KING COUNTRY magazine
spring 2017. volume 1, issue 1
The Illustrious Helen Lucas page 34
Kettleby Village: King’s melting pot page 18
Sandra Longo’s Navy Street page 32
The ultimate purse insert to organize your handbag Luxury purse organizers that fit inside most handbags. Le MOBILE® is crafted in luxurious faux lambskin, using traditional leather crafting techniques. Contains no PVC, lead or other toxic chemicals. Washable and dry cleanable. Available beautiful Black Diamond with Sole Mate Red or Shockingly Pretty Pink lining. Available in three sizes.
Protective wraps for handles and straps, providing a barrier against the oils, perspiration, lotions. Keeping discolouration and oxidation at bay. Wide array of colour options. Patent pending.
Made in Canada, Save Our Shape® inflatable preservers maintain the shape of your handbags. Each pistachio macaroon inflatable preserver comes individually sealed, inside a champagne silky sleeper Designed to fit a variety of purse sizes and styles. Inflation you can control. Lightweight, versatile, adjustable, cleanable, portable, beautiful!
nosacrificebags.com page 4
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
The Purse Snatcher® prevents purse spills and distracted driving. Hook handbags and secure take-out bags to any seat in your car. Patented.
editorial soap box:
Welcome to King Country!
Reading through the pages of our inaugural issue, a sense of gratitude overcomes me to the people who put their faith in King Country Magazine, entrusting us with their stories. At the same time, this issue would not be possible without our fantastic local business owners, who recognized the need for it and supported it with their advertising dollars.
KING COUNTRY magazine
the fine print publisher, editor-in-chief Yevgenia Casale contributors
Gary van Bolderen, Dutch Masters André Flys, Pioneer Brand Honey David Howe, The Summerhill Dr. Melisa Siragusa, Nobleton Optometry Freyda Tartak Rajesh Verma, Scholar’s Edge Artwork for inside front cover submitted by Maverick Graphics Inc.
cover Sandra Longo, CEO, Founder, Navy Street Charity for Persons with Disabilities. Photography by: Ingrid Punwani Photography.
details King Country Magazine is distributed quarterly,
door-to-door and free of charge, throughout King Township, deposited at select bulk drop-off locations and online at kingcountrymagazine.com. Content in articles and advertising reflects the opinions of the authors and does not necessarily reflect those of the magazine. It is the responsibility of those submitting content and photography to ensure that they have the legal right to use and distribute it. All content is the property of PRAS Publishing or the contributors and cannot be reproduced without express written consent from the magazine.
content submission King Country Magazine proudly supports local artists, community groups & businesses. Submit your content no later than July 31st for inclusion in our September issue. But the earlier you get it in to us, the better.
Even now, after living with its working copy for some time, I am deeply touched by the journeys of people like John Esposito, Sandra Longo and, the illustrious Helen Lucas. Each has suffered a great deal yet meticulously count their blessings and strive to alleviate the hardships of others. Their stories remind me how lucky we are to live here, in this way; from a national perspective, respecting Canada’s 150th anniversary, and on a local level. Tradition in King Township dictates that we celebrate Canada Day in Kettleby. This year, the Kettleby Village Association worked even harder than usual in preparation for the day. In addition to Canada’s 150th, Kettleby’s Christ Church is in the midst of celebrating their 175th year and Kettleby’s York Pines United is in the midst of their 50th anniversary. It’s a big year in Kettleby. Inside these pages, we take you for a tour of the village, marked by its distinctive bend in the road. In Nobleton, we explore three different businesses with one common thread: The Summerhill, a resto-pub with a social conscience; Balance Health Studio, boasting an everexpanding roster of services and; GG Custom Designs, a onestop luxury boutique for everything from a full-service spa to bespoke clothing. Part of King Township’s charm is just this: you never know what’s ‘round the bend unless you explore it. We also started our conversations, the first in their respective series, about bees, horses, water and kids. Just some of the things that matter a great deal to us. This issue is a mighty good read and, I hope you enjoy it. Personally, I love discovering the many hidden gems of King Township and am thrilled to have you along for the ride. Don’t forget to follow King Country Magazine on Instagram and Facebook. Oh, and please be sure to email me your thoughts. I’d love to get your feedback, suggestions and requests. Warm regards,
email: submit@kingcountrymagazine.com Be sure to follow us online!
kingcountrymagazine.com Facebook & Instagram: @kingcountrymagazine
Yevgenia Casale
, B.Tech
Editor-in-Chief King Country Magazine KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
page 5
2 easy steps to receive your Apple device:
OFFER ENDS
SEPTEMBER 1, 2017
1 Open a new, all-inclusive banking account by September 1, 2017, and 2 Set up one of the following in your new account by October 31, 2017: n Payroll/Pension Direct Deposit, OR n Two Pre-Authorized Payments
Conditions apply
®
An RBC all-inclusive account that keeps up with you. Switch to RBC today and choose your Apple device. Visit your local branch: Nobleton Branch (NOW OPEN) 13085 Highway 27, Nobleton (905) 859-9445 King City Branch 2115 King Road, King City (905) 833-2559
Bank seamlessly and securely with RBC and Apple products. Switch to an RBC all-inclusive account and get your choice of a complimentary Apple Watch or an iPhone SE for just $79.* Here’s how an RBC all-inclusive account keeps up with you: ‡ n Worry-free unlimited debits and Interac e-Transfers n Bank anywhere, anytime – online or through the RBC Mobile1 app
Convenient business hours: Monday to Wednesday 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Thursday 9:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Friday 9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Nobleton), 8:00 p.m. (King City) Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sunday (closed)
Book an appointment or visit rbc.com/appleoffer * To get a complimentary Apple Watch (Series 1) or iPhone SE (for just $79), you must be a new Eligible Personal Client, open either an RBC Signature No Limit Banking® account or RBC VIP Banking® account during the promotional period, and complete criteria by October 31, 2017. Conditions and restrictions apply. Offer available from May 3 to September 1, 2017 but may be changed or withdrawn at any time without notice. Clients who qualified for any of our offers related to opening a Personal Banking Account at any time during the Promotional Period or in the five-year period before the start of the Promotional Period are excluded. For further details, visit www.rbc.com/termsandconditions. ® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada.‡ All other trademarks are the property of their respective owner(s). VPS97974 117230 (04/2017)
Contents pages 22 & 34 page 10
Apiarist André Flys with dad John Flys in background
page 14
page 21
For the love of bees...10 Horse country...12 Dorio’s imperfectly perfect bakery...14 Reconnecting with sustainable farming at Round The Bend ...16 Kettleby Village: the melting pot of King Township...18 GG Custom Designs’ bespoken style...21 The Summerhill’s noble intentions and classy reinventions of Nobleton’s pub...22 Grilled veggie mahi-mahi...24 Edge toward better learning retention over long breaks with these tips..25 Quench your thirst for neutral water...300 The origins of Navy Street...32 Helen Lucas...34 New song for an old trade...42
... with more online! Be sure to check out kingcountrymagazine.com for the extras. We’ll tell you all about what you can find at Nobleton’s KNG Total Fitness, Sunset Grill, King Custom Cleaners and, the story behind John’s No-Frills. The Summerhill’s Jaclyn Dubar and John Green
Plus,
watch videos of our favourite moments from interviews with Helen Lucas and Round the Bend’s Sue Feddema; along with a great tip from Aquafinity’s Marco Cavallari.
page 22
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
page 7
• Real Estate • • Wills • • Corporate Law • • Notarial Services • Servicing Vaughan, King, Caledon, GTA & Surrounding Areas
99 Rowntree Dairy Road, 2nd Floor. Woodbridge, ON.
647.990.4122
longolaw.ca
Keep cool this summer with your custom Kingsway pool!
cd
Call Charlie: 647.989.1862 ba
kingswaypaving.ca
cd
We can design your outdoor living space with 3D and 2D rendering pools & spas interlocking pavers
landscaping natural stone
water features asphalt
Call today for a FREE consultation
residential & commercial services
B
Pioneer Brand Honey C
5815, 15th Sideroad, Nobleton (416) 807-2253 pioneerbrand.ca
E
F
GG CUSTOM DESIGNS INC.
25A Calibre Court, Nobleton 905.859.2500 ggcustomdesginsinc.com Experience elegantly crafted, handmade suits, shirts & jeans designed just for you. H Enjoy our full-service barber shop featuring top-of-the-line products.
I
Luxuriate in the capable hands of our salon staff: from mani pedis and massage to full-service medical aesthetics, personal grooming, hair & make-up!
