The Voice, September 8 2021

Further delay in Lowes sex assault case

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Vol.25 No.36 

of Pelham and Central Niagara SEPTEMBER 8 2021

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Pelham Cares raffle a real trip, dudes!

BY BERNIE PUCHALSKI Special to the Voice In a perfect world, Pelham Cares wouldn’t need to fundraise.

But that is far from reality and the non-profit charitable organization that has been around for some three decades needed to come up with creative ways to raise money to help cover the costs of being much more than a food bank. In addition to providing food to families in need, Pelham Cares’ 75-plus volunteers and staff offer transportation to medical appointments, assist youth financially to participate in recreation and educational activities and referrals.

“As our numbers increased and our clients increased it became more and more evident that we needed to put our face out there,” said Nancy Yungblut, Pelham Cares’ fundraising coordinator.

“It became evident that we needed to do some fundraising and not rely on grants that are available and the wonderful, generous community that we live in.”

Helping kids take part in sports is the major thrust of Pelham Cares’ latest fundraiser, called the “Thanks for Giving Raffle,” which features tickets for $10 and three tickets for $25.

The draw will be made via Facebook Live Oct. 7 at 5 PM at the Pelham Farmers Market. The prizes are: a Vintage Hotels package valued at $1,500; a Great See TRIPPY Page 14

Nancy Yungblut, Pelham Cares’ fundraising coordinator, is urging everyone to buy tickets for the non-profit organization’s Thanks for Giving Raffle.

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Page 2

The Voice

by Dave Burket

Can’t ignore the worm in the room: I have some sympathy—some, not a lot— for our incumbent MP Dean Allison on the issue of his implied support for Ivermectin as a Covid therapy. As you’ll see on page 7, if you don’t already know, Ivermectin is a livestock de-wormer. If you own a dog, chances are you’ve had it in your home, as it’s a common ingredient in those monthly heartworm preventatives we give our little darlings. Possibly because we’d been using it for just such a purpose for the last 30 years, I immediately recognized its name when social media loons started pushing it as a Covid treatment months ago. My sympathy for Allison kicks in when, as an elected representative, he’s called on to represent the batshit crazy. While it would have been nice if he’d been able to wiggle, wormily, out of involvement with petitioning the feds to look into Ivermectin, and also nice if he had taken up our invitation this week to categorically state that he does not believe that a livestock de-wormer is an appropriate human Covid medicine, I get it. While Allison has always struck me as a reasonable guy, he’s in a bind, having to at least pay lip service to his party’s wackier wackos—and hey, there’s an election on. One hopes, though, that when the petition to research whether Earth is actually flat comes in, he’ll artfully dodge taking up the cause...Vaccine passport hysteria: Social media is a time-sucking black hole of narcissism and paranoia, but sometimes it can throw up some gems. Here’s a selection of Twitter reaction to the growing calls for proof-of-vaccination IDs: It starts with “vaccine passports”…but what next? “Driving passports” to use my own car? “Library passports” to borrow a book? “TRAVEL PASSPORTS” to leave the country?

TYRANNY NEVER SLEEPS MY FRIENDS! What? The next thing you know there will be lights at traffic intersections telling us to stop and go. Friggin’ tyranny is everywhere! Some places make you wear pants to enter their business. Fascists!

It's already here, sheeple. Have you tried to buy anything at a Costco without a Costco passport? I'm thinking of moving to Libya or Myanmar or the Philippines or Russia or China or Venezuela or Belarus or better yet, Afghanistan, where I can live in real freedom. Pass “ports” will soon be extended to pass “words,” I am certain. No paper, just letters and numbers that you need to enter to access YOUR OWN COMPUTER. And they might order you to use symbols, even more proof of global tyranny. What’s next?! BIRTH PASSPORTS?? Like hey, I’m obviously birthed! Don’t oppress me with your documents! Just wait until your driving passport gets a stamp on it saying you have crappy eyesight so can only drive your car if you have glasses on! Next they'll be wanting bank passports in the form of plastic cards. Just so we can withdraw our own money. Warning: these demons of technology have microchips embedded in them. A fishing and hunting passport! How will they hunt and gather for food? The insanity! Ban all licensing!

Why can't an auto mechanic be a dentist? Next thing you’ll know is that all vehicles will have a unique metal identifying plate attached to both front and rear.

This tyranny has no bounds. I just bought milk and had to use the Money Passport instead of yelling into the checkout machine “Just take my word for it, I have the money!” This reminds me of the oppression we suffered in the ‘80s and ‘90s when they made us get video cards. Dude, they assigned me a code that identifies my location down to my front-effing-door! Uniformed personnel show up almost every day bringing me demands for money inscribed with that code! Surveillance shakedown state in full effect!...Snap Puzzler: Name the country where the photo was taken that accompanies John Swart's column this week (p.18) and have a chance to win a $20 PetValu gift card. puzzler@thevoiceofpelham.ca. Deadline to enter is this coming Saturday, 9 PM. Good luck Puzzlers! ◆

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Big jump in Pelham Covid-19 cases

PUBLISHER’S CORNER

Voice

A September 8 2021

POETRY Thundering Herds Why can't I wake In a natural way Like an innocent child Rubbing my eyes Opening them slowly To a bright new day, Big surprise?

No words to be said, Instead, A smile like a clown.

Why can't I waken No words to mutter Thoughts to utter Heart a-flutter?

Instead, Ideas pop in my head Before I've even left my bed Places to go, things to do Lists to make Start anew.

Another day. I long to stretch To nap awhile To think sweet thoughts To wear a smile, My mind is busy All the while.

And so instead From my warm and cozy bed I leap......

No more sleep Get work done A caregiver’s day has now begun From dawn to dusk From moon to sun A caregiver’s day has now begun.

BY VOICE STAFF Statistics released by Niagara Public Health at midday on Sunday, September 5 showed a dramatic increase in the number of active Covid-19 cases in Pelham.

From a consistent average in the low single digits over the last month, the Region reported 24 active cases in Pelham on Sunday, making it the most infectious municipality by population in Niagara. And in total active cases, Pelham ranked third, behind St. Catharines (70 cases) and Niagara Falls (69). Pelham's cases on Sunday accounted for almost half of all new cases—55—reported in the Region.

All Niagara cases reported within the previous 14 days, according to the Region, were either suspected or confirmed to be the Delta variant of the coronavirus.

As of Sunday, there were 271 active Covid cases in the Region, with ten patients in hospital and two patients in intensive care.

Niagara Region Public Health Communications Consultant Kerri Stoakley told the Voice that there was no immediate explanation for the spike.

"We’re still following-up with the new cases from Pelham and don’t have any insight that we can share yet," said Stoakley.

Pelham Mayor Marvin Junkin tried to stay positive.

"It must be remembered that high numbers occurring now are still resulting in very few people being hospitalized," Junkin told the Voice. "That being said, authorities are saying that getting the shot remains ones best bet to avoid Covid misery."

Fire Chief and Community Emergency Management Coordinator, Bob Lymburner, had a blunt message: "The vast majority of cases are within the unvaccinated. Get the shot."

Pelham CAO David Cribbs told the Voice that the Town did not yet have an explanation as to why the jump was so high.

"What we do know is that the overwhelming majority of people getting sick have not been vaccinated," said Cribbs. "The vaccine does not make you immune to getting Covid, but it does mean that you will survive getting it. Please get the shot."

Covid-19 vaccination clinics are ongoing, including two scheduled for this week at Pelham's Meridian Community Centre.

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Column Six

Growing up British

BY JULIE MANNELL

Special to the VOICE

W

BALLOONING INTEREST Grade 6 student Jinja Shepherd explains her experiment on static electricity at the Glynn A. Green NATE SMELLE PHOTO Public School's annual science fair last Friday. See story, page 3.

Public meeting tonight on school issues

BY VOICE STAFF As questions continue to mount regarding an email that Pelham Mayor Dave Augustyn quietly sent to a District School Board of Niagara trustee last summer, Augustyn has agreed to address the issue at a public meeting scheduled for this evening, Wednesday, Feb. 8, in Fenwick.

Nancy Beamer, speaking for “Names Matter,” a Pelham citizens group lobbying the DSBN to reverse its decision to rename a local public school, confirms that the meeting will be held at Fire Station #2, known locally as the Fenwick Fire Hall, starting at 7:00 PM. While the Mayor has agreed to ap-

Under pressure, Mayor to address email revelation, other E. W. Farr matters pear, says Beamer, DSBN officials associated with the school-naming process have either declined to attend or have not yet responded to the group’s invitation.

DSBN Chair, Dale Robinson, to whom Augustyn’s email was addressed last June, has declined to appear, says Beamer, asserting that she would be

“on holidays.” The Voice was unable to independently confirm Robinsion’s intentions. She did not respond to repeated requests for comment on E.W. Farr-related matters before presstime.

Beamer, whose group maintains an email list of some 580 residents, says that all members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend the meeting.

“We would especially welcome parents and children who are unhappy with the name change,” she says, referring to the contentious decision by the DSBN to consolidate two Pelham See MEETING back page

HEN I WAS young, my father and I would go for long drives along the rural routes of Pelham. We’d blast George Thurgood and roll down the windows because we loved the smell of the breeze, the sensation of crisp Niagara wind beating our cheeks and tangling our hair against our summer-kissed skin.

My father was not a sentimental man. He worked in factories and had a Gordon Lightfoot mustache and never shed tears over injuries.

Yet something about the Pelham landscape, the hilly backdrop to his childhood and the childhoods of our ancestors, drew him in. He’d stop by a farm or a gathering of woods and, surrendering his manly veneer, tell me a story about the town.

