General Admission $9.00 Children Grade 8 & Under FREE

Weekend Pass $22.00

Parking $2.00 Offsite (shuttle) FREE

Homecrafts, Horticulture, Contests &

Entertainment!

Free Shuttle Buses on Saturday

(Check Website)

Friday, Sept. 10Fair Opens 5pmTractor Pull 7pmYouth Entertainment at Bandshell 7pm

Saturday, Sept. 11Buildings + Midway Open10amSheep, Goat & Pet Shows 11am Apple Pie Judging & Auction 12pmBarnyard Rodeo 1pm Lawn Tractor Pull 1pm Skipping Rope Contest 3:30pmDemolition Derby 7pm(Smoke free bleachers)

Sunday, Sept. 12Midway Special: Kiddie Rides $1 Others $2 Horse Shows 9amChristian Worship Service 9:30amCruise In Car Show 11amPoultry Show & Team Penning 11am Baby Show 11am Theme Cake Judging 12pmHorse Pull 2:30pm

Evening Schedule for Midway1. Kiddies Rides will close at 10:00pm2. Ticket booths will close at 10:30pm3. All rides or attractions will shut

down promptly by 11:00pm Conditions of Entry to The Fair1. No skateboards2. No Bicycles3. Wristbands must be worn4. No Alcohol 5. Backpacks and bags will be

subject to search

For more information visit our website at www.uxbridgefair.ca or call 905.852.5040

or (week of fair) 905.852.7745

www.uxbridgefair.ca

Uxbridge Fall Fair presents

‘Neigh’ bourhood

Horsi

ng Around the

3

September to us feels more like the start of a new year than January does. With the start of school and the end of summer vacation, it’s a time to restart and refresh. At Uxbridge Town Talk, we’re celebrating this time of renewal with the next step in our growth: our very first office in downtown Uxbridge, at 24 Toronto St. N., Unit 1. We’re so thrilled and grateful

with how the community has embraced us and this publication that was born out of a meeting of local women entrepreneurs. Thanks to our readers and advertisers alike for your continued support! We’re not the only ones gearing up for September: hundreds of kids will soon be on the street making their way back to school. And we can thank John Wood for helping to keep them safe. Read this beloved crossing guard’s story on page 17 in the debut of our new feature, the Unsung Hero. Know of someone quietly doing good in our community? Email us at info@uxbridgetowntalk.com. Be sure to check out our four talented local students on page 6, modelling back to school clothes and accessories from local stores—you don’t have to leave town to stock up. This is also the month the arts and culture community that Uxbridge is so well known for really comes alive: Celebration of the Arts turns 25. Check out our Town Talk Tidbit on Flash Knitting (page 4), and the packed events calendar for lunch-hour concerts, street performances and more (page 10). Have fun perusing our biggest issue yet, for stories on genealogy (page 5), weight loss (page 14), teens (page 20) and why so many of you love Uxbridge (page 15). Enjoy!

Managing Editor: Carly FosterArtistic Director: Kirsty KernohanCopy Editor: Jodi Avery MacLeanEditorial Assistant: Mikaela LeandertzGraphic Designer: Caitlin Christoff Taillon

Contributors:Jonathan van BilsenVanessa SlaterDeborah de Ville

Cover: © Petr Vaclavek | Dreamstime.com

Contact UsPhone: 905-862-3747 Email: info@uxbridgetowntalk.comwww.uxbridgetowntalk.com

Office Address:Uxbridge Town Talk24 Toronto Street, Unit 1Uxbridge, ONL9P 1E6

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 advertisements 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 typo-graphical errors. Advertisers are responsible for any copyright issues. No part of this publication, including advertisements, may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher.

Copyright © Sweet World Media 2009- 2010.

www.sweetworldmedia.com

From the Publ ishers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Town Talk Tidbits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4The Business of. . .Fami ly Trees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5St y l in’ for School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Back to School . . .at Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8September Events Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10G aining a New Li fe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14Uxbr idge+Facebook=Love. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Unsung Hero: John Wood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Faces of Uxbr idge: Poor Tom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Teens Today. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20From M y Mom’s K i tchen: S low Cooker Butter Chicken. . . .22

uxbridge town talkSeptember 2010

4

ux

bri

dg

eto

wn

talk

.co

m

town talk tidbits

Your eyes aren’t deceiving you: those trees really are wearing clothes! And come September 25, as part of the 25th anniversary of the Celebration of

the Arts, the feisty ladies of the Knitwits will be flash knitting downtown Uxbridge. Intrigued? You won’t believe all that is happening as Uxbridge is transformed by this huge arts and cultural celebration. It’s all at www.celebrationofthearts.ca.

E l l e n S k i n n e r ( O n t h e L a m b o w n e r ) a n d K n i t w i t s J u n n e P a g e , C a r o l y n n e R o s s , C a r o l D r e w e l l a n d M u r i e l Ta i t p l a y i n g p e e k - a - b o o w i t h t h e i r c r e a t i o n s . F l a s h k n i t -t i n g i s g a i n i n g p o p u l a r i t y a s a w a y t o b r i n g b e a u t y a n d w h i m s y t o o t h e r w i s e e v e r y d a y i n a n i m a t e o b j e c t s .

Real-Mom Tips for Back to Schoolby Kirsty KernohanArt Director & super mom to two super kids

1. Get organized. Create a filing system in the kitchen for the onslaught of papers coming home from school. For easy reference, create a file for each child for newsletters, calendars and other important information 2. Make lunches ahead. Creating healthy snacks and lunches the night before ensures enough time to properly pack and plan. The mornings are so rushed that having your lunch packed means one less thing to do3. Peanut-free food. Peanut allergies are very serious to children who have them. Make sure you read the labels and stick to a non-peanut lunch; parents with highly allergic children will thank you. Try pea butter as an alternative to peanuts4.Label, label, label. For all kids, especially young ones, labelling everything means that is just might make it home. We like www.mabels.ca or www.oliverslabels.ca or a good ol’ Sharpie works too5. Get into a routine. Establish a set bedtime and wake-up time, and routine for each. Kids do well when they know what is expected of them and thrive on routine. Start prac-tising a few days before school starts, such as getting up, brushing teeth and eating breakfast to make sure you get out of the house on time

B r e e z y h a m l e t Zephyr, located 15 minutes nor th west of Uxbr idge, i s a unique hamlet not only because i t has the only other l ibrar y in the Township, but because of i ts windy name. According to the Merr iam-Webster onl ine dic t ionar y, Zephyr means “a breeze f rom the west ” or “a gent le breeze.” I ts et ymology is f rom the Lat in Zephyrus— god of the west wind.

5

CAROLINE JACKSON* & STEPHEN MILLER* B.Sc.

