 By Pepper Parr
July 17, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Andy Griffiths is beginning to move with a different crowd these days.
This weekend he will be in Lowville taking part in the weekend Festival that is being held in that community for the first time.
 Andy Griffiths – moving the sound through the microphone. Andy would like you to show up and listen to him share a stage with the likes of Stewart Laughton and David Warrack, Lorraine Foreman, Renee Barabash, Charles Cozens, Lowville Festival Choir (Wayne Strongman, conductor) plus Michael Mulrooney.
“There will be a BIG kick off concert at St. George’s Parish Hall with many great performers and a Frank Sinatra Tribute” explained Griffiths who added ” I’ll play a couple of tunes early in this show. It starts at 7:30 and is sure to be a spectacular evening.”
 The Lowville School house – location for several of the Festival events – close to the free parking. On Saturday Griffiths breaks new ground for him – doing his very first Kids Show – ‘OUR CAT FLASH’ on Saturday, July 18 at 2pm. Frank Koren will be part of the gig with special guest and Lowville resident Loretta Baily sharing the stage – Stage might not be the appropriate word – the event is taking place in the Old Lowville School House located beside the entrance to Lowville Park. Lots of free parking available. )
The show will appeal to kids of all ages as the audience joins in some of the songs that are sung. The crew will be acting out parts and generally having a great time. There will be face painting and crafts as well … before and after the show.
Later the same day …….. Saturday, July 18 at 7:30pm
‘ROOTS AND ROLL’ at the Old School House
Performing folk, roots and folk rock. Special guests at this event will be Kim Koren, Frank Koren, and Fred Magie. He group will be performing original songs, well known to their faithful followers and sure to grab you, if you are a new to these talented performers.
This evening event will also take place in the atmospheric and intimate … Old Lowville School House.
By Staff
July 16, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
They do it every summer – they use red bags to boost sales for downtown retailers – and it works for everyone – the retailers and the consumers.
 Brian Dean, top toff at the Downtown Business Association was out drumming up business for those of his members that took part in the Red Bag Sale. He doesn’t exactly make a fashion statement does he? The event begins at noon on Friday and runs till 9:00 pm in the downtown core.
Celebrate summer in Downtown Burlington! They’ll have you seeing RED all day with activities & events throughout the core.
Look for the red balloons! Get Caught Red Handed for Prize Giveaways!
If you’re spotted with a red retail bag you are in for a chance to win prizes from downtown businesses!
 For every $50 spent, you get entered to win a $500 Shopping Spree! Participating businesses will being handing out the ballots upon purchase, fill out and hand in at our Burlington Downtown tent at Civic Square – set up outside City Hall.
 By Pepper Parr
July 15, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
There is an infectiousness to the guy.
He doesn’t stop – every idea is a great idea.
He’s been in show business forever and knows all the players – he drops names like rainfall.
 Bob Missen – one of the founders of the Lowville Festival – which takes place this weekend The arts, the arts, the arts – they are what Bob Missen lives and breathes and if there is an opportunity to advance a cause or an idea or an event – he will be at the front of the line
When he delegated during one of the Stakeholders meetings that were held to ”inform” the Strategic Plan, the people in the room had to lean back a little to absorb the flow of words.
Missen knew that this was his opportunity to state his case – and he didn’t miss much of that opportunity.
Missen doesn’t speak from a script – he does wave his hands a lot and the passion just flows out of the man.
He promoted the Lowville Festival and certainly had the ear of the people who were in the room.
Missen’s mission if you will, goes far beyond the limits of Lowville where he is hosting the inaugural Lowville Festival; he sees no reason why the Nelson Quarry that is close to the end of its productive life can’t be converted into a park with an amphitheatre set beside the lake that would get formed when the quarry eventually fills with water.
 Can the city get it hands on the quarry and turn the site into a healthy addition to the economy and social activity in rural Burlington – will the locals go along with such an idea o do they want to be left along to enjoy their piece of paradise? Missen is talking the language that John Taylor lives – there are already people planning on a second conversation with the Nelson quarry people about having the city acquire the property.
A quarry in Action was recently acquired by the Region for a reported price of $1 – Missen likes that approach.
Burlington’s city council did a bus tour of the quarry site and were briefed on the time frames the Nelson quarry people were looking at – Councillor Marianne Meed Ward came away from that event feeling that there were potentialities.
The Lowville Festival event is pretty catholic in its breadth – there is just about something for everyone. “We are not at all sure where this is going to go” said Missen. “We just saw the locale as something with great potential and we put out the word and are now bringing all the wonderful talent this city has and letting the citizens hear for themselves.”
 Teresa Seaton, centre, discusses where her cultural hot spots in the city are located. Donna Graddon, on the right is thinking that one over. Missen is convinced there is great potential for an explosion of artistic activity and it doesn’t all have to take place on the edge of the lake. The Escarpment is just as big a part of the city adds Missen and we want to take advantage of that setting.
“Losing Brian McCurdy as the executive director of the Performing Arts centre is close to tragic” said Missen “but there are some very good people in place and their focus now on community groups and encouraging local talent is something Burlington has needed for some time.”
“Hopefully” adds Missen, “McCurdy will be deeply involved in the selection of his replacement – he knows everyone and can be of immense help.”
Missen is of the belief that Burlington will create an Arts Council and that the city will fund it on an ongoing basis – and go so far as to give the Council a significant sum to be handed out to different arts groups – an amount of $100,000 has been floated.
The discussions taking place at the Strategic Plan sessions make mention of a role for the arts but the focus there is on vital neighbourhoods.
