1998

NORTHERN LIGHTS

HOW DO YOU GET TO THE REC HALL STAGE? LOTS OF PRACTICE

MARC JORDAN has written songs for Rod Stewart & Kenny Loggins, among others. AMY SKY has written for Olivia Newton-John & Diana Ross, among others. But mainly they record their own stuff with -- between them -- 8 CDs including many a hit on FM. So they've heard plenty of applause in their day.

Marc and Amy... Jamming without the Peanut Butter at Tamakwa

But none so warm and full of "How Hows" as when they took the Tamakwa stage by storm last summer treating us to an intimate and exclusive live concert. For Amy it was a return engagement after 21 years, since she was Tamakwa staff member Amy Shiner. For Marc it was a South Tea debut, even though marrying Amy brought him into Tamakwa's very talented Shiner family. They had to put off a Tamakwa engagement the summer before last when Amy was cast in Toronto's stage production of BLOOD BROTHERS. Since then, she's been nominated two years in a row for JUNO AWARDS (Canadian Grammy's) -- this year for Best New Solo Artist. If Amy & Marc didn't knock our collective tube socks off by themselves, the "How How's" became thunderous when their kids Zoe and Ezra took the stage, including a duet by 6 year old Zoe and mom.

QUIT RIBBING ME; YOU'RE GETTING ME STEAMED
The campers of '97 got down to brass tacks. In fact that's exactly what they used to build an original Tamakwa canoe under the tutelage of JIM SPENCER AND JACK HURLEY, a canoe building duo renowned in the Algonquin area. They brought their passion for the cedar & canvas canoe to Tamakwa last summer with a hands-on canoe building workshop "for da keeds". From steaming the fine cedar ribs and planks, to tacking them onto the canoe form, to assembling the gunwales and stems....the kids created the shell of what will soon be a home-grown Tamakwa canoe in the classic tradition of the Chestnut and Peterborough. Besides building fine canoes, Spencer & Hurley proudly perpetuate a tradition among alumni from Algonquin camps who build a cedar/canvas canoe, christen it in the name or memory of a camp personage, then add even more meaning by paddling the canoe's maiden voyage on a trip to that namesake's favourite lakes and waterways. Once completed, Tamakwa's canoe will bear the name of 'Unca' Lou Handler, whom Spencer & Hurley knew and respected. Any alumni longing to be part of the Spencer-Hurley tradition...or just want to visit their Dwight workshop for a good wiff of cedar (and see some gorgeous canoes while you're at it)...can call 705-635-1565.

HATS OFF TO ROOTS AT 25
Last year when 11 year old MATTHEW BUDMAN (Ranger 4) wore his hat backwards, little did anyone think that a year later the reverse style would be the international fashion rage. His dad MICHAEL BUDMAN and partner DON GREEN -- owners of ROOTS CANADA -- turned the look into the "Poor Boy" hat and made it part of the Roots sponsored wardrobe of Canada's team at the Winter Olympics.

"Hey, who's that guy in the red hat with Green and Budman?

The bright red Roots duds were the talk of Nagano and made the Canuck team stand out as much for their distinct style as they did for their athletic talent. It's one coup getting Wayne Gretzky, Robin Williams, and lots of other celebs to publicly wear the Roots hat, but the crowning achievement was on a Royal ski holiday in western Canada, when

HRH Charles became Fresh Prince of Wales by putting on the Roots "Poor Boy" for Michael & Don and the entire international media. Roots is 25 this year and what a year it's been. The subject of documentaries, widespread media coverage, Olympic sponsorship, and business success.....the Roots Boys continue to dazzle the fashion world. From their very first steps in their "reverse heel" shoes in '73 up to the winners podium at Nagano '98, they have never failed to highlight their Tamakwa-Algonquin days as the inspiration and roots of ROOTS.

GEORGE HIRSCH STOPPED BY AGAIN
He didn't send a telegram STOP. And he didn't exactly come by on skis STOP. In fact, it wasn't even summertime STOP. But world travelling Tamakwa veteran GEORGE HIRSCH did take time out from his busy schedule to pay us a visit by phone from his New York office. He was full of nostalgic tales of his Tamakwa days back in the 40's. As an international publisher and founder of New York Magazine, George told about being interviewed once on Detroit's WJR radio station and as he left the studio, to his surprise, 'Unca' Lou Handler was waiting for him in the lobby. "Lou!" he said, "what are you doing here?" "I was in my car", said Lou, "and I heard you on the radio. I had to come down to the station to say hello." George had lots more such stories but little time. Since he's such a busy publisher, we didn't want to press -- him, or our luck. In truth, we could listen to his stories non-STOP.

THIS IS THE VOICE YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR
"These are the days of Colour War (war...war...war...!!!)" Any voice booming out those words in the black of night can give you the willies -- especially with the help of David Stringer's echo and reverb effects. But when the voice is the same one you hear delivering the nightly news -- in Canada, that is -- those are mega-willies. As a newsman for over 30 years, PETER KENT has covered wars in Viet Nam, Afghanistan, South Africa, Northern Ireland, and the Middle East...but this was his first Colour War. The ex-foreign correspondent for NBC News and current news anchor for Canada's Global TV visited Tamakwa last summer, treating us to a fascinating Hobby Hub discussion about his travels, his hot-spot assignments, and his brother Arthur Kent (aka the "Scud Stud" from the Gulf War). But while in camp, Peter agreed to be spririted off to a clandestine taping as the voice in the end-of-season Colour War break. The theme: Natural Disasters. He read the script in one take, with a voice so credible and scary that even the Secret Scorer was ready to go public.

AFTER 25 YEARS...DID THEY GET A DINNER?
It's the last night of camp...final banquet put on by the CITs, who have been secretively working their tails off creating the elaborate decoratations for the dining hall. Why "secretively"? Because the theme is meant to be a surprise for the kids at the big moment they enter the dining hall. Well, last summer, no one was more surprised than our own Head Staffers MARILYN MENDELSON and LIBBY SADICK VONNEUMANN. Why? Was the theme Flintstones, Superheroes, Gulliver's Travels, Disneyland, or some other escape to fantasy? Fantasy shmantasy....the theme of Banquet 1997 was MARILYN & LIBBY. 1997 was each of theirs 25th year at Tamakwa, and considering the incredible impact each of them has made at camp, the milestone was worthy of honouring in this unique way. Besides mural size caracatures, the decorations depicted each of them in job, talents and personal camp shtick. For Marilyn (Assistant Director and camp office boss): package inspection corner, mountain of blow dryers she's confiscated, and a huge thong (her favourite camp footwear). For Libs (Girls Camp Director and resident photographer): giant film cannesters, photos of her through the years, and Indian headdress (Libs is resident senior ranking chief of Tamagama). "Libs and Mar.....define honour." "It's when your friends...and peers...sit together at tables that are rearranged...and there's peace and harmony...and greasy chicken...and candy...and foliage and a post in your way so you can't see the M.C."