Pelham News, January 6, 2012

1.5 MB·English

by  Sun Media Publishing Inc

■ ECONOMY: Regional Silver Stick just one economic booster for Welland
Hockey tourneys big for tourism
KATHLEEN CLARK
For PelhamNEWS
WELLAND — On a weekday so soon
after Christmas, John Paraskevopoulos
wouldn't normally open his store.
But the Niagara Silver Stick regional
hockey tournament is on and he hap¬
pens to own the tuck shop at Welland
Arena. That means kids need Gatorade,
parents need coffee and everyone needs
a hot dog.
“I’ve been here 16 years. I’ve seen it
all."
But what he’d like to see more of, he
“Tournaments make our business a
success," the Express Cafe owner says.
Paraskevopoulos says his bottom line
is more than just a bit higher during a
tournament.
see ECONOMY | page 2
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2 ■ PELHAM NEWS ■ FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012
upfront
ECONOMY
Increased arena traffic pays dividends
Revitalized Pelham poised for growth in 2012
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FENWICK [905)892-4701_BffiSSB
FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012 ■ PELHAM NEWS
tempo
■ SEASONAL GIVING: Hundreds of families and individuals were supported over the holidays by generous donors ■ PELHAM CARES
‘They see
A community that cares
the need
and want
ChWrisEtMmALaTRsLrYitbiAAmuNneNeN ESi stFDa IfkRf n ToHw n a-s special Wmthahokauetg srh et haalerly ed trhivee to help’
the season of giving. acts of generosity and
seAntnimd ennot wrinhge rter udeor eths atnh aint little miracles that occur PelhamNEWS Staff
south Niagara. as staff and students
abAle hienl peivnegr yh acnodr nwears oafv athil¬e rally to meet the of PreEsLidHeAnMts —sh oTnhee igne nPeerlohsaimty
community in both Welland challenge each year.” this Christmas season.
aothnfa mdt aePkvoienrrtgy C othnoeelb hcooorlunidleda iyensn hajo otyipm e—es cKhaatphlrayinn cMyi sletrayd, er hCehPlpreiesldhtm a7m1a s aC dhauarlemtss pagenarvdse 6 wo1 uhcthi ci5lh¬2
regardless of their financial dren in town.
situation. than 400 toys, more than 100 Jane Gilmour, vice-president
Through the Christmas gift cards and coundess food of Pelham Cares, said this was
hamper program facili¬ bank donations were col¬ a great season for the agency.
tated by Welland agencies lected for various agencies “It was very successful,” she
Salvation Army, The Hope in Port Colborne-Wainfleet, said. “Everyone was grateful
Centre and St. Vincent de Crystal Beach and Fort Erie. for what they received and we
Paul, 1,977 individuals were “What really makes the had a lot of new volunteers
helped this season — 880 of drive special though are the interested in helping with
them aged 16 and under. acts of generosity and little food on regular basis. That has
This year’s registrant total is miracles that occur as staff helped us immensely as well.”
about die same as years past, and students rally to meet the Pelham Cares volunteers
said Salvation Army execu¬ challenge each year," said the spent the month of December
tive director Greg Warkentin, school’s chaplaincy leader, putting together the hampers
and also includes 105 fami¬ Kathryn Mistry. in the old Fenwick fire hall
lies who were adopted by “Student council hosted while firefighters from Station
local schools, businesses and a photo booth at the semi- 1 held their annual toy drive.
community members. formal (dinner dance). Other “We’ve been extremely
ingMF taromerneil dya, n aWdd omaprkotieroenn tgi nriso suaap igdsr .oa wnd¬ Hope Centre food security co-ordinator Gina Couldery and SalvationM AArRmYyA eNxNeEc uFtIiRvTeH d Sirteafcft Pohr oto pstotau rrdat eiisnne ta s$n 1e ,no6tu0h0tu-.o”s ifa-ustnicifaolrlym t odoaky bc"Tolehmsesm feiurden fiwitgyhi,tt"he r Gst'h itelom yg odeurnirve esr awoiuadss.
