Year: 2014

It’s a chance every musician hopes for: a nomination at the prestigious Los Angeles Music Awards, scheduled for September 25, 2014.

However, well-known and very talented independent artist Cory Coons has learned that he has two reasons to be pretty excited about this year’s Music Awards.

Coons has just been notified of his nomination in two categories at the ceremony: Male singer/songwriter and Record of the Year for his Share a Little Time. He will be flying out to L.A., to take the stage on Nomination Night at the Whiskey A Go-Go September 25, during the gala 2014 Los Angeles Music Awards. This will be followed by the actual Awards night on November 12.

It’s a pivotal moment in the hard-working young artist’s career.

“I know that in the end, it’s where the road takes us,” Coons said, “and I’m trying to stay grounded. But I’m pretty excited. The nominations are a big step for me. These awards are a kind of spring board into the professional industry and the Grammies. I would really love the support of my community in this endeavour. Fan support really does keep artists doing what they do.” 

Joining Cory on the L.A. journey will be his long time friend and associate, a noted musician himself, Kevin Eamon, owner/operator of Rock My House. Eamon will be Coons’ official sponsor at the first of two red carpet events. 

The road to L.A. is the latest result of years of hard work and dedication on the part of Cory Coons. He has honed his talent, his voice and his writing skills through effort and persistence.

This year, he flew out to Los Angeles in January for two intensive weeks working directly with famed producer Ron Nevison. 

Nevison is one of the top producers in North America. He has worked with mainstream rock groups like Heart, Meat Loaf, Chicago, Led Zeppelin, Ozzy Osbourne, Bad Company, Night Rangers and many others. “I submitted music to Ron over the last two years, and when I reached out to him about producing some material, he readily agreed to it. This was hugely significant to me because Ron can work with any artist he wants to in the music business.” 

Ron oversaw Cory’s time in Los Angeles, setting him up in the studio with back up artists Jeff Bova and Tim Pierce. 

Bova is a producer/arranger who’s already won a Grammy. Pierce was the original session guitar player on Bon Jovi’s Runaway, and Rick Springfield’s guitar player. Cory described it as “an honour” to work with these artists. In fact, Bova created a beautiful string arrangement  for Cory’s Remember Me, a cherished song that he wrote as a tribute to his late parents. 

In the L.A. studio, the musicians laid down tracks for a new EP Cory is releasing to jibe with the September trip stateside. Coons felt that “Ron helped me a lot, especially on vocals. He took the time to get the best out of my voice. And he’s an advisory panel member (with other producers like Eddie Kramer) with the L.A. Music Awards. He was both a connection and a help to me.”

There is a voting ballot system in place on the L.A. Music Awards website. Cory needs the support of voters in this community to help him score well in his two categories. By going on line, and voting (more than once is acceptable!), local fans could really help Cory make his dreams come true.

“If things go well on nomination night, I will need the support of voters and fans all over Canada and world wide. Should I win in one or both of the categories, then the sky’s the limit. Things could go in many directions.”

Again, the young South Dundas musician remains grounded. “Even if I don’t win, the experience of taking part, the media exposure, the publicity is immense. It’s all going to be really exciting to me.”

People can vote for Cory Coons right now, with the polls closing on November 12, just before the Music Awards broadcast. Fan support can make a big difference. The link is http://www.lamusicawards.net/nominees.html.

[…]

A promising new candidate to South Dundas’ political scene, has abruptly withdrawn from the upcoming municipal election.

Leslie Disheau, who filed her nomination papers for the position of South Dundas deputy mayor back in May, had shown great ambition, announcing in the fall of 2013 that she had her sights set on a seat at the South Dundas council table.

Friday, August 29, just before 9 a.m., Disheau withdrew that nomination. 

In a phone call to Disheau on Friday, she would only say it was for personal reasons. 

She later issued a statement.

“It has been a very difficult decision for me to make. I know this decision will disappoint some people. I am sorry, however my personal issue requires my full attention,” she wrote. “Thank you to each and everyone who took the time to speak with me and voice your concerns and issues. Thank you to those who have offered support and help with the campaign.” 

“I am blessed to live in South Dundas, ‘We are in this together’ and I do have hope that our community can and will rise to the challenges we are all facing. 

Disheau’s withdrawal leaves incumbent deputy mayor Jim Locke as the only candidate for that position. Nomination deadline day is September 12.

[…]

September 2, the upcoming South Dundas municipal election gained another candidate when Phillip Blancher filed nomination papers announcing his intention to seek election as South Dundas councillor.

“I want to make a difference, and improve things in South Dundas,” said Blancher, who has been considering seeking election for quite some time.

Blancher moved to South Dundas just over nine years ago. 

“Over those nine years, I haven’t always agreed with council decisions, and how things have been handled,” said Blancher. 

As a father with a young family, and the owner of a small business that specializes in communications and web development, Blancher believes he would bring a different perspective, a younger perspective to the South Dundas council table.

“I am younger than those who currently sit on council, and having a young family, I think I see things a little differently than they do,” said Blancher, explaining that because council decisions affect everyone in South Dundas, it would be nice to bring the perspective of someone with a young family into that process.

Blancher was raised primarily in the Gananoque area, and was educated in journalism at Sheridan College.

“As much experience as I have, I have no direct experience sitting around a municipal council table,” said Blancher, who hopes to get elected as councillor and gain that experience. “Also, no matter who you are at the table, you only have one vote.”

