 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 5th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Our political correspondent, Ray Rivers, is working up a pair of articles on the United States presidential race and comparing the situation down there with how our democracy is working in Canada.
 When Rivers writes, as publisher he and I trade notes and thoughts on the direction his thinking is taking. My role is to support the writer. As I was reading through my own sources I came across a book On Bullshit, by Harry G. Frankfurt, a professor of philosophy emeritus at Princeton University and recognized as one of the world’s most influential moral philosophers
Here is what he has to say on that subject:
“One of the most salient features of our culture is that there is so much bullshit. Everyone knows this. Each of us contributes his share. But we tend to take the situation for granted. Most people are rather confident of their ability to recognize bullshit and to avoid being taken in by it. So the phenomenon has not aroused much deliberate concern. We have no clear understanding of what bullshit is, why there is so much of it, or what functions it serves. And we lack a conscientiously developed appreciation of what it means to us. In other words, as Harry Frankfurt writes, “we have no theory.”
Fareed Zakaria, writing in the Washington Post said: “Frankfurt, one of the world’s most influential moral philosophers, attempts to build such a theory here. With his characteristic combination of philosophical acuity, psychological insight, and wry humor, Frankfurt proceeds by exploring how bullshit and the related concept of humbug are distinct from lying. He argues that bullshitters misrepresent themselves to their audience not as liars do, that is, by deliberately making false claims about what is true. In fact, bullshit need not be untrue at all.
“Rather, bullshitters seek to convey a certain impression of themselves without being concerned about whether anything at all is true. They quietly change the rules governing their end of the conversation so that claims about truth and falsity are irrelevant. Frankfurt concludes that although bullshit can take many innocent forms, excessive indulgence in it can eventually undermine the practitioner’s capacity to tell the truth in a way that lying does not. Liars at least acknowledge that it matters what is true. By virtue of this, Frankfurt writes, bullshit is a greater enemy of the truth than lies are.”
This viewpoint and the role bullshit plays in our political lives at every level is not limited to the United States.
The book was a New York Times #1 Best Seller. No bullshit!
By Staff
August 5th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Bandits lost the first game of a seven game quarter finals series. The Barrie Baycats took the game 6-1.
Jeff Cowan singled and drove in three for Barrie, which leads the best-of-seven quarter-final 1-0. Kyle DeGrace doubled, scored once and had an RBI, Jordan Castaldo had two hits and scored twice, and Steve Lewis added an RBI.
Emilis Guerrero (1-0) went eight innings for the win, allowing one run on five hits, striking out three and walking one.
Nolan Pettipiece had a sacrifice fly for the Bandits and picked up one of five hits. Robert Tavone singled and scored.
Ryan Beckett (0-1) went 6.2 innings and allowed five runs on five hits, walking five and striking out two.
In Kitchener the Panthers won over the Hamilton Cardinals in that first-round playoff series with a 12-6 win Thursday night.
Tanner Nivins, Jonathan Brouse and Sean Reilly all homered in the victory. Nivins added a single, double, two RBI and two runs, and Reilly also doubled and scored twice. Brouse’s home run was solo.
Mike Gordner singled, doubled and drove in two runs, Frank Camilo Morejon had two hits, two runs and an RBI, Justin Interisano singled and scored twice, and Mike Glinka and Mike Andrulis each drove in a run.
Ian Rendon (1-0) went six innings for the win, allowing two runs on six hits, striking out eight and walking four.
For the Cardinals, Chris Beer had two hits, two RBI and two runs. Liam Wilson singled three times and drove in a run, Geoffrey Soto had two hits and an RBI, Tyler Hardie went 3-for-5 with a run, Lake Molleson singled, doubled and had an RBI, and Jake Foden drove in a run.
Chris Lazar (0-1) went 3.2 innings, giving up nine runs (four earned) on nine hits, walking four without striking out a batter.
In Toronto the Leafs turned a dramatic loss in the first game of their series into a 6-5 win over the Brantford Red Sox.
Justin Marra singled home Dan Marra with two out in the bottom of the ninth to give the Leafs a Thursday night and tie the best-of-seven quarter-final at 1-1.
Brantford won the opener Wednesday with a walkoff in the 10th inning and started Game 2 by scoring once in the first and twice in the second for a 3-0 lead. Toronto played catch-up most of the game and finally scored twice to tie it at five in the eighth, setting up the ninth-inning rally that started with nobody on and two outs.
Ryan White singled and hit a solo home run for the Leafs. Justin Marra finished with two hits and two RBI, Dan Marra singled, doubled and scored twice, Jon Waltenbury had three hits and a run, Brendan Keys had two hits and an RBI, and Jonathan Solazzo had an RBI.
Marek Deska (1-0) threw a perfect inning of relief for the win, striking out one. Brett van Pelt started and went seven innings, allowing four runs on eight hits, striking out four and walking two.
Dan Jagdeo had a solo home run and RBI double for the Red Sox. Chris Dennis and Wayne Forman each had a hit and RBI, Nic Burdett singled, doubled and scored twice, and Benjamin Bostick had a double and two runs.
