The Chatham Voice, Jan. 7, 2016

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

Vol. 4 Edition 1

Football and family Chatham man proposes at Ford Field

By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com

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Chatham’s Dennis Parker needed help from the enemy to turn this holiday season into an unforgettable one.

The longtime San Francisco 49ers fan got what he said was a great deal on seats for his family to the Dec. 27 Detroit Lions NFL football game, where Dennis’s 49ers were the visiting opponent.

That set the stage for him 705 St. Clair St., to take a big step – proChatham pose to the love of his life, Davalyn Craven, a Lions “We fan. took four kids. They i n To pull off the feat, Den- (Davalyn and the chil- trouble,” she said of Dennis reached out for assis- dren) went for a walk,” nis.

It couldn’t be further tance – from the Lions or- Dennis said, and they from the truth. As Davaganization. were late lyn asked, “What’s hap“I con- “I was shocked. I getting tacted Ford didn’t see that coming! back to pening,” Roary held up a sign and Dennis dropped Field and their seats.

My heart was pounding asked if It ap- to one knee.

“I was shocked. I didn’t they put really fast..” p e a r e d stuff on the - Davalyn Craven R o a r y see that coming!” DavaJumbotron. would have lyn said. “My heart was They don’t do that any- to come back at halftime, pounding really fast.”

But she did manage to more, but said their mas- but just as the mascot cot, Roary, could help turned to walk away, the say yes.

The couple out,” he said. family came has been So with four children in down the “I just got a great together tow, Dennis and Davalyn steps. deal on the tickets and for more went to the game Dec. D a v a l y n thought this was the than seven 27, with Dennis proud- saw the ly sporting a bright red commotion thing to do as a family.” years. Marriage had 49ers jersey. in front of - Dennis Parker been banThe plan was to have her, and died about, Roary show up between saw that Dennis was inbut also all but discarded. the end of the first quar- volved. Roary and Ford “We discussed it many ter and the start of the Field staff were right in times,” Dennis said. “But second, but with kids front of her boyfriend. involved, the best-laid “I was confused. I it was never going to be.”

Continued on page 4 plans can go awry. thought his mouth got him

519-355-1616 519-355-1616

Bruce Corcoran/The Chatham Voice

Chatham’s Dennis Parker and Davalyn Craven are happily engaged – thanks to the help of the Detroit Lions mascot, Roary. Parker turned a memorable family outing to the Dec. 27 Lions home game into an unforgettable one by proposing to his long-time girlfriend in front of their children – and about 65,000 other people.

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THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 2

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

News

Jim Blake/The Chatham Voice

The site of the former Navistar plant on Richmond Street in Chatham sits flattened and abandoned.

Appeal after appeal denied

By Jim Blake jim@chathamvoice.com

You don’t have to dig very far beneath the surface with Bob Chernecki before the anger and frustration of 15 years dealing

with Navistar International bursts forth like a geyser.

“They have an absolute sense of arrogance that they are going to do what they want,” the former Canadian Auto Workers’

executive said. “It’s just rotten.”

Navistar’s corporate office didn’t return messages seeking comment for this story.

Chernecki, who retired from the union in 2011,

remains active on the Navistar file.

“I’ve had Navistar since 2000 and I’m not about to let go,” he said. “I’ve seen how the decisions they made have needlessly destroyed people’s lives.

We’re going to continue the fight until workers get their justice.”

He said there is no timetable for employees to receive more than $28 million in pension funds Chernecki said is “earned

and deserved.”

Last month the Ontario Court of Appeals rejected Navistar’s request that it even be allowed to appeal the ruling of a lower court.

Continued on page 3

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Navistar loses another appeal

erate.”

The company has sufThe FST has actually infered losses at every step creased the scope of the since it began fighting the pension settlement, expension issue, receiving panding the number of unfavourable decisions workers who will benefit from the provincial super- under the plan to include intendent of pensions, the members who ceased emFinancial Services Com- ployment as of February mission of Ontario, the 2009 and directing that Ontario Divisional Court laid off plan members and now, be given the Ontar- “When the court says 0.9 years io Court of of credityour appeal doesn’t Appeals. ed service “When the even deserve to be regardless court says heard, it should send of whethyour appeal you a message but er they redoesn’t even who knows what these turned to deserve to work. be heard, people will do. That’s “It seems it should not how they operate.” the longer send you a - Bob Chernecki they fight message but the more it who knows what these will cost them,” he said. people will do,” he said.

