Are You Looking Forward To The 2020 Golf Season!
We’ve Got The ‘Roast’ Beef ‘HUNGRY Meets HISTORY’! Arby’s Restaurant Feed Your Mind: Read! Staying Fit While Staying At Home
The New 2021 Polaris Matryx!
The New 2021 Arctic Cat Riot X Fun to Ride
Are You Looking Forward To The 2020 Golf Season!
In these trying times in the world who else is looking forward to the golf season this year? It would be fun to be out in the fresh air and get some exercise in a beautiful setting. Let’s hope this will happen soon in 2020. Be safe and stay healthy! Scott Sumner April 2020
Page 2
www.slednews.ca
Feed Your Mind: Read! There is nothing more vital in any human being than their mind. There is no question, doubt, or debate about this fact. Really the mind is a marvel, a miracle that is so complicated it's virtually impossible to figure out. Neurosurgeons for example, have a fantastically complex job when they work on the human brain. When you survey current computer advertisements, you will notice how the speed and storage space have dramatically increased over a short period of time. My first computer in the early 80's operated at a speed of less than 8 Megahertz, and had a hard drive of under 20 megabytes. At present you can get 1000 megahertz speed and a 100 gigabyte storage easily in a computer. Today's information is much more complex to process, and vaster in scope. HOWEVER, computers don't even register with the complexity and power of the human mind . I think the human mind as a computer, would be a trillion mega-
hertz or more, and our storage capacity unlimited. How a living organ can accomplish such feats is truly a miracle.
world of ours who have developed incredible ideas. These ideas have been available for us to discover in books.
So what does that mean for us as human beings? We need to use the magnificent mind that God gave us. We need to maximize our potential, and THINK our way through life with skill and abilities that only human beings have. Unfortunately many people, in fact most people, use only a tiny portion of their mind's ability. It is a giant shame and is something we need to change RIGHT NOW! This will be the best thing you could ever do for yourself, bar none.
Quite awhile ago at Christmas, my father went to the library with my sister and came home with the book THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING by Norman Vincent Peale. After attending primary school, high school, and 6 years of university and reading countless books on all types of business subjects, I actually stopped reading. However the Norman Vincent Peale book was exactly the remedy I needed to prompt me to start reading once again, and I've been reading books like his ever since. I find the ideas fabulous. They feed the mind with some positive food with which to develop. Now I read the best books usually in the evening, and find it has created in me a positive person. An important point to realize is that, what you think about is really what matters in your life. It is more important than your circumstances, or what happens
I believe your mind is like your body in that it needs good ideas, just as our body needs good food. You have to continue to feed your mind positive, fantastic ideas on a daily basis, that will change your entire way of thinking and YOUR LIFE. There have been many fantastic individuals who have lived before us in this magnificent
around you. It's what YOU think about what's going on that matters. How you choose to react to the events that happen to you, and around you, is the only important thing. This sets your attitude and therefore your life. It's really that simple. This is an exceptionally important point to think about. You can't always choose what happens to you, or how people treat you, but you can choose how you react to it or them. You can try to have complete control of your mind at all times. Anyone, even the prisoner in jail can choose what to think about at any given moment. He doesn't have to feel confined or finished, but can be striving to make life better. It all starts with the mind. This is the beginning. It's like creating a brand new road map for the life that remains starting now. Visit www.scottsumner.com
Staying Fit While Staying At Home In this unprecedented time, it is easy to get discouraged and unmotivated. However, even within the confines of our own homes, there are many things we can do to maintain physical and spinal health. Remember that physical activity also improves your mental health. Here are some simple ways to increase your motivation to exercise and also how to stick with it. 1) Distract your mind. If you are exercising outside there are several visual stimuli to keep you distracted. Inside, your best options are to play music, listen to the radio or a podcast or watch television while you exercise. This will
