Kore bails for second time page 3 Arrests in Fenwick murder case page 8 Plane-spotting with Mohammad page 12 EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS
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Vol.24 No.41
October 14, 2020
Darcy Richardson, CPA, CA | Broker
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Published every Wednesday
Column Six
Some things just don't want to be collected The here and now is when to enjoy fall foliage BY LAURA LANE
Special to the VOICE
I Earl Clapp's widow, Tillie, flanked by daughters Jodie and Elisha, as community members drove past the family home in Fenwick, Thanksgiving morning. DON RICKERS
A family, and community, in pain It took a half hour for the procession of vehicles to pass 1351 Centre Street, in Fenwick— hundreds of cars, trucks, and motorcycles— their occupants and riders all paying tribute to Earl Clapp and his family on Thanksgiving morning. The idea was Jonathan Tucker's, vice president of Tucker Homes, and was quickly em-
braced by the Fenwick Lions Club. “We also hope this procession shows the criminals who perpetrated this horrendous crime that this community stands together, and we will not stand for this violence,” Tucker told the Voice as planning got underway late last week. Clapp, 74, was killed on Oct. 2, in what appar-
ently started as a confrontation with would-be thieves. He leaves behind his wife, Tillie, two daughters, two grandchildren, and countless friends in the community. (His obituary appears on page 12.) Tucker asked that any community members See PROCESSION Page 13
love fall. I love the colours. I love how the leaves fall from the trees, slowly gliding, twisting and turning and tumbling down to the ground or speeding past me with a gust of wind. I love the accumulation of leaves on the sidewalk or in the gutters so that as I shuffle my feet through them, they almost slow me down. They at least remind me how I let them slow me down on my trudge to and from school each day, or how I eagerly looked for piles that were raked into mountains for me to dive into, swim through, and when I come up for air and head home, having telltale red, yellow and orange reminders peeking out of my socks, stuck in my hair, and the odd time down my shirt. I loved collecting as many See COLUMN SIX back page
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OBITUARY
PUBLISHER’S CORNER
by Dave Burket
What Pelham does best: When a community member needs help, the community responds. Whether it’s meals cooked and delivered by the Legion, or groceries delivered by the Lions, or food donations collected and distributed by Pelham Cares, or the countless other efforts by the Kinsmen, Rotary, and other organizations, this is a town that takes care of its own and then some. Such caring was on ample display in Fenwick on Thanksgiving morning, as hundreds of friends and neighbours, and just plain good-hearted strangers, turned out to offer their condolences to the Clapp family for the loss of Earl Clapp, on Oct. 2, in a senseless, needless tragedy. As we report in this edition, two suspects—and an unconfirmed third—have been arrested in connection with Clapp’s murder. One of the suspects reportedly has four previous convictions, the last for accessory to murder after the fact. As noted in our story, police are asking the public for help in locating a black Ford Expedition. We’ve also learned from Tillie Clapp, Earl’s widow, that it was a brave woman who stopped her car in the early morning hours along Hwy 20, after she saw Earl on the road, and called 9-1-1. Clearly the investigation has a ways yet to go, but the rapid arrests are a welcome relief...Staying safe on those roads: Occasional Voice contributor and Pelham Historical Society spark plug Carolyn Botari sent in the photo at right, reminding us all how important it is to stay visible while walking or biking, especially on rural roads with sparse lighting. Even in suburban subdivisions with good street lighting, it’s often tough to see pedestrians. Almost weekly I’m gobsmacked by how many children and adults both are out there after dark, in dark or even black clothing. What’s wrong with these folks? Is wearing reflective clothing somehow “weak”? You know what’s really weak? The inability to walk after being paralyzed when hit by a driver who didn’t see you strolling along the shoulder in your midnight-black ninja hoodie...A nice weekend trek: Contributor Helen Tran takes us on an enjoyably historical hike this week in the company of Pelham’s own adventurer Adam Shoalts (p.9). It’s one park we haven’t been to in ages, and Helen’s story has me reaching for the car keys… Because people keep sending in jokes: Imagine the Titanic with a lisp. It's unthinkable…Trailblazer’s birthday: On Thursday, Jackie Robarts, the first woman to be appointed president of a college in the Ontario system, turns 90 (p.10). Robarts was president of Niagara College from 1978 to 1990, and now resides at the Community of Lookout Ridge. Happy Birthday, Madame President!... Get jabbed: Flu shots are in, at least in some measure, with more supply to come (p.8). It’s more important than ever this year to get vaccinated. So far, it looks like booking an appointment with your favourite pharmacist will be the quickest route to protection... It's a pretty packed issue this week: I'll let you get to it! ◆
Voice
FARMER, Charles
STAY VISIBLE, STAY SAFE
航 搜索
on vacation!
pair visibility for motorists, day and night. Experts say that wearing a reflective vest is an excellent way to grab the attention of drivers and ensure they can see you clearly, long before they actually pass you on a road. Residents are also reminded to cycle on the right side of the road in the direction of traffic, while walkers and joggers should move opposite to traffic, so they can see approaching vehicles and, when possible, move onto the road shoulder to leave extra room between themselves and oncoming vehicles. The Pelham Seniors thank the Fabulous Fenwick Lions, the Fonthill Lions, Food Basics Fonthill, and Sobeys Fonthill, who all made generous financial donations to offset the cost of the vests. Above, Fenwick residents Shona and Colby on their daily walk in rural Pelham.
The beautiful rural roads of Pelham have always drawn individuals and families out for fresh air and exercise. Tragic accidents on Pelham roads moved the volunteer group Pelham Seniors to begin their “Walk and Cycle Safe Pelham” campaign to encourage the use of reflective vests anytime someone is walking, jogging or cycling on roads without sidewalks. Volunteers have handed out 65 vests to residents seen along roadways, with encouragement to wear these vests not just after dark, but any time they are walking or biking on rural roads. Road safety experts say that it can be very difficult to see those who are wearing neutral coloured clothing walking in and out of shadows along back roads. Sunrise and sunset, glare, fog, and snow also im-
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With sadness we announce the peaceful passing of Charles on Monday, October 5th, 2020, in his 91st year. He has now been reunited with his wife of 67 years, the late Joy Farmer (September 26, 2020). Devoted father to Gail (Peter) Higenell and Lee Farmer. Special Grampa to Ian Higenell (Maggie Hickey), Valerie Higenell (Sylvain Garcia), Laura Higenell (Phillip Maloney) and Nelson Higenell (Jessica Baumhour) and great granddaughter Daphne Garcia.He will be sadly missed by his brother Oscar in California and sisters Marie and Olive in England.Charles and Joy moved from England in the 1950s with their daughter to raise their family in Toronto. They then spent a few years in Muskoka, retiring in Niagara-on-the-Lake and later moving to Fonthill. Together they enjoyed being social, spending time with their many friends in Niagara including the “ROMEOs.” Charles was an avid water colour artist. He was also a very talented home builder and renovator and all of his family benefited from and appreciated his skills. In keeping with Charles’ wishes, cremation has taken place. A private family interment will take place at PLEASANTVIEW FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY - 905-8921699. You are invited to share valued memories and condolences on-line at www.pleasantviewcemetery.ca
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Vol.20 No.48
CELEBRATING OUR 20TH YEAR
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
DSBN wants portion of Town park
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Column Six
Growing up British
Vol.20 No.32
Wednesday October 12, 2016
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Apple Day comes to Fonthill
BY JULIE MANNELL
Special to the VOICE
W
BALLOONING INTEREST Grade 6 student Jinja Shepherd explains her experiment on static electricity at the Glynn A. Green Public School's annual science fair last Friday. See story, page 3. NATE SMELLE PHOTO
Public meeting tonight on school issues BY VOICE STAFF As questions continue to mount regarding an email that Pelham Mayor Dave Augustyn quietly sent to a District School Board of Niagara trustee last summer, Augustyn has agreed to address the issue at a public meeting scheduled for this evening, Wednesday, Feb. 8, in Fenwick. Nancy Beamer, speaking for “Names Matter,” a Pelham citizens group lobbying the DSBN to reverse its decision to rename a local public school, confirms that the meeting will be held at Fire Station #2, known locally as the Fenwick Fire Hall, starting at 7:00 PM. While the Mayor has agreed to ap-
Under pressure, Mayor to address email revelation, other E. W. Farr matters pear, says Beamer, DSBN officials associated with the school-naming process have either declined to attend or have not yet responded to the group’s invitation. DSBN Chair, Dale Robinson, to whom Augustyn’s email was addressed last June, has declined to appear, says Beamer, asserting that she would be
“on holidays.” The Voice was unable to independently confirm Robinsion’s intentions. She did not respond to repeated requests for comment on E.W. Farr-related matters before presstime. Beamer, whose group maintains an email list of some 580 residents, says that all members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend the meeting. “We would especially welcome parents and children who are unhappy with the name change,” she says, referring to the contentious decision by the DSBN to consolidate two Pelham See MEETING back page
HEN I WAS young, my father and I would go for long drives along the rural routes of Pelham. We’d blast George Thurgood and roll down the windows because we loved the smell of the breeze, the sensation of crisp Niagara wind beating our cheeks and tangling our hair against our summer-kissed skin. My father was not a sentimental man. He worked in factories and had a Gordon Lightfoot mustache and never shed tears over injuries. Yet something about the Pelham landscape, the hilly backdrop to his childhood and the childhoods of our ancestors, drew him in. He’d stop by a farm or a gathering of woods and, surrendering his manly veneer, tell me a story about the town. This place is precious. This is the earth that granted us life. Here is the place where we happened upon love or here is a site of devastation. On one particular drive sometime in the late ‘90s we stopped at a tree with a plaque. “This tree looks dead,” I said to my father. “It sure is getting there, Julie.” The Comfort Maple is supposedly Canada’s oldest See COLUMN SIX Page 14
Part 2 of 2: Coronation to embarkation
BY VOICE STAFF
A construction error was discovered following the opening of a traffic calming chicane on Haist Street north of Hwy 20 last Monday that prevented large vehicles from passing through. One resident living in the neighbourhood said he contacted the Town after seeing a small schoolbus get stuck as it tried to get through the new traffic calming measure. Later that day while driving behind a cement truck, he said that he became concerned for the public’s safety when the truck had to turn around because it couldn’t get through. “If a small school bus and a cement truck can’t make it through what about a fire
BY HEATHER McLAREN ROHRER
Special to the VOICE
A
Repair measures underway last week to correct a construction error in the chicane. truck or an ambulance?” he said. While waiting for the contractor to return to fix
the mistake, the Town has taken measures to temporarily allow passage for vehicles through the neigh-
VOICE PHOTO
bourhood in the short-term. Manager of Public Works Ryan Cook said that after discovering the issue with
the chicane the morning it first opened, the Town See CHICANE Page 5
Petition-inspired changes coming to 2017 Summerfest BY NATE SMELLE
The VOICE
Representatives from the Pelham Summerfest committee Candy Ashbee and Bill Gibson presented council with a final report on the 2016 Summerfest at the Council meeting on Monday, Nov. 21. Prompted by a story in the Voice in August about a merchant petition to move Summerfest from Pelham Street, in September Town staff met with various stakeholders to hear their complaints, promising at the time that changes in the way Summerfest was mounted would be con-
sidered. The main concerns identified during the community engagement process were security, parking, ensuring customer can access all businesses in town, and liability for damages. How to get all Pelham Street businesses to participate and finding ways to make it beneficial for them to set up a booth were also determined to be of high priority for the committee as they plan for next year’s event. Gibson told Council that the committee is addressing these concerns in a variety of ways. To improve parking, they intend to create bet-
ter signage for out-of-town visitors to designated parking areas and shuttle services. To make participation in Summerfest more enticing to local businesses, they plan to implement a tiered-charge for booths. Under the new system, Pelham Street business owners will be charged the least, other local businesses will pay a slightly higher fee, and vendors from outside Pelham will pay the most. In response to more specific issues for individual businesses, they will also slightly alter the footprint of the event and make adjustments to security. Another way the committee plans
to improve the 2017 Summerfest is by sponsoring and working with the organizers of the Thursday Night Bandshell Concert series to select the artist performing on the first night of Summefest. They also intend to make more use of the smartphone app they launched in 2016. "We are really going to push it this year," Ashbee said. “It really helps to get people to see what events there are so they can plan out where they are going. We will be able to actually help the merchants and local businesses adSee CHANGES Page 5
FTER LUNCH ON Saturday, Mum and Dad had my afternoon cut out for me. Mum had more brass than anyone I knew, and it had to be cleaned. In addition there was the set of silver fish-knives and forks which were never used, but which had to be cleaned and put back in their velvetlined box. Next was a walk to the newsagents to pay for the daily delivery of the Daily Mirror. As I said, Dad was a printer, but when he was 37 he had been rejected for a job, as being too old, by the printers of the Beano. For that reason, my favourite comic was not allowed in the house, but while I was paying the papers, the newsagent let me have a 'shoofty' at the Beano. I'd explained my predicament and he understood completely. Sundays were different again. Dad would play golf on summer mornings and billiards in winter. Then he'd stop for a 'refresher' at the local and would pick up the prawns, cockles, winkles or whelks we'd be having for tea later. Meanwhile, Mum was roasting the 'joint' and potatoes. I got to make the Yorkshire pud, and mint
Longtime Scouting tradition dates to 1932
See COLUMN SIX Page 14
BY VOICE STAFF
While shopping in Fonthill between Friday and Sunday, keep an eye out for Beavers, Cubs and Scouts in front of local stores with bushels of apples. As part of the annual Apple Day campaign, Scouting youth of all ages will be trading apples for donations. The yearly fundraising drive is an important way for young Scouts to connect with the communities they are serving, says Leah Marie of Scouts Canada. “The Apple Day campaign holds a great tradition of being able to have youth interacting within the communities they live in,” she says. “All of the Apple Day donations stay directly within the group that re-
The goal is to have these youth develop into confident and well-rounded individuals
ceives them, enabling youth to have experiences that build character, challenge them, and allow them to try new things. The goal is to have these youth develop into confident and wellrounded individuals, better prepared for success. Apple Day helps to achieve that.”
