Environment Canada has issued a freezing rain warning for the entire Kawarthas region for Thursday (February 9).
The freezing rain warning is in effect for Peterborough County, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, Haliburton County, and Hastings County.
Precipitation is expected to begin as freezing rain Thursday morning, before transitioning to rain later in the morning or early afternoon as temperatures rise above zero. Ice accretion of a few millimetres is expected.
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Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become icy and slippery. Take extra care when walking or driving in affected areas. Slow down driving in slippery conditions. Watch for taillights ahead and maintain a safe following distance.
In addition to the freezing rain warning, a special weather statement remains in effect for much of the Kawarthas region.
The special weather statement forecasts heavy rain with total amounts of 15 to 25 mm before tapering to showers in the evening, with strong southwesterly winds gusting from 60 to 90 km/h developing early Thursday evening and diminishing later in the night.
Before-and-after photos of Lindsay Community Garden, one of six winners of the 2022 Bee a Hero Garden Challenge in the City of Kawartha Lakes on behalf of Bee City Canada. (Photos courtesy of City of Kawartha Lakes)
The City of Kawartha Lakes has recognized six winners of the 2022 Bee Hero Garden Challenge on behalf of Bee City Canada.
Bee City Canada, a program of the charitable organization Pollinator Partnership Canada, encourages municipalities and their residents to support bees and other pollinators on both public and private land and to foster environmental awareness of the importance of pollinators.
In 2017, Bee City Canada designated Kawartha Lakes as a “Bee City” — the third in Ontario and the seventh in Canada at the time. The municipality launched the Bee Hero Garden Challenge in 2020 to encourage residents of Kawartha Lakes to help improve the habitat for native pollinators by planting a garden.
The 2022 challenge saw an variety of contestants show the progress of their gardens with before and after pictures, with the following participants selected as Bee Heroes:
Located at Fleming College’s Frost Campus, the Lindsay Community Garden contains 85 plots tended by individual gardeners, many of whom include flowers to attract pollinators for fruiting vegetables.
Featured in their entry were their shared communal plantings, including an orchard of apple, pear, and cherry trees and a large pollinator/herb garden that has been enhanced over the years.
Over 2022, a major initiative was creating labels for all the plants in the pollinator/herb garden. Additional shrubs were also added along a nearby fence line.
BGC Kawarthas
BGC Kawarthas started their small native pollinator garden as a way to teach the children the importance of taking care of the world around them.
When the children were hatching butterflies within the centre, the BGC team started to research native plants that they could plant in their garden to attract pollinators and give their butterflies a place to lay their eggs and feed. This year, they planted two types of echinacea, monarda, salvia, and swamp milkweed.
BGC Kawarthas is looking forward to continuing to add on to the garden each season to attract more pollinators, improve the bio-diversity around their centre, and provide the children with endless learning opportunities.
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Angela Kelley
After moving to Lindsay to be near family, Angela Kelley discovered that the garden at her new home had been neglected. She noticed the lack of insects and butterflies so she decided to plant native plants of all kinds.
People in the neighbourhood love the changes and look forward to seeing what is new and in bloom.
Her garden has been blessed with many varieties such as cone flowers, false sunflowers, varieties of milkweed, as well as many varieties of wildflowers that last from spring into the fall.
Elizabeth Elliot
This year, Elizabeth Elliot converted a grassy space within the Lindsay Community Garden into a raised garden bed showcasing 20 different perennial wildflowers, all but one of them native to Ontario.
Included are species such as prairie smoke, bloodroot, Joe-Pye weed, wild ginger, pussytoes, black-eyed Susan, and New York aster.
From spring to late fall, there is always something in bloom.
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Heather Stresman
Heather Stresman has a container garden with sunflowers on her deck. Before the container garden full of sunflowers, it was an empty 16′ by 8′ deck.
In the summer months when sitting on the deck, you can hear the bees buzzing from sunflower to sunflower.
It doesn’t take a lot of room to create a space for pollinators.
