Milton Villager Magazine Volume 1, Issue 12 - September 2013 www.MiltonVillager.com
If you would like to advertise in Milton Villager email rick@dilorenzo.com Publisher - Rick Di Lorenzo, rick@dilorenzo.com Photographers - Ann Kornuta, Denise Cooperwhite, Eva Mende-Gibson Reporters - Stuart Service, Laura Steiner, Leslie Kennedy Cover Photo: Diana Palalas with her two sons Printed in Canada. All rights reserved. Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily that of the publisher and no liability is assumed for omissions or errors Follow us on Facebook at http://facebook.com/MiltonVillager Milton Villager Magazine is available at these fine local businesses: Grocery stores: Metro, Food Port, Real Canadian Super Store, Kabul Fine Foods, La Rose Bakery Food: Hero Burger, Pizza Nova, Troys Diner, Coffee Culture, Heritage Fish and Chips, Symposium, Shoeless Joe’s, Portabello’s, Bombay Grill, Mama Mila’s Cafe, Quiznos, Cafe Zauq, Empire Wok, Mr. Sub Recreation: Milton Sports Centre, Leisure Centre, Milton Centre for the Arts, Making Waves Swim School Shopping: Milton Mall, Home Hardware, Staples
*Please contact the publisher to have a magazine rack installed at your local business Printed at:
Milton
Event Calendar
Villager
MOWCF 3rd Annual Beach Volleyball Tournament September 7 at the Milton Sports Centre TEDx Milton 2013 - September 14 at Milton Centre for the Arts www.tedxmilton.com Milton Half Marathon - September 15 www.miltonmarathon.com Childhood Cancer Awareness Fundraiser - September 19 at Shoeless Joe’s Milton Fall Fair - September 27 to 29th at Milton Fair Grounds www.miltonfair.com Garba Ni Raat Navratri Festival - September 28 at Bishop Reding School United Way Milton Race - October 6 www.miltonunitedway10k.com Milton Haunted House - October 26 & 27 at Milton Mall www.miltonhauntedhouse.com
CLEARANCE %
FINANCE FROM
FINANCE FROM
2013 MaZDa 5 GS
$
Bi-weekly / for 84 months With $2,395 down. All-in from $23,349. Excludes HST
119 0.99
†
AT
%
APR
INCLUDES $750 DEALER SIGNING BONUS
FINANCE FROM
$
$
Bi-weekly / for 84 months With $1,595 down. All-in from $17,299. Excludes HST
86 0%
Bi-weekly / for 84 months with $4,299 down. All-in from $35,349. Excludes HST
189 2.99%
AT
AT
UP TO
2013 CX-9 GS
†
APR
INCLUDES $750 DEALER SIGNING BONUS
1195 Steeles Ave East, Milton ON L9T2X8 289-627-1800 or 1-866-620-3248 www.achillesmazda.ca info@achillesmazda.ca
EVENT
R ZD MA DEALE S E ILL WN ACH METO S... HO ESENT R U PR YO
EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER 30TH
0 84 1,000 +$
$1,000 UP TO
DEALER SIGNING BONUS
2013 MaZDa 3 GX †
APR
INCLUDES $500 DEALER SIGNING BONUS
$750 $1,000
DEALER SIGNING BONUS DEALER SIGNING BONUS UP TO
†0% APR Purchase Financing is available on all new 2013 and 2014 Mazda vehicles. Terms vary by model. Based on a representative agreement using an offered pricing of $17,299 for the new 2013 Mazda3 GX (D4XS53AA00) with a financed amount of $15,000, the cost of borrowing for an 84-month term is $0, monthly payment is $178.57, total finance obligation is $15,000. Finance Pricing for new 2013 Mazda3 GX (D4XS53AA00)/2013 Mazda5 GS (E6SD63AA00)/2013 CX-9 GS (QVSB83AA00)/2014 Mazda6 GX (G4XL64AA00)/2014 CX-5 GX. (NVXK64AA00) is $17,299/$23,349/$35,349/$25,399/$24,699 financed at 0%/0.99%/2.99%/3.99%/2.99% over 84/84/84/84/84 months equals bi-weekly payments of $86/$119/$189/$143/$132 with $1,595/$2,395/$4,299/$2,695/$2,995 down payment, cost of borrowing is $0/$738/$3,380/$3,335/$2,363 with a total obligation of $17,299/$24,087/$38,730/$28,734/$27,062. As shown, 2014 CX-5 GT (NXTL84AA00) is $34,956 financed at 2.99% over 84 months equals bi-weekly payments of $195 with $2,995 down payment, cost of borrowing is $3,480 with a total obligation of $38,435. Offers include freight, P.D.E. and fees. Offers exclude HST. Dealer Signing Bonuses are available on retail purchase/finance/lease of all new, in-stock 2013 and 2014 Mazda models from September 3rd to September 30th, 2013. Bonus amounts vary by model. Bonuses are applied before taxes as a credit to the sales/lease contract. No cash surrender value. See dealer for complete details. Licence, insurance, taxes and down payment (where applicable) are extra and may be required at the time of purchase. Dealer may sell/lease for less. Dealer order/trade may be necessary on certain vehicles. Offers valid from September 3rd while supplies last. Lease and finance on approved credit for qualified customers only. Visit Achilles Mazda for complete details. If you have made it to the end of the fine print, congratulations! You owe it to yourself to visit Achilles Mazda here in Milton #SHOPLOCAL
MAZDA’SA
here was not a cloud in the sky on July 28 when over 1,400 Miltonians converged at the Milton Fair Grounds to honour the life of Maximus Huyskens who would have celebrated his second birthday the next day. The Forget-Me-Not Fun fair had been planned in just three weeks to remember Maximus, who had tragically died when his grandmother had accidentally left him in a car on a hot day. This fair was designed to support his family and to raise awareness about car safety.