Bespoke boutique experience for men and women.
photo credit: Omega Schranz
For the love of bees by André Flys
I am a beekeeper. It’s not a hobby or something I do for extra income. It is my full-time job. In 2012, a local commercial beekeeper was looking to retire. We decided to buy the place. My wife Kerrie even gave up her cushy union job as an HVAC technician to work at our new beekeeping operation. We leapt in with both feet, got a big truck to haul the honey, put up a new building and, invested in tanks and equipment. The operation came with 25 million bees and some 20 different bee yards; located all over King Township, New Techcumseth, Adjala and Caledon. I thought that, with all my years of preparation, I knew what to expect but our first year was intense. We had contracts to pollinate four different apple orchards. 125 colonies needed to be moved to various locations in King and Brampton. These were considered small jobs for the big guys, who focus on pollination, but big jobs for us. Our truck could only move 25 colonies at a time, and everything had to be loaded and unloaded by hand, boxes full of potentially angry bees just moved across back roads and fields, all by hand, one colony at a time. When my father-in-law and I moved the bees into the orchards for pollination that year it was cold and rainy: perfect weather for moving bees. Like the rest of us, bees like to stay warm and dry. So, they’re less likely to take offence to a jostled hive. Honey bees on a dry 20°C plus night are a different story. When the apple blossoms were done, fruit on its way to set, it was time for the bees to come home. The weather forecast was nothing but hot and dry, evenings included. Come hell or high water; bees must come out of the orchards. page 10
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
Kerrie and I set out to do just that, in 26°C weather. Loading them onto the truck at the orchard went well. Unloading after the bumpy ride home was another story. By the time we got back, cakes of bees had covered the truck bed and were waiting angrily to greet us. Despite being covered head to toe in beekeeping gear, dozens of bees managed to get through our protective layers and down to bare skin. We got stung at least a hundred times, each. Our cursing could be heard all through the township that late spring evening. Fortunately, that experience wasn’t enough to change our minds. Giving up was not an option. Our river valley systems in King have a very similar floral abundance to that of the Don Valley. In 1930, Murph, an old man who lived in a trailer alongside the tracks in the Don Valley gave my grandfather, Charles Sauriol, his first package of bees. Gramps moved them to his cottage property at the forks of the Don River. There, they remained until the DVP took over. He continued to keep bees until the day he died, just before his 94th birthday. Though my grandfather’s passion was beekeeping, it was not his profession. My father continues to keep bees for pleasure (when I don’t have him tied to the front desk of our farm gate store). At 83 years old, he can still throw a super full of honey off the truck or a case of it into the back of your car, while talking your ear off about bees. Honey was a tradition in my house when I was growing up. Every season we were allotted a portion of grandpa’s “Don Valley River gold.” Those memories rush into me to this day whenever I taste our Pioneer Brand honey.
My father John’s profession was in the insurance business. Unlike him, when people find out what I do for a living there is usually a flurry of questions that follow: How many times have you been stung? How do you find the queen? How do I know if honey is real honey? Are the bees in trouble? It is humbling to know people care so much about my relationship to bees and, more importantly, bees’ relationship to all of us. I suppose people find beekeeping fascinating for many reasons. Animal husbandry of any kind (yes bees are animals) is interesting, particularly when they can pack such a punch with their stingers. Discovering how best to manage the needs of another species and precisely what those needs are is something human beings have done for many millennia. It took a long time to learn what I know today and it is infinitely rewarding, at least for me, to be so closely tuned with nature. My bees need me to be attentive to their needs. Grandpa wrote two books on the topic and was President of the Toronto District Beekeepers’ Association. He was my father’s mentor. Having a mentor in the bee yard is a helpful thing indeed. An experienced hand makes for a much shorter learning curve when attending to the multifaceted and complex needs of the super organism known as the bee. When my father was growing up, he took every opportunity to absorb as much as he could from grampa’s knowledge of bees and the environment. They went to beekeepers’ meetings together, enjoyed field days at the local Toronto District Beekeepers Association and participated in honey competitions at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. My father even served as the Honey Superintendent at the RAWF for 20 years. I consider myself very lucky to have mentored under both of them. My initiation into the beekeeping world came through “assisting” the two of them at their respective bee yards. I would help extract honey in our basement, bottle it for the season and catch swarms with my Dad and yet-to-be-wife. When our family took over this beekeeping operation, I made the leap from hobbyist to choosing beekeeping as a profession. Of course, we had to make a few tweaks since the early days. Today, our pollination work is a lot less painful since that initial experience. We reduced the number of colonies to a manageable number and decreased our contracts to Pine Farm Orchards and Annie’s Apples. Since then we haven’t looked back, it’s been all bees all the time.
André Flys Apiarist
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
page 11
Photo credits: Raynham Stables (top left, bottom right), top Dutch Masters (top right)
Horse Country by Gary van Bolderen
King Township’s claim to be “horse country” is undisputed in Canada, and around the world. This brand has served the Township well concerning economic growth, worldwide recognition and, increased tourism. It routinely attracts the cream of the equestrian industry’s crop to Canada, from around the world and, by any measure, horses have made King Township a more attractive place to live. Here, the beauty of Nature’s gifts is the backdrop for horses grazing the oak fenced paddocks. Studs or mares may choose to make an effort to look up at you, expecting the adoration of which they feel well-deserved. You should not be ashamed to give a little bow and small nod out of respect for this magnificent animal. King is, after all, horse country. Just hearing the words “horse country” gives rise to visions of peaceful drives down the concession roads of King Township. The mind’s eye zooms to rolling hills, green pastures and beautiful stables framed by the trees of the meandering farm lanes. Fresh air and the sun etching the landscape with it shadowy shapes fills the senses. Before long you are immersed in a reality of eager anticipation for what page 12
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
awaits you around the next bend in the road: a chance sighting of the ruler of the scene, the regal horse. He glances at you, shrouded in arrogance, knowing that you have ventured into his domain. You feel his pride, presence and, stature as a matter of the fact that you are not to question. His head up, feet firmly planted on the ground, tail and mane waving gently in the breeze. He stares directly at you. You bow your head ever so slightly in reverence of his acknowledgment before succumbing to his dismissal, coming as quickly as the attention he granted. You continue driving while reflecting on the beauty of the beast. For it comes from more than his imposing physical size and his “cast in stone” stoic strength: it is his acceptance of his place in the world. Your passage means nothing to him as he turns and ignores you, the roan colour of his coat glistening in the sun. With a slow trot, he joins his mates in the paddock and relates how the colour of your car is not his favourite. Horse Country indeed. King Township has a long tradition of excellence on the thoroughbred racetracks, in the dressage ring, eventing, hunter and show jumping at national and at international events.
This Township brand is a well-earned one. The horse may be the instrument but, it needs training, selective breeding, coaching, and superior athletes to reach for and attain the highest rewards and recognition in the world. From the eventing team that included John Rumble, Jim Elder and Brian Herbinson, in the 1956 Olympics, to Eric Lamaze’s ranking as the top rider in the world. The many winners in between, like Mac Cone, Beth Underhill, Michelle Viancourt, and others, who reached the top of their game have elevated King Township to the winner’s circle alongside them. Equestrian sporting history is full of top riders and horses who lived and trained in King Township. The thoroughbred racing industry embedded itself in the Township: winners of many a Queen’s Plate, the oldest horse race in North America, owners who invested in the best bloodlines available and hired top riders to garner success in a very competitive “game”. Beyond their reputation for competitive excellence in the sport, niche polo discipline owners and riders are wellknown for their generosity in raising funds for cancer research. The hundreds of horse farms throughout the Township provide recreation, sport, employment, and tourism to the local economy. These small and large private facilities are the source of the Equestrian Industry’s future breeding stock and athletes. The real, and often, the unrecognized foundation, of the success in making King Township “horse country” are the owners of the farms. They invest significant resources into the land, facilities, breeding stock and the training to allow the industry to exist. On faith, they invest long-term commitment to developing a program that may find a reward only after years of planning. The numbers illustrate how hard it is to not only be competitive but, to qualify and win. Owners committed to the industry, have made King Township the home for so much local success, well earning the moniker “Horse Country.”
Gary van Bolderen is an active Board member of the Headwaters Equine Leadership Group (HELG), Chair of the Council of Ontario Construction Associations, on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Farm Builders Association (CFBA) where he has served three terms as President and is on the Canadian Construction Association Board of Directors, (CCA) and founder of the award-winning equestrian barn builder, Dutch Masters. He is an active participant, supporter and contributor to equestrian causes, horse shows and Olympic riders.
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
page 13
Josie Dorio is always ready with a smile, who you are sure to return when you arrive inside their Kettleby time capsule.
