Issuu

> Volunteers band to support Grimsby restaurants with free delivery system /Pg 10 > Blood donations still needed Pg 4 > Economic response team in place, ready Pg 6 > Work together - stop COVID: Dr. Joan Bellaire Pg 15 Thursday, March 26, 2020 Vol. 8 Issue 48

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On a wing and a prayer

Many, such as St. Joseph Church’s Fr. Rico Passero, have found ways to innovate these days. Photos of his parishioners in Grimsby fill the pews while

Circ: 26,529

daily Mass is celebrated by live-stream bringing all together in spirit as a church family. For details, see Page 3. Photo courtesy of Fr. Rico Passero

COVID-19: Prevention key to saving lives By Mike Williscraft For NewsNow Despite school closures, requests for social distancing and suggested 14-day self-quarantine for anyone returning to Canada, many are not adhering to these guidelines as the COVID-19 incidence rate continues to escalate. The lack of attention to these preventative measures forced Premier Doug Ford to issue a closure notice to all non-essential businesses in Ontario effective Wednesday, March 28, at midnight. The number of area residents who are not taking the issue seriously was clearly evidenced by the

numbers of people who flocked to Beamers Conservation Area on the weekend. With vehicles parked all along the Quarry Road entranceway to Beamer’s both Saturday and Sunday and several hundred making their way along the paths throughout the area it painted a stark picture for one resident. “I just wondered what all those people were thinking,” said a caller to NewsNow who lives along Ridge Road, near Quarry Road. “Cars and people were everywhere, like it was Thanksgiving weekend. People from all over, who knows who they would come in

contact with.” That was not the only example of local residents brushing off pleas to stay home and/or self isolate. Another caller Saturday morning outlined a disturbing circumstance she encountered while grocery shopping Friday evening. “I had got some toilet paper at the SuperStore after looking for a week and a lady approached me as I walked out. The lady asked how much the toilet paper cost,” recalled the caller, who wished to remain anonymous. “When I told the lady how much it was, she said it was so much cheaper in the States. I asked, “you were

down there?” “She said, ‘We just got back’.” I said to her “you are not supposed to be in the store, you are supposed to be home self-isolating.” “I said, “I am shopping for someone who just got back from Florida yesterday, getting them groceries and dropping them off on their porch. She said she had nobody to do that.” More surprising than that exchange was her closing comment. “The person checking me out said she had had five people that day say they just got back from Florida,” the caller added. See DISTANCE, Page 3

Page 2 • News Now • Thursday, March 26, 2020

News Now • Thursday, March 26, 2020 • Page 3

St. Joseph livestreams Mass to parishioners By Joanne McDonald St. Joseph Catholic Church parishioners may not be sitting shoulder to shoulder but they are together in spirit celebrating the Mass during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fr. Rico Passero and staff at the Grimsby church printed hundreds of photos from the parish directory and taped them to the pews where parishioners would normally sit. Now as he livestreams the celebration of the Mass, Fr. Passero can see the faces of the congregation as they join him online, connected to their church family. The response has been overwhelming with 1,300 views joining the St. Joe’s Mass this past Sunday. Parishioners welcome the message to not feel alone or despair but to stay connected.

“Overall it’s absolutely amazing and gives us a sense of hope,” Fr. Passero said. “I remind people not to panic, God is bigger than a virus and when we are united in prayer we are not alone.” An answer to prayer, it’s been a creative approach to allow parishioners to be present as a community. As the spread of the coronavirus moved from concern to the level of pandemic Fr. Passero was determined to bring hope to home ground. The inspiration came from Fr. Guiseppe Corbari, pastor of a church in Milan, Italy, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak. “He felt he didn’t want to celebrate Mass to an empty church and had parishioners send photos that he could tape to the pews.”

Fr. Rico Passero livestreams Mass from St. Joseph Church in Grimsby, while photos taped to the pews keep parishioners together in spirit. Fr. Passero thought St. lowing people to stay at have the virus, medical Joe’s could do the same. home, pray as a family, professionals, those who They printed more than “and heed the words of have died and those who 400 photos from the Jesus ‘do not be afraid.’” are mourning their loss. church’s 3,000 families, It’s been a steep learnThe daily Mass is being “and with the help of ing curve, Fr. Passero streamed on the parish staff we taped the pho- had to learn how to do YouTube Channel: St. tos to the pews where this in a very short time Joseph Catholic Church they worshipped.” and he is answering calls Grimsby. Since Wednesday Fr. to help others do the Also the Sunday Mass Passero has been live same in their churches. is recorded and posted streaming the daily Mass The congregation is on the parish website: and Rosary prayers al- praying for all those who stjosephgrimsby.ca

DISTANCE

From Page 1 When announcing the closure of all nonessential businesses, Premier Ford made his feelings clear. “Go directly home and stay home. You are putting thousands and thousands of people at risk,” said Ford of those ingnoring the 14-day self-quarantine order. Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton agreed. “Cavalier attitudes about social distancing, self-isolation and vigorous hand washing routines will put you and your community at risk,” said Easton. “Pay attention. Follow the public health rules. Smarten up!” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday bringing in the military to ensure compliance is one of the measures being considered at this time.

