Inport News, January 20, 2012

2.1 MB·English

by  Sun Media Corp

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20,2012
Big shakeup Pocket dialing
NHSMs go six key official Non-emergency 911 calls a promem
Page 7
Butting out Hang time at P1ri9n5c eM Cahplaer lAesv eD. rive,
Challenge helprsm>mookkeerrss kkii ck the habit Door tagsVeing pushed for protection Welland
Page 14 Page 15
INPORT^iNEWS
SERVING PORT COLBORNE • WAINFLEET ■ SHERKSTON • LOWBANKS • ISSUE NO. 3 VOLUME 16
■ DEATH AND TAXES - AND WATER BILLS: Compassion not shown by City of Port Colborne, daughter says
Dead man
charged for
running faucet
EDDIE CHAU faucet for three weeks while the
InPort News Staff home’s owner was dead inside the
PORT COLBORNE — The City of Cara Zandvliet contends if water is
Port Colborne wants payment for not intentionally used then someone
water that poured from a bathroom shouldn’t be charged for it.
The Port Colborne woman said the
city issued a $586.44 bill to the account
Cfaatrhae Zr'asn wdavtlelert b hilol ElfdDosDr uIcEpl o ChsHeeA rt oUla $tSe6t a0ff0 P. hoto whoefh Zroh af eadnrtid hefvedarl tii'shen te mS,r e,ow pnAhtteohlmll iynsb tobeerirrl.m l sM,a slalayciPd h hhaeenr sddoileends,
Zandvllet claims her father was unfairly suddenly on Sept. 28.
charged by the City of Port Colborne for
three weeks of water usage. see BILL | page 2
JUST LISTED!
39 DONLEA DRIVE
3+1 Bedroom 2 Full Baths
Finished Basement
Insulated Garage
Hot Tub + Deck “ TU IB IIHfl Niagara Real Estate
Just $189,900! - jg Centre Inc. Brokerage
Office: 905-834-9000
Now YOU have a friend in the Real Estate Business! Mobile: [phone]
2 ■ INPORT NEWS ■ FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2012
City not willing to waive costs
FROM PAGE 1 three months. His final bill It's a physical commodity. We purchase the sewer treatment,” Senese applied on the bill, however.
weIet ksw aafstner’ th ius ndteila thth trheaet wWaes s h$o6u0l0d nfo’tr b tew coh amrgoendt hfosr. water from the region and someone has to fseaeids. m“Feoarn uss wtoe wsatiilvl eh oafvfe a ntoy wa“sEnv’te tnh eifir tfhaeu ltw, wataetre rf lsotiwll
fMamacilPyh meresomnb’es rbs oddiysc o—v earnedd waItne r hela dtiedn ’tD usee.c” ember cover the costs.” paSy othmee roegnieo nh."a s to eat the panasds esdo mtheroonueg hh athse tom eptarye
that during that time a Zandvliet received the bill cost and it's not going to be for it,” Senese said. “It’s a
faucet in his Delhi St. home from the city for the 201 city taxpayers, Senese said. physical commodity. We
bathroom had been left cubic metres worth of water The city maintains some¬ purchase the water from the
running. consumed between Sept. 14 one has to recoup the cost region and someone has to
Zandvliet said her father and Dec. 12,2011. wasn't in the same boat. nate MacPherson died, the for the water that was mea¬
preferred to live indepen¬ Zandvliet said other “I want to recognize this running faucet had water sured by a water meter. Zandvliet said if she has
dently and didn’t want reg¬ companies such as Bell is a good town, but city hall passing through the metre Senese said there have to pay the bill she will. She
ular checkups from family Canada were sympathetic won’t do anything about — a city charge — which in been cases in the past when just hoped the city was more
members. to the family tragedy and this,” Zandvliet said. turn entered into the sewer city fees were waived when compassionate about how
“The water that was run¬ exempted charges to the Peter Senese, Port — a charge levied by the residents weren’t at fault, things were handled.
