The 24th annual In From The Cold benefit concert has raised almost $23,174.05 — its highest amount ever — for YES Shelter for Youth and Families.

The two in-person concerts were held over two nights on December 8 and 9 at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough, with the second night also livestreamed.

This year’s total breaks last year’s record of $19,963.43 and brings the 24-year total raised or YES Shelter for Youth and Families to over $190,000. Along with proceeds raised from ticket sales and individual donations, local businesses and organizations contributed the highest amount in monetary donations ever for this year’s concert.

“The dramatic increase in funds raised over the past two years is primarily due to the generosity of our ever-growing number of community sponsors who, this year, contributed a record $16,000 in cash along with a variety of valuable in-kind sponsorships,” wrote John Hoffman on Facebook.

Hoffman, who first organized In From The Cold in 2000 with fellow musicians Susan Newman, Rob Fortin, and Curtis Driedger, also recognized the efforts of Brooke Erickson, fundraising and communications manager for YES, for the record fundraising totals in the past two years.

“Brooke’s diligent and effective work has more than doubled both the number of sponsors and the dollar amount of their contributions since 2021,” Hoffman wrote.

Advocate-level sponsors for this year’s In From The Cold concert were kawarthaNOW, McInroy and Associates, and Wild Rock Outfitters, with patron-level sponsors Finley Custom Stair & Rail, Herod Financial Services, Jo Pillon, Realtor, LLF Lawyers, Manitoulin Transport, PartTime CFO Services, and Artspace.

Supporter-level sponsors were Ashburnham Ale House, Ashburnham Funeral Home and Reception Centre, Black Honey Bakery and Cafe, Camp Ponacka, Charlotte Paint and Wallpaper, Dayle and Reid Finlay, Kawartha Credit Union, Long and McQuade, McDougall Insurance, Rolling Grape, Sandbagger, Sam’s Place, Sparq, Teachers for Kids, The EL (P), and The Living Vine.

This year’s concert once again saw Hoffman, Newman, and Fortin performing as Carried Away, along with with multi-instrumentalist Michael Ketemer and Celtic harpist Tanah Haney, as well as the 30-voice Convivio Chorus led by Newman and Driedger with his youth performers The Claveer Cousins.

Highlights from this year’s concert included the Convivio Chorus performing eight songs, four of which were the New Hebrides hymn “The Christ Child’s Lullaby,” “Star Of Wonder” written by Terre Roche of The Roches, the Peter, Paul and Mary standard “A Soalin’,” and the Swedish carol “Jul Jul Stralanded Jul.”

In addition, the Driedger-led Claveers sang “Christmas Maybe” and Hoffman, joined by Haney, performed an instrumental medley of two Swedish songs traditionally sung to mark St. Lucia’s Day on December 13th.

If you missed this year’s In From The Cold concert, you can listen to Trent Radio’s broadcast of the recorded concert throughout Christmas Day on 92.7 FM and at www.trentradio.ca/stream.htm.

kawarthaNOW is proud to be a long-time sponsor of In From The Cold.

A recent endeavour to clean up Jackson Park has left an impression beyond a tidier green space on Parkhill Road West in Peterborough.

On November 25, members of the environmental action group Friends of Jackson Park (FoJP) and volunteers collected 45 large plastic bags of refuse, 11 propane tanks, a roll of rusty fencing, and other junk in their quest to tidy up the park.

Much of the trash was generated by encampments in Jackson Park. In a recent email newsletter to supporters, FoJP noted encampments and other activities are creating mounds of litter and hazards in the park.

“Unfortunately, there are other messy sites, and encampments are likely to continue to occur,” reads the newsletter. “We need to keep working on solutions so that the valley and people can be healthy, safe, and in a good home.”

While the renewed space is a reward of the crew’s efforts, something else also came to light on clean-up day.

“There are many people who care for the park’s environment and who want to support it as a safe sanctuary for residents and visitors to explore and enjoy nature,” a representative from FoJP told kawarthaNOW.

VIDEO: Refuse in Jackson Park

During the November 25th clean-up, a group of 10 people collected the trash and a crew from the City of Peterborough hauled it away. An earlier FoJP clean-up had filled 20 bags of garbage from the park.

“Kudos to all the FoJP folks and volunteers for this great work,” reads the newsletter. “We hope the site can now heal.”

When asked what’s next, the FoJP representative told kawarthaNOW the group continues “to renew and refocus its efforts on launching a ‘New Day’ for Jackson Park and greenspace protection in Peterborough, which we kicked off with an event in Jackson Park this past July.”

