Local Herald, Issue 3

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Vo l u m e 3 , I s s u e 3 , F e b r u a r y 1 0 , 2 0 1 2

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Story and photos: Bram D. Eisenthal A rose is a rose, but on

Valentine’s Day

Montreal West florist is

more reasonable than

many others

In honour of Valentine’s Day, a local chocolatebusiness initially seemed to be the mostlogical profile. Then it became apparent thatthis was not a fair assumption: Chocolate’shealth benefits may be highly touted in recentyears, but it’s not good for everyone, certainlynot diabetics. Flowers, however, don’t need tobe sold with any health warnings that I knowof. So, this is where Montreal Westentrepreneur Alex Yoo comes in.

The New Jersey-born and raised man ofSouth Korean descent was hardly destined tobecome a florist. “I graduated in PoliticalScience from Gettysburg College inPennsylvania,” Yoo told me, as I gazed at all thelovely floral arrangements in Yoo’sWestminster Florist (33 Westminster North,514-369-6888, Montrealwestflowers.ca). And Iseemed destined to spend my life in golf atfirst. I love golf, so I worked as a caddy at a2,000-member private club in Richmond,Virginia, the sort of club with many veryimpressive and extremely wealthy patrons. Iworked my way up to the professional PGA-level of employees and spent five years there.”

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issue3_Layout 1 2/9/2012 12:50 PM Page 1

To those Caucasians who cross to the other side of the street whenyou see someone representing a visible minority heading yourway, how about doing something completely revolutionary?Don’t cross! If you buy into local police mentality that it’s okay toshoot an unarmed fleeing Black person in the back simply forrunning away, or stopping the Black driver of an expensive carbecause your “spidey sense” tingles, telling you that he or sheshould be driving an old wreck instead, then you might as wellhang onto your racist mentality.

If nothing else, however, use Valentine’s Day as an opportunity toembrace differences of all kinds, and, truly, love your neighbourwhatever their culture or race. It really can’t hurt, you know, and itCOULD make this world a better place, one iota at a time.

Thanks to our columnists for their themes

I am pretty impressed, I must tell you, that most if not all of thisissue’s columnists were able to stick to my requested Valentine’sDay theme. You did a great job, each and every one of you…thanks! Father John’s homage to true love is likely one of the mostbeautiful things I have ever read. Paul Graif’s Valentine’s wish forthe Habs totally resonated when I went to the matinee Family Daygame between the Habs and Jets on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5,my first game in about two years. My buddy and I had a chance tocatch up, ably assisted by two of the most boring teams to playthat day. And I have never been more reluctant to see my favouriteteam, the Habs, play a match in my 41 years as a fan. Keep it up,Geoff Molson, and you’ll start seeing 5,000 empty seats per gamebefore too long. It will serve you right. No Valentine for you thisyear, Geoff, and a bouquet of black roses, no less.

THE LOCAL HERALD, FEB 10 (pg. 2) FREE CLASSIFIED ADS: 514-975-7745 localheraldmontreal.com

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The Local Herald, West End Montreal Edition

Volume 3, Number 3, February 10, 2012

Founded by Julia Lucio and Mai-Liis Renaud 2010

Published by Local Seeker Media Group, Cornwall, Ontario

The Local Herald does not accept responsibility for errors, misprints or inaccuracies

published within. The opinions and statements of our columnists are not to be presumed as

the statements and opinions of The Local Herald.

I am constantly reminded about the true message of Valentine’sDay for this world… and it ain’t “spend, spend, spend till yourpaycheque’s all gone,” at least it should not be that. Nope. Sincelove is the primary message we are all inundated witheverywhere we look, how about starting with loving each other?I know it’s terribly cliché, but it’s not a bad idea, while we stillhave the time.

Love starts with understanding, which starts with dispellingstale notions of groups we don’t mingle with often enough. For

me, one such group is the Black community. I grew up on Prince of Wales,corner Chester, and I encountered members of that community from neighbouringWalkley and the “Gardens” often enough. At my elementary school, the then-PSBGM-operated Sir Arthur Currie (now Enfants du Monde, located on Rosedale Avenue inNDG), we were a melting pot of races: Caucasian, Black, and Asian, primarily. Wemingled in class and, certainly, on the playground. Still, we were primarily white and Ioften wondered how kids from the Black community felt as a visible minority in school.Certainly, I heard racial taunts now and again, the now-verboten term “nigger”resonating all-too-freely in the air at recess and at lunchtime. It’s didn’t apply to me,however, so what the hey? It WAS just a word, wasn’t it?

