Have you ever at tende d a funeral where the procession was le d by a Har ley Davidson? Or had the option of turning your love d one s cremate d remains into a pre cious diamond? Do you want your life to be celebrate d as uniquely as you live d it?
Ar bor Memorial, understands that a celebration of some one’s life is unique because it's not just a single day in some one's life, it's someone's entire life celebrate d in a single day
For over 100 years the staf f at Ar bor Memorial have helpe d the bereave d families of Windsor Essex county move through the dif ficult process of saying goodbye to a love d one They have six funeral homes that take great pride in ser vicing this community.
“The industr y has really change d over the last few years,” says Sean Marenger, License d Funeral Director and Manager “Funerals use d to be standard, somber events. Now we are seeing families that want to celebrate life in original ways ”
At Ar bor Memorial it is always the family’s choice; you can s ay go o dbye through the v isi tation, a grave side se r v ice, o r lantern lighting ceremony You can include live music, a mul time dia presentation, or even cherishe d memorabilia Many pe ople spe cialize se r v ice s acco rding to their fai th, c ultural customs or family traditions
Ar bor Memorial is flexible and uses creativity to accommo date ever y reasonable request while guiding you through your choices What you can always count on is the full suppor t and care Ar bor provides to families and the exceptional at tention to detail paid to ever y funeral and memorial ser vice
Ever y Ar bor Memorial facility in Windsor Essex is special Some have de ep histo r ical ro ots in the region while othe rs feature a memorial garden cemeter y on the grounds
In addition, Victoria Greenlawn is the only funeral home in southwe ste r n Onta r io wi th a fully lice nse d ba r and outdo o r patio They prov ide a host of se r v ice s and ame ni tie s that cannot be found elsewhere in this region
Wi th i ts immaculate landscaping and peaceful set ting, familie s have the abili ty to host many tradi tional and non traditional events here including:
• Champagne toasts to a life well live d
• Bereavement yoga
• Custom catering, oyster bars or BBQs
• We ddings
All lo cations of fe r lounge s and communi ty ro oms fo r lo cal ser vice organizations and non profit groups meetings at no cost
“Basically the family cho ose s the theme and we make i t happe n,” s ays Sean. “We have had spo r ts ca rs leading the pro cession” “Fo r many, a meaningful se r v ice is an impo r tant pa r t of the healing process. It also helps console the imme diate family, the people who of ten feel the loss most deeply ” “We do our be st to suppo r t familie s af te r the fune ral o r memo r ial is ove r. Fo r example, have you eve r hea rd of be reavement yoga held at a funeral home?”
One thing that has remaine d consistent is the option of pre planning your funeral. Ar bor Memorial’s team of professionals have the knowle dge and experience to assist individuals and families with ever y detail.
Ar bo r also prov ide s be reaveme nt wo r kshops and e state planning seminars
“Pre planning is tr uly a gif t to your love d one s. Af te r you pass, they won’t have to second guess what you want,” says Troy St Onge, Lice nse d Fune ral Dire cto r and Pre planning specialist. “Pre planning removes additional stress on families when they are overwhelme d by grief ”
Staf f are happy to visit with you at one of the funeral homes, o r in the comfo r t of your own home to discuss options. With the unpre dictability of life, it is never too ear ly to star t a conversation
With the cold temperatures, your thoughts may drift to fond memories of summer retreats at the
cottage. And while those thoughts may warm you up a bit, you don’t want to be left out in the cold if you ’ re not aware of the financial implications when you sell the family retreat or if you transfer ownership to your children this year
Unlike with your home, transferring ownership of the family cottage to anyone other than your spouse may trigger a taxable capital gain on the appreciation in value during your ownership. You may want to consider leaving the property to your spouse. Doing this helps defer the tax bill until the property is sold or passed on to future generations. In addition, there are a number of strategies that you can undertake to help reduce and potentially avoid the capital gains tax, including:
Selling and taking back a mor tgage If you decide to sell the cottage to your children, consider taking back a mortgage by offering your children a mortgage loan as payment for the purchase price The capital gain can be spread over a period of up to five years And you can forgive the mortgage in your will so your children will own the cottage without debt or paying taxes
Transferring ownership while you’re alive Transferring ownership of the cottage to a trust that designates your children as beneficiaries will trigger an immediate capital gain. But from that point on, your heirs are responsible for taxable gains. They won ’ t pay those taxes until they sell the property or transfer ownership.
Declaring the cottage as your principal residence
You can have only one principal residence for tax purposes So if your cottage has gone up in value more than your home, consider designating the cottage as your principal residence, which isn’t subject to capital gains tax
Buying life insurance Family members can use the tax free proceeds from a life insurance policy to help pay capital gains taxes on your cottage when you leave it as part of your estate If you plan to sell or transfer ownership of your family cottage this year, make sure your finances align with your goals. Doing so can help ensure you stay on track to reach them.
Empowerment. That is what spring symbolizes to me. Maybe it’s the energy of sap flowing through the trees and daffodils pushing through the warming soil Or the revving of engines as my friends and I tune up our cars for a fresh sea son of racing
Whatever it is, a new wave of empowerment is surging through Essex and Kent Counties.
Just look at the Holy Names Girls FIRST Ro botics Team They’ve worked nearly non stop, designing and building their own robot Now they are ready to take on competing robots from 52 high schools at the FIRST Robotics Compe tition’s Windsor Essex Great Lakes Regional on April 8 and 9 at the St Denis Centre Read about the young women ’ s journey in this issue and then cheer them all on at the free event.
Innovation is also central to the Cypher Sys tems Group’s family of companies. We are intrigued by the Windsor based insurer that also owns the Windsor Spitfires, LaSalle Vipers and the Lakeshore Canadiens
The power of motherhood is driving All 4 Mamas. These Moms connecting Moms throughout the community have launched their Hospital Gift Pack Program to distribute 4,000 gift bags to new mothers this year
Comedian Ron James always delivers a jolt to the senses with his laugh provoking humour. He is performing at Caesars Windsor on April 15th
Months of renovation are finished at a gor geous Pearl Street chateau Take a peek at the beautiful design trends updating this gem for its modern family.
Creative power is the strongest force I know. Windsor Life lets you experience outstanding local examples through our stories about The Source, a high energy ro ck and dance band that plays hits from the 1960s to today; and Misty Powers, author of a moving new book of poetr y,
The Ghost Light Players create theatre with out fear In addition to play productions, they recently por trayed the characters of Downton Abbey at a formal dinner par ty marking the series’ grand finale
Of all the fun things to do this spring, I’m especially stoked about the n e w Automotive Archives now open downtown at the Windsor Public Librar y. The first collection of its kind in Canada, the archives celebrate the automobile, the industr y and its importance to the develop ment of Windsor and Essex County Just as the trees have sap, I suspect we ’ ve all got motor oil in our veins!
Sincerely,
Bob Robinson
STORY BY KAREN PATON EVANS PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL PIETRANGELO
THE FRENCH, WITH THEIR ARTISTIC and practical approaches to making a home beautiful, provided the original inspiration for a large maison built in 2001 on the shore of Lake St Clair Consider ing the French were the first Europeans to settle the area in 1701, it is fitting that a chateau should now grace a prestigious waterfront neighbourhood
When the house was built, the influences of French design were evident ever ywhere Terra cotta tiles on the kitchen floor Wooden beams on the ceiling Four traditional fireplaces Ornate brass chan deliers. Toile draperies in the butler’s kitchen.
However, when new owners purchased the property in December, 2014, they wanted to make their home a little less français and a lot more them.
Having two teenagers ready to express their emerging style sense in thei r own bedrooms reinforced the parents ’ decision to call in professional help Cindy Catton, a member of The Room at Coulter’s design team, which also includes Paulette Nicodemo and Stephanie Evola, and Nancy Luchino, a consultant with Coulter’s Furniture, were engaged
“It was always a dream of this family to live on the water, ” Cindy says The Lakeshore residence presents gorgeous views of the lake in all its changing moods and seasons Against this natural backdrop, many of the rooms in the house were lightened and rejuvenated to suit the owners ’ more contemporar y tastes.
Left: A turret space is the perfect place for a grand piano in a Lakeshore house influenced by French chateau architecture The classic feel of the columned fireplace and gothic windows is refreshed with the black and brushed silver credenza’s modern take on a French commode and boxy, down wrapped armchairs
Above: Bringing bling to the grand foyer, a black chandelier festooned in cr ystals is caged within a black iron orb
Clockwise from the top left: Most of the light fixtures were replaced during he house’s extensive remodel a glass globe bound in black wrought iron encapsulates candlestick lights; in the dining area near the family kitchen, a solid wood Canadel table is surrounded by black fabric Parsons chairs; views of Lake St Clair can be enjoyed from the armchairs in the master bedroom’s bay window or the king size bed, fitted with an upholstered leather headboard; a three way mirror and vanity grace the dressing room used by the lady of the house
The redesign turned out to be a fresh start for the family and the Pearl Street house. The owners brought the bare minimum with them to their new home and purchased virtually all their fur niture from Coulter’s Furniture, with help from Nancy and Cindy
Eliminating the rusty orange hue of the origi nal terra cotta tiles made an immediate difference Most of the main level floors were treated to quiet, classic taupe and cream traver tine stone tiles The foyer walls were painted pale taupe The white tone of the chair rail, doors and mouldings provide contrast The warm oak of the grand staircase was given a polish; a new runner in a tra ditional black and honey brown pattern now highlights the stairs.
Illuminating the foyer is a black and cr ystal candlestick chandelier captured within a large black iron orb. “Most of the lighting fixtures were replaced during the renovation,” says Cindy
The first room to be seen after entering the house is the piano room “It’s the homeowners’ favourite room to sit in,” Cindy notes A grand piano stands within the half circle area created by a small turret, an architectural detail befitting a chateau Four tall, narrow gothic windows flood the turret with sunlight A hint of green was painted on the walls. White woodwork keeps the room air y.
A pair of cr ystal and silver sconces with white cylinder shades were installed above the colum ned car ved stone fireplace mantel. Bridging tra ditional style with modern glam, a silver sunburst mirror is centred between the sconces ▼
Rainbows flit around the room when the sun touches the chandelier’s delicate cr ystal prisms.
To prevent the piano room from becom ing too formal, the design team furnished it with boxy, down wrapped contemporar y armchairs and a comfortable, down filled chaise upholstered in a subtle pattern of white and green A clean lined credenza finished in black with br ushed silver ac cents and a black topped glass cocktail table with a brushed silver round base in an open cross design complement the tones in the grand silk and wool Persian area rug “ The r ug was the first piece purchased and set the tone for our colour scheme,” Cindy ex plains.
The family often congregates in the great room, relaxing on soft white sofas and arm chairs Eyes are drawn upward to the ceil ing: Where wooden beams once were, now ther e is a white painted coffered ceiling. Its square pattern is repeated in smaller scale in the design of the faint ivor y and green wool and silk area rug “The square mould ings on the ceiling, painted out, give the room a more current, elegant look.” A bank of windows and a French door offer views of the extended outdoor covered patio room and the lake beyond
Also facing the water is the dining area A r ound wooden table is ideally shaped for the cur ved rear wall, lined with gothic windows Black Parsons chairs are striking against the green, soft gold and ivor y striped silk drapes, hung floor to ceiling Sharing a love of entertaining, the couple puts their family kitchen and butler’s kitchen to frequent use.
One favourite way to spend time with friends is to host movie nights “There is an amazing hom e theatre on the lower level with theatre seating grouped in front of the largest TV you can possible get, ” Cindy obser ves A recreation room, bar, bedroom and bathroom are also on the lower level
The individual tastes of the family mem bers are revealed in their bedrooms. “ We asked the daughter what her likes and favourite colours were and ran with it,” says Cindy The feature walls were treated to a bold coat of fuchsia, offset by putty grey walls and night stands. A custom made white upholstered headboard in a quilted diamond pattern pops against the deep pink wall White bed linens are jazzed up with fuchsia, zebra striped and black pillows.
The son ’ s spacious bedroom appears even longer with wide horizontal bands of ▼
cerulean blue, yellow and tan on the walls. One end features a gaming area, furnished with a round swivel chair, comfortably up holstered in blue and piled with accent pil lows “He was ver y involved in the design process, ” Cindy says of the teen
The parents ’ private retreat is focused on the lake A door leads to the second storey balcony for a closer look Inside the master bedroom suite, two accent armchairs invite the husband and wife to sit, read or do nothing at all but drink in the vista
The understated tones of the master bed room harmonize for a serene ambiance. Soft yellow walls, ivory area rugs with uncompli cated, contemporar y patterns and un adorned venetian blinds on the windows calm the senses. The king size bed encour ages lounging against the butter y soft beige leather headboard, upholstered in cushiony vertical channels
The mother gets ready for her day in peace Her dressing room is stylishly ap pointed with a marble topped vanity, coor dinating ivor y armchair and a round, old gold mirror encircled by small tabs of beveled mirror A full height, three sided an gled mirror is built into one wall.
The family pet, Wynne the white terrier, gets plenty of exercise, following his family around the 6,000 square foot house. “Every where you look, it’s a total transformation,” Cindy remarks. “It was fun to get to know these people and make this wonderful house special for them ”
Updating the residence took time Fortu nately, the owners ’ enthusiasm for the big project sustained the for ward moving mo mentum and ever ything was done in a mat ter of months Now, a little over a year after taking possession, the family can ’ t imagine living anywhere else.
The final result has remained true to the French attitude toward good design: With great respect, it marries the best of the exist ing traditional style with modern flare, mak ing ever ything relevant for today.
Windsor Life Magazine is always searching for interesting homes, 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 lo cation of your home will not be disclosed
Quietness Efficiency Reliable performance Great look “ Those are people’s biggest considerations when shopping for new home appli ances, ” says Frank Resendes, manager of Essex Appliance Centre. “ This year ’ s lineup of appliances delivers them all, for ever y budget.”
Advancements in technology help appliances make light work of household chores. “People get excited about doing laundry with LG’s new SideKick pedestal washer. It’s a double unit, with the regular sized front load washing machine on top and a smaller washer built into the pedestal on the bottom,” Frank says “You can simultane ously r un a small load of delicates and a full load of towels Or you can toss in the shirt you want to wear without wasting water or energy operating the big washer ”
New designer f inishes are also intriguing homeowners “After years of silver stainless steel as the coveted material for kitchen appliances, KitchenAid has launched the first ever black stainless steel appliances It’s a softer, warmer alternative that blends with your existing stainless or black appliances, so you don’t need to change out ever ything if only your refrigerator, range, oven or dishwasher is beyond repair,” Frank explains.
With appliances achieving the next level with high tech features like an app that uses WiFi to turn on the stove even teenagers averse to chores are interested. Over 12,000 square feet of showroom space and 15,000 square feet of warehouse give Essex Appliance Centre abundant space to showcase the latest in home and professional stoves, wall ovens, cooktops, microwaves, indoor g rills, dishwashers, refrigerators, washers and dr yers by Jenn Air, Wolf, Sub Zero, KitchenAid, Electrolux, Thermador, Bosch, LG, Maytag, Whirlpool, GE Profile and Amana Owners Gord and Cathy Stevens keep prices low with their warehouse style approach
“As fun as this generation of appliances is, homeowners still want to get the job done as quickly as possible. Timesaving devices give them more freedom,” Frank notes. The Jenn Air oven ’ s Speed Cook feature combines the speed of microwaving with the precision of convection cooking and broiling. Dinner is done to perfection up to three times faster than conventional cooking methods.
While the cook relaxes, the Jenn Air Culinar y Center lets her check cooking status with an app on her smar tphone Multiple halogen lighting illuminates the food as it cooks After the dish is pulled out of the oven, soft, auto close technology shuts the oven door quietly and securely
Jenn Air’s 36” Pro Style Gas Rangetop is equipped with four burners and a high performance chrome griddle for indoor grilling Two 20,000 BTU stacked burners are ideal for high heat cooking; a simmer burner offers precise control at lower heat Ingredients stay fresh longer in KitchenAid’s 25.8 cubic foot, 36" Multi Door Freestanding Refrigerator with Platinum Interior Design. The Preser va Food Care System utilizes two independent cooling systems for optimum temperature control. “Organizing this fridge is a snap, ” says Frank. “Five doors, including two soft close drawers, maximize storage and provide easy access. ”
When homeowners renovate or build new kitchens, they seem to either want the ventilation hood to be a focal point or totally concealed Frank believes, “ Vent A Hood is the master of ventila tion ” Touring the manufacturer’s plant in Texas recently, he was im pressed to see “the products are handmade with care and precision ”
Handsome metal hoods and liners are available in many custom styles, sizes and finishes. Though the design is certain to get atten tion, Vent A Hood’s Magic Lung system provides the quietest ven tilation available
Even quieter are Bosch dishwashers, rated at 39 dBA “It can barely be heard when operating,” Frank finds It is also a workhorse that can handle big loads; a flexible third rack with folding tines makes room for 30% more dirty dishes The water softener makes them spot free and shiny immediately apparent when the interior white ligh t comes on when the door is opened The full colour, easy to read TFT display makes is easy to control the dishwasher
Overflowing laundry baskets are no match for LG’s Mega Capacity Washer, the biggest capacity washer available in Canada. Able to wash 25 bath towels or 18 pairs of jeans in one load, LG’s TurboWash technology saves 20 minutes off the typical wash time.
LG Steam Technology gets out mor e than stains and dir t: The Allergiene cycle gently removes over 95% of dust mites, pet dander and other common household allergens from laundr y.
So many choices can be be wildering Essex Appliance Centre’s experienced, professional sales staff explain advantages and options in simple terms “ They can help match you to the right appliances for your needs,” Frank says
Ever y product that Essex Applian ce Centre carries can be ser viced by the independent, family business’ own ser vice team “You depend on your appliances to make your home and life run smoothly,” Frank acknowledges “Our ser vice people are experienced, cour teous and respectful of your home while on a repair call.” They regularly upgrade their product training to keep abreast of advances in tech nology.
