Media Releases Submitted to SarniaRocks

MEDIA RELEASE  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July, 2009

August 2009 First Friday Cultural Walkabout

Perfect summer weather continues to bring people downtown to enjoy the monthly event of First Friday Cultural Walkabout.  For August, it will occur on the seventh.  Not only are people enjoying First Friday, they are rediscovering their entire downtown.  Over the years, the core area has gone through many changes.  Along with the new water and sewer lines are the steetscaping that is in the last phases of completion.  These major improvements have attracted many new businesses and encouraged the existing businesses to spruce up their shops.  From little enhancements like flowering planters, to large renovations inside and outside, the stores are looking great.  All of this work by the city and stakeholders of the downtown combined with events such as First Friday are contributing to the lively vibe in the downtown.  If you haven’t experienced it for yourself lately, come down and join in for the August 7 First Friday.  You will not be disappointed!

POINT FORM

Urban Nature Centre – 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm -“Photographic Images of ArtWalk” Public submissions

Blackwater Coffee & Tea - 6:00 pm to 9:00pm - Jessica Butler “Sketches of People I Know”

Bear Creek Studio - Out and About Sarnia at Bear Creek Studio

Gallery Lambton Main Gallery & Sadie Knowles Gallery – 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Connecting to Collections 2: Destinations August 7 to October 24, 2009

Gallery Lambton UpFront Gallery 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm- Intimate Encounters Garden renderings by Tony Urquhart August 7 to October 24, 2009 

Cheeky Monkey - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm “SCENES FROM SAN FRAN” Art exhibit by Kait Bida Plus live music from ALLISON CADWALLADER & DANE HANSEN

Lawrence House Centre for the Arts – Main Gallery – starting 7:00 pm - Artist- Barry Prophet Artist in Residence “Dwellings and Incursions - Natural selection & Community

Artopia Gallery & Framing/Vermillion Antiques - 6:00pm to 9:00pm Pop Art by Karen Dickson “SELL YOURSELF”

Trinity Lounge/Temple Bar – starts 9:30 pm Gallery Lambton Contemporary Video Art Screening Series Curated by Darryn Doull & Cameron Starr

Imperial Theatre - 5:00pm to 7:00pm Aron Tager Recent Works

Stardust Book Lounge presents “True Patriot Love” ..........expressions of Canada

More info:

Mary Anne Peloza  c/o Cheeky Monkey

130 Christina St. N., Sarnia, ON., N7T 5T6

519-332-0978    cheekymonkey@kent.net
 

MEDIA RELEASE  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January, 2009

Hot New Comedy Sensation!

THE DANCE PARTY OF NEWFOUNDLAND


Hilarious sketch comedy comes to Victoria Playhouse Petrolia with THE
DANCE PARTY OF NEWFOUNDLAND for one night only January 24th at 8:00 PM.

Starring STEVE COCHRANE, JONNY HARRIS, PHIL CHURCHILL, and SUSAN KENT,
THE DANCE PARTY OF NEWFOUNDLAND is quickly becoming the hottest new
ticket on the Canadian and American comedy circuit, specializing in
razor sharp, hysterical sketch comedy, with a distinctive East Coast
flair.

Winners of the 2007 Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival, and NOW Magazine's
#5 pick for Top Comedic performances of 2007, THE DANCE PARTY OF
NEWFOUNDLAND has been playing to sold out audiences across Canada, and
most recently to packed houses at Toronto's Diesel Playhouse.

THE DANCE PARTY OF NEWFOUNDLAND has just returned from the Chicago
SketchFest where the Chicago Sun Times called them "rising stars" and
the boys have just finished taping a hour one TV special hosted by KEVIN
MacDONALD of KIDS IN THE HALL fame that will air on Zed TV April 14th.

Here's what the critics have to say:

"...this wildly inventive troupe from the Rock can make funny from
pretty much anything. During their Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival set,
they taught everyone how to punch up the sketch genre with
theatricality, diction and attention to every hilarious detail."  NOW
Magazine

"These guys are everything that's right about sketch comedy. Daring,
intelligent, edgy and beautifully performed. Definitely the next big
thing to hit the national stage!"  Mark Critch - This Hour Has 22
Minutes

"Dance Party of Newfoundland blew me away. They were fantastic. Their
material is sharp and the performers utterly on point."  NYTheatre.com

"Rising stars...edgy comedy."  Misha Davenport - Chicago Sun Times

Tickets for DANCE PARTY OF NEWFOUNDLAND are on sale now, and available
at the VPP Box Office, by calling 1-800-717-7694, (519) 882-1221, or
on-line at www.victoriaplayhousepetrolia.com. 


