Windsurfing Canada Race at Beacon Marina - Caesarea
July 26, 2010 by MikeD · 2 Comments
On Saturday, July 17th, Windsurfing Canada held their third race (of 5) in the Ontario Sailing Association series at the Beacon Marina on Lake Scugog in beautiful Caesarea. And the conditions were perfect - winds in the 10 - 20 knot range, warm water and a sunny sky above.
This is the third year that the Beacon Marina has hosted the event, and participants had nothing but compliments to say about their hosts. Tom Mae, President of Windsurfing Canada, gives a great overview of the racing series and the objectives of the association. And John Darling, a windsurfing “master” who has discovered the fountain of youth, extends an invitation to all viewers to come and pay them a visit at the Toronto Windsurfing Club at Cherry Beach. Take him up on his offer!
This is another example of having a great facility in the Scugog region, and being reminded of such by people from outside our immediate area. Thanks to Kelly Patterson and his partners at the Beacon Marina for being great hosts and trying to promote “green marine” activities on Lake Scugog. Keep up the great work guys!
For more information check out:
http://www.greenmarine.ca
http://windsurfingcanada.com
http://www.torontowindsurf.com
As always, leave us your comments, we would love to hear what you have to say!
2009 Port Perry Half Marathon
March 6, 2010 by MikeD · Leave a Comment
On Saturday, September 12, 2009, the Port Perry Half Marathon/5k race became Canada’s first carbon neutral race. And that’s pretty impressive for such an event. (Angela explains all the details in the video!) This is the 9th edition of the race and a big Lake Scugog salute goes out to Angela Connolly and all her team for putting on a great event! Over 200 runners registered for both the Half-Marathon and the 5km race.
You can get more details for next year’s race at:
http://portperryrun.ca.
The Borelians present “The Philadelphia Story” - Port Perry
February 19, 2010 by MikeD · Leave a Comment
The Borelians are at it again, this time with “The Philadelphia Story.”
Written by Phillip Barry, this classic has it all: drama, laughs, family struggles and an uncle who drinks and likes to pinch! One day before her marriage to a successful businessman, socialite Tracy Lord is sure of her her future. With the arrival of ex-husband Dexter Haven and the tempting presence of reporter Mike Connor, Tracys vision of herself is shaken to the core. It will take a bottle of champagne and a compromising situation to crack her exterior and reveal an understanding heart. This classic comedy of manners finds that sometimes getting what you want means learning to let go.
Watch the promo, and listen to some of the cast members as they describe what the play is all about.
Sounds like a great time!
Check it out and let us know what you think.
Support local theatre!
Scarecrow Festival - Port Perry
October 8, 2009 by MikeD · Leave a Comment
Reverend Simon Bell, the Youth and Family Minister from the Church of the Ascension here in Port Perry, and his youth group, were out in full force facilitating a “Make a Scarecrow” workshop as part of the Downtown BIA Fall Festival events last week. “Kids” of all ages were invited to participate in the making of scarecrows, and as you will see on the video, a great time was had by all!
Finished scarecrows were then posted throughout the downtown core to celebrate the season. Take a walk downtown and have a look… you might recognize some of them. 
I must give a special mention to Holly Stiller, a resident scarecrow expert, for taking us through the steps in making great scarecrows.
Thanks again to Simon, Holly and the whole group from the Church of the Ascension, for making Port Perry a great place to live!
As always, we welcome your comments and feedback. (below)
To find out more about the Church of the Ascension, you can visit their website:
http://www.ascensionportperry.com/
Bras for the Cause - Port Perry
September 4, 2009 by MikeD · 1 Comment
The opening reception for the “Bras for the Cause” exhibit was held on Thursday, August 27th, at the META4 Contemporary Craft Gallery, and you owe it to yourself to get down there and have a look. The creativity and the work that went into some of these bras is simply amazing! For example, the bra made by Susan Beatson and Arlene Walker, called “Facets of Friendship”, even includes sterling silver wire and vintage Swarovski crystals.
But what makes these bras standout even more, is the stories behind them. Very personal stories. I only captured a couple of them on video, but every bra has a story. Pamela Meacher talks about her personal battle with breast cancer, and Shauna Kennedy’s “Pick Hope” is in memory of very close friends.
META4 hold this event in partnership with the Gala of Hope and is a fundraiser for the Durham Regional Cancer Centre’s Breast Cancer Clinic. This clinic will help benefit patients living in Haliburton, Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Durham and Northumberland Regions.
The Bras will be on display at META4 Contemporary Craft Gallery from August 27 to September 13. And then there will be a one-day show at The Oshawa Centre on Saturday, October 3rd. All of the bras will then be exhibited again at The Gala of Hope Pink Martini Dinner Dance on Friday November 13, 2009.
Want to do your part? Well, you can go down to Meta4 and vote for your favourite bra. They also have great “I love boobs” t-shirts for sale. Or you can also volunteer with “The Gala of Hope” organization. I understand they are looking for help with their upcoming events.
Thanks again to Birgitta, Bonnie and Jenn for putting on a great opening gala! A good time was had by all!
As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts and comments. Just leave them below.
For more information about “Bras for the Cause,” you can visit the following sites:
Meta4 Contemporary Craft Gallery
The Gala of Hope
The Greenbank BBQ - You have to taste it!
