Tag Archives: Huron County

18 holes and a great sunset

14 Jun

By Diva Jenna Ujiye

Cuzzy memorialSunset Golf

Last weekend I played in the Cuzzy Bear Memorial golf tournament at Sunset Golf just north of Goderich. This tournament is in memory of Aaron Cousins, who was killed in a car accident in 2005,  each year we create great memories and help to support Goderih minor baseball.

I only golf a couple of times a year and would typically only prefer to play 9 holes. Tournaments are great though, as they are best ball (use the best ball from 4 players) and you never feel too much pressure from the other players! I entered the tournament with my boyfriend Taylor and friends Lori and John and we had a really fun time.

Taylor and Jenna Lori and Jenna

The greens and tee-offs seemed to be really well manicured and the customer service was great! The Gravett family showed us great hospitality and a well serviced day. This course is 18 holes and they have a nine hole Par 3 course as well! By the end of the day I was still happy and even inspired my friend Amy to do cartwheels on the fringe before teeing off! Huron County has 18 golf courses throughout the area so please check out www.golfhuron.ca .

Sunset golfIMG_4717

Sunset Golf Info:

Phone:   (519) 524-8047
E-mail: golf@sunsetgolfclub.com

7 km North of Goderich
33937 Golf Course Rd.
Goderich, ON   N7A 3Y3

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I’m Wilder than her!

13 Jun

By Diva Jenna Ujiye

Dear Johnny Deere

Blyth Festival

June 11 – 22, 2013

Photo by Terry Manzo

Photo by Terry Manzo, J.D.Nicholsen and Rebecca Auerbach play Johnny and Caroline.in the production of Dear Johnny Deere, which is currently playing at Blyth Festival Theatre.

On Tuesday I was fortunate to attend the Blyth Festival Theatre and watch the first 2013 performance of Dear Johnny Deere. I was so happy to hear that Blyth Festival decided to bring back the show for a short run, as I was not able to make it in 2012. I had only heard and read good things and I really was blown away. I said to a friend that it reminds me of  growing up in Huron County!

The show was written by Ken Cameron, directed by Eric Coates and based on the songs of Fred Eaglesmith. I hadn’t listened to Eaglesmith before, but have now downloaded a few of his tunes and I can’t seem to get the songs WhiteTrash and I’m Wilder Than Her out of my head!

The cast of Dear Johnny DeereThe set is simple with the main focus of a baby grand piano and musical instruments hung up all over the place. We were told at the beginning to “use our imagination”, right away I thought … I know some people who might have trouble with that… but after watching the show and seeing how the cast and set inspired imagination, it was no problem at all.

The music and harmonies had me at the first song, fiddle, guitar, bass, drums and multiple guitars brought a smile to my face. I grew up in a family that sat around jamming and playing this kind of music at every gathering. This show is really great and if you are hoping to get out to Blyth to see it, you better book your ticket now. It is only running until June 22. Here is the link for you to get more information: http://www.blythfestival.com/#!blank/c1lxg to book tickets you can also call 1.877.862.5984

Blyth Festival is located on main street Blyth Ontario. They have five other shows that will be on this summer:

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Musical Muskrat Fun

12 Jun

muskrat 1by Diva Nicole Olson

This past weekend, my family and I attended the Musical Muskrat Festival at Riverside Park in Wingham. What is a Musical Muskrat Festival? Well, it’s when small rodent-like creatures put on performances with tiny little instruments… Actually, the name comes from Wingham’s extensive musical history … and the muskrat, a rodent that lives along the banks of the Maitland River. Together, it’s a catchy, thought-provoking name for the event.

The Musical Muskrat Festival runs every year, the second weekend in June and is jam-packed with things to do and see for the whole family. For the kids, there were several inflatable attractions, a rock climbing wall, a clown making balloon animals, and face painting. There were also snack booths, breakfasts and BBQ available. For the adults, there was a refreshment tent, a rib cooking competition, car show and recreational volleyball.

