It’s My Life, Sort Of – Oh what a night

By Joe Barkovich, Scribbler-at-large

“Do you believe in magic?

In a young girl’s heart

How the music can free her whenever it starts…”

Darn 60s dances.

You hear a once-fave tune and it gets into your head and you can’t get it out again no matter how hard you try.

Like water in your ear. Know the feeling?

The Lovin’ Spoonful’s Do You Believe in Magic, from the mid-60s, did it to me Saturday night.

And it’s been goin’ round and round like a 45 rpm with one of those yellow adapters fit into the middle so the record could play on the turn table.

Welland-based British Invasion Band is to thank for their fine rendition of John Sebastian’s Do You Believe in Magic? classic. The band was the headliner for a fundraiser at the International Flatwater Centre. The opener was a band called Groovy Food – my, talk about getting the adrenaline going, these guys sure can do it.

Oh what a night! No, not the song. “Oh, what a night, late December back in ’63/What a very special time for me/As I remember what a night!” as performed by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Remember that one? Just, oh what a night! Good music, good friends, good food too.

Let me admit it now: the bands’ respective opening sets turned back the hands of time, that was inevitable. They roused from slumber a lot of memories.

Live band dances were a big thing way back in the 60s where much of Saturday’s music had its roots. High schools had live band dances on occasion. Frats and sororities around town had them more often. The best venues were places like the K of C (Knights of Columbus) hall on Lincoln West, Holy Ghost Church hall on the east side, Morgan’s Point, and some will say, Davis Hall in Fonthill.

*** 

“I’ll tell ya about the magic

It’ll free your soul but it’s like trying to tell a stranger ’bout rock n roll”

It seemed as if local bands were coming out of the woodwork. Arguably, two favourites of most in Welland were the Spartans and Sting Rays. Anytime these guys played you could expect a full house and a lot of action on the dance floor. Even some of the guys who typically leaned against the walls with their hands in their pockets for most of the night got the urge to get out on the dance floor. Remember what they were called: “wallflowers”.

On Saturday night, a musician of renown was seated at our table. Stanley “Stash” Szymkow, a  Welland South-neighbourhood boy as the saying goes, was there to join in a set by the British Invasion Band later in the evening.

Renown?

Well, one of the guys in Groovy Food referred to him as “a legend” during a conversation they had had between sets. Now that’s renown – when one of your peers refers to you as a “legend”. Low-key Stash is one of the best and one of the best known horn players in these parts.

I suppose this, too, was inevitable. We lamented the decline  of weekend live band dances as we had known them. He suggested two factors which contributed : changes in smoking laws and changes in drinking laws. Little by little (or maybe it was faster than we recall) they took their toll on attendance at events such as live band dances. Now that I think about it, makes sense to me.

 ***

“Do you belive in magic?

Yeah. Believe in the magic in a young girl’s soul believe in the magic of rock n roll

Believe in the magic that can set you free Ohhhh, talkin’ bout magic.”

CAPTION: Saturday Night Band, pictured, had a huge fan base in Welland and area. (Photo by Joe Barkovich)

Saturday Night Band was another of the bands Stash would join in with at dances every now and then.

These Welland musicians had a huge local following for years and made an enduring name for themselves by playing benefit dances on behalf of local charities and causes. Their commitment led to Paul Harris Fellow recognition by Welland Rotary, no small achievement. They could, and did, fill cavernous Ukrainian Cultural Centre hall time after time because of their fan base in and around Welland. Of course, their name came up in our conversation with Stash paying them tribute – for their music and for their humanitarianism. I have a six-disc set of their music and it is played as the mood overtakes me.

Anyway, the Saturday night just gone by stirred my nostalgia from its deep sleep thanks in large measure to music by the British Invasion Band and Groovy Food. I’m not going to name the musicians – I don’t know all by name. Suffice to say they carry on traditions of so many still remembered groups who played for us over a long span of years at K of C, Morgan’s, Ukrainian and other venues now gone or forgotten or maybe even both. And at one I’d had a personal epiphany – I was a wallflower no more!

The invite to Saturday night’s gig, held to raise funds for the entrance enhancement project at Welland Farmers’ Market described it as “ like a Welland South, WHVS, ND, Eastdale, sports reunion”.

Sure sounded good to me. And the music sounded even better. And that 60s song by John Sebastian, well, it’s still playin’ in my head, thanks to the British Invasion Band.

“Do you believe like I believe?

