 August 20, 2013
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. Stela is in town. She arrived late last night and slept in for a bit this morning. Later today she will begin unpacking and getting ready to meet people in her new home
 Stela having a nap at a truck yard in midtown Burlington You know what it’s like when you move to a new place and everyone in the new place knows you well, or they think they do, and they want to drop in and get caught up. You’re still living out of cardboard boxes and every member of the family wants to drop in. It gets a little hectic, all these people – they see themselves as members of your family – and want to tell you what you should do next. Jewish and Italians families do this sort of thing all the time – but truth to tell the WASPs are just as bad.
Anyway – you have to meet them and you do love everything you hear about the new city and you’re kind of excited.
So – what are you going to wear for this “grand entrance” into your new town?
 Stela has a good bottom to her. She’ll need it – she’s going to stand outside the Performing Arts Centre for a long time proudly showing off her jewely and her fine lines. Turns out Stela is quite a looker. Double D’s, or that’s what we’ve heard, but she isn’t showing very much right now. That Double D might be the name of the guy that’s transporting her around town.
When she gets set up at her new place the lower part of Stella will be covered up with some kind of skirting. Some thought was given to draping her with a tent but she is very tall and there was nothing large enough to cover all of her.
When you get to see her she will be wearing quite a bit of jewelry – she tends to overdo it a bit. Sometime she wears every piece of jewelry she owns.
Friends and family members will get to see her Sunday afternoon at a reception on the Plaza of the Performing Arts Centre
This is the way we saw the entrance of the Spiral Stela into the city.
The news spinners at city hall tell the story in their way.
People from across Burlington who contributed personal belongings to a public art piece are being asked to come to The Burlington Performing Arts Centre on Sunday, Aug. 25 to celebrate the installation of the sculpture they helped create.
Created by Canadian artist Peter Powning, Spiral Stela is a tall stainless steel sculpture wrapped with a bronze spiral made from imprints of local residents’ cherished items – a process Powning calls “cultural mulch.” More than 200 objects were submitted by residents and incorporated into the work.
 Above is the design sample submitted by Peter Powning. what Burlington will see Sunday afternoon will be quite a bit different. First the Spiral Stella will be to the left of the ramp leading into the Centre. The overall look will be the same but Burlington’s Stela will have more than 200 local artifacts cast in Bronze attached to the base of the structure where people can see and touch the work. The latest piece in the City of Burlington’s Public Art program will find its home at the corner of Locust and Elgin and the city wants you to come see and feel this truly public work. Spiral Stela, an obelisk-shaped sculpture by New Brunswick-based artist Peter Powning, will stand tall outside the Burlington Performing Arts Centre.
Keeping with the public spirit of public art, it was created with the help of Burlington residents this past winter. Powning used an interactive process he calls “cultural mulch” to construct bronze bands which will enrobe the structure – bands that were made from the tactile impressions formed by people’s heirlooms such as jewellery, keys, instruments, and tools, which they brought to Powning during public “casting sessions.” Powning then shipped the Burlington-made plaster impressions to his studio down east, where they were cast once more in bronze, and the 17-foot tall sculpture took its final shape.
The Burlington Public Art Program, is managed by CoBALT Connects, that oversaw the selection of a jury that chose the Spiral Stela from 119 designs submitted for this location from internationally acclaimed artists.
 August 21, 2013
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. It is going to be a challenge for the BurlingtonGreen people. They got chosen as the Ontario entry for the Jamieson Laboratories Call for the Wild contest that has the potential to put a really significant chunk of the $100,000 that is up for grabs, into the BurlingtonGreen coffers – IF the Greens can get its membership and the good people of the city of Burlington to vote for them.
So far – they haven’t been doing all that well. They are up against the Vancouver Aquarium, the Calgary Wildlife Association, the McGill Bird Sanctuary and the Nova Scotia Hope for Wildlife.
As of 8:00 am this morning Vancouver was miles ahead of BurlingtonGreen – who are second to last out of the five players in this game.
 BurlingtonGreen Executive Director Amy Schnurr with the bike that was donated by the Mountain Equipment Co-op as art of the drive to increase votes for the Call of the Wild $100,000 contest. BurlingtonGreen needs the big push and they need it now. The membership has been alerted but with just 678 votes at 8:00 am this morning this says one of two things – that the membership is much lower than most people thought or that the membership isn’t responding. Neither scenario is very healthy for the association.
Vancouver has 1216 visits and stood to take $21,867; Calgary had 573 votes and stood to take away $10,304; Burlington had 678 votes and stood to pick up $12,193; McGill’s Bird Observer logged 1481 votes which would give then$26,632 and Nova Scotia pulled in 1613 votes which would translate into $29,005.
The contest has two parts.
Vote for Burlington on the Jamieson Laboratories Call for the Wild facebook page.
You do not need a Facebook page of your own to vote on the Call for the Wild Facebook page.
Just go and vote.
Once you have voted for BurlingtonGreen slide over to their website and put your name into the draw for the really neat bicycle that they have thrown into this contest,
Two votes – one might get you a neat bike – the other will add to the votes cast for Burlington in the Call for the Wild competition which is splitting $100,000 between five organizations in Canada based on the proportion of votes each gets.
And right now – BurlingtonGreen aint doin so good.
 BurlingtonGreen members water plants and shrubs they planted along the Beachway Park earlier in the year. One of their ongoing programs If anyone can put those dollars to a good cause – it is BurlingtonGreen. Part of the work they do is planting trees and shrubs which they did recently along the Beachway Park. The plants needed watering – so out they trooped to the Beachway to hold a small press conference and water the plants. They do things like this throughout they year.
Amy Schnurr explains that a lot of the BurlingtonGreen members are students who are not back at school yet. Once they are in the classrooms – the push can be done at that level.
OK – but if anyone watches their email it is the students and BurlingtonGreen is sending out emails to every one of its members. Something isn’t adding up here. Let’s not dwell on that at this point.
The contest is the focus – and saying it is summer and people are away applies to the other four contestants as well as Burlington.
 August 20, 2013
By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. The city announced the winner of the sand castle contest – an event that drew more contestants than last year.
The event seems to attract families that burrow away in the sand with everyone either oiling sand or pouring water and warily watching what the other contestants are doing. There were 5 adults, 8 children, 9 families, and 3 youth contestants pre-registered this year:
 This developing artist was waiting for the rest of her team and ensuring that her plot would be easily found Gorgeous weather and a beautiful waterfront location brought tens of thousands of attendees out to the 22nd Annual Children’s Festival this past weekend. The city reports 6500+ people on the Beachway Saturday and just as many at Spencer Smith Park on Sunday.
Besides the locals doing their thing the city brings in “professional” sand castle builders who do their thing.
 This has the look of a production line – serious stuff and a lot of fun as well. Imagine families from different parts of the city competing against one another. Next years perhaps. Sandi ‘Castle’ Stirling and Nick Blandin, winners of several North American sand sculpting awards, and Sharon Nesbitt, People’s Choice winner from the 2010 competition, along with Raymond Poirier were doing really fun stuff. The four sculptors created their circus themed master pieces throughout the event.
In the Adult category the winners were:
1st prize adult Dale Andrews
2nd prize adult John Bowron
3rd prize adult Karen Barnes
In the Youth category the winners were:
1st prize youth Julia Barnes
2nd prize youth Michael Girard
3rd prize youth Jacob Pacaud
In the Child category the winners were:
1st prize child Bree MacDowell
2nd prize child Sarah Bowron
3rd prize child Kate Green-Johns
In the family category the winners were:
1st prize family Bowron Family
2nd prize family Pearson Family
3rd prize family Andrews Family
The People’s Choice Award went to Lauren Sawras
The Saturday’s festivities ended with a free movie – free event Madagascar 3.
