Local school board officials said higher than expected enrolment this fall is an indication the region is finally emerging from years of stagnating or declining population.

The Greater Essex County District School Board’s enrolment of 35,687 is its largest since Sept. 2006 when it had 36,115 pupils. The public board is up 703 students over last year.

Though the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board saw a net decline of about 400 students from last year, that was only half of what had been originally forecast. The decline is the smallest drop the Catholic board has seen in the past seven years.

The WECDSB currently has 20,509 students.

“I think what we’re seeing are more families moving to Windsor and Essex County,” said John Howitt, GECDSB superintendent of education overseeing enrolment in the elementary panel.

“We’re seeing both new Canadians and students from across Ontario and outside the province coming to this area.”

The GECDSB was up 397.5 students to 23,979 students at the elementary level while the secondary panel saw an enrolment increase of 306 to 11,708.

While the data on new Canadians arriving is mainly based on principals’ reports, there’s a paper trail on new students coming from within the country.

Public board officials said they’ve seen a number of students registering who have come from Alberta in addition to Ontario transfers.

“The number of requests to transfer student records from outside our area is up,” Howitt said.

“We’ll have a better idea of where they’re coming from after we break down our numbers.”

The higher enrolment has resulted in the GECDSB hiring the equivalent of 55 more full-time elementary teachers. That breaks down to 63 teachers being hired off the occasional list, with 14 of those working halftime.

The staffing levels for the secondary panel are still to be determined.

Jamie Bumbacco, the WECDSB executive superintendent of human resources, agrees that the population drop has bottomed out.

“We’ve at least stop stagnating and we’re starting to see some growth,” Bumbacco said. “We were nervous about projecting we’d get 900 JKs this fall. We actually got 1,017.

“We’re not surprised by these numbers, we’re ecstatic in light of the demographic shift going on across Ontario.”

Bumbacco said the Catholic board is also noticing an increase in new Canadians and domestic students coming from Ontario and other provinces.

“These numbers make me optimistic for future growth,” Bumbacco said.

The WECDSB numbers break down into 13,304 elementary students, 261 better than projected, and 7,205 secondary school pupils, which is 95 more than anticipated.

Bumbacco said the board is also pleased it was able to retain over 90 per cent of students at schools involved in the school consolidations that occurred last spring.

As a result of the increased enrolment, the WECDSB was able to recall 103 of the 171 elementary panel teachers that were on the layoff list to a full-time vacant position. Another 20 will get long-term full time and 29 are on the occasional list.

“By Christmas, if not before, I think the remaining 16 on the elementary layoff list will be getting some work,” Bumbacco said.

Of the 24 secondary panel layoffs, all have been recalled to vacant positions or long-term full-time work, except for one teacher on maternity leave.

Heather Gregg, Business Outreach Innovator for WorkForce Windsor-Essex, said the school boards’ experiences reflect trends in population growth WFWE is also observing.

“We do see some substantial growth in a variety of industries,” Gregg said. “As long as that continues, this trend of people coming to the area will continue.”

Gregg added statistics show those new families are arriving with school-aged children.

Both boards were particularly interested in how enrolment in the Leamington area would be affected after the Heinz plant closure. However, neither board experienced any significant enrolment drop in the area.

“It’s pretty much status quo, one school lost a teacher and another one added at teacher,” Howitt said.

“That speaks to a healthy region.”

The boards’ budgets will also look healthier thanks to increased enrolment.

With government funding ranging from $10,000 to $12,000 per student, the public board should receive in excess of $7 million in general student grants while the WECDSB is in line for about $4 million.

“These numbers say its good news for the local economy to be able to add high-paying jobs for the community,” Howitt said. “It also says Windsor is starting to see some glimpses of success that the city is on the way back.”

dwaddell@windsorstar.com

One woman is in hospital following a shooting in Tecumseh.

The shooting occurred in the 1700 block of Manning Road about 1 a.m.

The house is the family home of former boxer Andrew Singh Kooner.

A witness to the shooting said the shooter was a masked man dressed in black.

More to come.

The Star is on the scene. Follow @winstarwilhelm and @winstarnickb for updates.

Find Windsor Star on Facebook

How about a little light reading with your dark roast coffee?

On Thursday, Sept. 25, you’ll spot local celebrities, Windsor Star employees and local literacy organizations collecting donations at local coffee shops and landmarks to support the Raise-a-Reader foundation. In exchange for your pocket change, they’ll be handing out special editions of the newspaper.

This year’s goal is to raise $21,000 and 100 per cent of the funds will remain in Windsor-Essex to support local literacy initiatives including A Book of My Own, the Windsor Public Library and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

Volunteers will be up bright and early starting at 7 a.m. collecting donations and hawking papers at local Tim Hortons drive-thrus, St. Clair College’s south campus, the St. Clair Centre for the Arts, Windsor Regional Hospital and Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, as well as at the Chrysler Assembly Plant, City Hall Square and other downtown Windsor spots.

Since it began in 2002, Raise-a-Reader has raised more than $550,000 for Windsor-Essex literacy initiatives. Raise-a-Reader is also a national campaign and runs in several Canadian cities. It has raised more than $20 million to support family literacy programs all across the country.

Want to Tweet your support for literacy after you’ve picked up breakfast and a paper? Join the Raise-a-Reader conversation on Thursday on Twitter with the hashtags #RAR and #YQG.

• See last year’s photo gallery

The Windsor Star’s award-winning photographers covered the city and county yesterday. Check out the gallery.

Pure Flavour, Pure Hot House Foods Inc. of Leamington have shipped peppers out of this world, into space, September 24. 2014. Sarah Pau, marketing assistant, displays some of the colourful local product. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Pure Flavour, Pure Hot House Foods Inc. of Leamington have shipped peppers out of this world, into space, September 24. 2014. Sarah Pau, marketing assistant, displays some of the colourful local product. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Massey’s Daniel Klinck hits a four-iron on the second hole on the white nine at Kingsville during the WECSSAA golf championships Wednesday. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Royce Beauchamp of Cardinal Carter misses a birdie putt on the first hole on the white nine at the WECSSAA golf championships at Kingsville. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Riverside’s Spencer Ferguson hits a tee shot on the second hole of the white nine during the WECSSAA golf championships in Kingsville. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Massey’s Mitchell Shields hits a shot from the sand trap Wednesday at the WECSSAA golf championships in Kingsville. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Art Gallery of Windsor’s Srimoyee Mitra says the AGW’s new exhibit, Possible Futures: What Is To Be Done?, a special event because it will showcase local talent where 10 of 29 artists are from Windsor and the rest hail from somewhere between Hamilton and Detroit. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE / The Windsor Star)

