Choose Country Lane in Uxbridge, and you can leave the city behind for family-friendly surroundings that offer the perfect marriage of small town charm and modern urban amenities. Quaint boutiques, national retail chains, heritage architecture, eclectic restaurants, excellent public and private schools, daycare facilities, recreational venues, golf courses, skiing - it's all waiting for you just a short drive from Highways 48, 407 and 404.

Whatever the season, there's something special to do. Each summer, the Highland Games, Ribfest and Art in the Park bring people together for fun in the sun. In the fall, the Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts and Studio Tour showcase the community's exciting cultural assets. During the winter, snow-worshipers enjoy local cross-country and downhill skiing and curling, and community theatre and music groups offer an array of performances. In the spring, families picnic on the banks of picturesque Elgin Pond and stroll along the Town's extensive trail system.

This town is also known for honouring its heritage. Residents and visitors celebrate the area's agricultural roots at the annual Uxbridge Fall Fair and Steam Threshing Heritage Days. Uxbridge was originally settled by Quakers (known as the Society of Friends), and remains home to the Friends' Meeting House on Quaker Hill. A Historical Centre and Museum provide another glimpse of the area's past, as does a former home of Lucy Maud Montgomery, author of Anne of Green Gables.

Heathwood's Country Lane is also close to the picturesque Uxbridge Countryside Preserve - 140 acres of woodlands, meadows, wetlands, ponds and trails. Ask about homes available with quick move-ins, and be sure to tour our four beautiful models.

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Colour selection is an exciting step in the new home buying journey, and the professionals at Heathwood's Décor Store enjoy guiding purchasers through that process. "Today's purchasers are knowledgeable about design trends," says Marilyn Rosen, Heathwood/Heron Homes Décor Store Manager. She stresses that kitchens and master ensuites remain the two biggest areas of focus.

"Approximately 25% of buyers now choose to continue hardwood flooring through the kitchen for a cohesive look on the main floor," Marilyn says, "because of its ease of maintenance and non-allergenic qualities. They're leaning toward deeper colours for flooring, and either ebony/chocolate or sandstone pearl tones for cabinetry. Hard surface counters such as granite, Corian and Silestone are extremely popular. Also, homeowners want more specialized kitchen appliances such as warming drawers and stainless steel hood fans. For backsplashes, they like tumbled marbles, glass mosaics, and subway tiles."

Frameless glass showers are a big hit in master ensuite baths. "People love the spa-like feel of incorporating the floor tile into the shower walls and accenting with glass tile or Listello borders. Chocolate and ebony cabinetry are popular here, too, paired with a light countertop of marble, granite or laminate."

Marilyn adds that the demand for structured wire rough-ins is phenomenal. "People want to be ready for computers, home theatre and audio systems. We also notice that more owners are upgrading their furnace set-ups to include HRVs and air cleaners with air quality in mind." Whatever people's preferences, Heathwood Homes purchasers feel like kids in a candy store during their Décor Centre visit. "It's fun for all of us," Marilyn says.

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Four model homes showcase the opportunity to come Home At Last® to Traditions in Milton in style - your style! Housing choices include townhomes, semis and singles, and Heathwood enlisted renowned designer Bryon Patton of Bryon Patton and Associates to appoint the models. "We created environments that reflect the mosaic of purchasers here," Bryon says. "The interiors are geared to family life, with rooms that look beautiful and function beautifully."

Just next to the sales office is The Bronte model on a 49' lot, which has a country chateau theme. "This décor evokes a feeling of timeless traditions and romantic memories for owners whose tastes are traditional without being stuffy. These people will really use their living/dining room, not save it for special occasions," he explains. "Antique white, pretty yellows, burnished gold, patina woods, toile prints and silk create elegant yet calming spaces."

The Southwind model on a 36' lot, which Patton calls "sexy yet serene, glamorous yet feisty." He envisions design-savvy owners with a modern aesthetic, who like a touch of glamour. "We used a palette of rich char brown, java, and tobacco tones accented with flashes of Adriatic blues and crimson to convey the theme of new elegance. Unlike the mutually exclusive traditional elegance and stark modernity of years ago, today's elegant interiors can be modern in feeling with clean lines, pared-down furnishings, and minimal detail."

The Azalea semi model sports an international eclectic theme for younger buyers. According to Bryon, "Here, we mixed Classic 20th century modern pieces with carefully selected antique accents to showcase a sophisticated, yet funky personal style. Winter whites, smoky taupes, onyx and pearl greys are the background for jewel-tone accents. We used some unusual finishings, such as corrugated steel wall panels in the architect's home office."

