The Drive Magazine // Issue 154

MASTERS OF CONSTRUCTION

MEET NEIL SUMMERFIELD: A LIFETIME OF BUILDING EXCELLENCE

Jeff Burrows

RAFFLE PRIZES $20 (AT THE DOOR)

12pm-2pm Mike Barrette

2pm-4pm Phil Kane

4pm-6pm Rick LaBonté & The Band of Brothers

6pm-7pm Jody Raffoul

7pm-8pm Smokin’ Purple Monkey Gang

8pm-10pm British Beat ‘66

10pm-12am The Twisted Sisters

12pm-1pm The All Nighters

1pm-2pm Last Minute 2pm-4pm The Source

4pm-6pm Fresh Breath

6pm-8pm The Wilkinsons

8pm-10pm ABX

10pm-12am Gritty Angels

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY AND STYLE

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PAUL ST-PIERRE Publisher

BREANNE MCGINTY..... Managing editor/Director of sales

MEL MONCZAK Sales

SABINE MAIN......................................... Creative director

MARNIE ROBILLARD Art director

GREG EDWARDS .................................... Graphic designer

CONTRIBUTORS

NICOLE BESTED ............................................ Photographer

JEN BRIGNALL-STRONG Writer

TREVOR BOOTH ............................................ Photographer

MELISSA BUZZEO Writer

MONA ELKADRI Stylist/Writer/Photographer

TERI GYEMI Writer

SYX LANGEMANN Photographer

DEVAN MIGHTON ................................................... Writer

ANTHONY SHEARDOWN Photographer

MATTHEW ST. AMAND ........................................... Writer

ANNA STANLEY ............................................. Copy Editor

MAXIMUS REID Photographer

CONTENTS

42

COMMUNITY DRIVE

Leave those kids alone, their story of passion, music and gifting the next generation to keep the young talent alive.

14

LOCAL DRIVE

The Journey of Neil Summerfield: From Windsor to Vancouver and back again.

ISSUE 154

AROUND TOWN

10 Unique news from around Windsor and Essex County.

FOOD

20 OH SO Mona delights us with her kale and roasted vegetable salad.

PORTRAIT

24 The Journey of Neil Summerfield: From Windsor to Vancouver and back again.

LOCAL DRIVE

32 Keith Golla, from dishwasher to business owner. How Keith worked his way up to the top.

DRIVE MUSIC

34 Spinning Stories documentary: Syx Langemann talks record collecting.

THEN & NOW

38 Frank Cremasco delights us with his past cover from 2008to where he is now .

DRIVE MIND

54 Teri Gyemi enlightens us with learning the freedom of saying “NO.” Part II

VINTAGE DRIVE

58 Tony Kiebert gets the surprise of a lifetime with used car score.

COMMUNITY DRIVE

60 The Cookie Bar. A perfect place for families to connect over cookies and craft beer.

A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER

The first signs of spring are beginning to bud across Windsor-Essex, ushering in a feeling of growth and renewal. Here at The DRIVE Magazine, we’re excited to embrace the change of season and all it brings. Springtime in our region is always full of so many exciting activities and events.

Speaking of excitement, we are thrilled to share with you yet another captivating collection of local stories in our latest issue. On our cover, we shine a spotlight on Neil Summerfield, a Windsor native returning from Vancouver to embark on new construction ventures in the region. His journey reflects the enduring allure and potential of our area, brimming with opportunity and innovation.

We’re also pleased to introduce you to Hannah Gravelle, whose dedication and talent have propelled her from YQG to the electrifying stage as one of the famed Lakers Girls a testament to the power of passion and perseverance in pursuing one’s dreams.

In the Psych Drive section, Teri Gyemi returns to delve deeper into the complexities of setting boundaries, offering invaluable insights into maintaining mental and emotional well-being.

Finally, we’re delighted to introduce Spinning Stories, a captivating documentary by The DRIVE’s own Syx Langemann, exploring the captivating world of local record collectors and uncovering the narratives woven into every groove and melody.

As always, The DRIVE Magazine remains committed to showcasing the diverse voices and dynamic experiences that shape our community. None of what we do would be possible without the unwavering support of our incredible team, our valued advertising partners, and you, our readers. Thank you for continuing to make us the region’s premier lifestyle magazine.

Thank you,

Paul St. Pierre Publisher

TOWN

Nauti V's Oyster Bar, the latest addition to the locally owned Maggio Group of restaurants, has made a grand entrance into the heart of Walkerville. Upon entering Nauti V's Oyster Bar, guests are welcomed into a casual yet sophisticated nautical-themed ambiance, setting the mood for an intimate dinner or a lively gathering at the inviting bar. With a capacity for 60 guests, this restaurant exudes a hip vibe that resonates throughout the space. The dining menu is perfectly curated, offering appetizers such as the spectacular 2- or 3-tiered seafood tower, and entrees like Squid Ink Linguini and the succulent Vito's Branzino. Complementing the delectable fare is an expertly crafted bar menu featuring signature cocktails, along with a diverse selection of wines and beers, including some notable local offerings. Nauti V's Oyster Bar is located at 1850 Wyandotte St E, in the heart of Olde Walkerville in Windsor, Ontario. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling (519) 915-1166.

Welcome to our custom content page meant to highlight unique news from the Windsor-Essex region.

United Way Windsor-Essex County was proud to partner with the Windsor & District Labour Council to host the 8th annual Tampon Tuesday event on March 5th. The event aligns with International Women's Day efforts to raise awareness about the challenges faced by women and girls living in poverty. Many in our community struggle to access menstrual hygiene products, a critical issue that can impact daily activities like work or school. These products are among the most requested yet least donated items at food banks and shelters. Thanks to the incredible support from our generous community, 5,849 packages of menstrual products were collected, surpassing last year's total of 3,000. Additionally, $11,625 was raised to purchase additional products and support broader initiatives for families in need such as food security through United Way’s Summer Eats for Kids program as well as academic support through United Way’s On Track To Success program. weareunited.com @unitedwaywec

Colchester Ridge Estate Winery, or CREW as it is better known, was established in 2001 by husband-and-wife team Nancy and Bernie Gorski. The Gorskis planted 12 acres of vinifera vines on their family land, producing their first vintage in 2004 and winning awards since then, with the help of winemaker Ryan Oldridge. Driven by quality products and personable hospitality, the CREW winery and Gallery was opened in 2019. This space hosts a tasting bar, retail shopping, screened patios, a private event space, and an amazing restaurant run by Chef Vanessa Parent. Visit CREW 7 days a week at 108 County Rd 50 East for your custom wine, dine, and shopping experience. Visit colchesterridge.com for more information.

Since 1997, Seven local professionals have been quietly working and fundraising to help those of us in Windsor-Essex who can't help themselves. They have been instrumental in brokering several partnerships with local community service organizations and generous donors to quietly attract hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations to specific causes or campaigns... Including the purchase of State of the Art Cryo Laser Prostate/Kidney machine, Major funding for the Children's Aid Society Building, Windsor Cancer Centre for 3D Imaging machines, CMHA, Autism Windsor, The Soup Shack, Sleep in Heavenly Peace and so many more amazing groups and individuals! The Circle of 7’s mantra is “to help to always promote Windsor-Essex and to help those who can’t help themselves; with focus on Health & Welfare, Youth Sports and the Arts. To date the Circle of 7 has distributed over $4.0 million dollars to our community and is working hard on its commitment to continue the “Circle of 7 – Circle of Giving”. You can see more about The Circle and help them help others by visiting their web site circleofseven.ca

YQG Stretch Therapy is the newest spot to lay back, relax, and unwind—literally! Located in the heart of Walkerville, Tara has created an inviting space for people of all ages and from different walks of life to come and enjoy one of the newest forms of therapeutic treatments: Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST). FST is an assisted stretching technique that targets our body's connective tissue, fascia, helping to relieve stress and unlock tension in our muscles and joints. Whether you are looking to improve mobility, increase your range of motion, put an end to chronic pain, or just simply live happier, the benefits of FST are endless. Tara has a strong passion for health and wellness and would like to share that passion with you through this proven technique. Be sure to follow her on Instagram @yqgstretchtherapy. For any questions or to make bookings, you can reach out at yqgstretchtherapy@gmail.com.

The 3rd location of The Bourbon Tap & Grill is now open and located in Belle River, ON. The Bourbon was started with one goal in mind: to provide the best service, quality, and atmosphere for our clients. Featuring a classic bourbon-styled bar, 11 HD TV screens, and much more to accommodate our customers, The Bourbon aims to satisfy whether it be a night of drinking, relaxing after a long day of work, or your destination to enjoy great food with friends and family–we are your place! Family-friendly until 9 pm. Located at 405 Notre Dame St., Belle River, ON. Follow us on Facebook: The Bourbon Tap & Grill.

