Author Archives: Sub Standard

The SubStandard regrets to report that the much anticipated new and expanded washroom facilities for Sunset Beach Park, which began last fall with the buzz of chainsaws, crashing of trees and growling of backhoes, seems to have fallen seriously behind schedule and appears unlikely to be open for the horde of invading visitors anticipated next month. OneContinue reading “Sunset Beach Washrooms “Ready” for Summer Hordes”

Niagara Regional Council Chair Jim Bradley has called on the federal government to help fund the Niagara SubStandard. Referring to the SubStandard as a “local source of incredible news,” Chairman Bradley made the plea at the Regional Council meeting last Thursday. With unanimous support, the resolution introduced by Bradley recognized that “a healthy professional mediaContinue reading “Niagara Regional Council Calls for Government to Support the Niagara SubStandard”

Bolstered by results from last summer’s survey of the public’s vision for Sunset Beach and Lakeside Park that showed a clear majority of respondents do not support paid parking, on Monday the council will hear a recommendation from City staff to…impose paid parking at Sunset Beach and Lakeside Park. At three bucks an hour andContinue reading “City Considers Expanding Parking Meters to Lakefront Parks Due to Unpopular Demand”

Encouraged by his “mom’s advice,” West Lincoln mayor David Bylsma has launched his own brand of orange juice called Mayor Dave’s Miracle Covid Juice. “It’s just what the doctor ordered,” Bylsma gushed at the introduction of the new product. “It saddens me that it has taken so long to get this product to the public.Continue reading “Bylsma introduces new line of Covid-stopping orange juice”

Many St. Catharines residents have been eagerly awaiting the reappearance of our iconic totem pole, installed in 1967 as part of Canada’s hundredth birthday celebration. Understandably, over the intervening 50-plus years, the pole had begun to deteriorate, and in August 2019, city council approved a recommendation to take down the totem pole to restore it.Continue reading “Restored Totem Pole Returns to Centennial Park”

A local citizen out exercising her pet Newfoundland dog, Joey, noticed a chunk of metal lying on the sidewalk on Ontario Street today. On closer inspection it appears that what she found was a rusted and stripped industrial-size bolt.  “At first I thought nothing of it,” said Irma Parsons, herself a Newfoundlander. “But then IContinue reading “Is This Puppy in Danger? Local Dog Owner Alarmed by Suspicious Bolt”

Rumours of a mysterious “Town of Lincoln” have circulated in the Niagara region for years. Although there is little physical evidence that such a community actually exists, the legend has become a fixture in local folklore. Believers most often cite signs reading “Town of Lincoln” stuck randomly across the region as proof that the “town”Continue reading “Is There a Real “Town of Lincoln”? Local Experts Put the Myth to Rest.”

City Council will be voting on a “transportation master plan” on 12 April. Among other innovations, the plan proposes bulldozing a highway through the old golf course and current greenspace for the densely populated area around the Fairview Mall. Brett Speers, a representative of the consulting company who prepared the plan, WSP (Why Save Parkland?),Continue reading “Proposed St. Catharines highway would shave seconds off trip to LCBO”

The demolition company hired to clean up the GM site but instead knocked down the landmark smokestack without a permit is in big trouble. The City expressed outrage that the demolishers had “accidentally” knocked down the 100-foot brick structure in early February while their request for a permit was pending. At that time the CityContinue reading “City Demands Demolition Permit for already Demolished Chimney before it can be Demolished”