 By Staff
August 18, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The IBL semifinal between the first-place London Majors and fifth-place Toronto Maple Leafs is scheduled to begin Friday, Aug. 19 at Labatt Park in London.
 The Majors haven’t played since sweeping Guelph on Aug. 9, while the Leafs are coming off a Game 7 win over Brantford in 10 innings on Wednesday night.
The semifinal schedule is as follows:
(1) London Majors vs. (5) Toronto Maple Leafs
Game 1: Friday, Aug. 19 at London; 7:35 p.m.
Game 2: Sunday, Aug. 21 at Toronto: 2 p.m.
Game 3: Tuesday, Aug 23 at London; 7:35 p.m.
Game 4: Wednesday, Aug. 24 at Toronto; 7:30 p.m.
Game 5: Friday, Aug. 26 at London; 7:35 p.m.
Game 6 and 7: TBD
The Barrie Baycats are playing against the Kitchener Panthers where the Baycats are up to games.
Prediction: It will be London Majors against the Barrie Baycats with Barrie taking the prize. We have been wrong before.
 By Pepper Parr
August 18, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
A little less anxiety over the announcement that New Street traffic lanes are going to be re-configured from the two lanes each way to one lane each way, a centre turning lane and two buffered bike lanes on each side of the road would seem to be in order.
Road marking removal will take place starting August 22 to prepare the roads for lane-painting, which will begin on August 26. The road is expected to be ready on August 27.
 Existing configuration on the left – planned configuration on the right. Gazette commentators are getting themselves all wound up with some rather silly comments. Those rocket scientists have concluded the pilot project is going to be a traffic disaster.
 Extensive maps showing the possible options for bike lanes on New Street were on display at a public meeting in May at Bateman High school. No one really knows how this pilot project is going to work. It will run for a year and the evidence will tell the transportation department if what they tried worked or didn’t work.
All these comment, some of them downright silly, add little to the discussion – wait for the results.
You can bet that the transportation people will be monitoring this very closely and reporting regularly to the city manager. The city manager will certainly keep council advised; maybe he will find a way to share the data the city collects with the taxpayers.
No one knows if the pilot will work – can we not wait for the evidence before jumping to conclusions?
One hopes that the members of council don’t fold on this one and pull the plug before there is a decent chance to see if it works.
Here is a sampling of the comments that have come in – and it isn’t over.
“Utterly incredible and unbelievable! At a time when this City faces major problems with transportation gridlock a major east-west thoroughfare gets cut to one lane in each direction. Get behind a school or city bus and your commute will be extended significantly.”
“Shame on this Council for their lack of perspective, and shame on our Mayor for lacking the leadership and the guts to stand up to the bicycle lobby at City Hall who are intent on pursuing their agenda despite widespread community opposition. Kudos to Councillor Sharman for being the sole voice of reason, logic and common sense on this pathetic Council.”
“Wonderful- no more bikes in the car lanes! Now the bikes have more options finally- Burlington bike paths, Burlington sidewalks and the new bike lanes! Looking forward to improved snow removal and synchronized lights for bike safety. Next- running lanes? Shake your heads! Check out where the bike lanes are in Amsterdam”
“What on earth are they thinking????? The congestion at rush hour will be crazy. We already can’t move in Burlington, they keep building and building. Would like to see the study plan for this. Lakeshore does not work either by the way. Lived in Burlington my whole life, time to move.”
“It is finally now official, this is a City being run by incompetent Councillors and staff. They should all hang there head in shame.”
“Unbelievable! A main corridor being reduced. I understand Burlington’s obsessiveness but to take a full lane divide in 2, well it is an attraction for cyclists to run 5 or 6 abreast. Afterall, they run 2 and 3+ currently.”
Related article:In May
New Street to be narrowed.
 By Staff
August 17th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
After several rain game cancellations the Toronto Leafs rallied from a two-run deficit to tie the game in the eighth inning and scored twice in the top of the 10th to beat the Brantford Red Sox 4-2 Wednesday night in Game 7 of their best-of-seven quarter-final at Arnold Anderson Stadium.
 They had to grind to win the series – but that they did and they now go on to play the London Majors.
Toronto also scored both of its runs in extra innings with two out, as Sean Mattson singled home Jon Waltenbury, and Marra scored on a passed ball.
Mike Wagner picked up his second win of the series, going four scoreless innings in relief and scattering two hits with a pair of walks and three strikeouts. Marek Deska started and went four innings, allowing two hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
For Brantford, Nic Burdett and Josh McCurdy hit back-to-back RBI doubles in the Red Sox’s two-run sixth inning. Ricky Murray added a single and double.
Jonathan Joseph (1-1) took the loss, giving up two runs on two hits in an inning, with a walk and two strikeouts. Starter Nathan Forer went 6.1 innings, allowing two hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
In the other semi final playoff game the Barrie Baycats blew the Kitchener right out of the water with their 2-0 win.
Adam Rowe threw a complete-game shutout to lead the Baycats to a win in game 2 of the best of seven series.
Rowe (2-0) threw a 114 pitches and scattered seven hits with a walk and six strikeouts.
Kyle DeGrace had the lone RBI as the Baycats mustered just five singles against Panthers starter Noelvis Entenza.
Entenza (1-1) went 6.1 innings and allowed two unearned runs on five hits with four walks and five strikeouts.
Frank Camilo Morejon had two of the Panthers’ seven hits, while Mike Andrulis and Ryan Douse each doubled.
2016 IBL playoffs
Semifinals
(2) Kitchener Panthers vs. (3) Barrie Baycats
Barrie leads series 2-0
Game 1: Barrie 8, Kitchener 1
Game 2: Barrie 2, Kitchener 0
Game 3: Thursday, Aug. 18 at Kitchener; 7:30 p.m.
Game 4: Saturday, Aug. 20 at Barrie; 7 p.m.
* Game 5: Sunday, Aug. 21 at Kitchener; 7 p.m.
* Game 6: Tuesday, Aug. 23 at Barrie; 7:30 p.m.
