Lakereport.ca / Niagaranow.com The Hyper-local news for Niagara-on-the-Lake Lake Report Farmers’ Market opens up | Page 9 Vol. 3, Issue 21 SPECIAL EDITION: NOTL copes with COVID-19 May 28, 2020 NOTL has had 21 cases of COVID-19 so far, region says Richard Harley Region public health has of Wednesday, three which have experienced thousands The Lake Report released the total case were still active. of infections and numerous numbers of COVID-19 by The numbers show NOTL deaths. After repeated requests municipality. has done well, especially in The statistics show of from residents and politicial Niagara-on-the-Lake has its long-term care facilities, representatives, Niagara had a total of 21 cases as which across the country Continued on Page 7 Jadwiga Dabrowski, owner of The Butterfly Gallery, says businesses are focused on safety as they reopen. Busy Saturday sees multiple collisions JESSICA MAXWELL A stroll through Old Town: Cyclist, 73, struck; car making U-turn hit by oncoming vehicle Chatting with businesses on Queen Street Retailers roll with the punches, do what it takes to open safely Richard Harley spritz mine. I’m the only The Lake Report one touching bottles, they’re throwing out their tasting Businesses in Niagara- cups,” Holden said. “Also, on-the-Lake are opening up it’s absolutely safety first as again after the provincial far as the staff goes, which lockdown forced them to I love. I’ve actually got a shut down. face shield back there that Along Queen Street, they left for me to wear if I shops are setting up social wanted to.” distancing measures to try Holden said the border to open safely and avoid closure is affecting the violating any emergency store, though things are A 73-year-old man was struck by a car on Saturday while cycling near Garrison Village Drive. JESSICA MAXWELL orders. manageable. The Lake Report chatted “We’re doing OK. Un- Richard Harley In the first incident, bicycle when he was hit. He unsafe turn, police said in with some business owners fortunately, we’re a tourist The Lake Report a 73-year-old man was suffered “minor injuries” response to questions from and workers downtown on town and with having the struck by a vehicle at about and was taken to hospital The Lake Report. Monday afternoon to see border closed, I mean, it’s Two traffic mishaps oc- 10:45 a.m. for “precautionary assess- Police would not release how the reopening has been the best thing for everybody curred within about two Niagara Regional Police ment,” police said. the name of the driver, as going and how this past as far as safety goes, but hours of one another along said the man was crossing The 95-year-old male he was “charged under the weekend was compared to a it’s going to take a lot of the same stretch of Niagara Niagara Stone Road near driver of the vehicle was normal year. our business away. So we’re Stone Road on Saturday. Garrison Village Drive on a charged for making an Continued on Page 14 Dan Holden, an employee basically living off of locals at Oliv Tasting Room on right now. And it’s not a big Queen Street, said being town — there’s not a lot of safe is the top priority at the locals.” 22,513 vehicles enter Old Town on weekend store. It’s been tough, particu- “It’s nice that the owners larly for specialty shops, he Richard Harley Interim chief administra- have basically said, ‘abso- said. The Lake Report tor Sheldon Randall told lute safety first,’” he says, “Especially someone like council Monday night. through a face mask. us, where it’s kind of a spe- The number of cars com- “If you average two peo- The store has a sign on cialty type of thing. You’re ing into NOTL last weekend ple per vehicle, that would the door that can be flipped only going to be buying so has more than doubled be over 45,000 people that around when customers are much olive oil and so much since the beginning of came to Niagara-on-the- in the store, letting people balsamic vinegar every May, according to numbers Lake,” he said. know they’re serving some- year. So once we’ve filled recorded by the Town of The numbers are more one and asking people to all the local shelves and Niagara-on-the-Lake. than double the 10,452 wait patiently outside. then pantries and whatever On Saturday and Sunday, vehicles recorded entering “And as soon as people else, you know, then there’s 22,513 vehicles drove into Vehicles continue to line up on Queen Street on weekends. come in, that gets flipped, the Queen Street area, Continued on Page 15 RICHARD HARLEY we spritz their hands, I Continued on Page 12 Page 2 —2020 Marks our 10th Anniversary in Old Town — May 28, 2020 Place your order ONLINE at simpsonspharmacy.store. Pharmacy: 905.468.2121 * * 10% Discount for You. 10% Donation to Charity. Apothecary: 905.468.8400 Use discount code REDROOFRETREAT or UNITEDWAYNIAGARA NEWS We will do everything we can to support you. * Online only at simpsonspharmacy.store. Pre-tax order value. Town considers opening sidewalks for restaurant patios So far no plans to close Queen Street to traffic, out of concern cars will flood residential areas Richard Harley hands and things like that.” organization has been work- The Lake Report Staff has also been out ing on the same idea, and Town restaurants could be permitted to use sidewalks and some parking spaces for patios monitoring vehicle and that she’d like to be involved when the provincial government allows them to reopen. RICHARD HARLEY The Town of Niagara-on- pedestrian traffic and to see in the town’s decisions, so the-Lake is looking at ways how it would impact these the chamber and town are notice of motion to fast- municipal right of way, He also requested again restaurants and businesses changes, he said. not working “simultaneous- track things. we already have a process that council be informed might be able to expand Lord Mayor Betty Di- ly on the same projects.” Disero said she was mapped out for that. And and consulted on emergency onto municipal property to sero said the town’s main She was eager to put concerned making a formal we’ve consulted with our group decisions. allow them to reopen and to concern is safety, and as forward a motion that would motion would do the oppo- legal on it … so that process “All I’m saying is that help with social distancing. of Tuesday does not want “fast-track” the process. site and fill the process with is covered off. We know we have a vast amount of Interim CAO Sheldon to close off Queen Street to “Let’s work on it now so red tape. what we’re doing,” he said. knowledge on this council Randall said the process is all traffic. that by the time the prov- Randall agreed. “So you’re asking for and we’re never contacted “fairly involved” and would “We don’t really want ince OKs the restaurants to “It will move forward,” he something that’s happen- about our ideas, about the involve all communities in to — at this point — close reopen, then at least we have said. “But I agree with the ing,” Disero told Cheropita. restaurants, about other NOTL. Queen Street completely, a plan in place, and we have lord mayor that I don’t think “Well, it seems like it’s shops — about anything. “We’ve looked at all the because that will drive the approvals that are already we want to tie ourselves to a sort of happening,” Chero- And I think it’s impor- municipal spaces that we traffic into the small resi- there,” Cheropita said. process right now, until we pita argued. tant that we draw on that may be able to encroach dential streets,” she told The She pointed out there are have all of the information.” “No,” Disero said. “The expertise, rather than the into,” he said during Mon- Lake Report in an interview. also many restaurants out- Cheropita said she’s “not problem as I see it Wendy, emergency group just day’s council meeting. “So, our staff and mem- side of Old Town that could sure why (the town) would is once you start a formal moving ahead and saying, “We’ve taken prints, bers of council have been benefit from expanding or want to delay it.” process, it’s going to create ‘OK, we’re going to do we’ve had discussions with working very closely with creating patios. Randall clarified that in some red tape that we may restaurants, we’ve got legal, store owners … to get an individual restaurants and “I was in touch with a fact the town is already not be able to act as quickly we’ve got everything else,’ ” understanding of what sort pastry shops to find out how number of restaurants … starting the process. as we can.” Burroughs said. of space can we create that’s they can access space out- like those in Virgil, like the “We are starting the Disero urged Cheropita “There’s a lot of shops going to be a benefit.” side of their establishments, Twisted Vine, the Pie Plate process right now,” Randall to wait a few days and work that need help and maybe He said the town is either on their own private … the Garrison House … clarified.