Lakereport.ca / Niagaranow.com The Hyper-local news for Niagara-on-the-Lake Keeping in touch with ailing mom Lake Report during pandemic, from Alaska | Page 15 Vol. 3, Issue 33 Niagara-on-the-Lake’s first independent newspaper August 20, 2020 Pro-carriage group threatens to sue town, police Richard Harley the-Lake and Niagara Re- ra have been regularly in For Carriages, Jennifer to inform you of our deci- of the Town of Niagara-on- The Lake Report gional Police if nothing is town protesting the carriage Jones-Butski, sent an email sion to protest the treatment the-Lake and the Niagara done to stop what they say company Sentineal Carriag- to The Lake Report Tues- of Niagara-on-the-Lake Regional Police has created Supporters of Niagara- is continued harassment by es. Those protests sparked day, which included a letter residents, visitors and small an unjust and dangerous on-the-Lake’s horse-drawn animal rights protesters. a resident-driven counter- addressed to NOTL Lord businesses at the hands situation. If we are unable carriage business are threat- For three years members movement in 2018 called Mayor Betty Disero. of At War for Animals to inspire the necessary ening legal action against of animal rights group At Locals For Carriages. “Dear Lord Mayor, Niagara (AWFAN). The the Town of Niagara-on- War for Animals Niaga- The co-founder of Locals We are writing this letter lack of action on the part Continued on Page 2 Bringing a home back to life Heritage building has been vacant since 1968, but plans are to restore it Broken windows can be found all over the old Virgil school. RICHARD HARLEY Vandals target old Virgil school Richard Harley “I thought OK, it was a The Lake Report bunch of punks, they broke a few (windows), but then when NOTL resident Filom- I saw the blood that scared ena Pisano made a startling me.” discovery Thursday when she After walking the halls and arrived at her new art gal- discovering more damage, lery inside the former Virgil she and her son, who was Brian Marshall stands out back at 240 Centre St. He will be overseeing the house as it is restored. RICHARD HARLEY public school. with her, phoned the police. Someone had broken multi- In response to questions Richard Harley rian, restoration consultant “This house, to my knowl- The home was originally ple windows, smashed a wall, from The Lake Report, The Lake Report (and weekly Lake Report edge, is the oldest surviving built by John Breakenridge appeared to have urinated on Niagara Regional Police columnist) who will lead unaltered two-storey cubic in the early 1800s and was the floor and left droplets of Const. Philip Gavin said it One of Niagara-on-the- the charge in the restoration. form Regency house in the once described by The blood along the hallways of was determined six male Lake’s oldest Regency Everyone driving into Old province and possibly in the Gleaner newspaper as “the the historic building. ages 14 to 16 had entered the houses is getting a make- Town on Mississagua Street country,” Marshall said in tastiest house in town.” “It was very creepy,” she building and caused about over. passes the now-derelict an interview on the prop- Over time it’s seen many told The Lake Report during $1,000 in damage. The boarded-up red brick house. erty. different owners. an interview Sunday. “It He said the teens respon- house at 240 Centre St. has The project will be done The goal is to restore the “It’s got a long history in looked ike a horror movie to sible “were identified and been sitting vacant since by NOTL company Brock period home to as close town,” Marshall said. me.” spoken to by the officer in about 1968, says Brian Mar- Builders and a “variety of as possible to its original She said the thing that wor- shall, an architectural histo- specialists.” 1800s glory, he said. Continued on Page 9 ried her most was the blood. Continued on Page 7 Tests find no blue-green algae at beach where dog died Richard Harley Ministry of the Environ- A veterinarian at Upper diagnosis has not changed The Lake Report ment and Niagara Region Canada Animal Hospi- in the wake of the water test public health. tal who examined the dog results, a spokesperson said The waterfront at Ryer- Tests were done at the said the symptoms appeared this week. son Park in Chautauqua small beach Wednesday to be toxic cyanobacteria, The Town of Niagara- was clear of blue-green after a dog died suddenly also called blue-green on-the-Lake said in a algae when it was tested after swimming in the water algae, which can be lethal to Signs warning of untested water have been put up at last week, according to the a day