A media release from parent company Friendly Stranger Holdings Corp states that Happy Dayz at 291 George Street North in downtown Peterborough will open on August 13, 2020, although the store's signage as of August 10 still reads "opening soon". (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Downtown Peterborough is about to get its second legal cannabis store.
According to a media release on Monday (August 10) from parent company Friendly Stranger Holdings Corp, Happy Dayz at 291 George Street North is set to open on Thursday, August 13th — although the store’s signage hasn’t been updated and a sign still reads “opening soon”.
Friendly Stranger Holdings Corp has acquired three cannabis-related brands — Friendly Stranger, Hotbox Shop, and Happy Dayz — and plans to open 15 licensed cannabis retail stores by the end of 2020 with five more by April 20, 2021, according to the media release.
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“We started this year with a strong growth mindset and the goal of being one of the largest cannabis retail players in Ontario,” says Friendly Stranger Holdings Corp president James Jesty. “We opened three new Friendly Stranger cannabis retail stores in the first half of the year and, despite setbacks from COVID-19, continue to expand.”
Founded in 2007, Happy Dayz has been a family-run business offering cannabis accessories. When it opens, Happy Dayz’ downtown Peterborough location will become the area’s second cannabis retail store.
Growers Retail, located just down the street at 225 George Street (across from No Frills), opened on April 1st.
A Happy Dayz location in Barrie opened on August 1st.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
After seven straight days with fewer than 100 new cases of COVID-19, Ontario is reporting a small uptick in new cases at 115. Of the new cases, 60 per cent are among people aged 39 or younger. Most of the new cases were reported in Ottawa (20), Peel Region (19), Toronto (16), Windsor-Essex (12), and Niagara Region (11).
The increase in new cases comes on the same day the Ontario government announced Windsor-Essex will join the rest of the province in Stage 3 of Ontario’s reopening as of Wednesday, August 12th.
In the greater Kawarthas region, one new case has been reported in Kawartha Lakes and one new case has been reported in Haliburton. There are no new cases to report today in the Peterborough area, Northumberland, or Prince Edward and Hastings counties.
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Since the pandemic began, there have been 99 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (94 resolved with 2 deaths), 177 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (156 resolved with 32 deaths), 26 in Northumberland County (25 resolved with no deaths), 15 in Haliburton County (12 resolved with no deaths), and 44 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County (38 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported on May 7 by Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.
Province-wide, there have been 40,161 confirmed cases, an increase of 115 from yesterday’s report, with 36,381 cases (90.6% of all cases) resolved, an increase of 102. There have been 2,786 deaths (no change from yesterday), with 1,799 deaths reported in long-term care homes (no change from yesterday). A total of 2,422,487 tests have been completed, an increase of 22,275 from yesterday, with 10,865 tests under investigation, a decrease of 6,675 from yesterday.
This report is based on data supplied by the province’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS), as well as any additional information supplied by health units. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data. Note that each health unit reports the information in a different way.
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
Confirmed positive: 99 (no change) Active cases: 2 (decrease of 1) Deaths: 2 (no change) Resolved: 95 (increase of 1) Total tests completed: Over 22,500 (increase of 150) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.
The health unit provides reports on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 218, including 177 in Kawartha Lakes, 26 in Northumberland, 15 in Haliburton (increase of 2, with 1 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 in Haliburton) Probable cases: 1 (increase of 1) Hospitalizations: 14 (no change) Deaths: 32 (no change) Resolved: 193, including 156 in Kawartha Lakes, 25 in Northumberland, 12 in Haliburton (no change) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
The health unit provides reports on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays..
Confirmed positive: 44 (no change) Deaths: 5 (no change) Hospitalized: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 0 (no change) Recovered: 38 (no change) Total tests completed: 19,290 (increase of 657) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 40,161 (increase of 115) Resolved: 36,381 (increase of 102, 90.6% of all cases) Hospitalized: 49 (decrease of 6)* Hospitalized and in ICU: 25 (decrease of 1) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 14 (increase of 2) Deaths: 2,786 (no change) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,799 (no change) Total tests completed: 2,422,487 (increase of 22,275) Tests under investigation: 10,865 (decrease of 6,675)
*Approximately 36 hospitals did not submit data to the daily bed census for August 8. The number of hospitalized patients may increase when reporting compliance increases.
