The 'Commuter Connect' pilot shuttle bus service will connect communities across Northumberland County with GO Transit in Oshawa. (Photo: GO Transit)
Northumberland County is launching a new pilot shuttle bus service in September that will connect communities in the county with each other and, for the first time, with the GO Transit network.
Called Commuter Connect, the regional service will operate from Trent Hills to Brighton to Port Hope, with stops in between, and will connect with GO Transit in Oshawa.
Originally announced in April, Commuter Connect is a partnership between Northumberland County, Metrolinx (the Ontario government agency responsible for GO Transit), and transportation logistics software company Hop In Technologies.
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The county is asking residents to participate in a short survey to help guide decisions about the service’s proposed transportation routes.
“We are launching Commuter Connect to increase flexibility and choice for Northumberland residents in their local commute,” says County Warden Bob Crate in a media release. “We are asking residents to share where and when they need this service so we can build the most effective network.”
The survey is available until Wednesday, August 17th online at commuterconnect.ca.
Paper copies of the survey can be picked up at the Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce (58 Queen St., Port Hope), the Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce (278 George St., Cobourg), the Brighton-Cramahe Chamber of Commerce (78 Main St., Brighton), and the Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce (51 Grand Rd., Campbellford).
After the service launches, ridership data will be collected and analyzed over a 12-month period to help further define local need and interest, and the opportunity for increased transit options for local commutes within the county and to GO Transit in Oshawa.
The Maria Street Swing Bridge is located at Lock 20 between Armour Road and Ashburnham Drive in Peterborough's East City.
Parks Canada is temporarily closing the Maria Street Swing Bridge in Peterborough’s East City to vehicles and pedestrians on Thursday (July 28).
The swing bridge is located at Lock 20 between Armour Road and Ashburnham Drive and is a common route to East City and downtown Peterborough.
“This closure is necessary to complete repair work to ensure the continued safe and reliable operation of the bridge,” reads a media release from Parks Canada. “Boat traffic will not be affected by the closure.”
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Detour signage will be posted to direct motorists to alternate crossings at Parkhill Road East (via the Warsaw Road Swing Bridge) or Lansdowne Street.
Vehicles can also access East City and downtown Peterborough from Ashburnham Drive via Hunter Street through the single-lane tunnel under the Peterborough Lift Lock.
Pedestrians and cyclists can head south to Beavermead Park to access the Rotary Trail or north to the Peterborough Lift Lock tunnel.
A barn at Woodland North 62 Lavender Farm in Madoc was flattened during the July 24, 2022 storm in eastern Ontario. Weather officials have confirmed at least one tornado touched down in the Marmora, Madoc, and Tweed area east of Peterborough. (Photo: Woodland North 62 Lavender Farm / Facebook)
After a preliminary investigation, officials have confirmed at least one tornado touched down during the severe thunderstorms on Sunday night (July 24) in the Marmora, Madoc, and Tweed area, east of Peterborough.
Staff from Environment Canada and the Northern Tornadoes Project at Western University in London visited the area on Monday to investigate whether a tornado was responsible for some of the widespread damage in the area.
On Tuesday morning, Environment Canada reported on its initial investigation with the Northern Tornadoes Project.
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“There was a long track of damage due to at least one tornado and downburst winds,” the initial report reads. “Damage has been preliminarily rated as high-end EF-1 with peak wind speeds of near 175 km/h. The final track length and strength of the winds associated are not yet determined.”
On the Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale), used to rate a tornado’s strength based on its estimated wind speeds and related damage from EF-0 (weak) to EF-5 (violent), an EF-1 rating estimates three-second wind gusts of 138 to 177 km/h.
Environment Canada’s initial report also lists the damage reported along a path from Round Lake (six kilometres north of Havelock), east through Marmora and Madoc, to east of Actinolite:
A flipped trailer in Rockdale with multiple injuries reported.
Extensive tree damage including areas of very large mature trees.
Homes damaged with the roof partially removed.
Barns completely destroyed.
Hydro lines and poles down, including on roads.
Roads including Highway 7 blocked by fallen trees and power lines.
