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Local See ker
Vo l u m e 2 , I s s u e 6 , M a r c h 1 8 , 2 0 1 1 New, second West End location for Raffi, this time in Montreal West There are three terrible things you will face in life, as surely as I live and breathe: death, taxes… and being ripped off at an automobile repair shop. While there are indeed honest mechanics out there, everyone who owns a car will eventually come face to face with a business that changes parts unnecessarily, refuses to honour warranties, hangs onto your car forever or, quite simply, does terrible work. It’s a sure thing.
For almost 20 years now, I have been taking my cars (three of them over that period) to Raffi Shell in Cote Saint-Luc. Raffi Abikian is something of a legend in The Luc, because not only does he know how to run a business, but also because he hires knowledgeable mechanics, hangs onto them (he never fires them, because they are far too good) and has a lifelong passion for his craft. “When I was a kid, I was already car-crazy,” the 50-year old Raffi told me. “My father owned a shop called Garage American and, when I was 12, I would skip school sometimes so that I could help him out. There was nothing I loved more than to go home at the end of the day covered in dirt,” said the career grease-monkey. Cont. p.2 George Soulahian(left) and Raffi Abikian are all about cars and will give you complete service that no one else can (Photo: Bram Eisenthal)
So, what do you do for an encore, when you have cornered the CSL auto repair market with your second garage since the late1980s (Raffi first opened a Petro Canada on Westminster, just south of Cote St. Luc Road, before moving to his current Raffi Shell on the corner of Guelph Road four years later)? Well, you try to triple your success in spades. Hot news – and you read it right here in The Local Seeker first – is that Raffi is opening a second, new location, in Montreal West (Raffi & Son, at 7325 Harley, next to Snowdon Bakery and around the corner from Reno Depot), bigger and better than ever. He has teamed up with his longtime friend and associate, George Soulahian, just over 10 years his junior, to bring both old and new clients THE best service in the West End. George is a protégé of Raffi and has learned from the best. “I was working for Gabriel (Lexus Toyota) as parts and service manager and we were selling to Raffi. Eventually, we became good friends, more like family than anything, and Raffi offered me a job at his station.” Raffi felt that “George brought a lot of experience with him from the dealership position, so I gave him increasing responsibility. When I decided to expand, George was the only one I considered partnering with. His knowledge of customer service is as impressive as mine.” The second Raffi location will also be mainly about customer service and more, much more. The moment you bring your car in for servicing, you will be treated royally. If you are able to wait for your baby, comfortable couches and a large-screen TV will enable you to remain comfortable. Want to go home and wait there? A fleet of six courtesy cars to start with is at your disposal, or a shuttle service will take you where you need to go and pick you up again afterwards. “Eventually, I plan to have a van for drop-offs and pick-ups,” Raffi revealed. As for your vehicle, the new 4,000-square foot service space features six lifts, although three bays will be operational to start with. Mechanical repairs are only the beginning of the work done, as the business will also feature a body shop that has already been in existence here for over a decade and has end-of-lease work as a specialty. George and Raffi also buy and sell cars from this location. “This is a complete one-stop-shop for car owners and would-be owners,” Raffi stated. “We have the experience, the staff, the connections and the attitude to give customers the quality service they deserve.” What’s best is that it also gives West Enders a second great place to bring their cars. Take one look at Raffi Shell on most days and you will see a lot filled to the brim with vehicles. While yours will usually be repaired in as short a time as possible, try bringing it there during tire changing season and see how hectic it can be. “When clients walk in they always ask ‘Where’s Raffi?’ before anything else,” George admitted. “I am hoping to help take some of that pressure off him.” To which Raffi replied “I’m hoping that ‘where’s George?’ becomes a popular question at the other location.” In memory of Raffi’s beloved original partner, his late father-in-law, he is dedicating the new location to Kris Demircigil. “We all remember him, me, my wife, my son and my customers,” Raffi said. “Somewhere, I know Kris is smiling down on the new business and, therefore, it’s going to be a great adventure!”
