Uxbridge Town Talk - November by Uxbridge Town Talk

Volume 6 | Issue 10 | November2014

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uxbridge town talk

food for thought | our local veterans | get it right at the source | french bread

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!

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE UXBRIDGE BIA Visit Santa in his hut Saturdays & Sundays in December outside of Canadian Tire For more information visit www.uxbridgebia.com

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GET IN TOUCH: 905 862 3747 24 TORONTO ST. N. UNIT 4, UXBRIDGE, ON L9P 1E6

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contents

volume 6 | issue 10 | november 2014

6/7

Town Talk Tidbits Canada’s forces at work

Peacefully Productive Get it Right at the Source

Agricultural News Food for Thought

Historically Speaking St. Paul’s Anglican Church

Faces of Uxbridge Our local Veterans

Guest Column The Art of Collecting Art Part IV

Faces of Uxbridge Con’t...

Your Community Local Living

Community Calendar November 2014

UTT Kitchen French Bread Pizza

Community Calendar Con’t...

Down to Earth with Raven Reconnect with Life’s Greatest Teachers

5 6 7 8 9

12 13 14 15

STAFF Managing Editor: Elaine Leigh Graphic Designer: Sandi Leigh Sales Manager: Sandi Leigh

CONTRIBUTORS Darrin Davis Raven Murphy Wayne Buckingham John Auger

MAILING ADDRESS PO Box 1035, Uxbridge ON L9P 1N3 OFFICE ADDRESS 24 Toronto St. N., Unit 3 Uxbridge, ON LNP 1E6

COVER PHOTO Tyler Olsen | 123rf.com facebook.com/uxbridgetowntalk

twitter.com/uxtowntalk

- Sir Walter Scott

As we enjoy the passage of autumn, settle down in a comfy chair and cosy up to this month’s issue of interesting articles. Whether from history or present day, we strive to provide you with articles that will inform and entertain. Carefully researched and written with heart, this month we celebrate the veterans who live in our community. I cherished the time I spent with these incredible people who are representative of the men and women that have contributed to Canada’s freedom. Please remember to buy a poppy in support and take the time to honour them at the cenotaph on Remembrance Day. On another note, let’s make a conscious decision to support our advertisers and businesses in Uxbridge. If we commit to “shopping local”, we improve our community in many ways. Your spending will boost the local economy, support Canadian entrepreneurs and hire our youth. Most importantly, shopping local can help build communities. Bookshops, cafes and craft stores often host events from knitting to children’s events, food tasting to street festivals. If the businesses are not supported then the community events tend to disappear too. And you might just get a better deal or some good advice from your local business owner!

-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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“November ’s sky is chill and drear, November ’s leaf is red and sear.”

town talk tidbits

| canada’s forces at work |

SOURCED FROM VETERANS.GC.CA AND WIKIPEDIA.ORG

There are approximately 65,000 Regular Force and 25,000 reservist members in the Canadian military. In 2011, women made up approximately 15% of the Canadian military, with more than 9,400 female personnel serving in the Regular Force and some 4,800 women serving in the Reserves. The Canadian Armed Forces also perform many other important functions such as search and rescue, patrolling our air space and territorial waters, supporting anti-drug operations and helping out in the aftermath of natural disasters. The Canadian Rangers, an element of the Reserves, provide a military presence in the sparsely populated areas of northern Canada. There are approximately 5,000 Canadian Rangers who provide support to domestic operations. More than 175,000 members of the Canadian military have participated in dozens of

international peace support efforts over the past six decades in countries all over the world. Of these, more than 1,700 have made the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of peace and freedom, and each of them is commemorated in the Seventh Book of Remembrance A cenotaph is an “empty tomb” or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. It can also be the initial tomb for a person who has since been interred elsewhere. The word derives from the Greek word kenotaphion (kenos, one meaning being “empty”, and taphos, “tomb”). Although the vast majority of cenotaphs are erected in honour of individuals, many noted cenotaphs are instead dedicated to the memories of groups of individuals, such as the lost soldiers of one country or empire. The first large-scale Canadian peacekeeping mission started in Egypt on November 24, 1956. Since then, Canada’s commitment to international peace efforts and other overseas military actions has been constant and visible. Some of the other peacekeeping missions involving Canada have included Cyprus, the Golan Heights, the former Yugoslavia, Somalia, Rwanda and East Timor.

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Did you know that many of the farms in the Uxbridge area supply much of our food? Farmers are an important part of our community for many reasons. Not only do they have extensive farming expertise but also a strong sense of business. I was fortunate to visit a local Dairy farm recently and was pleasantly surprised with the scope of the operation. The Mustard farm operated by Craig and Chris are one of the many farms that not only supply us with food, but also protect the land for generations to come. Visiting a dairy operation was certainly a moooving experience! The Mustard familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s farm is a 6th generation Dairy operation that started in 1972. The current owners Chris Mustard and Craig Mustard purchased the farm from their father after they graduated from The University of Guelph with degrees in Agriculture. The early farming operation included 60 papered Canadian Holstein cows that required milking twice per day, 365 days per year. From 1972 until 2001 it was run as a tie stall barn. Then in 2001, they switched the operation to a free stall barn. However, both the Tie stall method and the free stall required more labour than present day. Manually milking twice a day can be time consuming! Also the old style of milking can be expensive. So Chris and Craig made the practical business decision to automate the milking process. With a considerable investment, the automated milking program was born and Musthaven became a computerized milking operation. What I found the most interesting with this state of the art automated system was that is a very interestingly calm procedure for the cows. When choosing their milking times, cows are calmer, allowing for better milk production. The procedure is quite simple. The cows roam free in the barn and then wander through the gates (when they choose). Now the incredible milking process begins. Imagine first, that you see the cow pass through the gate where the milking machine scans her UPC symbol and determines if a milking is needed. If the cow is to be milked, high protein treats are automatically released. As the cow enjoys her treats, the computerized machine sterilizes the teats, connects and milks automatically. In this procedure, if she is not ready to be milked, no treats drop, the gate opens, and she simply walks through. Meanwhile Chris, via the computer, has received all the data on the cow and her milk; the last time she was milked, how much milk she produces, nutritional data, fat content etc. The computerized operation allows a cow to be milked

