Water level alarming to residents
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notllocal.com JANUARY 30, 2020 Volume 2 • Issue 5
Local girl facing difficult surgery, long hospital stay
Icewine Festival winds down
Entertainer Ben Burland juggles for the crowd on Queen Street as the Icewine Festival wrapped up this weekend. (Fred Mercnik)
Penny Coles The Local
Ariel Carr is used to facing challenges head-on. The diminutive 12-yearold has been been overcoming obstacles since birth, and she’s a fighter, say her parents, Ace and Denise Carr. She’s about to face the toughest battle yet. The Crossroads student is about to undergo at least two surgeries, possibly three, and what is expected to be five to six months at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto to correct her scoliosis. The first surgery is called a halo traction application. But that’s just the beginning. The goal is to straighten her spine, and once the halo is attached to her head, she will need to be on a traction bed with weights being added.
The top of her spine, shaped almost like a candy cane, is curving into her neck, says Ace, showing the X-ray to explain. They will keep adding weights to the halo to help strengthen her spine for her second surgery, which will involve shaving some bone off the top of it, and possibly removing a rib — a growth spurt has caused her ribs to grow into her hip on her left side, and to press into her lungs. It’s causing her pain, restricting her movement, and because of her reduced lung capacity, she tires easily. At 47 inches tall, and 43 pounds, Ariel is small for her age, but the surgery and weights could add another inch or more to her height, says Denise.
Continued on page 14
Ten Thousand Villages to close for good Mike Balsom
Special to The Local A venerable Niagara-on-the-Lake retail institution will be closing its doors for good at the end of May. The Queen Street location of Ten Thousand Villages is one of 10 remaining company-owned stores that will be shuttered as the operations of the 74-year-old
organization wind down this spring. The decision by the parent organization, the Mennonite Central Committee Canada (MCC), will also see the closure of the Ten Thousand Villages webstore and its distribution centre in Hamburg, Ontario. In a press release from last week, the decision is blamed on a challenging retail environment that left the company unable to achieve
the level of sales that would continue to provide it with the ability to operate a sustainable business model. The news from head office did not come as a shock to local store manager Teresa Friesen. She says the company had been struggling for a number of years, and with online shopping becoming a bigger factor, it was difficult for Ten Thousand Villages to keep up.
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“We saw a drop in traffic, and we definitely saw a drop in sales this past Christmas season,” says Friesen. She adds that sales were even more significantly down last summer, with visitors to the store falling by 20 to 30 per cent in comparison to 2018. Friesen is one of six paid employees who will be looking for work in the four Ariel Carr faces significant surgery at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto next week, and a hospital stay of up to six months. (Photo
Continued on page 4 submitted)
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Rising water level could spell trouble this spring 2
January 30, 2020
Penny Coles
THE NOTL LOCAL
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year on April 14, and only three inches lower than the all-time high for January, set in 1946. It was nine inches higher on Jan. 22 than it was on the same day last year. Last week, Lake Superior was at its record high, set in January 1986, and Lakes Michigan and Huron were five inches higher than their 1987 record. This does not bode well for what is to come, “and we have to accept that it’s coming,” he says. “We’re in much worse shape now than we were last year.” When he speaks about what he fears may occur, he is clear, as has been Town environmental supervisor Brett Ruck, that there are two separate issues of concern. The immediate issue is shoreline stabilization on public property, says Simkus. The other is flooding, which, while it affects private property, can be mitigated by Town actions.
His sense of urgency is related to the need to move quickly The Local on shoreline protection. The Standing in the Dock Area materials — about 100 large, exparkette, waves washing up to pensive anchor stones, boulders shore, it’s not hard to sense the and cobble — have been piled in urgency projected by local Ron the parkette since purchased in Simkus. the spring of 2018, but the work With his background as a was put on hold while the Town mining engineer, for more than waited for a provincial permit. a year the Ball Street resident has That was received in Octotaken it upon himself to send ber, 2019, after some confusion out email blasts to about 100 with the provincial and local ofpeople, including in the U.S. and fice looking after such permits, throughout Ontario, to share Ruck explained to councillors at data about the water level of the a recent update. He’s been keeplake and explain what it means. ing them abreast of the waterThese days, his concern is front situation, and ensuring resevident, although not for himidents as well are kept up-to-date. self — his home sits higher than The permit is for two steps, others in his neighbourhood, one in the water and one on the and was designed and built to shore. The in-water portion has withstand any flooding that to be completed before March, might occur in the area. when fish spawning begins, or it The water elevation at the will have to wait until July. Ruck end of last week was 246.33 has said he sees no problem in feet — exactly what it was last getting the in-water groyne constructed in time, before he moves on to the ground installation. According to a Town information report he released last Thursday, the groyne installation, which involves placing anchor stone in the water to create a small peninsula at an angle to the shore, will take about two weeks. The partial burying of more anchor stone on shore, placing cobble along the shoreline to protect it, is expected to follow, Standing in the Ball’s Beach parkette, Ron Simkus describes the and the Town has been preparsoon-to-be-installed groyne as a wall of rocks in the water that will ing a tender to solicit bids and reach out from shore on an angle, like a peninsula, touching the get the work going. shoal that runs parallel to the shore. (Penny Coles)
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The groyne acts like a breakwater, says Simkus, and the anchor stone on shore creates a little wall, to stop soil from sloughing into the lake when the waves wash over it and travel back to the lake. It won’t stop flooding, but it will protect the shoreline, he says. Last year, when the water level rose, large bladders were placed along the shoreline to do the work the wall will do once it’s installed, Simkus says. At this point, the information report to council says, those two projects alone are estimated to cost about $160,000. To date, the report states, there is $128,000 in the 2020 budget. “Discussions around how this is to be funded will be addressed in the new future as there are a number of ways this can be approached,” Ruck says in his report to council.
The residents have been living with the mess in the parkette for a long time, and will be pleased to see it completed, says Simkus. Other work to be completed on the parkette, including more shoreline stabilization and flooding protection for low-lying areas, including a much-discussed rain garden to collect water, is estimated to cost about $300,00. Adding work that needs to be done to Riverbeach Park, Melville Street, Nelson Street Park and the wall in front of the Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre, which the Town hasn’t yet addressed, brings the estimated cost to well over $1 million. But the immediate concern, creating his sense of urgency, says Simkus, is the rising water level expected in the spring, which will present serious challenges, quite likely worse than last year.
He is calling what’s to come “a knockout, drag-down season. And the guys on the U.S. side are echoing the same message.” Just one inch over last year’s high water level could cause serious flooding, says Simkus, pointing in the direction of Melville Street, where the water would break out from the sailing club, and travel down toward some Dock Area homes on Lockhart. At that point, it would just be a matter of how much damage it would cause, he says. There wouldn’t be anything the Town could do to stop it, other than emergency planning for evacuation, he says. And the sooner the Town completes the shoreline protection work, the more ready it will be to focus on flooding if — or as he fears, when — it occurs this spring.
Penny Coles
sea wall along my property and the pumphouse property is in serious need of repair. On my property, work will start very shortly.” It has to be done before March, when the fish spawning season begins, she says. After arranging with Rankin to have the work done, it took about 10 days to get the necessary permit, she adds. She’s been told if the wall in front of the pumphouse isn’t fixed, water can get behind hers once it’s repaired and cause further damage. “As I understand it, this work has not been included in the new budget for NOTL. I therefore will have to go ahead on my own. However, I am hopeful that the situation will change before work is started.” Walker says the front of her property “is complicated.” The house was built in 1942, and she’s lived there since 1983. Her deed shows a 125-foot piece of property out into the water, creating what she calls a “water lot. It’s quite unique.” There is a boat slip, and the concrete around it is fine, she says, but the retaining wall is not. She’s anxious to have it repaired before the water level rises further, and is fully accepting of the fact that it’s private property, and the repairs are her responsibility, she says. She has no basement to worry about flooding,
but if the water rises far enough, it could come into the house. “It’s the lakes above us that are a concern. They’re full. When the water starts moving, it will go right by my door.” Last spring, she had 1,500 sand bags put in front of her house. The Town delivered a skid of bags for her, and she paid to have them placed, and then taken away. She expects she will have to do the same this year. But despite the worry, the cost and the work involved, she says, “I love the river. I love watching the birds, the minks in the water, the colours in the fall, even the ice as it goes by. I have to get this fixed.”
