 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.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. July 30, 2013. The federal government announced that it was going to gift the recently born Prince a gift that would include a number of books fit for a Prince from his Canadian citizens.
We asked bookseller Ian Elliott at the Different Drummer Book Store what he thought would make an excellent collection of children’s titles from Canada.
And we asked Maureen Barry, CEO of the Burlington Public Library if she would prepare a list. Barry turned to her children’s librarians and here is what they came up with. Interestingly, there was just one title Elliott and the librarians suggested: Red is Best. Other than that there was no duplication.
We were delighted to see The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier on that list. The gift will come from the people of Canada sent by the Prime Minister and The Governor General who are both avid hockey fans.
We are going to pass this list along to those two gentleman and see what they decide to put in the gift package.
 A future King of Canada, Prince George Alexander Louis gets a list of books he might want to read as he grows up. The Prince, George Alexander Louis, third in line to the British throne has made just the one public appearance but expect to see a lot more of that child. He will be King of Canada to many of those children who currently buy books at the Different Drummer and borrow books from the library.
 I Have the Right to Be a Child, Alain Serres, illust. Aurélia Fronty, Groundwood Books
Alligator Pie, Dennis Lee, Harper Collins
The Hockey Sweater, Roch Carrier, Tundra Books
Something from Nothing, Phoebe Gilman, Scholastic Books
ABC of Canada, Kim Bellefontaine, illust. Per-Henrik Gürth, Kids Can Press
Picture a Tree, Barbara Reid, Scholastic Books
 Imagine a Day, Sarah L. Thompson, illust. Rob Gonsalves, Simon & Schuster
I Want My Hat Back, Jon Klassen, Candlewick Press
Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes, Mem Fox, illust. Helen Oxenbury, Houghton Mifflin
On the Day You Were Born, Debra Frasier, Houghton Mifflin
I Like to Play, Marla Stewart Konrad, Tundra Books
 Red is Best, Kathy Stinson, illust. Robin Baird Lewis, Annick Press
The list that follows is a compilation of suggestions from Burlington Public Library librarians who have had the privilege of serving as children’s librarians at various points in their careers. They chose Canadian picture books because, as they said, “we have a rich treasure of wonderful Canadian stories and illustrations for children. These are all ‘tried and true’ at many a storytime! It was difficult to narrow down our choices because there are so many great options.”
Barbara Reid – Welcome, Baby (Barbara is both author and illustrator and her ‘illustrations’ are all crafted with plasticine! It’s true that little Prince George has caused smiles around the world. This book is about babies bringing happiness.)
Barbara Reid – Read me a book (This is a collection of several wonderful Canadian stories compiled by Barbara Reid. It is a way to give Prince George a taste of Canada before his first visit.)
Marthe Jocelyn – Same Same ( Exploring in very simple images how things that are different can be very much the same.)
Marthe Jocelyn – Where do you look? (A fun exploration of homonyms.)
Jan Thornhill – Wildlife ABC and 123 (It is pretty clear what this book is about)
 Michael Kusugak – My Arctic 1,2,3 (Learning numbers, counting and all about Arctic animals, this book is a gem.)
Edith Newlin Chase – The New Baby Calf (There may be a “no fly zone” over Bucklebury while Prince George is in town but we are certain there are baby calves in town. This is a lovely story of the first days of a baby calf.)
 Kathy Stinson – Red is Best (A perennial favourite story about a little girl and debates she has with her mother about the colour red. This books begs to be read again and again.)
Kathy Stinson – Big or Little (Little ones cannot wait to be big, but sometimes they realize being little is OK too.)
Robert Munsch – Mortimer (Prince William said that his son had a ‘great set of lungs’ and we think the very loud repeated chant of Mortimer who loves to make noise “ all day” will appeal in the Royal nursery).
 Phoebe Gilman – The Balloon Tree (The story is all about fantastical royalty with Princess Leora prepares to use balloons to signal her father the King if something goes wrong while he is out of the kingdom. Something does go wrong. There is a happy ending.)
 Prince George Alexander Louis with his Father the Duke of Cambridge; second and third in line for the British throne. How many parents who are avid readers and take their child to the library on a regular basis recognize these titles? Is this a good list of books to send to the future king of Canada.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. July 26, 2013. She was paid fifty cents an hour to baby sit and didn’t like wearing the crinoline she had because it scratched her legs.