* Game 7: Thursday, Aug. 25 at Kitchener; 7:30 p.m.
Is it too early to suggest where this series is going?
 By Pepper Parr
August 17, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It is going to be a “twofer” that is two things for the price of one.
And when the one is free – this is an occasion you don’t want to miss.
 The Tragically Hip have spent a lot of time on the road in a bus – they will play in Kingston on Saturday and be simulcast across the country. The final event of the current cross country tour is being done by the tragically Hip from their home base in Kingston, Ontario and is being simultaneously broadcast to a number of cities across the country.
Burlington is one of them.
With the Olympics eating up a lot of television time – the CBC has decided to start the broadcast an hour early – it was originally to begin at 8:30 pm
It will now start at 7:30 pm with the first hour devoted to Olympic events.
This just might mean that the comments local politicians will want to make might get skipped – that would be nice.
The evening is an opportunity to pay homage to a band that as a significant part of the lives of a major demographic – it is also an opportunity to pony up with some of your cash and support the cancer research that may someday come up with a way to treat the cancer that for Gord Downie is terminal – the cancer research people have made tremendous strides – let Downie you know you are going to do your part.
It is going to be an emotional evening.
 Gord Downie Bring your lawn chair/blanket, water bottle & cash/credit for donations to our local charities for brain cancer research and treatment.
Volunteers will be circulating to collect cash; credit card donations will be processed at two booths at the event.
People can also donate in advance.
Joseph Brant Hospital cancer clinic
Canadian Cancer Society – Halton Branch
The city is making it easy to get to the event – they suggest you leave the car at home – finding a parking spot will be a challenge – and take the GO train and use the shuttle bus that will run from the Burlington GO to Spencer Smith Park until 1 am – which gives you loads of time to grab a brew and a bite at one of the local hospitality establishments in the city.
“Tragically Hip Shuttle” is available from Burlington GO station, north side, from 6 pm to 1 am.
This is an alcohol-free, family friendly event that will proceed rain or shine.
 By Pepper Parr
August 17, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
“What a week” said Trevor Copp as he prepared for the second week of a two week run of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream playing at the Rock Garden of the RBG on York Blvd.
 A scene from A Midsummer Night’s Dream performed on a lawn at the Rock Garden section of the Royal Botanical Gardens Copp tells people that while he listened to the Mayor who was commenting on the event at its opening night he wondered if he wanted to warn the crowd how the energy and attendance tends to drop down after opening. “So glad I didn’t. We’ve had a full week of huge crowds playing to an ever stronger show. It couldn’t have gone better.”
Copp may have stretched what really happened – they had to delay the show one night while it rained – but the audience was loyal and they waited out the rain
He had to cancel one show – weather just wasn’t co-operating.
Copp’s troubles were environmental – everything else was typical Trevor Copp: exciting, different and surprising. You aren’t likely to see another production of the play done with that much energy.
 If you’re on the right Road you can’t miss the place. Copp closes with: “Love to have you as a part of our second (and final) week of this inaugural run.”
Where is this place? It’s at the newly opened Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) ROCK GARDEN (1185 York Blvd), which is a couple kms along the same road (towards Hamilton) from the RBG Main Entrance. There is a huge sign and plenty of free parking right across the street
When? 7pm this Wednesday to Sunday; August 17-21. The Gardens open exclusively to ticket holders (your tix include admission to the Rock Gardens) at 5pm, so get there early and enjoy the newly re-opened Gardens.
By Pepper Parr
August 15, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a production that was years in getting to the point where a cast of nine appeared on a stretch of grass that had a magnificent fir tree used as a back drop and put on a busy, almost rollicking version of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Director Trevor Copp is a dancer – so movement was a given – and the cast didn’t disappoint the director or the audience.
Opening night last Wednesday went well. The setting was close to superb. The audience was better than decent and the weather held. Cool breezes wafted over the “stage”.
 Michael Hannigan, centre, was everywhere. He proved to be a solid casting choice. The cast was made up of experienced actors, with Michael Hannigan putting on a very good performance. Sean McClelland was a delight throughout.
Copp made the decision early in the development of the production that he would offer positions for emerging artists – current students fresh out of school
The two Sean’s came from Brock University; Claudia Spadafora is student at McMaster. John Walmsley and Alma Sarai come out of the joint Sheridan College and University of Toronto Mississauga.
 Trevor Copp listening toRBG CEO Mark Runciman during opening night. Mark Runciman, CEO of the RBG made the comment during his opening remarks that the RBG has been looking for ways to expand its program and while the talks with Copp took a number of years to get to this opening night point they have plans to have an ongoing dramatic program.
Shakespeare is text – his language is defining. When a director with “movement” as one of his defining features, it gets really interesting to see what Copp does with Midsummer Night’s Dream.
 Alma Sarai and John Wamslaey trying to work out a difference during the opening night of a Midsummer Night’s Dream at the RBG Rock Garden. It is a busy play – everyone is always moving; the characters make use of some interesting costume set ups. Hannigan excels, Sean McClelland comes through again and again.
This reviewer is not a Shakespearian expert; Stratford every couple of years and the ThinkSpot productions in Lowville for the past three years just about does it.
But one doesn’t have to have a degree in English at the 300 level to know they are being well entertained.
It is a robust play during which you never got the impression that you were watching a bunch of about to graduate students learning the ropes.
 Front row- Michael Hannigan, Sean McClelland, Sean Rintoul, John Wamsley, Alma Sarai. Back row- Zach Parsons, Trevor Copp, Caitlin Popek, (on the floor) Claudia Spadafora, Jesse Horvath. The second performance was delayed for rain but it cleared up and went on! “It was excellently received but it was terribly hot and humid” commented one cast member. “The audience was receptive and loyal because they stuck it out through the rain as well.”
Friday was fine but Saturday got cancelled – weather.
 Parts of the cast work things out while the audience literally sit in those front row seats. The working things out had to do with just which lover was with which lover. The production runs from Wednesday to the 21st. It is well worth the time to take in the event. We noticed that on opening night one of the retirement homes brought in a mall busload of people. This is quality work – don’t miss it.
