 By Staff
July 18th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
Construction of the patient tower is moving along nicely. The last window on Level 7 of the new patient tower was installed at the end of June! Soon, two elevators will be up and running on the inside of the building and the man and material hoist will be removed.
The pedestrian bridge structure connects Level 2 of the parking facility to Level 1 of the new tower. Now the construction team is building the metal deck on the floor and on the roof of the bridge and pouring the concrete floor. By the end of July, glass windows will be installed on the bridge and roofing and finishes will follow.
Power will be turned on in late September.
In their latest video, Alean Jackman, Operational Readiness Coordinator and Melanie Burnet, Program Champion for the Surgical Program share the 5 Things You Need to Know about Our New Surgical Suite. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the progress being made inside our future surgical suite and learn more about the new space from our experts!
In the past the hospital has had problems with infectious diseases. The new hospital will have three new washer disinfectors that have greater capacity for cleaning and processing clinical equipment. The machines also have fast and efficient cleaning cycles, larger touch screens, and built-in “cool touch” handles on the racks.
Inside, installation of drywall continues to progress from the Main Level to Level 7 and soon, ceilings will go up. Painting has started and the main lobby staircase will be installed by late summer.
The people who will make the hospital actually work on a day to day basis are involved in critical training programs; much of the equipment is very complex and requires training and practice before nurses roll you into one of the ten new operating rooms – nine of which are reported to be ready for business on opening day.
 A new Lakeshore Road is being constructed that will lead to the new front entrance to the hospital. The construction and re-development of the hospital takes place while the city re-builds the part of Lakeshore Road that will become the new front entrance to the hospital. Parts of Lakeshore Road are being raised by as much as a metre from their current level. The re-built road will slowly slope towards the parking garage where the rebuild will pause until the hospital is completed in 2018.
 Storm water around the hospital has always been an issue – one that hospital media management people don’t like to talk about very much.  Big 20 inch pipes being shoved under North Shore Road to connect properties north of Lakeshore to pipes running along Lakeshore right past the hospital to the Waste Water treatment plant. Traffic in the area has been re-routed in several directions while the construction work takes place. Waste water treatment and storm water facilities are also being upgraded as well.
A 20 inch pipe is being shoved under the Lakeshore Road, North Shore Road intersection from the Brant Museum property to connect waste water pipes to the main trunk line.
 These are the detours that are going to be in place until road re-construction is complete – sometime in September. It is not a pretty place for traffic these days – and it is going to remain that way until late in September.
By Pepper Parr
July 18th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
We were advised this morning that the errors on the plaque have been corrected.
Ed Keenleyside just might be sleeping a little better these days – The Cenotaph that is tucked beside city hall on Brant Street is getting a clean-up.
 Ed Keenleyside at the Cenotaph. Keenleyside has been researching the names of the 82 casualties etched on the Cenotaph with plans to publish an informative book, which will put faces and personalities to those who died so many years ago.
“I have information on all but one name and that person, J. W. Williamson, is among the 44 World War II fatalities. If anyone can identify this person Keenleyside would be most grateful. Please contact him at at ekeenleyside@cogeco.ca if you can help.
But that isn’t Keenleyside’s biggest issue – he was close to spitting nickels when he say the errors in the small plaque to the rear of the monument explain the memorial.
Within the handful of sentences describing this important monument said Keenleyside DATE are the following mistakes:
1. There are 38 World War I casualties listed on the memorial, not 39.
2. The 38 fatalities listed are soldiers from the Great War (or World War I ), not from the Second World War.
3. There are 44 local service people listed from the Second World War, not 43.
 Ed Keenleyside identified a number of significant error on this plaque. In addition to the embarrassing errors on the plaque, Keenleyside wonders why the Korean War Veterans are recognized at the base of the Cenotaph but the Afghanistan War Veterans are not recognized.
Ed Keenleyside can’t understand why the plaque that explains the history of the war memorial he is standing beside has so many errors on it.
The Gazette hasn’t had an opportunity to check and see if the piece of metal with the errors inscribed has been replaced. We expect to hear from Keenleyside on this matter.
The cenotaph was dedicated in April 1922 by Lord Byng (Govenor General of Canada) and was originally located in a park setting on the downtown shore of Lake Ontario. The memorial was moved to its present location after the construction of the new City Hall in 1962.
 Remembered, respected. Now to ensure that it is accurate and up to date. The Cenotaph consists of five pieces of granite, stacked in a plinth and is topped with a sculpture of a World War I soldier cast in bronze. The names of 38 WWI fatalities from Burlington and Nelson Township are engraved on both sides of the column. On the back of the column the names of 17 key WWI Canadian battle locations such as Vimy Ridge, Arras, Mons, Ypres and the Somme are engraved. On the front of the column is a large bronze plaque four feet by three feet in size, with the names inscribed of 44 service people from this area who died in WWII.
