City Shorts, Try ’em On For Size

CITY SHORTS ART: A supporter of Soup’s On!, Mayor Frank Campion, right, purchases his tickets from committee treasurer Wayne Campbell. More info, see Hottest Ticket In Town, below. (Photo by Joe Barkovich)

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

PUBLIC MEETING ABOUT BRIDGE CLOSURE
WELLAND – A public meeting is scheduled regarding the Forks Road Bridge Closure on Tuesday, December 11, at Civic Square (60 East Main St. in the Community Room) from 5pm-6:30pm. Staff will answer questions, address concerns, and present options under consideration moving forward.

NEW COUNCIL’S INAUGURAL
WELLAND – The inaugural meeting of the incoming Welland city council is being held Monday, December 3 at 7pm in council chambers. The new council’s first meeting is the following evening, Tuesday, December 4, 7pm.

STRUDEL SALE FOR CHRISTMAS
WELLAND – Interested in apple or cheese strudel for Christmas? A Christmas strudel sale is taking place at the Croatian National Home, Sunday, December 16 from 10am to 1pm. Easy enough to do: Call Barb at 905-788-6991 to place your order, then pick it up on the 16th.

DO YOU LIKE CHRISTMAS CAROLS?
WELLAND – A Community Carol Sing is being held at St. David’s Anglican Church on Saturday, December 8 starting at 7pm. St. David’s is at 369 Thorold Rd., Welland. Enjoy carols and Christmas hymns. Refreshments to follow.
All are welcome.

DON’T FORGET COOKIES, LOTS OF COOKIES
WELLAND – A Christmas open house is being held at Welland Museum, Saturday, December 8, 1pm to 4pm. Join in for Victorian Carolling beginning at 1:30, story time with Santa at 2pm and cookies, seasonal treats, family Crafts by EarlyON Welland and fresh wreaths for sale….& don’t forget cookies, lots of cookies.

ONE-DAY EXTENSION IN HOLIDAY CLOSURE
WELLAND – Niagara College has recently approved an extension to the normal holiday closure to include Monday, Dec. 24. The College will therefore be closed from Dec. 24, 2018 to Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019 (Inclusive) with normal operations resuming on Wednesday, Jan. 2.
Retail stores at the Teaching Brewery, Wine Visitor and Education Centre, and the Community Employment Services office in St. Catharines will remain open to the public on Dec. 24, 27, 28 and 31. Other modified hours for the holiday break will be shared in the coming weeks.

WINTER LIGHTS TOURS
WELLAND – View the best Welland has to offer, Monday, December 10 and Tuesday, December 11 as you and your family tour the city enjoying the breathtaking lights. Christmas carols, apple cider and treats provided for all. Registration for bus tours is required, see info on city web site. Buses depart at 6:45pm, 7pm and 7:15pm. Location: Welland Farmers’ Market, 70 Young Street, Welland

NEW OR USED COATS WANTED
WELLAND – Koats for Kids takes place until December 15. Needed are new or good used winter coats for men, women and children, these donations can be dropped off at any local cleaner. Koats for Kids is based at Central United church house on Young Street on Monday to Friday from 11am until 3pm to Saturday, Dec. 15. Koats for Kids is done in partnership with the Hope Centre.

LONGER MONDAY HOURS FOR LIBRARY’S MALL BRANCH
WELLAND – Welland Public Library announces that the Seaway Mall Branch will now be open on Mondays 9am-8pm starting in December! Celebrate by enjoying a tasty cup of hot chocolate and cookies while supplies last.
Monday, Dec 3, 10, 17, 24* *Open Dec 24 9am-2pm.
Supplied by Health Wise
Sponsored by Seaway Mall & Welland Public Library

KINDRED PRESENTS CELTIC JOURNEY
WELLAND – An evening of Kindred’s Celtic to Cajun Journey, and some reflections of the Christmas season. The popular local group performs Saturday, December 1, in the theatre at the Welland Community Wellness Complex at 7pm. Tickets: $12 for passholders and $15 for non-passholders. More Information: 905-735-1700 Ext. 4000 or recreation@welland.ca

VELVETONES HOST ANNUAL YULE CONCERT
WELLAND – Join the Velvetones for their annual Christmas concert, Christmas in December, Sunday, December 9, 2pm in The Theatre at Welland Community Wellness Complex. Tickets: $7 for passholders and $9 for non-passholders. It will feature a variety of choir, solo, duet and ensemble songs, both sacred and popular Christmas music.