A COVID-19 update as it relates to Mortgage Rates. Mortgage rates are on the rise.

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All mortgage lenders have been frantically raising fixedterm mortgage rates since last week due to liquidity concerns and heightened credit risk over COVID-19 related anticipated payment default by consumers and businesses. The fixed-rate increases continued over the weekend and are expected to continue indefinitely. Variable-rate mortgage rates are also on the rise as discounts from the Prime rate are quickly evaporating. Since March 4th, the Prime rate has dropped one percent. Rather than passing on this one-point “savings” to mortgage borrowers, most mortgage lenders have increased or completely eliminated the discounts they had been offering off their variable rate mortgages. For example, instead of seeing 1.85%, we are now seeing 2.95% for a variable rate mortgage, which is still a great low rate in my opinion. This rate hike is similar to what happened in October 2008; I remember that month, overnight, the big banks changed their variable-rate mortgage pricing from Prime less 1%, to Prime plus 1%. This was, essentially, a 2% increase overnight. If housing prices drop in the next while, then the impact of these interest rate increases is not as damaging for purchasers of new and resale homes, as the savings of the decreasedpurchase price will offset the rate spike. This recent rate hike is going to affect those homeowners who have lost employment income from this COVID crisis, and who need to refinance their mortgage to improve their cash-flow. Not only are these borrowers dealing with higher rates, they are also going to be approved for a lower mortgage amount if their house value drops. If you are interested in staying more up-to-date than this weekly update, please find me on Facebook, where I am posting daily.

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Blood donors still needed during COVID-19 pandemic By Tristan Marks NewsNow The need for blood goes on, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Canadian Blood Services (CBS) constantly requires blood, stem cells, plasma and organ and tissue donors to keep supporting the Canadians who need those products to survive. “To ensure we can continue to meet the needs of Canadian patients, we need everyone who is eligible and healthy to continue to book and honour their appointments to donate blood,” said Delphine Denis, CBS manager of media relations. “Although the national inventory is currently strong, this significant increase in cancellations is a warning sign of potential challenges to maintaining a healthy inventory of blood and blood products for patients in Canada.” Denis said that donors are encouraged to book appointments to give blood at any of CBS’s permanent clinics

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News Now • Thursday, March 26, 2020 • Page 5

SAM OOSTERHOFF MPP Niagara West

want to assure the community your government is working extremely hard to make sure the lives and well-being of all citizens in Ontario are protected, and we will be working around the clock to get relief to those who need it.

Greetings,

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING INVITATION We would like to let the community know our Food Bank operations remain open as the Province of Ontario has declared we are classified as Essential Services. The food bank is operating Tuesday-Friday from 10 am-2 pm.

Food donations are being collected at grocery stores as well as outside in our retail store collection box.

We will be closing our office to outside visitors and declining to participate in events for the interim basis, and will reassess this position, reflecting on the best advice of public health officials and our colleagues. Until then, we will continuing offering services via email, phone and fax to communicate with our constituents.

Thanks for your patience and understanding,

Information is changing daily, even hourly.You can access the most recent information on COVID-19 and take a self-assessment at:

Emergency visits can be arranged by calling 905-309-5664, ext. 22. The Board of Directors and administration of We are ready to serve and take care of our community. the GBF Community Services cordially invites Donations can be made on line, visit: gbfgrimsby.com you to join us at our Annual Meeting.

Thursday, June 6, 2019 Any one self-isolating who may need our service, please call us to arrange 6:00PM a delivery of food to door step. Stacy Elia, Executive Director Chambers Town Hall, Council GBF Community Services 160 Livingston Ave Grimsby, ONassistance, please contact Stacy at For required

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Light refreshments will be served. 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

What you need to know to help you and your family stay healthy.

Join us in celebrating GBF Community Services’ achievements and successes of the past year and the impact it’s had on our community.

• Only visit an assessment centre if you have been referred by a health care professional. • Avoid non-essential travel. • Monitor for symptoms after travel. • Be prepared, but avoid panic stocking. • Caring for those who are ill? Take precautions. • Clean high-touch surfaces regularly. • Order your prescription medication. • Practice cough and sneeze etiquette in transit.

If you have symptoms, take the self-assessment at ontario.ca/coronavirus. Or call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007) or your public health unit.

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• Wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer • Sneeze and cough into your sleeve • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth • Self Isolation 14 days - a history of possible exposure to the novel coronavirus due to travel outside of Canada or close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 • Contact Telehealth Ontario at (866) 797-0000 or your primary care provider if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID19. • For local inquiries, call the Niagara Region COVID19 Information Line at (888) 505-6074. • COVID-19 assessment centres in the Niagara Region are located at 5673 North Street, Niagara Falls, behind the Greater Niagara General Site of Niagara Health and The Walker Family Cancer Centre, at rear of the St. Catharines Site at 1200 Fourth Ave. Please do not visit an assessment centre unless you have been referred by a health care professional.