 The Beachway part of the Children’s Festival isn’t just about sand castles. Face painting and demonstrations are a large part of the event as well. Here a young girl appears a little apprehensive while one book looks on with delight while the brother and sister give the process a quizzical look The Children’s Festival is a free annual event that takes place the third weekend August and spans The Waterfront at Downtown Burlington with beach fun on Saturday in Beachway Park and traditional family fun in Spencer Smith Park on Sunday. To be involved in next year’s festival, please contact the City of Burlington’s Event Office at festivalsandevents@burlington.ca You can reach them by telephone at: 905-335-7766.
 Part 1 of a 5 part series.
August 19, 2013
By Gordana Liddell
BURLINGTON, ON. Whenever I walk through a forest, I try and picture what it used to be like when only the indigenous people were here. I look for arrowheads, (never with any luck), and I always try and just take in the sounds and smells around me. Those things have not changed, so it must have sounded and smelled the same to them. The actual place is still the same place.
When it comes to Alton Village, walking through the neighbourhoods, with freshly paved sidewalks and nicely manicured lawns, cars drive by and the dogs are on leashes. I would wager a healthy bet that not too many people have ever wondered what this area was like pre-construction. One of the reasons being that many of us know what it was like. A big empty field, or former farmland. Nothing more and nothing less. Much like what we would see driving while along Dundas St west of town…for now, that is.
Well the truth is that Alton, like most places, does have a history.
 Even in their wildest imaginations – the Alton family would never have thought those farm fields would look like this – imagine the increase in value. Now, I really need to preface this article by stating that it was very difficult to put together the dates and names and to make perfect sense of the information that I found. Nearly every historian that I spoke with, every library book that I looked at, (yes…actual books. Google couldn’t get it done, but when doing research on pioneers it seems fitting to do stuff the old-fashioned way, wouldn’t you say?), the archives from the history room…nothing I found corresponded with anything else I found. Nevertheless, I will present to you the facts as I was best able to determine them.
Let’s begin with John Cleaver. The land that Alton Village sits on was originally owned by John Cleaver who, along with his wife Mary, arrived in Canada in 1805 from Pennsylvania. It’s unclear as to why they came to Canada but given the year, many resources come to the conclusion that it was quite possibly due to post American Revolution unrest.
In 1806, Nelson Township, (what most of us today call “Burlington”), held a land lottery and Mr. Cleaver drew the lot that Alton Village now rests on. He was awarded the 200 acres from the areas that are now called Dundas St. to Walker’s Line to No.1 Sideroad.
Subsequently, John Cleaver brought his bride to the area, and he built their matrimonial home; a log cabin, undoubtedly with a good threshold over which to carry her. (I think it was a requirement in those days. ) The Cleavers settled there and began their family. One of their daughters was named Charlotte and this is the girl who caught the eye of one Thomas Alton.
Thomas Alton was a young lad from the area of Appleby, in Westmoreland County, England. In fact, many of the original families in Nelson Township came from there. (For reference, this area is in the Northeast part of England, about 100 kms north of Manchester.) Thomas was born in 1795 and immigrated to Nelson Township in 1819. I did the math for you…he was 24. Like many of our grandparents, parents, or even our generation of immigrants, he came across the ocean with very little, only 75 English Pounds to his name. I can’t imagine what that amount translated into 200 years ago…but I would venture a guess that it was not a tremendous amount.
Now come all the different interpretations of young Thomas’ venture…
Thomas Alton settled in Nelson Township, where he rented out 40 acres of land for 4 years.
or…He bought land at the rate of 1 Pound per acre on the north side of the “Middle Road”, which is now the QEW, the second lot west of Appleby Line.
Or…He applied for a crown grant in which essentially, the crown, (the governing body), transfers ownership of the property of the piece of land, turning it from public to private property. In order to get a grant, and to keep it, certain conditions had to be met in order to receive the title. A specific amount of the land had to be cultivated, the applicant must live on the property, and a homestead had to be built on the property. He was first granted the land on the north side of the Middle Road, the second lot west of Appleby. He continued to farm it and acquire more land until he owned 1250 acres.
Then he met the lovely Charlotte. And in 1822, Thomas Alton married Charlotte Cleaver.
 The Altons built a house that has stood the test of time. The basic structure seen here still comes through loud and clear in the structure that stands on what is now called Settlement Court It is said that Mr. and Mrs. Alton “acquired” the land that is now Alton Village in 1830 from Charlotte’s father, John Cleaver. And they subsequently built a brick house, (which used to have a Dundas Street address, but now graces the modern-day street of Settlement Court). Different records show the brick house being built in 1837 as well as circa 1860. Let’s just say it was built in the mid 1800’s.
 Beautifully and faithfully restored – the Alton house is now tucked away in a part of the Alton village, And as the family grew in size over the years, so did the house, as well as the number of outbuildings on their farm including, a barn, garage and sheds.
Based on the different sources, all evidence seems to point to some of the same conclusions.
 Not a lot of pictures in the early days. The Alton-Cleaver marriage is said to have produced 16 children – might have been 17, one of whom was David who married Mary Ann Breckon on February 2, 1854 The one consistent thing that I did read about Thomas Alton was that he was a hard worker and an industrious man. Essentially, he came to the area, “got” some land north of the Middle Road, increased the land’s value and bought more, and he made it work.
So, at some point, we think that Thomas and Charlotte are living on their farm which is now Alton Village. (I say at some point because the years 1822 to 1830 remain unaccounted for). They had 16 kids, (some sources say 17), and that’s a whole lotta branches on the tree, but it wasn’t unusual for the time. One son was named Joseph. He married his bride Hannah, and this couple lived on the famed homestead from the 1850’s. The Alton descendants continued to live there well into the 20th century. Joseph and Hannah had a son named Thomas…was this the Thomas that is referred to; that the area and the street are named after? Did his granddaddy ever even live on this property? One source tells me that even this is uncertain. (If it means anything, I personally think Thomas Sr. did live there, as most evidence suggests so).
One of the most interesting stories I dug up was that the Alton homestead is part of a legend. In 1837, while William Lyon Mackenzie King was seeking refuge during the Upper Canada Rebellion, one of the homes to take him in was the Alton home. They helped to feed, clothe and hide him, and they disguised him and gave him horses so that he could keep right on going. The Alton and Cleaver men were said to have met up with a party of Tories in search of Mackenzie and they held them off at gunpoint and forced them off of their property. Mackenzie eventually made it to the American border and sought refuge there for a while.
 Frontier or not – they still had to eat and milk was a big staple in most diet – the cows just stood there while the woman milked them. The house as it stands today is clearly seen in the background. It may be the suburban suburbs now, but it really was quite the frontier land, complete with shootouts and outlaws.
Frontier it was, and it was very hard to get around. The area of Appleby, current day Alton Village, was pretty isolated, and the population was very sparse. Believe it or not, the best time of the year to get around was in the winter when the snow was packed hard and it made driving a carriage possible, otherwise the roads were very tough to drive on. Then, in 1847 (again, that year is a sketchy detail), the Great Western Railroad had reached the area. Now people had access to Niagara Falls, Hamilton, London, Windsor, all now because of the train. Things began to change then, as they tend to do when a train rolls through.
