StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat Featuring Kingdon Timber Mart, Grady's Shoes & More!

PTBOCanada is delighted to to be running StooNews columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…

Starting in Lakefield in 1927, 94 years in the same location, Kingdon Timber Mart recently expanded to an amazing new building and lumber yard at the corner of the Buckhorn Road and the 8th line, just West of Lakefield. Owners Don and Kevin Dyck and Dave Breukelaar recently opened the new location to the public with all of the proper safety protocols in place.

Kingdon Truss and the Lansdowne Street location continue operations. Congratulations to everyone on the amazing growth of the Kingdon business. 

New Lakefield location

Farmcrest Marketplace and Event Centre is opening their outdoor summer season at the Trentwinds Convention Centre on Lansdowne Street East. Operating from 8 am to 1 pm, The Farmcrest Marketplace Team have been working closely with the Peterborough Health Unit and are operating in a manner that promotes public health and safety during Covid-19. You’ll find vegetables and fruits in season, fresh eggs, goat cheeses and soaps, bedding and vegetable plants, potted flowers, homemade jams, jellies and preserves, perogies, cabbage rolls and much more! Check it out this Saturday: Farmcrest Marketplace at the Trentwinds, Lansdowne Street just East of Ashburnham.

I missed them when they opened, so let’s congratulate Denise and Keith Rye (pictured below) on their one year anniversary as owners of the Jani-King franchise in Peterborough! Jani-King is a recognized leader in commercial building cleaning, providing disinfecting services in addition to general cleaning of commercial and industrial building spaces. Long-time residents of the Peterborough area, Denise and Keith are excited to be growing their business locally. You can reach them at 705-930-7577.

Like so many local businesses, Grady’s Shoes recently pivoted to offer Curbside Pickup at 231 King St., Peterborough (corner of King & Aylmer) and FREE Local Delivery. Go to Gradys.ca for details, but let’s all remember that Grady’s is just one example of hundreds of local businesses who are doing their best to survive, to reopen, and to do so with the safety of you and their employees as their first priority. The story of the resilience of the local Peterborough business community has yet to be written, but meanwhile let’s salute our local businesses. #lovelocalptbo

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The Future Canadian Canoe Museum Build Impacted By Environmental Contamination

The Canadian Canoe Museum (CCM) has announced that the results of its own independent investigations confirm that the designated site for the future building of the new Canadian Canoe Museum has been found to contain an industrial solvent, the chemical compound trichloroethylene (TCE). 

The ground water at 353 Hunter Street East, owned by Parks Canada, is believed to have been contaminated by chemicals seeping from an adjacent property. The 83,400 square-foot facility museum was to be located alongside the Peterborough Lift Lock on the Trent-Severn Waterway.

“All of us at the Canoe Museum, our project partners and supporters, are highly concerned and extremely disappointed by the situation,” says Carolyn Hyslop, executive director, The Canadian Canoe Museum, in a media release.

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) this week issued a Provincial Officers Order, under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA), to the owner at an adjacent property directing it to undertake air quality, ground water and additional onsite investigations and to provide associating remediation plans.

“We are working with all parties including the MECP, Parks Canada and our community and funding partners to evaluate the overall impacts of these findings to our operations and our new museum build,” adds Hyslop.

“While the full implications of this environmental interruption are not yet fully known, we are fully committed to building a new world-class museum that will deliver on its vision and serve the needs of its patrons and local community while honouring and preserving this unique cultural asset of national significance.”

A Canadian Canoe Museum representative tells PTBOCanada in an email that they are “evaluating the situation to understand the full impacts to its operations and future new museum build, and further announcements will be made once a direction has been determined.”

[UPDATE: The Canoe Museum representative clarifies to us in a subsequent email that “testing was undertaken as part of the regular environmental assessments required for any build project. The museum relied on experts and consultants to do this testing and to provide the necessary reporting. The results reported today are the outcome of recent independent testing undertaken by the museum confirming the presence of the industrial solvent.”]

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Peterborough Public Library Rolls Out Curbside Pickup Starting June 3rd

The Peterborough Public Library has announced that starting June 3rd, library material will be available for curbside pick up at the Main Library on Aylmer Street.

The library remains closed to the public, but members will be able to begin placing holds on library material as early as Thursday, May 28th. To place a hold by phone, call the library at 705-745-5382 ext. 2340 or you can place holds online through their catalogue, using My Account.

Members will receive a notification from the library when their items are ready to be picked up. The library will not be able to accommodate walk up requests. Items must be placed on hold prior to visiting the library.

Photo courtesy Peterborough Public Library

Curbside Pickup times are as follows:

Wednesdays, 10 am to noon and 2 pm to 4 pm

Thursdays, 1 pm to 3 pm and 5 pm to 7 pm

Saturdays, 10 am to noon and 2 pm to 4 pm

-> During Curbside Pickup, staff will be practicing physical distancing measures, frequent handwashing as well as using personal protective equipment when it is appropriate to do so. 