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Page 6 • News Now • Thursday, March 26, 2020

Migrant farm workers exempt from border shut-down By Joanne McDonald For NewsNow The federal government will allow migrant farm workers to cross the border to work in Canada. It was welcome news following a week of intense lobbying for an exemption from the border restrictions and is being met with cautious optimism as growers wait for the process to be confirmed. “The devil is in the details,” Niagara West MP Dean Allison said Saturday calling for

further resolution of the decision. “We’re still a little confused and we still need clarification on this.” Time is critical. “I heed the warnings of our farmers. There is a chance we may not get a crop in the ground,” Allison said. “For farmers this would be devastating if we can’t plant. It’s imperative we get it cleared up right away.” An estimated 3,000 migrant workers are expected to be working on Niagara farms this season. Many of

them are waiting to arrive. It was announced that in addition to health screening protocols they will need to observe a 14-day period of self-isolation and that further de-

tails would be coming shortly. “We’re waiting for information to trickle down to the provincial level,” Sarah Marshall, Manager of the Ontario Tender Fruit Grow-

ers said Friday. “We are cautiously optimistic that something can work but right now have no idea,” Marshall said. “There is still a lot of confusion.”

“We have to make sure the health of the workers and consumers are all taken into consideration with proper protocols in place.” See FARMS, Page 13

Town of Lincoln economic development officer Paul Di Ianni will represent the three municipalities of West Niagara on the newlyformed Niagara Economic Rapid Response Team (ERRT). The team, which consists of the heads of economic development

offices across Niagara, was assembled by Niagara’s Mayors and the Regional Chair on March 18 to support businesses across the region during the present difficult times, as well as advocate on behalf of Niagara’s business community with other levels of government. Di Ianni said that it’s important to respond to a threat that knows no borders by coming together. “I want to stress that we are working together across Niagara,” said Di Ianni. “We are having daily conference calls to share updates on new information to help local businesses.” The ERRT’s first major project is to gather data through a region wide business impact survey. The survey, which

has been disseminated through each lower-tier municipality, is meant to gather statistics on how various businesses and industries are being affected by COVID-19. “Once we have that hard data, we will use it to advocate for our businesses,” said Di Ianni, adding that it will help show the Provincial and Federal government how and where to implement financial support. The ERRT also hosts a website, which contains links business owners can follow to find important information, such as aid announcements, applications and so on. This can be found at niagaracanada.com/ services/business-support. All this also comes alongside action being

taken at a lower-tier municipal level. Lincoln has moved to help ease financial burdens for its residents. Measures include instituting a grace period for late fee payments on property taxes, water payments, and accounts receivable, deferring them until July 30. Lincoln CAO Mike Kirkopoulos said the Town is prioritzing support and recovery. “We are listening to our residents and looking for ways to support everyone,” said Kirkopoulos. “Once we get to the recovery phase of this pandemic, every concerted effort will be made to support our businesses and community, and I know I speak for this administration and council when I say this will be a focus.”

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News Now â€˘ Thursday, March 26, 2020 â€˘ Page 7

Community supporting community.

We all have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis. In an effort to help our local businesses struggling with unprecedented limitations, a number of community organizations have come together to launch toyourdoorstep.ca This is an online ordering and payment platform with options for delivery and pickup from local businesses. We want to promote social distancing and public health awareness so we have created a platform for non-contact ordering, payment, pickup or delivery.

Watch for our website launch this week, and support our local businesses in this challenging time.

If you would like to volunteer as a driver for this initiative, email us: volunteers@toyourdoorstep.ca.

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**Businesses must provide proof of protocols for non-contact food preparation and packaging. Drivers will be trained on safe handling and social distancing specific to non-contact pickup and delivery.

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Page 8 • News Now • Thursday, March 26, 2020

News Now • Thursday, March 26, 2020 • Page 9

West Niagara Mayors’ Message To the residents of Lincoln, Grimsby and West Lincoln – On behalf of our three communities, as Mayors, we wanted to reach out to all of you.

• When coughing or sneezing: cough or sneeze into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand

thankful for these employers and local heroes contributing to the strength of our economy and finding ways to give back.

As we work together to control the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic, it is important that we all remain calm and look out for each other as we navigate through this challenging time. We live in a resilient community; we know what hard work is and what it means to help one another during difficult times.

• Dispose of any tissues you have used as soon as possible in a lined waste basket and wash your hands afterwards

We are a community of capable, talented, and full-hearted individuals who fill roles in health care, education, public safety and first responders, business, and civic organizations. We are all doing our very best every day to keep our Town moving and functioning, especially during these trying times. Working together, we will overcome these challenges and come out more resilient.

Stay 6 feet (2 metres, 2 arms-length) away from others when going for walks, shopping or groceries

We are strong communities – we are proud communities - and we are communities that look after one another. Together we will see brighter days

Avoid non-essential trips in the community. Stay home.

