Local Seeker, West End Montreal, Issue 22

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TAKE ONE - We’re different!

Local See ker The We s t

E n d Community paper

DO YOU know your LOCAL Veterans ?

Vo l u m e 2 , I s s u e 2 2 , N o v 1 1 , 2 0 1 1 War vets show courage, commitment in the face of Poppygate

f ent o d i s e r ine, p rick Kisch v e L e k Fran ier Fred d Briga h 97. c Bran

They’re just red plastic flowers to some, but to many, many more individuals, pin-on poppies are about nothing less than freedom, respect and remembrance. On the days and weeks leading to Remembrance Day – honouring those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that the rest of us could live (and just imagine a world where Adolf Hitler was your leader, not just the guys you love to hate at the various levels of government today) – red poppies are seen everywhere. And wizened men sit behind rickety tables for hours, their faces wearied with age, offering you a poppy for whatever you are prepared to donate.

Still, unbelievably, there are some entrepreneurs and business enterprises that refuse to let the veterans proffer their poppies, for reasons we can only guess at. Some separatist French-Quebecers see Canadian war remembrance as a federalist pursuit, forgetting that many of their own numbers perished, as well. “Je me souviens” apparently pertains to the horrible anglo plots hatched against them prior to 1976.

Others too young to understand the meaning of world war to those in the Western Hemisphere don’t get what the big deal is.

These are the people, I assume, who desecrate war memorials without a second thought. The biggest problem with that? If it ever happens again, who will fight for them?

Story and photos: Bram D. Eisenthal

NC E A R B REMEM ECIAL: P DAY S

cont. p4

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I remember/je me souviens:

Briefly Bram * Briefly Bram *

My late father, when I was young, proudly reciting his Canadian Armed Forces ID number – D129017. He volunteered for the Blackwatch corps during WWII, desperately wanting to fight Nazis as his entire family awaited their fate in Roumania. He served for two years before being honorably discharged, “his services no longer being required,” remaining in Canada because his eyesight was not good enough for him to join his mates in Europe. But he volunteered. He was proud forevermore and I, who cherishes his war medals to this very day, am proud as well;

Finally, to satisfy the spiritual tastes of all We are more than proud, humbled, actually, to welcome our spiritual guide, the respected Father John Walsh, who will take the helm of our Spiritual Seedlings column on a monthly basis. Father John looks at why remembrance is important in this issue. And he’s the perfect religious leader to take charge, as he respects all religions equally and is one terrific human being.

Listening as my late mother reminisced about the horrors that befell her and her family during that same war, in Czernowitz, Roumania as the Nazi-backed fascist Iron Guard rounded up the city’s Jews and shipped them to exile in the labour camps of Transnistria. About half of Roumania’s 700,000 Jews perished in such camps, in what would later be called the Hidden Holocaust. To this very day, the Roumanian government has yet to admit full culpability for the crimes perpetrated against its Jewish citizens by the murderous regime of the fascist monster Antonescu and his Iron Guard, crimes so brutal in many instances it made even the Nazis shudder; The many visits I have made to Holocaust museums worldwide, including: Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, Israel; Washington, DC; and, yes, even here in Montreal. The Montreal Holocaust Museum of the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre is a world-class centre which celebrates the Jews who survived the Holocaust and emigrated to Montreal following the war. Its construction was intimately supervised by my then-wife, Ann Ungar, executive director of the MHMC during the museum’s first years – the defacto general contractor during the entire process - and her hard work and commitment impresses me to this very day. I recommend a tour of this fine facility to anyone who wishes to learn why racism against any group anywhere cannot ever be tolerated; The various attempts since the Holocaust to wipe out entire races, as if we haven’t learned a damned thing, including war crimes perpetrated in Bosnia and Rwanda; The sleights against war veterans, victims, survivors and those righteous few who helped hide potential victims during history’s wars… by businesses and organizations that deny veterans the right to sell Remembrance Day poppies and who fail to respect a full minute of silence at 11:11 a.m. every November 11. Two years ago CHOM-FM “generously” paid tribute to the veterans and victims of WWII by airing a full 15 seconds of silence and then defended this callous move, as did owner Astral Media after I contacted them. I will never forget and neither should you.

Remembrance is a powerful tool… unless you simply forget to utilize it. To the brave men and women who fought for our freedom and who continue to fight today, and to those who have fallen victim to the brutalities of murderers, despots and madmen, this issue of The Local Seeker is humbly dedicated.

To the special “people” in our lives who can’t fight for themselves…

The Local Seeker is pleased to welcome new columnist Allan Berbrier, who will be penning a column devoted to pets every second issue.

There are so many pet owners in the West End who will join me in bidding Allan “salut,” as he and his dogs are a visible presence on the streets of NDG daily. Be good to our animals, readers!

