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T H E
Local Herald West
End’s
E A R T H DAY
I S S U E
Vo l u m e 3 , I s s u e 6 ,
Community
Paper
April 20, 2012
Story and cover photo by Bram D. Eisenthal
: This issou-coelumns
ific ec eads Many terr ack cow h b g in r b o lat t aum ces Parma in v n o c en Apfelb v ld e t S t Hera is g colo nowned e e r h astfeeding it e w r b A f o Q& s it f bene bares the e ll a t n a ne h C hef Cayen C f o t u b e D
I’ll never forget the Saturday night movie on TV the evening before I departed for sleepaway camp for the first time, back in 1967. The film was The Day of the Triffids, based on sciencefiction author John Wyndham’s hit novel of the same name. It was about plants, murderous, bloodthirsty, walking plants, out to ply vengeance against the human race. If you missed that classic, you may have seen the horror comedy Little Shop of Horrors and its anti-heroine, Audrey, the deadly venus flytrap. These films may give plants a bad rap, but considering the mess we have made of our environment, it’s no wonder plants might well daydream, in their little plant minds, of taking us out before we take them out. Well, thanks to professionals like West End landscaper Mike Page, plants may learn to see humans in a nicer light. For a quarter century now, Page has been lovingly taking care of plants, especially tropical palms, cultivating them, planting them and selling them to people who truly appreciate their worth.
cont. p4
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B r a m E i s e n t h a l - Th e Lo c a l S e e ke r
On Earth Day, we examine a man who plants to improve our environment… and we discuss marihuana, too And so, we are here, celebrating Mother Earth and trying desperately to save her from the destruction wrought by previous generations. On behalf of my generation, I apologize. In this case, I think I really CAN claim ignorance – We didn’t know any better. When I was growing up, there were no littering laws and if you wanted to fling an empty glass bottle or McDonald’s bag out your car window, no problem. There was no recycling, other than the invitation to return your empty glass pop bottle to the store if you wanted your two or five cent deposit back. I had better uses for empty bottles during the 1960s, while vacationing summers with my parents in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. My cousin and I would fill them with sand to deaden the sound, line them up along a hotel’s sea wall and then try to break them with either rocks or b-b gun projectiles. Back then, littering laws were so scarce… there were no seat-belt laws, either. So, with no recyclable plastics in the marketplace per se, you simply didn’t worry about that aspect of planetary health. You littered freely, not realizing that planet Earth had an expiry date. And some poor schmuck would clean up your refuse, anyways. His job, not yours.
helps beautify our world as naturally as anyone can, by selling and displaying plants of all kinds during the warmer months of the year. Page’s young daughters will be able to tell their kids some day that their daddy helped preserve a bit of planet Earth, instead of destroying it. To those of you who work tirelessly to do the same – to preserve and not destroy, as naturally as possible – I bid you thanks. Note as well that our paper is printed on cheaper, flimsier and more chemical-free paper than the competition’s: We want to do OUR small part to make a difference. Welcome Chef Minorgan Not sure whether he cooks with funny herbs, but Chef Michael Minorgan, a professional chef and recent West End restaurateur, has joined the burgeoning cast of fine columnists at this paper. In fact, I welcome Michael to what is arguably the finest stable of columnists in the city and I state this with absolute pride. Look for words so tasty and reeking of fine cuisine that you’ll want to devour our pages…
Fabulous Asian meal (Chinese and Sushi) desires partner
We have come a long way since, though I admit that teens and young adults are much more coherent than I am when it comes to being environmentally aware. My building in Cote Saint-Luc has recycling bins installed by the savvy municipal administration here, by the way, but noone uses them for that… very few do, at any rate. Because the garbage is allowed to pile up in my building before being unloaded, the bins are jammed with garbage, recyclable or otherwise. I once happened upon a plastic bag in one of the bins that was used to dispose of “full” diapers. Yummy. If anyone has a way to recycle THOSE contents, let someone in authority know, will ya, please? So, because Earth Day is nigh, it made sense to honour it, as well as the people sworn to made the protection of our fragile environment important. The fact this paper is out on 4/20, or World Cannabis Day, is just a coincidence, albeit a recyclable one. But even that date is important, or so I believe, because the crime for the possession of maryjane is THE most ridiculous crime on Earth. I’m not at all ashamed to admit that I smoked “dope” as a teen and, look, I am STILL HERE to tell you about it! Aside from pills to manage chronic migraines, I never, ever progressed onto harder drugs to magnify my high. I never killed anyone in a moment of reefer madness. And I never staggered around like an idiot the way drunken alcoholics are wont to do. Marihuana is so safe, so less toxic for you than cigarettes or booze, its inclusion on lawenforcement lists is the biggest travesty going. Yet if you’re caught with dope in the U.S., even one paltry joint, the one-strike rule kicks in and you can actually go to jail for it.
when you spend $20 or more, at supper time, on our varied and delicious Asian cuisine. *Dining room only, not on deliveries *One coupon per table only *Combo and dinner specials not included -Valid April 20 - May 20, 2012 inclusive
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And can you keep a secret? We’re planning a Mother’s Day fit for a Queen: Any sushi item on the menu – Buy one, get a second item at half-price! Happy Mother’s Day… come spend it at Montrose… And bring your own wine! Mother’s Day is on Sunday, May 13, 2012
Restaurant Montrose 6550 Somerled Ave., NDG (corner Cumberland) 514-482-2166
This ruse is so ridiculous that it has hurt sales of one of the most ecologically-important plants in history: Hemp. An off-shoot of the cannabis sativa plant, hemp was once a huge commodity in the U.S., till some genius in government decided it was not safe enough to grow in farmer’s fields. Hemp is virtually indestructible, totally recyclable and makes for a very soft and durable fabric. Montreal documentary filmmaker Ezra Soiferman is such a fan of the stuff, he had the seats in CinemaSpace, the movie screening division he created for The Segal at The Saidye, covered in hemp material. Good on you, Ez! I am pleased to bring you this Earth Day Issue of The Local Herald, which features as its cover story a West End landscaper, Michael Page, who
The Local Herald, West End Montreal Edition Volume 3, Number 6, APRIL 20, 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
APRIL 20 (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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Can you see this circle move?
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Searching your ancestry a grave experience?
Now let your webs ite do the s ame!
Are you fascinated with old gravestones? Many people are, due to their historical revelations. John Diener and Hymie Reichstein of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Montreal will help "unravel the fascinating genealogical secrets that old tombstones could be hiding." This will include individual interpretations for attendees, provided they send their tombstone photos in advance of the meeting.
and attend this open meeting at: Jewish Public Library 5151 Cote Saint-Catherine Road (Metro Cote Ste. Catherine) on Monday, May 7, 2012, 7:30 p.m. More information at www.jgs-montreal.org, or call the JGS of MOntreal 24-hour holine at 514-484-0969. The Jewish Public Library can be reached at 514-345-2627.
HAD IT WITH THE BRUTAL ASSAULTS OF THE GAS COMPANIES? On May 1st and beyond, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
514-500-2499
Please send photos to them at merlek@videotron.ca
OUT OF GAS?
There comes a time in everyone’s life when you must stand up and be counted in the face of adversity. When it comes to financial rape by the gas companies, when we are at the point that $1.40 per litre is not only acceptable, it is welcomed…. That time is NOW! We are not sheep, bleating weekly as we are led to slaughter. We have the power to act. ACT NOW, before $2 per litre becomes the norm. Boycott your neighbourhood gas stations, reward the stations with the lowest prices and, most of all, DEMAND THAT YOUR POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVES ACT ON YOUR BEHALF. They are in power to satisfy their constituents, not to spend our dollars on expensive trips, meals and personal gas allowances. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!! There is NO reason at all why $1.49 per litre is the norm here and the figure is .10 .20 cents cheaper in other jurisdictions, why the price per barrel goes down and the per-pump price increases at the same time. This is nothing but an obscene cash grab by the gas companies and, yes, our government, too, by way of taxes. If matters are so out-of-hand now, just imagine what you will be paying for a litre of gas when there are real problems on the world stage, such as a blockade of Iran’s Straits of Hormuz. $2, $3, $4 a litre… not to mention the cost to businesses that rely on gas to deliver our commercial products and transport us, such as trucks, taxis, airlines and trains. The time to act is NOW… to sit around complaining and doing nothing is the way of infants, not responsible adults! On May 1, vote with your wallets, your brains and your commitment. Boycott PetroCanada, Sunoco and Esso stations everywhere. Make THEM hurt the way they make US hurt.
