"A&M are pumping their latest project. It’s a whopper. If the sisters get their way with local politicians (once again), the old Rand Estate will turn into a five-storey, 111-room luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel," writes Garth Turner.
"Should any future council enact an interim control bylaw, underwritten by a duly compliant study, it will be largely legally unassailable," writes Brian Marshall.
"Niagara-on-the-Lake should not be treated as an extension of a 'Vegas North' casino economy. We are not a desert entertainment strip," writes Keith McNenly.
"I have heard that during his 26 years as mayor, Henry Paffard advocated for the planting of over 1,000 trees. By any measure, that’s a lot of limbs and leaves and shade and oxygen. And with trees come squirrels," writes Ross Robinson.
"Regardless of differences of opinion over development projects, I recognize that public discourse should be conducted respectfully and without casting aspersions on others," writes Stewart Hall.
"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."
"The production value was incredible, but my basic theatrical IQ was forced to new levels by the extraordinary athleticism and body control shown by Matt Alfano as Alfie and Peter Fernandes as Francis," writes Ross Robinson.
"Perhaps it’s not too much for all of us to observe a minute’s silence on the 21st — just to think about what we might do to ease the world’s pain ourselves, or perhaps to say a silent prayer for peace," writes Hugh Church.
"Unneeded and inappropriately sited hotels, out-of-scale buildings in the wrong locations, blatant disregard for the official plan, 'the Gang of Five' with its flimsy rationales — the beat goes on," writes Terry Mactaggart.
"His editing, photo finding and encouragement helped us produce our well-read articles on the history of Niagara-on-the-Lake," write Denise Ascenzo, Linda Fritz and Elizabeth Masson.
