Free parking on life support in Cambridge

WWW.CAMBRIDGECITIZEN.CA FREE
OCTOBER 2012 EDITION
The Alternative Voice Of Cambridge
Free parking on life support in
Cambridge
(See ad on Page 2.)
ROB MENDONSA
COLUMNIST
“House of
Frightenstein:
The Cambridge
Connection
I
f Cambridge city council has its way, shoppers
will soon be paying to park in the three downtown
cores, ending the two hour free parking that shoppers have enjoyed for years, and putting shop owners
on edge wondering what effects it will have on an
their already fragile businesses.
With the new plan, parking will revert from the
present two hour free parking to a two zone pay-anddisplay system splitting each core into two zones. One
zone which will be considered prime parking will cost
shoppers $1 an hour to park, topping off at $5 and
the second zone of parking will cost $.50 an hour and
capped at $2.50.
ALISON SAUNDERS
COLOUMNIST
Free parking Cont. on page 3
New Beginnings For Post Office
“
Another lovely day begins
for ghosts and ghouls with
greenish skin, so close
your eyes and you will find
that you’ve arrived at Frightenstein!” While growing up,
these words delightfully uttered
by Vincent Price marked the
beginning of the happiest half
hour time slot of my entire
weekend.
The Hilarious House Of
Frightenstein (HHOF) was
developed by Canadian creative genius Billy Van, who
charismatically played at least
10 characters on the show. My
personal favourite and the one
who most inspired me, was
Griselda the Ghastly Gourmet.
House of Frightenstein Cont.
Pg. 5
‣
In this issue:
Local .....................2
Top Stories...........3
Sports.................4,9
Veterans...................6
Local History.........8
Around Town.......10
Golden Years........11
Lifestyle..................13
Spirtual Wellbeing15
Wildlife..................16
Poetry.....................17
The Arts....................18
Fiction.....................19
SCOT
FERGUSON-BARBER
T
he recent announcement that the historic
post office on Water
St. is being purchased by the
city came as no surprise to
those who have been reading
the Citizen. In our inaugural
issue in January of this year we
reported that there had been
closed council meetings about
the possible acquisition of this
property.
The concern at the time was
that one of the most historic
buildings in the country was
slowly deteriorating, and if
something wasn’t done to save
it we are going to lose a piece
of Canadian history.
It was recently announced
that the city would purchase the
building for $950,000, down
October Is
Breast Cancer
Awareness
Month
from the $1.5 Million asking
price of a year ago. The money
will come from the city’s industrial land reserve fund.
It will cost an estimated $6
million for renovations and
repairs. The plan is to put in a
library/restaurant in partnership
The zombies are coming to Cambridge!
Photo by Rob Mendonsa
Alison Saunders having a little pre-zombiewalk fun with Kerri Mercer in Hespeler.
Z
ombies and
zombie killers are
planning to invade
the streets of Cambridge
on Oct., 13, in search of
organs, but not for eating, no these zombies are on
the march for the Kidney Foundation of Canada
and organ donation awareness, as well as just
having a good old zombie time.
Zombies are coming Cont. on page 10
ROB MENDONSA
COLUMNIST
with a private company. The
city was planning on eventually spending 5.4 Million on
a library expansion for the
Queens Square Branch, and
they anticipate there will be
grant money from other levels
of government considering the
historical significance of the
building.
A firm timetable is not yet
in place but construction is expected to take several years.
Breast cancer is the
most frequently
diagnosed cancer
in Canadian
women.
The day the flood came to Cambridge
BERNICE
ADAMS
W
ee Willie Wonderful, my number one
husband and most
severe critic reminded me after
last week’s column that I had
missed the boat, that I should
have been reminiscing back on
May of 1974, a fateful time for
Cambridge.
But I can still think back
because that flood was not a
one day event. For some people
it was months long, cleaning
up, waiting to get flood relief
funds and seeing their lives fall
apart around them.
Flood Cont. on page 8
2
Local Issues
T
History of the Post Office
he Post Office on
Water is one of the
most historically
significant buildings in
the country, and is designated a National Historic
Site. The Galt Customs
House and Post Office was
designed by Dominion architect Thomas Fuller, the
same man who designed
the original parliament
buildings. It was built in
1885 and is one of the few
of its type still standing
in Canada, built by the
government of Sir John A.
Macdonald to in cities and
towns across Canada. The
Post Office cost taxpayers
a whopping $32,967.79
The building continued
as a government building until as recently as the
1970’s, when, as confirmed by the Cambridge
Archives, the City of Galt
had several departments
working out of there including the Planning and
Traffic Departments.
The building was sold,
and reopened as The
Olde Post Office Restaurant, which operated for
a number of years until it
Does The Ghost of Emily
Still Haunt The Post Office?
Work is underway at the historic Post Office.
closed because of “tough
financial times.”
It opened again as The
Fiddler’s Green Irish Pub,
and has sat vacant since
it closed in 2007. Landmark Group purchased it
intending to make it into
an upscale restaurant, but
then Landmark purchased
the former Riverbank Mill
at Parkhill Road and Water
Street, and opened Cambridge Mill.
The building was once
again put up for sale, this
time with a hefty price tag
of $1.5 million. Coupled
with another $5 million estimated in necessary renovations, there isn’t a long
line up of buyers.
G
alt’s most infamous postmaster was William S. Turnbull, who served
this position from 1898 to1919.
As legend has it, William was involved in an affair with a postal employee
named Emily. She threatened to go public with their rendezvous, which would
have ruined the reputation of William and brought his career to an end and
been a great topic for conversation by the 5,000 residents of Galt at the time.
Emily’s body was found dangling from the rafters in the clock tower only a
few days later. Some said it was suicide while others said it was murder, and it
remains a mystery to this day.
Emily has been spotted by staff and patrons that have been in the various
businesses over the years, and is Cambridge’s most famous ghost.
3
Top Stories
Free parking on life support in Cambridge
Free parking Cont. from page 1
C
ouncil is tired of subsidizing parking at a cost
of $120,000 annually
and after the Region allocated
$1 million dollars to the city as
their share for not getting light
rail, they now have the funds
to purchase 100 pay-towers
and start generating revenues
at $135,000 annually and with
plans to save $480,000 over
10 years which will in turn be
used to build a parking garage
in the Galt core.
This plan was originally approved in 2009 when council
devised the Core Areas Parking
Master Plan (CAPMP) which
called for removal of all free
parking and implementing the
pay-and-display system.
The plan also calls for
one free parking lot on the
outer edges of each core area,
Beverly Street in Galt, Argyle
Street in Preston and St. James
Church in Hesepler.
Business owners are upset
that they haven’t even been
consulted in this process and
are fearful for their businesses
since they are barely keeping
their heads above water as
things are now, much less
after what they see will just
be another obstacle for people
thinking of coming to the
downtown cores.
Natalie Lauzon, owner of
Nature’s Vibe in downtown
Galt, is concerned about the
drop in business she will be
confronted with if this plan is
implemented.
“We’ve just moved to the
area in May and our business is based on the ability of
people being able to park and
just “pop-in,” to pick up a few
vitamins or such, but this will
drastically limit that traffic,”
said Lauzon.
This comes on the heels of
council spending $750,000 on
the streetscape of Main Street
and countless plans on the
books to rejuvenate Galt in
hopes of drawing more traffic
to the Galt core.
“Downtown is just starting
to flourish, having the support
of the city is very important to
the viability of our business,”
Lauzon said.
Rick Cowsill, city councillor
for Hespeler, is struggling with
the whole notion of pay-anddisplay plan, his feeling is that
Hespeler is very fragile right
now and the business owners
are fighting to just keep their
doors open, bringing in this
plan will just drive potential
customers to the malls he feels.
“All three cores are being
painted with the same brush,
but all three cores are drastically different and require different solutions,” said Cowsill.
His take on the other two
cores is that Preston is the most
vibrant of the three cores right
now, but still needs help and
Galt where all the money is
being poured into is still not
showing any great returns on
the city’s investment. Leaving
him to wonder can we really
risk tipping the scales at such a
precarious time?
Wendy Hood-Morris,
manager at Millpond records
and books in Hespeler, and
who is also a member of the
Hespeler Business Improvement Association, is upset
that contrary to what council
is telling people, they did not
consult with the Hespeler BIA
before bringing this plan to the
public, knowing full well that
they would not have approved
of it.
“Shoppers make a choice
when they decide to come to
the downtown cores, if you
put pay towers in places where
they have a choice they will
take their business elsewhere.
It’s not like going to the hospital where they have pay towers
already in place, you have no
choice there, you’re a captive
audience. Malls don’t have
pay towers for this very reason
they know people will take
their business elsewhere,” said
Hood-Morris.
“I don’t think this is a done
deal by any stretch of the
imagination, but I’m afraid that
if people don’t voice their opinions then it will be,” Cowsill
said.
The city has released their
plans to the public and is planning public meetings throughout October with the final
vote being in November, if it
passes that vote the city plans
to install the pay-and-display
towers over the winter and
full implementation on May 1,
2013.
Local Sports
Galt Hornets 1964/65 The Second Year in Review
RANDY SPENCER
COLUMNIST
faces also popped up, the two
most notable being Ron Smith
and ex. NHL’er Earl Balfour.
At age 20, Smith, a native of
City Folks Loose a Good
Man”, that’s what the
headline read in the Galt
Reporter in early August as
Len Gaudette, the man who
helped revive senior hockey
in Galt, accepted a position
of coach and general manager
with New Haven of the E.H.L. Jack Scott and Wes Lillie
were named to take over his
duties. Wes would be a fixture
on Shade Street for much of
the next decade. The next day
the news didn’t get any better
as Ron Hergott, last seasons
M.V.P. and scoring leader left
the Hornets nest and signed
a contract with the Portland
Buckaroos of the W.H.L.
Ivan Tennant signed on for
another season as player/coach.
Last season top point getters
after Hergott signed early as
did goalie Dave Dryden. Captain and Galt native Joe
Hogan returned for a second
season, as did Jim Dahmer and
Pete Kowalchuk. A few new
Rockton, had already proved
to be one of the City’s best
all round athletes. As well as
being a standout in junior with
the Waterloo Siskins, he played
baseball with the Junior Cubs
and the Senior Terriers. Over
the summer Smith actually
signed a contract to play Major
League Baseball in the San
Francisco Giants organization.
“
(Smith went on to coach in
the N.H.L.) Balfour, a Toronto
native brought a wealth of experience to the team. A veteran
of 12 pro seasons, tallied 30
goals and 22 assists for 52
points in 288 N.H.L. games
with Toronto and Chicago,
helping the Black Hawks
to a Stanley Cup victory in
1960/61.
