Windsor Life Magazine Anniversary 2016

Concept toCompletion

Publisher’s Note

When it’s your anniversar y, it feels great to celebrate the milestone with friends Well, it’s the 24th anniversar y of Windsor Life Magazine and we are marking it by connect ing with new friends.

Star ting with this issue, Windsor Life will add over 9,000 ne w addresses to our circulation including nearly 7,000 in Leam ington That increases our total circulation throughout Windsor Esse x County and Chatham Kent County to 100,000 copies!

In this issue, we bring you face to face with LaSalle’s Kylie Masse, who won a bronze medal in the 100 metre backstroke at the Olympics in Rio in August She has just been named the athlete ambassador to the FINA World Swimming Championships being hosted in Windsor this December

The impressive and inspiring accomplish ments of other locals are also featured on our pages, like the smooth music of jazz singer, Alex Pangman, and the rhythm of drummer Sierra Santoro.

Drop into the University of Windsor with us to see cutting edge advances in technology

We learn about Brian Knowler and his revealing book, On the Other Side of Broken One Cop's Battle With the Demons of Post traumatic Stress Disorder

Our writer takes you to the First Annual Suicide Prev ention Awareness Week in Windsor Essex, held in September. The Canadian Mental Health Association, Wind sor Essex County Branch, the Windsor Essex County Health Unit and others brought together several hundred people to discuss promoting positive mental health. The week’s theme is so important: You Are Not Alone.

If you are ready to expand your horizons but can ’ t get away, travel to Borneo vicari ously with Pam and Bill Seney Or head to your kitchen with our Look Who’s Cook ing at Home feature and prepare Houida Kassem’s Middle Eastern meal

Modern art always takes me on a journey and so I’m pleased to introduce you to SB Contemporar y Art, a commercial galler y space in Windsor showcasing contemporar y Canadian artists.

Come with us into a beautiful Tecumseh house, decorated for autumn The home exemplifies the beauty of the season

On that note we wish you all a fabulous Autumn and look for ward to another great year of Windsor Life

Bob Robinson

The Glasshouse Nursery & Garden Centre Your Holiday Headquarters with Christmasland and Betula Boutique

If you didn’t have the chance to visit the Glasshouse Nursery & Garden Centre during the 2015 Christmas season, get ready for a brand new shopping experience that will leave your mind dancing with creativity, inspiration and enthusiasm Many visitors from Toronto, Kitchener, London, Sarnia, Amesburg and Wind sor have commented that every year they make the day trip to Chatham because there is no other place like this in Southern Ontario Even the famous Frankenmuth doesn’t have anything like the Glasshouse!

Gift yourself with plenty of time to enjoy meandering through the 20,000 sq ft showroom Around every corner is a new theme to help inspire each customer in a different way Joyest Noel, Winter ’s Snowy Flight, Nature’s Luster, Berries and Boughs, Mountain Lodge and the good ol’ traditional Fresh Cut Homespun Christmas are just a few of the delightful themes Each is accented with beautiful lamps, wall art, clocks, accent pillows, coat racks, lanterns, glassware, vases and some of the most stunning antique finished hardwood furniture that you have ever seen The Glasshouse’s endless year round selection of unique and on trend home décor is worth the trip in itself.

Ladies, remember to visit Betula Boutique inside the Glasshouse, Chatham’s largest and most diverse fashion boutique! Granddaughters and grandmothers have a blast shopping together in side this fascinating boutique, stocked with a wide and frequently changing selection of stylish fashions and accessories Now in is a stunning collection of ladies tops, bottoms, winter coats, footwear, jewellery, handbags and more by top of the line brands such as Tribal, Vero Moda, Zoe, Neon Buddha, Foxcroft, Taxi Footware, Chillax, Nygard and Sperrys.

Betula Boutique and the Glasshouse have wonderful customer service The friendly and enthusiastic staff love to share their knowledge about what’s on trend for 2016, how to build or add to your current wardrobe or Christmas themes and most of all, how to have fun while doing so.

With this huge selection of unique home décor, great gifts and coveted fashions, the Glasshouse makes Christmas shopping a breeze for the whole family

Like the proverbial cherry on a sundae, the staff ’s commitment to making your discovery experience magical at the Glasshouse’s Christmasland will put that star on top of your Christmas tree!

TWO

UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS AT THE GLASSHOUSE

ARE CERTAIN TO GET YOU INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT.

The first is the big reveal during the magnificent Christmasland preview weekend, Nov 4th, 5th and 6th Take advantage of the 10% discount offered on all Christmas merchandise on all three days

The open house weekend follows, Nov 11th, 12th and 13th Enter your name for the huge annual draw of over 20 door prizes, including a $2 00 shopping spree as thanks for visiting Great door crasher specials include over $100 in savings on the Glasshouse’s artificial Christmas tree of the year.

BUILDING WITH PRESENCE. BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE.

TCI Titan Contracting Incorporated along with our affiliated companies has successfully completed a wide range of projects in the commercial, industrial, residential and health care sectors throughout the province of Ontario. The Titan Group has built a solid reputation for market excellence as well as leadership in the construction industry. TCI is a proud recipient of the Toronto Construction Association "Best of the Best" Project Achievement award! This prestigious award is presented for unique teamwork, dedication, innovation, and professionalism. Today TCI is one of the fastest growing general contractors in Ontario. Titan Contracting is dedicated to building pride in the construction industry.

AWARD WINNING INTERIORS

Toronto Construction Association

Greener Projects Development Niagara Falls, Ontario

Augustus 27, Caesars Windsor Windsor, Ontario

Augustus 27, Caesars Windsor Windsor, Ontario

Augustus 27, Caesars Windsor Windsor, Ontario

The Queen Charlotte Residences Amherstburg, Ontario

Stella Maris Catholic School Amherstburg, Ontario

Actual Projects

"Commercial building becomes a big group effort, where ideas are bounced around in an exciting way so that everyone is gaining knowledge."

Art Ussoletti, President

MAKING A SPLASH

Windsor Hosts FINA World Championships

STORY BY KIM WILLIS / PHOTOGRAPHY BY SOOTERS PHOTOGRAPHY, JOHN LIVIERO

FROM DECEMBER 6TH 11TH, 2016 Windsor will welcome 1,000 of the world’s top swimmers from over 175 countries as they compete at the 13th edition of the FINA Shor t Course World Swimming Championships

This world class event is expected to draw more than 35,000 spectators and bring together the world’s best swimmers to com pete for 46 gold medals over six days in a temporar y world cham pionship pool to be constructed within the WFCU Arena Many of the athletes competing became household names during the Rio Summer Olympics in August. This includes hometown favourite Kylie Masse and Canadian Penny Olksiak, along with many international superstars.

As the first time ever to be hosted in Canada, this international event will showcase Windsor on the global stage Known for our powerful and dynamic manufacturing sector, Windsor is the per fect backdrop for this world class display of performance, strength and dedication

Kylie Masse says competing in her hometown is “going to be unreal ”

“It’s going to be an amazing experience having my friends and family and so many people cheering me on, ” states Masse. “ The atmosphere is going to be amazing.”

Masse, aged 20 from LaSalle, became a hometown hero when she won the bronze medal in the 100 metre backstroke last

summer at the Rio Olympics She also repre sented Canada at the World University Games in 2015 where she won gold in the 100m backstroke. Competing regularly for the University of Toronto, she was named the Varsity Blues’ female rookie of the year in 2014 2015. In Febr uar y 2016 at the OUA Championships Masse broke the short course 50m backstroke Canadian national record with a time of 26 84 In the same month, she also broke the long course 50m backstroke Canadian national record at the CIS Cham pionships with a time of 27 84 Masse was named both OUA and CIS female swimmer of the year in 2016 adding to her 2015 recog nition of female swimmer and rookie of the year by the OUA

While at the Olympics Masse says that she tried to enjoy the moment and not put extra pressure on herself. She also found the sup port from home heartwarming.

“ The amount of support for me was amaz ing. People were contacting me through so cial media I am so grateful for their support ”

For the world’s best swimmers, Windsor is proud to offer nothing less than world class facilities Both the training and competition venues easily rank among the 'best in class' in North America, boasting state of the art de sign, well planned features and first class amenities As inviting as they are innovative, the venues will enable the athletes to fully focus on per forming at their absolute best. From the first practice laps to the Champi onship finals, these facilities will make a last ing impression with par ticipants, spectators and the media.

Masse says that young athletes are fortunate to have these state of the art facilities in their community

Kylie Masse won the bronze medal in the 100m backstroke at the Rio Olympics Masse is the offi cial Ambassador for the FINA World Champi onships Since returning to Windsor, this hometown hero has made several community appearances including talking to students at area schools

“Growing up my parents had to travel with me to different places to practice and compete. These new facilities will give kids oppor tunities to compete and train at home,” says Masse

As the largest sporting competition to be hosted in this region, the impact of the Championships will be felt throughout the city. Ever y hotel room will be occupied, restaurants will be at capacity and business will open their doors for international guests In addition, volunteer and spectators will create memorable experiences for resi dents. The magnitude and excitement will be felt throughout the community!

“ The FINA 25M World Championships will ha ve a huge impact on our community in a variety of different ways. From an eco nomic benefit over 14,000 hotel room nights will be consumed from Windsor to Chatham and including Detroit; from an awareness standpoint visitors/athletes from 175 countries from around the world will be on our doorstep; and from a community engagement standpoint over 500 volunteers will be required to help execute this presti g ious event, ” says Gordon Orr, Chief Exec utive Officer, Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island.

“ This world class swimming event has only been held 13 times before and Wind sor now is in such company as other major destinations including: Moscow, Shanghai, Athens, Manchester, Hong Kong and Dubai.This event elevates our status on the world’s roster of events and shows that Windsor can compete with the best of them when hosting and per forming signature sporting events. ”

Sam Martin, Media & Communications Manager, 13th FINA World Swimming Championships, says that whether you are an avid swimming fan or not, Windsorites need to take advantage of participating in this event.

“ This a once in a lifetime opportunity to attend this calibre of event There will be the excitement around the races, but also swimming will be presented as theatre. It will be like watching an art show.”

Masse agrees that hosting this event is a great oppor tunity for the spor t of swim ming

“Swimming is not super popular among kids Hosting the FINA championships is awesome for the city and will open many people’s eyes They will get to see the ex citement of world class athletes competing in their community ”

The 35,000 tickets available are already

selling ahead of schedule. If you plan to at tend, Martin encourages people to not pro crastinate as the events will sell out.

The Windsor Spitfires will play on the road for over a month while the games are taking place During their absence a tem porar y ten lane competition pool will be built on the arena floor

“1,300 tonnes of water will be used to fill the temporar y pool It will be built over 12 days When the games are finished it will be removed in four days and then five days to restore the ice and refit the boards Quite the transformation will take place in just 30 days,” says Martin.

Volunteers will play a huge role in the success of the games. More than 500 trained and educated volunteers will take on a variety of roles. Life After Fifty will be hosting the volunteer program and the Multicultural Council will provide assis tance to people visiting from other coun tries and ensure that they receive a warm Windsor welcome

One of the legacies of the games will be the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Team (MYLT) With thousands expected to par ticipate in this event, Mayor Drew Dilkens, wanted to find oppor tunities for local youth to learn and grow from one of the most important swim competitions in the world.

“ This first ever initiative has inspired, educated and empowered youth leaders be tween the ages of 15 24 from our commu nity. These youth leaders will participate on behalf of the Mayor and the City of Wind sor in welcoming thousands of visitors from around the world beginning with the FINA World Swimming Championships,” states Martin.

The Mayor’s Youth Leadership Team have been meeting bi w eekly for training sessions in hospitality and tourism, goal set ting, volunteerism, and customer ser vice Professionals from around Windsor have been educating the students on these top ics, promoting networking and involve ment in the community The MYLT has also been volunteering their time repre senting the Mayor and the 13th FINA World Swimming Championships at dif ferent events around the city

M asse encourages Windsorites to come out to the games to cheer on Canadian ath letes. “It’s so awesome that this event is tak ing place in Canada, and athletes tr uly appreciate the support ”

Visit www fina windsor2016 com for more information WLM

Jessica is an associate and member of the firm’s Education and Labour and Employment Law Groups . In addition, Jessica carr ies on a general civil and administrative litigation practice assisting c lients in var ious matter s inc luding commercial and contract disputes , human r ights and estate litigation. To learn more , call or email Jessica today 519 967 3789 jessica.koper@shibleyr ighton.com

Right: Watching It All Happen, 2016 20" x 15", Pigment print on archiv paper Artist: Amy Friend

Far right top: Hidden Layer #3, 2016 48" x 54", Oil on canvas Artis Graeme Skelton

Far right centre: Talking to the Wa (with Hare), 2016 Oil paint over inkje photograph on Mylar, 49" x 36" Artis Susan Gold

Bottom Right: SB Contemporary owne and curator, Sarah Beveridge

Below: The interior of the SB Contem porar y

A WINDSOR ART GALLERY IS HOSTING a fascinating collection of images for the next couple of months

The show at the SB Contemporar y Art galler y is called ‘ The Stor y of Things’ and features works by five locally known artists, two of which are accomplished photographers To date, the exhibit has garnered a great deal of enthusiasm up to 100 people alone attended the opening on Sep tember 17th as they checked out the photo based art and talked about it with the artists who were on hand for the event

SB Contemporary is located on Church Street just south of Erie and was opened five years ago by Uxbridge native Sarah Beveridge.