OFFICE: 416.392.3232

DIRECT: 905.904.1999

DIRECT: 416.918.6414 carjackson@trebnet.com

TTHEHE JJACKSONACKSON MMILLERILLER RREALEAL EESTATESTATE TTEAMEAM

… Connecting Homes and Dreams

WW

W.JA

CK

SON

MIL

LER

REA

LEST

ATE

.CO

M

FREE information at www.JacksonMillerRealEstate.com

UXBRIDGE STOUFFVILLE MOUNT ALBERT AND

SURROUNDING HAMLETS

Your Neighbours; Living and Working in Uxbridge

*Sales Representatives

PERSONAL & CUSTOMIZED FULL SERVICE

The business of.. .FAMILY TREES

Who : E i leen Wi lson, chairperson of the Uxbr idge Genealogy Group (UGG)

What : The UGG is interested in the study of fami ly h istor y. “Not just names and dates and who your ancestors are, but a lso their l ives l ived,” Wi lson sa id. Group members volunteer their t ime to help others work back wards : most people k now who their grandparents are and star t d igging f rom there. I nfo is captured f rom marr iage, b i r th and death repor ts, a long with census data , and helps capture where people l ived, worked and died

Why : Natural cur ios i t y, Wi lson sa id. For some, the research bug hits when a fami ly member has passed away and sur vi -vors were unable to ask quest ions before they died. O thers take i t up at a younger age and have the advantage of speak-ing with older re lat ives

By the numb ers : The group celebrated i ts 10th anniversar y in 2009, mak ing 2010 i ts 11th year. Wi lson has been chair for the past 3 years, and a member for 7 . The UGG has around 100 members, 25 to 30 of which come out for the group’s monthly meet ings, which cost $2 and feature guest speakers. Member ages range f rom mid-30s to 80s. The group meets for 10 months of the year, f rom September to June

Where : The Joseph Gould room at the Uxbr idge Publ ic L ibrar y is the genealogy room, housing “one of the better genealogical col lec t ions for a smal ler l ibrar y in Ontar io,” ac-cording to Wi lson. This inc ludes bir th , marr iage and death indexes f rom 1869 for ward, as wel l as local h istor y books and land records f rom Uxbr idge, Scugog and Brock town-ships. The room also houses newspapers on microf i lm, which

the group is indexing for their website. Local cemeter ies are being photographed and indexed as par t of an ongoing projec t , too

Finders keep ers : I t ’s reason-able to t race your fami ly back several hundred years, Wi lson sa id. I t a l l depends where your fami ly i s f rom. “Sometimes you have to re ly on other people’s work , but you have to prove what you f ind,” she added. “ You can’t can’t just take what they ’ve found as gospel .”

Biggest chal lenge : Keeping organized. “Most genealogists have a hard t ime keeping paper under control ,” Wi lson sa id. “Any f lat sur face becomes a f i l ing cabinet . We’re hunter gath-ers and puzzle solvers ; we spend a lot of t ime s i f t ing.”

Biggest reward : Solv ing the puzzle. “ I worked on fami ly con-nec t ion I k new intuit ively was r ight , (but) the last p iece fe l l into place four or f ive years later.”

Neat : Some genealogists want a connec t ion to the fami l ies they f ind. Af ter t rac ing her husband’s fami ly back through an Amer ican grandmother, the pair have attended fami ly reunions a l l over the U.S . This happens especia l ly with only chi ldren or members of smal l fami l ies who crave want ing to be par t of a larger group

Contac t : The Uxbr idge Genealogy Group’s website is packed ful l of resources. Star t your search at w w w.uxgen.net . Contac t E i leen Wi lson at 905-852-6973

By Car ly FosterManaging Editor

Jaycee Roth, 16 , s tar ts Grade 11 at Uxbr idge Secondar y School this September. This bubbly teen works at McDon-ald ’s and as a par t- t ime swim instruc tor. Not surpr is ingly, she loves fashion, make -up and shopping. Shir t , Strawberr y Threads, $79. Jeans, Zehrs, $29. Neck lace, bracelet , Mark ’s Work Warehouse, $12.95.

On Devin: K nit sweater, Zehrs, $29. Chinos, Mark ’s Work Warehouse, $39.99. Messenger bag, Straw-berr y Threads, $59. On Jaycee: Sweater, Woods & Woods, $48. Tube sk i r t , Zehrs, $19. Scar f, Mark ’s Work Warehouse, $14.99. Shoes are model ’s own.

O ff to K ingston’s Queen’s Univers i t y for pol i t ica l sc ience this fa l l , 18-year- old Devin Stokes is consider ing a law degree. You can of ten f ind him playing spor ts , work ing out and eat-ing. Shir t , Woods & Woods, $40. Jeans, Strawberr y Threads, $210. Watch, Rut ledge Jewel lers , $160.

Styl in ’ for Sch ool

P h o t o g r a p h y b y D e b o r a h d e V i l l e

S h o t o n l o c a t i o n a t B l u e H e r o n B o o k s a n d i n Q u a k e r V i l l a g e

There’s no need to leave town for back to school c lothes and accessor ies. Check out our favour i te a l l -Uxbr idge produc ts to

send k ids and teens to the c lassroom in st y le.

7

You can f ind Alyssa Henderson, 9 , swimming, p laying soccer, colour ing and eat ing buttered popcorn whi le watching iCar ly. She star ts Grade 4 at Uxbr idge Publ ic School in Septem-ber. Long-s leeved shir t , L i t t le Acorn, $32. Leggings, Zehrs, $10. Back pack , Wal-Mar t , $15.

Er ik Henderson, 6 , l ikes hockey, watching movies (R atatoui l le i s h is favour i te) , hockey and the Toronto Blue Jays. He enters Grade 1 at Uxbr idge Publ ic School this fa l l . Hoodie, L i t t le Acorn, $46.99. Jeans, Zehrs, $12. Running shoes, Wal-Mar t , $17. Lunch bag, L i t t le Acorn, $34.99.

Brother and s ister. On Er ik : Jacket , Zehrs, $45. Long-s leeved shir t , Zehrs, $10. Jeans, L i t t le Acorn, $44. On Alyssa : Hat , $8 , long-s leeved shir t , $12, denim sk i r t , $16, socks, $3 , Zehrs. Running shoes, Wal-Mar t , $15.

Hat , L i t t le Acorn, $34.Hoodie, $16, Zehrs.