Sandra Morrison
When Sandra Morrison moved to the area in October 2020, her new garden was grass, mud, and overgrown with shrubs and weeds. She cleaned it up and focused on adding native plants for pollinators as much as possible. For shrubs, she has dogwood, willow, lilacs, forsythia, hydrangeas, cedar, yew, and bridal spirea. For trees, she has maple and birch.
Her garden also has over 25 different plant and flower species. Her garden has a birdbath as a water source and she does not use pesticides. In the fall, she leaves the leaves and doesn’t cut back the dead plants until spring.
She says that it is so wonderful to see the birds, butterflies, and bees where there used to be nothing. Her garden is her happy place.
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“I would like to thank all of the contestants for participating in the 2022 Bee A Hero Garden Challenge and urge people to promote and help pollinators whenever they can,” said city councillor and environmental advisory committee representative Pat Warren, who presented descriptions and photos of the winners’ garden at a committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday (February 7).
“We’re always looking for new people to get involved to help our cause,” she added.
In addition to receiving certificates on behalf of council and the municipality’s environmental advisory and pollinator action committees, each Bee Hero received gift cards from local native plant nurseries Grow Wild Native Plant Nursery and Green Side Up.
City of Peterborough Town Ward councillors Joy Lachica and Alex Bierk (third from left and far right) and William Wolfe of Wolfe Personal Injury Lawyers (second from left) presented a cheque for $13,851.95 to Kawartha Food Share general manager Ashlee Aitken (third from right) on February 8, 2023. The funds were parking fees donated by drivers in downtown Peterborough during the city's two-hour free holiday parking promotion. (Photo: Kawartha Food Share / Facebook)
Representatives from the City of Peterborough and Wolfe Personal Injury Lawyers presented Kawartha Food Share with a cheque for $13,851.95 on Wednesday (February 8).
The funds came from the city’s two-hour free holiday parking promotion that ran from November 25 to December 31 at all downtown municipal parking spaces, including on-street parking, municipal parking lots, the King Street Parking Garage, and the Simcoe Street Parking Garage.
Parking fees that were voluntarily paid at pay-and-display machines, parking meters or via the HotSpot App during the free two-hour period were donated to Kawartha Food Share. The promotion was sponsored by Wolfe Personal Injury Lawyers.
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Town Ward councillors Joy Lachica and Alex Bierk participated in the cheque presentation, noting that more local families and individuals are struggling with food security because of rising inflation.
“We are so thankful for the continued support of the City of Peterborough and the local shoppers for donating to Kawartha Food Share each and every December,” said Ashlee Aitken, general manager of Kawartha Food Share. “This year, more than ever before, we needed this donation to help us restock our shelves.”
Kawartha Food Share currently assists more than 9,000 people every month through its 36 member agencies. It supports four meal programs, seven city food banks, six housing projects, seven county food banks, and over 20 food cupboards across the city and county of Peterborough.
Kevin Cornish and Janet Dawson (second and third from left) of Indian River Acres in Peterborough County were honoured at Sunderland Co-operative Inc. on February 6, 2023 with the inaugural Peterborough Agricultural Innovation Award for their sustainable method of farming pumpkins. Also pictured are Garth Stoner from Sunderland Co-op (left), Elmer Buchanan from the Peterborough Agricultural Roundtable, and Peterborough County Warden Bonnie Clark. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Agricultural Roundtable)
Janet Dawson and Kevin Cornish of Indian River Acres in Peterborough County have received the inaugural Peterborough Agricultural Innovation Award for their sustainable method of farming pumpkins.
Created by the Peterborough Agricultural Roundtable and co-sponsored by Sunderland Co-op, the award recognizes farmers in Peterborough County and Hiawatha or Curve Lake First Nations who have displayed ingenuity in trying something innovative and successfully achieving positive results on their farm.
Indian River Acres is a 93-acre farm located at 2275 Indian River Line that, each year, grows 12 acres of sweet corn, five acres of pumpkins, squash, and gourds, around 15,000 garlic bulbs, and 1.5 acres of other tender vegetables including pickling cucumbers, field cucumbers, beans, asparagus, beets, lettuce, herbs, tomatoes, potatoes, and zucchini.