Chernecki estimated the “That’s not how they op- company has spent mil-

lions in legal fees and interest fighting an impossible legal and moral battle.

“They spend and delay and fight even knowing they’re wrong,” he said.

“They bear no sense of responsibility for the way they’ve used these workers who made them millions in profits.”

He said the next step is for the company to draw up a new windup plan to pay what it owes workers in pensions.

Chernecki said although there are no practical ways for the company to pursue the matter through legal channels he expects it will continue to drag its feet.

“There is an appeal process through the Ontario Superior Court but from a legal standpoint they don’t have a leg to stand on,” he said. “They’ve been told over and over again. At this point an appeal would just be a delaying tactic.”

“We’re going to request the company be forced to submit a new pension windup plan within 60 days or face some large fines,” he said. “If we

leave it to them, they will take years.”

He said the matter should have been resolved in 2007 and 2008 when the company was quietly planning to close the Chatham plant.

“They flat-out lied to us about what their intentions were,” he said.

“People in Chatham lost their homes, families broke under the strain and some workers couldn’t handle it,” he said. “All it would have taken is for them to be up front and honest about their intentions and negotiate in good faith.”

He said the local office has worked tirelessly to secure pension rights.

Cathy Wiebenga, plant chairwoman for the former CAW Local 127, said it’s been a long fight. “It’s

tough when you get a call from a member’s widow trying to make sense of what’s going on and you have to tell them to be patient. It’s not what anyone wants to hear,” she said.

“It’s been a long time coming but not from lack of effort.”

Chernecki said Unifor also continues to push for a resolution of a severance package.

“It’s ridiculous that more than four years after closure, workers don’t have their severance pay,” he said. “The fact that the company is using the lack of a pension wind up plan to delay a closure agreement is obscene since the company is the party doing everything it can do to slow the pension process.”

according to municipal officials.

The $1.2 million plus project began in September and was to have been completed in December; however, during the initial work, the contractor damaged four support beams that were sup-

posed to be reused.

The contractor, Front Construction of Windsor, discovered the problem in October and is attempting to find a way to repair the girders; however, if that isn’t possible they will be replaced at the contractor’s expense.

The bridge was built in 1968 and spans the Raleigh Plains Drain.

It was due to be repaired as part of the municipality’s ongoing lifecycle schedule.

A major part of the delay is that the weather will have to be warm

enough for installation of the two-lane asphalt surface before the structure can be opened to traffic.

The road and bridge receives heavy use from commercial and passenger vehicles bypassing Chatham on the way to Highway 401.

Continued from page 2

Bob Chernecki

Merlin Bridge reopening delayed until spring

By Jim Blake jim@chathamvoice.com

Damage

incurred

to

the Merlin Road bridge during repair work means the structure may not open until next May,

Bruce Corcoran/The Chatham Voice

An accident during repairs means the Merlin Road Bridge won’t be open to traffic for five months.

THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 4

Right time to propose Continued from page 1

“It wasn’t a priority. Our kids come first,” Davalyn explained.

But then this opportunity arrived, and Dennis realized he had to seize the moment.

“I just got a great deal on the tickets and thought this was the thing to do as a family,” he said.

He was rewarded by Davalyn’s complete surprise, and a moment to treasure forever.

“It was great. Just to have all those people around – our new friends,” he said. “The people sitting right beside us even happened to be from Tilbury!”

Prior to Davalyn returning to her seat, Dennis asked a spectator across the aisle to capture the moment on video with his phone. It had thousands of views shortly after it went up on the Facebook page “Chatham Swappers Rants and

Raves.”

The next day, Davalyn felt the impact of that video. She’s the manager of Things Engraved in the Downtown Chatham Centre. She noticed the manager of another store stop by, armed with a happy engagement card after all the staff at that store had watched the proposal video.

Dennis has even entered the video into the America’s Funniest Videos competition, he said, as well as a Toronto wedding contest.

To view the clip on YouTube, visit https://youtu.be/qxrTnff6dhY. For Dennis, this marked his third 49ers game he has attended in Detroit. This one was a blowout loss, but will stand as his favourite by far.

Family outings can do that, especially ones with such a storybook ending.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

News

Contributed image

Roary, the Detroit Lions mascot, helped Chatham’s Dennis Parker, right, propose to his longtime girlfriend Davalyn Craven at a recent Lions home game.

