•A National Treasure •Tame Your Temper •Diet Mistakes

www.TheBulletinMagazine.com 

THE 

Bulletin 

EAST GWILLIMBURY’S COMMUNITY MAGAZINE 

•A National 

Treasure 

•Tame Your 

Temper 

•Diet Mistakes 

October 2011 Issue 8 Volume 13 

PLUS Good Deeds Carving Out Community What’s On

IN EACH ISSUE 

6 WHAT’S ON October 

Community events you don’t 

want to miss 

16 Colcannon 

In the Kitchen with Moira 

Sanders 

18 Decorating 

Why are closets important 

to the sale of a home? 

25 Hort Happenings... 

News from EG Gardeners 

26 Wellness 

The Biggest Diet Mistake 

You’re Making 

28 From Employment to 

Empowerment 3: Part 1 

30 In the Garden 

A National Treasure 

32 Circles: 

Carving Out Community 

34 Tax Tips 

Claiming Dependents (Children) 

EACH ISSUE DELIVERED BY 

CANADA POST 

contents 

FEATURES 

9 @ the LIBRARY news 

What’s happening at EG libraries 

12 Good Deeds 

14 EG Athletes: 

Reports and news 

36 Anger Management 

By Raymond Mark 

6 WHAT’S ON 

MacWilliam Farms 

22645 Leslie Street, South of Ravenshoe Road 

APPLES, TOMATOES 

MAPLE SYRUP, FRESH BROWN 

EGGS, JAMS, PRESERVES, CHEESE, 

PORK SAUSAGES, BACON, CHICKEN 

& MUCH MORE 

Everything we sell is grown on 

our farms in Ontario. 

APPLY NOW FOR THE 2012 CSA PROGRAM 

OPEN 7 DAYS • 12pm to 5pm 

905-836-9656 

www.macwilliamfarms.ca 

FIREWOOD AVAILABLE YEAR-ROUND 

BUSH CORD $300 

TheBulletinMagazine.com October 2011 3

Editors’ Note 

This first Fall issue of The Bulletin also features another “first”. We welcome Susan McGinn 

to our contributors along with Gerri Stefi. You can read their monthly articles here or online. 

You may have noticed the EG Libraries have their own space too... check out what’s 

happening each month in Holland Landing and Mount Albert branches or visit their website 

www.egpl.ca for more events and information. 

October is another busy month! Thanksgiving is just a few days away and charities are looking for support. It’s Breast 

Cancer Awareness month and you will see pink ribbons for sale everywhere in the region. 

Do you love going to “local” craft fairs and bazaars? Everything is handmade with love and care. It is more about 

giving back to the community we live in and an opportunity for them to showcase their crafts. Check the What’s On 

section, there are lots of sales to choose from. Make a day or weekend out of it and visit them all. A great way to 

start your shopping early. 

Don’t rush this season away... visit a local farm for the perfect pumpkin or get lost in a corn maze. Take up horseback 

riding as a new form of exercise, it’s never too late to try something new. It was 6 years ago that I started riding and 

have loved every minute of it. And yes dear! you do break a sweat when riding horses. 

What ever you do this fall season enjoy the colours, warm fall days and blue sky! 

Christine Benns 

THE 

Bulletin 

EDITOR/PUBLISHER 

CHRISTINE BENNS 

info@thebulletinmagazine.com 

905-473-9742 

ADVERTISING SALES 

JULIE SMITH 

julie@thebulletinmagazine.com 

905-473-9788 

MAILING ADDRESS: 

4819 Holborn Road, Mount Albert, ON L0G 1M0 

EAST GWILLIMBURY’S COMMUNITY MAGAZINE 

WWW.THEBULLETINMAGAZINE.COM 

The Bulletin Magazine is published monthly 10 times per year, by 

Creative Graphics, 4819 Holborn Road, Mount Albert, ON L0G 1M0. 

Acceptance of advertising does not carry with it endorsement by the publisher. 

Opinions expressed by The Bulletin or any of its authors do not necessarily 

reflect positions of Creative Graphics. 

No part of this publication can be reproduced in any form without prior written 

consent from the publisher. We strive for accuracy and safety in presenting 

articles and photos. The publisher will not be responsible for advertising errors 

beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. 

Contents copyright 2011. All rights reserved. 

4 “LIKE” East Gwillimbury’s Bulletin Magazine on FACEBOOK

THE 

MAILBOX: 

Hi Christine, 

I just want to let you know that so many 

people, when asked how they knew about Hort 

events, say they saw the information in The 

Bulletin. They say they always read it and pay 

attention. I heard it several times this morning at 

our plant and bake sale. Thanks for doing such 

a great job! The Bulletin's come a long way. 

Wishing you continued success, 

Anne H., Sharon 

Dear Christine, 

"I have been reading The Bulletin for 

approximately six years, and I always look 

forward to each additon. It allows me to stay 

connected with events in my community, learn 

about my fellow neighbours, and I always learn 

something new from the various interesting 

articles. What I love most though, is the "feel" of 

The Bulletin. It feels "homey", friendly, and 

newsy. There is a charming, yet current feel to 

the magazine that is hard to find these days. 

Congratulations, Christine, for a well organized 

very readable publication!" 

Christine M., Holland Landing 

Find 

East Gwillimbury’s 

Bulletin Magazine on 

FACEBOOK 

and “Like” us. 

ROSE FAMILY FARM 

� SINCE 1840 � 

905-473-3574 • 17569 Centre St., Mt. Albert 

Open 7 days/wk until Oct. 30 • Afterwards Mon-Sat, 9-5 

Featuring Leadbetter Cowboy Steaks $29.99 /5lbs 

FARM PRODUCE: Potatoes, Onions, 

Meat, Honey, Cheese, Jam, Squash & Gourds 

10 & 50lb Potatoes • Yukon, Red & White 

Chip Wagon Open 

Fridays to Sundays & Holidays 

until Oct. 30 

Pies & Tarts 

Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays 

FALL 

PUMPKINS 

$5 ea. or 

3 for $12 

DAVIS DRIVE AND CENTRE STREET 


Saturday, October 8 

East Gwillimbury TRAILS WALK 

Metropolitan Radial Line 

Meet at Rogers Reservoir Conservation parking lot on 

Green Lane east of Second Concession. 9:00 am. 

Friday, October 14 

Pasta Dinner 

York Regional Police Male Chorus 

4:30 pm. - 7:00 pm. EGW 

Join us for a Pasta Dinner at the Mount Albert & District 

Lions Hall, 1914B Mount Albert Road. All proceeds go to 

the York Regional Police Male Chorus 2012 Goodwill 

Tour of Alberta. Tickets are $10.00 for adults, $6.00 for 

children under 10, and $30.00 for a family (2 adults and 

2 children 10 and under). For information or tickets, call 

905-895-1436. 


LIVE & SILENT AUCTION 

(Goods, Services and Talent Auction) 

at Queensville Holland Landing U. C., 

20453 Leslie St. Auctioneer is Kevin McGuckin 

Pre-Viewing 6:00 pm, Live Auction starts 6:30 pm 

Something for everyone! Admission $5.00 

Bidding Card and dessert included. 

Friday October 14 and Saturday October 15 

GIANT USED BOOK SALE 

Holland Landing Public Library 19513 Yonge Street 

EARLY BIRD SALE: Friday 7pm-8:30pm Admission $5 

each or $10/family 

SALE: Saturday 9am-4pm Free Admission Last Call 

Special 2-4pm. Fill a bin for $5 

Silent Auction featuring local artists and merchants. 

Please bring your own bags 

For info or to volunteer please call 905-836-6492 

www.egpl.ca 

WHAT’S ON 

Sunday, October 16 

Learn-to-Knit Class 

Join Melanie Sparks and learn how to knit 

Beginners Knitting Class- Oct 16th 1:30-3:30 pm 

Join us in the Mount Albert Library and learn the 

wonderful art of knitting! In one afternoon you will learn 

how to cast on, knit, purl, yarn over and cast off. In this 

class you will make a cute cowl/scarf to keep you cozy 

this fall! Cost is 15.00 and includes your yarn! (6mm 

knitting needles are required.) You need to register 

for this class. Please call 905-473-2472 or our websi 

at www.egpl.caor visit us on Facebook: East 

Gwillimbury Public Library 

Tuesday, October 18 

EAST GWILLIMBURY GARDENERS 

Bugs in the Garden, guest speaker Malcolm Geast. 