DREAMING BIG!

A small town dancer’s rise to fame.

By Melissa Buzzeo

“Keep going!” “Believe in yourself!” and “Dreams do come true!” are just a few of the inspirational words that Belle River native, Hannah Gravelle, truly believes in.

The Windsor-born dancer now calls LA home and has landed an exciting position as a Laker Girl. When asked about how the 23-year-old made this happen at such a young age, she happily recalls the many events, competitions, and dance classes leading up to this moment.

Hannah began her extensive dance career at the young age of three. Coming from a family of four girls, Hannah said, “I always wanted to do what my big sister was doing, therefore, as soon as I was old enough, my mom put me in lessons, just like my older sister and I haven’t stopped since.” Her early dance training began at Nancy Pattison’s Dance World in Windsor. By Grade 4, Hannah recalls moving onto their competitive dance team and remaining there until Grade 10.

During this time, Hannah competed both independently and with a team. Some of the many conventions she attended were: Tremaine, DanceMakers Inc., Hollywood Vibe, Hollywood Connection and the list goes on. She describes these conventions as her, “entire world growing up” and admits that she “absolutely loved performing with my team.” She loved everything about the convention weekends. “I loved watching competitions, taking classes, and honestly just everything about those weekends.”

Although she was busy balancing school and competitive dancing, Hannah didn’t stop there. She also chose to dance on her elementary (St. John the Baptist) and high school’s (St. Anne’s) dance teams. During her last two years of high school, Hannah transitioned to another studio, she began taking classes at PURE Academy in Chatham, Ontario. In addition, she also became the captain of her high school dance team. She continued dancing in college and during summer months, Hannah took drop-in classes and taught at Industry Dance Co. in Windsor.

With all this dancing, it’s not surprising that Hannah has won multiple awards, trophies, and scholarships along the way. One of her favourite memories was winning the Tremaine Teen Female Dancer of the Year 2016-2017. When describing this moment, she was quick to add that this was her “I made it” moment. This was the moment when she could confidently say that all her hard work and dedication had finally paid off. Furthermore, this was the moment when she knew she wanted to dance for the rest of her life. Hannah proudly recalls these moments with such pride, yet at the same time, she has such a humbled outlook on her success.

Hannah credits the years 2015-2022 as pivotal years in her training because she was part of the Tremaine Performance Program. During this time, she toured with the dance convention, assisted the faculty, and gained invaluable knowledge from Dance Legend Joe Tremaine and the remainder of the faculty. Having the realization that she wanted a dance career, made learning from dance professionals even more meaningful.

Photos provided by Hannah

Hannah says she wanted to learn as much as possible from educators who also made a career from dancing. She was eager to follow in their footsteps.

Becoming a Laker Girl was a goal that Hannah claims she manifested while attending college in Los Angeles. “Last year, around this time actually, I went to my first Lakers game. I saw the Laker Girls perform and said to myself, ‘That’s what I want to do’.” With this goal in mind, she worked extremely hard for the next few months, as she was about to graduate from Hussain College in Studio, (now owned by AMDA College), with a BFA in Commercial Dance. During this time, she was also scouted by a dance agency (MSA) and obtained her OPT Visa.

As fate would have it, in June 2023, Hannah saw the Laker Girls audition flyer on Instagram and immediately knew she had to register. Hannah describes the lengthy audition process in detail. Her first round of auditions was a self-tape. She filmed this tape at her old apartment complex in LA. The beauty of this self-tape was that she filmed on a basketball court that had the Los Angeles Lakers logo right on the court. After waiting about a week, Hannah received an email with the exciting news that she was being offered a call-back at the in-person audition. She was beyond excited and nervous, as she did not know what the in-person audition entailed.

During her in-person audition, Hannah was blown away by the amount of talented and beautiful dancers in the room. She had never experienced this type of audition before and she felt extremely blessed to be selected for this next stage. Her audition consisted of learning two dances and an improv portion which allowed her to show off her skills and individuality. Finally, there was an interview where she needed to speak in front of all the other dancers. Hannah recounts this day as, “One of the most incredible experiences of my life!”

There were about 32 finalists after the in-person audition, Hannah being one of them. These finalists were then called back for a final day, which consisted of another interview and dance audition. After this last

day, the girls were then told to wait for a call on a certain day between a two-hour window. It was at this time they could expect a phone call from Jessica Elliott, the Director of the Laker Girls.

Hannah recalls waiting nervously by her phone. Her pinch me moment came when she received the call that she was being offered a spot as a Laker Girl for this season. She immediately called her family (who were also waiting by their phones) and emotionally shared her news. Everyone was overjoyed! In Hannah’s words, she says, “This was the best day/week/month of my life.”

practices literally a few hours before they perform, therefore the girls must know everyone’s part in every dance. They rotate and switch parts quite often, thus, they must stay focused and be ready to work. Hannah doesn’t complain about this work schedule. She says, “I deeply love what I do, my teammates, and this wonderful organization. I wouldn’t change that for the world.”

To me, being a Laker Girl is more than just dancing and cheering. It’s about being a role model in the community and spreading light, joy, and love in the Lakers nation and to the world.

The life of a Laker Girl is surreal, according to Hannah. She is proud and honored to represent the entire Los Angeles Lakers organization, cheering for the team in purple and gold. Her weeks consist of rehearsing for six hours, dancing and cheering at Los Angeles Lakers and G League’s South Bay Lakers home games, and attending community events, Hannah loves attending community events, as she can connect with fans and give back to the community by visiting healthcare facilities, beautifying school playgrounds, supporting walks/runs, teaching Junior Lakers Dancers Clinics and so much more. She says, “To me, being a Laker Girl is more than just dancing and cheering. It’s about being a role model in the community and spreading light, joy, and love in the Lakers nation and to the world.”

On the days when rehearsals land on game days, the girls must be prepared. They set formations for routines during their

With an astounding dance portfolio, it’s not surprising to see how far Hannah has come. She, however, credits many important people as being influential in her career path, especially her family, including her four dogs. Her parents, without a doubt, were and continue to be her biggest influences. Without their constant support, encouragement, and guidance, Hannah believes she would not be where she is today, “They inspire me daily to be the best version of myself.” She credits Mr. Joe Tremaine, and the entire Tremaine Dance faculty for believing in her and helping her pursue her dance career. Tiffany Maher, a member of the Tremaine Dance faculty, was Hannah’s idol growing up. Hannah says, “Tiffany is like a big sister to me and has inspired me in more ways than one. Her genuine kindness, humbleness, and unbelievable talent were and still are everything I wanted to be.” Finally, Hannah says, “I also have to thank every single person who has supported my dance journey and believed in me along the way.”

Hearing Hannah’s story will certainly be encouraging to all who are dreaming big. A small-town girl living out her dreams in LA is a story movies are made about. When asked about her plans, Hannah is quite honest. She says, “Right now, with this being my first season as a Laker Girl, I am still taking it all in, day by day.” She does have a list that she keeps adding to for future possibilities: professional choreographer, aspiring actress, etc. She says she has many more dreams and goals that she aspires to accomplish, yet for now, she will cherish this experience for as long as she can. She gives one final honest thought when reflecting on the future. She says, “Each and every day I feel like I’m dreaming, so once my feet touch the ground again, I’ll let you know!”

KALE AND ROASTED VEGETABLE SALAD WITH honey dijon

VINAIGRETTE

SALAD

1 bunch of kale

1 can chickpeas, drained

1 small rutabaga, peeled and diced

1 sweet potato, peeled and diced

¼ cup feta

¼ cup chopped dates

1 tbsp paprika

1 tbsp curry powder

2 tbsp olive oil, divided

3 tsp salt, divided

1 tsp pepper

METHOD

DRESSING

1/4 cup olive oil

1 tbsp white vinegar

3 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

½ tsp paprika

1 tsp Dijon

2 tbsp honey

To make the dressing, add ingredients to a liquid measuring cup and mix until combined.

Drain and rinse a can of chickpeas then transfer to a bowl.

Add 2 tbsp olive oil, paprika, curry powder, and 1 tsp of salt to the bowl and toss well.

Transfer to a baking sheet with parchment paper and bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees.

After dicing the rutabaga and sweet potato, toss in a bowl with 1 tbsp olive oil, 2 tsp salt, and pepper. Transfer to a separate baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until rutabaga is al denté.

