Category Archives: FROM THE PUBLISHER (PREVIOUS EDITIONS)

FROM THE PUBLISHER (PREVIOUS EDITIONS)

From the publisher January/February 2016

ClubWest

(To view our January/February 2016 issue of ClubWEST online, click here.)

“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”
– Benjamin Franklin

There is never a shortage of great stories to unearth right here in Niagara West.

They are as plentiful as the harvests our area farmers reap each fall. This publication is a bit of an unusual one, though, as three young “performers” in completely different areas of interest all came together as feature subjects in a matter of weeks. The theme was undeniable, so it was easy to package.

A lot is said and written about the youth of today. Typically, the good is often overlooked for the more sensational and usually negative news slants, but not this time.

This time, we have three great examples of what teens can do when they apply natural talent and mix in effort, dedication and the helping hand of family support. Each is very different.

Cole Burniston showed ability from the start and realizes he is very fortunate to have parents who are willing to make major sacrifices in allowing him to chase his dreams.

In Melissa Temkov, we have a mom and grandparents working tirelessly, who also had the smarts to get her out of a situation which was not working for her. The results speak for themselves.

And last but not least, we have Stephanie Deshane, a plucky 16-year-old who has opted to take a somewhat less travelled road as she strives to ensure her unique interests are not muddied in an attempt to fit in. It is most often in ones late 20s when one realizes there are people out there with the same interests, but it can take you a while to find them. She is perfectly willing to keep on looking, all the while developing her craft of singing and song writing. More power to her!

I’ve been writing for a long time. This was the first time I put anything together where the combined ages of the subjects was younger than I. That was unnerving.

Yet each goes to show, we have a lot of great things – people, events, organizations, you name it – going on right here under our collective noses.

Your job is to root out those stories and tell them to you, good reader, via words and photos. So why not start while some of these subjects are honing their skills. Who knows?

Maybe one day Cole will be a power back for his beloved New England Patriots playing in the Super Bowl. Stephanie could be asked to be the halftime show and Melissa could be performing as part of that artistic spectacle?

One can dream, yes?

Publisher, ClubWest Magazine
Mike Williscraft

CLUBWEST, FROM THE PUBLISHER (PREVIOUS EDITIONS)

From the Publisher November/December 2015

ClubWest

(To view our November/December 2015 issue of ClubWEST online, click here.)

“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”
– Benjamin Franklin

Heritage, community cornerstones and people who go above and beyond to make the world around them a better place…what do those things have in common?

West Niagara.

When we developed the “concept” of what ClubWest Magazine would be – a portrayal of people who made and make this area one of the best places to live anywhere in the world – the subjects of this edition’s features are exactly what we had in mind.

One could spend a lifetime looking for a better community partner than the folks at Stanpac in Smithville. It is not hard to understand why employees love to work there and community groups speak in such glowing terms about the support they have received from the company over the years.

The cornerstone of their philosophy, keep the company in the family and avoid the inevitable dissolution which comes with corporate ownership. They invest in their people and their community, and their staff and town in which they live is better off for it.

They fall under the “It is great to see good things happen to good people” category.

From the private sector to public sector…I laughed out loud when Angela Maccaroni related the story about driving right by Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School when she came to scout it out after accepting a job there. The maze of portables, back in the day, did not look like much of school. From humble beginnings, a thriving music program has evolved at BT with more than 100 students involved, almost 10 cent of the school’s population.

You talk about passion…this lady personifies a passion for music and teaching. Board officials, co-workers, parents and students all recognize that – hence her nomination for the prestigious Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence. Results of the nomination are expected in January.

On the heritage front, there are a host of people – from Town officials to property owners – who have spent years and a lot of money working to preserve Grimsby’s heritage. Those efforts are pastimes, passions and pursuits all rolled into one.

Each of these story subjects exemplifies what we strive to represent with ClubWest and the flavour with which we develop our feature material – classy, local and accessible.

The people involved are the ones making our community a great place to live and are more than deserving of a little ink here and there and of our appreciation.

Publisher, ClubWest Magazine
Mike Williscraft

CLUBWEST, FROM THE PUBLISHER (PREVIOUS EDITIONS)

From the Publisher September/October 2015

ClubWest

(To view our September/October 2015 issue of ClubWEST online, click here.)

“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”
– Benjamin Franklin

One thing about food: everyone needs it.

Whether you are a bonafide meat maniac or a hardcore vegan, not a person on earth does not have a favourite dish, a favourite way of preparing something, and that meal which almost certainly reminds them of childhood, comfort and warmth.

It is harvest time here in Niagara and it is a great time of year for anyone who invests their time and energy into making their own food. Some do it from scratch, others may use an accessory here or there to save a little time. For those folks, and for those who rarely see the kitchen, with what the residents of this area have at their collective doorsteps we thought we could offer some ideas to give it a try.

Chef Jan-Willem Stulp has taken some extra time to create some recipes for a unique, not-overly-complicated Thanksgiving-style meal, but bits and pieces of it can be simplified to be just a very nice dinner for company, a family gathering or a romantic dinner for two. He always puts a great deal of thought and effort into what he presents in the pages of ClubWest and you will see that attention to detail is evident in our Fall edition to be sure.

If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, and getting your base cooking materials at the grocery store is not enough for you – you want your food to be even fresher – you may want to take the advice of Brent Bochek, who offers some fishing tips and locales to catch your own dinner. Brent is an avid fisherman whose passion for the hobby is clear.

His knowledge of the local fishing scene is also second to none. He too offers an idea on how to prepare what you catch…his version of stream-to-table as opposed to the popular gate-to-table theme.

Speaking about passion….what more can be said about Steve and Lori Popp at Memphis Fire Barbecue Co. Their combined passion for treating people right and putting out great from scratch food has been a recipe for success. They provide some secrets and tips for smoking meats at home.

Without a doubt, this time of year is our opportunity to appreciate all we have right here in Niagara West. Fruit and produce to be sure, but also locally raised chicken, meat and fish. Whether you cure meats or can tomatoes, you can use local freshness to prepare foods for those nasty, cold winter days.

With this edition also spanning Thanksgiving, one can reflect on the whole year. It is easy to see something in every season why there are great reasons to give thanks we live where we do.

Publisher, ClubWEST Magazine
Mike Williscraft