Environment Canada has issued a freezing rain warning for Sunday for all of the Kawarthas.

A fast-moving low pressure system over Missouri this afternoon (February 24) will cross the Great Lakes tonight into Sunday.

It will spread freezing rain or ice pellets into the region beginning late tonight or early Sunday morning.

Several hours of freezing rain are possible before a changeover to rain later Sunday morning.

Roads and other cold untreated surfaces will likely become glazed and slippery Sunday morning, before temperatures rise above freezing in the afternoon.

Take extra care when walking or driving in affected areas.

Environment Canada issues freezing rain warnings when rain falling in sub-zero temperatures creates ice build-up and icy surfaces.

The Northumberland Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is investigating a report of a missing Trent Hills resident and is asking for the public’s assistance in locating him.

Arthur Robert “Bob” Bisbee, age 65 of Trent River Village, was last seen yesterday at the Canadian Tire Store on Grand Road in Campbellford at approximately 4:30 p.m.

Bob is described as a Caucasian male, 5’11” (180 cm), 175 lbs (79 kg), thin build with short, grey balding hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a navy blue jacket, blue jeans and a tan coloured toque.

He is believed to be driving his grey 2016 Ford F150 pickup truck (extended cab) Ontario Licence plate #AP17267. He has been known to frequent the Havelock area.

Police and family members are concerned for his well-being and request that if you have seen Bob to contact the Campbellford OPP detachment at 705-653-3300 or toll-free at 1-888-310-1122.

There is a new family doctor in town for the residents of Apsley.

Beginning on February 28, 2018, Dr. Paul Hasson will join the Peterborough Family Health Team model of care, opening his practice in the North Kawartha Health Centre (183 Burleigh St, Apsley).

He will be working part-time on Wednesdays and Fridays until he is able to transition to full-time.

Dr. Hasson replaces Apsley’s previous family doctor, Dr. Wagdy Rayes, who retired at the end of June 2017 after 40 years and closed his practice, leaving Apsley residents without a family doctor.

Dr. Hasson obtained his Bachelor of Science from the University of New Brunswick in 1987 and graduated from medicine at Dalhousie in 1991.

During his career, he served as medical officer in the Canadian Armed Forces and owned Queens Park Health in Toronto. He is no stranger to the Apsley area.

“I have been coming to the area for the past several years, enjoying the natural beauty and friendly people of the area,” Dr. Hasson says. “I have enjoyed the Paudash Snowmobile trails in the winter, and ATV trails and lakes in the summer. I look forward to serving the medical needs of the Apsley community for years to come, and hope that I can live up to Dr. Rayes distinguished service to the area.”

Residents looking for a family doctor must either go to the North Kawartha Health Centre to complete registration forms, or visit www.apsleymedicalcenter.ca to download the forms when they are available.

To make an appointment or to have questions answered, residents can call the health centre at 705-656-3330. Patients should bring their health card at that time or provide the information over the phone. For those visiting the clinic, it will be open during the following days to sign-up as a patient:

• Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Patients who were under the care of the previous family doctor, Dr. Rayes, and those who wish to transition their care back to Apsley will need to visit the clinic during the times mentioned to be put on the list.

Patients under the care of the Nurse Practitioner Hub will automatically be absorbed into Dr. Hasson’s practice when he becomes full-time, and the hub will be integrated into Dr. Hasson’s practice.

Originally, the Peterborough Family Health Team was preparing to launch a virtual care clinic as an interim solution that would provide care to unattached patients. With Dr. Hasson joining the team, this initiative will no longer be moving forward.

The Peterborough Public Library Foundation has made another donation to the newly renovated Peterborough Public Library.

On Wednesday (February 21), foundation board members presented a cheque for $25,000 to the library for the cost of new furniture in the library’s children’s department.

On January 30, 2018, at the official opening of the renovated library, the foundation also donated $250,000 towards the library’s expansion expenses.

“We conducted a fundraiser last year specifically to raise money to purchase new furniture for our library’s new children’s department,” said foundation chair Bruce Gravel. “The foundation’s goal is to enhance and enrich the library’s role in our community.”

