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Vol.25 No.46
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Guess who's back Former mayor announces run for Provincial seat
Sporting an orange shirt, former Pelham mayor David Augustyn came out last Thursday as NDP, in the company of party leader Andrea Horwath, at a media event in Fenwick. Like the mythical phoenix, former Pelham mayor David Augustyn is attempting to rise from the electoral ashes and return to public office. At a media event held last Friday in front of the Maple Acre branch of the Pelham Library, Ontario
New Democrat Party leader Andrea Horwath announced that the 51-year-old Fenwick resident will carry the NDP’s banner in Niagara West in the next provincial election, slated for June 2, 2022. Augustyn is to be acclaimed as the NDP’s Niagara West candidate at
BY VOICE STAFF a party meeting on November 28. Horwath said she was thrilled to add Augustyn to her team. “Dave loves Niagara — he is a community champion who is de-
termined to make this region the best place in the world to live, work, raise a family, and retire. I’m inspired by his passion for this beautiful place. From improving healthcare to fi xing long-term care and finally addressing the high cost of housing and hydro,
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Dave is definitely here to make life better for Niagara families.” Augustyn said a return to politics is something he has been contemplating for a while. “I have been encouraged by the See BACK Page 12
Page 2
The Voice
by Dave Burket
Corrections at the top: It’s been awhile since we had to do one of these and I nearly forgot how to spell “correction.” In any event, in our Remembrance Day issue last week, out of thousands of words and 12 photographs, on one page we managed to label Remembrance Day as occurring on Wednesday, Nov. 11, instead of the correct day and date, Thursday, Nov. 11. This greatly peeved an anonymous caller, who, judging by his intemperate tone, may have found himself standing alone in the Legion parking lot last Wednesday morning, wondering where the crowds and flyovers were. Mea culpa!...Wish we could have flown: Speaking of airplanes, sure wish we’d taken one ourselves last Wednesday. We needed to get some legal documents arranged, and were required to do so in person—in deep downtown Toronto, as in Jarvis and Queen Streets. How commuters are willing put themselves through that trip on a daily basis is nearly beyond understanding. (The screaming guy on the sidewalk was a bonus.) Ninety minutes out, two hours back, and this was even with taking the 407 both ways, which our GPS predicted would save 10 minutes, and which we figured really meant 20 minutes. The 407, mind you, was delightful, in the sense that there was barely any traffic. I do fear, however, opening that bill when it arrives. What do we think? $50 for the privilege? That plus an easy $30 in gas. All this explains why the last time we headed that far into The Big Smoke was literally ten years ago, when visitors wanted to see some sights. We were quite happy last week to get back to (still relatively) quiet Pelham, despite all its recent changes...Speaking of which: No doubt you have already glanced at the front page. Our former mayor, and co-architect of the Town’s current financial situation, is not without his supporters, which is presumably why NDP leader Andrea Horwath chose him to run in Niagara West. (That said, Horwath has not always demonstrated rock-solid judgment. The left will remember her frustrating refusal, a few years back, to support the most progressive budget bill in memory, under the Wynne Liberals, thus triggering a costly and unnecessary election.) So what’s your opinion? Tell us in this week’s opinion poll, top centre...A lovely read: Lloyd Beamer’s brothers have contributed a wonderful tribute to their sibling this week (p.10). Once again, as with former mayor Ron Leavens, who passed away in August, I’m left feeling the loss of a friendship that could have been, had I taken more time to get to know the man. What I did know I very much liked...Plenty more to see: It's a packed issue this week, with some interesting letters and commentary. Don Rickers takes us to Fenwick (p.13), where the Lions are hoping to build a new den, and also brings us news of the Pelham Artfest (p.3)...Tick-tock: Beware, the leggy crawlers are still everywhere. We've come inside with three black-legged deer ticks (the Lyme disease kind) in the last three weeks, two of which were detected crawling behind my ears. Aiiee. Luckily, no bites...Monday stats: As of press time there were four active Covid cases in Pelham. As ever, stay safe. ◆
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THE VOICE POLL
PUBLISHER’S CORNER
Voice
A November 17 2021
NDP Candidate Augustyn Former Pelham mayor David Augustyn is back in the news this week, having been selected by Ontario's New Democrat Party to run as their candidate in Niagara West next June. What's your take? Forgive and forget, or once burned, twice shy? Let us know at:
What's That
SIREN
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca/NDP Results in next week's issue!
Pelham Fire Department Weekly Calls
The Pelham Fire Department responded to ten calls for assistance from Friday, November 5 to Friday, November 12. Friday, November 6 Medical assistance, Station 1 Saturday, November 6 Gas odor in the building, Merritt Rd. Station 1 Assistance call, Pelham St., Station 1 Medical assistance, Station 2 Sunday, November 7 Medical assistance, Station 1 Monday, November 8 Carbon monoxide alarm, Blackwood Cr., Station 1 Medical assistance, Station 1
Remembrance Day 2021 remarks by Mayor Marvin Junkin "With each passing year, we become another step removed from the history of past wars. Conflict is not ideal. It is not to be glorified, but to be respected. We have a role in keeping the stories, these memories and lessons, alive for generations to come. The veteran banners that are currently displayed around the community represent just a fraction of those who have made sacrifices for the freedoms we have today. This year, 47 service members are part of the banner display, men and women who stood up and raised their hands when called upon. I humbly ask that we remember their sacrifices. May they remain in the hearts of Canadians today, tomorrow, and always.” DON RICKERS PHOTO
航 搜索
Thursday, November 11 Motor vehicle accident, Victoria Ave., Station 2
The Niagara Regional Police Service is committed to reducing impaired driving offences through education and the apprehension of offenders through enforcement programs like RIDE. Impaired driving is still the leading cause of criminal deaths in Canada and destroys thousands of lives every year.
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Wednesday, November 10 Ruptured gas line, Summersides Blvd., Station 1 Medical assistance, Station 1
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The Comfort Maple myth
Request made of community still peeved at name change
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W
BALLOONING INTEREST Grade 6 student Jinja Shepherd explains her experiment on static electricity at the Glynn A. Green Public School's annual science fair last Friday. See story, page 3. NATE SMELLE PHOTO
Public meeting tonight on school issues BY VOICE STAFF As questions continue to mount regarding an email that Pelham Mayor Dave Augustyn quietly sent to a District School Board of Niagara trustee last summer, Augustyn has agreed to address the issue at a public meeting scheduled for this evening, Wednesday, Feb. 8, in Fenwick. Nancy Beamer, speaking for “Names Matter,” a Pelham citizens group lobbying the DSBN to reverse its decision to rename a local public school, confirms that the meeting will be held at Fire Station #2, known locally as the Fenwick Fire Hall, starting at 7:00 PM. While the Mayor has agreed to ap-
Under pressure, Mayor to address email revelation, other E. W. Farr matters pear, says Beamer, DSBN officials associated with the school-naming process have either declined to attend or have not yet responded to the group’s invitation. DSBN Chair, Dale Robinson, to whom Augustyn’s email was addressed last June, has declined to appear, says Beamer, asserting that she would be
“on holidays.” The Voice was unable to independently confirm Robinsion’s intentions. She did not respond to repeated requests for comment on E.W. Farr-related matters before presstime. Beamer, whose group maintains an email list of some 580 residents, says that all members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend the meeting. “We would especially welcome parents and children who are unhappy with the name change,” she says, referring to the contentious decision by the DSBN to consolidate two Pelham See MEETING back page
HEN I WAS young, my father and I would go for long drives along the rural routes of Pelham. We’d blast George Thurgood and roll down the windows because we loved the smell of the breeze, the sensation of crisp Niagara wind beating our cheeks and tangling our hair against our summer-kissed skin. My father was not a sentimental man. He worked in factories and had a Gordon Lightfoot mustache and never shed tears over injuries. Yet something about the Pelham landscape, the hilly backdrop to his childhood and the childhoods of our ancestors, drew him in. He’d stop by a farm or a gathering of woods and, surrendering his manly veneer, tell me a story about the town. This place is precious. This is the earth that granted us life. Here is the place where we happened upon love or here is a site of devastation. On one particular drive sometime in the late ‘90s we stopped at a tree with a plaque. “This tree looks dead,” I said to my father. “It sure is getting there, Julie.” The Comfort Maple is supposedly Canada’s oldest See COLUMN SIX Page 14
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Vol.20 No.39
NIAGARA’S BEST-READ WEEKLY SINCE 1997
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
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Part 2 of 2: Coronation to embarkation BY HEATHER McLAREN ROHRER
Special to the VOICE
Repair measures underway last week to correct a construction error in the chicane. the mistake, the Town has taken measures to temporarily allow passage for vehicles through the neigh-
VOICE PHOTO
bourhood in the short-term. Manager of Public Works Ryan Cook said that after discovering the issue with
the chicane the morning it first opened, the Town See CHICANE Page 5
Petition-inspired changes coming to 2017 Summerfest BY NATE SMELLE
The VOICE
Representatives from the Pelham Summerfest committee Candy Ashbee and Bill Gibson presented council with a final report on the 2016 Summerfest at the Council meeting on Monday, Nov. 21. Prompted by a story in the Voice in August about a merchant petition to move Summerfest from Pelham Street, in September Town staff met with various stakeholders to hear their complaints, promising at the time that changes in the way Summerfest was mounted would be con-
sidered. The main concerns identified during the community engagement process were security, parking, ensuring customer can access all businesses in town, and liability for damages. How to get all Pelham Street businesses to participate and finding ways to make it beneficial for them to set up a booth were also determined to be of high priority for the committee as they plan for next year’s event. Gibson told Council that the committee is addressing these concerns in a variety of ways. To improve parking, they intend to create bet-
ter signage for out-of-town visitors to designated parking areas and shuttle services. To make participation in Summerfest more enticing to local businesses, they plan to implement a tiered-charge for booths. Under the new system, Pelham Street business owners will be charged the least, other local businesses will pay a slightly higher fee, and vendors from outside Pelham will pay the most. In response to more specific issues for individual businesses, they will also slightly alter the footprint of the event and make adjustments to security. Another way the committee plans
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to improve the 2017 Summerfest is by sponsoring and working with the organizers of the Thursday Night Bandshell Concert series to select the artist performing on the first night of Summefest. They also intend to make more use of the smartphone app they launched in 2016. "We are really going to push it this year," Ashbee said. “It really helps to get people to see what events there are so they can plan out where they are going. We will be able to actually help the merchants and local businesses ad-
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Growing up British
BY VOICE STAFF
FTER LUNCH ON Saturday, Mum and Dad had my afternoon cut out for me. Mum had more brass than anyone I knew, and it had to be cleaned. In addition there was the set of silver fish-knives and forks which were never used, but which had to be cleaned and put back in their velvetlined box. Next was a walk to the newsagents to pay for the daily delivery of the Daily Mirror. As I said, Dad was a printer, but when he was 37 he had been rejected for a job, as being too old, by the printers of the Beano. For that reason, my favourite comic was not allowed in the house, but while I was paying the papers, the newsagent let me have a 'shoofty' at the Beano. I'd explained my predicament and he understood completely. Sundays were different again. Dad would play golf on summer mornings and billiards in winter. Then he'd stop for a 'refresher' at the local and would pick up the prawns, cockles, winkles or whelks we'd be having for tea later. Meanwhile, Mum was roasting the 'joint' and potatoes. I got to make the Yorkshire pud, and mint
See CHANGES Page 5
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The Voice PUBLISHED INDEPENDENTLY IN PELHAM
Vol.20 No.32
NIAGARA’S BEST-READ WEEKLY SINCE 1997
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Apple Day comes to Fonthill BY VOICE STAFF
The goal is to have these youth develop into confident and well-rounded individuals ceives them, enabling youth to have experiences that build character, challenge them, and allow them to try new things. The goal is to have these youth develop into confident and wellrounded individuals, better prepared for success. Apple Day helps to achieve that.”