As I got older, I experienced anti-Semitism – mainly via the power of words - up closeand dirty, so I started to realize that words and actions were not just minorinconveniences. When I moved to Ottawa in 1983, for instance, while working atWestburne Electric, one of the order desk guys used the term “don’t Jew me down” witha client. It was the first time I ever heard that “charming” turn of phrase. Then, one dayin 1999, at a convention in Atlanta, I was walking downtown by myself when I lookedaround and was quite startled to discover I was the sole Caucasian in a sea of Blackpeople. I have always considered myself pretty enlightened when it came to peoplewith skins darker than mine, but, yeah, I was scared. That surprised me… a lot. Thenand there, I knew how Blacks felt living in a mainly-white world.

A few weeks ago, this sensation of “standing out like a sore thumb” came to the fore yetagain. I needed a hair-cut and my Snowdon-based “stylist” of 37 years was out of town,so I decided to go to a simple Italian barber in NDG where, for almost half the cost, Icould visibly alter the appearance of my older hair-challenged male scalp. So, with theknack usually reserved for a character from TV’s Seinfeld, what did I do? I walked intoCoiffure Adrian, an establishment on the corner of Montclair, corner Fielding, that is asItalian as I am, but less so.

As I opened the door, there were about 10 Black males milling about waiting patientlyfor their encounter with the electric shavers wielded by a skilled 32-year old barbernamed Adrian, a.k.a. Cowboy. At first, the flight response kicked in, not from fear, butfrom not quite belonging in a place expertly-geared toward cutting Black hair. Blackhair is not MY hair, although I wish it was now that mine is rapidly thinning and makingme feel like a castrated mule in comparison to the old days, when my coifs gave me theappearance of John Travolta (in his Sweathog days, of course).

But I smartened up and thought “how bad could it be?’ and “hey, this could be fun’ andI’m very glad I did. I was treated with utter hospitality by both the owner/cutter, Adrian,and by his friends and clients, which included being serenaded by soul classics on CD,crooned by legends like Marvin Gaye and Teddy Pendergrass. When my turn came tosit in Adrian’s captain’s chair, I was delighted to discover that there IS new life for oldhair and that, boy, could this guy ever cut/shave hair… and for just $10, too! I was sodelighted, in fact, I plan to go back to see Cowboy on a regular basis. Thanks again forthe cool cut, Adrian!

So, it’s never too old to learn new tricks, I suppose, and I am grateful for this fatefulexperience, which helped make me a less closed-minded person than I was before…and for introducing me to a hair cutter both closer to me distance-wise, extremelytalented and, yup, less expensive, too. It’s a good lesson for us all, this opening up,dropping pretensions and ceasing to believe you know it all.

Managing Editor: Bram Eisenthal Creative Design: Julia Lucio

OUR CONTACT INFORMATIONFree Classifieds and Advertising: 514-975-7745

EMAIL: [email protected]

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A regular feature of The Local Herald West End Montreal Edition

Professional Consultant - Anita Benabou Rozenblat

It’s Valentine’s Day, so where’s the love?

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Movie and TV show characters to loveon Valentine's Day

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, it’sworth taking a look at the television showsand movies where the couples depicted areactually believable in their relationships. It’sall about chemistry, whatever role you’replaying and that successful chemistry isn’tas common as you’d think. In that light,here are some couples I think mesh

perfectly together.

Leonard and Penny in The Big Bang Theory: He’s the geniusscience nerd; she’s the pretty barely educated girl nextdoor. They started out as friends, then became lovers,broke up and this season have gotten back together again– sort of. As acted by Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco, thepair is, perhaps, the most convincing of all TV screencouples, a seemingly mismatched pair who may havemore in common with each other than they thought.

Long married, Phil (Ty Burrell) and Claire Dunphy (JulieBowen) from Modern Family are probably the mostauthentic married couple on television. They get on eachother’s nerves, tweak each other and squabble often butyou just know they’ll be together through thick and thin.

Rick and Ilsa in Casablanca. The hard-bitten expatiateAmerican nightclub owner and his Norwegian ex-lovermakes beautiful music together during the chaos andterror of the Second World War. Humphrey Bogart andIngrid Bergman’s pairing, in a movie that was largely madeup as it went along and was originally to star RonaldReagan (!) and Ann Sheridan in the leads, is a miraclemovie that still resonates today. Possibly the greatesttragic love story of them all.

