January 31, 2007
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Rushing decision on OHL ‘foolish:’ Thomson
COREY LAROCQUE
Wednesday, January 31, 2007 – 02:00
Local News – The “mixed response” city politicians had to Capital Sports’ revised plan to bring the Mississauga IceDogs to Niagara Falls has prompted the company to send more information about their proposal, says Mayor Ted Salci.
“Given that there has been a mixed response from council, Capital Sports is going to forward some additional information that council is going to consider,” Salci said Tuesday after a phone conversation with Cyril Leeder, chief operating officer for Capital Sports, the company that owns the Ontario Hockey League team.
Capital Sports is looking for a new owner and a new host city for the IceDogs because company owner Eugene Melnyk wants to move his other team, the Toronto St. Michael’s Majors, into Mississauga’s Hershey Centre.
The day after Capital Sports revised its proposal, there was mixed response from councillors on how to proceed.
Salci has not yet called a special council meeting to discuss Monday’s proposal. The mayor has the authority to call a special meeting on his own. Or a majority of councillors can direct him to call one as well.
But Salci said Monday he was waiting for councillors’ input on how to proceed with the latest offer. On Tuesday, he said he would wait to receive the new information from Capital Sports. That might lead either to a special council meeting, which requires 48 hours’ notice, or to adding it to the agenda for their next scheduled meeting, on Monday.
It would be “foolish” to rush into a decision on the IceDogs, Coun. Wayne Thomson said after seeing the Monday’s revised proposal.
City officials received an e-mail Monday changing the proposal council rejected Jan. 22.
Coun. Jim Diodati called the changes “encouraging,” because they reflected the city’s need to get some revenue to offset the construction and financing costs of building a sports centre.
But Thomson called them “minor in nature.” A business plan and formal proposal that could be assessed by the city’s professional staff would be needed before council could make any decision, Thomson said.
“This is not a situation where you can get an e-mail and make a decision,” Thomson said. “There’s no way that I can see that a proposal can be submitted and assessed in a couple days. We’d be foolish to rush to judgment.”
But Coun. Victor Pietrangelo said elected representatives have a responsibility to meet and evaluate the latest bid, even if it doesn’t lead anywhere.
“Regardless of what we do, we’re sending a bad message to a developer if we say, ‘We’re not even going to look at your proposal,’” Pietrangelo said.
Capital Sports has been trying since Jan. 8 to convince Niagara Falls to build a $35-million, 5,000-seat sports and entertainment centre to host the IceDogs. If the city builds it, Capital Sports will sell the IceDogs to Toronto investor Tom Bitove and he will move them to Niagara Falls.
A meeting should be arranged this week because a meeting of OHL executives is scheduled for the weekend, Pietrangelo said.
“The OHL has their board of governors meeting on Saturday. I can’t understand why we wouldn’t get together before then,” he said.
Capital Sports president Roy Mlakar will not talk publicly about the Niagara Falls project until after hearing a decision from city council, said a spokesman for Capital Sports.
Politicians have been reluctant to discuss details of the offer, citing a confidentiality agreement with Capital Sports. But they have said, generally, the second proposal offers more chances to generate revenue to pay down costs the city would incur by building and financing the sports centre.
“If this one is offering us something better, we have an onus to act responsibility,” Pietrangelo said.
There’s no need to call a special meeting, said Coun. Carolynn Ioannoni. Politicians unanimously turned down the first offer Jan. 22. They issued a written statement saying the original proposal was “just not financially favourable to the taxpayers of the City of Niagara Falls.”
The city tried to signal an OHL team at public expense is not a priority for council, she said. Spending money on public infrastructure, like roads and sewers, is more important than building an OHL-sized arena for the IceDogs to play in, she said.
“We can’t afford it today any more than we could afford it a week ago Monday,” Ioannoni said. “If they want to build an arena, build it with your own money and council will be behind you 100 per cent.” Councillors have mixed feelings and the mayor’s office has received mixed messages from the public about what to do.
“Some people are very supportive. Others are saying, ‘Don’t you dare.’ Diehard hockey fans really want it,” Salci said.
ID- 383256
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Actor Danny Glover skips second court date
ALISON LANGLEY
Wednesday, January 31, 2007 – 02:00
Local News – Actor Danny Glover did not attend court Tuesday to answer to a trespassing charge stemming from a rally at a Niagara Falls hotel last fall.
This is the second time the 60-year-old actor has been absent from a Niagara court related to that charge. At a December court date, court was told Glover could not attend because he was preparing for a film in India. No reason was given for Tuesday’s absence.