8

ux

bri

dg

eto

wn

talk

.co

m

Whi le most chi ldren are gear ing up for back to school , one Uxbr idge fami ly has a di f -ferent c lassroom to return to. Amanda van der Gul ik wi l l keep her t wo chi ldren, Xanthe, 8 , and Quinn, 6 , home on September 7 . Not that they won’t be learning—the brother and s ister are home schooled. “ We love to t ravel and we don’t l ike schools to te l l us when we can travel , and for how long,” van der Gul ik sa id, adding k ids do not face the same peer pressure at home as in a school sett ing. As ide f rom her daughter at-tending k indergar ten for one day a week for a few months and the odd c lassroom vis i t with cousins, both k ids are completely taught out of the fami ly home just outs ide Uxbr idge. Van der Gul ik laughingly cal ls hersel f “ the str ic ter one,” in charge of teaching the k ids about reading, wr i t ing and math, whi le her husband, Rob, i s more about sc ience and adventures. The pair are I nternet marketers, focusing on teaching chi ldren about money. The fami ly spl i ts i ts t ime bet ween Uxbr idge and New Zealand, where homeschool ing is ver y much a par t of the culture, van der Gul ik sa id. I n the smal l town where they l ive, there are 80 other home -schooled fami l ies. They band together for summer camps, have their own soccer teams and even have access to school c lassrooms. “ I n New Zealand, they ’re ver y open minded [about home school ing] ,” van der Gul ik sa id. “Here, you tend to get , ‘Do

they see enough people? Are they socia l -ized? ’ Chi ldren grow up so quick ly, and I just want to enjoy ever y par t of i t .” Xanthe and Quinn take par t in many af ter-school ac t iv i t ies, such as ar t c lasses, bowl ing and dance. Dur ing the summer, they attend the Township camps at E lgin Park . The fami ly a lso spends a great deal of t ime at the l ibrar y among the books, in programs and us ing computers. “ There’s a preconcept ion that chi ldren need to fo l low a curr iculum, that they must attend school ,” van der Gul ik sa id. “But what they need to be taught is up to you.” The Ontar io Educat ion Ac t a l lows home school ing as long as sat is fac tor y instruc-t ion at home or e lsewhere. The van der Gul ik ’s complete unit stud-

ies focused on topics that interest the k ids, with tools f rom educat ional stores, onl ine resources, the l ibrar y and more. Unl ike a school sett ing, where a l l chi ldren must learn spe -c i f ic th ings and topics, van der Gul ik focuses on topics her k ids l ike. “ They should def in i te ly learn to t r y things” she sa id, adding they bel ieve there is no sense to force something i f the chi ld is not going to fo l low that path in l i fe. Van der Gul ik would love to f ind more local home school-ers to connec t with . Reach her at amanda@teachingchi ldrenaboutmoney.com.

b a c k t o S c h o o l . . . a t H o m eBy Car ly FosterManaging Editor

The van der Gul ik ’s enjoyingtheir outdoor c lassroom

Uxbridge's Fall Festival of the Arts - Sept. 16 - Oct 9

Motley Theatre

These are just some of the programsFull program information: www.celebrationofthearts.ca

A live, professional playreading of Donald Margulies' "Dinner with Friends" - drama where your mind creates the set

Thursday, Sept. 16, 8 p.m.At the Music Hall, Uxbridge, 8 p.m.Tickets $20 (refreshments and cash bar)from Presents Presents, Blue Heron Books, or at the door

BOOKS &

Three of Canada's acclaimed writers read from their work, and chat with

the audience - Ken Finkleman, Lisa Moore and Trevor Cole.

Thurs. Sept. 23, 8 p.m. Uxbridge Music Hall Tickets $15 (includes refreshments)

from Blue Heron Books or at the door.

Ken Whiteley

One of Canada's most respected "roots" musicians - already a legend - with a full band.

Saturday, Sept. 18, 8 p.m.,

Tickets $25 includes refreshments (with cash bar). Tickets from Presents, Presents and Blue Heron Books, or at the door if available

Uxbridge UnpluggedFour accomplished singers . . . four different

styles . . . one evening of amazing music

Friday, Sept. 24, 8.30 p.m. Uxbridge Music HallTickets $15 (cash bar) from Presents, Presents and

Blue Heron Books, or at the door if available

An evening of song from four Uxbridge singer/songwriters who are making music their career

To celebrate the 25th Anniversary . . . an evening of surprises (eight short works created entirely in

the preceding 25 hours) . . . recognition of those who founded and nurtured the Celebration

over 25 years . . . performances by two of the perennial favourites . . . and a party.

Saturday, Sept. 25, 7.30 p.m. Uxbridge Music Hall

Tickets $25 includes gourmet refreshments (cash bar) and dancing

into the evening to Tom Baker and friends. Tickets from Presents,

Presents & Blue Heron Books, or at the door if available

And check the three Saturday lunch-hour concerts, featuring some of the best in local talent.

AUTHORS

One World Dance Concert

Uxbridge Music Hall

10

ux

bri

dg

eto

wn

talk

.co

m

S e p t e m b e r E v e n t sFriday September 3

Perfect Office Cardi  Ever shivered a little in the cool office or evening? Then this is the cardigan for you. Bracelet-length sleeves, gentle opening and not too long. $125.Time: 10:30 a.m. Where: On the Lamb, 53 Toronto St. N.Contact: 905 852 1944 www.onthelamb.ca Foster Memorial Concert  Shimoda Family Ensemble. Solo & quartet with harpsichord, using authentic baroque instruments. Time: 7 p.m. Where: The Foster Memorial, 9891 Regional Rd. 1Contact: 905-640-3966 www.fostermemorial.com

Hockey Uxbridge Bruins v. Port HopeTime: 7:45 p.m.Where: Uxbridge Arena, 291 Brock St. W.Contact: www.uxbridgebruins.com

 Saturday September 4

A Stitch in Thyme Quilt Show  Featuring exhibits of antique and modern quilts, demonstrations, vendors, and a tea room Saturday and Sunday. $4, with men free.Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.Where: Historic Leaskdale ChurchContact: 905 852 3517 www.lucymaudmontgomery.ca

Wednesday September 87th Annual Million Dollar Hole-in-One Challenge The Rotary Club of Uxbridge and Pace Credit Union invite you to this community fundraiser. See how close you can get to the pin! Until September 12.Time: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.Where: Quaker Museum Hill, 6th Concession & Brock StreetContact: www.uxbridgerotary.com Graceful Glam Shawl Just the thing to toss ever so casually, but ever so elegantly, over your shoul-ders. 3 classes. $39.Time: 10:30 a.m. Where: On the Lamb, 53 Toronto St. N.Contact: 905 852 1944 www.onthelamb.ca

Thursday September 9Registration Fair Free to attend and it’s your chance for you to check out all the amazing programs, sports, leisure and other organizations in your town. Time: 6:30-8 p.m.