The VOICE
walk/trail is slated to be built between the south side of the road from Timmsdale Crescent to the high school. Because of the large volume of motor vehicle traffic travelling at high speeds through this area, and because of the necessity for students to tread this path on a daily basis, many residents would like to see the sidewalk go in sooner than later. After delivering to Council a petition containing
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H EATHER AND P ENNY L ANE S ALES R EPRESENTATIVES
BY JOHN SWART
VOICE Correspondent
T Second year Beaver with the 3rd Fonthill Group, Russell Letford offers a fresh apple to shoppers in Pelham during the 2015 Apple Day campaign. SUPPLIED PHOTO A longtime Canadian tradition, Apple Day began in 1932 in Saint John, New Brunswick, when Scouts handed out 21,000 apples as a way to say thank you to the community. In return for their generosity, many people offered them donations. From then on Scouts have reached out through Apple Day to raise funds for their programs.
“Any money raised during Apple Day goes towards improving the Scouting program by providing more outdoor adventures for youth, camping equipment, canoes and paddles, training and many other endeavours that the youth want to experience,” says Marie. Scouts Canada has some 100,000 members across Canada, and carries out programs for boys, girls
and youth ages 5-25. This year the 3rd Fonthill Group, which includes Beavers to Ventures (youth ages 5- 25) will be hitting the streets to drum-up support. Over the weekend, Scouts will be set up in Fonthill outside Sobeys, Tim Hortons, Target Gas station, Fonthill Shopping Plaza and the Pioneer Gas station at the corner of Hwys 20 and 24.
Town Council approves sidewalk to serve E. L. Crossley BY NATE SMELLE
Joining their principal, Karen Simpson, at the Sept. 19 Council meeting as part of a delegation from EL Crossley Secondary School, students Abby Loewen and Neenah Williams presented Council with a list of reasons that they should immediately approve the construction of the new sidewalk proposed along Hwy. 20. The asphalt side-
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Column Six It doesn’t get better than Autumn
Longtime Scouting tradition dates to 1932 While shopping in Fonthill between Friday and Sunday, keep an eye out for Beavers, Cubs and Scouts in front of local stores with bushels of apples. As part of the annual Apple Day campaign, Scouting youth of all ages will be trading apples for donations. The yearly fundraising drive is an important way for young Scouts to connect with the communities they are serving, says Leah Marie of Scouts Canada. “The Apple Day campaign holds a great tradition of being able to have youth interacting within the communities they live in,” she says. “All of the Apple Day donations stay directly within the group that re-
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Many residents would like to see the sidewalk go in sooner than later the names of 450 students calling for a safer walk to school, Simpson handed the
podium over to Loewen and Williams to plead their case. Loewen told Council that because there are a lot of students who have work placements and coop placements during the school year, this is the only route for many of them to travel. As one of the students facing this predicament, Williams said she has had no other option but to walk along the dangerous highway.
“I start work at 2:30 PM and school lets out at 2:15 PM so I can’t take any other route,” Williams explained. “I have had friends, family, teachers and other community members reach out to me in the past about how this is unsafe and how there should be another alternative for us.” Looking ahead to winter, when she will need to walk this path three or four times
HERE IS NO BETTER time to cycle than Fall. It matters not whether you’re new to the sport, a seasoned recreational cyclist, racer, touring rider or mountain biker; we all have reason to look forward to autumn. Summer’s heat has faded, and the streams of sweat that ran from soggy helmets into our eyes are now just slight perspiration. Fitness is peaking from lots of saddle time, making those tough climbs of Spring a breeze in Autumn. It’s hard to beat the feeling of beginning a crisp, cool Fall ride with a slight shiver, knowing your efforts will soon warm you perfectly. The hues of Autumn are outstanding. A Pelham route as simple as following our southern boundary is one that would make most Toronto cyclists jealous, especially when our forests and fields are ablaze with colour. Begin from Harold Black Park, and zig-zag south along Effingham Rd toward the Welland River. If you’re new to cycling, it’s important to know south is the direction away from any hills. If you avoid the morning and evening weekday rush hours caused by those travelling through Pelham between Wainfleet
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Haist Street traffic-calming measure a little too effective A construction error was discovered following the opening of a traffic calming chicane on Haist Street north of Hwy 20 last Monday that prevented large vehicles from passing through. One resident living in the neighbourhood said he contacted the Town after seeing a small schoolbus get stuck as it tried to get through the new traffic calming measure. Later that day while driving behind a cement truck, he said that he became concerned for the public’s safety when the truck had to turn around because it couldn’t get through. “If a small school bus and a cement truck can’t make it through what about a fire
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BY VOICE STAFF The District School Board of Niagara is requesting that the Town of Pelham cede a portion of Cherry Ridge Park for use as a soccer field to serve the students of the new Wellington Heights Public School, formerly the E. W. Farr Memorial Public School, in Fenwick. Currently under renovation and expansion, the new school will combine students and staff from the previous school and Pelham Centre, where classes are being held while construction continues. Two letters, containing virtually identical text but signed by different authorities, were sent last week to nearby residents of the park, as well as to parents of Pelham Centre students. “The DSBN is currently building onto Wellington Heights Public School on Alsop Drive,” states the letter. “The size of the school's addition means the existing small soccer field will be eliminated. The Town and the Board have been discussing the possibility of working together to create a field for both the school and the
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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. Kylie M. MONTGOMERY, 24, Niagara Falls Daniel G. MATHIESON, 54, St. Catharines Kerrie L. HADLOW, 40, Niagara Falls Anthony J. JONAH, 59, Niagara Falls Duane K. MATTATALL, 59, Niagara Falls Matthew SOLOMON, 25, Toronto Michael J. IRVINE, 34, Niagara-on-the-Lake Patrick E. SIMMONDS, 32, Pelham George A. GIULIANI, 23, Fort Erie Christopher R. CURRY, 52, Fort Erie Gerard R. OUELLETTE, 68, Niagara Falls Trinity D. WATMORE, 21, Fort Erie Scott D. Smith, 51, Pelham Nenad BUGARCIC, 42, Toronto Jeremy S. EDSALL, 40, St. Catharines Joshua A. BALDWIN, 31, Niagara Falls Joseph A. JULIEN, 40, Fort Erie Andrew J. MANTEGNA, 36, Niagara Falls
Fonthill & District
Christmas shopping starts here!
Saturday, 15 & Sunday Sunday, Oct. Oct 16. Saturday Oct. 17 18
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Kinsmen Invite you to Come & Enjoy the Annual
CELEBRATING OUR 25TH YEAR
FONTHILL
Centennial Secondary School, Thorold Road, Welland, Ontario
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Door proceeds in support of Special Olympics and Pathstone Mental Health
Voice (905) 892-8690 Find the Voice at these locations: Indulgence Bakery Mossimo’s Pelham Street Grille Peter Piper’s Pubhouse DeVries Fruit Farm Beamer’s Hardware Pelham Libraries Bob’s Boys Antiques PharmaChoice Pharmacy Fonthill Fitness Fenwick Pie Company McDonald’s Duffin Appleworks Fonthill Legion Semenuk’s Gas Bar Shoppers Drug Mart Tim Horton’s Giant Tiger Fonthill LCBO Zee Lube Express Care Food Basics Minor Bros Stores Avondale Stores A-1 Market Boggio's IDA Sobeys South Pelham Grill on Canboro Shell on Hwy 20 Circle-K
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Page 3
A November 17 2021
NOV 12 to DEC 24 2021
www.pelham.ca/christmas
IN PELHAM Make a list and check it twice for all things Christmas inspired in Pelham.
Santa Claus Parade
Artist Natalia Shields with one of her creations.
SUPPLIED
Pelham Holiday Artfest starts Friday BY DON RICKERS Contributing News Editor The Christmas spirit will be online November 19 to December 15, with unique gifts only keystrokes away. The first Pelham Holiday Artfest will be a virtual celebration of creations by artists and artisans in several media: painting, photography, glass, textiles, ceramics, wood, and more. “The major purpose of the Holiday Artfest is the same as that of the main May art show—fundraising for the Pelham Library system, to
provide scholarships for Pelham students pursuing the Arts in post-secondary education, and to support various community art activities,” said Natalia Shields, an Artfest organizer and participant. Shields said that in addition to contributing to fundraising efforts, the Holiday Artfest will provide a new venue for showcasing artists' work, and will be a vehicle to promote the Festival's sponsors year-round. “We expect our new shows and professional e-commerce platform,
combined with strategic advertising, will increase the Festival's reach beyond the Golden Horseshoe, to the rest of Canada and beyond.” The last online Pelham Art Festival in May registered some sales across Canada, and an international sale as a result of the fact that it was virtual, said Shields. Approximately 35 artists are participating in the Holiday Artfest, including 11 new artists that have never been in the show. ParticiSee ARTFEST Page 13
Local shopping and entertainment Letters to Santa Self-guided light tour and community competition Skating at the Community Centre The Great Elf Challenge: interactive scavenger hunt Hands-on workshops
Visit online for more!
Pelham Holiday Artfest
CHRISTMAS MARKET local artisans - live music festive food & drinks - Santa!
November 19-December 15, 2021
NEW!
Online Show & Sale 35 Juried Artists Original Gift Ideas
PLUS! Creative Gems Suitable For Every Budget
www.PelhamArtFestival.com Proceeds Benefit Pelham Library System, Pelham Arts Scholarships and Community Arts Projects
24TH ANNUAL
PARADE IN PELHAM
PRESENTED BY THE FABULOUS FENWICK LIONS
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The Voice
A November 17 2021
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OPINION
The opinions expressed in submitted commentary and letters to the editor are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the Voice of Pelham.
The Voice of Pelham is a 1211858 Ontario Limited publication David Burket, Publisher 2-1428 Pelham St., P.O. Box 1489, Fonthill, ON L0S1E0
Editorial Niagara West, be wary. Be very, very wary.
