CFN – Christina “Corky” Julien was back home in Cornwall Ontario before embarking on her first European professional gig playing Soccer in Sweden.

It’s her tune up as she prepares for for the 2012 Olympics in England.  She helped Canada qualify for the Olympics; an achievement unto itself.

The Williamstown native sat down with us for a chat at The Grind in Cornwall Ontario.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky7b05y6o6w

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CFN –  Joan Levy-Earle (Mann) was at the public library this afternoon, concerning her newest book The Road Home.  It’s about her faith journey and weaves in stories of many local figures.  She’s still an artist (painter), has taught dance, operated The Sanctuary, etc.  Her name is well-known in the area.  The next book (under development) will focus on Kytes (the store at that land mark before she purchased it).

Although she re-marrried after Jack’s death and is living in Toronto, she returns “home” to Cornwall monthly to visit her mom and the grand kids

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xgHN7H1Vm8

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CFN –   This Goldfinch must know Wiarton Willie as it’s highly unusual to see this in Cornwall on February 2!   Today’s Cornwall Free News Photo of the Day is from Mr. Don Smith of Cornwall Ontario.

You can send in your photo or video of  the day to info@cornwallfreenews.com.

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CFN – Here is today’s installment of Political Times by Mike Roache!

About Mr. Roache:

Mike Roache was born in Halifax and began cartooning for a school newspaper while in junior high,often putting the paper together by himself.  Over the years some of his work has appeared in newspapers in the United States and Canada. Presently his work appears in the Klondike Sun and the Sackville Tribune. Married with three adult children he lives with his wife in Halifax.

If you wish to sponsor his feature, email or call CFN at info@cornwallfreenews.com or call our hotline at 613 361 1755

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CFN – Bob Gainey can’t be a happy camper this morning.    The team that he crafted came out of the All Star break with just a glimmer of hope.    Those horns in the background were not the sounds of victory, but of the death of the Habs 2011/12 NHL season.

With two horrible losses out of the gate the team’s Play Off dreams are smashed on the rocks and now the exiting of some veterans will begin.    Hal Gill, gone.  Travis Moen; probably gone.  Andrei Kostitsyn, probably gone too,and maybe, just maybe, Pierre Gauthier will be gone too.

Mr. Gainey?  Only Geoff Molson can answer that question; but today he can’t be terribly happy with his team.   The good news is that there are a bunch of games to let the younguns get some valuable experience.     Louis Leblanc should be getting his chance to learn on the job.

Montreal’s biggest question mark is Carey Price.   Goalies are funny creatures.  Mr. Price’s value is very very high right now.   Media reports are suggesting a long term $7M per year contract.    I think that would be tragic for this team.  Almost as tragic as trading for Scott Gomez who most likely will be given another chance next year to redeem himself.

There’s plenty for Montreal fans to be chewing on.       A big concern for me is finding a way to make Tomas Plekanec happy.   He really needs a line to play on for his own growth and success and he’s really earned it watching the fiasco that this season has been.

Montreal managed to blow a lead against New Jersey and lose 5-3 on only 22 shots by the Devils.    That kind of loss can’t be acceptable in Montreal.

In other NHL scores Sam Gagner had the game of his career notching 8 points and a + 6 on the night as Edmonton stunned Chicago 8-4.

Carolina shut out Boston 3-0; Philly defeated Nashville 4-1; the Jets nipped Tampa 2-1; Minnesota shut out Colorado 1-0; Detroit 4 Vancouver 3 in the shoot out, and San Jose defeated Dallas 5-2.

What do you think Hockey Fans?  Is it full rebuild or tinker time for the Habs?  You can post your comments below.

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CFN – *Sees no preview*

*Sees a poster on a wall and has a free movie*

*Has an expectation to dislike*

Now first you have to really know what I thought I was getting myself into when I went to see this movie. I thought it would be this boring documentary/true story type of film that really did no good, and was just out there to tell a story. Usually not my thing. I expected to honestly, dislike this movie. (Was kinda looking forward to my first negative review)

This… was not the case…

It was, by far, the best movie I have seen in in months. It had no action, no explosions, no nostalgia, no outrageous super powers. It had emotion, it had talent, and it had Marilyn. Oh it had Marilyn. Michelle Williams is stunning and wonderful. Drop dead gorgeous and deserving of her Oscar nomination.

