local seeker west-end issue 7

Vo l u m e 2 , I s s u e 7 , A p r i l 1 , 2 0 1 1

TAKE ONE - IT’S FREE!The We s t E n d Community paper

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Savvy Zuckerman a master

of the “M” word

I have known Jason Zuckerman for about a decade now,since he was a young guy learning his way around thefacts and figures of financing home purchases. He’s still ayoung guy, but now in his early thirties, he’s the sort ofmortgage broker I certainly wish had been aroundwhen I was buying my first and only home to date.He’s that good and the reassurance and confidence

he provides are worth their weight in gold.

Most people are aware these days what amortgage broker can do for you. They findthe best rates and, most importantly, giveyou solid advice for your standardpurchases, refinances, debt consolidations,mortgage transfers and private loans. Theycan finance residential condos/homes,rentals, secondary homes, multi-unit andcommercial properties. They don't justwork on behalf of one bank. They workwith multiple financial institutions to findyou exactly the mortgage product thatworks best.

Although you may think that all mortgagebrokers are the same, they are not. Meeta few and you will know instantly what

sets them apart.Jason has helpednumerous clientswho have gone totheir banks orother mortgagebrokers, only tobe turned away.

He knows how to structure yourmortgage in unconventional ways thatget the job done.

Continued p.2

Inside, A Local Seeker Monthly Exclusive!

The Montreal debut ofLast Call With Sol

in print! P. 9

THE LOCAL SEEkER (pg. 2) FREE CLASSIFIED ADS: 514-688-7888 www.westend.thelocalseeker.com

At The Local Seeker, there ISno colour barrier I received an interesting email followingdistribution of our March 4 issue, featuring asmiling George Grant of Somerled’s Anancyrestaurant on the cover. “You finally broke thecolour barrier!” was the message subject andthe person proceeded to ask me what took so

long. Well, let’s address this issue, shall we?

First, let me state that at no time EVER have I chosen a subject that wasdetermined by the race of a person… unless, of course, I have writtenthe piece for a specific market. Second, the fact I am Jewish and whitemeans that I likely move in either or both of these latter circles moreoften than not… and this translates into my knowing more relatedpeople. So, when I am wracking my brain trying to come up with aninteresting personality for you to read about, often at the last second,my thoughts gravitate toward people I am most familiar with. While Ihave been privileged to have met some incredible people fromMontreal’s black community, I can’t say that this is a circle I am overlyfamiliar with. And I was really pleased that I finally featured a memberof this community on my cover, made all the better because GeorgeGrant happens to be an amazing man.

Sometimes I get so fixated on giving readers a good product, I fail tonotice that my male profiles outnumber my female ones 10-1, or thatalmost every personality has been white. I am pretty colour blindwhen choosing a cover feature, because all I care about is HAVING acover! I think a large, empty white space might be cool in its Zen-ness,but will be hard to justify to both readers and advertisers afterwards.So, here’s the deal: help me. If you know an entrepreneur who isinteresting, hard-working and has something to say, tell me aboutthem or have them contact me. Colour, religion, sexual persuasion,tattoo status… none of that matters, not one iota. The cover’s thething. And one last thing: When distributing the last issue, Iencountered a woman picking up copies of the free communitypapers spread out at a local pharmacy and I invited her to “please takethis one.” She was black and when she saw the cover, a huge smileplayed across her lips. “I’m taking a few for my friends,” she statedproudly, grabbing five or six copies. Thanks for that, Madam.

Seeker Sol

I am thrilled and proud to announce that, starting this issue, SolBoxenbaum, the affable, bright, humble and informative media mavenwho graced the airwaves at CJAD once upon a time, hosting Last Callwith Sol, is a columnist at The Local Seeker! Yup…. I’ll pinch you, youaren’t dreaming. Sol has been itching to reconnect with his fans sincelosing his overnight spot to Coast to Coast (which, frankly, I’ve becomevery bored with) and he’s baaaaaaccckkkk! CJAD's loss and very muchour gain. Welcome, Sol. We look forward to reading you. This issue alsomarks the debut of our new Musical Musings column, where musicians(mostly local), will tell us about the craft from their unique perspective.First up, veteran NDG musician and teacher Jeffrey May.