Repair work will include: removal of loose corrosion products and accumulated dirt from the bronze statue, plaque and granite base; application of hot and cold wax to the bronze statue and plaque; filling in small bronze losses with wax; surface cleaning the bronze plaque and replacing missing hardware; replacing iron hardware with copper or stainless steel hardware; re-coating the lead lettering with black paint as required; replacing failing mortar on the granite base and surrounding pad.
Keenleyside spots errors on plaque describing the war memorial.
 By Pepper Parr
July 18th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
 MP Pam Damoff will lead a consultation on climate change at Tansley Woods on the 20th Member of Parliament Pam Damoff is holding a climate change consultation on July 20th at 7pm at Tansley Wood.
Vince Fiorito urges people to “to show up and speak up in support of an ambitious national climate strategy.”
 Vince Fiorito. Steward of Sheldon Creek has been a climate change advocate for years. A number of months ago Fiorito made a very trenchant observation when he said: “The planet it going to survive – there is no certainty that the human race will survive if they keep on behaving the way they do now.”
It is our planet – we actually get to decide what life on this planet is going to be like in the next 50 years.
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 By Pepper Parr
July 18th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Getting community culture funded in Burlington is a tricky business.
Culture and the arts gets managed at the Parks and Recreation level, Burlington has not yet grown to the point where it has a group dedicated to culture – there isn’t yet a full realization that culture is an economic driving force that has to be managed and effectively promoted.
In the past few years a cultural underground that is a lot bigger than most people realize has begun to organize itself – it is more vocal than effective at this point – but it does have potential.
Herding cats is easier than getting artists to sing from the same hymn book. At some point the political leadership or the administrative will come to the surface and changes will take place. In the meantime we muddle our way through a mushy place where most people mutter the right words but not much real change takes place.
 Selina Eckersall chose Village Square as the location for the second No Vacancy vent which they called Cirque. It was a huge success. Last week the fissures in the cultural file were evident when ward 2 Councillor Meed Ward put forward a motion to grant a group putting on a significant cultural event for the fourth year. The group had previously been turned down by the Parks and Recreation program because they weren’t a new event.
Meed Ward wanted the group to be given $4000 which members of Council went along with at the Standing committee level – it has yet to be approved by Council.
In her memorandum to city council Meed Ward explained that “No Vacancy is a non profit charitable agency whose mission is to bring contemporary art and culture to Burlington. They have previously sponsored two other art events: Cirque (2014) and Super Nova (2015).”
Meed Ward didn’t mention the first No Vacancy event that was held at the Waterfront Hotel in 2103.
Council provided one-time funding support for SuperNova, as well as funding for the Car- Free Street festivals in wards 4,5 and 6 and a Janes’ Walk in ward 1.
Funding was not sought by the No Vacancy people during this year’s budget for their Moonglade, because they were pretty sure funding would be available under the new Community Investment Fund (CIF). However, that fund turned out to be for new events. Moonglade is new in the sense that it is a different location and theme, although still run at the same time of year by the same organization. As such, the event doesn’t neatly fit the existing criteria of the CIF.
 Tomy Bewick intoned in a strong passionate voice while Teresa Seaton spread the stained glass feathers about the ground. The event was one of the strongest features in the 2015 No Vacancy SuoerNova event. Mead Ward said that “this is an event and an organization we want to support until such time as criteria are developed for ongoing community-delivered events. Currently, staff are working on a revised festivals and events strategy. The issue of ongoing event funding will no doubt be a topic of discussion, given the city currently does fund some existing events year over year (eg Sound of Music), and has funded Car Free Festivals again this year.
Meed Ward trotted out the line we are going to hear for the next five years – “the event aligns well with Burlington’s new Strategic Plan, the direction of an Engaging City.”
The strong point in Meed Wards request that Council contribute funds was the additional partners the event has brought into their tent. The Art Gallery of Burlington and the Burlington Downtown Business Association are very much on board with the No Vacancy initiative.
This year the event will be held in Brock Park behind the Art Gallery and inside the building as well. The city can be a partner as well. The request got past the Standing committee and goes to city council Monday evening.
Selina Eckersall, head of No Vacancy, the group that has put on three events, two of which were unqualified successes, had managed to put together an agreement with the Art Gallery of Burlington to hold the event at that location for their fourth event.
 Culture – it was in 2014 at the No Vacancy Cirque event. This has to be looked upon as a marriage made in heaven. The Art Gallery has all kinds of nooks and crannies that are ideal for the kind of event that No Vacancy does. Their first event at the Waterfront Hotel was small but broke new ground in terms of cultural audacity for this city. The second, held at the Village Square broke records in terms of audience attendance and the eclectic mix of participants that ranged from Belly Dancers to Teresa Seaton Stained Glass – and that is a stretch when it comes to art in Burlington. But it worked and the No Vacancy people heightened their ambitions and decided to hold their third event on Old Lakeshore Road. It suffered from overreach and too large a space – and not enough in the way of volunteer help. Lessons were learned.