And let’s remember food, too And we say hello, as well, to our new Seeker foodie, Evelyne Budkewitsch, who debuts her Epicurean Eatz column in this issue.

Evelyne’s got a really interesting take on taste, so we look forward to sampling some of her goodies.

The Local Seeker, West End Montreal Edition Volume 2, Number 22, November 11, 2011 Founded by Julia Lucio and Mai-Liis Renaud 2010 Published by Local Seeker Media Group, Cornwall, Ontario The Local Seeker does not accept responsibility for errors, misprints or inaccuracies published within. The opinions and statements of our columnists are not to be presumed as the statements and opinions of The Local Seeker.

Managing Editor: Bram Eisenthal

THE LOCAL SEEKER,

Creative Design: Julia Lucio

NOV 11 (pg. 2)

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Tijuana North

Where will you define YOUR future this New Year’s Eve?

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THE LOCAL SEEKER,

Last Call with Sol - Sol Boxenbaum

presents

Boston-area high school officials are warning parents not to let their teenage children go on weekend bus trips to Montreal, fearing they lead to underage drinking, carousing with prostitutes, date rape and other forms of assault.

In a letter to parents, principal Jennifer M. Huntington of Newton North High School advises them: "Think twice or three times before giving your son or daughter permission to go to Montreal. It is important that you know there are probably only two reasons for going to Montreal: The legal age for drinking is 18 and; Montreal has a very active red light district," she writes.

Huntington informs parents the trips are not sponsored or approved by the school and mentions several "unpleasant incidents" in past years. "Hotel rooms have been trashed, students have been assaulted and there have even been charges of date rape. All these things happen because our otherwise well-behaved and more-or-less rational students have too much to drink," said Huntington.

John Hayes of Student Travel Vacations in Dedham, Mass., a suburb of Boston, said he decided to pull out of a trip his firm was organizing with the help of a senior student from Newton South High School. He started getting calls from local newspaper reporters saying parents were holding meetings and complaining about the trip. "I'm not in the business to upset parents and cause turmoil. I don't need that kind of business," said Hayes, who has been organizing trips to Montreal for students from about a dozen Boston-area high schools for the past 15 years.

Hayes said he may abandon his Montreal program and focus on other U.S. destinations. He acknowledged they drink, but said most of them drink responsibly. "I think at 18-years old, they can handle it. These are adults. Keep in mind they'll be going to college next year."

I have often referred to Montreal as being Tijuana North. The only thing they left out, and probably the biggest point, is that these kids also come here for the casino. They come from all over the Eastern United States. In fact, if they aren't yet 18, there's a betterthan-even chance that they will be admitted at Montreal Casino. I think it is very important for parents, not only in Boston, but all over the United States and other parts of Canada, to know that their children are not necessarily visiting museums, art galleries and churches when they come to Montreal. That is not to paint all teens with the same brush… many of them DO come here for wholesome entertainment. It is better, however, for parents to be aware of the possibilities.

The travel agent that organizes the trips says that, at 18-years of age, they can handle it. If that is a fact why is the age of majority 21 in every American state? Kudos to principal Jennifer M. Huntington of Newton North High School for advising parents, "Think twice or three times before giving your son or daughter permission to go to Montreal."

It’s closing time.

Please visit www.lastcallwithsol.com Sol Boxenbaum (CEO) VIVA CONSULTING (514) 486-6226

NOV 11 (pg. 3) FREE CLASSIFIED ADS: 514-975-7745 www.westend.thelocalseeker.com

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REMEMBRANCE DAY SPECIAL: War vets show courage, commitment in the face of Poppygate

Cover Stor y

(continued from cover) Being the son of both a war veteran and a Holocaust survivor (and I will forever remind you of that, to my last breath), I want these anti-poppy idiots to pay big-time, which is why I won’t patronize Carrefour Angrignon for ages to come, apology or not.

But this is about paying respect to those who sacrificed themselves for us at wartime, not to scold those too vapid to understand the importance of that. So, I had the honour of meeting with some war vets who, this year, are out on the front lines once again, offering poppies for a pittance…. while they still can.

Lasalle’s James Wilkinson, whom many serving with the First Batallion of Blackwatch during the war will remember as Corporal Wilkinson, is an honourary West Ender. “I spend a lot of time in Cote St. Luc playing bridge with the Jewish boys there,” the spry veteran, who’s in his 90th year, told me. He spent 5 ½ years serving his country, working his way from Val Cartier to Toronto, Scotland, England and then “the Continent,” where he was wounded in battle twice, at Calaise and later at Groesbeek, Holland, before returning home. Every year, for 37 at least, he returns to Holland to say a prayer at a local cemetery for the man who saved his life and if that isn’t commitment to a cause, I don’t know what is.

