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MY WRITING

I don't mean to brag, but I make a mean word salad. Below you'll find links to samples of my finest work. I have wracked up almost 400 quality bylines in my first 18 months as a paid and professional journalist. See the rest of my work at Niagaranow.com.

Baristas brew black gold at Virgil Starbucks competition

Whose cup o’ Joe gets the judges jonesing the most?

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NOTL comes in clutch for Newark Neighbours food drive

On a snowy Saturday morning, volunteers across Niagara-on-the-Lake braved slushy, slippery streets to pick up food donations from townhomes on behalf of Newark Neighbours.

Tiny tots get cooking at library

Somethin’s cookin’ over at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library.

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Nothing stops NOTL’s women firefighters

At Niagara-on-the-Lake’s fire station in Glendale, women stand shoulder to shoulder with men, and go toe to toe with fire.

Royal Oak teachers pave positive futures for students

It's carpet time...

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NOTLers lead the way for International Women’s Day 

​The women of Niagara-on-the-Lake made Queen’s Royal Park their stomping grounds on Monday morning.

Two NOTL kids take lead on boosting diabetes awareness

This was a feature I wrote for The Lake Report at the end of Nov. 2023 for Diabetes Awareness Month. The topic hits close to home for me as I was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes when I was 13.

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Laura Fakla and Marlene Bridgman agree it's important to get your ducks in a row before yo

Opening up about death – over a cup of coffee

About 25 people came out to the Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Centre on Friday night to sip warm beverages and talk about death.

Town forced to grant rental licence after zoning appeal

The town has issued a short-term rental licence to the owners of a Virgil property, despite the home having a history of violating the town’s bylaws, says their next-door neighbour.

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Council rejects Solmar’s demolition demands for Rand Estate

The dispute between Solmar and SORE over the future of the Rand Estate is now in the hands of the Ontario Land Tribunal.

Code Grey: Region needs 91 more doctors, NOTL needs 3

The Niagara region needs to attract 91 more family doctors to meet the needs of its residents – and NOTL needs at least three more, town councillors heard last week.

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Pulling apart the knot of Indigenous trauma

“I prefer to be Marie Louise.”

Average NOTL property taxes to rise $105 this year

The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake expects to spend about $4 million more in 2023 than it did last year to cover its daily operations.

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'30 seconds in' he heard four snaps

He remembers hearing four distinct snaps.

Ordnance stones should gather no moss: Town urged to restore historic military property markers

One man’s quest to restore Niagara-on-the-Lake’s oldest rock collection could be a new history-focused tourist attraction for the town by summer’s end.

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Code Grey: Workers, advocates paint a grim picture of health care in Niagara

Niagara’s health workers are sounding the alarm over what some are calling a “crisis” in medical care.

In-depth: How new Ontario law curtails town’s power over development

Residents of Niagara-on-the-Lake could soon start to feel the effects of the province’s new housing legislation, Bill 23, which became law late in November.

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Native Centre elects board amid strife

Members of the Niagara Regional Native Centre elected a new board last week amid allegations from senior staff that former board members had abused their powers.

Raising the roof: Circle Street house floats in midair as basement is installed below it

Nope, it isn’t floating. Best take another look.

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From dirt to Destiny: An Indigenous woman’s journey to success

She calls it dirt, what she used to put in her body.

What’s under the hood? A look at NOTL’s new ‘net zero’ property

Listed at $4.6 million, the house on 28 Cottage St. in Niagara-on-the-Lake is not exactly a candidate for the pageant of Canada’s most affordable homes

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Shorter is better for Mary Street condo, argues urban design committee

Residents of a Niagara-on-the-Lake neighbourhood say they are alarmed to see a development proposal being reconsidered after it was last rejected by town council in 2016.

Bus driver has front row seat to massive chemical explosion

Swimming with sharks was a little less scary than this. 

