Peterborough's Trent Valley Literacy Association

TVLA Executive Director Teresa Kerr (on right) with fellow employee Jessica Easton

The Trent Valley Literacy Association (TVLA), which has been in Peterborough for more than 30 years, is a non-profit organization. It was formed to help adults in the Patch gain reading, writing, basic math and computer skills needed to live and work successfully in the community. The TVLA offers many programs, ranging from one-to-one to classroom learning.

TVLA held a yard sale fundraiser last weekend as they rely on donations to keep the project running. They are also always looking for volunteers who can share some time to tutor others. TVLA is located at 139 Douro Street, next to reBOOT. 

[Trent Valley Literacy Association]

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The Treasure Hunters Roadshow Is In the Patch Looking for Antiques

The Treasure Hunters Roadshow has been set up this week at the Best Western Otonabee Inn and they're looking to purchase your antiques. These include precious metals, jewellery, antiques and toys from before 1965, and other rare finds. There has been tremendous interest from Peterborough citizens, and the lineups have kept them past their 6 p.m. close-up time. Today, rare finds were a Beatles tray and a Martin guitar. The Treasure Hunters Roadshow will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. —words and pictures by Evan Holt

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Screening of "The Clean Bin Project" a Success

Nearly every seat was occupied at the screening of The Clean Bin Project last night in the auditorium of The Peterborough Public Library. People sat attentive as they watched the journey of Jen and Grant over the 365 days of their project.

Laughter was heard throughout as the duo brought a great deal of wit and humour to their adventure as they worked through new and innovative ways to do the most simplest day-to-day tasks in a more environmentally, garbage-free approach. Shock was also seen on the faces of many as statistics on garbage and waste poured onto the screen that were just too heartbreaking to believe.

After the screening, the couple welcomed questions, comments and feedback from the audience. I would like to thank Jen and Grant for choosing Peterborough as one of their stops along their cycling journey across the country to get the word out, opening our eyes and reminding us of all the little things we could change in our day to day lives to make a little bit of a difference in the well-being and future of our planet.

For more information on the project, go to The Clean Bin Project Blog. And for local resources and advice, visit Peterborough Green-Up.  —Julie Morris, PtboCanada contributor 

[Related: Must Watch: Peterborough Green-Up Presents "The Clean Bin Project"; The Clean Bin Project; Peterborough Green-Up]

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Read all about it: New Location of Mark Jokinen Books Opens

Mark Jokinen has been busy the past week moving his used bookstore from 382 Water Street to the new location at 271 George Street, which just opened yesterday. Still with a long list of things to do, he wanted me to quote his wife, Karen, who had this to say: "That's the last time we're doing this."

After 22 years in business, the move was made for several reasons—namely because they're getting two times the amount of foot traffic that will be passing by the new store. But certainly the extra perks such as AC, more space and being closer to parking garages helps.

Stop in to explore the roomier store and watch for Jokinen's $1 to $4 book sale at his old location in the middle of August.

Mark Jokinen Books is open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

 —words and pictures by Evan Holt

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Peterborough's Adam Kemp is a rock star of poster design

Twenty-five-year-old Adam Kemp first got involved with graphic design in 2002 when he began making movie posters for fun. What started as a hobby has now become one of his jobs at his business World on Mute Designs, where he develops websites (for The Spades, for example), provides web maintenance, and does graphic design (from logos to invitations to his awesome posters). "I love the arts, from the clean to the wacky style," he says.

World on Mute is a curious name for a company—and here's where Kemp says it came from: "The name 'World on Mute' originated from a group of friends that was gathering to make a movie about me and my hearing impaired disability. I loved the name and it just stuck with me for quite a long time. When I was at Sir Sandford Fleming [he's a graduate of the Web Developer program there], I was asked by one of my teachers, 'What are you going to name your business?'  And I knew right away. I remembered 'World on Mute' and wanted to use that."

Chances are you've seen some of his eye-popping posters at The Historic Red Dog and elsewhere in downtown Peterborough. "I'm glad that Ryan Kemp [his brother] of The Red Dog gave me a chance to express my creativity through these posters that I've designed for the Red Dog," says Kemp, who was born and raised in the Patch. "I've received so many compliments from the bands that just loved their posters that I did."  

Kemp recently moved to Port Credit, Mississauga's Village on the Lake—"it reminds me of East City in Peterborough but without the good old Quaker Oats smell," he says—but gets back to Peterborough as much as he can.

Below are some of his favourite posters he's designed.

 
[World on Mute Designs]

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Peterborough's Bars and Restaurants Rock

There is no shortage of amazing places to eat and drink and dance in downtown Peterborough. PtboCanada's Creative Director Evan Holt gives us a taste in this photo tour...

251 George St. N.

379 George St. N.

129 Hunter St. W.

216 Hunter St. W.

182 Charlotte St.

306 George St. N.

123 Simcoe St.

225 Hunter St. W.

180 Hunter St. W.

217 Hunter St. W.

What's your favourite bar/restaurant in the Patch and why?

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Get the Best Gas Prices in Peterborough

It's always nice to know where the best deal is before gassing up. Well thanks to GasBuddy.com, you can. The site shows the best (and worst) gas prices in almost every city in North America—including Peterborough.

Also, if you have an iPhone and fill up at Petro-Canada, don't forget to check out their free app. It gives you directions to the nearest Petro-Canada gas station and tells you the current price per litre.

[Peterborough Gas Prices]

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Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Ruth Greig of Plan to Inspire thanks everyone for a lovely evening.Thursday night at The Junction, local business Plan to Inspire: Conference and Event Management presented "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun".

This was a cocktail party for ladies only and had appetizers, dancing, a fashion show from local online apparel boutique TiaStar.com, and numerous wares from local businesses for women. Partial proceeds went to the YWCA Crossroads Shelter.

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Peterborough Icons: What comes to mind?

When you think of iconic places in the Patch, what are some of the things that come to mind? There are so many possibles to choose from in this great city of ours. 

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What Will Become of Portage Place?

Once upon a time, Portage Place was the mall you just had to visit. There were lots of stores and shops and food court options, and business was booming. But all that seems like distant memory now.

You know things are bad at Portage Place when one of the shops in there that customers are loyal to is forced to shut its doors.

As MyKawartha reports, The Gourmet Cup is closing today due to lack of business. The Gourmet Cup has been in the mall since the very beginning, and current owner Lorna Ray has run it since 1996.

"The landlord has done nothing to attract tenants," Ray tells MyKawartha. "It's the state of the mall."

A new management team has been brought in to turn things around at the mall and attract more tenants, but is it too late? Many of the stores in Portage are now vacant, and things appear to be getting worse and worse by the day. You hardly hear of anyone shopping at Portage anymore. It just feels empty.

What would you do to turn this mall around?

[MyKawartha]

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