April 2014 by Uxbridge Town Talk

Volume 6 | Issue 3 | April 2014

setting the stage | go green | earth day facts | quinoa salad

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uxbridge town talk

The Uxbridge BIA invites you to become home-town proud! explore the shops in Uxbridge. discover globally sourced products. shop locally for brand names & unique gifts. dine out at a local restaurant or relax during a hair or spa treatment & THINK LOCAL FIRST!

Saturday

April 19th Free Family Fun!

green Earth Day Celebration

www.uxbridgebia.com

uxbridge town talk

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www.uxbridgetowntalk.com

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Fabric | Shutters | Wallpaper | In Home Consultation

PAINT &Uxbridge, WALLPAPER 4 Banff ROANE’S Rd., Hwy47S, Unit #7, Ont., L9P 1S9 www.roanespaint.com phone: 905-852-5315 fax: 905-852-2215

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contents

volume 6 | issue3 | april 2014

While writing this month’s Uxbridge Town Talk, the winter

Town Talk Tidbits Earth Day facts

Guest Column Win This Space

Super Sports Uxbridge Cycling Club

Your Community Local Living

Faces of Uxbridge Joel Speers

UTT Kitchen Quinoa Salad

Historically Speaking Uxbridge Cottage Hospital Auxiliary

Feeling Fine The Reiki Principles

5 6 7

Peacefully Productive What will your legacy be

Spotlight On You Sheila Maloney

Community Calendar April 2014

Community Calendar Con’t... STAFF Managing Editor: Elaine Leigh Graphic Designer: Sandi Leigh Sales Manager: Sandi Leigh CONTRIBUTORS Elizabeth Shortt Darrin Davis Uxbridge Cycling Club Sari Pandopulos Sahar Younes Hollay Ghadery Maggie Anderson Sharie Trussell & Stephanie Coy T Organic Cafe facebook.com/uxbridgetowntalk

13 14 15 16

Agricultural News Teddy’s Organic Market

Youthful Yammerings Setting the Stage

Guest Column Community Cleaning

Crafty Corner Coffee Ground “Fossils” COVER PHOTO haveseen | 123rf.com CONTACT US Phone: 905 862 3747 Email: info@uxbridgetowntalk.com www.uxbridgetowntalk.com MAILING ADDRESS PO Box 1035, Uxbridge ON L9P 1N3 OFFICE ADDRESS 24 Toronto St. N., Unit 3 Uxbridge, ON LNP 1E6 twitter.com/uxtowntalk

-town talk Pick up copies at: Zehrs, Blue Heron Books, Township Office, Uxbridge and Zephyr libraries, NRG4Life and more.

EDITORIAL MESSAGE Unless otherwise stated, all product reviews, articles and other features are chosen by us and are unpaid. If you would like to be featured please contact us. Uxbridge Town Talk is a monthly publication by Sweet World Media. The publisher assumes no responsibility or liability for the claims, views, opinions, comments or advertisement herein. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisement. Uxbridge Town Talk does not endorse any advertised product, service or event. The Publisher is not responsible for any typographical errors. Advertisers are responsible for any copyright issues. Uxbridge Town Talk will not be held responsible for errors, print or otherwise, in submitted ads. No part of this publication, including advertisements, may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher.

www.sweetworldmedia.com

The font used in “Uxbridge Town Talk” is the Gibson Family Font designed by Rod McDonald to honor my father in law John Gibson. It is available for sale at www.canadatype.net/fonts/ gibson. All proceeds are donated by Canada Type to various programs to help improve creative arts and to elevate design programs in Canada.

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has shown no sign of letting up, but the weather experts promise that this will change - soon! Hopefully by the time you are reading this, Spring is in the air. The April edition of UTT is a fantastic issue!!! We have spent a lot of time ensuring that Earth Day and Earth Day Activities are the focus. I believe we all try our best to reduce our carbon footprint on the Earth. You, much like myself, probably do your best to recycle and compost, buy earth friendly products, and enjoy everything nature has to offer, which is very easy to do in Uxbridge with all the fantastic trails. Lets all make it our goal to do just one extra thing this month to save our earth. I have decided that I will no longer purchase bottled water, a decision I made simply by watching advertising and paying attention to social media statistics. Water bottles have a huge environment impact and pile up in our landfill sites by the thousands. Do I think that by boycotting plastic water bottles I will make a huge difference? My refusal to purchase bottled water is but a drop in the bucket, but every bit counts. Let’s all try and make a difference! Reach out to us! I love to include stories about local people making a difference, whether it be an environmental event, a local special interest story or a great fundraiser - we will do our best to make sure the people of Uxbridge know about it. Our biggest challenge is keeping up to date on local events, so let us know about your event, or your contribution to our earth or a fundraising race you are involved in. We want to hear what you have to say! Enjoy April, Spring and the warmer weather (if we ever see it).

| earth day facts |

SOURCED FROM WWW.UFCW.CA & WWW.ECOKIDS.CA

town talk tidbits

per person in 1991 to 274 litres per person in 2009. Canada’s per capita water consumption is almost double the amount used in France. According to World Bank statistics, Canada has 607 vehicles for every 1,000 people. Although behind the Netherlands Antilles (1214 vehicles per 1,000 people), and the US (820), Canada’s use of automobiles is still big enough to be a significant source of greenhouse gas emission. A single spam message produces the equivalent of 0.3 grams of carbon dioxide. 62 trillion spam emails are sent each year!

First launched as an environmental awareness event in the United States in 1970, Earth Day (April 22) is celebrated as the birth of the environmental movement. In 1990, two million Canadians joined 200 million people in 141 nations in celebrating the first International Earth Day. In many countries, the global event brought pressure on heads of state to take part in the UN Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro to address issues such as climate change and the world wide loss of species.

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Today, 500 million people in over 164 countries continue to celebrate International Earth Day. Over 6 million Canadians participate. This includes schools, community and youth groups, employee groups, and environmental organizations.

The first day of Spring In Canada, Earth Day has grown into Earth Weeks and even Earth Month to accommodate the profusion of events and projects. They range from large public events, such as Victoria’s Earth Walk (5000 participants), Edmonton’s Earth Day Festival at Hawrelak Park (30,000 participants), and Oakville, Ontario’s Waterways Clean-up (2,000 participants) to the thousands of small, private events staged by schools, employee groups and community groups.

Fresh, Local

MILK

At Competitive

PRICES

Earth Day Canada is the environmental communications organization that coordinates Canada’s celebration of International Earth Day. Earth Day Canada is mandated to improve the state of the environment by empowering and helping Canadians to take positive action and achieve local solutions.

It takes water to make everything! Twenty gallons of water to make a beer, 37 for a cup of coffee, 480 for a bike, and 39,000 gallons to make a car.

Every year the average Canadian throws out 23 kg of household hazardous waste (HHW), such as paint, solvents, batteries, fertilizers, pesticides, etc. Canadians throw away 1.7 million disposable diapers every year. Canada consumes 65,000 tons of pulp, 8,800 tons of plastic and 9,800 tons of packaging material according to Environment Canada. Canada ranks fourth highest in terms of per capita consumption of electricity, approximately 17,000 kWh per year according to statistics from World Bank Organization. The good thing is that most of the electricity comes from non-emitting sources, particularly by exploiting the hydroelectric potential. Only 18.1 percent comes from fossil fuels; whereas the US gets half of its power from emitting sources and China around 80 percent.