Firemen's Races at the Musical Muskrat Festival

Firemen’s Races at the Musical Muskrat Festival

One of the highlights of the weekend for us was watching firemen from surrounding areas compete in the Fireman’s  Games. There were several obstacle course-type events and the firemen raced to have the fastest time. We also watched the Mighty Maitland Regatta Cardboard Boat Races. There was enough duct tape involved in this event to make Red Green proud! In addition, we took in a couple Wingham Hitmen fastball games. (We are big fans of the blue and orange!)

Cardboard Boat Races

Cardboard Boat Races

The  best part of the festival was listening to the live music. There were performances by Richard Garvey Band, Snakebite, Stacey Zegers, River Junction Band and Patrick Main. The music played from about 5 PM to 1 AM on Friday and Saturday evenings and 10 AM to 1 PM on Sunday. Having these talented musicians play at a venue like the Riverside Park was such a great experience. Admission to see the bands was $5, and there was a cost for food and refreshments, but everything else listed above was free to attend and participate in. For more information on this annual event, check out their website http://www.musicalmuskratfestival.com/

Live Music at Riverside Park

Live Music at Riverside Park

We're Fans of the Hitman!

We’re Fans of the Hitman!

Mini Diva Lyla and Mom Nicole having a great time at the Musical Muskrat Festival
Mini Diva Lyla and Mom Nicole having a great time at the Musical Muskrat Festival

 

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Coming Soon: Huron County Photo Book

10 Jun

IMG_3323The Art aRound Town Gallery at the Welcome Centre in Exeter changes monthly, so I stopped by this past week to see what was new. Artist Bonnie Sitter showed me around and shared some exciting news that she is helping to put together a coffee table book of photography across Huron County. The 128-page book will be called “The Beauty and Bounty of Huron County” and feature photography by David Bishop, Telfer Wegg, as well as Bonnie, who are all featured artists in the Gallery this month.

The book will be divided into four sections: Huron from the Air, Agriculture, Flora and Fauna, and Out and About and will retail for $40. I have yet to see the book, but it sounds like it would be a great gift for photography lovers or history buffs, a family keepsake for residents, or a unique housewarming gift for newcomers to the area. Watch for the book which is coming out this July. Who knows, a photo of you or someone you know may be in the book!

Photo by Bonnie Sitter of Black's Point on Lake Huron – it looks like a photo of the Carribean!

Photo by Bonnie Sitter of Black’s Point on Lake Huron – it looks like a photo of the Carribean!

Also, Art aRound Town is having their June Exhibition Opening Night Reception this Thursday, June 13 at the South Huron Welcome Centre from 6 to 8 p.m. You can come and meet the artists as well as enjoying refreshments and violin music.

Snowy country landscape photo by Telfer Wegg

Snowy country landscape photo by Telfer Wegg

Amazing wildlife photo by David Bishop

Amazing wildlife photo by David Bishop

Photo by David Bishop of an owl visiting the Exeter area

Photo by David Bishop of an owl visiting the Exeter area

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Have you caught a fish this year?

10 Jun

IMG_4525

By Diva Jenna Ujiye

Since 1980 Gloria and Dave Hedley have been running Hedley’s Trout Farm. I stopped by a couple of weeks ago to check out the place and see if the fish were biting! The farm is located at 84534 Marnoch Line in a beautiful slice of Huron County country-side.

First I will say that Dave is quite the character.  He will tell you when you arrive that his place is not for catch-and-release fishing – it is a farm, just like any other farm.

Caught a Fish at Hedley's

Since Hedley’s is a farm you do not need a fishing licence, there are no catch limits and there is no closed season, and no entrance fee! This is about the closest way to guarantee that you will catch a fish! While I was there we came across a family that had caught four or five rainbow and brown trout. Each of the kids had caught at least one fish and they were super happy.

