Email Being Forwarded Around: "What It's Like Living Here"

Michelle Berry at Jackson ParkWe've been tipped several times via forwarded emails circulating to this recent post by a website called Numéro Cinq with local author Michelle Berry, who had a lot of things to say about what makes Peterborough unique:

Here's some excerpts from it:

"Peterborough is a town about 2 hours North East of Toronto. Population 78,000 or so (probably more since we got a Costco. A chicken or egg thing—Costco brings people or people bring Costco? I don’t know. I’m not a member. They won’t even let me in the front door.). So, let’s say population 80,000. A sleepy town? Perhaps. But you should see our new Mall, Lansdowne Place. It’s a sight. Now we only have to drive forty minutes down highway 115 to Oshawa for The Bay. We’ve got every other store you’d want right here."

"I live in an area called The Old West End which is made up of mostly young families in big, beautiful, old houses. I have two porches in the front of my house — one off my second floor office, one off the living room. I sit on these porches in three seasons as much as I can. I watch the kids play on the street, or the people walking their dogs. I read. Or just stare. At the tree, mostly. Sometimes I feel as if I’m in a 1950′s sitcom – Leave it To Beaver – the neighbours all calling back and forth across the street, coming over clutching snacks and wine, or coffee, joining me on my porch. It’s idyllic. Small townish."

"The thing about this city is the people. We aren’t stuck in traffic all the time, our houses are fairly inexpensive, there are spaces in the local sports leagues and the piano teacher has free days in her schedule. So we’re generally a happy folk. People have parties and get-togethers and go for walks and travel together."

"We have many friends who grew up in Peterborough, who moved away, but then came back to raise their children the way they were raised. To spend winter weekends at Devil’s Elbow ski hill, racing, or summers at the cottage. To spend Fall and Spring biking the paths."

Read the entire post on Numéro Cinq from Michelle Berry here.

[photo via Numéro Cinq]

[“What it’s like living here,” from Michelle Berry in Peterborough, Ontario

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Peterborough Bucket List: Skating Outdoors On The Trent Canal (Day Or Night!)

A pickup game of 2 on 2 hockey on the canal

One of the things to check off your bucket list of things to do in the Patch: a little outdoor skating at the Peterborough Lift Lock. It's a giant rink that the city works hard to keep smooth. Be sure to check the status of the indicator flag to ensure the ice is safe beforehand. Happy skating!

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris - Picture by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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Facebook Page Launched To Raise Awareness About Proposed Cuts To Peterborough Public Transit

City Council has endorsed cutting $422,000 from the city's $9.8-million budget for public transit, and the implications of these service cuts to bus service if approved are significant. According to a new Facebook page launched to raise awareness about the proposed cuts, the cuts to bus service would include:

-stop at 6:40 pm rather than 11:20 pm on Saturdays
-run between 8:40-5:20 pm on Sundays rather than 8:00 am-7:20 pm
-the Major Bennett bus route on Sundays will be eliminated
-Technology Drive service will be reduced from 6 to 4 trips on weekdays


"Cutting funding to public transit is a regressive action and will affect those who do not have access to private transportation or have disabilities," the Facebook page states. "It is okay to examine routes that are underused but please keep the money in the system to keep it strong."

The Facebook page is encouraging those who care about the future of public transit in Peterborough to come out to council chambers next Tuesday (January 25th, 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.) for a public meeting and have their say. The draft budget goes to city council January 31.

What do you think about the proposed cuts?

[photo via Speak up for Peterborough Public Transit Facebook page]

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Video: Film Canister Rolls Through City Streets To Showplace For ReFrame Film Festival

Peterborough Folk Festival News: Submission Deadline & Band Promotion 101 Workshop Coming Up!

Memories of the 2010 PFF. The deadline for performer submissions to the 2011 Peterborough Folk Festival is February 28th, and submission guidelines can be found on PtboFolkFest.com

PFF receives more than 1,000 submissions from artists around the world each year, and is known Canada-wide for breaking new acts. Coming off a highly successful 2010 PFF, this year's PFF takes place Friday, August 26 to Sunday, August 28, 2011—so mark it on your calendars!

