After being stolen from the Riverview Park & Zoo early today, Jackson and Chubby are back home safe and sound. (Photo: Riverview Park & Zoo)
It was a tense day at the Riverview Park & Zoo on Saturday (June 17) — but it ended well.
On Saturday morning, the zoo reported that someone had broken into one of the outdoor exhibits at the aviary and had stolen Jackson and Chubby, two box turtles who have been at the zoo since 2006.
The two turtles, which are not native to Canada, are popular with students during the zoo’s tours and educational programs. Chubby is unique in that his shell did not develop correctly, and he also has some ongoing medical issues.
The zoo put the call out on social media asking for help. Their Facebook post was shared over 1,700 times and their tweet about the stolen turtles was retweeted 182 times.
Someone has broken into the Park&Zoo, and STOLEN our much-loved box turtles, Jackson and Chubby. PleaseRT & help to bring them home. pic.twitter.com/TpXYRfyhAm
— Riverview Park & Zoo (@RiverviewZoo) June 17, 2017
It seems like all the publicity paid off. By the end of the day, the zoo reported that Chubby and Jackson had been dropped off back at the zoo. Both turtles appear to be fine.
There’s no word yet from the zoo on who the culprits were or why the turtles were stolen.
Chubby is unique in that his shell did not fully develop, and he has ongoing medical conditions. (Photo: Riverview Park & Zoo)
After photos of two women suspected of fraud were widely circulated on social media, they turned themselves in to Peterborough police, who have arrested and charged them with fraud.
On June 3, 2017 at approximately 9:50 p.m., items were purchased from the Shoppers Drug Mart on Charlotte Street in downtown Peterborough. Shortly before 5 p.m. on June 5, 2017, two women entered the store and selected the same items off the shelves as were previously purchased on June 3rd, and then used the initial receipt to return the items.
The total amount returned was entered on a debit card, and then the two women left the store.
Police released images of the two female suspects to the media and public. As a result of a social media post, the two women were identified. On Wednesday (June 21), the co-accused attended the police station where they were placed under arrest.
As a result of the investigation, a 40-year-old Peterborough woman and a 14-year-old female related to her were arrested and charged with fraud under $5,000. They were both released from custody with future court dates and proceedings.
The name of the adult accused is not being released as it could identify the youth. Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act the name of a young person cannot be released. Editor’s note: We have removed the photo originally posted with this story as it might identify the young person.
Impact 32 is offering free bike rentals in Bobcaygeon until July 2, as a way to introduce the new bike sharing program. (Photo: Impact 32)
As a special offer to welcome summer, Impact 32 is offering free bike rentals in Bobcaygeon for visitors and residents until Sunday, July 2nd.
“This free offer is our way of introducing everyone to the new bike share program,” says Impact 32’s official bike spokesperson Carly Poole. “Anyone who might want to try a bike will get a chance to take one out for a spin.”
The seven-speed bikes are brand new and come complete with helmet, lock, and a basket to hold your shopping or picnic lunch. It’s the perfect way to see a little more of Bobcaygeon area if you arrive by boat, and also just a cool way to get around town.
Anyone over five feet (152 cm) tall can rent a bike by downloading the Movatic app to their phone (Android or iOS). It’s easy to use, and unlocks the bike from the stand for you, then locks it back up when you’re finished.
The white city-cruiser style bikes are in stands near the Lock 32 swing bridge, ready to roll. Volunteers have already started to man the Welcome Centre on the northeast side of the swing bridge on weekends and will be available to offer information and tips on local attractions to anyone who drops by.
Impact 32 needs more volunteers to work two- or three-hour shifts chatting with people at the bike station, helping direct visitors, giving info on the bikes as well as answering any other questions that might pop up. Volunteers will be provided with information and hand-outs and stationed inside, out of the elements, so shifts are in or shine.
Anyone who would like to share their Bobcaygeon enthusiasm is asked to click the “Volunteer for Bike Sharing button” on the home page of www.visitbobcaygeon.com.
Impact 32 is a volunteer steering committee made up of local business owners and community organizers.
Mark Cossarin, principal of I.E. Weldon Secondary School in Lindsay, was critically injured in a bicycle accident south of Warsaw of June 15, 2017. (Photo: ACT Foundation)
The Lindsay man airlifted to Kingston with serious injuries following a collision with other cyclists on Thursday (June 15) has been identified as 49-year-old Mark Cossarin.
Cossarin is the principal of I.E. Weldon Secondary School in Lindsay.
On June 15 at around 7:30 p.m., Peterborough County OPP and emergency crews were called to assist after three cyclists collided on Peterborough County Road 38 (South Street), south of Warsaw.
The three cyclists were riding together when one of them hit a pot hole, causing a chain reaction crash.
Cossarin was seriously injured as a result of the crash and was airlifted by Ornge air ambulance to Kingston General Hospital, where he is listed in critical condition.
The other two cyclists with whom Cossarin was riding received minor injuries as a result of the collision.
Cossarin is an avid and experienced cyclist. He competed in the 2015 Ontario Road Race Provincial Championships and placed fourth in the Sportif Men 108.2km race.
A view of Victoria Beach on Lake Ontario in Cobourg. (Photo courtesy of Linda McIlwain)
As of June 16, 2017, the following beaches have been posted as unsafe for swimming:
Peterborough – Roger’s Cove
Fenelon Falls – Bond Street
Here are the complete results of water quality testing at beaches in Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County.
In the City of Peterborough, Peterborough Public Health Inspectors sample the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead every business day, and public beaches in the County of Peterborough are sampled at least once a week (except for Chandos Beach, Quarry Bay Beach, and White’s Beach which are sampled at least once in June, July, and August).
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit provides weekly testing results for beaches in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County. Testing is based on the most recent test results from the provincial lab in Peterborough for water samples taken from these beaches.