The land was eventually handed down, not to a family member, but to a beloved farm hand that went by the name of Richardson. When was it handed down and why to a farm hand? I don’t know. But I do know that the person who sold the land was not named Alton…or Cleaver.
Enter the development of modern-day Alton, starting with the catalyst which was highway 407.
 The Mike Harris government gave the province the 407 highway then sold it to an Italian firm who now have the ability to take your license away from you if there is a dispute over the payment of a toll road charge. On the upside – the highway did allow for the creation of the Alton Village we have today. The 407 was planned back in 1972, began construction in 1987 and opened in 1997 from the 410 to the 404. In 1998, the part of the 407 that borders Alton today, (the Winston Churchill to the 403 segment) was built. The land needed for this 407 extension was purchased from Mr. Richardson for $50 million.(Nice.)
And so it followed that when the 407 was built, the area between Dundas to the 407 was no longer a naturally rural area…and the urban border got moved north. So, in 2004, developers then bought up this remaining land form Mr. Richardson for $20 million. They got their permits, and in 2006, the development of our beloved Alton Village began.
Today that house, that one and a half story piece of history, sits atop its own little hill, right within our own subdivision, on the suitably named Settlement Court. It’s a living testament to our history and the fact that there is a story that preceded all of this construction.
It has been beautifully preserved and restored and in 2007 it was designated a heritage building. I was lucky enough to be invited into the home. The gracious owner showed me around and pointed out the numerous original elements, and it was obvious that painstaking care and hard work had been taken in order to preserve the integrity of the property. It is a museum within our neighbourhood.
I was told that between the years 2007-2009, Mattamy sold the house to an employee in his early 20’s. This man obviously knew what a gift it was and took great care to restore it, and in 2009 he sold it to the current owners. Luckily for all of us, both the previous as well as the current owners have treated the house in the special way that it deserves, also with a sense of obligation to its history.
Upon entering the home, I was struck by all of the beautiful wood. All of the original floors, trim and doors have been preserved beautifully. The rooms are currently being used as they were originally intended and it’s easy to let your imagination go and feel what life was like in this house so many years ago.
Once in the front door, you are standing in the hearth area, the dining room, which leads to the kitchen. From this one room, two staircases lead the way upstairs, originally one way for the family, and the other for the maids. Some details you would not see today are a field stone foundation, a cellar door with a trapdoor leading outside, 150 year old doors and hardware, a beautifully ornate doorbell, and a bell on top of the house. The architectural work on the outside of the house are period, such as the gable and the porch details, and help to make the house stand out in a subtle way. Oh…and there’s that triple sized lot with the creek running behind it…that stands out, too.
The owners were looking for a character home, and boy did they bag a good one. For both the interior and the exterior to be maintained in the period, and within that character, shows a great deal of caring. It blends in…somewhat…but it still stands out. It’s not that obvious at first glance, but when you drive by, that sideways facing house catches your attention.
The Cleaver-then-Alton homestead is an important historical gem to us. The property and the people who lived in it, played a significant role in the settlement of Nelson township, and subsequently, Alton Village.
The Cleaver’s also had a great deal to do with the history of this land. It was, after all, originally Cleaver land. Well, it was originally Aboriginal land, then crown land, then…well, that’s the type of argument that starts wars.
The fact is that when the original families immigrated to the area, they all had large families and, the sparse population being a factor, they intermarried. The Alton’s and the Cleaver families were both large, powerful and prominent. And they were both a part of Alton Village history.
Just as every person has a story, I believe that every place has a story.
The details of “who” and “when” remain unclear…mysterious even. Like a woman who doesn’t reveal everything about herself, including her age, there is a certain mystique about her…she “keeps them guessing”. The same holds true for the history of an area. Not knowing absolutely everything lends itself to infinite possibilities. It lets our imaginations add colour and our own details. It’s more interesting that way…because it keeps them guessing.
All the historical pictures are from the Burlington Historical Society digital archives.
 Gordana Liddell is a writer. Her passion is travel. We were able to convince her to travel about the community that first got her to Burlington and to focus on where she and her husband decided to settle.
 August 19, 2013
By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. As we get ready to move into September those of us who love film organize our calendars to get as much time in Toronto at TIFF as possible.
And if you don’t know what TIFF stands for – read no further – we don’t have much that will interest you.
But if film is a medium matters to you, if you make a point of getting to at least two or three films during the Toronto International Film Festival – then read on –we have a treat for you.
Ever heard of the Tottering Biped? You have? But you didn’t know what the words meant – we understand. Trevor Copp who put the two words together explains them this way: “Tottering Biped” was inspired by Phillip Tobias’ landmark study on human development, Man: the Tottering Biped, which contends that the human skeleton is not entirely bipedal, it is still in transition from a quadrupedal structure. This thought: that we are deeply incomplete; that the basic act of standing upright and living a conscientious life requires constant effort, informs everything we do.”
The Biped is planning a Film Festival for next January – right here in Burlington – not Toronto, not Hamilton – here in Burlington.
 Trevor Copp, founder of Tottering Biped Theatre and one of the partners planning on holding a Film Festival in Burlington. Trevor Copp and Christopher Giroux, Owner of Red & White Productions, are partnering to create a Canadian based film festival in Burlington. They are seeking new voices and supporting local and Canadian work by providing emerging artists with the opportunity to showcase their short films. It is the long-term goal that the Tottering Biped Film Festival will become an annual event. The “first annual” will be one-night festival on January 17, 2014 at The Burlington Art Centre.
 Copps produced and performed in “First Dance”; a production that pushed the edges of dramatic theatre. Copp has come to the realization that he doesn’t have to truck into Toronto to make a living as an artist – he can make a go of it in Burlington and has emerged as one of the best known artistic figures in the city. He founded Tottering Biped Theatre (TBT) in 2009, Burlington’s first professional contemporary theatre company. The company’s productions have toured throughout Ontario and been featured in Theatre Aquarius’ current TA2 season.
“I’ve become fascinated with the problem of art in suburbia,” says Copp, the performer and co-creator of TBT. “Suburbanites allocate their sense of culture to the city. They feel like we’re just an adjunct of the city, that our life is just sort of a surrogate thing, a temporary life between commutes. And I have a problem with the sense that our stories are not legitimate.”
Copp aims to change that, founding what he believes is the city’s first professional theatre company. Over the two years leading up to the company’s first original production, Copp and TBT have committed to presenting controversial, risky and award-winning scripts. They’ve tackled plays on incest (Home Free), mental illness (To the Ends of the Earth), sexual abuse (Blackbird) and terrorism (My Name is Rachel Corrie), topics that affect people nationwide, but that are usually only presented theatrically in larger cities.
Copp is also the founder of the Artist’s Collective of Burlington which is looking forward to becoming a force that will be heard as Burlington begins public discussion of a Cultural Plan. He was awarded one of the prestigious Chalmers Fellowships and was named Burlington’s Arts Person of the Year designation in 2012.
 Santaland Diaries – another Copps production His passion is “to see artists of all stripes see this place as a home, not a place to sleep between commutes. This town has every potential to be a thriving arts centre and this Film Festival will take us there.”
 Chris Giroux – the film side of the team planning on bringing a Film Festival to the city. Christopher Giroux has been working in the film industry for 10 years. A graduate of Sheridan’s Advanced TV and Film program he has worked as a producer, production manager, camera operator, gaffer and technical director.