even families forfeit purchas¬ Greg Warkentin hold some of the remaining toy donations that will be kept for next year's Mistry said another stu¬ great and the children were
ing gifts for one another in Christmas hamper program. dent decided to part with his very well taken care of that
order to provide an unfor- cherished dinosaur collection
getable holiday experience “We all have limited faces that Mieke Van Es this year,” Van Es said, credit¬ hoping that some younger Pelham Cares was given
for a less fortunate family. resources,” Warkentin said. saw pass through the doors ing local residents, corpora¬ child would enjoy the toy fig¬ enough donations this season
This year’s Christmas “But it’s wonderful to be of Community Living tions and schools for pitching ures as much as he had. to not only fill hampers with
hamper program was run a able to share the resources Port Colborne-Wainfleet, in and giving what they could On the last day of the drive, turkeys, chickens, vegetables
bit differently than in years we do have.” where Santa’s Helpers were to make the holidays more after hundreds of new toys and all the trimmings of a
By pooling limited funds stationed. enjoyable for others. had already been picked up Christmas dinner, but it now
Last year, for the first together, the agencies are The program's co-ordina¬ She expressed the appre¬ by Santa’s Helpers and St. has enough food to last until
time, the hamper program able to help more people, he tor said the Christmas season ciation all families showed Vincent de Paul, a final bag summer.
was only offered to families added. came on quickly for many as they received their early of toys was being assembled “I think (people in Pelham)
and not single adults. This In Port Colborne, the need lakeside city residents who Christmas presents. for children living at Casa recognize the need and all of
year, the program returned for assistance was also great. recently lost their jobs, were “We want to thank the Norte in Fort Erie when it us feel lucky if we don’t have to
to offering hampers to both At least 360 families found laid off or were waiting for whole community, every¬ became apparent that there be on the receiving end. They
groups. their holidays brightened by Employment Insurance to one from Port Colborne, was no suitable toy left for an see the need and want to help.”
Also new this year was a Santa’s Helpers. kick in. Wainfleet and Sherkston who 18-month-old boy. Gilmour said the need for
partnership with Holy Trinity It was a successful year for But with the help of more helped out.” “Just then another student Christmas hampers was very
Church, which offered up its the group that provides food, than 50 volunteers and many Also embracing the appeared rather apologeti¬ similar to last year when
building for use in distribut¬ clothing and toys to families generous donations from the cally for being a day late with Pelham Cares gave out 54
ing the Christmas gifts. in need over the holidays. community, the program was Lakeshore Catholic High her contribution. To every¬ hampers. However, the
The partnership between The number of people able to assist each registrant School, which held its annual one’s amazement she con¬ number of people signing up
the three agencies and local coming in for assistance who sought some Christmas Christmas Toy and Food tributed a wonderful toy farm for the food bank has risen
church has proven successful increased this year, and so with the suggested age level quite a bit in the past two
this year. did the number of new "Donations werewonderful Through the initiative more of 18 months,” Mistry said. months.
PELHAM NEWS ■ FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012
Pelhamii conirnGnt
Published by PelhamNEWS V-/ X X XX X X\m/ XXL
Sun Media Corp.
