Love Story: Jack & Audrey Met On The Hunter Street Bridge In 1920s During A Rainstorm

Sarah Ashley Edwards reached out to us to tell us this beautiful story of how her great grandparents Jack and Audrey Baker met on the Hunter Street Bridge. Below is her oral history based on conversations with her "Grandpaw Jack" before he passed away in 2005...

Audrey and Jack down at the Otonabee river near the Hunter St. Bridge on a date circa 1920s

My great grandparents Jack and Audrey Baker met on the Hunter Street Bridge sometime in the 1920s. Now that he's not here and he's been gone for a few years now, I can't ask the exact details again but I've heard this story from him hundreds of times.

He was driving across the Hunter St. bridge in a big rainstorm when he saw a tall slender woman standing by the sign on the bridge that said "Peterborough". He pulled to the side and asked her if she needed a ride, considering it was such heavy rain.

Audrey was so grateful and excited but being brought up to be cautious of strangers, she wasn't about to jump into the car with him—no matter how kind or good looking he was.

So she asked him to please call her father and explain the situation. If her father felt it was safe, he would give Jack the family password. So Jack drove across the Hunter Street Bridge to a drug store in East City and used their phone to call Audrey's father, Mr. Williamson.

Jack and his Scottish pride

Mr. Williamson's brother owned Peterborough Floral on the corner of Hunter and Water. Audrey was walking across the bridge from East City to the flower shop to help her uncle out that day when the rainstorm had hit.

When Jack got a hold of her father on the phone, Mr. Williamson asked that she be taken home instead of dropped off at the flower shop. When Jack went back on the bridge to meet up with Audrey again, she asked him for the password, he gave it to her and she jumped right in. He drove her home in such a terribly romantic rainstorm.

Every time they stopped in front of a store on the way home, owners would be looking out at the rain and they saw them side by side in his car. Jack said they both fell in love with each other on that drive starting on the Hunter St. bridge where they met.

Jack and Audrey became inseparable after that. They were married the following summer, and lived happily ever after.

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Editor's Note: Ashley named her daughter Audrey after Grandma Audrey, and someday if she has a boy will name him Jack.
 

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Lakefield's Michelle Moore Just Created This Awesome Spacefighter Blanket

Lakefield, Ont., entrepreneur Michelle Moore—whose crochet patterns (shark, dolphin, dragon, to name a few) sell in countries around the world—has added an epic new pattern to her repertoire at MJ's Off The Hook Designs.

Yes, she is keeping the force with you by adding a Bulky Spacefighter Blanket...

The designs were just released this month, and people are going nuts for them already based on the reaction on MJ's Facebook page.

Basically, you can begin your Jedi training from inside your Spacefighter blanket...

And if your hands get cold or you just want to fly, well they go inside the engines...

Order this pattern now, so you can cuddle up in it while watching Star Wars.

Michelle Moore

And congrats to Michelle Moore (pictured above), a mother of 4 and wife of a dairy farmer, for another fantastic creation! The force is with her.

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New Startup Peterborough Tool Library Is Awesome

UPDATE: April 17th. The Indiegogo campaign is 67% of the way there in their final week. Click here to help them reach their goal.

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UPDATE: March 30th. The Indiegogo campaign to raise money for this amazing concept has gone live. Click here to check it out and give.

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ORIGINAL POST

This is awesome: Peterborough's first Tool Library is starting up. Think of the tool library as like a typical library but for tools instead of books. The not-for-profit Peterborough Tool Library provides community members access to hundreds of tools that they may need to make their projects happen.

Members of the Peterborough Tool Library will have access to a wide variety of household and construction tools. The founders take care of the purchasing, storage, maintenance and hassles of owning tools—and people simply borrow the tools they need when they need them.

Peterborough Tool Library founders: Jen Feigin, Chris Magwood, Tessa Nasca, Dave Hope, Pete Mack and Hillary Manion. (Absent: Lindsay Stroud) PHOTO By Tony Armstrong

The Peterborough Tool Library is comprised up of seven dedicated community members—Jen Feigin, Chris Magwood, Tessa Nasca, Dave Hope, Pete Mack, Hillary Manion and Lindsay Stroud—who came together around a shared vision of fostering creativity and self-sufficiency in our community, while contributing to a sustainable local sharing economy.