The movie was amazing, it was sad, it was funny, it was romantic, it pulled you in and made you feel with it. The cinematography was amazing and only amplified the raw emotion. Oh my god, I’m nearly speechless. I cannot say much more, I really cannot…

I give it a 5 out of 5 popcorn bags. Damn near perfect, watch it. I cannot say anything else, just watch it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJygETCXpR8

Your Reviewer: 

Liam Morgan Sinclair-Dempster, a 17 year old student who enjoys writing, acting, and pizza, and I am a fan of movies!

I am not some big type hot shot reviewer, who believes his opinions are better than anyone else’s.

I just want to give a view to a movie from a young fan viewpoint. I’m just a guy, saying what a guy thinks of a movie. The average Joe’s review you could call it. I just want people to understand that a movie can be enjoyable, and bad, or good, and not.

You can read more of Liam’s reviews here on CFN or visit his blog.   

My Week with Marilyn  is playing at  The Port Theatre in Cornwall Ontario!   You can visit The Port on the web via their FACEBOOK PAGE.    CLICK HERE!

If you wish to sponsor Liam’s reviews call us today at 613 361 1755!

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CFN –   The Cornwall Free News is happy to introduce our latest contributor;  Political Cartoonist Mr. Mike Roache of Halifax Nova Scotia!

About Mr. Roache:

Mike Roache was born in Halifax and began cartooning for a school newspaper while in junior high,often putting the paper together by himself.  Over the years some of his work has appeared in newspapers in the United States and Canada. Presently his work appears in the Klondike Sun and the Sackville Tribune. Married with three adult children he lives with his wife in Halifax.

If you wish to sponsor his feature email or call CFN at info@cornwallfreenews.com or call our hotline at 613 361 1755

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CFN – Christina Julien racks up the air miles!   The area athlete is just back from Vancouver BC where her scoring prowess helped Canada qualify for the Olympics in England this year!

She has just signed a contract to play in Sweden and is off travelling again!

Congrats Corky!  And stay tuned as we hope to interview her shortly!

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CFN – The Creative Economy Summit will promote awareness of the creative economy and Brampton’s role within it, educating participants and defining how it relates to our community in the business of the arts. Join us for a day featuring high-profile keynote speakers, such as CBC’s Jian Ghomeshi, along with President and CEO of Artscape Tim Jones, as well as interactive panel sessions and innovative presentations.

WHERE:        The Rose Theatre Brampton

                  1 Theatre Lane
Brampton, ON

WHEN:          8 am to 6:30 pm, Thursday, February 2, 2012

For more information on the summit and to see the agenda, visit www.brampton.ca/en/Business/edo/Pages/CreativeEconomySummit.aspx

and follow us on twitter at @BramptonEcoDev

Attending media are requested to register at the contact below.

About Brampton: The 11^th largest city in Canada, Brampton has a successful, well-diversified economy and is home to more than 8,000 businesses. The City continues to retain a Triple ‘A’ credit rating by Standard & Poor’s, reflecting its successful economy and debt-free position. Brampton celebrates its diverse population that represents people from more than 175 distinct ethnic backgrounds who speak more than 70 different languages. Offering more than 6,000 acres of parkland, Brampton takes pride in being known as the Flower City of Canada. Brampton has been designated as an International Safe Community by the World Health Organization. For more information visit www.brampton.ca

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Bob "Vienna Sausage" Peters - Economic Development - Cornwall Ontario

CFN –  Cornwall Ontario fascinates me.  It’s part Twin Peaks; part Peyton Place, and full bore Cornwall.   Since founding the Cornwall Free News nearly three years ago the person I have dealt with the most has been Mr. Bob “Vienna Sausage” Peters with the Economic destruction Development department.

Mr. Peters was the author of the report to council; voted in 6-3, that essentially has started the City on a slippery slope; on how it’s perceived by the public online.

At first it was Online Anonymity that was the issue; but deep down it’s more about being highly thin skinned; like say a possum…

Mr. Peters wrote the following in his report which was signed off by his boss; Cornwall Ontario’s Million Dollar Man, CAO Paul Fitzpatrick.

A review of local news websites show that only two allow anonymous posts: the Standard-Freeholderand the Cornwall Free News. Both sites have some moderation of comments, but a review of activity over the past several months have led staff to concur with the generalized assessment of the practice by the American Journalism Review: “Comment sections are often packed with profanity, and vicious personal attacks.”

We contacted the mayor; council, and of course Mr. Fitzpatrick and told them straight out.  You can’t repeat lies about a local business; especially if you aren’t going to allow us to speak before council to repudiate them.

See Syd Cuss & Swear

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CTb9UCI5KE

This was not only refused, but of course resulted in being commented on at council; picked up by the CBC and other media.    As you can imagine as we have always been moderated, and extremely RARELY as opposed to OFTEN have any profanity or vicious personal attacks on CFN this was shocking.