She’s no stranger to our city having familiarized herself with the local art

community in the late 1990s while attend ing the University of Windsor from which she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. She became a permanent resident in 2010, the year she met her husband, who also had an interest in art and owned the building in which the galler y is located Sarah’s curatorial career in the ar t field began in Toronto at the I land Galler y where she organized exhibitions and worked as a curator over a three year pe riod, during which she and two of her peers also established a small space of their own, Sis Boom Bah on Queen West After achieving her Masters in Fine Ar ts at the University of Western Ontario in London, she re located in Barrie where she ended up with three jobs: she founded and headed up the original SB Contemporar y Art, was cu rator of the city’s public gal lery and was em ployed in the Fine Ar ts Depar tment at Georgian College When she decided to move to Windsor, a number of the artists with whom she was involved, moved with her and now are members of her roster of 20. Their work is featured regularly at the galler y and is also showcased on the SB website, sbcontemporar y art com All the displayed pieces are for sale

‘ The Stor y of Things’ features work by Amy Friend, Ken Giles, Susan Gold, Graeme Skelton and Carla Winterbottom and as Sarah Beveridge says, “it’s designed to highlight artists that are working in the medium of photography, but exploring it in different ways. ” Some of the work is tra ditional where the artists are using strictly photography, while others, says Beveridge “ are a mixture of things For example, Susan Gold is painting onto the phot o graphic image, resulting in a combination of paint and digital Her works are titled ‘ Talking to the Wall’ and often focus on specific objects that are found in a museum setting.”

Carla Winterbottom collages with photo images while, “in the extreme, ” says Bev eridge, “is Graeme Skelton who is actually collaging the photo based images on the computer and then he’s painting from that So his work is not a photograph but is actually a painting ” The pieced together, chaotic images are drawn from various sources including family snapshots and pic tures from the Internet And, in Ken Giles’s new series of found ‘gloves’, says Beveridge, “he continues to explore a sense of place through imager y. ” As a result of these artis tic endeavors, galler y patrons are seeing the world in a different way. As a matter of ▼

fact, the only way to appreciate the work, is to view it in person.

SB Contemporar y Art is open Wednes day, Friday and Saturday from noon until 4 pm and from noon to 6 pm on Thursday Appointments can always be made for spe cial private showings and there’s no admis sion charge. While all the work is for sale, some of the pricing isn’t always displayed Interested buyers can get the information from the galler y website or by contacting Sarah Beveridge directly at sarah@sbcon temporar yar t.com or by calling her at 519 819 0536 By the way, you still have plenty of time to see ‘ The Stor y of Things’, which runs until November 12th

SB Contemporar y is more than an exhi bition place.....it also functions as an ar t studio A Saturday studio drop in between 10 am and noon has been attracting an in creasing number of people of all ages Hop ing to get their creative juices flowing, the new ‘students’ are instructed by April Mor ris who introduces a different project ever y week She vir tually r uns the gamut of ar t including the use of watercolors, sculpture, collage and photographic transfers just to name a few. The price is reasonable, at $10 a session

Also offered are beginner and advanced studio classes whic h are conducted on a regular basis, along with an open studio which is available Friday mornings between 9 and noon It’s ideal for people who want the space in which to work, or artists with out studio facilities who prefer to paint once a week. Full details about the galler y ’ s activities are available on its website.

With a growing number of specialty gal leries opening their doors in the Windsor area a nd attracting collectors from both Canada and the United States, local artists have been presented with new and excellent opportunities to show their work at home before spreading their wings and heading to larger centres like New York, Toronto or Chicago. Sarah Beveridge says this is an ex citing time for Windsor where the art com munity is growing rapidly She maintains our city is a “hot spot ” for cre ativity, brought about largely by our par tnership with Detroit where not only ar t activity, but small businesses and restaurants have opened their doors and are prospering

This bodes well for consumers, especially those who are patronizing various galleries in hopes of finding that different, special and rare Christmas gift.

SB Contemporar y Ar t is definitely a good place to start

BEFORE MAKING A NEW PAIR OF GLASSES for a patient, t Vision Care team asks a lot of questions What do you do for fun? H are you online ever y day? Do you prefer to let someone else do the at night?

All of that valuable information and more results in eyewear that person see clearly.

For instance, the golfer who needs progressive bifocals can have lenses that sharpen her focus on the tee or the fisherman’s ne w lenses can provide a deeper view into the water.

“ With over 300 versions of older and ne wer progressive lenses alone currently on the market, not all lenses are equal,” says Dr B K Wahab of Seen Vision Care “ We use quality lenses that are the thinnest and lightest available, fabricated with today’s technology ”

In Seen Vision Care’s own lab, each lens is shaped by a two sided digital computer manufacturing process The high tech machine factors the shape and placement of the patient’s eyes and other data to craft lenses more accu rately than could be humanly done, Dr Wahab explains

Special coatings for lenses can enhance vision Dealing with night glare from other vehicles’ headlights while traveling is a common issue “Our anti glare coating takes care of that,” says Dr. Wahab.

“Flat screen televisions, cell phones, computers and tablets emit strong blue light waves that may inter fere with sleep patterns and increase the risk of macular degeneration,” Dr. Wahab points out. “ We have bluDEFENSE lenses with built in protection from blue light. It’s an important considera tion for children and adults.”

A hydrophobic coating helps prevent smudging “It repel s oil, grease, water and fingerprints,” says Dr Wahab “Considering that people typically touch their glasses ever y 15 minutes, the coating helps keep the lenses clean and clear ”

Seen Vision Care also sells prescription and non prescription sunglasses “Most people have more trouble with snow glare in winter than sun glare in summer, ” Dr Wahab notes Polarized lenses are effective in controlling harsh light and increasing drivers’ safety on the road

“ We ensure our glasses are highly functional, comfortable and flatter ing,” says Dr. Wahab. “ There are so many variables in facial sizes and shapes. Our patients deser ve lots of choice, so we have a ver y large selection.”

With five locations already in the U.S., Seen Vision Care has brought its in demand Somerset Collection of eye wear to its Windsor optical centre. Brand names include Cartier, Versace, Ray Ban, Persol, Alexander McQueen and DITA

“Our frames, lenses and contacts are priced to compete with national chain, big box and online stores, ” Dr Wahab says

Patients have the option of bringing in their prescriptions from their own optometrists or being examined by Seen Vision Care’s onsite optometrist Comprehensive eye exams, contact lens e xams, pre and post op surgical care and other ser vices are available “ We use the latest technology in our exam room, ” says Dr Wahab

Open since September, Seen Vision Care will be hosting its grand opening celebration in November. Once the date is announced, the public will be in vited to the event featuring raffles for free eyewear and other gifts. The opti cal centre will be offering a grand openi ng special of $79 for each pair of single vision glasses. For more information, please visit haveyoubeenseen.com or call 519 956 8383.

ALEX PANGMAN

Canada’s Sweetheart

of Swing to Play in Windsor

STORY BY KIM WILLIS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY VINCENT LIONS

WINDSORITES ARE IN FOR A TREAT when Toronto singer Alex Pangman “swings” into town for a performance at Mackenzie Hall on November 6 at 2:30 pm

Pangman is Canada’s most successful vo calist doing hot jazz and swing of the 1920s and 30s. Dubbed “Canada’s Sweethear t of Swing,” Pangman has played across Canada at jazz festivals and been featured on CBC national radio.

Her latest CD, Ne w, was a Juno Award no minee for “Jazz Vocal of the Year” in 2016

Sarah Greene from Now Magazine, says “She channels the bygone era without affec tation the album has an intimate, warm sound that’s rare in modern jazz recordings Pangman proves that music from the 30s still has relevance ”

Many are shocked to learn that Pangman was born with cystic fibrosis, an often fatal, incurable genetic disease that causes persist ent i nfection in the lungs. She has had two double lung transplants, one in 2008 and the second in 2013. She is now a spokesper son for the Organ Donation Society.

Pangman found her love of music early in life She always loved to sing and her parents were ver y suppor tive Surprisingly, she has received no formal training Pangman’s mu sical gift came from listening to hours of

music, par ticularly the music from the 1920s to the 1940s. She particularly loved the music of Louis Armstrong, Jack Teagar den along with amazing singers like Mildred Bailey, Julia Lee and Maxine Sullivan

“I discovered jazz at a young age The lyrics were like poetr y to me and memo rable I knew that I had found my musical tribe,” says Pangman

Pangman’s first album, They Say, came out in 1999, and was produced by blues great Jeff Healey

“Jeff was incredibly supportive of me and set me up with a proper recording session.”

Her music was critically acclaimed and Alex soon built a loyal following and be came known as “Canada’s Sweethear t of Swing.”

Although cystic fibrosis did not prevent her from recording, it did prevent her from taking her show on the road Pangman also learned to be creative and to do more with less in terms of her voice

Pangman didn’t always have such a posi tive outlook After her first transplant in 2008 the lungs worked, but with continual infections, viral, bacterial and fungal.

“I felt great for a lot of years, but there was always something going on health wise,” she says.

In early 2013 her health took a turn for the worse.

“ The bottom fell out and we realized I was heading towards a more acute situa tion,” she says

The infection caused scarring, which caused more infection, creating perfect con ditions for rejection Her lung function started to fail, as did her quality of life She didn’t bounce back from infections Pang man raised the issue of another transplant with her medical team.

After two surgeries she now feels as though she has a megaphone as a voice.

“I’m no longer coughing and whee zing and can produce more dynamic sounds. It’s night and day in terms of what I can do with my voice now ” Pangman recently turned 40 and says that it is only now that she is able to be the artist that she wanted to be in her 30s “I can now produce the music vocally that I used to only hear in my head ”

Ne w, recorded in Ne w Orleans seven months after her August 2013 second dou ble lung transplant, was released in 2014 It’s not just named for the city in which it was recorded, but a new studio, producer, musi cians and her third set of lungs.

“Ne w is ver y much the theme of this record,” she says. “Just seizing the day.”

The MonaLisa Touch:

Revolutionary Treatment for Menopausal Women

THE NEW LASER THERAPY FOR THE PREVENTION AND CARE OF YOUR VAGINAL HEALTH

MonaLisa Touch® is a functional vaginal restor ative treatment based on a special fr actional CO2 laser, specifically created for the vaginal mucosa.

MonaLisa Touch® is now the most effective non sur gical and non phar macological solution for preventing and treating vaginal atrophy and its after effects, which many women suffer from dur ing per i menopause and post menopause whether due to natur al, sur gical or as a result of cancer ther apy.

Does it hurt?

The procedure requires no anesthetic inside the vagina Many patients repor t that it feels like a gentle vibr ation Patients receive 3 treatments spaced 6 to 8 weeks apar t, Each treatment takes less than 10 minutes and is performed only by a gynecologist Patients should refrain from sexual activity for 2 3 days but otherwise can perfor m nor mal activity r ight away

How long does it last? Patients should expect to require touch up treatments ever y 18 to 24 months to maintain the effects

ANNOUNCING the addition of SculpSure

SculpSure is the new FDA approved 25 minute laser based body contour ing treatment designed to reduce up to 24% of stubbor n fat in problem areas such as the abdomen and love handles, helping you achieve a slimmer and natur al looking appear ance without sur ger y or downt ime Treated fat cells are per manently destroyed and will not regener ate . Ideal for people with stubbor n spots resistant to exercise and diet

Call today!

Revitalize

Medical Laser Associates W indsor 216 2425 Tecumseh Rd. East, W indsor 519 254 1444 revitalizelasercentre.ca smilemonalisa.com sculpsurewindsor.ca

Aside from losing weight, Pangman looked fine to outsiders and kept her health problems private

“I think people with cystic fibrosis are part chameleon,” she says “ We learn to live with the conditions around us. ”

Just six weeks before the second life sav ing surger y, Pangman performed at Massey Hall, opening for Willie Nelson in June 2013

“I had my pager with me, ” she says. “My team behind the scenes kne w the situation, but nobody in the audience did I wanted it that way I didn’t want sympathy I wanted to be perceived as a singer, and not as a singer who was dying.”