“Over the winter and into next spring, FoJP wants to continue broadening engagement and connections with the community and everyone who cares about protecting Jackson Park’s natural features and recreational spaces,” the representative said.

“We hope for continued engagement with the community to include things like announcing our new mission and vision statements, creating user-friendly mapping of Jackson Park, researching and drafting ideas for proper stewardship planning, and planning activities in the park like more litter pick-ups.”

FoJP welcomes new volunteers who are willing to lead those or other activities. Reach out via e-mail to friendsofjacksonpark@gmail.com for more information about volunteering and to sign up for a newsletter to stay informed about the latest activities.

FoJP was founded in 2011 by Peterborough resident Rob Steinman to protect Jackson Park from a plan by the City of Peterborough to extend the Parkway through the park. Beginning in 2013, in partnership with Karen Hjort-Jensen and Peter Hewitt, Steinman led community efforts to stop the proposed extension.

The Parkway extension would have seen a road and four-lane bridge constructed through the heart of the park. During the decade of opposition and environmental action led by FoJP, the Ontario Minister of Environment and Climate Change ordered the city in 2016 to complete a full environmental assessment, with city council eventually voting to remove the Parkway from the city’s official plan and to give Jackson Park heritage designation in 2021, and to remove the Parkway from the transportation master plan in 2022.

In November, the Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha named Steinman as a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of his environmental advocacy work through the local action group.

“It’s a great story to tell children because it teaches them that everyone’s different and there shouldn’t be any set idea of normal.”

That’s how children’s author Scott Kalbfleisch describes his debut book, The Story of A Goat, which has gained nothing but positive reviews since its Amazon release back in October.

Readers will have the chance to connect with Kalbfleisch, ask questions, and buy signed copies of the children’s book on Wednesday, January 10th at the Peterborough GreenUP Store (378 Aylmer Street North). The book launch will be a drop-in event running from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Written for children aged one to eight years old and illustrated by Peterborough graphic designer Sarah Crane of Frolic Design, The Story of A Goat follows Wishwash the Goat as he gets teased by the other goats for his over-sized horns. Despite feeling left out, Wishwash must learn to embrace and celebrate the things that make him different from his peers.

“He has to figure out what he can do with those horns, and then he ends up using them to show how great he is,” says Kalbfleisch. “The Story of the Goat teaches kids that everyone’s unique in their own way, and everyone has a talent — it’s just up to them to find it.”

Since the age of six, Kalbfleisch has dealt with the challenges of being different himself, living with a neurological disease related to Rasmussen’s Encephalitis. Navigating the world with a disability that set him apart from his peers encouraged Kalbfleisch to share the story of what can be achieved despite one’s limitations.

“It symbolizes that you shouldn’t feel like you have to live up to someone’s opinions,” says Kalbfleisch. “You should be proud to be who you are.”

Though the book was released at the end of October, the 35-year-old author actually wrote the story for a school assignment back in the eleventh grade. The assignment was to write about an antelope based on a picture, but instead, Kalbfleisch thought of it as a unique goat-and so, Wishwash was born.

“My teacher said it was such a good story and sent such a good positive message that I should probably get made into a book one day,” says Kalbfleisch, who adds that he had been a writer long before telling Wishwash’s story. “I’ve always loved creative writing in school and loved writing stories, so this was just one of the stories that I kept.”

Despite wanting to revisit the story, Kalbfleisch got busy with work and didn’t have the chance to bring it back until now that he is on long-term disability. The publication saw immediate success with Kalbfleisch selling more than 70 copies within the first month of its release.

In addition to the positive messaging, Kalbfleisch often gets a lot of feedback from readers who “love” the goat’s name, which is one of his own favourite parts of the story. While the other characters have alliterative names like Chee Chee the Chipmunk and Hammy the Hog, Kalbfleisch was more intentional in selecting his protagonist’s name.

“I’m part Indigenous and my grandfather used to call me ‘waagosh’, which means fox in my native language,” says Kalbfleisch, adding that he found out his mother — who is adopted — is of Chippewa descent.

With the book’s rapid success, Kalbfleisch already has been big plans for The Story of A Goat.

“I’d really like to get The Story of A Goat made into a short animated film or series,” he says.

Though he says he never imagined himself becoming a published writer, Kalbfleisch also plans to revisit some of the other stories he has written throughout his life.

“I have written about five more that I could possibly get illustrated and published coming up,” he says.

As he focuses on more storytelling, Kalbfleisch remains grateful for the encouragement he has received from his housemates at Shared Dreams for Independent Living, where he lives with other men who have physical and developmental challenges at The Mount Community Centre.

