THE SENIORTIMES JULY 2008
VOL. XXII N 9 O
Help Generations help kids generationsfoundation.com
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Crosby, Stills & Nash p. 7
Otherworldly Cappadocia p. 15
Reader and writer share Turkish experiences p. 16
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Thank you for giving me a wild summer job.
Kids just love the wilderness – especially those who live in the city. And I just love helping them learn about nature and watching them play outdoors and sing by the campfire. With your generous donation, I’ll be able to work with many of the same needy Montrealers at Sun Youth Summer Camp again this summer.
Thank you, Montreal. Photo Credit: Wayne Oliver
Sun Youth • Annual Campaign Please make out your cheque or money order to: Sun Youth Organization Inc., 4251 St. Urbain, Montreal, QC H2W 1V6. Tel.: (514) 842-6822 Online Donations at www.sunyouthorg.com Thank you for your support. Charity registration number: 119206290RR0001. Donations are tax deductible and will be acknowledged. Ad compliments of Cowlik Communications.
2 THE SENIOR TIMES July 2008
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The world of Le Sauteur Until September 21, Espace Creation Loto-Québec presents an exhibition by Claude Le Sauteur, who died last year. Curated by the Musée de Charlevoix of La Malbaie, the exhibit features 70 selected works, including a 911S Porsche, which Sauteur used as a canvas. 500 Sherbrooke W.
Identity and reflection at Concordia
It’s in the bag Photo: Alexis K. Laflamme
Monday, July 14 to Friday, August 15, 11 am – 7 pm the Faculty of Fine Arts Gallery at Concordia presents three concurrent exhibitions. Jake Moore works with images drawn from the natural world to reflect on western culture. Maskull Lasserre’s work addresses notions of class, culture and crafted artifacts. Lasserre’s sculptures resemble, and function to some degree, as mechanical musical instruments. Holly Tingley shows seven paintings that deal with personal identity. 1515 Ste-Catherine W. (metro Guy-Concordia) Info: 514-848-2424 x 7962 or fofagallery.concordia.ca Until Sunday, September 14, the Museum of Costume and Textile of Quebec presents the exhibition The Bag Knows why… with numerous loans from museums, private collectors and contemporary creators. The evolution of this accessory is linked to the development of women in society as well as major historical and ideological currents. 349 Riverside Street, St-Lambert, accessible via Highway 132 exit 6 or by bus 6, 13 or 15 from metro Longueuil. Open Tuesday to Friday 10 am - 5 pm and weekends 11 am – 5 pm. $4. Info: 450-923-6601 or mctq.org
THE SENIOR TIMES congratulates
Dr. Henry Morgentaler
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Obama or McCain: who’s best for Canada? If Canadians were allowed to vote in the American election the result would be a landslide. According to a Harris-Decima poll, 55 per cent would vote for Barack Obama, only 15 per cent for John McCain. At first glance, this seems curious. On the one issue that makes many Canadians nervous, Obama is on the wrong side. The issue is the free trade agreement (NAFTA) with the United States and the junior Senator from Illinois has threatened to tear it up. Subsequently Obama has backed off from his tough talk, telling Fortune magazine that some of his trade rhetoric was “overheated and amplified.” But John McCain’s record in favour of free trade is not something he contrived for the campaign; he’s always held that view. When he addressed the Economic Club of
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Pit Stop Neil McKenty Canada recently in Ottawa, the Senator from Arizona attacked Obama’s position:“Demanding unilateral changes and threatening to abrogate an agreemement that has increased trade and prosperity is nothing more than retreating behind protectionist walls.” Almost all Canadians would agree with McCain’s views on trade. So why would almost all Canadians refuse to vote for him even if they could? For one thing, McCain seems to have espoused “voodoo economics” which the current president’s father once accused Ronald Reagan of peddling. At the same time as McCain wants to increase the size of the armed forces and spend billions to modernize their weaponry,he is also promising to cut taxes – a surefire recipe for more deficits. McCain’s tax policy illustrates another McCain trait – his ability to flipflop. He opposed the Bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 arguing rightly that they would lead to deficits and were tilted toward the rich. His fellow Republicans attacked him for this so he caved in and now favours making those cuts permanent – and adding to them. How does McCain propose to spend more and cut taxes at the same time? He says he will do it by cutting“earmarks,”
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Saratoga Ballet Festival de Lanaudiere Ottawa Upper Canada Playhouse Brockville Arts Centre Tour of Eastern Townships
July Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug
For information or to register
call 514-733-7589
THE SENIOR TIMES Publisher & Managing Editor: Barbara Moser Assistant Editor: Kristine Berey Copy Editor: Gisele Rucker Office Manager: Thelma Gearey
17 3 7 13 21 28
those items of pork that US legislators add to money bills. But they amount to a tiny proportion of federal spending. Even if McCain’s economic policies made more sense, he would have a hard time. After eight years of Bush lying the country into war and tapping his countrymen’s telephones illegally, 2008 looks like a Democratic year. And the party has nominated a candidate who has the wind in his sails. Obama is the most engaging and attractive candidate nominated by either party in my lifetime.He epitomizes the multiculturalism so valued by Canadians.As John Ibbitson writes in the Globe and Mail, Americans are thinking seriously about electing a Kenyan-American who has an IndonesianAmerican half-sister who is herself married to a ChineseCanadian doctor. So Obama has a Canadian connection. Perhaps at an intuitive level Canadians understand that the United States (and Canada) need Obama.Recent polling shows that 80 per cent of Americans believe their country is headed in the wrong direction, a higher number than at any time since polling began. Whether or not Canadians grasp the specifics of Mr. Obama’s platform, they seem emphatically to buy his message of hope and change. And so do I,especially after I heard Obama deliver his message at an historic unity meeting in the village of Unity (population 1707), New Hampshire, by the Vermont border. After driving from Montreal, my friend Jim and I got into the unity rally, where a crowd of 5,000 on a hot sunny day enthusiastically waited the arrival of Senator Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton. They did not disappoint. Senator Clinton promised that she would help Obama and the Democratic ticket in any way she could. Some of her female supporters, seated around us, nodded their heads when she urged them to back Obama and forget any foolish notion of fleeing to Senator McCain. Senator Obama reciprocated by assuring the former first lady how much he needed her help and that of her husband too. As the two leading Democrats embraced each other and raised their clasped hands high, the crowd went wild. Their party is now solidly united for change. There was only one incident that left a bad taste in the mouth. A few yards from where we were sitting, a minor disturbance broke out. I looked around and saw a state trooper hustling away a fiftyish man wearing a National Rifle Association T-shirt. That didn’t bother me but the expression on the man’s face did.It was a narrow face,lips compressed and red with anger. A face to raise apprehension. After the speeches I got myself down to the rope line and managed to shake hands with Barack Obama. His handshake was firm, his hands rough. It was a satisfying way to end a splendid day.
Journalists: Kristine Berey, Adam Desaulniers, Nancy Snipper Sales Manager: Jacquie Soloway-Cons Advertising: Jodie Alter, Gloria Beigleman, Shirley Cohen, Sandra Schachter Production & Design: Albert Cormier Production and Online Editor: Adam Desaulniers
Editorial Assistant: Rachel Lau Photography Coordinator: Scott Philip Printing: Hebdo Litho Tel.: 514-484-5033 Fax: 514-484-8254 Email: editor@theseniortimes.com Website: www.theseniortimes.com Cover photo: eltonjohn.com
Published by Publications Newborn Inc. Contents copyright ©2008. All rights reserved. Legal Deposit: National Library of Canada No. D368087 Dépot légal Bibliothèque Nationale du Québec, 1993. Although every caution is taken by Publications Newborn Inc. to monitor advertising in the THE SENIOR TIMES, claims made by advertisers are not necessarily endorsed by Publications Newborn Inc.