With the start of a new
season, the only change in the
league was the absence of the
Port Colborne club. The season
began with a flurry of 3 games
in 4 nights with the Hornets
winning 3 of the games. Galt
signed Bob McKnight, one
of the best two way performers in senior hockey as well
as big defenseman Larry
“Moose” Zilliotto who played
last season with Port Colborne.
The Hornets found out quickly
the signing of Zilliotto was a
good move as defenseman Reg
Whaley was hit with a 21 game
suspension in early November.
He received a match penalty
after he slashed Guelph player
and ex. NHL’er Jack McIntyre
in the face with his stick. The
Galt-Guelph was once again
the topic of discussion. Games
between the two teams proved
to some of the most exciting hockey action in recent
Lynn Zimmerman
memory. Goaltending would
steal the spotlight on more than
occasion with Dave Dryden
providing the heroics for Galt
and former Galt Terrier, Harold
“Boat” Hurley was not to be
outdone in the Guelph net. The
“Boat” at times was larcenous and unsinkable posting
C.A.T.S.
Cambridge Adult Team Sports
(C.A.T.S.) is currently accepting
registrations for the following
fall leagues:
STARTING SECOND WEEK IN
OCTOBER
Tuesdays: Dodgeball
Thursdays: Intermediate
Volleyball
Fridays: Recreational
Volleyball
STARTING NOVEMBER
Sunday: Indoor Ultimate
Frisbee
Registration deadline is
October 1st. Register on-line
at www.cambridgesports.org
or phone Jill at 519-222-5206
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Our class schedule offers various Days
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102-35 Water St. South Cambridge
Phone: 519-729-9025
two shutouts against Galt, as
he displayed the form that by
far made him the best goalie in
Senior hockey.
As December came to a
close, the Hornets were in
the thick of a great race with
Guelph,with Galt winning
17 of 25 games. By the end
of January, the Hornets were
stuck in a mid winter spin.
Their record was .500 and the
only real excitement came
January 29th when they played
a team of ex. NHL’ers in Port
Colborne but were on the short
end of a 6-4 score. In early
February, Dave Dryden fell ill
with pneumonia that kept him
out of action for the remainder of the regular season and
most of the playoffs.Backup
goalie Bob McArdle went 3-2
in the final five games of the
season. On February 20th in a
game against Oakville, a wild
brawl broke out late in the
game. Oaks defenseman Gus
Mortson, a veteran of almost
800 N.H.L. games, triggered
the melee when he viciously
cross checked forward Bob
McKnight across the face,
cutting him on the upper lip for
6 stitches. The bench clearing
brawl saw six Oaks players and
four Hornets kicked out of the
game. As the season ended Galt
once again finished in second
place, this time to Guelph.
With no backup goalie, Galt
requested and received permission to use Welland’s goalie
Lynn Zimmerman for the remainder of the playoffs.
The Hornets opponent would
be none other than arch rival
from Guelph. The Regals took
a quick 2 game lead in the
series. The Hornets actually outplayed Guelph for the
most part but two bad periods
sealed the Hornets fate. Game
three was one of the longest,
and perhaps the best game of
the season with Galt coming
4
out on top 5-4 but they paid a
very large price. Pet Kowalchuk fired the game winner in
the 72nd minute of play, and
then seconds later crashed into
the boards, breaking is right
leg and all but ending a very
successful hockey career. He
would spend many weeks in
hospital and 22 weeks in a
cast. In game four, the Hornets
displayed the style they played
for much of the season, playing
a tight checking game and
winning 5-3 to even the series
at two. The Oaks took the next
game 3-2 with the key factor
being the play of goalie Al
Bennett. In game six, Dave
Dryden finally returned to the
Hornets goal and would play
his last game as a Hornet. With
the game tied at six, the game
went to overtime. in the 1960’s
played a ten minute non-sudden death overtime period. Six
minutes in, Oakville score to
go ahead, but with less than
one minute remaining Joe
Hogan scored to tie the game
that this time went to a sudden
death period. Oaks forward
Carl Hymers fired a twenty five
foot shot past Dryden, three
minutes in to end the Hornets
season.
One bright note at the end
of the season was the Dave
Pinkney trophy being awarded
to Dave Dryden as league
M.V.P. Dryden finished second
behind “Boat” Hurley for the
Turofsky trophy as league’s
best goalie. Less than one
week after the playoffs cam to
a sudden end, Dryden began
his pro career for the Buffalo
Bisons of the A.H.L. The
Hornets faced a tough summer
ahead, the task of replacing a
top notch goaltender and the
hunt for a new coach. Ivan
Tennant resigned in August at
his own request and the hunt
for a new coach and starting
goalie would begin.
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5
Local
“House of Frightenstein:The Cambridge
Connection
House of Frightenstein Cont.
From Pg. 1
‣
T
o this day, I am still
Grizelda for Halloween each year, and
whilst cooking in the kitchen
my husband points out that it
doesn’t matter what month we
are in, I still manage to cook
just like her!
“Harvey Wallbanger”
HHOF also featured another
Canadian legend; Joe Torbay.
Torbay was the incredible
puppet master and as I recently
found out, he was a long-time
resident of Cambridge. Joe’s
puppets, who shared Joe’s
sense of humour and quick wit,
included the sea faring genius
(or not so genius) Gronk,
post master Harvey Wallbanger (or if you are talking
to the Count, it’s Harvey
Wallllllllllbangerrrrrrrrrrr!),
and the infamous big purple
muscle monster, The Grammar
Slammer Bammer.
Gronk was a purple sea faring
monster whose neck and head
came smiling to my screen
every Saturday morning also
taught me (amongst other
things) that in 1805 the British,
were in fact, at war with flying
saucers from Mars (They’d
hit ‘em with a stick!), and that
SCUBA actually stands for
Scuba-duba-duba! Who knew?
Harvey Wallbanger, in fact
was a postmaster not an alcoholic beverage, who seemed to
be someone the Count loved
to torment. As I seem to recall,
Harvey always seemed to get
his revenge!
The Grammar Slammer
was a disembodied voice, who
would send his “Bammer” a
larger than life size mascot, to
terrorize Igor for his offensive grammar. Igor never got
“bammed”, but we all learned
that you don’t say “Someone
dranked my Dracola” or “That
was my bestest meal!” I think
Igor learned, too!
Watching the show now,
knowing that episode to episode
it was only between 10% and
30% scripted, I have a great
deal of respect for Torbay, Van
and the other actors on HHOF.
Their dreams, improvisation
and skill entertained us, taught
us, made us dream, laugh and
get up and dance. 40 years later
people are still talking about
the HHOF show as being very
Night Watch
JAKE
COLUMNIST
T
he stars of Night Watch
come out to shine September 27, as the Galt
Little Theatre kicks-off its
2012-13 season.
The production, directed by
Dave MacMillan, is a thrilling
mystery that reveals a possible
murder while bringing the audience to the edge of their seats
as the plot thickens through
every twist and turn.
The inquest begins after
a distressed Elaine Wheeler,
played by Corina Dunn, gets
“Joe Torbay”
a glimpse of what appears to
near and dear to their heart, and
happiness since the show first
be a dead body. The sighting
a very important part of their
aired from the Hamilton CHCH
sparks questions amongst the
th
youth!
station in 1971. October 10
people around her as they begin
rd
A few years back, a Kitchwill mark the 3 anniversary
to wonder if what she saw was
ener photographer, Ben Kane
of the passing of Joe Torbay,
real, or if it was a hallucination.
(who was still in school at the
one of Canada’s foremost pupMacMillan, who has directed
time) and some classmates
peteers, entertainers and of
other GLT plays including
documented the HHOF journey
course, joke tellers. I hope that
As Bees In Honey Drown,
in a video called Return to
in honour of this great CanaAmadeus and Moon Over
Translyvania. How endearing
dian, who chose Cambridge
Buffalo, said he has a good cast
to hear Torbay speak and find
as his home, you find a HHOF
and is enjoying the opportunity
he is every bit as lovable as his
video to watch – from your own
to develop a good mystery with
puppets. How very Canadian he library or even on youtube!
is to talk about how wonderMay you relive some of the
ful his colleagues around him
wonderful smiles you had as a
are, and be very humble about
child, and pass some of the silhis own performances. How
liness onto your own children.
inspiring to find out how much
“What pets make the loudest
success he achieved doing
noise? TrumPETS!” Oh, silly
something that he enjoys so
Gronk! You are very much
much!
missed. You sure did make evIt will be one of my biggest
eryone laugh!
regrets, not getting to meet a
man who has given me so much
red-herrings that keep the audience guessing.
“Whenever there is a
mystery, everybody is
somehow a suspect, and that’s
what you’re trying to develop
and have your audience go with
you and say, ‘I wonder why
they’re doing that and what’s
happening there, I wonder what
they’re up to,’” he said. “That’s
the stuff that you’re trying to
get so your audience is actively
participating in the mystery.”
The performance consists
of nine cast members including Henry Shields, Kristine
Fortner, Pat Northey, Bart
Penwarden, Gary Seibert, Brett
Debroyne, Sue Jennings, MacMillan and Dunn.
The mystery unfurls September
27, 28, 29 and October 5, 6, 7,
12,13. Tickets can be purchased
online or by calling the box
office at 519-623-4070.
“From the first blood-curdling
scream to the twist of a terrifying ending, Night Watch holds
you in the delicious grip of suspense and menace.”
6
Veterans
Waterloo Region - Claudette Millar and Jane
Brewer with Robert Bob
Whittaker
Veterans pay their respects.
Scout House Band Parade
Royal Canadian Legion
You Don’t Have to be a Vet to Join the Legion
By Daryl Ball
Founded in 1925, the Royal Canadian Legion membership is at 400,000 strong. As out
Veteran population dwindles, the Royal Canadian Legion has introduced various categories of
membership in order to allow more people to join and maintain their commitment to service.
To clarify, you DON”T have to be serving in the Canadian Forces to be eligible; you
DON’T need to be affiliated with someone who has been in the Canadian Forces to be eligible. What you DO need to be is a Canadian citizen or Commonwealth subject.
Why should you join though? What are the benefits to you? Members enjoy a wide variety
of social events, activities, and sporting events. You help serve your community by assisting
in the many programs the Legion supports for youth, seniors, the disabled and others. Finally,
one of the biggest benefits is that opportunity to help fulfill the mandate of remembrance,
service to our community and country that those who fought in the Canadian Forces have
brought us. Many fell in service to our country, membership gives you “another way to serve”
by joining the Royal Canadian Legion.