His “oeuvre” includes associate producer on the coming feature film “Antisocial” from Breakthrough Entertainment and Black Fawn Films.
This team has been looking forward to working on this project together. As Copp puts it: “Chris brings tremendous credential both as an artist and producer to the Festival; he has both managed large professional film projects and slogged it out in the emerging film field. He’s a rising star in the Film world and we’re lucky for the Festival to hitch a ride.”
A panel of jury members will select a handful of works to show for the one-night festival on January 17, 2014 at The Burlington Art Centre. Shorts of any genre are welcome and must be under twenty minutes in length. More detail on submission deadlines and further information on the Tottering Biped Film Festival visit their web site.
The group also announced a poster competition for this year’s event.
The Festival is currently looking to expand their sponsors. If you or your company is interested in becoming part of this innovative event, contact them at tbffburlington@gmail.com.
 August 19, 2013
By Staff.
BURLINGTON, ON. This is the time to get the clicker – no, not the TV remote – that key on your computer or the mouse you use to bring the cash home.
 Almost like an election campaign poster – but this time there is a real winner – the community. The BurlingtonGreen Environmental Association has been chosen as one of five Canadian organizations competing for votes in the 2013 Jamieson Laboratories Call for the Wild! contest.
They were selected from 150 applications to participate in the Jamieson Laboratories people’s choice donation program that divides $100,000 between five wilderness and wildlife organizations based on the number of public votes received on the company’s voting page (Facebook is not required to vote) between August 19 and midnight on September 15th.
Call for the Wild! was launched three years ago to increase awareness about protecting, preserving and rehabilitating the wilderness and wildlife across the country. Throughout the four-week Jamieson Cares Facebook campaign, visitors can learn more about the important work of each organization and ask questions through social media. As they learn about the unique contribution of each wilderness/wildlife organization, Canadians will be invited to cast a vote for their favourite. Every vote will translate into a proportional donation from Jamieson Laboratories.
 A tireless advocate for the environment – Amy Schnurr puts out the word every chance she gets – this time she wants your vote – and she isn’t running for public office. Why doesn’t she run for city council. Ward 6 would love her. Amy Schnurr, Executive Director of BurlingtonGreen said: “We are honoured to be selected to participate in this nation-wide contest as it provides us with a rare opportunity to showcase to Canadians how a small but dedicated citizen based agency can achieve positive, impactful results to protect and to improve the health of our “urban wild,” She added that “We hope our supporters will vote every day during the 28 day contest period so we can realize much-needed funds to support our programs and to expand our reach so we can have an even bigger impact.”
As an added bonus, BurlingtonGreen is including a “Help us win and you could win too!” component to their campaign. Along with voting for their agency on the Jamieson Call for the Wild! on-line voting page, their supporters will be invited to enter a draw for a chance to win a bike valued at more than $1,000 thanks to the generosity of Mountain Equipment Co-op.
Once you’ve voted, and you can vote once every day, you can then enter your name in a draw for the bike.
BurlingtonGreen is making remembering to vote once every day easy – they will send you an email.
BurlingtonGreen has had an exceptional year as an organization. They were chosen as the community Jane Goodall launched her national drive to improve environmental awareness. That 2012 event filled the Performing Arts Centre for both an afternoon and an evening event. Then the organization won a grant from the province to plant more trees on along Beachway Park. Those funds were the result of a visit the then Minister of the Environment paid to Burlington during the annual CleanUp – Green Up event BurlingtonGreen organizes.
 The annual CleanUp-GreenUp campaign Burlington Green organizes ends with a gathering of the environmental clan at city hall. One of these years it isn’t going to rain on the CleanUp-GreenUp day. BurlingtonGreen holds the annual CleanUp-GreenUp campaign that rids the city of tons of trash.
Amy Schnurr, BurlingtonGreen’s executive Director was then chosen as the Environmentalist of the year in the annual Burlington’s BEST awards.
Not on the BurlingtonGreen mailing list? Join here today to get your helpful daily vote reminder.
Call for the Wild! is Jamieson Laboratories’ annual community investment program that grants a total of $100,000 each year to registered non-profit organizations involved in the protection of Canada’s iconic wilderness and wildlife.
Every year, five organizations are selected to participate in a public voting campaign on Facebook. At the close of each campaign, Jamieson Laboratories awards a donation to each organization based on their percentage of votes cast.
Jamieson Laboratories, Canada’s oldest and largest manufacturer and distributor of natural vitamins, minerals, concentrated food supplements, herbs and botanical medicines celebrates its 90th anniversary this year from a position of strength, market leadership earned by consistently providing innovative products of the highest quality, purity and safety.
“Starting Monday, we will be sending a daily vote reminder to everyone on our mailing list. The reminder will include the voting link along with a link for you to enter the awesome bike draw – Help us win and YOU could win too!
You can easily unsubscribe from receiving the daily reminders at anytime by clicking on the SAFE UNSUBSCRIBE link located at the bottom of the mail you will receive from us….BUT we hope you will stay with us and support this amazing and rare opportunity to help BurlingtonGreen and our important efforts to help the planet locally in many impactful ways.”
Jamieson Laboratories’ decided to do what Kraft Foods did for the hockey community – look for a neat way to draw traffic and award cash prizes to the community that gets the most votes.
The Burlington Lions Optimist Minor Hockey Association BLOMHA) won $20,000 for the getting its people out and voting.
BurlingtonGreen wants to motivate its members to do the same and has gone one step further – they have added in a draw for a bike – with a retail value of more than $1000.
When BuringtonGreen takes on a project – they go all out.
The green guys are in very good company on this one. Last year the David Suzuki Foundation competed for Ontario.
The contest is being run on the Jamieson Facebook page – but you don’t have to have a Facebook page of your own to vote.
It all begins today – August 19th and runs to September 15th, 2013.
https://www.facebook.com/jamiesonvitamins. You can vote once a day every day from August 19th to September 15th, 2013. You do NOT need Facebook to vote.
 Mountain Co-op has put up an MEC bike as part of the enticement to get people to vote for BurlingtonGreen’s chances to take home a large part of the $100,000 that is on the line. Thanks to the generosity of Mountain Equipment Co-op, voters will have a chance to win an awesome bike valued at over $1,000.
To be eligible for the bike contest you must FIRST vote at Jamieson’s and SECOND enter the draw on BurlingtonGreen’s website.
A bit confusing – but the prize is there – the more often you vote, the more opportunities you have to enter the bike draw. Vote every day during the contest period and you will have 28 chances to win the bike!
If BurlingtonGreen people cast 50% of the ballots counted – they would get half of the $50,000 – and that isn’t chump change. Every vote will translate into a proportional donation from Jamieson Laboratories. BurlingtonGreen has a reputation for stretching a buck a long way as well.
While the contest has the potential to pull in a significant amount of money it is also a rare opportunity to show the people of Canada that our not-for-profit Association is making a positive difference to help the planet locally. BurlingtonGreen has achieved a great deal in the last five years realizing significant benefits to help the environment but they maintain they have a lot more important work to do.
 August 18, 2013
By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. Burlington’s Children Festival is a two-day event. The first at Beachway Park takes place at the water’s edge. The second day is at Spencer Smith Park and is a little more commercial and has dozens of activities for the little guys.
As we strolled around here is the picture we saw.