make the 15-60 minutes fly by. 2) Have an exercise partner. Being accountable to an exercise commitment or holding someone else accountable is one of the best ways to stick to the program. Instead of a friend, pick a family member as your partner. If two of you are exercising you will probably motivate everyone in the home to exercise as well. 3) Pick a specific day and time to exercise. We have all had those vacation days where time just flies by without any plan for the day. That might be great for a few days on holiday, but after a while your brain and body start turning to mush. Plan your day. Include what time you will wake up and what time you will exercise. Without a specific time, 9 am will quickly turn to 9 pm and then no exercise. 4) Repetition is key. Try to do some type of activity or exercise every day. Start with 15 minutes and work your way up to 60 minutes or more per day. This can include a combination of strength, endurance and cardiac training. So now that you are motivated to exercise, what can you do? If you live in an area with lots of open space for social distancing, nothing beats going for a walk. For many, short walks multiple times per day may be a better and safer option than doing one long walk. Start with 10-15 minutes and work your way up to a cumulative 60 minutes per day. If you can not walk for various reasons ( knee, hip and back issues, heavily populated are) I would recommend a tread-
mill, stationary bike, marching in one spot, climbing your stairs multiple times or jumping jacks. In terms of strength and endurance exercises, the list is truly limitless. Yoga, Palates, Tai Chi, core body exercise, weights , resistance tubing exercises, interval training are just some of your options. You can easily find many exercises on the internet and various webpages. If you follow an exercise video your planning is quite simple. If you are making your own routine then pick a selection of 5-6 different exercises. Write down your program which includes the order of the exercises and how many repetition or sets of each exercise you want to do. Vary it up each day and add a few more as your strength and endurance improves. Remember to start slow and maintain
proper technique, otherwise you could end up injuring yourself or causing repetitive strain problems. For most of us, the biggest obstacle to doing regular daily exercise is not lack of time or physical abilities. Rather, it is lack of motivation, lack of planning and fuzzy thoughts on what to do and when to do it. All this time off can be an opportunity to kick start your health to a higher level. We can make the most of it or the least of it. The choice is up to you. James DiGiuseppe is a local chiropractor with a busy family and wellness practice. For more health information or to contact Dr. DiGiuseppe visit www.portarthurchiropractic.com
Hotel For Sale
All Day Breakfast & Special Daily!
Page 3
The New 2021 Arctic Cat Riot X Fun to Ride BY SCOTT A. SUMNER
Great Outdoors It was very cool, overcast day in mid March when the 2021 Arctic Cat Riot and Blast snowmobiles came to an area near Thunder Bay’s Kam Community Centre to provide people an opportunity to ride these brand new sleds.
The snow conditions were quite hard but is was fun to hop on the new Riot sled and ride down the power lines in the area.
I had been a long time Arctic Cat snowmobile rider and was looking forward to trying out the new 800 engine in the crossover segment. The sled started quickly with electric start and it was off with our guides from local dealer Intercity Power Sports. Riding off trail in unfamiliar conditions is not something I do often but the power and quick response of the 800 engine was something I noticed immediately.
ditions were rock hard but the sled performed well and showed the capability of having more track, as I usually ride with 129 inch. In addition to the RIOT there to ride they had the RIOT X version as well which features the Alpha
power capability reminded me of a previous 85 HP twin cylinder 2010 Arctic Cat sled I owned which was always fun to ride!
single slide rail system. This sled was even easier to maneuver and would be mostly aimed at the off trail rider.
to actually ride the new 2021 sleds this season and really get a feel for how they perform. I wish this was done more here by all the manufacturers.
Previously my Arctic Cat ZR had the 600 CTEC engine. The RIOT had a 146 inch track which was fun to ride off trail. The snow con-
2020 Chevrolet Blazer!
The new BLAST models were available to ride as well and featured a new 85 HP single cylinder engine built by Arctic Cat. This mid sized sled could easily be ridden by an adult. The
2020 Chevrolet Blazer RS AWD * Preferred Equipment Group * Five Passenger Seating * * 9 Speed Automatic Transmission * Bright Blue Metallic * Power Liftgate, Handsfree * 21� Gloss Black Aluminum Wheels * * RS Plus Package *
Low Lease & Finance Rates Available 399 Memorial Avenue Thunder Bay, On P7B 3Y4 Page 4
It was great top have the opportunity
Tel: (807) 683-4900 Fax: (807) 345-8005 Toll Free: 1-800-465-3915
The New 2021 Polaris Matryx! BY SCOTT A. SUMNER
Great Outdoors I sat down with Dustin Krezinoski, Salesperson at J and J Sports to find out more about the exciting new 2021 Polaris sleds,especially the new Matryx chassis.
boards go right to the front with the hole knockouts to allow the snow to fall through. The new pod and gauge is unbelievable with so much technology. The storage room behind the gauge is nice as well,” said Dustin. “ The seat is a flat seat now and there are 8 liters of storage under it. The fit
“ The Matryx is a brand new chassis Polaris has introduced which is a little more rider forward than the AXYS chassis. At the front of the seat just
and finish of the tunnel is excellent with non visible wiring to the back now. The new LED headlight makes the sled look so nice and is very visi-
before the gas tank you are 4 1/2 inches narrower so when you are riding it is a lot easier to maneuver with out the wider seat. It will be easier to corner and use your body to jump from side to side. The powder track running
ble.” Polaris has a new 650 Patriot engine!
