Beat the February Blahs!
Even though it seems we are in the midst of the winter that never was, today’s pretty dusting aside, those February blahs can take hold, making us long for spring. What perfect timing for Family Day Weekend!
On Sunday Feb19th, from 12:00 noon until 3:00 p.m., you can stop in at the Albion Bolton branch of the Caledon Public Library for a game of mini-golf. This event was a big hit last year drawing in dozens of families for an afternoon of fun. Just $5 for a twosome or $10 for the entire family. By the way have you seen the Library’s new website yet? You can check it out at www.Caledon.Library.on.ca
On Monday Feb 20th you can get everyone outside as the Caledon Agricultural Society hosts the first Caledon SnowFest with loads of outdoor activities planned at Caledon Fairgrounds in Caledon Village. See what’s in store at www.SnowFestCaledon.ca
For those who just feel like hunkering down inside, did you know that Forster’s Book Garden now rents movies? Visit their website for more details at www.ForstersBookGarden.ca
And if those blahs persist it may help to remember that the first day of spring is just a month away! Now where are those gardening gloves??
Good and Evil
On February 1st I had the pleasure of attending, as Acting Mayor, as Mayor Morrison had conflicting commitments, a retirement dinner for OPP Staff Sergeant Greg Sweeney. It was great to hear the stories about the positive impacts he has made in his career.
Just 2 days later, on February 3rd, I found myself at a Press Conference where details surrounding the identification, dismantling and arrests (over 30 of them) of a local drug ring were released. Disturbingly the majority of people charged lived in Caledon.
The incident reminded me that evil resides everywhere. I was surprised, disappointed, angry, relieved and grateful.
Surprised that this type of activity can go on even in a community like Caledon. Disappointed that some people feel their best option is to sell (or take) illegal drugs. Angry that our residents, especially our youth, had been put in harm’s way. Relieved that the arrests had happened without incident or injury. Grateful to our OPP who acted without regard for their own safety to identify, track (for almost a year) and ultimately make multiple simultaneous arrests and dismantle this drug ring, so that you and I and our families can go about our day more safely.
So the next time you see an OPP cruiser drive by I hope you’ll think about this……remember it is them, who stand guard, doing their utmost to keep Caledon a safe community.
Spend a Morning at Classic Cafe
Classic Cafe at the Caledon Centre for Recreation and Wellness is a new program for adults aged 60 and over.
Visit the CCRW every Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. for drop-in recreation and leisure activities such as table tennis, pool, shuffleboard, Wii and much more!
Start your morning with coffee and games in the lounge followed by a choice of activities such as lane swimming, the walking track, pickleball, or a group fitness class. A healthy lunch is also provided.
$ 5.00 per person taxes included.
For more information and to reserve your spot please call 1.800.621.1287
Bowling that matters
Growing up in a 2-parent family with brothers and/or sisters alongside provides a support system not every child gets to experience. Enter Big Brothers Big Sisters, providing the mentorship that can be missing in some family structures.
Mentoring provides friendship, someone to hang out with for just awhile, someone to listen to your dreams, and your challenges. Today’s youth are tomorrow’s doctors, teachers, librarians, daycare workers, firefighters, business owners, politicians.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel serves 1400 children in Peel Region. Over 100 of these children live in Caledon. And they need your assistance.
Please join me in the 2012 BBBS/Tim Horton’s Bowl For Kids Sake in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel. In Caledon we bowl on Monday March 5th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Skyview Lanes in Bolton. Each team has a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 6 participants. Each bowler agrees to raise at least $150.00 in pledges.
You can start a team or join a team (mine is called Caledon Green Team) at:
If you cannot join us to bowl please consider being one of my sponsors; you can do this online at:
If you have questions please contact me at patti.foley@caledon.ca
Let’s help today’s youth become the productive, healthy, caring adults that we want to be our leaders tomorrow.
The Local Food Evolution
Since we’re fortunate enough to be nestled in the midst of some prime agricultural land here’s great news especially if you are interested in the ever-growing local food movement…..Green T Environmental Awareness and Credit Valley Conservation will proudly bring you an exceptional speakers’ night “The Local Food Evolution” on Thursday September 29th 2011 with special guest speaker….
