Mike Balsom

Thorold

Freelance Newspaper Reporter at The NOTL Local

teacher, broadcaster/tv host, freelance reporter, music-lover, steelers and pirates fan, family guy

Featured in: Favicon

notllocal.com Favicon

thevoiceofpelham.ca Favicon

burlingtontoday.com Favicon

thetrillium.ca Favicon

haltonhillstoday.ca Favicon

flamboroughtoday.com Favicon

thoroldtoday.ca Favicon

pelhamtoday.ca Favicon

baytoday.ca Favicon

barrietoday.com + 5 more

Articles

NOTL Rotary Club gets an academic primer on Trump 2.0

6 days ago | notllocal.com | Mike Balsom

US President Donald Trump loves to punch allies and cozy up to traditional enemies while speaking in a manner that is decidedly unpresidential. That’s the opinion of Sarah Burns, an associate professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s Department of Political Science. Burns spoke Thursday at the invitation of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Rotary Club, to which her father, John, belongs.
ICYMI: All our weekly columns in one place

6 days ago | notllocal.com | Mike Balsom

Each week we collect the contributions from our regular columnists as they appeared on notllocal.com and bring them to you in this post, just in case you missed them. Recent events prompted the NOTL Local's editor, Penny Coles, to reflect on the importance of volunteers in the Niagara-on-the-Lake community.
His Fight Isn’t Over: Walk to End ALS Continues Steven Gallagher’s Mission

1 week ago | notllocal.com | Mike Balsom

Niagara is mourning its biggest champion and warrior in the push for a cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis following the death of Steven Gallagher. Last Wednesday, the former St. Catharines Standard journalist lost his valiant, inspirational six-year battle against the disease that slowly shuts down the connections between the neurons of the brain and the muscles. He was 52 years old.
NOTL steps up for International Trail Day June 7

1 week ago | notllocal.com | Mike Balsom

Tony Chisholm credits Coun. Wendy Cheropita with the idea of a community walk on Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Upper Canada Heritage Trail on June 7. Cheropita is the town representative on the Heritage Trail Committee, which is vice-chaired by Chisholm. Ideas for promoting the trail that begins at John and King Streets were being bandied about at a recent meeting, when committee chair Rick Meloen mentioned that June 7 is International Trail Day. “She spoke up right away,” Chisholm says.
ICYMI: All our weekly columns in one place

2 weeks ago | notllocal.com | Mike Balsom

Each week we collect the contributions from our regular columnists as they appeared on notllocal.com and bring them to you in this post, just in case you missed them. Donald Combe reviews the Netflix film Somewhere in Queens, starring Ray Romano (L) and Laurie Metcalf (R) as parents trying to help their son earn a basketball scholarship.
Pillitteri back for Garden City Comedy Festival

2 weeks ago | notllocal.com | Mike Balsom

When Niagara Falls stand-up comic David Green calls, Joe Pillitteri always picks up. He answered the call seven years ago when Green invited the Niagara-on-the-Lake comedian to perform for his inaugural Garden City Comedy Festival. So when he saw Green’s number pop up on his cell phone earlier this year, he answered with eager anticipation. “David's a funny guy and he's a great comedian and MC, he fits all of those roles really well,” Pillitteri says.
Linwood Barclay in NOTL to talk about his new thriller 'Whistle'

2 weeks ago | thoroldtoday.ca | Mike Balsom

Though his new novel Whistle won’t be on bookshelves until May 20, author Linwood Barclay’s first foray into the supernatural has already earned the highest form of praise. “It’s very short, just one word,” Barclay says of the cover blurb from Stephen King, the master of the supernatural thriller. “All he says is ‘terrific’. He read the first draft before my publisher even read it. I printed it out and sent it to him.
COLUMN: Tragedy shines light on need to give motorcyclists some room on the road

3 weeks ago | bradfordtoday.ca | Mike Balsom

May is Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month, as declared by the Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada. I took little notice of that fact until May 23, 2024. That day, my younger sister Marianne Sharp’s life was cut short at 60 years old while she was enjoying her first ride of the year on her Harley-Davidson. Marianne was a very safe rider. At about five-feet, four-inches tall and not much more than 110 pounds, she had to be.
Linwood Barclay in NOTL to talk about his new thriller 'Whistle'

3 weeks ago | notllocal.com | Mike Balsom

Though his new novel Whistle won’t be on bookshelves until May 20, author Linwood Barclay’s first foray into the supernatural has already earned the highest form of praise. “It’s very short, just one word,” Barclay says of the cover blurb from Stephen King, the master of the supernatural thriller. “All he says is ‘terrific’. He read the first draft before my publisher even read it. I printed it out and sent it to him.
Niagara's motorcyclists getting ready for next month's Ride for Dad

3 weeks ago | thoroldtoday.ca | Mike Balsom

It’s a milestone year both nationally and locally for the Ride for Dad to raise funds for prostate cancer initiatives. Begun in Ottawa in 2000, the national organization celebrates its 25th anniversary, while the Niagara Chapter hosts its 15th ride on Saturday, June 14. “Locally, we’ve raised more than $790,000,” says Niagara ride co-chair Matt King, a Niagara-on-the-Lake resident. “It all goes towards funds for research and awareness. We're zeroing in on that million dollars.