Table For Three

Tree laden with red berries from over the winter made a perfect table for three for these flighty robins. (Photo by Joe Barkovich)

‘Berrrrry Interesting!’

A particular berry has caught the eye of this robin who was enjoying dinner early Tuesday evening in Welland. (Photo by Joe Barkovich)

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

This snow/ice “sculpture” near the Niagara College parking lot along Woodlawn Road may be the last dreg of winter. One would hope. (Photo by Joe Barkovich)

View In Black And White

Watching the sun come up from behind tall and elegant ornamental grass. I think the scene is given an aura, of sorts, in this black and white viewing experience. But maybe I’m wrong.(Photo by Joe Barkovich)

Lasting Image: A Book And A Note

By Joe Barkovich, Scribbler-at-large

Better late than never. That’s what they say.

Yesterday, March 30, marked two years to the day that Peter Kormos died.

I won’t say anything in writing. So much good stuff has already been written. Let it lie there.

But I will share this photo of a book and a short note, both from Peter.

The book: On Bullshit. He told me about having read it. Then this copy came in the mail as a gift.

The note, in fountain pen of course: Dear Joe, I enjoyed this essay.Thought you might too. Peter.

I thanked him profusely for his thoughtfulness .

Now, prized pieces of my at-home archive of keepsakes and mementoes from over the years. And that’s no bullshit.

Just wanted to refer to it as a way of remembrance.

Better late than never. That’s what they say.

(A former reporter and city editor, Joe Barkovich lives in Welland, Ontario, Canada’s Rose City.)

Hmmmm. Where Do I Start?

Sure sign of spring. A robin gazes upon sumac pods in a thicket on the weekend just gone by. The pods provide a tasty treat. (Photo by Joe Barkovich)

Holy Week Church Services

By Joe Barkovich, Scribbler-at-large

Window, St. Mary Church, Welland, Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, by artist Guido Nincheri in 1933. Photo by Fr. Raymond Fenech Gonzi, Photo shop / editing Walter Gambin.

Churches in Welland still have opportunity to list Holy Week services on this blog.

A listing of Holy Week services, commencing with those of Holy Thursday, April 2, will appear on the blog Wednesday, April 1.

If your church or parish did not respond previously, pastors, pastoral assistants and church secretaries may send in their list of services to this address for inclusion in the updated calendar: joe0606barko@gmail.com

All submissions must include date, time and location of the service. Please provide the full address of your church with your submission. Please designate: Holy Week Services in the subject line of your email.

The listings as they appear on the blog will be as faithful as possible to the text submitted for publication.

Here is the deadline: Submissions must be sent by 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, in order to be included.

The listings are provided free of charge.

(A former reporter and city editor, Joe Barkovich lives in Welland, Ontario, Canada’s Rose City.)

 

Welland Snaps: College Struts Its Stuff

Some of the nursing, and personal support worker students at their information display at the college’s Open House on Saturday. (All photos by Joe Barkovich)

By Joe Barkovich, Scribbler-at-large

Niagara College held its spring Open House Saturday. Though free shuttle bus service was provided between the Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake campuses, we stayed close to home, right here in Welland, because of time constraints. Not that there was anything wrong with that.

Step right in for rehabilitation centre information.

The event was aimed at future students, current students and the community as well. We were there in early afternoon and the place was hopping. Lots of people asking for and getting info about academic programs, stopping at interactive displays and touring the college’s “state-of- the-art” learning environments.

Don’t deny it: the college’s expansion project here a few years back was one of the best and biggest things to happen to Welland in a long time. We’re lucky to have this campus – the jobs it provides and of course the learning opportunities it offers young people. I shudder to think what Welland would be like now without it.

Grown at the college’s greenhouse at its horticultural centre, Niagara-on-the-Lake campus.

There’s more on the way, too. Like the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre, for which ground was broken earlier this month at the Welland campus.

Hundreds and hundreds of people were on site during the brief period we were at the open house Saturday, which was good to see. I’m sure turnout was in the thousands by the time the day was done. No wonder it is described as the college’s largest event of the year. We saw only a small portion of what was available at Welland campus, too bad we ran out of time!

Students in the two-year paramedic program show hands-on training experiences at the open house.

We sat in for a few minutes on the information session about media studies, held in the Welland campus auditorium.

Nursing prof, blue jacket, talks about the program to prospective students and other visitors.

Wine and beer from the college’s teaching winery and teaching brewery, both at the Niagara-on-the-Lake campus were shown off and available for sampling.

The teaching winery and teaching brewery exhibits were popular with visitors.

View of the staircased-berm through a third-floor window.

(A former reporter and city editor, Joe Barkovich lives in Welland, Ontario, Canada’s Rose City.)

Into The Sunrise

A lone vehicle heads east on Woodlawn Road near First Avenue around 7 this morning. (Photo by Joe Barkovich)

Saturday Dinner Date

Robins perch on branches to dine on sumac pods in a thicket early Saturday evening. (Photos by Joe Barkovich)

Robins perch on branches to dine on sumac pods in a thicket early Saturday evening. (Photos by Joe Barkovich)