7:30 pm Final flower show of the year. All welcome, 

visitors pay just $2. Mount Albert Community Centre 

53 Main St, Mount Albert. Refreshments and a 

friendly group. For more information call 905-478- 

8450 or visit 

http://www.gardenontario.org/site.php/mountalbert 


Newmarket Horticultural Society Meeting 

Guest Speaker Leonard Teengs “Designing with a 

Flair” Members enjoy our annual summer Garden 

Tour, Bus Trip and November Potluck Dinner. We are 

a friendly group of experienced and beginner 

gardeners. New members and guests are always 

welcome! Annual Membership fees: $15/Single 

$20/Couple $25/Family $2/Guests. 

www.gardenewmarket.ca 

Newmarket Legion, 707 Srigley Street. 


Mount Albert United Church Community Luncheon 

Mount Albert United Church, Lower Level 

Lunch is served 11:30am-1pm (continuous serve) 

$7.00 per person. All proceeds go towards Florence's 

Kitchen Fund. For more information please call the 

Church Office 905-473-2562. 


WOW LUNCHEON 

11:30 am to 1:00 pm 

Queensville Holland Landing United Church 

20453 Leslie Street. Come, bring a friend, enjoy a 

lovely lunch and dessert.. Tickets available at the doo 


Halloween Family Fun Day For families with or 

affected by MS. 

FREE from 2 pm to 5 pm 

MS YORK NORTH OFFICE 7-17665 LESLIE Street 

Come dressed up in your Halloween costume. There 


will be crafts, treats, games and prizes! 

Sunday, October 23 

Official Open House @ Holland Landing Branch, 

19513 Yonge St., Holland Landing. 2 p.m. Help us 

celebrate another day of service, beginning Oct. 

16th. Light refreshments will be served. Weather 

permitting, the ceremony will take place in the 

Literacy Garden. Everyone is welcome to attend. 

905-836-6492. 


Beef Dinner 

Sharon-Hope United Church, 18648 Leslie Street 

Adult $16.00 Children $6.00 

5:00pm, 6:15pm, 7:15pm 

www.sharonhopeunitedchurch.ca 905-478-2231 

Enjoy a wonderful Beef Dinner 

with baked potatoes, vegetables, 

assorted salads, tea, coffee, and 

desserts. 

WHAT’S ON November 

Thursday, November 3 

Author Reading - Jane Urquhart 

7:30pm 

Town of E. G. Civic Centre, 19000 

Leslie St., Sharon 

Meet Jane Urquhart. Reading and free 

refreshments. Hosted by Friends of the Library. 

price: $10 (Members $8) 

eglibraryfriends@gmail.com 

Friday, November 4 

The East Gwillimbury Chamber of Commerce 

"Spirit of Success" Business Awards Gala 

www.egcoc.org 905-478-8447 

Ticket price: $60.00 + HST 

Silver Lakes Golf & Country Club, 21114 Yonge 

Street, East Gwillimbury 

6:00pm Followed by dinner, "These Magic 

WHAT’S ON 

Moments" entertainment, the achievement awards 

presentation and dancing! 

Saturday, November 5 

Annual Christmas Bazaar 

9 a.m. - 12 noon 

The Anglican Church Women of St. James the Apostle 

are hosting their annual Christmas Bazaar in the 

Parish Hall at 18794 Leslie Street, Sharon, Baking, 

silent auction, crafts, tea table and more! 


25th Annual Craft Show Xmas Country Craft and 

Gift Show & Sale 

Holland Landing Community Centre 

10am to 3pm. Over 50 crafters upstairs & down. Lions 

BBQ. Admission $1.00 (seniors and children free) 

proceeds to East Gwillimbury Xmas Food & Toy 

Drive. 19513 Yonge St. Holland Landing. 


Annual Christmas Bazaar 

St. Elizabeth Seton Church 

9.00 am to 2.00 pm. – 17955 Leslie St., at Stellar. 

Lots of fun for the whole family! Come check out 

our popular Penny Raffle table, with prizes donated 

by local businesses, or purchase tickets for a Quilt 

raffle (two draws). Other tables rented out to local 

crafters displaying their many talents. Stop by for a 

hot lunch – all home-made! 

Sunday, November 6 

Mount Albert Craft Sale 

10 am - 3:30 pm, Mount Albert Lions Hall, 

5057 Mt. Albert Rd.(west of Hwy. 48), 

25 plus crafters, Free Admission, Local Girl Guide 

Movement selling light refreshments, For information, 

Contact Marlene 905-473-2742. 

Wednesday, November 9 

Welcome Wagon Bridal Showcase 

Roman Palace, Leslie Street, Newmarket 

Doors open at 6:30 pm 

Free bags to all brides and giveaways. 

Brides register at 905-473-2627 or email 

welcomewagoneg@rogers.com 


Jessie Crescent’s Street Party was held 

early September, where neighbours enjoyed 

a day of fun and activities, including Digby 

the dog. 

From the top of the slide on the left is Max, 

then Fisher, Colt and coming down the slide 

is Peyton and Kennedy 

DO YOU HAVE AN EVENT YOU’D LIKE TO 

SHARE! SEND IT TO 

INFO@THEBULLETINMAGAZINE.COM 

The Pet Nanny 

Need pet sitting services? 

Contact Lynda Annall 

t: 905-473-6708 

c: 905-830-2487 

e-mail: lannall@xplornet.com 


@ 

East Gwillimbury Public Library presents 

Legacy Series #4: My Legacy will be… 

Organize your estate to minimize probate fees 

and capital gains. 

Guest speakers: Steve Walsh and Ian Hawkins 

Tuesday, October 18, 6:30-7:30 p.m. @ the 

Mount Albert branch. Call 905-473-2472 

(library) or 905-717-9197 (Kat Downey, 

Founder) to reserve your seat. 

Mount Albert Knitting Club 

October classes are the 13th & 27th. 

We meet every other Thursday night at 6pm. 

Bring your current knitting project and join us 

for and evening of knitting ,tea and friendship. 

This fall we will be doing a group charity 

knitting project and hosting some interesting 

guest speakers. Cost is free. Please call the 

Mount Albert Library to sign up at 

905-473-2472, if you love to knit. 

NEW Circle of Readers: The East Gwillimbury 

Public Library is expanding its literacy programs 

to include a bi-weekly reading enrichment 

program for students in grades 1 to 4 (with 

adult). For more information, please call the 

Library or email Heather at halblas@primus.ca. 

Mount Albert Branch: Wednesdays, October 

12 & 26; November 9 & 23 from 4 - 5 p.m. 

Please register. 

Tues to Thurs 10am to 8pm 

Friday 10am to 5pm 

Saturday 10am to 4pm 

Sunday 1pm to 5pm 

(mid-Oct to mid-May) 

Holland Landing Branch 

19513 Yonge Street 

(905) 836-6492 

the LIBRARY news 

Saturday Crafty Kids: 

Join us for a messy morning of fun! 

Holland Landing Branch - October 22 at 

11:00 a.m. 

Mount Albert Branch - October 8 at 10:30 a.m. 

Ages: 3 - 8 years (with adult) Please register. 

NEW Tween Advisory Board: Are you 

interested in meeting tweens and helping the 

Library? Check out the Tween Advisory Board 

at our Pizza Launch on Wednesday, October 

12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Mount Albert Branch. 

Ages 9 - 12. For more information, contact 

Mary Ann at mareilly@primus.ca. Please 

register. 

TEEN Volunteer Opportunity: Need 

community service hours? Join the Teen 

Advisory Board! We meet every 2nd Tuesday of 

the month. Drop in and see what we’re about. 

Next meeting: October 11 at 7 p.m. at the 

Holland Landing Branch. For more information, 

contact Heather at halblas@primus.ca. 

For more info and 

learn about other 

programs visit 

www.egpl.ca 

Tues to Thurs 10am to 8pm 

Friday 10am to 5pm 

Saturday 10am to 4pm 

Sunday 1pm to 5pm 

(mid-Oct to mid-May) 

Mount Albert 

19300 Centre Street 

(905) 473-2472 



Virtually All Male (97%) 

Drivers Look After their own 

Vehicle Compared to Six-in- 

Ten (59%) Female Drivers 

ipsos.com 

Q 

MOUNTALBERTLANDSCAPING.COM 

JASON SHAW 

30 Years Experience 

in Landscape 

Construction and Maintenance 

905-473-7273 

TheBulletinMagazine.com October 2011 11 

e

Good Deeds! 

Submitted by Gord Thompson 

This letter was sent to Gord from Scouts Canada. Nice to see that good deeds still happen! 

Dear Sir, 

An amazing thing happened to me at home today but first a little background. 

