Fire Safety for the Holidays

In the wake of some recent holiday season fires across Ontario, the Grey Bruce Fire Prevention Officers Association is urging residents to stay in the kitchen when cooking.

“The hustle and bustle of the holiday season means it can be very easy to become distracted and called away from the kitchen,” said Fire Chief Ed Nowak. “Unattended cooking is the leading cause of residential fires in Ontario. People must stay in the kitchen to keep an eye on their cooking.”

Important steps to prevent cooking fires include:

• Stay in the kitchen while you cook, particularly if you are using oil or high temperatures. If you must leave for any reason, turn off the stove.
• Keep combustible items such as cooking utensils and paper towels a safe distance from your stove. They can easily ignite if they are too close to a burner.
• Keep a tight-fitting lid near the stove when cooking. If a pot catches fire, slide the lid over the pot and turn off the stove.
• Drink responsibly and keep an eye on those who do not. Excessive alcohol use often is a contributing factor in many residential fires.
  

Stay safe and smoke-free this holiday season!!

What Not to Eat Over the Holidays

How about some fully loaded unadulterated eye candy to get you into the holiday spirit of indulgence? Bob and Diana from The Dock were chatting about this website recently, so like a bad car accident, I just had to go and look. If you’ve ever wondered what a Grilled Cheese Birthday Cake, Doughnut Pizza or BBQ Pulled Pork Doughnut Sandwich might look like, now is your chance to get a glimpse. Please be advised of viewer discretion and indigestion!

Aside from the website, there is apparently also a book called, “This Is Why You’re Fat”. Now you don’t have to feel so bad if you pack on the Christmas pounds. No matter what you eat, nothing could be worse than this!

Dare to be disgusted… http://www.thisiswhyyourefat.com/

Snow Shovelling Tips

With the recent avalanche of winter wonderland in our region, there is no doubt that many residents are feeling the aches and pains of digging out. Even if you’ve managed to unbury your vehicle and clear out your driveway, you just know that the plow will come by and add to your workload by blocking your entrance with big chunks of frozen white.

Thankfully, there are some helpful tips available when it comes to safer and easier shovelling. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety has a web page loaded with info on getting the job done without incident. From the importance of the size and shape of your shovel blade to actual physical positioning, it is well worth the read for anyone living in Grey-Bruce.

Check it out by clicking here.

Winter Pet Peeves

‘Tis the season of snow plows, drivers who go too fast for the conditions, drivers who go too slow for the conditions, malfunctioning windshield wipers on messy days, snow squalls, slippery walkways, salt overload, digging out, etc., etc., etc.

Before I go any further, I want to state for the record that there are some aspects of winter that I very much enjoy. But I’m sure that I’m not the only one to point out the winter peeves we all have to deal with from December to March (or even May in some instances).

In spite of the above annoyances of winter that I have generally come to accept, there is one personal peeve that I continually shake my head at every time I encounter it. What’s the deal with the motorist who sees no issue in driving our roads and highways with an extra thick slab of snow mounted on top of their vehicle? We can all understand a thin coating in these cold dark days of stubborn ice accumulation. But the avalanche look?! Whenever I see this intriguing sight, I half expect the snow to topple off and distract oncoming traffic or those poor drivers keeping their distance behind. If you’ve gone to the trouble of clearing your driveway, brushing the snow and scraping the ice off your vehicle in the first place, what’s an extra thirty seconds to take a few inches off the top? Maybe in the chill of winter, common sense can sometimes freeze up and a proper thought process needs to go through a thaw process!

But let’s not be too hard on confused winter drivers. There are a lot of people out there who really do exhibit safe driving habits and extra cautious know-how when the snow flies. I guess it’s all just part of the Grey-Bruce lifestyle where the reality of winter is as surefire a thing as encountering farmland on a county road.

Shake or Fake Your Tree?

Is it time to put up the Christmas tree yet? Is that a common question in your household these days? If so, then maybe the next question should be whether you want the real deal or festively fake. Our family has gone the artificial route over the past several years. However, there was a time (i.e. growing up) that real was the ONLY way to go.

We keep saying that we want to go back to the authentic. But the reality is that we find it easier to open up the closet and dig out last year’s fake fir than visit a Christmas tree lot on a messy winter night with the hassle of how to transport our pick of the patch back to our house. And let’s face it… Who wants to vacuum up all those pine needles?!

But if you don’t mind roughing it in exchange for a truer Christmas experience, keep this in mind… Fake trees are rumoured to contain carcinogens which can be offensive to your health and the environment. Read the warning label and heed the advice of not inhaling or ingesting any dust or loose parts. Herein lies a cruel irony of ‘kill a tree and protect the environment’! But I digress.

On the other hand, many real trees do come into contact with pesticides during their growth and can therefore contribute to pollution issues once discarded. Some people actually opt to buy a tree from a local grower with roots still intact so that they can replant it in their yard beyond the holidays. Too bad more of us can’t be so eco-friendly.

Personal choice is where it’s at when all is said and done. If you still don’t know which way to go and are seeking the ultimate compromise, perhaps Charlie Brown’s spatially efficient tree branch wasn’t such a joke after all!

Driving When the Snow Flies

There’s just no escaping it! The snow is starting to fly in Grey-Bruce and the initial increase in vehicle collisions never ceases to amaze me. Is it that people are putting off changing their tires, a tendency to not adjust speed according to the new conditions, or some other preventable factor?

Whatever the case, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation has a very detailed page loaded with information on safe winter driving. Find out everything from handling your vehicle on icy roads and stopping distances to the joy of snow plows and essentials in your survival kit. Check it out by clicking here.

Safe driving!!

Neighbourly Gawkers

Recently during the 5pm traffic congestion, an abrupt cracking noise could be heard from outside our 3rd Avenue East home. A van slowed down to turn but failed to signal, causing the family sized car behind it to misjudge and collide with its back end.

Despite a twisted hood and grill on the car, there were thankfully no serious injuries. My wife was getting home from work at the precise time of the minor crash. As I walked outside to meet her in the driveway, our attention instantly turned to the damaged car directly across the street. For a minute or two, we both fell into the role of ‘neighbourly gawkers’, fixated on the catastrophe at hand but unsure of what to do about it. Initial reaction seemed to be telling us to do nothing but watch.

It wasn’t long before my wife snapped us out of our gaze and suggested we offer the girl standing with the toddler our house as a place to come and stay warm. This sounded like a very good idea, so I slowly made my way across the road to the confusion of the mishap where at least five occupants of the car were standing and discussing next steps. The girl with the young boy was a bit shaken up but openly accepted our offer.

At the end of it all, the family sorted things out with the driver of the van while our 2-year-old daughter made a new friend for half an hour or so. Interesting how my initial awkwardness at approaching the family during their distress turned out to be the wrong gut reaction. Maybe that is our problem these days. There is a tendency to gawk but not necessarily help out because that is ‘their problem’ and it is ‘not our place to interfere’. I’m glad we proved to be more than ‘neighbourly gawkers’ in this instance.

Signs of the Season

I’ve often heard that the official launch of the holiday season in Owen Sound takes place when the switch is flicked and the Festival of Northern Lights illuminates the downtown and surrounds. This year’s kick-off happens Friday, November 19th at 6pm in the usual spot in the gazebo across from the library. The tradition of Moonlight Magic will continue with stores, cafes and restaurants staying open late to accommodate early holiday shoppers and patrons seeking festive cheer.

