Penny Coles, Author at Niagara Now

Town wants input on new project for Virgil Sports Park

The Virgil Sports Park just keeps getting better, says Kevin Turcotte – next on the list is a project that could be a skate park, a pump track or a pipe park. The Town

Chris Bowron launches second mystery

Chris Bowron is well-known in Niagara-on-the-Lake as a lifelong resident whose family roots go back four generations — and with a successful career in the real estate industry, he is also rapidly developing

Confusion continues over 2011 Official Plan amendment for Randwood Estate

In recent discussions about a proposed six-storey hotel on the historic Randwood Estate, there has been considerable confusion about the status of an Official Plan amendment in 2011, and whether it was approved

Mazza accuses Disero of breaching code of conduct

After what must have been an exhausting five-hour committee of the whole meeting with extensive discussion on several important issues before councillors Monday, Coun. Martin Mazza managed to silence the council chamber with an accusation that

Best to be pro-active when it comes to pot

Niagara-on-the-Lake is on the precipice of what could be massive changes – likely unwelcome changes – to its agricultural industry, with little control over preventing them. Picture a local greenhouse owner/operator, maybe getting

Residents say proposed restrictions on pot producers don’t go far enough

As several residents made it clear to councillors Monday that the proposed setbacks for marijuana production facilities are too lenient, they learned there is at least one more potential marijuana producer seeking a

Fire sparks environmental concerns

Fuel from the fire that destroyed or damaged 34 cars parked in a dry field bordering Niagara Stone Road in Niagara-on-the-Lake Sunday “probably didn't make it” into the watercourse used by farmers for

Local operation gearing up to supply marijuana for recreational use

While the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake attempts to further restrict potential marijuana production facilities by increasing the distance they can be located from homes, churches, playgrounds, schools and other sensitive areas, one local greenhouse

Newark still serving the needy of NOTL

Although most people in Niagara-on-the-Lake are aware of Newark Neighbors and the work it does in the community, there are always newcomers to town who are surprised to hear there is a food

150th anniversary of the first

I wonder, as we celebrate the 151st anniversary of Confederation, if it will seem a bit anti-climactic after last year's hoopla, similar to how it must have felt as a fledgling country celebrated its

Cake of all cakes centrepiece of Canada Day celebrations

As we plan our Canada Day activities, Catherine O'Donnell is making the cake of all cakes to help us celebrate. The Willow Cakes and Pastries chef, creator of the centrepiece of Niagara-on-the-Lake Canada

More than cherries at St. Mark’s festival

It's been almost three decades since St. Mark's Church began its annual Cherry Festival, a popular event that continues to evolve and gets better every year. It's a family celebration, with the focus,

Chautauqua moving forward on tree rejuvenation project

As Niagara-on-the-Lake moves forward to protect trees in urban areas, with staff looking at tree bylaws in other municipalities to use as guidelines, there is a neighbourhood in town that already has a

Former Virgil school needs designation protection, says councillor

Discussions to designate a significant heritage site in Niagara-on-the-Lake are not new, and will resurface at July's council meeting with a request to the Town to initiate heritage designation protection for the former

Update: Residents looking for increased marijuana facility setbacks greater than those in draft bylaw

Niagara-on-the-Lake was one of the first municipalities in the region to grapple with zoning bylaws controlling commercial medical marijuana facilities, although somewhat hampered by federal legislation that legalized such operations. It is now

Lakeshore Road treatment plant to open in August

A $43.2 million wastewater treatment plant on Lakeshore Road in Niagara-on-the-Lake is expected to be operational in August. There have been two official launches of the regional project — first when politicians gathered

St. Davids not ready to give up its pool

St. Davids residents want to ensure there is some discussion about the future of the village swimming pool before it's closed and replaced with a splash pad. Kenn Moody, representing the St. Davids

Council gives nod to urban tree bylaw

Niagara-on-the-Lake residents “overwhelmingly” support a tree bylaw that would apply to private property in urban areas, and council supports having one passed before the end of August. A report from a consulting company hired

Voices of Freedom Park to open in September

During the many occasions when the public was asked about the future of the former lawn bowling greenspace on Regent Street, one concept was repeatedly mentioned – that it should honour and celebrate the

Pickleball to get outdoor courts in Virgil

Despite a request to retain the Virgil courts for tennis, Niagara-on-the-Lake town council has decided to reconstruct them to provide six pickleball courts. Representing the growing membership of the local pickleball club now using

Council says yes to Randwood designation

The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake will initiate heritage designation of the historic Randwood Estate, despite a warning that adopting an “intrusive” and “punitive” approach would be at a cost to taxpayers and could take

Gates wins Falls riding with more than 50 per cent of votes

NDP MPP Wayne Gates will be back at Queen’s Park representing Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Fort Erie for another term, this time as a member of the official opposition. He won the riding

Dog park would encourage healthy, active lifestyle and not just for the dogs

In this day of municipalities recognizing the importance of healthy lifestyles, a dog park could be considered an option to encourage residents to become more active. Particularly in Niagara-on-the-Lake, with its large population of

Councillors move forward to designate Randwood Estate

After months of heated discussions about town-driven heritage designation for the historic Randwood Estate on John Street, including buildings and landscaping, councillors have moved forward to initiate the process rather than waiting for the

When a community newspaper closes, a piece of history is lost

Penny Coles OPINION In this age of turning to Google with any question you have, you expect an instant answer. It can be pretty frustrating when you can’t find it. And if you

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