Households in Newfoundland and Labrador (70%) were most likely to turn the temperature down. Those in New Brunswick (55%) and Ontario (57%) were the least likely to do so. About 22% of households reported that they drank primarily bottled water at home, down from 24% in 2009 and 30% in 2007. In contrast, 68% reported that they drank primarily tap water, an increase from 66% in 2009.

According to Environment Canada the average daily water use dropped from 342 litres

ice cream too! t a e r G ES

T. 1 9 37

A I R Y

304 Toronto St. South, Uxbridge (In the plaza beside McDonalds)

Want Fun and Exercise? Give the Uxbridge Cycling Club a Spin Miss the rush of sailing down a country road on your bike? Maybe it’s time you joined the Uxbridge Cycling Club. It’s a recreational road club that was created for riders of varying skill levels that want to have fun and stay fit but mostly be able to eat chicken wings, guilt-free! Formed in the spring of 2010, the Uxbridge Cycling Club was created with a mission to be a recreational road cycling club for riders of all abilities, where fun and fitness are the primary objectives. Each week scheduled Club rides take place in Uxbridge and the surrounding townships of Newmarket, Aurora, Port Perry, Stouffville and Oshawa on scenic, low-traffic routes. Throughout the riding season the Club also organizes cycling events, cycling seminars and fun social gatherings.

Members range from riders who have just bought their first ‘real’ road bike to those who can really wind it up. The nice thing is no one in the Club takes themselves too seriously. If the Uxbridge Cycling Club sounds enticing but you’re worried about keeping up, don’t be. The main Sunday group ride has 2-3 paces so you’re sure to fit in. Never rode in a group before? No problem. At one point, every rider had to learn how to do it, so Club members are very accommodating. Just let them know it’s your first time, and they’ll show you the ropes. Seasoned veteran? Then you’ll want to also check out the Club’s Saturday morning interval training ride. So what does it take to join the Club? Not much. A proper helmet, a well-maintained road bike and a good sense of humour is all you need! Membership for the season (April until October) costs $60 which includes general liability insurance coverage (through the Ontario Cycling Association), to provide protection on all scheduled Club rides. To find out more about the Uxbridge Cycling Club visit: http:// uxbridgecycling.com/or send an email to info@uxbridgecycling. com

The Uxbridge Cycling Club is a recreational road cycling club. We are cycling enthusiasts of varied skill levels that like to have fun and stay fit but, mostly to eat chicken wings guilt free. You can find out more about the club and how to join at www. uxbridgecycling.com

Dim lighting making you feel down this winter! Brighten up your Spring and your house with new fixtures or potlights

Excavating/Trenching Outdoor Lighting Generators Solar Systems

PAUL MEEK

(905) 852-3211 Cell phone (local call) (416) 989-0047

“Established in 1993”

Springtime is here and it’s time to change your smoke detectors. Contact Paul to have your hard wired detector installed today

HOT TUB & POOL HOOKUPS We do

super sports

COMPLIMENTS OF UXBRIDGE CYCLING CLUB

www.meekelectric.ca How about fixing the things you’ve been putting off all Winter. Get started on your electrical this Spring!

Voted ‘Reader’s Choice’

BEST ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR

Service Upgrades Resident Work Industrial Commercial

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| uxbridge cycling club |

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faces of uxbridge

| joel speers |

BY ELAINE LEIGH

There are many faces in Uxbridge that would make for an interesting article in Uxbridge Town Talk, but few as dedicated and with such an impressive list of accomplishments as this month’s feature. At the young age of 20, Joel Speers already has an exhaustive list of volunteer experience! I had a very long and enjoyable chat with Joel, and when we parted I left knowing that he is destined to do great things in life, and will make a difference in the lives of so many! It can be a real challenge to get people, such as Joel, to talk about their accomplishments. Joel is an inspiration - he has already had far more challenges in life than most of us and has accomplished so much. A learning disability constantly challenges Joel, yet with a great deal of hard work he was able to earn his High School Diploma. He is an amazing example for our youth and proves that you can overcome barriers and accomplish anything if you set your mind to it. Joel recently found out that he is being awarded The Ontario Volunteer Service Award (Youth) given to a youth who demonstrates continued commitment and dedication to their community. Uxbridge’s Mayor Gerri Lynn O’Connor nominated Joel on behalf of the Town of

and was always there, she always made us feel appreciated, and we did so many great things.” Joel was involved in the Roxy Kids until the age of 16. His involvement with the Roxy Kids was just the beginning of his community service, and it lead Joel to become involved in many other great community organizations. Joel has an ongoing dedication to the Durham West 4H Association, an organization for ages 6-21 that provides positive opportunities for practical learning, leadership development and friendship. He has thrived in 4H. Their approach is “learn to do by doing” which suits Joel just fine. Joel continues to be involved as it is an important aspect of his life. His dedication to the community carries on. When considering where to focus his energy for his Ontario Secondary School Diploma required 40 hours of community service he decided to help out with the Uxbridge Fall Fair. Joel was actively involved with the Fair, he would help set up fencing, set up display tables in the buildings, and aid with the clean up. He enjoyed his time volunteering so much that he stayed on and is now a Director on the Fair Board. He not only volunteers with the Fair Board but also with the Canada Day Committee, and with Heritage Days, and the list continues. In addition to his community volunteer work, Joel was also an active volunteer in school. He was a member of the technical crew at Uxbridge Secondary School, setting up and operating the sound system for many school events. He also enjoyed many hours volunteering in the school kitchen often juggling between the sound board and serving food from the kitchen. I asked Joel why he is involved in so much and his answer was that he enjoys the people, he enjoys community and enjoys the “Town of Uxbridge”. We at Uxbridge Town Talk want to congratulate Joel for the honourable award and his equally important nomination, and thank him for his tireless volunteer work that helps make Uxbridge the wonderful community we all know and love.

Uxbridge for his hard work and dedication. To say he is honoured is an understatement, and Joel quickly asks me to express his gratitude and thanks to those who nominated him. The awards don’t stop there, Joel was also nominated by the Uxbridge Fair Board for another incredible award, “The Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers”. Joel comes from a very community oriented family; along with his sister and 2 brothers his interest in community volunteering began when he joined the local “Roxy Kids in Action program - Joel was 9 at the time. This local youth volunteer group introduces kids to volunteering with a focus on the Uxbridge community. When I asked him about the Roxy Kids in Action he exclaimed “I loved it!! Cathy was so enthusiastic

As a new resident of Uxbridge Elaine has taken the helm of Sweet World Media, publisher of Uxbridge Town Talk. Elaine has three passions, family, photography and her Golden Retriever Jake. With a new business, three grandchildren and plenty of photo opportunities in Uxbridge, life’s been busy but fun!