I was part of a two canoe trip around 18 Mile Island in the French River Provincial Park. This route has several 

portages and as we were trying to “line” our way up some rapids the canoe flipped and spilled all of our 

equipment into the river. The current was strong and fast but we were able to retrieve most of our equipment 

except for my personal pack, a paddle and a life jacket among other various pieces of paraphernalia. The current 

was going one way and we were going the opposite direction, we felt it unlikely we could catch up to the floaters 

and definitely unable to get the things that had sunk, therefore we decided to carry-on get to a campsite and 

dry-out. 

We finished our trip and had returned home making plans to replace personal gear and two pieces of ID that 

were in my backpack. So it was a HUGE surprise when a car pulled into the yard and a man and his companion 

a young man got out and opened their trunk to present me with my “lost” backpack. I was simply amazed by 

this good deed. Not only had they retrieved my pack but they carried my gear the rest of the way around the route 

and delivered it to my home. Without any accepted reward and my great gratitude I felt the best reward would 

be to acknowledge this fine deed. Who were these gentlemen but the leaders and members of 1st Mount Albert 

Venturer company. They had been a short distance behind us, were unable to catch up to our party and carried 

my pack all the back here, carried it over subsequent portages, (ugh) extra weight in the canoe (ugh) and then 

made a detour on their way home to drop it off. What a fabulous thing to do!!! 

Many years ago I was a scout, venturer and eventually a venturer leader. I know that often the deeds of a few 

unguided youths make the front page of our newspapers and TV news channels while good deeds are seldom 

acknowledged or highlighted so I 

wanted to let you know what a fine 

job your organization and leaders 

are doing in showing your youth 

how things should be done and how 

they can make their mark in a 

positive direction. 

We didn’t get everyone’s names as 

they were eager to get on their way 

home but we did want to ask you to 

pass on to this group my heart felt 

gratitude to these young men and 

their leaders. 

Yours in scouting, 

Bruce and Barb O’Brien 

Parry Sound, ON Photo: Left to Right; 

Ian Smith, Ryan Martin, Nick Pettipas, Dustin Hill, Colin Robinson, Peter Budreo 


Yard Waste 

Pick-up Days 

October 4, 5, 6, 7, 18, 19, 20, 21 

(Dates correspond with your recycling pick up days 

alternating with your regular garbage days, every 

two weeks from April to November) 

No limit on yard waste placed for collection 

A “yard waste” sticker must be placed on the 

open rigid containers used for yard waste. 

Available at the Civic Centre and libraries. 

Do not include: 

Kitchen Scraps, Grass Clippings, Rocks, dirt, 

sod, tree stumps, branches larger than 4” in 

diameter, flower pots/trays, painted or 

treated wood and animal droppings. 

Please Note: Because yard 

waste is banned from landfills, a single bag 

of yard waste could result in the entire load 

being rejected! Rather than throwing your 

yard waste in the garbage, do your part and 

separate it out so we can compost it. 

RANDOM FACTS 

Rattlesnakes gather in groups to sleep through 

the winter. Sometimes up to 1,000 of them will 

coil up together to keep warm. 

It has been determined that one brow wrinkle is 

the result of 200,000 frowns. 

16,000 sq.ft. OF QUALITY ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES 

10% OFF BOOTH SALE 

The following booths: Q0, Q500, DQ3, DQ4, 

DQ9, DQ16, Q11, Q48, Q17, B5, Q22, Q46 

(Valid until December 1/11 Min. purchase $25) 

20091 Woodbine Ave., Queensville, Ont. L0G 1R0 

E-mail: contact@queensvilleantiquemall.com 

www.queensvilleantiquemall.com 

north burger 

20473 Hwy. 48, Mount Albert 

We Specialize in 

Homemade Burgers & Fries 

Onion Rings Gyros 

Fish & Chips Greek Fries 

Chicken Fingers 

Souvlaki 

Take out orders available 

905-473-7664 

Open weekdays until 7:30 pm 

COUPON COUPON 

$4.99 

Burger 

& 

Fries 

Valid October 10 - October 31, 2011 

905-478-4022 

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK • 10 - 6 


EG ATHLETES 

EGMSA Pee Wees 

Make it to the Championship Game 

The East Gwillimbury Minor Softball Association ES Automotive Pee Wee team, coached by Jim Chapman 

started the York Simcoe Loop playoffs the last week of August, in fifth place. The team won their first playoff 

game Thursday evening and their second win on Friday evening both in Bradford. These two wins put them in 

an undefeated position starting the weekend of a double knock out tournament. 

EG's ES Auto played their first game against Bradford Exchange, the only other undefeated team in the 

playoffs giving the winning team the advantage to proceed directly to the championship game. It was a close 

game but in the end, Bradford Exchange took the win leaving the EG Pee Wee Team to play a 2nd game on 

Saturday against Bradford's Fox Racing. It was another exciting game and the EG Pee Wee team was 

victorious putting them in the championship game, once again facing Bradford Exchange. The EG parents, 

families and friends were out in full force to cheer on the team for Sunday's championship game and the 

players put forth a great effort, but Bradford Exchange emerged with the 2011 Championship title. 

This is only the 2nd year EGMSA has had a Pee Wee team in the loop in a long time and under the leadership 

of their coach, they have come a long way. EGMSA has also spent time and money on player development 

clinics and it is shows in the improved level of skills these kids displayed this season. 

Talking 

Strategy 

Photo courtesy EGMSA 


How We’ve Been 

EG Talons U15 girls' soccer team has had a hugely successful season. Here are a few highlights: 

West Niagara Tournament Champions 

Barrie Spiritfest Tournament Finalists 

Heart of York Tournament Finalists 

Lake Simcoe Tournament Champions 

CGSL Premier League Champions 

Promoted to the top regional league for 2012 (3rd promotion in 3 years) 

Calling All E.G. Athletes... any age, team or individual! 

The Bulletin along with the assistance of Owen M. Smith are looking for reasons to celebrate the successes of E.G. 

athletes. Share your story with our readers. Contact info@thebulletinmagazine.com or osmith@dundeewealth.com - 

please put EG Sports in the subject line. 

WHAT’S 

NEW @ TheBulletinMagazine.com 

Our website is updated to reflect the highlights of each new issue. You can also explore the 

archive section for any features you may have missed. 

Upcoming events and or stories should be provided before the 15th of the month in order to 

get in the current issue. 

The Bulletin Magazine is close to the start of it’s 13th year in East Gwillimbury! We plan to be 

around a while longer. 


IN THE KITCHEN 

with Moira Sanders 

As the frost sets in, there is something very warm and 

comforting about this Irish favourite. Combining buttery 

mashed potatoes, cabbage, and green onions creates a 

delicious side dish that I’d be happy to have all by itself 

any night of the week. If you have never tried making 

mashed potatoes with a ricer, you’re in for a treat. The 

ricer is by no means mandatory, but it does make for 

beautiful mashed potatoes. 

Colcannon 

Serves 6 

1 kg Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled 

Fine sea salt 

1 medium green or Savoy cabbage 

3 green onions, finely sliced 

¼ cup butter 

½ cup milk 

Fresh ground black pepper 

Cut the potatoes into chunks and boil in salted water 

until they are tender. Drain the potatoes and leave them 

in the pan, uncovered, so that any remaining water 

evaporates. 

Remove the outer leaves of the cabbage and cut into 

quarters. Cut out the hard ribs of each 

quarter and thinly slice the cabbage. 

You will probably have about 8 cups 

of sliced cabbage. 

While the potatoes are cooking, bring a second large pot 

of water to a boil and add the sliced cabbage. Cook for 

4-5 minutes, until tender but not mushy. Drain well. 

Heat the milk and butter in a small saucepan until the 

butter is melted. 

Put the potatoes through a ricer (or mash the potatoes 

using your favourite method) and add the warm milk 

and butter. Mix thoroughly. Fold in the cabbage and the 

green onions. Season with more sea salt and freshly 

ground pepper. Serve warm. 

Moira Sanders has made a career of food which gives her inspiration for her recipe blog 

www.moirasanders.com and for cooking for her busy family. Moira and her sister, Lori Elstone, have written 

“The Harrow Fair Cookbook”, which is now available and is published by Whitecap Books. 

Moira can be reached at moira@theharrowfaircookbook.com. 


2nd Annual Family Fun Fest Snapshots 

After the rain poured down the previous day, September 24 turned out to be a beautiful fall day. One 

for families to enjoy in Mount Albert at the Family Fun Fest, hosted by Mount Albert Business 

Association and The Family Place/York North Family Resource Programs. 

The community centre grounds were packed with about 1,000 visitors throughout the day participating 

in some of the favourites including; pumpkin painting, pony rides and eating and demonstrations. 

Mayor Hackson participated in a “Hula Hooping” contest, but she didn’t win top prize! 

