The Peterborough Challenger Baseball organization is one of three finalists for a $50,000 prize from the Goeasy Community Project
Peterborough Challenger Baseball is looking for your vote to help it win $50,000 from Goeasy, a lease-to-own and financial services company which has a local franchise in Peterborough.
The Peterborough Challenger Baseball organization provides a formalized opportunity for special needs children and youth to participate in the game of baseball.
They’d use the $50,000 prize to help fund the building of an all-access baseball diamond, with rubberized base paths, and home plate area. The all-access base paths and home plate area would allow participants in the Peterborough Challenger Baseball League the opportunity to safely run, have their wheelchairs operated or pushed, and players using walkers or crutches have the chance to walk on a surface that is supportive and safe to do so.
Peterborough Challenger Baseball provides a formalized opportunity for special needs children and youth to participate in the game of baseball
There were 70 submissions across Canada to Goeasy, and through the process Peterborough Challenger Baseball made it to the final three. The other two finalists are located in Riverview, New Brunswick and in Hamilton, Ontario.
The winner of the contest will be only determined by the number of votes they receive. The contest ends Sunday, July 31st and the winner will be announced on Wednesday, August 3rd.
To cast your vote for Peterborough Challenger Baseball, visit www.goeasy.com/communityproject. No registration or login is needed.
The organization would use the $50,000 prize to help fund the building of an all-access baseball diamond
Goeasy offers lease-to-own home merchandise through its easyhome division and alternative financial services (loans from $500 to $15,000) through its easyfinancial division. The company has over 380 store and branch locations, including in Peterborough and Cobourg.
The Goeasy Community Project, where one community will win up to $50,000 to transform their community, is one of many corporate initiatives the company has undertaken to invest in local communities.
All photos courtesy of Peterborough Challenger Baseball / Goeasy.
Regional health units regularly test the quality of water at beaches in the Kawarthas region during the summer months. (Photo: Peterborough Public Health)
Here the results of water quality testing at beaches in Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County as of July 25, 2016.
As of July 25th, the following beaches have been posted as unsafe for swimming:
Roger’s Cove (131 Maria St., Peterborough)
Coboconk Lions Park Beach (Bexley Township Area)
Omemee Beach (Emily/Omemee Area)
Bond Street (Fenelon Falls Area)
Little Lake (Brighton Area)
Bewdley Beach (Port Hope/Cobourg Area)
Wicklow Beach (Port Hope/Cobourg Area)
In the City of Peterborough, Peterborough Public Health Inspectors sample the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead every business day, and public beaches in the County of Peterborough are sampled at least once a week (except for Chandos Beach, Quarry Bay Beach, and White’s Beach which are sampled at least once in June, July, and August).
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit provides weekly testing results for beaches in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County. Testing is based on the most recent test results from the provincial lab in Peterborough for water samples taken from these beaches.
Peterborough Public Health samples the water quality of popular city beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead every business day during the summer. The health unit will post signage if a beach is unsafe for swimming, such as this sign at Rogers Cove earlier this summer. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
Important note
The following test results may not reflect current water quality conditions. Water samples can take one to three days to process and heavy rainfall, high winds or wave activity, large numbers of waterfowl near a beach, or large numbers of swimmers can rapidly change water quality.
You should always check current conditions before deciding to use a beach. You should also monitor other factors that might suggest a beach is unsafe to use, such as floating debris, oil, discoloured water, bad odours, and excessive weed growth.
Also, unless you are reading this story today (July 25), you should confirm the most current test results by visiting the local health unit websites at Peterborough Public Health and Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. As noted above, the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead are tested every business day so the results listed below may not be current.
Montreal's The Box performs at Peterborough Musicfest at Del Crary Park on Saturday, July 23
First time for fame and riches; second time for sheer joy.
Peterborough Musicfest presents The Box
When: Saturday, July 23, 2016 at 8 p.m. Where: Del Crary Park (100 George St. N., Peterborough) How much: free
Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets (lawn chairs are available to rent for $4/chair). VIP seating available for Sponsors and Fest Friends. No smoking, alcohol, or pets permitted. There’s no public parking at Del Crary Park, but there’s neighborhood street parking nearby and ample parking in downtown Peterborough.
That, in the simplest sense, sums up the journey that brings 1980s new wave/rock band The Box to the Fred Anderson Stage as the milestone 30th anniversary season of Peterborough Musicfest rolls on.
Still fronted by lead singer and guitarist Jean-Marc Pisapia — he formed the band in Montreal in 1981 — The Box has in its arsenal a bevy of hit songs. For those who remember, “Closer Together”, “Ordinary People”, and “Crying Out Loud For Love” come to mind quickly. But come 1992, the ride was seemingly over as the band broke up, citing exhaustion after months of touring.
