publisher’s page
Was spring already here? I feel as though we’ve been on the verge of spring for a few months now, the weather has been so mild, although at the time of going to press it appears winter might just get a last look in. I hope it doesn’t because I’ve been inspired by Richard Vaughn’s article on flowering trees and now want to pop by the garden centre and get planting. Kimberley Seldon shares some very good tips on outdoor spaces from the viewpoint that the garden is just another room, and sometimes an expensive one to decorate! Well, i’m sure we’re all ready to start acting on her ideas soon, providing winter realizes it’s time to give it up. If things do remain cold for a while longer, stay inside and try making Jim and Peter’s indoor planter (From plastic to fantastic, page 12), or simply wait it out while enjoying a nice English roast featuring Yorkshire Puddings (Batty about batter, page 21).
SPRING 2012 PUBLISHER KATIE BURCHELL CREATIVE DIRECTOR & PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHER SIMON BURN EDITORIAL TEAM DAVID K. DORWARD KEVIN “CRASH” CORRIGAN ROBERT B. HULLEY RIC KITOWSKI JOCELYN KLEMM RICHARD VAUGHN CONTRIBUTORS SIMON BURN JIM CONNELLY PETER DE SOUSA KIMBERLEY SELDON PROOFREADER SALLY MORELL EDITORIAL DESIGN SDB CREATIVE GROUP INC. ADVERTISING DESIGN & PRODUCTION CAROLINE SWEET, SKY CREATIVE GROUP LTD.
Katie Burchell, Publisher
PHOTO CONTEST We had great response to our contest, a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to send in their best photos! We are presently working on the Hills of Headwaters Tourism Guide and will notify everyone whose photo is chosen to feature in it, or in an upcoming issue of Orangeville Living. In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek—one that caught my eye when we were looking through the submissions. Complete contest results will be in the next issue of Orangeville Living.
ADVERTISING SALES KATIE BURCHELL BARRIE BURCHELL DESARAI RIVARD TRUDY GENTILE frontlinemedia1@sympatico.ca Tel: 905 857 2536 While every effort has been made to ensure that advertisements and articles appear correctly, Frontline Media cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by the contents of this publication. All material is intended for information purposes only. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of its publisher or editor. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part prohibited without written permission from the publisher. Owned & published by Frontline Media, 15 Hewitt Street, Orangeville, Ontario L9W 3A2 Tel: 905 857 2536 frontlinemedia1@sympatico.ca Orangeville Living is published 4 times a year (March, June, September, December) and delivered via Canada Post.
www.CaledonLiving.com © 2012 1735715 Ontario Inc. Orangeville Living is a Trademark PRINTED IN CANADA ON PAPER FROM A SUSTAINABLE SOURCE, USING VEGETABLE-BASED INKS. PLEASE SHARE MAGAZINE WITH A FRIEND, AND THEN RECYCLE.
READ OUR ONLINE ISSUE A dramatic image of livestock in a field near Shelburne, from Tom Garnett.
www.orangevilleliving.ca
contents
spring 2012 home 10 From plastic to fantastic 17 Outdoor living gardening 12 Flower Power
Seven trees with spectacular spring colour
food 21 Batty about batter wine connoisseur 26 Spring sparklers heritage 28 Orangeville’s old fire hall people 32 Anything but bland motoring 36 Toronto Auto Show review
COVER
Flowering Dogwood, one of the seven most spectacular flowering trees featured on page 12.
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out & about EVENTS March 30 Wine Dinner Club
“New World” (Americas, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa). Gourmet food and wine pairing evening from Gourmandissimo and The Wine Coaches. Caledon East. Tickets $75pp. www.gourmandissimo.com
April 20 Wine Dinner Club
“One Night in Morocco”. Gourmet food and wine pairing evening from Gourmandissimo and The Wine Coaches. Caledon East. Tickets $75pp. www.gourmandissimo.com
May 11 Annual Starlight Gala
April 14 Orangeville Art Group Workshop
“Play in Clay” with Anne Jordan. Beginners workshop at Victoria Parks Community Centre, Mono Mills. www.orangevilleartgroup.com
Dinner at White Truffle restaurant, followed by dessert and the opening of Menopositive–The Musical at Theatre Orangeville. Tickets $150pp. www.theatreorangeville.ca
April 15 Spring Gardeners Gathering Lunch
May 26 Moulin Rouge – Annual Dinner and Auction
Lunch, music, presentation and silent auction at Caledon Country Club in support of Ontario SPCA Orangeville and District Branch. Tickets $30pp. www.orangeville.ontariospca.ca
April 4 – May 6 Of a Feather
An exhibit of all things feathered at the Crimson Feather Gallery, including bird paintings by local artist Laura Kingsbury. Alton Mill. www.crimsonfeather.com
A cabaret-inspired evening in support of the Headwaters Health Care Foundation. Tickets $195pp. www.headwatershealth.ca
May 27 Orangeville Art Group Workshop
“Plein Air Painting” with George Perdue. In the gardens at 12 Faulkner Street, Orangeville. www.orangevilleartgroup.com
May 31 Orangeville Jazz and Blues Festival Gala
Gala opening party at Best Western Orangeville Inn & Suites. From 6.30pm. www.objf.org
FOR COMPREHENSIVE & UP-TO-DATE LOCAL EVENT LISTINGS, VISIT WWW.THEHILLSOFHEADWATERS.COM
Orangeville Living locations
If you didn’t receive your copy in the mail, or need a spare copy for a friend, you can find Orangeville Living, available free, at the following locations:
ALTON
ORANGEVILLE
ROSEMONT
Best Western Inn and Suites 7 Buena Vista Drive
The Globe Restaurant Hwy 89 (between Airport Road & Hwy 50)
Millcroft Inn 55 John Street
BELFOUNTAIN Belfountain Inn 792 Forks of the Credit Road
DUFFERIN Dufferin County Museum Airport Rd & Hwy 89
HOCKLEY VALLEY Hockley Valley Resort 793522 Mono 3rd Line (Off Hockley Road) Hockley General Store RR 5 994227 Mono Adjala Townline
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SHELBURNE
Enchanting Esthestics and More 108 Main Street West French’s Flowers 124 Main Street East Hearth & Leisure 506196 RR4 Liberty Tax Services 116 Main Street West Rose Nail and Spa 226 First Ave Shelburne Computers 524 Main Street East Sideroads Family Retaurant 107 Main Street West Signature Wines Inc. 115 Owen Sound Street
Booklore 121 First Street Liberty Tax 5 First Street Orangeville Flowers 78 John Street Orangeville Furniture 633419 Highway 10 North Pear Home shop 185 Broadway Town of Orangeville Townhall 87 Broadway
VIOLET HILL Mrs. Mitchell's Restaurant/ Granny Taught us How Hwy 89 (between Shelburne & Alliston)
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home I project
From plastic to fantastic WORDS JIM CONNELLY & PETER DE SOUSA
Here’s a fun and easy project to do, turn those cheap looking plastic planters into something that takes pride of place on your kitchen windowsill or countertop!