Where: Uxbridge Arena, 291 Brock St. W.Contact: 905-640-3966 www.uxbridgeregistrationfair.com

Fundraiser Buffet roast beef dinner for regional councillor candidate Ted Eng. $50/person.Time: 6:30 p.m.Where: Sandford Community CentreContact: 416-606-8333 www.electtedeng.com 

Friday September 10 The 144th Uxbridge Fall Fair Tractor pull, youth entertainment, midway and buildings open. Time: 5 p.m.Where: Elgin ParkContact: www.uxbridgefair.ca

Foster Memorial Concert  Sweet Adeline Chap-ter of the Pineridge Chorus singing barbershop style harmony. Nancy Hall guitar/singing.Time: 7:30-8:30 p.m.Where: The Foster Memorial, 9891 Regional Rd. 1Contact: 905-640-3966 www.fostermemorial.com 

Saturday September 11The 144th Uxbridge Fall Fair Want real adven-ture, action and excitement? Try the all new paint ball tent! Animal shows and rodeo. Demolition derby 7 p.m.Time: 10 a.m.Where: Elgin ParkContact: www.uxbridgefair.ca 

Sunday September 12The 144th Uxbridge Fall Fair Heavy horse show, cruise-in car show, midway $1-$2, horse pull at 2:30. Time: 10 a.m.Where: Elgin ParkContact: www.uxbridgefair.ca

Monday September 13Aromatherapy Level 1 An intro to aromatherapy and essential oils. Discuss different methods, dosages and profile 10 different oils. $25. Also on September 16.Time: 6:30-9 p.m.Where: Elemi Organics, 58 Brock St. W.Contact: 905 852 5575 www.elemi.ca

Pineridge Chorus/Sweet Adelines We welcome women who like to sing to a guest rehersal. Come, listen and sing for the evening.Time: 7:15 p.m.

Where: Uxbridge Music Hall, 16 Main St. S.Contact: 905 852 6327

Page Turners Reading Clubs  Book: The Factory Voice by Jeanette Lynes.Time: 7:15 p.m.Where: Uxbridge LibraryContact: 905 852 9747 www.uxlib.ca 

Wednesday September 15Onstage Uxbridge AGM  Looking for interested individuals to serve on the 2010/2011 executive. Come out to support community theatre.Time: 7:30 p.m.Where: 41 Maple St.Contact: 905 852 1900 www.onstageuxbridge.com 

Thursday September 16Motley Play Reading  The Motley Theatre kicks off the Celebration of the Arts with this play in the Music Hall sure to tickle your funny bone.Time: 8 p.m.Where: Uxbridge Music Hall, 16 Main St. S.Contact: 905 473 3385 www.celebrationofthearts.ca 

Friday September 17

Quilter’s Cupboard Open House Be surprised and encouraged...we can make a quilter out of you! We have classes to get you started and teach you all the basics with fast, time-saving techniques and no scissors required. Hundreds of beautiful fabrics to inspire you. Friday and Saturday.Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.Where: 202 Brock St E.Contact: 905 862 0666 www.quilterscupboard.ca

Artificial Fall Wreath  Add an instant welcome to any front door. Learn to create your own cus-tomized fall wreath to suit your taste and colour scheme.Time: 6-8 p.m.Where: La Petite Fleur, 42 Brock St. W. Contact: 905 862 3697 www.lapetitefleur.ca Foster Memorial Concert  Tommy Pullin’s songs are Americana and tell a story to the audience.Time: 7 p.m.Where: The Foster Memorial, 9891 Regional Rd. 1Contact: 905-640-3966 www.fostermemorial.com 

11

Saturday September 18The 25th Annual Uxbridge Studio Tour and Sale Self-guided tour of 28 local artists in their homes and studios Saturday and Sunday. View their cre-ations and where they work. Time: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.Where: Uxbridge and hamletsContact: 905 852 4033 www.uxbridgestudiotour.com

Midwives’ Picnic  Come meet your local midwives. A time for past clients and babies to reunite with their mid-wives. Potluck picnic in Elgin Park.Time: Noon-3 p.m.Where: Elgin ParkContact: 905 862 3535 www.uxbridgemidwives.com  Lunch Hour Concert World Music Hour with the Shimoda Family and Susan Luke. Free, with donations encouraged.Time: 12:30-1:30 p.m.Where: St. Andrews-Chalmbers Presby-terian Church, 40B Toronto St.Contact: 905 473 3385 www.celebrationofthearts.ca

Ken Whiteley Concert Performing songs from his recent album with a 12-piece band and other greats in the Canadian music industry.Time: 8 p.m.Where: Uxbridge Music Hall, 16 Main St. S.Contact: 905 473 3385 www.celebrationofthearts.ca 

Sunday September 19Original 1984 Karate Kid Movie Okami Kai Karate and Aikido present the original 1984 version of Karate Kid movie. Demonstrations, giveaways. $8. Proceeds to the Gorgons.Time: 4 p.m.Where: Roxy TheatreContact: 905 852 1521  okamikai@gmail.com 

Tuesday September 21Seniors Club Meeting Monthly tea, meeting, and entertainment. Bring your own mug!Time: 1 p.m.Where: Uxbridge Seniors Centre, 75 Marietta St.Contact: 905 852 7401 Aromatherapy Level 2 Discuss and profile different carrier oils and custom blend three to take home. Pre-requisite is Aromatherapy Level 1. $25. Also on September 23.Time: 6:30-9 p.m.Where: Elemi Organics, 58 Brock St. W.Contact: 905 852 5575 www.elemi.ca Uxhibition ‘10  14th annual Uxbridge juried and children’s art show gala opening reception. Exhibition runs each day until September 26, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.Time: 7-9 p.m.

Where: Township office council cham-bers, 51 Toronto St. S.Contact: 905 473 3385 www.celebrationofthearts.ca Wednesday September 22 As We See It Have an afternoon out to relax and enjoy adult programs on various topics, refreshments. Make new friends and learn something new! $2.Time: 1 p.m.Where: Uxbridge Library Contact: 905 852 9747 www.uxlib.com

Books & Authors Night  Three eminent Canadian authors (Ken Fin-kleman, Lisa Moore, Trevor Cole) read from their new works and chat with the audience. $15.Time: 8 p.m. - 10 p.m.Where: Uxbridge Music Hall, 16 Main St. S.Contact: 905-852-4282 www.celebrationofthearts.ca

Friday September 24Lunch at the Legion  Members of the community, especially war veterans and families, are invited to attend a luncheon featuring Jeanette Lynes, author of The Factory Voice. Time: NoonWhere: Uxbridge Legion, 109 Franklin St.Contact: 905 852 9747 ext. 24 www.uxbridgelegion.ca

This Month in Bloom Explore your own design ideas, challenging each other while having fun! Bring a container to fill with beautiful fresh flowers.Time: 6-8 p.m.Where: La Petite Fleur, 42 Brock St. W. Contact: 905 862 3697www.lapetitefleur.ca Uxbridge Unplugged  A concert featuring young local artists who are making music their profession, with a focus on pop, jazz and folk music. $15.Time: 8 p.m.Where: Uxbridge Music Hall, 16 Main St. S.Contact: 905 473 3385 www.celebrationofthearts.ca Saturday September 25

25 on 25 for 25 Street Celebration Community happening featuring 25 artists, local stores and restaurants, focusing on the five senses.Time: All dayWhere: Downtown Uxbridge Contact: www.celebrationofthearts.ca Shorts for Shorties Kids’ film festival movies and cartoons from the World-wide Shortfilm Festival. Great for the whole family! $3.50.Time: 9 a.m.Where: 46 Brock St. W.Contact: 905 852 7966 www.roxytheatres.com 

