Local Seeker, West End Montreal, Issue 19

TAKE ONE - We’re different!

Local SeekerThe We s t E n d Community paper

cont. p4

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wearing retail veteran’s shoes

To know him is to love him, but even if you don’t reallyKNOW Sherif Farag, you have most likely encounteredhim. As retail’s Renaissance man, he has dressed manyof this city’s males at one time or another. The

following will enable you to spend some time inSherif ’s shoes… if you do exactly as

recommended.

I first encountered the West End-raised teen –who came to Canada at age 12 - when I was 15.He came to me as a package deal with the

other NDGers I befriended who attendedMonkland High, although I was at Wagar. I met this

great group of guys and have been friends with themall ever since. As for Sherif, when he left Monkland

and got his own place by 18, he forever cemented hisplace as a hero to the rest of us.

He was also working before anyone else our age knewthe meaning of the word, outside of our part-time,extracurricular weekend jobs. “After high school, I tooka year of psych and management courses at McGill atnight, while working at Royal Trust in their accountingdepartment. I realized that I hated sitting in a cubicle,but that I hated office politics even more. “

He changed his day job to work at a Goodyear carcenter as an assistant manager, marking his first retailsales experience. Leaving school, something he “regretsto this very day,” he also developed a lasting love forcars and racing, spending a while in the car business andeven racing them professionally (as in paid for same),starting in karts and the SCCA sports series and retiringafter racing in the Canadian 911 Turbo Cup series.

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Story and photos: Bram D. Eisenthal

issue19_Layout 1 9/29/2011 4:34 PM Page 1

University for a much-publicized speech downtown and Montreal’sSWAT snipers were on surrounding rooftops, just in case. As we all waitedfor Netanyahu’s arrival, hundreds of students of Palestinian and otherArab descent, along with students representing a viciously anti-Israelstudent council, launched a violent protest. I witnessed clearly Arabicstudents kicking and spitting on people waiting in line to enter the HallBuilding, many of these people senior citizens, before we were all herdedinside by police and security guards. The windows of the building weresmashed and after that, tear gas was used to disperse the hostile mob,gas that we all inhaled liberally while packed inside the auditorium. Itwas quite terrifying – Netanyahu wisely didn’t show, but later attended apress conference at a downtown hotel organized by the late Israel (Issie)Asper, the Winnipeg-based owner of Canwest, that I also attended.

I finally submit to you as Evidence C a discussion I had in the West Bankthat I will also never forget. In the summer of 2000, Arafat returned hometo the “territories” like a conquering hero from Yemen, where he and thePLO had been holed up after he was evicted from Lebanon as a violentthug (not a freedom fighter at all… a murderous thug…. big difference,you know) in 1982. I was in Israel at the time, the seventh of eight trips tothe Jewish State that I have made since 1981, most of them as a memberof the media… and I was in the West Bank interviewing locals. I stoppedinto Saco Brothers, without a doubt THE finest souvenir shop I had everbeen to during my visits to Israel and Egypt. I spoke to the owner, aPalestinian Christian, and he confided in me, tearfully, regarding histerror at Arafat’s return. “Our business is finished and when Arafat getshere we will have to move to Israel, where the Jews will be much morewelcoming to us than the Muslims,” he admitted. I never discoveredwhat happened to him, or to his shop, but I imagine the store, at least, islong gone.

And, as the High Holy Days of the year 5772 descend, I pray to God thatI will someday never have to face the horrid, unacceptable reality thatthe State of Israel is gone… at least not in my lifetime. Reminds me of ajoke I heard that is not particularly funny, actually, where the punch lineinvolves God admitting, when asked when there would be peacebetween Israel and the Palestinians: “Not in my lifetime.”

To everyone who values true, lasting peace above all else, whatever yourreligion or cultural background, on the occasion of the Hebrew HighHoly Days, I wish you a lifetime of goodness and health.

–Bram Eisenthal, Publisher and Editor

THE LOCAL SEEKER, SEPT 30 (pg. 2) FREE CLASSIFIED ADS: 514-975-7745 www.westend.thelocalseeker.com

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The Local Seeker, West End Montreal EditionVolume 2, Number 19, September 30 2011Founded by Julia Lucio and Mai-Liis Renaud 2010Published by Local Seeker Media Group, Cornwall, Ontario

The Local Seeker 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 Seeker.