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NOTL novelist reconnects with lost family member through her work

Niagara-on-the-Lake author Oew Sook Kim says she puts a little bit of herself into everything she writes.

Strife at native centre leads to resignations and accusations

The board of the Niagara Regional Native Centre is looking for community members to fill several vacant seats, after the resignations of its executive director and three board members just before Christmas.

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Rosling’s voice crackles like fire in return of ‘Mistletoe Bride’

Tara Rosling performed a dramatic reading of Jeanette Winterson’s “The Mistletoe Bride” Sunday night before a packed audience at the Irish Harp.

Family and friends pack native centre for Christmas party

There were smiles aplenty at the Niagara Regional Native Centre on Saturday as a team of dedicated volunteers fed breakfast to almost 400 people, including 172 children.

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Greenbelt changes threaten Niagara farms, group warns 

A conservation group in Niagara-on-the-Lake is sounding the alarm over changes to the Greenbelt passed by the Doug Ford government.

Reid contests Niagara Foundation’s claim to half ownership stake of The Wilderness

The King Street property known as “The Wilderness” is an urban oasis and Ken Reid, who lives on it, says he is confused why the Niagara Foundation worries he might sell it for redevelopment.

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A new era begins in NOTL: Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa outlines priorities and vows ‘more listening and less talk’

New Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa promised “more listening and less talk” as he stood at the podium before a half-packed Court House auditorium Tuesday night at the town’s inauguration of its new council.

Union strike moves forward despite legislation prohibiting it

Niagara-on-the-Lake kids spent Friday at home, after a Canadian Union of Public Employees strike forced schools to close doors for the day.

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Mounty Evan Malcolm's hat vigorously drips water as the relentless rain continues. SOMER S

Rain or shine, NOTL remembers

Emily Abt was squeezing rain water out of her white gloves and soaked from head to toe, shivering after the Remembrance Day ceremony in Queenston on Friday. 

New lord mayor says job does not have to be ‘full-time’

Lord Mayor-elect Gary Zalepa is confident he can walk a tightrope and balance his work between the political and private sector during his first term in office. 

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Row on row the poppies blow at Court House and museum

Remembrance Day is a time to be thankful.

Finishing official plan a key priority, new mayor says

Election day was a storm of activity for Gary Zalepa.

Gary Zalepa and his campaign team rally at a Virgil intersection. Evan Loree.webp
The tree in question hadn’t grown leaves for three years, said developer Rainer Hummel. Su

Frustrated developer cut down dead ash trees without receiving permit from the town

If two trees are cut down on Queen street, does anyone take notice? 

You betcha. 

Election 2022: Teamwork makes the dream work, candidates agree

“Collaborate” was the word in the seats if not on the street at a candidate Meet & Greet session last Tuesday.

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Campaign Walkabout: Parking, traffic, representation are issues in Glendale

Traffic, parking and a seat at the table.

Those were the common concerns for residents of Glendale when mayoral candidate Gary Zalepa was out canvassing last Thursday. 

Caring Coyotes become Ferocious Foxes for a day

Life was a highway at Crossroads Public School last Thursday as students ran circles around their teachers and their playground in support of Terry Fox and cancer research. 

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Traffic, development, tourism highlight chamber election debate

Traffic congestion, affordable housing, short-term rentals, heritage protection and tourism management were the hot topics at a Chamber of Commercesponsored candidates debate last week.

Every Child Matters flag at half-mast for Truth and Reconciliation

The Every Child Matters flag was raised to half-mast in Niagara-on-the-Lake Friday morning.

Shyann Jenkins, Emely Velasquez and Sabrina Shawana sing and drum as a form of healing at
President of Sovereign Motorcycle Club Mike Player was at Queenston Heights after a long c

Indigenous motorcycle club’s Unity Ride ends in Niagara-on-the-Lake

The Sovereign Motorcycle Club was at Queenston Memorial Park Saturday afternoon at the end of a long ride from Ohsweken on the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nations reserve.

