Local Herald, volume 3, Issue 2

T H E

Local Herald West End’s Community Paper

D O YO U k n o w y o u r L O C A L A n g e l s ?

Vo l u m e 3 , I s s u e 2 ,

Jan 27, 2012

Local woman finds homes for retired racing Greyhounds Story and photos: Bram D. Eisenthal

Sleek and fast as a cougar, it came at me before I knew it… and then sniffed my crotch. My, my, I thought, was it a hygiene problem that caused Pepper to act that way? “Not at all,” replied Donna Deskin, president of The League of Extraordinary Greyhounds, a West Endbased organization that wants to educate people on Greyhound dogs and in turn find loving homes for them in their retirement years. “Dogs have an olfactory sense ranging from one hundred thousand to one million times more sensitive than a human's. Sniffing is how they ‘meet’ and get to know who they are meeting. Nothing to do with hygiene.” Phew, I thought.

Inside: * B ow i e at 6 5 , re m e m b e r i n g h i s M o nt re a l T V s h o o t * S h l o m o p ra i s e s Th e Ar t i s t * To s e l l o r n o t s e l l yo u r h o m e a l o n e ? * Fat h e r J o h n o n re n e wa b l e re l i gi o n * An d m o re, i n t h e We s t E n d ' s m o s t u n i q u e co m m u n i t y p a p e r !

Donna Deskin with Nestle - Greyhound love

What lay ahead was one of my more fascinating experiences with dogs, which I love dearly. I do not have one now, but I was blessed with two in earlier years, first as a child and then in my late teens.

And although I have certainly seen them around, I knew virtually nothing about Greyhounds, other than their vaunted rep for blurring speed. All that was about to change as we headed toward Vermont, early last Saturday, while the sun still struggled to reach the horizon.

cont. p4

Animals thrive due to angels of mercy

Solution...

B r a m E i s e n t h a l - Th e Lo c a l S e e ke r

Dogs, and cats for that matter, tend to be underestimated. We adopt or buy pets – and that includes everything from fish to lizards, turtles to tarantulas – to help give us love, companionship and whatever else we are missing at a particular moment. Some of us, however, are imposing our wills on animals that are much smaller than us and are subject to our whims. And when we get bored with them, as with any plaything, some of us simply get rid of them.

I don’t know about you, but when I look into the eyes of a dog or cat and they stare back at me, I feel a connection and, undeniably, I know that animal has a soul as much as I do. Last weekend, at a Vermont kennel surrounded by 40 Greyhound dogs, I was humbled by the presence of the kindest animals I have ever met. Forty pairs of eyes followed my every move and when I went over to the cage of each dog, one at a time, and spoke to them, the pure joy emanating from these animals was palpable. The tails whipping back and forth were a dead giveaway.

How anyone can cause physical suffering to an animal is not within my realm of understanding. You hurt a human baby, people are screaming for the death penalty.

But a dog or a cat? It’s as if we have a right to cause them pain, according to the people who do so, because they are unworthy of kindness simply because they are different from us. The same way that white people all robed up in their silly KKK costumes were able to torture and murder members of the black community in the USA, the same way any racist justifies genocide against people different from them… some people justify animal abuse because of their differences to us.

I do not for one moment believe an animal is soul-less. If I have a soul, if you have a soul, then so do they. So if abusing an animal is therefore a crime, is goes without saying that people who volunteer tirelessly to help animals are angels of mercy, right? Our cover personality, West Ender Donna Deskin, is one such angel, as are her volunteers and the people in Vermont who have kept their kennel going for a decade to keep countless Greyhounds alive and well as long as possible. And, of course, you people who adopt these older dogs rather than paying exorbitant amounts of money to buy cute, young animals from puppy mills, are also angels.

I salute you all. You’re good people and you should be proud.