up to 5 times a day although the average is 2.5, milking 24 hours day. This information is not only monitored by Chris and Craig but also frequently checked by a nutritionist to ensure the nutritional value of the product. Dairy farmers today are required to sell their product based on a quota system. This system allows them to regularly sell a preset amount of product. In this way, they can regulate production and supply based on owned quotas. By 2015, the system will be unique to Canada, but is a preferred system to farms such as Musthaven. Within this system, advanced knowledge in sales helps to budget for equipment purchases, feed purchases as well as livestock. Farming in Ontario is changing, much like the Mustard operation did. Even though the automation makes things a little easier, this new generation of farmers is still working with the knowledge shared by their ancestors. Combine strong business sense along with traditional practices and the farming industry continues to be unique and so important. It is critical that we all support our local farmers! They feed us; they protect our lands and are a huge contributors to our local economy.

agricultural news

BY ELAINE LEIGH

As a 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, lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been busy but fun!

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| food for thought |

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

BY ELAINE LEIGH

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faces of uxbridge

| our local veterans |

Our faces of November take many shapes and personalities. They are the faces of our veterans. How can we do justice in expressing our appreciation for how our veterans served our country? We can only try. Spending time with wizened souls left me with a better understanding of how our veterans contributed to the freedoms we have today. I took away knowledge that I must always remind myself that there is a war somewhere in the world. Even though our country is currently at peace we are still suffering attacks on our democracy. We owe each and every one of these dedicated people our absolute respect. For me, November 11, 2014 will have particular significance. Like many others, I have always been a strong supporter of our veterans. I pay homage annually in memory of fallen soldiers and those in active duty. Yet, in speaking with the veterans at our local legion, I realized with humility that I needed to connect on a personal level with individuals who served. It is not possible for me to tell this story in one issue thus this is only one part of a three part series. We must remember and honour not only in November but all the year through. I am grateful for the help of Gloria Eng and Dave Hillier who not only made me feel welcome but also shared their passion for our veterans. A passion that is addictive and welcomed. I learned how important the Legion is to our veterans and those in active duty.

For all veterans and their families, the Legion is a link to resources and a voice when needed. It is a place where their advocates continue to keep social values alive. Veterans are strong comrades and our legion has many programs that encourage this social side of their camaraderie. Let me begin by sharing a story about the most notable battles of WWII the Battle of Normandy. I had the honour of listening to this amazing gentleman Mr. Geoffrey Leeming, Geoffrey is 92 years old and was a Corporal in part of the 2nd Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment in England. For Geoffrey, his battle was fought on Sword Beach. To hear him talk about this battle brought me to tears, not only because he fought it as a young man, but because of the way he spoke of it. I left feeling humbled by his story, blessed that he shared it and amazed that he survived. He shared with me how terrifying D-Day was, how amazingly he survived, and how difficult the battle was. We take for granted our way of life, including simple things like warm beds, our access to foods and our safety. Most of us have not experienced anything close to what Geoffrey and many other veterans survived. Consider this for a moment; sleeping in a trench for days at a time during rain and cold. I know I wouldn’t have survived for long. Please take some time to google “The Battle of Normandy”. It is a reminder of what we never want to happen again. As good timing would have it, I had the opportunity to see mementos that Geoffrey received, honouring his part

These three significantly different rolls of our veterans emphasize the versatility and importance of each contribution. They all served for many different reasons, but they all deserve our respect, honour and appreciation. In every case they joined the Military to serve, whether it is during war times, during peace times, whether they were on the front lines, in administrative roles, cooking, cleaning, or just the fact they were away from their families, their goal is and was to keep us safe, and protect our rights. Please stay tuned for part 2 of my story where I will embrace the stories of Jack MacQuarrie, an Ordinary Seaman, Norm Goodspeed of the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve Supply Division, Dave Hillier a Field Engineer and more. On November 11 please honour all who have served, and continue to serve, without them our lives would be very different.

