The Voice, October 5 2022

How

like

Spooks and ghosts Are you a believer?

BY HELEN TRAN Special to the Voice

D

o you believe in ghosts?

Well, do you?

Regardless of your belief, it is a great conversation starter. Many people have their own definition of what a ghost is, what they look or sound like, where they come from and why they visit certain people or places, and whether they are real or figments of our very powerful imaginations.

Despite the lack of scientific evidence, there is a plethora of anecdotal material regarding these supernatural beings. Everyone knows someone who has allegedly seen or heard a ghost.

A ghost is defined in most dictionaries as a disembodied soul, specifically the soul of a deceased person who now inhabits the world, either seen or unseen by the living.

Yet what exactly is a “soul”?

A soul is often described as the life force of a person — their intelligence, their

October 8

RESULTS

And the first numbers are in: As you can see to the right, our first tracking poll results for this month’s municipal election are in, and they appear to show incumbents Junkin and Huson with comfortable leads, with John Wink leading the way in Ward 2, the only contested ward this time around; and incumbents Nancy Beamer and Paul Turner comfortably ahead in their school board Trustee races. That said, and while our polling results have been fairly accurate toward the end of the last couple of elections, no one should take these numbers as anything approaching gospel. An opinion poll is not an election. For example, I believe the mayoral race is tighter than these numbers make it seem. The race may be Junkin’s to lose, but it would be foolish for either side’s supporters to rest on their laurels or toss up their hands in defeat. There are still three weeks yet to go! That’s a political eternity...Speaking of time: John Swart’s Balanced Life column this week (p.18) takes on how we use it, or not, and what that means for our lives. I’ve never been particularly concerned with making good use of every minute of every day, although my wife might disagree with that assessment. It’s possible that at one time I may have been overly focused on “efficiencies” of various sorts, but time has a way of mellowing our concern about time. In the wise words of the composer Hector Berlioz, time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils. The less time I spend micromanaging what to do with my time, the happier I am these days...On the question of aging: Some candidates are reluctant to divulge their age to our intrepid interviewer Don Rickers, which in all candour I find both silly and smacking of a bygone era which deserves to stay gone. Age can tell us a lot—not everything, certainly, but a fair amount, and it’s a valid data point to help voters decide. Youth has its limitations—as we saw earlier this century when Pelham elected its youngest mayor ever, who went on to learn (or not) on the job. At the other extreme, greatly advanced age does not necessarily bode well for consistent mental acuity or sound judgment either. There’s no way I’m as sharp or have as much energy at 63 as I did at 43, but I’m wiser. Whether that remains true by 73 or 83, well...time will tell. At some point, ossified curmudgeon-osity may be inevitable for all...Wally Braun has a good idea: At least if I’m understanding it right—turn the new water tower coming to Pelham into a tourist attraction by adding an observation deck, ala the CN Tower (p.3) They Kame, they viewed, they spent money...Boosted: We got our omicron-specific boosters last week. Apart from mildly sore shoulders, no side effects...Boo! Helen Tran's Column Six this week takes an interesting turn. Enjoy...Take note: Campaign signs are not permitted on boulevards between street and sidewalk— that's Town property. Bylaw will enforce upon complaint... Happy Thanksgiving: See you next week. 4

Last week we asked if the election were held today, who would

your vote?

Results are in percentages

to the nearest whole number.

total votes cast.

The

Monday,

Medical

Carbon

Friday,

Wally Braun eyes Pelham's Regional Council seat

Perennial Town Council candidate says Region is more influential

BY DON RICKERS Contributing News Editor

WALLY BRAUN QUICK FACTS

Pelham’s

Regional

Councillor

He has run unsuccessfully in all three Pelham Town Council wards in past municipal elections, but Wally Braun is hopeful that a seat on Niagara Regional Council is attainable this time around.

“Most of the policy areas that I'm interested in are decided at the Region, which produces master legislation that local municipalities must follow,” he told the Voice. “That's particularly true with regard to urban planning. One of the primary issues that I would like to address is the issue of growth. We are slated for a minimum population of 29,000 by 2051, up from our current 18,000, which is unaccept-

able. We don't need it or want it, and we were not consulted. I would propose 25,000 as a maximum target. Although these targets are dictated by the provincial government, the Region has latitude as to where that growth occurs. I would like to see Pelham slow down its rate of growth, and transfer it to other municipalities that are more growth-inclined.”

Urban density is a different matter for Braun.

“In fact, we need to increase density to meet provincial density requirements,” he said. “To achieve those density requirements, we need to engage in attractive higher-density development. I like to think of it as the ‘missing middle.’ If you go with urban sprawl, then you are automatically predisposed to apartment blocks, but the missing middle is low-rise development, maybe three storeys, five storeys

the absolute maximum.”

Braun said that ten-storey buildings are currently allowed in Pelham.

“What people don't know is that under provincial mandates, developers can go up to 12 storeys, and there are at least two developments on Port Robinson Road that could be affected.”

Braun does not buy the argument that developers, when opposed, will automatically go to the

Ontario Land Tribunal (formerly the Land Planning Appeal Tribunal) and win their case.

“I've been a contractor all of my working life, and I’ve dealt with lawyers. These things can be negotiated,” he said.

Pelham has a new water tower in the works, destined for Lookout Street, said Braun, which he said is designed for six million litres, almost three times the capacity of the current water tower on Highway 20 behind Fire Station 1. Braun’s preferred solution is to retrofit the existing water tower to save money.

“The only reason for the new tower is to service the land at higher elevations than the existing tower,” he said. “It's a huge giveaway, with millions of dollars lining the pockets of developers. I see no reason why taxpayers need to continue to subsidize developer profits.”

Braun’s alternative proposal would see a water tower with an observation deck on top. Think Eiffel and CN Towers.

“Other places in the world have

stations

a.m.

p.m.

Voting Day Polls

Ward and Polls Location

Ward One; Polls 01, 02, 03

Pelham Fire Station #3

Cream Street Ward One; Polls 04, 05, 06, 07, 08,

Welland Road Ward Two; Polls 10, 11, 12, 13

Pelham Fire Station #2

Pelham Fire Station #1

177 RR 20 Fonthill Ward Two; Polls 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 Meridian Community Centre, Accursi | 100 Meridian Way Ward Three; Polls 19, 23, 27 Pelham Friends Church

940 Haist Street Ward Three; Polls 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26 Meridian Community Centre, Gym

100 Meridian Way Ward Two; Institutional Voting Only 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Lookout Ridge Ward Two; Institutional Voting Only 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Shorthills Villa Ward Three; Institutional Voting Only 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Woodlands of Sunset

Wally Braun is running for Pelham's non-mayoral seat on Niagara Regional Council

DON RICKERS

"What people don't know is that under provincial mandates, developers can go up to 12 storeys"

Our

is to

This National Newspaper Week it’s important to recognize your Champions Of The Truth.

Maybe I’m a bit of a throwback, but when it comes to debating the issues of the day, my style leans more towards persuasion rather than brute force. I like to build my case point-by-point, parry the objections where I can, and when I can’t, I like to take them away and have a think about them. While I may have gone into the discussion with my mind made up, facts, evidence and arguments may cause me to change my mind.

And that’s a good thing.

Too often, debates move from what should be a free exchange of ideas into a no-holds-barred, zerosum-game clash for the ages. No quarter is asked and certainly no quarter is given. Two ideas enter, but only one can leave. Win or lose. Kill or be killed.

And that’s a very bad thing.

It’s bad because with that winning-is-everything mentality, the lines between truth and “truth” gets blurred. Inconvenient facts get ignored, projec-

tions are presented as certainties and counter-arguments are dismissed with only the fl imsiest of pretexts. Not only that, the tone can range from haughty and superior to ridicule and outright bullying.

OPINION

And that’s no way to come to a decision in a functioning democracy.

It’s supposed to be the rule of the people, not the rule of the loudest.

That’s why newspaper journalism is so important. At our best, we look at every issue the same. We gather all available facts, we talk to experts and supporters from both sides, we do our research and then present what we fi nd to our readers so they can make up their own minds. We have no direct interest in which side is right and which side is wrong. We lose nothing by pointing out the fl aws in both arguments. Our job isn’t to advocate, it’s to inform.

HELP? MAKE THE

As valuable as this is to the community, it doesn’t come without a cost. If you treat any challenge to your beliefs as heresy, you come out guns blazing, often attacking not what was reported, but the fact that it was reported. If I’m wrong about something, I’ll correct it, but if I’m accused of being pro or anti something just because I contradicted a “fact,” that says a lot more about the person complaining than it does about the quality of my journalism.

Truth is neutral. Truth doesn’t care if it agrees with your beliefs and desires. Reporting the truth helps the community discuss and debate the important issues of the day fully and with clear eyes.

The ultimate decision on these questions is up to you, but it’s our duty to give you all the information you need to decide for yourself. 4

Gordon Cameron is president of the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors.. This column was written as a part of a series for National Newspaper Week on the topic of Champions

Of The Truth: The Real Superheroes.

Letters

I’m with you, my friend. [“Ridiculously excessive, unnecessary, and disturbing to the neighbours,” Letters, Sept. 21, p.5.] The Town of Pelham is in dire need of some bylaws that work for we, the taxpayers. They hire new bylaw officers but don’t really have many bylaws it seems.

Your obvious problem is backyard neighbour lighting gone wild! Mine is my survey. I had to have a survey before I could get a mortgage from Royal Trust in 1963. My neighbors of 18 years have just recently decided I was on their property. They won’t accept we have a survey or our survey stakes.

Have you noticed a property on Canboro

CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS

Distress

Distress and

24-hour help line: 905-688-3711

Mental

1-866-550-5205 (Toll Free)

Alcoholics Anonymous

a Niagara meeting. 905-682-2140

and

Narcotics Anonymous 1-888-811-3887.

Gambler’s Anonymous 905-351-1616

Kids Help Phone Service for

416-586-5437 800-668-6868 (Crisis Line) www.kidshelpphone.ca

Assaulted Women’s Helpline Mobile

to: #SAFE (#7233) 1-866-863-0511 (Toll-free)

Stoppers 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) www.niagaratips.com

- 274637 (CRIMES),

Member of Federal Parliament Electoral District: Niagara West Dean Allison, MP 4994 King Street Beamsville, ON L0R 1B0 Dean.Allison@parl.gc.ca 877-563-7900

Member of Provincial Parliament Electoral District: Niagara West Sam Oosterhoff, MPP 4961 King St. East, Unit M1 Beamsville, ON L0R 1B0 sam.oosterhoffco@pc.ola.org 905-563-1755

Members of Niagara Regional Council Councillor Marvin Junkin mjunkin@pelham.ca 905-658-2987

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

Members of Pelham Town Council

Ward 1 Councillor Marianne Stewart mstewart@pelham.ca 289-821-0840

Councillor Wayne Olson wolson@pelham.ca 905-933 6033

Ward 2 Councillor Ron Kore rkore@pelham.ca 905-933-3805

Road in Fenwick that has blue tarp 9 feet in the air, running the full length of the property? The Town has declared it a “privacy screen.” Why? Because the Town has no bylaw on “privacy screens.” I will tell you about backyard problems. The signs out there are big, bold and name- calling. The last sign in the backyard called us liars. My wife read it and made a sign back to him. It read “Your psychiatrist called! You missed your appointment!”