Briefly Bram * Briefly Bram * Briefly Bram
New, second West End location for Raffi, this time in Montreal West(continued from cover)
To reach Raffi & Son, call 514-489-0005 or 514-342-9311. Mention this article in The Local Seeker and receive a discount on your next tire change and balance.
Serious injuries from potholes a certainty if Montreal does nothing I had already written another column for this issue when I snapped. Just like that. I was driving the gauntlet of landmine-like potholes called Fleet Rd. (when I could have been driving the gauntlet of nuclear-tinged holes lining Cote St. Luc Rd. instead) and I went ballistic in my car. We have seen it bad in Montreal before, I realize, just never as bad as this. This is ridiculous and this is more dangerous by the day… someone is going to get killed. The municipal government – and I use the term loosely – of Gerald Tremblay is great at talk and at taking our money. He’s the ultimate tax master. And I realize that he is still in power ONLY because his biggest competition was a loon who claimed smoking is good for your health on one hand and a committed separatist on the other. But, Gerald, do you have to be so BRAZEN about how bad a leader you are? A work associate just pointed out to me that the roads will never improve till the root of the problem is corrected: corruption in the roadwork field here is rampant and this is highlighted by visits to Plattsburgh, New York and Burlington, Vermont, where they face the exact same weather conditions we do, but the roads are not nearly as bad. “If they fixed the roads without cutting corners and an inspector stood by and watched, you would see a vast improvement,” my associate said. I have no idea when Tremblay became so inept and so blind to the problems facing our city. Maybe he was just a bumbling clown to begin with and we gave him too much credit when we first elected him. His stubborn defence of his even more inept predecessor’s “Megacity” was the first sign that he was suffering from Democratic Dementia, but Tremblay has lost every single ounce of credibility during his reign. There HAS to be someone, anyone, out there who can lead us out of the wilderness to reclaim our once-stellar reputation as a great city on the world stage... and bush league roadways do not help accomplish that. Right now, ask any visitor to drive on our roads and gauge the reaction. Meanwhile, I just can’t seem to get used to this problem as I drive to work and back every day. It’s more than scandalous, it’s truly hazardous and it’s a matter of time till someone gets really injured… or worse. Someone is going to land in one of these treacherous holes and their car will go flying out of control. OR to avoid a serious hole, a driver is apt to swerve into the lane next to him, potentially causing injury to two carloads of people. The city’s got that covered, however: there’s a bylaw on the books that you can’t sue the administration in cases like this involving roads. Time for a class-action suit somewhere, no? All I know is that as long as we continue acting like impotent sheep, this will go on and on and on. And CSL dropped the ball with emergency road situation
The Local Seeker, West End Montreal Edition Volume 2, Number 6, March 18, 2011 Founded by Julia Lucio and Mai-Liis Renaud 2010 Published by Local Seeker Media Group, Cornwall, Ontario Contents copyright 2010, The Local Seeker West End Montreal Edition Managing Editor - Bram Eisenthal bram@thelocalseeker.com • 514-975-7745 The Local Seeker does not accept responsibility for errors, misprints or inaccuracies published within. The opinions and statements of our columnists are not to be presumed as the statements and opinions of The Local Seeker.
D E S P E R AT E LY S E E K I N G - C L A S S I F I E D S S E C T I O N Seeking students aged 18 and up wishing to earn extra summer cash working in the great outdoors: Rate $10/hr. Also looking for students experienced in electrical work who can install air conditioners and electrical heaters, also at $10/hr. Students with knowledge of basic carpentry also sought. Call Mr. Patel at 514-862-0096.
THE LOCAL SEEKER (pg. 2)
Anyone who has been reading me long enough knows that I adore my municipality, Cote Saint-Luc, where I have been a resident since 1995. But this stellar administration – or specifically its Public Security department - really dropped the ball last weekend and in doing so could have endangered many citizens. A leaking water pipe that has been plaguing the city since at least last summer broke, forcing the city to dig up a section of roadway in my neighbourhood, on Kildare between Cavendish and Sir Walter Scott. The road remained closed on Friday and after the section was hastily refilled pending proper repairs, that was that. The problem was that this large oval-shaped crater had formed and Public Security did nothing to warn residents of the danger, until I called them early Sunday afternoon and asked that, at the very least, pylons be placed there. Three of them were: Better than nothing, I suppose. I am really surprised and disappointed, however, that this had not been done earlier. Someone could have been seriously hurt and, really, was some basic warning too much to expect from an otherwise incredible municipality?
