Bear sightings have park staff on alert

By Kristen Smith The Enterprise Bulletin

Posted 19 hours ago

Wasaga Beach Provincial Park staff have received about seven reports of bear sightings over the summer.

Park superintendent John Fisher says some sightings have been outside the provincial park and park staff has put up signs.
"We tend to work with town officials just to make sure that there's up-to-date information available to the public," said Fisher.
Fisher says an important thing to do to avoid a run-in with a bear is keep your dog on a leash, particularly in forested areas.
"There are times where dogs can actually smell a bear, chase the bear down and when things get a little too excited, they run back to the owner for protection and can lead a beer right to the owner," said Fisher.
He says its also important to make lots of noise and travel in groups.
"So far, from what we've seen, the black bears have certainly exhibited all the right behaviours in terms of their fear of people, which is a healthy thing," said Fisher. "As long as they stay fearful of people and people don't try to do things like feed the bear or make sure that their garbage is well protected, then we shouldn't have any problems."
Fisher says the area is part of black bears' original habitat, but they were pushed out by development.
"There has been a lot of focus on contiguous protected areas," said Fisher. "We have corridors that follow river valleys and things like that, which is land that can't be developed for various reasons. There is habitat for them to move through the area."
Fisher says no park staff has seen a black bear, and he pointed out the sightings reported by the public could very well be of the same bear.
- ksmith@theenterprisebulletin.com

Wasaga Beach ...Latest Print Edition of Beach BOOSTER #22

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Fun in the Sun Outdoor Blanket

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Call now to order with your own logo.
info@beachbooster.com                  705-812-5507 or 705-716-1670

Wasaga Beach: Our thoughts are with our friends in Goderich

From our beach front community of Wasaga Beach, our thoughts are with our friends in Goderich Ontario, on the shores of Lake Huron, after the deadly tornado hit their picturesque town yesterday afternoon. Story here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2011/08/22/goderich-tornado.html

For more photos including some from the air go to http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2011/08/21/18582591.html#/news/london/2011/08/21/pf-18582706.html

Wasaga Beach: We have some of the World’s most beautiful Sunsets but we also have some of the most spectacular cloud formations anywhere!

 

We get some of the most magnificent sunsets.  I especially like the deep blood-red ones that happen two or three times a year. But, cloud formations over Georgian Bay are spectacular to say the least. Here are three taken today which has been rainy and stormy. Photos are by Joe Bickerstaff .

Wasaga Sands Club Championship Dodges Rain and Thunder Storms Both Saturday and Sunday 082111

Gerry Reinders and Butch McLaughlin ended up tied at 159 after 36 holes. After a 3 hole playoff Butch came out on top as Overall Club Champion with Gerry capturing the “A” Flight Championship

“A” Flight

Butch McLaughlin 159	Gerry Reinders 159
	Mark Hon Sing 165

“B” Flight

Champion	Cal Budgell 164
	Barry Stewart 170
	Andy Beaudoin 173

 

“C” Flight

Champion	Dick Burton 182
	Lawrence Lamarche 185
	John Hoy 194

 

“D” Flight

Champion	Warren Shore 197
	Don Jarman 198
	Don Westbrooke 202

Congratulations to all the Champions and runners-ups and to all who participated. You are all winners! Special thanks to Paul Pullman, Mitch Carruthers and Dick Burton for stepping up and putting the Championships together…Job Well Done!!

Wasaga Beach Weather Day 082011

 

From Joe Bickerstaff

Was down at Beach Area One yesterday when the storm hit! It was amazing to see how the beach was cleared and folks were told to get out of the bay by Park Staff, when the ominous clouds formed over the water! Although overcast, all was good... but then suddenly it looked scary. Ontario Parks vehicles with emergency lights flashing were racing up and down the sand getting folks out of the water and off the beach. The busy beach was cleared in about 10 minutes... with masses of people looking for cover as the rain started and the high winds came from nowhere. It appeared many Corvette owners decided to leave the parking lots and the beach front. Perhaps the Cruise was cancelled. Any bar with a roof was suddenly packed with people and the roads were blocked with Vettes and other vehicles leaving the beach. The quick clearing of the beach would have made a really cool video... but I did not have my real cam with me! Could not get near a bar to order a beer with the crowds and all the staff looked overwhelmed, so I simply got in my truck and waited in the long line of traffic to move.

From Bill Frieday

Joe:

What a great story for beach BOOSTER 22 or the blog or both...I was the "Starter" at Wasaga Sands Golf Club all day Saturday. What a beautiful day to start off...but then in the afternoon everything changed as it did on the Beach. We had a couple of small tournaments out on the course and looking at those same ominous clouds and the thunder and lightening we blew the storm warning horn which means take cover or better still get off the golf course. Most people just took cover. Golfers got wet but no serious casualties. It was a weather day for sure. 