The idea to help the family was pitched by Adriana Scarpiello in the Milton Mom’s buy-and-sell group on Facebook. Rose Passarelli and I jumped on board immediately. Our original plan was to host a mom-to-mom sale (after all, we had met in the buy-and-sell group) to raise money for the family. Within a few short days, a separate group had been created for the event that was 150 members strong, and we decided that, collectively, we could do so much more than host a small sale. The story of the fair day means so much more than do the thousands of dollars raised for UNICEF Canada, and for Kids and Cars, a charity focused on car safety awareness. It also involves so much more than the dozens of vendors who sold everything from cupcakes to candles, and the moms who sold used toys and clothing. It is even more than the hundreds of families and smiling children who enjoyed the toys and bouncy castles, pony rides, cotton candy, roaming super heroes, and Elmo—and more than
By Leslie Kennedy Photo by Eva Mende-Gibson
the line-up for Sneezy the Clown’s balloon animals. At its core, the Forget-Me Not fair was about the love this town showed for the Huyskens family.
Neither Rose, nor Adriana, nor myself—nor the vast majority of our over 50 volunteers and 100 sponsors, donors, and vendors—had ever met Maximus’s parents, Marcus and Tamara. Some volunteers had children who attend school with his 5-year-old sister, Leilah, or who had attended daycare with Maximus. For most of us, it was a communal feeling of loss and a joint desire to help the Huyskens family that inspired us all to make the event a huge success. Donations are still coming in. So far, we have raised enough to fulfill our original goal, which, as Adriana put it, is “to shoot for the moon and land among the stars”—to send Marcus and Tamara, and Maximus’s siblings, Nico and Leilah, to Disney World. But they don’t want the trip. They want all of the funds raised to go to support the two charities they selected. They want to help other children and families. They want to help raise awareness and keep children safe. Our community lost a precious angel. And our community rallied to honour him with the best birthday party a twoyear-old could hope for.
| 5 Milton Villager
Forget-Me-Not Fair Remembers Maximus T
Hydroplane Racers to Compete on
World Waters
6 | Milton Villager
By Stuart Service
S
ince the ages of 9 and 11, Andrew and Graham Fralick have raced many boats in many disciplines.
Graham, co-pilot and Milton resident, and his brother, Andrew, the driver, compete in the Ontario Powerboat Racing Series every summer. “My dad races, Andrew races, and our mother was a scorer and active at all the events,” Graham said. “And it’s the same way with most of our friends that race boats.” Andrew added that powerboat racing creates a family atmosphere among participants. “I’ve tried motorcycle racing, bicycle racing, higher levels of powerboat racing, go karts—there’s nothing like this level of boat racing,” Andrew said. “In part, because maybe there’s not a lot of money on the line, but if something breaks on your boat, 10 of your competitors are running down the beach to fix your boat before you even realize what’s going on.” “Their first priority is to get you back on the water,” Andrew continued, “whether they’re taking parts off their own spare engines, they want to race against you.”
Milton resident, Graham Fralick, and his brother are preparing to race their high-speed inflatable hydroplane on an ocean for the first time this October, during a week-long international powerboat competition off the UK coast.