$1.50
Priceless!
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PHOTO: SIMON BURN
at a dollar store
Who doesn’t love to have fresh plants and flowers around at home to cheer things up, especially when the weather is still cold outside and our gardens are still bare. We’ve come up with a simple project that allows you to put your personal touch on an uninspiring planter, and create something you will be proud to display your plants in. Peter and I love good homemade food, and this inspired us to create an indoor container for your favourite herbs, so you can always have them fresh and at your fingertips when cooking. The aroma and scents that come from your indoor herb garden will uplift your senses and kick-start you into more adventurous recipes. We found an inexpensive plastic planter that had good design and the correct dimensions to sit on a kitchen window or countertop. By being creative with a special faux finish, we transformed this plain plastic planter into an antique copper planter with a verdigris patina. Now our herb garden conveys the ambiance of an antique family heirloom!
The steps for this transformation are as follows:
STEP 1: Remove all stickers, grease and fingerprints from the planter by washing it with TSP, an industrial cleaner, and then dry it completely.
STEP 2: Paint with a with a bonder primer sealer using either a brush or spray paint, and let dry completely.
STEP 3: With a paint brush, apply water based size/ glue used for gold leafing, and let dry completely. The size will remain sticky when dry.
STEP 4: Apply copper transfer foil, in small pieces, to the surface of the planter until completely covered. Copper Transfer Foil can be purchased at Michaels Craft Store
STEP 5: Brush over the surface with a blue green verdigris coloured latex paint. Wipe back the excess paint with a soft, damp, lint free cloth, leaving just enough verdigris in the nooks and crannies of the surface to create an antique copper patina.
STEP 6: To make a more believable antique patina, use an artist brush and a little thinned down black paint. Using a tooth pick, flick the end of the artist brush to make small dots all over the surface. Let dry completely.
STEP 7: Paint the surface completely with a satin varnish to protect and seal.
Jim Connelly and Peter De Sousa are paint and plaster experts, regularly appearing on TV to demonstrate their unique finishes and share decorating ideas. You may reach them at Masterpieces Studio, connellyj@masterpiecesstudio.com SPRING 2012 ORANGEVILLE LIVING
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gardening When it comes to spectacular spring colour, nothing is more dramatic and show stopping than the beauty of a tree in full bloom. Bulbs and early perennials may
FLOWERING DOGWOOD
enliven gardens, but blossom-bearing trees brighten entire yards, boldly signaling the new season. Even when the blossoms have faded, flowering trees maintain their ornamental value by providing visual interest and structure, offering privacy and a spot of welcome shade, and luring birds to the yard. There are many spectacular spring-flowering trees to choose from, but here are seven that are sure to brighten your yard before the full glory of the summer garden unfolds itself.
FLOWERPOWER WORDS RICHARD VAUGHN
Flowering Dogwood Nothing signals the arrival of spring like dogwoods in bloom. In fact, some gardeners even look to the appearance of dogwood flowers as a sign that the threat of frost has passed, so they can plant their gardens. Colours vary, including pinks and whites, but perhaps the most striking are the yellow flowers of Cornelian cherry dogwood. Interestingly, although typically considered a flower, the blooms of this tree are actually four petal-like bracts. The true flowers are green and tiny, located at the blossom’s centre. Dogwood trees are a two-season delight; they’re just as beautiful in autumn as they are in spring, with leaves bursting into vibrant red hues, and showy scarlet fruit that attract birds. Most flowering dogwoods are hardy from zones 4 to 8, so they’ll thrive in Central Ontario. They are also great additions for smaller yards, since they grow a manageable 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide. Flowering dogwoods prefer full sun or partial shade, and well-drained soil.
