Keep It In The Kawarthas

kawarthaNOW.com's Keep It In The Kawarthas® is a choose local campaign that helps connect consumers with locally owned businesses in the greater Kawarthas area. kawarthaNOW.com is a locally owned independent media publisher. We choose and support locally owned businesses first.

Liftlock Pest Control founder Terry King (right) and his family at the Haliburton Home & Cottage Show in 2024. Launched this spring, the family-run Ennismore business offers interior and exterior pest control services at residential, commercial, and cottage properties across the greater Kawarthas region and the Muskokas. Services range from insect treatments, to bat exclusion and wildlife trapping and removal, to eradication of poison ivy and noxious weeds. (Photo courtesy of Liftlock Pest Control)

Know Your Locals: Get rid of unwanted summer visitors with Liftlock Pest Control

Terry King's Ennismore-based family business offers insect treatments, bat exclusions, rodent and wildlife removal, and poison ivy eradication.
Six local entrepreneurs recently received support from Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development to bring their innovative tourism business ideas to market. Pictured are (left to right, top and bottom) Sanctuary Flower Fields, Heritage Blooms UPick, Lovesick Kayaking, N2Adventures, muttmix, and Rice Lake Arts. (Photos: Mary Zita Payne, Claudia MacDonald, Alex Grant, Nikki Nelson, Amy Deroche, Claire Foran)

Six staycation destinations to visit in Peterborough & the Kawarthas this summer

Six local entrepreneurs received support from Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development to bring innovative tourism business ideas to market,
Chef Martin Carbajal pictured in the window of La Mesita Restaurante at 247 George Street North in downtown Peterborough. Chef Martin, who owns the award-winning restaurant alongside his wife Kelly, serves the authentic Mexican cuisine on which he was raised while growing up in Mexico City. Not only is he expanding the restaurant's menu, but La Mesita can also be found at four local farmers' markets, and Chef Martin also offers catering for events of all sizes, with customizable menus beyond Mexican fare. (Photo courtesy of La Mesita Restaurante)

Know Your Locals: Peterborough’s La Mesita Restaurante serves up authentic Mexican cuisine and more

Chef Martin Carbajal, who is expanding the restaurant's menu, can also be found at local farmers' markets and is available to cater events of all sizes,
"Broadway and Beyond," the inaugural production from Peterborough's new Theatre Arts Training Academy, will star the participants of the Academy's Summer Intensive program performing recognizable show tunes and pop songs. Held at the Peterborough Theatre Guild for two shows July 20, 2024, the show features (left to right, front to back) Emily Hartleib, Juliet Martin, Birdie Wells, Robyn Hawthorne, Annie Mancini, Kelly Huang, Hanna-Marie Toll, Kinsley Curry, Adrianna Malloy, Joseph Roper, Sydney Hawthorne, Kalla Tahon, Alex Hodson, and Hailey Grace Coulter-Martin. (Photo courtesy of Theatre Arts Training Academy)

Know Your Locals: Peterborough’s Theatre Arts Training Academy staging inaugural production ‘Broadway and Beyond’

Academy founders Shannon McCracken and Kim Curry present participants of Summer Intensive for two public performances on July 20.
After being closed in 2023, South-Dummer's Farmacy Gardens is once again open and selling native plants, herbs, vegetable plants, shrubs, fruit trees, and flowering plants through a 100-year-old cabin on a five-acre farm. Second-generation florist Emily Del Mastro grew the business out of a love for gardening and plant life, and ensures sustainability with limited plastics, no chemicals or pesticides, and locally sourced products. (Photo courtesy of Farmacy Gardens)

Know Your Locals: South-Dummer’s Farmacy Gardens is in full bloom with even more flowering and native plants

Alongside fruit trees, vegetable plants, herbs, and more, Emily Del Mastro's garden shop also sells cut flowers through her Country Florist Designs online store.
A lifelong lover of nature and photography, Ennismore resident Linda Kassil is the creative eye behind Kawartha Kaptures Photography. From wildlife to waterscapes and landscapes, Kassil never stops aiming to capture the beauty of the Kawarthas. In addition to her own pieces, she offers services including product, rental property, and custom photo shoots. Pictured is Kassil's photograph "The Happy Place," which she took at Nogies Creek between Buckhorn and Bobcaygeon. (Photo: Linda Kassil / Kawartha Kaptures Photography)

Know Your Locals: Kawartha Kaptures Photography helps customers capture one-of-a-kind memories of their favourite places

Along with selling her own photos, Ennismore's Linda Kassil offers custom photo shoots and services for local businesses.
Shirley Turner is a real estate agent with EXIT Realty Liftlock Brookerage who, under her brand "Shirl's Your Girl," helps clients buy or sell homes in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Born and raised in Peterborough, she has a deep understanding of the city's neighbourhoods and beyond. (Photo courtesy of Shirley Turner)

Know Your Locals: Shirl’s your Girl when it comes to buying or selling your home

Born and raised in Peterborough, Shirley Turner of EXIT Realty Liftlock Brokerage has a deep understanding of the community.
Sam Sayer, owner of Sam's Place, has teamed up with long-time employee and manager Owen Walsh to launch a new restaurant and bar in downtown Peterborough. Set to open in early July 2024 at the former Food Forest location on Hunter Street, Love You, Mean It will combine casual and fine dining, serving seasonal share plates and specialty house cocktails. (Photo: Justin Ross)

New downtown eatery Love You, Mean It is a ‘love letter’ to Peterborough

Owned and operated by Sam Sayer and Owen Walsh, the Hunter Street restaurant and bar will serve a rotating seasonal menu of share plates and house cocktails.
One of the most popular sandwiches served at The Good Baker YPQ is the classic Reuben, made with corn beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and housemade Thousand Island dressing and served with fries. Brad Katz, who first opened The Good Baker at the YMCA building in downtown Peterborough, is hosting a grand opening celebration of his second location at the Peterborough Airport on June 15 and 16, 2024. With mini cupcakes and discounts available, diners can enter a ballot to win passes for local businesses and a free one-hour sightseeing flight. (Photo courtesy of The Good Baker YPQ)

Know Your Locals: The Good Baker YPQ celebrates its grand opening at the Peterborough Airport on Father’s Day weekend

Brad Katz's second location of his popular eatery, The Good Baker YPQ serves breakfast, lunch, and baked goods with gluten-free options.
Local non-profit organization Wildlife Rescue Nests will have a vendor booth at the Made By Me Market on June 22, 2024 outside the Silver Bean Café in Peterborough's Millennium Park. All proceeds from earrings, bags, stuffies, phone slings, and other crocheted items will be covering the shipping costs and materials associated with providing no-cost crocheted nests to animal rehabilitators across the world. (Photo courtesy of Cheryl Edwards)

Know Your Locals: Made by Me Markets this summer offer handcrafted goods from local artists and artisans

Organized by Peterborough maker Cheryl Edwards, first summer market takes place outside the Silver Bean Cafe on June 22 and 23.

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