"We have no shortage of issues that will affect our futures, but may I humbly and respectfully request that we all take a few deep breaths?" writes Ross Robinson.
"Metered parking is enforced for 3,340 hours a year, meaning the annual maximum revenue is $18,370 per space at full utilization," writes Steve McGuinness.
"Depending on the version, ChatGPT was trained on millions to trillions of times more data than was used in this simple model. That’s where ChatGPT gets its information and power," writes Dr. William Brown.
"Here in Niagara-on-the-Lake, apparently aided and abetted by several of our elected 'representatives,' this narrative has been successfully played out again and again over the term of the current council," writes Brian Marshall.
"People respond with anger, aggression and the need to lash out when they’re insecure and under threat. Not by an old dude with a dodgy leg, but by circumstances," writes Garth Turner.
"Sometimes the negative 'press of events' can lead us to believe that there are no 'wins’ to celebrate. But, au contraire, there are," writes Brian Marshall.
"Improv is hard work. If the goal of Murder-on-the-Lake is to take very good care of its audience, this production succeeds admirably," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
"I was part of a wonderful tableau of Canadiana, with people of all ages, ethnicities, clothing styles and spoken languages. No rhyme or reason to it, it was just happening," writes Ross Robinson.
"Property taxes are a housing expense directly controlled by municipalities. The town portion of our residential tax bills has increased at multiples of inflation (a 24 per cent compound rate) during this council term," writes Steve McGuinness.
"It is so rewarding to be able to grow your own food. I grew up on a farm — every year, we planted a large garden that would feed my family of eight for the entire winter," writes Joanne Young.
"Are flights on a major air carrier more of a vital commodity than mail delivery in 2025? When does a public service cross over the line from necessary to essential?" writes Steve McGuinness.
NOTL homeowners will pay more than $16 million for policing in 2025, but that total could be a lot lower if regional council stops using home values to calculate how the service is funded, says the former chair of Niagara's police services board.
"There is an extremely disturbing trend in this province directed at marginalizing, diminishing or outright destruction of our shared history, built heritage and cultural landscapes," writes Brian Marshall.
"Please, bring back the Spiegeltent in whatever future form it may take and do plan more of these innovative, imaginative offerings. Let's have more opportunities to tap, swing and lift our spirits," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
"NOTL ain’t TN. This is paradise. Everybody wants to be here, right?" writes Garth Turner. "But wait. We also have a weird market. And some people are being clobbered by it."
"I was given a tour of the infrastructure work being done in west St. Catharines, preparing for the commencement of the magic pill that will be GO Train service to Niagara," writes Ross Robinson. "I was attentive and polite, but very skeptical."
"Studies show that being around trees and green spaces improves your overall mental well-being," writes Joanne Young. "Spending time with trees is time well spent."
After two days of intense play in blistering heat and humidity, the marquee competitions for the men’s and women’s overall championships came down to the wire — and then some for the gents.
"Unhosted short-term rentals are a bad idea. Period. Most municipalities in Canada have banned them. Having an Airbnb unit in your house is far different from buying a property and operating a ghost hotel with nobody living there full-time," writes Garth Turner.
"The more public input that is provided at this juncture, the more likely it is that staff — principally Fiona Main, senior policy planner — will be able to meet their published timeline," writes Brian Marshall, in the first of a series of columns analyzing the town's latest official plan draft.
"In 'Major Barbara' of the Salvation Army, we hear the voices of Victorian women aspiring to liberation, to work, to earn money and have the right to social, political, legal and gender equality," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
"Given the high-tech nature of this telescope and wide window on the universe the Rubin telescope provides, we should get answers to many puzzling questions within the decade," writes Dr. William Brown.
"I totally climbed aboard the (Victoria) Mboko bandwagon, cheering for this wonderful tennis player with a positive on-court personality," writes Ross Robinson.
"Whether planted in garden beds or containers, they can lose energy and appear tired or leggy — especially during hot, dry weather," writes Joanne Young.
"Residents living on our once quiet town streets, in homes neighbouring unhosted short-term rental sites, complain about irresponsible renting to unruly groups," writes Steve McGuinness.
"Telescope design, whether for space or land-based, manufacture, launch and maintenance, to say nothing of the scientists and engineers involved, are all very expensive," writes Dr. William Brown.
"Grasses can be used as focal points in the garden. Many of the tall or dramatically coloured grasses can be used to draw the eye and anchor garden beds," writes Joanne Young.
In a statement from the Niagara Foundation issued this week, it writes, "We recognize and value the Shaw Festival as a core cultural element and encourage it to be equally respectful of the heritage elements of this town, ensuring the Royal George 'fits' within our heritage district."