The audience enjoyed a great per form ance and had no idea that her lungs would n ’ t let her walk up a flight of stairs

Pangman now also uses her voice to be an a vocal advocate for donor transplants.

“People can become heroes by being an organ donor One person can save up to eight lives It’s as simple as going to beadonor ca and talking to your family about your wishes.”

“ There are people I’ve never met who have impacted my family, my life and the lives of others so greatly that words pale It’s great to be able to sing and to breathe, it’s such a gift,” Pangman says.

“ To create art with that gift is rather re markable I think we a ll take our health for granted, until we don’t have it,” she says

Musically, she is not rushing into her next project She is continuing to listen to music and find inspiration for her next recording When she performs in Windsor, it will be her first visit to the city in 10 years. She is looking for ward to playing with Hugh Leal who has worked for over 35 years as a jazz concer t promoter, record produce r and player. Leal is leader of The Speakeasy Quar tet, a vintage chamber hot jazz combo, and a long time fan of Pangman “Alex Pangman is one of Canada's really impor tant and unique musical artists,” says Leal

“Her personal interpretations bring sounds of the classic jazz era to today's au diences It's great music fe w per formers nowadays have the skill or expertise to put on a stage No mean feat given the empha sis of the current music industr y. And her successes: recordings, awards, and festival performances across Canada are all the more remarkable, given the obstacles she has over come. Bravo Alex....keep swinging!”

Tickets to the show are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door Call (519) 255 7600 for more information

N E W A N D N O T I C E D

SUN LIFE FINANCIAL

In partnership with Sobeys, Manning Road, the Sun Life Financial Advisors at the Windsor Essex Anchor Drive Financial Centre came together on Oct 5 to pack turkeys and food bags The advisors donated funds to provide Thanksgiving dinners for as many as 290 families receiving ser vices from the Windsor Essex Children’s Aid Society. Attending the Thanksgiving Turkey Drive at 8255 Ancho r Dr. were (from left) Mike Clark, WECAS Manager of Public Relations and Fund Development; Tina Gatt, WECAS Manager of Community Outreach; Paul Lue Pann, Sun Life Financial Fi nancial Centre Manager Anchor Drive location; and Bill Bevan, WECAS Chief Executive Officer 519 252 1171 or wecas on ca

MICHAEL HORROBIN

Michael Horrobin has been honoured for his ongoing dedication to community ser vice, personally and professionally, by the United Way/Centraide Windsor Essex County in partnership with Sutts, Strosberg LLP and Ducharme Fox Lawyers Michael, the vice president and chief financial officer at Tepperman’s Furniture and Appliances, received the second annual Honourable Justice Edward W. Duchar me Award of Distinction at a luncheon at Caesars Wind sor on Sept. 28. Event proceeds will support United Way’s 2017 Summer Lunch Pro gram weareunited com or 519 258 0000

WINDSOR ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS – MORE THAN AN AGM

For the first time, the Windsor Endowment for the Arts is going outside the city’s borders to host its ‘More Than an AGM’ to further spotlight WEA’s work. With the support of the Town of LaSalle, the by invitation only event is being held at the LaSalle Civic Centre on Fri , Nov 18 A cocktail reception along with various presentations celebrating the talent of local artists and musicians will follow the brief meeting until 10 pm Organizing ‘More Than an AGM’ are members of the WEA Board of Directors, (from left) Karen Lamon, Laura Andreozzi Chorney, Carolyne Rourke and Chantelle Boismier. 519 259 7163 or wea arts.com.

RICHARD TONIZZO AND CLAIRE HANSEN

Ballroom dancers Richard Tonizzo and Claire Hansen are now qualified adjudicators, having re cently passed licentiate level standard exams. Once they are done competing, they will be National Championship adjudicators, meaning they can judge all levels, including the World Championships for Professional Standard As competitors, Richard and Claire are World Professional Standard quarterfinal ists, currently ranked 17th in the world according to the WDC world ranking list.

INTERNATIONAL

ART DESIGNS

Filled with unique items for the home, International Art Designs is celebrating 20 years in business by offering 20% off ever ything, including custom in house framing services and special orders from Nov 1 to Dec 31 The galler y carries a large selection of hand painted can vas, metal ar t, prints, wall mirrors, ceramic pots, glass vases, jeweller y and more. Megan Whittal (left) is the staff interior decorator; Ivana White (right) is the owner/ar tist of International Ar t Designs, located at 5975 Malden Rd , LaSalle 519 972 3332 or internationalartdesigns com

WINMAR

Winmar, the property damage restoration specialists ser ving the insurance industr y in Windsor and Leamington, is locally headed by Robert VidAmour. He is the only Win mar franchise owner who is a civil/mechan ical engineer Located at 2020 Fasan Dr , Windsor, the VidAmours are pleased to celebrate their 20th anniversar y with the Winmar team. 519 818 470. winmar.ca.

REAUME CHEVROLET BUICK GMC

Marking 85 years in business, Reaume Chevrolet Buick GMC has been continuously owned and operated by five generations of the same family. The Reaumes and their staff sell and ser vice ne w and preowned vehicles at their dealership, located at 500 Front Rd , LaSalle Photographed above are (l r): Craig, Jennifer, Steve, Richard and Jeff Reaume They invite ever yone to enter their special anniversar y contest at ReaumeChev com 519 734 7844

DANIELLE NICHOLSON DESIGN

With 10 years in the interior design industr y, Danielle Nicholson recently celebrated the first anniversar y of her self named business. She is now expanding Danielle Nicholson Design into the retail market: dNDesign will be opening a storefront boutique at 3055 Dougall Ave., Windsor, featuring her own private label collection of Canadian made furnishings selected by Danielle Th e design boutique gives customers access to the furniture and fabrics typically used in the dNDesign firm’s interior projects. 519 564 9695.

DAZI THERAPEUTIC COVERS

After se wing a weighted blanket last April to help her great grand nephew sleep better, Zila Doucette further researched the calming effects that such blankets may have on people with autism. She and her hus band David have now come out of retire ment to form their cottage industr y, DaZi Therapeutic Covers The couple make weighted blankets in their Emeryville home and ship them throughout North America 519 562 2131.

You Are Not Alone

BY KIM WILLIS

First Annual Suicide Prevention Awareness Week launched in Windsor Essex

EVERY YEAR, THERE ARE approximately 4,000 suicides in Canada.

That means each day, including today, 10 to 11 people will die by suicide. According to the Canadian Association of Suicide Prevention, approximately 210 others will attempt to end their lives by suicide today. For each death by suicide, it has been estimated that the lives of 7 10 bereaved “ sur vivors” are profoundly affected This means that today in Canada 77 110 people will be come newly bereaved by suicide In Canada, suicide is one of the top ten leading causes of death To be certain, suicide is a critical public health issue in Canada and here in our own community

That is why the Canadian Mental Health Association, Windsor Essex County Branch (CMHA WECB) and the Windsor Essex County Health Unit (WECHU), along with many others in our community partnered on the first annual Suicide Prevention Awareness Week from September 10 16 The theme for Suicide Prevention Awareness Week is “You Are Not Alone ”

“ We need to start the conversation in an effort to change these statistics,” says Claudia den Boer, CEO, CMHA WECB.

And that’s exactly what happened in September. Windsor Essex kicked off the week with a community walk and rally on World Suicide Prevention Day, Saturday, September 10th.

The goal of the Kick Off Walk was to generate discussions and action within the Windsor Essex community about how to promote positive mental health, as well as how to support those facing mental health challenges.

The Kick Off was held on the Chr ysler Greenway and included two routes, a 22 km march and a 5 km walk Inspira tion for the walk came from retired Sergeant, Jeff Gravel

Jeff grew up in Windsor and left for the militar y at the age of 18 in 1994 He ser ved in Bosnia and Afghanistan and retired after 14 years of ser vice in 2009 with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantr y

“

The idea for the march isn’t new It’s a concept we are borrowing from our neighbours to the south, who have been doing it to raise awareness abo ut the suicide epidemic facing their veteran community; some estimate numbers are as high as 22 vets a day They have been doing the ruck marches and push up challenges to raise awareness, ” says Jeff Jeff was at the Legion with a friend of his who was another Afghan veteran and a local firefighter when they star ted talking about bringing awareness about suicide to this community

“

The walk also hi ghlights the often overlooked informal support systems like our relationships with our buddies and friends and our loved ones, which are crucial to good mental health and recover y from PTSD and depression. It is about highlighting the strength and resilience of our local first responders, police and firefighters who work in high stress environ ments ever y day for our safety.”

The WECHU has promoted World Suicide Prevention Day for the past couple of years through their Working Toward Wellness Workplace Wellness Program.

“ We had a lot of interest and participation from employees and wellness committee members on the initiative and many expressed an interest in expanding activities to promote awareness on this topic,” says Neil MacKenzie, Manager, Compre hensive Workplace Wellness Department, WECHU

The need for this awareness is real the Windsor Essex County Health Unit released an extensive report in August 2016 entitled, ‘Mental Health Profile of Windsor and Essex County ’ Findings of the report include a 143% increase in attempted suicide by local youth since 2010 In addition, work stress is prevalent among older adults (45 64 years) with over 30% re porting that most days at work are quite a bit or extremely stressful The rate of emergency department visits for intentional self harm increased by 28% between 2011 2015

“ We feel that Suicide Prevention Awareness Week addresses an important need in our community and that by beginning the conversation about Suicide Prevention we can let more people know that ‘ You Are Not Alone.’ We want people to know that there are people who care, and there are ser vices available in our community to support people in getting the help they need,” states MacKenzie.

Melissa Lywood is all too familiar with the reality of suicide. Her sister Stephanie completed suicide at just 15 years of age.

“Stephanie was outgoing and had a lot of friends, but when she was in high school she had some difficult situations This led to her feeling depressed and alone and she ulti mately decided suicide was the solution for what she was going through,” says Melissa.

Today Melissa is a member of the Board of Directors at CMHA WECB and delivers anti bullying workshops at area high schools in the hopes of preventing other teen sui cides.

“Since 2011 I have visited many area high schools on an annual basis to speak about community resources and the importance of seeking suppor t when in need I believe every time I say the word Suicide I break the stigma with at least one person. ”

As part of her message, she will tell stu dents to ask themselves if what they are going through will matter a year from now

The impact of suicide on a family is stag gering. There is blame and a sense of re sponsibility for what happened Then there is physical pain that stings to the core Days can become blurred and anniversaries, birth days and holidays can be heart wrenching. Your own home can feel like a prison, a place filled with memories of a loved one, but the emotion and fear of “that” day/night never leaves your mind

“By raising awareness we choose to advo cate for suicide safer communities and safe places where people can speak about their feelings and seek suppor t When we have these conversations and rallies we bring awareness to prevention, inter vention and bereavement effor ts, ” says Karen Gignac, Manager, Mental Health Promotion, CMHA WECB

If someone confides in you that they are suicidal or having thoughts of suicide, first tr y and stay calm and manage your reac tions Showing fear or disbelief can shut down the conversation quickly Your job is to listen with compassion, keep them safe and get them to the help they need, not to judge or talk them out of it. Never swear to secrecy! Reassure the person that they are not alone, that help is available Connect the person with the Community Crisis Centre (519 973 4435). The Crisis team will then connect the person to the most appropriate resources to meet their needs The person can also be brought to the Windsor Re gional Hospital, Ouellette Campus and if the individual is 16 years of age or under, they can be brought to Windsor Regional Hospital Met Campus.

For more information visit, www wind soressex cmha ca/suicideprevention

LOOK WHO’S COOKING AT HOME

HOUIDA KASSEM, TV PERSONALITY AND WINDSOR CANCER CENTRE FOUNDATION’S MANAGER AND DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Raised on the traditional dishes of her family’s Middle Eastern heritage, Houida Kassem continues the tradition w ith her ow n sons. A favourite lunch or dinner for four people is chicken kebabs cooked on the indoor or outdoor grill accompanied by hummus and tabouli, all of which Houida can make in under 30 minutes.

When she has two hours to spare, she rolls and stuffs about 100 grape leaves w ith rice and ground beef or lamb.

Hummus

Ingredients:

• 28 oz / 8oo g canned chickpeas

• 3 garlic cloves, peeled

• 4 tablespoons tahini

• juice of 2 lemons

• 2 teaspoons sea salt

• extra v irgin olive oil, for drizzling

• ½ cup (2 oz / 50 g) pine nuts, toasted

Shish Tawook

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 pounds boneless skinned chicken

• 1 tablespoon paprika

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• 5 tablespoons olive oil

• Garlic sauce (see recipe below)

• Salt and pepper to taste

Cut the chicken into medium size cubes In a bowl mix the paprika, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic sauce, salt and pepper Marinade the chicken cubes in the mix ture for 4 5 hours or over nig ht When ready to cook, thread the chicken pieces on a skewer Then, simply g r il l (or better, charco al) unt il the meat beg ins to brow n.