August 28, 2009 by MikeD · Leave a Comment
On Friday, July 31st, Greenbank held it’s 33rd annual community beef barbecue, and I have to tell you that I was blown away by this event. The amount of work, the size of the BBQ, the live entertainment, the hips of beef and the slices of pie…. ooh, those pies! If you haven’t been to the Greenbank BBQ, put it on your to-do list for next year. You’ll love it!
The event is a major fundraiser for the Greenbank United Church. But I don’t want to say too much about it. I want you to listen to Rod Foster. He tells it a lot better than I ever could. After all, he’s been there since BBQ #1, thirty-three years ago. I’ve never met a man so passionate about his community. We need more Rod Fosters in this world! And he’ll be celebrating his 80th birthday this fall. Happy 80th Rod!
And I want to thank “Steve” for the opportunity to experience the Greenbank BBQ at it’s fullest. As he said: “You have to taste it!” And you really do!
Thanks to all the volunteers who helped to put on this great event. As Rod said: “Great job Gang!”
The Greenbank BBQ is on my list for next year!
As always, we’d love to hear your comments. Leave them below. Don’t be shy!
Aquarama 09 makes a big Lake Scugog SPLASH!
August 25, 2009 by MikeD · 2 Comments
The Rotary Club of Port Perry held their 16th annual “Aquarama” fundraiser last weekend, and it was a great success. As a matter of fact, it was their best ever. Over $15,000 was raised this time, and that brings the total amount raised over those years in excess of $150,000! That’s amazing isn’t it! The funds are used to support local and international underprivileged kids. Aubrey Oppers, the club’s President gives you more details on the video.
Each team is composed of 5 riders, and participants must collect at least $75 each. Every rider gets a chance to go through the timed course, and times are tallied on an individual and team basis for standings and prizes. This year Sandi Gauder and Dr. Bob Allin tied for the most pledges - they both collected $1,340!
It was my first time watching the event, and it really is entertaining - as you’ll see in the video. It was probably the best day of the summer weather wise, and it was really nice to see lots of spectators in Palmer Park enjoy the event.
A big Lake Scugog Splash! to the Rotary Club of Port Perry!
If you participated, or watched the event, leave us your comments.
As always, we’d love to hear from you!
Seagrave Garden Tour 2009
July 26, 2009 by MikeD · 5 Comments
This was the first year for this event, and from all accounts it was a great success!
The Seagrave United Church Men’s Group hosted this event as a fundraiser to support mission, service and outreach activities. The tour featured nine town and country gardens in Scugog Township and the Sonya area, and we captured five of them on video.
And, as in a lot of cases, the video doesn’t do them justice. You really have to see these gardens in person to really appreciate the work and love that goes into all of these properties. But I trust this video will honour their efforts and passions.
Don Real, one of the organizers of the event, has put up a great little web site giving you more photos and details about the gardens. You can reach it reach it here.
There’s a great quote on their web site that says: “A day out seeing other peoples’ pride and joy is a picnic for the soul.” And it truly is.
I feel so inspired after visiting these gardens, that I think I’ll go out and video the other gardens on the tour, just to inspire all of you as well. Would that be OK Don?
Don’t forget to leave your comments below, on these or other great gardens in Scugog.
Keep on gardening in the free world!
Pow Wow in full regalia!
Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation
July 26, 2009 by MikeD · 2 Comments
The Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation held their 13th Annual Pow Wow on July 18-19, and what a great event! From the powerful drumming to great dancing and singing, it really is a great atmosphere. If you’ve never been to a Pow Wow you owe it to yourself to attend one. And if you live in Port Perry, our native brothers, the Mississaugas, host this sacred event in our own backyard on Scugog Island.
That’s right. Pow Wows are fun, but they are also sacred events, and should be respected at all times. I didn’t know this, but going into the event, you are given a sheet which outlines Pow Wow etiquette and protocol. And one of the rules is that photographs and video recordings are not permitted during certain dances such as: the Grand Entry, Honour Songs, Retiring of the Flags. The MC and event security will tell you when you should observe this rule.
The video captures an “Inter-Tribal” dance, where everyone - even visitors - are welcome to participate. Also on the video, Jim Johnson, or “Standing Spotted Horse” of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, gives a great overview of of “Pow Wows,” their meaning, and their message from the creator. This is also Jim’s thirteenth year as the MC for the Pow Wow.
This afternoon with our native brothers and sisters was truly a blessing!
Miigwetch!
(Thank You!)
Have you ever heard the song, “Over Scugog?”
July 16, 2009 by MikeD · 1 Comment
I never had either, until I came across Melanie J. Hebert, on that giant interweb. She’s a local singer-songwriter, with a couple of videos on YouTube, and her song “Over Scugog” really caught my attention. It’s about the drive from Oshawa to Scugog, which we’ve all done thousands of times, right?
Well, her song really puts it into perspective, and makes you realize that coming home to Scugog is a really great feeling. And that we shouldn’t take it for granted.
In my never ending quest to promote the great talent that we have here in the Port Perry area, I shot a video of Melanie playing at Coffee Culture, on Simcoe Street. She is usually there on the first Sunday of each month, and she also plays all over Durham region. You can hear more of her music and follow her schedule on her site at myspace.com.
Talking to Melanie between sets, she thought that it would be great if kids could learn this song at school. Now there’s an idea. What do you think about Melanie and her song “Over Scugog?” Just post your comment below, and get the discussion going. Melanie would love to hear from you.
We will also keep you posted on her new CD release. She’s hoping to have it out by this October. Keep on supporting live music!