Rebel, rebel – Stay true to yourself I pay homage to former glam rocker David Bowie in this issue primarily because he spent at least a week here, in TMR, working on the Telescene Films series, The Hunger II, in the late 1990s. Having just turned 65 at the beginning of the month, Bowie has been out of sight for almost a decade (he last performed here on his Reality Tour in 2003), since a serious health scare caused him to re-evaluate his career. This homage comes right after the death of another beloved entertainer, singer Etta James. And while I sorely miss Bowie’s music – truly, he is as unique as they come – he is rebelling as he always has and doing things HIS way, which is what we have always liked about him to begin with. Those trying to coerce Bowie into doing a world tour, despite his reluctance to do so, are completely misguided in their actions. He wants to live many more years in order to spend time with his wife and children and these people could care less about him, wishing he would stress his heart by undergoing a grueling tour instead? He’s given the majority of his life to his fans and that should be good enough for anyone.

The Local Herald, West End Montreal Edition Volume 3, Number 2, January 27, 2012 Founded by Julia Lucio and Mai-Liis Renaud 2010 Published by Local Seeker Media Group, Cornwall, Ontario The Local Herald 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 Herald.

Managing Editor: Bram Eisenthal

THE LOcAL HERALD,

Creative Design: Julia Lucio

JAN 27 (pg. 2)

OUR CONTACT INFORMATION Free Classifieds and Advertising: 514-975-7745 EMAIL: bram@localheraldmontreal.com localheraldmontreal.com Mailing Address: 327 2nd Street E. Cornwall, On. K6H 1Y8 The Property Seeker A regular feature of The Local Herald West End Montreal Edition Professional Consultant - Anita Benabou Rozenblat

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The Artist rescues a pretty bad year at the movies

(Family Features) This season, delight fellow fans with a game time menu that's sure to please everyone - whether you're tailgaiting or hosting a game day get-together.

I must confess I initially resisted seeing Michel Hazanaviciu’s The Artist, assuming that the idea of making an honest-togoodness silent movie in 2011 was merely a gimmick, like Mel Brooks’ tepid Silent Movie (1976). Well, I was fortunately wrong about that. Not only is The Artist one of the year’s best movies, it’s also a timely reminder of why I fell in love with cinema in the first place oh-so-many years ago. And though of late I have mostly fallen out of love with the movies because so many of them have been so bad (in particular this past year), The Artist also reminds me that, when done exceptionally well, films like this can rejuvenate an art form that is well-worth seeking out and appreciating.

Devilish Eggs - Add some heat with Tabasco sauce.

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Buffalo Chicken Chili Makes: 6 servings 3 2 1 1 2 1 2 2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1/4 1 3

tablespoons vegetable oil celery stalks, diced medium onion, diced green bell pepper, seeded and diced large garlic cloves, minced pound ground chicken or turkey tablespoons chili powder tablespoons ground cumin teaspoons salt 28-ounce can fire-roasted diced tomatoes cup water cup Tabasco brand Buffalo Style Hot Sauce 15.5-ounce can pinto beans, rinsed and drained tablespoons crumbled blue cheese

Heat oil in 4-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add celery, onion, green pepper, and garlic; cook about 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender-crisp. Remove vegetables to bowl with slotted spoon.

Add remaining tablespoon oil to same saucepan. Cook ground chicken over medium-high heat until well browned on all sides, stirring constantly. Stir in chili powder, cumin and salt; cook 1 minute.

Add tomatoes with their liquid, water and Buffalo style hot sauce. Heat to boiling over high heat.

Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add beans; cook 5 minutes longer.

The one thing The Artist has in common with 2011’s best movies is that it’s not afraid of evoking emotions in the viewer. And while that would seem to be a desirable thing for a movie to do, it’s not all that common. From impersonal Hollywood sequels – pick any one - whose only emotion is the greedy anticipation of raking in big bucks for all those filmgoers who signed on to the franchise in the first place and generally come back to see new adventures with the same characters, to emotionallypinched movies, like the quasi-Western Meek’s Cutoff and the dumb science fiction film Another Earth, which seem to treat emotions as something false and unnecessary, films that actually connect with viewers on an emotional level are few-and-far-between.

