While spring cleaning this year, look for products that are phosphate-free, non-toxic, and water or vegetable based. Check the label and look for a list of ingredients that is easy to understand. Non-chemical, natural cleaners are better for your health and the environment. (Photo: GreenUP)
Spring is here and along with the warm sunshine comes the seasonal ritual of spring cleaning. It’s time to wash up your summer clothes, to haul the area rugs outside for a seasonal airing, and to get the fridge cleaned out and ready for an influx of fresh veggies and fruits.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Karen Halley, GreenUP Communications and Marketing Specialist.
Cleaning our homes is meant to make them healthier and more enjoyable and there isn’t a better time to have a fresh start than in Spring; unfortunately, many household cleaners are chock-full of toxic chemicals that can have negative impacts on human health and can contribute to indoor air pollution in homes.
Studies by Environmental Defence have shown that levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) become elevated in homes during and after cleaning. VOCs are chemicals found in many household cleaners that are also linked to serious health issues.
This year, while you are making plans to fight germs, scrub stains, and abolish nasty odours, be sure to start with the fine print on your cleaning products. Products to avoid include anything anti-bacterial or flammable and products that contain bleach and ammonia, which are toxic and can irritate eyes, lungs, nose, and throat.
Many household cleaners are also harmful to the environment. Residues and suds that are washed down the drain can end up in our waterways and impact wildlife.
Surfactants are chemicals that are mostly petroleum-based or synthetic and are toxic to fish and aquatic life. Don’t be fooled by the “need” for soapsuds; surfactants are often added to detergents to make them soapy, but suds do not impact the effectiveness of the product.
Phosphates also have a negative effect on waterways. They can cause an overload of nutrients in the environment resulting in harmful overgrowth of algae that depletes water of oxygen, which can be lethal for fish.
Once you’ve separated out the chemical cleaners, they can go in the pile to drop off at the Household Hazardous Waste Depot. You can’t get rid of them in the trash or blue bin due to their toxic ingredients.
Canadians spend more than $275 million on household cleaning products each year. This includes a laundry list of products manufactured and marketed to do very specific jobs. But there is no need to have a unique product to clean toilets, sinks, fridges, floors, and tiles. Minimizing the number of cleaners necessary to clean your house is one of the benefits of natural cleaning and it can help you save money, too.
Starting up a new inventory of safe and healthy cleaning products is easier and cheaper than you may think. Try using only a few necessary cleaning products instead of many types developed for one specific use. All-purpose cleaners are available and can be used on counters, walls, floors, tiles, and woodwork. General bathroom cleaners work on toilets, tubs, sinks, and tiles.
Making your own cleaning products is also a safe option and you only need a few ingredients. A general cleaner can be made with baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice, which are all grime- and odour-fighting powerhouses available at any grocery store. Add some essential oils to create a custom scent.
Washing soda and pure liquid soap can extend your range of DIY cleaning products, and then you won’t need much more than some steel wool to get started. Try a Google search for natural homemade cleaners, which will bring up many recipes that you can try your hand at.
Ultimately, you will want to use products that are phosphate-free, non-toxic, and water or vegetable based. When searching for alternatives, look for a product with an ingredients list that is easy to understand; avoid chemical names that may be difficult to decipher or translate.
Go one step further and look for packaging that can be re-filled, is made of recycled content, or is biodegradable and look for a pump spray rather than an aerosol can.
The GreenUP Store carries a variety of all-purpose, bathroom, laundry, and dish cleaning options that you can trust to be safe for your family and the environment. We carry re-fillable, septic safe, and locally made options.
Kick-start your move from toxic to eco-friendly cleaning alternatives at the GreenUP Store from April 12th to 15th, when you will save 15 to 25 percent off all cleaning products — just in time for a long weekend of cleaning and a great way to save money, the environment, and your health.
To celebrate our 25th year, you will also earn loyalty points while shopping at the GreenUP Store. Each time you spend a minimum of $25, you will receive a loyalty point. Collect four points and you will receive 25 percent off your next purchase.
For more information about green cleaning products, contact our GreenUP Store Coordinator Ausma Clappison at 705-745-3238 ext. 222 or ausma.clappison@greenup.on.ca.
NHL legend Johnny Bower and his wife Nancy with Jasper, a rescue dog owned by professional photographer Peter Nguyen (who took this picture). A Peterborough native now living in Toronto, Nguyen is one of the photographers donating their time for Shelter Shots, a 2018 calendar featuring past and current National Hockey League players who have rescues as pets. The calender, which is expected to be available by August for $20, is a fundraiser for the Peterborough Humane Society. (Photo: Peter Nguyen)
To better understand Johnny Bower’s enduring willingness to accommodate the needs of others, we take you back to the mid 1940s and his first season of professional hockey with the Cleveland Barons.
Born John Kiszkan, he changed his surname to Bower. Why? To make it easier for sports writers to spell his name. And spell his name they certainly did, many times over, as Bower backstopped the Toronto Maple Leafs to four Stanley Cup championships in the 1960s before retiring from the game in March 1970.