The brothers currently race an inflatable boat that charges up to 55 mph (89 kmh) called a ThunderCat. The Fralicks are preparing to compete in three circuits at the ThunderCat Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) world championships in Cornwall, UK from October 5 to 12. Their first race involves nine laps around a 1 km oval, which takes place on the calm surface of the Atlantic Ocean. The second race, also on calm waters, is a 115 km marathon, with pitstops every 25 km for refuelling and for the co-pilots to run an obstacle course on the beach. The brothers enjoy their chances in the first two circuits, but the third race, Surf Cross, is another story. The final race involves a 1-km course, shaped like an “M” and located in the heart of a surf zone, where competitors will need to speed over waves five to ten feet high.
“But to be able to have that chance to try surf cross-racing— that in itself is worth the trip,” Andrew added. The Fralick brothers have turned to the assistance of crowdfunding (http://www.gofundme.com/team-canada) for help in financing the trip. Although they’ve had luck developing relationships with UK sponsors to reduce their boating equipment and shipping costs, the brothers expect the grand total of the trip to cost about $12,000. “We spend a lot of money on it, but it’s a lifestyle,” Graham said. “It’s definitely a way of life—a passion, for sure. Addiction is another way to put it.”
Milton Villager
| 7
The only practice with waves they’ve experienced in southern Ontario involved waves from other boats, “but those [waves] are nothing at all like you’d see on the ocean,” Graham said.
“That’s going to be a big learning curve for us and for several other countries that don’t have the luxury of being situated near an ocean,” he continued.
Hot Summer Days Become Hot Summer Nights There was a warm breeze blowing as Milton’s hot Summer Days Concert series became “Hot Summer Nights.” The free concert series offered by Arts Milton kicked off its nighttime series on August 7, 2013 at the stage in front of Town Hall. Arts Milton is an organization dedicated to creating a “community with the arts.” Making use of an underused stage in front of the Mary St. entrance to Town Hall, the organization decided to enter into partnership with the Town of Milton to do a series of concerts. “We’re very interested in giving artists the opportunity to perform and residents of Milton some entertainment,” Secretary Auleen Carson said. Half of these concerts would take place during the day and half during the evening because the group was unsure which would work best. The hour-long concert series featured sets from ensembles from the Rick Imus School of Music. The Top Hats performed first, entertaining the crowd with a mixture of rock-blues music, perfectly suited to the warm evening. Ending the hourlong concert were the 2-Dollar Bills, a group that included Imus himself on guitar.
The group’s set lasted 20 minutes and included the 80s hits “Jesse’s Girl,” “Matchbox Twenty,” and “Run, Run Away.” The band has been together since 2008, performing gigs in and around Milton. For the band members, it’s all about the audience: “We were quite a natural fit to play Culture Days last year because there was a lot of audience participation,” Imus said. Culture Days is the next big event on Arts Milton’s calendar. Started in 2010,it is designed to raise awareness and engage people in the arts. It’s a three-day event, taking place on September 27–29, and is full of free activities for Milton Residents, providing a sampling of the arts. “We’ve got basically every art represented,” Carson said. This even includes some unorthodox arts such as Tai-Chi and meditation. “[There will be a] big focus on kids and families, getting everyone to try a bit of the arts,” Carson described. For an official schedule of Culture Days, stay tuned to Arts Milton’s official website: www.artsmilton.com. By Laura Steiner
By Laura Steiner |
Photos by Matthew Craig and Sneezy the Clown
8 | Milton Villager
Mohawk Inn
Reopens with New Memories
S
unday, August 18 marked yet another special occasion for the Mohawk Inn. The Campbellville landmark celebrated its grand reopening with an afternoon of family fun.
The Guelph Line was used as a route for stagecoaches between Burlington and Guelph, with hotels along the road. “It was a good place for people to meet, and greet, Nasagiweya Historical Society President Audrey Allison described. The site of the Mohawk Inn marked the halfway point of the trail, a place for local families and visitors to meet. The building, by Bert Day, wasn’t built until 1967, when the age of stagecoaches had already passed. “It was the only place around for entertainment or a bite to eat,” Allison said. It’s always been a site for weddings, including one in which I served as flower girl. Bridget and Shawn Saulnier bought it just over a year ago and have done extensive renovations, refurbishing most of the hotel space. The new restaurant, the Mohawk Chop House, has a steak-house feel to it, with booths made of real cowhide.
George, Bridget and Shawn Saulnier, Judy Marsh
The idea of using it as a gathering place and key part of the community prompted the recent contest, Memories at Mohawk, which ran from June 1 to August 10 and invited people to send in photographs of family celebrations and weddings. The contest winners were announced at the inn’s grand reopening, following the ribbon-cutting. “This is an example of bringing the community together,” owner Shawn Saulnier said in official remarks. Also taking place inside the inn was a United Way raffle with tables showing off possible place settings and vendors for events. Kids’ activities including face-painting, Monkeynastix, and pony rides set up out front and on the patio.
