Behind The Scene

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Behind the Scene – 9th Annual Chili Willy Cook Off

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Behind the Scene – 9th Annual Chili Willy Cook Off

Harmony Square Brantford and Dalhousie Street were packed with people tasting 17 varieties of chili from local restaurants and organizations on Sunday, February 28th.

This 9th annual event featured a cool breeze, but beautiful weather, which brought record crowds to the event. Over 3,000 people came to the Square, 1,300 more people then the previous year. Event organizers had to run out twice to get more bowls and still managed to sell out.

Owner of Strodes BBQ & Deli / Strodes Express, Brian Witteveen, was absolutely amazed to see the number of people come by for the event this year. Also one of the founders and sponsors for the Cook Off, he was happy to see the ‪#‎BRANTastic‬ number of families come out.

When I asked Brian about their plans for the 10th anniversary celebrations he said he couldn’t let those plans out of the bag yet. He only mentioned that it will be bigger and hoped to see 20-25 vendors out next year.

A special thank you goes out to all the organizations that came out to support the event as well as the sponsors. The money raised from the Chili Willy Cook Off goes to support local programming that happens each year in Harmony Square.

This year’s event had 5 award categories that were either judged on or voted for by participants. This year’s winners are:

The Mayor’s Choice Award
The WORKS Gourmet Burger Bistro – Brantford

For the Love of Chili (non-restaurant)
RiverView Terrace Retirement Residence

Best Display
Brantford Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 460

The Kick-back Award
Strodes BBQ & Deli / Strodes Express

People’s Choice Award
Third Place – OLG Casino Brantford
Second Place – Burger Barn
First Place – The WORKS Gourmet Burger Bistro – Brantford

Make sure to Be Seen at the 10th Annual Chili Willy Cook Off next year!

Submitted by: Jason Freeze
Photography by: Ida Adamowicz
To see more of her work, please visit: Wonderful Ida

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BScene by Dean: Comedy at the Station Gallery Café. Feb 2016

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BScene by Dean: Comedy at the Station Gallery Café. Feb 2016

The show last night was one of the best I’ve seen in awhile, and not just because of the comedy. I think I enjoyed the audience as much as the comedy, it was an audience that never really stopped laughing from start to finish. I’m not saying anything negative about what the comedians were doing, that part of the show was phantastic. But there were people in here that just had such an infectious laugh that at times much of the laughing was for the laugher and not the comedian on stage, even the comedians got caught up in the laughter as well. Whoever ended up on stage had an audience that really let them know that they were having fun.

Michael Moses the host started the jocularity with his opening “crowd work” and he never stopped throughout the night. Chad Gibson and Alan Shane Lewis looking down into the audience(Chad is closer to 7’ tall than 6’) only saw smiles and laughs through their entire sets. Ben Healey and Dylan Scott both were beyond funny with their stories and one liners. Joell Bolton is a newcomer to the comedy scene and she presented her comedic nature as if she’d been doing this for much longer that the month and a half that she claims. The night ended with the comedy of Kyle Lucy, one of the most entertaining comedians currently working in this area. Not only are his stories and jokes something to laugh at, the way he uses his body just makes everything that much funnier, a very active comedian in every way, verbally and physically.

Between the great comedy and the laughing audience I have to say that this was one of the more enjoyable comedy shows in the area that I’ve experienced for a while. If you’re reading this, I’m going to tell you that you have to check this show out. It happens every Thursday night at 9:00 pm atThe Station Coffee House And Gallery.

Special Kudos to Caleb Turgeon, the station bartender who opened the show with his own live music performance that really got things started in a way that they’ve never been started before.

Submitted By: Dean Ellis

To see more of Dean’s work please visit:https://www.facebook.com/DellisartPhotographix/?fref=ts

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Woman shares stories of alien abduction

Woman shares stories of alien abduction

“Experiencer” speaks to MUFON group

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A woman identified only as Josie says she has never felt as though she belonged in this world and that she has always wanted to “go home.” Josie, 46, shared her strange and incredible story with a group of 20 at the Brantford Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) meeting at Langford Hall on Thursday night (Feb.25). Josie says it all started to change for her about 10 years ago. That’s when she found she had psychic powers and the ability to work as a “medium”, helping people communicate with those who have died.  The Kitchener resident then described frequent and harrowing alien abduction experiences she’s been having for just over a year. She says before it all started happening to her, she didn’t believe such stories. “I used to make fun of those kinds’ of people,” she said.

Josie says on an almost nightly basis since January of 2015, she feels a pull at her core, near her stomach area and finds herself on a metal table being probed by strange beings with instruments. She says initially she was terrified, but now she “wants” it to happen, believing there’s a purpose to it all.  Josie says the beings, which she describes as having grey skin and large eyes and small noses, have communicated with her telepathically. She says she asked them why they were conducting these painful procedures and they told her she had agreed to the process.  Josie says there have also been experiences with other types of beings that are smaller with red eyes, wearing hoods. Members of the MUFON group describe these creatures as Mantis beings.  Health problems and a lack of sleep have plagued Josie since the incidents began. Her family is unaware of what’s been happening, but she was eager to share her story with members of MUFON.

