Parks Canada has announced all locks on the Trent-Severn Waterway will be open for navigation at 9 a.m. on Friday (June 24).

The federal agency had closed 25 locks earlier in the month in the interests of public safety due to high water levels and flows caused by recent precipitation.

Parks Canada now states conditions are favourable to allow for the re-opening of closed locks.

However, Parks Canada advises the flows will continue to increase along the Severn River, outside of navigation hours, until further notice.

The increased overnight flows are the result of water management dam adjustments to address the higher-than-normal water levels. Parks Canada says residents and boaters should consider these overnight flows as non-navigable.

While water levels and flows are on the decline, Parks Canada is also advising residents and visitors to continue to exercise extreme caution both on and around the water. They are strongly encouraging all boaters are to lower their speed to limit their wash and wake.

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for most of the greater Kawarthas region for Wednesday afternoon and evening (June 22).

The severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for Peterborough County, Northumberland County, and Hastings County. As of 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County are not included in the watch.

Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms Thursday afternoon and early evening. These storms are capable of producing strong wind gusts of 80 km/h, hail size up to 2 cm, and heavy rain.

Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees, and overturn large vehicles. Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads.

Intense lightning is likely with any thunderstorm that develops. 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, torrential rainfall.

A group of Ennismore residents is challenging the community to do a cartwheel and donate to help the family of a six-year-old boy with an ultra-rare genetic disorder.

Stephanie and Sean Mose knew something wasn’t right soon after their son Mark was born — he seemed different from his twin brother Ben. For four years, the Moses sought a diagnosis but all the tests came back negative.

When Mark was five years old, Stephanie and Sean — who also have two other children — finally received a diagnosis. They were told Mark had infantile hypotonia with psychomotor retardation and characteristic facies (IHPRF1), a severe neurodevelopmental disorder with onset at birth or in early infancy.

Children affected with the autosomal recessive genetic disorder show severe developmental delay with poor or absent speech, and absent or limited ability to walk. The prevalence of this disorder is unknown, but there have been fewer than 100 cases reported worldwide.

A group of local residents have come together as Ennismore Cares with the goal of supporting Mark and his family to ease the financial burden that is associated with Mark’s diagnosis.

With the support of the community, Ennismore Cares raised over $16,000 of their $20,000 goal in just one week — enough to purchase a hospital bed for Mark and a lift system to make the Mose family home more accessible.

VIDEO: Ennismore Cares: Mark Mose

“It is incredibly heartwarming, yet not surprising, to see that our community has shown up for this beautiful boy and his family,” says Ennismore Cares chair Marcy D’Alessandro in a media release. “The Mose family is incredibly grateful for all their support and are overwhelmed by the response thus far.”

But Ennismore Cares is not done supporting the Mose family. They’ve created a new crowdfunding campaign called #WheelingForMark at gofundme.com/f/wheelingformark-mose-family-fundraiser to raise another $6,000 so that the Mose family has funds for future travel and medical costs.

As part of the campaign, they are challenging members of the community to create videos of themselves completing a cartwheel, share them on social media, donate $25 to the campaign, and challenge three other community members to do the same.

Sister companies Park Place Financial – Peak Benefit Solutions and Farm Life Financial are matching dollar-for-dollar funds raised (up to $3,000) for the #WheelingForMark campaign.

Over 400 students at Mark’s school, St. Martin Catholic Elementary School in Ennismore, kicked off the #WheelingForMark campaign on Tuesday (June 21) by challenging other schools in the region to do the same.

VIDEO: #WheelingForMark challenge – St. Martin Catholic Elementary School in Ennismore

All money raised will go towards the Mose family, helping make their home more accessible and giving them the freedom to have more time with Mark.

For updates and more information, visit the Ennismore Cares Facebook page.

Environmental organization Peterborough GreenUP has received a Green Community Award for resilience from Green Communities Canada, a national non-profit organization founded in 1995 to support sustainable and climate-ready communities.

The Green Community Awards, which recognize those who work and volunteer with Green Communities Canada and its member organizations, where presented at the organization’s annual general meeting last Thursday (June 16).