It’s not always easy coming up with an editorialtopic for Briefly Bram since I started my ownpaper. In previous years, this column was always adefacto feature article of sorts, devoted to tellingyou about a local business or event, sometimescoupled with a rant or two. In the year since TheLocal Seeker debuted, I have plenty of room towrite features elsewhere, so Briefly Bram issomething of a quarterback, a guide, for therest of the paper. But on occasion I still

editorialize, as I am about to do.

The Jewish High Holy Days are structured so that you have ampleopportunity to reflect on the past year. Whether you are religious orsimply spiritual, you tend to do that. On some occasions,international events force you to face your lives as Jews, even as somesecular community members try to ignore that. In October 1973,many Jews worldwide had such an awakening, as Egypt and Syriaattacked Israel without provocation and in a stealthy manner, duringthe High Holy Days that year. Most of Israel’s military was deep inprayer and then-Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir was asleep at thewheel, as were her commanding generals and advisors.

I am therefore extremely wary that the current Palestinian attempt tograb statehood is occurring right before Rosh Hashanah and,subsequently, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. I realize this effortcorresponds with the convening of the UN General Assembly in NewYork and has nothing at all to do with the High Holy Days, but still,please permit me a few moments of nervousness. My mother was inIsrael as that 1973 war broke out and for a few days, it looked very,very dire for Israel, and my father and I were very worried about mymother’s safety.

This recent Palestinian push for statehood makes me no less nervous.The Palestinians have acted like complete, warring savages ever sincethe latest Two State Solution was bandied about after hence-deceased Yasser Arafat took over as head of the Palestinian Authorityin Gaza and the West Bank. Two Intefadahs later, Israel’s handing overto Arafat and Company the territory of Gaza (in exchange for apromised peace) - and their ensuing utilization of that territory tolaunch attacks against Israel ever since- the war of attrition launchedby Lebanon and dozens of Palestinian suicide bombings,kidnappings and such… and the recent rise of Islamic extremism inthe Arab world, which has permeated even an Egypt that has been asolid if not always a forthcoming peace partner of Israel’s since thelate 1970s… who can blame me for being doubtful about ultimatePalestinian goals? Jewish blood is cheap, it seems, as far as the rest ofthe world is concerned. Only Israel among the nations has no right todefend its people.

If you think I am being needlessly paranoid, I raise these followingissues:

First, I will never forget the courageous, unprecedented actions ofIsrael Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who, despite the shock of hisgovernment and citizens, offered Arafat much more than an olivebranch when he handed him the outline of the Mother of All PeaceTreaties, following a Camp David negotiating summit in 2000. Thistreaty had it all, including the demanded Palestinian capital in EastJerusalem, yet Arafat rejected it, admitting that his life would beforfeit if he signed on the dotted line.

Then, in the summer of 2002 came a local, very personal event I willnever forget. You can read my report for the Jewish TelegraphicAgency on-line at http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/18465/netanyahu-speech-canceled-this-time-in-montreal/. Israeli PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu was due to arrive at Concordia

Managing Editor: Bram Eisenthal Creative Design: Julia Lucio

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

EMAIL: [email protected]

Mailing Address: 327 2nd Street E. Cornwall, On. K6H 1Y8

The Property Seeker

A regular feature of The Local Seeker West End Montreal EditionProfessional Consultant - Anita Benabou Rozenblat

Palestinian grab for statehood juxtaposed against the High Holy Days

The Local Seeker, West End Montreal’s most unique community paper,

extends to the Montreal Jewish community a

Sweet and Healthy New Year 5772

That’s over five millennia of thriving as one of the most

unique cultural/religious communities on the planet… and

wishes for over five millennia more!

L’Shana Tova Umetukah!


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The problem with politics is that itemploys politicians

Why must politicians always follow party lines instead ofevaluating issues on their own merits? Bipartisanshipallows governments to compromise on issues instead ofopposing them and creating gridlocks. Case in point: TheConservative government tabled a bill to crack down onsexual predators, serious violent and property crimes,sexual assault, human trafficking, arson, breaking-and-entering, child luring and kidnapping. Justice MinisterRob Nicholson intends to include measures in thisOmnibus Crime Bill which will protect children from

sexual offenders by setting mandatory minimum sentences.

Indeed, the Young Offenders Act, in my opinion, needs to beoverhauled. Street gangs have no respect for the laws as they areTeflon-coated and gangs can get away with anything. Nicholson says,“Canadians want and deserve to feel safe in their homes and theircommunities.” The opposition has vowed to oppose the bill, citing datafrom Statistics Canada, another bureaucracy we could exist without,stating that crime rates are actually going down in Canada. That datashould really impress someone who has been the victim of a criminalact. Tell the parents of a missing child that, according to StatisticsCanada, crime rates are down. NDP Justice Critic Joe Comartin is of theopinion that the bill ought to focus on prevention instead ofincarceration. I believe there is great potential in prevention if a would-be perpetrator feared the risk of incarceration.