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in “The Battle of Normandy.”(pictured). What a worthy recipient of these awards! How incredible it is that we have such a hero right here in Uxbridge. I say thank you Geoffrey for your part in fighting for our freedom. Because of our veterans, we can feel comfortable each night in our warm beds, without giving it a second thought. My next conversation was with Al Bainbridge, a Radio Technician with the Royal Canadian Core of Signals from 1959 – 1982. Al shared the importance of our peacekeeping missions and about our role as peacekeepers. In talking with Al, I realized just how important our Military is, no matter what is happening in the rest of the world. He shared his experience in The Congo and his time spent working at the Carp Deifenbunker, a bunker that resulted with the threat of the “Cold War” a structure decommissioned in 1994. This alone reminded me of the significance of peacekeeping and the significance of our veterans in peacekeeping times, or in times when democracy is threatened, sadly as they are now. I also thank you Al for your contribution to our peace. I would also like to include a women’s perspective as I spent time with Betty Dalrymple. Betty was in the WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Airforce) from 1942-1946. Her rank was Leading Aircraft Foreman. Britain voted in conscription of women in December of 1941. That meant that not only men, but all women between the ages of 18 and 60 were required to register. Betty was called in at the young age of 18 and at the suggestion of her father avoided the munitions factories. Betty’s job was working in the mobile x-ray unit. TB was a real issue during WWII requiring a Mobile x-ray of all enlisted men and women. Betty’s duties took her all over England but were in no way simple. She was required to keep accurate records of all x-rays that were taken. Betty had incredible stories to tell about war during WWII. One in particular was at the end of the war when the POW’s were returned. They all had to be x-rayed prior to going home, to ensure the containment of TB and avoid spreading it to their families. Their condition on return was shocking and heartbreaking. Some of her military time was spent with the Canadian Air Force. Thank you too Betty for keeping us safe.

faces of uxbridge

| our local veterans con’t |

| november community calendar | community calendar

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 8TH Greenbank Folk Music Society – Keith Glass. Saturday, Nov. 8th, 8 PM, Canadian songbird, Lynn Miles, returns to the Greenbank Folk Music Society stage. Accompanying Lynn and opening, will be, Keith Glass, Canadian guitarist/singer/songwriter (from the group Prairie Oyster). Greenbank Centennial Hall. Tickets available from 905-985-8351, Blue Heron Books, Uxbridge, or POE Design in Port Perry. www.greenbankfolkmusic.ca and on Facebook Time: 8pm Where: Ontario 7 & Ontario 12, Port Perry Contact: 905-985-8351

Shady Nook Craft Sale. Please join us for a Christmas Craft and Gift Sale. Unique gifts for everyone on your list. Over 45 vendors - Candles, jewellery, woodworking, Christmas decor, gourmet foods, knitted/crochetted items and much much more. Time: 10am - 4pm Where: Uxbridge Arena Hall, 291 Brock St. W. Contact: Barbara Jamieson @ 905 591 0557 or shadynookcrafts@rogers.com

Maud’s Favourite Things Gift Show & Sale. The Historic Leaskdale Church becomes a treasure house of beautiful gifts, home furnishings, decorations, confections, handmade accessories, paintings and crafts. Over 30 vendors will be on hand with their one-of-a-kind wares. A special “Gift Shop” area is filled with tantalizing items for everyone to appreciate. For more information go to www.lucymaudmontgomery. ca

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Time: 10am - 3pm Where: The Historic Leaskdale Church Contact: lmmontgomery.on@gmail.com

St. Paul’s Annual Turkey Dinner. Sat. November 8th, 5 - 7 PM continuous serving - St. Paul’s Annual Turkey Dinner with All the Trimmings - Adults $ 15, Children ( 12 and under) $ 10, Preschoolers Free. All welcome. Advance tickets available at the church office or buy at door. Helping to fund outreach projects. Time: 10am - 3pm

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Where: St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 59 Toronto St. S. Contact: 905-852-7016

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 9TH

Time: 6pm Where: Mill Run Golf & Country Club Contact: www.animal-shelter.ca

Songs of Remembrance Concert Listing Sunday, November 9 at 3 pm Uxbridge Chamber Choir, Songs of Remembrance, Dona Nobis Pacem by Ralph Vaughan Williams, In Flanders Fields, settings by Eleanor Daley and Thomas Baker, Agnus Dei by Samuel Barber, Voice with Orchestral and Organ Accompaniment, Tickets $22 Adults $15 (Sr/St)

Christmas Craft Show and Sale Local artisans, crafts, vendors. Bake Sale. Tea Room. White Elephant Room. In support of Trinity United Church local Missions projects. Time: 9am - 3pm Where: Trinity United Church, 20 First Avenue Contact: trinitycraftshow@hotmail.com

Time: 3pm Where: Trinity United Church, 20 First Avenue Contact: (905) 852 2676

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 18TH

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 11TH

Uxbridge BIA Annual General Meeting. The Uxbrige BIA will be holding their annual general meeting on Tuesday November 18th at 7pm at the Township office. This year they are again having a Toy Drive Theme so please bring along a gift to help support Uxbridge’s local Holiday Toy Drive.