My favourite part of this experience is that you can catch a fish and pay just a small amount to have it either scaled or filleted. The cost for your fish is $0.50 per inch and guess what, if you don’t have a pole you can rent one! They also have bait for purchase.  The one other “catch” is that you will have to get up early as fish bite the best in the morning!

Fish Jumping for food

Overall my experience with Hedley’s was great.   Dave even fed the fish and you could see them almost jumping out of the water. If you are looking for a great experience, where you get to bring lunch or dinner home, this is a great way to spend a morning! If you are looking for more information visit: http://www.hedley.ca

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Hensall Celebrates Community with 145th Spring Fair

10 Jun

by Diva Trista Russell

I haven’t been to the Hensall Spring Fair since I was a kid, so it was neat to see how it has changed over the years. This year the Fair is celebrating its 145th year, which is quite the accomplishment considering the amount of volunteers and dedication it takes to keep rural Fairs going! When I drove into Hensall, the Main Street was decorated with green and yellow ribbons. That was really nice to see how Hensall takes pride in its events.

 

exhibits at the Hensall Spring Fair

exhibits at the Hensall Spring Fair

Admission to the fair is free, and in lieu of admission they accept non-perishable food donations. On the Friday evening while I was there, they had a fish fry supper, teddy bear picnic, bike rodeo, and later on an elimination draw and dance. There were a variety of vendors on the ice surface, and the local school had a food booth. There was a firefighter smoke house on the ball diamonds where kids could practice their escape in case of a fire, and there was also a pie cafe where you could enjoy a slice of homemade pie. On Saturday, a number of other events were happening including a $10 all day play pass for the kids to enjoy games and a “Baby Bean” baby show.

There was the usual homecraft division where kids and adults submitted baking, arts, and crafts for judging and prizes. Looking at the entries reminded when I was kid and did the same for the Exeter Fall Fair. It’s nice that this tradition still continues and exhibitors get recognition for their hard work and talent. One of my favourite categories were the persuasive writing entries arguing for and against having the day off school to go to the fair (see photo). Not surprisingly, most  of the Grade 3 students argued to have the day off, but there were a couple that argued against!

Information about the Hensall Spring Fair can be found on Hensall’s website. The Hensall South Huron Agricultural Society (Hensall Fair) is also on Facebook.
persuasive writing entries

persuasive writing entries

children's artwork
children’s artwork

 

baking at the Hensall Spring Fair

baking at the Hensall Spring Fair

 

 

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Getting dirty, mudbog style!

7 Jun

Mud Bog at Waltonby Diva Jenna Ujiye

Walton, Ontario, is known as “motocross town” and that would be because of the Walton Transcan and motocross events held each year at the Walton Raceway. Every year Walton seems to add even more events and experiences and this year I was able to head to the first truck mudbog of the year!Walton Mudbog

I have been to events like this over the past few years and the event this year sure showed me what a true mudbog is. Wikipedia tells me that “a mudbog is a form of off-road motorsport popular in Canada and the United States in which the goal is to drive a vehicle through a pit of mud of a set length.” So mudbogging is part of our Canadian culture!

Walton Mudbog

I was only able to stay for about half an hour, but in that time I wasn’t able to take my eyes off of the track. A couple of trucks that went through looked to be an everyday truck and when they get out of the mud there was soo much guck hanging from the bottom of the truck… I can only imagine what people would think if I drove my truck to work in that condition!Walton Mudbog

Most of the trucks were modified with mud tires and snorkels (allows air to travel to the engine) and just flew through the mud pit! You may think that this sort of activity is not your cup of tea, but you could be proven wrong. I was with 45 people from all over the place with an age range from 17 – 72, both male and female, and we surveyed all of the people and only two of them didn’t enjoy the experience!

Walton plans to do many more events throughout the year, check their website for more information: http://waltonraceway.ca/event-calendar/

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Sushi for you and me

6 Jun

Sushi at Samuels

By Diva Jenna Ujiye

Every Thursday from May 29th on Samuels Hotel will be serving sushi and I had to get there on the first day to try it out! I have been making my own sushi for years and was just so happy that chef Kim decided to add this to her forever-growing offerings at the hotel.

