiences abroad in preparation for what is to come. Handling self-isolation and physical distancing during COVID-19 is really no different than how I handled travelling alone. That is comforting.

We all have life experiences that can help us right now. We are resilient in our own way and we can build that resilience as we make our way through self-isolation, through selflessness in our service, and through the compassion and kindness for others.

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The Voice, November 18, 2020

CENTS

continued from Page 1 children who would benefit from the program. They work with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of South Niagara and Niagara Falls, as well as the District School Board of Niagara to find students from schools in lower-income areas who may be interested.

“The [school] councillors really know the kids and which ones could benefit from this type of program, so that’s how we’ve selected the kids in the past,” Langendoen said. “Working with people and other organizations that know the children and know their life situations better than we do, they can recommend them to our program.”

The inspiration for the program came from Langendoen’s own experience.

For her, horseback riding has always helped with confidence and her own mental health. She’s taught horseback riding for some 25 years and has experienced firsthand the effect

that horses can have on youth.

“I didn’t want to restrict it to just people that could afford it. These kids, I think it’s just extra-powerful for them because it’s not something they ever thought or dreamt they could do, and now they’re doing it, so it’s pretty cool.”

Langendoen added that it’s an environment where everyone is accepted for who they are and the horses don’t care about looks, popularity or income, which creates a stable environment for the children.

“A lot of times there’s a lot of fear obviously involved because these kids have never been around a horse, let alone on a horse.

So working through the fear and then realizing that they can do it, as they gain the skills they’re now starting to do it on their own, without anybody helping them, and that’s so powerful. In those few moments, the transformation in them is so powerful, you see their confidence just soar.”

Back in the spring of 2019,

Students with horses Sonny and Leo. the program partnered with Brock University for a pilot project which studied the impact that the animals had on the kids. For Langendoen it was a positive and im-

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pactful experience.

“We kinda knew it [already], but that gave even more validation to the program that we are offering.”

Two years ago Horse Cents For Kids became a registered charity and just this fall they received their first grant, which came from the Niagara Community Foundation. They also have sponsorships through local businesses and individuals who donate to the cause.

The funding they receive helps make the program possible, providing transportation and dinner for

participants, since some have no way of getting there and many don’t receive proper meals on a regular basis. Each family also receives funding through Jump Start to help with costs for the program.

“If people are interested in helping to support the program we would like to expand it. Right now we’re only doing it one night a week and we’d really like to expand it to two nights a week,” said Langendoen.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the charity to make some changes but they managed to continue

BRENDA LANGENDOEN

to run the program this autumn. The number of participants has remained the same, just split into smaller groups, and sessions have been shortened from three hours to an hour and a half.

The main components, such as time with the horses and eating dinner, have not been affected.

“It is needed more than ever for the mental health and well-being of children,” said Langendoen. “The time they spend at the farm interacting with the horses is so powerful and life-changing.”

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The Voice, November 18, 2020

Page 13

Drug paraphernalia found in parkette

BY DON RICKERS

Special to the VOICE

Heather Vittie has enjoyed her home’s proximity to the parkette on Abbott Place, where her 13-month-old daughter, Scarlett, loves the small playground. But recent events have caused Vittie considerable angst.

Drug paraphernalia was found in a portable lavatory on the Town of Pelham’s work site at the parkette recently, and a syringe was found on the sidewalk of a nearby street by a neighbour, walking his dog.

(Reached for comment, Fire Chief and head of bylaw enforcement Bob Lymburner noted that the syringe was capped and may have been accidentally dropped by a diabetes patient.)

The items found are typically associated with heroin and crystal methamphetamine use—needles to inject, aluminum foil to smoke.

“This was happening

when kids were coming home from school,” said a worried Vittie, who works for Niagara Health as a nurse at the St. Catharines Hospital.

“It’s very alarming that this is occurring in a Fonthill neighbourhood that is home to lots of families with children, and especially in a park where very young kids play. My daughter and I are at that park every day. I am now fearful about letting her play in the wood chips near the base of the slide, because if a needle was lying in there we could easily have a needle stick injury.”

Vittie’s two dogs, who frequently accompany her at the park, are also at risk as they run in the grass.

Direct access to the parkette is possible from Highway 20 because a gate in place on that side is rarely locked, according to Vittie.

Given comments from local residents who are members of her Facebook community watch group (Lookout Resi-

Identified as a vial of saline by Heather Vittie, it is among other drug paraphernalia found recently in the parkette. HEATHER VITTIE dents Group) she thinks the drug users are travelling to the area late at night. Many homes in the area have security cameras, she said, which have recorded individuals in the darkness moving through the subdivision, apparently looking for crimes of opportunity.

Vittie contacted Pelham Councillor John Wink for help. Wink confirmed to the Voice that Vittie and another resident had been in touch

regarding the paraphernalia.

“Upon being provided this information, I referred this to Town staff and requested further NRP patrols in this area,” said Wink. “I had been advised that this will be done as well as bylaw will be made aware of the problem. I have been advised by staff that this is a Niagara Health issue and they will be alerted accordingly.”

The portable restroom is no longer on site.

