Fantastic panorama shot of Hamilton - Pic

Looks like it was taken from middle the Sherman stairs..

http://i.imgur.com/m3Q7F.jpg

READERS WRITE: Hortons lineups block traffic

Every morning, traffic slows and funnels down to one lane just past DeWitt Road and Highway 8 in Stoney Creek. This is not due to construction, however. No, this is because the lineup from the Tim Hortons drive-thru spills onto the road and blocks at least one lane. What’s interesting to note as well is that the parking lot is almost completely empty. This situation is not unique to this particular location.

Not only is this unnecessary idling detrimental to the environment, it is a traffic safety issue which the police should be enforcing as they do others.

McMaster University researchers discover drug that kills cancer stem cells

McMaster researchers have discovered a drug commonly used for Parkinson’s Disease and schizophrenia kills cancer stem cells without the toxic side-effects of other treatments.

Patients taking thioridazine for Parkinson’s and schizophrenia have 10 times less instance of cancer after being on the drug for a few years.

“We’re connecting dots that we weren’t connecting before,” said Dr. Mick Bhatia, principal investigator of the study and scientific director of McMaster’s Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute.

“We’re excited we have something interesting, but we’re always nervous because we want to make sure it helps people. The impact of this will be determined if we can put some patients in remission and certainly that’s my romantic goal.”

He expects a small number of Hamilton leukemia patients with no other treatment options will have access to the drug through a clinical trial within a year. He’s also hoping to set up a second trial at another Ontario cancer centre.

$1.5 million grow op busted in Hamilton Mountain home

Police seized what they say is $1.5 million worth of marijuana in a raid on Hamilton Mountain home Thursday.

Hamilton police found what they called “a very large, sophisticated grow operation that utilized the entire home,” on Ninth Avenue near Fernwood Crescent.

Police seized almost 1,500 marijuana plants, along with some street-ready marijuana.

The hydro line leading into the home had been compromised, and Horizon Utilities was called and shut off power to the home.

Hamilton’s home to Canada’s first male midwife

Canada’s first male midwife will practise in Hamilton.

Otis Kryzanauskas will be wearing red Adidas instead of the traditional red heels at McMaster University’s graduation ceremony Friday, when he makes history by becoming the first man in Canada to get a midwifery degree.

“It’s fantastic,” said Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews. “We really believe in the practice of midwifery. This is exciting, and I have to say I’m not surprised it’s happening in Hamilton.”

Hamilton is already a pioneer in midwifery, creating the country’s first university program at McMaster in 1993.

Kryzanauskas tries to avoid thinking too much about making Hamilton a leader yet again.

“It’s exciting and scary at the same time,” he said. “It’s exciting, because I can make this different. I can, hopefully, help expand the profession and I can do my part to make midwifery a really strong part of the Canadian health-care community. But it’s also terrifying, because there is no precedent set. We didn’t know how clients would receive me.”

Most women have been accepting so far, and Kryzanauskas is close to delivering his 100th baby. He’s joining the Community Midwives of Hamilton on Main Street West, after writing the national registration exam next week.

His patients say he’s good at the job. Mike and Jessica Dyment went so far as to name their baby after him.

“His personality is so perfect for the role,” said Mike Dyment. “He is definitely a care provider.”

The Dyments met Kryzanauskas about two months before their baby boy was born Jan. 25, and were at first skeptical about having a male midwife.

“As soon as he walked in the room, I was really at ease with him,” said Mike Dyment. “We hit it off right away.”

James North Art Crawl Rundown for May 11, 2012

Tonight is Art Crawl! James North comes alive with a flurry of new art exhibitions opening, concerts, impromptu sidewalk happenings and lots of people. The door to Mixed Media stays open until the last person leaves – we’re happy to share with you a listing of what some of our neighbours will be up to tonight. We hope to see you!