Let this be the beginning of the end of the gas monopoly! Citizens for Gas Fairness
THE LOCAL HERALD,
APRIL 20 (pg.3)
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West End landscaper Page helps teach us about world’s eco-saviours Cover Stor y
(Continued from cover)
This intrepid green-gardener has not only learned how to care for plants, but also how plants care for us in turn. “At least 30 percent of my clients view plants as contributing greatly to life overall,” Page told me, as we stood in his lovely, plantladen NDG show garden. Here, very little is stirring… yet. Come back in the summertime and see how lush plants look when they are loved to their fullest. “I have one religious woman as a client who actually feels love for her plants. She believes that they have souls and that to harm a plant through neglect is a sin. Losing one is a real tragedy, she says.”
you’re like me, an individual with no “green thumb” whatsoever, Page’s hearty palms will certainly fit the bill. I picked up a European fan palm (chamaerops humilis) from him in October and my four-foot high baby is still thriving in my dusty, dry apartment environment, though I can’t wait to shortly drag her onto the balcony, where she will really do well. Heat, rain, humidity… a prickly palm’s best friends. Page does really well with his palms, selling them to homes throughout the city as well as top clients in Val D’Or, Ontario, Newfoundland, New Brunswick and B.C. “It’s when I drive out of the city, to spots like Oka, that I really notice plants thriving,” he stated. “Pollution and dark, cloudy days don’t combine to create an environment that’s good to plants. And acid rain falling from the skies is certainly toxic to them. Sick plants affect us, because they do clean the air we
So, what IF this is really the case? Most religious leaders will guffaw at the concept of insects and animals having a soul, Buddhists aside, but what do they know? Only our Creator, should you believe in one, can dictate which organic
b re a t h e … the effect of sick plants trickles down, there’s no doubt about that.”
vessels are soul-worthy, so what IF? Caring for your plant properly requires just enough motivation to ensure they stay green, it seems. It doesn’t take a geniuslevel intellect to realize that a healthy plant is a green plant: When your plant has more yellow, brown and dry leaves than vibrant, green ones, that’s your first clue. And if
THE LOCAL HERALD,
effectively when they are pruned. Remember, those trees help clean our air, so keeping them healthy isn’t simply an aesthetic function.” If you want to see what a world without trees and plants looks like, check out more than the casinos the next time you are in Las Vegas, with its rules against watering and its artificial turf. It looks beautiful on the surface… but dig down and you’ll find that the green, like the manufactured charm itself, is just an illusion, much like the manmade props used in The Day of the Triffids. It just ain’t natural. Page invites readers to drive or walk by his residence anytime to check out his showgarden. One horticultural society has gone as far as requesting tours of his garden as a regular summer activity. He can be reached by calling 514-481-0683 or through his websites: www.montreallandscaping.ca, as well as www.montrealplants.com, www.windmillpalms.info. Mention this article in The Local Herald and he promises he will give you a discount on your purchases.
I asked Page what stresses plants out most. “Well, a scarcity of watering makes them work harder to survive… their roots stretch farther in search of water. The lack of rain at this time, as opposed to the April weather in past years, isn’t so good for plants. What is also interesting is that, where hearty plants like palms are concerned, there’s an upside to global warming. “What is bad, however, is how badly and scarcely the City of Montreal, prunes its trees. They function more
APRIL 20 (pg. 4)
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Chef Cayenne with Chef Michael Minorgan
Chef Michael Minorgan (a.k.a. Chef Cayenne) kicks off his career as The Local Herald’s travelling culinary expert by telling us about…
The unexpected pleasures and exotic flavours of Viet Nam On my recent trip to Viet Nam, my third to this fascinating country, I once a g a i n experienced the irritable allure of its friendly people and sumptuous cuisine. The freshness a n d wholesomeness of that cuisine is apparent to both the eye and to the taste. How can you possibly resist a country and a people whose national past-time is making chicken noodle soup (Pho Ga), its national dish that can be found in every restaurant and food stand in the country. It`s a dish, that in the right hands, is far removed from grandma`s comforting dish of egg noodles, boiled chicken and chunky vegetables… Don’t get me wrong, grandma`s chicken noodle soup is great, it has soothed me on many a cold and fever-filled sleepless night, Pho (pronounced fur) is just different, that`s all, with many more exotic flavours! Due to the lack of refrigeration in most Vietnamese households, all villages have amazing fresh food markets that abound with a bounty of fresh foods that put our markets to shame. The Vietnamese women will venture out to these markets, sometimes twice a day, to gather ingredients for their meals. A kitchen in a typical Vietnamese house is devoid of the usual cooking apparatus, oven, stove, microwave, etc, but in all cases you will find a simple rustic open heat source and a few well worn pots to cook in. I have personally experienced all manner of dishes prepared in these surroundings and I dare say most of them surpass those I have had in Montreal, prepared by highly-skilled chefs in 5-star restaurants. All this is to give credence to the fact that all you need to cook a fabulous meal is a simple renewable heat source, containers to cook
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in and the skilled hands of someone who knows how to combine the ingredients. Pho Ga is a wonderful example of this expertise, giving rise to a delicious light and healthy meal for all occasions. The secret to a good bowl of pho is in the preparation of its broth, all the other ingredients are added in their raw state just before serving. It takes a little time and effort to prepare this broth, but the rewards far outweigh the effort. The recipe I am giving you here can be adjusted for other forms of protein (beef, duck, etc.) by substituting the appropriate meat and bones. The broth can be frozen for future use. It is very important that the broth be as clear as possible, as any impurities will mask its wonderful and addictive flavours
Pho Ga 1 whole chicken (4-5 lbs) 3 chicken carcasses (found at Asian grocery stores)2 whole onions, unpeeled and cut in half5inch chunk of ginger, unpeeled Spices 44 whole cloves6 whole star anise4 tbsp palm sugar (found at Asian grocery stores)4 tbsp fish sauce (3-Crab Brand is the best)*Small bunch of cilantro stems only, tied
knife to scrape the skin off the ginger. Slice ginger into thick slices. In a large stockpot, fill with water and boil. With a sharp cleaver, carve the chicken breast meat off and reserve. With the rest of chicken cut through the bones, the more bone that is exposed, the more marrow gets inside the broth, increasing the flavour and richness of the broth. When the water boils, add chicken sections (not breasts) and boil on high for 5 minutes. You’ll see lots of foam and “stuff’ come up to the surface. Drain, rinse your chicken of the scum and wash your pot thoroughly. Refill with about 4 quarts of clean, cold water. Add chicken pieces and carcasses, chicken breast meat, onion, ginger and all of the spices to the pot and cover. Turn heat to high – let it come to boil, then immediately turn heat to low. Prop lid up so that steam can escape. After 15 minutes, remove the chicken breasts, shred with your fingers when cooled and set aside (you’ll serve shredded chicken breast with the finished soup). With a large spoon, skim the surface of any impurities in the broth. Skimming every 20 minutes ensures a clear broth. Simmer a total of 1-1/2 – 2 hours. Taste and adjust seasoning with more fish sauce and / or sugar. Strain the broth, discard solids. Prepare noodles as per directions on package. Ladle broth, add shredded chicken breast and soft noodles to each bowl. Have accompaniments set at the table for each person to add to their bowl.
* A good quality fish sauce should be a light brown, the colour of freshly-brewed tea - a darker sauce is of a lower quality
Accompaniments dried rice noodles (about 1/4” wide)cups bean sprouts, washed & tails pinched offcilantro tops – leaves and tender stemsshaved red onionslime, cut into 4 wedgesSriracha hot sauceHoisin saucesliced chili Place ginger and onion on a small baking sheet. The top of the onion should be about 4” from the oven’s heating element. Set to broil on high for 15 minutes. Turn the onion and ginger occasionally, to get an even char. The skin should get dark and the onion/ginger should get soft. After cooling, rub to get the charred skin off the onion and use a butter
APRIL 20 (pg. 5)
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H E A LT H A N D F I T N E S S - H E A LT H A N D F I T N E S S The garden as healthy Earth Day activity
It’s best to plan your garden well before it’s actually time, to avoid overspending (which is very easy to do, trust me!), buying the wrong species of plant (done that too) and buying plants that don’t work with the yard. For example, if you have a shady backyard then you might not get a very good tomato yield. Most tomato plants need lots of sun. Every year I make all those gardening mistakes as I plan my garden at the last minute, while perusing the amazing goods at Jean Talon Market. The sights and smells are overwhelming. This year I am going to plan ahead. Actually, I asked my kids – growing like plants themselves - to plan it for me! I told them to design our vegetable garden choosing all the vegetables they like. I asked them organize everything first on paper and plan where everything goes. I figure if they design it, plant it and tend to it (with our help, of course) they might actually eat it too! Brilliant, no? I can’t wait to make salsa out of the harvest and to pick sweet cherry tomatoes off the warm vine. Tomatoes and zucchinis have always been the reliable vegetables in my amateur garden. With them I am able to create tantalizing ratatouilles and yummy pizzas. I need to learn how to can tomatoes like my Italian friends, so I can stretch the effort and make the taste of summer last throughout winter. I only hope the local wildlife leaves our hard work alone this year! Caryn J. Roll P.Dt. (514.817.0135) Twitter: @MTRLnutrition Join me on Facebook www.montrealnutrition.com
WE ARE FOR SALE ENQUIRE WITHIN
THE LOCAL HERALD,
APRIL 20 (pg. 6)
For five decades, family business OTA has been here, serving Montrealers from the West End and beyond.