That’s truly odd, because classic films, everything from Casablanca to The Stunt Man, The Godfather to The Social Network, have always generated strong emotions in the audience, be it in their rooting for star crossed lovers to stay together, fearing for the fates of a film’s protagonists or having viewers leaning forward on the edges of their seats to see how the story will turn out. That’s the interactive aspect of cinema and the reason films have been around for more than a century, without any evidence - despite increasingly-poorer North American box office - that the art form will vanish anytime soon.

For the record: my favourite films of 2011, were, in preferential order: Of Gods and Men (Des hommes et des dieux); The Illusionist (L’illusionniste); War Horse; Cave of Forgotten Dreams; The Artist; Rango; Project Nim; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2; Win Win; and The Trip.

To serve, top each serving with crumbled blue cheese.

A graduate of Ryerson University’s School of Journalism, former West End Montrealer Shlomo Schwartzberg is a veteran film critic, has regularly reviewed films for various publications and lectures on film and TV studies. He was the director of programming for the Toronto Jewish Film Festival for eight years.

#10968_FF Source: Tabasco

THE LOcAL HERALD,

Entertainment Entre Nous - Shlomo Schwartzberg

Switch Up Your Menu with GameChanging Chili

JAN 27 (pg.3)

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Cover Stor y

(continued from cover)

Deskin, whom I have known since I was a teenager, was always a resourceful woman with many interests, yet I was dying to learn how she developed such an affinity for canines when, in fact, her only animal during her youth was a gerbil. “It was my dog Rajah that started it all. He passed away in 2004 and I immediately got another dog, a Greyhound named Ricochet, July of that year… he died the following November 2004 of bone cancer.

By that time, however, I was hooked on Greyhounds.”

Researching this breed yields impressive results. Initially bred strictly as companion dogs some 4,000 years ago by the ancient Egyptians, they were so loyal, friendly - and gentle as lambs - that they quickly became associated with the nobility. In Medieval England, commoners found in possession of them were actually executed. Queen Elizabeth I had one.

Then some sportsman sparked the concept of racing them, much as horses are raced. Reaching astounding speeds of 45 miles-perhour, Greyhounds are sight hounds, relying on an acute visual sense that allows them to see objects like small game half a mile away… the reason why the dogs are “led” by a mechanical rabbit during races.

“One of the major misconceptions about Greyhounds is that they need a lot of exercise,” Deskin told me. “But that’s not true. You need to walk them several times per day, just like any other dog, but hardly to the point where either the dog or you are exhausted. Remember that they are sprinters by nature, not long distance runners. They generally sleep 20 out of 24 hours per day. We affectionately refer to them as 45 M.P.H. couch Potatoes.”

Greyhounds are companion animals. They are not for the family looking for a roughand-tumble dog the kids can play with. All the Greyhound wants to do is be by your side and curl up beside you.

“They are probably one of the easiest dogs in the world to care for – they have hair, not fur, don’t shed very much and require

THE LOcAL HERALD,

very little grooming. In the fall and winter they need heavy coats and in the springtime they need rain coats. The ONLY Greyhound ‘rule’ that we insist upon is that if they are running off-leash they must always be in a fenced-in enclosure. The can reach their top speed of 45 miles per hour in three strides. You cannot catch them and, certainly at first, they have no recall memory. It is a disaster waiting to happen.”

I was still not ready, however, for what awaited me at Northern Greyhound Adoptions, a 10-year old kennel that cares for 40 dogs at a time. As we pulled up, there was a definite silence… but the moment we walked in, they were so happy for the company they started barking, almost in unison. I then got to meet them, all totally adorable and extremely intelligent. Visitors are greeted by wagging tails and unbridled affection.

