THEHUB FREE HALDIMAND AND NORFOLK MAGAZINE
VOLUME 5 ISSUE 9
COVER SHOT CindyPichette.com
SEPTEMBER 2017
SEASON IS HERE
HUNTING
CANADIAN TIRE
SIMCOE 142 Queensway East 519-426-1513 • HOURS: Mon - Fri 8am-9pm • Sat 8am-6pm
DELHI 308 James Street 519-582-2450 HOURS: Mon - Wed 8am-6pm Thurs - Fri 8am-8pm •
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Sun 9am-5pm Sat 8am-6pm • Sun 9am-5pm •
CURTISMARTIN By RILEY MARINI
For me, video games have become a go-to pastime. Whether it’s the engaging story, fun gameplay or just a place to find ironic entertainment; games have drawn me to playing them. I can appreciate the work and effort it takes to create one. Curtis Martin shared that same passion for playing games as I did, but for him he wanted to make it more than just a pastime. Curtis felt as if it was time to share that same enjoyment he had in playing games – which led him to creating one of his proudest achievements. It began in 2008 with the game Roblox, an online place where users could both build and share creations, ranging in models and levels, by and for the community. Curtis, was looking for a creative building game, and Roblox was exactly the place he needed. It started off as a leisure activity, but along the way Curtis’s experience and interest in Roblox began to grow. Not content to simply play with other’s creations, Curtis began to design and build objects and environments of his own. When Curtis finished high school, he pursued a major in graphic design, attending the Rochester Institute for Technology (RIT), living his life away from home for the next 2 1⁄2 years. A former student named Andreas Wezel-Peterson was guest speaking at RIT showcasing the work he had done. Andreas’ presentation had inspired Curtis, he saw someone who started small but worked his way up the creative ladder at Disney. Wezel-Peterson was now heading Disney’s Communications Department for their Consumer Products Division. Wezel-Peterson’s success could be applied to anyone, and Curtis believed that maybe one day he could reach that goal. Curtis occupied his time with other things like photography and media design, while still finding hours to spend in Roblox, posting to his profile the builds he had made over time. Curtis’s creations managed to gain the attention of some long-time Roblox builders who were looking for people like him, asking if he would join their group to undertake some projects. The group of renowned builders had been working on a game based on the Disney movie Moana and had asked Curtis to finish off the last parts of it before moving onto something else. When the game was complete, the team was ready to move on, but then something else happened. Curtis was sent a 10-page document detailing a contract job, in the email it seemed that Roblox was interested in having Curtis work on their biggest project for the year. Out of thousands of players, Curtis was handpicked to be a part of a team of people from all over the world to work on Roblox’s yearly Egg Hunt game, and with little hesitation, he accepted the offer. Considering Curtis’s experience
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in graphic design, his skills would be put to good use designing the essential components of the game including the textures and concept models; which would eventually be turned into official items by Roblox. Drafting Egg Hunt took time as the team had to brainstorm a number of ideas for their 8 featured maps, levels had to be carefully planned as there was no “undo” to fix any mistakes made; thus, it had to be “near perfect” in its design. Regardless of how large a map might be, one of the challenges was ensuring that it would be playable on all devices. Going over a certain block limit meant it could possibly crash one’s game if they were playing on a mobile device. Difficulties had to be tweaked so that kids to young adults could beat it without getting stuck, and more importantly some segments required that players worked as a team. Most of all, the game had to be kept secret amongst the Roblox community so that it would be a surprise for everyone playing it on release. For the next few months Curtis had a busy schedule, working for most of the day, and building parts of the game at night. A typical night after work was spent going straight to the computer and organizing the next parts of the game for development, which sometimes required putting in long hours as the game got closer to release. Curtis’s strong work ethic allowed him to endure a gruelling schedule, it might have been a long four months for some, yet it was a labour of love for Curtis. Finally, the day had come when it was time for the team to present their work, and the Roblox Egg Hunt 2017: The Lost Egg was released to the public. Within its first hour the game received over 1 million plays, and over time managed to gain an average score of 87% amongst the community. Curtis and the team’s effort paid off with many considering it to be Roblox’s best Egg Hunt event to date. The game eventually came to a close when the event ended. Curtis felt a sense of accomplishment having the chance to work on a project like this; his passion for this game earned not only some income, but also a reputation amongst the community. Curtis had left the project with the knowledge and understanding of proper design, which he hopes to one-day use for his own game in the future. Until then Curtis will continue to enjoy Roblox as he did in the beginning when he first started, at least until the next big thing comes along.