Rememberance Day Parade – Parade leaves the Music Hall at 10:30am and parades to the Cenotaph for the service. Time: 10:30am Where: Starting at Uxbridge Musical Hall ending at the Cenotaph

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 15TH Christmas at the Square – Free Family Event – Technology Square in Uxbridge is hosting a free family event, “Christmas at the Square” on Saturday, November 15 between 11am and 3pm. Refreshments, BBQ, play at The Clubhouse, day pass to NRG4Life, children’s games, activities, prizes and more – all FREE! Pictures with Santa by Deborah de Ville $10 or free with a Dimples purchase. Time: 11am - 3pm Where: Technology Square Contact: Patti Moloney - 905-852-2051 or info@dimples.me

3rd Annual Gimme Shelter Gala Dinner – The New Animal Shelter for Uxbridge-Scugog is holding its third annual Gimme Shelter Gala Dinner on Saturday, November 15 at Mill Run Golf Club. This is the organization’s flagship fundraising event and it promises to be bigger and better than ever. What better way to kick

Time: 7pm Where: Township of Uxbridge Office Contact: businessfacilitator@uxbridgebia.ca

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 20TH Uxbridge Genealogy Group Monthly Meeting. The Uxbridge Genealogy Group was founded by local genealogists to share a common interest and to assist those that are trying to trace their roots. The aim of the Group is to provide genealogy expertise and, in partnership with the Uxbridge Public Library, support to the public in the Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada area. The Group welcomes those that are new to genealogy and seasoned veterans to our monthly meetings. Please check our website www.uxgen.net/calendar for topics and speakers for meetings. Time: 7pm Contact: www.uxgen.net/calendar

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Where: Uxbridge Arena Contact: Jennifer @ 647-462-5596

Annual Pancake Breakfast. The Uxbridge Curling Club is hosting it’s 5th Annual Pancake Breakfast on Saturday November 22nd. Enjoy a yummy pancake breakfast before you head out to the Santa Claus Parade! Adults $7 and children $5 Time: 8am - 11am Where: Uxbridge Curling CLub, 70 Franklin St. Contact: www.uxbridgecurlingclub.com

Uxbridge Santa Claus Parade. Welcome to the 54th annual Uxbridge Santa Claus Parade. Saturday November 22nd starting at 11am and running for approximately an hour. Starting at Brock St. and Centre St. heading east through downtown ending at Franklin St. Time: 11am til approx 1 hour Where: Downtown Uxbridge Contact: uxbridgesantaclausparade@gmail.com

REGULAR EVENTS Santa Rides the York-Durham Heritage Railway We have received news from the North Pole that Santa will be riding our trains departing from the Uxbridge station only at 11am, 1pm and 3pm on November 22, 23 & 30, December 6, 7, 13 & 14. Each trip lasts approximately 1 hour and has on-board entertainment for children of all ages including a clown, musicians and a magician. Santa will be visiting each child at their seat and distributing goodies to each. Seating is limited and by reservation only so Santa Claus fans should reserve early so they won’t be disappointed.

Taoist Tai Chi at the Uxbridge Seniors Centre. 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 1011:30am.

Where: York-Durham Heritage Railway, 19 Railway St. Contact: www.ydhr.ca

Wanna Dance? Line Dancing “You can dance, have fun and exercise all at the same time!” says Dianne Wiseman, the instructor for the line dancing classes being held at the Seniors Centre in Uxbridge. For ages 55 plus. Line dancing is great exercise for virtually your whole body.

Time: 11:30am - 2pm Where: St Paul’s Anglican Church, 59 Toronto St. S. Contact: www.stpauls-uxbridge.ca

Williamson Chrysler - care-a-van. In Support of our local food bank, Loaves and Fishes Food Bank, Williamson Chrysler in partnership with local businesses is collecting donations. Buy a donor card for $1 and/or drop off canned goods to McDonalds or Williamson Chrysler or you can find the care-a-van at the following locations ready to take donations between 10am and 3pm: Sat. Nov. 1st - McDonalds, Sat. Nov. 8th - Canadian Tire, Sat Nov.15th - Williamson Chrysler, Sat. Nov. 22nd - Santa Claus Parade and Sat. Nov. 29th - McDonalds Uxbridge.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 30TH

Contact: www.williamsonchryslerdodgejeep.com/ care-a-van.htm

After the Parade Luncheon A family tradition: warm up and enjoy a delicious homemade hot lunch after Uxbridge’s Santa Claus Parade in the lower hall of St. Paul’s Anglican Church. Bake sale, prize tables, silent auction plus our popular menu of homemade soups, chili, muffins and desserts. Hot dogs too! Everyone welcome. Sponsored by St. Paul’s ladies’ TakeA-Break Group.

Snow Flakes & Memories Mom to Mom & Gift Sale. $1 admission which will be donated to the Loaves and Fishes food bank. Door prizes every half hour. Elsa will be coming! Get your photo with her and have it emailed to you for $5. Artistic Hair Stop will be returning to do braids, curls and accessories. Trick photography is also returning to do their Christmas mini shoot. Two photos for only $10 via dropbox. Lots of great vendors and door prizes every half hour.

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. Every Wednesday from 12pm-1:30pm at St. Andrew’s - Chalmers Presbyterian Church. Time: 12pm - 1:30pm Where: St. Andrew’s-Chalmers Presbyterian Church Contact: John Gould at gould3@sympatico.ca

Royal Canadian Legion Every Friday night we play euchre, so if you are interested please come out at 7:00 to sign up and play starts at 7:30. It is a great night of fun for all in the downstairs clubroom. Where: Royal Canadian Legion, Uxbridge

Time: 9 am - 11:30 am Where: Uxbridge Senior Centre, 75 Marietta St.