CLEAN YOUR CAR FOR PELHAM CARES Normand Trepanier, who has owned Zee Lube, at 158 Highway 20 West in Fonthill for the past dozen years, is inviting Pelham residents to a wash and blow-dry for a good cause. His brand-new Valvoline Express Care Car Wash is a state of the art “green machine,” he says, with touchless technology, enhanced drying, and low water consumption.

This coming Sunday, November 21, from 9 AM to 3 PM, 100 percent of car wash sales will be donated to Pelham Cares. A car wash at Zee costs $8 for a basic service, up to $15 for a deluxe job. The event will feature a Christmas theme, with free candy canes for the kids.

DON RICKERS

Ridgeville resident wants car thieves doing hard time

BY DON RICKERS

Special to the VOICE

Darlene Devenyi of Ridgeville has heard it straight from the mouths of police officers: many auto thieves pay their bail, and are right back on the street again, stealing more vehicles. She has

sent a petition to Niagara West MP Dean Allison appealing for stiffer penalties for auto theft. Allison has agreed to read it to his colleagues in Parliament, once Devenyi has secured 25 signatures supporting her request. Residents will be able to add their names to the petition,

she says, when it goes online.

As to her motivation for the request , Devenyi says she had a truck stolen out of her back yard about five years ago, but the real catalyst was the death of her friend Earl Clapp last month in what appeared to be a botched trailer theft.

Her petition reads: “Whereas individuals who recently committed trespassing and theft who were confronted by a homeowner and ultimately and directly caused the death of the homeowner, we the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada,

call upon the House of Commons and the Government of Canada, to review the laws related to trespassing and theft in order to determine that a more severe punishment to further deter individuals

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The Voice, November 18, 2020

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Remembrance Day remarks delivered by Mayor Marvin Junkin on Nov. 11, 2020 Good morning everyone, and thank you for joining us for this Remembrance celebration.

Nothing about this year has been normal, and today is no different. Today, we are wearing masks, unable to freely kiss the cheeks of our service members, or sons, daughter, mothers, fathers, grandfathers, and grandmothers. We are unable to shake the hand of the veteran with their poppy box at the grocery store. Instead, we’re forced to keep our distance and extend our gratitude from a minimum of six feet away. But make no mistake, these restrictions make today, this honour, no less important.

As Mayor, I am afforded the opportunity to speak at various functions and events, but to be

OLSON

continued from Page 9 truck.”

A less supportable expense, proposed by Councillor Lisa Haun, is $20,000 for an emergency management review. (Haun is a freelance emergency management consultant.) Olson questions whether the taxpayer would get good value from the expenditure.

“In my opinion, our Fire Chief has done a great job, and we just won a ‘gold’ award for our communications.”

Assets which Olson believes should be reviewed include the Niagara Central Dorothy Rungeling Airport, and the Niagara Peninsula Energy Incorporated (NPEI) hydro company, both of which Pelham shares ownership or oversight with neighbouring municipalities.

The net book value of NPEI is about $5.4 million dollars

here this morning, in remembrance of those who served our country, is truly an honour.

During this pandemic we hear a lot about making sacrifices in our personal lives to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus. They can be inconvenient, but we adhere to them to keep everyone around us safe. The men and women in uniform here today did the same thing, but on a scale most of us will never understand. If you feel inconvenienced about having to wear a mask or limit your personal gatherings, I ask you to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we could be here today.

Every person who has put on a uniform with the Maple Leaf patch is a hero, plain and simple.

for the Pelham shares, said Olson, but they could potentially fetch six to eight million. As far as the airport is concerned, Pelham owns a minority share of about 18%, while Welland owns 50%, and Wainfleet and Port Colborne also have a share. Olson estimates that the carrying costs are $20,000 to $40,000 a year for Pelham, with only a handful of people benefiting from the use of the airport.

“There's really no practical need for that airport at all,” said Olson.

He conceded that the decision to sell may be financially untenable if long-term leases need to be broken, and penalties are invoked. But he feels that the airport bleeds tens of thousands of dollars annually from Pelham coffers, for very little return.

Olson’s concern for Pelham’s finances should not be taken as an accusation of incompetence or dereliction of duty on the part of Town

Every life lost in the field of battle is a thread looped into the strengthening fabric of our freedom. We are not here today by accident. We are here today because hundreds of thousands of brave men and women committed to our country’s ideals and beliefs, chief among them being a free nation.

With each passing year we become another step removed from the history of past wars. Conflict is not ideal but sometimes necessary. It is not to be glorified but to be respected. We have a role to play in keeping these stories, these memories, these lessons, alive for generations to come.

We are fortunate that, throughout history, so many have stood up, raised their hand, and said ‘Yes’ when called upon. The courage this must

staffers, he said, asserting that he has been impressed by the calibre and commitment of staff since he joined council.

“What I'm arguing is that we're a slave to the debt right now, and that determines the entire agenda. We’ve got to make sure these costs are not baked into future budgets, because then they become structural, and it’s very hard to get rid of them.”

Olson said that measures taken so far to build up the reserves have basically been containment efforts.

“We don't have a recovery plan yet,” he said. “My basic message is that we should be taking advantage of liquidating some assets to get the reserves built back up.”