To find out more about how you can be part of this organization, please contact your local
Royal Canadian Legion Branch and find out what level of membership is right for you.
For Branch 121 (Galt) contact Don Taylor at 519-623-3383
For Branch 126 (Preston) contact Joy Sulluvan at 519-653-6971
For Branch 272 (Hespeler) contact Ross Campbell at 519-658-4727
The Cambridge Citizen
believes that our veterans
should be remembered 12
months a year.
Every month we will publish
stories of the men and women
who fought for our freedom.
If you have a story about a local
veteran, please submit to
editor@cambridgecitizen.ca.
with “veteran story” in the
subject line.
Pictures must be in JPG format.
7
Local
Mommy? Me?
ROBYN O’NEILL
COLOUMNIST
I
still can hardly believe
it. At 29 weeks, in my 7th
month and 3rd trimester, I
still can’t believe the blessing I
have been given. I
can’t believe that someone will
call ME “Mommy” and look up
to ME! Life is one
wild ride.
Just over a year ago, I wasn’t
sure I would ever have the
pleasure of being someone’s
Mommy. Life took me down an
unexpected path but here I am,
on this very exciting journey
with the most incredible man
by my side.
Being pregnant is the coolest
experience and I am delighted
that it’s at this stage in my life
that this gift has been bestowed
upon me.
It’s only now that I can truly
be thankful and understand my
own appreciation for the people
that surround me. I’ve always
been a little ‘beyond my years’,
but not until my late 20’s did I
really experience enough in life
to make me feel I am in fact
eligible for the position.
So, as any Mother out there
could likely attest to, finding
out you are pregnant (for the
first time especially) can be
quite overwhelming. A gazillion questions run through your
mind (to say the least) and you
wonder “where do I start?”. Well, do you know just how
many resources there are out
there?
Gone are the days you have
only your own Mother and
family Doctor to lean on for
answers. The internet, while I
caution, is just packed full of
information, pictures, discussions, week by week development updates and my personal
favorite….FREEBIES!
This world loves babies and
loves being a part of the baby
industry. From the important
“grown up” undertakings like
getting your finances in line,
setting up wills, taking classes
and going to Doctor’s appointments to the fun stuff like registries, shopping, seeing your
tiny baby through an ultrasound
or listening to his/her heart
beating…there are places to go
and people to see right here in
our own backyard. Cambridge
is chocked full of options and
wonderful people just waiting
to help you out and guide you.
One of the most amazing
parts of being pregnant is the
people around you. I know
emotions are flying high these
days, but I have to say, it is so
unbelievably humbling to see
how perfect strangers react to
pregnant women. I have never
received so many smiling faces,
open doors, vacant seats, offers
to carry things and overall wonderful wishes. People ask me
when I am due and what I am
having and how I am feeling,
it’s a funny transition to go
from a face in a sea of faces to
an object of interest. I know
Cambridge has that small town
feel but over the last number of
years I feel like we are losing
that a little bit. Now that I am
“with child”, I can’t help but
go back to that same old small
town feeling where people care
about people and are so incredibly friendly.
Don’t get me wrong, I am
very anxious for my baby to
come into this world so we
can begin our lives together.
I’m only going to get bigger
over the next few months and
already I am looking forward
to my belly no longer sitting on
my lap, the frequent bathroom
breaks coming to an end, the
stiff muscles relaxing a little
and for heaven’s sake, I am
looking forward to being able
to be around meat without
gagging. Pregnancy does some
crazy and wonderful things
to our bodies. There’s the unpleasant cramping and morning
sickness along with the aching
breasts and inability to sleep
but there’s also the soft skin,
stronger nails, shinier hair
and overall feeling of being a
natural born WOMAN!
Yes indeed, there is nothing
like being a woman, carrying a
child. I wouldn’t trade this for
the entire world. The very
true internal joy that I feel from
the moment I open my eyes
until the moment I close them
again at night also makes me
think about all the women out
there that don’t ever experience
this or worse, experience it,
only to lose a child.
Life is so precious and for
those of us truly fortunate
enough, please, take care of
your bodies and please be
thankful for what you have
been given. Take this
journey and live every day of it
with a smile on your face and
a thankfulness in your heart
because for some reason, you
have been chosen to embark on
what is clearly the most incredible thing one can experience…
and this is just the beginning!
The Cambridge Citizen
33 Dickson St, Cambridge, on
N1R 7A6
519 277 7234
Managing Editor-Robert Mendonsa
Editor- Kyle-Thomson Diks
Asst. Editor- Journalist-Daryl Vandenberg
Assignment Editor Scot Ferguson-Barber
Photo Editor/Journalist Judee Richardson Schofield
Poetry-Bill Ashwell
Hespeler Happenings-Lary Turner
Sales- Diana Boardman/Dawn Mills
The Adventures of “The Lonely Broker”
W
elcome back to the
Adventures of “The
Lonely Broker”.
Sitting on his favorite park
bench feeding the birds, The
Lonely Broker contemplates his
own retirement. Having spent
a large portion of his lifetime
dedicated to assisting people
to achieve their goals and
dreams and educating them, he
wonders what the next chapter
in his life has in store for him.
Realizing the people in his
community will most likely
still have questions he feels he
should find a successor to continue where he leaves off?
For years he has worked
with his assistant and would
like to see someone continue
educating people in financial
planning. Just then The Lonely
Broker’s assistant shows up.
So the discussion begins about
the assistant taking over where
The Lonely Broker will leave
off. All that I can really pass on
to you my young friend is to
always treat people with respect
and when privileged enough to
be asked, assist them using the
utmost diligence. If you do not
have the answer seek one out,
never guess. Always educate
never dictate. Education is
power and all people need to be
educated in their own financial
and planning affairs so they can
take ownership in their own
success. Last but definitely not
least treat everyone as if they
were a family member. In other
words what advice would you
give your own brother, sister,
etc.
As is “The Lonely Broker’s
style, he shuffles away muttering to himself,” It’s never too
late or too early to ask.”
Authors note: The question and
answer portion of this column
will be continued on an electronic mail platform. Please
continue to email questions to
lonelybroker@yahoo.ca and
all will receive a response via
email.Cheers
The Lonely Broker
Questions and Answers
Dear Lonely Broker:
My husband and I were wondering if there is a simple equation to figure out the amount of
money we will have to save to
enjoy retirement?
Signed: Betty and Joe
Dear Betty and Joe:
Retirement is not a one size fits
all. Each person’s goals and
dreams are unique to themselves. Having said that if you
look at your lifestyle now and
the cost associated with it, then
project your desired retirement
lifestyle and the cost associated in today’s dollars, adjust
for inflation. This should give
you a starting point. Once you
have a rough calculation seek
the advice of a professional
to assist you in designing a
custom financial plan for your
family. Good luck with your
planning.
Signed: The Lonely Broker
Please email questions to lone-
lybroker@yahoo.ca
8
The day the flood came to Cambridge
Local History
Flood Cont. from page 1
F
or some others, like the
Adams, a year ago now
was “c1ean up” time, a
dirty job that somebody had
to do. But first, back to the
beginning....
It had to be one of the sunniest, prettiest May days in
anyone’s memory, one of the
‘pre1ude to summer days, that
turned out to be a prelude to
disaster.
I could not understand the
flurry at CETJ Radio when
I returned I returned from a
“nothing amiss” luncheon at
Cambridge City Hall, but good
friend Jack Etherton, wearing a
worried frown, said “the river
is rising and rising fast.
It me an hour to get out of
the downtown core area (At
about 2:30 in the afternoon)
and while I was fighting traffic
CFTJ left the air, because of
water problems in the basement of the Canada Trust
building, and an equipment
failure.
I was frightened. Putting
the kids in the car. I carefully
picked my way back downtown, taking all the off beat
side streets to avoid the traffic
snarl, and finally left the car on
Bruce Street.
We joined the crowds that
were almost running down
Ainslie and joined a smiling
jovial, not-one-bit—worried
Wee Willie, standing in the
doorway of the store and forecasting to is, or anyone who
would listen that the water
certainly wasn’t going to come
that far up Main Street.
The kids and l were not so
sure!We had luggage for sale
in those days, and into every
overnighter and train case in
stock we packed watches, gold
jewelry, diamond rings, and
we slugged those bags back up
Ainslie Street and into the car
on Bruce Street.
By the time we had made
three trips, even Willie wasn’t
smiling any more. The toilet
in the basement had become a
geyser, spewing water seven
feet in the air and depositing
it by the gallons on inactive
stock, Christmas decorations
and paper supplies in the cellar.
The water was running down
Ainslie Street, somehow
having found a strange route
up Dickson and around. and
Dat Ole Man Ribber juss keep
rolling along, right through
the city.
What had been an almost
‘carnival atmosphere’ in the
early afternoon suddenly
became not just serious but
almost deadly. People were
marooned in houses, cars had
floated off of parking lots, and
we force of that surging water
made it almost impossible to
cross the street.
It was an evening of tears
and an evening of horror...and
that was just the beginning, the
biggest challenge was picking
up the pieces.
I remember it Hell...and I
remember it well. I remember
standing one afternoon in the
lane beside Mannion’s, hosing
off bedsprings.
I remember people like
Clive and Joan Ireland, and
Gerry Wrights two daughters
(one in an advanced stage of
pregnancy) in the dirty, dank
old basement of our store,
washing dishes for several
afternoons.
I remember Rob Bendus,
our young neighbor almost
swimming across the store
basement to try to free up
the drains and get the water
moving. (It wasn’t until some
days later we found that our
electrical box had blown, and
live wires were hanging down
just inches from the water.)
There emerged a sea of
black hats, each one on a stout
Mennonite brother, converging
on the area with fellowship,
brawn and ambition.
I remember making friends
with some of the boys from
the Guelph slammer, who were
carting things out of the basement of the Right House, and
how well I remember Mayor
Claudette Millar, walking the
streets of the city and breaking
her heart over what had happened to its people.
There were emergency
meetings of city council, calls
to the Province and anyone
else who might listen, and a
million tears shed by a lot of
different people for a million
flood related reasons.
There was even that memorable picture of a policeman,
standing at what was Patterson
Schal1er’s corner, apparently
unperturbed by the water up
to his waist, because he had
been ordered to stand there
and stand there he would.
Somehow, most people survived, and if a little bit of their
life, and a little bit of their
spunk flowed away down the
muddy waters of the Grand
River, they carried on the best
they could.
But I never want to see
it again. I never want to see
nice people looking like Ted
Frantze at the European Delicatessen, and the chap who operated the Sorrento, looking at
what was left of their businesses, and knowing full well that
it would be some time until the
public health authorities would
approve their reopening.