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The farm was previously a dairy and beef and show cattle farm known as Almar Acres, owned and operated by Dawson’s parents, Marg and Allan. Dawson grew up on the farm and was very involved in the beef operation. When her parents decided to retire, Janet and Kevin purchased the farm in 2010 with a vision for a vegetable farm.
“After a few years of growing pumpkins, we realized conventional pumpkin farming was not sustainable and was harming our land,” Dawson and Cornish write in their award submission. “Not only were we depleting the soil of its nutrients, but we were also experiencing significant disease transmission between pumpkin and soil, pests, and weed pressure that were causing us to use a lot of sprays. Excessive tillage, sprays, and chemicals use are not usual practices that we wanted on our farm.”
Over the past eight years, they researched and experimented with different cover crops that would not affect pumpkin growth but would provide enough coverage to prevent weed growth, provide nutrients to the soil, and protection from the wind and water run-off throughout the winter — eventually settling on rye and radish mixes as a cover crop.
The sustainable pumpkin farming method developed at Indian River Acres includes a roller crimper on the front of the tractor that knocks down and terminates the cover crop, while a no-till planter on the back of the tractor seeds the soil at the same time. The knocked-down cover crop also provides a protective bed for the growing pumpkin crop, avoiding exposure to pathogens in bare soil that can cause diseases affecting fruit growth and cause deformations and premature rot. (Photo: Indian River Acres)
The next step was to find a way to knock down the rye and radish cover crop before planting the pumpkin crop, without resorting to chemicals. They sourced a piece of equipment called a roller crimper and mounted it to the front of a tractor, and modified a sweet corn planter to be a no-till pumpkin planter that could go on the back of the tractor.
The roller crimper knocks down and terminates the cover crop, while the no-till planter seeds the soil at the same time. The knocked-down cover crop also provides a protective bed for the growing pumpkin crop, avoiding exposure to pathogens in bare soil that can cause diseases affecting fruit growth and cause deformations and premature rot.
“Since we implemented this innovative process, we have cut our machinery time in the field by more than half, have reduced our chemical use by 75 per cent, and have cut our labour time in the field by more than half,” Dawson and Cornish write, noting their innovation is an emerging practice in Ontario. “We definitely been an early adopter of this sustainable method and are at a stage where we could share our knowledge with other farmers so they could benefit.”
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As the winners of the Peterborough Agricultural Innovation Award, Dawson and Cornish were presented with a plaque and $500 cheque on Monday (February 6) at Sunderland Co-operative Inc. by Garth Stoner from Sunderland Coop, Elmer Buchanan from the Peterborough Agricultural Roundtable, and Peterborough County Warden Bonnie Clark.
“I know the immense efforts, blood, sweat, and tears that go into making a family farm successful,” Warden said. “On behalf of all of Peterborough County, I want to congratulate you and thank you for your hard work and dedication to innovation in the agricultural sector.”
This is the second award for Indian River Acres in the last six months. In September, the Cornish family was named Peterborough County’s Farm Family of the Year, which recognizes a farm family that has demonstrated good farming practices, an interest in the farming community, and interest and participation by the family in the farm’s operation.
Applications are now open for the 2023 Peterborough Agricultural Innovation Award and ptboagnews.com/agricultural-innovation-award. The submission deadline is November 15, 2023.
Locally owned Peterborough business Living Local Marketplace is offering two "Local Love Boxes" for Valentine's Day. The curated gift boxes each include florals from Peterborough business The Florest, as well as products from locally owned businesses Old Jar Candle Co. in Stoney Lake and The Chocolate Rabbit in Lakefield/Bancroft as well as other Ontario businesses. (Photos courtesy of Living Local Marketplace)
February is the month of love. And it’s the best time of year to be a lover of local. Entrepreneurs, bakers, florists and makers all around us across the Kawarthas and beyond have conjured their creative energies to bring us the perfect testaments to love.
Whether you’re looking for some mid-winter self-care or the perfect gift for your partner, friend, family member, or girlfriend (Galentine’s Day is February 13), I have some ideas for you from my loving-local list.
