Jackie DeKnock Creates Culinary Retreat "Gourmet Safari" Near Peterborough

Jackie gets help from Kruz FM's Catherine Hanrahan, who fluffs the rice. Photo: Julie MorrisJackie DeKnock and her husband Dan have set up a culinary retreat just outside of Peterborough in Mount Pleasant called Gourmet Safari. PtboCanada was there yesterday as part of a kind of culinary workshop organized by Kruz FM's Catherine Hanrahan. Jackie's growing business is coming together as a bed and breakfast and kitchen "studio" with hands-on cooking lessons.

The focus is on global cuisine, as Jackie has travelled the world during her last job at British Airways. Cooking and traveling are her two passions, so she took cooking classes and also learned about the importance of nutritional values. 

Jackie started her business by teaching cooking for two little girls, then moved on to men's cooking classes. She then added group classes, a Tapas birthday party and a couple's cooking class (they enjoyed it so much that they want to come back monthly).

There are a few spots left in Jackie's March Break Children's Cooking Camp, where kids explore culinary delights from the likes of Italy, Greece, Thailand, Mexico and Egypt.

Delicious kabobs served by Jackie and Dan. Photo: Evan Holt

For more info, check out Jackie's website. Jackie also appears on Kruz FM with Quick and Delicious Dish recipes every week.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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Amazing: Peterborough's Scott Cannata Will Be Running Across Canada For Cancer Research

As part of his "Run to Live" campaign, Trent University student Scott Cannata will be running from coast to coast starting May 1st, 2011 in St. John’s, Newfoundland. His goal: to run 42 kilometres per day for 209 days—a total of 8,778 kilometres. All to raise money for cancer research.

[Camerasacrosscanada.com, Facebook.com/theruntolive, Twitter.com/theruntolive, Youtube.com/theruntolive]

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The Peterborough Roller Derby League Is Looking For More Players And A Permanent Location

Photo via Roller derby's entry on WikipediaWith Roller derby being pitched to the Pan Am Games, the sport is growing like wildfire. Local teams are starting to pop up in the likes of Barrie, Haliburton, Toronto, Timmins—and now Peterborough.

Cindy Moffitt (aka "Lucid Lou" in the Roller derby world), recently founded the Peterborough Roller Derby League with help from Kim Firlotte (aka "Falldown Firlotte"). The first game is already booked, but they still need your help. They already have enough recruits to form a team, but are always looking for more players. "Even if you have no idea how to roller-skate, that's no problem," Moffitt told PtboCanada at a recent "meat and greet". Calling new recruits "fresh meat" sets the theme of roller derby, a fast paced full contact game on roller-skates. The only requirements are a helmet, mouth guard, knee pads, wrist guards, elbow pads and, of course, roller-skates (quad wheels only). To play, it costs $45 annually for insurance, $30 monthly and $20 to register.

While Peterborough Roller Derby will be training and practicing at the Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre, they are looking for a more permanent location that has room for 8,000 to 10,000 square feet for their oval track. The derby is also looking for sponsors to sign up, and a local graphic artist to help them create a logo.

Moffitt was "stoked" at the attendance of the first meeting and has big plans for the club. "The sport is good for self esteem and confidence," she says. Connect with the Peterborough Roller Derby on Facebook.

[Written by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

[Roller derby]

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An Adventure With The Kawartha Wilds Tracking Club

Craig Brant from Kawartha Wilds Tracking Club showed us how to identify tracks in the snow. 

Kawartha Wilds Tracking Club and 14 other people met at the Environment Centre recently to explore the nearby trails. The beauty of the adventure was taking the time to slow down and take a closer look at just how many animals had walked through the freshly fallen snow. By looking at the distance between tracks and the width of the indentation, we were able to identify the tracks of songbirds, mice, deer, grouse, fox and an ermine. Kawartha Wilds Tracking Club goes out once a month to identify tracks and record what biodiversity exists around us.

[Words and picture by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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Here Are The Just-Released Local RIDE Statistics For 2010 (And Compared to 2009)

From a Traffic Media release from Peterborough Lakefield Police today...

The RIDE statistics are in for 2010:

Total vehicles checked - 18,770
Roadside tests - 37
Tests passed - 26
Warns registered - 8
Fails registered - 3
Drivers licences suspended - 19
Impaired/over 80 charges - 9
HTA charges - 58
Other criminal code charges - 5

Total impaired and over 80 charges for 2010 were 80.

This compares to 2009 as follows:

Total vehicles checked - 14,259
Roadside tests - 30
Tests passed - 18
Warns registered - 6
Fails registered - 1
Drivers licences suspended - 8
Impaired/over 80 charges - 2
HTA charges - 24
Other criminal Code charges - 1

Total impaired and over 80 charges for 2009 were 61.

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Stuff To Do In The Patch This Weekend (Including Watching A Polar Plunge!)

Saturday:

Peterborough Symphony Orchestra presents Latin Heat featuring Marion Newman - Showplace Performance Centre - 8 p.m.

Africville Productions presents Celebrating Difference - The Venue - 8 p.m., Tickets $25 at the door

Sunday:

Kawartha Wilds Tracking Club - 9 a.m., meet at the Camp Kawartha Environment Centre. An opportunity to track and trail local wildlife (map) - FREE 

Family Sundays at Art Gallery of Peterborough - 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., FREE

31st Annual Polar Plunge (see graphic at right), Rotary Park, Ennismore - 2 p.m.

To submit info for "Stuff to do in the Patch This Weekend", email evan@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada.

Peterborough Police Advising Motorists To Stay Off The Roads If Possible

From Peterborough-Lakefield Community Police Service...

Winter Road Conditions:
With the present weather and road conditions, motorists are asked to stay off the roads. If you have to travel, please adjust your driving to the weather conditions. Drive with the utmost care and caution, lower your speeds, drive defensively and always be prepared for the unexpected.

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The Wheels On The Bus Will Continue To Go Round And Round, All Through The Town!

After Peterborough citizens stood up to the proposed transit cuts in an amazing show of force—exhibit A, exhibit B—city council last night reversed their decision to cut Peterborough transit, realizing, yes, it is an essential service.

"People were mobilized and they participated in democracy and they lit a fire under us…. I think that's fantastic," Coun. Dean Pappas told the Examiner. "It restores the service and that's the message that was clearly heard by all of us over the past two weeks."

[Peterborough Transit spared from service cuts after public outcry; Facebook Page Launched To Raise Awareness About Proposed Cuts To Peterborough Public Transit; Video: Amazing Turnout At City Hall To Oppose Transit Cuts]

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The Wolf's TJ Connors Does Fastest Lap Ever Around Memorial Centre Ice

From the skills competition portion of yesterday's United Way Hockey Challenge in Peterborough, which raised $165,000. Jim Cuddy from Blue Rodeo and Peter MacKay, Canada's Minister of National Defence, were among the celebrities participating in the charity game.

[YouTube via TJConnorsBlog]

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Aloha Peterborough, Are You Ready For The LomiLomi Hawaiian Healing Touch?

Are you sure you're ready? OK, here we go... a video from a Uhane LomiLomi Hawaiian healing touch practitioner from Peterborough. Educational and (unintentionally?) funny/entertaining.

[YouTube]

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