It's official: Cousin Vinny joins The Beat

The best kept secret in Montreal is finally out there. Cousin Vinny Barrucco joins  92.5 The Beat  today, May 28, as their  weekday drive home show host. He left Virgin Radio three months ago, but because of a non-compete clause he was not able to discuss the move until the day of his on air debut.

Cousin Vinny

“Cousin Vinny will fit right in with the rest of the gang at The Beat. He’s a local guy with a tremendous passion for radio, music and this city,” said Leo Da Estrela, Program Director of 92.5 The Beat. “We’re excited to publicly announce that he is now part of our famiglia.”

Cousin Vinny joins fellow broadcasters Cat Spencer & Sarah Bartok (The Beat Breakfast), Donna Saker (The Beat of Your Workday), Paul Hayes (Heartbeats), Ken Connors (Weekend Breakfast), Anne Marie Withenshaw (All-Access Weekend), Nat Lauzon (Feel Good Weekends) as well as TB1 (Beatmix).

Stay tuned  to this space later for my interview with Vinny, his first since jumping to The Beat, and to this week's Suburban.

  

CJPAC "Action Party" was the place to be in Montreal

It was quite the scene last Thursday night at the Arsenal in the now very trendy Griffintown area as CJPAC (the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committtee) held its fourth annual Action Party. More  than 800 people from the Jewish and pro-Israel community jammed the large hall  to enjoy an open bar, deejay music by Total Events, live entertainment, sumptuous appetizers and desserts from caterer Danielle Bitton and most importantly one-on-one access to politicians and their advisers  from all stripes.  

The event was planned many months ago, with every intention of having  representatives from all levels of government. This included the governing Quebec Liberals. What would the odds be of the National Assembly actually sitting for a rare Thursday evening session to adopt special legislation to deal with student unrest? “We lost 15 MNAs from this,” one of the organizers lamented.

Justin Trudeau and Montreal real estate queen Anita Benabou

Rozenblat.

New Democratic Party leader Thomas Mulcair was there with a number of his MPs. The charismatic Tyrone Benskine told me how much  he has enjoyed his first year in politics. “The next election may be three and a half years from now, but we are already working hard to prove to Canadians that we deserve to be the next government,” he shared. Mulcair was spotted having a little chat with easily the most sought after man in the room, Liberal MP Justin Trudeau, who sounded most definite that he will not seek the party leadership this time around.  Interim party leader Bob Rae, with his charming wife Arlene, on the other hand was clearly a man with his eyes on becoming the permanent head of the Grits with many of his handlers working the room. John Walsh, the national president of the Federal Conservative Party, was shaking hands and sending a message that the Tories still hope to cash in on some seats next time around. Municipally, Montreal Executive Committee boss Michael Applebaum represented the mayor, with a few members of council on hand as well.

Glenn Nashen and I chat with Tyrone Benskine

 “It’s amazing to watch so many people who might otherwise avoid politics break through that barrier,” said Kim Heilpern, one of the ACTION Party chairs. “Bringing the community and politicians together for a fabulous party with great food, music and drinks is a great way to show that becoming politically active can be both easy and fun.”

Now in its fourth year, the party once again broke previous records for attendance by both community members and politicians, welcomed two busloads of attendees from Ottawa, and has become a cornerstone of CJPAC’s work in Montreal,  helping to define the organization.

 “CJPAC’s work in Quebec and around the country focuses on Jewish and pro-Israel political engagement, especially among young people,” said Mark Waldman, CJPAC’s executive director. “If our community is going to be heard and have an impact, it will be because average Jewish and pro-Israel Canadians participate in the democratic process; young people are especially open to this message.”

Founded seven years ago, CJPAC is a unique national, grassroots, independent organization. With an office in Montreal, lead by Quebec Regional Director Steeve Azoulay, CJPAC hosts multiple events throughout the year helping activate Jewish and pro-Israel Quebecers in the political process. Having worked for Canadian Jewish Congress for 11 years – an organization which only recently was abolished after nearly a century of existence – I am thoroughly impressed with the work of CJPAC. I remain a steadfast supporter of B’nai Brith Canada, for which I serve as the Quebec bureau chief for their Jewish Tribune Newspaper. CJPAC, of course, is quite different. Created from scratch, CJPAC has made political activism trendy. Never has that been so evident than at the Action Party. There were people of all ages on hand. It was indeed “the place” to be and even individuals who had other things on their agenda that night made it a point of being present and being seen, even if it was for just a short time.