In addition to doing numerous “Meet & Greet” greyhound information sessions in Montreal and surrounding areas, Deskin and her group facilitate adoptions from the kennel for canadians. Following a process that includes an adoption questionnaire, and a home visit from a group volunteer and one of their own dogs, Deskin arranges a day to meet the potential adopters at the kennel to assist with the selection process.

while others will stick to them like glue, but there is always THE one who will not The inseparable Brady (left) and Brooke... looking for a good home.

Local woman finds homes for retired racing Greyhounds

take his or her eyes off the family even while they are evaluating another hound.

That’s what we look for. It’s magical!”

There is a non-refundable adoption donation to the kennel of $250 U.S., which helps pay for the animals’ spay/neuter, up-to-date vaccinations, etc.

The adopter also receives a martingale collar, leash and the hounds’ complete family history.

“We support the adopter and the hound through the entire life of the animal. We have made many new close friends through Greyhound adoption and our adopters are just… greyt.”

The League of Extraordinary Greyhounds can be contacted at 514-239-2513 or by email at t-legs@t-legs.com. Their website is at www.t-legs.com. They invite interested parties to meet these fantastic dogs. A list of future events can be found on their Meetup site: www.meetup.com/t-legs/

“We like to say the dog will pick you, not vice versa,” said Deskin. “Ask any of our adopters and they will agree. We select a few hounds based on the adopters’ requirements (other pets at home, small children, fenced in yard or apartment dweller) and each hound gets its’ turn in the let-out yard with their potential family.

Some dogs will not pay the family any attention,

JAN 27 (pg. 4)

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Fun with words

Yoga U - Chantalle Kudsi

Curling up in comfort deep There is a season, and reason, for everything -- so the saying goes. A bolt of energy rises, then passes away. Another aspect of the vital life force expresses itself, then dissolves. And so the wheel turns.

During winter, nature's energies of death and release are strong. The call to hibernate can feel like a deep, aching need. Like a tiny seed buried beneath the snow, we long to find a warm and safe place to nestle, close our eyes, and be completely held and cared for.

Child's Pose can offer us that place. We curl up, close our eyes and breathe deeply. In a pose similar to that of being held in the womb, we are supported, nourished and cradled safely by Mother Earth.

Child's Pose 1. From a standing position, bring yourself carefully down to the floor on hands and knees. Place the tops of your feet down.

2. Take a deep breath in. As you exhale, shift your hips back, sinking them toward your heels. If your hips do not meet your heels, lay a rolled towel in the space between and sink the hips back onto it.

3. Inhale deeply. Exhale, and slide your knees wide. Position the tips of your big toes to touch underneath and behind you. Settle your hips back down again.

4. Inhale, lengthening the spine. As you exhale, release the centre of your chest toward the floor. Drop one elbow, then the other, down, shifting your weight accordingly. Inhale again. As you exhale, lower your chest and head, and widen your elbows further out along the floor.

5. With your palms facing down, form a diamond shape with your hands by bringing the tips of your index fingers to touch, then the tips of your thumbs to touch. Inhale deeply.

Exhale and lower your head so that your forehead rests inside this diamond shape. If your head does not lower to the floor of its own volition, place a folded blanket or bolster beneath your chest and head. Rest with your forehead down upon it.

6. Take some deep breaths and close your eyes. Release any physical holding -- in the hips, back, shoulders, or head -onto the floor or props. Allow the Earth to fully support and nurture you as you settle down deeper and relax further.

7. When you are ready, gently open your eyes. Inhale and begin to lift your head up off the floor, followed by your chest and torso, with a straight spine. Place your hands one at a time on the floor in front of you. Slide your knees together. Curl your back toes under and push off your hands to shift your weight back. Walk your hands toward your feet as you roll your heels onto the floor. Keep knees bent and gently unfurl to a standing position.

