By Stephen Vance, Editor
The dog days of summer are here. Warm temperatures, at times working their way to stifling, oppressive temperatures have wrapped their arms around our area, and they’ve been squeezing tight.
The month of August – my least favourite time of year. Hot, sticky, and often unpredictable, I’ve long thought that the best thing about August is that it is just a couple of months away from October.
That said, there is a lot going on in Meaford this month.
Mid-month, Meaford’s Bighead Hops will once again celebrate hop harvest time with their third annual ShinDig. If you’ve never been to this event, it is well worth it – especially if you are a beer lover. A beer lover I am not, however the ShinDig brings together some fantastic local brewers, some fine local musical talent, and a whole lot of people to spend an afternoon at the Bighead Hops farm. Hop grower Nicholas Schaut has come a long way since winning the 2010 Dragons’ Den Meaford competition – his hop growing acreage has expanded, and large pieces of new equipment have meant that Meaford’s Bighead Hops can not only process their own harvest, but can offer services to other Ontario growers. A visit to his ShinDig is both a fun party, and a fascinating educational experience that is well worth attending.
The day before the ShinDig, a unique performance will take place at the Meaford United Church when the African Children’s Choir comes to town. Event organizers are promising a powerful and moving performance that will appeal to young and old alike. The African Children’s Choir has performed for world leaders and royalty, and they’ve raised a lot of money for the benefit of some of the most vulnerable children on the planet, making it a performance very worthy of Meaford support.
The Community Living Meaford organization is celebrating 60 years of service to the community at the end of this month. How often to we see a Community Living sign on a building, and not give it a second thought? How many of us really know what the organization does? The fact that they have been serving Meaford for six decades is impressive. Over those decades the growth in the number and quality of services they are able to provide to those in our community with developmental challenges is both impressive and inspiring, and it is certainly worthy of celebration.
If organized events aren’t your thing, the dog days of summer can be battled with many other opportunities for fun and relaxation in Meaford. The Net Shed is full swing into its season, and a hot summer day and a good book go hand in hand, making the Net Shed a perfect outing.
Music lovers might want to check out the Sunday evening concerts hosted by the Friends of the Meaford Library at the Rotary Harbour Pavilion. Capping off a warm summer Sunday with music by our beautiful harbour can’t be a poor use of time.
And of course we’ve got the Meaford Farmers’ Market on Friday afternoons, and the new Market Square flea market on Saturday mornings to serve your shopping needs.
Hiking, biking, and boating are activities for which Meaford has no shortage of opportunities to make the most of the warm weather that the dog days of summer bring along.
Finally, for book-lovers, there are a number of book clubs that continue running over the summer months including the Woodford Book Club, and the new Leeky Canoe book club.
We may be in the midst of the dog days of summer, but Meaford has no shortage of places to go, and things to do whether it is to beat the heat, explore, or to fill time until council returns in September.
We can’t do it without you!
