Cornwall ON - The Sounds of Buskerville first annual festival rang through the streets of Cornwall Ontario raising money for the United Way and treating people to some amazing local music Saturday.

Cornwall Photographer Jason McNamara was about town and took much better photos than I did so I’m using two of his which he’s graciously allowed us to do.  Click either photo to see his whole album, and you can watch some video that we shot in front of Schnitzels and Bugaboo’s.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLH4qkPcuJw

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“When I was in grade 2 the idea of going to the National Gallery as Madame Fortin’s class did would never have crossed the mind of my teacher.”

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Cornwall ON – There are a lot of talented artists in the Cornwall Ontario region.  We share some musical talents on Seawayradio.com and of course via the Art Court program which Lorna Foreman is going to spear head, but I thought it would be interesting to publish some short works occasionally that pass through the Writer’s Group that meet once per month at the Library.

Each meeting usually has a theme or focus to work on and last night’s was about being an Insect, particularly an insect that lived in a vehicle.   Here are some of the efforts from members of the group.

Annabelle’s Adventure

By Lisa Etherington-Runions

I come from a species that is as old as time.  No I am not a bug or insect, but a member of the Araneae family.  My ancestral name is Annabelle Arachnida.  My ancestors have spun their webs on the thrones of kings, in the quiet recesses of ancient tombs and libraries, on ships spanning the oceans wide, why even my great-great grandmother Charlotte once spun her web in a barn.  My uncle Edward found his niche on the warm sun-filled back dash of a 59 Caddy, making its way across the arid Nevada desert.  For thousands of years, all of us, big or small, have intricately spun webs as a display of our artistic talents.  Each strand so carefully spun, and replicated over and over.

I have two body parts and a narrow waist.  With my eight legs I travel the earth, and every day is a new adventure.  Recently I found a home in the door frame of a car that sits under the shade of an old Maple on Parkhill Rd.  It is a pleasant spot.  Today however I find myself in an awkward position.  My home is suddenly moving.  I scurry behind the left view mirror.  There its shadows give me protection as the breeze fights my gravitational pull. I hang on in hopes that this ride will soon be over.

My life can be a precarious one, with danger lurking around every corner.  Not many mammals like my species, and the human kind are all too ready to annihilate me.  The boy who rides in the back seat, equipped with magnifying glass enjoys his hobby of collecting bugs.  I have luckily escaped his clutches more than once.  He plays with bugs, studies bugs, and sometimes dissects them.  “It’s all in the name of science” he explains as he chases his little sister Jane across the yard, spider in hand.

The car suddenly stops.  I take a peek from behind the mirror in hopes that Tommy won’t notice me.  The sun is reflecting in his eyes.  I am safe.  I slowly creep out not making any majestic movements.  The car is parked under a shady tree.  The wisteria is soothing.  High above me in the tree there is another spider spinning her web.  We are by the ocean, and the breeze is refreshing.  The children spend the day swimming, and building sand castles, and Tommy collects even more specimens for his collection.

By sundown, the family loads into the car and then all is quiet.  I spin a new web inside an old log, which is buried in the sand dunes.  At the breaking of a new day, my web, laboriously spun under the waning crescent of the moon, glistens with dew.  I wonder what adventures I will encounter today.

And

MOVING DAY

By Linda Kuno

“Hang on kids, Charlie finally sold this old clunker.”

“Where are we going, Mom,” asked Wiggy.

“I don’t know, but watch your sister don’t fall out.”

“Where are you going? You can’t leave us alone,” said Earma.

“I’m not going far. Your dad was out prowling somewhere last night. I have to see if he made it back inside.”

“Maybe he took a nap along the way. He’s been so tired lately,” said Earma.

“Stay in the corner with me. Mom will be back before you know it.”

“It sure is noisy out there. I’m glad we quit shaking,” said Earma. “Mom is taking a long time.”

“I know but she should be back soon. Here nibble on this leaf I left in the corner yesterday.”

“Thanks Wiggy. I was getting hungry, but what are you and Mom going to eat?”

“Mom will find something. She always does.”

“I’m going to miss living at Charlie’s. Remember all the hours we played in the bicycle frame. A real maze, Mom could never find us,” said Earma.

“I sure do. I will miss it too. The kids were always leaving toys in the yard that we could hide under.”

“Hey we stopped. Most of the noise is gone too,” said Earma.

“Thanks for delivering that old clunker, Bill. It looks to be in bad shape, but it’s still fixable. You won’t know it once I restore it. You don’t see many Dodge Darts anymore. It will be worth a mint when I’m done.”

