B!KE, a non-profit organization in downtown Peterborough supporting cycling, was vandalized in April 2018. Police have arrested and charged a 17-year-old Peterborough youth. (Photo coutesy of B!KE)
Police have arrested and charged a 17-year-old Peterborough man for an April break-in at the B!KE community bike shop in downtown Peterborough.
Sometime between April 21st and 22nd, the teen is alleged to have broken into B!KE (293 George St.) through a secure door.
Once inside, the teen is accused of using spray paint to damage the walls, ceilings, floors, bikes, and merchandise causing approximately $10,000 in damage. Also during the incident, a bike was stolen.
According to B!KE executive director Tegan Moss, swear words and messages of hate and anger were painted on the walls.
As a result of an investigation, police went to a Peterborough residence yesterday (May 7) and arrested the teenager. He is charged with break and enter, mischief over $5,000, and failure to comply with a sentence.
The teen was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court on May 28, 2018. Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the name of the teen cannot be released.
B!KE is a non-profit organization supporting adults and youths within Peterborough by providing them with skills needed to build, repair, and maintain bikes.
A view of Balsam Lake in the City of Kawartha Lakes. (Photo: Balsam Lake Association / Facebook)
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit is urging people who draw water directly from a southern section of Balsam Lake to use bottled water until further notice.
There was a fuel oil spill late Sunday afternoon (May 6) affecting the South Bay section of Balsam Lake, which is located in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
Around 100 properties along parts of Romany Ranch Road and Killarney Bay Road are affected.
Those residents should not use water drawn from the lake for drinking, cooking, making juice and infant formula, washing fruits and vegetables, dish washing, or brushing teeth.
Because of the nature of the fuel spill, boiling the lake water is not effective.
Notices about the water situation have been delivered to affected property owners, and more information is available by calling the Health Unit at 1-866-888-4577 ext. 5006.
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change is aware of the fuel spill and is monitoring the situation as cleanup efforts continue.
People in this area of Balsam Lake who rely on wells for drinking water are not affected by this advisory.
Kawartha Settlers' Village in Bobcaygeon is one of four attractions in the Kawarthas that are finalists in the 2018 Ontario's Choice Awards. Lang Pioneer Village in Keene, Ganaraska Treetop Trekking in Campbellcroft, and Westben Theatre in Campbellford are also finalists. You can vote for these and your other favourite attractions until the end of September, with the winners announced in October. (Photo: Kawartha Settlers' Village)
This week’s business news features four attractions in the Kawarthas that are finalists in the 2018 Ontario’s Choice Awards, one last season for Milltown Mini Golf in Peterborough, Random Acts of Green looking for input on its new mobile app, seven youth entrepreneurs elected for the Innovation Cluster’s Slingshot program, and construction begins on the new Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Peterborough.
New business events include: Scott Adams of Birchbark Media speaking on May 8th and leading a video interview techniques workshop on May 16th; Peterborough-Kawartha all-candidates meetings on May 16th, 17th and 23rd; the Junior Achievement Business Hall for Fame induction ceremony and dinner on May 24th; and the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area Annual General Meeting on June 27th.
Four attractions in the Kawarthas are among 2018 Ontario’s Choice Awards finalists
Ganaraska Treetop Treeking in Campbellcroft is a finalist in the 2018 Ontario’s Choice Awards “Top Outdoor Attraction” category. (Photo: Treetop Trekking Ganaraska)
Four attractions in the Kawarthas are finalists in the 2018 Ontario’s Choice Awards, presented by the non-profit Attractions Ontario association.
Both Kawartha Settlers’ Village in Bobcaygeon and Lang Pioneer Village in Keene are finalists in the “Top Small Museum/Art Galleries/Historic Site” category.
Ganaraska Treetop Treeking in Campbellcroft is a finalist for “Top Outdoor Attraction” and Westben Theatre in Campbellford is a finalist for “Top Performing Arts Attraction”.