Larry Horwitz speaks at his campaign office during a press conference in Windsor on Wednesday, September 24, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Students in Nicole Rusenstrom’s grade 10 math class work on an assignment at General Amherst Hight School in Amherstburg on Wednesday, September 24, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Students in Nicole Rusenstrom’s grade 10 math class work on an assignment at General Amherst Hight School in Amherstburg on Wednesday, September 24, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Students in Nicole Rusenstrom’s grade 10 math class work on an assignment at General Amherst Hight School in Amherstburg on Wednesday, September 24, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Students in Nicole Rusenstrom’s grade 10 math class work on an assignment at General Amherst Hight School in Amherstburg on Wednesday, September 24, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Charlene Yates, associate registrar, and David Bussiere, assistant provost, Recruitment & Admissions, look over offer letters at the University of Windsor’s Office of the Registrar in Windsor on Thursday, January 19, 2012. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE / The Windsor Star)

Jeremy Orton of the Essex Red Raiders spikes the ball gainst Holy Names at Holy Names Wednesday. (JASON KRYK/The Windsor Star)

Holy Names Knights Brendan MacKenzie and Essex Red Raiders Adam Zanier go after the volleyball during senior boys high school volleyball action at Holy Names Catholic High School on September 24, 2014. (JASON KRYK/ The Windsor Star)

Holy Names Knights Carter Faust blocks an Essex Red Raiders spike during senior boys high school volleyball action at Holy Names Catholic High School on September 24, 2014. (JASON KRYK/ The Windsor Star)

Holy Names Knights Adam Zanier spikes the volleyball over Essex Red Raiders defenders during senior boys high school volleyball action at Holy Names Catholic High School on September 24, 2014. (JASON KRYK/ The Windsor Star)

City of Windsor ward 1 candidate Fred Francis speaks with the media at the home of Bryant and Teresa Taylor on Bartlet Drive in Windsor, Ontario on September 24, 2014. Francis launched his platform to assist with traffic issues in South Windsor) (JASON KRYK/ The Windsor Star)

Holy Names Knights Michael Desantis spikes the ball past Essex Red Raiders Tyler St. Pierre and Jeremy Orton during senior boys high school volleyball action at Holy Names Catholic High School on September 24, 2014. (JASON KRYK/ The Windsor Star)

City of Windsor ward 1 candidate Fred Francis talks with Bryant and Teresa Taylor at their home on Bartlet Drive in Windsor, Ontario on September 24, 2014. Francis launched his platform to assist with traffic issues in South Windsor) (JASON KRYK/ The Windsor Star)

LIVE AND LOCAL – THIS WEEK IN MUSIC

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 25

VICTORIA TAVERN – 400 Chilver – 519-254-1535

Presents – Soul Minors hosting ‘The Jam’

OASIS LOUNGE – 7515 Forest Glade Dr – 519-948-5545

Presents – Cadillac Hooker – The Blues @ 7

COLCHESTER BAR & GRILL – 67 County Rd 50 W RR1 (Harrow) – 519-738-6198

Presents – Bike Night with Live Music

DOMINION HOUSE – 3140 Sandwich St – 519-971-7400

Presents – Colton Young

THE WILLISTEAD RESTAURANT – 1840 Wyandotte St – 519-253-8226

Presents – Mr. Chill (Kelly Hoppe) and Greg Cox

O’MAGGIO’S KILDARE HOUSE – 1880 Wyandotte – 519-915-1066

Presents – Jamie Reaume

RIVERSIDE TAVERN – 488 Lauzon – 519-945-3923

Presents – Bobby D Trio @ 8

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 26

DOMINION HOUSE – 3140 Sandwich St – 519-971-7400

Presents – Soul Heavy wsg Siren Phase & The Infidels

ROCK BOTTOM – 3236 Sandwich St – 519-258-7553

Presents – Jamie Reaume

FIRESIDE ROOM – 159 Talbot (Leamington) – 519-326-4486

Presents – David Williams & Bill Loop @ 5

TWIGG’S – 1207 County Rd 22 (Emeryville) – 519-727-8704

Presents – Mike Beggs

RINO’S KITCHEN AND ALE HOUSE – 131 Elliott – 519- 962-8843

Presents – Music on the Patio ………reservations encouraged

O’MAGGIO’S KILDARE HOUSE – 1880 Wyandotte – 519-915-1066

Presents – Chris Bolister

VITO’S PIZZERIA – 1731 Wyandotte – 519-915-6145

Presents – Rob Sef @ 12

AVERAGE JOE’S – 1286 Lauzon – 519-948-1589

Presents – The Formula

RANTA MARINA – 1500 Front Rd (A’burg) – 519-736-7997

Presents – Last Minute

JOHNNY SHOTZ – 13037 Tecumseh Rd – 519-735-7005

Presents – Bigg Wiggle

VENUE MUSIC HALL – 255 Ouellette – 519-252-5991

Presents – The Vaudevillianaires, Cellos and Thick as Thieves – doors @ 9

CLUB ALOUETTE – 2418 Central – 519-945-1189

Presents – Misterplease

TURF LOUNGE – 20 Chatham St – 519-256-0335

Presents – The Smokin’ Purple Monkey Gang wsg Jimmy G

WINDSOR YACHT CLUB – 9000 Riverside Dr – 519-945-1863

Presents – Bobby D Trio

JAKE’S JOINT – 4745 Malden Rd – 519-969-1415

Presents – South River Slim Voo Duo @ 9

ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION 157 – 281 Dalhousie (A’burg) – 519-736-9356

Presents – Kool Kats

FAMFEST – Waves Stage (Riverfront & Crawford)

4:00PM – Tire Swing Co.

5:00PM – Myskow Family Music

6:00PM – Crissi Cochrane

7:00PM – Middle Sister

8:00PM – Leighton Bain

9:00PM – The Unquiet Dead

10:00PM – Kero & Annie Hall

Villains Beastro:

11:30PM – Beams (Toronto)

12:30AM –The Blue Stones

Phog Lounge:

11:00PM – Le Pelican Noir (Montreal)

12:00PM – Atsuko Chiba (Montreal)

1:00AM – In(Our)Finite Space

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 27

DOMINION HOUSE – 3140 Sandwich St – 519-971-7400

Presents – Live Trivia with Jamie Reaume

WINDSOR MOOSE LODGE 1499 – 777 Tecumseh Rd – 519-253-1834

Presents – Brand X

British Beat 66 @ 8:30 – tickets $10

O’MAGGIO’S KILDARE HOUSE – 1880 Wyandotte – 519-915-1066

Presents – Ted Lamont

ROCK BOTTOM – 3236 Sandwich St – 519-258-7553

Presents – Chris McLean

KILT & FIDDLE – 28 Chatham St – 519-252-3111

Presents – Area 51

SHOOTER’S ROADHOUSE – 17 Sandwich N (A’burg) – 519-736-7878

Presents – Radio Unplugged

ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION 157 – 281 Dalhousie (A’burg) – 519-736-4485

Presents – Kool Kats @ 5

AVERAGE JOE’S – 1286 Lauzon – 519-948-1589

Presents – The Formula

CLUB ALOUETTE – 2418 Central – 519-945-1189

Presents – Misterplease

TURF LOUNGE – 20 Chatham St – 519-256-0335

Presents – The Smokin’ Purple Monkey Gang wsg Jimmy G

LORD AMHERST PUB – 273 Dalhousie (A’burg) – 519-713-9165

Presents – Big Jim Spence (McGinnis)