“I believe you Frank. I saw the mustang you did last year.”

“Earma! You hear that? We have to get out of here,” said Wiggy.

“Not without Mom. What’s taking her so long?”

“Listen! I hear something,” said Wiggy.

“Wiggy! Earma! Are you okay?”

“Yes, Mom we’re fine,” said Earma, all brave now that she was back. “Wiggy even fed me.”

“Mom, you didn’t find dad?” said Wiggy.

“I found him. Earma was right. He stopped to take a nap and never woke up.”

“Mom we have to get out of here Charlie sold this clunker to Frank the restorer. If he rips this door apart we are dead,” said Wiggy.

“I know, I heard them talking. I left a sunflower petal that I was planning on having for lunch beside your Dad. It will make a good travois to carry your dad out of here.”

“We don’t even know what is out there,” said Earma. “The air smells real nice, but I’m not sure, what I’m smelling.”

“It’s is beautiful out there. I took a peek when I heard Frank and Bill talking. Bill parked this clunker next to Frank’s Body Shop. The good news is that his body shop is in a restored barn in the country. There are fields and fields of flowers. There are rocks to sunbath on and an old fallen tree for our new home.”

“Great, Mom! Dad would have loved it here,” said Wiggy.

“Yes, he would’ve. That’s why we can’t leave him behind in this old clunker. So let’s get moving we have a long ways to go and a heavy load to carry. You know how your dad loved to eat.”

“Wiggy, do you think there is any kids here?”

“I’m sure there is Earma. I’m sure there is.”

THE END

And finally.

Personal Log of A.P. Waddlesworth

“New Life of the B.C. Spider”

“Well…I suppose…considering you speak spider…I could spare some time to speak with you… Mr. Um er?”

“Arnus P. Waddlesworth the 373^rd at your service Madam Spider!”

“Oh heavens!” she waves four front legs in an ‘oh pishaw’ manner.  “Call me Mama everyone does!”  “May I ask..uhmm…what exactly are you?”

“The humans call my type ‘Rmadilla’ I just call myself One of the Family.”

“I understand… they refer to my kind as ‘aaaahhh a spider!’ or ‘eeeek a spider!’ or ‘quick kill it, it’s a spider!’ so its easier to say spider than using the proper name for my kind …but I like that…what you said, I’m just One of the Family too! What can I do for you Arnus?”

“I was wondering if you had any stories in connection with humans’? I know you must have many horrific tales but I am more interested in the type of stories regarding interactions with them other than the killing of family members and the destruction of our nature homes.”

“I do have a tale you may be interested in…”

“You see this isn’t my ‘nature home’ as you call our spaces, oh it is now but I wasn’t hatched here…

I was hatched in place of hard sharp ‘man structures and rolling man structures, man structures everywhere! When it was time for me to find a safe place to nest so I could hatch my brood, I chose the security of a cave space (the side view mirror) in a rolling structure. You get used to the moving and stopping, moving and stopping, in all it’s a very safe place from the ones who will eat us.

I had nested up quite well laying my eggs in peace; I patiently spun as my babies grew.

After a bit of commotion my home was on the move again as usual but on this day the stopping and starting seemed to be much less frequent than on other days. The next day was more of the same.

The strangest thing began to happen to me… I was growing hair! I became the furry spider you see before you today! I was concerned as it was becoming colder! I began spinning and spinning my nestlings needed more warmth! I lost track of the days… I finally came out to secure a small catch web…I caught, ate and returned inside to sleep.

When I awoke my nest sack was becoming restless and I knew I would soon have many hungry little mouths to feed. I was very excited as this was my first hatching, a typical brooding new mother to be!

I reluctantly left the cave-nest and went out to spin the biggest, best catching webs I could create to catch juicy morsels’ for my wee ones….

I tell you Arnus I could not believe my eyes! For a bit I was too shocked to weave! I got down to business soon enough but I tell you my eyes were not on my work!

Do you see the treed ‘man structures over there on the far side of meadow?” she points with four legs to some log cabins.

“Yes I see them.”

“Well I didn’t! All I could see was this expansive meadow covered in white surrounded by tree-land!  There was not one single thing I could see that was familiar to me, except my moving home! I wondered if I had died in my sleep… was this is the place we go when we die?

I spun my webs, bundled my catches and took food back to the cave. I was waiting to see if my little ones would hatch or if indeed I had died. I had a long wait. I know now… it’s the cold that slows down the growing and hatching processes you see.