Voting is now open for the third annual awards in eight categories until September 30, 2018. Vote for your favourite attraction at attractionsontario.ca/ontarioschoice/.
Winners of each category will be announced on October 1, 2018, along with the three attractions that receive the most votes overall.
The attraction that receives the most votes across all categories will be declared the Attraction of the Year. This winner will be announced and awarded at the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario Tourism Summit in October 2018.
Both Treetop Trekking and Lang Pioneer Village were winners of their respective categories in the 2017 awards, and were also among the top three vote-getters.
Milltown Mini Golf in Peterborough is open for one final year
Originally scheduled to be closed this year, Milltown Mini Golf is open for one final season. A grand re-opening celebration will be held at May 20, 2018. (Photo courtesy of Milltown Mini Golf)
One of Peterborough’s favourite family attractions, Milltown Mini Golf (933 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough), is staying open for one more year.
Last summer, owners Barry and Lynda Cross announced they would be closing in the fall of 2017 after 33 years in business when their landlord sold the two-acre property to a local developer. However, the developer’s application for redevelopment has been delayed, allowing Milltown Mini Golf to operate for one more season.
VIDEO: Milltown Mini Golf Commercial (2015)
Milltown Mini Golf, which calls itself a “family fun centre”, doesn’t just offer mini golf. They also have batting cages, rock wall climbing, treasure hunts, and more. It’s also been a popular location for wedding proposals and receptions, birthday parties, family gatherings, and more. The business has 12 employees.
A grand re-opening celebration will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 10th, with City of Peterborough Mayor Daryl Bennett and Councillor Lesley Parnell in attendance. Barry and Lynda Cross are inviting all customers, area residents, and friends to join us in the celebration, which will include a free game of mini golf for all who attend.
The Crosses, who have sponsored many community fundraising efforts in the past, will also be donating $250 to the Brock Mission rebuild project.
Random Acts of Green is building a new mobile app and wants your input
Jessica Correa (front), founder of social enterprise Random Acts of Green, with her team. Random Acts of Green is developing a new mobile app to encourage people to choose greener behaviours. A free community discussion on the new app will take place on May 10, 2018 at Lett Architects in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Random Acts of Green)
Jessica Correa’s social enterprise Random Acts of Green, which encourages and motivates people to modify their behaviour by making environmentally sustainable choices, is developing a new mobile app.
The new app will reward people for participating in “acts of green”. The app will provide people with different behaviour-based approaches that reduce greenhouse gases — including waste, transportation, energy, food, and water — and will quantify the amount of greenhouse gas reduced by each act.
Every act will be assigned a “green point” value and Random Acts of Green will partner with sponsors who will provide products and services that can be cashed in for accumulated green points.
Random Acts of Green is seeking feedback on their app development plans by hosting “Green Chats About the App”, a free community discussion on Thursday, May 10th at Lett Architects (138 Simcoe St., Peterborough). There will be three different sessions to choose from: 5 to 5:45 p.m., 6:15 to 7 p.m., and 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided.
For more information about Random Acts of Green, visit raog.ca.
Seven youth entrepreneurs chosen for Innovation Cluster’s second annual Slingshot Program
These seven youth entrepreneurs were selected for the Innovation Cluster’s second annual Slingshot Program. (Photo courtesy of the Innovation Cluster)
Seven entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 29 have been chosen for the Innovation Cluster’s second annual Slingshot Program.
The program will support the young entrepreneurs to launch and grow their businesses over the next four months. Each company will have a dedicated desk space within The Cube — the Innovation Cluseter’s business incubator — and will have access to all of its workshops, resources, innovation specialists, and tools.
The selected entrepreneurs and their businesses are:
Dylan Trepanier – Peterborough mobile eye exam clinic to reduce wait-time and be inclusive to customers.
Vismantas Kuznecovas – System to measure vibration of industrial machinery to provide maintenance solutions.
Lucas Graham – Building a mobile application to make networking events more efficient.
Alex Hopkins – Gambling platform for online video game currency.
