Richard Harley, Author at Niagara Now

Shoreline work begins at Ball’s Beach

The town has begun shoreline protection work at Ball's Beach in Old Town. Rankin Construction, the company that was chosen to complete the project, will be working weekdays on installing a rock groyne in

BREAKING: Carriage support group threatens legal action against Town of NOTL and Niagara Regional Police

Supporters of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s horse-drawn carriage business are threatening legal action against the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and Niagara Regional Police if nothing is done to stop what they say is continued harassment by animal rights

Blue-green algae suspected as dog dies after lake swim

Town of NOTL warns people to avoid beach at Ryerson Park while water is tested UPDATE: The Ministry of Environment said results of a Wednesday test showed no indication of blue-green algae. A dog

Mother fired from Niagara Falls dealership over videoof her defending daughter against carriage protesters

A Niagara woman has lost her job, after a video of her trying to protect her 16-year-old daughter from NOTL horse carriage protesters was sent to her employer. The woman, Elizabeth Beattie, was fired from

Give a hoot: Town of NOTL pulls plug on noise bylaw after extreme resident push back

After a petition with more than 9,000 signatures, national news coverage, a satire piece in the Beaverton and a noisy flash mob, town council has scrapped proposed changes to the town’s noise bylaw.

Cameron wants to ‘put the brakes’ on Virgil skatepark

Coun. Clare Cameron wants the town to “significantly reconsider” and “put the brakes” on plans for a Virgil skatepark that is already under construction. “I’m really concerned at how this is progressing,” she told councillors Monday during

Music Niagara hostsvirtual classesfor promising young musicians

David IsraelsonSpecial to The Lake Report With the fall approaching and nobody quite sure about how exactly to reopen the schools safely, many of us are asking: “Is there anything I can do

Grace United jam sale a sweet success

NOTL’s Grace United Church was busy selling jams this weekend. The jams, made by church members, including John Greaves, a relative of the well-known Greaves jam company, were made with as many local

Liz Hawley was a creative community builder

Liz Hawley was creative, caring and compassionate. She was a community builder in Niagara-on-the-Lake, having unofficially helped with projects like Voices of Freedom Park and Landscape of Nations in Queenston. The 60-year-old mother of

Editorial: Town and police need to enforce laws on protesters

Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and Niagara Regional Police — where are you? The ongoing carriage protests have become more than a nuisance to residents and visitors — and there are more and more instances of residents

Carriage operators frustrated by lack of police enforcement

Residents, carriage operators accuse police of not acting on protesters out of fear of Charter battle Editor’s note: This is the first of a series focusing on the carriage protests in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Next week’s story

Major franchises Swiss Chalet and Harvey’s could be coming to Virgil

Two major corporate fast-food franchises are knocking on NOTL’s door. Initial discussions about a Harvey’s and Swiss Chalet in Virgil took place at an urban design committee meeting July 28. The proposal is for

Petition against noise bylaw garners hundreds of signatures in hours

If you asked comedian Joe Pillitteri what he thinks about proposed changes to Niagara-on-the-Lake’s noise bylaw, he’d probably tell you they're more comedic than he is. Tuesday evening Pillitteri started a Change.org petition (www.change.org/p/niagara-on-the-lake-town-council-staff-save-the-community-and-business-spirit-of-niagara-on-the-lake) against the

Town waives fees for restaurants with special patios

The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake has waived all fees for business owners with special patio permits. The decision was made shortly after the town created space in front of some ice cream shops on

Business owner praises local first responders

Local business owner Maria Mavridis says she doesn't know how NOTL's first responders do it. She praised them and brought them water after a senior man collapsed on Market Street and was taken

UPDATE: One dead after serious collision in Niagara-on-the-Lake

UPDATE: Police have confirmed two Niagara-on-the-Lake residents were involved a fatal crash Wednesday that left one person dead and another in serious condition. A 60-year-old NOTL woman was pronounced dead at the scene, while

NOTL man arrested over incident with carriage protester

A 37-year-old Niagara-on-the-Lake man has been charged with assault and theft after an “interaction” with a horse carriage protester July 25. The incident took place at about 1 p.m. in the area of King

PHOTO: Hanging with ‘The Entertainer’

Toronto Maple Leaf legend Eddie “The Entertainer” Shack, who died this week, yucks it up with some of his NOTL Golf Club buddies. Pictured from left, Norm Arsenault, Larry Mantle, Dow Wright and

Tensions rises during debate about emergency authority

Niagara-on-the-Lake Coun. Norm Arsenault wants emergency powers to be rescinded and daily decision-making to be back in the hands of council by Aug. 24. Arsenault presented a motion to suspend the town’s emergency control group’s powers at

Council doesn’t want Pedal Pub’s licence renewed

Niagara-on-the-Lake councillors are unanimously against allowing the controversial Pedal Pub to continue operating in town. “We asked the region not to issue a licence due to safety and noise issues pertaining to the town,” Lord

Niagara-on-the-Lake sees highest COVID-19 rate in region

Niagara-on-the-Lake now has more active COVID-19 cases per capita than any other municipality in Niagara Region. As of July 29, Niagara Region public health statistics indicate there are at least nine active cases of COVID-19

Royal Oak School plans to open in September

Royal Oak School is planning to welcome kids again in September. Robin Ridesic, a parent and member of the school’s board, said that unless there’s a “drastic change” to COVID-19 numbers, the school is “fully

COVID could cost NOTL businesses $78 million: Niagara Economic Development

Niagara-on-the-Lake businesses could be seeing loses of $78 million over the next 12 months, according to Niagara Economic Development. Linda Sicoli, economic development officer with the economic development agency, presented NOTL-specific results of an

Fire ban lifted in NIagara-on-the-Lake

The fire ban has been lifted in Niagara-on-the-Lake. “Due to improved conditions, the open-air burning ban … has been lifted,” said the Town of NOTL in a news release Friday. “Controlled open-air burning

Sandra O’Connor appointed to Niagara-on-the-Lake town council

Sandra O'Connor will be joining Niagara-on-the-Lake town council. Council voted to appoint O'Connor — the runner-up in the 2018 municipal election — on July 13, to fill a seat left vacant by Stuart

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