Dorio’s imperfectly perfect bakery Manuel Dorio has a way with dough. “He’s the baker,” explains Josie, “I’m the cake maker. I went to school to learn what I know. He is a natural. Manny just looks at dough and it listens to him,” she says, handing me a sandwich on one of his signature Calabrese buns. It’s easy to see why people call ahead and pre-order their bread when you sink your teeth into one of these babies. Dorio’s Bakery doesn’t usually have a lot left over by the end of the day. The couple has been married for 33 years and raised four children while running a bakery in North York, for over two decades. “We had a really good business but, we didn’t have a good life,” reflects the perky proprietor of Kettleby’s Dorio’s Bakery. The pair used to work seven days a week, starting as early as two in the page 14
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
by Freyda Tartak
morning and “one of us had to be there until ten at night,” she reflects. On summer weekends, they’d visit Josie’s mother on Lloydtown Aurora Sideroad, with an obligatory trip to the Kettleby General Store, for ice cream. “I just fell in love with Kettleby. I found the village so peaceful; I could see myself redirecting our bakery business and being here,” she continues. Josie was enthralled by the prospect of the slower pace, compared to her life in Toronto. As bakers, it would mean that they could go back to making things by hand, from scratch. “You can’t do that in the city because you are serving the masses. There, everything has to be commercially produced. In Kettleby, nothing is pre-mixed or out of the box. You can better meet the needs of customers, including those with dietary restrictions. When you mass-produce a baked good, the product changes. You can taste the difference,” explains Josie. Manny his craft by apprenticing at the old Portuguese bakeries in Kensington Market. He spent many years working at Tre Mari Bakery before going into business for himself. “That’s where we met,” reflects Josie, of her own time at Tre Mari. “I used to work the four-to-midnight
shift and he used to whip pieces of dough at me. I never knew who was doing it.” Three decades and grandkids have not changed much for this couple. They still flirt like kids working up the nerve to talk to each other, “She’s the one who asked me out, she used to bring in coffee and cookies,” teases Manny. Josie’s visits to the General Store weren’t just about ice cream. Josie knew the owners were looking to retire and she was watching, having set her heart on buying the place. When it finally did come up for sale, all Manny said was, “Do you know what you are buying?” At the time, Josie had no idea. The place was falling apart and in desperate need of renovations. “Yeah, but it’s pretty,” she replied. That’s all it took to convince Manny to take the plunge. As Josie guiltily admits, she has to be very careful about what she asks for, “because whatever I ask for he does everything in his power to make it happen. He’s a very, very giving person. He saw that I had a vision and…” Of course, Manny knew exactly what they were getting into. The slow, painstaking hours that he poured into restoring the 160-year-old structure, so far, came as no surprise to her handyman husband. It’s not all Josie though. “Manny is more of a city boy but now, he is more in love with the place than I am,” she says. It helps that the move made it possible for him to stop having to get up so early every day. “When we moved to Kettleby I promised he wouldn’t have to work nights anymore.” Instead, Josie lets her customers know that bread comes fresh and hot out of the oven at twelve o’clock and is happy to have customers call to reserve their bread for later pick-up. “You don’t come here because you need to. You come here because you want to so, you just plan your trip. It’s always a planned trip when you go to Kettleby,” she shrugs with a smile. Despite a major setback in 2007, when an issue with their septic system almost cost them the property, the Dorios didn’t give up. The more Manny works on the place, the more he feels connected to it. “He’s seen the
transformation so, now this is his baby,” says Josie, “Now he’s going all the way.” Perhaps it is just part of the character of Kettleby to be incredibly welcoming and open-hearted. But, likely that warmth has a little to do with genuine appreciation and gratitude. “I love Kettleby even more now because the community has really opened their arms and accepted us,” gushes Josie, “They really support us; the Township supports us and, not just the residents. The cyclists, golfers, trades people, destination tourists -- people always loved Kettleby and would come to the General Store because of the good food. But now, they are even more appreciative because we are restoring the 160-yearold building that could have deteriorated and collapsed. Instead, we are restoring it to its original design, using horizontal wood siding versus board and baton, which would have been an easier way to hide the flaws.” For Josie, its appeal has always been in the quirky details. When you step inside, the door creaks, the floors creak and everything is crooked, including the warped windowpanes. Walking into Dorio’s Bakery is like stepping back into a time before Canada became a Confederation. “That’s what I love about this place, as a result of these imperfections every customer who walks through the door has a smile on their face,” enthuses Josie. Those smiles broaden when visitors taste the Dorio magic: Manny’s selection of multi-grain, French loaf, Calabrese and spaccato breads and Josie’s desserts. Her freshly baked butter tarts conceal a warm, sweet filling that’s are ready to ooze into your mouth with each bite. Josie’s biscotti are a local favourite, betraying the genuine understanding of what the cookie should be: not too hard and toasted to perfection. Her Sfoglia, done the Sicilian way, is a beautiful puff pastry with fresh cream, fresh ricotta and chocolate chip filling that, as her sister puts it, “is the only way to eat cake,” smiles Josie. When you arrive in Kettleby, Dorio’s Bakery is impossible to miss, nor should you. Do yourself a giant favour and stop in. KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
page 15
Climb a tractor, jump on a bale of hay, hold a baby goat & learn where your food comes from at Kettleby’s Around The Bend Farm. Pictured above, left to right in the greenhouse: farm hands Sam, Judy Clark with Sue Feddema.
Reconnecting with sustainable farming at Round The Bend Farm by Freyda Tartak
The phrase “round the bend” has a sweet, old-time ring to it. It sounds traditional and warms the heart with a promise of something worth finding. It implies a proximity to a place you are hoping to find. If you’ve ever been to Kettleby, you will also instantly recognize the tongue-in-cheek irony behind the name of Brian and Sue Feddema’s Round The Bend Farm. In fact, straight-forward, with a touch of humour is a good way to describe this local farming family. Their approach toward alleviating some of the misconceptions people have about food and how it grows is a great way to get the real facts. page 16
As Sue puts it, “if you want to know where your food comes from, talk to a farmer.” Nutritionists understand how food interacts with your body but, few have the working knowledge of how to produce it. Their desire to appear current often serves to electrify mass misconceptions. When you ask a farmer, you might hear a different story. For example, Kale is very popular these days but, according to old farming wisdom, “the chill of a moderate frost or light snow improves its flavour.” So, even though nutritionists may advocate adding kale to your diet throughout the year, Sue prefers to eat hers when it is at it’s best.
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
Both Brian and Sue grew up in farming families. Brian’s dad had a chicken quota and needed to expand his family’s operation. When Brian showed Sue the new property, she fell in love with the 40acre farm and its quaint farmhouse. Within a couple of years, Sue replaced Brian’s father as co-owner and, they went on to transform the modest Kettleby farm into a popular agritourism destination point.
Over the past three decades, the Feddemas raised five kids and helped educate thousands more. Scores of school buses arrive each year to discover the farm and hear about sustainable agriculture. Walking onto the farm, thirty-two years ago, were not just two kids who were thinking about starting a life together. Brian graduated with a degree in agriculture economics, and Sue had her teaching certificate. Armed with a solid background in the business of farming and how to share that information, the pair turned an unassuming little farm into a favourite destination for both fact-seekers and people looking to buy their food directly from the farmer. Even before the Internet, there was plenty of misconception about how food grows. Frustration, social responsibility and occupational tendencies prompted the pair to help put a dent in the cloud of confusion about real food and what it is to bite into something that people didn’t create in an unnatural way. Social media and ready access to the Internet’s evergrowing mass of misinformation have made Sue’s job so much more important. The more people catch on to popular themes; the more mass hysteria tends to build over sound bites. The conversations that Sue has on a daily basis remind her intimately of the mission she embarked on when first stepping foot on Round The
Bend Farm. Sue routinely has to explain to people basic biological and horticultural facts: things like why eating unfertilized eggs in no way prevents the birth of chicks. Round The Bend Farm is more than an educational destination point. It is a working farm. Greenhouse operations warm up in February to have seedlings ready for planting as soon as the ground can sustain them. They keep bees for flower pollination and sell their honey and eggs at their farm gate market. They also have chickens, turkeys and loads of fruit and vegetables. In a modern and take on “teaching by doing,” the Feddemas offer a Community Supported Agriculture Program (CSA). Through their CSA you can get weekly portions of the freshest and most seasonal vegetables delivered right to your door, for a very reasonable price. You can even share the cost of delivery if they’re only dropping off at one spot. Buying into their CSA gives you very immediate and direct access to Round the Bend. If you choose to pick up at the gate, you can also bring the kids and hang out with, feed and interact with all the baby animals and play on the hay bale mazes. As a member of their CSA, you gain access to the farm without having to do any of the backbreaking labour while supporting the people who love doing it for you. KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
page 17
Kettleby is so unique that King Township Public Library wasn’t sure what to do with these glimpses into the village’s eclectic past; opting to file them under ‘miscellaneous.’
