The Hamilton Spectator: Half the Sky goes for laughs in 25th anniversary play

Pubdate:April 23, 2008

By Erika Engel

Half the Sky Feminist Theatre would like you to laugh
as it marks its 25th anniversary by performing a farce.

The play is called Good Help is So Hard to
Murder, and it strays from the traditional hard-hitting drama the
group is known for.

"This play is a total deviation," says Kathy Brown, one
of seven founding members. "This is a murder mystery. A
woman kills a woman, and we make fat jokes. It's
so wrong and so not us."

This year, Half the Sky's production is meant to celebrate
how far the group has come.

"It's our 25th anniversary, and we thought, 'Let's just have
fun.' We need to have fun, and that's a feminist
issue," she says.

In 1982, in a church basement, during a women's conference,
Brown read a description of menopause from an 1800s medical
dictionary. Friend Zora McLachlan acted out what she read. When
the laughter subsided, Brown wanted to find a way to
do that more often.

"(I thought) wouldn't it be fun to have a women's
theatre group," says Brown.

From there, the feminist theatre group was formed. In 1983,
their first production was called Hot Flashes, and it was
a series of monologues about the lives of the seven
women involved at the time.

Since then, the group has performed about 25 plays, tackling
issues such as abortion, death, cancer, insanity, marriage, homosexuality, aging
and poverty, all from a feminist perspective.

"Feminist theatre is a venue for those issues that address
woman and all of the things in their lives that
are important to them," says Judian, member of Half the
Sky since 1983. "It is incredibly important because women's issues
are not addressed, as a rule, in mainstream theatre."

The original goal of Half the Sky was "to work
in the area of women's issues and have fun," Brown
says. She says it hasn't deviated from that first intention.

Judian agrees.

"We've provided a space that is safe for women to
not only be creative, but to express their inner thoughts,"
she says.

Members of Half the Sky choose or write the plays
they perform collectively.

Liz Inman, member since 1997, will be directing Good Help
is Hard to Murder.

When the group was deciding on a play for its
anniversary, Inman said they spent a lot of time deciding
on this one because it could be offensive.

"This is a farce; we are doing our best to
perform it as a farce and trust that it will
be seen and enjoyed as a farce," she wrote in
her director's notes.

Judian said that although they believe feminist theatre is important,
and it tackles vital woman's issues, the women in the
group still like to laugh.

"I'm hoping that people will come and see that women
haven't lost their sense of humour. It still exists, and
we can have lots of fun with it," she said.

The group won't return to this kind of theatre for
awhile.

In fact, the ladies joke it will be another 25
year before the next farce.

The Hamilton Spectator: City man gets six years for 'tragic' killing

Pubdate:April 26, 2008

By Erika Engel

George Gallo asked for compassion before he was given a
six-year sentence for killing one man and wounding another with
a knife in a drunken downtown brawl.

"This was a tragic event and, in the end, I
understand that I am responsible for his death," Gallo read
to the crowded courtroom from a folded paper.

The 25 year-old Hamilton native killed Ryan Milner, 22, and
injured Marko Duric in the Club 77 parking lot on
King William Street on Nov. 17, 2006.

Superior Court Justice Stephen Glithero said in his ruling there
were many words he could use to describe the situation
but chose three: "Tragic, heartbreaking, senseless."

Milner's father, brother and sister told the court how Milner's
death affected them.

"We had a special bond," said the father.

He went through a divorce when Milner was two and
in the difficult times remembers thinking, "No matter what, I
would have my boys."

Milner's older brother Derek, 26, said the 4 a.m. phone
call on the night of his little brother's death still
haunts him.

He struggled with alcohol abuse in the months after Ryan's
death.

"The person I turned to for help in time of
need is also the person I am mourning," Derek read.

Sister Leesa Brejak, 16, read a statement through tears.

"It's hard to see people I love in pain," she
read. "Now, it's a daily routine for me."

Assistant Crown Attorney Steven O'Brien, asked for a five-year sentence
on top of time already served, and noted the support
of Gallo's family would be good help in future rehabilitation.

Defence lawyer Nick White also said Gallo came from a
kind and caring family and had great hope for successful
rehabilitation.

White told the judge Gallo was in trade school to
become a welder at the time of his arrest and,
since he's been in custody, has spent time earning further
high school credits.

Gallo was given two years and eight months credit for
the time he has served, and must now spend three
years and four more months in jail for manslaughter and
aggravated assault.