CONTACT:

Nancy Keys

(519) 882-4763

MEDIA RELEASE  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January, 2009

2009 STICKS & STONES LACROSSE SKILLS CLINIC

Mark your Calendars for the 2009 Sticks & Stones Lacrosse Skills Clinic

Get rid of the Winter Blahs, and get ready for the 2009 Lacrosse season in style.


The Regular Skills & Drills clinic will be separated into three groups:


Session #1: Ages 4-6 (6:00-7:00pm)

Session #2: Ages 7-9 (7:00-8:00pm)

Session #3: Ages 10-14 (8:00-9:00pm)

Skills & Drills Clinic (Friday Nights)

      Jan. 9th, 16th, & 30th

      Feb. 6th, 13th, 20th

      Mar. 6th, 13th, 20th
     

Advanced Clinic (Saturday Nights 5:00-6:30pm)

      Jan. 10th, 24th, 31st

      Feb. 7th, 14, 21st

      Mar. 7th, 14th, 21st

THERE IS STILL ROOM AS OF JAN 12/2009

Cost $60.00

(All participants receive a Clinic T-Shirt, & Pizza Party)

Skills include: Passing, Catching, Running, Shooting, Defensive drills, and
Offensive Drills

Stick Stringing and Maintenance as well.


For more information or receive a registration form please contact Jim Bell

(H) 519-337-7228 or rbell1@cogeco.ca

MEDIA RELEASE  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday October 1, 2008

Who is Canadian musician Royal Wood?  Haven't heard of him you say.  You may
not know the name, but you may know his music.  It has been featured on
several TV and movie soundtracks; including the HBO series Regenisis, the
CBC series This is Wonderland, the film The End of Silence starring Sarah
Harmer, and on the soundtrack to the Food Network's The Surreal Gourmet
(with other artists including Feist, Tom Waits, The Flaming Lips, Moby,
Aretha Franklin) and more.   As well, Royal has performed at major events
like Hillside Music Festival, Mariposa Folk Festival, Canadian Music Week,
North by Northeast, Halifax Pop Explosion, Bluebird North and more; as well
as sharing the stage with the likes of Sarah Harmer, My Morning Jacket,
Sarah Slean, Peter Elkas, Danny Michel, Serena Ryder, Jill and Matt Barber
and most recently with Emm Gryner.

With an EP and 2 CD's under his belt his style has been described as
".drifting from sad pastoral laments to capering piano pop jubilance.
Vocally and lyrically, Wood comes surprisingly close to Aimee Mann's
stomping grounds, with glancing blows at Ron Sexsmith's tenebrous pipes and
brand of song craft. But Wood is his own man, his own voice, and the
sincerity of his words can't be blamed on anyone but him."  NOW Magazine.

"Wood is on his way to establishing himself alongside the Canadian royalty
of artists such as Sexsmith and Wainwright. " - EXCLAIM MAGAZINE

Why is all this good to know?  The reason is, Royal Wood is coming to Sarnia
to perform.  You can see this young man of immense talent at the Sarnia
Library Auditorium on Sunday, November 23 at 2:00 p.m.  $12.00 advance
tickets are being sold at The Cheeky Monkey, 130 Christina St. or call
519-332-0978 to charge by phone.  They will also be available at the door
for $15.00 but seating is limited. 

 Who: Royal Wood http://www.royalwood.ca/

What: Canadian singer/songwriter

Where:  Sarnia Library Auditorium

When:  Sunday, November 23 at 2:00 p.m.

How:  Advance tickets $12.00 at Cheeky Monkey, 130 Christina St. N or call
519-332-0978 to charge by phone.  $15.00 at the door day of the show
(subject to availability)

For more information please contact:

Roland or Mary Anne Peloza 519-332-0978 cheekymonkey@kent.net

 

MEDIA RELEASE 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sarnia Imperials Fundraiser

We are bringing the 2008 Collingwood Early years (pro) category Elvis to town with the Brantford
winner 70's era Elvis. This show will give you 2 hours of entertainment. It will
start at 9pm at Route 66 on London Line September 12th. It is in conjunction with
the All-Star game that will follow on the 13th at Norm Perry Park at 6pm. We are
hoping that Sarnia will live up to their billing as being "the BEST" fans in the
entire NFC. Tickets are $10.00.
 
Contact:

Jake Cherski
President/General Manager
 
Sarnia Imperials
519-490-3500
519-332-0355
jcherski@sarniaimperials.com
 

MEDIA RELEASE 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aug. 27, 2008


The Times They are a Changin'

and it's MEMORIES OF THE SUMMER OF LOVE!