She was just a beat or two behind the drum when it came to fashion and wore stitched moccasins when others were wearing saddle shoes.
 She went to Pineland elementary school and is looking forward to being one of the MC’s at the This Magic Moment event that will be held at Nelson Park September 14th.
 Will Connie Smith go with her Vavavavoom look at the Magic Moment event or will go the pony tail look and still wow the crowd? We are of course talking about Connie Smith, that 39-year-old woman with the smile that lights up a room. When she takes to the stage at the This Magic Moment event she expects to wear the pony tail she still has. As for the rest of her costume – she is deciding on either the Olivia Newton John (1) look or the Olivia Newton John (2) look – but being a woman she automatically gets the right to change her mind at the very last-minute.
 Now a “39-year-old” seasoned broadcaster Connie Smith learned her trade at Mohawk and has been taking the “good news” to Burlington ever since. She will MC the This Magic Moment event at Nelson Park September 14th. Connie got her first transistor radio while at elementary school and thought she was the coolest kid on the street; she remembers watching the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show. The crowd that the organizers of the event expect to draw will know exactly what Connie was talking about
The This Magic Moment event is all about those days and those memories – which may not mean a thing to you if you don’t recall the Ed Sullivan Show but Wayne Brown, chair of the event being held to raise funds for an endowment that will support police officers should they die or be injured while on duty, will tell you that there are thousands of people in Burlington who want to spend an evening at Nelson Park listening to the music of the Beach Boys, The Drifters and the Jersey Boys.
The Drifters will be on the stage in person – charming the audience with their signature tune as well as many other pieces of music that you will want to walk out to the dancefloor the minute you hear the first couple of beats and show the kids that you can still strut your stuff.
 The Drifters – live at Nelson Park on September 14th and up close and personal at the Waterfront Hotel on the 13th for an exclusive audience. Getting the Drifters to take part in this event is another story we will tell you about later. What you will want to know is – well the Drifters were a vital part of that 50’s and 60’s era and they don’t like to rush around. So they decided to arrive in Burlington a day early and Wayne Brown knew right away that he had another element to his program. Why not have the Drifters do an exclusive, limited engagement Soiree at the Waterfront Hotel the day before? Great idea and so if you want you can get a tickets for both events.
Wayne Brown pulled together one of the most impressive committees this city has seen and called in every favour he could; that’s what got him into a coffee shop with Connie Smith where he asked her to MC the event – she agreed and then Wayne called her back and asked if she would handle publicity as well.
I am told that the “Always Good News” girl has a dance card – and I think my name is on it.
September the 14th – expect it to be a great event. Tickets are available on-line .
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. July 25, 2013. The Regional government does regular water testing for all the beaches in Halton and report on what is safe and what is not safe.
We noticed that in the report for this week they advise that the Beachway Park water is safe for swimming but that the water at the foot of Brant Street is not safe.
 View of the mini-beach at the foot of Brant Street where people like to swim. Notice the large pipe on the right hand side in the top part of the picture. The rain run off from that pipe might be what is making that water unsafe for swimming. The geese that like that part of the waterfront don’t help either. Region might want to consider a warning sign in that area. Given that the two are quite close together we asked the Region “why” and they replied that the Manager of Healthy Environments explains that if “water samples collected have e.coli counts above the guideline, the beach is posted as unsafe for swimming.
“The e coli results for Brant Street beach were not within the acceptable guidelines while Beachway results were. There are various factors that affect bacteria counts in water including wave action, currents, wind, water depth, storm water outfalls and the amount of waterfowl in the water and on the beach. Ultimately, it is difficult to determine the exact factor or factors that caused the difference in the water sample results.”
 That made sense because there is a pipe that runs from under the Waterfront Hotel area right into the mini-beach that was created when the pier was built. Also, geese and other waterfowl love to walk along that mini beach and people tend to feed the critters – and you know what geese do when they eat don’t you?
Might not the Region post a sign in this area advising people that it is prone to having e-coli counts higher than normal and is therefore not a safe place to swim – especially for very small children.