Then there are organizations such as the John Howard Society, whichraises the issue of the rights of offenders. Rights? A prisoner who hasbeen convicted of child molestation (ED. NOTE: How about murderers?Serial rapists and similar delightful individuals?) should have rights? Asmentioned in my previous column they should be kept in prison forthe rest of their lifetime, thus protecting society. Comartin thenreminds us that it costs $108,000 per year to keep an inmate in prison.How much did it cost so far to find Randall Hopley, allegedly theperson who kidnapped 3-year old Kienan Hebert from his family homein Sparwood, B.C.? How much will it cost to prosecute Hopley andreturn him to prison, where he should have been in the first place…instead of in the community where he could re-offend?

Despite the fact that our opposition parties are going to oppose thebill, the Conservatives no longer need the opposition’s supportbecause of their Commons majority. Rest assured, however, that theopposition will devise ways to delay the inevitable while nobodybothers to calculate how much it costs per day to run Parliament. Iwould like to remind proponents of the rights of offenders that victimshave rights too. The victims of sexual assault often experience posttraumatic stress syndrome throughout their lifetimes, while theoffender is free to re-offend. I value your opinions, so let’s hear them.

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If Astaire was alive, he’d be wearing retail veteran’s shoes(continued from cover)

Then… one unforgettable, fateful meeting: “I met a client who saw a talent in me and offered me a job in retail clothing. I tooka chance, never having sold for or managed a clothing store before and, within the first week, I came to life. I also realized quicklythat it’s not even the product but the psychology of the sale that matters, that the sales field is about interpersonalcommunication and rapport between the sales professional and client.”

Over the decades, Sherif, now in his mid-fifties, has developed a reputation for professionalism and a knack for selling towardhis clients’ needs, not simply to grab their hard-earned cash. Walk downtown with him on any given evening, as I have often

done, and count how often he is stopped by smiling current and former clients who have never forgotten the experience. It can oftenbe annoying for his friends, because you never make it as long as a block without this celebrity salesman being recognized. So far, thesuggestion to sport a false Groucho Marx eyeglass-and-moustache apparatus has been denied. But this really isn’t about Sherif, or “the art ofselling” – even though CBC shot an award-winning short in 1995 with that title, based on his legendary expertise. It’s about shoes, Luca VeroShoes, to be more specific.

“My interest in shoes comes strictly from all the pain I have suffered for 25 years, standing uncomfortably 12-14 hours daily, as well as the manyhours I spent racing cars, where both pursuits contributed to a serious deterioration of my spine and affected my posture. No matter whichshoes I would try, I had no relief at all up to five years ago. No matter what podiatrists or chiropractors would do for me, nothing worked. I hadto minimize my pain somehow if I wanted to stay in this business.

“By chance I met a shoe designer while on vacation in Puerto Rico, and, despite knowing nothing at all about manufacturing men's shoes, Icommissioned him five years ago to design an internal comfort system to see if it would benefit my situation. I am still refining that system andI’m happy to reveal that my pain is down 60-70 percent. I have also learned much about men's shoes and the project is a huge success on alocal basis.”

By perusing the Luca Vero website, you will learn all about the comfort systems that make at least one pair of Sherif’s shoes a necessity if youspend a lot of time on your feet. In reality, we all do. I own several pairs and I can attest to both their comfort and durability. Sherif learnedearly on that most shoes are made to appear fashionable, not to be kind to your dogs (that’s “feet” in old-school parlance, kiddies). “Most menperceive that leather soles cannot be endured for long periods of time, that they are considerably more expensive than rubber-soled shoesand such,” he stated. “But in reality leather soles are far superior, being natural, allowing your feet to breathe and also lasting a lot longer. Theyare also a lot lighter.” I mean, really, can you see Fred Astaire whirling Ginger Rogers around on his rubber or synthetic soles? Talk about clumsy!While the Luca Vero line is eminently stylish, it is Sherif ’s orthopaedic insert that has clients coming back repeatedly.“As I run a small shoe business, I am its best test subject, forever tuning and perfecting the product and adapting it to my clients’ needs. I cantake it much bigger eventually, possibly nationally and internationally, but I want to do it right and not become super commercial. I use topquality South American and European leathers and my shoes are made in Brazil, in a family-run factory that caters to large lines such as Geox

and Calvin Klein”

Sherif attributes any of hislifetime successes to achallenging family life – includinghis parents’ divorce when he wasyoung, a paralyzing illness thathad his mother virtuallycomatose and looked after by hisyounger brother in Toronto forover 20 years - and, of course, hisleaving home at 18 and lookingafter himself ever since.