The Cardinal Corner townhome highlights many standard features, and is ideal for busy professionals or a couple just starting a family who are concerned about the environment. "For this light, airy model, we chose a west coast eco-chic theme," Bryon says. "We mixed design elements associated with conservation: natural woods and organic materials such as maple, oak and grasscloth, with decorative details like bamboo, and green accent colours that add a bold dash."

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Heathwood Homes and The Heron Group of Companies have always given back to the community generously, and in 2003 founded The Mikey Network. The organization is named after Mike Salem, a former Partner and Senior Vice President for Heathwood Homes and The Heron Group, who died of sudden cardiac arrest on a golf course in 2002. With the help of community partners, The Mikey Network promotes heart-healthy living and places public-access defibrillators called Mikeys in high-risk locations. As the Network's community partners grow, so do the number of public-access defibrillators called MIKEYs we place.

Hugh Heron Celtic Ceilidh
On February 6, 2008, nearly 900 real estate professionals, politicians and celebrities gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of Hugh Heron, a principal and partner in The Heron Group of Companies and president of Heathwood Homes. To honour his Scottish roots, the event was themed as a Celtic "Ceilidh" - a traditional Highlands-style gathering. The Toronto Fire Services Pipes and Drums and the Toronto Emergency Medical Services Honour Guard escorted Hugh. Proceeds from ticket sales were donated to The Mikey Network.

Halton High School Program
Through a partnership among Halton Region, the Halton Catholic District School Board, the Halton District School Board, and The Mikey Network, by the end of the current school year, each of the seven Catholic and 17 Public high schools in Halton Region will have a MIKEY in place.

MIKEYs Help Every Age Group
In 2006, Alex collapsed while playing hockey and died. Through the Alex Corrance Memorial Fund and fundraising by Beyond the Next Level, a MIKEY was installed at Joshua's Creek Arena in Oakville in his memory.

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We hear a lot these days about the health benefits of green tea, and many nutrition-conscious people are sipping this soothing liquid. Green tea is made from the dried leaves of Camellia sinensis, a perennial evergreen shrub that originated in Asia 5,000 years ago. Like certain forms of chocolate, green tea contains antioxidants called polyphenols that destroy damaging free radicals.

Although green tea has been touted in the media as a panacea for everything from fertility problems to coronary artery disease, research is still ongoing as to the exact nature of this drink's effects. According to The Dietitians of Canada (www.dietitians.ca), there is enough "practice-based evidence in nutrition" to warrant its moderate use. The association also suggests that well-designed clinical trials are needed before recommendations can be made in the areas of heart attack and atherosclerosis prevention. Health Canada recommends that a health care provider be consulted prior to using green tea if you have a liver disorder, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Green tea contains caffeine, which is mostly released during the first infusion. A good practice is to discard the first cup you make with a tea bag, then reuse the bag and drink the second cup. You can also purchase decaffeinated green tea. And as with most everything, the fresher, the better.

By Registered Dietitian Marsha Rosen.

Green Tea Dip & Spread

• 3 green tea bags
• 1 cup reduced-fat cream cheese or reduced-fat ricotta
• 2 tablespoons finely minced fresh chives or basil leaves

Steep tea in 1 cup of hot water, not quite boiling, for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove bags and cool tea to room temperature. Place cheese and herbs into a blender and mix. With the blender running, add small amounts of tea until the mixture reaches spreadable consistency. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour.

To serve, bring to room temperature and pair with crackers, use in a wrap, or as a dip for vegetables. Yields just over 1 cup of delicious dip.

Recipe adapted from the American Institute for Cancer Research.

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A tremendously convenient location at Mavis Road and Highway 407, value-packed townhome designs that come completely finished including the lower level, plus a condominium component that frees up precious time have attracted an overwhelming response to Terracotta Village.

In this community, a condominium corporation will assume responsibility for a multitude of maintenance including all lawn care and landscaping duties such as cutting, fertilizing, weed control and tree pruning. Roads and sidewalks will be kept in good condition and in the winter, snow will be removed from them. In addition, the exterior brick, stone, siding and roofs will be maintained and the structure insured, saving money on personal insurance. All Terracotta homeowners will agree on architectural controls, meaning streetscape appearance will remain harmonious and well kept up. The condo corporation also keeps a reserve fund so that all these items are looked after for many years to come.

Purchasers get all this - and luxurious standards including granite kitchen countertops, five appliances, 40" extended kitchen cabinetry and the choice of stainless steel for the three kitchen appliances, 9-foot main floor ceilings, central air conditioning, and ENERGY STAR® qualification.

Residents will live one minute from Highway 407, just a few minutes from Highways 401,410,403, 427 and the Meadowvale GO Station. The community is close to the Credit Valley, golf courses, schools, conservation land, parks and the Credit Valley and Heartland Town Centres. The community will have its own landscaped park, pond and walking trails.

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