I never want to experience that smell again, it was a
heavy odor, a combination of
mould, mildew, dirty water and
futility.
Sports
9
History of Flamboro Raceway
RANDY SPENCER
COLUMNIST
E
very summer for the
past 51 years, many
city residents have
made the trek down down
highway 8 or 97 to a field
just outside Freelton near
Milgrove, Ontario. A quiet
peaceful little village, where
the big Saturday night attraction used to be “sitting on the
curb to watch the chrome on
the cars rust.” That was until
1962 when Flamboro Speedway opened it’s gates and it
soon became the ‘in’ spot for
stock car racing enthusiasts.
“When we opened the track,
many people thought we were
crazy building it at Freelton,”
said Glen Schurr, the veteran
stock car driver and one of the
original owners of Flamboro.
“We’re close to Hamilton,
as well as Kitchener, Galt,
Guelph and Brantford, and
not that far from Toronto and
London. Our track is easy to
reach on good roads,” said
Schurr.
Once just a farmer’s field, a
group of five shareholders got
together and bought the land
and built the track for $60,000.
The group was headed by
Schurr and his car owner
and partner Russ Cockwell.
Schurr was a successful super
modified driver for 11 seasons.
Cockwell was a car owner
and a Listowel garage man
who also operated Nilestown
and Delaware Speedway near
London for a time. Bill Ferris,
who owned a bus line, Herb
Sage, a Listowel farmer and
Leno Didero, who supplied
all the fill and gravel for the
track, were the other partners.
CNE driver John Flach, a surveyor for the Department of
Highways, laid out the track.
Many residents of Galt,
Preston and Hespeler...back
in the day, now Cambridge of
course, were part of the huge
throngs of fans that descended on the track weekly to see
their heroes pilot their rocket
ships to victory and many
times spectacular crashes.
When it was built, it featured
the latest type metal grandstands with seating for 6,000.
The first race took place July
28, 1962. Louis Cremasco had
the honor of winning the first
ever race at the new track with
Jack McCutcheon of Brussels
winning the first feature race. Some of the big names from
the first few years at Flamboro
included former NHL goalie
Andy Brown, Harvey Lennox,
Gary Witter, Glen Schurr,
Jimmy Howard, Howie Scannell, Warren Coniam, Jack
McCutcheon, Sam Snider,
Jack Cook and Jack Greedy.
Nolan Swift, Jimmy Shampine and Nolan Johncock were
some of the best known US
Super Modified drivers in
racing history that competed
very successfully at Flamboro. In the fall of 1968, Rocco
DiCarlo purchased the track
from Schurr and his group.
Many big changes took place
in 1968 when Flamboro followed the trend of many of
the other local tracks as well
as Nascar and USAC, dropping the very popular Super
Modified division for Late
Models that still run today.
In the spring of 1972, Roco
DiCarlo bought Pinecrest
Speedway and ran it along
with Flamboro. On May 31st
racing made a big switch as
racing was moved to Wednesday nights from the traditional
Friday/Saturday nights. With
several tracks in the area,
Flamboro, Speedway Park,
Delaware and Cayuga all
running Fridays-Sundays and
Pinecrest running Saturdays,
DiCarlo moved the Flamboro
race night to mid week. This
proved to be the beginning of
the end of racing at Flamboro
and by early summer of ‘72
the track closed it’s doors and
it was dark for the remainder
of the year. It was only 4 short
years previous that Flamboro
was the undisputed #1 track
in Canada. In 1973, John and
Frank Casale purchased the
track and have been running it
ever since. With all my involvement
personally with the track over
the past few years, I have
asked for and received permis-
sion from the Casales’s to start
the Flamboro Stadium and
Speedway and Museum. It’s a
great undertaking but has been
well received so far and the
inaugural class of nominees
are currently being voted on
for induction to the Hall of
Fame later this year. In 2013,
large display cases and many
displays of old memorabilia
will be on display weekly. A
scrapbook history project of
approximately 5000+ pages
is also in the works. Anyone
that has anything to donate or
loan to the hall is encouraged
to email us atflamborohalloffame@rogers.com and for
more information check our
website,http://www.flam-
borospeedwayhalloffame.
com/ the track website can be
located at http://www.flamborospeedway.itgo.com/
42 years of flipping with The Cambridge Kips!
ALISON SAUNDERS
COLUMNIST
T
here is an expression
around town that goes
“I flip for Kips!” and I
couldn’t agree with it more!
Tonight the Preston Kips
location was filled with
bouncing, flipping, tumbling,
jumping (what height!) and
swinging! The members looked
great on the floor during practise as several coaches kept
a close eye on the gymnasts
and had much encouragement
and positive feedback for this
hardworking crew on the floor!
The dedication and determination was evident for every turn,
twist and flight (I am convinced some of these girls were
actually flying!).
The Kips were formed in
1971 and are the oldest and
only not-for-profit gymnastics club in Cambridge. Since
1971, literally thousands of
children have participated in
programs that have not only
developed their gymnastics
skills but also built important
life and social skills such as cooperation, dedication, responsibility and confidence.
The Cambridge Kips Gymnastics Club is on track to have
a leaping busy year as children
continue to register for fall programs. The club has seen an
almost 50% increase in registration compared to last year at
the same time.
“We are really excited by
this registration data” said
Joanne Heyes, President of
the club. “We are sensing
that families are registering
their children into the Cambridge Kips for factors such as
affordability”.
The Kips offer over 100
different gymnastic classes
at two different locations (in
Preston and Hespeler) to over
1,000 children a year in programs ranging from KinderGym, Tumbling and Recreation Programs to Competitive
Programs in Women’s’ Artistic
Gymnastics and Trampoline
for Boys and Girls.
This month, the Cambridge
Kips will be hosting its first
ever Halloween themed fundraising event. “The event is
sure to be spook-tacular and
we invite members of the community to participate in this fun
event” commented Stephanie
Scherer, Chair of the fundraising event. There will be a kid’s
event and an adult event, both
are definitely worth attending!
Information about the programs & the Spook-tacular
event can be found at www.
cambridgekips.com
Enrollment is up, the
jumping, flipping and swinging
are also up, exciting fundraising events are underway, the
new board members have been
voted in, tournaments are being
planned and dreams are continuing to be built… it is going
to be an exciting 42nd year so
be ready to flip for the Kips in
the 2012 & 2013 season!
10
Around Town
The zombies are coming to Hespeler!
Zombies are coming Cont. from
Pg. 1
‣
T
he dead are scheduled
to meet at the Hespeler
Masonic Hall at 1 Groh
Ave. (across from the Tim
Hortons) at 2:00 p.m. where
they will crawl or shuffle down
Queen Street to the downtown
area then loop around back to
the hall where an after -party
concert is scheduled to take
place.
The walk itself is free to
anyone wishing to participate,
but the concert which highlights four local bands is $10 in
advance or $15 at the door.
The zombiewalk is being
organized by the merchants
of the village of Hespeler, in
particular Alison Saunders of
Rowan Photography Studio,
Kerri Mercer of Black Orchid
Designs and Jodi Cross of The
Cat, The Book and The Candle,
in response to various customers’ interest to walks in Toronto
which have been very trendy
lately and also to the increased
popularity of the whole zombie
culture, which included requests to Rowan’s Studio for
Santa zombie Christmas cards.
“When we first starting
talking about this we thought
this was the first one in Cambridge but we quickly found out
that there had been attempts in
the past with limited success.
Zombiewalk came together
very quickly between the business holders with the idea that
we wanted to tie the community to business to artists,” said
Saunders.
The four bands playing the
after party are Alanna Krajewski, Credit Valley, Valkyrie and
Save The Humans. Daryl VandenBerg, a member of Save The
Humans group, which given the
nature of the event, is an appropriate name for a band.
“It’s going to be a weird and
wacky time of pre-Halloween
craziness where Hespeler gets
ravaged by a bunch of zombie
wannabes. I’m glad to be a part
of a creative and stranger way
of doing something that includes music, art and community,” said VandenBerg.
As well as just a fun event
the zombiewalk is also being
used as way to bring awareness
to the organ donation problem
facing Canada.
According to Candice
Coghlan the funds development
officer for the Western Ontario
chapter of the Kidney Foundation, on average, 4300 Canadians are waiting for organ transplants, of those, 80 per cent
are waiting for a kidney. Also,
everyday 16 people are told that
their kidneys are failing. Sobering statistics that most people
aren’t aware of until it hits
someone close to you.
“This is just a great way to
raise awareness and bring a
comical note to something that
isn’t all that humorous, especially when it affects someone
you love,” said Coghlan.
For this reason people are
reminded that no longer is your
driver’s license used to notify
emergency personal of your
desire to donate your organs in
case of an accident, so throughout the walk there will be
computer stations setup where
people can register online at
www.beadonor.ca to let their
wishes be known.
Also along the route, the
Kidney Foundation will have
donation boxes and will be
selling glow sticks for the kids
to help raise money for the
foundation.
A makeup artist will be available one hour before the walk
for those looking to get especially ghoulish with packages
ranging from “two feet under to
four feet under, all the way to
six feet under.” As well, Saun-
ders will be available at the hall
and have the photo studio set up
for anyone looking to have their
zombie look saved for future
admiration.
People can expect to see
everyone from little kids to
seniors and everyone in-between, organizers remind
people to dress appropriately
and to say that props are great
but remember that arms or legs
may seem like a good prop
idea, but after you’ve walked
for half an hour carrying them
you may not feel the same
way, and arms and legs are
not a good thing to have lying
around with a bunch of zombies
around. Also don’t forget your
water bottles people, organizers
don’t want any real dead people
lying on the streets due to dehydration, it will just distract the
zombies from their walk.
The concert is all-ages and
tickets can be bought at the following locations Rowan Photography Studio,Black Orchid
Designs,The Cat The Book &
The Candle, Maskerade Manor,
Pops Music Shop, Java Garden,
Millpond Records and Books,
Spun Turtle, 2nd Star To the
Right, Krajewski Gallery,
The Vault, Dehleas Boutique,
Natural Vibe and Soaring Spirit,
tickets are limited so people
are asked to buy soon as the
organizers would hate to turn
anyone away at the door.
Above all, organizers say this
is just a fun way to meet new
people, get some exercise and
support some local artists, as
well as interact with the Kidney
Foundation and of course just
have some good old fashioned
zombie fun.
One last piece of advice
from the organizers, in case
you’re confronted with some
real zombies along your walk,
don’t worry, you only need to
be faster than the person beside
you.