A pretrial hearing before a justice of the peace was held behind closed doors for much of the morning.
The matter is now scheduled to return to court Feb. 20 to confirm a March 19 date for a continuation of the pretrial.
Toronto defence counsel Frank Addario said the adjournment will allow the provincial and federal governments time to review information he recently filed on behalf of his clients.
Known as a notice of constitutional question, the information essentially challenges the constitutionality of the Trespass to Property Act.
Also absent Tuesday were Glover’s co-accused, Wayne Samuelson, president of the Ontario Federation of Labour, and Alexandra Dagg, Canadian co-director of the UNITE HERE union.
UNITE HERE Local 2347 represents approximately 500 workers at the Sheraton on the Falls, Brock Plaza and the Skyline Inn. All three hotels are owned by Canadian Niagara Hotels.
Glover and the others were charged with trespassing, in a private complaint filed by Canadian Niagara Hotels.
Lawyer John Lefurgey, who represents Canadian Niagara Hotels, said the matter will proceed once both levels of government have reviewed the constitutional question.
“Hopefully, there will be some input from the province and the federal government to help determine who would be involved and how long it will take,” Lefurgey said.
Glover, who appeared in the Lethal Weapon movies alongside Mel Gibson, has said he attended the UNITE HERE rally Sept. 16 because he believed workers’ union contracts must be respected.
alangley@nfreview.com
ID- 383263
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January 30, 2007
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A little icewine pasta, anyone?; Jordan chef finds new life for leftover grapes
JUDY CREIGHTON
Tuesday, January 30, 2007 – 02:00
Local News – Who would have thought the leftover grapes normally bound for landfills or for use as fertilizer at the wineries in the Niagara area would end up in a loaf of bread or a plate of pasta?
It’s all because of Mark Walpole’s curiosity and his need as a chef to be constantly trying unusual flavourings, recipes and combinations, with a special eye to foods that are unusual and healthy.
“Living in the winery belt and driving around, you see mounds of spent grapes piled up and it smells and it is a disposable product,” says the 51-year-old.
He decided to seek the help of the research and development staff at the Guelph Food Technology Centre, a not-for-profit organization based in Guelph that provides creative consulting to organizations in the Canadian agri-food industry, to see if something could be made from the compost.
What they found was that there were formidable health benefits to be derived from the pomace – the grape skins – after they had been dried and ground.
“They weren’t surprised to find the pomace naturally high in fibre and that the skins are rich in polyphenols such as antioxidants and resveratrol, which helps the body fight against a number of illnesses including cancer,” Walpole said in an interview.
But what do you do with ground-up grape skins? Walpole decided that the high fibre and omega-3 fatty acid content made the product a good candidate for wine powder or flour. But he just needed a mill to process the grape skins.
And thus was born Vinifera For Life, his company based in Jordan Station.
Four “varietals” of the flour – Cabernet, Chardonnay, Icewine and Late Harvest grapes – are now being used by a number of independent bakeries for bread. Sobey’s supermarket chain is also making a pasta.
Joseph Kedzierski, a baker in St. Catharines, has drawn a great deal of customer enthusiasm for his baguettes made with the wine flour.
“I charge $1.50 a loaf and if they ask for focaccia I’ll make it,” says the Polish baker, who has known Walpole for 40 years.
“When he (Mark) first told me what he was doing with the grapes, I told him he was stupid. Not anymore,” Kedzierski says, chuckling.
Walpole is extending the market in the anticipation of using the wine powder for products other than bread.
“This could translate into using the flour or powder to produce crackers, snack foods, cheese, energy bars or drinks,” he says.
Market research done for the company at the University of Waterloo’s Innovation Centre suggests consumers are seeking healthy choices in what they eat.
Walpole says there are two sides to the idea of using wine flour.
“There’s the romantic idea of having colourful and flavourful breads, and there’s the functional foods side of helping to make lifestyle choices for healthy eating.”
And he adds, “It’s a cool food product.”
On the Net: For more information on the wine flour, visit www.viniferaforlife.com.
ID- 381756
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Pillitteri Estates takes gamble on rare icewine
MONIQUE BEECH
Tuesday, January 30, 2007 – 12:00
Local News – Jamie Slingerland prides himself on being an explorer. The uncharted landscape? The vineyards of Pillitteri Estates Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Slingerland, Pillitteri’s vineyard manager, said there’s still much to be discovered about the winery’s golden ticket: Its icewine.
