CTOBER

ONE THOUSAND TREESFACILITATING WELLNESS

THROUGH CONNECTION, CREATIVITY, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

PUBLISHERLisa Browning

MANAGING EDITORSSandra WilsonBetty Young

REGULAR COLUMNISTSCalifornia Dreaming -- Sherie Cunningham

Volunteer Profile -- Jennifer AnnettWhat I Know -- Noah Nogueira

ONE THOUSAND TREES59 Curzon Crescent Guelph ON N1K 0B2

Email: lisa@onethousandtrees.comOffice: 519-265-1212Cell: 519-362-5494Fax: 519-265-6712

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ONE THOUSAND TREESOCTOBER 2015

MUSIC

FEATURE ARTICLES:

INTERVIEW: HOLLY MASTROGIACOMO

from Smitten Apparel 1

THE POWER OF MUSIC

by Kayleigh Radatus 2

DEPARTMENTS:

A SENSE OF COMMUNITY

-- The Guitar: A Community Builder, by Bob MacLean 2-- Oktoberfest: A Community Tradition 3

CREATIVITY & THE ARTS

-- Making Music with Children, by Shannon Kingsbury 5-- Music: The Formless Form, by David Rankine 6

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

-- Bottled Water: Is It Really a Problem? by Karen Rathwell 8

FOOD & NUTRITION

-- Five Delicious Things to Cook in October 9

GIVING BACK

-- Volunteer Profile: Christine Metzgar, by Jennifer Annett 11-- Volunteering in Southwestern Ontario 12

HEALTH & WELLBEING

-- Music and Your Body: How Music Affects Us and Why Music Therapy Promotes Health 13

THE LIBRARY

-- The Story Behind the Story: I Just Want To Be A Rock Star, by Craig Dubecki 14-- The Listening Song, by Bob Smith 15-- The Music of Nature, by Sandra Wilson 16

COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY LUCAS TENSEN

Music: The Formless Form, p 6The Guitar: A Community Builder,p 2

THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS

Craig DubeckiThe Story Behind the Story

A proficient writer for years in thebusiness world, Craig has taken hiswriting skills public. Being a ReviewWriter for Velvet Rope Magazine ledhim to author I Just Want To Be A

Rock Star. An active member of Toastmasters and thePublic Speakers Association out of San Antonio, Texas,Craig’s passions include public speaking and being onstage as a singer/guitarist. He counts his three childrenBlair, Maria and Andrea with what he is most blessed inlife with. Craig lives in Kitchener, Ontario with hisYellow-Lab/Husky and best friend, Bing.

Shannon KingsburyMaking Music with Children

Shannon has taught singing basedmusic programs with many artsorganizations and studios in theGuelph community for the past decade,

including: Musikgarten of Guelph, Guelph Dance’s ArtsExplosion Camp, Creativity Greenhouse, JamSchool,Season Singers and Waterside Arts. Shannon holdscertificates in Early Childhood Music, Orff, Voice andMusic Theory from The Royal Conservatory of Music andKodaly pedagogy through Wilfred Laurier University. Asa performer, Shannon has lent her voice and harp to manyrecordings and live performances internationally, mostrecently with vocal group Ondine Chorus and BrendaMcMorrow. Please visit www.kingsburymusic.ca.

Holly MastrogiacomoInterview: Smitten Apparel

In addition to being a wife and motherof two boys, Holly is the owner ofSmitten Apparel, a consignment storein Guelph. She is passionate abouthelping girls and women develop self-

esteem and healthy lives, and helping out in thecommunity wherever and whenever she can. For moreinformation visit www.smittenapparel.ca.

Bob MacLeanThe Guitar: A Community Builder

Bob MacLean is an Event Guitarist,Celtic/Classical Guitarist & Folksingerwith roots in Cape Breton (Glace Bay)and Quebec. Bob attended McGill and

Western where he graduated in music education andclassical guitar. Over the years he’s played many stylesincluding rock n’ roll, classical, pop and traditional folk.It was in the mid 90’s that he began exploring his EastCoast roots and is now well known for his fingerstyleguitar skills and his love of East Coast traditional musicand songs. Please visit www.bobmaclean.ca.

Jennifer AnnettVolunteer Profile

Jennifer is a graduate of the HonoursBachelor of Outdoor Recreation, Parksand Tourism program at LakeheadUniversity (2001). By day she is aFacilitator of Community & VoluntarySector Investment with the United Way

of Cambridge and North Dumfries’ Volunteer Centre. Shehelps local agencies with volunteer recruitment,recognition, promotion and program funding. By night sheis a mother of two; she has a dog named Daisy, loves theoutdoors and has been a lifelong volunteer.

Kayleigh RadatusThe Power of Music

Kayleigh is a Personal EmpowermentMentor, specializing in helping youincrease your self-esteem, self-confidence and self-compassion whileempowering you to discover and create

your ideal life. Using the tools of Life Coaching, Reiki,Emotion Code and Oracle Card Readings, her clients findnew freedom in the discovery of self-love, the power ofchoice, and personal success.

David RankineMusic: The Formless Form

David brings over 30 years as an artist,musician, healer and educator to a newunderstanding of Sacred Expressionthrough Art, Music and Geometry. He

lectures (University of Ottawa and University of Toronto)and facilitates experiential workshops focused on healing,community building, Sacred Geometry and Sacred Art atretreats, festivals, and has client events all over the world.David has 10 original CD recordings to his credit. Davidlives and works and plays music in rural Huron County.Visit him at www.davindrankineart.com

Karen RathwellBottled Water: Is It Really aProblem?

Karen brings lots of enthusiasm andher love of water to her role atWellington Water Watchers on theBoard of Directors. Since her

retirement from a 22 year career in public education,Karen has pursued her interest in local and global waterissues. She speaks about water stewardship to servicegroups and presents in schools. Karen has proven to be a

information on Wellington Water Watchers please visitwww.wellingtonwaterwatchers.ca.

Sandra WilsonThe Music of Nature

Sandra is a writer, educator, amateurphotographer and Director of theWilson Education Resource Centre.With a Bachelor of Arts in English andHistory much of her work includes

historic facts presented in fun and interesting ways.Although trained to take portraits at Sears Portrait Studio,Sandra prefers to capture nature with her camera. Herpassion is to help people learn, laugh and be inspired.Please visit Sandra at www.werconline.ca.

Bob SmithThe Listening Song

Like many writers, R.K. (Bob) Smithhas worked in widely different settings,accounting for diverse characters,settings, and story lines. He describeshis stories as ‘character-driven’, rather

than ‘plot-driven’. People face some kind of challengeand face it with creativity and integrity, often connectingwith others as part of the process. He has published novelsand short stories in online, newspaper, and moretraditional printed formats, as well as having writtenChristmas stories heard on radio.

FROM THE EDITORNot surprisingly, music has been continually playing in my head as I have been working on thismonth’s issue. Songs from the past, and songs of the present. Songs that take me back tomoments in time I thought were forgotten. Songs that comprise the story of my life.(Disclaimer: if some of the people mentioned in this piece are around to read this ... you must haveknown how I felt, right?!!)

Age 4 - What was to become an annual tradition at my church Christmas pageant was for a littlegirl to walk down the aisle of the church to the third verse of “In the Bleak Midwinter”, based on thepoem by Christina Rossetti. “What shall I give him, poor as I am ...?” I was the first little girl to dothat, and I was terrified, until I reached the “manger”, and “Mary” looked me in the eyes and smiled.To this day, verse 3 of that carol makes me cry.

Grade 6 - My first school dance. Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds’ “Don’t Pull Your Love” still brings me back to thatgymnasium. Also that year ... my parents and I were in the States, and I bought my very first Donny Osmond album. Abargain at $6, and I was so proud!