Other spiders, ones hatched here, claim I am not right in my mind…they say growing/hatching times are as they always were. I know better Arnus I remember. You know I’ve lived a very long time much, much longer than other spiders’ I’m sure. Again I believe the cold has something to do with my long life.

I eventually saw the ‘man structures but was shocked to find only those here…no more…

When I brought my hatchlings out the cold-white had gone away in some places… the sun was warmer… my babies jumped right out and into this new world with no hesitation! I knew for sure that I was still living!

Over time I managed to make my way all the way to this wonderful elder tree, deep in this forest. I’ve nested in this hollow for countless generations.

My tale is ended…you can make of it what you will. I know some might say the humans’ destroyed my existence but I believe these humans’ gave my life to me.

The ones living here exist in peace with all of us. They give food out in the cold white times for the four legs to eat. They have taken good care of nature home here. They don’t kill any of us unless it is by accident. I’ve even heard tell they put my kind out of their home place instead of killing us. Its weird I know but that is how it is. I am content and pleased to be at my life here. So tell me Arnus what sort of tale brings you here?”

(Excerpt from The Personal Log of Arnus P. Waddlesworth the 373^rd transcribed by the Human W. M. Hackler©1996)

You don’t have to be Margaret Atwood, or Stephen King to enjoy the benefits of creative writing.

If you love to write this group is for you if you’re in the Cornwall area.   From novices to the more experienced there’s nothing like being in a room full of creative people to get you going in the right direction.

Here is a blurb from Lorna Foreman whom you can contact for more info.   I’ll be there myself this coming Monday night.

The Cornwall and Regional Writers Society welcomes new people.

The meetings are held once a month on the third Monday of each month (barring holidays) at 6:15PM at the Cornwall Library.    ( Next meeting is Monday, June 21, 6:15 – 8:15)

A small, informal  and enthusiastic group, monthly topics are allocated, serving to push ourselves out of our our normal writing genre and style.

We encourage writers to read anything  they have written (or parts of) and give feedback when requested.

Whether published, unpublished or wanna be published – all are welcome.

Call Lorna Foreman at (613) 933-5265 for further information.

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Cornwall ON - Tonight we’re sneak peeking Crescent Moon Lane to you our valued listeners of Seawayradio.com and The Cornwall Free News.  Show time is approximately 8:30PM EST with Crescent Moon Lane starting at 8:45 PM.

We also will be starting our Local Music Show shortly.  Enjoy and please don’t hesitate to send your feedback and comments to us via info@cornwallfreenews.com or 613.361.1755

ABOUT THE SHOW

Crescent Moon Lane is a radio series which is currently in development for www.seawayradio.com.

A locally produced alternative to the more populist fare heard on commercial radio, it will feature a diverse selection of tastefully tranquil music tailored for late night listening. You’ll hear chillout, ambient, singer/songwriter, pop, electronica, jazz and other genres.

You’ll hear music from as far back as the 1950′s right up to the present day. You may also hear the occasional surprise or two, just to shake things up a bit. It will all set a graceful mood to close out your week.

One unique aspect of Crescent Moon Lane will be its emphasis on music that generally doesn’t get played on most traditional radio stations. While many of the artists you’ll hear are indeed mainstream and familiar, the focus is on album tracks, B-sides and rarities from their bodies of work which may otherwise be known only to die hard fans.

You’ll encounter the work of musicians you may have heard of but whose music you may not have heard. The show also has a healthy dose of music by independent artists signed to Internet record labels, many of which are troves of buried treasure from all over the world just waiting to be discovered.

The vision for this program is that it would be a Summertime series that would enjoy a ten week run between July 2 and September 3, 2010. Each episode will run for two hours and air on Friday nights beginning at 11:00 pm.

The show will be commercial free but would include a mention of thanks to its sponsors during the reading of the credits at the end of each episode. The program’s website (which is also currently in development) will also include a page with a list of all its sponsors and links to their businesses.

For more information about Crescent Moon Lane and other programs on www.seawayradio.com, please contact Jamie Gilcig at 613-361-1755 or at info@cornwallfreenews.com.

ABOUT YOUR HOST

Born and raised in Cornwall, Ontario, Paul Aubin (rhymes with Chopin) is a man who’s worn many hats in his forty-one years. From artistic pursuits such as community theatre and graphic design to more serious ventures into political activism and LGBT rights, Paul is never one to stay still for very long.