“ When you purchase an appliance from Essex Appliance Centre, we entrust our own deliver y team to bring it for free to your home in Windsor Essex County, Blenheim or Wallaceburg,” says Frank. The deliver y team provides basic appliance setup, takes away the packaging and will move the old appliance outside, as part of the company ’ s complimentar y ser vice
Essex Appliance Centre is celebrating its 30th year in business this summer Check essexappliance com for the announcement of its huge anniversar y event
When you are looking for a unique or spe cial gift for someone head to The Treasure Nook located at 575 Notre Dame St. in Belle River. Owner Sandy Pepper takes great pride in offering exciting merchandise for men, women and children. Many items are not available anywhere else in Windsor Essex County
The Treasure Nook celebrates its one year anniversar y on March 1 Since open ing its doors last year, business has steadily grown Customers love the wide assor t ment of items that are constantly arriving
“ The Treasure Nook is my pride and joy,” states Sandy. “It’s always been my dream to open a gift shop. After retiring I took the leap of faith and I’m living my dream.”
With the arrival of spring, the shop is getting new merchandise in daily. Some ex citing new ite ms include Bridal accessories, bridal party gifts and men ’ s Tungsten rings Sandy also continues to carr y popular best sellers like the Lampe Berger Paris air puri fiers and My Journey Lockets
Increasingly, The Treasure Nook is carry ing a great selection of health and wellness items such as Himalayan Salt Lamps, med icine stones, adult colouring books and wellness books. The store has become a des t ination as word has spread about its unique gifts and excellent customer service.
The Treasure Nook has also become a gathering place in Belle River.
“Customers love that it is not just a store, we have created a special environment that has great energy We go out of our way to make it a treat for people who visit us ”
Sandy regularly plans special events in the store In April there will be a Ladies Afternoon Tea Ladies will have the oppor tunity to check out new items including a demonstration of “Skinny.” This new item is a cold pressed, raw coconut oil. You can use it to cook and cleanse with. It is exclusive to The Treasure Nook. In addi tion, ladies can take this oppor tunity to put items they like on a wish list for Mother’s
Information about The Treasure Nook, including gift ideas, new merchandise and special events can be found on their Face book page You can also sign up for their customer e mail list to keep up to date with special invitations
The shop is open seven days a week Call (519) 715 9416 for more information
The upside of building a new home is that you can choose just what you want to go into it. That can also become the downside when you feel over whelmed by the seemingly endless decisions your contractor needs you to make Enter Urban Home, a local team of highly skilled design consultants who listen to you, captu re your style and execute your vision all while saving your sanity
“ We may even save your marriage!” chuckles Jodi Mason, Urban Home’s owner and principal design consultant “All joking aside, building a ne w home can be stressful, even for calm, organized people ” After receiving panic calls from confused, overloaded home owners to be requesting guidance in selecting materials, fixtures and finishe s, Jodi decided to develop a new design ser vice exclusively for people building ne w condos, townhomes and houses.
“Knowing you have to stay on top of expenses, Urban Home offers packages that are priced upfront so your budget won ’ t be derailed by extra, unexpected costs, ” Jodi ex plains “You know exactly what the end result will be ”
Various packages provide different levels of design assistance, ea ch beginning with determining the client’s personal style and décor preferences With the Classic Package, the design team selects wall paint colours and flooring for the entire home, plus kitchen and bathroom counter tops, cabinet door styles and finishes.
The Premiere Package includes ever ything in the Classic Package, as well as choices for lighting and hardware; accent tile configura tions; and creative concepts to showcase archi tectural details
The Elite Package delivers full ser vice inte rior design management, priced by the square foot The Urban Home team is there from the architectural drawing stage to arranging the furniture and hanging the ar twork and window treatments on the move in date Jodi assures, “ We determine all the finishes; the design of the fireplace; placement of electrical ou tlets; and ever ything else required so when you walk into your new home, the rooms are fully furnished and beautifully styled.”
“ There is so much construction going on in Windsor Essex County right now, ” she notes “ We’re excited to help ne w owners because most of them will only build one or two custom homes in their lifetime We ap preciate this is a dream come true for them ”
She believes, “It’s our job to make every dol lar count Our many years of experience and clients’ feedback prove we provide excellent value and you won ’ t have to live with the costly mistakes you might have made without our design ser vice.”
Another ser vice provided by Urban Home is the Per Room Styling Package “Urban Home’s interior design consultant Philip Chouinard is a master styler who can elevate one room or a hous eful from mediocre to mar velous,” Jodi says. By arranging new furnishings and complementing them with the right, on trend pieces, Philip ensures homeowners and guests immediately know they are some where special. “He brings the artist’s final touch.”
Always accommodating and adaptable, Urban Home responds to homeowners’ true needs Numerous individual ser vices can be com bined in a custom, a la carte package for an upfront, reasonable price “ We’re the homeowners’ ally and the builder’s ally, making certain the project is as anxiety free as possible for ever yone, ” says Jodi “ When you include Urban Home on your team, you can enjoy the process while we work together to achieve a common goal: The stunning home you ’ ve always wanted ”
How well will a new kitchen stand up to daily use and changing design trends? Homeowners and contractors who engaged Wayne’s Custom Wood craft anytime over the past 30 years know the cabinetmaker’s custom craftsmanship, leading edge design and old fashioned ser vice result in kitchens that endure for decades.
Today’s lifestyle has placed the kitchen front and centre. Walls have literally come down to showcase the kitchen in open concept great rooms and lofts. “Traditional, modern, Euro, transitional whatever your personal style is, we design, craft and install exceptional kitchens that reflect who you are, ” Wayne Dupuis says “An intelligent floor plan, smart organizational solutions and practical strategies that make the most of your budget contribute to the satisfaction and pride you will feel in yo ur kitchen, now and in future ”
Reflecting on his company ’ s 30th anniversar y, Wayne says, “It’s been our honour and pleasure to create thousands of custom kitchens for midrange and high end Essex and Kent County homes. We’re excited about the next chapter for Wayne’s Custom Woodcraft and the beautiful kitchens we are going to build.”
GROWING UP IN 1960s Nova Scotia with only one or two television channels, comedian Ron James preferred his fam ily’s homegrown entertainment. “It was unbelievable None of us played an in str ument My father was a great joke teller My mother was a great laugher They still are, ” says Ron, recalling his young self, “sitting on the counter, soak ing it all up ”
Ron’s mother is from Cape Breton and his fat her from Ne wfoundland both regions rich with the tradition of storytelling. “My mother’s kitchen was al ways filled with a pantheon of personali ties, moving in and out. ” Relations and neighbours contributed their own tales and rib ticklers. “It was good and bad times it was life,” Ron says simply “It was ever ything that made me ”
Being so grounded in reality influ enced Ron’s decision to study history and political science at Acadia University, with the intention of becoming a histor y teacher “I thought it was the only option I had,” he says Verbal jam sessions in the dorm held more attraction. After earning his degree, Ron steered his career path to comedy and acting. He worked with The Second City troupe in Toronto in the 1980s, doing groundbreaking improv for 10 years.
Ron’s two career paths converged in 2001 and 2002, when he played the star character in Blackfly on Global TV, step ping back into 18th centur y Canada and getting into shenanigans at For t Simp son Eaton on the frontier Although the sitcom was a watered down version of what Ron envisioned, he assesses, “ We had a charming and affably subversive lit tle show.”
In a food court in Saskatchewan, Ron was approached by several ver y bi g First Nations gentlemen. He laughed when they told him: “Hey, it was good that Blackfly was funny or we’d have to take your hair ”
The program “ str uck a chord” with people, Ron says That has always been his aim, whether doing stand up comedy, improv, acting or voice work
By 1990, Ron’s ambition to make it as an actor led him to Hollywood He saw some success with commercials, a role in
Stand-up Is Bringing His Wit and Wisdom to Caesars Windsor
the sitcom, My Talk Show, guest appear ances in TV programs Get A Life and Wings and a part in the movie, Ernest Rides Again. “ When I came back from Los Angeles in ’93, I wanted to make sense of the world on my own terms, ” he says “I wanted to make sense of the world in my own words ” A year later, he was on stage with his own show, Up & Down in Shaky Town: One Man's Journey through the California Dream It became a special on The Comedy Network
“In pursuit of my American dream, I found my Canadian one, ” Ron acknowl edges.
After Blackfly, Ron starred in the CBC TV sitcom Made in Canada and won Cana dian Comedy Awards for his own stand up show, The Road Between My Ears He honed his skills on The Ron James Show, which aired for five seasons on CBC TV, wrapping up in 2014 Running his own writing room, Ron enjoyed collaborating with writer Paul Pogue Ron’s seventh TV special, broadcast last Ne w Year’s Eve, at tracted 1.5 million viewers, “ a record break ing number for us ”
It’s the thrill of the stage, though, that holds the strongest appeal for the comedian “Live is where it matters the most, ” Ron believes. “ To be on stage for 90 minutes to two hours with a microphone and just you, a paying audien ce and a glass of water that’s a visceral hit ”
His humorous obser vations often provide food for thought. “It seems that ever y single day, the world is spinning faster on its axis. I think that as comedians, it’s our job to tr y to connect the dots and make sense of this chaos we ’ re all walking through in the lan guage of comedy.”
“If you can find some balance amidst the chaos I think that’s what comedians do They carr y the knapsack for people on the life journey for the two hours they’re on that stage. They lighten the load,” Ron notes.
Wrapping a joke around important infor mation helps Ron make his point, fixing it securely in his audience’s minds “You have to have something to say, ” he obser ves Comedy is about more than getting laughs. Risk is involved. “You have to walk out on the thin branches where the rubies are ”
Ron will be reaching for those gems on Fri , Apr 15th, when he brings his Pedal to the Metal tour to the Colosseum at Caesars Windsor. The comic has played the city often and is keen to reconnect “ Windsor is a good town Real people ”
“I’m honoured to be playing Caesars Windsor,” he says. “I like people leaving ▼
the show feeling a lot happier perhaps than when they walked in. I like them leaving with a spring in their step ”
In his long career, “I’ve had some good fortune but it’s not been without struggle I think that ever ybody relates to that. Ever ybody is just tr ying to get the sun on their face and the wind at their back on their brave march through life’s bright fury And every now and then, if you want to cut the edge on that, you can come see a mon key like me!”
Marking 23 years as a stand up come dian and his 16th year touring on the road, Ron says, “I live in Toronto but the country is my home.” To recharge, he slips away from Hog Town, where he has resided for the past 36 years, and heads east “I love going back and sitting in my mother’s kitchen, with my daughters and relatives,” Ron says. “It gets the Toronto knot out of my shoulder blades.”
Acknowledging “the road has its price,” Ron feels sad over the separation from his wife seven years ago He feels blessed for the close relationship he has with his daughters, Gracie, 22, and Cayley, 28. “My daughters are my best friends,” Ron says “My girls are the real deal ”
When doing dad stuff, like helping a daughter move into her new home, joking around comes naturally. During a shopping expedition, going “ on a journey, up and down the aisles of madness” in IKEA, “ we found a bucket of hats God bless those Swedes. She found a hat that looked like a brain and I found a hat that looked like a bat,” Ron says The ensuing hilarity pro vided fodder for his Twitter page
“Sometimes my daughters look at me like I don’t have a clue. I admire that,” Ron chuckle s.
“
That’s what my show deals with: Gen erational difference and change as well as the cohesion of styles and frustrations,” he says. “I’m dealing with ever ything from playing house league hockey when I was 12 years old to dealing with customer ser vice at the age of 58 and that great swath of time in between ”
Heart and soul, Ron is a storyteller, mak ing uncommonly funny remarks on com mon things th at affect most Canadians Though he sometimes talks of his boy hood, he prefers to look for ward “I don’t get nostalgic for the glor y days at all,” he says. “I like where I am right now. ”
Tickets for Ron James’ April 15th show at the Colosseum start at $15 and are on sale now at caesarswindsor com WLM
AS A BUILDER OF LOCAL RESIDENCES that deliver un compromising quality and distinctive character, Gintar Homes is elevating owners ’ pleasure in their homes “Judging by the healthy proper ty sales in our proven prestigious townhome community in LaSalle, people appreciate the style, value, energy efficiency, convenience and many other advantages of luxur y living,” obser ves Gintar Homes owner Ezio Tartaro
The first three building phases of The Fair ways at Seven Lakes community are nearly completed Gintar Homes has just begun the fourth phase. “ This is a dream project for us with a proven location, proven product and proven success, ” Ezio says.
Homeowners soon learn they can feel confident entr usting the ir ne w builds to Ezio, a self proclaimed per fectionist and micro manager. “Good craftsmanship is not good enough. I’m not satisfied until the completed project has surpassed my own high standards,” he says Ezio created his own code for Gintar Homes over his many years as a homebuilder and as the President of the Greater Windsor Home Builders Association for an unprecedented three consecutive years
“ While constructing executive residences to exacting specifi cations, we realized there was an opportunity to take customiza tion and our attention to detail and apply it to neighbourhoods in the luxur y townhouse market,” Ezio says Visionar y architec ture and precision have garnered Gintar Homes industr y recognition, including six Golden Hammer awards for the Fair ways at Seven Lakes community. “ These honours are greatly appreciated,” Ezio says. “However, the best compliment I can receive is from the proven success of continued sales, which explains our growth now entering our fourth phase. Seven Lakes has become the sought after address in Lasalle ”
There is plenty to enthuse about
Offering a natural flow between open common spaces and cozy private rooms, different two and three bedroom townhome designs speak to people who strive to balance time spent together
with personal time The plans also work for Zoomers, those Boomers born between 1946 and 1964 who are redefining aging and reinventing retirement through healthy lifestyle habits including exercising regu larly, interacting with friends and being passionate about living life to the fullest.
“ The ability to create a relaxing and inviting home for both men and women is essential to a healthy environment. Uniting the outdoors with the indoors by using natural finishes such as wood, stone and plant material creates a peaceful space that ever yone will love to retreat to daily,” Ezio says. A leader in air tightness, similar to R 2000, he is sensitive to the home’s function and longevity “ These impor tant considerations can be blended seamlessly into the home’s design You can feel secure ab out living here ”
People who desire the convenience and unity of one floor living realize they really can have it all, without sacrificing comfor tably propor tioned rooms, concealed storage space or the intimacy of an open concept design The professionally designed model demonstrates how well an open concept floorplan works when there is ample, easily accessible storage to keep clothes, laundry, groceries and files organized and out of sight.
Without the distraction of clutter, residents and visitors can experi ence the architecture. “Luxur y homes demand a superior level of detail because you ’ re catering to a detail oriented clientele. These homeown ers want to go beyond just fresh and new. They want a place that is esthetically memorable a personal sanctuar y that pleases their design sensibil ities and makes them feel uplifted whenever they are at home,” Ezio says
When owners want to venture beyond their front doors, the neigh bourhood is per fect for a pleasant walk Living beside the 18 hole Seven Lakes Championship Golf Course provides opportunity for fun and healthy exercise as well as socializing Happily, homeowners are freed from mowing their lawns or shoveling snow off their driveways to keep the community attractively groomed “Even working people say they feel like they are living at a resort, ” Ezio finds.
As the general contractor, Gintar Homes is a complete turnkey solution provider. “Our full ser vice approach keeps me at the helm of ever y project,” says Ezio. The contractor selects partners extremely carefully to ensure the level of quality and attention to detail Ezio demands is met, with no exceptions. “Our commitment to only the highest standards means our partners must comply with our quality policy, our corporate philosophy and all timelines and budgets We must exceed the expectations of our clients and we expect nothing less of our partnered companies ” He adds, “Our above standard ser vice and warranties also contribute to our homeowners’ peace of mind ”
Solid construction in a prime community protects the homeowners’ investment “ These townhomes are designed and built so they will keep appreciating,” Ezio explains He believes the success of the project speaks to the strength of Windsor Essex’s luxur y townhouse market. It also underscores the desire and demand for the sort of residential product Ezio is offering: elegant, boutique style residences in timeless architecture. “Our buildings fill that architectural void,” he says. “And I think that has a significant impact on why we have been able to embark so quickly into the four th phase of homebuilding at The Fair ways at Seven Lakes ”
“I believe Gintar Contractors has a moral responsibility to craft buildings that are going to endure and will resonate with people now and in the coming decades,” Ezio reflects “ We know we ’ ve done our job right when our clients are as proud of their new homes as we are ”
With a real estate market that is hot, hot, hot, you need a real estate pro with more than just experience; you need someone with a solid record of success. Amy Mullins has 12 years of experience working with buyers and sellers and has been awarded on multiple occasions as a Million Dollar Pro ducer at Manor Windsor Real ty.
In recent years, Amy has introduced a process referred to as the Law of Attraction when working with buyers and sellers Dur ing this process, she talks in depth with clients about their current real estate goals and assigns specific tasks to ensure they are on track for success. This usually involves assistance in areas like home staging, deco rating, financial preparation and emotional readiness
“I have found that this technique sets them up for success and paves the way for a quick sale at the highest price possible. My only criteria when working with a client is ensuring they are 100% ready for a move because it tends to happen ver y quickly when we are both implementing the Law of Attraction.”
In this competitive market where multi ple offers have become the norm, buyers have to be prepared to act quickly and com petitively. Amy has been ver y successful in assisting clients with structuring their offers to stand out from the rest. Her ultimate goal is helping her clients into their dream home with ease, and on budget
With the number of listings down in Windsor Essex County, supply is low and demand is high. This also means that the average selling price is increasing through out the area. As such, it is more important than ever to have a knowledgeable real es tate professional like Amy on your side. She has mastered the art of real estate negotia tion and has a strong network of profes sionals such as mortgage agents and home inspectors she refers her clients to
Whether you are looking to buy or sell your home, Amy can help you navigate this journey. Being easily accessible, negotiating a great deal and making clients happy is her mantra. For more information on her ‘win ning strategy, ’ call 519 791 8313 or visit www.amymullins.point2agent.com.
The house or condo you love can transition into your forever home with the installation of a stylish, custom bathroom shower equipped with features that support your security and self reliance “ When you experience physical limitations due to injury, disability or aging, being able to shower safely is important to your dignity and inde pendence,” notes Eric LaMarre of Bay View Glass & Mirror.