Dessert at SamuelsIMG_4474The sushi I typically make has whatever leftovers I have in the fridge rolled up with sushi rice and nori (seaweed), so I was happy to see the wonderful menu with local Ontario fish in it! I guess I should say I was getting sick or “leftover roast pork sushi” and “I only have a cucumber sushi”.

The King's at Samuels Fish bowl at Samuels

When I went in, Sarah and Dunya (staff at Samuels), were ready with a menu for me. There were 10 different sushi varieties – 5 starters,  2 combos and three dessert options! Being allergic to shellfish, I had to stick to fish and vegetable options and ordered the smoked salmon roll and the fushion salmon roll along with wonton crisps as a starter. I skipped out on dessert as I really didn’t have room for it anyway, with 8 rolls in each order I was stuffed after about 12 pieces and half of the wontons!

The prices range from $3.75-$6.75 for starters, $7.95 – $13.95 for sushi and desserts are less than $7.00. Literally you can get a whole 3 course quality meal for $19!

The food, service and experience was excellent and I can’t wait to go back again! Samuels Hotel also offers rooms, lunch and dinner specials and much more. Visit their website here: http://www.samuelshotel.ca and add them on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/samuelshotel?ref=ts&fref=ts

Samuels is located at 34031 Saltford Rd  Goderich, ON N7A 4C6

(519) 524-1371

Sushi Menu Sushi Menu

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An Evening at the Clinton Spring Fair

5 Jun
100_1559by Guest Diva-for-a-Day, Amanda Piskorki
Last weekend I attended the 159th Clinton Spring Fair. Saturday night I had the pleasure of attending the night life of the fair that consisted of fair rides and some games to win prizes. I was surprised to see the games and rides still in full swing at 9PM! I guess they didn’t want the fun to stop. Also, an event on Saturday, the demolition derby was the most popular amongst my crowd as was a beer tent where I shared conversation and drinks with fellow fair goers, friends and family. I will definitely be attending next year and encourage others to as well.  In my opinion (this was) one of the best events of summer!

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games at Clinton Fair

games at Clinton Fair

Amanda Piskorski lives just outside of Goderich near Dunlop.  She is Cooping in the Planning and Development department in Goderich for the summer, assisting Karri Sonke a GIS specialist. Piskorski goes to school at Georgian College for Environmental Technology in Barrie.

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Creativity of Local Youth on Display in Blyth

17 May
Blyth Festival Student Art Exhibit, May 2013

Blyth Festival Student Art Exhibit, May 2013

by Diva Nicole Olson

I recently had to opportunity to get a glimpse of the creativity of some our local youth by exploring the Student Show at the Blyth Festival Art Gallery. I have to admit, I was blown away by the talent that these young people possess. It was amazing to gain a little insight as to what inspires these people. The art that is on display is full of detail and I admired a lot of the techniques used. There were paintings, photography, works of mixed media and other genres of art as well. The artists are from various secondary schools within the Avon Maitland District and Huron Perth Catholic School Boards. Some of the pieces are for sale and this is a free event. Definitely worth checking out.

[Student Exhibit on display until May 23]

Blyth Festival Art Gallery
Bainton Gallery
Blyth Memorial Community Hall
423 Queen Street, Blyth, ON  N0M 1H0
519-523-9300 / 1-877-862-5984

info@blythfestival.com
www.blythfestival.com

Open:  9am – 5pm Monday to Saturday

The Blyth Festival Art Gallery co-ordinates three professional juried exhibitions, a community art show and a secondary school student exhibition each year in the Bainton Gallery which is located in the Blyth Memorial Community Hall beside the Blyth Festival box office. The Gallery is open to the public during Festival business hours and has been operating under the guidance of an extraordinary group of volunteers since 1976.

Blyth Festival Art Gallery, Student Art Exhibit 2013

Blyth Festival Art Gallery, Student Art Exhibit 2013

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