Other than a few beaches in the Region it looks like it is going to be a healthy weekend to go swimming.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. July 25, 2013. In Kingston they refer to him as their “cultural czar” and they can’t understand why he is leaving. The contacts we spoke to didn’t even know that Brian McCurdy had resigned and was on his way to Burlington where he will serve as the Executive Director of the Performing Arts Centre. He takes up the reigns in the middle of August.
Kingston’s Grand Theatre was undergoing a major renovation when McCurdy arrived in that city. He completed that job and put together what most people in Kingston felt was a very good program bringing in a number of acts from Europe that for the most part didn’t tour smaller Canadian cities.
McCurdy created a jazz festival that has proven to be very popular in Kingston; hopefully a jazz program will be something we might see from Mr. McCurdy early in the New Year?
McCurdy was said to have been very good at creating partnerships with small theatre groups in Kingston and while described as a cautious man, people in Kingston found that the proof was in the pudding and McCurdy did produce for them.
 Brian McCurdy, newly appointed Executive Director of the Performing Arts Centre. Burlington is about to get serious with its Cultural Plan which is working its way through city hall and a committee or two. McCurdy is said to have done “excellent” work setting the direction for arts and heritage in Kingston for the next ten years. Might he manage to set the bar a little higher at the Brant Museum?
The depth of experience that McCurdy brings to cultural development will be new to this city. Burlington has gotten a little mired in its approach to culture – this man, if the information we’ve been given is sound, takes a very sophisticated approach and at the same time fully understands the realities of the market place.
In Kingston McCurdy said once he was “worried about the success of the KidStage series” and found a remedy — he cut the children’s prices in half. “It really caught on,” he said. “The audiences doubled and tripled.”
 “When we did a survey at the end of this year”, said McCurdy, “ 92% said they got value for their money but would come to more shows if the prices were cheaper. So this year, we’re introducing three price breaks where you can save as much as $10 if you’re willing to sit further back in the theatre.”
McCurdy has a considerable amount of American experience which is usually a good thing. It gives him a broader view of culture and how it develops and rolls itself out. A university education at McGill University will have given him a firm understanding of the dual culture of this country as well.
Add to that some work in Hamilton with the opera crew over there and he at least knows where Burlington is. Has anyone told him about the most expensive pier ever built in this country? When he was taken on a tour of the city did they walk him out to the end of the thing?
As to why did he decide to leave Kingston, a city that has a richer, deeper arts tradition than Burlington and a very significant summer tourist traffic, a world-class university in the middle of the city and a stronger Canadian history pedigree than Burlington, no one could come up with a reason other than “these people like to move on quite a bit”.
 Our contact in Kingston did have one parting comment. “Burlington” he said, “has to stop poaching our people”. And then I realized that our police chief Stephen Tanner, also came to us from Kingston. This would put some validity to the Mayors statement that we are the best place to live in the country. Problem with that statement is that there are a number of correctional institutions in Kingston where we may not want this great news to get to.
For the moment let us welcome Brian McCurdy to the city and wish him well. If Burlington is to have a cultural identity – this man appears to have the capacity to get us there. He also has a community of artists who want to be at the table and the sense we got from the people we talked to is that this man understands artists – which will be welcomed.
 By Staff
Burlington, Ont. July 24, 2013 – The Burlington Theatre Board has selected Brian McCurdy as the new Executive Director of The Burlington Performing Arts Centre. Mr.McCurdy will assume his new role effective August 19, 2013.
Mr. McCurdy has served as Cultural Director of the City of Kingston, since 2008. In this role he was responsible for overseeing the management of the historic Grand Theatre, city museums, Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning, in addition to municipal cultural planning.
 Brian McCurdy has been appointed the Executive Director of the Burlington Performing Arts Centre – he joins that organization in the middle of August. He was also involved in the re-development of the historic Grand Theatre in Kingston which re-opened in the spring of 2008 following a 3-year renovation. Previously, Mr. McCurdy provided management for the Performing Arts Centre, University of Lethbridge; Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, a 1500 seat performing arts centre; and the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, University of California.