HO, HO, HO AT WELLAND MARKET
WELLAND – Don’t miss Christmas at the market, Saturday, December 22, 9am to 11am at the Welland Farmers’ Market, 70 Young Street, Welland. Join in for festive fun and a visit with Santa. Enjoy some holiday crafts, free face painting, colouring and winter activities.

EAGLES ALUMNI TO MEET
WELLAND – The Welland Eastdale Alumni Association will meet on Wednesday December 5, 7pm in the school library. Come out and get involved. Visit http://www.eastdalealumni.com for more info or call Barb @ 905-735-3778

HARVEST KITCHEN SEASON IS UNDERWAY
WELLAND – Welland’s Harvest Kitchen program started its 23rd season on Thursday, November 1 at Hope Centre, 570 King Street.
The weekly schedule is:
Sundays: Central United Church, 12 Young St., 5pm; Mondays: Eglise du Sacre-Coeur, 72 Empire St., 5:30pm; Tuesdays: Hope Centre, 570 King St., 5:30pm; Wednesdays: St. Kevin Roman Catholic Church, 307 Niagara St., 5pm; Thursdays 5pm for all: first Thursday of the month, Hope Centre, second Thursday, Southridge Community Church, 414 River Rd., third Thursday, Holy Trinity Anglican Church (use the market square door at the back), fourth and fifth Thursdays, Sts. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, 300 Chaffey St. and new this season, third and fourth Fridays, 5pm: Southridge Community Church.
For emergency shelter please call 905-714-5007.

HOTTEST TICKET IN TOWN
WELLAND – Tickets for Soup’s On! are now being sold. The popular soup luncheon fundraiser is being held Friday, January 25, 2019 at St. Kevin’s Church parish hall, 303 Niagara St.
Tickets are available Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm at the parish office, in the foyer of the church before and after all weekend Masses (Saturday 5pm, Sunday, 8:30, 10 and 11:30am and 5pm) and from ticket convenor Bernie Barkovich, 905-735-3562, or call for more info.

JOIN THE MAYOR’S WALK ON MERRITT ISLAND
WELLAND – Put your best foot forward! Meet Mayor Campion at the Merritt Island parking lot Monday mornings at 7:30 a.m. for a 40-minute walk on Merritt Island.

(City Shorts is a weekly feature on the blog appearing most often on weekends.)

Forks Road Bridge Rehab ‘Impractical’ And ‘Cost-Prohibitive’ Option

WELLAND – On November 26, staff from the City of Welland met with City Councillors from Ward 6, officials from Niagara Regional Police Services, Niagara Regional Emergency Medical Services, Welland Fire and Emergency Services along with four (4) members of the Dain City Bridge Committee.

Key Points:
Engineers continue to analyze the rate and extent of the corrosion in order to estimate a timeline for the bridge’s ongoing ability to support pedestrians and ultimately its own weight;
Due to the extent of corrosion, rehabilitation of the structure has been deemed to be an impractical and significantly cost-prohibitive alternative when compared to replacement;
Bridge replacement alternatives and cost-estimates have been developed;
Maintenance plans have been developed, and approval is expected shortly from the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority to utilize canal service roads as an emergency detour route (EDR) in the event of a catastrophe;
Locked gates will be installed shortly at the eastern end of Forks Road to permit access by emergency personnel only;
Emergency response times remain within the guidelines;
City crews will ensure EDR is maintained and plowed to municipal standard to ensure a timely response by Fire, Police, and EMS;
In the event of an emergency, and if there is a train on the tracks, dispatch have been instructed to contact Trillium Railway’s operations manager to clear the track;