ning he didn’t actually use,” final bill. Colborne’s director of com¬ region. such as water leaks and pipe
Zandvliet said. “Normally The City of Port Colborne munity and corporate ser¬ “We (the city) still have to breaks. The regional water echau@wellandtribune. ca
my dad is charged $200 for however, she claimed, vices, said while it’s unfortu¬ pay the region for water and treatment charge is still Twitter: @EdChauTribune
■ MUNICIPAL FINANCE: Faucet ran for three weeks after man died alone
Dead man’s water bill can be disputed, mayor says
InPEoDrDt INEe CwHsA SUta ff Aconmy me beemfobreer coof uthneci cl oamndm ausnki tfyo rcgainv eness tcwhZoa armgnedodvn ltihceslto. dseo etson ’$t 6b0e0li efvoer tsheriSsve icwneeess,e ebk e gtshst aeto tem ddiuf fneeirca. irplaiel¬r hlsehavovyue, ldat nor' te esfaapltol nothsnie bt hirleie tgyshi oothnula’¬st
a rPeOsRidTe nCtO wLaBnOtRs NfoEr g—iv eI¬f from policies.” hsheor ufladt hbeer ity cannot dSeenress eo sfa idth. e taxpayers,
ness from a municipally- Mayor Vance Badawey charged for If Zandvliet is asking for
enforced policy all they have the water charges forgiveness for her father’s
to do is ask, Port Colborne’s that flowed levied by water bill, Badawey said he
mayor says. council and ask forgiveness MacPherson died sud¬ the region would like to know if she’s
“It’s that simple.” from policies,” the mayor denly Sept. 28, leaving a bathroom along with doing the same for other
Vance Badawey said any bathroom faucet running. faucet municipal commodities such as hydro
policy enforced by munici¬ Badawey is respond¬ The water remained flow¬ because costs for and gas.
pal staff is set in place by ing to Port Colborne resi¬ ing for three weeks before she said water that “I’d like to see their (other
city council. And it’s up to dent Cara Zandvliet, who MacPherson’s body was dis¬ the water _ passed companies') responses,”
council whether it wants to turned to the municipality covered by family members. wasn't Badawey through Badawey said.
deviate from a policy at any in search of financial relief Zandvliet said a normal the metre. The mayor said Zanvliet
from a nearly $600 water bill water bill would cost $200 Peter Waiving is welcome to appear at any
“Any member of the com¬ charged to her late father, for a three-month period. Senese, the city’s director of the municipal cost would future city council meeting
munity can come before Allister MacPherson. However, MacPherson was community and corporate still mean the city would to plead her case.
■ POLITICS: Federal NDP leadership
Former Welland MPP Kormos backing Nash for federal NDP leader
MARYANNE FIRTH the federal NDP leadership in a news release issued ing as a labour official at “The NDP needs her, the and to reach out to young
Tribune Staff candidate, who also acts as the Canadian Auto Workers federal Parliament needs her Canadians.
MP for Parkdale-High Park Having known Nash for union, and an “outstanding leadership and Canadians “She has a lot of Jack,”
WELLAND — Peggy Nash in Toronto. more than 20 years, Kormos parliamentarian,” even being need her,” he said. Kormos said, referring to
has at least one vote in the “In a field of strong can¬ said she "has all the attri¬ appointed the finance critic “She’s top-quality prime former NDP leader Jack
bag. didates, Peggy Nash stands butes the NDP want in a for the Official Opposition. ministerial material." Layton who died of cancer in
Former longtime Welland heads and shoulders above leader.” Nash’s experience has Kormos believes Nash August at the age of 61.
MPP Peter Kormos has her opponents,” Kormos, a He called her an “effective made her a “skillful negotia¬ has the capacity to bring “I trust her and I think
thrown his support behind lifelong New Democrat, said union leader,” once work¬ tor," Kormos said. new people to the party. Canadians will too.”