While it’s impossible to bring all of my locally loved things to you in one short list, I have selected some options that are unique, some that are sweet, some that are eco-sustainable, and some that you may not have thought of, but be assured they are all from locally owned businesses. Love, gratitude, and local — good karma will be yours for supporting them.
Local Love gift boxes from Living Local Marketplace and The Florest in Peterborough
Living Local Marketplace’s “Local Love Box 1” includes a prosecco and raspberries soy wax candle from Old Jar Candle Co. in Stoney Lake, chocolate pretzel love knots from Saxon Chocolates in Toronto, and a modern mix of soft, sweet florals surrounding a large pink rose in a matching tinted glass votive from The Florest in Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Living Local Marketplace)
I love it when a duo comes together and the result is absolute perfection. And when I’m talking female entrepreneurship collaboration, I am more excited for us than I am for them.
It is a perfect time for Alicia Doris of Living Local Marketplace (1179 Chemong Rd., Peterborough) and Angela McDonald of The Florest (theflorestptbo.com), two local Peterborough entrepreneurs, to team up to curate two Valentine’s Day gift boxes. As Alicia says, “There’s love and then there’s local love!”
They’ve combined their love of local, beauty, and the simple yet best things in life to create two special-edition “Local Love Boxes”. Each box is $65 plus tax. They are available for pick-up or delivery in the City of Peterborough and can be ordered online at livinglocalmarketplace.ca/collections/special-edition-subscription-boxes.
The first box includes a prosecco and raspberries soy wax candle (from Old Jar Candle Co., Stoney Lake), chocolate pretzel love knots (from Saxon Chocolates, Toronto), and a modern mix of soft, sweet florals surrounding a large pink rose in a matching tinted glass votive (from The Florest, Peterborough). The second box includes Gentleman’s Apothecary eucalyptus after-shave balm (from Maison Apothecare, Oakville), an extra-creamy milk chocolate canoe (from The Chocolate Rabbit, Lakefield/Bancroft), and a modern mix of unique florals surround a large cream rose in a stoneware base (from The Florest, Peterborough).
Along with the curated Local Love Boxes from Living Local Marketplace, you can also mix and match to build your own Valentine’s Day box for pick-up or delivery, including a glass votive posie from Peterborough’s The Florest. (Photos courtesy of Living Local Marketplace)
And how did this perfect collaboration happen?
“Ang and I met via Instagram and instantly admired each other’s work,” Alicia explains. “We first connected in person over a bouquet of peonies I had ordered. We are both new entrepreneurs — being Starter Company Plus grads — and have become supportive of each other in every way. Our offerings are complementary, as are our approaches to building our businesses, so this is the latest of our collaborations.”
Along with the curated Local Love Boxes, you can also mix and match to build your own Valentine’s Day box for pick-up or delivery at livinglocalmarketplace.ca/collections/valentines-build-a-box, including a glass votive posie from The Florest. Angela is also taking orders on her own website at theflorestptbo.com for the most beautiful arrangements.
Be My Valentine spa day package at Elmhirst’s Resort in Keene
Elmhirst’s Resort in Keene is offering a Be My Valentine spa day package that includes several spa services as well as lunch. (Photo courtesy of Elmhirst’s Resort)
You had me at “spa day”. The Be My Valentine package from the Spa at Elmhirst’s Resort (1045 Settlers Line, Keene) turned my head for a few reasons. Not only is it a chance to get away (a bit out of town but not too far away), but it includes several spa services (a 30-minute aromatherapy massage, a 30-minute facial, and a 60-minute manicure) as well as lunch.
The Be My Valentine spa day package is $199 (plus tax) per person. Call 1-855-520-6635 to book. Your sweetheart will thank you for this Valentine’s Day gift of relaxation and indulgence, which can be used any time during February.
And if you’ve not enjoyed the benefit of this spa with the lovely serene view yourself, you must try it. Find out more at elmhirst.ca/pamper/pamper-packages/.