Peterborough Public Health samples the water quality of popular city beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead every business day during the summer. The health unit will post signage if a beach is unsafe for swimming, such as this sign at Rogers Cove last year. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
Important note
The following test results may not reflect current water quality conditions. Water samples can take one to three days to process and heavy rainfall, high winds or wave activity, large numbers of waterfowl near a beach, or large numbers of swimmers can rapidly change water quality.
You should always check current conditions before deciding to use a beach. You should also monitor other factors that might suggest a beach is unsafe to use, such as floating debris, oil, discoloured water, bad odours, and excessive weed growth.
Also, you should confirm the most current test results by visiting the local health unit websites at Peterborough Public Health and Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. As noted above, the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead are tested every business day so the results listed below may not be current.
Break out of your rut and try one of these extraordinary experiences: play thrilling interactive real-life games at Escape Maze (pictured), journey through time to settler-era Bobcaygeon at Kawartha Settlers' Village, and unleash your hidden artistic talent while enjoying a drink or two at a Spirits and Splatters paint party. (Photo: Escape Maze)
Isn’t it time to try something new? These incredible local experiences are a great way to break out of your rut and have a blast. Thrilling game play, a party in a village that’s also a museum, and a chance to explore your artistic talent (drink in hand) await you. What are you waiting for?
Jake Walling and her brothers Mike and Fred Preddy run Escape Maze with seven other family members. (Photo: Escape Maze)
Escape Maze evokes the world of the Old West and the gold rush that took the Kawarthas by storm in 1866. (Photo: Escape Maze)
Following their experience guests are invited to try on a costume and take a photo in the photo booth. (Photo: Escape Maze)
On the outdoor adventure trails participants complete a series of challenges in the style of The Amazing Race. (Photo: Escape Maze)
The year is 1866. The Kawarthas are experiencing a gold rush, and with it has come a taste of the Old West: taverns, backhouse poker games, vaudeville acts, and the occasional really good mystery.
Welcome to the world of Escape Maze (156 Cedar Bank Rd., Peterborough, 705-740-3657), a series of interactive games run on a local family farm by Jake Walling along with her brothers Mike Preddy and Fred Preddy. Altogether, 10 family members are involved in creating an exciting world of game play where you and your friends are racing against the clock.
As soon as you arrive at the farm you are immersed in the atmosphere of the Old West. You enter the barn, where you watch a movie about the gold rush that hit the Kawarthas in 1866 — a real historic event that provides a frame for the Escape Maze experience. That’s when the fun begins.
The Escape Maze has a variety of puzzles to solve. If you choose a room experience, you are brought into a room where you have either 45 minutes or an hour to solve a series of clues to escape.
In the Backhouse Poker Room, you need to solve poker-themed clues to escape. In Rosie’s Tavern, Rosie has gone missing and it’s up to your team to to solve the mystery. At The Freak Show, you have been locked in the Moosehead Theatre and you need to set it up for the freak show that’s coming to town before you can find the key out. In the Battle for Granny’s Gold, you are on one of two teams — either you want to steal granny’s gold or you want to protect it — whose players compete for the gold.
There are also outdoor adventure trails where you get a map and a compass and you head out on the trail following the diary of an early pioneer. You need to find different stations and solve the puzzle before your friends can.
Finally, fans of horror will enjoy The Shaft, a haunted adventure where you unlock a series of doors. If you fall behind, you may encounter a zombie. The shaft is open once a month and at Halloween. Every year it changes, so you can make it part of your Halloween tradition.
Puzzles require logic, ingenuity and an eye for detail. And they can be addictive. Jake explains there’s a whole psychology around it.
“There are different endorphins that are released during game play,” she says. “If you’re trying to open a lock and you finally open it, that releases endorphins in your body — and that’s going to make you feel good.”
There’s also the bond that develops when you solve a problem together.
“Everybody feels closer to each other. There’s a connection that happens when you’re all trying to do something together.”
And if you think that being locked in a room won’t be very exciting, think again.
“There’s the adrenaline of trying to get something done fast,” Jake explains. “It’s more psychological than you think.”
The puzzles are made to be challenging, but you get a bell that you can ring if you’re really stuck. The percentage of people who make it out varies by the room. The hardest room only has a 10 per cent success rate, but that’s without using the bell to get clues.
Jake says that she doesn’t get too hung up on the numbers. “Our main concern is that everybody has fun doing it.”
After you solve your puzzle you can head to the photo shop, where you take a picture dressed in pioneer clothes.
The Escape Maze welcomes corporate and school groups, and can accommodate over 100 people at a time.
Six incredible reasons to visit Kawartha Settlers’ Village this year
A trip to Kawartha Settlers' Village allows you to explore the history of the area from 1835 to 1930. (Photo: Kawartha Settlers' Village)
The village comes alive for the Bobcaygeon Craft Beer and Food Festival, held annually in August. (Photo: Eva Fisher / kawarthaNOW)
Halloween fun at Kawartha Settlers' Village involves a haunted house, crafts for kids and a maze. (Photo: Kawartha Settlers' Village)
Murphy's Barn will become a Christmas wonderland for this year's 20th Annual Festival of Trees. (Photo: Dennis Turcott)
Any visit to Kawartha Settlers’ Village (85 Dunn Street, Bobcaygeon, 705-738-6163) is a journey through time. Buildings and artifacts dating from 1830 to 1935 tell the story of Bobcaygeon: from settlers trying to make it through their first winter in a hastily constructed shanty, to a time of prosperity when the town became home to logging barons and prosperous blacksmiths.
A visit to Kawartha Settlers’ Village is always an entertaining and educational experience, but the grounds are also a venue for some of the most unforgettable events in the region. Here are six reasons that you need to visit Kawartha Settlers’ Village this year.