There was a time when individual council members listened to requests for funding and some dollars were handed out – it is unlikely that any of the seven politicians that lead us through the darkness are going to give up that perk.
 The Collective had done their homework – they knew what they wanted – now to actually get it – that’s their challenge. The arts community has certainly come to the surface and are now clearly visible on the radar screen – what kind of influence they can have on the bureaucracy is another story.
Culture Days is taking place in the city in September. Missen takes a lot of the credit for getting the city on board with that program which was a success last year.
The city currently has a Culture manager – she was upgraded from a culture planner – but other than a half time helper Angela Paparizo struggles with a large workload without the kind of senior management level support and direction.
Up until the appointment of Paparizo as a cultural manager, arts programs got stuffed in with sports and recreation – the two didn’t mix all that well.
 Robert Steven. president of the Art Gallery of Burlington has yet to make any kind of a mark on the cultural scene – he is still working his way through the organization he was brought in to run. The newly appointed president of the Art Gallery of Burlington, Robert Steven, came to us from Grande Prairie, where he ran a full slate of programs as the Director of Arts and Culture – Grande Prairie had a 2011 population of 55,000 – Burlington is three times its size. That city proved to understand that the arts was not only healthy for a public but was also a real business. Burlington isn’t there yet.
The city struggled with an ongoing subsidy of more than half a million dollars each year for the Performing Arts Centre; when they place first went operational Ward 2 councillor Meed Ward said she wanted the place to be self-sustaining if not profitable – she has since learned the arts don’t work quite that way.
The current council is not likely to lay out all that much money in 2016 – they are still trying to digest the possible 4% tax increase the finance department trotted out a few weeks ago.
 Cultural projects manager Angela Paparizo and Trevor Copp have been leaders in pushing for the creation of a Cultural action plan – the task now is to network and create some momentum at the bureaucratic level. The emergence of a younger active more mobile demographic in Burlington has opened some eyes and resulted in the creation of an art collective that is not shy about getting their story out.
There is a Cultural Action Plan – in print at least – that needs to get some meat on its bones. It was in the hands of General Manager Kim Phillips who has since retired and really hasn’t found a home or a strong advocate. The Cultural manager has some networking to do.
Missen had hoped she would be a very visible presence at the Lowville Festival – Paparizo is on vacation that week.
By Debra Pickfield
July 15, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Driftwood Theatre will be producing Hamlet at THiNKSPOT location in Burlington tomorrow (Thursday) evening July 16th.
 Perhaps the most famous Shakespeare play will be performed from 7:30 until 9:30 pm (food will be available for purchase from 6:00 until just before the play begins).
Jeremy Smith, founder of Driftwood, will be staying for a wine and cheese Question and Answer period after the play – and with 20 years of taking Shakespeare on the road through-out Ontario each year I for one am looking forward to hearing his stories.
 The feature that makes THiNKSPOT work is the setting. For people like me who are very rusty with their Shakespeare, there is an equivalent to Shakespeare for Dummies on Thursday afternoon. We have a few spots left if you are interested in getting totally outside of your comfort zone (OK – that is actually me expressing my biggest fears – so now you know) – just let me know if you are interested in joining us tomorrow afternoon. (there will be some liquid courage provided somewhere at ThinkSpot.)
The Hamlet presentation is the first event in a four day event – the Lowville Festival – talking place in what some people are calling a hamlet – that is a stretch isn’t it?
THiNKSPOT is exactly what the name says: A place where people meet to think.
 By Staff
July 15, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
If you’re on the south end of Brant on a Friday evening in August you will hear the sweet sound of a saxophone – head towards the sound – t he Burlington Performing Arts Centre will present a free concert on the plaza, featuring a different performer each evening.
The performances take place from 6:30pm-8:30pm and the bar will be open. In the event of rain, the performance will move from the plaza into the lobby.
Performers include Jude Johnson (Burlington), Mike Malone (Hamilton), Joel Haynes and the Jazz Collective (Burlington/Toronto), and Micah Barnes (Toronto).
 Jude Johnson a vocalist, songwriter and performer who grew up in Burlington. Friday, August 7: Jude Johnson a vocalist, songwriter and performer who grew up in Burlington. She moved to Hamilton and is that city’s Special Music Ambassador. He was inducted into the Hamilton Gallery of Distinction in 2009. He received the Hamilton Arts award for Arts Education in 2011. She has also been the unseen voice on many radio and TV commercials, been featured on CBC radio and sung on over 50 albums with a variety of artists.
 Mike Malone: Trumpet player, composer, and arranger. Malone has been part of the Canadian Jazz scene since the early 1970’s. Friday, August 14: Mike Malone. Trumpet player, composer, and arranger; Malone has been part of the Canadian Jazz scene since the early 1970’s. From 1986 until retirement in 2011 he taught at Mohawk College including trumpet and composition courses. In 2013 he became Director of the Jazz Band at McMaster University.
 Haynes and the Jazz Collective Friday, August 21: Joel Haynes and the Jazz Collective. Based in Toronto, the Jazz Collective serves up their own unique jazz compositions penned from each member with elements of high energy jazz and contemporary harmonies. The group is a “wish list of jazz musicians” put together by Joel Haynes (Burlington) & Jeff King (Toronto). The players: Alexis Baro (trumpet), Jeff King (tenor sax), Luis Deniz (alto sax), Adrean Farrugia (piano), Arti Roth (acoustic bass) and Joel Haynes (drums).