Kettleby Village: the melting pot of King Township Kettleby is a place people come to for one of two reasons: they lost their way or, they planned to go. Once here, you know you’ve arrived at a place of considerable significance. There’s not much to Kettleby these days: Dorio’s Bakery, Round the Bend Farm, a hugely popular summer camp for kids, a couple of churches and, the vibrant and very active village association responsible for the township’s annual Canada Day blowout. Yet, this village is so unique in character and charm that you would be hard-pressed to find another quite like it. Its spirit of generosity, tolerance, humility, gratitude and fun predates Canada’s confederation, permeating the air to this day. Typically, small places like to stay that way. Locals, leery of outsiders and newcomers, tend to cast a sidewards glance, laced with temporary lenience and suspicion: visit, but don’t stay. That’s not the case with Kettleby, the once thriving industrial centre. Kettleby knows what it’s like to be at the heart of all the hustle and bustle. Its pace is page 18
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
purpose in mind. To this day Kettleby, as shrunken as it has become, is still a melting pot for the township. Round the Bend’s Sue Feddema, confided to us that many of the people who attend Christ Church and York Pines United Church don’t live in Kettleby. “They come because of the community and their historical connection to the place and each other,” she explains. “No story of Kettleby would be complete without mention of the famous Sons of Temperance,” wrote Elizabeth McClure Gillham in her book Early Settlements of King Township Ontario, “the mills ran twenty-four hours a day, and the two taverns in the village did a booming business. In the face of this drunkenness and revelry, some of the residents began to think that life in the village was getting a little bit out of hand.”
a lot slower than that of modern-day Toronto, or even Newmarket. But, that “everyone belongs here” mentality, usually reserved for cities, never went away. Industry and innovation pulled people to relocate their homes but did nothing to wane their connection to each other. People moved but, the draw of the place is so strong that many come back whenever they can (like for Sunday services or a stop at Dorio’s Bakery, the reincarnation of Kettleby’s General Store). As Josie Dorio describes, “it’s always a planned trip when you come to Kettleby.” People come and arrive with a
Kettleby turned out to be one of the brotherhood’s strongholds. Their push for abstinence came out of sheer necessity. Drunken drivers, distracted by the lights of the barroom shining across the pond, would head their teams straight into the water, drowning their horses. People were losing limbs and lives in the mill shaft. For Kettleby, the desire to control the drinking wasn’t simply out of religious ideology. They were desperate for a greater sense of calm and civil order. In Kettleby, The Sons of Temperance brotherhood brought about a greater sense of ownership over each other’s well-being. It was a sort of insurance agency where were members mandated to pay a visit to any members who were ill and make
The Kettleby's congregation of The Anglican Parish of Lloydtown's Christ Church includes regulars who come from other parts of the township. They are drawn here because of it's intimate nature and it's legacy connection to times gone by.
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
page 19
contributions toward each other’s funeral expenses. In those days, that was a big deal and well worth the week’s pay and invasive scrutiny that it cost to join. Both of Kettleby’s Churches share a similar approach to genuinely embracing those who wish to take part, transcending superficial differences. York Pines United Church is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary. It first opened in 1966 as an amalgamation of three village churches: Kettleby’s York Pines (est. 1841), Pottageville (est. 1853) and Snowball (est. 1856). The original village churches originally Methodist, but they joined with Presbyterian and Congregational Churches in 1925 to form the United Church of Canada. Kettleby’s Anglican Christ Church was built in 1891 at a cost of $3,000, from local field stone, in the Norman style, with a square bell tower. No structural changes have been made to either its interior or the exterior since that time. According to Kettleby Village Association’s Elaine Kitteridge, “Kettleby has traditionally hosted a picnic in the park with fireworks on Canada Day, as a way of giving back to the community that helped put on the Kettleby Fair for over 30 years.” In true Kettleby fashion, some things change and some things stay the same. “The Kettleby Fair no longer happens but the fireworks
have continued,” continues Elaine, “This year is special in many ways. Not only are we celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday, Kettleby itself was established 175 years ago and our lovely stone Christ Church is 125 years old. As such, we are ramping up the party with great support from the Township of King, the Government of Canada and many private sponsors!”
highlights of what to expect in kettleby this canada day: A fantastic musical lineup on the stage The Nobleton Children’s Theatre, performing a musical trip through the township’s past 150 years, with an original score by Karen Kastner Grounds entertainment Historical tours of Kettleby Games for kids & adults Great food & Beer Garden Free photo booth - have your picture taken with historical Kettleby backgrounds Crafters Free birthday cake Spectacular fireworks at the end of the night
That’s mighty good encouragement to skip the cottage traffic, grab a blanket and head on over to Kettleby Park this Canada Day. As Elaine puts it, “Kettleby is a special place, not only because of its winding road and historical buildings. It’s a community of great people that comes together, whether to host Township wide events or local potlucks. It’s a small village with a big heart.”
The Congregation of Kettleby’s York Pines United does much more than worship together. Everything from publishing cookbooks and offering dance classes and bursaries for post-secondary education.
page 20
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
GG Custom Designs’ bespoken style Nobleton’s GG Custom Designs is the culmination of its owner’s passion for family and beautiful clothing. Gloria Garofali’s salon was designed to take care of men in a fashion deserving of her own husband.
and even make-up is waiting for you, all under one roof. This degree of attentiveness to detail is what continues to drive the steady increase in satisfied clients and, they have Gloria’s lineage to thank for it.
It didn’t take long for word to spread that the luxurious boutique caters to both men and women; with skilled guidance through a bespoke tailored shirt, suit or jeans order process (a few people even commission custom fine Italian leather shoes, as well).
Growing up, Gloria spent her summers visiting family in Rome and Naples. There, barely able to see over her grandparents’ sales counters, she witnessed the mechanics of making and selling high-quality clothing and, enjoyed the reactions of satisfied customers.
Initially, GG Custom Designs planned to cater strictly to men. But, as in her own case, men often bring their ladies to help sort through the thousands of fabric options and work out their ideal suit designs. Soon after opening her doors, Gloria realized they had to provide services for the couple or not at all.
Years later, out of pure necessity, Gloria found herself trekking to downtown Toronto to buy bespoke, or custom-made, tailored shirts and suits to fit her husband’s physique.
With a few tweaks to her original concept, she expanded GG Custom Designs’ services to meet the needs of both men and women without any compromise in the level of service she initially had her heart set on. She began making suits, shirts and jeans for women, as well. The barber shop still offers a relaxing scalp massage and moisturizing mask to go along with the much sought-after hot shave. But to meet the ladies’ needs, the service offering was expanded by introducing an expert hairstylist, a medical esthetician and, a certified lash technician and permanent make-up artist. Imagine not having to worry about the oil in your hair following a relaxing massage because a wash, blow-dry
“We were spending $2,100 per suit only to find out they were all made overseas,” recalls Gloria. “I thought to myself, why not just do it ourselves?” So, she embarked on delivering a mobile bespoke tailoring service: no advertising, straight referrals. Three years in, something had to give. Gloria had gotten so busy that it was time to open an actual storefront. Her timing couldn’t be better. Coming from Maple, Gloria always knew she wanted to end up in Nobleton. Her search had barely begun when Caliber Court came up. It was love at first sight: a sprawling corner unit, with an incredible 1,250 square feet of anything goes! Since opening in mid-2016, GG Custom Designs has quickly earned a reputation for bending over backwards for their clients. This local gem is worth exploring. KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
page 21
Donna and Bob Lehtonen (shown above) say they “love the transformation.” Nobleton’s The Summerhill is a resto pub that offers a mere staircase between upscale intimate dinners and the casual atmosphere of a pub. Date night, catching the game or a family dinner: something for everybody with no need to go far.
The Summerhill’s noble intentions and classy re-inventions of Nobleton’s pub Nobleton isn’t a big place and, there isn’t much by way of nightlife. A pub with live music, beer, wings and French fries is already a lot better than nothing at all and, that’s what we had here for quite a while. But something pretty great happened in the spring of 2016. The shift happened so suddenly that you might have not even noticed as one sign came down and the other went up. That was it. The change had begun. All of a sudden, you could see linen tablecloths through the large picture windows of what was now The Summerhill. Equally without warning the place started to attract a more upscale crowd, looking for a classy, intimate setting for bridal showers, birthday parties, girls’ nights out. At first, the food was… interesting. It was a different spin on things you thought you knew. Good, but not quite there. The new owners kept at it. Within weeks people started to get a much different opinion of the food. “Fantastic!” “Best steak I’ve had in a long time!” “Amazing!” Rave comments on restaurant review sites from qualified reviewers started popping up and, The Summerhill started attracting a steady stream of regulars looking not just for a convenient location but a great meal, as well. page 22
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
The pub didn’t go away. Even before the linen started adorning the dining room’s tables, the new owners elevated the downstairs to a new level with the installation of a gorgeous, reclaimed wood harvest table. John Green doesn’t mince words. You know where he stands on things. If he’s going to spend his time on something, it has to be worth it. So when his partner, Jaclyn Dubar convinced him to go in on her dream for the place, he knew it had to have two things to make him happy: the food had to be amazing and come from sustainable, responsible agriculture sources and it had to make people want to interact and mingle. Even the elegant upstairs dining room has a harvest table, though much more understated than the showpiece downstairs. “We wanted the place to be where people come to hang out, couples, groups, singles, somewhere that people are comfortable,” says John. He’s quick to give credit where it’s due though, “Jaclyn is the driving force behind everything. You know if she puts her name on it I can guarantee you that it will be good.” As for where they source their food, let’s just say this is the sort of people who take the time to visit farms and see how things are run there for themselves before deciding to put their meat or fish on your plate.