“Any money raised during Apple Day goes towards improving the Scouting program by providing more outdoor adventures for youth, camping equipment, canoes and paddles, training and many other endeavours that the youth want to experience,” says Marie. Scouts Canada has some 100,000 members across Canada, and carries out programs for boys, girls
Joining their principal, Karen Simpson, at the Sept. 19 Council meeting as part of a delegation from EL Crossley Secondary School, students Abby Loewen and Neenah Williams presented Council with a list of reasons that they should immediately approve the construction of the new sidewalk proposed along Hwy. 20. The asphalt side-
walk/trail is slated to be built between the south side of the road from Timmsdale Crescent to the high school. Because of the large volume of motor vehicle traffic travelling at high speeds through this area, and because of the necessity for students to tread this path on a daily basis, many residents would like to see the sidewalk go in sooner than later. After delivering to Council a petition containing
Many residents would like to see the sidewalk go in sooner than later the names of 450 students calling for a safer walk to school, Simpson handed the
podium over to Loewen and Williams to plead their case. Loewen told Council that because there are a lot of students who have work placements and coop placements during the school year, this is the only route for many of them to travel. As one of the students facing this predicament, Williams said she has had no other option but to walk along the dangerous highway.
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H EATHER AND P ENNY L ANE S ALES R EPRESENTATIVES
BY JOHN SWART
VOICE Correspondent
and youth ages 5-25. This year the 3rd Fonthill Group, which includes Beavers to Ventures (youth ages 5- 25) will be hitting the streets to drum-up support. Over the weekend, Scouts will be set up in Fonthill outside Sobeys, Tim Hortons, Target Gas station, Fonthill Shopping Plaza and the Pioneer Gas station at the corner of Hwys 20 and 24.
Town Council approves sidewalk to serve E. L. Crossley BY NATE SMELLE
The VOICE
Cell 905.933.3049
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Second year Beaver with the 3rd Fonthill Group, Russell Letford offers a fresh apple to shoppers SUPPLIED PHOTO in Pelham during the 2015 Apple Day campaign. A longtime Canadian tradition, Apple Day began in 1932 in Saint John, New Brunswick, when Scouts handed out 21,000 apples as a way to say thank you to the community. In return for their generosity, many people offered them donations. From then on Scouts have reached out through Apple Day to raise funds for their programs.
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Column Six It doesn’t get better than Autumn
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Column Six
Request made of community still peeved at name change The District School Board of Niagara is requesting that the Town of Pelham cede a portion of Cherry Ridge Park for use as a soccer field to serve the students of the new Wellington Heights Public School, formerly the E. W. Farr Memorial Public School, in Fenwick. Currently under renovation and expansion, the new school will combine students and staff from the previous school and Pelham Centre, where classes are being held while construction continues. Two letters, containing virtually identical text but signed by different authorities, were sent last week to nearby residents of the park, as well as to parents of Pelham Centre students. “The DSBN is currently building onto Wellington Heights Public School on Alsop Drive,” states the letter. “The size of the school's addition means the existing small soccer field will be eliminated. The Town and the Board have been discussing the possibility of working together to create a field for both the school and the
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“I start work at 2:30 PM and school lets out at 2:15 PM so I can’t take any other route,” Williams explained. “I have had friends, family, teachers and other community members reach out to me in the past about how this is unsafe and how there should be another alternative for us.” Looking ahead to winter, when she will need to walk this path three or four times See SIDEWALK Page 2
HERE IS NO BETTER time to cycle than Fall. It matters not whether you’re new to the sport, a seasoned recreational cyclist, racer, touring rider or mountain biker; we all have reason to look forward to autumn. Summer’s heat has faded, and the streams of sweat that ran from soggy helmets into our eyes are now just slight perspiration. Fitness is peaking from lots of saddle time, making those tough climbs of Spring a breeze in Autumn. It’s hard to beat the feeling of beginning a crisp, cool Fall ride with a slight shiver, knowing your efforts will soon warm you perfectly. The hues of Autumn are outstanding. A Pelham route as simple as following our southern boundary is one that would make most Toronto cyclists jealous, especially when our forests and fields are ablaze with colour. Begin from Harold Black Park, and zig-zag south along Effingham Rd toward the Welland River. If you’re new to cycling, it’s important to know south is the direction away from any hills. If you avoid the morning and evening weekday rush hours caused by those travelling through Pelham between Wainfleet See AUTUMN Page 3
Wednesday, Oct. 7 Motor Vehicle accident, Effingham and Hwy 20, Fonthill.
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Page 3
Kore takes second leave of absence from Town Council Clock starts on three-month limit before seat could be declared vacant BY DAVE BURKET
The VOICE
For the second time in six months, Ward 2 Councillor Ron Kore has notified the Town of Pelham that he is taking an indefinite leave of absence from his duties on Pelham Town Council. After Kore was absent for three council meetings in a row—including two that were strategically important in determining the Town’s immediate and medium-term future—the Voice requested official Town comment on his status. Chief Administrative Officer David Cribbs responded. “On September 28, 2020, Councillor Kore provided the Town of Pelham with the following message: ‘My biggest concern right now is the health and safety of my employees and their families,
as well as my customers. That is where I need to direct my time and my energy. Because of that, I am making the decision to take a leave of absence, effective immediately. This was a difficult decision for me to make, but I know it’s the right one for all concerned.’” Cribbs said that Kore did not provide a date of return. Kore took his first leave of absence in April, shortly after it emerged that he had continued to attend council, and work at his franchised Sobeys store in Fonthill, while ill with COVID-19. The coronavirus positive confirmation came later, after Kore’s contagious period had ended. Multiple employees came forward to the Voice, alleging that Kore had continued to come to work displaying symp-
Councillor Ron Kore is now on an indefinite leave from council. toms of a respiratory illness, and dismissing suggestions that he go home until he was well. In recent weeks, Kore has pushed for council to resume in-person meetings at Town Hall,
SUPPLIED
even as a second wave of COVID-19 loomed on the horizon. In late March, to the distress of Town staff, Kore attended a Town Council meeting while visibly ill. Three others in council chambers that
evening later tested positive for COVID-19, and one, fellow councillor Mike Ciolfi, died. An official cause of death for Ciolfi has never been released. Shortly afterward, Kore was rebuked by CAO Cribbs for alleged mistreatment of a junior Town staffer, who had arrived at the store to pick up groceries destined for delivery to local seniors. Kore then refused to speak to Fire Chief Bob Lymburner, who stopped by the store in an effort to understand the incident. In mid September, a Fonthill business owner told the Voice that they witnessed Kore walking on the Sobeys floor without wearing a face mask. On Sept. 23, the chain’s corporate public relations department announced that a Fonthill employee had tested positive for COVID-19, and told the Voice that company rules did not allow exceptions for any Sobeys employees—management or otherwise— to avoid wearing face masks while on duty. See LEAVE Page 6
Arena and Skating programs at the Meridian Community Centre Adult Learn to Skate - starts Oct. 19
It’s never too late to learn to skate!
Learn various skills involving moving forward and backward, gliding, stopping, turning, and developing endurance. Please note that all participants must wear a CSA approved hockey helmet, and we cannot loan helmets at this time. Register at www.pelham.ca/register • Mondays 1-2 p.m. • Fee: $70 for 10 weeks • Must be 18 years or older • Instructor-led For more information, contact Julie Cook at jcook@pelham.ca or 905-892-2607 x329 or 905-732-7887.
Public Skating Sundays: Fridays:
1:00 – 2:20 p.m. 7:30 – 8:20 p.m. 8:30 – 9:20 p.m.
Adults: Seniors: Youth: Preschooler:
$4.00 $3.50 $3.50 $3.50
There is a 50-skater maximum during each Sunday timeslot, and 25-skater maximum on Fridays. One spectator per skater is permitted, and spectators are required to wear a facecovering.
Call 905-732-7872 to reserve your spot. Payment is made on-site.
Visit www.pelham.ca/mcc for all available programs and information. Starting October 19, 2020
Discontinuation of curbside appliances and metal collection
Starting Oct. 19, there will be no curbside pickup of large appliances or metal household items (such as stoves, refrigerators, dishwashers, bed frames). These items can still be dropped off at a Niagara Region Drop-off Depot or collected through private scrap metal haulers/dealers. Learn more at niagararegion.ca/waste or call the Waste Info-Line at 905-356-4141 | 1-800-594-5542
Page 4
The Voice, October 14, 2020
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
OPINION
The opinions expressed in submitted commentary and letters to the editor are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the Voice of Pelham.
The Voice of Pelham is a 1211858 Ontario Limited publication David Burket, Publisher 2-1428 Pelham St., P.O. Box 1489, Fonthill, ON L0S1E0
COMMENTARY / OP-ED Larry Coté Is shinrin-yoku for you?
T
here’s no shortage of things to grumble and feel badly about these days. A gander at newspaper headlines or TV news broadcasts provides a plethora of bad news items to cause even the most optimistic among us to feel gloomy and morose. It appears there is a direct correlation between the size of the headline print or volume of the newscast to establish the level of gruesomeness. Such attributes make it difficult to ignore such sources of negativity. Health care professionals report that such a barrage of negativism can affect the physical, psychological and spiritual well-being of even the halest of personalities. This constant exposure to such frightening occurrences can affect even the most Pollyannish persons among us. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has likely exacerbated the feelings of gloom and doom among many around the globe. Other than relying on prescription medicines and other dangerous substances, there may be another unheralded therapeutic remedy to help reduce the negative effects of such a quasi-depressing envi-
ronment. This therapeutic practice originated in Japan and is called shinrin-yoku —literally translated to English it means, “forest bathing.” I learned of this practice from an article in a major Toronto newspaper.