 Micah Barnes started singing in the cabarets and jazz clubs of Toronto while still a teenager, Friday, August 28: Micah Barnes. Starting in the cabarets and jazz clubs of Toronto while still a teenager, Micah Barnes is now a well-loved singer-songwriter. He toured the world with The Nylons, and later his solo career led to his #1 international club hit Welcome To My Head. Micah earned coverage in Rolling Stone magazine as “an Indie artist to watch”.
A glass of wine in hand, tapping your foot to the sound of a really good base player – with the smell of the lake in the air.
This is nice.
 By Staff
July 13, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Outdoor Pool Schedules – Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Nelson and LaSalle Wading Pools are now closed for the day due to rainy conditions.
 They will reopen Wednesday July 15, 2015 weather dependent.
All other pools are open for scheduled swims.
By Pepper Parr
July 13, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Stuart Laughton is reflective when asked what his part will be in the inaugural Lowville Festival that begins this weekend.
 Stuart Laughton, trumpeter, will be playing parts of the Lowville Festival this weekend. “I haven’t done all that much in Burlington or for Burlington even though the city has been my home more than thirty years” he said.
“My work as a musician kept me out of the city much of the time. When was asked to perform I was delighted and look forward to playing outdoors and getting a sense of the sound the land will give back.”
Laughton has played in rural settings before and spoke of the occasion when he would play his trumpet early in the morning when the mist had yet to leave the water.
“The animals in the forest react to the sound; birds will respond – it is quite a feeling.”
For a man who has played his trumpet in some of the biggest and the greatest locations in the world and shared a stage with some of the jazz greats – he marvels that a short distance from where he lives in Roseland there was the Brant Inn that had people like Duke Ellington playing. Louis Armstrong was a regular in Burlington, he adds.
A musician who sees himself as exceedingly fortunate and has this infectious enthusiasm for everything he does never had a clear goal – other than knowing that his life was going to be about music.
He was a founding member of the Canadian Brass and adds “things began to go very well for them when I left.”
His time away from the Canadian Brass – 35 years, had him travelling the world and playing trumpet on some of the most glamorous stage in exciting locations.
There is an almost boyish sense of enthusiasm to Laughton. He sees the sky as the limit to anything you decide to do.
During our interview at Laughton’s Roseland home – large boulders were being set on the front lawn – they apparently had to be in very specific locations. Laughton would scoot about the lawn watching as three very healthy young men and a Bobcat manoeuvered the boulders into place while he looked on – wanting to supervise but knowing that they knew what they were doing. The boulders were still being manoeuvered when the interview was over and Laughton returned to his role of a sidewalk superintendent.
The Lowville Festival isn’t just a jazz event; the programme includes a little bit of everything. Laughton was prepared though to talk about festivals in a community and how they can grow. He has been involved in the Halliburton Festival for a number of years and while Lowville isn’t quite the same setting he hopes that Lowville will find its place and become something that puts down its own roots.
Laughton points out that music goes through phases: there was a time when he played a lot of the clubs in Toronto: The Senator; The Colonial; George’s Spaghetti House to name a few.
A lot of those clubs are no longer in business – Toronto now has a very large annual Jazz Festival. There is a very successful, allbe it local, Beach Jazz Festival as well. These things come and go.
 Laughton and his trumpet Laughton plays guitar and has begun working with a voice coach – he wants to expand his reach and begin singing.
This man plays a very mean trumpet – and when he decides to let her rip – you are hearing the sound of a man who has been doing this most of his life and loves every minute of his lips pressing against the mouthpiece.
He is worth the drive to Lowville!
The full festival program is set out below:
Tickets can be had on line at Ticketpro
Available at the door – but cash only.
DRIFTWOOD THEATRE WORKSHOP
THURSDAY JULY 16 2:30 pm
6210 LOWVILLE PARK ROAD
Driftwood Theatre offers a free workshop and opportunity to perform in the evening’s performance of HAMLET. Contact www.thinkspot.ca to sign up.
DRIFTWOOD THEATRE’S HAMLET
THURSDAY JULY 16TH 6 pm Doors Open. 7:30 Show commences.
6210 LOWVILLE PARK ROAD
Shakespeare’s royal murder mystery featuring some of the most famous lines in theatre unfolds for audiences outdoors in beautiful Lowville Park. Driftwood Theatre. Toronto’s professional touring company, is offering this classic play for a Suggested Ticket Price of $20 or Pay What You Can.
Sponsored by THINKSPOT
SWINGIN’ ON A STAR
FRIDAY JULY 17, 2015 7:30 PM
ST. GEORGE’S PARISH HALL
Loretta Bailey and Robert Missen, hosts.
Artists include Stuart Laughton, Renee Barabash, Andy Griffiths, David Warrack, Lorraine Foreman, Michael Mulrooney, Jude Johnson, Charles Cozens, Wayne Strongman and the Lowville Festival Choir,
The first Lowville Festival with a Gala Concert featuring a wide range of superlative performers, most of whom hail from Burlington.
Classical, pop, jazz, blues, folk, musical theatre. The second half of the concert will be a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Frank Sinatra. Proceeds from this benefit concert will be dedicated to the establishment of the festival.
$25 ADVANCE/$30 AT THE DOOR
MY CAT FLASH’S SOPHISTICATED SONGS FOR KIDS
SATURDAY JULY 18TH 2 PM
LOWVILLE SCHOOLHOUSE
ANDY GRIFFITHS and FRANK KOREN
Burlington singer-songwriter Andy Griffiths launches his new kids’ show, which will also entertain the kid in all of us.