Copp has argued for some time that local artists need to be given the opportunity to work where they live – they are working now at the Royal Botanical Garden.
 The play is no to be missed – the Rock Gardens are an added bonus. The Rock Garden is something you will want to tour while you are there.
It would have been nice to see the Café opened for a stretch after the play; perhaps that will happen when they get their license.
 By Pepper Parr
August 7th, 2016
BURLINTON, ON
It was a small, dignified ceremony on a lovely sunny summer afternoon at HMCS Star aboard the retired Tribal Class destroyer HMCS Haida.
There Colonel Roger Vandomm, of the French Consulate pinned a medal on the chest of Bill McConnell. The media release had Bill down as William (Bill) Basil McConnell RN (retd)
 HMS Ramillies firing all four 16 inch guns While aboard the British Battleship HMS Ramillies, Bill, as what we would call an electrician today, climbed up into the Aloft Directory of the ship to fix an electrical fitting when the four 16 inch guns of the battleship roared.
Bill was not able to put his hands over his ears because, as he put it, “you can’t cover both ears, hold the ladder and your tool kit at the same time”. He was instantly deafened, completely in on ear and seriously in the other.
Battleships were huge ships and carried four 16 inch guns that sometimes were fired so often that the paint burned off the barrels. We rattle off that phrase “16 inch guns” quickly when we are talking about a big bullet that measures more than a foot wide.
The roar of the shell coming out of a barrel, four of them at the same time, pushes that battle ship sideways.
The guns had huge range and required a crew of gunners, fitters and electrical types to maintain it. Bill was one of the electrical type, known then as an electrical artificers,
Bill joined the navy at the age of 11. He was at the Royal Hospital School, which was part of the British Navy at the time. It was basically a boarding school where the students wore uniforms. The students got seven weeks of vacation each year. Bill’s father was a Gunnery Chief Petty Officer, these were tough men.
Bill served on a number of ships – the one that he served on the longest was HMS Ramillies, a First World War battleship that was deemed to be good enough to put to sea.
The electrical types were seen as better educated than other ratings – thus when it was clear there was going to be a war in 1938, Bill found himself doing paperwork related to reserve naval types being called up. It was a situation where 15 year old boys were doing the paper work that brought men, some 60 years of age, back into the service.
 HMS Ramillies was part of the naval support on DDay. She was tasked with taking out German guns at Benneville shown on the far right. They needed just 80 minutes to destroy most of the German guns Ramillies was part of the D Day landing in June of 1944. She was to use her big guns to take out a German battery with six 6” guns at Beneville, France to the east end of Sword Beach. The Ramillies took out four of those gun batteries in 80 minutes. The British shells coming in meant the Germans had to do their best to return fire and were not able to train their guns on the troops landing on the beaches.
It was during this battle that Bill had to go aloft to the Aloft Director to repair some electrical equipment. The Aloft Director is the station high up on the ship that was used for observation.
The Allied landings on the Beaches of Normandy France were ferocious battles; thousands of men were lost. It was however the battle that turned the tide and the beginning of the Liberation of France.
 Legion d’Honneur awarded by the President of the republic of France. On the 70th Anniversary of the war ending the French government decided to make anyone who was involved in the landings a member of the Legion d’Honneur – the Legion of Honour.
During the ceremony on Sunday Colonel Vandomm read a document that said: “By order of the President of the Republic of France, you have been awarded the rank of Knight of the French National Order of the Legion of Honour.
 Chief Petty Officer William Basil McConnell being awarded the French Legion of Honour by Colonel Roger Vandomm. The smile of appreciation on the Colonel’s face told the story.
“This distinction, the highest national order of France, illustrates the profound gratitude France would like to express to you in recognition of your personal involvement of the liberation of our country during World War II.”
Bill kept his eyes closed for much of the presentation – no doubt recalling the roar of those guns and the huge risk he was under.
While the guns were blazing three torpedoes sped past the battleship – two on one side, one on the other.
Bill stayed in the Navy after the war and left in 1953 after fifteen years of service.
His skills were quickly put to use as he worked for the next sixteen years in the development, installation and acceptance testing of guns and missile controls.
While on a vacation to Canada he found a job working on the “Sea Sparrow” missile control systems for the Canadian DDH280 destroyers.
Bill moved from working on ships to becoming part of the team that established sites, did equipment installation, commissioning and acceptance trials for the Anik geostationary satellite TV receive and telephone transreceiver stations in the far north and the Maritimes.
In 1977Bill joined the Canadian Department of Communications doing sub contract work for the Hermes satellite operations group,
In 1986 he was part of the Canadian Astronautics organization that designed and assembled high gain extendable array antennas.
After overseeing the construction of three satellite receiving stations in Goose Bay, Labrador, Churchill and Edmonton Bill returned to retirement.
He spent several years travelling and then spent eight years in a French Canadian farming village.
He moved to Burlington in 2008 to be nearer his only Canadian relative.
 Bill McConnell, speaking to an audience after being made a Knight of the French Legion of Honour. He was aboard HMCS Haida in Hamilton. Burlington MP Karina Gould and Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring took part in th ceremony. As a 93 year old Royal Navy retired Chief Petty Officer, William Basil McConnell climbed the steps of the gangway to board HMCS Haida where he was made a Knight of the French Legion of Honour.
A long way from his experience as an 11 years old Electrical Artificer.
By Pepper Parr
August 7, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
They are going down like ten pins at a bowling alley.
The bottom three teams in the Inter County Baseball League may not win as much as a single game in the quarter finals the way the games are going so far.
 The Barrie Baycats inched closer to the second round of playoffs with a 14-4 win over the Burlington Bandits at home Sunday night.
Barrie leads the best-of-seven quarter-final 3-0.
Jeff Cowan had four of the Baycats’ 17 hits and also drove in a run and scored four times. Glenn Jackson had three hits, four RBI and two runs, Branfy Infante singled, doubled and drove in two while scoring twice, Ryan Spataro singled and tripled and had four RBI, Jordan Castaldo had two hits and two runs, Kyle DeGrace had an RBI, and Conner Morro had a single, RBI and run.