Grade 9 - Another school dance. I had a total crush on Ian Troop, a basketball star four years older than me. A mutual friendtold Ian that I wanted to dance with him, so Ian came up to me, just as “The Long and Winding Road” began. I am takenback to my dance with Ian, whenever I hear that Beatles’ song.

Grade 10 - Larry Pelechaty, one of the heart-throbs of Kipling Collegiate, had his locker beside mine. One day, he came toschool wearing a green T-shirt with the Queen of Hearts on it. I didn’t know why ... until a few days later I heard Queen’s“Bohemian Rhapsody”. I was hooked (not because of Larry, by the way!) ... and Queen has been my favourite band eversince.

Grades 11 & 12 - Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke” was played often at the house parties I attended with my friends, pretty muchevery weekend. Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” was usually the signal that the party was about to come to an end. Tothis day, these songs bring me back to those parties, and those friends.

First Year University - My dorm room was always alive with the music of Joni Mitchell or the Moody Blues. But The Knack’s“My Sharona” will always remind me of Pete Mutafov, one of my closest friends at the University of Waterloo. Don McLean’s“American Pie” also brings me back to university days.

Memories (at least the good ones) are such comforting things, and I have enjoyed my trip down memory lane this month.But this little epistle wouldn’t be complete without mentioning some of my present-day favourites.

While Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man” represents the relationship from which I am glad I escaped, John Legend’s “Allof Me” represents the relationship I hope to find. Both songs bring tears to my eyes, albeit for different reasons.

Christmas is coming soon. (I’m sorry, but it’s true ... summer is over!) One of my traditions, since I moved to Guelph in 1990,is to attend the Guelph Chamber Choir’s presentation of Handel’s Messiah, at the River Run each December. It is one of thehighlights of the season for me.

May you find your own joy, peace, release, and comfort in the songs of your life.

INTERVIEWHolly Mastrogiacomo

I first met Holly about three years ago,when she approached me out of theblue, wanting to help promote the firstSHARING anthology. Following is myinterview with Holly, about her workand one of her passions, SmittenApparel.

For readers who aren't familiar withyou and your store, please explainwhat Smitten Apparel is.

Smitten is a consignment store forwomen of all sizes, 0-5x children's,and maternity.

When did you open, and why?

Smitten opened in June of 2009 andour whole concept is to help womenlook good and feel good, and still havemoney left over for groceries.

Do you offer any services other thanconsignment?

We offer friendly help, and whenclothes are tried on we explain whythey look good or how they don’t.Meaning if it’s not the right fit it's theclothes, not the body. With Smitten

you can keep track of your itemsonline and you can donate your clothesafter 60 days or take them back.Maternity clothes that aren't wantedback are donated to Michael Houseand cocktail dresses are donated to thePrincess Project.

How/why do you personally findfulfillment in your business?

I find Smitten to be my oasis. It’s awonderful place to work with womenwho come in, give them genuinecustomer service with honesty, andhelp them with their self-esteem in theshort time we interact with them.

What are your challenges?

Challenges are not generating enoughincome to advertise to let more peopleknow about us. Having only onecomputer is challenging because weneed two more.

If people are interested in helpingout in any way, how can they dothat?

People can help tremendously bytelling five or more friends about us.Also, right now we are selling $1 paperturkeys until the end of October, withall proceeds going to Sister Christine's.

Tell us a bit about yourself ... otherthan the business woman.

I'm a wife and mom to two very busyboys, both of whom have ADHD. Myoldest is 14 and has been diagnosedwith Oppositional Defiency Disorder,

which is very difficult as it’s severe. It'sa disorder that brings highs and lowsand lots of anger outbursts. I thereforeneed my oasis to go to, and I'mthankful for the other moms that comein and talk about their kids’ issues andwith SHARING it makes me feel I'mnot alone.

What brings you the mostsatisfaction in life?

When the boys do somethingthoughtful or when a customer is reallyhappy with a purchase and they talkabout it. Just being happy and healthyand work with what I'm passionateabout.

What does wellness mean to you?

Wellness to me is hard for me becauseI'm not there yet. Wellness meansbeing in a peaceful place and lookingafter yourself. I need to eat better andincrease my activity. Like so manywomen, I look after my family first. Ineed to take the time to take care ofme.

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Apparel. The sales staff arehelpful, knowledge and enthu-siastic. The store is trendy and

customer’s convenience. Theover sized change rooms haveroom for mom and child tochange. There is a play area forthe kids so mom can browse inpeace.

Congratulations to Holly andher staff.”

THE POWER OF MUSICby Kayleigh Radatus

Music. It's my favourite thing in theUniverse, but can I even begin todescribe what music does for me?What it does to me? I'm really not sure,but I'm going to try.

Music is everything I always wishedlife could be. It is powerful; boldlycreating strength and energy wherenone existed before. Music istransformative; changing all that is intoevery possibility that ever was or couldbe.

It can fuel the drive and ambition ofdreams; powering the knowledge deepwithin of: “YES! I can doANYTHING!” Anything at all ispossible with the right song; fromgetting through the next exhausted fiveminutes of the most challenging day, toclimbing the highest of mountains.Music shows me all I am capable of.

Music is a best friend; supporting, andencouraging; driving down a long,open road with the windows down andsinging along. You've never been trulyalone if you've had your favouritesongs with you.

Music is also the deepest, most abidinglove; found in the lullaby sung to achild, in the first dance of a newlymarried couple, and in the joining insong of mourners when one we lovemoves on in their journey.

Music can reach into the heart and pullevery last drop of sadness and pain outinto the open; scattering it wildly likea water geyser, and making grief comein great, shuddering spasms that feellike they will never end. Music has thepower to empty us, leaving what feelslike an empty husk behind; only to fillus to bursting once again so that onlypure love, energy, and strength remainwithin.

Music gives voice to the voiceless,comfort to the lonely, and peace to thestressed, anxious and overwhelmed. Itis also an anchor, an island, and a rope.Music can keep you in place when itfeels like you and your whole worldare flying apart. Music is a place to gowhen you need to retreat, escape, andregroup. And music is that rope we allsometimes need; something to hangonto when there is nothing more to dobut hold tightly to what we know.

Even beyond all of that, music is, at itsheart; a connector. Music drags us,kicking and screaming at times, intoour humanity. It forces us to feel, evenif we really don't want to. In theprocess, music creates an invisiblebond between us and the ones whocreated it.

Music expresses all that is humanwithin us, and we are all the better forit. The music we hear becomes ourown. With every experience we sharewith music, the music becomes part ofwho we are. Music provides anchorpoints in our lives, connecting us to ourmemories and to our experiences in anintensely personal way.

Is it any wonder that music is capableof doing all of this? Music is pureenergy. Energy that comes into beingwhen a musician creates it.

Take a moment and be grateful, to allthose who choose to becomemusicians. All the power that music is,is forged against the musician's heartand soul, taking pieces of them with itas each song is created. The musicianis forever changed by the act ofmaking music, and yet without theprocess of making music, the musicianwould not exist. Just think for amoment too on this question; “If musichas the power to affect the listener soprofoundly, how deeply could it beimpacting those who create it?”. I amdeeply grateful to all of those whochoose to become musicians, whochoose to create and release their songs

to the world. Thank you for choosingto do what you do.

I ask today, as one who passionatelyloves music and has kept her ownmusical creations hidden and oftensubmerged; celebrate music today.Embrace the songs you love, play themas loud you like, and sing along. Placeyourself gently into the flow of yourfavourite songs and let yourself becarried by their power. Embrace themusic, immerse yourself in it, andbecome a part of it. Feel it's groove,and bring that rhythm into every stepyou take in life. Live each day livingyour music, your own way. Music.There's nothing else like it in all theworld.

THE GUITAR:A COMMUNITY BUILDER

by Bob MacLean

So let’s get it on the table. Yes, I am anobsessed guitar player. I must be on mythird 10,000 hour stretch by now in myrelationship with the 6 string axe.There are so many topics I could coveron the various aspects of guitarplaying, but to look at the guitar as acommunity-building tool was certainlyan undertaking I welcomed.