GOOD TIME CHARLY’S – 4715 Tecumseh Rd – 519-948-0600

Presents – Destroyer

PLAYER’S CLUB – 1530 Langlois – 519-256-6202

Presents – On the back stage – The Freeze

ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION 255 – 5645 Wyandotte – 519-945-2012

Presents – The Moxie Boys

COLASANTI’S – 1550 Road 3 (Kingsville) – 519-326-3287

Presents – Area 51 – Rocking the Applefest @ 4:30

HOOK & LADDER – 3690 Seminole – 519-948-1921

Presents – CC New Band @ 9

FAMFEST – Waves Stage (Riverfront @ Crawford):

4:15PM – Atsuko

5:15PM – Denigan

6:15PM – Grit Lounge

7:15PM – Tara Watts

8:30PM – What Seas What Shores

9:15PM – Royce Grayer

10:00PM – Noise Border Ensemble

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 28

DOMINION HOUSE – 3140 Sandwich St – 519-971-7400

Presents – Dusty

WINDSOR MOOSE LODGE 1499 – 777 Tecumseh Rd – 519-253-1834

Presents – Open Mic with The Country All Stars @ 3:30

O’MAGGIO’S KILDARE HOUSE – 1880 Wyandotte – 519-915-1066

Presents – Kenneth MacLeod & Cameron Rankin @ 2 – Cape Breton Ceilidh

WEEKLY

MONDAYS

Open mic with BJ Laub @ RJ Wrigley’s (1521 Riverside Dr)

The Absinthe Band @ Milk

TUESDAYS        

Open stage @ the Dominion House

Tuesday night Music Club – full band open mic @ The Manchester

Open mic night @ Good Time Charly’s

Ladies Night at Lions Head

Open mic @ Milk

WEDNESDAYS    

Pub Trivia & Live Music with Justin Zuccato @ The Manchester

Rising Star Wednesdays at the Whisky River Speakeasy (formally Papa Cheney’s)

Vice Aerial at Phog

Wine Down Wednesdays at Freddie’s with Bob Gabriele @ 6

Bike Night at Jake’s Joint with Live Music

Dave Russell @ The Dominion House

THURSDAYS  

Live Music at the Windsor Beer Exchange

Soul Minors host ‘The Jam’ at the Victoria Tavern

Funk Night with The Funk Junkies @ The Manchester

Bike Night at The Colchester Bar & Grill with Live Music

FRIDAYS

After Work Party at Rino’s Kitchen & Ale House @ 7 – reservations encouraged

————————————

Email your weekly band listings, venues and gigs to: tracy.starbands@yahoo.ca

For direct musical submissions – contact liveandlocal.ca – my weekly band listings are there too.

Compiled by Tracy Greenwood-Bennett

Sept. 25

Ari Hest: 8 p.m. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. Tickets $20. Call 734-761-1451.

Sept. 26

Alanis Morissette: 9 p.m. Colosseum, Caesars Windsor, 377 Riverside Dr. E. Tickets start at $35. Call 519-258-7878 or visit caesarswindsor.com.

Sept. 27

Balance and Composure, Seahaven, Creepoid: 8 p.m. Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Tickets US$15 & $13. Call 1-313-833-9700.

Sept. 28

Nick Carter, Jordan Knight: 7 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$47.50.

Sept. 29

Joey Bada$$: 8 p.m. Majestic Theatre, 4120 Woodward Ave. Detroit. Tickets US$25. Call 1-313-833-9700.

Sept. 30

Cloud Nothings, Tyvek: 8 p.m. Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Tickets US$15. Call 1-313-833-9700.

Tim & Eric & Dr. Steve Brule: 7 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$37.50.

Oct. 1

Code Orange Kids, Twitching Tongues, Discourse: 8 p.m. Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Tickets US$12 & $10. Call 1-313-833-9700.

Erasure: 7:30 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$55 & $29.50.

Steve Poltz: 8 p.m. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. Tickets US$15. Call 734-761-1451.

Oct. 2

Sultans of String: 8 p.m. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. Tickets US$15. Call 734-761-1451.

Within Temptation, Amaranthe: 7 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$34 & $29.

Oct. 3

Chris D’Elia: 8 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$30 & $25.

Matt Jones & The Reconstruction: 8 p.m. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. Tickets US$15. Call 734-761-1451.

Russell Peters: 9 p.m. Colosseum, Caesars Windsor, 377 Riverside Dr. E. Tickets start at $49. Call 519-258-7878 or visit caesarswindsor.com.

Oct. 4

Jim Breuer: 8 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$30 & $25.

Loudon Wainwright III: 8 p.m. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. Tickets US$25. Call 734-761-1451.

Oct. 5

Crystal Bowersox: 7:30 p.m. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. Tickets US$25. Call 734-761-1451.

Tyler Oakley: 4 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$39.50 & $25.

Oct. 7

Agent Orange, Architects, Devious Ones, Stale Phish: 8 p.m. Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Tickets US$15. Call 1-313-833-9700.

Rachael Yamagata: 8 p.m. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. Tickets US$15. Call 734-761-1451.

Oct. 8

Jim Breuer: 7 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$45 & $39.50.

Marketa Irglova, Rosi Golan: 8 p.m. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. Tickets US$22. Call 734-761-1451.

MxPx, Zebrahead, Allister, Survay Says!: 7 p.m. Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Tickets US$20. Call 1-313-833-9700.

Oct. 9

Australian Bee Gees: 3 p.m. & 8 p.m. Colosseum, Caesars Windsor, 377 Riverside Dr. E. Tickets start at $15. Call 519-258-7878 or visit caesarswindsor.com.

The Rural Alberta Advantage: 8 p.m. Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Tickets US$12. Call 1-313-833-9700.

Oct. 10

George Bedard: 8 p.m. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. Tickets US$20. Call 734-761-1451.

Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Tyler Farr: 7:30 p.m. Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills. Tickets US$59.75 & $29.75. *

Kopecky Family Band, Coin: 8 p.m. Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Tickets US$12 & $10. Call 1-313-833-9700.

Timeflies: 7 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$35 & $27.50.

Oct. 11

Hannibal Buress: 7 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$29.

Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Tyler Farr: SOLD OUT. Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills. Tickets US$59.75 & $29.75. *

Shawn Phillips: 8 p.m. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. Tickets US$20. Call 734-761-1451.

Oct. 12

OK Go: 8 p.m. Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Tickets US$20 & $18. Call 1-313-833-9700.

Oct. 14

Deniro Farrar, Denzel Curry: 8 p.m. Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Tickets US$15 & $12. Call 1-313-833-9700.

Oct. 15

Jason Derulo: 7 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$35 & $29.50.

King Tuff, Cassie Ramone, Twine Time: 9 p.m. Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Tickets US$14. Call 1-313-833-9700.

Oct. 16

Pearl Jam: 7:30 p.m. Joe Louis Arena, 600 Civic Center Dr., Detroit. Tickets are US$69.50. *

Robin Trower: 7 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$40 & $25.

Oct. 17

Henry Rollins: 8 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$35 & $29.50.