Second location for Raffi great news for car owners

I was very pleased to break the news last issue about Raffi Abikian’snew second location, following the incredible success of Raffi Shell atthe corner of Guelph and Westminster in Cote Saint-Luc. The 50-yearold Abikian is something of a boy wonder (well, he WAS much closer toboyhood when he started in the late 1980s), as anyone who hasbrought their vehicle to his service station and garage cab attest. Butthe place was getting SO infested with cars that he wisely decided toopen a location in Montreal West, to be co-operated with partnerGeorge Soulahian. Raffi & Son will have it all: repair shop, body shop,comfortable seating, big-screen TV, shuttle service, courtesy cars… Ichallenge you to find another business in that genre so thoroughlycomplete. The best news is that you will be able to save actual cashsoon, when you have a tire change and balance done at the newlocation, simply by mentioning The Local Seeker. It’s Raffi and George’sway of thanking you for patronizing the new business.

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The Local Seeker, West End Montreal EditionVolume 2, Number 7, April 1 2011Founded by Julia Lucio and Mai-Liis Renaud 2010Published by Local Seeker Media Group, Cornwall, OntarioContents copyright 2011, The Local Seeker

West End Montreal Edition Managing Editor - Bram [email protected] • 514-975-7745

The Local Seeker does not accept responsibility for errors, misprints orinaccuracies published within. The opinions and statements of ourcolumnists are not to be presumed as the statements and opinions of TheLocal Seeker.

Savvy Zuckerman a master of the “M” word(Continued from cover)

To summarize his work succinctly, he helps people get mortgages. But hisSPECIFIC niche is getting mortgages for people who have been refused bytheir bank because of one or a combination of these factors: poor credit; littleor no declared income; self-employment; too much debt.

“I have a background in psychology, which helps in my field,” Jason told me. “I‘get’ people who are emotionally burdened, sometimes crying in my officebecause they have been refused by their banks and have nowhere else toturn. Issues with finances and debt create a very heavy burden, which affectpeople physically and emotionally."

“The background in psychology for mortgage financing is similar to a doctorwho not only can cure his patient but has bedside manners to help thepatient and family get through the ordeal. What is funny is that I was alwayspassionate about psychology, and was never passionate about financing, andyet here I am helping people with my knowledge of financing and my abilityto use my background to understand the human aspect of what people aregoing through.”

Generally, people often go to see Jason when they fall on hard times in theirbusiness and their bank, with whom they had a relationship for 20 years, turnsthem down for a loan. "I have successfully obtained mortgages for clients whohave credit scores below 500, whether they are salaried or self-employed,with little or no income proof needed. I recently refinanced a client for whomI cut their payment in half. That will save them almost $50,000 dollars over thecourse of the next three years.

"I have such a deep sense of fulfillment when I save a client who is about tolose their house because they can't afford to pay their property tax arrears."

Jason helps people who have mortgages of all types and sizes use the equityin their home to pay off unnecessary debts at significantly lower interest rates.Take, for example John and Lisa, who have a home worth $420,000 and amortgage of $240,000, a credit line of $15,000 at 7%, and three credit cardstotalling $35,000 of debt. When you are making your minimum payments oncredit cards, did you know that almost 90% of your payment gets applied toyour interest and not your principal? At that rate, $35,000 of debt could take25-30 years to pay off!!

“It would seem like common sense, but most people allow credit to linger,”Jason stated. “People don't realize that just being close to your limit can loweryour credit score. My solution? Consolidate your existing mortgage with the$50,000 of debt, and acquire a new mortgage of $290,000 at a much lowerrate.”

What this does is not only lower your monthly financial commitments, but itorganizes your multiple payments into one easy payment and eitherdecreases the interest rate you are paying on your debt and/or gets you extramoney to do some renovations.

“And forget about just paying off those credit card minimums that don't dentyour principal, since refinancing will relieve those burdensome situations bypaying off the debts at a fraction of the interest that you would have paid hadthe loan been unsecured against anything. It will also give your credit score amuch needed boost.”

Sage commentary? If you need advice in this area, he’s one of the wisest brokersaround. You can check out Jason Zuckerman on the Web atwww.mortgageratesmontreal.com, contact him at (514) 771-1352 or email himat [email protected].

Give & TakeI have always had a fascination withchildren’s literature. Everyone thinks theycan write a book for kids because thelanguage is “simple” and the themes areobvious. But if they were to see the effortTheodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel put into just oneof his books, they would think otherwise.

He filled his office bulletin boards with little cards and drawingsand would spend months rearranging them until they were justright. He understood that children are more perceptive than mostpeople think and always know if you are talking down to them.