Erie Beach Hotel
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23 Market Street, Unit #9, Box 1501 Port Dover ON N0A 1N0 Phone: (519) 429-2567 Publishers: Dave & Monica Scott editor@norfolkhub.ca www.norfolkhub.ca Any reproduction of this publication without permission is prohibited. Opinions and comments within this publication are those of the writers and not necessarily that of Sports Norfolk or the Norfolk Hub.
IN THE
LONG
RUN By CHARLIE UPSHALL
A RUN FOR THE AGED! Is it possible for a man in his sixties to begin running longer and longer distances at such an advanced age and develop into one of the best 24 Hour ultrarunners, of any age, in Canada within two years? My friend Steve Tomajko, a long-time resident of Norfolk County, came with me to the ultra race 3 Days at the Fair in May 2016. He took part in his first 24 Hour race, winning the third place award and reaching the qualifying standard for selection to the Canadian National Team to compete in the World Championships to be held in Belfast, Northern Ireland in July 2017. There would be a year to prepare for this honour and monumental challenge. What a year it was. Steve and I recently reviewed his preparations and the race itself. The first hurdle for him to overcome was an injury just as training was to begin. In July 2016 he was diagnosed with tendinosis, meaning the tendon had separated from the side of his right foot. A period of no running followed for two months. Steve started running again in September, doing no speed work but slowly building up his weekly mileage. By January he was able to do runs of 30 km on consecutive days. Interestingly, on one of those solo winter runs, he ran out of music partway through. Upon realizing that he had gone faster without the music, he made the decision to never carry music again. In a similar vein, on another long training run, his Garmin watch ran out of power. Again, he ran faster and steadier without looking at the specialized watch, so he stopped looking at a watch during his outings, just checking the overall time when he completed his route. Steve had already laid much of the groundwork for a successful training regimen when preparing for his race at 3 Days at the Fair. Also, he was comfortable with his general nutrition which basically consisted of eating cleanly with no processed foods. His specific race nutrition was drinking Gatorade and water at regular intervals, along with peanut butter sandwiches. This diet had enabled him to run steadily for 24 hours with some scheduled short walk breaks and no rest periods. The complicating factor in getting ready for the 24 hour competition this year would be that the last part of the program, the most intense, would be undertaken in Australia. Steve and his wife Jill had made arrangements to go on an epic trip, house sitting at two locations in northern Australia, for the three months immediately preceding the Championships. The first five weeks were spent in Darwin. I well remember his first phone call. He was in a bit of a panic. For his initial run, he had planned to go 15 km, but he was unable to complete it. The humidity was 98% and the temperature was 35 Celsius. Conditions such as that mean do not run. He faced similar conditions throughout the five weeks at the first house. An added difficulty was the necessity of wearing SPF 50 sunscreen which clogs pores and prevents sweating.