1. Get in touch with history
Any visit to Kawartha Settlers’ Village is sure to be an interesting experience. As you enter, children are offered a scavenger hunt, and adults can enjoy a free audio tour.
You can immerse yourself in early farming, with a three sisters garden, chickens, goats and ducks.
Others will enjoy the chance to see what jail was like in Bobcaygeon in 1874: a structure with no roof used mostly on Saturday evenings. A roof has been added to the original jail and it’s on display.
Jessica Bullock, the marketing coordinator at Kawartha Settlers’ Village, recommends the General Store. There you can browse artifacts, and an old pharmacy exhibit with vintage medicines. There are even 1930s-era breast pumps.
2. Movies in the Barn
Every Wednesday evening in July and August, the Murphy Barn becomes a place where the community gathers for movie night.
The first feature this year will be the aptly chosen Night at the Museum. The snack shack is open and chairs are provided, but many prefer to bring their own blankets and lawn chairs.
Admission is by donation.
3. Driftwood Theatre
Fans of live theatre will enjoy Driftwood Theatre’s adaptation of Othello, which envisions the story unfolding among Canadian soldiers on the island of Cyprus in 1974.
The production takes place on Friday, August 4th at 7:30 p.m., and admission is $20 (or pay what you can).
4. The Second Annual Bobcaygeon Craft Beer and Food Festival
This adults-only event features eight breweries and a cidery and six food vendors. Just make sure you don’t end up in the 1874 jail!
New this year will be Brew Sessions, which Jessica says will offer a more in depth look at the breweries represented.
“Each brewery will talk about how they make their beers, their ingredients, and what foods they are best paired with. It’s a platform for them to talk about their product and hopefully get people even more interested.”
The Second Annual Bobcaygeon Craft Beer and Food Festival will take place on Saturday, August 19th from 12 to 7:00 p.m.
5. Haunted Village
Even when summer is over, the fun continues at Kawartha Settlers’ Village. This incredible Halloween-themed event is a chance for kids and adults to enjoy the season.
There’s a haunted house for the adults, but the rest of the village is set up for kids to enjoy. They can bob for apples and marshmallows, solve the maze and do crafts, but Jessica says that the highlight of the event is the Wicker Man — a man fashioned of sticks.
“When guests come to the village they can go and write a wish into the wicker man and then you go and stuff them into him. At the end of the night, we parade him to the fire and we burn him. It’s said that your wishes go to heaven and they’re supposed to come true.”
This year’s Haunted Village will be held on Saturday, October 21st from 6 to 9 p.m. Admission is by donation.
6. The 20th Anniversary Festival of Trees
Those who have been to the Festival of Trees at Kawartha Settlers’ Village often make it a tradition. Beautifully decorated trees, wandering carollers, a craft sale, and a pancake breakfast are among the many activities you can enjoy.
This year, the festival will take place from Thursday, November 9th through to Sunday, November 12th.
Volunteers are always needed for events, so Jessica encourages anyone who is interested to call the office. They will even give out high school hours.
Kawartha Settlers’ Village is open from May through to the end of September from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can find them online at www.settlersvillage.org. You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Spirits and Splatters and the benefits of the brush
Spirits and Splatters offers Milk and Splatters, a fun painting experience for kids. (Photo: Spirits and Splatters)
Paint parties offer a chance to express your individuality and create something that you love. (Photo: Spirits and Splatters)
It's also social: Spirits and Splatters allows you to relax into painting with a drink in hand. (Photo: Spirits and Splatters)
Now you can create garden accents including driftwood sculptures with Spirits and Splatters. (Photo: Spirits and Splatters)
Have you ever considered taking up painting? Elaine DeCunha, founder of Spirits and Splatters, has everything you need to get started. Her paint parties are a chance to unplug, relax, and get in touch with a part of yourself that you may not often indulge.
So what do you do at a paint party? Elaine says that the atmosphere is very relaxed.
“Spirits and Splatters makes it easy to just relax, have a drink, and try your hand at painting with guided instruction.”
Even those who are completely new to painting can enjoy a paint party.
“We teach folks step by step and make it very easy. Most are quite surprised and happy with what they have created.”
Elaine has been passionate about art since she was a young girl.
“I have loved and done artwork since I was five.”
She received a scholarship to the Ontario College of Art and Design and completed a minor in Fine Art from Guelph University, but her father convinced her to take another path.
“My father convinced me that there were too many starving artists and I should follow a more reliable degree.”
Art is Therapy
Elaine was 18 at the time, and had been volunteering at Ontario Correctional Institute, teaching art to inmates.
“I became interested in our criminal justice system while working with the inmates and listening to their stories.”
Elaine decided to get a degree in Criminology, but she kept teaching art — this time to to inmates at Guelph Correctional Centre. She could see the value of these lessons in the inmates she worked with.
“After working with inmates, I know that painting and art in general is very liberating. It is therapeutic, an escape in another way, where one gets lost in the colours, the texture, the whole creative process. Self expression through art is wonderfully gratifying and raises self confidence and self esteem.
“I’ve seen significant changes with inmates once they have discovered they have a talent in art. Most do but never give themselves the opportunity to try; being incarcerated gave them the time. Many artists like Norval Morrisseau discovered their talents in jail.”
Elaine says that everyone, not just inmates, can have this connection to art.
“Art is therapy … for everyone.”
Painting is good for you
Creating a piece of art can be a great way to get away from the screen. Elaine says that once you start, you won’t miss your phone.
“Painting gives good competition to electronic devices in terms of absorption and engagement. It is addictive. Once immersed in the process of creating and discovering, one forgets about everything else.”
According to Elaine, studies have shown that painting can even improve brain health and prevent Alzheimer’s.