How to Deal Stress..who needs it? At this engaging weekly workshop: Learn the impact of stress on your body and in your life. Understand your personal stress response. Unwind your mind with weekly practice exercises. Ages 11 and up, registration not required. Time: 4 pm - 5 pm Where: Uxbridge Youth Centre, 34 Brock St. W. Contact: Hayley Waines 905-852-3456 or info@ uxbridgeyouthcentre.com

Uxbridge BIA Seniors Day Seniors are encouraged to come shop, dine & explore Uxbridge each Tuesday. Participating businesses will display an orange ‘Keep Calm Seniors Day Here’ sign. Stop by to discover special Seniors promotions, sale items, a free activity or a Seniors discount. Contact: 905 852-9181 x 406

Time: 10am - 4pm 284 Main St. N, Unit #100 Technology Square

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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

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SATURDAY NOVEMBER 22ND

peacefully productive

| get it right at the source |

BY DARRIN DAVIS

A funny thing happened a couple of weeks ago. I had been commissioned to take a series of lifestyle photos for a family of 3 who were moving from their long time home to a new town. I sent my usual pre-session email, confirming expectations, pricing, etc, and outlining some basic suggestions for clothing to wear that visually works best for photos. When I arrived (early, of course) the husband was there on his own. He’s a really friendly, big-hearted guy, and we hit it off great. What was he wearing, you ask? Exactly what I suggested NOT to wear! A t-shirt, with a huge textural logo smack dab in the middle. When he saw me take note of it, he commented that he had read the suggestion I had sent, but he figured it ‘wouldn’t be too hard’ for me to take the logo out during my edits. Then his wife and daughter arrived, (45 mins late) and I did my best to get things rolling quickly, as I intended to stick to the schedule we had agreed to beforehand. (If we don’t treat our time as valuable, our clients certainly won’t.) I noticed during the casual candid shots I was taking at the very beginning of the session that the mom had a Starbucks in her hand. Sometimes little ‘props’ like like a coffee cup make lifestyle/documentary photos seem more candid and authentic, so I didn’t say anything. As we moved to the more posed, classic shots that they had requested, I asked her if she’d like the coffee cup in these shots, as well.

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“Of course not.” she said. “And I don’t want them in the candid shots either. That’s what photo-shop is for.”

I explained that, while photoshop can do some pretty amazing things, magically removing objects at the touch of a button isn’t one of them. Taking things out of a photo is really time consuming, and regardless of the photo-editors skill-level, the image will never look as good with things removed as it would have if the photographer (or in this case, client) had removed it in real life, before the photo was taken. She didn’t seem to be concerned about how much extra time it would take me, until I smilingly mentioned that I’d happily remove the cup from all the images, and simply add the extra editing hours to their bill. She took one more gulp, and promptly got rid of the Starbucks. Money sings. :) This little speed-bump really got me thinking. Computers are capable of doing so much. They can make certain creative tasks incredibly easy, and save artists loads of time. And they’ve also made many creative tasks very affordable and approachable for the average person. To me, those are great things. It’s a blast making family movie highlight reels with iMovie. Or recording high quality audio on your phone or laptop. But there are many times when we rely on computers too much for our creative process, and it actually hurts our art. Remember your grandparents grumpily complaining that calculators and spell-check were going to be responsible for a generation of illiterate slow-pokes who had to do simple math on their fingers? Allow me to gracelessly age 40 years before your eyes, and tell you that I see the same thing happening in the arts today. It is so much better to ‘get it right at the source’ than to ‘fix it when you mix it.’ Yes, that Instagram filter you found makes almost any mundane

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shot look cool and retro. But without proper cropping and an understanding of the basics of the art, isn’t putting snazzy filters on bad photographs kind of like slapping a tuxedo on the rambling village drunk? A famous old school record producer recently quipped that “...young artists don’t know how to sing or play their instruments anymore. They come into the studio, and expect me to fix everything in the mix. Auto-tune the vocals, do 20 guitar takes pasted together like a patchwork quilt to get one good sounding take. And these are famous artists!” I’ve spent the last few days out in my little cabin studio, recording the vocals for the next track on my upcoming solo album. After hours of practice and pre-production last week, I was ready to record my vocals. After warming up a bit, I got everything set up to nail my take. But the magic didn’t happen. Something was just sounding a little off. I tried take after take, but I couldn’t seem to get things to gel. After several hours of swearing and hand-wringing madness, I settled for a ‘not-quite’ take of the lead vocal, for one of my favourite songs I’ve ever written. This of course meant that I spent ALL DAY today out in the studio (lovely little place though it is) trying to FIX these rather bland sounding vocals, using EQ, compression, and a cobbler’s tool-belt of other digital tricks that are supposed to enhance an already properly recorded vocal, not fix a lazily recorded one. After hours of unsatisfying noodling and tweaking, I threw up my hands, admitted the obvious, and realized I needed to redo the vocals. I did what always helps in these situations, and took my dog Dublin for a walk in the woods to clear my head, and connect with something a lot bigger than myself. I spent a little more time placing the mic properly, warmed up a bit, and dedicated some time to thinking about how I wanted it to sound before I dove in. With that first, bland vocal, I was trying too hard. This time around, I took it easy, and pictured that I was whispering the words to long lost loved ones. It worked. Those moments spent preparing, getting the mic in the right spot- and more importantly getting my head in the right spottotally paid off. The vocal is at a point now that no amount of technical wizardry could have brought about. So learn from my silly mistakes, friends. Get it right at the source, don’t try and fix it when you mix it. 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.