Cole MacGregor – Reusable clothing that strives to promote gender-neutral fashion.
Rhode Thomas – Initiative to support Indigenous learners’ post secondary experience in Ontario.
Raman Vauchetski – Building a platform to connect employers with potential employees.
The seven entrepreneurs will have a chance to win $1,000 for their work by the end of the program.
“The Slingshot program showed such success from all participants last year, that over half of the startups applied to stay at the incubator past the end of the summer,” says Rosalea Terry, Marketing Manager and Senior Innovation Specialist at the Innovation Cluster. “This program shows to be a great opportunity for those who are just starting out in the business world and are learning how to adapt into being an entrepreneur.”
Last year’s winner of the Slingshot program was Alex Gastle of Vetterview. Vetterview is a platform that connects social media influencers and micro-influencers directly with brands looking to leverage influencer marketing through paid collaborations.
Gastle was able to push his business forward throughout the summer, and proved in his pitch Vetterview would have exponential growth in the future due to partnerships that span as far as London, England, thus winning $1,000.
“Working in The Cube was a lot better than working from home,” says Gastle. “I was motivated to come in every day and enjoyed hearing about the success other incubated startups were having.”
At the end of the program, all participants also must pitch their business and the progress they’ve made throughout Slingshot to a panel of judges from various business backgrounds, to determine who wins the $1,000 grand prize.
Construction begins on Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Peterborough
Peterborough Mayor Daryl Bennett participated in the official groundbreaking ceremony of the new Hampton Inn and Suites six-storey hotel to be built beside Shorelines Casino Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of the office of Mayor Bennett)
Last Thursday (May 3), Peterborough Mayor Daryl Bennett took part in the official groundbreaking ceremony for the new Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Peterborough, being built at 1400 Crawford Dr. in Peterborough.
“We are very excited to bring this modern Hilton branded hotel to the City of Peterborough,” said Nashrin Struk with development company Roshan Holdings.
The six-story hotel, which is expected to open in May 2019, will include 100 guest suites, an indoor salt water pool, a fitness centre, laundry facilities, complimentary breakfast for guests, free wifi, a business centre, and 800 square feet of meeting facilities.
The new hotel is part of the casino development and will be adjacent to Shorelines Casino Peterborough, which is expected to open in late summer or early fall of this year.
FastStart E-Connect with Scott Adams of Birchbark Media on May 8
FastStart — a partnership between Trent University, Fleming College, and the Innovation Cluster — is hosting its next E-Connect seminar from 6 to 8 pm. on Tuesday, May 8th at The Venue (286 George St. N., Peterborough).
Scott Adams, founder of video production and content marketing agency Birchbark Media, is the featured speaker.
Business Owners Sharing Solutions (BOSS) – Mental Health in the Workplace on May 9
The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism’s next Business Owners Sharing Solutions (BOSS) seminar takes place from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 9th at the Lakefield Legion (10 Nicholls St., Lakefield).
The session will focus on coping strategies and techniques to encourage mental wellness in your workplace, with panelists Jack Veitch of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Dave Pogue of Team 55, and Ashley Challinor of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area Breakfast Network with Michael Gallant of Lett Architects on May 16
Michael Gallant, Design Principal and Architect of Lett Arhitects, will be speaking about the the downtown vibrancy visionary project at the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area’s Breakfast Network on May 16, 2018. (Photo: Lett Architects)
The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) is hosting Michael Gallant as the guest speaker at its next Breakfast Network meeting on Wednesday, May 16th at at Empress Gardens (131 Charlotte St., Peterborough).
Gallant, a partner with Lett Architects and a member of the DBIA board, will be speaking about the downtown vibrancy visionary project.
Breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. with Gallant speaking at 8 a.m.
Tickets are $5 at the door and everyone is welcome to attend.
Video interview techniques workshop with Birchbark Media on May 16
The Innovation Cluster’s next “Hands-ON” workshop will be on video interview techniques from 12 to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 16th at the Innovation Cluster (270 George St. N., Peterborough).
