Each week in this space we compile the most widely read stories from the past week.
All You Need is Love, says Steffanie Bjorgan of Red Roof Retreat
Love has seen the charity through its first 25 years, and will help it to grow bigger and better, as an 'awareness campaign' announced, appropriately, on Valentine's Day. The Red Roof board is hoping to move forward with a rebuild of The Ranch on Concession 6, with a two-storey house that will provide a larger space and much-needed accessibility to offer more programming and respite care. For details of the first stage of the campaign, click here.
George Webber narrates Niagara's early Black history through the eyes of 'Joshua'
'Life and death in NOTL: From a Slave's Perspective,' tells how an enslaved man may have heard of the Underground Railroad, the route to a life filled with hope and light in Canada. Webber, a NOTL resident, created a fictitious character representing one of many very real “Freedom-Seekers” fleeing enslavement in the early- to mid-1850s, and told his story during a new speaker series at Brock University. Learn about Joshua here.
GALLERY: Keystone Awards recognize businesses for job creation
Arterra Wines, Lepp Farms, Reif Estate Winery, Revel Real Estate and the Oban Inn among the winners of Keystone Awards presented at the Winery Restaurant at Peller Estate. The awards were recognizing the top entrepreneurs and job creators from the Niagara Region. Above are Eva Kessel and Klaus Reif celebrating the winery's win with Keystone's Dean French (centre). For more winners' photos, click here.
Joy Tries It: Lobster, linguini and love at Peller Estates
Joy Sanguedolce learned how to make lobster linguini with Jason Parsons, executive chef from The Winery Restaurant at Peller Estates. While her cooking lesson was just in time for Valentine's Day, lobster linguini is featured on the restaurant's menu regularly. Learn about the signature dish here.
Today's kids are more anxious than ever; Unplugged Canada urges parents to sign a pledge to help their children stay away from the influence of phones and social media until an appropriate age. Unplugged's goal is to have 10,000 Canadian parents signed up by the end of 2025. Reporter Mike Balsom thinks that number is way too conservative. Learn why here.
Change in the air for NOTL's procedural bylaw
Talking about revising the bylaw that dictates policies of how NOTL meetings are conducted at town hall, councillors discussed making changes to closed-door sessions, hearing more often from their NOTL regional councillor, and avoiding any talk of international wars. Learn what else they had to say here.
Weird and wacky exhibits at Navy Hall fireside chat
Unique shaving bowls, a cruet stand and a cellarette were among the items dug out from the Parks Canada collection for the first of four Friday events in February. Read about those items, and what else will be discussed beside the cozy fireplace at future Navy Hall chats here.
Sell to a developer, demolish, rebuild or renovate legion hall - all options on the table
Members of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 124 are looking at a path forward for their King Street hall, but still have a lot of information to gather before they can make a decision. They are considering options that include selling the property to a developer to build something that could include space for the legion, as in Port Dalhousie, or possibly rebuilding themselves. A major enovation to the existing hall is also on the table, along with doing only what is immedately necessary. Learn the details here.
Learn about team that responds to 911 call about someone falling
The Learn and Live program at the NOTL Public Library will feature a paramedic and an occupational therapist to talk about what happens when someone calls 911 to report a fall. They will be at the library on Feb. 24 to also explain what can be done to help seniors who are in danger of falling. Learn about the regional program here.
If re-elected, PCs promise $35 million to rebuild Royal George
During Doug Ford's appearance at the Niagara District Airport last week, he made it sound as if the funding had already been given to the Shaw, but his press secretary clarified it would be if the PCs are re-elected. Shaw Festival executive director Tim Jennings was at the airport hoping to hear about the funding, and told The Local Monday was still waiting for the official word about the funding, which he hoping will come from the provincial government to help build a new theatre on the property where the Royal George is now. Read the details here.
Celebrated local author to host library teen book club
Sharon Frayne will lead a discussion of her award-winning novel, The Sound of a Rainbow, at the NOTL Public Library this week. She will read excerpts from the book, talk about how it came to written in unusual circumstances, and the messages it might hold for others for the The Paper Cuts Young Adult Book Club. Learn more about Frayne and the book club here.