I just learned that the Wasaga Sun newspaper will be choosing a list of candidates for their editorial again this year. This practice caused a small uproar among some of the candidates in the last election. I am sure you can guess it was the ones who were not chosen who were quite upset. I was among them.

It is important for all residents to know that the Wasaga Sun is no longer a small town newspaper. It may have started out that way but now it is part of a large corporation, Metroland Media who are famous for buying up small town newspapers.

Candidate Websites

There is still time for more candidates to enter the race, but just to get you started here are the websites for the confirmed candidates. If there is any website missing, please let me know. Click any name to open a new window.

Mayor: Cal Patterson, Steven Fishman
Deputy Mayor: David Foster, Sandy Smardenka, Donna Mullen (no website)
Council: George Watson, Nina Bifolchi, Connie Gray (no website) , Stan Wells (no website), Darlene Watters, Tracy Rafter (no website), Kelly Robertson (no website), Ron Anderson (no website), Gary Cerantola (no website), Morley Bercovitch, Beverley Wood (no website)

You may have noticed a small change to the list of candidates this morning. I just submitted my nomination papers to the Town of Wasaga Beach. I'm taking a third, and possibly final shot at a seat on Council.

I sure could use your help this time. 

If you would like to volunteer, donate money to the campaign, or just do your bit to make sure your friends and neighbours know who I am, I would be grateful. As I learned in the last two elections, it isn't easy to get elected. No matter how well intentioned, or how much work you put into it, or how much you think you might bring to the job - it's the people who decide. Making sure voters know you is the biggest hurdle.

• If you can do anything to help, email me: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
  
• Official Election Website Here: http://www.darlenewatters.com

The list of nominees for Council are growing with more entering the race.
Here's the list to date:

File this one under "boils my blood". As the residents of Wasaga Beach are being asked to conserve water and are forced to deal with new smart meters, which some say have resulted in unfairly high water costs, the Town of Wasaga Beach has been selling water to an outside Municipality to "fill pools. Although the amount of water is still a mystery, even to the Mayor, astute citizens have been monitoring the situation for some time now. 

In an interesting broadcast from 97.7 the Beach, Wasaga beach Mayor Cal Patterson defends the Town's recent water rate increases and forced water meters by claiming these are conservation measures. In no uncertain terms, he trumpets the need to conserve water. "It won't last forever; the water is declining; and we have to take responsibility for that". However, he is caught off guard - blindsided even, by a caller named Walter who asks the Mayor if he was aware that the Town's water was being trucked outside of Wasaga Beach?

Sam Russ was born into the theatre business. His family have owned theaters since 1912. Few people can tell you what their Grandfather, or Great-Grandfather did for a living but not only does Sam Russ know, he continues to keep the tradition alive. The Russ family owned the Gayety Theatre in Collingwood in 1912. A quick look at the Gayety's website shows that the theatre has been in operation since 1911. This means that they were possibly the first family to own it, or they bought it when it was only a year old. The Gayety Russ tells me was the first theatre north of Toronto to feature movies with sound. They also featured shows for troops during World War II. What an amazing history.

CELEBRATING A GREAT WOMAN OF MUSIC

Gaze into Theatre Collingwood’s 2010 crystal ball for a glimpse of FAME that will stir your soul and warm your heart.

The second production of the summer theatre season stars Leisa Way in SWEET DREAMS:  A TRIBUTE TO PATSY CLINE featuring the Wayward Wind band.  It’s live onstage at the Gayety Theatre for one week only:  August 16, 17, 19, 20 & 21 at 8pm with one matinee on August 18^th at 2pm.

Wasaga Beach - At Your Service

This week we are speaking with Sam Russ of Elmvale Drive In.

When was the last time you went to a drive-in? There was a time when drive-in's were scattered throughout the country in every community. Even Toronto had several on the outskirts of town. Today drive-in's are thought of as a bit old fashioned but they are still as much fun as they ever were. The idea being that you drive your car to the movie theatre, open the windows to let in the cool night air, fill yourself full of fattening (but delicious) food, and either forget the movie to make out with your girl/boyfriend, or enjoy it with your family and/or friends.

Can it be true that we are coming to the end of such a wonderful summer? The weather could not have been better. The water was warm, the sand felt good in our toes. How can it be the middle of August already?

Here are some photos from this spectacular summer.

Midway: July 25th - August 7th.

The Midway is located at Beach One till the end of this week.

This annual tradition has been going on for longer than most of us can remember. Enjoy the rides, candy apples, candy floss and test your luck at the games to win stuffed animals.