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- 1. May 29, 2015 NewsArts & Culture Opinion Your Thoughts Life/Leisure Business Events Your local news source | www.themeafordindependent.ca $1.00$1.00 Volume 3, Edition 52 Display until June 11, 2015 Publication Mail 42632541 Get Grilling! pg 6 TMI Wins First OCNA Award Council Approves Less Restrictive Debt Policy Council Running Out of Community Grant Money Coyotes @ the CWOSSA Champs Everyday Gourmet: Pulled Pork & Coleslaw pg 4 pg 3 pg 2 pg 10 pg 11
- 2. In the NewsMay 29, 2015 - www.themeafordindependent.capg 2 Recently, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced $150 million for the new Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program, which will provide signifi- cant support for existing community and cultural infrastructure across the country as a way to cel- ebrate Canada’s 150th an- niversary of Confederation. This program, announced as part of the 2015 budget of the federal government, will provide support for the renovation, expansion, and rehabilitation of ex- isting infrastructure that provides community and cultural benefits for the public. Projects under the following categories may be eligible for funding: com- munity centres (including Royal Canadian Legions), cultural centres and mu- seums, parks, recreational trails, libraries, recreation- al facilities, tourism facili- ties, docks, cenotaphs and other existing community infrastructure. The program, which is an- ticipated to support up to 1,800 projects in commu- nities of all sizes across the country, will be delivered nationally through the Government of Canada’s regional economic devel- opment agencies. Eligible recipients for funding in- clude provinces, territories, municipalities, regional governments, Aboriginal organizations, and not-for- profit organizations. Appli- cants can submit their ap- plication online through their respective regional economic development agency. “I am very pleased that the federal government will be supporting a significant num- ber of projects in communities across Canada to cele- brate Canada’s 150th anni- versary of Confederation,” said Larry Miller, MP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound. “This funding is similar to the important infrastruc- ture investments that were made as part of the centen- nial celebrations in 1967, which are still seen today in communities across Canada. I encourage all eli- gible recipients to apply for funding through this pro- gram.” Selected projects are ex- pected to be completed by the end of the 2017 con- struction season to best support Canada 150 cel- ebrations. Projects that will be supported by the pro- gram will be chosen based on assessment criteria in- cluding construction-read- iness, the extent to which funding is leveraged from other sources, and linkages to Canada 150. A limited number of high impact, large-scale projects that are national in scope will also be supported through the Canada 150 Fund as ‘Signature Initiatives’. For Signature Initiatives, an Expression of Interest must be submitted by May 29th, 2015. For more information on the Canada 150 Com- munity Infrastructure Program please visit; http://canada150.gc.ca/ eng/1424795454758. Federal Government Announces Community Infrastructure Program Meaford’s Earth Week or- ganizing committee made a presentation to council at their May 25 meeting to pro- vide an update on the suc- cess of this year’s Earth Week events. Organizing committee mem- ber Jenean Lush told council that the second year for the event exceeded the excep- tional participation of last year’s inaugural Earth Week in Meaford. Lush said that more than 20 children attended the Bee Movie at Meaford Hall on April 18. In addition to the movie, the children were able to interact with beekeeping equipment and to ask ques- tions of local beekeeper Rick Elzby. The following day a record 41 volunteers turned out for the 6th annual Memorial Park Clean-up sponsored by The Meaford Independent. The Meaford Museum also saw a large turnout of 68 people for their celebration of conserva- tionist John Muir’s birthday on April 21. Several Meaford residents at- tended the many educational sessions held throughout the week including 41 who turned out to learn about food packing safety. The Earth Week event that attracted the largest involve- ment was the second annual Re-Use Fair, which this year also included an Eco Fair that showcased more than 20 local vendors and organiza- tions. The Re-Use Fair and Eco Fair were held at the Meaford & St. Vincent Community Cen- tre on Saturday, April 18. The reuse fair is a one-day community event where un- wanted but reusable house- hold items are collected and passed on to charities, non- profits, artisans, and schools which need them. Prior to the event, local organizations prepared wish lists of items they could use, and that list was made available to the general public who might have had items on the list to donate. A total of 14 community groups received items from the Re-Use Fair. Those items, which weighed in at 1,791.2 pounds (an increase of 225 pounds from last year) were packed by organizers into some 100 boxes in prepara- tion for distribution to the community groups. Council was pleased with the information provided in the presentation, and Mayor Barb Clumpus expressed thanks to the Earth Week or- ganizers. “I thank you for all that you’ve done for the community with this group. It’s obviously on track to get bigger every year, and we congratulate you for that,” said Clumpus. Each year the Ontario Commu- nity Newspaper Association (OCNA) hosts an awards gala for its more than 300 member newspapers, and this year The Meaford Independent earned its very first OCNA Better Newspapers Premier award. The Independent received a first place award in the Com- munity Service category for our Municipal Election Guide issue (September 26, 2014). “Excellent initiative on the part of the paper, not only for the information, but for the appealing visuals,” explained Montreal journalist Carmen Marie Fabio, who judged the category this year. “As an edi- tor I know how important the visual component is in telling the story and engaging the reader.” The other award winners in the Community Service cat- egory were the Richmond Hill/ Thornhill Liberal, which re- ceived second place, and the Aylmer Express, which earned the third place award. The OCNA was founded in 1950, and of its membership of more than 300 newspapers, the smallest newspaper circu- lates 279 copies weekly while the largest distributes 200,000 copies weekly. Thirty-three percent of community news- papers in Ontario circulate less than 5,000 copies weekly ac- cording to the OCNA. Susanne Wussow, publisher of The Meaford Independent, was thrilled to learn about winning the award. “Our fantas- tic team has to get all the credit, be- cause they are amazing. I am so lucky to be working with them. And to receive this recognition from our peers is absolutely wonderful,” said Wussow. TMI Wins First OCNA Award By Stephen Vance Meaford Independent Publisher Susanne Wussow and Editor Stephen Vance have a new award for the wall after earning their first OCNA Better Newspapers award. Apple Pickers WANTEDMid September to November 1, 2015. Requirements: Must be able to work 7 days a week, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Be able to perform repetitive work with heavy lifting. Own transportation needed. Minimum wage and all legal deductions will be granted. For further information contact johnston@bmts.com or 519-538-2206 A 28 year-old Meaford woman has been charged with racing a motor vehicle under the Highway Traffic Act after she was stopped by Grey County OPP for driv- ing 151 kilometres per hour in a posted 80 kilometre per hour zone. The infraction took place on Sunday, May 24 at 4:04 pm, on Grey Bruce Line north of Sideroad 5 in the Township of Chatsworth. The woman's green 2003 Ford has been impounded for seven days, and her driv- er's licence has been seized. She is scheduled to appear in court in Owen Sound on July 13. not for Appli- eir ap- ough onal ent d le- h anni- Meaford Woman Charged With Racing Earth Week Organizing Committee Updates Council By Stephen Vance