“Nothing has ever come easy tome… I certainly was not bornwith a silver spoon in my mouth,”Sherif said. “But with Luca Vero,good friends and a verysupportive wife behind me, I nowhave a chance to jump skyward inshoes of gold… comfortableones, at that.”

You can check out Luca Vero Shoesat www.lucavero.com

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Fun with Words


(ARA) - "What's for dinner?" It's the question everyone loves to ask, and when

the answer is "pasta," kids and parents alike are excited to share the table,

counting down the minutes until it's time to eat.

Pairing the right pasta shape with the right sauce can be a supermarket

stumper. Of course, if your children are fans of certain shapes or sizes, you'll

know those varieties will bring fun to the

table. But did you know that some pasta

sauces cater to specific styles of pasta

better than others?

Long cuts:

Spaghetti cuts are a traditional family

favorite, and these long and thin strands

pair well with just about any kind of

lighter sauce. Tease your family's taste

buds by combining spaghetti, or the

thinner angel hair, with new sauce

recipes from Barilla that bring Italian authenticity right to your dinner table.

These sauces are all-natural, with vegetables sauteed in imported olive oil

instead of water, and diced tomatoes instead of tomato puree. Some favorite

recipes include traditional spaghetti with marinara and carbonara. For more

robust, thicker pasta sauces like primavera, consider a flatter noodle such as

fettuccine or linguine.

Short cuts:

Shorter pasta shapes have plenty of twists, turns and grooves for the sauce to

better hug these styles. Sauces with vegetables and fragrant spices are best

captured in shorter pastas like rigatoni, penne or shells to perfectly blend all

the flavors in every bite. If your family enjoys a bit of spice, try combining

Barilla's Arrabbiata Spicy Marinara sauce with penne to capture the tomato,

garlic and parsley flavors with the spicy peppers. It's a very colorful meal, both

in flavors and appearance.

Oven/baking cuts:

Cuts like manicotti and wavy lasagne are best used for baking in the oven and

are traditionally paired with simpler sauces, such as a marinara or sauces

flavored by mild herbs. They are the perfect pastas to combine with the new

Barilla Toscana (Tuscan Herb) sauce, made with sauteed tomatoes, carrots and

celery with garlic infused oil blended with oregano and marjoram. The aroma

of this dish will have neighbors knocking on your door in hopes of joining you

for dinner.

Barilla's new thicker,

richer sauce recipes

were designed to

perfectly hug every

forkful of pasta. Join in

the hugging celebration

by submitting your own

perfect hug photo to the

Barilla Facebook page at

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Enter your perfect group

hug, everyday hug or

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Oct. 10 to win a trip for

four to Italy. Visit the

Facebook page for more

information.


Spielberg rules!

As he approaches his 65th birthday inDecember, filmmaker Steven Spielbergshows no signs of slowing down. He’sexecutive producer of the anticipated newscience fiction television series Terra Novaand has directed two movies: War Horse,an adaptation of a children’s tale and The

Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn,a 3D adaptation of the famous Belgian comicbooks

about an intrepid adventurer, both coming out thisChristmas. That’s in addition to all the films produced byhim, including Cowboys & Aliens and this past summer’sSuper 8, JJ Abrams’ SF movie, which played like an outtakeof Spielberg’s E.T: The Extraterrestrial, crossed with hisClose Encounters of the Third Kind. Abrams isn’t the firstfilmmaker to be so influenced by Spielberg: RobertZemeckis (Back to the Future) and Joe Dante (Gremlins) aretwo other directors who owe inspiration to the man (notso surprisingly, he produced many of their movies,including the aforementioned ones). But except for BrianDe Palma (Carrie, Casualties of War), I’d be hard-pressed tothink of one major moviemaker who gets as little respectas Spielberg does from the critical establishment.