Scott Adams, founder of video production and content marketing agency Birchbark Media, will explain how to properly stage and shoot an interview. Topics covered will include lighting, backdrops, camera techniques, framing and composition, and audio setups.
Participants are welcome to bring their cameras but Adams will be providing all necessary gear.
Peterborough-Kawartha all-candidates meeting on housing and small business on May 16
Liberal incumbent Jeff Leal, PC candidate Dave Smith, NDP candidate Sean Conway, and Green Party candidate Gianne Broughton are vying to become the next Peterborough-Kawartha MPP in the June 7, 2018 Ontario election.
Peterborough and the Kawarthas Association of Realtors (PKAR) and the Peterborough & The Kawarthas Home Builders Association are hosting a meeting of Peterborough-Kawartha candidates for the upcoming Ontario election.
The meeting takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 16th at the Peterborough Lions Community Centre (347 Burnham St. Peterborough).
Liberal incumbent Jeff Leal along with PC candidate Dave Smith, NDP candidate Sean Conway, and Green Party candidate Gianne Broughton will present their views on housing and home ownership as well as their support of small business.
The panel discussion wil be moderated by 2018 PKAR president Kristi Doyle.
The event is free, and doors open at 6:30 p.m.
As part of the 2015 electoral redistribution, the Peterborough provincial electoral district was renamed Peterborough-Kawartha. The new district no longer includes the Townships of Otonabee-South Monaghan and Asphodel-Norwood and the Hiawatha First Nation (all which are now part of the new Northumberland-Peterborough South riding), but now includes the townships of Trent Lakes and North Kawartha.
Peterborough-Kawartha all-candidates debate on business issues on May 17
The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce is also hosting an a meeting of Peterborough-Kawartha candidates from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 17th at the Holiday Inn Peterborough Waterfront (150 George St. N., Peterborough).
Liberal incumbent Jeff Leal, PC candidate Dave Smith, NDP candidate Sean Conway, and Green Party candidate Gianne Broughton will all be attending.
The debate will focus on issues affecting the business community.
Peterborough-Kawartha all-candidates meeting on May 23
The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism is also hosting a mmeeting of Peterborough-Kawartha candidates for the upcoming Ontario election from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23rd at the Lakefield Legion (10 Nicholls St., Lakefield0.
Liberal incumbent Jeff Leal, PC candidate Dave Smith, NDP candidate Sean Conway, and Green Party candidate Gianne Broughton will all be attending.
The meeting will feature a question-and-answer session moderated by David Goyette.
Doors open at 6 p.m. and everyone is welcome to attend.
Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner on May 24
The Junior Achievement Peterborough, Lakefield, Muskoka 2018 Business Hall of Fame inductees: Robert Gauvreau, Monika Carmichael, Carl Oake, Sally Harding, Alf and June Curtis, and Paul Bennett (not present: Paschal McCloskey). Two posthumous inductees were also announced: John A. McColl and James H. Turner, and John James (Jack) Stewart. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
Hosted by Junior Achievement of Peterborough, Lakeland, Muskoka, the 2018 Business Hall of Fame induction ceremony and dinner takes place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thusday, May 24th at The Venue (286 George St. N., Peterborough).
The event honours people whose exemplary accomplishments of vision, leadership, and commitment to excellence have strengthened the local economy and community. Eleven people will be inducted this year: Sally Harding, Monika Carmichael, Alf and June Curtis, Paul Bennett, Carl Oake, Robert Gauvreau, Paschal McCloskey, and (posthumously) John A. McColl and James H. Turner and JJ (Jack) Stewart.
The event also features a culinary showcase where guests can sample food from different vendors as they mingle with the local business community.