On Sunday night at 8:28 p.m., Environment Canada had issued a tornado warning for the area, stating “meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm that is possibly producing a tornado.”
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Reports soon appeared across social media of widespread damage along the Highway 7 corridor from western Peterborough County near Havelock and across Hastings County, with the Ontario Provincial Police responding to multiple calls of storm-related damage in Marmora, Madoc, and north of Tweed.
#OPP officers are responding to numerous calls of storm related damage in Marmora, Madoc and along #Hwy7 north of Tweed. Significant damage to property. Trees and wires down . No reports of injuries at this time. If you observe a dangerous situation call 9-1-1. @OPP_COMM_ER ^ec pic.twitter.com/dF6Rkk6Yyc
Marmora resident Curt Snider posted a video on Monday of some of the damage to his property, including downed trees and a pontoon boat that was flipped over.
“My garage actually moved over four inches,” Snider says in the video.
The original version of this story has been updated with the initial findings of the investigation by Environment Canada and the Northern Tornadoes Project.
The Weber Brothers, Kate Suhr, Rick Fines, Al Black, Barry Haggarty, and Washboard Hank are six of 20 inductees of the Peterborough and District Pathway of Fame who will perform at a special concert at Showplace Performance Centre on September 10, 2022 celebrating the Pathway of Fame's 25th anniversary. Along with performances, the event will also feature presentations by inductees and a video presentation of inductee musicians who have passed away. (kawarthaNOW collage)
The Peterborough and District Pathway of Fame is celebrating its 25th anniversary in September with a concert featuring 20 performers and speakers — all of whom are Pathway inductees — on the main stage at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough.
The event begins at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 10th, which the City of Peterborough and the County of Peterborough will be proclaiming as “Pathway of Fame Day” in honour of the non-profit organization, established in 1997, that celebrates the area’s arts and humanities heritage.
Lasting around two hours, The Pathway in Concert will include performances and presentations by Pathway inductees Al Black, Kenny DesChamp, Sean Eyre, Rick Fines, Rosemary Ganley, Barry Haggarty, Washboard Hank, Graham Hart, Geoff Hewitson, Pat Hooper, Beth McMaster, John Morris, Bea Quarrie, Kate Suhr, Bobby Watson, The Weber Brothers, Megan Murphy, and Paul Rellinger, with the latter two inductees also hosting the event.
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Financially sponsored by Pathway inductee David Goyette and supported by Showplace and Cogeco YourTV, the evening will also include a video presentation in memory of musical inductees who have passed on.
Nominations for the Pathway of Fame are submitted annually by the public in the categories of visual arts, literary, dramatic arts, entertainment/musical, cultural betterment, community Samaritan, media, and community builder.
Announced in June, the 2022 inductees for the Pathway of Fame — David Carley (Dramatic Arts), Kate Suhr (Entertainment), Ryan and Sam Weber (Entertainment), Donald Glen Forde (Cultural/Community Betterment), Jacob Rodenburg (Cultural/Community Betterment), Lois Tuffin (Cultural/Community Betterment), John F. (Jack) Bardeau (Community Builder), and David Adams (Community Builder) — will be formally inducted in a ceremony at Showplace on the morning of September 10th, with the 25th anniversary concert following in the evening.
The special concert on “Pathway of Fame Day” takes place at 7:30 p.m. on September 10, 2022 at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough. (Poster courtesy of David Goyette)
Last performing at Peterborough Musicfest in 2019, iconic Canadian alt-rockers 54-40 return to Del Crary Park for a free-admission concert on July 27, 2022. (Publicity photo)
Monday, December 8, 1980. As events that would first horrify, and then sadden, the world unfolded outside of John Lennon’s residence in New York City, Neil Osborne, Brad Merritt, and Ian Franey performed their first gig as 54-40 in Coquitlam, BC.
Peterborough Musicfest presents 54-40
When: Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 8 p.m. Where: Del Crary Park (100 George St. N., Peterborough) How much: Free admission
Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets (lawn chairs are available to rent). VIP seating available for sponsors. No smoking, alcohol, or pets permitted. There’s no public parking at Del Crary Park, but there’s neighbourhood street parking nearby and ample parking in downtown Peterborough.
