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In Focus, April, 2011 4 Letter from In Focus If the poets are to be believed, spring is nothing but warm weather, blooming flowers and baby animals joyously frolicking in the meadows. There is one thing, however, that poets fail to mention when composing their odes to the season: mud. Last month, I had a rather unfortunate run-in with an unexpectedly deep pit of sucking, slopping, mucky mud. I was covering an event at Devereaux House and arrived a little bit late, so I wasn't able to get a spot in the parking lot. I saw a few cars parked in an adjoining field so I decided to follow suit. That was Big Mistake #1. I foolishly forgot the one thing every child knows about spring: even though the grass looks nice, it is soaking wet underneath and you will sink into it. Before I knew it, my front wheels were sinking in a hidden trench of mud. Then came Big Mistake #2: I panicked and spun my wheels in hopes of propelling myself out of the mud, which only made the muck fly and cause my car to sink deeper in the pit. I stopped, regrouped and pulled the mats out of my backseat, shoving them under my wheels, hoping my tires would grab on to the mats and pull out of the pit. That was Big Mistake #3. My wheels just spun more, sinking me further into the mud and bringing my car mats with them. Finally, I gave up and called CAA where a friendly man (a) didn't laugh; and (b) sent a very nice tow truck to heave my poor little car out of the Muddy Pit of Doom. At the end of my little adventure, the final tally was Mud: 1, Andrea: 0, Car Mats: ­2, Car: filthy but safe. Now it's your turn. Have you ever been sucked into a Muddy Pit of Doom? What other aspects of spring do the poets not address? Do you have a photo you would like to see in our next issue? We want to hear from you! Happy April! >>> My car after the Muddy Pit of Doom. #AR TWHEELS April 2011 VOLUME 5 ISSUE 4 IN FOCUS is published 12 times per year by the The Independent & Free Press, A Division of Metroland Media Group Ltd. RIGHT: Tyler Connell scampers to the top of the rope. The Independent & Free Press 280 Guelph Street, Unit 29 Georgetown, Ontario, L7G 4B1 Telephone: 905-873-0301 Fax: 905-873-0398 Publisher Ken Nugent Special Features Co-ordinator Andrea Lefebvre 905-873-0301, ext. 236 alefebvre@ independentfreepress.com LEFT: Mackenzie Birnie fuels up before jumping around on the trampoline. Advertising Sales Representatives Felicia Fasulo 905-873-0301, ext. 241 ffasulo@ independentfreepress.com Amy Sykes 905-873-0301, ext. 237 features@ independentfreepress.com Design/Production Dolores Black, Mary Lou Foreman, Shelli Harrison, Kevin Powell The contents are protected by copyright and may be used only for personal non-commercial purposes. All other rights are reserved and commercial use is prohibited. To make any use of this material you must first obtain the permission of the owner of the copyright. For further information contact the Independent & Free Press at 905-873-0301. The advertiser agrees that the publisher shall not be liable for damages arising out of errors in advertising beyond the amount paid for the space actually occupied by that portion of the advertisement in which the error occurred , whether such error is due to the negligence of its servants or otherwise, and beyond the amount paid for such advertisement. GENERAL NOTICE: Copyright in letters and other material submitted to the Publisher and accepted for publication remains with the author, but the Publisher and its licenses may freely reproduce them in print, electronic or other for ms of publications. Andrea Lefebvre alefebvre@independentfreepress.com Mayor Rick Bonnette congratulates Cartwheels Gym Centre owners Jenn Unsworth (left) and Patricia Murphy (right) on their grand opening. Also on hand for the presentation are (front row): Cuyler Coleman, Molly McCullagh, Keigan McCullagh, Cam Coleman, Eva Coleman, Tanner Unsworth and Brodie Unsworth. Photo submitted by Tracy Harvey Beckett Ross spends some quality time with his grandma. Cartwheels Gym Centre was full of jumping, flipping, climbing and laughing kids and adults on March 11 during the recreational gymnastics facility's official grand opening celebration. Cartwheels' young gymnasts brought their friends and family to explore the newly expanded Georgetown gym, which had quietly opened its doors last summer. After testing out the trampolines, climbing rope and beam, everyone refueled with cake and juice. Photos by Andrea Lefebvre IN FOCUS IS A PRODUCT OF