Oct. 18

Baauer & Boys Noize, DJ Lido, Spank Rock, Nadus: 8 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$30 & $25.

Engelbert Humperdinck: 9 p.m. Colosseum, Caesars Windsor, 377 Riverside Dr. E. Tickets start at $35. Call 519-258-7878 or visit caesarswindsor.com.

Oct. 22

Fleetwood Mac: 8 p.m. Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills. Tickets US$179.50, $129.50, $79.50 & $49.50. *

The Glitch Mob, The M Machine, Chrome Sparks: 8 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$30 & $22.

Oct. 23

Flying Lotus, Thundercat: 8 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$30 & $25.

Oct. 24

Australian Pink Floyd Show: 9 p.m. Colosseum, Caesars Windsor, 377 Riverside Dr. E. Tickets start at $30. Call 519-258-7878 or visit caesarswindsor.com.

New Found Glory, We Are the In Crowd, Fireworks, Red City Radio: 7:30 p.m. Majestic Theatre, 4120 Woodward Ave. Detroit. Tickets US$25 & $21.50. Call 1-313-833-9700.

Oct. 29

Hoodie Allen: 7 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$30 & $24.

Slowdive, Low: 8 p.m. Majestic Theatre, 4120 Woodward Ave. Detroit. Tickets US$30. Call 1-313-833-9700.

Oct. 30

Twiztid’s Fright Fest: 8 p.m. Majestic Theatre, 4120 Woodward Ave. Detroit. Tickets US$30 & $25. Call 1-313-833-9700.

Oct. 31

Amon Amarth: 7 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$30 & $25.

Nov. 4

Usher, August Alsina, DJ Cassidy: 7:30 p.m. Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills. Tickets US$93, $63 & $38. *

Nov. 7

REO Speedwagon: 9 p.m. Colosseum, Caesars Windsor, 377 Riverside Dr. E. Tickets start at $25. Call 519-258-7878 or visit caesarswindsor.com.

Nov. 8

Breathe Carolina Candyland: 7:30 p.m. Majestic Theatre, 4120 Woodward Ave. Detroit. Tickets US$25 & $20. Call 1-313-833-9700.

Motley Crue: The Final Tour: 7 p.m. Joe Louis Arena, 600 Civic Center Dr., Detroit. Tickets are US$125-$75. *

Sarah McLachlan: 9 p.m. Colosseum, Caesars Windsor, 377 Riverside Dr. E. Tickets start at $35. Call 519-258-7878 or visit caesarswindsor.com.

Nov. 11

Garrison Keillor: 7 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$75-$45.

Nov. 13

RL Grime: 8 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$30 & $25.

Nov. 14

Norm Macdonald: 8 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$40 & $34.

Nov. 15

The Band Perry: 8 p.m. Colosseum, Caesars Windsor, 377 Riverside Dr. E. Tickets start at $25. Call 519-258-7878 or visit caesarswindsor.com.

Black Veil Brides: 6 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$29 & $25.

Nov. 16

Manowar: 7 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$100 & $75.

Nov. 20

Stevie Wonder: 7:30 p.m. Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills. Tickets US$149.50, $69.50, $49.50 & $29.25. *

Nov. 21

Arch Enemy, Kreator, Huntress: 6 p.m. Majestic Theatre, 4120 Woodward Ave. Detroit. Tickets US$28 & $25. Call 1-313-833-9700.

Gabriel Iglesias: 9 p.m. Colosseum, Caesars Windsor, 377 Riverside Dr. E. Tickets start at $25. Call 519-258-7878 or visit caesarswindsor.com.

Nov. 22

Hunter Hayes, Dan & Shay and The Railers: 7 p.m. Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills. Tickets US$47.50 & $34.50. *

Lucinda Williams: 7 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$45 & $39.50.

Stars, Hey Rosetta!: 8 p.m. Majestic Theatre, 4120 Woodward Ave. Detroit. Tickets US$20. Call 1-313-833-9700.

Nov. 23

Cher, Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo: 7:30 p.m. Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills. Tickets US$108, $78 & $39.50. *

Nov. 28

Uncle Kracker: 7 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$9.95.

Nov. 29

Air Supply: 9 p.m. Colosseum, Caesars Windsor, 377 Riverside Dr. E. Tickets start at $20. Call 519-258-7878 or visit caesarswindsor.com.

Slipknot, Korn, King 810: 7 p.m. Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills. Tickets US$65 & $45. *

Dec. 3

Dillon Francis: 8 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$40 & $29.50.

Dec. 4

Little Big Town, Brett Eldredge, Brothers Osborne: 6:30 p.m. Detroit Masonic Temple, 500 Temple St., Detroit. Tickets US$45-$30. Call 313-638-2724.

Dec. 13

Paula Poundstone: 7:30 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$35 & $29.50.

Dec. 14

Andrea Bocelli: 7:30 p.m. Joe Louis Arena, 600 Civic Center Dr., Detroit. Tickets are US$175-$66. *

Dec. 27

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: 3 p.m. & 8 p.m. Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills. Tickets US$74, $64, $54, $44 & $34. *

2015

Jan. 16

Black Label Society, Hatebreed: 7 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$35 & $27.50.

Feb. 13

Railroad Earth: 7 p.m. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak. Tickets US$25 & $22.50.

March 18

Maroon 5, Magic!, Rozzi Crane: 7:30 p.m. Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills. Tickets US$125, $79.50, $49.50 & $29.50. *

* Tickets available at Ticketmaster: 519-792-2222 or 1-248-645-6666 or ticketmaster.com (credit card only) or at St. Clair Centre for the Arts (cash only).

A teacher convicted of assault for touching boys on the buttocks is being sued in civil court for $1.75 million.

The lawsuit, filed by the family of one of Rick Doran’s victims, also names the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board. The board has filed a countersuit against Doran, denying it had any knowledge of what court documents call Doran’s “depraved predilections.”

Rick Doran, former Catholic elementary school teacher at Holy Cross in LaSalle, Ontario, leaves the Superior Court of Justice following the first day of his trial Monday November 15, 2010. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

According to the boy’s lawsuit, Doran was his homeroom teacher at Holy Cross school in LaSalle. Doran would pat the boy on the bum, keep him in for recess and buy him pizza for lunch. Outside of school hours, Doran would turn up uninvited at the boy’s hockey games.

The statement filed with the court claims the boy became “withdrawn and unhappy about going to school,” after the inappropriate behaviour began and has “suffered serious emotional harm.”

Doran was convicted in 2010 of patting and slapping boys on the buttocks. In another incident, Doran licked his thumb and wiped crumbs off a boy’s mouth.

For these incidents, Doran had originally been charged with sexual assault and sexual interference. In a plea deal that avoided his prosecution as a sex offender, Doran pleaded guilty to four counts of assault.

Doran’s crimes occurred between 2005 and 2009 when he taught grades 4 and 5 at St. John de Brebeuf in Kingsville and, later, at Holy Cross in LaSalle where he taught Grade 3.

The boy’s family, in its statement of claim filed with the court, said the board would have had to have been “wilfully blind” not to know about Doran’s “base desires.”