For the first time in Ontario, Pillitteri will attempt to produce Semillon icewine.
A golden-skinned grape, prone to rot, the variety is difficult to grow in the cooler climes of Canada.
Grown primarily in Bordeaux, France, in the region of Sauternes, the Semillon grape is often made into a sweet wine.
Slingerland said the grape’s propensity for sweetness made it a prime contender for icewine.
But harvesting and producing a new icewine variety is a gamble.
Pillitteri planted about two acres of the grape last year. Along the way, pains were taken to ensure enough sunlight cut through the leafy canopy to warm the fickle fruit.
There’s always the chance that, in the end, the experimental icewine won’t taste that great.
That’s the price you pay for being an explorer.
“It could be a complete flop,” Slingerland said.
“There’s risk in it. But we’re trying to be innovative.”
Inniskillin co-founder Karl Kaiser, who made Niagara’s first icewine in the 1980s, was an innovator, Slingerland said.
“At first, it wasn’t the fastest moving wine on the shelf. Now it’s put Niagara on the map” as a premier icewine producer, he said.
It’s not the first time Pillitteri has tried something new.
Slingerland said the winery was the first to make Shiraz icewine commercially in 2004.
It also made a rare Chardonnay icewine in 2001. The wine was sold to an exclusive Hong Kong hotel in gold-embossed bottles.
“There’s always a niche market inside a niche market. There’s always someone looking for something unique. Something rare.”
Pillitteri picked its Semillon icewine grapes Saturday, when temperatures dipped to -10 C. The winery also picked its Cabernet Franc icewine grapes Saturday.
The winery expects to produce about 600 litres of Semillon icewine. It should be available for tasting in 2008.
ID- 381757
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IceDogs throw city a bone
COREY LAROCQUE
Tuesday, January 30, 2007 – 02:00
Local News – Capital Sports has “tweaked” its proposal to move the Mississauga IceDogs to Niagara Falls enough that it’s worth taking another look at, says Coun. Jim Diodati.
“Bottom line – it comes down to money. The money situation appears encouraging. It warrants further consideration,” Diodati said Monday after receiving the revised proposal from Capital Sports, which owns the Ontario Hockey League’s IceDogs team.
Capital Sports Management’s president Roy Mlakar told The Review on the weekend the businessmen trying to move the team to Niagara Falls from Mississauga held a conference call to address some of the concerns city hall had with the original version.
There were adjustments to the way the IceDogs and the city would share the revenue generated by the sports and entertainment centre where the team would play. The new proposal recognizes the city would need revenue to offset operating and financing costs associated with building a 5,000-seat sports and entertainment centre, estimated to cost at least $35 million, Diodati said.
Mlakar declined The Review’s request for an interview Monday.
A public relations official sent an e-mail saying the new proposal is now before council and Mlakar “doesn’t have anything to add.” Mlakar would talk to the media again after city officials review the latest offer and have contacted Capital Sports, the official said.
City politicians were also reluctant to discuss specific details in the revised offer.
“We’re not willing to discuss these matters in the media,” Mayor Ted Salci said Monday afternoon.
“I can tell you the council has had the information circulated and I’m awaiting a response.”
Salci said he’s waiting for input from councillors before he decides how to proceed.
The mayor can call a special meeting, but it requires 48 hours’ notice. Realistically, it would be difficult to hold that kind of meeting until Thursday, he said. Another option would be to reconvene the six-member committee the city created Jan. 8 after hearing Capital Sports’ initial pitch.
But a special meeting of the full council is the way to go, said Diodati, adding politicians have been given information in “piecemeal” fashion.
“We need to regroup. We need to look at the entire proposal with the amendments,” Diodati said.
Information council received Monday included references to the first proposal.
But politicians had returned the white binders with the first proposal’s documentation to Capital Sports.
“We’re getting bits and pieces of information. We need to have everything on the table at one time,” Diodati said.
It might be helpful to have representatives from Capital Sports at a meeting to ask them questions, he added.
Other members of the special hockey committee could not be reached to comment on how the city should proceed with the newer plan.
Based on what Capital Sports has said publicly, it’s getting late in the game to reach a deal and the clock is ticking down. If anything is going to happen to bring the Ontario Hockey League’s Mississauga IceDogs to Niagara Falls, it seems it would have to happen this week.
Capital Sports wants to sell the IceDogs to Toronto businessman Tom Bitove, who will move them to Niagara Falls if the city builds a 5,000-seat sports and entertainment centre. Capital Sports owner Eugene Melnyk also owns the Toronto St. Michael’s Majors team and wants them to move into Mississauga’s Hershey Centre.