Chantalle Kudsi is a Yoga and Meditation Teacher living in the West-End. She can be reached at chantsomething@yahoo.ca

THE LOcAL HERALD,

JAN 27 (pg. 5)

Across

Down

1. "Smallest particle" 5. Propelled oneself through water 9. Denude 10. Skillful 11. Violent disturbance 12. Agitated state 13. Resort 14. It displays a tail in the sky 16. Muhammad ___ 18. Swill 21. Plunder 23. Give rise to 24. Not scarcity 25. Repose 26. 365 days

1. Tallies 2. Adolescent 3. Meddlesome 4. Slogan 5. What a knight is called 6. Between the ribs and hips 7. At the peak of 8. Prefix meaning "After" or "Beyond" 15. An analytic literary composition 16. Winged 17. A rounded projection 19. Killer whale 20. Jury member 22. Explosive letters

STAR SALES REP WANTED If this limited staff situation continues much longer, we’re gonna change our name to The Lonely Herald. We are looking for a sales rep, experience not required… just desire and a chance to make some cold, hard cash. No benefits, straight commission… but also no one looking over your shoulder, clocking your hours or stressing you out. This is a real opportunity to grow along with a growing paper, where your earning potential is limited only by your ability and desire. Male or female, all ages, any race or religion, bilingualism preferred but NOT required, although the ability to converse in English IS a must. If you are interested in giving us a hand, call us at 514-975-7745 and leave us a message if we do not answer.

We are seeking a sales star-in-the-making. Is that you?

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THE LOcAL HERALD,

JAN 27 (pg. 6)

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Rock Legends

David Bowie at 65 – Thanks for the memories

by Bram D. Eisenthal

Photo Credit - Vero Boncompagnie

I was never really a fan during his Ziggy Stardust days, arguably his most revered period. Then, around the time I was off to Wildwood, New Jersey, on several consecutive mid-1970s summers with my buddies, the album (yes, that would be in its glorious LP version) Diamond Dogs, with the title song, Rebel Rebel and Space Oddity ruling the airwaves on cHOM and cFOX… I was indelibly hooked. Brit glam rocker David Bowie – the so-called Thin White Duke had become one of my favourites, joining a pack that included his illustrious land-mates The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

Over the years, even including his abdication to become a short-lived member of the fledgling band, Tin Machine, I voraciously listened to everything Bowie put out, his persona as charismatic to me as his addictive sound.

Something about the way he carried himself, moved and crooned, sounding like he belonged among the upper echelon of legendary stars even when teamed with veteran Bing crosby as the two melded so beautifully, so naturally on songs such as The Little Drummer Boy and Peace on Earth that they touched the heart of a Jewish teen forever. an ensuing acquaintance with Gaiman.

I have been to many, many concerts over the years, too many to count, really, but the three Bowie shows I saw included two I will always remember, including The Glass Spider Tour at Olympic Stadium in the 1980s (the huge stage being needed to house the massive glass spider prop whose belly he descended from at the concert’s start) and his last tour to date, his December 2003 Reality Tour at centre Bell. The latter was particularly noteworthy because Bowie, then in his late fifties, had been ill, had cancelled a slew of shows elsewhere and chose Montreal as his return venue. It was said that his voice had suffered, yet the white-suit-adorned Bowie never sounded better as he tore through most of his hits.

In 1999, I had spent one glorious week working with Bowie as the publicist on the erotic horror TV series The Hunger, Season II, and I remember thinking I had a chance to catch up with him backstage after the concert. So I dragged my buddy with me to a security guard, who in turn hooked me up with the show’s Bell centre publicist. She had me wait 90 minutes, but eventually we were told that he was feeling out of sorts and was relaxing backstage, rather than doing the usual lengthy meet and greet.

When I returned to Montreal and saw Bowie for the final time, I decided to give him a small gift. I had just finished Gaiman’s phenomenal novel Neverwhere (if you enjoy dark fantasy, this is truly one of the best ever) and Bowie admitted he had never read it. “David, as thanks for all the years of pleasure your music has given me, I thought I’d give you something you will find enjoyable in kind,” I said. He really appreciated the gesture.