Nashen and I with Saulie Zajdel

The Yuppies (Young Urban Professionals) were indeed out in force and I met many twenty something guys and gals soaking up the atmosphere.  Besides the politicians I already mentioned, others in attendance  included from the governing Tories Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney, Federal Minister of State of Foreign Affairs for Americas and Consular Affairs Diane Ablonczy,  Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs  Deepak Obhrai, Rick Dykstra,  Sheryl Gallant and Cheryl Gallant. Representing the NDP were Pat Martin,  Isabelle Morin,  Mathieu Ravignat,  Pierre Nantel, Jamie Nicholls, Françoise Boivin,  Mylène Freeman, and Jonathan Genest-Jourdain. With Irwin Cotler out of town to see his daughter graduate from university with distinction, his able chief of staff Howard Liebman was on hand. Neil Drabkin, chief of staff to Federal Minister of Natural Resources Joe Oliver, was spotted arriving late in the evening. Saulie Zajdel, who ran for the  Tories in Mount Royal in the last election, was working the floor. Joining Applebaum from Montreal were councillors Peter McQueen and  Andrée Champoux.  My council colleagues  from Côte Saint-Luc included  Dida Berku, Glenn  J.Nashen, Ruth Kovac, Steven Erdelyi and Mitchell Brownstein.  Bonnie Feigenbaum and Michael Goldwax represented Hampstead council while Herbert Brownstein was there from Dollard des Ormeaux, accompanied by his son Ryan Ryder Brownstein – now doing some producing for CJAD Radio with an eye on joining his dad on council in 2013.

A big round of applause for the organizing committee.  Co-chairs Heilpern,  Avi Krispine- 
Jonathan Abecassis  and Julien Newman. Their committee consisted of Montreal movers and shakers Adam Daifallah, Aimee Schnitzer, Alexandre Borduas, Bonnie King, Bram Paperman, Bruno Brami, David Desbaillets, Dominic Mailloux, Eric Prud’Homme, Eva Derhy, Evan Paperman, Gilbert Tordjman, Gillian Eliahoo, Hugo Tremblay, Ian Quint, Janna Boloton. Jason Zuckerman, Jeff Bernstein, Lauren Tatner, Laurence Barchichat, Marc Poisson, Marie-Claire Laflamme-Sanders, Maximilien Roy, Monique Assouline, Natasha Albilia, Noam Schnitzer, Olivier Duchesneau, Orlli Kessel, Rina Scrim, Stephanie Ohnona, Todd Lipstein and Zeynab Diallo plus a cast from Ottawa.

See Glenn J. Nashen's blog about the event.

Impact's Olympic Stadium success brings back memories of Le Manic

It is quite extraordinary to see how well the Montreal Impact’s debut in Major League Soccer has began. At first, the fact that news  their new Stade Saputo would not be ready until June sounded problematic. The team announced that the season would start next door at Olympic Stadium.

Tony Towers

Well, they had a giant sized crowd of 55,000 for their opener in March and packed in 60,000 to see David Beckham and the LA Galaxy on May 12.  This reminds me of the glory days of the Montreal Manic. Although the team only survived here for three years in the 1980s, they enjoyed some pretty good periods here and had some pretty huge crowds of their own.  I attended most home games – indoors and outdoors – as a member of the media. What they did absolutely right was get players out into the community and before long names like Tony Towers, Carmine Marcantonio, Thomas Usiyan, Gordon Alec Hill and Bob Rigby were very familiar. There was amiable head coach Eddie Firmani and a rabid base of fans.

Le Manic were owned by Molson Brewery and their decision to try and transform the team into Team Canada for 1984 fell flat on its face. The franchise folded  and four years later the Montreal Supra, predecessors to the Impact, entered the scene. Playing out of Centre Claude Robillard they brought professional soccer back here via baby steps. They effectively became the Impact in 1992 and with the steady hand of Joey Saputo at the helm developed into what is today a top-notch organization.

Saputo worked very hard to bring the MLS here and he deserves high praise for doing so. His decision to hire Legendre as executive vice-president and people like ticket sales boss  Brian Weightman showed that he has a knack for  selecting front office talent. Legendre was a former  pro tennis player, oversaw the Jarry Tennis Stadium and annual world class tournaments and served as a provincial cabinet minister. He was a key hire in getting  Stade Sapuoto built and now expanded.

While Saputo was unavailable to meet  with me, I did spend some time with Legendre at field level and he shared with me some of the reasons why the Impact will probably continue to use the Big Owe each season. 

Here is my video interview:

Irving Epstein's incredible weight loss

Back in 2007, Côte Saint-Luc’s Irving Epstein went to his physician Ilan Benjamin, for a check up.