Most critics still persist in labelling Spielberg as a childishfilmmaker, even though many of his most recent movies,including Schindler's List and Munich, are decidedly adultin nature and tone. Others overlook the sheer brilliance ofhis direction - check out the perfectly orchestratedopening musical number of Indiana Jones and the Templeof Doom to see what I mean. Mostly, though, because somuch of his subject matter is admittedly family-orientedand because of his prevalent sentimental streak, theytend to dismiss him as a lightweight. I disagree. Spielberghas his weaknesses – that sentimental streak I justmentioned – but in his range, sheer technical abilities andeye for stories that touch an emotional chord, there’s noone like him. The list of movies directed by him that standout from the mediocre pack is almost legion, beginningwith his classic TV movie Duel and proceeding throughThe Sugarland Express, Jaws, Close Encounters, Raiders ofthe Lost Ark, E.T., Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, A.I.:Artificial Intelligence and Munich.

Truth be told, he remains one of the most importantdirectors making movies today and judging by hisforthcoming titles, the bio-pic Lincoln and his adaptationof the classic SF novel Robopocalypse, I’m sure that will bethe case for many years to come.

Veteran film critic Shlomo Schwartzberg comes to youexclusively through the pages of The Local Seeker. He will beteaching an eight week course called The Paradoxof Director Steven Spielberg at Ryerson University's LifeInstitute, beginning on October 14. The course will look atwhy Spielberg doesn't get the respect he deserves and why,despite that state of affairs, he matters so much.

(ED. NOTE: I recently read Robopocalyse, found it to be ascintillatingly-brilliant book and cannot think of a betterperson to helm this thinking person’s s.f. barnburner thanSteven Spielberg. Good call, Shlo!)

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Late with your tax returns?

Behind by a few years?

We can help!

Call Today!

En retard à produire vos déclarations derevenus? Vous avez quelques années àrattraper? Nous pouvons vous aider!

Appelez-nous aujourd’hui!

514.461.3006

ASSISTANCE

T XAH E L P

What’s for dinner...Pasta meets sauce: secrets to the perfect pairing


THE LOCAL SEEKER, SEPT 30 (pg. 6) PROPERTY SEEKER SECTION www.westend.thelocalseeker.com

I s s u e 1

BUY or SELL your HOME in the

Property Seeker

I get a lot ofq u e s t i o n sabout creditcard/creditline debtfrom myclients. Onething a lot of

people don’t realize is thatthere are ways to not onlymake debt more manageable,but also to cut backunnecessary spending in thefirst place. I work with acompany that takes hundredsof calls a week from peoplewho cannot even keep up withtheir minimum monthlypayments. I take it to heartwhen people call me trying torefinance when there is simplyno equity or when they ask foran unsecured personal loan.Sometimes I wonder why theyare called credit cards asopposed to debt cards.

One piece of advice I try withmy clients is suggesting that,for one month, they use onlycash or Interac for all theirpurchases. Studies show that

you spenda lot lesswhen you

her rate down to 12%. Although thismay not seem like much, in actualdollar figures, she is saving 23$ permonth. For those of you with debtsin the $40,000 range, at the sameinterest rate, you would save 230$per month. As long as you pay yourbills and maintain your credit rating,you are in a strong position tonegotiate. It is your responsibility topay your balances but rememberthat you can shift balances tocompetitors’ credit cards. This threatwill usually push your creditor tonegotiate the interest rate downwith you.

Another idea is to go to your bankand ask for an unsecured line ofcredit. When I was young, I qualifiedfor a small line of credit which washelpful in lowering my interestpayments significantly. I received aninterest rate of Prime (3.00%) +2.99%= 5.99%. Once you shift your creditcard balance over to a line of credit, it

should enable you to pay off yourdebts monthly, much faster since yourinterest rate will be 2/3 – ¾ lower.

At the end of the day, it is all aboutmindset, lifestyle and not livingbeyond your means. Please rememberthat just because you see a lot ofpeople paying $600/month for theirfancy BMW, it doesn’t mean that theycan really afford it. In fact, manypeople have issues buying/refinancinghomes because of these monstrouscar payments... trust me, I’ve seen it! Think about that the next time you’rein the parking lot and your Honda isjammed between the Jaguar and theMercedes.

Jason ZuckermanHypotheca Mortgage Brokers(514) 771-1352 /1-800- [email protected]

The West End real estate section

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Give yourself some credit...actually, please don’t!

have to pay in cash.Psychologically, if you have to pull$200 from your pocket asopposed to swiping your creditcard, you are less likely to makethose unnecessary impulsepurchases. Another excellent wayto cut back spending is to takenote of all of your purchases for amonth. You will startdifferentiating between yourspending “wants” and yourspending “needs.” If you need apair of shoes, pay for them incash... but if you find yourselfeating at restaurants for six mealsa week at $15 per meal, you couldbe spending almost $400 permonth on food. For a couple, thiscould work out to about $10,000per year!