Co-founder of the Brantford MUFON chapter, Bob Mitchell says he believes such encounters take place on an astral level as opposed to a physical one. Mitchell has written books on the subject including his latest entitled “What if? Close Encounters of the Unusual Kind.” Mitchell says the Second Annual Alien Cosmic Expo being held at Brantford’s Best Western Brant Park Inn from June 24th to the 26th, will feature a number of “experiencers” like Josie, along with keynote speakers in the field.

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Submitted by: Yvonne Van De Wiele-Cooper

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Sandra on Scene: Ichthys Theatre AGM & Theatre Venues

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Sandra on Scene: Ichthys Theatre AGM & Theatre Venues

Brantford’s Community Theatre companies are Gypsies. At least that is the word that ICHTHYS Theatre’s Artistic Director Lorna Stratton fondly uses to describe the current situation of the “homeless” groups.

ICHTHYS is in the same boat as the others as it struggles to find suitable venues that are affordable and have all the amenities they need to perform their work. Most situations such as, schools, churches, community centres, outdoor venues, are not ideal because they are not dedicated specifically to the performance arts.

The City of Brantford & City of Brantford Arts & Culture has created a Task Force to assess the need for a 250-300 seat community performance space in the city.

This space would be multi-purpose for Theatre, Concerts, Dance Recitals, Presentations and more. The first round table was planned for March 2nd from 4-6 pm in the Sanderson Centre Lobby. They are looking for input from the community in terms of company and individual usage along with potential audience needs.
Stratton is a member of this Task Force and invited vice chair City Councilor Cheryl Antoski, and Cultural Advisory Committee chair, Vern Payne, to ICHTHYS’ Annual General Meeting, (AGM) the morning of February 20, Glenhyrst Art Gallery, 20 Ava Rd, Brantford, ON, to have an Open Forum with those in attendance. Refreshments were provided by The Golden Teapot Tearoom.

Antoski said although she is not from a theatre background she requested to be part of the Task Force because she noticed an unbalance in the City. “Not everyone is a sports person,” she says.

Payne, a retired educator says he is part of it because, “I understand that Drama plays an important role for economic development.”

The Task Force is meeting with all performance groups in the city so they can present the need for a mid sized performance facility to City Council.
There was talk about whether a petition would be effective and all were urged to write to their city councilor.

Marion Smith, a member of the Western Ontario Drama League for 38 years had some important questions on behalf of the theatre community:
“Is this venue to be for the use of Amateur community theatre? Will it include amateur choirs, band and dance groups etc.
Who will own the building? The City? Theatre members? A private company?
Who will run the business of this facility? A board of directors or the membership? Paid theatre facility manager? Paid business manager? City employee?
How will the funding for the purchase of the building and theatre facilities be raised? Which art companies will be officially included in the partnership?
If owned by the city, how much say will the member theatre companies have in the running of the venue?”

Bruce Farley, a member of ICHTHYS and lead in its first play of the 2016 season, The Other Noise, suggested that when the Task Force makes a presentation to council, all the politics are taken care of first. “We need to get them to believe that there is so much interest in this that you get their attention,” he says.

One thing that became clear from the discussion is that the Task Force needs to go to city council with all questions answered before they can be asked and that all of the City’s Community Theatre groups need to work together in order for this much needed mid-sized theatre to become a reality.

The Task Force, besides theatre groups, also needs to hear from choral, instrumental, spoken word, taletelling, dance, and other performing arts groups currently operating in the area.
After the Open Forum discussion, ICHTHYS took care of business with its treasurers reports, artistic director reports and more.

The Theatre group’s 2016 season began with The Other Noise written and directed by Martin Smith performed at the Gord Paynter Theatre the last weekend of February and first weekend of March.
It is followed by the School Touring Show, which will be written by the cast and directed by Lorna Stratton in a performance window of April 11 to 21.

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom and Jeff Hatcher, Directed by Kate Elwood, June 3-5 and 10-12, Gord Paynter Theatre.
Drama Camp (new this year) Directed by Lorna Stratton and Jess Hamilton, August 8-12 and 15-19 Friendship House of Brant.
The Left of Centre Festival, August 26-28, Friendship House of Brant.
And the big fall show Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, November 18 to 20 and 25 to 27, 2016.

ICHTHYS Partner Participation Projects are:
Brantford Scare in the Square
Glenhyrst Arts Day
Brant Performing Arts Season Launch during Culture Days Canada
2016 ICHTHYS Memberships are $30.

