The Downtown Market

Fresh local produce, crafts, and live entertainment return to the downtown core for the 2011 season as the Downtown Market has its grand opening on Sat June 11th. Located at the former bus terminal at 44 University Avenue East the market will feature over 25 vendors including Dockside Fisheries, Hylander Farms (beef) The Fruit Wagon, Our Farm Organics, Nana’s Bakery, Specialty Bakery, Perry Noia the Clown and others. New additions this year include Mimi’s Fruits & Vegetables, The Dutch House Country Market, Terre-Tremblay Farm and more. Organizers are hoping people will not only use the market as a resource for purchasing local produce, baked goods and handmade crafts but utilize it a s regular stop on their Saturday morning travels and use it as a gathering place to connect with friends both old and new.
"The market brings vitality to the core every week. It’s wonderful to see farmers, cyclists, entertainers, families, and others reconnecting each week," says market chair, Natalie Bownes.
Bownes also feels that having the grower on hand is a great incentive for shoppers, "Meeting the person who produced your food is an amazing opportunity to learn more."
Organizers have a variety of special events planned throughout the season and the second Saturday of each month will be earmarked for special events.
· June 11 – Opening Day
· July 9 – Love Your City
· August 13 – Healthy Lifestyles Day
· September 10 – Pets on Parade
· October 8 – Closing Day Celebration
So come on downtown and experience the best Essex County has to offer. For more info contact: Tristan Fehrenbach (tristan@downtownfarmersmarket.ca) or Natalie Bownes (natalie@downtownfarmersmarket.ca) Phone: (519) 915-9498

by Tim FairhurstBiz X Magazine

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Is the Weather Hurting Business in Windsor/Essex??

It seems everyone is complaining about the weather. A sore topic among Windsorites , spring just has not co-ooperated, but is it having an impact on some local businesses bottom lines? You bet. The excessive rain and unseasonable cool temps have done nothing to inspire people to get out and spend those springtime dollars. Garden Centres, Pool companies, boating establishments, motorcycle shops and ice cream stores are all awaiting that first pop of warm weather to get people moving on summertime activities (and purchases). Outdoor restaurant and bar patios come alive with people as well when the nights are warm and the days sunny. And lets not forget those who work outside like farmers and construction workers. Weather can easily put crops and projects behind and cost money. But that’s life right? Unfortunately we cannot change the weather and everyone ultimately must deal with it on some level. Heres hoping to a fabulous May 24 Long weekend and a temperate kickoff to the 2011 summer season. Now get out there and play!

by Tim FairhurstBiz X Magazine

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Pro Soccer debuts in Windsor

Pro Soccer makes it debut in Windsor this weekend. The area’s premiere professional soccer club, the Windsor Stars meet the Montreal Impact Academy this Saturday night at 7PM at Windsor Stadium. Area soccer supporters will want to be sure to check this exciting new venture out in its inaugural showing in the Canadian Soccer League
“It’s exciting to have pro soccer back in Windsor. The team will be very competitive and enjoyable to watch.” says Coach Jeff Hodgson.
Owner and player Filip Rocca is hoping that the Windsor community will come out and be the “12th man on the field” and help to cheer the team on in what promises to be a tough match against a strong Montreal club. In addition to offering fans the opportunity to experience pro soccer up close the organization is also excited to be offering special events and services for youth in Windsor-Essex, including meet the players nights, year-round youth camps, game-day youth matches, ‘Practice with the Stars,’ scholarship services, and much more. A meet and greet with the players will take place at 5PM before every match at Centro on Erie Street and a complimentary shuttle service will depart at 6 and return after the game.
The season schedule can be found online at www.windsorstarssoccer.com and you can follow the team on Facebook at facebook.com/WindsorStarsSoccer

Ticket information
Tickets can be purchased at Centro located at 770 Erie Street East for $7 in advance for adults, $5 for children 12 and under. Game day tickets will be $10 for adults, $7 for children 12 and under. Season tickets are also available: Pre-season sale for family pass (4 people access) is $120. Single Pass (1 person access) is $60.
So come on out and experience the beautiful game that is professional soccer and see what the rest of the world is mad about.

by Tim FairhurstBiz X Magazine

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Organ Donor Awareness

This week is organ donor awareness week. Being an organ donor is something that many of us would rather not think about. The subject of death is uncomfortable for most people but organ donation is as much about life as it is a result of someone passing. Each year thousands of people die waiting for organ and tissue transplants. Finding the right match against available organs is a little bit like roulette with blood types, and other criteria all playing into the equation. Leaving a legacy of life after a tragedy is as easy as signing an organ donation card and advising your family of your wishes. Any one of us could be on either end of an organ donation decision at any time. Life happens as they say so take the opportunity this week to discuss this with your loved ones and make the decision to give the gift of life. For more information visit the Trillium Gift of Life network’s website at www.giftoflife.on.ca

by Tim FairhurstBiz X Magazine

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Bike Friendly City??