I asked him about Poppygate and I could envision frustration traversing his features.

“I’ve been in the ‘poppy business’ over 50 years,” Wilkinson stated with tremendous pride. “And I think the main problem is that these businesses have no idea what we do

with that money. We assist unfortunate veterans, many of them disabled, as well as their widows, many children and hospitals, too. I think that more education is needed so that this ignorance will be dispelled.”

Wilkinson refused to blame anyone or point fingers, which proved he was as much a gentleman as a warrior.

West End resident John Franken has been selling poppies just one year, since his debut at the YMHA last season, but he thinks the entire debate is “stupid.

“People love talking with the veterans and shaking our hands,” he said. “Why would anyone have a problem with us?”

You should know how special Franken – who jokes that “I am the original Frankenstein” – is as a historic figure, based on his wartime experiences. While serving as a flightmechanic-in-training on a Dutch Navy aircraft carrier, he was captured by the Japanese in transit from Indonesia to Australia. As a slave labourer for 3 ½ years, he wound up in Nagasaki. Forced to toil in a mine, he emerged one day to find nothing left: while he was underground, America had dropped an atomic bomb, levelling Nagasaki right after doing so to Hiroshima. It sounds like an episode of The Twilight Zone, but it actually happened to John Franken. And he is still waiting for the Japanese government to apologize for their brutality, as a televised documentary about him, now on DVD, will attest.

Veteran Frank Levine, a West End resident, is president of the Brigadier Frederick Kisch Branch 97, a position he has held almost one year. Kisch lost his life fighting alongside Britain’s General Bernard Montgomery during the North African campaign against Nazi general Erwin Rommel’s troops. Levine fought for seven months in Europe, seeing action in Belgium, Holland and Germany, a time he does not recall with particular fondness. “It was not an adventure at all,” he

told me, remembering the friends he lost.

“Parts of it were a nightmare,” he added, telling me that shows like Band of Brothers are full of malarkey, in his opinion. Still, despite his advanced years, he sells poppies locally (“we give them away, really… people donate what they want and of the 20,000 we order, we do not give them all out because there are not enough people to man the booths”) and he and his co-veterans do what they can.

Levine finds it distressing that his group has aged so much. “What really disturbs me is that, when we stand at attention during the playing of reveille, most of our number cannot keep their arms up for more than two minutes. We have reached the age where it is almost pathetic.”

I asked him about the poppy controversy and he stated that it’s all about politics. “The businesses take that stand for the publicity it gets them, nothing more,” he said. “The shopping centre administrations don’t care if we sell our poppies or not.”

As did Wilkinson, Levine also stressed that the monies collected from poppy donations go to local hospitals and other organizations, as donations in kind. “If we were prevented from selling our poppies, these organizations would pay the price,” he said. Some of these Montreal-based organizations include the St. Mary’s, Jewish General and Montreal Children’s hospitals, Maimonides Geriatric Centre, Montreal Heart Institute, Ste. Anne’s Hospital Foundation and many others.

So, while many may see these brave war veterans as an army of retired old men hawking useless plastic flowers, their significance, their cause and their continuing legacy makes them an integral part of society. They deserve our thanks and to accord them anything less is worse than forgetting. It is as if they had never existed – nor saved us - at all.

Spiritual Seedlings - Father John Walsh

Remembrance Day: Trading bullets for bears Life is a series of remembrances. Our memories fashion what life was, is, and will be. In Italian to remember is “ricordare,” with a direct reference to the heart. We remember, we retain, what has left its mark in our hearts. War troubles my heart. In great numbers we in Canada have sacrificed the lives of young women and men for the sake of our freedom.

Our heartfelt thanks are extended to soldiers for what they have accomplished. Yet, in my hearts there lingers a hope that war will be no more. I am reminded of the challenge resounding in the words of Isaiah: He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. What will it take to transform our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh?

One night I was introduced to the incredible doctor Patch Adams, who was played by Robin Williams in his movie biography. In his address to the audience he said: I have a vision of life in which the word war will no longer be in our vocabulary. My experience of life tells me that I have no other choice.

I believe everything is possible when we dare to think it is possible. My nephew, Raymond Robitaille, a Police Inspector in Calgary, is training Afghan police in Kabul. He works very long hours. His deep concern is to change the way the police connect with the people.

One day we Skype and he expresses his wish to distribute teddy bears to the children of fallen Afghan police. My sister, in Toronto, and myself, here in Montreal, went about gathering hundreds of teddy bears, then having Canadian flags sewn on every one of them. My heart was moved and tears flowed down my cheeks when I was emailed photographs of him distributing the teddy bears to the children in a kindergarten. The smiling faces of the children are priceless.

