The Giant's Rib     devoted to increasing awareness and protection of the Niagara Escarpment world biosphere Reserve Stan Nowak, Editor  basil.cottage@sympatico.ca        905-627-8832 July / August 2007                                                                     Volume 1, Issue 7 Giant’s Rib Discovery Centre Board of Directors - 2007   Dr. Michael Brand; John Bryden; Michael Cox; Leo Deloyde         Joseph Hollick; George Koblyk; Dr. John  MacRae; John Mills             Robert Morrow; Stan Nowak; Gordon Perrault;Sandra Root; Sue Vajoczki       Executive Director: Kenneth Hall                                                    Board Advisors: Josephine Meeker, Ben Vanderbrug            The Giant's Rib Summer Solstice          GIANT’S RIB HELPS LOCAL ARTISTS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS RAISE $3600.00   At the Giant’s Rib Summer Solstice artists and photographers were invited to display works that reflected the natural and cultural heritage of the Niagara Escarpment. We are pleased that there were 33 submissions. Also, if they wished, the artists and photographers could offer their works for sale at a silent auction. They set the opening bids, and this amount was returned to them if their works were sold. Anything above the opening bid was retained by the Giant’s Rib. By this means $3,600.00 was raised for the  participating artists and photographers.    GIANT’S RIB RECEIVES RECOGNITION   Richard Murzin, President of the Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association, announced on Thursday, June 21, 2007 that the Giant’s Rib Discovery Centre (GRDC) has been recognized as a local biosphere committee for the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve. The Association considers that the Giant’s Rib is already fulfilling many activities for the Niagara Escarpment that reflect the Escarpment’s designation as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. They are pleased to acknowledge this and to thank the GRDC for their support for research, education, training and encouragement for sustainable development related to the Niagara Escarpment. A biosphere reserve draws its strength from active involvement and cooperation within a community of interest. The GRDC is exemplary in this regard and the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve is honoured to recognize the Giant’s Rib Discovery Centre as a biosphere committee.                                                       THANK YOU ...   The sunset over the Niagara Escarpment provided a spectacular backdrop for the first Giant's Rib Summer Solstice at the Marine Discovery Centre. Sincerest and most appreciative thanks go out to all who supported this memorable event and ensuring a major success for a most worthy cause!   The Bruce Duncan Memorial Lecture Series          ... resumes in September 2007. Thank you to all who have supported and contributed to this series dedicated to promoting the Niagara Escarpment as a World Biosphere Reserve and as a truly unique topographic feature of our natural and cultural heritage. Keep your calendars open for the next presentation on Sunday, September 9, 2007: Celebrating 40 Years of Development - The Story of the Bruce Trail with Beth Kumming   All presentations will be held at the Dundas Valley Trail Centre, Dundas Valley Conservation Area, 650 Governor’s Road, Dundas. Park entrance fee is a $2.00 per person, $5.00 per car. There is no admission fee for children under 12.  All presentations will be held Sunday afternoons of the noted date starting at 2:00 p.m. There is no charge for the lectures, but donations are welcome and appreciated. For further information: Kenneth Hall (kenjoan75@sympatico.ca), Stan Nowak (basil.cottage@sympatico.ca).                                                                                                                       Everyone is welcome - we look forward to seeing you !!   The Giants Rib presents   Art and Photography of the Heritage of the Niagara Escarpment   Celebrating ‘the art’ of the natural and cultural heritage of the Niagara Escarpment at the Dundas Valley Escarpment Centre featuring a new local artist every month                     Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Dundas Valley Trail Centre     August's Artist: Norris Podetz - "Around the Station"    Norris Podetz comes from a very artistic family.  His grandfather gave him his first oil painting set when he was nine, and spent time teaching him to paint. His uncle, local artist Dani Podetz, taught him to mix colours in oil. He spent much time with his father, woodcarver Leo Podetz, learning how to apply colour. Norris was born and raised in Hamilton. He attended Southmount Secondary School and graduated from the University of Waterloo. His training there was limited to Art History. He studied painting under well-known watercolourist Tim Oikawa, who was his greatest influence. Norris is probably best known locally for his paintings of trains using acrylics. Each painting requires many hours of research, using a combination of books on old trains, photographs, videos, and existing architecture from past periods. His pictures have been published in Trackside Modeller magazine and in FOCUS, the Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway magazine. He also had articles on painting published in Canadian Railroad Modeller magazine. Norris also paints watercolour sketches of local plants, flowers and leaves in various stages of life. These are smaller, more disciplined paintings of subjects found in the area. He has shown these at the annual Irish Canadian Club Art Show. Prints from these have been displayed in England and Ireland. In developing his skills as an artist, he has grown to appreciate the rich history of Hamilton and the natural beauty of the area. He continues to be influenced by local historical and cultural groups.        Join the Friends of the Giant’s Rib   Your assistance would be welcome in helping the Giant’s Rib Discovery Centre to increase awareness and protection of the Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve; or you may wish only to be kept informed of upcoming DVEC activities and events. We hope to hear from you.   For more information, please contact: Ken Hall                905-627-1320         Gord Perrault        905-648-8041       mailto:basil.cottage@sympatico.camailto:kenjoan75@sympatico.camailto:basil.cottage@sympatico.cashapeimage_1_link_0shapeimage_1_link_1shapeimage_1_link_2
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