The Hamilton Spectator: Province targets cosmetic pesticides

Pubdate:April 23, 2008

By Erika Engel

The McGuinty government is imposing a province-wide ban on the
use of cosmetic pesticides.

The Cosmetic Pesticides Ban Act is expected to be effective
next year and would give the province authority to ban
the use and sale of pesticides including herbicide, fungicide and
insecticide for cosmetic purposes.

The law would not apply to agriculture, forestry and golf
courses. It will supercede any existing municipal bylaws. However, municipalities
will still be free to impose extra regulations at their
discretion.

Rob Hall, Hamilton's director of health protection, believes the legislation
will help with consistency between municipalities.

"It would appear that the province has started down the
path that is similar to what the Hamilton bylaw encompasses,"
Hall said.

"It's hard for us to look at what's in our
bylaw and how it compares," he said. "The devil is
in the details."

The provincial legislation will ban the sale of certain pesticides,
something local bylaws couldn't do.

Details about how the ban will be enforced or when
it will take effect have not been released. Those specifics
will be in the regulation, which will be drafted if
the act is approved in provincial legislation.

The proposal thus far imposes bans on cosmetic pesticides on
the following:

* Commercial, institutional and industrial properties including parks, school yards
and cemeteries.

* Residential, farm, and cottage properties including lawns, ornamental plantings,
vegetable gardens, patios, driveways and trees.

* Land around golf course clubhouses.

* Municipal and provincial government lands including parks, school yards,
conservation areas, and gardens.

Pesticides may be used on the above lands for health
and safety reasons, such as managing harmful pests like stinging
insects, poison ivy and mosquitoes, which could carry the West
Nile virus.

Exceptions are also made for lands used for agricultural purposes,
First Nations land (exempt from provincial oversight), land used for
golf courses, land used in forestry and federal government land.

The Hamilton Spectator: Training the brain for A's

The jury is still out on cognitive-training software, but one local student says it helped her stay ahead of her class

April 25, 2008
Erika Engel
Special to The Hamilton Spectator


Samantha McCowell is bursting to talk about how her life changed after a computer game helped her out of a frustrating rut.

The 10-year-old Hamilton girl's brown eyes grow wider with each sentence, and her dark hair bounces around her animated face. She talks about her A in Grade 5 science class at Adelaide Hoodless Elementary, and her best ever report card -- As and Bs in every subject.

A year ago, Samantha had a D in science. Her report cards were littered with Ds and Cs. The tutoring didn't help. She just didn't get school work. Any of it.

It wasn't a lack of will or effort.

"I kept telling myself, 'Try harder, try harder,'" but it didn't help, she said, dramatically throwing her pink-sleeved arms up in seeming surrender.

It wasn't until Samantha was coached by a psychologist through a brain-training computer program called Cogmed that her endless hours of agonizing over homework came to a welcome end.

Now, she says, "I am able to pay attention. I am able to get ahead of the class ... It's like I passed a video game, like I finally passed a level."

Cogmed is a new product in the emerging brain-fitness industry whose worth more than doubled last year to reach $225 million in the U.S. alone, according to SharpBrains, a cognitive research and consulting firm.

Samantha used the program for half an hour five days a week for five weeks. For her, the brain-training program was less like education and more like recreation.

"When I was done, I thought, 'Wait, was I learning or was I just playing a video game?'" she said.

In fact, the program combines video-game technology with new research into cognitive training to progressively improve an individual's short-term memory.

In early 2006, Samantha's pediatrician, Dr. Dan Marshall, diagnosed her with attention deficit disorder. ADD is characterized by the inability to control behaviour due to difficulty in processing brain stimulation, according to MedicineNet.com.

Samantha started taking the stimulant Adderall, an alternative form of Ritalin, in the fall of 2006. Aside from almost eliminating her appetite, it made no difference in her ability to concentrate. Her parents, Paul and Janice, put her in Sylvan tutoring classes, but that didn't help either.

In September 2007, Janice read an article in The Hamilton Spectator about the Cogmed program. The Boston Globe article featured a nine-year-old Massachusetts girl with a working-memory problem that prevented her from understanding her school work. When she used Cogmed, her comprehension difficulty was solved.

The article described symptoms that were similar to Samantha's, said her mother. And more importantly, it presented the family with a fresh option.

Samantha started the Cogmed program last fall, and her parents say the turnaround is unbelievable.

