With winter in the air, you might want to check out a little haven of warmth in Cambridge serves as a quick getaway from the bitter cold.

According to Adrienne Brewster, The Wings of Paradise Butterfly Conservatory stays at a nice 25 degrees (Celsius), even on the coldest of winter days. The site is complete with lush waterfalls, blooming flowers, and butterflies from all over the world.

The place attracts dozens of photographers in Cambridge and its surrounding areas, with some staying for hours in search of that elusive perfect picture. Visitors to the conservatory can stroll around and enjoy the atmospher.

The Butterfly Conservatory plays home to thousands of live flying butterflies imported from tropical countries like Costa Rica and the Philippines. It also houses more than 75 tropical plants, fish and other species of animal life.

An insect gallery with a real hive honeybees can also be seen in the site, giving visitors the chance to watch how a hive of bees work seamlessly – with a queen laying eggs and workers making honey. Aside from bees, a thousand species of bugs and insects can also be observed in Insects of the World gallery.

So, go ahead and pay a visit to the conservatory. Chill out (or rather, warm up) and enjoy the sights and sounds, you’ll surely have a time to remember.

Residents in Cambridge who contributed to the peace of the community were recently awarded in a ceremony coinciding with the YMCA World Peace Week. The awards ceremony was held at Cambridge hall, attended by the youth, as well as other individuals and groups who serve as role models to society.

Recipients of the YMCA peace medallions included Brandon Wieschollek, honored in the strong kid category, John MacDonald, recognized in the strong role model category, and the Zuluaga family, honored in the strong community category.

The awardees have done amazing work ranging from organizing activities aimed at guiding the youth, teaching kids different sports and games,, shielding teens from gangs, and offering free and vital services to the public like electrical repairs and plumbing.

These individuals serve as an inspiration to residents not just in Cambridge, but all over Canada as well. The work these people have done reminds us of our responsibility to also give back to society in any way possible.

If this is the first time you’ve head of the peace awards, you can log on to www.ymcacambridge.com for additional info on past winners, and the activities they participated in. You can also check out if you’ve got what it takes to win a peace medallion yourself.

A “safety first” mindset is crucial in fire prevention, and that’s precisely what the Cambridge Fire Department sought out to give the public on their first ever “Fire Safety Awareness Day” – an event that drew in thousands of Cambridge residents and tourists alike. A large number of kids also turned up during the event, asking questions and interacting with firemen and instructors.

Aside from fire safety, the Cambridge Fire Department held their annual “Boot Drive for Muscular Dystrophy”, a fundraiser that drew in thousands of dollars for a good cause.

Another helpful activity was their Roll-over vehicle demonstration that showed the importance of wearing seat belts. The demo illustrated the difference wearing seatbelts makes for a family inside a car, as opposed to a family that neglects to wear safety belts. The demo was so effective that everyone in attendance vowed never to forget about vehicle safety.

The usual annual favorites were there, like Sparky’s safety house, which gave kids and their families a fun time in identifying hazardous activities and areas prone to fires in the common household; like playing with matches, choked electrical outlets, and electric appliances and outlets in the kitchen area.

With the high turnout this year, expect this event to make a comeback in 2010!

Amadeus, a production of Galt Little Theatre, may showcase close to a dozen cast members, but one performance truly shines out among the rest, making the show a truly amazing and unforgettable experience.

L.R. Lindsay’s portrayal of Antonio Salieri, the court composer of Joseph II, Emperor of Austria, is a powerful one that left the audience in awe. Although the show might be centered on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, it could easily be best described as a one-man extravaganza of none other than Lindsay himself.

The stage talent delivered an incredible performance, raising the standard of Cambdrige’s theatre scene. He performs two different characters in the play – an old and bitter Salieri looking back on his life, and switches back with ease to the younger version of the composer who detests the abilities of the great Mozart.

To those unfamiliar with the story, here’s a crash course.

Amadeus tells the story of Salieri and his relationship with Mozart, the musical prodigy.
Salieri is threatened by Mozart’s talent, and schemes to destroy his career in any way possible. In truth, Salieri curses God for bring a genius like Mozart to the world.

And while Amadeus’ run officially came to an end today, expect to hear of bette, and greater plays and musicals from the Cambridge arts community.