“This is an important leadership role and we are delighted to have attracted broad interest from top candidates across the country, and beyond.” said Rick Burgess, Theatre Board Chair. “Brian has provided leadership and direction for the planning, construction, opening and ongoing management of performing arts centres, and has extensive programming experience. He has held the position as the first manager of many performing arts centres and therefore understands the complexities and the excitement of an organization in its development stages. As we head into our third season, we are excited to welcome Brian to the team.”
 Some new light being brought to the Performing Arts Centre with the appointment of Brian McCurdy as the new Executive Director. Mr. McCurdy received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music from McGill University in Montreal and his Master’s Degree in Music with a major in arts administration from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He also studied arts administration at The Banff Centre, in Alberta, the Leadership Institute at the University of California at Berkeley, and has participated in numerous workshops and seminars on fundraising, board and community development.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. July 24, 2013. The city’s Town Crier, Dave Vollick will be in Kingston, Ontario early in August to test his pipes against those amongst the best there is at the 2013 World Invitational Town Crier Competition.
 Dave Vollick, Burlington’s Town Crier taking part in the Brant Day celebrations at LaSalle Park. Vollick will have four days during which he will show them what he can do and perhaps come home as the “World Town Crier Champion”.
2013 marks the first year that the championships have taken place in Canada.
Burlington has had a Town Crier since March 2011 when Council went along with the idea but didn’t put up any money to cover any of the costs involved. At the time Vollick had hoped the city would pony up for some of his cleaning bills.
Vollick has appeared at a number of events – were he to come home with the prize – we would certainly see a lot more of him.
 A Royal birth being announced by a Town Brier in the United Kingdom. The world saw just what a Town Crier can do when the announcement of the birth of the third heir to the British Crown was delivered by a Town Crier.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. July 20, 2013. Did you dance to Under the Boardwalk? Do you remember Pauly and the Goodfellas? When was the last time you heard Good Vibrations and California Girls?
 It was black and white in those days; it was rotary dial phones and gas that came in at what 25 cents a gallon? It was a different time and those were different tunes – all to be heard on September 14th – Nelson Park. It’s all just a couple of months away. Wind you way over to Nelson Park Saturday September 14th – event begins at 2 pm – last dance just before 10 pm – and have a look at some of the antique cars and wonder what ever happened to those fins.
 This Magic Moment – an exciting, first-of-its kind outdoor event celebrating the music and nostalgia of the 60’s with event headliner Rick Sheppard and the Drifters – not a knock off group but the original four in those trademark red jackets.
Two local groups will open the show….The Night Brigade (Sweet Caroline, Hooked on a Feeling) and Halton’s singing cop Stuart MacDonald.
You’re going to need a ticket for this one – and expect the place to be packed.
Tickets are available online at: tickets.
You won’t want to miss the Contours who will get those feet moving when you hear “Do You Love Me?” and do their Motown Review. Robbie Lane and the Disciples (“Fanny Mae”) will be on stage as will Pauly and the Goodfellas doing a tribute to The Jersey Boys and Beach Boys. Each of the four groups above will perform for 75 minutes!
Bring a lawn chair and settle in for an evening of pure nostalgia and remember just what your good old days were about. Bring the grandchildren to watch as you get out and dance and show them your stuff.
The on stage MC’s will be Connie Smith and Robbie Lane
Licensed area, food concessions, and a Vintage Car Show!
Nelson Park, New St. east of Walkers Line in Burlington. Gates open at 2 PM….Music from 2:30 to 10 PM. Tickets are only $30 for over 7 hours of live music!
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. July 20, 2013. Homegrown country at the Royal Botanical Gardens Country Night with award-winning singer Lindsay Broughton.
The show will take place at Hendrie Park in the Gardens and is free for all.
 Rising country singer, Lindsay Broughton to sing at Free concert. Brooklin, Ontario native Lindsay Broughton has been making waves for some time in the Canadian country music scene. She is already receiving acclaim by her peers for her stunning performance at the inaugural Country Music Association of Ontario Awards show this past May, where she also won the coveted “Rising Star Award”, for 2013.
Broughton’s current single “Now You Don’t” is being played on national radio. Her debut self-titled album is due to hit shelves this Fall.
On Tuesday July 30th at 6:00pm at the Royal Botanical Gardens.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. July 18, 2013. While not hazardous, the water in Lake Ontario at the Burlington area beaches is described as “not safe to swim in”.