This place is precious. This is the earth that granted us life. Here is the place where we happened upon love or here is a site of devastation.

On one particular drive sometime in the late ‘90s we stopped at a tree with a plaque.

“This tree looks dead,” I said to my father.

“It sure is getting there, Julie.”

The Comfort Maple is supposedly Canada’s oldest See COLUMN SIX Page 14

Part 2 of 2: Coronation to embarkation

Vol.20 No.32

BY VOICE STAFF

A construction error was discovered following the opening of a traffic calming chicane on Haist Street north of Hwy 20 last Monday that prevented large vehicles from passing through.

One resident living in the neighbourhood said he contacted the Town after seeing a small schoolbus get stuck as it tried to get through the new traffic calming measure. Later that day while driving behind a cement truck, he said that he became concerned for the public’s safety when the truck had to turn around because it couldn’t get through.

“If a small school bus and a cement truck can’t make it through what about a fire

BY HEATHER McLAREN ROHRER

Special to the VOICE

A

Repair measures underway last week to correct a construction error in the chicane. truck or an ambulance?” he said.

While waiting for the contractor to return to fix

the mistake, the Town has taken measures to temporarily allow passage for vehicles through the neigh-

VOICE PHOTO

bourhood in the short-term.

Manager of Public Works Ryan Cook said that after discovering the issue with

the chicane the morning it first opened, the Town See CHICANE Page 5

Petition-inspired changes coming to 2017 Summerfest

BY NATE SMELLE

The VOICE

Representatives from the Pelham Summerfest committee Candy Ashbee and Bill Gibson presented council with a final report on the 2016 Summerfest at the Council meeting on Monday, Nov. 21.

Prompted by a story in the Voice in August about a merchant petition to move Summerfest from Pelham Street, in September Town staff met with various stakeholders to hear their complaints, promising at the time that changes in the way Summerfest was mounted would be con-

sidered.

The main concerns identified during the community engagement process were security, parking, ensuring customer can access all businesses in town, and liability for damages. How to get all Pelham Street businesses to participate and finding ways to make it beneficial for them to set up a booth were also determined to be of high priority for the committee as they plan for next year’s event.

Gibson told Council that the committee is addressing these concerns in a variety of ways. To improve parking, they intend to create bet-

ter signage for out-of-town visitors to designated parking areas and shuttle services. To make participation in Summerfest more enticing to local businesses, they plan to implement a tiered-charge for booths. Under the new system, Pelham Street business owners will be charged the least, other local businesses will pay a slightly higher fee, and vendors from outside Pelham will pay the most. In response to more specific issues for individual businesses, they will also slightly alter the footprint of the event and make adjustments to security.

Another way the committee plans

to improve the 2017 Summerfest is by sponsoring and working with the organizers of the Thursday Night Bandshell Concert series to select the artist performing on the first night of Summefest. They also intend to make more use of the smartphone app they launched in 2016.

"We are really going to push it this year," Ashbee said.

“It really helps to get people to see what events there are so they can plan out where they are going.

We will be able to actually help the merchants and local businesses adSee CHANGES Page 5

FTER LUNCH ON Saturday, Mum and Dad had my afternoon cut out for me. Mum had more brass than anyone I knew, and it had to be cleaned. In addition there was the set of silver fish-knives and forks which were never used, but which had to be cleaned and put back in their velvetlined box.

Next was a walk to the newsagents to pay for the daily delivery of the Daily Mirror. As I said, Dad was a printer, but when he was 37 he had been rejected for a job, as being too old, by the printers of the Beano.

For that reason, my favourite comic was not allowed in the house, but while I was paying the papers, the newsagent let me have a 'shoofty' at the Beano. I'd explained my predicament and he understood completely.

Sundays were different again. Dad would play golf on summer mornings and billiards in winter. Then he'd stop for a 'refresher' at the local and would pick up the prawns, cockles, winkles or whelks we'd be having for tea later. Meanwhile, Mum was roasting the 'joint' and potatoes. I got to make the Yorkshire pud, and mint

Wednesday October 12, 2016

FREE

Apple Day comes to Fonthill

See COLUMN SIX Page 14

BY VOICE STAFF

The goal is to have these youth develop into confident and well-rounded individuals

ceives them, enabling youth to have experiences that build character, challenge them, and allow them to try new things. The goal is to have these youth develop into confident and wellrounded individuals, better prepared for success. Apple Day helps to achieve that.”

“Any money raised during Apple Day goes towards improving the Scouting program by providing more outdoor adventures for youth, camping equipment, canoes and paddles, training and many other endeavours that the youth want to experience,” says Marie.

Scouts Canada has some 100,000 members across Canada, and carries out programs for boys, girls

walk/trail is slated to be built between the south side of the road from Timmsdale Crescent to the high school.

Because of the large volume of motor vehicle traffic travelling at high speeds through this area, and because of the necessity for students to tread this path on a daily basis, many residents would like to see the sidewalk go in sooner than later.

After delivering to Council a petition containing

Many residents would like to see the sidewalk go in sooner than later the names of 450 students calling for a safer walk to school, Simpson handed the

podium over to Loewen and Williams to plead their case.

Loewen told Council that because there are a lot of students who have work placements and coop placements during the school year, this is the only route for many of them to travel.

As one of the students facing this predicament, Williams said she has had no other option but to walk along the dangerous highway.

www.pennylanesold.com

H EATHER AND P ENNY L ANE S ALES R EPRESENTATIVES

BY JOHN SWART

VOICE Correspondent

and youth ages 5-25. This year the 3rd Fonthill Group, which includes Beavers to Ventures (youth ages 5- 25) will be hitting the streets to drum-up support.

Over the weekend, Scouts will be set up in Fonthill outside Sobeys, Tim Hortons, Target Gas station, Fonthill Shopping Plaza and the Pioneer Gas station at the corner of Hwys 20 and 24.

Town Council approves sidewalk to serve E. L. Crossley

BY NATE SMELLE

The VOICE

Joining their principal, Karen Simpson, at the Sept.

19 Council meeting as part of a delegation from EL Crossley Secondary School, students Abby Loewen and Neenah Williams presented Council with a list of reasons that they should immediately approve the construction of the new sidewalk proposed along Hwy. 20. The asphalt side-

Cell 905.933.3049

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

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

Office 905.892.1702

Column Six It doesn’t get better than Autumn

Longtime Scouting tradition dates to 1932

While shopping in Fonthill between Friday and Sunday, keep an eye out for Beavers, Cubs and Scouts in front of local stores with bushels of apples.

As part of the annual Apple Day campaign, Scouting youth of all ages will be trading apples for donations.

The yearly fundraising drive is an important way for young Scouts to connect with the communities they are serving, says Leah Marie of Scouts Canada.

“The Apple Day campaign holds a great tradition of being able to have youth interacting within the communities they live in,” she says. “All of the Apple Day donations stay directly within the group that re-

this minute!

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Request made of community still peeved at name change

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

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

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

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

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

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Pined -Sol Pelham’sPelham’s Health Food Store

“I start work at 2:30 PM and school lets out at 2:15 PM so I can’t take any other route,” Williams explained.

“I have had friends, family, teachers and other community members reach out to me in the past about how this is unsafe and how there should be another alternative for us.”

Looking ahead to winter, when she will need to walk this path three or four times See SIDEWALK Page 2

HERE IS NO BETTER time to cycle than Fall. It matters not whether you’re new to the sport, a seasoned recreational cyclist, racer, touring rider or mountain biker; we all have reason to look forward to autumn.

Summer’s heat has faded, and the streams of sweat that ran from soggy helmets into our eyes are now just slight perspiration. Fitness is peaking from lots of saddle time, making those tough climbs of Spring a breeze in Autumn.

It’s hard to beat the feeling of beginning a crisp, cool Fall ride with a slight shiver, knowing your efforts will soon warm you perfectly.

The hues of Autumn are outstanding.

A Pelham route as simple as following our southern boundary is one that would make most Toronto cyclists jealous, especially when our forests and fields are ablaze with colour.

Begin from Harold Black Park, and zig-zag south along Effingham Rd toward the Welland River.

If you’re new to cycling, it’s important to know south is the direction away from any hills.

If you avoid the morning and evening weekday rush hours caused by those travelling through Pelham between Wainfleet See AUTUMN Page 3

8

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice

A September 8 2021

Page 3

Sixth delay in Lowes sex assault case Accused has yet to appear in court since his arrest six months ago

BY JOHN CHICK Voice Correspondent A lawyer for Rick Lowes briefly appeared in a Welland video court September 1 regarding four counts of sex offences laid against the Pelham business owner.

Lowes was not present in person or virtually. Lawyer Mark Evans successfully moved to adjourn the matter until September 22.

This marks the sixth continuance in the case since Lowes’ arrest, with previous court proceedings occurring on April 14, May 12, June 9, July 7, and August 4.

Lowes, 65, was charged with three counts of sexual

assault and one count of sexual interference with person under 16 back in March, with the Rick Lowes. story only FACEBOOK coming to light last m o n t h .

Lowes, who owns and operates the Country Corner Market, at Quaker Road and Line Avenue in Fonthill, had been released on a $2,000 bond after his arrest.

The Niagara Regional Police, which generally issues media statements soon after

filing such serious charges, did not do so at the time of Lowes’ arrest. A confidential source told the Voice in August that there was a belief among some NRPS staff that the Lowes matter was deliberately kept from public and media scrutiny by the police, an assertion that a police service spokesperson told the newspaper was “categorically false.” It took the Voice multiple tries, however, to obtain an official explanation for the decision not to issue a press statement six months ago.