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Lovable local candy at Flossophy in Peterborough
Some of the many mouth-watering candies available at Flossophy in Peterborough. (Photos courtesy of Flossophy)
Danielle McIver’s candy store Flossophy (75 Hunter St. E., Peterborough) specializes in hand-spun cotton candy floss but offers so much more when it comes to sweets for your sweetie.
Flossophy is now accepting pre-orders for Valentine’s Day, with fan favourites like candied grapes and chocolate-covered strawberries making a return. There are also candy cups, Valentine’s build-a-bags, candy-filled hearts, and candy mixes including three new options for Valentine’s Day: Pink-Blue Sweet on You (pink and blue candy), Hugs and Kisses (Xs and Os, grape rings, and pink berries), and Kiss Me (red and white sugared hearts and a mix of coloured lips).
If you’ve never tried one of Flossophy’s cotton candy cakes, you can order a small one of $29.
Chocolate roses at The Chocolate Rabbit in Lakefield and Bancroft
The Chocolate Rabbit’s long-stem chocolate roses, in both milk chocolate and The Chocolate Rabbit’s new Ruby chocolate, are available at both the Lakefield and Bancroft locations. (Photo courtesy of The Chocolate Rabbit)
Surprise your sweetheart by bringing home a chocolate rose bouquet from The Chocolate Rabbit (11 Queen St., Lakefield and 16 Bridge St. W., Bancroft). Also available in singles, the long-stem chocolate roses come in both milk chocolate and The Chocolate Rabbit’s new Ruby chocolate.
The Chocolate Rabbit’s Lakefield location is also participating in the Lakefield Village Lions Club’s third annual Hot Chocolate Festival until February 17. For a special Valentine’s Day treat, drop in and try their gourmet salted caramel hot chocolate served with fluffy whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and their famous caramel milk chocolate truffle drizzled on top. From each hot chocolate purchased, $1 will be donated to the Lakefield Village Lions Club to support the community.
The Chocolate Rabbit’s Lakefield store is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. The Bancroft store is open Wednesday to Saturday, but will also be open the day before and on Valentine’s Day (Monday, February 13 and Tuesday, February 14). Visit thechocolaterabbit.ca for more information.
Hand-crafted chocolate at Millbrook Valley Chocolates in Millbrook
Millbrook Valley Chocolates in Millbrook is offering several Valentine’s Day treats, including mini three-inch chocolate truffle cakes topped with assorted truffles. (Photo courtesy of Millbrook Valley Chocolates)
Millbrook Valley Chocolates (32 King St. E., Millbrook) is a magical place, where owners Jackie and Steve Flamminio lovingly craft decadent hand-made chocolates and truffles with special flavours and designs, very special desserts, and ice cream cakes made from Kawartha Dairy and Central Smith Creamery — our local dairies. Their chocolate is handmade and they are one of the last handcrafted (without machinery) chocolatiers in Ontario.
For Valentine’s Day, Millbrook Valley Chocolates is offering a dozen strawberries dipped in the chocolate of your choice (milk, semi-sweet, or pink-white), a dozen candied bacon pieces dipped in milk or semi-sweet chocolate, mini three-inch cheesecakes topped with strawberries and whipped cream, and mini three-inch chocolate truffle cakes topped with assorted truffles. To order, email millbrookchocolate@gmail.com.
For a special couples’ experience, consider a private one-on-one class with chocolatier Jackie Flamminio, where you’ll learn how to make beautiful molded artisan truffles. The cost is $175 per couple, with classes offered February 7, 8, or 9 (the class on February 10 is sold out), as long as at least 10 people register per class. Register at millbrookvalleychocolates.com.
Fresh chocolate croissants made locally with love at Kit Coffee in Peterborough
Fresh chocolate croissants made locally at Kit Coffee in Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Kit Coffee)
If you’ve not yet had a chance to see the creation and rolling of the croissant pastry on the Instagram account of Kit Coffee (144 Hunter Street W., Peterborough), trust me: you need to drop in and taste test the chocolate croissants — or any selection of their other flavoured croissants (why I am obsessed with the chocolate?).