"She explains herself very articulately," said Janice. "Normally she would be all over the place."

The program cost them $1,700, a fee not covered by OHIP or eligible for tax deductions. But they say it's worth it.

"It's the best money we ever spent," said Janice.

Working or short-term memory is necessary for such basic tasks as remembering instructions, solving problems, controlling impulses and focusing attention. Working-memory problems affect the brain's ability to store and manage information on a short-term basis, according to the Cogmed website. These problems are most common in adults and children with ADD and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

And some individuals suffering from working-memory deficiencies may never be diagnosed as such if their symptoms are mild, according to Stephen Barker, the Ancaster psychologist who coached Samantha through the Cogmed program.

For example, habitually forgetting phone numbers, instructions and conversations minutes after they are heard or read may indicate working memory problems.

The Cogmed software program was created by neuroscientist Dr. Torkel Klingberg of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm in 2001. Since then, about 2,500 individuals, mainly in Europe and some in North America, have completed the program with about 80 per cent experiencing improved working memory, according to company reports.

The program, owned by Karolinska, was released in North America only last year. Since then, six physicians and psychologists in Canada have been licensed to coach patients through the program (see website cogmed.com). The closest licensee, Barker, has offices in Oakville as well as Ancaster.

The program's brain-stimulating exercises are designed to train the visual-spatial and verbal working memory while they measure the progress of the patient. The interactive nature of the program allows it to progressively adjust the level of difficulty.

"This is cognitive weightlifting, with a very qualified personal trainer," said Jonas Jendi, president and CEO of Cogmed's Chicago head office.

Patients are coached by phone or Internet, so the program can be completed from home. Barker coached Samantha through the program by phone.

But Cogmed is not a miracle solution, according to Alvaro Fernandez, CEO of California-based SharpBrains.

Most of the research published on the program was conducted and reported by companies connected to the program (see the websites sharpbrains.com and cogmed.com).

Some independent research has begun, but it is too early to know the results of those tests, said Fernandez.

That's why Barker said he tries to make parents aware of the software's possible benefits and limitations. He follows up with his patients six months after they complete the program to make sure they are still benefiting from the training.

Still, he added, much is unknown about the software's lasting effects because the program is so new.

"It doesn't solve all the problems," Barker said.

Fernandez agrees with this caution, adding that the Cogmed software has only been tested on small groups of people. Even Cogmed's own reports are careful not to claim sweeping success.

Cogmed's Jendi said there are about five other brain-fitness programs available in North America. Nintendo's BrainAge is the most popular in the industry right now, according to Jendi, though it does not make any serious claims toward health benefits.

Barker, himself, reports a generally high success rate in the 20 patients he has coached so far.

"About 80 per cent have shown some benefit," he said.

The Karolinska Institute recently developed an adult version of Cogmed. Early results indicate that patients are experiencing clearer focus, better rationality and improved thought organization, according to the Institute's own research.

"The more active you can make your brain, the better it will perform," said Barker.

This new research and approach to memory and behavioural disorder treatment is thrilling for Barker.

"It's really exciting," he said. "It's hard to say where it's going to go. It's not a flash in the pan. It's going to take off."

While the program's results are promising so far, Cogmed's Jendi admits, "I think the brain fitness industry has a lot left to prove."

But the McCowells are already convinced.

"What a difference ... it's unbelievable," said Paul McCowell about his daughter's improved academic performance.

Even Samantha's nine year-old brother, Jake, notices a change in his sister.

"She pays attention to me, and she's less annoying," he said.

Samantha grins from her seat on the couch.

Last week was her first piano lesson, something her mom promised she could do when she was caught up on her school work.

Someday, Samantha wants to act or teach or be a dentist. The girl who couldn't add now says there isn't anything she can't do.

The Hamilton Spectator: Tips for newbies, extreme greens

Pubdate:April 22, 2008

By Erika Engel

In honour of Earth Day today, The Hamilton Spectator has
gathered some tips for reducing your ecological footprint. There are
basic changes for newbies and more advanced tips for extreme
greens.

Eat local

Sarah Megens, project manager from the Hamilton Eat Local Project,
says local foods are fresher and tastier, and buying them
helps protect local farm lands and ensures access to sustainable
food sources.

Starting tips:

* Replace imported foods with locally grown products.

* Enjoy trips to the farmers' market (by bike or
car pool).

* Pick your own berries.

