Now That’s a Fish

At the May 15th South Dundas council meeting, manager of recreation and facilities Don Lewis presented council with quotations for three tenders: playground equipment for three locations, interior painting at Matilda Hall in Dixon’s Corners, and a roof replacement for the Morrisburg dock washroom.

In his first presentation, he asked that council accept a quotation from Henderson Recreation Equipment Ltd. in the amount of $36,055.87 plus HST for the replacement of playground equipment in Winchester Springs as well as in two locations in Morrisburg: Rowan Drive and Coyle Drive.

Three companies were contacted by phone and all three submitted quotes. Henderson Recreation Equipment Ltd. was the lowest bid, providing free delivery and installation.

 The playground equipment is $1,500 lower than the allotted budget. The money comes from the Parkland Reserve fund.

In his second presentation, which focussed on the painting of the interior of Matilda Hall in Dixon’s Corners, Lewis requested that council accept a quote from Precision Painting Services in the amount of $5,090 plus HST.

Following advertisements in local newspapers and on the township website, five companies submitted quotes for the painting job. Precision Painting Services had the lowest bid. The Matilda Hall project came in approximately $1,000 under budget.

Lewis’ third and final presentation was for a replacement roof on the Morrisburg Dock’s washroom. According to Lewis, the project was advertised in the local papers and on the township’s website.

Out of the four companies that responded, Roof Works was chosen for its low bid in the amount of $3,300 plus HST. This project comes in at eight cents over budget.

[…]

Ben Henriques is a man of few words. He prefers to let his saxophone talk for him.

On Saturday, December 3, at the St. Lawrence Stage, he “talked” to the audience with passion and fire as he performed classic and highly original contemporary jazz during his performance. Backed by the musical artistry of members of Trio Bruxo, Henriques delivered jazz his way.

Alternating between soprano and tenor saxes, Henriques  almost seems to lose himself in his music when he performs. His fingers flying, his eyes closed, he is a study in musical intensity. Whether his style of jazz is necessarily everyone’s taste doesn’t really matter: it is impossible to miss the passion, the artistry in his work.

A quiet, almost diffident speaker between numbers, he seemed comfortable letting David Ryshpan of Trio Bruxo make most of the introductions.

Since this was an evening that featured original compositions by Ryshpan along with many works by Henriques himself, it was an arrangement that worked. 

“You’ve just heard a piece of Ben’s called ‘Paranoia is a Flower’,” Ryshpan laughed, following a number by times dreamy, a little sexy, a little wild. “He called it that because he says both grow the more you put into them.”

Later, Henriques showed a flash of his own humour when he introduced ‘All of Me’.

“This piece has been ‘remelodicized’ into Background Music by Owen Marsh. Remember folks, you heard it here first.”

Expertly backed by bassist Nicholas Bédard, drummer Mark Nelson and pianist Ryshpan, Henriques performed in a way that was often non-traditional, and unrestricted musically. In an earlier interview with The Leader, Henriques said that in contemporary jazz, “we seek to write music in a different way.” He clearly loves the freedom to improvise that modern jazz allows him. 

Numbers like ‘Captain Awesome’ or ‘Fortress of Solitude’ showcased Henriques’ skill and virtuosity. A quiet duet between just Ryshpan’s piano and Henriques’ sax was a memorable moment to me. 

Solo spots highlighting the  formidable talents of Nelson, Bédard and Ryshpan rounded out the evening. 

“Thank you, Morrisburg,” Ben Henriques said, “for supporting live jazz.”

Tickets are currently going very fast for the upcoming St. Lawrence Stage January 21 concert featuring Don Ross, with Graham Greer opening.

[…]

 Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry MPP Jim McDonell hosted more than 50 local residents at a Family Forum meeting Tuesday evening focusing on Special Services at Home for children, teenagers and adults with intellectual disabilities.

The meeting, held at the North Stormont Place Community Centre in Avonmore comes on the heels of the passage of MPP Christine Elliott’s Member’s Resolution to strike a select committee to address a comprehensive developmental services strategy for Ontario.

The local residents’ main concerns centered on the funding formula and the waiting list to ensure continued assistance once the child turns eighteen.

MPP McDonell expressed his disgust with the wait list for group homes being as long as 30 years. “There are 8,000 children and teenagers in the SSAH system and 4,000 of them are on a wait list.”

“Proposed funding cuts will not allow youth with intellectual disabilities to grow up with their families enjoying a better quality of life,” continued McDonell. 

McDonell says many local residents are affected by the proposed cuts and that it is time for recommendations on a comprehensive developmental services strategy to ensure their needs and the needs of their families are met.

[…]