Peterborough Blogs
Hurlington Family Bakes 3,000 Cookies To Share With Community
/The Hurlington family of Peterborough has been busy baking cookies to distribute to the community, as they do every year at this time.
Photo courtesy of Alvea Hurlington
The family moved to Peterborough in 2005, and out of a desire to do something special to get to know their neighbors, Cookie Day was born.
Each year around Christmas the family has a ‘mega-bake day’ and bakes enough cookies to share with the community.
Now, 16 years later the family is known as ‘The Cookie People’.
This year, the family baked a total of 3,000 cookies in one day including six different flavours. They were able to put together over 200 boxes of cookies for anyone that wants one.
Alvea Hurlington, the oldest sibling, documented ‘cookie day’ on social media.
In one comment she told a friend ‘Anyone can do something fabulous for the people around them no matter how simple’.
The Hurlingtons are no strangers to good deeds. When the COVID-19 Pandemic hit in March 2020 the family quickly put together a flyer letting their neighbours know that if they needed help picking up groceries or urgent supplies, temporary childcare or even just a friendly phone call.
“Everything we do, we do it as a crew,” Hurlington said in a past interview with PTBOCanada.
In her social media post, Alvea wrote “With all the craziness going on in our world the Hurlington family would still like to inspire you to do something special for your community.”
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Two Advocacy Groups Hosted 'Treat In The Street' Event Friday
/Friends Peterborough, along with Street Level Advocacy hosted ‘Treat in the Street’ outside the Friends office on Friday.
Scott Couper and David Fisher outside Friends Peterborough. Photo by Angela O’Grady.
Initially, ‘Eat on The Street’ was meant to be an event during which chili was distributed to anyone passing by though, due to COVID protocols, volunteers passed out hot chocolate, baked goods and care packages and changed the name to ‘Treat In The Street’.
Care packages included things like warm clean socks, toques, mittens and hygiene products.
David Fisher, Friends Peterborough, organized the event in partnership with Scott Couper, Street Level Advocacy.
In October Friends Peterborough celebrated their tenth anniversary. They are a group based out of Selwyn Outreach Centre, though they emphasize that their mission is not to ‘convert’ anyone they help.
“We’re not here to convert people, we’re not outwardly Christian - we just try to treat people the way that Jesus would,” said Fisher. “If they thought Friends Peterborough was a Christian organization some might hesitate to come in.”
Friends Peterborough assists those in need with things like filling out applications for for financial aid, contacting social services and providing locations of food banks etc.
They also file income taxes for free year round.
“We’re the only organization in town that does that for free all year round. A lot of our people are on ODSP or Ontario Works so they get different benefits. If they don’t file their taxes on time their benefits get suspended until they file. A lot of people living on the street won’t know how to do taxes, or they just don’t have the means to do them.”
Street Level Advocacy is a new organization, operating out of the Friends Peterborough office.
Currently, Couper is the sole volunteer but hopes that in the new year he is able to recruit more people.
Couper has been a pastor in the Peterborough area for ten years, and just recently decided he would like to take those skills to the street and help those in need.
His main goal is directing people towards any resources available that may apply to them.
For those looking to contribute, both Friends Peterborough and Street Level Advocacy are accepting physical donations for their care packages during the winter months.
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Local Chambers And Rural Businesses Are Asking The Community For Support This Holiday Season
/The Hometown Holiday campaign, organized by four local chambers of commerce is underway, and encouraging Peterborough County and the Kawarthas to support local businesses and shops located in the city and surrounding townships.
“I can appreciate that it’s a different experience in smaller communities - in the best way,” said Joel Wiebe, Peterborough Chamber. “When you go into the smaller communities around Peterborough County you experience that quaintness that we love about these communities.”
While Wiebe acknowledges how important local businesses are within the city of Peterborough, he points out how unique small businesses that are located outside the city can be.
“They’re not trying to be a big city, you can be so in touch with the people you’re buying from. It has a whole other level of community feel to it,” he said.
“Now more than ever it is very important that people support the small businesses in their community so the businesses can continue to be there for the community in the future,” said Bernadette MacNeil, owner Millbrook Mercantile.
The Millbrook Mercantile is a mix of both retail and culinary products. They source locally whenever possible, and provide everything from health and beauty to gourmet food.
“Because we don’t have any big box stores out here, I think its super important that the community try to get an mush shopping done locally and then if they need, leave whatever big purchases for your Costco runs - just get as much done here and limit your purchases at the bigger stores.”
“We rely on locals to keep us going, because cottagers come up all summer long and then ts just locals over the winter- we try to keep them happy the best we can and keep the shelves full,” said Lynn Northup, assistant manager at Havelock Home Hardware.
Located about 40 minutes from Peterborough and 15 minutes from Cambellford, small shops in Havelock may be the only option for some residents that are unable to drive.
“We’re surrounded by little towns, but this town has so much to offer so if you don’t drive this is the only place you can get most of your stuff so we try to stock as much as we can so people have that option.”