1. You Me Gallery, 330 James St. N. 905.523.7754 • www.youmegallery.ca
PETER KIRKLAND New Paintings – Large scale paintings on canvas and wood continuing the artists exploration of allusive organic forms. Exhibition continues to June 3. Gallery Hours: Wed – Sun, 12-5

2. James North Studio, 328 James St. N. www.jamesnorthartcollective.com
New Exhibition: Sherelle Willsack, “Feast”, Oils & Chalk Pastels, May 11 – June 3. See new work by the James North Art Collective’s members in the Kitchen Gallery and downstairs in the Photography Gallery. Reg. Hours: Wednesday – Saturday, 12 noon – 5 pm & Sunday 12 noon – 4 pm

3. This Ain’t Hollywood 345 James St. N. Live music venue • www.thisainthollywood.ca
Live music with BIBLICAL, MILK RUN & DIRTY NIL

4. Dave Gruggen Photography 326 James St. N. 905.522.1031 • www.gruggenphotography.com

5. Artword Artbar 15 Colbourne St. Multi-purpose venue & gallery • www.artword.net/artbar
A Touch of Klez, Hamilton’s own Klezmer band, playing the high-energy sounds of Eastern European music, gypsy, Jewish, swing.

6. Christ’s Church Cathedral 252 James St. N. 905.527.1316
New Harbours Music Series features beautiful, mesmerizing music from guitarist M.Mucci and deeply hypnotic ghetto ragas from the depths of space from NO SHOES and ONE SOCK. Makers’ Market returns to the front courtyard for a new season of local handmade goods and fabulous vintage finds.

7. The Factory Media Arts Centre 228 James St. N. 905.577.9191 • www.hamiltonmediaarts.org
HAMILTON FILM – A Look at the Film Festival Circuit in Hamilton presented by Nathan Fleet.

8. b contemporary 226 James St. N. 289.389.3949 • www.bcontemporary.ca
Steve Newberry – Straits continues to June 2nd. Steve Newberry explores the nature of boundaries and borders with work that is both minimalist and graphic. He joins the abstract language of maps with naturalism to examine how we define ourselves and the concept of otherness.

9. Hammer City Records 226 James St. N. (basement) Hardcore, Punk, Metal, Vinyl, Tapes, CDs •www.schizophrenicrex.com
Hammer City Records is thrilled to host an Art Crawl Night featuring Runt! In the words of the artist, Runt is “That Lee’s Palace guy that makes the Hanna Barberic paintings”, whose work is influenced by “everything from Aztec to Dr. Seuss, Robert Crumb and M.C. Escher.” He’s been voted Best Graffiti Artist multiple times in NOW Magazine and his vibrant and chaotic art speaks for itself. Records and refreshments will be served! On Art Crawl nights you can enter the shop via BContemporary Gallery on James Street North aside from the regular entrance off the alley that runs from Robert Street between Classic Cafe & Grannie’s Caribbean.

10. Grey Room Studio 195 James St. North (upstairs) • www.thegreyroom.ca
Featuring the art of Jesse Parenteau & Melissa Mostacci. New works every month.

Doors Open Hamilton breaks records

Buoyed by attendance at the newly renovated Lister Block, close to 28,000 people participated in Doors Open Hamilton on May 5 and May 6.

“I heard so many stories this weekend of people that had their first haircut in the Lister Block,” said Donna Reid, founding chair of Doors Open Hamilton.

Reid said 2,000 people visited Lister Block during the two-day event.

“We even had a shoe-shine boy who claimed he was the first Irish-Hamiltonian to be hired in the shoe shine shop.”

The first Doors Open Hamilton event was held in 2003, with 6,800 visitors.

“It's been an incredible growth over 10 years,” Reid said.

She said growing numbers of young people and families are raising the event's popularity.

“One of the most gratifying things is to see the changing demographic of the people who are really interested.”

Hamilton police SWAT team busts movie shoot

There were two different scripts being played out that night at the convenience store next to the welding shop in Mount Hope.

In one, Derrek Peels, plastic gun in hand, was going to interrupt a robbery, as a duly deputized officer of the law. That's what he was paid to portray.

In the other, some truly duly deputized officers of the law, real guns in hands (and a German Shepherd at heel), were going to interrupt Derrek Peels. Whatever it took. That's what they're trained to do.