D
ear Fellow Niagara West municipalities, hey there, hello. It’s us, Pelham, your neighbour mostly to the east. (We see you down there, Wainfleet. S’up?) You probably know us best for our ancient maple tree, the Comfort Maple, said to be one of Canada’s very oldest. Otherwise you likely know us as home to a once-scenic route, along Highway 20, to Niagara Falls or Niagara-on-the-Lake, a roadway that is now so congested that you opted awhile back for an alternative route. Why does Highway 20 so often seem to be in permanent gridlock? Oh dear. Where to begin. Once upon a time, Pelham was home to fruit orchards and farms, a verdant paradise between industry to the north and south, and the world-infamous tourist mecca to the east. Then along came modernity—worse, along came a politician determined to break modernity, saddle it up, and ride it hard for glory as far as he could take it, preferably to progressively higher elective office. Back in the early days of the 21st century, the Town of Pelham wisely bought 32 acres of land on its east-
ern border. The intent was to protect it from rapacious real estate developers, eager to throw up slapdash, cookie-cutter houses without regard to anything beyond how much profit lined their pock-
Once upon a time, Pelham was home to fruit orchards and farms, a verdant paradise
ets. We all know the type, right? Grimsby, are you paying attention? Stop looking at your phone. Truth be told, not all of Pelham was on board with this protective instinct. It was too much to spend, said some. Let the free market decide, said others. (Again, Grimsby, you know where that leads.) Enter one David Augustyn, a man who always seems to know which way the wind is blowing. Seizing on public
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discontent, he rode his steed into the mayor’s office. Yet, lo and behold, it wasn’t all that long before “Mayor Dave,” as he re-branded himself, was the champion of champions for an expensive new community centre ($36 million dollars underwritten by 6500 or so taxpayers), as well as for throwing open the corral gates to the development of strip malls, and to new housing developments that looked like they were airlifted straight out of Mississauga. Pelham paradise lost. There’s your Highway 20 gridlock. Yet worse (if there is room for worse at this point), Mayor Dave and his council of obedient lieutenants authorized a development financing scheme so beyond the norm that a whistle-blowing developer compared it to “printing money in the basement.” This newspaper’s award-winning investigative reporting shined a light on what some observers likened to bonusing, in which companies are effectively bribed to set up shop in a given town. That’s illegal in Canada. In the end, Town Hall quietly reverted to selling off its green space and See EDITORIAL back page
Letters Attempted electric sale ill-advised I was dismayed to read in the Voice that Pelham paid $67,000 in consulting fees in a failed attempt to sell its shares in Peninsula West Power Inc. [No buyer for Pelham electric shares, Nov. 10, p.3]. The conclusion was obvious to people with knowledge of the electricity sector and of basic economics. The CAO has never communicated with the company or its president. The company had no notice that the Town wanted to sell its 17 percent share in Peninsula West and the board would have been able to provide relevant information. Fortunately, the Voice
has provided coverage. Peninsula West Power Inc. is not a distribution utility. It is a holding company which holds a 25.5 percent interest in the shares of Niagara Peninsula Energy Inc. Pelham's share is about 4.2 percent and would be valuable if NPEI ever sold. The other shareholders have higher priority issues than to spend $5.5 million dollars for a minor position in NPEI. The article refers to a statement about See ELECTRIC next 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
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
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The Voice
Page 5
A November 17 2021
OPINION ELECTRIC
continued from previous page the 2021 dividend payment and says the number was provided by the “utility,” which we are not. We were not contacted, nor has our board determined this year's dividend. If the Town is concerned about a higher rate of return on investment, and they should be, they could have invested that $67,000 in replacing 37-year-old streetlights with energy-efficient LED bulbs, as every other municipality in Niagara has done. Brian Walker President and Secretary- Treasurer Peninsula West Power Inc.
Editor’s note: The Voice has been provided with an email written by Mr. Walker himself, in his capacity as PWPI president, and sent to various Niagara municipal stakeholders, including Pelham, on July 14 of this year. In it Walker states, “We have received a dividend payment of $127,500.00 from NPEI. A second similar payment will arrive in December.” Based on figures provided both by the Town and in Walker’s own letter above, this equates to the approximate dividend number given by the Treasurer at council’s Nov. 1 meeting. Responding to a follow-up inquiry on this point, Walker said, “That is the gross amount of the dividend received from NPEI. The dividend to be paid by Peninsula West Power to the municipal shareholders will be determined at our next board meeting.”
Asked to respond to Walker’s general assertions, Pelham CAO David Cribbs provided the following comment: This letter by Mr. Walker is wholly inappropriate. Mr. Walker works for a corporation with multiple municipal shareholders. Whether one shareholder wishes to assess its in-
We were not contacted, nor has our board determined this year's dividend
vestment and/or test the market amongst the other shareholders for the shares does not require the permission or knowledge of the underlying corporation or its President. The shareholders agreement contains a process whereby sales can occur, and this process does not include providing notice or requiring the permission of the underlying corporation at the exploratory stage (or at all). Indeed, the lack of communication about which he complains would have been a violation of the Town’s closed meeting privilege, but was anticipated as a next step had there been stronger interest amongst the potential municipal partners. The Town of Pelham was conducting due diligence upon an asset valued at over $5 million on the Town’s balance sheet, as council makes all best efforts to improve the Town’s financial performance and cash position. That due diligence required legal advice because
of the regulated nature of the investment and the provincial rules which govern disposition of shares in local distribution companies. The process is not the same as selling shares on the stock market in a publicly traded company. Mr. Walker is not a member in good standing with the law society, nor to my knowledge is he an expert on share valuation or the disposition process. Even if he were any of those things, the Town would want independent legal and financial advice with respect to this transaction, which it obtained. We thank Mr. Walker for his sound advice regarding LED street lighting, which has been identified by both elected officials and the Town’s Utility Sustainability Advisory Committee as an appropriate area of focus for potential financial and environmental savings. We are aware that the Town will be receiving a dividend for the year 2021. One million dollars in dividends were declared back in July, 2021 and the proportionate share was paid to the holding company, of which Mr. Walker is President. While Pelham does not know exactly how much will be paid to it (some could be held back for the holding company’s own purposes), at this point in time the Town is tracking towards a dividend payment between $40,000 and $50,000.
PELHAM AND COVID-19 Mayor Marvin Junkin
Hospitalization rates remain low despite increased cases
A
s provincial Covid numbers edge over 600 a day, hospitalization numbers have continued to remain low, obviously due to the high percentage of residents that are vaccinated in the province. This number is now over 85 percent, with the province vaccinating 15,000 to 20,000 residents on a daily basis. Cooler weather and the easing of restrictions are the main contributing factors in the 11 percent rise in new cases across the nation, also more people are starting to spend more time indoors. We are a walking community as evidenced by the number of people I notice as I drive through town. I strongly encourage residents to continue in this in the coming months as opposed to stopping. Now that cooler weather has arrived. Staying mobile and healthy are the two most important weapons we have to fight the effects of this virus. Daily Covid numbers in the Region fluctuate from a high of 36 to the low teens, again with our hospitalizations remaining very low. Pelham’s positivity rate, which was as low as 2 percent in October has climbed to 4.4 percent as of last week. Almost all areas of the Region have experienced the same increase in this number, with the exception of our southern neighbour Welland, who is still just around 2 percent. Active cases in Pelham increased by three last week, to four, with all of these cases are self-isolating at home.
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This past Thursday, I had the honour of participating in the Remembrance Day ceremonies that were held at the Legion on Highway 20. It was great to see so many residents take time out of their busy lives to attend, paying their respect to Canada’s war veterans. The crew at Branch 613 are to be commended for the work they do, not just with this ceremony, but for all of the ways they serve our community. Remember if you will that this same group was recently recognized by the Regional government for supplying over 1,400 meals to needy residents living in Pelham in the first 18 months of the pandemic. The flyovers performed at the ceremony, first by a solo Lancaster bomber, and later by two smaller vintage planes, added a special touch to the day. his past Saturday, I along with Councillor Wayne Olson, spent the morning working with the Pelham Cares Food Drive, donating three hours of our time along with other volunteers carrying the donated food inside the community centre, where it is then sorted into various boxes, then taken to the Pelham Cares building, located at the corner of Highway 20 and Rice Road. The amount of food that was brought in during this time is truly amazing, showing once again just how caring and community-minded the residents of this town are. The need is great ,so if you haven’t already donated, please phone (905) 892-5300 to make arrangements to do so. Cash donations are also appreciated and accepted. ◆
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NEWSFLASH Tell us your story! Column Six presents tales of personal triumph, adventure, strange-but-true stories, life-changing events, and looks-back at our past. Did you conquer Everest or kick a bad habit? Everyone has a story. Tell us yours! NOW ALSO ACCEPTING FICTION— SHORT STORIES UP TO 4000 WORDS! Write it down, send it in: publisher@thevoiceofpelham.ca (You won’t get rich, but you will get paid.)
Page 6
The Voice
A November 17 2021
REGIONAL COUNCIL UPDATE
Letters continued
by Diana Huson, Niagara Regional Councillor (Pelham)
Looking to post-pandemic prosperity, green action
Pelham Panthers, generations of winners
The “original” Pelham Panthers was the name of our sports teams at Pelham Continuation/District High School in Fenwick. Our school colours were maroon and grey. The Championships began in 1934, when the girl’s basketball team won the all-Ontario Championship right through until 1974, when the school closed and beyond to now; as the Town’s teams are Pelham Panthers and are a bunch of winners! Here are some highlights of Pelham High’s championships: 1963 Tribune Tournament Champions; the 1966 Panthers Boys Basketball team won the Ontario Federation School Athletic Association title; the 1968 Panthers Football Team won the SOSSA championship. During all those years that Pelham High was open, there were many individual and team victories in school, district, and provincial meets. Our outstanding Pelham Panther Olympians: Jane Haist, a discus thrower who participated and medaled in several Pan Am games and the 1976 Olympics. Tom Guinn, a pistol shooter who was in the 1976 and 1984 Olympics. Steve Bauer, a cyclist who rode in the 1984 Olympics for a silver medal. Steve also
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rode in several Tours de France and wore the yellow jersey 14 times! Another Pelham High alumni is Marlene Stewart-Streit, an outstanding golfer who has won so many titles I would need a whole page to mention them. We are so proud to have been part of Pelham High School and Panther history. The school has been closed since 1974, but since 1984 we have gathered at our reunions to renew our old friendships. We had our 11th reunion organized for 2020 but because of Covid 19 (what else) it had to be postponed. We have rescheduled for 2022. This time we will meet on Sunday, June 12, 2022, from 1-5 PM, at the Royal Canadian Legion, Highway 20, in Fonthill. As we get closer to that time, and again depending on Covid, I will give you more info. For all of you who have been emailed or who have seen details on Facebook, please, let people who are not on computers or don’t get the Voice know what’s happening. Hope you enjoy the picture. Don’t you just love the 1934 gym suits! Vilma Moretti Fonthill
ast week I had the privilege to attend the Toronto Global Forum as Chair of the Region’s Planning and Economic Development Committee, along with representatives from the City of St. Catharines, the City of Welland, and the City of Thorold. The event offered in-person attendance to a select number of individuals, including a small Niagara contingent. It was quite different to experience an in-person event again, complete with public health measures and Covid protocols, after a long hiatus from the traditional conference experience. As a fi rst-time participant of this particular event, I learned that the forum serves as an international summit, bringing together senior leadership across the banking, finance, political and economic landscape. Aptly themed, “Redefi ning a new prosperity,” post-pandemic economic recovery was top of mind for most speakers. However, the event also closely followed COP26, the United Nations climate summit recently taking place in Glasgow, Scotland, that featured policy and climate experts in addition to representatives from those countries that signed on the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1994, including Canada. It was no surprise that the Forum was strongly influenced by discussions coming out of COP26, especially after the announcement that nearly 500 global fi nancial services fi rms agreed to align $130 trillion, or 40 percent of the world’s fi nancial assets, with the climate goals set out in the Paris Agreement. That’s a significant commitment! And as a result, most sessions at the Toronto Global Forum, if not all, had a green lens signaling what I believe is a significant shift in embracing the need to acknowledge, implement, and accelerate impactful climate change action on behalf of the corporate/ private sector. The Forum included discussions that reflected on intentional investment in clean and environmentally friendly projects that are necessary to meet global net-zero targets. It also highlighted the role of the private sector in reducing carbon emissions. But there was also discussion on the advancement of low emission and electric vehicles, including buses and ambulances, that was particularly relevant to the public sector. This included the need for sustainable
infrastructure in supporting growth challenges but also future- proofi ng our assets. I was surprised to learn that 73 percent of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions primarily come from three sources— energy production, transportation, and inefficient buildings. Hence these items have the potential to impact climate change the most and will play a vital role in moving Canada closer to a green economy. But equally important, we need to embrace the circular economy, which signifies a break from a traditional cycle of extraction to consumption to waste. It was fascinating! I left the conference feeling that perhaps climate change isn’t a niche term anymore and it’s fi nally being taken seriously. Perhaps we’re on the precipice of a great shift where climate change is respected, and acted upon, not only for the very real threat it poses, but also for the opportunities. Shifting to a greener and cleaner economy is a necessity for future generations. And as the only G7 country, aside from the US, to see emissions rise every year since the Paris Agreement, let’s hope Canada gets on board. It seems the world is ready to fi nally address climate change. ◆
PUBLIC NOTICE Notice of Online Public Information Centre #3 Municipal Class Environmental Assessment for Merritt Road (Regional Road 37) and Rice Road (Regional Road 54) in Pelham, Thorold and Welland Niagara Region is undertaking an Environmental Assessment Study for improvements to Merritt Road and Rice Road as a result of proposed developments in the Town of Pelham, the City of Thorold and the City of Welland. The study aims to identify improvements to the two roadways to meet the future needs of the surrounding community for all road users. The study also aims to address active transportation needs by providing dedicated pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure that is safe, attractive, conform to a complete streets approach and compatible with the changing land use in the three local municipalities. This study is being carried out as a Schedule ‘C’ project in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process. It will address the requirements of Class Environmental Assessment Phases 1 to 4.
