Health & Wellness Fair - October 21, 2007
Jointly hosted by the Goan Overseas Association and 55 Plus Goan Association in Etobicoke – Toronto West

Report by Juliet Rebello (55PGA)
Photos by Uvy Lopes & Tim de Mello

The Health & Wellness Fair turned out to be a well worth attending seminar, even though it meant giving up a beautiful sunny and warm, October afternoon to sit indoors for 4 hours. The majority of the people there were truly appreciative of this event, and hope that we can keep this item as annual event Opening the Fair was Dr Colin Saldahna, who talked about the Metabolic Syndrome, Diabetes & Hypertension. Sharon Rodrigues, the Dietician spoke about THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY in reference to our FAT consumption, and imparted some advice as to a healthy diet, with reference to the DASH DIET.

Dr. Luis Noronha, a Cardiologist, touched on "matters of the heart". He talked about Angina and Coronary Disease, their symptoms as well as their differences, and how Aspirin plays a significant part in all of this. After the above speakers had imparted their knowledge and expertise with some recommendations, a question and answer period was in place. This was followed by a 20 minute refreshment break, neatly arranged by Hema Pereira and her helpers from the G.O.A. Refreshed and nourished in a Healthy manner, given the nature of the event, we were back for the second half of the session.

Dr Amish Parikh, a Diabetes Specialist talked about the prevention and control and dealing with the disease. The importance of eye checks and sensation in the feet were stressed upon. Dr Lorna Da Silva...a specialist in Osteoporosis touched on the importance of being aware of bone loss and to have bone density tests done. Calcium along with a "must take" Vitamin D, to help in the calcium absorption, was her recommendation.

Last but not least, was Dr Chic Devraj, whose specialty is Geriatrics. He surprised all by saying that a geriatric is someone 65 years and over, and not as we would like to think someone in their 80's or so. His quote for the evening was BED IS BAD and REST IS RUST. The afternoon was well spent with the various Specialists imparting their words of caution and advice. All the while the talks were going on, people were able to do their Medical Risk Assessments right there, as we had two nurses doing these tests on the premises.

Thanks to Tony and Vivien Fernandes, for initiating 55PGA in an event of WELL BEING. Rudy Fernandes was the key figure in bringing together the TEAM OF SPECIALISTS, along with the sponsor of the event Edlyn D'Souza, Cardiovascular Executive Sales Representative from AstraZeneca Canada Inc. who also provided the personnel and equipment for the Medical Risk Assessment at no charge. So thanks to you Rudy, for bringing the Specialists to us, rather than us going to the Specialists.

Well Done 55PGA & G.O.A - ! Juliet Rebello

'Adeus' Konkani Tiatro Staged In Toronto

Jr. Menezes steals the show in the best Konkani Tiatro so far in Toronto, Canada!
A Review By Silviano C. Barbosa, Canada
Excerpts…
For complete article go to mangalorean.com



The Goan Konkani audience at Michael Power School Auditorium in Etobicoke, Toronto left the hall in frenzy and with great satisfaction after watching a Konkani Tiatro written and directed by Jr. Menezes, a.k.a Raymond Menezes, born in Quepem, Goa, now residing in Toronto, Canada.
This Tiatro was reminiscent of the amazing Tiatros produced and directed by the likes of J.P. Souzalin and Prem Kumar, the great directors who brought us Tiatros filled with scenes/scenarios, special effects, revolving stage and other props and sets.

This Tiatro in no way will be any different than the Tiatros produced by today's directors in Goa, like Prince Jacob, Roseferns and Mario Menezes. The artistes who performed this Tiatro in Toronto are very much well-versed in fluent Konkani as can be witnessed by the solid dialogues that were exchanged in perfect delivery. Jr. Menezes made history in Konkani Theatre in North America by donning a Goan Kashtty on stage, one of the only 2 Goan Tiatrists to do so after the late Prem Kumar held this record in his Tiatro, “Vavraddi”. Incidentally the audience was asked to observe a minute's silence in honour of the great Goan Director, actor and innovator of the Konkani Tiatro, Prem Kumar, a.k.a. Peter Da Costa, who died a day earlier to this performance.

Jr. Menezes regaled the audience with his fine performance in various roles as a skilled director, writer, comedian, character actor, a tribal (gavddi) in kashtty and as a singer par excellence. Besides the above skills, Raymond Menezes was instrumental in producing a fine DVD with his camera operating skills, mixing, sound effects, designing sets, and giving an impressive transition from the video to the actual acting on the stage. Jr. Menezes has a great potential with his natural art, acting, comedy and musical skills that he possesses, and could potentially be a creative advisor/contributor to Pixar Films in Silicon Valley. His wife, Charmaine is a natural complement to the wealth of their family skills and art, together with their kids, Nikita, Stephanie and Jude Menezes. Charmaine's canto was just exceptional. This was the first Tiatro that Jr. Menezes' wrote, which he said he created when he was only 17.