It is not known whether Lowes will appear in court for the September 22 return date.

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The Voice

A September 8 2021

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

OPINION

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

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

COTÉ'S COMMENTS Larry Coté

An integral part of Pelham and Central Niagara

O

ver the past few years I have enjoyed the pastime and privilege of occasionally writing for the Voice. I am humbled to be identified as a member of this newspaper’s contributors.

The Voice is what is known in the media business as a community newspaper. This definition describes a publication that shares a common interest in the welfare of a community of local residents. As such, community newspapers tend to cover subjects that the larger media do not.

Also, community newspapers generally eschew coverage of worldwide happenings and events.

Generally speaking, community newspapers were once privately owned and independent of any news media chains—and this remains true for the Voice, which is 100 percent locally owned and operated—though “community” papers across Canada are increasingly being swallowed up by large chains and operated as corporate divisions in service of the bottom line. Such consolidation is rampant in Niag-

ara, with one corporation controlling 90 percent-plus of printed news circulation in the peninsula.

The societal importance of newspapers is acknowledged in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982). That legisla-

This role, at times, is a bone of contention for some politicians who disparage such reporting

tion guarantees and protects a number of freedoms and confirms the freedom of the press. Likewise, the first amendment of the US Constitution also recognizes the importance of newspapers by guaranteeing their freedom of expression.

Like their larger counterparts, community newspapers have been challenged by new technologies in re-

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

cent times. However, and regardless of their limited geographic footprint, they still play important roles such as being a forum for local happenings and issues.

Many media analysts suggest that community newspapers are a crucial component of proper municipal governance.

One of these roles is known in the media business as accountability reporting.

Basically, this function is to serve as a watchdog and interpreter of public issues and events in the communities these newspapers service. That involves gathering and compiling such factors that contribute to a civic organization’s operational efficiency, adherence to sound fiscal management, and other best practices.

This role, at times, is a bone of contention for some politicians who disparage such reporting, as they are uncomfortable with public scrutiny or being taken to task for issues that may be perceived in the best interests of the community and its residents. However, some might observe it is the See INTEGRAL next page

Letters Allison slammed for “fringe” Covid cure stance Mr. Allison’s support of Ivermectin is irresponsible and frankly disturbing. Not only is Ivermectin ineffective against Covid-19, taking large doses of Ivermectin can be extremely dangerous. He is completely offside with science and is failing in his responsibility to encourage safe, effective vaccinations that actually protect our community—including children under 12 who are not able to be vaccinated.

The majority of people in Niagara have stepped up to do their part by getting vaccinated—yet Mr. Allison continues to be more

focused on pushing his own fringe, unproven beliefs, which are putting the health and safety of our community members at risk.

He is undermining the efforts we need to end the fight against Covid-19 and get back to normal.

I call on Mr. Allison to retract his statements immediately and do the right thing for the people of Niagara West.

Ian Bingham Federal Liberal candidate Niagara West

7

CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS Member of Federal Parliament

Electoral District: Niagara West

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

Electoral District: Niagara West

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

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The Voice

Page 5

A September 8 2021

OPINION Allison follows in Bylsma's footsteps MP Dean Allison needs to do more research on Ivermectin, a de-worming veterinarian medication, before suggesting that it be used in treatment of Covid. It appears he decided to follow the lead of the ill-informed and lost sheep of Mayor Bylsma’s flock.

L. Morgan Fonthill

Allison's fitness for office in question It was disconcerting enough to know that there are people among us who would eschew science and medicine and instead ingest horse de-wormer as a treatment or preventative for Covid-19. But to learn that my MP, Dean Allison, is potentially abetting this belief was simply too much. Anyone who can accept this unproven theory and recommend it to others should not be in a position of government in Ottawa. The people of Niagara West need better than this.

David Fowler Wainfleet

Open letter to Pelham Town Council on Bauer Trail The Council of the Town of Pelham is in receipt of correspondence, dated July 5, 2021, from S. Kaufman of Turkstra Mazza Associates regarding Draft Plans of Subdivision and Zoning Bylaw Amendment for Kunda Park and Forest Park. The correspondence includes a transportation review with roadway options critical to the Steve Bauer Trail (SBT) and the “wetlands” associated with the Kunda and Forest Park subdivisions. RV Anderson Associates Ltd., retained by Sterling Realty (Niagara) Inc., explored three roadway options, and they propose that Option 1 should be the preferred one, which involves the construction of a roadway across the SBT connecting the two subdivisions. In addition, all three options involve the use

of some Town-owned land for straightening the extension of Station Street.

The Pelham Tree Conservation Society has studied the RV Anderson Transportation Review report of Kundra Park and Forest Park Developments that has been included on council's agenda for their September 7 council meeting. This report, first placed on the August 23 council meeting agenda, but deferred due to the time limitation of the council meeting, is now considered at the September 7 meeting.

The review discusses Station Street's extension and its danger in its current configuration. It also gives three roadway options that the Town should decide on concerning the Kunda Park and Forest Park development connectivity. Because of the

33-page length of the RV report, we will keep our review short and summarize it as follows: Our review begins with the fact that we delivered petitions to council last February to preserve the Steve Bauer Trail in its current form and shape. We stand by our demands. Furthermore, we strongly endorse council's motion not to allow any new roadways to cross the Town's trails.

We reviewed and accept

PELHAM AND COVID-19 Mayor Marvin Junkin

Vaccination rates edge higher; Sulphur Springs a go

E

ighty-four percent of eligible Coid19 vaccine recipients across Canada have received two doses, making our country one of the most heavily vaccinated in the world. As of September 1, 72.6 percent of Niagara residents had one dose, and 66.2 percent were fully vaccinated. Even though cases are rising, hospitalizations of Covid patients in the region remained low with a total of ten patients as of Sunday.

With the beginning of September and the subsequent kids heading back to school, Pelham’s summer camp and aquatic season has ended. The fall programs, which are still receiving some final tweaking, will include Fit with Brock, ballroom dance classes, 5-plus aerobics with conditioning classes, indoor pickle ball (a crowd favorite) and adult learnto-skate classes, with Councillor Olson already signed up. Most of the aforementioned

See TRAIL next page

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continued from previous page nature of politicians to relish good press and abhor any bad publicity.

And so it is, under the watchful eye of the unbiased press, and a few other civic-based mechanisms, the best interests of the community are being monitored and protected.

Those who doubt the value of their community newspaper might ask themselves: Who has the most to lose if their community newspaper were to cease publication?

Community newspapers serve to inform, educate and amuse the members of the communities they serve. Thus, they are an integral part of the efficient operations of their community. ◆

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Support your local service clubs

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programs are slated to start September 20, so please go to the Town website for further details.

The seniors lounge at the MCC will begin offering a monthly program calendar again which will contain social events and activities. With the cooler weather I am sure more people will be using the indoor walking track at the MCC. am glad to report that on September 3, the contractor doing the work at Sulphur Springs Drive received the last remaining outstanding permits, so the project is a go.

In order to finish the one section, a work extension has been applied for from the federal department of fish and oceans. This extension would allow the work to continue until October. Judging by my email, the residents on this are ecstatic that the long -awaited repairs are finally underway. ◆

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Page 6

The Voice

A September 8 2021

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

Letters continued A wake-up call to the riches of Pelham A warm sunny day in early September and so invigorating after August wrapped us in almost suffocating heat!

I took advantage of this fi ne day to walk the Steve Bauer trail that rambles through the older subdivisions of the town. It is a trail less travelled, and in the heat of the day of-

fers a shaded, cooler stroll through the forested area.

It was during this walk that I came upon two gentlemen off to the side of the trail and seemingly looking for something. One fellow bore a more official look about him—broad brimmed hat, vest, and a device hung around his neck, maybe a counter?

TRAIL

continued from previous page the statements in the RVA report about the danger of the misalignment of Station Street, and the need for a “correction” involving an excursion onto Town property. To resolve this issue we have come up with a positive solution.

The developer/town straightens the beginning of Station Street by using the existing entrance of the SBT on Port Robinson Road to create a safe roadway. In return, we expect the developer to transfer the northwest portion of his unused

“What are you looking?” for I ventured to ask.

“The white wood aster” came the reply.

The fellow explained that they are rare and are on the threatened list of plants in Ontario. Pelham is one of the only places in Canada where they are found!

He showed me a picture of the plant on his phone.

property that retains Indigenous artifacts, for the new entrance to the SBT. In addition, this property will become a Reconciliation Park in honour of our native population.

Option 1: The PTCS position of a road crossing the trail is not an option, which is fully supported by a motion passed by Town Council.

Thus Option 1 is NOT a viable solution to the roadway network of the two subdivisions under consideration.

Option 2, with its locked gates, and small passage ways connecting the two subdivisions is NOT an option for obvious reasons that do not

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Option 3: We agree with the Town, province, and the federal government on the importance of preserving wetlands. We understand the importance of wetlands in curbing the effects of climate change and assist with flood control among its many positive attributes. Therefore, we are opposed to creating a road through this area presented as Option 3 in the RVA report.

On Town staff’s insistence of another roadway in/out of the Kunda Park subdivision, we propose the following. Instead of constructing

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see along the trail, some property owners may be using the woods as a plant recycling area, perhaps not realizing the damage that is caused to the natural environment.

In a follow up email, Paul told me that “Niagara really needs to wake up to See RICHES back page

the wetland. This will protect our environment and as well as do our part to mitigate future climate change impacts and related impacts such as flooding among many.

We also would like to point out that the transportation report states that any of the three of their options will allow the developments to be built. The citizens of Pelham expect developers to create respectful and responsible developments and surrounding environments that are in line with residents' wishes.