preliminary preferred design for the road improvements. This event will be held in an online format via project webpage: niagararegion.ca/projects/regional-road-37 You are invited to attend the online presentation Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021, 6 p.m. There will be an opportunity at the end of the presentation to ask questions or submit comments. To join the online presentation, please visit the link above on the day of presentation and click on the presentation link. In addition, the information materials related to the Public Information Centre #3 will be available on the project webpage starting Dec. 1, 2021, comments will be received until Dec. 16, 2021. If you have any questions or comments, please contact one of the Study Team Members: Maged Elmadhoon, M.Eng., P.Eng. Manager, Transportation Planning Niagara Region 905-980-6000 ext. 3583 Maged.Elmadhoon@niagararegion.ca
Jeff Suggett, M. Sc. Consultant Project Manager Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions 905-380-3601 Jeff.Suggett@woodplc.com
Personal information collected or submitted in writing at public meetings will be collected, used and disclosed by members of Regional Council and Regional staff in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA). The written submissions including names, contact information and reports of the public meeting will be made available. Questions should be referred to the Privacy Office at 905-980-6000, ext. 3779 or FOI@ niagararegion.ca Public Information Centre #1 was held March 24 - April 7, 2021, and Public Information Centre #2 was held June 9 - June 30, 2021. Materials related to these events, including the summary reports documenting the comments received and study team’s responses are available on the project webpage. Niagara Region is now planning to host the third and last Public Information Centre #3 for this study to share the
If you require any accommodations for a disability in order to attend and participate in meetings or events, please let us know in advance so that arrangements can be made in a timely manner. Please contact the Accessibility Advisory Coordinator at 905-980-6000 ext. 3252 or accessibility@niagararegion.ca
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The Voice
COMMENTARY / OP-ED
Page 7
A November 17 2021
Letters continued
Bruce Timms
Region adds to inflation pressures on homeowners, renters
N
iagara Regional Council has added to inflation pressures on property taxpayers at their Nov. 4 budget meeting. council agreed to 5.4 percent increase for waste management despite reduction in pick-up service, and 5.15 percent increase for water and wastewater. The police budget calls for a 4.9 percent increase and council requested the board to reduce their $168.9 million request by $500,000. Homeowners will see increases in property taxes for police and waste management above the inflation rate for 2022, and very likely water bill increases above inflation rates once municipalities have added their increases. The Region’s Treasurer, Todd Harrison, explained in a memo that the proposed police budget would require a 1.1 percent increase in addition to the 4.1 percent proposed in the Region’s budget strategy approved in June of this year. He also pointed out that while the overall levy for 2021 increased by 1.8 percent, the Police Board had a 4.3 percent in 2021. Council was forced to choose reductions in other departments to support police and achieve a 1.8 percent overall levy increase. The levy increase will be 5.2 percent if coun-
cil chooses to accept the police budget without reducing the budget of any other budget area. The Region has the option of reducing the Regional Housing budget, or Public Works or Social Services, or Senior Services, but as noted above it has already agreed to increase waste management by 5.4 percent and water and wastewater by 5.15 percent. Reducing the Public Health budget may also be a choice if the pandemic subsides in 2022. The Budget Committee requested the Police Board consider removing $500,000 allocated to capital reserves because of the extra pay week expected in 2023. How the capital reserve is related to an operational compensation issue is not explained beyond the idea that it is a convenient account to park money which they expect to need in 2023. Even with $500,000 taken out, the cost for policing will go up by 4.6 percent. Chair Bradley pointed out more service costs more money, and police service is adding 13 fulltime employees, at a cost of $700,000 within the proposed budget. The Police Board’s presentation pointed out that they are presenting a police budget without a police contract for 2021 or 2022.
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Chief McCullough cites police contract settlements in Peel, Hamilton, and Halton as precedents that give the board guidance on what they should allow in the 2022 budget. The Waterloo Region Police Board and Police Association reached an agreement on September 17 of this year on a retroactive contract going back to January 1 2020, and extending to the end of 2024, averaging a 2.14 percent increase per year for fiveyears . The five-year deal removes the problem of budget estimates for police compensation in Waterloo Region budgets for the next three years. Councillor Heit said taxpayers need relief in this 2022 budget and made the motion to request the Police Board cut $500,000 from their budget. The wisdom in his request is that the next police budget will be set by the next council and next police board, with municipal elections happening in October 2022. The new council and new board members may have to be reminded that $500,000 in capital reserve is not for capital but for payroll. The board might even have a labour contract settled for 2021 and 2022 by then. Three elements of the Regional budget have exceeded inflation and appear to increase inflation
Thanks from Lionettes
for homeowners and rental property owners in 2022. Regional Council set budget guidance in June at 4.1 percent when inflation of the CPI was 3.7 percent. However, by October 20 reports of annual CPI rates for August and September were 4.0 percent and 4.4 percent from Statistics Canada. The CPI for the year has been trending higher since February, at 1.1 percent, April 3.3 percent, May 3.7 percent, with a dip in June to 3.2 percent, July 3.5 percent, with the average annual rate now at 2.944 percent. Operational department budgets, Niagara Housing and Conservation Authority budgets, and final police budget will be considered at the November 25 budget meeting. The question of the $500,000 reduction to the police budget will also be considered at this meeting. Regional Council has some tough choices to make, with inflation rising quickly in many areas of daily living. How much do they choose to inflate property taxes and therefore the cost of housing for so many families in Niagara? ◆ Bruce Timms was a Regional councillor for St. Catharines from 1991 to 2018.
Christmas in Pelham returns
Christmas in Pelham returns this year with a host of activities, including the in-person Outdoor Market. One of the key elements of the annual event, the Market will be held at Town Square on Friday, December 3, from 4 to 9:30 PM. The licensed evening event will showcase local area entertainment, local artisans, festive food, carriage rides, and visits with Santa. According to a Town statement, the event will have measures in place to ensure alignment with the current pandemic regulations, including physical distancing. In addition to the in-person Market, the Fabulous Fenwick Lions will host the 24th annual Santa
Claus parade beginning at 1 PM on Saturday, December 11. “It is exciting to be able to see the return of Pelham’s annual holiday festivities,” said Mayor Marvin Junkin. “After so long of being apart, it is encouraging to have something to look forward to this season.” New this year, is a hybrid digital scavenger hunt, the Great Elf Challenge, which will run from December 1 to 12, and participants can complete challenges to win prizes. Christmas in Pelham also includes an annual house decorating contest and self-guided light tour. Residents are encouraged to participate, either by decorating their homes or drivSee IN THE NEWS Page 14
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On behalf of the Fenwick Lionettes Club (formally the Fenwick Lioness Club) we would like to say thank you to the community and the Fabulous Fenwick Lions Club for your generous support. After a year and a half of not being able to do our fundraising, it was great to finally see some familiar faces at our October takeout soup lunch and hope to see you at our next one on November 21. It’s been our club’s goal to purchase an autism support dog through the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, and we are happy to say we have now been able to do it. Thanks to all of you—it takes a great community and we look forward to your continued support! Heather Soares The Fenwick Lionettes Club
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The Voice
A November 17 2021
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
‘Tis the season to be compassionate BY DON RICKERS Contributing News Editor As Christmas nears, many turn their thoughts to charitable endeavours to assist those most in need in the community. And every year, Pelham Cares answers the call with its seasonal Food Drive. With skyrocketing food prices, more families are living paycheque to paycheque, and reply on food donations to make ends meet. The “Fill Our Shelves” campaign by Pelham Cares is a collaborative effort with the Fonthill Lions, Fabulous Fenwick Lions, and Town of Pelham. The goal is to fill 3,000 boxes with food items, which should keep the agency’s shelves full for seven months. Monetary donations are also welcome, and can be made online or in person at the Pelham Cares office on Highway 20. With pandemic restrictions still active, a drivethrough food drop-off is in place again this year at the community centre, staffed by volunteers. Food donations will be received Fridays from noon until 7 PM on November 12, 19, and 26; Saturdays from 9 AM until 3 PM on November 13, 20, and 27; and Sundays from 9 AM until 3 PM on November 14, Nov 20, and Nov 28. New this year are “popup” food drives on November 20 between 9 AM and 2 PM at the Food Basics and
Volunteers Susan Mark, Mayor Marvin Junkin, Pelham Councillor Wayne Olson, Bob Mark, Gerald Taylor, and Xiaoling Zhao. DON RICKERS Sobeys on Highway 20, as well as at Centennial Park on Church Street in Fenwick. Some of the most needed items include hamburger helper and rice mixes, instant potatoes, chili and stews, canned fruit and vegetables, juice boxes, peanut-free school snacks, flaked ham and chicken, cookies and baking supplies, and laundry soap. Pelham Cares also accepts personal hygiene and household products such as unscented shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, and household
cleaners. Volunteers are still invited to assist with the food drive, and will be provided with masks and hand sanitizing stations at the community centre. Volunteers must be fully-vaccinated, and are asked to register with Pelham Cares for screening. The Voice encountered Pelham Mayor Marvin Junkin and Councillor Wayne Olson at the community centre last Saturday morning, unloading food donations driven in by local residents. Olson is a veteran of countless food drives, and
Junkin has also done his bit over the years helping out in charitable ventures. “There is hidden poverty in Pelham,” said Olson, noting that about 60 families are on the list for regular food boxes from Pelham Cares. “It’s both rural and urban, and touches seniors and young families. There are some people that have $12 a day left in their pockets, after they pay the rent.” For more information about the Pelham Cares food drive, call 905-8925300 or visit www.pelhamcares.org
ROSE
continued from Page 9 Colonico said the exposure from the video game has already paid dividends. “We’re noticing with our new tour dates coming up there’s a lot more people buying tickets, which is awesome,” he said. “The video game is making us heard in ways we couldn’t have been heard before.” The video game also spawned Bar Down Lager, which is brewed at Taps Brewhouse in Niagara Falls, and it has sold more than 10,000 litres. “We ended up making a beer after the song because we couldn’t tour,” he said. “We knew alcohol was essential during Covid.” Revive the Rose was founded in 2014 by Colonico, fellow Welland native Peter Antonio, and Port Dalhousie’s Matt Cookson. Colonico and Antonio knew each other from their high school days at Notre Dame while Cookson was brought in after meeting Colonico at Mohawk College, where they were studying music. The band went through its share of personnel changes but has been stable for two years since adding Welland native and bassist Steve “Big Red” Stercho. Colonico grew up in a musical environment — his mother was a singer and father was a high school music teacher at Centennial Secondary School— and he is the lead singer and drummer during recording while Cookson and Antoinio
are the guitarists. On tour, a drummer is added so Colonico can focus on vocals. “It’s just straightforward, good-vibing rock and roll,” Colonico said. Colonico, who cited the Beatles as an influence, said the band’s inspiration comes from the likes of April Wine, Foo Fighters, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Green Day and Sublime. Colonico’s writing draws much of its inspiration from day-to-day events. “Lyrically, it kind of generates from more in-themoment thoughts that I have,” he said. “I think a lot, I don’t really vent a lot, that’s where I put it into music. I have a lot of melodies hanging around. I don’t know what they mean yet but then some days the right thoughts I’m thinking match the mood of a riff. “I try to fit things into a structured melody. I do tend to start with the chorus because that’s usually the meat and potatoes of the core of what I’m trying to get to and then branch off from that.” For the time being, the group continues to work day jobs to make ends meet. “We predict within a year or so we can maybe, hopefully change that up,” Colonico said. “Prior to Covid we had a lot of touring planned and it looks like there will be a lot of opportunity to tour in 2022. Because of the growth during Covid, it’s unlocked a lot of doors.” For more information on the band and tour dates, see www.revivetherose.ca.