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THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 5

News

Railway operation quite proactive, says McFadden

By Jim Blake jim@chathamvoice.com

Chatham-Kent’s Deputy Economic Director Stuart McFadden said the municipality is being both proactive and transparent in its handling of WDC Rail, the entity created to hold the ownership of the rail line purchased by the community.

McFadden said a good example of that is the $150,000 allocated for a loan to WDC by council to cover operating expenses in 2015 and 2016.

McFadden said the term “operating expenses” may be somewhat misleading since the funds are being used for property taxes, interest on the municipal loan, the auditor fee, safety issues and maintenance to the lands along the track.

“Much like any municipally owned property, we need to make sure the land is maintained according to property standards,” he said. “It’s also a matter of being a good neighbour to property owners whose land abuts the track. We don’t want weeds and debris

adversely affecting their properties.”

Part of the maintenance is simply asset protection, he said. “If we have ties which require work, or a tree begins to grow near the track we need to make sure those items are taken care of.”

McFadden said the railway purchase was set up to make the railway company a separate legal entity fully owned by the municipality.

“Gord Quinton (municipal finance director) has made the handling of finances clear so that council and the public can accurately track everything,” he said.

McFadden said the municipality is still open for offers for the railway that it purchased in October of 2013.

“We still have active files we’re working on and remain hopeful that we will be able to attract a purchaser, but as time goes on we have to realize that whether it works out or not, we have a valuable asset,” he said.

“The municipality is not a five or 10 year entity, and right now we have an as-

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set which would cost far more to purchase than we paid for it. If it isn’t used as a rail line, we have the option of selling the rails and using the corridor for anything from a highspeed Internet corridor to a pipeline to a trail. We don’t know what the future will hold. The only thing we know for sure is that if we hadn’t acquired it, there would be no future opportunity.”

The 2014 operating loss was $98,287 but McFadden said that was as a result of a lot o remedial work that had to be done.

“Moving forward, we expect there will be less work and we may be eligible for some sector specific funding from senior levels of government,” he said.

According to Quinton’s report, WDC Rail purchased the land and rail assets of the former CSX rail line on October 3, 2013 and immediately sold the rail assets to another party, leaving its only capital asset being the land itself. Council purchased the track assets this year.

The municipality loaned

Jim Blake/The Chatham Voice

WDC Rail, the municipally controlled company that holds ownership of the old CSX line between Wallaceburg and Chatham, is well run, according to municipal officials.

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the company funds to buy the property and to fund operating expenses and has established a $1 million reserve fund option.

It lent $1 million for land purchase and operating costs and another $3.65 million for the assets.

Including the $150,000 lent for 2015-16 operating expenses, WDC Rail owes the municipality $4.8 million.

The company is charged interest on the loan equal to the rate earned by Chatham-Kent’s surplus fund.

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THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 6

No deal to be made

A few years ago there was a popular television show called “Deal or no deal” on NBC. It produced a couple of millionaire contestants, sold millions in advertising, spawned online games and kept a cast and crew employed during the show’s four year run.

Chatham-Kent’s version has been running since Randy Hope was elected mayor in 2006 when he famously headed off to Korea to land a big deal even before he’d been formally sworn in.

Since then we’ve purchased a railroad, made foreign investment the number one priority of our economic development director and other staff members, opened an office in China, flown the Chinese flag at city hall, made lots of friends...

But made a deal? No. The latest “here’s your sign” moment came in November when a delegation led by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne went to China and returned with more than $2 billion in “trade agreements” which aren’t exactly investments but look good on paper.

Some of those were even in the agricultural sector, something we’re kind of good at here.

With Chatham-Kent having a longstanding overseas presence, there must have been something for us, right?

So did we make a deal? No. That isn’t to say there isn’t potential in China – just look at St. Clair College, which is having growing success with campuses abroad.

Local private firms are dealing successfully in China but the idea that the Chinese are going to drop a major plant in our laps is just fantasy.

It’s past the time for us to believe one word the mayor says about Chinese investment (at least in the sense of what he’s pursuing).

Fool us once, shame on you. Fool us twice, shame on us.

Fool us for a decade? Shame on everyone including council that so far has lacked the gumption to stand up to his worship.

One of two things is happening with Chatham-Kent in China. Either we can’t make a deal or there is no deal to be made.

It’s the start of a new year. Let’s take the millions we’ve spent chasing the rainbow and put the money into helping the local businesses we have keep their doors open.