 Robert Steven is showing the city that he is prepared to do things differently. Having a CEO at the Art Gallery prepared to reach out and try something new was just what No Vacancy needed. Robert Steven showed the city that he was prepared to do things differently when he sponsored a concert at the Performing Arts Centre where he made better use of the space than the staff over there do.
Inviting the No Vacancy crowd into the AGB was a brilliant move that was aided by the fact that Eckersall, was named the Arts Person of the Year award in the 2014 Burlington Best event now also sits on the Board of the AGB.
With at least some of the core funding they need in place – MoonGlade can now continue with their plans and show the city what they can do in perhaps the best location available in the city.
 Lone Garden will again be part of No Vacancy’s MoonGlade this year Kune Hua, one of the 17 participants, is growing an even bigger Love Garden. There is a man in blue wearing red sneakers that is somehow involved in promoting the event.
By Pepper Parr
July 18th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
People enjoyed the city over the weekend – and there was a bit of a breeze.
The audiences for the KooGle Theatre Company production of the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee were very good as was the audience for The Taming of the Shrew at Thinkspot in Lowville.
 Shakespeare in Lowville. The Shrew production was an incredibly different and innovative take on what the bard wrote. The Driftwood Theatre Company is known for doing thought provoking, at time hilarious productions of Shakespeare’s work. Thinkspot has become known for bringing them to the city.
The Thinkspot event has been for just the one evening in an outdoor theatre. The audience this year was larger than last year.
 Spelling Bee cast talks to the audience after its opening last week. The Spelling Bee runs for an additional week at the Performing Arts Centre – two of the four nights the first week were sold out. Book your tickets now for this one. Fun evening.
The Mayor is reported to have been able to spell some of the words he was given but even he was eventually led off the stage by Muscle Bound Mike. You need to see the play to fully appreciate that actor.
The Bandits took a licking on the baseball diamond.
The Bandits will play again this weekend – hopefully they will do better.
The Lowville Festival begins on Friday the 22nd at the Anglican Church in Lowville where a 60+ member choir will be entertaining. This is the Second Annual Lowville Festival – an event that is finding its legs and adding to the locally based entertainment program.
City council meets this evening – then they are off for their summer break. This Council is at the halfway point of their current term of office. All were re-elected last time around.
Lowville Festival schedule:
 By Staff
July 16, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Noelvis Entenza struck out nine batters over seven innings as the Kitchener Panthers beat the Burlington Bandits 7-2 Saturday afternoon.
 Both runs Entenza (7-3) allowed were earned and came on two hits. He also walked three.
David Whiteside led the offence with his seventh home run of the season and three RBI. Mike Gordner had two hits and an RBI, and Sean Reilly drove in his 44th run of the season.
For Burlington, Nolan Pettipiece had two hits and an RBI. Julian Johnson doubled and scored, and John Whaley had an RBI.
Branden Kuzyk (0-3) allowed three runs on five hits over seven innings, striking out four and walking five.
The first-place Panthers improved to 22-7 after their second straight victory, and the sixth-place Bandits dropped to 7-20.
In Barrie the Baycats knock off Red Sox Baycats moved within a half game of second place after their 11-6 win over the Brantford Red Sox Saturday night.
Barrie improved to 19-9 and is a half game back of London, which has lost three straight.
Jeff Cowan and Kyle DeGrace each had three hits, two runs and two RBI to lead the offence. Kevin Atkinson went 3-for-5 with three runs and an RBI, while Glenn Jackson had three hits, an RBI and run. Conner Morro drove in a run, and Ryan Spataro had a hit and scored twice.
Adam Rowe (1-0) picked up the win, giving up six runs (five earned) on 13 hits over five innings. Rowe didn’t have a strikeout or walk.
Ricky Murray had two hits and two RBI for the fourth-place Red Sox, which dropped to 18-12. Chris Dennis had two hits, two runs and an RBI, Wayne Forman singled twice, and Dennon Koziol and Nic Burdett each had two hits and a run. Brandon Dailey and Jeff Hunt each drove in a run, and Tyler Patzalek had two hits.
Matt Martinow (1-2) took the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits in three innings, without recording a strikeout or walk. Riley Barr started and went three innings, giving up six runs (four earned) on seven hits, striking out four and walking one.
In Guelph the Royals scored all of their runs in the fourth inning of a 7-6 win over the Hamilton Cardinals Saturday night.
Guelph had five hits in the inning, including Chandler McLaren’s two-run home run with no out. Santino Silvestri hit a two-run double, and Trevor Nyp had an RBI single.
Nathan Dallas-Blackburn added two hits and a run.
 A summer evening with a baseball game under the lights – hearing the snap of the bat as all the eyes in the stands follow the arc of the ball. Alberto Rodriguez (3-2) picked up the win, going 6.1 innings and allowing five runs on four hits, striking out 11 and walking five.
AJ Mackey picked up his first save, giving up a run on two hits in an inning, striking out two.
