Mick Jagger turns 70 on July 26. And as he takes to the stage during the Rolling Stones’ “50 and Counting” North American tour, he’s still wowing audiences with his performances. Check out this video of last Saturday’s duet on “Beast of Burden” in Las Vegas with 28-year-old Katy Perry.

With that in mind, you never know what to expect when they ask a bunch of “seniors” to get on stage and strut their stuff. Senior Star is a talent competition open to anyone 65 years and older and a Canadian resident. Contestants get five minutes on-stage to sing a song, play an instrument, or do both. (Not to mention throwing in a little dancing as the spirit moves them. Check out Maggie Viveen’s tap interlude:)

Now in its seventh year, the contest is holding local auditions, and while Senior Star is put on by “another” retirement community, you don’t have to be resident there to take part.

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Dale Murray at the 2011 finals.

Barry Gardner channels Nat King Cole at a local competition in Pickering.

Registration

While a vineyard tour evokes thoughts of warm Mediterranean winds in the Tuscan hills or the hot Burgundian summer sun, in Meaford, you can tour our local winery all winter long. Next Saturday, Coffin Ridge Winery is offering a tour behind the scenes of the production facility, and then you can learn, hands-on, the gentle vintner’s art of hand-pruning the grape vines. Dress for the weather, and bring along a pair of pruning shears.

Then after your intimate communion with the vines from whence the wine was born, you can enjoy the actual stuff. Head inside the elegant tasting room for a glass of wine and a delicious vintner’s plate.

The event is $30 per person and space is limited to 20 people, so reserve now. Email willow@coffinridge.ca to make your reservations.

A tour of Massie Hills on cross country skis

Here’s a guided tour to the classic cross country ski trail network at a local favourite – just 20 minutes west and south of Meaford. If you find it too long, scan through and pause at the best parts.

Candid Canada’s look at Blue Mountain

Last time, you got a boarder’s eye view of the snowboardcross course at Blue Mountain. Here’s a report on the event by Ndrika Anyika, who’s new to alpine sports herself. It shows the race – and some more “down to earth” skiers.

Meaford snowmobiling

If you prefer your snow with horsepower attached, check out the snowmobile trails around Meaford in this video.

Super-fast nordic skiing at Highlands Nordic

This skate skier, with a camera mounted to his head, is flying. Warning: you might get a bit dizzy. It’s a little like one of those racing video games where you have to dodge the slower-moving vehicles. In this case, he’s dodging around less speedy skiers… watch out! About 40 minutes from Meaford Haven

Dick in the ditch at Kolapore

This is not Dick’s finest hour, but while he struggles up from the snow, admire the scenery in this one tiny section of Kolapore Uplands Wilderness Ski Trails – which offer 50 kilometres of varied terrain. About 20 minutes from Meaford Haven.

Snowshoeing at Scenic Caves

Up on the heights of the Niagara Escarpment, the cross country trails are great, but so is the snowshoeing. This tour gives you a taste of what to expect, including a trip across the 420-foot suspension bridge with its vista of Collingwood and Georgian Bay. About 30 minutes from Meaford Haven

Jarryd Hughes at the Blue Mountain World Cup during training with Jonathan Cheever

Blue Mountain held the Snowboard World Cup a couple of weekends ago, just 20 minutes from Meaford Haven. If you never, ever plan on “snowboardcrossing” – in which up to half a dozen snowboarders race side-by-side down a challenging course with bumps and jumps and obstacles – here’s the next best thing. Pretend you’re Jerryd Hughes, and see the course through his eyes.

Had a chat with a friend the other day, and was surprised to learn she has just begun her “continuing class” (that is, the next level after beginner) of Taost Tai Chi, right here in Meaford. The two-hour sessions, which involve numerous excercises, just got more complicated and intense, she says.

Based on the traditional schools of this internal Chinese martial art, Taoist Tai Chi is a set of gentle, slow moving exercises aimed at improving your health and fitness, no matter what your age. Classes continue pretty much weekly throughout the year.

If you’re interested, now’s the time to check it out. On Monday, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., the group is holding an open house at Meaford Arena. Meet the instructor and learn more about this complex and rewarding practice. Visit the website. Or contact Judy Birch at 519-538-0288.

If you’ve ever dreamed stepping in front of the footlights, or if you’re already a seasoned thespian, get down to the auditions for the lastest production of Meaford Community Theatre. “The Whole Town’s Talking”. The 1923 play by husband and wife team John Emerson and Anita Loos (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes) reveals the hilarious consequences when a man contrives a more interesting past to woo a girl. His invented history of an affair with a famous movie star does the trick – until the movie star (and her jealous boyfriend) come to town.