Fast forward 12 years and Pisapia’s reforming of The Box with new members and the subsequent release of a new album.
“It was just fun to get back on stage again,” noted Pisapia in a 2014 interview with Keith Sharp of www.themusicexpress.ca.
“There was no pressure on the new members. They were playing for the fun rather than the performance, and as a band we are probably better players than we were in the 1980s when we did have all that pressure to achieve certain objectives.
“I have no expectations. I am not trying to achieve any specific goals. I see bands like Chicago, Journey and Foreigner out there playing. I still like performing. I still feel I have something to say, and the band I have now loves to play the hits and have a party with the songs.”
This second coming of The Box will be July 23 in Del Crary Park, much to the delight of those who danced their way through the big hair decade of pop music’s renaissance after the disco era. Pisapia, an early member of Men Without Hats (“The Safety Dance”, “Pop Goes The World”), was in the right place at the right time in terms of his creativity, resulting in the 1984 release of the The Box’s self-titled debut album, and its hit singles “Must I Always Remember” and “Walk Away”.
Lead singer and guitarist Jean-Marc Pisapia originally formed The Box in 1981. The band recorded four charting albums and 10 charting singles between 1984 and 1990, and then broke up in 1992. In 2005, Pisapia founded a new lineup of the band.
The following year brought sophomore album All The Time, All The Time, All The Time — 1989 Juno Award winner Sass Jordan was on backing vocals — and a Juno Award nomination for The Box for Most Promising Group (Idle Eyes won). However, it was Closer Together, released in 1987, that catapulted the band to a whole other level; an ascension aided by the hit singles “Ordinary People”, “Crying Out Loud For Love” and the title track.
“I actually got sick of listening to Closer Together,” said Pisapia to Sharp.
“That song was everywhere. You couldn’t escape it. Turn on the car radio, turn on Much Music, and there it was.”
“Closer Together” – The Box
However, it was “Ordinary People”, which melds the U.S. and Russian national anthems in its instrumental break, which created a publicity-inducing stir.
“That song labeled us a politically oriented band but you have to put yourself in the context of the time,” explained Pisapia.
“The Korean 007 airliner had just been shot down over Siberia, The Berlin Wall had yet to come down, then U.S president Ronald Reagan was calling Russia ‘The Evil Empire’ — things were pretty tense at that time. But all that song was saying was, `Look, we are ordinary people, we don’t care about your politics, we just want to live in peace.'”
The new decade saw The Box release its fourth studio album, The Pleasure And The Pain, but it was met with a sub-par reaction despite success for the single “Carry On”. That, and the band’s exhaustion after a preceding 18-month tour, saw The Box disband.
“It was not a happy time for me,” said Pisapia.
“But instead of spending time on the road, I was able to spend time with my family, helping to raise my two daughters which is something I will never regret.”
During that hiatus, Pisapia also developed a love and talent for painting, which evolved into his being a member of an artist collective in Mont Tremblant.
Pushed by his record label to reform The Box to satisfy requests for live shows, Pisapia did just that in 2004, resulting in the release of new album Black Dog There the following year.
“The difference between performing in the early eighties and performing now is that now all the pressure is off and we can perform just for fun,” said Pisapia. “Creatively, I still have something to say, so I still write new material but there is little incentive to record a new album. The way radio is right now it’s virtually impossible to generate airplay.”
And so live shows remain The Box’s outlet and that suits Pisapia just fine.
“When we reach the hit singles, that’s it, nothing but the hits, and that’s when the party gets started.”
“Ordinary People” – The Box
Peterborough Musicfest is presenting 19 free-admission concerts during its milestone 30th anniversary season, each staged Wednesday and Saturday nights.
Overseen by general manager Tracey Randall and staff, a board of directors, and numerous volunteers, Peterborough Musicfest’s stated mission is to “provide diverse, affordable live music to enrich cultural and economic prosperity in our community.”
For more information on this concert and/or the 2016 season, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca or phone the Peterborough Musicfest office at 705-755-1111.
Millbrook BIA's 12th annual Ladies Night takes place in the newly rejuvenated downtown Millbrook. On August 4th, the downtown will be filled with more than 50 street vendors and most downtown retailers will be offering deals, and there'll be a fashion show, live entertainment, and more. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
If you haven’t visited downtown Millbrook recently, the 12th annual Ladies Night event on Thursday, August 4th is a great opportunity to enjoy a night out with your friends.
Stroll down the recently rejuvenated King Street — resurfaced and featuring new crosswalks, new sidewalks, and upgraded streetlights — while browsing through downtown shops, shopping at more than 50 street vendors, watching a fashion show, listening to live music, and more.
If that’s not enough, here are five more reasons you and your friends should “start the car” and head to downtown Millbrook on Thursday, August 4th from 4 to 9 p.m.