Such actions are to vividly awaken each of your senses absent of stress and anxiety
According to Tami Astorino and Rachel Rubin, who operate a health and wellness enterprise in Philadelphia, “This practice is gaining a following as a way to reduce stress and anxiety and increase energy by more consciously appreciating nature.” Medical researchers in Japan have found evidence that such a practice has physical benefits ranging from lowering blood pres-
NEED HELP? MAKE THE CALL Distress Centre For depression, distress, and crisis. 24 hour help line: 905-688-3711   Mental Health and Addictions Access 1-866-550-5205 (Toll Free) Gambler’s Anonymous 905-351-1616
Kids Help Phone Service for youth. 416-586-5437 800-668-6868 (Crisis Line) www.kidshelpphone. ca Assaulted Women’s Helpline Mobile calls to: #SAFE (#7233) 1-866-863-0511 (Toll Free)
Alcoholics Anonymous Find a Niagara meeting. 905-682-2140 Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) www.niagaratips.com Text 274637(CRIMES), keyword Niagara, then your tip
sure to boosting the immune system. The objective of forest bathing is to cleanse the mind, spirit and body of the irritants of stress and anxiety. The exercise is to explore the forest and leisurely engage each of the five senses, one at a time. Look around and engage each sighting. Open your mouth, inhale and taste the clean air. Listen attentively for the sounds near at hand and at a distance. Open your mouth to taste the flavors of the forest growth. Feel the ground beneath your feet and between your fingers. Such actions are to vividly awaken each of your senses absent of stress and anxiety. Rubins and Astorino now offer mini-retreats into the forest, a few hours in duration and report that each session sells out quickly. Participants report that forest bathing is a truly delightful opportunity to deeply connect with nature and find some inner quiet. Astorino and other advocates of forest bathing suggest the practice will become part of mainstream wellness protocols. It is a beautiful time, See BATHING next page
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www.thevoiceofpelham.ca EDITOR & PUBLISHER Dave Burket publisher@thevoiceofpelham.ca ADMINISTRATION Lori Gretsinger office@thevoiceofpelham.ca CONTRIBUTORS Jane Bedard, Carolyn Botari, Colin Brezicki, Rosemary Chambers, John Chick, Larry Coté, Brian Green, Miriam Han, Megan Metler, Bill Potrecz, Bernie Puchalski, Don Rickers, John Swart, Helen Tran, Mike Tucker, Rob Weatherby. Proof Sleuth: Julian Fitch NEWS INQUIRIES & TIPS editor@thevoiceofpelham.ca LETTERS TO THE EDITOR letters@thevoiceofpelham.ca ADVERTISING INQUIRIES advertising@thevoiceofpelham.ca
Names Matter...but not more than our collective health What a difference in two weeks! Now we are in a second wave of Covid 19. Our small Names Matter group was going to gather outside, six feet apart for a meeting. However, with this continuing escalation of new cases, we are going to postpone again. We cannot risk anyone’s health. We recognize that students, parents and teachers are facing unprecedented problems every minute. There is so much fear and anxiety and now is not the time to ask them for their input. The DSBN is doing all they can to keep everyone safe.
Thank you to all who have responded. We will keep in touch through the Voice, email and phone. Personally, I feel we are so fortunate to be living in Canada and especially in the town of Pelham. We are surrounded by nature’s priceless beauty. Take a drive, or better still, take a walk through one of our parks, down the Steve Bauer Trail etc. to breath in the fresh air and sunshine. Lucky us! Vilma Moretti Fonthill
CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS Member of Federal Parliament
Electoral District: Niagara West
Members of Pelham Town Council
Member of Provincial Parliament
Ward 1
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
Gilberts Flowers
Mayor of Pelham Marvin Junkin mjunkin@pelham.ca 905-658-2986
Dean Allison, MP 4994 King Street Beamsville, ON L0R 1B0 Dean.Allison@parl.gc.ca 877-563-7900
Electoral District: Niagara West
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Councillor Marianne Stewart mstewart@pelham.ca 289-821-0840
FLOWERS FOR ANY OCCASION We offer a large variety of fresh flowers and gifts. Enjoy the convenience of safe and secure ordering online 24 hours a day. 754 Welland Rd, Fenwick www.gilbertsflowers.ca 905-892-2433
Ward 2 Councillor Ron Kore rkore@pelham.ca 905-933-3805
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Councillor John Wink jwink@pelham.ca 905-892-4475 Ward 3 Councillor Lisa Haun lhaun@pelham.ca 905-892-5877 Councillor Bob Hildebrandt bhildebrandt@pelham.ca 905-892-5647
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BARRISTER, SOLICITOR & NOTARY LETTERS TO THE EDITOR are welcome. Letter submissions should contain the writer’s full name, address and telephone number. Names only will be published. Names may be withheld if compelling reasons are provided. The newspaper reserves the right to change, condense or reject any contribution for brevity, clarity or legal considerations. All material in this publication is protected by copyright. Reproduction is prohibited without express, written permission of the publisher. ADVERTISING: The Voice of Pelham regrets any errors or omissions that appear in advertisements in this newspaper, however, we will not be held responsible for more than one absent or incorrect insertion or for any damages beyond the cost of space containing the error. The Voice is an independent, locally owned and operated publication. The Voice is a member of the National NewsMedia Council, a voluntary self-regulatory organization that deals with journalistic practices and ethics. If you have an unresolved complaint about news stories, opinion columns or photos, please visit their web site at mediacouncil.ca or call 1-844-877-1163. If you have a complaint about delivery or membership problems, please contact our office at 905-892-8690. For a summary of Voice ethical guidelines, see www.thevoiceofpelham.ca/ethics
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Page 5
OPINION COMMENTARY / OP-ED Keith Currie
PELHAM AND COVID-19
Clean fuel proposal raises concern for farmers
S
ince 2017, Canada has actively worked to legislate a Clean Fuel Standard (CFS) in biofuel production to help lower greenhouse gas emissions. New proposed regulations have been announced in September 2020 that have raised concern for Ontario farmers that these regulations will introduce crop production constraints and do not address compliance verification. The CFS Regulatory Framework announced in 2017 was designed to achieve annual reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by setting lifecycle carbon intensity (LCI) levels for fuels used in transportation, industry and buildings. In 2018, a CFS Regulatory Design that was introduced had compliance rules for fuel producers and suppliers to lower Life Cycle Intense fuels, as well as potential options to meet compliance, such as credit trading. For example, using CFS regulated feedstock to produce biofuel would generate a credit that could be used to meet a fuel compliance target or traded to another fuel producer/supplier to meet their obligation. However, in September 2020, the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) presented seven new changes to the Clean Fuel Standard Regulation Design after the federal government announced the expansion of the previous 2018 regulations. These proposed guidelines raise concerns for farmers, as the regulations will introduce crop production constraints and do not discuss how compliance will be verified. Canada established this criteria to help protect against direct and indirect land-use impacts, aimed to limit agricultural feedstocks that negatively reduce biodiversity, encroach on critical species habitat or convert land with high carbon stock. The proposed regulatory changes brought up in Sep-
tember have resulted in elevated concern within Ontario's farming community. When first announced, agricultural stakeholders were generally supportive of the Clean Fuel Standards act
Complying with regulations could create a disadvantage for domestic feedstock markets
to increase Canada's green fuel content. If the proposed regulations are approved, the CFS will enforce regulations around riparian zones and protected areas. This will significantly impact future crop production and cropland expansion, especially in northern Ontario, where farmland is still being expanded. These new regulations would limit options for farmers on what crops they can grow for the biofuel market. Many farmers are also concerned with the compliance and verification process these regulations will propose. Complying with regulations could create a disadvantage for domestic feedstock markets competing with imports. The federal government has not announced the verification process for compliance, making farmers concerned for the burden the process may have on them. In January 2019, OFA submitted comments on the 2018 CFS Regulatory Design, supporting the higher green fuel initiatives. OFA stated that the CFS should recognize the continued value of the agriculture industry's role and environmental stewardship achievements.
Mayor Marvin Junkin
As GTA cases rise, Region still in relatively good shape
We proposed that producers should be rewarded for their best farm management practices and carbon sequestration. OFA is continuing to advocate for Ontario farmers amid the announcement of these new proposed regulations. OFA would like to partner and work together with Environment and Climate Change Canada and the federal government to create a set of attainable regulations for Ontario farmers. We want to collaborate to create regulations that can be verified and shine a light on farmers' best management practices as environmental stewards. OFA remains concerned for the burden this will create for farmers to adhere to the new regulations in the way they have currently been drafted. OFA hopes to work alongside the federal government to maximize opportunities and create an attainable Clean Fuel Standard for Ontario. ◆ Keith Currie is president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture
G
ood day to all! While areas north of the Region continue to face large daily increases in COVID-19 numbers, the numbers in the Niagara Region are rising, but at a far slower rate. New cases on Oct. 9 totalled nine, with nine cases recorded on Oct. 8. The reproductive rate Marvin Junkin is at 1.1, just a hair above the desired 1. With only approximately one case of COVID-19 in the Region requiring hospitalization, Niagara hospitals continue to operate below the targeted use rate of 90%. Six to seven thousand residents are tested each week. The Regional target for positive tests is 5% or lower. In the week of September 27- October 3, 1.1% of those tested by the health unit tested positive. In that same week, Pelham had three residents test positive, with none requiring hospitalization. All are
self-isolating at home. On the Town front, we unfortunately have had some users of the community centre give Town staff pushback when asked some basic questions concerning
Please, lets get back to behaving the way we Pelhamites are known for, friendly and respectful
their health before being allowed to enter the building, Really, people? Staff are only following protocol deemed necessary to keep all users safe. If you feel violated by answering the questions then stay in your car while your child is practicing. There are some arenas in the Re-
gion that do not allow any spectators at all. We in Pelham do not want to go down this road, but we will not tolerate Town staff being subjected to rude and abusive behaviour. Please, let’s get back to behaving the way we Pelhamites are known for, friendly and respectful. On a happier note, last Sunday our first public skate was held, and was deemed a success by staff. Skaters had to phone in and make a reservation, with 50 being the number allowed at any one time on the ice. All skaters followed the rules, and enjoyed the opportunity to put the blades on and have some fun while exercising. Concerning council business, the new guy, Wayne Olson, continues to impress his fellow councillors and Town staff with his breadth of knowledge on so many topics, and his easy going, yet no-nonsense approach to Town business. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We in Pelham have a lot to be thankful for! ◆
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BATHING
continued from previous page
1428 Pelham Street, Fonthill
any time, to visit such as the nearby St. John’s Conservation Area and enjoy the health benefits that this pristine park provides. And should you do so, alone or with a close com-padre or two, why not try out the practice of shinrin-yoku? Our friends in Japan regularly practice this regimen and avowedly proclaim its benefits. You deserve a period of freedom from the stresses and anxieties of your busy lifestyles. Go now and enjoy a visit to the forest. ◆
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The Voice, October 14, 2020
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The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind BY DON RICKERS
Special to the VOICE
Bob Dylan got in right. His 1963 hit “Blowin’ in the Wind” was a protest song, an anthem of the civil rights movement. According to Wikipedia, it was intentionally ambiguous: either the answer is so obvious as to be right in your face, or as intangible as the wind. Think peace, war, freedom. His ballad can also apply to the Pelham cannabis conundrum. Jobs and restaurant patronage from those grow-op workers, we like. The skunky smell which overwhelms fragrant flower gardens of Fenwick and Fonthill, not so much. Just ask retired educator David Whitehead, of Kevin Drive. “When I moved here ten years ago, there were no issues like this,” said Whitehead. “I'm really close to Foss Road [home of the Redecan cannabis factory]. The odour isn’t bad all the time. I often go for a walk around eight o’clock in the morning, and find the smell is really strong, like a family of skunks is living under the porch. By the time I come back from my walk an hour later, the smell is gone.” There are a number of variables at play, including the direction of the wind, the location of homes relative to a given cannabis operation, the kind of filtration system in place, and the frequency with which the operation vents heat (thus allowing odours to escape).