Work needed on retaining wall The Local
A recent information report to council from Brett Ruck, the Town’s environmental supervisor, includes information about the failure of the retaining wall in front of the Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre, and the lighthouse next door. Both are on municipal property, but beside the lighthouse, to the north, is a charming white clapboard house owned by longtime resident Peggy Walker. Her retaining wall is also failing, and she has arranged for Rankin Construction to begin repairs next week, at a cost of $80,000 to $100,000. Ruck’s report says an estimate from Rankin for repairs to the Town property is pending. Discussions were expected to take place this week. When Walker spoke to Ruck during a public meeting last spring, telling him about seeing water bubbling up on her property she says he came right out to check on it. He called in divers to check out the wall along the front of both properties, and Walker paid for ground-penetrating radar to determine the damage to her wall. “It was discovered that the
Work on the concrete wall in front of Peggy Walker’s house, beside the lighthouse and the pumphouse, is expected to begin next week. (Terry Boulton)
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THE NOTL LOCAL
January 30, 2020
Ombudsman’s recommendations strengthened by council One councillor doesn’t think they go far enough Penny Coles The Local
When councillors discussed recommendations intended to strengthen the Town’s code of conduct, as well as confidentiality, privacy and hiring policies, the frustration of Coun. Gary Burroughs was evident. A workshop was held last week to give councillors a full hour to go through 15 recommendations included in the Inside Job, the ombudsman’s report on the Region’s CAO recruitment process, which was described as “unreasonable, unjust, and wrong.” A lengthy investigation determined candidate Carmen D’Angelo, who was eventually handed the job, was given confidential information to help him succeed in his quest to become CAO. Some regional councillors and staff members were implicated in sharing information with D’Angelo during the hiring process. In December, Niagara-on-the-Lake councillors adopted 15 recommendations from the ombudsman’s report and requested that staff initiate implementation and report back as soon as possible. The
staff report presented to councillors last week indicated the Town already has some policies and practices in place, but staff had proposals to ensure they are strengthened, supplemented and supported by training. Burroughs, who was on regional council when the hiring of D’Angelo took place, doesn’t think they go far enough. “I would have said at the time that everything was fine at the Region. I wouldn’t have thought changes were necessary in the areas of confidentiality and hiring, but I didn’t know. We couldn’t know. I’m afraid we’re not taking this seriously enough.” He says his concerns aren’t related to any individuals or departments at the Town. “I have concern we’re not covering what the ombudsman said.” Councillors had been asked the week before, at the committee-of-the-wholemeeting, to review the report and recommendations, and send their comments to the Town’s human resources generalist, Sarah Stevens. At the workshop last Monday, Stevens went through each of the Inside Job recom-
mendations, and explained what could be added or changed in Town policies and procedures to satisfy the recommendations in the ombudsman’s report. The first recommendation calls for an employee code of conduct that provides for the protection of confidential information. The Town currently has a code of conduct for council, and a separate one for staff, although it’s a little weak, Stevens told councillors. There is one drafted for staff that is “more robust and mirrors that of council,” she added. As suggested in the ombudsman’s report, the Town’s employment agreements and contracts currently address confidentiality, the staff report says. Burroughs’ concern is what he sees as a lack of protection of confidential information included in the staff code of conduct, one of the main reasons for the recommendations He was assured by interim CAO Sheldon Randall that employee contracts, as well as a number of other policies, address confidentiality. Burroughs says he doesn’t believe there is enough emphasis on the importance of confidentiality. His concern is that it’s not enough to have policies, it’s also important to ensure they’re being followed. “What are we doing to enforce confidentiality? That’s
the issue before us,” he asked at the workshop. “It’s saying what are we doing, are we checking that someone is following the guidelines?” That applies to all of the 15 recommendations, he says. When he was a regional councillor, he says, “we assumed everybody was following the rules, and obviously they weren’t.” He isn’t concerned about penalties, he says — he wants to ensure everyone is following the rules. In response, Randall asked if he should be checking phone calls, checking emails daily. “We take our staff at face value, that they’re going to follow the rules in place,” and if a breech does occur, he added, action would be taken, possibly even termination. “My one comment is that’s exactly what we would have been told at the Region,” Burroughs replied. Having dealt with confidentiality issues over his 30year legal career, Coun. Stuart McCormack said, “enforcement only takes place after the fact. Educate people about their obligations, and institute a more robust form of training — education and reminders are the only thing that gets compliance.” The staff report said confidentiality agreements specifically regarding hiring “can be
created and used as part of our practice.” The recommendations also included ensuring terms of reference for hiring list any staff who would have access to confidential information. While there is a draft report coming forward for the hiring of a new CAO, said Stevens, there isn’t one for staff. Coun. Clare Cameron suggested a list of staff and officials permitted access to information should be included in the terms of reference for hiring. Other recommendations addressed the need for a bylaw setting the parameters of the relationship between council and the CAO, including the role of council with respect to amending the CAO’s contract and salary; the proper use and storage of electronic communication, including corporate emails; that a hiring policy be created to include examples of unacceptable behaviour during a hiring process; and that additional training be arranged to address confidentially and privacy policies. Regional Coun. Gary Zalepa says the Region is still going through a similar process, accepting the recommendations from the Inside Job report, and having staff report how they match with policies at the Region, including a bylaw with respect to the hiring of a CAO. Councillors have had in-
put, and some of those comments and requests for changes will go back to staff and be presented to council for approval, he said. “We’ve asked staff to come back at a further date with suggestions about adding some guidance to the process.” It’s council’s responsibility, as custodians, to ensure staff are following the policies, and to be asking the right questions, including “have we followed our policies,” Zalepa said. Regarding hiring of the CAO, he said, the regional policy is “a little quiet” about who would be able to attend meetings of the hiring committee — he feels that needs to be clarified and enshrined in the policy. At the Town council meeting last week, motions were made and approved to have the draft code of conduct for staff be sent to council for information once it’s approved by staff; that new confidentiality agreements be instituted as an additional level of signoff during hiring; that a new hiring policy be instituted for all recruitments, with a special section for the hiring of a CAO and that council has the authority to approve them; and that an update will come back to council on a retention policy for records, including electronic format.
Two fire calls 15 minutes apart ‘rare’ for NOTL Penny Coles The Local
Virgil, St. Davids and Queenston had attended, Ruller says, given the location, where access could be challenging. About 60 to 65 firefighters were out that day, and all trucks, he says. “Both had the potential to be catastrophic events,” he added — one in a hotel that’s an old building, and one in a geographically challenging location. If the department finds itself in need of additional
resources, “we would request mutual aid from neighbouring departments to assist,” Ruller says. “Mutual aid is common throughout the Niagara region, and many resources can be shared as needed.” It is more common for NOTL to call for an additional tanker truck for rural water operations, he says, and Thorold is the closest with a tanker that could come to NOTL’s assistance.
Last Tuesday, Jan. 21, Niagara-on-the-Lake Fire Department had two calls, just 15 minutes apart, to structure fires. Fire Chief Nick Ruller says the situation of overlapping calls might occur about a dozen times a year, but to have two structure fires at the same time is rare. Fortunately, neither were serious, he says. The first call came in as an alarm at the Pillar and Post, and shortly after, that was determined to be a fire in the kitchen. Given the location of the fire at a hotel restaurant, firefighters responded with trucks from the Old Town, Virgil, St. Davids and Queenston, says Ruller. But once the kitchen’s fire suppression system activated, the blaze was quickly extinguished, he says. While some firefighters stayed to clear the smoke and reset alarms, some resources were quickly redirected to a firelane, where the second structure fire was reported. It turned out to be a storage box for firewood that had been lit by an ember, and was also quickly extinguished. Resources from Glendale, NOTL Fire Chief Nick Ruller (File photo)
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Issue Dates:
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Friday, January 31 at noon NOTL businesses contact Karen at 905-641-5335 or karen@notllocal.com Businesses outside NOTL contact Julia at 905-934-1040 or julia@notllocal.com
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January 30, 2020
THE NOTL LOCAL
New outlets will be sought for artisans Continued from page 1
months remaining before the store closes for good. As well, about 25 volunteers will be left to find another way to contribute to the community. Ten Thousand Villages opened in 1986 at the back of the old Andres Cleaners building at 126 Queen Street. The dream of Katy Ewert got underway as an MCC Self Help Crafts Store. Its mission from the start was to help provide employment and fair income to disadvantaged people in more than 25 developing countries. Five years later, the store moved to a location on Market Street, and in 1997, it was rebranded as Ten Thousand Villages. After two more stops, one on Victoria Street and another on Queen, the store settled in at 46 Queen Street in 2011. Through the years, Ten Thousand Villages has been steadfast in its commitment to offering a globally-friendly product line, featuring hand-crafted jewellery, home decor made of natural materials, and food and skin care products that are earth-friendly. For many NOTL residents, the store has been a go-to location to shop with a clear con-
science, as their advertising tag-line once stated. For Bed and Breakfast operator Jodie Godwin, Ten Thousand Villages has been a part of her life since she moved to NOTL from Western Canada. She heard the news late last week as she visited the store to buy coffee for her guests. Godwin and her family believe strongly in the fair trade concept, and promote conscious buying to their guests. Being able to purchase fair trade products at the Ten Thousand Villages store has been a convenient way to ensure she can continue to uphold these values in her business. She will now have to find another source for fair trade products. “Ten Thousand Villages is the largest fair trade retailer in Canada,” says store manager Friesen. “The over 20,000 artisans that we support now don’t have an outlet (for their products).” Friesen has faith that these artisans will find an outlet. “I know Ten Thousand Villages Canada is working their hardest with our artisan groups to help them link up with other fair trade retailers across the world to help them out as we shut down,” she adds. “But it’s something that’s definitely going to be felt on
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that end.” The uniqueness of the NOTL location, with people from all over the world visiting the store, has given the volunteers and employees the chance to spread the message to many far-flung locations. Friesen hopes they have planted the seed and that these tourists will look for other places to track down fair trade items. One positive on that front is that the Ten Thousand Villages store in Port Colborne will remain open. That location is owned and operated by a private board, Erna Braun, Karen Sawicki and Teresa Friesen will be sad to see the Queen Street store and is independent of the close. (Photos by Mike Balsom) national company. There are seven of these stores across the country, including another in Coburg, Ontario, that will not close. As well, the Ten Thousand Villages U.S. webstore will remain open. Friesen says customers who are looking to purchase fair trade products will, for the first time, be able to order from the American website. As her three years of managing the store come to an end this May 29, Friesen is, of course, feeling sad. But she, her staff and volunteers will continue to spread the The shelves will be empty by the end of May. fair trade message in the time they have left.
Willowbank Salon Series
Award-winning jazz singer Denielle Bassels entertained the Queenston crowd at the Willowbank School of Restoration Arts Sunday, accompanied by Julien Bradley-Combs on guitar, and Scott Hunter on bass. The next band in the series will be Thorn and Roses on March 22. (Fred Mercnik)
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January 30, 2020
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Local hoping to represent Canada at Lions International Penny Coles The Local
The International Association of Lions’ motto is “We Serve.” It’s a motto that was easy for St. Davids Lion Al Snider to make his own — it’s as deeply-rooted in who he is as in the service club he joined about 40 years ago. Now he’s hoping to serve at an international level. Snider’s service to his community, and to the wider Lions community, began before he was a member, when he was drawn into helping out at the annual St. Davids Lions Carnival. He remembers his early years spent in the bingo tent, happy to help but wishing there was a different job he could do. When he mentioned he might like to try his hand at something else, he was told the way to get out of the bingo tent was to join the club, so he did. It took a few more carnivals before he graduated from bingo, but since then, he’s been club president three times, club treasurer, carnival treasurer, district governor, and has taken on other offices and training roles, both locally and across the A-2 district, which includes 40 Lions clubs from Fort Erie to Tillsonburg. He’s received many Lions awards, and one from the Town for community service. He’s been a trustee for the local board of education, as well as chair and vice-chair. He was a town councillor for one term, and is now the chair of the Town’s committee of adjustment. When it comes to volunteerism, his parents, Mary and George Snider, set an example for the family. His brother Doug, sister Betty, and now his son Richard have all followed in a commitment to Lionism. His wife Susan, a paramedic, is also a St. Davids Lion, and her oldest daughter is about to join the club as well. Now, with the blessing and some financial support from his club, he’s set his sights on becoming the international director for Lions clubs across the country. If successful, he will be the only Canadian sitting on the board of the international association, with 35 other Lions from around the world. The job, he says, “is 75 per cent about being an ambassador for Lionism in North America. There will be a lot of travelling through the U.S. and Canada, especially during the winter months when the district conventions are held,” says Snider. A small portion will be attending board meetings around the world, wherever they’re held, he says. So far, he’s feeling good about the chances of earning
the title — there isn’t anyone running against him. The vote occurs during the provincial Lions convention in May, so there is still a possibility someone might go up against him. “If there are people out there who don’t think I’m doing a good job, or taking this seriously, they might run against me,” he says, but he’s been travelling across the province for almost a year now, talking to other clubs, and feels he has good support. In Canada, the role of international director is a twoyear term, Snider explains. The country is divided into three sections, west, east, and Ontario with part of Quebec. Every two years, the international representative is elected from one of those three rotating areas, so the candidate does not have to campaign across the country, which would be too expensive. He’s fortunate that the St. Davids Lions Club is behind him. With 80 members, it’s at the top of the list for membership, and because of the membership, can organize the activities that help the club give back to the community. The money from the club that is partially funding his campaign is not from fundraising, all of which goes back to the community, he says. It comes from a levy on all members each year to support candidates for positions outside the club. “I pay for my own gas, food and hotel room. They pay for the conventions,” he says. Administration funds also help pay for members who want to travel to events outside their club, he adds. “We’re fortunate to have the money to these activities,” he says, noting it helps that the club has its own building. Each club in Ontario can send one delegate to vote for every 10 members, which means his club will have eight votes. He’s hoping each of the Niagara clubs sends the maximum number of delegates to vote, he says. If elected, Snider’s travel expenses will be paid for by the international association, again from funds elected from Lions’ membership dues that goes to administrative costs. Money raised by the international foundation goes to disaster relief around the world, such as to Australia to help those affected by the fires the country is battling. Snider says he’s always been intrigued by the work of the international association. He’s been retired from General Motors for 10 years, and now, with his wife Susan planning to retire, if he’s elected, she’ll be able to travel with him. With all the other district positions he’s held, he
says, “this is the next step.” Their first trip would be to the international convention in Singapore in June, with a side trip of their own to Thailand, Cambodia and Viet Nam. Will there be a benefit to his club to have an international director? He doesn’t have any particular cause he wants to promote — as a board member, he will be making decisions on international issues — but he will be able to promote a greater awareness not only of what his club does for its community, but the community itself.