Horse Chestnut The horse chestnut helps transition from spring to summer. Just when spring blooms are fading and before summer foliage kicks in, horse chestnut trees provide a welcome burst of flowers. These four- or five-petal blooms which typically appear in late May are favoured by butterflies and hummingbirds. By fall, the blooms are replaced by 12
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HORSE CHESTNUT
Seven trees with spectacular spring colour
EASTERN REDBUD
the shiny nuts enjoyed by squirrels. Don’t try to eat them, however—they’re toxic to humans! When deciding to add this unique tree to your garden, make sure to place it in an area with ample room to spread, because they can grow as much as 30–40 feet high and wide. Also, keep horse chestnut trees away from sidewalks and patios, because their invasive roots can break up these areas. When the horse chestnut is mature, the heavy dense canopy it provides is not ideal for under-planting, but it can be the perfect area for a bench, to sit and escape the sun. The horse chestnut needs fairly rich and moist but welldrained soil, and thrives best when placed in a sunny to lightly shaded area.
Eastern Redbud There are a number of redbud varieties, each with its own unique appeal, but the most suited to our central Ontario climate is eastern redbud (hardy to zone 4). Unfurling a profusion of small, rosy pink pea-like blossoms in early spring, then continuing to charm with attractive heartshaped leaves that turn brilliant yellow in autumn, eastern redbud is one of the rare trees that delight us in all seasons. Eastern redbud grows 20 to 30 feet tall, and just as wide, so it’s not ideal for small yards. They thrive in full sunlight or partial shade, and prefer moist and well-draining soil.
JAPANESE FLOWERING CHERRY
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Japanese Flowering Cherry
Saucer Magnolia
The Japanese flowering cherry will brighten any yard with its clusters of pink flowers which usually appear on branches before the foliage emerges in spring. Most bloom in April or May. Once in bloom, the fragrance from these trees is enchanting and breathtaking, only adding to the attraction. Later, when the blooms are finished, you’re left with tantalizing fruit which will lure birds to the garden. The Japanese flowering cherry does not like poorly drained soil, preferring dryer conditions. Avoid overwatering and over-feeding, which can stimulate new growth that is susceptible to insects and disease. There are many varieties available. When selecting one, it’s important to ask about its disease resistance as many cherry trees are highly susceptible to insect and disease problems.
The saucer magnolia is a breathtaking addition to a garden, and is often considered among the most beautiful and fragrant of springtime blooms. Their showy blossoms are sure to attract plenty of attention to a yard when they emerge in early spring. Not only are the large cup-shaped flowers striking (typically white, pink or purple), but they have a sweet scent as well. Even when not in bloom, magnolias are handsome. The tree’s smooth gray bark and glossy leaves are beautiful all summer long. Not everyone has the patience to grow a magnolia, however, because they can be finicky. The saucer magnolia prefers acidic and well-drained soil, and should be placed in full sun to light shade. Organic mulch, such as pine needles or shredded pine bark, can be added to the soil to boost soil acidity and fertility. It’s important to keep the soil evenly moist from spring until the ground freezes, and to feed with acidic plant food in early spring. For best results, place it against evergreens and dark backgrounds for a good colour contrast.
Flowering Crabapple There is nothing more colourful then a crabapple tree in full bloom, a sure sign that spring is here. The lavish colours vary from white, pink, red and burgundy, but whatever variety you decide upon will be a welcome burst of brilliance. In years past, the appeal of flowering crabapples was offset by the mess they produced when shedding their fruit, and because of their known susceptibility to disease. Luckily, new varieties are now available that resist disease and hang onto their fruit longer, sometimes even all year. Flowering crabapples prefer full sun for best flowering and to reduce the chance for disease. They grow better with consistent moisture, but mature trees are drought tolerant. Most varieties grow 15–25 feet tall.
FLOWERING CRABAPPLE
Golden Chain Perhaps the most distinctive of the spring-flowering trees is the golden chain. You can’t help but take a second glance to admire this tree, which almost looks like it should be lining the graceful drive of a southern plantation. In spring, delicate chains of yellow blooms drip from its branches like locks of golden hair. For best results, plant several of these smallish trees together; although one looks attractive, three or more make a statement. Golden chain trees grow 12–15 feet tall, and 9 to 12 feet wide. They like partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. Note that they are more suited to zones 5–7, so be prepared to protect them over the winter with heavy mulching and try to keep them out of wind-prone areas.
SAUCER MAGNOLIA
GOLDEN CHAIN
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home
Outdoor Living WORDS KIMBERLEY SELDON
PHOTO: SIMON BURN
Quick. Which is the most expensive room to decorate? If you answer the kitchen, you’re not alone. But if you’re like me, and have spent $750.00 at the local nursery (just on container plants!), you may consider the possibility that your garden is the most expensive room to decorate. Although a kitchen renovation or makeover is costly, your investment begins to amortize immediately. Not so for the garden. Your garden is like a toddler—insatiable, uncontrollable, maddening, yet often endearing. A garden requires continuous, ongoing maintenance, and year-round renewal. Plus, it makes you do crazy things, like ruining a favourite dress because you couldn’t resist the urge to do a little weeding before going out for dinner, or spending $750.00 on container plants. Since I spend so much time, energy (and money) reining my garden in, you can imagine I want to enjoy it on every conceivable occasion. Creating well-defined outdoor garden rooms allows me to use my garden more often and more effectively. Rather than just plunking some furniture into the garden, I’ve chosen to create my own private paradise, and you can too.
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home Delineating garden rooms
Play areas
Like interiors, our exterior rooms function better when we carve out specific areas for relaxation, recreation and tasks. Consider the various rooms which might suit your garden.