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I fondly recall Victoria Day weekend, for me perennially the time to plant the vegetable garden. That first long weekend of Spring, my grandfather used to lovingly transplant all the plants he grew from seedlings.
We’ve been on watch for expert 50 great years! We provide service in:
Join an exciting small paper with unlimited potential The Local Herald has been in business since its debut as The Local Seeker in September 2010. It is fresh, vibrant, exciting and very different from every other West End community paper. We are also in need of an experienced, sales-savvy rep who can help turn this paper into a large periodical. If you have what it takes and are willing to work for both commission AND a percentage of ownership, call Bram at 514-975-7745. Or fire off an e-mail to
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bram@localheraldmontreal.com.
If you have what it takes and can help us grow, you will benefit as much as we will. That is a promise, from the desk of the publisher / editor himself. You read it here first!
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Fun with words
Yoga U - Chantalle Kudsi
Touch Down to Earth In my yoga classes, I often speak about grounding energy down into and drawing energy up from the earth. Why is this connection so important? Yoga involves a seven-fold system of energy centres that line the body from the base of the spine to the crown of the head. The first, known as the root or EARTH chakra, is located at the tailbone and connects us to our ground. Here, we find not only the force of gravity pulling us down, but a parallel and synchronistic counterforce pushing and holding us up. Coming to feel both of these forces at work in our own contact with the ground, takes practice and a developed awareness. The Earth is a place, and complex organism, of great and powerful transmutation. The stale energy we ground and release downward gets integrated, composted, and recycled by this tremendous Mother; as we root (an active verb), we access an immense source of living organic energy that propels us upward with loving strength and power. Downward Dog This is a classic yoga pose that takes time to get a feel for and grow into. Whether you are well-seasoned or new to the Downward Dog, let the focus here be on your contact and connection with the Earth. 1. On the earth or on a hard floor (with or without a yoga mat), come into a hands and knees, table-top position, with both knees on the ground underneath your hips and hip-width apart, and both hands on the ground underneath your shoulders and shoulder-width apart. Curl your toes under so that you are gripping the earth with your toes. Have the fingers of your hands spread wide, with the middle finger pointing forward. 3. Take a few breaths in and out through the nostrils. Take a deep breath in, and on the exhalation press firmly into your hands, lift your knees, and send your hips up into the air. Continue pressing your hips up and back as you breathe. Do not be concerned with whether your legs are completely straight or whether the heels touch the ground. 4. Continue breathing through the nostrils as you constantly affirm your connection with the Earth through your hands. Keep the fingers spreading wide, and keep pressing your hands into the ground with the fleshiest parts of your open palms. At the same time, allow the Earth to assist you in pressing out of the ground as you send your hips further up and back. It is as though you are pushing the Earth away from you with your hands and as a result, the Earth is propelling your arms to be strong, your spine to lengthen, and your weight to go up and back. 5. Relax your head, letting it hang, look down at the Earth with a soft gaze, and breathe. 6. To come out, bend your knees slowly on the exhalation and land them back down. Take a rest in Child's Pose, letting your hips sit back against your heels (tops of your feet down, toes uncurled) and setting your forehead straight down on your arms or directly on the ground. Come up when you are ready.
Across 1. Draw a bead on 4. Third person pronoun female 7. Law enforcement agency 10. To and ___ 11. Hearing organ 12. Resinlike substance 13. How hot something is 16. Pertaining to vivid recall 17. Chimes 19. Chose 22. Feed bag contents 23. Whimper 24. Slow a vehicle 26. Fleck 27. A small curl 29. Travel plans 33. Zero 34. Blemish 35. Refinable rock 36. It opens a lock 37. President Lincoln 38. Recent
Down 1. Back 2. Anger 3. For a second 4. Beginnings of plants 5. Rabbit 6. A Muse 7. Variation 8. Tavern 9. Frozen water 14. Slang for a football 15. Social drinker 17. Chunk 18. Paddle 20. Antlered animal 21. D 25. Bowel cleasing 26. Danger signal 28. Snatch 29. Writing fluid 30. Neckwear 31. Before 32. Stitch
Seek the Solution on page 23
7. Ask yourself: How did it feel to make active physical and energetic contact with the Earth? Could I feel that whatever I was giving, it gave in return? The more contact I made, the more support it gave back? Chantalle Kudsi is a teacher of yoga, meditation, and chakra healing. She guides people to connect with and access the Earth's power in life-supporting ways. She can be reached at chantsomething@yahoo.ca
THE LOCAL HERALD,
APRIL 20 (pg. 7)
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BUY or SELL your HOME in the
Property See ker
The We s t
Issue 1
E n d real estate section
Capital-ize on this new opportunity
Mortgage Matters
As most of you know, my specialty is dealing with clients who are selfemployed, have credit issues, a past bankruptcy/consumer proposal, or a combination of two of the above. Unfortunately one of the challenges I see people encounter is that they feel that lenders these days aren't giving them a second chance at credit. They feel like they are good people that could get back on track financially if only they were given one more chance. Although everyone has a story, often a viable one, lenders don't care what your reasons were for getting into trouble in the past...they focus on the fact you had a problem and that you are still a poor credit risk. Until now, the only card they have been able to get is a secured Master Card from Horizon Plus. These cards do serve a purpose to slowly get your credit score up, but unfortunately, lending insurers such as CMHC and major banks don't take these cards seriously as re-established credit which leaves people even more frustrated. They see these cards as pre-paid and not "real" credit cards. Now, there is a window of opportunity for those people frustrated by their inability to get credit unsecured. CAPITAL ONE has finally come to Quebec, offering unsecured credit cards. With varying limits, rates and perks, there is one for
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everyone. It is a great way to re-establish your credit with a "real" credit card to get yourself going in the right direction. The card is "unsecured" and recognized as a reputable card in the industry. Once you are a few months into the card, you can even try and get a new one to boost your credit score even faster. It is very important to keep in mind that even though a credit card company is giving you new life, do NOT make any late payments under any circumstances after a bankruptcy. New creditors will not look at you for a very long time. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
APRIL 20 (pg. 8)
Jason Zuckerman www.mortgageratesmontreal.com Hypotheca Mortgage Brokers (514) 771-1352 /1-800- 206-1350 jzuckerman@hypotheca.ca (ED. NOTE: Wow, Jason, this is unbelievable news and likely extremely positive for many, many people. I for one appreciate this hot tip, which can help untold numbers of people with bad financial records. Thankfully, we did not need to hold our collective breath waiting for the banks to help us out… in another universe, maybe they’d have a bit of compassion…..)
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Home Sweet Home -
A n i t a B e n a b o u R o ze n b l a t
issue6_Layout 1 4/19/2012 3:17 PM Page 9
Further, dividing your articles of clothing into categories of shirts, pants, or dresses will not only make your closet look more appealing to homebuyers.
Spring cleaning time!
Make Minor Repairs March 20 marked the first official day of Spring and while some homeowners are looking forward to no longer using their heater as often, or no longer needing to shovel snow off their driveway, other homeowners see this time of the year as a time to take part in Spring cleaning. Spring cleaning is the perfect opportunity for de-cluttering and disinfecting your home, especially if your home is currently on the market. Spring cleaning is also the perfect chance to spruce up your home in order to increase its resale value. As such, here are the top interior Spring cleaning projects which cost little to do, but can add the most value to your home at resale: Cleaning Floors Depending on what type of flooring your home has, there are easy and affordable ways to get your floors in spotless shape for incoming prospective homebuyers. If your carpet seems shabbier than usual or you have mysterious stains that just won't come out, consider calling a professional carpet cleaner to get the job done. Otherwise, carpets can be kept in good condition by simply vacuuming on a regular basis, taking your shoes off as soon as you enter the front door, and wiping your pets' feet before letting them re-enter the home after roaming around outdoors. Wood or tile floors tend to be easier to keep clean compared to carpet so if your hard-surface floors begin to look grimy and stained, simply mop it with a mild, disinfecting cleaner. Sometimes an intense cleaning is all it takes to get your floors looking as good as new. Remember that new floors can increase a home's value by as much as 10 percent.