Photo By: Rob Mendonsa
ZombieWalk organizers from left to right Alison Saunders, Kerri Mercer and Jodi Cross
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CC 2012
Golden Years
11
Elinor’s garden
SHELLY BYERS
COLUMNIST
“
Digging in the dirt is good
for the soul,” says my
mother, Edna, who still
enjoys her backyard garden at
the age of 80. However, the
overwhelming heat these past
years has made it difficult to
get out. As well, her knees,
at times, decide that they
are staying on her gardening
mat, in the crouched position
– locked.
Sadly, I did not inherit my
mother’s green-gene. However,
with my bluish, purple thumb
in hand I set off to find indoor
gardening advice for apartment
dwellers, and those with locked
knees. With fall upon us, gardening can bring the outdoors
indoors.
While on holiday in Wiarton,
I trod around town to find a
gardener with experience.
I happened upon Katherine
(Kat), whose artistic creations
at the local marina have made
her famous for over 17 years.
“All you need are
windows!” Kat advises. “And
Photo by: Shelly Byers
patience.”
Kat learned from one of the
best in the area, her mother,
Elinor. Kat not only inherited
her sparkling eyes and bright
smile, but her green thumb. By the age of 75 Elinor
tended a whopping 55 gardens,
each started in little pots in
her kitchen. I sat beside one of
these last remaining gardens
as Kat and I spoke at the home
where her mother spent many
years digging in the dirt.
“Mom couldn’t afford to buy
the plants, so she seeded,” says
Kat bringing out a picture of
her mother standing proudly
behind a wildly colourful
flower garden.
Kat’s advice is to situate
your burgeoning garden in the
kitchen or near the bathroom to
take advantage of the moist air.
South and east facing windows
are best, but using a cool white
light (florescent) will work if
windows are inaccessible.
Set newspapers between the
window and planters to prevent
damage from the cold. Window
trays or peat pots work well for
seeding. However, margarine
tubs are cheaper. Covering
your seeds with plastic tents
will help keep in the moisture.
“The instructions on the
seed pack are bullet proof,” she
adds.
As we talk about her
mother’s gardens and the best
way to start an indoor plant
paradise, I glance back at
the picture of Elinor. When
heart troubles set in, she was
unable to continue her passion
outdoors.
“It was one of the most difficult changes in her life,” states
Kat.
We walk through the yard
toward the house and Kat explains that letting indoor plants
dry out before watering again
Elinor with Violin: Elinor traded her violin and bow for a rake and Elinor’s Garden: Elinor behind one of the 55 gardens she tended
hoe
will avoid root rot. Mist them
daily to clean and refresh and
turn on a fan to keep the air
moving. Consistency is key.
“Just like children,” Kat
shakes her finger at me with a
smile. “It’s all experimental.
Don’t be afraid!”
We walk into the house
where her mother and father
retired to spend their last years
together. When we enter, I
am overwhelmed with delight
and surprise. An oil painted
Eden grows throughout the
living area, bedroom and spills
beyond into the hallways and
kitchen. As Elinor watched her
beloved gardens become overgrown outside, she took up her
paintbrush and created gardens
that would never wither or
fade.
Kat continues, “Begonias
and Geraniums are perfect
indoor flowers.”
I listen while taking in the
Photo by: Shelly Byers
beauty of the paintings.
“Morning Glories bring the
summer inside and Rosemary flowers beautifully in the
winter. Impatiens, Sunflowers
and Marigolds are summer in a
pot,” Kat says then takes me to
the room where her favourite
pictures hang.
“We had to get rid of so
many,” tears still sting from the
recent passing of Elinor. “But
we kept the best.”
There are over 100 paintings
in the two rooms I have seen.
Elinor’s brush strokes create
light, colour and the filmy
luminescence of petals damp
with dew. Many pieces were
hung in the local library.
“I remember her art work
as being bold, colourful and
everyone had something positive to say about her work,”
says Clare from the Wiarton
Library. “We’re very fortunate to have caring people
like Elinor (who helped)
create a warm and inviting
atmosphere…”
Another picture stands in the
middle of the room. A young,
shy Elinor wears a gown of
silver. In her hand is a violin
and bow.
“Mom could have been on
stage,” Kat touches the frame.
“But, she wanted a family and
her gardens more.”
Trading her violin and bow
for a rake and hoe, then brush
and canvas, Elinor made her
gardens grow through all
weather and all seasons.
Mom is right. Digging in
the dirt is good for the soul. It
makes us bloom in unexpected
ways.
Around Town
Citizens Care
12
E
very three days someone dies in Ontario because the life-saving organ transplant they need
is not available, yet less than 25% of Ontarians have registered their consent to be a donor.
It’s really surprising, and it’s not good enough. Especially for the 1,500 people in our province waiting for organ transplants and the thousands more waiting for tissue transplants. In February, The Citizen published a story about a Cambridge mother who gave a kidney to save
her daughters life. The daughter, Candice Coghlan, is now the funds development officer for the Western Ontario
chapter of the Kidney Foundation, and we want to help her by raising awareness of the importance
of organ donation. It takes two minutes to fill out a form that can save eight lives. Let’s show that Cambridge Citizens Care.
Have we carved away the true face of Halloween
JUDEE RICHARDSONSCHOFIELD
COLUMNIST
W
ith fall in full swing
and the landscape
offering colours of
ginger and gold it makes one
reminiscent of Halloweens
gone by. Homes were filled
with mouth watering aromas
of homemade candies being
lovingly prepared. Bubbling
children excitingly dug through
moms make up for face
paint and explored the musty
trunk in the attic for perfect
costumes.
It was a time when families
allotted time for visits to local
farms for the selection of the
perfect pumpkin, to be adoringly carved into a jack-o-lan-
tern to greet the spunky trick
or treaters on Halloween eve.
And we must not forget that
Jacks seeds were preserved and
tenderly roasted for an extra
special harvest treat.
Unfortunately plastic and
ceramic replicas of the jacko-lantern do not bare the treasure trove of seeds as the great
orange fruits of the past did. The chemically laden confections can’t hold a candle to
grandma’s homemade candies
and no prefabricated Ironman
suit can compare to the delightful wardrobes that children can
conjure up when permitted to
explore their imaginations.
There once was a time when
children ran freely through the
streets with little or no supervision while today our children
have been equipped with flashlights, reflector tape and a crew
of paranoid parents.
Silly pranks have turned to
life threatening attempts on
children creating a society full
of fear.
Regrettably the media has
retired the mischievous ghosts
and bizarre characters of yesteryears in order to satisfy
societies increasing hunger
for an eternity of terrors. The
once popular black and white
vampire movies have been
overshadowed with plausible
sadistic hidden agendas in
techno colour with surround
sound, engulfing the viewer.
So I ask you, have we
become so desensitized that
the face that we carve on the
pumpkin has taken a contorted reflection of what we have
become?
Lifestyle
13
Learning from death
MARK ZLOMISLIC
COLUMNIST
I
read the obituaries. I read
them not because I have
a morbid fascination with
death. They are read to discern
the wisdom of how one might
learn to live.
I often think they can be
read as a form of love letter.
Love is learning what you must
become through examples provided by others in your life.
Beyond its sensual practice,
love in essence is the constant
shaking up of yourself in a
movement of transformation.
But love and death are transformative experiences that forever
change us.
Notice how obituaries resemble small printed crypts
that contain messages for those
who take the time to decipher
their almost silent summons; so
much in a life to be reduced to
a paragraph. Most are tidy and
generic. Some stand out with
splendor. All are sad to read.
There is something strange
about them and not only
because they are written for us
by others. Perhaps we could
write our own testimonials. But
in a sense we are already doing
that through our daily living.
In our mourning we grieve
for the restoration of a prior
order. We have lost but know
not what has been lost. Many
have a difficult time dealing
with this ultimate sadness. No
one teaches us how to work
through our grief. Our culture
pushes death out of its capitalistic perimeter and has us
believe that happiness as the
accumulation of goods is the
ultimate end. Pascal wrote that
the secret task of culture was
to offer us distractions so that
we never have to face who we
really are.
We end up pursuing this
bovine contentment so that
outwardly our lives resemble
the tidy obituary in the form of
the perfect lawn that receives
scores of awed visitors, pruned
gardens with just the right front
yard sculpture with no trace of
weeds in the perfect neighborhood that used to be a farmer’s
field. Yet something is missing
that no amount of self medicated brew can restore.
I think Nietzsche and Stephen
CARMEL McDOUGALL
Course Administrator
16 Water St. N., Cambridge, Ontario N1R 3B1
King were right when they
made the observation that most
of humanity lives as if they
were already dead. They fear
actually living. In our fear we
create a plastic throwaway
culture that forgets the sacred.
And yet we long for real connection and deep intimacy.
The obituaries teach us not
how to deal with death but how
to confront our finitude. Finitude is that which encircles us.
It is not an end point that we
move towards.
Would our self-written testimonials tell the truth in the
form of the typical regret,
“ I have failed to live fully
because of fear” or would they
reveal another way to be. In
scanning the death notices I
have encountered lives that
were lived with courage,
hope, care and devotion. What
matters, I think is that we accomplish what we were called
to do without merely existing; without living the farce of
fulfilling absurd alien expectations that only waste the life
we have been given.
Bus. (519) 622 5012
Res. (519) 620 9006
Occupy unity
STACY SHEASBY
COLUMNIST
T
here is a flurry of posts
on social media to get
the message out about
September 17th. What is so
important about September
17th? It is not only the anniversary of the worldwide Occupy
Movement, it is also almost
serendipitously the day that
our Canadian Parliament goes
back in session. What fates
will await the trusting Canadian Citizen? If the past is any
predictor of the future, when it
comes to Harper Government…
It isn’t going to be pretty. Like,
a forgotten ember rekindling the
feelings of unrest, let the protests begin.
Trying to show my support
for the movement I contacted
some organizers of different
events in Toronto and Hamilton. One seemed completely
disorganized with the creator of
the event skipping town to join
the bigger movement scheduled
in Ottawa. Feeling dumfounded as to why most of Canada’s
movements generally seem to
wane in enthusiasm compared
to other World Movements, I
began to question, what is it
that sets us apart?
That is just it! We are apart.
We are divided and we are con-
quered. It is not that there is a
lack of individuals unsatisfied
or down right angry about our
faltering democracy, environmental degradation, threat of
major losses in privacy, electoral fraud, or even economic repression. Everyone has an issue
these days. A day doesn’t go by
where even national newspapers
are reporting even more shocking actions by the Government.
So why is it, when I listen to
the radio talking about a teachers protest in Kitchener, I hear
people attacking each other?