This church’s history dates back to a time when roads were cut through dense bush, and smaller trails to places like Uxbridge and Port Perry were wide enough only for a horse and rider. From the first visit of Reverend Adam Elliot, arriving on horseback in 1834, giving a service in a barn, to the building of the first St. Paul’s Anglican Church in 1851, there was an obvious interest in the continued growth of a congregation. A number of reverends led the congregation, but it wasn’t until 1873 that a rectory was finally built and Reverend John Davidson became the first rectory resident. In 1881, as the congregation was growing and the need for a larger church was apparent, a meeting was held and it was decided that when $4,000 was pledged, they could start to plan a new church. On that same evening, $3,500 was subscribed. With so much coming from so few, a building committee was immediately formed and the process of a new church started. From a number of plans submitted, a Gothic design was agreed upon, and an architect and builder were hired. In 1886, building materials were being accumulated and members of the church brought much of the stone and lumber from Mr. Bagshaw’s farm. With the help of the congregation, including Reverend Davidson, the building was completed in 1888. For many of the groups associated with the church, the basement was their main focus. It was used as a kitchen, as well as a library where books were exchanged every Sunday. There was also a small wood heated chapel below the main floor chancel where Wednesday evening services and small meetings were held. By 1901, electricity was installed in the church, in 1902 the clock was donated by Angus Macdonald, and by 1907 a coal burning furnace was installed. Just after Easter service in 1908, the mortgage was paid. By 1910 as the congregation grew, the Reverend H. R. Young was given a raise to $ 850.00 annually.

Although we have seen some extreme weather conditions recently, this was never more apparent than in 1911 when a meeting in January could only be attended by 4 people due to a violent winter storm; the meeting was adjourned for the next week. Later that year in July, while it was a scorching 103 F in the shade, the only business that was accomplished was the appointment of 16 year old Ford Gould as the talented organist, and the board members felt it was a stroke of good fortune. Canadian women were provided the right to vote in 1917, but that women’s voice was not heard at St. Paul’s until 1921. Until that time, a man had always been the vestry clerk, but Miss Annie Reynolds was appointed vestry clerk on January 24, 1921. Women’s groups have always provided a large part of the drive of the church, with groups such as The Woman’s Auxiliary since 1881, the Anglican Church Women, and the St. Paul’s Ladies Guild. St. Paul’s has weathered many financial crises due to a small congregation as well as the Great Depression and the war years. Through all this time the church has persevered and continued to grow along with the community. It is clearly an integral part of the community of Uxbridge, and after 180 years it is still a stunning example of people continually working together for a better community.

historically speaking

BY ELAINE LEIGH

Extract from a booklet “The Sesquicentennial of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Uxbridge, Ontario 18341984” by Margaret Hewitt, Freda Watson, and Rachel Mansfield and “A History of St. Paul’s Anglican Church” by Reverend Dana Dickson

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| st. paul’s anglican church |

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guest column

| the art of collecting art part IV |

BY WAYNE BUCKINGHAM

Brave new world.... the Art world is changing. Well, actually it’s not changing the World is. Suddenly, you want something, a lawn mower, or a new bowler hat. It used to be you would get into your Chevy and visit a couple of malls or three, trudge around seeking.... Not any more. Now it’s reach for your cell or tablet, type in bowler hats and moments later you have six options. Now it’s pick the closest, you then visit their website. Boom there it is a bowler in taupe the size you need, you email the store and yes they have it. That’s brave new world shopping, a better way, except when buying Art although a great resource for finding Galleries. You can’t or shouldn’t buy Art on line unless you know your artist’s work and the source. Even then, it’s wise to view the piece. It’s not touchy, but sure is feely. The Internet world is great for sourcing, but you need to stand in front of your possible new Work of Art, if it feels good, chances are you should try it at home, or try two or three along the same line. This option is mostly available from a Gallery. That’s how to start a new acquisition, if you’re new to collecting Art. Going on that supposition for a moment, let’s say you popped into a gallery full of Art. You’re looking to invest. I say invest

Visit: www.frangosskie.nerium.com Contact me @ 647 299 5981 | lenztrenz@gmail.com

because you’re committing to at least a few hundred dollars, if not a few thousand dollars. You look around and you see a number of paintings, your not jumping out of your socks, in fact nothing moves you. So you get closer. You see one painting that moves your eyebrows straight up; it’s the detail, wow! Every blade of grass acknowledged in the painting. This must be the best one. Well, based on that scenario, the detail is not the clue to a good painting; it could be the clue to a bad painting. Detail is arguably secondary, or thirdly. There’s lots of bad art with lots of detail. Except for Abstract, or abstracted Art, where realism is thrown out the window. Middle of the road Art is typically landscape, the largest selling category. So what most people who buy occasionally or often look for in a good painting is three things. 1) Light expressed in the painting, that is, the light and shadow. 2) Mood, created by colour that gives feeling of the painting. 3) The drawing in the painting, which gives bones to the overall picture. Once people begin to appreciate a painting they see the light in a painting creating a 3D look, they visually move into the scene, colour then sets up a like or dislike possibility followed by the drawing in a painting, that is the shapes expressed in accuracy, if it’s realism. The vagueness of the drawing, if it’s abstracted realism. Ok, we’re in very deep here! Your taste in a painting, your like and dislike is vast in complexity. So I’m going to leave it here. Except the beginning of Art appreciation begins with exposure to Art. The more you look at Art the more you see, go with that initially. Look at Art as often as possible, ask yourself what do I like in this painting, what do I actually see or like about it. After a while it will come naturally.

