The Thorold News re-launched in December 2017 and over the first year nearly 900 Thorold stories were generated. We take the time to look back at some of those stories in brief summaries.
Drug dealers arrested in Pen Centre parking lot
Since Nov. 2017, members of the St. Catharines Street Crime Unit have been investigating two males from the Toronto area who were actively selling drugs throughout the Niagara region. These males were also wanted parties with both the Niagara Regional Police and the Peel Regional Police.
On Dec. 19, police conducted surveillance, and at approximately 3:36 p.m., arrested the two men in a parking lot at the Pen Centre in St. Catharines. Police located and seized a quantity of narcotics including heroin and fentanyl, along with Canadian currency believed to be from the sale of narcotics.
Arrested and charged were 24-year-old Jordane Miles and 24-year-old Brandon Mahon, each on three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime under $5000.
Police seized a quantity of heroin, Fentanyl powder, cocaine and crack cocaine, which held an estimated street value of $3,000 and seized a quantity of Canadian currency totalling $1,200.
All parties were held pending a morning bail hearing scheduled for Dec. 19.
Rock & Roll Hair Studio offers Hairway to Heaven
I’ll have a cut and colour, and crank up the Aerosmith.
There’s a new hair salon in town, and owner Barby Collins is not only an experienced stylist, she’s a long-time songwriter, who also sings in a band known as Rock Squeeze.
“My band’s producer worked with Shania Twain; my keyboard player worked with Roy Orbison. I’ve been doing music and singing in a band since age 16. Many years ago, I used to do a Pat Benatar tribute,” she recalls.
Friendly and outgoing, she calls her cozy 46A Front Street salon, the Rock & Roll Hair Studio.
Its slogan: “Your Hairway to heaven, where you don’t have to be famous to look like a star.”
She tuned up the salon’s décor to reflect her love of music. Portraits of Pat Benatar and Stevie Nicks adorn the walls alongside Heart, and there’s even an Elvis overlooking the lounge area.
Collins opened for business Dec. 1, and her 25 years experience in hair styling, coupled with her passion for music, means clients can request songs from a specific artist while getting their hair cut, coloured or highlighted by an expert.
“I have a library of classic music, so if you like Bon Jovi or Bryan Adams, that’s what you’ll get.”
For years, it’s been her dream to open up a uniquely fun studio and assume the role of deejay/stylist.
“People love music. A lot of young kids are listening to classic rock. I have young kids come in and they love it.”
She hastens to add, “It’s not that music will be pounding loud; just basically playing in the background. However, I’ll turn it up if you want that.”
Collins says that every deluxe haircut includes a complimentary “nice massage at the sink.”
She accepts walk-in clients, and offers facials and waxing, all while enjoying a relaxed, fun environment.
“Have a beverage of your choice and listen to the music you love. It’s not just a hairdo. It’s an experience. I’m feeling fun. Let’s all do what we love.”
Clients wishing to use her washroom will be offered a “backstage pass,” and after being transformed, invited to have their photos taken and hung on her salon’s Wall of Fame, “so they feel like they belong.”
The former owner of Sunshine Barby’s shop, Collins grew up in Niagara Falls and Fort Erie, and says she “came to Thorold for something new; something fresh.”
She’s lived in Thorold for the past eight years, and looks forward to welcoming former as well as new clients to the Rock & Roll Hair Studio.
Stop in and see her, or visit fb@rockandrollhairstudio.
Mayor warns: Keep away from waterways
This year’s excessive rainfall has created a potential hazard in and around Beaverdams, say OPG officials.
“We have the highest water levels in 98 years,” said Gerry Foote, Vice President of Operations Niagara with Ontario Power Generation.
“We’ve been managing it the best we can, but it creates shifting ice shelves. With fast-moving water, you don’t generate a lot of ice. Lake Gibson and all (surrounding) areas are dangerous.”
According to Mayor Ted Luciani, “We have a problem with kids going on the ice,” who are unaware of the fact that it’s only partially frozen.
“We don’t want kids to go through. We don’t want anyone killed.”
Parents are advised to keep their children away from waterways.
Foote said that OPG staff has erected signs around the Beaverdams area, “and we do extra patrols, but it’s hard to be here all the time.”
Mountainview makes annual contribution to Community Care
Four years ago, Laura Byers approached Donna Venditti to “do something for Community Care.”
Despite ongoing donations from the community, Byers said the need is still great and continuously growing.
As executive assistant to Mark Basciano, owner of Mountainview Homes, Venditti dove in and enlisted the help of her co-workers. “I set a goal of $1,000,” said the Thorold resident.
The following year, Basciano matched his employees’ contributions and the third year, he matched it and then some, resulting in a $3,500 donation.
This year, employees outdid themselves, surpassing all previous years by contributing $5,850 to Community Care.
“This is huge for us,” said Byers, Fund Development Officer. “Donna has been a champion from day one and I’m incredibly thankful.”
