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!