YOGA YOGA YOGA YOGA

heathermunn@gmail.com | 905-649-8596 | www.YogaWithHeatherMunn.com

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Full session or drop-in rates

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YOGA ALL ARE WELCOME! YOGA

Creekside Wellness, 53 Toronto St. N., upper level of Tin Mill in Uxbridge

I recently had the pleasure to sit down with Uxbridge Cottage Hospital Auxiliary member Sandra Will and Auxiliary president Paula Donahoe, to chat about the history behind one of Uxbridge’s long-standing charitable organizations, which celebrates its 60th Anniversary this year. In October of 1954 a group of over 26 concerned nurses and other community members saw the need for a local hospital and founded the Uxbridge Cottage Hospital Auxiliary in order to raise funds with the goal of opening a local hospital. Five short years later, on January 12th, 1959 the Uxbridge Cottage Hospital opened its doors through the fundraising efforts of the UCHA and various other community groups. In 1968 the Uxbridge Cottage Hospital expanded to include an ambulance garage, and storage unit with the UCHA purchasing modern x-ray equipment – Diagnostic Imaging remains a focus for the Hospital. Over the years with funds raised by the Auxiliary, renovations have taken place and digital mammography, telemetry, and rehabilitation equipment have been purchased for Markham Stouffville Hospital’s Uxbridge site. In the early years of the Auxiliary, thousands of dollars were raised through bake sales, knitting sales and proceeds from the Hospital Gift shop. From 26 members to over 200, the Auxiliary continues to raise funds for MSH’s Uxbridge site through knitting and revenue from the Hospital Gift Shop but also through wine tastings, art auctions, and the festival of trees. In addition to fundraising Auxiliary volunteers also perform a variety of tasks at the Hospital, including in-floor care, before and after care for day surgery patients, aiding with physiotherapy and scheduling. Over 90 Auxiliary volunteers help to run Chances Are, located at 20 Bascom Street, which sells gently used clothing, household items, and books. Seasonally the store operates a specialty Halloween, Christmas Shop and Jewelry sale every year. Through fundraising efforts, UCHA members raise over $200,000 annually for the Hospital towards the purchase of new equipment and equipment repair. To date the Uxbridge Cottage Hospital Auxiliary has donated close to $3,000,000.00 to the Hospital and Foundation! Additional Funds are designated to volunteer education and $2000 is pledged annually to Uxbridge Secondary School through two bursaries for students pursuing post-secondary education. A number of events will take place this year to commemorate the UCHA Diamond Anniversary – including Run for the Diamond: the Uxbridge Half Marathon. On April 19th the 7th Annual Run for the Diamond will take place at Wooden Sticks with funds raised going towards a Surgical Suite and Medical Rehabilitation unit for the Uxbridge Cottage Hospital. Join the Uxbridge Cottage Hospital Auxiliary for the BIG BBQ PARTY, set to take place on June 19th from 5-7pm on the front lawn at the Uxbridge Cottage Hospital in celebration of 60 years of volunteering! Stop by and help the Auxiliary honour long-standing volunteers for their service. The 60th Anniversary Celebrations will conclude with a tree draw at the Uxbridge Cottage Hospital Foundation Festival of Lights in December. Stay tuned for more information on this event as the year

draws to a close. For more information about the UCHA events, or if you are interested in volunteering, visit www.uxbridgecottagehospitalauxiliary.org or call 905-852-9771, ext 5237.

historically speaking

BY ELIZABETH SHORTT

Elizabeth Shortt (Acton) is an avid reader and wanna-be writer, born and raised in Uxbridge, where she lives with her Husband and two beautiful children.

JOIN US AT OUR GRAND OPENING APRIL 19th

SUPPLY STORE NOW OPEN

Now you can use the products the professionals use!

73 Brock St. W. Uxbridge

www.communitycleaning.ca

905-852-9419

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| uxbridge cottage hospital auxiliary |

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peacefully productive

| what will your legacy be |

BY DARRIN DAVIS

“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones” Shannon L. Alder Growing up, I couldn’t stand the creepy still life paintings of skulls done by the Old Masters. With all the wonderful things in this world to experience, taste, touch, see and hear, why would anyone ever want to put their focus on something so dark, negative and eerie as a human skull? The kids I knew who had an affection for skulls generally listened to ear-melting death-metal, swore a lot, had atrociously dirty fingernails, and were all-around pretty unappealing little squirts. Unlike the young me. “I am a golden child, and like all gilded things of rich luminosity, I shall shine on forever”, my grade 3 self declared. (Verbatim, I’m sure.) As I’ve gotten a little older, a little more achey, a little rounder-ofbelly, and a lot less convinced of my own invincibility, I’m starting to see what those old painters were getting at. The skull’s weren’t meant to be morbid, twisted inciters-of-fright. They were painted as reminders to ‘gather ye rosebuds while ye may.’ As little lighthouses to guide us back to the reality that we’re not here for very long, so we might as well get to it, figure out what matters to us, and buckle down. What events, actions, relationships and projects hold the most meaning for you and how can you spend more time on those things? When you look back on your life from the creaking rocking chair of old age, what will you wish you had spent more time on? (If your answer is “Twitter,” you are likely lost to us already.) The time to do those meaningful, legacy-building things is NOT Monday morning of next week, or ‘when my work schedule balances out,’ or ‘when the kids are a little older.’ That time is RIGHT NOW. One of the most frequently cited excuses for not doing the things that you know will make your life better is ‘not having enough time.’ We’ve all looked jealously at a friend or co-worker who seems to have the ‘magic-touch,’ who seems to be able to achieve so much more than the rest of us. “Must be nice to have all that extra time to work on their hobbies, see their friends, etc.” The funny thing is, we all have the same amount of time. Just different priorities, levels of commitment and willpower. Yup, that’s right. Vincent the annoying over-achiever at work, who also plays a mean piano? He’s got 24 hours in a day. Francine, with the teenage figure, 3 polite, cleannecked kids and successful Etsy handmade soap business? Each hour of her day splits into 60 minutes, too. Just like yours. But I have a feeling Francine and Vincent don’t spend very many of those 24 hours on Pinterest, scoping out hairdo’s, and I’m pretty sure most of those 60 minutes in their hours aren’t given to Laundry soap commercials in between the dramatic events of Days of our Lives. Goethe warned that “Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” He practiced what he

preached. Goethe was a very successful politician, a brilliant writer, and an esteemed botanist, geologist and scientist. But little evidence remains as to how many ‘likes’ his Facebook posts received, or if he broke the 500 followers barrier on his Twitter account. :) This winter has been pretty crazy, for everybody. Last month I was in a car accident. It was during a whiteout, and fairly minor. But after we pulled off to the side of the road, within minutes, there was a major 10 car pile-up in the exact same spot, and very sadly, one of the men involved in the accident was very seriously injured. Because of the severity of the crash, I was required to be at the scene for over 5 hours, alone, in my car, with the haunting images and sounds of that poor man echoing in my head. All the usual, Hallmark card platitudes coursed through my shaken mind. But the main thing that has stuck with me this past month, is that we never

really know when our time is up. It’s not something to fret over, because it’s mostly out of our hands as to when the big parking meter in the sky runs out on us. But we do have control over what we do right now, with this very moment that we’re enveloped in. Use it wisely, it’s part of your legacy.

Darrin Davis is the owner and operator of Peacefully Productive Studios. He is a professional musician, singer-songwriter, photographer and painter. His weekly music video series ‘Songs on a Pink Couch’ can be followed at youtube.com/ user/thedarrindavisband, and his weekly photography series can be seen at facebook.com/darrindavisphotography. He lives in the wildwood splendour of Uxbridge, Ontario with his lovely wife Amy, and their incorrigible pup, Dublin. All 3 are relentless Blue Jays fans.