The Pin will serve meringue nests with lemon curd and fresh berries. BE Catering will serve mini local organic shawarma with lemony hummus (vegan alternative is chickpea and mint fritter), lightly pickled vegetables and local sprouts, on their handmade grilled pita triangles. La Mesita Restaurante will serve Cochinita Pibil (Mayan Pulled Pork). Coffee will be courtesy of Amuse Coffee Co., who will serve organic fair trade brewed coffee (including decaf) and premium loose tea. Curry Village will be providing a cauliflower dish as well as an onion patty. For vegan guests, Fresh Dreams will server lentil stew.
Other particpating food and beverage vendors include The Imperial Tandoor, Little Sweets, Sweet Spirits, and Publican House Brewery.
Innovation Cluster Peterborough and The Kawarthas hosts its annual general meeting on May 31
The Innovation Cluster Peterborough and The Kawarthas is hosting its annual general meeting from 2 to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 31st at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough).
Beginning at 2 p.m., the public can tour The Cube, the Innovation Cluster’s 10,000-square-foot business incubator, and meet some of the region’s most promising start-ups.
The annual general meeting, which is open to the public, takes place at 3 p.m. and will include highlights from 2017.
Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area Annual General Meeting on June 27
The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) is hosting its annual general meeting on Wednesday, June 27th in the Nexicom Studio at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough).
Networking starts at 5:30 p.m. with business at 6 p.m. The meeting will include updates on what’s happening in downtown Peterborough, as well as a general election of the board.
Everyone is welcome to attend, although only DBIA members can vote.
For more information on joining the board, contact Joel Wiebe at the DBIA at 705-748-4774 or joelwiebe@peterboroughbia.com.
Kawarthas Northumberland annual tourism partner meeting on June 20
Todd Lucier, co-founder of Northern Edge Algonquin Retreat Centre, a retreat designer and IGNITE facilitator will be the guest speaker at the Kawarthas Northumberland annual tourism partner meeting. (Photo: Northern Edge Algonquin Retreat Centre)
RTO8’s Kawarthas Northumberland is inviting tourism operators from within the Kawarthas Northumberland region (City of Kawartha Lakes, City and County of Peterborough, and Northumberland County) to its annual partners meeting (annual general meeting) from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 20th at Iron Horse Ranch (804 Ontario 7A RR1, Bethany).
The meeting will provide tourism operators with the opportunity to meet Kawarthas Northumberland board members and staff, along with representatives and advisors from the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, and to network with other tourism operators.
The guest speaker at the session will be Todd Lucier, co-founder of Northern Edge Algonquin Retreat Centre, a retreat designer and IGNITE facilitator. Lucier will speak on how tourism operators can leverage their own resources to build new and exciting visitor experiences, with an appreciation for the importance of community collaboration.
The event is free, but advance registration is required by 5 p.m. on Friday, June 8th. Register at Eventbrite.
On May 6, 2018, 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron from CFB Trenton rescued two people stranded on an island in Crowe River south of Cordova Lake near Havelock, Ontario. (Photo: 8 Wing Trenton / 424 Squadron)
A Toronto-area couple was dramatically rescued by helicopter on Sunday (May 6) after they became stranded on a small island south in Crowe River south of Cordova Lake, about 18 kilometres north of Havelock.
The man and woman, both in their 30s, had set out on a canoe trip on Crowe River on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. Their canoe was swamped by turbulent water and they swam to a nearby island. While the couple had life jackets in their canoe, they were not wearing them.
On Sunday morning, family members noticed they had not returned and later found their canoe and life jackets near Scott’s Dam (a series of stepped waterfalls) in Crowe River off of Fire Route 18.
A person who noticed the couple on the island contacted emergency services. Peterborough County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), paramedics, and local fire services arrived at the scene.
VIDEO: 424 Squadron Transport and Rescue – Cordova Lake May 6, 2018
However, due to the fast-moving water surrounding the island, they were unable to rescue the couple and called in 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron from CFB Trenton, who flew to the area in a CH-146 Griffon helicopter.
Despite strong and gusty winds in a heavily forested area, a member of the search and rescue crew descended around 200 feet (61 metres) twice to lift the man and woman to safety — documenting the rescue in the video above.