- 3. May 29, 2015- www.themeafordindependent.ca Council News pg 3 Meaford’s Deputy Mayor, Harley Greenfield, has asked council to consider a review of the municipality’s full time staff “in an attempt to maximize synergies and effi- ciencies”, however his fellow councillors have deferred his motion until later this sum- mer. Greenfield caused a stir ear- lier this month after he made a notice of motion at the May 11 council meeting indicat- ing that he would be bringing forward a motion that would “have to do with the huge fu- ture cost of infrastructure, it will deal with no additional tax increases to cover the in- frastructure expenses, it will have very much to do with a workforce adjustment which will free tax dollars for infra- structure needs”. The words “workforce adjust- ment” triggered a response from the mayor, who called a special closed-session meeting with councillors and munici- pal lawyers on Wednesday, May 20 to discuss “a matter related to labour relations and employee negotiations, specifically potential implica- tions arising from a notice of motion, to be considered at an upcoming meeting, on a po- tential workforce adjustment”. Greenfield is asking that a re- view of Meaford’s full-time staff be undertaken in July by an independent consul- tant, with a maximum cost of $30,000 which would come from the Human Resources reserve fund. When Greenfield’s motion was formally introduced at coun- cil’s May 25 meeting, Council- lor Mike Poetker immediately moved to defer, arguing that council should first complete its strategic planning and pri- orities sessions before tackling a staff review. Councillor Steven Bartley sup- ports the intent of Greenfield’s motion, and he told council that such a review must be done in order for ratepayers to feel confident that the munici- pality is appropriately staffed. Bartley noted that during the 2014 election campaign, the number of staff employed by the municipality was a com- mon issue with voters. “This motion that the Deputy Mayor has brought forward will be the most important thing we do in the next four years. Whether a consultant tells us that we have enough help, not enough help, too much help, it’s got to come out in black and white,” said Bartley. “It may very well be that we need more staff. This motion that Mr. Greenfield has brought forward has to go through some time to put it to rest, to bed once and for all and we can get on with run- ning the municipality.” The municipality conducted a similar review in 2009 that found that Meaford was ap- propriately staffed, and if anything required additional staff at that time. Faced with a second year of significant tax increases, and rumours of 2008 ending in another mas- sive deficit, frustrated resi- dents and some members of council voiced concerns that the municipal staff roster was bloated, and demanded that a study be conducted. Then- CAO Frank Miele enlisted the help of a Citizens’ Task Force as well as an independent au- ditor to ensure objectivity and transparency throughout the five-month review process. The final result of the hun- dreds of hours of work, which included interviews with all municipal staff members and and an exhaustive look at the services provided by the mu- nicipality, was a report from Miele that contained 128 rec- ommendations. The conclu- sion reached by the indepen- dent auditor, the citizens’ task force, and the CAO in 2009 was that staff levels within the municipality were appropriate for the services that the mu- nicipality provides. For now, the Deputy Mayor will have to wait for his motion to be considered by council, as Councillor Poetker’s motion to defer until after the council priorities and strategic plan- ning sessions have been com- pleted was approved by coun- cil at the May 25 meeting. Deputy Mayor Will Have to Wait For Staff Review By Stephen Vance At their meeting on May 25, Meaford councillors voted to approve a revi- sion to the municipal long- term debt policy. The new policy, which was present- ed to council at the May 11 committee of the whole meeting, moves from a re- strictive policy which was implemented in the wake of Meaford’s five year plan for financial recovery after having found itself with some $3 million in accu- mulated deficits, to a less restrictive set of rules that will give the municipal- ity more flexibility when considering funding op- tions for municipal proj- ects. Meaford’s previous long-term debt policy did not allow the municipality to take on debt for infra- structure projects in most cases. Meaford Treasurer Darcy Chapman told council that if used wisely, long-term debt can be a useful tool for municipalities. “The old policy was devel- oped during the financial crisis that Meaford went through. It really spoke about the fact that there would be no new debt,” Chapman told council on May 11. “When it’s long- term infrastructure, debt is a good thing because it helps to spread out the cost over the generation of the people who will be us- ing that infrastructure.” Ontario municipalities are allowed to incur long- term debt for municipal infrastructure as long as annual debt repayments do not exceed 25 percent of net revenues. The prov- ince provides an annual statement for municipali- ties known as the Annual Repayment Limit, outlin- ing the revenue and debt servicing calculations. The Municipality of Meaford’s 2014 Annual Repayment Limit statement from the province shows that the municipality is utilizing just 6.33 percent of net revenues to service debt and is only utilizing 25.3 percent of the legislated capacity of net revenues, according to Chapman’s report to council. “If there was ever a time to utilize debt effectively, now, or in the near future would be that time, be- cause we have seen (inter- est) rates that are at an all time historic low. I’m sure they’re not going to get much lower,” Chapman advised council. No new debt is required to complete projects within the approved 2015 bud- get, though Chapman noted that the Nelson Street Booster Pumping Station will require more than $2.1 million in long term financing in 2016/17 which will be repaid through water user rates and development charges. Council Approves Less Restrictive Debt Management Policy By Stephen Vance WELCOME TO QUALITY PRINTING 12 Stewart Road, Collingwood ON L9Y 4K1 • Tel: 705.445.5024 mcnulty@mcnultyprinting.com • www.mcnultyprinting.com Are you affected by someone else’s drinking? We are Al-Anon & Alateen. You are not alone! Call 519-376-4193 for meeting information.
