Kevin MacLean, Author at Niagara Now

Opinion: Election marks a new era in NOTL politics

“Here’s hoping Goettler and his new council can live up to all their promises and bring the cohesion and change that voters showed they want,” writes Kevin MacLean.

Sports: NOTL phenoms reflect on a season of progress on links

At barely 14, NOTL’s Kaige Zhu and Eli Perng already competed in tournaments far more intense and demanding than most recreational golfers will ever experience. But they’re just getting started.

Sports: Men’s league ends with a bang — and one big boom

Joe Interisano supplied the bang, thanks to a hole-in-one, and young gun Jared Mines brought the boom, winning the open division of the long-drive contest with a blast that measured some 325 yards.

Editorial: Please vote, but let’s cool the nastiness

“ While Canada’s right to free expression allows such vigorous debate, we often wish people would pause and rethink their musings before they post publicly,” writes Kevin MacLean.

Commentary: There’s no excuse for not voting in the municipal election

“So, what direction will NOTL voters choose? That’s impossible to predict but what we do know is it has never been easier to exercise your democratic franchise,” writes Kevin MacLean.

Sports: That’s a wrap for 2026 NOTL golf leagues

The nine and 18-hole women’s leagues hosted a joint step-aside scramble on their final day and the team of Michele Darling, Cathy Murray and Carole Matheson combined for a 2-over 38 to take first place.

Editorial: Don’t just ‘throw the bums out’

“Dig beyond the rhetoric and promises — because given our electoral track record since 2010, every time we’ve bought what was being sold, buyer’s remorse has set in pretty quickly,” writes Kevin MacLean.

Two ‘fore’ The Show: St. Davids teens set their sights on U.S. college golf

Two of the most talented, up-and-coming young Canadian golfers are growing up in Niagara-on-the-Lake’s tiny hamlet of St. Davids (pop. about 3,000). Eli Perng and Kaige Zhu are off to high school after a whirlwind summer in which they played more than a dozen high-level tournaments across Canada and North America.

Sports: Golf leagues wrapping up play at NOTL club

NOTL native Quinton Spagnol had a hole-in-one on the fourth hole en route to his “best score ever,” a 1-over 37. He followed that up in style his next time out with another 37. But the real story is in how he did it.

Sports: Golf buddies help celebrate pal’s hole-in-one

Last Thursday, the stars all rightly aligned for Niagara-on-the-Lake native Quinton Spagnol, who has only been playing the game regularly since the COVID pandemic.

Sports: Impressive scores in men’s and women’s golf leagues

James Grigjanis-Meusel, runner-up in the Open division of the men’s club championships, had the hottest hand, firing a 1-under 35 in Thursday’s men’s league.

Sports: Porters outduel competition to capture Matrimonial Cup

One of the most demanding annual tests of golf was played at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club on Friday. This year’s winners were Carolyn and Drew Porter with a net 65 score.

Sports: Ryder Cup team narrowly reclaims Pro’s Cup

The Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club’s men’s Ryder Cup team managed to wrangle the Pro’s Cup championship from their female competitors last Friday.

NOTL’s mayor in the running to be next Niagara Region chair

For the first time in two decades, Gary Zalepa’s name won’t be on the ballot for this fall’s municipal election, but his career in local politics could be far from over.

Sports: NOTL native battles illness, gets drafted to OHL

It was an up and down year for Niagara-on-the-Lake hockey prospect Spencer Tomczuk. His diagnosis of hyperthyroidism slowed him down a bit, but didn’t deter the captain of the Niagara North Stars U16 AAA team.

Sports: Golf winners crowned in NOTL club championships

Just as winners on the professional tour are often decided “on the back nine on Sunday,” so it was that the men’s and women’s championships were determined at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club.

NOTL couple’s home stars in Hollywood production

When Hollywood came knocking, Brodie and Maria Townley were ready for their close-up. The upcoming romantic comedy “Beach Read,” which shot in Niagara-on-the-Lake in June, highlights the Townleys’ heritage home at 123 Johnson St.

Former German leader Angela Merkel visits NOTL Golf Club

Merkel and her family were on a private holiday to Niagara and the German embassy had arranged in advance with NOTL’s Klaus Reif for her to visit the Reif Estate Winery for a tour and tasting.

Sports: NOTL reclaims title in showdown with Toronto Hunt Club

The Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club and the Toronto Hunt Club have a long history of competition and last Saturday it was NOTL’s turn to play host to their big city counterparts.

Sports: NOTL celebrates the world with Invitational tourney

The theme was Around the World and members of the organizing committee were decked out in airline flight attendants’ gear while golfers sported attire from various countries and cultures across the globe.

Sports: NOTL women second in 60th Wood Trophy competition

More than 80 women from across Niagara gathered last week to compete for the 60th annual Wood Trophy, one of the longest-running and most prestigious amateur contests in the region.

Sports: Golfers battle intermittent fog amid weird weather

Despite the morning fog, the 18-hole women’s league held its annual Beat the Pro contest in which players dictated the club pro shop manager Darren Smith had to use to try to get closer to the pin on the 120-yard par-3 hole #4.

Editorial: Another tragedy on the roads of NOTL

“We’ve seen too many hit-and-run crashes around NOTL. We’ve seen too many instances where, day or night, drivers in a rush, or without thought, push the limits, sometimes with life-altering consequences,” writes Kevin MacLean.

Accused in hit-run death of farmworker released on bail

A 22-year-old man was released on bail Monday after a migrant farmworker from Mexico was killed in a hit-and-run while cycling in rural Niagara-on-the-Lake late last Friday night.

Sports: A red-and-white day as golfers celebrate Canada

Decked out in red and white, the men and women of the Niagara-on-the-Lake celebrated Canada’s birth one day early, with some fun and games on Tuesday.

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