Until Sunday, January 2nd, the lights will be on daily from 5 to 11pm. Windsong Horse & Carriage out of Bognor will also be taking bookings from those seeking a romantic or magical ride around the 350 + displays.

On Saturday, November 20th at 10am, residents will line 2nd Avenue East for the annual Kiwanis Santa Claus Parade. Look for over 100 floats from local businesses and organizations.

Later on Saturday, the Meaford BIA will host the 21st annual Christmas Window Unveiling from 7 to 9pm. Downtown Meaford businesses will decorate their storefronts in the theme of “Your Favourite Christmas Music”. Good eats, a visit from Santa and Christmas tree lighting will all be part of the fun.

Yes, that time of year is practically upon us with a busy weekend to kick things into seasonal swing. We will be out and about with our camera taking photos for myowensound.ca and hope to see you there.

Clean Your Clock

Am I the only person who woke up on Sunday with a slight headache? As it stands, a throbbin’ of the noggin is a sure sign that I’ve committed the act of sleeping in. Though in the above instance, I confidently point the finger of blame at the transition to standard time.

Apparently, using that extra hour gained to sleep is a good thing if you are one of the seriously sleep-deprived and need to do some catching up. In my case, less is actually more. Though I have a somewhat flexible body clock, I am bound to feel better in the morning if I have slept for seven hours as opposed to nine.

At the end of the day (or night, to be exact), going back to standard time is typically less of a headache than entering Daylight Saving Time in the spring. There are more reported car accidents and even heart attacks when we ‘spring ahead’. It’s amazing the amount of chaos that can follow the loss of a single hour of snooze!

Hope you remembered to adjust all clocks ‘cause there is always at least one that gets left out and irritates you for a month or two until you finally give in!

Daylight Saving Time is back on March 13, 2011.

Grow A Mo!

Yes, I'm a little behind the eight-ball at times as I'm just starting to learn more about Movember (no, it's not a typo). It appears that the moustache is making a comeback, and thankfully, it's all for the greater good. Let me soften the backlash I receive for saying this by apologizing in advance to the moustache-sporting friends I offend for implying that, in general, the mo is a 'no go' in my books. This month is the exception, of course!

The concept is simple... Change the face (pun shamelessly intended) of men's health by growing a mo! Start November clean-shaven and then let the bristles blossom in support of prostate cancer awareness. Think of the pink ribbon for breast cancer awareness, but give it the macho Magnum, P.I. treatment! Just as the goatee has become a symbol of NHL Play-Off season, the mo signifies a time of increased cancer awareness for men... and maybe a 70's revival. And the latter could've been the intention precisely. The idea came to light in Australia in the early 2000's when some guys thought it would be funny to bring back the moustache but somehow tie it into men's health. Prostate cancer became the focal point and ever since, the 'Movember movement' has been catching on globally with funds actually raised in the amount of $47-million in 2009. Almost $8-million was raised in Canada alone with more than 35,000 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas participating last year.

Yes, gals can participate too... just to make things more interesting! But please don't ask me how.

I've seen a lot of interesting Facebook correspondence on Movember as of late. It's especially amazing how many people are supporting this locally. Even MP Larry Miller himself shaved in support of the cause! Larry minus a moustache is like Bill Murdoch without a place in his heart for Bognor. You can't have one without the other!

Go to http://www.movember.com/ for more details on Movember and how to raise 'mo money'. Please, please, please just don't wear a tweed jacket this month to match your mo!

It's About Time

Local artist Terry Best has opened her first Meaford Hall exhibit, “It’s About Time”, running through to November 20th. Opening reception happens Saturday, October 30th from 1:30 to 3:30pm.

The majority of works on display is acrylic on canvas, though Best is an experienced wood carver and has extended her passion to painted furniture as well. Having been an art teacher for many years after studying Art Education at the University of Toronto, she has begun spending more time on her own work. This is evident in her solo exhibit. Best says now that she can see the retirement light at the end of the teaching career, she looks forward to being a full time artist and painting with the morning light!

The Galleries at Meaford Hall are open 7 days a week. Call for hours at 1-877-538-0463.

Trick-or-Treat!

Ever wonder where it all originated? The 'trick-or-treating' tradition is rumoured to have started in England. Parades would be held on what was then referred to as All Souls' Day. During these events, pastries called 'soul cakes' would be handed out to poor people. Eventually, the practice of 'going a-souling' extended to children who would visit homes in their neighbourhood in search of food, money and other treats.

Costumes on Halloween date back to European and Celtic traditions. The belief was that ghosts would walk the Earth on Halloween. In order to not been noticed by these spirits when leaving their homes, people would wear masks.

Go easy on the soul cakes this year and happy 'trick-or-treating'!

International Festival of Authors

This year, the world renowned International Festival of Authors (IFOA) expands its touring programme, IFOA Ontario, to include festival events in Owen Sound.

Don’t miss IFOA Owen Sound on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at 7:30 pm at the Owen Sound Public Library Auditorium. Presented in partnership with The Downtown Bookstore, the Words Aloud Festival and the Owen Sound Public Library.

IFOA Owen Sound features readings by SANDRA BIRDSELL, CHARLES FORAN, ANDREA LEVY and MIGUEL SYJUCO.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at The Downtown Bookstore.

About the authors:

Sandra Birdsell (Canada) is the author of nine books, including the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award-nominated Children of the Day and Scotiabank Giller Prize-nominated The Russländer. She was awarded the Marion Engel Award in 1993 and was recently appointed to the Order of Canada. Birdsell’s Waiting For Joe is a timely novel about the ‘new homeless’ - economic orphans of the current recessionary storm - and the rising tide of fundamentalist Christianity.

Charles Foran (Canada) is the author of eight books, including four novels and the essay collection Join the Revolution, Comrade. He also writes regularly for magazines and newspapers in Canada and abroad, and is a contributing reviewer for the Globe and Mail. Foran presents Mordecai: The Life, a biography of one of Canada's most beloved and successful writers, Mordecai Richler.

Andrea Levy (UK) is the author of four previous novels, including Small Island, an international bestseller and winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction, Whitbread Book of the Year and Commonwealth Writer’s Prize for Best Book. Levy’s latest novel, The Long Song - recently shortlisted for the 2010 Man Booker Prize - takes readers back to her family’s native island with the story of July, a slave on a Jamaican sugar plantation whose tumultuous life ends in blessed freedom.

Miguel Syjuco (Canada/Philippines) holds an MA from Columbia University and is completing his PhD with the University of Adelaide, Australia. Born into a political family, Syjuco left the Philippines to become a writer. He now lives in Montreal. Syjuco’s Man Asian Literary Prize-winning debut novel, Ilustrado, follows two very different men who are both searching for roots and meaning amidst the chaotic ambiguity of modern life.

What You Don’t Know About Turkey

My sometimes inquiring mind has had turkey on the brain as of late (for obvious reasons). For a little bit of Thanksgiving trivia, I thought I’d dig back in the history vaults to find out why turkey is the popular main course on this special occasion.