St. Davids teacher faces discipline for using offensive handout

The District School Board of Niagara is in the hot seat after a kindergarten teacher from St. Davids Public School shared a racist handout with her students.

The handout portrayed two children in st
From left- Back row- Rudy Wiens, Jim Redekop, Wally Istchenko, Greg Dick, Tim Greves, Denn

NOTL champion fastball team reunites, 50 years later

The boys are back in town.

Fighters, not quitters, at annual NOTL Terry Fox Run

People at the Terry Fox Run were united by the man’s inspirational character when they came to Simcoe Park Sunday morning.

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Six NOTL sailors compete in Shark World Championship in Austria

Sailors from Niagara-on-the-Lake are testing new waters and catching fresh wind this week.

Fans pack stands for IceDogs and Otters exhibition fundraiser

The Erie Otters and Niagara IceDogs hit the ice Friday night in Virgil to the roar of a crowd hungry for hockey and popcorn.

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Neighbourhood kids take part in a game of tug of war before trying their hand at balancing

Friends old and new enjoy Chautauqua corn roast

Newcomers and long haulers, old timers and whippersnappers alike showed up to chow down on hot dogs and fresh corn under the late day sun at the Chautauqua corn roast Tuesday evening.

Council allows Johnson zoning change despite vocal pushback from neighbours

Town council has approved a zoning change request for a heritage home in Old Town, despite vocal opposition from neighbours.

Council pushed through a zoning change for 129 Johnson Street despite pushback from neighb
Harrison and Roza Wasilewicz. Kids all over Niagara-on-the-Lake were excited to be back in

Back in class: Kids in seats and cops in streets for first day of school

Kids all over Niagara-on-the-Lake traded in their sunglasses and beach towels for backpacks and lunch pails as they headed back to school Tuesday.

The past comes to life at annual Jane’s Walk in Chautauqua

A crowd of about 50 gathered under a canopy of trees in Ryerson Park last Thursday evening to share in the storied history of the Chautauqua neighbourhood. 

Kyra Simone speaks at the second annual Jane's Walk. Evan Loree.webp
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Small crowd gathers to watch first flag raising at Queen’s Royal Park

A small group of people gathered at the top of Queen’s Royal Park on Friday to witness the long-awaited raising of a newly installed Canadian flag on Niagara-on-the-Lake’s waterfront.

NOTL wrestler Gatta is gunning for Games gold

Niagara-on-the-Lake wrestler Zubin Gatta leaves no room for self-doubt at the 2022 Canada Niagara Games. 

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A view from the ice

The view from the ice is bleak. 

From farm to flies

When Lori showed me her warehouse, it was half full of potatoes once destined for a landfill.

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Next Stage returns to Toronto with creative shift

Performance artists are reinventing the medium after Covid-19 has forced many theatrical performances to adapt their work for a digital space.

Local restaurants impress for the Taste of Oakville

Visit Oakville is running the annual Taste of Oakville until March 10th this year.

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Oakville transit strike stands still

Oakville transit workers are in their second week of picketing after contract negotiations with the City of Oakville have come to a standstill. 

Sheridan students meet a Sheridan hero

Sheridan animation students are more excited than ever for the release of Disney Pixar’s latest film, Turning Red, after director and Sheridan alumna, Domee Shi, provided students with a sneak peek of the film Wednesday at the Oakville Centre for The Performing Arts.

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Breaking through burnout

The semester is winding down here at Sheridan and students are feeling the pressure as final exams and projects begin to pile up. 

Bombs from afar shake Sheridan students

Sheridan students are looking for support, emotional and financial, after a war thousands of kilometers away has cast their finances into doubt and put their families into immediate danger. 

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Homebuyers struggle as new policy comes up short

Canadian home buyers continue to struggle with rising market prices after Parliament’s speech from the throne last Tuesday failed to address low market supply. 

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