"Signs matter in this process. They convey a message about the candidate. They remind you who’s running and show who supports them," writes Garth Turner. "Well, what do some of the current signs tell us?"
"In short, we have two candidates who, should they become lord mayor, will support and perpetuate the current system and one candidate who is willing to take what we’ve got and work toward something different," writes Brian Marshall.
"Who were these famous and groundbreaking Jewish women? What did they have to overcome to succeed? What drove them forward? Ambition, drive, resilience for certain," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
"Rick Hansen had been paralyzed in a car crash when he was only 15 years old. The years have gone by, and if he had been bilingual English/French, he just might have been the Governor General of Canada. What a life to reflect upon."
"We have to be clear with every level of government — arts and culture are important and they need government support to thrive. Arts, culture and heritage bring people to Niagara-on-the-Lake, but that doesn’t happen by accident," writes Wayne Gates.
"No more mistakes. Distracted driving kills. Stop making excuses to play Russian roulette with children's lives and follow the flipping rules," writes Lani Parkinson.
"Change within the heritage district is one thing, but the wholesale flouting of the heritage district guidelines — specifically designed to preserve its 'special character' — is a horse of a different colour," writes Brian Marshall.
"I support building a new theatre. Done right, it will bring new energy and vitality to Old Town and will make both the Shaw and Niagara-on-the-Lake a prized place to live, work and visit well into the 22nd century," writes David Israelson.
"On the one hand, we have the traffic camera at Crossroads School and, on the other, we have the dangerous E. coli levels at Queen's Royal Beach (and, likely, the much-ignored Ryerson Park beach)," writes Bruce Dickson.
"Just like any garden, you need to have something that will catch and capture your attention and cause your eyes and mind to rest. Let your imagination go when dreaming of what your focus will be," writes Joanne Young.
"If sub-systems in the nervous system can be created and connected with each other in meaningful ways, could a brain be created from its constituent systems?" writes Dr. William Brown.
"In our view, doing away with on-site warnings in favour of passive signs leaves a lot to be desired," writes editor emeritus Kevin MacLean. "We urge Niagara Region to revisit this policy."
The proponents of the Royal George Theatre redesign "are slavishly following the flawed protocols of the Venice Charter to produce a design which, in the view of several architects of my acquaintance, is utterly inappropriate within the context of the Queen–Picton historic district," writes Brian Marshall.
"Over the years we felt that our dream was slipping away as the town and council seemed to become more and more focused on tourists, and less so on the residents that chose to call NOTL home," says a former resident who wrote to Garth Turner this week.
"We’ve spent decades designing roads that prioritize speed over safety — wide lanes, big turning radii, fast-moving arterials. It’s no surprise people treat them like highways," writes Frank Hayes.
"With careful selection and thoughtful placement, yellow foliage can transform your garden into a vibrant and welcoming outdoor space," writes Joanne Young.
"All of this will come at the expense of the historic ambience and lack of stewardship responsibility to maintain one of Canada’s most unique communities," write Jim and Erika Alexander.
"Let’s remember: this was a temporary solution for a temporary crisis. If there’s now a desire to make patios permanent, then we must follow a proper planning process," writes Coun. Maria Mavridis.
"We know so little of our history, and so much of it is instructive. As a people, we have an amazing tendency to forget what we don’t want to remember," writes Ross Robinson.
"This isn’t about nitpicking. It’s about recognizing that Canada Day in NOTL isn’t just a party — it’s a platform. A chance to show the world who we are, and how much we care about this place and this country," writes editor-in-chief Richard Harley.
"This application risks undermining the district’s founding principles by demolishing three 19th-century buildings and significantly altering the streetscapes of both Queen and Victoria streets," writes Brian Marshall.
"We typically think of a hedge being kept trimmed to maintain a certain shape or height, so a more formal style. For a more relaxed or informal look, you can also let the plants grow into the shape and size that they want to be," writes Joanne Young.
"It sounds great to treat as early as possible, but the drug had better be not only effective, but safe and free from troublesome side effects in patients who are clinically well," writes Dr. William Brown.
"The new Royal George will be a bigger, grander complex than the current one. It has to be, by law, but more importantly, it will offer far more to the communities it serves and most especially to our friends and neighbours here in Niagara," write Tim Carroll and Tim Jennings.
"Why are our tax dollars now going to repair and upgrade the irrigation and municipal drainage system that has not been maintained properly for years and should be paid for by those that benefit from it?" writes Kip Voege.
"It was no surprise that our main street sidewalks were full of people of all ages doing their best to eat their gelato treats and ice cream cones 'n cups before the heat wave cheated them," writes Ross Robinson.
"'Tons of Money' has a strong farcical plot, fine performances by a talented cast, stunning set and 1920s costume designs ... It simply needs to more cohesively come together," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