Once vegetables have cooked, set them aside to cool.

While the vegetables are roasting, remove the stems and chop the kale into large bite size pieces. Next, chop dates, crumble feta, and set aside.

To assemble the salad, toss and massage three quarters of the dressing into the kale.

Next, top the salad with the roasted rutabaga and sweet potatoes, then chickpeas, feta and dates.

Finish by drizzling remaining dressing.

One thing I love about this salad, is it can be prepped ahead of time and assembled next day. Once mixed, it also holds up super well in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.

Makes 6 servings.

Mona Elkadri is not just a food writer, but also a skilled recipe developer, former restaurateur, and culinary teacher. She possesses a keen appreciation for that elusive secret ingredient that invariably elevates each dish to perfection.

Furnaces

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Ductless

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Humidifi

NEIL SUMMERFIELD WHAT’S PAST IS PROLOGUE

A fourth-generation builder with Scottish roots, brings 50 years of construction experience back to the city where it all began for him.

By Matthew St. Amand Photos by Syx Langemann

The empty shell of the forty-eighth-floor penthouse comprised the entire top level of the condominium in downtown Vancouver. It was 11,000 square feet of bare concrete, never built-out, one of the largest blank architectural canvasses in the city. It was also the only penthouse at the time to offer a breathtaking view of the city on all four sides. With a substantial renovation budget, the owners of this colossal space had only one chance to see it reach its full aesthetic and market potential. They needed the best construction manager available to complete the job. The person they chose was Neil Summerfield. After a dozen years away, Neil has returned to Windsor, bringing five decades of peerless home-building and large-project construction experience, back to the city of his birth.

Vancouver is a long way from Scotland, where Neil’s great grandfather, Henry Somerville (whose surname changed to Summerfield when he and his family moved to Lincolnshire, England) lived in the early 1800s. What would Henry make of the projects his great grandson has managed? There is a chance that he would not be surprised. After all, building has always been in the Summerfield blood.

“I’m the fourth generation of Summerfield construction builders in Canada,” Neil explains. “My ancestors in Scotland and England were stone masons and farmers. In 1873, the Dominion of Canada offered parcels of land to immigrants. My great grandfather came with his young wife, and their first born, my grandfather, Amos Summerfield. They came as farmers to Chatham, and soon began lumbering and milling, and then building barns and structures. My great grandfather eventually joined the military and was part of the Army Corps of Engineers in Chatham.”

Neil’s father, Frank, was born in 1908. “My dad was fifty years old when I was born,” Neil says.

Frank was raised in the family construction business and became an avid carpenter. In the years before World War II, Frank had moved into the Windsor area where he worked as a heavy equipment operator and home builder.

“I accompanied him to job sites,” Neil remembers. “I was his runner for tools, back and forth to the car. I was raised with him, surrounded by the experience of building things.”

Neil continues: “I was fortunate—we lived in a very old single-story house on Bruce Avenue. As a small child I went through the house with my dad’s tools, fixing things. Nothing in the house was square, nothing was level. My dad was busy working, and I would sneak his tools—hand-sharpened tools: hand planes, chisels—and use them to do little repairs. We didn’t have any power tools.”

As Neil grew more familiar and confident with tools, he developed into a creative, artistic, athletic youth.

“I grew up with a tremendous love of school and sports,” he says. “I excelled in all my sports, but I really had a drive for judo. By the time I was fourteen years old, I was teaching judo to adults, in Windsor and even to police officers in Detroit. I trained with the Canadian national judo team with an eye toward the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal but didn’t get my chance.”

By 1978, Neil had married and was completing his studies. The passion he felt toward sports was matched by his drive in the classroom, with a particular focus on architecture and engineering.

“I received my master’s degree in architectural engineering in the States,” Neil says.

Following graduation, Neil established a design studio in Windsor. Among his earliest projects was building the first homes in Russell Woods.

“I was fortunate enough to design and build some of the largest homes in the Windsor area,” Neil says. “These were personal homes—designed with the input from the homeowner. One of the first people who came to me was Mike Veltri from Veltri Stamping. He had purchased a lot on Victoria Avenue in South Windsor and engaged Summerfield Construction to design and build the house. Mike lived in it for years and then sold it to Barry

Zekelman—the first home he owned after he got married.”

Although he enjoyed great success in home-building, Neil wanted more exposure in the commercial and industrial sectors. He worked for a local contractor designing industrial buildings, high schools, and commercial buildings.

“That took me to a higher level,” Neil says.

In 2004, a Toronto based firm hired him to work on renovations at Casino Windsor.

“I wanted experience building a hotel tower at the Casino,” Neil says. “In 2007, after the successful completion of the project, I was laid off.”

Undaunted, Neil ventured to Toronto and within a week, he found a job in the high-rise industry in Toronto.

“I commuted back and forth between Essex and Toronto for twelve years,” Neil says. “In between out-of-town projects, I worked for families that needed a private construction manager. Opportunities grew and I worked on significant buildings in London, Kitchener, Waterloo, Toronto, and Barrie. Then a very large developer found me in Toronto and brought me onto a two-tower project going up by the water.”

As that project wound toward completion a wealthy Vancouver developer hired Neil to be Director of Construction. By this time, Neil’s five children were grown and educated, so he and his wife decided he should take the job and make the move.

“We moved there to see what the west coast had to offer.” As it turned out, it had quite a lot to offer.

Among the projects Neil oversaw for this developer was the 11,000 square foot, forty-eighth floor penthouse with the four-sided view of Vancouver.

“That project occurred in 2019 and took ten months to complete,” Neil says. “When the penthouse was fully built-out it was listed on the market for $38 million. It was furnished and ready for occupancy. The first residents of the penthouse were actor Ryan Reynolds and his family while he was in Vancouver making a movie. This is the type of clientele I was exposed to out west, and the significant types of projects I was a part of.”

Another unique, high profile project Neil managed for this developer was the renovation of one of Vancouver’s most historic landmarks: the Lord Stanley penthouse at the hundred-year-old, twelve-story Rosewood Hotel Georgia. Following its grand debut in 1927, the hotel hosted royalty and legends of

Hollywood, including John and Ethel Barrymore, Marlene Dietrich—and her forty suitcases—Errol Flynn, Sir Laurence Olivier, John Wayne, and Gary Cooper. Among the hotel’s earliest guests was HRH Edward, Prince of Wales, and his brother George, the Duke of Kent who stayed in 1927 while in Vancouver for the Seaforth Highlander’s Ball, which was celebrated at the hotel.

I was fortunate—we lived in a very old single-story house on Bruce Avenue. As a small child I went through the house with my dad’s tools, fixing things. Nothing in the house was square, nothing was level. My dad was busy working, and I would sneak his tools—hand-sharpened tools: hand planes, chisels— and use them to do little repairs. We didn’t have any power tools.

“The core of the renovation I oversaw was the Lord Stanley penthouse,” Neil explains. “It is 1,200 square feet and the owners put $1.2 million into the project.”

Neil and his wife lived in Vancouver for seven years.

“The west coast market is very wealthy,” he says. “I developed for them in a range of cities: Vancouver, Calgary, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood. Some of those homes were in the richest real estate neighbourhoods in North America.”

Now, Neil brings his decades of experience and knowledge back to Windsor. Working with his son, Jake Summerfield, Neil has his eye on multiple sectors where he knows he can make a difference:

“I’m interested in building new homes and doing renovations in Windsor,” he says. “I am also meeting with developers in Windsor to design and build six- and ten-story new rental buildings throughout the area. Summerfield Construction brings a construction management practice that can save developers substantial dollars. I have all the sources and experience to put the building up for them in a timely, cost-efficient manner. There are three developers, right now, with whom I have connected. We can also build much higher than six-level structures, which dominate this area. I’ve built up to thirty-five stories and would like to do that in Windsor-Essex.”

Another area in which Neil has great experience is retirement campuses.

“In the year 2030, Canada will have more citizens sixty-five years old than at any other time in history,” he explains. “We have engaged with some Toronto developers interested in buying/investing in the Windsor and Kent area. There is no question that we need retirement campuses to facilitate the needs of people retiring over age fifty-five. State-of-the-art retirement living. All maintenance taken care of for them, but without spending seven or eight hundred thousand dollars. They’ll even have auto bays so car enthusiasts can store and work on their cars. There will be golf and pickle ball clubs. It’s affordable in comparison to what other retirement campuses offer.”