Thanks to the student volunteers for all your help! 

Did you attend the Family Fun Fest on September 24th in Mount Albert? The Family Place and Mount Albert 

Business Association members would love to hear what you thought. Email cstewart@ynfrp.org or 

info@mountalbert.com and let the organizers know what you thought. 

Demos included the ladies above line dancing; judo by 

Community Martial Arts; Body Design’s kick-boxing and 

Zumba fitness and Vision Dance Academy’s hip hop. 

Left: Over 150 pumpkins were painted 

and taken home by participants. 

Harrogate Hills Riding School had horses 

for everyone to meet. How many carrots 

do you think they had? 

Children watched a Lenny Graf performance. 


decorating 

Why are closets important to the sale of a home? 

“It is just a closet! 

Who is going to look in there? 

How many times have I heard this from clients? 

At the beginning of each of my consultations, one of 

the first things that I do is assess the front entry and 

closet. I often explain to the client that buyers are 

moving for specific reasons and one reason is that they 

have outgrown their home and need more space. If a 

buyer sees your property as crowded as theirs, what is 

the incentive to buy your over stuffed, 

packed property? 

In my experience, I have learned that showcasing 

spacious, organized closets provide the buyer with a 

positive reason to purchase your property. Buyers see 

value in space. Adequate storage is one of the main 

features buyers are looking for in a new property. I 

suggest that every closet and cupboard in your home 

can be cleaned and reorganized to showcase the 

adequate space your home has to offer. 

Closet at consultation: 

- overcrowded linen 

closet makes the space 

feel small 

Closet after staging: 

closet feels larger 

By Susan Crema-Martin 

Tips on organizing closets: 

Empty the closet and decide where each item goes: 

- keep 

- donate 

- throw away 

- pack to be moved (i.e. seasonal items) 

Keep the closets clean, tidy, orderly and spacious. 

Buyers will look into every closet as they get closer to 

making an offer, therefore desired closets that they 

aspire to have will give them a reason to consider your 

home over the one next door. Now is a great time to 

think about getting organized for this fall season . 

Shoe closet 

Open concept 

New models and renovated homes are opting for 

an open concept closet, especially in a mudroom – 

it is even more important to have everything 

in place. 

Susan Crema-Martin is a Certified Elite 

Canadian Staging Professional – CCSP 

Mentor, and President, York Region - Real 

Estate Staging Assoc. - RESA. If you have a 

question for Susan, send your questions to: 



Raising Readers 

By Susan McGinn 

There are many skills a child develops as they learn to read. 

Children learn that letters group together to make words. They learn that words 

have meaning. Children associate pictures with words and derive meaning by 

looking at the pictures and talking about what they see. 

As a parent, there are many things you can do to help your child develop early 

literacy skills at home. One of the strongest indicators of reading success is 

reading to your child. Be a reading role model. When your child sees you reading 

for pleasure, they learn that reading is fun. Have lots of different reading materials 

at home; books, magazines and newspapers are all great options. Point out letters 

and small easily recognizable words as you read. 

Here at The Family Place, we focus on developing early literacy skills. We hold an 

alphabet circle every Tuesday morning at 10:30. The focus is on developing 

language skills and fluency. Children also develop thinking skills such as 

comprehension, memory, decision making, problem solving, following directions 

and creativity. We offer a reading readiness program where we explore the 

relationship between sounds and letters. We focus on visual and auditory 

discrimination as well as letter recognition in 

developing pre-reading skills. These are all easy 

activities you can do at home with your child to 

nurture their early literacy development. 

Take opportunities to explore language in the 

environment you are in. Read labels at the grocery 

store, read street signs when you are taking a walk 

through the neighbourhood, read recipes as you cook 

or bake together and tell your child stories about your 

life as a child. Make activities for early literacy fun for 

your child. Games to play include fishing for letters, 

memory games and shaker sounds. Simple board 

games help your child learn to follow directions and 

take turns. 

Overall, the most important thing you can do to help 

your child develop early literacy skills is to celebrate 

their successes. Each small step they take is a step on 

the path to becoming a lifelong reader. 

Susan McGinn, BCS is the Program Coordinator at 

York North Family Resource Programs and a busy 

mom of three boys who love to read. 

MOUNT 

ALBERT 

VETERINARY 

HOSPITAL 

Dr. “Bob” Prendergast 

Full Service 

Animal Hospital 

Mon, Wed, Thurs 

& Fri 8am-6pm 

Tues 8am-7pm 

Grooming by Denise 

19144 Highway 48 

Mount Albert 

(Across from Home Hardware 

Building Centre) 

905-473-2400 




FIRE PREVENTION WEEK OCTOBER 9-15 

Farm Safety www.fiprecan.ca 

Life Saving Tips 

Install smoke alarms inside and outside all bedrooms and in all principal buildings. 

Install the appropriate fire extinguishers in key areas. 

Work with the local fire department to develop and practice a fire escape plan with family and 

employees, and determine a meeting place. 

Identify who may require special assistance (the elderly and handicapped). 

Make sure buildings are well-spaced. 

Keep cistern and stock pond relatively full and provide clear access to water source. 

Ensure that appropriate fire protection equipment is accessible. 

Checklist 

Keep fire department numbers posted on all telephones. 

Ensure all electrical wiring is inspected and up to code. 

Ensure all electrical equipment has a nationally recognized testing agency certification. 

Replace worn wiring and use only 15 amp fuses unless otherwise specified. 

Remove wiring and lighting from wet areas. 

Inspect and maintain fire extinguishers regularly. 

Machinery / Equipment – Keep it Clean, Safe and Inspected 

Before installing heating equipment, check product certification and insurance requirements. 

Ensure that the pump is on a separate electrical circuit and located away from other buildings, to 

safeguard the pressure of the water supply for fire fighters. 

Refuel equipment and internal combustion engines outside, but never while running and only 

once cool. 

Ensure that crop dryers are equipped with adequate controls enabling them to shut off blowers or 

dampers when temperatures become too high in the heat transfer chamber. 

Never use "home-made" dryers. 

Important Reminders 

Designate safe smoking areas away from barns, crops, stores or flammable materials. 

Before burning, check regulations with your local authority. 

Burn rubbish in an incinerator equipped with a spark arrestor and never in a high wind. 

Keep a pail of water nearby. 

Never carry out field burning. 

Do not use fumigants near an open flame or electric equipment. 

Clean up. Remove all trash from the property. 

Repaint weathered surfaces and remove rotting wood and fencing. 


Safe Storage: Spontaneous Ignition of 

Crops Causes Fires. 

Before Storing 

Provide proper ventilation. 

Ensure crops – hay, alfalfa, clover, soybean, 

hays – are well-dried and properly cured. 

Make sure wet grains are below the safe 

moisture content before storage. 

Check for spontaneous heating hazards 

regularly, e.g. manure pile. 

Repair leaking roofs and openings to protect 

stored crops against wetness. 

During Storage 

Inspect daily for signs of steaming, irritating 

odours, wet areas and "flues" in the hay for 

several weeks. 

Have fire fighting equipment immediately 

accessible. 

Petroleum products should be stored above 

ground at least 12 metres (40 feet) from any 

other building, in a tank on non-combustible 

support. In all cases vent pipes not less than 

3 centimetres (1 1/4") in diameter and cap 

them with weatherproof hoods. 

Petroleum products should be dispensed 

from storage tanks with appropriate pumping 

equipment. 

DATES TO REMEMBER 

International Day of Older Persons - Oct. 1 

Fire Prevention Week - October 9 - 15 

Thanksgiving - Monday, OCTOBER 10 

Small Business Week - October 16 - 22 

PA DAY (Public) - Friday, October 21 

PA Day (Catholic) - Monday, October 24 

Halloween - Monday, October 31 

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH 

STAMP COLLECTING MONTH 

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH 

Guy Stramaglia 

& 

Bruce Trim, Brokers 

HALL 

of 

FAME 

1990 

TheBulletinMagazine.com October 2011 23 

2007 

1140 Stellar Drive 

Newmarket, Ontario L3Y 7B7 

Toronto Line: (416) 798-7365 

Omega Realty (1988) Ltd., Brokerage 

Independently Owned & Operated 

(905) 

898-1211

hort happenings 

October News 

By Anne Hill 

A big thank you to everyone who contributed to the 

success of our fall plant and bake sale on September 

10th; a lot of excellent plants found new homes with 

happy gardeners. We had eager shoppers waiting for 

us as soon as we arrived at the Sharon Temple 

grounds. It was fun to help a gardener plan out a 

whole new garden with “something low, something 

yellow, something taller, something to bloom early, 

something for fall colour” being picked out. That 

particular garden should look lovely next year. The 

proceeds of our sales go towards maintaining our 

community gardens and paying for speakers 

throughout the year. 