LEAVE
continued from Page 3 A Sobeys corporate public relations officer, who customarily responds to comment requests in a timely manner, did not acknowledge an email last week in which the Voice asked, among other questions, whether the company remained confident in Kore's leadership and fitness as a franchisee. Kore has not acknowledged requests for comment from the Voice in recent months, and did not respond over the weekend when asked about his leave. CAO Cribbs confirmed that all resident communications sent to Kore, whether by email or Canada Post, are being forwarded to his fellow Ward 2 councillor John Wink. Kore was gone for approximately ten weeks during his first leave of absence. Asked how long a councillor may remain away before their seat is declared vacant, Cribbs referred the newspaper to Section 259 of the Municipal Act, 2001, which addresses absences by elected officials. A reasonable reading of the statute would conclude that it creates a 12-week period from the first absence. After this period, council could choose to extend a member’s leave by a deliberate vote. Otherwise the seat is automatically declared vacant, leading to whatever process council would approve to find a successor. Sources inside Town Hall suggest that in the event that Kore doesn’t return (12 weeks from Sept. 28 is Jan. 4) council would be disinclined to call another by-election, as it did to fill Mike Ciolfi’s Ward 1 seat. Instead, it would likely appoint a replacement to ride out the remaining
Whitehead’s frustration prompted a letter to Mayor Marvin Junkin, who replied that Pelham bylaw officers will make prompt investigations once a complaint is lodged, armed with a new device which does an analysis of the strength of the odour. In fact, the pot aroma is randomly monitored at several cannabis sites in Pelham at least three times each week, according to bylaw officer Greg Young. (Craig Genesse is the other bylaw officer who tests for pungent perfume emitted by the cannabis operations.) The Voice did a ride-along with Young last week, and witnessed the use of the super-sniffer. The hand-held machine which scans for odour is called the Nasal Ranger, a state-of-the-art tool in the science of field olfactometry. It measures and quantifies odour strength in ambient air, determining scent concentration objectively with its trained nose. The technology was developed by St. Croix Sensory Inc., of St. Paul, Minnesota. The price tag for such a machine is about $2000 US. The recommended 3.5-hour training seminar, odour sensitivity test kit, and maintenance/calibration fee (recommended annually) tacks on another $1500 US. Both Young and Genesee attended training sessions to master the nuances of the device. The Nasal Ranger has a filtration system that allows in a tiny amount of ambient air alongside the filtered air, and each subse-
two years of council’s term. There seems little sentiment among some senior Town management in favour of Kore coming back. On condition that they not be named, two of the staffers who spoke to the Voice and were critical of Kore back in April,
Myself and the rest of council wish him a quick and satisfactory resolution to whatever situation caused the need for this time off
during his first leave, suggested last week that maybe it was time for him to depart permanently. “You quoted him two issues back talking about the need for ‘family time’ in limiting the size of the agendas—essentially asking for less work—and now he’s doing less work for sure,” said one staffer. “You might see that as a pattern.” “If Councillor Kore really cannot handle doing two things at once, perhaps it is time to make way for someone who can. Incredibly, he has now stepped away from his obligations to the Town and community twice in six months.” Another senior staffer said they were unaware of Kore's leave until it was announced in an internal email. “I am surprised about the leave but I don't know the cir-
Bylaw Officer Greg Young puts the Nasal Ranger to work last week near a cannabis grow-op. quent step increases the amount of unfiltered ambient air taken in. The dial setting where the user first smells the problem odour determines the dilution-to-threshold ratio (D/T). Strong smells have a high D/T. A level 2 D/T would be associated with a weak smell, whereas the acceptable threshold for the bylaw officers is a D/T of 6. Anything higher, and the cannabis operation will receive a knock on their door, requesting an explanation as to why the odour level is excessive. A $250 fine could follow, and if the grower was regularly in non-compliance, provincial laws and higher fines could be invoked. Bylaw officers have discretion in such matters. A web-based application is available with the Nasal Ranger called OdourTrakr, a data-logging tool that stores D/T values for each sample taken, as well as information such as odour characters,
cumstances of why he needs it. I hope he is okay health-wise. It is always good to have a full council of seven for voting, so a tie can be broken.” Town Clerk Nancy Bozzato, asked whether a Pelham councillor had ever taken one leave of absence, much less two, during her ten-year stint as clerk, said no, to the best of her recollection, though there had been brief absences due to illness. “Malcolm Allen would have taken a leave while a candidate in a Federal election,” said Bozzato, “followed by his resignation [when he won as MP for Welland, in 2008].” Mayor Marvin Junkin, the target of official complaints by Kore last spring, sounded a sympathetic note. “The three-month leave of absence, is there, I imagine, in case of an unexpected family or business emergency in an elected official's life. That being said, myself and the rest of council wish him a quick and satisfactory resolution to whatever situation caused the need for this time off.” Newly elected Ward 1 Councillor Wayne Olson told the Voice that via his Sobeys franchise, Kore “manages an essential service for our community, and I wish him all the best.” Olson said that council’s priorities remain set, but are sure to be made more difficult by the pandemic. “We remain focused on the health and safety of our residents, maintaining services and the financial imperative of reducing our debt. I fully expect that the upcoming winter will be difficult.” No other councillor responded to the newspaper’s request for comment.
sample time, date, and geographical position determined via global position systems (GPS). Young pulled his Town of Pelham truck over to the side of the road, adjacent to a local cannabis facility. Winds were blowing from the west (which is the prevailing wind direction in Pelham), so Young positioned his vehicle on the east side of the operation. He recorded the date, time, weather conditions (temperature, wind direction and speed), and took a screenshot photo of the facility. “We actually breathe through the machine to see if we can if we detect the odour,” said Young. “Remember that even if you do smell something in the air, it may not register high enough on Nasal Ranger to be a violation.” Cannabis operators have been cooperative in the whole monitoring process, said Young. “They've invited us to their
DON RICKERS
properties to do random testing, and indicate to us that they want to work with us and the community.” On this day, no odour readings at any the three cannabis operations visited were in excess of a D/T of 6, and thus no violations were recorded. What about neighbours cultivating pot in subdivisions? “Federal legislation allows residents to grow up to four plants for personal use. That’s the law. Not much we can do about it,” said Young. “There is no onus on residents to control the odour that may be emitted by their outdoor plants.” Of course, if that neighbor has a dozen plants on his side of the fence, and has no license to produce cannabis for commercial or medical purposes, he is in violation of the law, and subject to prosecution by the police.
TOWN COUNCIL NEWS Call for cannabis cash BY JOHN CHICK
Special to the VOICE
Town of Pelham Council endorsed a resolution moved by Ward 3’s Lisa Haun on Monday, Oct. 5, that will petition the federal and provincial government — as well two neighbouring municipalities — for financial assistance in dealing with ballooning legal costs associated with emerging cannabis regulations. The resolution passed unanimously. Councillor Ron Kore was not in attendance. The lengthy motion calls on MP Dean Allison and MPP Sam Oosterhoff to “champion the Town’s plight” in dealing with both Health Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, respectively. Both levels of government will be asked for an undetermined financial contribution to go towards litigation costs, while the cities of Thorold and Welland will be asked to voluntarily contribute $15,000 each because Pelham has received complaints from residents of both municipalities pertaining to light and/or smell associated with the industrial production of cannabis. It’s currently estimated the Town of Pelham owes some $300,000 in legal fees stemming from seven challenges from producers in the wake of the passage of new cannabis-growing bylaws this past summer. CAO David Cribbs said he had received a complaint that same day from somebody outside Pelham. He added that the only way to cov-
er the added costs without outside help was through a tax levy. “A complaint was forwarded to me from a resident of the city of Welland complaining about cannabis odour from a cannabis producer here in the Town of Pelham,” Cribbs said. “So I have firsthand experience that there are in fact complaints from neighbouring municipalities. It is true the town is shouldering all of the financial burden associated with all of this litigation, what is currently seven separate actions. One assumes that this will in fact set precedent, as things are currently structured, all of that cost … has to come from [taxes]. There are no other alternative sources of revenue to support this.” Cribbs said what Pelham is asking for is fair. “I think those are reasonable requests,” he said. “Whether those who receive them think they’re reasonable or not is beyond my jurisdiction.” Pelham became a ground zero of sorts for cannabis production after the federal government fully legalized the product in 2018. New bylaws were passed this year to regulate growing, but producers Woodstock Biomed, CannTrust and Redecan are currently involved in legal challenges with the Town. Mayor Marvin Junkin thanked Haun for moving the motion. “[It] at least makes other levels See COUNCIL Page 10
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The Voice, October 14, 2020
Flu shots now available Limited supply as seasonal vaccine is distributed earlier than usual
Multiple arrests in Fenwick murder investigation At least two taken into custody related to death of Earl Clapp
BY DON RICKERS
Special to the VOICE
As if COVID wasn’t bad enough, we are now entering the annual flu season. Health experts are encouraging flu shots in an effort to avoid a “twindemic,” when both influenza and the coronavirus circulate at high levels of infection at the same time. Anticipating an increased demand for the flu shot, the Public Health Agency of Canada has reported that the provinces have ordered a record 13.7 million doses of the vaccine, up over 20% from last fall. Publicly funded influenza vaccines are available in Ontario as part of the Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP). The Ford government is implementing the largest flu immunization campaign in the province’s history, part of a comprehensive plan to prepare the health system for a second wave of COVID-19. Almost $70 million has been invested to purchase 5.1 million flu vaccine doses (700,000 more than ordered last year). For those age 65 and older, there are two different seasonal flu shots available. The standard-dose quadrivalent vaccine protects against four strains of flu virus, whereas the high-dose vaccine protects against three strains of flu virus, but in higher concentration. The province has ordered 1.3 million high-dose vaccine doses for Ontario seniors, intended for those with pre-existing health conditions, and those vulnerable individuals in long-term care homes, hospitals and retirement homes. The high-dose invokes a stronger immune response. Children six months to four years old can get their flu shot from a doctor, nurse practitioner, or local public health unit, but
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those under five years old cannot get a flu shot at a pharmacy. Flu shots take about two weeks to reach full effect. According to the Ontario Ministry of Health, last year’s viral strains resulted in just over 5,700 flu-related hospitalizations in Ontario, and 280 deaths. Kyle Boggio, pharmacist/owner at Boggio’s Pharmacy on Highway 20, said that the government has planned a controlled release of vaccine to pharmacies between now and October 19. Additional supplies should be released thereafter. “We are still very early in the flu season,” said Boggio. “Last year, the program didn't start until the last week of October, so we’re several weeks ahead of where we were in 2019.” Boggio’s has both the quadrivalent and high dose vaccines, but the latter is currently in very limited supply. He said that most people will opt for the quadrivalent. Because of the necessary COVID screening measures, Boggio’s is providing flu shots only by appointment for now, although walk-in service could be an option in the future. Forms can be accessed from the home page of their website (boggios. com), and brought in for a pre-scheduled shot. At Shoppers Drug Mart, located in the Fonthill Shopping Centre, pharmacist Nasrin Habashy said that both the quadrivalent and high-dose flu vaccines are in stock, and appointments are required. Glen Sisak, pharmacist/owner at PharmaChoice, in the Fonthill Marketplace/ See SHOTS Page 16
Great food, Great people
BY DAVE BURKET
The VOICE
Through a statement released late Friday night, Oct. 9, just over one week since the death of 74-yearold Fenwick resident Earl Clapp, the Niagara Regional Police Service announced that they had arrested a suspect in Clapp's murder. Police said that shortly before 5 PM Friday, Matthew MacInnes, 39, of Wellandport, was arrested and charged with the alleged offence of second degree murder. MacInnes was held in custody pending a video bail hearing. In a second statement, released Saturday, the NRPS announced a second arrest. Police said that on Saturday afternoon, shortly before 2 PM, they arrested Jason Lusted, 49, of no fixed address, and also charged him with the alleged offence of second degree murder. Lusted was held in custody pending a video bail hearing. Detectives asked for the public’s assistance in their efforts to locate a 20072014, black Ford Expedition that they said may be associated with Lusted or MacInnes, and driven on the night of the incident. Some Voice readers contacted the paper on Sunday, suggesting that a third arrest had also been made. On what appeared to be the Facebook pages for MacInnes and a woman living in Welland, both referred to each other as boyfriend and girlfriend. A woman whose name matched that of MacInnes’s apparent girlfriend was listed on a St. Catharines courtroom docket, along with MacInnes, for
Police on site along Hwy 20 West on Friday, Oct. 2. DAVE BURKET a hearing that was to take place on Tuesday, Oct. 13, after the Voice went to press. By press time, police had not confirmed whether the woman had been arrested in connection with the Clapp investigation or on an unrelated matter. The second suspect arrested, Jason Lusted, was paroled from prison in 2015 after serving seven and a half years for his connection to a 2007 murder. According to reporting by the Hamilton Spectator, Lusted and a friend took the victim from his Hamilton apartment at gunpoint. Lusted testified that is was the friend who shot and killed the victim. The friend received a life sentence. Lusted received ten years for accessory to murder after the fact. The newspaper reported that it was Lusted’s fourth federal sentence. Police earlier theorized that Clapp had interrupted an attempted theft of a utility trailer at his home
and business on Centre St., in Fenwick. In the ensuing events, police think that Clapp was dragged approximately 1.5 km north then west on Highway 20 West, where his body was found between Cream and Balfour Streets early on the morning of Friday, Oct. 2. Police say that the investigation remains ongoing by detectives with the Homicide Unit. Sources tell the Voice that the NRPS allocated substantial resources to investigating Clapp's murder. Police officers and detectives widely canvassed Pelham neighborhoods as far east as Fonthill in a search for eyewitnesses and home security camera recordings. A community vehicle procession honouring Clapp and his family was organized for Thanksgiving day. Detectives are urging members of the public with information to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service at 905-688-4111, Option 3 Badge 9134.