Doran has yet to file a written defence with the court. None of the claims made in the court documents by the board or the boy’s family have yet to be tested in court.

The board fired Doran in May 2009. The Ontario College of Teachers, the licensing body for teachers at publicly funded schools in the province, suspended his licence in October of that same year.

A disciplinary panel earlier this year ruled that Doran’s teaching certificate can be reinstated if he completes a course on boundary issues.

The boy’s family is “upset at the college’s decision,” said lawyer Maria Marusic.

In the criminal courts, Doran was handed a two-year suspended sentence. He served that sentence and has had no further criminal charges.

ssacheli@windsorstar.com

Right now an astronaut might be munching on a fresh Leamington sweet bell pepper on the International Space Station.

A crate of red, orange and yellow peppers was part of a cargo shipment that took off for the space station on Sunday, thanks to a special request from the astronauts on board.

“Now I can look up at the sky and think, wow, I can’t believe our peppers are up there,” said Sarah Pau, spokeswoman for Leamington’s Pure Flavor.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lights up the sky during liftoff at 1:52.03 a.m. Sunday morning Sept. 21, 2014 for the resupply mission to the International Space Station photo taken at the Whitley Marina Cocoa. (AP Photo/Florida Today, Craig Rubadoux)

The shipment was pulled into the space station by the Canadarm2 on Tuesday. It will soon be unloaded, treating the three astronauts who’ve been living aboard since May to a little taste of Essex County.

The Pure Flavor company got a phone call a few weeks ago asking about ordering the peppers. At first, Pau said she thought it must be a company named NASA — not the space agency based in Houston, Texas.

“At first we didn’t really know how to react and then the more we worked with NASA the more we were engaged and thrilled to be in this process,” she said.

Ken Paglione, who works with Pure Flavor, added that the company may have been chosen since they have a strong market share in Texas.

The company discussed which peppers to send with NASA staff, deciding on a crate of about 24 sweet bell peppers packaged in colourful groups of three.

Vickie Kloeris, the manager of NASA’s space food systems laboratory, said fresh foods such as the peppers are cleaned and bagged in ziplocks.

They were packed into a SpaceX Dragon capsule along with more than 5,000 pounds of supplies for consumption and research, including 20 live mice and a 3D printer. It’s the fourth time a SpaceX cargo shipment has headed to the space station to stock up supplies.

There’s no refrigeration in the Dragon capsule, or on the International Space Station, so Kloeris said the astronauts will have to eat the peppers in the first few days or weeks. After that they’ll be back to packaged and dehydrated foods.

The Dragon was supposed to blast off early Saturday morning from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, but bad weather held off the launch until the next day.

On Sunday at 1:52 a.m. the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that carries the Dragon cargo capsule launched. Two days later, the Dragon docked at the space station.

For Reid Wiseman, Maxim Suraev and Alexander Gerst, the three crew members who’ve been living on the space station since May, this shipment brings the first fresh foods in several months. Those three will return to Earth in November.

Three more astronauts — Barry Wilmore, Elena Serova and Alexander Samoukutyaev — take off Thursday afternoon from Kazakhstan and will live on the space station until March.

Pau said it’s nice to see healthy foods like peppers being included in the astronauts’ diets. The vegetables contain more vitamin C and beta-carotene than citrus fruit.

Crews can expect two more cargo shipments on SpaceX CRS-5 and CRS-6 in December and February respectively. Until then, they’ll rely on the supplies transported in the latest shipment.

Volunteers will be spread out across Windsor and Essex County collecting donations for local children’s literacy organizations. They’ll be stationed at Tim Hortons in their vibrant orange shirts.

The Windsor Star’s award-winning photographers covered the city and county yesterday. Check out the gallery.

Ron Joyce, right, Chairman Joyce Foundation, donated $10 million in support of students at University of Windsor for the creation of Ed Lumley Bursary. In photo, Univesity of Windsor President Alan Wildeman, left, greets Joyce at the press conference announcing the generous gift. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Marian Drouillard, Percy Hatfield, and Craig Pearson during the 2014 Raise-a-Reader event on September 25, 2014. (JASON KRYK/ The Windsor Star)

Tim Horton’s store owner Vicky Smith, Windsor Star reporter Doug Schmidt, Tim Horton’s regional marketing director Shauna Duff, and Windsor Police Chief Al Frederick during the 2014 Raise-a-Reader event on September 25, 2014. (JASON KRYK/ The Windsor Star)

Claudia Tatti, Shawn Knowles, Becky Langlois at the Tim Horton’s on Wyandotte Street east at Walker Road during the 2014 Raise-a-Reader event on September 25, 2014. (JASON KRYK/ The Windsor Star)

Marty Beneteau, editor-in-chief of The Windsor Star, speaks during the 2014 Raise-a-Reader event on September 25, 2014. (JASON KRYK/ The Windsor Star)

Munni Gupta, Clarence King, and Dolor Torres during the 2014 Raise-a-Reader fundraising event at the Tim Horton’s at University Avenue West and Bruce Avenue on September 25, 2014. (JASON KRYK/ The Windsor Star)

Hannah Taffinder, Larry Horwitz and Trevor Wilhelm during the 2014 Raise-a-Reader on September 25, 2014. (JASON KRYK/ The Windsor Star)

Johm Millson and Sami Mazloum during the 2014 Raise-a-Reader on September 25, 2014. (JASON KRYK/ The Windsor Star)

The Detroit Cass Tech High School Marching Band performs during a kickoff event for the soon to be constructed Detroit District in Detroit on Thursday, September 25, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, Christopher Ilitch and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan (left to right) take part in a kickoff event for the soon to be constructed Detroit District in Detroit on Thursday, September 25, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, Christopher Ilitch, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and city council president Pro Tempore George Cushingberry Jr. (left to right) shovel dirt during a kickoff event for the soon to be constructed Detroit District in Detroit on Thursday, September 25, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, Christopher Ilitch, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and city council president Pro Tempore George Cushingberry Jr. (left to right) shovel dirt during a kickoff event for the soon to be constructed Detroit District in Detroit on Thursday, September 25, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, Christopher Ilitch, city council president Pro Tempore George Cushingberry Jr. and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan (left to right) take part in a kickoff event for the soon to be constructed Detroit District in Detroit on Thursday, September 25, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Christopher Ilitch and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan (left to right) take part in a kickoff event for the soon to be constructed Detroit District in Detroit on Thursday, September 25, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Christopher Ilitch, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and city council president Pro Tempore George Cushingberry Jr. (left to right) take part in a kickoff event for the soon to be constructed Detroit District in Detroit on Thursday, September 25, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

City council president Pro Tempore George Cushingberry Jr. and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan (left to right) take part in a kickoff event for the soon to be constructed Detroit District in Detroit on Thursday, September 25, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Construction continues on the M-1 rail line along Woodward Avenue in Detroit on Thursday, September 25, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Construction continues on the M-1 rail line along Woodward Avenue in Detroit on Thursday, September 25, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Construction continues on the M-1 rail line along Woodward Avenue in Detroit on Thursday, September 25, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