Divide and Conquer! A
very useful tool used to create
dissidence amongst the mass.
Whether it is Jews against
Christians, or Union Workers
against the non-unionized
minimum wage employee and
so on. As long as we fight
amongst ourselves we never
unite against the true threat, for
we always remain distracted
in the me against you, or us
against them game. So quick
are we to find blame on a group
of people that you’ve be led
to believe are the threat. “It’s
those darn students!” “Blame
the Unions!” “Those Teachers have it too good anyway”.
Never do we realize that every
fight for freedom, democracy,
better wages, better health care
is a fight that benefits all.
Is it really Preston, Galt
or Hespeler? Can in not be
Cambridge?
Is it really Cambridge, Kitchener or Waterloo?
Is it really Canadian Auto
Workers, Nurses, or Immigrant
Farm Hands?
Why is it or at all? Can
we not see what benefits the
part will in turn benefit the
whole? If the work standards
are improved for one group it
opens the doorway for them to
be improved for other groups.
Instead of working against each
other perhaps it is time we recognize the powerful truth that
there is strength in numbers.
Not just a little bit of strength
but a mass so large it can
change the world in miraculous
ways. This has been seen repetitively through history. United
means mass over mastery.
Just think of what could
occur from a municipal level to
the highest federal level if we
let go of the illusion of division
and banded together, standing
up for the place we call home.
On the Anniversary of Occupy
I shout out from my make shift
podium, bull horn in hand, here
in the Cambridge Citizen…
Citizens Unite!
Stacy Sheasby
Inspiring Joy Today!
Health
14
Let it Heal Cambridge
Unlocking your Body's Natural
Healing Potential
Potential
•
•
•
•
•
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Sciatica
Frozen Shoulder
Migraines
Herniations
Tail bone issues
See website for more
info!!
26 Swastika Trail Cambridge 519 249 1952
15
Spiritual Well-Being
JODI CROSS THE
WITCH OF HESPELER
COLUMNIST
T
his month I would like
to address something
a little different than I
normally would in this column.
About a month ago, a girl who
was very distraught came into
my store.
She was crying and quite
visibly shaken.
She told me that she had
gone for a reading to a man
who claims to be a psychic in
Cambridge.
This man told the girl who
came into my store that she had
a curse on her, and unless she
gave this “psychic” $600.00 to
lift the curse that had been bestowed on her she would lose
her children, lose her home and
misfortune would befall her
entire family.
He went so far as to tell
her that because of this curse
that was placed upon her that
flies were dropping dead in
his office so therefore she
was obliged to buy a vacuum
cleaner for him so he could
clean up the dead flies.
She came to my store
wanting a second opinion on
if what this man (and I use the
term loosely) had told her was
true.
I assured her that it was certainly not true that she had a
curse placed upon her and he
The Wiccan Way
was the only one who could
save her and her family from
certain disaster.
I was enraged that somebody
could be so heartless as to prey
on somebody else’s fears in
this way. So I called this man
directly. I told him who I was,
where I was calling from and
asked him if it was true that he
was telling people that they had
curses on them and for a huge
amount of money he would lift
the curse.
Of course at first he denied
it. But I pressed on and told
him I had somebody right in
front of me who had just come
from his place for a reading
and had told me just that.
He then became irate and
kept repeating that “he had a
business to run”
I asked him how he could
sleep at night and he hung up
on me.
Right after the store closed
that night I decided to pay this
guy a visit face to face.
His sign said “Open” but his
door was locked.
There are some genuinely
gifted Readers out there who
care, who have only your best
interests at heart and who really
can help you if you are seeking
insights into situations in your
life, unsure of what direction
is best for you or looking to
connect with Spirit.
Then there are also others
out there like this man who
don’t have a gift, are out there
to make a quick buck and prey
on people’s fears and insecurities for their own ends.
If you ever go to a Reader or
any practioner of the Alternative Arts and feel any of the
following happening, WALK
OUT THE DOOR!
If you feel
*Pressured
*If they ask you for extra
money other than the initial
fee agreed upon for the
service
*If they try to instill fear
upon you
*If they talk about things
like “curses” that only they
can lift
A good reader does not need
to ask you a lot of questions
before and during the reading.
Everyone has their own styles,
but it will usually be a combination of their intuition, their
ability to connect with Spirit
and their medium of choice
whether it be Cards, Runes or
no other medium at all.
Please make sure that if you
are going for a reading that
you feel comfortable with that
person.
As I said before, there are
some truly gifted people out
there who have the ability to
read energies, connect with
Spirit and convey their messages to you to help you on your
journey.
And then there are those out
there like that guy.
Soaring Spirit in October
YOGA
Mondays
Kundalini Yoga.... 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Tuesdays
Vinyasa Flow Yoga 9:30 to 10:30 am
Tween Yoga 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Vinyasa Flow (45 min) and Restorative Yoga (45 min) 7 to 8:30 pm
Wednesdays
Kids Yoga 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm
Thursdays
Vinyasa Flow Yoga 8:30 to 9:30 am
Meditation Yoga 9:30 am to 10:30 am
Saturdays
Kids Yoga 9:30 am to 10:00 am
World Yoga Wave - FREE - September 30th 7:00 pm
New Moon and Full Moon Meditation Yoga - 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Workshops and Classes
Healing Circle with Wendy Leader Wednesdays 10:00 am to 11:30
am or 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm or Sundays 11:00 am to 12:30 pm
Intuitive Development with Gary Noseworthy - Thursdays 7 to 9 pm
Reiki Level I with Candace Hawkshaw - Sunday September 30th 9:00
am to 5:00 pm or Monday October 22nd
Tarot Shares - with Sarah Nickason - Friday October 19th 7:00 pm
to 9:00 pm
Chakras with Monica Noseworthy - Starting October 21st 4 weeks
2:00 pm to 4:00pm
The Shaman Way - with Patricia Kennedy - Saturday October 27th
3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
The Art of Reading The Palm - with Patricia Kennedy - Sunday
October 28th 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Dreams, What Do They Mean? - with Patricia Kennedy - Sunday
October 28th 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Kids Reiki Certification Course with Sarah Nickason and Candace
Hawkshaw- Friday October 12th - 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Tarot Workshop - with the Olive Readers - Saturday November 17th
12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Sound Healing Workshop and Concert with Michael Moon Saturday
November 17th 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
16
Wildlife
Feline Follies: How to
Train a Cat
Lary Turner
COLUMNIST
I
t was the late 1970s and
the summer had been hot;
not unlike the July weather
this year. As an outside worker,
sweltering through the hottest
part of each day, I looked
forward with great anticipation
to joining friends at days end
for a cold one at the Hespeler
Legion.
Filling my hand at the bar
with a mug of golden liquid,
I looked around at a near full
barroom. Running late, I had
missed my opportunity to gain
a chair at the big long table
by the bar, where stories flew
long and fast. Down the line of
tables I spotted an old workmate and friend Jim Alexander
and his son Jay, an empty chair
beckoned at their table.
I joined them with the usual
pleasantries and exchanged
comments and opinions regarding the overbearing hot spell.
Jim, a true war hero who
had been awarded the Military
Medal for valor, was a large
Scot with a twinkle in his eye
and a devilish sense of humour.
We had worked together for a
few years at Simplicity Products Ltd. before I left to follow
other pursuits. The conversation took a more serious note
when Jim asked; “You know
that woman that lives in my
house?”
Now I was aware that when
Jim referred to his good wife
Elsie in such a fashion, you
better pay attention because
something important was about
Birdwatching:Migration
to follow. I acknowledged that
yes, I did.
“You know she loves cats?”
Having visited and seen the
cats at their home, I replied yes
again. “Well,” he stated “She
brought home another stray
and it is the dirtiest cat in the
world!” Of course, I made the
mistake of asking why he felt
that way.
“You know the front room
that faces west at our house?” I
agreed that I was aware of the
old farmhouse layout. “I like to
open the large window, enjoy
the nice evening breeze while
reclining in my chair, read the
newspaper by the setting sun
and relax at the end of a hard
day.” I agreed it sounded great.
“Well that cat had never been
house trained and it sneaked
under my chair and did his
business on the floor!” You got
to be kidding, I replied, what
did you do? “I grabbed him by
the scuff of his neck and threw
him right out the window! “
I’d have done the same thing, I
ventured.
“Well, it didn’t work “he
said, “the very next day he did
it again and again I threw it out
the window!” I would have got
rid of the cat then and there,
I opined. “Well that’s not an
option as you know she loves
cats. This went on for about
a week before I finally got it
trained.”
“It stopped going in the
house?” I asked.
“No, not exactly” he said
with a slight smirk on his face,
“but now it sh*ts on the floor
and jumps out the window!”
I spewed a mouthful down
the front of my shirt!
PETER BLUEMAN
COLUMNIST
E
very autumn,when the
leaves are blowing off
the trees,and theres frost
on the lawn in the morning,
it signals to the birds,its time
to fly to more favourable
grounds.Migratory patterns
have evolved over thousands
of years,and different species
have developed different patterns.Timing,grouping,altitu
de,fuelling,cloud cover,wind
fields,stopovers,over water
flights,all must be taken into
consideration.
Songbirds that rely mainly
on insects or fruit generally have a broad migratory route,and travel as far as
Mexico,Central America,or
the Carribean,and a few go to
South America.
They fly at night,usually not
in big groups,and will fly at
up to 10,000ft.alt.,they can
travel approximately 25 miles
per hour,more with a strong
tailwind,and their journey takes
about 3-4 nights with possibly a few stopover rest days in
between.
Waterfowl fly in large
flocks,day or night ,and they
prefer clear skies and a good
tailwind.Flying at up to 20,000
ft alt. Geese and Ducks can
cover hundreds of miles during
a singlehigh altitude flight.
Migratory Eagles,Hawks,and
Vultures routinely migrate at
up to 20,000ft alt.Thats as high
as the highest N.American
mountain, Mt.McKinley.
Not all birds migrate,a
few species including The
Common Poorwill hibernates.
For birds that are seedeaters,or
if an adequate food supply is
available,and if they can adapt
to colder temperatures,many
will stay year round.It is important that if a feeder is offered
in summer months,it should
be maintained throughout the
winter also,moreso in harsh
weather,as some birds may
become dependent on the food
source and skip migration. Until next time, happy birding!
997 King Street East, Cambridge, ON.
1 (519) 653-7574
Hespeler Happenings
Lary Turner
COLUMNIST
I
t certainly feels like we
have moved into fall as I
write this column. The air
is crisp and I was forced to put
on a sweater for my walk early
this morning. Looking out the
window, I see a lot of leaves
are already down and I will be
forced to dig the rake from the
garden shed very soon.
