"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.
"I provided you with an opportunity to do the right thing, which you have obviously declined to do. Please be advised that I intend to pursue this in the appropriate forum(s)," writes Derek Collins.
"It’s a sad state of affairs when our town lets this kind of thing slide by — when only one or two politicians stand up against withholding information and fight for what’s right," writes editor-in-chief Richard Harley.
"The delight of this production owes much to its buoyant, genuine performances, fine direction, imaginative minimalist staging, creepy sounds and lively puppets," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
"We created AI and now AI helps us understand ourselves, our world and our universe. That’s why AI, biology and physics have so much in common," writes Dr. William Brown.
"Can you believe it? Another year has almost passed and it’s now settling into the season of Christmas trees, holiday lights and comfort foods," writes editor-in-chief Richard Harley, with a full calendar of what's going on in town for the holiday season.
"After decades of chronic under-investment by local governments, they will not be able to address the investment necessary to bring Niagara’s water and wastewater systems up to date," writes Brian Marshall.
"In weeks, Trump will take office. His aggressive cabinet picks suggest what he said in the campaign is what he’s going to do. That has a bunch of economists losing their lunch. The consensus is his agenda will end up whacking Canada," writes Garth Turner.
"Yes, we are lucky to live in Canada’s prettiest town, but let them know they are lucky to call their hometown home, too," writes Ross Robinson. "You will have made a random person feel better. You will have been kind, which is a very good thing."
"Council should appreciate that the official plan, land-use zoning and bylaws were developed by experts and are not an arbitrary set of rules that they can change on a whim," writes Wayne Murray.
"The corral has been breached, guardrails ignored, and the rustlers are making off with prize stock. And no amount of sunny press releases negate that evidence," writes Terry Mactaggart.
"I ask the Niagara Region why it feels spending $4 to $10 million on a roundabout in St. Davids is more important ... than using that money to repair its water infrastructure," writes Bob Wheatley.
After reading Kevin MacLean's article on his experience in the emergency room at the St. Catharines hospital, Wendy Cheropita shares the trials of her own "waiting game": "What I didn’t know was what lay ahead of me. This was my first visit in 10 years."
"There is no compelling need we can see that merits spending $10 million — or more — of taxpayers’ money to fix a problem that does not exist," writes editor emeritus Kevin MacLean.
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."