For sheer, sizzling sexual chemistry, the on again, off againrelationship between lawyer Alicia Florrick (JuliannaMargulies) and her boss Will Gardner (Josh Charles) on TheGood Wife can’t be beat. Their sexual attraction took twowhole TV seasons to be consummated only to fall asunderwhen Alicia, out of guilt at neglecting her family, ended it.But their feelings for each other are still there so whoknows what will still happen between them? Theirs is oneof the best elements of a consistently terrific series.

Condemned to live his life backwards, from old age toinfancy, Benjamin (Brad Pitt) falls in love with Daisy (CateBlanchett) but, once undergone, their relationshipinevitably can’t last as Benjamin becomes younger andyounger while Daisy ages. The epic scope and dazzlingspecial effects of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button can’tobscure the deeply touching love story at its core. It’sunforgettable.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

A graduate of Ryerson University’s School of Journalism,former West End Montrealer Shlomo Schwartzberg is aveteran film critic, has regularly reviewed films for variouspublications and lectures on film and TV studies. He was thedirector of programming for the Toronto Jewish Film Festivalfor eight years.

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Happy Valentine’s Day

to all our Advertisers,

Readers and Supporters

We Love You!

THE LOCAL HERALD, FEB 10 (pg.3) FREE CLASSIFIED ADS: 514-975-7745 localheraldmontreal.com



A rose is a rose, but onValentine’s DayMontreal Westflorist is morereasonable thanmany others (continued from cover)

Married to Montreal-bredVivian by this time, Yoo

then endured the worst period of his lifefollowing the death of his beloved father, ahigh-respected and charismatic leader ofthe South Korean community. “My wife’sfamily had operated a popular flower shopon Monkland Avenue and they informedme that this business in Montreal West wasfor sale. For the sake of me and my mom, Idecided to try to alter the negativeatmosphere and try something new.”

With the help of Vivian and her family,determined to go all out to make it asuccessful florist, Yoo took over thepremises that had been Montreal WestHardware for so manyyears. On the chalkboardbehind him, I read a poemby Honore de Balzac thattold me everything aboutthe man I wasinterviewing:

“Love has its own instinct,finding the way to theheart as the feeblestinsect finds the way to theflower, with a will thatnothing can dismay norturn aside.”

Sensitive, passionate andkind, Yoo is also the sort ofentrepreneur who willendure whatever is necessary to provide hisclients the best possible service, while atthe same time using his smarts to turn aprofit. “I knew nothing about being a floristat first, but Vivian had her family’sexperience to help us and she is highlycreative… she handles the most creativeside of our marketing, while I suppose Ihandle the business side… although weare at the point now where our regularsknow her as more than simply Mrs. Alex,” hesaid with a twinkle in his eye.

Yoo has certainly acquired a knack forbeing creative as well. During our interviewearly Saturday morning, no fewer than fourmale customers walked in and purchasedflowers, each bouquet impressively chosenand professionally wrapped by Yoo. Notjust anyone can slap these together sobeautifully - Love DOES actually have itsown instinct, it seems.

Then there is also the notion of flowerscosting an arm and a leg, especially forValentine’s Day. I remember shopping at

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Hall Florist, the defunct flower shop thatexisted for 50-years-plusfarther north onWestminster… and theywere hardly inexpensiveas far as guilty pleasuresgo. “We have a year-longspecial here: a dozenroses of any colour exceptred for $19.95,” a prescientYoo told me, momentsbefore a client walked inand bought THREEbouquets of hisgorgeous, off –whiteEskimo roses.

At Valentine’s Day,however, all bets are offfor cheap deals.“Understand that thefloral farms in SouthAmerica, Holland,California and Ontariocharge their wholesalers

a lot moreand they,in turn, charge us alot more, which means wehave to increase our prices tomake a profit,” Yoo pointedout. “The higher cost of gasalso affects pricing, as it costsa lot more to deliver theflowers to us, by plane andtruck. But since Valentine’sDay is the second hottestperiod for flower sales afterMother’s Day, I do my best tokeep prices as low aspossible factoring in thehigher quantity of sales.”

Simply stated, Yoo is not apig. He charges slightly more to help loverswoo the hearts of their significant others,but doesn’t rip them off. “You can buyroses around the city thatcome in various sizes: 30,40, 50, 60 centimeters ormore, but to help keepprices consistent – andbecause we are a smallerflorist – we only stock the60-cm. roses. We charge$60 a dozen for premiumred roses, which we sell for$3.99 apiece the rest of theyear, while elsewhere themark-up can be 200-250times more for Valentine’sDay and you can pay $85 adozen or more. I won’twork that way.”