I have to say that David Bowie was one of THE kindest, most generous and least pretentious personalities I met during my decade working as a film unit publicist. His humour was self-deprecating, if anything, and he was SO humble... “I’m not much of an actor,” insisted the star of such acclaimed films as Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, The Man Who Fell to Earth and Labyrinth.

On the occasion of your 65th birthday earlier this month, David, we here in Montreal wish you a happy and healthy future. Know that your presence from the international stage is very much missed.

That was okay, though – I had actually WORKED with Bowie and what a week it was. For most of that series, media were welcomed on set. This was different, however: The week where Bowie worked with actor Giovanni Ribisi on the season’s debut episode, entitled Sanctuary, helmed by none other than action veteran Tony Scott. I had been warned that the set was closed, and that my work with Bowie would be quite limited, but who cared? I got to meet my idol and interact with him on several occasions. The first time we met, I had to go through his personal body-guard – Bowie had apparently always traveled with one since the 1980 murder of his very good friend John Lennon in New York city. I had lugged along five items of mine that I wanted to ask him to sign – I really could not resist after a lifetime of unabashed fandom - and I handed them to the body-guard. Bowie later came over to say hello and we shook hands.

The next day, my five items were returned, each one personalized and signed. I still have them all.

A few days later, I had the chance to speak with Bowie, standing close enough that I was clearly able to discern his one blue and his other brown/amber eye, and discussing the work of Brit fantasy author Neil Gaiman. Bowie was a fan and when I told him I would be seeing Gaiman at a horror convention in Atlanta the following weekend, he said “Say hello to Neil for me, will you?” When I met Gaiman at the show, I transmitted Bowie’s fond wishes to Gaiman (author of stories like Coraline, American Gods and the Death: The High Cost of Living series for Dc comics) and that opened the door to

THE LOcAL HERALD,

JAN 27 (pg. 7)

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BUY or SELL your HOME in the

Property See ker

The We s t

E n d real estate section

Lines of credit: How they work and when they are available

Mortgage Matters

Issue 1

As most of you know, interest rates are at an alltime low and don’t seem to be moving upward any time soon. With economic instability rampant across North America and Europe, people are taking advantage of these interest rates to not only use their homes as cash registers, but to buy rental properties to supplement their income. You can guarantee 10-year rates now as low as 3.89% - the absolute best five-year

rates not so long ago!!

A serious advantage that you may not be aware of is that lines of credit are available on rental properties. You can go up to 80% loan to value, meaning, you can have a line of credit up to 80% of the value of the property. This allows people who didn’t have the opportunity to buy multiple properties before can now thereby create multiple-revenue streams.

Secured lines of credit are mortgages that are backed by a property, albeit with one subtle, yet important, difference. With a regular mortgage, if you take cash out when you close at

the notary, you start paying off the interest right away. A secured line of credit lets you have a blanket mortgage on the property, allowing you to borrow money against your home at a future time of need without paying interest until you start using it. What people also don’t realize is that they can transfer their credit card balances of $10,000, for example, onto their secured lines of credit and pay around prime +0.50%, which is 3.50%.

This saves you a ton of money compared to the 22% or more interest you’re paying on your credit card. There is even a lender right now that, for the first 12 months, is offering a line of credit interest rate of

prime, which is 3.00%. Don’t fall into the traps that your credit card companies lay out for you. Many of you probably receive cheques where you can write out amounts of money up to your credit limit at a rate of 2.99% or 3.99%. These often go back up to 22% within six months and are there to tempt you to spend more than you normally would.

These are temporary savings and if you feel the need to use them, make sure the amounts are reasonable and that you have a plan in place to pay it back within a short period of time.

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

STOP You have just proven that advertising in the Local Herald works Call us today to start YOUR campaign 514-975-7745

THE LOcAL HERALD,

JAN 27 (pg. 8)

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

Home Sweet Home -

Fourteen facts to consider before you try to sell your own home Occasionally, one can see “For Sale By Owner” signs (which we call FSBO), with some owners believing that selling their own home will not only save them money, but will give them an advantage over sellers using a reputable

talk directly with sellers and therefore avoid FSBO properties.