Neil says this area is in dire need of more hotels. Existing hotels are filled with people newly arrived in Canada, sponsored by the government. WindsorEssex needs hotels for the visiting sports teams: hockey, baseball, basketball. Neil is in talks with hotel operators and major flag operators to build these much-needed hotels.

“It all relates back to my desire to expand my experience,” Neil says. “I had to move to different areas in the country to learn what I needed to know. This sets

me apart from the average guy who stayed here. And I’m bringing this knowledge and experience home.”

For all his travel and vast construction experience, the roots of Neil’s skill and inspiration come back to his family, whether it’s the memory of using his father’s tools, his mother allowing him to perform repairs around their Bruce Avenue home, and the love and support of his wife Catherine. Their children have also built good lives for themselves: daughter Jennifer Merkel is a vice principal in the Toronto education system. Her twin sister, Dr. Jessica Summerfield, is a physician. Scott Summerfield is vice president of a construction company.

Chad Summerfield is a consulting structural engineer in Windsor. And youngest son, Jake, works with Neil at Summerfield Construction.

When Neil reflects upon his life, looking at the people with whom he grew up, he marvels at how well the “downtown kids” did for themselves.

“I went to W.D. Lowe with Mike and Don Brkovich who played basketball at Michigan State with Magic Johnson, and won the 1979–80 NCAA Championship,” Neil says. “There is Vesna Bailey who wrote the award-winning Before You Go… children’s book series. One of the city’s most successful urban planners went to Lowe. My high school friend, Hal Kersey,

lives in Windsor and is working with me on developing my property in Essex for sixteen town homes. The downtown guys… I’m really proud of them.”

Although he has accomplished much during his career, Neil’s eyes are firmly set on the future.

“We’re not done yet,” he says. “I go to my grandson’s house to babysit him, and we sit on the floor and he’s there, hitting nails into a board with his hammer—the sixth generation of Summerfield building in the making. There is so much more to do. I wake up every morning with excitement in my blood.”

To learn more about Summerfield Construction, visit summerfieldbuild.com.

RAISING THE (SAND) BAR

Keith Golla builds on legacy of iconic Puce restaurant.

By Jen Brignall-Strong Photos by Trevor Booth

There’s a (not so) new captain at the helm of one of Belle River’s most beloved establishments, and he’s eager to take things to the next level.

With over 25 years in the service industry, Keith Golla has learned every position in a restaurant; from dishwasher to general manager. Now he can add “owner/operator” to his repertoire, recently assuming ownership of The Sandbar Waterfront Grill, the hub for summertime revelry among boaters and locals at the Puce River Marina.

While the move may have seemed like a logical next step for many of Golla’s friends and restaurant regulars, the long-time general manager says he didn’t always see himself in the position.

“Honestly, I never had it in the back of my mind that I actually had an opportunity to run this restaurant as an owner,” reflects Golla. “I was just happy to be supporting my family at the General Manager level.”

Golla started his tenure at The Sandbar 19 years ago as a cook, eventually earning an opportunity to run the kitchen. From there, he shares, he moved into the General Manager position under the guidance of then-owner Rob Troup.

“I approached Rob and asked him if there was a salary position available or anything more I could do and he came back to me with the manager position,” recalls Golla. “After that, I got married, bought a house seven minutes away, and had two kids here in Belle River. The rest is history.”

Golla spent the next 13 years moving between front of house and kitchen duties; revamping the menu, managing day-to-day operations, and stepping into roles as required. He remained General Manager as the restaurant was leased by the John Max group over the past five years, he shares, acknowledging that staying at the same establishment for an extended period of time is virtually unheard of in the industry.

“Working anywhere for this long is huge. But the thing is with The Sandbar, it's different. It's more of a family,” he says. “We're all here to help each other and to achieve our goals. This can be a career if you work hard and focus. The John Max team in particular really groomed me to be in the position I am to be able to own the restaurant now.”

As he reflects on time at the waterfront mainstay, Golla says he wouldn’t be where he is today without the ongoing support from his team and the previous management’s belief in his abilities.

“I was just trying to work hard and support a family. And I guess that a lot of people noticed throughout the years,”

he says. “It's really humbling to have the support of Rob (Troup) as well, the landlord that actually built this restaurant; knowing he has the faith in me that I can bring this place to the next level.”

Levelling up means getting back to basics, says Golla, sharing that he’s working closely with Sandbar executive chef Carlo Catauro on a revitalized menu, with a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

“We share the same vision and we've already made a lot of improvements to the quality of what we have right now and really putting a fresh, homemade touch on every single thing,” he explains. “We’re no longer bringing in any frozen product, so most of the menu has been tweaked to be made with completely fresh ingredients.”

The team is excited to be bringing back their freshly made, hand-packed burgers, he says, and will even be making the buns in house daily.

While some might see the undertaking as arduous, Golla says his team is committed to giving guests the best experience possible.

“All these things, people notice,” says Golla. “We’ve said, if we can’t do it right, we don’t do it at all. We don’t compromise with buying something frozen; we take it off the menu if we can’t make it work. I think that’s what’s really going to continue to set us apart from any restaurant in the area or on the water.”

Golla hints at more exciting changes with the return of patio season, including live music on the long-weekends and even more unique menu additions.

“We’ve been talking about a really exciting menu for the summer,” he says. “With the food and the music and the vibe…it's just going to be the place to be in downtown Puce, really.”

The excitement in Golla’s voice is palpable as he lays out his vision for The Sandbar’s future. Since announcing his ownership in late January, he says he’s been blown away by the outpouring of support from not just friends and family, but from the Belle River community as a whole.

“As soon as I put a message out on Facebook about me taking over as owner/ operator, I got so much outpouring of support through the community and social media,” he says. “I was overwhelmed and humbled. I didn't think that my work was noticed.”

The support from his long-time staff has truly meant everything to him, he adds.

“They’re behind me 100%,” he beams. “Five years ago, I don’t know if I would’ve been ready for this position, but I’m ready now. I've worked in the restaurant industry for almost 30 years and I've created a name for myself. Now it's time for me to make my mark on the community and see where we can take The Sandbar into the future.”

SPINNING STORIES

Syx Langemann’s new documentary goes down the rabbit hole of record collecting in Essex County.

By Matthew St. Amand Photos by Trevor Booth

Obsessions burst upon us with little-to-no-warning, like a lightning strike from a clear blue sky. They settle upon us suddenly, sometimes steering people into realms of delight and discovery, and steering others off the edge of a cliff. Windsor photographer and budding vinylmaniac, Syx Langemann’s documentary, Spinning Stories, goes inside the world of record collecting—the kind of obsession that leads toward the light.

Minutes into “Side 1” of the eight-part documentary, AM800’s Dan MacDonald describes the moment this obsession took hold of him: “The first grown-up record that I had as a kid was… a Solid Gold CKLW Big Eight Record, and the first track I heard… was Bob Seger’s ‘Heavy Music’ and something in my head... just went ‘Bing!’—On—and like it recalibrated my brain and sent me on this musical direction I’ve been on since then.”

Speaking about his motivation and inspiration for making the documentary, Syx explains: “My obsession is with talking to people about record collecting and finding out: ‘What is the punctum?’”

The word “punctum” was coined by Roland Barthes in his book Camera Lucida. It refers to the element in a photograph that personally affects the viewer, often an unintended detail that resonates with emotional intensity.

“I want to find out: ‘What do people get out of it?’” Syx continues. “What drives this activity/obsession? What makes somebody click into that mode where they

don’t care what other people think of what they’re doing?”

Once the human element enters the conversation, the reasons behind record collecting splinter in all directions. Some vinylmaniacs collect because they love the music. Others collect because they’re “completists”—having to own every recording by beloved musicians and bands. And others beyond this collect albums

because of their rarity, with little regard for the music itself.

Most record collectors’ odysseys are ruddered by a search for their “grail.”

In this world, a “grail” is a highly soughtafter or rare record that is considered the ultimate find for a collector. Grails are as individual as the collectors themselves. The only value most grails have is to the collector who seeks it. Often, personal history and emotion are deeply intertwined with it. Sometimes a grail is just a great album.

Syx reveals his grail within the first ten seconds of Spinning Stories: The Elephant Riders’ album Clutch. This album is one of the main reasons he became a record collector.

“I grew up in Southwestern Ontario,” Syx narrates in the documentary’s introduction, “a very unique part of Canada surrounded on three sides by the United States—an area where physical boundaries don’t stop television or radio signals, but they do stop your ability to stream some music. And this album [Clutch by The Elephant Riders] is one of them.”