“They’ve been very supportive,” he says. “They all have their boundaries they have to overcome as well, with learning disabilities or in a wheelchair, and that’s why I dedicated this book to Shared Dreams and all the men.”

Kalbfleisch will be signing copies of The Story of A Goat at the Peterborough GreenUP Store on Wednesday, January 10th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can also purchase the book on Amazon.

Adding a 12-hour paramedic crew and ambulance, sustaining homelessness and housing supports, and completing 134 kilometres of road work are three expenditures in Northumberland County’s recently approved budget.

On Wednesday (December 14), Northumberland County council passed its first-ever multi-year budget, spanning 2024 through 2026. Aligned with Northumberland’s 2023-2027 community strategic plan, the county said the budget prioritizes investments in services, housing, and infrastructure that enables growth.

“This will enable us to align short-term decisions with long-term strategies,” said Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander in a news release. “In so doing, we are ensuring stronger financial management that will better enable the county to anticipate needs, allocate resources efficiently, and prevent unexpected shortfalls.”

The county’s budget process begins in June of each year, when council establishes a target levy increase around which staff are directed to build the following year’s budget. The target for the years 2024 through 2026 was set at four per cent.

Staff began presenting budget overviews for each department at committee meetings starting in September. Consolidation of department budgets into an overarching budget for the organization took place in the fall, during which time staff began refining the budget to align with the target levy increase directed by council.

Council received the final draft budget in late November, followed by a full-day meeting for review and deliberation earlier this month.

During its Wednesday meeting, council approved a base levy increase, after growth, of 4.57 per cent for 2024, which sustains current levels of service and reinforces essential programs, amid inflationary pressures, the county said in a news release.

The following percentages are the estimated impacts on taxes, after growth, for 2024 through 2026 that encompass both the base levy increase and dedicated infrastructure levies: 6.57 per cent for 2024, 8.64 per cent for 2025, and 8.86 per cent for 2026.

For 2024, the owner of a median-assessed home in Northumberland can anticipate paying $1,463.28, based on an estimated $91.45 increase on the county portion of their property taxes. This is subject to adjustments in 2024 based on tax policy and information from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.

Highlights of the budget include:

• Sustained funding for homelessness supports and emergency shelter services
• The addition of a 12-hour paramedic crew and ambulance in response to escalating demand for paramedic emergency response services, along with development of a new Brighton emergency services base in partnership with the lower-tier municipality
• Continued efforts to integrate the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system for subsidized child care into the local system, and to expand availability of child-care spaces
• Extension of the pilot regional transit program
• Advancement of the public-private partnership to deliver high-speed internet to all communities and businesses
• Continuation of infrastructure projects including the Golden Plough Lodge and Northumberland County Archives and Museum and affordable housing developments in Cobourg
• Completion of 134 kilometres of road resurfacing and paving in the county and work on several major bridge projects
• Work with stakeholders throughout 2024 to finalize a greenhouse gas reduction plan, and begin work on a climate adaptation and resiliency plan.

During the final budget discussions, deputy warden Olena Hankivsky (who is also Municipality of Port Hope mayor) proposed an initiative involving a public-private partnership to support people who have mental health challenges and addiction issues.

“The bottom line is, if you are suffering from a complex combination of mental health and substance use there is no accessible, low-barrier residential day program for you to work on that in a structured and focused way, and have an opportunity for improvement and for recovery,” Hankivsky said during the meeting.

As a result, council approved an investment of $241,000 for a six-month pilot addiction treatment program, which includes beds for people needing support.

Ostrander said the overall budget and final direction “was shaped by feedback from the community, received through extensive public engagement efforts throughout this past year.”

“We believe we have arrived at a long-term budget that addresses community needs while ensuring each dollar is invested responsibly and wisely.”

With the three-year budget now in place, the county said there will be annual reviews to make changes as necessary.

Ontario’s police watchdog is investigating after police shot a 48-year-old Tweed man in a remote hunting cabin in Mamora and Lake on Thursday afternoon (December 14).

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is a civilian law enforcement agency, independent of the police, that conducts criminal investigations into circumstances involving police and civilians that have resulted in serious injury, death, or allegations of sexual assault.

At around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Central Hastings Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers were called to the cabin off Twin Sister Lakes Road, around 20 kilometres north of Mamora, for a report of a man making threats. When officers arrived, the man barricaded himself inside the cabin. OPP tactical officers, the canine unit, and crisis negotiators were sent to the scene.