Listening to the concerns of older homeowners, Eric recently designed and installed several barrier free accessible showers. “ This shower replaces an old bathtub or is built any size in a new or ren ovated bathroom. Like our Euro style Serenity Series, it has large glass panels and sliding glass doors There is no curb, enabling peo ple with mobility issues to enter easily with their walkers, wheelchairs or shower seats ”
Sturdy supports are strategically integrated into the shower The design of the high end hardware is so seamless it’s hard to tell a grab bar from a towel bar “ The chrome, brushed nickel or other finishes are matched to the shower heads and faucet,” Eric explains “Ever ything functions well and looks fantas tic.”
The shower’s sliding glass door moves qui etly on roller bearings. Bay Vie w Glass & Mirror’s own unique roller system operates above the header support bar that spans the top of the glass shower enclosure Another attractive option is barn door style hardware mounted overhead
Without a curb at the shower’s base, it’s simple for small children to step right in and splash around “With a rain shower head and programmable side shower jets, the family shower becomes a child’s personal splash pad Parents can see what is going on through the full glass doors or join in the fun,” Eric says. Homeowners are calling in Bay Vie w Glass & Mirror to install custom barrier free accessible showers in their guest bathrooms. “ When aging or disabled relatives stay overnight, ever yone has peace of mi nd, knowing the shower discreetly offers safety features,” says Eric
An existing bathroom is instantly updated with the sleek, sexy Euro style shower After the old tub has been removed and tile laid, the Bay View Glass & Mirror team can in stall a 60” wide shower The glass door rolls to the side to reveal 30” of barrier free access enough for a wheelchair to enter. For some one with a walker or who simply wants to rest while taking a steamy shower, a seat formed of tile or marble slabs can be built into the shower. The shower walls may be clad in tile, stone or Bay View Glass & Mir ror ’ s custom back painted glass Available in opaque translucent, metallic and pearl
finishes in custom colour matches, the glass’s back is covered in a special paint finish. “ The water resistant glass surface is a snap to wipe clean,” Eric says. “ We also fabricate custom back painted glass for counter backsplashes, wall panels, tub surrounds, tabletops, fireplace feature walls, erasable board walls and store fixtures We’re the only company that does this ”
Another specialty of Bay View Glass & Mirror is the TAPER LOC® Dr y Glazed Railing System Engineered to support sturdy continuous panels of 1/2” tempered glass without requiring support posts or a top rail, TAPER LOC® provides a clear, protective shield for a balcony or staircase, indoors or out “You get security while preser ving the view,” Eric says
Taking Bay Vie w Glass & Mirrors’ customers beyond the ordinar y for 29 years, founder Al LaMarre, his son Eric and their team are eager to elevate your home’s style and function.
W ith our busy life styles, fur niture designs have had to flex their boundaries to offer the maximum ability to relax in comfort. Whether alone curled up with a good book, taking in a romantic movie with your significant other or cuddling with the kids or our four legged friends, the addition of chairs like “The Nest”, chair ½’s, and cuddler sectionals have be come more popul ar Notice the vibrant colours trending to bold jewel tone covers on larger pieces of fur niture. So embrace your Ruby Reds, Emerald Greens and Sapphire Blues to make strong state ments in your home décor.
Stylus Made to Order Sofas has introduced a new design combining classic tufting detail to the outer arm of this sleek moder n chic silhouette giving it a subtle sophistication. The breathable fabric used replicates a vintage leather look but is offered at a more affordable fabric price poin t and is ultra durable for every day use in a family setting.
These unique accent pieces crafted in Mex co combine wood and extured metal in a va riety of different collections and fin ishes to make them a perfect addition to existing room settings to tie the space together W ith pieces featured in media, home office, bedroom, din ing accents and occasional pieces, they offer something for every space in your home
Swivel Chairs optimize your seating space and promote a functional social element within the room. Fairfield Chair recognizes the growing need for a diverse selection of size and styles offered. Look for attractive show wood bases, and the addition of tufting and nail head details to provide chairs that are not only comfort able but gorgeous from every angle Per fect for open concept rooms and media spaces alike everyone has the best seat in the house.
Many customers have the need for extra storage space without the ability of adding heavy looking chests and dressers cluttering the room JLM has introduced this clever storage bed that features floating nightstands and the use of complete storage compartments within another compartment leaving no wasted space They are proudly made in Canada and offer over 30 finishes, multiple fabrics and hardware to help suit your style and needs
These oversized bar n door fea tures are the perfect focal point in your living space. This Media wall, available in multiple rustic finishes, gives ample display and storage areas as well as plenty of space to showcase or hideaway your widescreen television and components
Lind Furniture proudly made in Canada, con tinues to develop styles with European flair that feature moder n metal or streamlined wood frames that help define their clean lines in both high end leather and fabric cov erings The crisp knife edge backs, optional pinched tuft detail and modular options offer layouts to serve smaller size condos or to fill a large open concept area with sleek moder n styling Accent pieces also include storage and oversized ottomans, Contoured Chaise Lounge, High Leg Reclining and Conversation sofas and loveseats.
The only pet cremation facility from Windsor to London, Windsor Precious Pet Cremation helps families grieving the loss of their pets Owners Janet and Ron provide cremation ser vices at 2063 Continental Ave , Windsor 519 966 1211 windsorpreciouspetcremation.com.
Funds raised at the 8th Annual Golf Tour nament organized by Drive Fore A Cure and In Honour of the Ones We Love have paid for a new critical care defibrillator and monitoring unit. In Honour members re cently visited the Children's Hospital of Michigan to see the equipment, now used on the PANDA One Pediatric and Neona tal Dedicated Ambulance which transports critically ill children in Michigan and Windsor. 519 966 2960 or inhonour.ca.
Marking 77 years in business, Windsor Vac uum is an independent, local retailer and ser vice shop owned by the Zakoor family. The clean and healthy living store sells Dyson, Cana Vac, Eureka, SEBO and other portable and central vacuums Owner Jon Zakoor, pictured here with father Al, also maintains and repairs all makes and models of vacuums at 3041 Dougall Ave. 519 972 5557 or windsor vac.com.
Precision Je wellers celebrates its 50th an niversary this year Since 1966, the jewellery retailer has been creating one of a kind, custom pieces, as well as carrying designs by world class brands. Master je weller and gemmologist Dan Thomas and his staff welcome everyone to Precision Jewellers’ lo cations at 2755 Howard Ave , Windsor and 58 Richmond St., Amherstburg. 519 736 2587 or precisionjewellers.com.
Supporting literacy for children and teens, Pediatric R E A D (Reading Early Acceler ates Development) hosted its 10th Annual Pediatric R E A D Meet the Authors’ con ference, sponsored by TD Bank. Students gathered at the Ciociaro Club on Feb. 25th to listen to Kay Douglas, author of Yours for the Dreaming; Nate Friedman, author of The Coffee Monster; and Kwame Alexander, author of Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band. Photo by Mike Kovaliv Photography and Snapd.
Nominations close Apr. 1st for the 2016 Lois A. Fairley Nurse of the Year Commu nity Ser vice Award Named after Lois Fair ley, a nurse at Grace Hospital from 1955 to 1993, mentor to nursing students and pres ident of the Ontario Nurses Association, the award will be given to an outstanding nurse in Windsor Essex County who deser ves recognition for the care, compassion and contributions she or he has made The nom ination form is at windsoressexrnao org
Canadian rock group Simple Plan’s charity concert at the Olde Walker ville Theatre raised $14,103 for Transition to Betterness All smiles over the Feb 17th fundraising results are Amber Hunter, T2B executive director; Cathy Zaharchuk, Blackburn Radio Inc event coordinator; Melissa Iarusso, T2B fundraising coordinator;
Inc
Master Trainer, CCF MES CERTIFIED and boot camp exper t, Andy Hamade (owner of Hurricane Training) has joined forces with Master Trainer Jamie Bertrand (owner of Train Station Fitness). You can ’ t find a better fitness destination than Train Station Fitness which now offers Windsor’s premier fitness centre, #1 boot camp facility and Express Weight Loss all under one roof 10700 Tecumseh Rd E , Windsor 519 979 6622 trainstationfitness.ca.
Photo by Pat Scandale of Livetech Photo Video.
Charmaine Gillis began making soaps over 20 years ago to keep her family healthy. Now she has established Ocean Bottom Soap Company at 152 Lesperance Rd , Tecumseh The soaps are handcrafted from custom blended formulas using natural, organic ingredients, oils, butters and botan icals. They have essential oils, natural de odorants and make ever ything on location. 226 676 0228 oceanbottomsoap.com.
With 20 years ’ experience, audiologists Neesha Dunkley and Allison Stevenson are celebrating the fifth anniversar y of their South Windsor Hearing Centre at 350 Ca bana Rd. E., Windsor. The audiologists identify, assess and treat hearing loss and help rehabilitate auditor y difficulties in children and adults 519 250 9774 or windsorhearing com
Walker ville Bre wer y and Motor City Community Credit Union presented the United Way Windsor Essex /Centraide Emergency Assistance Fund with a dona tion on Feb 24 Walker ville Brewer y raised $2,000 as part of their Holiday Cheers and Beers Extravaganza and sales of their Dark Winter Lager, while the credit union’s spon sorship contributed an additional $2,000 Pict ured at the bre wer y from the left are Danielle Moldovan (United Way); Becky Langlois (Motor City Community Credit Union), Gerardo DeRose (Family Ser vice
Windsor Essex and manager of United Way’s Emergency Assistance Fund) and Na talie Lahoud (Walker ville Brewer y). 519 258 0000, ext. 1227 weareunited.com.
Serving fresh, homemade food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Bean’s Ladle Eatery is cel ebrating its third anniversar y at 2440 Uni versity Ave. W., Windsor. Owner Dennis Purdie, nicknamed Bean, continues to sup por t the community by purchasing food and supplies primarily from other local busi nesses. The eater y is a proud sponsor of the local Raising The Roof campaign which aids in finding long term solutions for homeless ness Bean’s Ladle Eater y is the 2015 Wind sor Soup Off Champion, taking the win with its spinach, bean and bacon soup 519 915 2349 or beansladle com
Offering smile solutions with dental im plants and dentures, Denturist Dan Landr y is marking 25 years in business A free consultation enables patients to learn about options Ne w patients can make appoint ments at 2532 Howard Ave , Windsor; 360 Notre Dame St , Belle River; or 14 Gosfield Townline E , Essex The Dan Landr y Den ture Clinic collaborates with dentists at all three sites for patients’ optimal oral health 519 254 8114.
When it comes to physical fitness, there is no such thing as “old”
Sure it may seem like a cliché, but hard evidence shows that older adults who adopt a healthy lifestyle incorpo rating regular exercise, dramatically improve their lives.
You will reach retirement age...if you are lucky. How you will fare when you arrive at that point is up to you. It will depend on your health and fitness then, not n ow. But health and fitness don’t start then They start now
We need to cultivate the Baby Boomers: people in their 50s and 60s. We must acknowledge that what motivates people in this age bracket is not what motivates a 20 year old.
Older adults’ reasons for exercise differ strongly from young peoples’ motivations. For young exercisers, work ing out ser ves a predominantly aesthetic function, whereas with the older population health is the primar y motivation
By the age of 50 many Canadians have parents who are aging or dying or friends with heart conditions or other threatening illnesses. At the same time, these 50 year olds can ’ t work out the way they once could. Their joints are aching a bit by now. In the past they exercised for fitness, but at 50 they begin to exercise for health.
It’s a ver y simple process As we age we lose muscle mass, our metabolism slows and when our resting metabolism rate decreases, we gain weight We start to tip the scale higher and higher. In early years, having more mus cle meant you could eat more, since muscle increases your resting metabolic rate.
The 50 and 60 year olds are not only more affluent than their 20 year old counterparts...their motivation to exer cise is often stronger and they are more willing to pursue it Rather than working out for good looks, they are work ing out to stay healthy and as individuals grow older, health is more compelling than vanity. Decreased stress levels and a better overall quality of life are additional ben efits of exercise. While age has rewards, the number of these rewards that we’ll be able to enjoy is det ermined by
Bertrand, Owner Master Trainer, Medical Exercise Specialist
our fitness as we age Fitness for our later years begins at middle age, not when we retire. Now is the time to get fit for our senior years.
For health clubs, because of the huge younger popula tion, there used to be always someone to replace a dis gruntled customer. For the 40 plus crowd we need to look beyond the quantity of exercise and examine the quality. With this age group, less is more
In your 40s, the bones begin to thin But you can easily slow this process down by doing regular weight bearing exercise which strengthens the bones and by eating a cal cium rich diet.
Weight training, even twice a week, will help you main tain and even replace that lost muscle mass.
For people who wear dentures, however, their smile can often be a source of embarrassment if they are having difficulty chewing their food or are not happy with the appearance of their teeth. This is where the skilled professionals at the Parisien Denture Clinic can help.
Owner Barr y Parisien DD is a Denturist who has been practic ing in Windsor since 2000 Denturists are specialists in the fabri cation of full and par tial dentures, including teeth retained by implants As a Denturist Barr y has the skills and knowledge to help you achieve the smile you ’ ve always wanted
“ We take the time to treat each patient individually and never tr y to rush things” says Barr y “It’s important to me to have my patients feel that they have my full attention and that I’m not run ning out of the room to take care o f the next person ” Parisien’s patient focused approach means that patients receive options for the treatments available to them and discussions as to which treat ment would fit their needs and budget; the patients best interest always comes first. “ What might be the right treatment for you might not be right for the next person, ” he says.
The Parisien Denture Clinic provides a full range of denture an d implant retained denture ser vices in a clean, safe and comfort able atmosphere From a simple repair on a denture to permanent “ Teeth In A Day” on implants the Parisien Denture Clinic has the solution you are looking for “ With the materials available today we can make dentures which are indistinguishable from natural teeth, but it’s the permanent teeth on implants that steal the show
We can give someone back teeth which look natural and function just about as good as their natural teeth would have,” says Barr y
Many of Barr y ’ s clients cannot imagine entrusting their denture needs to anyone else. A gentleman by the name of Guy says “His [dentures] are works of art… He is assuring and really knows his profession.” Mrs. K proclaims “I love my new teeth! I can ’ t believe how comfortable they feel. They are so much better compared to my old teeth. Thank you!”
Few denturists in Essex county can offer the range of experience and expertise as Barr y He has taught courses all across Canada to denturists and dental technicians on how to create more natural looking and better functioning dentures through the Gerber setup philosophy Barry has studied under renowned dentists and master dental technicians from Germany and Austria He is a BPS certi fied denturist BPS stands for Bifunctional Prosthetic System and means that Barry has passed training to provide “ master class” den tures using teeth and equipment from Ivoclar Vivodent Barr y has also ser ved on the board of directors and as the 2nd vice president for the Denturist Association of Ontario.
If you are to the point where you think you need to have your teeth pulled and wear dentures for the first time, need new den tures or are considering having implants placed to provide you with the ultimate in fit and comfor t, tr ust the professionals at the Parisien Denture Clinic There is no referral needed to visit the office and consultations are always free Their office is conve niently located at 375 Cabana Rd E near the corner of Howard and Cabana
Call 519 997 7799 or visit www parisiendentures com to book your appointment today
Having a vibrant, healthy smile is one of the first things that people will notice about you.
There is a very good chance that you know someone who’s snoring is disruptive. And there’s a very good chance that person is your husband or wife. An anti snoring/sleep apnea device can drastically improve your quality of life and help your partner get a good nights sleep. At the Parisien Denture Clinic we offer the very latest in anti snoring/sleep apnea devices. We offer completely digital 3D printed appliances: the D-SAD by Panthera Dental. These devices are stronger, thinner, lighter and come with a industry leading 5 year warranty. The device opens your airway and reduces the air resistance when you breath which leads to an either partial or total reduction of sleep apnea or snoring.
One of the best experiences of a Canadian winter is thawing in the glow and warmth of your own fireplace If you missed out on that pleasure again this past winter, Fireplaces by Mario can put a hearth in your home in short order
Since opening Fireplaces by Mario at 3118 Jefferson Blvd 10 years ago, Mario and Phyllis Se mentilli have helped hundreds of Wind sor Essex County residents enjoy the heat and ambiance of natural gas and electric fireplaces, stoves and inserts
Fireplaces by Mario carries the latest models by Kingsman, Con tinental, Heat & Glo and other respected manufacturers, all backed by excellent warranties. “We want you to feel secure and happy about your fireplace,” Mario says.
Ever y year brings new styles and options. In natural gas fireplaces, clean faced or flush design allows for brick or tile installation over the fireplace frame. Traditional style logs look more realistic than ever There is also the option of glass marbles, cr ystals or rocks
A gas fireplace gives you control over the areas you heat in the house Zone heating can keep energy costs down during the winter The primar y reason people love gas fireplaces, however, is the con venience With the touch of a remote control or thermostat, the fire place leaps to life, immediately sending out waves of welcome heat
An existing woodburning fireplace can be easily converted with a convenient, clean burning natural gas insert
The new generation of electric fireplaces deser ves radiant reviews with authentic looking flame and logs and nicely constructed cabinet styles. An electric fireplace is an attractive heat source that becomes a warm and handsome focal point in a chilly guest room or basement
home office. Its charm is also portable; an electric fireplace can be moved anywhere within the home, wherever and whenever it is wanted Just plug it into a reg ular electrical outlet and flip the switch If you just want the ro mance of the fire, you can turn off the heater and bask in the glow
An outdoor fireplace, fuelled by natural gas or propane, takes the chill off the evening Ce ramic logs can be piled in a stone fireplace or within a circle of paving blocks on a wood deck or patio. Your hearth will be the highlight of your outdoor room, naturally drawing family and friends together around the fire.
Kingsman and other manufacturers have designed an attractive collection of mantels, modern surrounds, cabinets, shelves and wall units to frame indoor fireplaces Pick your fireplace, pick your sur round and let Mario take care of the rest
In the Fireplaces by Mario showroom, there are many working models on display If you are thinking about getting a fireplace, Mario will go to your home, evaluate the space and recommend ap propriate solutions
There is no charge for estimates on installations When installation day for your new fireplace arrives, Mario, who has installed many fireplaces, is on the job with his professional installers. Put the advantage of 25 years of experience to work for you.