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On June 20 le Centre des Aînés Côte-des-Neiges held the 15th Marchethon, its main annual activity aimed at bringing CDN youth and seniors together. Frederic Back, award-winning Canadian film animator and illustrator of the children’s book L’Homme qui plantait des arbres (The Man Who Planted Trees) was on hand, along with Robert Lebeau, president of
the centre, Mayor Michael Applebaum and CDN city councillor Francine Senecal. Over 50 seniors from the centre and 50 kids from École Felix Leclerc unveiled a plaque and planted an elm in Kent Park, establishing a symbolic meeting space for seniors and youth. Info: 514-344-1210
Can you go the Extra Miles? Developed by the Montreal West United Church following the 1998 ice storm, the Extra Miles program offers companionship and support to housebound seniors living in NDG and Montreal West. In NDG/Montreal West, seniors represent 16% of the CLSC area’s 67,000 citizens. Reports indicate that although some seniors may suffer from common
disabilities affecting mobility, agility, hearing, seeing and speaking, most suffer from loneliness. Program Coordinator Christine Laberge says, “Extra Miles volunteers bring the outside world into the homes of isolated seniors.” The program is now recruiting new volunteers. Info: 514-482-3210 or mwuc.org
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Rachel Lau The SPCA’s foster program has been working hard to save the lives of animals for 20 years, but is currently experiencing a severe shortage of volunteer help. With facilities in Laval, Jean-Talon and the Plateau, there are hundreds of animals that need a home. “Some animals are abandoned on the streets and our drivers pick them up and bring them to our shelters,” says SPCA worker Dominique Montreuil.“We have the best variety of animals here – young, elderly, male,
female, lactating, pregnant, and cats with the flu, all in need of foster homes.” The foster family’s job is to nurse the animal back to health. Sometimes that means giving medication or force-feeding cats to stop them from becoming anorexic . Though volunteers’ efforts are not always successful, Montreuil says that just having people care enough to try is a reward in itself. Those who choose to take in a pregnant cat must care for her through pregnancy and labour. Afterwards, the kittens must be cared for until they are two pounds and eight weeks old. “Fosters have the first choice to adopt,” Montreuil said. “Sometimes they form a bond with the pets and want to keep them.”
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2 years old, abandoned June 13 because of allergies
Foster care can last from two weeks to two months, depending on the condition of the animal and whether it returns to full health or not. “Some people adopt because they want the animal for the long term, but others travel or work, and they prefer to foster,” Montreuil said. “It’s a rewarding experience helping these animals.” Those interested in fostering can fill out a form at the Montreal SPCA at 5215 Jean-Talon W. One bag of food, a cat or dog book and medication, if necessary, are provided. Besides fostering and adopting, the SPCA is in acute need of volunteers as counsellors, drivers and officers. Next issue features the new SPCA and how it’s changed. Info: 514-735-2711 or spcamontreal.com
NCJWC day trips Reserve your place with the National Council of Jewish Women as they tour to Saratoga Ballet July 17, Festival de Lanaudière August 3, and Ottawa August 7. Info: 514-733-7589
Errata With apologies to Blanshay and M.R. Stavert of McGill University Faculty of Law Graduates of 1958 whose names we misspelled in our June issue, under their reunion photo on page 26. The photo credit goes to Jack Malric.
Crosby, Stills & Nash look backwards and forwards Adam Desaulniers Crosby, Stills & Nash’s performance at Place des Arts Tuesday, July 22 brings more music and less politics to the stage than their 2006 Freedom of Speech tour with Neil Young, which bitterly divided critics and audiences over its focus on the Iraq War. Renowned for its three-hour marathon shows, the group tested the limits of its unity and stamina during the tour – choosing to include large chunks of Young’s Living With War album, noted for its single Let’s Impeach the President – and drawing the ire of many fans. The turmoil is captured in the tour’s documentary CSNY: Déjà Vu, slated for theatrical release in 15 cities the weekend after their Montreal show, with a simultaneous video-on-demand release and streaming video via Netflix. The DVD comes just in time for November elections in the US. Premiering to mostly positive reviews in January at Sundance, the film features ex-ABC News Iraq reporter Mike Cerre “embedded” on the tour bus and showcases both sides of the critical reaction,
including one infamous judgment that “the huddled sixty somethings look like they’re comparing prescriptions on stage.” Besides strong lyrical content, the tour featured backdrops of war scenes, casualty counts and clips of the Bush administration’s finer moments. Reception in some cities, particularly Atlanta, was openly hostile. The strain on the foursome’s solidarity, and the resulting internal political struggle, is documented cinema-verité style in moments backstage. Produced by Young, the film was judged by one critic as “not so much the chronicle of a newsworthy tour as a committed political artist’s sincere attempt to get to grips with an America whose mood seems to have changed utterly since the band’s debut.” The current tour, minus Young, picks up some elements from 2006 and introduces new ones, notably sharing one microphone on some acoustic numbers for the first time. “It screams of how much we’re getting it on together,” Nash said in a recent interview. “Instead of our sound man trying to blend three sources, we’re doing it ourselves. It’s not
easy to sing so close to each other. But it sounds great.” A feature of the 2006 tour sure to be repeated is its compelling example of eco-responsibility. Pioneering the modernization of the notoriously messy touring business, they achieved a zero carbon footprint by using 100% biodiesel for the entire convoy of vehicles and offsetting 100% of the tour’s greenhouse gas emissions by purchasing and permanently retiring credits from the Chicago Climate Exchange – a “registry, reduction, and trading system” similar to the Montreal Climate Exchange (mcex.ca) that allows emitters to “neutralize” their carbon footprints through large-scale sustainability projects.
Reviews of the current tour have been favourable, often commenting on the trio’s newly trim physiques and lauding their unabated vocal form, impressive musicianship and wise musical choices. Setlists are partly chosen by fans – the group has been soliciting requests online for upcoming shows at crosbystillsnash.com – and Nash has found “some surprises” from this, noting “we’re doing about four or five suggestions of stuff we haven’t done in years.” Special VIP seats are still available online through two charity beneficiaries of the tour, the Guacamole Fund, guacfund.org and World Hunger Year at worldhungeryear.org.
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July 2008 THE SENIOR TIMES 7
The Flavour Guy likes food, likes to eat, likes to chew the fat and then some. The Flavour Guy likes going into an Italian grocery store and having the clerk advise him that the $39.99 bottle of olive oil is actually pretty tasty and would work nicely with whatever salad or meat marinade is going towards dinner. Sure a $39.99 bottle of olive oil is sharp, earthy, buttery, grassy, peppery (choose your adjectives here) and tastes pretty nice on its own – just like that magnificent 1998 Pomerol makes for ambrosial sipping and self-satisfied inhaling – but few people make a dinner of a mere chunk of bread dipped in olive
Flavour Guy Barry Lazar Excuse my wine-ing… but did someone make a decision that liquids and solids are no longer to be consumed at the same time? Am I a better person if I detect the herbal notes from a highpriced “extra virgin” (which means low acidic) olive oil? Have I failed to achieve a level of wine-aficionado satori because I can’t tell my Gris from my Albarino? When did food start being work and stop being fun?
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oil and washed down with a glass of wine. Food tastes best when it’s enjoyed in the company of other food (and other people). Even Château Dépanneur is acceptable in the right company – hamburger for instance, or almost any strongly flavoured dish. The more garlic in the main course, the less likely the Flavour Guy appreciates a sincere Sancerre. Here’s how to do it: eat some food, drink something refreshing, pause and then do it all over again. Repeat as often as necessary until either the plate is clean or the stomach is full. After a little practice you are likely to be able to achieve both conditions at the same time. The idea is to enjoy what we eat and not be cowed because we don’t know what Angus beef is (it’s a popular breed of cattle). Why are we looking outside – and feeling ill at ease inside – because we can’t choose the perfect liquid to go with our solids? We live in a region blessed with great beer, superb apple cider, and frankly, lousy wine – however we ignore our natural riches and spend fortunes on imported wines and olive oils (often at the same price). The Flavour Guy favours searching out local foods and supporting indigenous agriculture: PEI mussels steamed with a St. Ambroise blond and later, maybe a slice of mignon de Charlevoix cheese with a small glass of very cold Pinnacle ice cider on the side. Barry Lazar is the Flavour Guy: flavourguy@montrealfood.com.
