Dog Walk for Heart

On Sunday, April 10th, dogs and owners alike will gather in Owen Sound at the West Side Boat Launch and walk around the harbour trail ending at the Dog Park.

Reigning Cats & Dogs is sponsoring a Dog Walk for Heart, for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Heart health is important for both people and animals. Maybe you know a companion animal that has a heart condition and you would like to bring awareness to this issue. Support this walk with a pledge to a walker or take part yourself!

Pledge forms are available at Reigning Cats & Dogs (975 2nd Ave. East) in Owen Sound. Registration is at 10:30 and walk begins at 11am. For more information, call 519-470-DOGS (3647).

All dog participants will get a free treat!

Change your Clocks & Batteries

That time has arrived again. Thanks to the Owen Sound Fire & Emergency Services for the reminder...

On March 13, 2011 daylight savings time starts. Remember to 'spring ahead' an hour!

This is a great time to make sure that your home has working smoke alarms and conduct a fire drill. When you change your clocks make sure that all of your smoke alarms and Carbon Monoxide alarms are working. Replace the batteries in your smoke alarms and Carbon Monoxide alarms. If your smoke alarms or Carbon Monoxide alarms are not battery operated, test them to make sure they will work. Replace any alarms that are more than 10 years old.

The Owen Sound Fire & Emergency Services would like to remind you that smoke alarms are required on every level and outside each sleeping area. It is the law. Working smoke alarms save lives.

A reunion worth the wait?

Over the years, I've lost a lot of faith in the much-hyped yet anti-climactic reunions of legendary music acts. Take the first new Eagles studio album in a few decades that was released only a few years ago, for example. Artistically, it missed the mark of their 1970's sophisticated songwriting glory.

There are countless other disappointing attempts by bands coming together to rekindle the past that I could cite. But out of respect for the barely undead, they shall remain nameless.

When I recently heard that post-punk icons The Cars were joining the ranks of the reunited, something told me this might be different. Though the music industry has gone through many transformations since the group's last album in 1987, there is something about their synthesized-rock style that fits well in the modern era. Regular sound bytes (I've always wanted to use that term in a blog!) of new material started to show up on The Cars' Facebook page. And what I've heard to date sounds fresh and most welcome in a year so far littered with more boring formula techno-rap and teens going Gaga for Bieber.

The new CD titled, "Move Like This", comes out in May and features most of the original line-up. Check out the new video for the first single, "Blue Tip" by clicking here. It's a definite return to form.