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The Voice, October 14, 2020
Page 9
FIRST PERSON
Scaling the Heights Revisiting the battleground where Maj. Gen. Sir Isaac Brock fell, 208 years ago this week BY HELEN TRAN
Special to the VOICE
What can a sleepy smalltown journalist do on a Saturday morning, more than seven months into the COVID-19 pandemic? How about turn a metaphorical struggle into a physical one by climbing a very big hill. The morning mist had barely evaporated from the Niagara Escarpment, and the birds were in full songmode, as if to warn the entire population of my presence. I was here to attend a guided nature walk by Adam Shoalts, best-selling Canadian author of Alone Against the North, Beyond the Trees, and A History of Canada in Ten Maps. The hike would retrace the steps of Major General Sir Isaac Brock, who died aged 43 on October 13, 1812. The general was killed by a gunshot wound to the chest while leading a charge up the escarpment during the Battle of Queenston Heights. The battle, the first major one in the War of 1812, was instrumental in shaping what we know of North America today. Fought near
the richly historic town of Queenston, the battle was between the American forces (led by Major General Stephan Van Rensselaer), attempting to cross the Niagara River to establish a foothold in Canada, and the British forces (led by Brock and Major General Roger Hale Sheaffe) determined to repel them. Despite being local to Niagara, I couldn’t remember the last time I had visited this historic spot. What was once a battleground is now a carefully manicured park, with hiking trails, monuments, trees, colourful flowers and a restaurant. The serenity of the location made it hard to believe that many years ago, it was the site of carnage and chaos, horses screaming and falling, and men shouting as they fired and reloaded their muskets. I began my adventure by the Laura Secord Monument where the rest of the visitors were waiting. After we all introduced ourselves, Shoalts gave us a quick his-
A view of the Niagara River. The spacious park gives visitors opportunities to sightsee while social distancing.
torical overview of the location and then encouraged us to take in the view — which was spectacular. The intense blue of the Niagara River sparkled in sharp contrast to the fall landscape. Other than our group, there were only a few tourists wandering from monument to monument. Since the pandemic closed the border between the US and Canada, foot traf-
fic has slowed at Queenston Heights. As we walked down the stone steps and arrived at the southern terminus of the Bruce Trail, the sudden crack of a shot, followed by several more, almost shook me out of my skin. An older man in the group saw me jump—he laughed and gestured towards the fields in the distance.
“Those are the cannons farmers use to scare away the birds from the vineyards,” he said with a reassuring wink, before turning back to the perilous work of photographing a bird in the trees. Shoalts paused his lesson on how to identify poisonous berries to listen to the shots as well. “The war of 1812 is still
HELEN TRAN
happening, folks!” he joked before continuing through the trees. Indeed, the rapid-fire shots provided a battlefield-like ambience to the walk, puncturing the otherwise peaceful silence. They helped to lend a special sense of gravity to the various monuments, artifacts, See HEIGHTS Page 14
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The Voice, October 14, 2020
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"Modified" Stage 2 COVID restrictions return to Ontario In Niagara, Hirji cautions residents to use good judgment BY DON RICKERS
Special to the VOICE
COVID lockdown has not yet returned to Niagara, but is in effect across the lake. This past weekend, the Ontario government implement modified Stage 2 pandemic restrictions in Toronto, Peel, and Ottawa, in an effort to counteract surging COVID-19 cases. The measures will be in effect for at least 28 days.
COUNCIL
continued from Page 6 of government stand up and take notice that Pelham, like every other municipal government, is unfortunately having to bear the financial burden of what’s commonly known as mistakes made at
During a Queen’s Park press briefing last Friday, Premier Doug Ford said “All trends are going in the wrong direction….if left unchecked, we risk worst-case scenarios.” Hospitalizations and new infections are rising, prompting the closure of indoor dining, gyms, casinos, performing arts centres,
the federal level,” the Mayor said.
Council tells staff to open bidding on sewer
Junkin took issue with a staff report urgently asking for $44,000 to conduct sanitary sewer diversion upgrades in the Station
and racing venues in certain locales. The province is now advising residents of Toronto, Peel, and Ottawa to only leave their homes for essential reasons. Restaurants will remain open for outdoor dining and takeout. Team sports training can continue, but games and scrimmages have been curtailed. Social gatherings and organized public events in those regions have been limited to a maximum of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors, with facial masking and physical distancing to be maintained. Schools, child care centres, and churches will remain open, as will retail stores.
Street/Summersides Boulevard area. The report recommended awarding the contract to Beam Excavating Inc., which is already involved in the current construction on Station. However, Junkin strenuously objected, stating council’s preference is to open such
F
WHY RE/MAX?
Provincial Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams, said that infection levels in schools have been minor, and accordingly large-scale shutdowns in the education sector are not merited at this time. According to the CBC, nearly 10 percent of Ontario's 4,800 publicly-funded schools have reported cases of COVID-19. Ontario reported over 900 new cases of COVID-19 last Friday, which represented a record number of new daily cases. Epidemiologists, using mathematical modelling, predicted that Ontario's “second wave” of the pandemic was accelerating at a pace that put the province on track to hit 1,000
projects to bidding under request for proposal (RFP) protocols. “I can’t see any reason why this report wasn’t brought to us several months ago,” the Mayor said. “I don’t think this council appreciates being handed something on the 11th hour and making it sound like it’s a do-or-die situation. I was very disappointed that the report suggests that we should deviate from our purchasing policy.” The report had some alarmist undertones, specifically that the sewer upgrade is badly needed, and failure to address it could jeopardize future developments. It also highlighted
new cases per day by mid-October. Friday's update brings the province's total to 57,681 cases of the virus since the outbreak began in late January. Niagara has had a total of 1190 cases, with 108 active cases, 11 active outbreaks, and 65 deaths. Niagara’s Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. M. Mustafa Hirji, believes that careless behavior during the Labour Day long weekend was responsible for the big spike in cases over the past month across Ontario. “I think the province has really come up with the correct messag-
that council previously deferred the construction of a roundabout at Station and Summersides, which apparently impacted the sanitary sewer diversion project. Despite the later stage of the year, Cribbs said that it shouldn’t be a problem to finish the work with a proper bidding exercise. “What’s critical here is the work get done in a timely fashion,” the CAO said. “But we can reasonably proceed in a more traditional fashion.” Director of Public Works Jason Marr said the RFP process would tack “fiveto-six weeks” on to the project, but said it could still be completed in time to repave Station Street by the
We're not like the others. And neither are you.
REMAX GARDEN CITY FONTHILL OFFICE
See RETURN next page
end of December. Council then voted to amend the motion — approving the work, but requiring staff to follow the Town’s purchasing policy.
Community centre COVIDIOTS
During his regular COVID-19 update, Cribbs made note to council of a recent disturbing trend. “I regret to inform you that staff have been experiencing an increase in a level of incivility and disrespect ... particularly of staff at the [community centre],” the CAO said. “Essentially individuals challenging the need to wear masks, or any social distancing.” Cribbs said he has been in discussion with Bylaw Enforcement about an added presence at the facility, and added that the Town plans to bring forward a public code of conduct document of sorts at the next council meeting. “We think we need to take some proactive steps,” he said. “Everyone’s under a lot of stress these days of course and I think we do understand that, but at the end of the day we do have some obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to provide a safe workspace.” Director of Recreation, Culture and Wellness Vickie vanRavenswaay reported to council that 48 people made reservations ahead of time for public skating on Oct. 4.
PATC plan
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Pelham Active Transportation Committee (PATC) chair Bea Clark presented the committee’s updated master plan. It focuses on four priorities, including completing a sidewalk gap analysis, better signage, and both reviewing progress on the master plan, while ensuring budget allocations are included in long-term planning.
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RETURN
continued from previous page ing…that this Thanksgiving, we can't have big family gatherings as in the past. People will have to be content with having virtual celebrations via FaceTime and other social media,” he told the Voice. According to Hirji, people let their guard down in September, and commenced contact with friends, co-workers outside of work, and extended family members. All those social interactions meant that if someone contracted COVID-19, it potentially was transmitted to a large number of people. “That's the biggest reason we've seen infection spreading,” he said. Hirji was also critical of people who, when symptomatic, don’t stay at home, and continue to socialize and go to work. Enforcement is certainly part of the picture when an ill-advised large gathering is happening, and Hirji said that in those situations, the organizers should be charged or fined. He was also adamant that employers must ensure that in workplaces, employees are screened for symptoms on a daily basis. Hirji said that he was not planning to recommend that those in Niagara claiming a medical reason for not wearing a mask should need to produce a doctor's note as verification. “I think we’ll stay on the honor system,” he said, “and would suggest that, for the most part, we are seeing people following the guidance of wearing face coverings when they go into stores and other places where it is required. I’m not pushing for a general scenario where stronger enforcement is implemented. But I do think greater vigilance is needed is ensure workplaces remain safe.”
The Voice, October 14, 2020
Page 11
Dr. Julia Iafrate gets her Green Card Fonthill native on the front lines in New York City BY DON RICKERS
Special to the VOICE
Dr. Julia Iafrate, who hails from Fonthill, may have missed the legendary St. Patrick’s Day parties in New York City this past March due to the pandemic, but she still loves the colour green. That’s the colloquial colour for the identification card issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to permanent residents, who are legally allowed to live and work in the country. (Green cards have not actually been green since 1964.) It is the culmination of a struggle that was very much in question six months ago. Iafrate had been told in April that she would be expelled from the country, a victim of President Donald Trump’s suspension of visas for foreign nationals amid the pandemic. She went public with her story, making her plight known on social media. CBS News interviewed her in May, relating how Iafrate had been denied her green card even as she was serving on the front lines against the coronavirus, and had been studying and working in the US since 2008. Her specialization is not infectious diseases, but when the call went out for medical volunteers to assist with the overburdened NYC hospital system, Iafrate stepped up to work in intensive care units. On May 31, Iafrate told the Voice that her waiver petition has been approved after having been re-
viewed. This did not yet mean that her green card was approved, but it cleared the first hurdle. On August 27, her lawyer received notification that her application had been officially approved. She had her non-green green card in her hands in late September. Having permanent resident status means that Iafrate can work in the US for the next 10 years, and will now able to travel back and forth across the border without issue (once the border re-opens). “Once COVID calms down, I'll be able to actually come home for a visit, which will be nice, because I haven't been able to do that for the past couple of years,” she said. Her plan for now is to stay in the US, and in New York City. So why are we now seeing a rise in COVID infections, the predicted second wave? Iafrate was candid in her answer. “Absolutely I think that we got a little too comfortable, and we’re seeing the result of that now. The medical recommendations are open to revision, because science is changing. This is research in real time that you're seeing.” Iafrate noted that a colleague, a physician aged 28, who was completing his residency and had appeared to be in perfect health, succumbed to COVID recently. She has little time for pandemic conspiracy theorists. “Some people just don't think, and I don't understand that. They worry about erosion of their freedoms, saying ‘You can't tell me what to do with my life,’ blah,
Dr. Julia Ifrate at work in New York City blah, blah. But the law says you have to wear a seatbelt…what's the difference, right?” These days Iafrate doesn’t go to the indoor gym, but will occasionally dine out at restaurants that are abiding by safety rules related to masking and physical distancing. “I have use of my [apartment building] rooftop, and I have a very close group of half a dozen
friends I trust. We get together for dinner, or go to the park, or hikes,” she said. Regular coronavirus testing is required for health workers in New York, and Iafrate says she gets tested every two or three weeks. When at work, and while commuting to work, she wears her mask every day, all day. And she washes her hands. A lot.
ADD YOUR VOICE TO NIAGARA’S OFFICIAL PLAN NIAGARA IS GROWING!
The region is forecasted to grow to a minimum of 674,000 people and 272,000 jobs by the year 2051. To guide this growth, Niagara Region is creating a new Official Plan. The Niagara Official Plan will set out objectives and policies to shape Niagara’s physical development, while protecting what’s valuable. It will cover topics like Niagara’s natural environment, land needs, growth allocations, housing, transportation, urban design, employment lands, agriculture and more.