Credit: bellaroo2 (flickr.com)
Search out local food and drink
Mussels for two • A tablespoon of butter • A cup of finely sliced Quebec seasonal vegetables (all or some of onion, tomato, leek, garlic, celery, red peppers, carrots) • Lots more chopped garlic (make sure it’s from Quebec, it’s worth it). • A half bottle of beer (I’m afraid you’ll have to drink the rest). • A ¼ teaspoon of salt • A kilo bag of mussels (if the mussels come in a 5 pound bag – double the other ingredients). Make sure the mussels are tightly closed when you buy them. • A handful of fresh parsley, finely chopped Melt the butter and cook the veggies over low heat until the onion is soft but not brown. Add the beer, salt and mussels. Bring it to a boil and then quickly reduce it to simmer. Cover. Stir the mussels once or twice. It’s ready when the mussels are open. If a few don’t open, discard them. Sprinkle parsley over the mussels. Serve with a baguette, Quebec cheeses and a green salad.
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Love letter for the Times
Peace of mind
Six years ago, a reader met a gentleman through our Meet a Friend column. They dated for six months and then married. Sadly, two years ago, her beloved husband passed away. Our reader writes that he was the most gentle, wonderful, patient, kind man she had ever known. She vows that she will never meet another like him but she would like to meet a friend. They really loved each other, she writes. Our reader, let us call her ‘Mary Ann’, would like us to start up Meet a Friend again and in tribute to this loving relationship, we have decided to do just that. Mary Ann is in her 70s, independent
Home for autonomous senior citizens, situated in the heart of the village of Saint-Lambert, the Carrefour Victoria with its panoramic views offers a complete range of services like: security 24/7 with monitored security cameras, indoor heated pool, whirlpool, sauna, lounge, library, T.V. and movie room, billiard room, games room, outdoor terrasse, 2 elevators, balcony, heat and electricity included, laundry facilities on site, dedicated on site staff, friendly community, interior parking available, a medical doctor one day per week, near shopping and close to major highways.
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In the building you will also find the following services: bank, beauty parlor, restaurant, dressmaker, convenience store, dry cleaner and gift boutique.
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8 THE SENIOR TIMES July 2008
and in search of a friend for coffee, movies or driving. If you wish to contact her, send your letter with a recent photo to Mary Ann at Meet a Friend, 4077 Decarie Blvd, Montreal, QC H4A 3J8. Would you like to Meet a Friend? Send your bio of 25 to 30 words and a cheque for $20 to the above address or call Rachel at 514-484-5033 or e-mail your bio to editor@theseniortimes.com and call to give us your credit card number.We reserve the right to edit for clarity and brevity. No phone numbers will be given out. You will be assigned a number and all your mail forwarded to you from our office.
8:30 am to 4:30 pm during the month of July, our office is closed on Fridays Tel. (514) 933-0047 Fax: (514) 937-3832 ctd@dawsoncollege.qc.ca
• French • English (Monday to Thursday) For a complete list of courses offered this summer, please check our website:
www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/ctd 4001 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West Suite 2G.1 Montreal QC H3Z 3G4
Uncovering the rest of the iceberg Kristine Berey In early January, a Montreal senior took a fall and had to be taken to hospital by ambulance, where a nurse stitched up her wound. However, the cut soon began to bleed and though it was re-stitched, it did not heal properly. In a letter to The Senior Times, Lisa N. (not her real name) describes several encounters with medical professionals at various clinics and hospitals where her pleas to have her injury looked at went unheeded. She was scolded, “patted on the head,” told to check her blood pressure and sent to another institution. At one clinic, she writes,“the doctor was very rude and did not even look at the wound. I was embarrassed that the doctor would ridicule me and not even look.” It was not until two weeks and several visits later that a nurse responded to her request to have her injury seen. “She finally checked the wound and told me that it was smelly and infected. She cleaned it and had me come back the next day to see the doctor, who put me on antibiotics. I’m very upset that the nurses and doctors would not take me seriously.” Treating seniors like children and ignoring their specific requests is one subtle form of elder abuse. Other forms may be more dramatic, as expressed in a collective formal complaint by family members of residents in a long-term care facility: “The caregiver-resident ratio reflects chronic understaffing. It appears that the residence is aiming to provide the lowest-cost care for the least amount of care time. Bells often go unanswered. Residents are left sitting for hours in front of the dining room. Residents wait for food, wait for toileting, go un-bathed and are isolated and neglected because of inadequate staffing. (One of our ill parents had to call his daughter in Toronto to beg her to phone the staff on his unit so that they would reply to his call bell, as his need to urinate went so long unattended).” The letter goes on to say that the facility is “a terrible place to die” as the inadequacy of medical care causes “preventable pain” to the palliative care patient. Though the situations described in these testimonials are dire, the fact that they were expressed is reason to feel hopeful, says Helen Wavroch, executive director of the Réseau Québecois pour contrer les abus contre les ainés. “Because of public awareness campaigns, people are talking about it more and we hear of more cases. Statistically, we’ve had 150,000 cases a year. We’ve always said that that was just the tip of the iceberg, those who come forth. But how many are too afraid, or shy and don’t want to deal with it publicly? If now we have 200,000, I think it’s the same 50,000 that were silent the year before.” The National Seniors Council on Elder Abuse estimates that in Canada 4-10% of seniors experience some form of abuse, with financial abuse being the most prevalent
and much unreported abuse taking place in the home. Which is why, in June, to mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2008, the CSSS Cavendish (Health and Social Service Centre), NDG Community Committee on Elder Abuse, NDG Senior Citizens’ Council and Extra Miles Friendly Visiting Program organized activities to entertain, inform and empower seniors. The event featured workshops on telemarketing fraud, Alzheimer’s Disease and the Impact of Elder Abuse on Society. CSSS Cavendish includes the CLSC René Cassin, CLSC de NDG–Montréal-Ouest, the Richardson Hospital and the Henri Bradet Residential Centre, a longterm care residence. It serves 117,650 people and has the highest percentage of people over 65 on its territory, 19.2% compared to 15.3% on the island of Montreal. The CSSS features several programs and services for seniors such as homecare, the Elder Abuse Info line, and the Care-Ring Voice tele-workshops for caregivers. It must also provide front-line services to the rest of the population. Francine Dupuis, Executive Director of the CSSS Cavendish, says that since the government stated that homecare is a priority, things have been easier, but that essentially the organization is underfunded. “You want people to stay in the community for as long as possible, but there is never enough money to meet the demand.” Part of the problem, she explains, is that her organization does not get to keep all the funds it receives. “With the new budget we receive a little more but 50% goes to other areas outside Montreal because historically they were receiving less. It will take several years until things even out.” Dupuis says the government doesn’t allow for the complexity and uniqueness of Montreal’s problems.“It may be true per capita but in Montreal there are complex problems that are more acute, and we should be allowed to keep every penny of development budget that we are allocated.” A recent study by the Agence de la Santé et des services sociaux revealed that of 10,808 respondents, including those living at home or in a public long-term care centre and their caregivers, 95% were satisfied with the services they received from Montreal’s 12 CSSS. Meanwhile, the waiting lists get longer and the variety of services offered decreases, notes Dupuis. “Do I give more services to a few or less to a larger number of people? It’s not easy to decide because you’re always penalizing someone. We make these decisions every day.” If you experience or suspect elder abuse, call the Elder Abuse Info Line at 514-489-2287
“What have you done today to better your life?” 514-806-9307 recoveryandhealing@hotmail.com www.recoveryandhealing.info
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August 30 - Sept 1 • 3 days/2 nights Labour Day Weekend Side trip to New York City $245 dbl
Call Claire 514-979-6277
D E L U X E B U S TO U R S Rideau Carleton Racetrack/Slots July 12 $25 Burlington, VT • Sat. July 19 • Saturday Plattsburg , NY Lake George, NY • Saturday Thousand Islands • August 16 &17
Call Claire 514-979-6277
ACACIA ELECTROLYSIS European & Canadian studied & trained
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OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 514-233-5509 Queen Eliza beth Health Co mplex 21 00 Mar lowe Ave. Suite 53 6
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LOOKING FOR CLIENTS Tuesday - Wednesday only
C U T/ B LO W D R Y $ by Hairdresser Trainee
Please call for an appointment
514-487-4441
C.S.L/ HAM PS TEAD
5 1 5 0 & 5 5 0 0 M A CD O NA L D
Robert Jones
Motivational Speaker Addiction Conflict Intervention
D E L U X E B U S TO U R S
Montreal to Florida Florida to Montreal Montreal 450-687-2200 Florida 866-247-2200
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Available monthly 5150: 514-291-1934
5500: 514-487-5525
July 2008 THE SENIOR TIMES 9
Photo: Nicolas Carpentier
Shortage of food, abundance of spirit
• Fami ly -Ori en ted H ome • Lon g & Sh or t Term • C o nv a le s c e nc e /R e s pi t e
14 Cedar Ave. Pointe Claire
Some of the Sun Youth volunteers gather around the former Seniors Club president, Mary Murphy, at a recognition ceremony for volunteers.