Wow, if you did not attend
the Hespeler Harvest Fest last
Saturday, you missed out on a
great event! Organized by the
Hespeler Village Neighbourhood Association, it was the
third successful event in downtown Hespeler in the last three
months. The weather was great,
the entertainment was top
notch and the games provided
fun for the whole family. I can
only hope that the committee
can match or surpass it next
year!
Next up on the schedule for
this year is “Music & Lights
in the Village”; the kickoff to
the Christmas in Cambridge
events. The date is Friday November 30th and the evening
begins with a Christmas play
at the Hespeler Library at 6:30
pm, followed by a Christmas
concert by the Cambridge Children’s Choir at St. Andrew’s
Hespeler Presbyterian Church
at 7:00 and a Magical Tree
Lighting ceremony at 8:15 pm.
Come out and join us and let’s
kick off the holiday season
with some style.
The Hespeler Santa Claus
Parade goes December 1st at
noon. Parade Marshall Russell
Bygrave assures me all is in
place, and by the looks of the
applications landing in his
mailbox, it will be as big if
not bigger, than last year. The
parade just continues to grow
year after year. Russell tells
me Santa is really pleased and
will be once again handing out
goodie bags at the Hespeler Scout House in Forbes Park
following the parade!
The Hespeler Library announces it will be closed for
Thanksgiving on Monday
October 7th and Tuesday
October 8th. The library will
be holding its yearly book sale
from Friday October 12th to
Thursday October 18th. This is
a great time to pick up some
good inexpensive used books.
The Hespeler Legion Br. #272
has swung into its fall and
winter schedule with all sports
leagues up and running. Special
dinner dates to put on your
calendar include the Ladies
Auxiliary’s Cabbage Roll
Dinner, Friday October 12th,
Branch#272’s Remembrance
Day Dinner, Saturday November 3rd and Big John’s Pigtail/
Schnitzel Dinner, Saturday November 17th. These events are
open to the public, so come out
and join in the fun!
Poetry
From secrets to bouquets
BILL ASHWELL
POETRY COLUMNIST
B
ajatell knows how to
keep a secret. Kept it
hidden for years from
friends, family and coworkers. Bajatell (born Pierre. He
won’t disclose his surname)
was illiterate; he couldn’t read
or write.
“Of course I knew how
to write my name. I learned
how to write a few words, but
I couldn’t write a letter,” he
said in an interview I had with
him recently.
For years, it seemed to
him, it was enough to get by,
but just. “Even my children
did not know,” he said. “My
wives covered for me and did
it all for me because I was
insistent about not saying
anything.”
Born in Gatineau, Quebec
and given up for adoption
when he was nine months old,
he was taken to an orphanage and raised by nuns until
he was three. “I stayed there
quite late. In fact, the nuns
were getting frightened; they
thought they might have to
keep me as a young man and
then they would have turned
me into a priest so they were
happy to get rid of me (in a
good way) at three years old,”
said Bajatell.
“I was not very good in
school. I hated it and eventually quit and left home when I
was 16…”
…and kept his secret hidden
for the next 40 years, the
secret which came to light last
year when as a member of the
safety committee at his place
of employment, Bajatell was
required to present and read
a report.
“When the time came
for me to read the report, I
panicked. I said, ‘I’m sick.
I won’t be there.’ They told
me that if I valued my job
I would be there. I didn’t
know what to do. When it
came time to read this report
I sort of got dizzy and, well,
fainted. The stress was
awful,” he said.
After that Bajatell met with
his employer and confessed
the secret. “(My employer)
was very understanding and
assured me I would keep my
job, but that I needed help. It
was a very emotional moment
for me. I was told there was a
place for me to go where they
could help me.
Arrangements were made,
and Bajatell went to the Literacy Group of Waterloo
Region to learn to read and
write.
“I was afraid to go because
that would open up my life.
How could I walk in there
(the Literacy Group of Waterloo Region) and say that I’m
stupid? Well, they told me I
wasn’t stupid. So I put my
pride aside and went.”
One year later, Bajatell has
written and published his
first book of poetry, entitled
Bouquet.
As any struggling writer
knows, the process of publishing a book is a long and
arduous task. For Bajatell,
that process was no different.
“I found out I had stories
and poems in me. Would you
believe 40 years of them?
They all come out, pouring
out of my heart and that is
how I began, telling story
after story and of course they
taught me how to spell it correctly,” he said.
“There were a lot of mistakes, but I was given a
dictionary and that helps. I
began, letter by letter and
word by word, expressing
myself with words and we
began to find out that I was
a poet. So we began to work
more work on my poems.
That’s how it all began, one
word at a time, one poem at a
time. Then we decided to try
to get them out there for the
public.”
That’s where “Bajatell”
comes in. “I did an investigation on the word ‘Bajatell’
and found it’s a Flemish word
which means, ‘bag of words’.
I said, ‘Then we’ll go with
‘Bajatell’. It’s pronounced
the same in English as it is in
German, French and Italian.
Voilà.”
He received an offer to
publish from Ottawa-based
Baico Publishing.
“I had a meeting with Albert
Coderre, the president, and
asked him. ‘It’s very simple,’
he said. ‘It all goes back to
the Literacy Group. You did
not know how to read or write
and you came out with words
like this. I’m very proud to
publish your book.’
Bouquet was officially
launched September 14 at a
celebration at Bingeman Park
in Kitchener where Bajatell
was honoured for his writing.
The first poem in the book,
Patch of Shame, was framed
and presented to the Literacy Group and hold its place
of honour on an office wall
there. In addition, Bajatell announced that he will donate to
the Literacy Group one dollar
of his royalties from each
book sold. Copies of the book
are available at Words Worth
Books in Waterloo.
Bajatell is still a student
at the Literacy Group, and
still works at his writing.
17
His second book of poetry,
Papaya, a collection of
French-language poems is set
for a November launch in his
hometown of Gatineau.
“I remember Pierre saying,
‘I will never write a novel.
Never.’ “ adds Carol Risidore,
the Literacy Group’s executive director,“ and I said, ‘yes
you will because you have a
book in you. It will be when
you’re ready to write it.’ Now
today he comes and tells me
that he’s starting a novel.”
Bajatell adds, “With the
novel, Cries of the Angel, I
have the first chapter done
and I will work with the
people at the Literacy Group
on the rest. Some want me
to write my autobiography,
but I’m not interested in that
right now. My whole life has
changed, of course, with this
new journey, a new direction.
“I’m not hiding anymore.”
X X X
Practice Opportunity for Natural Health Practitioners
Office space for rent in busy natural health clinic & store.
Perfect for Nutritionist, Naturopath, Osteopath, Acupuncturist,
RMT, etc.
Please contact info@naturesvibe.ca or call 519 622 0770
The Arts
T
he BOX12 art intake
was an intensely
exhilarating 3 day
process starting Fri Sept 7
with artists dropping off their
work and applications.
There were 70 regional artist
applicants with 280 works of
amazing art!
Sat Sept 8, 24 BOX 12
artists were selected by 3
professional art jurors. Sun
Sept 9 the artists came to
pick-up their submissions.
BOX 12 is free and open
to the public on Fri. Nov 17
& Sat Nov 18 from 1:00 4:00 pm. There will be free,
fascinating and humorous
History talks, and informative Art talks taking place
prior to the show openings
on the 17 & 18.
Everyone is welcome to
come and enjoy fabulous art!
Contact BOX
Cathy Farwell, Founder and
General Organizer
Email BOX boxinfo@bell.
net
Call BOX 519.504.3277
Find BOX www.boxartshow.
ca
BOX12 Artist News
Follow BOX 12:
Twitter: @BOXArtShow
FB: http://www.facebook.
com/BoxArtShowSale
BOX Art Show & Sale:
http://boxartshow.ca/
More Info: (If required)
BOX 12 to Showcase Local
Artists in Annual Art Show
& Sale!
BOX Art Show & Sale
- Winner of ‘Best New
Festival or Event’, at the
2012 Arts Awards Waterloo Region - is an exciting
annual Waterloo Region
visual arts event. This unique
juried art show showcases
local artists, explores historical factory roots of creativity,
supports regional charities
and contributes to visual arts
education. Each year BOX
moves to a different historic
location in Waterloo Region.
BOX 12 Art Show & Sale November 16, 17, 18 at ...
The former Right House Department Store, 60 Main St.,
Cambridge.
Open to the Public Nov. 17
& 18 from 1- 4 pm
Special Pre-Show History
and Art Talks - Enjoy a $5
Gourmet BOX Lunch!
Admission is free!
Twenty-four juried visual
artists’ work on display.
A percent of all BOX 12 art
sales is donated to Langs,
formerly Langs Farm Association, this year’s Charity
Partner.
Special free public
pre-show
BOX 12 Talks include:
BOX 12 History Talk - “The
History of Main Street Galt”
with Bob Green; author of
Eavesdroppings and It Takes
All Kinds; and Jim Quantrell,
former City of Cambridge
Archivist. Perimeter Development Corporation, owners
of 60 Main Street, will host
this panel discussion; a wonderful combination of Jim’s
historical facts and pictures
with Bob’s fascinating, humorous stories. Sat. Nov.
17 from 11:30 am to 12:45
pm. Doors open at 11:00 am.
Free. Open to the Public. No
pre-registration required.
BOX 12 Art Talks - BOX 12
Jurors Mary Misner, Suzanne
Luke and Soheila Esfahani
offer two Art Talks!
• 10:30 to 11:30 am - Topics
of particular interest to all
visual artists - making art and
the business of art.
• 12:00 to 12:45 pm. - A
comparative look at BOX 12
artwork – great arts education from these experts! Sun.
Nov. 18 from 10:30 am to
12:45 pm. Doors open at
10:00 am. Free. Open to the
Public. No pre-registration
required.
Pre-order a $5 Gourmet
Photo By: Lisa Morris
BOX lunch beginning in
October at www.boxartshow. Each of the 280 original artworks submitted for next day jurying is carefully
inspected at Lang’s Farm on September 7, 2012.
ca to be delivered to the
venue for your enjoyment
during the BOX 12 Talks!
Contact BOX
Cathy Farwell, Founder and
General Organizer
Email BOX boxinfo@bell.
net
Call BOX 519.504.3277
Find BOX www.boxartshow.
ca
Follow BOX 12:
Twitter: @BOXArtShow
FB: http://www.facebook.
com/BoxArtShowSale
BOX Art Show & Sale:
Photo By: Lisa Morris
Lang’s gym was the site of the Sept. 7, 8, 9 BOX 12 art selection process.
http://boxartshow.ca/
Langs is the BOX 12 Charity Partner and will receive a percent of all BOX
12 art sales.