Garlic Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 head of garlic

• 1 egg

• vegetable oil

Peel and crush the garlic and place in a food processor Add the egg and mix unt il ver y smooth Add the oil ver y, ver y slowly (like a t r ickle) in the mixer unt il you reach a creamy consistency

Drain the chickpeas, reser v ing ¼ cup (2 fl oz / 50 ml) of the can juices, and rinse Put the chickpeas into a food processor, add the garlic cloves and tahini, and process for a few min utes Add the reser ved can juices, followed by half the lemon juice and the sea salt, and process unt il smooth Taste and add more lemon juice, if you like Scrape the hummus into a dish, drizzle generously w ith olive oil, sprinkle w ith the toasted pine nuts, and ser ve. Other gar nish options, pickles or tur nips.

Tabouli ( Tabbouleh)

Ingredients:

• ½ cup extra fine bulgur wheat

• 4 firm Roma tomatoes, ver y finely chopped

• 1 Eng lish cucumber ver y finely chopped

• 2 bunches parsley, par t of the stems removed, washed and well dried, ver y finely chopped

• 12 15 fresh mint leaves, stems removed, washed, well dried, ver y finely chopped

• 4 green onions, white and green par ts, ver y finely chopped Salt

• 4 tbsp lemon juice

• 3 4 tbsp extra v irgin olive oil

• Romaine lettuce leaves to ser ve, optional

Wash the bulgur wheat and soak it in water for 5 7 minute Drain ver y well (squeeze the bulgur wheat by hand to get rid of any excess water) Set aside Ver y finely chop the veg etables, herbs and g reen onions Place the chopped vegetables, herbs and g reen onions in a mixing bowl Add the bulgur and season w ith salt Mix Now add the lemon juice and olive oil and mix again Transfer to a ser v ing platter If you like, ser ve the tabouli w ith a side of romaine lettuce leaves

“My mom is an exceptional cook and I’d like to think I learned it all from her.” – Houida Kassem

Grape Leaves

Ingredients:

• 80 100 grape leaves, medium size

• 1 cup long grain rice

• 1 pound ground beef (90% lean) or lamb

• ½ cup butter, melted

• ½ tablespoon salt

• ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

• 2 lamb neck bones (optional)

• 3 large grape leaves

• 2 lemons

Rinse the leaves thoroughly and soak in cold water for 15 minutes Line a heavy, deep pan w ith meat bones if using, then 3 g rape leaves (Line the pan w ith just the leaves if no meat is being used).

For the filling:

In a medium size bow l, combine r ice, g round beef or lamb, butter, salt and pepper Mix well Prepare a dutch oven by lining the bottom w ith lamb bones Spread 3 large leaves over the top of the meat

To stuff and roll the leaves: Place g r ap e leaves facing vein side up on work surface w ith the w ide stem end of the leaf toward you Drop 1 h eaping teaspoon of filling across that stem edge of the leaf, shap ing like a finger, leav ing enough leaf on either side of the meat for rol ling. Don't rol l the leaves too tig htly allow room for r ice filling to expand. Fold each side of leaf over the meat like an envelope and roll securely, away from you

Ar r ange stuffed leaves in rows in a heavy, deep pan, alter nat ing the direc t ion of each layer of rows Slice the lemon crossw ise into several ¼ inch slices and lay the lemon slices over the rolls Place a plate face down over the top layer to prevent the rolls from floating

Fil l pot w ith war m water up to the plate. Cover and bring slowly to a boil. After about 20 minutes, add the juice of one lemon to the cooking water. Some prefer much more lemon than this, or none at all; adjust as you please Reduce hea t to low and simmer for 30 40 minutes, for a total cooking t ime of about one hour, until rice is tender

AUTUMN HOME

Pumpkins and Spice and Somethings Not So Nice

STORY BY KAREN PATON EVANS / PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL PIETRANGELO

WITH ITS LEATHERY WINGS SPREAD WIDE, a preser ved bat hangs inside a frame on the wall of an empty nester home in Tecumseh. Although it’s an apt decoration for Hallowe’en, the bat is actually one of many prized possessions owned by Anne, the lady of the house and an enthusiastic lover of creatures great and small. Particularly creepy crawlies.

Perhaps that is why she relishes Hallowe’en, when even sedate houses throughout Essex County are suddenly draped in cobwebs inhabited by big, hair y, rubber spiders “I love this time of year I go crazy decorating for it,” Anne admits

The weeks leading up to Oct 31st also inspire her, with the

oranges, golds and reds of autumn. Pumpkins, nuts and silk leaves are artistically scattered throughout her two storey house. They look well against the year round colour scheme of caramel, taupe and black in the main rooms.

François offers the first hint that fall has arrived. The jovial French chef figure sports a jaunty plaid tie in autumn hues. After noticing many restaurants in France had similar statues holding menu signs, Anne brought one back for her own kitchen

Other mementoes of Europe include lovely paintings in the im pressionist style Driving in France’s Champagne region, “ we found some treasures in an antique shop off the beaten path,” Anne recalls

One favourite painting was bought in Poland, where her grandfather was born

However, the works of ar t that are most cherished by Anne are the insects she found in different countries, carried home and had framed Iridescent butter flies’ wings are tiny notes of colour against walls painted butter scotch. Also encased in frames are huge Atlas moths with brownish wings patterned with ivor y diamonds; horned beetles; walking sticks insects; scorpions; tarantulas and other crea tures The bat is a souvenir of Thailand

“I wanted desperately to be an entomologist I spent my childhood in the fields and woods, looking for bugs,” Anne says “Of all the things I have in my house, my insect collection means the most to me ”

Near the unusual wall art is a standing globe, a milestone gift from Don’s employer, who sent him to work for extended periods in various par ts of the world. Don took his family with him. “ We look at the places we have lived and traveled and realize we ’ ve covered a good chunk of the globe,” Anne says.

Other reminders of journeys taken are ever y where. Under foot are five soft area r ugs pur chased in Turkey “ We were on a mission to get these carpets, ” says Anne The seller had them delivered to her home “It was really easy ”

“Once I got the carpets, I built the décor around them,” she says The house’s design theme is French countr y To emphasize that, the walls and ceiling in the kitchen, dining area and family room were treated by artisan Paul Benet to resemble Old World fresco plaster. The roughened textured is tinted in the pale mushroom hue found in the patterned black and tan area rug on the dining room floor.

Anne and Don originally built their tradi tional two storey house in 1989. They blew out some interior walls and put on an addition in

Clockwise from far left: A black, mushroom and taupe area rug the homeowners purchased in Turkey sets the colour theme for the French coun tr y dining area; appearing to be hand car ved, a faux stone fireplace mantel is spread with artisti cally jumbled sunflowers, leaves, twig pumpkins and candles; the family room taupe sofa and black and toile pillows are enlivened with orange pillows, pumpkins and fall flowers during autumn

Clockwise from top: The kitchen’s French countr y range hood is ablaze with a fier y autumn wreath; small limestone tiles line the backsplash behind the gas cooktop; François the chef statue holds a sign declaring the day’s offerings; an old armoire and a formal floral arrangement on a parquet wooden table reiterate the French countr y theme on the landing of the upper floor

2000. The formal dining room is now com pletely open to the kitchen. “I wanted a din ing area where I could fit my family and friends, yet be accessible to them while I was in the kitchen,” Anne explains

A r ustic rectangular farm table is big enough for a crowd Old mismatched Queen Anne chairs and ladder back chairs were re freshed and unified with black cottage paint.

Wing chairs stand at the head and foot of the table To ensure the seat is high enough for dining, Anne had thicker cushions made The wing chairs have been in the family forever, undergoing periodic reupholstering. The last makeover involved plush taupe paisley fabric for the front of the chair The back was re clad in black Italian wool Anne hauled home from Romania

Deciding to declutter the dining area, Anne repl aced three curio cabinets that were “ too full” with a built in china cabinet that complements the kitchen cabinetr y Only a few sentimental family treasures are on view in the upper cabinet. Things needed for en ter taining are tucked away in an old side board redone in the black cottage paint

The broad windows spor t roman shades fashioned from wide black and taupe striped fabric. The shades dress the wi ndows without obscuring the view of the backyard’s wood land garden

Two fluted columns suppor t the arched entry into the kitchen that Anne and Don de signed. Silk fall leaves and chr ysanthemums add splashes of colour to the traditional raised panel maple cabinetr y and black granite countertops An autumn wreath adorns the black French countr y range hood accented with thin wooden trim and micro tiles. Small limestone tiles form the backsplash. For the flooring, Anne chose porcelain tile that re sembles stone

In the family room, another gorgeous taupe, black and mushroom area rug sets the tone. A long, angled window is filled with a custom made sofa that fits its kinks The sofa’s durable taupe upholstery is given a boost with orange pillows and black and taupe toile pat terned pillows.

“ To change things up seasonally, I use pil lows I love fabrics,” says Anne, a quilter and needlewoman “I brought back bolts of Ital ian wool from Romania to make wool felt for my projects.”

However, she relies on a professional to sew her window treatments, like the black and taupe mini gingham check balloon shades over the sofa

Another trademark of Anne’s decorating style is stacking a few antique books here

Butch Laframboise

and there for interest. The written word is fur ther represented by an old black type writer on the coffee table. A white ghost ro dent is currently checking it out, in honour of Hallowe’en

More books and curios are displayed be hind the glass doors of twin black cabinets flanking the family room ’ s natural gas fire place Looking like something taken from a chateau, the fabricated stone mantel is covered end to end with sunflowers, leaves, twig pumpkins and candles

Seasonal decorating gives Anne joy; redec orating and renovating give her a mission. Work is now complete on the most recent under taking: Redoing the master bedroom and en suite bathroom, as well as the guest bathroom.

Gutted to the studs, the en suite bathroom was reconfigured The tub was removed and an enlarged shower was p ut in for increased comfor t and accessibility Small limestone tiles form the wainscot Upper walls are painted pale aqua On the floor is porcelain tile that mimics hardwood

Set into the window nook is a little antique desk, revived with a lick of pale aqua cottage paint. It serves as Anne’s dressing table. “I like that there’s histor y behind something. I reuse it and make it into something else.”

The master bedroom’s transformation began with the addition of a faux wooden beam on the ceiling, enhancing the French countr y feel A ne w four poster traditional bed was purchased and then dressed in cus tom made soft aqua and ivor y bed linens The same hues are in a wide horizontal striped fabric used for the draperies swagging the arched window A pair of petite bergère chairs, a painted armoire and a bedsid e rug continue the colour scheme

Against the bedroom’s light toast painted walls are more impressionist style landscapes unearthed in France and Poland.

The overall effect is gentle and subtle a definite contrast to the bat, scorpion and tarantula hanging out downstairs, ready to terrify or delight, depending on the be holder’s point of view

Windsor Life Magazine is always searching for interesting home s, landscaping, gardens, patios and water features to show our readers what others in the community are doing with their living spaces If you have a home that you feel would be interesting please email photos to publisher@windsorlife com Photos need to be for reference only If your home is chosen we will arrange for a complete photo shoot If you wish, you may remain anonymous and the location of your home will not be disclosed

WLM

Bean’s Ladle Eater y & Take Out Family friendly dining ser ving breakfast, lunch and dinner Featuring delicious and affordable homemade food using fresh local ingredients Offering daily specials and a senior’s discount Open 8 am to 10 pm. Closed Sundays. Come and check out this west end gem. 519 915 2349 www beansladle com 2440 University Avenue West, Windsor

Boston Pizza Fresh gourmet pizzas to b urgers and amazing salads. We have it all. Family din ing room and sports bar 4450 Walker Rd , Windsor 519 250 7670 4 Amy Croft Dr , Lakeshore 519 739 1313 bostonpizza com

Casa Mia Ristorante Experience authentic Italian food, local wines and homemade desserts and crepes ser ved in a casual, completely hand icap accessible setting For 22 years, chef and owner Frank Puccio has been making lunch a nd dinner fresh to order. Gluten free options. Closed Sunday 519 728 2224 523 Notre Dame St , Belle River

Cramdon’s Tap and Eater y South Windsor’s friendly gathering place Offering great food at affordable prices Satellite sports and billiards in a pub like setting. www.cramdons.com 2950 Dougall Ave. 519 966 1228

Fratelli Pasta Grill Offering flavour drenched “woodfire” grilled steaks, seafood a nd pasta dishes A fresh and healthy selection of modern and time tested classics Located behind Mc Donald’s on Manning Rd in Tecumseh Take out, catering, private parties. For reser vations call 519 735 0355. www.fratellipastagrill.com

Gilligan’s Burgers Burgers Burgers Including Buffalo, Lamb, Turkey and more Great Ribs, Wings and Salads. Sundays Family day kids eat for a toonie 1270 Walker Road 519 971 0204

Jeff ’ s Fresh Meats We make dining at home easy Choose from one of our many ready made products: stuffed pork chop, stir fr ys, cordon bleu, stuffed peppers, meat loaf The City Market 1030 Walker Rd. 519 967 0988

Joe Schmoe’s Eats N’ Drinks Family friendly restaurant in LaSalle Handcrafted burgers, sandwiches and salads Fresh ingredients and house made sauces Local wines; 12 Ontario c raft and commercial beers on tap HDTVs Fast, cheerful ser vice.