(514) 697-8922
Over 30 years experience at your service
Here at Sun Youth
BARBIERI G
AUDIOPROTHÉSISTES
Nicolas Carpentier
D I G I TA L H E A R I N G A I D ( S ) N O W PA I D BY M E D I C A R E
Summer is a season of firsts: the first time you ride a bicycle, the first time away from your parents at summer camp or the first time you move into your own apartment. At Sun Youth, this summer brings something new. Our food bank is short of food. For the first time in 54 years, Sun Youth has embarked on a summer non-
Come in and discover what a digital hearing aid can do for you! • Assistive Listening Devices • Audiometric Exam • Ear Protectors • Hearing Aid Repairs – All Makes • Invisible Hearing Aids
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CO M P L I M E N TA RY H EARI NG TEST 1396 St. Catherine W. Suite 404 (Corner Bishop)
House calls available Call for details
514-866-1687
Coiffure Novo UNISEX Tues-Wed 20% for Seniors
Mon-Tues-Wed: 9am - 6pm Thurs-Fri: 9am - 8pm Sat: 9am - 5pm
Our goal is your satisfaction 4234 Decarie Blvd. 514-670-3218
Our caregivers make the difference... every visit, every time.
OUR CLIENTS SAY it’s the compassion and professionalism of our caregivers that makes the difference – and allows them to live with independence and dignity in the comfort of their own homes. Find out how a personalized care plan can help you or your loved one. In the Montreal area, please call
514.879.5657 / 1.800.322.9228 www.bayshore.ca
10 THE SENIOR TIMES July 2008
• Nursing • Personal Care • Home Support • Companionship • Funding Investigations • Free Assessments • Nurse Supervised Staff • 24 Hour/7 Day Service
Villa-Maria
Parking Available
perishable food drive to replenish its almost empty warehouse shelves. A number of factors are responsible for the shortage. An increase in food prices is affecting our purchasing capacity and that of our donors. We purchase less food with the same amount of money. Soaring gas prices aren’t helping either, adding to the financial burden of our clientele, mainly low-income workers who need their vehicles. This means more people come to Sun Youth for assistance. Food donations are less of a priority in summer. With an increase in demand fuelled by these realities, we are forced to contemplate reducing quantities of food given to our clients. With 2,500 families assisted every month, Sun Youth desperately needs donations of non-perishable food. They can be dropped off at Sun Youth, 4251 Saint-Urbain. Call 514-842-6822 or visit sunyouthorg.com, to make a monetary donation specifying that the donation is intended to buy food. On a more positive note, Sun Youth recently honoured its volunteers, many of whom are members of the Seniors Club. We paid tribute to the former President of the Sun Youth Seniors Club, Mary Murphy with the unveiling of a painting. From all of us at Sun Youth, pleasant summer wishes. Enjoy the pleasant weather but keep us in your hearts.
Founded in 1921, the Wales Home is a private, not for profit organization. We provide a continuum of care to 185 residents from minimum care to palliative care, including a specialized Alzheimer’s unit – all in a warm and safe environment.
R e s i de n ts o f th e Wal e s H o m e b e n e f i t f rom : F F F F F
Peaceful country surroundings A full schedule of activities for all levels of care Home-made nutritious meals Qualified and friendly personnel Home-like environment
Come and join us in Richmond, Quebec on September 9 th 2008 between 1 : 3 0 pm and 4 : 0 0 pm for information and a tour of our Home. It will be our pleasure to show you all the Wales Home has to offer! RSVP to: bpiironen@waleshome.ca or 819-826-3266 ext 247 or by mail: The Wales Home, 506 Route 243 North, Richmond, Quebec J0B 2H0 If you are interested in visiting the Wales Home, but are unable to attend the Open House, please do not hesitate to contact us for an appointment.
Contactivity inter-generates song Hosting their annual Picnic in the Park would have been a lot easier if it hadn’t rained. But instead of letting a little rain spoil their day, Montreal’s Contactivity Senior’s Centre took their festivities inside the Westmount Park United Church. About 120 seniors and children gathered to celebrate those born in July and watch the Interlink
Inter-Generational Choir perform. Led by Ian Lebofsky and accompanied by Steve Corber, the choir sang songs that according to Lebofsky, “everyone can enjoy.” These included The Lion Sleeps Tonight and Do Re Me. The soprano-alto choir was a concept that started 13 years ago to “break the stereotypic ideas each may have of the other generation,” said Lebofsky. The two generations – Grade 4 children from Westmount Park School and seniors from Contactivity – start as pen-pals and after two months meet as an ensemble. “Sometimes these pen-pals carry on for years,” says
< Bridget Polidoro and Raschale Johar
spokesperson Ginny Thomas. “It becomes like a mentoring.” For more information on upcoming events, call 514-932-2326 or visit contactivitycentre.org
Manoir Clanranald
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TOP OF THE WORLD SETTING - with a fabulous Brome Lake view, a wonder in every season. Surrounded by pristine agriculturally-zoned land and hidden away on a long winding drive, this home offers you perfect privacy and restful calm. A 1948 classic, fully renovated just a few years ago. You'll enjoy a new kitchen and 4 baths, one for each of the bedrooms. Windows, doors, siding and the roof - all have been changed! The original highquality hardwood flooring graces the home, along with two wood-burning fireplaces and, always, the view! You can move right in.