Adam Rowe (1-0) threw six shutout innings and scattered five hits with three walks and seven strikeouts.
For Burlington, Matt McCue had two RBI, and Robert Tavone drove in a run. Justin Gideon singled three times and scored once, and Nolan Pettipiece had two hits and a run.
Christian Hauck (0-1) went five innings and allowed eight runs (three earned) on 10 hits with two walks and no strikeouts.
In London the Majors moved one win from the semifinal after an 8-5 victory over the Guelph Royals Sunday afternoon.
London leads the best-of-seven quarter-final 3-0 and can wrap up the series on the road Tuesday.
Byron Reichstein had three of the Majors’ nine hits and drove in three runs while scoring once. Cleveland Brownlee had two RBI, Carloa Arteaga drove in a run and scored once, and Keith Kandel and Humberto Ruiz each had a hit and two runs.
Owen Boon (1-0) went five innings for the win, giving up two runs on seven hits, striking out four and walking two.
Ben Runyon picked up the last seven outs for the save, giving up two runs on three hits with a pair of strikeouts.
Matt Schmidt and Keegan Marsden each had two run home runs for the Royals. Marsden added an RBI single. Chandler McLaren singled four times and scored once, and Aaron Loder picked up a pair of hits.
Daniel Marquez (0-1) took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits over 5.2 innings, walking six and striking out one.
In Toronto, Brandon Dailey hit three home runs and drove in four to lead the Brantford Red Sox past the Toronto Maple Leafs Sunday afternoon.
Dailey homered to lead off the third inning and added a solo home run in the seventh and a two-run shot in the eighth as the Red Sox won 16-6 to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven quarter-final.
Ricky Murray singled, homered and drove in three, while Benjamin Bostick doubled, tripled and had four RBI and two runs. Chris Dennis drove in a pair of runs, Jeff Hunt added three hits, two RBI and two runs, Tyler Patzalek singled twice and had an RBI and run, Josh McCurdy had two hits and one run, and Nic Burdett singled, doubled and scored three times.
Jonathan Joseph went five innings for the win, allowing five runs on eight hits. Joseph struck out eight without issuing a walk.
Jonathan Solazzo had a two-run home run to pace the Leafs’ offence. Jon Waltenbury picked up three hits, two RBI and a run, Justin Marra singled, doubled and drove in two, Sean Mattson had three hits and a run, and Brendan Keys singled, doubled and scored once.
Marek Deska (0-1) lasted 3.2 innings and gave up six runs on eight hits with a strikeout.
While in Kitchener the Panthers beat the Hamilton Cardinals as Tanner Nivins continued his torrid start to the playoffs, hitting two home runs to lead the Kitchener Panthers to a 17-7 win over the Hamilton Cardinals Sunday night.
Kitchener leads the best-of-seven quarter-final 3-0.
Both of Nivins’ home runs were solo shots, and he now has four in three games. The Panthers leadoff hitter added a single to bump his average to .615 and also scored four runs. Mike Gordner had four singles, five RBI and a run, David Whiteside singled, doubled, scored three times and drove in two, Terrell Alliman had three hits, an RBI and run, Frank Camilo Morejon went 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs, and Luke Baker had an RBI and scored once.
Matt McGovern (1-0) went five innings for the win, giving up six runs on five hits, striking out three and walking two.
For Hamilton, Liam Wilson, TJ Baker and Callum Murphy all homered. Wilson finished with three hits, two RBI and two runs, Baker’s blast was a three-run shot, and Murphy’s home run was solo. Dre Celestijn had two hits and two runs.
Rhys Tapper (0-1) took the loss, allowing eight runs on seven hits over 3.2 innings. Tapper walked six and didn’t record a strikeout.
 2016 IBL quarter-finals
Series A
(1) London Majors vs (8) Guelph Royals
London leads series 3-0
Game 1: London 9, Guelph 4
Game 2: London 10, Guelph 0
Game 3: London 8, Guelph 5
Game 4: Tuesday, Aug. 9 at Guelph; 7:30 p.m.
*Game 5: Thursday, Aug. 11 at London; 7:35 p.m.
*Game 6: Friday, Aug. 12 at Guelph; 7:30 p.m.
*Game 7: Saturday, Aug. 13 at London; 7:35 p.m.
Series B
(2) Kitchener Panthers vs. (7)
Hamilton Cardinals Kitchener leads series 3-0
Game 1: Kitchener 12, Hamilton 6
Game 2: Kitchener 6, Hamilton 2
Game 3: Kitchener 17, Hamilton 7
Game 4: Tuesday, Aug. 9 at Hamilton; 7:30 p.m.
*Game 5: Thursday, Aug. 11 at Kitchener; 7:30 p.m.
*Game 6: Friday, Aug. 12 at Hamilton; 7:30 p.m.
*Game 7: Saturday, Aug. 13 at Kitchener; 7 p.m.
Series C
(3) Barrie Baycats vs. (6)
Burlington Bandits Barrie leads series 3-0
Game 1: Barrie 6, Burlington 1
Game 2: Barrie 7, Burlington 3
Game 3: Barrie 14, Burlington 4
Game 4: Tuesday, Aug. 9 at Burlington; 7:30 p.m.
*Game 5: Thursday, Aug. 11 at Barrie; 7:30 p.m.
*Game 6: Friday, Aug. 12 at Burlington; 7:30 p.m.
*Game 7: Saturday, Aug. 13 at Barrie; 7:30 p.m.
Series D
(4) Brantford Red Sox vs. (5) Toronto Maple Leafs
Brantford leads series 2-1
Game 1: Brantford 9, Toronto 8 (10 innings)
Game 2: Toronto 6, Hamilton 5
Game 3: Brantford 16, Toronto 6
Game 4: Wednesday, Aug. 10 at Brantford; 8 p.m.
*Game 5: Friday, Aug. 12 at Brantford; 8 p.m.
*Game 6: Saturday, Aug. 13 at Toronto; TBD
*Game 7: Sunday, Aug. 14 at Brantford; 8 p.m.