“It will be an opportunity to promote Niagara-on-the-Lake. When you meet other members, they ask lots of questions. It’s surprising how many people have been here, and they always want to come back. It’s an easy sell,” says Snider. “I talk about the wineries, the fort, the town’s history, the breweries. When you’re out and about, people don’t necessarily want to talk about Lions, they want to know where you’re from. And it’s so easy to talk about Niagara-on-the-Lake, and tell them they’ve got to come for a vis- St. Davids Lion Allen Snider hopes to become an internait.” tional director. (Photo supplied)
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January 30, 2020
THE NOTL LOCAL
EDITORIAL
Jury out on accommodation tax
Niagara-on-the-Lake has a reputation for being one of the most beautiful, welcoming and friendliest of tourist towns. Those in the tourism industry say adding an extra accommodation tax to visitors staying overnight is anything but welcoming, will be viewed as distinctly unfriendly, and may lead to a decline in overnight visitors, the very tourists this town wants and needs to attract. They warn, as a result, it will reduce the tourism dollars already benefiting Town coffers, making it more difficult for NOTL to hold on to its title of most beautiful. Many local businesses, not just those in the accommodation industry, rely on NOTL as a tourism destination for their success. The question that remains, after years of discussing the municipal accommodation tax, is whether the tax, when used for marketing the town as intended, will attract more visitors, or do the opposite, discouraging them through the increase in
accommodation prices. Although opinions abound, it’s disturbing the tax has even been contemplated when nobody seems to have the facts that would provide an answer. As the recent discussions at council have indicated, this is an emotional issue, and is serving only to increase the great divide between tourism businesses in town, and residents — some, not all, certainly — who don’t feel any sense of ownership or pride in the town as a tourist attraction, but rather the opposite. Tourism to some may seem nothing but a giant inconvenience. Yet most of the businesses in town, and the jobs, are tourism-related. Does tourism benefit residents by offsetting taxes? Do residents support tourism by funding infrastructure? The answer seems to depend more on emotion than fact, depending on what side of the fence we’re sitting on. It’s easy for residents to forget our busi-
ness owners and employees are often our friends and neighbours. Even if they are not, they are certainly not the enemy. There is no doubt they contribute to this town, and the region, economically. We’re hearing some of the municipalities that have adopted the accommodation tax are finding it’s not the cash grab that was expected. All is not rosy, but lacking evidence, the jury is still out. There are two benefits to council’s decision to defer implementing a tax: it allows time to look toward other municipalities for facts that either support the tax, or have evidence to show its negative effects. And it provides an opportunity for all to work together — councillors, staff and stakeholders — first on a tourism strategy, and then the best way to fund it. It may be an accommodation tax, or it may uncover better options. Hopefully, it nurtures a united town, rather than adding to the unfortunate division that already exists.
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LOCAL FINDS
IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM DUFF MILLER BORN 10 AUG. 1786 DIED 18 FEB. 1859
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The NOTL Local acknowledges the land on which we gather is the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples, many of whom continue to live and work here today. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties and is within the land protected by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum agreement. Today this gathering place is home to many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples and acknowledging reminds us that our great standard of living is directly related to the resources and friendship of Indigenous peoples.
‘Crowns and Pleas’ inspector buried at St. Andrew’s Donald Combe
Special to The Local William and his wife Ann’s monuments are located against the back wall of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. He was “inspector and Deputy Clerk of the “Crown and Pleas” in Niagara. The Miller’s house, located at the corner of Regent and Mary Streets, is now a flower shop.
River on an icy day
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A pair of mallards were captured at the mouth of the Niagara River by local photographer David Gilchrist.
LETTERS
notllocal.com
THE NOTL LOCAL
7
January 30, 2020
Tourism helps support NOTL, says B&B owner
As past president of the Bed and Breakfast Association, let me point out that the short-term rental industry in Niagara-on-the-Lake is a tourist attraction in and of itself. Visitors choose NOTL in order to experience a B&B for the first time because of the reputation many years of successful B&B’s have earned. Based on the feedback we receive from our guests, they tell us that “we are the world standard for which they judge their future B&B stays.” The cottage/vacation rental community here is equally highly regarded, due to their hands-on approach and high standard of quality and service. Tourists to our town love the option of renting a cottage, often for a family gathering in one place. It gives them the freedom to cook, and many have special diets. Also, many tourists love to travel with the family dog and seek out pet-friendly accommodations. Others prefer the freedom of having their own property during their stay. With the current selection available, people have a choice. Accommodation properties live in harmony with our resident neighbours. It feels like we are using a small number of complaints to paint the picture that residents and accommodation owners are in constant conflict. In fact, we work together to take care of each other, and many of us are social with our neighbours, but just like any other community, sometimes we don’t agree. So let’s come to the table to address our differences with a positive solution. B&B and vacation owners are private concierges for our
guests. The introduction of a municipal accommodation tax (MAT) will damage the relationship. It is inevitable that guests will strongly question this tax, and we know this because we already have to explain the HST. If you think a pamphlet explaining the tax is going to placate them, I suggest you hang out at a B&B for a while. According to Town numbers, there are approximately 400 short-term rental (STR) properties in NOTL. This represents a huge number of different calendar and property management systems used for these businesses. There is no possible way to determine how and/or if these systems can adapt to a new tax, and at what cost. These continued added burdens will contribute to closures and the decline of the STR industry. Ultimately, this tax will only contribute to the decline of tourism, and the loss of the economic and social benefits that our small business operators bring to the NOTL way of life. Is this council prepared to be responsible for the change in NOTL’s image and economics when we lose the unique, personal-touch experiences that visitors enjoy through stays at STRs? How will you replace this lost income? The BBA cannot support the council to accept the recommendation for a MAT, even in principle. In all of the reports and discussions, I have yet to hear an explanation as to why the MAT is required. Has the tourism industry asked for money? Without a clear answer to
this question, the assumption is that the Town needs the 50 per cent portion they would be allocated in order to balance the budget, because other than the hope for cash, I can’t figure out what the Town gains. If that is the truth, then let’s have some transparency around this, and stop pretending it is anything else. There is a lot of language being used in what appears to be an attempt to divide residents and members of the tourist industry. For example, we have repeatedly heard from members of this council and have seen in social media and various papers, that 18,000 residents are paying for three million tourists. I want to know where the number of three million tourists is sourced? In all my searches and by industry projections, I can find 2.7 million. How do these numbers compare to 2011, when Census Canada says 15,400 residents and 2.5 million tourists? I can find newspaper articles from 15 years ago and the number of tourists then is referenced as three million. The truth is we don’t know how many tourists came here 10 years ago and we don’t know how many came in 2019. However, if these numbers are even close, then there has been a 17 per cent growth in residents and at best an eight per cent growth in tourists. So the increase in the burden on all of NOTL’s infrastructure is higher due to residential growth rather than a massive increase in tourism. Using unverified numbers to enhance a specific point of view that suggests tourists are the source of all our problems is not contributing to a unified
Town should be flush with cash
I suppose we’re supposed to congratulate the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s council for holding a tax increase to 8.6 per cent from the 9.5 per cent increase discussed in December (Operating budget approved with 8.6 levy increase, The Local, January 23). In fact, council must have worked very hard to come up with such a large tax increase, given NOTL’s growing tax
base of new homes and businesses along with increasing property values. Our town should be flush with cash. The problem here is not a lack of revenue, but a lack of leadership, driving spending that is out of control and unsustainable. I’d like to invite council to examine expenses line-by-line and come up with a plan that passes along the benefits of a growing
town to its taxpayers. If a business were run this way, it would be out of business. And if a member of a finance team presented a spending plan like this in a private business, they would be fired. It seems like there must be some hard decisions to be made and NOTL council must do better. Shaun McDonald NOTL
community. I request everyone, including the media, to use real numbers. Has anyone ever considered looking at this differently? Is it not also valid that 2,700,000 tourists are supporting 18,000 residents? Without tourism, how many restaurants could a town of 18,000 support? Certainly not anywhere near the more than 40 quality ones I can name without even thinking too hard. Without tourism, would the Shaw Festival continue to exist? Would we be able to sustain the heritage sites, both public and private, without tourists? Who would buy and maintain historical homes if there wasn’t anything to do here? Without tourists, our wineries could still make the wine, but would have only the LCBO to buy it, and if you’ve had any connection to the LCBO and the hoops required to jump through to get a listing in that system, there wouldn’t be anywhere near the quality or variety we currently enjoy. The increase in property values directly benefits all residents. If people stop moving here, property values will drop. How would a town of 18,000 people attract new residents if people didn’t come here first as a tourist and then fall in love with all we are and then move here? How many councillors were born in NOTL? How did you
first learn about all that we offer, which has been created by business owners (big and small), farmers, new residents, multi-generational families, employees and our migrant worker community. If you were born here, are you suggesting that all that has developed is not something you enjoy? We are truly the envy of every community in Ontario and we are an international destination. All of this to point out that if council believes, or wants residents to believe, that taxing overnight tourists is the way to go, then what happens to all the great things about living in NOTL when the tourists decide they don’t want to spend any more money here, and choose elsewhere, like Niagara Falls? Even a small change in overnight stays will have a significant impact. We know of some, but not how many B&Bs and other STRs will choose to close because the extra bureaucracy and costs imposed on them do not make it worth it anymore. What happens when the cost for NOTL hotel conferences gets another four per cent added? Some of these groups will go elsewhere, where the fees are less, and hotels will have no choice but to fill their rooms with regular tourists, decreasing the pool of overnight clients available to support all accommodation properties. More closures will come. If the town needs more money, then why haven’t they