850 with smaller cylinders and has 10% more power than the previous 600 engine. People who have ridden the new sled say the 650 is comparable to the old 800 engine.” Is the new Matryx chassis a game changer? “The new chassis provides more control to the rider. The AXYS chassis is still a phenomenal ride and we have already done some 2021 snow checks of the AXYS sleds. They are both nice units and work well.” There are many options to consider with the Matryx. “You can order the new Matryx with 3 different track options- 1.25 ice ripper, 1.375 cobra regular or 1.5 Storm, dif-
ferent shocks and colours as well as electric start.” “I was at the introduction of the new Polaris Matryx dealer show in Texas and went through all the seminars and saw how they came up with the design. Under the seat is a graphic that shows the 5 different approaches to the sleds over the years.” There is a new guage on the VR1? “The gauge has the buddy tracker to see where everybody is on the trails. You can adjust the gauge look to you with different information visible. You can even connect with your phone to see calls that are coming in.”
“The new 650 engine is based off the
Page 5
These Guys Really Know Their Stuff! Buhler Mechanical Services Ltd. Celebrating 20 years of Quality Services, at Affordable Prices! By Sherry Hanes (March 2020)
Residential, Commercial or Industrial – There’s always somebody ‘home’ to help you! Celebrating 20 years of excellence for highest quality products, very competitive pricing, largest product selection, superior quality installation, no pressure sales written quotes, financing options, in-home shopping, fast, reliable service, 24/7 emergency service, follow up quality check and instructional visit on all installations, … you would have to say,… Buhler Mechanical Services Ltd., at 911 Tungsten Street, (your local Lennox Dealership), does it all. Barry Buhler, owner of Buhler Mechanical Services Ltd., shares a few key points of interest with our readers, about becoming a Lennox Dealership in Thunder Bay and few other notable comments. Barry Buhler: “We became a Lennox Dealer in 2001 and solidified our position
Next Issue Ad Copy Deadline: May 12th
as a leading dealer in Thunder Bay with our acquisition of Merriman Sheet Metal & Heating shortly afterwards. Merriman’ had been one of Thunder Bay’s leading Lennox Dealers in the residential division since the 1960s. I’ve had experience with Merriman’ and Lennox since starting my refrigeration & air conditioning apprenticeship there, after completing college. I had moved on to work in the commercial & industrial field after a few years there, gaining a wide range of varied experience. We had originally started the business serving mostly commercial and industrial clients. Our acquisition helped to balance our work in all three sectors.” When it comes to numbers for staffing and supporting local employment interests, Mr. Buhler had this to say: “We typically have eight staff. We are affiliated with local 787 refrigeration & air conditioning workers and local 397 Sheet Metal Workers Union. We have a core staff of highly trained individuals with a combined work experience of 100 years, a great work ethic and the ability to bring on more staff in short order for larger projects. We are involved heavily in the retrofit market in all three sectors. Most of our clientele are long term customers with whom we work to tailor custom systems based on our experience in the field and with their specific equipment. We strive to produce a higher quality end product with the needs and budget of the customer in mind. We have a full-service sheet metal fabrication shop in which we can produce custom products from small residential ducting, welded kitchen
exhaust, industrial ventilation and anything in between. We have a TSSA registered quality control procedure in place for commercial refrigeration and air conditioning piping systems of any size or form. ((The Technical Standards and
As everyone knows, having your home or business, heating/boiler/cooling systems, water tanks, etc., serviced regularly and properly, is paramount for efficiency, longevity, and saving money. Following these simple servicing guidelines, pre-
Safety Authority (TSSA) for certification. TSSA oversees examination of operating engineers and operators to confirm their qualifications.)), We also have qualified gas fitters to install and service from the smallest residential furnace to the largest industrial burners and boilers.” As far as location? Barry reports, “We started off in a Westfort commercial building. We quickly outgrew the location and relocated to our current, larger premises, at 911 Tungsten St. With our centralized location, it provides us quick access to the whole city for improved service.”
