The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

We All Scream for ICE CREAM Story by Emily Yates Photos by Ted Brown and Emily Yates Mouth-watering and refreshing on the lazy days of summer, ice cream is a cool commodity for hot days when the temperature rises to record-breaking levels. Though the origins of ice cream are not officially known, the sweet treat can be dated back as far as the early days of Rome when Emperor Nero (37 AD - 68 AD) allegedly ordered slaves to bring him ice from the mountains to mix with fruit, honey, nectar and pulp. Another theory gives us Marco Polo, the famous merchant, trader and explorer who saw ice cream being made in China during his travels and brought the recipe back to Italy upon his return. However these are tales that cannot be proven and this is not a history lesson. The real question is this; what is it about ice cream that makes people so darn happy? One of the best things about ice cream is the sheer pleasure one gets from eating it. Studies show that even just a spoonful of the stuff lights up the part of your brain (the orbitofrontal cortex) that recognizes pleasure-- the same kind of pleasure one gets from winning an award or the lottery. Ice cream brings back memories of childhood for some. Kids still run for the street when they hear the grating song ringing from the sometimes-crackly speakers of the ice cream trucks that still travel around the neighbourhood, a business that began circa 1923. If you're looking for a place to quench that burning desire for the delicious cold treat, there are a few great places in Halton Hills to visit. "We make our own ice cream," says Cathy Turner, who owns Get the Scoop on 71 Main Street with her husband Don. The Turners' offer about 30 toppings from which patrons can choose to mix with their ice cream. This summer, they're throwing a few odd flavours into the mix. "Watermelon, root beer, chocolate chili (spicy chocolate), cinnamon and cheesecake, which we always have," says Turner. Sammy's Ice Cream on Edward Street in Georgetown has been open for 17 years. Between the months of May and September, Doug Turner serves customers from the cozy corner of Georgetown. The place was originally named after Turner's pooch, who was a fixture of the place when he first opened up. Located at 188 Guelph Street in Georgetown, Dairy Queen has something for everyone. "Our best sellers are Blizzards," says manager Ivy Hilts. With an array of flavours to choose from, including strawberry cheesecake, key lime pie, banana cream pie and Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, the Blizzards are a big hit with the younger generation. "It's been nuts here. As soon as the nice weather hit, it was like the middle of summer." The Glen Oven Bakery on 53 Main Street in Glen Williams is another great spot to stop for a cone or a frozen yogurt. "(We're busiest) at the height of the summer," says owner Jenny Dickinson. The café offers numerous flavours of ice cream as well as frozen yogurt and smoothies. SUMMER · 2010 36 S I D E R O A D S H A LT O N H I L L S $ 3 OFF with coupon Min. $30 Purchase Expires July 31, 2010 211 Guelph Street, Georgetown 905-873-2151