I look back at Arnold Lobel’s Frog and Toad series with a specialfondness. Frog and Toad are Friends was the first book I ever readon my own. It made me laugh and taught me the true meaning offriendship and trust.

One of the reasons I often find children’s lit depressing is becausemy Greek immigrant parents were never functionally literate inEnglish, so I was never read to - or with - as a child. I also felt anaffinity with the main character because they often learned alesson the hard way, just as I had to: My parents basically made noserious attempt to teach me any morality, leaving me todistinguish right and wrong on my own, usually with disastrousconsequences… but I digress.

But of all children’s books, The Giving Tree, written and illustratedby Shel Silverstein (Trivia Time -True or False: Shel Silverstein wrotethe hit Johnny Cash song A Boy Named Sue. Answer below) is by farthe most powerful and touching. The timeless tale of a tree thataltruistically gives everything it has for the happiness of a boy ashe grows into an old man still hits all the right emotional buttons.

That is why a book called The Taking Tree: A selfish parody (writtenby someone who calls themselves “Shrill Travesty” and illustratedby Lucy Ruth Cummins) made me laugh harder than any book Ihave read in a long time. The Taking Tree makes light of a generoustree that is constantly put-upon by a selfish, annoying kid whogrows up to be an even more annoying adult, with hilariousresults.

With reference to my column of a few weeks ago entitled JeromeDavid, I strongly recommend the book J.D. Salinger: A Life bykenneth Slawenski. It is a well-written, thoroughly-researchedtreat for any Salinger fan. Also, be sure to check out Slawenski’swebsite deadcaulfields.com.

Read On!www.essaysbyandreas.com

Trivia Answer: True. He originally wrote and published it as apoem.

All free classifieds ads are to be called in or texted at 514-688-7888, puton our facebook group wall (The local seeker - West End MontrealEdition) or emailed at [email protected].

All ads must be 25 words or less. If they are longer, the local seekercan edit them as seen fit.

Free ads must be for non-commercial, used and second hand itemsonly. Garage sales are free.

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Recent CDs run the gamutReports of the death of the Compact Disc, as Mark Twain said about hispremature obituary, have been greatly exaggerated.So far, at least, virtually very artist of note is stillreleasing their music on CD, as well as in downloadform and often on vinyl, too. Here are some reviewsof recent CDs you might want to purchase.

Alternative country queen Lucinda Williams hasreleased some terrific albums that have straddledrock and country, including her 1998 masterpiece CarWheels on Gravel Road. Her tenth studio albumBlessed finds her in a mellow mood, recently marriedto her manager Tom Overby and reportedly happywith her life. The twelve songs on Blessed therefore are relatively milder intone than some of her angry, painful songs like “Joy” and “Changed theLocks.” But make no mistake, they’re not sappy tunes, either. “Born to BeLoved” and title tune “Blessed” still pack an emotional punch, withWilliams’s Southern tinged, earthy vocals as gripping as always in analbum that’s more consistent and pleasing than Sweet Honey and West, hermost recent efforts.

Portland, Oregon band The Decemberists impressed with 2006’s TheCrane Wife, a powerful conceptual album inspired by both a Japanese folktale and The Tempest. After the disappointing, and to my mindincoherent, rock opera The Hazards of Love (2009), they’re back with arockier album The king is Dead. Tunes like “Down by the Water" evokeJohn Mellencamp and even The Band in a disc that successfully meldsAmericana and straight ahead rock and roll.

A world music disc worth checking out is Cartagena! This exciting,rollicking collection of Cumbia songs from Colombia, circa 1962-72,displaying the cream of the crop of one of Latin America’s zippiest musicalgenres. Also of note, Afrocubism, which combines the music of Cuba withthat of Mali, in a terrific sonic experiment that highlights the best of bothmusical worlds. This musical mix was what The Buena Vista Social Club(1997) was originally supposed to be but the African musicians weren’table to make it to Cuba at the time.

And finally, if you’re a Frank Zappa fan, give a listen to his scintillating, livethree-disc set Hammersmith Odeon, recorded at the venerable Britishvenue in 1978. You’ll have to order it from the late musician’swebsite:www.zappa.com, but it’s well worth the $48 and shipping andhandling cost.

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The“bestscriptof alltime,”or Viva

Aquaviva, Baby! When I was going to NYU for FILMPRODUCTION there was a posterof a chimpanzee sitting at atypewriter with the words, “WHATI REALLY WANT TO DO ISDIRECT” emblazoned on it. Thereare many variations of this poster,most inspired by The InfiniteMonkey Theorem that, giveninfinite time, a hypotheticalchimpanzee typing at random

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would eventually produce one ofShakespeare's plays...usually it’sHAMLET.