What really alarms Olson are the implications of spending a few years down the road.

Reading from page 52 of the capital budget document, Olson quoted, “In order to complete the capital projects

F

WHY RE/MAX?

have taken is hard to wrap your head around.

And as a tribute to those who served and serve today, we gather in November to celebrate and to mourn. Most importantly, we gather to remember.

Always to remember.

I look around at those of you in uniform today, and I, along with so many, would simply like to say thank you.

It’s not enough. It will never be enough. But at this moment, I humbly ask you to accept our gratitude.

As the sun sets and rises, you will all remain in our hearts and minds today, tomorrow, and always.

We will remember. Today. Tomorrow. Forever.

Thank you.

in the capital forecast within the specified years, and meet the phased-in targets while keeping debt levels as outlined in the debt section, the Town would need to increase the tax levy by approximately $1 million per year from 2022-2025.”

What this means, he said, is that there is potential for several years of 12% tax increases to homeowners —4% to 6% in normal increases, plus another 6% in what would effectively be special levies.

“I try and look at the positive things. There were some really good ideas that came forward from the capital budget meeting…Public Works Director Jason Marr in particular had some innovative ideas for culverts and water mains which I think should be investigated…we should be able to save some money there.”

Pelham CAO David Cribbs said that the budget meeting was very much in line with his experiences from other municipalities.

“Staff came up with a draft budget that accurately reflects what we understand the priorities to be, and requested the amount of money we think is necessary to run the corporation and to meet the community needs,” he said.

The capital budget includes approximately $840,000 for two splash

pads, and $145,000 for playing field lights at the baseball diamond at Centennial Park.

Cribbs said that operating costs for splash pads are a lot lower than for swimming pools, and with young families they often have a higher utilization rate. And there has been significant local support for the playing field lighting.

(It should be noted that the splash pads are dependent on successful grant applications, which would defray part of their cost.)

Pelham does not have an asset management plan in place yet, but Cribbs said that one should be delivered by July of next year.

“Until that's in place, these are all sort of educated guesses. We know it's a big number, but the accuracy should increase dramatically when we have a populated asset management plan.”

Cribbs admits that Pelham is carrying more debt than any of the 12 Niagara sub-municipalities.

“It wasn't true five years ago,” he said, “and is directly related to the MCC. So it's not that Pelham was historically challenged or undertaxed… it’s the result of a single, very substantial, asset. And to be fair, I can't point to one of Ontario's 444 municipalities that doesn't have a challenge with meeting its asset and infrastructure needs into the future.”

We're not like the others.

And neither are you.

MacDONALD, Terry It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Terry MacDonald on May 7th, 2020 peacefully in St. Catharines General Hospital at the age of 79. Terry is the loving husband of Ruth Dallas and proud father of Brett, Scott, Andrea (George) and Jodie (Curtis). Terry will be dearly missed by his grandchildren Trysten, Grace and Cameron whom were the light of his life. He will be following their every move from his watchful eye in heaven.

Terry is also survived by his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, nieces, cousins and other family and friends. Terry had a love for cars, planes and flying throughout his life. He served in the Royal Canadian Air Force for 28 years, then flew commercial aircraft until his retirement. This passion for flying brought Terry to see all corners of the world. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Scapular Church, 6557 Thorold Stone Road, Niagara Falls on Saturday, November 21, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Fr. Paul MacNeil as Celebrant. Arrangements have been entrusted to the DAVIDSON FUNERAL HOME, 135 Clarence Street, Port Colborne, Ontario. If so desired, memorial donations in memory of Terry can be made to the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 613 Poppy Fund.

Online guest register and condolences are available at www. davidsonfuneralhome. com

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Council agreed to leave the $10,000 in the budget, but consider legacy projects in the future.

Road budgets were agreed upon with little debate, including $661,000 to repair a failing culvert on Sixteen Road in North Pelham, and the ongoing work to fully urbanize Pelham Street from downtown Fonthill to the Welland boundary.

The multi-year price tag of the latter is $9 million, of which $4.2 million in upper-level funding is already secured. Marr said he expected the current stretch of work on Pelham Street to be finished by December, with full paving in the spring.

In total, the capital budget comes in at just over $10 million, with approximately half of this coming from grants.

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from committing such theft PELHAM is needed.

As LIBRARY trespassing CARD MAKING WORKSHOP and theft are premeditated, Make six cards with fall themes, learning a variety of techniques. Materials these crimes should receive are provided.

At time of registration, please enquire about tools needed. proportionate punishment.”

TheTues., Canadian Criminal Sept. 16 10 – 12:30. $10. Please register ahead. Visit www.pelhamCode currently specifies a library.on.ca orincarcall 905-892-6443 for more details. maximum of 10 years ceration for auto theft. The mandatory minimum senLIONS FISH FRY tenceFABULOUS is six months inFENWICK jail, but that is only upon a third Tasty treats withconfunds heading straight back into the community. Haddock, viction. On a summary confrench fries Runs Sept.

9 from Top choice among thieves, the4-7 Fordp.m.

F-350.