Increasingly people are looking to outfit their homes with the latest and greatest in home enter tainment and technology. It can be an over whelming process without the guidance and exper tise of professionals
APW has been providing the finest home entertainment solutions since 1978 Having a skilled & knowledgeable team whose energies are focused on excellence in customer ser vice, ensures our systems always exceed our client’s expectations Our technology offerings consist of: home cinema and media rooms, multi room audio and video, listening rooms, lighting control systems, whole house control systems, outdoor systems, commercial systems, boardroom systems and acoustic noise solutions.
From the ver y first visit we are dedicated to understanding our client and their needs, an ability which sets us apart from the rest. Integrating this with their lifestyles and budgets, we are able to craft outstanding systems that are user friendly, state of the art solutions that work!
Whether it’s a sweeping technological presence throughout your home, integrating audio/video, safety and security with convenient control, or isolated high performance rooms suited to both adults and children, APW brings technology to a familiar level for your living space
“Blending technology to space, not interrupting space, that’s what we strive for,” notes Dave “It is ver y satisfying to have this kind of validation within our industr y because for the most part we let our work speak for itself and have built a reputation on positive relation ships with our clients,” remarks Dave.
Integrating electronics into any space requires careful planning and consultation. APW knows clients expect more and while this is a thoughtful process, notes Dave, “ we have amassed a great deal of knowhow to be able to bring a project to reality in a timely, effi cient manner ”
APW Custom Home Theatres has an intricate knowledge of home electronics and the options that are available for a wide range of demands that call for the reduced clutter of inconspicuous set ups, or a stunning up front high tech look for that matter, along with integrated theatre and gaming systems as well as other exciting product mixes that can function together for business and pleasure if this is what the client requires APW carefully considers lighting and sound solutions for premium effect in ever y space, along with streamlining how the system is controlled.
It isn’t just your entertainment needs that can be easily accessed at your finger tips. APW Custom Home Theatres offers exciting possibilities to any traditional switch plate. Automated/distributed systems are eliminating the cumbersome individual switches and remote controls for lighting, music, window shades, firepla ces and more
Set the scene with one button control to dim the lights, drop the shades, bring up the fireplace and the music While it was once a novelty reser ved for top vacation resorts, home owners are turning to APW to customize their home function systems with these same conveniences
“ The majority of projects we do now incorporate entertainment and other common home functions Automated systems are defi nitely the new standard,” Dave notes.
The process of designing a custom home entertainment system starts with you. Contact us at 1 800 746 7279 today.
THE 34TH ANNUAL WINDSOR Home and Garden Show com bined with the 4th Annual Windsor BOAT, RV and Recreation Show is back on April 1 3, 2016 The event will once again be held at the former RONA on Lauzon Parkway near Tecumseh Rd
Over 260 companies will be showcasing the latest and greatest ideas, technology, ser vices and products to enhance your home and garden.
“ This is the perfect time of year to upgrade, renovate or improve your home,” says Stuart Galloway producer of the event.
Those attending the show will find ever ything they are looking for to accomplish their home improvement goals Most of the major companies that focus on home improvements are at the show and ready to kick start their year by offering their best prices People use the show as an opportunity to schedule work before crews start to get busy
If it’s interior improvements that are required, you will find multiple companies for kitchens, counter tops, bathrooms, window coverings, furnishings, flooring, home décor, painting and design etc. For exterior improvements, come and check out all the ne w energy efficient windows, HVAC systems, roofing, garage doors, and all the green energy systems available for your home.
Most of the skilled trades are on hand as well including electricians and plumbers for your large and small renovations plus general con tractors that can handle your larger renovations from start to finish.
Renovations increasingly extend outside of the house into the gar den Your paradise in the yard can be completed with several com panies providing landscape design and build, plus pools, fences ,decks, hot tubs, awnings sun rooms, gazebos, sheds and even out door kitchens, pizza ovens, and all the toys and tools to keep your lawn manicured and looking it’s best
Four years ago the Boat, RV and Recreation Show was merged with the Home and Garden show to allow consumers to look after their home requirements, but also allow consumers to fulfil their ad venturous and leisure needs as well. This year ’ s show features five local marine dealers showing their new 2016 watercraft including recreation, pontoon, fishing boats and PWC’s plus outboards, dock and lift systems and boating accessories. There is also a huge selection of travel trailers, 5th Wheels, motorhomes and RV accessories, plus all Yamaha PowerSports are on display
If you have never been to a large consumer show, now is a good time
The benefits of all good consumer shows are for people to enjoy themselves, but the key is that people save time and money by attending They can shop and compare with several competing companies to see which products, company personnel, ser vice agreements or pricing that they prefer. Then they can choose to save money by making a purchase at the show or book appointments for a quote or estimate. This can all be done in a morning or afternoon and when 260 suppliers and dealers come together in the same place, consumers always come out ahead.
“ We are ver y excited to be back for a second year at this site with 100,000 square feet This is the overall best building we have had the oppor tunity to use for our shows since the inception of the Home show 34 years ago, ” says Stuart Galloway, owner of 20/20 Show Productions “ We have expanded our parking area by creating an off site exhibitor parking lot This will allow better and more con venient parking for ever yone that attends the show this year ”
New this year, is a collaboration with Landscape Ontario (Wind sor Chapter) and the St Clair College hor ticultural program to design/create and build the Green for Life Gardens at the show and to provide the Green for Life Garden Speaker series. Nine speakers will be featured at sessions throughout the show. They will focus on providing tips and strategies to help ever yone improve their home gardening efforts and beautification.
Gardening exper ts and students will be on hand throughout the show to answer questions Several landscape design and build companies will also be in attendance and have amazing displays
By combining the two shows we allow our visitors to bring their plans and ideas to the show for both their home and recreation requirements Visitors will receive expert advice from all the profes sionals but at the same time they can also shop the competition make comparisons and even buy at the show Good shows will always save the consumer plenty of time and money and provide insightful professional advice to all. We look for ward to seeing ever yone on April 1 3. 2016.
20/20 Show Productions Inc. has been producing powerful con sumer shows in Ontario for the past 25 years. Their goal is to provide consumers the opportunity to shop, compare and save with the best professional dealers, contractors, suppliers and ser vice providers in their chosen industr y
For all show details, a list of exhibitors, directions, show times, features and seminars visit OntarioTradeShows com
As a business owner there is nothing more valuable than your em ployees At First Elements they take employee safety to a whole other level Owners Wilbur Mulder and Chris Benotto have extensive experience that take the worr y out of environmental, occupational health and safety
Since 2006 they have worked with industrial manufacturing, commercial infrastructure, construction and residential clients to ensure that safety is protected They are able to offer environmental assessments along with health and safety audits that identify risks With experience in both Canada and the United States, they are abreast of the legislation in both countries.
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The local, provincial and federal laws and regulations are con stantly changing. Our team of professionals are constantly updated and educated about the latest standards. We are able to assess, man age, mitigate or remediate any risks to ensure that clients are in com pliance We offer a different aspect professional engineering services, this is what sets us apart from other companies” says Benotto
First Elements is the only occupational health and safety business certified by the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association west of London that ser ves the public In order to attain, and maintain, this status ongoing certifications and education is necessar y
No project is too big or too small for First Elements Located in Windsor, they have been involved with projects as large as the Herb Grey Parkway to smaller projects like ensuring compliance at a small baker y. They will also be working on the construction site of the new Gordie Howe Bridge. One thing that remains consistent is their expertise and commitment to safety.
“ We take the complexity out of regulations for businesses,” states Mulder. “Our job is to make things simple for clients to ensure that they meet environmental and safety standards.”
One of their most recent initiatives includes a partnership with Dr Haider Hasnain at the TMC Clinic in Tecumseh Working with Dr Hasnain and other doctors at the TMC, they are able to offer a “ one stop ” approach for clients
“If we go into a business and find employees with health issues such as coughs or rashes that stem from the workplace we can refer to these doctors Similarly, if the doctors have clients with conditions that stem from an environmental or safety issue at a workplace we can go to the business to investigate the issue,” says Benotto
This integrated approach has never been done before in Ontario It even extends to include a mental health team of professionals who can help individuals deal with conditions like depression and anxiety that stem from a workplace health and safety issue.
The First Elements team also provides ongoing training for workplaces to ensure that they are up to date on regulator y changes. Currently there is a lot of demand in the mandator y training that workers need to have when working at heights Workplaces can ei ther arrange to have First Elements come on site to deliver the train ing or they can come to their classroom located on Industrial Drive
Whether a business is being proactive or reactive to an occupa tional health and safety issue, First Elements has the technical and professional expertise to ensure that standards are adhered to They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days of the week to respond to any issue “ There is not a company west of Toronto that is able to offer the ser vices and expertise of First Elements,” states Mulder.
To find out how First Elements can help meet your needs, visit www.firstelements.ca, or call (519) 419 1334 .
If you are looking for an outstanding, professional, and customer focused cleaning ser vice, Mister Maid is for you Offering excep tional service beyond all expectations, Mister Maid offers both com mercial and residential cleaning ser vices in Windsor Essex County
Founded locally in 1997, David Burman has owned and operated Mister Maid for the last four years His drive, passion and devotion to the community have set him apart as a small business, taking pride in the strong relationships he has built with clients over the years “We stand apart from our competition because of our quality, attention to detail, our innovative products and machiner y used,” says Burman.
When it comes to residential and commercial cleaning, Mister Maid understands the importance of a clean and safe environment. Burman, and his ever growing and dedicated staff, are committed to improving and maintaining the appear ance of your home or facility
Mister Maid employs teams of trusted and professional individuals, with over 50+ years of experience in the residential and commer cial cleaning industr y Each team works hours according to the clients needs, offering flexible and custom packages
Locally, Mister Maid has over twenty com mercial contracts for janitorial ser vices, and various residential customers. Mister Maid works with various child care centres, health care facilities, office buildings and various not for profit organizations.
Mister Maid takes pride in using the most economical and effective practices and will come equipped with all the necessar y clean ing solutions, supplies and equipment The company offers a variety of additional ser v ices as well, including but not limited to, car pet and upholster y cleaning, power washing, light construction clean up, garbage removal and staging ser vices
An emphasis on their ever evolving janito rial and customer ser vice has led to strong community par tnerships, tr usted relation ships and overall growth, both as an owner and as a company. Burman takes an active role in the community, working with various community action groups, including the United Way Windsor Essex and Transition to Betterness
“I’m star ting a ne w collaboration with Transition to Betterness by donating clean ing services to the Concierge Program, which operates Monday to Friday at Windsor Regional Hospitals Metropolitan Campus and Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare’s Tayfour Campus. The program will be providing complimentar y cleaning ser vices to patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments. I am proud to suppor t this program, which
operates with the goal of making patients and families more com fortable during their stay at the hospital, “ says Burman.
David Burman and Mister Maid take the utmost pride in exceed ing the expectation of customers, offe ring innovative and eco friendly ser vices and building strong relationships with clients and within the community Burman hopes to set the tone for all young entrepreneurs to give back to the community that supports them and helps their small businesses thrive Mister Maid is proud to be a part of the local business community
Mister Maid looks for ward to working with new clients, devel oping strong relationships and being the answer to their janitorial needs for many years to come If you would like to learn more about Mister Maid, their ser vices or community action projects you can visit their website www.mistermaid.ca or email David directly at david@mistermaid.ca.
Ar mando’s Belle River Pizza made fresh from our family to yours, with all your favourite toppings Other menu items available Fast de liver y Located in Aspen Plaza 1679 County Rd. 22. 519 727 0660
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
Capri Pizzeria Capri’s casual atmosphere and welcoming staff attracts a mix of diners! Come out and enjoy our great pizzas, pasta and more! 3020 Dougall Ave 519 969 6851
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 and 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 billiard s in a pub like setting www cramdons com 2950 Dougall Ave 519 966 1228
Fratelli Pasta Grill Offering flavour drenched “woodfire” grilled steaks, seafood and pasta dishes A fresh and healthy selection of modern and time tested classics Located behind McDon ald’s on Manning Rd. in Tecumseh. Take out, catering, private par ties For reser vations call 519 735 0355 www fratellipastagrill com
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 craft and commercial bee rs on tap. HDTVs. Fast, cheerful ser vice.
5881 Malden Rd (behind Rexall) 519 250 5522 www eatatjoes ca
Joe y ’ s Seafood Restaurant Family friendly atmosphere Locally owned and operated
MOST PEOPLE simply enjoy mushrooms in a salad or on a pizza without realizing the nutritional benefits associated with this item in your produce aisle. Since 2012 Great Lakes Mushrooms has taken the enjoyment of mushrooms to a new level
Owner Denis Vidmar has spent his life growing up on mushrooms farms in Europe, Asia and North Amer ica Today he owns and operates Great Lakes Mush rooms The company markets and distributes certified organic mushrooms in the Great Lakes region
“ We work with smaller farmers to bring the best tast ing mushrooms to the marketplace. On any given day we have over ten fresh varieties of mushrooms available, from white button and por tabella, to chanterelles, porcini and truffles,” says Vidmar.
All indoor grown mushrooms are cer tified organic and grown indoors on farms around the Great Lakes. Exceptions are the fresh, wild varieties, natural wild or ganics, which are flown in from the Pacific Northwest By all accounts these offer tremendous flavour and are a great option to spice up a recipe Their availability de pends on the weather and time of season Most are available between April and November One of these mushrooms is Hen of the Woods which have 280% of daily intake of Vitamin D
Great Lakes Mushrooms motto is “Quality in Taste”. They believe that mushrooms go with ever ything. Loaded with taste and outstanding nutritional value, there is no reason not to enjoy them daily.
Up until last year, 100 per cent of retail sales were in the United States. One of their accounts is an exclusive contract with Whole Foods in Michigan and the mid west that includes over 40 stores and 13 Great Lakes Mushrooms products Finally foodies in Windsor and Essex County are able to enjoy these mushrooms The Mushroom Hub is now open at 5950 Rhodes Drive in Windsor The store stocks about two dozen different kinds of mushrooms In addition to the mushrooms, the store also carries dried and marinated mushrooms, balsamic vinegars, local ingredient soups, recipe books, children’s books and more.
“ The response to the store has been awesome. Not only do these mushrooms offer great flavour, there are also several nutritional benefits to eating them. They are the only natural source of vitamin D and help with cholesterol and blood pressure. ”
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• Oyster mushrooms are a natural source of Vitamin B, rich in protein and essential amino acids, including zinc and iron Tremendous nutrition and flavour!
Mushrooms have long been celebrated as a source of powerful nutrients, par ticularly in Eastern cultures However, as Vidmar knows they offer many nutri tional benefits Often grouped with vegetables, mushrooms provide many of the nutritional qualities of produce, as well as attributes more commonly found in meat, beans or grains Mushrooms are low in calories, fat free, cholesterol free, gluten free, and ver y low in sodium, yet they provide important nutrients, in cluding selenium, potassium, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin D and more
The Mushroom Hub also does cooking demonstrations and is looking to part ner with St Clair College culinar y students in the future There are also plans to open a second location in downtown Windsor this year. With a growing amount of interest, there is also the possibility of opening locations in different markets.
“My goal is to educate people about the simplicity of cooking and using mush rooms. Our mushrooms are not only delicious, they are nutritious too. People tend to overcook mushrooms. We are able to share menus that take two to five minutes to prepare that allow people to cook at home ”
Spice up your life with mushrooms by visiting The Mushroom Hub The store is open Thursday to Saturday from 10 am until 5 pm and on Sundays from 10 am until 3 pm Visit www themushhub com for more information and like “The Mush Hub” on Facebook
Serving our Famous Fish & Chips for over 20 years. Home of the All You Can Eat Fish & Chips. Landlovers enjoy rotisserie chicken & ribs. Take out available. www.joeys.ca 245 Talbot St. W., Leamington 519-322-2660
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 every game, 7 pool tables & 13 beers on tap. www.johnnyshotz.com 13037 Tecumseh Rd. E. 519-735-7005.
Lux Diner - Family friendly atmosphere. Large variety of items that makes everyone happy. 1/2LB Burgers, BBQ Ribs, Halibut, Pasta, Breakfast, and our famous Broasted Chicken. Open Tuesday thru Sunday. E.C Row & Manning, Lakeshore,On 33 Amy Croft Dr. 519-735-8001
The Mushroom Hub - Offering over 20 varieties of flavourful, nutritious organic mushrooms from local farms and wild mushrooms imported from the Pacific Northwest. Also enjoy dried and marinated mushrooms, balsamic vinegars, local ingredient soups and more! 5950 Rhodes Drive, Windsor. www.themushhub.com
Neros Gourmet Steakhouse Indulge in the finer things in life at Neros where modern upscale dining meets traditional steakhouse fare. Fresh, local ingredients, an incredible wine selection and superb service. caesarswindsor.com 1-800-991-7777 ext. 22481.
Parkside at Rochester Place - Newly renovated with 3000 sq ft patio with large fountain pool, incredible fire features, large outdoor lounge area, dining area, new 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
Sandbar Steak & Seafood Restaurant - Open year round, featuring great steaks and seafood plus live entertainment Thurs., Fri. and Sat. nights in a casual atmosphere. Lots of guest boat slips off Puce River.
930 Old Tecumseh Rd., Lakeshore. 519-979-5624 www.sandbarpuce.com
Taza Mediterranean Grill - Enjoy a delectable variety of authentic, Lebanese-style dishes rich with flavour and traditional spices. Open to all ages, located in the Augustus Hotel lobby at Caesars Windsor, open weekdays 11 am–11 pm and 7 am on weekends. caesarswindsor.com.
For information on listings and advertising in the Bon Appetit! section please call Leslie Campbell at 519-979-3419.
IT ’S HARD TO BELIEVE, but a popular Windsor band has been entertaining music lovers for the past 25 years!