More than 1000 Students from St. Anne Catholic High School walk under a under the warm sun during the annual Terry Fox fund raiser in Lakeshore, Ontario on September 25, 2014. (JASON KRYK/ The Windsor Star)

FJ Brennan’s Landon Porter is tackled by Vincent Massey Secondary School’s Kenny Muana at Massey in Windsor on Thursday, September 25, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

FJ Brennan’s Pren Duhanj is tackled by Vincent Massey Secondary School’s Harman Wahid (top) and Bazif Khan at Massey in Windsor on Thursday, September 25, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Thair Bihnam enjoys the late afternoon sun Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014, at the Dieppe Gardens in Windsor, ON. as he tossed a frisbee around with his wife. (DAN JANISSE/The Windsor Star)

FJ Brennan’s Nathan Lomoascolo tackles Vincent Massey Secondary School’s Mohamad Farhat at Massey in Windsor on Thursday, September 25, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

FJ Brennan’s Pren Duhanj breaks a tackle from Vincent Massey Secondary School’s Nyro Hang at Massey in Windsor on Thursday, September 25, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

FJ Brennan’s Thomas Whitter tackles Vincent Massey Secondary School’s Hussein Al-Hayawi at Massey in Windsor on Thursday, September 25, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Lajeunesse’s Mikayla Fockens (L) and Assumption’s Nicole Giacchini battle for the ball during their game Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014, in Windsor, ON. (DAN JANISSE/The Windsor Star)

Lajeunesse’s Diana Gharib (L) gets tangled up with Assumption’s Zen Chamberlain during their game Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014, in Windsor, ON. (DAN JANISSE/The Windsor Star)

Lajeunesse’s Diana Gharib (L) and Assumption’s Zen Chamberlain battle for the ball during their game Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014, in Windsor, ON. (DAN JANISSE/The Windsor Star)

Assumption’s Lexus Wilson (L) gets pressured by Lajeunesse’s Mikayla Fockens during their game Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014, in Windsor, ON. (DAN JANISSE/The Windsor Star)

Assumption’s Lexus Wilson (L) and Lajeunesse’s Diana Gharib fight for position during their game Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014, in Windsor, ON. (DAN JANISSE/The Windsor Star)

Assumption’s Via Duterte (R) skips pass Lajeunesse’s Morgan Simard during their game Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014, in Windsor, ON. (DAN JANISSE/The Windsor Star)

The St. Louis girls, Renee, left, and Amanda, make their pitch at one of the games that entertained some of the 18,000 visitors to this year’s Ruthven Apple Festival, at Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens Saturday, Sept. 28, 1991.

Provincial police have released descriptions of vehicles and a man they believe was involved in Wednesday’s violent attack on a Tecumseh house that ended with a woman getting shot in the stomach.

A gang of masked gunmen surrounded the house in the 1700 block of Manning Road and opened fire on the building. One of the men shot through the door at people inside, hitting the woman. Her injuries were not life-threatening. When the woman’s brother chased the shooter outside, others opened fire on him. He wasn’t hurt.

Essex County OPP responded around 12:45 a.m. Wednesday to the report of a home invasion. Police said a number of shooters fired on the home from outside.

The “person of interest” is a white man in his 30s with a medium build, no facial hair and a chubby face. He is between five-foot-eight and five-foot-10 and was wearing a red T-shirt.

Police said those involved were using a black Lexus SUV and a silver or grey car.

Anyone who witnessed the attack can call the Essex County OPP Crime Unit at 519-723-2491. You can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Carolina Reaper. Pepper spray for your taste buds. A chili so hot farm workers don double latex gloves just to pick one.

The world’s hottest chili pepper is helping a Harrow pickling company bring the heat.

“Hotter. Hotter. I want something hotter. It’s not hot enough for me. Can you get anything hotter?” Lakeside Packing Company vice-president Alan Woodbridge said customers kept asking.

So the family-owned company southeast of Harrow not only started pickling the Carolina Reaper, it developed its own hot sauces. Death Wish. Butt Blaster. Scorpion Sting. Ex Wife’s Revenge. Spider Bite.

Woodbridge likes naming them more than taste-testing them. One sliver of a blistering red Carolina Reaper was enough for him.

“First you get the burning sensation in your mouth, your tongue and then it migrates to the back of your throat and you’re feeling your stomach and you start sweating profusely and gasping for air,” he said. “The pain lingers for hours.”

He tried to douse it with beer which was like adding gasoline to an inferno. He suggests milk, lots of milk.

Alan Woodbridge holds up the Butch T Trinidad Scorpian pepper, one of the hottest peppers known to man, at Lakeside Packing near Harrow on Friday, September 26, 2014. The pepper was said to be the hottest pepper in the world by Guinness World Records at almost 1.5 million Scoville heat units but it has since been dethroned by the Carolina Reaper which Woodbridge also grows. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Some of the various hot sauces and peppers grown and produced at Lakeside Packing are seen near Harrow on Friday, September 26, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Some of the various hot sauces and peppers grown and produced at Lakeside Packing are seen near Harrow on Friday, September 26, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

The Carolina Reaper is the hottest chili in the world according to www.guinnessworldrecords.com and has an average of more than 1.5 million Scoville heat units. Under the Scoville scale to rate the heat or spiciness, a bell pepper is a zero and a jalapeno is more than 8,000 heat units. Online charts put pepper spray at two million Scoville heat units or more.

Lakeside also pickles whole ghost peppers (Bhut Jolokia) and the Butch T Trinidad Scorpion which is another hybrid that only a few years ago was considered the world’s hottest chili at close to 1.5 million Scoville heat units.

Woodbridge suspects many try the peppers on a dare. He laughs as he describes his market as “absolutely insane and nuts, someone who wants something I guess to punish themselves.”

Because the really hot stuff is sold through a distributor mostly to Toronto specialty stores, he’s not sure where to find the hot sauces other than the County Road 50 plant, for now. He’d like to get them in stores where other Lakeside products such as hot pepper rings, pickles, sauerkraut, pasta sauces and relishes are sold. Lakeside has about 100 different products and exports to 14 different countries.

His grandfather Charles Woodbridge founded Lakeside in 1948 and started pickling surplus hot and sweet banana peppers for European immigrants. Later the company was pickling cherry peppers and jalapeno peppers, which grow well here in the humidity and then moved up to habaneros. The family only started growing the super hot chilis in the last few years.

The harvest of his small plot of Carolina Reapers was already finished by Friday and he didn’t have any pickled ones left.

Even when the milder hot banana peppers are being sliced at the plant, workers have to wear masks and long sleeves. Woodbridge said there’s sweating and coughing and it feels like the worst head cold you’ve ever had.

As a kid, he wore gloves in the plant but some nights still had to sleep with his burning hands in ice water.

“Some of them scare me,” Woodbridge said of the trending mega hot chilis.

