A portion of Thorold Road, near Centennial Secondary School, is aglow from the lights in this striking display, which also has musical accompaniment! It’s a visual and auditory treat. (Photo by Joe Barkovich. Let There Be Lights is a periodic feature on the blog during the Christmas season.)
WELLAND – Isabel Bachmann is the third presenter in the series.
Her presentation focuses on those who laboured on the Welland Ship Canal and who paid a heavy toll through accidents, injuries and fatalities. In anticipation of these needs, a full range of services was initiated for the medical care of the thousands of Canal workers on the job site.
A hospital was established at Welland and another at Humberstone. Bachmann’s presentation will expand upon this remarkable program of medical care on the Welland Canal, 1914-1932, the result of the first ever in-depth study of this previously unknown service.
This event is this evening, Tuesday, November 29 in city hall’s community room from 7pm to 8:30pm.
Notre Dame senior boys basketball coach, Mark Gallagher, kneeling, watches his charges during Friday afternoon’s Tip-off Tournament game against Thetford Academy. The Irsh won and improved to 2-0 in the tournament, which marks Gallagher’s coaching debut with the departure of long-time coach Mike Rao . Notre Dame’s next game is Saturday, 11:25am. (Photo by Joe Barkovich)
Notre Dame’s Braden Moore drives the ball in the Irish’s game against Thetford Academy, Montreal, part of the 18th annual Tip-off Tournament at ND. The Irish won 71-64 and next play Saturday at 11:25 a.m. (Photo by Joe Barkovich)
Tuesday Nov. 29 2016 –
in the Council Chambers
Tuesday Dec. 6 2016 –
in the Council Chambers
Tuesday Dec. 13 2016 –
in the Council Chambers
5:00 PM Wednesday Dec. 14 2016 –
Council Chambers
Tuesday Dec. 20 2016 –
in the Council Chambers
(Source: Niagara Region public health)
The Flu (Influenza) is a highly contagious infection of the nose, throat and lungs caused by the influenza virus. It can be a serious illness for some people.
Niagara Region monitors the spread of flu and flu-like illnesses on an on-going basis. During the months of October to May, activity will be reported.
Only laboratory confirmed cases are reported. Most people infected with influenza do not get laboratory testing and so actual infection numbers are likely much higher.
| Week of | Influenza A | Influenza B | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 21 – November 25 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
Totals include lab confirmed cases in the community and cases associated with outbreaks in health care facilities such as hospitals and long-term care facilities.
| Town/City | Influenza A | Influenza B | Total | Five Year Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Erie | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| Grimsby | 3 | 0 | 3 | 21 |
| Lincoln | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| Niagara Falls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| Niagara-on-the-Lake | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| Pelham | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Port Colborne | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| St. Catharines | 0 | 1 | 1 | 62 |
| Thorold | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Wainfleet | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Welland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| West Lincoln | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| Total | 5 | 1 | 6 | 230 |
| Week of | Influenza A | Influenza B | |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 21 – November 25 |
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
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WO-DAY TIP-OFF TOURNEY OPENS FRIDAY: The 18th annual Notre Dame Tip-off Tournament gets underway Friday, November 25 at the Welland school.
It features 16 senior boys teams with action getting underway in Notre Dame’s two gyms at 10am.
The host Fighting Irish are scheduled to play Father Goetz of Toronto at 11:25am in Dillon Hall. If the Irish win they play at 5:05pm in Dillon Hall but if they lose they are scheduled for a game at 3:40pm in the Belcastro gym.
The tourney’s two championship games are scheduled Saturday afternoon with the consolation championship tipping off at 3:40pm in the Belcastro gym and the tournament championship at 3: 50pm in Dillon Hall. The awards ceremony is set to follow at 5pm.
THE SECRET PATH SCREENED AT NIAGARA: Students, staff and the community are welcome to attend a free viewing of Gord Downie’s The Secret Path.
The Secret Path highlights the true story of 12-year-old Chanie Wenjack an Anishinaabe boy who died running away from his residential school near Kenora, Ontario in 1966.
Screening info: Monday, November 28, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., Niagara College’s Welland Campus, AH141 Auditorium. No ticket required. Doors open at 12:20 p.m.
VELVETONES SINGS SONGS OF THE SEASON: The Velvetones present their annual Christmas concert on Sunday, December 11 at the Welland Community Wellness Complex starting at 2pm in the theatre.
It features carols and songs of Christmas and a wide variety of Christmas music. There will be solo, duet and quartet performances as well. Tickets are $6 for passholders and $8 for non-passholders.
FREE eBOOKS, eAUDIOBOOKS: Did you know that you can borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks from the library? Use your library card to access Overdrive to discover thousands of eBooks. You can also download the Overdrive app to read on your Apple or Android smart phone or tablet!
WINTER IS COMING: So battle the cold and cuddle up with these hot TV series on DVD: Game of Thrones, House of Cards, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, Call the Midwife, Entourage, and so many more! All available at the Welland library. Search the catalogue here to find your favourite show!