YOU’RE INVITED
Attend a series of virtual public information centres to learn more about key directives and core policy information that will inform the Niagara Official Plan. Get informed, ask questions to the project team, and provide your input on how Niagara should grow. Information will be collected in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record. If you require any accommodations for a disability in order to participate, 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.
niagararegion.ca/official-plan makingourmark@niagararegion.ca
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VIRTUAL PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTRES
Register for each session at niagararegion.ca/official-plan. Webinars have already been held covering several topics, including Natural Heritage and Water Resource Systems, Growth Management, Land Needs, Secondary Plans and more. Video recordings of each session will be available online in the near future.
Tuesday, Oct. 20 6:00 p.m.
Topic: Rural & Agriculture, Mineral Aggregate Resources, Archaeology & Culture
Wednesday, Oct. 21 6:00 p.m.
Topic: Infrastructure, Water and Wastewater, Stormwater, Transportation
You can also provide input or ask questions at any time by emailing makingourmark@niagararegion.ca or calling David Heyworth, Official Plan Policy Consultant at 905-980-6000 ext. 3476
Page 12
The Voice, October 14, 2020
OBITUARY
Student YouTuber aims to spread hope during pandemic BY MEGAN METLER
Special to the VOICE
CLAPP, Earl Frank We are heartbroken to share the sudden passing of Earl Frank Clapp, at 74 years of age, on October 2, 2020. Earl was best friend and a devoted husband to Tillie Clapp, a caring father to Jodie and Elisha Clapp (Nick Corcoran) and RJ, and he was adored by his grandchildren, Ella and Alex. He will be dearly missed by his sisters Vanessa Grenier (Claude), Kim Carson (Jamey), and Veronica Bernier (Dennis) and Tillie’s brothers John Stassen (Koosje) and Mike Stassen (Connie), as well as many nieces and nephews. Earl will also be missed by many dear friends and colleagues, with whom he created many good memories over the years.Earl was a gentle, kind and honest man, who was precious to his family and respected by his friends, business partners and the community. He grew up near Sudbury, Ontario and it was there he met Tillie, while riding the high school bus together. They later moved to Pelham where they married, started their family and built the home that they have lived in and enjoyed for the past 41 years. Earl and Tillie raised two daughters, who adored and looked up to him as their role model. Through example, he taught them honesty, hard work and a genuine desire to help others. Earl was known as Papa to his two grandchildren; he was often seen driving them around the yard on his tractor, having his toenails painted or cuddling in a chair reading to them. With their grandparents, Alex and Ella also enjoyed weekend trips to Toronto and road trips to family and cottages up north.Earl loved his work. He founded his business, Niagara Farm Metal Products, in the mid-eighties, and then grew it into a successful and respected business. In the days following Earl’s death, many business partners and colleagues shared fond memories of Earl’s willingness to help them, and the pride and care he took in his work. Even those who hadn’t known Earl personally shared that they enjoyed seeing him driving around the community in his familiar black truck, his dog sitting happily on the console. When Earl wasn’t working, he was happiest in his shop, working in his yard (and helping his daughters in theirs) or enjoying a coffee on his deck, watching the sun set behind the garden. He and Tillie enjoyed many dinners with close friends, miles of road trips on motorcycles, wilderness canoe trips with their children in younger days and watching foreign films with Earl’s glass of favourite red wine, during relaxing evenings. There are no words to describe how much we will miss him. Life for those of us who loved him will never be the same, as a part of our heart has been taken from us. Pelham Funeral home is handling arrangements. Cremation has taken place. The family is planning a celebration of Earl’s life when circumstances allow, probably in early Summer 2021. We thank all those who have reached out to us with their kind words and gestures. You have helped us remember love in a time of unfathomable loss. Finally, the professionalism, dedication and empathy shown by the Niagara Regional Police Homicide detectives and their team have been very comforting to us. If desired, a donation in Earl’s memory can be made to the Niagara Regional Police Association Charities: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/ niagara-region-police-association-charitable-fund/ Online condolences may be shared at www.pelhamfuneralhome.ca
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Last school year took an abrupt turn when schools across Canada moved online due to COVID-19 following March Break, and remained that way throughout the summer. Fonthill resident Mohammad Baig decided to try something new during his time spent at home. The eight-year-old St. Alexander student created a YouTube channel and has acquired some 260 subscribers since May. “I was sitting at home during the pandemic, bored and not knowing what to do or anything, so I decided to make this YouTube channel with my parent’s permission,” said Baig. Baig wanted his channel to entertain other children and encourage them to try new things and work on projects to keep them busy during this difficult time. The channel is called Star Aviation and Vlogs and focuses on different aircraft and plane-spotting, which is observing planes taking off and landing from airports. He also highlights tragic
events like 9/11, other large crashes, occasional bird videos, and vlogs about his trips to Dufferin Island. Sharmeen Bhojani, Baig’s mother, wasn’t completely on board with the idea at first but soon changed her mind. Bhojani shared that once her son started making the videos and she saw the science, technology and editing skills he was using, she just wanted to keep motivating him to continue. The entire family has since gotten involved with the project. “So I still want to be part of it, and now it seems like the videos that he makes, the channel that he has, it seems like it’s a family channel now because everybody takes so much interest, his father, me, his brother,” said Bhojani. Baig’s videos show his fascination for things that fly and have led him to want to become an aeronautical engineer. His mother wants to encourage him to continue to share his passion with others through his YouTube channel. She hopes that her See YOUTUBER Page 17
Mohammad Baig.
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PROCESSION
continued from Page 1 who wanted to show their support for the family to arrive at Centennial Park between 10:00 and 10:45 AM. He posted notice on his company’s Facebook page, and the Voice posted a story on its website late Friday. By Monday morning, the story had been viewed some 2900 times. The community answered the call. Hundreds of participants turned out, making the trek from Centennial Park north on Church to Canboro, where the procession turned east for the roughly 2 km
The Voice, October 14, 2020
run to Centre St., turning north to pass the Clapp family home and business. Despite a low, gray sky, autumn colours shone brightly. Photos of Earl Clapp and his family were set up on easels lining the east side of Centre Street. Tillie draped one of Earl’s motorcycle jackets around a chair at the end of the driveway, empty except for a motorcycle helmet in the seat and a glass of wine on an armrest. A pair of Earl’s overalls and other mementos hung from a ladder. Composed before the driveby procession arrived, Tillie and her daughters became emotional as the morning progressed,
as friends gathered at the top of the driveway, and as community members started filing past in their vehicles, many offering verbal condolences. Members of the Niagara Regional Police stood a few meters away, watching somberly. “We cried almost all the way through,” said Tillie. “But it was so wonderful to know that other people are outraged, and feeling our pain, and are there for us. We’ve had so many offers of help…to clean out my eavestroughs, bring me food…all kinds of stuff. Just overwhelming.” Her voice took on a determined
Page 13
tone as she spoke from the heart. “There are three things I want to say. Number one, I want to thank that brave lady who stopped her car on a dark highway in the middle of the night to find my husband, because he was there in the darkness, all alone. She doesn't want to be identified, but I am so thankful to her. Number two, I want to thank the Niagara Regional Police. They've been so sensitive, and every day coming to let us know what's going on. They’re not telling us everything, but we respect that because it helps the investigation. I urge everybody to go to the police
media site. In the last media release, they identified a vehicle—a black Ford Expedition—that they're hoping to find. Finally, I want to thank the community for this outpouring of support. It really shows what kind of place Pelham and Fenwick are. Thank you.” At the end of the procession, a man driving the final vehicle, a classic Chevy convertible, stopped to get out and hug Tillie and her daughters. With reporting by Don Rickers and Dave Burket. Photos by Don Rickers.
Page 14
The Voice, October 14, 2020
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
HEIGHTS
continued from Page 9 and markers I encountered: a cannon mounted on a hill facing the American side, a plaque marking the various specific locations of events during the battle, and a pile of boulders marking where Lieutenant Colonel John Macdonell died while trying to lead a second charge against the American forces. After General Brock fell, his comrade Macdonell (who was also his friend) jumped on Brock’s horse, Alfred, and allegedly shouted, “Avenge the general!” as he rallied the demoralized British troops. The second charge was almost successful, but a musket ball struck Alfred, who reared up. Another musket ball hit Macdonell in the spine, and he would die in great pain the next day. This second setback further demoralized the British forces, and although they were ultimately victorious in repelling the American forces from crossing the Niagara River, the loss of General Brock was irrecoverable for the British commanding forces. A stroll through the historic town of Queenston revealed more historic treasures: the house of Laura Secord, where she began her 32-kilometre run to warn the British army of a surprise attack by the American forces during the war; and the Mackenzie Printery, where William Lyon Mackenzie got his start as a small-town journalist, before becoming a rebellion leader and eventually mayor (and, perhaps, becoming an inspiration for small-town journalists and young political firebrands everywhere). The stroll through Queenston led us back to the escarpment, and I was shaken out of my historical reverie by a motorcycle cavalcade rumbling down the street. It felt good to see the motorcyclists smiling and waving at all the tourists, the roar of the motorcycles drowning out the sounds of shots. During a pandemic, seeing large groups of smiling faces had become a bit of a novelty. When they passed, I looked up at the wood steps leading up the escarpment with some trepidation. Telling myself that at least I didn’t have musketballs flying at me (however inaccurately they would fly), I began my climb. I quickly discovered that in the noon heat, huffing and puffing up
Top left, re-enactor Scott Finley. Above, the Mackenzie Printery. Lower left, Pelham-born adventure writer Adam Shoalts. Lower right, the top of the Brock monument. HELEN TRAN
the Niagara Escarpment in the year 2020 was no small feat. I lugged a backpack full of lenses and carried a bulky DSLR camera, a far cry from the technology of 1812, which would have been composed of a pack of supplies and a 10-20 pound musket and bayonet. Despite my loose shirt and jacket, I was drenched in sweat before I was even halfway up the stairs. The average soldier in 1812 would have been carrying a massive amount of gear, while wearing sub-par leather footwear and most likely a full wool uniform and hat. They also would not have had the benefit of the wooden stairs I was currently struggling on, and would have done this climb on hand and foot as hell in the form of musket shot, cannon fire, and spiked hotshot rained down upon them. I wasn’t the only one panting on the stairs at the halfway mark, and the climb was especially slow as all us out-of-shape tourists maintained our social distance. “I don’t think I’d have made it on
time for the battle,” I puffed. “How did the soldiers do it?” another visitor panted, leaning on his walking stick. The British army would have been composed of British regular soldiers, local militia, and Mohawk warriors. Brock would have been at the front leading the charge, in full scarlet officer regalia, plus a colourful scarf gifted to him by his ally, Shawnee leader Tecumseh. It was this uniform and scarf (and his uncommon height for the time, 6 foot two) that would turn him into a literal moving target for the American forces, which greatly outnumbered the British soldiers. As Brock waved and shouted enthusiastically to his men to keep moving (allegedly “Surgite!” as Brock University would later adopt as their motto), a lone American soldier took aim and pulled the trigger of his musket, felling the storied general with a shot directly to the heart. Despite his death, and a failed second charge, British reinforcements
eventually arrived and the American forces surrendered. My climb up the escarpment was ultimately successful, and, as I collapsed at the crest of the hill, the Brock Monument towered above me, as it did over everything in the park. The tower, normally open to tourists during non-pandemic times, is a 56- metre column that contains 235 steps and a lookout at the top. When I approached the monument, a splendidly dressed re-enactor came over to greet me at a safe distance. “Why hello there,” he said, with a wave of his staff. He introduced himself as Scott Finlay, of Parks Canada. According to Finlay, the monument is the resting place of Brock and Lieutenant-Colonel Macdonell, and was built in the 1850s by Toronto architect William Thomas and master stone carver Charles Thomas Thomas. The third oldest war memorial in Canada, it features a massive statue of the general at the very top, with his arm pointing toward the American border. This arm was struck by lightning in 1929, and large parts of the statue fell to the ground. Later renovations to the monument would include various safety features to ensure that if lightning did strike twice, at least the arm would remain intact. At one point, Finlay paused the lively history lesson to pose with a couple for their wedding photos. They thanked him and then con-
tinued posing in various areas of the park. Their laughter echoed throughout the grounds, which despite the time (early afternoon) was still relatively empty of tourists. “This is the perfect time to visit,” said Finlay. “With the border closed, there are less tourists and they are almost all local to the area. Nowadays when I ask people where they are from, I hear Fonthill, Welland…” Indeed, that was the exact reason I had decided to have an adventure in Queenston heights that weekend — without the usual weekend crowds, there were no lines, no noise, no hassle. I said farewell to Finlay and the other staff at the Brock Monument, and went on one last expedition to find my car. On the way, I passed several families picnicking in the park. As my boots crunched the fall leaves, I could still feel the presence of the monument behind me, as if it were watching over the escarpment. A moving shadow alerted me, and I glanced upwards. A large turkey vulture soared aimlessly above the empty parking lot. After a few circles, and seemingly disappointed at the slim pickings, it flew off into the distance until it disappeared. I took this as my cue to also disappear, and as I drove home with the air conditioning on full blast, I felt supremely grateful for this 2020 life, despite the pandemic, with all its material comforts. Surgite!