“Poverty is a nagging problem that’s not going away. It continues to be prevalent in our midst and these days, many people are finding themselves having to ask for help for the first time. The stories are so heart-wrenching. The hand of Community Care will touch 11,500 people before Friday (Dec. 22),” she said, quoting the sobering statistic that 40 per cent are children younger than 18.
Byers had tears in her eyes, telling the story of Community Care’s first donor this year, which came from a former client.
“He was holding a $10 bill and he said, ‘I will never forget the warmth and assurance I got from Community Care’.”
Circle K Convenience Store Robbed
On Friday, Dec. 8, at approximately 11:43 p.m., a lone male suspect wearing a black facial covering entered the Circle K convenience store and demanded money.
The thief obtained an undisclosed amount of cash prior to fleeing the store, located at 207 Keefer Road in Thorold Niagara Regional Police said no one was injured as a result of the robbery. The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 6'0' tall with a thin build. He was observed wearing a black facial covering, black pants and a black hooded sweatshirt with white lettering.
Developer sent back to drawing board: Ann Street apartment
A shortage of parking spaces, coupled with councillors’ concerns that proposed apartments are threatening to change the character of residential neighbourhoods, has sent the developer of the proposed Ann Street building back to the drawing board.
Coun. Anthony Longo expressed his concern with the ongoing issue of finding parking spaces.
Longo referred to the proposed apartment at 6 Ann Street, saying, Planning rules state that 1.5 parking spaces should be factored in for each rental unit.
“But it’s proposed at 1.25 spaces,” he said.
According to the city’s planning manager, Eldon Darbyson, the proposal as shown has a deficiency of two spaces.
“There is parking on Ann Street on one side. In an eight-unit building, you would require eight spaces plus the additional visitor (spaces), but because there is parking on Ann Street, we felt that any additional spaces would be accommodated on Ann Street and the ability to walk to our Pine Street Plaza was considered as well.”
“The report talks about limited spaces on Ann Street now,” stated Longo, “so this will make it worse. We have to be fair across the board and I’m not going to support this at this time. I would like to see staff work with the developer.”
Coun. Sergio Paone commented that “There seems to be a lot of apartment building coming into residential areas.”
Referring to the Smart Growth policy, which promotes residential intensification, “I understand that provincial legislation is to support having density but I wonder if we have given consideration into having too many buildings,” Paone noted.
“It’s also said that the new building keeps the character of the community. I would hate to see some of these neighbourhoods become a place filled with apartments. I think we need to have a more serious discussion, and for this one, I had the parking concerns as well.”
Coun. Tim Whalen wondered, “What’s going to happen to the properties on either side? They want to see sun. We need to make this project more adaptable to everyone. Ann Street is a small street.”
“It does conform with the Smart Growth policy to intensify within urban boundaries,” said Mayor Ted Luciani.
City CAO Manoj Dilwaria said he would ask staff to “look at it again” and bring back a report to Council on Dec. 19.
Thorold Bantam Blackhawks help homeless men
When the Hale family heard about filling Christmas shoeboxes to help homeless men, they decided to make it a team effort.
“My son Jack always likes to do a (charitable) project every year,” said Kara Hale, “and we heard James (Symons) talk on the radio, so we thought, he’s right; there’s nothing for men” being offered to those who have fallen on difficult times during the holiday season.
Symons, a Thorold resident, kick-started his campaign a short while ago, with a goal of filling 25 shoeboxes with personal needs items, snacks and games, and delivering them to men at local shelters.
Jack’s father, Darrin Hale, along with Ken Sentence and Franco Meffe, are all coaches for the Moore McCleary Thorold Bantam Blackhawks, and Kara said when team members were approached to pitch in, “There was no hesitation. They were so great.”
Not only did each of the 14-year-olds fill and wrap a shoebox; they also wrote personal Christmas cards for the homeless men.
As of Thursday night, Symons had delivered 360 shoeboxes, thanks to the generosity of Thorold and Niagara residents.
Winterberry bus still a hot topic
The issue of the St. Catharines Transit buses running through Winterberry Blvd. in the West community was still alive, if not especially well, at council on Dec. 19.
Mayor Ted Luciani brought forward a Notice of Motion for Jan. 16, 2018, to discuss an amendment to the previously-passed decision to remove the bus route from Winterberry Blvd. effective Jan. 1. The mayor's intent was to ask for council's consideration in extending the deadline to the end of April, so the students affected can make alternative transportation accommodations before the new school year begins.
Coun. Jim Handley took issue with the Notice, wanting to know how council can make an amendment on Jan. 16 to a by-law which goes into effect on Jan. 1.
When interviewed during a recess between the council meeting and the General Committee meeting, Luciani and CAO Manoj Dilwaria both assured the Thorold News that the buses would stop Jan. 1, as previously passed.
Asked if the busses would be restarted if council agreed to the amendment, the mayor replied only that he does not expect the amendment to pass.
“This is just being done in the spirit of cooperation.”