Located between Lakefield and Peterborough is Garden Style Bridgenorth, an almost 20 year old business that attributes their success to the support of their community.
“The key element of shopping local is that youre supporting someone that lives in your community,” said Michelle Gay, owner. “If people don’t shop in these little stores there just not going to be around anymore - because we need the people in our community to maintain our business.”
Garden Style carries a wide range of décor items, all focusing on being unique.
“Most of the people who shop here are people who live here or the immediate area - so those people rely on the smaller shops bc they don’t want to have to drive into the city. So, if you don’t have those small shops people would have to make that commute to get what they need. We rely on our community to support our business.”
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Norwood Lights Up The Town For Christmas
/The Township of Asphodel Norwood has organized their annual Light Up The Township map and will be hosting their Holiday Night market on Saturday night.
Photo courtesy of the Township of Asphodel Norwood.
The township has compiled a list of houses decorated in the area and mapped them out in an interactive, online map.
Anyone who’s home or business is featured on the map is automatically entered in a random draw.
The first place draw will receive a $250 gift card from The Christmas Corner (2351 County Rd 45). The second prize is a fresh cookie Platter from Florna Sweets, and the third prize is a fresh turkey from Hiltz Butcher Shop.
There is also an opportunity for fans to vote for the best display. The house with the most votes will win a fresh turkey donated by Ralphs Butcher Shop.
Houses can be viewed online, and votes submitted here.
The township is also gearing up for a Holiday Night market, happening on Saturday from 5 - 8 p.m.
County Road 45 will be closed from Hwy. 7 to Alma Street, and transformed into a winter wonderland.
Visitors can enjoy music, Christmas characters and shop with local vendors.
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United Way Of The City Of Kawartha Lakes Receives $40,000 From Crayola Canada
/Crayola Canada presented a cheque for $40,000 to United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes this week.
Mike Soehner and Paul Murphy from Crayola Canada present a cheque for $40,000 to Penny Barton Dyke, Shantal Ingram and Emily Beall from the United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes. Photo courtesy of United Way of the City of Kawartha Lakes.
While COVID has forced the cancellation of many charitable special events corporations like Crayola Canada still supported United Way.
In addition to the $40,000 donation, employees raised $6,818.96 through their workplace campaign. This is the highest workplace campaign for Crayola to date.
“Our company has had a long-standing relationship supporting United Way CKL - more than 30 years. We are dedicated to our commitment toward corporate social responsibility in the community. We know people in our community need help more than ever as we move through the pandemic and we are proud that we can continue to support the important efforts of the UWCKL” said Paul Murphy, General Manager of Crayola Canada.
Although the annual Crayola Sale has had to be cancelled for a second year in a row, United Way Executive Director, Penny Barton Dyke said, “Crayola has always been outstanding in its support of our work and we have developed a deeper partnership through the Edwin Binney’s Community Garden. The garden is a multi-pronged approach to issues of food security and supporting food programs and in addition it is an education centre. With the use of this land owned by Crayola, we have produced over 34,400 pounds of food to date that has been donated to agencies to help fight hunger in Kawartha Lakes and in Haliburton areas.”
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Holiday Hours For City Services And Facilities
/Many City of Peterborough facilities and services will have modified hours or be closed from Dec. 24 to Jan. 3. Regular hours for most services resume on Jan. 4.
Photo courtesy of The City of Peterborough.
There are no changes to curbside garbage and recycling collection over the holiday period. For missed recycling collection, please phone Emterra at 705-742-3139. For missed garbage collection, phone Public Works at 705-745-1386.
Essential services, such as emergency services, public works and wastewater treatment, continue uninterrupted. Public Works can be reached for urgent matters at 705-745-1386. This line is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
While the Social Services administration office is closed over the holidays, individuals can call 705-926-0096 anytime for emergency shelter services when other shelters are full. City-operated child care programs will be closed starting at noon on December 24 and re-open with regular hours on Jan. 4.
Most recreation and community services are open with revised hours of operation.
The Art Gallery of Peterborough will be closed to the public for the month of January beginning Jan. 3. This closure will accommodate lighting improvements to the main gallery space and the installation of new exhibitions. Online programming will continue on Facebook (@AGPtbo), Twitter (@AGPtbo_) and Instagram (@AGPtbo_). Visit the Art Gallery’s website at www.agp.on.ca for digital programming, news and updates.
There will be adjustments to Transit schedules from Dec. 23 to Jan. 7, 2022, including suspended late-night trips as well as early last trips on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31. There is no service on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. For full details about Transit holiday schedules and Transit Customer Service hours, please visit www.peterborough.ca/transit or phone 705-745-0525.
Vaccine clinics at the Healthy Planet Arena will be scheduled by Peterborough Public Health. The Public Health website has details: www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca.
Detailed schedule for City of Peterborough services and facilities:
Closed from noon on Dec. 24 until Jan. 3, 2022:
City Hall, including the Tax Office, Clerk's Office, Building Services and Planning
Arenas administration office
Social Services office