By Staff
August 5th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The bats of the Burlington Bandits were quiet Friday night
In London the Majors took the Guelph Royals in a 9-4 win.
Elis Jimenez struck out nine in seven innings to lead the first-place London Majors to a 9-4 win over the Guelph Royals in Game 1 of their best-of-seven quarter-final Friday night.
Jimenez (1-0) allowed three runs on seven hits and walked one.
At the plate, Chris McQueen had two hits, two RBI and three runs. RJ Fuhr singled, doubled and had an RBI and run, Byron Reichstein singled twice and drove in two, Michael Ambrose drilled a solo home run, Carlos Arteaga and Cleveland Brownlee each had an RBI, while LeJon Baker and Keith Kandel had two hits and a run apiece.
Eight of nine batters had at least one hit.
For eighth-place Guelph, Santino Silvestri, Matt Schmidt and Trevor Nyp all had a single and RBI. Patrick Coughlin drove in a run, and Aaron Loder added two hits and a run.
Alberto Rodriguez (0-1) took the loss, giving up six runs (five earned) on nine hits in 4.2 innings, walking three and striking out three.
2016 IBL quarter-finals
Series A
(1) London Majors vs (8) Guelph Royals
London leads series 1-0
Game 1: London 9, Guelph 4
Game 2: Saturday, Aug. 6 at Guelph; 7:30 p.m.
Game 3: Sunday, Aug. 7 at London; 1:05 p.m.
Game 4: Tuesday, Aug. 9 at Guelph; 7:30 p.m.
*Game 5: Thursday, Aug. 11 at London; 7:35 p.m.
*Game 6: Friday, Aug. 12 at Guelph; 7:30 p.m.
*Game 7: Saturday, Aug. 13 at London; 7:35 p.m.
Series B
(2) Kitchener Panthers vs. (7) Hamilton Cardinals
Kitchener leads series 1-0
Game 1: Kitchener 12, Hamilton 6
Game 2: Saturday, Aug. 6 at Hamilton; 7:30 p.m.
Game 3: Sunday, Aug. 7 at Kitchener; 7 p.m.
Game 4: Tuesday, Aug. 9 at Hamilton; 7:30 p.m.
*Game 5: Thursday, Aug. 11 at Kitchener; 7:30 p.m.
*Game 6: Friday, Aug. 12 at Hamilton; 7:30 p.m.
*Game 7: Saturday, Aug. 13 at Kitchener; 7 p.m.
Series C
(3) Barrie Baycats vs. (6)Burlington Bandits
Barrie leads series 1-0
Game 1: Barrie 6, Burlington 1
Game 2: Saturday, Aug. 6 at Burlington; 7:05 p.m.
Game 3: Sunday, Aug. 7 at Barrie; 7 p.m.
Game 4: Tuesday, Aug. 9 at Burlington; 7:30 p.m.
*Game 5: Thursday, Aug. 11 at Barrie; 7:30 p.m.
*Game 6: Friday, Aug. 12 at Burlington; 7:30 p.m.
*Game 7: Saturday, Aug. 13 at Barrie; 7:30 p.m.
Series D
(4) Brantford Red Sox vs. (5)
Toronto Maple Leafs Series tied 1-1
Game 1: Brantford 9, Toronto 8 (10 innings)
Game 2: Toronto 6, Hamilton 5
Game 3: Sunday, Aug. 7 at Toronto; 2 p.m.
Game 4: Wednesday, Aug. 10 at Brantford; 8 p.m.
*Game 5: Friday, Aug. 12 at Brantford; 8 p.m.
*Game 6: Saturday, Aug. 13 at Toronto; TBD *Game 7: Sunday, Aug. 14 at Brantford; 8 p.m.
 By Staff
August 5, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Might be a little early to make solid plans – but you could pencil this one in as a possible – the city is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Children’s Festival on Sunday, August 21 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Spencer Smith Park.
 As they get a little older – they are ready for bigger challenges. This group works there way through a children’s obstacle course. “We are hosting a huge birthday party for children of all ages to help mark this special occasion,” said Chris Glenn, the city’s director of parks and recreation. “This festival is consistently named as one of the Top 100 festivals and events in Ontario and is the perfect opportunity for families to get out, be active and enjoy some time together at Burlington’s beautiful waterfront.”
Presented by Rocca Sisters and Associates, the theme of this year’s festival is a birthday party. Children at the event can enjoy a number of activities and shows on the main stage, presented by Family Jr.:
 Kids + water = fun and noise – all part of a day in the park. • Main stage shows with Interactive DJ, Isabella Hoops, Mega Magic and Mystic Drumz
• Meet the characters from Paw Patrol and Star Wars from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m
• Roaming entertainment with Jungle Jack, Nick’s Juggling Family, CLaroL the CLown and stilt walkers
• Face painting and balloon animals
• Crafts
• Inflatables
• Kids’ marketplace
• Play zones
Admission to this accessible event is free. Consider walking or riding a bike to the festival.
 By Pepper Parr
August 4th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
Once you’ve taken in the Jazz event Friday evening at the Performing arts Centre, at which Brian Dean, chief honcho for the Downtown Business Association will be MC – you might want to mosey on over to the same location and try Intersection Dance.
And what, you might ask is that? Intersection Dance is an open air celebration of dance for all! Each event will be part performance and part dance lesson. Come and see incredible dance in a summer setting and learn some moves from the artists.
Saturday, August 6 from 3:00pm – 4:30pm on the Plaza at 440 Locust Street
 One of the most impressive free form dancers we have seen will be leading the group through an original dance piece being created for the by Lisa Emmons, Artistic Director of Form Contemporary Dance Theatre.
You will get to see the work in progress. Lisa will be collaborating with a collective of dancers representing three communities: Burlington, Milton and Oakville. After the performance the collective will receive “notes” and invite the audience to comment or make suggestions. These ideas will be considered as the piece is finalized for performances during Culture Days in the fall.
They will certainly be animating Locust Street Saturday afternoon.