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Replace cracked floor or counter tiles. Patch holes in walls. Fix leaky faucets. Fix doors that don't close properly and kitchen drawers that jam. Consider painting your walls neutral colors, especially if you have grown accustomed to purple or pink walls (Don't give buyers any reason to remember your home as "the house with the orange bathroom."). Replace burned-out light bulbs. (Very important for a home to always look bright) If you've considered replacing a worn bedspread, go ahead. (stick to simple colors, no patterns) Make the House Sparkle! Wash windows inside and out. Rent a pressure washer and spray down sidewalks and exterior. Clean out cobwebs. Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks. Polish chrome faucets and mirrors. Clean out the refrigerator. Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures. Bleach dingy grout. Hang up fresh towels - bathroom towels look great fastened with ribbon and bows. Clean and air out any musty smelling areas. Odors are a BIG No-No
Organizing Closets
While you’re doing all this work, think of all the compliments you’ll be getting once your home is on the market!
Closets instantly appear cleaner and larger by simply hanging articles of clothing, inserting clothing and shoe organizers, and getting rid of clothing, shoes, and accessories that are no longer worn.
Do you have questions for Anita Rozenblat? E-mail your comments or questions to anitarozenblat@hotmail.com
Single Family Homes
Townhouses Townhousses
Semi-Detached Semi-D Detached Homes Ho
Condos
Signature Modelss | Custom B Built uiilt H Homes omes | Sin Single Family Lots Adjacent to the Cavendish Mall, just minutes from downtown.
The Dubelle Developments Ltée.
THE LOCAL HERALD,
APRIL 20 (pg. 9)
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FAITH AN D S PI R ITUALITY - FAITH AN D S PI R ITUALITY
Spiritual Seedlings - Father John Walsh
Blessed spring The past winter has been less arduous than usual and now we welcome spring. Oh glorious change of season! Spring always seems long in coming. The expectations of spring fill us with that “je ne sais pas quoi?” The intangible. Feelings return in abundance. Spring triggers the desire to plant flowers, to do spring cleaning, to take long walks, to hang the laundry on the clothesline and to open wide the windows and doors and let the stale air out and the fresh air in. There is a great feeling of well-being as the days lengthen. The birds and the snowbirds are now home. Our spirits are uplifted and we feel complete again. We can take on the world. We sense everything has a new flair about it. People are walking with a bounce in their step, smiles abound, people stop and chat, and there is a general freshness in the air this time of the year. Mother Nature reminds us of her cycle of seasons, about to allow us to see what was hidden these last few months. The buds are evident and the seeds are about to break through the ground to blossom into the most beautiful of flowers. The drab greys are replaced by the colors of the rainbow. Spring is a blessed time, a time of rejuvenation. We humans have been so enthralled by Spring that the most important religious feasts of Passover and Easter are celebrated in the cycle of new life.
THE LOCAL HERALD,
APRIL 20 (pg. 10)
Religious rituals are tied into the rebirth of nature. Jews celebrate the liberation from slavery to the exhilaration of freedom, while Christians leave the darkness of death to rise with the light of new life. Will today’s youth understand the derivation of religious symbols from an agricultural culture? Youth are very engaged and involved in a culture that is far removed from an agricultural culture, accused, in fact, with being out of touch with religion. But perhaps it is religion that is out of touch with them. It may well be time, as it has been in the past, to readjust and reinterpret our rituals to make sense of them in a post-modern and an information age culture. What must be done to adapt the realities of liberation and resurrection? I find the question of the youngest child at the Hebrew seder meal reveals a possible answer for today’s youth: “Why is this night different from any other night? In the response, “because TONIGHT we celebrate our liberation, an urgency about today is awakened. TODAY we must experience the truth of the liberation of Passover and the resurrection in the ordinary, everyday of life. We are at the crossroads where youth is choosing to opt in or out of religion. In our present-day religious culture(s), religious leaders believe their responsibility is to speak out against the enemies of religion “out there.” Youth has stopped listening. Youth is tired of hearing religious leaders decry the enemies who are attacking religion from the outside, when they know the real need is for these same leaders to renew religion from the inside. Happy Spring!
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THE LOCAL HERALD,
APRIL 20 (pg. 11)
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Tips to Transform Trash to Treasure (Family Features) Have you ever beaten yourself up over a broken glass or a spill on your dining room chair? Life is full of "oops moments," which is why Glad(r) ForceFlex(r) Black Bag has teamed up with the Picker Sisters - best friends and interior designers Tracy Hutson and Tanya McQueen - to celebrate and cleanup life's wild moments, and then find ways to reuse discarded items.
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The Picker Sisters have provided a few easy tips to help you turn everyday trash into treasure: * Leftover wine bottles after a dinner party? Remove the labels and wash the bottles, and they can quickly be transformed into a water carafe. * Looking to freshen up your dining room chairs because they've endured their fair share of spills? Don't throw them out. It may be easier than you think to reupholster the cushions with a fresh, new print. * Do you have old, trunk luggage you don't know what to do with? Before purging it, consider stacking three or four suitcases to make a retro nightstand. Keeping with the theme "trash to treasure," Glad Black Bag is working with Keep America Beautiful's Great American Cleanups across the country to collect items that can be turned into works of art. To learn more about Keep America Beautiful or to find a Great American Cleanup near you, visit www.kab.org. To connect with the Picker Sisters, Tanya and Tracy, visit www.mylifetime.com. For additional information on Glad(r) Black Bag and the Mess to Masterpiece Auction, visit www.facebook.com/glad.
THE LOCAL HERALD,
APRIL 20 (pg. 12)
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LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT - LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT
Read On! - Andreas Kessaris
Moore is less: Latest auto-bio misses mark
Stories From my Life, a self-serving and unnecessary autobiography that gives us nothing new and no real insights, existing only to explain Moore’s beliefs.
I have been an admirer of Michael Moore ever since Roger Ebert suggested (indirectly via his TV show) that I see a small, independent documentary film called Roger & Me. Up until then I found most documentaries dull, dry and humourless. But Roger & Me was somehow different. It showed scenes I have never seen before like a Christmas Eve eviction and other ugly moments and had a certain witty and sarcastic sense of humour. Moore took sides and was unapologetic.
I often say that the subject matter is not as important as the skills of the storyteller. And event the dullest of people can sometimes capture our attention with a captivating and unique tale. This is where Here Comes Trouble misses its mark. While Moore is a competent writer, his is not talented enough to lift a story beyond the anecdotal level. We are all formed by our experiences and environments, and his are no more interesting than anyone else’s, (I could match at least half a dozen of his). To be fair there are a couple of interesting chapters (especially the last two entitled Parnassus and Gratitude) and few interesting passages, but overall I can not recommend Here Comes Trouble as a worthwhile After that I enjoyed his short-lived series TV read. Nation (with segments like what Dr. Jack Kervorkian does on his day off and how difficult is For a better Michael Moore experience and some it for a black man to get a cab in New York City), social enlightening I strongly recommend any of as well as several of his books and his many other his films, (Roger & Me, Bowling for Columbine, documentary features, including the Academy Fahrenheit 9/11, Sicko, or Capitalism: A Love Story), Award-winning film Bowling for Columbine and the but whatever you do try your best to avoid his brilliant Fahrenheit 9/11. And I must admit I tend only non-fiction effort Canadian Bacon. Of all his to agree with Michael Moore politically about 90% books, the most outstanding remains Stupid White of the time. Men… which should still be in print in paperback. All of the aforementioned is infinitely more But Moore himself remains a controversial figure engrossing than the story of how Mr. Moore not just for his opinions but for his personality and arrived at his conclusions. how he promotes himself. In what I believe is an attempt to set several records straight as well as Read on! get people to like (or at least respect) him, he has released a memoir called Here Comes Trouble: www.essaysbyandreas.com
Dear Bram... We know aging isn’t fun, but here are a few positive things to remind yourself of when feeling negative about growing older: • People no longer view you as a hypochondriac. • There's nothing left to learn the hard way. • Your joints are more accurate than the National Weather Service. • In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first
Happy Birthday, Dear Editor! -Your family and friends at the Local Herald
Achieving Artists - Indra Singh
A slow moment in a fast time Infatuated with the beauty of horses, I have painted, drawn and sculpted them ever since I can remember, and as an owner and rider I have learned much about patience, thrill-seeking, facing physical and mental challenges, and earning the respect of another. Horses were all I could think of since the age of five and I had to endure an unbearable wait of eleven years before I could own one upon my high school graduation. Happily, I was fortunate to be able to indulge my fanaticism and love for horses through the vast array of equine art produced throughout mankind’s history. Powerful iconic metaphors of human virtues and vices, the horse’s beauty, strength and action inspired our gentlest and wildest imagination, capable of stirring deep emotions and fervent aspirations for status and grandeur, and their exploitation as food, transportation, energy, leisure and sport add to the ubiquity of horse imagery. The image of galloping, rearing, and bucking horses will probably always intrigue many viewers, but my interest lies in the observation and depiction of horses doing very little.
where a horse seems to be most at ease and most content. For any horse, wild or domestic, grazing signifies a moment of relaxation and replenishment. A prey animal, the horse is always in a state of tension between it and the world immediately outside of its skin, let alone its environment, and grazing usually indicates conditions where horses might feel the least tense. A quiet moment grazing is probably very highly and peacefully restorative to the horse. In today’s world of fast paced electronics and fetish-ized commodities, my painting of grazing horses helps me slow things down a bit and breathe. I feel there is much to see, feel and learn when we allow ourselves to observe and think about how other beings occupy this space on earth. Indra’s latest work can be seen, along with that of 10 other artists, in the Constituency Office of Isabelle Morin, MP, in Lachine, from April 12 to June 12 (Vernissage: Thursday, April 12, 5 to 7 pm.).