Next Steps
Invitations have been mailed to all businesses and homeowners in Dain City notifying them of a Public Information Forum being held on Tuesday, December 11, from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. at Civic Square, 60 East Main Street, in the Community Room;
City staff will make a presentation to Welland City Council at the December 11, 2018, General Committee Meeting, starting at 7:00 p.m.;
Welland City Council will consider options to address the Forks Road Bridge issue during the 2019 Budget deliberations in January;
Another public open house will be held to inform the public of the details and timelines associated with the selected option;

Information will be added to the city’s public engagement platform, Your Channel, https://yourchannel.welland.ca on Wednesday, December 12, 2018. Residents will be able to engage in the conversation and voice their concerns and thoughts on the future of the Forks Road Bridge.

For more information, contact the City’s Engineering Division at 905-735-1700 ext. 2204 or 2221.

(Source: City of Welland news release)

Q & A: Paul Turner, Trustee-Elect

By Joe Barkovich, Scribbler-at-large

WELLAND – Paul Turner is soon to start a new page in his life story, that of a trustee on the Niagara Catholic District School Board.
The well-known Wellander and social justice activist/humanitarian was acclaimed to the seat in the October election.  In 2016, he was named recipient of Niagara Region’s T. Roy Adams Humanitarian of the Year award.
Where there’s good to be done, you can count on Turner, a retired secondary school teacher who loves playing hockey with long-time friends and others twice a week (sometime more!) being there. That’s just the way he is. It is who he is.
I asked Turner if he would be interested in answering a few questions about his new responsibility. His response was exactly what I thought it would be: “I’m in.”

7 questions:

Q. Why did you want to become a school trustee?
A. I became a school trustee because my good friend Ted O’Leary (current Welland trustee, did not seek re-election) decided he has put in his time and so his position needed to be filled. Catholic education is a priority in my life.

Q. After 30+ years in the classroom, will it be a big transition before you feel at home in the boardroom?
A.​ I definitely will be on a learning curve. I am a person who likes to put my faith into action, but I will first have a listening ear, especially to those who are the most vulnerable.

Q. You are well known for your community activism, especially when it comes to poverty awareness and issues. Will you stay involved in these and other interests now that you have a four-year commitment to being a school trustee?
​A. I will always remain committed to those who are marginalized, not only in our community, but nationally and globally. I hope to be involved with alternative learning when it comes to our school board. Those students struggling with the school system for various reasons.

Q. The board’s inaugural meeting is just days away (Dec. 4 ). Are you going into this experience with an open mind or have you set some personal goals that you are determined to accomplish? Can one even have “personal goals” and be a “team player”?
A.​ I am going into this experience with the students of our system as my main priority. I hope to have an open mind and be connected to a team that puts our students first. I do not believe there is a place for personal goals.

Q. In your opinion, what is Catholic education’s greatest strength?
A.​ Catholic education’s greatest strength is Jesus Christ as our example of living out our faith.

Q. In your opinion, what is Catholic education’s biggest challenge?
A.​ The biggest challenge is that we do not water down our faith when it comes to public education in our province.

Q. What will Paul Turner, new trustee, bring to the boardroom with him?
A.​ I will bring a person who is committed to my faith. I will bring my experience of teaching young people for 32 years. I will bring a passion and enthusiasm that puts our most vulnerable students at the top of the list.

(Q & A is a new feature on the blog. This is the second to appear.)

Pope’s Laudato Si’ ‘Doesn’t Pull Any Punches’: Speaker

Distinguished Speaker Cristina Vanin with Rev. Jim Mulligan, CSC, associate pastor of St. Kevin’s Roman Catholic church after Monday’s presentation. Vanin is holding a summary publication about the pope’s encyclical, Laudato Si’. (Photo by Joe Barkovich)

By WAYNE CAMPBELL
WELLAND – One person will not save the earth, but many can change daily habits to create an integral ecology.
They will build a different mindset toward care of the earth, said Dr. Cristina Vanin, invited guest for St. Kevin parish’s  21st annual Distinguished Speaker Night on Monday evening.
During her lecture, One Earth: Pope Francis’ Call for an Integral Ecology, Vanin drew on the 2015 encyclical of Pope Francis, Laudato Si’.