After an interaction between police and the man, an officer shot a less-lethal firearm — a class of weapon that includes conducted energy weapons and guns that fire rubber and plastic bullets. The man then shot at police, and an officer responded by shooting the man with a firearm.

The man was arrested and taken to Kingston hospital via ambulance with a non-life-threatening injury. Jason Bedore, a 48-year-old man from Tweed, faces multiple charges including attempted murder.

The SIU has assigned three investigators and three forensic investigators to the case. Anyone who may have information about this investigation, including video or photos, should contact the SIU at 1-800-787-8529 or online at siu.on.ca.

A best-of-both-worlds solution to the longstanding and debilitating space crunch at the Peterborough Police Service’s downtown headquarters was revealed on Friday afternoon (December 15).

The City of Peterborough will purchase the 13.3-acre property at 1421 Lansdowne Street West that was home to the former Johnson & Johnson medical products facility, clearing the way for a portion of the 106,000-square-foot building to be home to police administrative offices.

Meanwhile, the existing facility at 500 Water Street (at McDonnel Street) will house police operations including investigations, maintaining a police presence in the downtown core.

The city is buying the property from Calvary Pentecostal Church for $15 million, with the transaction expected to close in February 2024.

As part of the sale agreement, the church will use a portion of the building for up to five years.

According to a city media release, renovations to the building are expected to take place “over the next few years,” with estimates of renovation costs subject to city council budget approvals.

“With the City of Peterborough purchase of this property, the Peterborough Police Service will have two locations,” said Chief Stuart Betts, adding “This is important as the city is growing and will continue to grow.”

“It is also the most fiscally responsible solution and is intended to meet the needs of the police service for decades. It’s expected that the costs of the renovations will be significantly less than the cost of a new-build facility. Securing this property and being respectful of financial constraints was important to me and the police services board.”

Mayor Jeff Leal echoed that sentiment, noting the cost to construct of a new facility from scratch was estimated at $68 million in 2017.

“The property and construction costs would be much higher today,” said Mayor Leal. “With the former Johnson & Johnson property acquisition, we’re able to maintain the downtown police station on Water Street for police operations, add a second police facility for administrative and support services, and have additional land and building space for other municipal needs.”

“Even with the future renovation costs, this is the most financially responsible path, addressing a critical need,” Mayor Leal added.

As part of a police facility review process, the joint police-City committee engaged a consultant Shoalts and Zaback to identify downtown locations that could accommodate a single, purpose-built police facility.

However, the release notes “none of the identified sites were available.” In addition, “the cost to acquire them and demolish existing infrastructures to build a new facility was unacceptable.”

As first reported by kawarthaNOW in early October, former Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) executive director Terry Guiel called out the city and police service for a lack of transparency, urging that the consultants’ report being made public — something that is yet to happen.

Crediting sources close to the facility review committee, Guiel said the site chosen for a new facility was the Johnson and Johnson property, while also claiming the downtown police station would close as a result.

That drew a strong rebuke from Chief Betts who, in an email to kawarthaNOW, wrote that “a new facilities model is being explored and, at the heart of that new model, is maintaining our operational presence downtown.”

As things have turned out, both Guiel and Chief Betts have been proven correct: police will have a new facility at the former Johnson & Johnson property, but they will also continue to operate out of their current location.

“I strongly believe the presence of a police facility in the downtown area is a must,” Chief Betts said on Friday. “There is no intention to leave the 500 Water Street location. The current location at 500 Water Street will continue to be the base of operations and investigations.”

Meanwhile, Calvary Pentecostal Church pastor Michelle Mercer says the church’s use of part of the building for up to five years after the purchase is finalized buys time to plan for its next steps.

“We look forward to bright days ahead for Calvary (Pentecostal) Church and those overseeing the development of the city we are called to serve,” said Pastor Mercer, adding negotiation with the city and the police service has been “a very positive experience.”

From raising awareness about the declining population of monarch butterflies to conserving and enhancing the local watershed, environmental innovation is alive in Peterborough.

These are but two examples of local environmental innovations that were recognized and supported last year by the Rotary Environmental Innovators Fund (REIF).

With a goal to keep building momentum towards a “green revolution,” the initiative’s partners — the Rotary Club of Peterborough, the Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha, and Cleantech Commons at Trent University — have announced 2024 funding applications for REIF are officially open, offering financial support for the region’s environmental innovators.

REIF encourages people to get involved in local environmental endeavours and projects. In its inaugural year, three environmental innovators (Carlotta James of Monarch Ultra, Craig Onafrychuk of Baxter Creek Watershed Alliance, and environmentalist Dylan Radcliffe) each received a $3,000 award, with Christa Plumley of Ava & Ziva and Zachary McCue of REPWR each receiving a $300 award.