THE LOCAL SEEKER,

NOV 11 (pg. 4)

FREE CLASSIFIED ADS: 514-975-7745 www.westend.thelocalseeker.com

Bill stays home for latest endeavour I have been a fan of Bill Bryson ever since his A Short History of Nearly Everything was recommended to me several years ago. In the aforementioned tome, Bryson chronicled existence from the birth of the universe to the creation of the human race. Real light stuff. For his most recent effort, At Home: A Short History of Private Life, he keeps the subject matter a little more domestic.

In At Home Bryson conveys the evolution of the household as he moves from room to room in his own home (in Norfolk England), a former rectory built in 1851 (a year eerily cited throughout the book). Each chapter discusses an area of the home (kitchen, living room, bedroom, etc.), each with its own infinitely interesting story of how it came to be the sort of space we all take for granted today.

What I love best about Bryson, besides his flowing, quite readable style, and how he does not write as though we are morons, as well as how At Home is, like most of his works, crammed to the gills with fascinating facts, stories and anecdotes (ideal for a trivia buff like me), are his digressions.

He would begin with a story, digress, and digress from the digression, and then add an asterisk with even further details at the bottom of the page, eventually getting back to the first point much later, if at all (occasionally the digressions go so far as to make the original point irrelevant). More than once Bryson casually alludes to an obscure story, just a few lines really (so insignificant we wonder why he would even bother mentioning it), and then returns to the reference something like 150 pages later for a much larger payoff where it then makes total sense. At Home is so jam-packed with details that I was surprised the words didn’t pour out of the pages whenever I turned the book sideways.

The version I read was a 650-page British soft-cover edition loaned to me by a friend. Rarely have I committed to a book that length and I wished it was longer. In my time I have trudged through some 200 page volumes that lumbered on lethargically in comparison. Well done, Bill.

Other Bill Bryson titles I recommend are, as I mentioned before, A Short History of Nearly Everything (try the new illustrated edition, as it is spectacular: I never thought one could improve on perfection!) and Shakespeare: The Illustrated and Updated Edition, an amazing must-have for any follower of the life and times of The Bard.

Read on! www.essaysbyandreas.com

The word organic is pretty persuasive, but is it mostly hype?

Whole Grain Roll by Caryn Roll

Read On! - Andreas Kessaris

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I recently noticed an interesting trend in nutrition, cosmetics and cleaning products. You may wonder what all three have to do with each other. Keep in mind that I am a woman and that I buy the groceries, wear the makeup and, unfortunately, clean the house.

If a food, makeup product or cleanser says “organic” or “all natural” people think it’s better than its “non-green” counterpart.

What’s up with that? I think marketing people are geniuses. They have tapped into our psyches and have targeted what matters to us most: Our health.

Let’s examine the nutrition part of this trend. An appealing fruit juice blend that has the words “all natural - no artificial flavours” splashed across the front in a beautiful font could sway anyone to purchase it over another common brand. But what does that really mean? It’s still a sugar beverage, probably devoid of all fibre. One cup of this all natural beverage could set you back around 200 calories.

Is organic milk really better than regular milk? We have one of the strictest rules and regulation systems for milk production in the world.

Milk farmers in Canada will suffer penalties so severe they would go out of business if they didn’t adhere to these policies. I am not interested in paying extra for organic milk that follows the same rules.

I will admit, though, that the packaging in way nicer.

The other issue I have with products labelled “organic” is that there is no universal system in place to protect the consumer from this claim, should it be false. There are a few organic bodies around, but in order for “organic” to become a force to be reckoned with, there needs to be one body that oversees all products making this claim.

What about organic fruits and vegetables? I don’t know if organic fruit and vegetable products have more nutrients than their non-organic friends, but my guess would be that they are comparable. The problem with organic produce is the possibility of food-borne illnesses. There have been many outbreaks of deadly bacteria from organically-labelled fruits and vegetables, particularly in the States.

As they are currently supervised, I think many organic products pose a reasonable risk. The only such products I will eat will therefore come directly from my garden.

Caryn J. Roll P.Dt. (514.817.0135) Twitter: @MTRLnutrition Join me on Facebook www.montrealnutrition.com

SEEK AND YOU SHALL FIND... IN OUR CLASSIFIEDS

You, too, can sell or seek for FREE, with our Local Seeker Classifieds, 25 words or less. Call 514-975-7745.

For Sale:Woman’s vintage arctic seal coat, dark brown, late 1960s… back when selling fur was acceptable. Nice condition fits woman five feet tall but can be turned into a nice jacket for a taller woman. Price just $300, negotiable. Call 514-975-7745.