Matt Martinow (0-1) took the loss, allowing a run on three hits in 1.1 innings, walking one. Starter Riley Barr went seven innings and gave up four runs on seven hits, striking out five and walking one.
2016 IBL quarter-finals
Series A
London Majors vs Guelph Royals
Game 1: Friday, August 5 at London; 7:35 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, August 6 at Guelph; 7:30 p.m.
Game 3: Sunday, August 7 at London; 1:05 p.m.
Game 4: Tuesday, August 9 at Guelph; 7:30 p.m.
*Game 5: Thursday, August 11 at London; 7:35 p.m.
*Game 6: Friday, August 12 at Guelph; 7:30 p.m.
*Game 7: Saturday, August 13 at London; 7:35 p.m.
Series B
Kitchener Panthers vs. 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
Barrie Baycats vs. 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
Brantford Red Sox vs. 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 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 4th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
This time two years ago thousands of families in the city were scrambling to recover from a rainfall that flooded their homes while the city moved into serious damage control mode.
The rain began in the early afternoon of the August holiday, it seemed at first, like just another summer rain storm but it shut down the events at LaSalle Park where Joseph Brant Day was being celebrated.– at about 4 pm people began to realize there was a serious problem.
It was a holiday weekend and a lot of people were out of town. The Mayor was at his cottage, the acting city manager was at his cottage and out of cell phone reach. Then city general manager Scott Stewart was holding the fort and pulling in all the senior people he could find.
 The data available several weeks after the storm showed just how local it was. Tony Bavota, the fire chief, was getting reports but wasn’t experiencing as much as a drop of rain where he lived.
Underpasses were filling up with water.
 Every creek in the east end of the city broke its banks pushing branches and tree stumps that became battering rams that did major damage. The creeks on the east side of the city had burst their banks and could not manager the torrent of water that was roaring down.
Tuck Creek, Sheldon Creek along with the others in the eastern part of the had burst their banks and were doing significant damage.
There was very little in the way of media. The publisher of the Gazette was bailing water from the basement of the house he lived in.
The police at the Burlington detachment had to move all their vehicles to higher ground. Officers working at the desk had to walk on squishy floors.
The city got 191 mm of rain in just hours – most of it went looking for a place to flow – the creeks were a natural route to take.
Weeks after the event all kinds of data was available but the days of the flood and several days after that there was nothing but confusion.
 Drivers found the water rising far more rapidly than they expected – many had to abandon vehicles. The Region did move very quickly and made some short term funds available to several hundred people. The city turned to the province for help and learned about a thing called ODRAP – Ontario Disaster Relied Aid Program that called for the city to declare there was an emergency and then create a committee to raise funds locally that would be matched on a two for one basis by the province.
The program rules required the city to back away and let the local community organization handle the raising of funds.
Meanwhile the city began repairing the damage to the city infrastructure – the creeks has to be cleaned up, sidewalks that were literally lifted and moved yards down the road had to be repaired. The city was responsible for fixing the infrastructure – social services was a regional responsibility.
 Retired police officer Peter Hodgson took charge of the Red Cross effort which was to look at every home in the flood area and determine the level of damage. The Red Cross was brought in to do the immediate survey work to determine what the damage was on a house by house basis. The members of council for the east end of the city found themselves wading through basements with water up to their knees – but there wasn’t much else they could do.
The Burlington Community Foundation (BCF) was given the task of raising the funds needed and in a short 100 days raised just shy of $1 million.
 There was no missing the message – the city mobilized itself very quickly to help. There were some delicate backroom differences of opinion between the city and the province over whether or not Burlington was going to get any provincial support. Newly elected MPP Eleanor McMahon had an opportunity to deliver some choice words to her provincial government peers on what Burlington needed.
The BCF did superb work helping people fill in the appropriate forms and convince dozens of corporations to write cheques. All but one of the major banks came through big time. A major consumer products company, who shall go nameless, couldn’t find as much as a dime for the people that clog their store regularly.
 Fortinos turned their fund raising software over to the community and had their cashiers asking for donations. One of the supermarket chains made their back end computer system available for the collection of donations.
There were hundreds of small kind acts done. One woman went door to door with green garbage bags offering to take in laundry for people who had lost their washers and driers.
One citizen found some warehouse space where donated furniture could be stored for those who would need it later.
 The people of Elwood Street lined up to buy the cupcakes and the T shirts and the hot dogs to raise funds for their neighbours. One street decided to hold what they thought was going to be a small fund raiser for a senior who needed some help – the Burlington Teen Tour Band came marching up the street the day of the event bringing tears to they eyes of man.
That small street managed to raise more in the way of real cash than one of the major service clubs. The city was experiencing its citizens coming out to help.
 There wasn’t an arm that Ron Foxcroft didn’t twist to raise the close to $1 million needed in a 100 day period. Ron Foxcroft began to look like that Energizer bunny in the battery advertisements – he was everywhere chasing cheques and badgering people to add a couple of zeros to what they were giving.
What was remarkable about this natural event was that it ruined some families and at the same time people just blocks away experienced nothing.