Guitars are everywhere in our world!Check any newspaper. You’ll almostalways find a photo with someonestrumming away. Walk though anydowntown core, past any highschool/college, in coffee shops/pubs,houses of worship – any place peoplegather, you’ll often see people playingguitars - and building community!

Why a guitar? Why not a clarinet ortrombone or piano?

Fact: for every single brass/woodwindinstrument sold in North America, wellover five guitars are sold. (North AmMusic Mktg - 2013)

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So, yes! Even the marketing numbersshow the guitar is everywhere, andperhaps for some good reasons. Andits not just because some young peoplewanted to be rockstars like JimmyPage and Eric Clapton and learned toplay, although that probably plays arole in the guitars popularity.

I think the guitar has earned its placeas likely the most perfect communitybuilding instrument. The piano wouldcome a close second but the prize goesto the guitar because…..

1. The guitar can do it all. Unlikeflute or trombone, it can go beyondmelody and be a completeorchestra! Even when in the handsof moderate player it can handlemelody, chords, bass and evenpercussive parts. It’s alsoremarkably versatile when itcomes to singers accompanyingthemselves.

2. The guitar is portable andlightweight, which is probably itsgreatest asset in communitybuilding and clearly outshines thepiano. Unlike a piano, you canbring a guitar just about anywhere– parties, school, pubs, campfires.Many guitar cases now have strapsso the guitar can be carried like abackpack, adding even more to itsportability.

3. While perhaps not the easiestinstrument to learn, one’smotivation to learn is often tied toimages of the sultry singer-songwriter or rock star, thusperhaps motivating the learner toput up with some tender fingertipsin the early stages.

4. ecause of all the above, the guitaris iconic! Think singer/songwriter,think open mic night, think protestmarches and rallies, the image of aperson playing the guitar almostalways comes to mind.

The experts speak of 5 things thatinfluence and strengthen the buildingof community:

1. Locus, a sense of place,2. Sharing common interests and

perspectives,3. Joint action, a sense of coherence

and identity,4. Social ties/sense of cohesion.5. Diversity/social complexity

A “sense of place” is one of thekeystones of community building.However, with the guitar’s portability,the “sense of place” can be just aboutanywhere people gather.

“Sharing common interests” is whatbrings people together in the firstplace. The guitar can be and is often atthe heart of it all.

“Sense of coherence and identity” –like the above, but taking it a bit furtheras communities define themselves andthe guitar and songs are often used toexpress group identity.

“Social ties/sense of cohesion” –speaks to people being a part of aunified whole with bonds (songs) tyingpeople together as a group.

“Diversity/social complexity.“ This isinteresting because, with it now beingplayed by so many people, the guitarhas become an intergenerational tool tobuild community and cross all sorts ofrace/creed/boundaries as it bringspeople together.

Personally, I have experienced theguitar as a phenomenal communitybuilder first hand many, many times. Ithink of all the restaurants/cafes wherethe guitar was central in hosting the“open mic night”, the familygatherings and hallway jams afterclass. The “Guitar Summit” event Ihosted for years in Waterloo where 70+players all showed up for a day full ofworkshops - picture 70 people, 70guitars, 70 cases – the communityspace was a beautiful sight!

Finally, I think of the more intimatecommunity building the guitar can do– the backyard/living room gatheringswhere people of all ages come togetherto share, to mingle, to socialize, tobond, to learn, to experiment, to try orexpress something new.

Long live the guitar.

Cheers to you all.

OKTOBERFESTA Community Tradition

The Origin

Once upon a time, long long ago in afar away land known as Bavaria, aCrown Prince, who later became KingLudgwig I, married the beautifulprincess Therese Von Sachesen-Hildenburghausen. The loyal soldiersin the Prince's National Guard thoughtthat the horse races would be a mostfitting way to celebrate the happyevent. King Max, proud father of thePrince, gave his consent to the racesand so they became the finale of five

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days of wedding festivities on October17, 1810. This was the likely beginningof Oktoberfest.

The horse races became an annualevent and were combined with thestate agricultural fair the followingyear. It wasn't until 1818 that booths,serving food and drink, were set up atthe event. In the late 1800's, the boothshad grown into large beer halls ortents, which are still set up each yearon the Theresienwiese named inhonour of Ludwig's bride.

Today, a large midway and fairaccompany Oktoberfest in Munich, thelargest celebration of its kind in theworld. The festival extends over twoweeks and ends on the first Sunday ofOctober.

The Legacy

In Kitchener-Waterloo, Oktoberfestwas not established by royal decree,but with a noble motive just the same.In 1969, the founding fathers of theKitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest sawthis Bavarian tradition celebrated at thefamous Concordia Club in Kitcheneras an excellent opportunity to benefitthe entire community by becoming acivic festival that celebrated our localGerman Canadian heritage.

On a wing and a prayer or $200 and avote of confidence....

Where today there is a cast ofthousands, at its inception on October14, 1969 at Bingemans there were onlya handful of dedicated Oktoberfestorganizers, among them RichardHermansen, Owen Lackenbauer andDarwin Clay. As long time Oktoberfestvolunteer Jack Bishop tell us, “Dar waschairman of the committee even beforethe organization became K-WOktoberfest Incorporated (whichhappened in its second year). The firstfestival ran Tuesday to Saturday. “Dickwas in my Lion's Club, and he askedme to come along and help. I waspresident from 1972 to 1976 and havenever looked back.

None of them could look back as theyhit the ground running. AddedLackenbauer, "it was pretty excitingback then because we were flyingblind. As part of the 1967 Centennialcelebrations, the Concordia Club had asmall Oktoberfest, and we had amandate with the Chamber ofCommerce to develop a tourism eventto attract visitors. When we saw whatOktoberfest looked like, we said this isa great opportunity." With a bannerover King Street, posters here andthere, and as much media coverage as

could be mustered, the keg was tappedand history had been made.

"We got the enthusiastic support of theGerman clubs and a tourism officialfrom Munich, Germany. All we hadwas $200 and a vote of confidencefrom the Chamber to get it going. Itwas a phenomenal success for the firstfive days, and we turned a small profitwith just short of 75,000 visitors,"recalled Lackenbauer. The successtranslated into happy patrons enjoying57,000 gallons of Bavarian-hoppedOktoberfest beer brewed for theoccasion and washing down over50,000 pounds of sausages along withpigtails, sauerkraut and other Germanand Waterloo County fare.

It was a small band of volunteers doingjust about everything. Bishop'spresidency even included fundraisingand selling souvenirs, which originallywere bought on 30-day consignmentand paid for after, but he liked thataspect of the festival so much thatnearly 40 years later Bishop retainsboth the fund-raising and souvenirchairs.

Those early years reveal the significantevolution the festival has experiencedbut one that has been true to thefounders' intentions for Canada's great

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Bavarian festival. "There's been bigchanges in many ways. There was a lotof community enthusiasm becauseOktoberfest was new, and now we're amuch more mature festival with anincredibly wide range of events andactivities," Bishop said. What hasstayed constant, in Bishop’s view, isthe tremendous amount of money thatis raised and goes back into thecommunity. "Service clubs have raisedhundreds of thousands of dollars eachyear since the beginning, and turnaround and give it to variousorganizations in the community. That’san untold story that the generalpopulation may not realize. And for theGerman clubs, the money goes backinto their clubs to carry on their richcultural heritage."

"From the initial success 40 years ago,we knew we had a tiger by the tail. Wetook steps to make sure the festivalbelonged to the municipalities ofKitchener and Waterloo. And that iswhere it has remained—a community-owned festival. The presentorganization has maintained thefestival’s traditional identify and theintegrity of the model that was firstdeveloped while today representingnew generations and different interests.That’s the key to Oktoberfest’ssuccess, and I think they’ve done thatvery well," noted Lackenbauer.