* Be aware of what foods are in season and
buy accordingly.

The next level:

* Shop locally all year round at the Ottawa Street
and downtown farmers' markets. Environment Hamilton provides a directory of
local farmers on its website and has maps available on
request.

* Start your own garden. If you don't have the
land for it, grow some herbs and vegetables in pots
on your balcony or by a window.

Waste not

Michael Gemmell, manager for Green Venture's EcoHouse, says the best
way to start reducing waste is by participating in the
city's blue box and green cart program.

Starting tips:

* Put several green and blue boxes throughout your home.

* Stick to the one-bag-a-week limit on garbage.

The next level:

* Start composting in your backyard.

* Use a worm composter. You can buy a worm
shack system from Green Venture.

Conserve water

Kathryn Gold, water co-ordinator at Green Venture, offers tricks for
curbing water usage.

Starting tips:

* Stop watering your lawn.

* Buy aerator taps for your showers and faucets.

* Purchase low-flush and dual-flush toilets.

* Do dishes and laundry only in full loads.

The next level:

* Plant clover or native plants instead of grass, as
it requires no watering and no mowing.

* Buy and use a rain barrel.

Be efficient

Green Venture executive director Pete Wobschall encourages people to be
aware of the sun.

Starting tips:

* In the winter, open the curtains and let the
heat in. In the summer, keep the sunshine out of
your home to keep it cool.

* Make sure all your lights are energy efficient.

* Before you buy new appliances, make sure they have
the EnerGuide and Energy Star labels.

* Draft-proof your home. The average home has enough leaks
and cracks to make a 60-centimetre-by-60-centimetre hole, Wobschall said.

The next level:

* Try making your own energy through solar panels or
wind turbines.

Go ride a bike

About 40 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions come from
transportation, according to Wobschall.

* Walking, biking, car pooling and taking transit are easy
ways to reduce those harmful emissions.

* Use EnerGuide for automobiles before buying a car. Make
sure to purchase a fuel-efficient or hybrid model.

* Plan your route before you leave the house. A
well-planned errand means fewer trips.

Special to The Hamilton Spectator

For more information and tips to reduce your ecological footprint,
and to see a list of Earth Day events all
week, go to thespec.com

The Hamilton Spectator: St. Joe's gets million-dollar gift

Pubdate:April 17, 2008

By Erika Engel

A million-dollar donation from the Teresa Cascioli Charitable Foundation will
allow St. Joseph's Healthcare to develop a new state-of-the-art operating
room and nursing station named for her.

Both are part of a $110-million plan to improve surgical
facilities at the hospital.

"This is such a great hospital," Cascioli, the former CEO
of Hamilton's Lakeport Brewing, told The Spectator at yesterday's announcement.

"It's been here forever. I'm really impressed with the staff
and the initiative, and it's Catholic, and I'm Catholic."

Rob Donelson, president and CEO of the St. Joseph's foundation,
said he hoped Cascioli's gift would be a catalyst for
other gifts in the community. "This is a gift of
historic proportions," he said. "(It) is an immense statement by
Teresa to say the St. Joe's is an organization worth
investing in."

Cascioli also wanted to provide the community with an opportunity
to give to the hospital. At the donation announcement, she
revealed her idea for a fundraising project called the St.
Joe's Baby Face Photo Wall.

Cascioli, who was born at St. Joseph's in 1961, encouraged
others who were born there to make a donation and
submit their baby photo for a wall display at the
hospital.

She and the hospital hope to raise another $1 million
from the photo wall by Cascioli's 50th birthday in 2011,
Donelson said.

"I know that Hamilton won't let me down," Cascioli said.

The hospital's surgical centre project includes plans to build 18
operating rooms and six new nursing stations.

There are currently 12 operating rooms at St. Joseph's to
accommodate nearly 16,000 surgeries a year.

The rooms were built in the 1960s. Only three are
large enough to hold the equipment needed to perform surgery
with advanced scopes -- known as minimally invasive or laparoscopic
surgery.

A typical operating room at St. Joseph's now has an
area of 374 square feet. The industry standard is 550
to 600 square feet, according to Karen Langstaff, director of
facilities planning and redevelopment at St. Joseph's.

The new rooms will be 600 square feet and will
be equipped with wall- or ceiling-mounted monitors, in-room imaging equipment,
a wireless communication system, scopes for minimally invasive surgery and
robotic arm attachments for the surgical tables.