Yoo’s floral business haswon him the respect ofmany of the town’sresidents, a feeling that is

quite mutual. He pulled out an item he isextremely proud to possess, the

prestigiousL o v e l lb u s i n e s sdirectory forM o n t r e a lWest, 2011-2012. Apainting onthe cover bya r t i s tJ a c q u e sT r e m b l a yd e p i c t sWestminsterFlorist andYoo wasv i s i b l yenthralled ashe showed itto me. “Iconsider thisa real honour,”he said.

The Yoos arealso very

proud to be Montreal West residents,raising two young daughters here. “OnCanada Day, we participate in the paradeand hand out 400 roses to our friends andneighbours,” Yoo told me. “We feel veryfortunate to be part of this amazing town.”



Chocolate: Is the

propaganda fact or

fiction?

Valentine’s Day is approaching. It appears to

me that there are more red hearts and

cellophane delights than there are such

appointments at Halloween. I guess it gives people an excuse

to eat chocolate and maybe even say “I love you”?

The nutrition question that I get asked most in February: Is

chocolate good for you? Many people wonder this. Surf the

web and numerous articles will pop up pertaining to this

issue. To put it simply chocolate (made from 70% or more

cocoa), has health benefits associated with it. These health

benefits are derived from the antioxidants found in cocoa

solids called flavanoids.

Antioxidants are important because they fight the free

radicals produced in our bodies. Free radicals can cause a

plethora of health problems. A diet rich in fruits and

vegetables contain a very high source of antioxidants. So

don’t rely solely on chocolate to do the job!

Chocolate with less than 70% cocoa usually has fewer of

these antioxidants and more milk solids and fats which are

not associated with health benefits. The classic milk

chocolate bar is a treat and cannot be considered a source

of antioxidants (and, yes, that includes the Aero Bar). In

contrast, 10 grams of dark chocolate a day contributes

approximately 50 calories and packs quite a flavourful punch.

Here are some yummy chocolatey ideas:

Jazz up plain yogurt with dark chocolate shavings. Now

THAT is decadent. Try sucking on a piece of dark chocolate

while sipping tea. It might become a regular ritual. Have you

ever tried a nut-butter sandwich with dark chocolate

shavings? Mmmmmm! A skinny latte sprinkled with dark

chocolate is better than adding sugar! Whip up an exotic

vegetable salad and use coconut and chocolate flakes for

extra flavour. Instead of the dreaded Nutella over toast in the

morning, sprinkle on some chocolate.

Remember, everything in moderation is the way to go. When

you have too much of something that is good for you, it often

has the reverse effect. In essence, too much dark chocolate

equals too many calories.

(ED. NOTE: Somewhere, Willy Wonka and his crew are rubbing

their hands in glee every time the dark chocolate sales receipts

come in…)

Caryn J. Roll P.Dt. (514.817.0135)Twitter: @MTRLnutrition Join me on Facebookwww.montrealnutrition.com

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Stop holding your minty-sweet breath, it’s finally time for:

The Local Herald’s Ultimate Love Notes(Thanks to all our contributors and a Happy Valentine’s Day

to our readers!)

Sammy,

See me, feel me, touch me, healme… I see the fire, gazing atyou…

Who?

Babycakes, you’vebecome quite thebaker…. Love,

Charlene

My personal Mata Hari,If you spied on me everyday, all you’d find is howmadly I love you…James Bond

Dear

Shirley,

will you marry me?

Remember, you read it

here first!

Love eternally,

David

Hey Choochina. You

know what they say…

love will find a way!xo Chooch

To Jack (my Boobi),

We have been married for

almost 3

3 years and even

with all your fa

ults, I sti

ll love

you.

Have a wonderful

Valentine’s Day!!

!

Love, Gail

To

Gail

Anyone can catch your

eye, but it takes

someone special to

catch your heart.

Love,Jack

My

dearest

Audrey,

Never anyone else since you,

your love making an honest

man of me finally.

Barry

Roses are red… and so

are your cheeks when

our passion’s afire.

Steve

My sweet Sue,

Oh jeez, another Valentine’sDay???? That makes 42 nowand I never loved you more,honey… let’s celebrate asusual, ok? Just this time,easy on my back,ok?

Mona Lisa had nuttin’on you, babe.

Your Michel Angelo



Happy Valentine’sDay, Canadiens fans!May you fall in lovewith the team’s newgeneral manager,once Geoff Molsongets up thecourage to send adozen dead, redroses to the

current GM.