Since 1969, Kitchener-WaterlooOktoberfest has developed its owntraditions, becoming the largestBavarian festival in North Americawith the greatest Thanksgiving DayParade in Canada. Thousands ofvisitors celebrate annually in ourFesthallen, and by attending one ormore of our 40 family and cul-turalevents. Through the celebration of thisSpirit of Gemuetlichkeit, the localeconomy is stimulated and over 70charities and not-for-profit organiz-ations raise funds to support the highquality of life enjoyed in Kitchener-Waterloo. Willkommen to you, yourfamily and friends.

Enjoy the many exciting experiencesof our 9 day celebration, and ifsomeone asks why you are here... tellthem Ludwig sent you.

MAKING MUSICWITH CHILDREN

by Shannon Kingsbury

“Apples, peaches, pears and plums,stand up when your birthday comes”.The joyful chorus rings out from theenthusiastic voices of a group of 6 yearolds at my Fine Musicians after schoolmusic program. The children strive tokeep a steady clapping beat on legs andhands while singing out the months ofthe year and raising to their feet whenthey hear their birthday month. Allwithout missing a beat of course! Thegroup meets once a week for theduration of the school year, over whichtime the children will develop theirmusical ear through a rich repertoire ofseasonal songs, rhymes, games, dancesand creative music play using voices,percussion and mallet instruments.

My name is Shannon Kingsbury and Iam a singer, songwriter, harpist and

music educator. I have had the pleasureof performing and teaching in theGuelph community for the pastdecade. Soon after settling in Guelphto raise a family, a teacher vacancyarose with a local early childhoodmusic studio. My name was suggestedand I found myself teaching toddlerand pre-school age children. In spite ofbeing a parent myself, the learningcurve was steep and, as children tendto unknowingly instruct us, it becamevery clear what was required to keepthe students engaged and focused! Therewards of making music with childrenare many: from witnessing a parentplayfully engaging with their toddler ina lively lap bouncing song to guidinga group a primary students in creatingan improvised instrumental accom-paniment to a favourite story. Musichas the power to strengthen ourcommunities and lift our spiritsthrough our collective and individualvoices. Music is a science, music is adiscipline, but most of all, music is anART, and the transmission of such isbest done with a loving heart and openmind.

I close with a favourite anecdote fromthe “Guelph Dance's Arts ExplosionCamp” where I have shared songs and

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stories with kindergarten aged childrenfor many seasons. On the final day ofthe camp, a camper's grandmother toldme that her grandchild had come homein awe of hearing a harp. Every timethe child described the harp to herfamily, she started to cry. When herparents asked her why she was crying,her response was something like this:"When I think about the harp, its likeit's happening all over again - and it'sso beautiful". This comment came atthe perfect time - I was experiencingfrustration with mundane adultconcerns. I had to ask myself: whatwould happen if I let go ofexpectations/judgements and wasable/willing to see the world with thecuriosity and openness of a child?!Among other things, this is one of thegreat gifts that children give to us- thereminder to be present, open to beautyand life in every moment. I consider ita great privilege and responsibility todo this work.

MUSIC: THE FORMLESS FORM

by David Rankine

In my experience, music has alwayscreated a light show in my head- adisplay of colourful geometricstructures, sometimes simple andsometimes complex. This experienceof one sensory input manifesting asmultiple sensory experiences is called‘synesthesia’ – a very commonexperience for young children but lessso for adults. To see music and to evensmell sounds, is one that makes musica multi-sensory, holistic, full –bodyevent. Music engages our whole body,mind and soul.

For the past two weeks I have beenteaching at a school in Richmond Hill,creating mandalas with JK-grade 6students. I decided to take the studentsinto an experience beyond a paint andpaper one, into an experiential event

where the lines between, math, art,music and feeling were blurred.

As the students worked on groupmandalas and also personal one, Iplayed music for them on myMountain Dulcimer. The classesbecame silent as the music started, thestudents fully engaged in theexperience of creating. It did notmatter if the music was slow andmelodic or fast and rhythmic as thestudents quickly entered into theexperience of creation. Some childrenswayed in their seats as they colouredand one young boy took the floor andstarted to dance. In that moment,birthed from the combination ofgeometry and music, that boyBECAME the mandala – a movingmodel of expression – a full sensoryand body experience.

In our class wrap-ups, studentsreported “seeing” colours and formwithin their heads. Some kids saw filmlike sequences and some even tastedthe sounds. The overall experience wascalming – but the kind of calm that is

of body, mind and soul, a calm,perhaps generated from the re-integration of all the senses.

Mandalas are all about geometry and Ihave often said that geometry is themath of form. “Cymatics” is the studyof the FORM (geometry) OF SOUNDand indeed that is what mandalas are.But when the lines between senses areblurred, form becomes feelingbecomes taste, colour etc and musicbecomes math, physics, medicine art,smell and taste. Music becomes a soul-experience.

Sound is “that which is formless” andethereal, yet it has the ability to informFORM. Music IS the “formless form”and if we take it a step further, theshape of a sound (for example, amandala) is the “soundless sound”.That which informs what we are isitself without form. – a mind-meltingconcept for adults but something theseprimary grade students experienced ina very relaxed and open way. Theywere encountering themselves – asvery human co-creators of reality.

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15 of the 26 group mandalas created by 14 classes of JK-6 students

BOTTLED WATER:IS IT REALLY A PROBLEM?

by Karen RathwellWellington Water Watchers

In my role as a water steward, I haveshared many conversations about thepros and cons of buying bottled water.It seems to be an issue that can stir upemotion pretty quickly and I find thisaspect of the topic thought provoking.As I become more and more engagedin each debate, I usually create a T-chart in my mind. I picture an ancientGreek scale – like the scale of justice.One of the pans is labeled Pros and theother Cons.

After hundreds of conversations withstrangers, friends and family, I havelearned that I can now often anticipatethe arguments for buying bottled/packaged water. Perhaps it’s not a bigsurprise that the number one reasongiven for purchasing bottled watercenters around its convenience.

It’s hard to disagree with this.Packaged water is convenient and ifyou’re thirsty, it seems to be a muchhealthier choice over soft drinks and alot less calories than drinking juice.There is nothing that tastes better thancold water when you’re really thirsty.

Looking at the bigger picture,however, offers the other side of theargument – the trade off. What exactlyare we trading for this wonderfuldisposable convenience?

This is where the emotion comes in.Most people seem to know the logicalarguments for not buying bottledwater, but in their mind, these reasons

do not outweigh knowing that, nomatter where they are, their thirst canbe quenched. I picture this“convenience” argument being addedto the scale. I watch the balance dip,but how much? How much weight doyou give to the individual thirst beingquenched by a single serving, singleuse bottle and then the flip side, howmuch weight should be given to thegenerations that will be cleaning up thetoxic mess left behind? Decide foryourself, how much weight you stackon your invisible scale?

During my many debates, people willshare, that if it’s the plastic that’s aproblem, why single out packagedwater? Sure it creates mountains oftoxic plastic waste, but so do otherbeverages. In fact, so many foodsthese days are packaged in plastic, it’salmost impossible to buy food withoutplastic packaging. Why target bottledwater?

As for me, I can’t get stuck on this. Ofcourse one time use, single sizedservings of packaged water are not theonly source of plastic creating thisworld epidemic. That’s a given.Maybe each one of us needs to think alittle harder about all the plasticchoices we make daily, but beveragebottles are without a doubt a huge partof this problem. When a plantmanager, of one of Toronto’s wastemanagement plants, was interviewedby the Water Brothers on theBottlegate episode, he stated that hewill see about 700,000 single serving,one time use plastic water bottles travelthrough the plant daily. He estimated,if all the single serving, one time usebeverage bottles were counted, itwould bring the daily average to aboutmillion bottles a day. Still, with all thisrecycling, it is estimated that 65million plastic water bottles will endup in Toronto’s landfill every year. Ifyou think about it, someone wouldhave purchased each of those beverageproducts, water or otherwise, used theproduct for immediate thirst relief,

possibly for 5 minutes, and then theplastic container will be part of acomplicated chain of toxic problemswith a huge environmental footprintfor centuries.