The group also has a new sponsorship strategy called The Stand-Out Kids Scene (SOKS) that defines different sponsoring level opportunities for the School Touring Show and the Drama Camp.
www.ichthystheatre.com
FaceBook: Ichthys Theatre
Twitter: @ICHTHYSTheatre

Submitted by: Sandra L. Anderson
To see more of her work, please visit: Sandlyn Publishing

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Sandra on Scene: Beauty and the Beast – Teaser

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Sandra on Scene: Beauty and the Beast – Teaser

Presented by Whimsical Players
Written by Vera Morris
Directed by Meghan Graham

When: Friday February 26 at 7 pm, Saturday February 27 at 7 pm and Sunday February 28 at 3 pm

Where: TB Costain/SC Johnson Community Centre

Tickets: Adults $12, Seniors/Students/Children $8, Family (2 Adults, 2 children) $30, Children under 3 years FREE
Available at the door

Story Synopsis: A Selfish prince is condemned to spend his life as a Beast while a thunderstorm rages outside his castle. When a widow woman far from her small farm and three adult children and two sons-in-law gets lost in a bewitched forest and chased into the Beast’s Castle, she is granted shelter, but does something to anger the Beast who insists she stay as his prisoner but at her pleading grants her one last visit home to say farewell. When her youngest daughter Beauty returns in her mother’s place, the Beast and those who live with him have hopes that love will break the spell. With dancing and sword fights, some comedy and suspense, Beauty and the Beast offers heartwarming fun for the whole family.

Make sure to Be Seen enjoying this local production!

Submitted by: Sandra L. Anderson
To see more of her work, please visit: Sandlyn Publishing

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Fan Appreciation night – Ohsweken Demons.

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This Friday, February 26th, 7:30 p.m. at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena on Second Line in Ohsweken is the last home game of the season for the Ohsweken Demons.

Tickets are $10 for Adults and $6 for students/seniors at the door. Advance tickets are $8.50 for Adults and $5 for students/seniors

Fan Appreciation night will be on the floor immediately after the game so make sure to Be Seen!

For more information please visit: http://www.ohswekendemons.ca/

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Sandra on Scene: Ichthys Theatre – The Other Noise – Teaser

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Sandra on Scene: Ichthys Theatre – The Other Noise – Teaser

Presented by Ichthys Theatre
Written and Directed by Martin Smith

When: Friday and Saturday February 26, 27, March 4,5 at 7:30 and Sundays February 28 and March 6 at 2 pm

Where: Gord Paynter Theatre, North Park Collegiate

Tickets: Adults $15, Seniors/Students $10
Available at the door
Reserve 519-751-5411 or purchase online www.ichthystheatre.ca

Story Synopsis:
Far off to the east, down the River Epoh, are the fabled Supine Mountains and the tranquil village of Honeybrrrt. Or so says the perplexing character of Uncle Wilby in the drama-comedy The Other Noise by local playwright Martin Smith. Thirteen-year-old Sedgwick has been dragged by her mother Joan to visit her aunt and uncle, only to discover she will be saddled with watching over her peculiar uncle for an entire day. Starring Mikayela Piet as Sedgwick and Bruce Farley as Uncle Wilby, The Other Noise is a fantastical fable filled with rich characters and poetic dialogue that takes an audience into deep places of emotion. Whether it is side-splitting humour or the wistful discovery of hope, The Other Noise is both a fantasy and a reflection of the feelings we all share. A Comedic Quest to a place of Hope.

Make sure to Be Seen enjoying this local production!

Submitted by: Sandra L Anderson
To see more of her work, please visit: Sandlyn Publishing

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5th Annual Coldest Night of the Year Walk

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5th Annual Coldest Night of the Year Walk

Under a sea of blue hats there were many smiling faces getting ready to walk 2km, 5km, or 10km. The group was excited to get outside and walk for two local causes: Brantford Welcome In Resource Centre and Why Not Youth Centres.

The event which was held on Saturday, February 20th marked its 5th year in Brantford and also saw an increase in the number of walkers and groups. With a total of 115 walkers in 24 teams, the organizations were thrilled to have such amazing community support. Special thanks goes out to many teams including: The Vees, Red Warmth, Paul Davis Brantford/Woodstock, Lafarge Freezcicles, CMHA Hope Mood Walks, Support Nova Vita Visionaries, and the Wellington Squares.

Thanks to all of the supporters the goal to raise $40,000 will surely be broken. At the moment, the event has raised a total of $36,667.50 to help fund many ongoing programs at these organizations, and to help new programs get off the ground. Event organizers want to remind people that the fundraising portal is still open for people to donate. For more information or if you want to donate, please visit: https://coldestnightoftheyear.org/location/brantford

Becca McLellan, the Community Developer at Why Not Youth Centres wanted to thank everyone for their participation and support. “I always have a ton of fun at this event. I like how many different community groups come together to help out.”

Make sure to Be Seen at next year’s Coldest Night of the Year event!

Submitted by: Jason Freeze

Photography by: Sandra L. Anderson
To see more of her work, please visit: Sandlyn Publishing

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