For a lucky few, a swimming pool is the ultimate backyard extravagance. But there are dozens of other options for play areas—hot tub, sand box, croquet court or trampoline, to name just a few. Our favourite play area in the country is a Frisbee golf course. It’s guaranteed to draw everyone outside for some fresh air. Make sure to position any play area away from eating areas to avoid accidents.
Alfresco dining room Even a tiny portion of deck, patio or grass can be converted into an alfresco dining room. Choose an area close to the house, facilitating easy serving and cleanup, and providing shelter from excess wind. Choose a table to complement the scale of the deck or patio. For example, to accommodate a four foot diameter table, a minimum nine-by-nine foot space is required. As with indoor dining, allow four feet of clearance between the table and a wall or railing for major passageways. Although the majority of outdoor furniture can withstand inclement weather, most will last longer if moved to shelter during the winter. For this reason, unless you have an enclosed structure, consider lightweight furniture options such as wicker, resin, and metal frames with woven seats.
Cooking centre More and more outdoor enthusiasts are looking beyond the barbeque to full service cooking centres. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is by purchasing or building a barbeque island. An instant kitchen, the barbeque island might include storage space, warming drawers, and even a small refrigerator, depending on budget.
Thotful Spot There’s no spelling error … I learned from one little orange bear named Winnie the value of creating a quiet spot for reflection. My Thotful Spot is a humble stone bench, given to me by a favourite gardener, and surrounded by items of personal meaning such as the raspberry bushes my children insisted, despite my advice, would grow. They were right, of course. To create your own Thotful Spot, position furniture arrangements towards the best view, facing away from the house if possible, and put as much distance as is available between you and interior distractions such as ringing phones. If outdoor reading is a priority, comfortable seating is essential. A high back chair with arms, whether woven, wicker, or wood, cradles the body and soul and offers an immediate sense of security. Add a small table to accommodate a tall iced tea. Ambient sound such as a trickling water fountain or playful wind chimes will mask city sounds and foster serenity. Consider flower plantings such as lilac, rosemary and jasmine to infuse surroundings with delicious fragrance.
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Steps to creating a garden room When you devote the same careful consideration to outdoor space planning as you might to indoor space planning, the rewards are gratifying. Here is a suggested work order.
Space planning Determine the specific tasks involved in each area before you make any purchases. A landscape architect or garden designer (even some interior designers) can help with decisions.
Furnish by function Prior to purchasing furniture, consider the number of people who will use the area and the time of day it will be used. A comprehensive lighting plan, using a variety of light fixtures, is essential if you plan to enjoy the area at night.
Add colour When decorating interior spaces, we rely on fabrics and wall colour to determine a decorative palette. Outdoors we rely on plants and flowers for much of the impact. Again, it’s wise to hire a professional or consult a reliable nursery before making any purchases.
Accessorize No room, whether indoors or outdoors, can be considered truly personal without the addition of valued objects. A stone sculpture, mercury gazing ball, weathered sundial, or an inviting birdbath increases personal satisfaction within your outdoor oasis.
For anyone who prefers dirt under the nails to a French manicure, or a family barbeque to dinner in a fine restaurant, a well-designed garden room provides a full year of satisfaction in just 15 short weeks.
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food
Batty about WORDS + PHOTOS SIMON BURN
On a recent trip to England, I had multiple opportunites to enjoy classic “pub grub”, which these days, has become very sophisticated. Traditional British fare is on offer even in the most remote of rural public houses, freshly made each day to age-old recipes. One of those dishes I had the chance to enjoy was the traditional roast dinner. Roast beef, roast potatoes, roast parsnips, brussels sprouts, carrots... and the Yorkshire Pudding. Ahh, the old “Yorkie,” there’s nothing like it, if it’s made correctly, which means it has to be big and puffy, with a crisp shell, and slightly gooey inside. In many establishments with Yorkies on the menu, you may also find other perennial favourites using basically the same batter recipe, Toad in the Hole and Apple Batter, to name but two of my batty favourites. Let’s take a look at some of the tasty possibilities using this quick and simple batter recipe...
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Ahh, the old “Yorkie,” there’s nothing like it, if it’s made correctly...
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batter
I’ve just been re-introduced to a British classic, and experienced it in many forms. And love every one of them!
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food I recipes
Yorkshire puddings The simplest thing you’ll ever make! flour 2% milk eggs salt pepper
Prep time 5 min Cooking Approx. 25 min
1 cup 1 cup 2 1 tsp 1 tsp
Makes 12 Equipment mixing bowl 12-piece muffin tray
Preheat oven to 400°F. Place flour, salt, milk and eggs in a mixing bowl and whisk into a thick creamy batter. Drizzle a little oil into each muffin baking tray compartment and place in pre-heated oven. When tray is smoking hot, take out of oven and quickly pour the batter into each of the holes, filling approximately half way. Place back in oven and let cook for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately, while still hot. OPTION: Instead of making individual Yorkies, try making one big one in a baking tray.
delicious covered with
gravy
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food I recipes
Batty for batter Use it for quick and easy meals throughout the day! Here are three of my faves: BREAKFAST
English pancakes with fruit and maple syrup LUNCH
Toad in the Hole DESSERT
Pear & ginger batter
buy the best
sausages you can find
TOAD IN THE HOLE PEAR & GINGER BATTER
try it using
apples too!