HOW TO RETURN MATERIAL

Material can be returned at any time to the exterior return slot on the north side of the library building (off Simcoe Street and the Library Commons parking lot). All returned materials will be isolated for the recommended 72 hours before being returned to the library inventory for circulation. 

The library continues to offer digital resources through the Browse tab of the website ptbolibrary.ca where cardholders can access eBooks, eAudiobooks, magazines, streaming video, and eLearning opportunities.

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Peterborough Police Open Satellite Office At Simcoe Street Bus Terminal

The Peterborough Police Service has opened a satellite office located at the Simcoe Street Transit Terminal in downtown Peterborough.

“Our downtown office will increase our visibility in the downtown core, increase security at the bus terminal and also allow for even more engagement opportunities with our community and stakeholders,” says Inspector John Lyons, Operations Division, Peterborough Police Service.

The office will be used primarily by officers working in Area 1, which includes the downtown core. It will also provide more meeting space for the Service when hosting meetings with community partners or stakeholders.

Photo courtesy Peterborough Police Service

A TV display will be located outside the office that will broadcast a wide range of police-related messaging and information, including crime prevention tips, upcoming events and recruiting or volunteer opportunities.

The office will not be staffed 24/7/365, so members of the public are asked to not use the office to report an incident and not attend if they need police assistance. If the public require police assistance or need to report a crime, they are asked to call 9-1-1 in an emergency or in a non-emergency call the Service’s non-emergency line at 705-876-1122.

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PTBOCanada.com Turns 10 Years Old!

We did it! Today (May 27th), our website PTBOCanada.com turns 10 years old!! We were originally born as a Twitter handle in October 2009, and the blog was launched as an extended version of that.

Graphic by StudioPTBO

Shortly thereafter, we launched our Facebook and Instagram pages, and we now have 65,000+ fans combined between our social media platforms.

Graphic by StudioPTBO

Thanks to all our amazing readers for reading and sharing our stories over the years—and sharing your stories with us! Our reach and impact continues to grow thanks to you.

Big thanks also to all our advertisers over the years—we wouldn’t be here without you.

We’re proud to be a locally-owned media company that takes a positive, uplifting approach to the community, and now more than ever we believe hyper-local media is vital for local news and entertainment, city growth and development, and showcasing all the amazing people, organizatons and businesses here.

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StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat Featuring Comfort Keepers, Community Futures Peterborough, covAID & More!

PTBOCanada is delighted to to be running StooNews columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…

If your business requires the screening of customers coming through the doors, Comfort Keepers is now offering the service. Owner Alyssa Rowe has trained caregivers who can be positioned at the front door to screen clients or employees at point of entry. Screeners are fully protected and armed with a list of questions and a digital thermometer. Alyssa has also adjusted her staffing support services for retirement and long-term care homes to fit current protocols. For details, visit comfortkeepers.ca/Peterborough.

Community Futures Peterborough just announced the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund which provides interest-free loans to help support fixed operating costs of local small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Main street businesses such as retail shops, restaurants, corner stores are the target, with loans up to $40,000. For details, visit communityfuturespeterborough.ca.

Congratulations to everyone involved the recent CovAID Fundraising event. If you missed it, you can still watch it here. The virtual event featured lots of local musicians. Funds raised will flow through the COVID-19 Community Response Fund—established by the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough and United Way Peterborough & District—to charities providing mental health supports in our community. For details or to donate, click here.

The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce launched the call for nominations for their annual Business Excellence Awards last week. If you’ve been longing for the good old days, say anything before March, the Excellence awards are a good way to think back to all of the accomplishments over the last year, in your business, or a business that you admire. There are 20 award categories, details are at excellencepeterborough.ca.

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Hunter Street Books Moves Into Meta4 Gallery, Forming Unique Partnership

Hunter Street Books has announced they are closing their physical store but will remain virtually open for online orders and delivery—and have two shelves at Meta4 Contemporary Craft Gallery, just a stone’s throw away in the same building.

Indeed, starting June 1st, Meta4 will feature a shop-within-a-shop for in-person book browsing, creatively curated by Hunter Street Books owner Michelle Berry, and will become the place to pick up online orders.

It’s a clever pivot for Hunter Street Books to partner with Meta4 as they share many of the same customers interested in art and books. The collaboration is an elegant solution in terms of still having a bricks-and-mortar “pop-up” type space for Hunter Street Books.

“I enjoyed the physical store for almost four years but with Covid-19 and a rent increase and my health, it was time to, as you say, pivot,” Berry tells PTBOCanada. “Most of my customers would order books in the store or online anyway, so changing to all online orders and free delivery felt right.”

sneak peek at the new shelves going up at Meta4. Bonnie, Birgitta and Jen are working hard! They are open wed-Saturday, 11-4pm next week! pic.twitter.com/0CtvTcqVQJ

— Hunter Street Books (@Hunterstbooks) May 22, 2020

“I can't imagine someone browsing books for a while, until Covid is under control, and I can't afford the rent, the staff, the utilities, the insurance, etc.,” Berry adds. “Customers are loving the free delivery and now they also have the option of picking up books at Meta4.”