Come home Randy. There’s lots to be done here, trust us.

Letters to the editor policy

The Chatham Voice welcomes letters to the editor.

Our preferred method to receive letters is via e-mail to bruce@chathamvoice.com (use “Letter” in the subject line) or by going through our website at www.chathamvoice.com (click on “Submit a letter”).

The Chatham Voice reserves the right to edit letters to the editor for brevity and clarity.

Advertising policy

The publisher of this newspaper, CK Media Inc., reserves the right to clarify or refuse any advertisement based on its sole discretion. The publisher reserves the right to reject, discontinue or omit any advertisement without notice or penalty to either party.

Liability for errors or non-insertion is limited to the amount paid for the cost of space occupied by the error. Claims of errors must be made prior to the next publication date.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

Opinion

Feral cats differ from bretheren Sir: I really enjoyed reading the letter by Al Farquhar in the Dec. 10 issue of The Chatham Voice. He obviously cares very much for birds, and so do I. After all, animals and birds were created by the same God who created us – and we came along after them. When my wife Ginny and I lived in Elliot Lake, I was a member of Elliot Lake Field Naturalists Club which is dedicated to conservation of the environment and caring for the 182-hectare Sheriff Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, a protected habitat for birds, mammals, and reptiles.

I know birds and other small creatures are often killed by cats and it saddens me to think of this effect on the bird population of most countries.

And Ginny and I have had (inside) cats and dogs in our house ever since we were married.

I have a 2007 story in my files from The Windsor Star concerning Windsor’s exploding population

of feral cats. There was an estimated 25,000 of them on the city’s streets at that time and I’m sure that figure has ballooned. Feral cats have a rotten life. They face sickness, starvation and bad weather; they could spread disease to house pets; and they risk being hit by cars and attacked by other animals in their desperate bid for survival.

The trouble is how people regard cats. I remember once that Stoney Creek Council was arguing about classifying Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs as pets. One councillor made the comment “a pig is a pig is a pig,” meaning pigs belong on farms, not in cities as pets.

Some people regard cats as all belonging in the same basket, so to speak.

Feral, stray and pet cats are all members of the same species; they are all domestic cats. But stray cats and feral cats are also different from each other in a very important way – in their relationship to

and interactions with people.

Some people believe cities should license cats.

I believe the authorities license domestic cats in Calgary. I’m not sure about Hamilton. I know councillors there wrestled with the problem for several years. But that probably isn’t the answer, as it would mean numerous people would just dump their cats to save paying for a license.

Feral kittens can become socialized by interacting with people – being held, spoken to, and played with – from an early age. If a kitten grows up as a feral cat, she won’t become accustomed to loving people holding her and petting her, so she’ll grow up scared of humans and will never settle down living in homes.

Ginny and I have experienced this and the kittens have turned into perfect pets and have socialized with our other cats and dogs.

We have also adopted

stray cats – cats who have been used to living with people at some point in their lives, but have left or lost their domestic home.

We have rescued them and, even though they have often been scared and wary at first, they have turned into wonderful pets.

We have good friends who often take feral cats to be “fixed” at their own expense and then release them again. That’s probably the only answer, although it would obviously take many years to finally eliminate feral cats even though they have a much shorter life expectancy than pampered house cats.

Maybe the answer is PAWR – that is Pet and Wildlife Rescue. It’s a non-profit rescue organization operating out of Chatham-Kent. I believe PAWR is dedicated to rescuing all animals in distress and I think that includes cats!

Stephen Beecroft Chatham

The Chatham Voice is printed by:

84 Dover St., Chatham, ON, N7L 1T1 Tel: 519-397-2020 Fax: 519-397-1177 A division of CK Media Inc.

The contents of this newspaper are protected by copyright.

No material from this edition may be reproduced without expressed written consent of CK Media Inc. A member of:

THE CHATHAM VOICE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

PAGE 7

News

Sterlings just playing around

By Jim Blake jim@chathamvoice.com

For 15 years, the father and son team of Carl and Rob Sterling have been playing with toys – and helping the community in the process.

The two are organizers of the annual Chatham-Kent Toy Show that will be held Jan. 17 at the

John D. Bradley Convention Centre.

The show is a chance for people to come out, revisit their childhood and raise funds for Chatham Outreach for Hunger and the local 4-H farm toy club.

Carl said the show has conservatively raised more than $10,000 for charity.