I should also mention that even though they were living right on the water, Steve could not go in to cool off because of all the crocodiles! The heat and humidity were so extreme that Steve and Jill would be sweating profusely even when they were sitting still. The remedy was to do the daily runs at 5 a.m. when it was totally dark. It was still hot, but not as hot. Steve told me the outsides of his running shoes would be soaked in sweat within one kilometre. As every run was undertaken in complete darkness, for safety reasons he ran back and forth on a straight 1.5 km interlocking stone pathway, the only place nearby that was lit. These workouts were up to 25 km. Imagine the mental toughness that was developed from repeating that tedious route so many times every day by himself. After those weeks of rigorous mental and physical training, Steve and Jill travelled to Yungaburra, a small community outside of Cairns. There would be a new challenge. While the heat and humidity were reduced, training was now at 2500 feet above sea level on mountainous roads. His chosen route encompassed running through the village, past the outlying farm area, into Fig Tree National Park, followed by a 5 km continual ascent, then turning back, descending the mountain and returning home. The distance was 20 km. This most intense training block involved quicker tempo runs of up to 20 km for as many as three days in a row, followed by long run days. Sundays were rest days. The culmination of this tremendous training load was a week of 20 km, 20 km, 20 km, 30 km, 50 km and 60 km. The 50 km and 60 km efforts were both the fastest of Steve’s life. In addition, he was doing numerous daily leg squats and planks. He was feeling ready and confident. Every Sunday, Steve and Jill would go on a trip for a day or two. They visited National Parks, aboriginal cultural areas, caves in the Outback and lava tubes created by volcanic eruptions. A highlight for Steve was going out on a catamaran and diving at the Great Barrier Reef. As well, Steve got to experience some of the special wildlife attractions of Australia on his runs. Most amazing was likely his veering away from a live two metre long python on the side of his running road. Steve and Jill arrived back in Canada only four days before they would leave again for Ireland. He had completed a heavy, very focused training build-up, doing every workout on his own. The last three months had been on the other side of the world. He had no doubt that he would be successful and he set high goals for himself. The World Championship 24 Hour race took place in Victoria Park, Belfast on a road loop of a little over a mile. Steve tallied 198 km (123 miles) making him the second Canadian male overall and winner of the bronze medal as the third top M60 male in the world.
It was a year to treasure, a year of great adventure and accomplishment.
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APPLE SEASON IS HERE! OPEN EVERY DAY!
519.428.0882 • www.CiderKeg.com • 1231 Hwy 24 S. at Vittoria
October 3-9, 2017 norfolkcountyfair.com
Simcoe, Ontario #NCF2017
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THE TICKET CENTRE
f TASTE o NORFOLK
Advance Passes & Ride Vouchers 1-Day Advance $10 1-Day Ride All Day Rides $28 (only available until Oct. 2nd) 7-Day Admission Pass $48
AT THE REC CENTRE
FREE Nightly Entertainment (with paid admission to the fair)
* Open to all ages *
★★★
Madonna FRI Cher, Tina Turner 7:30 Lady Gaga
featuring Norfolk County wine, beer, cider & food!
SAT 7:30
Open 1:00pm Fri-Mon
Available at these Roulstons locations –Only until October 2nd SIMCOE - 17 Norfolk St. & 65 Donly Dr. North DELHI - 123 King St • PORT DOVER - 414 Main St.
SUN Chicago Transit 7:30 Powerhouse Band
LIVE Entertainment!
FIVE COUNTY MPIONSHIP CHTARU
WEDNESDAY
7:30pm
DEMO DERBY
DISTRICT
COMPETITION
THURSDAY
7:00pm
MONSTER
TRUCKS
Featuring
MONDAY Ticketed Event
4:00pm
Purchase tickets online norfolkcountyfair.com
5 NIGHTS OF MOTOR SPORTS EXCITEMENT
6:00pm
David Bowie, Neil Diamond Stevie Wonder Elton John
Rec Centre Arena Bldg #7
ALL tickets available online norfolkcountyfair.com; at the fair office 172 South Dr., Simcoe; or call 519-426-7280 x233
TUESDAY
ALL STAR TRIBUTE
SUNDAY
7:00pm
GRAND DADDY TRACTOR PULL
Talent Show 5:00pm
MONDAY
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FOR A DETAILED SCHEDULE OF EVENTS VISIT NORFOLKCOUNTYFAIR.COM
this year, based on the students’ written application, essay, transcripts, references and interview, all applicants in the competition were individually outstanding. These students are to be commended for having accomplished remarkable goals and are a credit to their families, schools and community. Simcoe Composite School Principal Alison High noted that Abi, “has represented our school very well at numerous competitions and community events.” Outside of school, Abi volunteers at Norfolk General Hospital and at Ryerson Camp. She has participated in the Norfolk Sunrise Rotary Welshpool exchange program and the Rotary STEP exchange to Belgium during the summer of 2015. Abi is enrolled at Laurentian University, Sudbury, in the Bachelor of Nursing program beginning in the fall of 2017.