Owner Helen Ramsay describes Kit Coffee as “a place for coffee, croissants, and connection.” They strive to provide the best espresso-based drinks in the city, and produce all of their artisanal pastries small batch, in house, and by hand using as many local ingredients as possible.
You can also find a special Valentine’s Day gifts for your favourite caffeine connoisseur. Kit Coffee curates a rotating selection of small Canadian coffee roasters to offer as whole beans to take and brew at home, focusing on directly traded coffee that supports farmers, producers, and the environment. A small selection of quality brewing gear and equipment can also be found on their shelves, along with a selection of primarily locally made home goods and gift wares.
Strawberry Heartthrob from Centre & Main Chocolate Co. in Trent Hills
The large Strawberry Heartthrob from Centre & Main Chocolate Co. in Trent Hills is made of solid chocolate infused with many local ingredients. (Photo courtesy of Centre & Main Chocolate Co.)
For Valentine’s Day, Centre & Main Chocolate Co. (50 Centre Ave., Trent Hills) is introducing the entirely new Strawberry Heartthrob featuring lots of local ingredients.
The Heartthrob is made of solid chocolate, blended with crisped rice and studded with chunks of sponge toffee, and includes whole strawberries (local and freeze-dried) along with nuggets of strawberry ice cream, and is finished with chocolate rocks and rose petals. Local ingredients include strawberries from Brambleberry Farm in Quinte West, sponge toffee made with maple syrup from Sandy Flat Sugar Bush in Warkworth, ice cream from Reid’s Dairy in Belleville, and rose petals from Greenmoxie’s in Warkworth.
You can also get the Love Box 2.0, featuring four gourmet chocolate bars infused with “stimulating” ingredients, and topped off with an anatomical chocolate heart studded with local Alpine strawberries.
Pocket Hugs and more from Blueberry Dreams Creations in Peterborough
Some of the adorable Pocket Hugs available from Blueberry Dreams Creations in Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Blueberry Dreams Creations)
Peterborough small business Blueberry Dreams Creations (www.blueberrydreams.ca) is offering long-lasting mementos for Valentine’s Day this year — keepsakes that will show your love for years to come. Their Pocket Hugs and puzzles can be a unique Valentine’s Day gift for that someone special in your life.
The Pocket Hugs are a beautiful way to show love, with many animals and styles to choose from and customizable backs. Blueberry Dreams Creations will donate $1 from each Pocket Hug sold to support children’s mental health in Peterborough.
Blueberry Dreams Creations is also offering cute Valentine’s Day themed tic tac toe games and colour-your-own Valentines, and custom hanging heart ornaments available at Avant Garden Shop (165 Sherbrooke St., Peterborough).
Local lavender products from Rocky Meadows Lavender in Asphodel-Norwood
Rocky Meadows Lavender in Asphodel-Norwood is offering his-or-her lavender-themed Valentine’s Day gift packages. (Photos courtesy of Rocky Meadows Lavender)
Although the farm shop and lavender field at Rocky Meadows Lavender (2295 County Rd. 38, Asphodel-Norwood) are closed for the season, you can still order from their online shop — including lavender-themed Valentine’s Day gifts for a special guy or gal in your life.
The Valentine’s Special for Your Gal includes a flax and dried lavender eye pillow with buds from the farm’s lavender plants (microwave or cool in the freezer to refresh your eyes or help relieve a headache), a 10 ml vial of “Love Potion” essential oil perfume (a blend of lavender, ylang ylang, vanilla, and sweet orange in a jojoba oil base), and a full bar of hand-crafted lavender soap.
The Valentine’s Special for Your Guy includes a jar of lavender, lemongrass, and cedar shaving cream, a shampoo bar, and a full bar of lavender-patchouli African black soap.
Both gifts are $25 and packaged in a decorative box. You can order them online for pick-up or delivery, along with other lavender products, at rockymeadowslavender.ca.
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Hand-painted love-themed gifts from Hearts 4 Joy in Peterborough
Hearts 4 Joy in Peterborough sells hand-painted love-themed gifts made by young adult artists with intellectual exceptionalities. (Photo courtesy of Hearts 4 Joy)
Share the community love this Valentine’s Day by buying a love-themed gift from Hearts 4 Joy.