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The Voice
Page 9
A November 17 2021
Revive the Rose back in action Local band continues to evolve BY BILL POTRECZ Special to the Voice The members of Revive the Rose put the downtime they had during the Covid-19 lockdowns to good use. The local band, which bill themselves being from Fonthill/Welland, used the time to take a hard look at their music, how they wanted to market it, and to map out their future. “It’s rare to find a stop button for once in life and really evaluate your life almost,” said co-founder, lead singer and drummer Andy Colonico. “It was nice that we got to do that and reflect and grow. “We weeded a lot of things out and put a lot of thought into how to grow even better.” The band figured with touring out of the question during the lockdown, the time was right to work on new music. “Between a lot of song writing and a lot of demoing — there’s not much else to do — the music industry is usually a busy industry, especially for the big names, but for the first time ever all
of the big game people were waiting to play live,” Colonico said. “Most of the time their on-line presence plateaued so it gave my band a chance to take advantage of the tools we have online and engage with our fan base and grow and network.” The fruition of that work is an EP of six new songs expected to be released sometime this fall called Heartless Place. “It’s about about mentality and viewing society,” Colonico said. “Three of the songs were written before Covid and recorded while we were working with John-Angus MacDonald of The Trews and then we did three more.” The single, “Live My Best Life,” featuring Amy Gabba and The Almost Famous, is out now accompanied by a music video filmed at Isaac Riehl Skate Park in Fonthill. “We had such a blast with this one,” Colonico said. “We were talking about doing a song cover digitally and when things opened up the opportunity came to do a song together. We both have very unique fan bases so we
Revive the Rose co-founder and drummer/vocalist Andy Colonico. wanted to come together and do something fun.” Colonico has high hopes for the new material. “Our last album, I call it a Costco sample platter, a little variety of what we can do. Lyrically, we have evolved and have a lot more things to say and that’s what I’m really excited about, to connect with people deeper and
grow the fan base. The song structures are a lot stronger and we’ve had some amazing help from The Trews. It’s just a nice, evolved, Revive the Rose that the current fans will love and will definitely absorb a lot of new ones.” The band previously caught a couple of huge breaks when their song “Bar
Down,” originally written for the Niagara IceDogs, was picked up by the Toronto Maple Leafs for their warm-up playlist and then added to the EA Sports NHL Soundtrack video. “It’s not a one-time deal where you can make a living off of it but it was a nice chunk of change,” Colonico said of the video deal.
“You definitely need more of them, especially for a band my size. We’re at the very bottom of the totem pole still. A lot more of those would be nice.” The band plans to hit the road and do some serious touring to promote their new music. See ROSE previous page
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Page 10
The Voice
A November 17 2021
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
A tribute to Lloyd Beamer, from his brothers Ralph and Harold
O
BY HAROLD BEAMER Special to the Voice
n behalf of my brother Ralph in Peterborough, myself, and our families, I’d like to express our gratitude to the family, friends, and customers who have extended their sympathies upon learning of the death of our brother Lloyd. To many of you who have only known Lloyd as the smiling, kind, helpful owner of Beamer’s Hardware, I would like to share some of the history and memories of our eldest brother and the son of Dorcas and Cecil Beamer. Lloyd was born in the village of Fonthill on September 25, 1939, the month that Canada declared war on Germany in World War II. He grew up during a time of wartime anxiety and rationing. This influenced him immensely during his later years. He became a big brother to Ralph in 1941 and later to myself in 1946. As boys we were very close to each other—as playmates and for getting into mischief as well. That is, Ralph and I would be getting into mischief while Lloyd stayed in character as the obedient and protective older brother. Our father was a cabinet maker, so he often made our wooden toys and he introduced us into woodworking at an early age. This came in handy in later years as Lloyd and myself became Industrial Arts teachers and Dr. Ralph became an orthopedic surgeon. In 1968, Lloyd (as his father did for his bride in the 1930s, on a wage of 25 cents an hour) built his family home for Shirley prior to getting married. Alongside several loyal and longtime workers at the store (Jim, Ed, Tony, June, Mrs. Cummings, Bill, and Doug), he passed on his knowledge to solve problems for customers and he also trained his children and grandchildren in the art of creating things from scratch or mending broken items to reduce, reuse and recycle. So you see, after all his life experiences, owning a hardware store was his dream job and the helping of others was second nature to him. His motto was that Good Service was the unwritten rule and he often went above and beyond. loyd was meticulous, and as a young man he received many awards for the handmade projects he entered into the Welland County Fair. In Grade 12, he built an award-winning desk, and was encouraged by his teacher, Mr. Jeff Cravens, to become an Industrial Arts teacher. In Hamilton to attend teacher’s college, he roomed with his cousin Vernon, who also became a technological teacher. Later he took additional courses to get his specialist degree in Industrial Arts. During the summers, we brothers painted many local homes and throughout his life after the age of 12 Lloyd was never without a job. Lloyd was a generous man who always put his family first. In fact, I don’t think I ever heard Lloyd say no to any request. In our early years as we were getting established in our careers, we often helped each other out financially. Lloyd liked to work hard for what he got, and, like our father, declined to rely on credit. He took on extra remodeling or building jobs on evenings and weekends for friends even while he taught school for his first 25-year career. After he bought the store in 1986, he devoted himself to community needs and even sponsored a few sports teams. He loved going into the store daily and communicating with the people who stopped by for a friendly chat or to share some community news. As a young man, Lloyd had such iron self-control. If we got a chocolate bar for Christmas, Ralph and I would have ours eaten in one day. Lloyd would have his in his desk for weeks, only taking a bite at a time until it was all gone. Lloyd was dependable. As a teenager, he worked steadily for Gordon Haist on his vast farm and was often given management responsibilities, such as driving the tractor off-site to pick up or deliver supplies. Dad died young of heart failure, in 1965, leaving mom to care for three sons. Lloyd helped our widowed mother keep the family’s two-and-a-half acre fruit farm on Canboro Road going long after dad died. He became the man of the house while Ralph was away studying medicine at Queen’s University and I was still in high school. Lloyd showed pride and love to all his nieces and nephews and left them all with some very special memories of him. To quote our daughter Jennifer, “Everything I learned about growing peaches, I learned from Uncle Lloyd.” During family gatherings, Lloyd was often the quiet one who sat there listening and taking it all in. However, when he did speak everyone paid attention to his words. Yes, it is a great loss and he will be missed. We are grateful that while he was with us he had such a great impact. It was a life well-lived and now Lloyd can rest in peace, but he will forever be cherished in our memories. ◆
L
Top left, Lloyd married Shirley Myers, on July 20 1968. Top right, Lloyd's 30th birthday, 1969. Centre, Lloyd and Shirley with their daughter, Sand on her wedding day, 1996. Above left, Lloyd and youngest brother Harold, their mother Dorcas, and middle brother Dr. Ralph. Above right, the front lawn of the Beamer family home—Harold standing, with Ralph and Lloyd on their bikes, circa 1950. At right, Harold and Lloyd ce brating the last block on the foundation for the addition to the home of Harold and his wife Bev, the summer of 1977. BEAMER FAM
dra, , on ele-
MILY
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The Voice
A November 17 2021
Page 11
Page 12
The Voice
A November 17 2021
LIONS STEP UP Fabulous Fenwick Club President Jeff Pickup dropped by the community centre to present Pelham’s Director of Recreation, Culture and Wellness, Vickie vanRavenswaay, with a $2000 donation toward Pathstone’s Mental Health Walk-in Clinic for Youth. “The Fenwick Lions Club will always step up to the plate to help the youth of Pelham,” says Pickup, who added that the clinic has apparently been a great success in its first weeks of operation. SUPPLIED
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continued from Page 1 local NDP MPPs [Niagara Falls riding's Wayne Gates, Niagara Centre's Jeff Burch, and St. Catharines' Jennie Stevens] and was looking for a way to continue to serve the community. I'm just absolutely delighted to join Andrea and her team. She's a fighter for families across the province.” Augustyn served as Pelham’s mayor and a Regional councillor from 2006 to 2018. After initially criticizing the previous council’s purchase of acreage for
what would later become East Fonthill, once in office Augustyn switched course to champion the construction of a community centre to replace the dated Pelham Arena, and to shepherd the dramatic expansion of Fonthill through new residential development. However, controversy over the community centre’s $36 million dollar cost and questions about East Fonthill financing—including a land-for-credits scheme that one prominent developer characterized as evidence of a “corrupted process”—led to increas-
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ing public scrutiny, and to a Regional Council committee call in 2017 for an independent financial audit. Pelham’s own Regional Councillor at the time, Brian Baty, called on Pelham Town Council to conduct a “forensic audit” of the East Fonthill project. A year later, the largest turnout in 30 years saw Pelham voters overwhelmingly turf every member of Augustyn’s council (one councillor did not seek re-election), as well as Augustyn himself, who came third in a four-way race for Regional Councillor, in the 2018 mu-
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TRIPLE CROWN At a recent Fabulous Fenwick Lions’ dinner meeting, PDG Lion Al Beamer was presented three awards by Lion President Jeff Pickup. The first award was a Lions Club International 40-year chevron for his years of being a member of the club. The second was a Lions Club International Senior Master Key, for sponsoring 25 new members in his 40 years of service. The third was a Lions Foundation of Canada Guide Dog award, the Judge Brian Stevenson Fellowship, for Beamer’s continued service to the club, community, and Lions Club District A2. SUPPLIED nicipal election. A fundraiser by profession, after leaving office Augustyn was later hired as Director of Development at Family and Children’s Services Niagara Foundation. He previously worked with Niagara’s Children’s Aid Society, Gillian’s Place Women’s Shelter, the Hotel Dieu Hospital Foundation, and the Niagara Alzheimer Society. Asked how he plans to take on the Conservative juggernaut in Niagara West, a riding which has been PC blue at both the provincial and federal levels for several years, Augustyn replied, “I think folks around these parts would say, ‘Don't count your chickens before they hatch.’ The current government feels like they should just go back to what they were doing, which was cutting, cutting, cutting, and helping their buddies. I think people are recognizing that they need a voice in this area for positive change. They need a
strong leader, which is what we have in Andrea Horwath. And that's why I'm running. That's why I'm here.” The Niagara West riding, currently represented by Progressive Conservative MPP Sam Oosterhoff, includes Pelham, Grimsby, Lincoln, West Lincoln, Wainfleet, and a small slice of west St. Catharines. Oosterhoff took almost 54 percent of the popular vote in the 2018 election, winning with 24,300 votes. Curtis Fric, then the NDP candidate, finished a distant second with 13,744 votes and 30 percent of cast ballots. At the federal level, Conservative Dean Allison has dominated in the past four elections, taking 46 percent of the popular vote in Niagara West in 2021, tallying some 25,000 votes. “We had a good-sized crowd this morning in front of the library, and lots of well-wishers,” said Augustyn. “I think people are seeing the current government for what it is, and they're
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upset with the shenanigans of [Sam Oosterhoff]. I’m going to be knocking on a lot of doors. This is about serving people in in Pelham, and Lincoln and West Lincoln and Grimsby and Wainfleet, and the entire Niagara Peninsula.” It was no accident that his announcement took place outside the Fenwick library branch, as Augustyn used it to assert his support for community resources, and to knock the Ford government’s alleged neglect of libraries. “The pandemic highlighted and accentuated social sufferings and disparities, but also caused a reawakening, an understanding that we're all in this together,” said Augustyn, who pointed to the Maple Acre Library, originally built in 1919, as an example of the community coming together. “They donated their hard-earned dollars and their labour to renew this building because they recognized the important role of libraries and building public infrastructure for the common good. I was proud, as mayor, when council and I worked together with the community to restore this old library.” In fact, the radically different, modernist addition to the Fenwick branch drew heavy community criticism immediately upon release of its design. To the disappointment of the resident-led Maple Acre Advisory Committee, Town Council rejected their 2015 request to spend an additional $6,000 for an alternative design, which committee members viewed as a pittance in view of the project’s allocated $1 million dollar budget. On Friday, Augustyn cited various local issues needing attention, including “affordability for folks that are having real problems, poverty across Niagara, healthcare costs, and long-term care homes to provide dignity to our seniors. I know the grape growers have special needs, and farmers in our community as well, who are concerned about the paving over of some of the rich agricultural land that we have here, plus environmental protections.”