- 4. Council News May29, 2015 - www.themeafordindependent.capg 4 Each year the Municipality of Mea- ford offers community grants to help support a range of non-profit initia- tives, from the Scarecrow Invasion, to the Farmers’ Market, to music fes- tivals, and though council has nearly exhausted the available funds for this year, the requests from commu- nity groups for financial support keep coming, and many of the requests (and grants issued) don’t meet the criteria for receipt of a community grant. On May 25 council was visited by the organizers of the Meaford Interna- tional Film Festival (MIFF), request- ing an additional $3,000 on top of the $2,000 that had already been approved, the Dragons’ Den Mea- ford organizers seeking an additional $3,000 on top of the $5,000 already approved by council, and the Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Georgian Triangle asking for $3,000. The problem for council is that there is just $5,000 remaining in the $25,000 that was budgeted for com- munity grants in 2015, and $1,000 of that is already committed. In ad- dition to the $25,000 community grant fund, also included in the 2015 budget were sponsorship of MIFF for $2,000, Dragons’ Den Meaford for $5,000, and the Scarecrow Invasion for $3,000. With just $4,000 remaining in this year’s grant fund, and $9,000 in new requests at a single meeting, council grappled with what to do. In November of 2013 council was re- minded that many of the grants they were approving for 2014 were in fact ineligible. “Eighty-eight percent ($22,000.00) of available grant funds as identified in the 2014 Tax Supported Operating Budget will be allocated to current 2014 requests despite ineligibility,” staff told council in a November 2013 report. “The number one reason for non- compliance with the criteria is that most of the groups that applied have come to rely on this fund as a regular source of income,” Director of Com- munity Services Dan Buttineau told council at the time, adding that the intent of the grant fund was to help support local organi- zations and other events in their first three years, and he said that once they are established they become in- eligible for funding. At this week’s meeting, council was again reminded by staff that the ma- jority of the organizations for which council approved community grants this year should not have received them based on eligibility. CAO De- nyse Morrissey noted that staff fully explained the eligibility requirements for the grants, and that council chose to provide grants to ineligible organi- zations anyway. “The community grants are supposed to be seed money for new initiatives,” Treasurer Darcy Chapman told coun- cil. For the three requests received at council on May 25, council decided to decline the request from MIFF for additional funding, with Chapman noting that, according to the finan- cial documents submitted by MIFF, this year’s event is projected to have a net profit of more than $20,000. Council granted an additional $2,500 to Dragons’ Den Meaford, and $500 was granted to the Big Brothers Big Sisters. The Municipality of Meaford will undertake a new accessibility project with the installation of a ramp at the entry to the terrace at the side of Meaford Hall. The project carries a maximum cost of $2,500, which will come from Meaford’s accessibility re- serve fund. The accessibility re- serve has a current balance of approximately $17,500, with $5,000 committed to projects that were approved in the 2015 budget. “The area of Meaford Hall com- prised of the parking lot and ter- race is used for various functions and events, including Canada Day and the Meaford Interna- tional Film Festival. As a result of public feedback, staff investigat- ed potential solutions to improve accessibility at this location,” read a staff report to council. “The project involves alterations to the existing grade to allow for the construction of a ramp join- ing the terrace and the parking lot. The work will be done in com- pliance with the Building Code.” Accessibility projects like this will become more and more common in the coming years. The provin- cial Accessibility for Ontarians With Disabilities Act (AODA) was first introduced in 2005, and all public sector organizations must be in compliance this year for a new construction or substantial renovations. The AODA includes five areas for mandatory accessibility stan- dards. These include: • Customer Service • Employment • Information and Communi- cations • Transportation • Design of Public Spaces The ramp to be installed at Mea- ford Hall falls under ‘Design of Public Spaces’. Some of the requirements for the design of public spaces under the AODA include: • 20% or a minimum of one accessible table that can be ac- cessed by moving forward not having to back in • A minimum of 1500mm for sidewalks and/or pathways • Accessible parking on and off street where 4% of spaces are ac- cessible in new lots with greater than 100 spots • Minimum of one accessible counter when providing service to the public, and queueing and waiting areas wide enough to support assistive devices • TTY services as well as hear- ing enhancement devices, Braille labelling on signage, clear emer- gency information/signage in- cluding exit information • Maintenance and restoration of public spaces to keep accessi- bility equipment and features in working order In April of 2010 Meaford Hall lowered the counter for its box office ticket window in order to improve accessibility. To comply with the accessibility require- ments, the box office window had to be lowered eight inches which then allowed those in wheelchairs to access the window without dif- ficulty. The installation of the new ramp will further improve accessibil- ity to the hall for those in wheel- chairs or who use walkers. “The removal of a physical bar- rier at Meaford Hall through the introduction of a ramp between the terrace and the parking lot will improve accessibility at this vital community and municipal facility,” said municipal staff in their report to council. Accessible Ramp to be Installed at Meaford Hall By Stephen Vance Council Running Out of Community Grant Money By Stephen Vance
- 5. May 29, 2015- www.themeafordindependent.ca Arts & Culture pg 5 Curious about the DIY and maker culture? Take part in the MIY (Make It Yourself) Rumpus on Saturday, June 13 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library. There will be a variety of local makers throughout the library for you to meet and explore the interesting projects happening right in our own community. Maker culture is a contempo- rary culture or subculture rep- resenting a technology-based extension of DIY culture. Typi- cal interests enjoyed by the maker culture include engi- neering-oriented pursuits such as electronics, robotics, 3-D printing, and the use of CNC tools, as well as more tradition- al activities such as metalwork- ing, woodworking, and arts and crafts. A complete list of exhibi- tors will be announced. Interested in having a booth? Visit www.owensound.library. on.ca to get your application. The application deadline is June 1. Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library is located at: 824 1st Avenue West, Owen Sound. For more information contact Nadia Danyluk or Lacy Russell at 519-376-6623. MIY Rumpus at the Owen Sound Library This novel was awarded the Pulit- zer Prize for 2014. It is the third novel for the author and by her ac- count took 11 years to write. Donna Tartt first burst onto the scene in 1996 with her debut novel The Secret History, which brought her much acclaim. Her second novel, The Little Friend, published in 2004, was panned by critics and the public, leading to speculation that she was in fact a one-hit won- der. The Goldfinch was published in 2013 and was hailed as “the best in literature this decade”. As one crit- ic stated, “You could not go to any gathering without someone ask- ing if you had read it, and wasn’t it wonderful”. Hence, probably, the Pulitzer award. The Goldfinch is the tale of Theo, who is left without his mother in a terrorist bombing of the Metro- politan Museum of Art in New York City. Theo and his mother go spe- cifically to the museum to see the painting called “The Goldfinch”, by Dutch master Carel Fabritius. This is her favourite painting due to the detail reflected in this very small oil. Out of the rubble of the bombing Theo takes the painting, possibly to give to his mother as a surprise. He is, remember, shellshocked by the