The Peterborough-based not-for-profit organization of young adult artists with intellectual exceptionalities came together a year ago. Their creative pursuits and products have been capturing hearts ever since.
The group is celebrating the opening of their own Artisan Shoppe in Charlotte Mews in downtown Peterborough from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday (February 11). Drop in to browse their products including one-of-a-kind hand-painted vases. Prices range from $10 to $25, and all are made with special love.
Zero-waste gifts from the GreenUP Store in Peterborough
This Old Flame beeswax candles and Swift Acres natural cold-pressed soaps are two of the many locally made products available at the GreenUP Store in downtown Peterborough. (Photos courtesy of the GreenUP Store)
You can show your love for the environment and local makers too by picking up a Valentine’s Day gift from the GreenUP Store (378 Aylmer St. N., Peterborough).
This Old Flame beeswax candles are handcrafted in Peterborough by Melodie McCullough in her home studio using locally sourced beeswax and cotton wicks. The candles do not contain any artificial fragrances or dyes, can burn longer than paraffin or soy candles, can emit a brighter light, and can purify and improve air quality. Tea lights, votives, pillars, and tapers are available.
Swift Acres natural cold-pressed soaps are handcrafted in Apsley using unprocessed goat’s milk fresh from their farm, which makes the soap very creamy and moisturizing. Scents available include rose and vanilla, orange and cocoa, and lavender and mint.
The GreenUP Store has many more locally made products available that would make great Valentine’s Day gifts, especially for your environmentally aware loved ones. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. You can also shop online. For more information, visit greenup.on.ca/greenup-store/.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the greater Kawarthas region, with possible freezing rain followed by heavy rainfall and strong winds expected on Thursday (February 9).
The special weather statement is in effect for Peterborough County, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, Haliburton County, and Hastings Highlands.
A period of freezing rain with light ice accretion is possible Thursday morning before transitioning to rain or snow. The freezing rain risk appears most likely for areas over higher terrain.
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In the southern Kawarthas region, total rainfall amounts of 15 to 25 mm are possible before rain tapers to showers by Thursday evening. In the northern Kawarthas region, snowfall amounts of 5 to 10 cm are possible for areas over higher terrain.
Travel conditions may become hazardous due to icy and slippery roads and walkways. Localized flooding may occur in areas of poor drainage.
Strong southwesterly winds, gusting 60 to 80 km/h in Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes and 70 to 90 km/h in Northumberland, are expected Thursday afternoon into early Thursday evening.
High winds may toss loose objects or cause tree branches to break. Isolated utility outages are possible.
Some of the damage caused after a vehicle hit a convenience store at McDonnel and Aylmer Streets in Peterborough following a two-vehicle collision the morning of Feburary 7, 2023. Police have charged a 52-year-old driver with failing to stop for a red light. (Photo courtesy of Brian Parypa)
A vehicle hit a convenience store after colliding with another vehicle in downtown Peterborough on Tuesday morning (February 7).
At around 8:15 a.m., police were called to the intersection of McDonnel and Aylmer Streets following the collision.
After arriving at the scene, officers learned one of the vehicles had struck a nearby convenience store.
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Although there were no serious injuries, one person was taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre as a precaution.
Police did not provide an estimate of the damages to the convenience store building.
Police have charged a 52-year-old driver with failing to stop for a red light.
Nicole Stephenson, founder of Toronto-based Stephenson Law Group, will be interim chief executive officer of the Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas for up to six months while the organization's board recruits a permanent CEO. (Supplied photo)
Nicole Stephenson has been appointed the interim chief executive officer of the Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas, the not-for-profit economic development organization announced on Tuesday (February 7).
Stephenson, founder of Toronto-based Stephenson Law Group, is currently chair of the organization’s board and has been a board director since May 2019. She will serve as interim CEO for up to six months while the board recruits a permanent CEO. Current vice-chair Bill Davie will serve as acting chair during this period.
