"It’s telling that MacKay-Lyons, whose main body of work is unabashedly contemporary, adheres strictly to this sense of place as derived from understanding its existing (or historic) vernacular materials, building culture and forms," writes Brian Marshall.
"The NOTL rebels’ plan is to have candidates identified and in place well before the race. There may be a slate. There will certainly be public engagements — forums, Q&As, debates. There will be money, as well as passion," writes Garth Turner.
"Do we plan for the few, or do we plan for everyone — families, seniors, artists, educators, and the millions who come here to experience Niagara’s beauty and culture?" writes Syreeta Larkan.
"The Nobel Prizes in the sciences began in 1901, and despite the emergence of a host of other worthy prizes in mathematics, engineering and recently the computer sciences, it remains the gold standard," writes Dr. William Brown.
Dušanka Alimpić, the heart and soul of family-owned bakery Fritters on the Lake, died on Nov. 16, leaving behind her husband Zoran and her family. "She will be missed beyond words but remembered with immense gratitude and affection," writes friend Stewart Istvan.
"It’s clearly time for a real estate update, especially now that we understand where Donald Trump is headed. Expect surprises in the next year or two regarding mortgage rates," writes Garth Turner.
"Einstein was a brilliant theorist, bold in his thinking, relentless and determined," writes Dr. William Brown. "But he could be stubborn to the point of failing to recognize inconvenient facts derived from his own studies."
"In February, I sat through three days of hearing before the tribunal on the 723 King St. project. Council had received many submissions objecting to the project but most of the objections were not raised before the tribunal," writes Endre Mécs.
"Until my 24-year-old daughter Carrie recently provided her précis version of Taylor Swift’s life and contributions to society, I hadn’t really paid much attention to the Swiftieworld. I now believe she is bigger than Elvis and the Beatles," writes Ross Robinson.
A heritage designation for a home may, under certain circumstances, "add a little to the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation’s assessed value calculation," writes Brian Marshall. "However, I might observe that the financial return on investment, which the property owner will derive from designation, far outstrips that potential cost."
"Did we learn the necessary lessons? Only two decades after the end of the First World War, the war to end all wars, we decided to do it all again. Young men who didn’t know each other fighting the wars for men who knew each other. Why?" writes Ross Robinson.
"After discussions with the Bereavement Authority of Ontario and with the support of town staff, we have developed an agreeable plan of action as an alternative to raising the headstones," writes George Webber.
"The council has told the region it does not want this roundabout, yet you continue to go against them and a significant number of the town's residents," writes Kip Voege.
"No one is suggesting that roundabouts do not have a place in our road infrastructure, but rather, installed only in selected intersections," writes Brian Marshall. "I submit that the centre of St. Davids is not one of these intersections."
"Using evergreen boughs and trees is one of the longest Christmas traditions. The year-round green foliage provides us with a sign of hope to carry us through the winter and into the new year," writes Joanne Young.
"Town council and staff: I strongly urge you to immediately accelerate the process of determining the future of this important town-owned site," writes Cindy Grant.
"Event planning takes talent and desire, but the per-person price can be very fair due to the shoulder season timing. The town’s business people win, and the visiting groups win," writes Ross Robinson about off-season corporate retreats.
Trisha Romance's decision to support the NOTL Public Library, "reflects a deep understanding of legacy — the belief that what we nurture today helps build the future we all share," writes Katie Desharnais.
"It always amazes me how something like the vineyards and orchards can change so drastically from season to season, each season just as beautiful as the next. It reminds me that we all go through different seasons in life," writes Joanne Young.
In this week's column from Dr. Brown, he traces the evolution of computer technology's use in the field of scientific research, from its earlier, more elementary uses in the late 20th century, to the unfolding possibilities of today's AI machine learning.
"We have legal mechanisms to address differing views and even when those mechanisms fail an individual, it shouldn’t be assumed that a decision is careless or circumventing," writes Mark Smith.
"It’s obvious to me that the majority of our councillors do not care about the well-being of NOTL citizens. More and more, tourists are their primary, secondary and tertiary goals," writes Linda Sauro.
"The only possible way of a return to democracy by this council, as seen by this writer, would be for Mr. Niven to now decline the position offered, even though he has accepted, in the face of obvious public outrage," writes Derek Collins.