In 1999, Syx moved out west. When he returned to Windsor in 2014, he “lightened the load” by getting rid of his CDs. He burned them onto his computer using iTunes to import them. It was only after Syx parted with the CDs that he discovered that Clutch by the Elephant Riders is still not licensed in Canada. iTunes didn’t recognize it and did not import the album to his computer.

Along his search for Clutch, Syx immersed himself in vinyl culture in Windsor-Essex. After securing funding from Bell Media—which specified that his documentary take the form of eight 10-minute episodes for Bell Fibe TV1— Syx embarked on a journey that took him into the homes and hearts of Essex County record collectors, who shared their personal stories:

Seated in a wood-paneled basement where every inch of the walls is adorned with images and posters of Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, and countless other artists, vinyl collector Sheila Roberts states: “This basement is where I learned music from my older brother who loved Zeppelin, Jethro Tull—”

“Stones,” chimes in musician Eamon McGrath seated next to her.

“And he was eight years older than I was,” Sheila continues, “and I got to just sit down here and listen to him play albums. That’s where it all started.”

Founder of The Drive Magazine, and avid record collector, Dave Hunter appears and shares his memory: “As a kid, my dad had a very big collection of albums, and I remember vividly… the album cover of Kansas or the album cover of The Beatles, or the album cover of Tattoo You by the Stones. And that’s what started my collection… not because I loved the music, but because it brought back memories of things in my childhood and songs and being in a certain place at a certain time. And it’s not because I think that the albums are worth gazillions of dollars. They mean everything to me.”

this strict disciplinarian… kind of a Nurse Ratched kind of vibe and all of a sudden, she’s giving me records and I’m like: ‘You’ve got Floyd in here! Jethro Tull!’ And my brain exploded!”

Physical space is a complicated reality among the collectors. One collector explains that he owns one thousand albums. If he brings home a new album, he must get rid of something to make room for it. The emotional space these records take up in the lives of collectors is nearly total.

I want to find out: ‘What do people get out of it?’ What drives this activity/ obsession? What makes somebody click into that mode where they don’t care what other people think of what they’re doing?

That emotional memory connected to albums recurs throughout the documentary.

The record collectors talk about the first albums they bought, recalling the time and circumstances. Syx speaks to artists about the first vinyl release of their own music. He even speaks to Robyn Raymond of Red Spade Records about “cutting records”— physically etching the vinyl—and she reminisces about the first records she cut.

Singer/songwriter Brendan Scott Friel explains that his record collection began when the vice principal at his school was getting rid of her records. “For some reason she chose me to give the records to. And I remember having this weird one-eighty experience where I was like: ‘Wait!’ She was

The emotional poignancy reaches its zenith when Dave Hunter, who passed away in June 2023, describes his weekly Facebook posts “Sam’s Over Easy” where he photographed his son, Sam, holding up a different record every Sunday morning. The posts garnered hundreds of views and comments each week and the tradition is carried on by Dave’s wife, Shawna. Dave jokes in the documentary that he has enough albums to do “Sam’s Over Easy” until Sam is thirty-two years old.

The intangible uniqueness and draw of vinyl takes on an added dimension when, in “Side 4” of the documentary, musician Tim Swaddling advises artists: “Don’t mix your record to sound how you want it to sound on vinyl. Pressing to vinyl does something to the sounds, warms it up. Leave room for that.”

Syx makes the rounds, interviewing record store owners at Dr. Disc, downtown Windsor, Vintage & Vinyl, Front Road, LaSalle (reputedly haunted), Dead Parrot Records, Ottawa Street, Sunrise Records, Devonshire Mall, Galaxy Records, Windsor, TNT A Blast From the Past, Essex, and Vintage & Vinyl, Amherstburg. Each came to their profession through a deep and abiding love for music and collecting.

Liam O’Donnell, owner of Dr. Disc, says: “… I put my whole collection in here and kind of purged that out. I was bringing in my own stuff to strangers and I wanted to give a little speech on each one of these things I’m selling, but you don’t do that. You just let it go.”

Spinning Stories discusses an interesting, eclectic selection of music,

ranging from solidly mainstream, to indie, to the unabashedly “out there.” Viewers will undoubtedly be on their phones or PCs, as they watch, searching for songs and bands mentioned by the collectors. Olivia Holt bought N’écoutez pas (Do Not Listen in English) by Québécois band Fly Pan Am based on its cover art. The music on the album left Olivia wondering: “I don’t know what we’re listening to. I don’t know what this is, but it’s noisy and sort of ambient and bizarre and wonderful, and now I just can’t stop.” To be sure, the album is a fascinating, challenging aural odyssey.

Syx even addresses how collectors clean and organize their albums. Many, of course, arrange their albums in alphabetical order. Some organize by era or genre. One collector organizes her 45-rpm collection by colour. As for cleaning and caring for records, some collectors use antistatic carbon fiber bristle brushes. Vinyl collector and noted Frank Zappa aficionado, Todd Ternovan, cleans his records using a Spin-Clean® record washer. Among the collectors, the care and maintenance of their albums is part of the experience.

Bell Media funded the creation of Spinning Stories, but Syx owns it. Which means after a short period of exclusivity, Syx is free to recut the documentary any way he likes. The plan is to release ten-minute swaths on TikTok, making use of all the footage he could not fit into the eight 10-minute episodes that Bell will air.

Like music, itself, the reasons, and motivations behind record collecting are as mysterious as the human psyche. Syx is expert at drawing memories and experiences from his fellow vinylmaniacs, but there are no definitive answers. There are only stories—and that is enough.

Spinning Stories will air via Bell’s DirectTV service in two million homes east of Winnipeg. Delve deeper into the series by visiting its Instagram instagram.com/ spinningstoriesdoc. Stay current on where and when to view the documentary by checking out facebook.com/SpinningStoriesDoc To learn more about the art, experience, and obsession of record collecting, visit your local record shop

THEN & NOW WITH FRANK CREMASCO

Looking back on his iconic cover and reflecting on meeting Dave Hunter.

By Devan Mighton Original cover photo by Steve Pomerleau

Frank Cremasco's foray into the world of The DRIVE was a face-to-face introduction with the bigger-than-life personality of Dave Hunter. In fact, to this day, Cremasco doesn't even know how he ended up getting selected to be featured on the front cover of the March 2008 edition of Hunter’s magazine.

"I don't know!" he exclaimed. "To tell you the truth, I don't know. He came one day, and, after that, we were friends. He came here and he beat me up a little bit to start advertising! I was small at the time, but finally, we hit it off and I started advertising with him—and I've been advertising ever since."

Cremasco says that back in 2008, when Hunter approached him about being on the cover of The DRIVE, Frank Cremasco Fine Cabinetry was a much smaller company, featuring three to five employees at any given time and a workshop of only 4,000 sq. ft.

The iconic cover, featuring Cremasco, in a kitchen, covered in sawdust, standing

behind a large pile of shavings and a bottle of wood glue, was expertly taken by local photographer Steve Pomerleau.

"That was a kitchen we were working on at the time," explains Cremasco. "Dave was like, 'Why don't we incorporate these cabinets?' So, we stacked the cabinets and I think he actually helped one of my guys do it. He was stacking the cabinets, and he was like, 'I want it to look like cabinetry is what you do every day—with all the dust and that stuff!' It was pretty cool, what he did; we did it here in the showroom—and these were all Dave's creative ideas."

This year, Frank Cremasco Fine Cabinetry is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The company was originally founded by Frank’s father, Bruno in 1969—55 years ago. However, Frank reformed and renamed the family business in 1999 after his father’s retirement. The company has come a long way since the cover story in 2008. Frank currently has a staff of 23 employees and has maxed out their current 21,000 sq. ft. workspace.

"We do pretty much everything in a house—and it's not just houses," he explains. "We do houses, institutions, commercial offices, stores, and restaurants. We do everything. If it needs to be made out of wood, we can make it—we are a fully custom shop."

Cremasco recalls that being on The DRIVE Magazine's cover was a positive experience and great exposure for his company.

"I'm not one for the spotlight or anything—but it was good," says Cremasco. "It's nice to be a part of The DRIVE family with all of the people that have been on the cover before."

"When I do our advertising, I don't usually put myself in there, just kitchens that we've done," he explains. "The cover was good for name recognition. It was nice to be recognized, because I don't really advertise who I am behind the company. It was good exposure for sure."

Photo by Maximus Reid

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HELPING THAT BEAT GO ON

By Devan Mighton

Photos by John-Paul Bonadonna

It's Christmas morning and little Sammy Hunter is on a mission. Christmas morning means Christmas presents and he's storming down the stairs to see what Santa brought him.