But the City’s new online position posed another very interesting question.  What about their Facebook page?    It had zero pre-moderation and as any facebook user can tell you there is quite a bit of profanity and attacks.

It also resulted in Mr. Peters and his sidekick Kevin Lajoie spending countless city hours at the taxpayer’s expense moderating the facebook page; which at the end is a city tool and therefore falls under usage similar to how City Hall would be.

See “some” of the elected officials and city management aren’t perfect either like the rest of us.  Some of them have funny notions as Councilor Grant had in the video below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6FIdNl7vB4

Cronyism and Bullying are not rarities to how business is done down at City Hall in Cornwall; nor unique in the world.  Here is Councilor Carr responding to a polite media question from yours truly on the mural covering the empty pit on the Corner of Pitt & Second that Heart of the City spent a minimum of $12,000 on and that the owners of the land didn’t have to pay a penny for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm9QhKWv55k

Today Kevin Lajoie posted that the city has decided to not allow users to post subjects any further.  He and Mr. Peters had been deleting comments, posts, and even quotes in the name of their terms of service which of course had nothing to do with Facebook’s terms of service.

One local lawyer last week stated that it was a gross charter of Canada violation for Messer’s Peters and Lajoie  to behave in this manner in such a heavy handed manner.  Some people’s posts would be removed and some not for the same alleged infraction.

One long thread attacking this scribbler was allowed for days.   It was all frankly; embarrassing for the City of Cornwall and we residents and business people.

What the City now has is a Facebook page where they only can post something and they pick and choose which comments to allow.

Those actions of gross censorship and manipulation of information to the public so outraged a portion of their Facebook users that a new page was created, and has had over 700 people join in less than 10 hours as of this printing.

It is now the fourth spin off page as the public reacts strongly condemning Mr. Peters actions.

You can find that group by following this LINK to Facebook. .

Here are some quotes remaining on the City’s Facebook page (many have been deleted as the city has now added two more admins)

JpVee Desaulniers I agree whether comments were rude or not the original post wasnt and as fire attacking moon she simply started she was disgusted and wouldn’t be back as a resident of Cornwall these are the types of things as well as events that I personally would like to know I urge someone to create a new group too in which the truth can be spoken about Cornwall good bad and ugly without having to ask someone if its ok to post the truth

more

Chris Mellon thanks Corey Roachi requested to join this group was BS to begin with! this group is nothing but fake they wanna post all the positive but what about the negative that they fail to tell us about this town????? The admins are trying to portray this city as though nothing ever goes wrong, nothing is bad here when in fact there is alot of stuff needing to be fixed here! Like our medical care that ive seen NUMEROUS people post about but all post get deleted! It almost seems as though they are trying to hide something!

more

Cory N Ashly I think the city is AWESOME, I think the ppl trying to “run” it are in over their heads! HAVE FUN withh this! I know the media will!!

Steph Beaudette ok i understand what your saying Paul, but what about the people who are wanting to move their families here and want to know everything they can about Cornwall? Are we gunna give them false views that Cornwall is the perfect place in the world where nothing ever goes wrong? I love Cornwall personally but there is a lot of issues here that need to be resolved! Just like every other city!

David Jans Not able to post anymore? Depending on your own view of the purpose of this group, it’s value can vary quite a bit but for me and probably hundreds, if not thousands of members, this group just lost pretty much all of it’s value.

Kevin Coleman Its Censorship and everyone should be entitled to oppinions. Cornwall is famous fo an elite group controlling everything. for example

Ryan Lalonde When u put a lock on the group like this it looses way to much, when people cant post and find help for employment and many other topics i know when i posted for employment it was a big help , oh well just another thing that Cornwall should really review there policy’s on.

The internet really frightens a lot of people.   I guess in some ways it should as the flow of information can be lightning fast and ripe for opportunities for inaccuracies to be spread like wildfire.  With the median age of the mayor, Council, and the CAO hovering near where Mr. Harper wants to move retirement age for Canadians it’s understandable; especially when some of them don’t know how to turn on their computer, never mind understand the intricacies of Social networking.

It should be interesting to see whether people on City Council and management have the integrity to right their wrongs or simply make things worse?

The founders of the new Cornwall Ontario Facebook page posted that they hope to eclipse the city’s page shortly.  It should say something about social networking and the internet itself if they are successful.

What do you think amazingly valued viewers of The Cornwall Free News?  You can post your comments below.

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