GreenUP received a Resilience Award, which recognizes member organizations that have continued to succeed despite challenges and have reached a milestone in longevity. GreenUP was recognized for its 30-year milestone, along with ACAP Saint John (30 years) and eMerge Guelph (20 years). Brendan Shaefer received a staff and board Resilience Award for his 15 years with Reep Green Solutions.

“Everyone at GreenUP is excited to be celebrating our 30th anniversary,” says GreenUP executive director Tegan Moss in a media release. “It is inspiring to look back over three decades at all we have accomplished, all the changes we have empowered. We deeply appreciate the employees, volunteers, partners, and donors who have supported our work. Resilience and sustainability are definitely collective endeavours.”

GreenUP was incorporated in 1992, after being incubated as a project of Kawartha World Issues Centre following a recommendation from a task force on sustainable development to establish a hub for collaborative and community-based environmental action.

In 1993, the Peterborough Ecology Garden established by Cathy Dueck joined GreenUP to establish the Ecology Park at Beavermead Park. Since then, GreenUP has gradually increased its capacity and programming, successfully securing funding from all levels of government, private foundations, businesses, and individual donors, as well as through fee-for-service programs and revenue from the GreenUP Store and Resource Centre and the Native Plant and Tree Nursery at GreenUP Ecology Park.

GreenUP will be celebrating its 30th anniversary with a free family-friendly event open to the public at Ecology Park from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 11th.

Also recognized with Green Community Awards were London Environment Network (Social Equity), Kai Millyard (Lifetime Achievement), Green Action Centre in Winnipeg (Green Community of the Year), Erin Moir, Education Director, EcoSuperior and Sarah Smouter, Office and HR Coordinator, Reep Green Solutions (Outstanding Staff), Sara Chow, EcoSuperior (Outstanding Board Person), and Green Venture (Youth Engagement).

Environment Canada has issued a special air quality statement for the southern Kawarthas region for Tuesday (June 21) due to hot and humid weather conditions creating elevated pollution levels.

The special air quality statement is in effect for Peterborough and southern Peterborough County, Lindsay and southern Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland County,

Hot and sunny conditions have resulted in increasing ground-level ozone concentrations in the above regions.

High-risk air quality health index (AQHI) values are expected to persist for one to two hours Thursday afternoon, with high pollution levels continuing throughout the afternoon into the evening.

Individuals may experience symptoms such as increased coughing, throat irritation, headaches or shortness of breath. Children, seniors, and those with cardiovascular or lung disease, such as asthma, are especially at risk.

The YWCA Challenge for Mom has raised $31,546.11 to support YWCA Peterborough Haliburton’s core programs serving women and children affected by gender-based violence.

The fundraiser, which took place in May during the week leading up to Mother’s Day, will support the charitable organization’s programs that receive only partial government funding, including Crossroads Shelter, Haliburton Emergency Rural SafeSpace (HERS), Family Court Support, Transition Support, Nourish, and more.

Like most women’s shelters in Ontario, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton relies on annual fundraising initiatives to cover basic operating costs.

“Locally, the need for emergency support has increased by 30 per cent since the pandemic began,” explains YWCA’s Ria Nicholson in a media release. “With the rising cost of living, women trapped in violent situations — particularly mothers — have even fewer options available than before.”

Participants in the fundraiser included Tammy Keller, who lost her daughter to domestic violence in 2011.

“I want to make sure that women still have places like the YWCA to turn to in their darkest times,” Keller says.

Local businesses also contributed to the fundraiser, offering prizes in a draw for participants who raised $250 or more. Euphoria Wellness Spa and Swish Maintenance Ltd. donated a self and home care prize valued at $800, Leon’s Peterborough donated a décor prize valued at $750, and Ashburnham Alehouse, Primal Cuts, Morello’s Your Independent Grocer, and Millbrook Mercantile donated a foodie prize valued at $475.