And the winner is... Abi Peck, daughter of Cheryl and Scott Peck of the Vittoria area, a graduate of Simcoe Composite High School is this year’s recipient of the Vittoria & District Foundation Inc.’s annual scholarship award of $2500. It has been 21 years since this scholarship was initiated in 1997 by the Heritage Committee of the Vittoria & District Foundation Inc. to recognize scholastic and extra-curricular achievement and to provide financial assistance to students of Vittoria and district in their pursuit of post-secondary education. The money for this scholarship is raised by the Annual Vittoria Spaghetti Dinner and Auction. The selection committee, consisting of Mary Caughill, Don Fort and Linda Vancso, evaluated the applications submitted. Chairman of the scholarship committee, Don Fort noted of the several submissions received for the award
Abi notes that, “I have always had an interest in the healthcare field especially in the areas of anatomy and physiology of the human body, work that is hands-on and involves human interaction, particularly in the field of mental health.” She also noted that volunteering at summer camp taught her, “leadership skills, patience, equanimity, compassion and how to work effectively in a team in addition to how to diffuse conflict and tense situations.” Abi credits the Simcoe Composite School’s Health Sciences course, in the partnership with Norfolk General Hospital, which is designed to educate high school students in the different areas of the Canadian healthcare system, for opportunities that encouraged her to pursue a career in healthcare. The Vittoria and District Foundation Inc. is proud to be able to recognize Abi’s achievements and contributions to her school and community thus far. We wish her every success in her future endeavours. Congratulations Abi! Photo: Mary Caughill, Abi Peck, Don Fort (left to right)
144 Queensway East Simcoe • 519-426-3010 • DemeyereChrysler.com
FALL COLOURS
&
Fashion
Fashion Advice from Chantelle Weiler of Sassyfras Boutique All your fall colours await you at Eising Greenhouses & Garden Centre. Chantelle is wearing Sassyfras Boutique’s latest arrivals from Cream. The floral design tank top turtleneck is accented nicely by the soft feel of the Old Rose, short sleeve, cardigan sweater. While Chantelle stands amongst the purple fountain grasses which mix warmly with a variety of colours such as gold, orange, and bronze. The Hot Java faux leather pants add to the autumn feel and with Cream boots arriving soon, the look will be outstanding! Of course a silver and brass spinner ring shines through, becoming a wonderful backdrop to the palette of colours of the Celosia. Lastly the tassel necklace adds a finishing touch for the passing season!
814 Cockshutt Rd, Simcoe
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Adventures In Eldercare
THE ‘GREYING’ OF THE MEDIA Dr. Bruce Veltri C.P.C.A. (Certified Professional Consultant on Aging) Have you noticed a bit of grey hair on the actors on television shows and commercials lately? Everyone has seen the ads for Viagra and other virility helpers. My personal favourite is Jamie Lee Curtis telling us she uses an adult absorbent pad for incontinence. The scream queen becomes the stream queen. (Sorry I could not resist). No, you are not imagining things. The ‘Greying’ of the media is happening and reflects how our society is changing. Norfolk County and Canada as a whole is ageing rapidly and that ageing is now being evident in our media and in our culture in general. Look at the crowd at a Blue Jays game or go to a concert of almost any genre and the ‘cotton tops’ are in full force and dancing in the front row. A recent headline in the Toronto Star indicated the beginning of what many people refer to as the grey tsunami. 2017 marked the first time in Canada’s history that there are more people over the age of 65 than there are under 18. The age triangle, which has always had more young people at the base and older people at the peak has been inverted. This flip flop in demographics is a direct result of the ageing of the baby boomers and Canada’s recent predilection for drastically reduced family sizes. In a nutshell; people are living longer and having less children. Between 1946 and 1962, the Baby Boom generation was created. It was a combination of the servicemen coming home to their brides and non-servicemen that had delayed starting their families because of the hardships of war. That combination and the large families that followed created a wave of humanity that has re-defined every stage of life along the way. They shook up the school system, the job market, the stock market and the housing market. And they will completely change our concept of ageing as we know it today. The first boomers started turning 70 last year. As the rest of the boomers age, they will redefine every aspect of the back nine of life:
FUNERALS AND BURIALS: Funeral homes are changing to accommodate the desire to personalize the funeral experience. Cremation can now be direct from the hospice to the crematorium. More humour and celebrations of life are being incorporated. Discount services and unique experiences are the new trends. LONG TERM CARE AND RETIREMENT HOMES: Unfortunately, housing is a have and have not story. The boomers with means will demand and get unique and innovative housing options. Villages with ethnic or time-related themes, facilities with gyms and walking trails, group homes based on common interests, apartment buildings and subdivisions geared specifically to older seniors. Private Long-Term Care homes will transform into much more luxurious places with multiple amenities. These trends are already happening for those that can afford it. Unfortunately, seniors on fixed income or on disability will have a much harder time. Low cost or subsidized housing for seniors is already extremely difficult to access and waiting times will get longer every year. Low income seniors will have to co-habitate, sharing rent and living spaces. The government has invested very little into social housing for older seniors, hoping that private firms will step in, but this has not happened yet and is unlikely to happen in the future. The government on every level is going to have to step up and start TODAY to ensure there is adequate acceptable housing for low income seniors in the future.