$10
ROOTS N’ ROLL: ACOUSTIC ROOTS IN THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE
SATURDAY JULY 18TH 8 PM
LOWVILLE SCHOOLHOUSE
Andy Griffiths and Frank Koren and Kim
Join Andy and his Burlington musical friends for an intimate evening with local songwriters in the Victorian stone schoolhouse in the centre of Lowville.
$20
SUNDAY JULY 19TH 11 AM
LOWVILLE PARK, between the playground and the creek, under the trees
ADMISSION FREE
NIA is a joyful, mindful, and expressive physical conditioning practice, incorporating moves from dance, martial arts, yoga and other alignment arts, as well as individualized, free form movement. NIA offers fun and fitness to men and women of all ages and fitness abilities. Join Nia Black Belt teacher Anna Schantz for a NIA dance fitness experience in Music, Movement, and Magic. Theme: Psychedelic Sunday. Bare feet, hippie attire, and flowers most welcome. Suitable for everybody. www.nianow.com
FOR LOVE OF LOWVILLE
SUNDAY JULY 19TH 2 PM
LOWVILLE UNITED CHURCH
Lorretta Bailey and Robert Misen, hosts
Artists include Melissa Bel, Janet Turpin Myers, Loraine Foreman, Jude Johnson, Lorreta Bailey, Robert Missen and Daryl Webber.
Special Guest: GORDIE TAPP
Celebrating the rich historical and Escarpment heritage of the hamlet of Lowville in a concert that combines music and the spoken word. Local musicians Melissa Bel and Lorretta Bailey are joined by novelist Janet Turpin Myers. Legendary Burlington entertainer Gordie Tapp, formerly of Lowville, will be reunited with Lorraine Foreman, his colleague on Country Hoedown, one of the most popular Canadian television shows of the fifties.
$20 ADVANCE/$25 AT THE DOOR
SUMMER SERENADE
SUNDAY JULY 19TH 7:30 PM
ST. GEORGE’S PARISH HALL
Rebecca Caine of Les Miserables fame will be part of the Lowville festival
ROBERT MISSEN is hosting this event.
Artists include Rebecca Caine, soprano; Robert Kortgaard , piano; Rachel Mercer, cello; Stuart Laughton, trumpet; Renee Barabash, piano; Michael Mulrooney, piano
Missen says they will be bringing the inaugural festival to a glorious conclusion with a concert featuring some of the country’s finest classical and musical theatre artists. Rebecca Caine, the original Cosette in Les Miserables and star of the Toronto production of Phantom of the Opera; Oakville-born cellist Rachel Mercer; and virtuoso trumpeter Stuart Laughton will present a concert featuring Bach, Chopin and Schafer as well as a special tribute to The Sound of Music.
$25 ADVANCE/$30 AT THE DOOR
Lowville doesn’t see this much action even during the Winter Carnival. Getting around Lowville is easy once you know where you are going.
The United Church is at the corner of Guelph Line and Britannia Road with a decent parking lot behind the church.
St. Georges isn’t actually in Lowville, it isn’t even in Burlington. It is on Guelph Line just above Derry Road – can’t miss the place – it is a beautiful stone building built in 1896
Cine Starz Upper Canada Place
460 Brant Street
WWW CINESTARZ.CA
 SHOWTIMES July 17 to 23 , 2015
SAN ANDREAS PG
Fri to Thur 1:10 3:10 5:40 7:40 9:40
AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON PG
Fri to Thur 12:25 3:10 5:10 7:10 9:40
MAX PG
Fri to Thur 11:15 1:15 3:15 5:20 9:30
ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL PG
Fri to Thur 11:20 1:20 3:15 7:40 9:35
WATER DIVINER 14A
Fri to Thur 11:00 7:30 9:30
PITCH PERFECT2 PG
Fri to Thur 5:05 7:40
TOMORROWLAND PG
Fri to Thur 1:10 3:00 5:15
MAD MAX FURY ROAD 18A
Fri to Thur 9:45
HOME G
Fri to Thur 11:10 3:30
FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD PG
Fri to Thur 11:00 1:00 5:20 7:20
 By Pepper Parr
July 12, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
 The farther he went – the worse the pain – until the cancer that was ravaging his body spread to his lungs It was 35 years ago today – a guy with just the one good leg – the other a prosthetic that was pretty crude by today’s standards but there he was coming through the city with that step and a hop gait that we know by heart now.
Terry Fox had made it from the east coast of Newfoundland where he dipped the toe of his good foot into the waters of the Atlantic and vowed to make it to British Columbia.
The Marathon of Hope ended in just outside Thunder Bay
Today the group of people who meet for hours organizing and setting up the Terry Fox run every September gathered as a group to remember and celebrate the young man who showed Canada what hope and courage is really all about.
We owe you big time Terry.
 By Pepper Parr
July 11, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
If it was meant as a way to get people out on the street – it worked magnificently.
Brant Street from Caroline to Lakeshore Road was shut down on a sunny Saturday while an estimated 15,000 people strolled along looking at the 100 + cars that were parked along the street – with many a proud owner sitting in a deck chair behind their car keeping an eye on the significant investment – many of these cars are as valuable as a house.
The oldest car was a 1919 Ford; the most expensive a $2.2 million Maclaren.
It was a dream day for the boys in shorts and dreams remembered for those who used to take that ’52 Chevy to the drive in theatre.
Put on by the Burlington Lions Club – it was an unqualified success by any measure. See for yourself.