 It was Mommys and babies and Dads and kids – and sunscreen for this little guy.  These two knew what to do when they got tired.  This young lad was surprised when he made the bell on the sledge-hammer attraction actually ring.  Working off the energy on the treadmill.  There were lineups for some of the attractions – but they were free and the lines moved quickly and smoothly.  As they get a little older – they are ready for bigger challenges. This group works their way through a children’s obstacle course.
 August 19, 2013
By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. They have been holding the event every year for the past 20 years. It’s a two-day event, usually during the second half of August. One day on the Beachway Park where the sand castle contest was the big deal – as well as some impressive face painting.
 This little girl likes what she sees but the boy behind her isn’t so sure.  Beach tents were a new addition to the Festival. They were available for rental this year.  It was people, people, people – for almost as far as the eye could see along the Beachway.  Some people knew how to get in on the event and stay cool at the same time. Not sure how much reading got done..  These sand castle competitors were clearly a family effort.  Lots of plots for sand castle competitors – there didn’t seem to be as many this years as there were last. The city did make it possible for people to register on line for a space. Perhaps more promotion is needed.  Mom getting ready to pass the football. Day two was at Spencer Smith Park where there was dozens upon dozens of things for kids to do..
A family can get out for the day and spend less than $3 per child and have a healthy, full, fun day. The $3 gets the child an ice-cream.
The event is put on by the city’s Festivals and Events department and is actually a profit centre. The city looks for sponsors for everything – and for the most part they get the sponsorship they need.
It’s not a news story; it is a great picture-taking occasion. There are no speeches given. We didn’t see one single politician – but that doesn’t mean they weren’t there.
How many people showed up? Very hard to tell. Certainly in the thousands – perhaps as high as 4000 on the Sunday at Spencer Smith.
If you weren’t there – the pictures tell the story.
If you were there – are you in the picture.
Sunday at Spencer Smith was just as interesting and clearly as much fun for those who got out for the day.
 August 19, 2013
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. Stella is moving from New Brunswick to the corner of Locust and Elgin, perched on the edge of the plaza outside the Performing Arts Centre.
Stella is a beauty – her full name is Spiral Stella and she came out of Peter Powning’s studio in New Brunswick. Her pedigree? Pure Burlington – with several centuries of history all over her.
Spiral Stella is the most recent piece of public art set up in the city. This latest effort is the result of a generous donation from Dan Lawrie, a Burlington businessman who, besides being a successful insurance company owner is also an artist in his own right.
 Dan Lawrie, an artist in his own right and also collector sits with a piece of art that is part of his collection. It was the Lawrie donation that got the city to He approached the city and offered to donate $37,500 for a major piece of public art. The city went to Jeremy Freiburger, head honcho over at Cobalt Connects, its managing partner for the Public Art Program and he set up a volunteer committee that would judge the submissions that came in
And come in they did. There were 119 submissions from artists from across North America.
 Olympian Melanie Booth brought her medal to have an impression made and hopefully have it become part of the Spiral Stella sculpture. Jeremy Freiburger, on the right, the city’s managing partner for the Public Art Program, admires the medal. Trevor Copp, one of the members of the jury that chose Powning’s submission is beside Ms Booth. The committee narrowed the 119 down to five and asked the public for comment: more than 500 people responded and out of those comments came the decision to select Powning’s Spiral Stella.
Powning was not a newcomer to Burlington. He has five pieces of his work in the permanent collection at the Burlington Art Centre. Link to first stage
 Powning made impressions in artist’s clay which he took back to his studio in New Brunswick and made bronze castings that will be affixed to the Spiral Stella. Shown here is one of the early castings. See anything that you recognize?  Boy who just cannot keep his eyes off the work artist Peter Powning does as he makes impressions in clay – the first stage of the creation of the Spiral Stella that will sit outside the Performing Arts Centre. Powning uses artifacts that come from the community to tell its story. Hundreds trooped over to the Burlington Art Centre to have an impression made of their artifacts. No one knew exactly where there object was going to appear on the Spiral – Powning didn’t know either when he was making the impressions. What would go where was the creative part of the project. Next Sunday we will get to see what Powning decided to do.
It should be quite stunning.
 Work crew prepares the base for Peter Powning’s Spiral Stella that will arrive in town later this week and be unveiled on Sunday, Originally the sculpture was going to be to the north of the walkway leading into the Performing Arts Centre but besides being open to a street where a vehicle could run into it, the location was too close to an oil pipeline that runs underneath Elgin Street. The sculpture will not sit to the left of the walkway and be part of the Performing Arts plaza. Much better location for this art.
Burlington is clearly on a roll. The pier was successfully opened, the public loves the place and now we are going to see an exceptional piece of art in a location where thousands can see the work.
The last piece of public art the city put up was nice enough but it got plunked down in the middle of a high traffic road where care zoomed by as they slipped through a railway grade separation on Upper Middle Road.
Nice art, wrong location.
Stella will be in a great location.
 By Staff
August 15, 2013
BURLINGTON, ON. Burlington’s Annual Children’s Festival, now celebrating its 20th year is a festival that’s all about kids having FREE fun – circus style!
This two day event takes place on the waterfront with Day 1 focused on the Beachway Park and Day 2 focused on Spencer Smith Park.
 Lots that were registered are marked out – waiting for keen competitors to show up. The Sand Castle competition is one of the most popular events. So popular that the city put together a process that allows people to reserve a space to build their sand castles. For years families have been gather along the Beachway and building their castle – with a keen eye on what their neighbours were doing.
This competition fills up fast! Great prizes in all four categories including a sandcastle trophy and participation gifts for child and family categories! Pre-register to compete as only pre-registered entrants are guaranteed a spot. Those interested in participating on event day are first come, first served and spaces are limited.
 This was a family event and these people were serious competitors. Close out Day 1 by returning to the Beachway with your lawn chair and blankets and take part in the outdoor screening of a circus movie! Cozy up afterwards in front of a 25 ft. outdoor screen on the beach. Movie starts at 8:30 p.m!
The Day 1 schedule:
 Vote for your favourite creation in the People’s Choice Award. Judging begins at 4 p.m followed by an award ceremony on the beach at 5 p.m.
Day 2 schedule:
 Day 2 takes place at Spender Smith Park where it is usually packed – but great fun. Starts at 10:00 am end at 6 p.m. The park will be overrun by circus performers and animals, themed around circus fun. Children will enjoy great activities: Live Entertainment; Play Zones; Circus Inflatables; Character Meet & Greet; Themed Shows and a Kids’ Marketplace.
 By Ray Rivers.
August 15th, 2013
BURLINGTON, ON. Still in the news and not going away. Senator Wallin blew all the goodwill she earned from her interview with Mansbridge when she jumped to the microphones to preempt the formal release of her expenses audit. She claimed the audit was flawed and unfair, but then announced that she is going to pay what they have assessed anyway. So if it was flawed, why pay it?
 Her file has now been forwarded to the RCMP along with fellow Conservative senators Patrick Brazeau and Mike Duffy. And then there is a Liberal, Mac Harb, who is sitting with a huge repayable expenses bill to his name. Harb apparently claimed a permanent residence which was uninhabitable – without water and under construction.
Oh, and Harb also accepted loans from a numbered company doing big business with the feds – something he must have known to be a no-no.
 Senator Mac Harb – thinking it over? Mac Harb, was a good loyal Chretien trooper, an Ottawa MP, whose reward for service was a Senate seat. He has a web page that lays out the things he is fighting for. He is apparently engaged in some laudable activities but where does he get his mandate? Are these activities official Senate business or just his pet peeves?