Address: 65 Donly Dr. N, Simcoe
Victoria ElderCare Phone: 519-429-2644 Address: 65 Donly Dr. N, Simcoe
THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM: The health care system as we know it will not be able to handle the influx of older seniors as they reach end of life. Hospice and chronic care treatment will have to be revised and improved to meet demand. Home care will become more common for minor illnesses.
These three major challenges, housing, end of life planning and the health care system will become more and more dominant over the next ten years. How we deal with them will determine the quality of life for millions of seniors in the next quarter century. Dr. Bruce Veltri operates Victoria Eldercare, a non-medical home care agency matching exceptional care-givers with elderly seniors to help them maintain independence and remain safely in their own home. Victoria Eldercare can be contacted by phone, 519-429-2644 or the web-site, www.victoriaeldercare.com.
Phone: 519-718-BIKE (2453) Email: info@redapplerides.com
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THE NORVIEW
NEWS HOUNDS. SEPTEMBER NEWS It is hard to believe that summer is coming to an end. For the News Hounds, it just seems like it has skipped away far too quickly but maybe that is an indication that life at Norview Lodge is very busy! James Skarnikat was a newcomer to Norview Lodge. He is a singer/songwriter from Hanover who was touring in the area. He arrived on August 3 to provide some musical entertainment for about 60 residents and turned out to be a big hit. His music was very upbeat and put a lot of smiles on a lot of faces as they sang along to some familiar tunes. We look forward to having him return to Norview in the near future. Our bus certainly got a work out this month with a total of 20 outings into the community in August. A country drive to take in the sights of Norfolk County is always a popular trip. Residents get to choose the destination and often like to visit their old stomping grounds. Our retired farmers also like to check on the progress of the local crops. The trip however is never complete without a stop along the way for some ice cream. We have to say a big thank you to the Therapy Staff who join forces with us for monthly outings to the White Horse Bowling Lanes and the local Recreation Centre pool. Both programs are well attended, thanks to the support of Rachel, Lynsey, Rebecca and Roddy. At the Recreation Centre pool it is an absolute thrill to watch Michael swim independently across the pool. When he reaches the far side of the pool, he is so proud of himself and wears the biggest smile you have ever seen. When he started the swim program he could not be in the water without support. We are so proud of his accomplishments and credit our fabulous Therapy staff with playing a big part in getting him there. We took advantage of some beautiful, sunny days and travelled to places like Port Rowan, Scotland, Waterford
and Port Dover for picnics, some fun in the sun and a lot of people watching! We were contacted by the Canadian Deaf-Blind Association and asked to participate in the filming of a short video to be used to promote and raise the profile of “Intervenors� as a career choice. We quickly agreed to help and the filming took place throughout our home on August 15. We have been privileged to have a volunteer named Yi-Min who visits us monthly with his Intervenor, Serena and Kovaxx the dog. Yi-Min and Kovaxx were the stars in the film along with several residents who always look forward to their monthly visits. Our residents are excited that we will be receiving a copy of the video when it is finished. Near the end of the month we had a visit from some very special people. Peter Friesen and the choir from the Mennonite church in Lynedoch came to visit on August 20. The choir consists of approximately 30 people, from infants to grandparents and all ages in between. The harmonizing is just simply incredible. They are such a beautiful, talented group of individuals that are a pleasure to welcome into our home.