After performing this Tiatro when he first arrived in Canada years ago, he fine-polished it and improvised it in its current version by adding new roles such as the tribal woman (gavddin Andrez), which was perfectly enacted by Serah Barbosa (my other half) and that of a ghantti, equally well-performed by A.C. Pereira. Jr. Menezes and Serah and A.C. Pereira mesmerized the audience with their hilarious antics on stage obtaining peals of laughter from the very responsive and satisfying audience. These three names reverberated the most on the lips of the audience throughout the show and after. The contribution by a galaxy of talented artistes including the tiny Goan talented kids contributed tremendously to the overall success of this beautiful play, which is sure to please a packed audience in New Jersey, U.S.A on November 10, 2007.

This play was witnessed by some 600 spectators in a housefull capacity hall. The play started with a DVD flashback with a couple kids playing in a park, especially a little boy and a girl who were always together in a playful mood. At the end of the projected video there is a nice transition, as this pair of kids continue their playful catch-up on stage as they grow up. I will not delve too much on the story as this play is scheduled to perform in New Jersey, except to say that this Tiatro slowly unwinds the story of these star-crossed lovers and the scenes on their journey are sure to please the audience especially the part at the end of the play. This Tiatro is full of vivid scenes and scenarios.

I liked this Tiatro very much and it has no doubt created a record as being the best Konkani Tiatro so far in the history of Konkani Tiatro in Toronto, Canada, especially because it was conceived and written and directed by a Canadian Goan.

The highlights of this Tiatro of course were the special effects of a running scene, the nostalgic scene of a roadside Goan white cross, the sophisticated sound and light effects, the gauddin character , the ghantti character and multi-faceted roles (at least 4 roles) of Jr. Menezes, the powerful dialogues and delivery of all actors with the accompaniment of the relevant music and cantos.

This Tiatro would be a welcome debut performance on the Konkani stage in New Jersey, U.S.A. for the Goan/Konkani audience. It would create a great impact on audiences if performed in London or even in Goa, where it is sure to hit a century in no time. The standard of Konkani Tiatro performance in Toronto today can easily match the best in Goa any time.

Peace Second To Computers On Holiday Wish Lists
'The fact that they want computers over clothing and peace and happiness is amazing.'
—Shawn DuBravac, Consumer Electronics Association

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2007/10/16/computer-wishlist.html
October 16, 2007 The Associated Press

Computers outrank peace, happiness and clothes this year as the most wished-for gifts, according to an annual U.S. survey by the consumer electronics industry's largest trade organization. Last year, the most popular answer to the survey's open-ended query about holiday desires was clothing, followed by peace and happiness, money and then computers. This year, peace and happiness came second, after computers, followed by a big-screen TV, clothes and then money.

Enthusiasm for computers, TVs and other electronics will help drive electronics sales in America up seven per cent from a year ago to $48.1 billion US in the fourth quarter, according to the Consumer Electronics Association.

By comparison, the overall U.S. retail industry is forecast to see holiday sales grow four per cent, according to the National Retail Federation. "We're looking at a very solid season for consumer electronics, and it's certainly a bright spot for the economy," said Joe Bates, CEA's director of research.

For all of 2007, electronics sales in the United States are expected to reach $160 billion US, up eight per cent from last year, according to the CEA forecast. The organization's annual survey of holiday hopes and intentions involved random telephone calls to 1,003 adults in late September; the poll claims a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.

Caledon (Ont) Family On TV Reality Show
http://www.caledoncitizen.com/news/2007/1024/arts_ent/031.html

A Caledon family got a first-hand view at a reality TV show. The D'Souza family and their daughter Christine will be featured on an upcoming episode of Guess What, You're Moving Out!, an innovative design show with an edge. Part While You Were Out, part Candid Camera, the series boldly combines great design with hilarious hidden camera surprises. Guess What, You're Moving Out! gives adult kids the gentle but firm nudge they need to move out of their parents' home. Yes, it's time to toss the baby bird out of the nest and give them a fabulous nest of their own.

The show conspires with parents across the country, to get unsuspecting "kids" out of the house so show staff can move in, move their stuff out and get them gone for good! But they're not kicked to the curb - they're set up in their own personally designed pad.

With the help of mom and dad and a few good friends or siblings - they'll get the kid out of the house for the weekend. Designer/host Andrika Lawren and her design team then has 48 hours to pack up all of "junior's" old stuff, relocate it to a new apartment and design a space that will have "junior" loving their new home and hopefully embracing their new-found independence.

But there's one slight catch - Andrika has never met our kid so she has to try to get as much information from mom and dad about his/her likes and dislikes. But how well do parents really know their children? The design team has very little to work with from the kids' old room - a bed, lava lamp and some baseball posters, for example.

But, while the designer is clearing out mom and dad's house and working on a new space for our "kid who won't leave home," the host is spending some "quality" time with the kid. The only thing is the kid won't have any idea he/she is spending time with the host of the show!

The D'Souzas, of Dixie Road, were the subjects of the series' sixth show. They began shooting Sept. 9-12 and unveiled Christine's Toronto apartment Sept. 12.