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ENGLISH PANCAKES
Toad in the Hole This is a really nice lunch to have on a cold winter’s day. It’s very filling. The trick is finding really good freshly made pork sausages in the area. I used Zehr’s lean Blue Menu pork sausages, but I am sure there are locally made ones available. Let me know if you find any! I N G R E D I E N TS – F I L L I N G pork sausages red onion worcestershire sauce extra virgin olive oil
Serves 3–5
Prep time Batter: 5 min Onion: 5 min
5 large 1 2 tsp dash
Equipment Shallow 9x6 baking dish
Cooking Frying: 25 min Baking: 40 min
frying pan mixing bowl
Preheat oven to 425°F. Make your batter as described on page 32. You can add some chopped fresh rosemary if you have some. Fry sausages in pan for approx. 15 mins on medium heat, until nice and brown. Place aside and then fry chopped onion in a generous dash of olive oil and worcestershire sauce until caramelized – approx. 10 minutes. Start on medium heat, and increase to medium high for last few minutes to make sure they are really brown. Place baking dish in preheated oven until hot, and then remove and quickly place sausages in the dish, and evenly distribute fried onions. Pour the batter on top and place in oven for approximately 40 minutes, until golden brown on top.
Pear & ginger batter A quick and wholesome dessert that always impresses. Make the batter as you would the Yorkshire Puddings, and replace the salt and pepper with a few finely chopped pieces of fresh ginger. You can make individual servings (as shown) or one big one in a shallow baking dish. Pre-heat oven to 425°F. You will need about 3 to 4 pears, cored and chopped into eighths. Grease baking dish with some butter, and pre-heat until extremely hot. Remove from oven and drop in the pear pieces, then pour in the batter mix and place in oven for approximately 40 minutes, or until golden brown. Drizzle some honey, and serve with some whipping cream.
English pancakes Every Shrove Tuesday in England, the nation is making pancakes for breakfast, lunch or dinner. You don’t need to wait for Shrove Tuesday to enjoy a healthy breakfast of pancakes though! Make the batter as you would the Yorkshire Puddings, just add an extra ¾ cup of milk, omit the salt and pepper, and add a sprinkle of nutmeg and cinnamon. Heat a frying pan, grease with butter, and pour about half a cup of the mix onto the pan. Fry on a medium heat for 3–4 minutes, and then flip over with a spatula and cook for a further 3–4 minutes. Serve with fresh blueberries and raspberries, and a generous drizzle of maple syrup.
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wine connoisseur
Spring sparklers WORDS RIC KITOWSKI & JOCELYN KLEMM
‘‘
Ahh, the old “Yorkie,” there’s nothing like it, if it’s made correctly...
ORANGEVILLE LIVING SPRING 2012
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The arrival of spring is cause for celebration, yet may not be quite reason enough to splurge on a bottle of champagne. Fortunately, there are other sparkling options available. Your choices in sparkling wine—and what you pay—depend mainly on how it was made, and where it comes from. The ‘how’ is about the way the bubbles in sparkling wine are produced. To create this effervescence, carbon dioxide (a by-product of fermentation), is dissolved or absorbed into the wine, rather than letting it escape into the air. This is done in one of three ways: through second fermentation in a bottle; through second fermentation in a tank; or carbonation A second fermentation occurs when more yeast and sugar are added to fermented wine, and then it is sealed up, either within a single bottle, or in a large tank. By contrast, carbonation is created by hooking up a CO2 tank to some wine and presto—bubbles. The most expensive sparkling wines, notably champagne, are made by the first, bottle-fermented method. Expensive because the process takes a long time—three to four years or more—it’s relatively labour intensive and requires a more expensive bottle to hold the pressure of the wine. Outside of the Champagne region, producers use words such as méthode traditionelle, méthode classique, and even fermented in this bottle to describe the process. The term champagne is protected and can only be used to identify wines from the region of the same name. Champagne is made in a range of styles, mainly because of the grape variety used in the base wine. For lighter-bodied styles, look for Blanc de Blancs (made with Chardonnay), or for fuller-bodied styles, look for Blanc de Noirs (made with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier). Most champagne producers have a ‘house style’ that is quite consistent from year to year. Perrier-Jouët and Taittinger, for example, are generally lighter-bodied champagnes, while Bollinger and Veuve-Cliquot are fuller-bodied styles. If a year is shown on the label, it is ‘vintage’ champagne, and if no year is indicated, it is from a blend of different vintages and often less expensive. Alternatives to champagne include Spanish Cava (e.g. Cordoníu and Freixenet), Crémant from other regions in France (e.g. Crémant de Bourgogne), Italy’s Franciacorta, and New World sparklers from countries like the U.S., Canada and Australia. These wines may use the same method and sometimes the same grape varieties as in champagne but, without the status of champagne, they often cost a lot less. Sparkling wines produced using the second method —called the Charmat, bulk or tank method—are less expensive but still very good. They cost less because they are made more efficiently in large tanks, not bottles.