1. Thursday is the perfect night out
Ladies Night is always on a Thursday night … because it’s close enough to Friday so you can get excited about the weekend, but not on Friday when all your family and social commitments begin.
It’s when you can forget the chaos and busyness of everyday life and just enjoy great fashion, great music, great food and — most importantly — great sales! Fashionistas can take in the annual Oasis Boutique Fashion Show to check out some of the latest styles made by Canadian designers.
So take a night for you — before you give your nights to everyone else.
There’ll be a wide selection of shopping in downtown shops as well as more than 50 outside vendors (photo: Millbrook BIA)
2. Save money
This is that little justification you may or may not need to ease the guilt of spending time away from the other commitments you may have in your life.
Millbrook has a fabulous selection of retailers in the downtown core, most of whom will be offering great savings as part of Ladies Night. In addition, organizers have added more outdoor vendors on the street to broaden the shopping selection for the night.
If your “to do” list includes picking up items for the house or for a friend, you’ll probably make a great find at a reasonable price at Ladies Night.
3. Experience human contact
What a concept! In this day and age when we’re so tied to our phones and social media, how long has it been since you had an actual face-to-face conversation with someone?
So ditch your electronics, grab that special someone, and spend a fun evening in downtown Millbrook. Take in a great meal, do some shopping, listen to the music, or just sit and soak up the atmosphere.
Speaking of music, this year tribute artist and musician Terry Chisholm — otherwise known as “The Man with the Voice” — is host of the festivities during Ladies Night. If you’ve never seen Terry before, he’s a remarkably talented performer who pays tribute to a wide range of artists from Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison to the Righteous Brothers and Vince Gill.
“The Man with the Voice”, tribute artist Terry Chisholm, will be performing during Ladies Night (photo: Terry Chisholm)
4. Take time to love yourself
In this day and age when everything is moving so fast, taking time to enjoy ourselves or “pat ourselves on the back” can be seen as shameless self-indulgence. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Oprah Winfrey once said “The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” So the more we love ourselves, the greater our capacity to love others — even more so if we share our experiences with friends and family.
So by “stepping out” with the ladies (whether friends or family) on Thursday, August 4th, you’re actually building your capacity to love!
Historic downtown Millbrook is even more beautiful now that street renovations are complete, including new crosswalks. Staff from Nexicom, the sponsor for Ladies Night, recently paid tribute to The Beatles’ Abbey Road album cover (photo: Nexicom)
5. Make some new memories
There are few things better than making wonderful memories with your friends. Ladies Night in Millbrook gives you the opportunity to laugh until your belly hurts, talk until you lose your voice, dance like no one is watching. and then do it all over again.
So if you’re a woman in need of a little female bonding time (or a man looking to score some points with your lady love), plan to head to Millbrook BIA’s annual Ladies Night Event on Thursday, August 4th in downtown Millbrook and experience the friendliness and unhurried pace of this picturesque community that’s only 15 minutes southwest of Peterborough.
Festivities kick off this year at 4 p.m. and run until about 9 p.m.. Parking is available on any of the side streets, unless otherwise indicated by signage, and at the Millbrook Arena.
Ken Houston, Ryan Hollyman, Paul Braunstein, and John Tench perform a scene from The Bad Luck Bank Robbers at a media day at Winslow Farm in Millbrook. 4th Line Theatre is restaging the popular 2015 production from August 2 to 22, 2016. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
Journeying through Havelock on any given day, it’s difficult to fathom the sleepy village east of Peterborough was the scene of so much excitement close to 55 years ago.
But great excitement there was indeed, as five men robbed the Toronto-Dominion Bank of more than $230,000 in cash and securities before making good their getaway. All were subsequently apprehended and arrested within a few days, and then put on trial, the result being the convictions of four (one of the five men died of a heart-related ailment during the trial).
And the stolen loot? Well, it hasn’t been found, its whereabouts a mystery that has endured and continues to fascinate. What’s not a mystery more than five decades later is 4th Line Theatre’s decision to restage The Bad Luck Bank Robbers this summer at the Winslow Farm near Millbrook.
4th Line Theatre presents The Bad Luck Bank Robbers
When: Performances at 6 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays (August 2 – 6, 9 – 13, 16 – 20, and 23 – 27) with additional performance at 6 p.m. on Monday, August 22, 2016. Where: The Winslow Farm (779 Zion Line, Millbrook) How much: $37.50 adults, $32 youth, $64.50 season subscription (adult), $56 season subscription (youth), $27.50 for preview nights (August 2 and 3)
Inspired by the book The Bad Luck Bank Robbers by Grace Barker. Written by Alex Poch-Goldin. Directed by Kim Blackwell. Starring Paul Braunstein, Ryan Hollyman, Ken Houston, John Tench, John Godfrey, Andrew Pedersen, Josh Butcher, Tom Keat, Kelsey Powell, Justin Luari, Keegan Morton, Monica Dottor, Rob Fortin, Matt Gilbert, Mark Hiscox, Kait Dueck, Maude Rose Craig, Liam Davidson, Andreanne Duplessis, Lorna Green, Stephanie Koomen, Alexis Mantler, Riley Pynn, and Phil Stott. Set and costume design by Julia Tribe. Original composition and musical direction by Justin Hiscox. Fight direction by Edward Belanger.