Legend has it that Queen Elizabeth of the 16th century was enjoying roast goose at a harvest festival when she received news that the Spanish Armada had sunk while en route to attack her England homeland. In a gesture of celebration, she ordered a second goose. From that point forward, the goose was deemed the meal of choice in England during harvest time. Later, when Pilgrims landed in America from England, roast turkey replaced roast goose simply because wild turkeys were in more abundance.

Little known turkey facts:
· A 'snood' is the long fleshy skin that hangs over a turkey's beak.
· A wild turkey's naked head and neck can change blue when mating.
· Male turkeys are nicknamed ‘toms’ while females are called ‘hens’.
· When at maturity, turkeys can have as many as 3,500 feathers!
· Wild turkeys can run up to 55 miles an hour!

Gift of the Gourd

Attending Pumpkinfest in Port Elgin has really put me into the swing of the fall season. Evidently, I'm not the only one. After purchasing a pumpkin pie to bring home, I had to make a second stop at a grocery store as the first place was completely sold out of whipped cream.

Whether it's pie, pumpkin muffins, cookies or delicious pumpkin spice soup, the many available recipes out there will tantalize your taste buds as we anticipate Thanksgiving.

In honour of the gift of the gourd, I thought I'd share an apparently quick, easy and very tasty variation of traditional pumpkin pie:

Pumpkin Cream Pie
2 cups cold milk
2 packages instant vanilla pudding mix
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (9-inch) pie crust, baked

Combine milk, pie filling mix, pumpkin, spices and whipped topping in a deep, narrow-bottom bowl. Beat at lowest speed of an electric mixer for about 1 minute. Pour filling into cooled pie shell. Chill until set, about 3 hours.

Dish up and dive in!

Geoff Stevens on Ellen Degeneres?

CANCER….sometimes presents itself like a fork in the road. It can be feared and devastating. For one member of our community, he has chosen to become his own miracle.

Geoff Stevens, at 45 years of age, has spent most of his life sharing his love of music. His passion started at a young age, travelling across the country in his father’s band. Geoff now performs every weekend locally. In addition, he takes great pride in creating beautiful hand crafted cabinets. Geoff has earned the respect of this community by always being a man of his word. He would give the shirt off his own back to someone else in need. He strives to be a role model for his children, teaching them by example. He is the epitome of integrity.

Geoff Stevens was involved in a local event, offering his musical talents to help fund raise for 4 local charities, one being the Cancer Society. During his efforts to help others, he himself was ironically diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. While enduring chemo treatments, Geoff wrote and performed a song, “Find A Cure”, dedicated to the Cancer Society. The lyrics of this song are truly representative of how Geoff feels and chooses to live his life. He is selfless and inspiring, hopeful and undefeated. Geoff’s spirit and love for life is contagious. His honest performance moved our community beyond words.

“Find A Cure” will be available on weareallonenation.com with all proceeds going to the Canadian Cancer Society. Geoff’s song is a gift of inspiration to all of us, especially those living with cancer.

We in this community support Geoff's efforts and believe his song will make a difference. A campaign has been started to get Geoff on the Ellen Degeneres Show.

Please help by nominating Geoff Stevens. Take the time to complete the following simple steps and pass this on to all of your contacts...

1. Google the Ellen Degeneres Show.
2. Click "Be On The Show".
3. Scroll down to nominate an Amazing Person.
4. Fill in your contact info. Be sure to save and attach the above picture of Geoff. The nomination will not process if you do not include the picture. Also include the website weareallonenation.com.
5. Using 1500 characters (not words), write a blurb as to why Geoff should be on the show.

Celebration On Ice Returns

Big news out of the Owen Sound Attack camp this week. And we’re not talking trades for once. The Attack is presenting Celebration On Ice at the Bayshore Community Centre on December 19th.

The Provincial tour is coming to Owen Sound for a not-to-miss performance featuring Canada’s top figure skating talent. Choreographed by the legendary Brian Orser, on the roster will be 4-time World Champion Kurt Browning, Olympic Gold Medalists Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, 2010 Olympic Bronze Medalist Joannie Rochette and Jeffrey Buttle, Cynthia Phaneuf, among other performers. Local talent will be on hand to participate as well.

Tickets start at $49.75 and are on sale effective Thursday, October 7th from the Attack Box Office, by calling 519-371-7452, or online at the Attack website. VIP seating including a ‘meet and greet’ with the stars will also be available for $113 (includes taxes and surcharges).

Thank-you Owen Sound Attack for the early Christmas gift!!

It’s No Fun Being A Legal Canalien

The joys of being a Canalien citizen! I moved to Canada from the land ‘down under’ with my family when I was 4. In all my years growing up in this country, I thought it was a neat thing and rite of my heritage keeping my Australian citizenship in tact. Maybe it was to compensate for not being able to hang on to the Aussie accent. To think of all the dates I must have lost out on during my teens!

But ‘cool’ things can have their downside. It is only recently that rules and regulations became more relaxed for Aussie Canucks like yours truly seeking dual citizenship. That is the rumour, anyway. If you ask me, the Citizenship & Immigration Canada website is still convoluted and burdened in fees that I wrongly assumed were a thing of the past.

Bottom line is, I can’t vote in the October 25th Municipal Election unless I stop being a Canalien. Growing up here, paying my taxes in Owen Sound for several years, and even promoting the area through a small business venture means nothing without the papers. The same applies to the many other emigrated business owners and contributors to our economy with permanent resident status. And from what I hear, this is the stance in most countries. What I find to be the most unfortunate thing about this scenario is the often disappointing low voter turn-out in election campaigns. Our leaders will go so far as to spend money advertising so that they can encourage the importance of voting. Yet at the same time, they are excluding longtime permanent residents. They should put up signs at the polls that read, “Canaliens Not Welcome”.

So here I am scrambling through paperwork that I should have filled out long ago in the hopes of winning the right to a local vote come E-Day. But on the flip side, at least I’ll get to be a dual citizen so that I can maintain my roots in both countries.

Daffodils BULBS are here!

Every fall, Canadian Cancer Society volunteers get ready to sell yellow daffodil bulbs to help raise money in support of the fight against cancer.

The daffodil is the Canadian Cancer Society's symbol of hope. The bulbs are sold every year in Ontario and across the country.

Bulbs are available NOW at the Canadian Cancer Society office at 163 8th Street East. Your workplace can also order the bulbs and have them delivered by simply calling the Canadian Cancer Society office at 519-376-6011.

Bulbs are priced at $7.50 for a bag of 10 bulbs, a 5lb box of 32 bulbs is $24 and a 10lb box of 65 bulbs costs $45.

Saskatchewan Poet Laureate in Owen Sound

Saskatchewan’s first poet laureate, Glen Sorestad, with over twenty volumes of poetry to his credit, is on the road this autumn holidaying and touring his latest collection of poetry throughout Southwestern Ontario. He has made Owen Sound and environs one of his destinations. On Tuesday, September 14th, he will read from What We Miss at The Downtown Bookstore at 7:30pm. Past Owen Sound poet laureate Liz Zetlin will moderate and Glen will be accompanied onstage by Whitby author Karen Cole reading from her memoir Lifting the Veil.

What We Miss is a collection coloured with both curiosity and nostalgia and framed as a personal montage. Sorestad’s free verse captures the flora and fauna, the natural rhythms and colour of Saskatchewan. Occasionally they are descriptions of urban and rural landscapes, other times they are memories of people and places who have left imprints upon him. Celebrating the ordinary and seeing the mystery in all moments of life remains his poetic priority.