Also, the process itself is much faster so the producer can get the wine to market in months instead of years. Italian Prosecco DOCG and German Sekt are examples of sparkling wines made using the tank method. Tank-method bubbles are generally larger than and not as long-lasting as those made by the bottlefermented method. For Prosecco DOCG look for spumante (fully sparkling) wines for more persistent bubbles, or frizzante (fizzy) wines for less. Some styles such as Italian Asti have some unfermented sugar left in the wine, making them dolce or sweet, lovely accompaniments for fruit desserts. With carbonated sparklers, the third method, the bubbles are even bigger and often disappear before you have your first sip. If price is a factor, choose tankmethod sparklers over carbonated styles, as they offer better quality and value. As a rule, any sparkling wine, even champagne, should be consumed soon after purchase. Only the very best vintage champagnes have the ability to age. Now, raise a glass of your favourite bubbly, and here’s to a beautiful spring! Richard Kitowski and Jocelyn Klemm are The Wine Coaches and authors of the best-selling guide to the basics: Clueless About Wine. Sign up for their newsletter at www.thewinecoaches.com
How to open a bottle of sparkling wine Whatever your choice in sparkling wine, be very careful when opening one. The pressure in a bottle of champagne can be as much as six atmospheres—about the same pressure as in a truck tire. Make sure the wine is well chilled, to about 5°C, fridge temperature. When properly chilled, the bottle will be easier to open—it won’t gush out—and the bubbles will last longer. Slant the bottle at a 45° angle away from your guests, or anything else precious. Remove the foil cover and, while keeping your thumb on top of the cork, carefully remove the wire hood. Hold the cork firmly with one hand and gently twist the bottle with the other. Allow the pressure of the sparkling wine to gently push out the cork, keeping control as it releases. If you want to impress, pour using the punt, that indentation in the bottom of the bottle. Put your thumb into the punt and rest the underside of the bottle against your palm and fingers as you pour. Fill each slim flute—the ideal glass to use for sparkling wine—with about one inch of wine first, then top up to the two-thirds mark. This prevents the bubbles from overflowing the glass. Finally, never chill your flutes, as the condensation on the glass will burst the bubbles.
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Orangeville’s Late one spring night the Orangeville fire bell briefly sounded the alert, calling the volunteer firefighters and warning everyone that somewhere in the village a building was on fire. But then, all went silent. Those who rushed outside were horrified to see the fire hall and bell tower consumed in flames. Memories of fire sweeping through entire city blocks were still fresh in the minds of many and a cause of great concern.
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heritage
old fire hall WORDS & PHOTOS ROBERT B. HULLEY
The next day, April 30, 1891, The Sun newspaper reported, “Some fiend in human form had saturated the base of the tower with coal oil and then applied a match. The tower and hose house were entirely consumed, and the engine-house was badly scorched …” So ended the brief history of the original Orangeville Fire Hall that stood at the southeast corner of Broadway and John Street. The photograph on the next page is believed to be a vestige of the original Fire Hall before it was destroyed by the fire. The picture seems to have been taken through the doorway fronting on Broadway. The rope hanging in the right foreground would be the bell pull and the sixteen men standing proudly just inside the doorway would be the volunteer fire contingent. The person holding the ‘speaker trumpet’ is thought to be Charles Henry King, the Fire Brigade Captain at the time. Trumpets were made of tin, brass and silver in various shapes and sizes. Presentation trumpets were often given as gifts or tokens of esteem and sometimes had ornate carvings and inscriptions. The long hose nozzles held by four firefighters in the front row were commonly used at the time. Two others on the far left are leaning against a ladder wagon, while those in the back are sitting on hose reel carts. Those carts were used to transport fire hoses to the LEFT Deputy Fire Chief,
Ronald A. J. Morden holds a Secretaries’ Log Book dated 1888 that contains, among other things, the oath of office taken by the volunteers of the day. They promised to, “… follow the law, take care of the fire equipment, obey the orders of the Captain, and use their best efforts to extinguish fires.”
ABOVE RIGHT The bell from the Old Fire Hall now hangs in a kiosk next to the Fire Department Headquarters building on Dawson Street.
scene of the fire. Afterwards, the hoses were hung to dry in the tower and then wrapped around a spool which was set between two large cart wheels. The bottom of the cart wheels can be seen just behind the men in the front row. Both the hose reel and ladder wagon were usually pulled to the fire by the volunteer firefighters. At the scene, the hoses were unreeled and fastened to a hand pump, connected to tanks of water which also had to be transported to the fire. Installation of a municipal water system did not take place in Orangeville until 1895. The hand pumps were manned by four to six men to help stream the water at the flames. In spite of their efforts, hand pumps did not develop sufficient pressure to spray the water very far. It took a lot of energy to work these devices and the water tanks needed to be refilled frequently. However, they were more efficient and effective than a traditional Bucket Brigade. It was not until steam powered pumps, or engines, were introduced that water could be effectively driven to extinguish a fire. Fortunately, the original Fire Hall and contents were covered by insurance and the Council immediately started laying plans for the design and construction of a modern fire hall. Calls for tenders went out and the contract was eventually awarded to D. McDonald. The bell, which acted as the fire alarm, had fallen some seventy feet into the reservoir below and was destroyed during the fire. In addition, SPRING 2012 ORANGEVILLE LIVING
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heritage
This archival photo is believed to be the only remaining photograph of the original Fire Hall that stood on the site before the present Old Fire Hall was constructed. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1891. Courtesy of Dufferin County Museum, P-1060.
