Environment Canada has issued a frost advisory for most of the greater Kawarthas region for Thursday overnight (September 29).

The frost advisory is in effect for Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Hastings County.

Temperatures are expected to dip near or below the freezing mark overnight Thursday into Friday morning.

Frost may damage some crops in frost-prone areas.

Cover up plants, especially those in frost-prone areas, and take preventative measures to protect frost-sensitive plants and trees.

Environment Canada issues frost advisories when temperatures are expected to reach the freezing mark during the growing season, leading to potential damage and destruction to plants and crops.

The Peterborough County detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has announced that Inspector Chris Galeazza is the new detachment commander.

Galeazza began his OPP career in December 1998 and was first assigned to the South Bruce Detachment. He also served at Haldimand County, the Caledonia Command Post, City of Kawartha Lakes and, most recently, at Peterborough County as the interim detachment commander.

He has participated in various projects and working groups, including a post as Pan Am Games venue commander.

Galeazza holds a Bachelor of Arts in sociology with a focus in criminology from Brock University and has completed the senior police administration course from the Canadian Police College.

He is also the recipient of the Police Exemplary Service Medal (20 years).

“I can certainly speak for all of us in Peterborough County who are delighted to welcome Chris as the new detachment commander,” states County of Peterborough Warden J. Murray Jones in a media release. “Chris has proven time and time again that he has the skills and the compassion to lead our local detachment. His down-to-earth approach serves us well. Congratulation Chris, we are all in this together.”

The Twisted Trauma Foundation has donated $5,000 to BGC Kawarthas (Boys & Girls Clubs of Kawartha Lakes) to support three programs to help youth address their mental health needs and fight the stigma of mental illness and addiction.

Delivered by the Youth Warehouse team at BGC Kawarthas, the three programs — “Flex Your Head,” “Creating Connections,” and “REACH” — will be offered at no cost to youth in local schools, at BGC Kawarthas and through the Youth Outreach Program. Twisted Trauma Foundation’s will support the BGC Kawarthas’ delivery of six full sessions during the 2022-23 school year.

“It is an honour and a privilege for the Twisted Trauma Foundation to fund the programs for youth mental health at the BGC Kawarthas,” says Jon Perrin, who co-founded Twisted Trauma Foundation with his wife Jen, a registered nurse. Jon became a mental health advocate after developing post-traumatic stress disorder in his role as a Kawartha Lakes OPP officer.

Created by BGC Canada, “Flex Your Head” is designed to help youth think about, talk about, and understand issues of mental health and wellness. The program’s goals are to tear down barriers youth face in helping them cope with stress, and to create awareness and understanding of mental health and mental illness.

“Creating Connections” is a program designed to enhance addiction awareness among youth, prevent harm associated with substance use, and help reduce harmful stigma while focusing on health promotion.

“REACH” is a program to support children and youth in addressing daily challenges. Outcomes for the program include participants feeling more confident to use skills in a social environment and recognizing how their feelings, emotions and behaviours are connected.

“We are so grateful for Jon’s support as we try to help young people in our community build healthy habits and strengthen their resiliency,” says BGC Kawarthas executive director Amy Terrill.

For more information about BGC Kawarthas, visit www.bgckawarthas.com. For more information about Twisted Trauma Foundation, visit twistedtraumafoundation.com.

“Grab your stretchy pants.”

That’s the advice from the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) about the Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival, which returns in October with 19 mac and cheese dishes available at participating downtown Peterborough restaurants.

The second annual celebration of local food and the talents of local chefs runs for the entire month of October. It’s a self-guided festival, so carb lovers can indulge as often as they like, alone or with family and friends. There are both traditional and innovative mac and cheese dishes, with vegan and gluten-free options also available. A map of the participating restaurants is available below.

“It’s the ideal number one comfort food, and we all need a little comfort coming out of COVID and all the restrictions,” said DBIA executive director Terry Guiel during a launch event on Wednesday morning (September 28) at The Food Shop at 374 Water Street.

Once again this year, downtown restaurants will be vying to be crowned Mac + Cheese Champion, an honour bestowed last year on Sam’s Place Deli for their Jalapeño Bacon Mac + Cheesewich.

“We were beyond proud to be chosen by the Peterborough Community as the winner for 2021, and we had a lot of fun coming up with our sandwich recipe,” says Sam’s Place Deli owner Sam Sayer. “It was an amazing feeling to hold that trophy above our heads, We can’t wait to compete again this year. More than anything, we are excited to see what the other chefs will be bringing to the table this fall.”

Foodies will be able to vote online for their favourite mac and cheese dishes all month long, with the victor chosen by the end of October — receiving bragging rights for the year, a cheesy hand-crafted trophy, and a sizable donation in their name to Kawartha Food Share.

Earlier this year, the Peterborough DBIA won the best special event and promotion award from the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association for the inaugural Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival.

“The idea for this mac and cheese festival really came from the fact that we are in a university and college community,” Guiel said. “I remember my time in college, and the number one food we all ate was Kraft mac and cheese.”