When Stephen Harper was elected in 2006 he swore not to appoint any senators until the Senate was reformed. Of course he did. Then in December 2008, when it looked like the NDP and Liberals were forming a coalition to take over government, Harper panicked, prorogued Parliament and decided to stack the Senate. He appointed 18, the most ever named on a single day. Wallin and Duffy were among the appointments that day. It is pretty clear their roles were to support the PM and the Conservative party, doing what both parties had been doing for years.
The NDP has never been in power or they too would have stacked the Senate with supporters. Instead, they sit on the side lines and complain about the unfairness of it all. And they are right! They point out that senators have no constituents, few responsibilities and no serious job description. They are only required to pop-in to the Red Chamber occasionally to show they are still breathing and pick up their pay and expenses cheques. For the most part they do politics, sit on corporate boards or live la vida loca.
Wouldn’t we all like a job like that? Do we remember former Liberal Senator Andrew Thompson? Now there was someone with an original perspective on his job. Vacation in Mexico and show up in Ottawa for a total of two weeks in seven years. You could just see him sauntering up to the Red Chamber on his burro and clearing the cobwebs from his Senate seat with his poncho.
 Mike Duffy, toasting – on the public’s dime? Not all senators are this delinquent, of course, but many are totally embedded in their party’s politics. For example, Liberal David Smith has co-chaired national political campaigns and Wallin and Duffy were clearly appointed as fundraisers. Which explains all those partisan political expenses rejected by the independent auditors for that pair. Let’s get this straight, we are willingly paying senators over $130,000 a year so they can work for their political party as volunteers.
 Senator Brazeau, being escorted from the Parliament buildings. Brazeau, is another case. He had been arrested on a domestic matter and is also under investigation for his expenses claims by the RCMP – not your upstanding public official. Even so, he is unlikely to lose his seat unless he goes to prison. In which case he will have another 37 years left to draw pay as senator, earning $5 million in salary over that time, plus travel and living expenses – and his pension.
The Conservatives and Liberals don’t want to get rid of the Senate. They’ll tell you how we need this, so-called, Chamber of Sober Second Thought. But the evidence is in. It is just a place to reward the politically faithful with a patronage appointment and give them a salary while they do their party’s bidding.
 Ray Rivers was born in Ontario; earned an economics degree at the University of Western Ontario. He taught in New Zealand and earned a Master’s degree in economics at the University of Ottawa. His 25 year stint with the federal government included time with Environment, Fisheries and Oceans, Agriculture and the Post office. Rivers left the federal government to consult for private sector and government clients. He completed his first historical novel The End of September in 2012; a story about what might have happened had Quebecers voted for sovereignty association in the 1980 referendum. Rivers is active with ratepayers groups, a food bank, environmental organizations, community journalism and policing. He has run for municipal and provincial government offices and held executive positions with Liberal Party riding associations. He developed the current policy process for the Ontario Liberal Party.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON.
August 15th, 2013
Our Town Crier, Dave Vollick, took himself to Kingston recently to compete with Criers from around the world, and was judged to be 11th of 17 competitors. That’s not all that good a position but then there were seven people tied for the 11th spot.
 Dave Vollick, on the left, took his interest in history, particularly local history and found himself wanting to be a Town Crier. There were two tied for fifth place; two tied for 8th place and two for tenth place; three for twelfth place and six for the 13th place.
Clearly a different approach to scoring competitors.
There were 17 contestants in the World Invitational Town Crier Competition 2013 that took place in Kingston. The event marked the first year that the championships have taken place in Canada.
Kingston, originally the first capital of Canada, is a city rich with history. The Criers were brought into town by that city’s Business Improvement Association.
Vollick has served the city as a volunteer Crier and has performed admirably. On the one occasion when this reporter was unable to attend a city Council meeting, the last that took place in 2011, we engaged Vollick to explain out absence which he did when he said:
Oyez Oyez Oyez
Your Worship Mayor Goldring, gentle lady and gentlemen of the council, esteemed city administrators, members of the public gallery; I appear before you tonight at the request of, and on behalf of, that epitome of Burlington’s political reporting and punditry – Mr. Pepper Parr.
To his despair he finds that he is unable, not only to attend, to but to document, and disseminate the momentous deliberations and decisions of this the penultimate council meeting of the year of our Lord two thousand, ought ,and eleven.
He bids you to persevere in his absence, and to carry on as sagely, judiciously, and with all due prudence, albeit with the caution, that he has come to expect of this august body.
Why you may ask has Mr. Parr sent a young stripling in his stead, and an answer you shall receive.
This very day, yea, but a few short hours past, Mr. Parr, did in the precinct of Aldershot in that most noble of wards (Number 1) in this our crown jewel of a city Burlington, pledge his troth to his beloved Pia. Yes indeed he has chosen to splice his life line, join in nuptial bliss, to become as one, to slip on that golden ring, in short to join the ranks of married men.
So while it is with regret that he cannot be with you tonight; let it be known to one all that he is in the throes of rejoicing, rapture, possibly stupefaction, bliss, and / or terror as befits a gentleman of mature years as he is about to embark on the good ship “Married Life”
To one and all whom inhabit this hall he sends his true best wishes, but don’t despair he will be here as 2012 commences.
He had members of Council rolling in their seats.
Our Town Crier does engagements for individuals and organizations. Worth thinking about when you want to do something different.
 By Pepper Parr, BURLINGTON, ON.
August 13th, 2013.
All the committees were in place, the organizational part of the This Magic Moment events were coming along fine – but the organizers felt is needed just a bit of a push and so they held a press conference at the Waterfront Hotel.
 Getting those hula hoops to whirl around ones waist wasn’t quite as easy as Connie Smith, shown in the upper right, thought it was going to be. Everyone involved in the event was on hand to do an update. To give the occasion a little pizzaz someone brought in three hula hoops which they wanted people to use. Expecting people like Keith Strong and Wayne Brown to be able to manage a hula hoop was a stretch. One needs a waist to make hula hoops whirl around your body and you also need to be able to move your hips. Except for Connie Smith and J. Scott Robertson, few of the others had waists. That was a hoot to watch.
While the event is all about having a lot of fun and giving those who are collecting or about to collect pensions, a reason to get out of the house and maybe give husbands and wives an opportunity to look at each other in a way they’ve not looked at them for a while. But there is a bigger purpose and that is to do what Burlington does very well – giving back to the community.
This all got going in September of 2012, when a group led by Keith Strong, called the Halton Cares Community, organized an event that would raise funds to support police officer who may have been seriously injured or lost their lives while serving the community. They called the event: Halton Heros. They chose the tried and true Burlington route which is to hold a gala. The first was held last September and raised $140,000.
Wayne Brown and his wife attended that evening and bought a table for 12 which they auctioned off to raise funds for the event. That auction went so well that Strong convinced Brown to put up two tables. After the event Brown came up with an idea he thought could be run for five, maybe seven or ten years that would also raise funds for the Halton Heros.
 Scott Robertson on the left and Wayne Brown, center, serve as Co-chairs of the Magic Moment event. Keith Strong, on the right heads up the Halton Community Cares organization that Magic Moment proceeds will support. Wayne Brown and Scott Robertson felt there was an opportunity to hold an event that would really appeal to Burlington`s older demographic – the music from the 50`s, 60`s and 70`s.
Hold it in a place where thousands could attend. Charge a really affordable price. Promote the daylights out of it – and see what happens.
Strong liked the idea and everyone hit the phones. It didn’t take them long – and they scored a real coup when Reg Titian managed to get the Drifters to travel to Burlington to perform.