The committee also wants to provide access to tools for those that cannot afford them, as many folks do not have the money to invest in their own collection of tools. That is why their membership is so affordable.

For just $50 a year, members have access to hundreds of high quality tools. They even offer a reduced student rate ($40) and a sliding scale for folks that cannot afford the full membership.

The committee is currently creating an Indiegogo campaign—it should be live by mid-March—so that community members can show their support for the Tool Library by purchasing their membership in advance. If the campaign is a success, they will be opening their doors to members in May—and be housed at the Endeavour Centre, a not-for-profit sustainable building school on High Street.

Meet the Tool Library committee! We're working hard to give access to hundreds of tools for $50/yr @Ptbo_Canada #DIY pic.twitter.com/dtc0PlMirb

— Ptbo Tool Library (@PtboToolLibrary) March 1, 2016

The Tool Library is a not-for-profit initiative, and all of the money they collect will go towards updating and maintaining their tool collection. Once they open their doors, they will be looking for volunteers to help staff the Tool Library.

For information on memberships and volunteering, get in touch with Jen Feigin at info@ptbotoollibrary.ca. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

—By Aaron Elliott

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Frances Clara Glover PRHC's First Leap Baby Of 2016

Welcome to the world Frances Clara Glover, PRHC's first leap year baby of 2016! Frances was born to her proud parents Lindsay and James at 9:01 a.m. this morning.

Frances weighed in at 7 lbs. 14 oz., and she was apparently in a big hurry to earn her first-place position: her mother had just six minutes of active labour once she arrived at the hospital from nearby Warkworth!

Della, Lindsay and Frances. (Photo via PRHC)

The family left their home in Warkworth for PRHC around 7 a.m. this morning when Lindsay’s contractions started to come about five minutes apart.

Frances is her parents’ second daughter; her sister Della Mae turned two years old just twelve days ago.

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Maryam Monsef Encourages Businesses To Apply For Funding Through Canada Summer Jobs Program

The Government of Canada recently announced that it is fulfilling its commitment to double the number of summer jobs to be created for students, helping them build a stronger future and obtain the skills and experience they need to contribute to our collective economic growth.

Funding for the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program is also doubling to $220 million annually for the next three years beginning this year. This new funding will help expand the number of youth who can be hired from just over 34,000 in 2015 to up to 70,000 this summer.

According to a release from MP Maryam Monsef, in Peterborough-Kawartha the priorities focus on skilled trades, tourism, arts and culture, and community celebrations but all eligible applicants are encouraged to apply.

Says Monsef: "I encourage small businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and public sector employers in Peterborough-Kawartha to apply for funding through Canada Summer Jobs program so that we can help our students gain the skills and experience they need to be successful, while supporting employers who need additional staff for the summer.”

The application period opened on January 4th, 2016 and has been extended until March 11th, 2016. Applicants approved for funding will be able to hire students as early as May 2016.

For further information and to apply, visit servicecanada.gc.ca/csj or visit a Service Canada Centre.
 

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Peterborough's Kate Suhr Lands Role Of Ariel In Toronto Production Of The Little Mermaid

Three weeks into rehearsals and Kate Suhr is still pinching herself.

The Peterborough songstress who recently relocated to Toronto to concentrate on her singing and acting career has just landed her first Toronto musical role and it’s a BIG one—she’s playing Ariel in The Little Mermaid!

The PCVS grad is no stranger to our local stage, having starred in numerous St. James Players productions as well as taking on a roll in the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s The Sound of Music.

As a Humber College Bachelor of Applied music grad, Kate is a maestro with the mic. Her musical training—including being proficient in the piano, guitar and ukulele—lead her to release her debut CD entitled Something More, which she performed at last summer’s Boots and Hearts festival!

