Welland Food Drive: Lament And Praise

By Joe Barkovich, Scribbler-at-large

WELLAND – An organizer of Welland’s first city-wide food drive 25 years ago admits surprise and disappointment that the event still is needed today.

 Gerry Berkhout food drive pioneer

Gerry Berkhout was president of the Welland Chamber of Commerce which was instrumental in organizing the initial drive, and became first chair of the food drive committee.

“Things were very tough in Welland in the early 1990s, many, many jobs had been lost, many, many people were unemployed,” Berkhout said in a recent interview. “We (the Chamber) felt there was a need to do it. We figured it was a good way to give everyone the opportunity to give something to the local food banks.”
Although conditions in Welland have improved slowly over the years, Berkhout said it appears there are people caught in the “revolving door” of food bank dependency. This can be tough to step out of, he said.
The first city-wide drive turned out to be a challenge, he said, “but we went through a learning process and we pulled it off.”
Not wanting to show partiality, organizers decided on a three-way split of proceeds among the Community Resource and Action Centre (forerunner to Hope Centre), Open Arms Mission and the Salvation Army. That three-way split still continues.
Berkhout said the Welland Food Drive “brings out the best in people” by giving them opportunity to show how people rise to the occasion to “look after others. It’s all about taking care of our neighbours.”
He said he knows of people who were involved in the first food drive and still are connected to it today.
He has mixed emotions about community food drives.
“When you do a food drive you get involved with the cream of the community. It’s a powerful thing. It’s a wonderful thing. But it’s too bad we still have to have to food drives, it makes me sad. Something has to change so they won’t be necessary.”
Welland’s 2017 food drive is this Saturday, November 4. Full details at http://www.wellandfooddrive.com

 

 

Sign Language

The ubiquitous sign was posted on streets and street corners across the city late last weekend. It’s a powerful reminder the annual door-to-door food collection is just days away. (Sign Language is a recurring feature on the blog. Photo by Joe Barkovich)

Museums Of Niagara Association To Hold First Fridays Event At Welland Museum

WELLAND  – Welland Museum on Friday, December 1 is host to a First Fridays event, part of a public awareness campaign organized earlier this year by the Museums of Niagara Association (MONA).
The theme of the event in Welland Museum is Blue Hawaii. It offers a luau with live music, dancing, food and cash bar by the Smokin’ Buddha. This is a 19+ evening, with tickets being sold at $10 in advance or $12 at the door.
MONA’s First Fridays initiative started in May. Port Colborne’s museum hosted an event in September, themed Moonlight Masquerade.
According to a news release, the First Fridays campaign was designed by MONA to promote and transform rich historical spaces and collections within the Niagara museums communities into vibrant hubs for social activity. To learn more about Welland’s and the other First Fridays events across Niagara, please visit: http://www.firstfridaysniagara.ca
Tickets can be purchased in advance on the site.
The news release says MONA has been advocating for the professionalization of museums in Niagara for over thirty years. In the mid-1990s, the organization drastically expanded the visibility of Niagara’s museums by emphasizing strategic marketing in museums across the region. The Association successfully developed tour guides and brochures to attract both locals and tourists to the wide variety of museums within the region. More recently, MONA has adopted the role of cultural and historical advocate by regularly meeting with its members for over two decades, hosting workshops, professional development sessions and advocacy initiatives for its members.

(Source: News release)

 

THIS WEEK: Meetings In Welland

Meeting Calendar
Meetings are open to the public unless otherwise noted. Information is obtained from the applicable agency, board, committee, or commission and downloaded to this calendar as it becomes available. Information is subject to change. Please check back often for the most up-to-date information, including cancellations.