Perennials planted now have time to get settled in 

without heat stress and will be established before the 

ground freezes. Water the plants in well. I’ve been 

amazed this week by how dry the soil is – you’d think 

we’d had no rain all year! We have an article on 

dividing plants in fall on our website that contains 

good tips on which ones divide best in the fall and 

how to handle them. Working in the garden is a 

pleasure in the fall as the 

weather is cooler and growth 

is less frantic. 

Spiders rule in the garden at 

the moment – some days the 

fine strands of their silk are 

festooned from the maple tree 

over to the flower garden in a 

delicate display of beautiful 

shining colour as the 

light catches them, like a lot of little rainbows. My 

favourite spider at this time of year is the black and 

gold garden spider (argiope aurantia) a large 

handsome spider which spins zigzag strips into 

its web. 

It’s time to bring in the houseplants that have been 

vacationing outside. They will need a good cleaning 

and inspection to make sure they aren’t bringing in 

hitch-hikers. Outdoor bugs like earwigs aren’t 

welcome in the house! 

Our speaker on Tuesday, October 18th is Malcolm 

Geast and he will be talking about bugs in the garden, 

the good and the bad. It’s important that we protect 

the good bugs and know how to deal with the 

unwelcome ones in ways that don’t damage the 

environment. We’ll have our last flower show of the 

year that evening. The Junior Gardeners will meet at 

7p.m to make a Halloween craft. 

We meet at Mount Albert Community Centre, 53 

Main Street, Mount Albert. Guests pay just $2 per 

meeting. A membership taken out in the next two 

months will run till the end of 2012. 

For more information about any of our activities 

please call 905-478-8450 or visit our website at 

www.gardenontario.org/site.php/mountalbert 

Community Groups, Churches and Events 

need volunteers! Looking for community 

hours? Check the What’s On list on 

pages 6 and 7 in each issue, there may 

be something you can help out with!! 


DEADLINE 

The Bulletin Magazine November 2011 

Advertising Deadline: October 19 

Delivery starts Tuesday November 1 

Canada Post delivers to your mailbox! 

Holland Landing, Sharon, Queensville, 

Mount Albert, Cedar Valley, Holt, River 

Drive Park, Harvest Hills 

9,000 copies distributed each month! 

Proudly owned in East Gwillimbury! 

Contact Julie Smith 

for advertising rates 

julie@thebulletinmagazine.com 

or call 905-473-9788 

Main office: 


Book an appointment for face mapping at 

our Skin Bar! in the month of October and 

have a chance to win a customized 

Dermalogica facial treatment. 

Take a seat, get 

your free Face 

Mapping, plenty of steamed 

towels, and start sampling, 

smelling, feeling and touching 

Dermalogica products in the 

way they are meant to be 

tested – on 

your skin! 

Be one of the first 

clients to try out the 

new iPad application, 

perform your own 

mini facial and take 

home samples. 

We'll see 

you at the 

Skin Bar! 

Take your seat at our skin bar event 

Join us on Facebook • Follow us on Twitter 

Book online at www.tanglessalon.ca or 905 953 8980 

Grist Mill Plaza, Holland Landing 

East Gwillimbury Council Meeting 

Schedule 

October: 

Oct, 03 Committee of the Whole Council 10 am 

Oct, 03 Council Meeting 3 pm 

Oct, 17 Committee of the Whole Council 1 pm 

Oct, 17 Council Meeting 7 pm 

November: 

Nov, 07 Committee of the Whole Council 10 am 

Nov, 07 Council Meeting 3 pm 

Nov, 21 Committee of the Whole Council 1 pm 

Nov, 21 Council Meeting 7 pm 

All meetings are held in Council 

Chambers at 19000 Leslie Street, 

Sharon 

MOTORCYCLE, ATV & SLED 

SALES & SERVICE 

25426 Highway 48, Sutton, ON 

Phone: 905.722.7200 

Toll-Free: 1.877.722.7205 


WELLNESS 

The Biggest Diet Mistake You’re Making 

By Brandi McCarthy, RHN 

Most of us are doing our best. We are trying to cook 

healthy meals for our families, eat lots of fresh fruits 

and vegetables and minimize the amount of 

processed/fast foods that we are eating, but most of us 

are still missing one vital component for success: 

Planning. Yup, it’s as simple as that. Most of us have 

heard the phrase “If you fail to plan, you plan to 

fail”. It’s so true, especially when it comes to our diet. 

Don’t believe me? When was the last time you uttered 

the words, “I just don’t have time to make dinner, let’s 

get take out”, or perhaps it was, “I just didn’t have 

time to eat lunch today”. Either way, we are forever 

making excuses for not doing the things we know we 

need to do and we’re letting ourselves get away with 

it! Planning ahead is THE most important thing you 

can do in my opinion. If you know that the kids have 

soccer on Tuesday night and you’re working late on 

Monday night, make sure you pan ahead for that on 

Sunday! No, you don’t need to make 3 meals in one 

night, just make one and “stretch” it out (see Cook 

Once, Eat Two to Three Times). Don’t want to be 

caught mid-week with yet another takeout pizza? 

Here are my best “plan ahead” tips for success; 

Write It Down 

This is the most important tip. You need to know 

when and where you have time to do things and what 

potential snags you will run into along the way. Take 

15 minutes out of the slowest day on your weekend, 

(yes, you can find 15 minutes) and write down what 

you have to do that week. Take a look at your 

schedule and try to figure out how much time you can 

allot to dinner, packing lunches and making 

breakfasts. I bet it isn’t as much as you thought! You 

need to have a plan! Pick a few days that you know 

are not as busy and schedule in some cooking, 

shopping and prep time. If you know that Tuesday and 

Wednesday night you don’t have time to cook, look 

for some extra time on Sunday and Monday to make 

food ahead of time. Get the family involved too! Kids 

are great at prep work and getting them to help out in 

the kitchen when you have the time, will go a long 

way towards teaching them how to make healthy 

lifestyle choices in the future! 

Make Tupperware Your Friend 

If you don’t already have an arsenal of Tupperware, 

get some. I highly recommend glass Tupperware over 

plastic (no leachy chemicals, easier to clean and lasts 

way longer), but it’s up to you, any sealable food 

container will do. Keep your Tupperware in an easy to 

access place with all the lids at the ready. This stuff 

couldn’t be more handy! 

Cook Once, Eat Two to Three Times 

I can’t stress this enough. If you are making taco’s on 

Monday night, double or triple the meat for a leftover 

meal on Tuesday/and or Wednesday. You don’t need to 

have the exact same thing, just have the “cooked” 

portion ready to go ahead of time (see example 

below). Make sure you package up the extras in your 

handy dandy Tupperware and put it in the fridge for 

tomorrow’s lunch or dinner BEFORE you serve it. 

This is a super important step! Often when there is 

lots of food available, we eat more than we should 

(buffets anyone?) Be sure to put away the “next 

dinner” servings before dishing out the meal to avoid 

all of your planning going to waste. 

Simple Example: 

Monday night – 

Traditional taco’s 

Tuesday night – 

Taco salad using 

leftover meat, 

chopped cabbage 

and various other 

veggies (maybe 

even a few nacho 

chips...) 


Wednesday night – Mexican Scramble! Add the 

leftover taco meat to some scrambled eggs and top it 

with avocado, salsa and maybe some cheese. Who 

doesn’t love breakfast for dinner?! 

Use a Slow Cooker 

This is the most brilliant thing ever invented for the 

modern day busy family. Pop a roast in on your way 

out the door and dinner is ready when you walk 

back in the door. How great is that!! On the nights 

that you know you are going to be super time 

crunched, a slow cooker meal and a salad (even out 

of a bag!) is a little piece of heaven. One added 

bonus to slow cookers......you’re house will smell 

like you’ve been slaving over the stove all day! If 

you’re not sure how to use one, look up some 

recipes online, there are tons and they’re super easy! 

Pack Lunch and Prep Breakfast the 

Night Before 

I know you think you will do it in the morning, 

but what if you sleep in? What if the kids are 

running late? What if....? Pack your lunch the 

night before and you won’t need to worry about 

the “what if’s” in the morning. If your lunch is 

packed and ready to go you won’t be “forced” to 

eat fast food and feel guilty about it later. If 

you’re serious about eating healthy, you need to 

make your own lunch. Same goes for breakfast. 

