CommuniTea April 18, 2012

The joys of small town living are many — ample parking, wide-open spaces, and of course most important of all, a sense of community. Earth Day is approaching so it’s totally appropriate that Bradford is hosting a Community Clean up day/Tree Planting event this coming Saturday, April 21^st, 2012.   Here’s a link with the particulars (time, meeting place, etc.)

http://yorknorth.cioc.ca/volunteer/details.asp?OPID=3457

After you’re done cleaning and beautifying the town you can fully steep yourself in your community by heading over to Dutch Treats for the grand opening of their Tea Room (also on April 21^st.)  Recharge your batteries with a nice grilled tostie sandwich or croquette or treat yourself to some poffertjes (tiny pancakes served with a dollop of fresh whipped cream!)

Raise your pinky finger high and give yourself a pat on the back for doing such a good deed for your little neck of the woods!

Dutch Treats

15 Holland Street East

Bradford, ON

905-775-6763

info@dutchtreats.ca

 

Dutch Treats

How To Have A Harmonious Christmas November 21, 2010

It was a terrific turnout for last night’s Santa Claus Parade in Bradford.  With a chill in the air, a nip on the nose and twinkling lights as far as the eye could see, we watched the parade of Christmas cheer from our perch at the town’s “four corners.”  I could actually feel the Christmas spirit tugging at my heart – upon deeper reflection I realized what I’d mistakenly called Christmas Cheer was actually my elevated blood pressure due to the anxiety that goes with not having prepared enough, decorated enough, or put any kind of dent in my Christmas shopping… how many weeks away is it!!?

 

I really wish I was one of those people who effortlessly floats from one season to the next — Thanksgiving turkeys melting into Halloween pumpkins then flowing perfectly into Christmas Trees and New Years Resolutions — the accompanying decorations, food, clothes all appearing on cue, at exactly the right moment and then seamlessly melting into the background once their close up is finished.  Seems I am destined to be a seasonal scrambler, madly carving pumpkins while kids are knocking at the door looking for candy.  It’s not as if I can’t follow momentous occasions on the calendar – it just seems they surprise me by arriving more quickly each and every year.

 

So where am I going with all of this?  A one-way trip down a path laden with heavily punched up egg nog?  Not this year because I’ve finally come to terms with my scrambly approach and am learning how to make it work to my benefit. This year technology is my friend, I am the in receipt of an evite to attend Harmony House & Home’s Open House on Thursday, November 25^th from 6:00pm to 9:00 pm.  Not only will they have a spread of wine and cheese to help spread some Christmas cheer, they’re also offering a whooping 25% off ALL Christmas items.  Feels like Christmas is coming early to Bradford – at least, Black Friday (the busiest US shopping day) will arrive a few hours early!

 

I encourage everyone to take advantage of this event and let Harmony help you deck your halls this year!  I don’t know what I’m going to do with the extra four weeks of lead time – perhaps I’ll attempt some Christmas baking… – that’s probably not going to happen either but I’ll be uploading a post about a home-baking solution I sourced this past weekend!  More to come…

 

Helen and David Crocker

Harmony House and Home

905-775-7579

126 Bridge Street

Bradford, ON L3Z 3H2

 

OutFOX Cancer September 15, 2010

“Even if I don’t finish, we need others to continue.  It’s got to keep going without me.”

-Terry Fox

Dust off your running shoes, pump up the tires on your bicycles, dig out those roller blades, pack up that baby stroller and head to Bradford this Sunday (September 19^th) at 12:30 pm for the annual Terry Fox Run.

This year marks the 30^th anniversary of Terry’s heroic Marathon of Hope — raising awareness and funds for cancer research.  There’s no minimum dollar amount for donations – one of Terry’s mission was to compel every Canadian to donate at least $1 each.  That’s less than a cup of coffee!  Dig into those piggy banks or tap your friends and family for a contribution.  Better yet, have them join you and the rest of Bradford at the Bob Fallis Sports Centre (2961 Middletown Sideroad 10) for a fun and flat 5 kms of hope!