SPIRITUAL C O N S U LTAT I O N www.spirit-counselor.com | 905 982 2741

Serving Durham surrounding area

Sheila Maloney, of Zephyr is known worldwide, as an abstract artist and talented fabric artist. Her work been purchased by The Museum of Civilization, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, recognized by Ontario Craft Council, American Museum of Folk Art, New York, Galerie Naifs et Primitifs, Paris, France, Wexford Arts Centre, Ireland and The Famine Museum, Co. Roscommon, Ireland. We share with you an few examples of Sheila’s work. The photo profiled on the right is a quilt Sheila has been working on since 2007 with one side completed in 2013. Sheila’s quilt work is 100% hand knit and stitched. We have profiled her working on one of her incredible projects which began in 2007. This quilted art piece is “hand knit original designs and abstract landscapes embellished with things found in and on the earth”. A huge yet amazing project!!! Her work and many other pieces can be viewed at www.sheilamaloney.com.

spotlight on you

| sheila maloney |

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Sheila Maloney

| april community calendar | community calendar

THURSDAY, APRIL 3RD The Mouse Trap. Onstage Uxbridge presents the timeless Agatha Christie thriller, The Mousetrap. Tickets are available at Little Acorn, 77 Brock Street West or online at www.onstageuxbridge.com. Uxbridge Music Hall from April 3rd-April12th, see store or website for times. Time: 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm Where: Uxbridge Music Hall, 16 Main St. S.

SATURDAY, APRIL 5TH North Durham Nature Walk Join Geoff Carpentier to view returning spring ducks and geese. Annually, thousands of birds return to Ontario from their wintering grounds, taking advantage of lakes and rivers as the ice breaksup. Meet at 9am in the parking lot to the north of Tim Horton’s on Hwy 7A beside the Independant. Bring binoculars and scopes if available. Dress warmly and bring the kids. Exactly where we bird and for how long will depend on how open the lake is and how many ducks read this announcement and show-up to be seen. Please pre-register for this walk with Derek Connelly. Time: 9:00 am Where: Hwy 7A Tim Hortons Contact: 905 852 5432 or dconn50@powergate.ca

SUNDAY, APRIL 6TH

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Master Writing Class with Jennifer Murray Marketing Basics for Writers. Marketing basics, ideas for self‐promotion and what goes on in a marketing department at a publishing company. Participants will perform small group work exercises to nail down the strategy part of a marketing plan: identify target audiences, talk about their books key selling features and what sets their book apart and identify their competition. $85

its’ first monthly meeting of 2014. The guest speaker will be Lynette Kirten, Horticultural Specialist at Vandermeer Nursery, who will talk about ”What’s Great in 2014 and the Winners of 2013″. We welcome all gardeners from beginner to expert, or anyone just interested in learning more about gardening, to join us $20.00 for an annual membership or $5.00 per meeting for guests. Refreshments at every meeting. Time: 7:00 pm Where: Uxbridge Seniors Centre, 75 Marietta Street Contact: 905 985 6516

SATURDAY, APRIL 12TH Spring Sale. The Anglican Church Women of St Paul’s Anglican Church, Uxbridge, are holding a Spring Sale on Saturday, April 12th, from 10am3pm. If you make crafts of any kind, jams & jellies, preserves, or if you have things around the house that you no longer need, join us. Tables can be rented for $25 for a large table or $15 for a small table. Please phone 905-852-6853 to reserve a table. Time: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Where: St Paul’s Anglican Church 59 Toronto St. S. Contact: 905 852 6853 or gbrowne@powergate.ca

Floral, Big, Bold Artwork Come to Blue Heron Studio to see some beautiful pieces by Kathleen McParland – Large Floral Art Max Kalinowski – Big Bold Art Thelma Sellers – Large Floral Art Time: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Where: Blue Heron Studio, 62 Brock St. W. Contact: 905 852 4282

SUNDAY, APRIL 13TH

Easter Treats. Today holiday goodies take

Time: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm Where: Blue Heron Studio, 62 Brock St. W. Contact: 905 852 4282

centre stage as you and your youngster make yummy Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs and tasty Marshmallow Treats. And you’ll have even more fun practicing your decorating skills with Royal Icing. $9

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9TH

Time: 9:00 am - 11:00 am Where: Zehr’s Uxbridge, 323 Toronto St. S.

Uxbridge Horticultural club will be holding

SATURDAY, APRIL 19TH

Dr. Connie Yong & Associates

FREE WHITENING with a complete exam and cleaning

905-862-2228 www.wavedental.ca

8-307 Toronto St. S, Uxbridge

The 2014 Run for the Diamond in support of the UXBRIDGE COTTAGE HOSPITAL . Events include: 21.1km (Half Marathon) run, 10km Trail run/walk, 5km Trail run/walk and a kids dash. The Easter Bunny will be on hand for an Easter Egg hunt too. A great family event! The Uxbridge Hospital Auxiliary urges everyone that cares about the quality of life and health in our region to participate, volunteer or donate to this spectacular event – your donation is so needed and appreciated. For more information visit: www.uxbridgehalfmarathon.com Time: 7:00 am - 12:00 pm Where: Wooden Sticks Golf Course, Elgin Park Dr. Contact: 416 986 2159 or katharinegranger3@gmail. com

Go Green. The Uxbridge BIA presents the ‘Go Green’ Earth Day Celebration. This event will be a FREE, fun filled, family event in downtown Uxbridge. There will be many eco-friendly activities, demos, a fashion show, an interactive petting zoo, samples and much more. Please come and join us at this great outdoor event right here in town. For more information please visit www.uxbridgebia.com Time: 10:30 am - 4:30 pm Where: Brock Street, Uxbridge Contact: businessfacilitator@uxbridgebia.ca

Easter Bunny Cake. Join us for this all-ages

celebration of Easter. Each child learns how to cut and create an Easter Bunny cake - then decorate it with lots of coloured icings, candies and trimmings. We’ll help you pack it and take it home for the whole family to enjoy. There’s Easter treats (but you have to find them), juice and snacks while you work. Children under 6 require a parent helper. $15 Time: 11:30 am - 12:30 pm Where: Zehr’s Uxbridge, 323 Toronto St. S.

MONDAY, APRIL 21ST Easter Brunch.Your kids will be thrilled to impress their friends and family with the excellent Easter brunch that we’ll help them create today, featuring a hearty Sunnyside Breakfast Casserole of hash browns, sausage, eggs & cheese;

Time: 3:00 pm Where: St Paul’s Anglican Church, 65 Toronto St. S Contact: Charles White, 905 985 7259

MONDAY, APRIL 28TH

Time: 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Where: Zehr’s Uxbridge, 323 Toronto St. S.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH BHAM Art Show and Sale Anne and Pedro Leon – Pottery, Digital Photography & Found Art Images Lisa Simpson – Hot and Warm Glass Jewellery & Objets d’art Saturday and Sunday. Time: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Where: Blue Heron Studio, 62 Brock St. W. Contact: 905 852 4282

Huck Finn youth fishing day. As usual Elgin Pond will be stocked with 500 happy trout in preparation for our event. This is a free event. To register pick up a ribbon at any of the following – Uxbridge Canadian Tire, Blue Heron Books, Uxbridge Legion, Uxpool and Presents, Presents, Presents. Don’t miss the HUCK FINN parade starting at Elgin Park at 9:30am. Dress up in your best Huck Finn outfit and decorate your bike or wagon. Awesome prizes for best dressed, best decorated etc. “Preferred VIP fishing areas for all parade participants” Free lunch, prizes for all kids and free fishing rod & reel loaners and bait. Time: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Where: Elgin Pond, 7 Consession Rd. 7

SUNDAY, APRIL 27TH One Voice Singers – Spring Serenade St Paul’s Anglican Church presents One Voice Singers – Spring Serenade. Music Director Charles White, accompanist Debra Thompson and guest Bella Nova. Tickets available from choir members or at Presents, Presents, Presents. $20 at the door or $18 purchased in advance. Children under 10 are free. For more information, visit www.onevoiccesingers.org or www.facebook.com/onevoicesingers .