You need to at least know what you are going to 

have and how long it will take to make in the 

morning so that you are prepared. If you aren’t a 

breakfast eater because you feel you don’t have 

time, at least take a piece of fruit and a handful of 

nuts. It doesn’t get any easier than that and it will 

give your brain some much needed morning fuel! 

Just Do It 

Not to try and steal Nike’s catch phrase, but they are 

right! You just have to do it. I’ve given you some tips 

to help you plan ahead, but it’s you who has to 

actually do it. Get the family involved, make it fun, 

do whatever it takes, but just do it! 

If you need some more tips and advice and how to 

love a healthier life, check out some of the seminars 

being offered at Body Design this fall season at 

www.bodydesign.ca 

By Brandi McCarthy, RHN. Brandi is a 

Registered Nutritionist and certified 

Personal Trainer at Body Design. Body 

Design offers personal training, nutrition 

and lifestyle coaching to assist individuals 

achieve their fitness and weight loss goals. 

www.bodydesign.ca 

MOUNT ALBERT TAX COMPANY 

HOLLAND LANDING TAX COMPANY 

“The low cost provider of professional tax services” 

Ian Hawkins 

ACCOUNTING 

& INCOME TAX 

905.473.6522 · 289.319.0506 

www.t42.ca 

Next to the Post Office, Mount Albert 

Grist Mill Plaza, Holland Landing 

1.866.355.5759 • f. 289.803.0041• c. 416.528.9639 


FROM EMPLOYMENT TO 

EMPOWERMENT 3 - Part 1 By Gerri Sefi 

It’s crucial that your journey to financial and lifestyle freedom include every option in the business 

environment. Have you considered investing in a franchise? Here are some points to consider: 

Franchising is often referred to as a turn-key operation, or cookie cutter business methodology - a McDonald’s 

hamburger looks and tastes the same from Toronto to Sydney. Franchising is not an industry; rather it is a 

method of distribution initiated by a company wishing to expand by licensing business partners to reproduce 

their system. There’s a reason that a Tim Horton’s coffee tastes the same at every location! 

When starting one’s own business, cost is very important but it should not be the only factor to consider. One 

of the most important challenges will be to minimize the time frame for the business to ramp up, start 

producing the product or services, attract clients and, of course, commence cash flow. 

The franchisor has: 

a. Completed and tested the blueprint for the business. 

b. A wealth of experience in what has, and what has not, worked. It has already tried, tested, 

accepted or rejected every aspect of the business. 

c. Current information on demographics, competition, market strategies and emerging markets. 

d. Made a commitment to profitability and partners with franchisees to increase revenues. Their future is 

your future i.e. win-win. 

Rather than having to go through creation, labour and delivery of the product/service, the franchisee’s focus is 

to learn the system, build the business plan and implement - all of which is conducted under the guidance and 

watchful eye of the development team. 

What are the benefits to buying one? 

a. A proven method: the franchisor has already developed a model that has been successful for others. 

Guesswork is eliminated and risk is minimized. 

b. Name Recognition – consumers prefer familiarity and consistency. For example, when you last stopped 

for a coffee in a strange town and ordered a coffee at Tim Horton’s, the beverage will be exactly the 

same as your local brew. The only difference may be cost as that may local market driven. 

c. Strength in Numbers – you are in business FOR yourself, not BY yourself, By having a network of 

non-completing other franchisees, you can exchange marketing ideas and receive quick feedback to 

resolve challenges. 

d. Improved Buying Power – simple economics – the more you buy, the cheaper the price. Having 

multiple franchisees buying the same goods will significantly reduce the price. 

e. Access to capital – it is possible you will need start-up capital. Many franchisors have a financing 

program already in place for qualified applicants. Or they have financing arrangements with lenders 

based on the strength of their brand. 

How much money do you need to buy a franchise on average? 

There are 4 important numbers to consider: 

a. The Franchise Fee – this is a one-time payment to the franchisor when the agreement is signed and 


covers the license to distribute the product or service, training and support. 

b. Business Start-Up Expenses – this covers build-out expenses e.g. leasehold improvements, 

implementation of franchisor design, inventory. 

c. Business Expenses – this is the amount of cash needed on an-on-going basis to keep the business open 

e.g. telephone, hydro, staffing. 

d. Personal Expenses – this is the amount of cash needed to live while the business ramps up. It is 

generally recommended that the franchisee have 3 months’ living expenses available but this could vary 

depending on the nature of the business. 

It’s impossible to give an “average” number because of the wide range of franchises available today in so many 

differing industries – from coffee to pet grooming to home inspections. The investment can range from $40,000 

to $5M … 

The total cost of starting the franchise will also vary as it will depend on the product or service, and if the 

business has to lease space, or can be run from a home office. 

How long does it take to be profitable? 

This is also a huge variable and will depend on the franchisor, product/service, model and location. 

Regulations do not allow the franchisor to guarantee earnings, or the time it will take to become profitable. The 

reason for this is that they cannot know how YOU will actually run the business. However, many franchise 

companies declare earnings and profit of existing franchisees in their Disclosure Document - this is called an 

Earnings Claim. and they are only allowed to include this under strict regulatory guidelines. Although this is 

not a guarantee, it can be seen as an indicator of what profit the business could be capable of achieving. 

There’s a lot to learn! Part 2 will cover the variety of 

franchise models, and factors for you to consider in 

your search. 

Gerri Sefi, Self-Employment Coach, 

416-628-3171 

www.theesourcecoach.com/gsefi 

Plant bulbs in 

October, giving 

them time to start 

rooting before 

winter. 

Wayne N. Dargus 

Financial Advisor 

19101 Leslie Street 

Vince’s Country Market Plaza 

Sharon, ON L0G 1V0 

Office: 905-478-8963 

Fax: 905-478-1842 

wayne.dargus@edwardjones.com 

www.edwardjones.com 

Life Insurance Agent for Edward Jones Insurance Agency 


in the garden 

Abkhazi Garden, a National Treasure 

By Georgie Kennedy, Lake Simcoe South Master Gardener 

In the summer, our Master Gardener meetings are 

socials rather than business meetings. We enjoy the 

opportunity to explore each others’ gardens and 

converse like the friends we have become. In August, 

when I told the group that I was booked to fly to 

Victoria to visit my parents, one of our members 

suggested that I take my mother to a special garden, 

one that a friend had highly recommended. I had 

been planning to go to the much larger, more wellknown 

garden outside the city, but Dad was 

concerned about tiring Mom out. From the flyers and 

the website, Abkhazi seemed so appealing that my 

mother, 87, and I felt it would be ideal for an outing. 

Abkhazi Garden was easy to find. It is in a beautiful 

shady neighbourhood of gorgeous Victoria, near the 

sea. It is actually on Fairfield 

Road, which goes through 

downtown and then loops around 

to connect to Beach Drive. One 

thing I learned that day: always 

check a garden’s hour of 

operations. Thinking that a 

garden looks best in early 

morning when the light is softer, 

we arrived at 10 am, but we had 

to occupy ourselves for another 

hour as it did not open until 11. 

Abkhazi operates eight months 

of the year, from March 1 to 

October 31. There is plenty of 

parking near a wide sidewalk, 

perfect for the citizens of B.C.’s capital city, many of 

whom sport walkers and canes. There is an 

admission fee for those who are not members of The 

Land Conservancy, with $1 off for those who arrive 

on foot or by bike or bus. 

At one time the land was privately owned. It was 

originally the home and life project of Marjorie 

(Peggy) Pemberton-Carter and an exiled Georgian 

prince, Nicholas Abkhazi. The story of their lives and 

marriage is incredibly daring and romantic. Friends 

before the war, they each survived prisoner-of-war 

camps in World War II and reconnected afterward. 

For over 40 years they nurtured the property and gave 

it a unique shape. Now the garden is managed by The 

Land Conservancy, which has taken out a large 

mortgage in order to pay for the renovations needed 

to get it in shape for public viewing. According to its 

website, TLC is a charitable land trust modeled after 

the British National Trust. With a little research I 

learned that this garden has been featured as the TV 

show, Recreating Eden, in an episode appropriately 

entitled The Garden That Love Built (2004). 

A few days ago I asked my mother, for her 

impressions of the garden. 

She told me that she liked 

the location, size and layout, 

as well as the relaxed 

atmosphere and the lunch. A 

city garden is convenient for 

urban seniors. The 

arrangement of the property, 

on just over one acre, was 

just right for her: the small 

garden rooms with winding 

pathways were easily 

manageable. 