Tickets available by calling 1-800-814-0055 or 705-932-4445, visiting 4thlinetheatre.on.ca, emailing boxoffice@4thlinetheatre.on.ca, or at Peterborough Museum and Archives (300 Hunter St. E., 705-743-5180).
Premiered to great acclaim and sold-out audiences last summer, the fast-paced comedy, written by Alex Poch-Goldin — he also penned 4th Line’s widely successful The Right Road To Pontypool — and directed by longtime 4th Line Theatre managing artistic director Kim Blackwell, The Bad Luck Bank Robbers all the required elements: the intense robbery as it played out on August 31, 1961; the subsequent comedic angst and bunglings of its perpetrators; the urgency of police as the search for the suspects is undertaken amid an atmosphere of local community paranoia; and the courtroom drama that brought convictions solely on the basis of circumstantial evidence — a first at the time on the Canadian judiciary landscape.
According to Blackwell, remounting the play was as close to a no-brainer as you can get. She points to the “the buzz” last summer’s inaugural run created.
“What we were hearing about (The Bad Luck) Bank Robbers is just how fun people thought it was; how much they loved the bank robbers,” Blackwell says.
“Comedy is so technically challenging. It is, in some ways, a very, very hard play to do. The bank robbery scene is almost 30 minutes long and it’s so technically specific as to where everybody is.”
With The Bad Luck Bank Robbers being staged on the heels of 4th Line’s season-opening drama The Hero of Hunter Street — which recounts the 1916 explosion and fire at the Quaker Oats factory in Peterborough — Blackwell welcomes the opportunity “to do something light,” adding, “They are such a sharp contrast to each other. If you were going to experience a season of theatre at 4th Line, this is a great season to experience.”
John Tench performs as robber Hermyle Lalonde (the role was originally performed by Robert Winslow in the 2015 production) with Paul Braunstein reprising his role as robber Jean Claude Lalonde (photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
Reprising his portrayal of Jean Claude Lalonde (one of the robbers) is stage, film, and television actor Paul Braunstein.
“This is a heck of a story,” enthuses the Dora Award-nominated actor.
“It was not only a local story. It was also a national story. At that time, it was the largest single-day heist in Canadian history and so it was a big deal. Some people who were involved, who were at the bank (during the robbery), came to the show last year. That just really points out the immediacy of the story and how recent it is in a way. It was 1961 but for a lot of living people, they remember it happening.”
“The story we’re telling is true but the details are exaggerated,” Braunstein adds. “I have no idea how much I like that man (Lalonde) because there’s no actual record of the man’s behavior.”
That challenge aside, Braunstein admits to “a real joy” playing his role.
“You can feel a connection to the audience in a different way,” he explains.
“When you’re doing a piece of fiction that stands alone as a piece of art unto itself, it might not have any immediate resonance with the audience other than we’re all human beings and a good story told is a good story told in any form or shape. It’s really exciting to be part of something like this, where you feel there’s a real sense of ownership from the audience. For a lot of people who come, it might be their only theatre experience but they feel really connected to it.”
Noting his affinity for the 4th Line Theatre atmosphere — “I fish in that creek over there … you can’t fish at Tarragon (Theatre in Toronto)” — Braunstein draws particular satisfaction from working with the community actors among the play’s 28-member cast.
“To see people doing it (act) simply because they love it, who work hard and show up and don’t complain and end up being fantastic in the show, is an amazing reminder of why we’re doing this in the first place,” he says.
“This is my career but if you don’t have what they’re bringing to the table, then don’t even bother.”
Monica Dottor portrays three roles in the play, including a bank teller, a ditzy waitress, and a prostitute (photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
Monica Dottor, who played dual lead roles in The Hero of Hunter Street and portrays a lovably ditzy café waitress in this play, is on same page as Braunstein, noting the chance to work with community actors “captures the magic that I felt when I was a young girl doing community theatre.”
As for the play itself, she agrees that restaging it is a smart move.
“There are still so many people who haven’t seen it and people who want to see it again,” she assesses.
“We knew it was a great, funny script that Alex had written. He really believed in it and we really believed in the possibilities of it. Kim (Blackwell) was so wonderful. She brought it all together. We had a great time doing it.”