905-862-3535

Pineridge Chorus Dress Rehersal Pineridge Chorus Sweet Adelines Dress rehersal. Monday April 28th 2014 8pm at the Uxbridge Music Hall. Come cheer us on as we prepare for our Regional Competition in May! Time: 8:00 pm Where: Uxbridge Music Hall, 16 Main St. S. Contact: Chris Musselman, 905 473 2342

Introduction to Acrylic. Working from a master work of art, instructor Tania Caryi, offers the student the opportunity to create an individualistic painting in an uninhibited and supportive environment. Learn techniques in application, creating texture, exploring colour mixing and different ways of seeing. Learn, apply, create! Starting today, running for 6 weeks every Monday. $150 Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Where: Blue Heron Studio, 62 Brock St. W. Contact: 905 852 4282

TUESDAY, APRIL 29TH

submit to a writing contest or short story magazine. Have fun in the process, with experienced contest winner and judge, Dorothea Helms at the helm. 6 weeks starting today every Wednesday. $180 Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Where: Blue Heron Studio, 62 Brock St. W. Contact: 905 852 4282

REGULAR EVENTS Soup Lunch Please donate as you are able to support the Loaves and Fishes Foodbank and North House. The lunches are provided by North House, local churches and community groups. Contact John Gould for more information: gould3@sympatico.ca. Every Wednesday from 12 to 1:30pm at St. Andrew’s - Chalmers Presbyterian Church on Toronto St. S. Uxbridge BIA Seniors Day Seniors are encouraged to come shop, dine & explore Uxbridge each Tuesday. On Tuesday, participating businesses will display an orange ‘Keep Calm Seniors Day Here’ sign. Stop by to discover special Seniors promotions, sale items, in-store guests, a demonstration, a free activity or a Seniors discount. Contact: 905 852-9181 x 406

Mind Matters, Join Laura Briel on the last Tuesday of every month for “Mind Matters” a workshop geared towards understanding mental health, discovering leadership potential and reducing stigma surrounding mental illness. For future dates and topics, check out our website www.facebook.com/uxbridgeyouthcentre. Ages 11 and up. Free Time: 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Where: Uxbridge Youth Centre, 34 Brock St. W

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30TH Six weeks to a short story, Join the writing fairy on a six-week voyage of discovery. Bring your story or character idea, start writing and take advantage of guided feedback along the way. At the end of six weeks, feel the pride of having a story that is polished and ready to

Legion Bingo Bingo Thursdays at the Uxbridge Legion. $1200 in prizes to be awarded. Must be at least 19 years of age. Doors open 6:30pm. Bingo starts at 7:30pm Taoist Tai Chi Includes a gentle set of movements that promote well-being for people of all ages and in all conditions. Beginner class: every Friday 9-10am. Continuous class: every Friday 10-11:30am. Sketchy Crafts and Crafty Sketches A fun drawing and crafting workshop led by young artist Rachel Prentice. Each week a different project is featured such as clay sculptures, paper masks, figure sketching and much more. Ages 11 and up. Every Wednesday. Free. Time: 4 pm Where: Uxbridge Youth Centre, 34 Brock St.

UXBRIDGE COMMUNITY MIDWIVES wishes everyone a

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Y E

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905 904.0688 uxbridgemidwives@gmail.com

905 852 5691 • 1 800 377 4784 4 Banff Road, Unit 2, Uxbridge www.dgsmithinsurance.com

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sweet, refreshing Fruit Salad with Yogurt Dip; scrumptious Buttermilk Blueberry Coffeecake for dessert; and Mock Shirley Temples to wash it all down. $14

BY SARI PANDOPULOS

guest column

| win this space |

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WIN THIS SPACE began inspiring entrepreneurs several months ago and on March 6 the Uxbridge BIA revealed the winner of their business start-competition in front of a live audience. During the evening the judges and over 120 guests met the TOP 5 entrepreneurs via their video-taped business pitches which gave the judges the opportunity to match a face and personality to the written business plans which had previously been received & scored. Following the videos the judges left the room to score the videos and then came back after tallying their video pitch score to combine it with the written score and returning to the room with a sealed envelope in hand ready to announce Uxbridge’s newest entrepreneur. And the WINNER is…. Trailspin Outdoor Sports! Congratulations to

David Horyn, Fred Seemann & Vincent Borg. The partners met during the WIN THIS SPACE Business Builder Workshops and joined teams to submit their winning business plan for a new outdoor sports store which will specialize in sales & service of bicycles, skateboards, scooters, along with snowshoes & more during winter months. Their new business is set to open soon so watch for their grand opening celebration!!! Congratulations also to the others who made the TOP 5 entrepreneurs; Angela Nickle of A.K.A. – A Kitchen Available, sisters Amy & Ashley Stevenson of Sorella Weddings & Events, partners Joanne Ritcher & Rob Garrard of The Second Wedge Brewery and Kevin Alexander of Alexander Computer Services. Each of their businesses would be a welcome addition to our business community & we look forward to the opportunity to continue coaching them with help from the WIN THIS SPACE partners, sponsors and mentors . “The WIN THIS SPACE competition was an excellent initiative that demonstrates team efforts, and community support by providing resources to all the contestants throughout the process. To support it, The Uxbridge Networking Group is proud to sponsor each of the TOP 5 finalists with a free 1-year Networking Group Membership to kick-start their new business venture.” states sponsor & Uxbridge & Arena Networking Group founder Annie Hardock. A few of the WIN THIS SPACE TOP 30 are also eager to launch their businesses, and, in fact, two have already opened new businesses so the BIA would like to congratulate Sharie Trussell & Stefanie Coy of Community Cleaning & we look forward to celebrating their ribbon cutting at 73 Brock St W. on April 19th and we would also like to welcome Sonya Yake and her new business Raffini Design to 30 Brock St. W. Sonya felt inspired by WIN THIS SPACE and mentioned that “the business plan is the steering wheel of the business and is so important. Being a part of this contest helped me to further understand the costs associated with running a business. Listening to the mentors share their stories was another key element to making this project a success. With all this knowledge, I was able to move forward and feel comfortable that this was the right decision at this time. A combination of BACD, the landlords and the mentors made this such a fantastic initiative and I was able to learn a great deal”.

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Photo courtesy of John Cavers Uxbridge BIA Facilitator, Sari Pandopulos, confirmed that “ WIN THIS SPACE proved that people can inspire people & the BIA remains ready to assist any new entrepreneurs fulfill their dream of becoming an entrepreneur so we invite the community to watch for networking opportunities at www. uxbridgebia.com or connect with us via facebook.”

