Richard Harley, Author at Niagara Now

NOTLer lost $232K to romance scam in 2019

In 2019, NOTLers were taken for more than $250,000 by scam artists, according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. The majority of that total was from one person, who lost $232,145 in a “romance” scam.

Gates fights for mental health funding for Niagara

MPP Wayne Gates says the province needs to listen to Niagara and adopt mental health funding for Ontario. Gates forced a late night debate Wednesday in the Ontario Legislature after the province didn’t include funding

Editorial: Police should take scam calls more seriously

When I was writing this week’s main story about a local woman who contacted The Lake Report about scam phone calls, it was disheartening to learn that police simply told her it wasn’t

Scam phone calls are real psychological terrorism

Niagara-on-the-Lake resident Pauline Charlton is fed up with receiving fraudulent phone calls. The recently retired York University professor of psychology, who lives on Charlotte Street, said she receives as many as three phone

Editorial: Kudos to council on climate crisis

Congratulations to town council for declaring a climate emergency on Monday. It’s good to see that our elected officials recognize the advice of the world’s top scientists that yes, climate change is real,

Military efficiency at Legion fish fry

Many Niagara-on-the-Lake residents will tell you the same thing when it comes to fish and chips in town — the Legion does it best.

Editorial: Solution needed for short-term rentals

Niagara-on-the-Lake has a short-term rental problem. With the increase in investment properties and Airbnbs, and taxes on live-in bed and breakfast operators, there seems to be a lack of sympathy and good policy on

Toys, coats, corkscrews, lamps fixed at library Repair Cafe

Children’s toys, cork remover presses, coats, cassette players, toaster ovens — you name it, they fix it once a month at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library.

Marotta to appeal court decision on Rand Estate heritage designation

Benny Marotta and his companies are appealing a Superior Court decision to dismiss an application to quash heritage designation on all four Rand Estate properties, The Lake Report has learned. The companies, Solmar

RiverBrink art class offers watercolour fun for all

RiverBrink Art Studio hosted its second Portraits in Watercolour course on Saturday, giving NOTL residents a chance to hone their painting skills. Instructor Peter Malaguti is teaching portraiture and went through various watercolour techniques,

Editorial: Journalists dont answer to public relations depts

On Tuesday, The Lake Report and, presumably, other media organizations, received the following email from the town’s communications department: Good morning, Just a reminder to please refrain from contacting Lord Mayor Disero and

Town still knows little info about new Rand design: Disero

The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake has received new design plans for the Rand Estate, but Lord Mayor Betty Disero says more details are needed before she can comment. Artist renderings of the new look,

Exclusive: Marotta unveils new Rand Estate designs

A new plan for the Rand Estate has been submitted to the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report has learned. The new design shows significant changes to the initial building drawings, including a reduction

Hummel sues town for $500,000 over development freeze in Old Town

Niagara developer Rainer Hummel is suing the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake for $500,000, plus costs, in an application to quash a development freeze that was instituted by the town at a special meeting just days

Editorial: Rand Estate battle is far from over

Our editorial last week about a particularly poor argument from the town’s lawyer in the court case over the Rand Estate caused a few readers to question The Lake Report’s motivation. We would like

Marotta likely to appeal court decision on Randwood

The town and SORE were victorious in court last week, but developer Benny Marotta says it’s “likely” his companies will appeal the judge’s decision. Superior Court Justice Linda Walters ruled to dismiss an application by

Judge rules in favour of town and SORE in Randwood designation case

The town and SORE have won again. On Friday Justice Linda Walters ruled to dismiss an application by Solmar Development Corp. and Two Sisters Resorts to quash the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s notice of

Huzzah! Its the lord mayors annual New Years levee

Toasts were made and a cannon was fired as almost 200 Niagara-on-the-Lake residents rang in the new year at the Lord Mayor’s Levee at Navy Hall.

Wells of Hope: Shipping a container to mountains of Guatemala

It starts with humble spirits and ends with a shipping container leaving Niagara-on-the-Lake, destined to change lives forever.

Residents attended the courthouse to show support for town

Richard Maxwell, who lives on the Promenade, not far from the Rand Estate, was among dozens of NOTL residents who packed the courtroom Monday and Tuesday to watch the proceedings over the future of

Town, Marotta face off in court over historic Rand Estate

After two days of hearing extensive legal arguments in a St. Catharines courtroom, a judge will now decide if the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake acted properly when it announced plans for historical designation of

Editorial: Council’s history of ignoring expert advice

During this week’s court proceedings regarding the fight over historic designation of the Rand Estate, the case was made that if Solmar Development Corp. wants to alter aspects of the property, it should seek remedy from

Council sinks idea of splash pad at Simcoe Park

The idea of replacing the wading pool at Simcoe Park with a splash pad didn’t go swimmingly during budget discussions Monday night. Manager of parks and recreation Kevin Turcotte offered the idea of

Town legal fees skyrocket to $1.15 million for 2020 budget

If the town’s $37 million operating budget is approved as it stands, Niagara-on-the-Lake residents will see a 9.48 per cent increase on the municipal portion of their property tax bills in 2020. Town

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