12

ux

bri

dg

eto

wn

talk

.co

m

1

 National Alpaca Farm Days  Join Arriba Linea Alpacas for our 2nd annual open house Saturday and Sunday in conjunction with national Alpaca Farm Days. Meet the alpacas, spinning, weaving and felting demos, beautiful alpaca products and children’s activities.Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.Where: 755 Sandford Rd.Contact: 905-862-0222 www.arribalinea.com Outdoor Fall Planters  Incorporating millet, grasses, kale, gourds and more, these planters are sure to dazzle! Bring a container to create some spectacular, instant curb appeal.Time: 10 a.m.-NoonWhere: La Petite Fleur, 42 Brock St. W. Contact: 905 862 3697 www.lapetitefleur.ca

Grand Re-Opening  Join Interiors by Lorelei as they celebrate their new location. Enter to win a $500 window treatment.Time: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.Where: 11 Spruce St.Contact: 905 852 1732  Lunch Hour Concert  Welcome back students concert. Vocalists Meghan McKibbon and Travis Smalley accompanied by Jackie Crawford. Dona-tions accepted.Time: 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.Where: St. Andrews-Chalmbers Presbyterian Church, 40B Toronto St.Contact: 905 473 3385www.celebrationofthearts.ca Silver Gala 25-Hour Masterpieces The results (in music, poetry, theatre, video, short stories and improv) of works created from scratch in the previous 25 hours, with a gala performance of dancing, anniversary party. $25.Time: 7:30-10 p.m.Where: Uxbridge Music Hall, 16 Main St. S.Contact: 905 473 3385 www.celebrationofthearts.ca

Sunday September 26

Family Fall Festival  Come and enjoy fall heri-tage activities on the museum grounds. $4/child or $10/family.Time: 1-4 p.m.Where: Uxbridge Historical Centre, 7239 6th ConcessionContact: 905 852 5854 www.uxbridgehistoricalcentre.com Making Green Cleaning Products  Cleaning made pure and simple! Learn how you can make your own cleaning products without harmful ingredients, and go home with a sample.

Time: 2 p.m.Where: Ritchers Herbs, 357 Highway 47 Contact: 905 640 6677 www.richters.com 

Tuesday September 28Breakfast Networking Network and enjoy a buffet breakfast at the Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting. Time: 7:15 a.m.Where: Wooden Sticks Golf Course, 40 Elgin Pk. Contact: 905-852-7683 www.uxcc.ca

Fundamentals of Design  This three-week series explores all aspects of floral design.  Texture, colour, repetition, balance.  Take home detailed notes and a tool kit to get started.Time: 1-3 p.m.Where: La Petite Fleur, 42 Brock St. W. Contact: 905 862 3697 www.lapetitefleur.ca Ward 2 All Candidates Meeting Mayor, regional councillor, and Ward 2 candidates in the October 25 election will speak, followed by a question period. Everyone welcome. Sponsored by Zephyr Women’s Institute. Time: 7 p.m.Where: 310 Zephyr Rd.Contact: 905 862 2282  Regular Events Artists of Uxbridge Meetings  Local art meets each week to draw, paint, present, demonstrate and have workshops. Time: Monday evenings and Wednesday morningsWhere: Zehrs Community RoomContact: 905 852 6357 or 905 852 8831 Uxbridge Farmer’s Market  Sundays until October 10. Enjoy farm fresh produce and meats, home made preserves and baking, as well as hand made crafts and artwork. Time: 9 a.m.-1p.m.Where: Uxbridge Arena, 291 Brock St. W.Contact: 905 473 9867  www.uxbridgefarmersmarket.ca

GURR Community Run  A casual run with the Greater Uxbridge Road Runners, every Thursday, with a variety of distances. All runners welcome.Time: 6:30 p.m.Where: Uxbridge Arena Parking Lot, 291 Brock St. W.Contact: 905 852 7224 www.gurrclub.org Bingo  Great Jackpots every Thursday.Time: 7:30 p.m.Where: Uxbridge Legion, 109 Franklin St.Contact: 905 852 5293 www.uxbridgelegion.ca

Euchre Anyone who likes to play is invited to come out and play! Fun and prizes. Open to non Legion members.Where: Uxbridge Legion, 109 Franklin St.Contact: 905 852 5293 www.uxbridgelegion.ca NRG 2 GO Bootcamp It’s called Bootcamp not because it’s intimidating but because it’s fast paced and results-driven. This program focuses on cardio, core, lower and upper body training. Time: 6-7 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, FridayWhere: NRG 4 Life Fitness, 85 Second Ave.Contact: 905 852 4750 www.nrg4lifefitness.com Udora Play Group  For moms and their kids ages 0-6 years. Come out and have some fun with your little one. Repeats each Tuesday and Thursday.Time: 10 a.m.-NoonWhere: Udora Community Centre, 24 Victoria St.Contact: 705 228 8716 Stroller Bootcamp Enjoy the outdoors in an in-terval program using bands and your own body’s resistance, this class is designed for the unique needs of moms and their stroller-aged children. Time: 9-10 a.m. TuesdaysWhere: NRG 4 Life Fitness, 85 Second Ave.Contact: 905 852 4750 www.nrg4lifefitness.com  Learn to Run 10 km If introductory running has become a comfortable routine, the next step in the journey is to master 10 kms. Clinic classes will consist of interval training, long-distance runs, workbooks and more. Tuesdays.Time: 6:30 p.m.Where: Elgin ParkContact: 905 473 3888 www.bodydesign.ca Urban Pole Walking  Pole walking combines the aerobic and strength building benefits of cross-country skiing with walking. Mondays.Time: 6:30 p.m. Mondays Where: Uxbridge Arena, 291 Brock St. W.Contact: 905 473 3888 www.bodydesign.ca

Reach thousands of readers in Uxbridge Town Talk’s monthly events calendar!

Our print events calendar is FREE for non-profit organiza-tions and current month’s advertisers. Listings are $25/each, or three/$60. Our online calendar is always FREE, and updated regularly at www.uxbridgetowntalk.com/event-listings. Email events by the 15th of the month for inclusion in the print calendar to info@uxbridgetowntalk.com. We are not responsible for errors or omissions.

13

14

ux

bri

dg

eto

wn

talk

.co

m

Uxbridge is a better place today than it was 4 years ago but there is still more to do.