Gabby and Gavyn
Milton Villager
The Marshes have witnessed the Mohawk Inn grow shabby over the years. “It really went downhill after Bert Day sold it,” Marsh described. She feels the Saulniers as having brought new energy to the place. “I think it’s going to be a great success for them, she said.
| 9
Second prize in the photo contest went to George and Judy Marsh who bought an area farmhouse and settled there in the 1960s. They were married at St. George’s Anglican Church in August of 1967, and their reception was the very first at the Mohawk Inn. “We had about fifty people. They’d never had a wedding reception there, and neither had we,” Judy Marsh chuckled at the memory. Marsh is British, and her parents and brother didn’t make it over for the wedding. “So my friend’s dad, a Scotsman, stood in for [my father] and gave me away.” She and her bridesmaid got ready at the hotel after driving in a tiny car from Toronto. We had to iron these rental dresses at the Mohawk Inn bedroom,” she said. She always saw the humour in the situation.
Byran Essery and Sneezy the clown
Provincial Pole Competition Climbs to Milton By Stuart Service
10 | Milton Villager
After just a few months of lessons, Milton resident Shannon Skura competed in the amateur division at the Ontario Pole Fitness Championships on August 17.
H
elicopters, ninjas, archers, and supermans are just some of the moves featured during the Ontario Pole Fitness Championships at the Teatro Conference Centre on August 17. Enthusiastically cheering on about 30 competitors was Bonny McMillan, a Milton pole fitness instructor. “I like seeing the women perform, seeing the potential of what’s out there.” McMillan said. “People don’t realize how much strength goes into these moves.” The competition’s entrants travelled to Milton from across Ontario to compete in five divisional categories: amateur, doubles, semi-pro, pro, and masters. The winners of each division earned spots in the Canadian championships in October. “One of the girls here came all the way from Ottawa to compete today,” McMillan said. “Girls are coming here from all over Ontario because there isn’t a lot of opportunities to showcase what they can do.” The lone local competitor in the amateur division, Shannon Skura, recently became a regular at the Brass Angels pole fitness studio on Bronte Street in Milton. She used to practice moves she saw on YouTube on tetherball poles located near her home before starting her lessons in March. “I have been going almost every week since I started, and it has been an incredible experience,” she said. Following Skura’s athletic, acrobatic performance, McMillian said “Did you notice the different styles between ‘sexy’ and ‘athletic?’”
By “sexy,” McMillan was referring to the performance by an under-clothed Monique VP, who earlier sauntered about the stage in a revealing schoolgirl outfit. Another stand-out of the night was Stef Lim whose entire routine was done blindfolded. The rockstar of the night was a 46-year-old by the name of PJ “Piggy” Piglet Poles, a contender in the ultra-competitive masters division for women over 40. Poles’s interpretative show to AC/DC’s “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” was equally the evening’s most unusual and original routine, involving props like a bottle of whiskey and a motorcycle. In attendance volunteering with the event was Mike Richter, a classmate of Skura at the Brass Angels studio, who also started in March. After tremendous amounts of convincing from his wife Jen, Mike decided to join her for a lesson. “Once I started going I really enjoyed it,” he said, adding that pole fitness is an effective addition to any workout routine.
T
his year’s Tour de Bleu took place August 9 and 10. The cycling tour, organized by local philanthropist Peter Gilgan, raised $565 thousand for the Mattamy National Cycling Centre, formerly known as the Milton Velodrome. It was a two-day event and took cyclists along 100-, 150-, and 200-km routes, starting from Muskoka and ending outside of Milton Town Hall. The riders stopped at the cycling centre site at Tremaine Road and at Louis Street and Laurent Boulevard for water. The cycling centre will house track cycling events for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. Tour de Bleu was started in 2005 by Peter Gilgan. Over the last eight years, it has raised over $4 million for community projects and charities. Gilgan has been one of the main forces behind the cycling centre. “He encouraged us to think seriously about it,” Mayor Gord Krantz said in a thank-you speech at a reception following the end of the tour. Krantz credited both Council and Town Staff. “How do we capture imagination?” This was the fundraising challenge set before Howard Chang, chair of the fundraising cabinet for the “Make It Happen Campaign.” Its goal is to raise $14 million in private donations for the project. It has been successful, with about 80% of the donations coming from individuals instead of corporations. Many donors are devoted cyclists who view cycling as a part of a fitness and health routine. “Current campaign donors believe Cycling in Canada is having ‘its’ moment,” Director of Community Services Jennifer Reynolds said in an email. They
By Laura Steiner Photos by Ann Kornuta
view their donation as a long-term investment. The Make it Happen campaign is $700,000 short of its goal. Donors could be thinking of the impact they can make in the community. “Individuals inspired by the history-in-the-making can donate and be a part of that,” she said. Grassroots cycling in Austrailia and the United Kingdom has seen an increase in popularity post-Olympic Games. Milton appears to be no different, with 55% of Miltonians engaging in cycling, making it the second most popular physical activity according to a January 2010 physical activity plan.