The OHL won’t allow Capital Sports to own two teams.
The company first presented its plan publicly Jan. 8. A special committee of council met twice to consider the proposal. Then, council turned it down Jan. 22, without issuing a counter-offer.
Over the weekend, principals, including Mlakar and Bitove, held a conference call to revise their proposal to make changes to their first proposal.
City officials have never outlined their specific concerns publicly because they agreed to a confidentiality agreement for their talks with Capital Sports.
Mlakar has said his company needs a decision from Niagara Falls council before this weekend’s meeting of the OHL board of governors. City council’s next scheduled meeting is Feb. 5 – two days after the OHL board of governors meeting.
with files from Dan Dakin, Ray Spiteri
clarocque@nfreview.com
HOW NEGOTIATIONS HAVE PROGRESSED:
- Dec. 19, 2006: Capital Sports president Roy Mlakar wants to talk about undisclosed “opportunity” for Niagara Falls;
- Jan. 8: Mlakar, Tom Bitove, Gary Green propose moving IceDogs to Niagara Falls for September 2007 if city builds 5,000-seat arena; council forms committee to examine options;
- Jan. 12: Special committee meets for first time; considers potential arena sites, how to pay for OHL-sized arena;
- Jan. 17: Capital Sports’ formal proposal arrives at city hall;
- Jan. 18: Special committee considers proposal; says entire council needs information;
- Jan. 22: City council rejects proposal from Capital Sports;
- Jan. 27: Capital Sports revises proposal to address city concerns; – Jan. 29: City council receives revised proposal;
- Feb. 3: OHL board of governors meeting; deadline for IceDogs to find new home;
- Feb. 5: Next scheduled Niagara Falls council meeting.
ID- 381738
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Buy local to keep farming alive: Niagara farmers
GRANT LaFLECHE
Tuesday, January 30, 2007 – 12:00
Local News – Lincoln – Citizens of Niagara will have to support local fruit and juice industries if they are truly going to survive, says the CEO of the Grape Growers of Ontario.
“It’s crazy. You can buy a peach from China for less than a peach grown here. We don’t do enough to promote our own produce grown here,” Debbie Zimmerman said during a greenbelt conference in Jordan Saturday. “We need programs to support our own farmers here in Ontario and across Canada.”
During the daylong conference, several speakers repeated the message – local farmers need the support of local consumers.
St. Catharines MPP Jim Bradley, Zimmerman and Elbert van Donkersgoed of the Greater Toronto Area Agricultural Action Committee all said it’s a struggle to get Ontario-grown products into the homes of Ontario residents.
Zimmerman urged the government to help the industry promote itself in the marketplace.
Donkersgoed said for too long, Ontario farmers have been relying on small farmers’ markets to reach consumers, he said.
Instead, farmers should focus on a kind of “farming tourism,” where consumers come to the countryside not just to buy produce, but also to experience farming first hand.
He said the greenbelt – a swath of protected land stretching from Niagara to the GTA – needs to be more than just protected wilderness. He challenged the provincial government to assist farmers in making their operations profitable, while maintaining the ecology of the greenbelt.
Zimmerman said even the future of successful wine grape-growing operations could be in doubt, because many farmers are without successors to keep their farms going.
“The fact is younger people don’t want to work on a farm. They would rather have another kind of career and live in Toronto,” she said.
While high schools offer technology and trades programs, there isn’t much in the way of agriculture education for Niagara students. While Niagara College has what Zimmerman called an excellent viticulture program, it is one program at one school.
Ultimately, though, Zimmerman said farming has to be more profitable if new blood is to join the industry.
Call us with your tips
If you see news happening, please call Joe Wallace, city editor, at 905-358-0114, ext. 1120.
ID- 381763
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January 29, 2007
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IceDogs file ‘last-chance offer’
DAN DAKIN
Monday, January 29, 2007 – 02:00
Local News – With the deadline looming for the Mississauga IceDogs to find a new home, the company that owns the Ontario Hockey League team has filed it’s last-chance offer to the city of Niagara Falls.
After a conference call on the weekend between the major players involved in the deal to move the IceDogs to Niagara Falls, the president of Capital Sports Management said time has run out for lengthy negotiations.
“If we have nothing of substance here, then it’s over,” Capital Sports boss Roy Mlakar said Sunday afternoon.