Uxbridge Road Runners, Dunsmuir Ridler Barristers and Solicitors, Uxbridge Health and Travel Clinic, Uxbridge Family Dentistry, Dr. Vi Tu Banh Optometrist, Ozz Electric, TD Bank, the Township of Uxbridge, Axis Chiropractor and Wellness, Bass and Murphy, and Body Fit. The Uxbridge Cottage Hospital Auxiliary strives to create a wonderful, well-organized event--- fabulous prizes, an unique course, great sit down buffet lunch, technical tee shirts, the draw for the diamond and just a fun filled community day! Net proceeds benefit the Uxbridge Cottage Hospital. Please celebrate with us on Saturday, April 19th. Hope to see you there! Please visit www.uxbridgehalfmarathon.com to register and donate today! Like us on facebook www. facebook.com/uxbridgehalfmarathon Join us on twitter at www. twitter.com/infohalf

Come and celebrate the Uxbridge Cottage Hospital Auxiliary’s Diamond Jubilee year by donating, volunteering or participating in the “Run for the Diamond” on Saturday April 19th, 2014. There is an event for the entire family this Easter weekend - a Half Marathon Run, a 10K and 5K Trail Run/Walk, a Kids Dash, as well as an Easter egg hunt with the Easter bunny. Experience the beauty of the Trail Capital of Canada in the morning and then visit downtown Uxbridge for “Go Green Day” in the afternoon! Wow! Two fun family events in one day!!!! The Uxbridge Cottage Hospital Auxiliary expresses their sincere gratitude to all “Run for the Diamond” sponsors! Without their support, there would not be an event or funds donated to our hospital. A huge thank you to Rutledge Jewellers, Uxbridge Shoes, the Greater

Get Ready for the 12th Annual Uxbridge “Huck Finn” Youth Fishing parade. Lots of special prizes for those participating in the parade! Day! We have some fantastic prizes too! Participants have a chance to win Attention all residents of Uxbridge and a prize and are guaranteed a fun filled day area…let’s go fishing again! Yes it’s true. The of fishing. Bring your equipment…we’ll pro12th annual Uxbridge “Huck Finn” Youth Fishvide the bait to all registered participants! UXBRIDGE ing day is just around the corner! The event, To register pick up your ribbon ahead of sponsored by Canadian Tire, is supported by time at any of the following locations: UxDO E!!! E MIS N’T R F the Ministry of Natural Resources, Uxbridge pool, Uxbridge Legion, Presents, Presents, S IT IT’S !! Township, the Royal Canadian Legion, the FISH FROM 10AM TO 1PM ~ 100’S OF FISH TO BE CAUGHT Blue Heron Books and Canadian Tire. You To register, pick up a ribbon at any of the following Optimist Club, the Pickering Rod and Gun can also get them at the Pond on the day locations or at the pond on event day. Club, the OFAH, Zone “G”, the Uxbridge of the event. If you don’t have any gear Uxbridge Canadian Tire • Blue Heron Books • Uxbridge Legion • Presents .... Presents • Uxpool B.I.A. and last but not least the Durham the Pickering Rod and Gun Club will be BRING YOUR FISHING GEAR! DON’T HAVE ANY? NO WORRIES Region Police. pleased to lend it to anyone 15 and under! WE’LL LEND SOME FOR FREE! PRIZES FREE FISHING On Saturday April 26th everyone is once This year’s event promises to be another FREE FREE FOR ALL ROD & REEL LUNCH BAIT LOANER KIDS again invited out for a great fun-filled day of tremendous success. We encourage the TO ALL REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS fishing. Elgin Pond will be the home of 100’s entire community to come out and have a Don’t miss the HUCK FINN Parade of Brook trout just waiting to be caught by any great time with your family! Don’t forget the starting at Elgin Park 9:30 am participant 15 years of age and under. Kick Dress up in your best Huck Finn outfit and decorate your bike or wagon. Huck Finn parade too! Watch for the postAwesome prizes for best dressed, best decorated, etc. off for the event will be a Huck Finn parade. ers detailing the event. It promises to be a “Preferred VIP ﬁshing area for all parade participants.” PARADE ROUTE: MILL ST. TO WATER ST. great time! Starting at Elgin Park at 9:30 a.m., all children Parking in Elgin Park behind the Band Shell and parents are encouraged to dress up in road ~ closed from Elgin Park Drive to Mill St. The your best Huck Finn outfits. Decorate your For further information contact Pat Higgins Times-Journal bikes and wagons too! All parade participants at (905) 852-3315 or Amanda Ferraro at UXBRIDGE will be entitled to a V.I.P. fishing area after the (905) 852-7831

your community

| local living |

Uxbridge “Huck Finn” Youth Fishing Day

SAT. APR. 26TH, ELGIN POND, UXBRIDGE

A joint venture by the following participants

Ready to go GREEN? Uxbridge is the Trail Capital of Canada so how much more GREEN can a community be? Come find out during our 2nd annual Earth Day Celebration! It’s a fun, FREE Family Event. With lots of great stuff to do such as a fun scavenger hunt, interactive petting zoo, eco-friendly demos, fashion show and lots of samples. Visit all our local retailers to see what special eco-friendly activities they have going on as well. Watch out for the spring coupon booklet that will be given out at this event with many great coupons to many of the local businesses. Rain or Shine this event will be the place to be April 19th from 10:30am-4:30pm. Businesses & Community groups interested in participating please contact businessfacilitator@uxbridgebia.ca

Saturday

e n ge Sc av ! u H nt

April 19th Free Family Fun!

green Earth Day Celebration

www.uxbridgebia.com

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You’re Important To Us!

| quinoa salad |

RECIPE PROVIDED BY T ORGANIC CAFE LOCATED INSIDE TEDDYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ORGANIC MARKET

utt kitchen

Ingredients -1 cup uncooked quinoa, should yield approx 3 cups cooked quinoa (see recipe below) -1/2 cup red peppers, small dice -1/2 cup celery, small dice -1/4 cup green onion, small dice -1/2 cup sunflower seeds -1/2 cup cranberries (whole or chopped small) -1 clove garlic pressed, or dried -garlic

-dash salt -dash pepper -1/4 cup Oil -1 tbsp Vinegar -juice of 1/2 a Lemon -2 tbsp agave

Directions This recipe is as beautiful to look at as it is to eat, it is a combines colours, textures, and flavours. Quinoa an ancient grain that is not only gluten free but also high in protein as well. Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is cooked similar to rice 1. The ratio is 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups water. Let the water boil, and then cook on low heat for approximately 15 min, you can also use your rice cooker to cook quinoa. 2. After Quinoa is cooked, simply add all the vegetables and stir together. 3. Mix dressing together and taste, add 1/2 of the dressing to the salad and taste to see if you need more seasoning. Enjoy!

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Visit newly opened T Organic Cafe located inside Teddyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Organic Market at 2 Brock Street West. www.torganic.com

Reiki therapy is a gentle, hands-on therapy that leaves you feeling calm, relaxed and energized. You may decide to arrive at Reiki because of some physical issues you are having or you are dealing with some stress that you need help with. Reiki however, doesn’t stop at giving you some much needed down time. With regular sessions, you may find a shift in your self-awareness, and your thinking which ultimately improves your overall wellbeing. There are five Reiki principles that we as practitioners are encouraged to live by to help increase our awareness and grow. Just for today: I will not anger, I will not worry, I will show gratitude for everything, I will work hard and honestly, I will be kind to others. The Reiki principles are simple in that they all begin with ‘just for today’ which reminds us that it is what we do today that matters; not what we forgot to do yesterday or what we don’t know we can do tomorrow. Anger is a very negative and toxic emotion. Many feel it is a ‘reaction’ however it is really a choice (though not seemingly a conscious one). Your anger is yours - it belongs to you and no one else. You cannot ever control what other people do or say. You cannot control all situations or events. You can, however, control your ‘reactions’ and responses to those people; situations and events; and you can control what you do and say and feel. Be aware of your anger and you will be able to slowly transition from ‘reacting’ in anger to making the choice not to be angry. It is not a long term goal, it is just for today... Start your day tomorrow with this thought and as you go about your day, practice counting to three and taking a deep breath before “reacting” in anger to situations or to other people’s actions or words. This does take practice - like everything else, but if you say to yourself ‘just for today…” it may not seem that hard. Worry is not productive at all and can be paralyzing to some. Three things that go hand in hand can help you change your worry habit. Changing your worry thoughts; being present and being grateful. Like with all the other principles, start by turning off your brain’s autopilot – be aware of your worry thought (or your ‘what if’ scenario or whatever the worry looks like for you). Now take that thought and rephrase it into a positive statement. Change it from ‘I’m afraid that...’ to: ‘I know that...’ (“What if I fail the exam” to: ‘I know that I’ll pass). Repeat the positive thought to yourself – with conviction (fake it if you have to!). This takes practice but it works. Worry thoughts are meditations that you’ve created, they are mantras that in effect manifest if not stopped.