Another excellent strategy isperhaps the most difficult forpeople, but it is very effective. Asan example, I had a friend whohad about $4000 worth of creditcard debt. To some people thisamount is very little, to others, it isenormous. It depends on howmuch you earn and how much ofyour debt you can pay down eachmonth. She was paying 18%interest, which is quite reasonableconsidering some cards are 20-24%. She called and negotiated

Market

Value

“ M a r k e tvalue” is a

tricky number, becausecomparable-sales data do not alwaysprovide a good guide to a home'svalue. Nearby homes that have soldin the past six months or so may bequite different from yours inappearance or condition and theremay be too few recent sales to get aproper valuation.

That being said, you won't havemuch chance of getting a premiumprice on a cookie-cutter condo ifidentical units have sold for less. As aseller, you have a right to ask forwhatever price you want, which youcan later drop if no one bites. Youmay get lucky, but asking for toomuch involves a number of risks,even if you're just "testing the

market" for a few weeks ormonths.On the pro side, if the sale ishandled by an agent, you mightget your high asking price.

Selling a house is not, however,the same as a dealer sellingcars or McDonald's selling BigMacs, because the home sellerneeds only one buyer to besuccessful. It's possible thatsomeone will find your homeso perfect that it justifies theirpaying a premium price.

And there HAVE been cases ofa house selling above marketvalue, so don’t ever give uphope. Next time, we will lookat some of the tricks of thetrade that really make adifference when selling yourhouse for a price you can livewith, or an undervalued dealthat will leave you feeling

frustrated and disappointed. Ho

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THE LOCAL SEEKER, SEPT 30 (pg. 7) PROPERTY SEEKER SECTION www.westend.thelocalseeker.com

Secrets to texturingwalls and ceilingswithout the work(ARA) -When it comes to homedecorating, texturing can do foryour walls what a good coat of waxcan do for your car's finish - hide ahost of flaws. Poorly patched holes,uneven sheetrock, ugly wallpaperand even multiple layers of peelingpaint can all be hidden beneath abeautiful layer of texture.

Texture's beauty, versatility atcovering imperfections, and ease ofapplication have made it a long-loved technique of do-it-yourselfers. There's a texturingtechnique to fit virtually everybudget, decorating theme and levelof expertise. Here are some tips foradding a textured look to yourhome decor:

* Keep it simple. You don't have todo anything complicated, difficultor even particularly time-consuming to achieve a goodtextured effect. In fact, the easierthe process, the more you will enjoyit and that enjoyment will showthrough in your work.

* When working by hand with atrowel, roller or paint brush, you canuse your favorite paint and anycolor you choose. Simply mix yourpaint of choice with regular drywalljoint compound. Or, if you want tobe cautious with color, you canapply the joint compound first, thenpaint over the completed textureonce it has dried.

* The range of textures is virtuallyendless. Popcorn (most often usedfor ceilings), knock down andorange peel are among the threemost popular, and simple, textures.Knock down and orange peeltextures mimic the appearance ofplaster or stucco on an interior wall.

* Nearly anything can be used toput the texture in the compound -from commonly used items likesponges and paint trowels to whiskbrooms and even windowsqueegees. The texture is limitedonly by your imagination.

Common credit myths about buying a home(ARA) - Whether your annual earnings range well into six figures or are on the moremodest end of national salary averages, you know you'll probably need credit to buy ahome. While you likely know how important credit is to your home-buying plans, you

may not be aware of the truth behind some common credit myths.

Myth: Checking your credit score is a hassle, and it can't really help you manage yourcredit in the long run.

Truth: Websites like FreeCreditScore.com make it easy to check your credit score. Keep

in mind that lenders use a variety of scores when evaluating credit worthiness, and the

one you obtain online will vary from what a lender might see. Still, any score can be a

valuable educational tool that helps you better understand how lenders view your credit.

FreeCreditScore.com's Credit Score Center can help you understand how your score is

calculated, which factors impact it and the best time to apply for credit.

Pick up the next issue to unveil the next myth

How to keep your new attic from being an energy-efficiency drain(ARA) -The attic accounts for a tremendous amount of lost energy. This space can reach up to 165 degrees insummer months. When this heat makes its way into the rest of the building, energy efficiency drops and coolingcosts rise. While building a new home, a radiant barrier is a proactive solution to energy loss, reducing monthlycooling costs in the process.