228 East Main St, Welland, ON LOS 1E0
Tel: [phone] ext.246 Fax: 90S732-3660 A20A1111 : QA uMit e an i■ mporIt antI year i■ n hI i■ stI ory
Wayne Campbell, edttor E
a wave of non-violent revolutions sharply in the next few years. It
SUNhlEDIA pointsvs:oe 1rm4y9e y 2ye,ae1ar7 rb8sr9 ir,ne1ag9ls1l yc4 ha, araenn gtdue rs1n,9 ib8n9ug,t Gwynne Dyer tT(hPhahatii lsliatpanprdit,ne Iedns id,n oS Anoeusistaiha i K,n B othraeena g,1 l9a8d0ess h, mfroiTgmhh ett heeevu ersonta wdrtra,o sap na t dpo oi ztl eimtrioac.ya l a plsroo jdeicet
■perspective faourDg euoxseats mc 2op0ml1e1p. abneylo onfg s uinc hth Re eally AWRO0RULNDD THE pBEluuurrsom fpaaei) l.ae Tndhd ae tdytie semp frpoetrasmd ie ntro C SEhoaivnsiteaet ar nn d oath fce po oEmlUimt imcosen. mT chbuere rriensn ictcilyaol sw iedor etuoalg dwe bathisne tdrh, a t
A stark reminder bImutp iot rdteafnitn Yiteealyrs q?u Parloifbieasb flyo rn ot, The revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt Uinn Sioonu tihn A 1f9r8ic9a-9 i1n, 1e9n9d4e, da nadp artheid blouwt -ipt nroedvuecr tmivaitdye e acnoyn osemnisees floikre
membership in the second tier of and Libya were not just about brought down Slobodan Milosevic Spain, Italy and Greece to use the
of waste failure QuTither eIme bpiogr sttaonrti eYse raarsn. right tehleec atirorongs.a Tnhceey a wnder ceo rrervuoplttiso ang oafin st in TSherebni ath ienr 2e0 w0a0s. a decade- seacmoneo cmuirerse nlickye aGse hrimghan-pye. rforming
through the year, any one of the ruling elites, against poverty, long gap, but now they’re back, The only way it could have
T which would have qualified 2011 against the reign of fear that and not just in the Arab world. worked was for the richer
for membership status. The Arab underpinned all of those regimes. The ruthless Burmese regime countries to subsidize the poorer
hey’re out there—breathtaking drifts Spring is an epochal event, even But there was and still is a genuine is retreating from power under countries forever (like the richer
of blue, green, orange and silver, if democratic revolutions may fail democratic idealism at the heart relentless pressure from the pro¬ regions of France or Japan
set against sparkling white snow. No, in some countries in the end. The of these revolutions, and despite democracy movement led by Aung subsidizing the poorer regions).
we’re nottalking holiday lights, butholiday euro crisis threatens the European all the disappointments and San Suu Kyi, and even Vladimir Then, provided that there was
trash. Bags, garbage cans and blue boxes. Union with collapse and confirms detours that will inevitably follow, Putin in Moscow must suddenly also a powerful central bank to
In Ontario, and nationwide, Christmas the shift of economic power from something profound has changed feel vulnerable as he watches stop the poorer countries from
ends at the curbside in a disposal dump so West to East. And the struggle to in the Arab world. the crowds come out in Russia to borrowing too much (because they
massive, some cities with even the most prevent disastrous climate change Similar revolutions could well demand their country back. now had a strong currency, which
modest limits on household trash cast those was abandoned for the rest of the succeed in other Arab countries in Non-violence works. It will even let them borrow almost unlimited
aside to help us all get in the spirit decade. the coming year, but in some cases work in China eventually. amounts of money at very low
OK, so you’re allowed to chuck out more The name, it should be noted, they may not even be necessary. From the sublime to the rates), the whole project might
because the holidays might delay your is the Arab Spring, not the Muslim Formerly autocratic monarchies ridiculous. The decade-old
trash pickup and you might—the horrors Spring, because a majority of the like Jordan and Morocco are in full euro, which aspired to become The richer countries like
of it—have to deal with frozen garbage a world’s Muslims already live in retreat, hoping to safeguard their the common currency of the Germany and France had no
few days longer. Still, does anything scream countries that are democratic: privileges by granting political European Union and even a rival intention of subsidizing the poorer
out emiro-humbug more than all that post- Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, freedoms to the people. And the to the US dollar, is in acute danger ones, and they wouldn’t allow a
Christmas excess? Couldn’t we toss Mother Bangladesh, Pakistan, and even long and increasingly bloody of collapse, and the efforts of powerful central bank either, but
Nature a bone and cut back? Iran (in roughly descending struggle in Syria could still end in European leaders to save it have the project went ahead anyway.
Ontarians may like to thinkthey sing from order of how democratic they a relatively peaceful transition to been comically inept. The euro might have stumbled
an environmental songbook, but clearly really are). But the Arab countries democracy, not a civil war. Seventeen of the 27 countries on, amid growing difficulties,
most of us don’t want to learn the lyrics. We seemed remarkably impervious We should have learned not to in the EU, including all the big for another decade — but the
fingerpoint at the U.S. for all the filthy air it to democracy — until it suddenly underestimate people by now. The economies except Britain’s, use the international financial crisis of
sends Ontario’sway, butwe still bum its became clear they weren't. Arab Spring is the culmination of euro, but that number may drop 2008 put an end to that.