Dr. Mona Misra, surgeon and vice-president of medical staff at
St. Joseph's, performs laparoscopic surgery. But with eight surgical staff,
scopes, monitors, tables and beds all crowded into one room,
the surgeries are difficult.

"Seeing them develop new operating rooms is fantastic for us,"
she said. "We know that they are moving forward in
the direction that we all want to move towards."

The Hamilton Spectator: Metronauts pave the way of the future

Pubdate:April 16, 2008

By Erika Engel

Metrolinx is releasing a long-term regional transportation plan this fall,
and the transit body wants to know what you think
about it.

It's launched a new project called Metronauts to include the
general public in transportation discussion and planning.

Metronauts is a joint effort between Metrolinx (formerly the Greater
Toronto Transportation Authority) and the Toronto Transit Camp community, a
grassroots movement that started online with the goal of improving
the TTC, then organized its own brainstorming event last year.

A series of informal Metronauts gatherings will be held across
the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas -- including an all-day
event in Hamilton on May 3 -- to get the
public's thoughts on transportation.

Topics at the first Metronauts meeting held in Toronto on
April 5 included social networking, cycle paths, sidewalks and improvements
to train stations.

Area residents can also join the debate online. On the
Metronauts website, launched March 25, site members can share their
thoughts on the drafts of the regional transportation plan, or
other transportation ideas, in the conversations section. Membership is free.

Metrolinx has plans to add an interactive map function so
members can virtually trace out their ideas for bicycle routes,
new sidewalks, and extra roads, lanes and bus routes in
their city, said Colleen Bell of Metrolinx.

The Hamilton meeting will be held at McMaster University from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more details, see the
Metronauts website (metronauts.ca).

Hamilton residents can also attend the Metrolinx public meeting on
June 26 from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Hamilton
Convention Centre.

The Hamilton Spectator: How rapid bus transit, light rail transit work in other cities

Pubdate:April 16, 2008

By Erika Engel

Rapid transit is coming to Hamilton. There are two options
for a new transportation system; rapid bus transit (RBT) and
light rail transit (LRT).

Some North American cities have already been using these systems
for years. Here's how it works for them.

Minneapolis

Population: 3.2 million

LRT since 2004

* 26.4 kilometres of track

* In 2007, 9.1 million people rode the LRT system
compared to 7.9 million in 2005, according to a survey
by Metro Transit.

* 27,000 people ride the train on a weekday.

* 80 per cent of people riding the train are
car owners.

* 34 per cent of riders make approximately $70,000 a
year.

* 49 per cent of weekday riders take the train
five days a week.

* 45 per cent of the riders are between 35
and 54 years old.

According to Bob Gibbons, director of customer services at Metro
Transit, the light rail system in Minneapolis cost $715.3 million
to build.

Operating costs are projected at $24.3 million for 2008. $9.2
million comes from fares, $5.3 million from the state, $5.3
million from the county, $3.7 million from car sales tax
and the remaining $800,000 from advertising.

Portland, Ore.

Population: 2 million

MAX LRS

The first light rail system opened in 1985. There is
now almost 100 kilometres of track.

* 34 million people rode the light rail system in
2007.

* 104,200 people ride the light rail system on a
weekday.

* A two-car light rail vehicle carries 266 people.

Since the 1980s when the rail was first built, there
has been more than $6 billion in development within walking
distance of the LRT stations.

"Developers like the permanence of a rail when investing millions
into a building," said Peggy LaPoint, a transit public information
officer.

Calgary

Population: 1.1 million

Rapid bus transit since 2003

Light rail transit since 1981

* 36 stations along 42.1 kilometres of track.

* 270,000 people take the Calgary LRT system on a
weekday.

* Ridership on the LRT has doubled in the past
10 years.

According to Rob Collins, spokesperson for Calgary Transit, more than
90 million people used the Calgary public transit system last
year.

The rapid bus system was a cheaper way to boost
transit in the city, but Calgary is replacing the buses
with light rail service as it receives the funding for
it.

Ottawa

Population: 1.2 million

Transitway rapid bus transit

* 240,000 people ride the Transit bus system on a
weekday.

* 175 buses run per hour.

* During peak hours, as many as 10,000 people will
ride the bus.

* 95.6 million people used the public transit system in
Ottawa last year.

Ottawa has eight kilometres of light rail track and plans
to expand, said Vincent Patterson, manager of performance at OC
Transpo, which runs the transit system.

