OMG Traffic Jam on Mountain Road

Twice now I have been caught in the unbelieveable traffic jam on Mountain Road...right around the time that night skiing starts at Blue.  I think it's amazing that Blue and the fantastic dump of snow are drawing this much traffic (literally) to our region especially because the injection of spending into our local economy benefits everyone (don't fool yourself into thinking that all of the spending happens at Blue or in the Village....when there are this many visitors to our region...everyone benefits significantly).  However, if you're a local just trying to get home and can avoid Mountain Road...I strongly suggest it.  The traffic has been backed up all the way from the Mountain to 10th line...just volume and it takes about 20 minutes to get 3 kms.  If you're a visitor and just trying to get to the hill, I might suggest you stay on Highway 26 after driving through town and make a right at the Holiday Inn Express and drive to Grey Road 21 (Osler Bluff Road).  Make a left at Grey Road 21 and then drive about 1km to Monterra Road.  Make a right at Monterra and you'll connect with Grey Road 19.  If you're going to South Base Lodge make a left and if you're going to the Village or the Inn at Blue make a right. Have fun and enjoy night skiing!!!

Local Para Nordic Sit Skier wins gold medal!

Local Para Nordic sit skier Rob "The Rocket" Roest won the 600m sprint to claim a gold medal at the Ontario Cup cross country ski races on Saturday. Fourteen Para Nordic racers from across Ontario attended the event including Paralympics cross country skier and World Champion tandem cyclist Robbi Weldon from Thunder Bay. Also in attendance were Canadian Paralympians Margarita Gorbounova and Alex Novikov from Ottawa.. This was the largest number of Para Nordic athletes to attend an Ontario Cup xc ski race weekend to date. Congratulations to Rob who has been training hard this fall for the ski season.

Welcome to Collingwood - Please Relax!

To all our wonderful weekend visitors.  We're so glad you're excited to be here too!  What an amazing start to the Winter season.  Now that you're here please try to relax as you motor into town.  Our speed limit is a mere 50km on most roads, which is a really smart thing because with the ever changing weather and road conditions, you can't be too cautious.  Not to mention the wildlife that can jump out in front of you...and it does...quite often.  It's a really smart idea not to follow another car too closely.  You never know when they'll pound down on the breaks.  We're proud to be polite and courteous drivers.  We drive to stay alive...not to get there first!  I want you close enough to my rear end to read my logo but not close enough to kiss my ass.  So now that you're here...relax along with the rest of us, welcome and enjoy!

Not a Snow Day! Yeay!

I am so happy it's not another snow day and that my 16 year old is now back at school.  I was never so happy to see that yellow bus come around the corner.  Yippee...it's like a snow day for me!

Seasons Greetings from mycollingwood.ca

On December 1st mycollingwood.ca celebrated its fifth anniversary and we want to thank you for your support over the past 1/2 decade. It has been a great experince serving this wonderful area and both Dan and I are looking forward to many more years.  We had fun putting together our festive ecard and we hope you enjoy it too.  All the best for the holidays, shop downtown and support our local merchants/restaurants and have a happy - healthy 2011.

Stuff Your Stocking Downtown

Hey, check this out. We have created a promotion called Stuff Your Stocking Downtown. Every business listed in this new category has a downloadable Stocking Stuffer wish list that you can print off, check off things that you might like to see in your Christmas Stocking and strategically leave the wish lists around the house. Or you can e-mail the list to friends or relatives in case they need hints. One thing for sure is that you can pretty much find anything your heart desires in Downtown Collingwood. We've also compiled the wish lists into a very cool flip magazine.  We kicked off this promotion on Rogers TV.

 

Remembrance Day 2010

Jennifer Potter has written a song called Untitled Prayer that she has put a video to for Remembrance Day.
"words and images to honour those who fight for peace"

Hiking is Beautiful even on a Rainy Day

Just came back from hiking the Village Way Hike at Blue.  Even in soggy weather it's beautiful so get out there while you still can.  Interesting...as I was hiking up...I could hear screams through the woods...screams of delight...looks like they're testing the Mountain Coaster.

On Buying Unmeasurable Media - Seth Godin

Should you invest in TV, radio, billboards and other media where you can't measure whether your ad works? Is an ad in New York magazine worth 1,000 times as much as a text link on Google? If you're doing the comparison directly, that's how much extra you're paying if you're only measuring direct web visits...

One school of thought is to measure everything. If you can't measure it, don't do it. This is the direct marketer method and there's no doubt it can work.

There's another thought, though: Most businesses (including your competitors) are afraid of big investments in unmeasurable media. Therefore, if you have the resources and the guts, it's a home run waiting to be hit.

Ralph Lauren is a billion dollar brand. Totally unmeasurable. So are Revlon, LVMH, Donald Trump, Anderson Windows, Lada Gaga and hundreds of other mass market brands.

There are two things you should never do:

1. Try to measure unmeasurable media and use that to make decisions. You'll get it wrong. Sure, some sophisticated marketers get good hints from their measurements, but it's still an art, not a science.
2. Compromise on your investment. Small investments in unmeasurable media almost always fail. Go big or stay home.

And if you're selling unmeasurable media? Don't try to sell to people who are obsessed with measuring. You'll waste your time and annoy the prospect at the same time.

Just in case you missed it: mycollingwood.ca and myowensound.ca are totally measurable.

Julie's Quest for Fitness

Well for those of you wondering where my quest for fitness updates have been hiding...the fact of the matter is that while I continue on my quest, things are not progressing as quickly as I would have liked.  However, I am very happy to report that I have continued on as diligently as possible (for me)...I've encountered a few hiccups on the way (yes sometimes work gets in the way of working out), I've learned how to eat much more responsbily for my body and overall health and energy level and wow...for the first time in as long as I can remember, my boobs are now sticking out farther than my stomach.  That's a huge milestone for me.  Onwards and Upwards...and this is one of the hardest things I have ever tried to do in my life so for anyone else out there struggling...more power to you and stick with it.