450-242-2000 • loishardacker.ca
July 2008 THE SENIOR TIMES 11
Baby’s Breath & Holly
Summer in Small Business is B Le Biloquet
Carole Rocklin and owner Bonni Colton Green A beautiful, unique baby store filled with baby gifts, hand-painted children’s furniture, shabby chic finds, crystal chandeliers, monogrammed towels and custom made blankets. 5122 A Sherbrooke W
514-744-8133
INTERMIX Two-year-old Sahra Spiegelman, mother Lehe Elarar, grandmother Nicole Elarar, and owner Nancy Mater Ice-cream heaven awaits you at the oh-so-delicious Le Biloquet. Famous for its exotic creamy flavors, Biloquet also offers non-fat sorbet. And get this – Biloquet’s products are all hand-made, you’ll never find artificial flavoring in any scoop. The tasting is in the believing! 4864 Sherbrooke W
514-369-1118
Art-Enfant Priya Judge This beautiful boutique offers handcrafted sterling and gold jewelry created by Karin Rosenfeld. These are stunning works of art. Exclusive clothing lines and accessories are also featured at boutique INTERMIX. 4928B Sherbrooke W
514-313-6555
Campbell Framing
Owner John Campbell with niece Gillian Campbell Connie De Melo and Jennifer Top
A landmark framing institution since 1924, this friendly family-run business has made framing an art for four generations. They are experts in restoration and classic design custom framing. They also consult and visit you for your in-house art display. 4916 Sherbrooke W
This four-year-old toy store has all the fun stuff your grandchild would ever want: Thomas the Train, Playmobil, Corolle Dolls and tons of toys and games for indoor and outdoor play. 4968 Sherbrooke W
514-481-1560
514-488-4041
12 THE SENIOR TIMES July 2008
n The City Big in Westmount
Mess Hall
Second Cup
Mess is now Westmount’s eatery to go to! It features homemade bistro cuisine that’s unique. Come and feast on their lobster with truffle fettuccini, halibut with crab cakes and steak. Their fries are fabulous and so is the ambiance! Enjoy happy hour on their terrace this summer. 4858 Sherbrooke W
514-482-2167
Folklore I
Owner Nader El-Doraini and crew For 13 years Second Cup has been pouring great coffee in Westmount as well as yummy cakes, muffins, pastries and sandwiches that won first prize in 2007 as Best Supplier. 5001 Sherbrooke W
514-487-3030
Thimbelina Owner Gerald Fellerath and Carolyne Aubin Folklore I offers beautiful hand-crafted jewelry and clothes from Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, India, Bali and beyond. This unique shop features gorgeous and affordable garments, silver and costume jewelry and also highlights outstanding Canadian designers. 4879 Sherbrooke W
514-486-8852
Bark and Fitz
Owner Kathi MacNeil When it comes to beautiful bedding and customized bedroom accessories, Thimbelina is the place to visit. This adorable boutique wraps your little one in a land of fabric fantasy. Kathi MacNeil is an interior decorator who has a host of specialists waiting to create a child’s wonderland. 4937C Sherbrooke W
Co-owner Evelyn Couture Bark & Fitz is the newest place in Westmount to take your dog or cat for the finest food, treats and grooming. Their products pamper your pooch and cuddle your cat. Your pet will be spoiled on their gourmet goodness. 4868 Sherbrooke W
514-484-0954
514-483-3555
July 2008 THE SENIOR TIMES 13
J U I C E
B A R
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ST-JEAN
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Monday to Friday Early Bird Special 6 am to 8:30 am
4701c St-Jean 514-624-4000 14 THE SENIOR TIMES July 2008
Lunch Table d’Hôte 11 am to 3 pm
The enchanted world of Cappadocia
Times and Places Molly Newborn If you have ever dreamt of traveling to the moon and then realized that the 384,403 km, eight million dollar space shuttle ticket might be a bit out of budget, might I recommend a trip to Cappadocia? Located in the center of Turkey – the middle Anatolian region spanning five cities – you will find this lunar-like landscape. After a grueling overnight bus from Antalya, my tour group of 14 was deposited at what at first looked like a boring little Turkish town. I rubbed my eyes as we walked down the empty street at 5 am and realized this was no ordinary place. It looked like some of the houses were built right into mysterious and unearthly looking rocks. Look a little closer and this bizarre scene stretches for miles and miles. Volcanic eruptions, erosion and winds from millions of years ago somehow created the wondrous rock formations of Cappadocia. The Fairy Chimneys – the most common and absurd looking structures – are natural cone formations made from the volcanic eruptions smoothed over time by wind and rain (good thing this article comes with pictures because otherwise you would be lost). The Hittites were the first known civilization to inhabit the volcanic rock
structures of Cappadocia about 3800 years ago, followed by the Persians and the Romans. They discovered the volcanic rock was easily carved and shaped yet sturdy enough to hold permanent structures. Whole towns were carved into these rocks with houses and tunnels and churches with frescos. People still live in houses carved into the stone, and some lucky tourists can even book a room in one of the pricey carved rock hotels. After a short 30-minute hike through the landscape, our tour guide took us to the old deserted town of Zelve. Zelve was inhabited until 1952. In 1967 it was turned into an open-air museum. I felt like I was 6 years old again climbing up the cliffs to the caves (or houses), exploring each room and tunnel, imagining the lifestyle of the cave dwellers while admiring the views as I climbed. We then piled back into our rented minibus and headed to a town called Avanos. This is a town famous for its colourful pottery made from the red clay of the Kyzylyrmak River – the longest in Turkey. We visited a shop that allowed us to watch and learn how the intricately decorated pots were made. We were all so impressed with the show and the artwork that each of us bought a souvenir pot. As we explored the tourist kiosks that seem to be around almost every Cappadocia corner we realized that they were selling the same pots at a half to two thirds the price we had paid in the shop.
Fairy Chimneys
Our next excursion took us to one of Cappadocia’s 36 identified underground cities (only four are open to the public). It was like climbing through a giant ant farm, crawling through holes and tunnels and more holes. These cities were actually fully functioning civilizations equipped with communal kitchens,ventilation systems, and common rooms. These cities were built to live in during invasions and could sustain hundreds of people for up to six months! They are not for the claustrophobic. The tall might emerge with a bit of back pain. Our tour guide – about 5’3” – appeared to be standing comfortably in the rooms while the rest of us had to hunch. I did however get a kick out of crawling down the maze of tunnels and rooms carved eight levels down into the earth! Our final night in Cappadocia was spent watching the mesmerizing prayer dance of the whirling Dervishes. The Dervishes belong to the Sufi sect of Islam. The whirling they do is a type of prayer to achieve a meditative trance state, connecting with the ever revolving motion of all existence – from the protons and electrons around the nucleus, to the planets around the stars. Their long flowing angelic white skirts seem to send them soaring into mystical flight. The “show” is incredibly beautiful and relaxing. Sweet cinnamon tea is served to the audience to conclude the show. My sweet tooth couldn’t get enough of it. It
cost 35 lira (about $35). I stumbled across more Whirling Dervishes a week later near the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. That show was free and it did not skimp on the tea. Although I opted out of the $250 hot air balloon ride (apparently a must see), and may have fallen into a couple of tourist traps, my Cappadocia experience was nothing short of extraordinary. From the giant ant farm to the towering Fairy Chimneys, Cappadocia took me to another world, and back to the playground.
July 2008 THE SENIOR TIMES 15
Whirling Dervishes
Molly’s Istanbul sparks reader’s memories and reflections I was deeply touched by Molly Newborn’s June travel article Istanbul – the magic, the madness & the mosques. I was in Istanbul in 1958, exactly 50 years ago, my head full of Pierre Loti, taking a summer course in Turkish for foreign students at Istanbul University. It was the most beautiful city I had seen, at least its skyline of domes and minarets. By the way Bosporus is a strait between two seas, not a river (Mr. Richler, please correct me if I am wrong) although it may look like a river if you don’t taste its salt water. Ms. Newborn’s first impressions were bitter. She was hassled by peddlers offering to sell her a carpet and by cavaliers hoping to date her. They could tell she was a tourist. Maybe the way she was dressed in jeans or her typical tourist behaviour, looking around with curious starry eyes the way no local would. Judging by her photo we would expect her to draw admiring glances not only in Turkey, though we can’t expect her to accept an invitation for a date, especially a crudely formulated one from a stranger. She goes back to her hotel room to cry for the rest of the day. She is obviously a sensitive young woman. It may be her weakness as a journalist, but it is her strength as a writer. Well, carpet sellers or other peddlers did not run after me. I was a student, and students, even foreign students, were not expected to have much money.
Ms. Newborn is rescued by Ahmet, a former Turkish classmate from UCLA, who gives her a guided tour of the city. She is “stunned” by the grandeur of the Hagia Sophia. I remember how excited I was, as a Christian, seeing what was perhaps the most beautiful Christian church ever built. Mehmet the Conqueror had transformed the church into a mosque, adding the first of the four minarets. The secularist President Ataturk turned it into a museum. A house of worship has a soul that a mere museum cannot have. Something Ms. Newborn missed. She shows us a photo of the Blue Mosque, illuminated at night, displaying the inscription “DONYA AHIRETIN TARLASIDIR” (“The world is the ploughed field for after-life”). Yet, one of the wonders of the Hagia Sophia is its Christian mosaics which had been plastered over during the four centuries when the building was serving as a mosque. The subject matter may not have been objectionable to the Muslims who venerate the Prophet Jesus and his Mother but a mosque may not contain any pictorial representations, viewed as idolatry. To most if not all Turks, it would have been tantamount to a symbolic surrender of the city to the Greeks, a nightmare, which had almost happened at the end of World War I. Ataturk’s victory over the Greeks and their British and French allies saved the city for Turkey and for Islam. When visiting the Blue Mosque, Ms.