cheap Appalachian coal—the dirtiest on When the tide goes out, as
the continent—to fitel the coal-fired power legendary investor Warren Buffett
plants that we were supposed to close in2007. put it, you find out who’s been
That Green Shift, like Stephane Dion Benjamin Moore swimming naked. The European
touted? Forget he was such a lousy economies were as naked as
salesperson; we’re not buying carbon taxes jaybirds, and so the vultures began
from anyone. And remember lastyear’s to circle (to mix a metaphor).
rselavpoplte odv oern t ahlal kt sinnedask oyf cecoon-stuamx ienr O gonotadrsio to, • Let us Paint <Yontfxiii (Paint & (Decorating seeEnv earnyo mthoenr t"hc roifs itsh issu ymemari th”a s
help pay to keep the bad stuff out of landfills meeting of EU leaders, but they
later? Taxpayers made the government back , cDFEEstimateS Tor aCC°hour decorating *feeds have produced no credible
bdaolwann,c ael ilt rsi bgohot kBsu itn as tperaodv dineccei dtheadt t coa pna’ty ®— Residential and Commercial Painting Services bsoelcuatuiosen tthoe t hriec ehuerro c'so upnrotrbileesm asre
municipalities to look after the problem and still unwilling to subsidize the
add it onto the debt taxpayers shoulder
In his year-end report, Ontario's
environmental commissioner found the More can be done to to prevent problems. Both the boards and the police do not white matter from the knowledge
province is foiling at waste diversion, only school board and parents should properly supervise our youth. base of the brain to the frontal lobe
siphoning about 23% of its refuse away from supervise our youth be held financially responsible Either they do not care or they where they stimulate the required
landfills and incinerators compared to the for negative student actions due do not know that brain research emotions to motivate appropriate
60% target it set for 2008. As a past public school trustee to a lack of supervision in these performed at York University social actions. The brain of a high
Chewon these numbers as you walk (Pelham area) and career cases. A published police protocol has found that it is physically school student cannot do this since
your Christmas trash to the curb: Ontario high school teacher, I believe pertaining to police expectations impossible for persons under it is physically impossible in the
generates about33,000 tonnes of waste a day, student parties freely promoted and appropriate actions that 17 Vi years of age to translate absence of any white matter.
or 12 million tonnes ayear That’s more than or advertised on school board may be taken would be helpful their personal knowledge into All high school students must be
900 kilograms a person every year almost property are de facto school- to promote understanding responsible social actions. The supervised.
the same weight as a small compact car Thlk sanctioned events. When school and accountability by school white brain matter required to It is not their fault.
about tying a big black bow on Christmas. administrators know where a party boards, parents, students and the do this is totally absent and just
will take place, school personnel community at large. begins to develop at this age. GaryAtamanyk
— Greg Van Moorsel should attend that party location Presently, I believe that school Signals must pass through this Fonthill
FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012 ■ PELHAM NEWS
■ CRAFTS
Sock addict
CHERYL CLOCK a ruffled edge on the cuff. Or a fitting pair of knit socks, she says.
QMI Agency pattern on the ribbing. Thirds custom everything. Top-
to-bottom length. Heel size. Cuff
CHERYL CLOCK QMI Agency
Self-described knitted sock addict, Elaine Anderson (program services
co-ordinator at the Pelham Public Library), will be offering a Sock Mania
class. It's for knitters who want to learn how to make socks from the cuff
down. She is photographed with some of her creations.
SPCCIAL ON MAC, IDA RCD. BCD OUICIOUS AND
JONA GOLDS 48.001/2 BUSUtl
mm urn to mm
EVERYONE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
mem local mes emir cAsem availaclb
•
The store will be closed Dec. 25th & Dec. 26th. We will be open Dec. 27 to Dec. 31st from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
346 HWY 20 W€ST, FONTHIU (BESIDE E.L. crossley S.S.)
90S-892-0698 • OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK • 8AM TO 7PM
6 ■ PELHAM NEWS ■ FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012
■ WEATHER: Milder and wetter than normal winter expected to continue
The year the weather went wild
DQOMNI AFRgAenScEyR M # The smog just wasn’t
there, and I think the
waSsTh.o uCt AspTrHinAgR tIoN aE tSo r—rid Fsurommm ear reason for it is we had a lot
hanasd b neoenn- eaxlli astbeonut te eaxrtlrye mwienst.e r, 2011 of days with rain. That helped
But there was one happy stand¬ to scrub the air. I don’t know,
noeuwt fso. rY Nouia gcoarual dlo lsitte irna ltlhye s adyra imt wataics maybe we’re doing something
right off the radar. different with the environ¬
smTohga, t’ssa itdh eD naevaidr- Pcohmillpiplse,t ea lsaecnki oorf ment, I’d like to hope so.”