Now, at age 92, living in Mississauga with Nancy, his wife of close to 70 years, Bower is decades removed from recklessly throwing his body in front of pucks. But in terms of giving of himself, both to adoring hockey fans and charitable causes, well, Bower is still going post-to-post.
Susan Dunkley can certainly speak to the latter. As Manager of Development and Outreach for the Peterborough Humane Society, she is busy organizing and promoting Shelter Shots, a 2018 calendar that will feature a number of past and current National Hockey League players who have rescues as pets.
In the mix is Bower, who Dunkley first called on (she worked with him a few years back in connection with Faceoff Against Dementia at the Memorial Centre). On Monday (April 10), with photographer Peter Nguyen and his rescue dog Jasper in tow, Dunkley and her husband Darryl visited Bower at his home for the first calendar photo shoot session.
“Johnny is always honoured and humbled to be asked,” says Dunkley. “He’s seriously the sweetest man on the planet.
“I think that’s why he’s 92. He’s so spry. He walks four or five kilometres every day. He does his exercises. I think the reason he has stayed so young is he continues to do stuff.”
Former NHL goaltender Johnny Bower enjoying a moment with Jasper, a Cocker Spaniel rescue dog adopted by photographer Peter Nguyen, during a photo shoot for the Peterborough Humane Society’s Shelter Shots 2018 calendar (photo: Peter Nguyen)
Jasper — who Dunkley describes as “a dog in a difficult situation” — was adopted by Nguyen a few months ago, adding Bower’s face “lit up” when he came face to face with the Cocker Spaniel.
Subsequent photos of players with their rescues will be shot leading up to the planned availability of the calendar in August 2017, with Dunkley noting other players confirmed to date include Anaheim Ducks forward and Peterborough native Corey Perry, San Jose Sharks defenceman Brent Burns, New York Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck, and retired NHLer Kurtis Foster.
Photographers will work with each player in their respective locations.
“I hope to have everybody in place and photographed by the end of May,” says Dunkley, noting Jessica Melnik of Impact Communications is creative consultant for the project. All the photographers involved, she adds, are donating their time and talent.
When available, the calendars will sell for $20 each, the proceeds of which will offset Humane Society costs for animal surgeries. Last year alone, that bill totaled more than $70,000.
The calendar idea, says Dunkley, resulted from her “good fortune of being married to a man who used to work for the NHL as a scout. Darryl was drafted but blew his knee. He still has a lot of contacts in the NHL. I said ‘How can we take advantage of this connection you have?'”
Dunkley adds similar calendar projects have been undertaken by the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins for shelters in their respective cities.
“He’s just such a beautiful spirit.” Susan Dunkley, Manager of Development and Outreach for the Peterborough Humane Society, with Johnny Bower during the first photo shoot for the Shelter Shots 2018 calendar. Dunkley conceived of the calendar idea and is organizing and promoting it, with the assistance of her husband Darryl (a former NHL scout), photographers like Peter Nguyen who are donating their time, and Jessica Melnik of Impact Communications. (Photo courtesy of Susan Dunkley)
For Bower, hamming it up with Jasper for Nguyen’s lens wasn’t a huge leap.
“I had a dog called Big John; he was a beagle, a small one, and he was around 18 (years old) when he passed away,” he recounts, noting his home is a regular stop for a number of neighbourhood dogs.
“It’s nice to have them. There’s one that really does a lot of barking at me. Oh my gosh, she won’t stop … she just barks and barks and barks. When she’s finished her cookie, she wants another one, so I ask her to sit down. So she sits, her paws up and everything else for me. Now I’ve go to get another cookie for her. They’re pretty sharp.”
Bower shares that sharpness with his canine friends, crediting his “wonderful wife” Nancy with keeping him “under control.” He says the plan is to stay alive as long as he can to continue to enjoy watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow and flourish.
Elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1976, Bower is arguably the most beloved former Maple Leaf; a reminder that the hockey club that hasn’t won a Stanley Cup in 50 years wasn’t always that bad. But more than that, admirers like Dunkley see a kind man who, since anyone can remember, has gone out of his way to sign an autograph, offer a few encouraging words, and generally has made it his mission to put a smile on people’s faces.
“I could never give as much as Johnny,” Dunkley says. “He’s just such a beautiful spirit.
“We have to be more kind to one another. There’s a lot of hatred in the world. Things like this — asking people to help and people immediately saying yes — counters that. I love how much all of these people love animals and see the importance of animals in their personal lives as well as in other people’s lives.”
Meanwhile, Jasper’s new friend can’t escape his hockey legend, which is fine by him. The most recent accolade to come his way, in January of this year, was his being named to the list of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in the league’s 100-year history.
“What a great feeling that was,” Bower says. “It was like winning the Stanley Cup.
“I just can’t believe that I was even for voted for. I thought there should have been a lot of other guys before me, but I’m keeping that one. They’ll have a hard time taking it away.”
Bower still follows the Maple Leafs closely, attending games at the Air Canada Centre where his image on the scoreboard screen inevitably brings forth a huge cheer. Rumour has it that in his fridge resides a bottle of champagne, waiting to be opened upon the Maple Leafs’ next Stanley Cup title. Now, with the current edition of the club embarking on a long-awaited playoff run, Bower is encouraged by what he sees.