CARS.COM viction with no juryand trial,much the more. maximum incarceration is for 18 months. Fines of $5000 torists EQUIPMENT and bystandersSALE are vehicles. A car or truck is PELHAM MINOR HOCKEY may be levied in addition to or killed.

Canada every six instead of prison time.

Buy, sell or trade used equipment at the Pelham stolen Arena.inAimed to provide The insurance Bureau of minutes.

Constable Phil Gavin of Canada’s states thatseason.

Needless say, drivers of cheaper options for players in website this upcoming Runsto Sept.

6 from the Niagara Regional Police automobile theft costs Ca- F-250s in Brantford can exthe Voice morning.

(NRP)9-12 toldinthe that nadians close to $1 billion pect to see steep insurance auto thefts in the Region annually, including $542 rates. It’s all about risk ashave not seen any particumillion for insurers to fix or sessment.

PELHAM MUDFEST lar spike this year, with 693 replace stolen vehicles. Ford Those interested in signtheftsMen registered to date, will 18 be back in the mud as the second run on the year is and women F-350 and F-250 4x4 trucks, ing Devenyi’s petition may of which occurred in Peland Lexus and Land Rover contact her at darlene@devBissil’s Hideaway. ham.held NRP at website data inSUVs, are the most stolen coaviation.com dicated that in 2019, Niagara had 764 auto thefts, down REGIONAL EXHIBITION from NIAGARA 842 the previous year.

PURCHASING & SHIPPING COORDINATOR According to a 2018 StaRodeo, games and live entertainment headline this years exciting event. It tistics Canada report, Brantnursery growing container grown perennials, vines, from Sept. hon11-14 atWholesale the Welland Fairgrounds.

Wholesale nursery growing container grown perennials, ford runs has the dubious flowering shrubs, evergreens & trees is seeking a highly motivated our of being number one invines, flowering shrubs, evergreens & dwarf trees seeking individual to join our office team.

We have an immediate full-time car thefts in Ontario, at 546individuals who desire a career in horticulture. We are in opportunity available in as our well Purchasing & Shipping department.

BIG MOVE CANCER RIDE need of general labourers as those skilled in the thefts per 100,000 people.

If you are a team and playershipping who hasofexcellent organizational, growing, management nursery stock.

London, Windsor, HamilThe Big Move Cancer Ride is a non-competitive ride taking place on Sept. knowledge andand experience is an asset. youa are time management skills Ifand desire to ton, and Thunder Bay follow,Plant communication, 7.

Proceeds for the Big Move stay in Niagara and support the Walker Famhasforward organizational and We dedication succeed,who we look to hearingskills from you. offer excellent with St. Catharines/Niaga-an individual as well as a willingness to work as a team player, we look wages, health benefits and incentives for the right candidate. ra Falls earning sixth place. ily Cancer Centre. forward to hearing you. to: Wages will commensurate Resumes may from be emailed hr@willowbrooknurseries.com or Some 24,000 vehicles were with experience.

Resumes be of dropped of betweenMonday the dropped off between themay hours 8:00a.m.-4:00p.m. to stolen in this province last hours of 8:00a.m.-4:30p.m. Monday to Thursday or 8:00a.m year. WALKING CLUB Thursday or 8:00-noon on Friday at: -12:00 noon on Fridays at: Winnipeg has the reputaInterested in walking in Pelham? JoinWillowbrook them Tuesdays at theInc. Pelham Nurseries Inc. Arena Willowbrook Nurseries tion of being the auto theft from am and Thursdays at Fonthill Bandshell for 9-10:30 Attention: Human 935 Victoria Ave., Resources Fenwick, ON am. There capital of 9-10 Canada, which, 935 Victoria Ave. Resources Attention: Human according to police, is due is no fee for this program. For moreR.R.#4, information, please contact jcook@ No phoneFenwick, calls please.

ON L0S1C0 to a subculture of teenag-

NURSERY HELP

pelham.ca callcars 905 892-2607, extyou 329. ers who habituallyor steal (We thank for your application, however and drive them recklessly. In some cases, innocent mo-

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HAMPER DAY FOR PELHAM CARES Purchase fresh fruit and vegetables at the Market or bring a non-perishable food item to fill the hampers at the Pelham Farmers Market on Sept. 4.

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The Voice, November 18, 2020

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

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Places of Worship Bethany Christian Reformed Church www.bethanycrc.ca

First Presbyterian Church 602 Metler Rd., North Pelham

Holy Trinity Anglican Church holytrinityfonthill.org

Pelham Evangelical Friends Church www.pelhamfriends.ca

Concordia Lutheran Church 105 Welland Rd., Fonthill

Fonthill Baptist Church www.fonthillbaptistchurch.ca

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

Ridgeville Bible Chapel ridgevillebiblechapel.com

Fenwick Church of Christ www.fenwickchurchofchrist.ca

Fonthill United Church www.fonthillunited.com

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

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

Fenwick United Church www.fenwickunited.com

Glad Tidings Church of God www.gladtidingschurchofgod.com

Pelham Community Church (United Church) www.pelham.cc

St. Ann Roman Catholic Church www.stannfenwick.com

FAITH LIFT

continued from Page 19 cardinal Thomas Wolsey condemned Tyndale as a heretic, and he went into hiding in Germany.