climatologist for Environment David Phillips, a senior climatologist for
Canada. Environment Canada
Co-operating wind and weather
patterns gave the region only one an alarming windstorm April 28 that
smog advisory, on July 2. We usually brought gusts topping well above
average 17 per year. 100 km/h.
It is likely the lowest figure in Two died in that windstorm,
recent memory, Phillips said. including one senior who suc¬
“The smog just wasn’t there, and cumbed to his injuries after a tree
I think the reason for it is we had a fell on his car on Maple St. in St.
lot of days with rain,” he said. “That Catharines.
helped to scrub the air. I don’t know, Then from late June to August,
maybe we're doing something dif¬ everything dried up and the outdoor
ferent with the environment, I'd Eke furnace cranked high.
“There was a thimbleful of rain
CNiitayg Sakray wreasyi,d teonrtes owffe rroe obfusf afentde dto bpyp 1le0d0 t kremes/h, c wauinsdins go nth Aopursila 2n8d.s T ohfe d hoilglahr sw iinn ddsa mfoarcgeed i Bnth OtehB e cT lrYoeMsguiCorZenY .o SPfZ itcYhteNu rGQeMdar Iid Ase gane ncy wi“sT aa“hrfTamtteh’esre rnbA ,te piIet ratnihln ,iq nenuvkoiet rtemrh yaea mm ls,t”aoa znnsinatdhigod .hu" P at hsfo iblrle impesne. tPhhaIittls lif peplsli. n i“nnT athchelene Nswoiaamgsae r Jasua lavyri ena2g,1” ,r astaihnides
damaged Lexus by Montebello Park in St. Catharines. Otherwise, it was a year of ongo¬ warmest average day temperature
ing weather news coverage as one on record in Niagara and elsewhere
anomaly succeeded another. in southwestern Ontario. The St.
That included perhaps the wettest Catharines-area high was 37.4°C
spring on record, as farmers and with a sultry nighttime low of 25°C,
fruit growers struggled to get equip¬ for an average of 31.2°C that day.
ment onto their fields. That after a “There’s never been a warmer day
hard winter, with lots of snow and from Windsor to Niagara to Toronto,
if you define it as the mean tem¬
perature,” said Phillips.
MERRY CHRISTMAS twTo hber iseufm tomrneard aols wo afrenaitnugresd i na tn loeratsht
Niagara and several intense light¬
ning storms, temporarily shutting
FROM bouffs ipnoewsseers .f or many residents and
THE WHISK & LADLE! higThh-et efmallp aenradt uwrein ttreern cdo. ntinued the
So far, December has been about
3°C warmer than normal.
A La Nina event in the Pacific
Ocean is cooling the waters there,
SIWiS® causing weather uncertainty and
mostly milder conditions here.
“We’ve had very little inconve¬
nience by weather this winter
season,” said Phillips. “There’s been
scanty snow that goes with the cold
temperatures.”
10-40% off All Merchandise! wiTnhteer mproendtihcsti oisn f oinr mthiled ecro-tmhainng-
normal temperatures, with more
thewhiskandladle.ca pre“cIti pciotuatlido bne t hsnanow us oura rla. in,” Phillips
said. “My sense is... typically, you’ll
306 CANBORO RD. LOCATED IN THE SHOPPES OF RIDGEVILLE 905-892-9262 get this back and forth, some rain
"There will be moments where it
will be very winter-like, however.”
FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012 ■ PELHAM NEWS
Mild temperatures a real plus for Niagara
MARYANNE FIRTH “That’s about where we cury will drop. This week's a bit of snow and ice patches
PelhamNEWS Staff should be for this time of weather has been what to roadways.
year,” Coulson said. Coulson describes as a Niagara Regional Police
DAVE JOHNSON Staff Photo
Drivers heading south toward Port Colborne on Hwy. 140
Wednesday morning were greeted with minor snow squalls the
closer they got to the city and Lake Erie.