Grazing is a behaviour
THE LOCAL HERALD,
APRIL 20 (pg. 13)
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LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT - LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT How many of you can say Landscape Lomography?
Tell everyone: Must-see movies you likely missed
Although editorial and portrait photography have been my forte the last couple of decades, I have recently acquired a new love for landscape photography (interestingly enough). The work I do is called "Lomography" or “Lo-Fi photography,” which translates to creative and experimental analogue film photography. I mainly work with the "Holga" pinhole wide angle, the Holga 120 and a modified version of a Kodak Brownie 120 box camera.
Director Sidney Lumet, who died last April, was best known for seminal films like 12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon and The Verdict but his 1980 release Just Tell Me What You Want is also worth a look. The dark comedy chronicles the fraught relationship between ruthless mogul Max Herschel (a terrific Alan King) and his long suffering mistress Bones Burton (Ali MacGraw, in one of her few good film performances). Like the best American movies of that era, Just Tell Me What You Want pulls no punches and avoids sentimentality. Not to all tastes, perhaps, but a tough minded film to savour nonetheless. Vanya on 42nd Street (1994) is a moving and unusual adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s play Uncle Vanya. The last film to be directed by Louis Malle (Au revoir les enfants), it’s a personal project wherein Malle, playwright friend Andre Gregory, director of the play, and various actors, get together in an abandoned theatre to rehearse the play in their street clothes. Despite seemingly distracting props, like an I Love New York coffee mug, Chekhov’s superb characters and words soon take over and immerse you in the sad story. It’s an unforgettable tribute to the love of acting. Two of the best thrillers in recent years come from France. Tell No One (Ne le dis à personne) (2006) is a pulse pounding tale of a man who receives an e mail from a wife he’s assumed to be dead. Intricate, logical and fast moving, it’ll grab you from the get go. Anything For Her (Pour elle) (2008) tells the exciting story of a husband determined to save his wife from a lifetime prison sentence. The latter was remade as the bloated American film The Next Three Days but you’ll want to check out the fine original. All in all, if you love quality movies as I do, try to see any or all of these if you have a chance.
by Ricky Friedlander
Had I seen Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy upon its release, it would certainly have made my Best Films of 2011 list. The adaptation of John Le Carré’s 1974 Cold war novel, follows the sprawling 1979 BBC adaptation of the book and though much shorter than the TV miniseries, it, too captures the dread, mystery and resignation permeating the mission of George Smiley (Gary Oldman) as he attempts to discover the identity of the Soviet mole who has infiltrated British intelligence. Superbly acted, written and directed, the movie will stay with you.
Photophaeliac
Entertainment Entre Nous - Shlomo Schwartzberg
With so many DVDs coming out each week, it can be difficult to sift through the myriad releases for something worth renting. Here are five films you should check out:
When I do happen to use these cameras, and my headspace is "Lomography," I have a tendency to stick to this genre as to keep the vision pure. A good example and the benchmark for Lomography is Holga. They have managed to carve out a solid niche with their plastic, under-$75 cheap cameras. Their website showcases many photographers who take their Lomography seriously. Quite a bit of work can be seen on their website www.holgainspire.com, including a link to yours truly.
I particularly love the Holga pinhole. It has an eerie, romantic (or at least I use it to create that mood ) honesty to it. It requires an eight to 80 second exposure and is extremely limited. While basically a hole in a plastic box with a film crank, it really deconstructs photography. And many design firms and magazines use Lomography these days as an honest break from the chaos of digitally created imagery. Don’t be afraid to pick up a Holga, grab a couple rolls of film (I use LLozeau), and stir those creative juices…. Included is a photo taken 2011 on the road from San Jose to Liberia in Costa Rica, of a carnival setting up at sunset. Enjoy the scene as I did! rick@friedlanderphotography.com
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.
THE LOCAL HERALD,
APRIL 20 (pg. 14)
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I could, for instance, write a whole column about how exciting these are, but what I want to comment on most is that the Hollywood community on many levels - is really working hard and talking openly about lowering the carbon footprint AND being more green. The studios are competing on who can make as many carbon neutral films! I see more and more crew members just dealing with documents on their iPhones or Droids, as
Even Hollywood celebrates Earth Day by acting out the eco-revolution
productions send info digitally and print only on request… saving trees, but also using technology that actually makes things run better. No doubt that this is an organic result of a generational change in the information age that the late, great Steve Jobs brought us. Happy Earth Day from La La Land!
I recently spent a whole day in the grand ballroom of a huge hotel out by LAX - the Los Angeles airport. I took part in what was called Intip Pitchfest. This is an enormous event where writers from literally ALL OVER THE WORLD come to pitch industry types. Those types include managers looking for clients, producers looking for scripts to option, and then guys like me... a director looking for a good script, maybe a good screenwriting partner for the future...but also a chance to network with those managers and agents in between pitches.
Music vibrates along with the Earth, helps remind us what’s important
Hundreds of tables are set out and we THE BUYERS - sit on one side, and the SELLER/WRITERS - sit on the other. Each writer gets three and half minutes - the time that, in Hollywood, is called the ELEVATOR PITCH, then we must decide if we want to read more - and they are “outta there.” If we like the stuff we exchange all kinds of paper. A one sheet, a business card, a power point presentation, a graphic novel and naturally, a script. As I sat in this grand ballroom for hours and hours, I wondered about how many forests of paper had gone into this event... an event taking place in oh-so-green Hollywood. Inktip Pitchfest is a really and incredibly well-oiled machine. I told the organizers that I wanted to meet Canadian writers, writers with horror thrillers to pitch as well as family films, and they delivered. I found more concepts that I wanted to take a serious look at then I ever imagined. I now have my work cut out for me. Lots of reading, at the very least the first 10 pages of each script. If they don’t hook me in the first 10, I generally have to give up and move on. So I was now faced with a stack of paper scripts, and a stack of PDF files in my computer, and I am learning some things about myself. I read paper scripts in my hand so much more comfortably then I do reading on my laptop. But things in Hollywood are changing and the iPad, naturally, is at the centre of it. Almost all productions hand out iPads to the key people who are going to see footage of the work at the end of the day the “dailies”, as they are called. They get to see HD work, no more projected, no more VHS tapes or DVDs… iPad digital dailies are the thing. The iPad revolution is taking place to help the screenwriter/director as well. There are apps that open the screenplay and literally let you make notes all over it like you have a pen and paper in hand. I've written a screenplay or two in my life. When the iPad was released, I imagined that it could eventually be a killer tool for reading and editing scripts, saving a trip to a printer or laptop. One cool pro app is designed so that a director can have his script on his iPad on set and still make as many notes on the page
THE LOCAL HERALD,
APRIL 20 (pg. 15)
Liner Notes - Sharon Hyland
Letters From L a L a L and - Steven Goldman
with a pen as he could if he was writing in his giant binder of notes.
We've been celebrating the Earth with its own day since 1970. I think that Earth Day originally provided a little nudge toward keeping a mindful approach toward the beauty that's been provided for us to enjoy and thus maintain. It would seem that it now stands as an annual reminder of how we've messed things up through a basic disregard of our surroundings. Ignorance is like a weed if left unattended... it's also rampant, but that's not specific to a lack of respect for the environment and I only have so much space to write here. So, let's get to the music... Music is one of those unifying sounds even within its own diversity. We can identify with a culture and the people in it by hearing what makes them move. Beats that trace a history through exaggerated movement, or beats that allow for a more defined or streamlined routine, are both considered tribal by definition and describe a history of those people on this Earth. Similarly, but less impressive, dance moves seen in clubs today give us an idea of what people are living. It is clear to see a more self-involved meaning through movement; dancing with a partner is foreign to pop culture today. At the root of our collective experience is the fact we are all here on this planet for reasons to be determined as we go along. Thanks to timeless lyrical reminders from the likes of Joni Mitchell ("They paved paradise and put up a parking lot"), Marvin Gaye ("Things ain't what they used to be, no no") and R.E.M. ("Buy the sky and sell the sky and tell the sky and tell the sky, don't fall on me") and many other musical realisations, we know that we've done some damage. We can sing along to all those songs and more, and still forget that we shouldn't throw wrappers and other things out the windows of our cars. So, many years later, is it all hopeless? Can't be. (At this point I can go the Wilson Phillips route to get you to hold on for one more day, give you a Beatles reminder about how all we need is love or get the Glee version of "Don't Stop Believing" in your head... part of me hopes you sung them all as you read them.) We can hope that songs will always be written to keep us humming universally, eternally and optimistically to do a little bit better for our shared space every day. And always remember that "This land was made for you and me." (That's the one that's gonna stick!)