Music, however, is his life’s biggest passion. The first record he ever bought with his own money was an ABBA single when he was ten, but he eventually grew up to be an unashamed child of the Eighties, his first love being the synth-based pop of that decade.

In 1991, however, his mind’s eye was opened to a much wider array of musical genres thanks to getting hired at a local CD shop, a field he eventually worked in for nearly ten years. Over time his tastes expanded and matured to include much of what you’ll hear on Crescent Moon Lane. While he’s long gone from the business of selling music, every so often he gets recognized as “the guy who used to work at the CD store”.

Late night radio has always held a special place in Paul’s life. “There’s a character about it that you don’t get at other times of the day”, he says. “I remember loving late night shows on the CBC like Nightlines, Brave New Waves, After Hours and Northern Lights.

Each of them went in different musical directions, but what they all had in common was the warmth and intimacy they exuded. Even though they had thousands of listeners across the country, it always felt like they were speaking directly to me. Those shows came to be faithful friends – there for me every night regardless of what kind of a day I’d had, never judging, always soothing. That’s the magic of late night radio to me.  Crescent Moon Lane will capture some of that.”

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Cornwall ON - Local Songster Graham Greer will be one of the featured act this year’s Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest!    Mr. Greer will be appearing at this years Bluesfest with such legendary acts as Santana, Rush,  The B52s, Iron Maiden, Great Big Sea and Bob Weir of  Grateful Dead fame, and more.   Details are to come out soon and in the meanwhile you can check out more on Bluesfest  by clicking the image below or any links.

Graham will also be one of the performers on the Feed a City cd Compilation to help the Agape Centre and we’re hoping to have him on our show on Seawayradio.com soon.

LINKS

Graham Greer Website

Agapé Center

Bluesfest

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Cornwall ON - If you love to write this group is for you if you’re in the Cornwall area.   From novices to the more experienced there’s nothing like being in a room full of creative people to get you going in the right direction.

Here is a blurb from Lorna Foreman whom you can contact for more info.   I’ll be there myself this coming Monday night.

The Cornwall and Regional Writers Society welcomes new people.

The meetings are held once a month on the third Monday of each month (barring holidays) at 6:15PM at the Cornwall Library.    ( Next meeting is Monday, April 19, 6:15 – 8:15)

A small, informal  and enthusiastic group, monthly topics are allocated, serving to push ourselves out of our our normal writing genre and style.

We encourage writers to read anything  they have written (or parts of) and give feedback when requested.

Whether published, unpublished or wanna be published – all are welcome.

Call Lorna Foreman at (613) 933-5265 for further information.

please visit our sponsors:

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(Winston Marley)

Cornwall ON - What do you get when you mix some hot local music, a nice venue, a lot of hard work, and some great coffee and munchies?    Rock For Charity II which took place at Cafe Connectionz Friday April 16th!

(Second Label)

Four bands performed with over $200 raised for The Agape Centre here in Cornwall Ontario.

(Lost in Production)

It was a full house and it sets the stage for Rock for Charity III which will be broadcast live via Seawayradio.com .

Rock for Charity III

Friday May 14, 2010 – 6:30 PM

Will take place at Cafe Connectionz

407 Water Street East

Cornwall Ontario

Cornwall’s Graham Greer, Sara Murphy, KINGS Bishop, Jones Lake, and Jason Setnyk will be appearing with proceeds being raised for The Cornwall Regional Art Gallery.

(Photos Courtesy of Jason Setnyk)

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Cornwall ON - Nico Archambault, winner of CTV’s So You Think You Can Dance Canada Season One, is set to headline the third edition of the Step Into Motion Dance Festival in Cornwall.

The festival will begin on May 20th with a matinee performance to take place in the auditorium at General Vanier Intermediate School. A showcase of student and studio performances will follow from 7:00 to 10:00 on the evening of May 20th.  The showcase will also take place in the auditorium at General Vanier Intermediate School.

May 21st will see the conclusion of the performance portion of our event with a spectacular Gala Evening at AultsvilleTheatre in Cornwall. Some of our feature guests include:

• Nico Archambault, winner of CTV’s season 1 “So You Think You Can Dance Canada”
• Dance Conmigo, a Latin dance company from Montreal
• Danny Arbour, 8th place finalist of CTV’s season 1 “So You Think You Can Dance Canada”
• Kaeja Dance, a contemporary dance company from Toronto that specializes in dance film

Our festival will draw to a close on the Saturday May 22nd at General Vanier Intermediate School with a host of workshops provided by Nico Archambault and many other professional dancers.

