Letters & Op-Ed, June 8 2022

The 11th Pelham High Reunion is only a few days away! On Sunday, June 12, from 1-5 PM at the Royal Canadian Legion, Hwy. 20, Fonthill, there will be some 200 former Pelham High Panthers gathering to renew old friendships. The cost is $15 at the door. (please, have the correct amount). Cash Bar —cash, debit or credit accepted. The Legion will provide finger foods, dessert squares, coffee and tea.

There is parking in the Legion’s lot, also to the west of the building, and in front of Briggsy’s. I have spoken to Hans Baltjes of Star Tile. He has given us permission to use his parking area. It is only a couple of minutes walk up the sidewalk to the Legion. So, if you don’t have a problem with your mobility, please, try to use this lot first and leave the Legion lot to those of us who are not a nimble as we once were.

Thanks so much. See you there!

Vilma Moretti Fonthill

Here we go again. Ford wins an overwhelming majority of seats in the election so he and his ilk can crow about having the support of an overwhelming majority of Ontarians.

Well, wait a minute. About 40 percent of eligible voters bothered to go to the polls and about 40 percent of them voted Conservative—i.e., about 18 percent of eligible voters. So, one in six Ontarians voted PC. Of course, many of the no-shows might be Conservatives so it's likely more than 18 percent support the PCs, but if you don't vote, you don't count.

Can we fix this system that allows a small minority to run the show? Probably not. First, many people are completely disinterested in this problem — they don't care—so First Past the Post elections are here to stay. Justin Trudeau shouted a couple of elections ago that he would end this system, but of course a Trudeau/Liberal promise is worthless. The “big’ parties—the Cons and the Libs—benefit most by the system, so don't expect change from them. Secondly, when 60 percent of the electorate doesn't vote, the system is especially skewed for the PCs in Ontario.

Hold onto your hats, folks. Big cuts are coming, and big highways and developments are coming. But Ford's “buck-a-beer” that got him elected in the first place is a distant memory.

David Fowler Wainfleet

Lincoln and Pelham Public libraries officially merged on April 1, after many months of discussion, planning and careful review, and it has been a busy couple of months as we manage all the details of joining two beloved community organizations.

With the overall goal of spending less on administration and more on the programs, services and collections you love, LPPL has emerged with a large and vibrant Board of 17 members and several new members added to its already stellar staff team, and we are full steam ahead into summer 2022.

On May 27, we welcomed the warm season with an amazing time in Fenwick. A delicious BBQ—that completely sold out! — was hosted by the Friends of Maple Acre Library. The library really appreciates this group and their commitment to its branch in Fenwick. They have the greatest ideas and a hardworking team of volunteers. With them around the sky is the limit! Their work on the gardens and the amazing tree-trunk sculpture are another example of their library love.

Kicking off summer, we will host four Open Houses in our branches over the month of June. Each of our locations has a unique atmosphere. Rittenhouse has already occurred, and early readers of the Voice might still make the Fonthill event on June 7. Maple Acre is on June 16, and Fleming Centre on June 28. All the events will be held from 3 to 7 PM. Treats and giveaways as well as lots of friendly staff and Board members will be on hand, and we will showcase our maker activities and great items you can borrow, such as internet hot spots, fishing poles, and ukuleles! We also have park passes for Niagara Peninsula Conservation Areas as well as Ontario Parks to encourage families to get outside and enjoy the season.

Summer Reading Club launches at the end of June with tons of fun and prizes for all ages. Come on out and get information about registering for these awesome programs and more!

Check out our new website, www.lppl.ca for all the latest info on programs and collections and come and visit. Its cool at the library! ◆

It is time to revisit this crucial issue. It is difficult to pin down who is primarily to blame for the recently demonstrated mistreatment of the most vulnerable among us—seniors in long term care (LTC) facilities. Much has been written about this atrocity and so little appears to have been done to ameliorate this dreadful state of affairs.

Having endured this frightening pandemic, might we expect more compassionate and deserved care for the most vulnerable in our midst? Reportedly, six out of ten Ontarians who died from the Covid virus were residents in long term care. What does that dreadful statistic say about our society? As a collective, we hesitate to ponder this question because we fear the answer. As Walt Kelly’s Pogo forewarned, “We have seen the enemy and he is us.”

As a result of more attention and closer inspection some appalling conditions were uncovered among some LTCs. Upon providing some assistance to some overly stressed LTCs, the military reported some distressing mistreatment and troubling conditions.

The Ontario government set up an in-house commission to look at some of the problematic issues and practices in long term care. That commission called for more and better trained staff but did not openly substantiate other issues that affect the quality of care these residents deserve.

There is a fulsome range of questions to be asked at this critical juncture, while LTCs remain top of mind. What has changed in LTC facilities and care practices since the first phase of the pandemic? Should LTCs become part of Ontario’s healthcare system? Will wages paid the PSAs and other workers in this sector be more in line with their value? Should multiple-resident rooms be eliminated to insure more healthy conditions and restore some personal dignity? How will the standard of four hours of care per resident be introduced and redouble the current norm of two? Such questions are just the tip of the iceberg that need be addressed.

Does the seriousness of this distressing lack of care for our seniors not demand more proactive programs to provide more care, security and comfort to our elderly? Do we not owe them this? Should each one of us become more actively involved and contact our political leadership and demand they take the concrete actions to correct this unacceptable neglect?

You need not be rude, but do not countenance platitudinous responses some politicians bespeak, and demand more action, and less talk, about this matter of proper care for our elderly. The elders in your family are, or soon will be, counting on you.

To begin, your active participation in correcting this wrongful situation starts by directly contacting the elected officials, regularly highlighted on page 4 of this newspaper. Let them know your concern and press them to commit to taking concrete action on this gravely important issue. Some day, you may well regret not having done so.

If you don’t advocate for our seniors, who will? ◆