“I give a lot of credit to these kids. They’re in the playoffs, so things are looking bright. Maybe they need a couple of defencemen but I’m not coaching anymore.”
Asked if it’s true that he offered to serve as the Leafs’ back-up goaltender, Bower laughs.
“I gave them my phone number but they haven’t called me back.”
For more information on the Peterborough Humane Society services and updates on the Shelter Shots calendar fundraiser as it progresses, visit www.peterboroughhumanesociety.ca.
Peter Nguyen
About the photographer: Peter Nguyen is an editorial fashion and commercial photographer originally hailing from Peterborough and now residing in Toronto. He works with many Canadian fashion designers and clothing retailers and has been featured in publications across the country. Visit his website at www.pnimaging.com and follow him on Instagram @pnimaging.
Cancer survivor Tessa Smith (right), shown here meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last October as the Terry Fox Foundation Ambassador for 2016, will be the guest speaker at the Kawartha Chamber Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast on April 19 (photo: Justin Trudeau / Twitter)
The Chamber’s Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast is next week, Wednesday, April 19th, from 7:30 to 9 a.m.
Tessa Smith is a published journalist, motivational speaker, model and poet.
Join the Chamber at Frederick’s Restaurant at Beachwood Resort on beautiful Lower Buckhorn Lake for a hot and cold breakfast buffet.
Breakfast for Volunteers and Past Presidents is complimentary. The cost for additional guests is $20 all inclusive. In honour of its 70th Anniversary, the Chamber will be recognizing its Past Presidents at this event. All are welcome!
Guest Speaker is 18-year-old Tessa Smith of Omemee. Tessa is a published journalist, motivational speaker, model and poet. She’s also a two-time cancer survivor, which has resulted in the loss of her right eye and left leg. Tessa was named the 2016 Terry Fox Foundation Ambassador.
The Kawartha Chamber office and ServiceOntario will be closed on April 14th for Good Friday
5 Minutes for Business: A Big Boost to Business Investment
Every other week, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce releases 5 Minutes for Business. In this edition, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome guest writer Susanna Cluff-Clyburne, Director of Parliamentary Affairs.
Susanna sheds light on the big barrier that must be addressed: The Crown has a constitutional duty to consult with and accommodate Indigenous peoples whose rights could be affected through infrastructure development. There is a need for consistent framework that bridges the gap between Indigenous communities and businesses.
Read 5 Minutes for Business to learn how a lack of clarity and the Crown’s failure to execute its duty effectively can affect future opportunities that would benefit both Indigenous and business communities alike.
Easter Bunny at Village Dental Centre April 15th
The Easter Bunny will beat Village Dental Centre in Lakefield on the morning of April 15th
The Easter Bunny is coming to Village Dental Centre on Saturday, April 15th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Get your picture taken with the Easter Bunny for free and enjoy some refreshment while entering the prize raffle
Sharing Stories, Bridging Generations
Sharing Stories, Bridging Generations – A Canada 150 Heritage Project is being held at the Lakefield Legion on Wednesday, April 19th from 2 to 4 p.m.. Events are also being held in Apsley on April 21st, and Buckhorn on April 24th.
The Trent School of Education and Professional Learning in collaboration with the Trent Centre for Aging & Society is partnering with Community Care Peterborough to provide an Alternative Settings Placement for six to eight Teacher Candidates. This project is a special opportunity to build bridges inter-generationally.
The Rotary Club of Bridgenoth-Ennismore-Lakefield presents the 2017 “Season Opener” Golf Tournament on Thursday, May 11th at the Quarry Golf Club. Cost is $100 per person for 18-hole best ball, dinner, golf cart and prizes. Shotgun start is at 1 p.m. Specialty stations include craft beer, caesars, martinis, scotch, and cigars.
Hole Sponsorship is available for $100. For more information or to register, contact Tony Davidson at 705-743-4244 or email anthony.davidson@rbc.com. Deadline to register is May 4th.
Help Selwyn Skateboard Park Reach Fundraising Goal
The Township of Selwyn is seeking donations for the Selwyn Skateboard Park set to open this spring
The Selwyn Skateboard Park is set to open this spring. The Township of Selwyn is close to reaching their fundraising goal.
A variety of donation levels are available for you to show your support. Learn more.
Calling All Employers – Our Community Needs You!
The Workforce Development Board is asking area employers to complete an online survey (photo: WDB)
The Workforce Development Board (WDB) – Local Employment Planning Council (LEPC) wants to continue to strengthen the local labour market but they can’t do it alone!
WDB is asking you, the heroes of our communities, to tell them what you need. Just complete this survey.
WDB-LEPC is a not-for-profit organization based in Peterborough and serving Northumberland, Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton. The WDB-LEPC provides labour market information, coordinates employment and training services, and engages employer communities. For more information visit wdb.ca.
Farewell to Lakefield District Intermediate School
A farewell to Lakefield District Intermediate School takes place on April 27th
Lakefield District Intermediate School (LDIS) is closing its doors at the end of June 2017.