During the summer months, the Health Department monitors water quality at selected recreational beaches in Halton. Beaches are selected for testing based on their use for swimming and other water sports. Monitoring is done once a week or more if necessary. A pilot project is being undertaken at Beachway Park for the 2013 beach sampling season to examine potential factors influencing water quality. Therefore, Beachway Park will be sampled more frequently.
- A beach is considered unsafe to swim if water tests show high amounts of E. coli bacteria.
- Conditions posted are based on samples taken from the previous day.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. July 17, 2013. The cheque was indeed in the mail – a big one that put $20,000 into the Burlington Lions Optimist Minor Hockey Association (BLOMHA) bank account where the spending will be spread out over two years.
 Hundreds of Burlington hockey types clicked on this red button to rack of points for the significant cash award – BLOMHA won $20,000. The cheque was the result of a superb effort by John McNeil and a team of people he directed who made thousands of clicks on a red button set up on the Kraft Hockey Goes On website.
The prize money came from Kraft Foods who sponsor the Hockey Goes On contest in which BLOMHA was one of four runner ups in Central Ontario. The top prize which was $100,000 – that went to Goderich.
 Anyone with a laptop and at least five fingers got put to work. The young fellow on the right has all ten fingers but they didn’t give him a keyboard. When Kraft announced the program for 2013 Kristen Priestner, a local hockey Mon with a son in the BLOMHA Atom A, nominated John McNeil, who manages the team, as the person who had done the most for minor hockey in their community.
McNeil’s nomination was accepted by Kraft and the game was on. McNeil headed up a diverse team that included almost everyone he knew.
 Boys in a van on the way to a hockey game in London use the time to log in and click, click, click. The community pulled together and worked throughout the weekend – they even had hockey players logging in and clicking on that red button while they were being transported to out-of-town games.
 This banner will hang proudly in the Appleby Arena, recognizing forever the contribution McNeil made to BLOMHA and it hockey operations. Along with the cheque BLOMHA was given a large banner recognizing organizer John McNeil and his efforts. The banner will go up in Appleby arena.
How will BLOMHA spend this windfall? One of the decisions the organization made was that none of the prize money would be used for administrative stuff. The full $20,000 will go into the hockey program for the Burlington community to benefit.
This year $5,000 will go towards subsidizing hockey fees for financially challenged families.
 BLOMHA Executive Director Rick Dawson on the left and John McNeil hold up the $20,000 cheque won during a drive to register clicks on the Kraft Hockey Goes On contest last March. Another $5000 will go towards replacing 10-year-old and worn out goalie gear used by goalies in the house league program
The other $10,000 will be saved for next year to be used to assist families in getting their sons or daughters into the game. BLOMHA has taken the position that they will report to McNeil on just how they spent the money.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. July 10, 2013 – They are out of school, underfoot and looking for things to do. Crawford Lake is worth a visit where the past comes alive at the Conservation Area, with the annual Dig In and Discover Archaeology event! this Sunday, July 14 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
 Turtle clan longhouse at Crawford Lake. The staff in the Turtle Clan Longhouse will be doing demonstrations of traditional fire starting techniques and storytelling. Visitors can explore the Iroquoian village, view fascinating videos, and make a clay pot to take home. Be sure to participate in a discovery hunt and win a great prize.
 The Turtle Clan – part of the Mohawk Nation. Take part in a simulated dig at the Crawford Lake site. Learn how and why archaeologists do what they do and find out more about fascinating artefacts and Ontario’s First Nation’s.
After visiting the village take a guided hike at 2 p.m. through Crawford Lake’s beautiful woodlands and learn more about the history of the area.
Entry to Dig In and Discover Archaeology Day is included with your regular park admission fees, Halton Parks Members only need to show their membership for admission.
Crawford Lake is located at the corner of Guelph Line and Conservation Road (formerly Steeles Avenue) 15 km north of the QEW, and 5 km south of the 401 in Milton. The pristine waters of Crawford Lake have drawn people to its shores for hundreds of years. The rare lake, with surrounding boardwalk, is nestled in lush forests atop the stunning Niagara Escarpment where visitors can watch soaring turkey vultures glide through the Nassagaweya Canyon.