To find out more contact:

Elsie Silva Kniff, Event Organizer

(905) 251-3214

elsie_greg@yahoo.ca

Twas A Month Before Christmas… November 28, 2009

It’s the end of November but you wouldn’t know it from the unseasonably warm weather we’ve been experiencing.  While this is nice because we haven’t had to break out our winter coats and boots or shovel any snow, it’s also naughty because it really doesn’t feel like Christmas is around the corner.

On Saturday, December 5, 2009 I plan on attending Bradford’s Celebrate Christmas event for a much needed infusion of the holiday spirit. There’s a tree lighting ceremony, story time with Jolly Old Saint Nick himself followed by hot chocolate served up by Bradford’s volunteer firefighters.  And if that’s not enough to have you decking the halls there’s also a public skate and Christmas Carols.

So jingle all the way to the Bradford & District Community Centre Auditorium  (125 Simcoe Road) and greet, drink and be merry!

For more information contact Leisure Services at 905-775-5359 or email recreation@townofbwg.com

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A Souper Idea October 12, 2009

Here in Southern Ontario temperatures are starting to dip and you can almost feel the promise of snow on the wind. The antidote for taking the chill off is a piping bowl of soup. It comes in many forms, broth, chowder, pepper pot, stew and vichyssoise to name a few.  Whatever you call it, soup is a simple mixture of ingredients — add some heat and some time and the alchemical change to an elixir of comfort occurs.

Beginning Friday, October 23, 2009, the Holland Marsh will host Soup-A-Licious; a three day event honoring local farmers and their abundant yield.  Nourish your senses and your soul by attending this delightful Fall Festival of farm-fresh foods!

“This is a food lovers event.  It’s a nostalgic taste of home complete with freshly made soups, hot and piping on a crisp autumn day, filled with memories of yesteryear and the promise of better tastes for tomorrow.” So says, Marty Galin, a well-known and well loved food and lifestyle personality and co-founder of the Soup-A-Licious event.

Local Farmers and Chefs will be on hand to ladle out delicious bowls of comfort.  And if you want to get even closer to your food chain, you can check out the self-guided tour of selected farms in the Holland Marsh.

Soup-A-Licious takes place in Ansnorveldt Park (beside the Holland Marsh District Christian School.)

For More information check out the Soup-A-Licious web page (http://www.soup-a-licious.ca/)or call 1-877-820-SOUP (7687) or email info@soup-a-licious.ca.

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It’s The Little Things… August 7, 2009

Life in a smaller community causes you to become more creative when it comes to entertaining yourself.  But don’t be fooled, just because you don’t live next door to a 50,000 person stadium or the Theatre District doesn’t mean your town doesn’t have a lot to offer.

Often you can find local productions of plays and musicals put on by volunteers at a fraction of the price of Broadway shows.  Fairy Lake in Newmarket, ON, has an on-going FREE summer music series (Wednesday and Sunday evenings) so you can enjoy local talent in a beautiful outdoor setting.

There’s also a variety of church dinners, BBQ’s and pancake breakfasts. Sometimes you even find something truly inspired like Outstanding In The Field, an al fresco dining experience hosted by Dingo Farms of Bradford  showcasing farm fresh local foods prepared by top chef, Mark Cutrara of Toronto’s Cow Bell.  The outdoor dining event is slated for August 11, 2009 at Dingo Farms and there are still spots available.

Local festivals abound and Bradford’s Annual Carrot Fest is top of the heap.  Bradford transforms it’s main drag into a massive street fair on August 22, 2009 to celebrate this mighty root vegetable.  There are all kinds of vendors, fairway rides, and events to keep you busy including the Carrot Fast 5 km run/walk (it will help you burn off all that carrot cake!)

Throughout the year local artists band together and provide tours of their homes and art spaces.  You can find really beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces while  supporting your local art scene.  Who knows, you might even be living in a hot bed of an artistic movement and the value of pieces could sky-rocket in years to come. Probably not but hey, it’s the little things…

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