A Farewell to LDIS is planned for Thursday, April 27th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Current and former students, parents, and the community will be able to walk through the building and share memories.
If you have photos or memorabilia you would like to lend for the evening, please email juliechatten@live.ca.
Upcoming Events
John Boyco is launching his new book at Happenstance Books & Yarns in Lakefield on April 12th
Book Launch with John Boyko – April 12th
Free Income Tax Clinic – April 21st
Performing Arts Lakefield: Barbra Lica – April 28th
Spring Dinner Theatre at the BCC – April 28th-30th
For more information about the businesses and events listed above, please visit the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism website at kawarthachamber.ca.
All photos supplied by Kawartha Chamber of Commerce except where noted.
The March 31st recall of Wholesome Farms brand Sundae Cup products has now been expanded to include additional flavours (photo courtesy Canadian Food Inspection Agency)
Peterborough’s Central Smith Creamery has expanded its recall of Wholesome Farms brand Sundae Cup products from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Initially issued on March 31st for vanilla sundae cups only, the recall has now been expanded for other products in the line including sugar-free light vanilla, butterscotch, orange sherbet, lime sherbet, and chocolate.
While Central Smith Creamery manufactures frozen desserts for the consumer market, the recalled sundae cups are primarily used in food service institutions. Central Smith manufactures products for health care facilities, including yogurt bars, nine flavours of sundae cups, and eight flavours of frozen dessert made with coconut oil.
The cups are distributed through Sysco Corporation in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba, and possible nationally.
This recall was triggered by Canadian Food Inspection Agency test results. There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.
Food service institutions such as hospitals and nursing homes should not serve or use the recalled products and people should not consume the recalled products described below:
Brand Name
Common Name
Size
Code(s) on Product
UPC
Wholesome Farms
Vanilla Sundae Cup
115 ml
03301
None
Wholesome Farms
Vanilla Ice Cream Sundae Cup (case)
48 x 115 ml
7382200017033019 2/2/17
00074865915427
Wholesome Farms
Sugar-Free Light Vanilla Ice Cream Sundae Cup
115 ml
03301
None
Wholesome Farms
Sugar-Free Light Vanilla Sundae Cup (case)
48 x 115 ml
7382200023032013 2/1/17
10074865932551
Wholesome Farms
Butterscotch Sundae Cup
115 ml
03302
None
Wholesome Farms
Butterscotch Ice Cream Sundae Cup (case)
48 x 115 ml
7382200020033020 2/2/17
00074865915403
Wholesome Farms
Orange Sherbet Sundae Cup
115 ml
03303
None
Wholesome Farms
Orange Sherbet Sundae Cup (case)
48 x 115 ml
7382200021033036 2/2/17
00074865915434
Wholesome Farms
Lime Sherbet Sundae Cup
115 ml
03304
None
Wholesome Farms
Lime Sherbet Sundae Cup (case)
48 x 115 ml
7382200022033042 2/2/17
00074865915090
Wholesome Farms
Chocolate Sundae Cup
115 ml
03305
None
Wholesome Farms
Chocolate Ice Cream Sundae Cup (case)
48 x 115 ml
7382200019033055 2/2/17
00074865915410
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled, but can still make you sick.
Symptoms can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk.
Waleed Dabbah of Hampton Financial with Stuart Harrison, President and CEO of the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce. Waleed has brought an arm of the international payment processing business to Peterborough. (Photo: Eva Fisher)
Hampton Financial is a game changer in the payment processing business. This international company gives customers free point of sale terminals with no contract, they offer competitive rates, and an arm of their business just moved to Peterborough.
Waleed Dabbah of Hampton Financial chose to bring a piece of the business to Peterborough for two reasons.
“One, because we settled here. We want to start a family and move forward. Two, because there’s a lot of potential in this community.”
Having met his wife Amber at Trent University, Waleed (who also goes by Walid) knew Peterborough would be a good community to raise a family — and that there were a wealth of small businesses here who might be interested in lower rates for payment processing.
Waleed is passionate about saving money for small businesses.
“The one thing I’d like to get out to small to medium businesses is that you come first. When you’re working 10 to 12 hours a day at your own business, it’s hard-earned money. I want to save you that money.”
Low fees, no contract, and a free point of sale terminal
In the business of payment processing, a few percentage points difference in fees can make a huge difference over time. But anyone who uses a payment processor in their business knows that it’s more than the percentage fees that show up on your bill.
Terminal rental charges and other fees can really add up. Waleed has had conversations with many fed-up small business owners.
“I spoke to a convenience store owner who’s paying $30 a month just to rent the machine. Plus plus plus. He’s paying over $100 for little tiny things. There’s a fee for this, there’s a fee for that. It’s not right.”
Waleed Dabbah talks business with Stuart Harrison. Waleed recently brought a piece of Hampton Financial to Peterborough. “There’s a lot of potential in this community.” (Photo: Eva Fisher)
In addition to offering low fees, Hampton Financial has no contract, and they actually give their customers a free terminal. Waleed acknowledges that this is a risk.