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20,2012 ■ INPORT NEWS
portraits
WEATHER
Old man
winter wipes
out surfers
ABOVE: Surfer Mike Roy's surfboard is caught by the wind at
the municipal boat launch by the Palmwood Hotel in Fort Erie.
Roy, of Niagara Falls, was one of a half-dozen surfers taking to
the waters of Lake Erie during the snowstorm that hit Niagara.
LEFT: Surfer George Holmes, of Niagara Falls, struggles
through the high winds and blowing snow and sleet, from
splashing waves, at the municipal boat launch in Fort Erie.
LEFT: Surfer Matt Roy, of Buffalo, struggles through the high
winds and blowing snow and sieet, from splashing waves,
at the municipal boat launch by the Palmwood Hotel in Fort
Erie last Friday. There were a half-dozen surfers taking to the
waters of Lake Erie during the snowstorm that hit Niagara.
RIGHT: This surfer braved the chilly waters of Lake Erie during
last Friday's snowstorm to catch waves off of the municipal
boat launch in Fort Erie by the Palmwood Hotel. There were a
half-dozen surfers in the water.
INPORT NEWS ■ FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2012
INPORT^EWS ■ I’VE BEEN THINKING
About political correctness
Published by InPort News
Sun Media Corp.
228 East Main Street, Welland, Ontario, L3B5P5 REV. G0RD ABRAHAM preference of the wishee.” offensive, because one obscure person
Tel: [phone] Fax:[phone] Port Colborne Baptist Church To My Right-wing Friends: Merry is offended. Even me writing this will
[email protected] Not that I would ever want to stir up ChHriasvtme yaos ua nevde ar Hthaopupgyh Nt heoww Y feoaor!l ish wprroitbianbgl wy hoaffte In tdh isnokm? eD soo Iu jlu. Dsto w Ir sitteo p
Ken Koyama, publisher, general manager any “ill-will,” but here goes. some things are? Like Political what that one person thinks I should
Dave Johnson, Inport News senior reporter (exDcuursien mg teh, eth Ceh hroisltimdaayss )S, eIa rseocne ived nCeoerdre tcotn bees sg!r Yaceiso, uI sd oan bde lkieinvde. tThhaat tw'se a wwrhiatet? I Dsaoy Ii sw sroit oe binsc suurceh t haa wt aity r tehaallty
this “tongue in cheek) saucy, quote given for every follower of lesus. But says nothing anymore? Are we not
via a forwarded email originally sent lesus never restricted us from speaking allowed anymore to “speak the truth in
to my son-in-law, who works at a local out what is right or speaking to what is
A Quebecor Media Company Un“iTvoe rAsiltly M. y Politically Correct Friends: incBourtr,e scot.m etimes we cave in to a few whIon ifsa cint, wthhea mt wajeo mritayy, coaf lal nay “omnein Io krintyo"w
■ourview Please accept with no obligation, who, in very small minority, usually of ethnicity or religion, is more than
implied or explicit, my best wishes speak only for them selves even in the pleased to be greeted kindly and
for an environmentally conscious, guise of speaking for others. I was asked more than pleased to be a part of the
Better policy needed saodcdiiacltliyv ere, sgpeonndseirb-lnee, ulotwra-ls ctreelsesb, rnaotino-n pate lresaosnt gtwreoe ttiimnge ms oev wero Culhdr ibsetm ofafse infs tihvee wceellel barsa btieoinnsg o efn tahbelier da dtoo pceteledb croauten tthrye iars
of the summer/winter solstice holiday, to me if they greeted me with “Merry own. I have never come across anyone