Director Gordon Rowatt is looking for a cast of five males and seven females ranging in age from young adults to seniors, as well as bit-parts for several teenage girls.

If you’re interested in taking to the stage at Meaford Hall for the production during the last week of April, head down to the auditions on on Saturday, January 12 from 3 – 5pm and Tuesday, January 15 from 7 – 9pm.

Producer Greg Brown is also looking for other crew, including publicity, costumes, sets, prop and stage crew. Head to the auditions or Greg at 519-538-0517.

The holiday season seems to have kicked into gear here in Meaford.

At Meaford Hall, the Unique Boutique has already come and gone with its huge array of, well, unique and wonderful offerings and gift ideas offered through a silent auction.

Last weekend, the merchants of Meaford took off the paper and sheets covering their windows, so a stroll downtown welcomes you with holiday reminders at every step.

And as we speak, the Meaford Farmers’ Market (holiday edition) is getting underway for the first of four Fridays in Meaford Hall’s Terrace Room. “Local artisans have been busy helping St. Nick,” say the organizers. “Beautiful handcrafted jewelry, children’s toys, jams, jellies and pickles, bath salts, hip accessories and apparel for kids, yummy baked treats, honey, beeswax candles, handcrafted soaps and cards, maple syrup, local apple products, artwork, hand-painted treasures, tea, pottery and candies.”

You’ll also find gift baskets and gift certificates, and you can chase away the chill with a warm seasonal drink.

It’s beginning to feel a lot like… Meaford’s Christmas window unveiling. Okay, that’s a bit of a mouthful, but it’s a lot of fun. It’s that time again. Tomorrow, Saturday, November 17, the merchants of Meaford will remove the masking hiding their marvelous displays, and folks will treat themselves to an early taste of the holiday spirit.

Watch the lighting of the tree at Meaford Hall, visit the shops and the Museum, enjoy mulled cider and more, warm up by the street fires, enjoy the music of carollers… and say “Hi!” to that red-clad, white-bearded, jolly old fellow who’ll arrive on the fire truck.

And check out this video from the Riggster.

Last week we mentioned Meaford’s Volunteer Fair, held as part of “Focus on Seniors” at Meaford Hall. Focus on Seniors also features a free speaker series directed at retirees, which kicked off at the Volunteer Fair with a talk on volunteering. Tomorrow, the series continues with an introduction to genealogy packed with tips and ideas to get your started on exploring your family tree. Carole Stuart, Coordinator of Local History and Genealogy at the Collingwood Public Library will fire you up with practical advice on how to take the first steps to discovering more about your family’s past.

Every second Wednesday (with a short break over Christmas) at 1 p.m. – right up until April 17 – you can meet with others at Meaford Hall to enjoy a social gathering, light refreshments and stimulating talks.

Upcoming topics include how to avoid the “winter blahs”, financial advice, and intriguing presentations on everything from our local apple and agri-industry to one writer’s case for the theory that ancient Celts visited Ontario.

Get the full schedule here. (Click on “Learning, Fitness and Fun”.)

If you need accessible transportation, simply call the Hall Box Office at 519.538.0463 to book a free ride.

On Sunday, hockey fans from the Owen Sound area enjoyed some exciting on-ice action, rubbing shoulders with other fans in the crowd of 2,700 as they watched their team down the visiting Windsor Spitfires 5-2. While arenas across the continent are left empty and echoing in the wake of the NHL lockout, small-town hockey fans can still head down to their local rinks, and those lucky enough to have high calibre junior hockey in town can get a real fix.

The JD McArthur Arena in Owen Sound, less than half an hour from Meaford Haven, is home to the Owen Sound Attack, of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Canadian Hockey League (CHL). While it plays in the smallest market in the OHL and the second smallest in the CHL (next to the Swift Current Broncos), the Attack boasts one of the most passionate and knowledgeable fan bases in the country.

Back in 1989, the Guelph Platers relocated to Owen Sound, and for the next 11 seasons played as the Owen Sound Platers. In the summer of 2000, the owners put the team up for sale, and Owen Sound fans feared the loss of their beloved team to another city. Fortunately, a group of local business people decided they couldn’t let that happen, and they pitched into a bidding war and a legal battle with a competing group to acquire the team and keep them in the Scenic City.

Reborn as the Attack, the Owen Sound team continues to attract a loyal and enthusiastic group of fans from around the area, and a little over a year ago, they rewarded those fans even more by winning their first OHL Championship.

Check out this CTV London profile of this year’s team and its early success this season.