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The Voice
Page 13
A November 17 2021
Fabulous Fenwick Lions looking to build new clubhouse BY DON RICKERS Contributing News Editor The Fabulous Fenwick Lions, who were chartered in 1949 and over the ensuing decades have raised large sums for worthy projects and local charities, need the public’s help for a change. Their clubhouse is structurally deteriorating, and spokesperson Ken Suthons told the Voice that rather than continuing to pump money into major repairs, the decision has been made to consider a replacement building at 999 Church Street, in Fenwick’s Centennial Park. “Realistically, we're looking down the road as far as 10 years, being able to entertain the thought of proceeding with construction of a new home. The building we have now doesn't meet current building standards for insulation and wiring. The washrooms are antiquated, and the kitchen needs to be expanded,” he said. “We have a new furnace and air conditioner, but because it’s an old building, they are not totally efficient.” The current building was previously a machine shop, donated years ago by Atlas Steel in Welland. “It was long before my time, but they brought the building here, excavated, and built a foundation out of cinder blocks. It's just an old building that has outlived its usefulness,” said Suthons. Some preliminary work produced a plan for a 300-seat facility, but the $1.4 million price tag was far too rich for the club.
continued from Page 3 pating artists will be profiled along with their work, and the public will be able to purchase original pieces directly from their creators. The Artfest will also be connected to Akimbo, a Toronto-based company that promotes contemporary visual art, video, new media and film locally, nationally and internationally. Retired from teaching in 2009, Shields was heavily involved in her passion of photography in that role. “I taught visual arts at a very high-tech high school in Toronto, so I became familiar with Adobe software like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign,” she said. “Everything that I've learned through teaching, I'm utilizing now in my creative work.” She arrived in Pelham in 2014, and has been involved in the local art scene ever since. “I signed up to volunteer, and now am mainly responsible for festival advertising and promotional materials,” she said. Shields exhibits annually at the Pelham Art Festival, as well as in exhibitions at the Niagara Pumphouse Gallery and the Women’s Art Association of Canada. In 2020, she participated in the juried virtual Toronto Outdoor Art Fair. “The show will feature a collection of art pieces called ‘Creative Gems.’ This is a collection of small and affordable pieces that would be ideal for gift-giving,” said Shields. “All will be original art that won't break the pocket book, and is small enough that most recipients
clubhouse replacement. A dumpster supplied by V&R Scrap Metal Recycling now sits beside the building, and is available for community residents to contribute materials. “V&R is contributing the dumpster to us free of charge, and we will split the Artists and artisans conproceeds from tinue to support the fundraising efforts of the Pelham Art Festival Committee by donating 15 percent of every artwork sale. Since its inception, the fundraising tally of Pelham art festivals is nearing half a million dollars. The Holiday Artfest’s website is www.pelhamartfestival.com, and it also has an Instagram presence at ht t p s:// w w w.i n s t ag r a m . com/pelhamartfestival
“We’re trying to whittle it down to seating for about 125 people, at a much reduced cost,” said Suthons. It was Suthons who suggested that collecting used metal products for recycling was a way to raise some seed funds for the
will be able to find a place for it in either their home or workplace. We've asked each artist to submit up to three pieces for this collection, and have placed a size limit, so no framed or unframed artwork will be larger than a 50-inch perimeter of any framed or unframed artwork. Each artist will decide what constitutes 'affordable' for their own work, although I think it's safe to say the prices to be in the $75 to $300 price range.”
the recycled materials 50/50,” said Suthons. With 47 active members, the Fenwick Lions have a number of annual fundraising ventures. Their bi-weekly fish fries, hosted from Good Friday until the end of October, typically draw hundreds of people on each occasion, and gross about $5000 each. The Classic Car Show and Classic Car
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Raffle likely raise the most money for charities, said Suthons. “Each year we buy a classic American car, like a Camaro or Chevelle, that is not going to require any restoration,“ he said. “We've always stuck with a General Motors product because of GM’s presence in the region, and the fact that a lot of the local guys are GM retirees.”
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Page 14
The Voice
IN THE NEWS
BALANCED LIFE
ing the route to view the displays beginning December 13. This year, letters to Santa will continue, with the official Santa mailbox available for drop-offs at the Meridian Community Centre. The event lineup also features winter workshops, free public skates, and the popular Santa’s Workshop. The Christmas in Pelham event series received $15,500 in funding support from the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries; 2021 Reconnect Festival and Event Program. For more information visit www.pelham.ca/christmas
When I read early this year that Chileans will finally write a new constitution, overthrowing the country’s long-standing, self-serving political establishment, I replayed a video recorded a decade ago in Coyhaique, a provincial capital in southern Chile, where I accidentally cycled into the midst of a protest march demanding this very change. Reliving that video helped me understand the Chileans’ tenacity and joy. As Viktor Orban, Hungary’s Prime Minister, dismantles his country’s democracy and reduces the liberties of its people, I remember the visible enthusiasm of Hungary’s youth as I pedalled into beautiful Budapest, and feel acutely the freedoms and opportunities they are losing. Rick Steves, an American travel writer, television personality, and author who has spun his love of travel into a successful international tour company, is the author of “Travel as a Political Act —a radical guide to meaningful travel,” which encourages travellers to explore less-touristy destinations and immerse themselves in the culture and way of life of local people. In the promotional trailer for a podcast of the same name, Steves states, “I’ll explain how travel can humanize our world, give us a better understanding of the
continued from Page 7
Region diversity survey
Individuals from all backgrounds across Niagara are being asked for their input to help make Niagara a “more welcoming and inclusive community for everyone,” according to a Niagara Region statement. Through December 1, Niagara residents can take a short online survey to share experiences of discrimination they have witnessed or experienced in Niagara, and their ideas to eliminate that discrimination. The survey also includes some demographic questions such as ethnicity, education, and gender —data that the Region says will help identify differences in experiencSee IN THE NEWS back page
continued from Page 18
A November 17 2021
challenges that come with globalization. My goal? To inspire you to travel out of your comfort zone, gain an empathy with the other 96 percent of humanity, and bring home the greatest of all souvenirs, a broader perspective.” Steves’ argument is more than a simple smoke screen to justify his travel business, as are my broad claims of the advantages of bicycle travel more than a diversion to justify a desire to pedal fresh tracks in a new destination. One specific piece of information that I heard during COP26 has made me question the value of the above arguments, and drove me to the David Suzuki Foundation website. I clicked on Air Travel and Climate Change to confirm a statistic used during COP26, that avoiding a single Toronto to Europe trip saves as much CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) as going car-free for a year. This staggering amount of discretionary emissions creates a conundrum for all travellers. Suzuki’s website went on to claim that at the aviation industry’s current growth rate, 25 percent of all emissions in 2050 could be generated from flying. Existing technology limits electric aircraft powered by batteries to a range of 1500 kilometres. Eighty percent of flights today are longer than that. Pre-Covid, the global tourism industry was responsible for eight percent of worldwide emissions, which is more than the construction industry. The Foundation suggests ways in which we, as individual travellers, can mitigate these effects. One is by choosing airlines that fly the most fu-
el-efficient planes with the least empty seats. Atmosfair, a German non-profit, ranks airline’s overall CO2e efficiency, and separately for short, medium and long flights. In their latest rating (2018), Canadian carrier Air Transat ranked 26th overall and 14th for medium-length flights of 800-3800 kilometres out of 125 carriers worldwide. Air Canada ranked 32nd overall and 49th for mediumlength flights. Flying economy class improves space efficiency and flying non-stop reduces the fuel demands of repeated takeoffs, both of which reduce emissions. Flying during daylight hours means that the jet’s contrails will reflect sunlight, lower their warming effect. Flying at night causes an increase in the heat-trapping effect of contrails. Purchasing CO2e offsets is another way to compensate for the impact of flight emissions. Those emissions will still occur, but if we are careful to purchase offsets directed toward companies or projects that could not otherwise be funded, we can help reduce climate change. A 2019 CBC News report by Emily Chung suggested additional ways to maximize the effect of any offsets one might purchase by ensuring that they come from a reputable, well-recognized organization funding projects which will produce permanent, sustainable results, and that the project doesn’t result in carbon savings in one area at the expense of other areas. Chung noted that projects aimed at enhancing the transition away from fossil fuels are generally considered worthwhile. As well as concern about
There's nothing like the sound of Paradise MOTION SENSOR
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In memory of a kind and generous man lived to 102 and died in 2010. Jim was a war veteran. As Sergeant Major and one of the few who knew how to drive, Jim served as a tank and motorcycle trainer at Camp Borden until 1945. After the war, he started his own business, “Lenaghan Oil Burners,” a successful company for over 40 years. He took a sabbatical from his work, and went on the road giving out bibles and preaching in Quebec and Ontario for the Canadian Home Bible League. He served as an Elder at People’s Church Toronto for many years, later at Ridgeville Bible Chapel. Jim was known for his helpful nature to all including neighbours, family and friends. His birthday is November 15, and he is remembered by his family and all who knew him as a good Christian who was there for those who needed him. He was caring and ready with a good story to please. Always there for his daughters Juanita and Fern Bell, his grandson Jason Bell, his wife (passed) Beryl Farquharson formerly of Gormley, and wife Ada Meizen, of Fonthill. Jim, a well-versed bible scholar and Christian, is missed each day by his family.
