Our Favourite Picks for Autumn 2010

Must Give Thanks

’Tis the season when it’s tough to be a turkey. About the best they can hope for is to have led relatively happy lives before they hit the roasting pan.
We’ve scouted out several local markets where it’s possible to purchase just such birds: free-range, naturally raised, grain-fed, hormone- and steroid-free.

All those adjectives mean they’ve been raised pretty much outdoors and their feed contained no additives.

And all of them come directly from farms well within a 100-mile radius. Because they’re fresh, not frozen you have to order ahead – and size requests will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. (Ask when they were slaughtered, fresh birds will keep up to a week in a very cold fridge.)

Broadway Farms Market 905-843-9225
12506 Heart Lake Rd, Caledon web site

Heatherlea Farm Market 519-927-5902
17049 Winston Churchill Blvd, Caledon web site

Howard the Butcher 905-584-2934
Caledon East

Carver’s Block 519-833-9677
102 Main St, Erin

Dave’s Butcher Shop 519-415-6328
Alder Street Mews, Orangeville web site

Harmony Whole Foods 519-941-8961
163 First St, Orangeville web site

100-Mile Store 705-466-3514
Creemore web site

In addition to the free-range turkeys it gets from a farm in Hockley Valley, Harmony also takes orders for “certified organic” turkeys, but be prepared to pay $7/lb, more than
double the going rate for uncertified birds.

Must Vote

A long time ago, it happened every two years, now it’s every four: your chance to have a say about who is running your town or township.

Not so long ago, exercising your franchise was a community affair. A trip to the polling station, a chat with the clerk who happened to be your neighbour, a nod to the folks from the next sideroad.

That’s the way it still happens in Caledon, Orangeville and Shelburne, but most other towns and townships in the hills have switched to a mail-in vote – a procedure that just doesn’t come with the same pleasant frisson of democratic virtue.

Election day is Monday, October 25. If you’re in mail-in country, the ballot you’ll receive by post around the end of September needs to be returned and post-marked by election day.

Keen to vote, but confused?

Most local municipalities have outlined the procedure on their websites. Or, call your town office with your questions.

Must Mellow

For 35 years, Orangeville Concert Association has been bringing superb classical and jazz musicians to play in Orangeville and the coming four-concert series is no exception to the quality of talent we’ve come to expect.

OCT 1 Trio D’Argento
Chamber music from Bach to Carmen to European jazz.

NOV 5 Robi Botos Trio
The acclaimed jazz pianist plays with his brothers on drum and bass

JAN 30 Henderson-Kolk Duo
One of Canada’s premier classical guitar duos.

MAR 18 The Blazing Fiddles
Show tunes, jazz standards and classical music on two fiddles with piano and bass.

See the Orangeville Concerts web site for more information.

The Dufferin Piecemakers Quilting Guild is celebrating its sixteenth birthday with an extravaganza of a quilting show.

“The Magic of Cloth” on October 23 and 24 at Orangeville Fairgrounds features more than 300 hand-made quilts. You’ll also be able to purchase quilting supplies and bring your heirloom quilts to have them expertly appraised. The Piecemakers’ aim is to preserve quilting as an art form.

And, in line with the social nature of the tradition, to contribute to the community while they do it.

Last year the active group donated 17 large quilts and more than two dozen smaller ones to a host of local organizations, including Choices Youth Shelter, Family Transition Place, Headwaters Health Care Centre and Dufferin Meals on Wheels.

The Magic of Cloth runs from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday and 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday. Admission is $5. Web site: http://library.grandvalley.org/actiononline/grandvalley/piecemakers/

Must Attend

The Orangeville Town Hall Opera House is the place to be on the evening of Sunday, September 19, when a group of gifted musicians assemble their collective talents in support of Matthew Shawn Fleming.

A songwriter and percussionist, Matthew has been a pivotal force in the local music scene, with a particular interest in developing the skills of young people through drumming circles and workshops in high schools and with youth groups. Matthew is now suffering impaired vision and kidney failure due to Type One diabetes.

The Concert has been put together to celebrate his extraordinary contribution to the arts and to aid him financially. Musical director and pianist Bruce Ley has gathered a stellar group of professional musicians, all of whom have played with Matthew at some time. They include drummer Al Cross, bassist Bob Hewus, Saxophonist Steve Kennedy, and guitarists Kim Ratcliffe and Don Ross.

They’ll be joined by vocalists Beth Hamilton and Connie Rossitter of Beckon, tenor Mark DuBois, bluesman Larry Kurtz, Juno-award nominee Jani Lauzon, country singer Leisa Way, Theatre Orangeville’s David Nairn, The Friday Soul Singers, and Matthew’s own improv band, The Evil Orange Consort. The show starts at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $35, available from the theatre, BookLore and local music stores.

See the Orangeville Opera House Events web site for more information.

Must Hike

Because if ever you are going to, fall is the time to take to the trails and enjoy all the seasonal splendour the hills have to offer.

You can explore the Niagara Escarpment, get plenty of exercise, and make a social event of it on the hikes that Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club leads every weekend through October – some for seasoned hikers, some for newcomers.

To celebrate Bruce Trail Day, on Sunday, October 3, the club is also hosting a barbecue and offering a series of free introductory hikes from 10 am to 4 pm at Forks of the Credit Provincial Park (parking is free).

The day is held to promote public awareness of the Bruce Trail and the benefits of outdoor activity on land conserved for future generations.

The Caledon Club, one of nine member clubs that form the Bruce Trail Conservancy, maintains seventy kilometres of main trail and about the same length of side trails in Caledon and the south end of Dufferin County.

For hike details, see caledonbrucetrail.org.