October
30
Budget Public Input Drop-In Meeting  ≫
4:00 PM Monday Oct. 30  –
Community Room

30
Council Meeting in Committee-of-the-Whole In-camera (Closed to the Public),  ≫
4:55 PM Monday Oct. 30  – to discuss the following:
PERSONAL MATTERS ABOUT AN IDENTIFIABLE INDIVIDUAL, INCLUDING MUNICIPAL OR LOCAL BOARD EMPLOYEES.
– Personnel Matter.

in the Council Chambers

30
Budget Review Committee Meeting  ≫
5:00 PM Monday Oct. 30   –
Council Chambers

November
1
City of Welland Heritage Advisory Committee Meeting  ≫
5:00 PM Wednesday Nov. 1   –
– Civic Square, Room 109

2
Welland Community Wellness Complex Advisory Committee Meeting  ≫
3:00 PM Thursday Nov. 2   –
Welland Community Wellness Complex, 145 Lincoln Street

(Source: City of Welland website)

Barky’s Billboard

Please Support/Attend This Worthwhile Community Event  (Barky’s Billboard is a recurring feature on the blog) 

City Shorts, Try ’em On For Size

CITY SHORTS ART: 25th annual Welland Food Drive is coming up!

Compiled 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

REGION ANNOUNCES FALL BRANCH COLLECTION
WELLAND  – Branch collection is provided to residents living in single family homes and apartments with six units or less. Here are acceptable size and weight limits:
Branches must be tied into bundles
Maximum weight of a bundle: 22.7 kg (50 lbs.)
Maximum size of a bundle: 1.5 m (5 ft.) in length, and 0.5 m (1.6 ft.) in diameter
Individual branches inside of a bundle must not exceed 7 cm (2.8 in.) in diameter
However, stumps, large branches / limbs and tree trunks are not collected at the curb. Drop these off at a landfill year-round for free. Stumps can also be brought to the Walker Environmental Group Landfill site in Thorold. Tipping fees may apply.
Fall branch collection takes place for four weeks, on your regular collection day. Place branches at the curb by 7 a.m. Fall branch collection dates:  Oct. 30 – Nov. 3; Nov. 6- Nov. 10; Nov. 13- 17; Nov. 20 -24.  Branches may be dropped off at any landfill year-round. (free of charge)

NOTRE DAME PILGRIMAGE ON SUNDAY
WELLAND – Notre Dame College School’s 42nd annual pilgrimage for the Developing World is Sunday, October 29. Over the years, Notre Dame has raised more than $2 million through the pilgrimage for development projects throughout the world.
“From the pilgrimage we learn that Canadian Christians are abundantly blessed – we have the ability and means to respond to the needs of the poor,” according to an announcement about the event. Donations can be made online at http://www.notredamewelland.com or individual students can be sponsored.  For a list of pilgrimages taking place across Niagara and the causes/projects they support, please visit: http://www.niagaracatholic.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/2017-Pilgrimage-full.pdf

HAVE YOU SEEN HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA?
WELLAND –  Big Movie Night Presents Hotel Transylvania  Friday, October 27,  dusk, Welland Civic Square. Grab your lawn chairs and head down to Civic Square, for this free, family-friendly event.

HO, HO, HO! TIME APPROACHING
WELLAND – Welland’s Santa Claus parade is fast approaching! Deadline for entries Is November 13. Applications are available at: http://www.welland.ca

LOCAL AUTHORS DAY OCTOBER 28
WELLAND – Meet a diverse group of local published authors at the Local Author Day event in the Community Room at the Welland Civic Square, noon to 3:30 p.m. Learn about the writing and publishing process and engage directly with some of Niagara’s most talented authors. If you are interested in local authors or are hoping to become one, this is a great opportunity that is not to be missed! The authors will be available to answer questions, discuss their work, and sign your personal copies.

HALLOWEEN DANCE AT LOCAL LODGE
WELLAND –  Welland Moose Lodge 977, 281 Riverside Dr, is holding a Halloween Dance, October 28, starting at 8pm. Admission  is $15, prizes awarded for 1st 2nd and 3rd costumes and a late lunch is offered.