But be careful what you wish for… thisteam will not turn it around in one season.They are saddled with inflated contractsleft over from the soon-to-be-over Mr.Gauthier era. I will show Mr. Gauthier therespect that he shows for the players onhis team, by calling him “Mr.” No pointkicking a man when he’s down.

But there IS a point in kicking him out.

Someone recently pointed out to me thatthe Canadiens are no better with RandyCunneyworth as head coach, than theywere under Jacques Martin. Mr. Gauthierfired Mr. Martin and promoted Mr.Cunneyworth.

That person was right, but I sent him thefollowing note:

“Ok,sir. If you think you can do a better job,you're hired. But we are going to saddle youwith the same crappy employees and makesure you prove yourself by winning with ateam that needs draft picks to get better.Oh, the kicker? We'll slap you with the‘interim’ tag and throw you under the bus aweek into the job, because you don't speakour language - Even though we hired you inthe first place. Here are the keys, good luck!”

Mr. Gauthier is responsible for the contracthanded to the team’s saviour, AndreiMarkov. He is coming off two kneereconstructions, yet Mr. Gauthier felt itprudent to sign him to a three-year dealworth $17.25 million. Mr. Markov has yet toplay. Thank you, Mr. Gauthier, for failing toconsult your crack medical staff. I hope youspend more time choosing a Valentine’s Daygift for Mrs. Gauthier, than you doconsidering long-term contracts for yourplayers. You don’t need your wife to leaveyou, too, after the Canadiens say: “It’s me,not you,” as they send you on your merryway.

To make up for the Markov debacle, Mr.Gauthier thought it wise to trade theexpiring contract of solid veteran JaroslavSpacek to Carolina for Thomas Kaberle.

Great move Mr. Gauthier! You justhamstrung your team against the salary capfor three more years (&*%$#@) as Mr.Kaberle is a $4.25 million cap hit in each ofthe next three seasons. In the process, youalso managed to save the job of GM JimRutherford in Carolina. He was relieved hefound a sucker, I mean, another team, totake Mr. Kaberle in a trade.

It is clear that for any of this to happen Mr.Geoff Molson must first surround himselfwith the right hockey advisor. Because, mysources tell me, Mr. Molson is a man with astrong interest in the game, but someonewho possesses little more knowledge thanthe average hockey fan. Let’s hope herecognizes this and hires the right GM tobegin the rebuilding process, so that Habs’fans can fall in love with their team all overagain this Valentine’s Day.

(ED. NOTE: Mr. Graif is a much better manthan I. Rather than doing them the honour ofcalling ANY of these guys Mr. (Mr. Graifexcluded, of course), I’d simply refer to them as“useless bums.” What a league-wideembarrassment our hockey team hasbecome, thanks to every one of them, GeoffMolson included!)

Spotlight on Sports by

Paul G

raif

GM with smart heart needed to begin rebuilding process for Habs

Something strikingly visual for the

heart and memory

Just in time, it seems, local artist Kathryn Gabinet-Kroo’s exhibition of

recent oil paintings, Once Upon a Time in the Pond, evokes sentiments that

will have us cooing with delight and fondly reminiscing. “We all have a

place that is especially meaningful to us,” a statement reminds us. “It

could be an intimate, private place that evokes dear memories or

profound feelings. It could be a public locale where a key life experience

occurred or that we associate with someone special. It could be

somewhere vast or ancient, a landscape perhaps, where we come to

some personal philosophical or spiritual understanding.

For Gabriel-Kroo, this place is the pond. It’s a place of surfaces and

depths, a place of movement and shifting light. Her finely-detailed and

dynamic images capture the colours and movements of carp, for

instance, as they dance just below the pond’s surface. Their forms appear

as fluid as the water in which they swim, recreated constantly by the

reflections on the water’s surface, by refracted light, by the forms of

leaves or water lilies floating on the surface. She captures the enveloping

environment even to the quality of the air and the camouflaging

vegetation growing both in and out of the water: these are the stages in

which the dance she portrays occurs.

A student of the Boston Museum School, Gabinet-Kroo has explored a

wide variety of subjects, including black and white photography,

watercolours, gouache, pastels and printmaking. She has exhibited in

solo and group exhibitions at numerous galleries in Montreal and in

various cities across the U.S., including Boston and Cleveland.

Once Upon a Time in the Pond will be held at:

Galerie de la Ville

Centre des Arts de Dollard / Dollard Centre for the Arts

12001 boul. de Salaberry, DDO, H9B 2A7

514-984-1012, ext. 298

www.centreartdollard.com

The opening reception will be held on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012, from 1:00

– 3:00 p.m. It will run from Thursday, Feb. 16 – Sunday, March 18, 2012.