I would like to extend an extra special thanks to my personal trainer (and now good friend despite the tough workouts...like the one this morning...my arms are still feel like jello) Sarah Heipel who runs Good Energy Fitness and Nutrition, who has been completely amazing.  She has been able to keep me motivated, arms me with lots and lots of important information about food, health, fitness.  I now do crazy things like make Quinoa at least once a week and have started making my own breakfast cereal. 

I am on a huge upswing right now as I prepare for ski season.  Funny some people are motivated by bathing suit season...not me...I am motivated by buying a brand new pair of ski pants that look really hot on my shrinking butt!

The Grist Mill Winery Tasting Event

It was a fantastic turnout at the 6th Annual Tasting event hosted by The Grist Mill at the Beaver Valley Community Centre.  Food pairings by The Cheese Gallery and Heavenly Sweets were delicious.  The next time you're in Kimberly (in the heart of the Beaver Valley, visit the Grist Mill and say hi to owners Terry and Judy Smith.  You can contact The Grist Mill Winery at 519.599.7979 and they are located at 253313 Grey Road 13.

Cruise for Charity Information Night

Journeys of Distinction is hosting an information night on Monday, October 18th at Brunello 27 on Fourth at 7pm.  Find out how taking a luxury 11 day Mediterranean Cruise (Cruise date October25th, 2011) can help support The Collingwood General and Marine Hospital Foundation.  Please RSVP for the information night by calling Linda at 705.444.8644.

Great Offers This Week from Double Dollars

Get ready to purchase Double Dollar gift certificates starting 10am thru 10pm on Wednesday October 13th. You can purchase:

• Sirena Restaurant for $12.50 and receive $25.00 in value
• Minds Alive Toy Store for $10.00 and receive $20.00 in value
• Nottawasaga Mechanical for $25.00 and receive $50.00 in value
• Adrenaline Adventures for 187.50 and receive $350.00 in value
• Boston Pizza for $10.00 and receive $20.00 in value

To make a purchase visit mycollingwood.ca and go to the Double Dollars page. We accept Visa, MasterCard and AMEX.

Stuffed Peasant Special Double Dollars Offer

Check out the special Thanksgiving Double Dollars offer from Chef Scott Carter.  Delicious! 50 Certificates are for sale at half price.  They are available until they are sold out so don't forget to tell your friends so they can take advantage of this great offer too.

Sirena Italian Restaurant - Don't let the outside fool you

We checked out Sirena Italian Restaurant on Highway 26 (South of Poplar Sideroad), you'll notice the new sign and the Italian Flag.  Well it was another Collingwood surprise and delight.  We had a delicious meal prepared by Chef Antonio.  Chef Antonio is the real deal folks and his Italian cuisine is authentic.  Don't let the outside of the building fool you.  The inside is nicely decorated, spacious and would make a great space for a family birthday party, anniversary celebration or any time where you might have larger groups of friends and family gathering together.  The restaurant also has cozy nooks for the romatics.  Be a good neighbour and welcome Chef Antonio into town by visiting his restaurant and giving his great food a try.  We all talk about supporting local businesses...put your money where your mouth is...your mouth will be happy you did!

Hole in One For Big Brothers & Big Sisters

On Thursday September 30, Jan Trude of Tim Horton's Collingwood was pleased to present Karen Webb of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Georgian Triangle with a cheque in the amount of $ 21,355.03 from their recent Charity Golf Tournament. The BBBSGT is very grateful for the wonderful continuing support from Tim Horton's.

Photo by David West

Azzurra Celebrates Ten Years!

As part of a celebration of being in business for ten years Andrea and the team at Azzurra have come up with a very unique way to say thank you.   Visit Azzurra for dinner in the next ten weeks and you may be surprised by the gift of thank you.  Between October 1st and December 15th Azzurra will be gifting dinner for two once a week to unsuspecting customers who are dining in the restaurant. If you are one of the lucky ten, as well as enjoying dinner on the house you will take away the gift of thank you to present to a deserving collegue, special client or favourite friend.  Whoever you gift it to will in turn enjoy a gratuitous dinner for two and then gift it onward.  Each gift card will be honored for ten gifts.  

Rallis Olive Oil at The Farmers Market

A visit to the Downtown Collingwood Farmers Market this morning led me to discover Rallis Olive Oil.  This delicious 'ice pressed olive oil' is a wonderful treat and should be of great interest to the Raw Foodies everywhere.  I had a wonderful chat with Nikolas who spoke about his family business with great passion and explained in specific detail how this wonderful product came to be.  Nikolas will be at the market every weekend until Thanksgiving, so do yourself a good turn and pick some up.  Nikolas is originally from Owen Sound so this is a great way to support a local business that has some overseas roots.

Detox Your Kids with Thrive Chiropractic

On Wednesday, September 29th, Dr. Melissa Vecchio is hosting a very informative seminar where you can learn the top 5 ways you can reduce your kids daily exposure to chemicals and simple practical steps to create a healthier home.  Join Dr. Melissa Vecchio on Wednesday Sept. 29 @ 6:30 pm for a fun and interactive discussion on methods for detoxing your family and home. Enjoy Healthy Snacks and your chance to win some great prizes. $10 per person, $15 per couple. Call 705.446.9733 for more details.


This sounds like a great seminar, offered at a very great price.  Just wondering if there are ways you can detox your teenagers' caustic and toxic attitude?  Hmmm, how much would one pay to take a seminar like that?

The Tremont Collingwood Grand Re-Opening

The Tremont re-opened its doors on Friday September 17th.  The lady in red is Nora (Armitage) Paisley. The young lady in the tan sweater is Theresa Armitage. Their father bought Tremont House in 1936 and ran it as a hotel until 1952. He was originally from Shawville, Quebec and met their mother when he came to Collingwood to work at the shipyard. Their mother was was Kathleen Simmons, born in Collingwood; the Simmons family lived at Sunset Point.
Background provided by Christine Cowley.