Mike Jones, Chair Pelham Tree Conservation Society

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ed the value of this oldgrowth forest.

Another area of concern he noted was the invasion of a variety of plants such as periwinkle and gout weed. He noted that these plants spread quickly and overtake the native plants of the forest floor and basically are uncontrollable once in situ. From what I

a roadway through and destroying the precious wetland, that a low-level bridge be built over the wetland. This proposed roadway into Kunda Park will circumvent any damage to the wetland. We are aware that grants are available from the federal government to help preserve wetlands and would expect this assistance would be accessed to help offset the cost of our suggestion.

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During our brief conversation, I learned that Paul O’Hara was searching for the white wood aster plant, and fears that it will soon become extinct in the area because of being trampled when walkers go “off trail.” He noted there were a couple of patches of the wildflower throughout this area of the trail and not-

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The Voice

A September 8 2021

Page 7

Allison under fire for stance on fringe Covid treatment Conservative incumbent MP "exempt" from vaccination, but encourages public to get jabbed

BY VOICE STAFF Incumbent Niagara West Member of Parliament Dean Allison has come under fire for seeming to promote the use of a livestock dewormer as a Covid-19 remedy.

The Conservative MP, who was first elected to Parliament in 2004 and has successfully retained the seat since, tabled a petition to Parliament in June calling on the federal government to examine the alleged effectiveness of Ivermectin, a drug widely used to treat parasite infections in livestock.

There is no credible evidence suggesting that the medication is effective against Covid-19. Canadian and US health authorities have repeatedly warned the public not to to self-medicate with Ivermectin due to its potential toxicity. Nonetheless, there has been a run on the drug at feed and farm stores in both countries as social media posts have continued to tout the fringe theory that multinational drug companies have sought to sideline Ivermectin in favour of more expensive therapies.

In an interview with the St. Catharines Standard, Niagara’s Acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Mustafa Hirji, said that the drug is a neurotoxin that acts on the nervous system, eliminating parasites by killing their nerve and muscle cells.

“As Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic, it will not work against vi-

ruses,” Hirji told the Standard.

“Viruses do not have nerves.”

Allison again pushed Ivermectin in an August 12 Facebook post, in which he wrote, “Wondering why our federal government is not spending more time and energy looking into therapeutics,” and included a photo of a box of Ivermectin.

The post has since been deleted. Asked why the post was taken down, campaign manager Gordon Bate told the Voice that it was “causing confusion because of the Standard article. As you can readily see, Dean does not mention endorsing Ivermectin or any specific treatment. He simply posted an article from a reputable source that states that other countries are looking at different therapeutics and wondered why Canada was not doing the same. Simple question.

Nothing else.”

Also at issue is Allison’s Covid-19 vaccination status. Bate said that Allison had a “medical exemption” from being vaccinated, though the MP encouraged his constituents to get the jab, saying through Bate: “Vaccines are the most important tool in the fight against Covid-19. I encourage every Canadian, who is able to, to get vaccinated. Covid-19 can result in serious illness, or even death, which is why I respect and defer to the advice of health experts on

Allison's August 12 Facebook post, which critics say implicitly endorsed a livestock de-wormer as a Covid treatment. FACEBOOK/INSAUGA.COM how best to treat Covid-19. I have never stated nor endorsed that any therapeutic drug(s) would replace vaccines or be a cure. My comments regarding the use of therapeutics has been at the request of my constituents who want to know why the government and Health Canada is not looking at all therapeutics that may be able to assist

in the treatment of Covid-19.”

In a statement to the Voice, Niagara West Liberal candidate Ian Bingham condemned Allison’s “support of Ivermectin” as irresponsible.

“He is completely offside with science and is failing in his responsibility to encourage safe, effective vaccinations that actu-

ally protect our community,” said Bingham. “Mr. Allison continues to be more focused on pushing his own fringe, unproven beliefs, which are putting the health and safety of our community members at risk. I call on Mr. Allison to retract his statements immediately and do the right thing for the people of Niagara West.”

Page 8

The Voice

A September 8 2021

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

Next stop: Jab City Mobile vaccination clinic coming to Brock tomorrow

BY BERNIE PUCHALSKI Special to the Voice Brock University is hoping its unvaccinated or partly vaccinated students and staff will hop on board when a mobile Covid-19 vaccine clinic rolls into the St. Catharines university this Thursday.

Through a partnership with the Ontario government and Metrolinx, two GO Transit buses were converted into mobile vaccination clinics, and one of the GO-VAXX buses will be operating in the Zone 3 parking lot at the main Brock campus from 11 AM to 7 PM. It will be offering vaccines to students, faculty, staff and anyone from the wider community.

The first-come, first-serve clinics launched at Canada’s Wonderland in early August. Since then the fully accessible buses have been touring the Golden Horseshoe region providing first or second doses

of the Pfizer vaccine to anyone 12 and older.

“We are working with our community partners and this seemed like a great opportunity to have mobile access to vaccination for our students,” said Lynn Wells, Brock’s Provost and Interim President. “We were very happy that the offer came our way and we are excited to have the bus come to campus.”

Wells isn’t sure of the exact number of doses the bus would be able to administer.

“Let’s just say a lot,” she said with a laugh.

All students and faculty at Brock will be required to be doublevaxxed.

“This a requirement that came to us from the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health, for not only us but all Ontario colleges and uni-

Two GO Transit buses have been converted to mobile Covid-19 vaccine clinics. versities, that we require a double vaccination on campus,” Wells said.

Brock is giving its staff and faculty a bit of time to comply with the directive. It is requiring the first dose by Sept. 1 and the second by Sept. 28.

“We have been collecting information from our community members and we are really pleased that a majority of people at Brock seem

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to be already double-vaccinated and that there are people who are indicating they have had their first dose and are waiting for their second,” she said. “We may also have international students who are coming who have different vaccinations that may need to restart with a Canadian-approved vaccine. [The bus] will be really accessible for them as well.”

Brock has an online system that all faculty and students are required to upload their information to indicate their vaccination status.

By Aug. 27, the university had collected 6,089 submissions and 5,876 respondents said they were fully vaccinated. Fewer than five said they were planning to seek an exSee GO VAXX Page 14

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The Voice

Page 9

A September 8 2021

Majestic maple gets the axe At "end of life," tree removed as safety precaution

BY DON RICKERS Voice Correspondent What was once a towering silver maple in front of Glynn A. Green Public School, on Pelham Street, has been reduced to a broad stump, with portions of the trunk and branches strewn in piles on the lawn adjacent the road, having been sectioned by chain saw.

The reconstruction of Pelham Street running adjacent to the school, which includes a new storm sewer system to improve drainage and mitigate flooding concerns in the area, also features new sidewalks and a wid-

ening of the road platform.

Jason Marr, Director of Public Works for the Town of Pelham, told the Voice that the tree was “located in the middle of our proposed multi-use path in front of the school, intended for the safety of the public and the children.

We did an assessment on that tree last year, during the design phase, and it was determined by the third-party arborist that that tree was at the end of its life.”

Indeed, significantly hollowing was evident in sections, particularly in the upper trunk, as may be seen in the photo above.

In addition, Marr said that the Town had heard some concerns from the District School Board of Niagara, with respect to the tree leaning in the direction of the school, potentially in danger of collapsing onto the building during high winds or winter ice storms.

Marr said that a pathway was mapped out to identify other trees that would be impacted by the construction, and then a revision was done in order to try to preserve as many trees along Pelham Street as possible.

Denise Braddon, a long-time resident of Pelham Street, was sad to see the maple go.

“It’s a huge sucker of a tree,” she said. “It's just so frustrating that while the world burns, we

cut down trees. I just feel that we’re at that stage, unfortunately, where development takes precedence over what is best for the environment. We are not sufficiently thinking about nature and climate change—there should be more caution and deliberation before things like this are done.”

Marr stressed that the Town's official policy is to preserve trees whenever possible.

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Page 10

The Voice

A September 8 2021

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

Signs of the times

BY BILL POTRECZ Special to the Voice Every day is Flag Day at 25 Alsop Drive, in Fenwick.

Starting last Christmas, Deb Foster has been displaying flags on her impeccably manicured lawn themed according to events or seasons. The flags have holes cut out so those so inclined can get in and pose for a picture.

“I was looking for Christmas stuff and saw this one,” Foster said as she pointed to the green Let’s Take an Elfie sign which started it all. “I saw another one with birds but this was more fun.”

Foster, a 66-year-old native of Niagara-on-the-Lake who retired to Fenwick with her husband, Rob, in 2013, didn’t see much activity at first.

“The kids are going through hell. I’m a retired ECE [Early Childhood Education teacher] and I left to work with seniors, so I’ve always had to do stuff to get people going,” she said. “I thought it would be fun but no one would come on the lawn so I made a sign saying that it’s okay to come on the lawn and then they started coming."

Students at nearby Wellington Heights Public School then began to take notice.

“The neighbours told me the school had to exercise and that I had a gym class on my lawn. It was amazing. I was so glad and then I started seeing kids on the lawn.”

Foster next put out a flag for Valentine’s Day, complete with treats.

“I thought I would do it again.

The first one blew away because I made the holes too big and things

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were closed so I ripped off one of my placemats and made it with that,” she said.

Foster has been delighted with the reverence shown by those who stop for a picture or treat.

“They have been very respectful of the property. When I put treats out they didn’t grab them all. They took one or two and were respectful of the property.”

From there it was flags for St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Canada Day, and one for graduation in June in blue and orange, the colours of the Wellington Heights Huskies.