Jaclyn isn’t resting on her laurels and, she doesn’t strike us as the type of person who might ever consider herself finishing aiming for perfection. What she’s after isn’t a unique concept but one you normally have to travel to the city to experience it. Instead, she’s bringing the ideas and talent to Nobleton. “Jaclyn hopes people have a ‘wow’ experience when they come in,” explains John. That is the impression people have already. But, considering that The Summerhill is the only game in town for something more than a meal, Jaclyn isn’t letting the praise go to her head. It’s not like she can, anyway. People have seen what she’s willing to do and keep coming with ideas and pushing boundaries of possibilities. The Summerhill is quickly becoming a favourite event space for intimate gatherings like showers and private parties. The separate entrance to the pub allows them the luxury of meeting the needs of regulars while catering to events such as birthdays, wedding receptions, confirmations and, communions. Jaclyn is on a mission to deliver a top-notch dining and entertainment experience. She hand picked all of the kitchen staff, including renowned chef David Howe (check out his recipe on page 24). What would a pub night be without solid live entertainment? To perform live on Thursday nights, Jaclyn brought in JanisJoplin-incarnate Kalyna Rakel (you’ve got to check this lady out, she’s fantastic!). The one thing that hasn’t changed is the spacious licensed patio. It’s still a gorgeous place to hang out on a beautiful afternoon. Though, we do hear that Jaclyn has some plans in store for that space, as well. The Summerhill is constantly looking for ways to beat themselves at their own game. We can’t possibly predict what you should expect the next time you go, except for an excellent experience. When you do go, ask them to make you a martini. It’ll be the best one you’ve ever tried. Scout’s honour!
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
page 23
Grilled veggie mahi mahi by Summerhill Resto Pub Head Chef, David Howe Potato Salad
Mahi mahi
Grilled Veggies
2 Yukon Gold potatoes 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1 tbsp white vinegar 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp chopped dill
1 per person, 6 oz cleaned portion of mahi mahi Dry rub mix of ½ Cajun and ½ paprika
3 heads of baby bok choy 3 slices of zucchini, cut on a bias 4 pieces coloured sweet peppers, cut into triangles
• Wash, rough cut and blanch the potatoes in boiling water until tender. • Drain, allow to cool. • Add remaining ingredients • Add salt & pepper to taste
page 24
• Dip skinless side in mix • Place on greased grill (seasoned side down) until slightly blackened, do not flip • Finish off in 450°F oven for about 7 min. or until internal temperature reaches 160°F
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
• Blanch bok choy on skillet • Grill zucchini and sweet peppers
Cherry Tomato Bruschetta 3 cherry tomatoes 1 tsp chopped red onion ½ tsp chopped basil ¼ tsp chopped garlic ¼ tsp olive oil • Mix together at room temperature
Edge toward better learning retention over long breaks with these tips by Rajesh Verma
Summer vacation is wonderful for recharging after a long school year (for students and parents). But the longer we stay away from our standard learning routines, the less we tend to remember what we’ve already learned.
learning something and using it again, the less we remember how to do it. When it comes to long breaks, like summer vacation, it is something well worth considering.
‘Elastic memory’ refers to our ability to recall detailed information over time. Some people are quite gifted at remembering things. For everybody else, memory degradation is a fact of life. The longer we wait between
Students naturally know more at the end of June than what they can recall by the time September rolls around. Fortunately, it is possible to improve memory elasticity with these tricks:
Stay in touch with your subjects
Get some help
• Seek out opportunities to practice anything that didn’t come easy the first time. If, at first, it didn’t sink in, don’t dismiss it. Car rides, shopping and day trips can be full of chances to review, apply and assimilate information.
• Enrolling in a summer school course or hire a tutor to strengthen and focus on areas of weakness to further develop insight into & retention of core subjects.
Read for 20 - 30 minutes, daily • Reading allows us to focus. The key is not just to read: take the time to summarize, in writing! Writing engages a different part of the brain, boosting memory retention. We remember more when we write things down.
Stay in touch with friends • Study circles serve as great motivators to keep up with learning routines. Invite friends to engage in this fun way to stay prepared for the next semester.
Get and use your library card • The King Public Library is an outstanding and easily accessible local resource. In addition to the obvious,
libraries offer meeting spaces, helpful staff and extensive online resources, as well. Plus, they carry the latest new releases to support summer reading.
Keep elements of your school routine • For many people, the biggest pitfall during long breaks is the change in routine. Keeping elements from your school-year routine will make it easier to switch gears when school starts back up. Eat well, commit to a regular, reasonably modified, bedtime and schedule weekly activities to make for a smooth, back-to-school transition and improve memory retention.
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
page 25
Sensei Johncarlo Esposito Kai Shin Martial Arts
Open minded, happy hearted and full of old school values by Freyda Tartak
W
hen Johncarlo Esposito was growing up in the early 80’s, martial arts dominated mainstream media. Everybody was Kung Fu fighting. Even Garfield had mad ninja skills.
Johncarlo was hooked. Team sport never appealed to him. Instead, he spent the Saturday mornings of his youth watching Chinese martial arts matinées and convinced his dad to sign him up for classes at a local gym. 36 years later, Kai Shin (Nobleton Karate) Sensei Johncarlo owns two karate studios and serves as an incredible mentor to the many kids who bow into his dojos. But, the road to get here wasn’t a smooth one. It took a series of personal tragedies to finally give John enough courage to shift his professional gears into a martial arts career. “I missed out on 25 years of doing what I loved. I could have started earlier but, it wasn’t an option. Coming from a first generation Italian-Canadian family, there was no time for self-discovery.” When John was growing up, he didn’t feel that he “had a mentor who could forge a road map and provide, with a perspective of understanding,” the guidance and support he would need to succeed. What John’s parents wanted is what all parents want for their children: happiness and a sense of accomplishment. We try to protect our children and steer them away from mistakes. But, despite the best of intentions, kids can start to feel conflicted when they find something that enthralls them but is not along the path of success acceptable to their parents. “You never listen to me,” or their refusal to hear us, is a clear indication that something inside them is at odds and that they lack the maturity to know what to do about it.
page 26
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
John likes to joke, “my dad is 77 years old, a little guy. I have three black belts from three different disciplines, and I am still afraid of him.” Nobody wants to disappoint their parents. But when kids want to strike a direction for themselves, like John did, they can end up feeling isolated. That’s why Johncarlo spent over two decades owning a chain of dollar stores and volunteering once a week to teach at a Bolton karate school, just to keep his foot in the door. He was making good money, doing everything expected of him but, he wasn’t happy. Then, tragedy struck. Over a two-year period, his family suffered loss after loss. “I became intimately familiar with every hospital in the GTA, except Sick Kids,” says John. Suddenly, at 44 years-old Johncarlo realized it was time to re-evaluate his life and stop living to the expectations of others.
“All I need you to do is try.” ~
Sensei Johncarlo
“I want to give kids a modern way to access guidance and old-fashioned values,” explains Sensei John. His core belief is that everybody should be free to follow a path of their choosing but “apply a strong work ethic.” His aim is to help kids develop their paths by teaching them that an open mind leads to a happy heart. This message drives the way things work at John’s dojos. Even the name Kai Shin takes from the Japanese, “open mind” and the Chinese, “happy heart.”
“You have to have a self-determined destiny. Don’t just keep dreaming without doing something about it.” ~
The Japanese term “karate” means “empty-handed.” It is the art of developing skills honed by learning to simplify through precision: teaching focus and self-control. Despite his accomplishments, Sensei John does not judge the success of his dojo by how often he turns out black belts. Many schools turn out black belts every 2 to 2.5 years. Kai Shin has been operating in Nobleton for five years and is anticipating its first black belt by the end of 2017. That’s slow by industry standards. But it isn’t about the paths of the industry, school or, parents. It’s about the kids. His charges receive belts when they earn them. “Our system of government has failed the kids today,” says Sensei Johncarlo, “Kids are socially engineered to believe that everybody is special, everything is okay and, any amount of effort is acceptable. Then we find them floundering through life.” Today’s education system often takes the
Sensei Johncarlo
approach: “It’s okay we’ll fix it next year.” Then they graduate from school and realize that they don’t have any discernible talent that sets them apart. Many have a sense of entitlement but are fundamentally unable to fulfill their potentials, hampering their grasp and ability hold on lifelong happiness and personal satisfaction. Of all the disciplines that John has studied over the years, he feels that the Japanese system is best suited to translating his message to young kids. It is a very efficient and precise art form, teaching the value of standing still, paying attention and reacting quickly, accurately and efficiently to outside influences. Kai Shin’s approach to martial arts complements what we, as parents want to say to our children when they stop listening because they think we aren’t hearing them. Sensei Johncarlo’s dojo keeps the conversation going and brings our kids home safely KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
page 27
From left to right: Vanessa Brunato, D.Ch (Chiropodist), Charlene McMann, RMT, Michelle Colton, RMT & yoga instructor, Nicole Joseph, D. Pod. M (Chiropodist). Balance Health Studio is continually adding to their roster of holistic healthcare offerings.