Environment Network Educates

I Just received this informative video about the Story of Suff from the Environment Network.  Click HERE to watch it too...and get your kids to watch it along.

Morrison's Pumpkin Patch

Jo-Anne and Murray Morrison have their pumpkin patch open for business, located on County Road 124 (Hurontario) south of Poplar Sideroad just before Nottawa.  You can choose from a vast array of pumpkins, gourds and squashes in all shapes and sizes.  Giant pumpkins all the way to baby boo pumpkins.

Wordstock - Out Of This World

Major General Richard Rohmer and Canadian Astronaunt and future Commander of the International Space Station Colonel Chris Hadfield attended the opening gala of Wordstock-Off The Page. This inaugral event is a celebration of Words through the art of Poetry, Song, Writings, Visual Art and more! In the words of performer Chris Hadfield remember to visit your local Canadian Tire (the song was out of this world)!

Birthday Girl - Julie Card

Julie celebrated her most recent special day today with a birthday dinner at Brunello - 27 on Fourth.  What an amazing feast prepared by Chef Mario. 

I know what her thoughts are "only 365 days until we can do this all over again"

Happy Birthday baby!

Your Lovin' husband who has hacked into your blog.
Dan

So You Think You've Got Talent Collingwood

A&W Comes Back to Collingwood

The first Canadian A&W restaurant opened in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1956. The Canadian restaurants were part of the American chain until 1972 when they were sold to Unilever.

In 1975, facing competition from the growing Canadian operations of McDonald's, the company launched what was to have been a temporary advertising campaign starring an orange-clad mascot, The Great Root Bear. The bear and the tuba jingle that accompanied him became a long-running campaign (the tune, entitled "Ba-Dum, Ba-Dum", was released as a single by Attic Records, credited to "Major Ursus", a play on Ursa Major or "great bear"). The mascot was so successful that he was eventually adopted as the mascot by the American A&W chain as well. The famous tuba jingle was played by famed Vancouver jazz, classical and session trombonist Sharman King. In the early 1980s, the drive-in style of restaurant was phased out. It was replaced with a modern, pastel-coloured fast food outlet which included healthier options. While the chain continued to open some standalone restaurants, A&W also aggressively pursued shopping mall locations, and as a result A&Ws are still commonly found in Canadian malls of various sizes. The last drive-in style restaurant closed in 1999, in Langley, British Columbia. Collingwood redidents may remember the car hop location where Catch 22 Restaurant now resides. In 1995, the chain was bought out from Unilever by senior management.

In the late 1990s, marketing and products began to take on a more retro approach. Former menu items, such as the Burger Family, were re-introduced, and marketing became more targeted toward the baby boomer generation. At the same time, the current restaurant design was introduced. The exterior features bright orange and yellow colours, reminiscent of the 1950s, while the interior is decorated with memorabilia associated with the same period. Existing restaurants were renovated to match the new style. Meanwhile, with malls in decline, A&W began to focus on opening new standalone restaurants, particularly in smaller markets where McDonald's was often the only major hamburger chain.

Welcome back to Collingwood - think I will go for a Teen Burger right now!

No More Stink!

What is the thing anyone hates most about nail polish?  The stink of the nail polish remover for sure. OK looking at chipped ragged nails is gross too but the nasty smell of nail polish remover tops my yuk list for sure.  Well, there's a new amazing product called Paint & Peel by Sula.  I was in Nifty's in Stayner and they gave me a demo...amazing...it just peeled off each nail in one piece.  Thrilled by this, I brought home a bottle of my daughter's favourite colour de jour.  Nifty's in Stayner has a whole bunch of great colours and each bottle retails for $9.95.  Sandrah at Nifty's can tell you more about this great new water based product. 705.428.2790.

Grab your Glads

Gladioli are in full bloom at Bishops on 124 (south of Poplar Sideroad on the East side).  You can buy them at the road side with the honor system...or go right down the driveway and honk your horn and you can meet the makers of such a wonderful offering.  Six stems will run you a cool $7.50.  They come in a wonderful array of colours and are remarkably beautiful, plus they last quite a while.  While you're at it you can also grab one of Gretta's homemade pies - frozen ready for your oven or her jam...delicious!   Gretta and Gord Bishop 705.445.8259.

The Brilliant Bread Company - Worth the Drive

A new addition to the Eugenia Falls Emporium is the Brilliant Bread & Cheese Company.  The Emporium is located right on Grey Road 13 in the heart of Eugenia.  In the realatively small but very productive retail space annexed to the Emporium one finds themselves in the midst of wonderful wafts of fresh bread, made in a wholesome and traditional way, with no additives or preservatives.  The Brilliant Bread & Cheese Company is new to town and surrounds but will easily become a mainstay for locals and a must visit for the tourists.  It is a rare thing these days to be able to walk into a bakery and be able to see 'stuff being made'.  What a great treat to visit the BB&CC and not only be able to purchase great products at great prices - tremendous value on cheeses too - but to also see a master baker excercise his craft a mere few feet away.

The Green Bin Project - Preview Screening

Matt Code of Free Spirit Tours and Sarah Heiple of Good Energy hosted Jen and Grant (pictured here) the makers of a doc called The Clean Bin Project. It was a potluck dinner full of very healthy things to eat (except for maybe the pie...but I think someone tucked some spiroulina in there...if I pretend that's true...I feel less guilty) and we were priviledged to view a preview screening of the movie.  The movie was remarkable, educational, entertaining and I think most importantly, thought provoking.  You can find out more here Clean Bin Movie.  Rumour has it that this film will be part of the Blue Mountain Watershed Trust 'Be The Change' movie series this fall.  This is one movie you don't want to miss and you need to drag your kids along to this one.

