After I drop Alec to Summer Camp in the morning, I will occasionally turn down Dominion Street to park behind my office. When I do, I see this building on my right: I have not frequented this establishment, but I must admit, I love the name, and if ever a "Business Name" alone would cause me to try an establishment, this one would top my list: Located at 40 Dominion Street in Alliston, just one block north of Victoria Street, between Centre and Church Streets, if you are in the Alliston Area, and are looking for a new Hair Salon, may I suggest: The Best Little Hair House in Alliston.  Looking to buy or sell real estate in Alliston?  Call me, Chris Smith @ 1.866.936.3500 for information that might help you make a smarter choice. 07/31/2011

Alliston's 38th Annual Potato Festival will start at 5:00 p.m. on Friday August 5th, 2011 and continue through Saturday August 6th and end on Sunday August 7th, 2011.View Larger Map Friday August 5th Schedule Saturday August 6th Schedule Sunday August 7th Schedule 07/30/2011

  MMEA opened in Alliston early 2010 with little fanfare as a small eatery with a hot table offering good "home made" Italian fare for reasonable prices to people in our community. They moved to a slightly larger location: Unit A - 19 Church Street North, Alliston in early 2011 and now offer a licensed intimate restaurant, catering and take out. When we want a fresh authentic lasagna, this is our destination. When I am working out of our Alliston office (on 20 Victoria St W - beside the Post Office), and I have a craving for a hearty Italian Sausage, Veal or Steak on a Bun, or a Chicken Ceasar salad, MMEA is just a short walk away on Church St, across from the Brewers Retail. If you live in Alliston, or are just visiting, and want some good Italian food, consider MMEA Restaurant and Ca... 07/21/2011

My car needs some repairs and I had arranged to borrow my parents van while my mechanic tended to my car. I talked to Helen about lunch time and she told me that her mother was coming home from the cottage this afternoon since she had plans to go on a day trip to Niagara Falls on Sunday. We talked about possible dinner options and settled on me bringing home fresh made Lasagna from a local restaurant and Helen buying some Garlic Bread, picking up Alec and having Salad, Garlic Bread, and Lasagna for dinner. I drove over to MMEA Restaurant and Catering 5:00 p.m. on the nose (the time I told them I would pick up the lasagna) and their front door was closed with a be back at 2:00 p.m sign on it. I decided not to panic and waited.  Marco and his father were back shortly and opened up.  Catas... 07/16/2011

OK, as many of you know, my Passat Station wagon car takes Diesel...  so with the good mileage (6.7 to 7.2 litres per 100 km in the summer) and decent range (from 950 km to 1050 km per tankful) I do not fill up that often, but today happened to be one of those occasions. Now I am not sure what the weather has been like where you live, but we have had sunny warm days earlier in the month, and lately, lots of rain.  This weather seems to be ideal for two things, the weeds in my gardens, and the bugs.  The skeeters (and other insects) are huge this year and are out there in force.  Our windshields can attest to this! There are normally a limited number of diesel pumps in any gas station, and they are normally on the last aisle.  This morning I had to wait while a lady finished pumping her ... 06/29/2011

June 21st, the summer solstice, in the northern Hemisphere the longest day of the year.  Ever since I was young, it was this day that I realized that my birthday, December 22, was always on, or very close to the winter's solstice, making it one of the shortest, if not the shortest day of the year. People would mention to me that I must feel shortchanged having a birthday so close to Christmas.  Funny, that never bothered me... My answer was that my birthday was easy to remember... but today, with sunrise in Alliston at 5:36 a.m. and sunset coming at 9:06 p.m., a day we will have 15 hours and 30 minutes of daylight, always seemed to remind me of how short my birth "day" actually was... funny how this thought came back into my mind, as if I was seven again... Congratulations and Happy Bir... 06/21/2011

This weekend has not been nearly as productive as it could have been, but I am OK with that.  When Helen and I got married, we chose not to make our work our priority.  I remember some trainer years ago telling us that if our life is an empty bottle, we must put our rocks, or what is most important to us, in their first.  Then we fill it up with sand (that which is less important) and finally add water (all the "stuff" that makes up the rest of our lives). It is so easy to fill the bottle with water first and have no room for our "rocks". Alec, my son, will turn seven next month. He, and my wife Helen are my "rocks".  I have others, but they come first.  I reserve two weekend days a month for family activities, in this business, that is not easy, but it is the choice we have made.  We e... 06/11/2011