Consider adding a radiant barrier

Radiant barriers can help reduce summer heat gain and hold in heat during the winter months. An independentstudy in 2010 by ConSol indicated that radiant barrier sheathing is one of the top three energy-efficienttechnologies in new home construction in terms of performance, cost and return on investment.

The U.S. Department of Energy recognizes radiant barriers as a way to lower cooling energy usage during thesummer. Correctly installed, the foil surface of the radiant barrier sheathing can block up to 97 percent of theradiant heat in the roof panel from entering your attic. This can lower the attic temperature by as much as 30degrees and reduce cooling costs by up to 17 percent. A cooler attic will benefit your attic-installed air handlingsystem and in some cases reduce the tonnage required in an HVAC system.

A year-long study performed by SGS U.S. Testing Company in the foothills of North Carolina of two side-by-sidestructures with and without radiant barrier sheathing shows that a radiant barrier can also help prevent attic heatloss during the winter, reducing energy costs by up to 5 percent. So no matter what time of year, a radiant barriercan help you save.

How to choose the right radiant barrier

When building a new home, talk to your contractor about adding a radiant barrier into your roof system. There area number of radiant barriers available, but not all of these products are the same. One critical factor to keep in mindis how quickly the radiant barrier dries from potential moisture during the construction process.

In order to make sure your contractor is using a radiant barrier that has been manufactured to help preventmoisture issues, it's important to understand just how a radiant barrier is made. Radiant barrier sheathing typicallyconsists of a structural OSB (oriented strand board) panel with a layer of aluminum adhered to the surface. Someradiant barrier panel manufacturers purchase foil materials that comes pre-perforated. This may not necessarilyallow the panel to breathe, because the perforations do not extend into the wood fiber of the panel. An addedchallenge is that the adhesive used to apply the radiant barrier to the substrate can fill in the perforations,decreasing the ability of moisture in the panel to escape.

One product on the market, LP(R) TechShield(R) Radiant Barrier Sheathing, addresses the issue of moisture throughthe use of the patented VaporVents(TM) technology. This product features incisions that penetrate past the foil andglue and into the wood fiber, allowing the panels to breathe and moisture to escape.

"Tests show that VaporVents technology allows the panel to dry almost as efficiently as OSB sheathing without aradiant barrier, while other products that use pre-perforated foil showed a significant amount of moisture, in somecases more than 30 percent, still in the panel after 80 days of drying. Wood needs to stay under 19 percent moistureto avoid structural issues," says David Drew, OSB technical sales manager for LP Building Products.

Understanding the options

In an effort to reduce attic temperatures, your builder may recommend spray-foam insulation to seal the attic andcreate conditioned space for the HVAC equipment. While this can be an effective method with the right amount offoam, it can also be costly.

"Oakridge National Laboratory recently released a study showing that a roof system composed of cool roof shinglesand radiant barrier roof sheathing can provide the same efficiency as a roof-applied spray-foam insulated attic at asubstantially lower cost," Drew says.

When building a new home, a radiant barrier is an effective, smart way to achieve greater energy efficiency.However, not all radiant barrier products are created equal. Choosing the right radiant barrier brand can helpprotect against future hassles and costs associated with moisture damage.


Conservart becomes pioneering entity at MonklandVillage, Phase IIThe expression “getting framed” has somewhat of a negative connotation, as it generally refers tobeing set up for the purpose of making you look bad. There are times, however, when framing canmake you look extremely good, and, in 1993, two young employees of the Monkland Village-based framing shop Conservart, purchased the business from founder George Schwartz, who hadopened in 1986 on the corner of Oxford.

Vanessa Zorbas and Sylvain Fournier maintained the popular and very successful store in theheart of the Village - at 5649 Monkland - ever since. But they realized that in order to continue,for various reasons, they needed to change their business’s “chi” a bit, so they moved. And wherethey moved is a bit of a “No Man’s Land” on Monkland, almost as far west as you can go without

running into residential housing.

“We simply felt it was an appropriate time for a change,” said Fournier recently, as he wassetting up in the new digs. “After 18 years of successfully learning the craft, gainingexperience and establishing a solid clientele, it became natural to consider a change thatwould create something completely our own from every possible perspective. Welearned from a true business master – we are in touch with George to this very day – andnow we have flown from the original nest.”