Such is the circle of life. As Mark David Chapman’s hateful barrage took away one of the world’s most beloved and gifted songwriters and musicians, a Canadian alternative rock treasure was taking its first baby steps. Forty-plus years and eight Juno Award nominations later, 54-40 is still delivering the goods, satisfying the appetite of longtime fans while winning new ones.
Franey is long gone but Osborne (vocals/rhythm guitar) and Merritt (bass), friends since high school, remain front and centre, joined by Dave Genn (lead guitar), Matt Johnson (drums), and David Osborne (organ/saxophone).
On Wednesday, July 27th, 54-40 returns to Del Crary Park — they last performed there almost three years ago to the day — as Peterborough Musicfest’s milestone 35th season continues. As has been the case since the concert series debuted in July 1987, admission to the 8 p.m. concert is free.
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While a coveted Juno statue has eluded the band, 54-40’s catalogue of work is as impressive as it gets. With 14 studio albums to its credit, the West Coast-bred quintet’s music has remained relevant in a world where fame is more often of the fleeting variety as opposed to enduring.
With the release of its debut album Set The Fire in 1984, attentive ears perked up to 54-40’s blending of roots rock, folk, pop, country, and alt-rock influences. Two years later, their self-titled follow-up album brought forth two singles of note, “I Go Blind” and “Baby Ran” that, while failing to chart, remain must-be-heard songs at the band’s live shows.
In 1994, “I Go Blind” was given a new lease on life when American rockers Hootie & the Blowfish recorded its cover of the song; a rendition that catapulted spent 39 weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100 and was featured in an episode of the hit ’90s sitcom Friends. Suddenly, everyone was blowing the dust off the 1986 original.
VIDEO: “I Go Blind” – 54-40
VIDEO: “I Go Blind” performed by Hootie & The Blowfish
As for 54-40, the band first cracked the Canadian singles chart in 1987 with the single “One Day In Your Life” from Show Me — a commercial breakthrough built upon in 1992 with Dear Dear. That album was certified platinum, a feat achieved in 1994 and again in 1996 by the albums Smilin’ Buddha Cabaret and then Trusted By Millions. High-charting singles “Nice To Luv You,” “She La,” “Ocean Pearl,” “Love You All,” and “Lies To Me” cemented 54-40’s position as a premier Canadian music act.
Since 1998’s gold-certified Since When and its hit title track, 54-40 has recorded six albums, the latest being 2018’s Keep On Walking.
“There’s continuity when you look at our records,” said Merritt in an October 2018 interview with Peter Lozinski of the Prince Albert Daily Herald.
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“We’ve quite often put something out and then the next thing we do is turn 180 degrees and say ‘This is a rock record. We’re going to do something a little more personal singer-songwriter style. This one we’re going to do heavy jams and build it up that way and the next is going to be an eclectic thing just to see where the music takes us.'”
As such, 54-40’s music style has been hard to pigeonhole, which suits Merritt et al just fine. Such unpredictability, however, isn’t a staple of their live performances.
“We figure there are about 10 or 11 songs we have to play no matter what,” said Merritt. “Generally we’re doing at least 50 per cent more than that, if not twice as many songs. We certainly pull songs from various records that reflect the way we’re thinking; the way we represent ourselves and what we want to do.”
54-40 circa 1985, just before releasing their eponymous record, nicknamed “The Green Album” by fans because the album artwork consists of mostly green fill, as their major-label debut. The single “I Go Blind” was later covered by Hootie & the Blowfish. (Photo: Miles Constable)
The band’s extensive catalogue has given it staying power, according to Genn in an April 2018 interview with Cassie de Jong of The Cascade. Reflecting on a meeting several years earlier with a branding expert, Genn said that process confirmed that the band’s music is its brand.
“We thought about what people say when they come to our shows and the thing we hear the most is ‘I had no idea you guys played so many songs that I know,'” said Genn.
