At the final meetup of Niagara-on-the-Lake's mayoral candidates before the polls open on election day, Oct. 26, Erwin Wiens, Andrea Kaiser and Vaughn Goettler were divided on a variety of issues, including how a municipality is supposed to be run.
Early voting gave some Niagara-on-the-Lake residents peace of mind, while others saw it as an opportunity to make their voices heard ahead of election day.
The Lake Report asked more nominees for trustees what their top three priorities are, why they decided to run and what they would like to change or fix at the school board level.
The gloves came off on stage Thursday night when one Niagara-on-the-Lake council candidate accused two fellow candidates, both incumbents, of betraying residents over the Parliament Oak development.
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.
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.
"The storms helped us face facts. A massive assault on the sewer system should have been disclosed — before the toilets burped, sump pumps were overcome and basements filled," writes Garth Turner.
"While the current council does not bear full responsibility for the sad state of our infrastructure, its decision to greenlight development applications that rely on the same inadequate and failing infrastructure must be called into question," writes Brian Marshall.
"Indulge the child within you. This joyous production is for all ages and it was pure delight to see children on the edge of their seats, parents and grandparents alert, all responding and laughing in anticipation of what was coming," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
"In a nutshell, that’s what rejuvenation is all about: making old cells, old systems, old organs including our brains, young again. Or at least, that’s the hyped hope," writes Dr. William Brown
"We can rest assured town council and our town staff led by chief administrator Nick Ruller are working overtime and proactively to mitigate the effects of our next major precipitation event. Big bucks. But with climate change guaranteed, 'it’s a matter of when, not if,'" writes Ross Robinson.
Since May, the Ibbotson family and a team of volunteers have been searching for Luna the dog, who has been spotted by multiple people around town but hasn't successfully been caught and taken back home.
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.
"Our leadership gave the final green light to a modern complex that will forever, irrevocably, irreversibly change our landmark street. Not since 1847 when the Courthouse was built has anyone done this," writes Garth Turner.
"'Heartbreak House' is a profound examination of generational change, of dreams and ambitions shattered by war, of industry and government overturning social programs in favour of exploitation," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
"What do we want our legislative bodies — municipal and provincial — to do to underwrite our shared wish relative to protecting Ontario’s heritage?" writes Brian Marshall.
"Do some patients with mid-to-late-stage dementia have abnormal electrical activity in their brains that contributes to their cognitive decline?" writes Dr. William Brown.
"Hats off to our first responders. These brave people go toward the fires to save lives and limit damage. Most people flee fires," writes Ross Robinson.
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.
"Although this level of government has the greatest impact on citizens’ daily lives, it is weak, ineffectual, rudderless and dominated by special interests," writes Garth Turner.
Over the last five centuries, says Frank Lloyd Wright, what humanity has called architecture has been "phony": "It was not innate, it wasn’t organic and it didn’t have the character of nature.”
More than 40 years after the debut of this British farce on the Shaw Festival stage, "One for the Pot" returns with excellent performances that contain the elements needed to make this for-the-masses comedy a laugh riot, writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
"As a pretentious British boss of mine said many years ago ... 'I have found that around the world, one can get on with two languages: English, and loud English,'" writes Ross Robinson.
With the trial of her accused abuser behind her, singer-songwriter Catherine Leniarsky is sharing a piece of what she's been through in her new song, "House of Cards."
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.
"This non-profit took the bitter pill in favour of supporting the health and welfare of the community they are anchored in. And, that decision, in and of itself, is a shining example of a cultural institution that understands its vital connection to the local greater good," writes Brian Marshall.
"Matters of etiquette, rules and styles of play inform. To Wodehouse, the only way to really find a true character is to play golf with him," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
A bad deal to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge, connecting Canada to the U.S., "is not in Canada's national interests, but we cannot simply walk away from this structure," writes Keith McNenly.
"Warmer temperatures and more frequent, intense storms are likely as climate change progresses, both of which will likely increase bacteria levels in water," writes Kyra Simone.
