Hospital Referendum Details On Monday

WELLAND – Volunteers are mounting a referendum to save local hospitals.

Details about this volunteer-led, cross-Ontario referendum will be announced at a high profile media event in Welland.

This will take place on the sidewalk near the King Street entrance to Welland Hospital, Monday, April 25 at 10:30 a.m.

“All are welcome, bring your red umbrella,” says an email notification about the event. “Come out and show your support.”

Supporters with ‘Save Welland Hospital’ signs will help make it a highly visible event, the email says.

Barky’s Billboard

Attend and/or support these community events:

Themes For Commemorative Beds Announced

Pictured is the floral bed at Niagara Street and Riverbank. It will remain a showcase for annuals this year. (2015 file photo/Joe Barkovich)

By Joe Barkovich, Scribbler-at-large

The city will have three commemorative floral beds again this summer, although one will be at a different site.

The locations and their respective themes are:

Prince Charles Drive (east side): First Baptist Church, which is celebrating its 160^th anniversary;

Prince Charles Drive (west side): Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW), 75 years;

Broadway/Prince Charles Drive: Croatian National Home, 50 years.

Landscape technician Dave Steven, in email correspondence, said the themed bed at Broadway/PCD will take the place of one at Niagara Street and Riverbank which will remain a regular annual display, like the bed at Broadway/PCD is every year.

The change is to honor a formal request by the Croatian National Home. It will celebrate its 50^th anniversary in Welland with a gala event in October.

These commemorative floral beds have long been a source of pride in Welland, recipients of many compliments over the years especially from visitors to the Rose City.

The outstanding floral showcases are the work of the talented gardeners in the city’s infrastructure services department, formerly the parks department.

City Shorts: Try ’em On For Size

Compilation by Joe Barkovich, Scribbler-at-large

City Shorts

City Shorts is a compilation, from various sources (government websites, news announcements, press releases, church bulletins, advertisements, community service information and events, bulletin boards, requests, telephone requests, web postings, email requests etc.) of short items (in most cases) about matters of local interest in Welland. Want to submit an item for consideration? Please send to: joe0606barko@gmail.com

 HONORING WELLAND’S SPORTS GREATS

WELLAND – The 23^rd annual Sports Wall of Fame induction ceremony will be held Sunday, May 1 at the Seaway Mall, from noon to 2pm. This is, by tradition, a memorable ceremony with stirring testimonials to the inductees being given places of honor on the sports wall. It is well worth attending for its nostalgia, sports history and camaraderie.

SPRING SHOPPING AT CENTRAL

WELLAND – A  Spring Shopping Sale is being held Saturday, April 23 at Central United Church, 10am to 3pm. More than 25 Vendors & FREE Admission. A non-perishable food donation is appreciated! Portion of the proceeds is going to Rose City kids. Central United is at 12 Young Street, Welland.

WELLAND MUSEUM HOSTS ‘GREAT WARS’ EXHIBIT

WELLAND –- Niagara and the Great Wars Exhibit opens at the Welland Museum on May 6 at 6:30pm. Niagara and the Great Wars exhibit is a look at the Great Wars, particularly World War I and the impact it had, on our community and the world around us.

Guest curated by Cameron Ward, this collection represents the ways in which our community came together during the war years, through personal items from veterans who served and the ways in which we remember those who lost their lives. Niagara and the Great Wars will highlight artifacts, uniforms and medals from a local private collection, together with the Métis Nation of Ontario Veterans Council, Métis Nation of Niagara, First Nations – Brantford, Royal Canadian Legion Br. 4, Welland and Royal Canadian Legion Branch 613, Fonthill. DATE: Exhibit opens May 6, 2016 at 6:30 pm. TIME: Museum hours are Tuesday – Saturday from 10am – 4 pm, Thursdays 10-8 pm

APPLICANTS SOUGHT FOR ROSE QUEEN CONTEST

WELLAND – Apply to be this year’s Welland Rose Queen! Applications are available at the Rose Festival Office, 30 East Main Street in downtown Welland.

 TRAIL SIGNAGE ENHANCES CYCLING EXPERIENCE

WELLAND – Cycling is becoming an even more trail-friendly experience in Welland now that bilingual signage has been added to the Greater Niagara Circle Route. In order to enhance the cycling experience, Welland Canal Parkway Trail signage helps guide cyclists and keep them on the cycling path.