“New research from Germany has found painting to be just as effective as math in Alzheimer’s prevention. Which is great since I’m lousy at math.”
Hidden talents
Elaine has seen a lot of hidden talent emerge at her paint parties. She takes pride in helping to reveal it. She recalls Karen, a mother who was given a gift certificate to Spirits and Splatters for Mother’s Day.
“It was a large crowd that day at Ashburnham Ale House (in Peterborough) and I saw Karen doing a beautiful painting. I went over and told her she had a gift.”
The next day Karen bought supplies and started painting every day. Eight months later she left her job as a mortgage broker to pursue a diploma in fine art. Elaine still stays in touch with her.
“I just received a message from her a couple of days ago saying she’s been hired to teach painting! How wonderful is that?”
Spirits and Splatters offers a variety of paint party options, including private events held at a home and public events held at a bar or restaurant. They offer services for fundraisers, birthdays, bachelorette parties, corporate team building, retirement homes, and special needs groups.
In addition to paint parties, Spirits and Splatters will begin to offer workshops from their Millbrook studio in July. This will include sculptural workshops to create garden accents, including driftwood sculptures, leaf stepping stones, cement mosaic birdbaths, and stone work. These workshops will be presented at the beginner level.
New Brunswick guitarist and singer Keith Hallett performs his gritty old-time blues at The Arlington in Maynooth on Friday, June 16 and at The Garnet in Peterborough on Saturday, June 17. (Photo: Keith Hallett / Facebook)
Every Thursday, we publish live music and performance events at pubs and clubs in Peterborough and The Kawarthas based on information that venues provide to us directly or post on their website or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, June 15 to Wednesday, June 21.
If you’re a pub or club owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, please email our Nightlife Editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com.
Friday, June 23 7pm - Volunteer event for It Takes a Village Theatre production of "Alice in Wonderland"
Black Horse Pub
452 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 742-0633
Thursday, June 15
7:30pm - Jazz and Blues Night ft Marsala Lukianchuk and the Rob Phillips Trio
Friday, June 16
5pm - Rick & Gailie; 8:30pm - The Rob Phillips Band
Saturday, June 17
5pm - Cameron von Criegern; 8:30pm - Tammy J. Wilde
Sunday, June 18
3pm - Marc Roy
Monday, June 19
7pm - Crash and Burn w/ Rick & Gailie
Tuesday, June 20
7pm - Open mic w/ Randy Hill
Coming Soon
Thursday, June 22 7:30pm - Jazz and Blues Night ft Marsala Lukianchuk and the Rob Phillips Trio
Friday, June 23 5pm - Rick & Gailie; 8:30pm - House Brand
Saturday, June 24 5pm - Rick & Gailie; 8:30pm - Northern Soul
Sunday, June 25 3pm - Live music (TBA)
Canoe & Paddle
18 Bridge St., Lakefield
(705) 651-1111
Thursdays
7:30-10:30pm - Live music
Saturdas
8-11pm - Live music
The Cat & The Fiddle Cobourg
38 Covert St., Cobourg
(905) 377-9029
Friday, June 16
10pm - Jade Eagleson and Clayton Yates
The Cat & The Fiddle Lindsay
49 William St. N., Lindsay
(705) 878-4312
Coming Soon
Saturday, June 24 8pm - Summer bash ft Harry Peterson Band
Chemong Lodge
764 Hunter St., Bridgenorth
(705) 292-8435
Saturday, June 17
6-11pm - Donny Woods Band
Coach & Horses Pub
16 York St. S., Lindsay
(705) 328-0006
Thursdays
10pm - Open Jam w/ Gerald Vanhalteren
Wednesdays
7-11pm - Live music
The Cow & Sow Eatery
38 Colborne St., Fenelon Falls
(705) 887-5111
Saturday, June 17
9pm - Mother Load
Coming Soon
Saturday, June 24 9pm - Tungsten
Dobro Restaurant & Bar
287-289 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 775-9645
Thursday, June 15
10pm - Live music (TBA)
Friday, June 16
10pm - Live music (TBA)
Saturday, June 17
10pm - Live music (TBA)
Wednesdays
Open stage
Dominion Hotel
113 Main St., Minden
(705) 286-6954
Wednesday, June 21
7:30pm - Poets in the Pub
Coming Soon
Saturday, June 25 5-9pm - Sheri Hawkins and the Cleverly Hillbillies
Thursday, July 13 8:30pm - Valdy ($30)
Saturday, July 22 8pm - Ian Reid ($6)
Dr. J's BBQ & Brews
282 Aylmer St., Peterborough
(705) 874-5717
Friday, June 16
9pm - Philthy Phil's Crappy Comedy Night w/ MC Helen Lynett and ft James Wright and Phil Stephenson (PWYC, proceeds to Five Counties Children's Centre)
Saturday, June 17
12-6pm - 4th Annual Phil Marshal Birthday Bash ft Rick & Gailie, Victory Boys, Bridget Foley, Fabulous Tonemasters, Quickshifters, Water St. Slim & Unlikely Heroes ($10, all proceeds to PMBA)
Coming Soon
Saturday, June 24 8pm - Broken Harmony
Frank's Pasta and Grill
426 King St. E., Cobourg
(905) 372-2727
Thursday, June 15
6-9pm - Honey Soul
Fridays
9pm-12am - Karaoke Night Girls Night Out; 12am - DJ Chrome
7pm - Retirement celebration for John Punter & Lylie Ryder (former owners of The Pig's Ear Tavern)
Shots
379 George Street K9H 3R2, Peterborough
(705) 749-9315
Wednesdays
10pm - Wednesday House Party
Southside Pizzeria
25 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough
(705) 748-6120
Fridays
9am-12pm - Open mic ($2);
The Spill
414 George St., Peterborough
(705) 748-6167
Note:
The Spill is temporarily closed and will reopen on June 20.