It's been a hard year for Sammy and his family. Sammy's doting father, Dave Hunter, the patriarch of The Drive Magazine, passed away in late June, leaving a hole in their lives, in the lives of those who knew him, and in that of the local community.

However, Christmas is a time of healing, caring, loving, and memories—to be remembered and to be had.

Sammy's love of music was instilled in him by his father from a very young age— especially his love of drumming—and his mother, Shawna Pelletier, had been in search of the perfect Christmas gift—an electronic drum kit. After an internet post, local drummer and drum restorer John Burrows, father of The Tea Party's Jeff Burrows, made it his mission to find a set for Sammy.

John Burrows and Leave Those Kids Alone drummer Addisyn Bonadonna give new life to old drums.

"Sam was so excited," recalls Shawna, of her son who turns seven at the end of March. "On Christmas morning, he woke up, walked downstairs, and immediately saw the set. I taped his reaction—it's a thing Dave used to do with him every year, taping him go down the stairs and his reaction as soon as he saw the presents.

"His face lit up with excitement and he said, 'Oh! Look Mom!' He ran over to it, sat down on the stool, and played for hours after, totally ignoring the other presents!"

The legacy of John Jeffs.

In August 2021, 11-year-old drummer Addisyn Bonadonna was just beginning to cut her teeth as a drummer. As the percussionist of local sensations Leave Those Kids Alone, she was making a name for herself as the youngest member of the touring youth rock group.

Having spent much of that summer touring from laneway to backyard to local park, Leave Those Kids Alone became an entertainment staple in Windsor-Essex County, alleviating pandemic boredom with setlists of oldies rock covers from bands like Pink Floyd, U2, Kiss, and Styx, among many more.

Familiar with Addi from some drum kit repairs he had performed earlier that year, John Burrows reached out to her father, John-Paul Bonadonna, with an offer. A good friend of his, John Jeffs, had recently passed away from cancer and had left Burrows with a mission—to restore and re-home his classic Slingerlands drum set with a worthy recipient. Burrows saw Addi as an ideal candidate and offered the set to her father as a surprise. John-Paul set a date with Burrows and soon drove his daughter to his place under false pretenses.

"My dad told me we were going so he could fix a part of my old drum kit," explains Addi, now 13. "When I walked in, he showed me the drum set, but didn't show me the front because it already had the Leave Those Kids Alone cover on it. He told me to go on the drum kit and try it out and asked me how I like them, and I loved them, so he told me that 'these are now yours.'"

"John's generosity knows no bounds," praises John-Paul. "We brought bags for Addi's drums because part of the ruse was that I had to fool her into thinking we were just bringing her old drums to get them tuned up."

And then it was her turn...

In late 2023, the opportunity arose for Addi to pay forward Jeffs' and Burrows' generosity. Burrows had recently posted on a local percussionist Facebook group that a local mom was looking for a used electric drum set for her son. John-Paul happened upon the post and had an inkling that it had something to do with Sammy.

"As a dad that is so involved in his kids' lives, when I heard of Dave's passing, knowing how involved he was in Sammy's life, I was devastated—as our entire community was," states John-Paul. He says that Dave was a great supporter of Leave Those

Kids Alone and that he had once reached out to Dave about featuring the band's 2022 album, Groundwork, in his serialized Sunday morning Facebook post, Sammy's Sunday Morning Over Easy, where Sammy poses with a vinyl selection from his father’s record collection.

John-Paul sprung into action. Knowing that Addi had an old set of Roland E-Drums she used to use, he texted her at school and asked if she would like to hand it off to Burrows for Sammy. She knew it was the only thing to do.

"The circle of giving is going to continue—and I love that we were able to be a part of it," beams John-Paul.

Photo by Syx Langemann

Left to right: Louis Diab, Addisyn Bonadonna, Alex Bonadonna, Luca Angelini

Inspiring the future.

"It's about drums and people getting connected," explains Burrows about his motives. "My youngest son and I taught 20-25 students from Gr. 6-8 in a South Windsor school a few years ago how to play drums and, ultimately, how to be a part of a drum line. They started from scratch, and when they were about to finish elementary school, they played the S'Aints Christmas Show—they were that good.

"You always hope each of them might teach someone in the future."

Burrows was happy to help Shawna with her search for drums and making Sammy's life even brighter and full of love. Through John Jeffs' drum set, Burrows helped inspire the generosity of Addi and, in turn, helped give Sammy a Merry Christmas.

"It was a good thing to do, and it was great to give back after what John Burrows did for me," says Addi.

"It was her desire to do this because it had happened that way for Addi," continues Burrows. "Once again, it's just such an honour to have a very small role in getting drums and people together. I think Addi got to feel the excitement of helping make someone's dream come true. I understand this young fella was delighted to receive such an awesome gift that allows him to continue to stay connected with drumming."

A busy summer coming for Leave Those Kids Alone.

For Addi, the season of giving was a break from a busy summer of touring. Her and her bandmates have been rehearsing, planning their summer touring schedule, and reshuffling the inner workings of their band.

Leave Those Kids Alone, founded in 2018, consists of Addi on drums, her brother Alex (17) on guitar, Louis Diab (17) on keyboards, and Luca Angelini (18) on bass guitar. Although the band shares vocal duties, Alex and Luca sing most of the band's material.

This group of teenagers have come a long way in a short time. Not long ago—in fact, just under three years ago—they played their first driveway show on the laneway of a friend of the band, Gregg Schooley, in Tecumseh. John-Paul, who serves as the band's manager, recalls that event made him a little nervous—especially considering the constant tightening and loosening of COVID-19 crowd restrictions.

That first show started a tradition for the band—a grassroots movement as it were—of taking requests to play front yards, backyards, laneways, and parks—and entertaining locals with their musicianship and a setlist of classic rock covers that keep onlookers singing and dancing along.

"At least we had something to do, something to look forward to, and something to not remind us of the fact that we were set to play everywhere across Michigan that particular summer," recalls John-Paul. "They were so young at first that it would have been crazy. In some respects, when we finally got to do it two years later, we went, 'Geez, were we quite ready for the rigours of what it's like to drive two hours for a gig and play a show?'"

20, with a subsequent launch to all music streaming platforms.

Leave Those Kids Alone has also been utilizing their rehearsal time to connect with fans around the world by broadcasting multi-cam virtual shows straight from their rehearsal space and into living rooms around the globe.

"With the new foursome, we were less frightened to go live right from rehearsal," says John-Paul. "When you have 180,000 followers around the world, and maybe 15-20,000 of those are from Windsor-Essex and have the opportunity to see us on a regular basis—that leaves a huge number that don't, unless we go live."

The band looks forward to a very busy Summer 2024 tour, with planned shows across Ontario, Ohio, Michigan, and New York.

As a dad that is so involved in his kids' lives, when I heard of Dave's passing, knowing how involved he was in Sammy's life, I was devastated—as our entire community was.

This past fall was a season of change. In October, the band parted ways with longtime lead singer Timothy Hole. The band mulled over searching for a new singer but were shocked when one band member showed off his hidden talent.

"Luca comes to the party with this voice, just out of nowhere!" exclaims John-Paul. "He sang harmonies for us, sure, and we definitely knew he was working towards being able to sing some lead, but it ended up being so evident... it's such a tight-knit group and we already have exactly what we need right here."

The band is excited that with no new lead singer to train up, instead of catching up on old material, the band can now focus on new stuff instead. In early February, their new single, Everything and More, was mixed and mastered for a late February release. The band performed the song live for Cogeco TV's Meet the Music, which aired on Feb.

"We love it!" states John-Paul. "Most nights, we're able to sleep in our own beds because they're only an hour or two away in Michigan or Ohio. Sometimes they are these driving shows and they're just from our 180,000-plus followers on Facebook who found us, and they want us to come and perform where we can."

"Every week, there seems to be a few more calls, and three or four times per week we will be performing."

Coming full circle.

John-Paul and Addi are eternally grateful to the kindness and generosity of John Burrows. His love of drumming and sharing that love with others is second-to-none and undoubtedly influenced the Bonadonnas in their decision to share that love, through him, to Sammy Hunter.

No matter where Leave Those Kids Alone tours and performs, Burrows has left an indelible mark on a young lady who not only has an undeniable talent at percussion but has also learned a lesson in kindness and the importance of paying it forward.