Recently, I met the mayor of asmall but wealthy Brazilian townvisiting Hollywood. As isfrequently the case, it was notlong before he was telling meabout this great idea for a moviehe had. Here was this powerfulmayor with an enormous tax basefueled by petrol dollars and whathe really wanted to do was writeand direct! He called his movieAQUAVIVA! An Ecological DisasterMonster Movie. Here is what hepitched me: I took notes!!!

In various parts of the earth seacreatures start to wash up on shores- turtles, squids, dolphins. In Rio,people are swimming and begin todisappear. No bodies - a mystery.Police are flummoxed. Beaches areclosed. Panic begins to set in. Thenone guy - who is working at theCopacabana Palace outside on thebeach, sees a giant jelly fish attack -only it looks strangely like water. Heruns to the police and explains whathe saw.

Scientists are called in. They findremnants of jelly fish. People beginto gather at the beach to see thegiant jelly fish at it again. WE MEETOUR HERO - a marine biologist. Themarine biologist goes down into thebay of Rio to search for someclues. He finds the giant jelly fish.When he turns to leave the giantjelly fish, named Aquaviva, starts tofollow him - and it actually leavesthe water as a giant clear blob.Unknowingly it absorbs everythingthat is in its way. We see the peopledecomposing in it. A Big Battlesoccurs! But Aquaviva has an acidtoxin it uses to kill, as well as toprotect itself. The toxin burnsthrough things. Like mercury,anytime it is blown apart, Aquavivacomes back together. The marinebiologist tries to figure out why thisis happening.

Now, there are many Aquavivas -hence, an invasion of jellyfish. Inorder to survive, the Aquaviva racekeeps protein, the humans insidethem, in air pockets, like a squirrelkeeps nuts in its cheeks. The marinebiologist’s family gets eaten beforehis eyes. He decides to risk death byletting himself be ingested to savehis family. Once inside all hope islost. If he blows up, the jelly acidwill burn everyone. Brazil will parish.What is Aquaviva feeding on?? Whyis this happening? Is this caused bythe residue of fossil fuels? How to killit? These questions must beanswered! How can the marinebiologist save the world and thecreatures?

The Mayor never told me theanswers or how it ended. Onlythat he was sure it would be a hit.He asked if I would write the scriptfor him. No offer of compensation,but simply for the honour.

I smiled and thought of a chimp Iknew.

(ED. NOTE: I almost wet myselflaughing. And THIS is why weneed our man in Hollywood…good work, Steve!)

Steven Goldmann is a Montreal-raised Hollywood director

Fun With Words

(ARA) – Last year, 100 million Americans choseto file their taxes in what the IRS deems thesafest, fastest and easiest way to submit returns- electronically. If you’re thinking about makingthe switch to e-filing your taxes, it’s never beeneasier to do so.

If you’re looking to ditch the piles of paper whilesafely securing your refund faster than ever,here’s a guide for making the switch to paperlessfiling:

* Select your program. Visit the IRS website tosee what type of software is available for e-filing.

* Protect your computer. Install anti-virussoftware on your computer to make sure yourinformation is never compromised.

* Shred paper documents you don’t need. Thebest way to ensure sensitive paper documentsare completely destroyed is to use a cross-cutshredder. The Staples MiniMate and 12-SheetHigh-Speed cross-cut shredders are bothaffordable options for home use.

* While most tax-related documents can bestored electronically, there will always be somepaper documents, like receipts and W-2 formsthat you’ll need to hold on to. Consider usingsleek organizational supplies like the Arccustomizable notebook system from M byStaples which allows you to keep documentsorganized in one notebook for tax time andthroughout the year.

For more information on products, technologyand services, visit www.staples.com.

Eliminate clutter and hasslego paperless with your taxes


Nos Amours back in Montreal!