I will let Irving take it from here:

 “I was having problems with walking,” he told me. “I was out of breath and did not have energy. I talked to the doctor about looking into the why and what can be done. His scale went up to 350 lbs and I was more than that. My weight was about 357 pounds. He sent me for tests to the Jewish General Hospital. They tested my heart, my lungs and my blood to look at many other health problems Everything came back ok. Ilan told me that the reason for the problem was that I was too fat. I had to lose weight.  

   

“We talked about weight loss surgery and I filled out and sent in the form to the Royal Victoria Hospital. I called the CLSC to try to get a nutritionist. They got back to me saying that there was a waiting list and that I would receive a telephone call when a place opened up. I did wait and got a call and then an appointment.  My nutritionist at the CLSC Rene-Cassin was Ella Gorovoy. I worked with her and had to relearn what to eat and what not to eat. For me, going out for lunch or supper was an event. It was a social event. Eating was a very important part of my life. You can say that it was a social event.

“Ella informed me back at the beginning of 2010 that she will be heading a Lifestyle Modification Program at the CLSC Notre-Dame-de-Grace / Montreal-Ouest. As I was border line diabetic she asked me to join. There was a form that had to be filled in by my doctor, who was happy to comply.

“The Diabetes Reference Center was born and my first appointment was April 1 2010. The study was for a period of three years and the team members were a nutritionist, a nurse, a kinesiologist and a social worker.

“At the beginning of April 2011 I received a call from the Royal Vic and had an appointment on April 7 at 10:45 Aam in room S 6.24. I met with Dr. Oliver Court. We had a talk and he showed me a couple of options. The one he suggested was the sleeve gastrectomy. He said that my surgery should be in September of 2011 as they were booked up to the summer.

“On April 18 I received a call from the hospital and said that they had a date for my surgery. The date was May 3. I had to now prepare for the surgery. No more food. I had to get, from them a replacement for my meals. The product was called Optifast. It came in two flavors, chocolate and vanilla.

Epstein (left0 before the surgery.

“I was told that it was important to take some weight off before the operation to help cut down on the bleeding from the liver. So I drank the Optifast, which I learned to hate and looked forward to my surgery day.

“May 3,  2011 came and I had to report to the hospital for  6:45 a.m. Then , three and a half  and a half hours later, the operation was done and I was in the recovery room. I woke up and all was well.

“I was in the hospital till Thursday and I was so pleased with the care I received. As good as the care, I was happy to go home. There is something about sleeping in your own bed and taking a shower in your own bathroom that gives us pleasure.

“I had to follow a liquid and pureed food diet for the first month. I got to eat solid food around June 3.. I was so done with the pureed food that I went to solid food on June 1. The first few days were not the best, but I seemed to get into the swing of things. At this point I did not know what to do with myself. I sat around the house too long. I had to get back to work. I got back to work and my life.

“Looking at the scale now the reading is 218 pounds. The weight is down and I feel wonderful. I enjoy walking and working out. I want to get a bike and get out on the road once the weather is warm and dry enough.

Epstein after the surgery.

“I went to an appointment at the Lifestyle Modification Program at the CLSC Notre-Dame-de-Grace / Montreal-Ouest on January 17 and met with Ella. I had gone for a blood test a week earlier. I was told that this would be my last appointment as I was no longer a part of the study. I was in better health. My family doctor took me off my medication and said to make an appointment in three months. He is so pleased with the results and I have to thank all involved in the life changing surgery.

“It is great to hear from people I know say how great I look.”

Tories already working hard in Laurentians

Does the road for a federal Tory breakthrough in the next federal election begin in Quebec’s Laurentian mountains? That is what Jason Fuoco hopes. The  23 year old graduate of Laurier Macdonald High School in St. Leonard welcomed Federal Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney  to the Montcalm riding recently.  

The two Jasons: Fuoco (left) and Kenney.

As the  president of the Conservative Association of Montcalm, Jason was able to receive the Minister for a private brunch  at his sugar shack. The purpose if this event was to raise money for the riding. Guests all had a chance to meet the minister, exchange words and take pictures.

Jason finished third in the election a year ago behind winner Manon Perreault of the NDP and Roger Gaudet of the Bloc Québecois. But he was ahead of the Liberals.

Jason was born in Saint-Lin-Laurentides. He is a sports fanatic, who played soccer for six years and won several medals in taekwondo competitions. Over the last few years he has  been the president of the non-profit organization un rêve dans les étoiles that promotes youth development. He has  started his own  business, producing and transforming  water buffalo milk (mozzarella di buffalo).  Will he run in the next election?