practiced within the most enjoyable Christmas’: They had experiences of who is offended by being greeted by my
traditions of the religious persuasion of others telling them they were offended gracious greeting of "Merry Christmas’:
The recent controversy over the city wanting your choice, or secular practices of your because my acquaintance greeted them So let’s get back to some sense of
payment for water that poured from a bathroom csehcouiclaer, wpeitrhsu raessipoenc ta fnodr /tohre t rrealdigitiioounss/ of wlointhg e“rM beer nryic Ce htori sstommaes”o nCea inn w ae g nreoe ting soafn “iotfyf eannsde. ”s top the silly, childish games
faucet for three weeks while the home’s owner was others, or their choice not to practice because we may in that niceness be Be wise, be kind, be thoughtful, be
fdreoamd ain psuidbeli tch ree lhaotiuosnes c sotaunldd phaovinet b. een easily solved prI eealrlissgooio nwuaislsl ohyr yf usoelufci luall ifnairgs ct araanllddyi tmsiuoecndcsie csaastl faluylll ,. voeffrIe yan mssmiv aaebl?ls onluumteblye rd oufm vfaoguune,d medy tshtearti oa us leoxvIpifrn wegse,s bliniumgt iydto oeunvr’et ir dsytetohapisn .t gh iwnek idnog aanndd say
The city could have quickly forgiven all or most of uncomplicated recognition of the onset persons are offended and so keep us (and yes, we should stop what lesus
tthhee bfaimll idluy eh taop pthye a cnidrc wumousltdann’cte hs.a vIte w poeuolpdl eh araviel imnga de to2h0fe 1th 2ce,a blgeuentnd nearoratsl wloyfi at chchocoeuiptc tdee uodef c oraetlhsepenerd ccatur f lyotuer raers fearsvo etmon omstbaastkcineu grue ws ashnaayyt sswuuebc bhste faloineocvleies ,th ot ht whiinhnkag tos w r e wtaeceltl iswo uinlssl ibasen w dfer woanrofgurd la san ntdod ws iwnairftudhlsd iornat howeu rfrsr o) mth en
against city hall in online forums on The Tribune’s whose contributions to society have are saying. saying anything that even resembles
and Toronto Sun’s websites. htoe limpepdl ym tahkaet tChiasn caoduan at rgyr eisa tn neacteisosna.r Nilyo t miInmoarigtyin, eo, fa o vffeeryn,d veedr yp,e voeprlye ssmpeaallk of ba edcifafuesrein wg eo mpianyio onf foern tdh osoumghet fvualg iudee, a
We understand the family’s position as dealing with greater than any other country in the being offended and we all cave in to mysterious person(s).
tthhea td heuagthe wofa ate lor vbeildl wonoeu lids ah asvtree spsufut la tdimdeed. Fstirnedsisn ogn wprehogyraslrdidc. a Atlo la stbohi,e lti htryai,sc rewe, licisgrhei oeisud ms, cfaaodiltoehr w ,o arigt sheeo,x uuta l tpohenao etp golgens ech ooerlpdlisin)a ilaolfynr .ba iMedc ataonu yse eva ertehn e “gywr ecaeolktu ilndg b e tpor iLtsheoetn’ sne bersee d tgosr afoocfoi oolitushshe,n rlese tsb’ssu! bt ele st’esn nsiottiv bee
the family. Then dealing with city hall and finding they
still want the bill paid would have made things even ■ CASCO CARNIVAL: Businesses championed
worse.
But we can understand the city’s position to a Friends helping Friends
certain degree as well.
Peter Senese, Port Colbome’s director of community
faonrd w caotrepr oarnadte s seewrveirc terse,a stamide ntht en oci mtya ptateyrs wthhea rt.e gion MInAPRoYrAt NNNewE sFSIRtaTffH theR ceaprnrievsael enatcaht iyveears. from Trimac
"It’s (water) a physical commodity. We purchase the Transportation, Stolk Construction Ltd.