You can step back in time and explore the 15th century Iroquoian Village that has been reconstructed on its original site at Crawford Lake. The spirits still sing in the longhouses where tools, animal hides and the smell of smoke let you experience the rich history of Ontario’s First Peoples.
The Crawford Lake operation is part of the Halton Regions recreation and education program.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. July 5th, 2013. The most recent report on lake water conditions from the Region doesn’t have much good news for those who want to swim.
People visiting Burlington’s Beachway Park will see water-testing equipment set up on the north beach this summer.
The City of Burlington has partnered with Environment Canada’s National Water Research Institute, Western University and the University of Waterloo on a research project to better understand how groundwater quality contributes to test results at Great Lakes beaches.
Burlington is committed “to providing beaches that people can use for swimming and other recreation to contribute to an active, healthy lifestyle,” said Chris Glenn, director of parks and recreation.
This new testing will be in addition to water-quality testing conducted by Halton Region. During the summer months, monitoring is done once a week, or more if necessary. Beachway Park will be sampled more frequently due to the pilot project.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. July 3, 2013. Imagine! A city Councillor with more than 20 years at the Council table asking you for your opinion on what gets you excited about living in the rural area?
John Taylor represents Ward 3 which takes in that part of rural Burlington on the west side of the city limits over to Walker’s Line then from Derry Road down Dundas with a patch that reaches down to the QEW. This is John Taylor country – and it is served very well.
 John Taylor has been at the business of municipal politics for a long time. He once thought of seeking higher office – but that time has past. He work diligently for the people of ward 3 and now wants their opinion on living in the northern part of the city. Taylor is seldom at a loss to give you an opinion on whatever happens to be crossing his mind – even if you don’t ask for that opinion.
Burlington publishes City Talk, a news magazine, three times a year filled with “fluff” for the most part but it does serve as a link from city council to the wider community. Waste of good paper from our point of view but that doesn’t mean they are going to stop publishing the thing.
Each council member gets some space to put in whatever they want to tell their constituents – just the good stuff though. You will have to look very hard to find anything the least bit controversial or provocative between those covers. Pure vanilla – paid for with your tax dollars.
 The ladies love him. He charms them and he listens to them; never patronizes them. That’s why he gets smiles like this one from Georgina Black, the consultant who led the then new city council through its Strategic Plan back in 2011. Taylor is taking a slightly different approach to his part of City Talk – he wants to know what it is about living in rural Burlington that gets you excited. He has a number of reasons for asking the residents of the northern part of the city what gets them excited about – there is currently something to get very excited about – the attempt on the part of an entrepreneur to build an airport with little, if any, input from city hall or the economic development corporation.
Taylor is looking for your opinion. This is an excellent time for everyone in the city to tell a council member what is important about the rural part of the city.
 Lot of hay taken off these fields – but not very many cattle out there. There are those within the political go on about the agricultural industry – there is no such things as an agricultural “industry” in rural Burlington. There are a couple of very successful fruit operations and the equestrian people have made that part of the city a great place to operate. Don’t expect to very many cattle in that part of the city. Couple of places where there are some chickens and a several that have a couple of pigs. Some fruit operations but for a stretch of land that is pretty good from a soil perspective – we don’t really exploit that opportunity.
A lot of hay is taken off those fields but you will seldom see any soybeans and not a lot of corn. Farming in north Burlington is a bit of a stretch. Nice place to live – well not if you are on Appleby Line with all those trucks trundling load after load of land fill into the airport development.
So – what is there to be excited about north of Dundas/Highway 407? Councillor Taylor would certainly like to hear what you have to say.
Several months ago the city`s planning department held a half day Saturday session during which people gathered to talk about rural Burlington in what was billed a Rural Summit. What was very interesting, and revealing, was that the problems surrounding the dumping of landfill on the airport property didn’t get mentioned.
Perhaps this appeal for the things that excite people will bring more to the surface.Put your thoughts together and send them along to his very able assistant Sheri Wainman.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, JULY 3, 2013) For the second year, Art in Action presented a scholarship to a Halton Region High School student intending to pursue a full-time, post-secondary education this fall.