vents the inconvenience of untimely mechanical malfunctions, like in the middle of the night when it’s cold outside or, in the middle of a busy day for home or business. Also, as a point of interest, … if you are thinking of updating your present heating/cooling system, etc., for example, there may possibly be some savings advantage on your current Insurance policy, possibly, … but, you will have to call your personal insurance provider(s) for that information. Taking care of the inside of your home or business is as important as taking care of your vehicle, for example, like changing the oil regular or, keeping your gas tank topped up with fuel, in the heat or the cold. Because your home or your business, is your biggest investment ever, maintaining its mechanical systems, should be afforded the same attention. Don’t you think? So then! Buhler Mechanical Services Ltd., located at 911 Tungsten Street, Thunder Bay, is the sales and service provider you’ll want to call because, … these guys really know their stuff! Barry Buhler of Buhler Mechanical Services Ltd., would like the current, past and future customers to know, “We are proud to have serviced Thunder Bay for the last 20 years and looking forward to the next 20! We take great pride in providing our customers with uncompromising quality in our installations and backing it up with 24/7 emergency service. Thank you!” It doesn’t get any better than that! Call, Fax, email, or stop in and visit the friendly professionals, at Buhler Mechanical Service Ltd. Located at 911 Tungsten Street, Thunder Bay Ontario. Phone: 807-344-1234 Fax: 807-344-1200 https://www.buhlermechanical.com/contact.htm Email: info@buhlermechanical.com Buhler Mechanical Services Ltd.! Where there’s always somebody ‘home’ to help you!
Page 6
We’ve Got The ‘Roast’ Beef ‘HUNGRY Meets HISTORY’! Arby’s Restaurant By Sherry Hanes (March 2020) For all you history buffs out there, here are a few things you probably didn’t know about the world famed Arby’s Restaurant and how it all got started! It isn’t hard to believe that since 1964, July 23rd, to be exact, millions of people have been enjoying freshly prepared roast beef sandwiches, designed to not just satisfy your hungering appetite, but to satisfy your wallet too! A historical mouth-watering event took place in Boardman, Ohio, as it was the opening day of the very first Arby’s Restaurant. The Restaurant was located near the intersection of Market Street and Route 224. The Raffel brothers, Forrest AKA ‘Fuzzy’ and his brother Leroy, of new Castle PA. had the vision to sell quarterpound roast beef sandwiches, just like other fast-food restaurants, who were selling beef hamburgers. But the brothers took their business just one step further, and even though times have changed, in 1964, the brothers impressed their customers with participating by, being able to watch the roast beef cooking in a glass-walled rotisserie. The first Arby’s Restaurant opened its doors in the town of Boardman, at an Old West chuck-wagon style restaurant, with 10 seats, and sold their sandwiches for 69 cents. A customer would also receive potato chips and a drink with their order. In the beginning, the brothers wanted to use the name of “Big Tex” with the logo of a cowboy hat, but the name
was already being used by another company at the time. After several negotiations, to no avail, the brothers came up with the name R B’s, the initials for, Raffel Brothers. Or as others thought it to be…Roast Beef! LOL! The logo on the other hand, the big Cowboy Hat, was free for the taking. During the 1950s the Raffel brothers bought an uncle’s restaurant-equipment
Restaurant, Store #2344, located at 854 Red River Road, invites everyone to come in and dine in their newly renovated restaurant, displaying vibrantly, modern aesthetics, while enjoying their newest sandwiches, signature sandwiches, Sliders, curly fries and so much more! And let’s not forget the all-time, Roast Beef Classic! Joe, Frank and Stan, take personal pride in
In a personal interview with Thunder Bay Business Magazine, Joe Spina takes time to share a bit of what was involved in the journey to become a part owner in an Arby’s Restaurant and a few other points of interest, as well. “So, Joe? You worked at a bakery before you decided to become a restaurant owner?” “Yes! I was employed with Shaw Bakery for about 20 years and then my two friends, my two business partners and I…decided to be entrepreneurs, and we opened an Arby’s in Intercity Mall in 2002. We were there for about ten years and then this spot came up (Red River Road), as well and we thought, ‘Well?’ we know what we’re doing, let’s take a plunge and it’s been great ever since! We grew our Arby’s here (Red River Road) and over 16 years, we’ve developed the site and eventually, closed the one in the mall.”
business, and parlayed that into a successful food-service consulting firm. Forrest graduated from Cornell University School of Hotel and Restaurant Administration, and his brother Leroy, obtained a degree in finance from the University of Pennsylvania. Together the brothers went on to design and install school and hospital kitchens and all the airport flight kitchens, at the Greater Pittsburgh International Airport. But they didn’t stop there…they also became involved in food service facilities, for the Ohio Turnpike and the Hospitality Inn Motel; which was a chain under Standard Oil of Ohio. Meanwhile, back in Thunder Bay, Ontario, (2002 to 2020), Joe Spina, Frank Arabia and Stan Cuconato, owners of Arby’s
wanting their guests to feel, ‘they are worth it’! Guests take the time out of their busy day and money, out of their personal wallets, to come to Arby’s and Mr. Spina, Mr. Arabia, and Mr. Cuconato, understand just how hard people work for their coin. They also know that it is important for adults, young and older, and families, have a place to come, where they are able to enjoy a tasty meal or snack, and kick back and just chill for a while. The owners, Managers and staff at Arby’s, value every patron who come through their doors. The Arby’s staff, all 30 of them, of this iconic franchise, take every opportunity to showcase their skill, either on the front lines or, as part of the team, as a sandwich artist in the kitchen.