water from the region and someone has to cover the nivPaOl RisTn ’Ct eOaLsyB,O bRuNt EC a—sc oR guentns ibnyg wa icthar ¬a panladq uPerso -fSotry tlhe eFirl ocoornintign ueeadc hs urpepceoirvt eodf
costs," Senese said. little help from its friends. the event. Badawey also thanked Casco
wwhttchhiaaotieIvysftuiee rssal r otdbsr-iiym lisbslleml eehesws .aopu eWisanpnr tet s hecot e hdhyw ptoea faao reoctygnsr ih e ntdttyashh’e vteeabr pi nehnrfaeacdogymga w h aiutioohnl soynwee if’.i nts prie Wc fsebn riioi etthlau palii sasllst eeotiedit m wouetihnnaaeael t,trn ti aje ocwuyxnin stepi’y tttsse ,h au poot stcahrph hym elei e an a sng y Yecimerteaan eicorTTcSsannerhruheht’neio rvesoyv te esEelPaa ayeratlvno ah rspeptdrl,eio taogCs b CrCmasnuaatsioanasrsdointsslebi urbVnciirlesvrooeseaet ahr, s np anltsieb chenpieevseueo sdsm e aB t p nn cFc ahlsatoooeryu daiftmm ocave oaocwrnerper ne wd e eatslathsy nyasol ae.s ysKg mato atnceii eadtinntt tnkhzuCyu ehder Naatn orilsthe nlnehctyaw¬godoe.t ftpnhfhoaliecaravI“ etwtnaiP’ stwtlssa a hm tsawrehe stafo inh sfnshvoaea aiewrprtsgt ri sa.wwnfe siirgerhnt sL’ e tDrwbe letmerie iim htWcneheedge rhm ieoabnit tbuyglfteeoe ryta rrnhl., c" dlea oit nsnhcmadgaei mr d thnsh muieCev ni aaslcislaita ncyitrod¬og, CTcClBDeoraaaafintdnssm,tcc a Waiaoownnc uieap dlTyecnl oar,dPd axnr o sni,Ft gru srtrmMhepp iCetcopAa,noo rnoRpdgtlarabYrsntgeto A iiKosezorNefnriin dn NnteL zhg btE eM e Nra teFa h aaeIpWnReywnlc oTanhc hYrHqiuo tVue malmSeaelayt arp nat,'nsfa ocf ane EPg yvhe'eosr t o
same time everyway. ouring those businesses that assist with see CASCO | page 5 Carnival.
Mayor Vance Badawey said any policy enforced
by municipal staff is set in place by city council and GENERAL NOTICE: The contents of this newspaper are protected by copyright and may be used only for personal, non-commercial
that if a resident wants forgiveness all they have to do purposes. All other rights are reserved and commercial use is prohibited. To make any use of this material you must first obtain the
is ask. We hope council will look at what happened permission of the owner of the copyright.
and try to come up with a policy that will satisfy both For further information, contact Dave Johnson.
families and taxpayers. wLEitTh TthEeR Sau TtOho Tr,H bEu Et tDhIeT OPuRb: lCisohpeyr raingdht i itns lleictteenrsse aens dm oatyh efrre melayt reeriparlo sduubcme tihtteemd t ion tphrein pt,u eblleischtreorn aincd o ra coctheeprt efdor fmor. publication remains
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20,2012 ■ INPORT NEWS
MARYANNE FIRTH Staff Photo
Casco and the City of Port Colborne honoured the community
partners who make the annual Casco and Friends Kidz New
Year's Eve Carnival possible. Pictured in front from left
are Casco plant manager Lee Whitley; Gary Makins, Port
Colborne's manager of community services; Casco support
services manager Anna Oakes; Marsha Watts, co-owner of
Pro-Style Flooring; Gerald Sebastiany and Scott Orosz, both
of Stolk Construction Ltd.; and in back, from left, are Stolk
president Len Stolk, Mayor Vance Badawey, community
services administrative assistant Michelle Idzenga, Trimac
Transportation branch manager Dan Wilcox, Pro-Style
Flooring owner Charles Watts and Stephen Crowe of Stolk
Construction.