Free guided tours are available for groups of six people or more, by

prior arrangement. Opening hours are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from

12:00 – 4:00 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. and

Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Achieving Artists

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Gab

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Photography with a romantic

edge

Now that I have introduced myself two issues ago, lets

move ahead with my philosophy- incorporated

photographic approach.

I always felt the limitations of light, or the particular

cameras I might choose to work with, lend themselves

well to the creation of an image with mood…

particularly old modified cameras or Lomography (the

use of toy cameras such as the Holga).

There are no rules to photography. My experience has

light, movement, and the camera all playing a role in the creation

of a “mood” shot. Camera shake, long exposures, shooting into

the light all create interesting effects. It is learning how to

control this mistakes that make the shot’s mood speak out.

I have been working a lot lately with a Holga Pinhole Panorama

Camera that uses 120 roll film. The camera has a minimal shutter

speed of eight seconds. I use it mainly for landscapes and

occasionally I include a figure. If that figure remains static, and

the clouds are moving in the background, it can make for a very

interesting image. I included in this story a photo taken atop

Mont Royal in a light rain. The exposure was about 14 seconds

and I was lucky enough that the subject remained in the same

place. The cloud movement in the background created a nice

pastel-like palette that I felt made this image complete.

So there you go: A plastic toy camera with nothing more than a

pinhole, a long exposure on film, and some cloud movement in

the background.

Result - A romantic view of our beautiful skyline.


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Visit Briimstone – holdthe treacle – fordeliciously sweetambrosia

Saint Valentine’s Day is often perceivedto exist for commercial reasons onlybut, call me a romantic, what’s not tolove about a special day where anyone

can unabashedly express their adoration for a specialsomeone?

If you are still trying to “arrow” in on the perfect SaintValentine Day gift for your honey, head over to one of thesweetest shops in the city: Briimstone Chocolates & Fudge.Located in NDG, this shop is best known for an extensivevariety of homemade chocolates, fudge and truffles made“with only honest ingredients.” The store feels like a crossbetween your grandma’s living room and the chocolateroom in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.Individually wrapped, luscious candies and chocolates areprofusely proffered in candy dishes and jars scattered allover the place. The finer chocolates are kept in the glasscounter.

The owner, Patricia, will also sometimes bake a few pies,churn some gelato, prepare a delicious hot chocolate orwhip up marshmallows. As her fare is often inspired by theseasons, you may find fresh fruits purees, gingerbread spices,crushed candy canes, strong liqueurs, rose scents orpumpkins notes added to the chocolates and candies. Eachtime you go, there is always something new. Also availableare several lines of excellent, quality chocolates likeCocopotmaus truffles, Vosges and many other rare treats.

I remember clearly my first visit to this shop: The first thingI noticed was the poster on the wall that read “UnattendedChildren will be given a triple shot of espresso and a freekitten.” I knew right then and there that the shop ownerhad to be a fun and reckless person to put such a sign in acandy store. I was right. If you have any questions, do nothesitate to ask… Patricia is always up for a chat and is happyto help you find the perfect treat.

Happy Saint Valentine’s Day!

Briimstone Chocolates & Fudge

5879 Sherbrooke West Montreal, QC H4A 1X7

(514) 439-3275

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All youlovebirdsout therek n o wwhat day

of the year weare approaching... youguessed it! Valentine's Day!A time where love is in theair, aplenty. Unfortunatelyfor many, love and moneycan clash if you are not onthe same wavelength.Money is one of the topreasons whyrelationships/marriage fail,but there a few things

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For the love of moneyyou can do to avoid this fate, atleast where finances areconcerned. There is nothingromantic about getting that creditcard bill at the end of the monthand having stress takes over whenyou realize that you can't pay yourbills. Often, frivolous spendinggoes unnoticed and then finger-pointing starts about who is toblame. A husband might feel hiswife's unnecessary shoppinghabits are costing too muchmoney, yet she certainly feels thatbuying a desired 52-inch plasmatelevision is necessary. It is

important to each have a smallfund each month where you areallowed – each of you - to spendmoney on whatever you want,without a subsequent critique. Itis also important to spend morein cash, because psychologicallyyou spend less. Another scary, yeteffective, way to spend on abudget is to track EVERYTHINGyou spend your money on. Youwill be shocked by how muchmoney you could have saved bynot drinking that $5 Starbuckscoffee in the morning orspending $15 on lunch every day.Sit down with your partner andstudy your credit card bills and

your spending. It won't bepleasant but for the sake ofcelebrating many futureValentine's Days as a happycouple, be sure to make that extraeffort. Remember one thing: Whatfeels goods isn't always good foryou and what is good for youdoesn't always feel good.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