There is no admission charge to attend.

Great Local Survey

It's an election year and now is as good a time as any to size up our Municipal Councillors. SurveyGreyBruce.ca has put together a short survey where you can tell it like it is. It only takes a few minutes, and trust me, you'll feel much better afterwards!

www.surveymonkey.com/s/2010MES

Stay tuned to local media for the results coming soon.

The Book of Awesome

This is not the Sound Bytes Book Review. But every now and then, a book comes along with the power and potential to transform boring everyday thinking into a higher and more enlightened state of awareness. Having read my share of novels dealing with life strategies and self-help perspectives, I have become a just a little tired and confused with all the complicated psychoanalytical overkill. Many books make it difficult to put their preachings into practice.

Such is not the case with Neil Pasricha’s hugely popular “The Book of Awesome”. If you haven’t heard of it, I regret to inform you that you might just be in the minority. The book contains almost four hundred pages that expose life’s trivial but important details in a truly unique, entertaining, often humourous, and most importantly, simple fashion. Pasricha has assembled a collection of vivid thoughts on the awesome things in life we all can relate to but almost always take for granted. For instance… He discusses the great feeling that arises from sleeping in new bed sheets, the sound of scissors cutting construction paper, getting gas just before the price goes up, giving a trucker the signal to blow his horn, finding money in your old coat pocket, the tantalizing aroma of bakery air, high-fiving babies, the joy of getting the milk-to-cereal ratio just right, etc., etc., etc.

These are the simple things… life’s small pleasures that can make a big difference just by reading about them. And trust me, you’ll have a hard time forgetting many of them as you resume your everyday life. Pasricha ends every thought in the book with a consistently simple expression that says it all… “AWESOME!” There is really no other way to describe it.

Check out the author’s website at www.1000awesomethings.com for a sneak peek.

Facebook Fanatics

An interesting article on some of the strangest Facebook habits surfaced on MSN recently. Though I’ll gladly admit that I am one to casually engage in the social media phenomenon, I am hardly an FB addict like some. In my humble opinion, if you are one to utilize any of the following FB applications, maybe it’s time to put down Facebook and read another ‘book’…

· Death Time Calculator – An app that predicts the time and cause of your death when you enter your birth date. This is just disturbing!

· I Have Kids – Allows parents to create profiles of their little ones with photos and status updates. Parents can actually leave comments on their friends’ kids’ walls. Too much!

· What’s Your Romantic Nickname? – Just type in your name and choose from a variety of backgrounds and your nickname will be determined. For those who need a hobby in life.

· SpongeBob Mood – Users can pick from a variety of SB images to describe how they’re feeling at any given time. I wonder if there’s one for ‘annoyed at the sight of SpongeBob’.

And the list goes on and on and on. Harmless fun or the pinnacle of time wasting? The jury is out.

If you must rush out and visit Facebook after reading this, please do become a fan on our myowensound.ca fan page. (insert 'happy face' emoticon... just not SpongeBob)

Happy Friday the 13th!

Did you know?

- Any month that begins with a Sunday will have a Friday that falls on the 13th.

- The term, 'friggatriskaidekaphobia' is used to describe the condition of someone with a fear of Friday the 13th.

- Many theories have circulated about the origin of Friday the 13th as an unlucky day. One of these involves the death of Jesus occurring on a Friday with 13 in attendance at the Last Supper. Norse myth says that having 13 people seated at a table will result in the death of one of the participants.

- Tuesday the 13th is an unlucky day in Spain due to a rich history in bad occurrences on a Tuesday.

May the good luck of Friday the 13th be with you!

Hot Dog Tips

Though we could be headed for a cooling off period, one cannot soon easily forget the sweltering 30+ temps we recently experienced heading into August. But bad enough as it was for us humans, I can’t begin to imagine the discomfort felt by our four-legged friends. It blew my mind on one exceptionally hot day to see a dog caged up in a car with hardly any relief coming from the window openings.

There are a few little known and often overlooked facts I found about dogs and the heat that I felt like sharing…

· During the summer, it’s recommended that dogs be walked early in the morning or later in the evening after the sun has gone down. Aside from the heat of the sun, this also has to do with the sidewalk pavement temperature, which can actually burn doggie paws. If it’s too hot for you and I to walk barefoot on, the same applies to dogs.

· Further to summer dog walking, these strolls should be brief and treated as light exercise. Avoid making it a run. Bring water and make frequent stops.

· Dogs pant to cool themselves. However, when panting doesn’t cool down a dog’s body temp, heat exhaustion can occur. Quick breathing, heavy panting, a tendency to salivate and fatigue are symptoms to watch out for. If heat exhaustion is occurring, take the dog to a shady spot, use wet towels to try and cool the body, give water in small amounts, and be sure to call a vet right away.

· It may sound strange, but dogs get sunburned too. This is especially true of shorthaired dogs. Keep their exposure to the sun minimal.

· Snub-nosed dogs such as boxers, bulldogs and pugs do not cope as well in the heat. Instead of leaving them to lie in the yard all day, keep them inside where it’s air-conditioned. Dogs with heavy coats can be trimmed but not shaved (which will put them more at risk of being sun burned).

· Dogs that stay outside for long periods during the day need more than just a shady tree to stay cool. A ventilated doghouse or covered patio where the dog can rest under is essential. There must always be a good supply of clean water. Consider 2 dishes in case one gets knocked over.

· Though some of us like to put the dog in the back of the pick-up truck, this is generally not a good idea. Like the pavement example above, if the standing surface is metal, this can be scorching. Test the surface on a hot day first.

· As for traveling with the dog in the car, it’s simply best to avoid this practice altogether during the hotter months. If taking the dog cannot be avoided, make sure the A/C is on at all times. This includes when s/he is sitting and waiting for you while the car is parked. Even if the windows are slightly open, the car can heat up so quickly on a sweltering day that brain damage or even death can happen in minutes.

An Aussie Treat

Whenever I have mentioned fairy bread to people, they’ve responded with a cringing look of confusion. For those who don’t know about this common treat loved by countless children in Australia and New Zealand, you are quite frankly missing out!

I even looked up the term ‘fairy bread’ on Wikipedia recently just to make sure that it wasn’t some figment of my imagination that I dreamed up as a child before our family came from the 'Land Down Under' to settle in Canada in the late 70’s. Sure enough, this is what I found as a definition…

“Fairy bread is sliced white bread cut into triangles, spread with margarine or butter, and covered with ‘hundreds and thousands’ which stick to the spread. Fairy bread is commonly served at children's parties in Australia and New Zealand. The origin of the term is not known, but it may come from the poem 'Fairy Bread' in Robert Louis Stevenson's A Child's Garden of Verses, published in 1885.”

‘Hundreds and thousands’, by the way, is the Aussie term for what Canucks refer to as ‘sprinkles’, or those multi-coloured tiny balls of hard candy that we sometimes like to adorn ice cream or birthday cakes with.

Recently, we just happened to have some grocery store bought white bread and ‘hundreds and thousands’ in the house simultaneously… two out of three of the essential ingredients for fairy bread. The nostalgic child in me couldn’t resist, so I slathered on the margarine and sure enough, it was just like those long lost times that still seem so real yet feel like a lifetime away.