The Hamilton Spectator: Defying mother nature

Pubdate:April 12, 2008

By Erika Engel

A Burlington business is boasting a solution to aged and
weather-damaged patio furniture.

Element Square claims its outdoor furniture made of nonporous plastic
will not fade, stain or discolour for at least 10
years.

Many cottage owners spend the first weekend of cottage season
repainting deck furniture. In fact, Brad Bender formed the company
for that reason -- he didn't want to paint his
chairs anymore.

"There was a problem, and I needed a solution," said
Bender.

The plastic repels mould, dirt and stains, and it's not
affected by bleach or chlorine, as the colour permeates the
material. Each piece can be left outside year-round without becoming
damaged, Bender says.

The Muskoka chairs, tables, a planter, a deck box and
an ottoman range in price from $200 for the ottoman
to $2,500 for a large deck box.

Bender explains that the high prices are due to the
labour involved and the high price of the material. Cuts
and detailing are done using laser technology, and stainless steel
fasteners are strategically hidden from view.

Furniture is available in eight colours: black, white, yellow, tan,
brown, blue, green and red.

The furniture is also protected from the sun's bleaching power
by UV inhibitors (industrial sunscreen) added during production.

The polymer is from King Starboard Plastics in Orlando, Fla.,
and has been in use in marine construction for 17
years.

"We've had the luxury of other people product testing this
material," said Bender. "It's simply the finest outdoor material available."

Element Square furniture is available at Insideout, 683 Plains Rd.
E., Burlington, and online at elementsquare.com.

Hamilton Spectator staff

Young patient gets up close to his Idol

Young patient gets up close to his Idol
Erika Engel
Special to The Hamilton Spectator
(Mar 31, 2008)

Ronald McDonald is lovin' it. Brian Melo is Livin' It. Avery Lachapelle got to do both.

The eight-year-old cancer patient got to go backstage and meet with Melo, Canadian Idol winner and Hamilton native, before his March 15 concert at Hamilton Place.

"It was really cool for him. It was his first concert," said Brian Lachapelle, Avery's father. "They (the band) were a good group of young fellas."

Melo and his band spent 15 minutes chatting with Avery about the concert and Avery's favourite song.

"We kept it really light. I didn't want to get too serious," Melo said. "I just wanted him to have fun with the band.

"I wish we were able to spend a bit more time together."

Avery and his parents, Lachapelle and Tricia Daly, have been staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Hamilton since December while he undergoes treatment for leukemia. The family lives in Lindsay.

Originally diagnosed with cancer when he was 14 months old, Avery has relapsed twice since then and received a bone-marrow transplant in 2004.

Avery was set to see Brian Melo on March 8, but the concert was cancelled when a crippling snow storm shut down the city.

He thought he would miss the show because the rescheduled date was too close to his chemotherapy treatments.

The Ronald McDonald house manager, Patti Majcher, contacted Melo's agent, Jim Campbell, hoping to curb Avery's disappointment. After many back-and-forth conversations, they arranged a pre-show meeting.

Why did she do it?

"Oh, you haven't met Avery," Majcher said, her smile audible through the phone.

"I just think that anything we can do to make good days more special, we would certainly like to do.

"These kids have so many obstacles all day long. Being the lucky one every once in a while is such a bonus."

Melo has been an avid supporter of Ronald McDonald House since he visited the London location while filming Canadian Idol. He later visited the Hamilton house and met several of the children staying there.

"It's very inspiring for me -- going into these situations and seeing what these kids are going through," he said.

"It makes me count my blessings when I see how strong these kids can be."

Melo said he gets a lot of e-mails and phone calls asking him to visit a fan in the hospital, and he tries to see as many as he can find time for.

"I knew that if I was ever in the position that I'm in now, I would always try to give back as much as I could," he said. "If I can bring a little bit of light to their day, then I've done my job."

Pearl Wolfe, executive director of Ronald McDonald House in Hamilton, said she's happy they were able to help Avery meet Melo.

"It happened because our house manager relentlessly pursued it. It's so gratifying to be able to do something to help."

The Ronald McDonald House in Hamilton opened in 1993. It is a 15-room facility that provides families of seriously ill children with a place to stay while their child receives care at the McMaster Children's Hospital.

The nonprofit organization offers rooms for $10 a night a short distance from the hospital. The Hamilton house is located at 1510 Main St. W.