(Source: Powerpoint presentation)

The St. Jerome’s University associate dean, Department of Religious Studies, said it is the first Catholic document dedicated to the ecological crisis.
Previous popes, she said, made passing references in writings. Pope Francis, however, said ignoring the plight of the earth is “not an option.”
Vanin, director of the Master of Catholic Thought theology program at St. Jerome’s, is familiar with documents from Rome.
Laudato Si’ is a refreshing change, she said.
“It’s very readable and doesn’t pull any punches.”
Vanin use a powerpoint presentation during her talk as she touched on aspects of Pope Francis’ message: Everything is connected.
He tells us “to just face it,” Vanin said.
“We have plenty of data” on what is going wrong “yet we still have a crisis.”
We have a culture “excessively attentive to our needs but not enough to the needs of creation.”
Pope Francis, in Laudato Si’, decries consumerism, false reliance on technology, unregulated markets bent on profits and a myth of an earth with unlimited resources.
Reflecting on the encyclical, Vanin said society has a widespread indifference to suffering of the poor and suffering of the earth.
This culture of indifference leads to a throwaway culture that discards human beings.
On the side of hope, she refers to the Pope’s call for an integral ecology to bring about a different culture connected with the earth.
It doesn’t mean heading for the wilderness.
We can “go to nature in our everyday lives,” Vanin said by taking a walk and noticing what is around you.
Each person “can pick something concrete to find the nobility of doing daily actions.”
Even car pooling or wearing a sweater at home to reduce energy use can trigger change, she said.
(Wayne Campbell, a retired journalist living in Welland, is an occasional contributor to the blog.)

City Shorts, Try ’em On For Size

CITY SHORTS ART:  Yule lighting displays turn you on? See WINTER LIGHTS TOURS, below. (2017 file photo)

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

WINTER LIGHTS TOURS
WELLAND – View the best Welland has to offer, Monday, December 10 and Tuesday, December 11 as you and your family tour the city enjoying the breathtaking lights. Christmas carols, apple cider and treats provided for all. Registration for bus tours is required, see info on city web site. Buses depart at 6:45pm, 7pm and 7:15pm. Location: Welland Farmers’ Market, 70 Young Street, Welland

NEW COUNCIL’S INAUGURAL
WELLAND – The inaugural meeting of the incoming Welland city council is being held Monday, December 3 at 7pm in council chambers. The new council’s first meeting is the following evening, Tuesday, December 4, 7pm.

NEW OR USED KOATS WANTED
WELLAND – Koats for Kids takes place until December 15. Needed are new or good used winter coats for men, women and children, these donations can be dropped off at any local cleaner. Koats for Kids is based at Central United Church house on Young Street on Monday to Friday from 11am until 3pm to Saturday, Dec. 15. Koats for Kids is done in partnership with the Hope Centre.

WOOD SINGERS AT CENTRAL UNITED
WELLAND – The Robert Wood Singers continue an annual tradition on Sunday, November 25. That’s the date of their Christmas concert, this year titled A Christmas Concert. The program is at Central United Church, King Street, Welland, starting at 2:30pm. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.robertwoodsingers.com. Price is $15, $8 for attendees 12 and under.

KINDRED PRESENTS CELTIC JOURNEY
WELLAND – An evening of Kindred’s Celtic to Cajun Journey, and some reflections of the Christmas season. The popular local group performs Saturday, December 1, in the theatre at the Welland Community Wellness Complex at 7pm. Tickets: $12 for passholders and $15 for non-passholders. More Information: 905-735-1700 Ext. 4000 or recreation@welland.ca

VELVETONES HOST ANNUAL YULE CONCERT
WELLAND – Join the Velvetones for their annual Christmas concert, Christmas in December, Sunday, December 9, 2pm in The Theatre at Welland Community Wellness Complex. Tickets: $7 for passholders and $9 for non-passholders. It will feature a variety of choir, solo, duet and ensemble songs, both sacred and popular Christmas music.

DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER NIGHT

WELLAND – The 21st annual Distinguished Speaker Night takes place at St. Kevin parish, 303 Niagara St., Monday, November 26.
Guest: Cristina Vanin, associate dean, Department of Religious Studies at St. Jerome’s University, University of Waterloo, speaks on One Earth: Pope Francis’ Call for an Integral Ecology, 7pm in the church. Open to the community.

TRIVIA NIGHT AT SACRE-COEUR PARISH
WELLAND – Sacré-Coeur parish on Empire Street hosts its second annual Trivia Night on Friday, November 30 at 7pm (doors open at 6:30) at the church hall. Tickets are $15 per person (includes pizza, great door prize, penny sale table) or $110 for a table of eight. For tickets or more info: Pauline Falardeau 905-735-1441 or by email: pauline_falardeau@hotmail.com. Proceeds to support parish operating expenses.

STRUDEL SALE FOR CHRISTMAS
WELLAND – Interested in apple or cheese strudel for Christmas? A Christmas strudel sale is taking place at the Croatian National Home, Sunday, December 16 from 10am to 1pm. Easy enough to do: Call Barb at 905-788-6991 to place your order, then pick it up on the 16th.

HO, HO, HO AT WELLAND MARKET
WELLAND – Don’t miss Christmas at the Market, Saturday, December 22, 9am to 11am at the Welland Farmers’ Market, 70 Young Street, Welland. Join in for festive fun and a visit with Santa. Enjoy some holiday crafts, free face painting, colouring and winter activities.

HARVEST KITCHEN SEASON IS UNDERWAY
WELLAND – Welland’s Harvest Kitchen program started its 23rd season on Thursday, November 1 at Hope Centre, 570 King Street.
The weekly schedule is:
Sundays: Central United Church, 12 Young St., 5pm; Mondays: Eglise du Sacre-Coeur, 72 Empire St., 5:30pm; Tuesdays: Hope Centre, 570 King St., 5:30pm; Wednesdays: St. Kevin Roman Catholic Church, 307 Niagara St., 5pm; Thursdays 5pm for all: first Thursday of the month, Hope Centre, second Thursday, Southridge Community Church, 414 River Rd., third Thursday, Holy Trinity Anglican Church (use the market square door at the back), fourth and fifth Thursdays, Sts. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, 300 Chaffey St. and new this season, third and fourth Fridays, 5pm: Southridge Community Church.
For emergency shelter please call 905-714-5007.

JOIN THE MAYOR’S WALK ON MERRITT ISLAND
WELLAND – Put your best foot forward! Meet Mayor Campion at the Merritt Island parking lot Monday mornings at 7:30 a.m. for a 40-minute walk on Merritt Island.

(City Shorts is a weekly feature on the blog appearing most often on weekends.)

New Book Is The Cat’s Meow

Children’s author Mary Ladika Rodger is featured in a book signing today, Saturday, November 24, at Coles in the Seaway Mall from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Her recently-released fourth book, Cats, is a compilation of stories shared by friends and family members about the various personalities of cats. Easy to read and endearing, the stories are enhanced by beautiful, colour illustrations by family friend, artist Yoel Alvarez. This is the Welland author’s fourth book, the others are: Sheep on the Lam,The Runaway Pencil and Gord the Goose. Cats is being sold for $20.

Barky’s Billboard

Please Support/Attend This Worthwhile Community Event

(Barky’s Billboard is a recurring feature on the blog)

 

Care For Our Common Home? Then Don’t Miss This Address

Cristina Vanin (Supplied photo)

WELLAND — A fall tradition continues at the Parish Community of St. Kevin.
Monday, November 26 is the date of the parish’s 2018 Distinguished Speaker Night, the 21st annual.
This year’s invited guest is Dr. Cristina Vanin, an associate professor of theology, associate dean, and director of the Master of Catholic Thought theology program at St. Jerome’s University in Waterloo.