Prophetic martyr

From Germany, Tyndale went to Belgium to continue his work.

There he met Henry Phillips who pretended to befriend and help him. In reality, he had been sent by English authorities to spy on Tyndale. In 1535 Phillips betrayed him, had him arrested and jailed in a castle near Brussels for over a year.

One year later, Tyndale was tried and convicted of heresy and sentenced to death by strangulation and burning. As he was being led to the stake on October 6, 1536, Tyndale (age 43) fervently prayed aloud, “Lord, open the eyes of the king of England.” It was a prophetic prayer.

Within one year, King Henry VIII had changed his policy and allowed the printing and distribu-

tion of the Bible in English. Within four years, four English translations of the Bible had been published. The main one was called “The Great Bible” or “The Matthew Bible.” There was no mention of Tyndale’s name but most of it was the fruit of his many years of labor.

In 1611 the King James Version of the Bible was published and most of it was Tyndale’s work as well.

It has influenced and inspired every English translation since. The “Living Bible” paraphrase (1971)

by Dr. Kenneth Taylor sought to make scripture alive in the common language of the people today.

Appropriately it was published by Tyndale Press.

So, next time you hold a copy of your English Bible, remember William Tyndale. And remember too that it was written in blood and tested by fire. ◆ Rob Weatherby is a retired pastor who tries to read his Bible every day.

HANDLEBARS

continued from Page 18 caloric content of all types of foods.

With a little research you’ll quickly recognize the basics: a chipotle chicken burrito is about 950 calories, a Starbucks white chocolate mocha frappuccino with whipped cream 520, a cup of vegetables 50, 250 grams of steak equals 680 calories —you get the idea.

Third. Learn how much running, jogging or walking it takes to burn calories. Harvard Health Publishing, a division of Harvard Medical School, has a simple chart which lists 93 activities, including gym workouts, training and various sports, outdoor activities such as gardening, home and daily life, home repair, and various occupations.

Find your weight, choose an activity, and the chart will tell you how many calories you’ll burn in half an hour without judging you. You can do the calculation in reverse too. How long do I need to

do a specific activity to burn a set amount of calories?

If you want to tabulate every possible calorie burned, Dr. Felix, a site based in the UK, offers an interactive tool to determine how many calories you burn during sex.

Enter your age and weight, and that of your partner, duration and a few more details we don’t need to go into here, and you’ll have your answer.

Plus, I’d guess, a steady stream of unsolicited love-life-related emails for the next few days.

Fourth. Go for a long run, or walk, at a pace fast enough to be hard work. When the run or walk stops being enjoyable, and you’re at the “Why am I doing this?” stage, push yourself just a little further.

When you finally must stop, note how long it took to get to that point, and remember for future reference that it wasn’t fun. Now use your pace and time with the calculator to learn how many calories you expended reaching your “Have to

stop” threshold.

For example, you’ll find that running at 12 kph for an hour burns about 930 calories, jogging at seven kph burns 372, and walking briskly at five kph consumes 300 based on a body weight of 155 pounds (70 kilos).

Last. Drill these numbers into your brain and you’ve got it. Do not put any extra food into your mouth without realizing how many minutes you will have to run, jog or walk to burn it off, and visualize the hurt required.

It’s that simple. Your trusted bubble-partner is serving warm apple strudel, and asks how many scoops of ice cream you want with it. You hear rain on the roof, and know it’s four degrees Celsius outside. That means 30 cold, wet minutes of running to burn the extra calories. There can be no excuses.

You had your light-bulb moment, and you committed.

No one said it would be easy, but it will be worth it. ◆

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

“What makes a good coach?

Complete dedication.”

George Halas

The Voice, November 18, 2020

Sporting Green The Niagara

Page 17

Want to lose 15 lbs

by Valentine's Day? See the Swart 18 prescription.

The Voice and TheVoiceofPelham.ca | November 18, 2020

Coaching up a

STORM Cyclones coach Maryann Mergl loves supporting kids

BY BERNIE PUCHALSKI

BPSPORTSNIAGARA.COM

For the past 27 years, Maryann Mergl has coached the E. L. Crossley Cyclones track and field team.

F

rom the moment Maryann Mergl arrived at E. L. Crossley, 27 years ago, she has become a fixture in the ranks of Niagara’s high school coaches.

The 51-year-old native of Sarnia has coached track and field with the E. L. Crossley Cyclones for 27 years, cross country for the past dozen years, and girls basketball from 1993 until 2004.

In addition to attending all the meets, Mergl spends two hours after school every day during the cross country and track and field seasons.

It is a labour of love.

“I love the atmosphere of getting to know the kids better, I love teaching something new, I love motivating, encouraging and being supportive to others.”

Mergl believes it is important to get involved with extracurricular activities at the school.

It helps provide a role model for kids who may not have one, helps teachers get to know their students better and gives students and athletes a cheerleader.

“You could be their only supporter,” she said.

Her coaching philosophy is for athletes to come to practice and

work hard every day, meet new people and that to try is better than to never try at all.