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FONTHILL BANDSHELL PRESENTS DE TEMPS ANTAN 947-0393 / 519-853-2157. Since 2003, Éric Beaudry, André Brunet and Pierre-Luc Dupuis have been exploring and performing time-honoured melodies from the stomping grounds of Quebec’s musical past. Using fiddle, accordion, harmonica, guitar, bouzouki and a number of other instruments, our three virtuosos blend boundless energy with the unmistakable vivreas,found only in mia, definedjoie by de Curtis “a decrease LIMITS in the core body temperature to a level continued from Page 18 traditional Quebec music. Show runsatfrom 7-9 p.m. which normal muscular and cerebral
functions are impaired.” is running down from your neck, then That five-hour, rain-soaked ride along LIBRARY CARD MAKING WORKSHOP headPELHAM south. Bottom line, the water will the coast provided a textbook of warning get in, and, just guessing here, I expect Make six cards with fall themes, learning variety techniques. signs a that mild of (98.6 F – 96.0 F Materials degree) to the sensation is much like cycling in a moderate (95.0 F – 93.0 F degree) hypoare provided. At time of registration, please enquire about tools needed. soggy diaper. thermia was setting in. AsTues., everyone is prone to repeating these Sept. 16 10 – 12:30. $10. Please register ahead. Visitbegan www.pelhamInvoluntary shivering after two days, let’s follow the science to underor three hours, and became quite violent orduring call 905-892-6443 standlibrary.on.ca what happens extended rid- for more details. as the ride wore on. My coordination and ing, running, or hiking in the rain, and motor skills sometimes let me down, eswhy it’s prudent to be aware of changes FABULOUS FENWICK LIONS FISHpecially FRY my fingers and hands, which to your body and heat regulating systems I couldn’t rely on to operate the shift or whileTasty doingtreats so. with funds heading straight back into the community. Haddock, brake levers as deftly as required on the If the outdoor ambient temperature is rain-slicked fries and F), much Runs Sept. 9 from roads. 4-7 p.m. less french than 37.0 C (98.6 as amore. wet cyclist, Decision making, never a personal the science is against you in every way. strong suit, got worse. All cyclists evenAccording to Rick Curtis, Director of PELHAM MINOR HOCKEY EQUIPMENT SALEfrequently the hard way, not tually learn, Princeton University’s Outdoor Action and to ride through puddles. I let my guard Leadership Program, heat is at the Pelham Buy, sell or tradeyour usedbody equipment Arena. Aimed to provide conducted away from you via direct con- down and rode blindly through a puddle, cheaper options for players in this upcoming season. Runs Sept. from and I was certain I’d amputated my 6 tongue tact between objects, including air, at the when my jaw slammed shut from the im9-12 inlevel. the morning. molecular Because of its greater pact of the front wheel dropping into a density, water conducts heat away from massive pothole. the body 25 times faster than air. When It was only when I arrived in CastlePELHAM MUDFEST riding or running dry, this conductivity townbere and attempted to ask a shopaccounts 2% of will body loss; Menfor andonly women beheat back in ifthe mud as the second run on the year is your clothes are soaked through, that in- keeper where I might find a B&B or hotel, that I realized my speech was slightly heldto at Bissil’s Hideaway. creases 10%. Heat loss through convection and ra- slurred, a sign of moderate hypothermia. A long, hot shower, an hour under a diation adds to our body’s difficulty in warm Irish wool blanket, and a steaming NIAGARA REGIONAL EXHIBITION coping. As fresh rainwater is constantly bowl of traditional Irish stew fortunately seeping along our skin’s surface, it will Rodeo, games and live entertainment headline this years exciting event. It left me chastised and recuperated. attract and remove the heat stored there. These episodes always offer teachable runs from Sept. 11-14 at the Welland Fairgrounds. Throw in wind chill from the speed of cymoments, frequently clarifying things cling into a cold Atlantic headwind, and you won’t do again. Two years later, afeventually your body will lose the battle BIGwarm. MOVE CANCER RIDE ter cycling with a friend for three hours in to keep a downpour during an unseasonably cold While it’s true that pedaling works up a The Big Move Cancer Ride is a non-competitive ride taking place on Sept. March in the Florida Panhandle, we were sweat, which you may think is warming, 7. Proceeds for the Big Move stay in Niagara and support the Walker Famduring endurance-type effort you are los- smart enough to cajole a kind-hearted local fellow with a van to drive us the last 40 ily Cancer Centre. ing additional heat and fluids. The energy kilometres to our hotel. produced by your muscles is telling your The anticipation of the unexpected ofbody core to shed heat through perspiration,WALKING exactly the CLUB response you don’t want fered by cycling through puddles is just too much fun to give up, though. Howevif your exertion is be sustained. Interested in towalking in Pelham? Join them Tuesdays at the Pelham Arena To complicate our body’s ability to reg- er, between the bleeding tongue and ingesting various substances up by 9-10 am and Thursdays at Fonthill Bandshell for 9-10:30thrown am. There ulatefrom its temperature in extended wet ridmy front wheel (Ireland has 3.8 million ing even let’s in cool is nomore, fee for thisbreathe program. Forair,more information, please contact jcook@ sheep), I’ve at least learned to keep my and expel warm, moist air to further lower mouth shut when riding in the rain. pelham.ca or call 905 892-2607, ext 329. our temperature and dehydrate ourselves. Enjoy your fall cycling, even in the rain, This alarming blend of dehydration and continued heat loss can lead to hypother- but pay attention to your body.
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The Voice, October 14, 2020
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Concordia Lutheran Church 105 Welland Rd., Fonthill
Fonthill Baptist Church www.fonthillbaptistchurch.ca
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 1369 Rice Rd., Fonthill
Ridgeville Bible Chapel ridgevillebiblechapel.com
Fenwick Church of Christ www.fenwickchurchofchrist.ca
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Kirk on the Hill Presbyterian Church 1344 Haist St., Fonthill
St. Alexander Roman Catholic Church www.stalexander.on.ca
Fenwick United Church www.fenwickunited.com
Glad Tidings Church of God www.gladtidingschurchofgod.com
Pelham Community Church (United Church) www.pelham.cc
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FAITH LIFT
continued from Page 19 After serving eight years of his sentence, Tom was released. He went to university to study the classics and then seminary, earning bachelor, masters and doctoral degrees along the way. He became a pastor, counselor and president of the C.S. Lewis Institute in Washington, DC. Tom also became close friends with Dr. John Perkins, a black pastor who had also experienced racism. John’s brother had been killed by police and John himself had been arrested and beaten in jail. He had hated whites as much as Tom had hated blacks. Now, as believers, they wrote a book together entitled He’s My Brother. Tom has also written an autobiography Consumed by Hate, Redeemed by Love, with the subtitle, “How a Violent Klansman became a Champion of Racial Reconcili-
ation.”
The take-away
What can we learn from this extraordinary life story? In Tom’s words, “God builds His Kingdom with broken tools.” We are all broken by sin in different ways but God still wants to use us to fulfill His plans if we’re willing to surrender our plans and our lives to Him. The root problem of racism goes deeper than education or legislation (although they both play a role). The real problem is spiritual and resides in the sinful human heart which only God by His Spirit can change. That change took place in the heart of a white supremacist named Tom and a black extremist named John. And that should give us all renewed hope for today. ◆ Rob Weatherby is a retired pastor who works closely with a black South African brother, Mpumi.
SHOTS
continued from Page 8 Food Basics plaza, said he also has both vaccines in stock, with appointments necessary. He administered 600 flu shots last year, and expects to exceed that number if he has a sufficient supply of vaccine. “The government has told existing pharmacies that they will receive 50 percent of their vaccine volume from last year before October 19, but many have not received that amount yet,” said Sisak. “New pharmacies were told that they will receive only 50 flu shot doses before October 26.” Bruce McAlpine, owner of one of those new pharmacies, PharmaSave, in south Fonthill, said that the government is distributing vaccines between October 5 and 26. “That's the first wave of stuff,” said McAlpine. “I already received my allocation at my Smithville store, but have not received any-
Pharmacist Glen Sisak assists a customer. thing at Pelham Hills yet. The second wave of distribution starts October 26.” He described it as a “fluid situation,” since vaccine wholesalers have to get product from the manufacturers, and the “supply chain is a little bit tight right now.” Appointments are required at present, but McAlpine expects walk-
VOICE FILE
ins to be accepted in the future. Remember that simply getting a flu shot does not make a person impervious to illness. COVID-19 public health measures, which include wearing a face covering, frequent hand washing, and maintaining physical distance from those outside their household or social circle, all still apply.
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The Voice, October 14, 2020
Page 17
Voice
POETRY Pelham and the Pandemic
Fire up the grill for smoky homemade pizza
Okay. So have you had enough My poems too soft, or just too tough? Do they speak to you Do you hear my voice If this Covid ends Will you rejoice? Do you do your best Each and every day To send the Covid on its way? Do you appeal To those you love To do their part Don't use kid gloves?
Mohammad Baig's YouTube page.
It's time for Tough Love It's your life And his...and hers Your husband, wife Stand up for what you know is best Don't let those others run this mess We are adults, not little kids We need to act, this virus rid. Please speak to those Who run this show And tell them all Which way to go. Stand up for what you must believe So Pelham doesn't have to grieve.
YOUTUBER
son will be an inspiration to kids in the community. “I think he’s doing good so far and I want people to encourage him more by subscribing and stuff like that,” said Bhojani. She also said that Baig’s cousins, who saw him make some of his videos, started making their own channels as well. “So really, they kind of took after him and thought, ‘Oh, so if he can do it, we can do it, too,’” she said. Baig is happy about the number of subscribers he has obtained and is eager for more people to watch his channel. He added that the support he has
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received from viewers has given him the strength to make more. The young YouTuber had been through numerous hurdles in his past but refused to let them hold him down. Bhojani shared that Baig was born prematurely at 32 weeks and was put on the broad spectrum of autism. She added that he had difficulty communicating and socializing when he was younger but overcame those challenges through hard work and dedication. “I have seen a big change since he was six years old. He started to put things together and things started to get better. I’m really proud of him, he came this far and after making this YouTube channel too. He sure is a fighter.”