It doesn’t hurt matters that Dottor’s husband, Ryan Hollyman, also stars in the production (he also starred as the narrator in The Hero of Hunter Street) and they’re enjoying the company of their son Arlo during their Millbrook stay. It is, as she puts it, “a family affair.”
One big change from last year’s staging is that 4th Line Theatre founder and creative director Robert Winslow isn’t involved. Last summer saw him portray one of the bank robbers. This summer, with professional actor John Tench in the fold, sees him taking very rare time off from acting to work full-time on new script development and other behind-the-scene projects. Winslow says watching another portray the role he knows so well isn’t as difficult as one might think.
“It’s difficult in your imagination — ‘Oh, how am I going to feel when I watch someone else playing the part’ — but when I stood there and watched rehearsal, I was fine with it,” Winslow says.
“There’s a different take on the character. He’ll do it his way, which has nothing to do with what I did. It’s instructive. But I don’t hang around and watch (rehearsals) too much. I don’t get in there and give my two cents on anything. One day I’ll write a play called Phantom of 4th Line and lurk in the barns and stuff.”
In 1961, five men robbed the Toronto-Dominion Bank in Havelock of more than $230,000 in cash and securities. The robbers were captured after four days, but the loot has never been recovered. (photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
As for the play’s 2015 success, Winslow isn’t surprised.
“It’s local history but if you have two sides of the scale, local history on one side and comedy on the other side, I think this would tip up to the comedy .. whereas (The Hero of) Hunter Street was so much about the local story, the community history.”
“(The Bad Luck) Bank Robbers is more like what you might expect to come to see in a typical summer theatre setting, where you just want to laugh. There’s a kind of comic satiric take that Alex has in his writing that is very funny. Those are the parts that carry people through their enjoyment of the play.”
With both Braunstein and Dottor noting that 4th Line Theatre is gaining a solid reputation with actors based in Toronto and elsewhere, Winslow remains protective of maintaining what he envisioned 25 years ago and has nurtured ever since.
“I’ve got nothing against big-time actors and talent and skill, but if that turned into completely eliminating what this place is in terms of its community connection and the commitment to local stories, that would be a problem,” he says.
“Stories are our myths. That’s how we define ourselves. Our work is not so much just promoting those myths but criticizing them; under those myths that society uses to develop itself and survive.”
“4th Line has this great opportunity to tell the history and to really look at it critically” – Robert Winslow, 4th Line Theatre founder and creative director (photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
“4th Line has this great opportunity to tell the history and to really look at it critically,” Winslow continues. “If that’s gone, we would lose. I would probably be upset. If you’re just recreating history for the sake of pure entertainment or ‘Rah, rah, weren’t we a great bunch of people?’, well, it’s more complex; what happened versus what was said to have happened.”
“That’s a lot to try to accomplish for a theatre company whereas most (companies) are ‘let’s just get bums in seats, let’s just entertain the folks’. We’re more than that. That’s why we have the attendance, I think.”
Featuring original music composed by musical director Justin Hiscox, The Bad Luck Bank Robbers opens on August 2 and continues to August 27. Curtain is 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with an added Monday performance on August 22.
Tickets can be purchased by phone at 705-932-4445, online at www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca or in person at the box office, 4 Tupper St. in Millbrook or at the Peterborough Museum and Archives atop Armour Hill in Peterborough.
Dolce Vita Resto in downtown Peterborough now has live jazz on Thursday nights; reservations are recommended (graphic: Dolce Vita Resto / Facebook)
Every Thursday, we publish live music and performance events at pubs and clubs in Peterborough and The Kawarthas based on information that venues provide to us directly or post on their website or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, July 21 to Wednesday, July 27.
If you’re a pub or club owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, please email our Nightlife Editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com.
Low water levels in Jackson Creek in downtown Peterborough in 2016. (Photo: Karen Halley / GreenUP)
Water conservation is on our minds given the local drought we’ve been experiencing. The Otonabee Region Conservation Authority (ORCA) has reported that in 2016, every month except March, has experienced below normal precipitation.
Last week, ORCA declared a Level 2 low water condition for our watershed region. As a result, residents of Peterborough City and County are being encouraged to reduce their water use by 20%.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Amy Bowen, GreenUP Communications Intern.
To better understand how this suggested reduction target will impact our daily routines, we wanted to discuss what a decrease by 20% looks like in practice.
Within the City of Peterborough, the average daily water use is approximately 250 litres per person!
Reducing that amount by 20% means reducing your daily water use by roughly 50 litres.
To put this in perspective, 250 litres is equal to about 1.5 full bathtubs of water. Implementing a 20% water conservation effort would see a reduction of about .25 of a full bathtub.
If reducing water usage by 20% seems like a daunting task, below are some simple changes you can make to easily meet this goal.