With almost four decades in the art field, covering most aspects of this field including working with AJ Casson and family members of the Group of Seven, along with many other notable Canadian and American Master Artists. Today Buckingham Gallery of Fine Art presents historic, current and upcoming fine artists. Contact them at www.buckinghamfineart.com, 905-852-6874, buckinghamfineart@gmail.com or visit at 5470 Hwy 47 Uxbridge

IODE Celebrates their 80th Anniversary Did you know the IODE is the longest running service group in Uxbridge? IODE stands for “Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire. We could not let this milestone pass without sharing what the IODE does for Uxbridge. To celebrate their 80th anniversary they will be making “Fresh Start Baskets” This group happily celebrates by giving, but it does not stop there, it extends to “good grooming

Williamson Chrysler - care-a-van Uxbridge, ON - Williamson Chrysler is pleased to announce Care-avan, a fund raising initiative for the Loaves and Fishes Food Bank in Uxbridge. In partnership with various local businesses, we are collecting food and monetary donations during the month of November. Our goal is to provide healthy food and monetary donations to allow the food banks to purchase additional necessities during this busy season. Many families rely on the Loaves and Fishes Food Bank for support during tough times and we’ve seen this first-hand. Ways to get involved include donating food items at one of the locations where the Care-a-van (a Dodge Caravan) will be parked

bags for women, backpacks for kids, baby layettes with hand make items knitted by the members. They take their turn helping out at the Soup Kitchen at St. Andrews Chalmers Presbyterian Church. They assist families in Uganda, have adopted supplying art supplies, school supplies and funds. This list is extensive and continuous. Uxbridge Town Talk wishes the IODE a very happy 80th anniversary.

during the coming weeks (visit www.williamsonchryslerdodgejeep/care-a-van.htm for the full list) or stop by Williamson Chrysler or McDonalds Uxbridge to purchase a $1 “Care-a-van” to hang up on our window. Help us fill the Care-a-van and support our community during the holidays! For more information contact Eden Wood at 905-8523313 or email info@williamsonchrysler.com.

your community

| local living |

Uxbridge Santa Claus Parade Welcome to the 54th annual Uxbridge Santa Claus Parade! Did you know Santa is on his way? Have you been naughty or nice?

We would like to thank all the volunteers for providing these magical fond memories for children of all ages throughout the years. For more information visit www.uxbridgesantaclausparade.com

Lest we Forget Accepting NEW PATIENTS!

www.uxbridgemidwives.com | 2 campbell drive, suite 207

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This year, the Uxbridge Santa Claus parade will be held on Saturday, November 22nd with a “Winter Wonderland” theme. The Grand Marshalls are Bernice & Chris Brown. Will you and your family show up to spot Santa and his friends from the North Pole? Don’t forget your hats and mitts and bring some hot chocolate to keep warm and be ready to see your favourite floats! The parade will start at Brock Street and Centre Street at 11 a.m. and continue through downtown Uxbridge where it will finish at Brock Street and Franklin Street approximately an hour later.

| french bread pizza |

RECIPE PROVIDED BY JOHN AUGER

utt kitchen

Ingredients - 1 (16 oz) loaf French Bread - 16-18 oz Sweet Italian Sausage - 1 tablespoon flour - 1/4 cup beef broth - 2 large portobello mushrooms (about 6 oz each) - 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese - 8 slices (6-8 oz) sliced Provolone cheese

Method

Have a recipe that your family loves? Do you want to share it with Uxbridge? Drop in or email us and we will include it in one of our future issues. sandi@sweetworldmedia.com

- Preheat the oven to 400F. - Slice the bread in half lengthwise using a serrated knife. Carefully pull out the insides of the bread, making sure not to go all of the way through. (This will make a sort of “boat” to hold the filling.) - Place the bread, cut side up, on a baking sheet. Toast in the oven for about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, cut each mushroom in half and then thinly slice. - Place a large skillet over medium heat. Remove the sausage from the casings and add to the skillet. Cook until no longer pink, breaking the sausage up as it cooks, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the sausage and cook, stirring, for another minute. Add the broth and the mushrooms. Cook, stirring frequently, until the mushrooms have softened, another 5-10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese. - Divide the mixture evenly between the two bread halves and spread from end to end. Top each piece with 4 slices of cheese. Place back in the oven until the cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. - Remove from the oven and cut into slices to serve.

| coffee filter poppies |

SOURCED FROM HTTP://CRAFTS.KABOOSE.COM

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What you’ll need

- 2 basket type coffee filter - Red craft paint - Paintbrush - 1 small one-inch piece of green pipe cleaner

- Scissors - 1 green pipe cleaner - 1 medium black pom-pom - White craft glue

How to Make it 1. Be sure you have something to protect your work surface such as

5. Place one filter on top of the other, offsetting so that you can see

an old plastic tablecloth or newspaper. Flatten the coffee filter with your hand and then paint it red. In some spots the paint will seep through to the other side so you should also completely paint the bottom side. Repeat for the second coffee filter and set both aside to dry. 2. Layer both coffee filters and then fold in half. 3. Fold in half once again so it is only a quarter of a circle. 4. Holding the folded filters at the point, cut both left and right corners off, rounding as you go. When you open them they will resemble four leaf clovers.