Prize winners were notified personally following the May 31 draw. Debbie Nayler won the self and home care prize, Liz Lambert won the décor prize, and Kelly Medhurst won the foodie prize.

The 2022 YWCA Challenge for Mom was sponsored by y Ontario Insurance Network and Baker Tilly, along with local media sponsors kawarthaNOW, Move 99.7, Pure Country 105, Freq 90.5, PTBOTODAY.ca, Oldies 96.7, Peterborough This Week, and The Peterborough Examiner.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact the YWCA’s 24-hour support and crisis line at 1-800-461-7656 or text 705-991-0110. For more information about YWCA Peterborough Haliburton programs and services, visit ywcapeterborough.org/

This week is the Trent Hills Pride Festival, organized by the Trent Hills Queer Collective to celebrate diversity, and the week’s festivities include a special screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Aron Theatre Co-op in Campbellford on Thursday night (June 23).

The 1975 musical comedy film, based on the 1973 musical stage production of the same name, is a parody tribute to science fiction and horror B movies and stars Tim Curry as Frank N Furter, Richard O’Brien as Riff Faff (O’Brien also wrote the original music), Susan Sarandon as Janet Weiss, Barry Bostwick as Brad Majors, Patricia Quinn as Magneta, and Meat Loaf as Eddie.

Although a box office failure, the film quickly developed a cult following, with audiences attending (often midnight) screenings dressed in costumes, parroting the dialogue, and dancing to the music. In particular, members of the LGBTQ2S+ community embraced the film’s themes of diversity and sexual liberation.

The June 23rd screening at the Aron is a fundraiser for Trent Hills Pride, and attendees are encouraged to dress up as their favourite character, dance to the songs, and wear party hats during the happy birthday scene.

A special guest will also be joining the screening: actor J.P. Baldwin of Stirling Festival Theatre, who plays Frank N Furter in the theatre’s production of the stage musical from July 7 to 24.

Tickets are $23 for assigned seating and are available at arontheatre.com. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the film beginning at 7 p.m. A cash bar will be available.

Thursday’s screening follows the unveiling on Monday of the Pride Bench at 66 Bridge St. East in Campbellford, and is the first of several events during the Trent Hills Pride Festival.

On Friday, June 24th, drag queens take over McGillicafey’s Pub & Eatery (13 Bridge St. N., Hastings, 705-696-3600) from 7 to 10 p.m. Reservations are recommended.

On Saturday, June 25th, all branches of the Trent Hills Library are hosting Drag Storytime featuring drag queens Betty Baker and Madeleine Hemel. They’ll be at the Hastings Library at 10 a.m., the Warkworth Library at 11 a.m., and the Campbellford Library at 12 p.m. All ages are welcome. To reserve your spot, email hastingslibrary@trenthills.ca, warkworthlibrary@trenthills.ca, or trenthillslibrary@trenthills.ca.

Also on Saturday, a Pride Party takes place from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Campbellford Fairgrounds at 315 County Road 38. Trent Hills Mayor Bob Crate will officially open the festivities, which will be hosted by Peterborough drag queen Sahira Q, with appearances by Betty Baker, also from Peterborough, Cobourg’s Madeleine Hame, and Ontario-based drag queen Banshii Waylon.

There will also be performances by Thomas Vaccaro, artistic director of the Peterborough Academy of Circus Arts, and visual artist and musician Dimitri Papatheodorou, whose band The NorthLumberLads will be performing along with local band The Blue Rigby’s.

A children’s tent will include paint-your-own cookies from Anita’s Creations (who will also be providing decorated Pride cookies to attendees), and face painting by fabric artist Ixchel Suarez. There will also be old-fashioned children’s games, including rope skipping, badminton, an egg and spoon race, and more.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs. Water, pop, hot dogs, and nachos will be available for sale.

On Sunday, June 26th, a Pride Car-avan will leave from the Campbellford Fairgrounds at 1 p.m., followed by a Pride Picnic in the picnic area behind the arena from 2 to 6 p.m. (bring your own food and beverages).

For more information about Trent Hills Pride, visit www.trenthillspride.ca