The helicopter then flew the rescued couple to a nearby field where emergency services were waiting.
The helicopter flew the rescued couple to a nearby field where emergency services were waiting. (Photo: 8 Wing Trenton / 424 Squadron)
While paramedics took the couple to hospital for assessment as a precaution, they were in good condition, having been able to make a shelter and build a fire on the island where they had spent the night.
Peterborough County OPP are reminding boaters to always wear their life jackets when out on the water and also to inform family or friends of their destination and expected return time.
The location of the rescue operation, on the Crowe River just south of Cordova Lake. (Map: Google)
The original version of this story has been updated to show the location of the rescue operation and to clarify the rescue happened in Crowe River.
The sign at the now-closed Moondance at 425 George Street North being taken home. It will be displayed in Pappas Billiards at 407 George Street North. (Photo: Moondance Music)
A little piece of Peterborough history will have a new home.
The iconic sign from Moondance Music in downtown Peterborough will be moving just down the street to Pappas Billiards at 407 George Street North.
Moondance owner Mike Taveroff — who closed Canada’s oldest independent record store on April 28, 2018 after deciding to retire — tweeted a photo of the sign being removed from the storefront at 425 George Street North:
(In the photo, that’s the original Moondance sign behind the one being taken down.)
This isn’t the first time an iconic business sign has found a new home in downtown Peterborough.
The neon sign from Hi Tops restaurant, which closed in late 2012, was rescued by Bill Kimball. In March 2013, Kimball agreed to have the sign placed inside The Spill, directly across the street from the former restaurant.
When The Spill closed permanently in October 2017, the sign was moved to Hot Belly Mama’s restaurant, where it remains today.
Moondance owner Mike Taveroff closed Moondance on April 28, 2018 after 46 years of operation when he decided to retire at the age of 68. (Photo; Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
Showcasing businesses, clubs, and organizations in Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, Celebrate Havelock returns for its 11th year at the Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Community Centre all day on Saturday, May 12, 2018. (Photo courtesy Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen)
Celebrate Havelock is making Mother’s Day easier for the whole family, with the annual event returning on Saturday, May 12th.
With more than 60 vendors, live music, kids’ activities and over $7,000 in prizes waiting to be won, this shop-local event is something your whole family can enjoy.
Now in its 11th year, the event takes a team of volunteers months to plan and organize.
The train logo of “Celebrate Havelock” recognizes the history of Havelock, an important freight depot from the 1880s to the 1960s. The railway is now run by Canadian Pacific as Kawartha Lakes Railway and its activity today consists of transporting nepheline syenite and crushed basalt rock from two mines north of Havelock operated by Unimin.
But with a focus on businesses, clubs, and organizations in the Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, the event is about more than shopping.
Brian Grattan is the Economic Development Officer for Havelock-Belmont-Methuen and Secretary of the Celebrate Havelock Committee. He says the full-day event just keeps growing.
“This is always a great day out,” Grattan says. “We’re hoping to catch the cottagers who are returning, and it’s a nice way to find out what’s happening in the community.”
Razberry the Clown (Jessica Jacobs) returns this year to entertain the kids with face-painting and balloons. (Photo courtesy of Jessica Jacobs)Belmont Lake Brewery, Havelock’s own microbrewery located by the shore of Belmont Lake, will be on site serving craft brew to adults at Celebrate Havelock. The brewery was opened in June 2016 by British expatriate Julie and Norrie Bearcroft. (Photo courtesy of Belmont Lake Brewery)
Grattan says that Razberry the Clown is returning thanks to the local Lion’s Club and, for the adults, the Belmont Lake Brewery will also be on site.
“Not everyone knows we have a craft brewery in the community,” Grattan says. “We’re happy to have them back for a second year.”
While shopping is certainly a focus for the day, there will also be live music running from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Eastlink Event Tent. For families, the Guardian Pharmacy is sponsoring a Bouncy Castle and the Ranch Restaurant is sponsoring a Petting Zoo.