PFF Artistic Director Candace Shaw, who PtboCanada spotlighted last year in this Q&A, is also hosting a Band Promotion 101 workshop on February 2 at Sadleir House in Peterborough. Designed with the emerging artist in mind, Shaw draws on her many years of experience in the music industry to help up-and-coming artists understand the art of self-promotion. Cost is only $10, and participants must register at PtboFolkFest.com.

[Peterborough Folk Festival; PtboCanada Interview: Candace Shaw, Artistic Director of Peterborough Folk Festival; 2010 Peterborough Folk Festival]

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Stuff To Do In The Patch This Weekend

Friday

Snofest Family Swim (6:30 p.m. - Free) Sport & Wellness Centre

Saturday

Snofest Pancake Breakfast (9:00 a.m. - Free) East Peterborough Lion's Club

Wild Rock Outfitters: Nordic Ski Glide Wax Clinic (9 a.m. - $10/person) Kawartha Nordic Ski Club

Snofest: SnoGames on Armour Hill (includes Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides, Hockey Shootout, SnoGolf) (10 a.m. - Free) Outside the Peterborough Museum

Wild Rock Outfitters: Snowshoe Demo (10:30 a.m.) Trent University Nature Trails

Trent University: Athletics Centre Community Open House (1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Schedule) - Free)

Snofest: Chilli Contest (1:30 p.m.) Heritage Pavilion

 

Sunday

Wild Rock Outfitters: Classic Ski Lessons (10 a.m. - $25/person) Kawartha Nordic Ski Club

REELKids Film Festival: Stella Star of the Orient (10:30 a.m. - $5/person or $15 for four) Showplace

Wild Rock/B!ke Winter Group Bike Ride (12:00 p.m.) 

Wild Rock Outfitters: Skate Ski Lessons (1 p.m. - $25/person) Kawartha Nordic Ski Club

REELKids Film Festival: Letter for the King (1:30 - $5/person or $15 for four) Showplace


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

Must Watch: REELKids Film Festival Starts This Weekend At Showplace

This Sunday (January 16th), there are two family-friendly films screening at Showplace to celebrate this year's opening of REELKids Film Festival.  

REELKids, which runs from January 16th to January 20th, is the educational wing of the ReFrame Peterborough International Film Festival, and will present more than 50 Canadian and International films to audiences of schoolchildren in the Patch and surrounding areas. 

The two feature films screening at Showplace Sunday include Stella Star of the Orient at 10:30 a.m., and The Letter for the King (see pic above) at 1:30 p.m. Admission is $5/person per film or $15 for 4 tickets. For more info, contact Krista English.

[REELKids Film Festival]
 
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Reggie's HotGrill To Appear On New Food Network Show "You Gotta Eat Here!"

Yes, it's true. Reggie's HotGrill will be appearing on a new TV show slated to air later this year on Food Network Canada called You Gotta Eat Here!. Filming took place today at Reggie's, where PtboCanada's Julie Morris snapped the below shots.




[Reggie's HotGrill]

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Breaking News: Dude Enters Hurricane Simulator At Peterborough Square


[Pic by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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PtboCanada Was There: Peterborough Snofest Opening Ceremonies

The Scroll and Bow Strings Orchestra marked the opening of Peterborough Snofest today with a musical treat. Headed by Lakefield College music teacher John Kraus, they delighted the audience with their festive music.

Master of Ceremonies Catherine Hanrahan (pictured above) introduced many VIPs, including Mayor Daryl Bennett (pictured cutting the ribbon below), MPP Jeff Leal, Councillor Lesley Parnell and Snofest mascot Snofest Pete.

The ribbon cutting ceremony opens a week of events which can be viewed on their calendar, including Sunday's Snofest Idol at 2 p.m. at Showplace (free admission with nonperishable food donation is appreciated) and numerous food and game events throughout the week.

[Snofest]

[Words and Pictures by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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