Bill

Stonebridge Roots Coming September 17th

Wasaga Beach Main Street Fire, August 15, 2011 Brings Back Memories

I am sure that anyone who has fond memories of the old Main Street in Wasaga Beach, remembers the Joke Store on the corner. Most recently called The Corner Store or simply referred to as the Blue Building, most remember it as The Joke Store! Walking on the creaky wooden floors as a kid, looking at the shelves of somewhat risqué novelties from the 50’s or even before, I remember feeling naughty for looking at the “jokes” of an “adult nature”. More recently classic posters from the 70’s were tacked on the ceiling overhead, while some of the old inventory of summers past still sat on old wooden shelves.

To see the building has been destroyed by fire is sad, as those memories of many are now simply that, memories.

   

Although it is a shame to lose any structure to fire or other disaster, we can all be thankful that no one was hurt either in the blaze, or fighting the flames!

I can only assume the property and business owner had the proper insurance coverage to provide for them after their loss. Although a loss like this is never wanted or expected, they do occur.

The old frame blue building, although known to so many over the years, was not historic. Perhaps nostalgic is a more fitting term.

We lost most of Main Street in a massive fire in 2007. The buildings lost at that time could also be considered nostalgic... although most had been neglected and had been in need of repairs since the real downfall of Main Street in 1972 when the Pedestrian Mall was created. (please see “The Way Wasaga Was” about Main Street)

Since the big fire of 2007, the remains of that section of Main Street have been cleaned up and presented a pleasant walk way to the busy beach. It is my hope that this empty space of our old Main Street can be taken advantage of with some upcoming special events, while keeping the busy Beach Drive open to traffic.

We have had great weather this summer and visitors continue to enjoy our beautiful sandy shores. Local businesses have been working together to promote Wasaga Beach in new creative ways and many past visitors are rediscovering all the good things The Beach has to offer! The recently formed Promote Wasaga Committee has many great fund raising activities planned, to follow up the successful Promote Wasaga Golf Tournament. Events continue to please locals and visitors. New music festivals have entertained many and reminded them... Wasaga Beach is here... and perhaps, The Beach is BACK!

All are sorry to lose the little blue building on the corner is such a way, but the smoke has cleared and hopefully the cleanup will happen quickly. Good things keep happening in Wasaga Beach! Good things that will form new memories to last forever in the minds of visitors and all of us who are lucky enough to call Wasaga Beach home!

 

Joe Bickerstaff

The value of having a regular eye checkup

Have your vision checked every 

two years, then annually once you're over 60

BY MEGAN MARTIN, FOR POSTMEDIA NEWS AUGUST 10, 2011 COMMENTS (2)

• STORY
• PHOTOS ( 1 )

"People tend to think visual exams are only necessary when they’re having problems, but studies have shown that one in seven people have a serious eye problem such as cataracts or glaucoma that they don’t even know about," said Steven Carrier, president of the Quebec Association of Optometrists.

Photograph by: Thinkstock, canada.com

If you wear glasses or have a diagnosed condition in one or both of your eyes, getting routine checkups by your eye-care professional is common practice. But optometrists are encouraging everyone to get their eyes examined at least once every two years, depending on age, even if you think your vision is in top shape.

"People tend to think visual exams are only necessary when they’re having problems, but studies have shown that one in seven people have a serious eye problem such as cataracts or glaucoma that they don’t even know about," said Steven Carrier, president of the Quebec Association of Optometrists.

According to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, one person starts to lose their vision every 12 minutes in Canada.

"That means that every 12 minutes one person will have the onset of a vision problem that could lead to blindness," Carrier said. "That statistic alone is a great reason for people to go get their eyes checked."

The four most common eye diseases and conditions that can lead to blindness are glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

"People need to know that it’s possible to treat all of these problems and maintain vision," Carrier said. "But when people don’t know they have a problem and don’t get checked regularly, they can’t seek treatment in a timely fashion, which can lead to vision loss."

Because vision problems don’t discriminate by age, children should have their first complete eye exam at 3-years-old and once each year until they are 18.

"But if parents notice any problems when their children are younger than 3 they shouldn’t wait to have an evaluation," Carrier said. "Signs of vision trouble in children of all ages tend to be headaches, concentration problems, light sensitivity and difficulty learning to read or write."

Three-years old is the ideal time to start having your child’s vision evaluated because certain problems, such as having a lazy eye, can be corrected at that age but not necessarily later on in life.

During adulthood, ages 18 to 60, it’s recommended to have your vision checked every two years and then annually once you’re over 60 years old.

"It also depends on the individual. If you notice that you’re having problems you should get checked right away," Carrier said.

Vision assessments are conducted by optometrists and a complete exam takes about 30 minutes.

"First we check your vision to determine how clearly you see, we test the visual field and determine if you have one of the four main problems that commonly cause people to need glasses: myopia, astigmatism, presbyopia and hyperopia," Carrier said. "Then we check the health of the eyes as well, looking at the corneas, lenses and retinas for damage or signs of disease."

The optometrist can then develop a follow up plan with each individual based on their needs.

There are only two schools of optometry in Canada, one in Waterloo and one in Montreal.

"Because we have a school here we have roughly 1,300 out of the 4,000 optometrists in Canada practicing in Quebec," Carrier said. "We’re able to track it because membership in the Quebec Association of Optometrists is mandatory to practice here."