Remember this when you cast your vote. Something similar could happen to you Merelle and Marlene Stirtzinger Fenwick

PUBLISHER

CONTRIBUTORS

Jane

Councillor Diana Huson diana.huson@niagararegion.ca 905-324-3094

Town of Pelham 20 Pelham Town Square P.O. Box 400  Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0 905-892-2607

Councillor 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

Today's forgotten

stopped

Healthcare needs more than $5.4 million

Having recently experienced health issues and wait times for numerous medical tests followed by surgery, I sympathize with a recent letter writer about his wife's challenges with the health system.

That said, I don't think taking away a $5.4 million dollar grant to build a new library would make even a dent in resolving the very complex issues facing healthcare. And libraries are just as essential and deserving of support as hospitals, schools, recreation and arts facilities.

If you have been to a library lately you would know they are no longer just about books—they are community hubs where you can access all sorts of information along with free internet access, children and adult programming, and so much more all in a very safe and welcoming environment.

As a library user for 60-plus years I have seen the impact of their services on people from all walks of life.

Susan Morrison Fonthill

It seems that our justice system has gone the way of our healthcare—belly up...sideways...down the tube, whatever.

It’s good to see that Mr. Clapp got justice [Earl Clapp’s killer sentenced to 14 years, Sept. 28, p.1]. Hopefully his family can move on, but it never really goes away for them. Richard Lowe, on the other hand, seems entitled to be free and has had 19 months to delay even longer [No progress in Lowes case, Sept. 28, p.2]. Why is it every time his name comes up, there is the little blurb about his charitable causes and Kinsmen Club’s Citizen of the Year 2008! Does that make him any less guilty? What about the victims. [Editor’s note: It is standard practice to identify community members accused of wrongdoing in a manner that most accurately identifies them to the community at large.]

Then we have Michael Bond, an offender of a different kind, who killed an innocent pedestrian out walking, facing traffic, do-

ing all the right things back in 2019 [Verdict awaited in careless driving case, Sept. 28, p.8]. Here we are in 2022 and it seems that the charges under the Highway Traffic Act were not enough. This man should not have been able to access a vehicle, period.

How many times must we read about people who have had umpteen charges for driving without a license, driving while under suspension, driving unsafe vehicle, etc.

Our laws are much too lenient. Driving is not a right, it is a privilege, and it should be taken away if rules are not obeyed. In today’s world it seems there is little empathy for victims, and the families wait for months or years to get any kind of justice for their loved ones. The law seems to favour the persons on trial— sad state of affairs.

R. Obelnycki Fonthill

Make it Farmer Appreciation Day

This coming Thursday, October 6, is the last day of the Pelham Farmers Market for the season. And it is designated as Customer Appreciation Day.

Instead of us being appreciated, I would like to invite the residents of Pelham to join me and come out to the market to express our appreciation to all the folks

who grow our food.

Those of you who have had a garden know just how very hard the work of a farmer is, and it can be a thankless job at times.

We have become so conditioned to believe that our produce should be photo-worthy in its appearance that even the slightest blemish, dark spots, or bug

bites can turn us off, and we may become averse to purchasing this produce and

MUNICIPAL MATTERS Library Services

Libraries build communities

BY JULIE ANDREWS CEO, Lincoln Pelham Public Library

A

s we prepare to celebrate Canadian Library Month with a huge slate of programs and activities, Lincoln Pelham Public Library is reflecting.

In the six short months since our libraries came together, we have hit the ground running. Staff have provided many opportunities for our communities to connect through shared interests at programs and events — along with providing the same amazing services in the branches.

Our four locations are places for the community to gather, both physically and

virtually. We provide equal access for all to information, knowledge, culture, and learning resources in print and electronic format, along with advice, assistance, and connections. Libraries transform individuals, communities, and the economy in this 21st century digital and globalized world.

People come to libraries not only looking for information, but also to find themselves and their communities. Families join baby story times; seniors attend events and find ways to connect with people; while teenagers meet up in libraries to study and work on school projects. The books in our collections provide windows into the wider

world while also providing mirrors that reflect our diverse neighbourhoods.

Local governments fund the lion’s share of public library annual operating budgets. Savvy local governments and libraries look for grant opportunities to fund projects. If you need a reminder of how well this money is being used and how much your community benefits from library services, visit your local branch. Take some time to get to know us. We guarantee you’ll become a library champion!

Visit LPPL.ca to sign up for a library card and find information on collections, services, and programs. Follow us on social media at @LPPLibraryON 4

Choose your Welland councillors carefully

With the municipal election scheduled for October 24 with advance voting days in Welland on October 3 and 15, it is time for the electors to give serious consideration to which candidates deserve their vote.

With regard to the current Welland city councillors wishing to be re-elected to City Council, for me the choice is simple because of their action at their meeting on September 1, 2020, when council gifted themselves with an incredible 47 percent pay increase and extended health benefits, retroactive to July 1, 2020, by voting in favour of a motion

moved by Bryan Green and John Chiocchio. At this time the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns were at their height, business was at a standstill, and municipal and private sector workers were being laid off.

The councillors who voted in favour of this motion (YEAS) were: Jim Larouche; Bryan Green, Graham Speck, John Chiocchio, Claudette Richard, Mary Ann Grimaldi, Bonnie Fokkens, and Leo Van Vliet.

The council members who voted to de-

See WELLAND next page

The daughter of the late archbishop Desmond Tutu, a tireless campaigner against apartheid, revered human rights activist, Nobel prizewinner, and once one of the most famous Anglicans in the world, has been barred by the Church of England from officiating at the funeral of her godfather Martin Kenyon, one of her father’s dearest friends.

The reason is that Mpho Tutu van Furth, formerly an ordained Anglican priest in South Africa, is married to another woman, and while Anglican churches in the US, most of Canada, and other parts of the Communion marry same-sex couples and fully accept openly gay and married people as clergy, the English church has a more “nuanced” position. Priests may be gay, may enter into civil partnerships, but on the assumption that they are celibate.

It is, of course, a tediously inconsistent stance, layered with convenient dishonesty, and generally only tested when a gay priest seeks to become a bishop or, as in this case, a high-profile figure is involved. It’s made all the more challenging for the Church of England because in 2016 Tutu van Furth was forced to give up her right to officiate as a priest in South Africa because she married another woman. But she remains a priest in the Diocese of Washington DC.

Thus, even though the 92-yearold Kenyon had directly asked his goddaughter to conduct his funeral, the church said no. In the end, the ceremony was moved from the original location in St. Michael and All Angels church in Wentnor, Shropshire, to a nearby marquee so that Tutu van Furth could preside. It happened, but not as it was planned.

The couple married in 2015, and now live in The Netherlands. Marceline Tutu van Furth said of her wife, “She can’t do something out of love for her godfather and for the family just because of the same-sex marriage, and that’s something that upsets me.” Mpho Tutu van Furth herself said, “It's incredibly sad. It feels like a bureaucratic response with maybe a lack of compassion. It seemed really churlish and hurtful. But as sad as that was, there was the joy of having a celebration of a person who could throw open the door to people who are sometimes excluded.”

The Diocese of Hereford stated, “We acknowledge this is a difficult

situation,” but that, "Advice was given in line with the House of Bishops current guidance on same-sex marriage.”

That advice may well have mentioned those African churches that just last month, at the Lambeth Conference in Canterbury, had made such a fuss over LGBTQ2 affirmation and equal marriage. They would have been extremely angry if such a well-known figure as Mpho Tutu van Furth had been allowed to officiate.

Technically, Hereford Diocese had little choice. Morally and theologically it’s rather different. There are many Christians — including myself — who see clear and compelling Biblical arguments for equality. That view is increasingly dominant in North America and western Europe, but not in Africa, the Caribbean, and parts of Asia. In England itself, the conservative and evangelical wing of the church is generally opposed to full affirmation and has become increasingly organized and active in recent years.

In Africa, where the Anglican Church is large and growing, there are threats to leave the Anglican Communion if the subject is pursued, and even doubts about the future of the Anglican Church as an international body. That would be a tragedy, and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby is trying — with, it must be said, a certain skill and delicacy — to keep a divided church together over this deeply personal and emotional subject.

Desmond Tutu himself had no doubts. He gave his blessing to his daughter’s marriage, and said, “I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven … I would not worship a God who is homophobic and that is how deeply I feel about this.” He added: “I am as passionate about this campaign as I ever was about apartheid.”

So, in an increasingly angry and wounded world where the church could play such a vital role, we still argue about how and whom people are allowed to love. It baffles younger people, it makes Christianity seem reactionary at a time when churches are struggling to show the true face of Gospel compassion, and it hurts people for no reason. Jesus wept. So, I imagine, does Desmond Tutu. If I’m candid, so does this middle-aged straight priest, husband, father, and grandfather, who wishes that we could all just move on. 4

Letters continued

Nukes are bad business

Just a week after Putin’s renewed threats of nuclear war and President Biden’s reminder that a nuclear war can never be won and should never be fought, it is of some comfort to acknowledge the designation of September 26th by the UN as International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. We can look beyond the present tensions to a future where the world is without nuclear weapons.

The road ahead is already mapped, the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

(TPNW) now having 91 signatories. But Canada and all the nuclear armed countries have not signed, despite peoples’ overwhelming support for it.

Why not? Not because signing TPNW would leave us defenceless. The Treaty provides for nuclear-embracing states to disarm in a measured way, progressively and with verification. The problem lies with vested interests which want to keep the bombs around forever. These are the companies making a profit from multi-year contracts to build them and the

Choice for Mayor is clear

I want to begin by stating how important it is for you to get out and vote in this upcoming municipal election on October 24. Municipal politics is the most grassroots form of politics and is just as important as voting for your MPP or MP. Make it a family event, plan your day on October 24 to make your vote happen.

I have been working with Mayor Marvin Junkin and discussing mental health, homelessness and addictions issues with him throughout his term, as an advocate for these issues myself. Here are five key reasons to support Marvin Junkin’s reelection:

1. Junkin seconded a motion at Niagara Regional Council to declare a state of emergency on mental health, homelessness and addiction Region-wide.