Art lessons and workshops: drawing,painting, ink, bead, speedy blockprinting, origami. For information call 514-487-2970 or email indrasingh234@gmail.com

THE LOCAL SEEKER,

NOV 11 (pg. 5)

FREE CLASSIFIED ADS: 514-975-7745 www.westend.thelocalseeker.com

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BUY or SELL your HOME in the

Property See ker

The We s t

E n d real estate section

Mortgage Matters

Buying a home -What to expect in terms of your costs Most of my clients are u n e d u c ate d in terms of the costs involved when buying their first house. Many of them believe that once you have the down payment, you are all set. Not knowing these costs can frustrate buyers because they don’t realize that they are necessary in the buying process. In the next few paragraphs, I will outline a few of the costs associated with your purchase so you can be prepared.

Building Inspector Most people try and find the cheapest building inspector they can find.

Most building inspectors cost at least $300-350 depending on the size of the property.

Some inspectors can cost over $500. What is important to remember is to not be penny-wise but pound foolish. If you pay an inspector $50 more, but he finds a defect in the house like a crack in the foundation, you will be more than happy to pay it. A crack in the foundation can lead to hundreds if not thousands of dollars of unwanted repairs, and even lawsuits to recoup the money for repairs.

Appraisal Most of the time, a bank will cover the cost of the appraisal up front, while some ask you to pay for it and then reimburse you.

Please make sure to get this information up front since different lending institutions work in different ways.

Usually, an appraisal will cost $300, and most banks will cover it. If you are trying to get a loan through an alternative

T

Issue 1

lender, the cost is always at the expense of the client.

Provincial sales tax on CMHC Premium When you buy a home with less than 20% down, you have to pay an insurance premium. If you put 10% down, for example, on a purchase of $200,000 your mortgage will be $180,000. Once you add the 2% premium, the new mortgage amount will be $183,600 with the $3600 insurance premium. There is a 9% provincial tax on the $3600, making the total amount $3924. This $324 of tax must be paid when the loan is at the notary. It cannot be added onto the loan.

$1,400. Once again, it is important to use a notary that you trust is competent, because a bad notary can wreak havoc on an otherwise straightforward transaction. If you refinance a property, the fees are usually cheaper, but it depends from one notary to the next.

As always, should you have any questions regarding costs, or the mortgage process in general, please let me know. Anything I can do to educate you, or make the process easier, it would be a pleasure.

Jason Zuckerman www.mortgageratesmontreal.com Hypotheca Mortgage Brokers (514) 771-1352 /1-800- 206-1350 jzuckerman@hypotheca.ca

Notarial Costs When you secure a mortgage on a home, it must be registered with the land registry office by an accredited notary. This professional’s job is to make sure that they verify that the property’s new mortgage is registered properly, to verify that the title is clean, as well as verify the certificate of location. They make sure that the buyers have the proper documentation with them at the closing to make sure that the transaction goes smoothly. Typically, for a home purchase, a notary will cost anywhere between $1,050 and

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THE LOCAL SEEKER,

NOV 11

(pg. 6)

PROPERTY SEEKER SECTION

www.westend.thelocalseeker.com

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A n i t a B e n a b o u R o ze n b l a t

Downsizing from a home to a condo – Aspects to consider

Home Sweet Home -

As we age, the possibility of downsizing from a house to a condo is very real. Sounds scary but you may just love it! There are many aspects that, for those of us who have always lived in a single family home, can be totally unexpected when owning a condo for the first time.

One might assume that everyone would treat the building as if it were their own, after all, all owners have a stake in the entire building as a whole. They reap the rewards of a well-maintained, secure building in the sense that it is a more pleasant place to live and the resale value of their particular unit remains on an upward scale. By being part owner of a condo property, however, one also suffers the consequences of a building that is not maintained well, where bylaws are not upheld and there is no accountability to ensure that the best interests of all the owners are protected.

Knowing this is grea, but how do you know for sure that you have made the right choice before you purchase? The following list of questions will help guide you towards making an informed purchase: Building maintenance and maintenance fees:

Is the building expecting any new assessments? (as costs go up so will your maintenance fees)?

Is there a maintenance schedule in place for the building?

What repairs over the life of the building have been done?

Beware of a building that does not have a maintenance schedule or has recorded little or no repairs. It is more likely that needed repairs have not been done than it is likely the building hasn’t needed any repairs. A building that has essentially been “maintenance free” can be a red flag.

Another important point to consider once you have moved into your condo: You MUST be involved in the decision making process. If you don’t like what is happening be vocal, attend the meetings, read your minutes and, most of all, be aware of what is going on.

