The Art Gallery of Peterborough, which has been closed since January for lighting improvements to the main gallery space, will reopen on Friday (March 4) beginning with the Gallery Shop.

The Gallery Shop offers one-of-a-kind works in ceramic, glass, jewellry, and more, including from local artists and makers.

The shop will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays to Sundays,

For the reopening, the Gallery Shop is hosting an inventory sale of selected items, with up to 60 per cent off cozy throws, pillows, scarves, and more.

While mo appointment is necessary, face masks are required and passive screening of visitors for COVID-19 symptoms will continue.

The installation of the new lighting system in the main gallery is nearing completion, and gallery staff are preparing to install new exhibitions.

For updates, including exhibitions when they are announced, visit agp.on.ca.

The latest four-legged members of the Peterborough Police Service received their official police badges on Wednesday (March 2).

Police service dogs Gryphon and Mag are the newest members of the Canine (K9) Unit, which was formed in 1997.

PSD Gryphon is a male 18-month-old Dutch Shepherd. With handler PC Wentworth, Gryphon just completed his 15-week training course run by the Niagara Regional Police Service and is now certified for general purpose patrol.

Gryphon is trained in human scent detection and location, suspect apprehension, article detection, handler protection, and narcotics detection.

PSD Mag is a two-year-old female Belgian Malinois who completed her basic training last October. Trained in firearms and ammunition detection, Mag has been working alongside PSD Isaac and her handler PC Cowie.

Mag was donated to the Peterborough Police Service by Grassroots Kennels.

A Scarborough man is facing multiple firearm and other charges following an investigation into a single-vehicle collision on Monday morning (February 28).

At around 7:49 a.m. on Monday, Northumberland OPP officers responded to a collision on Highway 401 west and County Road 45 in the Cobourg area. The driver of a vehicle lost control, struck the concrete barrier, and came to rest in a live lane on the highway.

As part of the investigation, officers discovered a loaded handgun in the vehicle along with body armour.

Kyrie Davis, 32, of Scarborough has been charged with six counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to prohibition order, careless storage of a firearm, weapons, prohibited device, or ammunition, possession of weapon for dangerous purpose, possession of prohibited device or ammunition for dangerous purposes, two counts of carry concealed prohibited device or ammunition, possession of loaded prohibited or restricted firearm, unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm, knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm, and occupant of motor vehicle knowing there was a prohibited or restricted weapon.

He was also charged with possession of property obtained by crime under $5000, counterfeiting mark – possess, possession of identity document, possession of credit card, possession – credit card data, careless driving, and drive with window coated – view obstructed.

The accused man was held for bail and remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on March 22, 2022.

Peterborough police have issued a public safety message after a suspicious incident on a local trail late Monday afternoon (February 28).

Police report that, at around 5:30 p.m. on Monday, a woman was walking her dog on a trail near Grandview Avenue between Monaghan Road and High Street when a man hidden in the trees called out to her.

The woman did not engage with the man and left the area.

Police officers searched the area but did not locate the man.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 705-876-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. or report it online at www.stopcrimehere.ca.

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit has issued an opioid overdose alert for all areas within its jurisdiction, which includes the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.

The alert, issued in consultation with local police services and emergency medical services, is based on recent reports of multiple overdoses and at least four suspected overdose deaths in the region, especially in Lindsay and Cobourg, the two largest urban areas in the region.

A media release from the health unit issued on Monday (February 28) states “Contributing factors for these local overdoses include people using alone or a potentially contaminated or poisoned drug supply that is leading to more severe overdose reactions.”

“Let’s remember these aren’t just statistics,” says Catherine MacDonald, a registered nurse and substances and harm reduction coordinator with the HKPR District Health Unit. “Real lives are at stake, since people who use drugs are fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, friends and loved ones.”

The HKPR District Health Unit’s alert follows a drug poisoning alert issued by Peterborough Public Health last Wednesday (February 23).

For anyone who uses drugs (or know someone who does), the health unit recommends:

• Test a small amount of drug before you use.
• Never use alone.
• If you are alone, call the National Overdose Response Service (NORS) virtual safe consumption at 1-888-668-NORS (6677), or use a buddy system and call a friend.
• Ensure that emergency services can be contacted in the event of an overdose.
• Avoid mixing your drugs.
• Keep a naloxone kit on hand. You can get a naloxone kit at most pharmacies and needle exchange sites.

Naloxone is an emergency medicine that temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid overdose until the victim can get to hospital for treatment. Naloxone is recommended to be used in all suspected drug overdoses, due to the possibility of opioid contamination or poisoning.

According to the health unit, local community partners are enhancing their naloxone distribution efforts in the wake of the alert. Free kits are also available for people who use opioids, as well as their family and friends, and can be picked up at health unit offices, local pharmacies, and other locations. Visit ontario.ca/page/where-get-free-naloxone-kit for where to get a free naloxone kit.

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MacDonald also encourages people to intervene if they see someone who is overdosing. Call 9-1-1 and give the person naloxone. The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act protects anyone trying to help in an emergency from possible legal repercussions, and also protects people on the scene of an overdose from being charged for possessing or using drugs.

Signs of an overdose include very large or very small pupils, slow or no breathing, cold and clammy skin, blue or purple fingernails or lips, and deep snoring or gurgling sounds. Often in drug overdoses, the person’s body is very limp and it is difficult to wake them up.

Information on local opioid overdose incidents is available at the HKPR District Health Unit’s Opioid Overdose Report dashboard.

Residents of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton can use an online form to report overdoses and drug-related incidents anonymously. The information submitted through the form will assist the HKPR District Health Unit to better understand and respond to opioid use and overdose in the region.