“Bringing Out The Best In
Kids”
DARYL BALL
COLOUMNIST
T
he Optimist’s Club first
founded in Buffalo, New
York in 1911, is now an
international organization spanning across 2, 900 clubs and 34
countries. Their mission being
to help all children reach their
full potential. A noble task that
we can all appreciate. How do
they work towards this though?
They work to develop optimism as a way of life by
promoting an active interest
in good government, inspiring
respect for the law, promoting
patriotism, working for international accord and friendship
among all people, aiding and
encouraging the development
of youth, and by practicing the
tenets of the Optimist’s Creed.
Their Creed: To Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing
can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness and
prosperity to every person you
meet. To make all your friends
feel that there is something to
them. To look at the sunny side
of everything and make your
optimism come true. To think
only of the best, to work only
for the best, and to expect only
the best.
Optimist’s International
sponsors several programs each
clearly aimed at fulfilling their
mission. These are: the Childhood Cancer Campaign (Providing the Care….Finding The
Cure}, Internet Safety (Begun
in 2008 to help educate children
and youth and protect them
from online predators), International Junior Golf Championships, and Scholarship contests
(There are three: Essay Contest
(700-800 word essay), Oratorical Contest (4-5 minute speech
on a pre-assigned topic), and
the Communication Contest for
the Deaf and Hard of Hearing).
Locally, Cambridge is home
to three Optimist’s Clubs.
There is the Cambridge-West
club which meets on Wednesdays every other week at the
Grand Valley Golf Country
Club, the Hespeler-Cambridge
club which meets the first and
18
third Tuesday of each month
at the Hespeler Arena, and the
Historic Preston club which
meets Tuesdays at Dimplex
North America located at 1367
Industrial Road.
As all Optimists’ Clubs are
run autonomously, each with
their own board of directors,
they are able to create and implement programs that are specific to their community and as
a result also organize fundraisers to support those programs.
Optimist’s Clubs believe that
by giving of ones self in service
to the development of young
people will advance the wellbeing of humankind, community life and the world. Do we not
all aspire to have our children
become all that they can? Is this
not something we can all get
behind? Get involved. Visit the
Optimist’s Clun on your area
and learn more and consider
joining.
James Knowles and The
Koolerz At The Cove
PETER EZEKIEL
COLOUMNIST
O
n September 28,
the new owners of
Eleanor House and
Greg Mandzuk hosted an
evening of entertainment
which featured James Knowles
and the Koolerz. Upon entering The Cove located at
5 Water St., you are greeted
by friendly clientele, courteous staff and a wide variety of
faces.
If it’s a strong voice you are
looking for, you will find it in
the smiling face of James. A
well rounded artist, you may
even have seen him in the
remake of Total Recall with
Colin Ferrel. How do I know?
It’s because I’m there to.
His freestyle singing is
always entertaining, and
now to hear that voice with
a back-up band called The
Koolerz was a sensory explosion indeed.
James told me he loves his
apartment, but his home is in
front of his microphone.
The Kooolerz begin the
entertainment with a beautiful blues piece meticulously
played by guitar player Dan
Thomas, drummer Bobby Hill
and on bass Don Ray. The
second song features a thundering bass issuing forth from
the vocal Chords of Mr. James
Knowles himself. Heads are
bobbing, feet are tapping and
people begin to dance. We can
feel the music pulsing from
the core of our being. In the
moment, people are not separated by young or old, we are
one with the music, for the
moment ageless.
The music is delivered flawlessly and held together by the
bands confidence, precision,
and the smile on James’ face.
Even while playing his harmonica I swear he’s smiling.
Every note emoted naturally
and with little effort. Tonight
was simply meant to be, right
here in this place. A culmination of fellow writers and
musicians has gathered to
hear one of the most powerful voices and precise bands in
KW.
Every member is an inspiration, and as James himself
boldly stated “Get yourself a
belly fulla the blues”.
So if you find yourself in
downtown Galt itching for
something to do stop in and
say hi to Eleanor and Greg and
enjoy an evening of exquisite
entertainment at The Cove.
Fiction
19
The Ride
SCOT FERGUSONBARBER
H
e sat on the bed and
surveyed the parking
lot one more time. He
had to be sure; there would be
no second chance. The only
movement came from the security camera as it swivelled
silently, the only witness to
what was to transpire. That
wasn’t a concern. By the time
they checked the tapes it would
be too late.
He grasped her hand and
gave a gentle squeeze. “It’s
time, Patsy.” He whispered
softly. She nodded sleepily as
he led her by the hand, through
the parking, to the waiting car.
***
He turned to her sitting
in the passenger seat. She
cowered as his hands fumbled
near her lap, his hands shaking
as he clicked the latch for the
seat belt home. “Don’t worry,
Patsy, I won’t hurt you.”
“Who are you?” Her lower
lip trembled slightly.
His lip curled up in a sad smile.
“I’m John.” The time had
come.
“Where’s my mommy?” She
started sobbing as she wrapped
the threadbare housecoat
tighter around her thin frame.
He hadn’t taken the time to
dress her. Someone could have
walked in on them at any time.
He did have the foresight to
stuff a few things into a gym
bag, and her doll was one of
them. He rummaged around in
the back seat until he found the
battered, old Raggedy Ann doll
and tenderly placed it in her
hands. Her face lit up and she
hesitatingly returned his smile.
He was trembling as he tried
to fit the key in the ignition.
He fumbled, and dropped them
at his feet. He looked around
frantically to see if anyone
was watching. The only ones
present were the light poles,
silent sentinels keeping vigil.
If he were caught here it would
be the end.
His hand, scrambling on
the floor as he peered over the
dash, felt the cool, metal teeth.
He sighed with relief. This time
his fingers found the ignition
without trouble. The big 350
under the hood of the candy
apple red Camaro rumbled as
the big engine came to life.
The car was his pride and joy,
and had been ever since he
first drove it off the lot, brand
new, back in 68. If anything, it
looked better than it had then.
He had pampered it ever since,
wax every Sunday, tune-up
every three months, storage
every September to April. It
had never seen a winter, and
it would never see another
summer. This was the last ride.
“Where’s my mommy?” She
repeated.
It snapped him back to the
present and he slipped the car
into gear. “We’re going to see
her.”
This seemed to placate her.
She hummed songs and talked
softly to her rag doll. He drove
for hours, taking country roads
so far off the beaten path he
could never find his way back.
He was heading toward the
coast was all he knew. He
stopped frequently to root
through the bags in the back
seat he had purchased earlier.
She was delighted every time
he came up with another treat
for her. Caramel corn, root
beer, chocolate and chips were
all on the menu today.
Mother Nature showered
them with all the glory of Autumn’s splendor as her leafs
rained from the canopy above.
Patsy turned to John and
spoke. “ Know what?” her eyes
sparkled.
“What?” He answered.
“I can play piano. Someday I’m going to have a big concert
where everyone can come and
see me play.” She bounced
excitedly. “Would you like to
come too?” She asked.
“I’d like that very much.”
“Kay, I’ll tell my mom.” She
frowned. “When are we going
to see her?”
“Now” John replied.
“Are we there yet?” She asked
twenty minutes later. He
found a paved road that led
to a highway. He could smell
the salt in the air. They were
almost there.
He pulled into the one of
the mega-malls that dotted the
landscape and parked. “Are we
there?”
He had to smile at her childlike impatience. “No, we’re
going shopping first.”
“She clapped her hands together, excited at the prospect.
When she stepped out of the
car his six-foot frame dwarfed
her four foot ten inches. He had
to crouch as he helped her slip
her arms into the long coat he
had the foresight to bring. He
hadn’t thought about the slippers she wore, but he could do
nothing about it now. Hopefully, any missing person’s bulletin hadn’t made it this far yet.
His worry was unnecessary.
Anyone that did notice just
smiled indulgently, even the
panhandler sitting outside the
mall. He hadn’t even asked
John for spare change. The pair
must have looked too pathetic
to even beg from. John grew
perceptibly bolder as she excitedly drew him by the arm from
store to store. When they went
into a mammoth clothing store
he approached a salesclerk. “Give her whatever she wants.”
The well-dressed woman
arched her eyebrows at John’s
disheveled appearance and
Patsy’s housecoat peeking
out from under her coat. She
opened her mouth in protest. “ Perhaps the Dollar Discount
Store could better…”
The sight of the platinum credit
card that John held up silenced
her. “Yes sir.” She smiled as
she led Patsy away through the
racks.
An hour later, after countless
trips to the dressing room, she
had decided on three dresses
and a pair of black patent
leather shoes. “Just throw those
out.” He told the clerk as she
rang his purchases through,
indicating the bag she was
placing Patsy’s housecoat and
nighty in.
They wandered into a music
store where Patsy sat at the
piano. Tears welled up in his
eyes as she played, her fingers
fumbling for the keys. When
she’d had enough, he took her
by the arm. It was time to go.
He bought Chinese takeout
from one of the many tiny
chain restaurants that lined the
mall. As they left, he flipped
his wallet, stuffed full of both
cash and credit cards, at the
panhandler.
He drove the last few miles
to the coast while she talked
animatedly about all the wonderful toys and clothes and
kittens she had seen.
The sun was setting as he
parked the car. They sat high
up, overlooking the sun sinking
into the ocean, as they heartily
ate from the cardboard cartons.
He had been waiting years for
this moment, had planned to
see the ocean but never took
the time.
The Camaro idled gently
as he turned to her. Patsy.
The woman he had married
52 years ago, on this day. 52
years of shared joy. 52 years of
shared sorrow. Three children,
nine grandchildren. 52 Christmas’s, Easters, Thanksgivings.
51 Anniversaries. Today was
their 52nd. All of them slipping
from her slowly, one precious
memory at a time. Even the
piano playing that had brought
them so much joy over the
years. He would sit and paint
while she played, for hours
on end. For a time her fingers
remembered what her mind
could not, and that brought him
some relief, but now even her
limbs were betraying her. Two
months ago his own failing
health had forced him to put
her in a “home.” Two weeks
ago she stopped recognizing
him, other than a few brief
moments of lucidity.
His tears flowed freely. He
turned to her as he slipped
the car into gear. “I love you
Patsy.” He put the pedal to the
floor and the Camaro leaped
ahead. “We’re going to see
your mom.”
Her eyes ignited, the recognition clear. She looked into his
eyes and smiled as they soared
over the edge and above the
clouds. “I love you too, John.
Happy Anniversary.”
© Scot Ferguson-Barber
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