For Hamilton, Dre Celestijn and Tyler Hardie each hit home runs. Hardie finished with three hits and two RBI. TJ Baker drove in two and scored twice, and Lake Molleson had an RBI.
Kyle Adoranti (0-6) gave up five runs (three earned) on six hits over 3.2 innings, striking out five and walking two.
The seventh-place Royals improved to 7-21, and the last-place Cardinals dropped to 7-23. The Bandits sit atop the two with a 7-20 record.
Future games
Sunday, July 17
London at Toronto, 2 p.m.
Barrie at Hamilton, 2 p.m.
Guelph at Kitchener, 7 p.m.
By Pepper Parr
July 16th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Where is Ray?
For many Gazette readers Ray Rivers had become a Friday habit – his views on matters federal, provincial and from time to time international have appeared in the Gazette for more than three years.
I first met Rivers when he was talking to a group of Liberals who used to meet regularly at Artisano’s. I liked what I heard Rivers saying a found a way to strike up a conversation. That led to his writing for the Gazette.
 Rivers tries to get to New Zealand once a year – relaxes with family and gets in a little fishing. His daughter returned to Canada with he husband and their children. Ray is working on making a good hockey fan out of at least the grandson. This summer Rivers and I decided that a full break for a month or more was well deserved – and except for one occasion when he had to say something about the Brexit mess in the United Kingdom, Rivers has behaved and worked with tools on his farm in Mountsburg rather than the keyboard on his computer.
There is a tree lot that needs some pruning and a new deck for the hot tub. Grass to be cut with the mower that Rivers treats as something you drive at a NASCAR event and the chicken coop needs a good clean up.
 Rivers is incapable of getting through a day without reading at last one newspaper. So – for those who wonder where Rivers is – it isn’t quite “gone fishing” but it is a respite from a task that can get onerous. Writing a column every week is demanding.
Rivers and I usually have a short conversation about what he would like to write on – we exchange ideas and I pretty well leave him to his own devices. It is the readers that keep him on his toes.
There are about a dozen that watch what he writes very carefully. It did take a while for Gazette readers to fully appreciate that Rivers was a columnist with a view point. Several complained that he was a Liberal and therefore shouldn’t be writing articles.
He is certainly a Liberal and a liberal as well – and that was the point. The Gazette wanted someone with a clear point of view. We also wanted a strong Conservative and talked to a number of people who could have filled that role – none chose to step up the plate.
Public opinion needs to be informed and the exchange of views is part of what informs people. It took us some time to bleed out the more raucous comments that used to appear in the Gazette.
This is not yet a city with a clear understanding of how important it is to keep the public informed and to do so as transparently as possible.
Rivers, who has consistently written a column with often extensive links to other material that few columnists provide.
 With the New Zealand part of the family now on Canadian soil Rivers can see his grandchildren whenever he wants. Rivers will be back in the fall – we expect him to have something to say about both the Republican and Democratic conventions taking place in the United States and how our federal and provincial governments are doing in this country.
The Gazette is fortunate to have Rivers as part of the editorial team – Burlington doesn’t yet fully appreciate the contribution he makes – which isn’t about what he actually writes – but about the fact that he does write. The city badly needs a public that is informed and is prepared to speak out.
 By Staff
July 16th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
They certainly dropped the Hammer on us.
The Hamilton Cardinals pounded out 14 hits in a 17-1 win over the Burlington Bandits Friday night.
 Tyler Hardie went 4-for-5 with four RBI and three runs to lead the seventh-place Cards, who improved to 7-22. Chris Beer singled three times and drove in three and scored once, while Nate Mastervick hit a solo home run and single and scored three times. Dre Celestijn went 2-for-4 with two RBI and four runs, Liam Wilson drove in a pair of runs and scored twice, TJ Baker and Jake Foden each had an RBI, and Marcus Dicenzo added a single, RBI and two runs.
Robert Wilson (2-4) went eight innings for the win, allowing one run on five hits, striking out six and walking two.
Justin Gideon had a solo home run for the sixth-place Bandits, who fell to 7-19. Alex Nolan added a double.
Derek Zwolinski (0-1) took the loss, lasting four innings and giving up eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits, walking three and striking out three.
In Brantford the Red Sox took a 12-2 win over the Guelph Royals all the way to the bank Friday night.
Burdett drilled a three-run blast in the sixth inning and singled three times. Wayne Forman went 4-for-5 with two RBI and a run, Dennon Koziol had two RBI, while Benjamin Bostick and Jeff Hunt each drove in a run. Tyler Patzalek, Ricky Murray and Chris Dennis combined for five hits and five runs.
On the mound, Nathan Forer (6-2) went 6.1 innings and allowed two runs on five hits, striking out six and walking one.
For Guelph, Adam Rossit had the lone RBI. Matt Schmidt went 2-for-2 with a run and walk.
Daniel Marquez (0-2) took the loss, giving up five runs (four earned) on four hits in 2.2 innings. Marquez walked seven and didn’t record a strikeout.
The fourth-place Red Sox improved to 18-11, and the last-place Royals dropped to 6-21.