MURDOCH'S
Celebrating 53 Years as Tire & Mechanical Experts
1 WINTER TRACTIG IN SALE
MRX PLUS IV AVALANCHE TERRA TRAC A/T
UTQG: 440-A-B SNOW & ICE
Economy All Season Premium Light Truck
MARYANNE FIRTH Staff Photo
Casco plant manager Lee Whitley, left, and Port Colborne Mayor Vance Badawey
present a plaque recognizing Pro-Style Flooring owners Charles and Marsha Watts
for their continued support of the annual Casco and Friends Kidz New Year's Eve
Carnival. OM
Great Pricing Extreme Traction Best Light Truck Tire
REGULAR PRICE $64 REGULAR PRICE *94 on s„ eREGUtLAR! PRI©CE S134 !
tiEAN S*JSl^WfAimCTClHNINGl
P195/60R15 P215/75R15
,-^FR™EE ITNrSTTATL7LTATTITOTNT ATNTDT BTA7LrArNrrCmII wrvfmS
r A$LI4GN9M0EN0TS 1 WINTCEOR MINPSLPEETCE TION
$3995 20% Discount
WITH A
; 4 TIRE PURCHASE | INCLUDES LUBE OIL & FILTER EXPIRES FEB 28, 2012
<y/Ay_. February 29, 2012 fo'j/jjj II!'1
|Ml I»1 one STOP TIRE & AUTOMOTIVE
285 Killaly Street W., Port Colborne 835~8832 www.murdochstire.com
6 ■ INPORT NEWS ■ FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2012
■ TRANSPORTATION: Warning comes from city CAOs, transit chiefs
Committee backs students’ U-passes on region buses
JEFF BOLICHOWSKI Council’s public works commit¬ and transit managers from St. Brock University and Niagara student unions to continue, and for
QMI Agency tee recommended Tuesday to rec¬ Catharines, Welland and Niagara College students representatives all sides to acknowledge a need for
ognize student U-passes aboard Falls warning the vote could break took the vote positively, though it new revenue sources rather than
THOROLD — Let ’em ride, a the region’s pilot inter-municipal part of the pilot agreement and still has to pass through council. Just moving existing ones around.
regional council committee says of bus system until the end of the step around negotiations already "We’re obviously very happy,” The letter warns the vote could
students' access to Niagara Region school term. The decision came ongoing between local transit ser¬ said Niagara College student break a provision of the pilot
Transit. despite a letter from the CAOs vices and the students. administrative council president agreement requiring all sides to
Brian Costantini, who addressed commit to seeking funding oppor¬
the committee alongside Brock tunities and maximize their rev¬
SAY GOODBYE TO... UDnauivde rGsirteyw satlu adnedn tv uicnei-opnr epsriedseindte notf en“uTesh ec oo-onplyer aptaivretnlye.r s we would
Your Unwanted Hair With finHane csea Widi lclo Puanrceinl’ts. deferral of the emvuern itcreipaat ls op aprotonrelrys ,w” oMuldc Mbeu lolaunr
issue in December was disappoint¬ said.
LASER HAIR REMOVAL ing, but “this basically gives us that “We’re now going outside of the
second chance.” services and saying add all these
$99 The Region buys its fledgling bus extra riders on for free. I’m not sure
3 Treatments For Only +h: service from transit providers in St. we have the right to do that, but I
Catharines, Welland and the Falls. think we could negotiate that.”
Choose one from the following: Those three services allow stu¬ Pelham Mayor Dave Augustyn
•• CUhpipne r Lip •• BNiekcinki Line btdhueenty ta smb touoas rutd ps eaN yui atnhgieav refaur slRla el$ g5bi ufoasnr epT.a rsasnessi,t Uspai-liopdta. ”sh se a cscaews s aa sf iars “t psileomt wesittehrin o af
• Cheeks • Underarms Those passes are negotiated for The congested Thorold Stone Rd.