Wayne Roberts
* Canadian food policy analyst and writer
* Manager ~ Toronto Food Policy Council (2000-2010)
*Winner ~ Bob Hunter Environmental Achievement Award
With introductory remarks from Credit Valley Conservation
And guest panel:
Nick Ferri ~ Big’r Apple Farms
Graham Corbett ~ Fiddle Foot Farm
Mark Eastman ~ CVC Program Coordinator, Agriculture
Andrew Kett ~ CVC Education Specialist
Jennifer Clark ~ Eat Local Caledon
SGI Centre, 20490 Porterfield Road, Caledon (just northeast of Alton) on Thursday September 29th ~ 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.
Admission $5.00 ~ Green T Members, Seniors, Students admitted free. Light refreshments ~ BYOM (Bring Your Own Mug)
Hope to see you there!
Run For Your Life
310 Running - Sept 2011 - Patti Foley and Stan Cameron sound the starting horn
I’m probably dating myself but I remember the TV show Run for your Life with Ben Gazzara that aired in the mid-sixties. During September and October folks in Caledon have lots of opportunity to run….for health, fun, and charity.
On September 11th 310 Running held their Fall Five event in picturesque Albion Hills. It was a beautiful, crisp, sunny day; a terrific day for runners of all ages. My husband and I walked the route before the race got underway and the trail was peaceful and serene. Stan Cameron, Peel Disctrict School Board Trustee and I sounded the horn for the first race before taking off ourselves for the 9/11 service in Caledon East.
Never fear, if you missed that great run you’ll have a couple of other opportunities. On September 25th Caledon East will be the site of the 4th annual C3/Kinetico Running Festival. This run offers 1 mile, 5 km and 10 km courses and is raising funds and food donations for Caledon Community Services. You can register online at www.onlineregistrations.ca/caledonhills
Then on October 30th just in time for Halloween is Bolton Rotary’s Haunted Hill Run/Walk. After a starting location at Humberview High School this route will take you past Laurel Hill Cemetary and along the Humber River through Bolton Mill Park. Your choice of 5 km or 10 km and funds go to support local youth initiatives. Register online at www.rotaryhauntedhill.com
So whether you run or walk….it’s active living and for a good cause…..I think Ben Gazzara would approve
Magnitude of a Mega-Quarry
On Tuesday morning I attended a presentation of citizen petitions to MP David Tilson and MPP Sylvia Jones regarding the proposed mega-quarry in Melancthon Township. One might wonder why I travelled north of Orangeville to the Monora Park Pavillion when clearly the proposed quarry location is a long way from Bolton. Just as a pebble dropped in a pond creates ripples the impacts of this Highland proposal, if approved, would project outward well beyond Melancthon’s boundaries…..especially to their market south of the quarry, which means truck trips through Caledon.
In April a motion was passed at Town of Caledon Council, moved by myself and seconded by Councillor Paterak, to send a letter of objection to the Ministry of Natural Resources. In addition the motion directed that the Town of Caledon retain a consultant with expertise on Aggregate Resources Act applications to ensure that our concerns are considered and addressed.
The North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Taskforce ( www.ndact.com ) claims this is the largest quarry ever proposed in Canada, that the pit would be deeper than Niagara Falls and that it would span over 2,300 acres (initially). And they are asking for your help in opposition.
So whether your concern is the potential impact on our headwaters, the thousands (yes, thousands) of truck trips released onto our roads, or the loss of farmland, this is an issue deserving of your attention folks.
Swing for a good thing!
In just a couple of weeks generous community-spirited folks will pick up their golf clubs for the 8th annual Caledon Council’s Community Golf Tournament and Hospice Caledon’s Bethell House will be the real winner of the game.
Each year CCCGT sponsors a nonprofit agency in our community and the principle recipient of funds raised at this year’s tournamment will be Bethell House. Hospice Caledon’s Bethell House accommodates the growing need for a choice in compassionate end-of-life care that is nether home nor hospital. Utilizing a multi-disciplinary team that includes physicians, registered nurses, personal support workers and family members Bethell House offers a high standard of care, in peaceful place.