Re-electBob Shepherd

for Mayor

www.mayorbob.ca

2 3 1 l b s : L o c a l f i t n e s s c h a l l e n g e c o n t e s t a n t s l o s e w e i g h t a n d g a i n a n e w l i f e

L isa Cross t r ied a l l the commer-c ia l weight- loss plans. She’d lose 20 lbs. , then put i t back on again . Nothing was work ing. The 32-year- old Uxbr idge mother of t wo young boys began a bootcamp c lass with local f i tness instruc-tor Wendy Lee, and star ted to see some progress—but not enough to combat the 247 lbs. she was carr y-ing on her pet i te f rame. When she saw last Januar y that Lee was look ing for candidates to enter a r igorous but l i fe - changing chal lenge cal led A New Year, a New You! , she hesi tated. “ I d idn’t k now i f I ’d want the at-tent ion,” Cross sa id. “ I d idn’t th ink i t would be for me.” At the last minute, she entered, and Lee picked her among a hun-dred appl icants. “ I saw something in her,” sa id Lee. “She’s ver y dedicated.” At f i rst , Cross had a hard t ime walk ing up a hi l l or mak ing i t a cer-ta in number of feet . She struggled with Lee’s “prett y str ic t eat ing plan.” But there’s no arguing the chal lenge hasn’t worked. Af ter s ix months, Cross has lost

61 lbs. (she wants to lose another 30) . She now craves the gym and loves her workouts with Lee. Even af ter a miscarr iage and diagnosis of gal lb ladder disease, Cross sa id she didn’t d id let the setbacks stop her. Lee’s other chal lenge par t ic i -pants have had equal ly incredible t ransformations. A s l im and muscled G ar y Brown-ing, now 215 lbs. , i s hardly recog-nizable f rom the 290 lb. man he was s ix months ago. I n a before and af ter shot on the chal lenge’s Facebook page, the 52-year- old jok ingly asked, “ Who is that o ld guy standing beside the new me? I do not k now him anymore.” Lee sa id Browning’s letter—in which he pledged to dedicate ev-er ything to los ing the weight , and wanting to be there for h is grand-chi ldren—real ly resonated. H is success is b i t tersweet : Browning has a ver y race cancer ca l led T- Cel l Lymphoma. “He has not had a cancer scare s ince this contest , and a l though he f inds i t hard emotional ly at t imes, the workouts and the f r iends he has made help him forget what is

L - R G a r y B r o w n i n g , W e n d y L e e , L i s a C r o s s a n d D a v i d C r o m i e s i x m o n t h s a n d a m a k e -o v e r l a t e r . I n s e t : T h e t r i o s b e f o r e p i c t u r e s .

By Car ly FosterManaging Editor

P h o t o : I l m a r S i m a n o v s k i s

15

lurk ing ins ide his body,” sa id Lee. David Cromie, 48 , s tar ted the pro -gram at 390 lbs. , and is now down to 295 lbs. “He could barely breathe,” Lee sa id, admitt ing work ing with such a degree of obesit y was a chal lenge for her. “David could only pedal on the bike for three minutes before having to stop.” Cromie now works out seven days a week and recent ly wore his f i rst pair of jeans to his job as a computer opera-t ions technologist . Lee wi l l cont inue to work with Cromie and Cross as they cont inue to reach their goal weights. On August 14, the contestants had a huge celebra-t ion par t y with fami ly and f r iends, and received makeovers. “ You get control of your l i fe back , and the future seems so much br ighter,” sa id Cross, adding she has a ton more energy now. “ You have to do i t for your-sel f and not for anyone else.” Lee was so moved and rewarded with the t r io that she is doing another cal l out for contestants for a new chal lenge to begin in September. For more infor-mation, emai l wendy1234@sympatico.ca .

16

ux

bri

dg

eto

wn

talk

.co

m

Advertising Feature

Laur ie Bruno and Kel ly Young of VOS Web Designs ( formal ly Vir tual Off ice Suppor t) know how int imidat ing the Web can be from s i te des ign, to emai l market ing and search eng ine opt imizat ion to socia l media . What sets VOS Web Designs apar t i s their knowledge, pat ience and customer ser v ice . VOS Web Designs takes the worr y out of your hands. Their exper t ise includes :• Web des ign and development • Web consultat ions• Web market ing • WordPress powered websi tes• Project management• Search Engine Optimizat ion (SEO)• Emai l market ing• Domain name reg is t rat ion

Gett ing to know you and your industr y i s the crucia l f i rs t s tep.“We consider this a ver y im-por tant par t of the project ,” Laur ie says . “In order to t ruly create a s i te that i s a ref lec t ion of you and your business , we need to get to know you.” This approach i s uncommon in the tech wor ld, but one that Laur ie and Kel ly f i rmly be l ieve in . And i t has he lped them create dy-namic and cl ient-pleas ing s i tes for dozens of businesses in the past e ight years , including the Uxbr idge Chamber of Commerce, Scarborough Family Golf and James~Campbel l Insurance. Laur ie and Kel ly can create a new s i te , update an exis t ing one, and per form regular s i te updates and maintenance. Their goal i s to create a one-of-a-kind web presence that looks great and search eng ines love . Contact VOS Web Designs for a f ree consul-tat ion. Find them on Facebook, and fol low them on Tw itter @voswebdesigns .

Does your website need a facelift? Need help with web marketing?

www.voswebdesigns.com 905-852-1867

info@voswebdesigns.com

Major government overhauls to auto in-surance ef fect ive September 1 mean you have more choice and f lexibi l i t y to purchase cover-age that best meets your needs and budgets . Consumers now have choices to customize medical and rehabi l i tat ion benef i ts , cer ta in deduct ibles and income replacement coverage. Watch your mai l for a le t ter f rom your insur-ance prov ider. James~Campbel l Insurance s t rong ly encourages you to contact your broker to discuss these changes to make sure you make choices that best sui t your family ’s require-ments . For quest ions , ca l l our he lpful s taf f . We work w ith more than 20 f inancia l ly s table insurance par tners to of fer a l l t y pes of cover-age , including:

• Auto • Proper ty • Business • Recreat ional• Li fe Cr i t ica l i l lness &Disabi l i t y• Employee Benef i ts• Travel • Investments We are not a direct insurer or voice on the phone, but pr ide ourse lves on hav ing a per-sonable , knowledgeable and profess ional team r ight here in our community. We’ve ser ved res idents f rom our Uxbr idge and Mt. Alber t locat ions for more than 30 years , and are ac-t ive ly involved in community act iv i t ies . Next t ime you rev iew your insurance needs or have quest ions or concerns , p lease ca l l or v is i t our interact ive websi te to request a quote , f ind af ter-hours c la ims numbers and more.

33 Toronto St. N.Uxbridge

905-852-9191 or 1-888-354-6444

jamescampbellinsurance.com

Auto insurance has changed

As a chi ld ,Cynthia Wood-Rogers lovedhouses and inter iors . From an ear ly age , she would draw plans and layouts of homes, mapping out colours and ty pes of wood. It never occurred to her to go to school for architecture or inter ior des ign. Instead, she graduated w ith a law clerk des ignat ion. After a s t int working for family, she made the obv ious leap into rea l es tate at the urg-ing of mentor Mar y Hogg . Ten years la ter, Cynthia—who goes by Cindy—hasachievedRE/MAXPres ident’sClubandRE/MAXHal l of Fame,andhas ajob she wouldn’t g ive up even i f she won a mil l ion dol lars . “I love he lping people f ind that per fect home,” she says . “It’s the best fee l ing in the wor ld when you help a f i rs t t ime buyer, be i t a s ing le person or a young couple , through the process of lenders , lawyers and negot ia-t ion. It ’s a lways interest ing and never the same.”