2. Junkin stood up against the

WELLAND

continued from previous page

unethical practices of the previous Pelham Town Council, refused to be complicit with these unethical practices, and resigned his seat as Pelham Town Councillor for Ward 1 in protest.

3. Junkin understands the need to keep people connected in today's society. He has worked hard with other local and provincial elected officials to successfully expand the SWIFT rural internet partnership and get people connected.

4. Junkin has a balanced approach on the housing file. Everyone remembers the Gang of Four’s “cave like structures” objections when attempting to block a perfectly viable development project. I spoke to Marvin about this unreasonable opposition and he stressed to me how important it was to create smaller footprint

governments they lobby to keep spending $82 billion a year on these weapons of mass destruction.

For anyone who is moved to activity, join the anti-nuclear movement. A simple way to start is to call out the complicit companies and tell them that nuclear neapons are bad business. More details at icanw.org and dontbankonthebomb.com. Join me in telling them to divest now and help save our planet from nuclear weapons.

Dave Nicholson Fonthill

housing in Pelham for seniors downsizing in their retirement, or young couples entering the housing market. There are many mayors in Niagara not taking the right approach on development/ housing issues, but Junkin is one who is.

5. Why start over now? As it stands, Marvin Junkin is supportive of the issues of mental health, homelessness and addiction; he has a balanced approach to cannabis control in the Town of Pelham; Town finances are not running wild on development schemes; and he has pledged to continue to protect agricultural lands.

It took a lot of work to get many of these difficult files under control, but Junkin worked well with

See CHOICE Page 13

ried. In my opinion, none of the councillors who voted in favour of this motion deserve a vote now for their re-election to council.

feat the motion (NAYS) were: David McLeod, Tony DiMarco, Lucas Spinosa, Adam Moote, and Mayor Frank Campion.

Unfortunately, greed won out over common sense and concern for the taxpayers, and the motion car-

FARMERS

continued from previous page

even complain to the farmer.

We are very fortunate to be able to get fresh fruit and veggies all summer long, and into the fall before we have to start buying the imported, nondescript, not-very-tasty fruit and veg shipped thousands of kilometres from California and Mexico. I am of course immensely grateful and privileged to

When the electors mark their ballots for their candidates of choice, they should keep in mind that “You reap what you sow.”

Albert R. Smith Welland

be able to still buy any food, but local is so much better for so many reasons, not the least of which is climate change. Followed by better nutritional value, taste,and the building of a community of support for our local farmers.

Hope to see you at the market this week!

Immense gratitude and appreciation to each and every farmer in our community.

Edie Pett Fonthill

Cremation

Burial

Local rescue organizations criticize federal dog ban

BY BRIAN GREEN Special to the

A decision by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency

to ban the importation of dogs has drawn the ire of dog rescue groups.

The threat of canine rabies prompted the government move that bans “commercial” dog imports from some 100 nations.

Commercial imports are deemed to be dogs for the purpose of adoption, breeding, fostering, showing, exhibition, research, “and other purposes.” In other words, it’s a blanket ban on the importing of dogs from the affected countries.

Among the countries whose dogs are thought to be a risk are Afghanistan and Ukraine, where Canadian groups such as Animal Justice and American organizations like No Dogs Left Behind are active in rescuing dogs from war zones. Other organizations target Columbia and Iran and the Gulf States, where homeless street dogs are rescued, and China, where dogs destined for the meat market are saved. All are affected by the ban, which went into effect on Sept. 28, World Rabies Day.

In a media release, Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice, asserts that “many Canadi-

ans are eager to adopt dogs, but this blanket ban will condemn thousands of dogs to languish in the streets or be killed in overcrowded shelters instead of finding loving homes in Canada.”

in transmission to humans, pets, and wildlife.” Canine rabies is much deadlier than the rabies normally found in wildlife such as foxes and raccoons. Once symptoms develop, the disease is 99 percent fatal in dogs and humans, according to the CFIA, which also points out that the disease accounts for some 59,000 deaths each year around the world.

American Jeffery Beri, founder of No Dogs Left Behind, which he says has rescued some 300 dogs from Afghanistan and East Asia since January, calls the ban “a devastating blow” that will result in hundreds of dogs “recklessly being slaughtered.”

While Canada has no active cases of canine rabies, two imported dogs developed the disease after arrival last year and were euthanized. The CFIA says that “the importation of even one rabid dog could result

Frank’s Plan

While representatives from rescue agencies agree that the threat is real, they say they were not consulted before the ban was announced and could have advised the agency on ways to provide exemptions for dogs that had been vaccinated and quarantined to ensure safe importation. The US has imposed a similar ban, but has provided for exemptions where stringent safety measure are in place.

However, the CFIA decision has received the support of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. The vets’ organization says it “looks forward to working with the CFIA … to further strengthen the requirements for the import of personal pet dogs and assistance dogs from countries at high risk for dog rabies.”

Community Engagement

Fitness fundraiser for canine causes

BY DON RICKERS Contributing News Editor

Workouts and whippets fill Jake Rae’s daily life. Not just whippets, but German Shepherds, and other dog breeds as well.

The Welland man and a group of his friends are planning to sweat for a good cause on Sunday, October 16, at Bilt Fitness, located at 129 Hagar Street in the Rose City. It’s a fundraiser called Cals4Canines, running from 9 AM until 6 PM, with proceeds going to Niagara Dog Rescue and the Travelling Tails K-9 Foster Facility.

“Dog shelters and rescues have been filling up,” Rae told the Voice. “During the pandemic, lots of people bought pets when they were stuck at home, but once Covid started to subside and they went back to work, many surrendered their dogs because it didn’t fit their new lifestyle.”

Beginning on the Saturday night, Rae and three friends — Steven Nunes, and

father and son Brian and Brady Lee — will begin their fitness challenge on Assault Airbikes, a high-tech version of the traditional air bike, which uses variable levels of air resistance, and has an onboard display that calculates calories burned during exercise. Rae and his pals plan to rack up 40,000 calories expended.

The guys plan to ride overnight, accumulating calories prior to the fundraiser’s official opening on Sunday at 9 AM. Three Assault Airbikes will be available for the general public to ride and contribute towards the calorie count. The cost is $29 for ten minutes on the bike.

Food and refreshments will be available all day Sunday outside the gym, and Niagara Dog Rescue will be present, along with dogs available for adoption. For further information on the fundraiser, contact Rae at cals4canines@gmail.com. The Event’s GoFundMe page can be found at https://gofund.me/9de894ca

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Jake Rae and his friends have planned a fundraiser for needy dogs

STEPH IANNACCHINO

"There is not one place you can go to where there is not an overpopulation"

for Niagara Regional Council

Urban planning and green technology policy benefit household budgets if I am elected

Iam running a policy-oriented campaign because, if elected, I want a mandate. No voter wants to know a candidate’s evaluation of their own virtues. What we really want is to know that elected representatives will act in our interests, not cater to societal elites.

Fun facts:

• Developers are the largest contributors to election campaigns.

• The current Regional Official Plan imposes on Pelham growth to a minimum population of 29,000 by 2051, a policy enthusiastically endorsed by the incumbent!

• In contrast, Port Colborne was able to shift part of its growth obligations to Welland.

• Provincial growth mandates specify overall Regional targets only: allocation to individual municipalities is exclusively a Regionally-negotiated decision.

Catering to developer wants is at the expense of other policy. Developer contribution (directly or otherwise) to my campaign is zero, leaving me entirely free to pursue policy that benefits voters. Alternatives to Conventional Development

New Urbanism: Is an urban design philosophy covered extensively elsewhere (see newurbanism.org), but in brief advocates for:

• Compact low-rise quality architectural design

• Green urban pedestrian spaces, not vehicle infrastructure I would add:

• Require underground parking, and two-story residential units above commercial zoning to address affordable housing

• Greater emphasis on urban re-forestation Tourism Policy: We live in close proximity to major urban centers populated by the well-heeled, eager for outdoor experiences. Rather than have them all move here, let’s invite them to become frequent visitors as their bank accounts might allow. In the longer term we want a bullet train connection to Toronto, so that such visitors can pack an overnight bag and be on one of our ‘glamping’ (glamour camping at more than triple the rates) sites within an hour (rather than 4+ ‘up north’). But even today, the economic boost to local caterers and others would be significant, to say nothing of the accommodation tax-boost available. Essentially a significant proportion of our municipal budget needs can be exported along with those visitors when they leave. Everyone wins provided only that we resist the impulse to pave over the "Golden Goose" that our rural natural environment represents. Indeed, when as a matter of policy glamping is placed adjacent to existing forests, those forests are then free to expand over time. Farmers and woodlot owners now have an economi-

cally viable business model to do the right thing, Pelham becomes more prosperous and greener as we do our part in addressing climate uncertainty, and all while controlling upward pressures on property taxes

As adjuncts, because we occupy the highest point in the Niagara Peninsula, I would strongly advocate for inclusion of an observation deck atop our water tower as a tourist draw. The view would be spectacular at a low marginal cost. Further, engaging in a regional strategy linking our glamping to other local attractions, and in particular to our own ‘Caribbean Coast’ on Lake Erie, would draw some of those revenues in our direction. The volume of visitors would readily be controlled through the number of sites, and the taxes placed on them.

Better Infrastructure Policy: After our mortgages are paid off, utility expenses remain. Local tri- generation technology has been available for decades, efficiently consuming natural gas to produce not only power, but heating and cooling capacity with what in a centralized power plant is waste heat. Over four years ago, renewable power (solar cells in particular) became cheaper than grid power. This changed everything! Green is now synonymous with cheap. We now have the possibility to make our energy dollar go much further, even to the point of eliminating the need for a conventional furnace.

Unfortunately, Ontario Hydro engages in monopolistic behaviour when it imposes the cost of a province-wide grid on local green energy producers to sell to their neighbours. The solution is local independent micro-grids threaded throughout our existing storm-water systems. With but the stroke of a pen we effectively create a green-energy Community Conduit at no cost to the taxpayer. When combined with improved building shells to Passive-Haus standards, heating and cooling costs virtually disappear. Ensuring fi nancing availability is essential to the latter.

Water Policy: The Region sets the precedent for how water rates are set, currently resulting in those successful in conserving water paying higher water rates than profl igate users. This is a perverse subsidy. If elected, I will promote water rates which, like income taxes, are progressive to encourage conservation of water treatment capacity. Alternatives like rainwater collection for non-potable uses would be encouraged. We could then expect treated water usage to drop to the point where the need for high capital cost expenditures to increase water treatment capacity are postponed, perhaps even eliminating the need for our new 6 million litre water tower. Lower capital costs means lower water rates, with those contributing the most to this lower cost water rewarded with lower water bills. Perhaps not incidentally, rain-water collection results in

reduced storm-water surges, a valuable consideration as climate change takes hold.

