After that whole hunger strike/willing to die/ready for jail drama, we have to admit we were a little underwhelmed when we heard that Michael Schmidt merely filed for an appeal through proper channels on Monday. The ex–dairy farmer was initially found not guilty of 13 charges relating to the sale of unpasteurized milk products and operating a plant without a licence, but that acquittal was overturned earlier this year when the Crown won an appeal. He was fined $9,150 and given a year’s probation, though Schmidt has refused to pay. His lawyer is arguing that Justice Peter Tetley misinterpreted the law and ignored several Charter violations. Read the entire story [National Post] »
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Two Canadian productions recognized at the James Beard Awards
Freelance writer Megan Williams (Image: International Journalism Festival)
Two Canadians earned top prizes last Friday at the James Beard Awards for Books, Broadcast and Journalism, which were handed out at the Lincoln Center in New York. The James Beard Foundation, named in honour of the pioneer foodie and host of the first televised cooking show back in 1946, hands out the awards each year to recognize the stars of the industry.
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Raw milk farmer Michael Schmidt celebrates acquittal with operetta
Remember Michael Schmidt, the dairy farmer that went through a long court battle after being charged with distributing raw milk? Well, looks like Schmidt is extending his fame with a comedic operetta, Milk Trial By Jury, about his saga. (We’re curious how he’ll pull off the police raid with musical pizzazz.) Its three-day run begins tomorrow (quick, get on the ticket-purchasing!) at Schmidt’s own arts venue Symphony in the Barn in Durham and stars Donna Ellen Trifunovich from the Vienna State Opera as well as tenor Mitch Smolkin. To learn more about Symphony in the Barn, read a Q&A in which Schmidt interviews himself here.
Raw milk advocate Michael Schmidt found not guilty
(Photo by Sunny Ripert)
The unpasteurized saga of the Durham farmer charged with distributing raw milk a year ago ended today when a Newmarket court found him not guilty of 19 charges.
Justice of the Peace Paul Kowarsky ruled that 55-year-old Michael Schmidt’s cow co-op does not violate Ontario’s public health or milk-marketing regulations. While it is legal to consume raw milk, selling or distributing it is not. Schmidt, who represented himself, argues that since people buy shares of the farm and pay maintenance fees in exchange for the milk, he’s technically not selling the milk.
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Perigee’s canapé giveaway, LCBO wine sale, DIY nose-to-tail
The ubiquitous—and heretofore unrecyclable—coffee cup (Photo by Martin Cathrae)
• Dinner for two at Perigee runs about $210, so this is the last restaurant we expected to be offering giveaways. Yesterday morning, however, executive chef Christopher Brown hit Union Station with 500 promotional canapés in an attempt to get business flowing. [Toronto Star]
• Toronto’s goal of diverting 70 per cent of its waste from landfills by 2010 makes every piece of waste a target. Back in the crosshairs of city officials is the ubiquitous—and heretofore unrecyclable—coffee cup. [Globe & Mail]
Raw milk on trial, Loblaws infestation, a match made at Starfish
The front door of Dupont Loblaws is "closed" (Image: blogTO)
• The green “Pass” notices from Toronto Public Health are so ubiquitous, they barely even register anymore. But they certainly make the blood red “Closed” version all the more terrifying-especially when it’s on the door at the local Loblaws. The Dupont location is apparently infested with mice. [blogTO]
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