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tried and true.
THE
REEL DEAL LARRY MELLORS with
WATER. What Draws Us In? Humans have been drawn to water since time immemorial. What is it that draws us into the wonderful world of water in the outdoors? I am asked that question a lot. There are many answers to this question. I believe the answer is different for almost everyone who asks that. Even for myself there would be dozens of answers. I have been drawn to water ever since my father introduced me to fishing as a three year old. For me it wasn’t just fishing though. As a teenager I trapped fur bearing animals alongside my brother Don instead of having a part time job in the retail or food industry or as a newspaper carrier. When I was of age, I also became a waterfowl hunter. I now make a living as a guide and instructor in the fly fishing industry. Water covers approximately 71 percent of the Earth’s surface - of this, only 2.5 percent is freshwater. Water is very vital for all known forms of life on this planet. Even though safe drinking water does not provide any organic nutrients or calories, it is necessary to humans and other life forms. Roughly 70 percent of the world’s freshwater used by humans is used in the agricultural industry. At one time I either chaired or was president of 30 committees or organizations involving fish and water in the Province of Ontario. I am also involved in eleven schools at all three levels of education as well as two summer children’s camps each participating in aquatic renewal projects. As you can see water is very crucial to me and has become a very big part of my daily life. The most fascinating aspect of all this is the way children and young adults are fascinated with discovering what the outdoors has to offer. It doesn’t matter their age. Most of this happens around water. I believe this is because a lot of people do not know what water holds – in the way of aquatic animals and insects. Recently I had the pleasure to introduce a friend’s daughter, Gracie, to fishing. Equipped with her Shakespeare Barbie rod and reel combo and dressed to match that combo, we headed to Whiteman’s Creek. She was all ready to fish with her mom at her side. Her mom had already introduced Gracie to the art of casting the Barbie rod and reel at home. With a little coaching she was able to cast the bait offering into the water. Then we made the mistake of showing Gracie to the wonderful world of aquatic bugs clinging to the underside of the rocks on the streambed. Or was it a mistake?! Mom was soon responsible for the fishing rod while Gracie would pick up one stone after another looking for wiggling life. Gracie became very adept at identifying caddis nymphs! As adults we have taken fishing to a whole new level. Technology has seen to that – marine electronics including sonar and GPS, electric bow mount motors that are capable of so many things, and shallow water anchors. We no longer go just for the mere pleasure as we are trying to obtain the best CATCH experience on the water utilizing all this technology. Taking Gracie that day simplified everything and put life back into perspective. It was about showing Gracie the basics of fishing utilizing a bobber and bait. Take the time to introduce someone to the sport of fishing – preferably young. It’s refreshing and rewarding at the same time even though we didn’t, should I say she didn’t, catch anything. If you let children be, of course under careful observation, they will pursue nature’s offerings. Gracie found the tip of the fishing rod was an underwater probe, attempting to dislodge whatever was in the water. We learned a lot that day watching Gracie discover stream banks and water life. But above all, our problems dissolved, for the short term at least, as we too were engulfed in the water world - of not just the natural environment, but of Gracie. Have you ever stepped back to think about what draws people to water? Water draws people from all walks of life’s interests. It is not only for those that participate in recreational pursuits in or on water, as people who have no interest in those activities still show up on the shorelines. Lots of time it is to just throw rocks or sit and watch nature in action. I cannot help but believe it’s the therapeutic result we are unknowingly looking for. We lose ourselves in that moment of time. Just as Gracie’s mom and I did that day.
Larry can be reached at focusonfishing@rogers.com
serving Lake erie Boaters for over 60 years
519-426-0653
487 Q ueensway st w. s imcoe
www.proctormarine.com
The whole yoga experience is about building a solid foundation from the ground up, the physical component as well as the mental, an expansion of awareness of oneself‌ If you have any questions about upcoming classes, feel free to contact Christie at the Twisted Fish Community & Wellness Studio, 23 Market Street West, (519) 583-1200 or check out her website at
TWISTEDFISH.CA
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519-429-2567