Cover, Laudato Si’

Vanin has chosen as the theme of her address: One Earth: Pope Francis’ Call for an Integral Ecology, a reflection based on Laudato Si’ (“On Care for Our Common Home”), the 2015 encyclical by Pope Francis.
Some of the encyclical’s highlights as reported in Commonweal Magazine (June 2015):
The encyclical strongly affirms the climate science and the gravity of the environmental challenge;
The Pope offers a beautiful meditation on the profound interconnectedness of all creation; and,
The encyclical calls on the global economy to prioritize people and the planet over profits.
Distinguished Speaker Vanin received her BA from St. Jerome’s University, her Master of Divinity from St. Michael’s College, Toronto, and her PhD in theology from Boston College.
Her research is focused on the role that theology can have in helping us respond adequately to the ecological crisis.
She will join an assembly of social justice activists, theologians, journalists, authors and others who, over the years, have come to Welland and St. Kevin’s as participants in the Distinguished Speaker program.
Some of these include: theologian and refugee activist Mary Jo Leddy, Merton scholar and author Michael Higgins, journalists Janet Sommerville, Michael Valpy and Joe Fiorito, social justice activist and theologian Rev. Bill Ryan SJ, social justice activist Doryne Kirby, environmentalist Rev. Greg Kennedy SJ, and last year’s, social justice activist and former Wellander, Ellen Kaas.
Distinguished Speaker Night is being held Monday, November 26 in St. Kevin church, 303 Niagara St.  A question and answer session will follow the address. The program gets underway at 7 p.m.  It is open to the community.

New-Look Tip Off Tourney At ND This Weekend

(Supplied graphic)

WELLAND – Notre Dame’s Tip Off Tournament unveils a new format for its 20th anniversary year.

“We wanted to honour the former (ND) coaches by naming pools after them,” coach Mark Gallagher wrote in email correspondence.

The pools are named after: Father Patrick Fogarty, Jack Chambers, Ralph Nero and Mike Rao.

The tournament is scheduled tomorrow, Friday, November 23 and Saturday, November 24 at Notre Dame. The games will be in Dillon Hall and Belcastro Gym.

The Irish will play their first game Friday, 1pm, when they meet Father Goetz Gators from Mississauga in Dillon Hall.

Saturday’s games will be updated after Friday’s results are known.

The championship game will be played Saturday, 230pm in Dillon Hall and the consolation championship, also 230pm, Belcastro Gym.

The pools and tournament schedule are shown above.

Poinsettia Display Returns To Niagara Parks Floral Showhouse

Popular seasonal display will take place from November 24 – January 12, 2019

NIAGARA FALLS, ON – A family tradition for over 70 years, the Niagara Parks Floral Showhouse continues to showcase the best of the holiday season, featuring vibrantly coloured arrangements, including poinsettias, cyclamen, blue spruce and many other Christmas surprises.

A visit to the Floral Showhouse would not be complete without a stroll through the Life on Display exhibit, located throughout the gardens outside. Explore the grounds, including traditional-themed holiday lighting displays as part of Niagara Parks’ Aura: Let it Glow celebrations, which have added several incredible illumination-themed events to the Ontario Power Generation Winter Festival of Lights. The annual festival transforms Niagara Falls into a palette of breathtaking colour with millions of sparkling lights and animated displays, located within Niagara Parks, Dufferin Islands and surrounding tourist districts. For more information and updates, please visit: niagaraparks.com/aura.

Location: Niagara Parks Floral Showhouse, 7145 Niagara Parkway, Niagara Falls, Ontario. Parking available on-site.

Hours of Operation: Daily 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., with varying extended evening hours throughout December. Please visit niagaraparks.com/hours to confirm prior to your visit.

Admission: Adults $5.00,
Children (ages 6-12) $3.75, Children 5 and under FREE
Season passes are also available.

Open year-round, the Floral Showhouse hosts seven unique shows per year to reflect the changing seasons, along with the collections of orchids, succulents and other tropical plant species on display.

(Source: Niagara Parks)