St. Andrew’s Strawberry Fest goes 40 years strong
Strawberries, sunshine and 40 years of neighbourly know-how drew more than 5,000 people to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on Saturday.
Author's Latest
NOTLers celebrate Pride at Simcoe Park potluck, say visibility mattes more than ever
“You want your kids to be able to be themselves in this community and feel like they’re free to be who they are,” says one parent.
Ride to Conquer Cancer raises record-breaking $20.61 million
For the first time, the annual Ride to Conquer Cancer started in Niagara-on-the-Lake last Saturday as 400 cyclists pedalled from Peller Estates and traversed 200 kilometres, to Hamilton and back, to raise millions in the fight against cancer.
NOTL Public Library celebrates its 225th anniversary with a fresh look
The library’s summer kick-off drew families for games, art and story time, while staff soft-launched a new logo, colour palette and signage. The rebrand is meant to modernize the library’s appearance and signal that its services go beyond lending books.
Free supper salutes NOTL’s foreign agricultural workers
More than 100 migrant farm workers and Spanish-speaking locals filled the church hall on Davy Street on June 1 after the Spanish-language Mass at St. Vincent de Paul Church.
Teen leads NOTL’s Pride picnic at Simcoe Park
Queer Niagara is hosting its second annual Pride Potluck on June 14 from noon to 7 p.m. under the bandstand at the park.
RiverBrink unveils Naoko Matsubara’s visionary woodcuts
Matsubara studied art in Japan, then travelled to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh as a graduate student in 1961, when she discovered her connection to woodblock painting — and has been working with the art form for six decades since.
Stampede rolls out free shuttle to corral Virgil traffic
The shuttle service, paid for by the Virgil Business Association, ran every 20 minutes from noon to 11 p.m. on May 19, marking the first time in the fair’s history that visitors have been given the option to take a shuttle.
CJ’s Skatepark ramps up fun at Virgil Stampede
More than 100 youngsters, from toddlers to teens, tried their first ramps with protective gear and boards that CJ’s Skatepark provided. “At first, it’s fear, and then they’re surprised at how well they actually do with instruction,” said instructor Kevin David.
NOTL Museum ‘overwhelmed’ with honour after Living Landmark award
In recognition of the museum’s 130th anniversary this year, the Niagara Foundation has chosen to name it the town’s newest Living Landmark. The honour will be presented this November at Navy Hall.
Sudsy pups fetch $500 for guide dogs
The cash will be added to pledges at the 40th anniversary Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides on Sunday, May 25, at St. Davids Lions Park to support Canada Dog Guides in providing service dogs to qualified applicants for free.
Virgil Stampede turns thrills into $100K for local organizations
“The kids have been waiting months for this, and they go crazy when the games open,” said Dominik Choquette-Lague, who’s worked at the Stampede game booths for the past seven years.
Royal Oak’s Mother’s Day bake sale boosts camp funds for students
Kids and community baked their way to Bracebridge this past week, with Royal Oak Community School’s Mother’s Day fundraiser securing sleepaway camp spots for students who’d otherwise miss lakeside hikes and canoe paddles.
Mothers Day market brings artisan everything to Lakeview Winery
Shoppers descended on Lakeview Wine Co. last Saturday, as 29 small business owners transformed the Niagara winery into a bustling Mother’s Day market of handmade treasures.
Walker volunteers take out the trash from NOTL’s streets
More than 50 staff combed parks, trails and roadsides on May 13 for the company’s sixth-annual Day of Action on Litter, collecting the mass equivalent of 21 refrigerators of trash.
Petals and paintbrushes draw Mother’s Day crowd to tulip farm
While the first weekend of May at the TASC Tulip Pick Farm saw heavy rain and a traffic jam cause hours of trouble for its staff and visitors, last Sunday brought the tulip fields sunny skies and a peaceful Mother’s Day.
Eager gardeners snap up plants at Horticultural Society sale
Local green thumbs proved they were no late bloomers at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Horticultural Society’s annual plant sale, quickly clearing tables of popular items within the first hour.
Thwaites farm stand launches season with asparagus and extended hours
The Thwaites family-run farm stand at 1984 Townline Rd. began its summer season this week, offering locally grown asparagus, peaches and other crops daily.
St. Davids Lioness Club rallies community with spring market success
Rainy skies couldn’t put a stop to the St. Davids Lioness Club’s annual spring market on Saturday, which drew steady crowds despite having to move indoors to avoid the weather.
Traffic turmoil tests TASC tulip farm’s blooming popularity
Heavy rain flooded the tulip farm’s 20-acre grass parking lot, stranding over 50 vehicles in mud and forcing it to close the parking lot completely. Cars sat bumper-to-bumper from Concession 2 to Four Mile Creek Road after the farm closed its waterlogged lot at 2:30 p.m., despite forecasts predicting rain would stop by 11 a.m.
Yellow Door celebrates 10 years with an all-star performance
“Being seen matters. Belonging matters. Safe spaces and strong mentors matter. That’s what Yellow Door creates,” said donor Jordie Burton, who spoke about his own experience as a teenager finding joy and purpose in theatre.
Pastorals in pastel captivate art lovers at Queenston Pottery show
Niagara-on-the-Lake artist Kathy Cullis brought her luminous pastel landscapes to life at Queenston Pottery’s “Meet the Artist” event last Saturday, attracting visitors with scenes inspired by the NOTL countryside.
Grace United spreads sweet success with jam sale
The annual spring jam sale raised funds through preserves crafted by volunteers David Greaves and Heinz Probst, with proceeds going to a “berry” good cause: A new roof and boiler. “It’s a 170-year-old building. Things wear out,” said Pauline Miller, Grace United’s council chair.
80 Empire’s beats and optimisim echo beyond Niagara Music Awards
NOTL-based hip-hop duo 80 Empire didn’t take home a trophy at Sunday’s Niagara Music Awards, but they are still winning fans across the globe with their new album, guided by local collaborations, community engagement and an ethos of uplifting others.
Baba Williams teaches drumming and storytelling at NOTL library
“I believe that being Canadian — part of the mosaic, the many tribes and cultures around — means to share mine with them. To bring another world to their doorstep, to educate, inspire, and also inform,” said Baba Williams.
The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
© All Rights Reserved, Niagara Now.