Well, just for the day, maybe… but over 600 fans, several representing The LocalSeeker included, were allowed to dream a bit as the 1994 Expos, “the best teamin baseball” before their season died due to the infamous strike late thatsummer, made a vivid and memorable appearance. At its seventh annualSports Celebrity Breakfast, Snowdon’s Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors notonly feted that celebrated team, but also Honouree Mark Routtenberg, itsformer Limited Partner devoted to keeping them in Montreal. In the process,the centre raised $175,000 to assist seniors in crisis. In attendance from the1994 Expos was general manager kevin Malone, beloved manager Felipe Alou,pitchers John Wetteland, Mel Rojas and Cy Young Award winner PedroMartinez, fielders Marquis Grissom, Cliff Floyd and Rondell White and trainerRon McClain. Former owner Claude Brochu was also on hand. All graciouslysigned autographs and most made comments, with Alou stating in earnest hehoped there would be a major league team back in Montreal “before I die.” Healso knighted that 1994 group “the best team I have ever managed.” Also onhand were several Alouettes players and members of the front office, membersof the Impact and many of the Montreal professional sports media, as well asrapper Annakin Slayd, whose YouTube video commemorating the Exposcleared the mass-media fences. The Montreal Canadiens, then mired in a nastythree-game shutout streak, declined to send anyone. Mike Wagen waschairman and Mordon “Cookie” Lazarus co-chairman.

Sitting around waiting for VIPs to pose with, the former Expos had lots of time tocatch up. Top row, far left: ace relief pitcher John Wettelandwatches Cy Young winner Pedro Martinez sign autographs,as general manager Kevin Malone, trainer Ron McClainand outfielder Rondell White share a chuckle. Bottom row:Relief pitcher Mel Rojas deep in thought as onetime playerand legendary skipper Felipe Alou debates withcenterfielder Marquis Grissom. Outfielder Cliff Floyd, farright, mugs for the camera (Photo: Bram Eisenthal)

Martinez thrilled the crowd by putting on the cap of the first team he wonthe Cy Young with

Seen in a local paper's "readers sales" section.

FOR SALE BY OWNER

Complete set of encyclopaedia Britannica.45 Volumes. Excellent condition.

$500 or best offer.

Reason for sale:- No longer required.Got married last weekend.

Wife knows everything.


You're engaged! Now what? The top fivewedding planning questions to answer first

(ARA) - Holiday season is engagement season. But after he pops the questionand she says "yes," the reality of wedding planning sets in - and that feeling ofjoyful romance can fade as quickly as Christmas lights on an overloaded circuit.Here are the top five questions you will need to answer to make your weddingplanning journey a pleasant experience.

"After Valentine's Day, theholidays are the mostpopular time of year forcouples to becomeengaged," says weddingplanning expert RaymondMiller of My WeddingReception Ideas.com, aleading online resource forbrides seeking uniquewedding favors,decorations, and gifts."Many brides-to-be whoget engaged over theholidays will begin theirplanning efforts in the firstmonths of the new year.Knowing where to startcan be overwhelming."

Brides should begin theirplanning by answering fivebasic questions, Milleradvises.

1. What is our budget?

"Funding your wedding can be one of the most expensiveundertakings you'll tackle in your life together as a couple,"Miller says. "Many couples only spend more on buying ahouse or car, or funding their children's college educations."Setting - and sticking to - a budget for your wedding is anessential step toward starting your married life on a soundfinancial footing. Determine where your funding will comefrom - if your parents can help or if you'll be paying on yourown - and decide how much you can afford to spend withoutgoing into debt.

2. What season works?

Virtually as soon as you announce you're engaged, peoplestart asking what the wedding date will be. To make answering that questionas simple as possible, start by considering in what season you would like to bemarried. Would you prefer a spring ceremony? Or do you dream of a holidaywedding? By narrowing down the season, and selecting it well in advance, you'llbe able to secure a date that will work for everyone.

3. Where do we want to get married and have our reception?

Will you have a destination wedding? Or do you want to keep it local? Whilewedding planning is usually most successful when done well in advance, ifyou're interested in a destination wedding, planning far ahead is essential.Popular destinations book quickly in prime wedding seasons and you may findvenues in the destination of your choice are booked a year or more inadvance.

4. What kind of venue do you want?

Do you dream of a big wedding? Or saying your "I do's" in a beautiful naturalsetting? Perhaps you want your reception to be in a grand hotel. Knowing thetype of venue you desire will help you refine your options and choose aspecific location down the road.

5. Who do you want to officiate?

Is it important to you to be married by your own minister? Or are you OKwith a justice of the peace? Do you fantasize about being joined in marriageby a ship's captain? Or does your mother have her heart set on seeing youmarried by the rabbi who was there at your bat or bar mitzvah? Just aspopular venues book quickly, favorite officiants also have their dance cards fillfast for popular wedding seasons. As soon as you know who you would liketo officiate at your wedding, it might pay to approach him or her and find outabout future availability.

