Students Launch Poetry Collection

Reviving a project initiated by teachers decades ago, Spindrift 2011 has just been published. Everyone is invited to the official book launch on Monday, June 27th, 7pm at The Downtown Bookstore.

A team of student editors chose 40 poems to publish from schools across the district. OSCVI student Kelsea Martin created the cover art with additional painting by graduating student Jazmin Lihou.

Norah Phillips, teacher-librarian at OSCVI, co-ordinated the project. “Many students are interested in writing and publishing,” she said, “so we wanted to provide a forum for their unique voices.”

At a workshop for the student writers, poet and OSCVI graduate Meaghan Strimas (who herself was once published in Spindrift) said, “Give your brain a few minutes of peace -- turn off your phone, TV, computer, iPod. We are too busy these days. We are constantly entertained. Tune out for a bit!”

The project is supported by the Bluewater District School Board and the Ministry of Education’s SpeakUp grant. Plans are already underway for Spindrift 2012. “We plan to have more workshops next year with a greater focus on editing,” Phillips said.

For more information about the Spindrift project, click here.

Burger vs. Hot Dog

With the weather finally warming up, those tantalizing BBQ smells when you step outside are becoming more frequent. This isn't necessarily a good thing for those of us promising ourselves a more physically active and health conscious summer. The distraction is just a little unwelcome and unfair, to be honest!

But grilling season doesn't have to be a complete write-off. The occasional char-broiled guilty pleasure just has to be good for the soul, right? And you can offend while remaining true to your new found health awareness. A recent article on Yahoo does a calorie comparison between a burger on the BBQ and a similarly cooked hot dog. You be the judge and give yourself a break (or two) this summer! Read the article.

Distracted Drivers Beware!

Put away the cell and keep your focus on the road ahead! This week, the Ontario Provincial Police are on the look-out for distracted drivers. Officials are warning us to think twice before typing that text message or eating that burger while in transit as fines could be steep, and more importantly, safety jeopardized. Check out this link.

The Scruff Theory

Is it a sure sign of the times or just mere coincidence that a difficult economic climate and scruffy men occur simultaneously? The 'scruff theory' implies that recession equals unshaven. Tom Allen, host of "Shift" on CBC Radio 2, explains his assumption in this intriguing article.

Going all the way!

The great thing about living so close to the Bayshore Community Centre is a night like this. You'd think a highly celebrated young couple just tied the knot in an evening ceremony with all those cars honking and passengers hollering in an endless procession of headlights along 3rd Avenue East. Yet this occasion is even rarer than a night wedding in Owen Sound... Our Attack have just been crowned the Western Conference champions in a Game 5 blow-out of the Windsor Spitfires, winning 10-4 in dramatic fashion. Memorial Cup, here we come! To think that some of us speculated in the not-so-distant past that the Attack would be putting away their hockey sticks before the post-season. Truth be told, this is the year many of us have dreamed of for so long. Should we secure just one more series win, one can only imagine the celebratory parade in the Sound. That's one photo op few of us will want to miss.

Follow the team on their playoff journey by visiting their website. Go, Attack, go!!!!

INXS in OS

If you had told anyone living in Owen Sound back in 1987 that INXS would one day headline a show at Kelso Beach Park, disbelief would have been the likely response.

Fast forward to 2011 where the reality of a concert featuring the Aussie not-so-new sensations is starting to sink in. With the line-up just announced for Big Music Fest 3 at Kelso Beach Park on July 2nd, the reincarnation of INXS featuring Canadian lead singer J.D. Fortune is poised to rock the Sound.

And there's more... Other acts include the reunited Tea Party, CanCon rock icon Kim Mitchell, Fefe Dobson, Theory Of A Deadman, rapper Classified and These Kids Wear Crowns.

Tickets cost $49.50 and can be purchased at Kelsey's in Owen Sound or click here.

Are you stressed??

April is stress awareness month and hence a time to give ourselves a personal check-up. How well do you handle life's challenges, both big and small? Do you take things in stride or are you a frenzied candidate for stress-related illness? Take this stress management test to get a reading on your own personal stress meter.

Click here to take the test.