Benefits to unleashing the “invisible hand of the market” include:

• Lower energy/utility costs for homes & businesses

• More stable power/fewer outages through redundancy & interconnection with electric vehicles

• Lower CO2 emissions through reduction/elimination of conventional gas furnaces

• Lower cable/internet prices when opened to all providers

• A More Competitive Regional Economy/lower costs of production

I am not a conventional politician, but by virtue of that fact can bring a life-time of experience to bear on the complex and interconnected issues we face. The underlying reason nothing has changed is that incumbents evidence no awareness of green power having reached grid parity. We need new informed leadership that can chart a way forward to achieving our goals. If elected, I will put forward a Motion at Regional Council before Christmas requiring local municipalities to make all storm-water systems available as Community Conduits for our benefit. More will follow.

Controlling Taxes is a Good Start: Further Reductions of Utility Costs Through Green-tech; Priceless!!

Vote for Informed Leadership Vote Wally Braun Regional Councillor. 4

Wally

Nancy Beamer seeks reelection as public schools Trustee

BY DON RICKERS Contributing News Editor

NANCY BEAMER QUICK FACTS

Running for: English Public school trustee (incumbent) for Pelham/Thorold vs. challengers Lisa Fucile, Linda Borland, and Rene Nand

Age: Declined to state

Occupation: Retired teacher

Resides: Ridgeville resident for 35 years

Family: Husband Donald, three children, five grandchildren

It’s been four years since re tired teacher Nancy Beam er won the English Pub lic Schools trustee spot for Pelham and Thorold in the 2018 municipal election, defeating in cumbent and then District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) Board chair Dale Robinson, by some 3,400 votes.

“The voice of the community showed they would not be ignored and disrespected,” said Beamer at the time, referencing the arbitrary fashion in which the school board had handled the renaming of E.W. Farr Memorial Public School, in Fenwick, to Wellington Heights Public School, a move that infuri ated the local community.

“Over 700 people signed a pe tition not to change the school name, and it was not listening to,”

she said.

Beamer grew up in Hamil ton and Smithville, married, and embarked on a career as a school teacher.

“When our children came along, I decided to be a stay-at-home mom, but helped run the family business,” she said. “I was head of the parent council at Pelham Centre School for a while, and did some supply teaching.

Beamers have been in Pelham since the early 1800s. Nancy and her husband, Donald, have lived in the hereditary Beamer fami ly home on Centre Street in Rid geville for some three decades, with 18 acres that they used to work in the days when they were running Beamers Country Market, on Highway 20. These days, they rent out their acreage to Lee John son of Johnson Farms in Fenwick.

The main focus of a board of trustees is to provide the best pos sible educational experience in a safe and barrier free environment, insisted Beamer.

“Our public mandate is to pro vide a good education for every student,” she said. “Regardless of your cultural or religious up bringing, you're getting the same positive experience. A progressive board recognizes that our popu

lation is much more diverse than it was 15 years ago. We've looked at our libraries to make sure that our books represent that diversi ty. We've examined various media that are ingrained in our culture, but that may be offensive to cer tain groups. Stuff that we grew up with is not always socially accept able in this day and age.”

Indigenous recognition has been one area where the board has had to ensure that school libraries reflect the current realities, said Beamer.

“We all have diverse life expe riences,” she said. “Every child needs to be given the support they need. Some require more than others. We now have 36 full-time social workers working at DSBN in our schools.”

The biggest challenge of the last four years stemmed from Covid, said Beamer.

“As a board, we were coming together, and felt we had a lot of successes. When the pandemic hit, our board was financially stable, and we were able to hire the extra

Earlier this year, at the instruction of Council, Town staff hired the

RealTerm Energy to convert Pelham’s approximately

street

A

DOLLARS

will cost our

being completely funded by hydro

for the

"I still feel I have a lot to accomplish"

"Regardless of your cultural or religious upbringing, you're getting the same positive experience"

Nancy Beamer was first elected to the DSBN Board of Trustees in 2018

DON RICKERS

Court win for Town of Pelham in illegal cannabis growing case

Woodstock Biomed violated interim bylaw, claimed cannabis they were growing wasn't cannabis

BY DON RICKERS Contributing News Editor

Chalk one up for the little guy—or, more accurately in this case, gal.

The Town of Pelham went to court and beat the big corporate cats and their high-priced To ronto lawyers. Pelham CAO David Cribbs offered kudos to Town So licitor Jennifer Stirton, who did “100 percent of the legal work.”

The Mayor was also pleased.

“It was a nice win for the Town," said Marvin Junkin, "and validation for the work that has gone into the Town’s by laws. Going forward, I am hop ing that this industry will work with Town Staff to resolve any problems, as opposed to going to the courts. The bylaws were put in place to protect our residents from unwanted side-effects of cannabis growing, and it is good to know that they are there, if needed.”

At issue was the Town of Pel ham’s 2018 Interim Control By law regarding cannabis-related land use.

“The Town is fully prepared to defend its legal rights and the

integrity of its Interim Control Bylaw in court,” said CAO Cribbs at the time of the bylaw’s intro duction, noting that the Interim Control Bylaw “was established to provide the time necessary to determine how best to juggle the competing needs of the new can nabis industry, with the needs of residents who reasonably expect to be protected from the welldocumented nuisances associat ed with cannabis production.”

Cribbs characterized the in terim bylaw as an “appropri ate, measured response in these challenging circumstances.”

But in September of 2019, Le viathan Cannabis Group Inc. an nounced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Woodstock Biomed Inc., had initiated legal proceed ings against the Town. The liti gation, filed through the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, followed Pelham Town Council's decision to deny Woodstock Biomed an exemption to its Interim Control Bylaw, which placed a one-year moratorium on the building of new cannabis facilities, and the

expansion of existing operations.

Leviathan asserted at the time that the bylaw violated Wood stock Biomed’s lawful right to develop its property, located at 770 Foss Road.

“The litigation follows an ex haustive process in which Levi athan worked cooperatively and transparently with Town offi cials,” read a Leviathan press re lease in 2019. “In fact, the town's own Department of Community Planning and Development rec ommended to council that Le viathan's exemption application be approved (with modest con ditions). The decision by Levia than's management team to ini tiate legal action is being done to protect the interests of loyal

shareholders. The company be lieves it has a strong case before the Ontario Superior Court.”

Alas for Leviathan, the pre siding judge, Justice of the Peace Carol Anne Chernish, disagreed, and Pelham prevailed.

Cribbs offered a brief overview of the court case.

“Woodstock BioMed was culti vating plants that they described as ‘hemp,’ which the Town in terpreted as being essentially cannabis, which was prohibited by the interim control bylaw. Es sentially, that’s the background of the charge. From our position, hemp has the same odour qual ities as cannabis, and that's the real reason the Town was regu lating. It was an odour concern.”

Woodstock Biomed was rep resented by one of Canada’s top legal firms, Greenspan and Part ners LPP, located on King Street in Toronto.

With the conviction, the par ties will be returning to court in December to discuss sentencing. There is a 30-day appeal period for Woodstock Biomed.

Rather than gloat over the win, Cribbs offered a simple message.

“The important thing is that the Town exercised its will, that being to control an odour prob lem, and issued an interim by law to give it time to study the issue, and find a fair way to reg ulate. The defendant, Woodstock

Illegal cannabis plants being grown at 770 Foss Road, Fenwick, in August

“EVERY CHILD MATTERS” CELEBRATED IN PELHAM

passed Bill C-5

name

as a federal statutory day. It is observed as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, celebrating First Nations, Metis, and Inuit cultures.

Pelham,

Child Matters” flag, smudged with sweetgrass and sage to honour missing Indigenous women and survivors of residential schools, was raised at sunrise last Friday in front of Town Hall. Joe Shawana, Anishinaabee, and Shyann Jenkins from the Cayuga Nation Turtle Clan, shared with those assembled the impact of Orange Shirt Day, and, along with Phyllis Webstad, presented a song.

Town of Pelham, supported by

partners, also hosted public workshops and seminars

the day at the MCC

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Celebrate the power of words with the new “Champions” font inspired by the essential service newspapers provide.

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already implemented the concept,” he said. “Rather than a strictly utilitarian structure, we can have a beautiful tower that includes a tourist attraction in the form of an observatory. Pelham is blessed with the highest point in the Niagara Region. From an observatory on top of the water tower, you will be able to see Toronto, Niagara Falls, across Lake Erie, and even the foothills of the Alleghenies to the southeast. Why this has not been considered at the Regional level, I do not know. To me, it indicates a lack of imagination on the part of our representation.”

Pelham is the greenest municipality within Niagara, said Braun, and is missing out on opportunity to cash in on entrepreneurial ventures in the great outdoors.

“We need to protect our existing environment,” he said. “Why would we give away the golden goose upfront, rather than collecting the golden eggs in perpetuity? Why are we proposing to pave over the greenest part of Niagara with the most fruitful agricultural lands? We need average farmers and woodlot owners to benefit, rather than developers. Check out Google Maps. We have a big proportion of the forested cover of the region, and that's our asset, what we need to manage effectively. We are set up for things like glamping, alternative accommodations for people visiting Niagara

Falls. We're within an easy drive of a huge market from Toronto or Buffalo. People are looking for alternatives to driving in their car for hours going north on a Friday afternoon. We're an easy reach, and it's a market ready to be tapped. We’re sitting around, twiddling our thumbs, letting this opportunity go by. Again, it's a lack of imagination on the part of incumbents to get it done.”

The Twelve Mile Creek watershed is a valuable resource that must be preserved, said Braun, noting that the trout in the waterway require a cold-water environment.

Braun said that he has looked at the proposed solution by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCA) with regard to the Lathrop Nature Preserve, which they own in trust. Braun has concerns about the potential disruption of the ecosystem if the NCA plan is implemented.

“I've asked them directly about their evidence,” he said. “When water comes in, it settles in the ponds, the sediment is left behind, and the turbidity of the outflows decreases. If you're keeping water velocities up by diverting it, which is what they're proposing to do, the water flowing downstream will be more opaque, and will negatively impact the fish.”

Braun approves of certain decisions that have been made at the Regional level.

“I think the direction we need to go in to reduce traffic congestion in Niagara involves mass transit, so the amalgamation of the

regional transit authorities was a positive step,” he said. “Within Pelham, one of the improvements that we can make is regarding the On-Demand system.

The way to reduce costs is to open up service provision to anybody and everybody. People use a smartphone app to call for a ride, but the response time can pretty poor. It's a case of the system being a victim of its own success. Resources are stretched, so we need to open the door for flexible service provision.”