5881 Malden Rd (behind Rexall)

519 250 5522 www eatatjoes

GUESTS WHO ENTER Boston Pizza in Windsor or Tecumseh for the first time are often surprised to learn it is so much more than a pizza place

In the attractive dining room, friends and families chat over oven roasted chicken que sadillas and breaded chicken or jalapeno shrimp Thai Bites on crunchy Asian noodles.

Time crunched workers fuel up on Boston Pizza’s new Quick Lunch, a tasty selection of sandwiches, salads and pizzas in the $10 range. “Our Quick Lunch menu is designed to get people in and out of here fast,” says Rob Haglund, the owner of the local Boston Pizza franchise locations.

In the licensed lounge area, spor ts fans catch all the action on 15 large screen TVs while relaxing over drinks and a mound of Boston Pizza’s famous wings and the new sig nature southwestern, Mediterranean or spicy Italian sausage and chorizo flatbreads.

Attentive to ever ybody’s taste, Boston Pizza supports healthy eating with its desig nated Smar tEats meals. Among the palate pleasers are the Mediterranean vegetable bowtie pasta and BP’s house chicken salad.

GlutenWise salads, pizza, pasta, wings, steaks and other main

courses are made with 100% gluten friendly ingredients.

Ever ything Boston Pizza makes is gener ous in flavour and portion size, such as the slow roasted pork back ribs, cedar seasoned salmon filet and Ne w York striploin steak Different main courses are accompanied by spaghetti, fries, rice, garlic mashed potatoes or seasonal vegetables.

Families get value with Boston Pizza’s chil dren’s menu. Kids munch on Bugs ' n ' Cheese pasta, BP mini cheeseburgers and other youngster approved meals while being enter tained by the ne w, free BP Kids Fun Pack. The deal includes a beverage and desser t When one adult purchases a main course, each child in the par ty can eat for $6.99 Monday through Saturday and for only $4 99 on Sunday

Naturally, Boston Pizza makes outstand ing pies. Favourites are the spicy perogy pizza and the Tuscan chicken pizza

Investing in his guests ’ comfor t and his community, Rob just renovated the Boston Pizza location at 4 Amy Croft Dr in Tecum seh The restaurant looks great with new furniture, artwork, TVs and carpeting and freshly painted

walls The exterior was also upgraded with new paint and signage.

Boston Pizza at 4450 Walker Rd in Windsor was renovated two years ago “My family and I live here. We’re doing ever y thing to ensure that when you choose to eat in our restaurants, you’ll be glad you did,” Rob says.

Spacious and friendly, Boston Pizza wel comes large groups, like the 40 member spor ts team that recently dropped in for celebrator y pizza. “ Whether or not you have a reser vation, we encourage you to let us ser ve you, ” says Rob.

Available for private parties, the dining room and lounge also host gatherings with a big guest list. “ We had a charity event here for about 300 people,” Rob says. Bos ton Pizza’s casual, family friendly at mosphere puts ever yone at ease.

Boston Pizza’s food can be enjoyed offsite, as well Guests can pick up their orders placed by phone or online at bostonpizza.com. “ We also deliver any thing on our entire menu to the Windsor Tecumseh area, ” Rob says “ When you ’ re in the mood for a juicy steak, chicken parmesan or pizza, we can be at your door soon ”

Johnny Shotz Tecumseh’s #1 roadhouse and home of the New Chicken Deluxe 2 for 1 wings (Sun 1 4, all day Mon) Breakfast Sat & Sun 38 HD screens covering ever y game, 7 pool tables & 13 beers on tap.

www johnnyshotz com 13037 Tecumseh Rd E 519 735 7005

Kelse y ’ s Social gatherin g and family friendly eater y located at 4115 WALKER RD (the old Casey’s site). Diverse menu from messy sammies, burgers, and wings with many healthy options too Not to mention off the chart appies, bevvies, and sawwweeeet desserts! Open 7 days a week Take out option available 519 250 0802

Lux Diner Family friendly atmosphere Large variety of items that makes ever yone happy 1/2LB Burgers, BBQ Ribs, Halibut, Pasta, Breakfast, and our famous Broasted Chicken New hours are 8 am to 4 pm, 7 days a week Ser ving breakfast and lunch daily E C Row & Manning, Lakeshore,On 33 Amy Croft Dr 519 735 8001

The Mushroom Hub Offering over 20 varieties of flavour ful, nutritious organic mushrooms from local farms and wild mushrooms imported from the Pacific Northwest Also enjoy dried and marinated mushrooms, bals amic vinegars, local ingredient soups and more! 5950 Rhodes Drive, Windsor www themushhub com

Neros Gour met Steakhouse Indulge in the finer things in life at Neros where modern upscale dining meets traditional steakhouse fare. Fresh, local ingredients, an incredible wine se lection and superb ser vice caesarswindsor com 1 800 991 7777 ext. 22481.

Parkside at Rochester Place Newly renovated with 300 0 sq ft patio with large fountain pool, incredible fire features, large outdoor lounge area, dining area, ne w sound system that will amaze you and a New menu that will more than impress! See what they've done!

Cty Rd. 2 in Stoney Point at Ruscom River. www rochesterplace com 519 728 2361

Swiss Chalet Nothing else is Swiss! Famous ro tisserie chicken, ribs, roast beef and much much more DELIVERY AVAIL ABLE 7 days a week

Dine in, drive thru, take out also available Open 7 days a week

500 Manning Road 519 739 3101

4450 Walker Road 519 250 7106

Webb’s Steak, Seafood, Burgers, Bar Thurs

$20 bottles of wine. Great place for families. Open for dinner and lunch daily at 11:00 am 1640 Lesperance in Tecumseh www.webbsteakhouse.ca 519 735 0007

For infor mation on listings and adver tising in the Bon Appetit! section please call Cecilia Minard Podhraski at 519 979 3419.

ON THE

OTHER

SIDE OF BROKEN

Brian Knowler Writes About the Demons of PTSD

STORY BY DICK HILDEBRAND / PHOTOGRAPHY BY NAT CARON PHOTOGRAPHY

BRIAN KNOWLER IS AN OPP OFFICER, currently the Operations Manager at the Chatham Detachment.

His policing career began in 1998 when he joined the Amher stburg force Three years later, he became a member of the OPP with his first posting in Kingsville After four years, he went to the Lakeshore detachment in Belle River for two years, before heading to East Algoma in Northern Ontario for his next post ing He also ser ved in Caledon before returning to Southwest ern Ontario and Chatham a couple of years ago

One of two children, he was born in Windsor 44 years ago and spent most of his youth in Belle River, where his parents still live. Brian is married to Cathy and the couple has two sons, 15 year old Jack and Brady, who is 12. A voracious reader, Brian says growing up he did most of the things that boys were doing.

“I was involved in scouting, but I didn’t play hockey like most of my pals in Belle River I could skate and didn’t mind playing pond hockey, but I wasn ’ t involved in the organized game ” He also played football and his first serious job was a page at the Belle River librar y A graduate of the University of Windsor, Knowler has 2 degrees, a BA in histor y with a minor in Classics and a Bachelor in law He is, in fact, one of only 7 OPP officers who can practice law in the province

As a very young boy, Brian had always wanted to write a book, whether it be fiction, or non fiction, but he was never sure what direction it would take. Little did he know that a tragic incident and a struggle for his ver y sur vival would eventually be the in spiration for his book, ‘ON THE OTHER SIDE OF BRO KEN…One Cop’s Battle With the Demons of PTSD.’

At 6 ft. 5 in. Brian Knowler is an impos ing figure, certainly by all perceptions, not the kind of an individual that could be brought to his knees by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (he calls it PTS) However, like all mortals, no one is immune from the profound effects of life’s sometimes ugly twists and turns A dozen years ago, during his stint with the Lakeshore OPP, one of those twists forever changed Knowler’s life

He had gone to investigate a head on col lision on County Road 42 between St. Joachim and Tilbur y. It was a typical Essex County October night quite chilly, ex tremely dark and it was raining He was the first emergency responder on the scene and what he discovered was something that no body should ever have to experience. The driver of a pickup truck suffered only minor injuries However, the second driver in a van that had landed in a ditch, didn’t make it He virtually died in Brian’s arms. It was one of his closest friends…a guy that he had chummed around with in school As Brian writes: “It was Mike Mike from high school student conferences Mike from university ori entation. Mike from Canadian Histor y in sec ond year. Mike from the g ym. Mike from beers during hockey games at the 1994 Olympics My friend Mike, almost unrecognizable be cause of all the damage to his body and face ”

One can only imagine the horror that Brian was experiencing. The accident scene is replayed in graphic detail in the book and you can feel Brian’s angst as he describes his desperate but futile attempt to save Mike’s life.

In his book, Brian describes his personal and professional decline over a 7 year period and how he hid the physical and psycholog ical effects of that fateful night Finally, in 2012 he admitted that he had a problem and was diagnosed with PTSD…the first step in his efforts to regain control of his life

When being inter viewed, or speaking in front of a group of people, Brian minces no words. During his long battle with PTS he says “ over the seven years I would have panic attacks , I would lose sleep, I’d have night mares and flashbacks I became ver y with drawn from my family and my friends, I was absent as a father…not a ver y good guy in general. By 2011, I was in a ver y dark place, emotionally and psychologically and I was using alcohol as a basis of self medication to hopefully make the blackness go away I even had thoughts of suicide one night. I didn’t care about anything. I was completely shut off from ever ything and ever ybody!”

When he had finally reached rock

bottom, as Brian puts it, “I remember col lapsing and for 15 or 20 minutes, sobbing uncontrollably. Even as Cathy and I were discussing our marriage, she put her arms around me and I admitted, for the first time, I needed help ”

He began receiving treatments from a Canadian Forces psychologist at Base Borden, who specialized in working with soldiers returning from combat. Par t of Knowler’s therapy was to write about his ex periences, so he began carr ying a notebook and writing down his experiences as he re membered them. Over the next two years, he filled at least two of those books and when he and his family moved to Chatham in 2014, he and Cathy decided to compile the information into a book “By December 31st of last year, which was my deadline,” says Brian, “I was able to turn this collection of j ournals and scrap paper into a manu script The writing was ver y therapeutic and the end result was part biography and part how to learn from the mistakes I had made.”

A couple of months later, with the help of a friend, the self published ‘ON THE OTHER SIDE OF BROKEN’ was ready for the market

It is a must read for anyone hoping to un derstand PTS and its many ramifications, or for anyone going thro ugh this disorder and is afraid to talk about it It is indeed a fasci nating, no holds barred account of one man ’ s intense struggle. As Brian writes…“I had neither short term nor long term debrief ing or counseling at the time Between incident and my final meltdown, I had that one infor mal chat with the force (OPP) psychologist and that was it. In fact, I was completely shut down when I tried to talk to any other officer about it, which made things worse ”

For tunately, as more professionals learn about PTS, ne w avenues of treatment are opening up today…several of which are dis cussed in the book.

The publication is available online in both e format or paperback at lulu com for $26 and other major internet sources in cluding Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Indigo. Electronic versions for Mac devices can be accessed through the iBook store. It can also be purchased from Brian at his speaking engagements and he’s working on getting it into bookstores in the near future

In summing up the lasting effects of PTS, Knowler writes: “PTS is a journey that never really ends It just has moments of quiet and calm during what can other wise be a stormy time The demon can be tamed, but it will a l ways be there, just under the surface.” WLM

HELPING

LOCAL RESIDENTS

and busi nesses feel secure for over 30 years, the Fazio family has earned the trust of their commu nity. SafeGuard’s ser vices extend from per sonal medical alert systems to sophisticated integrated security solutions for residential and commercial properties. “ We do it all at the best prices around,” assures Frank Fazio.

Frank, his wife Eileen, their children Kr ysta, Karie, Leo and the rest of the Safe Guard team look after clients 24/7 from their locally owned and operated monitoring centre located in Tecumseh. “Keeping people safe is a good feeling” says Frank. “ To our family business, you ’ re not a number, you ’ re a member.”