Downsizing into a condo or townhouse can be a very positive move. It can provide freedom if traveling is your retirement wish and it can free up money that you may have invested in a house and property. It can also provide you with closer access to shopping, recreation facilities and medical services.

You no longer have to worry about stairs, as your living quarters will all on one level.

For those who may be on their own, moving into a condo can give you the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.

Happy condo shopping!

How much are the fees, what do they include (hydro, hot water , cable)?

Who are the people on the board? Are pets allowed (you certainly don't want to get rid of Cookie after all these years)?

When was the last time condo fee's increased?

Dans La Rue - Our Official Charity Let this serve as notice that The Local Seeker West End Montreal Edition has chosen Montreal’s Dans La Rue – whose mandate it is to help homeless youth between the ages of 12-25- as its official charity and that the two entities have entered into a mutual agreement. In future issues, readers will learn about this remarkable organization, its origins, its mission and its future plans. We will exclusively promote this important cause whenever possible.

ICED CAPPUCCINO

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iced chai latte milkshakes homemade juices (mango, soursop tamarind, guava)

“Not so long ago, I was unemployed and my biggest fear – a nightmare that terrified me endlessly - was that I was not so far away from becoming homeless myself,” admitted Local Seeker Montreal Edition publisher and editor Bram Eisenthal. “It may have been unfounded, but for the first time in my life I believed I was facing that prospect and it was more than unsettling. I began to examine the plight of the homeless from a different perspective.

“Homelessness has no place in modern day society, certainly not in Western nations so obsessed with the release of the latest version of a cell phone that they are oblivious to the plight of young people who have no address and no place to sleep, no food to eat and in many cases no future. Homelessness is worse than any disease because it is immediately addressable with a modicum of good will: We HAVE the cure, we just need the will to use it.”

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THE LOCAL SEEKER,

NOV 11 (pg. 7)

PROPERTY SEEKER SECTION

www.westend.thelocalseeker.com

issue22_Layout 1 11/10/2011 2:05 PM Page 8

Epicurian Eatz with Evelyne

The yogurt, she is going Greek Hello and welcome to my first column with The Local Seeker. I am so super excited. My expertise is everyone’s favourite: food! My palate yearns mostly for the exotic so I love trying ethnic recipes, discovering unusual ingredients and exploring unknown cuisines in restaurants. Please buckle your seatbelt and get ready for a great culinary ride. And do check out my blog at cheapethniceatz.com.

OK now go back to the title and read it again but with the accent of the father in the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding!

Is it me or is everyone doing Greek yogurt right now? I have no complaints as I love the stuff but it is quite noticeably the IN THANG in yogurt land. And what is the difference between regular and Greek yogurt? It wheys

THE LOCAL SEEKER,

NOV 11 (pg. 8)

less. No, that is not a typo. The basic idea is to take regular yogurt and strain the whey out leaving a creamier and thicker texture without affecting the taste. Of course I am sure the big brand names modify the process somewhat but that is the basic difference.

In the last weeks I have sampled some of these new big brand Greek yogurts as well as some old favourites who have offered Greek yogurt for years. No two are exactly alike; they all have their charms and drawbacks.

But overall I loved the really rich texture. Tip: Make you own with regular yogurt by straining it overnight in cheesecloth suspended over a bowl.

The plain flavour is best used in recipes, as a spread or by the few (like me) who enjoy an occasional plain yogurt. This is the yogurt of choice for the traditional Tzatziki recipe. But I wanted to do something a little more exotic to turn my boring bean salad lunch into a flavourful meal. How about cumin and mint!

Cumin Mint Yogurt Sauce Ingredients: 1 cup Greek yogurt 1 teaspoon cumin 2 teaspoons mint, fresh chopped (3/4 tsp dry) 2 teaspoon honey Dash of sea salt Directions: Whisk all ingredients together and chill for a couple of hour so the flavours can develop. It is wonderful also with vegetables, crudités, seafood, meats or as a spread on bread.

If you prefer a dessert flavoured version have no fear. There are plenty of flavoured individual sized four- packs of Greek yogurt, with flavours like honey, blueberry, strawberry and vanilla. Some brands offer an organic version as well.

For lots of recipes, ethnic food discoveries and Montreal restaurant reviews please visit Evelyne’s blog at http://www.cheapethniceatz.com

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issue22_Layout 1 11/10/2011 2:05 PM Page 9

Yoga U - Chantalle Kudsi

Good things come in trees What does it mean to honour?

Yoga becomes very powerful when we commit to it, and connect to it, as an offering and an honouring -- an honouring of ourselves, or of any people we wish to hold in our minds and hearts while we move through the postures.

During this time of Remembrance, as the leaves also change colour and fall to the ground, we turn to Tree Pose. This standing-balancing pose is beautiful for its simplicity; filled with your breath and presence, it comes alive as a dynamic posture that embodies grace, humility, devotion, and gratitude.