Do you believe in magic?”

***

(A former reporter and editor, Joe Barkovich lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario, Canada’s Rose City.)

Welland Snaps

Riverbank Park on Niagara Street offers shutterbugs glorious vistas for scenic photography. This view overlooks the Welland River. I’ve titled this shot Framed by Two Trees in my photo album. (Welland Snaps, debuting today, is a weekly photo feature appearing Mondays on the blog. Photo by Joe Barkovich)

Welland Snaps

City of Welland horticulture staff gave these bushes an eye-appealing spring trim to welcome passersby who walk through Riverbank Park, a pretty patch of greenery that straddles both sides of Niagara Street at Riverbank. (Photo by Joe Barkovich)

Just ducky!

Who says life in Welland isn’t what it’s quacked up to be? Not this pair of ducks, enjoying a late Sunday morning dip in the rock pond at Chippawa Park. ‘Quackertone’ suntan lotion anyone? (Photo by Joe Barkovich)

Let’s go for it, Welland!

(An editorial calling for Welland to ask Canada Post to issue a stamp honoring the City of Welland rose)

CAPTION: The City of Welland rose. Why not a City of Welland-rose stamp one day issued by Canada Post? (File photo by Joe Barkovich)

It would be foolish for the City of Welland and community-partner groups not to pursue a floral stamp that would honor the City of Welland rose.

Such a stamp, issued by Canada Post, would shine a national and international spotlight on both Welland’s official flower, the City of Welland rose and Welland itself – Canada’s Rose City.

It’s positive publicity Welland could use.

It’s a project worth taking on – one perhaps spearheaded by the city with involvement of local groups, or by one or more of the latter working with the city’s blessing. Some that come to mind: Welland Pelham Chamber of Commerce, Welland Horticultural Society, Heritage Welland, Welland Rose Festival.

Canada Post on Wednesday issued two new rose stamps: one honoring the velvety red hybrid tea, Konrad Henkel; the other honoring a “creamy white hybrid tea with warm gold undertones”, Maid Of Honour.

A news release about this week’s issue says in part: “After one of the coldest, longest winters in recent memory, Canada Post celebrates the warmer weather and the symbolic rose with the annual issue of the floral stamp series. One of Canada Post’s most popular series, these springtime stamp issues are prized by brides-to-be and gardening enthusiasts.”

So, one day, why not a floral stamp honoring the City of Welland rose?

Info on the website says: “Canada Post welcomes all Canadians to participate in proposing stamp subjects. Canadians may submit suggestions for subjects to be used on stamps. Each year, Canada Post’s stamp program consists of about 20 broad subjects or themes covering some 40 to 50 individual stamps.”

CAPTION: The Montreal Rose was featured on this stamp, issued by Canada Post in 1981. (Photo by Joe Barkovich)

When suggestions are made, a national Stamp Advisory Committee “evaluates all suggestions received based on their contributions to celebrating and promoting Canada—our heroes, our leading personalities, our heritage, our traditions and our achievements, as well as their potential to appeal to Canadians.”

A City of Welland-rose stamp could be timed to co-incide with the 100^th anniversary of the Welland Horticultural Society in 2018 or the 100^th anniversary of Welland being named Canada’s Rose City, to be observed in 2021. (Oct. 18, 1921 was the date).

Such special stamps are sought after by collectors around the world and of course by consumers. A City of Welland Rose stamp would travel the world in one way or another, drawing attention to our beautiful hybrid tea rose and of course, the city itself.

Canada Post makes it easy: what to do, how to do it and when to do it are explained on the website.

It’s impossible to estimate how much this stamp would be worth to the city in terms of publicity generated and recognition received. But as the old saying goes: “You couldn’t buy it for a million bucks.”

It’s certainly worth the try.

Heck, the price is right: a stamp or two to mail the submission to Canada Post.

So come on Welland, let’s go for it! We’ve nothing to lose – and a “stamp” of approval to gain.

(A former reporter and editor, Joe Barkovich lives in Welland, Ontario, Canada’s Rose City.)

For this group, meetings are a matter of principals

CAPTION: Pictured clockwise from left: Clyde Barnhart, Romeo Parent, Larry Witmer, Jim Lanigan and Gerry Blazetich. All but Lanigan are retired principals. Lanigan , the plumber they shared, is a regular attendee at the luncheons. (Photo by Joe Barkovich)

By Joe Barkovich, Scribbler-at-large

Long retired from careers in public elementary schools, “class” is still in one day a week for a tight-knit group of former principals.