“It’s $900 US a pop, so we are taking a major risk by saying you don’t have a contract. But here’s a machine, and it’s free, and we hope you are satisfied with our service.”
Big clients are key to the success of this model. For example, both Match.com and Tinder use Hampton Financial’s services.
“We have a very solid book of business, with thousands of clients, and we’re quite comfortable doing things this way.”
With clients in 180 countries, Hampton Financial can afford to take a risk on smaller companies.
Their comfort with risk has made them strong in the ecommerce sector.
“The thing that people don’t realize is that if you’re selling a product on a website, you’re considered to be high risk because a card is not present,” Waleed explains. “It’s an unqualified card. So the percentage charged is higher. You can be charged 3 to 4 percent. Some people can pay up to 6 percent — it just depends where you go. We make sure that you’re not paying that much.”
Hampton Financial offers ecommerce services to small and large clients with no setup fee, an anomaly in a market where Waleed says that fees can range from $250 to over $1,000.
Think you don’t need an ecommerce platform at the Farmers’ Market? Think again.
VIDEO: Waleed Dabbah – Hampton Financial
Waleed suggests that businesses who currently use a mobile payment processor try using an ecommerce platform instead to cut costs.
“It is so expensive at 2.65 percent. They say it’s because you just plug it into the phone and swipe. That’s great, but it’s not right to charge that much.”
Clients can instead pull up an ecommerce site when they’re selling on the go.
Above all, Waleed wants people to do their research when choosing a payment processor. Saving money at the point of sale can empower businesses to grow and thrive.
“I’m not here to sell a product. I’m not here to say take this machine and make me money. That’s not the way I look at it. I truly believe in our product and I truly believe that you can save some money, and you can grow, and you can do a lot of things by making the right choices. We have so many options available: you just have to pick the right one.”
Ecommerce is for the dogs … and cats … and rabbits
An animal lover who has adopted several cats from the Peterborough Humane Society, Waleed is helping the charitable organization facilitate donations and save money by donating a free ecommerce website. Here he’s pictured with Molly (2 years old), Puss (3), and Beth, whose age is unknown. All three cats are available for adoption from the Peterborough Humane Society. (Photo: Eva Fisher)
Waleed is particularly passionate about saving charitable businesses money.
“If you’re a charity you want to use that money towards what really matters, not towards admin fees for banks.”
An animal lover who has adopted several cats from the Peterborough Humane Society, he saw an opportunity to help when he and wife Amber were trying to make a donation on the shelter’s website.
“We went to the website and tried to donate some money and we couldn’t find a tab that said donate. It hit me right then and there. I love helping the shelter, I love being there, there’s a new shelter coming … how about I set up an ecommerce website for free?”
An ecommerce website would normally cost the shelter a few thousand dollars, but Waleed saw it as an opportunity to make his donation have more impact.
“If I donate a couple of thousand bucks that’s great, but I want to make it easy for other people to do it too.”
Susan Dunkley, Manager of Development and Outreach at the Peterborough Humane Society, says that she is looking forward to finding out more about what Hampton Financial has to offer.
“Waleed and I are meeting to discuss how he can help our shelter to cut our costs for our online transaction,” Susan says. “I am excited at his offer of support and am grateful to people like he and Amber who are amazing ‘pet parents’ and who believe in the good work that we do.”
To inquire about payment processing for your business, contact Waleed Dabbah, Business Development Specialist at Hampton Financial – Powered by Lefebvre International (1769 St. Laurent Blvd, Suite #324, Ottawa, Ontario K1G 5X7). You can reach Waleed by phone at 844-392-5538 Ext 715 or 705-761-2672, on Skype at waleed.dabbah, or by email at waleed@LefebvreInternational.com.
On social media, you can follow him on Instagram @wdabbah and on Twitter @WaleedDabbah.
This month, sommelier Chris Wilton provides KNosh readers with tips on wine pairing (photo: Chris Wilton)
This month Eva Fisher explores the wine-powered world of sommelier Chris Wilton, toasts Church-Key Brewing’s spring revival, learns about the Sweet Kitchen’s dessert popups, congratulates the local steakhouse that nabbed two of the top 150 spots on Open Table’s list of hidden gems, and recognizes the best burgers in Canada from Olympus Burger in Port Hope.
Renaissance sommelier Chris Wilton explains wine and food pairing
This is the man you want at your dinner party. A certified sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers, Chris Wilton is involved in many facets of the wine industry. He acts as a wine consultant, a food and wine writer, a wine sales rep, a server, and a wine instructor at Durham College.
Sommelier Chris Wilton. Wilton Wine Consulting’s services include wine cellar inventories and tastings. “Basically I’m a sommelier for hire.” (Photo: Chris Wilton)
So what is a wine consultant? Chris explains that a wine consultant can provide a variety of services.
“Basically I’m a sommelier for hire. The services that I provide are pretty much everything. I will go into private homes and do a wine cellar inventory. I’ll make up a list of what you should hold onto, what you should drink and what is probably past it’s prime.”
Chris can also make recommendations based on the wines that you enjoy.