The Source was formed in 1991 and is a no nonsense classic rock band that grew out of the passion of a financial and insurance con sultant, Nino Maniaci whose love of music spans nearly 40 years He’s a native of Windsor and a graduate of W D Lowe Secondar y school In grade 9 when he was 15, he decided to take music lessons and learned the acoustic guitar. About a year later, after graduating to the bass, he joined an Italian wedding band. And as his musical horizons expanded and moved into different genres, he played with various bands at charity gigs, corporate affairs and even graced the stage of the Casino.
Nino was extremely busy in the 1980s he was member of Tour De Force, a popular group of the day He also gigged and recorded with The Fashion, with China and a band called Stripes Just last year, he was honored with an induction into the Music Hall of Fame at the Devonshire Mall, where pictures of other veteran musicians are displayed “I was very fortunate to have played with a great many of those musicians” he says “Not only do they get along, but they’re always coming together to raise money in their community.”
When The Fashion broke up, Nino put together The Source which was primarily a classic rock group. Originally there were 4 members and for 6 or 7 years, the lead singers were usually female. Over the years, like many other bands, The Source has had a
number of personnel changes, but Maniaci says they’ve remained friends and today, they often sit in on each other’s gigs.
Nino plays bass for the band and helps with the vocals “ We do basically classic rock,” he says, “with much of it coming from the 80s but we also throw in some modern countr y Occasionally you might even hear a Johnny Cash tune but all our music is recognizable and 99% of it is danceable We don’t play the obscure stuff our audience wants to hear the old familiar hits ”
Influences include Aerosmith, Journey and John Mellencamp and Tom Petty.....and many more. Looking back at the past 25 years, Nino says in the beginning the clubs were a lot bigger. “You probably remember the Canada Tavern, California’s and Rum Runners 700 seaters and they used to be packed ever y night Now, if you have a 200 seat club and you pack the place, you ’ ve done really well The music is still great, but the clubs have definitely changed ”
Incidentally, if your taste is more along the lines of today’s pop music, you can also catch Nino with his other band, The Mixx You might say that finances and insurance are his living, but music is certainly a major part of his life!
David Michael is the band’s lead singer. A native of New Jersey, he had lived in Los Angeles until he met a girl from Amherst burg. About 10 years ago they married and moved to Canada Michael, who also plays rhythm guitar, has been with the Source for about 6 years He’s in the enter tainment industr y full time, takes care of the shows at Charley’s in Windsor and is actively in volved in production and studio work
Greg Alzner, who is the group ’ s lead gui tarist and shares lead vocals with Michael is a full time employee of a utilities company
The drummer is Jack Lahoux, a journey man player with an excellent sense of rhythm. According to Nino, “he’s excel lent he’s like a clock, this guy!” Lahoux is probably best known for his work with Lynne and the Rebels and has been kept the beat for a number of other groups He’s a truck dr iver by trade
The newest addition to The Source is Kris Marentette, a keyboard player who is also a competent bass guitarist and a singer He works in the computer industr y and plays for a number of other bands He’s already gigged several times with The Source and is currently rehearsing for the upcoming season.
The band plays at least 2 weekends a
month, alternating from the Lions’ Head on Wyan dotte Street, to Charley’s on Tecumseh Road and Average Joe’s on Lauzon Road. Much of the summer has been left open for the guys to enjoy their families and to make room for possible festival appearances
They do per form at campgrounds and local festivals in the Grand Bend area and at the moment are working on tentative gigs at several local events The band’s activities and a complete schedule are avail able on Facebook at windsorband thesource or log on to sourcepartyband com
Members of The Source are a happy bunch. They’re good friends and there are no egos to get in the way of a good perform ance. The guys range in age from the mid 40s to early 50s and aren ’ t particularly inter ested in doing any recording. They relish their live club dates and have set their sched ule a year in advance Their mai n ambition, according to Nino is “ to get the ladies to dance and the men to simply enjoy the music ” To date, that philosophy has worked out perfectly
At this time of year especially, music lovers who spend an evening out with The Source, have likely discovered a sure way to beat the blues and get rid of some of those winter cobwebs!
WLM
THERE IS NO EXPERIENCE more reward ing than being a mom. Whether you have one child or several, moms share a common bond. In the summer of 2012 three friends, Nancy Mahon, Victoria Snow and Jessica Guzman formed All 4 Mamas They were all having babies around the same time and decided to start a Facebook forum group to keep in touch, trade baby tips and keep each other sane dur ing sleepless nights and colicky infants
To their surprise the group quickly grew a loyal following. By the winter of 2013 they had over 600 members! Ever y day new mamas are joining They love that they can ask questions, give approval, offer opinions and promote a product or ser vice they like Some moms even promote their own business Today they have over 5,600 members on the Facebook forum.
“ This forum has been a place wher e we find out the needs in the community and we then do our best to create a group, program or give educational material where it is needed This is where our concept for the MOMber ship™ discount card came from,” says Jessica Guzman
The MOMbership discount program is only available for moms It can be purchased for just $20/year by contacting info@all4mamas.com. Over 250 local businesses now offer discounts to mom cardholders. Businesses love the op portunity to appeal to this specialized group Companies range from baby related retail to mama and baby yoga classes, restaurants, hall rentals, bridal shops, daycare ser vices and more.
“Our slogan is ‘Moms connecting moms throughout the community ’ We truly believe and practice that, as well as supporting local businesses in any way that we can, ” states G uz man.
In addition to the Facebook for um and the MOMbership program, All 4 Mamas has expanded to also include educational offerings and fundraisers They have partnered with a local CPR/First Aid business to offer Baby/Infant CPR classes for parents and caregivers They have also held Stroller fundraising walks in the summer Funds raised support Windsor Regional Hospital’s Family Birthing Centre. The Mamas have also held car seat seminars for parents to learn how to properly install car seats.
Over the last year the group has been busy on the All 4 Mamas Foundation Hospital Gift Pack Program The program officially launched on Family Day in Februar y
“ We are really excited that this project has finally come to fruition,” says Guzman “ We offer each mom who has a baby in the hospital a gift bag that is filled with educational ma terial, coupons and flyers from local businesses and some quality samples for the mom and baby.”
At least 15 businesses have already signed on to the program The cost to participate is $750/year to include flyers/newsletters about a business and $100/year if a company wants to include a product sample Items may be practical like diapers, but also fun like lip balm for mom. Funds raised from this program will be used to purchase needed supplies for the birthing centre at the hospital. The bags will be given to over 4,000 babies born in the hospital annually
These three mamas are truly passionate about their mission They have worked passionately over the last four years to enrich the lives of moms in this community At the same time they have been busy being moms themselves raising their young children and working full time
Nancy is a Nurse Practitioner with VON and has three children, aged seven, three and 10 months. Victoria is a Montessori teacher with two children, aged three and ten months and Jessica does online sales and marketing for a jeweller y company and also has two children, three years and ten months
“ We can definitely relate to the demands and rewards of motherhood,” says Guzman
Moving for ward they plan to grow the gift pack program and have the ability to purchase equipment for the birthing centre on a quarterly basis. They also plan to reach out to mid wives and Leamington Hospital The women would also like to link to other non profits in the region to provide seminars on topics such as post partum depression
What began as a hobby for these three moms has grown into a rewarding experience that has exceeded their expectations “It can be a lot of work, but as busy moms we are used to juggling many things. It’s so worth it.”
Visit www.all4mamas.com for more information.
FOR ALMOST 100 YEARS, DAYUS ROOFING has been an industry leader in Windsor roofing In an industr y that is constantly changing, Dayus Roofing remains committed to keeping clients satisfied and keeping informed about the latest products and technology Company President, Frank Dayus IV, believes in the principles that Dayus Roofing was founded on. “Our unwavering commitment to the customer has helped us to become the standard in Windsor roofing. We confidently stand by our promise of reliable workmanship, quality materials, and competitive pricing. Our dependable reputation is almost a centur y in the making, and we ' re confident in our ability to give you the best roofing experience possible.” Dayus Roofing has extensive knowledge about the various roofing options that are currently available Whether you are looking for dependability, esthet ics, or affordability, the staff can provide options “ We work with homeowners to help them evaluate what is the best option for them based on their budget and appearance of their home,” says Frank Dayus III
Over the years there have been various trends in roofing Today metal roofs and rubberized shingles are among the most popular Like any product, each offers advantages and disadvantages “We’ve seen metal roofing systems, asphalt systems and composite systems go through their real world testing and have that knowledge to present to the customer, ” says Frank Dayus IV. Dayus Roofing installs slate, cedar, concrete tile, rubber, metal, composite and of course, asphalt roofing systems. Although metal roofs are currently pop ular, Dayus urges consumers to be cautious when choosing any premium roof. Today’s asphalt systems are manufactured using a fiberglass base sheet and are far superior to the organic roofs of the past According to Dayus, “ we have fibreglass roof installations still in place that are approaching 30 years For homeowners looking for a better solution without breaking the bank our ultra rubberized asphalt shingle is the solution ”
Consumers exploring the premium market are urged to do their own research particularly on the warranty protecting them In many cases, they have been misled about the actual warranty; they believe they have lifetime coverage, when in fact most of these systems have a ‘limited’ component to their coverage
Dayus Roofing is always searching high and low to find the best roofing options in the i ndustr y. Based on their experience and research, there are two great rubber roof options available for homeowners.
EuroShield Rubber Roofing is designed to look like cedar shakes or authentic slate and is made in Canada. These roofs are durable, environmentally friendly and have an outstanding appearance.
The Ultra Rubberized asphalt shingle is great looking and extremely robust This rubber laminat ed synthetic shingle with traditional granule finish is the best buy if someone is looking for longevity in a roof
“All premium roof systems are not created equal,” adds Dayus, “Misapplica tion can certainly lead to leaks ” Sub contractors are never used at Dayus Roof ing Ever y roof is installed by a cer tified employee with a guarantee of outstanding workmanship
With their years of experience, Dayus Roofing knows that installation is just as important as the shingle itself They take pride in their attention to detail and ability to troubleshoot. “If you ever have a problem regardless of the roof you ’ re installing, rest assured we ’ re going to be there for you, ” states Frank Dayus IV.
“ We have fibreglass roof installations still in place that are approaching 30 years.
Tearing off the existing roofing system is the recom mended best practice for ever y type of system on the market. Skipping this step does not allow for proper inspection of the decking on which the roof is to be installed and can lead to premature failure.
Dayus Roofing is protected by Workers’ Com pensation liability insurance which ensures the homeowner is not liable in cases of proper ty damage or worker injur y during an installation If roofing contractors do not provide you with the information you ’ ve asked for, they may not have WSIB coverage or insurance of any kind You could be personally liable if an accident or an injur y occurs This can include being held liable for medical and other costs. You could also be exposed to lawsuits. Do not rely on verbal promises. Protect yourself and your assets. Ensure the contractor gives you a written contract that includes the specific work to be performed, terms of payment, and warranties or guarantees.
Dayus Roofing also enjoy giving back to the commu nity that has supported them since 1920 For the last two years they have given away a new roof to a needy family through the ‘No Roof Left Behind Program ’ Online vot ing determines the winner Last year the winner's roof was valued at $10,000
"A lifetime roof, from a lifetime company ” That's the Dayus advantage Dayus Roofing offers free estimates Simply call 519 737 1920 to speak to a knowledgeable representative. For additional information about roof systems, siding and RainPRO trough systems exclusive to Dayus, visit www.dayusroofing.com.
Carpet cleaning and duct cleaning should be at the top of your spring cleaning check list. Both ser vices are essential to providing a clean, healthy environment for your home and business.
Sears has a long histor y in Windsor and Essex County of providing outstanding ser vice. Their experienced, friendly staff guarantee a job well done
Indoor air quality is one of the top five environmental risks to public health Na tionally conducted tests have shown that indoor air is 70% more polluted than outdoor air As dust builds up it becomes stagnant Once this happens fragments of organisms multiply and cause allergies If you have pets there are additional con taminants that become airborne that can irritate lungs.
Pollen triggers seasonal reactions in al lergy sufferers, but like other irritants, it can lay dormant, trapped within the rough sur faces of your home It can sit for years in carpets and air ducts, until activity levels stir up the toxic pollen particles into the air
Sears Duct Cleaning Windsor uses a proven method to power fully and effi ciently remove build up, pet dander and toxins from your ducts The proper clean ing of the air duct system allows the HVAC system to work at its highest level of effi ciency. An HVAC system that is properly maintained reduces energy usage through out the home creating greater savings.
Pollen, dander and seasonal spores are all common contributors to chronic asthma, allergies and respirator y sufferers Proper cleaning of the air duct cleaning system by Sears will help reduce any health issues and maintain a healthy living in your home
Sears Duct Cleaning Windsor uses Bene fect to disinfect air ducts Benefect is the first and only ALL Botanical Disinfectant on the market today It is comprised of only natural products so it is 100% safe, yet effective. Trusted by medical professionals, it is less harmful than vinegar, yet a power ful way to neutralize bacteria.
In addition to clea ning carpets and ducts, Sears also offers cleaning ser vices for upholster y, tiles and grout and area rugs
Contact Sears Carpet & Upholster y Cleaning today to book your appointment at 519 972 9119
Visit www windsorcarpetcleaners com for more information
From refreshing an older kitchen by replacing cabinet doors and counter tops to tearing ever ything out and doing a complete re model, Kitchen Rescue & Bath Centre does it all.
The professional renovators also design, build and install new home offices, bars, mudrooms, laundr y rooms and pantr y closets that are functional , organized and impressive.
“Some homeowners have a vague idea of what they would like. Others are ver y decided, with photo images from magazines and websites to show us their preferred cabinetry style, drawer organizers and backsplash tile,” says Jeff Rocheleau, who co owns Kitchen Res cue with Mike Brisson “ We meet you where you are living Mod erate to high end kitchens, bathrooms and other are as requiring cabinetr y are our specialty ”
A no obligation house call lets Jeff person ally see the room being considered for a makeover “I also get to vie w other rooms flowing to the project space so we can com plement the home’s overall style,” he says.
Feeling stumped or over whelmed, home owners often can ’ t spot the potential. Where they see dinged, tired oak cabinets stuck in the 1990s, Jeff envisions the clean design of modern polyester cabinetr y, garage door upper cabinets and bar stools sliding under a sleek solid sur face eating bar “ When the home is being newly built or totally remod eled, there are even more options,” he says
The most cost effective way to upgrade a kitchen or bathroom is to reuse as many of the cabinet boxes as possible “If they are in good condition, we can reface them with laminate so they look new. Then we change out the doors and drawer faces, saving you 40 to 60% compared to a total renovation,” Jeff says. Kitchen Rescue offers a large selec tion of polyester and real wood doors in countless styles, profiles, stains and colours. LED lighting inside and under the upper cabinetr y bathe the kitchen in gentle light A handsome crown moulding and backsplash finishes ever ything
A ne w counter top makes a big impact Kitchen Rescue installs counter tops fabri cated from on trend laminates, granite and quar tz To stretch the makeover budget, homeowners can choose from new high def inition laminates that look like real granite.
The team also installs new under mount sinks made of stainless steel or a composite that resembles black granite at half the price.
Open concept living appeals to today’s homeowners, whether they are busy families who want to interact or single people or cou ples who like to entertain “ We can remove part or all of a kitchen wall to achieve more openness, ” Jeff explains Where there was once a bank of cabinets, the Kitchen Rescue
team can build a new island with a huge meal prep and eating sur face and deep pullout drawers, built in wine storage and a mi crowave cubby underneath “You gain so much more than a view with this new configuration Typically, your kitchen becomes even more functional.”
The bathroom is elevated to spa status after Kitchen Rescue replaces the old tub with a glass enclosed, walk in shower with mul tiple body sprays. The vanity box is treated to new doors, counter top, sinks, faucets and hardware. Kitchen Rescue’s own plumbers, tilers, flooring installers and carpenters do the work.
More than 3,000 local homeowners have felt delighted after Kitchen Rescue transformed their rooms Your own happy experi ence begins by requesting a free quote
Displays of Kitchen Rescue & Bath Centre’s products are in the showroom at 3021 Walker Rd , Windsor
Modern meets vintage in the latest style evolution at Coulter’s Furniture Ontario’s largest furniture retailer has just introduced over 4,000 square feet of cutting edge furnishings for homeowners who dare to be different. Now there is more reason than ever to visit the Coulter’s showroom totaling 80,000 square feet of inspiration.
Focusing on unique furnishings and accessor ies at cost friendly prices, Coulter’s takes great care in selecting suppliers that offer interesting shapes, textures and finishes. “People want to put their personal stamp on their home spaces. Giving our customers loads of options in our ready to deliver furniture as well as custom pieces in almost ever y design they can imagine opens up endless possibilities,” says Mark Coulter
In business since the 1960s, Coulter’s Furniture has established relationships with suppliers in Canada, the U S and around the globe Each must meet Coulter’s uncompromising standards for en during craftsmanship “ We insist on furnishings that deliver fashion and function with flare,” Mark says
Located upstairs at Coulter’s Furniture is The Room at Coulter’s, home of a ver y talented design team comprised of Cindy Catton, Paulette Nicodemo and Stephanie Evola. Another member of The Room, Robby Lynn Young, works in Toronto. Professional trend spotters, the design consultants and Coulter’s Furniture have part nered on many residential projects, beautifying the community one home at a time The winning collaboration has also resulted in stun ning interiors for local model homes
Last year was gr ound breaking in the evolution of interior design. Rather than one or two looks dominating, a wide range of tastes emerged: Rough luxe, urban industrial, mid century modern, French countr y, Swedish Gustavian, transitional, traditional. Those trends are holding their own in 2016, with even greater emphasis on details that raise each piece above the usual.
Whether homeowners decide to go for a pure statement in a spe cific genre or blur the lines, perhaps by injecting a fabulous modern armchair or credenza into an elegantly traditional room, the key thing is to bring together the right pieces that will reveal the homeowner’s signature style “Self expression is the most impor tant element in creating your new room, ” Paulette says “ The ne w pieces that are already here at Coulter’s indicate our customers are in for a real treat in design options,” Cindy notes The furniture store ’ s showroom is filled with the latest collections from Décor Rest, CDI Furniture, Palliser, Durham and Canadel.