Elsewhere in the league pitcher Deska strikes out 13 in Toronto Leafs win over the London Majors.
Marek Deska went seven scoreless innings and struck out 13 as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the London Majors 5-0 Friday night.
Deska (2-1) scattered six hits and didn’t walk a batter as the fifth-place Leafs improved to 15-14.
Grant Tamane drove in a pair of runs in the win. Connor Lewis, Will Richards and Damon Topolie each had an RBI.
RJ Fuhr had two of London’s seven hits. Carlos Arteaga singled and stole two bases.
Owen Boon (4-1) allowed four runs on five hits over seven innings, striking out five and walking four.
The second-place Majors (20-9) dropped their third straight and trail Kitchener by 1.5 games.
Future games
Saturday, July 16
Kitchener at Burlington, 1 p.m.
Brantford at Barrie, 7 p.m.
Hamilton at Guelph, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 17
London at Toronto, 2 p.m.
Barrie at Hamilton, 2 p.m.
Guelph at Kitchener, 7 p.m.
 By Pepper Parr
July 15th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
There is something fun about musicals – they always start with a burst of energy and you know you are going to be entertained.
As the actors and actresses take to the stage you wonder how they are going to portray their character, more than often there is a surprise or two.
Thursday night the KooGle Theatre Company opened “The 25thAnnuual Putnam County Spelling Bee” with a cast of nine supplemented by four members of the audience who volunteered to be part of the spelling bee.
Their names weren’t provided but the woman who was asked to spell “cow” did not expect to be on her knees on the stage with Muscle bound Mitch Mahoney, played by Giovanni Spina, as he comforted her when she failed to spell a word.
The audience didn’t expect to see Jesus in the balcony either as he spoke to one of the players. It was that kind of night.
The cast on stage taking questions from the audience. First night was SOLD OUT – as are many of the seven day run performances. Mark Allan, playing Leaf Coneybear, didn’t really know how to spell but had a “divining rod” that took over his mind and his body as he blurted out the letters to words he didn’t even understand. He was the nut case who turned in a funny performance of a whimsical character.
The chair of the Spelling Bee – she was winner in the 3rd Annual Putnam County event, stroked the microphone stand in a way that said much more than she perhaps wanted to convey. Cara Pantalone, playing Rona Lisa Perretti was that busy, supressed personality that runs the show – she sold real estate.
The awkward teenage Boy Scout, played by Daniel Spragge, who had let himself slip into a day dream of some wished for girl in his life that produced an erection he was not able to hide was one of the funnier characters on the stage.
I had the pleasure of sitting between Deb Tymstra and Loretta Bailey in the balcony and will not forget the Bailey laugh, it came from deep in her throat, she was thoroughly enjoying the Boy Scout and his predicament. Baily once played a leading role in Les Miserable in Toronto and will be performing at the Lowville Festival on the 24th of July.
The contest judge, played by Christopher Gray, did explain and apologized for the “unfortunate incident” that required him to bow out of the judge job in a previous spelling bee. He assured his audience that he had worked on his problem.
The performance program describes the cast as six quirky adolescents and the three equally quirky grown up who reveal pasts that are at times hilarious and poignant.
Marcy Park, played by Laura Caswell, was waiting for her Dad who had her contest entrance fee, did a superb performance as she sang in a very plaintive voice the words “Mama – chanti” as the Mother who had been in an ashram in India and the Father who didn’t always show up stood on either side looking away from their child.
Her blossoming affection for William Barfee, played by Niko Combitsis, was tender, touching and for this reviewer, stole the show. Mary Park won the hearts of the audience and the Spelling Bee trophy as well.
Barfee was certainly the strongest character on the stage who did a short tap dance, a skill he began to acquire in January. How his dancing and spelling go together is something you are going to have to see to fully appreciate.
Olive Ostrovsky, who spoke six languages, was played by Shaina Silver-Baird who came to the conclusion that wining was perhaps not all it was cracked up to be and left the stage on the back of muscle bound Mitch.
 One of the four volunteer contestants in the Spelling Bee returned to the stage for his bib. They had a lot of fun. Leslie Kay and Christopher Gray performed well – KooGle is their theatre company and it was their efforts and energy that brought the play to the stage of the Community Studio. Christopher has this capacity to expand the character he is playing with small deft movements that convey much more than the words he speak. There is a tightness to the man that works well; not controlled but very evident. He is to be appreciated.
The Performing Arts Centre is a superb location – we are fortunate to have the place. The Spelling Bee – try it – light summer fare that is worth the time. If you are one of those brave souls with a sense of adventure – sign up to be a contestant – there are four spots available for each performance.
They were sold out their opening night and are sold out for several of the seven day run which is: July 14th to 16th and July 21st to 23rd at 7:30 pm in the Community Theatre. The play also runs at 2:00 pm from July 17th to 24th.