Tropical Bliss Smoothie from Pure a Winner!

Faced with the challenge of hiking up Osler Bluff this evening, I thought I would stack my deck and take in a smoothie from Pure - Organic Food and Juice Bar (10 Keith Ave.- on Hwy 26 705.445.9990) and Sam recommended the Tropical Bliss smoothie made with Valencia organges and organic coconut meat...for extra energy.  Between myself, the smoothie and Lady CJ (that's Sarah Heipel's doggie) I made it to the top!  Whoo Hoo...there's great satisfaction in that.  Tomorrow...it's The Village Way Hike.  The Georgian Bay Hikers are meeting in front of Rusty's in the Village at 5:30pm if you're up for the challenge...we'll see you there!  I think they should create a 'Drag my sorry ass up the Hill Smoothie' just for me!

Lobster Festival at the Pottery Restaurant - July 19 - Aug. 1, 2010

Indulge with a favourite decadent treat! Visit The Pottery at Blue from July 19 to August 1, during the height of lobster season, for their first annual Lobster Festival. Experience their exclusive lobster menu for only $30* per person.  Yummy and this is a fantastic deal!

Space is limited, reservations strongly recommended. 705.443.5509


To view the fabulous Lobsterfest Menu click Here.

The Hungry Sumo - Open for Business

Calling all Foodies...The Hungry Sumo has opened their doors. Open less than 2 weeks and we've already become regulars. The food is ab fab and the presentation is simply gorgeous. The Hungry Sumo has a great menu and is priced right! The Bento Box lunches are very yummy and the tempura has an extra yum factor. We are working on eating our way through the menu. They are located at 188 First Street (right across from the Beaver and Bulldog) and they have lots of parking space available round back. You can order for take out as well. Yeay.

Pure Organic Food & Juice Bar Open!

A bike ride along the Georgian Trail this morning led me to Pure Organic Food & Juice Bar. Thanks to my friend Shelby, I found out that it opened while I was at the cottage. So for breakfast I had a fabulous Irish Moss Parfait and a fantastic Kicking Horse Coffee. Their mission is to offer the most nutritious and delicious food on the planet, while growing their business in a sustainable and ethical way. Seasonally, their menu will be loaded with ingredients from local, organic farms.

- Fresh Pressed Juices
- Smoothies and Elixers
- Salads, wraps, and other enrtrees
- Organic, Fair-trade Espresso and Teas
- Healthy Gourmet Desserts
- No refined sugars, gluten, meat or dairy
- Performance Nutrition
- Live Food & Supplements

They also have a retail section (Kicking Horse Coffee is less expensive here than it is at a local major food chain). You can also stock up on things like White Truffle Oil - way less expensive than what you'll find at Pusateri's - or things like Spiroulina. You should check out the amazing cheesecake...I didn't have any of that...but it looked fabulous.

Check out their website

Located at 10 Keith Ave. (on Hwy 26), Collingwood, ON
L9Y 0W5
705-445-9990

Canadian, Please!

My friend Geoff forwarded this video to me. I loved it so much, priceless really, that I thought I would share it with you. A couple of young kids in London, Ontario did this... very clever. Enjoy.

The Earth Moved Under My Feet

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake in Canada shook office towers in Toronto and forced the evacuation of workers from Ottawa to Toronto.

The earthquake at about 1:41 p.m. Collingwood time was centered about 60 kilometers north of Ottawa, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The tremors were also felt as far away as Ohio and New York according to the USGS.

In Ottawa, several emergency vehicle sirens could be heard downtown, and hundreds of people evacuated buildings in the blocks around Parliament Hill. Mobile phone reception was intermittent in the half hour afterwards. There have been no reports of injuries.

The Pottery at the Blue Mountain Inn - 2 can Dine for $30

This evening Dan and I took advantage of a fantastic offer at The Pottery Restaurant located in the Blue Mountain Inn.  Check out the fabulous menu that is being offered for this special...until the end of June.  This is no skimpy offer either...2 people can dine for $30 and it includes a salad, entree and dessert.  Our server Michelle was just fabulous and has been part of the team at Blue for over 21 years!  We asked her lots of questions about what it's like to work at one place for so long...she simply raved.  This restaurant gets an A+++ rating from us, the food was absolutely fantastic (I had the lamb and Dan had the steak...and we're both really really picky).  Hope you take advantage of this offer but do it soon and reservations are recommended.  You can call the Pottery at 705.443.5509 to make reservations or ask any questions.  Yum!

Taste of the Town

Taste of the Town was another smashing success! With luck the weather broke and the sunshine made an appearance all afternoon. The food was spectacular...I think this was my favourite year to date. Simply wonderful!

Highway of Heroes Canada

This Video was produced by Eric Rudd at Big Screen FX
Written by Garry Pattenden and Ted Wright and recorded by Grey Matters


Special Thanks to Rick Graham, Dean Hollin, Connor and Kenzie Chambers, Peter Growen, Kristin Mackie and MacKenzie Darling

Dinner with Stadtlander

Come join Clearview Community Coalition for a sumptuous six course meal of local fare by world-renowned chef Michael Stadtlander.

Location: HIGHFIELD FARM, 1152 10th Concession North, Duntroon,ON
When: Sunday June 6, 12:00pm
Cost: $250 per person, please call Andrea Franks at 416 991-1000
(note that there will be a nature walk with our esteemed Naturalist, Bob Bowles at 10:30am)

Clearview Community Coaltion is a group of citizens who are concerned about the destruction of the Niagara Escarpment and the adverse effects of quarries on local communities. We are committed to the preservation of the Niagara Escarpment's natural heritage including plant and animal habitats, continuous corridors, and public and private water supplies. The Clearview Community Coaltion supports sustainable development and responsible job creation. The Clearview Community Coalition has joined the Niagara Escarpment Commission in opposing the proposed new Walker quarry, currently under review through an OMB Environmental Review Tribunal.