“They were saying the kids weren’t going to have a graduation ceremony and they didn’t know what was going to happen.

I thought I was going to lose my grad gang,” she said.

A summer flag hung for the months of July and August but now it’s time for a yellow Back to School sign.

“They have been working from home, studying from home and back and forth. I know some of them are really excited to see their friends and some of them are afraid they are going to get sick,” Foster said.

Foster plans to keep it going with flags for Thanksgiving, Halloween, and Remembrance Day. “It’s just some fun,” she said.

“It’s such a great neighbourhood.

The park gets used a lot and people are always out walking their dogs.

In fact, one neighbour has been trying to get a selfie with her dog, who won't sit still long enough for the picture to be taken.

“I know dogs’ names better than people’s names,” Foster said.

Fenwick’s Deb Foster with the flags she displays in front of her home at various times of the year.

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The Voice

Page 11

A September 8 2021

DSBN REPORT Nancy Beamer, Trustee

And...we're back!

W

ell it has finally arrived!

The first day back to inschool learning for 20212022. While many students and their parents are singing “Oh happy days,” I am sure others are experiencing anxiety about this return to the classroom and in-person learning. I would like to reassure you that all the necessary cleaning and safety measures have been implemented once again, and that every possible precaution will be taken to ensure the safety of our students and staff.

Over the past year, the DSBN has spent the government-allotted $9 million dollars to upgrade or install new ventilation systems in 11 schools. Twelve hundred new HEPA filtration systems have also been purchased and other schools will be provided with these.

Over the summer, approximately 1650 students attended in-person summer school and there were no cases of Covid related to their attendance. The DSBN was one of only a few boards to offer face-to-face learning over the summer.

Our elementary and secondary schools are experiencing substantial growth.

For this school year, 82 new full-time teachers have been hired as well as 63 long-term occasional

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teachers, 80 casual educational assistants, and three more social workers.

At this point, it appears that only about three percent of students have chosen to continue with remote or virtual learning.

Most children are really excited about returning to the classrooms—-probably more for the social aspect rather than the actual work—and their teachers are happy to welcome them back. If this pandemic has shown us anything, it is that most children learn better in an in-school setting with a teacher. Even with the increasing number of reported cases, if we all follow the safety protocols, hopefully, we will be able to have a “normal” year without any unplanned interruptions.

Presently, the DSBN is involved with about $100 million dollars in new construction builds. This in-

cludes the new West Lincoln Secondary school, the new coterminous (a school shared by the Public and Separate Boards) elementary school in Wainfleet, major renovations to three other schools, and two new synthetic sports fields. We are happy to report that work on these projects is progressing on schedule.

Lastly, as a safety measure, the administration has asked the federal government not to use any DSBN schools as polling stations for the upcoming election.

As it is every year, I am sure that this first week of school will be hectic / exciting for everyone. I would just like to say welcome back, and I hope you have a wonderful year.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at Nancy.beamer@dsbn.org, or call 905-892-5280.

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Page 12

The Voice

A September 8 2021

Bikers crank the throttle for Hog Shed Scavenger hunt raised $14,000 for Women's Place

BY DON RICKERS Voice Correspondent Garth Paley and wife, Jennifer, of Gatfield Avenue in Welland, relish time in the saddle.

Over the course of years, they have put over 25,000 kilometres on their 2012 Harley Davidson Street Glide’s odometer, touring stretches of Canada and the U.S. They have even given their humble garage a new name, reflecting its status as stable to their beloved motorcycle: the Hog Shed.

“My wife and I have done many charity rides during past summers, but last year, with Covid, everything was canceled,” said Garth. “We did some brainstorm-

Garth and Jennifer Paley with their Harley in front of their Hog Shed. ing one evening, and came up with the idea of a scavenger hunt to raise money for charity. A lot of the participants ride motorcycles, so we named the event the Hog Shed Scavenger Hunt.”

Rather than limit the fundraiser to motorcyclists, the Paleys decided to involve everyone in the community, regardless of the numbers of wheels on their vehicles.

“It's a friendly event,” said Garth. “People take selfies in

DON RICKERS

front of sponsoring businesses like restaurants, bars, and wineries, plus Niagara points of interest and heritage sites that are on a set route, and post them on our Facebook site. They learn a bit about Niagara history in the process.

There is even a colouring contest for the kids.”

The event website, www.hogshed.ca, provides details of all the locations along the route. For example, the Arpad Park Hungarian

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

Hall, on Montrose Road in Niagara Falls, has a three-dimensional maple leaf sculpture which commemorates the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and freedom fight. The leaf is composed of some 37,000 individual pieces, representing each Hungarian who came to Canada after the uprising.

In 2020, there were five different routes and 150 participants, and a grand total of $4200 was raised. This year, Garth said that 270 riders signed up, and one 50-site route was created, which participants visited on their own schedule during the month of July. Fourteen-thousand dollars was this year’s total. Both participants and local businesses paid a fee to be involved in the hunt.

Local parks, wineries, iconic sites in the Falls, and War of 1812 battlefields were also on the route. Garth noted that many sponsoring businesses provided perks to scavenger hunt participants. “[A] market in Welland provided a free barbecue lunch to those who stopped in for a selfie, and Hippo’s in Lowbanks on Lake Erie gave participants free ice cream cones.”

A wrap-up party and barbecue on Saturday, August 14, on the patio at Golden Brothers on

Southworth Street in Welland drew 120 people, said Garth, with prizes and cash draws for those who competed in the hunt.

The $14,000 donation total was reached thanks to the generosity of the winners of the two 50/50 draws and the $1000 grand prize, who donated their winnings back to the charity. In addition, an SUV fi lled with non-perishable food items was collected.

The Paleys’ chosen charity for the scavenger hunt this year was Women’s Place of South Niagara.

For decades, Women's Place has provided emergency shelter, support lines, counselling, legal advocacy, and transitional housing support for women and children experiencing domestic violence.

Amanda Braet, the organization’s Director of Development and Stewardship, told the Voice that like most other charities, Women's Place saw their fundraising efforts take a major hit during the pandemic, “so we absolutely appreciate the fact that community members are finding ways to support women and children during this difficult time.

And the $14,000 from the Hog Shed Scavenger Hunt is a really significant gift that's going to help a lot of women and children.”

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The Voice

Page 13

A September 8 2021

The new normal at Crossley In-person learning back at Fonthill high school

BY BERNIE PUCHALSKI Special to the Voice Excitement is building for the resumption of in-class learning at E. L. Crossley Secondary School.

The high school is welcoming some 170 Grade 9 students to the school which is similar to past years.

Those new students were given a sneak peek at the school during an orientation day last Thursday.

“As a staff, we met yesterday on the field and there was definitely an excitement to be back together, and today, with our students in the building, there was excitement about actually all being back together here at school,” said Principal Janice Sargent.

Sargent estimates the total number of students at Crossley will be between 775 and 800.

“I may have some 12Bs that won’t come back and we have students who have moved and we don’t know about yet,” she said. “By the end of the first week, I have a good feel what the actual number looks like.”

The District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) surveyed families of secondary school students in June and in August about their intentions for in-class learning.

“From there, they determined how many students would participate remotely and how many would be in-person,” Sargent said.

“We have very few students who chose remote. Our percentage is in the high 90s

for those returning.”

Sargent is looking forward to a return to normal even if it is the “new” normal.

“We are going to take it slow as a staff and transition back into high school but everyone is excited for it and what is really cool is that the kids are so excited to come back,” she said. “I can’t say 100 percent of the students but the vast majority students are looking forward to coming back and being here. And the best part is we will all be here together.”

Included in the transition back to normal will be the return of extracurricular activities like sports and clubs.

“We are learning more about extracurriculars,” Sargent said. “The first week we are really focusing on welcoming our students back to school, having them transition smoothly back into the routine of school because it has been a little while. We are making them feel comfortable, developing relationships with them and then we will find out a little more what the extracurricular offerings can be and what that will look like.

Hopefully by week two we will be able to start.”

With the Delta variant causing the Covid-19 case counts to rise again in Ontario, health and safety protocols will be a part of the daily routine of students

and staff.

The Covid protocols include: students have to wear masks indoors at all times; hand sanitizing stations have been set up in every classroom and there are disinfectants available for desks and workspace areas; there are three different entrances and exits with hand sanitizers at all locations; the school’s administrative assistants will greet students on the way in in the morning and ask if they have completed their daily Covid self-assessments; and students are to head directly to class once they enter the school.

“In older days, when maybe we had some of the kids milling around the foyer, now it’s you wait outside until 7:55 and then they go directly to class,” Sargent said.

Another structural change is the students’ schedule.

Instead of rotating between four classes, students do two 150-minute classes each day for a week, and then switch to two different classes the following week.

Lunchtime is divided between junior and senior students. The junior 40-minute lunch starts at 10:50 AM and the senior lunch begins at noon.

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The way that busing is done has also been altered.

“The biggest difference for us is the buses don’t just arrive and open their doors,” Sargent said. “They pull up to the main doors and students disembark bus by bus. Instead of en masse, it is staggered.”

The school has also undergone physical changes.

“We do have portable HEPA air filters in some of our classrooms and the fourth floor of the school is getting some air conditioning,” she said. “We’re in the process, but just like everything else with Covid, components for air conditioning are difficult to get. We are going to have a couple of rooms ready but most of them will be done within a couple of months,” she said.

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ley wasn’t able to do that this year so Sargent and Vice-Principal Tyler Graham met with all the Grade 8 teachers, elementary school principals and special education teachers, social workers or youth workers.