Get back to the 60's with Peace, Love, Flower-Power, and all your favourite musical
hits with MEMORIES OF THE SUMMER OF LOVE at Victoria Playhouse Petrolia Sept. 9th
through 20th.

It was a time of innocence, and a time of change, and the 60's produced some of the
most memorable music of the twentieth century. From The Beach Boys, Gerry & The
Pacemakers, Peter, Paul & Mary, The Doors, Janis Joplin, the Mama's and Papa's - the
groups were great and the hits were many.

MEMORIES OF THE SUMMER OF LOVE, created by CHRIS McHARGE and COLIN STEWART, is an
exceptionally entertaining musical retrospective that showcases the talents of eight
musician/vocalists, and packs a power-punch of a show with 37 top hits from the 60's
from both the USA and Britain.

"MEMORIES OF THE SUMMER OF LOVE is simply a great way to close the season," says VPP
Managing and Artistic Director, ROBERT MORE. "The singers are fabulous, and the band
is red-hot. This show is non-stop entertainment with hit after hit, and the music is
just exhilarating."

More than just music, MEMORIES OF THE SUMMER OF LOVE also explores the stories of
the times - the civil rights movement, hippies, the Vietnam experience, pop
festivals - and recreates the heart and spirit of one of the most defining
generations of the modern era.

Dust off your love-beads, let your hair down, and get ready to groove with MEMORIES
OF THE SUMMER OF LOVE. Great music and great entertainment!

Tickets for SUMMER OF LOVE are on sale now, and available at the VPP Box Office, by
calling 1-800-717-7694, (519) 882-1221, or on-line at
www.victoriaplayhousepetrolia.com.

Season Media Sponsor for the Victoria Playhouse Petrolia 2008 Season is: A Channel

Production Media Sponsor for SUMMER OF LOVE is: 94.3 CKSY.

Victoria Playhouse Petrolia 2008 "Rockin' At The Playhouse" Concert Series: COWBOYS
& OUTLAWS - Sept. 26th, ELVIS THE WAY IT WAS - Oct. 24th/25th, ABBA MANIA - Nov.
21st/22nd.

CONTACT:
Nancy Keys
(519) 882-4763

 

MEDIA RELEASE 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 31, 2008

The Rush is On!

OIL RUSH

A Rollicking Celebration of Canada's Oil Heritage

Eureka! They've struck black gold in Lambton County and the rush is on
with Robert More and Jacqueline Sadler's brilliant new musical OIL RUSH
onstage at Victoria Playhouse Petrolia August 12th through August 30th.

It's the 1860's and the Lambton County oil boom is at a fevered pitch.
Thousands of people - poor folks, rich folks, visionaries and thieves -
flow into Oil Springs and Petrolia, all searching for that greasy gold.
Times are tough. Horses sink up to their bellies in clay; families
arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs; fortunes are won and
lost overnight. It's the history of Canada's oil industry, and it's a
story to be told!

One of the biggest theatrical events to grace the VPP stage, OIL RUSH
boasts a cast of seventeen talented actors, singers, dancers, and
musicians. It simply dazzles with down-home foot-stompin music, a
multitude of colourful characters, humour, wit, and joyous celebration.

"What inspired me to write OIL RUSH was astonishment," says Playwright
and Director, ROBERT MORE. "Lambton County literally, within a span of
thirty years, reached around the globe. What happened here in Petrolia
and Oil Springs changed the world then, as much as the micro-chip today.
This is a high-energy story of grit, guts, glory, and sheer invention -
and so is the play. It has comedy, it has heart, and it's the best
singing cast this theatre has ever seen - and it's funny to boot!"

The cast for OIL RUSH includes: HEATHER LEA-BROWN, GREG CAMPBELL,
SHELDON DAVIS, CATHY ELLIOTT, CHARLIE FAIRBANK, ERICA GATT, SHAWN HENRY,
CRAIG MAGUIRE, JOSEPH O'TOOLE, R. J. PETERS, SCOTT PIETRANGELO, KATE
PROCTOR, SABRINA REDICK, and TRISHA SMITH.

"We've assembled an amazing cast for this show," states MORE. "And two
of our younger members, CHARLIE FAIRBANK, and SABRINA REDICK, have come
up through the ranks of our Young Company. Both of them actually live in
Oil Springs, and Charlie is the great, great grandson of John Henry
Fairbank, one of the characters in OIL RUSH, and at one time the largest
oil producer in Canada."