It was like one of those tornadoes that ripped through a street, tore out five or six houses and left everything else standing. The city had never experience anything like this before.
We learned that the downspouts that took rain from the eaves troughs were pouring water into a system of pipes that couldn’t manage the flow. We leaned that those catch basis in back yards that had been covered by grass really were an important part of storm water management.
We learned that those swales between our houses were there for a purpose.
And we learned how to pull together as a community to help each other.
After some of the finest work any community organization has done – the Burlington Community Foundation did a re-branding and took the word community out of their corporate name – go figure.
By Staff
August 4, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It took 10 innings, nine pitchers and nearly five hours, but the Brantford Red Sox took Game 1 of the IBL quarter-final series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
 Dennon Koziol’s two-out single scored Chris Dennis to give the Red Sox a dramatic 9-8 win at Arnold Anderson Stadium.
The fourth-place Red Sox prevailed despite blowing a one-run lead in the top of the ninth. Toronto scored three runs and was on the verge of stealing home field, but Brantford scored twice in the bottom of the inning to send the game to extras.
Ricky Murray went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI for the Red Sox. Jeff Hunt doubled and drove in two, Josh McCurdy had two hits, an RBI and run, while Dan Jagdeo, Lee Delfino and Brandon Dailey all drove in a run. Nic Burdett singled twice and scored once.
Trevor Bayless (1-0) picked up the win, allowing three runs on five hits in two innings of relief. Bayless, who was the fourth Brantford reliever, struck out three and didn’t walk a batter.
Red Sox starter Nathan Forer went five innings and gave up five runs on 10 hits, striking out five and walking four.
Grant Tamane led the Leafs 16-hit attack with four singles. Tamane drove in two and scored three times. Sean Mattson had two hits and three RBI, Justin Marra added two hits, an RBI and run, Dan Marra singled and doubled, Connor Lewis had three singles and a run, and Jonathan Solazzo had an RBI.
Solazzo (0-1) also took the loss on the mound, yielding an unearned run on one hit in 1.2 innings. Solazzo struck out two and walked two.
Leafs starter Justin Cicatello went eight innings and gave up six runs on 10 hits, striking out four and walking three.
Game 2 is Thursday in Toronto at 7:30 p.m.
Future games:
Thursday, Aug. 4
Brantford at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
Burlington at Barrie, 7:30 p.m.
Hamilton at Kitchener, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 5
Guelph at London, 7:35 p.m.
By Pepper Parr
August 3rd, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
This story has been revised – the number of hotel rooms is closer to 300 + than 500 as originally reported.
Frank McKeown has got part of it figured out.
He is tasked with bringing corporations to the city that will employ people in high tech, high paying jobs – the sort of thing that L3 Wescam does on the North Service Road. Few people know they produce some of the best visual surveillance equipment in the world.
Here is how they tell just a part of their story.
WESCAM has an airborne portfolio of multi-sensor, multi-spectral systems that are deployed worldwide, at varying ranges, and with overlapping fields-of-view, creating the opportunity for uninterrupted surveillance of boarders, forward operating bases, airfields and other vital assets.
McKeown wants more of that kind of company here. But, he will tell you, “companies don’t just up and move every day of the week”.
 The structure on the corner is going to be a nine storey building with 150+ rooms and convention facilities. A 2018 opening date is the plan. He knows that Burlington has a great story to tell any organization thinking about a move – and the Burlington Economic Development Corporation does a darn good job of getting the story out – but there is only so much that can be done in terms of promotion.
McKeown will tell you that it is pretty much a belly to belly business. You need to be in front of the people who make the decisions – which isn’t easy.
 Tear this one down – build a new one of at least 20 stories along with a second structure close to the water and you have a small cluster of accommodation that can attract small conventions. But McKeown thinks he has an angle that will work for him and for the city.
The city has a stunning development going up along Lakeshore – the Bridgewater condominium with its 22 stories that will soar into the sky and will be part of a three tower complex that will include a four star Marriott hotel with several hundred rooms.
Yards to the west there are plans for a major redevelopment of the existing Waterfront Hotel. The thinking is for a two or three building project that will be oriented to the west with the view right along Spencer Smith Park’s Naval Promenade.
With two hotels that will have something in the order of 300 rooms and a Performing Arts Centre that can hold 700 people in its Main Theatre, Burlington is suddenly well positioned to become a small convention destination.
 Frank McKeown, former Chief of Staff to Mayor Rick Goldring is now the Executive Director of the Burlington Economic Development Corporation. Making this work for the city will mean a total transformation of the current Tourism office operation. More selling power on the team – and then getting out there and learning who is holding their convention when and making a pitch for their business.
Burlington has a very unique story to tell and a lovely setting.
 A great locale for small convention events – has the Performing Arts Centre team begun to think how they will work with the Tourism office and the two new hotels we will have within five years? That Marriott hotel isn’t open yet but it isn’t too early to start pitching for that convention business. Is there anyone in the Tourism office talking to the hotel people and planning on how that convention business can be brought to town?
