Wednesday, January 31, 2007 • Page 14 Bluegrass show packs Woodslee hall

BY DANIEL SCHWAB concert that filled tunes of both local group Woodslee’s St. John’s Parish Prairie Siding and Ohio- Feet were stomping, toes Hall to capacity Jan. 27. based act New Found Road. were tapping and more than About 300 fans of all ages Bluegrass, a style that one “Yee-haw” could be came together to enjoy the originated in the southern heard during a bluegrass bass and driven United States in the 1930s, seemed to resonate just fine with fans from southern Canada. 169 IRWIN AVE. “It’s raw and it’s got a lot of energy to it,” said Rob Phone: Baker, New Found Road’s 776-8699 mandolin player. “It’s like, a simple form of music.” Ages 3 Months - 12 Years The Essex-Kent Bluegrass Oldtime and Folk Quality Child Care with a Music Association has pre- Before/After School Age Program. sented more than 60 con- Hrs. 6:00 am - 6:00 pm certs of the simple form of upbeat music since they formed in 1988. SUPERBOWL Committee chairperson New Found Road band members Rob Baker, left, Tim Shelton, centre, and Randy David Blakney said it’s easy Barnes belt out a bluegrass tune for a capacity crowd gathered at St. John's Parish Hall in Woodslee Saturday. The Essex-Kent Bluegrass Oldtime and SUNDAY for just about anybody to Association will be bringing groups to the hall each month through the winter and PIZZA SSPPEECCIIAALLSS enjoy the “gutsy” sound. spring. Blakney, who also works SUPERBOWL SUNDAY *PICK UP FEB.4TH ONLY! on two bluegrass radio to promote music,” he said. until May, when they will be formers in music. It has ONLY!* shows, one on ’s For every show, proceeds celebrating Worldwide probably stayed true to its Large 3 Item Pizza WDET and another on are forwarded to the Month at roots more than any other Tossed Salad $ 99 Windsor’s CJAM, was so Windsor Celiac Foundation. the Lakeside Park Pavilion music because fans won’t 10 Wings +Tax Small Sonny Fries 19 convinced that Essex A few of the association’s in Kingsville. tolerate it if they don’t.” County would take to New 100 members suffer from For a group that started For Blakney, the style will $ 99 Large Deluxe Pizza Found Road that after hear- the disease that causes an “on a shoestring budget,” always be one of music’s 12+Tax ing them on the radio he inability in the body to Blakney says they’ve been “best kept secrets.” $ 99 Large Cheese & Pepperoni Pizza called their agent. absorb nutrients. going strong ever since. “It’s niche music but if it $ 50 9+Tax Nacho’s Supreme 7+Tax Several times a year Blakney said it’s a helpful “I’m always surprised by does catch you – you’re Blakney is courting bands way to contribute to a chari- the number of fans at every hooked,” he said. Southland Plaza - Essex 519-776-6414 this way, bringing acts from ty and also an effective way show,” he said. “The last On Feb. 17, ’s Virginia, Pennsylvania and to advertise the shows. two years have been pretty Michelle Nixon & Drive Indiana to Kingsville, The association will be good. With bluegrass, the will be playing at St. John’s Woodslee and Lakeshore. bringing a new band to quality of the performers Parish Hall. For ticket infor- St. Paul’s Anglican Church “Our reason for being is Essex County each month surpasses most other per- mation, call 519-776-8716. FRIDAY, FEB. 2nd Kemeny, Lauren Ferriss and dents were treated to a con- Maplewood Tiger Tales Brett Fairhurst. Great work! cert by French singer 5:00 - 6:30 P.M. Maplewood is glad to con- Brienne. It was a concert Adults: $8.00 Many activities are informs or persuades. All gratulate grade 4 student they will never forget! Children: $3.00 underway at Maplewood. students in grades four Abby McDermott, this Brienne cam in and sang Dinners held the first Friday of every month Many classes are preparing through eight will write a year’s spelling champion! several of the students speeches. They are working speech that is three to five Abby will be representing favourite songs such as 92 St. Paul St., Essex extremely hard to write minutes long. One student Maplewood at the next level "Mon, Ma, Mes" and "The material that entertains, from each class will be cho- of competition. We would IR ". Many of the stu- sen to represent their class- like to thank grade 7 dents had been practising mates in our school wide teacher, Mr. Bondy for these songs in French class Coming soon to Essex! competition. Maplewood’s organizing this event. and were able to join right Oral Communication He shoots! He in! Students were chosen to Festival will be held on Jan. scores! Spitfire fans from play games during the con- 31. Speakers’ families will Maplewood will be gather- cert and were cheered on by be invited to listen to these ing around the arena soon. their classmates. This con- speeches. The winner of the Near the beginning of the cert helped generate a lot of Our own six part, adult evening course provides instruction in the school competition will rep- school year, Maplewood interest in the French lan- best of traditional landscaping concepts, including planning, design resent our school at the Public School was chosen guage and was a lot of fun at and construction. In addition, our weekly classes offer practical Greater Essex County as a sponsor school for the the same time! Everyone information on native plants,attracting wildlife and other strategies District School Board. by Dr. was dancing around and the for inviting nature into your landscape. Informative slide Maplewood students Azad and Dr. Koutras from concert brightened every- shows and handouts are also available, along recently participated in the the Essex Walk-In Clinic. one's spirits. A big "Merci!" with ongoing assistance to help with your ongoing landscape efforts. These classes CanSpell Spelling Bee. The On Feb. 15, Maplewood goes to Mr. Spagnuolo and begin at 7:00PM and typically last about spelling bee was sponsored will be part of a presentation Miss Reeb for organizing two hours and are open to both beginner by the Windsor Star. Much at the where this great event. and advanced gardeners. like the Oral Communi- the Spitfires will play All basketball team prac- Essex Classes begin Tuesday, March 7 cation Festival, one student Sarnia. Management at the tices and games are well Only $50 per person earned the right to compete area has agreed to block off underway. Teams have Seating is limited, so advanced in the spelling bee by prov- a section of the seats so our already been working hard registration is required. ing themselves to be the top school community can and are learning even more To register or to learn about our other speller in their class. The enjoy the game together. with each game they play. course locations, call us 519-259-2407. participants in the 2007 More details will follow in Look for updates in future Presented by... spelling bee were: Kiley the near future. A big issues. Go Tigers! Kuharski, Abby thanks to Dr. Koutras and Contributions from McDermott, Caity Rovere, Dr. Azad for sponsoring our Nicole Nantais, Vicki Van Sara Zaarour, Erik school! Gent, Amanda Desjardins Oosterbaan, Carson Haynes, On Thursday, Jan. 25, and Grace Teskey To find out more, visit our website at... www.naturalizedhabitat.org Erika Krutsch, Ashley Maplewood staff and stu-