He suggests providing inducements like property tax breaks.

“Essentially, it’s like reinventing the Uber system, except that everybody is available,” he said. “When you open it to everybody, you're providing a secure hitchhiking system. Instead of sending money to corporations, it's local people who get the benefit. So, for example, if you provide two rides a day, you might get $700 off your taxes at the end of the year.”

Turning to the issue of homelessness, Braun responded that, “Affordability is one of the key problems. And that comes back to planning. Why it is that we permit developers to build single-story structures, whether it's commercial or residential, is beyond me. We need to prohibit single-storyy construction throughout the region. Require developers to provide two storeys of affordable residential space above any commercial development, any big box store or strip mall, and you’re on your

way to having your affordability problem solved.”

Braun said that he would certainly continue to advocate for those affected by poverty and addiction.

“This is a shared responsibility, given that health is largely a provincial jurisdiction, and is also funded at the federal level,” he said. “There are certainly things that we can do locally, starting by reducing the cost of living. That's a major stressor for people in dire straits. And yes, we need to provide more mental health services, working at the Regional level.”

He noted that one of the primary ways to benefit all in the municipality is to find ways to reduce utility costs.

“Right now, we are dependent on monopoly provision for those services,” he said. “I'm suggesting that we break the monopoly supply over utilities by making our stormwater system available as a conduit for the provision of all kinds of services. The nuclear plant at Pickering is scheduled to go offline in a few years, and that is 3000 megawatts of power that needs to be replaced. Over the short term, it’s likely that natural gas plants will pick up the slack, and there's actually an awful lot of idle capacity in the existing gas plant system. The way to address that is to have gas-powered electrical production at the local level. And when you do that, you can take the waste heat byproduct that is generally dumped into the environment, and use it to heat our homes through a heating distribution system using

our stormwater network.

The waste heat can also provide cooling capacity the same way that a propane refrigerator works, using a chiller. All of these systems are on the shelf, just waiting to be implemented.”

Braun is big on tasteful architecture, and feels strongly that Pelham should preserve its downtown core with elegant designs and classic facades.

“This is something that Town Council can impose on developers,” he said. “Jurisdictions like Niagara-on-the-Lake and Chautauqua have been tremendously successful in this regard.”

He said that we cannot expect this creative direction to come from municipal staff, who generally want to finish one job and expeditiously push on to the next.

“We've been much more reactive rather than proactive in this whole process,” said Braun. “At the Regional level, what I would be looking to do is implement master legislation that includes design standards that local towns and municipalities would have to follow. A component of this involves citizen activism. Niagara-on-the-Lake has many well-informed people that appreciate the difference between good design and poor design, and they've stuck to their guns.”

Braun applauds the work of Pelham’s Cannabis Control Committee (CCC) but feels the Town needs to gain local jurisdiction over the granting of permits.

“What CannTrust did for us with their debacle was to

demonstrate that the province as a regulatory body is an abject failure,” he said.

“That puts us in a very good position to approach the province and say that we want to regulate this on our own. Once we get that, we can take away permits from corporations who commit violations.”

Braun said he totally supports the CCC’s recommended new bylaws for the industry in the municipality.

Pelham definitely needs to make more options available to local farmers to ensure that they stay viable as businesses, said Braun. He thinks that farmers should have an opportunity to grow cannabis at a decent profit, such that they would be less inclined to sell out to developers. Agri-tourism should also be an option for rural farmers, with a provision for camping and RV parking on their property, he said.

Don’t expect to see any Wally Braun lawn signs leading up to the campaign. He’ll have some pamphlets, and a modest social media presence, but his main thrust will be face-to-face communication.

“My campaigning style has always been to get to know individual people throughout the town, so I'm leveraging those connections,” he said. “I'll certainly be going door-to-door, to speak to people about their concerns. I have already set up an email and Facebook account, I will probably be using also using WordPress as I have in previous campaigns to get the word out.” 4

VICTORY

continued from Page 10

Biomed, ignored that request, and operated in defi ance of the interim control bylaw.”

Woodstock Biomed did not respond to a request for comment.

Founded in 2011 and based in Markham, Leviathan Natural Products is a publicly-held corporation with market capitalization of approximately $70 million as of April 2022.

Woodstock Biomed Inc. is headquartered in Barrie, and operates as a pharmaceutical company with a special focus on the production of medical cannabis for clients across Canada. The company was acquired by Leviathan Cannabis Group for just under $15 million in June of 2018. Leviathan recently sold its 100 percent interest in Woodstock Biomed Inc. for $5 million.

Woodstock Biomed’s 30acre property with greenhouse infrastructure in Pelham produces cannabis primarily for pharmaceuticals and horticulturalists, according to the company’s website.

FIREFIGHTER HONOURS

The Town of Pelham celebrated and recognized the service of volunteer firefighters at an in-person ceremony held on September 27, in Fenwick, the first since 2019. During the ceremony, 19 volunteer firefighters were recognized for their continued dedication to the community. Town of Pelham Mayor Marvin Junkin was on hand to extend his congratulations and gratitude to the volunteers. Fire Chief Bob Lymburner and Town of Pelham

Letters continued

CAO David Cribbs both took the opportunity to remark on the commitment and impact that the volunteers have on the community. Recognized individuals included members who have served for 20, 25, 30 or 40 years and those retiring from the service. Receiving an award for 40 years of service was Captain Terrance Beckett. For 30 years, Captain Tim VanderWeide, District Chief Ben Gutenberg, and District Chief Jim Waldeck. For 25 years, Firefighter Dean Culig, Captain Henry Timmers, Firefighter Marcel Mooren, and

Captain Phil Toffolo. For 20 years, District Chief Adam Arbour, Lieutenant Greg Beaulieu, Lieutenant Roy Moffat, Lieutenant Edward Slappendel, Captain Pete Wierenga, Captain Alvin Bearing, Captain Glenn Harrison, Captain Chris Ker, Captain Dave Kszan, Lieutenant Phil Topa, Firefighter John Lockey. The culmination of the length of service of the volunteers reached 450 combined years. Retirees Recognized included Captain Alvin Bering, 20 years. Firefighter Dean Culig, 25 years. Captain Dave Kszan, 20 years.

Captain Henry Timmers, 25 years. Lieutenant Roy Moffat, 20 years. Firefighter Les Hildebrand, 31 years. Captain Mike Woods, 20 years. Firefighter Henry Wutzke, 25 years. In 2021, 397 calls were responded to between Pelham’s three stations, and ranged from requests for medical assistance, to motor vehicle collisions, to structure fires. According to the Town, the volume of calls received in 2022 has already exceeded last year.

Lifting of Covid border mandates was overdue

The lifting of the federal travel mandate regarding Covid on September 30 was welcome news to many, myself included. Frankly, this has been long overdue, and seems to have less to do with science and more to due with political optics. There will be a segment of the population that, no doubt, feels that these restrictions should be extended, and the beauty of a democracy is that every opinion is allowed to be heard. Canada lags behind the majority of other industrialized countries in terms of lifting these restrictions. One would be perfectly justified in asking why that’s the case, as the Mayor of Niagara Falls has asked. Given that transparency is not the government’s go-to mode, the real answer likely won’t be revealed. It is unsettling

CHOICE

staff this term to make it happen. It makes little sense to elect an opponent who has never served even as a Town Councillor, let alone as Mayor.

We can skip the “training courses” and continue on a positive path for Pelham with Marvin Junkin.

Former

and regrettable that politicization has permeated nearly every aspect of civil discourse these days. In doing so, it has continued to divide and discourage a large segment of the population.

Will this trend be changed?

Your guess is as good as mine. One truth cannot be refuted: the glaring need for true leadership has never been more obvious.

Rob Shook Vineland

JOHN WINK Ward 2 Councillor

Representing Pelham on Town Council since 2018.

Soos

Council,

the auxiliary. Carol Rappelje, 88, is the last charter member of the auxiliary, who spent 67 years as a volunteer with the organization. Her husband, Douglas, served as Director of the Senior Citizens Department of the Niagara Region for 44 years until his retirement in 1995. “It all started at Sunset Haven on First Avenue, where Seasons Retirement Community is now,” she said

of the Women’s Auxiliary. “Over the years, we raised upwards of $174,000 for Woodlands, and organized family picnics, raffl es, visited the sick and dying, and did all kinds of administrative jobs. It was a lot of work, but gratifying. Our membership dropped dramatically in recent years. People of this generation don’t seem to have the time.”

Fabulous upscale bungaloft townhome backing onto ravine and Steve Bauer Trail!!

Stunning living room/dining room with

floors, main

ensuite and walk-in

finished lower level

fees,

DAMP

of

BIG TENT WELCOME FOR ALL Pelham Mayor Marvin Junkin held a meet-and-greet at Country Boys Mobile Food Services last Saturday,

wind on "wonderful fall day." JUNKIN

AUXILIARY FADES INTO SUNSET After 65 years, the Woodlands of Sunset Long Term Care Home, at 920 Pelham Street in Welland, has bid adieu to its Women’s Auxiliary, thus closing a historical chapter of volunteer service. A farewell luncheon was held at the home last Wednesday to celebrate, remember, and acknowledge the service, fundraising efforts, and commitment of

DON RICKERS

Niagara Region Fall Food Drive and Compost Event on this week

Niagara Region is providing compost for a cash or non-perishable food donation at Regional landfi lls and at the Region’s Recycling Centre during the week of October 3.

While quantities last, any Niagara resident may pick up 20-litre bags at

BEAMER

continued from Page 9

teachers that were necessary, without having to wait for the government to provide an influx of money.”

A great deal of support was provided for teachers who were not tech savvy during the period of exclusive online instruction, said Beamer.

“We muddled through for the first little while, but now have seen the evolution of technology in the classroom.”

Are the trustees one big happy family?

On a board of 11 people coming from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, you are always going to have a certain amount of debate and disagreement on issues, said Beamer.

“But once the board has voted on an issue, as a trustee, you have to support that issue. You can communicate that you didn't like the decision, but you have to endorse that decision and follow it.”

Beamer told the Voice that she is “all about communication, and making information available to the community. Parents are often reluctant to go to the school principal on a matter, so it’s important that the board’s social media convey the details of its policies and procedures.”

Beamer heaped kudos on DSBN Director of Education Warren Hoshizaki.

“Warren is a very knowledgeable person, and an excellent financial manager. He also has assembled a sol-

BAN

continued from Page 7

the Humberstone Landfi ll in Welland, and the Recycling Centre in Niagara Falls. To avoid delays at landfi ll locations, the Region suggests visiting outside of the busiest days, which are Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays.