 

"The date to next federal election is still more than three years away," Jason shares.  " I'm still president of my riding in Montcalm and started last May   to get my association ready for the 2015 election. Next election I have no doubt  that Quebec will have more Conservative MPs elected. Last election was a huge 'orange wave,'   like they say. Prime Minister Harper is doing everything he said he'd do if elected as a majority. If our government continues in this great direction, I don't see why we won't have more Conservative MPs."

 

Ben Mulroney spotted in Westmount

Ben Mulroney could have been a lawyer. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in history, from Duke University and subsequently got a Bachelor of Laws degree from Université Laval. Instead, he chose the media and instead of being known as "former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's son," he gained an identity of his own.

For more than a decade, Ben has been "the star" of CTV, notably as co-host of the entertainment show etalk. Perhaps his greatest moments came as host of Canadian Idol during the show's successful six year run, between 2003 and 2008. Above is a clip of him introducing and then congratulating a contestant. This where I got to know Ben, via the auditions in Montreal and then the actual live tapings in Toronto. My family and I headed down each summer and had a blast. It is a pity CTV cancelled this.  During his Idol run, Ben was also a spokesman for UNICEF and on two occasions I got him to visit local schools.

Through etalk, red carpet events and special programming, Ben still enjoys a very high profile. He recently co-hosted Live with Kelly Ripa, fuelling rumours he might move to New York and replace the retired Regis Philbin.

When his dad was prime minister, Ben lived in Westmount. That is where his bride, Jessica Brownstein, is from. He proposed to her at Nick's Restaurant on Greene Avenue.  Last week, noted real estate agent Anita Benabou Rozenblat spotted the happy couple at  the Tavern on the Square (as in Westmount Square). When Anita approached, he graciously exchanged pleasantries with him and posed for a photo (right).

Beauty and the Beast charms Montreal

Montrealers who head out to the Place des Arts this week are in for a real treat. I attended opening night for the Broadway Classic Beauty and The Beast and I must say it was sensational. It continues through Sunday, April 29.

 

Going into this show, previous press coverage touted strong voices in four principal roles: sopranos Emily Behny and Julia Louise Hosack as Belle and Mrs. Potts, and baritones Dane Agostinis and Logan Denninghoff as the Beast and Belle’s evil suitor, Gaston. I was therefore disappointed to hear just before the curtain rose that Agostinis would not be on stage; replaced by his understudy Carter Lynch. Well, Lynch was superb and came across as someone who has been playing the part for some time. I was also interested in seeing Denninghoff in action, having interviewed him by telephone just last week.  He was top notch and clearly a crowd favorite, along with Jimmy Larkin as his sidekick Lefou.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast features the animated film’s Academy Award®-winning score with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman, with additional songs with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice. The book is written by Linda Woolverton. This, of course, is the classic story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped in a spell placed by an enchantress.  If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.

I have seen the movie and one other stage production in the Miami area a few years ago, certainly not at the same level. Yes, I know the story and how it will all unfold. Then why did I still sit at the edge of my seat as the Beast rescued Belle from a wolf attack? As for the music, you just cannot get tired of this score. Behny and Lynch were a treat to listen to.

I also must comment on the terrific set and very realistic special effects. In a scene towards the ending where they showed rain and lightning, it looked like the real thing. I even found the wolves to be kind of creepy. David Baur as the carpet showcased some marvelous acrobatics while seven year old Noah Jones was adorable as Chip.

Take a look at the final moments of the performance as the actors take their bows.

Here are some impressive facts and figures about Beauty and The Beast:

•        It  has become an international sensation, playing to more than 35 million people;

•       The production has been mounted worldwide in 21 countries;

•       The musical ran for more than 13 years on Broadway;

•        It is the eighth longest running musical in Broadway history;

•        The traveling company comprises 30 cast, 10 crew and 10 musicians;

•         More than 3,300 people were auditioned to select the cast of 30;

•        The musical score of contains six beloved songs from the Academy Award-nominated feature film, one song cut from the film that has been restored for the musical, and 6 original songs written for the musical.

•        The production uses 81 wigs and 580 costume pieces, including some pieces from the original Broadway costumes and 67 LED lights on the magic mirror.

 For more details log on to BeautyAndTheBeastOnTour.com. Bravo to Evenko for bringing us this masterpiece. Tickets are on sale at the Place des Arts Box Office, by phone: (514) 842-2112 or 1 866 842-2112 or online at www.pda.qc.ca or www.evenko.ca. Ticket prices range from $56.50 to $89.50 (taxes and service fees included).

Next on the agenda for Evenko in terms of Broadway shows is the Tony Award winning Wicked, set to launch here for one full month on August 1.