This year attendees will see more than 120 tables of toys and collectibles, including farm toys, trains, sports cards, trucks, model ships, books, planes, cars, action figures, fire trucks, collectibles and coins.

Carl said his family has always been interested in collecting things so the show seemed like a natu-

ral progression.

“There was a show in Chatham many years ago and when it fell by the wayside, we just decided to start our own,” he said.

The show attracts exhibitors from across Ontario, some as far away as Toronto.

“We see some of the same people year after year but we get some new

ones too,” he said. “It’s a great way to spend a Saturday in January.

Some exhibitors are just there to show off their collections but many will

have items for sale.

There are still some spots available for exhibitors.

For more information call 519-352-8365 or e-mail cktoyshow@hotmail.com.

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Mathew Sterling shows off some of the farm toys that will be on display during the 15th annual Chatham-Kent Toy Show and Sale Sunday, Jan. 17 at the John D. Bradley Convention Centre.

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THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 8

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

Life

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Thursday, January 7, 2015 • Bingo and open euchre at The Chatham Legion, William & Colborne St., Chatham.

Open euchre at 1:00pm. Bingo starts at 7:00pm.

Friday, January 8, 2015 • Meal and fun darts at The Chatham Legion, William & Colborne St., Chatham. Dinner from 5:30pm-7:00pm with choice of stuffed pork, roast beef or fish and chips for $9.00. One meat draw. Fun darts starts at 7:30pm.

Saturday, January 9, 2015 • East Side Pride Bingo at the WISH Centre. $10 at door for cards. All cash prizes.

6:45pm.

• Meat draw and dance at The Chatham Legion, William & Colborne St., Chatham. Meat draw from 4:00pm-6:00pm. Dance from 4:30pm-9:30pm featuring Unity.

• Make a Leather Journal at the Chatham branch of the CKPL at 10:30am in the Children’s Room.

Registration is not required. All ages welcome. Make a recycled leather journal suitable for sketching or writing.

Sunday, January 10, 2015 • St. Joseph’s K of C Council #10436 is holding a breakfast from 9:00am12:30pm at the Spirit & Life Centre (St. Joseph’s Site) 184 Wellington St., West, Chatham. All you can eat with 2 meats, hash browns, scrambled eggs, pancakes, toast & fruit cocktail. $7.00 per plate for adults. $4.00 for children 6-12. Children 5 and under free.

Monday, January 11, 2015 • Senior Euchre at The Chatham Legion, William & Colborne St., Chatham.

1:00pm.

Tuesday, January 12, 2015 • Shuffleboard, open euchre and 2 person team at The Chatham Legion, William & Colborne St., Chatham. Shuffleboard starts at 7:00pm. Afternoon open euchre at 1:00pm and evening 2 person team euchre registration at 6:30pm. Starts at 7:00pm.

• Movies @ Your Library. The Chatham branch of the CKPL will be showing Pan staring Hugh Jackman at 2:00pm in the meeting room.

Wednesday, January 13, 2015 • Pepper and fun darts at The Chatham Legion, William & Colborne St., Chatham.

Open euchre at 1:00pm.

Thursday, January 14, 2015 • Open euchre at The Chatham Legion, William & Colborne St., Chatham. Dinner at 5:30pm - 7:00pm with choice of chicken, roast beef or fish and chips for $9.00. One meat draw. Fun darts start at 7:30pm.

Friday, January 16, 2015 • Meat draw and dance at The Chatham Legion, William & Colborne St., Chatham.

Meat draw from 4:00pm-6:00pm. Dance from 4:30pm-9:30pm featuring Don and Bonnie.

Sunday, January 17, 2015 • 15th Annual Chatham-Kent Toy Show & Sale. 10:00am3:00pm. John D. Bradley Convention Centre, 565 Richmond St., Chatham. Adults - $4.

Students - $2. Children 6 & under - Free. cktoyshow@hotmail.com. Proceeds to Chatham-Kent 4-H Farm Toy Club & Chatham-Kent Outreach for Hunger.

Monday, January 18, 2015 • The Blenheim-Harwich Horticultural Society is hosting their first event of 2016 at 7:30pm at 59 Ellen St., basement meeting room, Trinity Anglican Church, Blenheim. Terri Dent will be presenting great tips on how to have the best garden on the block.

Jim Blake/The Chatham Voice

The municipality rang in the New Year by changing curbside garbage pickup to some parts of Chatham-Kent. That included Thames Street, where residents and businesses, used to putting their trash out on Monday mornings, did so out of habit this week, only to learn pickup is pushed to Wednesdays now.