Turtle John's Pub & Restaurant
64 John St., Port Hope
(905) 885-7200
Coming Soon
Saturday, June 24 9:30pm - DJ Spinmart & Luke Force (no cover)
Saturday, July 1 2-5pm - Canada Day ft Garage Dog
The Venue
286 George Street North, Peterborough
(705) 876-0008
Coming Soon
Friday, June 23 7pm - Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic School Year End Gala w/ GTA Swing Band ($125 family, $50 adult, $20 student, $30 alumni, $125 VIP)
Wild Blue Yonder Pub at Elmhirst's Resort
1045 Settlers Line, Keene
(705) 295-4591
Tuesday, June 20
7:30pm - Tuned Up Tuesdays ft Emily Burgess from The Weber Brothers (no cover)
Coming Soon
Tuesday, June 27 7:30pm - Tuned Up Tuesdays ft Washboard Hank (no cover)
Naomi Duvall and Chris Culgin star as a married couple with unusual sexual proclivities in Harold Pinter's "The Lover" at The Theatre on King in downtown Peterborough from June 15 to 17. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
“Is your lover coming today?” a man asks his wife. And so begins the bizarre psycho-drama The Lover, being presented at The Theatre on King (TTOK) in downtown Peterborough until Saturday, June 17th.
The Lover
When: Thursday, June 15 to Saturday, June 17, 2017 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, June 17, 2017 at 2 p.m. Where: The Theatre on King (159 King St., Suite 120, Peterborough) How much: $10 at the door or pay what you can
Written by Harold Pinter. Directed by Kate Story and starring Naomi DuVall and Chris Culgin with Ryan Kerr.
Directed by Kate Story and featuring Naomi DuVall and Chris Culgin, The Lover is a show about head games and fantasies, and a dangerous sexual power play that entraps two people in an endless loop of dissatisfaction.
Written in 1962 by British writer Harold Pinter, The Lover explores the demise of relationships in post-1950s society as social and sexual attitudes are rapidly changing. The one-act play presents a couple who are bored with one another and openly seek out other outlets for sexual fulfillment.
Richard (Chris Culgin) goes to work daily knowing that his wife Sarah (Naomi DuVall) will be receiving a visit from her lover at 3 p.m. Seemingly upset by the visits from this unknown man, Richard accepts them as a fact of life. However, he turns the game around when he announces to Sarah he has also taken on a lover of his own, who he calls “a whore.”
“Is your lover coming today?” Richard (Chris Culgin) heads off to work knowing that his wife Sarah (Naomi DuVall) will be visited by her lover in the afternoon. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
The husband, the wife, the lover, and the whore become four players who walk a thin line between fantasy and reality. That line begins to corrode as the rules change, and a struggle between Richard and Sarah for emotional domination throws their already crumbling marriage into a dangerous game where there are not any clearly defined winners.
The Lover is an excruciatingly uncomfortable production with a strange and often silent rhythm that seems to suck the air out of the room. It’s a quiet show with incredibly long pauses between dialogue, creating an awkward tension between the characters. However, the pauses are deliberately specified within Pinter’s script to create that awkward tension.
There’s also little chemistry between the performers, but this is an obvious directorial decision by Kate Story. Richard and Sarah are possibly one of the worst couples in drama. The audience doesn’t know whether Richard and Sarah, with all their head games and strange expectations of one another, are happy or miserable. Richard seems to be unhappy and Sarah dissatisfied but, when the tables are turned, those roles are reversed.
Local musician Chris Culgin makes his theatrical debut alongside experienced actor Naomi DuVall. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
Although perhaps not the easiest role to cut his teeth on, Chris Culgin makes a daring stage debut as Richard. Known in Peterborough as a musician and songwriter, Chris has never acted before but he is obviously comfortable on stage and interacts with no difficulty with the more experienced Naomi DuVall.
It is fair to say that any awkward moments in Chris’s performance only add to the surreal tension in the show — but those moments are rare. It’s a strong debut by Chris in an unusual and challenging role.
I admit I always love watching Naomi DuVall perform. She gives a sensuous performance as a housewife looking for relief from her boredom, and for power over sexual appetites her husband isn’t able to satisfy on her own. But when the control of her games begins to shift, it becomes difficult to know if she is happy, miserable, emotionally controlled, or bordering on insanity.
Naomi plays all these different emotions in a series of roles that constantly change. Once again, Sarah is a complicated character inviting different levels of interpretation. Naomi is equally charming and disturbing in this strange and provocative role.
“The Lover” features deliberately long silences between the dialogue, specified by the playwright, to create an awkward tension between the characters. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
I also want to make a mention of the interesting musical selections that Kate chose for the scene breaks of the show. During some long costume changes, the audience is treated to some great songs from the early 1960s that reflect the drama on the stage, including tracks by Ray Charles, David Rose, Bobby Vinton, The Sensations, Joannie Sommers, and Barbara George.
The music not only lends its own commentary interpretation to the drama on the stage, but also establishes both the time period and the unnatural sexual attitudes of the late 1950s and early 1960s, which today seem completely alien. It’s a clever soundtrack with a lot of thought put into it.
The Lover is an interesting play offering many different interpretations. Are Richard and Sarah healthy in their sexual habits, or are they living in a destructive cycle of head games and banality? Are their games keeping a loveless relationship alive, or do they border on abuse? Although they confess their love for each other, are they even in love at all?
It’s an interesting commentary of love during the time Pinter wrote the play, but it remains relevant today despite the fact that our current society’s sexual attitudes are far more evolved. In the end, the individual audience member will have to judge what the future holds for the characters in The Lover.
But be prepared for an uncomfortable production where the silence between the characters speaks louder than the characters themselves.