the tower must have quickly been engulfed in flames and whoever was tolling the bell had to beat a hasty retreat! This may account for why the bell suddenly became silent on the night of the fire. After the fire, St Mark’s Anglican Church, located close by, offered to allow the fire brigade to use the Church bells during the interim. A rope was conveniently placed on the outside of the Church to be used in case of a fire, and they also agreed to assume the duty of regularly tolling out the time at 7 am, 12 noon, 1 pm and 6 pm until the fire tower was rebuilt. The award to cast a new 2,150 pound bell went to the Clinton H. Meneely Bell Company of Troy, New York. Like a phoenix rising out of the ashes of the former building, a new fire hall was constructed on the same site. It was completed in 1891 and equipped with the latest firefighting equipment of the day. The building measured 22 feet on Broadway and 76 feet on John Street and had a 62 foot tower; it was built of solid brick with living quarters for the engineer on the upper floor. The original fire hall was erected over a 20,000 gallon water reservoir, which was incorporated into the new building. The reservoir was fed by a tributary of Mill Creek. The water flowed into the reservoir from the north and, after filling the reservoir, excess water continued on its way to Mill Creek. It is believed that the reservoir was originally used to fill the water tanks to fight fires, and later to provide water for the steam engines and pumpers, prior to the introduction of gasoline engines and the installation of fire hydrants throughout the community. The Old Fire Hall has been in private ownership since the early seventies and has undergone a number of
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changes over the years. As Stewart Brand wrote in his book, How Buildings Learn, “From the first drawings to the final demolition, buildings are shaped and reshaped by changing cultural currents, changing real estate values, and changing usage.” The present owners, for example, have done an excellent job of restoring the exterior of the building as close as possible to its original appearance, even though it has been slightly enlarged. The entire interior has also been transformed into modern office space. When the Fire Department moved to its new quarters early in the 1970s, the bell was removed and now hangs in a kiosk in the park alongside the Headquarters building on Dawson Street. Today the Orangeville Fire Services Department has a contingent of fifty people, including thirty-five volunteer firefighters. In addition to serving Orangeville, the Department also contracts services out to parts of Mono, Amaranth and East Garafraxa Townships. Deputy Chief Morden said, “We constantly work towards improving our performance in relation to the Ontario Fire Marshal’s standards of response time and personnel. We have a Training Officer and spend as much time as possible in training and fire prevention, as well as maintaining a quick response time when called upon to carry out our main duty of fighting fires.” A drawing of the Old Fire Hall, in tribute to past and present members of the volunteer firefighting service, is prominently displayed in the Administration Office at Fire Headquarters. Along with the old fire bell outside, they serve as visual reminders of how things used to be in Orangeville and how they have changed over the years.
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The building JST Printing now occupies was originally a foundry, dating back prior to 1865.
Anything but WORDS DAVID K. DORWARD
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people What do The Dukes of Hazard, Mopar and a Ship’s Captain all have in common? If you guessed JST Printing then you are a better person than I! JST Printing is a small company with an interesting history, run by Lorne Bland and his father-in-law, Calvin Bailie, who has had ink running in his veins since he started his printing apprenticeship as a wee lad of 16. In early December 2011, I spent part of a Friday afternoon chatting with Lorne Bland, a local fellow who met his wife Wendy at a Junior Farmers meeting in 1971. They married in 1972 when Lorne was 23 and Wendy was 18, raising 3 boys and 2 girls, all the while running their printing business. Sitting behind the counter while interviewing Lorne, I noticed all types of local residents coming and going, including a Marine Ship Captain, originally from New Zealand. He now makes his living as a marine consultant from helping to repair bridges by making sure the depth of water is correct, to overseeing the loading and unloading of wind mills from ships in ports of the Great Lakes. Now I don’t know about you, but one of the last professions I expected to see ordering printing in Orangeville was a Marine Ship Captain, but this is typical of the loyal and diverse clientele JST Printing attracts. Many of them have dealt with Lorne and Calvin for many years, no doubt attracted by their friendly, small town customer service and cheery greetings, not to mention the excellent quality and good prices they offer, and no, they didn’t pay me to write that!
Historic Building The business at 2 Wellington Street was originally a foundry, dating back prior to 1865, the last year of the American Civil War if the date written on an early photo is accurate. Calvin Bailie bought the building from the TD Bank in 1973 when Lester Tire, the previous owner, went bankrupt. The building had suffered a 1947 fire, allegedly set to draw attention away from a robbery at the Bank of Commerce (CIBC now) up the street, or so local gossip at the time
A permanent reminder of the 1929 Hudson Lorne once owned.
claimed. The fire caused extensive damage to the roof, but it was repaired and the building housed diverse businesses from plumbing suppliers to tire sales afterwards.
Antique Cars to Chrysler Mopar Calvin has owned such classics as a 1929 Hudson, a 1936 Hudson Convertible (now residing in Russia), and a 1915 Model T Speedster (now in Belgium), but still has his 1965 GM Corvair. Hudson has been re-introduced to a new generation with the successful Disney movie Cars which uses the Hudson marque for the Doc Hudson character car. This car is based on the real-life Fabulous Hudson Hornet driven in NASCAR competition by Herb Thomas and Marshall Teague. Paul Newman, a racing enthusiast and driver, drew upon his racing experiences to give a voice to the grumpy old race car’s personality. Newman, in addition to being a brilliant actor, was a great racing driver prior to his death. Lorne has owned a 1939 Oldsmobile coupe which appeared in the movie Black Stallion, filmed in Toronto starring Mickey Rooney and Teri Garr, and a 1939 Chrysler Imperial which he has owned for over 10 years. His current cars include a rare Mopar (Mopar stands for MOtor PARts, Chrysler Corporation’s parts manufacturing division) 1970 Dodge Charger 500 SE (Special Edition) model with leather interior, a real wood steering wheel and a sun roof, all
Lorne’s Dukes of Hazard themed P/T Cruiser, and one of the die cast miniatures displayed from the tailgate.