As the weather slowly warms up in Windsor thoughts turn towards fair weather activities such as cycling. For many cycling is a recreational pastime done on the weekends and evenings after work. But for a few dedicated individuals cycling is a passion that they utilize for commuting purposes. In addition to the health benefits this sport also carries an environmental impact in the form of reducing one’s carbon footprint on this earth. A recent study shows Windsor has only about 40 km of dedicated bike lanes in the city, well short of the targeted 160+ km that was supposed to have been in place by now. Many people I know have expressed a desire to use their bicycle as transportation and commute to work but lament the danger of having to deal with narrow roads, insufficient riding space and angry and disrespectful drivers. Larger metropolitan cities such as Toronto Vancouver and Montreal are a hotbed for urban commuting with some even offering bicycle rental stations throughout the city. While Windsor may not be on the same scale as these centers we can still strive to provide options for people that want to make a difference, get fit and do something for the environment. Cyclists are more connected with their environment and create a living breathing vibe in what is otherwise a concrete jungle. So get those wheels turning and get out there and ride, even if just for recreation. by Tim FairhurstBiz X Magazine

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Border City Brawlers Fresh Meet Recruitment Day

Well hot off the heels of the Border City Brawlers March Break Family Skate comes another event that the group is having in the form of a call for all ladies that want to try something different. The Brawlers are holding a recruitment/open house for prospective roller girls wishing to experience the excitement and camaraderie that is women’s Roller Derby. Very different than the scripted wrestling style of entertainment popular back in the 70’s modern roller derby is organized and sanctioned by the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association and is a legitimate sport. Popularized by the recent feature film “Whipit” Roller derby is a fast, furious contact sport that is growing. This Sunday March 27th from the 7PM – 10PM the Windsor Armouries will be the site of their fresh Meet Recruitment Day. They are looking for energetic women 18 and over that are willing to rough it up a bit and have fun. They are looking for referees as well (men and women). Skaters will need a helmet, wrist guards, elbow and knee pads and a mouth guard. The club has limited skate rentals available and will provide an introduction on everything from skating technique and derby rules to strategy and safety. Organizer Holly Brush (aka Lady Tron) hopes to gather enough participants to add to the already sizeable group and form multiple teams for a Windsor league.
“We have women from all walks of life here, nurses, social workers, teachers, former figure skaters, they all have a common goal and that is to have fun and compete.” Says Brush.
So dust off those skates (no rollerblades please) and come out and find out what its all about. You’ll have fun mixing it up with a great group of girls and probably make some new friends in the process.

by Tim FairhurstBiz X Magazine

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Skating into March Break with the Border City Brawlers

With March break here, many people will be looking for things to do in and around the city and county. The Border City Brawlers is Windsor’s up and coming women’s Roller Derby organization and will be holding a free family skating event at the Windsor Armouries on Friday March 18th. Benefiting the Hiatus House of Windsor the event will feature an afternoon session from 1PM to 3PM and evening skate from 6PM to 8PM.
Hiatus House is an emergency shelter for abused women and their children from Windsor and Essex County and offers a residence program, counselling and crisis intervention services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The group is asking the public to bring non-perishable food items for donation to Hiatus House to be collected at the event. Free hot chocolate, coffee and snacks will be served and a limited number of adult sized skates will be available for rental. Inline skates are welcome but skaters are strongly encouraged to wear a helmet.
So this March Break don’t hibernate! Come and skate with some of the girls from the Border City Brawlers and support the Hiatus House at this family friendly event.
I’ll have more on the Brawlers, their upcoming recruitment day and the exciting sport of Roller Derby in an upcoming blog post so check back soon. In the meantime, get your wheels on and skate!

by Tim FairhurstBiz X Magazine

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