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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1996 THE GEORGETOWN GEMINI Home hobby becomes a career BY JAMIE HARRISON The Georgetown Gemini A love of music and an inter- est in the music industry has led to aburgeoning career for Lee Martin. What started outas aroom for storage and for his friends to hang out in has been trans- formed into a full-fledged music studio in his Speyside basement. "Once I grew out of the hang-out room, I decided to make it into a small studio," Martin said. "I had a band at the time called Smart Alick and we rented a four-track recorder and used it in the basement." That experience con- vinced Martin that he had whatit takes to get into music production. Teaming up with Brian Hewson of Escarpment Sound, Martin quickly learned many of the indus- try's trade secrets from Hewson, a seasoned pro who also started out working in small sheds before building his own studio in a converted barn. He has since gone on to produce majors acts such as Canadian supergroup, Tri- umph. Martin credits Hewson with setting him on the right course, and still refers to him for the occasional pearl of wisdom. SOUNDING GOOD! Lee Martin of Martin Studios built a small recording studio in his basement. His home hobby is turning into a full-time career. (Jamie Harrison photo) Building astudiohas taken Martin the better part of three years, though it has always been a labour of love. "Slowly but surely, I started collecting equipment, begging and borrowing and buying until I had everything set up," Martin said. In addition to his record- ing studio, Martin, brother Jess and friend Ben Apgar teach music lessons to stu- dents, offering a full range of instruments from guitar to keyboarding to drums. They offer the first two weeks free as a trial period. As though this wasn't enough, Martin is also a vol- unteer teacher at Georgetown District High School, con- sulting in the school's com- puter media centre, and do- ing lighting and sound equip- ment rentals, as well as pro- ducing his yearly Dare To Be Scared extravaganza on Halloween at his home. He also programs the music and Four fires have police searching Four fires in one day in Georgetown have investigators from the police and fire serv- ices seeking information which could iden- tify those who set the fires. At 5:40 pm, Nov. 17 three fires were found at the rear of the industrial plazas at 55 Sinclair Ave., and 235 Guelph St. Garbage bins, a boat and a mattress were set ablaze. The last fire was discovered at the rear of Nashville North in the Norval area, shortly after midnight. In that case a motor home was destroyed, and evidence: at the scene suggested the vehicle had been broken into. While fires such as this may seem minor, they do translate into thousands of dollars worth of damage, apd all fires pose potential hazards to firefighters. Help Crime Stoppers identify those responsible by calling with the names of possible suspects. If you have any information that leads to an arrest in this or any case, you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000. You need not give your name, and your information can be taken with complete anonymity. Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to Call Display. Phone Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. sound effects for CD-ROMs at 2nd Sun Electronic Pub- lishing in Stewarttown. Eventually Martin would like to set up a larger studio and pursue this as a full-time career, possibly finding a farm with a silo, "to give that full, live sound to the record- ing." Martin Studios can be con- tacted at 853-1382. Merry Christmas storytime at Georgetown Library Branch Join us at the Georgetown Branch of the Halton Hills Public Libraries for an evening of friendship, stories and carols, Dec. 18, at 7 pm. Bring your family, friends and neighbours. Free tickets are available at both Georgetown and Acton branches beginning Nov. 29. 4 CHRISTMAS SPECIALS ¢ Book Your Parties With Us! ~ Pig CeCe oa Pri Unlimited Coffee 1125 ender & Juicy Prime Rib Dinner E Fri, Sat and Sun BBQ Side Rib Dinner 95 Every Day $8 Ask us about our 2 for 1 Pizza Special! Party Rates Available 853-0300 13-15 Main St. E., Acton LIC TIO DUCINGE Kio Curve ADella. Ollawa Hotel & Suites: IE tite oeeh ist 50 people who lease will receive a 4 day, 3 might es Auie Least 'Alaniie Cy. "Gite family dirive-away vacation om us." Nahe Offer valid from Novy. 1/96 to Dec, 31/96" ed bi Pare Mantes a tiem ff SABE Piss PARENTS STAND UP FOR EDUCATION PROVINCE-WIDE PROTEST NOVEMBER 27, 1996 Parents all over Ontario will be staging silent vigils, holding rallies, and delivering letters of protest to their MPPs at 10:00 am on November 27. Parents know these changes are happening too fast and with too little planning. Parents know they have not been consulted. Parents know most of the changes in education are being made just to cut $1 billion that the government needs to fund its tax cut. And parents know these cuts are affecting the classrooms of their children. Many of the children across the province have already lost 50% of their special education funding. They've already lost their librarians and their junior kindergartens. Many of them have no music programs left in their schools. Their class sizes have already increased enormously. They're having to walk long distances to catch their school buses. What more is there to take away? How much is this government willing to let children suffer? el eee ee ee Dear Mr. Snobelen: Please stop the educational meltdown. Sincerely, Phone: (416) 325-2600 Fax: (905) 332-1643 Address: Hon. John Snobelen Minister of Education and Training 8th Floor, Mowat Block 900 Bay St., Toronto M1A 2E1 Q, KC Show your concern by mailing or faxing the accompanying snowman to the numbers listed. For the straight goods on leasing go straight to your lease specialists. dust another step to one-stop shopping! For full details ask for... HALTON CREDIT UNION 187 Gueph St., Georgetown Call Marlene 877-6926 273 Queen St.,Acton Call Harold or Gail 853-0911 Everything your financial institution should be. *some restrictions apply **offer may be withdrawn at any time without notice