In exchange for the compost, res-

id team of superintendents and principals. The senior management team is very qualified, and looks after all the day-to-day, operational matters. Trustees look after governance issues, like policies on bullying.”

Beamer said that trustees are always receptive to parent inquiries, and encourage conversations that direct them within the organizational structure to have their questions answered.

To create economic efficiencies, Beamer said that the DSBN partners with the local Catholic school system in a number of areas, including school bus operations.

The board is also very supportive of its teachers.

“The DSBN provides a lot of professional development courses, also referred to as additional qualifications or AQ, that teachers can take to improve their knowledge and advance up the pay scale,” said Beamer. “We provide them free of charge, while a lot of other boards expect teachers to pay out of their own pockets. Our board feels that if teachers are going to put in the time to improve their competencies, then we can at least provide the funding for it. We've done a lot with Indigenous Studies, anti-black racism, and sexual harassment.”

Just recently, said Beamer, the DSBN made available a sexual harassment toolkit for teachers, which will also be posted on the board’s website, allowing parental access.

The DSBN’s enrollment was 633 elementary students above target during Covid, said Beamer, and as a result,

idents are asked to donate non-perishable food items or cash in support of local charities, including Goodwill Niagara, Salvation Army, Fort Erie COPE, and Project Share. Food items that are past expiry will not be accepted.

an additional 103 Elementary contract teachers were hired.

“And for the record, none of the teachers that were hired during Covid were let go, they all still have their positions. And given that we were 320 secondary students above target, we hired an additional 36 secondary teachers. We've also partner with Brock University’s Faculty of Education, and have arranged for an extra 18,000 hours of tutoring for our students, above what we had other years. We are working to help those students who fell behind during Covid.”

When Beamer first became a trustee, she said that she contacted all of the schools in her area to say that she would be willing to come to their parents committees, to explain the role of a trustee.

“As I said, it’s all about communication,” remarked Beamer.

Her stimulus to run again?

“The job is not done,” she said. “Covid interrupted a lot of things that I still feel we can accomplish, and frankly there is still not a really good feeling of trust in the Pelham area between the board and the constituents. There are areas in Niagara, in larger centres like St. Catharines, Welland, and Niagara Falls, that have great educational needs, and accordingly the board needs to direct monies to them. Schools in Pelham are going to get their turn. If there's something particular that comes up here in Pelham, the board is going to address those concerns with staffi ng and funding.” 4

have room, in helping out our Northern Ontario and Northern Manitoba neighbours with placements.” She adds that there are excess dogs in every country (including Canada) and many could qualify for rescue.

OBITUARY

Animal Justice has launched a petition asking the Canadian government to create an exemption from the importation ban for rescue dogs that have been vaccinated and quarantined. So far, they claim to have collected some 10,000 signatures.

In Niagara, the local SPCA locations will be affected by the ban, but according to Tammy Gaboury, Animal Care Manager for the Association, “These are not typically countries where we get dogs for adoption. We concentrate, when we

“There is not one place you can go to where there is not an overpopulation,” she says. What makes the problem worse right now, according to Gaboury, is that most shelters locally are experiencing a higher-than-normal canine population as adoptions are down due to the lifting of Covid restrictions and resumption of family travel. Matt Worth, an animal care specialist at the SPCA’s Welland location, points out that in the past, local shelters have taken in dogs from Dubai, Kuwait, and Florida “when there is room for

Szabo, Mary Helen (nee Lenc)

-Rupi Kaur

It is with great sadness that we announce Mary’s unexpected passing on Monday, September 26, 2022 in her 69th year. Beloved and devoted mother of Charlene (Joey) Granger and Diana (Berker) Bilgin. Mary will be deeply missed by her significant other Paul. Cherished and proud grandmother of Julianna and Emily Granger. Loving daughter of Paraskovia and predeceased by her father Jozef Lenc (1980). Dear sister of Peter (Mary) Lenc, Vera Lenc (Don Farquharson), and Helen Flynn. She will be greatly missed by all of her nieces and nephews; Matthew (Austin) Nichols, Michael Lenc, Christina (Chris) Peacock, Kyle (Daniela), Kori, Kaileigh, and Krista Flynn.

Mary started her career at the Addiction Research Foundation and later moved onto working for The Niagara District Health Council as an Administrative Officer. Being surrounded by her family was her greatest joy. Her devotion to her loved ones was extraordinary. She always took care of others before herself. Mary’s beautiful and generous spirit will live on in our hearts forever. Her favourite hobbies were cooking, gardening, walking in nature, and reading. We will miss her greatly.

Friends and family were received at the PELHAM FUNERAL HOME, 1292 Pelham Street, Fonthill on Saturday, October 1st from 11 AM to 1 PM. A private graveside interment followed. As an expression of sympathy donations may be made to The Heart and Stroke Foundation: https://www.heartandstroke.ca/how-you-canhelp/ways-to-give or The War Effort in Ukraine: https://u24.gov.ua/

Online condolences may be shared at www.pelhamfuneralhome.ca

them in our shelters.” He agrees that, while it is humane to rescue dogs from countries where they are endangered by local practices, neglect, or conflict, there are plenty of dogs in Canada that need to be adopted.

Recently the Welland shelter listed 30 dogs available for adoption, and the Niagara Falls location had almost 40 on its website.

Douglas Paul Burr

Wife: Susan Daughters: Julianne

What if there isn’t enough time to give her what she deserves do you think if I begged the sky hard enough my mother’s soul would return to me as my daughter so I can give her the comfort she gave me my whole life

FONTHILL BANDSHELL PRESENTS DE TEMPS ANTAN

stone supply, place ment. 905-384-1972.

CUSTOM MILL

Portable sawmill service.

I will come to your home or farm and custom mill your logs. Firewood & lumber also available. Call Rob Patterson, 905-401-4948, riverwoodportablesawmill@ gmail.com

COINS AND STAMPS WANTED

WANTED

Collector buying old coin and stamp collection. Free appraisal.

FOUND

On Station Street,

Since 2003, Éric Beaudry, André Brunet and Pierre-Luc Dupuis have been exploring and performing time-honoured melodies from the stomp ing 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 joie de vivre found only in traditional Quebec music. Show runs from 7-9 p.m.

Burke’s Masonry

Bricklaying, tuckpointing, step repair, granite coatings, brick slices

MASONRY REPAIR

ALLTYPE MASONRY

PELHAM LIBRARY CARD MAKING WORKSHOP

Brick, Block, Stone and Chimney repairs. Wet and damaged basement repairs.

Josh DeHaan Flooring

all

flooring

This week at the Meridian Community Centre

OCTOBER 5

Brock FIT 8 – 10 AM

Mom & Baby Fitness

9:30 – 10:30 AM

Pickleball 10:30 – 1:30 PM

Drop-In Family Gym 4 – 5:30 PM

Hatha Yoga 6:30 – 7:30 PM

OCTOBER 6

Pickleball 8:30 – NOON

Parent & Preschool Skate

9:30 – 10:20 AM

Women’s Shinny 9:45 – 10:35 AM

60+ Stick & Puck 10:30 –11:20 AM

55+ Aerobics 11 – NOON Chair Yoga 11:15 – 12:15 PM

Adult Only Skate 1 – 1:50 PM Yogalates 5:30 – 6:30 PM

OCTOBER 7

Brock FIT 8 – 10 AM

Pickleball 9 – NOON

Men’s Shinny 9 – 9:50 AM Men’s 60+ Shinny 10 – 10:50 AM

Drop-in Volleyball 10:30 – 1 PM

Orchestrum Music 1 – 3 PM

Ticket Ice 3:15 – 4:05 PM 18+ Stick & Puck 4:15 – 5:05 PM Public Skating 7:30 – 9:20 PM Pickleball 8:30 – 11 PM

energy, and all the myste rious unique particles that make them, them. No one has been able to prove what exactly a soul is, what it looks like.

Personally, I wouldn’t say I believe in ghosts. At least, not the giant floating bed sheet kind. I also don’t be lieve in malevolent demons, such as the angry and mur derous creature from The Ring or The Grudge (I like to joke to my students that if such a thing ever came out of the television and ate me, I would thank it for saving me from having to respond to my hundreds of work emails).

However, my curious mind loves to entertain pos sibilities, particularly the “what-if” kind.

The human mind is a powerful thing. Our indi vidual and unique percep tion of the world, married to our memories, which shift and change with time and hindsight, tend to lend real-ness to certain beliefs and encounters, and we are naturally inclined to draw connections, and search for meaning.

I don’t believe in ghosts per se, but I’ve definite ly had some interesting encounters that gave me pause.

My first “ghostly encoun ter” happened when I was seven. I had woken up in the middle of the night, icy cold. My blanket had fallen off my bed.

As I leapt out of bed and shook out the blanket, still half-asleep and muttering angrily, a piercing scream from the other side of the house shook the silence, and I nearly jumped out of my skin.

The scream had come from my mother.

My mother was prone to vivid nightmares, and this was no uncommon occur rence. She would wake up in the morning with only vague memories of these dreams, and after assuring

us that she was fine, she would carry on with her day.

We had all been instructed, more than once, to wake her up only if the screaming continued. If there was no further disruption, we were to go back to sleep.

I listened, frozen. Silence. I climbed back into bed.

In the morning, my moth er rushed into my room to check on me. It was not until years later that she revealed to me the whole truth of what happened and why she had screamed.

As teen, I remembered sitting, aghast, as my moth er finally described her dream in vivid detail—the way I jumped out of bed to retrieve my lost blanket, and the way I shook it out a few times while mutter ing. These were details she could not have known, since she had been sleeping on the other side of the house.

In the dream, there was a malevolent ghost with its arms outstretched, try ing to grab me. It had al most snatched me when my mother screamed, and then it disappeared.

At that time, a single frightening dream wasn’t enough for me to believe in

Phone Tom Deamude at 289-241-4767. 35 years of construction experience.

ATTENTION FIREWOOD PRODUCERS

Make six cards with fall themes, learning a variety of techniques. Materials are provided. At time of registration, please enquire about tools needed. Tues., Sept. 16 10 – 12:30. $10. Please register ahead. Visit www.pelham library.on.ca or call 905-892-6443 for more details.

I

5 dozen fallen trees, mainly hardwood. Potential for

squares

FABULOUS FENWICK LIONS FISH FRY

OCTOBER 9

Public Skating 1 – 2:20 PM

Tasty treats with funds heading straight back into the community. Haddock, french fries and much more. Runs Sept. 9 from 4-7 p.m.

OCTOBER 10 CLOSED DUE TO THANKSGIVING

PROFESSIONAL HOUSECLEANING

PELHAM MINOR HOCKEY EQUIPMENT SALE

Professional house cleaning. 20 years experience. Call Heather at 905-321-3817.