Zorbas and Fournier, who each have their own strengths and play off one anotherwonderfully as business partners, located this charming little commercial building at6160 Monkland, corner Beaconsfield. “We felt we could do something really nice with thespace and that it would allow us to set up our selling area, production and storagefacilities perfectly. In early June, we rolled up our sleeves and braced ourselves for a long,hot, hard-working summer and, just on time, we were ready by September 1. It’s anincredibly satisfying feeling and we are quite proud of what we have achieved. We thinkthe new Conservart makes a very nice addition to Monkland’s west end.”

The new spot is as far from the hustle and bustle – and lack of parking – as you can find farther east. “We bring a new breeze to a quieter part ofMonkland, where the honking of cars is replaced by the sound of birds whistling,” Fournier added. “Wealso look better than we ever have. We have made the most of our space to create an attractiveshowroom, where we display beautiful framed samples on every wall and well-lit photo frames onshelving units. Take adrive by at night andyou will see a prettys p e c t a c u l a rwindow… that’swhat we have beentold.

“Our clients willbenefit from a

rejuvenated spirit, in a peaceful and creative environment where youcan take your time choosing the perfect framing without worryingabout how much time is left in the parking meter.”

Conservart’s services include framing, laminating, restoration anddelivery. Vanessa and Sylvainare the sole owners andemployees, so clients knowtheir cherished artwork is insafe, reliable hands and thatevery step of the framingprocess is handled by thepeople who care the most.The Local Seeker has beendealing with this business foralmost 20 years and we canattest to their absolute careand professionalism. We’vebeen framed here countlesstimes, with no negativeconsequences.

You can contact Conservart at514-485-3543.


Plus we sell watches, bands and

leather straps (from France)

AND

Jewellery, including the wildly

For five decades, familybusiness OTA has beenhere, serving Montrealersfrom the West End andbeyond.

We’ve been on watch for 50 great years! We provide expert

service in:

• Quality watch andclock repairs

• Battery replacement(best prices around)

• Custom work, doneon the premises

At OTA, our honesty and integrity aresurpassed only by our commitment. We save

you time, money and worry.

6 8 6 5 Sherbrooke Street W.(corner Mayfair)

5 1 4 -4 8 4 -3 8 4 7

OT A Watchmaker & Jewellery Co* Founded in 1 9 6 1 by Mathias Woronchak

Bu

sin

ess

Ban

ter

- B

ram

Eis

enth

al



The Local Seeker’s Fall Anniversary Contest

2011To celebrate our first anniversary, The Local Seeker will

give away a gorgeous, 12” x 18” limited edition black and

white photograph of our Sept. 16 anniversary issue’s

cover personality, renowned jazz pianist Oliver Jones.

The photo is signed in silver Sharpie by

photographer Bram Eisenthal and Oliver Jones

himself!

To win, be the first to answer this simple skill-

testing question:

Which two jazz legends did

Jones closely befriend,

friendships that endured

until their deaths?(Hint: Both have had local landmarks named after them)

Submit your reply by e-mail to [email protected]. Please

enclose your name, which we will publish should you win, and your

contact information, which we will not.



This bit of

space could

be yours!

Call us

today to

enquire

about our

amazing

advertising

offers.

514-975-7745

514-975-7745

The University of the Streets Café organizes public conversations in cafésand community spaces across Montreal. The program is free and open to

participants of all ages, all backgrounds, and all levels of education.http://univcafe.concordia.ca

4 OCT • Tuesday/MardiDecriminalizing Prostitution: How do we begin to understand the issues?

La décriminalisation de la prostitution: les enjeux, sont-ils compris?7 to 9 pm • 19h à 21h

Guest • Invitée: Karen HerlandModerator • Modératrice: Alex Megelas

Venue • Lieu: Le Dépanneur Café, 206, Bernard Ouest (@ De l'Esplanade)

KithStarring at our special Supper Club, Saturday, October 8,

starting at 7 p.m.

Great sounds, terrific food, at Grillades Portugaises!

*Cannot be combined with any other offer, valid until November 2, 2011



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Best,

Bram

We hope you have enjoyedthis issue of The Local

Seeker and we are alreadyworking on our next issue,

out October 14.

DeadlineFriday, October 7.

Coming up next time:

(Our pre-Halloween issue)-Spooky, fun, cent-imental shopping at this

local party shop-Now that frost is on the pumpkin, wrap

your outdoor plants-Some fright-filled hot spots at which to

fête Samhain … and much more!

All in preparation for ourexclusive, annual Local

Shrieker




Documents

Local Seeker, West End Montreal, Issue 19