“That’s kind of a blessing and a curse. It’s testament to the fact that we have this catalogue and so many songs that people are familiar with and that people love. On the other hand, they haven’t necessarily put a band name or a face to those songs.”
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Four decades plus since Merritt coaxed Osborne to return to Vancouver and its burgeoning punk rock scene from Boston’s Berklee College of Music, 54-40 is enjoying the fruits of its sustained success. In 2011, the band was inducted into the Western Canada Music Awards Hall of Fame and, six years later, was awarded entry into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
Meanwhile, because enquiring minds need to know, the band’s name is a nod to an American political slogan from the 1840s — Fifty-four Forty or Fight! — that called for the American annexation of what is now British Columbia.
You can bet that thousands of fans of 54-40 are grateful that didn’t come to pass.
VIDEO: “Ocean Pearl” – 54-40
VIDEO: “She-La” – 54-40
VIDEO: “Casual Viewin'” – 54-40
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Win VIP passes to MusicFest!
As a headline sponsor of Peterborough Musicfest, kawarthaNOW.com is giving away VIP seats to every one of this summer’s concerts.
While the concerts are free to all, VIP seats are not available to the general public — only to festival sponsors. You are guaranteed a chair near to the stage for the best view.
The giveaways are exclusive to subscribers to our weekly e-news. For your chance to win, sign-up to our weekly e-news at k-n.ca/subscribe.
Peterborough Musicfest is presenting 16 free-admission concerts during its milestone 35th anniversary season, each staged Wednesday and Saturday nights at Del Crary Park in downtown Peterborough.
Overseen by general manager Tracey Randall and staff, a board of directors, and numerous volunteers, Peterborough Musicfest’s stated mission remains “to provide diverse, affordable live music to enrich cultural and economic prosperity in our community.”
For more information on this concert or the entire 2022 season, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca or phone the Peterborough Musicfest office at 705-755-1111.
A thunderstorm passes over a lake in North Kawartha Township on July 5, 2021. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for much of the Kawarthas region for Sunday (July 24).
The severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland County.
Conditions are favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms Sunday afternoon into Sunday evening.
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The main threat with these thunderstorms is damaging wind gusts. Large hail and torrential rain are lesser threats. Also, the possibility of a tornado cannot be ruled out.
Large hail can damage property and cause injury. Very strong wind gusts can damage buildings, down trees and blow large vehicles off the road. Intense lightning is likely with any thunderstorm that develops. Remember, severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes. Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors!
Environment Canada issues severe thunderstorm watches when atmospheric conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms that could produce one or more of the following: large hail, damaging winds, and torrential rainfall.
The Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management recommends that you take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches.
A motorcyclist is dead following a crash on Saturday afternoon (July 23) on County Road 30 in Campbellford.
At around 2 p.m. on Saturday, police and emergency services responded to a single-vehicle collision involving a motorcycle on County Road 30 in the area of County Road 35.
The driver of the motorcycle, who was the lone occupant of the vehicle, was transported to hospital where they were pronounced dead.
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On Tuesday (July 26), police identified the victim as 46-year-old Mark Young of Brockville.
County Road 30 at County Road 35 was closed for several hours while police documented the scene.
Police are continuing to investigate and are asking anyone who may have witnessed the collision and who has not yet spoken with police to contact the Northumberland OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
Anyone who witnessed the collision and wishes to speak to victim services can call Peterborough/Northumberland Victim Services at 905-372-2255.
The Northumberland detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has laid charges against a former priest in relation to a historical sexual assault investigation in Campbellford.
In March 2022, police investigators received information a victim had allegedly been sexually assaulted between 2015 and 2020 at a church in Campbellford.
As a result of the investigation, police have charged 50-year-old Jean-Pierre Pilon (also known as Anthony Lawrence) from Mamora with two counts of sexual assault. The accused man is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cobourg on August 31, 2022, to answer to the charges.
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The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information in relation to this investigation, or anyone who believes they may be a victim of a similar incident, is asked to call Northumberland OPP at 1-888-310-1122. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or leave a tip online at ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
The OPP is reminding the public to always use caution and be aware of their personal safety at all times. You can report a sexual offence to police no matter how long ago it happened, and someone can be charged for sexual assault as a result.