| 11
Over Half Million for Velodrome
Milton Villager
Tour De Bleu Cycles
12 | Milton Villager
Milton Community Park By Ann Kornuta
O
n Saturday, July 27, families in Milton celebrated the official opening of the new “Milton Community Park,” located at 805 Santa Maria Boulevard in the Willmott neighbourhood. The park itself features two major soccer fields, two baseball diamonds, four beach volleyball courts, an amazingly fun playground and splash pad, and a naturalized garden that follows along walking and biking paths. “Community Park provides our residents and visitors with many amenities, [encouraging them] to move more and play more,” said Milton Mayor Gord Krantz. “Designed to strengthen our outdoor recreation spaces, the park offers something for every age, interest, and ability.” It was a fun afternoon, despite the pending rain, during which residents enjoyed free activities, kite demos, and even a special appearance from Pachi, the official mascot of the TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games.
Grand Opening
Milton Villager
| 13
ICCM Picnic: 14 | Milton Villager
by Laura Steiner | Eva Mende-Gibson
A
ugust 25 was all about family for the Italian Canadian Club of Milton (ICCM), whichheld a family picnic with games for adults and kids—and, of course, food. The ICCM’s purpose is to celebrate Italian heritage and promote cultural values in the community. Found member Al Denich came to the picnic to see how it had changed with the new generation. “I came here to see the movement and the number of young people who are spreading the Italian culture they got from their parents and grandparents,” he said. Denich served as president of ICCM in 1976 and then as secretary for 5 years. The club is enjoying a renewal. Food and drinks were purchased with tickets at the picnic. Food included pasta, pulled porcetta sandwiches, Italian sausages, salad, and hot dogs. The pasta was served with tomato sauce, a vegetarian option. The games were a multigenerational affair. Kids’ games included musical chairs, three-legged races, and soccer outside. Kids crafts took place inside as well as card games, such as Briscola, for adults. Outside, the adults played bocce. Amanda Conteduca helped out with
A Family Affair
a “Picasso Table,” where kids had the opportunity to paint. “I really like being part of the community, and being with the children is really fun,” she said. On the floor behind her was a sheet with canvases
drying away. Many of her family members are members of the club as well.
Milton Villager
| 15
The group played bocce on a court made of packed gravel. The game’s object was to bowl as close to the jack (yellow ball) as you could. I was on a team with Pieriana Vizzini, and in the first game, we played her daughter, Mary, and her granddaughter. We won and played a second game, which we also won. We ended up placing only fourth in the tournament, but had fun anyway. My prize was Italian coffee and lady finger cookies.
Moving, Moving!
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21st, 10 am - 12 noon Kids’ Club friends will decorate travel cups at 10 am* and then be on their feet, moving to the beat with dance, zumba and yoga, active fun for everyone at 11 am.
Parent(s) must remain with their children. Open to children ages 4 - 12. *One per child, while supplies last. For more details visit miltonmall.com and click on the Kids’ Club icon.
Corner of Ontario and Main miltonmall.com
It’s more than just real estate. It’s homes, neighbourhoods and great community living.
235 Bronte #10, Milton 3 Bedroom, End Unit Condo Townhouse With A Finished Basement. Call For More Details
509 Skene Road, Marmora and Lake Impressive 4 Bedroom Executive All Seasons Home Or Cottage On Beautiful Dickey Lake $645,000. www.509skeneroad.com
153 Cooke Crescent, Milton Beautiful 3 Bedroom Detached Home On A Quiet Child Friendly Crescent. Call For More Details
392 Hobbs Terrace, Milton Approx. 1700 sq ft, 3 Bedroom Townhome On A Family Safe, Quiet Crescent. $1700/month www.392hobbsterrace.com
It’s family.
Call me. I understand.
Lisa Roach
Sales Representative Office 905 875-2100 Direct 416 629-2915 Dedicated. Reliable. Knowledgeable.