 Robbie Lane, a 60’s heart throb, will co-host the Magic Moment with Connie Smith at Nelson Park September 14th With Connie Smith on board that meant Robbie Lane was going to be available – heck they worked almost side by side for a period of time. Wherever Lane goes the Disciples aren’t far behind. Smith started going through her list of contacts and that brought them Stuart MacDonald, the singing cop – and it just kept growing from there.
For Wayne Brown and Scott Robertson it looked like the event was going to be a major success. They saw the project as a way for the community to show their appreciation to local law enforcement. Both Brown and Robertson, serving as co-chairs, feel fortunate to live in Halton and are grateful for the success that they have experienced in this community.
 By Walter Byj
BURLINGTON, ON. August 14th, 2013 Robbie Lane, he of Robbie Lane and the Disciples fame, said he was excited to be both performing and co-hosting the This Magic Moment event with Connie Smith. Recounting the many years he has been associated with music, performing as a band back in 1963 and once playing with Ronnie Hawkins, he mentioned that his current band does not have any of the originals, but some current members have been with him for over 20 years.
This is the Robbie Lane they remember. He will be on stage with his Disciples at the This Magic Moment event in Nelson Park September 14th.
When not spinning records and talking rock and roll on Zoomer Radio AM 740, Robbie performs on a regular basis throughout the GTA. Asked why this strong attachment to the music of the 60’s and 70’s, he said he feels that “the older generation seems to be drawn to a time where life was simple and a lot slower”.
Perhaps there is some truth to that. For those who grew up in the 60’s their youth represented a time where the sky was the limit and there was nothing physical they could not do. Not so any more, their goals have come and gone and while sometimes not achieved the dreams and the experiences are fondly remembered.
But that music is still in their souls and on September 14th, sitting in a lawn chair they brought with them, they will close their eyes and listen to Robbie and the Disciples take them back to a different time – those Magic Moments.
Tickets are going quickly – they can be purchased on-line.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. August 8, 2013. The little beach at the bottom of Brant Street is iffy but everything along the Beachway Park is great for swimming.
The Regional health people have posted their reports.
 Bottom of Brant – iffy – rest of Burlington beaches are good to go – grab your towels. Brant beach is considered unsafe to swim if water tests show high amounts of E. coli bacteria.
 That water run off pipe is what results in part of the problem with the small beach at the foot of Brant Street. That plus the geese that foul the water. There is always a sign on this beach that tells you if the water is safe. Conditions posted are based on samples taken from the previous day.
 REVISED
By Pepper Parr.
BURLINGTON, ON. August 5th, 2013. It is always that first Monday in August – we always seem to be favoured with good weather. The lineups at the food tables isn’t all that bad and the grounds at LaSalle Park are spacious enough for lots of wandering. Joseph Brant Day in Burlington.
While the day is supposed to belong to Joseph Brant – there isn’t much of the man or what he did in evidence. Were it not for the presentation made by the Historical Society – you would hardly know that Brant was one of the greatest Canadians ever produced.
 Museums of Burlington staff in their new t-shirts kept busy at the food tent. The Brant Day event is still probably one of the best family events in the city and on this holiday Monday the weather was superb, the hot dog prices were good and the Museums of Burlington team of volunteers were scurrying about in the brand new T-shirts.
The Museum Board that oversees both Ireland House and the Brant Museum are working on a proposal to have an almost complete re-build of the Museum at Maple Avenue and LAkeshore but there was no mention of that project during the day. One would have thought there would be at least a video presentation of what the thinking was. Not this year.
 An aboriginal youth lays out his hoops as he prepares to do a demonstration dance. A young aboriginal boy gave a demonstration of a hoop dance. We saw this young man last year – he is coming along just fine – we should see a well-rounded hoop dancer in the years ahead. A parent beat out the dance pace on a small drum and explained to the audience that the aboriginal community have passed down their traditions for centuries. We say part of that tradition Monday afternoon at LaSalle Park – land that Joseph surely walked on during his time in Burlington – the city he died in on November 24th, 1807.
There was the obligatory War of 1812 re-enactor; the face painting people and seniors sitting outside in the sun.
One couple, both reading – he from a Kobo, the books on a screen and she from a paperback novel – the two of them sitting in the shade.
The Friends of Freeman Station has their new model of the structure they saved from the fire wood crews set up and there were a decent number of $5 bills in the collection bowl.
 These races used to be done in potato sacks – urbanization has upgraded them to pillow cases. Still the same race which the kids loved. Joseph Brant Day in Burlington in 2013 – slim on the educational side, close to bare in acknowledgement and celebration of Joseph Brant but a time for everyone to be outside playing Frisbee with a couple of friends and a dog that insists in being part of the game.
 Burlington’s MPP and MP were on hand for part of the day. Jane McKenna, Mike Wallace and Friends of Freeman president James Smith posed with Bob Chambers and his model of the Freeman Station. We were advised that Burlington’s political leaders were on hand to do the meet and greet stuff. Mayor Goldring was on holidays in Ireland and sent his Congratulations. Regional Chair Gary Carr we were advised was also on hand.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. August 3, 2013 When you ask Wayne Brown why a committee was formed to put on yet another gala event in Burlington he will tell you that the moment three people in this city get together the outcome is a gala – and if two people are in a pub having a beer, he adds, the result is a golf tournament. That’s just what people in Burlington do. It could be worse.
Wayne Brown is the chair of an event being called This Magic Moment and while not exactly a gala, it is a fund raising event for a good cause with a committee made up of anyone who is anybody on the letterhead.
 Don’t expect to see Connie Smith with this Vavavavoom dress at the Magic Moment event; she plans to wear a pony tail and her saddle shoes – if she can find them. Try this for influence: Wayne Brown as Chair; Scott Robinson of the Burlington Bandits baseball team as Co-Chair; Reg Titian, Artistic Director; Lucie Rivest, Treasurer; Connie Smith at CHCH is handling Publicity; Don Foster/Jackie Penner have taken on marketing. These are the working stiffs
The Board of Directors consists of Carol Leppan, Steve DeHaseth, Carla Leyer, Jason Stoner, Bill McKeon, Jenifer Rayworth, Sarah Allen, Salma Burney, Shannon Smith, Wendy Gzechowski, Barry Leppan, Mario Carr and Rob Wheeler.
 You need to be careful with this man: Once he has decided to do something – it is going to get done. Expect to see Jim Frizzle working with him Serving as liaison with the Halton Heros committee is Cheryl Goldring and Keith Strong. Strong is the guy you want to keep an eye on. This Magic Moment event would not be taking place if Strong had not learned that there are times when police or civilian working for the police service need help.
What are all these people doing when they get together in the same room? Organizing an event that will sell 2000 tickets for an outdoor dance event to be held at Nelson Park September 14th. This isn’t going to be any ordinary dance under the stars. The stars will be on the stage and the music will take the audience back to their youth – those time when they danced the jitterbug and the guys whirled the girl they were with through the air. The music of the 50’s and 60’s headlined by The Drifters, not some knock off group – but the original four who will be on the stage singing their signature piece: This Magic Moment.
No need to go looking for a scalper outside Nelson High – slip over to get tickets – don’t wait – this one will probably sell out.
The Magic Moment event is one part of a much larger organization called Community Cares Committee of Halton. It was incorporated late in 2012 by volunteers that care and want to help make a difference. Its first initiatives was the organizing of a gala for the Halton Heroes which held its inaugural event last year and raised $140,000 which will be used to support police officers and civilians employed by the Halton Regional Police Service who are injured in the line of duty.