The Lover runs at TTOK from Thursday, June 15th to Saturday, June 17th. Performances start at 8 p.m., with an additional 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday. Admission is $10 or pay what you can.
A cyclist passes a parked car on River Road in Peterborough, while the driver of a truck gives ample space when passing the cyclist. Giving a minimum of one metre of space when passing a cyclist is the law. The one-metre cushion is designed to keep everyone safe on our roads. (Photo: Lindsay Stroud)
The organization of our roads and the laws that govern how we share them are changing and developing as the way we use roads evolves. These changes can seem fast, especially for motorists who have been accustomed to using the roads in a certain way for a long time. So what do these changes mean for motorists and other road users?
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Scott Cecchin, GreenUP & B!KE Cycling Program Instructor.
An advertisement currently running on the back of a Peterborough Public Transit bus reminds residents of one of the newer laws governing how motorists should act around cyclists. Often referred to as the “one-metre rule”, this law (passed in September 2015) requires that motorists who wish to pass a cyclist must leave a one-metre cushion of space between themselves and the cyclist.
A motorist who breaks the one-metre rule can face a $110 fine plus two demerit points.
The one-metre cushion is designed to keep everyone safe on our roads. For example, it can be difficult for cyclists to maintain a perfectly straight line while riding. Environmental conditions such as pavement inconsistencies, broken glass, or even a strong gust of wind, could require a cyclist to move to the right or left. When motorists obey the one-metre rule, they can pass cyclists while giving room for these unexpected movements.
VIDEO: Give Cyclists a Metre – It’s the Law
From the cyclist’s perspective, laws such as the one-metre rule make our roadways friendlier and more desirable places to cycle. These laws allow cyclists feel safer and more comfortable while riding, especially on busier routes. The dangers that are often associated with cycling on our city roads can be a serious disincentive for choosing to ride your bike instead of driving. It’s not hard to imagine how that extra space makes cyclists feel more comfortable as a few thousand pounds of metal goes whizzing by!
So what does this mean for you as a motorist on the road?
First, be patient. Roads are shared between many types of users, and we all have a responsibility to keep our roads safe. If it is safe to pass a bicycle, give it a metre of space or fully change lanes if possible. Please don’t rev your engine or honk your horn while passing a cyclist. While a honk might seem like a friendly gesture from inside the car, I can tell you from experience that the noise is frightening and can cause a cyclist to lose control.
In general, while driving near a cyclist, it is always good practice for a motorist to give bicycles extra room. Of course, cyclists should use hand signals to communicate what they are about to do, but for a quick stop this may be difficult. In a perfect world, of course, all road users would follow the rules of the road precisely. For better or worse, we live in the real world where chance and human error needs to be planned for. This extra attention will allow for human error to play out safely.
An extra level of caution should be used when driving near children on bikes. Studies have suggested that young children have poorer peripheral vision than adults — meaning they might not see your vehicle when it seems they should. Children may also act more impulsively and have less understanding of rules of the road, which can lead to unpredictability. The one-metre law seeks to address these types of unexpected issues.
Including bicycles is playing a big part of transitioning our transportation system to be more active, sustainable, and community-engaged. Governments at many levels are continuing to respond to this vision through the development of new transportation laws and infrastructure. Laws such as the one-metre rule seek to make cycling a safer and more desirable choice for road users. They also help to shape the ever-growing norms of how our roads should be shared to meet everybody’s evolving transportation needs.
If you would like to learn more about the new laws and local infrastructure as it is changing and evolving in the Peterborough-area, you may want to attend an upcoming Bike Night. Bike Night, funded by Ontario Trillium Foundation and delivered by B!KE and GreenUP, runs each Thursday evening until the end of September. Each week there is a new theme with content focusing on confidence building, discovery rides, family fun, and bike mechanics skills; a great way to learn and ride together.
Bike Night tonight (June 15) is Rules of the Road for Cyclists. This is a workshop that will aim to answer all your questions about how and where to ride on the road. We will practice maneuverability skills, learn how to be visible and predictable, and review the laws for cyclists. After some bike drills and Q&A, we will go for a short ride on Peterborough trails and roads. Visit peterboroughmoves.com for more information and to register.
From horseback riding to sports to history, there's no shortage of summer camps in the Kawarthas for every child's interest. Ultimate Sports Camp, offered in partnership with the Peterborough Rugby Club and the City's Recreation Division, introduces campers to non-contact rugby as well as archery, giant-ball soccer, cricket, disc golf, ultimate Frisbee, tennis, Aussie Rules football, and basketball. (Photo: City of Peterborough Recreation Division)
With school nearly out, are you scrambling to find something to keep your child stimulated through the long summer months?
We’ve rounded up just some of the options in the region for every child’s interest: from horseback riding to sports to history, there’s no shortage of options.
Seven Pines Stables offers equine activities, arts and crafts for children ages 7 and older, taught by owner and riding instructor Heather Leach. (Photo: Heather Leach / Seven Pines Stables)
For the more experienced riders, athleticism is the focus, where campers improve their skills in advanced disciplines, like jumping and dressage. (Photo: Heather Leach / Seven Pines Stables)
At the camp, kids spend time in the saddle, learn how to groom, feed and safely handle horses, clean the stalls, and get ready for daily lessons. (Photo: Heather Leach / Seven Pines Stables)
At the end of the week, campers feature the skills and tasks they've learned from the program on what's called "Show Off" day for family and friends. (Photo: Heather Leach / Seven Pines Stables)
If your child is a budding equine enthusiast and someone who enjoys time out in the country, then Seven Pines Stables (1297 Eldon Rd, Kawartha Lakes, 705-953-9602) is the place to be.