Born and raised in Windsor, Frank is a pi oneer in security. In 1985 he went to the U.S. to work in the security industr y since “there

camera just to see who is at their door or to keep an eye on their proper ty or business remotely Others wan t cameras for personal reasons: “For example, when a family member gets home, a photo is sent to your smar tphone so you know all is well,” Frank says “A property ’ s security system can also be linked with additional devices including smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, temperature alerts and sump pump monitors ”

For more elaborate security, businesses can count on SafeGuard’s industr y experi ence and exper tise The company installs panic buttons for employees who work alone and GPS technology that can offer tracking of seniors or vehicles Additionally, SafeGuard provides custom designed systems which can combine a variety of features such as: digital video recording, remote video monitoring, environmental monitoring and other integrated ser vices

were only a few companies in Canada pro viding residential alarm systems back then,” he recalls Upon his return to Canada, Frank brought leading technology to his hometown and has remained at the forefront After all these years, he is still amazed by people’s com mon reaction when crime hits their property “A lot of people get alarms after they’ve been broken into” Frank notes “ Why wait until it happens to you? Crime is ever ywhere, in all neighbourhoods The question you have to ask yourself is, if you got broken into would you get an alarm then? It’s best to be proac tive, not reactive ”

SafeGuard’s many choices give clients control over their security level Some home owners want their alarm hooked up to a

SafeGuard has a complete line of personal medical alert systems “Seniors are wanting to stay in their homes as long as possible,” Frank explains “ They can be safe at home or out and about and still have peace of mind ” From the standard ‘I’ve fallen and can ’ t get up ’ unit to the new mobile alert GPS system, SafeGuard’s certified and professional staff can find the perfect fit for ever y client’s lifestyle and provide the assistance and assu rance they need The new highly advanced mobile alert system has a two way voice feature and connects to SafeGuard through cellular and GPS technology, enabling the client to go anywhere in Canada

HOROSCOPE

ARIES

MAR 21 - APR 20:

The last par t of the journey is often the most difficult It can also be the most re warding Rest if you must, but don’t give up

You are a unique individual who has many talents yet to be discovered. Continue to sharpen your skills before you commit your self to a given course of action.

TAURUS

APR 21 MAY 21:

You do not like surprises, but some change is necessar y Re evaluate plans and life style

The road less travelled can bring more re wards for you than you can imagine Re member actions from the past where you hesitated and yet they turned out far better than you thought possible

GEMINI

MAY 22 JUN 21:

New friends, new ideas. Be careful because you, or perhaps someone else can easily mis interpret what is said or done. Confirm facts before you take action whenever possible. Remember the old saying, “You just might have to eat your words.”

CANCER

JUN 22 JUL 23:

On a positive note, activity behind the scenes may raise your spirits. Quiet mo ments spent in peaceful discussion with like minds may put you at ease more than any thing else It is time to work on something you have put off doing by getting distracted one too many times Get it done!

LEO

JUL 24 AUG 23:

There is likely to be a degree of opposition to your plans from the home front. Using tact and diplomacy will get you far ther ahead whereas being stubborn or full of pride undermines your own efforts. Coast until the coast is clear. The fog will clear soon enough and then you can move on

VIRGO

AUG 24 SEP 23:

The long term picture looks good for you. Do not let a short term upset throw you off course. One ba ttle does not win or lose a war It is the whole picture that will make a big difference in your life Life is what hap pens while you are busy making plans

LIBRA

SEP 24 - OCT 23:

You may recoup some of your losses or mend broken fences with words that are flu ent and well guided Many situations are beyond your control, but you may cope more easily with circumstances through un derstanding where others are coming from. Others will listen to your words.

SCORPIO

OCT 24 - NOV 22:

Temporarily touchy, long term favourable There is no room for flowers where weeds are allowed to grow. You get farther ahead by opening yourself up to positive influ ences and letting go of negativity of the past. You can do it! You can do almost anything through perseverance.

SAGITTARIUS

NOV 23 DEC 21:

The more you focus on work, the fur ther you get ahead in the long r un. It may or may not feel as if re wards will ever come, but they will, depending upon what you do now It is time to lay a solid foundation for your life Take care of now and the future will take care of itself

CAPRICORN

DEC 22 JAN 20:

You may be going back and forth between moments of self confidence and periods of doubt. Just when you thought you kne w what to do, the rules can suddenly change as ne w information leads to ne w develop ments Solid truth is what is needed, before certain actions can be taken

AQUARIUS

JAN 21 - FEB 19:

You refuse to be put in the same situation as others. You have your own point of view and you expect and desire more from life. Timing is fairly good for you right now in terms of carr ying out projects to a success ful outcome, as long as you do no harm to others along the way.

PISCES

FEB 20 MAR 20

Constant changes are keeping you on your toes You can be a true inspiration to others at this point in time whether you realize it or not You may feel as if stability is hard to come by even if it is right in front of you Stability comes in difference disguises

ONLY IN BORNEO

Meeting Orangutans At Home

STORY BY KAREN PATON EVANS / PHOTOGRAPHY BY PAM AND BILL SENEY

AS THE MORNING MIST BEGAN to burn off the river, Pam and Bill Seney were almost cer tain they could see elephants at the water ’ s edge

Quietly, the Windsor couple and their guide slipped into their little boat; propelled by a silent electric motor, it broke the river’s glasslike sur face as they made their ap proach Sure enough, there were pygmy ele phants on the bank, now joined by orangutans and monkeys.

Deep in the Borneo rainforest, “the ani mals were just waking up, ” Pam says. “ They were coming to drink and bathe.”

The Seneys had travelled nearly 15,000 km from their Windsor home to Southeast Asia to encounter the fascinating animals, terrain, culture and people of Borneo, Bali, Brunei and the Indonesian Islands Between April 11th to May 4th, the couple would come face to face with countless animal spec ies, many they had never heard of

At the top of Pam’s list of must see ani mals were orangutans. Borneo and Sumatra are the only natural homes on the planet for the highly intelligent, close relations of hu mans.

Orangutan is a Malay word meaning “ per son of the forest.” Unfortunately, deforesta tion and hunting have put orangutans in danger of extinction Pam was determined to meet them in person

But first, there was a ver y long flight from Toronto to Hong Kong, followed by airtime to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia and finally, on to Sandakan on the island of Borneo The ▼

Left: Protected by its mother, a baby proboscis monkey has not yet grown into its distinctively large and bulbous nose that gives the species its name

Above: Swaying on a canopy walkway, Bill and Pam Seney take a stroll through the Danum Valley Rainforest in Borneo

Top:

Middle: The oriental pied hornbill boasts a horn above its beak and is unique to the region

Bottom: The doctor fish, garra rufa, refreshes travelers’ feet in a natural stream

world’s third largest island, Borneo is divided by Malaysia and Brunei in the north and Indonesia in the south Millennia before politics ever car ved the island into sections, it was already an ancient rainforest

“After we had visited Africa some years ago, the rest of the world became a little boring,” Pam admits. “For me, it’s about the animals. I wanted to go to the Borneo rainforest where only certain animals can be seen. This is where the excitement is.”

First destination: The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre near San dakan, where rescued orphaned baby orangutans have found protection for 50 years. Young orangutans learn to climb in the nurser y ’ s play area. Eighty orangutans live free in the sanctuar y within the Kabili Sepilok Forest Re ser ve, mostly virgin rainforest

Following a wood en skywalk through the rainforest to watch the orang utans being fed, the Seneys found that at 10 a m , the heat was so extreme only one adult orangutan showed up to the feeding station “Many pigtail macaques came and some were successful stealing food,” Pam says

Continuing on the tour, she peered up into the dense foliage of the Bor neo rainforest Pam wasn ’ t sure if she was looking at branches or had spot ted the long, orange, hair y arms of an orangutan.

Her guide explained that the big apes often sat still with arms extended in their treetop homes to fool creatures down below, like curious humans.

Pam and Bill knew if they timed their visit right, they might spot big nosed proboscis monkeys, natural friends of orangutans.

“Finally, walking out the park, we encountered an orangutan in the trees, ” Pam says “ We followed him for about 10 minutes ” Standing as tall as five feet, males can weigh around 200 pounds, females 100 pounds They use their long powerful arms to swing from tree to tree On the ground, orang utans move on all fours Their DNA is 96 4% the same as humans

Waving goodbye to their new friend, the Seneys crossed the road to the Bornean Sun Bear Conser vation Centre Sun bears are the smallest of their species, growing to five feet or so “We saw several bears moving through the forest on the ground and a few in the trees They were small about the size of a large German shepherd,” Bill says

Projecting over the Kinabatangan River, the Sukau Rainforest Lodge takes guests in silent electric boats to see wild animals bathing and drinking

Nicknamed “dog bear” because of its short muzzle, the sun bear actually is named for its white or golden crescent shaped patch on its chest. According to legend, the patch sig nifies the rising sun The sun bear, however, is nocturnal

At the centre, orphaned and confiscated bears live in a humane, comfor table and stimulating environment When ready, re habilitated bears are released into the wild Those who can ’ t sur vive on their own live permanently on the reser ve

While looking for bears, the Seneys spot ted a hair y visitor. Bill says, “An orangutan decided to follow them down the boardwalk and used the skywalk to expedite his trip across the park.”

Next up was a drive to the Labuk Bay Pro boscis Sanctuar y, where the Seneys encoun tered pigmy squirrels and 25 proboscis

▼

Top left: Native only to Borneo, an adult orangutan and baby have 96 4% of humans’ DNA

Above: Awake before dawn, the Seneys hiked up a mountainside for 2 ½ hours to be above the morn ing mist steaming over Danum Valley The couple were perpetually drenched while in the rainforest and would wring out water from their clothes Bill’s humidex calculator registered 58 degrees Celsius

Left: A strangling fig vine overtakes a menggaris tree, which can grow to over 80 metres in height if the fig does not kill it Four fifths of the rainforest’s trees are dipterocarp hardwoods that reach 60 to 80 metres ta ll

Top: A herd of pygmy elephants crosses the river Half the size of African elephants, they can get ag gressive if they feel threatened Professional guides made it possible for Bill and Pam Seney to get within close viewing range

monkeys in a mangrove forest. “Their speed and agility is a mar vel to watch. We got within several feet of them,” Bill says.

Thrilled by the day’s adventures, the Seneys travelled two hours overland and then by boat to the Sukau Rainforest Lodge Jutting over the Kinabatangan River, the open air dining room is shielded by a wooden roof A long wooden boardwalk links the dining room to comfortable gue strooms Maximum accommodation for 20 people emphasizes the lodge’s seclusion.

“It’s totally pure, untouched rainforest, so dense all you see are trees, leaves and bush,” Pam says “It was amazing to walk out of your door and there’s a mama orangutan and baby right there. It was a paradise.”

Next day, morning and evening river cruises introduced the Seneys to crocodile, storm storks, white hornbill birds, maroo n Langor monkeys, pythons and more “ We hid and watched 15 elephants cross the shallow part of the river,” Bill says. “Pygmy elephants are only in Borneo They’re a lit tle less than half the size of an African ele phant ”

A knowledgeable guide on the day’s na ture walk amazed Pam when he put a stick on a white tuft on the ground. “ The whole thing started to crawl It was a beautiful in sect called a cotton bug ”

On April 15th, Pam’s love of creatures great and small was tested at the Goman tong Cave, home to two million bats and even more cockroaches Stepping carefully on a boardwalk, she says, “ we walked right through it. Cockroaches were all around us. ”

“At sunset, the bats swarm out of the cave It’s a mar vel to see hundreds of thou sands of them Bat hawks lurk and pick off the bats,” Bill says

Of her experience, Pam says, “I thought I was pushing this one to the limit. I didn’t think the smell would ever come out of our clothes ”

Within the cave system, swiflets build collagen rich nests, which are har vested twice yearly for bird’s nest soup. Security guards live in the caves to ward against theft

Another local bird is useful to fisherman Resembling a snake when in water, “the snake bird dives in the water and catches fish. Fishermen tie a rope to its leg and put a ring around its neck so the bird can ’ t swal low the fish ”

The Seneys drove nearly five hours to the Borneo Rainforest Lodge in Dunham Valley next day “ There’s no one around for 160 km, it’s so deep in the jungle,” Bill says.

Superior accommodations, cuisine and a bathtub on the balcony helped Pam shake off the bat cave experience.

Ready for action at 6:30 am, the couple crossed the canopy walkways and climbed up the mountainside, 290 metres above sea level, for a couple hours “We wanted to get up over the mist before the morning sun came out, ” Pam says

A unique stop was the Dade zandusan burial site, where the deceased of 1700 tribes were buried in coffee and inser ted into the cliff to protect the remains from animals

A water fall and pool beckoned on the way back. Pam says, “ We had a fish mas sage where they pick at your hands and feet!”