Six in the City

A couple of weekends ago 6 ladies celebrating their 40th year decided to venture to New York to celebrate. Wearing sporting t-shirts that said ‘Six in the City’ and holding signs promoting Collingwood the following ladies made it on the Today Show and two of them were chosen for the Ambush Makeover. Check it out.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Noah's Inn - Worth the Drive!

A recent photo assignment took us to the charming little town of Neustadt in Grey Country just about an hour and 15 minutes West of Collingwood.  The photo shoot was at Noah's Inn, a charming casual fine dining establishment.  The atmosphere was lovely, so were the staff.  The food was just fantastic.  Noah's Inn is a big fan of buying local and the flavours come through!  Check out their website Noah's Inn and if you're thinking about taking the drive, learn more about Newstadt

Downtown Beautification

The next couple of months are going to be very exciting in Downtown Collingwood.  I think you'll find that very quickly over the next few weeks that you will be seeing more and more of the finished product come into view from so many of the construction projects that have been underway for what seems like forever.  Projects that have taken years to plan and execute are all coming to a head just before Canada Day (if everything stays on track).  First plus, the new library is open for business and the building is simply gorgeous both inside and out.  Second plus, the next phase of the Downtown revitilization plan is nearing completion. Third plus, construction on First Street has already shown so many signs of improvement, from the lighting to the new turning lane....we're almost there.  Fourth plus, the Tremont is being re-born, resurrected and restored.  Here's the biggie...the Fifth plus, the Shipyards waterfront promenade will be open for Canada Day.  These are a lot of plusses and I feel lucky to be living here while all of this exciting stuff is going on.  Sure there's lots of politics and controversy anytime there is change.  But at the end of the day, and from a consumer perspective...this is all great news to me!

Spring means babies

These little cuties are just over a week old.  It was fun to watch these cute little fuzzy ducks moving together in their kiddie pool.  Once they get older they will be moved from the kiddie pool in the garage to the outdoor pond.

What the heck is this?

Notice the accumulation of snow on Dan's car.  I can't quite believe we're getting snow in May.  Not to worry, by tomorrow we'll be back to 7 degrees, and by Wednesday the projected high is 18 degrees.  Refreshing.

Hospice of Georgian Triangle Partners with LCBO Stores

All LCBO stores in May will have a box at the cash where you can donate money to the very needed services that HGT provides to the communities of Collingwood, Creemore, Stayner, Wasaga Beach and Thornbury. There are brochures at every location with more information.

Free Butter Tart for Mommy

On Mother's Day, Sunday May 9th the folks at the Ravenna Country Market are treating all moms to a complimentary butter tart. Make sure you bring mom by for her well deserved treat.

The most expensive tanning lotion available to mankind

We just returned back from the DR.  Great trip, however, even though the trip was planned and booked about 8 months ago, I still was scrambling the night before packing.  Buying sunscreen was on my to do list but I never got to it.  We just figured that we could buy it at the resort.  Rude awakening.  In the resort gift shop I paid...get this...$30 US for the smallest bottle of 60 SPF Sunscreen.  In the end the investment was worth it because we now have glorious tans (that are fading by the minute) and more importantly didn't burn or get sun stroke.  My point is...buy your sunscreen in Canada!  Speaking of which, the trip was great, the weather fabulous and it was nice to hang out on the beach and swim in the ocean.  But there was nothing nicer than arriving back in Collingwood to enjoy the marvelous fresh air.

Tim Horton's Parody

Have you been stumped by this season's Roll Up the Rim contest? It's funny how a contest can change your behaviour. Typically, I will order an extra large coffee with double milk. Rarely do I actually drink the whole coffee...but I always upsize just in case. What's different now, is that I don't throw out the old coffee cups until I have had a change to roll up the rim...so right now every single cup holder in my car is holding a 2/3rds empty Tim's cup that is waiting to have the rim rolled up. But before I can roll up the rim, I have to dump the cold (and somehow I suspect some of the cups are now sporting some extra content) coffee into my lawn (and I hope there is a natural pestide component in there).

If you have every purchased a Tim's coffee during the roll up the win promo, you will surely appreciate the creative genius behind this video posted on Youtube by Eric Rudd of Big Screen FX, starring Andrew Kerr with music by the Strange Potatoes. It's fun...have a look.

ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes Program Cancelled...last change book by 5pm

Sudden end to ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes Program.  BOOK YOUR VISIT TODAY BEFORE 5:00pm.

It was no April Fool’s joke—like the rest of the country, The Environment Network found out late yesterday that one of the non-profit organization’s most popular energy efficiency programs was cancelled without warning.

Over the past several years, The Environment Network has helped hundreds of local residents save money and make their homes more energy efficient through the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program. All that came to an end on Wednesday with the unexpected announcement that the program will be cancelled early and will no longer book pre-retrofit evaluations.

“With over 85,000 home retrofits conducted since 2007, this proves that homeowners were willing to make the changes necessary to conserve energy and improve energy efficiency of their homes,” Kerri MacDonald from the Environment Network said. “The announcement of the end of this program is a real setback for the environment and the economy.”

The program was very successful in the Simcoe County area, putting millions of dollars into the local economy and awarding thousands of dollars in grants to homeowners for making energy efficient upgrades to their homes.

Since the start of the program in 2007, homeowners in the Simcoe County and Muskoka area received over $1 million in direct grants as part of this program.

Homeowners who already had an a pre-retrofit evaluation booked are able to continue with the program, and those who are in the midst of completing retrofits and energy efficient upgrades must complete the work and have their post evaluation by March 11, 2011 to qualify for grants under the program.