reached out to the community for ideas? It is not a weakness to recognize you don’t have all the answers. I will say thank you for the fact that the fight against this tax has brought together so many members of our community. It only goes to show, that when united, these great resources can build and strengthen NOTL. Even though I stand firmly against this tax, I would like to end on a positive note and offer this council an alternative to a MAT: the opportunity to continue to be the envy of all small communities by coming together with small business, big business, residents and all who make up the diversity of our great town. Let’s show how much can be achieved by pooling our resources, both intellectual and physical, and solving the problem of budget shortfall without penalizing the businesses that are already doing all they can to bring prosperity and uniqueness to our town. I am pleased and excited by Coun. Clare Cameron’s amendment to table further consideration of a MAT until a comprehensive tourism strategy is developed. It is a huge step toward unifying all interested parties to see council come to the table with a decision that is forward-looking, and based on community consultation. I believe that through this process, we will find solutions that will eliminate the need for this tax. Janet Jones NOTL
Old Town resident sees first-hand ‘hollowing out’ of neighbourhoods
I would like to comment on the letter about the licensing fees for the short-term rentals (Please don’t treat B&Bs as short-term rentals, The Local, Jan. 23). I don’t run a bed and breakfast, nor do I own a short-term rental. I live in the Old Town where I am surrounded by both. The block I live on is 44 per cent residences. The other 56% are a mix of B&Bs, cottage rentals and weekend homes. I agree that B&Bs should not be in the same classifica-
tion as the short-term rentals that are not owner occupied. In my experience, it is the “unoccupied “ rentals that cause most of the problems. They are the ones who should be paying for the extra bylaw inspectors. I also agree that there should be some kind of signage to identify the house as a rental. I would also consider adding a contact number to the sign. The sign would let “renters” know they were staying in safe, inspected accommoda-
tions. It would also help neighbours identify illegal rentals. I was not aware that the bylaws were different when it came to starting up a B&B versus a rental. That needs to change. In the last three to four years, eight houses have sold in my area. Six are now rentals, one is a B&B, and one, we are not sure what is happening with it. This is the “hollowing out” of my neighbourhood. Alison Hepburn NOTL
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of the night, For most holed had been Baldinelli staff in a back Mike Balsom up with his Local campaign headSpecial to The room at his Road on Montrose long for quarters Falls, eagerly It didn’t take choke up in Niagara polling reto to consulting the Tony Baldinelli were coming you speech in his thank sults as they emerged into Monday night.75 supporters in. He rarely room, where Emmy by about Wise and Surrounded , friends, Father the larger Will keeping were Marley pose Christm family members his followers as in front results with Party mem- House, the national of the Court of they Conservative track as wait for on two supportStroll the Candle to begin. the night of through bers and campaign (Fred Mercnik light Member televisions. ) new staff, the big-screen for the Niagara Parliament became emoon page 2 Continued Falls riding seconds in. 30 tional only
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Issue 48
‘Tis the se as Candleligh on for t Stroll Kim Wade
Special to sage for locals. The Local “To the residen “This is YOU are the season and ara-on-the-Lake, ts of Niagthank you we gather the reason why for supporting this evening. to celebrat bounty It is events special e the of community,this year in our tonight that remind such as us how Tom Pekar, said Town Crier fortunate we are the hundre as he welcomed such a generous to live in and gathered ds of people who community. Attenda warm at wrapped the Court House, cords continue to nce rein with hats scarves, topped every year and I be broken can’t dles to this and holding can- ine a place on earth imagmoment year’s Candlel at this Stroll. where ight spirit is stronge the human “By the r. My in me, I powers invested full, being up here,” heart is declare the addressing he said, ing of the openthe crowd from the small 2019 Candlel stroll. balcony ight Court Huzzah! House steps. over the HUZZA Huzzah! H!” Thirty years Pekar ago, MacIntyre, introduced Paul dlelight Stroll was the Canstarted by local residen the chair board of of the ts Arthur director Nieuagara-on-the-L s for the Ni- wdorp and his wife Irene. Nieuwd ake Chamb of Comme er idea in orp developed rce. the 1988 during MacInt crowd for yre thanked the up to the Calgary the leadOlympi participating Winter the 30th in Olympi cs. He watched anniversary the c stroll, and visitors for of the travelled torch relay as ing, but it across the had a specialattendcountry mesContinued on page 4
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Volume 1 •
Old Town Rumble are 200 former that include the ed in the 1600s, that first discove years old, Mississagua explained, red serve, deserve to Rumble and they one of the stones protected, be celebrated and ner of Prideaux on the cor- course;now the NOTL Re- on them and the arrow ner of Johnson and Nassau and Simcoe Streets, council the Garriso Golf a board is a symbol called Streets has Monday. heard about and his documented, serve, arrow, used n by constru been damage repaired its history curiosity Georgewhich includes Re- ignate the to desction equipm d they are Ted Rumble propert he said, showin Fort and his and the damaged, where ent, tioned , a mem- ensuing researc ber of the Commons, British governm y of the a and four reposih to their stone with g councillors other lots ent. ical Society Niagara Histor- discovery that led to the clude There is a large chunk “so they can original height that inthere were Simcoe be the bench another beside chipped out of Monday , was at council originally 36 such The bestPark. it. “It’s 200 preciated,” and properly apto at the years old,” document, ask the Town to He has only been stones. stone, he by barriers protected preserved to Simcoe Park, entrance find 11 remain repair and he said, Rumble emphasized. able to erected tect the them. asked the ner of Simcoe is at the cor- sunk into the which has to I let you around stones, like proenlist Town “I feel They are ing. ground, which have some placedporters, reand were Street, solid govas propertsmile quickly engrave Two are Queen of the others, as operations its heritage and limestone, by the a minority said — d marker down,” the y with ada propert on Parks Candepartm he recogni party win hers coma stone The BO Charles Inn. and shownand numbered, the Niagara ents turned along each stone engraved on Royal Park has by Queen’s nificancze the historic to gesting they y, he said, sugernment while on a map Penny Coles sunk so remained Con- posure. sig- work it could would need stands for e of the of Board the of low Falls riding The Local disappe stones, and proud togethe celebra to the of Ordina “I’m truly trunce, found- couple of years. ar within a link te them, “as the Friends r, along with servative. a direct we ran, and news spread of elation between of Fort The marker But when and the was campaign of the work we’ve A short burst somber Niagara George, at the cor- very foundin us and the Society proud Liberal candidate ly turned Histori g the of our town.” cal . quickly He hopes and family about to arrive and support- done,” said Kaiser. d to to see them the larger Anamong friends “I was committe that candidate moved into of Liberal as the Niaga- ers intended for Continued a campaign positivon page area that was Kaiser running drea Kaiser, 3 woman fell a victory celebration, loud would bring some and a to spirit ra-on-the-Lake the room votes Monday ity, a positive and it was behind in became clear entered and with a huge energy, of it applause, give her positive I had a ton night and Tony Baldiheaded to met so amazing. Conservative to Ottawa to smile sister and daughter said, “and the fun,” she people.” nelli was goingNiagara Falls mother, heading to some incredible of the hugs before those all proud represent the to thank “I’m so as podium worked to turn the and the new riding. grew quiet (Penny Coles) team we built that we have,” who had The room Monday night. of support- riding red. supporters Liberal family addresses Kaiser’s group she allowed workers Andrea Kaiser Although ers and campaigna tiny bar of her emotions Liberal candidate on page 3 told the at a glimpse huddled around Continued when she televisions and two small Inn, watch- to show of about 60 supcrowd the Old Stone Trudeau’s Liberal ing Justin
COMMENT Wainfleet Bog, Thundering Waters — these places matter 8
January 30, 2020
Owen Bjorgan
Special to The Local
THE NOTL LOCAL
notllocal.com
watery hole. I somehow managed to avoid soakers all day. Of course, this is what you sign up for when you go to a bog. Especially in the winter, after flooding rains. I used Google Earth to depict where the most ancient vegetation communities might exist in the bog. I’m looking for old growth forests and wetlands with 200-plus-year-old trees growing out of the water. I find these spots from my desk in NOTL by analyzing aerial photography and older satellite images of the Niagara Region. If you can see a dark blob of forest standing strong in 1934, and then you fast-forward to 2020 and still see it standing there, you know it’s going to be old and ecologically significant. Some of these older forests and wetlands are embedded inside a shrubbier, younger forest. They are in disguise, until you’ve busted through the thick outer wall and accessed the insides. Wainfleet causes me to
drive across the peninsula with a sense of purpose. The rattlesnakes are still there, somewhere. There is a plant out there that eats flies — the carnivorous and provincially rare sundew. Amphibians love the flooded nirvana that exists here — generally free of fish, three species of tree frog and the blue spotted salamanders can lay their eggs here in comfort. Lastly, DNA scat testing in 2005 revealed that a cougar was present in the bog. With all of that, I find myself cruising along a long gravel road with a wall of seemingly impenetrable vegetation growing on one side. What’s more, I can see the bog water sitting nice and snug up against the crest of the ditch along the road. The bog is saturated and spilling over and out. It’s full. That means just about everything to my right is flooded for six kilometres. It will likely remain this way until spring. With my head hanging
out the window like a dog, I finally spot a break in the wall. I pull over and go in. It looks like a nightmare. The “trail” is tunnel-like and claustrophobia inducing — a reddish ice sits over pools of black water which have consumed the trail. I spot animal fur in the thick bushes next to me. Alarmed, I pivot to see the skin of a coyote draped over some low-lying branches, obviously gutted by a hunter. The ice I’m standing on is groaning and oozing. Yet, I need to see what happens deeper in. I am looking for areas of high ground where the eastern massasauga rattlesnakes might be hibernating, so I can come back to verify their presence in the spring. I didn’t find any cougar scat, but I found an interesting footprint and plenty of scenic memories. Some places were so beautiful, that I stopped to freeze onto the ice I was standing on. I saw the frozen moulds of animal tracks running
across the ice — rabbits, racoons, and deer abounded. With each step, I watched water gush up the icy footprints of creatures from the past. It is a wonder that this is what most of Niagara Region once looked like, and that I was likely the only person experiencing these 568 acres to myself. I live for these humbling feelings of large and powerful places. That’s why my next visit was totally necessary, and I need to tell you about it. As some of you may have seen circulating in the papers and on social media, the contentious Thundering Waters wetlands in Niagara Falls have taken their second round of damages to protected wetlands, done by the developer, GR Can. A stop work order issued by the NPCA quickly evolved into the authority charging GR Can with alleged unauthorized work in a wetland or buffer area, which violates the Conservation Authorities Act. According
to the NPCA, vegetation removal had occurred in the protected area, yet another dent in a dwindling but significant ecosystem. To come full circle, why do I roll out of bed on cold mornings to go traversing through black muck and floodwaters? Every time I step into wetlands, I’m stepping back into time. These places matter. The sole thought in the back of my head while out there is, “wow, I can’t wait to get home and show these photos to people, post them on social media, or write this article...”. It all stems from a place of appreciating Niagara’s natural heritage for what it’s worth. Even on the gloomy, stale, super-soaked days. Anyone reading this is welcome to attend a free information session at the Gale Center in Niagara Falls, Thursday Jan. 30, 5 to 6 p.m., which will involve the latest updates on the Thundering Waters Forest, hosted by the City of Niagara Falls.