“With the seller consultation it wouldn’t be me trying to sell my wines. I have great connections within the wine industry so I know most of the wine that’s available.” That means that you have access to hard to find wines. And it’s not just wines in Chris’s own sales catalogue. Chris takes his ethical responsibilities seriously. “I have these five different hats that I wear and I try not to mix them up. It’s important to me ethically to not mix them up.”
Chris also conducts food and wine pairings at private homes and restaurants, and he teaches food and wine pairing at Durham College. So how does Chris approach pairing? There are a number of ways to think about how the flavour of a glass of wine interacts with a dish. Chris shared with us his wine pairing 101.
Acidity
This involves using wine like a squeeze of lemon to brighten a dish.
“Often wine can be that squeeze of lemon because, when you think of it, out of everything we drink wine is probably the most acidic. That’s what’s happening with the lemon, it’s acid that you’re using and what does acid do? It brightens thing up, it enlivens things, it refreshes things, and so wine for me should be that way. It’s a simple way to first approach it.”
Regional Pairings
This involves looking at the origin of your dish and working with wine from that region.
“When I get a menu one of the first things I think about is what is this dish? Where is this dish from? Because recipes have origins. So when I talk about regional pairing you think about who’s been eating this and what have they been drinking with it for centuries. It’s the idea of what grows together goes together.”
Sommelier Chris Wilton will host a food and wine pairing evening at the Lounge by Lignum in downtown Peterborough on April 27th (photo: Steve Verge)
The Scientific Approach
This involves figuring out why food and drink pairs well or poorly by analyzing the structure and the flavour of the wine. Chris takes into account quantitative variables.
“If there’s a measureable amount of sugar in the wine, there’s a measurable amount of acidity in the wine, there’s a measurable amount of tannin in the wine” and qualitative variables “flavour is really subjective because we all have our own smell or taste libraries.”
You can watch Chris in action at The Lounge by Lignum (442 George St, N., Peterborough, 705-775-9463) on Thursday, April 27th. He will host an evening of food and wine pairing from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. For more information visit The Lounge by Lignum on Facebook.
Church-Key Brewing’s spring revival celebrates spring with local beer, local BBQ, and local musicians
Watch this video about Church-Key Brewing (information about the Spring Revival begins at the 1:21 mark)
The annual spring festival at Church-Key Brewing (1678 County Road 38, Campbellford, 705-653-9950) will take place on Saturday, May 6th from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Church-Key Spring Revival has become a festival where locals enjoy delicious beer and barbecue and listen to local musicians, but that’s not how it was originally intended.
John Graham, owner of Church-Key Brewing, says that he originally planned to host a party for the restaurants and bars that have Church-Key beer on their menus.
“I wanted to invite all of the seasonal tourism customers to a fun afternoon of barbecue, local music and local food and basically treat my licensees back.”
He found out pretty quickly that the Spring Revival was about to take on a life of its own.
Church-Key Brewing’s Spring Revival takes place on Saturday, May 6 at the Campbellford brewery (poster: Church-Key Brewing)
“Even in early May a lot of them were too busy, so I only had a handful of licensees show up but lots of locals came. It became a local festival, so it turned out well.”
This year Church-Key will be serving homemade burgers made with beef from Sue Brown and pork bratwurst sausage from Rory O-Neil. The music will begin with an acoustic act at 11 a.m. and end with a punk band.
And of course, there will be beer. Church-Key is known for staples like their Northumberland Cream Ale, as well as a constantly rotating selection that spans from a smoky scotch ale to a juniper and rosemary gruit to a chocolate milk stout. Although John occasionally makes Maibock, a beer brewed for Spring festivals, he says that spring can be a difficult time to source brewing ingredients.
“When we’re accenting with ingredients we like to use as many – you know local strawberries, local rhubarb, local honey. None of that stuff is started yet for the year. So Spring is the toughest time to brew and brew local. Maybe one day we’ll do a fiddlehead beer.”
The spring revival is always a fundraising event, and this year the proceeds will go to the local high school music program.
Dessert popups make spring in Lindsay sweeter
The Sweet Kitchen’s upcoming dessert pop-up features spring treats at their finest (photo: The Sweet Kitchen)
Would you like an Irish whiskey brownie with your tattoo? Perhaps a lemon blueberry cupcake with your bouquet of roses? Dessert company The Sweet Kitchen has been pairing up with Lindsay businesses for a series of dessert popups.
Next in the series is an easter popup at the Kent Florist (92 Kent St. W., Lindsay,705-324-7314), On Saturday April 15th, between 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. you can purchase a variety of Easter treats at the florist. The Sweet Kitchen has also done popups at Kent Street Tattoo and Pane Vino.
Jen Arnold, owner of the Sweet Kitchen, thanks the local business community for opening their doors to her.
The menu for The Sweet Kitchen’s Easter pop-up event at the Kent Florist (graphic: The Sweet Kitchen)
“We’ve been lucky that a few area hosts will ask us to have a day with them or a few hours with them.”
During the summer you can find the Sweet Kitchen at the market, but Jen says that these popups allow her to explore new ideas.