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from July 10 – August 9, 2020. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from July 10 – August 9, 2020. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
The City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service in Lindsay. (Photo: City of Kawartha Lakes)
A 20-year-old Lindsay man is facing multiple charges after police allege he threatened a homeowner with a replica handgun and then broke into another home and assaulted an occupant before stealing property.
On Saturday (August 8) around midnight, Kawartha Lakes police were called to a home on Glenelg Street East in Lindsay following a disturbance between the homeowner and a man visiting the home. During that incident, the man produced a replica handgun from a backpack he was carrying and threatened to shoot the homeowner.
Police say the man fled from that home on foot and then broke into a home a short distance away on Kent Street East, waking a sleeping occupant in the process. The occupant confronted the man, who assaulted her before stealing property from that home. The suspect then fled on foot from the second home.
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A Kawartha Lakes police officer located the suspect hiding in a nearby backyard, and after a short foot chase was able to arrest him.
Nathan Ian Richards, 20, of Lindsay was arrested and charged with uttering threats to cause bodily harm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence, assault, theft under $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, mischief to property and failing to comply with the conditions of his probation order.
Richards was held in custody to attend a bail hearing on August 9th.
Investigators believe the accused man may have discarded stolen property in the area of Simcoe Street, between Kent Street East and Russell Street. If a homeowner discovers suspicious property around their residence, they are encouraged to contact the Kawartha Lakes Police Service immediately at 705-324-5252 and speak with an officer.
Richards was previously arrested on June 27, 2020 and charged with theft of a motor vehicle, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and failure to comply with the conditions of his probation order. On April 8, 2020, he was arrested and charged with theft under $5,000, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime, and three counts of failing to comply with the conditions of probation.
That’s the tag line of the first annual survey of area businesses being conducted this summer by Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED).
PKED’s “Business Count” was launched on June 15th and is continuing until the end of August. The survey is intended to deliver insight into the region’s economy, better inform economic development decisions and programming efforts, and improve access to information for local businesses.
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So far, PKED has surveyed businesses in the townships of North Kawartha, Trent Lakes, Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, Douro-Dummer, Apshodel Norwood, Otonabee South Monaghan, and Cavan Monaghan.
This week (August 10th to 14th), PKED will be contacting businesses in Selwyn Township, with businesses in the City of Peterborough to be surveyed starting August 17th.
PKED staff will be contacting businesses over the phone or by email.
If you’re a local business owner and you want to complete the survey yourself, or if your business is in one of the already-surveyed areas and you were not contacted, you can do so at surveymonkey.com/r/BusinessCount2020.
The first annual Business Count in Peterborough and the Kawarthas continues until August 31, 2020. (Graphic: Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
The survey, which is voluntary, takes around five minutes to complete. It will ask questions about your business including how many people you employ, the square footage of your business, whether your business imports or exports, the legal status and ownership of your business, and more.
Among other things, data from the Business Count will help identify vacant properties and spaces for new and existing businesses to locate, provide improved regional workforce data, and help inform decisions related to job growth, workforce development, business opportunities, and community development initiatives.
For more information about PKED’s Business Count project, visit ptbobusinesscount.ca.
In place of its popular Applefest event, Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene is hosting a drive-through tour called "Harvest Time in the Village" on October 4, 2020, that will include a glimpse into the Applefest demonstrations and activities, but as a completely hands-off and visually rich experience. (Photo: Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene)
Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene has announced its preliminary schedule of events for this fall.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the museum’s traditional autumn events can’t proceed as they normally would. However, the museum is planning several events that provide a similar experience but with enhanced safety precautions.
First up in September is a guided version of the museum’s previously scheduled “Village by Lantern Light”. Visitors can tour the historic village in the evening by the soft glow of lantern lights with a costumed interpreter who will light the way.
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Tours for this family-friendly event will be booked in advance with timed entry, ensuring that everyone will experience a safe tour.
“Village by Lantern Light” is scheduled to take place over four days: Friday and Saturday, September 11th and 12th, and Thursday and Friday, September 17th and 18th.