So before you cringe, give it a try or at least let your kids be the guinea pigs. You and they might be pleasantly surprised.

"Dancing for Life" A Resounding Success

The Ann Milne School of Dance along with organizers of the second annual Dancing for Life are proud to announce the final totals from this year’s event.

Dance Instructor Ann Milne says they’re going to be able to donate a total of $48,600.00 to be split among the local branches of The Canadian Cancer Society, The Children’s Aid Society, The Alzheimer’s Society and Community Living.

The event was held June 18th and 19th at OSCVI and featured several local celebrity dancers including business owners, dignitaries and officers from the Owen Sound Police Service.

The three shows, performed over Father’s Day weekend, were seen by close to 1,800 residents.

Welcome Back, Bob & Diana!

It’ll be just like reuniting with old friends. Monday, July 26th at 8am will mark the return of Bob & Diana, the popular Owen Sound radio morning show that has grown near and dear to the hearts of many over the course of the past 4 years. I give these two my highest respect for accomplishing the next to impossible… the ability to work AND live together in partnership! It is nothing short of impressive to hear them keep their humour with their audience and each other day in and day out no matter what the circumstance.

And humour will be aplenty when Wallace & Meder turn on their microphones for the first time from their new home at 92.3FM. The new radio station could’ve been called The Golf Course or The Back Deck and it would’ve suited these two just fine. But I think I can just as easily picture them sitting on The Dock.

But despite the recreational theme, I have no doubt that Bob & Diana will be busier than ever getting involved in countless community events and initiatives to help build momentum for the new station. That’s just the way they are. Like so many others in the community, I am glad to welcome them back from their hiatus.

You can follow the progress of Bob, Di and the new Dock at http://923thedock.com.

Something Artsy This Summer

Every Saturday throughout the summer months, you can catch some fantastic visuals from local talent in Downtown Owen Sound. The City Hall Art Crawl is now 5 years old and serves as a venue for artists to showcase their works ranging from paintings to woodworking to pottery. Check it out in the Percy England Parkette next to (you guessed it) Owen Sound City Hall. Suitably described as ‘Where Main Street & Fine Art Meet’, visitors to Owen Sound’s weekly Farmers’ Market can take a stroll over between 8am and 12noon to view the art and even make a purchase if they see something that particularly catches their eye.

New artistic ideas are always welcome. If you’ve got the goods and would like to learn more about participating, contact Cheryl Sims at 519-370-2080 or cheryl_sims@hotmail.com.

Ghost Walking in Owen Sound

Be very afraid! They're doing it again! And it's just down the street from where we live...

Saturday, July, 24th
The Old Courthouse, 1226 3rd Ave East

Owen Sound Museums are excited once again to be providing the community with a fun and spooky walk through the mischief, mayhem, and murder hidden below Owen Sound’s tranquil surface.

Pre-registered participants will meet at the old courthouse at 7pm. A guide will lead participants on a 30 - 45 minute walk while talking about Owen Sound's darker past, incorporating local history, legends, myths of Georgian Bay, and the story of the first hanging in Owen Sound some thirty years before the jail was finished.

The tour will conclude at the old court house around 7:45pm. Please note that this is the same tour as the one in June and is sure be as spooky as the first!

This chilling 1.5 km walk is not recommended for children. The cost is $5 per person; please visit the Marine & Rail Museum to pre-register and pick up your ticket. Minimum number of people required is five; the maximum number for the ghost walk will be twenty-five, so visit the museum today and book your spot in a tour that is sure to thrill!

How To Beat the Heat

Apparently, the heat wave has officially arrived. If you’re like me and don’t want to overdo it with air conditioning at home or are seeking some new and innovative ways to keep cool, there are a few useful tips I managed to dig up that might help.

1. Soak a t-shirt in lukewarm water (not too cold), then wear it as you sit in a lawn chair in front of a fan. This can be extremely refreshing.

2. Fill a bath with cool water then sit in it until your body adjusts to the temperature. Keep refilling with cool water until you’re convinced your body is cold. Guaranteed, your body will stay cool for a good long while once you’re out of the tub.

3. Soak your feet in a bucket of cold water. Since your body radiates heat from your face, ears, hands and feet, you’ll be sure to cool yourself down this way.

4. Trying sweating it out, then standing in front of a fan. Water vapor produced by sweating actually takes heat away from your body when exposed to air and allowed to evaporate.

5. Keep your blinds and curtains closed during the day to block the sun. This also applies to windows and doors. During extreme hot weather, wait until the evening when the outside air is cooler than inside the house. Then open up selective windows that blow in cooler air.

6. Keep kitchen cabinets open overnight. It sounds odd, but they store heat when kept closed.

7. Eat spicy foods. You’ll sweat more (as mentioned above) and as a result, cool yourself off.

8. Slice a thin piece of cold cucumber and stick it in the middle of your forehead. On a hot day, this apparently works almost immediately.

9. Fill a few 3-litre bottles with water and freeze them. Follow this up by placing them in a large bowl to catch the drips. Then position a fan to blow on them. As the ice in the bottles melts, the air cools around them. The fan will blow that air at you.

Good luck and stay cool!

Dancing for Life on YouTube

The community is still reeling from the success of this year’s Dancing for Life put on by the Ann Milne School of Dance. There is no doubt the 2010 event will stick out in people’s minds. A two-part video series has shown up on YouTube shining the spotlight on one of this year’s local celebrity participants, Glenn Wilson of Joe Tomato’s Restaurant. The video documentary was filmed and put together by Glenn’s son, Jordan.

This is a MUST watch. GREAT job, Jordan!

Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAkbFmg_Wu4

Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6shs9yQGVZ8

L’Chaim to Larry

All I can say is… L’Chaim!!

Heritage Canada, under their Museums Assistance Program, has provided funding to the Corporation of the County of Grey for Grey Roots Museum & Archives. The funding will support “To Life!: The Story of the Beth Ezekiel Synagogue Goes on Tour!”, a fascinating tribute to a truly unique part of our local heritage.

Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP Larry Miller proudly made the announcement at Grey Roots this week referring to the Synagogue as a ‘gem in our own backyard’. A cheque was presented to Grey Roots Manager, Brian Manser.

As proclaimed on the facility’s website, www.bethezekiel.org, Beth Ezekiel Synagogue is ‘Canada’s Last Small Town Synagogue’.

Keep checking back at www.greyroots.com for all the latest details.

A Strawberry Smorgasbord

We all have things in life that we are almost too ashamed to admit. But I think I better come clean and confess something that has been torturing my soul, if not the pit of my stomach for quite a while… I have lived in Owen Sound since 2002 and up until this year, I have never been to the much talked about annual Strawberry Supper at the Derby Community Arena in Kilsyth. Shame on me! Now I know what I have been missing all these years with this all-you-can-eat smorgasbord… roast beef with horseradish, sliced chicken, homemade potato salad and coleslaw, freshly baked scones, cakes and squares, and especially the generous bowls of ripe and ready strawberries.