The collaboration was a natural fit for Meta4 and Hunter Street Books, as people would come from Meta4’s art classes straight into her store all the time and vice versa. “When I can't deliver to someone's apartment, or care home, or if they are from out of town, now they have the option of picking up their online orders at Meta4—it’s a brilliant solution,” she adds. “I will miss sitting behind my desk at Hunter Street Books and welcoming customers but I won't miss the floor cleaning in winter!”

You will be able to find a couple bookshelves of selections at Meta4 gallery now, as Berry is stocking them, and will be refreshing them constantly, with the selections of books from Hunter Street Books' stock.

Customers can still email her recommendations here and she’ll be happy to help them find the right book. All book orders can be done through Hunter Street Books’ web store here. There is free delivery to porches or open mailboxes in Peterborough during COVID-19, or pick up at META4 Art Gallery on Hunter Street West.

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City Re-Opening Outdoor Recreation Facilities, Playgrounds Remained Closed

Following the Province’s announcement on the Stage 1 for the re-opening of activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Peterborough has announced it is re-opening outdoor recreation facilities including sport fields and park areas for limited, casual use.

With the lessening of restrictions, there are still some restrictions that apply. Provincial restrictions that limit the number of people in a gathering to not more than five people and encourage physical distancing of at least two metres remain in place.

As people begin to go back out into the community more during the gradual re-opening, they should continue to be cautious of high-touch surfaces, such as benches or picnic tables in parks, avoid touching their faces, and wash their hands regularly with soap for at least 20 seconds to help stop the spread of illness.

While sport fields and courts are re-opening for casual use, the City will not be providing permits for scheduled, organized use of the outdoor recreational facilities at this stage.

With COVID-19-related restrictions still in place, there can’t be more than five people gathering at the same time, unless the people are from the same household.

As normal, sport fields and courts may be temporarily closed for maintenance, such as normal spring preparations for outdoor sport fields.

The City, as per the Province’s direction, is lifting the COVID-19-related closure of the following outdoor recreational amenities:

• Multi-use fields and courts (e.g. baseball diamonds, soccer fields, frisbee golf, tennis courts, and basketball courts)

• Off-leash dog park

• Skateboard park

• Picnic areas, shelters, and benches

In addition to the outdoor recreation facilities, the City marina is scheduled to open on June 12th with changes to service under new guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PLAYGROUNDS STILL CLOSED

The Province’s order still requires the closure of playgrounds, play structures and equipment, and outdoor fitness equipment as well as splash pads and wading pools.

The beaches at Roger’s Cove and Beavermead Park are closed.

Both the provincial and local emergency declarations remain in place at this time.

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The Amazing Impact Five Counties Has Had On Scott's Life

Two-year-old Scott was born with a severe form of Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, and first started coming to Five Counties in Peterborough when he was a week old so he could learn to eat without choking. His syndrome is characterized by slow growth which makes him short for his age with four fingers on one hand.

His physiotherapist worked on Scott’s balance as he was learning to sit up and crawl. She also suggested adding a strap inside his walker to give him more stability and more confidence.

Just a month before his second birthday, Scott discovered the freedom of walking on his own, thanks to a mini-walker built just for him. Six months later, he took his first steps without it.

His progress has been amazing as most kids with the same condition cannot even sit up yet. “They are not expected to walk until age four to six, if they live that long,” says his mother Joanna. “Yet our determined little boy does front rolls at his gymnastics class every week. He may be small, but no one should underestimate him.”

Scott started coming to Five Counties when he was a week old. He has made tremendous progress since then. (photo courtesy Five Counties)

“He was cheered on in the hallways by staff as he zipped from room to room, with a big smile on his face,” she adds. “Only my grin was wider. He made me so proud. Next, we plan to have him compete in a children’s triathlon alongside our two daughters. After all, we want him to have the same opportunities our daughters will have. It’s great to see him as a typical two-year-old. Now we are getting to see what he’s capable of and he’s so happy!”

Lyn Giles, Director of Fund Development at Five Counties, says “while our sites are closed, be assured that we are continuing to do all we can to address the immediate needs of our clients like Scott. We know that virtual care and telephone consultation is not a temporary solution for supporting families during this emergency closure. At Five Counties, services online and by phone will be our new normal and will continue to be the backbone of our service delivery model for several months as we gradually re-open our sites.”

Five Counties offers services and treatment to more than 4,000 children each year, including more than 1,400 in Peterborough County alone. However, the demand for services outstrips the government funding available and waiting lists remain.

For more information about Five Counties programs and services or to make a donation, call 1-888-779-9916 or 705-748-2337 or email here.

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