TUESDAY
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SPORTS
July 16, 2013 Vol. 28 • No. 57 ••• $1.25 inc. G.S.T.
The impossible becomes reality during CYMC’s production of Shrek the Musical. page 12
The Rink Minx battled the Brickhouse Betties on roller derby track. page 23
COMOX VALLEY Your community. Your newspaper.
JIM BRASS
Former mayor passes Erin Haluschak Record Staff
Former Comox mayor, dentist and community volunteer Jim Brass passed away during the weekend. Brass was mayor of the Town from 2002 to 2008. Current mayor Paul Ives described him as “a mentor” and admired his leadership style. “He always strived to build a consensus (on council),” recalled Ives who said, despite many spilt votes on council initially, Brass encouraged councillors to work together. “(Former councillor) Ray Crossley even bought him a referee jersey, but we got the message.” Ives said Brass was instrumental in working with the City of Courtenay to help bring the skateboard park to fruition. He also worked to create the gymnastics facility, and infrastructure for the town. ... see BRASS ■ 2
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Festival over, memories stay Great music, random acts of kindness at 19th annual event Scott Stanfield Record Staff
There’s the music and there are the moments. Lots of them. The 19th annual Vancouver Island MusicFest once again filled the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds on the weekend with sweet sounds and sights, magical moments and random acts of kindness. The Black Creek couple selling mini donuts, for example, were each handed lemonade out of the blue by a former professional football player as they feverishly served customers. Water crew volunteer Susie Williams received a hug from a thirsty patron. Another offered her an ice cream. “We did water crew last year, and we were so appreciated we thought we’d come back again,” she said. “People love us,” her husband Simon added. Cool liquids were a hot commodity all weekend, which kicked off Friday evening at the concert bowl and indoors at the Barn. The main stage featured a Guitar Heroes session with James Burton — who was Elvis Presley’s bandleader — and the smoky voice of
country music Hall of Famer Kris Kristofferson. The latter was followed by the highenergy Walk Off The Earth — a stark contrast to the mellow Kristofferson, who was joined for a couple of tunes by his daughter Kelly. “Aren’t you glad you paid money to see an old fart blow his nose?” Kristofferson joked at one point in the show. Saturday headliners included the Grammy-winning folk-rock duo Indigo Girls and singer-songwriter John Hiatt, who thanked the audience for allowing him to play music for a living. The 24th Street Wailers blew the roof off the Barn Saturday night, then reappeared for a few impromptu numbers before Afrobeats/hip-hop artist Blitz The Ambassador took over the concert bowl. Sunday featured the multi-Grammy Award-winning Mary Chapin Carpenter — among a select group of women inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame — and Marc Cohn, who penned the Grammywinning ballad Walking in Memphis. Six stages featured a host of local and international artists throughout the weekend. For the first time, evening performances were held in the Barn. Another new element was musical theatre provided by Jackie Richardson in the role of Willie Mae (Big Mama) Thornton, who ... see FESTIVAL ■ 2
WALK OFF THE EARTH delivered a high-energy, crowd-pleasing set Friday night at MusicFest. PHOTO BY RENEE ANDOR
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