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Q&A on land reclamation with renowned ecologist Steven Apfelbaum by Bram D. Eisenthal
Apfelbaum has some very viable solutions.
I am a child of the fifties. And it’s ironic that my birth year, 1957, was about the time that Montreal started eliminating its streetcars, which, it seems to me, was
The Local Herald had an opportunity to interview Apfelbaum about this important issue at a very opportune Earth Day-related moment.
eminent model of naturalization where large areas of former lawns are now not mowed and modest investments in restoration have brought back some areas of wildflowers, native grasses and native shrubs and trees. Farms can work to "regrow" soil organic matter - which is atmospheric carbon dioxide passed through plant tissue, then into the soils. Supporting local healthy food production can contribute to regrowing soil organic matter. As a youngster, my mom gave me a corner of the back yard in urban Chicago to experiment with planting and growing wildflowers. This was one of the ways I started my journey of restoration of land. Q: We, the members of the older generation, are often blamed for the tragedy that is Mother Earth. Do you agree?
heads and shoulders above today’s buses as a method of eco-friendly (as in nongaseous) transportation. I have no idea what caused the municipal administration of the day, which, from 1954-1957, was led by that grand money spender and behindclosed-doors king Jean Drapeau, to shutter the tram-car program and dig up / cover-up the tracks… but it was a harbinger of bad things to come as far as Mother Earth was concerned. By the time the Earth Day concept was proclaimed in San Francisco (Francis being the patron saint of the ecology) in 1969, a lot of the damage was done. We certainly had a hand in the sad state of affairs that has Earth roaring in outrageous indignation today… but was it our fault? Now, renowned American ecologist Steven Apfelbaum has given us not one, but two books that will help us un-do the damage we have caused by enabling us to actually reclaim inner-city land. Apfelbaum’s How To series: Restoring Ecological Health to Your Land and the Restoring Ecological Health to Your Land Workbook, are useful tools if this is an issue of concern to you. With so much land destroyed by municipalities more concerned with building as much as possible, often in areas completely overdeveloped as they are,
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Q: How is Canada doing in your estimation as an ecological power? With all our natural resources, can we do better? (Apfelbaum knows the Canadian landscape quite well, by the way, having spent 35 years working in Ontario, Quebec and elsewhere). A: Canada is blessed with remarkable vast resources. But, as we have learned in all other areas of earth, they are not inexhaustible. Canada has a seriously divided and confused vision about natural resources. While some wonderful examples of land protection exist, land restoration examples are few. Degraded forest lands, urban lands, impaired agricultural lands and land impaired from large scale seismic exploration, mining explorations and other uses have left scars and restoration and repair has not occurred.
A: It’s not worth blaming anyone anymore, instead the focus should be on how to work together to restore, repair and recover the earth and its basic functions and environmental services of water cleansing, air cleansing, soil building. This requires investments in protection and restoration of biological diversity-life. Our generation from the 1960s began to appreciate the finite Earth and its resources when we saw the first images from space of our planet. Since then, while these images still burn brightly in our minds, our policies and economies have not heeded nor proactively acknowledged this finiteness and fragility of the earth. While some of us were indoctrinated early to care and be mindful, most have not. Our challenge now is for leadership, including everyday citizens to demand alignment between policy and performance measurements---a report card of sorts----to help us achieve restoration and repair of the earth.
Q: Your books state that land reclamation is open to everyone. How so? What can younger readers learn from you that will enable them to really make a difference in the years and decades ahead?
Q: Where are we failing most today vis-avis ecological protection that we can actually take charge of as individuals? Do you think that the younger generation has all the tools to effect positive change and, if so, what, if anything, are they missing? Will THEY be able to make excuses in 1020 years and say "we didn't know any better?"
A: Restoration of land can occur in urban back yards, or areas such in corporate campuses, parks, temple, church, mosque land, etc, via conversion of parts of lawns to wildflower plantings. High Park is a pre-
A: We fail by following like sheep, the masses led by politicians and business leaders who succumb to agendas of nonalignment (see above). We all know better now and must press for consistent,
APRIL 20 (pg. 16)
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defensible policies, so we can learn as we go, but lets start out with a solid and foundational approach. Younger people have more tools now than any previous generation to organize politically, to learn and understand complex issues, to communicate across boundaries, and only need a "durable way into the conversation" that will lead to improvements. Q: What 5-10 things can any one person do that will make a real difference? A:1. Support policies of alignment and consequence with decisive and measureable outcomes and ecosystem improvements on the land, in the atmosphere...not political promises that are forgotten or morph to the advantage of those involved in political trench warfare. 2. Restore parts of your own land and encourage, leverage the same on other properties. Our book “Restoring Ecological Health to Your Land”s is written to help you do this. 3. Cultivate, nurture and initiate a culture of restoration, repair and replenishment of the Earth in all ways possible. 4. Seek to lead rather than follow....by using tangible examples rather than only words… let others see and understand the benefits of restoration, repair, replenishment and reconciliation with the Earth, through actual on-the-ground projects. 5. Tell the economic story of the benefits and encourage decisions to do be based on total cost accounting. We have learned that nearly every project-based economic analysis disregards the environmental impact costs and costs for restoration, repair and replenishment. Telling the story comprehensively will lead to more circumspect action and better decisions for all. 6. Every day in a different way share your love and appreciation for the Earth, its beauty, the free environmental services that we use! 7. Vacation at home----bring nature into your yards, your homes, into your daily lives. Native landscaping, participating in local voluntary restoration programs and in many others ways – Restoration and repair of nature is a very rewarding way to celebrate life.
restoring and repairing the Earth through story, arts, scientific inquiry and documentation--restoration of the Earth is the newest and latest frontier and what the Earth needs is articulate explorers who can excite, engage and lead us. 9. Become the next hero----our explorers make the discoveries we esteem. Discovering and providing leadership as explorers will create heroes. The world desperately needs heroes now. 10. Vote with your money, your ambitions, your voice and your actions ---- to restore the Earth. Steve Apfelbaum, is Chairman, and one of the Senior Ecologists at the renowned 38-year old firm Applied Ecological Services, Inc. (www.appliedeco.com) and also is senior scientist for the firm The Earth Partners www.theearthpartners.com. He has conducted thousands of ecological research and ecological restoration programs as a lead scientist and has authored hundreds of reports, project designs, technical publications, restoration plans and the award-winning nonfiction book telling of the experience over 30 years www.royalafricanstores.com of restoring his farm in southern Wisconsin called “Natures Second Chance” (Beacon Press); and the two volume book series that provides the tools for other landowners to restore their land called “Restoring Ecological Health to Your Land” and “The Restoring Ecological Health to Your Land Workbook” (Island Press). Apfelbaum is trained as an animal and plant ecologist with graduate studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He teaches and lectures at Harvard University Graduate School of Design, University of Wisconsin and many other institutions.
8. Share what you learn and experience by
THE LOCAL HERALD,
APRIL 20 (pg. 17)
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On life’s most natural act by Chantalle Kudsi
issue6_Layout 1 4/19/2012 3:18 PM Page 18
(When our roving feature-writer and savvy Yoga columnist Chantalle Kudsi asked if she could cover this, we jumped. The issue is so controversial and, in light of how natural it is, unnecessarily so….)