These bottles never biodegrade, takinghundreds of years to breakdown, andeven then, these smaller and smallerpieces have become an even biggerproblem as they mix in with our soiland water, and are now part of our foodchain. Every piece of plastic evermade is still on our planet in one formor another, except for the small amountthat has been incinerated – with itsown set of problems.

Many people respond that they recycle,so it’s ok to create the waste. Withoutquestion, recycling is noble, but itdoesn’t trump not buying the plastic inthe first place! Recycling still usesenormous amounts of energy and fossilfuels, which of course contribute to theglobal warming problem big time.Besides, we are creating a lot ofproblems unnecessarily, because inmost places in Canada fabulouswater comes right out of our taps!!

The next most popular reason forbuying packaged water is thesentiment that consumers should havechoice not be controlled, and let themarket shake out what products willsucceed and which won’t. It’s all aboutsupply and demand. If people don’twant it, then packaged water willdisappear.

How much weight would you give forthis argument? Consumer demand ishighly influenced by advertising andmarketing strategy. Just as in the daysof cigarettes, certain groups aretargeted and massaged into place.Examine the marketing strategies usedby international water bottling giants.You might notice a parallel with thetobacco industry, when tobacco lawschanged in North America. In order tomake up for profits lost in NorthAmerica, tobacco companies began to

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open up new markets in Asia, targetingChinese women. So the bottled watertactics have also been redirected.Imagine how influential the followingChinese TV ad might be: Mother andchild are in the kitchen. Mother fills aglass with tap water and serves it to herchild sitting at the table. The childcurls up his nose, pours the tap waterin the fish bowl on the table and goesto the refrigerator to get a bottle ofwater. Powerful stuff!!

On top of all this, trade agreementslimit citizen and government power tochange the rules to protect ourenvironment or ourselves, if it meansthe bottom line of a company will benegatively affected. This is a really bigreason not to allow our water tobecome a commodity in the first place,to be bought and sold to the highestbidder. Once the precedent is set, it’snext to impossible to undo! Anotherweight added to the scale.

How much weight do you assign to “consumers should have the right tochoose - let the market decide?” Weighthis argument against its counterargument, a trail of plastic waste forour grandchildren to deal with, landbanking, water ownership andprivatization of a public trust. Some ofthese water bottling companies are sopowerful that even when local citizensare asked to cut back on their wateruse, corporate pumping continuesunabated.

The way I see it sometimes theconsumer market needs a shake-up -measures put in place to helpconsumers understand therepercussions of our choices. Measurestaken by governments to curb tobaccouse or reduce litter of plastic bags haveproven effective. We can do the samewith single serving, one time usebeverage bottles!

I’m not sure what your scale looks likenow, but mine has dipped big time.Basically, it all comes down to

breaking a bad habit, using a reusablebottle and becoming the boss of yourself when tempted to buy singleserving, one time use bottle of bottledwater. Eventually, drinking packagedwater will be as taboo as smokingwhile pregnant or eating almonds onthe Berkley campus. We just have tomake up our minds!

FIVE DELICIOUS THINGS TOCOOK IN OCTOBER

Coq au Vinserves 4-6

This winey chicken braise dotted withpearl onions and button mushrooms isthe first French dish many cooksoutside France make, and no wonder:It's as simple to prepare as it is elegantto serve.

Ingredients

4 cups red wine1 large yellow onion, halved and thinlysliced lengthwise

1 bouquet garni (12 sprigs thyme, 5sprigs parsley, and 3 bay leaves tiedtogether with kitchen twine)2 tbsp. olive oil10 oz. peeled pearl onions12 oz. white button mushrooms,quartered10 oz. bacon, cut into 1⁄2" pieces3 tbsp. unsalted butter1 (3-4-lb.) chicken, cut into 8 pieces2 tbsp. flour1 cup chicken stockKosher salt and freshly ground blackpepper, to tasteFinely chopped parsley leaves, togarnish

Instructions

Combine wine, chicken, yellow onion,and bouquet garni in a bowl; coverwith plastic wrap, and let marinate inthe refrigerator at least 4 hours orovernight. Drain chicken, onions, andbouquet garni, reserving wine, and setaside. Dry chicken thoroughly withpaper towels.

Heat oil in a 6-qt. Dutch oven overmedium-high heat. Add pearl onions,and cook, stirring often, until lightlybrowned and tender, about 8 minutes.Using a slotted spoon, transfer to abowl and set aside. Add mushrooms topot, and cook, stirring, until theyrelease all their moisture and brownlightly, about 8 minutes. Transfer tobowl with pearl onions; set aside. Addbacon to pot, and cook, stirring, until itrenders its fat and is crisp, about 10minutes. Using a slotted spoon,transfer to paper towels to drain; setaside. Add 1 tbsp. butter to pot, andthen season chicken with salt andpepper, and add to pot; cook, turningonce, until browned on both sides,about 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate,and set aside. Add drained yellowonions to pot, and cook, stirring, untilsoft, about 10 minutes. Add flour, andcook, stirring, until smooth, about 2minutes. Stir in reserved wine andstock, and then return chicken to potalong with bouquet garni; bring to a

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boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, andcook, covered and stirringoccasionally, until chicken is tender,about 15 minutes.

Remove from heat, and stir in pearlonions and mushrooms. Divide amongserving bowls, and garnish withrendered bacon and parsley.

Fricassee of ChanterellesServings: 4

Ingredients6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsaltedbutter, divided2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil,divided1 small yellow onion, finely chopped(about 1 cup)Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper3 garlic cloves, finely chopped1/4 cup dry white wine1 pound chanterelles, brushed clean(halved if large)1/2 cup heavy creamfreshly grated nutmeg1 teaspoon fresh oregano plus more forgarnishFresh lemon juice1/4 pound pappardelle, cooked aldente, or 1 pound boiled new potatoes

Preparation

Melt 3 tablespoons butter with 1tablespoon oil in a large skillet overmedium-high heat. Add onion, seasonwith salt and pepper, and cook, stirringoccasionally, until softened and lightlygolden, 4-5 minutes. Add garlic andcook for 1 minute. Stir in wine and

cook until liquid is re-duced by half,about 2 minutes. Add remaining 3tablespoons butter, remaining 1tablespoon oil, and mushrooms. Cook,stirring occasionally, until mushroomsare lightly golden, about 5 minutes.Add cream and nutmeg and cook untilslightly thickened, about 2 minutes.Stir in 1 teaspoon oregano. Season totaste with salt, pepper, and lemon juice.Toss in a skillet with cooked pasta, orserve over smashed boiled potatoes.Garnish with more oregano.

Butternut Squash Pizza

Ingredients1 cup very thinly sliced peeled, halvedbutternut squashExtra-virgin olive oil, for drizzlingCoarse salt1/4 cup finely ground yellow cornmeal1 ball pizza dough6 to 10 small or torn sage leaves1 to 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

Garnish: hazelnuts, toasted andcoarsely chopped

Directions

Preheat oven, preferably convection, to500 degrees. Drizzle squash with oil,and season with salt; toss.

Spread cornmeal on a baking sheet.Stretch dough into a 9 1/2-inch round;transfer to baking sheet. Drizzle doughwith oil, and arrange squash on top,leaving a 1/2-inch border. Bake for 6minutes (10 minutes if not usingconvection oven). Meanwhile tosssage with garlic, and drizzle with oil to

coat. Sprinkle sage mixture over pizza.Bake until crust is golden brown andcooked through, 6 minutes more (10minutes more if not using convectionoven). Garnish with hazel-nuts, anddrizzle with oil.

Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower withCherry Tomatoes and CannelliniBeansServes 6 as a side or four as a mainmeal

This aromatic dish is warming, full offlavour, nutritious and makes awonderful side or a great meal teamedup with some brown rice or quinoa anda dollop of plain yoghurt. It is alsovery easy to prepare and looksbeautiful brought to the table. Pleasenote that the spices I’ve chosen arevital to its success so make sure youuse all the ingredients I’ve listed. Theyare available at the supermarketthough I usually find nigella seeds atthe local continental deli. So off yougo, throw this recipe together and raisea glass to exciting cauliflower becausenow we know it really does exist. Andas far as I’m concerned, that’ssomething worth celebrating.

Ingredientsone medium to large head ofcauliflower, outer leaves removed andcut into floretssix medium size eschallots, peeled andleft wholeone punnet cherry tomatoes (about 250grams/8.8 oz), washed and cut intohalvesone 400 gram tin of cannellini beans,rinsed and drained3 bay leaves

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1/2 cup water1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil1 tablespoon lemon juice1 1/2 tablespoons ground turmeric1 teaspoon nigella seeds1/2 teaspoon ground sweet paprika1/4 teaspoon ground cuminsalt and pepper to taste1/4 cup flat leaf parsley, choppedfinelyoptional: dried raisins or sour cherries,if you like a dash of sweetness theseare wonderful added to this dish.

Method

Preheat oven to 170˚C (330˚F). In alarge mixing bowl place all thevegetables and bay leaves.

Mix the water, oil, lemon juice,turmeric, nigella seeds, sweet paprika,cumin, salt and pepper to-gether andpour over the vegetables. Mix tocombine ensuring they are evenlycoated in the liquid.

Place in oven and roast for at least onehour or until cauliflower florets aregolden. If you like your veggies reallymoist remove after this time, if youwant the flavours more developed anda more cara-melised dish then roastaround one and a quarter hours.

Scatter over chopped parsley, serve.

Roasted Garlic and Parsnip Soupwith Lemon Sage Butter

This soup is perfect, no matter what theweather happens to be doing. Theflavors are both mild and robust at thesame time. Rich and creamy, and yetsurprisingly light. You’d think that 3

whole heads of roasted garlic would beenough to keep the vampires away fordays (let alone your spouse), but it’snot at all overpowering.

Ingredients3 garlic heads, tops cut off to revealcloves1/4 cup olive oil2 tablespoons butter1 onion, finely chopped6 cups vegetable (or chicken) stock6 large parsnips (about 2 1/2 pounds),cores removed, coarsely chopped1 cup heavy cream2 tablespoons lemon juice, or to taste

Sage Lemon Butter:6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold butter,coarsely chopped1/4 cup (loosely packed) sage leaves2 tablespoons lemon juice (from 1large lemon)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Placegarlic on a large square of foil, drizzlewith a tablespoon of olive oil and wrapto enclose. Place on a baking sheet androast until soft, about 30 to 35 minutes.Let cool. When cool enough to handle,squeeze garlic cloves from skin and setaside. Discard skins.

Meanwhile, heat butter and remaining3 tablespoons olive oil in a largesaucepan over medium heat; add onionand stir until translucent, about 6 to 8minutes. Add stock and parsnip piecesand bring to a boil; cover and simmeruntil parsnip is very tender, about 45minutes to 1 hour. Add garlic clovesand cream and purée with a hand-heldblender, or in batches in a countertopblender (be cautious blending hotliquids). When smooth, return tosaucepan and season to taste with seasalt, freshly ground pepper and lemonjuice; keep warm.

Meanwhile, heat butter in a frying panover medium heat until foamy. Addsage leaves and fry until crisp (about 1

to 2 minutes ), then transfer with aslotted spoon to a paper-towel platelined plate. Add lemon juice to panwith butter and remove from heat.

Divide soup among bowls, and servetopped with crisp sage leaves and adrizzle of lemon butter.

FOCUS ON VOLUNTEERINGby Jennifer Annett

After Life-Changing Experience,Local Resident Gives Back ByVolunteering

This year marks United Way’s 75thAnniversary in Cambridge and NorthDumfries. It’s a time to reflect andcelebrate all the people in ourcommunities who give of their timeand resources to help one another.Behind every changed life is someonewho helped make it happen. In manycases, those people are the volunteersof our community, people who make itpossible for others to change their lifefor the better.

Christine Metzgar volunteers by takingpeople who need one-on-one supporton outings to the mall and on day tripsso that they can get out of the house.But it wasn’t too long ago thatChristine herself needed one-on-onesupport. Ten years ago she had verylittle hope. She had several lifechallenges which included poverty anda speech impediment. This causedsome emotional distress and that’swhen she learned about the programsat Community Living Cambridge. Shejoined the Community Connectionsprogram and began a long journey thatwould turn her life around.

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Christine Metzgar

Continuous speech therapy improvedher language skills and her self-confidence. She participated in manyworkshops to help with life skills, likecooking and parenting. Soon, sheherself will be a personal supportworker after she finishes her diplomaat Conestoga College. Christine says,“Now that I have my life back together,I give back by volunteering”. Thankyou, Christine, for choosing to giveback to the community throughvolunteering.

You, too, can make a difference insomeone’s life. Visit the VolunteerOpportunities Database for asearchable list of volunteeropportunities across Cambridge andNorth Dumfries. Go to www.uwcambridge.on.ca/volunteer-centre.php,and then click “Search the OnlineDatabase”. For one-on-one assistancein finding a volunteer opportunity thatsuits your interests, call the VolunteerCentre at 519-621-1030, ext. 253.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIESIN GUELPH

The Elliott Community requires TuckShop Volunteers to provide customerservice in the shop. The shop allowsresidents and visitors to purchasesundry items, cards, small gifts, snacksand drinks. Duties include greetingpeople and basic point of saleinteractions. Many times during theweek are available. For moreinformation, contact Michelle Schefterby email at volunteer@elliottcommunity.org by phone at 519-822-0491 ext 236.

Alzheimer Society WaterlooWellington requires Alzheimer’sSupport Group Volunteers to assiststaff in leading the support group in theFergus area. The group is designed toincrease social interaction for personsliving with dementia. This is a greatopportunity to build career skills forthose looking to work with seniors, orenter the medical field. For moreinformation, contact Barb Eastman-Lewin by email at barbeastmanlewin@alzheimerww.ca or by phone at519-836-7672 ext 2019.

Victorian Order of Nurses, MountForest Office requires S.M.A.R.T.Volunteers to facilitate the SeniorsMaintaining Active Roles Together(S.M.A.R.T.) Exercise Program. Theseprograms provide support to members55+ who wish to improve theirstrength, balance and flexibilityregardless of their current level offitness. Volunteer positions areavailable throughout the county.Training in CPR and First Aid isprovided to volunteers by the VON atno cost. For more information, contactColleen Lucas at 519-323-2330 ext4962 or email colleen.lucas@von.ca.

Stroke Recovery Canada, GuelphWellington Chapter requires a StrokeRecovery Partners ProgramCoordinator to recruit University ofGuelph students and partner them withstroke survivors. This includesreviewing volunteer applications,checking references and providingorientation and training to students.The coordinator will also report to theChapter Executive on the progress ofthe program. For more information,contact Carol Miller-Hall by phone at519-822-5111 or by email at carolmillerhall@gmail.com.

Homewood Health Centre requiresPatient Representatives who will joina group of volunteers who workcooperatively with staff and patients touphold the rights and responsibilitiesof patients. Patient Representativesattend patient community meetings tooutline services they provide. Patients,who have concerns that they are unableto resolve by speaking with theirtreatment team, can contact a PatientRepresentative who then meets withthe patient representative group tolisten and discuss concerns. Thisposition requires a regular weeklycommitment. For more information,contact Martha Schuett at 519-824-1010 ext 2262 or emailvolunteer@homewood.org.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIESIN KITCHENER-WATERLOO

A skilled and creative volunteer isneeded at Planned ParenthoodWaterloo Region to help with graphicdesign for print and web basedmaterials. Work at your location or atour office but you will need for owncomputer and software. Call 519-743-9360, or email director@ppwr.on.ca.