Establishing an optometry practice requires a large investment.

"It’s expensive because of the special machines we use to check vision and the health of different parts of the eye," Carrier said. "It costs around $250,000 for all the machinery necessary to open an office."

© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette

Stonebridge Blues at Wasaga Beach 080111 a Few Photos

Wasaga Beach..Latest Print Edition of Beach Booster August 11, 2011

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Expanded Public Transit.. but Bench Removed

 

In addition to the new transit link between Wasaga Beach and Collingwood, the existing River Road East route of Wasaga Beach Transit has been extended offering the service to residents of the east end of River Road East, all the way over to Archer Road. (Wasaga Beach - Tiny Twp town line). Residents along River Road East have been asking for this service, as have our neighbours in Woodland Beach to the north. Beach BOOSTER welcomes any extension of Public Transit as we look to make Wasaga Beach less auto dependant. As a result, Beach BOOSTER Streetscapes Ltd. provided a welcoming rest stop at the turn around point of the new service. We added colourful floral arrangements to the transit stop bench and created a custom sign for this location. (see photo)
Unfortunately, one weekend cottager in Tiny Township (who does not have a place in Wasaga Beach) took offence to the new service being offered to those who had been requesting it and also lodged several complaints regarding the installation of the community friendly bench. Beach BOOSTER Streetscapes has since removed the bench from this location.
As always, beach BOOSTER aims to be your local voice. Please let us know your thoughts about the new service in the east end of town to Woodland Beach and if there is a need for a comfortable bench at this location. We are local! We are Wasaga Beach! We are Beach BOOSTER! Contact 705-716-1670 or email: info@beachbooster.com!

This Saturday at Stonebridge Blues in Wasaga Beach

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Can Great Lakes water level issues be addressed by placing flexible control measures at the outflow of Lake Huron?

COLLINGWOOD, ON
AUGUST 2, 2011
SOURCE-  BeachBooster Streetscapes Ltd.

Upper Great Lakes Study Board to host Collingwood info meeting on decreasing lake levels, public input invited  

Can Great Lakes water level issues be addressed by placing flexible control measures at the outflow of Lake Huron?  

WHAT?  

Public information meetings hosted by the International Upper Great Lakes Study Board to discuss their Restoration Report and  Phase 2 of the Upper Great Lakes Study are happening in Ontario during August- see link.  There is no cost to attend.

WHEN ? WHERE? 

• A meeting in Collingwood is slated for Wednesday, Aug. 3, 7-9 P.M. at theRoyal Canadian Legion Normandy Room, 490 Ontario St, CollingwoodMAP

WHY? 

This meeting which will focus on addressing the 13 years of  Georgian Bay’s low water levels. The possibility  is supported in part in the IUGLS report

“........results show very large improvements across the board for all scenarios and lakes.” Lakes Michigan and Huron are the only unregulated lakes in the system and they are running into trouble due to an accumulation of impacts from a century of human alterations at the outflow into the St. Clair River.."

ON THE AGENDA  This meeting will overview their Restoration Report and Phase 2 of the Study and include:

• Restoration scenarios for Lake Michigan-Huron water levels including an exploratory analysis of potential lake restoration options. The methods, construction impacts and long-term lake level impacts will be presented; 

 “The contrast between economic growth and environmental damage, so prevalent during the region’s previous era of economic prosperity, is a relic of the past. A healthy ecosystem is increasingly understood to be crucial to the region’s future economic success” (June 2011) –Vital Commons, An Agenda for the Great Lake St. Lawrence Region. Mowat Centre / Brookings Institution.

Environmental groups like Sierra Club  are encouraging a single themed response from the public recommending a reversal of the “Do Nothing” St Clair River Phase 1 Report and that flexible measures  be implemented to protect the waters of Lake Michigan-Huron. Sierra Club’s analysis of the Restoration Report has found errors resulting in exaggerations of downstream impacts if remedial measures are placed in the St Clair River. Restoration of Michigan Huron levels is possible using flexible measures with only temporary minimal impacts downstream. The ecological and economic benefits for Lakes Michigan/Huron and Georgian Bay would be very significant.

It has been shown that widening, shoreline work and dredging of the St. Clair River which drains Lakes Huron and Michigan has increased the outflow significantly, simply flushing fresh water through the lakes and into the ocean.

Research

The Upper Great Lakes Study, Options for Restoring Lake Michigan Huron Water Levels: An Exploratory Analysis, done May 26, 2011- Study Board’s recent Restoration Report 

On water levels- St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair and Detroit River Current Water Levels

Further meetings http://o.sierraclub.ca/en/great-lakes-section       

Bus Service Begins Between Collingwood & Wasaga Beach

Bus Service Begins Between Collingwood & Wasaga Beach

August 02, 2011

Bus service begins today between Wasaga Beach and Collingwood. The 8-person bus will run from the Collingwood terminal at Second and Pine Streets to the Real Canadian Superstore in Wasaga Beach, but it is only for a five-month trial period. There will be designated bus stops along Highway 26 and the service will operate on a 30-minute schedule. A one-way fare is 2 dollars. The buses will run from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.