blast, and his mother was not im- mediately with him. He believes he will see her at home. The instiga- tion for this decision is an old man who indicates the painting, as well as giving Theo a ring and an ad- dress while in the process of dying. His mother does NOT come home and Theo must acclimate himself to the life of an orphan, his father having walked out on them several years before. During the course of the next year of his life he feels accepted by the family of a school friend. The family is dysfunctional at best but they take good care of him and he developes a strong at- tachment to the mother. He follows the instructions of the man who was dying in the museum and is introduced to Hobie, a furni- ture restorer who was partners with the old man in business and life. He also meets Pippa, a very fragile or- phan who lives with Hobie and the old man, who is her uncle. Unsolicited, Theo’s father and his new wife arrive to pick him up and bring him back to their home in Las Vegas, thereby ripping him away from another mother. Dysfunction rises to new levels as Theo finds himself involved with the mob, both American and Rus- sian. He also finds a friend, Boris, who introduces Theo to drugs, al- cohol, and a life subject to no rules. With the death of his father Theo needs once again to reinvent him- self and by this time he is only 14 years old. What follows is a story, as some have said, almost Dickens-like. It is not therefore surprising to discover that Oliver Twist was the author’s favourite book. Upon being pub- lished in 2013 The Goldfinch won critical acclaim. Many have defined it as the pivotal novel of its time. This acclaim should have ended the debate on one-hit-wonderdom. However, shortly after the award- ing of the Pulitzer, there started to appear increasing numbers of crit- ics who loudly disclaimed the book. This has started a huge literary- scene battle, with one camp still considering it a masterpiece and one considering it a “turkey”, as one critic called it. There does not seem to be a middle ground and passion rises high in both camps. The con critics feel it is not in the least Dickensian, but rather of the Harry Potter ilk. They believe it is a book that should be considered children’s literature. Donna Tartt, the author, is mute on the subject. She is not one to take part in authors’ tours or interviews, and by her own admission once her novel is launched, she likes to start the next. This is probably a good thing as The Goldfinch took eleven years to write. Immersion in her novels is something she cherishes, likening it to the childhood experi- ence of “getting completely lost in the other world of the book”. We were almost unanimous in very much liking the first half of this very long book. We did, however, find the last half disjointed and cliché-like in its writing. The plot seems almost unbelievable. So we, unlike the critics, did find a middle ground. Those that had read Tartt’s first novel The Secret History felt it was a great read. Should you read it? We were split on whether we would recommend this to a friend. But, if you want to be able to weigh in on these contro- versial conversations then reading it is a must. Please bear in mind that at upwards of 600 pages this is not a small commitment. Our verdict: an OK read. June’s book: Mary Coin by Marisa Silver Friends of the Meaford Library (FOML) Update: THE NET SHED IS OPEN! Come and browse, choose and pay for by donation any of our wonder- ful ‘gently used’ books. Donations of books can be dropped off at the net shed from 10:00 am – 4:0pm Saturday and Sunday. Re- member we do not take encyclope- dias, magazines, or Reader’s Digest compilations. Monday Night Book Club Review: The Goldfinch By DonnaTartt Elaine Burns th t Thi i b bl d Join the Meaford Farmers’ Market Friday afternoons from 3 - 7 pm at Meaford’s Rotary Harbour Pavilion Meaford Farmers’ Market Opening Day Friday June 5! Meaford FARMERS’ MARKET www.meafordfarmersmarket.ca
- 6. Special Feature May29, 2015 - www.themeafordindependent.capg 6 As May shifts into June, barbecue season shifts into full swing. To offer our read- ers some helpful tips for their backyard barbequing endeavours, The Meaford In- dependent turned to local chef Stephen Perrin. Perrin is the Executive Chef and owner of four restaurants in Ontario, includ- ing Rusty’s at Blue Mountain. He is also one of Canada’s top BBQ masters, having won awards at several major barbeque competitions, including the Jack Daniels World Championship Invitational Barbe- cue, the Memphis in May World Cham- pionship, and the Salisbury Pork in the Park BBQ Festival. We asked Perrin to share some of his tips and tricks for preparing amazing bar- beque meals. TMI: What are some of your fa- vourite things to barbeque? Perrin: I’m more into the southern style of barbeque, as opposed to grilling, basi- cally because I grill every day at my four restaurants. So anything that is a long cook with big pieces of meat is what I like to do. Brisket, pork shoulder, a whole hog, is what I’m into barbequing. TMI: What tips do you have for those barbequing in the back- yards this summer? Perrin: People tend to have problems barbequing chicken because they get a lot of flare-up. So one of my tips is to use an indirect heat method, followed by direct heat. What I mean by that is you would heat up your barbeque on high, and when it reaches full temperature you turn one half of the barbeque off. Then you do a dry rub on your chicken, and then put the meat on the side of the grill that is off, so essentially it acts like an oven, but you get the benefits of the barbeque flavour. When the chicken is almost fully cooked, because you’ve cooked it slowly with no flame, all of the fat from the skin of the chicken has rendered out, so at that point you can move the chicken over to the hot side of the grill, and then finish grilling it. What you end up with is a beautiful crispy-skinned chicken without the black skin created by flare-ups. TMI: What are the key tools to have on hand for barbequing? Perrin: Definitely a pair of tongs, that’s number one, and I don’t recommend those huge, long BBQ tongs that many places sell. They don’t have a very good grip, and they are difficult to hold things, so I recommend a 12 inch pair of stan- dard kitchen tongs. The other thing I would suggest is a good basting brush. I use a silicone brush. TMI: What is your preferred method of preparing meat for the barbeque? Perrin: You need a good spice rub. I’ve developed a few different rubs. One is for chicken, one is for brisket, and one is for pork. The difference between them is that beef rub that I would use for a brisket or a steak tends to be a little saltier, and bold- er in flavour. The chicken rub is less salty and more aromatic spices, and the pork rub fifty-fifty salt-sugar. TMI: What are some of the most common mistakes people make when barbequing? Perrin: A common misconception is that you shouldn’t season your steak. There’s an old wives’ tale that salt will make your steak tough, but salt is your flavour en- hancer, it brings the flavour up, and pepper brings it out. I always season my BBQ Season Has Arrived By Stephen Vance
- 7. May 29, 2015- www.themeafordindependent.ca Special Feature pg 7 meat heavily before I put it on the barbeque. The other mistake is to use a red wine marinade. Red wine has a lot of tannins in it, so it actually dries your meat out. It can make it tender too because of the acidity, but you’re better off to buy a good quality steak and put a good rub on it, or a liberal amount of salt and pepper. TMI: What about vegetarians? They often seem left out of the barbequing cul- ture. Perrin: For vegetarians I like to barbeque some- thing that is a meaty vegetable, like a big portobel- lo mushroom. I also like to do red onions, zucchi- ni, eggplant, and peppers, and toss them in a pan with olive oil and a little bit of balsamic and then I use the same spice rub that I use for my beef. Then I cook those over indirect heat until they’re soft, then I put them on the flame side of the grill briefly as I do with chicken. The other thing I like to do for vegetar- ians is beets. I leave the whole beet in its skin, I rub them with olive oil on the outside, and then cook them using the indirect heat method. Like baked potatoes, it does take a while, about 45 minutes. The flavour from a roasted beet is amazing, because you’ve rubbed the outside with oil, so you get a nice crispy skin, and then you’ve got the sweet centre.