The beautiful facility, located in in the heart of Kawartha Lakes, will run a summer camp on July 10-14, August 8-11 and August 21-25 that encompasses equine activities, arts and crafts for children ages 7 and older. No riding experience is required to attend.
Over a dozen children take part in each of the week-long programs, taught by owner and certified level II centered riding instructor Heather Leach, which is designed to be a positive introduction to horses for novice riders and an opportunity for advanced riders to work on their riding techniques. The non-riding activities are taught by a handful of high school graduates and Grade 9-11 students looking to complete their community hours.
“Regardless of their experience, we make sure that when kids complete the week of camp, they have a good understanding of safe riding techniques and the responsibilities involved in taking care of a horse,” says Leach, who has been teaching riding lessons for over 20 years.
“With beginners, we focus on basic skills where kids spend time in the saddle, in addition to learning how to groom, feed and safely handle horses, clean the stalls, and get ready for their daily lessons.”
For experienced riders, athleticism is the focus, where campers improve their skills in advanced disciplines, like jumping and dressage.
The camp program is based around the Ontario Equestrian Federation’s Rider Levels, a benchmark designed for riders who want to know what is required at each riding level and work their way up to that level of experience. This benchmark also applies to stable management to gauge how well riders can tack up and groom the horses.
Bring your own horse
Want to take your four-legged friend with you? No problem. Campers who want to bring their own horse (boarded or trailered in) can arrange to do so for a small fee for the week.
“We usually get one or two kids per week who bring a horse that they work closely with to our camp which is an added benefit for them,” says Leach.
Saddle up
At the beginning of camp, groups are split by level so riders can be with others of similar experience. Each day consists of two small group riding lessons where campers move around the facility and spend time learning about horses, their care, and how to properly handle and tack up.
Horse-related crafts and outdoor games are also a part of the day.
Horsing around
At the end of the week, campers have the opportunity to feature the skills and tasks learned from the program on what’s called “Show Off” day for family and friends.
Leach says this is where the more advanced riders work in pairs to perform a musical ride with their horses, consisting of patterns and drills choreographed to music. Performances also combines the elegance of dressage and the precision of show jumping.
“Nice wrap up at the end of the week,” says Leach. “The kids decorate the horses with ribbons and bows in cool colours. Family and friends get the opportunity to take pictures. There’s no judging or placing, or competition — just pure fun.”
Uplifting to the spirit
Leach believes that horses can change lives, giving young people confidence and strong self-esteem, and helps to improve balance and flexibility. Horseback riding can also help children with emotional issues improve concentration, self-discipline, motivation and interpersonal skills.
She hopes the children learn life lessons from their horse-riding experience. “Spending time with the horses has a calming effect and is uplifting to the spirit,” says Leach.
Happy campers
With only 15 spots available per week, spots are quickly filling up, often by campers who are returning for an additional week because they have enjoyed their experience with the horses.
“The majority of the kids who attend this summer camp do come back to the other sessions we offer over the summer,” says Leach. “Even the kids who it takes three days to get them on a horse want to come back.”
For more information about summer camp at Seven Pines Stables and to register, visit www.7pines.net. For important updates and reminders, follow them on Facebook.
Get your kid moving with City of Peterborough’s summer sports camps
Ultimate Sports Camp, offered in partnership with the Peterborough Rugby Club and the City's Recreation Division, introduces campers to non-contact rugby. (Photo: City of Peterborough Recreation Division)
Football Camp allow kids to learn basic football instruction, in both offence and defense, and strives to help them improve upon their football skills. (Photo: City of Peterborough Recreation Division)
At Junior Tennis Camp, campers learn develop hand-eye coordination, basic stroke skills, and the fun of game play, all at the Quaker Park Tennis Club. (Photo: City of Peterborough Recreation Division)
Youth Soccer Camp, with different age and skill categories, focuses on fundamentals such as passing, receiving, dribbling, shooting and goalkeeping. (Photo: City of Peterborough Recreation Division)
Is your child looking to improve in a particular sport? Does he need to get more active? Tennis, football, basketball, soccer and ultimate sports like frisbee, rugby, and archery are just a few of the kinds of activities boys and girls can learn about to stay on the move this summer, organized by the City of Peterborough’s Recreation Division (210 Wolfe St., Peterborough, 705-742-7777 ext. 1873).
“The Recreation Division partners with local sports organizations such as Peterborough City Soccer Club, Peterborough Rugby Club, Quaker Park Tennis Club, Kinsmen Minor Football League, and local basketball coach Craig Muir — all who are specialists in their respective sport and have come on board to lead the sports camps,” says Stephanie Fraser, who organizes the city’s summer sports camps.
Sports camps, in particular, offer many benefits and new adventures as campers explore hidden abilities, or build on already-developed skills while making new friends and learning life skills in the process.
“Sports camps offer benefits that extend far beyond the basics of practicing a sport,” Fraser explains. “Kids have the opportunity to master a new skill or a new sport that they are interested in. They are getting out and getting active, and studies show that if you’re active as a kid, you’re most likely to stay active and healthy as an adult.”
Subsidy Program
The City of Peterborough offers two types of municipally funded recreational fee subsidies through a Recreational Fee Subsidy Program to assist qualifying families with the cost of registration for recreational programs, sports activities and camps, for children under the age of 19 years. Visit the City’s website for more information.
Summer 2017 Sports Camps Schedule
The dates listed below are the only weeks with spots still available. For more information, click on the name of the camp. To register online, click on the age group.
You can also register by calling the Recreation Division at 705-742-7777 ext. 1873 or by dropping by the Recreation Division office at 210 Wolfe Street between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Offered in partnership with Head Instructor Craig Muir and the City’s Recreation Division. Instruction is provided for both boys and girls, focusing on basketball skill development, shooting, passing, team offensive and defensive concepts, physical conditioning, and game playing. This week-long camp is a fantastic way to improve and develop our young basketball athletes.