Environment Canada reports that approximately 55% of Canadian household water use occurs during bathroom activities. Showers and baths account for 35% of this usage. Ensuring your shower head is low-flow will help you cut down on water use: a regular shower head uses about 20 litres per minute, while a low-flow uses about 10 litres per minute. So, if you switch to a low flow showerhead, in five minutes you will already have reached the goal of reducing water use by 20%!
Reducing the amount of time you spend in the shower and filling bathtubs to a lower amount is also suggested. Leanne Bing, who works in water conservation at Peterborough Utilities, explains that you can save up to 1000 litres per month of water if you switch to taking a five-minute shower.
Leanne also notes that the water from showers and baths can be reused. “You can use a bucket in the shower to catch water while you’re adjusting the temperature, or use your old bath water to water plants,” she suggests.
Flushing the toilet accounts for 20% of household water use. Switching to a low-flow toilet is a great investment, and will use approximately 6 litres of water per flush compared with older models, which can use up to 13 litres per flush.
If you have not replaced your toilet with a low-flow version, you can reduce the amount of water per flush by using a product called a Toilet Tummy, also known as a Toilet Tank Bank, or by making a version of this product with a plastic bottle filled with water. They hang inside the back of the toilet and save the water you displace each time you flush the toilet. The amount of water you save with these items depends on your toilet capacity. Testimonials of the product indicate that you can save about 3 litres per flush when using this inexpensive, innovative device.
Laundry is another household activity that comprises 20% of Canadian household water use. Water can be saved by only washing clothes when they are dirty, ensuring you are running full loads, and skipping the extra rinse.
Activities that require us to turn the tap on and off — doing dishes, brushing our teeth — also use a lot of water if we leave the tap running when the water is not being used.
The water level indicator at the stream monitoring station site in Jackson Creek in downtown Peterborough. With a Level 2 low water condition, residents are asked to voluntarily reduce their non-essential water use by 20% (photo: Karen Halley, GreenUp)
These are water conservation tips that can be incorporated into your household routines year-round. In the summer months water usage can increase by 50%, making now a crucial time to implement these practices.
Outdoor water usage is largely responsible for this seasonal increase, and the city has specified a watering schedule to aid in water conservation.
During June, July, and August, if your numerical street address is even, you may water only on even numbered days between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. If your street address is an odd number, you may water on odd numbered days during the same time period.
An even more water-conscious initiative would be to water your gardens using water stores from rain barrels, and to create a water-wise landscape so that the ground retains more moisture.
“Leaving lawn clippings on the grass will help cool the ground and hold moisture,” Leanne says. “Mowing your lawn less and adjusting the height of the grass to 1.5 to 2 inches will also help because taller grass holds more moisture. Watering spots on your lawn by hand instead of using a sprinkler will cut down on water waste by targeting the areas that need it most.”
Low Water Conditions across The Kawarthas
Lower Trent Conservation, whose watershed includes Roseneath, Grafton, Colborne, Campbellford, and Trent, has also declared a Level 2 low water condition and has asked residents to voluntarily reduce their water consumption by 20%.
Kawartha Conservation, whose watershed includes City of Kawartha Lakes, Scugog, Brock, Municipality of Trent Lakes, Cavan Monaghan, and Clarington, has declared a Level 1 low water condition and has asked residents to voluntarily reduce their water consumption by 10%.
A new program established this year aims to recognize members of the community that have taken steps to build a water-wise lawn.
The Water Wise Neighbour: Landscape Recognition Program, initiated by GreenUP and Peterborough Utilities Group, offers the opportunity to nominate a lawn that you believe meets the criteria for being water-wise.
To nominate or to review the criteria for a water-wise lawn, visit GreenUP’s website at www.greenup.on.ca or email Heather Ray, GreenUP’s Water Programs Coordinator, at heather.ray@greenup.on.ca.
These reduction techniques will lessen the strain on our environment during dry times, and also save on our household costs.
Water conservation efforts will be reflected in your water bill. Leaks are a significant, and unnecessary, source of water waste. If you notice spikes on your water bill, and have not been using any more water than you normally do, this could be an indication of a water leak within your household appliances.
Implementing water-wise tactics during this crucial time will help to build these practices into our daily routine, and will establish long-term water-conscious practices that will benefit our environment and aid in our household savings.
Michael Skinner with wife Catia (CEO at Kawartha Entertainment Group) and their son William
The Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster has announced its President & CEO position will be filled by current Interim President and CEO Michael Skinner.
“We are pleased to have Michael assume the role of CEO for our organization,” says Innovation Cluster Board Chair John Desbiens. “His past experience building successful companies will be an asset as the Innovation Cluster continues with its exciting growth and development.”
Desbiens announced Skinner’s appointment following an interview process where applications were received from interested and qualified professionals across the country. A selection committee consisting of Innovation Cluster Board Members and other community stakeholders reviewed the applications and chose Skinner as the successful candidate.