In past years, the foundation has helped with the purchase of computer internet stations, security gates, shelving, auditorium furniture, and kitchen equipment.

“There simply isn’t enough money in the library’s annual operating budget to cover everything our library needs to do to serve our community,” Gravel said. “We encourage bequests and donations on behalf of the library, which go to the delivery of better facilities and services.”

Founded in 1995, the foundation is a registered non-profit charity governed by a volunteer board of directors that oversees the secure investment and disbursement of monies received. It produces audited financial statements each year.

People wishing to donate to the foundation can visit the library’s website at www.ptbolibrary.ca, or call the foundation at 705-745-5382 ext. 2301. The foundation issues tax receipts for donations received.

Michael Geist, Canada research chair in internet and e-commerce law at the University of Ottawa, will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural Kawartha Teaching and Technology Conference on Friday, February 23rd at Trent University.

The free conference, with the theme “Thriving in My Cyberspace”, takes place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Peter Gzowski College (2510 Pioneer Road, Peterborough). The conference is open to all educators, faculty, students, administrative staff members, and IT professionals working in the Kawarthas.

Geist, who holds a Doctor of Law degree from Columbia Law School, is Canada’s foremost expert on new technology and its legal ramifications. His weekly columns have appeared in the Vancouver Sun, Toronto Star, and the Ottawa Citizen. He received widespread public attention from mainstream and citizen media in the winter of 2007 for leading the public response to proposed Canadian copyright changes.

Geist will speak with attendees about the threats and opportunities with emerging Canadian digital policies.

Following his keynote address, the day will include sessions and roundtable discussions on numerous topics surrounding digital technology in education, as well as a panel discussion to end the day on the future of technology in teaching and learning.

Expert panelists include: Alfonso Licata, president and CEO of the Ontario Research and Innovation Optical Network; Dr. Beverly King, assistant dean, Teaching and Learning, Queen’s University-Faculty of Arts and Science, and Alana Callan, learning technology specialist, Learning Support Services Team at Fleming College.

The conference will touch on topics such as how to use blockchain in higher education, accessible document creation for the web, using virtual reality in the classroom, and more. All topics discussed will fall under three different streams: increasing cyberspace and security awareness, enhancing teaching and learning through IT, and making life easier with IT.

The conference has been organized by Trent IT, the Centre for Teaching and Learning, and Trent Online.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for educators and IT professionals from the Kawarthas to network, share ideas, and discover solutions to today’s teaching and technology challenges together,” says Tariq Al-idrissi associate vice-president of IT at Trent University.

“This conference promises to be the spark that will ignite the teaching and technology talent that we have in the Kawarthas.”

To learn more about the upcoming conference and to register, visit trentu.ca/ktt/. Registration is open until 12 p.m. on Thursday, February 22nd.

Nominations now open for the 2018 Grandparent of the Year awards, hosted by Community Care Peterborough.

This is the 31st year for the awards, which were introduced by Anne Innis, former volunteer and board member with Community Care, to bring different generations together and celebrate the influence they have on each other.

“By participating in this contest, children are encouraged to recognize the importance of older people in their lives,” says Danielle Belair, Community Care’s executive director.

Children from grades 2 to 6 are invited to nominate their grandparent (or another special older person in their lives) for the Grandparent of the Year Award.

Two awards will be presented: one for primary level (grades 2 and 3) and one for junior level (grades 4 to 6). There will also be honourable mentions in each category.

Community Care has distributed information packages, including applications, to all elementary schools in the County and City of Peterborough.

Children who are not participating through their school can get their information package and application online from www.commcareptbo.org.

Submissions are welcome in either English or French.

All entries must be received by May 16, 2018 at Community Care, either dropped off or mailed (Community Care, Attention: Tracy Kennedy, 185 Hunter St E, Peterborough, ON, K9H 0H1).

The award recipients will be announced and honoured at a celebration on June 6, 2018.

The event is sponsored by returning sponsors Nexicom and The Gardens of Peterborough as well as Bennett’s Home Furnishings and Grady’s Feet Essentials.