The company’s bestselling hot sauce is still its original which is easier to find in stores. Lakeside sells its line of specialty hot sauces at its 667 County Road 50 east plant for under $5 per bottle.

shill@windsorstar.com or @winstarhill on Twitter

Some of the various hot sauces and peppers grown and produced at Lakeside Packing are seen near Harrow on Friday, September 26, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Some of the various hot sauces and peppers grown and produced at Lakeside Packing are seen near Harrow on Friday, September 26, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Some of the various hot sauces and peppers grown and produced at Lakeside Packing are seen near Harrow on Friday, September 26, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Some of the various hot sauces and peppers grown and produced at Lakeside Packing are seen near Harrow on Friday, September 26, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

The Windsor Star’s reporters and photographers covered the city and county this weekend. Check out the gallery.

Windsor mayoral candidate, John Millson, speaks with supporters at the opening of his campaign headquarters in south Windsor, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Windsor mayoral candidate, John Millson, speaks with supporters at the opening of his campaign headquarters in south Windsor, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Windsor mayoral candidate, John Millson, speaks with supporters at the opening of his campaign headquarters in south Windsor, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Justin Fick is joined by a volunteer as he sails a Martin 16 sailboat during the Disabled Sailing Weekend at LaSalle Mariners Yacht Club, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. The event is put on by the Disabled Sailing Association of Ontario. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Ron Bachmeier, 64, front, is joined by volunteer, Ben McColl, as he sails a Martin 16 sailboat during the Disabled Sailing Weekend at LaSalle Mariners Yacht Club, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. Bachmeier is a diabetic and has an amputated leg. The event is put on by the Disabled Sailing Association of Ontario. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Jen and Tony Pizzuti hold a picture of their daughter, Emma, who lost her fight against cancer in October 2013. Jen and Tony organized the Emma’s Walk for Hope on Saturday, September 27 at Malden Park, which raised more than $10,000 to support Windsor-Essex families dealing with childhood cancer. (JAY RANKIN/The Windsor Star)

Jen Pizzuti gives a speech about her daughter and thanks the community for its support at Emma’s Walk for Hope on Saturday, September 27 at Malden Park, which raised more than $10,000 to support Windsor-Essex families dealing with childhood cancer. Jen and her husband Tony lost their daughter Emma to cancer in October 2013 and started the event to help out all the other families in the area struggling with childhood cancer. (JAY RANKIN/The Windsor Star)

Joe Perry was Inducted into the Windsor-Essex Music Hall of Fame at the 2014 Windsor/Essex Music Recognition Awards on Sunday, September 28, 2014. All proceeds from the annual event support the Windsor-Essex Crime Stoppers program. (JAY RANKIN/The Windsor Star)

Inductees into the Windsor-Essex Music Hall of Fame at the 2014 Windsor/Essex Music Recognition Awards on Sunday, September 28, 2014. From left: Ollie Marcoux, Bob Thwaites, George Kay representing the Scottish Society of Windsor Pipe Band, Jay Butler standing in for Dale Butler, Bob Stepheson and Kevin Peterson. All proceeds from the annual event support the Windsor-Essex Crime Stoppers program. (JAY RANKIN/The Windsor Star)

Brenda Miller, from the Olinda-Ruthven United Church, serves up apple pie and ice-cream at the 35th annual Ruthven Apple Festival at Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Country music entertainer, Crystal Gage, left, has children join her on stage for a group performance of ‘Let it go’ from the movie ‘Frozen’, while at the 35th annual Ruthven Apple Festival at Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Children perform Katy Perry’s ‘Roar’ while joining country music entertainer, Crystal Gage, on stage while at the 35th annual Ruthven Apple Festival at Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Griffin Tinus, 6, left, is chased by Joey Lauzon, 7, as children play in a pile of hay at the 35th annual Ruthven Apple Festival at Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Nancy-Jean Snook, from the Olinda-Ruthven United Church, serves up apple pie and ice-cream at the 35th annual Ruthven Apple Festival at Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Festival-goers mingle through the isles filled with booths at the 35th annual Ruthven Apple Festival at Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Festival-goers snack on apple pie and ice-cream provided by the Olinda-Ruthven United Church at the 35th annual Ruthven Apple Festival at Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Caleb Marles, 6, centre, belts out the lyrics to ‘Let it go’ as country music entertainer, Crystal Gage, right, has children join her on stage for a group performance of the hit song from the movie ‘Frozen’, while at the 35th annual Ruthven Apple Festival at Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Joan Magee, 86, visits the Esdras Parent House during the Doors Open event, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014. Magee was born in the house March 20, 1928 and this was her first time returning to the heritage home. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Charlie Borg visits the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church on Drouillard Road with his two children, Julian Borg, 8, and Adriana Borg, 10, during the Doors Open event, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Helen Biales visits the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church on Drouillard Road during the Doors Open event, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Windsor’s Slater Doggett, right, battles for the puck against Guelph’s Garrett McFadden during OHL action at the WFCU Centre, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Windsor’s Slater Doggett, right, battles for the puck with Guelph’s Jesse Hilton during OHL action at the WFCU Centre, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Windsor’s Daniil Vertiy, right, collides with Guelph’s Chadd Bauman during OHL action at the WFCU Centre, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

The Windsor Star’s award-winning photographers covered the city and county yesterday. Check out the gallery.

Alex Chesnik, right, a third year medical physics student, joins a small group of students in a sit-in outside Dr. Alan Wilderman’s office at the University of Windsor, Monday, Sept. 29, 2014. The students are calling for both sides to return to the negotiating table. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

A small group of students stage a sit-in outside Dr. Alan Wilderman’s office at the University of Windsor, Monday, Sept. 29, 2014. The students are calling for both sides to return to the negotiating table. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

An overnight fire at Auto Hut Clinic, pictured Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, caused an estimated $350, 000 in damages. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

An overnight fire at Auto Hut Clinic, pictured Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, caused an estimated $350, 000 in damages. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Windsor police investigate outside the home at 1091 Drouillard Rd. where there was reports of shots fired, Monday, Sept. 29, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Windsor police investigate outside the home at 1091 Drouillard Rd. where there was reports of shots fired, Monday, Sept. 29, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Windsor police investigate outside the home at 1091 Drouillard Rd. where there was reports of shots fired, Monday, Sept. 29, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

A Windsor police officer investigates outside the home at 1091 Drouillard Rd. where there was reports of shots fired, Monday, Sept. 29, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

A Windsor police K-9 unit investigates outside the home at 1091 Drouillard Rd. where there was reports of shots fired, Monday, Sept. 29, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Windsor police investigate outside the home at 1091 Drouillard Rd. where there was reports of shots fired, Monday, Sept. 29, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

A Windsor police officer stands outside 1091 Drouillard Rd. while police investigate reports of shots fired, Monday, Sept. 29, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Windsor police investigate outside the home at 1091 Drouillard Rd. where there was reports of shots fired, Monday, Sept. 29, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Ste. Cecile’s Lia Thomson, left, guards Lourdes Lasala, right, of Maranatha in high school girls basketball Monday at Maranatha. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Transit Windsor supervisor Ken Lew takes a snapshot of damage to a Chevy Cavalier following a collision with a bus on Ottawa Street just east of Parent Avenue September 29, 2014. Essex-Windsor EMS paramedics attended the scene as did Windsor Fire Services and Windsor Police. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Several OPP units are investigating after a man robbed a Leamington pizza joint Monday afternoon.