McKeown will be away for some holiday – and he is said to be taking up Wednesday golf in a serious way. Great business gets done on golf courses.
We will wait to hear what the Tourism office has in terms of a work plan for the balance of 2016 and 2017.
By Staff
April 3rd, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
The Performing Arts centre people have upped their game. Hard on the heels of a very successful event last summer they have expanded the program from a number of evenings of Jazz on the Plaza to a series of events that includes Sunday programs for families and a Tuesday evening that covers a number of musical genres.
 That plaza will be packed on Tuesday, Fridays and |Sunday during the month of August as the Performing Arts Centre shows its appreciation for the just under $1 million subsidy they get from the city. A free evening of entertainment every Tuesday in August, featuring musical performances across a range of genres. The bar will be open and a variety of snacks available. In the event of rain, the performance will be moved inside.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 2 Stacey Lee Gusé
TUESDAY, AUGUST 9 Dave Barrett Trio with Michael Sadler (SAGA)
TUESDAY, AUGUST 16 Bravura
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23 Poor Angus
Friday is the Jazz evening – on the Plaza from 6:30pm – 8:30pm Bar will be open – cash only.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 5 Ricochet – Led by Adrean Farrugia
FRIDAY, AUGUST 12 Rob Tardik
FRIDAY, AUGUST 19 Barbra Lica
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26 Vincent Wolfe and The VegasNorth Seven
SUNDAY FAMILY FUN Sunday afternoons – 2:00pm – 5:00pm – free family fun, from music, to dance, to games, to sing-a-longs and more, there will be something for everyone! A variety of snacks and drinks will be available to keep youngsters and their parents energized throughout the afternoon. In the event of rain, the performance will be moved inside.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 7 The Monkey Bunch / Mark Correia
SUNDAY, AUGUST 14 Singalong Tim and The Pacifiers / The Sentimentalists
SUNDAY, AUGUST 21 Sonshine and Broccoli / Phil The Magic Guy
The program was very popular its first year – it was hard to get a place to sit.
The city shuts down streets for many events – it would create a lot more space for people to sit and enjoy the music if that short block of Locust was traffic free for these events. It could double the capacity.
By Staff
August 3rd, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The road to the Dominico Cup starts tonight when the 2016 Intercounty Baseball League playoffs begin with the Toronto Maple Leafs meeting the Brantford Red Sox in Brantford.
On Thursday, the Kitchener Panthers, who finished second in the league, will open their quarter-final series against the seventh-place Hamilton Cardinals.
 And he is out – the Bandits hope to be able to do this many times in the quarter finals. The Barrie Baycats opendefence of their championship at home against the Burlington Bandits.
The pennant winning London Majors open their series against the Guelph Royals on Friday at Labatt Park in London.
All quarter-final series are best-of-seven.
Series “A”
London vs. Guelph
Game 1 – Fri, August 5 at London; 7:35 pm Game 2 – Sat, August 6 at Guelph; 7:30 pm Game 3 – Sun, August 7 at London; 1:05 pm Game 4 – Tue, August 9 at Guelph; 7:30 pm *Game 5 – Thu, August 11 at London; 7:35 pm *Game 6 – Fri, August 12 at Guelph; 7:30 pm *Game 7 – Sat, August 13 at London; 7:35 pm
Series “B”
Kitchener vs. Hamilton
Game 1 – Thu, August 4 at Kitchener; 7:30 pm Game 2 – Sat, August 6 at Hamilton; 7:30 pm Game 3 – Sun, August 7 at Kitchener; 7:00 pm Game 4 – Tue, August 9 at Hamilton; 7:30 pm *Game 5 – Thu, August 11 at Kitchener; 7:30 pm *Game 6 – Fri, August 12 at Hamilton; 7:30 pm *Game 7 – Sat, August 13 at Kitchener; 7:00 pm
 Scott Robertson – in full array, is one of the owners of the Burlington Bandits. Series “C”
Barrie vs. Burlington
Game 1 – Thu, August 4 Barrie; 7:30 pm
Game 2 – Sat, August 6 Burlington; 7:05 pm Game 3 – Sun, August 7 Barrie; 7:00 pm Game 4 – Tue, August 9 Burlington; 7:30 pm *Game 5 – Thu, August 11 Barrie; 7:30 pm *Game 6 – Fri, August 12 Burlington; 7:30 pm *Game 7 – Sat, August 13 Barrie; 7:00 pm
Series “D”
Brantford vs. Toronto
Game 1 – Wed, August 3 at Brantford; 8:00 pm Game 2 – Thu, August 4 at Toronto; 7:30 pm Game 3 – Sun, August 7 at Toronto; 2:00 pm Game 4 – Wed, August 10 at Brantford; 8:00 pm *Game 5 – Fri, August 12 at Brantford; 8:00 pm *Game 6 – Sat, August 13 at Toronto; 2:00 pm *Game 7 – Sun, August 14 at Brantford; 8:00 pm
* If necessary
By Staff
August 3rd, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It is all going to the dogs!
The woof woofs just might be getting one of the places in Burlington with a view that is to almost die for – Bayview Park.