- 8. Established 2009 Locally Owned& Operated Publisher Susanne Wussow swussow@themeafordindependent.ca Editor Stephen Vance editor@themeafordindependent.ca Print Advertising Sales Lynn Sexton lynn@themeafordindependent.ca Online Advertising Sales Elaine Burns elaine@themeafordindependent.ca Graphic Design Rhonda Iadinardi-Parker The Meaford Independent is published by TMI Publications Inc. Office 68 Sykes Street North Meaford ON, N4L 1R2 226-662-2662 Email: editor@themeafordindependent.ca www.themeafordindepdendent.ca The Meaford Independent cares about our environment. This newspaper is printed on environmentally friendly FSC paper. Opinions May 29, 2015 - www.themeafordindependent.capg 8 Artist: Sam Gorrie It has been painful to watch over the past few years when council reviews requests for community grants, and decides who and what to fund, and for how much. What might seem a simple task is turned into a long, drawn-out, con- fusing affair caused primarily be- cause this council, and the previous council, just can’t follow the policy developed to make the process much more simple. Granted, in a small town, it can be a delicate dance when seven council- lors allocate grant funds to various community groups, but it doesn’t have to be, because every criteria for approval or rejection of a funding re- quest can be found on the application form that organizations submit each year for the grant opportunities. At council this week, there were three requests for funding that members of council bent over backward trying to find a way to accommodate. A signifi- cant amount of time was taken during this week’s council meeting discuss- ing where funding could come from given that the 2015 grant fund is all but depleted. If council had simply referred to the established criteria, the entire process could have been completed in five minutes. Let’s start with the Meaford Interna- tional Film Festival. I love films, and this event has grown significantly in its first eight years, and heading into their ninth festival, MIFF organizers were asking council for an additional $3,000 - $2,000 had already been approved by council – bringing their total request for 2015 to $5,000. It’s a great event, and the municipality has supported it since its inception, but how would the eligibility criteria deal with this request? • The Meaford Community Grants Program is intended to assist groups and organizations with ini- tial start up funding for their unique initiatives and projects in year 1 to year 3. Funding through the Mea- ford Community Grants Program should not be considered an annual revenue source. • An organization may make only one (1) application per year. So according to the eligibility cri- teria, the request should be denied – ultimately it was, however it was a long and winding road to arrive at that conclusion when it needn’t have been. Now let’s look at the request from the Chamber of Commerce for their Dragons’ Den Meaford event coming up in the autumn. The Dragons’ Den Meaford organiz- ers requested that council approve an additional $3,000 grant on top of the $5,000 that council had already ap- proved for the event in the 2015 bud- get. Dragons’ Den Meaford has been a very successful initiative that has given entrepreneurs a chance to win cash and prizes to help their business dreams. The event fills Meaford Hall, and created a lot of buzz in the mu- nicipality in its first six years of exis- tence. In short it’s a great event, but should it be granted a total of $8,000 by council this year? Let’s check the eligibility criteria. • The Meaford Community Grants Program is intended to assist groups and organizations with ini- tial start up funding for their unique initiatives and projects in year 1 to year 3. Funding through the Mea- ford Community Grants Program should not be considered an annual revenue source. • An organization may make only one (1) application per year. As with the MIFF request, the Drag- ons’ Den request should also have been rejected by council based on the established criteria. After much discussion and debate, council ultimately agreed to provide the Dragons’ Den Meaford orga- nizers not the $3,000 as requested but $2,500, bringing the total grant funding provided by the municipality to $7,500 for this year. Also requesting funding this week was the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Georgian Triangle. They were requesting $3,000 to help fund new initiatives in Meaford. Due to the growing need, the Big Brothers/Big Sisters have recently established a satellite office in Meaford by co-shar- ing office space with another local non-profit organization. As far as I was able to determine, the Big Broth- ers Big Sisters of the Georgian Trian- gle have never asked for grant fund- ing from the municipality before. After what seemed an eternity of circular discussion, council voted to give $500 to the Big Brothers Big Sisters, not the $3,000 they had re- quested, yet they seem to meet all of the eligibility requirements for com- munity grant funding. To our councillors I would say this: It’s okay to say no – even to the Hall Foundation and the Chamber of Commerce. It’s also completely justi- fiable to fall back on ‘the rules’ to de- fend any decisions you make. What isn’t justifiable is to ignore the rules, and that is what council has been do- ing in recent years. Community Grants – Rules are Rules, Why Can’t Council FollowThem? By Stephen Vance, Editor Bill’s Valu-mart | Foodland | Stuff to Read | Jet Variety | Meaford Convenience Video Library | Meaford Convenience & Pet Supply | Muxlow Pharmacy Almond’s Market | The Market | Suzie’s Restaurant | McGinty’s | Eggcitement Earth Harvest Cafe | Dairy Queen | The Kitchen | Meaford Hospital Auxilary Thank you for supporting Local Available in print at the following locations:
- 9. May 29, 2015- www.themeafordindependent.ca Opinions pg 9 Opinions expressed in letters to the editor are those of the letter authors, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Meaford Independent. Letters can be submitted by email to: editor@themeafordindependent.ca All letters submitted must include the name, address and phone number of the letter author for verification purposes. Only your name and city/town of residence will be published with letters to the editor. Letters to the Editor Thoughts on Recent Closed Council Session Editor, We are in complete agreement with your editorial comments (May 22) on the sudden mysterious in camera meeting of Meaford municipal council. The sudden meeting was a procedural at- tempt to thwart Harley Greenfield’s motion on staff rationalization and infrastructure . Clearly it was a a transparent political ploy, playing fast and loose with the ‘in camera’ re- quirements in the Municipal Act. Moreover it was an attempt by the mayor and the staff (whose self-interest was paramount in this) to intimidate the potential mover of the mo- tion, Harley Greenfield. This was a transpar- ent ploy and council is complicit in it because it is, in essence, an abuse of process. HR discussion in general does not require a sub rosa motion for a secret meeting, unless a specific person is under discussion. Harley Greenfield merely gives notice of a public discussion and review to move to a motion - perfectly legal in an open public meeting. Meaford municipal council needs to rethink its position on this item. We fear the privi- leged solicitor/client in camera item will be- come the catchall for most of Meaford’s busi- ness. It does not bode well. Judy and Ken Thomson, Leith A Message From Grade 2 & 3 MCS Students Dear Editor, We are a grade 2/3 class at Meaford Com- munity School. We are feeling very grateful because a lot of people have been so nice to us. We have experienced tons of brain thrill- ing activities all thanks to these people. All of these events have helped us learn and be part of our community. First many people help us learn to read be- sides our teachers. We go to the Meaford Public Library once a month and learn from Mrs. Pierce and her staff. At our own library, Mrs. Trussler helps keep things in order. Mrs. Wehrle and her crew of volunteers come to our school almost every day and run our Vol- unteer Reader Program with financial support from the Meaford Rotary Club. Yesterday we were lucky to be invited to the Meaford Hall to meet Werner Zimmerman, an award-win- ning author. This was because of Mrs. Teed from Georgian Bay Secondary School and her Born to Read group of students. We all got a book to take home too! Next, we are learning how to play lots of sports. The Meaford Curling Club sponsored a visit from Rocks and Rings to our school again this year. Many students participated in the after-school curling club with Mrs. Pear- son, Mrs. Carbert and Mrs. McNally. Thanks to many sponsors, our grade 3 students went to the Y and completed the Swim to Survive program. We are golfers thanks to Megan Chapman who organized sponsorship for the Golf in Schools kit and a visit to her Georgian Bay Club. Chevy Rennie came to do a clinic on behalf of the Meaford Golf and Country Club. We also have had many opportunities to learn in the Arts. For example, the Kids in the Mea- ford Hall troupe performs each year for lo- cal schools in December. Our tickets are free thanks to many local caring sponsors. This year the Meaford United Church Quilt Show committee arranged for our class to attend their annual show for only a donation. At the show we met Doreen who offered to come to our classroom and help us make a Mother’s Day necklace for a gift. Last month our school was one of the few stops that a North Ameri- can Folk Music and Dance Troupe made on their tour. We learned more fun folk dances. The Municipality of Meaford is very gener- ous to their schools. This year, in addition to our monthly library visits, we have visited the Meaford Museum twice and are currently starting the seeds for their Heritage Garden. We went skating for electives at a reasonable rate for ice time and grade 2 and 4 students are going to complete two-week swimming lessons at a considerably reduced rate. Our parents are considerate to help out on walking and bus trips so we have the correct number of chaperones. Mr. Mahy donates ap- ples regularly so we have a snack when we are still hungry. He also is donating some land for