Being in the rainforest meant the Seneys were always wet Bill’s humidex calculator often indicated the temperature was 58 de grees Celsius. “ We could wring out our clothes like we were in a pool It was ver y hot, night and day No bree ze, either I loved the humidity and heat ”

With more than 200 species of trees, the rainforest is perpetually lush. Eighty per cent of its green canopy is provided by 60 to 80 metre high dipterocarp hardwoods

Walking through the forest with their tour group, the Seneys encountered 12 ele phants. One pachyderm trumpeted loudly. Having previous ly warned ever yone that elephants can get aggressive, the guides got the 15 visitors out of harm’s way Once it was safe, the group followed the wonderful animals to the river.

“ That was the only bit of fear we felt on our trip,” Pam says Bill adds, “Most of the land based ani mals, if they hear or see you, leave.”

Sadly for Pam, leaving was her own real ity. On April 18th, she and Bill made the most of their last day in the region, taking a long fare well visit to the birds and ani mals. They were rewarded by sightings of butterflies, green lead birds, red leaf mon keys, rufus tailed tailor birds, Pacific swal lowings and others

At last, it was time to pack up and jostle over a couple hours of “horrible” road to the airport in Lahad Datu. The Seneys flew to Kota Kinabalu and stayed overnight at the So luxe Hotel Pam confesses, “I was pouting about having to leave Sandakan ”

However, morning brought fresh adven tures as the Seneys boarded a flight for Ban dar Seri Begawan in Br unei Dar ussalam. Their Br unei explorations are revealed in the Oct 24th issue of Windsor Life WLM

•

•

•

Whether you are looking to enhance your self image with facial cosmetic surgery or a non sur gical procedure, Dr Linda Tietze (rhymes with pizza!) is here to help

Dr Tietze is a full ser vice ENT (Ear Nose and Throat) surgeon who is also this region’s leading rhinoplasty specialist, meaning surgical cosmetic nasal contouring and reshaping She is an accomplished surgeon whose busy practice spans the continuum from Facial Cosmetic Surger y to Paediatric ENT Surger y to complex Head and Neck Surger y to Audiologic assess ments and hearing aid dispensing.

Dr. Tietze has been sharing her skills for the needs of Windsor Essex County since 2001.

As Windsor Regional Hospital’s Chief of Oto lar yngology Head & Neck Surger y, Dr Tietze provides a solid foundation for the highest quality of assessment and surgical skill you deser ve and expect when it comes to facial cosmetic procedures

A fu ll range of surgical ser vices will leave you with virtually undetectable incisions for rhino plasty, blepharoplasty (eyelid lifts) and otoplasty (ear tucks). Dr. Tietze also per forms a wide range of non surgical cosmetic facial ser vices to

eliminate unwanted facial creases and wrinkles in minutes and provide youthful cheeks and luscious lips

These ser vices are ver y affordable and can enhance your physical appearance and improve your self esteem

Dr Tietze is especially gratified by her work specializing in rhinoplasty She has seen how such surgical nasal refinements transform a face and can profoundly impact confidence and composure.

“Even a subtle change in the shape of a nose can have a dramatic effect on someone ' s ap pearance, balancing their facial symmetr y and bolstering their self confidence,” explains Dr. Tietze

Dr Tietze offers free consultations to find out what procedure is suited to your personal lifestyle Dr Tietze takes time with each patient to understand and carefully assess the options that are best suited to the individual for the best possible results

Book your confidential consultation with Dr. Linda Tietze today by calling 519 252 9196 extension 2 or by visiting her website at www.WindsorENT.com.

You Deser ve the Best! Enhance Your Appearance With Leading Specialist Dr. Linda Tietze

JOEL CORT

Collaborating With Ford to Reduce Assembly Line Injuries in a Computer Age

STORY BY DICK HILDEBRAND PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAX MELMER FOR MITACS

AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURES SUCH AS FORD continue to in vest in research and technology to mitigate aches and pains that are poten tially associated with their daily activities, thanks in par t to research collaborations with a University of Windsor professor and his team

Joel Cort is a Hamilton native who, over the past 15 years, has become a ‘proud Windsorite’ with no intention of ever leaving. He began studying for his Masters at the University of Windsor in 2002 and quickly became involved in industrial ergonomics. He worked with Ford during his Master’s degree before returning to Hamilton where he got his PhD at McMaster University. Back in Windsor he was hired by the University to work in the Kinesiology Depar tment which studies the human body and its various movements He’s still there today “I like the people here,” he says, “all my really close friends when I was in grad school are here, and I married my girlfriend here ” The couple has two children, a daughter who is 6 and a 4 year old son

Professor Cor t ’ s specialty is understanding body mechanics and having been active in athletics, he had initially planned on doing spor ts related research for his Masters thesis However, after working with Professor Jim Potvin, an expert in ergonomics and industrial worker safety, Cort’s interest shifted to the automotive field. He was introduced to the Ford Motor Com pany ’ s ergonomics program and he began doing research for the industrial giant which he applied to his studies. “I wanted to understand the human body a little better, specifically the spine,” says Professor Cort, “since back in j uries are prominent in the workplace.” He’s hoping his work will help him understand “the forces that one exerts to put parts together, or lift, or push or pull in connection with how often it’s done, as well as the posture at which those things are done The end result of the studies is to mitigate any risk to the body as a result of those repetitive motions ”

Years ago, when computers were first introduced into the design of cars, factories and work stations, most of the human risk aspect of the work oc curred after the jobs were already being performed So, when new products began rolling down the assembly line, workers installing par ts, may have

found themselves in uncomfortable positions In certain circumstances, it was difficult to alter jobs that were already being per formed which may have increased the risk associated muscle injur y, because the demand of the job may have been greater than the workers capacity to complete. And as professor Cort explains, it was extremely challenging to go in after the fact and make the necessar y alterations.

This past May, he and his team partnered with Ford in a 2 year program to continue their quest of mitigating the risk associated with manually assembling automobiles therefore, making assembly lines safer and more efficient The first step was the use of v ideo game like software to create simulations that mimicked a worker’s motions on the line Results will be turned over to Ford’s ergonomics group which used them to evaluate which motions could pose the greatest risk for injur y The information also has the potential to be shared with doctors to help guide them in more effective return to work programs

The average factor y contains more than 400 assembly line work stations which makes the time and cost of individual simulations prohibitive, so the automaker and Professor Cort decided to streamline the process by using 3 D motion capture technology….an idea that Ford’s ergonomist Allison Stephens has welcomed with open arms: “ The company recognizes that to stay ahead, we have to tap into advanced research and this collaboration provides access to te chnical expertise that we ’ ve not been able to get elsewhere,” she says

Professor Cort’s team is now active in the next step of the ambitious program Once the analysis of the hardware is completed probably by the end of the year workers

Mitacs intern Ji Xiaoxu and Professor Joel Cort from the University of Windsor demonstrate the 3D Motion Capture technology that will be used for research on the assembly line at Ford’s Windsor plant

at Ford’s facilities in Windsor and Oakville have the option to help by being outfitted with motion capture suits As they work, their movements will be recorded by sen sors that are situated at specific areas of the body. The resulting data will be transferred into JACK, the Siemens developed game like human simulation software that can evaluate the motions, providing an accurate look at the demands of each station along the line. “It’s ver y much like a video game, ” says the professor, “ as players move the con troller left and right and up and down, the little mannequins move correspondingly, which is basically the way the simulation software works.” He adds, “ we can go onto the plant floor and capture the motions of the ‘real operators ’ or as we prefer to call them industrial athletes because they’re able to do the job over and over again and find ways to do things better and more effi ciently.” Hopefully the research will show how these workers adapt, “ so that we ’ re not guessing how they manage to do that When ne w work stations are developed over the next five or so years, this will allow Ford to improve on their already existing ergonomics processes ” Cort’s function is to train students to become future engineers and to help out with the technology and in formation that goes into the software, while Ford has the process and the final decision to change a job based on the researchers’ findings

The $170,000 program is funded jointl y by a grant from Ford and the government sponsored Mitacs Accelerate program, which is aimed at developing industrial and academic collaborations allowing young people to get into the workforce and pro mote their abilities to companies as they gain valuable knowledge through hands on experience outside the classroom

Currently, professor Cort has one Mitac student helping him in the lab and on location w ith Ford. Three others will join the group before the end of the year to assist in deciding exactly which sensor equipment will be the most effective for the work station analysis

The team ’ s job will be done when its final recommendations are handed over to Ford.

Professor Cort is confident that the sen sor technology will result in much more accurate findings compared to the older and limited camera technology and that the design of future work stations will result in reduced risk of injur y to those working on the factor y floor which will also may show benefits of increase productivity WLM

OCTOBER Thursday, 27 GHOST TOURS

Till Sun , Oct 30 Zombie soldiers, execu tions and other terrifying encounters are par t of the Ghost Tours at For t Malden, 100 Laird Ave , Amherstburg 519 736 5416

THE DO GOOD DIVAS’ NIGHT OUT IN HANDBAG HEAVEN

The annual signature event of the Do Good Divas helps raise funds for local healthcare with an auction of handbags Beginning at 4 pm, A Night Out in Handbag Heaven is held at the Caboto Club, 2175 Parent Ave., Windsor. Details on Facebook.

Friday, 28

MUSIC FOR CHOIRS, PIANOS, AND PERCUSSION

The UWindsor Chamber Choir and Uni versity Singers are performing their season opening concer t, featuring music from Or ff ’ s Carmina Burana and Chilcott’s Songs and Cries of London Town A pre concert reception is held at 6 pm; the con cert starts 7:30 pm at Heritage Auditorium in Assumption Hall, 400 Huron Church Rd , Windsor Ticket price is $20 per adult, $10 per student 519 253 3000, ext 4212 staging uwindsor ca/music

WINDSOR LIFE CENTRE’S SEVENTH ANNUAL A NIGHT TO SHINE GALA

Benefiting Windsor Life Centre’s long term residential recover y program for women str uggling with dr ug and alcohol addic tions, the gala includes a five course meal, entertainment and silent auction. A Night to Shine begins at 6 pm at the Caboto Club, 2175 Parent Ave , Windsor Details on Facebook

HOCKTOBERFEST: INTERNATIONAL FEMALE HOCKEY FESTIVAL

Till Sun , Oct 30 Hockey players compete and play during the weekend festival held in locations throughout Windsor and sur rounding communities Spectators can watch games for free 519 816 8235 hocktoberfest com

Saturday, 29 YOGA AT THE GALLERY

The HNM Dance Company is leading one hour yoga sessions in the third floor galleries of the Art Galler y of Windsor Par ticipants of all levels are invited to bring their own mats and help support AGW

programming. The sessions are noon to 1 pm at 401 Riverside Dr. W. The fee is $5 per member or $10 per non member. 519 977 0013. agw.ca.

Sunday, 30

THE WINDSOR MOOSE LODGE 1499 HONOUR OF DUT Y VETERANS’ BRUNCH

All militar y ser vice veterans are invited to the Honour of Duty Veterans’ Br unch hosted by the Windsor Moose Lodge 1499 The event begins at 10:30 am at the Lodge at 777 Tecumseh Rd , Windsor Veterans are asked to pick up their free tickets in ad vance Guests are welcome to purchase tick ets for $12 per adult and $6 per child under age 7. 519 253 1834. windsormooselodge.blogspot.ca.

NOVEMBER

Tuesday, 1

WINDSOR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Till Sun., Nov. 6. Showcasing Canadian, local and international feature films of artis tic and cultural significance, the Windsor International Film Festival has a full cine matic lineup It’s happening at the Capitol Theatre at 121 University Ave W , Wind sor Single admission is $14 per adult and $9 per student; pass admission is $140 per adult and $65 per student 519 567 3295 windsorfilmfestival com

Friday, 4

BOOKFEST WINDSOR

Till Sun., Nov. 6. With focus on the Essex County region and beyond, BookFest Windsor is a literar y series of author read ings, interactive conversations, music, visual arts and more The event is held at the Capi tol Theatre at 121 University Ave W , Windsor 519 255 6770, ext 4603 bookfestwindsor com

Wednesday, 9 CHILIFEST

Volunteering their time and cooking talents to raise funds for local charities, firefighters will present over 40 chilies in the Windsor Firefighters Benefit Fund Annual Chilifest The Sparky Toy Drive donation box will be on site at the St Clair Centre for the Arts at 201 Riverside Dr W , Windsor The all you can eat event is from 11 am to 2 pm Ticket price is $10. 519 796 3503. windsorfirefighters.org.