Washer and dryer for sale $50 Bedroom set $100 - Older TV $20 - Office desk - $20 - Student Desk - $10 - Bookshelves - $10 Various tools - Various prices. Call 514-500-2499
Did you know that you can place your classified ads for free? Yes you can, by calling them in at 514-688-7888 or emailing them to bram@thelocalseeker.com. You can also visit our website at westend.thelocalseeker.com and put it on there!
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There have been thousands of opinions and they continue to flood in after Zdeno Chara’s “hit” on Max Pacioretty that not only endangered the career of the Montreal Canadien, but nearly his life as well. Call it what you want, assault perhaps (Montreal police are looking into that possibility), or just plain dirty, and that is almost unquestionable. But to call it a “hockey play,” as Chara and even the NHL are saying, is ludicrous. Colin Campbell was forced to recuse himself from the Chara case, because Campbell’s son Gregory plays for the Bruins. So in order to avoid an obvious conflict of interest, the NHL instead went for the less obvious conflict. Mike Murphy, Colin’s close friend, reviewed the case. Yup, no bias there! Great job, NHL! Speaking of ludicrous, isn’t it time the NHL did something about the way they handle head shots? This hit has much more to do with the future of the game of hockey than just the career of Pacioretty. The NFL did the right thing this past season when they moved to reduce and even attempt to eliminate dangerous head shots in the middle of their season. Why can’t the NHL do the same? The NHL not only missed an opportunity to gain some positive PR by reacting quickly and decisively on the issue of head shots, they went the other way. Commissioner Gary Bettman, as is his custom, reacted defensively when questioned about head shots and was even publicly aggressive with league sponsors who threatened to pull their precious dollars. The names of star players who have had their Hall of Fame careers shortened by dangerous head shots reads almost like a career all-star team: Pat Lafontaine, Paul Kariya, Eric Lindros, Denis Savard and maybe even Sidney Crosby. I have heard from dozens of hockey parents who say they fear for their kids playing minor hockey today. They see what their so-called heroes do on the ice in the NHL and try and emulate that behaviour in their own games. Now THAT is truly frightening. I don’t believe the Chara hit warrants a criminal investigation, but with everything we are learning about the effects concussions have on the lives of people and athletes who suffer them, it does necessitate a complete overhaul of the way the league handles this increasing problem.
Whole Grain Roll by Caryn Roll
Spotlight on Sports by Paul Graif
Bettman should yank his head out of the place where the sun doesn’t shine
Babies also deserve healthy homemade meals Recently I noticed a lot of pregnant women walking around the West end. It seems that spring is a popular time to give birth. It reminded me of when I had tiny babies and I felt nostalgic for those times. I remember when the three of my children turned six months old and I started them on solid food. First you start with the cereals like oatmeal, rice and barley. Then you add a fruit and a vegetable and, eventually, some protein. There is a plethora of prepared baby food at the supermarket, but making it yourself is so easy. You do need to buy the cereals but making puréed fruits, veggies and protein is fun and nutritious. The easiest way to make puréed vegetables is to use the canned variety. Take a can of carrots, peas or asparagus and rinse well under running water. Put them in a blender and purée to the right consistency: Babies that are new to solids need to have a fine texture. After a few weeks you can change the texture to more of a minced consistency. You need to change the texture gradually or you run the risk of your baby rejecting the food. Frozen vegetables and fruits also make excellent purées . You can heat them up in the microwave or thaw them in the fridge and then purée them. Nowadays, however, you can also find a huge variety of frozen produce. The frozen mangos and island mixes especially impress me. If it’s summertime (and the living is easy), make use of the wonderful Quebec harvest and use fresh. You can steam veggies in the microwave or on the stove. Try zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, sweet potatoes, peaches, berries … the list is endless. For protein, why not try silken tofu? You can mix it with some pureed fruit and it is effortless to prepare. You can broil, poach or boil chicken. Sauté lean ground beef with veggies and tomato sauce and then purée the mixture right in the pot. If there is no history of allergies you can introduce fish at 1 year of age. Try poaching some white fish like sole or haddock, being extra careful to remove the bones. Once your little one has graduated from baby cereal to real starch you can try brown rice, whole-wheat pasta and other whole grains to complete his or her little meal! Caryn J. Roll P.Dt. (514.817.0135) Twitter: @MTRLnutrition Join me on Facebook www.montrealnutrition.com
Speaking of head shots, it’s difficult to get one of Gary Bettman… as long as he has HIS planted firmly in his derriere.