Newborn feels “uncomfortable” at being asked to cover her head. Come on, young lady! Haven’t you ever wrapped your head with a scarf to protect yourself from Canadian wind? I don’t remember whether Western women tourists were asked to cover their heads when visiting mosques in Turkey in my time. I remember that we all had to take our shoes off. Ms. Newborn is not much impressed by the Islamic call to prayer, appreciated by so many non-Muslims, including Byron who had fought against the Turks in the Greek War of Independence: “’Twas musical, yet sadly sweet...” (The Siege of Corinth) On her own Ms. Newborn takes the train across the Galata Bridge to the Dolmabahge Palace. A train across the Galata Bridge? I am sure the “train” here is a misprint for tram, or is it an innovation since my time? After her guided tour of the city Ms. Newborn spends the night partying with Ahmet and his friends in the bars of Taxim (her spelling). That is quite in
character with the society. Unlike most Muslims (Arabs, Iranians, Pakistanis) the Turks drink openly, without inhibition, even taking pride in their drinking prowess. Except that those were strictly men-only sessions. It was not considered dignified for Turkish ladies to drink raki. I wonder if there were Turkish girls partying that night? Please note the spelling: Taksim. There is no X in Turkish. It is an Arabic loanword meaning “division” or “partition.” Taksim Square is the centre of Pera or Beyogiu, the formerly “Frankish” suburb of Istanbul with more bars than mosques. In the end Ms. Newborn forgets her initial disappointment and is won over by the city: “Istanbul is magical. There is no other place that compares.” I haven’t been back to Istanbul for 50 years. Ms. Newborn has captured the spirit of the place and brought back precious memories of my youth. Thank you, Molly! Çok tesekkür ederim! – Jan Witold Weryho, NDG
Dear Ms. Weryho, You are so very welcome! I was delighted to learn about your experience in Istanbul 50 years ago. It seems as though things haven’t changed too much. We were asked to take off our shoes and cover our heads upon entering all mosques. Taking off my shoes made me as uneasy as covering my head. There were water fountains outside all mosques where the men washed their feet (and face and arms?) before entering. I found a crowd of about 30 women jammed into the ladies’ restroom with three sinks outside the Blue Mosque washing their feet. As a foreigner it is not my place to complain, especially since entering the stunningly beautiful mosque negated any uneasy feelings. Ahmet presented me with my first glass of Raki during our lunch under the Galata Bridge. The first of many. There
certainly was no shortage of alcohol for the ladies in Taksim! There were girls in Ahmet’s circle of friends who joined us in the festivities, and they could have easily passed as Americans. This took me by surprise since I was advised to “cover up” while traveling around Turkey, but when it came to Istanbul the girls definitely weren’t shy to be sexy. This is a far cry from Urfa, which I will be writing about in a future issue. I did come to enjoy the Islamic call to prayer. It was a bit of a jolt when I heard it for the first time without warning. It was a constant reminder wherever I went, saying “Listen! You’re in Turkey!” And I certainly appreciated it when it woke me up to catch my flight Thanks again for your reply! I am so happy we were able to share our stories with one another. – Molly, Los Angeles
House & garden tour for the Piggery Thursday, July 17, the Piggery Theatre holds its biggest fundraiser of the year. From 9:30 am - 4:30 pm, wander through six homes and two gardens in
and around North Hatley and SteCatherine-de-Hatley, chosen for their architecture and prime views. $50. Info: 819-842-2431 or piggery.com
DRIVER FOR SEN IORS Reliable, honest and patient person will pick you up, drive you to your errands, wait for you and carry your items. • Cote-St-Luc • Westmount • Cote-des-Neiges • N.D.G. • TMR • West Island** • St-Laurent
Alan 5 1 4 - 94 1 - 0 0 4 7 16 THE SENIOR TIMES July 2008
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My Vegas — 30 years of memories and Elton Barbara Moser Most people I know who haven’t been to Vegas have little desire to experience it. They have no connection to the place. They see it as crass and glitzy. But for me, Vegas means a lot. It holds 30 years of memories — of family, love and loss. My first time was with the father of my daughters just before we married in 1975. I was smitten — with Vegas. We never left the Tropicana: the food was free or close to it, the orange juice freshly squeezed, the lox abundant and succulent. It was my first encounter with the starry glitter and tinkle of the slots. Not that I’m a gambler, but I’ve always liked the nickel machines. My mother lived in Vegas for ten years. She moved there to be closer to Paul Anka. Once at a show we saw together, he asked her to dance, recognizing her from her many fan letters. She still has his autographed pictures on her walls: “To Eva, Love Paul.” On my visits during those years, Mom and I would sit for hours in the piano bar at one of the Strip’s cheaper hotels and watch Angelo, the singer-piano man, belt out our requests — hers being Nat King Cole and Paul, and mine, Elton John. My sister Melanie moved to Vegas to live with my mother. Melanie had a tough life and in Vegas she felt like a somebody. She loved the Strip, the slots, the lights, the free drinks, the buffets, the music — and most of all, Neil Diamond. Melanie died in Vegas in December 2000. She was 48. Her funeral was in a room at her favorite hotel, the famous Golden Nugget. I remember walking along the Strip the day of the funeral, having come from Melanie’s apartment carrying our grandmother Molly’s wine glasses wrapped in our grandmother Laura’s embroidered tablecloth. Melanie had no children, just a dog. I re-
On the Strip: Flamingo Hotel bathers
Elton John singing Candle In the Wind at his 200th concert in Vegas member taking her aging Pekinese to have him put to sleep. She would have hated me for that, but I just couldn’t take him on. On this trip, I see Melanie everywhere. I’ve come to Vegas to visit my daughters and accompany my husband on business. I am staying at the Hilton Star Trek, just off the Strip. Gone are the days when you could stay at the Aladdin or the Hilton Flamingo for $17 a night. These rooms cost $160. Alas, the laid back Aladdin was blown up to make room for a glitzier hotel, which is the fate of most Vegas hotels. The slots have changed. Now you slide your bills in and if you win, the coins don’t come pouring out. I miss that sound. Now it’s a fake jingling and you get a slip you can exchange in another machine. The drinks at the slots are still free and are they ever strong! They still do everything to get you to gamble. There are no bookstores in sight. And I’m the only one this morning at the Hilton Buffet with a laptop. People are looking at me like I’m weird. The buffets are still good and plentiful, but prices are up. Today’s brunch is $14. It’s a better deal than the restaurants; the fresh fruit grown in California, just two hours away, is divine. They now have penny slots in every hotel but the thing is you have to bet at least 25 cents if you’re going to win more than a few pennies. I still love to watch the high rollers bet $25,000 a shot. But I don’t dare try my hand at Black Jack anymore. Now for my jackpot! Amy, Molly and I took in the Elton John show at Caesars. Tickets start at $100 and peak at $250. We opted for $115 in the first row of the second balcony. We all agreed the concert was the best we had ever seen. I cried every second song, seeing 40 years of my life and Elton’s career pass before me in a flash, watching the big screen images of the sixties, reveling in the memories and the present. Holding my
The stage was an ever-evolving magical place with massive inflated breasts, red roses, a lipstick and other overtly playful phallic parts. daughters’ hands and swaying back and forth, we waved the black and red boas we had been given in the lobby to celebrate Elton’s 200th concert in Vegas. What a show! The stage was an everevolving magical place with massive inflated breasts, red roses, a lipstick and other overtly playful phallic parts. I was thrown back to the days when sex was less serious and more innocent. I cried during Candle in the Wind, Rocket Man, and most of all, when he sang his finale — Your Song, in honour of his two bodyguards who had just tied the knot in California! I laughed when he lovingly referred to Celine Dion as “that skinny bitch” who never has to worry about her weight as he does. He looked just lovely to me in his longish appliquéd jacket and the glasses, more muted than I remember – the whole Elton aging gracefully into a less raucous show-off, his virtuoso piano playing more beautiful than ever, his voice strong and robust, having lost none of its sexy, smooth tone. My girls and I knew all the words, sometimes singing along. This is the sign of a star — to last more than two generations. Molly and I walked over to the Riviera in the heat and were blessed with a stunning rendition of Your Song by a house crooner, the talented and friendly Mark. To cap off our stay, we saw Menopause — the Musical, a zany slapstick look at“the change” through the eyes of four icons of “our age” — the professional woman, the fading soap star, the Earth Mother, and the Iowa housewife. The songs are takeoffs of tunes from the 60s and 70s, with themes ranging from the ever-present hot flashes to ever-present need for food to the ever-
Amy, Mom, and Molly in our boas after the concert, taken from Amy’s iPhone present need for sex from hubby. The best performance of the show was a very risqué dance rendition of My Guy sung to a huge red vibrator. (I just can’t bring myself to use the D-word). All of us who have gone through the change were invited onstage to do an aging can-can and receive buttons: I’ve changed. I don’t have much change left as I leave this town. If you go to Vegas, I recommend staying on the Strip. You can take the monorail (at $11 a day) to get around but you’ll still have some walking to do. It’s much more expensive, more crowded, less accessible, and you get a lot less “bang for your buck.” Vegas has changed — a lot since 1975! Little is free in this town. It’s not the easygoing place I fell in love with 30 years ago. Yet, all in all it was a slice. Thanks Elton for playing my songs! So, everyone, get off your high horses and live a little. You won’t find high culture here, but it’s a breath of notso-fresh air in the city that never sleeps. Elton John plays the Champlain Valley Fair in Vermont July 21. Details page 19.
