"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.
"How does the town expect us bus drivers to do our job of transporting tourists from hotels to wineries when we aren’t even allowed to park close to the hotel to pick up these tourists?" writes Barry Wilding.
"It is obvious that bylaw enforcement really is flawed and in trouble and Patrick Devine's comprehensive reporting on heritage is a real eyeopener," writes Christopher Allen.
"What worries me is not that Premier Ford threw this cockamamie idea out to the press and the people," writes Ross Robinson about the proposed tunnel for under Highway 401. "I find it frightening that his most trusted and wise advisers would come up with such garbage."
"With some exceptions, progress in science is usually incremental and biology, especially biochemistry," writes Dr. Brown, analyzing how our understanding of the science behind DNA has evolved — while some central questions remain.
"Fall is a great time to be dividing some of your clumps of perennials in the garden, especially during the month of October," writes Joanne Young, sharing tips on how to know which ones can be divided at this time and the best way to get it done.
"The public mood is sour. Houses are crazy. High rates didn’t bring lower prices. There are still 8,000 people in NOTL without a family doctor. And now there’s employment anxiety," writes Garth Turner.
"If democracy is defeated in the United States by election of an authoritarian as president, the free democratic world could re-enter a pre-Magna Carta era, a time of unprecedented presidential power not constrained by rule of law," writes Keith McNenly.
"All efforts should be made to follow the process under the Ontario Heritage Act to adopt a new, comprehensive heritage conservation district plan for the Old Town," writes Patrick Devine.
"The future of this glorious piece of Canadian history and heritage is placed in question," writes Brian Marshall of the Glencairn estate. "Having survived the highs and lows of nearly 200 years, what will happen to it next year?"
"This is a cohesive, entertaining, visually and technically superb production directed by Craig Hall, having its world premiere at the Shaw Festival," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson about this year's production of "Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of the Human Heart."
Ross Robinson shares some observations of the goings on of Niagara-on-the-Lake's busy downtown street — from the cenotaph repairs, crosswalking concerns, ostentatious bikers and public vaping (why does anyone do it?).
"Everyone in the decision-making process had prior knowledge that the infrastructure was inadequate to handle any new developments that increased water drainage, so would they be personally liable?" writes Gienek Ksiazkiewicz.
"The scenic cornrows of grapes, the river’s majesty, the horses and storybook gardens of the Old Town hide a troubling anti-establishment buzz. Animosity is growing," writes Garth Turner.
It's a trick question: by pruning your shrubs in the early fall, before its leaves have dropped, you will cut off food the plant stored throughout the year, which will result in a weaker plant, writes Joanne Young.
"Prior to the advent of machine-made modern brick late in 19th century, bricks were handmade by workers who mixed native clay with water to make the slurry that was then hand-packed into rectangular forms, then laid out to dry," writes Brian Marshall.
"Huge thanks to all the dedicated volunteers and participants — you make this world a better place," writes run organizer Joan King. "You embody the passion and energy 'no matter what' it takes to beat this dreaded disease."
"I have never attended one of the town's 9/11 ceremonies," writes Elizabeth Masson. "I prefer to watch the ceremonies at the World Trade Center, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pa., in which family members of those who died that day participate."
"I understand that Bell takes the position it cannot do anything to prevent incursions into Canada by U.S. communication towers, but I do not understand why Bell takes the position that it is the subscriber who must bear the risk and the cost," writes Endre Mecs.
"I am hopeful this summer's spike in outages were just bad luck in timing but we will continue to invest to improve and strengthen NOTL's electrical system," writes Tim Curtis, CEO of NOTL Hydro.
"Building more places with the same land values, labour overhead and material costs won’t make them affordable. Developers aren’t charities," writes Garth Turner.
"Want to know why some residents think there are two sets of planning rules in NOTL? Because planning on a case-by-case basis is becoming the norm ... and it just doesn’t work," writes Lyle Hall.
"If the Town of NOTL is going to continue to hold a 9/11 ceremony — and we think it should — it needs to do a better job of getting the word out," writes Kevin MacLean.
"There was a time in this town when nearly everyone was committed to its preservation, she explained," writes Brian Marshall. "Unfortunately, it is an ethos that is frequently forgotten or deliberately ignored in the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake in 2024.
"Right now, people have to pay out of pocket for the test, which means many men cannot afford to get the test," writes MPP Wayne Gates. "Many others choose to forgo the test ... they assume, due to the fee, the test is optional or not important."