 By Staff
July 15th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Thursday night’s game in Burlington between the Bandits and Barrie Baycats was suspended due to rain. The game was tied 2-2 after Barrie’s Jordan Castaldo and Burlington’s Kevin Hussey traded two-run homers. No completion date has been announced.
 In Kitchener, there was no rain and the Panthers won the second half of a home-and-home against Toronto, beating the Maple Leafs 14-6 Thursday night.
David Whiteside had two hits and four RBI to lead the first-place Panthers (21-7), who lost in Toronto on Wednesday. Mike Glinka had three hits, two RBI and a run, Sean Reilly singled twice and drove in two, while Mike Andrulis added two hits, two runs and an RBI.
Jonathan Brouse had a double, two RBI and three runs. Tanner Nivins and Ryan Douse each scored twice, and LeJon Baker came around to score three times.
Ian Rendon (5-1) picked up the win, allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits over five innings, striking out five and walking five.
Brett van Pelt (1-4) took the loss, going 4.2 innings and giving up 10 runs (eight earned) on 10 hits. Van Pelt walked five and struck out three.
At the plate, Justin Marra hit a two-run home run. Connor Lewis and Ryan White each had two-run singles with the bases loaded, and Dan Marra went 3-for-4 with two runs.
The fifth-place Leafs fell to 14-14.
Future games
Friday, July 15
Burlington at Hamilton, 7:30 p.m.
Toronto at London, 7:35 p.m.
Guelph at Brantford, 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 16
Kitchener at Burlington, 1 p.m.
Brantford at Barrie, 7 p.m.
Hamilton at Guelph, 7:30 p.m.
By Pepper Parr
July 14, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
We are still in the throes of summer – but that doesn’t slow down the people who organize the annual fall Art in Action Studio Tour.
 Darlene Throop the Art in Action Scholarship Chair and Emma Roberts winner of the 2016 scholarship They get the early word out each year by announcing their scholarship winner. This year Emma Roberts, a graduate of Hayden High school who is going on to do a Bachelor of Design through York University and Sheridan College.
As well as winning the scholarship Emma will be included in this year’s Art in Action Burlington Studio Tour on the first weekend of November.
Darlene Throop the Scholarship Chair and the jurying members found that the number of high quality applications made it very difficult decision.
 By Pepper Parr
July 14th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It’s the day the actors take to the stage – and if they aren’t ready now – they will never be ready.
 A tried and true comedy put on by a production company with significant depth and experience. The KooGle Theatre Company is mounting their second major piece of summer theatre at the Performing Art Centre – this time if you’re in the audience and you think you are a good speller – you will be invited to leave your seat and join the actors and actresses on the stage in the Community Studio. You will be taking part in a production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
The first KooGle production was I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, a musical comedy that was the second-longest running Off Broadway musical.
The ‘Spelling Bee’, a long one-act musical comedy, centers on a fictional spelling bee set in a geographically ambiguous Putnam Valley Middle School. Six quirky adolescents compete in the Bee, run by three equally quirky grown-ups.
Christopher Gray, half of the KooGle artistic team plays the part of the school vice principal – he grew a mustache for the play which runs from July 14th to 16th and July 21st to 23rd at 7:30 pm in the Community Theatre.
The play also runs from July 17th to 24th at 2:00 pm
Joint artistic directors Leslie Kay and Christopher Grey met on a stage and have made the stage the passion in their life. When talking one will glance at the other and be able to complete the sentence.
 Leslie Kay Leslie Kay was born and raised in Burlington and has been singing and dancing through life since she was a little girl. She loved to belt out songs from Annie and A Chorus Line to her mom’s records and put on shows for her family and neighbours. She enrolled in dance classes when she was 10 and auditioned for her first musical (The King and I) at age 13 with the encouragement of her Grandpa Walker (George) who played the bass fiddle in the orchestra at Hamilton Theatre Inc.
Christopher Alan Gray grew up in Chatham, Ontario and began singing at a very young age in his church choir. He then began studying voice and competed in the Kiwanis Music Festival for many years before receiving his Grade 8 Level Singing from the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Christopher studied action at Ryerson Theatre School where he received his Honours BFA and worked with many of the greats.
He spent a period of time at Stratford as well.
Leslie runs the company on a day to day basis while Christopher works in client relationship for one of the major banks.
 Christopher Alan Gray He has co-produced, co-written and performed in KooGle’s first four productions – Couple of Swells: A Movie Musical Revue, Rock Around the Clock, Let the Sun Shine, and Broadway Moments.
Most recently, KooGle teamed with Symphony on the Bay to present An Afternoon of Rodgers and Hammerstein on the main stage of The Burlington Performing Arts Centre. This sold out show was conducted by Denis Mastromonaco and featured not only the incredible sound of the 50 piece Symphony on the Bay but also fifteen local singers who joined Christopher and Leslie.
The name of the company was created to celebrate and remember Leslie’s sister who assed away very young. “There was a game we used to play that we called “koogling” – it seemed fitting to use that word as the name for the theatre company.