our Community Garden and we are helping to plant it! Breakfast Club volunteers donate a tremendous amount of their time to help us be ready to learn each morning. Constable Barfoot, our new school liaison officer, came to meet us and is helping us with the Commu- nity Garden. We liked visiting the Meaford Longterm Care Centre (nursing home) in the winter and they liked it too because they have invited us back to spend part of the Longest Day of Play doing Zumba with them. Finally, we were fortunate to have had two helpers who were learning to be teachers. Miss Sewell and Miss Wiley learned from us as we learned from them. Our school motto is “Stand Tall, Caring For All”. We sure are glad that we have so many community members who care for us. We will stand tall thanks to them. They say it takes a village to raise a child. According to our list, we definitely agree. THANKS EVERYONE!!! Grade 2/3 - Meaford Community School Towards a Circular Economy in Ontario Editor, Resource conservation and the wise manage- ment of our resources are critical to Ontario’s economic, social, and environmental future. Currently our economic structure favours waste creation and disposal. It is cheaper and more convenient to just throw it all away – so every year, we create 12 million tonnes of waste with three-quarters of it destined for disposal. Collectively we pay for the production, pro- cessing, transportation, and disposal of all that waste – whether it be food, products, or packaging. The economic costs are embed- ded in the bills we pay and the lost opportu- nities associated with throwing away the very resources our economy needs to grow. The environmental costs are related to the emis- sions from what we make, take, and dispose, which contribute to approximately 42% of Ontario’s greenhouse gas emissions. The province needs to make Ontario’s econ- omy more ‘circular’, so that waste is reduced and made safe, and what remains is reused or recycled to maintain, rebuild, and regener- ate capital – whether natural, social, or eco- nomic. We have a unique opportunity to improve re- source efficiency; reduce our environmental footprint; increase productivity; and drive jobs and economic growth. As a recent Conference Board of Canada re- port identified, by moving to a more circular economy, where Ontario increasingly reuses and recycles the resources it already has, it could support close to 13,000 new jobs in the province. This jobs calculation, which we deem to be conservative, would also be ac- companied by a boost to Ontario’s GDP of $1.5 billion. The Ontario Waste Management Association recently released a report entitled ‘ReThink Waste: Evolution Towards a Circular Econ- omy’, that sets a practical path forward. The ideas within it are being employed around the world as jurisdictions increasingly under- stand how important the move to a circular economy is to future prosperity. Peter Hargreave Director, Policy & Strategy Ontario Waste Management Association
- 10. Here &There May29, 2015 - www.themeafordindependent.capg 10 Coyotes Perform Well at CWOSSA Champs Six members of the Mea- ford Coyotes Track Club, representing five different high schools in Grey Bruce, competed at the High School CWOSSA Track and Field Championships in Cam- bridge on May 20 and 21. All six Coyotes placed in the top four last week at the BAA District C h a m p i o n - ships in order to qualify for this week’s C W O S S A C h a m p s , which is one of the most com- petitive divi- sions in all of Ontario. In the Grade 9 Midget Girls 400m, Julia Latham (St. Mary’s) placed 15th with a personal best time of 1:10.30. The next day she stopped the clock in the Midget Girls 800m with a personal best time of 2:42.70, placing 11th overall. On the first day of competi- tion, there were three Coy- otes in the Grade 10 Junior Boys 1500m. Sam Nusselder (SDSS) crossed the line in 4:20.23 taking 5th spot, only a few seconds off his best time. Alex Tulloch (GBSS) ran a personal best time of 4:31.67 as he captured 7th spot. Jake Clarke (GHSS) finished in 4:50.50 for 13th spot. Earlier on Day 1, Jake also ran the Junior Boys 400m, clocking a personal best time of 55.54. His 8th place position was less than a 1/2 second behind 5th spot. Grade 12 JDSS student Dylan Pust also had two races on Day 1 of competi- tion. He began with a per- sonal best performance of 6:44.23 in the Open Boys 2000m Steeple Chase, plac- ing 5th and knocking 24 seconds off his time from a year ago. Later in the day he placed 9th in the highly com- petitive Grade 11-12 Senior Boys 1500m event, setting another personal best time of 4:20.23, as he shaved off 6 seconds from his previous best. On Day 2, Dylan ran his 3rd personal best time in 3 races as he placed 7th in the Senior Boys 3000m with a time of 9:16.65, a 15 second improvement. Jessie Nusselder, a grade 12 SDSS student competed in the Grade 11, 12 Senior Girls 1 5 0 0 m race on Day 1. She s t o p p e d the clock at 5:04.28, taking 6th spot. Jes- sie had a much s t r o n g e r p e r f o r - mance on Day 2 as she ran her best time this year in the Se- nior Girls 3 0 0 0 m comfort- ably run- ning 10:52.38 and taking 2nd spot overall. The Coyotes returned home with one silver medal, seven personal best performances and three members advanc- ing to OFSSA Regionals in London on Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30. Sam Nusselder qualified in two events, but will only compete in the Junior Boys 3000m. Jessie Nusselder will step up to the line in the Senior Girls 3000m and Dylan Pust will lace up his shoes for the 2000m Open Steeple Chase. It is no secret that if you want to live a long and happy life, you need to stay healthy. People who do not practise a healthy lifestyle often have issues with their weight and general health. Participating in sports helps keep you both socially and physically active. Outdoor sports such as golf are a great way for you to promote a healthy lifestyle. The best and easiest form of exercise is walking. Unlike jogging, walking on grass is low impact and there is no pressure put on your joints. Swinging a golf club helps to get your blood flowing, and walking the course will help you burn calories and improve the health of your heart. Studies have been conducted around the world that prove just how beneficial playing golf can be and how the game itself can make you healthier. The average golfer who plays just 9 holes of golf will burn between 400 to 700 calories during their two hour round. If you walk and carry your bag you can burn on average 721 calories. If you walk and use a pull cart your body will burn 718 calories and if you ride a power cart when you play you will burn about 411 calories. The amount of calo- ries burned are doubled when playing a full 18 hole round. This means that playing golf is a great way to control your weight, reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and even prevent cancer. Stud- ies have even proven that a healthier lifestyle that in- cludes golf will add years to your life. Golfers have about a five-year longer lifespan than non-golfers. Playing golf will help you build a leaner and stronger body. The amount of stretch- ing required during a round of golf will help improve your overall fitness. The average golf swing involves stretching most of the muscles in your body. The slingshot effect of a good golf swing can be felt from your shoulder muscles all the way to your toes. Stron- ger abdominal muscles also help improve your posture and even help build a stronger back and spinal column. Golf will even help you sleep better. Studies have shown that golfers who have been out playing in the fresh air fall asleep faster and enjoy a deeper sleep. It’s also a great social activ- ity which provides you an opportunity to spend a few hours outdoors and enjoy the company of others. A round of golf can be a great distraction from a busy and hectic work life. Everyone needs to step away from the real world from time to time and learn to relax and unwind. Golf is a great stress reliever. The combination of physical activity and fresh air helps release endorphins in your brain which studies have proven help you relax. The thinking and decision making required during a round of golf also improves blood flow to the brain. Improved blood flow to the brain helps im- prove not only your memory, but studies have also shown that your risk of getting de- mentia is greatly reduced. Doctors have always claimed that laughter is the best form of medicine! When you play a round of golf there is always laughter in the air, be it from a funny joke or amusing golf story. I have always said that to be a good golfer that you need to have a good sense of humour. After all, golf is simply a game that is played for the sheer enjoyment of it. Learn to laugh with others and don’t be afraid to some- times laugh at yourself! Cameron Burechails (Teach- ing Professional) The Geor- gian Bay Golf Academy @ Meaford Golf Club (705) 441- 0865 baygolfacademy@bell. net www.meafordgolf.com The Healthy Aspects of Golf By Cameron Burechails Please note that we will not share any personal information with any other third party SUBSCRIBE TODAY Thank you for your support 1 year subscription (52 issues) Local delivery - $40 plus $5.20 HST = $45.20Canada-wide is $52 plus $6.76 HST = $58.76 USA is $105 plus $13.65 HST = $118.65 Please send The Meaford Independent to: Name: ____________________________________ Address: __________________________________ City/Town:_________________________________ Postal Code: _______________________________ Telephone: ________________________________ Email address:______________________________ Name (On Credit Card): ___________________________________________________ My telephone number: ___________________________________________________ My email address: _______________________________________________________ Cheque enclosed $ ______________ Please make out to TMI Publications Inc. or Visa #: ___________________________________ Expiry Date: _______________ Please mail this form to: TMI Publications Inc. 68 Sykes Street North, Meaford ON, N4L 1R2 Dylan Pust, a Grade 12 student at John Diefenbaker Secondary School, ran three personal best performances at the CWOSSA Track and Field Championships and qualified for OFSSA in the 2000m Steeple Chase.