July 2008 THE SENIOR TIMES 17
South Of The Border
Vermont Events Unique antiques
Fiddling family fun
Saturday, July 12 from 10 am – 4 pm, Vermont’s Children’s Aid Society’s Annual Antiques & Unique Festival features 120 antique vendors, pottery, paintings, jewelry, collectibles, toys and quilts. Feast on bake sale goodies and enjoy Trinity music. Info: 802-655-0006
Friday, July 18 at 8 pm, Cracker Barrel Fiddlers Contest offers an evening of music, food and family fun. Foot stompin’ toe tappin’ and knee slappin’ tunes await. $6. Info: 802-866-5580
Festival on the green
Friday, July 18 to Saturday, July 19, the Stowe Street Arts Festival in Waterbury features Phill ‘n’ the Blanks Friday evening from 7 – 10 pm after the Congregational Church’s Chicken Barbeque. Info: 802-244-8300
Sunday, July 13 to Saturday, July 19, Vermont’s Village Green hosts its 30th annual Festival-on-the-Green. Marta Gomez and group perform original compositions based on Latin American rhythms. Street dance closes the Festival on Saturday. Info: 802-462-3555
Photo: Ryan Parent
Ballroom dancing
Thursday, July 17 to Sunday, July 20, the 7th Killington Wine Festival features wine tasting, educational seminars, live music and a gala wine dinner. Info: 800-337-1928
Saturday, July 19 to Sunday, July 20, participate in a Weekend Ballroom Dance Workshop with dancing and lessons with world-renowned dance instructor Ian Folker. Champlain Club, 20 Crowley, Burlington. Info: 802-598-6757
Vermont brewers festival
Top dogs
Friday, July 18 to Saturday, July 19, the Vermont Brewers Festival in Burlington’s scenic Waterfront Park is perfect for enjoying Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains. Info: 802-244-6828
Friday, July 11 to Sunday, July 13, see hundreds of top breed dogs at the Vermont Cluster Dog Show at Champlain Valley Fairgounds, 105 Pearl, Essex Junction. Info: 902-878-5545 or cvexpo.org
Wine fest
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Cookies and ice cream Sunday, July 20 from 10 am – 5 pm Billings Farm & Museum presents its 25th Anniversary Celebration for free ice cream and cookies. Performances by the Vermont Fiddle Orchestra, Vermont Governor Jim Douglas and Robert Resnik & Friends. Route 12 North at River Road, Woodstock. Info: 802-457-2355
Folk concerts Tuesday, July 22 at 7 pm, the 10th Old West Church Folk Concert features Peggy Seeger, Deb Flanders and Pete Sutherland. The Calais Concerts, organized by Deb Flanders, highlight the traditional music of New England in honour of Deb’s great-aunt Helen Hartness Flanders, one of the pioneers of folk music history in the US. Info: 802-863-5966
Pump boys and dinettes Tuesday, July 29 to Saturday, August 9 at 8 pm with a Saturday matinee at 2 pm, Pump Boys and Dinettes - the Musical celebrates the simple pleasures and good folks at the Double Cupp Diner. Saint Michael’s Playhouse, 1 Winooski Park, Colchester. Info: 802-654-2281
Saturday, August 23 at 8 pm, Vermont Public Radio presents Garrison Keillor and A Prairie Home Companion. Sunday, August 24 at 7 pm, 95 Triple X presents Daughtry as part of the Bud Light Concert Series. Thursday, August 28 at 7 pm, US Marine Corps band performs. Friday, August 29, 106.7 WIZN presents Ted Nugent. Info: 802-878-5545 or cvexpo.org Tickets: 802-86-FLYNN or flynntix.org
Strongman lung benefit Saturday, July 26 NAS Green Mountain Strongman Challenge to benefit the American Lung Association of New England. Tickets on sale through the American Lung Association of Vermont. $5 person, $15 family of four, 8 and under free. Champlain Valley Fairgounds, 105 Pearl, Essex Junction. Info: 802-876-6500 or lungvt.org
Horse show Friday, August 15 to Saturday, August 16, Vermont Dressage Days Horse Show benefits Women Helping Battered Women and the Vermont Humane Federation. Champlain Valley Fairgounds, 105 Pearl, Essex Junction. Info: 802-878-5545 or vtddatcve.com
Champlain Valley Fair features Elton John
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Organ concerts this month
Orgue Et Couleurs presents the 44th season of “Concerts populaires de Montréal” under the artistic direction of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, at Centre PierreCharbonneau, 3000 Viau. $18 to $27. Wednesday, July 9 at 7:30 pm, Tango Spotlight features spirited tango music with the warm sounds of the bandonéon, an authentic voice and other instruments. Wednesday, July 16 at 7:30 pm, Backstage At The Orchestra. Classics and comedy go hand in hand. Wednesday, July 23 at 7:30 pm, Land of Love features works from the Classical and Romantic periods. Wednesday, July 30 at 7:30 pm, At the English Court promises one royal evening, two eras: the 18th and 20th centuries. Orchestre Métropolitain Du Grand Montréal, conducted by Julian Wachner. Info and tickets: 514-899-0938 or orgueetcouleurs.com
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Beaconsfield outdoor concerts The City of Beaconsfield presents its summer line-up of free summer concerts and activities in the park. Sundays at 12 pm, bring a picnic to Centennial Park for free activities and concerts. 288 Beaconsfield. Tuesdays at 7:30 pm, six outdoor concerts are presented in collaboration with Sunrise Senior Living. Rain venue: Beaconsfield Recreation Centre, 1974 City Lane. Info: 514-428-4480 or beaconsfield.ca
Literary, musical fundraiser a success The 3rd annual summer solstice literary and musical cabaret at the Atwater Library on June 27 successfully raised $411.50 for the library’s fund to acquire and maintain a piano.These proceeds were from voluntary donations. Over 80 people attended the event, which was organized by Senior Times contributor Byron Toben and included performances by Senior Times music columnist Paul Serralheiro’s trio. The evening included a play reading, Irish story telling and music, folk music and a tango demonstration. Jack Todd of the Montreal Gazette donated an autographed copy of his new best seller Sun Going Down as a door prize.