There's a treat in store for you Sunday June 12th at the Gibson Centre, Alliston. Local music teacher Lawrence Lindsay and his students have organized a classical music concert in support of Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation's "It's Crystal Clear Campaign" raising funds for digital mammography. Admission is by donation to the hospital foundation and the concert will start at 2:00 pm. The Gibson Centre is located at 63 Tupper St. W. in Alliston ON.   06/04/2011

There is a new discount Barbershop (if the term is not yet antiquated) in Alliston, Great Clips has opened their door in the Wal-Mart on the East End of town. They offered a grand-opening special of $4.99 haircuts (less than half price).  Now I have had enough of my hair, or rather, lack of it, and am tired of it blowing in the slightest breeze.  I do not put "product" in my hair, really, not even when I had some... I am waiting for a friend of mine (a hairdresser currently living in Calgary) to move in to town later this summer, and have tried several places out lately, and had decided to give the new kids a try today.  I told my wife that, at the worst, it will grow back ;-) I had decided to try an ultra-short haircut to save time and effort in the mornings. When I went to pay for the... 06/03/2011

To fully understand my fascination with the Magnolia you must travel back in time more than thirty years ago, when I first got my driver's license and started to drive on my own... During a drive through the surrounding country, probably in late spring 1978, in the heart of a neighbouring town, Bolton, ON, I saw a century plus home with a magnificent tree. It must have been twenty feet tall and probably even wider.  It was covered with magnificent large pink flowers and no leaves.  I parked my Orange 1972 Duster across the road and just soaked it in.  I had never seen a tree like this.  Later in the week, I dragged my parents (who knew and still know much more about trees, vegetables, fruits and flowers than I ever will) with me back to this house. They told me that this special tree wa... 05/16/2011

Most people like to think of themselves as unique as opposed to "typical"... I guess I am very typical of most people, in this respect. I hate going to the doctor, apparently, among men, I am not alone. I have been floored from most of the past week, coming down with something fast and furious last Wednesday.  I tend to the old fashioned remedies and avoid pharmaceuticals wherever and whenever possible. That said, my symptoms seems to have evolved in the last few days into something very different, with acute throat soreness and sharp earaches. Salt water gargles et al were not seeming to help and I relented and took my wife's advice.  I went to the doctor.  Now part of the reason I do not like going to the doctor is the amount of waiting involved. My mother-in-law and my wife told me ... 05/04/2011

Located on the north side of Victoria Street, just west of Tottenham Rd. in the East end of Alliston, this local business aims to please. The Gas Station provides good quality regular and premium gasoline and low-sulphur diesel. There is a drive-thru that supplies coffee, tea, hot chocolate and a variety of quality donuts. The variety store has sundry assorted food goods, automotive supplies and lottery tickets. I have been buying diesel there since Suki and Suvi opened their Husky Gas Station, Coffee Shop and Variety Store in August of 2010 and have found them to be friendly, helpful people always ready to serve you. I find the product to be of good value and the people to be exceptional. If you see Suki or Suvi, say "Hi" for me. 03/22/2011

Located Located on the north side of Victoria Street, just west of Tottenham Rd. in the East end of Alliston, this local business aims to please. The Gas Station provides good quality regular and premium gasoline (with ethanol) and low-sulphur diesel. There is a drive-thru that supplies coffee, tea, hot chocolate and a variety of quality donuts. The variety store has sundry assorted food goods, automotive supplies and lottery tickets. I have been buying diesel there since Suki and Suvi opened their Husky Gas Station, Coffee Shop and Variety Store in August of 2010 and have found them to be friendly, helpful people always ready to serve you. I find the product to be of good value and the people to be exceptional. If you see Suki or Suvi, say "Hi" for me. 03/09/2011