- 11. May 29, 2015- www.themeafordindependent.ca Here & There pg 11 Meaford Man Charged With Theft From Vehicles Pulled Pork served with caramelized onions and Cole Slaw Time to cook: about 6 to 8 hours Preheat oven to 300F Pork Shoulder Roast (remove ties) 1 – 1 ½ litres of sweet/hot liquid. I used up orange juice, black cherry/cranberry juice, and pom juice. Added the last of orange marma- lade, cherry jam, grapefruit marmalade, grape jam, hot/ sweet Dijon mustard, (and other mustards that were almost empty), hot sauce and the last of some tomato sauce. (Fridge is starting to look empty!) If needed, add cayenne pep- per or finely chopped hot peppers 1 bulb garlic, peeled and very roughly chopped 3 inches ginger, peeled and very roughly chopped Mix all but onion and cilan- tro together in a large roast- ing pan. Add pork roast placing the widest side on the bottom. The liquid should come half- way up the roast. Cover and roast, turning the pork every hour so that each side is im- mersed in the liquid. Turn oven down to 250F, then cut the roast apart so that most of the meat is im- mersed in the liquid. Stir occasionally and add more liquid if needed (wa- ter is fine). Continue cook- ing until pork can be pulled apart with forks. Pull the pork and mix with the remaining liquid (this will have slowly been re- duced and should not be too much or too watery. You may need to reduce liquid on the stove, being carefully not to burn pork). Cole Slaw ½ head of cabbage, finely chopped (food processor!) ¼ Spanish onion, finely chopped 1 large carrot, finely chopped Mix together Dressing: 2 tbsp white vinegar 2 tbsp rice vinegar 3 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp white sugar 1 tsp mustard seed Mix dressing ingredients in small saucepan and heat un- til sugar is dissolved. Add hot dressing to cabbage mixture and mix well. Cool. Cole slaw is best if made in advance and left for a day in the fridge. Garnish for Pulled Pork 1 – 2 Spanish onions chopped medium and cooked until caramelized. Chopped cilantro for gar- nish. Serve the pulled pork on buns topped with the cara- melized onion and cilantro. Everyday Gourmet: Pulled Pork on a Bun With Coleslaw By Judith Glover Pulled Pork is very easy to make but does take a lot of time (but not much effort!) Every time I make pulled pork, I use different ingre- dients. This is because I use up any juice that is in the fridge as well as those almost empty jars of jam, marmalade, mustard, hot sauce, soy sauce, and even salsa or tomato sauce/juice. The idea is to create a sweet and spicy liquid in which the pork will be slowly cooked. The result is a great every- day inexpensive meal or a great meal for Grey Cup, Super Bowl, Stanley Cup, etc. And the best part is it can be make well in advance and just reheated! Even the most kitchen-challenged could serve this on game day (think I will go shop- ping!) On May 18, Grey County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were alerted to an unknown male entering ve- hicles on Ridge Road in the Municipality of Meaford. Police attended the area and arrested the suspect in question after they had observed him entering two vehicles parked on Mead- ow Lane in Meaford. The suspect was found to be in possession of stolen property, including items which had been stolen earlier this month from vehi- cles in Bognor and Feversham. Police canvassed the area and found that several ve- hicles (6) had been entered in the area of Ridge Road, Meadow Lane and Fairway Avenue in Meaford. The 26 year-old Meaford man has been charged with six counts of Theft Un- der $5,000 from a Motor Vehicle and three counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000. He is scheduled to appear in court in Owen Sound on Thursday, June 25. Flea Market Coming to Market Square By Stephen Vance Beginning Saturday, May 30, the Municipality of Meaford will begin host- ing a flea market in Mar- ket Square beside Meaford Hall on Saturday mornings throughout the summer. The municipality says that the new flea market will of- fer a variety of products for sale including household goods, cosmetics, essential oils, and arts and crafts. Vendors are also being sought for the new initia- tive. Those interested can contact Jody Seeley at 519- 538-5974 to fill out an ap- plication for the 2015 sea- son.