Reg Price $70 • $100 per treatment btheetw setuend ethnet ucintyio bnuss asnyds tepmaisd a fnodr rnoeuwte m isu anlriecaipdayl b beuinsge sa dndergeossteiadt ebdy
Hair Removal Treatment for the with a special charge. At Brock, for by the students, Niagara Falls
top of feet and Toes included students pay about $168.84 year- Mayor Jim Diodati said. He said
' h each $99 package rNoiuangda rtao wCarodl ltehgee Us-tpuadsseenst,s w phialye wadoduilndg c oRnefguisoen w bhuestheesr ttoh etyh eo rm thiex
$69.50 per term. extra Niagara Falls buses are fixing
Students had complained of the problem.
being bypassed by overcrowded “What I’m concerned about
LASIK visiovf> wmthheu inblieuc sipyla aTrlg hboeurloysel dse ,S mmtopontesyt RoNdf.ti earongu aotrena, r..e. s“uisOl tsuw,r”e s’hrueeg sggaoeidsin.t igo nto i sh alevte’s spkleawye idt
Region Transit buses go by that out. Let’s see if it’s working,” he
their passes are no good aboard. said of the existing arrangement.
An amendment by St. Catharines “No question, if students are
< NIAGARA FALLS Mlisaty oofr rBercioanm MmceMndualtliaonn tsa cikne tdh ea g(bouinsge sto), bteh eurtiel’izs inggo tihneg Rtoeg iboen
lasikprovision.com 6800 Morrison St. CcaAllO fso' rl eat tseirx -opne rtsoo nth ceoir- ovrodtein. aTthioeny ineGffriecwieanlc tioelsd.” council students pay
905.371.3217 or 1.888.510.2020 tcioomnsm bietttewee eton mthee ect,o mfomr intteegeo taina¬d $si3t. 5s ymsitlelimons aannndu aclolyn ttroi blouctael t$r5an4¬0
million per year to the region’s
BOOT SALE ovTerhaell mecoovneo mcoym. es with Niagara
Region Transit struggling with low
ridership. Region transportation
director Joe Cousins said a report
on ridership is coming soon. He
©w -a seaxipde crtiadteiornshs,i pb uht aiss gbroewenin sgh moortn tohf
by month.
,ca® IMULi
■ ^ ^ LI KJ
OPTOMETRIST at
Portal Village Plaza
Dr. Janlne Roblchaud
I3SSEI Name NIAGARA FALLS BEAMSVILLE PORT COLBORNE DUNNVILLE 905-834-0532
SHOE WAREHOUSE 6604 LUNDY’S LANE • 905-356-0756 4986 KING STREET •905-563-9762 58 PROSPERITY AVE • 905-834-7464 205 QUEEN ST •905-701-5717
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20,2012 ■ INPORT NEWS ■ 7
■ HEALTH: Patient services VP, chief operating officer among six managers let go
Shakeup at Niagara Health System
INPORT NEWS ■ FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2012
‘It’s not going to
NORTHEND AUTOMOTIVE get better overnight’
INDUSTRIAL & TIRE FROM PAGE 7 release details of the executives’ sever¬
Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati said ance packages.
this appears to be part of the new direc¬ "Doctors, nurses and other clinicians
tion for the NHS. are working hard, but a dysfunctional
"The need for change has been here bureaucracy full of highly paid execu¬
for awhile, so we are looking forward to tives has not delivered what’s needed
the new direction that the NHS is going for local people. The continued fail¬
to embark on." ure of management at every level from
He said he was not surprised by the LHIN boards to hospital managers is
change, and said we might see a few wasting public money and undermin¬
more changes yet ing patient care,” she said in a news
"The NHS didn't get this way over¬ release.
night and it’s not going to get better The sudden departure of those six
overnight, but sometimes they need to follows three unrelated ones in 2011.