We offer in-stock specials: pre-finished hardwood flooring solid, engineered from $2/ft2 laminate flooring from $.89/ft2 carpet and vinyl flooring from $4.95/yd2 fibre flooring from $1/ft2 ceramic tile from $.89/ft2

other specials!

OCTOBER 11

Pickleball 9 - NOON

Men’s Shinny 9 – 9:50 AM

Buy, sell or trade used equipment at the Pelham Arena. Aimed to provide cheaper options for players in this upcoming season. Runs Sept. 6 from 9-12 in the morning.

Zumba 9:30 – 10:30 AM

FOUND: WOMEN'S RING

Women's ring found in Giant Tiger Fonthill parking lot, Friday September 30th.

PELHAM MUDFEST

Men’s 60+ Shinny 10 – 10:50 AM

Chair Yoga 11:15 – 12:15 PM

Heirloom filigree gold ring with stones surrounding centre stone. Owner, please call 905-988-6767

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

Phone: 905-892-7898 Fax: 905-892-4811

Drop-in Volleyball 12:15

Men and women will be back in the mud as the second run on the year is held at Bissil’s Hideaway.

PUBLIC INVITED

NIAGARA REGIONAL EXHIBITION

Pelham Advocates for Trees and Habitat (PATH) invites the public to a meeting on Wed., October 5 at the MCC at 7:30pm. Speaker is Liz Benneian. Topic is Greening Niagara.

Rodeo, games and live entertainment headline this years exciting event. It runs from Sept. 11-14 at the Welland Fairgrounds.

someone was in the house and walking around.”

Evidence of ghostly ac tivity, or supernatural hap penings? Tempting.

The Big Move Cancer Ride is a non-competitive ride taking place on Sept. 7. Proceeds for the Big Move stay in Niagara and support the Walker Fam

I don’t think I have a final answer about what I ulti mately believe, but what I do know is that the supernatu ral holds the power to fasci nate, to shock, and to shake up what many people take comfort in: logic and rules.

Interested in walking in Pelham? Join them Tuesdays at the Pelham Arena from 9-10 am and Thursdays at Fonthill Bandshell for 9-10:30 am. There is no fee for this program. For more information, please contact jcook@

Sunday Calls, Please

Modern day Halloween is not a religious holiday, but the roots of it are actually quite similar to the Festival of Hungry Ghosts.

Halloween is a contrac tion of “All Hallows’ Eve ning.” Once celebrated as a day dedicated to remem bering the deceased, as well as saints and martyrs, it had its roots in the festival of Samhain, held by the Celts of ancient Britain and Ire land.

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

My parents, my aunts and uncles, and grandmothers, who all grew up in Vietnam, all believed in ghosts to some degree. In fact, Viet nam has an entire festival dedicated to honouring the paranormal: The Festival of Hungry Ghosts.

During this festival, it was believed that departed souls from long ago would return to visit homes and relatives, while the souls of those who recently died would journey to the underworld.

COMMUNITY Events

Event Submissions Standards

ghosts, despite the uncanny coincidences, and the mem ory was not to be revisited until my second “ghostly encounter,” in my late teens.

From the age of 15 to 20, I suffered from regular sleep paralysis: the temporary in ability to move in the stage immediately after falling asleep or waking up. In dividuals who suffer from these episodes often report hallucinations (of shadowy figures) and a sensation of pressure or suffocation.

planation.

I was still living with my parents at age 18, and on this particular morning I was laying in bed, locked in parasomnia. I remem bered feeling anxious that I could not move my arms or my legs. It seemed that all I could move were my eyes, and I looked about the room. My glasses were on the bed side table. Without them, I was mostly blind.

In many Asian countries, it is believed that the gates of Hell open during the month of July, and ghosts from other planes of exis tence are allowed to roam free on Earth for a period of time. The spirits of an cestors and lost relatives will search out their loved ones and families. Other spirits who had no proper burial and no family mem bers to pray for them, would wander around randomly, becoming lost, lonely, and bitter.

If your organization is hosting an event that would be of interest to the community, you may submit an events profile by sending your community events information to editor@thevoiceofpelham.ca Some restrictions apply. Event submissions that meet the acceptability standards of The Voice of Pelham will then be posted until the date of your event. The Community Events Calendar is updated weekly. Please provide as much notice and information as possible including the date, time and description of your event. The Voice of Pelham reserves the right to edit for space.

Bonfires would be lit on hilltops and in the hearths of homes, and people would dress up in masks and dis guises to avoid being rec ognized by potentially evil spirits. Numerous folktales and illustrations would help subsequent genera tions form the association of witches, goblins, de mons, and other “spooks” with our modern day, non-religious Halloween holiday.

Numerous historical paintings explore this fas cinating phenomenon, as Medieval and Renaissance artists painted pictures of sleeping figures with a de mon sitting on their chest, or the sleeping figure beset by literal “Night Mares,” de monic black horses stomp ing and rollicking about the room while the paralyzed sleeper looked on helplessly.

During an episode of sleep paralysis, or parasomnia, the sufferer is both sleep ing and awake — hence the feelings of helplessness and panic. Much is still un known about the condition, and for me it disappeared as suddenly and mysteriously as it came, without any ex

The door to my room opened, and I saw the dark outline of someone leaning in and looking at me. They stood there for only a mo ment, then closed the door.

At this point, I had re gained back some feeling in my arms, and I went back to sleep, thinking that it had been one of my parents checking up on me.

During breakfast, I asked my parents if they had vis ited my room. They both looked confused and said no. I then asked my sisters if they had opened my door, and they also said no. As I continued to describe what had happened, and the fig ure I had seen, my mother went very pale.

“I had a dream last night,” she said. “I dreamed that

Ghosts who were hon oured with prayers and mollified with offerings of food and gifts, would bless their descendants with good fortune. The ghosts with out offerings would be an gry, and curse strangers and uncaring relatives with bad luck.

It is common for Viet namese families to prepare feasts during this festival, and to go to Buddhist tem ples to pray for their de ceased relatives. People will also bring offerings of food to donate to lost ghosts who have no one else to offer to them. In keeping with Buddhist teachings, temple offerings are vegan in na ture, since followers are en couraged to not harm living creatures.

The festival is meant to encourage generosity, as well as practicing forgive ness and compassion to wards the dead.

An entire industry has been built around the idea of the existence of ghosts and spirits. Psychics, me diums, Ouija boards, ghost hunters and paranormal investigators, TV shows and documentaries, ghost tours — all in an attempt to prove, or lend discussion to the centuries-old question: Do ghosts exist?

I’m no expert in ghosts, but I do plan to acquire an EMF (electromagnet ic field) meter, put on my investigative hat, and do some exploring throughout the month of October. Ru moured haunted locations? Ghostly sightings? Ghost stories from family mem bers? I’ll investigate and re port back every week until Halloween. 4

Got a tip for a haunted lo cation, or a ghostly yarn you’d like to share? Contact: helen.voiceofpelham@ gmail.com

Celebrants of the Hungry Ghost Festival in Kuching, Malaysia FABIO LAMANNA

The

yon. Yolande held the rope at the front (bow) and yours truly held the rope at the back (stern) to stabilize the boat. Mike was at the steering wheel and my wife was relaxing on the other side (drinking coffee and taking pictures). We felt very small in a very big space. Then the siren went off.

No, not an ambulance or rescue helicopter. Just the usual one saying we’re ready to go— up. Water

started gushing up from the far side of the lock. This was turning out to be the biggest jacuzzi I’d ever been in. Our ropes tightened as the current pushed on our boat. At one point Mike helped me hold my rope. We could see the water rising on the wall beside us. About 20 minutes later we were at the top and could feel the refreshing breeze once more.

The south gate slowly opened, we threw the ropes on the quayside, and motored out. One lock down. Seven to go. As we proceed-

ed that day, several jackknife and lift bridges rose to greet us. One of the pleasure crafts with us was just tall enough to require it. Instead of waiting for a lift bridge in a long line of traffic, it felt strange being the cause of it. My cheerful waves to motorists were not always returned.

Since Lake Erie is about 100 metres higher than Lake Ontario, the current naturally flows from south to north. The first seven locks were all in the St. Catharines/Thorold area

since that is where the escarpment is. From Thorold to Welland to Port Colborne the sailing was clear (but slow) at 5 knots (10 km/ hour). We chugged into a docking area in Port Colborne as the sun was setting (four to eight hours, right!). My sister had driven our car to the OM mission office nearby. We drove home tired but thankful. It had been a great learning experience. As I lay my head on my pillow it was still rolling to the rhythm of the water.

Life lessons

As I reflect on that long but eventful day, I see some interesting parallels with the Christian life. Believers often feel like they are sailing against the current of the culture around them. God inspired the apostle Paul to write this to the believers in Rome — “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect

will.” (Romans 12:2)

It takes effort and vigilance to live a Christian life worthy of the Lord. The long ropes we need from above are God’s Word and prayer to keep us stable so we’re not like “a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:6). God helps us to persevere when we get tired and raises us up little by little until we reach our goal — a safe haven on the other side. 4

Rob Weatherby is a retired pastor and very inexperienced sailor.

FAITH LIFT

NEW MEMBER OF THE PRIDE At a recent dinner meeting, the Fenwick Lions inducted a new member, Joe Cook. From left, Sponsor Jason Jackson, Cook, Fred Arbour, and club president Jeff Pickup SUPPLIED

Making every minute count

Do you spend much time thinking about what lies ahead? How you might maximize every minute of your remaining time on this planet? Not in the “Time Management, Proven techniques for making every minute count,” by Richard Walsh sense, but more in the nature of Spanky & Our Gang’s “Making every minute count.”

If you find yourself pondering, “What else can I jam into my future, what can I change?” Spanky’s lyrics nail it:

While you're hung up on yesterday You got nothing going today

While you're hung up on tomorrow All the good times are slipping away Life is right now.

Deciding on the important stuff can be daunting. Is it time to change my hair style to the spikey and scattered, hint of rebellion and adventure style of the late Anthony Bourdain? Should the peak on my baseball cap be worn forward or backward? Is it time to start putting toonies in my piggy bank to save for the dreaded e-bike that I know is on the horizon? Who’s going to care anyways?

Worse yet, at some point

I’ll have to admit I’m deluding myself. One’s 70s are a bit late to be resolving midlife crisis issues.

Of course, as a result of living with the internet, I now have difficulty thinking for myself. Let me correct that. I don’t have difficulty thinking for myself, it’s just so much easier to search, “How should I feel about aging?” or “What should I value in life now that most of it’s too late to change anyhow?” then decide which of the 8,390,000,000 responses I like best, and adopt that one as my new personal philosophy.