We have heard from the health experts what it will take to conquer this virus. Until that time, we must follow the recommendations of the Province, the Federal Government, local municipal governments and the Niagara Region Public Health Team. Directives should be followed so we may each do our part to “stop the spread”. Social distancing has become the new norm, now we hear it should be physical distancing – what this means is that we need to limit our contact with people. Everything we know and have learned tells us this is one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of illness during an outbreak. This means making changes in your everyday routines to minimize close contact with others, including: • Stay 6 feet (2 metres, 2 arms-length) away from others when going for walks, shopping or groceries • Avoid non-essential trips in the community • Limit or cancel non-essential gatherings • Do not shake hands or hug • Limiting contact with people at higher risk like older adults and those in poor health Exercise common sense: If you feel sick, stay home. Do not go to work, do not run errands. If someone in your household has tested positive for COVID-19, keep the entire household at home. Do not go to work. Take extra precautions. Protect yourself and others. Avoid social gatherings. Practice good hygiene: • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the washroom and when preparing food • Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands Another important factor to consider is self-isolation, physically distance yourselves, stay at home, monitor yourself for symptoms, even if mild, for 14 days, and avoid contact with others. We know this can be difficult, but this will help prevent the spread. As we head down this path, it is important to look out for those that are most vulnerable in our community. Reach out to those seniors who are on their own, give them a call and ask if they need any help. Reach out to your neighbours and ask them if they need a helping hand. Call your family and friends and reassure them that together we can overcome these difficult times and let them know that you are thinking about them. We’ve been blessed to have volunteers and service organizations offer their help to provide meals for seniors and shop for those who are unable to do it themselves. How can you do your part? Adhere to the health guidelines spelled out earlier and please have patience. Find a way to help your neighbor or those in need, but do so carefully. Spend time on the phone, or through virtual means, in whatever way you can - with your family and friends - but please do not go out unless you need to. Our local Councils, and Town Departments have implemented procedures to ensure core, essential and required residential services are not disrupted while protecting the health and safety of our employees. We are also giving full attention to the economic impact of this pandemic. Many local businesses are still open, some with adjusted hours and procedures, those deemed by the province as non-essential will be closed for two weeks, but others will remain open. Many restaurants and bars are offering drive-thru, pickup, and delivery options – continue to support these community establishments. Whether now, or in two weeks, we should do as much as we can to help our local businesses survive within the safe public health parameters. Local industries are quickly, efficiently and innovatively working to find ways to support our region, and our province. We have seen the greatness of humanity and the human spirit shine in the last few weeks. We should be

Sincerely,

Social Distancing Limit or cancel nonessential gatherings Limiting contact with people at higher risk like older adults and those in poor health Do not shake hands or hug

Practice good hygiene:

Sandra Easton, Mayor Lincoln

Dave Bylsma, Mayor West Lincoln

Jeff Jordan, Mayor Grimsby

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the washroom and when preparing food Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands

When coughing or sneezing: cough or sneeze into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand Dispose of any tissues you have used as soon as possible in a lined waste basket and wash your hands afterwards

Stay up to date on how each of our municipalities are planning & responding to Coronavirus. Lincoln.ca/coronavirus | Grimsby.ca | Westlincoln.ca

Page 10 • News Now • Thursday, March 26, 2020

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Community helping community, one dinner at a time Anyone who lives in Niagara West knows it is an area with huge heart. Case in point, a group of area residents has quickly banded together, cooked up a concept, built a website and created an infrastructure which could help Grimsby restaurants survive and help those who need/want, food delivery. “We know our area restaurants are hurting and we thought something like this could help,” said Simon Duong, one of the organizers. “The idea is to help our local restaurants survive while ensuring all suitable government guidelines are followed.” Key to the success of the plan

is its “non-contact ordering, payment, pickup or delivery.” “That is important as we want it safe for everyone,” said Duong. The group is seeking volunteers to act as drivers. If you would like to help, email: volunteers@toyourdoorstep.ca Duong noted that the service covers Grimsby only and is starting with support just for restaurants - The Judge and Jester, Station 1 Coffee House, Casa Toscana and The Forty Public House - but others can get involved by contacting organizers at: inquiries@toyourdoorstep.ca There is no fee, rather any tip or donation will go directly to the

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business from which the order originated. Once the system is up and running- by Friday is the plan- it will be possible to expand the program into Lincoln or West Lincoln as long as volunteers from those communities are on board. “We are confident we have support to take care of Grimsby, but we cannot spread ourselves too thin. If volunteers in other communities come forward, we can expand our platform to help them out as well,” said Duong. “The businesses in our community have been here for us time and time again. This time it is our turn.”