Mergl’s favourite parts of coaching are seeing friendships being made, witnessing the improvements in the kids during training and competitions, and getting to know kids on a different level than from just being in the classroom.

“I love making it a team family.”

She also loves the team aspect of cross country and track and field.

“Both are very individual sports but I love making it a team sport so that everyone has members cheering them on and they have the ability to cheer on others.”

Her coaching style is ever-evolving.

“I have been coaching for so long, I think I have learned a lot over the years by taking things I might see from other coaches that I like.”

She has a hard time pinpointing any one coach as a mentor but many have influenced her.

“I hope after all of these years that I have become a mentor to someone else.”

Her husband, Brent Mergl, a coach and teacher at Sir Winston

Churchill, is a key coaching confidant.

“We talk a lot about coaching, our teams’ successes at OFSAAs [Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association’s championships], players and things that work,” she said. “I would say Brent is more or less my sounding board when it comes to track and field.”

He is also the coach that gave her a rare defeat in Zone 3 track and field.

“We have won [Zone 3] every year except one since I started coaching it in 1993. That one year was to Ridgeway Crystal Beach where my husband was coaching at the time.”

It was a rare defeat for the E. L. Crossley Cyclones track and field squads that have won Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association team titles the last three seasons and in 2009 and 2010. In cross country, Mergl has guided her teams to several Zone 3 and SOSSA team titles in the senior girls and midget boys divisions.

Mergl is sad that the pandemic has shuttered high school sports.

“Kids need outlets and I feel that sports and extracurricu-

lars are the places they go to get those outlets. Not all kids belong to an organized sports team and they rely on high school sports.”

She has no idea what the future holds for high school sports.

“I just want it all back to normal.”

She truly misses coaching.

“I didn’t realize how much I really missed it until March and April when track and field were supposed to start,” she said. “We couldn’t go back to school and we weren’t seeing kids in front of our faces any more. Coaching can be the best part of school.”

Mergl spends most of the time freed up from coaching working on lessons and marking.

“These are different times and I don’t feel like I have free time.

I want to teach and coach with kids in front of me all day long, every day.”

On weekends, she has challenged herself to hike the Bruce Trail in its entirety, from Queenston Heights in Niagara-on-the-Lake to Tobermory.

She has completed 125 of the 900 total kilometres.

In addition to her high school coaching, Mergl has coached Pelham girls travel soccer and St. Catharines girls travel hockey.

BERNIE PUCHALSKI

Growing up in Sarnia, Mergl competed in cross country and track and field in high school, and travel soccer and hockey away from school.

High school was when she discovered what she wanted to do for a career.

“I had a phys-ed teacher/track and cross country coach in high school [Denise Kohlmeier] who was so motivating. I wanted to be just like her,” she said. “I thought I was going to go into nursing —I had more than 100 hours of volunteering — until Grade 11 when I decided that I wanted to be a phys-ed teacher and coach.”

After graduating high school, she attended McMaster University and was a member of a team that captured a Canadian Inter-university Sport championship. She no longer plays soccer but is still skating in a women’s hockey league in St. Catharines.

Mergl attended teachers college at Canisius and found her first and only teaching job at E. L. Crossley. She has taught Grade 10 science and Grade 11 math and now teaches Grade 9 food and nutrition, Grade 12 leadership phys-ed, Grade 10 and 11 fitness and all open phys-ed courses.

Page 18

The Voice, November 18, 2020

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

FROM THE HANDLEBARS

by John Swart

Lose 15 lbs by Valentine's Day. Seriously.

R

unners, joggers and walkers outnumber cyclists on Pelham’s roads and trails these days, as the “Get Out of Jail Free” card that Mother Nature gifted us during the last two weeks is about to expire.

Winter is on its way, and for some of us, this means drastic action is necessary.

If you’ve been less active this summer and autumn because your gym closed, or the YMCA and Meridian Centre restricted access to their facilities, whatever your reason, you may have added a few pounds or kilos. Another six months of reduced physical activity is unlikely to be

what your doctor, or therapist, ordered.

Now may be the time to lace up those forgotten runners and get out there again.

Soft snow on trails and road shoulders are easy on knees and hips, and cool, crisp air is refreshing. More importantly perhaps, is the relationship between running, jogging, or walking and diet in successful weight management.

I’m no expert on weight loss or running, but I’m great at marginally corroborated opinions, a skill which seems to be trending lately.

Coincidently, I’ve got a strong opinion on diet, weight control, and running

— too many experts make the correlation way too complicated.

Case in point: “How to Lose 15 Pounds in 7 Days with the Cucumber Diet,” fills page after page on the web.

Considering search engines list websites by relevance to the searcher’s query, you have to ask yourself what exactly was being searched, and how many expert analyses there can be on a cucumber diet?

Let’s assume that most of us have some idea what constitutes good food and bad.

Fruits and veggies are good, processed foods listing sugar and salt as the first two ingredients are likely bad. If an item’s best-before date is farther in the future than booking your next cruise, stay away from it.

Take heart—it is possible to lose 15 pounds in 90 days, and without cucumber

fatigue. Two hours of research, paying attention to what we eat, and deciding to run, jog or walk briskly is all it will take. I’ll share my method for free, and remember you generally get what you pay for.