Breasts “Bare” Fruit at Melons & Clementines The Earth’s ability to nurture, sustain and feed us is truly awesome…as is the ability of a breastfeeding mother to do the very same for her children. Breastfeeding provides many health benefits to a mother and her baby. It provides a perfect and complete source of nutrition that contains a chemical makeup of cells, hormones and antibodies which protect a baby from illness and disease. Breast milk is also easier to digest than formula. Breastfeeding creates a skin-to-skin bonding experience that helps both mother and child feel relaxed and secure. It is linked to a lower risk of health problems in women, is readily available without requiring other supplies and is both cost-effective and “green.” Melons & Clementines, located in NDG, is a breastfeeding boutique, café, and resource centre raising the public profile of breastfeeding in our community. They celebrate their second-year anniversary this month. Its owners and visionaries, Renée Boudreau and MarieMaude Grenier, together with other professionals in the field, are helping women reconstruct a rich and valuable body of knowledge that has been largely lost over the past two generations. “We've found that in the last 100 years, there's been a lot of distancing with the kids,” explains Marie-Maude. “We now have different ways of parenting: Babies sleep in another room, or parents don't hold them too much because they might spoil them. Now we are finding that bonding
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doesn't work that way… we have to reconstruct everything.” Central to our biological and anthropological roots is breastfeeding: “The taboo aspect of it is very much cultural, but created very much through ignorance also. Lots of people that would judge a mom breastfeeding her child...probably these people have not been breastfed or have not had any information about this act, which, when you think about it, we have done for millions of years.”
breastfeeding-friendly and focused, with retail boutique goods ranging from: baby carriers to nursing bras; breastfeeding accessories, supplies, and a rental station with highly personalized service; a café with large sofas and an outdoor terrace; baby toy and play area; a multimedia classroom; one-on-one consultation room with baby weighing station; two changing tables; an extensive community support board; and (because it’s worth mentioning), a
Adds Renée, “I think if you looked around the world and you were to do statistics on babies and how they are fed, the
Natacha Silber photographic art in Melons & Clementines: Chantalle Kudsi
bathroom large enough to fit a stroller.
Welcome: Chantalle Kudsi
statistics would be very different than what they are here. Since the industrial revolution, we seem to have complicated a lot of things.”
Groups like La Leche League and VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean) meet at Melons & Clementines. Classes include breastfeeding godmother training, infant stimulation, baby massage, baby sign language, music, baby carrier training, elimination communication training (“diaper free” babies), pelvic reeducation, and introduction to making your own solids.
Mothers can also meet privately with lactation consultants, yoga instructors, naturopaths, doulas, post partum doulas, herbalists, massage therapists, and other professionals. Recently, both owners have become certified lactation consultants through an international order of certification. “We dig deep into our pool of motherly information, but there is always information we need to get from other sources or professionals in the field,” says Renée. “So when we don't have that answer, we do our best to make sure we find the person who does. And that's going to help that mother and whole family, immediately.” Because every mother and child is unique, some form of help may be essential for breastfeeding to go smoothly and painlessly. “There is a learning curve to everything,” she says. Still, in some cases, supplementation with formula is necessary. “Here (at Melons & Clementines) we are entirely for breastfeeding, but we are also not anti-formula,” Renée explains. “Artificial milk saves lives because some women physically can't breast feed. We are here to help women who make the decision to do so, but we're not here to judge the women who don't. We support women in every aspect because at the end of the day, it's about motherhood.”
Nursing tops, breastfeeding pillows, baby carriers and more... : Chantalle Kudsi
and aude Grenier (L) Owners Marie-M and ns elo m th (R) , wi Renée Boudreau i ds talle Ku clementines: Chan
To un-complicate things, these two friends, mothers and business partners have created an upbeat, multifaceted space that supports and celebrates the breastfeeding mother, child, and family. Melons & Clementines is entirely
APRIL 20 (pg. 18)
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“Breastfeeding is not only one way,” confirms Marie-Maude. “There is a rainbow of different possibilities.”
Mothers breastfeeding their babies on one of the comfy sofas: Shoshana Ruttner
At Melons & Clementines, the atmosphere is one of mutual recognition and encouragement. A network of breastfeeding mothers and families is growing organically inside the café.
cafe: A relaxing moment at the n by Marc Simpso
they compost, too! Their calendar can be viewed at www.melonsetclementines.com. You can also join them on Facebook.
Up : Breastfeeding pumps and related supplies: Chantalle Kudsi Right: How many women can breastfeed in one place at the same time? "Breastfeeding Challenge" at Melons & Clementines : Melissa Bellemare
It’s an important aspect of community that we often don't have “when we move away from our family and our friends,” adds Renée. “We have to kind of rebuild that village. “Here, if your baby cries...no one's going to look at you, no one's going to judge you or want you to
Recently, Melons & Clementines united all of the city's breastfeeding non-profit organizations under one roof at the Parents and Kids Fair in Place Bonaventure. They also participate in the International Breastfeeding Challenge every year. leave, or feel like they are being bothered.” “More so,” adds Marie-Maude, “There will be compassion.” Open Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Melons & Clementines is located at 5659 Sherbrooke St. West between Oxford and Harvard,TEL: 514- 482-LAIT (5248). The staff offer fully bilingual services and
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APRIL 20 (pg. 19)
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APRIL 20 (pg. 20)
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CSL Dramatic Society mounts third production, Office Hours, starting May 24 by Bram D. Eisenthal As is often pointed out in these pages, West End community Cote Saint-Luc provides many services and amenities that other cities on our island do not. Case in point is its amazing library, the envy of most others island-wide. Featuring computers and other audio-visual services, film and audio screening areas, children’s and adult books and films (on both VHS tape and DVDs), and an art exhibition area, this library has become one of Cote Saint-Luc’s primary facilities for both recreation and education. Considering that the City of Montreal, with its superior resources and budgets, did not have the wherewithal to save NDG’s historic Fraser Hickson Library despite the many alternatives presented, the Eleanor London Cote Saint-Luc Public Library is certainly a unique institution.
“In addition to being a sports leader, however, we also want to be a cultural leader. This is one of the reasons we invest so heavily in the library, why we support the Musicians of the World orchestra, why we have art exhibitions and interesting speakers and why we have set up the CSL Dramatic Society.” “There are many local residents who love to act and others who love to watch good productions. Many of our youth who have left or are leaving Bialik have been inspired by their participation in Anisa’s productions. The society allows them to continue to enjoy theatre and associate the experience with living in CSL. “As for me, I have always enjoyed theatre and I am participating in this production to expand my horizons, meet new people and learn new things.” A Cote Saint-Luc counsellor, lawyer Mitchell Brownstein, is also a cast member in Office Hours, a follow up to his acclaimed work in Grease previously. For Brownstein, this is a rediscovered passion, as his acting roots hearken back to his days with Montreal Children’s Theatre as a 9-year old. “I play a character called Man, who ties the story neatly together
Now CSL has a new kid on the block that is garnering critical raves, not long after the debut of its stunning new indoor Aquatic and Community Centre (ACC). It’s got a viable theatrical troupe- the CSL Dramatic Society - that is not only entertaining people from both inside and outside Cote SaintLuc, but also inviting residents to participate in the productions. The new troupe likely has everything to do with neighbouring Bialik High School’s former theatrical director Anissa Cameron, who helmed every one of the school’s terrific productions over a seven-year period. Bialik’s loss is certainly the City of Cote SaintLuc’s gain, according to CSL Mayor Anthony Housefather, who will be appearing in the society’s next (and third) production, Office Hours, opening May 24, 2012. If its recent smash hit, the musical Grease, is any indication, theatrical aficionados have a lot to look forward to. The action comedy looks at six very different offices in a large city, operating on the same Friday, with each revealing the issues experienced by the various workers. Eventually, the six scenes link in a very smart manner, in this story written by renowned playwright Norm Foster. “The plays are important because we want CSL to be a location where people WANT to live. People generally want to live in a place because it provides them with opportunities to enjoy themselves,” Mayor Housefather said. “We aspire to be a leader when it comes to sports and recreation - and the construction of the ACC (the new aquatic centre) is a perfect example of our desire to both become a leader in aquatics and to present opportunities to residents who love aquatics. But it was also built for social interaction and the senior’s club and Legion have found homes there.” The Mayor added that CSL is creating venues where teens and younger children kids can enjoy themselves, such as in the ACC’s Teen Lounge and ‘Kidnasium.’
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“It opens the door to many people who wish to participate in all of the many programs we offer, but our theatrical productions also help support our programs and cover the cost of other necessities,” added Brownstein. “For Grease, for example, we were able to buy nice props and engage a musical director. We are also able to assist people in financial need to take part in our many programs, which they might otherwise not be able to do.” The actual “doing” is the domain of veteran director Cameron, who has also acted and written screenplays during her brief 35 years thus far, following her graduation from Concordia University with a degree in theatre and development. Cameron started helming productions at Bialik and is now thrilled to be a key factor behind the CSL initiative. “The Dramatic Society is such a gift to me,” she said. “I am so fortunate to be able to work for this organization and for the City of Cote Saint-Luc… their complete expression of enthusiasm and support is so very rare at a time of budget cuts for the arts generally.”
Cameron promised a fun experience for those attending Office Hours, to be presented at the Harold Greenspoon Auditorium at CSL City Hall, from Thursday, May 24 – Sunday, May 27… the latter date featuring both a matinee and evening performance. If history repeats itself, it is strongly suggested that you get your tickets well in advance. Call the city at 514-485-6806.