“We get to try new things out. They might make it to the next season at the market or it might just be a one off like hot crossed buns.”
Jen’s most popular dessert is “The burnt butter caramel bars. They have a coconut butter crust and then on top is essentially a caramel butter mixture. It’s a little bit chewy, it’s very sweet, and it’s got a crisp crust.”
In addition to the Easter popup, you can find Sweet Kitchen at the Lindsay market. In Peterborough, they supply desserts for the Planet Bakery, cookies for Nata’s Cafe, and butter tarts and brownies for The Spill. Sweet Kitchen also provides high tea items for Stillwater on the Lake, a bed and breakfast located just outside of Peterborough on the shores of Chemong Lake.
Hobart’s Steakhouses in Lindsay and Peterborough named in the top 150 hidden gems in Canada
Hobart’s Steakhouses in Lindsay and Peterborough were honoured among the top 150 hidden gems in Canada in an Open Table survey (photo: Mark Ridout)
In a field of over 2,000 options, Hobart’s Steakhouse nabbed two spots in Open Table’s listing of the top 150 hidden gems in Canada for both of their locations: Hobart’s Lindsay (189 Kent St. W., Lindsay, 705-328-1219) and Hobart’s Peterborough (139 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-775-4000).
Over 480,000 diner reviews were considered to create the listing, which was created in honour of Canada’s 150th.
Operator Frank Peters says that to him, the restaurant business is about more than the food.
“I love putting great menus together and great food out to the customers, but it’s really the satisfaction of serving people and having happy faces. It’s a very personal satisfaction I get out of making people happy and seeing that they enjoy what we have to offer.”
Hobart’s is known for their steaks, but their menu includes a variety of options.
Hobart’s Steakhouse was named after agrarian researcher Dr. Hobart F. Peters (photo: Hobart’s Steakhouse)
“We specialize in mostly handcut steaks: everything from filets to top sirloin, ribeyes and new york striploins. And then we stretch that menu out with a variety of non-steak options. There’s really something for everyone.”
Having worked in the food industry for nearly 40 years, Frank says that a lot of elements came together to create Hobart’s.
“Hobart’s is the culmination of a career in food service. I’ve worked in everything from fast food restaurants right up to fine dining restaurants over a career that spans almost 4 decades, and Hobart’s is something that, with my partners and with our staff over the years, it’s everything I’ve ever learned in one spot.”
The name Hobart’s honours Frank’s father, Dr. Hobart F. Peters, an agrarian researcher dedicated to improving farming practices, including farming of beef cattle.
“It honours the heritage of everything he stood for as well.”
Canadian Living names Port Hope’s Olympus Burger as the best burger restaurant in Canada
One reason why Canadian Living readers named Olympus Burger the best place in Canada to get a burger: the Ares is a peppercorn beef patty with crispy bacon, caramelized onion, sautéed mushrooms and Olympus BBQ sauce. (Photo: Olympus Burger / Facebook)
Olympus Burger (55 Mill St. S., Port Hope, 905-885-4637) can expect to see business pick up even more after the restaurant was named the top burger spot in Canada by Canadian Living.
The magazine recently asked its readers about the best place to get a burger in Canada and, after more than 30 positive comments from readers, they named Olympus Burger the winner. Many readers commented they will drive great distances to get a burger at Olympus.
As you might guess from the restaurant’s name, their burgers are all named after gods and characters from Greek mythology. They offer more then 20 burger variations, from the Apollo (fresh beef patty, fried egg, peameal bacon, between two grilled aged white cheddar cheese sandwiches, lettuce, tomato) to the Zeus (fresh beef patty, peameal bacon, caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, aged white cheddar cheese, Olympus BBQ sauce, lettuce, tomato).
Or you can try something different, like the Poseidon (grilled salmon fillet, warmed mixed greens, red onions, fresh ground pepper, Olympus tartar sauce). Veggie options like the Aphrodite (grilled pineapple rings, warmed mix greens, guacamole, and sautéed mushrooms) are also available.
Olympus Burger offers more than 20 variations of the traditional burger on its menu. (Photo: Olympus Burger / Facebook)
“This is truly an honour and we couldn’t be more thankful for this recognition,” owner Giorgos Kallonakis writes on Facebook. “We couldn’t have done it without all of our staff’s hard work, but also your loyalty and patronage.”
This isn’t the first honour for Olympus Burger since Kallonakis opened the restaurant four years ago. They achieved consistently high ratings on TripAdvisor and made an appearance on The Food Networks television series “You Gotta Eat Here” last fall.
For more information and a menu of all their burgers, visit www.olympusburger.ca.
The police officers who received the Outstanding Police Officer Service Award with the students from Fleming College's Police Foundations program who presented the awards (photo courtesy of Fleming College)
Fleming College held its third annual Outstanding Police Officer Service Award ceremony at the Sutherland Campus today (April 10).
This year, the following seven police officers were chosen to receive the award:
Police Constable Cam Kenny – Peterborough Police Service. Officer Kenny received the award for outstanding contributions in the field of traffic enforcement and Special Olympics.