Having dreamt of being a Disney Princess since she can remember, this is Kate’s big break on the big stage in the Big Smoke! The Little Mermaid opens April 2nd at Randolph Academy and will be on a run of 16 matinee shows that’ll be fun for the whole family.

—By Aaron Elliott

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NextJet Canada To Offer Flights From Peterborough To Montreal & Ottawa

UPDATE: March 16th -> NextJet has announced it will be starting its charter flights May 2nd.

Great moment !! We will be starting our flights from May 02 2016 Looking forward to see you onboard. @PtboAirport @GatineauAirport @FlyYKF

— NEXTJET (@NEXTJETCANADA) March 16, 2016

You can book your tickets at NextJet.ca.

We are happy to announce the launch of our ticket sales via https://t.co/zFHoO6n0c1 @GatineauAirport @PtboAirport @Propair2 @ykf

— NEXTJET (@NEXTJETCANADA) March 16, 2016

Here's more info...

Starting May 2nd, NextJetCanada in partnership with Propair will provide return flights on weekdays between Montreal (Pierre Elliott Trudeau International), Gatineau (Gatineau-Ottawa Executive Airport), Peterborough (Peterborough Airport), and Kitchener-Waterloo (Region of Waterloo International Airport).

This new air service will offer two return flights Monday to Friday. Depending on the demand, the number of flights could be expanded and offered on weekends meeting the needs of many travellers.

To make a booking visit, nextjet.ca or call 1-855-GO BY JET (462-9538).

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ORIGINAL POST:

DEVELOPING STORY: Exciting news for Peterborough, as Montreal-based discount airline NextJet has announced in a tweet it will soon be offering charter flights to Montreal, Kitchener and Ottawa from Peterborough Airport.

Image via NextJet.ca

Good news for @CityPtbo @PtboAirport. nextjetcanada will be offrng flights frm @CityPtbo to @CityKitchener @GatineauAirport and Montreal.

— NEXTJET (@NEXTJETCANADA) February 28, 2016

Mayor Bennett also tweeted his excitement...

Welcome @NEXTJETCANADA to #YPQ @CityPtbo @PtboAirport. Exciting news of a new service. https://t.co/rl618tWu3j

— Daryl Bennett (@MayorBennett) February 29, 2016

More details to come to come as we get 'em...

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Lydia Is Home

Peterborough's Lydia Black has been fighting myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a blood disease typically found in older adults. She has required extensive, lengthy treatment at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

Which makes this message (and photo) below that just went out from Ronald McDonald Charities Toronto Facebook page so special:

"Peace out RMHC Toronto! After 8 months living at the House with her parents, Lydia is finally well enough to go home. #exciting"  ‪

Welcome home Lydia.

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Curve Lake Man Writes Heartwarming Campaign To Bring Brother With Down Syndrome To New York

Tim Jacobs, a 23-year-old electrician from Curve Lake near Peterborough, has written a heartwarming campaign to bring his older brother, Mike, 38, to New York City. 

Mike has Down syndrome, and it's been his lifelong dream to go to New York. Mike, who is blind in one eye, is "a really amazing peson and is always eager to help anyone in need," Tim writes. "Mike is unable to work due to his disability but he's always cutting grass or shoveling driveways to make some cash."

Mikey

"He's my older brother, though most of the time I take it upon myself to be his," says Tim. "He's really smart and enjoys playing all kinds of sports. I remember when I was little and would play hockey he would always be on the bench right next to me cheering me on! He called himself my coach."

Tim says as long as he remembers, Mike has always talked about going to New York to meet Vincent from Beauty and the Beast and going to the top of the Empire State building like Kevin did in Home Alone.

"Any time my parents and him are going out for a drive, he always tells me they are going to New York," Tim writes, adding that he is worried with his brother's Down syndrome, that he might not live long enough to ever realize his dream.

"This would mean a great deal to me and even more for him if I could take him on this trip of a lifetime. I love my brother and I would do anything for him, and anyone that knows Mikey would do the same. He's one of a kind, so let's make his biggest wish come true!"

Help Mike realize his dream and give to the campaign here.

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