Trip winner named The Chatham Voice

Wallaceburg’s Jackie Dalgety is headed overseas, thanks to Community Living Wallaceburg.

Dalgety won a trip to Portugal in the organizations Travel Club Lottery.

The vacation, valued at $3,000, includes flights, transfers and accommodations in Lisbon and the Algarve region of Portugal in the nine-day grand prize.

“Don’t tell me I won,” said Dal-

gety. “I’ve been buying tickets for years, and I said it was time to win.

I just can’t believe it actually happened!”

The draw is one of six getaways and twelve $50 cash prizes that will be drawn over the course of 20152016. All 400 tickets for the 2016 Travel Club Lottery were sold. Net proceeds from the fundraiser will enhance services and supports to over 400 people with intellectual disabilities in Wallaceburg and across Chatham-Kent.

CK Metal Detecting Club Meetings - Last Thursday of the Month, 7:00pm in the Kinsman Room, Erikson Arena, 341 Delaware Ave., Chatham. Guests Welcome.

Delaware Ave. Electrical System Upgrades

Toastmasters is a place where you develop and grow - both personally and professionally. Meetings are a learn-bydoing workshop in which participants hone their speaking and leadership skills in a no-pressure atmosphere. Guests are always welcome. Join the Chatham-Kent Toastmasters at Green Field Ethanol, 275 Bloomfield Road on Mondays from 6:30 – 8:00pm.

Entegrus Powerlines Inc. will be working on Delaware Ave. in Chatham (between Forest St. & Cox Ave.) to upgrade the electrical system. This work will begin on January 4, 2016 and will continue until early spring. Occasional outages will be required, however affected customers will be notified ahead of time. Tree trimming will also occur in this area during the abovementioned timeframe in order to assist in reducing the number of outages caused by tree branches.

Submit your coming events to bruce@chathamvoice.com or michelle@chathamvoice.com

This is a courtesy notification. No response is necessary.

entegrus.com

1-866-804-7325

®

THE CHATHAM VOICE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

PAGE 9

News

From local musicals to an opera in Italy

Chatham native hopes to raise funds for operatic journey

By Mary Beth Corcoran mary@chathamvoice.com

When Chatham’s Katie Flynn was a young girl, she took tap class and liked to hang out with her dad’s family band, The Country Boys, in her garage.

Until one winter, her dad, Allan, asked her to sing.

Turning her back in shyness, Katie decided to sing White Christmas to Allan and her grandfather, Larry.

“Dad wanted me to sing and I had been listening to my Amy Grant tape, her version of White Christmas, so I sang it turned around with closed eyes,” Katie explained. “When I turned around, they were both crying, and from then on, it was, ‘You’re going to be a singer.’ I was out of tap dance and into voice lessons which I was really thrilled about.”

Now the 22-year-old voice student, in her third year at the University of Western Ontario (UWO), has been offered the lead role in the Italian opera Radamisto, thanks to a unique opportunity.

AEDO, the Accademia Europea Dell’Opera, is a European opera experience in Lucca, Italy and was created in collaboration between the university and Centro

Studi Opera Omnia Luigi Boccherini. The four-week program is centered on the preparation, creation and performance of full operatic roles. The international program brings together singers from around the world to work with pianists, conductors, and directors from celebrated opera institutions, followed by a series of public European performances.

After being encouraged by her voice coach to audition for AEDO, Katie wasn’t sure what to expect, as at that time, she had little experience with operatic

performances.

“I thought I might be in the chorus, but then I opened the e-mail and I was offered the lead in their opera Radamisto,” she said. “I’m currently in a Falstaff opera. I haven’t had too many rehearsals but opera is more difficult. The music is very precise and knowing when to come in is very tricky.”

Katie was told her voice, considered a rare mezzo-soprano (the middle range where she is most comfortable), fit the male role of Radamisto and is her first time singing a male lead.

Image courtesy Denys Peel

Chatham’s Katie Flynn, right, is seen here performing in Niagara Falls with former band member Roger Laughlin.

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music program in all of Canada,” and is excited about this next step in her education.

Scheduled to be in Lucca, Italy for the month of July, Katie now faces the challenge of coming up with her tuition, 3,000 euros or $4,300 Canadian, plus the cost of her flight, for a total of approximately $6,000 by April 1.