“We focused on student strengths and from there we built timetables to help support that,” Sargent said.

“That is the academic part of it but it will also provide a lot of emotional support.

We did a lot of work up front to try to put some pieces in place and we also have a social worker [Carleen Cizmar].

Cizmar in entering her fourth year at the school.

“Carleen is with us full time and we have a lot of support through our student services area for any students who are needing some mental health support.”

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Provisions have also been made at school for additional counseling for academics and emotional/social issues.

“For academics, we are very lucky to have an amazing in-school team,” Sargent said.

That team includes: special education teachers Don Lockhart and Melissa Amadio; student success teacher Carolyn Ranieri; transition student success teacher Jordan Lew; and guidance teachers Janet Cripps and Michelle Gibson.

“We did a lot of work with the elementary schools to focus on good transition plans for the Grade 8s to 9s,” Sargent said. “In previous years, we would have had a Grade 9 day here at the school where kids could get a taste of high school.”

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The Voice

A September 8 2021

PEOPLE AND POLITICS

TRIPPY

by David Siegel

continued from Page 1

Where do communities stand in this election?

A

s the election campaign heats up, there are now many issues on the table. This is why I suggested earlier that you should choose an issue that was important to you and focus on that issue.

It makes it easier to cut through all the verbiage.

Last week I discussed climate change, which is now finding its way onto the main stage of the election campaign. This week I want to discuss another issue that I think is important—communities. (In the past, parties talked about having a policy for cities, but when they realized that this excluded a large number of people living in small and medium-size towns, townships, and so forth, the language was changed to communities.)

Communities were in need of support before the pandemic and their position has been made worse by the pandemic. They suffer from a significant infrastructure deficit associated with roads, bridges, water, and wastewater.

Many of these services are forgotten because they are hidden from public view, but they are quietly ticking time bombs. The pandemic has created additional pressures from both declining revenues and increasing expenditures.

Communities also need some assistance because of their position on the front line in dealing with the climate crisis. The decisions that communities make in areas like land-use planning and development have a major impact of climate. As well, communities operate a fleet of vehicle and other public works like power plants, community centres, and parks that can be either a part of the problem or a part of the solution. Small and medium-size municipalities, like Pelham, can develop public transit systems to reduce the use of private cars. Every city needs to install electric charging stations to deal with the coming dominance of electric vehicles. These

initiatives cost money that communities don’t have.

These local government issues have been largely absent from the federal campaign. The only issue that is presently in the forefront that has consequences for communities is affordable housing. This is a re-run of an issue that was handled badly in the 2019 campaign and generally parties have shown that they didn’t learn anything from that mess.

This is approaching the issue in the right way, but I have a funny feeling about the way this movie will end The affordable housing crisis has been with us for some time, but was exacerbated by the pandemic. The parties have again suggested ways of dealing with the issue that prove that there has been no consultation with local governments. Just like in 2019, one of the main suggestions has been to assist purchasers by putting more money in their hands and easing mortgage conditions. Putting more purchasers with more money into the existing market will drive up prices and worsen the existing affordability problem rather than reduce it.

This time there is also the idea of significantly increasing the housing stock. This is approaching the issue in the right way, but I have a funny feeling about how this movie will end. This could be a great opportunity to re-think housing generally and develop some interesting and innovative ideas involving complete communities with mid-rise, multi-use structures in bikeable and walkable environments. My funny

feeling is that the pressure to act quickly will drive us to take the 1950s subdivision plans off the shelf and build a bunch of Beaver Cleaver suburbs. Not only will this do little to solve the affordability crisis, but it will also worsen the climate change situation.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the main national organization representing communities, has suggested an agenda for this election. I have drawn from this list and inserted some of my own thoughts.

New and improved infrastructure— sidewalks, roads, bridges, water purification and wastewater treatment.

Better bandwidth especially in rural areas. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of good wi-fi connections. We need to deal with the digital divide.

Energy retrofits of existing buildings to make them more energy-efficient.

Funding for the improvement of municipal operations such as moving toward zero-emission fleets.

Increase and improve the housing stock with special emphasis on developing complete communities that are bikeable, walkable and welcoming to public transit.

Innovative public transit options for small and medium size communities. Toronto needs billions for a new subway line; that’s fine, but it’s not scaleable to municipalities the size of Pelham. Smaller communities need innovative transit systems to meet the needs of people with accessibility issues and to eliminate the need for families to buy a second or third car.

An election campaign provides a great opportunity to get oftenoverlooked items on the national agenda. We should take this opportunity to press parties to take these community issues seriously. ◆ David Siegel is Brock University professor emeritus of Political Science.

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The Thanks for Giving raffle is the latest in a series of fundraisers to address the recreational needs of youth such as swimming lessons, piano lessons or registration fees for all different kinds of sports.

Its predecessors included events at Lookout Point in 2016, Bissell’s Hideaway in 2017, and the Fonthill Legion in 2018 and 2019.

The high point of the fundraising campaign was garnering $17,000 in proceeds in 2019. In total, more than $30,000 has been raised since 2016.

“Covid then put a stop to all that type of fundraising for us but we would like to run that type event again” said Yungblut.

In 2020, the organization ran a campaign called “Pelham Cares Gives Back,” which raffled off gift cards from local businesses.

The idea for Thanks for Giving came from a meeting of Yungblut’s fundraising committee.

“Everybody was talking about how much they missed travelling and going away and I said, ‘Why don’t we come up with something that would help that?’ We tossed things around a little bit and we wanted to keep things as local as possible because our local tourism

GO VAXX

continued from Page 8 emption.

“There are two ways to get exemptions, either for a medical condition ...or a human rights exemption that has to be under the terms of the Ontario Human Rights Code,” Wells said.

The university has plans in place to deal with students and faculty who decline to get vaccinated and have no plans to seek exemptions.

“We are treating that on a case-bycase basis for employees. They would work through human resources and for students we will put them in touch with academic advisors to see

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www.thevoiceofpelham.ca is suffering,” she said.

Tickers may be purchased at h t t p s:// p e l h a m c a r e s . o r g /c o ntact-us/, by visiting the office on Highway 20, or from Pelham Cares board members.

The organization has printed 1,000 tickets for the raffle.

“It would be awesome if we could sell out,” Yungblut said. “The campaign kicked off Sept. 1 and we are selling tickets right up until the draw.”

Yungblut has been involved with Pelham Cares for six years after retiring from the Town of Pelham as an Administrative Assistant in Public Works.

She worked with former Town staffer Jane Gilmour, a Pelham Cares past president, and Gilmour encouraged her to become involved with the organization.

It was a perfect fit.

“I had a lot of contact with a lot of people and I liked that. I like people and I am a people-person,” Yungblut said. “I found that I needed something to do when retired and I like to give back and be involved in the community.”

She finds her role fulfilling.

“It is about being out in the community and helping people.”

The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the need for Pelham Cares’ services and hindered its fundraising.

“But we are finding new ways to do things which is good,” Yungblut said. “Our food drive was done a totally different way last year and in some ways things have been made better.”

if they can transfer into online classes for the term and so on.”

Those planning to get vaccinated at the GO-VAXX bus will need their health cards. If they don’t have a health card or it is expired, they are being asked to bring another form of government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license, passport, status card, or birth certificate.

Organizers are suggesting people eat and drink something before arriving to prevent feeling faint or dizzy, dress for the weather in case there is a line, and wear clothing allowing for easy access to the upper arm, and wear a mask that covers the nose, mouth and chin.

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice

Page 15

A September 8 2021

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Concordia Lutheran Church 105 Welland Rd., Fonthill

Fonthill Baptist Church www.fonthillbaptistchurch.ca

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Ridgeville Bible Chapel ridgevillebiblechapel.com

Fenwick Church of Christ www.fenwickchurchofchrist.ca

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

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

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Glad Tidings Church of God www.gladtidingschurchofgod.com

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

St. Ann Roman Catholic Church www.stannfenwick.com

FAITH LIFT

continued from Page 19

Giving God glory

And, lastly, I found the story of Tatjana Schoenmaker inspiring. Hers is not exactly a household name in Canada but it probably is in South Africa.

She’s a swimmer who broke multiple Olympic records in Tokyo. First, she set new records for the women’s 100-metre and 200-metre breaststroke in the preliminary rounds. Then she broke her own record when she later won gold in the 200-metre breaststroke.

She is also a Christian and wore a swim cap (under her official South African cap) with the words “Soli Deo Gloria” (All Glory to God). Before journeying to Tokyo, she posted this prayer on Twitter: “Father God, may Your will be done, may Your peace fi ll us up, may we praise You no matter what the outcome, may we be empowered by Your strength to give it our all and may we forever be in the awe of Your goodness.”

For me, these golden moments were more precious than the gold medals. And to Tatjana’s prayer all I can add is, “Amen!” ◆ Rob Weatherby is a retired pastor.

2021 Bandshell Series

BY JIM CASSON Special to the Voice The award-winning Niagara area band This Time Around (recipients of a 2014 Welland Arts and Culture award for music) was originally conceived and founded

by Niagara singer Sue Robins.

The band now consists of vocalist Debbie Murray, singer, songwriter, guitarist Ed Bertoli, bassist Ernie Jodoin, guitarist, vocalist and mandolin player Wayne Hosick, and drummer, percussionist and singer Bob Hewer. The result

Series finale, This Time Around, Sept. 9

is a musical collaboration that loves to perform mostly classic but some contemporary rock (as well as some original tunes) wrapped up in a rhythmic, but very ear-friendly sensibility.