Photo: Jeff de Jong 

We explored just three of the 

six spaces. The sheltered 

Rhododendron Woodland Garden is right at the 

entrance. The walkways are mulch covered but easily 

navigable. Around each corner is something 

deliberately placed to attract the eye, a little clump of 

hardy cyclamen or a large, exotic hosta. My mother 

felt that the most fascinating and memorable features 

here were the old Garry Oak trees, twisted and bent 

in unusual shapes. From this area, we came to the 

South Lawn, an open and sunny space alive with 


colour and variety, winding around the steep rock 

face. This is where the ashes of the Abkhazis were 

scattered. From the House Terrace, a short hike up 

the driveway, we were able to admire the entire 

property below us. The trees and shrubs combined 

with the flowing annual and perennial beds made a 

colourful vista. There were three turtle ponds, 

definitely appealing for children, and more enticing 

wooded areas just a short walk away. 

This is where we took our break for a delightful 

homemade lunch. The Tea Room gives on to the 

Terrace so we had a lovely view from our table. The 

friendly staff gave it a family feeling. This heritage 

garden is so peaceful and serene. 

If you would like to visit, check on the website for 

garden classes, jazz concerts and art displays. The 

gift shop offers temptations from mainly local 

artists. You will enjoy this quiet gem of a garden 

with family and friends of any age. 

Lake Simcoe South Master Gardeners provide 

free gardening advice. 

Send your questions to our gardening hotline at 

lssmastergardeners@gmail.com 

19124 Centre Street, Mount Albert 905-473-6588 

Paint 

Specials 

$7 OFF 

Regal 

& Aura 

Customer Appreciation 


9 am to 6 pm 


9 am to 5 pm 

FREE 

Draws 

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Order 

Specials 

In-Store 

Specials 

on Home 

Décor 


Circles: 

Carving Out Community 

By Vicki Pinkerton 

There's often a day, an hour, or moment when in hindsight you can point your finger and say, "there, that is 

where my life changed forever." For Alfie Fishgap, artist, wood carver, and musician, that is particularly true. 

He grew up in a Scottish, Italian, immigrant family in Toronto. Life at home didn't suit him so at thirteen, he 

panhandled enough money to take a train to the West Coast. There he worked at odd jobs to get by. A couple 

of years later he found himself in Clearwater BC, a tiny northern village. He was working to provide summer 

activities for the local kids. Just a kid himself, hung out with the native teens and then their parents. He found 

that he could sit for hours listening to their stories and teachings. 

At seventeen, homesick, he came back to Toronto, reunited with his parents, and pursued a career as a 

musician. He also took on an assortment of "real" jobs to support the artist within. Life rolled along. He got 

married, settled in Holland Landing and had a daughter. Things seemed to fall into a comfortable routine. 

Multi talented, he picked up carving tools to try carving duck decoys. He didn't have the time to take courses 

but the knives felt good in his hands and it was fun. 

Then in his early 40's, although he didn't recognize it at the time, Alfie had his moment. His life was about 

to change. On that particular night he woke from a dream of incredible clarity. In it, he saw a woman's face. 

It was grotesque but appealing in a way he didn't understand. In the morning the image lingered. He couldn’t 

get rid of it, so he picked up his tools and began to carve. He was obsessed by it carving whenever his 

schedule gave him a few free minutes, driven to get her right. To finish he painted her and used horse mane 

and tail to give her thick black hair. When he was done he hung the carving on the wall. As he stared at her 

in awe, she seemed familiar. A quick Google search revealed several Coast Salish "Wild Woman of the 

woods" masks that looked remarkably similar. Alfie stood wondering at the coincidence. "Cool," he thought, 

and it seemed like the end of the story. 

Not long after, his parents phoned. They urged him to come for a visit. They had something to tell him. On 

his way he was worried that one of them might be sick, but no, their news was much stranger. After several 

false starts they told him that he was not their child. They said that he had been adopted as a toddler. He sat 

in shock as they explained that he had come from the Coast Salish Nation on the coastal mainland of BC. 

They knew little else about his birth except that his mother had been Native and his father Scottish. He had 

been one of the many babies bought and sold by unscrupulous adoption agencies in the 1950's and 60's. 

He was stunned. His whole world shifted. Nothing was as it had seemed to be. He didn't know how to proceed 

with his life. With his wife’s encouragement he headed back to the coast this time with a mission. He was 

looking for clues about who he really was. His search seemed to be an exercise in futility. Those adoptions 

left no paper trails. He needed good luck to help him along the way. Eventually he found it. He made his way 

to a small village where an elder grandmother remembered his family. They had been fish trappers she said, 

by the name of Fishgap, but they no longer lived in the village and no one knew where they had gone. That 

was the end of the trail. In the three months he was away he would find no other clues. He turned around and 

headed for home where he took the name Fishgap in honour of his lost heritage and began life as an estranged 

Coast Salish man in East Gwillimbury. 


He continued to research his culture and to find out as much as 

he could about the life he might have lived. As he learned the 

stories, legends and the caricatures of his people it became his 

personal calling to help capture them and to keep them alive in 

wood and paintings. Again he carved obsessively but this time 

his tools seemed to know what was expected and the wood 

melted away revealing traditional images. 

He began to show his work and to tell people the stories that 

were becoming his own. It wasn't long until his reputation as a 

carver grew and he was approached by First Nations elders 

who wanted to buy pieces. He says his work is a respectful 

combination of the traditions of Coast Salish, Haida, and 

Kwakiutl coastal peoples. As a newcomer to the clan he was 

humbled and honoured by their acceptance. Alfie says he does 

not know where many of his images come from. His hands, the 

wood and the tools seem to conspire to discover the heart of a 

piece. He feels privileged to have these opportunities. 

Again, that could have been the end of the story but it's only 

the beginning. Unexpectedly, Alfie has found himself to be a 

bridge between communities and it is a calling that he takes 

seriously. He has partnered with Todd Jamieson from the 

Oneida reserve. Todd paints in the traditional Woodland style. 

Together they introduce students to the myths, history, lore, and 

current realities of our native neighbours. Working with school 

boards, libraries and community groups they bring their art and 

stories to help foster understanding between those of us 

working to live together in Canada. 

Alfie finds this work rewarding. "Kids ask questions that get right to the heart of the matter," he says with a 

smile. They don't have any of the hang-ups that adults have. If they want to know something they just come 

right out with it. He introduces his audiences to native art, culture and history. He lets them try their hand at 

some of the images they learn about and builds a bridge for communication and learning. He hopes that his 

humble efforts to give back to a community that's given him so much will bear fruit. 

Alfie is carving out a new reality for himself and bringing us all along with him toward a world of 

understanding. What is next for him? He isn't sure. But you can be certain that he is mindful of his dreams. 

For more information about Alfie, his work or family totems go to www.Fishgap.com or 

www.Spiritlures.com 

Vicki Pinkerton lives on a small farm just outside of Mount Albert when she is not driving 

the roads of Canada. She is a practicing life coach specializing in hope, a 

writer and adventurer who wonders about many things. www.questacrosscanada.com 

or lifelinescoaching.org 

Where do you see community? What makes it work? 

Let me know. Email info@thebulletinmagazine.com and put Circles in the subject line. 


Tax Tips 

by Ian Hawkins 

Claiming DEPENDENTS (children) 

We continually run into issues with clients who have been told stuff by previous tax preparers that is just plain 

WRONG! A case in point is the issue of claiming children as dependents when there is a separation or divorce. 

Many clients come to us believing that when separated and there is more than one child, each party can claim 

one. This is not and never has been the case. 

The rules are very clear. Other than shared custody, only one party can claim the children and if the parties 

cannot agree as to who that is then NEITHER can. This unfortunately can lead to one party holding the other 

to ransom. There are some steps to avoid these problems. 

1. Notify CRA immediately of a change in marital status by using and filing form RC65, 

2. Negotiate a custody agreement - and get it in writing and signed as soon as practical - and give a copy to 

CRA. 

In cases of shared custody, the 2010 budget recently changed the rules slightly to allow both parties to SHARE 

the credits falling from dependent children. Previously they agreed to allow sharing on a rotational basis but 

when one party got the credits, the other did not. The general scenario was that a party got credits for half a 

year only and the other got the credits for the other half of the year. This was in effect up to June 30, 2011. 

So what are the rules? (up to 2010 tax year) 

Amount for children born in 1993 or later 

You can claim $2,101 for each of your or your spouse's or common law partner's children who are under 18 

years of age at the end of the year. 

The full amount can be claimed in the year of the child's birth, death, or adoption. 

Child lives with both parents 

If the child resides with both parents throughout the year, either you or your spouse or common-law partner 

can make the claim. 

If you are making this claim for more than one child, either you or your spouse or common-law partner must 

make the claim for all children under 18 years of age at the end of the year and resided with both of you 

throughout the year. 