THE LOCAL SEEKER (pg. 3)
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THE LOCAL SEEKER (pg. 4)
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THE LOCAL SEEKER (pg. 5)
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Eye Spy by Linda Rutenberg
A new perspective What do you do when all your photos start to look the same? Experienced photographers deal with this at times and so do most amateurs, as well. We tend to like certain subjects and feel most comfortable shooting those. I have often heard students tell me they love taking landscape or architecture but have a hard time taking portraits. Or they love taking photos of their children or grandchildren but cannot find anything interesting when they walk around outside. In either case you need to challenge yourself to try and take images that are different. This will bring a fresh approach to your shooting. Here are a few suggestions of things to try. First of all, look through books and magazines and find several images that you really like that are different from what you have previously done. Photocopy them and pin them up on a door or bulletin board where you can see them every day. Try to take note of which ones catch your eye. Then go out En retard à produire vos déclarations de revenus? shooting with this photo Vous avez quelques années à rattraper? and try to make an image Nous pouvons vous aider! that is exactly the same. Appelez-nous aujourd’hui! Find yourself a topic that you feel you could stick with for awhile and make this your theme for the next month. Another idea is to try working with a lens that is different than the one you are accustomed to and stick with it when you shoot. If you have a point-and-shoot-camera, put your telephoto at its longest length and only use that. This will ultimately change the way you see things, will give you a new perspective on the world around you and get you excited about your new results. Late with your tax returns?
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THE LOCAL SEEKER (pg. 6)
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ESTATE BUYER
BUYS PER ITEM OR ENTIRE CONTENTS (REMOVAL OF ALL CONTENTS ASSURED) If you are moving to another country, have to deal with the tragic loss of a family member and need to liquidate their belongings under duress – or perhaps you simply have far too many things and want to sell and remove your household items – call me:
Ralph - 514-926-6026 or hobbylobby1423@hotmail.com I handle it all, including: FINE ART AND ANTIQUE FURNITURE MODERN FURNITURE, ‘50s, 60’s, 70’s and up BRONZES & MARBLE SCULPTURES MEISSEN AND KPM PORCELAINE FINE, ENGLISH & FRENCH CHINA ASIAN PORCELAIN & POTTERY ROOKWOOD, NEWCOMB GRUBY POTTERY LALIQUE, STEUBEN, GALLE, DAUM NANCY GLASSWARE FINE SILVER, SHEFFIELD PLATE VINTAGE WATCHES ART GLASS LIGHTING BY TIFFANY HANDEL DUFFNER KIMBERLY PAIRPOINT VINTAGE STRING INSTRUMENTS ANTIQUE GUNS & OTHER WEAPONS, MILITARY AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN OIL PAINTINGS UNIQUE, ODD & UNUSUAL ITEMS
Beyond Words Media Bram Eisenthal Writer / Publicist 514-975-7745 superscribe@sympatico.ca
I hope you have enjoyed this issue. We are working on our next issue of 2011, and it will be out April 1st
Bes t, Bra m
Deadline for next issue: Friday March 25th 12:00 noon
PLUS VEHICLES OF ALL TYPES!
THE LOCAL SEEKER (pg. 7)
FREE CLASSIFIED ADS: 514-688-7888 www.westend.thelocalseeker.com
THE LOCAL SEEKER (pg. 8)
FREE CLASSIFIED ADS: 514-688-7888 www.westend.thelocalseeker.com