Influences for the band's music range far and wide. As part of a musically talented family, Debbie found herself frequently singing and harmonizing modern and classic rock, pop, and country tunes with her siblings. Both lead vocals and harmonies come naturally to her. Drummer Bob loves rock and country, and has a special spot for 50s classics which he can belt out with very little provocation.

Wayne is more steeped in

roots, Celtic, and folk music, and he keeps those urges satiated with annual pilgrimages to various rootsy events.

But his knowledge of good old rock music has resulted in more than one expulsion from music trivia contests for constantly winning. Ed's musical education is also mostly of the classic rock variety, having worked with several people in Kitchener and Niagara. He has written a number of songs and has an original CD to his credit. Keeping the group grounded with his bass lines, Ernie has played and jammed with many local musicians in a variety of musical genres. He's also been known to drag the bass to open mic

sessions in Florida during his snowbird excursions.

This Time Around's performances have been very well received to date, with people often commenting on the solid instrumentation and on the soaring multi-part harmonies that have become its trademark. This Time Around is always sure to be playing some of your favourite songs.

Covid protocols require registration to reserve a spot in the park. Pre-registration is available for the show starting on September 3 until 8 AM September 9 at fonthillbandshell.com. After this there is in-person registration available at the park starting at 4 PM.

Page 16

The Voice

A September 8 2021

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continued from Page 18 dress, encouraging Civil Inattention rather than opening the door to conversation, knowledge and intimacy.

A conversation with a young stranger in Luxor, Egypt, led unexpectedly to a remembrance of the 1997 Luxor massacre, in which 62 tourists were killed by a group of terrorists belonging to the Islamist al-Gama’at al-Islamiyya group. His Islamist family was economically dependent on tourism, so the attack had been devastating for them. As he sensed my genuine interest he shared details of his family, Egyptian history, differences in his interpretation of Islam to the terrorists’, and a glimpse of life in Eygpt that was more intimate than any I might have expected from a longtime friend.

This is a common reaction when we know that we’ll never meet a stranger again. We tend to drop many of the social filters we defer to amongst friends and family, allowing unexpected closeness. Conversing with strangers is a skill that can be learned.

Contrary to the theory of Civil Inattention, don’t waste conversation time with strangers discussing the weather or trivialities.

Experts estimate we have between a half-second and seven seconds to make first impressions. A smile sug-

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gests ability magazine or Business Today will talk about the necessity good posture and projecting confidence, but this competitive approach to conversation will quickly be recognized as insincere and self-serving, and raise strangers’ guards.

Instead, be curious and genuine. Let the other person be the expert. Ask them to interpret the situation you’re sharing, the geology of the nature you’re enjoying, or the history of the city around you. They will open up, and your experience will be enriched.

Always ask more than you tell and listen more than you speak. Although talking about yourself is easy and may help avoid silent gaps in conversation, resist the urge to make it about you. Share enough of yourself to engage, but allow a stranger to tell their story. You may not immediately ask about their heartbreaks and history, but by showing that you’re genuinely interested that door may open too.

Common interests serve as conversational triggers.

A friend recounted the enjoyment he takes from going to golf alone, then being paired with strangers to share a tee time. When language isn’t a barrier, I’ve learned a great deal by asking strangers about books they’ve recently read. Do they read to reinforce their own views or to discover opposing opinions, gain

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Jack Nicklaus

The Voice

A September 8 2021

Sporting Green The Niagara

Page 17 John Swart likes talking to strangers

18

The Voice | September 8 2021

Little Ben strikes again

BY BERNIE PUCHALSKI bpsportsniagara.com

Ben Julie finished in a tie for 10th at the Ontario peewee golf championship.

BERNIE PUCHALSKI

Playing on his home course, Sawmill’s Ben Julie had an impressive showing at the Ontario peewee golf championship last Monday and Tuesday.

The 12-year-old Pelham resident carded rounds of 73 and 77 to tie for 10th in the boys division.

“I was very happy,” said the Grade 7 student at Wellington Heights Public School.

“On the first day, my approach shots and putting were really good and on the second day, the first nine wasn’t great but I pulled it together on the back nine by just doing well with everything.”

Julie would have shot even better if not for an old nemesis.

“My chipping wasn’t great, as usual.”

Julie’s first-round score was good enough to land him in the final group for Tuesday’s last round at the 36-hole event.

“It was really cool,” he said. “It was nice to have the Sawmill members supporting me.”

The experience was challenging.

“I was nervous because I had never been in a final group before,” he said, “I just thought about playing my own game and not thinking about the others.”

He learned one main thing after being a part of the final group.

“Hit it farther,” he said.

Ben has played his home course a couple hundred times and that played a role in his fine showing.

“It was helpful because I knew exactly where to hit it on every hole.”

Next up for Ben is the U.S. Kids fall tour.

Other locals in the field were: Sawmill’s Matthew Gray, tied for 17th with rounds of 74 and 83; St. Catharines Golf and Country Club’s Chase Partridge, tied for 27th with rounds of 84 and 80; Sawmill’s Joseph Zupanic, tied for 33rd with rounds of 88 and 85; and, Beechwood’s Lucas Sartor, who finished alone in 41st position with rounds of 101 and 94.

There were no local golfers in the bantam girls division.

Station Creek Golf Club’s Andy Dai (70 and 67) won the boys division and Station Creek Golf Club’s Shauna Liu (69 and 67) placed first in the girls division.

Sawmill was delighted to host the provincial championship.

“We are so excited because it goes with the culture of who we are and what the club is all about,” Sawmill’s Carrie Julie said. “We have an emphasis on growing the game and junior golf.”

The club hosted the provincial bantam championship three years ago.

“We knew we would have five kids ready for the bantam championship and we wanted to make sure we would give them a place to showcase their skills,” she said.

Sawmill made sure to make the event extra special.

“Kids have had a lot taken away from them over the last year and we wanted to put on a great show and give the kids an experience that they would remember forever,” Carrie Julie said.

That treatment included standard bearers holding up the scores for the last three boys and girls groups on the final day; live scoring for each of the three final groups and live scoring every four holes for the entire field for friends and family who couldn’t be at the event; and a campfire on Monday night with S’mores and cold hot chocolate.

Sawmill is hoping to host the provincial bantam championship in two years and junior championship qualifying events in the next few years.

Its chances are good considering the course’s spirit.

“You talk to Golf Ontario about it and what you are doing at your club at the time counts. We really focused on growing the game and junior golf and our member support was ridiculous,” Carrie Julie said. “We had 54 Sawmill members come volunteer during the two days.”

Panthers settling in

BY BILL POTRECZ bpsportsniagara.com So far, so good for the Pelham Panthers.

The Panthers participated in a pair of pre-season tournaments over the last two weeks — winning the Doug Burr Memorial Tournament in Pelham and also playing in the Canuck Classic in Niagara Falls — and head coach Chris Lukey has been encouraged by what he has seen.

“I’ve really been impressed with the returning group of kids and with the character of all the kids in camp,” Lukey said.

“That’s half the battle. We have a really good group of kids and I’m really impressed with their maturity and character. Character is everything and they have bonded together and take care of each other. They’re a good group.”

Lukey and his staff are still in the process of finalizing the roster. The Panthers open the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League season Friday, Sept. 24 at home versus the Hamilton Kilty B’s and have several exhibition games scheduled beforehand.

“We’re making strides every

day,” he said. “We’re down to about 25 players. There are still some player movements to make and we’re still waiting for some to come in. We’re still looking to beef-up our lineup for sure so there are a couple of spots available for sure.”

One area that appears set is between the pipes with returning veteran Brayden Kelso and newcomer John Burbidge.

“We have two older, mature guys. Kelso coming back really helps and Burbidge has been pretty steady for us,” Lukey said.

As well, Lukey said returning forwards Jonah Devereaux and Cody Miskolczi have been impressive.

“They are two guys who really have seemed to matured in their game on and off the ice,” Lukey said. “They have been leaders big time for us.”

The Panthers plan to ramp up practices in the coming weeks.

“We’re really going to just start piecing the puzzle together,” Lukey said. “I told the players when they return after Labour Day we’ll start working on

Brayden Kelso is back between the pipes for the Pelham Panthers this season. putting our season game plans together and start working on our systems and slowly start putting the program together.”

Even though it is early, Lukey

feels the club is starting to form an identity.

“When we started the first tournament, I asked the kids to play full out and step out and

BILL POTRECZ

lead and they have responded to everything I have asked. I’ve seen a great identity, a great group of kids.”

Page 18

The Voice

A September 8 2021

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

THE BALANCED LIFE

by John Swart

Talking to strangers—an under-appreciated pleasure

E

ach of us is free to choose how we meet and experience those around us, and expand our knowledge of this world we inhabit. Talking to strangers is my favourite choice. I totally missed the memo on Civil Inattention, and yes, for that I sometimes pay a price. That price is rare and fleeting compared to the lasting, and often surprisingly deep connections that conversing with strangers has provided over the years.

Civil Inattention is defined as the process whereby strangers who are in close proximity demonstrate that they are aware of one another without imposing on each

other, a recognition of the claims of others to a public space, and of their own personal boundaries.

During the mid-20th century Canadian-born sociologist and social psychologist Erving Goffman developed many such definitions and theories to describe how individuals interact with one another, and why.

Nicki Lisa Cole, a University of California doctor of sociology, states, “Goffman theorized that what we achieve with this kind of interaction is mutual recognition that the other person present poses no threat to our safety or security, and so we both agree, tacitly, to let

the other alone to do as they please. We are not rudely ignoring [them], but actually showing deference and respect.”

In my ill-educated but life-experienced opinion, that’s elite-speak for doing the absolute minimum to acknowledge another human being, then using the lamest of excuses to justify ignoring them.