THINGS ARE HAPPENING AT DIAMOND TRAIL: Visit Welland library’s Diamond Trail Branch for these great upcoming programs:
XBox One, Mondays @ 4pm; You’re The Chef, Tuesdays @ 4pm; Craft Attack, Wednesdays @ 4pm; Anime Club, Thursdays @ 4pm; Coffee & Colour, Thursdays @6:30pm; Knit & Crochet, Saturdays @ 11:30 am; Giant Games Galore, Saturday, Nov. 19 @ 1:30pm
YULE OPEN HOUSE: Welland Museum is holding its annual Christmas Open House. It’s on December 3 from 10am – 4pm. Free admission and free apple cider! Raffle for a poinsettia every hour. Thank you to Vermeer’s for the donation! Please call 905-732-2215 to register for a workshop. Find out more »
SOUP’S ON! COMING IN JANUARY: The 15th annual Soup’sOn! fundraiser is being held Friday, January 27, 2017 at St. Kevin parish hall.
Participants include Niagara College’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute, Blessed Trinity, Eastdale, Confederation, Lakeshore Catholic and Notre Dame soup prep teams and Stephanie the Lunch Lady. Eight soups are on the menu.
Tickets are available before and after weekend Masses, and from the parish office Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. Ticket price is $10 per person.
NEW ISSUE OF BOARDWALK BANTER IS AVAILABLE: The library’s November/December newsletter is now available! It has special events coming up that you won’t want to miss. Copies are available at both branches, or you can view it online here: November/December 2016. Use the Event Calendar to register for programs.
WELLAND CANAL FALLEN WORKERS SPEAKERS SERIES: Schedule in the Welland Canal Fallen Workers Speaker Series:
Tuesday, November 29: Medical Services on the Canal by Isabel Bachmann
Tuesday, January 31: Art & Poetry on the Canal by Debra Antoncic
Tuesday, March 28: Life and Death on the Welland Ship Canal: The Untold Story of 137 Worker Fatalities by Arden Phair
Tuesday, April 25: Disaster on the Welland Canal: The Lock 6 Gate Collapse, 1928 by Sarah King-Head.
These talks are in conjunction with the development and construction of a Fallen Workers Memorial which will be unveiled in late summer 2017 and will be located adjacent to Lock 3 in St. Catharines. Each talk will take place at 7pm in the Community Room of Civic Square, located at 60 East Main Street in Welland. Please register by calling the Library at 905-734-6210 ext. 2521 or through the online calendar.
Let There Be Lights, a popular seasonal feature here on the blog last year, returns this week. If you would like to recommend a decorated home located in Welland, drop me a note. The above is a file photo from 2015. (Let There Be Lights photo by Joe Barkovich)
The group Kindred performs December 10 at the Welland Community Wellness Complex theatre. Tickets are now available from the office. Pictured are: Ken Elder, David Romano, Wayne Meehan, Amy Elder, Darlene Romano and Joni Romano. (Supplied photo)
By Joe Barkovich, Scribbler-at-large
WELLAND – Time to move out of the kitchen and onto the stage.
For popular local group Kindred, the latest transition comes Saturday, December 10 in the Welland Community Wellness Complex theatre.
The kitchen as a meeting place for song, music and celebration is traditional for many, especially downeasters, country folk and others. Count Kindred among them. As a bio says, Kindred’s members have been part of those musical families and have played in many, many kitchens.
But also on stage, which is where we heard them last December and where we plan to be back in a few weeks for their performance in the 400-seat Wellness Complex theatre. If last year’s show is any indication, you can expect a sensory treat from this talented group of musicians and vocalists.
My contact is Joni Romano, who provided info about the show and what there is to look forward to. The final set list wasn’t complete at the time, but she did say that based on the group’s repertoire, be prepared for a rich cross-section of music from various genres. This would include: melodic and humorous Celtic tunes, folk story songs, gospel, bluegrass, country and Cajun. Of course, a few spiritual and secular Christmas season songs will also be part of the show.
The group’s name should be a give-away that its members are related. Kindred consists of: David (guitars, mandolin) and Joni Romano (mandolin, guitars, percussion, pennywhistle), David’s sister Darlene Romano (guitars, mandolin, banjo), Ken Elder (bass) and his wife Amy Elder (keyboard) and newest member Wayne Meehan (drums). As Joni pointed out, all the members are harmony vocalists and take turns with lead vocals.
The showcase for this year’s concert was described as “a brief Musical Journey related to the Celtic music traditions as they move across the ocean to North America and how that music blends with other music in the new land to form a tapestry.” Intriguing? You got that right.
The lead in will be a recorded narration that explains the diversity, the traditions and the cultural heritage of the music and lyrics – perhaps best described as a sharing of roots and routes. Be prepared for stops in places like the Appalachians, the Louisiana bayou and Acadia, among others – and what a treat they are sure to be. It’s a Musical Journey not to be missed!
Tickets are available at the Wellness Complex office, at $12 for passholders and $15 for non-passholders. Want a tip? Don’t wait ‘til last minute to get yours, you may end up disappointed. This isn’t a particularly large venue and the group has many fans.
More Kindred information is available at the website, www.kindred7.com
Welland Mayor Frank Campion was among the first to purchase tickets for Soup’s On!, the popular fundraiser being held at St. Kevin’s parish hall on January 27. Tickets went on sale before and after weekend Masses and Campion dropped in Sunday morning to purchase two. Making the sale is Soup’s On! ticket sales volunteer Maria Dinga. Tickets are also available from the parish office Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm. Campion encouraged Welland city councillors to support the event, which raises funds for a social justice scholarship, by buying tickets too. (Photo by Joe Barkovich)
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