We now offer a Customer Shuttle to rDeiboudialdti .t hings from the ground up.” said NHFSo, rDmeebrb iCeE SOe vaennpdi fperr,e wsiadse dnits mofis tshede
Welland/Wainfleet & Dain City! bo“aTrdh eayn dh atvhee yc laeraen leodo khiongu saet aat ntehwe lnaesvt eJra bnueaerny d, iaslcthloosuegdh p uthbeli crelya.s ons have
governing structure, a new style in how Then in July, Christine Clark, the
the board is chosen and elected, and head of NHS communications team,
Our shuttle leaves at 9a.m each morning & picks you up around 4p.m. they have to make sure all the employ¬ suddenly left her post during the height
ees of the NHS are of the mindset of the of the C. difficile outbreaks.
new direction that we want to take the Shortly afterward, Frank Demizio,
• Custom Exhaust - Stainless, Mufflers, Catalytic Converters hoDspiiotadl.a”t i said he has been in regu¬ vthicee N-piraegsaidrae nHt eoaf lptha tiSeynstt esmer vainceds tfhoer
> WARRANTY APPROVED Maintenance & Oil Changes • Brakes/Suspension lar contact with Smith on some of the person who was in charge of GNGH,
• Electrical Diagnostics • A/C Repair/Drive Line Repairs issues and it’s nice to have responsive announced his retirement.
• Alignments « Heavy Duty Maintenance ■ Diesel Repair leaWdeerlslhainpd i nN pDlaPc eM. PP Cindy Forster —with flies from Shawn Jeffords and
57 Prosperity at Elm St, Port Colborne • 905-835-5115 demanded the Liberal government TonyRicciuto
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20,2012 ■ INPORT NEWS
■ EMERGENCIES: Make sure your cellphone is locked before putting it in your Levi’s
Pocket dialing taxing on 911 system
IVnIPCoTrtO NReIAw Gs SRAtaYff (Pocket dialing) ties up a ton of time when miHsteak ea. lso suggests that
people who need help and are in a real people not program 911 into
ingW cEaLnL aAnNnoDy —ev eProycokneet. dial¬ emergency are trying to get through.” tdhiaeli rn cuomnbtaecrts litsot sr eodru scpee ethde-
We’ve all gotten those Const. Paul Day, Niagara Regional Police chances of pocket dialing
long, garbled messages that emergency services.
don’t make any sense or text Day urges callers who do
messages to what prove to be pocket statistics are available, make the mistake of pocket
includ¬ dials, but police don't keep 159,399 calls were made to dialing or misdialing to talk to
ing pocket track of numbers. 911. Of those, 44,244 calls the dispatcher, so they don’t
pictures, “It’s always been a problem were routed to fire, ambu¬ have to waste time trying
but imag¬ here,” he says. “It ties up a lot lance and other emergency to figure out where the call
ine getting of resources.” services. came from or needlessly dis¬
pocket dials Toronto received 1.2 mil¬ Day says it is much easier patch emergency crews.
as a 911 lion calls to 911 in 2011 — to locate a call site and deter¬ “(Pocket dialing) ties up a
operator. one in five were misdials or mine if the call is legitimate ton of time when people who
Is some- pocket dials. or a mistake if it is made need help and are in a real
“I can’t really say that we from a land-line telephone. emergency are trying to get
trouble and mirror Toronto because we Things become complicated through.”
can’t talk? haven't been keeping track and many resources are used
Or was this call inadvertent? of it, but it’s definitely an trying to ensure the safety of
beE dmisepragtecnhceyd wtoo rmkearkse m suurset icsosnucee fronr aunsd, itth’se dbeifgi npitaerlty o af tah cee cllaplhleorn ief. 9 11 is rung up on Keep your cellphone locked
the latter’s not the case. this is educating the public Day suggests locking key¬ or remove 911 from its speed-
Const. Paul Day says to reduce it,” Day says. pads before cellphones get dial list to avoid needlessly
Niagara Regional Police are In Niagara in 2010, the put into pockets or purses to summoning emergency
dispatched numerous times most recent year for which avoid dialing the number by
10 ■ INPORT NEWS ■ FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2011