earlier. both dogs and humans. That Continued on Page 12 Ryerson Park in Chautauqua. KEVIN MACLEAN Page 2 August 20, 2020 NEWS Mask ambassadors hit the streets of NOTL next week Richard Harley The program was put she said. The Lake Report together by Cheropita Support, she said, is to and Burroughs, with the “provide citizens’ support The Town of Niagara-on- help of town staff and the and assistance by gaining the-Lake has partnered with Shaw Guild. compliance for Stage 3 the Shaw Guild to establish “A couple of weeks ago social distancing.” an ambassador program, we were directed to try and And the education aspect which will have volunteers get a volunteer program go- will focus on “the impor- greet people on Queen ing, and connected with the tance of creating a safe Street to remind them about Shaw Guild. They have 320 environment for you and COVID-19 safety protocols. volunteer members and so me and reduce the spread The volunteers will hit the they were a perfect starting of COVID in our commu- streets starting next Wednes- point,” Burroughs said dur- nity.” day, and will be out each ing Monday’s committee of The volunteers have been Friday, Saturday and Sun- the whole meeting. asked not to talk to any day until early September. Burroughs noted the protesters if they run into “This is a test,” said Margot Devlin, Lois Chapman, Kim Mustill, Laurie Harley (president of the Shaw Guild), ambassadors will not be them, Cheropita added. Coun. Gary Burroughs, Brenda Weafer and Cheryl Morris. SUPPLIED enforcing bylaws, just Burroughs and Cheropita who helped organize the greeting people, and if they both praised town staff and project with Coun. Wendy Cheropita said so far your stay as enjoyable as two metres between you are wearing a mask, they Shaw Guild members Lau- Cheropita. 29 people have signed possible.” and others, you must wear will thank them. rie Harley and Cheryl Mor- “It’s only going to run up as volunteers with the “Your safety is our prior- a mask or a facial shield in During a presentation ris for helping to bring the through past the first week program. ity.” all indoor spaces or where about the program, Che- project come together. They in September to see how it The ambassadors will “Ultimately reducing the social distancing is not ropita outlined the major also thanked NOTL resi- works. I’m hoping that it’ll use key phrases, such as: spread of COVID-19 is the possible and please use goals of the ambassadors, dent Rene Bertschi for be so successful that we can “Welcome to Niagara- primary driver for all of hand sanitizers. They are which are to “greet, support making custom face shields expand it and have it almost on-the-Lake, my name is us.” available at the entrance of and educate.” and Andrew Niven of Kon- going full-time as welcom- _____ and I am a NOTL “There are a few things all retail stories and restau- Greet means “a friendly zelmann Estate Winery for ers to our community,” he Ambassador.” you need to know. We rants. Please use them for face to welcome visitors to donating a bottle of wine to said. “I’m here to help make encourage you to maintain your safety.” our beautiful community,” each of the volunteers. Carriage group wants discussion on rights Town of NOTL receives Continued from Front Page intimidated. with families and a peace- residents, small businesses $500K from province • Workers as young as 16 ful street corner that is no and visitors have the right conversation and subse- are subjected to recurring longer safe. to move about the area free for pandemic relief quent legislative changes, intimidation and verbal AWFAN has a mandate to from fear. For this cause, we are prepared to exhaust assault, leaving them in a end all animal domestica- our community is united. Richard Harley “We will be guarding that all legal means required to perpetual state of terror and tion. Their right to protest Respectfully, The Lake Report money and spending it very end the injustice described wrought with long-term this idea peacefully is Concerned residents of wisely, and not jumping to herein. psychological damages. protected under the Charter. NOTL.” The Town of Niagara-on- spend it immediately,” Di- As it stands, all Canadi- • Expectant mothers However, NOTL workers, In the email, Jones the-Lake is getting about sero said during a Tuesday ans are granted equal pro- holding babies have been residents and visitors have said she’s “no longer advo- $500,000 from the Ontario livestream of her monthly tection under the Charter berated walking down the equal right to not have cating on behalf of Sentin- government to help with Coffee Chat.