Like all yoga poses, enter Tree Pose with intention. The challenge is to keep the heart pure and the mind clear in order to balance more effectively and stay longer in the posture.

Tree Pose 1. Stand on level ground, preferably in bare feet and on a hard surface such as a wooden floor.

2. Set feet hip-width distance apart with big toes facing forward. Focus on a point in front of you that is level with the horizon and will not move. Rest your gaze on this point for the duration of the posture.

3. Focus your intention. Connect thoroughly to the left standing leg; feel a secure "planting" of that leg into the ground, and gradually shift your weight into this leg.

4. Slowly lift the right heel off the floor and raise the right knee, such that the whole foot comes up.

5. Keep your right knee lifted and keep grounding through the left-standing leg. Turn the right knee out to the right side, opening the right hip wide.

6. Carefully place the sole of your right foot against the inside of your left standing leg, either against the inner calf or the inner thigh. Do not place the foot against the knee.

7. Secure your left standing foot as your root, and the left leg as your trunk. Continue to focus on a single point in front of you for balance. Recall your intention and breathe deeply, in and out through the nostrils.

8. Keep arms hanging by your sides, palms out.

Or, sweep arms up overhead, remembering to drop the shoulders down while reaching up toward the sky. Bend in the elbows as needed and keep the arms apart. Hold palms soft and open.

9. Stay in the pose for as long as feels comfortable. Breathe deeply. Release the pose by bringing arms down first, then removing the right foot from the inside of the left leg. Keeping your right knee elevated, return the knee forward. Now gently place your right foot down to the ground, parallel with your left.

10. After a few breaths in a standing position, repeat the pose on the other side. It is important that Tree Pose be practiced on both the left and the right leg. It is also normal to find that one leg balances more easily than the other.

Chantalle Kudsi is a yoga and meditation teacher in the West-End. She can be reached at chantsomething@yahoo.ca.

THE LOCAL SEEKER,

NOV 11 (pg. 9)

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Spotlight on Sports by Paul Graif

Remembering when we were really the City of Champions I remember the days when all three of Montreal’s professional sports teams, the Canadiens, Expos and Alouettes, were good at the same time. It was the late 1970s and there was no better time for a young boy of 9 or 10 years old, obsessed with sports, to be growing up. We got to play sports year round and no matter the weather or sport there was always a local hero to emulate. Believe it or not there were passionate fan bases for all, and some would say the Expos had the best fans. Montreal set attendance records in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Meanwhile, the Canadiens had trouble selling out the Forum after the team won four consecutive Stanley Cups.

Fast forward 30 years: The Canadiens are mired in mediocrity in a city that won’t tolerate it, especially since the Habs haven’t won a title in 18 years. It seemed like a birthright that the Habs would win at least a couple of Cups every generation. Now, a win in Round 1 of the playoffs sets off wild, riotinducing celebrations on Ste-Catherine Street.

These days, Canadiens fans have all the answers, on becoming coach to and general manager, and we hear about it 24/7. My job, first and foremost, is to report on the facts, including who is hurt, who is riding the bench, etc. It is also my job to engage in speculation with fans, on blogs, radio and television.

It has built to a fever pitch. No matter where I go, people are always asking me about the Canadiens and offering up their opinions. Some are sound, others are just rants from passionate fans, which is nice to see most of the time as it prevents me from becoming a grizzled and bitter old reporter.

I guess we did the same thing as kids though, except that we had yet to enter the 24-hour information age. I remember going to bed with an earpiece hooked up to my radio so that I could listen to Dave and Duke on Expos broadcasts. I even ran one from my school desk inside my sleeve and leaned on my hand during class during spring training games just so I could listen to my Expos (Don’t tell Mrs. Tritt, please). The Expos were Number 1 in Montreal in the 1980s. They were the model franchise in baseball, even all of professional sports.

The Alouettes also drew big crowds to the Big Owe and were exciting to watch, with Joe Barnes at QB and Peter Dalla Riva hauling in passes. Now the Als are two-time defending Grey Cup champions and can’t even sell-out 25, 000 seat Molson Stadium. Even the Canadiens are having trouble selling their tickets.

The landscape has changed in sports, for the players and the fans, for better or worse.

I miss the days of having three sports teams to cheer for, year-round. Then again, maybe I just miss my youth.

Keith

Starring at our

special Supper Club, Saturday, November 12, starting at 7 p.m.

Great sounds, terrific food, at Grillades Portugaises!