They meet, most Thursdays, for lunch in the King’s Inn dining room at The Rex on King Street, which doubles as their study hall. No textbook learning here, the three R’s are replaced by the three C’s –  camaraderie, companionship and commiserating as their core subjects.

Though members have come and gone as years graduated into decades, the tradition continues, kept alive by a handful of diehards who know a good thing when they see it.

Romeo Parent is one. His membership roots go back to the beginning, 1958, he says. Meetings have been held on a regular basis since that time on.

“I got a call from Joe Mocsan. I was a teacher back then, Joe was a consultant. He says to me on the phone: ‘You want to go to lunch?’”

Another well-known name from the Who’s Who of Welland public school academics and also one of the original members was Frank Seykoczky, said Parent, who is the last of the three organizers. Others now gone are also missed, Hector Beauparlant who was principal at Vanier School, being one of them on Parent’s list.

The group also has “younger blood”, like that of John Mastroianni whose principalships included schools in Welland and Ridgeway until his recent retirement. He was at one of the luncheon meetings at The Rex, but I could not be there that particular day.

Over the years, the principals made their mark on several local businesses.

Their original meeting place was the Atlas Hotel on Southworth Street.

“It’s gone now,” Parent said. “We went to the Reeta Hotel coffee shop – gone now, the Dexter – gone now; the Barclay – gone too. Now we are here at The Rex most Thursdays except the first Thursday when we go to San Marcos in Port Colborne. The owner, Monica, is part of the Carusetta family and we got to know her when she was here. We are loyal customers to these good people.”

Lunch is light and so is the banter. On one Thursday, toasted westerns with salad or fries, soup, gnocchi and a Rex staple, pizza, were ordered up by the half dozen or so members in attendance. Parent, ever the principal, made mental notes of who was – and who wasn’t there. The only thing lacking was the attendance sheet with the names of the missing.

Parent, 83, who saw duty at Riverview, Queen Street, First Street and Princess Elizabeth schools in Welland, said he’s missed only a handful of meetings over the years and even that could be an exaggeration.

The gang follows the school year calendar for their meetings, taking a break during holiday periods like Christmas and summer.

Said Gerry Blazetich, 73: “We were close as principals in Welland. There was a bond there, it’s hard to define, you had to be one of us.” During his career, Blazetich was principal at Mathews, Welland South, Elmwood, Humberstone and Greendale (Niagara Falls) schools.

Another former principal, Clyde Barnhart, remembered: “Welland is where the camaraderie existed. We helped each other out. That was the beauty of teaching those days.”

The principals had a team in the Crowland Softball League from the late 1950s to mid 1960s, Parent said. The team was sponsored by Sunnyside Dairy, whose owner Allan Pietz “was so proud to do this” and who stopped by to watch some of the games.

“I think I came into the group in the late ‘60s,” said Jack Gray, 87, whose last school before retirement almost 30 years ago was Gordon on Thorold Road. “You had to be invited, you know.”

Gray and Parent both recalled the esprit de corps for which the group was known, far and wide.

To some, they were known as “the Welland Mafia” Parent said with Gray agreeing in earnest, stressing their loyalty to one another.

And Larry Witmer, who retired in 1994 after postings at various local schools, remembers it as being “a good sounding board for ideas.”

Now, meetings provide opportunity “for rehashing events of the past, enjoying good times and just getting together with people you worked with over the years and respect,” he said.

There’s no saying how long this group will carry on, noted Parent.

“I think time will be the deciding factor.”

(A former reporter and city editor, Joe Barkovich lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario, Canada’s Rose City.)

 

 

It’s My Life, Sort Of: Gosh, the things we said

CAPTION: He said: “Have you lost your marbles?” (Photo by Joe Barkovich)

By Joe Barkovich, Scribbler-at-large

The look on my friend’s face said it all when he heard my prediction.

“Habs in four,” I’d said, forecasting an ouster of the Tampa Bay ’Bolts in four successive games.

He said: “Have you lost your marbles?”

The voice was incredulous as the look on his visage.

Indeed, I had not.

“Un… deux…trois…quatre,” I said, making sure he got the replay in both official languages.

But I chuckled over his choice of words: “Have you lost your marbles?”

I hadn’t heard that in quite some time. It’s an oldie but a goodie, as we used to say about hit tunes from the past.

