SCHOOL BIZ COMPANY TURNS A PROFIT
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A SEPTEMBER TO REMEMBER
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CITIES WANT POT DECRIMINALIZED
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FRIDAY
SEPTEMBER 28 2012 www.newwestnewsleader.com
Local kids (and adults) put words into action. See Page A4
Open talk wanted on fixing deficit Grant Granger
ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com
MARIO BARTEL/NEWSLEADER
New Westminster musician Sean Garrett is hoping to get the city rockin’ as he prepares to host Wednesday Night Jams at The Columbia beginning Oct. 3.
Bring rock back to the Royal City Mario Bartel
photo@newwestnewsleader.com
Like any self-respecting rocker, Sean Garrett isn’t about to divulge his age. But he’s been around long enough to remember when California Dreamin’ and Zodiac were happening New Westminster rock clubs that cultivated local bands. For a stretch he organized jam nights at Nix Pub at the old Burnaby Hotel on Kingsway. Now he’s hoping to revive the city’s moribund rock music scene by hosting his own Wednesday Night
Jam beginning Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m., at The Columbia. Garrett, a bassist and vocalist who has three solo albums to his name, will be trading riffs with guitarist/producer Rick Boulter and drummer Frank Baker, who’s played the skins for bands like Trooper, Prism and Nick Gilder. And they’re only too happy to have other local rockers join them on stage. Who knows what might happen? “It’s so important to interact with other players,” says Garrett, who was born and grew up in New West. “Everyone knows each other
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but they don’t get a chance to play together.” Jam nights, says Garrett, can be a percolator for new music, even new bands. They’re a chance for veterans to flex their chops and new musicians to network, maybe learn a few tricks, form new partnerships. It’s a creative, relaxed atmosphere that’s more about camaraderie than getting noticed. “It’s a good learning experience,” says Garrett. “Any chance you get to do your craft, it’s a great thing.” It’s also a lot of fun. Especially when the disparate players find their
groove and they all mesh. “It’s a spine-tingling moment when you feel like you’re doing it right,” says Garrett. That’s also true for the audience, who can watch for free. After all, that’s who musicians play for. “You want people there listening,” says Garrett, who’s hopeful the lack of NHL hockey will help bring people out. “It’s exciting to be bringing rock music back to New West.” To learn more about Wednesday Night Jam, follow the Upcoming Events link at www.seangarrett.net.
The head of the New Westminster Teachers’ Union (NWTU) wants the school district to stem the anxiety of his membership by having open communication over how it will deal with its surprising $2.8 million 2011-12 budget deficit. NWTU president Grant Osborne was joined in his call for transparency at Tuesday’s board of education meeting by district parent advisory council (DPAC) president Rob Peregoodoff. Osborne said the word ‘deficit’ makes teachers anxious, especially a shortfall as large as that announced earlier this month. It makes them wonder what it could mean for them, he said, and that leads to rumours and speculation spreading through school halls and staff lunchrooms. “Because of the size of the deficit, obviously it’s had an effect on teachers and classes,” said Osborne on Wednesday. “Mostly they don’t know what to expect.” The Ministry of Education has given the district until the end of October to come up with a plan to balance the budget. Please see BUSINESS, A3