The funds raised by the Gala were left with the Burlington Community Development Foundation on an in trust basis. When anyone working with the Police Service is injured the Foundation delivers a cheque to them within 48 hours.
Brown explains that while insurance and other benefits are available to police officers and police service staff there is a process to be followed and that takes time. For families in crisis with perhaps no immediate financial support, funds in hand immediately make a huge difference – thus the Halton Heroes funding.
The second gala, specifically dedicated to the Halton Heroes fund is to be held on Friday, September 20, 2013 at the Burlington Convention Centre. The sole purpose of this fund is to make sure the community is there for Halton Regional Police Service families.
“In Halton Region”, explains Brown, “ the public depend on the Police Service to protect us in times of crisis and need. We can’t prevent every act of violence or injury. But together we can offer our officers and civilian staff peace-of-mind.”
“Right now”, adds Brown, “there is a gap in funding when one of our Police Service members is seriously injured or killed. By establishing an endowment fund to be administered by an independent board, our Halton Regional Police Service members and their families will have short-term financial assistance that is not currently available.”
The funds raised during that Magic Moment evening will be added to the Halton Community Cares Committee.
It sounds like almost too many layers of organization – but it gives them a reason to get out of the house at night. And the end result next September 14th will be an evening under the stars dancing to music some of us remember very well – Dancing to the sound of
 They’re collecting pension cheques now – but this is the way they did it when they were younger. He rocks in the tree tops all day long
Hoppin’ and a-boppin’ and a-singing his song
All the little birds on Jaybird Street
Love to hear the robin go tweet tweet tweet.
Remember?
Connie Smith is going to MC the event, along with Robbie Lane; the Drifters will be on stage. Do you remember Pauly and the Goodfellas? When was the last time you heard Good Vibrations and California Girls?
It gets better. The Drifters don’t like running around at the pace most entertainers do; they prefer to relax; take the train and avoid the crowds – so they’re coming in Burlington a day ahead of their Saturday night appearance at Nelson Park.
 It’s a sound that will bring back wonderful memories from some of those wonderful moments – the Drifters – live at Nelson Park Well guys, thought the committee that put this together, if you’re in town, why not hold a nice, small, intimate evening with a small bunch of people who can sip wine, nibble on the noshes and chat up the Drifters and hear some of the wild tales they have to tell.
That resulted in the Soiree that will take place on Friday evening at the Waterfront Hotel. Tickets to that event right here.
It’s going to be a great weekend – with a number of people calling their chiropractors the next day – that “hoppin” and a “bobbin” stuff calls for a physical dexterity many of those people just don’t have anymore.
By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. August 3, 2013. This is certainly going to be a “get to the Beach” weekend. Lake Ontario is beginning to warm up a bit and the water is described as safe in most places.
The Beachway Park water is described as unsafe – caution. There is certainly loads of beach space along that stretch of the lake. Finding a spot to set up a shade awning and maybe setting up your hibachi won’t be easy and if you manage to find a parking spot along Lakeshore Road – good on you. Keeping out of the water – or at least not staying in for long periods of time might be a good idea. Very young children – not a good idea to have them in the water.
 The Region is responsible for testing water and advising the public on whether or not it is safe to swim.
 The water at the foot of Brant is safe – the way to keep it that way is to not feed the geese. If you put food in one end of the critters – you gotta know what is going to come out of the other end. And that stuff comes out in the water, which is shallow All that adds up to the high e-coli count that is reported.
 The Beachway Park is on a part of the lake where wind directions change frequently – which results in different wave patterns. It will be really difficult to keep children out of the water. There are consequences if they do play in the water.
Enjoy the weekend.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. August 1, 2013. The Nelson pool is closed due to a water main break. City and regional staff are on site to assess, conduct repairs and clean up.
The splash pad is closed due to the water to the area being cut off. Camps and rentals are being diverted to other locations.
We expect the next update from the city at 3:00 pm this afternoon.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. August 1, 2013. The city is reaching out to residents and visitors to Burlington, asking them to capture their special moments at the city’s many parks, recreation and cultural spots and then share them online as part of a community project called Burlington Moments.
The concept for Burlington Moments originated from the city’s Community Report, which featured a companion video of an up-close look at how people personally experience and enjoy the city’s parks, recreation and cultural assets. Since its launch in June, the video has garnered more than 1,200 hits on YouTube.
 Precious moment – captured forever – will we see pictures like this submitted? “We knew people liked the Burlington Moments video and that there were more great moments happening every day at pools, parks and cultural hubs across the city so we put out the call for people to share those ‘feel-good’ experiences with us and the rest of the community,” said Kim Phillips, the city’s general manager of community and corporate services. “Our hope is that when people watch the video they’ll be inspired to create and share their own special moments.”
 Do you think maybe Mom is a librarian? The city is encouraging people to post their favourite moments on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, using the #BurlONMoments hash tag for a chance to win one of three summer fun prize packs.
The prize pack includes: 4 swimming passes, 2 rounds of Golf at Tyandaga, golf shirt, cooler bag, 2 mugs, 2 water bottles, Tim Horton’s gift cards, 2 beach towels, sunscreen, sunglasses and sand castle toys. You don’t get all of this stuff – city hall will dole it out to the winners.
There are two deadlines to post your favourite moments online. The first round will close Aug. 13, the final round will close on Aug. 27.
The Region is inviting residents and visitors to share their favourite local summer activities in a new “Summer Wonderful” photo contest. Submit a photo with your favourite summer outdoor activity or location for a chance to win a $100 gift card from Burlington’s Mapleview Mall.
Halton Region’s contest will use popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest to share submissions. All photos will be judged by Halton Tourism staff on the basis of originality and seasonality.
Other prizes include admission for two to Harvest Halton – The Farm to Chef Experience in Milton, a $50 gift card to Williams Mill Art Gallery in Halton Hills and a Family Day Pass to Conservation Halton Parks.
If you insist on being practical and want to use the summer to tidy up the place – then you can get out to On Saturday, August 10 and 17, Halton Region will host four Blue Box Pick-up events for residents. At these events, Halton’s new larger 22-gallon Blue Box will be available to residents for pick up, free of charge, with a limit of one Blue Box per household.
Regional chair Gary Carr announced that in the first few months of the expanded Blue Box program, Halton has distributed over 40,000 Blue Boxes to Halton residents and seen an increase of 13 per cent more Blue Box and GreenCart materials being collected, and a decrease of 6 per cent in the amount of garbage collected. This is a tremendous achievement, one that is helping to extend the life of Halton’s landfill site and provide savings of $15 million to taxpayers.”
 During the earlier distributions of the new larger Blue boxes the demand was big. If you want one of these new larger Blue Boxes get yourself over to one at the locations listed below. Halton residents only, proof of residency required.
 Here is what you can put in the Blue box now. Blue Box Pick-up Events
Saturday, AUGUST 10, 2013 (from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
· Robert C. Austin Operations Centre, 11620 Trafalgar Road, Georgetown
· Burlington Closed Landfill, 291 North Service Road, Burlington (west of King Road, east of Waterdown Road)
Saturday, AUGUST 17, 2013 (from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
· Halton Regional Centre, 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville
· Halton Waste Management Site, 5400 Regional Road 25, Milton
You can continue to use the older, smaller Blue boxes if that meets your needs.
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