For more information contact:

Kerri MacDonald
At the Environment Network
705-446-0551

info@enviornmentnetwork.org

Mother Knows Best

Ah yes, an old and well used expression.  There is much satisfaction in being able to say that to your teenager and have them agree with you.  For some time there had been a plan...and agreement if you will...between myself and my lovely daughter Suzan.  We had agreed that during March break she would take the CSIA Level 1 course.  As March break loomed closer the whining and complaining increased and so did the volume level...'Mom...you're ruining my March break by making me take this course...I want to hang out with my friends'.  Alas, I prevailed and suggested (for my friends reading this, they will know that my way of suggesting can be a bit on the heavy side) to her that should she pass the course she would have a huge sense of accomplishment that she had done something useful during her break.  So today, I am a very proud mommy and to my daughter I say 'a big congratulations, I am very proud of you'.  I also got a special gift from her in the car on the ride home from the ski hill.  She looked at me and said 'thank you' to me for making her take the class.  Amazing how two small words can seem so huge!

Chef Eric Madden back at the Craigleith General Store

Chef Eric Madden is at the Craigleith General Store.  For those of you that can remember, Chef Madden used to be at the General Store years ago.  Well now he's back on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights cooking some of your favourites for dinner.  So if you haven't tried the Craigleith General Store for dinner before...this is a great time to start!  The Craigleith General Store is located right on Highway 26 in...you guessed it...Craigleith (about halfway between Collingwood and Thornbury on the East side of the road (or the righthand side of the highway if you're driving towards Thornbury. 

Time to Spring Ahead!

Daylight Saving Time begins each year at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of March.(that's tonight). Move clocks ahead one hour at the start of Daylight Saving Time.  Also, don't forget to check the batteries in your smoke detectors. 

March Break Paint n' Play

All kids are born naturally creative...to help them stay that way we must nurture their creativity! Sign your kids up for our instructional pottery painting classes where they can explore colour, design and technique. New projects every day...so they can come back again and again!

Monday March 15 to Friday March 19th
Sessions available Morning and Evening and cost between $25 and $30 Dollars. 
Recommended for Ages 6-12.
Registration required please, Spaces are limited - but fun never is!

Crock A Doodle Studio
705-444-8888

March 8th, International Women's Day

International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.

The new millennium has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that 'all the battles have been won for women' while many feminists from the 1970's know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women's visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men.

However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices. And so the tone and nature of IWD has, for the past few years, moved from being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives.

Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.

Many global corporations have also started to more actively support IWD by running their own internal events and through supporting external ones. For example, on 8 March search engine and media giant Google some years even changes its logo on its global search pages. Year on year IWD is certainly increasing in status. The United States even designates the whole month of March as 'Women's History Month'.

So make a difference, think globally and act locally !! Make everyday International Women's Day. Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.

Leaving behind a thank-you note Brian Williams, anchor and managing editor NBC - New York

After tonight's broadcast and after looting our hotel mini-bars, we're going to try to brave the blizzard and fly east to home and hearth, and to do laundry well into next week. Before we leave this thoroughly polite country, the polite thing to do is leave behind a thank-you note.

Thank you, Canada:

For being such good hosts.

For your unfailing courtesy.

For your (mostly) beautiful weather.

For scheduling no more than 60 percent of your float plane departures at the exact moment when I was
trying to say something on television.

For not seeming to mind the occasional (or constant) good-natured mimicry of your accents.

For your unique TV commercials -- for companies like Tim Hortons -- which made us laugh and cry.

For securing this massive event without choking security, and without publicly displaying a single automatic weapon.

For having the best garment design and logo-wear of the games -- you've made wearing your name a cool thing to do.

For the sportsmanship we saw most of your athletes display.

For not honking your horns. I didn't hear one car horn in 15 days -- which also means none of my fellow New Yorkers rented cars while visiting.

For making us aware of how many of you have been watching NBC all these years.

For having the good taste to have an anchorman named Brian Williams on your CTV network, who turns out to be such a nice guy.

For the body scans at the airport which make pat-downs and cavity searches unnecessary.

For designing those really cool LED Olympic rings in the harbor, which turned to gold when your athletes won one.

For always saying nice things about the United States...when you know we're listening.

For sharing Joannie Rochette with us.

For reminding some of us we used to be a more civil society.

Mostly, for welcoming the world with such ease and making lasting friends with all of us.

Mounds of Shoes, and Stinky ones too!

Yesterday was a record-breaking day here at The Abbott Foot & Ankle Clinic. While the photo below showcases 300 pairs of shoes, the photo above contains more than double that number. Through generous public support we have collected 385 pairs of shoes (since our first photo) bringing our total to 685.

Our donators have ranged from people who have dropped off a bag or box of shoes to one client who has gathered shoes from not just her own closets but those of her friends and family and has donated over 100 pairs of shoes alone. And finally there are the local businesses, schools and daycares that are in the midst of growing their own mountain to add to ours.

Almost half way to our goal of 1500 shoes, we want to thank the public for all their support of gently used shoes as well as the financial donations which will help off set our shipping costs. With only 9 days and 815 pairs of shoes to go, help us with our mountain by telling your friends and family and encouraging them to drop off their gently used shoes at our office at 234 St. Marie St. or Becker Shoes on 73 Hurontario. Whether giving us one pair or one hundred pairs, know that each will be donated to someone in need in Haiti.
Tony Abbott, D.Ch.
Registered Chiropodist / Foot Specialist  705-444-9929
http://www.abbottfootclinic.ca/

Matt Andersen Big Blues Man

New Brunswick's Matt Andersen has a larger than life showmanship that has been earning him a fervent and steadfast audience wherever he graces the stage. Matt's sprawling blues, roots and rock musical hybrid with his sorrowing and soulful voice and astonishing guitar-playing has sparked a phenomenal buzz on Canada's East Coast and that grass roots word of mouth cannot be contained any longer! http://www.stubbyfingers.ca/


Joining him is Vancouver Island's Wil, a consummate touring folk musician, who's developing his expansive roots-rock sound and world-weary lyricism while playing his famously intense shows. One such performance was written up by the Calgary Sun as having so much "power and soul it could stop your heart." http://www.ibreakstrings.com/ Presented by Meaford Hall Saturday March 13, 8pm tickets $28.

