The Peterborough Area Roller Derby (PARD) league is returning to the track this June for the first time since the pandemic began.

On Saturday, June 18th at the Douro Community Arena (2893 Highway 28, Douro-Dummer), the league will be hosting “Post Pandemic PARDy: Down with the Sickness”, their first match since their win against Durham Region Roller Derby’s DRRD’y Farmers in March 2020.

Doors will open at 3:30 p.m. for a low-contact bout against Ottawa Roller Derby at 4 p.m., followed by an open full-contact scrimmage at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the family-friendly event are $10 (free for kids under 12) and are available at the door (cash only) or in advance from a skater.

According to a media release, PARD members have been training hard over the past year, integrating new skaters into the league, and looking forward to their 2022 season.

This season’s PARD membership includes Nancy Drew Blood (#19), Saul Good (#27), Sneaky D (#17), Snarl Marx (#1965), Car On Fyre (#413), Ramona the Pestilence (#104), Bamzoni (#7805), Sassitude (#3.14), Hurl Interrupted (#18), Kay, Bye (#705), Tiny Maehem (#1718), Dee-Molisher (#2304), Hatin’ McWrath (#20), Dicinta Grater (#811), Ricky Reckless (#86), Molly Spartan (#9), Seana the Dead (#613), Them Fatale (#1929), Break’er Thigh (#506), Shots O’Plenty (#52), and Steph Davey, along with coaches Sarie Not Sorry (#607), Stevie Stitches (#11), and Pip (#1701), and head referee Killer Whale Tank.

PARD is an incorporated not-for-profit, co-ed, skater-run league based in Peterborough, playing full-contact flat track roller derby. They are always looking for “fresh meat” (new skaters) and skating referees, with opportunities for both men and women.

The next learn to skate and Derby 101 courses will be is scheduled later in the year, and will cater to both beginner skaters and those who already have strong quad-roller skating skills.

Those interested in participating in the June 18th open scrimmage, sponsoring an event, volunteering, or becoming a member or a non-skating official can visit the PARD website at www.pard-rollerderby.com or the league’s Facebook page.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for significant rainfall for all of the greater Kawarthas region from Monday night (June 6) into Tuesday.

The special weather statement is in effect for Peterborough County, Kawarthas Lakes, and Northumberland and Hastings counties, with a rainfall warning in effect for Haliburton County.

Showers and isolated thunderstorms will move across the region as a cold front approaches from the west. Rain, at times heavy, is expected, with total rainfall amounts of 25 to 50 mm expected. In Haliburton County, rainfall amounts of 50 to 60 mm are expected.

Locally higher amounts are also possible in areas that receive thunderstorms.

The precipitation is forecast to end on Tuesday as a cold front moves through.

Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible.

There is some uncertainty with the track and timing of this cold front that will move across the area. Hence exact timing and total rainfall amounts are subject to change.

Peterborough writer Erica Richmond, the founder of Open Sky Stories, has raised $530 for the Trans Peer Outreach program at the Canadian Mental Health Association, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge.

In May, Richmond announced she would donate half of the proceeds ($10) of each sale of her children’s book Pixie and the Bees during the month of May to the association.

Based on her own experience of living with anxiety, Pixie and the Bees (illustrated by Brooklin Holbrough) tells the story of a happy Pixie who has an encounter while picking wildflowers that leaves her with constant pain and discomfort that nobody else understands at first.

By the end of May, Richmond had exceeded her expectations and — through a lot of promotion — sold a total of 53 books.

According to Richmond, a huge part of her success was a school board in British Columbia that purchased a copy of the book for each of their child youth workers to have as part of their resource kits.

In an email, Richmond says she decided to direct her donation to the Trans Peer Outreach program “because it’s Pride month and, honestly, the Trans community deserve all of the support we can provide.”

Richmond — whose youngest child is transgender — has written a blog post explaining why inclusive language matters.

For more information about Pixie and the Bees and to order a copy of the book, visit openskystories.com/product/pixie-and-the-bees/.

For more information about the Canadian Mental Health Association, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge’s Trans Peer Outreach program, visit cmhahkpr.ca/programs-services/trans-peer-outreach/.

Volunteer military veterans, first responders, and dedicated civilians are arriving in Peterborough to help low-income seniors and people with disabilities by cleaning up downed trees and green waste on their property as a result of the May 21 derecho wind storm.