This was not the time for the director to say “Shoot.”

He didn't.

Actually, what Derrek expected to hear, standing outside, was a cue to move into the store with his gun drawn (it was still in the holster when the real cops arrived).

Instead, there came a voice Derrek didn't recognize, yelling authoritatively, “Don't move!”

Suddenly surrounding Derrek were several uniformed men, poised to shoot. 

LISTEN NOW: REAL POLICE ARREST

Pot advocate Walter Tucker dies at 79

The colourful co-founder of the Hamilton-based Church of the Universe – which says it uses marijuana as a religious sacrament – has died.

Walter Tucker, who called himself a reverend in the church, died Thursday at about 5 p.m. of heart failure at Hamilton General Hospital, the church said in a release.

He was 79.

Tucker co-founded the Church of the Universe with Michael Baldasaro, who called himself Brother Michael. The pair was in and out of court over the years arguing their belief. They were touched by the murder of a church member at their Hamilton headquarters and a battle with authorities to preserve a swimming hole in Puslinch Township as the site of their abbey.

Pensioner jailed for stealing food

A provincial court judge threw a 71-year-old pensioner in jail Wednesday for shoplifting, among other items, foodstuffs.

While prosecutor Jill McKenzie and defence counsel Steven Howarth both sought a probation term for Dofasco retiree Pavle Stojanovic, Ontario Court Justice Fred Campling had other ideas particularly after noting the accused had five prior theft convictions on his record.

Campling sentenced the Beamsville resident and Austrian native, who appeared with an interpreter and on crutches stemming from leg and head injuries suffered in a recent fall, to 15 days behind bars.

Stojanovic pled guilty to one count of theft under $5,000 and to one charge of possession of stolen property under $5,000.

Court was told on June 6, 2010 Stojanovic entered the Zellers store on Queenston Road. A store security officer observed the accused place a number of small items, including a quantity of foodstuffs, into a bag and leave without paying. The shoplifted goods, valued at $677, were recovered.

Howarth told court that Stojanovic came to Canada in 1968 and worked at Dofasco for 24 years before retiring. During a previous stint in the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre for convictions of driving while disqualified and failing to appear in court, Howarth said his client was set upon by other inmates, presumably because he didn’t speak English. He still requires 12 dental implants as a result of that beating.

Campling said it was clear Stojanovic had not gotten the message that shoplifting is unacceptable.

Cable crossed wires caused porn movie to appear on CHCH broadcast

CHCH television says a cable company repair problem caused the sudden appearance of a hard core porn movie during its Friday morning newscast.

The station apologized to viewers and promised to investigate as soon as it returned to air.

News director Mike Katrycz said the station confirmed within the hour “there was a cable cut at a cable company somewhere (Thursday) night) and somewhere in the repair of it put in some alternative programming which wasn’t ours.”

“It didn’t originate with us “

“We are apologizing to our viewers. We hope they understand it was beyond our control.”

Katrycz said such a thing has never happened before in his 30 years experience.

Viewers of the News Now broadcast were confronted with hard core sex scenes at 9:30 a.m. for about three minutes before the channel stopped broadcasting.

Halton police seek man who stole dog from 14-year-old girl

Halton Regional Police are asking the public for assistance in what they call a disturbing incident of a dog being stolen.

A 14-year-old girl was walking her dog across an Esso parking lot in Burlington Monday night around 7 p.m., when she was approached from behind by an unknown man.

Police allege the man then asked the child if he could the pet the dog.

When the girl, who was startled and unsure of what to do, continued to walk the man persisted and began petting the dog.

He then removed the dog from the leash and told the girl, "I'll take my dog, this is my dog, I lost him three years ago."

The man then picked up the dog and walked back through the Esso parking lot before getting into a silver vehicle.

The vehicle then left the lot where it eventually turned northbound onto Waterdown Road.

The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 40-50 years old standing 5'3"-5'8". He was scruffy in appearance with a shaved head and unshaven face, wearing black shorts, a blue sweater and dark footwear.
 