However, Mlakar feels his company’s new proposal addresses the issues brought up by the politicians and residents of Niagara Falls. “We looked and said, ‘Could we meet their concerns?’ and the answer was yes,” he said.
Though the conference call did not involve anyone from the City of Niagara Falls, city councillors now have the revised proposal and are considering their next move.
The deal to bring the IceDogs to Niagara Falls appeared to be dead when the city turned down the original proposal after a council meeting last Monday.
But Mlakar said his company decided it was worth the extra effort.
“We sat back and said, ‘Is this team worth it to come back with another proposal?’ We saw what was happening on the websites, we saw what was happening in the community, we got hundreds of phone calls and we decided to reach out and make another proposal,” he said.
Because of a confidentiality agreement between Capital Sports and the city, no details of the original proposal or the revised offer have been made public.
The city expressed concern in the financial end of the deal, including the $35-million price tag to build an OHL-sized sports entertainment centre. City councillors said the original cost of building the complex could have meant a six per cent increase on the tax levy.
“We think the proposal we submitted addressed the concerns of the city of Niagara Falls,” Mlakar said. “We listened to their concerns, what they were afraid of and the areas they thought they couldn’t overcome. This proposal overcomes those areas.”
If the time crunch was urgent before, it’s critical now.
City hall needs to make a decision on the current offer before Saturday, when the Ontario Hockey League will hold its board of governor’s meeting in Saginaw, Mich.
“The time factors that came into play were that of (OHL president) David Branch, as far as the direction of what the Ontario Hockey League had to do,” Mlakar said. “Should (the city) move favourably on this proposal and determine to go further down the road, I would have something of substance to go back to David Branch for the board of governors meeting to say: ‘Is there any possibility you’ll give these people a little longer?’”
“We’ll see if this proposal has got their appetite to move forward,” he said.
The decision on moving forward will have to be made by city council, who have been given the updated proposal, said Mayor Ted Salci.
“We received the information and the clerk sent it out Friday,” he said. “We’re waiting for input from council (this) morning. That’s where things sit.”
If Niagara Falls rejects this latest offer, Capital Sports will have to look elsewhere for a place to move the IceDogs, who are being sold in order to make room for the St. Michael’s Majors in Mississauga.
North Bay has been brought up as a serious second option, but Mlakar said Tom Bitove, the businessman who wants to buy the team, doesn’t see it that way.
“Tom is not interested in North Bay,” he said. “But right now we’re concentrating on this proposal. We won’t divulge what our next move is.”
ddakin@nfreview.com
ID- 380361
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Award-winning robotics team unveils latest project
TONY RICCIUTO
Monday, January 29, 2007 – 02:00
Local News – Spar 2D2 can shoot some mean hoops.
Not bad for a robot that only took six weeks to build.
It can also pick things up or move them around as needed.
Shoppers at Niagara Square on Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. got a chance to watch Spar 2D2 in action, talk to some of the students who put it together and learn more about the school’s program.
“Robotics is the wave of the future,” said Kaitlain Cain, a member of Westlane Seconday School’s robotics team.
Once students have finished building a robot, they compete with students from other schools who take similar programs.
“Last year, we won three consecutive regional competitions. We were the first team to do it since 1998 and the first Canadian team to achieve it,” said Cain, a Grade 11 student who is also the team’s marketing director.
“This is a really great program. People should come check us out and we encourage other schools to get involved,” said Cain.
Students at the school have sent out letters to businesses asking for sponsorship and financial support.
Donations help defray construction costs for the robot, as well as contest entry fees, allowing students to compete on an international platform.
Lauren Howes, a student leader for Westlane’s team that goes by the name of 1503 Spartonics, said students get into the program because there are so many aspects.
“It’s a difficult program, but it’s also a lot of fun,” said Howes, who wants to get into the engineering field.
Ontario Power Generation recently gave the team a $5,000 donation, but more is needed because they would like to get the whole team to go down to Atlanta for a competition later this year.
“Students pull all-nighters when they are working to finish the robot. It can get pretty tense because we only have six weeks to build it.”
Howes said Spar 2D2 can shoot balls 13 feet high, pick up balls off the ground, and it’s also very good at defence and blocking.
“It’s really quite amazing and it’s hard to tell that just by looking at it. It can do a lot of really cool stuff.”
tricciuto@nfreview.com
ID- 380365
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Ballroom dancing – elegance and timing
TONY RICCIUTO
Monday, January 29, 2007 – 02:00
Local News – Television shows like “Dancing With The Stars” are generating a renewed interest in ballroom dancing.