“I can’t wait to go; I really hope I can,” Katie said. “I am trying to fundraise and when I first found out, I spent the whole night brain-storming with my family to come up with events or performance concerts. I made a YouTube video, a Facebook page (titled You, Me and Italy) and a blog.”

Katie hopes to keep her supporters up-to-date on her plans, and there is a link to her GoFundMe page to help her with her tuition and flight costs.

With the support of her parents and grandma Bev, who has a scrapbook of every performance Katie has been in, the singer hopes people will join her on her journey.

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Katie, a former Chatham-Kent Secondary School student, saw her first musical at the high school, Les Miserables, while in Grade 6. As a high school student, she sang in the CKSS performances of Little Shop of Horrors, The Phantom of the Opera, Thoroughly Modern Mille and her first one, Rags.

When she played the role of Carlotta, with some operatic performance, Katie said the director gave her the music, which included a high note at the top of her range.

“She kind of sings operatic music, which is hard when you’re not trained. The director gave me the music and there was a high note I couldn’t hit,” Katie said. “I practised non-stop for three days, and the first two days, nothing would come out but by the third day, I got it. It felt really great when it came out and it’s motivation for me for not giving up. I think about that all the time.”

Since her first public performance at a Kiwanis Music Festival at the age of 11, where she sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow, in a costume complete with ruby red slippers, and her years in the Mitchell’s Bay singing contest, Katie has honed her skills at UWO, “the second best

December 1-23 Hours: Mon. - Fri. 10am-5:30pm Sat. 10am-4pm • Sun. 12pm-4pm

THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 10

Fun Stuff 37 Shame 39 Third letter 41 Close up tight 42 Narcotic 45 Jackson or Johnson 49 Oppressive ruler 51 Skeleton component 52 October birthstone 53 Peacock network 54 Reed instrument 55 Depend (on) 56 Blond shade 57 Shrill bark

ACROSS 1 Lose color 5 Actress Lupino 8 Half a ticket 12 Not “fer” 13 Neither mate 14 Bean curd 15 Tin Man’s problem 16 Carriage 18 Cookbook entry

20 Underscore 21 Lacks the ability 23 Brit. reference book 24 One seeking political asylum 28 Unac-companied 31 -- Khan 32 Doctrine 34 Tiny 35 Trumpet, e.g.

DOWN 1 Jamie of “M*A*S*H” 2 Chills and fever 3 Platter 4 Lure 5 Started a paragraph 6 Female deer 7 Weaponry 8 Gawks 9 Make less intense 10 Venusian vessels?

11 Prickly seed cases 17 Ike’s command in WWII 19 Treaty

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

22 Morrison and Braxton 24 Doo follower 25 Id counterpart 26 Absurd 27 Use Wikipedia, maybe 29 Zodiac feline 30 “-- the ramparts we watched ...”

33 Compared to 36 Without making a mess 38 Address to a bloke 40 Greek vowel 42 Smell 43 Meerschaum, e.g.

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THE CHATHAM VOICE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

PAGE 11

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Julianne Levesque 39, Tuesday, December 22, 2015 McKinlay Funeral Home

John Patrick Dukelow 49, Monday, December 28, 2015 Hinnegan-Peseski Funeral Home

Willy Schmitchen 78, Tuesday, December 22, 2015 McKinlay Funeral Home

Arlette Mermeersch 89, Monday, December 28, 2015 Blenheim Community Funeral Home

Frank “Eddie” Crosby 76, Tuesday, December 22, 2015 Hinnegan-Peseski Funeral Home

Al Weiberg 66, Monday, December 28, 2015 Blenheim Community Funeral Home

Mary Seney 75, Wednesday, December 23, 2015 Blenheim Community Funeral Home

Anna May Roszell 96, Monday, December 28, 2015 Blenheim Community Funeral Home

Murray Handy 89, Wednesday, December 23, 2015 Blenheim Community Funeral Home

Mr. Glen Lawton 86, Monday, December 28, 2015 Alexander & Houle Funeral Home

Robert Thompson 66, Friday, December 25, 2015 McKinlay Funeral Home

Jean Young 79, Tuesday, December 29, 2016 Hinnegan-Peseski Funeral Home

Marion Towsley 93, Friday, December 25, 2015 McKinlay Funeral Home

Mr. David Alexander 68, Tuesday, December 29, 2015 Alexander & Houle Funeral Home

Robert “Bob” Sharpe 57, Friday, December 25, 2015 Hinnegan-Peseski Funeral Home

Mr. Irvine Baker 69, Wednesday, December 30, 2015 Alexander & Houle Funeral Home

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THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 12

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

Life

Big, green tree and Big Green Egg I realized I’d been away from my barbecuing efforts in November and early December. That changed in a big way over the holidays.