I looked outside the window. Gloomy, stale, and super-soaked. With an all-night downpour on top of an already saturated and frozen landscape, the water had pooled up in all sorts of unusual places. It’s one of those days where you could find a puddle on a hillside. So, it’s an off day, but it’s a day off. I’m off to Wainfleet Bog to run a few errands, and then a little reconnaissance mission in Niagara Falls after that. Wainfleet Bog is massive. It’s the only bog on the Niagara Peninsula, and therefore, the southernmost bog of its kind in Canada. It’s a survivor’s island for many rare and relic species. The bog puts itself on the map in two ways. For one, it’s the largest blob of green on the Niagara map, punching in at a commanding 568 acres. It is also like a vegetation fortress, protecting a small and isolated population of the eastern massasauga rattlesnake. I describe the bog as a fortress because anyone who has visited it understands the navigation challenges. In areas of the bog that have regrown since the peat industry days (which concluded in the 1980s), you find the vegetation is thick, thorny, and more or less forms a mat about five feet high across the forest floor. Sometimes, these areas are flooded by a foot of water at the same time. Sometimes, the black earth gives way, and you fall through Owen Bjorgan uses historical aerial imagery to find the most ancient ecosystems in Niagara. He is investigating potential rattlesnake and amphibian habitats in the bog “mat” into a cold Wainfleet Bog, while pondering the fate of other wetlands in the region. (Photo supplied)
Auchterlonie on Astrology Bill Auchterlonie
Special to The Local This week on Auchterlonie on Astrology I’ll look at the period from Thursday, Jan. 30 to Wednesday, Feb. 5, and the first quarter Moon in Taurus on Saturday, Feb. 1. On my podcast I’ve got a look at Indigenous North American astrology, and the week of Feb. 2 through Feb. 9. The website is https://www. lookingupwithbill.com/podcasts.html. Now, the week ahead. Thursday, Jan 30: The Moon continues in leap-before-you-look Aries all day today, with a sweet connec-
tion to Mars in Sagittarius in the supper hour. Generosity rules and there is love in the air! It was Jan. 30, 1961 that we first heard Patsy Cline sing I Fall to Pieces, voted Song of the Year in 1962. Friday, Jan. 31: At 7:27 p.m. the Moon moves from impulsive Aries to value-conscious Taurus, so most of the day is full of impulsive energy, including a helpful idea that looks to the future. A better future. And Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play in the major leagues, was born this day in 1919. Saturday, Feb. 1: Today’s first quarter Moon, with the Sun in Aquarius and the
Moon in Taurus, threatens to bring a stubborn attitude to matters of shared finances, and intimate affairs as well. Fortunately, Jupiter in Capricorn is there to give a bigger picture, and point of view which can resolve both questions. Sunday Feb. 2: It’s Ground Hog Day! Put on some good shoes and be ready to do alot today, as the Moon in Taurus makes seven connections, while Venus and Pluto, and Mercury and Jupiter, make sweet as well. It’s a day where practical ideas solve many situations, and where willpower and charm work well together too. It was this
day in 1863 that unemployed Samuel Clements published his first short story under the pen name Mark Twain. Later he befriended Nikola Tesla and lived in Buffalo, N.Y. Always a wit, he is famous for, among others: “All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure.” Monday, Feb. 3: Two big planetary moves today, as the Moon goes from Taurus to mercurial Gemini as we arise, and Mercury moves from futuristic Aquarius into imaginative Pisces about the same time. This sets up a few days of lively feelings, and quieter, but still creative, ideas as Mer-
cury spends the next month in Pisces. (Mercury turns retrograde on Feb. 18 and then direct in Aquarius on Mar. 11.) Today is good for letting a serious attitude prevail. That’s serious. Not fearful. It was Feb. 3, 1959, that became known as ‘the day the music died,’ with the plane crash that took the lives of The Big Bopper, Richie Valens and Buddy Holly. Tuesday, Feb. 4: The Sun in Aquarius, and the Moon in Gemini, make friends today in an easy going partnership that is as light as a breeze. And it was this day in 2004, 16 years to the day, that Harvard undergrad Mark Zuckerberg
launched Facebook from his dorm room desk-top computer. (And we thought Ground Hog Day was Sunday!) Wednesday, Feb. 5: In the middle of the afternoon, the Moon moves from talkative Gemini into sensitive Cancer. But it’s the planet Uranus that makes the strongest moves today, first with a connection to Mercury in Pisces, then with the Moon in the evening. It’s a day of changes, especially changes in long-term plans. Be ready. Plan for a change. Next week is the full Moon in Leo on Sunday, Feb. 9. As Joni Mitchell said: “We are stardust. We are golden.” So shine on!
notllocal.com
THE NOTL LOCAL
January 30, 2020
Feed a piggy bank, support mental health for kids Penny Coles The Local
Pigs can fly, swim, be robots or even ballerinas — and raise money to support mental health for children across Niagara. Pathstone Foundation and the Meridian Credit Union are partnering for a second year on a Fill the Pig, Feel Better campaign, which encourages people to “adopt” a pig from any of the 17 Meridian branches in the region, and fill it with donations. The piggy bank has long been associated with saving, says Kim Rossi, director of philanthropy for Pathstone, and even appeals to kids. The piggy banks at the credit unions are white, crying out to be painted, decorated, and filled with coins to help children and their families access counselling at any of Pathstone’s eight Hear & Now walk-in clinics across the region, including the one on Concession 6 in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
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To help launch the campaign, Rossi asked NOTL artists Troy Miller and Tanya Peterson to paint one of the piggy banks. Miller’s has been named “Pigs can Fly,” and Peterson’s, which is now at the Niagara Image Gallery collecting donations, is “Pigs can Swim.” Individuals are encouraged to pick up a piggy bank, fill it and return it when it’s full. The campaign goes until the end of February, says Rossi. The banks can hold about $75 to $100 in coin. Doug Martin, manager of the Meridian Credit Union Virgil branch, is a strong supporter of Pathstone and the work it does for kids, as well as of the people who run the agency, he says. He is glad to be helping out for the second year, and will be approaching local businesses to ask them to take a bank for donations. A new initiative for this year’s campaign is a Paint the Pig Night at the Pen Centre. It will be held at the former
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Sear’s entrance, and a $25 donation includes a piggy bank and a seat at an art table to paint it, an opportunity that’s fun for all ages, says Rossi. Every store in the Pen Centre will have a piggy
bank for their customers to fill, she says, and there is also a virtual pig online to be fed, at www.pathstonementalhealth.ca/fillthepig. An automatic e-receipt will be provided.
Last year’s campaign raised $50,000, but if the number of businesses involved continues to grow, Rossi says she wouldn’t be surprised to see it reach $100,000.
Charlene Neufeld and Doug Martin of the Meridian Credit Union Virgil branch, with Kim Rossi of Pathstone, launch the second annual Fill the Pig campaign. (Penny Coles)
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This campaign is a great opportunity for all, even kids, to learn how good it feels to give back to the community, especially when it involves helping children, she says.
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20 PEREZ ROAD $699,900
324 NIAGARA BOULEVARD $1,299,000
5 LOYALIST COURT $795,000
MLS 30786148 • Nicole Vanderperk
MLS 30785658 • Victoria Bolduc and Sarah Gleddie
MLS 30785960 • Adam Hawley
MLS 30695479 • Christopher Bowron, Audrey Wright and Nicole Vanderperk
558 LANDSDOWNE AVE $1,969,000 MLS 30783456 • Christopher Bowron, Audrey Wright and Nicole Vanderperk
139 VICTORIA STREET $1,595,000
14 MILLS LANE $633,100
89 WILLIAM STREET $1,089,000
MLS 30740357 • Thomas Elltoft and Kim Elltoft
MLS 30755564 • Randall Armstrong
MLS 30774057 • Thomas Elltoft and Viviane Elltoft
33 GAGE STREET $997,000
177 GATE STREET $1,788,000
40 PLATOFF STREET $2,989,000
MLS 30780729 • Thomas Elltoft and Viviane Elltoft
MLS 30740529 • Thomas Elltoft and Kim Elltoft
MLS 30662316 • Thomas Elltoft and Kim Elltoft
15 VINCENT STREET $799,900
Christopher Bowron***....... 905-468-2269 Victoria Bolduc* ................. 905-941-3726 Philip Bowron* ................... 905-348-7626 Bonnie Grimm* .................. 905-468-1256 Kim Elltoft**........................ 905-380-8011 Randall Armstrong** .......... 905-651-2977 Audrey Wright*................... 289-241-0212
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Nicole Vanderperk* ............ 905-941-4585 Viviane Elltoft* ................... 905-468-2142 Thomas Elltoft* .................. 905-380-8012 Cheryl Carmichael* ........... 905-941-0276 Sarah Gleddie* .................. 905-685-2458 Christine Bruce* ................ 905-328-9703 Marilyn Francis** ............... 905-932-1266
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New Year-New Home Interiors
Providing quality products Decorating for a new decade with genuine service for more than 55 years Submitted by
Creek Road Paints
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Peninsula Flooring
vinyl plank and tile, adding to our selection of quality vinyl plank and tile. Other offerings include: a vast selection of tile from ceramic to natural stone, hardwood flooring, quartz countertops, Impex Stone Wall Cladding, a full
range of installation materials for the professional or do-ityourselfer. Our design consultants will help you create the space that you envision within a comfortable budget, and our installers will bring your flooring vision to life.