The ways homeowners use their rooms strongly influence furniture choices. “Quality time with loved ones is a priority. Sit down family
meals are making a huge comeback,” Stephanie obser ves. “Accord ingly, more homeowners are opting to update their dining areas. ” Eating spaces in open concept great rooms and in formal dining rooms are being filled with large, oversized tables as long as 12 feet. To comfortably seat 10 to 12 family and friends, people are drawn to a contemporar y take on upholstered Parsons chairs Modern industrial chairs fabricated of metal have an edgy sophistication The addition of a long be nch for two or three guests gives a casual feel to the gathering
MARRYING OLD WITH NEW Furniture that appears to have been in the family for a long time gives the home a feeling of permanence and stability. Each treasured piece hints at a stor y. From a style point of view, it doesn’t really matter if the armoire or desk is decades old or a recent acquisition “ Today’s purchases are tomorrow ’ s heirlooms,” Cindy points out Appreciating that, furniture makers are aging and distressing some of their new products Media units, buffets and console tables are enriched with antiqued doors and wood panels in rustic grey and tree bark hues
“ The old and ne w have come together to result in an updated, casual chic,” Paulette says When put together properly, mismatched pieces add up to an eclectic vibe that pleases the senses. Coulter’s vin tage collections feature accents in painted, metallic and other finishes.
Coulter’s Furniture has searched North America to bring customers the most intriguing trends in accessories New items are arriving daily in the showroom In demand are statement mirrors with bold frames and interesting profiles Metallic accessories in platinum, copper and gold ar e also hot High gloss finishes are highly popular and are appearing on lamps, accent pieces and chairs Orange, turquoise, canar y yellow and berr y shades inject a pop of upbeat colour into a neutral room.
“ When you add a couple of new lamps and some fabulous deco rative accents to your room, you can change the mood and instantly upgrade the space, ” says Stephanie.
The Room’s design team and Coulter’s Furniture pool their talents for charity events, community projects, photo shoots, commercials and home shows
“ We invite ever yone to see us in action on an upcoming episode of HGTV ’ s new show, Humble Home Hunters. It’s airing in April,” Cindy says.
Of course, the best way to experience all that Coulter’s has to offer is to drop into the big furniture store. To catch up with the latest looks, get inspired and find that perfect piece, people are encouraged to browse the beautiful showroom
“If you don’t wish to engage The Room’s design team, our Coulter’s Furniture associates can assist you with new furniture choices,” Mark assures The store offers endless custom capabilities and a design area where clients can experiment with fabric swatches and other sampl es
MAR 21 - APR 20:
This seems to be a pivotal turning point in the lives of those around you You must go for ward You cannot go back to the same frame of mind connected to others. Much of what is going on does not concern you. A new chapter opens for you.
APR 21 MAY 21:
Do not take anything for granted. Carefully review the details before you invest in some one else’s situation Test ideas out on a small scale before you come to a conclusion What works for another may not benefit you in the same way Wisdom gained from the past is your best ally
MAY 22 - JUN 21:
When a door closes, it may be time for you to move on. A new adventure awaits. It is neither bad nor good. Either way you can not change the situation. Past performance does not guarantee future success. You can only change your response and that will de termine the final outcome.
JUN 22 JUL 23:
Finally, you begin to relax and smooth out some of the problems in your life. It is time to make some plans as to where you are going and how you are going to get there. You know what to do, how to do it and when to do it Tr ust yourself Don’t let someone else drag you down
JUL 24 AUG 23:
One foot on the brakes; one foot on the gas pedal. One hand held up says come for ward, the other says stop there. You are tr y ing to find your way through a complicated issue. There is too much on your plate right now. Slow down.
AUG 24 SEP 23:
Life is full of paradox, such as statements that seem to contradict themselves, yet con tinue to hold an element of tr uth. If you ease off on high hopes and expectations, you might learn what tr ue happiness is By doing less, you accomplish more Don’t keep sharpening the pencil Write!
SEP 24 - OCT 23:
Silence sometimes speaks louder than words What you are not saying may have someone wondering what you are doing When you do not know what to do, coast until the coast is clear. Someone around you could have a hidden agenda. Be careful. Keep your thoughts to yourself.
OCT 24 - NOV 22:
Slowly you begin to get back on track Some of the unbelievable issues around you seem to be settling down a bit and you can breathe a sigh of relief. If you can, you might find that getting out for a walk or some kind exercise will help you turn a cor ner in more ways than one.
NOV 23 DEC 21:
You are part way there. Now is not the time to give up. You need to turn obstacles into stepping stones for success. Words won ’ t do it Make positive decisions and then put your best foot for ward The first step is dif ficult, but taking small steps can lead you in the right direction
DEC 22 JAN 20:
It is the journey itself that matters more than the final destination. Take time to no tice what is going on around you. Do not let your mind get overloaded with other people’s extra activities You can only handle so much in one day Work with the most important issues for now
JAN 21 - FEB 19:
Keep a pen and notebook handy so you can keep tabs on appointments and events that appear to be filling up your nights and days. You could actually write a book right about now. Written records carr y more weight than verbal statements.
FEB 20 MAR 20
Gains can be won and lost in a moment, not necessarily yours, perhaps those with whom you associate This is a time when you have to say enough is enough Some people win while others lose, a law in life You might have to compromise somewhat in order to keep moving onward
STORY/PHOTOGRAPHY BY DICK HILDEBRAND
A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE have been in abusive relation ships While many have escaped, their emotions are kept bottled inside Others have sought professional help and have managed to verbalize their feelings and rid themselves of the anxiety and guilt that often accompany the termination of a relationship, particularly when children are involved.
Windsor author Misty Powers (her pen name which she prefers to use) is one of those rare people with an innate ability to put feel ings into words and as a result has become her own best therapist.
Born in a small southwestern Ontario town, she gre w up in a strict Roman Catholic household “I had never been to a party and I wasn ’ t allowed to go to school dances, so today I feel I’m living what I never got to live before!” Following her high school year s she studied cosmetology and office administration in college, after which she went to work, holding down numerous jobs She had often dreamt of a musical career or one is broadcasting, but life kept stepping in and prevented her from realizing those dreams But she never gave up and gained valuable work experience in other areas.
She’s been a make up ar tist, a sales and customer ser vice person and a lipo technician, her job today which gives her a great deal of satisfaction
After meeting a professional musician at Bluesfest and being encouraged to compose music something she had never done, she began writing poetr y. One morning during a break from one of her three jobs, she wrote a complete poem titled “LIFE”, before even making the bed. And as she explains, the words came easily.....
You sit there, you start to cr y
You wipe away the tears and dr y your eye
What should I do?
Should I leave? Should I stay?
The kids are just babies...will it be ok?
That same day, she completed 8 other verses, while 6 more were finished in another day “ They came to me, really, really quick,” she recalls Her final poem was titled “BULLY” and was genuinely empowering to write. She says she was lying in bed when the
words came to her and she finished it in about 5 minutes!
He’ll hurt you, then apologize, He won’t ever change, it’s time you realize, he’ll kill your spirit Leave you there to die..... someone so evil you chose in your life.
She was married for 23 years and is the mother of two grown children She always put others ahead of herself, often neglecting her own needs until it was too late Powers says “I al ways had hope that my husband would change. However, it was my kids that insisted dad is never going to change. I thought to myself, how can they know this and I don’t?” She says that during the time she and her future husband were dating, he managed to keep the dark side of his per sonality hidden and it wasn ’ t until after their wedding that the abuse seeped into the re lationship slowly and gradually “I didn’t even realize how I let this happen to me, or the hole I was in As a wife and mother I was only focused on being the best mom for my kids as well as a suppor ting spouse ” The torment was not physical but verbal and psychological in nature which severely af fected her emotional stability. In fact, it’s not unusual, even today, for Powers to break
into tears when she reads one of her poems, most of which she says were written from suppressed feelings and emotions that she had hidden away in order to deal with life.
‘Reaching Up’ was released this past November and is a stor y of “pain, hope and beginning again It’s a collection of her 16 stor y like poems that seek to motivate, en rich and empower those who have suffered or are suffering from the pain of abusive re lationships ” Each of the poems is inspired by the author’s own experiences and as she says, “all the words are tr ue and all come from my heart. I know it will provide com for t, encouragement and suppor t to the reader.” The words, through their basic sim plicity, take the reader on a journey to the author’s ver y soul, conveying a power ful message and leaving no doubts about the author’s personal str uggles and how she eventually coped with them
‘Reaching Up’ requires only a few minutes of reading time Many people who already have a copy go over it many times Not all the verses are about abuse some deal with divorce and the guilt and sadness asso ciated with a breakup Others talk about the loneliness and depression that often accom pany the end of a relationship. There are also words of triumph and hope, about the
author’s chi ldren, her best friend, her mom and her late sister, “who was my major sup por t system while she was still alive.” Titled ‘LOSS’, it’s the final verse in the book and is a soulful tribute to her sibling:
You were my world I just want you to know The day I lost you I lost a piece of my soul 10 years have gone by, time heals all they say, words so untrue....how I miss saying your name.
Well worth the $20 price tag, “Reaching Up” is available online at Amazon ca, Amazon com and from Barnes and Noble in Michigan On this side of the river, it can obtained from Chapters and Indigo, or from Storytellers, Juniper and From the Heart, all on Ottawa Street Two stores in London also carr y this little gem.
In suggesting that readers keep the book with them at all times, Powers quotes her favorite phrase from ‘Reaching Up’. It’s from the poem ‘Bully’:
Don’t make excuses for he that abuses
He is a grown man he is as he chooses
And, finally, another quote from ‘LIFE’ and an exhortation from Powers:
You’re sitting there with tears in your eye well I just want to say, DON’T WASTE YOUR LIFE! WLM
Over the last five years Lakeland Homes has made hundreds of dreams come true by creating the ultimate in luxur y homes Andre Goulet and Mike McMahon are progressive builders who take enor mous pride in creating exceptional homes for their clients
Lakeland Homes has become synonymous with excellence Their exciting home designs and level of ser vice is unparalleled The staff have a unique work ethic and commitment to quality and attention to detail A 150 point quality inspection is completed on ever y home they build Keys are not handed over to the new owners until ever y thing is perfect.
Building a home can be an over whelming and stressful experience. At Lakeland Homes, they do ever ything they can to make the experience as seamless as possible. A desig nated staff person assigned to quality control assists buyers through every stage of the build ing process Clients appreciate that the home is completed in a timely fashion with the ut most skill
They pride themselves on their customer ser vice before, during, and after construction
“Our goal is to ensure that each customer is 100% satisfied with ever y step of the build process We suppor t our custome rs wit prompt and efficient after sale ser vice. We u our valuable customer feedback to constant improve our products and processes, ” sa Andre Goulet.
Upgrades and extra costs during a ne home build is one of the most fr ustratin things to deal with At Lakeland Homes the include what most builders would consid 'upgrades' as standard features in all of the homes They are also willing to accommodate any additional client requests and do it at the lowest possible cost Standard features in all homes include; custom carpentr y, hardwood floors throughout main living areas and the master bedroom, porcelain tiles, granite counters in kitchens and bathrooms, custom cabinetr y, backsplashes, lighting, premium plumbing fixtures, staircases, premium paint including three colours plus trim and ceiling, and full brick and stucco exteriors; all specific to the client’s desires.
Danielle and Dave recently built their dream home with Lakeland and could not be happier
“ When you talk to people who have built a house with other builders, you often hear complaints and negativity We, on the other hand, enjoyed the experience because of Mike and his team They kept us organized and gave us plenty of time to pick out materials. Contact people at the various stores were knowledgeable and gave advice as we made choices for our home. The few problems that did arise were addressed and solutions were
reached. The Lakeland team is professional and personable. We are thrilled with the outcome of our house and would definitely recom mend Lakeland Homes to others!”
Representing Lakeland Homes, RE/MAX Preferred Realty Ltd. Realtor Angie Goulet has over 12 years experience selling both new and re sale homes She loves the excitement of helping people build their dream home As part of the Lakeland team, Angie helps to design the model homes
If you are interested in seeing the luxur y of a Lakeland home they have several models that can be toured Currently, they are developing homes in Lakewood Estates, located at Manning Road and Riverside Drive, Seven Lakes Golf Course in LaSalle, River Downs, located at County Road 42 and Lakeshore Trails located just off IC Roy Visit www.lakeland homes.ca for more information about Lake land Homes or call (519) 890 3223.
PRECONCEPTIONS THAT AN INDEPENDENT, Windsor based retailer can ’ t outdo national chain stores on selection, price, quality and ser vice, Hi! Neighbor Floor Covering Company is better than ever “ We have renovated and updated our showroom and expanded our massive selection to feature the most in demand flooring products Over 1 million square feet of flooring is in our inventor y, ready to be installed immediately,” says co owner Erik Rorseth
His business partner, Terr y Darbyson, points out: “ We are now focused exclusively on flooring, building on Hi! Neighbor’s good name and reputation, earned since the Shanbon family established the store in 1939 ”
Erik and Terr y were longtime employees of Hi! Neighbor before buying the business last year With nearly 50 years ’ combined experience, Er ik and Terr y work their connections all over the globe to secure the latest products and fashions and negotiate the best deals for their customers “People who haven’t been here in a while are stunned when they walk through the door and see our new showroom, displaying the latest flooring fashions,” Erik says.
The store ’ s selection has been reimagined for today’s homeowners who refuse to compromise their style sense, whether they are renovating a fixer upper or building a custom dream home. “Young people coming here want their homes to look like those they see in magazines and on HGTV. Our selection matches the sophistication of our customers, ” Terr y notes. Checking Houzz and Pinterest images saved on their smartphones, customers are thrilled to find exactly what they desire at Hi! Neighbor. “ When they comparison shop, they realize we can save them 25 to 70%.”
“ The fastest growing area in flooring is vinyl planking,” Erik finds. “It replicates the look and texture of hardwood and tile in any room. It’s 100% waterproof. It is not affected by water spills and leaks in kitchens, bathrooms and laundr y rooms. Vinyl planking installs over most flat surfaces without needing a subfloor saving time and money. A do it yourselfer simply clicks the planks together. A saw is the only tool required.”
Hardwood remains one of the most coveted floors “People want five to six inch planks now in engineered, solid, hand scraped or wire brushed hardwood,” Terr y says Designer floor tiles range from value to deluxe at Hi! Neigh bor “Mosaic tiles in glass, stone and metal are amazing on backsplashes,” Terr y recommends “ We like to think we have Essex County’s largest backs plash boutique with over 500 choices ”
For patios, balconies and small yards, synthetic grass is huge. “Empty nesters and pet owners love it. It doesn’t fade, always looks per fect and is easily hosed off. We’re shipping loads to the GTA,” Erik says. Hi! Neighbor has over 30 rolls of different, realistic synthetic grasses.
The most sought after carpets are traditional Saxony plush and trendy frieze sho r t shag “Carpet is still in style We do hundreds of installations annually,” Erik says Ever ything Hi! Neighbor offers can be professionally installed by on staff, experienced installation crews
The experts gladly share their installation tips with do it yourselfers Terr y invites, “Drop into Hi! Neighbor any day of the week and select from our inventor y We’ll help you make a shopping list and lo ad ever ything into your vehicle or deliver in anywhere in Essex County so you can start laying your beau tiful new floor.” Check for sales at hineighborflooring.ca.
“ When you entr ust your flooring to us, be assured the owners are ser ving you, ” Erik says. “ We are continuing Hi! Neighbor as a family business and plan to be here for the next 75 years!”
Do you have less snow on your roof than your neighbours? That’s a sure sign you have heat escaping. Don’t put it off any longer. Mr. Insulation is committed to quality instal lation of ever y type of insulation to improve the energy efficiency of your home
Owned and operated by Fred Corp, with over 25 years in the insulation business, Mr Insulation provides new home builds and older home upgrades
“Proper insulation is the best way to con trol your heating and cooling costs, ” Fred points out “It may seem obvious when the weather is cold and you notice drafts that can be sealed properly, but it is the air condition ing in the summer that is costing you even more money. ”
Insulation can settle after 20 years or you may have a basement or crawl space that you know is not insulated. Now is the perfect time to take advantage of a home insulation upgrade rebate if you are a Union Gas cus tomer
Spray foam insulation offers several bene fits including: significant savings on energy costs, added strength to the building struc ture, does not require a vapour barrier, is permanent and will not sag, stops air and moisture infiltration, eliminates ice dam ming, improves air quality and keeps dust and pollen out
“Union Gas customers can quality for a re bate of up to $2500 towards improving the insulation of their home,” Fred advises. The Mr. Insulation free home consultation, can tell you if you are eligible for this grant and provide cost effective solutions to improving your home’s insulation capacity. It is expected that the rebate amount will increase on April 1 which means even greater savings for customers
Butch Laframboise is the person you speak with during a consultation and Fred ensures that the installation is completed to your satisfaction Butch is an expert at the grants and rebates program He makes the process painless and steers customers through the entire process making it ‘ worr y free ’
It is inconvenient to have a contractor in your home, but proper insulation is of utmost impor tance Fred stresses. “ We are ver y conscientious of making sure the work is undertaken carefully and in a timely man ner. If you are a Union Gas customer, don’t waste any more time, energy or money, give us a call.”
Call Fred or Butch at Mr. Insulation today to arrange a free consultation: 519 962 6062
Whether you are looking to enhance your indoor or outdoor space, Scotts Fireplace has the experience and products to enliven spaces and make a statement
“ There is no need to search outside Essex County for custom fire features At Scotts Fireplace, we have the products, skill and expert ise for any scope of design and installation,” says A J Godwin, who co owns the 22 year old company with Emile Anhorn
Local builders, contractors and architects engage Scotts Fireplace to craft custom fire features fuelled by natural gas, wood and electricity in their new and remodelled homes. “ We can completely design and build a new feature wall that will impress your guests, ” Emile says.