"Of course there are many, many things to consider when planning a wedding,"Miller says. "But these five points are the basics you must address andeverything else about your wedding will be planned around your answers tothese questions. Once you've made these initial decisions, it will be easier torefine your options and decide exactly what will make your weddingwonderful, memorable and perfect for you."

For more wedding planning and wedding reception ideas visitwww.MyWeddingReceptionIdeas.com.


The Universal Language of Music

I recently took a trip to Cuba, just to get away for a week- something that many folks from Canada seem to bedoing lately - so I said to my wife: "How about it?"

When most people go onvacation, the last thing theywant to think about is theirwork. After all, isn't worksomething we want a breakfrom? What does one do,however, if one's work is to play,and specifically to play music?As one friend of mine sosuccinctly put it: "Ha! Jeffrey, some parts of you nevergo on vacation!"

Being a multi-instrumentalist, it was easy to pack acouple of flutes in my bag, and, being the opposite ofshy, I took a flute along with me and joined inwhenever and wherever I heard music being played.

Perhaps I am part Cuban, because, in eachcircumstance, it felt to me as though we had all beendoing this together for a thousand years. Well, Ok,maybe that’s a slight exaggeration, but it certainlydidn't feel as though we had just met! All thanks to theglorious and wonderful gift of this universal languagethat we know as "MUSIC."

What other language offers the possibility of instantrecognition and the chance to spontaneously communicateacross all social and cultural barriers? With music, there simplyare no barriers to cross. My fellow Cuban musicians seemed asmuch a part of my normal day-to-day experience as my fellowCanadian musicians.

At the hotel, there was a nightly show – a mix of music anddance. It didn’t take long for the word to get out that one of theCanadian guests had a bamboo flute. Before I knew it, I hadbeen asked (well, told, actually) to participate in that evening’sperformance. I easily agreed, not quite knowing what I wouldplay, and not particularly wanting to be up there on stage alonewith a bamboo flute!

I showed up a bit before ‘ShowTime’ where all the dancers andmusicians were hanging out, and it didn’t take long for me tohook up with a musician named Vincente, who was more thanwilling to accompany me on conga drums. The piece was agreat success and, as luck would have it, my wife managed tofilm the whole thing.

I can’t think of a better way to enjoy a vacation!

Jeffrey May www.jeffmaymusic.com

Jeff May is a well-known resident of the West End, as well as aveteran music teacher and accomplished musician.

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Terminator: The Sarah Connor

Chronicles one of the better

cancelled series on DVD

Hollywood is a strange beast. Zillions of projectsare dreamt up, scripted and then transformed intoscreen gems, only to be ripped apart by a cold,calculating monster more than a collection ofsentient beings. Television has become the epitome

of this emotionless creature, taking many brilliant projects and settingthem up for failure, using surgical tools of death such as Pre-emption,Hiatus, Time Slot Shifting, Ratings and, ultimately, Cancellation. Manysuperb shows have died due to illogical mishandling by network executiveswith no apparent sense of quality versus garbage.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles is the perfect example ofignorant network executives being paid to do nothing but – extremelyironic in this case - destroy. Whether you are a fan of the series of filmsdepicting the takeover of our planet by a cybernetic killing organizationcalled Skynet, or not, this now-defunct television series, which wasmurdered in 2009 after two seasons of blundered scheduling and a lengthyhiatus, is nothing short of brilliant in every way. The plot follows mom SarahConnor as she mentors, protects and rescues her son, John Connor, in ourtime period, while flash-forwards depict the period in 2027 where he rulesas the leader of the human resistance against the cyborg-run Skynet.

Watching the 31-episode series on the two DVD box-sets, one gets thesame satisfaction and thrill as watching any of the other amazing but short-lived series that have been all-too-hastily relegated to the junk heap ofpremature cancellation. I include Rome, Enterprise, Carnivale and certainlyFirefly in that list. They are all excellent, leave you wanting more, but werecancelled because their network execs didn’t know what to do with them.In the case of the Terminator TV series (as was the case with Caprica,

another excellent sci-fi showcancelled very recently), FOXexecutives really blew a goldenopportunity for a serious ratingswinner that could have lastedseven years or more. Thesupreme irony here is that Foxwas the network that allowedThe X-Files, one of my favouritegenre shows of all time, tocontinue at least three yearsbeyond its peak as a qualityshow.