Peninsula Flooring has been a trusted name in Niagara since 1963. Originally located at the corner of Line 2 and Andres St. in Virgil, the showroom was moved to 13 Henegan Rd. in the Virgil business park, becoming the largest flooring showroom in the Niagara region with something for everyone. As the 3rd owners of Peninsula Flooring, Art & Carol Hubert have introduced innovative and luxury options to the extensive selection of flooring options. New designer carpets such as Kane, Antrim, Stanton, Hibernia, and Karastan have been added to provide clients with the option of customizing their flooring, with on trend area rugs, stair runners and wallto-wall carpet. We are Niagara’s Platinum Karndean Dealer, showcasing a design centre that features a com- Visit our design centre for a great selection of the latest in plete line of Karndean luxury flooring styles.
The ten harmonious hues of the Colour Trends 2020 palette, including First Light, deliver modern paint colour pairings that combine optimism with understatement, and provides a timeless way to lighten things up. First Light 2102-70 sets the backdrop for a bright new decade as the 2020 colour of the year. This colour is described as fresh and revitalizing, the soft airy pink flatters any space and plays well with other colours. This decade is all about colour. Choosing the right colour influences the mood, energy, and style of your home. So how do you know how to choose the right hue? To understand the impact colour has, start with colour groups. Pales – Pale colours have light and airy qualities, making a space seem more uplifting. From the 2020 colour trends palette, Crystalline AF-485 a soft, calming green, and Windmill Wings 2067-60 a pure, sophisticated blue make for great pales to use in your bedroom, which will create a sense of comfort and relaxation. Neutrals & Whites – Earthy colours can help you feel
grounded. But they need not be boring! Creamy whites, soft grays and warm umber hues can be used to create a quiet backdrop for colourful furnishings—perfect for those who like to switch up fabrics or accessories often. From the 2020 colour trends palette, White Heron OC-57, a tranquil, serene white, and Thunder AF-685, an essential neutral that blends grey and beige together, make for great colours for your living room where it is important to create a casual, relaxed, or modern look. Deeps – Deep colours are bold, and dramatic. When you want to add design drama but don’t want a deep colour to overpower your space, try
an accent wall. From the 2020 colour trends palette, Cushing Green HC-125, a refined, deep, elegant green, and Blue Danube 2062-30, a saturated, rich blue, are great deep colours to paint your entryway, powder rooms, and front doors, where using a bold colour makes a memorable impression. Darker colours also help to highlight architectural aspects of your home. Still can’t decide on a colour, or having troubles with selecting the right shade? Come on down to Creek Road Paints and visit the design staff of Sarah, Karla, and Hannah, who are always able to help you select the right hue for your room, or project.
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Why Wellness Committee recommends lifelong physical activity Larry W. Chambers Eva Liu Hanna Levy Special to The Local
Since early 2019, the Town’s Wellness Committee, co-chaired by Cindy Grant and Lord Mayor Betty Disero, and attended by seven community volunteers, has gathered ‘wellness’ evidence relevant to Niagaraon-the-Lake. The result of this work is the January 2020 Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Wellness Committee Report of Recommendations. The report is based on demographic and statistical information, information from Niagara Public Health and Niagara Region, reports from Brock University research centres, and a community wellness survey of 200 residents in NOTL. The report recommendations cover wellness domains related to: communication; environment; community vitality (pedestrian and bicycle safety, transportation services); living standards (housing options); education (lifelong learning); and healthy community (lifelong physical activity, social connectedness, health services). One of the key recommendations in the report is the maintenance of “lifelong physical activity,” which outlines how NOTL should take action to respond to the mismatch between the town’s present environment, and our genes that are causing epidemics. Human beings evolved in a world in which there was very little food, a lot of physical activity, plenty of danger, and few lived past 50 years. The genes that favoured the ability to survive without much food and maintain physical activity were favoured for millennia. In the past, the hunters and gatherers were at risk of not having enough food. With the introduction of farming and industrialization, food has become plentiful and
a new type of danger has arrived — stress, combined with inactivity. In 2020, we are at risk from stress reactions as a result of difficult supervisors or angry clients across the table or on the phone. Unlike historic times, we cannot rely on the fight or flight response to guide us away from danger. When you cannot either fight or flee, the stress reaction causes inflammation. The inflammation is not the red, tender inflammation that is an acute and healthy response to an infected cut, but a silent, long-term inflammation that affects many tissues, including the brain. Scientists now think that this type of inflammation is a cause of many health conditions. In the words of distinguished Harvard Professor Daniel Lieberman, the problem is that we still have paleolithic caveman bodies in what he calls a “post-paleolithic world.” In other words, there is a mismatch between our genetic makeup, and the environment in which we live. NOTL’s population is living longer, thanks to clean water, better care for women in pregnancy, and for children in the first few years of life. However, new health problems are emerging, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. These problems result from an environment in which an increasing proportion of people sit over eight hours per day, often commuting under stress in a traffic jam, both before and after the day at their desk job. Paleolithic men and women had many problems, but obesity and type 2 diabetes were not among them. A paleolithic man’s blood pressure occasionally went sky high as part of the stress reaction when he had to chase down a large animal, but high blood pressure was temporary and lasted only as long as it was needed — until the end of the hunt. The mismatch between our genes and the environment does not inevitably cause prob-
lems. As outlined in the newly released NOTL Community Wellness Committee report, we can adapt to the changed world in which we now live, either alone or working with others. The authors of the report have not assumed that readers would just close it and put the theory into practice the next day, but rather need support from a number of sources. First, research shows that the support of friends, co-workers and family is of crucial importance. If they decide to change their behaviour with you, then change is more likely. Fortunately, employers and managers now understand that by encouraging healthy behaviour at work, with standing desks or 10 brisk minutes of lunch-time walking, they can not only help their employees improve their wellness and reduce their risk, but also increase work productivity — a nice bonus for the firm. Second, there needs to be support from the community. Some may believe that community spirit has become non-existent, but this is not the case. It is more difficult for community spirit to grow strong when there is a high rate of movement in and out of the town. However, in NOTL, individuals have
the stress of modern living. Larry W. Chambers has authored 175 articles and books concerning disease prevention (e.g. dementia), quality improvement in long-term care homes and innovative approaches for continuing professional development. He is research director of the Niagara Regional Campus, School of Medicine, McMaster University. Eva Liu and Hanna Levy are medical students at the Niagara Regional Campus of the McMaster University School of Medicine. They are interesting in improving community wellness of frail older adults in NOTL by narrowing the fitness (physical and brain) gap, diversifying housing options for older adults, and increasing economic activity within the community that also increases ability of our minds to interact with people and ideas.
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disease. Based on the nature of the concern, it may not be just health service professionals who can provide support. Trainers working in gyms, fitness clubs and local wellness centres are also trained to support people with long-term health problems so there are plenty of people keen to help. The Wellness Committee has made a series of excellent recommendations in its new report, including the promotion of life-long physical activity within the community. Personal and community support is needed to initiate change, and healthcare providers or fitness professionals can be consulted regarding specific concerns. This report is an excellent step toward responding to these factors linked with numerous diseases — physical inactivity and
Members of the NOTL Short Mat Club keep active at the community centre from October to April. Most will move outdoors to lawn bowling when the season begins in May. (Penny Coles)
478 Gate Street, NOTL $895,000
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Dr. Larry Chambers
Keeping active
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emerged who are able to persuade people to work together. One strategy is to work with interest groups in the community, such as breakfast clubs or sports clubs, and persuade them to put lifelong physical activity on their agenda, alongside their original mission. Internet-based communities are also developing quickly, where you can find people with similar interests online. Although not yet in NOTL, Parkrun is an excellent example of an organization of the internet age that is enabling people to improve their physical fitness and have fun. Third, there are people working for health services in NOTL and other professionals who can give information. The general information is very simple and is included in the report but you may need to ask your physician about particular concerns. There are very few reasons why someone with one or multiple long-term health problems should not follow all the advice outlined in the report. Modern drugs are wonderful for conditions like heart failure, type 1 diabetes and Parkinson’s Disease, but drug therapy alone is not what gives the most benefit. All the factors that affect physical fitness are also factors that affect
January 30, 2020
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January 30, 2020
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History of bees and their decline at RiverBrink Kim Wade
Special to The Local Although honey bees are not native to Canada, they are critical to our food supply, beekeeper Joanna Paul told an attentive audience at the RiverBrink Art Museum in Queenston Saturday. Paul, who holds a graduate certificate of commercial beekeeping from Niagara College, spoke of the plight of bees and pollinators in our region, demonstrating the importance of these creatures to our food system and environment and suggesting how individuals can help support these fascinating creatures. Paul said that honey bees were introduced by European settlers for the pollination of crops and honey production, and explained the anatomy of the honey bee, the roles with the hive and the structure of their colonies. With this introduction to the world of bees, Paul then concentrated on the bees that are native to North America. In Canada, she said, there are up to 1000 species of bees that have been identified, over 400 species in Ontario alone. “That in itself means we have a great responsibility to really take care and help these populations.” The majority of these bees are solitary, and do not live in a
hive structure like their European cousins. Many are about the size of an ant, and 80 per cent of these bees nest in the soil, she said, pointing out that many of us will go through our lives without ever noticing them. Native bees are separated into seven families, she said, explaining unique habits of each and revealing interesting details of their existence. Each of the families of bees that she mentioned are represented in sculpture in the exhibition room adjacent to the lecture hall. One of the most recognizable of our native bees – the bumble bee — is a very important pollinator, especially for tomatoes. Paul explained that bumble bees are specifically adapted to release the pollen from the tomato flower, changing the frequency of the vibration of their wings to “shake” the pollen from the flower. This “buzz pollination” takes place at the frequency C Major, she said, demonstrating the frequency with a tuning fork so the audience could hear the tone of the buzz pollination. Paul introduced the audience to the rusty-patched bumble bee which is critically endangered. This once common bee has not been seen since 2012, and is of particular interest to Paul, who is so moved by its plight she used
Speaking about bees at RiverBrink Art Museum, Joanna Paul (right) is also in a room of bee sculptures by Toronto-based artist Charmaine Lurch. (Photos by Kim Wade)
her skills as an artist to create a watercolour painting of it. She distributed greeting cards with a copy of the painting on them, information about the bee and links on how to help support the declining bee population, combining her Bachelors of Fine Arts honours degree from York University in design and biological illustration with her love for these diverse pollinators. Paul also spoke about why bees are declining, and how individuals can help save the pollinators. She suggested three ways individuals can support pollinators: first, by growing a variety of regional native plants that flower at different times throughout the
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season, leaving patches of soil mulch-free for bees that nest in the ground. She reminded the audience to avoid pesticides, and to be patient with caterpillars on plants, because they will eventually become butterflies, also great pollinators. Second, Paul suggested buying organic whenever possible, because not only is it healthier for people, it is healthier for the environment. She also encouraged support of locally grown food and to support local beekeepers. “Although honey bees are not native to Canada, they are still critical to our food system, and native bees can be great pollinators, but they are not on the same scale as honey bees. We still rely on a large population of honey bees.” And third, by our actions. She urged joining an organization or project in the area, and writing to all levels of government to show concern for pollinators. “Share the wonder of these remarkable creatures with
your friends and neighbours, because I think even today, if all of you can remember maybe just one fact and when you go home, tell someone, then I will have done my job today.” The bee exhibition is still on display in the upper floor exhibition hall at the River-
Brink Art Museum. Some important links provided by Paul on this subject are Bumble Bee Watch – bumblebeewatch. org or foecanada.org, and her own project, Niagara Junior Beekeepers – jrbeekeepers. ca. She can be reached at joanna2paul@gmail.com.