Team Rubicon Canada, a volunteer-based charitable organization that sends skilled disaster response teams into areas requiring assistance, is deploying teams to Peterborough, Uxbridge, and the Ottawa area for the next few weeks.

In Peterborough, the organization is making the services of its volunteers — known as “greyshirts” — available to residents who own and occupy their property and currently receive the City of Peterborough Property Tax Assistance Program, which is available to low-income seniors and low-income people with disabilities.

“Even with the extraordinary support our community has provided one another, there are still residents who are struggling to deal with downed trees and property damage,” said mayor Diane Therrien in a media release. “This dedicated group of trained volunteers will thankfully be able to assist our residents who might not be able to afford to hire help.”

Eligible residents who would like assistance from Team Rubicon Canada can complete a request form online at arcg.is/iSqOX or dial 211 — a 24/7 helpline that assists residents access community, social and government services — to request service by phone.

“The city is grateful for the support that Team Rubicon will offer residents, and grateful to 211 Ontario for their support,” Therrien said.

VIDEO: Team Rubicon Canada

Teams with Team Rubicon Canada will only clean up trees and tree limbs that are already on the ground. Where possible, they will chainsaw fallen trees, branches, and brush into sizes that comply with the city’s green waste collection program, and will move the debris to the curb for pick up. They will not transport green waste from properties.

For material that exceeds the size or weight for green waste collection, the city may conduct a special collection of this material at a later date when resources are available.

Each Team Rubicon Canada team will make arrangements with the property owner to undertake any work on site before work begins. Team Rubicon Canada operates independently from the City of Peterborough.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to be working with the City of Peterborough during this challenging time for the community,” said Dave McAllister, director of programs and operations for Team Rubicon Canada.

“Our teams are on the ground and ready to put their disaster response skills to work to support the residents of Peterborough and help accelerate their recovery in the wake of this disaster.”

Team Rubicon was formed in the United States in 2010 after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Team Rubicon Canada was formed in 2016 after the Fort McMurray, Alberta wildfires. For more information and to volunteer, visit team-rubicon.ca.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for significant rainfall in Haliburton County starting Monday (June 6).

Showers and isolated thunderstorms will move across the region beginning Monday afternoon and continuing through Monday night into Tuesday.

Total rainfall amounts of 25 to 50 mm are expected, with locally higher amounts possible in areas that receive thunderstorms.

As there is some uncertainty with the track and timing of a low pressure system and associated cold front that will move across the area, exact timing and total rainfall amounts are subject to change.

Elsewhere in the greater Kawarthas region, including Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Hastings County, there is a 40 per cent change of showers on Monday afternoon, increasing to 60 per cent in the evening, with showers expected on Tuesday.

The Ganaraska Forest is remaining closed until further notice due to extensive damage from the May 21, 2022 derecho storm.

At 11,000 acres (4,452 hectares), the Ganaraska Forest is southern Ontario’s largest forest, and straddles Northumberland and Peterborough counties, Kawartha Lakes, and Durham Region.

“Early assessments suggest this was the largest natural disaster to impact the Ganaraska Forest since it was established in 1947,” reads a media release from the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority (GRCA). “Downed trees and safety hazards have been found on nearly every trail that staff have been able to access. In addition, an estimated 400-plus acres of the Ganaraska Forest have experienced severe blowdown damage.”

According to GRCA, the core of forest remains largely inaccessible and staff continue to assess the extent of damage from ground level. Aerial surveys were completed to identify significant blowdown areas that are currently inaccessible from the ground.

GRCA forestry staff will be organizing a salvage harvest in these blowdown areas soon. Summer staff have been hired to support GRCA staff in assessment and recovery efforts. The focus is to clear GRCA forest roads while continually surveying the Ganaraska Forest for blowdowns and hazardous conditions.

While GRCA appeciates offers of help from the public, the organization says the forest is too hazardous in its current state to use volunteers. Use of volunteers will be considered once recovery and cleanup progresses.

GRCA says it cannot predict when the Ganaraska Forest will be able to reopen, but expects it will be weeks. All current Ganaraska Forest memberships will be extended by the length of time that the forest remains closed.

The GRCA continues to enforce the closure of the Ganaraska Forest, and no access is being granted.

One of the 10 deaths in Ontario as a result of the May 21 storm happend in Ganaraska Forest when a 30-year-old man riding a dirt bike died from the injuries he sustained after being struck by a falling tree.