'Hostaholic'ready to Retire
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Lakereport.ca / Niagaranow.com The Hyper-local news for Niagara-on-the-Lake Lake Report Homophobic sign decried | Page 2 Vol. 4, Issue 27 Serving all five communities of Niagara-on-the-Lake July 8, 2021 ‘Hostaholic’ ready to retire NOTL grower is one of Ontario’s best-known Hosta ‘collectors’ Tim Taylor A map shows where trees are to be removed. SUPPLIED The Lake Report Bruce Cumpson describes Two Mile Creek his 30-year obsession with growing and selling hostas as a “hobby that got out of forest restoration control.” His Olde Towne Gardens will remove 400 trees is a small perennial farm and garden centre nestled, Richard Harley for the agency, which is almost hidden, among larger The Lake Report mandated to manage and tender fruit and vineyards, protect watersheds across along Lakeshore at Town- The Niagara Peninsula the region. line Road. Conservation Authority will The main purpose of the Drive down the short be taking down about 400 reforestation is to combat driveway, past the farm- ash and Manitoba maple the effects of the emerald house, to the barn and into trees along Two Mile Creek ash borer beetle, an invasive another world inhabited near Butler’s Burial Ground species which first entered by hundreds of shade trees this month. Ontario in 2001 in the and literally thousands of The forest rejuvenation Windsor area and started to hostas—more than 600 project will see about four affect Niagara-on-the-Lake varieties—that thrive in the hectares of trees removed in 2012. dappled sunshine of a sum- and replaced with native “That’s when I first start- mery afternoon. tree species. The replanting ed to notice the trees being Hostas are one of the most Bruce Cumpson has had a love affair with hostas for over 30 years. He’s often called a will most likely happen in impacted by it, I could see popular perennial plants in “hostaholic.” He just sold Olde Towne Gardens on Lakeshore Road. TIM TAYLOR 2022 but some work could the holes going into the North America, often called start this fall. trees,” said Drennan, who the friendship plant because hostaholic. Others a hosta on the new property. something.” The removal of the trees has been a forester with the it is so easy to divide and whisperer. “There were more than a Cumpson started reading will cost about $80,000, a authority for 13 years. share with your neighbours. Long before the world of hundred hostas,” Cumpson, and researching about hos- regional official said. The The property is owned The large leafy, often hostas became an obsession 68, smiles, remembering tas. He was gradually drawn cost for the replantings is by the conservation author- sprawling, plants thrive and a business, Cumpson the discovery as the start into the hosta world. not yet known. ity, but was once used for in partial shade and need bought a house on Niagara of his hosta odyssey. “I “In those days, almost all Dan Drennan, a conserva- agriculture. He said when protection from the heat of Street in St. Catharines. As didn’t know what the plant hostas came from the States. tion authority watershed for- the agency acquired the the afternoon sun. fate would have it, there was. I asked my neighbour. ester, said the reforestation Some call Cumpson a was a thriving hosta garden I thought it was lettuce or Continued on Page 15 project is a “new direction” Continued on Page 7 Parliament Oak plan not compatible with Old Town, residents say Evan Saunders view as lack of conformity The development will council shall ensure any Local Journalism Initiative with the town. have 92 units on four acres new development in existing The Lake Report Liberty Sites (3) Ltd. is of land resulting in 23 units residential areas fits with proposing an 80-unit, three- per acre. the character of adjacent A proposed development storey apartment build- The town’s maximum residences. This includes on the old Parliament Oak ing and 12 semi-detached allowed density for an inten- building height and lot school property is “out- homes on the former school sification area as stated in depth. rageous,” inappropriate property. the official plan is 12 units Consulting architect and ignores the character of “There is absolutely no per acre, Gordon said. Ralph Giannone said the Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Old question that this is an “And this development apartment would be level Town area, residents told a outrageous and flagrant isn’t even in an intensifica- with the existing school virtual open house meeting disregard for the character tion area,” he said. property with a maximum