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6- The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday September 15, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 845-3824, ext. 224 Circulation: 845-9742 The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone (416) 340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Commentary Letters to the Editor NEIL OLIVER Publisher JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director SANDY PARE Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production Metroland Media Group Ltd. includes: Ajax/Pickering News Advertiser, Alliston Herald/Courier, Arthur Enterprise News, Barrie Advance, Caledon Enterprise, Brampton Guardian, Burlington Post, Burlington Shopping News, City Parent, Collingwood/Wasaga Connection, East York Mirror, Erin Advocate/Country Routes, Etobicoke Guardian, Flamborough Review, Georgetown Independent/Acton Free Press, Harriston Review, Huronia Business Times, Lindsay This Week, Markham Economist & Sun, Midland/Penetanguishine Mirror, Milton Canadian Champion, Milton Shopping News, MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution ALEXANDRIA CALHOUN Circ. Manager WEBSITE oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver is a division of IAN OLIVER Group Publisher Bathtub race will be missed Media Group Ltd. Mississauga Business Times, Mississauga News, Napanee Guide, Newmarket/Aurora Era-Banner, Northumberland News, North York Mirror, Oakville Beaver, Oakville Shopping News, Oldtimers Hockey News, Orillia Today, Oshawa/Whitby/Clarington Port Perry This Week, Owen Sound Tribune, Palmerston Observer, Peterborough This Week, Picton County Guide, Richmond Hill/Thornhill/Vaughan Liberal, Scarborough Mirror, Stouffville/Uxbridge Tribune, Forever Young, City of York Guardian RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE BY: Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America I can't possibly express the extent of my dissapointment when I heard the news that this year's annual United Way Bathtub Race had been cancelled. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: United Way of Oakville TV AUCTION I have attended the bathtub race for the last five years, one of which I was in elementary school and wasn't yet a student at St. Thomas Aquinas (STA) Secondary School. As a Grade 8 student, I remember borrowing my older sister's kilt and painting my face in school colours of black, white, blue, and silver- just like I've done faithfully every year "Just like all high school since then. As graduates of STA, my friends and I students who don't look spent our last lunch hour reminiscing forward to going back to about our years of high school, and trying school each September, the to choose our fondest memory. We all one thing we knew we could agreed upon the bathtub races. count on to start off the year I'm sure the majority of the students at STA who have been fortunate enough to on a good note was the attend one would agree with us. Just like annual bathtub race." all high school students who don't look forward to going back to school each September, the one thing we knew we could count on to start off the year on a good note was the annual bathtub race. As the former President of the Student Council for the 2006-2007 school year, I ensured that the main goal on the first agenda at the opening meeting of the year was to make the best of the bathtub race, and to get as many students to attend as possible. Myself, along with a team of highly-spirited students from Grade 10-12, went around to every classroom to promote the race, especially to the new Grade 9 students, who may not yet have heard of it. We assured them that it would be the most exciting event of the year, and that it would be an excellent way for them to meet other students, while doing something for our community in raising money for the United Way. We weren't really sure as to whether our promotion was working, but our questions were answered once we pulled up in front of STA bright and early on the morning of the race. I don't think any of us expected such an immense turnout. More than 200 students dressed up in school spirit attire covered the front steps of our school. This was by far the best attendance and most spirit I'd seen within the last five years, and I'm sure these numbers would further increase if the race continued to operate. My fellow students and Student Council members, who I've found share the same disappointment, have been approaching me at school, asking why the race had been cancelled for this year, and asking whether this is a permanent decision. See Bathtub page 7 An astonishing aural assault by an ex-member of Juniper T o the old adage "never judge a book by its cover", I now add: never judge an entertainer by his reputation. For example: my wife and I attended a Damien Rice recital this week and a Led Zeppelin concert broke out. In case you are not acquainted with Damien Rice, or aware of the reputation that preceded him onto the stage of The Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, let's just say that the Irish singer-songwriter has been affectionately dubbed a crooner, a balladeer in the mold of David Gray (chances are you've heard his songs as they've been prominently featured in movies, with The Blower's Daughter enhancing the opening and closing scenes of the 2004 film Closer). But I digress. Mr. Rice is known as a crooner. And while I admit appreciating the brilliance of many of those ballads, I entered the concert with rather low expectations. A full concert of slow songs is as torturous to me as Britney Spears' comeback attempts are to others. Conversely, my wife -- for whom I'd bought the tickets -- had openly admitted to an infinite infatuation with the artist and his beguiling ballads, suggesting that if the opportunity arose she would ditch me in a heartbeat and run off with Mr. Rice. I think her exact words were "I want to Andy Juniper have his babies." Very mature. We arrived early, stood in the lobby, putting out the vibe, and ordered two glasses of chardonnay to kill time, and my senses. As I looked around I noticed that the assembling throng consisted predominately of women. Apparently my wife was not the only female charmed by this captivating crooner. Further, as I looked around I was struck by a sense of déjà vu. No, you can't say that my wife and I, social gadabouts, don't get around the entertainment world. I mean, it was a mere 15 years ago that I was last in this venue, then called The Hummingbird Centre. Indeed, in this very building we'd witnessed an entertainment extravaganza called The Sesame Street Spectacular. Ernie and Bert, I could not help but think, had definitely elevated the bar for Mr. Rice. The lobby lights blinked. It was time to go in. Alas, the opening song was a ballad so long and soft and somnolent, that as my wife swooned, my chin bobbed on my chest. My word, I thought, I'm in for a two-hour snooze. But then something remarkable happened. About five minutes into the second song, Mr. Rice began exchanging guitar licks with his band mate. The drums picked up pace and suddenly we were enveloped by sonic sound ­ an electric, full-frontal blitz on the senses by howling guitars and frenetic percussion. The aural assault continued, like a hurricane blowing through the eardrums until even the roots of my old graying hairs were vibrating. When the final chord came crashing down, everyone wildly applauded. Throughout the concert, Mr. Rice blew up ballads and gave every song an edge. It was unexpected. And it was wonderful. We both, honestly, truly enjoyed the show. It was, dare I say, nearly as good as Ernie and Bert! Back home, I researched Damien Rice. He indeed has roots as a rocker. In fact, he once fronted an up-and-coming Irish band that was heralded as "the next U2," and was called -- Juniper. Seriously, I'm not making this up. Hey, how could anyone not love the guy? Andy Juniper can be visited at his Web site, www.strangledeggs.com, or contacted at ajuniper@strangledeggs.com.