Turns out it isn’t that easy. I was shocked as I read through a blog piece titled, On aging: “There is no prime, every moment is your prime, there is no peak, it is just getting better,” by Daniela Beer-Becker, a Montreal psychologist.

I expected the blog to glamourize pop icons like Dolly Parton or Mick Jagger, still going strong in their 70s and beyond. Turns out it was a personal piece in which Beer-Becker reflected on the aging she saw in her own body and life at 47 years old. Really—at 47 years old?

How could this possibly relate to me, someone who just last week responded to a friend complaining that he was getting old at 66 by replying, “You’re still a pup.”

Here are relevant 2021 census statistics for Pelham. More than 30 percent of us are over 65, and Pelham residents’ average age is 46.5, the exact age, give or take a few months, that Beer-Becker was when she shared her personal feelings about aging, and whether she had already passed her peak. Does this mean that in 2022 at least half of Pelham

is thinking about how they might ensure their own aging is fulfilling and satisfying?

Throw in our daily bombardment of images of Covid, Fort Myers or Port aux Basque, and Ukraine, and I suspect the number of us who are doing the life evaluation thing would be surprising.

There’s a reason our eyes are in the front of our head rather than the rear. Understanding and figuring out where we’re going is much more important than seeing where we’ve been. Yet psychologists offer no common guideposts for how to make such important and emotional decisions, with some suggesting that excessive time spent considering your personal future can be counterproductive.

They argue that if we don’t know what we want,

haven’t defined what we value or what is important to us at any particular stage in life, it’s impossible to make every minute count. Unless our minutes count toward a desired goal or outcome, they will provide no enduring satisfaction.

A blog entitled, Achieveselfmastery.com asks, “So which abstract values or guiding principles do you want to base your life around? ... You can find lists of values on the internet to help you identify your own.” Whoa. Glad it’s not just me that needs Google’s assistance with life’s big questions, but using a multiple choice internet list to pick personal values sounds a bit risky.

Others espouse the “Just do something—anything,” theory. They say we can get

HOROSCOPE

ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20

Aries, others are counting on you this week, so you’ll need to direct all of your attention toward a special project. Don’t let distractions get in the way.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21

Taurus, rather than wishing for something to happen, fi gure out a plan to make it happen. Before taking action, consult with a few close friends for guidance.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21

Someone may come to you this week with a problem asking for your advice, Gemini. It’s tempting to react right away. However, take a few hours to mull things over.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22

Someone at work may not agree with your point of view lately. Rather than cause friction, try to look at things through this person’s perspective.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23

Leo, cooperation could be essential in the days and weeks ahead. This week you will benefit from being more open-minded to other people’s suggestions.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22

It seems that you have been tasked with moving from one difficult situation into another one, Virgo. Find ways to set aside time strictly to unwind.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23

Keep careful track of your expenses, Libra. You may find that lately you have been going a bit overboard with expenditures and not bringing in any extra money.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22

Maintain a positive outlook this week, Scorpio. Th ings may not go exactly according to plan, but that doesn’t make it any less successful and satisfying.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/ Dec 21

Sagitt arius, you may have to put others fi rst for the next few days, particularly if you care for an elderly relative or a young child. It’s a sacrifi ce worth making.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20

Capricorn, let another person lead a team or spearhead a project at work, even if you have an urge to take control. You can use a break from your responsibilities.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18

Aquarius, hands-on work not only helps save you some money, but also strengthens your skills. Th ink about a more DIY approach with your next project.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20

Pisces, if life has been tedious and fi lled with analytical requirements as of late, take on a creative project that will work your brain in new ways.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS

OCTOBER 2

Sting, Singer (71)

3

Noah Schnapp, Actor

4

Alicia

Recently I received an unexpected request. A couple we knew from Sudbury needed some help to navigate their sailboat through the Welland Canal and its eight locks. They had come through the Severn-Trent canal/river system but had been blocked on their return by a broken lock. They decided to return home by another (much longer) way via Lake Ontario, Welland Canal, Lake Erie and Lake Huron. Thus, the SOS call.

And so, on Friday, September 9, my wife and I parked our car at 7:30 AM at the Port Weller pay station and reconnected with our friends whom we hadn’t seen for several years. An extraordinary day was about to begin.

New experiences

As we chatted together, a radio message informed Mike that we would enter our first lock at 9 AM after a huge laker went through. They don’t allow the big ships and smaller crafts in the same lock lest the smaller ones (that would be ours) get crushed. I really like that rule. Another adjective describes the huge laker — slow. We had been told the trip would take between for and eight hours depending on canal traffic (famous last words).

Even though I had grown up a few miles from the Welland Canal, I learned a lot about the canal and its locks that day. For example, they only allow smaller pleasure craft every second day and they put several in the same lock to save time and money (makes sense). Our friends had been through many smaller locks on the Severn-Trent system but this was their first experience with the cavernous Welland Canal locks (re-

assuring). So, at 9 AM we bravely motored into lock number one in Port Weller with two other smaller boats. My prayer life improved dramatically.

As you may know, the locks need to raise (or lower) a vessel the height of Niagara Falls, which is 99 metres. Divide that number by seven (the eighth lock in Port Colborne was less than two metres deep) and you have the average height of each lock—about 14 metres, or 46 feet. Looking up from the bottom, it seems a lot higher. We felt a bit like Moses crossing the Red Sea with a wall of concrete on

each side. The vertical wall of water was being held back by the lock gate (and we prayed it would stay that way).

The huge gates closed behind us (no turning back). A crane lowered a cable across the end of the lock to prevent big ships from crashing the lock gates by accident (I don’t even want to imagine what might happen if that ever happened). Mike positioned our sailboat by the right (starboard) side of the lock next to a long double rope hanging down from the top of the concrete can-

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!

Voice RECIPE OF THE

Roasts are customary during the holiday season because they often feed a crowd and look impressive on serving platters. Some people opt for a roast beef while others prefer to roast a turkey. However, chicken just as easily can be turned into a Christmas dinner since it is versatile and tasty. In addition, the cooking time for a roasted chicken is much shorter than it is with other roasted dishes.

This recipe for “Roast Chicken with Whole Roasted Garlic” from “Rachael Ray 50: Memories and Meals from a Sweet and Savory Life” (Ballantine Books) by Rachael Ray provides the basis for a tasty holiday meal. Simply multiply the recipe as needed depending on the number of guests.

BALANCED LIFE

continued from Page 18

bogged down or overwhelmed trying to plan the big picture or grand adventure. If future plans are always a work-in-progress they frequently become unactionable, causing us to dither away our precious minutes. When doubt arises, we believe there’s lots of opportunity in our uncompleted big picture to shuffle things around, so we make excuses and postpone action.

Conversely, if we get up with a plan for the day, or morning, or even the first hour, commit to it and just do something, we will be taking a step forward. This approach mandates that we differentiate between urgent and important activities. Checking emails and texts first thing in the morning may seem urgent and time-sensitive, but such tasks are not always the most important to achieving our goals. It’s scheduling sufficient time for important things that will advance us, even

when our long-term plan might be hazy.

For most of us, tasks generally take less time than we expect them to. When scheduling time to do this or that, wash the car, call a friend, do the laundry, I would block an hour or two or whatever seemed sufficient. If the tasks got completed early, the extra minutes were generally frittered away.

I’ve recently come to recognize that thinking in terms of minutes and moments rather than hours or blocks can significantly increase how much can be accomplished in a day.

How does all this align with our desire to make every minute count as we age?

It is clear that regardless of which process we choose to achieve our goals and dreams as we age, it is seldom a matter of finding time for what we want to do. We have to make time.

How we make that time will play out differently for each of us, but recognizing the truth in Brian Tracy’s famous

motivational speeches, “Time is your most precious resource; make every minute count,” is where it begins. We may be in the stage where we’re honing our direction by selectively choosing more satisfying, stimulating, and value-aligned activities to fill our time. For others who have already decided their direction, making every minute count can mean filling their calendar relentlessly.

Don’t over-think it. Welcoming opportunities, marking them in your calendar, and committing to them increases the likelihood they’ll happen.

Or maybe you do need to think it through? Chill, sit down with a mirror and a shot of Bailey’s, and search your heart and mind. Ask yourself, “Am I satisfied with where I am?” If you answer yes, enjoy the Baileys, be thankful, and count yourself as very lucky. If you’re not sure, pour yourself another shot, and quietly investigate how to take ownership of your future so you can make every minute count. 4

you’re looking for new windows

doors or siding, soffit, fascia

eavestrough; it’s a great time to buy. North Star energyefficient windows are built in

and will save you money year round. North Star windows

keep your home cooler in

and warmer in winter.

Roast Chicken with Whole Roasted Garlic Serves 4

1 4-pound chicken

Kosher salt

2 lemons, one pierced several times with the tines of a fork and one halved

Few sprigs each of thyme and rosemary

4 large bulbs garlic, 1 per person or portion, ends cut to expose the cloves (keep the hairy root end intact)

EVOO (extra-virgin olive oil) for drizzling

Freshly ground black pepper

3 tablespoons butter

1 cup white wine

Warm, crusty bread

Place the chicken in a shallow baking dish. Salt the chicken inside and out and place uncovered in the fridge overnight.

Preheat the oven to 450 F.

Pat the chicken dry and fill with the pierced whole lemon, thyme and rosemary. Tie the legs up. Dress the bulbs of garlic with EVOO; season with salt and pepper. Arrange the garlic in the baking dish around the chicken. Rub the skin of the chicken with butter and season with pepper. Pour the wine into the bottom of the dish.

Roast the chicken for 1 hour or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the dark meat reads 165 F. Let the chicken stand for a few minutes on a carving board until just cool enough to handle. Carve the chicken, dividing the white and dark parts and slicing the breast meat on the bias. Arrange the chicken on plates or a platter and top with drippings, juices and the juice from the remaining halved lemon. The garlic may get dark but it won’t be charred. Serve in the skins or squeeze the paste from the skins with your knife and pass with a spoon to eat with the chicken or to slather on the warm chunks of bread.

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Roast Chicken with Whole Roasted Garlic

DINNER DANCE SUCCESS Pelham Cares’ 5th Annual Fundraiser Dinner Dance saw a record year of sponsorships groove to the beat, with funds raised going toward their Youth Subsidy Program. Among some 20 sponsors were, from left, Gerry Glaves, Pleasantview Funeral Home and Cemetery; Juanita Maclean, Seniors on the Move; Zenia Winnicki and Glen Sisak, PharmaChoice Pharmacy; Tina Moessner, Pelham Funeral Home; Kyle Boggio, Boggio Family Pharmacy; and Dr. Bohdan Hrynyk, Pelham Hills Dentistry

ELEANOR STASIW