Blancher’s community involvement includes being president of the South Dundas Soccer Association and Seaway Kickers. He is vice president of the South Dundas Historical Society and served on the Morrisburg Waterfront Implementation Committee.

His platform is available on his website phillipblancher.ca, and includes getting back to basics, good customer service, putting South Dundas first and a focus on economic development.

The nomination deadline for the upcoming municipal election is September 12. So far Steven Byvelds and Evonne Delegarde are the only two candidates for mayor. With the withdrawal of Leslie Disheau, Jim Locke is now unopposed for the deputy mayor’s chair. The three council seats are being contested by Phillip Blancher, Bill Ewing, Bert Geertsma, Jim Graham and Archie Mellan. The list of candidates is not finalized until after the nomination deadline.

[…]

He’s an easy man to talk to.

Despite being forced to stand outside his car, struggling to keep decent local cell phone reception, despite having just pulled into town after a long drive down from Port Dover, Norm Foster handled yet another interview with grace, and with the trademark sense of humour for which he is known.

Foster, one of Canada’s most produced and most beloved playwrights, is in Morrisburg to star in Upper Canada Playhouse’s fourth summer production, On A First Name Basis, opening September 4 and running until the 28th of September.

Foster also wrote the play.

“Actually, I find it easier to act in my own plays than in someone else’s. I know the material well, and I can certainly interpret my character the way the ‘author’ sees him,” Foster laughed. “But I will say that I set high standards for myself as an actor because I want the show to be the best it can be for the audience.”

On A First Name Basis is a ‘two-hander’, staged with a cast of only two. Foster’s character, David Kilbride, is a very successful, well-to-do author – and a rather less successful human being. 

“It’s not so much that (David) means to be a jerk,” Foster explained. “The reality is that he has no social skills whatsoever. He speaks his mind without any regard to anyone else’s feelings.”

Enter Lucy Hopperstaad, Kilbride’s housekeeper of two decades, performed by noted actress of stage and television, Patricia Vanstone. Her Lucy has been with this man for more than 20 years, Yet, in the course of an evening, it becomes very clear that David knows absolutely nothing about the woman who has, for all intents and purposes, been closer to him than any other human being. 

“I’ve know Patricia since 1984, when she played in my Melville Boys,” Foster said. “We have done a lot of projects together over the years. When I asked Patricia to  take on the role of Lucy, it was because I thought she was perfect to play the wise-cracking, clever maid. Lucy has to show David that he can’t say the things he says, act the way he does. She helps him work on being a ‘human being’.”

As in all Foster plays, there is witty, hilarious, unexpected dialogue in On A First Name Basis. But, as is also a characteristic of Foster’s work, there are “tender moments” between these two very unique individuals as well. 

Foster is acclaimed for his ability to create ‘people’ on the stage that audiences understand.

“My characters are based on people I know, real, everyday people. Audiences may know someone like them, may even see themselves up there,” Foster explained. “I have a certain comfort level writing about those people because I feel that I understand them.”

Where do his ideas for plays come from?

“A lot of times a piece of music will put me in the mood to write. I may even be in the middle of writing one play when another play idea springs out at me. On very rare occasions, people may make suggestions to me that intrigue me, and I may develop a play from those conversations. And,” he added laughing, “those people get absolutely no credit whatever for the finished play!”

Foster often speaks his lines aloud as he writes them. 

“I want a natural flow of words  in my dialogues. Basically, I like to make an audience feel as though they are eaves-dropping on a conversation between two people. This is particularly true with On A First Name Basis, where audiences share two hours, in real time, of the exchanges between David and Lucy.”

Norm Foster also staged the premiere of The Ladies Foursome this summer at Upper Canada Playhouse, where it proved to be  an enormous success.

“I like the Playhouse,” Foster said, “It’s great to have the big crowds, and to have audiences which appreciate theatre. Donnie (Bowes) is also an old friend, and I enjoy bringing a show to him.The Playhouse is simply a great place to work.”

On A First Name Basis is directed by David Nairn, “who is the only director Patricia and I have had since we began touring this production three years ago,” Foster said. The set for the show has been designed by the Playhouse’s John Thompson, to adapt the blocking to the wider stage area at the Playhouse.

Audiences can look forward to a wonderful production as Upper Canada Playhouse welcomes Norm Foster and Patricia Vanstone, starring in Foster’s On A First Name Basis running from September 4-28. Contact the Playhouse at 1-613-543-3713.

[…]

SDG – In North Glengarry, August 25, 2014, SD&G OPP began an investigation into a report of a stolen motorcycle and trailer on Highway 417. 

August 24, at approximately 2 pm, a 2012 flatbed motorcycle trailer containing a white 2013 Ducati Panigale motorcycle had been left on the roadside to a flat tire on the trailer. Upon returning a short time later with resources for repair, the owner (from Quebec) observed the unit had been stolen.

Here in South Dundas, August 26, 2014 SD&G OPP began an investigation into a report of a stolen vehicle which occurred on Safford Road. A 2009 Pontiac G5T, 4 door Grey had been left on the roadside due to mechanical failure on the evening of August 24, 2014. Upon returning to retrieve the vehicle on August 25, 2014, the owner (from South Dundas) observed it had been stolen.

Investigations continue on the above incidents

[…]