One of the latest trends is customers want ing to pl ace their TV above the fireplace along with a wood mantel shelve as break point between the fireplace and T V Since wood is a combustible product more clear ance is needed above the fireplace for this to happen
“ This is ver y common with a lot of the fireplace installations, notes Emile For ex ample, we came across a unique application with a customer in Kingsville. The customer had a specific design that they did not want to deviate from, but because of clearance issues the wood mantel shelf was not going to work. The customer was determined to find a wood mantel shelf that was not com bustible which we thought was not possible until she came across a lead that she passed on to us ”
Scotts has designed a solution that is both practical and visually appealing by combin ing the beauty of wood with a non com bustible material These NEW lightweight concrete mantel ledges are meticulously hand crafted to replicate the inherent beauty of aged wood and stone. It can be placed closer to the fireplace and lower than their real wood counterparts. It also offers the designer a ne w tool to solve the "mantel clearance" issues arising from the placement of televi sions or artwork The showroom display as seen in the photo is the Natural Wood
Another trend over the last few years is the inclusion of fireplaces as par t of outdoor landscaping With spring approaching, now is the time to consider enhancing your own space
“ The added element of fire extends the outdoor season and brings that backyard escape to the next level, much the same way it enhances a home’s interior,” A.J. obser ves.
“Our all weather outdoor fireplaces and fire pits provide a focal point for your out door entertaining as well as enough heat to keep warm during crisp evenings ”
Whether it is a cozy hear th or dramatic poolside fire feature, Scotts Fireplace is your expert choice for certified fire unit installs that satisfy insurance companies. Many insurers are requiring certification for their wood fire features under the professio nal safety standards of Wood Energy Technology Transfer ( WET T ) Scotts Fireplace is proud to carr y WETT certification and is one of only three in Windsor Essex County that does
Whether you check out Scotts Fireplace in person or online, you will be confident that they push the boundaries beyond traditional ideas Bring them your vision and they will do their best to make it happen
Their showroom is located in the Home Galler y on Manning Road at County Road 46.
You can also visit them online at scottsfireplace.ca.
James Dyson launched his namesake vacuum in the United Kingdom in 1993, eventually introducing it to Canada eight years ago. To Jon Zakoor, owner of Windsor Vacuum, an independent retail and ser vice shop established in 1939, the Dyson import was the new kid on the block, grabbing attention with its revolutionar y ball movement and bagless suction system “Everyone started talking about these Dyson vacuums,” Jon remembers well
However, it has never been Windsor Vacuum’s way to sell the lat est shiny, new fad to its customers. “If a product does not prove durable, we won ’ t put it on our showroom floor,” Jon says.
So he waited to see how the Dyson would per form in Canadian homes Even after eight years, “ our repair shop
seldom sees a Dyson needing fixing. Mostly, Dyson owners bring in their vacu ums for thorough cleaning and some maintenance to keep them powering at optimal suction,” Jon says. “Although the par ts are primarily plastic, they are ruggedly constructed Dyson builds a qual ity product engineered to endure ”
Two years ago, Jon recognized Dyson met Windsor Vacuum’s high standards and added the entire Dyson collection of up right, canister, cordless and handheld vac uums to his shop’s selec tion of dependable vacuum lines made in North America and Europe.
“People who have Dyson vacuums absolutely love them,” Jon finds. “ When many people think vacuums, they think Dyson.”
Finding that Dyson vacuums work hard
for 10 years or more, Jon says, “ That surpasses the lifespan of most competitors’ vacuums Dyson owners get good value for their investment which is one of Windsor Vacuum’s criteria for a quality product ”
Other criteria are convenience and portability Women and seniors appreciate Dyson’s lightweight V6 cordless vacuums that easily convert from an upright to a handheld vacuum. Weighing as little as 4.96 pounds, these Dysons clean floor to ceiling. They run for 26 minutes after charging in the Dyson dock.
Windsor Vacuum also carries Dyson fans and heaters. Replace ment washable filters, belts, br ushes and other Dyson par ts are in stock
“ There are many great features about ever y Dyson product We can teach you how to get the most out of your favourite new tool It’s simple when you are shown how,” Jon says
Windsor Vacuum is also the place for central vacuum systems, cleaning products and repair ser vice for vacuums of all makes and models Jon says, “We’re your clean and healthy home store!”
Clockwise from right: A Raymond Dietrich rendering Packard Sportif Boattail; Peter Solley sculpture, The Book of Life; a Gilbarco Twin Pump on loan from the collection of Jim Morley; a 5 4L 3V, built in Windsor, display engine
Story/Photography by Kevin McCabe
THAT WINDSOR IS AND HAS BEEN the automotive capital of Canada is pretty much like stating the obvious The number of manufacturers who set up shop within the confines of the city range into the dozens with all but three having been relegated to the pages of histor y
But investigating that histor y has for a long, long time been a pastime that requires dogged determination on the part of the person looki ng to expand their knowledge. Even when there’s been success with assembling the histor y of an individual company or their products, it has often been a private endeavour and the results have remained private or nearly so.
Several decades ago a sole librarian within the WPL, Reg Barlow thought that Windsor’s automotive past needed to be preser ved publicly. The goal was to make the material available to anyone who wanted to know more about Windsor’s involvement with the industr y, someone looking to find more about their prized vehicle or simply how to work on it Donations came in, in fits and star ts, with yours tr uly helping to add to the pile My last mental image of this space was peering through the window in the single entr y door seeing material literally piled five feet deep
Fast for ward to 2015, and an absolute rebirth of the automotive histor y
collection was begun. Thanks in ver y large par t to the estate of Norman and Denise Young, $250,000 was bequeathed to the librar y to kick start this revitalization. The forlorn 150 sq.ft. at the north end of the second floor is now a distant memor y The Automotive Histor y Col lection is now in a new home of an estimated 3000 sq ft of the south end, with rows upon rows of shelving for hardbound and commercially produced books as well as secured lateral drawer cabin ets for sales brochures and pamphlets as well as glass fronted cabinets for the rare and valuable items in the collection The area is spacious, well
lit with lots of comfy arm chairs as well as work tables to spread materials out. A num ber of guests at the gala were ensconced in these arm chairs lost in the material they’d found to explore A number of lively discus sions broke out amongst shelves, cabinets and reading areas Automotive, obviously Saturday Januar y 30, was the official grand opening of the Windsor Public Li brar y ’ s Automotive Hist or y Collection Peter Frise, the chairman of the librar y board spoke to a large gathering of Wind sor ’ s automotive history faithful Frise noted that the AHC is “the first of its kind in Canada”, emphasizing that “ Windsor is the Automotive Capital of Canada”.
Kitty Pope, the CEO of the librar y was there too and just beamed with pride at the librar y ’ s accomplishment in getting the Automotive Histor y Collection organized and ready to receive and help Windsor’s Automotive Community Kitty alluded to future plans for the collection and this writer anxiously awaits the announcement
Directly responsible for the Automotive Histor y Collection is Curator Dave Milani Kitty spoke highly of Dave’s effor ts to go above and beyond to get the collection or ganized and ready for the gala.
Ser vice manuals from all of the domestic manufacturers have all been preser ved by being rebound with hard covers and spines Originally, these books were printed with soft covers and in order to keep the original costs down, purposely designed this way. Naturally the soft covers were not intended to sur vive to a ripe old age But the hard bound covers will and do, with materials displayed dating to prior to WWII.
Sales brochures a re the automotive mate rial most familiar to car owners Displayed in racks within dealer showrooms and packed with facts, figures and beautiful color images, these items are a treasure trove of information for both the casual obser ver and enthusiast alike Prewar brochures espe cially are arguably works of ar t The vast majority of colour images are hand drawn and coloured by artists employed either by the car companies themselves or the adver tising agencies commissioned to produce the brochures in the first place Colour photography in sales materials was not com mon until the mid 1950s.
Less well known but eagerly sought by the knowledgeable enthusiasts are the dealer data books and colour & trim books. The colour & trim books displayed all of the available paint hues and upholster y fabrics availab le Data books go into extensive
detail on the vehicles they cover offering minutiae the truly hard core types devour.
The materials on offer are not exclusive to cars Also in the collection are fairly rare books prepared for truck body builders For the tr uly insatiable, these large (usually 11”x17”) books provide plan and overhead vie ws of pickup tr ucks and large cab and chassis units
Automotive histor y is normally thought to be found within printed documents but Milani and I discussed the librar y ’ s collec tion of audio/video material. Perhaps most unique are interactive laser discs Think of a CD the size of a vinyl LP The discs were interactive in the sense that after a particular segment on the disc was viewed, there was a multiple choice quiz completed via the hand held remote These were briefly popular in the 1980s and early 1990s and were soon replaced by other a/v formats Milani is glad to have these discs and is now eagerly searching for a laser disc player.
For me, the piece de resistance in the Au tomotive Histor y Collection are a series of original drawings prepared by Raymond H Dietrich. Ray Dietrich designed cars for many, many manufacturers and was for sev eral years in the late 1930s, the head of de sign at Chr ysler Corporation Prior to that, Ray partnered with Thomas L Hibbard to form LeBaron Carrossiers Inc. later LeBaron Incorporated, who designed and built one off bodies for luxury cars through out the 1920s and early 1930s One of my best automotive histor y moments, was con ducting a three hour video taped inter view with Ray in 1980 at his home in Phoenix Arizona
Art and the automobile have been hand in hand almost since the inception of the in dustr y. The Automotive Histor y Collection of the Windsor Public Librar y has included its own spin on this facet of histor y by com missioning local artist Peter Solly (who dou bles by day as “ The Muffler Man”), by revealing yet another of Solly’s creations specifically produced for the librar y. Made entirely of exhaust system components, the colle ction’s tallest patron (nearly 8’) can be found examining the “Book of Life” in his hands. As the consummate reader, he comes with his own onboard reading lamps.
Truth be told, the gala was such a success, that a number of us only got the hint that the evening was over when we realized that lights were being turned off and the catering staff was packing up. I won ’ t be surprised if a Saturday morning discussion group re sults Well done!
ONCE HOMEOWNERS SEE how beautiful and af fordable Made to Shade’s custom blinds and shades are, they want to know what the family business can do to shelter their patios, decks and yards “ We re ceived so many requests for outdoor shade solutions that we went searching and found something very spe cial for our customers, ” says owner Michael Campoli
This spring, the 11 year old independent company is pleased to launch its new division: Made to Shade Outdoor Solutions. Proudly Canadian, the Campolis researched different products and got ver y excited when they discovered distinctive, well crafted pergolas, gazebos, cabanas and awnings in their motherland, Italy. Made to Shade Outdoor Solutions is now the exclusive local distrib utor of the imported Pergotenda collection
“ These products do more than pr ovide adjustable protection on sunny or wet days They add architectural interest to your house,” Michael finds “Even a basic ranch will score curb appeal when accented with this sophisticated, contemporary structure ”
Each model is built to endure Essex and Kent Counties’ weather extremes. The nearly weightless aluminum structure has a sturdy frame of supporting tubes and ter minal bars, guaranteed to withstand a wind resistance of grade 6 on the Beaufort scale. The canvas shade material is exclusive Cor radi Eclissi fabric, an opaque laminated PVC with side embossing and a weft effect
Control and comfort are assured with the outdoor shade solution’s versatility Sup por ting r unners are spaced within the canvas so it smoothly folds up to let in some or all of the sun When the canvas is fully extende d, the support system lays it flat
The canvas glides along heavy duty side tracks pow ered by a drive pulley system. A homeowner drowsing on his chaise touches the radio control to block out the sun. The canvas also shields the deck from rain. A drip collection rim built into the frame’s underside catches raindrops.
Colour options for the frames include chestnut wood tone, white, dark brown, clear ano dized and grey anthracite Canvas is available in white, grey or ivor y
The Kubo model is a modern, box shaped gazebo with squared support posts and opaque panels adorn ing the upper perimeter The look is clean and modern Kubo is available as a freestanding gazebo or a three sided structure that affixes to the house
The Iridium retractable cover system has a laminate wood structure that is secured to a supporting wall. Resembling the Kubo in design, its roofline is sloped.
The Arko is a transitional style awning with a
To explore options right in their own backyards, homeowners are invited to give Made to Shade a call A company consultant will make a free, no obligation house call at the owner ’ s convenience. “ This way we can see and measure your area and give you an accurate quote. Yo best complement your house. Most im you determine how to protect you a harmful UV rays in your outdoor room
“If you’d like design ideas and quo made interior window treatments, we also Since we don’t maintain a retail our overhead down and pass the savin
retractable canvas sliding along a sturdy laminate wood frame supported by sleek, cur ved, large scale brackets
IT ’S AMAZING TO SEE what kids can accomplish these days!
In December, the 8 teenagers who make up the girls’ robotics team at the Holy Name Catholic Elementar y School in Essex came in first at a competition at St. Clair College. Then, early this year, they showed their stuff at the First Lego League West Ontario Robotics competition at the University of Waterloo, returning home from the First Lego League West Ontario Robotics competition with an overall third place finish and a global innovation award Also rep resented in the 39 team competition were the Holy Cross Huskies
from Lasalle, the St. Joachim Jags representing Hamilton Went worth Catholic District School Board and the FlexFast Lites from Centerline Windsor which is made up of kids from different schools around the region. The Holy Cross te am also earned an innovation solution award, while Centerline member MacKenzie Parks, a stu dent at Stella Maris in Amherstburg, won a first place design award.
The competitions are staged around the globe with more than 80 countries and hundreds of thousands of students being chal lenged in the same three categories: design and program a robot to
complete missions, identify a problem, in novate a solution and share the research, and a core values challenge which empha sizes the importance of cooperation
Robotics are relatively ne w in schools and are an extra curricular activity. At Holy Name, for instance, the girls usually work on their projects for several hours after reg ular classes In preparing for the Waterloo competition, they often gave up their lunch hours and recess to per fect their robot. Along with guidance from their coaches, they brainstormed for a couple of weeks, then designed, engineered and built their product by no means an easy task The team members, all of whom are in grade 8 and in their early teens, understand the program and easily articulate it when inter viewed In short, ‘they get it!’
The Holy Name team, ‘Element of Sur prise’, consists of Emma Beaulieu, Sarah Busch, Mackenzie Cassidy, Judah McKin ley, Emily Stanley, Jessica Tannous, Megan Thorne and Samantha Wise Each member of this enthusiastic group has worked in close harmony since the start of the school year in September, to create a one of a kind machine from Lego par ts As Emma ex plains; “the robot is made out of Lego pieces that come from at least f our different kits. They contain sensors to prevent the machine from running into walls, motors, gears and other par ts that we can use to build a functioning robot And there are no instr uctions ” Robots are totally the cre ation of the students and are limited to the imagination and ingenuity of those stu dents who speak like a group of well sea soned engineers
“ Trash Trek” was the theme of this year ’ s competition with a product mission to “find a way to make less trash or improve the way people handle the trash we make ” The Holy Name robot, which resembles a giant front end loader “ was designed to complete most of the missions on the table,” says Mackenzie Cassidy. “ The buc ket can lift up and when properly pro grammed, can turn and flip things out There are sweepers which allow things to go inside the bucket and lock them so they won ’ t fall out. Other sweepers are in the back and there are counter weights to pre vent the thing from falling forward ” Other features include a gyro sensor which detects straight lines and keeps the machine mov ing ahead, touch and collar sensors and four motors. Power is supplied by a lithium ion batter y which can be charged like any other electronic device ▼
Beverly Clarke Developmental Ser vices Worker Executive Director Learning Disabilities Association of Windsor Essex County Windsor, Ontario
Chef Vincent Del Duca Food Ser vice Management Certified Chef de Cuisine Windsor, Ontario
Veronica Friesen
Grade 8 Holy Name Elementary teacher Dave Kostanjevec, affectionately referred to as Mr. K, is the team ’ s head coach with the task of mentoring to students “ to give them the odd push if they need it, to provide ideas and to get them over the hic cups that will come up from time to time ” For their par t, the students are charged with the responsibility of assessing what missions the robot can accomplish in 2 ½ minutes Kostanjevec adds, “if they can manage to do 12 to 15 missions success fully in that period, they need a robot that can do it autonomously Each change requires a new code, so the job becomes a sequential problem solving experience.” Both he and assistant coaches Mike Lam oureux and Mike Nadalin agree “that the team has worked well together and has been exceptional in problem solving as a group....that’s the most critical part of this whole thing ”
Friday, April 1, 2016 Alumni Skyline Room St. Clair College Centre for the Arts 201 Riverside Drive West Windsor, Ontario
Civil Engineering Technologist Senior Conser vation and Energy Management Program Coordinator (retired) EnWin Utilities Windsor, Ontario
Tony Haddad Business Administration, Marketing Chief Administrative Office Town of Tecumseh, Ontario
Mar y Wilk Nursing Professor & Coordinator Nursing & Personal Support Worker Programs Fanshawe College London, Ontario
By finishing in the top three, the Holy Name team qualified to move on to an international competition in Sydney, Aus tralia, the first week of July The girls, who recognize this as a once in a lifetime opportunity are responsible for their own expenses and will be conducting fundrais ers and canvassing for industrial, commer cial and personal sponsorship Anyone wishing to help out is asked to contact the school at 519 776 7351.
In keeping with the theme of getting rid of trash and leaving neighborhoods clean, the Holy Name girls called their winning innovative solution ‘Stop N drop’. Simple and yet totally effective, a cleverly designed trash can with slanted edges on the rim, would be strategically placed near stop signs at various intersections allowing passengers to toss their refuse into a desig nated container, instead of throwing it out the window and littering the countr yside This and 6 other innovative solutions in cluding one from Holy Cross were pre sented at IBM in Toronto at the end of last month
As they prepare to enter high school, the Holy Name grade 8s and others face a bright future...even though many of them share regrets about leaving the comfort of their current school. Armed with the life lessons they learned from programs like ro botics and the effor ts of the dedicated teachers who coached them, they should be able to make it in a world that is becom ing more complicated and technolo gy charged than ever before Windsor Life Magazine congratulates them and wishes the best for them in the coming years WLM
You offer to guarantee that a home will sell or you’ll buy it. Impressive! Why do you do this?
Goran: The only way I could feel comfortable and confident in being able to offer this exclusive program is after over 27 years of perfecting the most productive marketing plan on the planet I am so confident in my current plan that it doesn’t var y, whether you have a smaller home or luxur y mansion, the plan is the plan and it flat out works!