 By Pepper Parr
August 3rd, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It will take place – right here in Burlington – a simulcast of the CBC broadcast of the last stop on the farewell tour of the Tragically Hip band; an event that is pregnant with the knowledge that Gord Downie, the band leader lives with an incurable brain cancer.
The Hip resonated with a certain demographic – they were our band and they spoke our language and we believed that like the Rolling stones they would go on forever.
 He is giving it everything he’s got – and then some! But it isn’t going to work out that way. The last song that is played on the simulcast will bring tears to the eyes of many – probably most.
While the tears might be part of a life experience, what is really necessary is a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society.
The Burlington Downtown Business Association, which has been a large part of the driving force behind getting the broadcast to Burlington, where it will be put up on huge screen in Spencer Smith Park, have set up an account at the Royal Bank of Canada Branch downtown at Lakeshore and Pearl.
It is a “deposit only” account; funds collected will be equally divided between JBH Foundation (in support of the Hospital’s cancer care clinic” and The Halton chapter of the Canadian Cancer Society (focusing on education and prevention).
 Gord Downie – The Tragically Hip The event is going to be bitter sweet – there will be a man on the stage suffering. The disease that is eating away at his brain is at this point in time incurable. Cancer treatment has come a long way in the past decade – basically because of the continuing ongoing research – which costs a lot of money.
You get a chance to put your money where your heart is going to be on August 20th. Just walk into the Royal Bank and make a donation. The account and transit number is set out below. Just do it.
Account # 100-427-4
Transit # 00622
The BDBA is working quickly to establish a tool for online donations as well. The Gazette will publish those details as soon as they are available.
By Jim Riley
July 19th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Lowville Festival will again be presenting superb musical and theatrical experiences for audiences old and young in north Burlington’s majestic Escarpment country.
 Rob Missen and Loretta Bailey on stage at the first Lowville Festival. The inaugural Lowville Festival in July 2015 was such a success that Co-Artistic Directors Robert Missen, Lorretta Bailey and Barbara Anderson-Huget decided to make it into an annual event. This year’s festival will again feature some of Burlington and region’s finest performing artists.
The Lowville Festival defines itself as “a festival of all the arts for the artist in all of us”. The ultimate aim is not only to feature all of the performing, visual and literary arts, but to provide opportunities for audiences to participate in the creative process. To that end, local singers were invited to join the Lowville Festival Choir, which will appear in the opening concert.
Patrons of the Folkies’ Choice concert will be invited to choose which of the featured songwriters should be saluted in a 2017 concert.
And children will have an opportunity to participate in a workshop with the nationally acclaimed Dufflebag Theatre.
The 2016 festival begins Friday July 22nd with a concert at St. George’s Hall at the Anglican Church – Music for a summer night – Classic and Classical. The concert will feature superb artists in performances of classical, jazz, musical theatre, cabaret, pop and crossover music.
These include Burlington’s Charles Cozens, Renee Barabash, Trevor Copp, Robert Missen and Lorretta Bailey, Guelph’ s James Gordon and Toronto’s David Warrack. A highlight will be an appearance by the Lowville Festival Choir under the direction of Hamilton-born Wayne Strongman, former conductor of the Bach-Elgar Choir.
 Lowville School House is the venue for the Children’s Workshop and Robin Hood production. Saturday’s daytime activities will take place in Lowville’s Old Schoolhouse, a limestone edifice located right in the centre of the hamlet of Lowville. Dufflebag Theatre, the popular kids theatre company from London, Ontario, will present a performance of Robin Hood. Prior to the performance there will be a workshop.
 Stuart Laughton – with one of his many horns will be playing at the Lowville United Church on Saturday. Lowville United Church will play host on Saturday night to Folkies’ Delight: The Best of the Singer song Writers. Burlington’s Andy Griffiths and Stuart Laughton, Hamilton’s Jude Johnson and Carl Horton, Dundas’s Ariel Rogers and Toronto’s Paul Novotny will offer a tribute to eight great songwriters- Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, Buffy Ste. Marie, Cat Stevens, Carole King, Leonard Cohen and Stan Rogers.
The festival finale, to be presented at Lowville United Church in the afternoon of Sunday July 24th, is Love Letters , A. R. Gurney’s popular two-character play. The performance, which features Lorretta Bailey and Eric Trask, nationally renowned actors resident in Lowville who also happen to be husband and wife, will be a fundraiser for the festival.
 The choir has grown to more than 60 voices – Friday at St; George Hall at the Anglican church on Guelph Line and Dundas. The Lowville Festival is the vision of two Burlington performing artists, Lorretta Bailey, a Lowville resident, who has performed in musical theatre productions across Canada, including the original Toronto production of Les Miserables, and Robert Missen, proprietor of the Bobolink Agency, one of the country’s pre-eminent artist management companies, who was the 2016 inductee into the Burlington Performing Arts Centre Hall of Fame. They have been joined by Barbara Anderson-Huget, and former Managing Director of the Guelph Jazz Festival and Executive Director of CARFAC Ontario, the association of visual artists.
Online tickets available at Snapped:
A FESTIVAL OF ALL THE ARTS FOR THE ARTIST IN ALL OF US – JULY 22-24, 2016
Friday, July 22; 7:30pm
Music for a Summer Night – Classic and Classical
St. George’s Church Hall
$25 online (advance) $30 at the door;
Saturday, July 23; 2:00pm
Workshop for Children with Dufflebag Theatre Company
Old Lowville Schoolhouse
$25 for both workshop & show
3:00pm
Robin Hood by Dufflebag Theatre
Old Lowville Schoolhouse
$15
Saturday, July 23; 7:30pm
Folkies’ Delight: The Best of The Singer/Songwriters
Lowville United Church
$25 advance (online); $30 at the door
Sunday, July 24; 3:00pm
Love Letters by A. R. Gurney
Lowville United Church
$25 online (advance); $30 at the door
The Festival is using the Snap’d service for ticket sales. Tickets are available on line
There is an “all shows” package for $70 – pretty good value.