The robbery, at a Little Caesars on Erie Street South, happened around 1:30 p.m. Police said a woman was working alone behind the counter when the man walked in and demanded cash.

The victim handed over some cash and the man fled in an unknown direction. The restaurant employee didn’t see a weapon. No one was hurt.

Police said the man was 5’8” with no facial hair. He was wearing grey sweatpants and a grey hoodie which covered his face.

The OPP crime, canine and identification units were on scene Monday afternoon.

Anyone with information about the robbery can call Essex County OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or 911. You can also make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

The Windsor Star’s award-winning photographers covered the city and county yesterday. Check out the gallery.

An ATV is loaded on a County Towing truck following an accident between the ATV and a car on Concession 3 east of the Arner Townline on September 30, 2014. One person was transported to hospital. Essex Fire Service, Windsor-Essex EMS Paramedics and Ontario Provincial Police were dispatched to the morning accident. (JASON KRYK/The Windsor Star)

An ATV is loaded on a County Towing truck following an accident between the ATV and a car on Concession 3 east of the Arner Townline on September 30, 2014. One person was transported to hospital. Essex Fire Service, Windsor-Essex EMS Paramedics and Ontario Provincial Police were dispatched to the morning accident. (JASON KRYK/The Windsor Star)

An ATV is loaded on a County Towing truck following an accident between the ATV and a car on Concession 3 east of the Arner Townline on September 30, 2014. One person was transported to hospital. Essex Fire Service, Windsor-Essex EMS Paramedics and Ontario Provincial Police were dispatched to the morning accident. (JASON KRYK/The Windsor Star)

Sheryl Wright displays a replica of a milking cow used for training students on milking cows. (JASON KRYK/The Windsor Star)

Sheryl Wright demonstrates how to milk a cow on a plastic replica of a milking cow used for training students. (JASON KRYK/The Windsor Star)

Assumption Church in Windsor is seen on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Assumption Church in Windsor is seen on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Assumption Church in Windsor is seen on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Assumption Church in Windsor is seen on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Assumption Church in Windsor is seen on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Assumption Church in Windsor is seen on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Assumption Church in Windsor is seen on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Assumption Church in Windsor is seen on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

High school cross-country runners compete at Malden Park Tuesday. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Kayakers make their way out to Lake Erie as the Fermi 2 nuclear power plant is seen on the horizon on an overcast day on July 30, 2014 near Amherstburg, Ontario. (JASON KRYK/The Windsor Star)

High school cross country runners compete at Malden Park in Windsor on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

High school cross country runners compete at Malden Park in Windsor on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

High school cross country runners compete at Malden Park in Windsor on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

High school cross country runners compete at Malden Park in Windsor on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

High school cross country runners compete at Malden Park in Windsor on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

High school cross country runner Madison Burnham wins her event while competing at Malden Park in Windsor on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

High school cross country runners compete at Malden Park in Windsor on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

High school cross country runners compete at Malden Park in Windsor on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

High school cross country runners compete at Malden Park in Windsor on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Chris Holt holds a press conference in front of the Walkerville home of David Douey and Holly Grenon in Windsor on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. The city is trying to force them to remove all the landscaping improvements they have made. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Chris Holt (right) talks with Walkerville residents David Douey and Holly Grenon (left) about the landscaping at their home in Windsor on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. The city is trying to force them to remove all the improvements they have made. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Audrey Festeryga is seeking Liberal nomination in the riding of Essex, September 30, 2014. Festeryga was joined by supporters at Verdi Club. See Caton story. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

University of Windsor Lancers goaltender Parker Van Buskirk, left, makes a save on Blake Blondeel during practice at South Windsor Arena Tuesday. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Sheryl Wright displays a replica of a milking cow used for training students on milking cows. (JASON KRYK/The Windsor Star)

If you don’t know your way around an udder, this cow’s for you.

Her udder is always full. She never poops. And there’s no chance she’ll kick you in the head.

“She is such a huge drawing card,” Essex County dairy educator Sheryl Wright said Tuesday of her new life-size Holstein cow made of plastic.

You can sit down and milk this cow which has an udder and rubber teats but not real milk since it would spoil.

Wright goes to about 200 schools a year in a free education program sponsored by the Dairy Farmers of Ontario. She used to rely on a smaller inflatable cow called Betsy as she taught children about milk and where it comes from. But Betsy can’t be milked.

Over the summer, the Essex Kent Milk Producers bought the larger plastic cow that will be shared by Essex County and Chatham-Kent dairy educators.

“It’s just fabulous. It’s the greatest teaching tool ever,”  said Wright, who is the wife of Amherstburg dairy farmer Roger Wright.

At $5,000, the plastic simulator milker is worth about three average dairy cows.

Sherry Wright demonstrates how to milk a cow on a plastic replica of a milking cow used for training students. (JASON KRYK/The Windsor Star)

The plastic cow, which will be named in a contest, is already showing her educational value. She was a hit the Harrow Fair where about 3,000 people got to milk her. Wright said one boy was so excited he left the midway games to come back to milk the cow.

Wright said it mimics the feeling of the milking process where you have to squeeze to get the milk out. The demo “milk” goes into a stainless steel bucket and is then pumped back into the cow which needs electricity to run.

Water squirts out of the plastic cow’s teats. And although you’d think most people would ask why it isn’t white like milk, Wright said the question she hears most is: “Are cows really this big?”

Wright said many people don’t realize that cows are taller than most people. A mature Holstein is almost five feet tall at its shoulder and weighs 1,300 to 1,500 pounds.

Children no longer make the connection between cows and milk or other dairy products, Wright said. Many think milk comes from the store.

It may be more difficult to make that connection back to the farm here because there are limited chances to see cows. People don’t get to tour dairy farms especially since the local farm hiker tour ended and Essex County, which had 32 dairy farms a quarter century ago and is now down to 11 dairy operations, she said.

It’s a 365-day-a-year commitment for the dairy farmers.

“The majority of people don’t ever leave the city and they really don’t have a clue where their food comes from,” she said. “It’s just a way of explaining the natural process of milk.”

Although Wright said dairy cows are not aggressive, it wouldn’t be safe or feasible to try to let school children milk a live dairy cow. Wright takes bookings at wridair.rs@sympatico.ca.

shill@winsorstar.com

A 78-year-old woman who went missing from a Kingsville retirement residence has been found.

Police said she was walking along County Road 20 and appeared healthy but tired. Ruth Klassen is now back at Augustin Villas Rest Home on Sprucewood Avenue, where she had been reported missing earlier Wednesday morning.

Police said she will be considered for Project LifeSaver, which provides some elderly or special needs people with a tracking bracelet. The program registers the person’s details in an electronic system, allowing police to track the missing person by searching for the device.

Klassen had been last seen around 3 a.m. She was reported missing by staff at 8:30 a.m. when she couldn’t be found in her room or anywhere else in the retirement home.

Officers from the Leamington, Essex, Kingsville Ontario Provincial Police along with the OPP Emergency Response Team and the Essex County OPP Canine Unit teamed up to search for her.