6. Lack of negotiating experience and pertinent information will often result in a lower selling price, or worse yet, a bungled contract and possible lawsuits.

7. The majority of qualified buyers are working with experienced real estate professionals.

broker.

8. Many serious buyers will bypass a FSBO home merely because they recognize that it is not in the real estate mainstream: This can occasionally make them wary.

Before you decide to take on this very important and legallycomplex decision, remember that most real estate lawyers do not recommend selling your own home in today's market. Here are a few of the reasons why (this took a lot of research, so hopefully this will be a useful guide):

9. As most local buyers now retain experienced real estate professionals to represent them as their buyer-agency, you will probably be negotiating against that same experienced professional.

1. You are limiting your exposure to potential buyers (less than 10% of what a good real estate broker will generate), which theoretically means your home will take 10-15 times longer to sell on the market.

2. The longer a home is on the market, the lower the selling price will be. Why? Because most buyers believe that a home left unsold sold after this long must have something wrong with it.

3. The selling/buying process begins AFTER the buyer leaves your home. Most sellers think that all it takes is for someone to see their home, fall in love with the great decor and that the offer will magically follow. Remember that the buying process begins after the prospect leaves your home. If a real estate agent does not represent the buyer, and they are looking on their own, they usually leave the home and start to talk themselves out of the buying process. If the buyer is represented by a real estate professional, the latter is trained on how to overcome a buyer’s remorse–a very common occurrence. It’s human nature, really.

4. Because of the limited exposure you will very likely end up with a lower selling price. Remember, in order to generate the highest price possible for your home, maximum exposure is needed.

5. Most buyers find it extremely awkward to negotiate or even to

Single Family Homes

Townhouses Townhousses

10. Expected savings in broker’s fees will also be greatly reduced if you offer a selling commission to entice real estate agents to bring in potential buyers.

11. If you are planning to use a lawyer to help you negotiate the offer, your lawyer’s fees will be considerably higher.

12. Only real estate agents have access to the up-to-date market information.

News reports cannot approach the timeliness or specificity available to agents. Further, real estate agents are involved in home sales much more frequently than the average homeowner is. This familiarity leads to a degree of expertise that provides an edge on negotiating and successful selling.

13. You only pay the commission to the real estate broker if they successfully sell your home at the price you are happy with.

14. Accepting an offer is one thing, ensuring a safe and successful closing is quite another. Real estate transactions almost always have problems on closing. At times, expecting the buyer’s and seller’s lawyers to fight it out or resolve the problems can be disastrous to the deal: Sometimes the deal is lost. This is the time that your experienced real estate professional can be the most useful, acting as a mediator. Lawyers MUST act only on their clients’ instructions and are not paid to negotiate.

Do you have questions for Anita Rozenblat? E-mail your comments or questions to anitarozenblat@hotmail.com

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THE LOcAL HERALD,

JAN 27 (pg. 9)

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Photo Credit Bram

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Spiritual Seedlings - Father John Walsh

Can religion renew itself?

Religion is not the powerhouse of presence it once was. In Quebec, the Roman catholic church was once everywhere. No event took place where a priest was not present to bless the event and that included the opening of the new barber shop, the new Post Office, the new Government Offices. The rule of thumb was: The more important the event the higher the prelate in the hierarchy of the church. The presence of the cardinal meant that the event was greatly blessed. Religion had its heyday until the Quiet Revolution of the 1960s. Not so quiet a revolution! The Quiet Revolution changed the church and society.

The church then enters a long period of damage control, spending the next four decades looking in at itself, a period of introspection encouraged by the life-changing event brought about by the Second Vatican council held from 1962 to 1965. Two revolutions then coincided: The societal revolution encouraging French-speaking catholics to abandon past domination by the church to freely embrace the world of the twenty-first century; the Roman catholic revolution that invited catholics to leave behind an agricultural culture and to embrace an industrialize culture, the very culture the majority of French canadians were abandoning.