 By Pepper Parr
July 15th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
There is something fun about musicals – they always start with a burst of energy and you know you are going to be entertained.
As the actors and actresses take to the stage you wonder how they are going to portray their character, more than often there is a surprise or two.
Thursday night the KooGle Theatre Company opened “The 25thAnnuual Putnam County Spelling Bee” with a cast of nine supplemented by four members of the audience who volunteered to be part of the spelling bee.
Their names weren’t provided but the woman who was asked to spell “cow” did not expect to be on her knees on the stage with Muscle bound Mitch Mahoney, played by Giovanni Spina, as he comforted her when she failed to spell a word.
The audience didn’t expect to see Jesus in the balcony either as he spoke to one of the players. It was that kind of night.
 The cast on stage taking questions from the audience. First night was SOLD OUT – as are many of the seven day run performances. Mark Allan, playing Leaf Coneybear, didn’t really know how to spell but had a “divining rod” that took over his mind and his body as he blurted out the letters to words he didn’t even understand. He was the nut case who turned in a funny performance of a whimsical character.
The chair of the Spelling Bee – she was winner in the 3rd Annual Putnam County event, stroked the microphone stand in a way that said much more than she perhaps wanted to convey. Cara Pantalone, playing Rona Lisa Perretti was that busy, supressed personality that runs the show – she sold real estate.
The awkward teenage Boy Scout, played by Daniel Spragge, who had let himself slip into a day dream of some wished for girl in his life that produced an erection he was not able to hide was one of the funnier characters on the stage.
I had the pleasure of sitting between Deb Tymstra and Loretta Bailey in the balcony and will not forget the Bailey laugh, it came from deep in her throat, she was thoroughly enjoying the Boy Scout and his predicament. Baily once played a leading role in Les Miserable in Toronto and will be performing at the Lowville Festival on the 24th of July.
The contest judge, played by Christopher Gray, did explain and apologized for the “unfortunate incident” that required him to bow out of the judge job in a previous spelling bee. He assured his audience that he had worked on his problem.
The performance program describes the cast as six quirky adolescents and the three equally quirky grown up who reveal pasts that are at times hilarious and poignant.
Marcy Park, played by Laura Caswell, was waiting for her Dad who had her contest entrance fee, did a superb performance as she sang in a very plaintive voice the words “Mama – chanti” as the Mother who had been in an ashram in India and the Father who didn’t always show up stood on either side looking away from their child.
Her blossoming affection for William Barfee, played by Niko Combitsis, was tender, touching and for this reviewer, stole the show. Mary Park won the hearts of the audience and the Spelling Bee trophy as well.
Barfee was certainly the strongest character on the stage who did a short tap dance, a skill he began to acquire in January. How his dancing and spelling go together is something you are going to have to see to fully appreciate.
Olive Ostrovsky, who spoke six languages, was played by Shaina Silver-Baird who came to the conclusion that wining was perhaps not all it was cracked up to be and left the stage on the back of muscle bound Mitch.
 One of the four volunteer contestants in the Spelling Bee returned to the stage for his bib. They had a lot of fun. Leslie Kay and Christopher Gray performed well – KooGle is their theatre company and it was their efforts and energy that brought the play to the stage of the Community Studio. Christopher has this capacity to expand the character he is playing with small deft movements that convey much more than the words he speak. There is a tightness to the man that works well; not controlled but very evident. He is to be appreciated.
The Performing Arts Centre is a superb location – we are fortunate to have the place. The Spelling Bee – try it – light summer fare that is worth the time. If you are one of those brave souls with a sense of adventure – sign up to be a contestant – there are four spots available for each performance.
They were sold out their opening night and are sold out for several of the seven day run which is: July 14th to 16th and July 21st to 23rd at 7:30 pm in the Community Theatre. The play also runs at 2:00 pm from July 17th to 24th.
By Pepper Parr
July 9th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It was the second downtown car show for Ron Baker – and it turned out to be better than the first held last year.
There were more cars registered – 150 this year. The streets were just as crowded and there appeared to be a lot of entries that weren’t seen last year.
 The cars took over Brant street – they were there for people to look at and talk about. At a city council meting sometime ago Councillor Taylor once said that the city would be a more vibrant place is Brant Street were converted to just pedestrians – it was just people walking wherever they wanted Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm – as vibrant as we’ve seen it and the merchants were doing just fine.
 The boys liked the look of the inside of this one. Baker has attached a name to the event: Past, present and future – the future being the electric cars that people could take for a test drive. There wasn’t a final count but they were at the 50 + level when we left for the day.
Burlington Greens Amy Schnarr had hoped to take one of the electric cars for a spin – they drove to city hall on their bikes and realized they didn’t have their driver’s licenses. Amy did say that she had her credit card with her but got that look from her husband – so they weren’t buying.
 A hot rod getting a careful once over from a passer-by.  An oldy but a goldy – getting a closer look while fond memories take over.  Burlington once had a police car that looked something like this.  It was the Ford model T that started it all. There were no cars for sale – the occasion was to look at what was being offered in the way of electric cars that are referred to as EV’s
The crowds around the electric cars were the kind of thing car dealership sales people die for – and the crowds were certainly in that tire kicking mood.
People were at that stage where they were making decisions and looking at different models.
 Luxury defined – if you owned one of these you were definitely wealthy. City councillor John Taylor had the use of a Mercedes Benz electric i3 for a week and he was delighted. He drove out to have dinner with his son in the electric car, the experience John had was not the experience his wife Kathy had during the drive. “She was having range anxiety.” But later in the day Taylor was seen taking a test drive in a different electric car. It will be interesting to see what Taylor does next.
There were 80 test drives done in a variety of electric vehicles (including the Mitsubishi iMiEV and Outlander PHEV, Nissan Leaf, Ford C-Max Energi, Fusion Energi, Focus EV, Chevy Volt and BMW i3).
Not one accident.
There were additional rides offered by Eco-Limo in a Tesla Model S!
The people who are deeply involved in this change of automotive technology we are going through can see and understand how the public is coming around. Dan Guatto at Burlington Hydro has the task of ensuring that Burlington Hydro has the infrastructure that is going to be needed in place so that those electric cards can have their batteries charged.