 He just may have driven something like this once – perhaps his Dad taught him to drive in one!  Brant Street was closed off from Caroline to Lakeshore while an estimated 15,000 people strolled the street.  It was the fins that got to us – they were seen as the sexist thing you could imagine – but we were younger then.  We asked the photographer if it was love at first sight. “Yes it was” she said -” but don’t tell my husband.”  Not the pick ups we see on the road today.  It must have been something to drive the curves in a road with that deck sitting out there behind keeping the rear wheels on the ground. These things had real horse power.  That grill was not only something to get excited about – but it cooled that killer of an engine.  The oldest car in the show – a 1919 Ford.  A 1931 Studebaker that just reeked of class.  A neat little roadster with a jump seat and a spare tire – they were needed when these things tooled along country roads.  You could almost hear the wistful sigh coming from this observer.  They were lined up like this all along Brant Street.  When they talk about the sex appeal of a car – they are talking about curves like this
 By Staff
July 11, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington somehow managed miss out on the Pan American games.
The opportunity to have a facility in the east end of the city was lost – mostly due to a very strong reaction from the people who didn’t want anything done to Sherwood Forest Park
 Now the biggest park the city has – and the furthest from the bulk of the population. Burlington did get an excellent soccer pitch and a much improved park on the west side of the city.
City View Park is a superb site – with lot of room to walk and roam and 3 soccer pitches that the people of Burlington won’t get to use until the games are over.
The grounds are being used as a practice location for Pan Am soccer players. The city did collect a significant fee for the use of the grounds.
The soccer fields are covered with Astro turf which are seen as expensive to maintain.
In a media release the city sent out the names of eight Burlington affiliated competing in the Games: which is a cheaters way of saying there are eight Burlington or close by athletes playing in the games. Why would the city add in the names of great athlete from Oakville, Mississauga and Hamilton ?
Mike Green, Racketball; is a Hamilton resisdent.
Melanie Hawtin, Wheelchair Basketball is an Oakville resident
Mark Oldershaw, Canoe, is a resident of Oakville
Ashley Stephenson, Baseball; is a Mississauga resident.
Hawtin and Oldershaw are well known to Burlington audiences; Hawtin in particular is one heck of a wheel chair basketball player.
The genuine Burlingtonians are
Brady Reardon, kayak
Autumn Mills, baseball
Tyler Muscat; the martial art of Taekwondo
Kate Psota, baseball
Autumn Mills,
 Since being selected to the Canadian Women’s National Team at age 16, Autumn Mills has competed in five editions of the IBAF World Cup and won three medals, including a best-ever silver in 2008. Her personal highlight has been playing on home soil in Edmonton at the 2012 World Cup where she got the save in closing out the bronze medal victory over Australia. Mills had played boys baseball throughout her childhood because she had no knowledge of any opportunity for girls in the game.
When she was 15 she was asked to try out for Team Ontario. That summer, she and her father commuted to Toronto from London every weekend for games. It was then that she finally heard about Team Canada and the chance to compete around the world, something she convinced herself she would be part of one day.
PERSONAL: Family: Parents Daniel and Nancy Mills… Getting into the Sport: Started playing t-ball at age 4… She was on par or better than the boys and had a strong arm so stuck with it… Outside Interests: Earned her Bachelor of Arts in kinesiology and Bachelor of Education (primary/junior) at York University… Enjoys doing Crossfit, snowboarding, and going to Blue Jays’ games… Works as a police officer… Odds and Ends: Favourite motto: “Luck is the residue of hard work”… Admires smaller guys in MLB such as Dustin Pedroia who make big plays and hit the ball with power despite their size… Superstition: The ball must be on the ground before pitching; if someone throws it she puts it down, walks around the mound and takes a deep breath before picking it up… Has a good luck Pandora bracelet with baseball charms on her left wrist… Always travels with a lacrosse ball… Collects different Starbucks city mugs… Nickname: Millsy
Tyler Muscat
 The martial art of Taekwondo is fascinating to watch – two people in the rink, each lightly bouncing in anticipation of the other person’s hit while trying to calculate their own strike. The energy that flows between the two competitors when they dance around each other, throwing jabs and kicks when they see the opportunity, is tense and powerful.
“My first Nationals was when I was 12 years old. I ended up getting first place.”
Tyler Muscat is a confident 19-year-old Taekwondo athlete who knows the sport well; he’s practiced it for the past 13 years of his life and he doesn’t see a near end. At the age of 10 he got into the competitive part of Taekwondo and has been going to competitions and traveling the world since. “My first Nationals was when I was 12 years old. I ended up getting first place, and from then on it just got better,” says Muscat, who lives just outside Toronto in Burlington, Ont.
He is heading to Russia’s 2015 World Taekwondo Championships later this week with promising ambitions of making it to the 2016 Olympic Games – he’s currently ranked 10th in the world for his weight division.
His speciality is his speed. Muscat says that in his division, 54kg – the lowest in the senior category, many of his opponents are tall and do this move called the cut-kick. What saves him is his speed and technique, they give him an advantage that makes it easy to get around the move.
Muscat isn’t too worried about the Russian Games right now, he sees them as more of an opportunity to grab points and advance his world rank. His confidence stems from two practices a day, each an hour and a half, and from his trainer Carla Bacco. He met Carla in the beginning of his Taekwondo career at his school Kicks for Kids, and has practiced there under her guidance since.
Kicks for Kids has become his current University/College since he decided to postpone his post-secondary degree indefinitely after high school. “There’s a perfect time for everything,” says Muscat, “I’m trying to focus on the main things right now. School is always there for you.”