You need to change the mantra – create and repeat the positive thoughts. Being present is also important. The more you focus on what you are doing right now, doing it mindfully, the less you focus/stress on the future. Finally, mindful gratitude has a wonderful way of allowing positive energy to flow into our hearts and instantly focuses our minds on the positive. So just for today, give these things a try. Showing gratitude has a huge impact on our wellbeing. Every person, thing or situation you encounter in your day is really a gift to be grateful for if you shift your perspective. Even the negatives in our day can actually be positive and things we’re grateful for. Traffic or long grocery store line up? Rather than be upset or frustrated (because you’re stuck there no matter how you feel), isn’t it a few extra minutes to gather your thoughts or do some deep breathing? Challenging co-worker? Isn’t he or she your opportunity to practice or learn patience? or to show you that you really need to be working somewhere else where you may be happier? I know these may be oversimplified examples but being grateful is truly a state of mind and a shift in your perception of your day and your interaction with everything around you. Your work is a reflection of you. Your work may include your job, but it’s much more than that; It is what you create and how you interact with others throughout your day, every day. Working daily with honesty and integrity ultimately creates joy and abundance. It is simpler and easier in the long run, even if it means making some tough choices in the moment. Being kind doesn’t have to be something profound. Small acts of kindness like smiling at someone, holding a door open, picking something up that you noticed someone dropped are all profound in their own way. If it brings a smile to someone’s face; if it causes you and that person to connect, even for a second, then that is profound. If you go about your day really aware of other people around you, you will find there are so many little things you can do for others that make them feel good and make you feel great - it’s also contagious! Get out of your silo; turn off your brain’s auto-pilot and be mindful and aware of those around you. It’s all about connecting to each other. I recite the five principles as soon as I wake up and try to keep them in my awareness throughout my day. If I slip, that’s okay, there’s always tomorrow to start again.

Sahar Younes is a level two practitioner registered with the Canadian Reiki Association, practicing Reiki for 15 years. Her practice, Reiki Flow, has found its home at Creekside Wellness - 53 Toronto St. N. www.creeksidewellness.ca. Visit www.reikiflow.ca for more information about Reiki.

feeling fine

BY SAHAR YOUNES

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| the reiki principles |

BY HOLLAY GHADERY

agricultural news

| teddy’s organic market |

Teddy’s Organic Market is the brain child and passion of Teddy Eng – a local third generation farmer who owns and operates Zephyr Organics. After years of growing produce conventionally, Teddy made a conscientious switch to organic farming. His mission was to share the health benefits of eating organic food with everyone by growing, “wholesome food, as nature intended.” Since opening its doors almost a year ago, Teddy’s Organic Market has delighted organic enthusiasts from near and far with its delicious and nutritious spread of local organic produce and quality organic products. Why Teddy went organic... One day, after he’d finished spraying his crops with the common and widely used pesticides of the time, Ted Eng got sick – and not

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Celebrating 25 years

a little sick. He couldn’t work, he couldn’t focus and he couldn’t even breathe properly. He was nauseous and faint. For the next few days, Ted’s brother had to take over operations on the thriving farm. This left Ted time to rest and recuperate. It also gave him time to think. Ted didn’t have to look far to find the source of his illness; it was the chemicals he’d been using to treat his crops. While he’d been using these pesticides for years, and unknowingly suffering the ill-effects for years, this single sickening incident brought the detrimental backlash of these potent poisons to light. Ted did his research and then made the switch, embracing organic farming whole heartedly and never looking back. Health benefits of eating organic Countless studies have shown that chemical pesticides are linked to a disturbing range of calamities, including headaches, depression, anxiety, convulsions and even cancer and Parkinson’s disease. Pesticides are particularly harmful for children and babies who have developing organs and bones. Chemical based pesticides have even been found in the breast milk of nursing mothers. The best way to avoid these problems is by eating as much organic food as possible. The health benefits of organic food are as numerous and enticing as the products themselves, but the most touted reason for enjoying organic foods comes back to basics: Organic food has more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Most commercially processed and chemically treated produce is picked early to ensure longer storage. It is also subject to artificial fertilization which causes the food to carry “water weight”, meaning your food has much less nutrient dense substance. The higher nutrient levels in organic foods also exist because untreated food has more phytonutrients. These crucial phytonutrients protect the plant from pests and diseases, which means the plant is able to rely on its own immune system to fight threats, unlike plants that are treated with chemical pesticides. A higher level of phytonutrients means more antioxidants for you. The importance of buying local produce Teddy’s Organics is operated by family-owned Zephyr Organics, which farms over 80 acres of produce boasting approximately 40 kinds of organic vegetables ranging from Shanghai Bok Choy to kale to broccoli and Jerusalem artichoke. When the people of Uxbridge and surrounding areas buy Zephyr Organics’ local produce they are not only investing in their health, they are investing in a brighter, happier and more sustainable future for their community by supporting local economy, reducing our carbon footprint and making sure our earth and wildlife reap the rewards of unspoiled soil. It’s important to remember that local produce is grown in the environment it was made for, so when you buy locally, you are enjoying food (like Teddy says) “as nature intended”. It’s fresh, it’s delicious and thanks to Teddy’s, it’s yours for the taking. Visit Teddy’s Organic Market downtown Uxbridge at 2 Brock Street West.