So how come the strawberries I get at the grocery store are bitter by comparison? The trick seems to be in the preparation. These delectable treats are apparently sprinkled with white sugar and then left to sit at room temperature. This causes a strange scientific phenomenon to occur where the water inside the berries gravitates to the outside so that there is equal water on both sides. So the delicious natural juice you are enjoying actually comes from the inside of the strawberry. Osmosis at its tastiest! On the other hand, if you were to soak your berries in water, the transfer would not occur and the taste just wouldn’t measure up.

Can’t wait to try this at home. And Strawberry Supper 2011, here I come!

Rock Skipping

One of my favourite beach past times growing up in eastern Quebec was skipping rocks along the shore behind our house. With enough practice, I actually had my moments of being a half decent rock skipper. Though it still amazes me how our kid neighbour’s dad could fire a stone at the water and graze the surface for what seemed like 10 jumps. My luckiest number was more or less 3.

That long lost childhood activity came back to me recently while walking along the beaches of Leith and Big Bay. As a matter of fact, Big Bay even goes so far as to proclaim itself ‘Stone Skipping Capital of Canada’! The challenge of rock skipping in Georgian Bay compared to the Atlantic comes down to the types of rocks. Anyone who has lived near a salt water beach can tell you about the huge differences between the sand, stones, plant life and oddities that wash up on shore.

Finding the perfect flat rocks for skipping is a tougher task these days for yours truly. Rocks near the lake tend to be bigger, heavier and rounder than those tossed up by the sea. But with enough patience, effort and a good eye, good skipping rocks are attainable in these parts. And I can still reach my triple jump benchmark!

If one doesn’t already exist, I think a rock skipping competition would be a great asset to one of our summer events. Or we could all just head to Big Bay some weekend to test the waters (pun intended) of their claim and enjoy a cone of homemade ice cream from the Big Bay General Store afterwards.

New Rec Centre Website Now Live

Get ready for it! It'll now be even easier to track the progress of the region's first major integrated recreation centre that the YMCA is building in partnership with the City of Owen Sound, Georgian Bluffs and Meaford.

Check out www.regionalreccentre.ca for the latest updates. The piles of dirt are getting bigger every time I cruise past Victoria Park!

A New Look for Owen Sound

Owen Sound residents are never short of an opinion. Just create a new logo for the Scenic City and find out for yourself!

Following in the footsteps of a recent posting from fellow myowensound.ca blogger Maryann Thomas (From My Corner), I'm curious as to the range of opinions out there when it comes to the just unveiled branding for Owen Sound. Submit your comments here or send an e-mail to jamie@myowensound.ca and we may very well share the results in a few days.

Is Owen Sound where you want to live?

Yard Sale Tips

You just never know what kind of a steal of a deal you’ll find at a garage or yard sale. Saturday mornings are prime time in Owen Sound these days. On any given weekend from late spring to fall, a good handful of neighbours are set up outside selling their wares within a few short blocks of our house.

I hear from passionate yard sale enthusiasts that getting up early is the key to landing the best deals. If that’s the case, we must have lucked out recently when we waited until late morning to go for a stroll. Our neighbours down the street were having a sale and I just happened to be looking for a second TV. Sure enough, a not-too-ancient Zenith was proudly displayed at the forefront of their merchandise items. Remote in tact too! The ‘name your price’ approach is a wonderful thing in the world of yard saling, and I walked away with a TV for $10! Actually, we used our daughter’s stroller to transport our new baby and looked pretty funny in doing so.

But never underestimate the power of making an offer, or in the case above, getting the seller to offer up a deal. In most cases, they just want rid of the stuff.

Cyber Silence

I have come up with a new term that fits perfectly with today’s means of communication. It is my distinct pleasure to introduce you to the act of ‘cyber silence’.

In an age of supposed new and much improved communication systems due to the Internet, cyber silence can best be described as getting the cold e-shoulder. Let’s face it… Hiding behind e-mail by not responding takes a lot less effort than brainstorming ways to avoid someone’s phone call. And with e-mail, you can always pretend the spam filter caught it or somehow the message got lost out in cyber space. Accountability for good follow-up and reliability doesn’t have to be such a painstaking necessity. Isn’t cyber silence a great thing?!

I don’t share these thoughts as someone who practices cyber silence, but as a regular victim. I’ve noticed this in business more than anything. Be careful what you ask for in an e-mail. If you are attempting to make someone accountable for something, chances are that cyber silence will take its toll on you. Avoiding conflict is a common trait that many of us share, and the e-mail world has no corners to be backed into.

Please acknowledge that you have read and understood this blog by not commenting. I will take your silence to mean that we are on the same page. Let’s ensure that we are utilizing our technologically advanced communication channels to the fullest. Now silence!

Business Excellence

I had a chance to attend the Collingwood Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards for the very first time. It’s always interesting to step outside the comfort zone of your own business community to see how other areas celebrate their local success stories. Every community exhibits its own unique sense of pride when it comes to the businesses and volunteers that define and set it apart.

Held at Cranberry Resort’s increasingly popular and aesthetically pleasing Bear Estate, it was a sold out affair with as many as 85 silent auction items up for bid, a delicious meal and awards in 12 categories. Congratulations to our sister site, http://www.mycollingwood.ca for nominations in 3 of them including Small Business Owner of the Year, Innovative Business and Business of the Year. The team was in great spirits and even let me take a group shot... (left to right above: Jessie, Dan, Tara & Julie). After winning no less than 9 awards at this annual event since the launch of mycollingwood.ca in 2005, I suppose it was time to let someone else win. And some very deserving businesses walked away with the hardware.

Now back to the Sound where the Owen Sound & District Chamber of Commerce is preparing for its 2010 Business Awards. Online nominations are now being accepted and more details will soon emerge at http://www.oschamber.com.

All Aboard the Big Bike

I admit with no shame (okay… maybe a just a little) that until this year, I had never been a rider on the Heart & Stroke Foundation’s Big Bike. Perhaps the fact that someone close to me works at the Owen Sound office made it easier to say ‘yes’ when a team registration form crossed my desk. But we won’t mention my wife by name.

Kidding aside, I have become well informed over the past several months as to the many critically important fundraising initiatives that HSFO coordinates here in our local communities. Big Bike is a biggie and the opportunity to play ‘captain’ on the suitably named Meaford team, The Big Red Apple, was one that I simply couldn’t pass up! Meaford Chamber and Municipal staff along with Mayor Francis Richardson came dressed for the occasion and ready to pedal the streets of the Golden Town.

A Big Bike team is supposed to consist of 29 members, each responsible for raising a minimum of $50 in pledges. Despite only 9 of us showing up, the ride around Meaford Harbour and through the downtown was a surprisingly manageable workout. Our animated driver kept up our enthusiasm by letting us know when we were slacking off and occasionally leading us up to the curb just to keep things interesting. The amused stares, smiles and car honks of acknowledgement made it well worth every dollar pledged. Speaking of which, I’m proud to report that our little team brought in an impressive $700 in pledges. How about them big red apples!

The legwork is minimal and the fun is aplenty. This is my endorsement for a fundraising initiative that eats up little time and rewards tenfold. Check out http://www.bigbike.ca/ for more info.

Community Clean-up

Every year, people who are passionate about Owen Sound get together for some spring cleaning. Pitchin’ Day was held recently with an army of around 50 volunteers braving a not-so-pleasant rainy weekend with the common goal of putting the ‘scenic’ back in Scenic City. At least 5 members of the Owen Sound Fire Department dive team showed up for the occasion with masks and flippers to comb the harbour shoreline for litter build-up.