 Samples of the work on display during the Art in Action studio tour – always during the first weekend in November. Art in Action is a self-guided studio tour that takes place every year on the first weekend of November in Burlington. If art and craft appreciation mean anything to you – note the dates. The tour will introduce you to new art and get you out of the house and meet really interesting people. This year will be our third and we wouldn’t miss it.
 Darlene Throop, Art In Action, Michelle Nguyen, Scholarship Winner and Regan Heffernan, Principal, Robert Bateman. This year’s winner Michelle Nguyen, a student at Robert Bateman High School, received a scholarship of $1,500.00 as well as free admission to participate in the Art in Action November Studio Tour.
Nguyen intends to pursue her artistic and design interests and the University of Guelph in their Landscape Architecture program in September,
Burlington public and catholic schools were invited to participate by putting forth an applicant and including three digital images in the application. The turn out this year was less than promising, (shame on those schools who didn’t dig a little and encourage their students to take part). The Art in Action group feels there will be a better response next year. Let us hope they are right.
There are very few privately funded groups that use their own funds to provide scholarships for promising students. Things like this need to be both encouraged and responded to.
For additional information contact, Teresa Seaton at tmseaton@cogeco.ca
 REVISED
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. June 28, 2013. I didn’t see Rick Wilson out on the pier this afternoon with a telescope but there were around 100 people who were up on the observation deck or crowded around the rail of the pier watching the five tall ships manoeuver and getting in position to pass through the canal, under the lift bridge and into Burlington Bay where they were to sail around the bay letting people on both the Hamilton side and the Burlington side see these majestic vessels catch the light winds before they tie up at the various piers they have been given for the duration of their stay in Hamilton.
Wilson, a history buff who will, if you let him, tell you more than you ever wanted to know about the War of 1812 battle that took place on the lake just off the foot of Brant Street, or so some believe, that changed the outcome of the War of 1812 that lasted three years.
 They weren’t easy to see but they were certainly out there; five tall ships lining up to pass through the canal and into Burlington Bay where they will tie up in Hamilton for the weekend. Today, there were five tall ships, easing their way into the canal. There were supposed to be six – no idea where that last one got to – but the five were out there on the lake. Many wondered why the ships didn’t come in closer to the pier – wind was not all that good and they had to be far enough out on the lake to be able to line up in procession to get through the canal.
 The public gets some value from their $15 million pier (true cost is going to be $20 million) as they watch Tall Ships prepare to sail into Burlington Bay. It was expected they would all drop their sails as the went through the canal but at least one went through with all their rigging up.
 The tallest mast on this ship had to have a hinge placed on it so it could clear the lift bridge that lets her into Burlington Bay. The tallest of the ships, the Solandet, had to put a hinge on part of their tallest mast – it was just a little too high to pass underneath the lift bridge safely.
The sky was a little overcast, weather muggy, rain off and on – not the best weather in which to see these ships. They will be in Hamilton Friday through to Sunday. Tours are available.
The expectation is that all the ships will sail out of Burlington Bay at the same time. Exactly when that will happen isn’t all that clear.
There are more than a dozen ships taking part in what is billed as Tall Ships 1812 Tour with different ships showing up at different ports. St. Catharines, Dalhousie are among those that will be visited.
 The Niagara, one of six Tall Ships that will tie up in Hamilton after taking part in a sail past around Burlington Bat. None of this matters to Rick Wilson, his mission, driven by his passion is to have a plaque set up on the Burlington Heights to replace the one that everyone now agrees is just plain wrong.
 Here they come. Slip over to the links and read that tale of the role British ships sailing off Burlington played in winning the War of 1812 where ships fired cannon balls and iron shot at each other. For those who dive as a hobby – there are cannon balls to be found at the bottom of Lake Ontario –possibly right off the front of Spencer Smith Park.
Our colleague chose to catch the ships as the passed through the canal. She made a better choice than we did.
Margaret Lindsay Holton has written for us in the past. Some of her columns can be seen at:Terra Greenhouses and Are you nuts?
Tall Ships passed through the Burlington Canal under the Skyway Bridge mid-afternoon on Friday, June 28th.
Black and white photo montages by Margaret Lindsay Holton – Mid-career artist and author from the Golden Horseshoe Region of Ontario, Canada.
 Passing through modern history.
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