Tickets to the Step Into Motion: Let’s Celebrate Diversity Gala and workshops are currently being sold at www.stepintomtoion.com and at Seaway Valley Tourism.  Don’t miss out! Tickets will be sold on a first come first serve basis, though priority will be given to dancers and studio participants.

Let’s work together to keep dance alive and thriving in Eastern Ontario through Step Into Motion! A portion of the proceeds from this event with go to help support the Canadian Cancer Society and the Upper Canada District School Board Champions for Kids Foundation.

For more information go to: www.stepintomotion.com or contact Festival Co-Coordinator Gisele Paquette atgisele.paquette@ucdsb.on.ca.

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Jason Setnyk gave us the update on the first Rock for Charity event.

“50+ people attended Cornwall’s first ever Rock for Charity. Over $200 was raised for Tri County Literacy Council!! Ghandhi once said “be the change you want to see in the world”. Thanks to everyone who was a part of that change. Thanks to the bands, music fans, friends, volunteers, people from the media, and to the venue, you made this a really great event”

The second Rock for Charity is Friday April 16th 2010 @ Cafe Connectionz in Cornwall Ontario – All Ages/6:30pm load-in/7pm music starts/$5.

Bands/Musicans playing acoustic sets:

-Lost in Production
http://www.myspace.com/cornwallunderground

-Winston Marley
http://www.myspace.com/winstonmarleymusic

-Jason Setnyk
http://radio3.cbc.ca/bands/Jason-Setnyk

-Second Label
http://www.myspace.com/secondlabelband

-Ewen McIntosh
http://radio3.cbc.ca/bands/Ewen-McIntosh

Come early to see the legendary musican Ewen McIntosh and stay late for more great music!

The second Rock for Charity is a benefit for the Agape which helps clothe and feed Cornwall’s less fortunate. A guest speaker from the Agape is going to speak briefly at the show.

Rock for Charity is a monthly event created by Jason Setnyk to raise money and awareness for different local charities and non-profit organizations each month.

How does the fundraising work? 50% of the five dollar admission goes towards the charity, the other 50% goes towards the venue/pa. If you wanted to donate more than five dollars, 100% of any amount above the $5 minimum will go towards the charity. I hope that makes sense.

Come out and enjoy acoustic music, help a local charity, and enjoy great coffee and desserts at Cafe Connectionz! Hope to see you on Friday April 16th

Kudos to Jason Setnyk, Cafe Connectionz, and all those involved in making this series such a success!

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Cornwall ON –  Artist & Writer Lorna Foreman is on a cross country odyssey  en route to British Columbia on Via Rail.  Here is her first missive:

Day 1

wow – I am actually on my way.,  It seemed as though I’d never get to this point.  There was one aborted start – fly one way and return by train but I do not like flying so decided to go both ways by train,

Two friends, Michael and David saw me off at the station in Cornwall on the way to Toronto where I would be boarding the famous Canadian train all the way to Vancouver.  We boarded late in the evening and I hit the bed right away,  bed being a lower birth.  I have done this trip befire but I was 25 years younger and did not recently have a hip replacement so it will be interesting to see how I fare.  It will also be interesting to be away from telephones, emails, TVs, cell phones – a time to do some journaling and using the old fashioned pencil keep  record of this trip.  Prior to boarding I took myself out to dinner at the Royal York having never eaten there in the many years I lived in Toronto.  Won’t do that again but it was fun,

Train travel – I think it is so romantic yet here I am alone – but I really mean romantic in the old fashioned way – an adventure on the rails, seeing new places, new people and being engulfed by the spectacle that is Canada,  Every Canadian should have to make this trip at least once.  Even the Prairies are wonderful in their own way.

Sleeping on a train is incredible and the only thing better is sleeping on a boat at anchor in a safe harbour …but that is another story…it is a feeling from childhood being gently rocked to sleep.

Let’s hope tomorrow brings some interesting people.  If I don’t like them I will tell them I need to work….or read.

Why am I such a train nut?  When I was 3 we moved to Vancouver by train.  We returned, just after the war when I was 6.  Apparently I was a flirt even at that age and I attached myself to a serviceman who assured my mother that I was not bugging him.  I guess  not because he got me a locket in Winnipeg.  That did it.  I was hooked,..mind you no one has bought me a locket since that time but I live in hope.

Lorna Foreman

We’ll be getting more photos and reports from Ms Foreman as her adventures unfold!

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