So please join us in a great day for a great cause. The event is coming up quickly on September 14th so we need you to order your tickets right away! The $175 per golfer ticket includes breakfast, green fees, power cart, driving range, bag drop, cocktail reception, dinner, prize draw and goodie bag. All on the beautiful Osprey Valley courses, just south of Alton. Swing for a good thing! Register by contacting me asap or contact doreen.beffort@caledon.ca
Amazing harvest coming this fall in Caledon!
I believe that eating local takes a bite out of the recession and energizes our local economy. Not to mention that the flavour and nutritional value of freshly picked produce far exceeds anything shipped in on a truck from thousands of kilometers away.
So the fact that we are quickly coming up on Eat Local Month in Caledon is exciting stuff in my books! I’d like to give you a heads up on a few sensational September events so you don’t miss out.
On September 10th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. the Albion Hills Community Farm is holding a Grand Opening Festival to celebrate its harvest. Tour the 10-acre community gardens and learning centre and have a piece of giant pumpkin cake. Harry Potter characters will guide you through a 5-acre corn maze. For details contact deanna@albionhillscommunityfarm.org
Eat Local Caledon has an exciting month long line-up of events and challenges and you can find out more at http://www.eatlocalcaledon.org/eat_local_month.htm
On the evening of September 29th Green T Environmental Awareness teams up with Credit Valley Conservation to bring you The Local Food Evolution, a fantastic speakers night featuring renowned speaker Wayne Roberts plus a guest panel with local farmers Nick Ferri, Graham Corbett, and CVC specialists. The venue is the SGI Centre, nestled in a beautiful hidden-away spot just south of Orangeville that should be blazing with autumn colours by then. Complete details will be announced in Green T’s September newsletter. If you’re not on the email list just give me a shout and I’ll see that you are added.
And of course last, but certainly not least, Caledon is home to 2 amazing Farmers Markets. Open until October 6th you can visit the Market in Bolton, details http://www.caledon.ca/farmersmarket/ or the Market in Inglewood, details http://www.eatlocalcaledon.org/farmers_market.htm
So grab the golden food opportunities that are part of living in this wonderful place we call home! Salute! Here’s to the next marvellous meal!
A New Kind of Madness
Photo courtesy of The Regional
On the evening of Friday August 12th Bolton’s newest BIA Board served up their first go at hosting a Midnight Madness event for their community. And what an event it was! The historic downtown core was flooded with families enjoying the tastes of summer at sumptuous food booths and a mini farmers market that was just bursting with local goodness. Folks yearning for a sit-down dinner headed up to Baffo’s for pasta or over to Chapel Street for traditional Friday night fish & chips at Suri’s.
With true community spirit Caledon OPP, Bolton Fire Dept and EMS captured lots of attention with their displays and demonstrations. Understated hero of the night Brian Zimmerman plunged time and time again into the chilly waters of the dunk tank as the excited squeals of kids of all ages made it all worthwhile. Brian, by the way, insisted all proceeds from his dunk tank exploits go to Caledon Dufferin Victim Services.
Music that ranged from jazz and pop to Ascentric’s rock filled the sultry summer evening air and nearby at the petting zoo (wow! can you believe there was a camel!?!) wide-eyed kids gathered around to see all manner of furry creatures.
Kids from 3 to 23 lined up for fetching face-painting by local artist Shelly Sargent while adventurous climbers scaled new heights on the rock climbing wall, thanks to Caledon Youth Services. Other folks lined up to buy the offerings of local shops or the multitude of vendors’ booths. Shopping local, we all win!
At 7:45 p.m. talented Town Crier Andrew Welch who, earlier in the evening had announced the official opening of the event, used rhyme to introduce former Caledon Mayor, the Honourable Carol Seglins, and her family, for the dedication of the new Bolton Town Clock in the memory of Ralph Ransom. Ralph was a pivotal figure in the early years of the Bolton BIA, a man with community spirit, vision and heart, whose name is now fittingly immortalized on the face of our Town Clock at the corner of Queen and Sterne.
To the BIA Board, job well done! Thank you for helping to connect your community; your work was truly appreciated. And if Ralph was watching, as I suspect he was, I have no doubt he would have approved.
Photo Courtesy of SNAP Caledon