The creative team for OIL RUSH includes: Director and Playwright, ROBERT
MORE; Composer and Musical Director, JACQUELINE SADLER; Choreographer,
KERRY GAGE; Set Designer, JACKIE CHAU; Lighting Designer, WENDY
GREENWOOD; Costume Designer, JULIE McGILL; Stage Manager; TAMERRAH
VOLKOVSKIS; and Assistant Stage Manager, TRACY LYNNE CANN.

The OIL RUSH band is made up of: KEVIN DEMPSEY, TIM POSGATE, JACQUELINE
SADLER and KATE UNRAU.

"2008 is the 150th anniversary of the first commercial oil well in North
America, which happened to be right down the road in Oil Springs," Says
MORE. We're delighted to be a part of that particular celebration, and
the overall celebration of Lambton County's glorious oil heritage."

Tickets for OIL RUSH are on sale now, and available at the VPP Box
Office, by calling 1-800-717-7694, (519) 882-1221, or on-line at
www.victoriaplayhousepetrolia.com.

Season Media Sponsor for the Victoria Playhouse Petrolia 2008 Season is:
A Channel

Production Media Sponsor for OIL RUSH is: CHOK Country 1070 am.

Victoria Playhouse Petrolia 2008 Season: THE BROADWAY CLUB, May 20th -
June 7th; THE LONG WEEKEND, June 10th - June 28th; DISCOVERING ELVIS,
July 1st - July 19th; SEPARATE BEDS, July 22nd - August 9th; OIL RUSH,
August 12th - Aug. 30th; MEMORIES OF THE SUMMER OF LOVE, Sept. 9th -
Sept. 20th.

The Cast and Creative Team of OIL RUSH are available for interviews.

CONTACT:

Nancy Keys

(519) 882-4763

 
 

MEDIA RELEASE

June, 2008 

The Boys and Girls Club of Sarnia/Lambton Summer Day Camp

June 30 to August 29

7:30a.m. to 5:30p.m.

$60.00 per week, per child , includes 3 day trips per week(Bluewater Fun Park, Splash Pad, Dow Wetlands, Centennial Park, Canatara Park, Famous Players and much more)

Registration forms available now at:

Lochiel Kiwanis Centre
180N. College Avenue
 

MEDIA RELEASE

Monday June 23, 2008 

FOR IMMEDIATE MEDIA RELEASE

DOWNTOWN COMES ALIVE WITH FIRST FRIDAY CULTURAL WALKABOUT

Downtown Sarnia’s art galleries, studios and shops bring the downtown to life with special free-to-the-public events on the First Friday of each month.  There is always something new and inviting for all ages and interests. 

For July 4^th First Friday Cultural Walkabout, The Lawrence House Centre for the Arts has their opening night reception entitled “Burst Florals and Abstracts” by Karen Dickson. Gallery Lambton uses both their large display rooms for two different and unique exhibits.  In the Main Gallery you will find “Silent Partners” a selection of work from the permanent collection while in the Sadie Knowles Gallery is an exhibit by Agnes Depew entitled “Passion & Vision”.  Grace Brothers Gallery has their opening night of father/son artists, Dave & Evan Moore.  You can enjoy the ambience at Day Art Studios as you view the recent works of Kristin Ray.  Popular watering hole, Ups n’ Downs will have live entertainment from local musician Jeff Getty with Art on the drums.  Trinity Lounge is hosting Gallery Lambton’s Contemporary Video Art Screening Series on their new large screen.  More local flavour of both music and visual art can be enjoyed at Blackwater Coffee & Tea Co. with singer/songwriter Nic Swales and art work from S.C.I.T.S alumni.  Just down the street, Cheeky Monkey hosts “Icons” art by Janet Fisher while the young talented band Macho Tutu Orkestrah performs.  Want to see works created before your very eyes, then join Ariel at Bear Creek Studio inside the Bayside Centre for a demonstration of acrylic painting.  Enter Stardust Book Lounge & Rhapsody Glassworks where you can watch Anna craft glass both ornamental and wearable.  For something completely different, join Shawn at the Native Garden on the corner of Christina and Davis for a tour of his plot across from the Post Office.

Contact any of the galleries and venues for times or stop by for a free flyer that includes a detailed map.  Don’t miss out.  Come downtown and see what all the talk is about.

First Friday Details…

Ups N’Down  -Jeff Getty and Art  Friday night 9:00 pm-2:00 am

Grace Brothers - The Promo Show Dave and Evan Moore 6:00 – 9:00 pm

This is the second time that Dave and his son Evan have exhibited their work together.  Evan works mostly in pen and ink though he has been painting more in the past three years.  Dave uses acrylic/airbrush but both work extensively in oil pastel.  Without any theme, this show is a collection of commercial work that they refer to as “poster art”- but it’s fun!