LIBRARY HOLDS MUSIC TRIVIA NIGHT
WELLAND  –  How well do you know music? Come on out and test your knowledge in support of your library! The 3rd annual Trivia Night fundraiser  will feature music trivia by Shawn McCart from “Name This Tune.”
Join Welland library staff at the Croatian National Home on Friday, November 3 for their renowned penne and meatballs dinner. Gather a few friends, or enter as a team of 8, for friendly competition! Prizes for the top three tables.
Tickets are available at all library branches for $25 each.
5:30 pm – Doors open, 6:15 pm – Dinner is served, 7:30 pm – Trivia begins.

AFTERNOON BOOK CLUB AT THE BLACK SHEEP LOUNGE
WELLAND – The Afternoon Book Club is back in session at The Black Sheep Lounge, 64 Niagara Street. Due to high demand, the afternoon book club now runs the 2nd and 3rd Wednesday of every month. Copies of each month’s title can be found at the Information Desk at the Library’s Main Branch. The Library will provide a complimentary coffee or similar beverage at Black Sheep. Registration is limited. Please register early to ensure your place at the table. For more info call Welland Library at 905-734-6210 ext. 2521.

HEALTHY, BALANCED LIVING FOR SENIORS
WELLAND – The Healthy & Balanced Living for Seniors Speaker Series continues with Gayle Lin of the Alzheimer’s Society of Niagara who will be discussing how you can best maintain brain health. Following the presentation, Dream Ackland of Minds in Motion will facilitate Fitness and Brain Games for seniors. Come learn some new tools to optimize your mind and your life!
The Seaway Mall Branch will be hosting this event on Tuesday, October 31 at 2pm.

NOMINATIONS BEGIN FOR WELLAND WINTER LIGHTS
WELLAND – Do you have a beautifully lit house in your neighbourhood? Nomination forms for the 24th Annual Residential Lighting Contest will be accepted starting Monday, November 13, at Civic Square (60 East Main Street) and the Welland Community Wellness Complex (145 Lincoln Street). Nominations Close: Friday, December 1, at 4:30pm

REGISTRATION BEGINS FOR WINTER LIGHTS BUS TOURS
WELLAND – Registration begins Monday, November 13.  Bus tours take place: Monday, December 11 and Tuesday, December 12. Enjoy the best Welland has to offer as you and your family tour the city enjoying the breathtaking lights. Christmas carols, apple cider and treats provided for all. Confirm your spot on a bus tour early to avoid disappointment. Wheelchair accessible busing available.

YOUR CHANCE TO ‘JOIN THE WAVE’
WELLAND – On Saturday, November 4,  join the WAVE to WIPE OUT domestic violence. Walk 5km and join the beach party at Seaway Mall. 8am Check In; 9am Walk. Register today. http://www.womensplacesn.org

SEAWAY MALL BRANCH WINS AWARD
WELLAND – Welland Public Library (Seaway Mall Branch) was the recipient of the 2017 Ruby Award for Age – Friendly Business. The library extends thanks to the Welland Pelham Chamber of Commerce.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE PRESENTS JOE CRAWFORD
WELLAND- An evening of comedy with award-winning talk show host and comedian Joe Crawford. Friday, November 17,  7pm in the Theatre at Welland Community Wellness Complex, this is a free event.

JOIN THE MAYOR’S WALK ON MERRITT ISLAND
WELLAND  –  Meet Mayor Frank Campion at the Merritt Island parking lot Monday mornings at 7:30am for a 40-Minute Walk on Merritt Island.

Nature Walk

Just Can’t Get Enough Of Nature’s Fall Faces!  Photos By Joe Barkovich

On The Move

Some heavy lifting going on this morning at Niagara College Welland campus. (Photo by Joe Barkovich)

Sign Language

Food for thought. (Sign Language is a recurring feature on the blog. Photo by Joe Barkovich)

She’s Back!

The crash-prone Witch of First Avenue is back, a timely reminder that Halloween is just around the corner. (Photo by Joe Barkovich)