That was back in the ‘50s, maybe the ‘60s. It was a favourite of DJs on Buffalo radio station WKBW, “1520 on the dial” as the DJs said.

Kids today would wonder: “What’s a dial?”

Gosh.

Then, when I offered a friendly wager to show how serious I was, the anti-Hab gladly accepted.

“A pint of Kilkenny it is. It’s your funeral,” he chortled.

Another popular expression from yesteryear. We used to say it often, as in admonishment to a school chum for cutting Mr. Speranzini’s physics class: “Okay, go ahead, but it’s your funeral” – a warning about the consequences that could be forthcoming. Besides, why would anyone want to cut one of “Spinx’s” physics classes? He was the guy who taught us the easy way of remembering the colours of the spectrum, in order, using an acronym: ROYGBIV – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.

Golly. I still remember.

For a split second, I considered changing the wager’s payoff to another beverage.

“How about a Boston soda instead?” I pondered asking.

Remember the Boston soda: two or three scoops of vanilla ice cream stuffed into a tall milk shake glass, and Hires root beer poured over the top, just enough so that it dribbled over the lip of the glass.

Haven’t had a Boston soda in years. Maybe not since the ‘60s.

Besides, he might have rebuffed my reply with a bruising “Buzz off, buster!”

Whatever happened to buzz off? That’s another buzzword I hadn’t heard in years, if not decades. Buzz off, and take off – that’s another one for you.

Besides, I didn’t want my pal to flip his lid. Remember that one – replaced in current conversation, I’d say, by the term “lose it”, like “I didn’t want my pal to lose it.”

Anyway, on the drive home, I was so excited by the probability of my Habs winning in four straight I “goosed it” at the intersection after the light changed from red to green. Those two words were in just about everybody’s vocabulary, especially after getting the use of your dad’s wheels and you were ready to pull out of the parking lot of the A and W on Lincoln Street West.

And what did your buddies in the back seat yell out: “Goose it!”

So when the Habs win tonight, pardon me if I go ape. Winning the first round of these hockey playoffs will be out of this world after so much disappointment in previous years. And earlier in the season, I thought I was going to dye – my Habs sweater another colour. “Oh ye of little faith!” – now that’s old.

Geez, was I out to lunch or what?”

(A former reporter and city editor, Joe Barkovich lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario, Canada’s Rose City.)

Let’s get a “stamp” of approval for our rose

CAPTION: City of Welland rose (File photo by Joe Barkovich)

By Joe Barkovich, Scribbler-at-large

Welland should seek a “stamp” of approval for its official flower, the City of Welland rose.

That’s my opinion. And here’s how it could be pursued.

Canada Post on Wednesday, April 23 will issue two new rose stamps. One will honor the red hybrid tea, Konrad Henkel; the other will honor a pastel yellow hybrid tea, Maid Of Honour.

On the Canada Post website, I found this bit of info about these stamps: “Our popular flower series continues in 2014 with the rose. This two-stamp issue will be a hit for wedding invitations and enjoyed by collectors and consumers – especially gardeners.”

With that in mind, why not a City of Welland-rose stamp?

I was tipped off about this week’s issue by a friend who is a long-time stamp collector. He knows my interest in roses. Through his thoughtfulness and generosity, I now have a small, but growing resource of rose stamps and information about them.

Rose stamps are popular with collectors and consumers. Our rose would  certainly benefit from the publicity of having a stamp issued bearing its eye-appealing image and name. Perhaps more important, think of the publicity Welland could receive by having  City of Welland-rose postage on mail travelling far and wide. And you sure can’t beat the price of that publicity.

This week’s issue won’t be the first time Canada Post has dedicated postage to roses.

CAPTION: Shown above are: Centennial (top left), Agnes (top right), Champlain (bottom left) and Canadian White Star (bottom right).  (Photo by Joe Barkovich)

A popular issue in August 2001 honored four well known Canadian-bred roses: Centennial, Agnes, Champlain and Canadian White Star. Here is an interesting side note about one: In 2003 the Canadian postage stamp featuring Canadian White Star rose was chosen at the Paris-based International Philatelic Competition as the Most Beautiful Stamp in the Americas and the Third Best stamp in the world.

In my book, that’s quite the honor!

CAPTION: The Montreal Rose (Photo by Joe Barkovich)

Another rose stamp was issued by Canada Post to promote Les Floralies de Montreal, a major floral show held in that city in July 1981.The rose that graces the stamp is named The Montreal Rose. The First Day Cover for it  was issued on July 21, 1981. Just think of a stamp with the words in English and en francais printed on it: The City of Welland Rose.