The duty of the police is to bring an appropriate resolution to the case by conducting a professional and thorough investigation, while at the same time providing you with necessary information, resources, and support.
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You can report a sexual assault by calling the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or 9-1-1 in an emergency. If you do not want to make a report to police, or need time and support to make that decision, the OPP has partnered with many other agencies that can help.
Ontario 211 provides information on and referrals to Ontario’s community, social, and health-related and government services. Simply call 2-1-1 or visit 211ontario.ca for more information.
You can also find local resources and support by searching your location on the Victim Services Directory at ovss.findhelp.ca/ or by contacting the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres at sexualassaultsupport.ca.
The Pediatric Oncology (POGO) Satellite Clinic was launched at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) in 2018 in collaboration with The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto. The clinic provides care closer to home for young patients and their families. (Photo: PRHC website)
With the help of businesses, supporters, and volunteers, the Chemung Lake District Lions Club is donating activity care packages to kids receiving cancer treatment at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC).
The activity care packages consist of donations including reading books, colouring books, sticker books, crayons, pencil crayons, gel markers, WonderArt colouring sheets and markers, and sketch books, as well as a Lions Club colouring book.
The activity care packages will be distributed to children receiving treatment at PRHC’s Pediatric Oncology (POGO) Satellite Clinic, which was launched in 2018 in collaboration with The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto.
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For young patients and their families, the satellite clinic provides care closer to home, reducing travel time, avoiding costs to receive care elsewhere, and resulting in less loss of income and separation from home and community — all while maintaining confidence that young patients are receiving the best quality care under the direction of SickKids.
The idea to provide care packages to pediatric patients at the clinic — who can use them while waiting for treatment at PRHC or while travelling to and from SickKids — began in October 2021, when the Chemung Lake District Lions Club, District A3 for Childhood Cancer reached out to businesses and organizations compiling age-appropriate items to create individual care packages.
Supporters include Crayola Canada, Scholastic Canada, Gerri’s Arts & Crafts and Fabricland Chemong Road in Peterborough, Shaun Milne Signs in Ennismore, Dollarama Corporate, and the Lakefield Legion. Volunteers from the Buckhorn Beauties Red Hat group and the Lakefield Village Lions cut material and lining for 200 bags and the Quilters Guild donated their time and sewing skills to put the bags together.
Every Friday during swimming season, we post The Beach Report™ — our weekly report of the results of water quality testing at beaches in the greater Kawarthas region — and update it throughout the week as conditions change.
As of Wednesday, July 27, the following beaches have been posted as unsafe for swimming:
Back Dam Park, Warsaw (County of Peterborough)
Ennismore Waterfront Park, Ennismore (County of Peterborough)
Bond Street, Fenelon Falls (City of Kawartha Lakes)
Valentia/Sandbar Beach, Valentia (Kawartha Lakes)
Crowe Bridge Park, Trent Hills (Northumberland County)
West Beach, Port Hope (Northumberland County)
Centennial Park, Deseronto (Hastings County and Prince Edward County)
Frankford Park, Trent River (Hastings County and Prince Edward County)
Legion Park, Marmora-Crowe River (Hastings County and Prince Edward County)
Tweed Park, Stoco Lake (Hastings County and Prince Edward County)
Wellington Beach, Wellington Bay (Hastings County and Prince Edward County)
The following beach has been closed:
Omemee Beach, Emily/Omemee (Kawartha Lakes)
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Below are the complete results of water quality testing at beaches in the City and County of Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, Northumberland County, and Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
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.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health provides weekly testing results for beaches in Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
During the summer, local health units sample water at area beaches and test for bacteria such as E. coli to determine if the water quality at a beach is safe for public use. Popular beaches, like the beach at Roger’s Cove in Peterborough’s East City, are tested every business day while most other beaches are tested weekly. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
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.
kawarthaNOW.com offers two enews options to help readers stay in the know. Our VIP enews is delivered weekly every Wednesday morning and includes exclusive giveaways, and our news digest is delivered daily every morning. You can subscribe to one or both.
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