THE LOCAL SEEKER,

NOV 11 (pg. 10)

FREE CLASSIFIED ADS: 514-975-7745 www.westend.thelocalseeker.com

issue22_Layout 1 11/10/2011 2:06 PM Page 11

WOOFED by: Allan Berbrier

NUZE

Saturday, October 22nd A Pot-Luck Buffet Fundraiser & Dance was held, at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall in Lasalle, for the benefit of Gerdy’s Rescues & Adoptions and Teja’s Animal Refuge,150 attendees enjoyed a smorgasbord of donated main dishes & desserts (vegan, vegetarian, etc.).Several volunteers and members prepared all these home-cooked goodies specially for the fantastic wall-to-wall potluck buffet table.The Silent Auction contained a ton of items up for bid and many lucky people left with some very cool stuff.Several door prizes were given away during the evening. Johanna and Jimmy from Lady Luck supplied the entertainment, including the Elvis impersonator, 50’s Rock-n-Roller and the Karaoke fun.

Nicole Joncas (Teja’s), Kim Race, Judy Cameron, Gerdy Gouron (Gerdy’s) & Carol Waterman (CVPA President)

Friday, October 28th PetitsPawz, a cat refuge and adoption center, held a fundraiser and cocktail party at Café Grand. The many invited guests were treated to a wonderful array of beverages, great finger foods and desserts, all prepared by the two partners of this upscale N.D.G. establishment, Stephane Gustafson and Liam Hopkins.Proceeds from the event were donated to PetitsPawz, which organizes fundraisers for animal refuges (both cats and dogs) throughout the Montreal and surrounding regions.Their mission is to help save, treat, foster and find homes for homeless and abused animals.They work with dedicated veterinarians, experienced vet technicians, loyal volunteers and a multitude of great foster families.

We’ve been on watch for expert 50 great years! We provide service in: For five decades, family business OTA has been here, serving Montrealers from the West End and beyond.

• Quality watch and clock repairs • Battery replacement (best prices around) • Custom work, done on the premises

Plus we sell watches, bands and leather straps (from France) AND Jewellery, including the wildly At OTA, our honesty and integrity are surpassed only by our commitment. We save you time, money and worry.

OT A Watc hmaker & Jewellery C o * F ounded in 1 9 6 1 6 8 6 5 Sherbrooke Street W.

by Mathias Woronc hak (c orner Mayfair)

5 1 4 -4 8 4 -3 8 4 7

During the evening the duo of Kellan Selig (guitarist) and Gabriel Forget (bass) played background music for the listening pleasure of all.

We hope you have enjoyed this issue of The Local Seeker and we are already working on our next issue, out November 25.

Deadline Friday, November 18.

Jennifer Sierzant, Sharmen Yarnell (MC), Danka Djokovic, Rhoda Turner (V.P.) & Susan Mackasey (Founder & President)

Saturday, October 29th Montreal Dog Walking held a fundraiser at Dog Haus in N.D.G. for Underdog -- a rescued 1½-yearold Great Dane fostered by Stephanie. She has a serious leg problem that requires a very costly surgical procedure.There was a bake sale (for dogs and humans), a dog kissing booth, a game of bobbin’ for dog ‘apples’ and professional pet photographer Simone Fauque.

Sunday, October 30th All those who attended the Montreal Active Dogs pre-Halloween outing, at the immense dog park in Brossard, had a great day. There were also was a load of local doggies (and whom they own!).In the middle of the park there is a huge hill - one can almost spot Alaska from there… The weather was a bit on the cool and windy side but the four-leggers just loved it!

Sunday, November 6th National Pet Show @ Olympic Stadium. There were a great variety of animals, agility demonstrations and exhibitors of pet foods & accessories.

Saturday, November 12th SPAWS (5385 Cote-de-Liesse. St-Laurent) @ 11:30am. Members and guests of the Montreal Active Dogs Meetup group will be gathering to celebrate Mickey’s 8th birthday party with fun & games for everyone (2 & 4-legged alike).

THE LOCAL SEEKER,

Coming up in our next issue: *Sweetening the airwaves: Taking a breather from slamming Montreal English radio to showcase one of its attractions.

Best, Bram

*Over eight decades after Houdini’s death, we conjure up three West End magicians. *Our resident Mr. Hollywood writes about his close call in LaLa Land. And that’s no script. * Travel: Lake Placid’s premiere accommodation and annual Christmas attraction.

ONLY in West End Montreal’s most unique community paper.

NOV 11 (pg. 11) FREE CLASSIFIED ADS: 514-975-7745 www.westend.thelocalseeker.com

issue22_Layout 1 11/10/2011 2:06 PM Page 12

Quote as of November 8th, 2011

THE LOCAL SEEKER,

OCT 14 (pg. 12)

FREE CLASSIFIED ADS: 514-975-7745 www.westend.thelocalseeker.com