Skinner is known for his years of business development and operational experience both locally and internationally. In 2001, Skinner founded Opritel Corporation, a learning software development company that he expanded worldwide. In 2008, Profit Magazine recognized Opritel as one of Canada’s fastest growing companies (OpenText Corporation acquired Operitel in 2011).
Skinner also owns Kawartha Entertainment Group Inc. (KEGI) and MAS Capital Investments. KEGI includes event space The Venue and Italian restaurant Dolcé Vita, both located in downtown Peterborough. MAS Capital is a property management company with commercial and residential real estate holdings in Peterborough.
He also ran as the federal Conservative candidate for the Peterborough-Kawartha riding in the 2015 election.
“I am honored to serve as the Innovation Cluster’s CEO and look forward to continuing to help grow our innovative clients and ensuring that they become successful employers here in Peterborough,” Skinner says. “I am very excited about the future of the Innovation Cluster and being able to continue to work with the amazing GPIC staff.”
Jill Cummings, Senior Mammography Technologist at PRHC's Breast Assessment Centre, demonstrates how a mammography machine works to writer Jeanne Pengelly. PRHC Foundation is seeking community donations to purchase three new state-of-the-art mammography machines for the centre, one over each of the next three years. (Photo: Linda McIlwain / kawarthaNOW)
It’s a topic often avoided, but one in nine Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Tragically, one in 30 women will die from it.
Studies also show that early detection is critical and regular mammograms can reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer. That’s why the Breast Assessment Centre at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) is so important. The centre performs 8,000 mammograms each year using its three mammography machines.
“Many people don’t realize that the government does not typically fund hospital equipment or technology,” says Lesley Heighway, President and CEO of Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation. “That’s why the most generous communities have the best hospitals.”
Community donations furnished PRHC’s Breast Assessment Centre with state-of-the art equipment back in 2008 when the new hospital opened. Since then, the centre’s technologists have conducted 64,000 mammograms for residents of Peterborough and surrounding communities, saving lives in the process.
PRHC’s Breast Assessment Centre performs 8,000 mammograms per year (6,000 breast screenings and 2,000 follow-up procedures) on the centre’s three full-field digital mammography units. The new 3D-capable mammography machines would minimize the number of false positives, reducing the number of call backs and lowering stress and anxiety for both patients and their families. (Photo: Linda McIlwain / kawarthaNOW)
But the equipment at the centre is now eight years old, and the time has come to replace it. Like any technology, says Heighway, medical equipment suffers from wear and tear and eventually needs to be replaced. An additional benefit of replacing medical equipment is that it often provides the opportunity to take advantage of the latest technological advances.
For the Breast Assessment Centre, that means buying three new mammography machines — one over each of the next three years — that have the capability to do three-dimensional imaging, a technology called “tomosynthesis.”
“Tomosynthesis provides clearer images so that doctors can catch anomalies in the breast sooner,” Heighway explains, adding that one of the biggest benefits of tomosynthesis is the reassurance it offers patients.
Dr. Rola Sheenan, Chief of Radiology and Medical Director of Diagnostic Imaging at PRHC’s Breast Assessment Centre, reviews screening results. The new mammography machines will have the capability to do three-dimensional imaging, a technology called “tomosynthesis.” For more information, watch the video at the end of this story.
With traditional mammograms, patients are often called back because of a shadow on an image that might or might not be cancer. Tomosynthesis helps minimize false positives and reduce the number of call backs, lowering stress and anxiety for both patients and their families.
“This can ensure you have a quicker answer: either I have cancer and my life is going to change, or I don’t and my life is back to normal,” Heighway says. “Those are huge swings of emotion and thought, and impact on family.”
The projected cost of three new mammography machines is almost $1.9 million. Heighway says the 2015 and 2016 Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festivals were a great start to the campaign, raising more than $337,000 toward the priority so far, which combined with other community donations, brings the total secured to date to $533,866. But she adds there’s still a long way to go.
“We can only do this with the support of the community.” – Lesley Heighway, President and CEO of Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation (photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
“We can only do this with the support of the community,” she says. “Our community transformed the Breast Assessment Centre. We wouldn’t have the technology available that we have today if the community hadn’t stepped up. It funded the mammography machines, much of the ultrasound technology, and even lab equipment used in breast cancer diagnosis.”
Heighway adds that the effort made by the community to build a state-of-the-art facility has extended beyond screening to include breast cancer care as well.
“Through its generous support, the community has helped PRHC offer cancer care services across the spectrum, supporting laboratory, surgical and palliative care investments, and bringing life-saving radiation treatment to our community for the first time,” she says.