Joanna Paul painted this watercolour of the criticallyendangered rusty-patched bee.
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Mary Street Avondale store manager Katie Figliomeni, employee Sue Lemon and one other person were working the day a winning $1 million ticket was sold for the Christmas Day draw. OLG announced the winner was Tom Busbridge of Niagara-on-the-Lake, but as far as the staff know, he hasn’t been back to the store — the ticket was validated elsewhere. Without knowing the time it was purchased, they aren’t sure who sold it, but are excited that the Mary Street store has sold the second $1 million winning ticket in two years. (Jacques Arsenault)
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Denise, Ariel and Ace Carr talk about the journey ahead, which begins next Friday. (Penny Coles)
Ariel hopes to play with the peewees next season Continued from page 1
Born two-and-a-half months premature in Hamilton, and weighing just three pounds, 15 ounces, Ariel had no movement on her left side — it was determined she had a stroke before she was born. She spent more than three months in the hospital, and with seven siblings at home, her parents spent that time going back and forth. They were also able to take advantage of the nearby Ronald McDonald House. They were told Ariel would probably never walk — devastating news for parents to process. But as she grew stronger, she crawled, began standing up, and eventually walked, although with a limp. She also had trouble with movement in her left hand and fingers, but growing up in a hockey family, decided at an early age she wanted to play, as her older siblings did. For those who know Ace
and his family, that would come as no surprise — he is a local Mr. Hockey, wellknown for his 18 years of coaching players at all levels in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and winning championships with his teams. Thanks to daily visits to the Niagara Children’s Centre, Ariel progressed, getting stronger every year. “I can’t say enough about the children’s centre. Everyone there is top-notch. They really went the extra mile for her,” says Ace. So when Ariel said she wanted to play hockey, he took her to hockey school, but it was hard for her to keep up with the other kids. Her father and siblings spent time on the ice with her, and when she was five, her left leg improved significantly. “It seemed like it happened overnight,” he said. Ariel played her third season in the atom division last year, and loved it. She learned
to compensate for some of her physical difficulties, became a good skater, and impressed her coaches — including her dad — with her hockey IQ and ability to be in position. Her job was to take the puck up the boards and into the corners, and others would position themselves to get the puck from there to the net, although she scored a few goals herself. She loved playing, she says, and the friendships with her teammates. She was excited to be able to move up to the peewee division this year, and her coach from her first years in atom, James Cadeau, was looking forward to coaching her again. But with the worsening condition of her spine, she was told that wasn’t to be. Cadeau considers Ariel “an inspiration” to minor hockey — when she earned a most valuable player award, he told the crowd at the arena, “she just never gives up. She may be the smallest player,
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but she has the biggest heart. Everyone can learn from her.” Ariel, who sits quietly with her parents as they talk about the challenges of the coming months, admits to being scared of the surgery. But the day last fall when the doctor at Sick Kids explained it to her, she went home and packed her bag for the hospital, says Denise — she wants to be better, to be free of pain, and to play hockey again. It’s been a waiting game, with the family on 24-hour notice, listening for the phone call that would tell them it was time to head to the hospital. The surgeon said the wait for her particular surgery is usually about two years, but because of her condition, he would fit her in as soon as possible. They’ve learned recently the wait is about to end — her surgery is next Friday. Her parents have been told one of them has to stay with her 24 hours a day, so this time, said Denise, there will be no Ronald McDonald House, she will be sleeping in Ariel’s room with her. Denise and Ace were told to expect it to cost them about $5,000 a month — including time off work, the cost of Ace traveling back and forth from the hospital, Denise’s food while she’s there, and $20 a day for parking. Denise and Ace both work for a delivery company in St. Catharines, Denise on dispatch and doing the accounting, and Ace driving. While she will be the one spending the majority of time at the hospital, Ace will spell her, she says, so she keep up with bookwork. The family has set up a GoFundMe page to offset the costs — to help, visit https:// ca.gofundme.com/f/ariels-scoliosis-battle. There is so much about the coming months that is
uncertain, says Ace, “we have to take it one day at a time.” He’s a tough guy himself, especially on a hockey bench, and he admits to not being good at showing his feelings. But he can’t keep his emotions in check and his eyes well up as he speaks of what lies ahead for his daughter, and how difficult it is for them all to process the enormity of what the youngster is facing. But he has confidence in the surgeon, who is just one of two in Canada who performs this particular surgery on children, Ace says. He also did a great job
of explaining to Ariel what he will do, in terms she can understand. “He said he was going to make her better. He exudes confidence, and I’m sure he will.” Ariel has a $100 bet that she will end up taller than her sister, who is five feet one inch tall, and she’s determined to win. She jokes about the room service, and about her favourite double chocolate chip frappuccinos and cake pops she expects from the Starbucks in the hospital. “She’s a tough cookie,” says Ace. “She has to be.”
Ariel Carr started her young hockey career with some challenges to overcome, but that has been put on hold while she faces the biggest challenge yet. (Photo supplied)
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WE Day At ROCS
Olivia Santelli and Ruby Elltoft
Royal Oak Community School WE Day is a celebration to acknowledge people who have made an amazing impact on the world. It takes place in Canada, the U.S., the UK and Caribbean. The organization was founded by Marc and Craig Kielburger. You can be a part of the Me to We foundation by doing one of the programs like WE Day Schools, WE Day trips, and many more — you can even earn your spot to go to WE Day. WE Day includes an inspir-
January 30, 2020
ROYAL OAK COMMUNITY SCHOOL
ing lineup of world-renowned speakers, award-winning performers and real-world stories of change. Even kids have been on the stage at WE Day! Some of the people who have been there were David Suzuki, Prince Harry, Rupi Kaur, Spencer West, Malala Yousafzai and many more amazing and inspiring speakers and performers. At Royal Oak, we are doing a live WE Day online. We are joining a lot of schools and other people to participate in We Day live on January 29. We hope to start this movement in Students get to appear on stage at a WE Day event. (Photos supplied) our own school and maybe, the whole community!
Fitness and Fun
Grade 4/5 students
Royal Oak Community School Royal Oak skates weekly at our town’s magical skating rink at Fort George as part of our Physical Education program. Last Friday, we had the opportunity to participate in the Niagara Parks historical scavenger hunt before hitting the ice. We are the luckiest group to have these partnerships and opportunities right outside our doorstep! In a scavenger hunt hosted by Fort George, we were able to
explore the Fort. First, we went to the prison. Our job was to follow clues to find a mouse. Next, we were able to visit the kitchen and learn about all the different uses for kitchen tools. When we were taught how they toasted their bread, we were astonished! After that, we went to the barracks, where the war between the British and American troops took place, with the help of Canada’s Indigenous peoples. We had an exceptional time at the outdoor rink at Fort George.
Learning with Mother Nature
Grade 4/5 students
Royal Oak Community School Outdoor education and spending time in nature is a key component of our school day at Royal Oak. The Early Years class went on a bear hunt, looking for signs of animal tracks, Mother Nature and getting fresh air and exercise that is so essential for learners. Royal Oak gets to go to the Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Centre every week for physical education and library programming. It is an amazing part of our programming because we are out in the community, making friends with the community, in the community! We have our own library
cards and get to read and study the best new books, and take ROCS students go skating at the Fort George rink every week, and spend time inside the fort. part in gym class in a great gymnasium space. Ms. Julia and Ms. Santelli teach us, and we learn everything from cooperative games and teamwork, to fitness skills. We also spend as much time as possible outside, and getting active in nature. The Early Years class looked for signs of animals and wildlife and walking like bears, which is hard, and uses the imagination. Outdoor programming is part of the ROCS experience daily learning perimeter, in the parking lot outside the school, reading by the lake or learning history on the Commons. It’s a great way to learn. Students go on a ‘bear hunt’ in NOTL.