Governor General will meet Hamilton face-to-face

Governor General David Johnson won’t be coming to Hamilton to walk its scenic waterfront trails, visit galleries on James Street North, or marvel at one of the city’s waterfalls.

Instead, he’ll spend time in one the city’s hardest-hit neighbourhoods, where residents struggle with poverty, unemployment and poor health.

But the neighbourhood he’ll visit is also a place of hope, community involvement, and activism — and that’s what Johnson is coming to see Wednesday during his first visit to Hamilton.

“We just thought we’d like the Governor General to get a sense of both the depth of the challenges in neighbourhoods like McQuesten, but also a sense of hopefulness from the good work that’s been going on there,” said Terry Cooke, CEO of the Hamilton Community Foundation, which is hosting Johnson’s visit.

Johnson will start his daylong visit in Hamilton at a round table discussion in the McQuesten neighbourhood, near Parkdale Avenue and Barton Street. The neighbourhood finished as the 10th-worst overall out of Hamilton’s 130 neighbourhoods in the rankings compiled for the Spectator’s 2010 Code Red project.

In the area, just over half (53 per cent) of all children under age 18 live in poverty, the sixth-highest rate in Hamilton. And more than one in four families (27 per cent) is headed by a single mother, the eighth-highest rate in the city. Just four out of every 100 adults between the ages of 26 and 64 have a university degree.

But the McQuesten neighbourhood is also home to some of the city’s most engaged and active citizens.

The neighbourhood planning team, chaired by Pat Reid, encourages residents to get to know each other and the services available to them. With the help of the Hamilton Community Foundation grants, the team has planted flowers to beautify the neighbourhood’s streets, built two successful playgrounds and a large community garden, and hosts an annual block party.

Young Stoney Creek artist could be heading to the National Gallery.

The Group of Seven artists were well into their 30s by the time they had a showing at the National Gallery of Canada, but Stoney Creek’s Josh Tiessen may score that opportunity at the age of 16.

This winter, Tiessen submitted a painting (a close-up of a door handle surrounded by peeling paint, done in his style of high realism) to Canada’s second annual So You Want to be an Artist — a competition aimed at 16 to 19 year olds. From now through April 30, visitors to makeart.ca can vote for their favourite works. The top 12 pieces will be exhibited at the National Gallery from June 2 to July 3.

Tiessen has shown his work in and around Hamilton since 2007. He has won awards at various fine arts festivals. In 2010, he sent an email to famed wildlife artist, Robert Bateman, who extended a personal invitation for Tiessen to attend his upcoming Master Artists Seminar at Hollyhock — a centre in British Columbia that offers classes and workshops for environmental activists. Tiessen attended the one-week seminar on a scholarship. He was the youngest artist in a room full of professionals from all over North America and Europe. If you visit hiswebsite, you’ll find a reference letter from Bateman, supporting Tiessen’s talent and ambition.

http://joshtiessen.com/

http://makeart.gallery.ca/gallery/details/860/

Meanwhile on kijiji..

TIME MACHINE

This is a top of the line time machine for sale here. 

Built by German and Chinese engineers who were abducted by aliens and sent back with an overwhelming knowledge of time and space.

Please take this very seriously, time is of the essence. 

Only serious buyers with a full knowledge of how to operate time machines and pass a guantlet of  ethical testing will be considered as the fate of humanity will rest in their hands.

Comes from a smoke free and pet free home.

Asking 20 trillion dollars. Or will trade for a PS3. No lowballers please.

My name is Sigmund von Sigmund, just whisper my name and I will appear behind you, or maybe I am already there...

Mob hits James North

Cash Mob Mixed Media on James Street North was the scene of Hamilton's first 'cash mob.'

Kaz Novak/The Hamilton Spectator

Sidebar

Wanna join the mob?

For information about the next cash mob:

facebook.com/cashmobhamilton

cashmobhamilton.blogspot.com

@CMHamilton_ on Twitter

To those familiar with Hamilton’s Mafia-tinged history, the word “mob” evokes a rather different picture than what took place on Saturday.

Still, the mob activity on James Street North was about the money, and a businessman was presented with an offer he couldn’t refuse.