Stephenson’s appointment follows the departure of CEO Michael Skinner and president John Gillis, who announced last November they would be resigning from the organization and launching a new venture this year.
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“As part of the board’s commitment to ensure the organization maintains delivery of the level and quality of service the entrepreneurship community needs, it has decided to appoint an interim CEO,” said Davie in a media release.
Stephenson, who has also served as a knowledge partner of the Innovation Cluster since 2017, has over 15 years of experience with Canadian capital markets. She regularly advises entrepreneurs and business leaders on emerging growth opportunities, corporate finance, and mergers and acquisitions. Before founding Stephenson Law Group, she spent more than 12 years at the Ontario Securities Commission, a Canadian stock exchange, and in private practice at a corporate and securities law boutique.
“We’re fortunate to have an experienced and highly capable operational team with which the board will invest and partner,” Stephenson said. “I look forward to working closely with them as we recruit a new chief executive officer.”
Ross Memorial Hospital is located at 10 Angeline Street North in Lindsay. (Photo: Ross Memorial Hospital)
Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay declared a “code grey” late Sunday night (February 5) after a suspected cybersecurity incident.
At Ontario hospitals, a code grey is initiated following the loss of a critical system such as a utility or information technology (for example, due to ransomeware), resulting in the potential loss of use of hospital facilities.
According to a media release, Ross Memorial Hospital has retained third-party cybersecurity resources to work with the hospital’s technical experts to investigate the incident, according to industry best practices.
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“In the meantime, as high-quality patient care is our priority, we are managing our established protocols to maintain continued delivery of our critical hospital services,” the media release states. “Our systems restoration plan is also ongoing, and we are communicating with our local, regional, and provincial partners regarding next steps.”
While the code grey is in effect, the hospital is encouraging patients with less urgent conditions to consider alternate options for care, such as their primary health care provider, pharmacist, after-hours clinic, virtual care, or by calling Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0007. After-hours clinics can often treat non-urgent and minor illnesses and ailments, such as earaches, sore throats or prescription refills.
The hospital will provide updates on its website at rmh.org and via the hospital’s social media channels.
A cheque for $16,800 was presented to the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) at Wild Rock Oufitters in downtown Peterborough, representing the funds raised by an eight-hour ski relay event held on January 22, 2023 at the Kawartha Nordic Ski Club in North Kawartha Township. The proceeds will support CMHA HKPR's Garden Homes Project to support vulnerable individuals who are at risk of homelessness in the Peterborough area. (Photo courtesy of CMHA HKPR)
Peterborough-area cross-country skiers have raised $16,800 for the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR)’s new homelessness project.
The eight-hour ski relay — presented by Wild Rock Outfitters and Kawartha Nordic with the support of Ashburnham Ale House — was held on January 22 at the Kawartha Nordic Ski Club located off Highway 28 just north of Haultain in North Kawartha Township.
The event was organized by John Hauser, a Wild Rock staff member and Kawartha Nordic board member, who also organized a 24-hour ski marathon for mental health last February.
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“I believe the success of this fundraiser shows how much the people of Peterborough care about the issue of homelessness in our city,” Hauser says in a media release, adding “I’m so pleased.”
Eleven teams and 40 skiers participated in the event, exceeding the $15,000 fundraising goal, with Dynacast Peterborough and Cambium the top fundraising teams.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support of event organizer John Hauser, Wild Rock Outfitters, Kawartha Nordic, and Ashburnham Ale House,” says CMHA HKPR CEO Mark Graham.
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Proceeds from the ski relay will support the organization’s Garden Homes Project which, through its Supportive Housing program, aims to support vulnerable individuals who are at risk of homelessness in the Peterborough area by providing affordable, small homes.
Through the project, CMHA HKPR will be creating small, custom-built housing for individuals or small families within Peterborough. This project is one of the first of its kind in the region and we hope to pave the way for similar projects and more affordable housing in the future.
“The funds raised through the ski relay will go a long way in helping us launch the Garden Homes Project,” Graham says. “Thanks to this fundraiser, we have now reached our fundraising target and are able to purchase the first Garden Home.”
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