Detective Constable Jason Clarke – Peterborough County OPP. Detective Constable Clarke was acknowledged for his many successes in investigating and preventing property crimes and his involvement and commitment to Pedal for Hope.
Provincial Constable Jennifer Quigley – City of Kawartha Lakes OPP. Officer Quigley was recognized for her care and compassion for those in the vulnerable sector.
Police Constable Morgan Stout and Dana Barr – Port Hope Police. Officers Stout and Barr received the award for successfully de-escalating a situation that involved a suicidal subject with a knife.
Sergeant Michael Richardson – Cobourg Police Service. Sergeant Richardson received the award for his demonstrated leadership in coordinating community events and his distinguished military service.
Provincial Constable Tim Negus – Haliburton Highlands OPP. Officer Negus was acknowledged for his leadership in organizing “Push for Change” and assisting a Syrian family adjust to a new life in Haliburton Highlands.
Students and faculty of Fleming College’s Police Foundations program created the award in 2014, following the tragic loss of three Moncton RCMP officers who were killed in the line of duty. Students not only expressed their sadness over the loss of life, but dismay related to negative comments being made about police and the policing profession through various social media. The award was create to counter the negativity and recognize the contributions and sacrifices of local police officers.
For this year’s award, Fleming College invited six local police services to nominate a police officer from their service. The nominees must have demonstrated one or several qualities consistent with superior policing and service to their community. These qualities included, but were not limited to, professionalism and integrity, commitment to community, leadership, valour, sacrifice and determination in the face of adversity.
In addition to the award winners and their invited guests, the event was attended by many senior police leaders as well as faculty, staff and students from the Police Foundations program.
Fourth-semester students from the Police Foundations program described each officer’s contributions and handed each a plaque acknowledging their outstanding service.
In addition, Kyle VanBorhorst — a fourth-semester Police Foundations student at Fleming College — received the Greg Riddle Award at the end of the ceremony. This award is voted on by the recipients’ peers and acknowledges their volunteerism, dedication to a career in policing, and willingness to help and encourage their fellow students.
"Grown Ups Read Things They Wrote as Kids", where brave adults get on stage before a live audience and read their childhood or teenage writing, is coming to Peterborough's Market Hall on September 17, 2017 (photo: Grown Ups Read Things They Wrote as Kids)
Grown Ups Read Things They Wrote as Kids is coming to Peterborough for the first time on Sunday, September 17th at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre.
Reader spots are first come, first served, and all readers must sign up online in advance of the show. Sign-up information for the September 17th show will be available in early summer (kawarthaNOW will provide details when they become available).
The live open-mic event, where adults share their childhood and teenaged writing before an audience, was started in 2007 by host Dan Meisener along with his then-girlfriend (and now wife) Jenna.
“Grown Ups Read Things They Wrote as Kids” is a live event which is recorded for subsequent podcasting
Often hilarious and sometimes moving, the show was first broadcast in 2008 as an independent podcast. CBC Radio picked up the series in 2014 for 10 episodes, where it found a wide audience.
After CBC decided to drop the series due to budget cuts, Dan and Jenna continued the show as an independent, fan-supported venture in late 2014. They continue to hold live events across Canada, recording them for subsequent podcast.
Many of the 750 students receiving school suspension order may have already received all required vaccinations, but their records with the health unit are are out of date
Hundreds of area students may face possible school suspension unless they can show they are up-to-date on their vaccinations.
Around 750 students in Haliburton County, Northumberland County and the City of Kawartha Lakes are being issued school suspension orders this week.
Families who receive these orders are encouraged to immediately contact the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit at 1-866-888-4577 ext. 1507, to update their child’s vaccination records. Parents can also visit the Health Unit website at www.hkpr.on.ca for more information.
“No one wants to see students missing classes unnecessarily, so we encourage families who receive these suspension orders to contact us immediately about their child’s vaccination records,” says Marianne Rock, Manager of Communicable Disease Control, Epidemiology and Evaluation with the HKPR District Health Unit.
“In many cases, students have received all the required vaccines from a health care provider, but the records for these vaccines have not been shared with the Health Unit.”
Under Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act, the Health Unit must ensure all students attending school are immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis (whooping cough), varicella (chickenpox) and meningococcal disease. If any of these vaccines are missing, students can be suspended from school.
Exemptions from vaccination are available for medical reasons and issues of conscience or religious beliefs.
“School suspension is a last resort for us, but by law we are required to ensure all students attending school are immunized against certain diseases,” Rock adds. “By checking that students are fully vaccinated, we can ensure everyone in our school communities is protected against common, vaccine-preventable diseases.”
In January, the Health Unit first contacted local families of students for whom it did not have up-to-date vaccination records or valid reasons for why they were not vaccinated. Since then, Health Unit staff have been in touch with many of these families to update the vaccination records or ensure any missing vaccines are provided to students.
“We have been able to clear up much of the backlog of student vaccination records that were out-of-date,” Rock notes. “Now we want to ensure that these last few hundred students are fully vaccinated and protected. We encourage parents and guardians to work with us so that no student has to miss a day of class.”
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