 Leslie Kay and Christoper Grey – the KooGle Theatre Company. Leslie and Christopher always seem to be on the go while raising two boys – six and nine and coming with new ideas it improve commercial theatre in Burlington.
Leslie has done some dance outreach with the Performing Arts Centre,
The I love you you’re perfect…” production was basically a sold out event in Burlington that went on to be remounted as a co-production with Angelwalk Theatre in Toronto at The Toronto Centre for the Arts.
These two have their own on stage experience and have developed the skills to mount larger production. The Spelling Bee is an Actor’s Equity production with a large cast.
The Performing Arts Centre is a “road house” operation that brings in shows from whatever is available. They don’t do productions of their own – but Leslie and Christopher are doing something to fill part of that gap.
It will be interesting to watch how Burlington takes to productions of this quality that deserve the Main Stage – it’s all a matter of growing the audience and that is something the KooGle Theatre Company is certainly doing.
The Community Studio is a General Admission House and all you need to do is enter the number of seats you want if you are ordering on line.
There are already several sold out nights.
By Pepper Parr
July 14th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
If the heat is more than you can manage – and can anyone actually manage this heat – give some thought to a pleasant evening yards away from Bronte Creek in Lowville on a large shaded lawn while you listen to a Shakespearian classic comedy – The Taming of the Shrew
 The play’s apparent misogynistic elements have become the subject of considerable controversy, particularly among modern scholars, audiences and readers.
It is nevertheless wonderful use of the English language in a setting that is hard to beat.
The play is sponsored by Thinkspot, a Lowville based operation that focuses on shifting the way people think and the way they work together.
This is the third year they have sponsored Shakespearian plays done by the Driftwood Theatre Company. The event has become the event that precedes the Lowville Festival which this year begins Friday July 22nd through to Sunday July 24th
The Lowville Festival – for the artist in all of us.
Festival schedule:
 By Staff
July 14th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Bandits were idle Wednesday evening – they put a team on the diamond when the Barrie Baycats come to town.
 Elsewhere in the league the Toronto Leafs knock off first-place Kitchener Panthers in a 10-7 game and the Brantford Red Sox survived a late London rally and beat the Majors 5-4 Wednesday night.
Toronto (14-13) is in fifth place.
Fourth-place Brantford improved to 17-11.
Future games
Thursday, July 14
Toronto at Kitchener, 7:30 p.m.
Barrie at Burlington, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, July 15
Burlington at Hamilton, 7:30 p.m.
Toronto at London, 7:35 p.m.
Guelph at Brantford, 8 p.m.
 By Staff
July 14, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It is getting hotter and drier out there – dry enough for the fire chief to temporarily ban all outside fires—including open air burning, controlled brush burning and recreational burning—as well as banning the use of charcoal barbecues in city parks.
 BBQ’s that use charcoal have been banned in city parks. “To ensure public safety, the ban on charcoal barbecues applies to the picnic areas of three city parks—LaSalle, Lowville and Hidden Valley—where propane barbecues will still be allowed,” said Mary Battaglia, director of roads and parks maintenance with the city.
City parks are available for social and picnic use. Users are encouraged to book a permit in advance of their preferred dates. Request a booking online at www.burlington.ca/rentals, call 905-335-7738 or visit www.burlington.ca/picnics for more information.
If you are unsure if a fire ban is in effect, please contact the Burlington Fire Department at 905-637-8253 or visit www.burlington.ca/openairburning for more information about open air burning and safety tips.
By Staff
July 13, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
They held it together until the eighth inning and then opened the floodgates and put seven runs on the scoreboard to beat the Guelph Royal 8-5 at a game played in Guelph,
 The Bandits were using their bats.
Canice Ejoh went 3-for-5 and hit his first home run of the season to lead the Bandits offence. Ejoh had three RBI. Nolan Pettipiece had two hits and drove in a pair of runs, while Julian Johnson and Justin Gideon had the other RBIs. Kevin Hussey singled, doubled and scored a run, and Brad McQuinn scored a pair of runs.
Christian Hauck (3-3) went eight innings for the win, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits, striking out eight and walking seven.
For Guelph, Aaron Loder singled, doubled and drove in three. Guelph scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth but fell short. Kyle Alarcon had an RBI and scored twice, and Chandler McLaren also had an RBI. Adam Rossit singled once and scored twice.
Richard Gill (2-3) took the loss after failing to get an out in the ninth inning in relief of AJ Mackey. Gill was charged with two runs on two hits and didn’t record a walk or strikeout.
The sixth-place Bandits improved to 7-18, and the seventh-place Royals dropped to 6-20.
Future games
Wednesday, July 13
Kitchener at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
London at Brantford, 8 p.m.
Thursday, July 14
Toronto at Kitchener, 7:30 p.m.
Barrie at Burlington, 7:30 p.m.
By Pepper Parr
July 12th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
It has taken a long time for Nick Carnicelli to begin his project on John street south of Caroline. But the hoardings are up and some of the demolition has begun.