When he decides to return he wants to pursue a career in marketing (experience with interviews and advertising himself as an athlete is his first taste in the line of work) and complete his post-secondary education. “I don’t think I will ever stop Taekwondo, even if I was in school,” says Muscat.
A constant quirk of his that has followed him through every country and competition is his familial support; while he appreciates his family’s help and encouragement he doesn’t allow them to go to his competitions. “I get nervous,” he says, “even Nationals in Toronto, I didn’t let my family come out to support me just because I’m particular like that.”
But whether he goes alone or not, Muscat’s confidence is unwavering and his world rank can prove it – coming back home to his family to celebrate the wins makes them that much sweeter.
Kate Psota
 Kate Psota is a veteran of the women’s national team, having appeared in every IBAF World Cup since its inception in 2004. She has won four medals in six tournaments, highlighted by a silver medal in 2008. Psota was named national team MVP in 2009 and 2010. In 2010 and 2012 she was a World Cup all-star at first base. Psota played collegiate hockey for the Laurier Golden Hawks, winning five consecutive OUA championships from 2006 to 2010. In 2009 she was a CIS Academic All-Canadian.
PERSONAL: Family: Parents Ed and Monique Psota… Younger brother Mike… Getting into the Sport: Started playing t-ball at age 4/5… Nobody in her family was involved in the sport, but when she was young she was obsessed with watching the Toronto Blue Jays and wanted to play baseball just like them… Outside Interests: Graduated from Wilfred Laurier University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in geography and kinesiology… Earned her Bachelor of Arts in education from Queens’ University in 2011… Enjoys going to the family cottage, boating, fishing, swimming, and gardening… Works at a garden centre… Odds and Ends: Worked and trained in Australia during the 2012 season where she developed friendships with their national team members… Nickname: Sodey… Tries to bring home something reflective of the culture wherever she travel.
Brady Reardon
B rady Reardon is a second generation Olympian who was proud to have his father Jim on-site to watch him at Beijing 2008. Just like his dad at Munich 1972, Reardon competed in the K-4 1000m. Reardon has competed at every edition of the ICF World Championships since his debut in the K-2 1000m in 2007.
In 2012 he began racing K-1 internationally and won a silver medal in the first K-1 500m race of the World Cup season. A longtime training partner of Burloak clubmate Adam van Koeverden, the two focused on the K-2 1000m in 2013 and won a silver medal at the third World Cup stop in Poznan. In 2014 Reardon teamed with Andrew Jessop in the K-2 1000m at the world championships and recorded one of Canada’s best results of the competition with their seventh place finish.
PERSONAL: Family: Parents Jim and Danny Reardon… Older brother Tucker… Getting married in September 2015… Getting into the Sport: Grew up in the sport because both of his parents paddled… Outside Interests: Enjoys mountain biking, DIY projects, being outside with his dog Banditt… Has a degree in kinesiology from McMaster University. Volunteers with KidSport. Odds and Ends: Always drinks a Guinness before race day. Always keeps his racing numbers.
Favourite motto: “When you think you’re going as hard as you can, toughen up and go harder”…
 By Staff
July 10, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
On Saturday, July 11 the Burlington Downtown Car Show will take up of all Brant Street between Caroline Street and Lakeshore Road.
The following road closure will be in effect. Vehicles parked illegally in the event area will be tagged or towed to allow emergency access.
 The city made a bit of a splash in announcing the car free Sundays that worked well in the west end of the city – didn’t do as well downtown. Road Closure
• Saturday, July 11:
Brant Street between Caroline Street and Lakeshore Road will be closed to traffic from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Resident Access
• Emergency Services access will be maintained at all times in the event area.
Parking Restrictions Posted
• Please remember to obey all parking bylaw regulations.
• Do not park at covered meters.
 Brant Street south of Caroline free of cars – is this a direction the city wants to take for the street on weekends during the decent weather? Supervision
• Road closures will be managed under the supervision of the Halton Regional Police Service.
• Event notices were delivered to all residences, religious centres and businesses affected by the event.
Event feedback
This is a positive step – if you’re unhappy with the closing of the street – there is a place you can go to and register your complaint.
Is this closing of Brant Street on a weekend a precursor to closing it throughout the summer? There are members of council who want to do just that.
Make your views known.
 By Clinton Dixon
July 8, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
On a cold summer’s day the Burlington Bandits made their way North up the 400 to once again battle with the reigning IBL Champion Barrie Baycats. Unfortunately Burlington was not able to come out on top in the game, losing in a shootout, the final score 9-8 in favour of Barrie.
The game almost never happened as Barrie experienced heavy rainfall for the majority of the day. In the end the rain let up just in time, allowing Burlington to try and redeem themselves after losing to Barrie 17-4 at home last weekend. “We’ve been better,” said Burlington’s Coach Kyle MacKinnon, “we still have to fight with the top dogs. Keep scratching out the wins we should, and beat someone we shouldn’t.”
After a 45-minute delay the field was finally ready and Colonel Doyon, Commander of Canadian Forces Base Borden, took the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Military Day at Coates Stadium.
 Luis Diaz tosses his bat after being walked. When the game finally got underway it was easy to see that the wet conditions were making it tough for both teams. In the top of the first inning Adam Odd hit a ground ball right at Barrie’s second baseman Luis Diaz; the play should have resulted in an easy out, but the conditions resulted in Diaz losing grip on the ball, throwing into his own dugout. Odd would score shortly afterwards to open the scoring for the game.