According to a news release, the second year of REIF “is poised to make an even more profound impact in 2024,” with another five local environmental innovators receiving funding of up to $3,000 to bring their vision to life.

“REIF surpassed our expectations in its first year, and we are thrilled to build on that success in 2024,” REIF committee chair Graham Wilkins said in the release. “The overwhelming support from the community and the interest it has generated across Ontario truly underscores the commitment to environmental innovation.”

People actively working on environmental innovations are encouraged to submit their applications for funding on the REIF website at rotaryenvironmentalchampions.ca/innovators-application/. The deadline for applications is March 6, 2024.

The possibilities for projects are expansive, REIF committee member Catherine Legault told kawarthaNOW.

“REIF’s scope encompasses diverse endeavours, welcoming individuals, start-ups, and small companies engaged in projects that address many environmental concerns,” Legault said.

“The fund’s target zone is expansive, covering areas such as biodiversity, water and wastewater technologies, sustainable food systems, climate change mitigation, pollution control, food sustainability, waste and textile management, power generation, transportation, agriculture, and cleantech innovations, among others.”

“Ultimately, REIF stands committed to supporting unique entrepreneurial ventures with the potential to impact the Peterborough-Kawartha region positively. The fund seeks to empower and enable projects that contribute to the broader environmental sustainability goals by fostering a dynamic and inclusive approach,” Legault said.

One of the distinctive features of REIF is its commitment to nurturing the next generation of environmental leaders, according to the release. This year, REIF will provide $225 in funding to the environmental section winners of the Peterborough Junior Science Fair.

Martin Yuill, Cleantech Commons executive director, emphasized the opportunities REIF unlocks for local entrepreneurs.

“Our partnership with REIF is all about forging pathways for skilled youth, talented graduates, and the innovators and entrepreneurs of today and tomorrow to start and grow their own ventures, creating employment opportunities, nurturing positive societal impact, and contributing to the burgeoning environmental sector in the Peterborough region,” Yuill said in the release.

The 2024 awards event is slated for April 19, 2024, at Camp Kawartha in Douro-Dummer.

Individuals and corporations can support REIF by making a financial contribution through the REIF website. Support is recognized in three tiers: $100 (individual champion), $200 (corporate champion), and $500 or more (visionary champion).

For more information about REIF, or to submit an application or donate, visit rotaryenvironmentalchampions.ca.

Brian Ostrander is now at the helm of Northumberland County council, “eager to build upon the foundation laid by our outgoing warden.”

Ostrander, former deputy warden and current mayor of the Municipality of Brighton, was chosen as Northumberland County warden for 2024 during the meeting of Northumberland County council in Cobourg on Wednesday (December 13).

County councillor Olena Hankivsky, mayor of the Municipality of Port Hope, was chosen for the role of deputy warden.

County councillor Bob Crate, Mayor of the Municipality of Trent Hills, put forth one of the nominations in support of Ostrander as warden.

“I have a lot of respect for Brian,” Crate said during the meeting.

“We’ve worked together now for half a dozen years at least and I find him to be well-studied for what we are working on. I believe he has the best interests of all of Northumberland County when he comes forward with ideas and presentations. I believe he will make an excellent warden.”

Cramahe Township Mayor Mandy Martin is the outgoing warden and Ostrander served in 2023 as deputy warden.

“It is an honour to step into the role of warden for Northumberland County,” Ostrander said.

“I am eager to build upon the foundation laid by our outgoing warden Mandy Martin, and the collaborative efforts of our council, staff, and community,” Ostrander stated in a news release. “Together, we will continue to navigate challenges, foster innovation, and ensure Northumberland remains a thriving and connected community.”

The county described Ostrander as “a dedicated advocate for the residents in his community” and someone who works collaboratively with leaders from across Northumberland County.

“As a leader, collaborator, and advocate, he will make significant contributions to the development and well-being of the communities of Northumberland,” Northumberland County noted in the release.

For her part, Hankivsky said she was “humbled” to be chosen to serve as deputy warden.

“I am deeply honoured

“I look forward to contributing, through this role, to the prosperity and well-being of our county,” Hankivsky stated in a news release. “With a focus on transparency, inclusivity, and engagement, I know this council will continue to build a future that reflects the diverse needs and aspirations of all Northumberland residents.”

The roles of warden and deputy warden for Northumberland County are one-year terms, each filled by one of the seven members of county council.

More information about the members of Northumberland County council is available on the county’s website at northumberland.ca.