Thanking donors for their support, PRHC Foundation President & CEO Lesley Heighway (middle) with staff of PRHC’s Breast Assessment Centre: Senior Ultrasound Technologist Katelyn Martino, Breast Health Navigator Lindsey Justynski, Senior Mammography Technologist Jill Cummings, and Clerk Angela Henderson (photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
While donor investment has already enabled a standard of care at the Breast Assessment Centre on par with the top hospitals across this country, investing in the three new mammography units will ensure this standard of care remains available in the future.
“Breast cancer screening saves lives,” she adds. “This is the next investment our community is being asked to make to keep cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment close to home, particularly for women.”
You can help ensure the Breast Assessment Centre maintains its high standard of care, and continues to save the lives of men and women from across our region, by making a donation to the PRHC Foundation.
Cobourg's Gentleman Husbands perform at Peterborough Musicfest at Del Crary Park at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 20
Since time immortal, high school bands have numbered a dime a dozen, delivering their raw sound to the masses in return for fleeting adolescent fame.
Rarer is a group of high school pals who stick it out, taking things to the next level well after receiving their diplomas.
Peterborough Musicfest presents Gentlemen Husbands with opener Union City
When: Wednesday, July 20, 2016 at 8 p.m. Where: Del Crary Park (100 George St. N., Peterborough) How much: free
Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets (lawn chairs are available to rent for $4/chair). VIP seating available for Sponsors and Fest Friends. No smoking, alcohol, or pets permitted. There’s no public parking at Del Crary Park, but there’s neighborhood street parking nearby and ample parking in downtown Peterborough.
Cobourg’s Ryan Hutcheson, Jed Atkinson, and Dan Farrell did the high school band thing. Working independently on lyrics set to music, Derrick Ballard was in the wings, eventually hooking up with the trio to form Gentlemen Husbands. That has since proven to be a most fortuitous union for the indie rock quartet, which headlines Peterborough Musicfest in Del Crary Park on Wednesday, July 20 at 8 p.m..
With Peterborough’s own Union City opening, the show marks the second consecutive double bill served up by the free summer concert series.
It was in 2008 that Gentlemen Husbands released its debut EP Something Along The Lines Of …, receiving rave reviews from music industry insiders in the process. Mixed and master in Los Angeles, the four-song EP brought club date invitations by the guitar case-full and more than validated the coming together which preceded it.
“We all listen to a ton of different music and aren’t afraid of blending genres or experimenting with those influences,” says Atkinson, the band’s bassist.
“At the end of the day, were just trying to write songs we would want to hear. Our mentality is that the song is the nucleus for everything and the only thing that really matters, so our job is to not get in the way of the songs and let them be what they want to be.”
That approach has clearly resulted in songs that others want to hear as well. Armed with close to 100 songs, Gentlemen Husbands hooked up with producer Gavin Brown, whose success with The Tragically Hip, Metric, and Billy Talent remains well documented. The result was the EP House of Cards, and the birth of signature tunes such as Wandering Eye and Do It In The Dark,
“I have a problem with the idea that a band can’t be liked by too many people or that anybody isn’t cool enough to listen them,” notes Ballard, the band’s lead vocalist.
Gentlemen Husbands has certainly practiced what Ballard preaches, having toured nationwide with Matthew Good as well as shared stages with the likes of The Tragically Hip, Ron Sexsmith, Arkells, and Matt Mays. The band is also remains a popular fixture on the festival circuit.
“You definitely haven’t wasted your Friday night with them,” raves Chart Attack out of Toronto. One can safely apply that assessment to a Wednesday night in The Patch.
Peterborough’s own Union City opens the show on Wednesday, July 20 at Del Crary Park
Meanwhile, in bringing Union City to the Fred Anderson Stage, Musicfest is continuing its effort to bring homegrown acts to the mix.
Buoyed by the success of 2010 single “These Days” — it cracked the Top 100 on the American college radio charts — Matt Crowley (guitar/vocals), J. Kent Randall (keyboards/vocals), Ben Anderson (bass),and Mark Chamberlain (drums) inked a licensing deal with a number of American television networks.
The deal resulted in their music providing the backdrop for programs such as Keeping Up With The Kardashians and The Bad Girls Club.
In 2013, the band released a full-length CD, A Drop In The Ocean, online at unioncity.bandcamp.com, and is currently writing more material for an upcoming release.
“Shelter Valley” – Gentlemen Husbands
“Wandering Eye” – Gentlemen Husbands
“Love Lies Down” – Union City
Peterborough Musicfest is presenting 19 free-admission concerts during its milestone 30th anniversary season, each staged Wednesday and Saturday nights.
Overseen by general manager Tracey Randall and staff, a board of directors, and numerous volunteers, Peterborough Musicfest’s stated mission is to “provide diverse, affordable live music to enrich cultural and economic prosperity in our community.”
For more information on this concert and/or the 2016 season, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca or phone the Peterborough Musicfest office at 705-755-1111.
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