Offered in partnership with the Kinsmen Minor Football League and the City’s Recreation Division. Boys and girls will learn basic football instruction in both offence and defense and will strive to improve upon their football skills over the course of the program. Instruction is provided by representatives of the Kinsmen Minor Football League. Please note that all activities are of a non-contact nature.
This half-day camp will develop hand-eye coordination, teach basic stroke skills and introduce the fun of game play, all on the high-quality clay tennis courts of the Quaker Park Tennis Club. Players will be grouped according to experience and skill levels with each group having separate instructors. All groups will further develop strokes, including serves and learn offensive and defensive strategies for more competitive play.
This camp offers several different age and skill categories. Micro (Half Day)–Ages5-6; Mini – Ages 7-9; Development – Ages 10-12; “Just Girls” – Ages 7-14; Rep – U8-U16; and Goalkeeping – Ages 9-14.
Full day camps will include a lunchtime trip to Rogers Cove Park to swim (water quality depending) and use the splash pad.
Offered in partnership with the Peterborough Rugby Club and the City’s Recreation Division. Introduces campers to non-contact rugby as well as some sports they may have never experienced, such as archery, giant-ball soccer, cricket, disc golf, ultimate Frisbee, tennis, Aussie Rules football, and basketball. Two off-site trips will be planned each week to local sport facilities. Campers will enjoy the use of the Rotary Splash Pad at Nicholls Oval as well as all the Peterborough Rugby Clubhouse facilities.
Offered in partnership with the Peterborough Rugby Club and the City’s Recreation Division. Introduces campers to non-contact rugby as well as some sports they may have never experienced such as cricket, disc golf, ultimate Frisbee, giant ball soccer, volleyball, slack-lining, tug of war, road hockey, and more. Also features instruction in non-contact rugby each morning and a new sport each afternoon. Two off-site trips will be planned each week to local sport facilities, one of which includes Treetop Trekking in Ganaraska Park.
Send your child back in time at Kawartha Settlers’ Village
Children learn hands-on activities considered 'everyday' over a hundred years ago, like chair caning taught by volunteer Louise Plante. (Photo: Kawartha Settlers' Village)
During the week, campers at Kawartha Settlers Village are encouraged to dress in period costume assuming the role of a 19th-century child. (Photo: Kawartha Settlers' Village)
At Art Camp, children practice proper art techniques through the use of paints, pastels, pencils, charcoal, paper mache, and more. (Photo: Kawartha Settlers' Village)
At the end of the Art Camp program, campers do an art exhibit where they display their creations for friends and family to see. (Photo: Kawartha Settlers' Village)
Give your child a taste of history by sending them back in time at summer camps offered by Kawartha Settlers’ Village (85 Dunn Street, Bobcaygeon, 705-738-6163).
Starting in July, Kawartha Settlers’ Village — run by the Kawartha Region Arts and Heritage Society — will offer children and youth the opportunity to step into the past and experience everyday life in a rural Bobcaygeon village during the 19th century.
The Village offers a host of hands-on activities and meaningful participation for children through the Settlers’ Camp and Art Camp.
Settlers’ Camp
This week-long day camp, for children aged six to 10, is focused on introducing children to the life and times of Bobcaygeon’s founders by encouraging them to participate in pioneer activities and chores (appropriate for their age group).
Settled on 10 picturesque acres, Kawartha Settlers’ Village is best known for its dedication to preserving the heritage of the region’s agricultural roots. The museum aims to promote local history and create an exciting atmosphere where children can experience a hands-on approach to learning about their history. One of the summer camp’s themes is “Coming to Canada”.
“This is a great way to get kids excited about history and a great balance between education and fun,” says Jessica Bullock, Marketing Coordinator at Kawartha Settlers’ Village.
Throughout the course of the week, campers can participate in a full tour of the Village which has 20 historic homes and buildings, including a blacksmith shop and implement shed, fire hall, general store, jail, and woodworking shop.
Add some crafts and hands-on activities that were considered ‘everyday’ over a hundred years ago (like baking bread, butter churning, weaving, sheep shearing, and square dancing), and a child is transported back to the 1870s — to the good parts anyways (the camp is fully equipped with modern plumbing).
Children will be able to sample and take home the crafts and goodies that they assist in creating.
“We get a lot of city kids who are unaware of what life was like in the 19th century,” says Bullock. “The hands-on experience allows them to have a better connection to their ancestors. Some kids are still surprised at the fact that their great-great-grandparents didn’t have phones and other modern things like that.”
During the day, campers are also encouraged to dress in period costume assuming the role of a 19th-century child.
“Many kids arrive in costumes that a grandparent or parent made for them, such as a bonnet,” says Bullock. “If they don’t have a costume, we have plenty on hand here at the Village for them to use.”
At the end of the week, Bullock says campers leave with a historical-like photograph of them posing with serious faces in their costumes — reenacting what a photo from the old days would look like.
The July camps are fully booked, and only 20 spots are available for the week of Monday, August 7th to Friday, August 11th.
Art Camp
Taught by Visual Arts Specialist Ellen Dumas, Art Camp focuses on utilizing paints, pastels, pencils, charcoal, paper mache, and other sculpting materials, allowing campers to learn the proper techniques of art materials.
“The kids will have the freedom to express themselves through their creativity,” says Bullock.
“They get to create what they want to at that time — there are no restrictions.”
Games, skills training, and contests all add up to an exciting week.
At the end of the program, campers do an art exhibit where they display their creations for friends and family to see.
The camp, suitable for children and youth ages 10 to 14, runs over two weeks: Monday, July 24th to Friday, July 28th, and Monday, August 14th to Friday, August 18th. There are a maximum of 20 spots available.
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