But unlike that simple box of macaroni with cheese product, the 19 dishes being offered by downtown restaurants during the Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival include some adventurous options such as Whistle Stop’s Mac n Cheese Poutine, DR. J’s Mac in a Waffle Bowl, La Mesita’s El Diablo Mac + Cheese, Crepes of Wrath Mac + Cheese Crepe, and Tragically Dipped Holly Macaroni — a donut-shaped mac and cheese. A full list of all 19 dishes is available below.

“We’re the culinary capital of the region and some of our restaurants are the best in the region,” Guiel said. “It’s great to see them take this very simple mac and cheese concept and turn it into a culinary luxury item.”

One again this year, the Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival will be partnering with Kawartha Food Share to run a food drive. During the festival, each participating restaurant will be accepting non-perishable donations. Festival-goers are encouraged to bring their donations downtown when visiting any of the participating restaurants.

New to this year’s festival is a make-at-home recipe challenge for budding home cooks. Along with a recipe for last year’s winning Jalapeño Bacon Mac + Cheesewich, a local mac recipe is available on the festival’s website.

Curated in partnership with The Food Shop, the local mac recipe features handmade pasta from the Pasta Shop paired with local cheeses, milk, and stone-ground flour. All the ingredients for the local mac recipe can be found at The Food Shop on Water Street.

Sponsored by Shorelines Casino, the Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival runs from Saturday, October 1st until Monday, October 13th. For more information, visit www.ptbomacandcheesefest.com and follow the festival on Instagram and Facebook.

Mac and Cheese Dishes

Adventurous Macs

• BrickHouse No Eff’n Way Mac Burger
• Whistle Stop’s Mac n Cheese Poutine
• DR. J’s Mac in a Waffle Bowl
• Tragically Dipped Holly Macaroni (gluten free)
• Champs Spinach Mac + Cheese Dip
• Boardwalk’s Mactoberfest
• Real Thai’s Mac + Cheese Bowl
• La Mesita’s El Diablo Mac + Cheese
• Crepes of Wrath Mac + Cheese Crepe
• The Dirty Butter Chicken Mac
• Amandalas Cheese + “Howcutearewe”

Vegan Macs

• Forest Vegan Mac (Gluten Free)
• Nateure’s Plate Mac n Please
• Grilled Cheesewich
• Sam’s Mac & Cheese Loafwich
• Maple Moose Grilled Cheese

Classic Macs

• El (P) Creamy 3-Cheese Chorizo BeerMac
• McThirsty’s McTastic Mac
• Crook and Coffer’s Mac + Cheese Brulee
• Black Horse Sweet Potato Mac

Mac Map

View a standalone map

Shoppers Drug Mart’s third annual fall LOVE YOU Giving Shelter fundraising campaign is now underway, with all local funds raised supporting YWCA Peterborough Haliburton.

The campaign, which runs until October 14, kicked off on September 10 when Shoppers Drug Mart announced a $300,000 donation to Women’s Shelters Canada, a national organization advocating for change on the issue of violence against women and supporting over 600 violence against women shelters and transition houses across the country.

During the fall LOVE YOU Giving Shelter campaign, customers can donate by purchasing and personalizing the “LOVE YOU by Shoppers Drug Mart” icons, which are prominently displayed on the campaign tree in all participating stores. All donated funds stay in the community where they are raised.

“We are deeply grateful to have been selected again by Shoppers Drug Mart for their 2022 Giving Shelter campaign,” says Kim Dolan, executive director of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, in a media release. “Unfortunately, the need for violence against women support services has remained high since the onset of the pandemic. With the continued support of Shoppers Drug Mart and our incredibly compassionate community, we are able to ensure that much-needed safety, resources, and support are available to women in crisis.”

In Canada, 44 per cent of women have reported experiencing some form of psychological, physical, or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. This means most Canadians likely know a woman affected by domestic violence, but may not be aware of it because these women may be afraid to speak out.

Historically, domestic violence increases at a time of economic uncertainty. First, it was the pandemic and now Canadians are facing the highest cost of living since the 1980s.

Every six days in Canada, a woman is killed by her intimate partner. Many survivors of domestic abuse cannot “just leave” because they depend on their abusers for basic needs and have few means of escape. For women who try, it takes an average of seven attempts to permanently leave an abusive partner. On any given night, more than 600 women and children are turned away because shelters are already full.

During the LOVE YOU Giving Shelter campaign, Shoppers Drug Mart Customers can support women in their community by purchasing a “leaf” for $2, a “butterfly” for $5, an “apple” for $10, or a “bird” for $50. Donations can also be made online at shoppersdrugmart.ca/givingshelter.

“This is our third year partnering with the YWCA for the LOVE YOU campaign,” says Mohan Joshi, pharmacist and owner of the Shoppers Drug Marts on Lansdowne Street and Chemong Road. “They are an incredible organization to work with. Our customers always have a big response. I think it’s a cause everyone can get behind, because unfortunately the reality is most people know someone affected by gender-based violence, which is what makes the work they do so important.”

YWCA Peterborough Haliburton provides safe shelter, resources, and support to help women safely escape violent situations, build upon their existing strength, and move forward in their lives. Confidential support, resources, safety planning and information are available to women, as well as the people who love and support them.