Lawrence House  - Burst Florals and Abstracts By Karen Dickson 6:00 – 9:00 pm

Karen Dickson came to Sarnia for a career in Chemical Valley. Always interested in art, she has found a rich and diverse artistic culture here and immersed herself in it.  She loves to paint strong designs, primarily with acrylics, but also in pastels.  Her work is bold and ranges from representational to abstract and anything in between.  “I think it’s important to take an active role in the arts community in Sarnia and I do it by serving on the executive board of the Lawrence House.  I do this because I benefit from the arts community in Sarnia and want to give back in order to help it thrive.”  Member of the Canadian Federation of Artists  Member of SLAC

Energy Exchange – Native Garden Tour – 6:00 – 9:00 pm

Christina St. corner of Davis (across from the Post Office)

Blackwater - Live Entertainment 8:00 – 10:00 pm Featuring Nic Swales. 

Fragmented Notions- A SCITS alumni show featuring: Monique Bedard, Kerry Wrightman, Brando Hare, Eve Vitrios

Gallery Lambton - Main Gallery - Silent Partners selections from the permanent collection June 21 to Sept. 20,2008. 

An exhibition honoring local corporate and industry support in the building of Gallery Lambton's permanent collection. A select number of works purchased through funds donated by the Sarnia Industry Art Fund are on display. This exhibition is mounted in celebration of the 150^th anniversary of the first commercial oil well in North America

Sadie Knowles Gallery   - Agnes Depew: Passion & Vision June 21 to July 26, 2008.

A small exhibition celebrating the insight and inspiration of local artist Agnes Depew (1905 - 1977) celebrating her vision and passion for the visual arts in Sarnia/Lambton as both an artist and a teacher.

Cheeky Monkey - FREE live music from…THE MACHO TUTU ORKESTRAH 7:00 – 9:00 pm  Plus art exhibit “ICONS” by JANET FISHER

Like an old friend that is still full of surprises, The Macho Tutu Orkestrah is more than it appears.  Combining an array of musical styles ranging from Zydeco to Celtic, folk to British punk with insightful lyrics and edgy satire, the band’s members use music to document their own social history and their relationship to it.  Ladies and gentlemen, these are more than just love songs.

Janet Fisher came to Canada in 1982 from the North of England. Having retired as an Engineer in the Petrochemical industry, she now has more time to spend with her family and on her many interests, one of them being painting. A fascination with people and faces is reflected in her art. The paintings in this exhibit are miniature watercolour portraits of well-known people – many of whom have influenced her life. She has also expanded into more abstract paintings both in watercolours and acrylics and will have some of these on exhibit as well. Exhibit & sale continues to end of July.

Bear Creek Studio  Bear Creek Studio is featuring acrylics all day until 7pm! Acrylic demonstrations at 3:00 and 5:00 with specials on acrylics and mediums.

Trinity Lounge - Contemporary Video Art Screening Series Selections from around the world  9:30 - 10:30 pm.  

Temple Bar  - Boom Town July 4 to 13, 2008 A two part-off site installation by Colin Lyons.

Lyons grew up in the small town of Petrolia in southwestern Ontario, a place which once stood at the centre of the world’s oil industry, but has since fallen into obscurity. The ambivalent attitude toward a glorious past, inherent to a former boom town, has informed Lyons appreciation for remnants such as half painted signs and abandoned industrial buildings. Their lost purpose, their transformation from purely functional to aesthetic object and the resulting ghostly image is what Lyons finds compelling. This off-site installation occupies an empty building in the downtown core of Sarnia, Ontario and is comprised of two bodies of work that reference the past while recognizing the ambivalent attitude inherent in a former boom town. The artist will be present throughout the duration of the installation.

Day Art Studios - Recent Works by  KRISTIN RAY 6:00 - 9:00pm

Join us for a feature showing of the most recent works of Kristin Ray. Enjoy the ambiance and view Kristin's newest collection embracing the human form in a variety of different styles from contemporary to classic, captured in acrylic and oil paintings.

Stardust Book Lounge and Rhapsody Glassworks - Live Glass Crafting Demonstrations by Anna Miccolis 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

For more information, please contact:

Mary Anne Peloza

First Friday Walkabout Media Liaison

130 Christina St. N., Sarnia, ON, N7T 5T6

519-332-0978

cheekymonkey@kent.net