Cindy loves taking out-of-tow ners around Uxbr idge, explor ing schools , businesses , daycares and t ra i l s . Most people are amazed at what Uxbr idge of fers , she adds . “I work w ith a l l t y pes of buyers and se l l -ers , f rom the f i rs t- t imers to luxur y homes, and there i s a lways something about each one that s t icks w ith you,” Cindy says . “I t r y to make i t as easy as poss ible , and remove as much st ress as I can.” That includes of fer ing ser v ices such as profess ional s tag ing and photography to he lp showcase homes to their ful les t , or put-t ing buyers in touch w ith great lenders she has learned from years of exper ience are the best in their f ie ld . Cindy and her husband Guy have two chi ldren: Rebecca,16,who is involved inf igure skat ing and Greg , 13, who plays rep hockey and lacrosse . The family has a s t rong commitment to Uxbr idge.

Cal l Cindy at (905) 852-6143at RE/MAXScu-gogReal ty Ltd.Tosee

Cindy’s renovat ion t ips , current l i s t ings , mor t-gage tools and more,

v is i t www.cindywoodrogers.com.

Helping you find your dream home

17

Unsun g Hero : Joh n Wood

J o h n W o o d s k e e p s k i d s s a f e i n U x b r i d g e ’ s w e s t e n d

By Car ly FosterManaging Editor

There is arguably not a safer cross walk in town when John Wood is work ing. With an ear-spl i t t ing screech of a whist le and purposeful st r ide into the in-tersec t ion, the 38-year- old is hard to miss : decked out in a f luorescent orange and yel low shir t with ref lec t ive s i lver bands and a s imi lar ly br ight bandana, Wood is a com-manding presence at the corner of Brock Road and Quaker Vi l lage Dr ive in Uxbr idge’s west end. Here, he keeps hundreds of chi ldren f rom Quaker Vi l lage Publ ic School and St . Joseph Cathol ic School safe for 10 months of the year. “ I l ike the k ids. I l ike the locale,” sa id Wood, who has f i l led in at ever y manned intersec t ion in town. He f i rst star ted in Goodwood f ive years ago; th is school year wi l l be his thi rd year at h is current corner. A ta lented ar t ist who attr ibutes his love of drawing to reading comic books as a k id, Wood pens a week ly editor ia l car toon for The Cosmos. The mural ins ide the Rox y theatre downtown is of h is hand, featur-ing iconic movie charac ters such as I ndiana Jones, Dorothy f rom the Wizard of Oz and Mar i lyn Monroe. He a lso works par t t ime at Baldwin Sales, most ly helping with s i lk screening. Rounding out his ar t ist ic s ide is a 17-year volunteer career with local var i -

et y show Uxper ience, as wel l as helping with the Rox y K ids in Ac t ion. As a cross ing guard, Wood is ad-mired by k ids and dr ivers a l ike —most ever yone waves or honks to him as they dr ive by and chi ldren hol ler greet ings. He can of ten be seen drawing or reading in be -t ween k ids, h is large stop s ign rest ing at h is feet . Even af ter h is shi f t i s done and he’s walk ing home down the Brock Street h i l l , Wood wi l l of ten jog back up to his corner to help late parents and k ids. Wood attr ibutes his giv-ing nature to his parents, and “growing up in a Chr ist ian envi -ronment.” He is the proud uncle to nine nieces and nephews, and has four s isters and one brother. H is t ips for dr ivers? “Look out for us,” Wood said. “ What i f i t was your k id? We’ l l get you there on t ime. Just give us a few more minutes.” Do you k now an unsung hero? Emai l us at info@uxbr idgetowntalk .com.

18

ux

bri

dg

eto

wn

talk

.co

m

The s i lence of the evening a i r i s gent ly broken by the sof t sound of Wanda Str ide’s I r i sh f lute. S low-ly, the music f i l l s the atmosphere and at the precise moment Susan Luke lets the bow gl ide across her v iol in . This i s how each of Poor Tom’s concer ts begins. Poor Tom is the Celt ic duet of Str ide and Luke, t wo Uxbr idge la-dies involved in music s ince their preteen days. The t wo have played together for e ight years and just re leased their second CD, A D r e a m L i ke Yo u r s . They ’re se l f - descr ibed on their website as “Celt ic , fo lk , countr y rock , roots music. Poor Tom is Wanda’s Newfoundland roots meet ing Susan’s Vi rginia roots in some happy place near Toronto, Ontar io.” Str ide f i rst began playing the piano when she was seven years o ld. Her parents were encourag-ing, and music became a major par t of Str ide’s l i fe. This ta lented music ian a lso plays the accordion, I r i sh f lute and guitar.

Luke, who was born in Vi r-ginia , moved to Canada in 1993 and now l ives in Uxbr idge with her husband and three chi ldren. She began playing the v iol in— or f iddle as she prefers to cal l i t—at age 4 . She then took voice les-sons, cont inued her music career and today teaches music at a local publ ic school . “ We were both ex tras at Music Mania in Stouffv i l le and met through casual conversa-t ion,” Str ide expla ined. “ I t was just one of those things where we hit i t of f.” Along with t wo acquain-tances, Str ide and Luke formed a quar tet in 2002. I t d id not last long and a year later the t wosome began s inging and playing. “ The name, Poor Tom, comes f rom K ing Lear,” Luke enl ightened. “He is a poor beggar who is ver y loyal and seemed to personi fy the music we wanted to create.”

faces of uxbridge Celtic roots: East meets south with Poor Tom

By Jonathan van BilsenSpecial to Uxbridge Town Talk

W a n d a S t r i d e p l a y i n g h e r I r i s h f l u t e .P o r t r a i t b y w w w . s t u d i o 4 p h o t o g r a p h y . c a

19

TOWNSHIP OF

UxbrIdge

MAYOr

For information please call 905-852-7147email: g.l.oconnor@sympatico.ca

ElectgerrI LYNN

O’CONNOR

Leadership - Experience - Honesty - Integrity

S u s a n L u k e p l a y i n g h e r f i d d l e .P o r t r a i t b y w w w . s t u d i o 4 p h o t o g r a p h y . c a

As ide f rom s inging, Str ide worked as a journal ist , taught music and played the organ in her church. Last year she was ordained a minister and now ser ves in the Woodvi l le United Church. She l ives with her husband and t wo chi ldren in Uxbr idge. “ We both love Uxbr idge,” Luke and Str ide echoed s imul-taneously. “ The communit y is so ac t ive in the ar ts and we love the smal l town atmo -sphere.” Both agreed that the Music Hal l was an asset to a l l per formers and when they play there, the sounds seem to resonate f rom the wal ls . The duo’s f i rst CD, A M i g h t y Fi n e D a y , was re leased t wo years ago and has done ex-tremely wel l . Their newest one, A D r e a m L i ke Yo u r s , just came out in August at a gala re lease par t y at the Music Hal l . Copies are avai lable onl ine at iTunes and at B lue Heron Books in downtown Uxbr idge.