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FIND YOURS TODAY AT GMCOFFERS.CA Limited time offer which may not be combined with certain other offers. General Motors of Canada Company (GM Canada) may modify, extend or terminate offers for any reason, in whole or in part, at any time, without notice. Conditions and limitations apply. Void where prohibited. See Dealer for full program details. Credits vary by model. Dealer may sell for less. Factory order may be required. Chargeable paint costs may vary depending on the vehicle/colour. These offers may not be redeemed for cash and may not be combined with certain other consumer incentives. Credits vary by model. Dealer may sell for less. ^ Offer available to qualified retail customers in Canada for vehicles purchased and delivered between March 3, 2020 to March 31, 2020. Lease based on suggested retail price of $46,404, towards the lease of an eligible 2020 Sierra 1500 Crew Cab Black Edition. Bi-weekly payment is $158 for 24 months at 1.9% lease rate (1.9% APR) on approved credit to qualified retail customers by GM Financial. The $79 weekly payment is calculated by dividing the bi-weekly payments. Payments cannot be made on a weekly basis. Equivalent weekly payments are for informational purposes only. Annual kilometer limit of 20,000 km, $0.16 per excess kilometer. $2,900 down payment required. Payment may vary depending on down payment trade. Total obligation is $11,102. Taxes, license, insurance, registration and applicable fees, levies, duties and, except in Quebec, dealer fees (all of which may vary by dealer and region) are extra. Option to purchase at lease end is $36,939. ◊Offer available to qualified retail customers in Canada for vehicles purchased and delivered between March 3, 2020 to March 31, 2020. Total value includes $10,000 (tax exclusive; includes $2,000 cash delivery allowance, $6,500 non-stackable cash credits, $500 option package discount and $1,000 RST bonus); applies to cash purchases of new 2020 Sierra Elevation models at participating dealers in Canada. By selecting lease or finance offers, consumers are foregoing this $10,000 credit which will result in higher effective interest rates. ≤ Offer available to qualified retail customers in Canada for vehicles purchased and delivered between March 3, 2020 to March 31, 2020. Lease based on suggested retail price of $34,288, towards the lease of an eligible 2020 Terrain SLE FWD Elevation. Bi-weekly payment is $192 for 48 months at 1% lease rate (1% APR) on approved credit to qualified retail customers by GM Financial. The $96 weekly payment is calculated by dividing the bi-weekly payments. Payments cannot be made on a weekly basis. Equivalent weekly payments are for informational purposes only. Annual kilometer limit of 20,000 km, $0.16 per excess kilometer. $0 down payment required. Payment may vary depending on down payment trade. Total obligation is $19,847. Taxes, license, insurance, registration and applicable fees, levies, duties and, except in Quebec, dealer fees (all of which may vary by dealer and region) are extra. Option to purchase at lease end is $15,430. € Safety or driver assistance features are no substitute for the driver’s responsibilities to operate the vehicle in a safe manner. The drive should remain attentive to traffic, surrounds and road conditions at all times. Visibility, weather, and road conditions may affect feature performance. Read the vehicle Owner’s Manual for more important feature limitations and information. * To qualify for the Costco Member Pricing, you must be a Canadian resident holding a valid driver’s license, have been a Costco member since January 2, 2020, or earlier and must: (1) Register with Costco to receive your non-transferable Authorization Number; (2) Present the Authorization Number to a participating dealer; (3) Retail purchase, finance or lease an eligible new or demonstrator in-stock 2020 GMC: Terrain, Acadia delivered from January 3, 2020, to March 31, 2020. In addition, to receive a $500 Costco Shop Card by email, submit a redemption form to Costco within thirty (30) days of vehicle delivery and complete a Costco member satisfaction survey. Please allow three weeks for Costco Shop Card delivery, pending completion of all eligibility requirements; including redemption form submission, purchase verification and survey completion. Costco Shop Cards will be emailed to the email address provided to Costco at the time of registration. The purchase or lease of a vehicle does not qualify for the calculation of the Costco Executive Membership 2% Reward. Offer may not be redeemed for cash. Conditions and limitations apply to this limited time offer. For full program details and for any applicable exclusions see a participating dealer or costcoauto.ca/GM. For Costco Shop Card terms and conditions, visit Costco.ca and search “Shop Card”. Tax, title, registration and license fees, personal property registration fees, and additional products and services are not included in the Costco Member Pricing. Offer is valid at participating authorized GM Canada dealers. Offer not available in the U.S. or Mexico. Offer is subject to change without notice. Void where prohibited. Costco and its affiliates do not sell automobiles nor negotiate individual transactions. ®: Registered trademark of Price Costco International, Inc. used under license. × Whichever comes first. Limit of four complimentary Lube-Oil-Filter services in total. Fluid top-offs, inspections, tire rotations, wheel alignments and balancing, etc., are not covered. See the Warranty Booklet or your dealer for details. ∞ Whichever comes first. See your dealer. Δ Visit onstar.ca for vehicle availability, coverage maps, details and system limitations. Services and connectivity vary by model and conditions as well as geographical and technical restrictions. 4G LTE service available in select markets. Requires active connected vehicle services and a data plan to access the vehicle’s built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. Accessory Power must be active to use the Wi-Fi hotspot. Data plans provided by AT&T or its local service provider. Credit card is required for purchase.