Terminator: The Sarah ConnorChronicles is THAT good,featuring heart-pounding action,intelligent plotlines and actingthat is far and beyond amongthe best ever by an ensemblecast. The series featured Britishactress Lena Headey as (thenon-accented) Sarah Connor,Thomas Dekker as John andSummer Glau (the pretty youngactress and career ballerina who

was also outstanding in Firefly and its feature film, Serenity) as Cameron, areprogrammed Terminator from the future sent back to help protect John. It alsofeatured Brian Austin Green (David in the original Beverly Hills 90210) as DerekReese, brother of John’s father Kyle Reese, a future fighter for the resistance alsosent back to protect John Connor. When he made his initial appearance on TSCCseveral shows in, my first thought was “Oh no!” but Green delivers convincingly onall counts: in fact, he is one of the strongest components of the show. Otherstarring actors, most notably Richard T. Jones, as FBI agent Ellison, and ShirleyManson (yes, the Scottish lead singer of the terrific alternative band, Garbage) andGarret Dillahunt as evil cyborgs Catherine Weaver and Cromartie respectively, areequally outstanding.

As I watch the last few episodes of this amazing series, I feel disheartened thatthere will be no more. That is the magic of DVD, however, bringing great moviesand series of the past to the attention of new audiences while allowing appreciative

fans to watch their beloved ones over and over and over again.

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It has been a long year without you

It has been a year since I was silenced by a radio station, without having had the opportunity tosay good-bye to my listening audience. Now I am back with a column: Last Call With Sol (printedition). And the future looks bright for all of us at this paper.

As with my radio show, my audience will determine the topics. I know a little bit about a lot ofthings and a lot about a few things. If you were a listener to my show, you know that I go out of

my way to be politically incorrect. I have no ‘sacred cows.’ I will talk about almost anything. Write and give me your opinions, questions,or comments.

I am also president and CEO of Viva Consulting (1998), a non-profit organization monitoring legalized gambling in Canada. I havepresented papers on the dangers of gambling at major International conferences, the most notable being in Halifax, NS (2004), sharingthe speaker’s platform with Ralph Nader. I have served asconsultant and expert witness in court cases (QC, ON),and am involved in other legal cases across Canada and theU.S.

My principal work is promoting awareness of the dangersof problem gambling, and assisting in developing preventionawareness programs. I also do referrals and counseling forthose with (or affected by others with) addictivebehaviours.

However, in this column I want to hear about what mostconcerns you. I am always ready to listen. I promise tobring your issues to the attention of all the readers of TheLocal Seeker. In the coming months, I plan to address manydifferent subjects. Tell me what you are interested in, whatyou care about, what you wish discussed. I promise youthat I, and The Local Seeker, will see that your concerns get public attention!

Talk to me . . . . . oh, and before I forget, thiscolumn is dedicated to the memory ofJohn Rossy. Rest well, my friend.

Closing time!

[email protected] Viva Consulting80 Hillside Suite #304 Westmount, QC H3Z 1V9


On Sunday, April 10, 2011, 9:30 a.m.

Come hear former police crime scenephotographer/technician

Harold Rosenberg tell you about one of the moreshocking periods of his life – and a crime that shocked the

entire community.

The Montreal Black Market Baby Ring of the 1940s and 1950s

Shaare Zedek Congregation 5305 Rosedale, corner Chester

Information: 514-484-1122

Breakfast and LectureOrganized by the Shaare Zedek Men’s Club

Everyone welcomeDONATIONS APPRECIATED

Last

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Late with your tax returns?

Behind by a few years?

We can help!

Call Today!

ASSISTANCE

HELPEn retard à produire vos déclarations de revenus?

Vous avez quelques années à rattraper?

Nous pouvons vous aider!

Appelez-nous aujourd’hui!

514.461.3006

Spring is finallyhere! Don’tyou just love allthe sunshine?


IRVING SCHOK, B.com

Real Estate Broker

Cell: (514) 264-6048

Email: [email protected]

BUYING or SELLING?I have buyers and sellers waiting for you!

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"Irving Schok is a dedicated, honest, trustworthy and knowledgeable real estate

professional who takes great pride in his work. He strives to understand his

clients’ goals and works very hard to implement them. He goes the extra mile.

He is patient and a pleasure to work with. He made the purchase of our

home a good experience."

