Shore Lane Wasaga Beach Ontario Canada

Patti Friday, Photojourno, reporting from inside 'The Art Dept.' at the international 'Embassy of Ideas'. Wasaga Beach, Ontario CANADA - The longest freshwater beach in the world! 14 km of scenic beauty.

Go green at home on Earth Day

(NC)—Earth Day is a reminder about the importance of respecting our environment and doing all we can to protect our planet. Every year, over six million Canadians take part in Earth Day by doing simple things such as riding their bikes to work or using candles at night. This year show how important the environment is by pledging an act of green. 

Here, in your own home, are some ways to take part in the world's most celebrated environmental event. These tips are environmentally friendly and will save you money on your energy bills: 

• Cool down your house with a ceiling or electric fan and open up the windows at night. Ceiling fans cost about 1 cent for two hours of use, compared to 67 cents to a dollar for central air. Use your AC only when necessary and be sure to turn it off when you're going to be away from home long periods of time.

• Invest in a programmable thermostat. It will automatically adjust the temperature in your house, saving you energy while you're away or sleeping. 

• Use insulation with a high R-value, such as Roxul RockFill, which can be used to increase insulation in your attic. It will keep your house cool in the warm weather and take the stress off your air conditioning unit.

• Check the tightness of your refrigerator seal by closing the door on a piece of paper. If it's held in place, the seal is still good, if not, it's time to replace the seal or fix the door's alignment. 

• Only do laundry when you have full loads. If you have smaller loads, make sure to use the correct settings and if you only have a couple of items, wait it out or wash them by hand. 

www.newscanada.com

Patti Friday, Photojourno, reporting from inside 'The Art Dept.' at the international 'Embassy of Ideas'.

Cross Country Skiing Blueberry Trails

I walked into the silence of the forest this past weekend. It was so still, so quiet. The fluffs of white branches and gathered poofs of snowflakes slowly floated to the ground; wisps of wind moved it in dancing swirls in front of me. Magical. You need to do this here soon. PFXO

Wasaga  Beach offers so many trails. Here are the MAPS for you!

Wasaga Beach offers some of the most exciting nordic ski terrain in Central Ontario with 30 kilometres of trails. Expert skiers are challenged on the groomed and track set "High Dunes Trail", or you may choose a more leisurely ski on the "Blueberry Trail".

The Wasaga Nordic Centre offers modern equipment rentals, light refreshments, warm-up shelter and outback ski shelters to warm up a lunch on a crisp winters day. A quiet skier will be rewarded with wildlife viewing as white-tailed deer and winter birds are abundant. Call the Trail Centre at (705)429-0943 for trail conditions, rental and ski rates and general winter program information.

Information provided by the Wasaga Beach Provincial Park website.

Patti Friday, Photojourno, reporting from inside 'The Art Dept.' at the international 'Embassy of Ideas'.

Beach Theatre, Blue Pumpkins and More

By Patti Friday

Yes, we need a high school. Yes, we need to clean up every square inch of our beach, but there are a few things - a dozen - I think 'this' beach town needs immediately.

1. Beach Beautification Committee - to make sure the beach is designed with specific period architecture to attract residents, businesses and visitors alike. (pick a style: West Palm Beach, Key West, Malibu, Coney Island, The Beaches in Toronto.) In keeping with this style, all decisions must first be approved by this town committee to ensure Wasaga Beach grows in a 'beautifully' branded way. Invite designers and forward thinkers from all over the world to participate.

2. Bicycle Paths - every where, every where, every where. We must become 'The Bicycle Capital of Canada'. Here are 28 Reasons to Bike.

3. Mandatory Rain barrels & Tree planting - reasons here. (you might freak out when you watch it.)

4. A sign. A wonderful, quaint, nostalgic, beach sign on either end to welcome guests. If you think it will stop tall loads, then make it high enough or make it have a swing mechanism.

5. A old-fashioned cinema with a cafe on the side. Years ago in Peterborough, I would frequent a hip little place that had 2 meal seatings per night and afternoon. You could watch the movie first and then eat or vice versa. It was the coolest meeting place in the city and it had such a sense of community and entertainment. You are going to love this. Andhey....A Beach Film Festival in October too! (we need to extend our tourism season)

6. A music hall with state-of-the-art acoustics for musical and theatrical performances. Sorry, but the RecPlex just doesn't cut it. (The old theatre in Lindsay, Ontario....now that's a music hall)

7. Legalize golf carts. Seniors love their golf carts. Allow them to go on separate paths beside the bicycle path.

8. An Arts & Culture centre. Gallery, Beach Gift Shop, Museum, halls, displays etc.

9. A really, really, really well-marketed and branded 'daily' farmers market. (slow food) And, a fabulous Night Market for Friday and Saturday nights. And, a Christmas Market like the one in Prague.

10. 'Beach Blue Pumpkin Festival' in the Fall. All residents spray paint their pumpkins beach blue and sprinkle silver sparkles all over it. You can actually grow blue pumpkins...did you know that! Let's make it a new by-law. Only blue pumpkins in the beach in the fall and at Hallowe'en. (festival like Meaford's Scarecrows)

11. Mermaid Parade and Mermaid Ball. Here is Coney Island's Parade. FAQ. Check out the Mermaid Ball website.

12. A Santa Claus parade that will bring in thousands....more bands please!!!