There are 12 houses in Canada, four in Ontario. They rely on corporate and individual sponsors for funding.

Lachapelle and Daly are grateful to the Ronald McDonald House for the support they've received during Avery's treatment.

"I feel like they take care of needs that we don't even know we have," Lachapelle said.

"They'll do anything for the families here."

Avery and his parents plan to stay at the Hamilton house until April, when Avery is scheduled to have another bone marrow transplant at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

Melo said Avery is one kid he won't forget.

"He had this spark in his eye and a great smile. He'll always be in my heart."

During the concert, Melo dedicated Avery's favourite song, All I Ever Wanted, to Avery and his cousin.

High Spirited

http://www.thespec.com/article/347880

Erika Engel
Special to The Hamilton Spectator
(Apr 1, 2008)


High Spirited

Lifting spirits is heavier than it looks.

Cheerleaders have long served as professional positive thinkers who turn the frowns of disappointed fans and athletes right side up. But the apparently effortless smiles, flips and pom-pom shakes don't come without hard work.

The cheerleaders with the University of Western Ontario Mustangs and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have the same goal -- to encourage and entertain. It's their game strategy, however, that differs.

The Mustangs throw each other in the air. The Ticats dance as if on air. Both cheer on their teams, no matter how dark the clouds get.

Andrea Bottosso was on the Ticats team last year and plans to tryout again at this Sunday's auditions. She says an upbeat attitude is key.

"When it's 50-0 and you're on the zero side, you have to smile and find something positive," she said.

Lesley Stewart, head coach of the Hamilton Tiger Cats' cheerleaders, is getting ready to pick this year's cheerleaders.

"Most of the girls have been dancing since they were kids. That's what we're looking for -- solid dance backgrounds," she said.

The Ticat cheerleaders practise twice a week for three hours and two hours before games. Each cheerleader is given a membership to GoodLife Fitness gym to stay fit with cardiovascular and callisthenics training.

"When you're out there in front of all those people, you want to feel good," said Bottosso.

She says that means making healthy food choices including plenty of vegetables, salads and proteins.

At the gym, Bottosso likes to warm up with 30 minutes of cardio on the stationary bicycle and the elliptical machine. She follows that with 45 minutes of toning with free weights doing bicep curls, tricep dips, lateral squats, calf raises and abdominal crunches. She cools down with stretches.

As well as dance training, team members focus on endurance through cardiovascular exercise routines. Members take turns leading workouts, often applying their expertise as seasoned dancers or coaches for the warmups.

Cheerleaders use Pilates training to develop their flexibility and core strength, as well as weight training to tone their arms and legs. Well-rounded fitness and endurance is integral for this cheer team.

"They're in the field all day ... eight hours a day sometimes," said Stewart.

Jennifer Kennedy and Lauren Yaksich were on the team last year, and plan to try out this year. Both come from competitive dance backgrounds. They see cheerleading as a way to pursue their passion for dance.

Kennedy, who started dancing at the age of three, grew up with a football coach for a father.

"I think it was his dream to see me flipping on that field," she said, laughing.

A McMaster kinesiology major now, Kennedy hopes to earn a master's degree in occupational therapy. She won't stop dancing though.

"I'll be dancing until I'm 90," she said. "It's such a thrill."

Yaksich also feels professional cheerleading is a natural progression with her extensive dance background.

"It gives me the opportunity to keep dancing at a high level," she said.

David-Lee Trace, head coach of the Western University Mustangs cheerleading team, is known for his severe training techniques.

"My kids train savagely," Trace admitted.

The Mustangs' team members are accustomed to pulling vehicles up hills and dragging tires across fields.

"The stronger the kid gets, the better they are going to be at throwing and catching each other," said Trace. "We're juggling humans."

The team is a competitive power cheering team. Mustangs' routines involve lifts, throws, jumping, tumbling and dancing. When they aren't cheering for university basketball and football games, they are competing.

They train all year around, working through a cycle that Trace developed to prepare them for power cheering -- smiles and all.

Power cheerleading requires anaerobic training, he said. They need to be trained like a sprinter. Unlike an endurance runner -- power cheering requires short bursts of intense physical exertion.

The Mustangs train three times a week as a team and three times a week in the weight room.

In the summer, Trace focuses on individual fitness and conditioning.

Many of the Mustangs cheerleaders have gone on to become fitness competitors, coaches and gym owners. Some have stayed in cheerleading at the open competitive level.