One of the biggest dilemmas when selling a home is deciding which REALTOR® to hire Hiring the wrong REALTOR® is risky because your home could end up sitting on the market for a long time without an acceptable offer or you could be forced to sell and com promise your bottom line You could even end up owning two homes or none at all!! Well, our Guaranteed Sale Program solves this dilemma
So, seriously…. Is this real?
Goran: It’s absolutely real! Our approach in selling a home is not your passive, traditional marketing Instead we have created a 201 Step Proven Home Selling Plan, which include s phone prospecting, social media, lots of video, and many other online and offline techniques to engage buyers to look at your home and to ensure you get to the closing table
After selling hundreds of homes in my career, and getting to the point where I can honestly say I spend thousands of dollars a month in advertising for my clients, I can guarantee that my marketing plan works. So how does the Guaranteed Sale Program* work?
Goran: When you list your home with our team, you may receive our written guarantee that we will sell your present home at a price acceptable to you or we will buy it. Obviously, there are limitations and this program is not available for all homes. Unlike the typical investor, my goal is NOT to own your home, but to sell it for the most money the market will bear.
This means when you see a home that you like, you can immediately place an offer on it. It also means that if you list your home with us and you receive an offer from a buyer who has a house to sell, we may place a guarantee on their house so that they can buy your house without condition And if you are not completely satisfied with our customer ser vice or marketing efforts, then you can cancel the listing and pay noth ing if we don't fix the issue at hand within 24 hours No matter what happens, you know the absolute bottom line you will get
FOR OVER 30 YEARS THE Cypher Systems Group has been a member of the Windsor Essex community. Founded in 1983 by
Stephen Savage and Brian
Group (CSG) has become one of the city’s most successful corpo rations and grown to over 900 employees.
Thirty years ago none of the owners could have envisioned the success that has been achieved CSG identified a corporate niche and then developed the technology to fill it, and established an in novative spirit that would define the next three decades Three young entrepreneurs set out to star t a company and ended up changing an industr y
“At our core, we ’ re a technology company that happens to sell in surance, ” states John Savage
Today the family of CSG companies includes: Active Care Man agement, CanAm Insurance, Canadian Insurance Alliance, Cana dian Insurance Ser vices, Insurance Hunter Ser vices, Pareto Business Group, Lowest Rates Insurance Brokers Inc. SmartCoverage Insur ance, Southland Insurance, The Lakeshore Canadiens, The LaSalle Vipers and the Windsor Spitfires.
Although they have been active and growing from the beginning, they have flown under the radar as their business expanded However, this is changing As they continue to grow and develop other companies, they have launched a billboard and social media campaign throughout the community
“ We are interested in recruiting good people and we realized that people needed to know about CSG and what we are about,” says Gail Robertson, Manager, Advertising and Promotions “The theme of the advertising campaign is “Get to Know Us” in the hope that people will go online and check us out. ”
From the beginning CSG and its owners adhered to core princi ples that include: entrepreneurship, passion, community, innovation and relationships. The se guiding principles are at the root of ever y decision made from the top down.
It is clearly a partnership that works. Much like a healthy mar riage, Brian, Stephen and John genuinely like each other. When any conflict or issue does arise, they all assume positive intent. Together as a group they will resolve the issue and ultimately make a decision.
Brian attributes the success of the company to two factors, hiring a lot of smar t people and being innovative in applying a non traditional business model to traditional business
It is the desire to attract and retain good employees, along with their core value of community that has influenced their commit ment and investment in this community
“We want to make Windsor Essex a better place to live, work and play,” says Stephen
Many CSG staff have been with the company long term or decades Even the ver y first employee hired is still at CSG Ever y year the company hosts a celebration for various years of tenure from 10 through to 30.
Some senior executives and even two of the three owners weren ’ t born in this area but now are proud to call Windsor Essex their home.
There are many opportunities for growth and the executive team goes out of its way to engage staff This may include the many themed staff parties or the Chili Kick off competition held for the Super Bowl
“You spend a lot of time at work, it’s important to get the work done, but it’s also important to have fun,” says Brian
When it comes to giving back to the community they have three key areas that they support: arts, recreation and entertainment and health Each par tner has a par ticular attachment to one of these areas.
John is the avid sports fan. His passion for hockey led CSG to take ownership of the Lakeshore Canadiens, the LaSalle Vipers and most recently partial ownership of the Windsor Spitfires along with Bob Boughner and Warren Rychel.
When it comes to management of the teams, the CSG partners are involved on the business side. They view ownership as a com pany just like their other ventures.
“ We have a clear definition of roles and responsibilities within management, ” states Stephen
For example, the partners are quite aware that not all 6,500 peo ple who attend the Spitfires games are avid hockey fans Many are there for the experience To that end, Lisa Schwab, Brian’s wife, took a lead role in redesigning the Crown Lounge at arena for the Plat inum and suite ticket holders The goal was to make the experience more enjoyable for ever yone who attends the game
Stephen Savage is passionate about the arts and is a regular sup porter of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra
One of CSG’s largest investments in the community was to the Windsor Essex County Cancer Centre Foundation. Like most people, cancer has touched all the men ’ s lives. Stephen is a cancer survivor and Brian’s father and father in law both died from prostate cancer.
Together they decided to donate a lead gift in support of the In Your Jeans campaign at the cancer centre This was used to purchase a Da Vinci machine that allows men to receive treatment in Wi nd sor without having to travel out of the area
Most recently they made a large donation to support the ERCA trails Again they saw this as a solid investment in the community that will help recruit and retain talent Staff feel good about working for a company that supports their community
The company receives several requests for support and the same questions are always asked as the men decide which ones to support: how many people are impacted, will it help make a better commu nity and are there any personal connections to the project.
Clearly Brian, Stephen and John are huge supporters of Wind sor Essex. However, their sense of community does not end at the Windsor Essex County border. For ten years CSG staff have been involved with an organization called Bridges to Community Canada whi ch facilitates the building of homes in Nicaragua
It's not enough to say that CSG is a technology and insurance company They are an innovation obsessed trailblazer that nurtures tech start ups, owns hockey teams, and drives results for some of Canada's biggest brands While not all umbrella organizations deal directly with their subsidiaries, they are involved ever y step of the way Moving for ward, CSG plans to continue to grow its core business Over the years they have become more strategic about their investments One thing that has maintained consistent is the main tenance of good relationships. Many of the people they do business with have a long histor y with CSG.
“
The Believe Windsor Essex Award recognizes an individual or organization that has demonstrated a significant commitment to positive business development in spite of global market trends,” says Natalie Henderson, Chair, Business Excellence Award Com mittee
“
The Cypher Systems Group stor y is one that begins with three young entrepreneurs from Windsor who star ted a company and through their hard work and innovation ended up changing an industr y They are not only an insurance company but have put their efforts and resources into helping tech start ups and now they even own hockey teams!”
“Cypher Systems Group continues to create jobs, enhance eco nomic growth as well as support countless charities and causes in the Windsor Essex Community. They could not be more deser ving of the Believe Windsor Essex Award.” WLM
JEFFERY BASTIEN IS CONVINCED HE’S on the verge of realizing a dream he’s had for the past 20 years.
A proud Windsorite, through and through, Jeff has theatre in his blood. Last year with Theatre Ensemble, he directed ‘Bug’ which he calls a “gritty little American piece that was written around 1995 96 when American and British theatre were getting gritty, probably in response to filmmakers like Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarrantino ” Bug had originally been a movie fea turing Ashley Judd and Harry Connick Jr , but Bastien never saw it but was impressed by the stage play after reading it Born and raised in the city, Jeff, who’s soon to be 40, is the son of Guy and Brenda Bastien his mom was a member of a local community concert band and his dad did some acting in his younger days He went to the Eastwood Elementar y School and later Riverside High which at the time rivaled Walker ville in its Arts program. “I didn’t do any of the musicals there,” he recalls, “because I was about 5 foot 2, had braces and was geeky so there really was no hope of musicals for me. ” In Grade 12, Jeff finally got a break when the school opted to present a comedy instead of a musical he and a friend auditioned, winning prominent parts. It was the 17 year old’s first foray into the world of the stage and it became a permanent part of his being. His next part was in a production of a ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ sanctioned by the Windsor Light Opera and presented at the newly built Villanova High School, after which he had an acting drought He worked several jobs including a stint at Taco Bell, the Windsor Airport and at UPS He took an English Creative Writing course from Marty Ger vais at the University of Windsor and auditioned for a part in the Theatre Windsor production of a farce titled ‘No Sex Please we ’ re British’ The director was so impressed that Jeff and another of his friends won the lead roles! In 2001, after appearing in several other plays, he and his then girlfriend started a dance company, ‘ Windsor Dance Experience’, which still exists to this day In 2008, feeling that his acting experience would lead to bigger and better things, Jeff packed up and went to Toronto After about a year and learning that “people in Toronto had a knack for protecting their own, ” he says, “I got my ego handed back to me and headed home to Windsor with the intent of doing things a lit tle smarter from now on. ” He was cast in a number of plays including ‘Night of the Living Dead’ based on the popular cult movie. He directed ‘Crimes of the Heart’ and ‘ Virginia Woolf ’ for Theatre Windsor and headed up ‘Zoo Stor y ’ for Fringe, gaining valuable insight into the world of theatre in preparation for the start of his own venture.
Just about a year ago, after Bug had run its course, Bastien discovered that the paths taken by himself and Theatre Ensemble were in different directions; he decided to assemble his own group and start a new company with both an entertainment and a business side “ When you get a group of actors together in a theatre company, nobody knows how to build a set, nobody
knows how to market and nobody knows fi nances, ” he says, “ so I had to find people that could do that.” The company is called ‘Ghost Light Players’ and Jeff describes it like “ a division of church and state if an actor wants to be on the board he can no longer be in the production because you then start having conflicts ” For his part as Artistic Director, Bastien can act and direct plays but he’s not allowed to vote at board meetings
Ghost Light’s first major presentation, ‘Noises Off ’ , will be staged at the old Walk er ville Brewer y for 6 nights on April 22nd, 23rd and 24th, and on April 29th, 30th and May the first 100 tickets are available for each per formance and are going for the bargain price of $20 Telephone the box office at 519 982 1212 or go on the Ghost Ligh t Players facebook and order tickets on online. ‘Noises Off ’ , described as a tightly wound farce with a lot of intelligent dialogue, was written by Michael Frayn Bastien had proposed doing it about a year ago when he started organizing his not for profit company. In order to finance the proj ect, ‘Ghost Light Players’ have already had a successful fundraiser and back in Septem ber, they presented the Complete Works of Shakespeare at Cooper’s Hawk Vineyard in Harrow A dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ was held at the vineyard late in the year again to raise money for ‘Noises Off ’ Several of the Ghost Light Players’ actors also appeared as Downton Abbey characters at the Vie w points Estate Winer y late last month at a dinner honoring the popular British drama.
Ghost Light Playe rs ’ new season is slated to start in either June or August while the plays have already been determined, the official scheduled hasn’t been released but will be available on the group ’ s website, theatre withoutfear com or on Instagram @glp Windsor or on Twitter @glpWindsor
Until he can become a full time operator of Ghost Light Players, Jeff will continue working for a payday loan company, which has allowed him to schedule his time around theatre activities One of his main goals is to make Ghost Light Players into a profes sional, stable company that will be attractive to theatre grads from colleges and universi ties so “they don’t have to go to Toronto into the giant grind that’s up there.”
Given Jeffery Bastien’s passion for the the atre, his quest for the ultimate in stage performances and his belief in what Wind sor has to offer, Ghost Light Players has the potential for being a major force in live theatre in this area
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March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month and the Windsor Re gional Cancer Program has partnered with Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) to invite eligible men to “Call the Shots on Colon Cancer” and get screened with a simple take home test.
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men and women in Ontario. However, it is highly treatable when caught early. The fecal occult blood test (FOBT) is safe, painless and can be done at home.
“Colon cancer screening can be the difference between life and death,” said Monica Staley, Regional Vice President, Regional Can cer Ser vices and Renal Programs for Windsor Regional Hospital “When caught early, nine of out every ten people with colon cancer can be cured In its later stages, the outcomes are much worse and why it is so important to get screened ever y two years ”
Here are some cold hard facts about colon cancer:
1 Once you turn 50 years of age, you risk of getting colon cancer increases
2. Men are less likely to participate in screening for colon cancer
3 Someone could have colorectal cancer and not know it!
4 You can get colon cancer even if nobody in your family has had the disease
5. Ontario has an organized screening program for average risk men and women between the ages of 50 and 74
6 Screening tests your poop/stool for small particles of blood in the privacy of your own home
7 Your physician can provide you with a colon cancer check screening kit
8. If you have no family doctor, contact Telehealth Ontario at 1 866 828 9213 for a kit
9 When caught early, 9 out of 10 people with colon cancer can be cured
10. Participating in screening could be the difference between life and death
During the month of March, hockey legend, Darryl Sittler has part nered with CCO and Colon Cancer Canada to increase awareness about the importance of screening After losing his wife to colon cancer in 2001, Darr yl now gets screened regularly and encourages his family and friends to do the same
“People may assume that they don’t need to get screened for colon cancer if they have no symptoms, but that couldn’t be further from the truth,” stated Sittler “Screening allows you to stay a step ahead of the game and find cancer early, when its easier to treat Even if no one else in your family has had colon cancer, its impor tant to get screened regularly to make sure you ’ re healthy.”
“ When a person reaches 50 years of age, the risk of colon cancer rises,” says Dr. Catherine Dube, Clinical Lead, Colon cancer Check with CCO. “Most often, a person with colon cancer has no early warning signs Ontarians who are between the ages of 40 and 74 are those who have a family histor y of colon cancer should have a conversation about screening with their healthcare provi der ”
For more informa tion about ho w you can call the Shots on Colon Cancer, visit www.cancercare.on.ca/colon or www.ontario.ca/coloncancercheck
While colon cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer death in Ontario, it ’s also among the most treatable.
Did you k now, 9 out of 10 people are cured if it ’s caught early
Talk to your healthcare provider about a convenient take home screening k it.
The test is quick, painless and could save your life.
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MARCH
Saturday, 26
ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT
Activities and eggs galore for kids age 13 years and younger make the Annual Easter Egg Hunt a fun, free family event It is from 10 am to noon at The Libro Centre, 3925 Meloche Rd , Amherstburg 519 736 5712 amherstburg ca
Saturday, 2 TIRED OF WINTER FISHING AND BOATING EXPO
Delivering as much fun that fishermen can have on dr y land, the Harrow Knights of Columbus Council 5350 is hosting its 4th annual Tired of Winter Fishing and Boating Expo The day is action packed with a perch fish fr y, fishing and boating supplies and ser vices, kids’ fishing pond with prizes, a draw for a 2016 season Colchester Harbour pass and a Chinese auction Proceeds sup port the St Vincent de Paul Foodbank and the Colchester Guardian rescue boat The expo is from 8 am to 4 pm at the Harrow Fair Agricultural Building,134 McAffee St., Harrow. Admission is $5 per adult; no charge for children under 12. 519 919 7734.
Sunday, 3
2016 CARHA HOCKEY WORLD CUP
Till Sunday, April 10 Over 2,000 guests from 15 countries are coming to Windsor for the 2016 CARHA Hockey World Cup. More than 120 teams are competing in the largest international adult rec hockey tour nament on the planet. The schedule is to be announced. thecup2016.ca.
Thursday, 7 42 STREET
Till Saturday, April 9 Music Theatre Per formance and Enter tainment Technology students of St. Clair College present the musical, 42 Street. Per formances are at 7:30 pm, Thursday and Friday; and 2 and 7:30 pm, Saturday at the Chr ysler Theatre, 201 Riverside Dr. W., Windsor. Ticket price is $10 per student; $20 per adult. 519 252 6579 or chr yslertheatre com
Till Saturday, April 9. Combining the ex citement of sports with the rigors of science and technology, 52 high school teams and the robots they have built go head to
head at the FIRST Robotics Competition’s Windsor Essex Great Lakes Regional. The public is invited to the free event, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm daily at the University of Wind sor ’ s St Denis Centre, 2555 College Av enue firstroboticscanada org
The University Singers and University of Windsor Chamber Choir, directed by Dr. Br uce Kotowich, revel in the ne w season with their Spring Choral Celebration Con cert The singing begins at 7:30 pm in the Heritage Room, Assumption Hall at 400 Huron Church Rd., Windsor. Ticket price is $5 per student; $10 per adult 519 253 3000, ext 4212 or uwindsor ca
Also April 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17 The Broad way musical composed by Andre w Lloyd Webber is coming to the Green Room The atre, E.J. Lajeunesse at 600 E.C. Row W. Presented by Theatre Ensemble and Cardi nal Music Productions, performances are at 8 pm, Friday and Saturday and 2 pm on Sunday. Ticket price is $20. 519 944 5800, theatreensemble.ca cardinalmusicproductions.com.
APRIL POOL’S DAY
Water safety education is the focus of April Pool’s Day, hosted by the staff at the Essex Recreation Complex, 242 Talbot Street N , Essex. Raising funds for the Lifesaving Society, the event offers Water Smart safety education stations that teach drowning prevention Participants can get CPR C cer tified for $5 (pre registration is recom mended). There is a raffle draw for free swimming lessons. The free event is from 9 am to 1 pm 519 776 8992 or essex ca
Entertainer and guitarist Pavlo is back from the filming of Live in Kastoria, Greece with a new stage show Featuring his global band plus special guests, Pavlo’s Big Fat Greek Concer t plays at 8 pm at the Olde Walk er ville Theatre, 1564 Wyandotte St. E., Windsor 519 253 2929 oldewalker villetheatre com
Live bands are donating their time and tal ent at Music for Life in benefit of Cystic Fi brosis Canada. Held at Johnny Shotz at 13037 Tecumseh Rd. E., Tecumseh, the event also features a silent auction, 50/50 draw and a presentation It begins at 5 pm
is $10 per person 226 350 9438 or Facebook.