Whose word is it anyway? The Word Nerd Howard Richler Who owns a word? Recently, three residents of the island of Lesbos laid claim to the word “lesbian,” filing suit against the organization Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece for using the word “lesbian” in its name. The litigants claim the organization’s name “insults the identity” of the people of Lesbos, who are also known as Lesbians. One of the plaintiffs, Dimitris Lambrou, claims that the global dominance of the word “lesbian” in its sexual context violates the human rights of the islanders of Lesbos and causes them world-wide humiliation. This case brings to mind a 1998 protest that occurred in England over the name Mecca Bingo for a bingo hall chain. Muslim protesters felt insulted that the name of their holiest city be associated with gambling and this led to some violent demonstrations, although to my knowledge no legal action was launched claiming a proprietary right to the word “Mecca.” It’s also interesting to note that as Mecca Bingo Ltd. was established in 1884, the protests about the use of the name were hardly immediate. These actions prompt the question of who owns a word. While the first OED usage of lesbian in the 17th century refers to people living on the island of Lesbos, by the end of the 19th century the term lesbian referring
To drive or not to drive
Let’s talk about it Bonnie Sandler, S.W. All too often when I ask families about their loved one’s driving abilities after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s,I’m told there’s no serious concern.After further questioning it’s not unusual to learn the individual is “only” driving close to home (where accidents never happen?) – or only lost their way a couple of times, or scratched the car in the garage. Yet when I ask whether they would allow their children to be in the car, the answer is a firm no. Who is protecting the neighbours’ children? I’m not insensitive to the significance of driving to someone who has been driving most of his or her life. Having car keys taken away can be devastating. But driving demands good judgment, skills, reflexes, concentration, and sensory abilities. The burden of this decision should not be left to fam-
to same-sex female couples entered the dictionary and was entrenched in the English language. Similarly, by the middle of the 19th century, the word “Mecca” was often used for a place which attracts people of a particular group or with a particular interest. The aforementioned contentions are by no means the only litigious possibilities. So far, no protests have been heard from the residents of Bohemia over the usurping of the word “bohemian” by artsy-fartsy vagabonds who lead irregular lives. Nor have I heard any murmurs of dissent from the residents of Donnybrook, the former Irish suburb of Dublin, that the word donnybrook has come to refer to a riotous brawl. And where will it all end? Shouldn’t Bulgarians take umbrage that the word “bugger” comes from Bulgarian? The OED relates that it was “a name given to a sect of heretics who came from Bulgaria in the 11th century, afterwards to other ‘heretics.’” Perhaps Slovenians will come to feel that the word “slovenly” casts aspersions on them, notwithstanding the word does not derive from Slovenia, but merely sounds as if it could? Personally, I’ll be astonished if the courts in Greece rule in favour of the Lesbos litigants. An etymological close precedent, the word gay, has long been usurped by the homosexual community. Along with merry folks, people whose first name or surname is Gay could well be upset by puerile people who ask “are you Gay?” Also, who can listen to the lyrics “don we now our gay apparel” and not be prone to a vision of cross-dressers? The reality, however, is that “gay” to refer to a homosexual is now an entrenched meaning – like it or not, words do acquire new meanings. On the other hand, some will argue that politically correct society has decided not to use certain terms like ily members. In California, physicians must report a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s to the health department, who in turn passes this information to the motor vehicle bureau. The Quality Standard Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology recommends driving tests be conducted every six months for those with AD. Why don’t we have a similar process in place here? I suggest that doctors be obligated to report a diagnosis of cognitive impairment to the SAAQ, who should mandate frequent driving tests. This would relieve the family of having to decide where to draw the line. Caregivers have enough on their plates without having to play the enforcer in this respect. In the meantime, these signs should help families know when it’s time to schedule a driving test: ✔ Driving too slow or too fast ✔ Unable to find the way to a familiar place ✔ Slow in reacting to a new situation ✔ Not observing traffic signs ✔ Hitting curbs ✔ Agitation when behind the wheel ✔ Confusing the gas and the brake pedal ✔ Scratches on the car ✔ Trips taking longer than usual
Above all, safety is not negotiable! Contact Bonnie at bonnie@theseniortimes.com.
the verbs “to jew,” “to welsh” and “to gyp” as they attribute certain traits to the Jews, Welsh and Gypsies, respectively. Clearly, these are seen as a different situation from the “bohemian” and “donnybrook” usages because there is a consensus in society that stereotyping certain groups by supposed negative traits is offensive. The Lesbians’ strongest legal argument seems therefore to rest on the fact that they are being negatively tarred and this at a time when society is largely tolerant of sexual preference. Not a compelling argument. So, given the entrenched and acceptable nature of “lesbian” to refer to same-sex female couples, I have a suggestion for the Greek litigants. Why don’t you demonstrate largesse, and compromise by adopting the word “Lesbonians” as an English term to refer to the inhabitants of Lesbos? Howard Richler’s latest book is Can I Have a Word With You? He can be reached at howard@theseniortimes.com.
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Photo: Baptiste Grison
Festival de Lanaudière - Bernard Labadie and Violon du Roy players
Francofolie crowd
Notes of note Paul Serralheiro Whether you plan to go out to the country or stay in town, there are plenty of musical events to celebrate the summer season. Choices abound, from festivals in bucolic settings that give “country music” a totally different meaning to urban festivals a metro ride away. Running July 5 to August 3 just a short distance from Montreal, the 31st year of the Lanaudière Festival has a
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rich offering of first-rate classical musicians, both local and international, from medieval to contemporary, throughout July and early August. Featuring Kent Nagano and Yannick Nézet-Séguin, pianists Alain Lefèvre and Valentina Lisitsa and the Baroque Orchestra of Freiburg, the festival offers a healthy fare of music with dinner, encounters with musicians and cruises on Lac St-Pierre. There is also a special sound installation of bird songs taking its cue from the works of Olivier Messiaen. Festival international du blues de Tremblant Music of a different ilk can be heard north in the hills of the Laurentians, with the Mont presents its Concerts aux Îles du Bic chamber music Tremblant Blues Festival running from July 4-13 and festival from August 1-10. Yuli Turovsky and I Musici featuring Johnny Winter, Paul James, Keb’ Mo’ and a of Montreal perform intimate classics. The varied tribute to the recently deceased Jeff Healey. chamber music formations deliver the calming reperAlong the breathtaking views of the lower St. toire of Mozart, Debussy and Poulenc. Lawrence just south of Rimouski, the Parc du Bic If your summer promises to be an inner-city affair, there are scores of festivals to choose from. Besides the well-known Montreal International Jazz Festival, florist • Flowers • Plants there’s Nuits d’Afrique, which runs from July 8-20, le and features African musicians with both free shows, at • Weddings the Place Émilie-Gamelin, and ticketed shows. There’s • Balloons de mélissa • Fruit Baskets also Francofolies, July 24 to August 3, which serves a wide range of music by francophone artists, in the Call us for same setting as the Jazz Fest, this year featuring Your Wedding homage to the great Félix Leclerc. Urban and bucolic at the same time are the events Delivery around the World known as Les Weekends du Monde held at the Parc ( 5 1 4 ) 4 8 8- 1 1 4 7 Jean-Drapeau throughout July. The program features 6206 Sherbrooke St. West www.lejardindemelissa.com daylong activities with music from the Caribbean and Latin America, as well as Classical Thursdays. The Celtic Music Festival, held on the beautiful grounds of the Douglas Hospital in Verdun ran until a couple of years ago. It featured wonderful music from North America, Ireland and Britain, Celtic France and Spain. Hopefully this festival will see the light of day once more, although not likely this summer. Perhaps in 2009?
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