"He is and will always be her drum tech," states John-Paul on behalf of Addi. "Even though I might occasionally tune them up myself, no, I'm the assistant drum tech. He has come out to shows, sometimes two days in a row. Once, we played in LaSalle and he was there the next day—he wanted to come by the next morning to make sure that the tuning stayed. Down to Amherstburg, he drove. He is just incredible, and we are so fortunate to call him a friend."

Welcoming

DS ELECTRIC IS BUILDING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

Owner Mike Dupuis is focussed on community, family, and the future.

By Devan Mighton

Photo by Anthony Sheardown

For DS Electric owner and master electrician Mike Dupuis, running an electrical trades business is all about family. His commitment to getting the job done right is matched by his sense of civic pride, community engagement, and giving equal opportunity to those who work with him.

Founded in 2013, DS Electric was a passion project for Dupuis, fueled by his desire to give homeowners their ideal living space and to make a better life for himself, his children, and others who just want to get ahead.

"My main concerns are taking care of the people that work with me and building something for my family in terms of our core values," explains Dupuis. "I am the first of my family tree to create the base of our lifestyle. I want to build something that is generational—for my daughter, for my nephews, and the students that work for us. We are a family-based company—we are all about each other and do a lot more than most others."

DS Electric deals mostly with homeowners and contractors and provides residential, commercial, and industrial electrical services to meet their needs. "Our major highlights, besides our workmanship, is our quality of service as well as our overall experience," says Dupuis. "We have a high,

respectful rating online that we maintain. We really take care of the people that are with us."

He explains that DS Electric is different from most contractors, with a tendency to hire more female and LGBTQ2S+ community members as apprentices and employees than the typical trades company. Dupuis is a big supporter of Women In Skilled Trades (WIST) and finds female employees to pay more attention to detail and better at overall customer service than their male counterparts.

Dupuis takes great pride in employee, Cheryl Durning, with DS Electric for almost ten years, she made national news in 2022 for becoming a red seal electrician in her 60s. Even now, he receives emails from across the country from people stating their appreciation for the inspiration Durning provides to women interested in the skilled trades.

DS Electric cares about its employees, offering them benefits packages, work vehicles, tool incentives, safety training certifications, and work travel expenses. Also, Dupuis maintains strong bonds with the community with his support of WIST, St. Clair College programs, the Windsor Express basketball team, Scarehouse, building and renovating houses, volunteering with the Rotary Club, networki ng

events, helping with the charitable events of three local churches, and giving back to the community.

"We aren't the cheapest, but we are very effective," states Dupuis. "We do a great job, we get the job done, and we own what we say we do. If there's an issue, we will come and repair it if it's ours." He adds that his customers get to see where their money is spent through company growth, the welfare of his employees, giveaways, and through DS Electric's charitable work.

Dupuis, who is interested in possibly expanding to Detroit and Nova Scotia, says that DS Electric is working to build their own training facility to hopefully aid in skill development for newcomers through St. Clair College and WIST.

"We give back to the community and that's something people still like to see," says Dupuis. "Yes, we cost a little more money, but it's doing more for the economy overall. It allows us to expand and take care of the people on our crew, as well as the community and everyone else. If that is something people are okay with—alright, great—but if they are only looking for the cheapest price, that's just not us."

For more information on DS Electric's services, give them a call at 519-999-6453 or visit them at DSElectricWindsor.com.

SETTING AND MAINTAINING HEALTHY PERSONAL BOUNDARIES PART

II

Critical signs of the need to set healthy boundaries.

Last month’s issue introduced the following concept: Setting Healthy Boundaries- Learning to Find Freedom in Saying “No.” In summary, to comply with the requests of others when we want to say “No” is a learned, debilitating behaviour that can leave us feeling depleted, overwhelmed, and resentful. Many readers welcomed more information on this subject. Because this topic is so vast, this month’s article will focus on the critical signs of not having healthy boundaries. Hopefully, after reading The Unhealthy Boundaries Checklist, readers will discover their own unique path to implementing new and simple practices that will lead to more fulfilling relationships. (Last month’s article can be found at: thedrivemagazine.com/posts/setting-healthyboundaries)

How do we know if healthy boundaries have not been set and maintained? It begins with a lingering feeling of discontent. The challenge for individuals is to discover the reason for this malaise. The following Critical Signs Checklist may shed some light on this query, indicating where we may not be living in integrity with our authentic selves. The goal of the list is to promote awareness of specific situations where we frequently succumb to the demands of others rather than our own needs. By courageously setting just one healthy boundary today, one can begin the journey back to self love and appreciation, thus building a new confidence that can change the entire trajectory of one’s life. This path to self-fulfillment will be unique for every individual as no two personalities are alike.

Maintaining a distinct and authentic sense of self in both personal and professional relationships is challenging but achievable. The challenge lies in convincing oneself that setting personal boundaries is selfless and does not violate the common good. Rather, it perpetuates the concept that honesty with both ourselves and others builds more authentic relationships for

THE CRITICAL SIGNS OF UNHEALTHY BOUNDARIES CHECKLIST

q Saying “Yes” when we want to say, “No.”

q Feeling guilty when we do say “No.”

q Going against one’s own personal values, rights or integrity in order to please others, then complain about it.

q Remaining silent when we have something to say.

q Adopting another person’s beliefs or ideas and sacrificing one’s own in order to be accepted - going along to get along.

q Not calling out someone who has mistreated us - accepting bad behaviour.

q Accepting physical touch or sex when we don’t want it.

q Allowing oneself to be interrupted or distracted.

q Ignoring our own health and well-being to satisfy another.

q Accommodating someone else to satisfy their immediate needs regardless of the inconvenience.

q Giving in too much just to be perceived as useful or neededsearching for others approval.

q Not clearly defining and communicating our emotional needs in relationships.

q Justifying our own willingness to settle for less than what we need or desire.

q Feeling depleted or resentful.

q Tolerating disrespectful behaviours of others yet intentionally keeping them in our lives.

q Constantly adjusting one’s life to suit another person’s schedule.

everyone involved. Habitually betraying ourselves to accommodate others out of habit in order to keep the peace or to avoid abandonment has become a common practice and unhealthy expectation in society. By affirming to oneself that it is right and just to set limits with others, we demonstrate that honesty supports and perpetuates the common good. This idea changes the internalized belief that setting boundaries is selfish. By defining for others acceptable ways that they can interact with us, we take positive steps toward authenticity with ourselves and others.

It is important to highlight the misconception that the biggest problem lies with other people violating our boundaries. It is when we violate our own boundaries that we set ourselves and others up for failure in building authentic relationships. Allowing others to disregard our personal limits harms everyone involved. By honouring our own feelings we avoid self-betrayal and self-abandonment. Happy, content individuals promote happy, content communities.

In short: Our boundaries communicate feelings that will always indicate whether or not a personal boundary has been violated. By listening to our emotions we develop a clear sense of our own limits. If we feel hurt by the words spoken by someone else, then they have crossed an emotional boundary and we must address this infringement. Ideally it should be addressed immediately, concisely and always with kindness and respect. For example: ‘Mary, I realize you are determined that we win our tennis doubles match; however,

when you speak to me with that tone, it shuts me down and I can’t concentrate on our game. Can we agree to keep it light and positive so I can play at my best for us?’

Author Teal Swan teaches us that, a healthy exercise is to view boundaries as a line that delineates:

Our Personal Happiness

Our Personal Integrity

Our Personal Desires

Our Personal Needs

Most importantly, our personal truth.

In closing, this month, practice identifying how your interactions with others make you feel.

A negative emotion following an interaction can be an indication of a boundary that has been violated through that discourse. Rather than “letting it go” or ignoring it, address it promptly with both kindness and respect so that your articulated truth transpires as a learning experience for everyone involved, whose goal is to create connection not conflict. Your personal truth can only be shared by you. It is solely your responsibility to set a boundary with others. If you can relate to one or more of the behaviours on the Unhealthy Boundaries Checklist, make a commitment to yourself that you will no longer accept this behavior and begin to speak your truth, not only for your own good, but for the “common good.”

I’m Teri Gyemi, a passionate life coach with a strong love for human behaviour. My own flawed past and my

LOOKS LIKE A NOVA, DRIVES LIKE NOVA. IT'S NOT A NOVA?!

Tony Kiebert gets the surprise of a lifetime with used car score.

By Devan Mighton Photos by Trevor Booth

Since he was a young man, Tony Kiebert has been drawn to the fast cars of the late 1960's and early '70s. He recalls being 15 years old, riding his bike on a sunny day through South Woodslee. Back in the day, there was an apartment building in the middle of the town and as he passed by it, he slammed on his brakes, and gawked at a bright and shiny orange 1968 Pontiac Firebird.