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Assist a second language learner inimproving his/her skills in English,especially conversational skills foreveryday living in Canada. Volunteertutor and peer meet for 4-6 months, 1-2 hours per week. Emailtutoring@kwmc-on.com.

Volunteer coaches are needed for theLetters, Sounds and Words program,offered by Strong Start. Help childrenaged 5-7 develop early reading skillsthrough activities and games. 30minutes once a week. For informationvisit strongstart.ca.

The Community Music School ofWaterloo Region is looking for aFundraising Officer to develop andexecute new fundraising strategies.The CMSWR provides music lessonsto children and youth in ourcommunity who are unable to accessarts education. For more informationcontact Caroline at chissa@cmswr.ca.

MUSIC AND YOUR BODY:How Music Affects Us and WhyMusic Therapy Promotes Health

Research has shown that music has aprofound effect on your body andpsyche. In fact, there’s a growing fieldof health care known as music therapy,which uses music to heal. Those whopractice music therapy are finding abenefit in using music to help cancerpatients, children with ADD, and oth-ers, and even hospitals are beginningto use music and music therapy to helpwith pain management, to help wardoff depression, to promote movement,to calm patients, to ease muscletension, and for many other benefitsthat music and music therapy canbring. This is not surprising, as musicaffects the body and mind in manypowerful ways. The following aresome of effects of music, which helpto explain the effectiveness of musictherapy:

Brain Waves: Research has shownthat music with a strong beat canstimulate brainwaves to resonatein sync with the beat, with fasterbeats bringing sharperconcentration and more alertthinking, and a slower tempopromoting a calm, meditativestate. Also, research has found thatthe change in brainwave activitylevels that music can bring canalso enable the brain to shiftspeeds more easily on its own asneeded, which means that musiccan bring lasting benefits to yourstate of mind, even after you’vestopped listening.

Breathing and Heart Rate: Withalterations in brainwaves comeschanges in other bodily functions.Those governed by the autonomicnervous system, such as breathingand heart rate can also be alteredby the changes music can bring.This can mean slower breathing,slower heart rate, and an activationof the relaxation response, amongother things. This is why musicand music therapy can helpcounteract or prevent thedamaging effects of chronic stress,greatly promoting not onlyrelaxation, but health.

State of Mind: Music can also beused to bring a more positive stateof mind, helping to keepdepression and anxiety at bay. Thiscan help prevent the stressresponse from wreaking havoc onthe body, and can help keepcreativity and optimism levelshigher, bringing many otherbenefits.

Other Benefits: Music has alsobeen found to bring many otherbenefits, such as lowering bloodpressure (which can also reducethe risk of stroke and other healthproblems over time), boostimmunity, ease muscle tension,and more. With so many benefits

and such profound physicaleffects, it’s no surprise that somany are seeing music as animportant tool to help the body instaying (or becoming) healthy.

With all these benefits that musiccan carry, it's no surprise thatmusic therapy is growing inpopularity. Many hospitals areusing music therapists for painmanagement and other uses.Music therapists help with severalother issues as well, includingstress. For more information onmusic therapy, visit the AmericanMusic Therapy Association'swebsite.

Using Music On Your Own:While music therapy is animportant discipline, you can alsoachieve many benefits from musicon your own. Music can be used indaily life for relaxation, to gainenergy when feeling drained, forcatharsis when dealing withemotional stress, and in other waysas well. This article on mu-sic,relaxation and stress managementcan explain more of how musiccan be an especially ef-fective toolfor stress management, and can beused in dailly life.

For more ways to relieve stress indaily life, subscribe to the freeweekly About.com StressManagement Newsletter; you'llfind research, tips, and tools thatcan help you to cut down on thestress you encounter in your life,and develop effective strategies tobetter manage the stress that youdo experience. In addition, these25 stress relievers provide avariety of ideas you can use rightnow, and these personality testscan tell you a little more aboutyour style of dealing with stress,and provide you with stress relieftechniques that work especially foryour situation.

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SO YOU JUST WANTTO BE A ROCK STAR

by Craig Dubecki

Baby Shane, losing his balance, fellsideways onto the sand, finally restingon his stomach. The roaring sound ofthe wave crashing over his tiny bodysilenced as it hit his solid matter.Hearing laughter, he pulled his face outof the muck, tilted his sand-coveredhead to the left following the noise,and was hit with yet another wave.Struggling to find strength, and withhis eyes finally clearing of water, hesaw hazy images of multi-colouredumbrellas strewn along the beach.People, all females, were lining thebeach. They were standing in front ofthe umbrellas…all pointing down athim and laughing.

“Top! Top!” He was trying to yell atthem in his baby voice to stop.

“Doe! Doe way!” He was nowsquirming in the sand…crying. Hewanted them to go away, and yelledagain but now in his adult voice. “Goaway!”

Shane suddenly felt sand beneath hisbare feet. He found himself standingup…facing them. He looked down athis body. Still completely naked butnow the size of the full-grown man heactually was. Looking down; he feltdizzy. There was nothing there.Nothing! He wore a baseball glove onhis left hand. He reached up and feltsomething on his head. He pulled itdown to see. It was Courtney’s littlewhite hat. He looked at the hundredsof women, all adult sized bodies, but

all the same, all with Courtney’s four-year-old head. Their laughter suddenlystopped and in unison yelled out atShane, “You are not special like me!”

So, You Just Want To Be a Rock Star isabout the life being lived by ShaneWazicki. Standing literally atcrossroads in southwest New Mexico,21-year-old Shane Wazicki needs tomake a decision. Reflecting on whathe has learned in life so far and inparticular, the two women he hasintimately known but each for veryshort times; his choices are betweenArizona and to his home in Canada.Regardless of which direction hechooses, he is sure that either one willmake his dreams coming true alongwith his heart being happy.

Life is all about choices, decisions andconsequences. It's also about adventureand exploration, and that's just whathe'll do regardless of which path hetakes. At his young and very naïveage, Shane is not afraid to experiencethem. His one personal dream since hewas nine years old, of becoming aprofessional athlete, has vanished.

Life is meant to be rocked; at least thatis what our Creators would like us tobelieve; more on them shortly. Insome ways, like the Parts of this book;phases in life are set up as if you werein a rock band. There is the Audition,and then the Rehearsal followed by theFirst Set, Second Set and finally theThird Set. You will meet the Creators.In fact, the Creators will briefly touchbase with you, the reader, at the end of

every chapter because once Shane wasput on this planet (for that matter -once we were all put on this planet), itwas left up to Shane, and us, to live ourlives; with no interference.

However, make no mistake; we areconstantly being watched. You, alongwith the Creators, will become Shane’sGuardian Angel.

There are no promises that life wouldbe easy. Vanishing dreams, promisingbeginnings, betrayal by trusted friendsand loved ones, forever friendships,workplace pressures, shattered self-esteem leading to depression, yetrediscovering oneself and therealization and gratitude for one’s veryown gifts and talents; these are phasesthat many people go through, andwithout exception, you will see Shaneexperience each and every one.

So, You Just Want To Be a Rock Star iswritten from the author’s observation,perception and imagination. The bookis fictional; however, it is a collectionof real-life adventures/journeys/observations many of you have, or willlive though. It is meant to give youhope! Music gives one hope.

Seventy chapters plus one set upchapter; each and every one is titledafter the name of a song ranging fromCrystal Ball by Styx, to Here I GoAgain by Whitesnake, to I Can’t MakeYou Love Me by Bonnie Raitt, to HideIn Your Shell by Supertramp, to JamesBrown’s Try Me, to Gary Moore’sheart-melting Still Got The Blues For

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So You Just Want to be a Rock Starwill be published by One Thousand Trees

in November 2015.