 Locust Street lined with electric cars. Some of the automotive people selling internal combustion engines appear to be hanging on to their old business model which is getting less sustainable by the month.
Baker mentioned a number of corporate groups that are now loaning their cars for demonstration drives. “We are not at the tipping point yet” said Baker. Quaddro agreed adding that everyone who is now under 40 will be driving an electric car in the not too distant future.
The range of the electric cars is getting better and better.
 She likes it – he wants it. For those short trips around town – an EV is the best choice one can make added Baker. For those few occasions when a really long drive is being taken – the bigger cars are the answer. How many long drives does the average family take? Not enough to justify that big eight cylinder engine.
 Ron Baker – organized the event along with the Lions Club. Baker has plans to grow the Car show – next year he hopes to have a section that will include EV trucks. Seeing the vehicles on the street is a large part of the shift from the internal combustion engine to the close to soundless electric car. What the public needs to know is how they can be assured that there will always be a place where they can charge their car.
Burlington Hydro has a large education project ahead of them. Might we see that next year?
By Staff
July 9th, 2016
Burlington, ON
IBL games rained out.
Rain forced the postponement of two IBL games Friday night. London was hosting Burlington and Guelph was in Brantford. Make-up dates have not been announced. Panthers double Cardinals
It didn’t rain in Hamilton but the bats of the Kitchener Panthers racked up 17 hits in a 14-7 win over the Hamilton Cardinals Friday night.
 Justin Interisano had three of those hits, including a home run, and added three RBI and three runs. Sean Reilly hit his 11th home run of the season and 156th of his IBL career. He drove in three and scored four times. David Whiteside went 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs. Mike Gordner added three hits, two RBI and a run, while Frank Camilo Morejon drove in a pair of runs.
Terrell Alliman had a single RBI, and Tanner Nivins singled three times and scored twice.
Mitch Clarke (1-0) picked up the win after giving up five runs (four earned) on nine hits over five innings, striking out four without issuing a walk.
Second-place Kitchener improved to 18-6 and trails London by a game for first place.
Liam Wilson went 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs to lead the Cardinals, who fell to 6-21.
Tyler Hardie and Dre Celestijn each had two hits and an RBI, and Chris Beer drove in a run.
Robert Wilson (1-4) lasted an inning and gave up seven runs on seven hits with a pair of walks.
Future games
Saturday, July 9
Barrie at Burlington, 1 p.m.
Toronto at Guelph, 7:30 p.m.
Kitchener at Brantford, 8 p.m.
Sunday, July 10
Guelph at Toronto, 2 p.m.
Hamilton at Barrie, 7 p.m.
London at Kitchener, 7 p.m.
 By Staff
July 6th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
On Saturday July 9, 2016, Brant Street will be closed from Lakeshore Road to Caroline Street from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. for the Downtown Car Show.
Routes 3 and 5 will not service that portion of Brant Street.
For service in this area passengers should move to north of Caroline Street or to the Downtown/John Street Terminal.
 Brant Street gets turned over the the car – parked cars.
By Staff
July 4th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It’s that time of year again!
More than 45 dragon boat teams will paddle competitively to raise funds to further the protection of Hamilton Harbour.
July 9th, dragon boat races will run all day at Bayfront Park starting at 8 a.m.
 Several of the 45 dragon boats that will compete on Saturday. BARC’s Harbour Huggers team needs you to cheer us on and pledge our paddlers!
All funds raised in support of the Bay Area Restoration Council and the remediation of Hamilton Harbour.
Does Burlington have a boat in this race?
By Staff
July 4th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Second Annual Burlington Downtown Car Show with vehicles on display along Brant Street and Elgin Street takes place on Saturday July 9th.
This year, the theme is Past, Present and Future which brings us from 19th Century steam engines, through muscle cars to the electric car – the future.
 BurlingtonGreen is participating along with others concerned about reducing climate change.
Plug’n Drive will have electric vehicles on display and available for free test drives, providing a great opportunity for some lucky event guests to experience the ride and features of an electric vehicle.
 The Golden Horseshoe Electric Vehicle Association (GHEVA) members will be available to talk about their personal experiences.
If you think batteries don’t last and are expensive, drop by our booth and talk to Jim Feilders about his 11 year old Prius Hybrid. It’s still going strong with no battery issues!
By Pepper Parr
June 29, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Is this a friendly visit?
Are we looking at three animals getting to know one another?
The dog is perhaps curious but the hunch in the shoulders of those two crows tells a different story.
How does that story end?
The exhibit at the Art Gallery of Burlington in the Dan Lawrie Family Courtyard until September 25th is well worth a visit.
 The approach – who springs up and out first? You will want to ponder the three pieces and wonder – perhaps the friendly posture of the dog will change the intent of the crows.
Does the artist, Mary Philpott, tip her hand with the title of the exhibit: A Murder of Crows.
 Has the dog figured it out? This isn’t a friendly visit is it? Mary Philpott, a noted functional potter whose work has been inspired by Neo-Gothic architecture and William Morris’ Arts and Craft movement, has in recent years taken her decorative motifs of animals and birds and transformed them into live-sized three dimensional sculptures, a perfect synthesis of nature and style set in our garden courtyard.
Inspired by the colour, narration and design of medieval illuminated books, tapestries and architecture, Philpott’s work explores the story of flora and fauna in her surrounding landscape. At her studio, Verdant Tile Co., she designs custom pressed tile in porcelain. The animals and birds depicted in her tiles are frequently referenced in her sculptural pieces.
 Wary eyes – the posture the artist has given each animal is filled with suspense. In addition to receiving a BFA in Art History and Archaeology at the University of Guelph, Philpott is a graduate of the Ceramics and Design program at the School of Craft and Design at Sheridan College. She has also studied Anthropology and Archaeology at McMaster University, and Ceramics Intensives at Alfred University in New York.
She is the 2015 recipient of the Helen Copeland Award from Craft Ontario for an established artist working in her field.
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