Delivering holistic healthcare at Balance Health Studio Charlene McMann has been working as a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) in Nobleton since 2009. For much of that time, her focus was in physiotherapy, gaining valuable experience in treating various stress, tension, sport and work related injuries. In 2015, Charlene decided to expand her career by opening her practice. She felt there was a need for a local holistic healthcare space. “My inspiration came from my commitment to helping people achieve a greater state of well-being through stress management, pain relief, healing, and preventative care. I wanted to offer an unimposing place for clients seeking a balance for their mental and physical health,” explains Charlene. To broaden its range of services Charlene teamed up with Registered Chiropodist, Nicole Joseph. The two studied kinesiology together at York University and share a common vision for Balance Health Studio. Chiropody is an essential service for many people. It addresses everything from nail fungus and callouses, to soft tissue surgeries. “We treat people of all ages,” adds Nicole, “children with flat feet, in-toeing gait, and warts; seniors with diabetes and arthritis and; people who have difficulty cutting their nails.” page 28
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
From that foundation, Charlene and Nicole added to their services by including yoga and nutritional counseling. “We brought these in-house because I often refer clients to nutrition and to try yoga for its meditative benefits, stretching, balance work and exercise,” explains Charlene. The team of practitioners and instructors at Balance Health Studio are carefully selected based on their qualifications, passion and commitment to consistent and exceptional care. “We work with clients toward achieving their optimal health and preventing future dysfunction in a way that they can rely on.” Balance Health Studio is continually striving to stay current and relevant to their patrons’ needs. Clients will be happy to learn that they now offer orthopedic shoes, slippers, and sandals. “We use a state-of-the-art 3D laser scanner for our custom orthotics and shoes to ensure a perfect fit,” explains Nicole. To augment their massage offering Balance Health Studio recently invested in a full pregnancy cushioning system to address the needs of pregnant clients. “We are enjoying watching the community grow and are excited to continue evolving with it,” concludes Charlene.
Lenses made for dreamers
W
by Dr. Melisa Siragusa
hile most people are familiar with corrective lenses, they usually associate them with daytime wear. In fact, there is a lesser known alternative: orthokeratology, or ortho-k for short. Doctors discovered the benefits of reshaping the cornea with glass lenses as early as the 1940’s but rarely applied the technology, before 17 years ago. The alarming rise in myopia among the Asian populations has brought about an increased awareness of ortho-k lenses as research has shown that it is a good method for controlling the progression of myopia in children. what it is
Orth-k employs the use of specialty gas permeable contact lenses, worn overnight. As you sleep, these lenses gently reshape your corneas (the clear front surface of your eyes). When you wake up, you remove them and see clearly for the remainder of the day. The effects of ortho-k typically last one to two days but, for best results, you should wear the lenses every night. Unlike laser eye surgery, where the outcome is permanent, the results are reversible. This lens technology allows you to function without contacts or eye wear throughout the daytime hours.
what the process involves
Your optometrist will use a machine called a topographer to map out the front surface of your eye, allowing for the design of custom lens that will temporarily reshape your cornea. A highly oxygen-permeable material is used to make these lenses, which allows your eyes to breathe while wearing them. Once a lens is designed, your optometrist will ensure the design is optimal for your eye, as well as teach you to insert and remove the lens safely. who is a candidate
Ortho-k is a great option for patients who have mild to moderate myopia (nearsightedness) with or without astigmatism. It has also been shown to slow the progression of childhood myopia. A 5-year study initiated in 2009 evaluated the effect on orth-k on myopia progression in 138 patients. Results after one year revealed that subjects wearing the ortho-k lenses exhibited significantly less progression compared to control subjects.
It is also great for patients who are ineligible for LASIK refractive surgery; for people who find contact lenses uncomfortable or; for those who engage in sports and have active lifestyles. the risks
Orthokeratology is a safe and reversible procedure. All contact lens wear comes with a small amount of risk. These can include: infection, pain, redness, tearing, irritation, discharge, abrasion of the eye or distortion of vision. The risks are usually temporary conditions which will be resolved if you visit your eye care professional promptly. Ortho-k is a terrific option for: Individuals who are nearsighted, with or without astigmatism; people who do not desire the permanent effects of laser eye surgery, and; as an aid for controlling the progression of myopia in children. See your optometrist to learn more about orthokeratology and to determine your candidacy.
photo credit: Brooke Noddle
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
page 29
Pictured above: test result of reverse osmosis water prior to installation of alkalizing mineral filter, as shown.
Quench your thirst for neutral water by Freyda Tartak
Our new home came with a water softener. The previous owners had one installed but, when they moved, our house stood empty for a while. The salt tank needed refilling, and the toilets turned out to be harder to clean than we anticipated. That’s when I started to learn what having hard water in Nobleton really means. My first call was to King Township. According to the municipality, though we are on well water, meaning high mineral levels and pathogens, the tap water is routinely monitored and well within tolerance limits: therefore, perfectly potable. But the rings in my toilets still left me wondering. Iron is a mineral found in every cell of the body and is considered an essential mineral, due to its role in the production of haemoglobin. But too much iron can cause serious health problems. I dug a little further and learned that what I considered to be rusty looking water was nothing compared to what used to come out of the taps. It seems that the municipality grew tired of resident complaints about water discolouration and did something about it. In other words, the Township decided to use a process called iron sequestering to coat some of the iron particles; to make the issue disappear. Iron Sequestering is a process where polyphosphates or sodium silicates are added to groundwater before it is exposed to air or other oxidants (including chlorine) to keep dissolved iron and manganese from being oxidized and precipitated. Oxidization and precipitation of iron and manganese can cause water main incrustation and brown water. page 30
What you may not realize is that not only are these iron particles now nearly invisible they also acquired a fantastic superpower: the ability to sneak past the trappings
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
of your water softener system. Silica is a binding agent that prevents oxidation and therefore, the appearance of rust. To get a better grasp on the situation, I contacted Schomberg’s Marco Cavallari. Since Marco lives in the area and has young children, he is especially attuned to the flaws in our local tap water. Mark’s company, Aquafinity Water Systems offers water softeners and filtration systems aimed specifically at the needs of King Township residents. Mark explained it to me this way: “Many people are not aware that softeners can only remove slight amounts of iron and, only one specific type called ferrous. Ferrous, also known as clear water iron, has a positive ion and therefore can be extracted through a softener’s ion exchange with sodium.” The rest of the iron particles in our water are coated with the silica binding agent. But sequestering does more than stick to iron particles, neatly delivering them into your drinking glass. The process also causes those same particles to now attach themselves to the insides of water mains. Every once in a while you get an extra helping of this invisible iron as the water mains get flushed out, either through routine cleaning or heavy rainfall. In other words, you just never know exactly how much iron is coming out of your tap at any given moment. “In my ten plus years of experience and dealings with York Region, there is still no answer as to why one home may have trace levels of iron and a home a block or two away will register a level 2 ppm of iron. The Region takes many tests, at different intervals. But it is solely at the point of distribution,” explains Mark. In comes Reverse Osmosis: an added filtration system that prevents even the coated iron from getting into your drinking water.
Luckily, our new home had a water softener and reverse osmosis (RO) system (I just needed to turn it back on). When we moved in, we added a tank to get rid of the chlorine, too. Yes, chlorine evaporates quickly if you just drink the water right away but, you’re still showering in the stuff. But, call me a worry wart, I still wasn’t happy. As much as I liked the idea of clean water, I had my concerns about RO. A study published in 2005 by the World Health Organization (WHO) found increased risk to cardiovascular health as a direct consequence of drinking demineralized water. It reads, “stabilization of demineralized and corrosive drinking water should be done where possible with additives that will increase or re-establish calcium and magnesium levels.” The RO process removes 92 - 99% of beneficial calcium and magnesium. I asked Marco to come over and run a couple of tests to see how soft and neutral my water was. He confirmed that without the water softener my tap water is hard. (He showed me a neat trick I could do on my own but, I don’t have space here, so check out the video on kingcountrymagazine.com). Marc also tested my tap water with the system turned on and found that it was doing what it’s supposed to. But
Symptoms and diseases related to too much iron intake: • chronic fatigue • joint pain • abdominal pain • liver disease (cirrhosis, liver cancer) • diabetes mellitus • irregular heart rhythm • heart attack or heart failure • skin color changes (bronze, ashen-gray green) • loss of period • loss of interest in sex • osteoarthritis • osteoporosis
• hair loss • enlarged liver or spleen • impotence • infertility • hypogonadism • hypothyroidism • hypopituitarism • depression • adrenal function problems • early onset neurodegenerative disease • elevated blood sugar • elevated liver enzymes • elevated iron (serum iron, serum ferritin)
just as the WHO suggests, RO water is more acidic than drinking water should be. It’s also lacking in calcium and, more importantly, magnesium. According to WHO findings, this leads to increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Even though the system I already had wasn’t one Marco carries he was able to introduce an alkalizing mineral filter: a simple solution that made my water truly potable. Now, I don’t have to worry so much every time the kids run over to the tap for a simple glass of water.