The city is asking: Do you and your canine best friend use the leash-free area in Bayview Park?
If you do, the City of Burlington wants to hear your opinion about a possible leash-free area for small dogs.
We are looking at:
• Expanding the size of the total leash-free area from one hectare to 1.5 hectares
• Creating a separate leash-free area for small dogs only
• New six-foot (two-metre) high chain link fence with two double gate entrances
• Relocating the entrances
• Providing an accessible pathway from the existing parking lot into both of the leash-free areas
• Installing a new shelter in the small dog leash-free area.
Bayview Park at 1800 King Rd. is also known as W.A.G. (Where Animals Gather) Park. If you use the park, please take a moment to answer this short poll at www.burlington.ca/leashfree.
 The park has one of the best views of the Skyway bridge – you can see the ships coming and going. King Road is also the road that the city closes in the spring so the Jefferson Salamanders can do what they do to increase their population. The road closure takes place further up King Road. There is an added feature in taking your dog to this park – it is a nice way to get out of the city and on occasions a model Airplane club sends their small craft soaring through the skies. These guys are serious people and they have some pretty impressive model airplanes.
 This off leash park is in Toronto. The parks offer a different level of civil society – not even a hint of stress. Must be nice. Vote for the park – convince the city to make it as big as they can so the woof woofs have all kinds of space to run around. Convince them to create a shelter as well.
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 Pepper Parr
August 3rd, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Performing Arts Centre is accepting submissions from local artists for the Culture Days celebrations in the Theatre Lobby to take place on Sunday October 2nd, 2016.
These are curated performances event taking place from 12pm -4pm, in conjunction with other activities. The call is for artists in the community to have a 15-minute performance highlight on the lobby stage. There are only eight slots available.
 The Family room being put to spectacular use – the Performing Arts Centre wants to make the space available to local talent during Culture Days in the fall. As part of the Community Initiative for Culture Days in Burlington, we are looking for amateur talent in Burlington and surrounding areas to showcase our local artists or acts and to introduce these artists to our patrons and to a wider audience as well as to showcase culture in Burlington.
This can also assist any local artist or group who are on their way to becoming better known in the community or even pursuing the goal of becoming professional.
There is an honorarium for these performances and the artists will get an opportunity to promote their brand at that time, while reaching a new audience. The artists may also be added to the City of Burlington’s Artists database, with their permission.
We are looking for singer/songwriters, singers of pop, jazz, blues, folk, musical theatre and classical music, bands or combos, instrumentalists and soloists: classical, jazz, etc.
Please submit by email to: BPACsubmissions@burlington.ca with Culture Days in the Subject line. Includde a couple of photos, a short bio and some background information along with a short description of the act or performer, any links to YouTube videos, if you have them, and of course, contact information.
Dateline for submissions is August 26th, 2016.
There are only eight spots available; only those acts or artists selected will be contacted.
Costin Manu, Community Engagement Manager for the Centre, has been working at getting something going in the lobby of the Performing Arts centre since he arrived. It will be interesting to see how this works out – it will also be interesting to see how the city and the Performing Arts centre manage to collaborate on making the Cultural Days event in Burlington work. There didn’t seem to be all that much co-operating between the two – each sort of did their own thing – and it showed.
The Centre has a strong Jazz program on the plaza during August – details in the next edition of the Gazette.
Earlier this year the Art \gallery of Burlington rented the Main Theatre and put the lobby – which we thought was named the Family Room – and put it to excellent use.
 The Burlington Teen Tour Band took over the Family Room of the Burlington Performing Arts Centre the day the city turned the building over to the community. When the Performing Arts Centre opened there was an afternoon when all of the Burlington Teen Tour Band marched in through the east side sliding doors and gave that space life and energy it has never seen before.
The Centre management has yet to “animate” the space as well since.
By Pepper Parr
August 3rd, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It isn’t summer if someone somewhere doesn’t do a Shakespeare play.
Debra Pickfield,of ThinkSpot fame, brought the Driftwood Theatre Company to Lowville for the third year and now the Tottering Biped Theatre is going to be at what Trevor Copp calls RBG’s stunning new outdoor Rock Gardens where they will be staging ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’… “unlike any you’ve seen before”.
 It will be a Mid summer night the likes of which you have never seen before. Copp describes the production thusly: “Spurred on by their amorous and ambitious dreams, aspiring actors, lovers, and fairies meet in the woods of their sleeping minds in this highly physical adaptation of the classic play.”
Copp adds” “We’ve noticed the difficulty emerging artists have here in getting off the ground – and we lose artistic talent to Toronto/further cities every year as a result.
“So in casting this piece, we searched this area’s post-secondary theatre programs for the most talented senior students/recent graduates – and offered them paid theatre work; unprecedented in our area.
“In supporting this show, you’re teaching the next generation that being an artist doesn’t mean moving away.