The $3 admission — there’s no charge for children 12 and under — gets you entered for a long list of prizes with draws happening throughout the day.
With a Samsung tablet from and golf gear up for grabs, you can get an extra chance at prizes by bringing a non-perishable food item for the local food bank.
Door prizes include tickets to the Greenbridge Celtic Folk Festival with Natalie McMaster and Donnell Leahy, donated by Country 105. (Photo courtesy of Greenbridge Celtic Folk Festival)Unimin has donated the grand door prize, a 58-inch Panasonic smart television with a wireless Bose surround sound system valued at over $4,000.
Grattan says the event sponsors this year have been incredibly generous, with prizes like tickets from Country 105 to the Greenbridge Celtic Folk Festival with Natalie McMaster and Donnell Leahy, and there’s also a 58-inch Panasonic smart television with a Bose surround sound system from Unimin.
And while event attendees are welcome to stay as long as they like at Celebrate Havelock, you do not have to be on-site to win a prize, Grattan says.
“Come out and enjoy the day,” Grattan says. “It’s important to support our local businesses because they support our local sports teams and community events all year.”
Celebrate Havelock runs on Saturday, May 12th — the day before Mother’s Day — from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Community Centre at 39 George Street East in Havelock.
Bring Mom and the whole family for a great day of shopping, visiting, and making memories.
The May 4, 2018 wind storm in southern Ontario caused significant damage including downed trees, damaged roofs, and broken or leaning hydro poles, including this one at Sherbrooke and Aylmer streets in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Wendy Gibson)
More than 150,000 people in southern Ontario — including thousands in the Kawarthas — experienced power outages as a result of the wind storm yesterday (May 4).
Two deaths in Hamilton and in Milton were also reported. A Hamilton man in his 50s was electrocuted after trying to clear downed hydro wires from a roadway. In Milton, a 28-year-old man died and an 18-year-old man experienced life-threatening injuries after a tree fell on them; the two worked for a tree servicing company that was clearing fallen branches from utility wires for Milton Hydro.
As a cold front moved through southern Ontario yesterday, Environment Canada recorded wind gusts up to 120 kilometres per hour. The strong winds caused significant damage including downed trees, damaged roofs, and broken or leaning hydro poles.
Municipal utility companies and Hydro One were kept extremely busy responding to reported power outages. Thousands of people remain without power while crews repair the damage.
Hydro One customers can check the status of outages at the Hydro One Storm Center website at www.hydroone.com/StormCenter3/.
Reported power outages to Hydro One as of 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 5, 2018. (Map: Hydro One)
One of the most serious incidents in Peterborough was near the intersection of Lansdowne St. and Monaghan Rd., when a large tree fell on hydro lines, taking out power to around 2,500 customers in Peterborough’s west end and backing up traffic.
I've been meaning to take this old tree down, but the wind just now did it for me. Just wish it didn't come down on the driveway! It was rotten to the core.
and people living on local lakes reported high waves. The Gannon’s Narrows bridge and causeway in Ennismore wasn reduced to a single lane, after waves washed out one side of the road.
Stormy winds and double rainbow #pigeonlake by @andrea_mcclure #kawarthalakes #thekawarthas #onstorm
The beach at the Selwyn Beach Conservation Area. (Photo: Township of Selwyn)
You can visit one of the nicest (and most private) beaches in the Kawarthas for free this year.
Otonabee Conservation has removed the day use entrance fee for the Selwyn Beach Conservation Area, which is now open for the 2018 season.
Stay tuned for The Beach Report
Every summer, kawarthaNOW publishes The Beach Report, a weekly summary of water quality testing results at beaches across the Kawarthas.
The Beach Report is published and updated every week during the summer once local health units begin testing water quality, usually in mid June.
The conservation area is located on the northeast shore of Chemong Lake at 2251 Birch Island Road, just north of Peterborough.
Selwyn Beach is best known for its excellent swimming, provided by a gently sloping sandy beach on Chemong Lake. The shallowness of the swimming area makes it ideal for families with young children.
