Cathy goes on a "mystery tour" in Ontario

Toronto from the observation deck of CN Tower

Cathy spent a late-October week in the Toronto area on a "Behind the Scenes" tour for the Canadian TV show “Murdoch Mysteries.” She writes: "It’s a great show and the trip was wonderful."

The tour focused on locations in Toronto, Kingston and Niagara on the Lake that have featured in episodes of the show, which is set in the 1890s and early 1900s. The group also had opportunities to meet cast members and visit sets used in the production at Shaftesbury Films studios in Toronto.

Cathy with Arlen Humphreys ("Margaret Brackenreid")

Group photo on set, with Yannick Bisson ("Detective William Murdoch), in vest with Cathy behind his left shoulder.

Street set on back lot

At Det. Murdoch's desk

Suspicious character in the street

Tour stops included Casa Loma, a huge and ornate Gothic Revival castle-style mansion and garden in midtown Toronto.

It was built in 1911-14 for financier Sir Henry Pellatt. Lady Mary Pellatt hosted the city's female philanthropists and political activists at teas in the castle's solarium.

In Niagara-on-the-Lake, the group stayed at the elegant, Victorian-style Prince of Wales Hotel, built in 1864.

Tea is served afternoons in the Drawing Room

Naturally, a visit to Niagara Falls was included. There was also a dinner in the barrel room at Peller Estates Winery.

The group tour wrapped up with dinner in the restaurant atop Toronto's CN Tower (see photo at the top of this post). It happened to be the night of Game 7 of the World Series, at the adjacent Rogers Centre.

 

Cathy took this photo of eager fans entering before the game. They would have looked less happy coming out, after the LA Dodgers won 5-4 in 11 innings.

Cathy has posted many more photos from the trip on her Facebook page.

Band president Stephanie on Columbus TV

Early on Friday morning, the Hilliard Darby Marching Band, cheerleaders and football fans gathered at the school field as the Columbus NBC-TV affiliate featured them on its morning news show. The reporter started the "Football Friday Night - Morning Kickoff" segment by interviewing the band president - Stephanie.


Cathy writes: As you can see, it was a VERY foggy morning. The students had to report to school at 5:00 AM to get into their uniforms and get warmed up. They appeared on air periodically between 6-7 AM. The reporter would do various live reports throughout the broadcast to get viewers excited for the game.

This video shows all the parts of the broadcast that featured Darby - excluding all the other news, weather, traffic, etc. Right around the 0:40 mark, you will recognize the Darby Band President being interviewed. Go Stephanie!

As for the game that night, crosstown rival Hilliard Bradley won 21-7. The Darby band was tired, but still did a fine job performing during the game and at halftime.

Steph and bandmates on local TV news

The Hilliard-Darby High School marching band was featured on Columbus, Ohio's Channel 4's five o'clock news on Friday, Sept. 1, during the warm-up for that night's football game between Darby and crosstown rival Davidson HS. The video above is set to start 45 seconds into the report, and at about the 55-second mark, as the weatherman says "We're gonna try for dry," you can see Stephanie with her clarinet just left of a flag-waver.

Cathy also took a brief video of the band as it was playing for the TV cameras:



And the game? It was a close, low-scoring contest, with Darby winning 9-6 in overtime.

Stefanie and her bandmates in local news feature

A local news outlet did a video feature earlier this month on the Hilliard Darby Marching Band. Sophomore Stephanie (who celebrated her birthday today, Sept. 27!) is seen marching and playing a couple of times during the four-minute report. In particular, she appears on the right side of the screen starting at about the 3:15 mark.

Stephanie moves to the center of the camera's view at the very end of the video.

Click here to see the full report.

You can also watch this video of the band's full performance at the Hilliard Band Festival.

Rebecca featured in Rochester TV curling reports (Updated)

Twice this week, Rochester television stations looking for a local angle on the Winter Olympics interviewed Rebecca at the Rochester Curling Club.

Click here to see a WROC-TV report featuring Rebecca and a fellow club member. You can also read a text version of the story.

Then click here to see Rebecca give a reporter from WHEC-TV a brief lesson in the essentials of curling.

Faces in the crowd: Kathy and Shanna

January 11 taping. Can you find Shanna and her mom?

Shanna writes: "Watch Tuesday's episode of the Rachael Ray show. You may see my mom and me in the audience!"