The church today remains a civilization in support of those who have embraced it today, to envisage a new tomorrow. The renewal of the church in the Vatican council was two-fold, “looking in” at what needed urgent change and “looking out,” which means the church would become a church in the Modern world. The renewal of the Roman catholic church, which has spent many decades “looking in,” now must begin “looking out” even more thoroughly.

In the month of October, the church will hold a Synod (a consultation of representatives of the bishops of the world), the theme of which is to call for a New Evangelization for the transmission of the christian faith. The document offers hope that the church can renew herself. The bishops are invited to listen to the world, to work with other christians, to dialogue with people of all faith traditions and to be open to dialogue with atheists. This a far cry from a custom that was beginning root itself in the church, a restoration to a time prior to Vatican II which simply overpowered any initiatives of “looking out” for a true renewal of the church.

THE LOcAL HERALD,

JAN 27 (pg. 10)

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Musical Musings -

Nadia Dolce

Long, hard journey is the norm in the music industry

Valentine parasites taking over your body?

Without trying to be negative, the music business isn't always about the glitz and glamour presented in the media. Although I do still dream of selling out a stadium full of cheering fans, acquiring a mansion in Beverly Hills and going on shopping sprees around the world, I have come to realize the harsh reality of show business. I want to share a little piece of my journey with you.

I've been pursuing a singing career for many years now, going through many ups and downs but never giving up on my dreams. I can't complain. I've met a lot of people, both wonderful and not so wonderful, but my passion for music is what keeps me going. I thank God everyday for every little opportunity that brings me closer to my dreams. Whether it’s a fundraiser, talent show or family wedding, I just enjoy performing. Last year, I was introduced to a manager and began working on my first album. Everything was coming together, life was magical and I was on cloud nine with my new boyfriend. Overall, I felt like a princess. Little did I know that my naive, good heart would make me an easy target for candy-coated promises. I quickly realized that money rules and that since I don't have a lot of it, I was very limited in how far I could reach.

Valentine’s Day is happy for some, terrifying for others.

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I also never realized how long, expensive and frustrating this process could be and my fairytale illusion ultimately came to an end. I became aware that I could not be so trusting and I had to rely on myself, with plenty of hard work and no pay, not to mention handling all the envious and negative people trying to break me down. I was a wreck for months, not wanting to as much as get out of bed. I felt discouraged, but that wouldn't stop me. I managed to finish my album ''9-1-1,'' filmed my first music video and I am now happy to be releasing a collaboration with (renowned DJ) Mc Mario, featuring my newest song "El Gitano" in the spring. It's a hot summer dance song with a sensual Latin feel.

Looking back, my ups and downs were all part of a thrilling experience that was worth every bit of deception, definitely making me a stronger person. On a very personal level, I learned to accept criticism… although it is still sometimes hard. Despite all the setbacks that came my way, I start this New Year with the satisfaction of knowing that this is just the beginning of my successful career. My best advice to anyone seeking success in my industry would be: Surround yourself with family and friends who care and, most of all, never doubt yourself. In other words, always BELIEVE! Nadia Dolce (which means "sweet" in Italian) is the granddaughter of immigrants from Italy. A resident of Montreal, the 26-year old is a promising international musical artist. To learn more, visit her website at www.nadiadolce.com

THE LOcAL HERALD,

JAN 27 (pg. 11)

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We hope you have enjoyed this issue of THE LOCAL HERALD We are working on next issue and it will be out February 10, 2012 Deadline Friday, February 3rd.

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THE LOcAL HERALD,

JAN 27 (pg. 12)

Our celebration of love, loving and lovely things, in our heartfelt homage to Valentine's Day. It may be a christian festival historically, but love should be celebrated by us all, don't you think?

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