It will be on at the Royal Botanical Gardens Rock Garden on:
August 10th @ 7pm
August 11th @ 7pm
August 12th @ 7pm
August 13th @ 7pm
August 14th @ 7pm
August 17th @ 7pm
August 18th @ 7pm
August 19th @ 7pm
August 20th @ 7pm
August 21st @ 7pm
Make a dinner reservation at the Rock Garden Cafe before enjoying Shakespeare by Nature’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
$35.00 per person
Seating promptly at 5pm
5:30PM to 7:00PM – Garden opens to those who have purchased tickets and made restaurant reservations
7:00PM to 9:00PM – Performance
Fees:
Non-member Adults: $25.00
Member Adults: $20.00
Non-member & Member children (ages 4-12): $20.00
Child under the age of 3: Free
Tickets available online at:
https://tickets.rbg.ca/PEO/daily_events_list.asp
By Staff
August 2nd, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Progress we think – and as one of those people who lived at the intersection of New Street and Guelph Line – we are all mighty pleased that we no longer have to dodge construction equipment and work our way around pot holes that pull hub caps off the vehicle
Many of us think the Regional chair owes us at least one car wash – the dust was incredible.
 Director of Transit for the city of Burlington, Mike Spicer serving as a Court Jester? The city transit people has announced schedule adjustments that begin August 14 upon completion of New Street construction.
Schedule adjustments effective August 14, 2016.
Routes 10 and 20 will return to normal routing upon completion of the New Street construction project. Minor adjustments have also been made to select trips on routes: 1, 11, 80 and 101.
 The intention is to replace water and sewage pipe lines all along New street and add bicycle lanes on a trial basis as well east of Guelph Line. Use the new Trip Planner and Next Bus link to know when the bus will depart in real-time. Add tripplanner.burlington.ca to your favourites or call the automated phone system 905-639-0550 and enter in your Stop ID.
The last we heard was that the Trip Planner and Next Bu link were getting a technical touch up. We never heard back from the transit people.
We will now give that service a test and let you know how it is doing.
By Pepper Parr
August 2nd, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It will be interesting to see the look on Mayor Goldring’s face when a poem written by Hanz Mirck, Apeldoorn’s resident poet, is read to him at the Different Drummer Books on August 12th.
The poem was commissioned by the Apeldoorn City Poet Committee, a group that is very active.
Our Mayor is a little uncomfortable with things emotional. Sitting in a room while someone reads a poem directly to him will be a different experience.
 Mayors of Apeldoorn and Burlington Our relationship with Apeldoorn is very strong – city staff have met with Apeldoorn city employees and there is the potential for some economic development between the two cities.
 Apeldoorn has this palace – we have Spencer Smith Park A look at the cultural activity in Apeldoorn suggests they are much more advanced than we are with local culture. It is an older society with a richer and more appreciated heritage and culture.
The event takes place Friday, August 12, 2016, 2 to 3 p.m., at the A Different Drummer Books.
At some point in the future perhaps Burlington will commission Tomy Bewick to do a poetry piece that he can present at the Poetry Slam and then have it read to the Mayor of Apeldoorn
By Staff
August 2, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The London Majors are the Intercounty Baseball League’s top seed heading into the playoffs.
London (28-9) clinched the pennant with a 4-0 win over the Kitchener Panthers Monday night in a one-game tie-breaker at Labatt Park. It was the fifth time in league history the pennant was won in a tie-breaker (1977, 1994, 1995, 1997).
Majors starter Cory Hammond (5-1) went the distance, scattering two hits while walking one and striking out three.
With Hammond and Panthers starter Matt McGovern going toe-to-toe, the Majors struck first in the seventh inning. Byron Reichstein led off with a line drive single to left field and then went to third on Michael Ambrose’s double past third base.
Kitchener brought its infield in, and McGovern got the next two hitters on a shallow fly out and ground out and was ahead 1-2 on
Brett Sabourin before the Majors’ first baseman ripped a single to left for the winning run.
London added three more runs in the eighth when Reichstein stroked a two-run double off the wall in left-centre field and came around to score on LeJon Baker’s two-out single.
RJ Fuhr had two hits and a run for London, which will face Guelph in the first round. Cleveland Brownlee also had two hits.
For Kitchener, McGovern (5-1) went seven innings and was charged with one run on seven hits, striking out six without issuing a walk.
Tanner Nivins and Mike Andrulis were the only players to record hits.
Defensively, Panthers first baseman Justin Interisano made a highlight-reel play to end the sixth inning. Interisano leapt to snag a soft liner and then doubled off Fuhr at second base.
Kitchener (27-10), which beat Brantford Sunday night to force a tie-breaker, will face Hamilton to start the playoffs. Other matchups include No. 3 Barrie vs. No. 6 Burlington and No. 4 Brantford vs. No. 5 Toronto.