Meaford Hall Arts & Cultural Centre http://www.meafordhall.ca/ 1.877.538.0463

Gourmet Lobster Anyone?

Chef Roger Genoe of the Ravenna Country Market is hosting a free gourmet cooking demonstration at the newly renovated Ravenna Country Market. The session is free but limited to 20 participants on a first come first served basis. Advance registration is required either in person or by phone.

Not only is Chef Roger incredibly talented, he’s also very entertaining and quite funny too. If you’ve had the opportunity to taste some of his fantastic cuisine you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t this is a great opportunity to visit the Ravenna Country Market now that it’s under new ownership, has undergone a snappy renovation, complete with a new kitchen, but still maintains that small town charm and character.

The Gourmet Lobster cooking demonstration will teach you how to prepare and present a fabulous feast, with all the accoutrements sure to impress yourself, family and friends. This is a fabulous opportunity. I’ve always wanted to try cooking lobster at home but was always a bit wary because I simply didn’t know how to do it. Seeing Chef Roger do this in person will give me the courage.

The demonstration will take place on Friday, March 12th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The Ravenna Country Market is located at the corner of Grey Rd 2 and Grey Rd 119 and for those of you confused by that, from Collingwood you drive up Scenic Caves Road…all the way up…to the very top (past Scenic Caves, past the Swiss Meadows turn off and keep following the natural curve of the road…then you will drive straight for a while. The first stop sign you will reach is Banks, keep going…the second stop sign is Ravenna…you’re there…the whole drive takes about 20 minutes from Downtown Collingwood).

I have already reserved my space…so there are really only 19 spots left.

About the Ravenna Country Market:
Under new ownership, The Ravenna Country Market has everything you would expect to find in a small town country store. Fresh baked pies, breads, butter tarts, a full pantry of dry and canned goods, plus fresh dairy products. The new owners are planning on carrying seasonal fresh produce and also offer fresh and frozen gourmet to go meals that are fabulous. You can zip by and grab a cappuccino and croissant for breakfast or a fabulous fresh lunch. Many of the products available are sourced from local suppliers like the frozen cuts of beef that are hormone and antibiotic free. You can also find Ashanti Coffee, maple syrup and home made jams and preserves.

495972 Grey Road 2, Ravenna ON N0H 2E0
T: 519.599.2796
Visit our website

March 1st, PIG DAY

Alright a couple of quick points before we begin. First, this awful photo is the only one I had from Monday’s wildly successful Pig Day press event at our Prince Edward County shop (yes, this is me standing with a tray of Aman’s Pork Buddha Dogs made with Blaine Way’s Tamworth pig, topped with Harvest Apple Onion Jam and Black River Pepperjack on a Pastry House sage bun), which I hope underscores how much I/we care about this initiative.


Second, this is ultimately about the agricultural community and the public coming together to better understand where our food comes from and why buying local, sustainable food has such a positive impact on our communities and economy. Ok, and the pig, as Homer Simpson and my business partner like to say, “is a magical animal!” International Pork Day is on March 1st so please consider having a nice pork loin, rack of babyback ribs, a tasty BLT or our first Pork Buddha Dog! ****FINAL NOTE****All three Buddha Dog shops, Collingwood, Toronto and Picton, will be serving the Pork Buddha Dog over the February 26th weekend leading up to Pig Day on March 1st!  Visit Buddha Dog on Pine Street, today and celebrate!

Eagles in Collingwood!

This post comes via Bill Nicholson;

I took this picture at the Birch Street launch ramp in Collingwood. It is an immature Bald Eagle probably about 2 yrs old. It won't get its white head and tail for a while yet. This bird and two mature Bald Eagles have been hanging around the harbour since mid October. They have been feeding on the multitude of ducks and geese that are living down at the harbour.
I felt very fortunate to be able to get this picture with my little camera. 

Good work Bill and thanks for helping us share the amazing things that make up our great Town of Collingwood.

Conquor the Ironman Snowshoe Trail at Scenic Caves

If you love to snowshoe, there is one trail you have to try and conquor this winter!  The Ironman Trail at Scenic Caves is fabulous.  Don't let the name scare you. If I can do it, so can you.  Plus, you get a huge sense of accomplishment when you're done.  Even on the most rotten of Winter days with the coldest weather, you stay protected in the forest from the trees and the escarpment.  If it's cold, you won't be for long.  Dan and I were snowshoeing one day a couple of weeks ago when it was minus 23 Celsius.  It was only about 10 minutes before we were quite warm.  So get out there and go for it!

Palmer Taylor Enroute to Vancouver 2010

Alpine Ski Club had a send off today wishing Palmer Taylor the very best at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and hope she brings home some hardware. We will be providing updates of Palmers success during the Olympics on mycollingwood.ca compliments of her Mom so check back frequently.

Our Kids Clean Up at the 2010 Weider Cup

The Weider Cup was held this past Saturday Feb 6th and is a fund raiser for the Blue Mountain Special Olympics Alpine Team. Our kids, Christopher, Matthew and Jeffrey Plouffe along with their sister, Suzan Card came in First Place in the Family Division and Christopher Plouffe, Matthew Plouffe, Jon Kinsie and his sister Danielle won the Weider Cup.

Six Excellent Weeks of Winter

Wiarton Willie saw his shadow, so there will be six more weeks of winter!

As I see it, I love winter, a good snowshoe and lots of runs to ski well into the spring.

Hope to see you in the great outdoors!  Thanks to Wiarton Willie for the photo.

Guitar Lessons Anyone? Learn from the Best!