Page 12 • News Now • Thursday, March 26, 2020

classifieds 289-235-9500 takin’ care of business sports To Advertise in the business Classifieds VEHICLES WANTED

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Please call to place your Classified Ad OBITUARIES

Griffin, Barbara Anne

Passed away at the Hamilton General Hospital on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 in her 87th year. Beloved wife of Bill for over 62 years. Loving mother of Lisa Griffin, Robert (Sharon), David, and Billy (Tammy). Cherished grandmother of Matthew, Tommy, Jennifer, Lauren (Lukas). Jamie (Nathan), Kayla, Zoe, Liam and Shane. Proud great-grandmother of Nova. Dear sister of Elva McKeracher. Missed also by her dear friend Jan (Mal) White. Predeceased by her sister, May Cervantes and brother, Frank Morris. Special thanks to the doctors and nurses of the palliative care team at the Hamilton General Hospital for their care and compassion. As per Barb’s wishes, cremation has taken place. If desired as an expression of sympathy, donations made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation would be sincerely appreciated by the family. Arrangements entrusted to STONEHOUSEWHITCOMB FUNERAL HOME, GRIMSBY, 905945-2755. www.smithsfh.com

McNeil, Jean Doreen

Jean (nee Gordon) passed away peacefully, after a time of declining health on Sunday, March 22, 2020 at the age of 86. Beloved wife for 55 years of the late Bob (2009) she has now joined him and their youngest son Todd (1996). Jean was predeceased by her 3 brothers. Much loved and missed by her children Robert (Bonnie), Shelley, Scott (Pat), Grant (Roger) and Craig (Debbie). Cherished Grandma of Laina (Nathan), Stephanie (Owen), Sarah (Travis), Robert (Hailey), Heather, Erin (Chad), Kaitlyn (Nathan), Justine, Connor, Cameron and Clayton and Grammy to seven beautiful great-grandchildren and many wonderful lifelong friends. Mom was cherished by her family for her selfless love and compassion and, with Dad, was admired by many business friends and colleagues. Special thanks to the wonderful Visiting Angels and the caring staff of Albright Manor who made her life better these last few years. Cremation has taken place. Given the COVID-19 illness, a service to celebrate Jean’s life will be held when it is safe to do so. Mom would want you to take care of one another in these fearful times and to “hug your honey every day…it’ll help you stick together.” If desired, donations in memory of our Mom to Canadian Hearing Services, West Lincoln Memorial Auxiliary or Trinity United Church, Beamsville, would be appreciated by the family. Arrangements entrusted to Stonehouse-Whitcomb Funeral Home, Grimsby, 905-945-2755, www.smithsfh.com.

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ALL CLAIMS against the estate of WILHELMINA COKER late of Grimsby, Ontario, who died on October 18, 2018, must be filed with the undersigned by June 22, 2020. Thereafter the assets of the Estate will be distributed having regard only to those claims then filed. Dated March 11, 2020 JEFFREY GREENHOW, LL.B. 274 Main Street East, 3rd Floor Grimsby, Ontario L3M 1P8 Solicitor for Sally Simmons Knapman, the Estate Trustees

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News Now • Thursday, March 26, 2020 • Page 13 FARMS From Page 6 “The worst-case scenario for my industry is no tree fruit but it’s far more reaching than that,” Marshall said. An estimated 60,000 temporary foreign workers are employed across Canada. “We are trying to keep up with information that is flowing so quickly. It’s overwhelming. It’s about food security. A lot of people are suffering financially, we have to think about our food supply,” Marshall said. Calling the employment an essential service, Allison said there have been multiple interventions over the past week to allow the workers to cross the border. “Farmers more than anybody are concerned about food

safety issues. We’ll keep pushing the issue,” Allison said. Chris Hamilton, President of the Niagara Federation of Agriculture said he was overjoyed to hear the workers may be allowed across the border. “Clearly there will be an abundance of caution by farm operators,” Hamilton said. Hamilton said speaking with farm operators he’s been told they will isolate workers at their farm housing and will have supplies delivered to them. “These are some of the measures farmers are taking on themselves without even being requested.” “We don’t yet know the requirements.” “Nobody wants to bring the virus to the country. But we need

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to get the work done.” “I thank the government for its efforts and fast response. I hope they can carry into the future the same understanding of the needs of farmers.” Last week local farmers and farm organizations were scrambling to call government attention to the consequences of barring the trained workers from crossing the border. They said food security was at risk if migrant farm workers, the backbone of Niagara’s agricultural industry, could not enter the country. Phil Tregunno, farmer and chair of the Ontario Tender Fruit Growers said there

was no way possible farmers can produce enough horticultural products without the migrant workers. He said timing was critical as many crops will have to be planted and that it would be a missed opportunity if the government waits too long to make the decision.

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Page 14 • News Now • Thursday, March 26, 2020

100% Niagara owned & operated Our Team: Publisher - Mike Williscraft mike@wn3.ca 289-442-4244 General Manager - Catherine Bratton Reporter - Tristan Marks Sales Consultant - Erica Huisman, Rose Bayer Graphics - Donna Wisnoski NewsNow is owned & operated by 1602207 Ontario Ltd. Office Locations Grimsby Office Beamsville Office 1 Mountain Street, P.O Box 614 Grimsby, ON, L3M 3J6 Beamsville, ON, L0R 1B0 Ph: 289-235-9500 Ph: 289-235-7848 NewsNow is published EVERY Thursday delivered to homes in West Niagara & Winona, 26,529.