The spring clean effort has been spearheaded by the Sydenham Sportsmen’s Association for the past 35 – 40 years. Originally, it was a smaller scale riverbank clean-up. However, things changed a decade or so ago when the S.S.A. joined forces with Communities In Bloom to make it a full community initiative for all of Owen Sound.

Old shopping carts, weather beaten signage, an abandoned patio chair, garbage bags jam-packed with litter… The mound of trash outside the Visitor Information Centre was enough to make Miller Waste staff blush.

We live along busy 3rd Avenue East and have had our share of old Tim’s coffee cups, plastic pop bottles and cigarette butts tossed on our lawn. By what must be sheer coincidence, things have been a bit tidier this spring. Even our family walks up and down 3rd and 4th have been litterless compared to previous years. Is the message of the S.S.A. and recent warning of finings finally getting through? One can only hope.

Let’s give kudos to our tireless community clean freaks for all their hard work and wish one and all a clean and uncluttered property this summer.

Gone FISHing

“Who are you being while you’re doing what you’re doing?” This deep and loaded question comes up when learning The FISH! Philosophy. FISH! is quite simply a way of life based on a heightened sense of awareness when it comes to the choices we make every day at work and in our personal life. The four main practices of this simple yet in-depth life/workplace strategy are:

1. Be There - being emotionally present for people, giving them your full focus, actively listening without judgement
2. Play - tapping into your creative side to make otherwise mundane tasks more enjoyable, bringing a more playful and curious attitude to everyday life
3. Make Their Day - finding meaningful encounters with everyone you come into contact with, giving others a reason to smile with a lasting impression
4. Choose Your Attitude - accepting that you choose your thoughts which in turn impact how you act, making a conscious effort to take responsibility for how you respond to others and life in general

I just had a chance to attend one of the daylong FISH! workshops at Stone Tree in Owen Sound. After getting past the mere coincidence of being the only male in the class, I was able to comfortably settle in for an enriching exploration of self-awareness through a series of interactive discussions, fun games and powerful videos. Our fearless leader was the very motivational and inspirational Deb Fawcett, also known as The FISH! Lady.

Like many attending the workshop, my pre-conceived notion was that FISH! must be an acronym for something. But in actual fact, the title is derived from the origins of the philosophy. Deb showed us the story of a group of guys working long and gruelling hours at Pikes Place, a fish market in Seattle. With the business on the verge of bankruptcy and staff morale at an all-time low, the owner gathered his troops for a last ditch effort at brainstorming a new vision. When one of the workers made the seemingly ridiculous suggestion, “let’s become world famous”, the team came together in an exceptional way. The wheels set into motion and the doomed fish market transformed into a vibrant and fun atmosphere like none you’ve ever seen. The workers have since become famous for their crazy antics and good-humoured rapport amongst themselves and with their customers. Quite simply, they learned how to ‘show up’ and adapt a bulletproof positive attitude regardless of their long and physically demanding hours on the job.

Whether you’re behind the cash at the fish market or sitting in the executive chair, The FISH! Philosophy can be applied. To learn more, visit http://www.itf.ca/.

Eat Your Greens

This week, we finally gave in and fired up the BBQ for the first time in 2010. I won’t go so far as to say it was a bad attempt. In all fairness, we did have just a bit of grill master’s rust to shake off in our first firing up of the season. Regardless, the Atlantic salmon turned out quite well with its last-minute marinade of lemon juice and margarine.

The asparagus, on the other hand, wasn’t up to our usual standard. Though the tips were slightly grilled and tasty, the stems were a little in the way of overcooked and softened.

Sometimes it’s best to stick with what’s tried and true. Until last summer, asparagus was about as popular in our household as the common cold. Then on one fateful evening, we were at the house of some friends for supper and had the best asparagus ever. The trick they showed us was simple. After you wash your greens and cut off those tougher bottom tips, try pan-frying the asparagus in a moderate amount of olive oil. Sprinkle with sea salt and some ground pepper and allow to fry for around 7 (or more) minutes, turning frequently with tongs until softened. The asparagus will have a slightly charred look and that’s exactly what you want. Give it a try and I’m willing to bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the difference compared to steaming or BBQing these fine greens. Our household has converted.

Now if only someone could give me a secret to tastier broccoli!

Playoff Fever Strikes

I’m not one to closely follow the NHL during the regular season. Playoff season, on the other hand, is a totally different ball…I mean…puck game. This year’s post-season showdown wasn’t on my radar until game 7 of the first round series between the underdog Montreal Canadians and first place Washington Capitals. A Habs fan I am not. But the excitement of an upset and subsequent advancement of a Canadian team were enough to get me enthused in the playoffs once again.

The ‘big bad Bruins’ are actually my team of choice. And so far, so good for Boston. Please forgive me for rooting for a bunch of Canadian players in non-Canadian jerseys!

But NHL playoff season is more than just the team you are cheering for or the thrill of overtime. In my mind, it signals that period of transition between spring and summer. The weather is heating up and the streets are becoming alive again with late evening activity on local restaurant patios, the aromas of BBQing, and cars joyriding with windows down and music up. In some subtle way, these seemingly unrelated little pleasures add to the excitement of the playoffs.

I hope you are able to capture some of the thrill and stress relief this season that only a game 7 overtime, half pound of chicken wings and fizzy beverage can evoke!

A Lesson in Taking A Hike

Having grown up on the rugged East Coast, I’m all for an outdoor adventure every now and then. Let’s just say I learned a thing or two about the outdoors over the weekend in a section of Balmy Beach where some might fear to tread. We decided to take a family hike to Indian Falls.

Despite the efforts of the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority to protect and maintain this natural wonder of the wilderness, hiking the trail to view the cascade is a lesson in careful calculation. The flat rocks that dominate the pathway and protruding tree roots have you watching your step more often than not. There are also sections where water from the river running parallel has spilled onto the trail. Some may find that guessing where the trail has suddenly veered off is a frustration. They might view the steep drop-offs after climbing the tricky hill as fearsome and treacherous. Others might welcome the challenge of the great outdoors.

We were somewhere in between. Our toddler of a daughter was ambitious though she needed a lot of parental guidance and handholding. The dog was obviously thrilled to explore. The parents were cautious but forged ahead knowing that the lookout at the Falls would be worth the sometimes rough terrain along the way.

Yes, it was worth it. There was no close-to-dried-up trickle as reported at some of the local waterfall spots in recent years. Indian Falls was a healthy flow and the photo op was fantastic. For those who haven’t yet seen some of Grey County’s hidden-in-the-bush treasures, this one is a place to start. Just proceed with care during the hike.

Next time, we plan to take the trail behind the Owen Sound Transportation Visitor Centre in Springmount to catch a glimpse of Jones Falls.

Farmers’ Market Fever In the Air

Once ‘spring fever’ has run its course in Grey-Bruce, many local residents are ready to open their wallets and reusable cloth grocery bags for some long overdue ‘farmers’ market fever’. From summer until the fall harvest, roadside stands and agribusinesses are plush with fresh local produce, homemade jarred goods and countless other products that have been grown, raised and prepared in some way, shape or form here in the region. While stores such as Around the Sound Local Food Market and Meaford’s 100 Mile Market do a great job of satisfying the appetites of local foodies year round, outdoor markets are typically seasonal.