Child does not live with both parents 

If the child does not reside with both parents throughout the year, the parent or the spouse or common-law 

partner who claims the amount for an eligible dependent for that child, can make the claim. 


Note 

You can still claim this amount for the child if you were unable to claim the amount for an eligible 

dependent only because: 

• the child's net income was more than $10,382, or 

• you are already claiming the amount for an eligible dependent for another child. 

1. What has changed with respect to benefit payments in cases of shared custody? 

The 2010 budget introduced – effective July 2011 - the concept of a shared-custody parent and to allow 

each shared-custody parent to receive the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) and the Universal Child Care 

Benefit (UCCB) amounts in a particular month. In addition, each shared-custody parent will receive the 

child component of the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit quarterly in respect 

of the child. 

2. What is a shared-custody parent? 

Generally, a shared-custody parent of a child is one of the two parents who: 

• are living in separate locations; 

• are living with the child on an equal or near-equal basis; and 

• are primarily responsible for the child's care and upbringing when living with the child. 

3. How will my benefits be calculated as a shared-custody parent? 

Your benefits will be calculated as if the child was your eligible dependent and you will be paid 50% of the 

benefits associated with the child. 

Ian Hawkins owns and operates Mount Albert Tax Company next to the Mount Albert 

Post Office and Holland Landing Tax Company in the Grist Mill Plaza, Mount Albert 

Road, Holland Landing. 


Anger management tips: Tame your temper 

By Raymond Mark 

If your outbursts, rages or bullying are negatively 

affecting relationships with family, friends, co-workers 

and even complete strangers, it's time to change the 

way you express your anger. You can take steps on 

your own to improve your anger management. 

Anger management tips 

Here are some anger management tips to help get 

your anger under control: 

• Take a "time out." Although it may seem cliché, 

counting to 10 before reacting, or leaving the 

situation altogether, really can defuse your temper. 

• Do something physically exerting. Physical 

activity can provide an outlet for your emotions, 

especially if you're about to erupt. Go for a brisk 

walk or a run, swim, lift weights or shoot baskets. 

• Find ways to calm and soothe yourself. Practice 

deep-breathing exercises, visualize a relaxing 

scene, or repeat a calming word or phrase to 

yourself, such as "take it easy." You can also listen 

to music, paint, journal or do yoga. 

• Once you're calm, express your anger as soon as 

possible so that you aren't left stewing. If you 

simply can't express your anger in a controlled 

manner to the person who angered you, try talking 

to a family member, friend, counselor or another 

trusted person. 

• Think carefully before you say anything so that 

you don't end up saying something you'll regret. 

Write a script and rehearse it so that you can stick 

to the issues. 

• Work with the person who angered you to identify 

solutions to the situation. 

• Use "I" statements when describing the problem to 

avoid criticizing or placing blame. For instance, 

say "I'm upset you didn't help with the housework 

this evening," instead of, "You should have helped 

with the housework." To do otherwise will likely 

upset the other person and escalate tensions. 

• Don't hold a grudge. Forgive the other person. It's 

unrealistic to expect everyone to behave exactly as 

you want. 

• Use humor to release tensions, such as imagining 

yourself or the other person in silly situations. 

Don't use sarcasm, though — it's just another form 

of unhealthy expression. 

• Keep an anger log to identify the kinds of 

situations that set you off and to monitor your 

reactions. 

• Practice relaxation skills. Learning skills to relax 

and de-stress can also help control your temper 

when it may flare up. 

Sticking with anger management skills 

It may take some time and intense effort to put these 

tips into practice when you're facing situations that 

typically send you into a rage. In the heat of the 

moment, it can be hard to remember your coping 

strategies. 

You may need to keep something with you that 

serves as a reminder to step back from the situation 

and get your anger under control. For instance, you 

may want to keep a small, smooth stone in your 

pocket or a scrap of paper with your tips written 

down. With due diligence, these anger management 

techniques will come more naturally and you'll no 

longer need such reminders. 


Getting professional anger management help 

You can practice many of these anger management 

strategies on your own. But if your anger seems out 

of control, is hurting your relationships or has 

escalated into violence, you may benefit from 

seeing a psychotherapist or an anger management 

professional. Role playing in controlled situations, 

such as anger management classes, can help you 

practice your techniques. 

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HAVE YOU HEARD? there’s going to be 

a new school in Harvest Hills. The first new 

school in East Gwillimbury in 34 years, is 

planned for Harvest Hills neighbourhood. It 

will accommodate 567 kindergarten to grade 

eight students and is targeted for construction 

in 2013-2014. 

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“Lots of people believe that poison will dehydrate mice when they die, so there’s 

no smell. That’s a complete myth. Dead mice smell!” 

Fighting off furry pests 

There are three things a homeowner should do to 

prevent mice from moving in. 

1. Block All Access Routes 

Mice can get in your dryer vents, cracks in the 

foundation or any spaces between decks and 

sunrooms. Mice have been known to shimmy up a 

drain pipes leading in the house. Keep them out 

by plugging openings with steel wool. Scattering 

mothballs around (beyond reach of pets or 

children) reportedly discourages mice. 

2. Remove Potential Food Sources 

Garages, often rich with nesting material, also 

attract mice. If you store pet food or dry goods 

there, you are providing the second requirement 

for a mousefest: a steady food source. Birdfeeders 

are another easy target. 

3. Leave No Space Undisturbed 

To discourage mice tidy and declutter frequently. 

Mice look for snug homes where they’ll be left 

alone. Under cupboards, under appliances, in 

closets you don’t use much; these are all good 

places to nest. Prevention is best! 

Know your foe 

• Mice don’t require 

water. They get all the 

moisture they need from 

food. 

• They can squeeze 

through 1/2-centimetre 

(1/4-inch) openings. 

• Mice climb well and 

can jump about 45 

centimetres (18 inches) 

into the air. They can 

also swim. 

• Mice prefer highprotein 

foods such as 

nuts, seeds, or pet food. 

They’re not fond of 

cheese, so use peanut 

butter to bait traps 

instead. 

• Mice are curious, and 

will investigate objects 

placed along their paths. 

• If all their needs are 

The Usual Suspects 

met, mice may not 

venture more than three 

metres (10 feet) from 

their nests. 

• Mice are nocturnal. 

They make dozens of 

food-gathering trips 

each night. 

• One mouse can 

produce up to 100 fecal 

pellets per day, and 

leave hundreds of small 

droplets of urine in its 

travels. The United 

Nations Food and 

Agriculture Organization 

estimates 20 to 33 

percent of the world’s 

total food supply is lost 

to rodents. 


ADVERTISEMENT 

THROUGH 

THE HAYES 

My name is John Hayes and my wife Julia and I operate Blackwater Golf Course at 

21889 Highway 48 in Mount Albert. 

This month’s topic is Freedom of Speech and the Freedom of the Press. Both of these are rights 

that we think are entrenched into our very being. So It is bad news to us all when we find out 

that these freedoms are rocked by money, power and influence. Witness the events of just last 

week. I still cant believe that this has happened to Canada – we just are not as free as I 

had believed….. 

A little background, Canada is rapidly supplanting the Arab oil with oil from the tar sands. This 

oil is being exported to the United States. It is projected that in the next ten years, the USA will 

no longer be subject to the power of the OPEC group. I don’t know for sure, but have been told 

that this is the reason behind Saudi Arabia’s push to censor a “free” Canadian press. If you don’t 

already know – here’s the story…… 

A 30-second ad by a Canadian NGO called Ethicaloil.org said that the Saudi’s treat their women 

worse than their camels. Women can’t vote, drive a car and are considered to be part of a 

man’s property. This ad is only aired in Canada, but the Saudi’s have hired Norton Rose, a 

large international law firm to censor the Canadian media. CTV news immediately pulled the ad 

under the threat of a lawsuit. That’s a real shame – we should be defending our freedoms but 

CTV’s owner Bell Canada does a ton of work in Saudi Arabia and doesn’t want to jeopardize its 

income. Yes, Money can talk……… 

Where is our Government’s outrage, who’s telling the Saudi’s to go rub rock salt. Who’s 

standing up for Canada.. Does our Government fold to the whim of a dictatorship. Sad, Sad. 

We need to elect people with a spine. I hope this situation changes . After all, we are rapidly 

approaching November 11th, when we remember and honour those who fought and gave their 

lives in order to protect our rights and freedoms. 

Well, once again, that’s all for now. Please feel free to contact me at Blackwater Golf 

(905) 473-6684 or contact@blackwater-gc.ca . No rude emails or I can’t forward them……….

•A National Treasure •Tame Your Temper •Diet Mistakes

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