To further encourage cyclist to take advantage of Welland Canal Trails, manual bike pumps were installed along the trail in June 2015. The pumps are located at the Pen Financial Community Centre, Merritt Island, the Welland International Flatwater Centre, and a pump equipped with a toolkit is located at the Welland Community Wellness Complex.

For information on cycling maps, places to visit, and cycling adventures, visit niagaracyclingtourism.com.

 LIBRARY ORGANIZING TRUNK SALE

WELLAND – Welland public library is holding a trunk sale. Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 28. The trunk sale will be held in the lower parking lot (behind the Court House) from 8 am to 12 pm. Come and find collectibles, books, games and more. Booking proceeds will support new technology for the Welland Public Library.

Do you have treasures to sell? Only $20 for a spot until May 25, or $30 thereafter. Contact 905 734 6210 x 2527 to book your space or get more information.

HERITAGE COUNCIL PRESENTS LADIES NIGHT

WELLAND – Welland Heritage Council and Multicultural Centre Presents LADIES NIGHT on Thursday, May 12. A fun-filled evening for ladies only to explore all the things that women like including vendors, door prizes and firemen! $30. ticket price per person.

This fundraising event will include food, entertainment and vendors. This event traditionally attracts approximately 250 ladies with all proceeds going to the Heritage Council’s ongoing operating costs.

 3D PRINTING AVAILABLE AT LIBRARY MAIN BRANCH

WELLAND – Thanks to the support from the community at our Trivia Night and a generous donation from the Welland Lions Club, patrons can now visit the main branch of the Welland Public Library to design three- dimensional objects that can be printed on the Flashforge Dreamer 3D Printer!

Once you register and successfully complete a 3D printer training session, you will be ready to upload a file using the form on our website that will be printed when time allows.  Children are welcome to participate in the fun, but must be accompanied by an adult who has completed the training course. More information is available here.

All 3D prints are free-of-charge in 2016 and you can print up to 3 objects per week. Please note that while staff will make every effort to accommodate specific requests for size and colour, this may result in longer wait times for your printed objects.

For more information, please drop by any Welland Public Library branch or call 905-734-6210, ext. 2521 and staff would be happy to answer questions.

BURSARY DEADLINE IS MAY 6

WELLAND – Applications are now being accepted for the Rose City Seniors Centre Foundation Bursary Award.

According to an ad on the Civic Corner page, the successful candidate(s) will be awarded $500 to pursue post-secondary school studies in fields that benefit care of seniors.

Deadline for applications is 4pm Friday, May 6. More info is available on the Civic Corner page in the newspaper page or the city’s website.

 K of C PASTA FUNDRAISER

WELLAND – Knights of Columbus Council #2146 is holding its annual fundraiser, a pasta dinner, on April 29 at Casa Dante, Lincoln Street, Welland. The evening also features a 50/50 draw, silent auction and penny sale. All proceeds go to Welland St Vincent de Paul Society. Doors open at 5:30, dinner served at 6:30. To purchase or reserve tickets, call Pat, 905-732-9475.

ND ALUMNI CAN REGISTER ON NEW WEBSITE

WELLAND – The Notre Dame College School Alumni Association is inviting all alumni to register on its new website in order to re-establish the contact list. Once logged in and registered you will be able to peruse over 65 years of Notre Dame yearbooks online. Please register at www.notredamewelland.com. Click on Notre Dame Alumni.

PRO-LIFE HOLDS MEETING

WELLAND –Welland and Port Colborne Pro-Life annual dinner meeting is Saturday, April 30, at. St. Anthony’s Church Hall, 360 River Road, Welland.

Registration is at 6pm followed by dinner at 6:30pm. Guest Speaker is Jim Hughes, president of Campaign Life Coalition. Tickets are $30. per adult, $25. for students and $15. for children 12 and under. Please call 905.714.0547 to reserve your ticket.

 HOOF IT WITH WELLAND’S MAYOR

WELLAND – Meet Mayor Frank Campion at the Merritt Island parking lot Monday mornings at 7:30 a.m. for a 40-minute walk on Merritt Island.