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installed by the same after market company that assembled for Chrysler the rare, highly prized and priced iconic Dodge Super Bird muscle cars with their amazing rear spoilers. His love affair with Chrysler continues with no less than five, count ‘em, five, P/T Cruisers, a 2001 Limited, 2003 and 2004 Dream P/T Cruisers and, last but not least, a 2004 Dream Cruiser painted in the rare Sea Mist colour, with one of only 147 Turbo charged engines. All P/T Cruisers were manufactured in Mexico, not at the nearby Brampton plant, with many of this retro styled car (I personally LOVE the styling!) being shipped to Brazil, other South American countries, Europe and also North America where, while discontinued, the model retains its popularity among car buffs. Lorne claims his P/T Cruisers have proven to be very reliable cars if properly maintained, and he uses one in the business. Ironically Lorne was first introduced to P/T Cruisers when Wendy sat in one that their daughter’s husband brought home from Chrysler to show her. It fit like a glove and Wendy fell in love with the cute little car. The rest, they say, is history with Lorne buying his first P/T Cruiser in late 2004. He originally had 6 P/T Cruisers, but one was badly damaged in an accident and is being made into an imaginatively styled P/T Cruiser trailer. Lorne would like a new Dodge Challenger with the V8 SRT8 engine option. He reckons that the new Challenger, with its combination of handling, punch, performance and beautiful retro styling, is a no brainer to buy, especially for a self-confessed Mopar man! There is one final car connection, to the Dukes of Hazard TV show where the star was undoubtedly the “General Lee,” an instantly recognizable 1969 Dodge Charger Road and Track (R/T) painted a bright orange colour with a Confederate States Battle Flag decorating the roof. Lorne first noticed the car when he saw no less than five of them parked on the lawn of the London, Ontario charity car show of Steve Plunkett, held annually at his automotive heaven family estate in June. Since then, Lorne and Wendy have made displays using the tailgate of his P/T Cruiser decorated with the Dukes of Hazard orange colour as a theme, combined with die cast automotive miniatures, a hit with young and old car show visitors.
The Future As the now deceased Greek billionaire Aristotle Onassis was fond of saying, “Fate happens,” but if Lorne had to do it all over again, he would still go into the printing business which he and Wendy took over from Calvin in 2000. He enjoys his family, automotive passions and life, living and working in Orangeville where the business was built up through word of mouth, with no sales force, over the years. His business and his life represent a kinder, gentler time, which has almost a nostalgic Bedford Falls small town feel, idealized in the now classic 1946 Frank Capra Christmas movie, It’s A Wonderful Life. May JST Printing and its owners continue to prosper for many years. David K. Dorward is a Business Adjunct Professor at George Brown and Humber College. He strongly believes that the Orangeville community has many stories which should be told. If you would like to comment on the story or propose a story idea, please contact David directly at dkdorward@sympatico.ca
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motoring I auto show review
Toronto Auto Show WORDS & PHOTOS KEVIN “CRASH” CORRIGAN
We all know the auto industry has been suffering of late but, having just returned from the Toronto Auto Show, I’m happy to report that things appear to be picking up. It felt as if there was more enthusiasm in the air, and certainly plenty of new models to get excited about. Here’s just a few.
Crash’s
Top Pick
TOP PICK I fell in love with the new Ford Fusion at the recent Detroit show, declaring it my favourite new model of the show. Seeing the vehicle again in Toronto, I’m sticking with my initial reaction. It is a truly stunning looking vehicle!
Canadian
Car of the year
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CANADIAN CAR OF THE YEAR Hyundai Elantra CANADIAN UTILITY VEHICLE OF THE YEAR Volkswagen Touareg TDI Clean Diesel Best New Small Car (under $21,000) Hyundai Accent Best New Small Car (over $21,000) Hyundai Elantra Best New Family Car (under $30,000) Kia Optima LX Best New Family Car (over $30,000) Kia Optima Hybrid Best New Luxury Car Mercedes-Benz C-Class C350 4MATIC Sedan
SUBARU BRZ
VW’s Bulli concept caught everyone’s attention. If this vehicle goes into production, it will no doubt make FORD FUSIONcool once more. minivans
VOLKSWAGEN BULLI CONCEPT
The new 2013 Subaru BRZ, a stunningly gorgeous vehicle produced in collaboration with Toyota. Variations of this car will be sold under the Subaru, Toyota and Scion brands.
DODGE DART
Dodge unveiled its new Dart and, with pricing starting at $15,995 (the same as the US), I predict great sales for the company. The new SL from Mercedes-Benz. I’m heading to Spain shortly to test drive this sexy beast, and can’t wait to report back. Mazda unveiled its new compact crossover, the CX-5. By the time you read this, I will have returned from my California test drive, which includes performance lapping at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, so I’ll be able to report back on how how this little SUV handles zoomzoom! Full review to follow in our next issue.
Best New Prestige Car Mercedes-Benz S-Class S350 BlueTEC 4MATIC Best New Sports / Performance Car (under $50,000) Hyundai Veloster Best New Sports / Performance Car (over $50,000) BMW 1 Series M Coupé Best New SUV / CUV (under $35,000) Dodge Journey Best New SUV / CUV ($35,000 – $60,000) Volkswagen Touareg TDI Clean Diesel Best New SUV / CUV (over $60,000) BMW X3
MERCEDES SL MAZDA CX-5
Did you visit the Toronto Auto Show? If not, don’t worry, we’ll be reviewing many of the new 2013 models in the upcoming issues of Orangeville Living. Stay tuned. SPRING 2012 ORANGEVILLE LIVING
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