Quarter finals schedule:
(1) London Majors vs (8) Guelph Royals
Game 1:
Game 2:
Game 3:
Game 4:
*Game 5:
*Game 6:
*Game 7:
(2) Kitchener Panthers vs (7) Hamilton Cardinals
Game 1:
Game 2:
Game 3:
Game 4:
*Game 5:
*Game 6:
*Game 7:
(3) Barrie Baycats vs (6) Burlington Bandits
Game 1: Thu, August 4 at Barrie; 7:30 PM
Game 2: Sat, August 6 at Burlington; 1:05 PM
Game 3: Sun, August 7 at Barrie; 7:00 PM
Game 4: Tue, August 9 at Burlington; 7:30 PM
*Game 5: Thu, August 11 at Barrie; 7:30 PM
*Game 6: Fri, August 12 at Burlington; 7:30 PM
*Game 7: Sat, August 13 at Barrie; 7:30 PM
(4) Brantford Red Sox vs (5) Toronto Maple Leafs
Game 1: Wed, August 3 at Brantford; 8:00 PM
Game 2: Thu, August 4 at Toronto; 7:30 PM
Game 3: Sun, August 7 at Toronto; 2:00 PM
Game 4: Wed, August 10 at Brantford; 8:00 PM
*Game 5: Fri, August 12 at Brantford; 8:00 PM
*Game 6: Sat, August 13 at Toronto; TBD
*Game 7: Sun, August 14 at Brantford; 8:00 PM
By Staff
August 1st, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The top team in the InterCounty Baseball League is not yet know – the winner of the game between the Kitchener Panthers and the
London Majors this evening in London will determine the finals standings and then who plays who in the quarter finals.
The Burlington Bandits will play a best out of seven series against the Barrie Baycats. The play dates are set out below:
Game 1: Thu, August 4 at Barrie; 7:30 PM
Game 2: Sat, August 6 at Burlington; 1:05 PM
Game 3: Sun, August 7 at Barrie; 7:00 PM
Game 4: Tue, August 9 at Burlington; 7:30 PM
Game 5: Thu, August 11 at Barrie; 7:30 PM
Game 6: Fri, August 12 at Burlington; 7:30 PM
Game 7: Sat, August 13 at Barrie; 7:30 PM
Burlington might be able to hold their own against the Barrie Baycats – it shouldn’t be a romp for either team.
While the Bandits were a little on the lacklustre side during the regular season they tend to pick up quite a bit when they get into the finals.
By Staff
August 1, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It has been a thriller of a season, particularly for those who are fans of the top four teams in the InterCounty Baseball League.
 The Kitchener Panthers’ 9-3 win over the Brantford Red Sox Sunday night created a tie atop the standings, with both the Panthers and London Majors holding 27-9 records. They’ll play a 37th regular season game Monday night at Labatt Park in London at 7:35 p.m. to determine who will face Guelph as the top playoff seed. The loser will face Hamilton.
Tanner Nivins had two solo home runs against the Red Sox. He added a single and scored three times. Justin Interisano went 3-for-3 with a home run, four RBI and two runs, while Terrell Alliman and Mike Glinka each drove in a run. Mike Gordner had three hits and two runs, and David Whiteside and Frank Camilo Morejon each had a pair of singles.
Noelvis Entenza (9-4) went six innings for the win, allowing three runs on seven hits, striking out six and walking two.
Benjamin Bostick had two hits, an RBI and run for the Red Sox, which finished fourth with a 20-16 record and will face Toronto in the first round. Chris Dennis and Brandon Dailey each doubled and drove in a run, and Tyler Patzalek singled twice.
Jonathan Joseph (0-1) took the loss, giving up six runs on 10 hits in four innings, striking out two and walking two.
Baycats go into playoffs with dramatic win TORONTO – The Barrie Baycats will head into their first-round playoff series with Burlington on a two-game win streak after a dramatic 9-6 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs Sunday afternoon at Christie Pits.
Barrie erased a one-run deficit with four runs in the top of the ninth to finish the regular season 25-11.
Zach Sardelletti hit a two-run home run and Jordan Castaldo hit a solo blast in the ninth as the Baycats went deep five times overall.
Sardelletti homered twice and added a single, driving in five. Kyle Nichols and Kevin Atkinson each hit solo home runs. Jeff Cowan singled and scored twice.
Adam Hawes (2-0) gave up a run on two hits in an inning for the win. Hawes struck out two without issuing a walk. Chris Nagorski threw a scoreless inning for his fifth save, giving up a hit while striking out two. Starter Matthew St. Kitts went three innings and allowed four runs on six hits, walking three and striking out one.
For Toronto, Sean Mattson homered, singled and doubled and had two RBI. Justin Marra singled and hit a solo home run, scoring twice, while Jon Waltenbury added a solo shot.
Brendan Keys had three hits and an RBI as the fifth-place Leafs dropped to 19-17 and missed a chance to pull into a fourth-place tie with Brantford, which will have home-field advantage against Toronto in the first round.
Adam Garner (1-1) was charged with four runs on four hits in an inning, walking one.
Brett van Pelt started and gave up five runs (four earned) on eight hits in 4.1 innings, striking out three and walking seven.
 Future games
Monday, Aug. 1
Kitchener at London, 7:35 p.m.
By Pepper Parr
July 31st, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Candidates must have a consistent record of presenting officiating in a positive light as well as exhibiting a “service above self” attitude. Public service to officiating, having a motivating effect on others and/or strong community involvement are considered.
Who would that be in Burlington?