Just wanted to let everyone know that Aaron Garner has some space left for guitar lessons.  He's charging $25 per week for a half hour lesson running from his home in Collingwood.  Times are available on Tues, Wed or Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m., although he might be able to do a lesson slightly earlier or later if necessary.  Please call 445.4649 if you're interested in more details. Space is limited and time slots are filling up!

COLLINGWOOD CELEBRATES NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING

The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, the Town of Collingwood, and the County of Simcoe today celebrated the opening of 18 new affordable rental units. This project,Westview Towers, located at 145 High Street, is supported by more than $1.2 million in funding through the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program.

Shown in the photo from Left to right are:

Mayor Chris Carrier, The Honourable Helena Guergis, MP, John Fogolin, President of Tornat Construction Corporation (Developer of the Property), The Honourable Aileen Carroll, MPP and County of Simcoe Warden Cal Patterson

Canadian Blue Legend Curley Bridges

Canadian Blues legend Curley Bridges will kick off the 2010 Spring Blues Series at the Arts Centre, 163 Hurontario Street, Collingwood on January 21, doors open 6:30 music starts at 7 pm.

The series is an initiative of the Collingwood Jazz & Blues Society, sponsored in part by the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts.

The Arts Centre is an intimate venue perfectly suited to present these veteran artists who in addition to their music will relate some of their personal experiences, tall tales and war stories of life on the road in the blues world. Seating is limited.

Advance tickets $10.00 at the Crow’s Nest, 239 Hurontario Street, Collingwood or by calling 705.444.4449. Tickets are $15.00 at the door. Special pricing for Collingwood Jazz & Blues Society members.

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The best way to get red wine out of the carpet

There is one tried and true method for getting red wine stains out of the carpet!  You have to act fast...but don't panic.  Immediately walk calmly to the paper towel dispenser...do not stop to chat on the way...if you are calm, maybe no one will notice.  This is especially important if you're in someone else's house.  Grab a bunch of paper towel...walk calmly back to the scene of the crime.  Place the paper towel over the spill and step on it with the heel of your foot repeatedly with all of your body weight.  As the pieces of paper towel become saturated with the spill soaking up from the carpet, replace with fresh pieces of paper towel for maximum absorption and keep stepping with your heel (shoes off) until all of the wine has been soaked back into the paper towel.  It may take a minute or two...but keep stepping and replacing the paper towel as necessary.  I just did this on the spill in my husband's office.  Result no stain and because I was talking to him calmly all the while...he didn't notice.  phew!

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myowensound.ca is Live!

We are thrilled to announce that our latest project myowensound.ca is live! Check it out and let me know what you think!








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Congratulations Johnathan on Winning the Leaf Tix!

Johnathan Smith was the winner of Leaf Tickets from East Side Marios. Enjoy the game!

Shovel that Snow!

I'm not sure how this happened over the past week or so...I watched all of the lovely flakes grace our landscape, getting excited about all of the great skiing and snowshoeing that this beautiful blanket of white offered. I made sure I was well prepared in advance for Winter driving conditions and am very careful to brush off all of the snow on my car and scrap the ice off of every single window and mirror before driving away in this weather.

What I forgot to notice was the amount of snow that had collected on our second floor decks. We have two decks that are on the second floor of our home, and they are very big decks. I happened to look at them as I was driving away from home this morning and was very alarmed by the amount of snow that had accumulated on them. Yikes. I immediately promised myself when I got home that I would take a stab a clearing off the snow because I was seriously worried about having a situation where our decks collapsed because of the weight of the snow (before you say...that's not realistic...I will have you know that I watched one of my neighbours decks absolutely get dessimated by a huge snowfall last year. It was an expensive repair bill for them for sure and a nasty surprise when them arrived on Friday night.

Anyways, I started out shovelling over 3 feet of snow from each deck. It not only took a huge amount of strength to scoop and then hurl the snow over the deck railings...it was a completely exhausting exercise.

Three hours later of heavy snow moving (the snow on the bottom is very very heavy because it has been pressed down by all of the newer snow) and I am no where near finished.

My advice to you...expecially if you are a weekender...get someone to do it for you, or when you get to your chalet this weekend, take notice of any areas that might require some snow removal.

This is a classic example of not seeing the forest through the trees for me and I can't believe that I didn't notice how bad the situation was before today.

So...get the shovel out...and remember to bend your knees and twist slowly and gently. It's much easier to tackle this job with a slow and patient approach because you will get tired out quickly.

Good luck!

Prime Rib Dinners back by popular demand at The Dam Pub

Back by popular demand, the Dam Pub is serving Prime Rib Dinners every Sunday starting at 5pm.

Happy New Year - Check out what your future has in store

Happy New Year. Make sure you check out myextras and read your horoscope for the coming year!

Traffic Turning Circle - Yikes!

The locals know about the new turning circle on Mountain Road just near South Base Lodge at Blue Mountain. We've had time to adjust to this new fabulous feature that will seriously improve traffic conditions along Mountain Road at peak times, especially on weekends. That said, for anyone who has not had the opportunity to navigate the turning circle, please remember to follow the road signs and slow down to the suggested 30KM sign, but at the same time, remember to keep your eyes open and get ready to step on the brakes.

As a seasonal tourist destination, we do have to make concessions for 'citiot driving habits' if only for our own self presevation!

Fabulous Snowshoe at Scenic Caves

Friday afternoon was the perfect day for a snowshoe at Scenic Caves. Sarah and I took our workout outside and it was a sunny afternoon with almost no wind. We went up to the Lookout (huff...puff..)...then did the Deep Woods Trail...the snow was deep, that's for sure...then we connected to the Suspension Bridge Trail...and then back to the main lodge. Scenic Caves has cut a new trail this year that goes way underneath the bridge. We will be sure to try that one out next time. If you're looking for a break from the gym...try snowshoeing. Absolutely Fab!