First. Nothing will happen until your personal light bulb moment. Until you believe deep in your heart, with conviction, and commit, you’ll be spinning your wheels. In many triathlons and races, participant classifications are determined by skill and age, except in two cases. A female competitor heavier than 145 pounds (66 kilos) is an “Athena.” If you’re a male weighing more than

190 pounds (86 kilos), you’re a “Clydesdale.” These classifications seem a bit harsh, especially for the guys.

Athena is the ancient Greek goddess of strategic warfare, strength and strategy, plus wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, and mathematics. She was born from Zeus’ forehead while he was having a headache, full grown and wearing a suit of armor, and was his favourite daughter.

A Clydesdale is a big horse, handsome but mostly known for its ability to pull large quantities of Budweiser beer and other heavy things in parades. I don’t believe the ancient Greeks put Clydes-

dales in charge of anything.

My personal weight-related light bulb came one day a few years ago, when I realized that I’d become heavy enough to compete as a Clydesdale. For you, it could be your doctor’s orders, avoiding divorce, enjoying divorce, having to walk past the mirror to get a bath towel, whatever; but when it happens to you, you will commit.

Second. Understand approximately how many calories lurk in what you eat before you ingest it. The library and web are crammed with information listing the See HANDLEBARS Page 16

Voice

HOROSCOPE

ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, creative energies may be high this week. You will have to find a way to channel them into something productive at work. Many ideas will come your way.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 Emotionally you should be feeling quite well this week, Taurus. It could be a perfect time for spending moments with a sweetheart or relaxing with the kids.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 The week ahead certainly will not be boring, Gemini. The adventurous side of you wants to take some risks and try something that is normally off-limits. Move ahead slowly.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 It is important to let others have their moments to shine, Cancer.

This week, give others their due time, and do not interrupt when someone is offering his or her opinion.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 Leo, at some point this week you may find yourself involved in a project that has piqued your interest for some time. As long as it doesn’t consume all of your energy, it can be productive.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 Use extra care with your words, Virgo. Some people may not pick up on your sense of humor. There’s a possibility that people may take things personally.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, this week you may find yourself in the perfect position to meet the right person. This person can be a love interest or a new friend.

Invite him or her in with open arms.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 The planets may activate your subconscious mind which could play out in your dreams. Try to pay attention to your dreams this week and log the important details.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 Restlessness might be consuming you, Sagittarius. You may be tempted to get outside more often or plan a getaway, but unfortunately tasks at home and at work dominate.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 Of course you may want to get everything correct on the first attempt, Capricorn. But that does not always happen. Keep trying because practice makes perfect.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 You may be feeling a little blue, Aquarius. Make a few minor changes to shake things up. A little change may be all you need to get over the blues.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 Increased pressures at work may strain your nerves a bit, Pisces.

Time with your spouse, children and/or friends can help.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS NOVEMBER 15 Shailene Woodley, Actress (29) NOVEMBER 17 Danny DeVito, Actor (76) NOVEMBER 18 Owen Wilson, Actor (52) NOVEMBER 19 Adam Driver, Actor (37) NOVEMBER 20 Joe Biden, US Pres.-Elect (78) NOVEMBER 21 Goldie Hawn, Actress (75)

SOLUTIONS DOWN 1. Racer 2. Antra 3. Minatory 4. Sidelines 5. Aras 6. Gev 7. ENE 8. Saros 9. Kibei 10. Oceans 11. Darnel 12. Act 13. Kos 19. OCT 21. SEBE 24. Namur 25. Adulate 26. Somme 27. Segos 31. Sacks 32. Imine 34. Rases 35. ET 36. Senseless 40. MO 41. Hydrants 45. Oink 47. Appall 48. Parrot 52. Rolls 53. Ali 54. Teems 56. Oleos 57. Liege 59. ASAP 60. CSC 61. Hao 62. Rat 63. One

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. Ram 4. Sages 9. Kodak 14. Ani 15. Irena 16. Icaco 17. CTN 18. Dave Roberts 20. Erases 22. Ocean 23. Ratel 24. Nastiness 28. Obi 29. AD 30. Sloe 31. Siren 33. Mures 37. MG 38. Amy 39. Emulate 41. HMO 42. CI 43. Soras 44. Noyes 46. Knap 49. TE 50. Sid 51. Separates 55. Enrol 58. Prole 59. Alkali 60. Charlie Rose 64. Nee 65. Salol 66. Manas 67. Tog 68. Colts 69. Steps 70. SSE

Enjoy our Take-out Fish & Chips Fridays!

From our family to yours...stay safe

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice, November 18, 2020

Page 19

FAITH LIFT

by Pastor Rob Weatherby

William Tyndale, aflame for God

T

he name “Tyndale” is familiar to most believers today. It’s the name of a major Bible publisher in America and of the leading seminary and Bible college in Toronto.

So, who was this man called “the greatest of English Bible translators” and why is he still important to us today?

Brilliant linguist

William Tyndale was born in England in 1494 (two years after Columbus discovered the Americas).

He was educated at Oxford and Cambridge becoming a scholar, linguist and a leading figure in the Protestant Reformation.