"I put on my brakes, and I stood there for quite a while," recalls Kiebert. "I looked at this car and thought, 'Man, that's a nice car.'"

His interest was piqued. Laying his eyes on that car was a seminal moment in his young life—an epoch of his childhood. It started an obsession that would last the rest of his days.

"I had two older brothers, and they liked their muscle cars," remembers Kiebert. "In fact, one of them had a '66 Chevelle, and had some issues with the front end, so he gave

it to me. Over time, I played around with it and figured out what was wrong with it, and it was an easy fix, so I ended up with a free car, which was a 327 four-speed."

At 66 years old, Kiebert, a resident of Ruscom, has never stopped loving the need for speed.

"As I was growing up, I started purchasing either Camaros, Novas, or Chevelles," he says. "I'd play with them, build them up a bit, this and that, try to make a few bucks, and try to sell them."

Not long ago, Kiebert was busy putting his time into a 1967 Chevy Nova. Something he really wanted to accomplish with the Nova was to put a big block engine into it. The problem is, that model of Nova isn’t really conducive to the introduction of a big block due to its frame. It's too light, and to add one, a tubular frame is needed.

Kiebert started doing the math, and soon decided it would just be easier to sell the '67 and purchase a 1970 with a big block already in it.

As he perused Kijiji for used cars, he came across a man selling his 1970 Chevy Nova. When he went to check it out, it was painted a shade of grey, only had a few minor dings, and had spent most of its life at the drag strip. The car had a cage in it and had never seen any winters. Heck, it wasn't even rusted.

"I lucked out with it," he recalls. "When I got it, nothing was really advertised on it. I kind of stumbled across it on Kijiji and went and looked at it. I had seen what I liked, looked underneath, and I brought it home."

That was six years ago. As it turned out, there was more to this story than what Kiebert initially thought. He went to work on the vehicle, but right away things weren't adding up.

"I started finding things with the car, like it had a small brake pedal for example, where automatics have a wider brake pedal," he reports. "I was wondering if it could have been a four-speed car once upon a time. Then I started finding some brackets on the frame and was thinking that it was for a clutch linkage."

Kiebert decided it was time to do a little sleuthing. Was it possible that instead of a

straight up Nova, was this maybe a Nova SS?

"Just for the fun of it, there's a place in Mississauga where they'll do a search on your vehicle," he says. "It used to be free many, many years ago, but now it's $125—but it's still well worth it. They gave me a call a week later and said, "Congratulations! You've got yourself a real 1970 Pontiac Acadian SS."

A what?!

So, here's the deal. Chevy Novas and Pontiac Acadians essentially came off the same assembly line. The difference is, Acadians were sold in limited numbers and only in Canada—outside of that, the only major difference is the name on the door panel.

Produced in Willow Run, Michigan, the 1970 run of the Acadian SS was limited to 1,282 cars. Painted "Shadow Gray," this two-door coupe featured an 8-cylinder, 300-horsepower, 350 cubic inch big block, with a four-speed transmission and rear axle positraction. In short— a beaut.

"The big block was already in it, I just disassembled it and modified it quite a bit— roller rockers, roller cam, roller lifters, all that kind of stuff," says Kiebert. "A friend of mine's son works at a body shop, so I had him paint the car and I put all the chrome on it—bumpers, door handles, and stuff."

With that fresh layer of shiny black paint on his Acadian, Kiebert is convinced that this is going to be his last project—at least, he says, that's what his wife has told him.

"My kids are grown up and gone, so it's my turn to have a little fun I guess," he laughs. "One thing led to another. I was going to do a small repair on the motor and $10,000 later— but anyhow."

He says that he has picked up some slicks and steel wheels and has some big plans, maybe taking the Acadian up to the St. Thomas Dragway with his good friend Mike Mulholland and his ‘68 Chevy II/ Nova—and maybe have a little race. At this stage of his life, he just wants to enjoy his car.

"It's gonna be the keeper," states Kiebert. "I'm 66 years old and I'm still working four days a week. All I want to do now is give it a little painting, a little shining, maybe a little tweaking, but that's plenty for me."

COOKIES, CRAFT BEER & COMMUNITY BUILDING

Cookie Bar is back; bigger and batter than ever.

In just a few short years, the popular Windsor bakery/bottle shop has gone from home operation to Downtown Windsor digs to a spacious new storefront in the heart of the city’s fastest growing neighbourhood, Ford City.

Cookie Bar specializes in quarter-pound gourmet cookies with over 60 drool-worthy flavours to date, including unique twists on the classics and one-of-a-kind recipes like the “Can’t Legally Call it Dunkaroo,” The Mostess, and The Stach; classic cookie dough stuffed with dark chocolate, toffee, and topped with pistachios. They regularly rotate 12 original and seasonal options, as well as eight vegan creations.

Their rise to popularity has been nothing short of a sweet success, and owners Brent Phillips and Anna Eschuk are eager to begin the next chapter on Drouillard Road, with hopes of fostering a vibrant community hub where neighbours can come enjoy a cookie, a pint, and a host of unique events and collaborations with local creatives.

The original Cookie Bar concept was born in the early days of the pandemic. After Phillips was laid off from his factory job, he saw an opportunity to pursue a life-long dream.

“I always wanted to start my own business,” says Phillips. “I just never had the time to focus on it.”

As a craft beer enthusiast, Phillips said he loved the idea of combining a bottle shop or brewery feel with baked goods, having visited several establishments across the U.S. that specialized in donut and beer pairings.

“I really liked this one place in Cleveland we would visit and I thought; I gotta bring this concept back to Windsor. I hadn’t seen anything like it here.”

“He is also just obsessed with cookies,” laughs Eschuk. “He still goes out and buys boxes of them.”

With Phillips’ love of cookies and Eschuk’s business acumen, an idea was born. In the spring of 2020, they spent lockdown in the kitchen of their apartment, covered in flour and perfecting recipes that would eventually become some of their best-sellers.

By Jen Brignall-Strong

“We started selling to friends and family and it just took off,” recalls Eschuk. The company officially launched online in April 2020 to overwhelming support.

Starting out as a delivery business, the couple quickly realized they needed a commercial kitchen and retail space. After a few months of renting space at Klueless Cupcakes in Walkerville, they knew it was time for a place of their own. In October 2021, Cookie Bar opened its first storefront on Pelissier Street, right along the path of the Downtown Windsor Farmers’ Market.

While the location served them well for the past few years, the pair said they needed more room to truly bring their vision to life. When the opportunity for the Ford City building came up, they jumped on it.

“From the very beginning, we wanted to be here,” says Phillips, who grew up in the area.

“We actually looked here in the summer of ’21 before we opened up downtown but we couldn’t find any places that were renting,” shares Eschuk. “We had people say, ‘Oh Drouillard isn’t the right place,’ but we were like, ‘No, we’re different. We’ve got grit. We want to be a part of this.’”

Phillips says making the leap to a bigger space was frightening, but after seeing their ability to thrive outside of farmers’ market season, they knew it was time.

The stunning new storefront at the corner of Drouillard and Richmond features a spacious seating area, complete with wraparound bar and sixteen beer taps, as well as a substantially larger kitchen, giving Phillips more room to bake and experiment

and also allowing for others to come in and share the space.

The couple says they’re excited for all the possibilities their new home brings, like “tap takeovers” and craft beer tasting events, pop-up dinners from local chefs, live music, comedy nights, and more.

“People walk in and they’re confused; like, ‘why such a huge space for just cookies?’” laughs Phillips. “But we’re looking at the long term and we want to be so much more than that. Here we have beers on tap, cocktails, slushies, and on top of that we have this huge kitchen space to allow up-and-coming chefs to popup here on weekends.”

He also adds that they’d like to institute an open food policy, allowing patrons to bring in food from some of the neighbourhood’s exceptional dining options.

“Rather than having food here full time, we’d love to let people just bring in something from Lunansky’s (Coney Island) or Sawyer’s (Craft Barbecue),” he says. “They can have their food, enjoy a beverage here, and grab a cookie for dessert.”

“We want to have that laid back brewery vibe and be able to switch things up and keep it fun,” adds Eschuk. “We really just want to be this very casual place where you can always just come in on a Saturday night and hang out.”

As they prepare for the official Cookie Bar grand opening later this spring, the

couple is buzzing with anticipation to see how their vision unfolds.

“We really want to continue to build up this community,” says Phillips. “With so much more space for people to gather and a great little patio for the summertime, we’re excited to see where this goes.”

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Cookie Bar