Tim Hudak’s Annual
B New Year’s Levee
CONGRATULATIONS to our I invite you to join me at my Annual Levee.
A wonderful chance to catch up with
NEW PARTNER neighbours and friends as we
welcome in the new year.
Sunday, January 8,2012
3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery
5600 King St. West
Beamsville
Complimentary snacks
and refreshments will
Jeff Neill, B.Acc„ U. (Welland)
Non-perishable goods will be collected on behalf of local charities
For more information call: 1-800-665-3697
or visit www.timhudakmpp.com
PELHAM NEWS ■ FRIDAY, JANUARY 6,2012
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10 ■ PELHAM NEWS ■ FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012
■ TOP STORY OF 2011: Outbreak deaths, questionable service and a new supervisor
NHS newsmaker of the year
QMI Agency
ST. CATHARINES — It was
a year that saw Niagara’s
hospital network struggle
with a deadly Clostridium
difficile outbreak and
endure ongoing public rela¬
tions challenges.
But it also saw Niagara
Health System inch closer
to opening its new west St.
Catharines hospital and
cancer centre.
For its constant appear¬
ance in the pages of news¬
papers, the NHS was named
Niagara newsmaker of the
year.
For the NHS, 2011 was
about ongoing crisis
management.
Across Niagara, C. difficile
outbreaks were declared at
the Greater Niagara General
Hospital, St. Catharines
General Hospital and
Welland County General
Hospital — 37 patients with
hospital-associated C. dif¬
ficile infections died.
Only one unit at GNGH
remains in outbreak mode.
wcoaneTr reheh oewisrniepcd iiewtdalyeel rnrpeet rpsoa olposretofe r dctpio.ea nsti cetehnratn-t dNaiialgya mrae Hdieaa bltrhie Sfiynsgtes mto iunptedraimte cNhiiaegf aorfa sotanf tfh Der .s Jtaotaunsn oa fH thoep eC i.s d jioffiinceilde boyu tibntreeraikms caht itehfr eexee NcuHtSiv heo osfpfiictaelrs S. ue Matthews at Welland hospitaAl LiLn AJNul yB EfoNrN tEhRe Sfitrasfft Pohf oto
In one, Doreen Wallace
fell and broke her leg in said there was nothing they The NHS has said steps create so-called centres Smith was named the pro- for the organization” and a
the doorway of the Niagara could do and they would are being taken to ensure of excellence by central¬ vincially appointed super¬ “continual feeling of being
Falls hospital on Oct. 8 after call for an ambulance. similar incidents aren’t izing services at different visor to oversee the NHS. let down” by the NHS.
washing her hands at a There were also two prior, repeated. hospitals. Smith has full control of But there does remain at
sanitizer. similar situations over the Meanwhile, controversy Also in 2011, NHS interim health system operations least one bright light on the
She lay on the floor, summer, involving Niagara continued over the NHS’s CEO and president Sue and is charged with restor¬ horizon for the NHS.
injured and bleeding, for Falls Coun. Joyce Morocco conversion of the emer¬ Matthews took over from ing public confidence in the The new hospital and
what her family said was 28 and Ridgeway woman gency departments at Debbie Sevenpifer. The system. cancer centre is in its com¬
minutes. Jennifer James. Both were Douglas Memorial and Port reason for Sevenpifer’s In November, McMaster missioning stage, with
Although several staffers denied care outside the hos¬ Colborne General hospitals sudden departure in January University professor interior work underway.
helped her, the family said pital, again with hospital to urgent-care centres as — and its financial implica¬ Terry Flynn's Trust and Builders are expected to
other nurses wouldn’t assist staff telling family members part of its hospital improve¬ tions for taxpayers — have Reputation Study found that turn the centre over to the
Wallace, who is in her 80s. to call 911. ment plan. never been disclosed. among Niagarans, there’s NHS by late November next
The family said the nurses James later died. The HIP plan aims to Then on Aug. 31, Kevin a "significant lack of trust
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