RECHARGEABLE
the legitimacy of many carbon offset vendors, there is skepticism about the accuracy of the financial calculations used to price CO2e offsets. The David Suzuki Foundation, among other organizations, list Gold Standard companies which they believe meet the highest integrity criteria. Terrapass and Sustainable Travel International are two such firms, and I used each company’s specific calculator to compare results based on an economy-class flight from Toronto to Faro, Portugal, 7500 miles round trip. (Note: miles and pounds rather than metric seems to be the norm, and CO2e refers to the combined weight of the various gases produced by airplane engine combustion expressed as the equivalent weight of CO2.) Sustainable Travel International calculated the trip would produce 3,675 pounds of CO2e, and their offset fee would be $20.91. Terrapass calculated 3950 pounds and a fee of $19.76. The similarity of the results was reassuring. For most of us, balanced lives include recreational travel. As Steves and Harris suggest, will such travel provide us sufficient cultural benefit, and those we visit enough economic benefit, to justify the emissions created? This is subjective, and open for debate. Purchasing Gold Standard carbon offsets, however, is an inexpensive step we can all take to reduce the climate change impact of international air travel. Lands of Lost Borders by Kate Harris is available through the Pelham Library, and Rick Steves’ podcast, Travel as a Political Act, is available at no charge on YouTube. ◆
OBITUARY
MANNS, Nancy Joan It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Nancy Joan Manns on November 9th, 2021 at the age of 82, with her daughters by her side. Nancy is now reunited with her husband Ted (2007). Loving mother of Sharon (John), Charlene and Janet (Dave). Beloved grandma of Ashley, Jason, Nathan, Venessa, Tiffany, Taylor, Jordan, Aaron (Krystal) and Travis. Cherished greatgrandma of Madison, Quinton, Mariah, Blake, Nevaeh and Bentley. Extended grandma to Michelle, Taylor, Emily and Jack. Nancy is survived by many nieces, nephews and extended family. Predeceased by her brother, sisters and inlaws. A funeral and committal service have taken place. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made online to the Canadian Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke Foundation, or a charity of one’s choice. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Lampman Funeral Home. www. lampmanfuneralhome.com
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Holy Trinity Anglican Church holytrinityfonthill.org
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Concordia Lutheran Church 105 Welland Rd., Fonthill
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Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 1369 Rice Rd., Fonthill
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Glad Tidings Church of God www.gladtidingschurchofgod.com
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St. Ann Roman Catholic Church www.stannfenwick.com
FAITH LIFT
continued from Page 19 Like Gumbel, he realized he had never really examined the evidence for Christianity either. He began by reading C.S. Lewis’ classic, Mere Christianity, which provided a rational explanation for faith. When Collins considered the evidence that the universe has a beginning, is incredibly fine-tuned with multiple precise constants that permit life to exist on the earth, he concluded that “the Creator must have been a mathematician.” When he examined the life of Jesus, he realized he was dealing with history and not myth (as he had supposed). He had originally thought his search would strengthen his atheism. Instead, he became a Christian.
Is the answer important?
C.S. Lewis once said, “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing
it cannot be is moderately important.” Gumbel used to call himself an atheist and a logical determinist. He thought Christianity was boring, untrue and irrelevant. He now believes Jesus (and true Christianity) is anything but. And that’s why he developed the “Alpha Course” — for seekers like himself. Episode one ends with this thought-provoking challenge. If you live a life of 70 years, you’ll spend 20 years and three months sleeping, ten years and five months watching TV, five years and nine months in some form of transportation, and seven years and six months eating and drinking. This comes to a total of 570,000 hours. Do you think it would be worthwhile to spend 24 of those hours asking life’s biggest questions? ◆ Rob Weatherby is a retired pastor and one of over 24 million people who have taken the “Alpha Course” which has been run in over 100 countries and in over 100 languages (as of 2018).
BRUSH WITH BEAUTY The Town of Pelham wrapped up its successful “Pelham Culture Crawl” with Mary Powley’s Acrylic Watercolour Painting Class, the last of four workshops held at the Meridian Centre. The Culture Crawl was part of Culture Days, a national celebration of arts and culture. The four workshops were made possible through funding support from the Niagara Investment in Culture Program provided by the Niagara Region. All workshops were free and included the necessary supplies. Local artist Mary Powley has been painting for some 50 years and is the President of the Pelham Art Association. She is also involved with many Canadian and American groups and shows. Powley taught a controlled way of creating abstract shapes to a full house. ROSIE CULOS
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farm and custom mill your 459 Highway 20 W, Fenwick FABULOUS FENWICKlogs. LIONS FISH FRY Firewood & lumber also Tasty treats with funds heading straight back into theFARM community. Haddock, available. Call Rob Patterson, WORKERS 905-401-4948, french fries and much more. Runs Sept. 9 from 4-7 p.m. riverwoodportablesawmill@
Berry Fresh Farms seeking farm workers, $14.39/hour, 40-60 PELHAM MINOR HOCKEY EQUIPMENT SALE hours per week, must have own FARM FRESHatPRODUCE transportation, be able Buy, sell or trade used equipment the Pelham Arena. Aimedmust to provide to handle 50 lbs. comfortably, Williams Orchards. Open 9 season. Runs Sept. 6 from cheaper options for players in this upcoming working in rural area outdoors, AM - 6 PM, 7 days a week. We 9-12 in the morning. all weather conditions. Planting, have Honeycrisp Apples and cultivating, irrigating crops. lots of other varieties; Honey; No education or experience Brown Eggs; Cider; Grape PELHAM MUDFEST required. Starting March 15, Juice; Squash; Preserves and Pelham Library Acting CEO Amy Guilmette and Library Board Chair Nicole Nolan Pelham Men andaccept women will beApple backFirewood. in the mud as the second run on the year is 2022. Apply in person, 1367 1724 Pelham Art Festival Executive Committee Chair Heidi TeBrake's donation. DON RICKERS Balfour Street, Fenwick, 10 – 4, held at Bissil’s Hideaway.Street North, Fonthill. Phone Monday-Friday. 905-892-5811. gmail.com
Pelham Art Festival continues 35-year tradition of giving
NIAGARA REGIONAL EXHIBITION WANTED JOKES FOR SALE Rodeo, games and live entertainment headline this years exciting event. It (Unheated) Fairgrounds. Storage For For Sale runs from Sept. 11-14 atIndoor the Welland
On a recent Thursday, a 35-year tradition continued in Pelham. Since its inception, the Pelham Art Festival has made an annual donation to the local library, and art festival chair Heidi TeBrake was on hand to present acting library CEO Amy Guilmette and library chair Nicole Nolan with a cheque for $8000. To date, the Festival has raised some $420,000 for the Pelham Library. Guilmette
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www.thevoiceofpelham.ca “To some golfers, the greatest handicap is the ability to add correctly.”
Unknown
The Voice
A November 17 2021
Sporting Green The Niagara
Page 17 John Swart considers whether air travel is still moral 18
The Voice | November 17 2021
Golf covenor FITS THE BILL W BY BERNIE PUCHALSKI bpsportsniagara
ith the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association’s girls golf festival in jeopardy, in stepped Bill Lipsett to make the tournament a reality. “I did the OFSAA boys championships in 2009 and 2012 and I didn’t plan on doing it when the convenor backed out,” said Lipsett, who has served as the golf convenor for the Niagara Region High School Athletic Association and the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association since 2007. “The kids have dealt with enough during the last 18 months of the pandemic and they have had several doors shut in their faces. If there was something I could do to keep that door open I wanted to do it.” That door has now been swung wide open and the Sir Winston Churchill teacher and golf coach convened the event recently at Sawmill, with the assistance of Golf Ontario’s Alexandra Taylor, who will serve as OFSAA co-convenor. Serving as the convenor for OFSAA is a fitting way for the 54-year-old Newmarket native to end his 30-year coaching career at Sir Winston Churchill and his long run as SOSSA convenor. He will be retiring next spring and while he will continue as NRHSAA golf convenor, he won’t carry on as SOSSA convenor because that role has to be filled by an active teacher. Under his leadership, the Beamsville resident has taken high school golf and its administration to a higher level. “When I started, my parents didn’t play and I really didn’t know anything about the game or the rules,” said the South Lincoln alumnus, who grew up in Smithville. “I wanted to pass on how to run a true tournament.” That meant putting the onus on the players. “The player had the responsibility not only to follow the rules of golf but to report accurate scores. They have to protect the field.” To achieve that goal, he felt the competitors needed a baseline knowledge of the rules. “What I did was create a rules and etiquette package and I gave it to the coaches to administer,” he said. “When the kids stepped on the first tee, they at least knew how to proceed for the most part. “I don’t believe that all 75 players who compete will walk away from here and say they want to play tournament golf, but at least they are exposed to it. If they decide that it is stressful and recreational golf is fine with them, then that is great.” His convenorship has taught some kids a few difficult lessons along the way. “I suppose when you follow the rules of golf by the letter of the law and some kids and coaches maybe aren’t prepared for that, there has been a life lesson built in there,” he said. “I took great pride in administering the rules as they were meant to be but I have empathy for the kids who made honest mistakes.” Lipsett loves chatting with the players at the scorer’s table when their rounds are finished. “I like listening to their stories both good and bad because I can relate to both good and bad on the golf course,” he said. “It is a mental test out there and it is a very humbling game. When they are humbled, I tell them not to worry because I have been there.” In his time as convenor, Lipsett has seen the level of play among Niagara’s elite golfers improve year after year. “I might be a little biased but I think John White has been instrumental in that growth,” Lipsett said. “He has run the junior tour forever and he is extremely passionate about coaching the kids. You can go downhill in a hurry and he just keep the game simple, especially for juniors and I would highly recommend him.” Lipsett has also enjoyed coaching at Churchill. “I have never been that concerned about the wins and losses. I push myself a little bit but for the kids to me a win is providing Bill Lispett is retiring from teaching which means he will no longer serve as SOSSA golf convenor. BERNIE PUCHALSKI them with opportunities,” he said. “I coached volleyball, I did ski team and I coached and convened tennis but obviously the one where I thought I had the most to offer was golf.” Lipsett started golfing when he was 15 and hit his stride after of Champions title; a junior championship at Twenty Valley and at the Champion of working hard during the winter between ages 17 and 18. Champions. “When I was 18, everything kind of came together,” he said. He would love to become the first golfer to win a champions title at the junior, men’s/ That summer, he finished 12th at the Ontario junior, was 18th at the Canadian junior women’s and senior levels. and won the junior club championship at Twenty Valley and the Niagara Champion of “That’s a goal and hopefully [Dave] Bunker won’t play in the seniors next year,” he Champions as well. said, with a laugh. “It happened fast and then I went on some recruiting trips in the spring of Grade 13 He is looking forward to his retirement. and I narrowed it down to the University of Charleston and Central Florida.” “I hope to be a snowbird and spend half the year in Florida.” He spent two years at NCAA Division 2 Charleston before transferring to South CarHe is also looking forward to more competitive golf. olina Aiken, another Division 2 school. “I am a senior amateur rookie next year after several years where I didn’t feel that He won a tournament in his second year of university and has gone on to an imcompetitive. I have chance to be competitive provincially and nationally again and pressive amateur career. His resume includes: tying for fifth at the 1995 Canadian Club there’s lots of tournaments in Florida,” he said. “If you are a competitive person, you Championship; six men’s championships at Twenty Valley and one men’s Champion will always be competitive.”