 

Heavy Truck Traffic Restricted

Sign now posted at the east side of the Forks Road bridge in Dain City. It follows by a few days the message on the city’s website: “Until further notice, Heavy Truck traffic is RESTRICTED from using the Forks Road bridge in Dain City. Any heavy vehicle caught travelling on the bridge may be subject to fines. Regular vehicular traffic will not be impacted. ” It is also available as a voice message on the website. No explanation is provided for the heavy truck traffic restriction. (Photo by Joe Barkovich)

Wars’ Impact On Community Focus Of Exhibit

WELLAND – Niagara and the Great Wars Exhibit opens at the Welland Museum on May 6 at 6:30pm

Niagara and the Great Wars exhibit is a look at the Great Wars, particularly World War I and the impact it had, on our community and the world around us.

Guest curated by Cameron Ward, this collection represents the ways in which our community came together during the war years, through personal items from veterans who served and the ways in which we remember those who lost their lives.

Niagara and the Great Wars will highlight artifacts, uniforms and medals from a local private collection, together with the Métis Nation of Ontario Veterans Council, Métis Nation of Niagara, First Nations – Brantford, Royal Canadian Legion Br. 4, Welland and Royal Canadian Legion Branch 613, Fonthill.

DATE: Exhibit opens May 6, 2016 at 6:30 pm TIME: Museum hours are Tuesday – Saturday from 10am – 4 pm, Thursdays 10-8 pm LOCATION: Welland Museum, 140 King Street, Welland, ON L3B 3J3

(Source: Welland Museum news release.)

Aidan Harold At U.N. Special Session

 

Aidan Harold at the U.N.

WELLAND –  Notre Dame student Aidan Harold is in New York, attending a United Nations General Assembly Special Session on the world drug problem.

In a Facebook post, Aidan writes that he is listening to member states read statements.

“With any luck, the world can begin to move forwards with drug policy that respects human rights and the empirical evidence that the war on drugs has failed,” he wrote.

Region’s ‘greenscene’ A Must Read

By Joe Barkovich, Scribbler-at-large

WELLAND – The spring edition of Niagara Region’s greenscene  deserves a spot on your ‘must read’ list.

It provides a wealth of information on a wide variety of topics, some of them well known, others not so  well known.

It’s visually appealing with many photos and graphics. It’s informative and instructional.

The spring edition came out last week as a newspaper insert. It’s probably available for pickup somewhere, but if not it should be.  I’ve provided a few photo excerpts as samples of what you will find in this eight-page edition.

To  the folks who put this together – well done! In my book, it’s a keeper, until the next one comes out.

 

Heavy Truck Traffic Restricted

WELLAND  – This post is taken from the City of Welland website:

“Until further notice, Heavy Truck traffic is RESTRICTED from using the Forks Road bridge in Dain City. Any heavy vehicle caught travelling on the bridge may be subject to fines. Regular vehicular traffic will not be impacted. ”

No explanation was provided for the heavy truck traffic restriction.

THE CURRENT WEEK: Meetings In Welland

Weekly Meetings
Monday Apr.18 ’16	7:00 PM – Welland Public Library Board Meeting Welland Public Library, Program Room – LOCATION: 50 The Boardwalk.
Tuesday Apr.19 ’16	4:15 PM – North Welland Business Improvement Area Board of Management Meeting LOCATION: M.T. BELLIES RESTAURANT, 871 Niagara St.
Tuesday Apr.19 ’16	5:50 PM – Council Meeting in Committee-of-the-Whole In-camera (Closed to the Public), in the Council Ante Room, to discuss the following: Proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board. – Rice Road lease renewal. Personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees. – Committee Appointments for the following Committee: Market Square Advisory Committee – Welland Recreational Canal Corporation update.
Tuesday Apr.19 ’16	7:00 PM – Council Meeting, in Open Session, in the Council Chambers.
Wednesday Apr.20 ’16	3:00 PM – Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting LOCATION: Welland Community Wellness Complex, 145 Lincoln Street.
Wednesday Apr.20 ’16	5:00 PM – Committee of Adjustment Hearing(s) – Council Chambers.
Wednesday Apr.20 ’16	6:00 PM – Market Square Advisory Committee Meeting LOCATION: Welland Community Wellness Complex, 145 Lincoln Street.
Thursday Apr.21 ’16	6:00 PM – Public Open House re: Proposed Draft Comprehensive Zoning By-law – Council Chambers.