In this together

The Voorberg sisters (L-R) Hailey, 6, Georgia, 8, and Hannah, 6 pose in front of the sign they posted in the window of their Grimsby home. With a little help from mom and dad, the girls made their message to help lift the spirits of neighbours and passers-by during these troubled times. Marks - Photo

Tale of two Towns This is not the time to be harping on Grimsby Council, but a simple observation is a must after both Grimsby and Lincoln approved essentially the same measure in very different ways. Both approved bylaws giving the CAO power to act given the fluid state of change in this COVID-19 environment. Lincoln presented simple information - with which Grimsby really should change its bylaw to align - which led to the CAO having decision-making ability but he will work with a caucus of council, an executive, if you will. Grimsby’s first mistake - in an environment of significant distrust of the COA both from some on council and in the general public - was approving a motion which designated the CAO solely as having control. Grimsby, too, should have a caucus involved, no question, and not a single member of the Grimsby 5 should be in that caucus. That said, council will review any way possible to support Grimsby’s business community including possibly lightening the tax load and disseminating all government support information at a special meeting Wednesday, March 25. M.W.

Community starting to rise up Wow! I don’t know about you guys but I feel like I just went 15 rounds with Mike Tyson (in his prime). The community residents and businesses have sustained many body blows and a few connecting headshots since we last chatted. First, we need to deal with the obvious....you boneheads who are coming home from Florida and marching right into one of our local grocery stores...give your heads a collective shake. If you don’t have a close friend or a relative who can help, call me - cell, 289-442-4244 or office, 289-235-9500. I have had many people call and offer their help to get groceries or medical needs to shut-ins or people who simply require support due to their 14-day self-quarantine. As the prime minister said, “Go home. Stay home.” Nothing personal, and it has been said all over the place many times, you could be a carrier and not show a single symptom. You have no way to know, so you could think this entire thing 100 per cent silly. You feel fit as a fiddle. Great for you! However, you could quite literally kill someone and never know - no exaggeration. Same for people who want to get out for a walk. Yes, this is still permissible, but scenes like Beamers with 500-600 people in one area just should not happen. Sure it is outdoors, but there are also railings on the hawk watch tower, benches, picnic tables where others would come into contact over the

MIKE WILLISCRAFT span of a day. One thing history has shown, you can knock this community down, but we’re sure as heck getting back up again. How many times have we dragged ourselves off the mat to get behind West Lincoln Memorial Hospital? The difference in this case is, we’re getting slugged in the head by a faceless, bodiless foe. We may still be a touch punch drunk, but the signs are starting to pop up we are getting up. I have received several calls from residents offering to help anyone - anyone being someone facing a 14-day self-quarantine, shut-ins who need groceries or items from a pharmacy or household items or someone who does not have a contact in town who can help. If you want to help, call me and I will add your name to the list. Also, a group of local residents has banded together to create a one-stop shop for helping Grimsby residents connect for delivery from local restaurants. The no-touch delivery service is called To Your Door. You will find a story and an ad elsewhere in this edition with more details, so I don’t

want to duplicate, but that whole thing came together in a matter of days. Great work by dedicated people just trying to help some local eateries survive, at this point, and it has a platform which could allow it grow into other products and also flex into other communities. All done by volunteers at no fee to the customer but tips and donations will be directly back to each business from which an order originates. Changing hats to Grimsby Downtown Improvement Area Board, we hosted a webinar last Friday which featured marketing tips which can position any position to survive and put it in a stronger position when this whole mess subsides - and it will. I will be posting a link for the video on DIA’s Friendly By Nature facebook page, so all can take it in as they please. The DIA is also looking into developing another sales tool which could keep the wheels of commerce going even for businesses which have had their doors closed by Premier Doug Ford’s edict of essential businesses only. It is awfully hard to get these new pillars of support in place while trying to keep my own head above water but if the business community does not survive, I don’t either. We are that closely tied. So this message is about “get it together people” and abide by the government guidelines AND if you want to help, there are ways materializing to allow you to do that. Let’s get through this two weeks of immediate pain and see how we collectively do.

News Now • Thursday, March 26, 2020 • Page 15

Opinion: Working together to stop COVID in our community By: Dr. Joan Bellaire, MD For NewsNow My favourite African proverb comes to mind during this time, “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”. As the world and our community struggle with the COVID pandemic the importance of working together rings especially true. Our dedicated medical community: family doctors, nurses, hospital staff, administrators, midwives and all those working in other settings such as hospice, long-term care, and clinics, are working together to the best of our abilities to ensure we bring the community through this unusual and scary time. We are all providing care within our clinics, if an ‘in-clinic visit’ is necessary. But we are also utilizing measured protocols to ensure your safety, the safety of our staff and to limit the spread of the COVID virus. You might now ‘see’ your doctor through video conferencing, or by phone, when necessary for safety. We are trying hard to support those who are not feeling well, while limiting burdening the emergency department so those working in that department are able to prepare for a possible influx of patients sick with the COVID virus, who may require immediate support. The medical community is also supporting our hospital for those who need hospitalized care.