Asked where their inspirat ion comes f rom, both agreed i t ’s an express ion of their l i fe and the people around them. “Not a day goes by that we don’t see or exper ience some -thing wor thy of a song,” Str ide sa id. “ I t i s a way to express our feel ings,” Luke added. Poor Tom has per formed in coffee houses and churches, the Foster Memoria l and at st reet fest ivals . Wherever their Celt ic sounds are harmonized the enjoyment wi l l fu l f i l you. Hear and learn more at w w w.poor tom.ca____________________

Jonathan van Bilsen is an internation-ally traveled photographer and author. He is co-owner of Studio 4 Photography. Faces of Uxbridge is a regular series profiling interesting people in Uxbridge Township. Send your profile ideas to info@uxbridgetowntalk.com.

20

ux

bri

dg

eto

wn

talk

.co

m

T e e n s t o d a y Do you remember what i t was l ike to be a teenager? Re -al ly remember? Even i f i t was a whi le ago (who’s count ing?) , you may have found i t immensely i r r i tat ing when someone older, and therefore wiser, would star t a sentence with the phrase, ‘ When I was your age…’ This statement would t ypical ly be fol lowed by some epic ta le about walk ing 12 k i lometres uphi l l (both ways) dur ing a bl izzard to a school . This would be fol lowed up with a cr i t ique of how laz y and ent i t led the youth of today are in compar ison. OK , I exaggerate just a l i t t le. What I am tr y ing to say is—unless you are under 30, chances are that your teen exper ience was quite di f ferent to many of the youth who today come through the doors of The Uxbr idge Youth Centre. Young people today have a lot to contend with . They are of ten over- ex tended with par t-t ime jobs, athlet ics, c lubs, ex tra- curr icular ac t iv i t ies and homework , as wel l as a myr iad of dynamic re lat ionships in their l ives.  Youth recent ly repor ted to us that the biggest d i f ference in today ’s teenage societ y is a l l the socia l -net work ing tech-nology involved in their l ives. Things such as MSN, M ySpace, Facebook , Twitter, tex t ing and cel l phones have become an essent ia l par t of most teen’s l ives. One young woman going into Grade 8 put i t th is way : “M y mom doesn’t understand that when I can’t tex t or Facebook my f r iends, I get lef t out of stuf f that i s ac tual ly real ly impor tant to me.” I f parents can accept these forms of socia l net work ing, they may f ind that they can communicate more with their teens, in a format which may work better for both.

Unfor tunately, bul ly ing and exclus ion have a lways ex-isted and wi l l cont inue. Teaching youth strategies to cope with and ident i fy bul ly ing behaviour is cr i t ica l , but in this technology-based age, i t becomes even more compl icated. Parents don’t k now where to turn for help and educators are of ten scrambl ing to keep up. Parents mean wel l , but some are not equipped to deal with some of the current s i tuat ions which youth are exposed to, as one 17 year o ld repor ted recent ly : “ When I was being c yber-bul l ied by this group of gi r ls at my old school , my parent ’s solut ion was to take away my laptop so I couldn’t read what they were saying about me.” Obviously more needs to be done to get the word out to k ids, parents and educators about this of ten unrepor ted real i t y in the l ives of many youth. The teens of Uxbr idge I have met in the past t wo years are a great bunch. The vast major i t y are cur ious, creat ive, energet ic and a great many of them are ex traordinar i ly com-munit y-minded. Among this same group, I could say that many of these young people are, at t imes, angr y, confused, over whelmed, anxious, f rustrated, and worr ied about their futures. Al l in a l l , a prett y healthy and normal pic ture of “ the teen exper ience.” As you send your pre -teen or teenager back to school this month, a grade higher and step c loser to adulthood, take a moment to remember the complexit y of your own teen years, ack nowledge the di f ferences today, and ask yoursel f i f you’d l ike to return there. I k now I wouldn’t !____________________Va n e s s a S l a t e r i s d i r e c t o r o f t h e U x b r i d g e Yo u t h C e n t r e. S h e l i v e s i n U x b r i d g e a n d h a s t w o s c h o o l a g e d c h i l d r e n .

By Vanessa S later Specia l to Uxbr idge Town Talk

22

ux

bri

dg

eto

wn

talk

.co

m

© W i l l i a m B e r r y | D r e a m s t i m e . c o m

S L O W C O O K E R B U T T E R C H I C K E N

This i s one of those dishes that , when you make i t and ser ve i t to f r iends they MUST have! This rec ipe reminds me of O ttawa and univers i t y. I was luck y enough to spend my ear ly 20s in Canada’s capita l whi le studying communicat ions. This butter chicken was f i rst made by a school f r iend and I now make i t for d inner par t ies. I t ’s s imple, del ic ious and savour y.   I ser ve i t over basmati r ice with naan bread to my t wo smal l chi ldren, who adore i t .~ K i r s t y

S t e p O n eCombine the fol lowing in a non-porous glass dish or bowl. Toss to coat , cover and refr igerate one hour.- 4 chicken breasts (boneless/sk inless) cubed- 1 tablespoon lemon juice- 1 tablespoon chi l i powder- p inch of sa l t

S t e p Tw oCook the chicken in a f r y ing pan with :- 2-4 gar l ic c loves chopped or minced- 1 onion, chopped- 1 tablespoon chopped green chi l i pepper- 1 tablespoon chi l i powder

S t e p T h r e eWhen cooked, p lace in s low cooker with the fol lowing ingre -dients- 3 tablespoons of a lmond powder- sa l t to taste- 1 tablespoon chi l i powder- 2 tablespoons butter- 1 .5 tablespoons of garam masala*- 2 tablespoons of ginger paste*- 1 can of d iced tomatoes (or t wo cups of chopped tomatoes with 1/2 cup of water)- 4-5 cardamon pods*

S t e p Fo u rLet cook in s low cooker on low for 3 .5 to 4 hours.

S t e p F i v eJust before ser v ing, add 250ml of whipping cream and 1 cup of yogur t . I f the curr y is too runny for your taste, mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of corn starch or f lour to the yogur t (mix wel l as you do not want lumps of f lour) before adding to the curr y. I f you l ike your curr y more spic y, leave out the yogur t .

* I t i s t h e g a r a m m a s a l a , g i n g e r p a s t e a n d c a r d a m o n p o d s t h a t g i v e t h e b u t t e r c h i c k e n i t s f l a v o u r. I a l w a y s p u t i n a l i t t l e e x t r a g a r a m m a s a l a a n d g i n g e r p a s t e . C h i l i p o w d e r i s t o t a s t e .