Jason Zuckermanwww.mortgageratesmontreal.comHypotheca Mortgage Brokers(514) 771-1352 /1-800- [email protected]

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Love at first sight: Will yoube my curb appeal?Anita’s countdown’s on curb appeal:

1) First impressions are everything, so curbappeal literally begins and starts with the curb!How clean and presentable is your curb? Does

it need to have sand, dirt or pebbles swept clean? Does itneed to have leaves, cigarette butts or other debris cleaned up?Are there weeds or grass growing in the cracks and crevices ofyour curbs and sidewalks? Concrete curbs (sidewalks, driveways,etc.) that are badly cracked or broken should be replaced. You'll beamazed at how other things in your yard start taking on a muchmore attractive look.

2) Wash down the exterior of your house. You don't necessarilyneed to rent a power washer. A hose and broom and somedishwashing cleanser work great. ... Look for cobwebs andhornets’ nests weekly. Beg, borrow or steal a lawn edger if youdon't use one regularly. Trim back all grass at every edge,including the street. Sweep the street gutters! You may have to dothe neighbours on both sides, too (I did), to make sure yoursection of the street looks really tidy and well-kept.

3) Curb appeal is huge, especially in the winter season whensidewalks are icy and snow-covered. If you take time to shovel andsalt your sidewalks, the home looks like it's been taken care ofeven when the buyers can't see the lawn under the foot of snowcovering it. In the spring and summer, lawn ornaments are a no-no, and a quick driveway resealing is inexpensive and workswonders for the drive-by appearance of your house.

4) Being a real-estate broker myself, I come across many thingsthat help sell a home. The most obvious is landscaping. Goodlandscaping makes a home look 100% better. Even if it's just someshrub and tree/shrub trimming along with some fresh mulch, dosomething to spruce up the outside appearance.

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t 5) Make sure the areas around your furnace and hot-water heater are clean,neat and spacious. The components themselves should not be covered withdust, cobwebs, rust spots, etc. Even if they're old, they should look shiny andwell-maintained. Change the filters often to help with dusty smells. … Takeeverything out of the garage, vacuum all floors, walls and ceilings, then paintit bright white. If there are shelves and brackets, paint them bright white too.Then bring back only a little of what once dwelled there.

6) Certainly you can decorate your house however you like, but once you areselling, you have to keep in mind what buyers are looking for. If you want toknow what they like, look at popular model homes in the area that are sellinghot. However they are decorated should be how you do it. No pinkbathrooms or green walls. Paint it all a soft white!

7) Does your home smell bad? Place a plug-in scent in the wall, light ascented candle, bake an apple pie. A home that smells good is very inviting.

8) The loveliest home doesn't have a chance with the poor photography I seein a huge portion of Internet listings, which form, effectively, the firstimpression of your home for many buyers. With so many listings posted insome areas, trying to make out details in dark, blurry photos when there area lot of good-looking listings to view could have a detrimental effect on yourlisting. I always think that if I were trying to sell in this market, I'd be furiouswith my Realtor if I had a stylish, attractive home represented by a fuzzy, darkrectangle! Let your agent know how you feel about the presentation of yourhome! After all, its your home and the agent is responsible for selling it.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Love Always,

Anita

Do you have questions for Anita Rozenblat? E-mail your comments or questionsto [email protected]

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The month to speak of love

"Valentine" is derived from the Latin valens,meaning worthy, strong or powerful. SaintValentine’s Day may celebrate more than onesaint of the same name but we celebrateFebruary as the month of love. Lovers aremeant to be worthy, strong and powerful. Aworthy lover is one who builds love on afoundation of honesty.Those who are honest know how love

requires an effort and that honesty is always thebest policy.