Joe mentions the advantages of the Red River Road location, as opposed to being in the mall. “There a lot of empty spots in the mall and the prices of rent are on the high end. Then you’re locked into their hours of operation ‘mall hours’ and also, there is no ‘Drive Through’”. Here, we are open 10:30 A.M. until 10:00 P.M. every night, and in the summer, we’re open until about eleven or twelve.” “We have grown. We have Rubin Sandwiches, baked potatoes, we have limited-time only sandwiches like, Fish, The Triple Cheese, The Gyro’s, stuff like that and we also have The Brisket and our Jamocha Shakes.” Continued
Page 7
We’ve Got The ‘Roast’ Beef ‘HUNGRY Meets HISTORY’! Arby’s Restaurant Continued So recently, it was time to do a renovation and Joe had this to say: “Since Arby’s wanted to do corporate, so that all the stores have the same image, so they have the same brand look, and so this is the new style and we decided to go ahead and do it early and its’ been paying off, as it looks fantastic! It really does! So, we don’t just have the food now. We
Wings, Jimmy John’s and Rusty Taco Restaurant Chain. They have a well-oiled management team and they know what the customers what and system in place, just like everything else.” TBBM: “How do you like the business in Thunder Bay?” Joe: “It’s fantastic!”
Joe Spina, Arby’s Restaurant
have the image…we have the food…the hospitality…the service and the brand. The five key elements which you need. Also, Finnway General Contractors were absolutely fantastic and we are more than pleased with the services they have provided, especially on budget!” And as far as not interrupting ‘business as usual, Joe shares, “We were open, except for, we closed one day for half a day, but we kept the ‘Drive Through’ opened, while we were working inside and when we were working on the outside, we had the dining room opened. It took about three months to complete the renovation and it was lot of time went to detail. It was a huge undertaking but, we want the best for our customers. In the beginning of owning an Arby’s, we had some growing pains, but after that, we just had the right people and the right mindset and taking care of the customer, which is the number one item!” As a viable employer and adding to the economy of Thunder Bay, Joe tells TBB Magazine that most of the staff are students going to university or college for nurses and some are for doctors and other careers and others are regular workers.” TBB: “You must know a lot of the customers?” Joe: “Yes I do. We have a lot of repeat customers and I know a lot of the customers by their first hand basis, which is really important” TBBM: “What’s on the horizon for you?” Joe: “Hopefully to open up another location, like in the Southward. Grow the Brand, the business, you know what I mean? We, Frank, Stan and I, start together, and we had Diary Works, used to be Dairy Queen and we wanted to get a little bigger and we looked at this and was a little different. It wasn’t the normal burger, pizza kind of thing. It was more like a Subway or Taco Time and there was room to grow. Inspired Brands, formerly Arby’s Restaurant Group Inc., has purchased Sonic Drive-In, in the States, Buffalo
Page 8
Before becoming a Arby’s Restaurant owner, Joe, Frank and Stan began with a lengthy application, gone through a long period of qualifying and then, and only then, if they met the strict criteria, would they be invited to be introduced to head office officials, who would meet with them in Florida. There they would be intro-
duced to the operations of Arby’s Restaurants Brand and see first-hand, what it would be like to be involved in the operations, and the adherence to, the strict, standards of this franchise, corporation, and obviously, they not only met the criteria, but exceeded in it. We here, in Thunder Bay, are very happy to have an Arby’s Restaurant and we are certainly thankful to these entrepreneurs, Joe, Frank and Stan, who endured the pains of progress and brought not only great food and hospitality to Thunder Bay, but also employment opportunities, that otherwise, would not be available. So. Thank you and congratulations on your renovation! O.k.! There you have it! After writing this
article, I’ve built up quite an appetite and I’m craving some good ole’ Arby’s. So! Pardon me, while I run out and grab a bit of where ‘Hungry Meets History’ too! I think I will order a Signature Sandwich, a double order of those ‘can’t live without’, Curley Fries and a soda, to top everything off with! I’ll be sitting in the second booth near the window, if anyone wants to join me! Arby’s Restaurant, Store #2344 854 Red River Road, Thunder Bay, ON P7B1K2 1-807-767-1142 https://locations.arbys.com/ca/on/thunderbay/854-red-river-road.html