Marco Cavallari got into the water filtration business because he was concerned about the health of his family and that of his neighbours. His company, Aquafinity Water Systems have a vested interest in figuring out how to get neutral, clean tap water out of every tap.
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
page 31
Sandra Longo CEO, Founder Navy Street Charity for Persons with Disabilities
photo credit (top left & bottom right): Ingrid Punwani Photography
were under the age of two and, her husband’s business had just come to an abrupt halt. Two years later, when Mark was four, he accidentally opened the car door as his mother was reversing out of their driveway. Suddenly his head was trapped under the wheel of her car. Thankfully, neighbors and construction workers were nearby. They lifted the car off his face but the next few years were consumed with Mark’s recovery. Luckily, modern medicine prevailed. Just as life started returning to normal, Ferruccio and Mary announced that they were going to have another baby. “This was good news for a change,” says Sandra. After an uneventful pregnancy Mary delivered the beautifully healthy Liana. But soon after the delivery it became obvious that something was very wrong.
The origins of Navy Street In the face of tragic events, it is tempting to believe that the road to recovery should be paved with acceptance. Learning to forgive and internalize that anything can happen to anybody, at any moment, is how most people move on with their lives. But the story of the Longo family is a good example of a situation when sometimes the Universe is trying to tell you something more. When divine intervention permeates your life to the extent that it has with the Longo family, you have to start believing that maybe you were meant to do something more than healing. When Sandra Longo, her twin brother Mark and her slightly older sister Laura were infants, their father Ferruccio Longo was in a terrible car accident that crushed the lower half of his body. His recovery took many years, major surgery and arduous rehabilitation. He recovered but continues to suffer from chronic pain and has a permanent limp. Immediately following Ferruccio’s accident, his wife Mary was left on her own to raise three babies and trying to make ends meet. All of her children page 32
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
A medical accident related to the epidural left Mary a complete paraplegic (with no movement or feeling below her rib cage) for the rest of her life. The family got a sense of just how difficult their lives were about to become when they tried to navigate the eight steps leading to their own front door, and those inside, as well. “Not only did this happen to my mother when she was young, she also had a very young family to raise,” says Sandra. From the age of nine Sandra became a primary caregiver for her mother. “As the years went by I did everything I could to help, I had no choice.” When they couldn’t gain access to somewhere it wasn’t just a problem for Mary, “it became my issue to resolve,” remembers Sandra. Even as a child, Sandra knew that helping people with disabilities would be part of her future. She became passionate about the plight of people living with
As she sat drowning in her car, Sandra wondered: “What was the purpose of it all? Was I born to watch all of these accidents unfold?” She realized that there had to be a better ending. Michelangelo’s Pietà
disabilities. Her firsthand experience in dealing with the related challenges fueled her passion to help. But she had yet to discover how that would manifest itself. In the mean time, Sandra grew up, got a job and started a family of her own. Her dream of helping people never went away but it took a seat in the back of her mind as she attempted to live a normal life. On January 31, 2013, Sandra got her final wakeup call.
more accessible and inclusive. But those living with disabilities everyday know it’s not enough. This is where Sandra Longo found her calling. With encouragement and support from her family, friends and neighbours, in 2016 Sandra started Navy Street Charity for Persons with Disabilities to donate lightweight, portable wheelchair ramps to individuals living in need, within Ontario. The charity’s aim is to make sure that anybody, regardless of means can enjoy a greater level of accessibility and improved inclusion within their community.
“When people live their lives, they want to be fully included everywhere, which also means within the homes of family and friends. That’s no different for those living in wheelchairs.”
While driving to work her car hit black ice and rolled over into a deep culvert of water. Sandra Longo was Lightweight, portable ~ submerged, trapped and Navy Street Charity CEO & Founder, Sandra Longo wheelchair ramps eliminate unable to call for help. obstacles related to stairs, “In that moment I thought I was going to die. I gained curbs, entrances and pathways. They create an enormous tremendous perspective as my life flashed before me.” difference in the quality of life for people affected by the As she sat drowning in her car, Sandra wondered: “What need to navigate a world that wasn’t built for wheels. was the purpose of it all? Was I born to watch all of these For more information, to donate or accidents unfold?” She realized that there had to be a apply for a ramp visit navystreet.org. better ending. “With the grace of the entity that I call God, I am alive today. I decided if I made it out of that car, I would do something to help others,” she recalls. Luckily, a veteran paramedic was in the right place at the right time, noticed Sandra’s headlights sinking in the ditch and called for help. Sandra’s recovery took almost three years. She used that time of deep reflection to realize, “I never felt safe in my life, and all I wanted was to feel safe in my own skin. I knew what I wanted was to love and to be loved.” “To live my life from a place of love and keep the fear at bay I needed to start taking steps toward being productive, proactive and focused on the things I love.” Sandra’s realization was similar to the moment that Michelangelo realized what he should do with the large block of marble before him. “I saw the angel in the marble, and I carved it until I could set it free,” he said of his Pietà. She decided to unveil something beautiful. According to Statistics Canada, 1.45 million Ontarians rely on some form of mobility assistance devices, such as wheelchairs. But it is not a medical condition which turns mobility issues into disabilities. Physical barriers such as steps and curbs often prevent people who live their lives in a wheelchair from participation within their own homes and within their own communities. As a child, Sandra remembers having to bow out of play dates because her mother was unable to navigate the steps into her friends’ homes. We have come a long way, as a society. Our public spaces are becoming increasingly
Mary Longo’s life changed suddenly and forever. Now, portable ramps make it easier for her to navigate obstacles such as the doorway to her own home. KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
page 33
HELEN LUCAS page 34
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
I
nternationally acclaimed artist Helen Lucas cites a Chinese proverb as the explanation for why she paints flowers:
“If I had two pieces of silver, with one I would buy some bread to stay alive and, with the other a flower to give me a reason for living.” Helen is, above all else, an artist with unbreakable human spirit. She survived great personal loss and systematic, deeply ingrained misogyny. Born in 1932 Saskatchewan, to traditional Greek immigrant parents, Helen was ahead of her time in the expectations she had of society. The austerity of the day, when it came to the role of
women, was made more pronounced by the strict Greek Orthodox environment in which she grew up. Something inside her gave her the strength to see the light, even in her darkest times. Throughout her evolution as an artist, her innate sense that life is ultimately beautiful is an element that shines through in all of her work. Helen vividly remembers how it felt to be seven-years-old and wonder what she had done that was so terrible that the Greek Orthodox priests wanted to send her to hell. She recalls thinking, “Surely, God would understand that I was too little for hell, wouldn’t he?”
To escape the confines of her restrictive childhood, Helen got married while still at school, at Toronto’s Ontario College of Art. Life was seemingly charmed. She was well ensconced in Toronto’s Forest Hill community, selling paintings of heavily charcoaled religious icons to Toronto’s upperclass elite — work fueled by closeted ire against a patriarchy that vilified the naked female form and anger at her well-intentioned mother’s love. Back then, Helen dealt with the world’s intolerance of freethinking women with oily black paint smeared across modest sized canvasses. It was a demure means
“My work is termed Humanism.
It is not art simply to decorate walls but, one with a purpose. Its purpose is to communicate a human condition Humanism in art is not new its roots are in the Renaissance. T he Renaissance artist was the first to depict the human side of Christ. T he Human side is the feeling side.