 Ron Foxcroft – recipient of the Gold Whistle Award Say the words sports in this town and you follow it with Ron and those whistles. The guy who knew what it means to hustle before he got out of high school – actually he didn’t really get out of high school – he gave up on them.
If you’ve been to an event that Ron Foxcroft spoke at – you know the story of the whistle that failed him in a crucial basketball game.
From that experience came the spark that lit up his entrepreneurship that rolled into a company that sells a product in more than 140 countries.
All based on a whistle that has never failed him since the morning he blew on the thing in the corridor of a hotel that was holding a conference for sports officiating types.
Of such simple ideas are strong profitable businesses built.
 NASO’s Gold Whistle Award The media release from the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) that will be recognizing Foxcroft with the Gold Whistle Award at their conference in San Antonia Texas said “A primary determinant in awarding anyone NASO’s Gold Whistle Award is this: The recipient has to have a long and meaningful history of ‘shining a positive light’ on officiating. Further, any recipient must be someone who is held with some reverence within the officiating community of which he is a part.
“Ron Foxcroft”, said Barry Mano, NASO president “was an easy choice.”
“There are precious few individuals who place the wellbeing of sports officiating well in front of personal agenda or gain,” Mano added. “Members of this group have made outsized contributions to officiating. Ron is without doubt a member of that elite and critically important group. He is one of those unique individuals who, for decades, has fulfilled all of the requirements above. And, of course, he continues to do so.”
Although Foxcroft is best known as maker of the famous pealess whistle used by officials around the world, he has made his mark in the world in many other ways. As an NCAA and international basketball official, he worked five NCAA tournaments, an Olympic final and numerous other high level international games.
He has shone a positive light on the industry through his many charitable and leadership efforts, including serving as chair of the McMaster Campaign for Athletics & Recreation, founder and former chair of the Foxcroft Family Youth Fund held at the Hamilton Community Foundation and serving on the St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation fundraising committee, the first healthcare charity in Hamilton to earn the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy’s Ethical Fundraising License.
He donated thousands of Fox 40 Classic whistles used by search and rescue professionals when they were saving lives following the San Francisco earthquake, the Oklahoma City bombing, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami and Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma. Foxcroft has received awards from B’Nai Brith Canada and the Burlington (Ontario) Rotary Club.
Foxcroft was named Hamilton’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year, received an honorary doctor of law degree from McMaster University and had an award named for him by Sports Officials Canada. The award is presented annually to recognize excellence from an official in a professional sports environment, their contribution to the development of young officials and their example as a positive role model for officials by virtue of personal involvement at the community level.
 Queen Elizabeth II, in her capacity as Colonel-in-Chief of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada, receives Colonel Ronald Foxcroft (Honorary Colonel) at Buckingham Palace in London. He is an honorary colonel in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, Canadian Army Reserve infantry battalion. After a member of his regiment was killed in a terrorist attack, Foxcroft met with Queen Elizabeth II and received her personal condolences.
 Foxcroft sometimes found time to shoot a couple of hoops at the office. Fox 40 received the Mel Narol Medallion Award in 2004, presented to a group or individual for outstanding contributions to NASO. Foxcroft is a former member of the NASO board of directors and currently serves as a special adviser to the board.
And he is still a young man.
By Staff
July 30, 2016
BURLINGTON. ON
The Burlington Bandits and Guelph Royals rounded out their 2016 season as the Bandits downed the Royals 8-3. Burlington (10-26) finished sixth while Guelph (7-29) finished eighth.
Burlington will meet Barrie in a first round quarter-final series while Guelph will meet the IBL pennant winner, either London or Kitchener.
 Adam Odd was a consistently strong player this year. Adam Odd led Burlington with three hits and three RBI’s including a two-run double in the first inning. Nolan Pettipiece also added two hits and two RBI’s for Burlington.
Matt Schmidt had two hits for Guelph who managed only three hits off four Burlington pitchers.
Jack Dennis (3-4) was the winning pitcher allowing only two hits in five innings with three walks and four strikeouts. Adrian Yuen (0-4) took the loss for Guelph, giving up six runs on four hits with four walks and three strikeouts.
Future games
Sunday, July 31
Barrie at Toronto, 2 p.m.
Brantford at Kitchener, 7 p.m.
(End of regular schedule)
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By Staff
When Rivers writes, as publisher he and I trade notes and thoughts on the direction his thinking is taking. My role is to support the writer. As I was reading through my own sources I came across a book On Bullshit, by Harry G. Frankfurt, a professor of philosophy emeritus at Princeton University and recognized as one of the world’s most influential moral philosophers
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.
Dennon Koziol’s two-out single scored Chris Dennis to give the Red Sox a dramatic 9-8 win at Arnold Anderson Stadium.
The Kitchener Panthers’ 9-3 win over the Brantford Red Sox Sunday night created a tie atop the standings, with both the Panthers and London Majors holding 27-9 records. They’ll play a 37th regular season game Monday night at Labatt Park in London at 7:35 p.m. to determine who will face Guelph as the top playoff seed. The loser will face Hamilton.
Future games