Besides his mother tongue of English, Tyndale became fluent in French, Greek, Hebrew, German, Italian, Latin and Spanish during his short lifetime, an amazing accomplishment. At first, Tyndale worked as a private chaplain and tutor at the home of a prominent family and also lectured widely.

Tyndale would become the first to translate the whole Bible into English directly from the Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament) texts. Earlier, Erasmus had translated the Bible from Latin into Greek (1516) and Luther had done it from Hebrew and Greek into German (1522). Both of these milestones helped Tyndale in his work.

Like Luther, Tyndale had the advantage of the newly-invented printing press to reproduce his work on a larger scale. He also wrote Christian books such as The Obedience of a Christian Man (1528) and various biblical commentaries.

Courageous translator

In 1523 Tyndale went to London to ask permission from the church to translate the Bible into English.

He was denied but refused to give up. At that time, most of the other European nations had the scriptures in their mother tongues. But not England. In fact, the penalty for translating the Bible into English was death. It was seen as a direct challenge to the power and control of the Catholic Church and the English monarchy which supported it.

Once in an argument with a clergyman Tyndale declared, “I defy the Pope, and all his laws, and if God spares my life, ere many years, I will cause the boy that driveth the plow to know more of the scriptures

than thou dost!” He taught that prayer should be directed to God and not saints. He also disagreed with Rome that the Bible could only be interpreted by approved clergy.

For his personal safety, Tyndale went to Germany where he finished translating the English New Testament in 1525 (three original copies remain today). Copies were smuggled into England and welcomed by many believers. However, when discovered by authorities they were condemned, collected and burned in public bonfires. The leading English See FAITH LIFT Page 16

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

Word Search: Diabetes

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

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The Voice, November 18, 2020

Voice

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Bread Pudding Peanut butter is a versatile ingredient that’s at home in everything from savory dishes to sweet desserts. Peanut butter also can be the hallmark of the perfect sandwich or make a great dip when paired with fruit slices or pretzel rods.

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Pelham Council voted to receive a rezoning proposal during a Nov. 9 Public Meeting under the Planning Act. The proposal calls for the large property at 3 Hurricane Road to be subdivided into site-specific R1, with a plan for four new single-dwelling homes to surround the existing house.

The relatively low-density proposal was accompanied by seven letters of

support from nearby residents, yet, ironically, some of the opposition came from the property’s adjacent townhouse residents.

Allan Heywood, a representative for the developer — the family of the property’s longtime owners — said they had taken the step of consulting with neighbours before submitting plans.

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and openly discussed the plans,” Heywood told councillors.

“We have written support by almost every neighbouring property.”

Neighbouring townhouse complex resident Phil Sheehan disagreed.

“Obviously, Mr. Heywood wants the neighbours to agree with him and convince the council that they should agree with him as well,” Sheehan said during a 13-minute presentation.

“One of his comments was that a large majority supported — I have not seen that in any materials or have had any contact with anybody who has told me there is a large majority.”

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1. Preheat the oven to 325 F. Generously butter a 2-quart baking dish.

2. In a very large bowl, whisk the eggs until frothy. Whisk in the cream, salt, and cinnamon to combine. Break the honey buns into 1-inch pieces and add to the egg mixture. Add the butterscotch chips and stir gently to combine. Pour the honey bun mixture into the baking dish and bake until puffed, golden and bubbly, 40 to 45 minutes. The custard will be set around the edges and the center will be a little jiggly. Remove and let rest on a rack for 15 minutes before serving.

3. To make the sauce: Heat the cream in a small heavy pot over medium heat until it starts to simmer. Whisk in the peanut butter until well blended and smooth. The peanut butter is too fatty to melt on its own; the cream stabilizes it so it won’t separate or seize. Slowly whisk in the bourbon.

4. Serve the bread pudding with the peanut butter-whiskey sauce. You could serve it without the sauce, but if you’re going to splurge, splurge.

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Heywood dismissed Sheehan’s motives later in the meeting.

“Mr. Sheehan, he’s just a retired lawyer who thinks he can interrogate to his benefit,” Heywood said.

Sheehan, who has lived in the 45-year-old townhouse complex — Pelham’s oldest — for several years, did note that the area has been prone to flooding in the past, citing $15,000 in damage to his basement over the years. That brought up the question of how the new development would affect drainage.

Director of Community Planning and Development Barb Wiens said those plans would come in the next stage of the process.

Another townhouse complex neighbour, Jack Braybrook, wants Heywood’s group to construct a six-foot-high wooden fence with a mutually-agreed design to protect his privacy.

“The proposal does not include a plan to maintain the existing privacy of the neighbours,” Braybrook said.

Heywood shot down the idea.

“No, I would not contemplate doing that,” he said.

Another nearby resident, former Pelham mayoral candidate and Brock University professor of Earth Sciences Uwe Brand, did not necessarily object to the development, but expressed concern over the owner already removing trees from the property, and the expectation that more will come down.

“It’s woefully inadequate, especially in light of the current climate change situation,” said Brand, who estimated that the storage capacity of one ton of carbon dioxide per year has already been lost.

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