Hollay Ghadery is a writer, editor and personal trainer living in Sunderland, Ontario

Uxbridge Renovation Showroom | 905-852-7722 | 17991 Lakeridge Road

BY MAGGIE ANDERSON

“All the world’s a stage,” says Shakespeare. It certainly seems that’s the case here in Uxbridge. When my family moved here 7 years ago, I knew through my grandparents, Wynn and Mary Margaret Walters, that the town had lots of arts things happening. But little did I know how important that would be for me, or how incredibly active and diverse the theatre world here is, including (and importantly) in its encouragement for young would-be actors. My brother Gareth and I always did plays and performed at home. But it wasn’t until I came here that I took the chance and gave it a go on the ‘real stage’. My first role was as Young Kangaroo in an Onstage Uxbridge Production of Seussical, and I got completely hooked. And then Uxbridge truly kicked in for me. I’ve been so incredibly lucky to have had the chance to be part of many wonderful productions. The opportunities for involvement really seemed endless, which is quite unusual (I think) for such a small town. Uxbridge Youth Theatre (both junior and senior) is an incredible organization that offers kids the chance to explore theatre in such a positive environment; along with my friends, I’ve grown up in their productions, with that support. I’ve also been part of other Onstage and Ryleepuss productions, all of which have further fostered and encouraged my interest in the stage. These organizations, all run by volunteers, are such a part of the town’s fabric. And then I’ve had the chance to hear professional actors at work, through things like the Motley play readings, and now there’s a new production company (Theatre 3x60) that I know will bring other new theatrical opportunities to our town. Uxbridge Secondary School has also been an important part of my

education around theatre. Run by head Jeff Grujicich, the USS drama department allows students the chance to explore all kinds of theatrical endeavours. I have to say that our recent production of The Crucible was one of the most powerful things I’ve been in, further convincing me that the theatre world is where I want to be. And so now I’m almost at that next step – as a grade 11 student, I’m in that period of considering future options. I’m visiting acting schools, seeing their productions, and talking to lots of people about the wider world of theatre. I truly believe my wealth of experiences here in Uxbridge has been formative in my decision to pursue acting as a vocation. I would encourage anyone, young or old, to feel they can become involved in local theatre – there’s so much to do, both on and off stage, and each time you do a play you feel you’ve become part of a ‘family’, of sorts. This spring and summer, I’m part of Grease (Uxbridge Youth Theatre) and Midsummer Night’s Dream (Ryleepuss), and I can’t help but once again feel so fortunate. “Play on,” I would say, to one and all!!

youthful yammerings

| setting the stage |

Maggie is a grade 11 student at USS. She and her twin brother Gareth are frequent musical performers around Uxbridge and area (she sings, he plays a million instruments and sings as well), but as her article explains, it’s the theatre that has caught her heart. She hopes to pursue acting as a career, and is in the throes of figuring out where that might take her, down the road.

www.pccookingschool.ca Come in for all your Easter needs Scrumptious party platters

Easter cooking classes for kids of all ages

Fresh baked breads

Houseware needs Easter treats and much more!

Watch out for our garden centre opening soon

www.zehrs.ca | 323 Toronto Street S.

Easter Treats - $9 - April 13th - 10am-11am

Today holiday goodies take centre stage as you and your youngster make yummy Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs and tasty Marshmallow Treats. And you’ll have even more fun practicing your decorating skills with Royal Icing

Easter Bunny Cake - $15 - April 19th 11:30am-12:30pm

Join us for this all-ages celebration of Easter. Each child learns how to cut and create an Easter Bunny cake - then decorate it with lots of coloured icings, candies and trimmings. We’ll help you pack it and take it home for the whole family to enjoy. There’s Easter treats (but you have to find them), juice and snacks while you work. Children under 6 require a parent helper.

Easter Brunch - $14 - April 21st -3pm-5pm

We’ll leave Easter dinner to mom, but your kids will be thrilled to impress their friends and family with the excellent Easter brunch that we’ll help them create today, featuring a hearty Sunnyside Breakfast Casserole of hash browns, sausage, eggs & cheese; sweet, refreshing Fruit Salad with Yogurt Dip; scrumptious Buttermilk Blueberry Coffecake for dessert; and Mock Shirley Temples to wash it all down.

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Decorated cakes, cookies & cupcakes

guest column

| community cleaning |

BY SHARIE TRUSSELL & STEPHANIE COY

Community Cleaning started as a small home-based cleaning company. As busy moms we realized that Uxbridge was full of hard-working families who needed a little help with cleaning around the house. In just 2 short years, our cleaning business has grown from a budding idea into a blossoming company employing almost 20 local women and providing cleaning services to hundreds of households each month. We clean offices, construction sites, commercial units, and households in Uxbridge, Stouffville and Scugog. If you can think of it, we can clean it, there isn’t much we won’t do! As the company expanded we realized how much garbage we were producing throwing out empty cleaning bottles and mounds of paper towel each week. It became obvious that in order to be more environmentally conscious and leave less of a carbon footprint, we would have to encourage our entire community to make better cleaning choices. Identifying the need for greener cleaning options within our town prompted us to open a cleaning supply store. Our new shop in Uxbridge offers environmentally friendly cleaning options, such as over 20 refillable cleaners, dish and laundry soaps, enviro-bleach, commercial cleaners, mops and scrubbers. As we developed the idea to open a store, we decided that in order to serve our clients better we

wanted to offer a large range of products, central vac systems, and an entire line of vacuums and attachments. We also rent steam cleaners and vacuums. Now everyone in our community can have access to the same supplies that the pros are using! We love giving back to the community, sponsoring local sports teams, and contributing to events. We are thrilled to be a part of the downtown shopping district. We pride ourselves in going above and beyond in all that we do. We have an amazing client base, our customers are wonderful, and our staff enjoys spending time with them while they clean. Our team is made up of incredible individuals whom we are fortunate to work with on a daily basis. They are the people who make our business a success. Cleaning is a tough job and we appreciate all their hard work. Over the next few months we hope to expand our cleaning business, hire more people, and become more involved in the community. We are working on making our own cleaning tools and hope to have a prototype by the end of the year. Having a business is always an adventure; there are ups and downs and often unexpected twists. Each day is different and loving what we do makes it even better! Sharie Trussell and Stephanie Coy are both long time residents of Uxbridge where they have owned and operated their thriving business, Community Cleaning Ltd for 2 1/2 years. Both have supportive husbands Matt and Geoff, as well as amazing kids, Harmony, Kelsey, Jackson and Wesley that are always willing to help out their moms.

QUALITY DEDICATION EXPOSURE

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THE SWEET WORLD MEDIA TEAM IS PROUD TO MAKE THINGS EASIER FOR OUR CUSTOMERS

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Create your own fossils to display by using old coffee grounds. These work well as visual aids for science projects and makes a fun Earth Day craft for kids. What you’ll need -1 cup of used coffee grounds -1/2 cup of cold coffee -1 cup of flour -1/2 cup of salt -Wax paper -Mixing bowl -Some small objects to make impressions in the dough (Shaped cookie cutters work well.) -Empty can or a butter knife -Toothpicks, optional -String to hang your fossil, optional

April 19th 1-0:30 4:3-0

free scavenger hunt eco- friendly demos, green activities, fashion show, interactive petting zoo, samples & more...

Free Family Fun!

green Earth Day Celebration

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Saturday

How to make it 1. Stir together the coffee grounds, cold coffee, flour, and salt until well mixed. 2. Knead the dough together and then flatten it out onto the waxed paper. 3. Use the can to cut out circles of the dough or use the dull knife to cut slabs large enough to fit your “fossil” objects. 4. Press your objects firmly into the dough. 5. When you take the object out, you have your “fossil”. If you want to hang the fossil, poke holes into the edge to hold the string. 6. Let the fossil dry overnight (and up to two days) and then Helpful Tip: To reduce the drying time, bake the fossils for a short period of time to get the “dough” to harden.

crafty corner

| coffee ground “fossils” |

115 Brock Street N2831531 $354,900

44 Colonel Sharpe Crescent N2844963 $619,000

Wonderfully Located To Downtown And Schools This Large Family Home Sits On A Park Like Lot.

Beautiful Large Quaker Village Home Features Stunning Private Well Treed Mature Lot Complete With In-Ground Pool And Hot Tub(As Is).

83 Toronto Street

56 Cosmos Avenue

23 Cemertery Road

40 Bolster

88 Nelkydd Lane

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