In October, the museum is replacing its popular Applefest event with a drive-through tour called “Harvest Time in the Village”. From the comfort of their own vehicles, visitors will slowly drive through the village and experience snapshots of pioneer life at harvest time.
Tours for the family-friendly “Village by Lantern Light”, taking place over four days in September, will be be booked in advance with timed entry, ensuring that everyone will experience a safe tour. (Photo: Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene)
Taking place on Saturday, October 4th, this event also provides a glimpse into the museum’s Applefest demonstrations and activities, but as a completely hands-off and visually rich experience.
Also in October, the museum will celebrate Halloween with its popular “Historic All Hallows’ Eve” event. Visitors will discover the origins and traditions of Halloween during this evening guided tour exploring the stories behind modern-day Halloween beliefs and practices. Featuring enhanced safety measures, tours will be booked in advance.
Historic All Hallows’ Eve will run on Friday and Saturday, October 23rd and 24th, and Thursday and Friday, October 29th and 30th.
Tours for the family-friendly “Village by Lantern Light”, taking place over four days in September, will be be booked in advance with timed entry, ensuring that everyone will experience a safe tour. (Photo: Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene)
The museum is also working on another Halloween-themed event, and may announce additional events for the fall season.
“Many factors will affect the museum’s ability to ensure that the seasonal tours are able to run as planned including safety, volunteer availability, and cost,” says assistant manager Elizabeth King.
“For now, we are pleased to share some tentative plans, in hopes that we can all be at the village in a way that will ensure everyone stays safe but gets to enjoy all of the history and fun the village has to offer this fall.”
Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the northern areas of the greater Kawarthas region for Monday afternoon and evening (August 10).
The watch is currently in effect for Haliburton and Hastings counties only.
Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms on Monday afternoon and evening that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail, and heavy rain.
The main threats are strong damaging winds up to 100 km/h and torrential downpours.
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Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles. Intense lightning is likely with any thunderstorm that develops. 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, torrential rainfall.
The Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management recommends that you take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches.
This photo of a triplet of black bears by Cliff Homewood was our top post on Instagram in July 2020. (Photo: Cliff Homewood @kerrybrook / Instagram)
As we head into month five of a global pandemic and I review the July top photos, I am reminded how pristine our Kawarthas are.
I know that many of our local photographers are naturalists and environmentalists. So I hope they will appreciate that I am reminding everyone this month to “take only photos and leave only footprints”.
Many thanks once again to all of our photographers who allow us to share their photographs and please keep doing what you do.
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Do you want to get on our top photographers list? All you need is an Insta account and to tag us using our hashtag #kawarthanow when posting your photo.
We share photos from across our readership area, which is the five-county area surrounding Peterborough which includes Peterborough, Northumberland, City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, and Hastings (we sneak in the occasional Algonquin Park picture as well, particularly if it’s by a Kawartha photographer).
To see our daily shares of photos, follow us on Instagram @kawarthanow and check out our feed’s highlight reels for recaps of every month in 2020.
#1. Black bear triplets by Cliff Homewood @kerrybrook
Posted July 28, 2020. 7,586 impressions, 625 likes
Some of the 3,444 cannabis plants at an illegal cannabis grow op in Cramahe Township in eastern Northumberland County. On August 6, 2020, police arrested and charged three people with violations under the federal Cannabis Act. (Photo: OPP)
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) took down a major illegal cannabis grow op in Cramahe Township in eastern Northumberland County last week.
On Thursday (August 6), police executed two search warrants under the federal Cannabis Act at two adjoining rural properties near Colborne.
At the two properties, police seized a total of 3,444 cannabis plants, 41 pounds of processed cannabis, and 31 pounds of cannabis resin.
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They also seized a farm tractor and cell phone.
Police estimate the street value of the seized cannabis at $3.9 million.
As a result of the investigation, police arrested and charged 51-year-old Ronald Forget and 54-year-old Faith Forget, both of Cramahe Township, and 55-year old Ken Hung Yap of Scarborough, with possession of illicit cannabis, possession of cannabis for the purpose of distribution, cultivate more than four cannabis plants, and cultivate place other than residence.
Police estimate the street value at $3.9 million of the cannabis plants and processed products they seized on August 6, 2020 at an illegal cannabis grow op in Cramahe Township in eastern Northumberland County. (Photo: OPP)
The three accused were released and are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cobourg on October 14, 2020.