Canada is not the only country to dedicate postage to roses and other flowers. As an example, I have provided a photograph (below) of rose stamps issued in Australia.

One would hope there would be a queue of community groups and organizations eager to  be part of a City of Welland-rose stamp initiative.

At the front of the line of course should be the City of Welland itself. Other team players could include: Welland Horticultural Society, Welland Rose Festival committee, Welland-Pelham Chamber of Commerce, Heritage Welland and Welland Historical Museum.

No one can cite as an excuse: “We don’t know what to do”.  Canada Post gives a good explanation on what needs to be done on its website. Here’s an excerpt:

“The Policy

Canada Post welcomes all Canadians to participate in proposing stamp subjects.

Canadians may submit suggestions for subjects to be used on stamps. Each year, Canada Post’s stamp program consists of about 20 broad subjects or themes covering some 40 to 50 individual stamps. The Board of Directors approves the stamp program.

A national Stamp Advisory Committee guides Canada Post in selecting stamp subjects and designs. The committee is made up of leading Canadians from across the country selected for their general historic, design or philatelic knowledge. The Committee evaluates all suggestions received based on their contributions to celebrating and promoting Canada—our heroes, our leading personalities, our heritage, our traditions and our achievements, as well as their potential to appeal to Canadians. In addition, Canada Post makes every effort to maintain regional and cultural balance in selecting subjects and designs so that stamps appropriately reflect all aspects of our nation.

Canada Post commissions Canadian designers to create stamp designs for the subjects selected. Stamp designers are selected for their demonstrated skill in both graphic arts and miniaturization, and for their potential to create new and innovative (for example, holographic) stamps. Designers’ imaginations are restricted only by the size of the final artwork. The Stamp Advisory Committee reviews and recommends to Canada Post approval of the design and content of individual stamps.

Making Suggestions for Stamp Subjects

To allow for the time needed to review the many suggestions received, conduct the research and selection process, and design, produce and promote stamps, those who wish to propose stamp subjects should submit their suggestions a minimum of two years before the beginning of the desired year of issue. Annual stamp programs close in the summer of the year before the stamps are issued. This is an important consideration for those suggesting subjects related to anniversaries or other time-sensitive events.

Suggestions should include a brief description of the subject, its importance in the Canadian context, and any significant anniversaries or upcoming events. Canada Post treats voluntary submissions of artwork as subject suggestions only.”

How easy is that!

And, the time is certainly ripe for Welland to make an effort.

Welland Horticultural Society is  in its 96^th year, which means its 100^th anniversary will be celebrated in 2018. That’s a “significant anniversary”, in reference to Canada Post’s criteria.

If that year doesn’t work out,  there is  2021 to propose as an alternate choice. That year is the 100th anniversary (Oct. 18, 1921) of  when Welland was officially named Canada’s Rose City. And the “importance in the Canadian context”? The City of Welland rose is the official flower of Canada’s Rose City. How much more rich Canadian context can we have?

Time is on our side – but we must start soon. Welland deserves to have a stamp showcasing the City of Welland rose. All we need is some leadership to get this initiative off the ground – and that should come from one or more of the previously mentioned groups.

I’ll make the point again – Welland deserves to have a stamp showcasing the City of Welland rose. And the City of Welland rose deserves to have a stamp showcasing it. Going after that “stamp” of approval is a project this community should be able to lick.

Reporter’s Notebook Fast Facts:

To anyone – gardeners, stamp collectors, curiosity seekers – interested in acquiring the two-stamp issue (Konrad Henkel and Maid of Honour) coming out Wednesday: You can buy them in a booklet of 10 for $8.50 plus tax and also available is a souvenir sheet, $1.70 and a First Day Cover, $2.70 plus 13% tax.

(A former reporter and city editor, Joe Barkovich lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario, Canada’s Rose City.)

 

Easter morning: Sun, Son rise

With new life budding in the foreground, a pretty sunrise on Easter Sunday morning, one of a series taken between 6:25 a.m. and 6:45 a.m. from the Niagara College campus in Welland. (Photo by Joe Barkovich)

Easter morning: Sun, Son rise

A pretty sunrise on Easter Sunday morning, one of a series taken between 6:25 a.m. and 6:45 a.m. from the Niagara College campus in Welland. (Photo by Joe Barkovich)