−
~
”
Helen Lucas, 1976
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
page 35
page 36
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
of protest compared to the wall size explosions of colour that followed. But even in early works, her use of light and white paint had a way of making an appearance. Her use of light is not an aesthetic technique or a trick of the trade. It comes from inside the artist as a signature expression of her soul. “There are two parts to our brain,” she explains, “the part that thinks and the part that feels.” As an art educator, Helen says, “I always found this to be the most complicated concept to get across to young artists: not to let your conscious mind control your hand.” Because she was working at her usual lighting-fast pace the canvass was still very wet when she accidentally wiped off a bit more than she meant to from a work in progress. The mishap caused her to pause amidst the blur of hands and flying brushes long enough to recognize something entirely new in her work. “I thought it looked like a flower,” she says. The image charmed her so profoundly that she decided to buy three flowers to paint and discovered herself inside them. Initially, people were taken aback. They had come to know and love her figurative work. But, as her Montreal dealer liked to relay to his patrons, “the people are still there, hiding within the flowers.” It was a sentiment echoed in Kay Kritzwiser’s 1969 Globe and Mail review of Helen’s show at the Walter Engel Gallery, “Whether Mrs. Lucas intended it or not, the human figure dominates the paintings of flowers. For example, there’s the great unfolding mass, rosy at the edges with that last burst of colour before the petals fall, but brown at the centre with incipient decay. In that centre, the flowers insist on becoming a biomorphic form — a hint of a face, a head — the human quality is there.”
is what carried her through the loss of her soul-mate second husband, who took care of everything and finally let her simply paint to her heart’s content and; watching her youngest Andrea daughter waste away, succumbing to cancer and leaving behind two young boys when they needed their mother the most. For a while, Helen embarked on a soul-searching journey to find peace while dealing with her daughter’s illness: One day, they discovered two doves in her studio. She sketched while her daughter took photographs. At first, Helen was “so preoccupied with the realism of the dove itself that the drawings had no life,” recalls Helen. Discouraged and ready to give up, she suddenly felt a renewed obligated to try again when a Mourning Dove flew into her studio window and died from the impact, leaving its mate-for-life perched on the roof of her studio. She felt no choice but to continue lest it had sacrificed itself in vain. “In covering over a failed attempt, very quickly, with very little thought, the first in the series emerged,” wrote Helen. She held the brush in disbelief that she was the one who painted it. In September of 2016, Helen donated thirteen of the sixteen pieces from “The Dove Painting” series to Solace Ministries in Kigali, Rwanda where victims of that genocide find solace in her work, as well. The remaining three adorn the walls of Kettleby’s Christ Church. To this day, Helen finds solace in her studio and leads a vibrant and active life within the community, her mind en point, ready to engage in lively discussions, her walls adorned with evidence of healed scars from her past, the joy of the present and hope for the future.
Helen uses flowers to express her intense love affair with living. Her signature use of white, the one colour that appears when all of the colours in existence combine and assimilate with one another into one harmonious entity, prevails over details traditionally depicted in darker colours. Here, the artist reveals herself, illuminating the essence of her being. Helen’s deep spirituality KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
page 37
100% eco-friendly King Custom Cleaners, located in Nobleton’s No-Frills plaza, offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditional dry cleaning. 2-HOUR SERVICE WORK DONE ON PREMISE REPAIR & ALTERATIONS PURSE & BOOT CLEANING LEATHER CLEANING CARPET CLEANING ASK ABOUT OUR LOCAL PICKUP & DELIVERY
13255 Highway 27, Nobleton 905-558-KING (5464)
Proudly serving the Horse Industry in King by creating unique Equine Facilities Complete Restorations, Custom Plans & Worry-Free Project Management Gary van Bolderen www.dutchmasters.on.ca
Greg van Bolderen 705.737.3392
Helping students excel, since 1993
Customized Learning Programs Excellent Tutoring Proven Results
Mention this ad for a a free, no obligation academic assessment at our Nobleton branch
First time author Robert Gwalchmai’s “Song of the Blacksmith” teaches kids about his craft.
New song for an old trade Schomberg’s Robert Gwalchmai is well-known around town as an artist and active member of the community. Now, with the help of Kettelby’s Chantal Duclos, Robert has added another title to his roster of interests and accomplishments: children’s book author. For the past fifteen years Robert has taken great joy in spending hours at his small forge, turning redhot steel into unique items. His prowess as a skilled blacksmith often results in requests to share his love of the craft. Over the years he has given numerous lectures, mentored novice blacksmiths and put on demonstrations for thousands of inquisitive visitors. Chantal’s illustrations serve as an entertaining backdrop to Robert’s fun and easy to follow narrative. The Song of the Blacksmith, published by Blue Moon Press and released on May 16th, 2017, borrows its title from the nostalgic sounds of days gone by; when the tink-tink melody of a working blacksmith shop was as commonplace as the crow of a rooster. This book is lovely, easy to read and captures the beauty of blacksmithing in a way young children are sure to enjoy. Visit robertgwalchmai.com for more details. page 42
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
King Environmental Advisory Committee (KEAC) presents
Curbside Giveaway Days 2017
The last Saturday of April, May, June, July, August, September and October are the King “Curbside Giveaway Days”. It’s very simple. Starting at 7:00 a.m. take any unwanted items to the curb, marked “Free”, for others to pick up and take to a good home. Remove all leftover items by 5:00 p.m. on that day, to help keep King Township attractive. This is a great way to “recycle” and clean out some of that extra “stuff”, or to get out and find some helpful or wanted items at a bargain price - FREE!
King Country Magazine is proud to support up and coming local artists, from all genres. Special thanks to Nobleton’s Jessica Nguyen for submitting this original work in honour of Canada’s 150th birthday.
Want to be featured in an upcoming issue? Let’s see what you’ve got! Hey, we’re online, too. So, video submissions are welcome, as well! Send submissions to submit@kingcountrymagazine.com.
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
page 43
Healthy farming practices make for healthy soil, resulting in healthy vegetables & fruit! That’s what we believe & that’s why we do what we do here at
Round The Bend Farm & Market Experience what
fresh really means
Join our CSA today!
Farm fresh, locally grown veggies ready for weekly pick-up or delivered right to your door... Spring, Summer & Fall
Visit our farm market
Naturally raised, fresh frozen turkey (sausages, ground, drums, legs, breasts & burgers); Mennonite chickens; farm fresh eggs; specialty pies; our own Absolutely Pure honey & Grandma’s Relish; oils, jams, maple syrup, fruit & veggies! 16225 Jane Street, Kettleby (905) 727-0023 sue.rtbf@gmail.com www.roundthebendfarm.com
Fleeting moments & afterthoughts WE CAME TO KETTLEBY Whoever comes to Kettleby, is one who’s lost his way, Forgot to read his road map, or let his fancy stray, And followed as it led him past a deserted mill, Whose pond is full of grasses, whose wooden wheel is still, Where clinging to the hillside a few old houses stand, Looking down into a valley that cuts across the land. They are gossipping together, and their canny country lore, Echoes decades of the talking and the shopping at the store; As if figures – fretwork figures – were set against a screen, And the houses were still climbing to see what might be seen, Across that lustrous valley brimful of summer light, And we looked too, and waited, and fell in love at sight The day we came to Kettleby, the day we lost our way, Forgot to read our road map and let our fancy stray! ~
Mrs. John Garvin of Toronto (Katherine Hale), noted lecturer and writer
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
page 45
Advertiser directory Aquafinity Water Solutions
647.643.2782
p.38
Longo Law
Balance Health Studio
905.558.6166
p.38
Navy Street
Cappuccino Bakery
905.859.4414
p.47
No Sacrifice Bags
Dorio’s Bakery
905.727.3045
p.44
Dutch Masters
705.737.3392
p.40
Ecoscapes Landscaping
647.479.3030
p.6
GG Custom Designs Inc.
905.859.2500
p.9
Green Tractors
905.859.0581
p.48
Kai-Shin Martial Arts
416.527.8950
p.40
Don’t miss a thing! Follow us on:
647.990.4122
p.8
navystreet.org
p2
nosacrificebags.com
p.4
Nobleton Optometry
905.859.2020
p.39
OrganicTanVaughan (King City Mobile Service)
416.904.3430
p.46
Pioneer Brand Honey
416.807.2253
p.9
ridingcamp.ca
p.41
RBC Nobleton Branch
905.859.9445
p.6
RBC King City Branch
905.833.2559
p.6
Round The Bend Farm & Market 905.727.0023
p.44
Scholar’s Edge Tutoring
905.856.1234
p.41
Schomberg Sheet Metal Ltd.
905.939.2350
p.39
The Summerhill
905.859.4445
p.44
Raynham Stables
Keys
905.859.7844 p.40
King Custom Cleaners
905.558.5464
p.39
Kingsley Dental
905.558.3300
p.38
Kingsway Paving & Interlocking 647.989.1862 Kingsway Pools & Spas 647.989.1862
p.8 p.8
KNG Total Fitness Facility
905.859.8668
p.9
Sunset Grill Nobleton
905.833.2222
p.39
KNSC Soccer Club
905.893.3388
p.40
Sunset Grill King City
905.558.7380
p.39
page 46
KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue i
Open 7 days a week! Monday to Friday 5:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Saturday & Sunday 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Eat-in or Take-out • Catering For All Occasions • Let us cook dinner tonight (order by 3 p.m.)
(905) 859-4414
5978 King Road, Nobleton