On the first International Cash Mob Day, a group of about 25 people gathered to declare which local business they would support en masse with a modest spending spree.

“It’s time. Welcome to our first cash mob,” said organizer Meaghan Makins, greeting the “mobsters.”

A cash mob is not to be confused with a “flash mob,” which the Oxford online dictionary defines as a “public gathering of complete strangers, organized via the Internet, who perform a pointless act and then disperse again.”

A cash mob, while organized using social media, and mobilizing strangers to some extent, has a very specific goal: supporting local businesses with cash — $20 was the suggested minimum — in a celebratory way that encourages others to patronize community merchants.

Organizers said more than 100 cities in Canada and the U.S. held cash mobs as well Saturday.

Hamilton’s version hit Mixed Media at the corner of James and Cannon streets.

Makins acknowledged that the store, owned by Dave Kuric, is not one in desperate need of attention. The arts supplies store and its owner have received media coverage in the past for helping to foster the blossoming arts community in that part of town.

And that, she said, is why they chose Mixed Media — to celebrate Kuric’s efforts.

“Dave has done so much for the downtown. And he’s a great guy.”

Participants included Sandy Reynolds, a corporate trainer.

“It’s a great way to stimulate local business,” she said.

Jenna Lane and her younger brother, Daniel, took part in the mob, en route to see the hit movie The Hunger Games.

“James North has come alive and we need to support it,” she said.

Kuric was caught by surprise as people funneled through his front door and began checking out the range of products on his shelves, which range from all manner of art supplies to locally produced artwork and T-shirts, plus vintage typewriters, journals and books (titles include Eat More Dirt about organic food and This Is Not A Book) as well as offbeat postcards. (One woman purchased a card with the caption: “She said kiss me somewhere dirty so we drove to Hamilton.”)

Wandering dog attacks four people in biting rampage

Four people were attacked and two of them received serious facial injuries when two dogs got loose in the east end Wednesday and one of them went on a biting rampage.

Ashley Armstrong was walking her Jack Russell terrier near King William Street and Tisdale Street North around 6 p.m. when she spotted the roaming dogs. She was attacked while looking to see if they had collars. The smaller one, described as a miniature Australian Shepherd, was friendly. The larger, a black and white husky cross, seemed the same until, unprovoked, it lunged for her neck.

Less than an hour later, Krista Fehrman was driving home from work when she saw the same two dogs wandering. Worried they might get hit by a car, she pulled over on Ashley Street to look for an owner. The smaller dog allowed her to pet it, but the husky — again, without any warning — jumped up and bit her in the face.

“It was not a nip. He was in the air, off his feet, holding on to my face,” Fehrman said.

The dog tore a hole in her cheek, and ripped the bottom part of her nose, cheek and lip. She has been told she may need plastic surgery.

The dog attacked another bystander while Fehrman called 911. An Animal Control officer who arrived on the scene was also bitten as she tried to capture the dog.

“It all happened so fast,” Fehrman said. “This was just a behaviour I've never seen before. I've never seen a dog not show any warning signs before they bite. It was very scary.”

Needlework Adds a New Element to James North - NewsClipTV Video

http://newscliptv.com/videos/needlework.html

Who's the smartest person in Canada? Ticat Pete

The smartest person in the country is a Hamilton Tiger-Cat.

At least, according to a CBC contest that aired Sunday night.

Ticats guard Peter Dyakowskicame out on top at the end of CBC Television special Canada's Smartest Person after competing as one of four finalists.

Dyakowski, 27, has a Mensa-level IQ and led all athletes' scores in the CBC's Test the Nation show last year.

The 6-foot-5 football player says he got booted out of the gifted stream at his elementary school in Vancouver but made the South East Conference honour roll when he played at Louisiana State University.

The two-hour CBC Television show aimed to show there is more to intelligence than having a high IQ.

Canadians nominated themselves — or people they knew — last year and the show's producers selected four contestants after conducting interviews and tests based on the Theory of Multiple Intelligences.

Project Punchbowl - Youtube