From that point on there were several lead changes that saw Burlington put up the fight their coach was asking for.
However, they weren’t able to find that killer instinct and put the game out of reach. After holding the lead several times the Bandits found themselves going into the eighth inning down 8-5. After Brandon Hillier singled to left and Adam Odd singled to right Shaun Cooper stepped to the plate and belted a home run to tie the game.
 Bandits lose to the Barrie Baycats – Close – but that doesn’t count in baseball. Sadly the win wasn’t in the cards for Burlington, in the bottom of the eighth Luis Diaz scored for Barrie on a single by Kyle DeGrace, putting the Baycats on top for good as they went on to win the game 9-8.
The loss leaves Burlington with an 8-16 record, and in sixth position in the eight team league.
The Bandits now travel to Brantford to play the Red Sox tonight, Wednesday July 8 at 8:00 p.m.
 By Staff
July 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
If at first you don’t succeed try, try again.
The Burlington Performing Arts Centre has issued a new call for applications to audition for talent Showcase spots that will be part of the 2015/2016 season
 The Performing Arts Centre has initiated a Community Engagement program that will introduce amateur performers to theatre patrons. This is part of the Centre’s Community Engagement initiative. They want to involve local amateur talent in Burlington and surrounding areas to showcase prior to a selection of events in the Main Theatre throughout the 2015/2016 Season.
These showcases are to complement the show in Main Theatre. For example if the event in the Main Theatre is a dance event then the group that will be chosen to Showcase their talent the lobby will be dance.
If the Main stage has song then the group – or a single person – will be a singer.
The objective is to have what is being showcased compliment what is taking place on the Main theatre stage.
There is a small honorarium for the Lobby Showcases and artists will get an opportunity to market their brand at that time, while reaching a new audience. The artists may also be added to the City of Burlington’s Artists database, with their permission. The honorarium was a change from the original announcement
The selected performers will get one of eight Lobby Showcase spots available throughout the 2015/2016 Presenting Season and they, as well as others selected, may also get a chance to be featured in the Culture Days celebrations, September 25 to 27, 2015.
The Centre’s goal is to provide these local acts with greater exposure – to introduce the artists to the Centre;s patrons, and a wider audience – encouraging local artists on their way to becoming better known in the community.
 If the Burlington Teen Tour Band can do their thing in the lobby of the Performing Arts Centre – imagine what a smaller group could do? We are looking for singer/songwriters, dancers, singers (pop, jazz, blues, folk, classical), bands or combos, instrumentalists and soloists (classical, jazz, etc.), performance art and comedy. Please submit the following by email to: BPACAuditions@burlington.ca
Include photos, a short biography and background information, a description of the act or performer, any links to YouTube videos if available, and contact information.
Dateline for submissions is July 24, 2015.
There are limited spots available so only the acts or artists selected will be contacted with an audition date and time. Auditions will take place on September 19 and 20, from 10am to 5pm.
Any further inquiries may be made to Community Engagement Manager, Costin Manu, at costin.manu@burlington.ca
By Staff
July 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
A tentative settlement was reached today between the City of Burlington and the members of CUPE Local 2723, representing Burlington Transit workers.
The union will be holding a ratification meeting on July 12. Both parties have been ordered by the conciliator to respect a full blackout on any details of the settlement until the day of ratification. Both parties fully recommend the tentative deal.
 The city has known for some time that there were going to be problems with the transit union; a tentative deal, which was recommended by the union negotiators to the membership, was nevertheless turned down by the membership.
There is something the transit workers are really unhappy with. Was the city able to sweeten the deal enough for the membership to accept? We will know Sunday evening
The union has informed the city that if the tentative settlement is rejected by the union members, a transit strike would start effective 12:01 a.m. on Monday, July 13.
That’s cutting it close.
City staff are concerned that a lengthy strike will drive people away from transit – and it takes a long long time to win them back. Critical; time for transit in Burlington
The community is encouraged to consider alternative arrangements for transportation in the event of a strike.
By Staff
July 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Let us add to your traffic woes.
Burlington Transit routes and 5 will detour this Saturday, July 11
Brant street will be closed from Caroline to Lakeshore Rd. in both directions, from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. during the “Burlington Downtown Car Show”.
Routes 3 and 5 will be detoured in downtown as follows:
From Burlington GO to Downtown Transit Terminal:
• regular routing to Caroline
• left on Caroline
• right on John St.
From Downtown Transit Terminal to Burlington GO:
• north on John St to Caroline
• left on Caroline to Brant St.
• right on Brant St.
By Tara Hall
July 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Food trucks are more than just a phenomenon, they’re a social movement
What was once the domain of fried potatoes and tubular meat products has undergone a culinary revolution. Food trucks are more than just a phenomenon or fad. They represent a new social movement in the culinary world and deserve a place in the foodscape of a vibrant community.
 That is a crowd and that is a circle of Food Trucks – the idea has taken hold – will Burlington ever see a set up like this? The rise of the gourmet food truck movement began early this century with the economic downtown in the United States. There was a convergence of opportunities. A drop in housing and construction saw mobile food vehicles that had once served the construction sites go under.
Restaurants felt the pinch as the economy slowed and were laying off staff, and frugal consumers were looking for inexpensive meals. Unemployed chefs, cheap trucks and thrifty consumers made the gourmet food truck an opportunity to cash in on.
Less than a decade since, IBISWorld research estimates that there are more than 4,000 food trucks operating in the United States and they have out-performed the rest of the food industry. The movement came to Canada about five years ago.