Saturday, 12

ESSEX COUNT Y ORCHID SOCIET Y ORCHID SHOW

Till Sun., Nov. 13. Floral exhibits, art, pho tography, free lectures and workshops are part of the Essex County Orchid Society ▼

MOVING FORWARD

EXCITING THINGS ARE HAPPENING at Angie Goulet & Associates! Over the last year, the team has doubled in size, in order to provide the ser vice and care that you have come to expect. With over 40 years of experience amongst the team, they really have seen it all

Focused foremost on caring about the client, not just their home, Angie Goulet & Associates are strategic and have systems in plac e to sell your home in the shor test amount of time, for the most money possible, in a smooth and hassle free manner

The entire team believes in educating buyers and sellers you need to be as informed as they are as to what's happen ing in this market. It's a market that Windsor has never experienced, clients need a reliable, strong, strategic team to guide you through your process, whether you are buying or selling, for the first time, or the 10th.

As Team Director and at the forefront of Angie Goulet & Associates, Angie will continue to lead the team and provide the care and compassion to each and ever y transaction that she is known for Angie's belief of educating the client, and moving people for ward is being instilled into the entire team as Angie plays a mentor role to the others

Krista Klundert is Office Director and Licenced Realtor Krista brings 13+ years of real estate marketing and invest ment experience to clients Not only overseeing the office, but also working one on one with clientele helping buyers find their dream home and sellers accomplish their goals. Krista’s long term vision and planning engages clients in a way to help them focus on a plan that works for their family now and into the future.

Britni Goulet continues to excel in her realtor role. Britni's experience with new home constr uction plays a large asset when looking at the investment aspects of a home, whether new or re sale, purchase or sale Her ability to methodically and strategically guide clients through difficult choices and a

continually changing marketplace keeps clients focused and at ease.

Tina Label le, Client Care Co ordinator and Sales Rep, is the newest addition to the team! Licensed for 13+ years, Tina brings fantastic experience in both resale and new home mar kets Tina will be responsible for catering to customer needs, including structuring continuous improvement processes to always ensure a smooth real estate transition

Grayson Dearing Marketing Apprentice, quickly moved from summer intern to a Marketing position With a strong desire and passion for real estate, Grayson's enthusiasm is an asset to the marketing department, with new and fresh ideas to get your home sold!

Katelyn McMahon, Client Management, will be assisting Krista and Tina with caring for clients. Katelyn will be spear heading the Customer Appreciation Program, and assisting with community events. Katelyn has experience in new home construction and has an enthusiasm for real estate.

Angie Goulet & Associates truly care about their clients

"It may not always be a wise time to buy or sell The team will help you make that decision with honesty and guide you to what works best for your life situation "

Each and ever y listing is approached strategically and systematically Each family’s unique needs are addressed, and the listing approach is created for those specific needs Ever y home for sale is truly an investment and treated as a prized asset to the team.

As well, every buyer is given honesty and integrity from the day a relationship is created. Buying a home is a huge invest ment, and having an experienced, educated professional realtor will make the process that much smoother and enjoy able.

Contact Angie Goulet & Associates at 519 944 5955, or visit www imovewindsor com to learn how they can help you move for ward!

Britni

Tina Labelle

Katelyn McMahon

Orchid Show at Colasanti’s Tropical Gar dens. Admission is free to the event hap pening from 10 am to 4 pm. 519 727 6343. essexcountyorchidsociety.webs.com.

Saturday, 19

AMHERSTBURG RIVER LIGHTS WINTER FESTIVAL

Till Sun , Dec 30 New activities are mak ing the 10th anniversary of the Amherstburg River Lights Winter Festival special Attrac tions include light displays, tree lighting in olde towne square, outdoor holiday movie, carolers, children’s crafts and fireworks Gin gerbread house creations happen in the warming house ever y Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the free festival at 270 Dal housie St , Amherstburg 519 736 4642 riverlights.ca.

DOWNTOWN WINDSOR WINTER FEST

The Downtown Windsor Business Im provement Association is turning the city centre into a wonderland with its free an nual Winter Fest, featuring carolers, activi ties, shopping and more The parade begins at 3 pm on Ouellette Avenue between Giles Boulevard and Pitt Street 519 252 5723 winterfestwindsor ca

KINGSVILLE

SANTA CLAUS PARADE AND FANTASY OF LIGHTS

Till Sun , Jan 8 The jolly old elf is flying in for the Kingsville Santa Claus Parade, be ginning on Main Street at 6:30 pm on Sat., Nov 19 After the parade concludes in Lakeside Park at 315 Queen St., the switch will be flipped on the free Fantasy of Lights, where colour ful light displays and illumi nated figures will shine nightly until Jan 8 519 733 2123 fantasyoflights ca santaparade.org.

DECEMBER

Saturday, 3 EXPLORE THE SHORE GINGERBREAD TRAIL

Till Sun , Dec 4 Businesses along the shores of Lake Erie extend a free, open invi tation to their Candy Land style gingerbread house competition, held at various venues along County Rd 50, Amherstburg, Essex and Kingsville Explore the Shore Ginger bread Trail is open from noon to 5 pm 519 738 3264 or epicwineries com

WINDSOR SANTA CLAUS PARADE

Floats, bands, characters and the big man in the red suit will be marching off at 6 pm in the Annual Windsor Santa Claus Parade

The parade starts at Riverside Drive W. at Rankin Avenue and concludes in Olde Sandwich Towne, where the merchants will receive parade goers and marchers 519 254 2880. santaparade.org.

Checklist for "Snowbirds"

Come Januar y, many “snowbirds” will be heading south If you plan to escape Canada for the winter, be certain your financial life is in order before you go.

There are two critical elements to ensuring you’ll be in good financial shape: Make sure your affairs at home can be managed in your absence, and arrange access to cash and financial ser vices while you ’ re away

Electronic banking and investing whether through automated teller machines (ATMs), the Internet or telephone make all of this easier than ever. But you still need to prepare. Here’s a checklist to get started:

Arrange bill payments

Take inventor y of bills that must to be paid while you ’ re gone Among others, these include credit cards, loans, income and property taxes and membership dues and subscriptions Make sure you can pay them while outside the countr y, or arrange for someone to take care of them for you Internet banking is a great way to keep track of expenses and bill payments And don’t forget unexpected bills that may show up in your mailbox

Ensure access to cash If you ’ re wintering in the U.S. or another countr y with easy access to international networks through ATMs, a bank card may be all you need to get cash. But take a backup in case your card gets lost. If you spend time in the U.S., you can open a U.S. dollar account at a Canadian financial institution that will allow you to write cheques. In fact, you may want to con sider holding U S dollar investments that can provide you with income in U S dollars while you ’ re there

Ensure access to financial accounts You might need to make investment or banking transactions while you ’ re away, or moni tor accounts If you’ll have Internet access, make sure you ’ re registered for online financial ser vices, or use automated telephone ser vices If electronic access isn’t possible, make other arrangements with your financial institutions or have someone manage your affairs.

Put investments in order Meet with your financial advisor to determine whether your portfolio is in good shape And make arrangements for investments that will mature while you ’ re away, such as Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs), term deposits and bonds Also, be sure your advisor knows how to contact you

Cover your legal bases Your powers of attorney should be up to date in case something happens to prevent you from managing your affairs. Have a current will in place, and let someone know where your legal documents are kept. Also, be aware that depending on how long you have stayed in the U.S., you may be considered a resident of the U.S. for income tax purposes. Before you leave, check with a cross border specialist to confirm your tax status.

Buy health insurance When you ’ re out of the countr y, medical insurance is a must Without proper coverage, your financial life could be thrown into turmoil if you become ill or are the victim of an accident Even a brief illness in a foreign countr y can put you deep in debt if you don’t have adequate insurance The older you get, the more complex and costly insurance can be, so ensure your needs are being met with the policy you select

With your financial affairs in order, you can head south and enjoy a relaxing winter

possible about the instr ument of her choice.

Dr umming has to be in this young lady’s genes At the age of 3 the Windsor native was hammering on the pots and pans in her mom ’ s kitchen By the time she was 5 and still banging on those pots, her dad, recognizing his young daughter’s potential, enrolled her for lessons She learned r udiments at Labonte music then graduated to the private tutelage of the well rounded Lee Cochrane, who is not only an amazing dr ummer but teaches other instr uments like the bass guitar as well. “I learned a lot from him,” she says, “like notations and these cool rock tunes from bands like Led Zeppelin. By the time I was 10 years old I was dr umming to stuff like ‘ Whole Lotta Love’ it was fun times ” She continued advanced training at Long and McQuade and then received more private instr uc tion from McGill music graduate Julian Jeun, a percussionist for the Windsor Symphony Orchestra who introduced her to many different musical genres which she has incorporated into her personal rock style.

SIERRASANTORO ENSURING THE BEAT GOES ON!

ONE OF THE REWARDS of being a writer for Windsor Life Magazine is the opportu nity to meet some incredible talent Sierra Santoro is one of those people and at the tender age of 19, she’s been blessed with an innate sense of rhythm and timing which she has successfully transferred to her study of the drums With the firm focus on the future, she is determined that a life of music is the only way for her to go And, without a doubt, she’s on the verge of becoming a recognized drummer

Armed with a passion for banging on things, Sierra still manages to lead an active life while pursuing her musical dreams. In her younger days, she took swimming lessons at St. Clair College and today she enjoys bike riding and hanging out with friends.

If you ’ re lucky enough to visit her home where she lives wit h her family and get invited into the rec room, you’ll see ever ything imaginable that a drummer might have. There are drums, cymbals, brushes etc. all over the place the place resembles the aftermath of a Buddy Rich concert. And it’s here that the magic happens. Ever y day, Sierra cloisters her self in the room for up to 5 hours at a time and practices, in hopes of learning ever ything

A product of a musical family her older sister, Nadia, is a classical pianist… Sierra was 9 when she appeared in public for the first time at McKenzie Hall wh ere she kept the beat to Alice Cooper’s ‘Des perado’, much to the delight of an appre ciative audience And, she couldn’t attend a wedding without sitting in with the band At one of those weddings, for instance, she was playing to L A Woman by The Doors, when curi ous guests from a reception next door popped in to see what was going on! In Sierra’s own words, “it was an outstanding per formance particularly when you attracted an audi ence from a different occasion.” By the time she was 14 and just getting out of Grade 8, she received a standing ovation at McKenzie Hall when she per formed the Who’s ‘ Won’t Get Fooled Again’ Spor ting a huge grin as she recalls that day, Sierra says, “when I ended it ever y body was just screaming and clapping ” Incidentally, that entertaining moment is still available on Sier ra ’ s original YouTube channel Athena Dr ummer. Her ne west exploits can be seen and heard on her new channel simply titled Sierra.

Not content with waiting for life to come to her, Sierra Santoro has taken her career firmly in hand. In 2014, she

STORY/PHOTOGRAPHY BY DICK HILDEBRAND

contacted singer Jesse Kinch, winner of ABC TV ’ s Rising Star competition, offering him drum notations that she had prepared for some of his covers and original material He had just finished a per formance in Nashville with his bass player, and organist... no drummer so Sierra leapt at the opportu nity to show her stuff Kinch responded almost immediately by saying he absolutely loved it and that Sierra was “ an extension of his mind.” Last year, she was invited to at tend an audition with the singer at his Long Island home so she delayed her university enrolment She passed with flying colours and became Kinch’s dr ummer “ The vibe there,” she says, “ was absolutely fantastic. We were so great together that it sounded like a performance rather than an audition ” Jesse added, “she nailed the songs like she had been rehearsing with us for weeks ”

After signing with a recording company, Kinch invited Sierra back to Ne w York for a recording audition session which was paid for by the label He’s in the process of recording an album but Sierra won ’ t be on it, although there’s a possibility she could be touring with the singer in the future. She describes her most recent New York experi ence as more of “ a learning experience I got the opportunity to get a first hand look at the recording industr y and how an album is professionally put together.”

In the meantime, Sierra will be doing some gigging and a bit of teaching and heading off to the University of Windsor where she’ll major in music toward a Bach elor’s degree. She then hopes to enroll at Wayne State University in Detroit to pursue her Masters

Sierra loves the drums and enjoys playing classic rock. “It’s got that beat…it has the human element which is what I like. Unlike a lot of today’s music which relies on elec tronics, I enjoy the manual effort involved in keeping the beat and throwing in things that make an arrangement interesting.”

While she enjoys the music of The Doors, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones and just about any other group that came out of the classic rock era of the 60s and 70s, you’ll find a whole lot more if you check out her YouTube videos. As an example, her inter pretation of the Blue Bossa at the downtown Windsor Phog Lounge, is outstanding

Sierra Santoro is firm on her ambition: “I want to be a performer,” she says, “I want to play in front of people and I want to record for them. I want to be a drum mer in a band!” And she’ll do what it takes to reach that goal