continued from Page 12
Shirley Lazareth
R
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
Pizza is beloved by people from all cultures and backgrounds. It’s certainly easy to call a favorite pizzeria and order a pie with all your favorite toppings. But homemade pizza is easier than one might imagine. The Artisan (Roasted Vegetables With Creamy Garlic Cheese) Makes one 12 x 12 inch pizza 1⁄4 1⁄2 1 1⁄2 1⁄2 1 1 dried 1⁄2 1⁄2 2 1 1 1 1
fennel bulb, trimmed and thinly sliced, lengthwise red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips carrot, peeled and sliced 1⁄4 inch thick on the diagonal cup sliced red onions cup broccoli florets portobello mushroom cap, sliced 1⁄2 thick tablespoon fresh rosemary, roughly chopped, or 1 teaspoon teaspoon kosher salt teaspoon freshly ground black pepper tablespoons extra virgin olive oil grilled pizza crust (see below) tablespoon grated parmesan cup shredded mozzarella package boursin cheese
Preheat the oven to 400F. To make the roasted vegetables, toss of all of the ingredients with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a shallow baking dish. Roast until the vegetables are tender and lightly browned, about 25 minutes. Brush the grilled side of the pizza crust with the remaining olive oil. Dust with the parmesan and sprinkle with the mozzarella. Spoon the boursin on top, without spreading it. Pile the roasted vegetables over the pizza. The grill should still be hot from grilling the crust. Cook the pizza over medium heat or indirect heat for around 5 to 8 minutes. Check it after 1 minute by gently lifting up an edge of the crust with tongs or a spatula. If it is turning dark quickly, your fire is too hot. Move the pizza around the grill to get away from the heat. When the pizza is done, the crust will be crispy. Before serving, garnish with the fennel tops. Basic Grilled Pizza Dough Makes two 12-inch crusts 3/4 1 1⁄2 11/2 1/4 1 2 pan 2
cup warm water packet active dry yeast (about 21⁄4 teaspoons) teaspoon sugar cups unbleached flour cup whole wheat flour teaspoon kosher salt tablespoons cornmeal, preferably white, plus additional for the tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus 1/4 teaspoon for the bowl
Pour the warm water into a small bowl or measuring cup. Add the yeast and sugar and stir until the yeast dissolves into a smooth beige color. Let it stand on your counter for about 5 minutes to prove that the yeasted water is active. A thin layer of foam will appear at the top, indicating the batch is good. Measure the flours, salt and cornmeal into a large bowl. Add the yeasted water and the 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Mix well, stirring with a strong spoon. Lightly flour a clean, dry countertop. Form a ball of dough, place it on the counter, and press down with the palm of your hand. Fold the dough over itself and press again. Continue to roll and press the dough for about 8 minutes until the dough is smooth. Add only enough flour to prevent it from sticking. Put the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of olive oil in a medium bowl. The dough will be sticky, so flour your hands before picking it up, and place it in the bowl. Turn over several times until it is coated in oil. This prevents a crust from forming on its surface. Cover with plastic wrap, and place in a draft-free, warm place, for 2 hours, until it rises to almost double in appearance. Chill the dough in the refrigerator overnight, or for 1 hour to firm up. Since this dough is slightly sticky, chilling the dough makes it easier to roll out. Roll half of the dough out to about 12 x 12 inches. (This recipe makes two crusts) Grill the dough on an inside or outside grill that has reached around 400 F. The dough should take about 3 minutes to cook. Watch for bubbles. To check whether your crust is done, lift the underside. It should be an even light brown with brown grill marks. A charred crust adds to the flavor. Pick up the crust from the middle, using tongs, and place it on a cookie sheet. Flip it over so the grilled side is face up. This browned side becomes the top of your pizza.
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The Voice, October 14, 2020
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
FROM THE HANDLEBARS
by John Swart
There are limits to cycling in the Irish rain
C
ycling for an extended time in cold October rain doesn’t rank highly on most folks’ fun index. It’s progressively less comfortable as the hours wear on, and can be dangerous. If your intention is to ride an hour or two from home, and the sky is pouring down, most of us will just sit it out. There’s always a book to be read, work to catch up on, or a bike trainer in the basement. If you’re travelling by bicycle, staying put may not be an option. Perhaps you’ve already paid for your accommodation in
the next town, or you need to be at the airport early to catch your flight home. Every touring cyclist has logged their miles in a deluge at least once, and like so many other things that seldom go as planned, one never forgets the first time. On a pre-COVID tour, I’d planned a short day, just 85 kilometers, around the Beara Peninsula in Counties Cork and Kerry along Ireland’s southwest coast. Leaving Kenmare, I’d pedal around the Beara via stunning Cahermore, to Castletownbere where I hoped to find accommodation. It was drizzling as I set out, so I was dressed as
well as possible for the conditions. Waterproof jacket, hood pulled tight under my helmet, and water-resistant pants. No gloves or booties because it was October not December, and the Beara is where the warm North Atlantic Drift makes landfall in Europe, carrying heated waters from the Gulf of Mexico. Anyhow, “just in case” stuff is the first to be cut when reducing weight on a bike trip. In hindsight, the flip side of that peninsula jutting into the Gulf Stream theory is that the winds blow unabated from the east coast of North America, and they sure can pick up a lot of that warm water on route to Ireland. Shortly into the ride, the rain was bucketing. If you haven’t had the pleasure of cycling for
Caution: May be puddles ahead. hours in cool pouring rain, let me share. The folks that manufacture waterproof clothing are about as trustworthy in their claims as #45’s personal physician, Dr. Sean Conley. Nothing can keep you dry for 85 kilometres in an Atlantic gale. Rain will run into your helmet vents and percolate
down your hood to your neck and armpits. Rain will run off your glasses and from your nose, and the resulting cocktail will seep under your waterproof jacket. Your riding shoes will fill with water, your wicking sports socks will wick the water up to your wicking sports long underwear,
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which will wick it north to about where the water continually being thrown off your rear wheel gets under your jacket and runs into your pants and cycling shorts. The same happens up your sleeves. That rain will migrate to meet what See LIMITS Page 15
Voice
HOROSCOPE
ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 This week you may feel more rooted in the past than the present, Aries. Feeling nostalgic for old times, including the people and places of your past, is healthy. TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 People move in and out of your social circle. It’s a natural transition that everyone experiences. Embrace opportunities to meet new and interesting people. GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, if you take a trip down memory lane at some point, don’t be surprised if family members dominate your thoughts. Think about rekindling a lost relationship. CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, you may run into an old flame over the course of the week. In preparation, be sure to leave the house looking your best. This will help boost your confidence. LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 You may feel that life has gotten a tad dull, Leo. It is time to do something about that. Try a new restaurant. Engage in a new hobby. Connect with new friends. VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 Spirituality and religion may be on your mind, Virgo. You may want to figure out how to embrace your values and beliefs, as they can improve your life. LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 Waking up feeling optimistic and energized is a great thing, Libra. On top of it you may be surprised to find that someone has a crush on you. Go out if you’re single. SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 Scorpio, if restlessness sneaks
up on you, look for new opportunities to add a bit of excitement. It could be taking an online course in a subject that interests you or a vacation. SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 Something you read in a book may prove to be an “ah ha” moment for you, Sagittarius. You may have a new perspective on life and be excited to make changes. CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricorn, you may be feeling that someone close to you is ill or not himself or herself. These intuitions will not cease until you check out the situation for yourself. AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, a desire to learn new things may be very strong for you right now. It is never too late to return to school and finish a degree or to begin pursuit of a new one. PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, don’t take love too personally this week, especially if your romantic partner has been playing it cool. Things will come around. FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS OCTOBER 11 Cardi B, Rapper (28) OCTOBER 12 Hugh Jackman, Actor (52) OCTOBER 13 Kate Walsh, Actress (53) OCTOBER 14 Usher, Singer (42) OCTOBER 15 Bailee Madison, Actress (21) OCTOBER 16 Bryce Harper, Athlete (28) OCTOBER 17 Whitney Carson, Dancer (27)
36. Daft
34. Vegie
33. Rarefy
32. Enable
31. Gabled
29. Ida
30. Nikes
28. Yes
26. OSS
27. Jarred
24. GNP
25. Beliefs
20. Mac
23. Arrives
17. Pub
19. Endorses
15. Cos
14. SCH
12. Worthier
10. Congaed
7. Hyde
9. Bleat
6. Seeds
5. Untied
3. Privet
4. Confirm
2. Tuvalu
DOWN
1. Scenic
SOLUTIONS
43. Dey
41. Self
42. Teds
39. Elbe
40. Fiefs
37. Akbar
38. Agrees
35. Diana
36. Derives
34. Valises
26. One
27. Jerry Springer
24. Gid
25. Bro
23. ADC
21. Nab
22. Hem
mustard
18. Cut the
16. Ileac
17. Porgies
13. Naves
15. Confide
11. Evil
12. Wonted
8. Curb
10. Coney
1. STP
4. Cush
ACROSS
CROSSWORD ANSWERS
SOLUTIONS
Enjoy our Take-out Fish & Chips Fridays! From our family to yours...stay safe
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
The Voice, October 14, 2020
Voice
FAITH LIFT
by Pastor Rob Weatherby
CROSSWORD SPONSORED THIS WEEK BY
A Ku Klux Klansman repents
A
few weeks ago, I shared the story of the late governor of Alabama. I called it “George Wallace: A Racist Repents.” Today’s column tells the story of a lesser-known individual who (believe it or not) has an even more dramatic story to tell. His name is Tom Tarrants.
The young Klansman
Thomas Tarrants was born in Mobile, Alabama (the same state as Wallace) in the deep south. He attended a Protestant church with his family. He went to Sunday school and was even baptized as a youth. Looking back, he now realizes his faith was nominal (in name only) without real repentance for sin and without real change. As he was growing up in the 1960s, segregation of whites and blacks in Alabama was complete —separate schools, separate churches, separate washrooms, separate everything. The American version of apartheid felt normal to Tom as a boy and was the culture that surrounded him. However, as desegregation began to be enforced during that decade, Tom (and many others) reacted with fear, which turned into anger and violence. He became involved in the anti-black, anti-Jewish movement called the “Ku Klux Klan” or KKK (from the Greek word “Kyklos” meaning “circle”). It was a circle, clan or brotherhood of white supremacists which had begun in 1865 after the American Civil War. Their purpose was to intimidate black people in the American south and impede efforts to free and empower them. On one assignment, Tom went to Mississippi to bomb
the home of a Jewish businessman who was progressive and against segregation. The police had been tipped off and were waiting for him. In the gunfight his driver was killed but Tom was only injured and captured. He was sentenced to 30 years in the state penitentiary, where his anger and hatred only deepened. He recruited others to the cause, read extremist literature and eventually escaped. When recaptured, a fellow inmate was killed but again Tom survived. He then spent three years in a small cell alone. Tom describes him-
Page 19
PETER PIPERS
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self at that time as (quoting Ephesians 2:12) “without hope and without God.”
The turning point
Tom then began reading classical literature and eventually the Bible. Gradually as he read and meditated on Scripture, God began to convict him of his sin — his pride, his anger, his self-centredness, his hatred of others different from himself. He experienced true repentance (sorrow for sin) for the first time. This led to a heart change and three new desires — to read Scripture, to pray, and to live for God. See FAITH LIFT Page 16
Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!
Word Search: Fright Flicks
Find the words hidden vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and backwards. ALIENS A QUIET PLACE CARRIE DRACULA EVIL DEAD
GERALD’S GAME GET OUT GODZILLA HALLOWEEN HUSH
MISERY NOSFERATU PSYCHO ROSEMARY’S BABY SAW
SHAUN OF THE DEAD THE CONJURING THE DEAD ZONE THE FLY THE SHINING ANSWERS ON PAGE 18
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The Voice, October 14, 2020
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
COLUMN SIX
continued from Page 1 types of leaves as I could in every colour and size. Big red maple leaves, yellow oak, orangey brown birch and tiny little willow leaves. I wanted them all and I wanted to keep them for ever. Some years they were kept in shoe boxes. Other years pressed between pages of the biggest books I could find in the house. But try as I might they inevitably turned brown, dried out and crumbled into brittle pieces of dust. That’s why when my dad hit on one more of his great sales ideas I fell hook, line, and sinker for it. My dad has a plastic manufacturing company and he hates to throw out plastic— or at least let anything go to waste. He’s always looking for ways to use the small cut-off pieces that are left over. So about ten years ago he looked at the clear acrylic
I fell hook, line, and sinker for it
Laminated leaves, anyone? From the author's collection. plastic cut-offs and he hit on an idea. We would cut them into 3-inch by 3-inch squares then collect the best, brightest and most
unique fall leaves, press them to the underside of the squares and adhere them with the end pieces of the plastic tape that the com-
LAURA LANE
pany makes as well. Stick on trivet feet in the four corner and voila —drink coasters. We’d package them as sets of four, plus a larger hot pad
trivet to match. I came up with the idea to wrap them in clear cellophane wrapping paper, tied with red, orange and yellow ribbon, with a little label attached. We’d offer it to local charities as a fundraising item with 25% of the proceeds going to the charity! Brilliant idea! I jumped right on that bandwagon. My kids and I headed out the door immediately to collect the best, brightest and most colourful leaves we could find. My dining room table became the assembly line of coaster production. We were in business! Okay, actually we were in production. In order to be a real business, we need-
ed sales. We found a few unsuspecting friends and family members who were willing to fork over $20, but knocking on doors proved harder than I expected. No local businesses were willing to stock them, and as our inventory begin to collect dust through the winter and into the next spring, my carefully chosen bright fall leaves did as they inevitably did in my shoebox, they turned a sad sorry brown no matter what colour they started out. Nature won out again. I have a few coasters left at home and every time I find one tucked away in the drawer under the window seat or under a stack of magazines I am reminded that some things—things like fall leaves— are meant to be enjoyed in the moment, and not laminated or tucked away in a shoebox. ◆ Everyone has a tale to tell. Share yours with Column Six. editor@thevoiceofpelham.ca