 Seventeen plus storey condominium is part of the three structure Carriage Gate project at John and Caroline. The project will consist of a high end condo, a parking garage and an office building that was promoted as a medical location.
The financing is in place and the sales team is working out of a smart looking office on Old Lakeshore Road.
 Getting this one to the point where the developer can start building has not been easy. There were issues over hydro lines – were they going to get buried and if they were who as going to pay for that work?
And who was going to pay for hauling the power lines all the way up from Lakeshore Road. The city certainly didn’t make it easy for this developer.
The ward Councillor wanted to see affordable housing units in the project that is made up of a parking lot, a medical office building and a condominium.
 Hoardings are going up. This project is one of several that are going to change the look, feel and tone of downtown Burlington. You won’t recognize the place in five years.
Bridgewater will rise 22 storeys above the lake – and right at the edge of the lake, Paradigm has the first three of the five structure project on Fairview well underway. The ADI Nautique development is mired in an OMB hearing.
The Saxony on Locust is in site clearing mode.
The sleepy quiet Burlington that many people want is going to undergo a significant change.
Are we ready for it?
 By Staff
July 12th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The construction season is spread throughout the Region.
 New gas pipeline being laid across the top of the city. Union has is laying pipe for the transmission of gas – the line goes right through the top of Burlington. We get to see what has been happening in western Canada.
The 48-inch diameter steel gas pipeline that would run approximately 22 kilometres, linking Union Gas’s Hamilton valve site, near Hwy. 6 and Carlisle Road, to the Milton Gate Station south of Derry Road.
By Pepper Parr
July 12, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
There is construction going on all over the city. The work that is reaching into the sky is just fine with most people – the work being done on the roads has people complaining – New Street residents are going to be grumpy all summer.
 Concrete pours well underway at the Dundas Sutton project.  An early architects rendering of what the ADI Development Group thought they wanted to do with the Dundas-Sutton project. The look of the project and the price point both underwent a change. The Adi Lynx development on Dundas at Sutton – next to the Bronte Creek is well past the ground breaking stage – there was no ceremonial turning of the sod when that project started.
 Financing of any development project is critical. If you want to understand how the Lynx is being financed – look no further than this organization. The project has a progressive look to it – but if real estate is all about location – Bronte Creek gives this site some cred.
By Pepper Parr
July 11th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Some momentum is being lost and the boaters at LaSalle Park are now facing an uphill battle to get the funding the need in place for the expansion the LaSalle Park Maria Association has in mind.
John Birch has been a tireless advocate for an upgraded harbour that would protect the boats from some of the rough waves that would roll in and was doing very well with his plans.
 Trumpeter swans were once the biggest problem the LaSalle Park Marina Association had in getting approval for their wave barrier project. It isn’t the swans putting on th brakes – city hall is taking a closer look at the business model. He had run into some resistance from the Trumpeter Swan people who felt the planned harbour would take their habitat away from the birds.
That isn’t the main problem anymore.
The LPMA financing always looked like a bit of a stretch but in the past the association had always met the financial obligations.
 The LaSalle PArk Marina Association wanted to build a wave barrier – the financial model they have used is making city hall uncomfortable. While the current project is quite a bit bigger than anything they had done in the past it appeared to have merit and it was getting past all the milestones.
The harbour the boaters want to put in place certainly had a number of significant benefits for the city.
Birch and ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven get along well and Craven does not like losing something his residents want. Expect some tension to surround this one as it gets worked through.
A Staff report had been prepared and put into the agenda for the current cycle of Standing Committee meetings – then it was pulled from the agenda.
“The primary reason” said city manager James Ridge “is that I believe that Council needs to consider the report in a bigger context, and a broader range of questions about the project.
“The report’s observations are also arguably at odds with a recent resolution of Council to provide a letter of support to the LPMA for grant-seeking purposes. This is further reason for Council to pause to consider the project from a more holistic perspective.
“The project involves City owned assets, and it is unusual to have a Joint Venture partner take on the financing for project of this size which invariably entails risks to both the City and LPMA. At this point we don’t have a detailed costing of the breakwater construction, however the City would very likely be responsible for any cost overruns. And as the report points out, we have concerns about the financial model, including the likely need for a loan from the city with 25 year or more repayment. This would also be unprecedented and have inherent risks.”
 City manager James Ridge “In comments made to the Gazette Ridge said: “The LPMA was unhappy with the report. However it was intended to be an independent arms-length assessment of their business case. The LPMA was very helpful in providing detailed financial records, and met with staff to answer questions before the report was prepared, but clearly disagree with the conclusions. They have provided additional information that we have reviewed, and we will meet with them again, but the report will reflect the City’s independent objective assessment of LPMA’s business case.”
Ridge as a city manager is turning out to be very fiscally prudent – no risk taking on his watch. Wonder what would have happened to the Pier had Ridge been on the job?
The Gazette will analyze the city staff report and publish a follow up piece.
Touch times for the boaters.
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