Left – right: Mike Rappaport, who plays Artie; Kevin Shustack, who plays Stan; Director Anisa Cameron; Stage Manager Ariel Sterlin; Mitchell Brownstein, who plays "The Man" and Dafna Regenstrief, who plays Sharon.
in the story’s final scene,” he revealed. “Man is a sales rep who sees a psychiatrist by necessity. He’s not unlike many employees out there today.” Brownstein’s experience with Grease really opened his eyes to the cultural potential that theatre could portend for the city. “That play killed… it totally sold out all its performances and could not meet the overwhelming demand for tickets that sold for $18-$22 apiece! But whereas that was a play involving a mostly younger cast, Office Hours features actors traversing the 17-75 demographic.
APRIL 20 (pg. 21)
Cote Saint-Luc has also birthed a Dramatic Society Theatre School, which becomes part of almost 50 socio-cultural programs for children, adults and seniors offered by the city this Spring. For children 7 – 14, the school will operate Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and/or evenings from April 24 – July 5, 2012. Participants will learn basic theatre techniques, taught by qualified instructors under the supervision of Dramatic Society director Anissa Cameron. Cost-perchild is $200 for residents and $230 for non-residents and the program is eligible for the federal art credit for children. For more information, contact Ryan Nemeroff at CSL’s Parks and Recreation department, 514-4856806, ext. 2024, or by e-mail at rnemeroff@cotesaintluc.org.
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S PORTS - S PORTS - S PORTS - S PORTS - S PORTS
Spotlight on Sports by Paul Graif
Habs rebuilding… again Apologies: Those are generally reserved for the Toronto Maple Leafs, not the great Montreal Canadiens, the authors of 24 Stanley Cups. Don’t blink, however, because the Habs are a season away from going 20 stunning years without sipping from Lord Stanley’s chalice. Montreal was so good from the late ‘40s until the early ’90s that they never went more than seven years without winning a title. The parade was always down “the usual route.” But now the Canadiens are entering yet another new era. Up until the early 1970s, the Habs had the right of first refusal on any Quebec born player. Look at the history of the team to see what that meant: Aurele Joliat, Rocket Richard, Jean Beliveau, Guy Lafleur… and how many Cups they won! But Montreal is still living in the past on the Quebecers it both has and has not chosen in the entry draft, like Doug Wickenheiser over Denis Savard, not to mention all our backyard busts through the ‘80s and ‘90s, except for Patrick Roy. This once proud franchise that was the model organization in sports is now scrambling to achieve respectability and balance. For those of us who grew up in the 1970s, this is unheard of and difficult to swallow. But for the new generation of fans, the reality is that many haven’t seen them win a Cup in their lifetime. They understand what it is to root for the Maple Leafs. I’ll let you digest that one for a second. It was just as difficult for me to write that as it probably was for you to read it.
So much was made of Toronto’s apology last week. I don’t think they should have said “sorry”: It’s an excuse and you can’t excuse 45 years of futility. All you can do is work harder and smarter. Shockingly the Leafs and Habs are in the same boat, as both teams need to rebuild. Does it give Habs’ fans any satisfaction anymore to chant “1967” when arguing with Leafs fans about which team is better? Do people even muster enough passion to have those arguments anymore? So the Canadiens are rebuilding and this will be painful to watch. Having the third pick in the draft helps, but isn’t likely to make Montreal a Cup contender next year. So, instead of saying “sorry,” the Canadiens are asking their fans to be patient….again! It is debated daily on what this team needs and who should be running it. The Habs are a public trust and Geoff Molson has a very difficult task in coming up with the GM and coach to steer the team through Quebec’s shark-infested hockey waters. The new GM has to be smooth and calm, yet passionate about the team, and he certainly has to be tough enough to handle the criticism and not bow to public pressure. The same could be said of the coach. In 1995 the Habs cleaned house and brought back the passion by firing Serge Savard and Jacques Demers and bringing in Rejean Houle and Mario Tremblay. Well, Savard is back and when he decides to bring back the passion, you can bet it will be done with proven hockey minds. Once those people are on board in the next couple of weeks, the rebuilding can begin. But don’t bother keeping your fingers crossed that this team will win the Cup again anytime soon, or even make the playoffs next season. Okay, who am I kidding? Let the second-guessing begin even before the decisions are made. After all this wouldn’t be Montreal and we wouldn’t be true fans of the Canadiens if we didn’t all fancy ourselves as the general manager.
The Cyclopath
ROB CALLARD
The Bike Shop As our early Spring kicked into gear, I was already pulling out my vast array of cycling clothes for every conceivable type of weather. I was convinced that my season would start sooner than every single road biker out there, except, of course, those bike couriers who brave the roads 24/7/12. It was mid-March and I was ready. Except that I was missing one thing for my bike. My bike shop is not that different from yours. It’s a meeting place, a social gathering spot, a place to debate and ponder the technical aspects of aerodynamics using the latest grades of carbon fiber, and lest we forget, a great place to get the most delicious doubleshot espresso with brown sugar, or should I say “cassonade,” in certain parts of this cycle-crazed town. On this day, I was on a mission to get my season rolling. Mike, my trusty bike shop owner/mechanic/barista was in charge and I had a barrage of questions ready for him. He
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was going to be instrumental in my being the first one to hit the road this season. I was convinced that this was my year! “Mike, what would you recommend if I wanted to upgrade my rims to carbon? Does this mean I have to change my brakes, change the cabling…. take out a hefty mortgage on my house?” Mike just looked at me. “Mike, I’m really thinking about upgrading my frame, too. I just think it’s too heavy at seven and a half pounds. I hear Cervelo is making a frame that weighs in at just over five.” Mike just looked at me. “Mike, really, maybe I should just go for the carbon-soled Sidi Ergo Lance Armstrong Special Edition Strapless Braless Semi-Glossy road shoes.” Now I could see I had Mike’s attention. He was all ears now. You see, Mike likes to think through his answers, make the customer feel like a king. He, like most reputable bike shop
APRIL 20 (pg. 22)
owners, knows the bike shop is more than just a bike shop. It’s a place to chat, trade ideas, compare specs, make new friends, sip espresso and carb up with homemade biscotti. He knows that every guy who walks through the door wants to be the first guy out there this season. “So what can I get you?” Mike asks. “Oh, just need a tire tube. Had a flat last fall and want to fix it so I can ride tomorrow.” “Sure thing,” Mike replies, “I’ll get you the one made out of rubber....." Mike knows his stuff.
See you next month!
Rob Callard is a restaurateur in Westmount who cycles to work from Beaconsfield eight months of the year. He is married with three young boys. They all support his cyclopathic passion.
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Elmhurst’s original, beloved cow heads to be brought back to West End by Parmalat By Bram D. Eisenthal Last year, The Local Seeker West End Montreal Edition, our mother publication, published a feature on NDG’s former Elmhurst Dairy and the dairy which now inhabits that piece of property, Parmalat. We wrote about Elmhurst’s iconic cow heads and we learned that none of you who patronized the Sealtest-operated dairy back in the day will ever forget those two beloved bovines. Never has a story appearing in this paper generated such massive interest and feedback. It seems you all really miss the cow heads and want them back. Well, there’s no better time than The Earth Day edition of The Local Herald to let you know of Parmalat’s stated plans to recycle the heads – which now
reside in the basement of the neighboring Evantide Home, a historic property that later morphed into The Salvation Army before being sold to Parmalat as part of their takeover of the Elmhurst site. How do we know this? Well, it was stated as much in an e-mail to me from Scott Goodman, the national VP of human resources at Parmalat Canada’s Toronto head office. On October 14, 2011, Goodman responded to a letter I had written to Sandra Testa, Parmalat’s communications director at their West End location, no longer with the company. “I don't know anything about the issue and/or the cow heads - what they are, where they are, why it's an issue, etc.,” he wrote me.
I can certainly understand some suit from Toronto having no idea why ‘cow head art’ was even an issue to begin with. But after exchanging missives several times – and after Goodman denied my request to get into the Evantide Home to take pictures of my own (for safety reasons, he told me) I got what I was seeking… what, effectively, this paper convinced Parmalat Canada to agree to. “I confirm that it has always been Parmalat's intention to mount the cow heads once the new building is complete,” stated Goodman in his e-mail, which I have saved. No word yet on how soon Parmalat will be resurrecting our beloved cow heads publicly, or where exactly they will make their 21st century debut, but just remember: You read it here first!
Solution We hope you have enjoyed this issue of THE LOCAL HERALD We are working on next issue and it will be out May 18, 2012 Deadline: Friday, May 11 5pm. Next time: Don’t miss our “totally-good-for-you” Health Issue, featuring a surprise guest on the cover!
Best, Bram THE LOCAL HERALD,
APRIL 20 (pg. 23)
In the West End Montreal’s most unique community paper.
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THE LOCAL HERALD,
APRIL 20 (pg. 24)
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