Page 18
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A November 17 2021
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THE BALANCED LIFE by John Swart
Air travel—value vs. footprint arguments
T
he plight of those in Tigray, a state in northern Ethiopia, has refused to leave my thoughts since November 4, 2020, when Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops to attack the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and its supporters. The resultant devastation of Tigray’s people and countryside has been extensive, but no more so than in Yemen, Afghanistan, or Myanmar. Why does Tigray resonate? Kate Harris, a Canadian author and adventurer, provided the answer as I read her philosophical travelogue, “Lands of Lost
Borders — a journey on the Silk Road,” the story of her bicycle ride from Turkey to Nepal and Northern India. A summer job working in Alaska on the Juneau Icefield as a student, and the writings of Fanny Bullock Workman, an American geographer, mountaineer and travel writer, who explored and climbed in central Asia during the late 1800s and early 1900s, inspired Harris to visit Siachen Glacier. In Workman’s lifetime, Siachen was the longest non-polar glacier in the world, spectacularly and remotely spread over 76 square kilometres in Kashmir, at an elevation of 7300
metres (24,000 feet). The glacier separates Central Asia (China) and the Indian sub-continent (Pakistan and India), and has now become the world’s highest battlefield. Harris laments that seeing Siachen “turn into a war-torn garbage dump” would have broke Workman’s heart, as it did hers. Harris writes, “It broke mine, after all, and I’d never laid eyes on its ice. What I had seen was the Juneau Icefield, which suddenly struck me as pivotal. Without that summer on ice, the saga on Siachen probably wouldn’t have obsessed me so much. I wouldn’t have been able to imagine a remote glacier in Kashmir and so wouldn’t have lamented its desecration any way but abstractly.” That paragraph triggered
Protests block the streets of Coyhaique, Chile. the answer — Tigray is not abstract for me. Just six years ago I cycled through northern Ethiopia within 65 kilometres of the Tigray border. The small towns were vibrant and crowded, Ethiopia was a fledgling democracy, the flag of the
JOHN SWART
home to the Emperors of Ethiopia. I see those faces and landmarks when I read or hear of the atrocities in Tigray. In some small way, I feel the losses of the Tigrayans personally.
United Nations flew in its capital city, and President Obama spoke glowingly of its future. My memories are of kids running beside my bike, a wedding party taking photos along a scenic stretch of road, and the historic castle of Gondar, once
See BALANCED LIFE Page 14
V oice HOROSCOPE ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, you may not jump out of bed excited to work, but things may change in the next few days. Pleasant interactions at the workplace play a factor into your good mood. TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 Stop and smell the roses as much as possible, Taurus. Cherish the good things you encounter, whether they are big or small. Take advantage of an opportunity to indulge. GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, don’t let trivial things distract you from the bigger picture. Even if a small opportunity does not initially seem like a big deal, it could grow in the days to come. CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, people are interested in what you have to say, even if you’re normally inclined to keep things under wraps. Start practicing what you are going to talk about. LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 Leo, you may experience a burst of productivity in the days to come. Harness this energy and get as much done as possible. Expect a helping hand from others. VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 This week will be a lesson in putting yourself first, Virgo. Even if you don’t crave the limelight, people will be shining a spotlight on you for the time being. Prove your worth. LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, progress you make in the next several days could be beneficial to you in the long run, even if doesn’t seem like it right now. Keep plodding on.
SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 A surprising energy may compel you to eschew responsibilities and seek out some new horizons, Scorpio. Don’t shy away from exploring wherever you see fit. SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 Don’t be surprised if things get a little stressful at work this week, Sagittarius. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, think of it as an opportunity to find success. CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 Figure out how to strike a balance in your life, Capricorn. This may mean sharing work with other people to free up more opportunities to spend time with family. AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, you will be presented with various opportunities in the days to come. Some may be more worthy of your attention than others. Vet the options that come your way. PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, uncertainty may hang over your love life. You may need to find a way to sum up how you feel. Then you can take action. FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS NOVEMBER 14 Prince Charles (73) NOVEMBER 16 Pete Davidson, Comic (28) NOVEMBER 17 Tom Ellis, Actor (43) NOVEMBER 19 Adam Driver, Actor (38) NOVEMBER 20 Joe Biden, US President (79)
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36. FLAG
34. PLATA
32. OLIVES
33. ESCAPE
30. NEUSS
31. RABIES
28. LED
29. OTC
26. PYA
27. MAIDEN
24. PEN
25. RANTING
20. SAC
23. PIRATES
17. IPM
19. EDIFICES
14. TEL
15. FRA
10. LOONIER
12. PROCLAIM
7. TARN
9. STANG
6. AREAS
5. NUTMEG
4. GAUGING
2. AGOUTI
3. NEURON
1. PALMAS
SOLUTIONS DOWN
43. SSE
41. SEEP
42. GANG
39. SIVA
40. ATENS
37. CUBIC
38. LADIES
35. TEALS
36. FLITTED
MONROE
34. PANACEA
26. PEI
27. MARILYN
25. RIF
23. PIC
24. PAR
22. LEG
21. DAM
SPACING
18. SINGLE
16. ATONE
17. IRONIES
13. MURAT
15. FROGMAN
11. LOUT
12. POUTER
8. AGES
10. LAURA
1. PAN
4. GNAT
CROSSWORD ANSWERS
darcy@darcyrichardson.ca darcyrichardson.ca
ACROSS
CPA, CA | Broker
SOLUTIONS
Darcy Richardson
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
The Voice
Page 19
A November 17 2021
FAITH LIFT
by Pastor Rob Weatherby
Is there more to life than this?
T
his is the title of the first video episode of the “Alpha Course.” It’s a good question. Nicky Gumbel begins the video by sharing his story of dissatisfaction with his life as a young man. He seemed to have everything but he sensed “something was missing.” At first, he thought finishing school would be the answer; it wasn’t. Then he thought getting a job would do it; it didn’t. Finally, he thought having a girlfriend would fill the gap; nope. And so, he kept searching.
What the answer is not
The video keeps your attention with various shots of London, England (Gumbel’s home city) and interesting quotes. One is from actor Jim Carrey, who said, “I wish that everyone could get rich and famous and have everything they ever dreamed of so that they would know that’s not the answer.” Comedian Russell Brown confessed, “Drugs and alcohol are not my problem. Reality is my problem. Drugs and alcohol are my solution to fill up a hole inside me.” And Freddie Mercury said in an interview shortly before his death, “You can have everything in the world – and still be the loneliest man. And that’s the most bitter type of loneliness. Success has brought me world idolization and millions of pounds but it’s prevented me from having the one thing we all need — a loving, ongoing relationship.” When people were asked “What makes you happy?” on a busy London street, these were the replies — money, music, friends, dogs, alcohol, women, ice cream, no idea.
What the answer is
bel found the answer was a personal relationship with Jesus, who said, “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35) This means that He is able to satisfy a deep, spiritual hunger that we all have. Jesus also said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) This means that He is the way to life’s most important relationship — with God (the one who made us in the first place). Gumbel came from a family of lawyers and became one himself. He knew the importance of evidence in a court case. However,
he realized he had never carefully examined the New Testament evidence for the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. When he did, he found it impressive. He quotes a prominent law professor who wrote, “The resurrection of Jesus is one of the best attested facts of history.” Gumbel noted that some of the world’s greatest scientists (such as Descartes, Newton, Kepler, Galileo, Locke, Copernicus, Faraday, Kelvin, and Pasteur) were believers. Francis Collins (MD, PhD) is the director of the human genome project. See FAITH LIFT Page 15
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!
After a long search, Gum-
Word Search: Autumn
Find the words hidden vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and backwards. APPLE AUTUMN CHILLY CINNAMON CLOVES COLOR
FALL FALLING FIREPLACE FOLIAGE JACKET LEAVES
NOVEMBER ORANGE PUMPKIN PURPLE RAKING RED
SPICE THANKFUL TURKEY WIND WINTERIZE YELLOW
ANSWERS ON PAGE 18
Voice
CROSSWORD
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Page 20
The Voice
EDITORIAL
continued from Page 4 rural charm the old-fashioned way. Then one of Mayor Dave’s lieutenants turned cranky, became annoyingly disobedient. In a humiliating rejection of Augustyn’s leadership, the councillor very publicly resigned in protest— like right during a council meeting. Neighbours, it was something to see! We now call this councillor Mayor Marvin Junkin. Niagara West, don’t get us wrong. David Augustyn has his attributes. As a professional fundraiser, he is evidently adept at acquiring other people’s money. Some
might say that this makes the NDP his natural inclination, and that it was simply a matter of time before he acknowledged it. Parents (and taxpayers) always know. Perhaps it was for this reason that Pelham voters handed Augustyn and his council arguably the worst defeat in any Ontario municipality in the 2018 election. Not a single councillor was re-elected. Augustyn himself came third in a four-way race for Regional councillor. Let’s also not forget the Augustyn council’s wholesale embrace of industrial marijuana operations, the stench from which wafts to this day. But that’s not what’s given Pelham a lingering headache, still pounding three years af-
A November 17 2021
ter Mayor Dave’s meltdown at the ballot box. It’s our stratospheric debt. It’s our barely recovering reserves. (On at least one occasion there was the real possibility that the Town couldn’t make its payroll.) We are absolutely not saying that David Augustyn is unskilled, unprincipled. A glad-hander who would otherwise be unemployable. This is for you to assess, neighbours, in a little over six months’ time. Niagara West, take heed of the man and his steed. Don’t be trampled by a smile and a haircut who’s hoping that Pelham voters have short memories, and that our neighbours remain innocently clueless. ◆
IN THE NEWS
continued from Page 14 es between individuals or groups, and ensure hearing from Niagara’s diverse populations. The survey should take about 20 minutes to complete, and is available in both English and French. Survey responses will be kept strictly confidential, and no personal information will be shared, said the statement. “Everyone in Niagara has the right to live in a safe, welcoming and respectful community,” said Regional Chair Jim Bradley. “Listening to the lived experiences of our community members is the first step in making that happen."
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Voice
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
4 Hot Mulled Apple Cider
When hosting friends and family at home, it’s understandable that hosts direct so much of their focus to the foods they plan to serve. The main course is often the focal point and most memorable aspect of a dinner party, and that’s true whether the get-together is a backyard barbecue, a holiday meal with the family or a formal affair with colleagues. Food might be a focal point, but guests also will need something to drink. Traditional spirits like wine and cocktails are the standard, but hosts who want to get a little creative should not hesitate to do so. When choosing a special beverage, timing is everything. Guests will want to cool down on warm summer evenings, so something cold and refreshing can make for the perfect signature cocktail. When hosting on nights when the mercury has dropped, a warm beverage can heat up guests in a matter of minutes. On such nights, hosts can serve this version of “Hot Mulled (Sherried) Apple Cider” courtesy of Laurey Masterton’s “The Fresh Honey Cookbook” (Storey). One added benefit to Masterton’s recipe is it can produce a welcoming winter aroma, helping hosts establish a warm ambiance for the festivities. Hot Mulled (Sherried) Apple Cider Serves 16 1 1 1⁄4 4 1⁄4 1
gallon apple cider orange, unpeeled, cut into slices cup whole cloves sticks cinnamon cup honey, preferably cranberry honey cup sherry (optional)
1. Combine the cider, orange slices, cloves, cinnamon, and honey in a large pot over medium heat. If you are picky about things floating in your cider, make a little bundle out of cheesecloth and place the cinnamon and cloves inside before adding to the cider. I like to chew on cloves, so I just toss everything in. Bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer over low heat for an hour or so to spread these lovely winter aromas around your home. 2. If you’re serving it to adults, add the sherry. It might make everyone want to go sledding!
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