A lover who is strong is a lover who will never give in and never giveup on love. Mae West added a twist: “Love conquers all thingsexcept poverty and a toothache.” A lover who is powerful is onewho knows the power of love. Celine Dion sang it out loud, “We’reheading for something, somewhere I’ve never been, sometimes Iam frightened but I am willing to learn the power of love.” The oldadage rings truer today than ever before: Omnia vincit amor et noscedamus amori -- Love conquers all and therefore let us surrenderto love.True love is unconditional love, an ideal towards which alllove tends, and one day it is unconditional love to which we fullysurrender our lives. The mutuality of love is one hundred percenton one part and one hundred percent on the other part. Today we

B o x e d a d v e r t i s i n g w o r k s ! I t r e a l l y d o e s !G e t y o u r a d i n h e r e t o d a y . C a l l 5 1 4 - 9 7 5 - 7 7 4 5

hesitate when it comes to surrender: Trial marriages, living together,commitment only when a child is to be born, when there is enoughmoney for the new house and new car, when we know we arecompatible… and on and on. Too many people are not willing tocommit to a relationship as the statistics, at least for Quebec, indicatewhen it comes to the percentage of people who live together but arenot married, and, again, when you note the high percentage of childrenborn out of wedlock.

Love is maligned when it means “satisfy” me and fulfill “my” needs. Sowhat is love? It is not a tickling around the heart, a strange feeling inthe stomach, a feeling that you have found your soul-mate. Love-relationships are not made in heaven, they are found here on Earth andthey require daily attention. The red cardboard hearts that arefestooned in window displays and hung from the rafters of stores arereminders that love can make the world a better place in which to live.

We have seen the destruction brought on by natural disasters inSoutheast Asia and in Haiti, we have witnessed the devastation of warthroughout the world, we have personally known of broken homes andruptured relationships, yet we courageously confess and profess thatlove will triumph. I watch people who have been married for many,many years and there is a twinkle in their eyes that is indescribable. Ibelieve there is a spark of God in each of us and when two people arein an unconditional love-relationship that spark can be fanned into aflame of love. Happy Valentine’s Day!



Best,

Bram

We hope you have enjoyedthis issue of

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... AND WHO SAYS NOTHING HAPPENS IN CORNWALL !!!

check out our Weekly Community Event Seeker Section

Kathy Smart - Local girl gone BIG!

Not only does she have her own cooking show,

her cookbook has gone international!

Kathy Smart (born Burgess), born and raised in Cornwall, Ontario and now living

in Orleans, is a registered nutritional consultant with the Canadian Examining

Board of Health Care Practitioners, a Registered Sports Nutrition Advisor, a Holistic

Teaching Chef with the Holistic Cooking Academy of Canada and a Registered

Personal Fitness Trainer with the Canadian Association of Fitness

Professionals. With over 14 years experience in the health and fitness

industries, she currently works as a nutritional consultant and

fitness instructor for the City of Ottawa, a nutritional consultant for

Designed Food Systems Inc. assisting with menu development,

nutritional analysis and recipe testing for retail sales and as a

Holistic Teaching Chef for the Ottawa Carleton School Board.

She is also the host and chef of ‘Live The Smart Way’

- the world’s first gluten free and vegetarian cooking show with

Rogers TV. Live The Smart Way

Kathy can be seen on Rogers Ottawa Daytime TV and A

channel where she teaches, motivates and inspires others

with healthy recipes and healthy living tips. Kathy excels at menu

specialization, recipe development and recipe modifications including

gluten-free, wheat- free, dairy-free and vegetarian/ vegan options. Her

planning considers special needs including age, disease, gender, and

heredity. She has designed hundreds of personalized programs for

clients with diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, heart disease and food

allergies. Kathy has written and published four cookbooks with a

special emphasis on gluten free and dairy free choices.

Kathy can be reached at 613.235.SAGE (7243)

or email: [email protected] or visit

www.livethesmartway.com

or come and see her at the CELIAC SUPPORT MEETING

(also for anyone interested in a Gluten Free diet) on January 28 at 1:00 pm., 847 York St.

(Harvest Christian Fellowship church basement hall).

Guest speaker, Kathy Smart, who is the chef, nutritionist and host of North America's first gluten-free cooking

show, "Live the Smart Way". She will also give a brief cooking demo, and will bring her cookbook to sell

(and sign) for only $25.

For more info: Mary Brink, 938-2908.

All are welcome!

Your Weekly CORNWALL EVENTS & COMMUNITY NewspaperTAKE ONE - IT

’S FREE!

Vol. 3, Issue 2 January 20, 2012

about CORNWALL PEOPLE for CORNWALL PEOPLE by CORNWALL PEOPLE

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You can read our

Cornwall Edition

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THE LOCAL HERALD, FEB 10 (pg. 12) FREE CLASSIFIED ADS: 514-975-7745 localheraldmontreal.comTHE LOCAL HERALD, JAN 13 (pg. 12) FREE CLASSIFIED ADS: 514-975-7745 localheraldmontreal.com

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