The good news is that the seasons are changing and two of the most popular farmers’ markets around are making big plans for 2010. The Old Train Station Pavilion in Bluewater Park will be the site of the Wiarton Farmers’ Market every Friday from 1 to 6pm beginning Victoria Day weekend. From what I hear, this is a perfect little market with an ever-growing list of local vendors.

And you might as well set Fridays aside to do some ‘market-hopping’ because starting June 4th, the Meaford Municipal Farmers’ Market gets underway. The setting couldn’t be more pristine beneath the Harbour Pavilion next to sparkling Georgian Bay. This market is also held weekly with this season’s hours running from 3 to 7pm. Visit http://www.meafordfarmersmarket.ca/ to stay on top of the latest market news. One new feature for 2010 is a special Volunteer Meaford table. Each week, a different local organization can promote their volunteer opportunities to those who may be looking to get more involved in their community.

Both Wiarton and Meaford markets wrap up on Thanksgiving weekend. But let us not forget about the markets that brave all four seasons. Saturday mornings just wouldn’t be the same without the Owen Sound Farmers’ Market next to the City Hall parking lot. This market has been around since 1845 and is still going strong. Check out http://www.owensoundfarmersmarket.ca/ to find out the latest.

And if you head a few kilometres southwest of Owen Sound on Grey Road 3 every Tuesday, you’ll find approximately 250 vendors at the Keady Farmers’ Market from 7am until early in the afternoon. This one also happens year round and features livestock auctions. Go to http://www.keadylivestock.com/.

My Dog Blog

“She’s sooooo cute! Can we get her?” The e-mail message from my wife sent through the Petfinder website was something along those lines. And yes, the accompanying beagle photo was pretty eye-catching. But the fact of the matter was, we already had 2 cats and a very active almost-2-year-old in our ever-shrinking house. Was now the right time to welcome another family pet into our lives?

Then came the long list of the beagle’s finest attributes… “She’s already fully grown and small enough that she won’t really take up extra room. She’s gentle, loves kids, is house-trained and hardly ever barks. They’re going to spay her.” With an upbringing where having a dog was almost a given, it didn’t take long to twist my arm to at least go check things out. So we hopped in the car and headed to Rockford to the Grey Bruce Animal Shelter.

This was actually my first time visiting the Shelter. I was very impressed with the cleanliness and wealth of volunteer dog-walkers and other maintenance workers on the premises. We took our prospective new addition to the family for a ‘test walk’ in the adjacent large field… a perfect haven for a dog of any size.

Yes, she lived up to her promise of her ‘dog personal’ ad. We put a hold on her so that we could make a decision within 48 hours. Though in less than 24, a phone call from the Shelter put us on the spot. “Another couple is here and they’d like to adopt the beagle here and now. What’s the verdict?”

In a few days, Lexie will be joining us. I look forward not only to the newfound companionship, but also to the more active lifestyle owning a dog will bring. Early morning walks and more time spent outdoors can only be a benefit.

The great care exhibited by the Grey Bruce Animal Shelter made the decision process much easier. There are no employees at the Shelter with all funds coming directly from public and business donations, adoption fees and fundraisers. Those who donate their time to this important local facility tend to be animal-lovers in the truest sense.

Visit the website of the Grey Bruce Animal Shelter at http://www.gb-animalshelter.com/ to learn more.

Time to Hit the Trails

Who would’ve thought that the flowers would be blooming and grass would be greening by the first week of April? Then again, the patterns of the seasons over the past few years haven’t exactly been like they used to. Some so-called experts attribute it to global warming while others would much rather blame a strange but normal weather cycle that inevitably rears its head a few times each century.

Whatever the case, it’s hard not to enjoy the freakishly warm temps and blooming buds. Many summer oriented local businesses are benefiting from these conditions as residents shed their winter and spring gear for lighter clothing, swimwear and other summertime apparel. Area beaches and other summer attractions are already seeing a surge of early visitors. Case in point… One of the oddest images I’ve seen in recent memory comes from a weather story on Rogers TV where a shirtless man was soaking up the sun on the shores of Wasaga Beach with the snow capped silhouette of Blue Mountain visible across the water. As John Lennon once sang, “strange days indeed”!

Though I can’t say I’ve been brave or crazy enough to sun bathe on the beach as of yet, I have taken it upon myself to roam the fairly new Tom Thomson Trail. Boasting just over 43 kilometres of hiking paradise, this sometimes rough but usually user friendly path stretches from Owen Sound through Leith and Annan to the Town of Meaford. It’s an easy jaunt to the main access point for yours truly with our residence only a few blocks from the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre. I encourage you to visit the trailhead kiosk and starting point next to the Owen Sound Boat Launch (north end of 2nd Avenue East). You are bound to learn lots about the history and many volunteers involved in the creation of the Tom Thomson Trail.

I won’t imply for a fleeting second that the fam and I embarked on the Tom Thomson Trail marathon. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the many other rich and rewarding trail experiences that our region has become famous for. Evidently, there is a very lengthy summer ahead to explore those as well! But don’t take my word for it. See for yourself the vast network of trails we are so lucky to have in our proximity by visiting the Bruce Grey Trail Network website at http://www.brucegreytrails.com/.

Happy Hunting

Where did all the snow go? Then again, where did the month of March go?! Though it seemed never-ending while it was here, the winter of 2010 did pass us by in a flash. Yes, spring fever has sprung and you’d better put your eggs all in one basket because believe it or not, Easter has also stealthily snuck up on us! All of a sudden, I find myself craving chocolate rabbits. What will it be this year… Milk chocolate, white confection or a bit of both? The choices are aplenty if you visit any store that carries the countless varieties of Easter treats.

While a simple chocolate fix might be all that some require at Easter, I for one find myself just as excited about honouring old-fashioned tradition. Nothing can beat the fun and excitement of an Easter Egg Hunt. And having an almost-2-year-old daughter certainly makes me anticipate like a kid again. It also makes me ask kidlike questions. For instance, who ever came up with the crazy notion of an egg hunt? Fun as it might be, it is a bit weird.

My inquiring mind did a bit of research and found out some little known but interesting facts on the origins of the Easter Bunny and egg hunting. Turns out every Easter tradition we celebrate is based in Christianity or religions that existed beforehand. The Easter Bunny, once also known as the Easter Hare, was created as a symbol of fertility due to the frequency of multiple births in rabbits. The custom of egg hunting stems from children’s belief that hares lay their eggs in the grass. The Romans held the belief that ‘all life comes from an egg’ and Christians regarded eggs as ‘the seed of life’. It doesn’t take a lot of imagination from this point forward to see how these ancient beliefs symbolized the resurrection of Christ.

So why do we paint our eggs at Easter? While the reasons behind this practice are still unclear, if you dig up the vaults of ancient history, you’ll find that dying eggs was popular during spring festivals in Rome, Greece, Egypt and Persia. Elaborately adorned eggs were also given as gifts in Europe.

This Easter, I hope you will indulge in an ancient tradition that still stands the test of time when it comes to pure entertainment value. Whether you’re a big kid or a little one, here’s to a happy Easter egg hunt. And may the basket that collects the most eggs have the greatest indulgence!