Parents should note that the beach and swimming area is unsupervised, and dogs are not allowed on the beach (all dogs must be leashed at all times). Washrooms and change houses are located near the beach area.
“Visitors will have access to the sandy beach for swimming, the boat launch and docking area, hiking trails and open greenspace,” says Jessie James, Conservation Lands Program Manager for Otonabee Conservation.
“The area is also popular for organized group camping and picnics as well as special events, for which a permit and fee will continue to be required.”
The picnic shelter includes a central barbecue and tables, and can be rented for $30 per day for family or other organized functions.
A map of the Selwyn Beach Conservation Area.
Camping is available for $6 per person per night for organized groups, and $9.50 per person per night for unorganized groups.
Free boat launching and docking facilities provide access to Chemong Lake and the Kawartha Lakes system, for recreational boating and fishing.
Marked hiking trails are also free to use by visitors.
The Selwyn Beach Conservation Area is one of the largest properties of undeveloped waterfront in the area.
Otonabee Conservation acquired the property in 1973 from the family that owned it to ensure that the waterfront would remain available for public use and to ensure the protection of the natural features and flora and fauna of the area.
The day use admission fee was previously $12 per vehicle, or $4.50 per adult and $2.75 per child for walk-in visitors. Otonabee Conservation discontinued the admission fees as the cost to collect the fees at a staffed gatehouse exceeded the revenue from the fees.
To reserve the picnic shelter or for camping and permits for special events, call 705-652-3161.
Brendan Wedley, the new Manager of Communication Services with the City of Peterborough, with his family. (Photo: Brendan Wedley / Facebook)
The City of Peterborough has hired Brendan Wedley as Manager of Communication Services effective Monday, May 7th.
Wedley, who has an Honours BA from the University of Toronto and is a graduate of the print journalism program at Loyalist College, has almost 15 years of experience in media and governance positions. From 2005 to 2013, he was a reporter with The Peterborough Examiner, including as the newspaper’s designated municipal government reporter.
In 2013, he accepted a position as communications manager with the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area. In March 2015, he assumed his current position as the assistant to Mayor Daryl Bennett, where he assists with communications, research, and administrative support for the mayor and council.
“Brendan’s experience with local media and strong relationships with community organizations will be a valuable resource as we continue to improve how we engage with residents,” says Sandra Clancy, the city’s chief administrative officer.
Wedley assumes a new position in the Corporation of the City of Peterborough, created in the city’s 2018 draft operating budget as part of a new communication services division to better communicate and engage with the public when it comes to city and council news and decisions, as well as to better manage the city’s website and social media channels.
The city has allocated $131,800 for annual salary and benefits for the position. The city’s existing customer services coordinator and related positions, as well as the city’s existing corporate sponsorship coordinator, will report to Wedley.
Wedley was selected as the successful applicant after a panel of senior city staff held interviews with candidates for the position.
“I look forward to working with the team from across the corporation as we continue to enhance how we communicate and engage with residents,” Wedley says.
Hang onto your umbrellas today (May 4), as strong and gusty southwest winds are forecast for this afternoon into this evening as well as the potential for severe thunderstorms.
Environment Canada has issued a wind warning for Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Hastings County, as well as a severe thunderstorm watch for Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton County.
Wind warning
Wind gusts of 90 to 100 km/h are likely across much of the region after a cold front moves through from early to late afternoon.
Thunderstorms are possible along the cold front and a severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for parts of Southern Ontario.
Winds will diminish this evening as a high pressure ridge moves in.
Damage to buildings, such as to roof shingles and windows, may occur. High winds may toss loose objects or cause tree branches to break. Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions due to high winds.
Wind warnings are issued when there is a significant risk of damaging winds.
Severe thunderstorm watch
Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain.
Severe thunderstorms possible this afternoon as a cold front blasts through.
The main threat is damaging wind gusts to 110 km/h.
Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles. Remember, severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes. Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors.
Severe thunderstorm watches are issued 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.
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