- 12. May 29, 2015- www.themeafordindependent.capg 12 Stay up-to-date with local news & events www.themeafordindependent.ca Friday, May 29 Scrapbooking – Fridays 9am - 1pm Fee: $5.00 per week or $15.00 per month. Contact: Barbara at 519-538-4060 B Fit 2 Stay Active Senior’s Exer- cise Classes – 10:30am-11:30am First Class Free Location: Albert Place Contact: Sharon at 519-538-2203 or SChallis@bell.net eReader Drop-In – 10:30am - 12:00pm Location: Meaford Public Library board room Contact: 519-538-1060 ext. 1123 Accessibility Notice: Please be advised there is no elevator access to the Library board room or the Junior Library. Meaford Senior Men’s Euchre Club – Mondays and Fridays 1pm-3pm Location: Meaford Community Centre The Meaford Senior Men’s Euchre Club is looking for new members. Admission is $1. Contact Don Boyes at 519-538-2815 Meaford Bridge Club – 1:30pm Location: Christ Church, 134 Boucher St, Meaford Contact: Merle 538.1827 Come for friendly games of contract bridge. One-On-One Tech Help – 2:00 - 4:00pm Location: Meaford Public Library board room Contact: amy@meafordlibrary.on.ca or call 519-538-1060 ext. 1123 Personalized help for your tablet, email, photos, or any other tech question. Register for a free 30-minute session. Lego Club – Fridays 3:30pm-5pm Location: Meaford Public Library Contact: Lori Pierce 519-538-1060 ext. 1125 Accessibility Notice: Please be advised there is no elevator access to the Library board room or the Junior Library. Friday Night Euchre - 7pm Location: Anglican Church, Boucher St., Meaford Contact: Don 519-538-2815 Admission: $2 Saturday May 30 Meaford Hospital Auxiliary An- nual/Perennial Plant Sale – 9:ooam – 12:00pm Location: Meaford General Hospital Healing Gardens Contact: Georgina Thompson Beef Dinner and Silent Auction Fund Raiser – sittings at 5:00 & 6:30 pm Location: Meaford Community Centre, Collingwood St., Meaford Contact : 519-794-0574 or 519-538-2648 Fundraiser for the Meaford Fall Fair. Auction item viewing until 7:30pm. Adults $15.00, Children (5-11): $7.00, Children under 5 free with an adult Monday, June 1 Free VON SMART Exercise Classes – Mondays and Thursdays 10am-11am Location: Albert Place Auditorium Contact: Anne Peacock 519-376-5895 Meaford Senior Men’s Euchre Club – Mondays and Fridays, 1pm-3pm Location: Meaford Community Centre Admission: $1 Contact: Don Boyes 519-538-2815 The Meaford Senior Men’s Euchre Club is looking for new members. B Fit 2 Stay Active Low Impact Fit- ness Classes – 5pm-6pm First Class Free Location: Church of Christ Contact: Sharon at 519-538-2203 or SChal- lis@bell.net Taoist Tai Chi™ arts BEGINNER CLASS – 7-9 pm Location: Knox Presbyterian Church in Meaford Contact: Judy Birch 519-538-0288 New classes starting in Meaford in May. Life Tree Cafe – Mondays 7pm – 8 pm Location: Meaford United Church, 7 Boucher St.E Contact: Brenda Rudolph 519-538-3416; muc@bmts.com Life Tree Cafe is an hour-long experience packed with interesting stories, fascinating people and lively conversation that will feed your soul. The main entree at Lifetree Cafe is food for thought. Collingwood Legion Branch #63 Charity Bingo – Mondays 6:45pm Location: 490 Ontario St., Collingwood Prize fund up to $4,200. All proceeds to local charities. Tuesday, June 2 Indoor Walking Club – Tuesdays and Thursdays 9am - 11am Location: 151 Collingwood Street, Dancehall Contact: Arena Staff 519-538-2772 Bring running shoes and a water bottle. Music provided. Walk at your own pace. B Fit 2 Stay Active Senior’s Exer- cise Classes –Tuesdays and Fridays 10:30am-11:30am First Class Free Location: Albert Place Contact: Sharon at 519-538-2203 or SChal- lis@bell.net 55+ Friendship Club – Tuesdays 2pm-5pm Location:Meaford Community Centre. Club activities include speakers, day trips, music, getting-to-know-you events and much more including tea, coffee, refresh- ments. New members always welcome. Contact: Judith or Leo 519-538-3035 or at sunnysidebeach@gmail.com Wednesday, June 3 Scarecrow Invasion Workshops – 9:00am – 12:00pm Location: Harbour Pavilion Contact: Ruthann Noble at nobleruthann@ gmail.com This year’s theme is “Scarecrows Celebrate the Year of Sport” Please join in the fun for ANY or ALL of the workshops No experience necessary! Bring your friends for refreshments and lots of fun! 2015 Senior’s Fair – 10:00am – 3:00pm Location : Harry Lumley Bayshore Commu- nity Centre, 1900 3rd Ave E, Owen Sound Contact : seniorsfair@gmail.com or United Way Bruce Grey 519-376-1560 Doors open at 9:45 am Over 80 exhibitors with products and ser- vices to enhance a seniors lifestyle. Free Seminars all day FREE 55+ Exercise Class – Wednes- days and Fridays, 10:00am Location : Meaford Community Centre Contact : Marianne 519 376 5895 Part of the VON Smart Program Once Upon a Little Dots Story Hour – Wednesdays 10:30-11:30 am Location: Meaford Public Library Stories, songs, rhymes and a craft! Every- one is welcome! Tween Scene-After School Club – 3:30 – 4:30pm Location: Meaford Public Library Contact: Lori Pierce ext. 519-538-1060 ext. 1125 Tweens, this after school club is for YOU! Each week, the activity, game, craft or book will change BUT we will always have fun. Meaford Men’s Golf Club – 4-6:30pm Location: Meaford Golf Club Contact: Rob Morrs 519 374 3070 or 4morrs@rogers.com Any one wishing to golf can join. Member- ship is $45 for returning members and $30 for new members for the first year. Weekly fees are $5 (for inclusion in the 50/50 draw and course prizes) plus a discounted green fee. Seasonal activities include matches, break- fast tournaments and an annual bus trip to another course. Thursday, June 4 Free VON SMART Exercise Classes – Thursdays from 10:00am – 11:00am Location: Albert Place Auditorium Contact Anne Peacock 519-376-5895 Scarecrow Invasion Workshops – 9:00am – 12:00pm Location: Harbour Pavilion Contact: Ruthann Noble at nobleruthann@ gmail.com This year’s theme is “Scarecrows Celebrate the Year of Sport”. Please join in the fun for ANY or ALL of the workshops. No experi- ence necessary! Bring your friends for refreshments and lots of fun! Sr. Mixed Bowling League Thursdays 1pm-3pm Location: Meaford Bowling Alley New 5-pin bowlers wanted: call Marlene Perks 519-538-1293 or email sunnyside- beach@gmail.com Georgian Quilters – 1:00pm Location : Albert Place Rm, Meaford. Contact : Fran 519-599-5798 Guild welcomes all area quilters! We meet every 1st Thurs. at 1:00 p.m. *Scent-Free Venue 1/2 hr. instruction, hands-on sessions & warm fellowship. No fee! Meaford Knit Group – Thursdays 2pm-3:30pm Location: Meaford Public Library All are welcome – cost: $2 Contact: Sharon at fitzjames@brucetelecom. com Kids Chess Club – Thursdays 3:30pm –5pm Youth Chess club. All levels welcome. Location: Meaford Public Library Contact: Amy Jennison 519-538-1060 ext. 1131 Chess Club for Adults – 6 -8-pm Location: Meaford Public Library Contact: amy@meafordlibrary.on.ca or call 519-538-1060 ext. 1123 Learn how to play and come out for the enjoyment. Friday, June 5 Meaford Farmer’s Market 3:00pm-7:00pm Location: Meaford Harbour Contact: 519 538 4368 40 vendors offering a huge range of produce and handcrafted goods. Music by The Browns. Opening ceremony with the Mayor. Come shop local every Friday until Thanksgiving. Thursday June 11 Lions Club Bingo Second and fourth Thursdays of the month at 7:00pm Location: Meaford Community Centre AroundTown