Elena and John (Pointe Claire)

Featured Property: Lasalle Duplex $514,000v i s i o n

Annual eventsfor universitystudents greatway to see theEasternTownships

Remember the 1967 film TheGraduate? Well, in a fewmonths, I will be feeling likethe main protagonistBenjamin Braddock(portrayed famously by ayoung Dustin Hoffman). No,dear reader, this won’t be acase of life imitating art. Noone will be persuading me toinvest in plastics (we all knownow how harmful plastics areto the environment), there willbe no Mrs. Robinson trying toseduce me and to my greatestchagrin, Simon and Garfunklewill not be providing themusical score to my life. WhatI mean is, in June of this year, Iwill be receiving mybachelor’s degree fromConcordia University and I,like so many other graduatesin my shoes, includingBraddock, will become justanother disorientated

graduate unsure about his or herfuture career and prospects.

On March 18-20 past, I participatedin the Discovery Days in Richmond,located in Quebec’s EasternTownships. For youth looking forwork opportunities outside the citylimits of Montreal, the English-s p e a k i n gc o m m u n i t yof the Estrieregion hascreated theMake Way forY O U t hD i s c o v e r yD a y si n i t i a t i v e .D i s c o v e r yDays is an all-e x p e n s e sp a i dw e e k e n d(you read thisright, FREElodging, foodand bus fare)of fun-filledactivities andTownships sightseeing forgraduates or soon-to-be graduatesbetween the ages of 18-35. Itprovides a great opportunity tonetwork and meet local employers,as well as to discover the endlesspossibilities that are available in the

Estrie region.

Our weekend began with a meet-and-greet supper at Siboire, amicrobrewery with a scrumptioussmoked salmon pizza located nextdoor to the Sherbrooke bus station.Our guide for the weekend was theMigrant Agent in charge of

organizing theD i s c o v e r yD a y sactivities, thecharming ande n e r g e t i cSheila Quinn.The groupconsisted of14 attendeesfrom Montreala n dSherbrooke.We lodged atMotel de laGare, apopular trainstation duringR i c h m o n d ’sb y g o n erailway days.

On Saturday, we had brunch atResto-Café Banc de Marguerite, atwo-floor restored brick house withdelicious food. The brunch wasproceeded by a visit to the J.Armand Bombardier Museum inValcourt, dedicated to the life of the

Skidoo creator. The day ended witha show in Richmond featuring St-Patrick’s Day festivities, including afoot stomping Celtic concert byCrowfoot, a multi-talented bandwith Irish and English influences.On Sunday, we experienced thedelight of attending the St-Patrick’sDay Parade in Richmond, thesecond largest such parade inQuebec (the first being Montreal).Before I knew it, it was time to headhome.

I highly encourage those wantingto explore their options outside ofMontreal to attend thesememorable Discovery Days. It is agreat opportunity to discover theendless possibilities in theTownships by visiting localbusinesses, discovering thehistorical surroundings and makingnew friends along the way.

Interested in attending MakeWay for YOUth? Contact SheilaQuinn, the Make Way forYOUth/Desjardins MigrationAgent at (819) 566-5717 (Toll-free: 1-866-566-5717) or by emailat [email protected] next Discovery Days event islater this year…. Quinn willhappily assist you in reservingyour spot.

Spring has almost sprung:

Do you need small renovation,painting and cleaning services?

Selling your home and require a thorough clean-up?

Renovations of any kind?

Spring cleaning?

Yard work?

Light fixtures changed or installed?

Pick ups or deliveries with our small van?

The handy man can!

Call Ralph, at 514-926-6026

Or email me [email protected]

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I hope you haveenjoyed this

issue.

We are working on

our next issue of

2011, and it will be

out April 14th

Deadline for

next issue:

Friday

April 7th 12:00

noon

Best,Bram

Mention this ad in The Local Seeker and get one

free popcorn with at least one paid admission.

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We’d love to hear from you... Email yourcomments to [email protected]


O:

Anna (Pedicelli) Duncan and Judy Loeu at 514-773-1496Full Service Real Estate Brokers

[email protected] • [email protected]

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229-231 Terzi St. ,Piedmont

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3534-3536 de laCôte-des-Neiges St. ,Ville-Marie(Montréal)MLS ID#: 8419306Price $695,000.00

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6476 1ere St. ,Rosemont/LaPetite-Patrie(Montréal)MLS ID#: 8406491Price $189,000.00

196 Churchill Blvd. Greenfield Park(Longueuil)MLS ID#: 8476065Rent $1,200.00

252B Rue deSpringfieldGreenfield ParkMLS ID#: 8476145Rent $1,250.00

local seeker west-end issue 7

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