That’s what large hunks of meat can do, as well as tasty appetizers.

From ham to prime rib, to vegetables and a chip dip, the Big Green Egg was back in action.

By the end of it, I realized I’m down to less than a bag of charcoal.

I feared the Big Green Egg’s talents would be wasted on Christmas Day, as my sister-in-law hosted a big family dinner, and all I was asked to cook was a big spiral ham.

“Cook” isn’t the right word, as you are just

Bruce Corcoran warming up the ham because it’s precooked.

But at more than five kilograms, that was a lot of meat to heat. It took upwards of four hours on the Egg. And I was wrong.

Despite the fact I double foiled the ham for most of the heating/cooking process, it was awesome and got inhaled by the 20 guests at dinner.

But back to the begin-

Many people like to carry a few specific tools in the trunk of their vehicles during winter, in case of roadside or weather-caused emergencies. Even if your vehicle is an all-wheel-drive SUV or a full-fledged four-wheel-drive truck, some tools can come really handy in extreme situations.

ning. We pulled the ham out Christmas morning and I had it on the Egg by lunchtime. Naturally, we couldn’t just follow the reheating instructions. I suggested to my wife that we try some Ridge Rub on it (thanks to Alecia and Mike at Comfort & Soul for letting me use their magic rub). Mary applied the rub while I got the Big Green Egg going.

I then double wrapped the ham in foil to seal in the juices – the biggest issue with reheating ham and taking four hours to do so is that it can dry out, especially spiral hams, because it’s already cut.

On the Egg it went at 275 F, and I naturally had to hang out in the backyard

to ensure the temperature was stable on such a large piece of meat.

I added some more apple wood chips for the final stage, and pulled off the ham to heat up the Egg for the final stage, a short 425 F cook to caramelize the glaze.

After opening up the foil and adding the glaze, in went the ham.

I pulled it out a dozen minutes later, not sure what we had. I looked at it and worried some of the ham may have dried out.

I guess I was wrong. I didn’t take the time to try it, as we wrapped it up, put it in a pan and headed to the family fun.

Later, as we waited in line for the great selec-

tion of turkey, ribs, ham, mashed potatoes, squash, asparagus, etc., etc., folks were commenting on the ham.

I’m marking the rub down as something I’m going to try on all my barbecue options in the future.

Many of us gathered again on New Year’s Eve at our place. I did the prosciutto-wrapped asparagus appetizer, as well as a couple of chicken breasts for a chip dip.

It’s a really simple effort, as you mix cream cheese with seasoning, some shredded cheese and a bit of sour cream, and spread it in a shallow pan such as a pie plate.

The cut-up chicken and a

mixture of hot sauce goes on top.

We warmed it in the oven and served with tortilla chips.

I guess that’s why we tend to host family New Year’s gatherings – the snacks.

To top off the holiday fine-eating fest, we had a prime-rib cook off the next day. My sister-in-law Jane did a prime rib in her oven, while I cooked on one the Egg. According to Jane, mine won. But it wasn’t as fine as the one I did last year, as I opted to cook to a higher internal temperature this year, and while juicy, it turned out mostly medium, rather than medium rare.

a specific technique that requires some knowledge. Fortunately, a good booster cable kit will come with clear instructions and a device that can help you identify the positive and negative poles. Getting them mixed up can cause damage to the car.

If you travel a lot or drive to remote places, Firstly, it is a good idea to keep a light shovel it would be a good idea to get a winter survival in the trunk. It can be a simple aluminum one, kit that includes a survival blanket, a candle, Some tools should be kept in the car in winter. but if the car is small and doesn’t have much and a lighter. The last two items trunk space, hardware stores sell foldable plas- have been proven to provide a Maintenance Get Road Winter tic shovels that will do the job. Another great little bit of heat in a stalled car Service starting at piece of equipment to keep in back of the car in winter. If you ever need to Ready is a traction aid. These are devices that help use either, make sure you open $59.95 plus tax for motorists get unstuck from snowed-in or iced-in a window slightly to allow fresh situations. Traction aids come in many shapes air to circulate.

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