The investigation was a joint effort of the Northumberland/Peterborough OPP community street crime Unit (CSCU) with the assistance of the City of Kawartha Lakes CSCU, Bracebridge CSCU, Orillia CSCU, Nottawasaga CSCU, Central Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, and Central Region emergency response teams and canine units.
On August 6, 2020, police executed two search warrants under the federal Cannabis Act at two adjoining rural properties near Colborne in Cramahe Township in eastern Northumberland County. (Photo: OPP)The illegal cannabis grow op was located inside and outside at two adjoining rural properties near Colborne in Cramahe Township in eastern Northumberland County. On August 6, 2020, police seized 3,444 cannabis plants along with 72 pounds of street-ready product and charged two Cramahe Township residents and one Scarborough resident. (Photo: OPP)
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
For the fifth day in a row, Ontario is reporting fewer than 100 new cases of COVID-19, with 88 new cases reported today. A decline in active cases continues, with 118 more cases resolved. Hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and patients on ventilators have also all declined. Of Ontario’s 34 public health units, 27 reported five or fewer cases, with 18 reporting no new cases at all.
In the greater Kawarthas region, one new case has been reported in Northumberland. There are no new cases to report today in the Peterborough area, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, or Prince Edward and Hastings counties.
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Since the pandemic began, there have been 99 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (94 resolved with 2 deaths), 176 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (156 resolved with 32 deaths), 26 in Northumberland County (25 resolved with no deaths), 14 in Haliburton County (12 resolved with no deaths), and 44 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County (38 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported on May 7 by Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.
Province-wide, there have been 39,897 confirmed cases, an increase of 88 from yesterday’s report, with 36,024 cases (90.3% of all cases) resolved, an increase of 118. There have been 2,783 deaths (no change from yesterday), with 1,799 deaths reported in long-term care homes, an increase of 1. A total of 2,346,433 tests have been completed, an increase of 25,136 from yesterday, with 25,077 tests under investigation, an increase of 5,785.
This report is based on data supplied by the province’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS), as well as any additional information supplied by health units. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data. Note that each health unit reports the information in a different way.
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
Confirmed positive: 99 (no change) Active cases: 3 (no change) Deaths: 2 (no change) Resolved: 94 (no change) Total tests completed: Over 22,150 (increase of 150) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.
The health unit provides reports on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 216, including 176 in Kawartha Lakes, 26 in Northumberland, 14 in Haliburton (increase of 1, in Northumberland) Probable cases: 0 (no change) Hospitalizations: 14 (decrease of 1)* Deaths: 32 (no change) Resolved: 193, including 156 in Kawartha Lakes, 25 in Northumberland, 12 in Haliburton (no change) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
*One case has been removed, as the case was not hospitalized for COVID-19 treatment
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
The health unit provides reports on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays..
Confirmed positive: 44 (no change) Deaths: 5 (no change) Hospitalized: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 0 (no change) Recovered: 38 (no change) Total tests completed: 18,633 (increase of 602) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 39,897 (increase of 88) Resolved: 36,024 (increase of 118, 90.3% of all cases) Hospitalized: 66 (decrease of 5) Hospitalized and in ICU: 28 (decrease of 1) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 12 (decrease of 1) Deaths: 2,783 (no change) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,799 (increase of 1) Total tests completed: 2,346,433 (increase of 25,136) Tests under investigation: 25,077 (increase of 5,785)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from July 7 – August 6, 2020. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from July 7 – August 6, 2020. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
Megan Murphy and Kate Suhr are bringing performing arts to your front (or back) door with 'The Verandah Cafe. (Photo courtesy of The Verandah Cafe)
With local performance venues still closed due to the pandemic, singer-songwriter Kate Suhr and storyteller Megan Murphy aim to make your home the performance venue.
The two Peterborough women have joined forces to create The Verandah Cafe where, “in the tradition of Irish storytellers” according to a media release, they will come to your verandah or yard to share stories and songs.
Suhr and Murphy will perform for around 30 minutes at a safe physical distance from the audience. Each performance will be limited to a maximum of 15 people.
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Both day and evening performances are available between Thursday, August 13th and Saturday, August 29th.
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