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Old Winos to release new album with friends Mike Balsom
Special to The Local Fans of the Old Winos house band on Friday nights at the Old Winery will have something to take home with them next weekend. Band leader and bassist Steve Goldberger, drummer Dave Norris and guitarist Mike Glatt will hold a CD release party Friday, Feb. 7 for The Old Winos & Friends, a new collection of 11 songs based on their popular Friday night residency that began in 2012. Goldberger explains that the Friday “rambles” began as a country complement to the Niagara Rhythm Section’s Saturday residency, now in its 16th year in town, after stops at the Anchorage and Corks. As with Saturday nights, the Old Winos, as Friday’s band is known, welcome a different guest each weekend. It makes for an eclectic mix of originals and cover tunes that changes completely from week to week. The calendar in Goldberger’s studio is already filled with guest slots booked until mid-May. Some of Canada’s best musicians contact him frequently, looking for a chance to play with the band. The popularity of the gig, however, has meant that Goldberger sometimes can’t find a weekend that works mutually. The new album of roots music has been more than a year in the making, explains Goldberger at his home studio, known as the Shed. The basic tracks were recorded by Goldberger, Norris and Glatt. As guests would arrive for their appearances with the Old Winos, Goldberger would invite them to the studio to lay down their parts. Sitting at the console of his 32-track recording board, Goldberger begins by playing some songs from another album he is working on, a collection of New Orleans-style original Christmas songs with the Johnny Max Band. The sound is original, and powerful. He then cues up a few of the songs that made the cut on The Old Winos & Friends. The album includes one original and 10 covers of songs by the likes of Steve Earle, John Hiatt, Bob Dylan,
Rodney Crowell and Buck Owens. It begins with the original Weekends with the Local Fringe, hearkening back to his early days gathering local Niagara musicians together to jam and party. It perfectly captures the rag-tag anything-goes spirit of the group’s residency at the Old Winery. Someday, from Earle’s 1986 debut album, features background vocals from Laurel Minnes and Dory Karr. It’s a somewhat sloweddown version of the song about breaking free from the mundane, with Goldberger singing lead and adding some touches on the organ. Frequent Friday guest Marty Allen lends his Johnny Cash-styled vocals to the truck-driving song Six Days on the Road, made famous in 1963 by Dave Dudley. It’s a romping travelogue, featuring pedal steel player C.J. Altmann (Tim Hicks’ band), five-time Canadian Country Music Association fiddle player of the year Shane Guse, and Juno-nominated guitar player Wendell Ferguson. Allen also sounds exactly like Cash on I Walk the Line (Revisited), a Rodney Crowell update on the outlaw country classic. Having done a few Jimmy Buffett tribute nights at the Old Winery, it was a no-brainer for Goldberger to take on one of his songs. He was surprised to discover, however, that the one he chose, the tropical-flavoured ballad Lovely Cruise, was actually written by little-known songwriter Jonathan Baham. He cues up a very interesting take on the melancholy Bee Gees classic, To Love Somebody. Goldberger trades lead vocals on this track with C.J. Altman, local singer Laurel Minnes, and country-folk artist Katherine Wheatley. An 11-voice choir, consisting of frequent Friday guests (Serena Pryne, Blair Packham, Gayle Ackroyd et. al.), accompanies them throughout the song. When asked about the choice of a Bee Gees song for a roots-based album, Goldberger says “a great song is a great song,” and asserts that this one qualifies. He adds that before taking on a cover,
Steve Goldberger sits at the console of his 32-track recording board. (Mike Balsom)
he purposely doesn’t listen to the original beforehand in an effort to more easily place his own stamp on it. And believe it or not, the band doesn’t rehearse, either before heading into the studio, or onto the stage. That spontaneity comes through on every one of the 11 songs on this collection. Other highlights on the album include the instrumental Buck Owens tune, Happy Go Lucky Guitar, a faithful version of Dylan’s Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues, Katherine Wheatley’s original number, Hallelujah, and Looking for a Heartache Like You, written by Buddy and Julie Miller, with Jim Lauderdale. Other well-known local musicians also appear on the album, including saxophonist Jim Gay, percussionist Penner McKay and pianist Doug Mundy. When the listening session ends, Goldberger sits and talks about some of his favourite songwriters. It’s clear that to him, it’s the focus on songs and the songwriters behind them that brings him the most joy. Looking at the collection of vinyl records lining one wall of his studio space, he enthuses about the most re-
cent Rosanne Cash album, and flips through an impressive collection of albums by Texas troubador Jerry Jeff Walker. He adds that one of his favourite songwriters is Nanci Griffith, another Texas-raised singer-songwriter. His eyes light up when he thinks about the prospect of someday recording a full album of Griffith’s songs. Goldberger spends hours almost every night in the studio, mixing tracks on the
console, laying down guitar, bass and keyboard licks for recordings, and practising on his recent acquisition, a beautiful stand-up bass. The new instrument makes its way to the Old Winery some nights, but probably not for the CD release party next Friday. After all, with the guests that may show up, there won’t be much room on the stage for the large bass. The ninth annual Jimmy Buffet Tribute goes this Friday
Comedy fest raises money
The Icebreakers Comedy Festival headlining show, starring Shaun Majumder at White Oaks Resort and Spa, raised $1,200 for Pathstone Mental Health, while local comic Joe Pillitteri (above) filled the Jackson-Triggs Estate Winery auditorium and raised money for his favourite charity, the Terry Fox Foundation. (Photo supplied)
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January 31, 2019
THE NOTL LOCAL
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night, with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the show starting at 9 p.m. Guests confirmed for the Feb. 7 album launch party include singer-guitarist Marty Allen, steel guitar player C.J. Altman and guitarist Andrew Aldridge, among others. The show begins at 9 p.m. The new CD, along with Goldberger’s back catalogue, including Niagara Rhythm Section releases, can be purchased through stevegoldberger.com.
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THE NOTL LOCAL
January 30, 2020
Grant awarded to local search and rescue group Randy Klaassen
Special to The Local A local search and rescue operation has received a significant grant toward training and operations. Civil Air Search And Rescue Association (CASARA) Niagara, based at Niagara
District Airport recently received $4,000 from the Desjardins GoodSpark Community Grants Program. Desjardins agent Gord Tessier, who presented the cheque, is also a CASARA Niagara volunteer and pilot. The GoodSpark initiative invited agents to nominate
organizations that are important to them, and their community. Tessier has served the Golden Horseshoe region as an insurance agent for 32 years, and the past seven years as a volunteer with CASARA Niagara. Both his work and community service are evidence
of Tessier’s compassion for helping people in need. Tessier, also the CASARA Ontario director of communications, research and development, says with the grant money, the organization has been able to purchase upgraded radio equipment for the Mobile
Gord Tessier, pilot with the air search and rescue group at Niagara District Airport, arranged for a grant to help out the local organization. (Randy Klaassen)
Repair Cafe returns to library Penny Coles The Local
Do you have anything that needs to be repaired? Don’t toss it — take it to the library to be fixed. A toaster or other small appliances, electronics, computers, even clothes, jewelry and books can be fixed at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library’s Repair Cafe, this Saturday, Feb. 1, at 11 a.m. Volunteers will be onhand not to just carry out repairs, but to show you how to fix it — for free. This is the second Repair Cafe — the first one drew a great response from
volunteers anxious to help, and organizer Matt Furlong, known as the tech guy at the library, is hoping there will be a good turnout of people with items to be repaired. He’ll be there to help with computers that need work. A jewelry-maker who wants to help fix jewelry is expected, someone who is great with a needle and thread will be there to help with clothing repairs, and a gentleman who is handy with small appliances will try to get them working again. The Repair Cafe will run Matt Furlong, IT coordinator at the NOTL Public Library, is from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., accustomed to repairing computers, but tries his hand at getsays Furlong. ting a paper shredder working. (Penny Coles)
LOCAL WORSHIP Sunday, February 2nd Speaker:
Kevin Bayne Title:
Sermon Series: Q & A Kids Ministry Sign In (Grade 8 & under) Sunday Worship at 10 a.m. at 434 Hunter Rd. Offices at 1570 Niagara Stone Rd.
www.ccchurch.ca
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Communications Vehicle, which supports ground, air and marine operations. “This included a new antenna on the vehicle, which increases our ability to locate emergency distress signals. It was also important to replace the CO2 detector in the vehicle, as volunteers spend considerable time working in it,” says Tessier. At the Niagara District Airport training facility, “the grant has enabled us to improve our internet equipment, and upgrade the lighting system in the garage.” Across Canada, CASARA volunteers provide humanitarian and air search capabilities in support of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The nine CASARA Ontario Zones support the Transport and Rescue Squadron based in Trenton. Members also promote aviation safety and awareness to the general aviation community. Locally, 34 volunteers of Niagara train, and are tasked, for a variety of search and rescue situations, at times for assignments outside the province. In the past year, local volunteers have been involved with a number of major
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searches. At Niagara District Airport, CASARA facilities include a training classroom, administrative offices, and a mobile command vehicle. The organization’s Cessna 182 operates from the Brampton Airport, while Tessier’s Cessna 337 (a twin engine) operates from Niagara District Airport. CASARA Niagara receives funding expenses for training and actual searches, but as a registered charity, there is an annual budget which is dependent upon donations. The GoodSpark Grant is a substantial help to keep the organization operational. During the presentation of the cheque to CASARA president Stewart Harris, Tessier said, “Desjardins is proud to help support the search and rescue operations of CASARA volunteers, ‘that others may live.’” In 2019, Desjardins provided more than $271,000 GoodSpark community grants to organizations across Canada. Each grant includes a donation from a local Desjardins agent. For information about CASARA, contact cares@ lastmilenet.ca or the web site, ontario.casara.ca.
LOCAL HAPPENINGS AA MEETING every
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FIRST ONTARIO PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE February 2 @ 2:30 p.m. NSO presents Masterworks 4
February 5 @ 7:30 p.m. Classic Albums Live present Tom Petty’s Damn The Torpedoes February 7 @ 7:30 p.m. Kaumakaiwa Kanaka’ole
February 9 @ 2:30 p.m. Africville Stories February 11 @ 6 p.m. Dog Man: The Musical February 14 @ 8:00 p.m. Bravo Niagara! presents Kurt Elling February 15 @ 7:30 p.m & 16 @ 2:30 p.m. NSO presents POPS! 3 Music of the Knights February 16 @ 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. An Evening of Adult Puppetry February 17 @ 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show February 21 @ 7:30 p.m. New Orleans Jazz Orchestra
www.FirstOntarioPAC.ca
PLACE YOUR COMING EVENT COMMUNITY SOCIAL HERE With or without a border, colour graphics optional. Include your Logo! Prices starting at $20. Deadline: Monday 3 p.m. Call Karen 905-641-5335 or email: classified@notllocal.com
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January 30, 2020
THE NOTL LOCAL
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LOCAL SPORTS
THE NOTL LOCAL
January 30, 2020
Atom Wolves battle at home The NOTL Wolves in the atom division faced off against the Stoney Creek Warriors Saturday, playing hard against a tough team. The Warriors went home with an 8-2 win. (Fred Mercnik)
Skaters compete in Grimsby
NOTL Skating Club members competed at the Charles Dover Memorial Invitational competition in Grimsby recently, with results as follows: Soraya Felice – STAR 5 Women U13-Grp 4 – 1st; Ashleen Hale – Pre-Novice Women – 1st; Kyra Marotta – Gold Women – 1st;
Tatum Lyric Bidal – STAR 9 Women (U14) – 3rd and Juvenile Women U14 – 4th; Katharine VanderKaay – STAR 5 Women U13-Grp 3 – 5th; Melena Orsini – STAR 5 Women O13-Grp 2 – 6th; Lauren Shedden – STAR 5 Women U13-Grp 2 – 8th; Addisyn Wiens – STAR 5
LOCAL BUSINESS
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Women U10-Grp 1 – 10th; Elise Botbyl – STAR 5 Women O13Grp 1 – 11th; Jeong Lee – STAR 7 Women O12 – 11th and STAR 5 Women O13-Grp 3 – 11th; Ophelia Xie – STAR 5 Women U10-Grp 2 – 12th. Skaters are competing at events throughout the province until March 8, vying to compete at the Skate Ontario Provincial Championships to be held in Belleville March 26-29. At this time, seven of the club’s skaters are within the qualifying range in their events: Felice, Hale and Marotta are in first place in their respective events, Lyric Bidal in two events and VanderKaay, Orsini and Lee in their events. Botbyl, VanderKaay, Xie, Wiens, and Shedden (pictured left) and Leong Lee, Kyra Marotta, Tatum Lyric Bidal, Ashleen Hale, Melena Orsini and Soraya Felice (pictured right) were the skaters to attend the Grimsby competition. (Photos supplied)
tires brakes oil changes exhaust suspension
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Painting in Niagara-on-the-Lake for more than 40 years.
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T: 905.380.0298
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January 30, 2020
THE NOTL LOCAL
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