"So, what direction will NOTL voters choose? That’s impossible to predict but what we do know is it has never been easier to exercise your democratic franchise," writes Kevin MacLean.
"At the end of the day, we need someone who can get Ford to respect us until we can try again to vote him out. The question, I guess, becomes, what’s the best strategy?" writes Richard Harley.
"If we elect the same people (and most are reoffering) we’ll get the same result. More hotels. More bending over for tourism. More construction. More old buildings razed. More density. More compromise. More loss," writes Garth Turner.
"If you are one of the approximately 191,000 Niagara residents that live outside the boundaries of the three large cities, you have just been marginalized as a perpetual member of the minority," writes Brian Marshall.
"He had the large sculpture placed in front of the Prince of Wales Hotel, but local leaders didn’t think it belonged at the corner of King and Queen streets. Much controversy ensued and Gerry the Giraffe was soon turfed," writes Ross Robinson.
"Gerry Whittaker was from another era. Unfailingly kind, humble, highly accomplished in many fields, and a great lover of our Niagara-on-the-Lake," writes Ross Robinson, eulogizing his Chautauqua neighbour, who passed away in February.
"It is essential for our existence to appreciate trees. We must plant them — in yards, cemeteries and public places and along lines and concessions," writes Cynthia Rand.
"Rain gardens slow down the rush of water from these hard surfaces, allowing it to naturally soak into the ground," writes Joanne Young. "For every inch of rain that falls on a surface area of 1,000 square feet, approximately 600 gallons of rainwater are generated."
The upcoming federal election is "vital for the Tories," writes editor emeritus Kevin MacLean, "who hope to gain power, and to the Liberals, who want to revamp and legitimize their party under newly crowned leader Mark Carney."
"It’s gone too far. Every act of resistance is justified. Canada cannot be annexed, occupied or held. Americans made a grave error," writes Garth Turner.
"Your choice may be quite different from mine, but please, put the money into the community, not in retail (it always gets there anyway)," writes Robert Moorhead.
"On occasion, satisfying the criteria contained in this category can be straightforward, in cases wherein the facts are already established ... or self-evident — however, far more often a significant amount of research is required," writes Brian Marshall.
"At age 59, (Mark) Carney has shown little desire to break out of the constraints of his resume. That is of course, aside from leveraging his economic bona fides into the fading world of Net Zero," writes Don Mustill.
"What happened to good old debates, using those good old-fashioned things called facts? Do we even have debate clubs in high schools anymore, or is that too traditional?" writes Susan Gerbes.
"Our historic Old Town already has enough ice cream shops and American chain stores. A tasteful and well-designed cannabis shop would help preserve the unique character of our town, while generating municipal tax revenue and jobs and enhancing our ability to 'shop local,'" writes Matthew French.
Proper pruning not only keeps your rose bushes looking neat and well-maintained but also ensures they remain healthy, vibrant and capable of producing abundant blooms.
"While we normally applaud efforts to engage with residents, his execution left a lot to be desired. To say his method of engaging residents is strange, is a vast understatement," writes editor-in-chief Richard Harley.
"Young computer sharpies don’t need printed schedules or travel company booklets. It’s all online now, instantly available. But I wouldn’t have met the dozens of helpful, smiling Turkish and Vietnamese people who gave me a true sense of their countries," writes Ross Robinson.
"More and more Mr. Poilievre casts himself as a victim of elites and the media, though he actually represents the elite. Indeed, echoes of America’s oddly-coloured president claiming perpetual victimhood," writes J. Richard Wright.
"I believe that creating a public parkette would be a move to beautify the streetscape, provide an asset to the neighbourhood and would be a meaningful gesture recognizing the concerns of the residents impacted by the Parliament Oak Hotel development," writes John Foreman.
"We shouldn’t impose Canadian tariffs on American goods coming into Canada. Implementing a tariff in retaliation to another country is like punching yourself in the face and expecting the other person to feel it," writes Alexander Evans.
"At a juncture in history wherein climate change initiatives are generally considered by both governments and voters to be a high priority, most of the members of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s elected council apparently don’t give a damn — only if it stands in the way of development," writes Brian Marshall.
“On both sides of the border this is going to mean people losing their jobs,” says Kathy Weiss, head of the local Chamber of Commerce. “So, discretionary spending is going to drop, while Canadians are also boycotting American goods. It’s a dangerous combination.”
"All my life I have hated guns, and have found the American 'gun culture' to be absolutely horrific and insane," writes Kaspar Pold. "However, given what is happening today and what might transpire in the near future (Trump has only the next four years to do his 'thing') I am about to buy some guns."
"When I spoke to residents on the doorstep this campaign, top of mind for people was health care. We must invest more in our public health care system and protect it from the threat of American-style for-profit privatization," writes MPP-elect Wayne Gates.
"Should anyone not know the name immediately, Chris, a lifetime resident and businessman of NOTL, is probably responsible for more summer days photos of Old Town's Queen Street by our annual influx of tourists than anyone else," writes Sarah Sampson.
"If you are one of those romantics who cannot resist the beauty of a rose or their fragrance brings back a slew of memories of days gone by, then David Austin English roses are a must-add to your garden this year," writes Joanne Young.
"Reading between the lines of The Lake Report, I could feel big doses of anger, crankiness, know-it-allness, frustration and shortness," writes Ross Robinson, using his recent trip to Vietnam to reflect on what it means to be happy and kind in a world full of strife and sadness.
"Sometimes the easiest way to determine the importance of a property to the character of its area is to consider what would happen to that character if the property were to be demolished or significantly modified," writes Brian Marshall.