about the project Tuesday. of this neighbourhood and Intensification areas are height of 11 metres. Residents were highly the houses in the neighbour- designated high-density “That is a complete fabri- critical of the proposed den- hood,” NOTL resident Alan development areas. cation,” Gordon said. sity, size of a planned apart- Gordon told the develop- The 2019 official plan, A artist’s rendering of the proposed Parliament Oak ment building and what they ment team. section 4.14.4.2, states that Continued on Page 6 development in Old Town. SUPPLIED Page 2 Shop from the comfort of home July 8, 2021 www.simpsonspharmacy.ca Pharmacy: 905.468.2121 In-store and curbside pick-up or free local delivery NEWS Apothecary: 905.468.8400 ‘Traditional marriage’ sign decried as homophobic, hateful Richard Harley lifestyle. But I will not hate The Lake Report them.” Koller doesn’t use Face- A lawn sign that cel- book and hasn’t seen the ebrates “traditional mar- chatter online, but said he riage” has drawn loud doesn’t believe his sign is criticism from neighbours discriminatory. and Niagara-on-the-Lake He put it up in “protest” residents for being a mes- of the town considering sage of homophobia and a rainbow crosswalk and intolerance. benches and flying the Pride The sign, which is dis- flag in June to commemo- played on the lawn of 17 rate Pride Month. Henry St. in Virgil, says, “If they have the right to “Celebrating our traditional promote their lifestyle, then marriage” and includes the so I too have the right to male and female gender promote my lifestyle,” he symbols intertwined. said. NOTL resident Barnabas “I believe in one woman, Farkas took to Facebook one man marriage. What Monday to express his an- they do is their stuff, but I ger about the sign, calling it don’t agree that the town “disgusting behaviour.” falls over their feet, and Farkas said he is openly only promotes them.” Left: A sign at 17 Henry St. in Virgil has been decried by NOTL residents for being homophobic after being posted to gay and has been married Koller said he doesn’t Facebook. RICHARD HARLEY Right: Michael Tansley and Barnabas Farkas. SUPPLIED to his husband for 16 years. understand why members He lives a short walk away of the LGBTQ+ community from the sign. are advocating for rainbow ity because they already “I do it because I feel my this. That’s privilege right lots of damage,” he said. “This morning on my crosswalks. have privileges that others responsibility to promote there ... not being able to To some of the people sup- way to work this is what we “Here they can get mar- have not been privy to,” she our marriage, our lifestyle. accept what privilege means porting Koller, Farkas sug- had to pass. Here we are in ried, they have the benefits, told The Lake Report. If minorities can do it, why and what it means to be gested they do some research the 21st century, putting up everything, so why are they “Three, it is negatively can’t I do it?” oppressed,” said Kathryn on why Pride Month exists. lawn signs like this,” said pushing? Why are they want provocative and may be Koller said one of the Hoshkiw. “I invite them to educate his post. to be advertising more and designed to bait rather than signs was already stolen Somewhat ironically, themselves. Learn about “In the times when kids more, like the sidewalk, and engage in meaningful, while he was at church Koller insisted he was our community, learn the are still struggling to come the park benches? Why are civil dialogue. Four, on Sunday this week. He taught not to hate others. history, what the previ- out, be themselves, you they pushing for that?” he Posting this signage said plans to keep one on “My father always said, ous LGBTQ+ generations put a sign on your lawn said. appears to ignore the his lawn. real men and real women, had to go through to get to not only stating the word “What we’re gonna do history of exclusion faced Hundreds of comments they do not bring out hate,” where we are today — and ‘traditional’ but you even next, paint the town rainbow by the 2SLGBTQQIA+ by Niagara-on-the-Lake he said. we are still fighting. Fight- had the male and female colours? Because they will community and the strength residents decried the lawn When pointed out again ing because of people and sign printed! All I can say not stop when the sidewalk the 2SLGBTQQIA+ sign and expressed the same that his sign is perceived as behaviour like this.” is shame on you and shame is painted and when the community has shown in feeling of disgust and disbe- hate, he said that’s “hog- “We still have a long way on the person who printed park benches are painted.