 Some of the Food trucks are almost an art form Niagara’s el Gastronomo Vagabundo, started operation in 2010 and is widely regarded as the first gourmet food truck in Canada and certainly a pioneer in Ontario’s growing food truck movement. It is a movement that has already established a hold in Golden Horseshoe communities outside of Burlington and contributes to their status as culinary destinations for foodies.
In today’s consumer culture we buy the signs and ideas more so than the commodity itself. In the case of food we’re not buying sustenance, we’re buying, local, organic, vegan, exotic, fusion, gourmet, authentic, exclusive, trendy, ethical, artisanal sustenance.
This shift in the culinary world is not about food trucks. Rather, the foodie culture has been a growing movement and smart restauranteurs recognize the trends. There has been democratization of the food world at the consumer end where foodies seek authentic, exotic, ethical or gourmet food but a bricks and mortar restaurant, whether it’s hole-in-the-wall or haute cuisine, is where you’ve needed to go to get it.
Food trucks, however, represent a democratization at the production end. Food truckers have brought all the caché foodie consumers seek to a mobile space that comes to a street near you. The trucks come with gourmet food, bright colours, amusing names, and a buzz created by social media.
The trucks often pay homage to the cuisine, cooking techniques or food represented. There is a playful imitation of gourmet or comfort food but in a way that celebrates the original. Comfort food like grilled cheese is elevated with gourmet artisanal ingredients. A blurring of culinary genres is a common food truck theme as evidenced by Asian tacos with kimchi or a truck dedicated to noodles from all culinary traditions.
 You know what you’re getting from this Food Truck Foodies, seeking that authentic, exotic, ethical or gourmet food now have another place to get it. Restaurant associations, rather than welcoming the culinary newcomers have lobbied municipalities for restrictive by-laws that limit them. In some cities entire zones are off limits for food trucks and although another restaurant can open up next door a food truck can’t operate for the afternoon within a specified buffer zone. What the restaurant associations don’t realize is that if a foodie wants a food truck experience they will find a food truck. If they want a Michelin star experience they will find a Michelin star restaurant. That is a part of what the foodie culture is about.
As for food truckers, they’re a plucky lot. Food truck operators in Ontario formed an association of their own to lobby for better access to streets and parks. They founded locations in some communities with access for all food trucks, and participate in food truck rallies where they come together and operate as a collective attraction.
Their marketing techniques are primarily through social media and cross promote other trucks. Some are fine to stay on the road while others may look at the truck as a stepping stone to a bricks and mortar operation. Just down the road in food truck friendly Hamilton, at least three food trucks are opening restaurants in the community.
 This is taking the idea of a Food Truck a little further than the very first vehicles – but if there is a market for this – who knows. Although meeting with resistance from traditional restaurants, and municipal politics, the renegade restaurants on wheels are a growing success and a movement that’s here to stay.
Indeed they are – the design of the Beachway Park – that we won’t see for at least ten years includes Food Trucks that will cater to the thousands of people who will use that park.
About the author:
I am not in the food truck or any food service industry, nor do I have family or friends in the industry. I work in municipal government for the City of Hamilton. The research I based the op-ed on was conducted as part of my studies towards a Masters of Arts in Intercultural and International Communications through Royal Roads University in Victoria. It’s based on a project that I completed for a Public Culture course where I looked at the food truck movement in Southern Ontario from a postmodern perspective.
Cine Starz Upper Canada Place
460 Brant Street
WWW CINESTARZ.CA
SHOWTIMES July 10 to 16, 2015
AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON PG
Fri to Thur 1:00 3:10 5:10 7:10 9:40
MAX PG
Fri to Thur 11:30 1:30 3:30 5:30 7:30 9:30
SAN ANDREAS PG
Fri to Thur 1:10 3:10 5:40 7:40 9:40
ME AND EARL AND THE DYING PG
Fri to Thur 11:20 1:20 3:15 7:35 9:30
WATER DIVINER 14A
Fri to Thur 11:00 7:40 9:40
PITCH PERFECT2 PG
Fri to Thur 5:05 7:40
TOMORROWLAND PG
Fri to Thur 12:45 3:10 5:15
MAD MAX FURY ROAD 18A
Fri to Thur 9:45
HOME G
Fri to Thur 11:15 3:30
FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD PG
Fri to Thur 11:00 1:00 5:30
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By Staff
July 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Have you ever marvelled at that guy in front of that big orchestra and the way he waves his arms around and gets everybody to play just the way he wants?
 Symphony on the Bay has been performing in Burlington for the past 4 years at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre.(www.symphonyonthebay.com)
They were the orchestra playing the concert with the fireworks on Canada Day in Spencer Smith Park.
The orchestra will be taking part in Culture Days and is looking for people, ages 6 and up, who would like to conduct the orchestra in a” pass the baton” relay at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre on Sunday, September 27.
Anyone interested can contact Andrea Battista at abattista1@cogeco.ca.
By Staff
July 6, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Koogle Theatre Company will be holding auditions on Sunday August 9 for local dancers!
 A Koogle Theatre event that took place in Central Park – they will be taking part in Culture Days in September They are looking for dancers of all ages for the Culture Days event on Sept 27,
Contact info@koogletheatre.com if interested.
Rehearsals will be on Sundays in August and Sept.
Culture Days, which take place in late September have grown to become almost the major growth event that involves people in the city and the thousands that visit Burlington.
Here is an opportunity to be part of the event.
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