To place a pre-publication order,please visit www.ottbookstore.com

and save $5 off the cover price!

You. Included are two of the author’soriginals and the danceable andwonderfully motivating Lifted byAlysha Brilla. It promises to be apower-packed soundtrack. One linefrom each song is interwoven in thechapter to help you connect with andunderstand emotionally what is takingplace with Shane. After all, is that notwhat music helps us do; connect withour emotions?

With that very music, his guitars andvoice, and a burning passion being theconstants to help guide Shane in life,he is soon to ride a wild roller coasterof life to the point of deciding whetheror not he should jump off. Shane istrying to endure the ultimate survivalgame; the game of life.

THE LISTENING SONGa short story by Bob Smith

Ryan undid the first of the three locksso he could get into his apartment.There wasn't much inside worthstealing but this neighbourhood had aterrible reputation. The third lock,which he had added after the mostrecent break-in, was guaranteed to beburglar proof. He had bought it whenthe landlord replaced the splintereddoor. Ryan wasn’t usually cynical, buthe figured the lock was stronger andworth more than the door.

Johnny from Folk Alley said it wouldbe cheaper to have no locks at all, toleave the door open when he went outsince there was nothing worth stealing.Ryan shrugged when Johnny said that.He didn’t always have his guitar withhim and losing it would be a disaster.Fortunately, he had had it with himwhen each of the break-ins hadoccurred. So even though he ownednothing else of value, the lock wasstaying.

Moving would be nice but a betterneighbourhood would mean higher

rent. His income was from theoccasional gig and sometimes filling inbehind the counter at The GreatCanadian Coffee Emporium. But heavoided those shifts except when hewas desperate. They inevitablyinvolved early mornings since servingthe crowd of commuters on their wayto work in the downtown canyons wasthe primary business of TheEmporium. More importantly, he wasafraid if he let himself becomedependent on that money, his dreamwould die. Ryan had promised himselffive years to make it, which was morethan half over.

Cathy might change things though.

He had been playing at Folk Alleywhen he met her. He was in the habitof sitting with people in the audiencebetween sets, forcing himself toovercome his natural shyness. Itactually wasn’t hard any longer. Mostpeople were friendly if you askedquestions that let them talk aboutthemselves, and they had interestingstories if you dug a little.Occasionally, there would be someonewho asked about his music. But thereweren't personal questions, unless youcounted ones about life as a musician.

He always sat with groups. Lonerswere rare and he figured they eitherpreferred to be alone or had somepersonality quirk that kept others away.At first, he approached only groups ofmales, but as he discovered he couldsense when he wouldn’t be intruding,included couples. One particular nightthough, the only empty chair was at atable occupied by three women. So hedecided it was once more time to pushhis comfort boundaries, took a deepbreath as he put his guitar onto itsstand, smiled and walked over to theirtable.

He quickly discovered two were goodfriends and the third, Cathy, was a co-worker they had invited along. After ashort conversation involving all of

them, the two friends began adiscussion and it became apparent thathe and Cathy were expected toentertain each other. He fell back onhis tried and true, asking questionsabout her, but she seemed suspicious,as if he had ulterior motives for askingabout where she worked or lived. Sheturned the tables and for once, he feltlike it was genuine interest, notsomeone seeking vicarious thrillsassuming a musician’s life wasexciting.

As he found himself talking about thestruggles to support himself whiletrying to forge a career, he realized hedid not know how to be evasive. Hehad never felt the need to beat aroundthe bush before and he found himselftalking more personally than usual,describing his frustrating struggles.Her sympathetic nodding made herseem trustworthy and he found himselftelling her things he didn’t normallyspeak of to others, like how he seemedto be no further ahead than when hefirst got off the bus from up north, andhow he worried maybe it would neverhappen. Ryan felt like when he said‘worried’ she knew his fears went fardeeper, were a major anxiety that oftenkept him tossing and turning in bed,even though it usually was very latewhen he got home.

A week later, he was doing one of hisinfrequent shifts at the Emporiumwhen she came in. Since she workedsomewhere in the area – he didn’tknow exactly where, just that it was inone of the downtown towers – itwasn’t a complete shock, though thepleasure he felt at seeing her wassurprising. He didn’t think about thefact he had talked about the Emporiumshifts when he had been expressing hisfears until she showed up at the librarya few days later. He was reading thepaper as usual. He liked keeping upwith the news, papers were free there,and the comfortable sofa beside thewindow was a far nicer place than hisdingy room. Besides, it was warm.

15

Now that Thanksgiving was past, thatwas a consideration. Cold nights hecould handle – just pile on anotherblanket. Cold days were anothermatter though. He could put on anextra sweater but practising the guitarwas impossible. Finger stiffness wasinevitable, and a person couldn’t weargloves. So making the library part ofhis daily routine made sense, but whenshe bumped into him, Ryanremembered telling her about thelibrary and The Emporium.

At first he was a little apprehensive.However, there hadn’t been anyindications she was some kind ofwounded bird, looking for someone tosolve her problems. He had long agorealized that is why he was a loner –people seemed to see how you couldbe the answer to their problems. Hehadn’t seen anything like that withCathy. All she had done was be a goodlistener.

So how do I reciprocate? he wondered.How do I let her know I like herinterest and show some myself?

He finally got the locks undone andopened the door. His guitar sat in itsusual place, resting in its stand besidethe battered kitchen chair that let himpractice without clonking the guitar onan arm. I should finish that song hethought when he saw it. The song wasabout how listening to strangers couldbe a special gift but he was havingtrouble with the final verse. Then herealized he had an idea, thanks toCathy. I’ll sing it to her, he decided.Ask for some feedback. It would betoo personal to tell her she was theinspiration for the third verse. At leastyet.

16

THE MUSIC OF NATUREby Sandra Wilson

As I sit on the dock to welcome the dayOnly stillness and silence come my way.

Slowly the light creeps across the lakeWaking the world and the sounds it will make.

The wind rustles the leaves and stored raindrops fall.Then across the water a duck begins to call.

More birds chirp and the waves begin to slap.It is time for everything to awaken from their nap.

Congratulations to Sandra Wilson, and the Wilson EducationResource Centre ... nominated for a KW Record Readers’

Choice Award for Favourite Kids Camp - Professional Services!

Please help support Sandra, and the wonderful work she does,by casting your vote at http://readerawards.therecord.com.

Voting ends Monday, October 5, at 11:59pm.

NEXT MONTH ....IN ONE THOUSAND TREES

Our focus for November is Ghosts ofthe Past (due to schedule change).

The past is a ghost, the future is adream, and all we ever have is now.

Laurie Halse Anderson

Do you have an inspiring story you’dlike to share?

If you know of any community wellnessevents taking place in November,please complete and send me theEvent Listing form found on themagazine page of my website.

Articles are always welcome for any ofour “regular” departments ...

A Sense of CommunityCreativity and the Arts

Environmental AwarenessFood and Nutrition

Giving BackHealth and Wellbeing

The Library

Deadline for submissions isOctober 20.

As always, I look forward to hearingfrom you with any feedback or articleideas!

lisa@onethousandtrees.com

The Grand River flows300 kilometres throughsouthwestern Ontariofrom the highlands of

Dufferin County to PortMaitland on Lake Erie.

The Grand RiverConservation Authority

manages water andother natural resources

on behalf of 39municipalities andclose to one million

residents.

One Thousand Trees’target market is defined

by the borders of theGrand River Watershed.

Department Editorsare responsible for

promoting practitioners,events and volunteeropportunities in thecities of Brantford,

Cambridge, Guelph,Kitchener, and Waterloo.

Visit the Grand RiverConservation Authorityat www.grandriver.ca.