all eight bumps. 6. Hold filters together and poke the pipe cleaner stem through the center of both filters. Leave about an inch poking through and bend it down to secure. 7. Holding the “stem”, gather the bottom of the flower up into a cup shape and wrap the small piece of pipe cleaner around the bottom of the coffee filters. Tighten to secure. 8. Open the flower up and glue the pom-pom to the center. Allow glue to dry completely. 9. Gently gather and scrunch the flower in your hand, then release.

your BBQ dinner or the unexpected snake under the front porch can be lovely gifts. Consider that a racoon’s face mask could be an invitation for you to remove the disguise you may wear and reveal who you truly are. Perhaps snake, who shows us that transformation is at hand offers the invitation to shed the old and start anew. Is it a coincidence that we have these experiences with animals? No matter what your thoughts and beliefs are, – animals will continue to enter your life and it is up to you if you want to engage their wisdom. In the wise words of Chief Dan George I leave you with this: If you talk to the animals They will talk with you And you will know each other. If you do not talk to them, You will not know them And what you do not know You will fear; What one fears one destroys. -Chief Dan George As a dynamic speaker, educator, storyteller and author, Raven wholeheartedly shares her experiences and the wisdom of her Ancestors through a wide variety of presentations, workshops, retreat days and guest appearances. Held in Udora (15 min North of Uxbridge) each event incorporates a traditional experiential learning style that offers an inspiring and fulfilling experience for all. For more information please go to www. ravenspeaks.ca

Animal Totems and the Messages they bring us.

Join me on SATURDAY NOV 29TH

for a day of insight and inspiration here we will v Learn how to identify the Awnimal Totems that appear to us. v Heighten our awareness and skill in clearly receiving and communicating their message.

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There are a number of us who love and adore our pets. From loyal felines, protective canines’, right down to furry gerbils and lazy lizards, we stand fully committed to our role as caregiver to these wonderful companions. No matter what animal you have chosen to accompany you on this earth walk, we can agree that the benefits of being a pet owner far outweigh the work and responsibility we are entrusted with. I am often gifted by the silent wisdom of my golden retriever Gideon. I marvel how his forgiving heart welcomes me at the door when I arrive home later than usual, never holding a grudge, instead wagging his tail in celebration of our union. I watch as he rushes for his favourite ball, dancing at my feet, never ceasing to amaze and remind me that happiness can be instant and simple. I marvel at his deep, intuitive sense where he detects and warns me of an approaching storm, allowing me the chance to close my windows before the rains come down. How many of us have witnessed a curious kitten lunging for a dangling piece of yarn, reminding us how innocence and play help to ease our stress, or the robin who breaks the lonely silence of a morning with her promising song. Nothing beats witnessing a child’s fascination with a pet hamster who innocently teaches responsibility and patience through unconditional love. You don’t have to own a pet to experience the wisdom and inspiration that animals can bring. As a matter of fact before domestication of our four-leggeds, winged ones, creepy-crawlers and finned ones, we shared the land and built a strong bond with them. According to The Medicine Wheel teachings of the Ojibwe culture there is an order in which all was originally created. Through the wisdom of this wheel we learn that the planet, plants and animals came first before humans which were added last in order to complete the cycle of interconnectedness. It was through observation and emulation of the land animals that our clan systems were created. Through them, we were taught how to survive and thrive on the land. Basic survival such as seeking shelter, storing food, enduring harsh weather conditions and protecting our families resulted in our survival, and our gratitude for this is immense. So great is our love and respect that our clan names are animal. The guidance and knowledge gained from these animals are highly revered and are referred to as “totems.” The word totem is derived from the Ojibwe (Chippewa) word ‘odoodem’ meaning “his kinship group.” You may also be familiar with the west coast totem poles. Today, animal totems are studied and celebrated throughout many cultures spanning the globe. Discovering animal totems in a modern context is a process of personal observation and experiences with animals that aid us towards clarity, confidence and connection. By focusing on the attributes of an animal, we internalize their traits and thus begin to externalize the very character we absorb from them. The best way for me to explain this is to share a personal story. While walking in the woods one day, which I often do, I found myself distracted and disillusioned with a life challenge. Indecision through lack of self confidence caused me to question myself at a time where making a decision was imperative. As I wandered, a large grasshopper appeared in front of me causing me to stop for fear of stepping on him. As I approached, the grasshopper leaped forward and remained with me for several steps, inviting me perhaps to consider taking a leap forward myself. As I continued on the path the sounds of a woodpecker drew my attention upward. As I watched and listened, I learned how woodpeckers have a profound sense of hearing and can directly target what is unseen beneath the bark of a tree, therefore accurately pecking into the bark and finding her food. In that moment I realized I needed to practise patience with myself, tap into my own intuition and confidently take a leap forward. Most of us come into contact with animals each day; however, we aren’t always aware of their presence or their message. Contrary to what most would say, a raccoon on the back deck looking for the remnants of

BY RAVEN MURPHY

down to earth with raven

| reconnect with life’s greatest teachers...the animals have much to teach us |

Workshop held in Udora 10 min. N of Uxbridge (10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)

To register contact Raven at outstandingbalance4u@gmail.com www.ravenspeaks.ca

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