“We have dancers from five years of age to people in the 80s,” said Jolan Sniegocki, organizer of the ninth annual The Falls Premier Ball that was held Friday to Sunday at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel in Niagara Falls.
More than 1,600 competitors, both amateur and professional, from across Canada and the United States took part in this year’s competition.
“It’s a good sport. Not everyone likes to compete, but it gives dancers a goal that they can work toward,” said Sniegocki, who is the owner of Joli’s Dance Studio in Welland.
Ballroom dancing attracts a cross-section of people ranging from factory workers to doctors.
“It just takes a love for dancing. For many of us it’s spending weekends in hotels attending the different competitions that run from about January to June,” said Sniegocki.
Some of the gowns and dance costumes worn by the women can be quite costly. Prices can range from $2,000 to $5,000 and some are even more depending on the amount of work that’s involved.
The dances include the cha-cha, tango and fox-trot. The male dancer always has a number on his back, so the judges can keep track of those on the dance floor.
“The judges look for many things including good timing in music. As a teacher, I insist on timing, especially with the beginners, because if you don’t dance to the music what’s the point of dancing?” said Sniegocki.
While many people enjoy listening to music, she adds, not everyone has a natural feeling for it. Dancing to the music is a different story.
Some couples have danced together for years, but they each seem to be doing their own thing. After they take a few lessons, they realize it’s quite different when they are actually going together.
Sniegocki said dancing is a good way for a couple to spend time together. Some people take class lessons, others prefer private lessons and some even do both.
Emily Piskorski, 13, from Mississauga, has been dancing since she was four years old, but only started competing about two years ago.
“I like jive the best, because it’s fast and really fun and I also like the oldies.”
Piskorski, who is in Grade 8, said many of the students in her class at school know that she dances.
Claudia Bialek, 13, said dancing is “just a lot of fun” and she’s not afraid to be out on the dance floor while so many people are watching.
“Sometimes you make a small mistake or forget what to do next, but people don’t always notice it and you just keep going.”
tricciuto @nfreview.com
ID- 380367
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Magic seminar aims to make unfunny acts disappear
TONY RICCIUTO
Monday, January 29, 2007 – 12:00
Local News – Former X-ray technician John Ferrentino didn’t give up his day job because it was too negative.
He switched careers because he preferred to make people laugh.
When his jokes didn’t work, Ferrentino was always smart enough to keep a few tricks up his sleeve.
Combining sleight of hand with his sarcastic humour has paid off in a big way.
Ferrentino began performing in 1972 and now does more than 300 shows a year.
He has toured with Crosby, Stills and Nash and has performed alongside such noted comics as Ray Romano, Eddie Murphy, Kevin James and Rosie O’Donnell.
“I take a lot of classic magic tricks and show how things can go wrong. It’s like I’m showing the audience the trick, but I’m really not,” said Ferrentino, who was in Niagara Falls Saturday night at the Ramada Suites Hotel performing at the Niagara Comedy Magic Seminar.
The event was organized by Ridgeway magician Anthony Lindan who performs for corporate events throughout southern Ontario.
The seminar was designed to show magicians how they can incorporate comedy into their routines to make them more entertaining.
The free show Saturday night also featured comedy magicians Bob Sheets and David Merry.
“We were very lucky to get these guys. They are three of the best comedy magicians and they perform all over North America,” said Lindan.
Ferrentino flew in for the show Saturday afternoon from Florida and flew out again early Sunday morning because he was getting ready to do shows on a cruise ship. He has been doing those types of shows for years.
“If you work a theatre and do terrible you don’t have to worry because you leave and never have to see those people again. When you are on a cruise ship, these people follow you around and they are always coming up to you wanting to give you jokes.”
Ferrentino had been doing magic for about five years before he combined it with comedy. When he first tried it, his audience loved it. He also had a good time doing it, so it became a part of his act.
“People come up to me after the show and say that’s amazing. I tell them it’s nothing and they can do the same thing for $29.95″.
Ferrentino has performed on more than 50 television shows including Caroline’s Comedy Hour, Evening At The Improv and has been a regular guest performer on Comic Strip Live. He has performed at the World Summit of Magic in Washington, D.C. and has been a regular at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“I’ve been doing this so long that sometimes I feel like a dinosaur. This has been a fun job. I’ve worked with many interesting people such as Jay Leno. I love it and that’s why I’m still doing it.”
tricciuto@nfreview.com
ID- 380378
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