Daniel Smeenk, Author at Niagara Now

‘They’ve gone above and beyond’: McArthur Estate shines for Holiday House Tour

The media were invited to tour the Old Town property last Friday to promote the Rotary Club of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Holiday House Tour on Dec. 5 and 6.

NOTL’s ‘one-stop shop’ for non-profit groups to return on Nov. 19

Hosted by the NOTL Newcomers Association, this event will see participating organizations set up information tables inside the NOTL Community Centre for people to learn about local services.

Homeowners’ insurance troubles prompt pause on heritage listings in NOTL

After two Old Town residents found themselves in a bind with their insurance companies while looking to officially make their homes heritage properties, the town is freezing the designation of their homes.

Food bank visits in NOTL more than doubled past few years: Brock study

The manager of Newark Neighbours, Niagara-on-the-Lake’s local food bank, confirms that the numbers are going up. The reasons people are coming are “all over the map,” she says.

Municipal director Kirsten McCauley leaving NOTL for new role in Grimsby

The Town of NOTL announced Friday that McCauley’s last day in her current role will be Nov. 26. The town hasn’t named a replacement.

What’s happening for Remembrance Day in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Two ceremonies are planned for Remembrance Day on Nov. 11: the Royal Canadian Legion’s service at the Queen Street cenotaph, from 10:45 to 11:30 a.m., and a second service at the Queenston cenotaph, from 1 to 1:30 p.m.

Town aims to keep 2026 tax hike low at 1.81 per cent

The town’s treasurer says the smaller property tax hike, down from 7.92 per cent this year, will not come at the expense of valued municipal services.

NOTL rallies behind jailed dissident Jimmy Lai as G7 meeting nears

Hong Kong media tycoon and Niagara-on-the-Lake hotelier Jimmy Lai was arrested in 2020 by Chinese authorities. He’s been imprisoned since then.

Town looks to make dock area more accessible and honour its history with upcoming master plan

The town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is prioritizing the dock area as it works on an update to its master plan for the site, the town announced last Wednesday — specifically, it’ll be looking at ways to make Melville Street look better and create more amenities in the area.

Taekwondo gave her strength — now she’s passing it on to others

Since November 2016, TyVes Taekwondo in St. Davids has been a place where people, young and old, can come together to learn and practice the art of taekwondo.

Carving out a good time: kids celebrate spooky season with jack-o’-lantern party

There was passion aplenty at Centennial Arena last Thursday – along with scooped-out pumpkin guts – as a couple of dozen children gathered to get ready for Halloween by carving up some pumpkins into ghoulish decorations.

Rotary Club gives a $100K boost to the NOTL Museum’s expansion plans

The donation contributes to the museum’s $10-million expansion project, which will add a new wing featuring an elevator, community room, guest lobby and temporary exhibit space.

Niagara EMS aims for quicker response times with new Virgil-area station

Niagara Emergency Medical Services is looking to relocate its station in Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Glendale to be closer to Virgil, in an effort to respond to more emergencies in the community faster.

Developer seeks approval for 18 townhouses in next stage of Tawny Ridge Estates

Originally, block and stacked townhouses were going to be built on the site “at a relatively higher density,” Liotta said. However, this latest zoning proposal is for street townhouses at a lower density.

Niagara-on-the-Lake to hike planning and building fees next year

Starting Jan. 1, the town is increasing a wide range of planning and building permit fees, as well as introducing new fees, in an effort to take care of a $1.67 million deficit stemming from planning programs.

Halloween spirit haunts Niagara-on-the-Lake with spook-tacular decorations

That spirit has arrived in Niagara-on-the-Lake, where residents have filled front lawns with elaborate Halloween displays. Skeletons, cobwebs, ghouls and grim reapers share space with creative, personal touches unique to each home.

Developer returns to town on plans for 29 homes next to David Secord House

With the David Secord House now severed from the rest of the land at 46 Paxton Ln., thanks to plans coming down the pike to rescue the derelict historic home, a developer is asking to tweak its plans to build 29 housing units on the remaining open land.