It is not cold outside, not really... I think the weather stations are quoting temperatures that are between -4 and -6 degrees C (which translates to something like 23 to 26 degrees Fahrenheit). But that doesn't mean that OLD MAN WINTER has not arrived! It has been snowing steady since yesterday morning, and I got up early and was in the garage trying to start my snow-blower at about 5:45 am this morning.  After about thirty five minutes I finally gave up, broke down and dug up the various snow shovels that we own. After many hours and with a huge assist from a neighbour who had a snow blade on his ATV, I had finally dug out my driveway and walkway.  The plow had not come yet and our road had not yet been plowed.  We were not going anywhere.  The snow plow has since cleared our road, an... 12/06/2010

  Earl Rowe Provincial Park is located on the Boyne River in a scenic river valley just outside of Alliston, Ontario. This river valley has been partially flooded to create a reservoir. Visitors can camp, picnic, fish, paddle, and sunbathe at two beaches, or swim in a pool big enough for 2,000. Visitors can also hike to lookouts.  Earl Rowe has 400 campsites (163 hydro sites) and is open from May to mid October.  Canoe and paddleboat rentals are available at the Park Store.  There is a large fenced supervised pool for public use at an additional charge. Park Website     11/19/2010

The Alliston hornets are the local junior C hockey team, the hornets are extremely talented and have won many championships. This season the Hornet Raffle Draw is the Ultimate Toronto Sports Package 2 Tickets Leafs2 Ticket Raptors2 Tickets Rock 2 Tickets Toronto FC2 Tickets Argo's Tickets on sale now, get yours today and support our local sports teams They play their home games at the New Tecumseth Recreation Centre located in the South end of Alliston on Industrial Parkway east of King Street. For more information about the Alliston Hornets visit their website.       11/18/2010

Floats will light up the streets of Alliston On Saturday November 27, 2010 the streets of Alliston will once again be lit up with the 4th annual Santa Claus Parade. The parade will begin at 6:00 pm. This is an excellent opportunity for your business, organization, church group, or friends and family to showcase your creativity as you prepare for the Christmas season, not to mention, you will be showcasing your float in front of thousands of people. Parade entries will also be judged with winners receiving a prize including recognition in the local media.   I hope you and your group are as excited and enthusiastic as I am. It is time to brainstorm and get your float ideas down on paper. Come and be part of the celebration and the kickoff to the Christmas season with Alliston's Night-lit ... 11/16/2010

Youth Halloween Party Dress up in your favourite costume and head over to the Alliston Memorial Arena for the annual youth Halloween dance Sunday, Oct. 31 2010  A free Halloween party with free pizza and refreshments, games and prizes, is happening between 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., with music by DJ Master Mix Michael Roberts.   The fun-filled event includes a costume contest, with prizes for the scariest, funniest and most original. The costume contest for youth eight and younger is at 7 p.m. and the costume contest for youth nine and older is at 8:30 p.m. Donations of non-perishable food items for the Good Shepherd Food Bank in Alliston are appreciated.  The party is being sponsored by many local business's including: Alliston Community Policing, Honda of Canada Mfg, the Town of New Tecums... 10/30/2010

  Early history of Alliston, Ontario In early 1847 William Fletcher and his son erected a log shanty, which was the first building in Alliston.  During the summer of 1848 the Fletcher family constructed a saw mill and established the first industry of the Town Alliston, and in 1853 built a grist mill. By 1874 the population had increased so much that approval was given to incorporate the hamlet of Alliston into a village.  The first council took charge in January, 1875 with Reeve George Fletcher. In 1878, Alliston received it's first train running on the Hamilton and North Western Railway. In 1891 the Village of Alliston became the Town of Alliston with John Steward as Mayor. May 8th, 1891 there was disastrous fire which destroyed almost all of the business section and many of the resid... 10/29/2010

The first day of the new school year, in a brand new school.  Helen, a teacher herself, couldn't be there and wanted me to take Alec to school this morning.  I really did not want to do it, and came up with a number of "good" (to me) reasons why I shouldn't take him to school. In the end, we compromised... I dropped Alec off at his before school facility (which had also been his pre-school and summer day camp facility).  He seemed calm and collected and I hugged him and reminded him how we expected him to behave. I left him happily recounting his summer with friends, and drove to the far side of an adjacent parking lot to make sure things went smoothly.  I saw them line up in order and wait for the school bus, and I saw him climb aboard... all looked well. I drove to his brand new schoo... 09/07/2010