Goffman’s theory may be an accepted and clinically proven means of moving ourselves safely along the humdrum conveyor belt of life, but it strikes me as a poor way to get a party started.

Cole continued, “Because we expect Civil Inattention from others we may feel threatened by someone who does not give it to us. This is why staring or unrelenting attempts at unwanted conversation bother us. It's not just that they are annoying,

but that by deviating from the norm that ensures safety and security, they imply a threat.”

I’d contend there is an extensive range of conversational interaction that falls between ignore and the “inyour-face” macho challenges or hated cat-calls women endure that might be perceived as threats.

We miss so much when we don’t interact or converse with strangers—opportunities to learn, make ourselves and others feel well, and appreciate the world around us as a safe and caring community. Other than canceling your cable subscription, con-

versing with strangers is one of the best antidotes available to fight the social pigeonholing we so continuously endure.

The simplest way we can elevate our own mood is to elevate someone else’s. One pleasure afforded by my cycling is the chance to notice someone on their knees tending a beautiful flower garden and brazenly shout out, “It’s spectacular, the colours are gorgeous.” They smile widely as they realize what just happened, and a grin on my face inevitably follows.

Maybe this is why dogs and babies are such reliable

and socially safe conversation starters with strangers.

There’s no necessity to engage the owner of the dog or the parent of the baby initially. By saying hello to the dog or baby directly, you’re opening a communication conduit to its owner or parent, and can judge how to orient your next statements by their response.

But this approach is facilitated by the low-risk homogeneity of Pelham. So often in Canada and abroad, differences in culture, language or religion may be recognized through appearance and See BALANCED LIFE Page 15

V oice HOROSCOPE ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, this week you can share some secrets that have been troublesome. A trusted confidante may offer advice or be willing to serve as a supportive sounding board.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, a welcoming aura is drawing others to you in the days ahead. Open yourself to new friendships and look for ways to foster these budding relationships.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, consider what you are going to aim for next and don’t be afraid to take whatever steps necessary to put you on a path to success. Your confidence will compel you.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 News about investment and career possibilities could be brought to your attention this week, Cancer. Give these situations a lot of attention over the next few days.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 You are inclined to spend time with others in the coming days, Leo. Take advantage of opportunities to socialize, or take the lead and plan a fun get-together with friends.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, you have a drive like no other. This can come in handy as you actively seek change. A career change could be in the cards in due time.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, keep aiming to fulfill your ambitions, even if your approach requires a little revision. This is an amazing period of growth for you.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 Embark on opportunities that will break you out of your comfort zone, Scorpio. These can provide some opportunities for growth and present chances to meet new people.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 Sagittarius, your often positive attitude may be challenged in the days to come as you are faced with a few situations you aren’t sure how to handle. Take a deep breath and forge ahead.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricorn, if you find yourself in the spotlight, remember to put your best foot forward at all times. This is especially true in professional settings.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, your work ethic has been unrivaled in recent weeks.

The summer vacation season has ended and you have gotten back to business. A big change is on the horizon.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 Focus on romance and sensuality this week Pisces. Take the time to spend moments with a spouse or significant other as much as possible.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS SEPTEMBER 5 Michael Keaton, Actor (70) SEPTEMBER 6 Idris Elba, Actor (49) SEPTEMBER 7 Kevin Love, Athlete (33) SEPTEMBER 8 Pink, Singer (42) SEPTEMBER 9 Hunter Hayes, Singer (30) SEPTEMBER 10 Coco Rocha, Model (33)

SOLUTIONS DOWN 1. DAL 2. ALE 3. BEG 4. AROMAS 5. ASIDES 6. MAC 7. ARAS 8. HOLED 9. SN 10. SALAD 11. ELABORATING 13. GUANINE 15. RAD 17. DEADER 18. SCI 21. TAKE THE CAKE 23. CID 24. TAE 27. HAKIM 29. TOLAS 32. OCA 34. CAT 35. CRESTS 36. REPROOF 39. LAT 40. PAT 43. TASTES 44. DETECT 46. AAHED 47. RMA 49. AARON 51. COL 54. SARI 59. TAB 60. SAE 61. NBE 62. ALM 64. LS

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. DABA 5. AMAHS 10. SEALER 12. SARONG 14. ALLEGORICAL 16. UD 18. SLA 19. MAD 20. SETAE 22. CAB 23. CADET 25. DANA 26. I DO 27. HIS 28. SAT 30. KID 31. ROAD 33. EOCENE 35. CRACK 37. LATER 38. RETAIL 40. PATH 41. EPI 42. MAT 44. DAS 45. EAR 48. SRNA 50. TACET 52. CAM 53. TOGAS 55. SOT 56. AHA 57. SO 58. RATTLESNAKE 63. FLORAE 65. CABLED 66. SNIBS 67. TEEM

Enjoy our All-Day Breakfast, from 8 to 3!

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The Voice

Page 19

A September 8 2021

ANSWERS ON PAGE 18

FAITH LIFT

by Pastor Rob Weatherby

Golden moments from the Olympics

D

id you watch some of the 32nd Summer Olympics from July 23 to August 8? And more recently we’ve enjoyed the Paralympics from August 24 to September 5. My daily ritual was to catch the highlights every evening and see if Canada had won any more medals. My title might suggest a recap of some of the gold medal performances. But, I have something else in mind…

The Golden Rule

Maria Andrejczyk (don’t ask me to pronounce that) is a 25-year-old javelin thrower from Poland. She won a silver medal in her sport. There are several amazing events linked with her story. For starters, she overcame bone cancer and a shoulder injury in order to make it to the Olympics in the first place (I don’t know much about javelin throwing but I’m sure strong bones and shoulders are major factors).

Then she decided to auction off her medal in order to help raise money for a Polish infant, Milosz Malysa, who needed a life-saving operation in America for a heart defect. She didn’t know the boy personally but explained that she could identify with his “fight against adversity and pain.”

A popular Polish convenience store chain won the auction bid for $51,000 USD and then told Maria to keep her medal. A store spokesman said, “We were moved by the beautiful and extremely noble gesture of our Olympian.”

Maria’s fans contributed another $76,000 USD to further help the boy and make the surgery possible.

Although not necessary, Maria’s hometown had been ready to make her a sil-

ver medal replica after the auction. It’s amazing to see the ripple effect of one kind gesture of paying it forward. Jesus said, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you…” (Matthew 7:12).

Other acts of kindness

In a world where bad news often dominates, it’s good for us to hear about random acts of kindness. This Olympics provided many to choose from. For example, about 70,000 Japanese volunteers made the Games run smoothly in the midst of a Covid surge in Tokyo.

Their recompense? An official polo shirt.

Two athletes (representing Italy and Qatar) were tied in the high jump both clearing 2.37 metres. Instead of competing for the gold, the two rivals had a chat and decided to share the top prize (the first time that has happened since 1912). And then in the women’s triathlon, Belgian Claire Michel finished dead last, a full 15 minutes behind the winner.

The camera caught Norway’s Lotte Miller waiting for her to finish and then consoling her. Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7) See FAITH LIFT Page 15

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The Voice

A September 8 2021

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cially Rare Species in the region. I've done work on many of the species including American Chestnut (Endangered), Flowering Dogwood (Endangered), Cucumber Magnolia (Endangered), and Roundleaved Greenbrier (Threatened).

The forests in Niagara and Fonthill are the richest in Canada.”

Paul has written a book — “A Trail Called Home: Tree Stories from the Golden Horseshoe,” and describes it as a good primer on the history and ecology of this area. Excuse me, while I go order this item online!

Lois LaCroix Fonthill

Dr. Thomas McMurran, DDS.

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289-219-0304 rmell@sothebysrealty.ca

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RECIPE OF THE WEEK

4

Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cookies

Fall is a season of cooler temperatures and changing leaves, and it also marks the return of autumn flavor profiles. Root vegetables, roasts and heartier fare are prime cooking ingredients this time of year. In terms of baking, treats spiced with ginger and cinnamon are in demand each fall.

Carrot cake and oatmeal cookies are familiar favorites this time of year. In this recipe for “Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cookies” from “Live Well Bake Cookies” (Quarto Group) by Danielle Rye, delicious spiced carrot cake is transformed into a soft and chewy cookie.

Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cookies Makes 22 cookies

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5-233 King St., Niagara-on-the-Lake, Bosley Real Estate BrokerageON LtdL0S 1J0 Bosley Real Estate Brokerage Ltd Bosley Real Estate Brokerage Ltd

Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, Brokerage. Independently Owned and Operated.

1 1⁄2 1⁄4 1 1-1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄4 1 1 3⁄4 1⁄3 1⁄3

cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled teaspoon baking soda teaspoon salt teaspoon ground ginger cups old-fashioned rolled oats cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened cup packed light brown sugar cup granulated sugar large egg, at room temperature teaspoon pure vanilla extract cup lightly packed freshly grated carrots cup raisins cup chopped walnuts

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and ground ginger until well combined. Stir in the old-fashioned rolled oats and set aside.

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a large mixing bowl using a handheld mixer, beat the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar together for 1 to 2 minutes, or until well combined.

4. Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined, making sure to stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.

5. Mix in the dry ingredients until just combined, then fold in the grated carrots, raisins and chopped walnuts until fully incorporated.

6. Using a 11⁄2-tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, making sure to leave a little room between each one. Gently press each ball of cookie dough down to slightly flatten it.

7. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the tops of the cookies are set and the edges are lightly browned. Remove from the oven, and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 to 10 minutes, then carefully transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

8. Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

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