Some physicians are also supporting our community by working at the Assessment Clinics in Hamilton, and yet others have already put their names forward in case they’re needed to step into different disciplines of medicine that run critically short of doctors and nurses, simply to ensure that we all have care if the need arises as the peak of COVID infection comes. We in the medical community really need you to help us to get through this difficult time. You can do more to limit the spread of this virus than we can. If you are at all sick with cough, and or a fever, you absolutely must stay home and even stay quarantined from other family members for a full 14 days minimum. Everyone in the community is asked to stay home except for grocery or pharmacy shopping. This means you do not gather in person with anyone whom you are not currently living with - not for coffee or playdates or meeting up at the playground. We should all by now, be working from home or remotely unless your job has been deemed essential by the government, and you are required to leave your home to work. Do not do other shopping or go to meetings. While it has been ideal to be able to go for walks on our own, even this may change across our province and country shortly. It is clear that all of

OPINION us doing this well will save lives, actual lives of our own community members, and this includes your friends and neighbours and your healthcare workers. I would not look forward to being a province where people continued to gather, shop as if nothing has changed and the government had no choice, but to police us “sheltering in place” with fines and even the threat of jail terms as has happened in the US and abroad. I am very comforted to live in such a warm and compassionate community. We, as a collective, have always had a sense of pride that carried us over many rough patches together. We have learned the strength of knowing that we are in it together. We need this solidarity and commitment more than ever. Without our neighbours, our community members, our friends and co-workers, this extremely trying time can be very lonely, depressing and for some, an unsafe time. But, how can we as a compassionate caring community continue to provide that support when we all are encouraged to hunker down, stay indoors and practice social distancing? Our older population, or persons with chronic health problems are at a greater risk if exposed to COVID-19. Let us consider looking out

our front windows and regaining a sense of neighbourhood watch! Think of your neighbourhood, seniors, disabled persons, those under quarantine (and that will be an ongoing number of us) and those who are actually sick at home. Have you exchanged emails or phone numbers with your neighbours or found some other way to connect? Now would be a good time do so. It is so important to make connections and feel supported at this time, even while we keep our distance from everyone. All community groups no matter how formalized or informal (meaning anything from faith groups to quilting circles, Rotary clubs to curling teams) can set up their own ongoing outreach and ways to connect-online, via phone, etc. Do you have a health care worker living near you (nurses, xray technicians, environmental service worker, a hospital administrator, or MD)? Every one of us is working much longer hours than usual. A text, or even an email saying you are there if needed to take out their garbage or pick up groceries would be appreciated. Another way for our community to be compassionate is to share our resources with the lens of equity and parity. When you go grocery shopping please only purchase what you need for say, a two week period. Taking more than

that deprives the next family. Remember that in times of anxiety a human coping mechanism may be to hoard or panic buy. Talk to trusted friends or family if you feel that tendency so that you can regain perspective to purchase only that which you need for that two week time period. Do you have a box of N95 masks or loop masks, even one or two or three that you don’t need? Perhaps they are in your woodworking shop, or with your paint supplies. Please consider sharing with your family doctor’s office, midwife’s office, or McNally house hospice- these are

905.945.4161 www.grimsbyford.com

all vital healthcare locations that currently do not have a sufficient supply of masks to manage all this for the next several months. We know it won’t always feel like this. We will move through this uncertain time and this too shall pass. If we “trust, commit, and do our bit” I know that we will emerge wiser, stronger, and more connected than ever. I pray that you continue to feel comforted knowing your medical community is and will always be here to support you. (Dr. Joan Bellaire, MD, CCFP, FCFP is Lead Physician of Smithville Medical Center FHT)

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• $10 gift certificate courtesy of Teddy’s Food, Fun & Spirits, Brian Hodgkins • $10 Gift Card courtesy of Tim Hortons Grimsby, Chris Herstek • $10 gift certificate courtesy of Cole’s Florist, Kathy Marshall • Large, 3-Item Pizza, Pick-Up Only, courtesy of Amici’s Pizza, Ian McQueen Jr. • Two 60-minute massages, courtesy of Ontario College, Jen Smith • Peach Kings Prize Pack (4 tickets, snacks for a home game), Peter Wiebe • $10 Gift Card courtesy of Canadian Tire Grimsby, Phil Heinen Winners can stop by the NewsNow office to pick up their winnings. © NHLPA. Officially Licensed Product of the NHLPA. NHLPA, National Hockey League Players’ Association and the NHLPA logo are trademarks of the NHLPA

Top Standings

21. Ryan, Patrick ...... 1254 22. Fuller, Will ........... 1253 23. Morrissette, Louie 1253 24. Marrama, Angelo 1252 25. Snowden, Kyle ... 1252 26. Herale, Kevin ..... 1252 27. Houtby, Ron ....... 1251 28. Stuive, Alex ......... 1251 29. Shaw, Diana ........ 1251 30. Fiorantis, Shannon 1251

31. Wilson, Corey .... 1248 32. Willems, Hank .... 1246 33. Britton, Karen .... 1246 34. Moore, Doug ..... 1245 35. Selby, R. ................ 1244 36. Grant, Danny ..... 1242 37. Denmark, Brian of.. 1241 38. Mous, Robert ..... 1239 39.Vanderlee, Kevin 1239 40. Hall, Howie ......... 1238