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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, M ar ch 11 ,2 02 1 | 14 FULL-SERVICE RETIREMENT HOME Located on the cusp of the Hamlet of Glen Williams 222 Mountainview Road North, Georgetown 905-877-1800 www.mountainviewresidence.com Mountainview Residence by the Glen The only family owned & operated retirement home in Halton Hills. On-site activities to foster social, emotional, physical and mental wellbeing. Mountainview Residents are fully vaccinated, all are in good spirits We are growing with our community. Come see our new designs starting summer 2021! You've worked hard to enjoy retirement, now it's our pleasure to make this the best time of your life in a family, friendly atmosphere. Our residents enjoy social meals (variety of food choices), along with discrete personal care services to support daily well being. cn.ca COMMUNITY NOTICE ANNUAL VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM Every year, CN is required to clear its right-of-way of any vegetation that may pose a safety hazard. Vegetation on railway right-of-way, if left uncontrolled, can contribute to trackside fires and impair proper inspection of track infrastructure. For safe railway operations, CN will conduct its annual vegetation control program on its rail lines in the province of Ontario. A certified professional will be applying herbicides on wand around the railway tracks (primarily along the 16 feet graveled area/ballast). All product requirements for setbacks in the vicinity of dwellings, aquatic environments and municipal water supplies will be met. The program is expected to take place from April to October 2021. Visit www.cn.ca/vegetation to see the list of cities as well as the updated schedule. For more information, contact the CN Public Inquiry Line at contact@cn.ca or 1-888-888-5909. A "Canada's Got Talent" final- ist from Georgetown has discov- ered singing isn't his only talent. Emilio Fina, an opera singer, discovered a passion for another Italian export: pizza. With fewer singing engagements during the pandemic, the tenor started mak- ing pizza from scratch. Starting with store-bought dough, he quickly began prepar- ing his own. "I just wanted to get better and better," Fina said. Though 2020 was the first time he'd made pizza, Fina said he knew exactly the pie he was try- ing to create. "I was in Italy in 2016, eating a Neapolitan pizza in Pompeii," Fi- na said. "The taste was out of this world, and it was just the simplest thing: a margherita pizza with just a few olives." Where possible, Fina has strived to adhere to the guidelines set out by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (The True Nea- politan Pizza Association), a Na- ples-based organization that pro- tects and promotes the style of piz- za worldwide. However, to earn the title, pizzas must be cooked in a wood-fired oven, while Fina's are cooked in an Ooni pizza oven. Fina said he's also been able to connect with pizzaiolos around the world for advice and guidance, including the 2014 world pizza champion, Johnny di Francesco and Pasquale Ponticiello, both members of the AVPN. The tipping point for Fina's piz- za came through social media. "I joined the Georgetown Face- book group in order to get a roto- tiller for my backyard," Fina said. Fina posted looking to borrow a rototiller for a couple of hours in exchange for a few homemade piz- zas. He received 96 responses. Looking to accelerate the learning curve, Fina said he makes pizza in larger patches. "I'm learning, it's like school for me," he said. "I make mistakes, some pizzas I've given to friends have holes in them." On New Year's Eve, Fina baked 64 pizzas for friends and family in the community. "They were gone in 30 min- utes," he said, "but it was labour- intensive." Though Fina's pies have been a success, he's not in it for profit -- at least not yet. "I'm not making money doing this," he said. "I'm learning." In the future, Fina said he wouldn't rule out his own pizze- ria. "If all I ever do is make pizza for my family, I'm good with that," Fi- na said. Now, Fina has found a way to combine singing with pizza. While his upcoming Valentine's Concert shows at the Norval Unit- ed Church (14015 Danby Rd.) have been postponed until March 26 and 27, each $25 ticket is also a voucher for a free margherita piz- za. Tickets are available by calling 647-973-2175. NEWS FROM PUCCINI TO PIZZA LOCAL TENOR EXPLORING HIS PIE-MAKING PROWESS BRYAN MYERS bmyers@metroland.com Emilio Fina, an opera singer turned part-time pizzaiolo, has been perfecting the art of Neapolitan pizza in his backyard. Bryan Myers/Metroland