Peterborough Blogs
StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat Featuring Heel 2 Toe, Letter My Lawn & 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…
There are obviously dozens of stories about area businesses who have bravely figured things out over the last few months, but two in particular stand out this week. Melissa and Chris Allan proudly opened their new business, HEEL 2 TOE Footwear Repair in Peterborough Square, just a couple of weeks before everything was shut down. They recently re-opened to offer repairs to everything from Birkenstock sandals, to cowboy boots, from high heels to sports shoes. They also do leather work, replace velcro stitching and much more. They are located in the lower level of Peterborough Square. 705-874-2939
And Gerry’s Live Bait in Lakefield suffered a devastating fire earlier this year. Owner Gerry Tucker is back up and running, just next door in the Julian’s Plaza in Lakefield. Gerry has lots of minnows, worms, leaches and tackle. Call 705-651-2248.
Teenage sisters, and student entrepreneurs Grace, Shannon and Ellen Murphy are about to launch their new business - Letter My Lawn! They can help you celebrate special occasions with personalized lawn messages for everything from birthdays and anniversaries, to graduations, engagements and retirements. Do it with class, put it on the grass! Call 705-750-7922.
ISF Inc. is a Peterborough-based company that has obtained the Canadian Distribution for a product called Bioesque. Owner Peter DeSanto was attracted to the product because it is a highly effective plant-based disinfectant that kills the COVID 19 virus in 1 minute, all bacteria in 2 minutes, and all Allergens in 3 minutes, with a simple spray-on and let it dry approach. They also have other plant-based cleaners and Personal Protective Equipment. Check it out at isfpro.com.
As local businesses reopen under strict guidelines, often accessibility issues are overlooked. These can be easily remedied with some help from a new program from The Peterborough Council for Persons with Disabilities, who are offering a new COVID-19 Accessibility review.
Two volunteers with lived experience will visit your business and show you how you can easily promote accessibility and inclusion for all your customers and employees. Details are at pcpd.ca.
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Peterborough Mom Of 3 Celebrates $150,000 Win With The Bigger Spin Instant Game
/Congrats to Faria Mohamed of Peterborough, who won $150,000 playing THE BIGGER SPIN INSTANT game.
"I felt bad about accidentally touching all the tickets on the display, so I bought all of them," laughs Faria, a 53-year-old mother of three. “When I won instantly, I was so excited and jumped around!”
The freelance hairdresser and cleaner plans to pay some bills and think about purchasing a house. "We will make the most of this money and make every dollar count," says Faria. "This is the most wonderful feeling in the world.”
The winning ticket was purchased at Pioneer on the Run on Lansdowne Street in Peterborough.
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Retired Nurse In Bailieboro Wins $150,000 In The Bigger Spin Instant Game
/Heather Packman-Sheehan of Bailieboro has won $150,000 playing THE BIGGER SPIN INSTANT game.
Heather, a 67-year-old retired nurse, stopped at Mister Convenience on River Road in nearby Peterborough on her way home after a demanding day. She won an in-store spin on her ticket and watched the lottery terminal screen as it landed on $150,000.
“I was gob smacked,” she says. “My eyes were wide and I couldn’t stop staring at the screen while we waited for the call from OLG!”
Picture courtesy OLG
On her way home, the mother of three and grandmother of five stopped at her son’s house to ask him to photocopy her ticket. “I didn’t say anything to him about it,” she says. “I just handed him the envelope and when he came back he didn’t say a word but I watched this big smile form on his face. I’ve never seen him radiate glee like that!”
Heather plans to pay some bills and pay off her mortgage—and says she is going to enjoy her retirement even more now. Congrats.
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Peterborough Public Health Issues First Heat Warning of the Season
/Peterborough Public Health is issuing the first Extended Heat Warning of the season. A long duration heat event is expected Thursday, July 2 through Sunday, July 5, and potentially into early next week.
Daytime high temperatures in the low thirties with overnight lows near 20 degrees Celsius are forecast, providing little or no relief from the heat.
Peterborough Public Health continues beach water testing throughout the City and County of Peterborough and at Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations. Results are regularly updated here.
Refillable water bottles and bottled water are being distributed by One Roof through its community meal program. Peterborough Public Library is also providing refillable water bottles and are able to refill water bottles during its curbside pickup hours detailed below.
The City of Peterborough offers water refill stations at the following locations:
Peterborough Marina, 92 George St. N.
Eastgate Memorial Park, 2150 Ashburnham Dr.
Beavermead Park, 2011 Ashburnham Dr.
Peterborough Public Library, 345 Aylmer St. N., during its curbside pickup hours:
-> Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
-> Thursdays, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
-> Saturdays, 10 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
In addition to the water refill stations, the tap water in public washrooms at municipal parks, including King Edward Park and Millennium Park, is from the City’s normal water supply.
Peterborough Public Health asks that you remember to call family, friends and neighbours, especially seniors who live on their own, to make sure they are alright.
In addition, they advise to drink plenty of water, even if you don’t feel thirsty. This decreases your risk of dehydration. Thirst is not a good indicator of dehydration.
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Provincial Funding To Keep Municipal Transit Safe In City And County Of Peterborough
/Dave Smith, MPP for Peterborough-Kawartha, has announced that the province is keeping transit riders and operators safe by providing the City and County of Peterborough with funding to cover additional cleaning costs of municipal transit systems due to COVID-19.
This funding is part of $15 million in provincial support for 110 municipalities across the province towards enhanced transit cleaning as the province gradually reopens. The City of Peterborough will receive $77,481 and the County of Peterborough will receive $29,964.
Photo by Peterborough Transit
Enhanced municipal transit cleaning funding builds upon the recommendations in the recently released safety guidance for public transit agencies and supports safe and reliable transit public transit that will get people moving, reduce congestion, and drive economic growth.
“Municipalities such as the City of Peterborough have had to make changes to how their transit systems operate to reduce crowding and ensure the safety of staff and passengers,” says MPP Dave Smith. “Working in partnership with municipalities is critical if we are to keep our communities clean, safe and healthy. This funding is another necessary step in that direction.”
“Peterborough Transit is adapting to continue to provide public transit service during the pandemic in a way that helps protect the health and wellbeing of customers, employees, and the community,” Mayor Therrien says. “Additional funding from the Province to assist with enhanced cleaning measures will support providing this key service for our community during this time."
“We are very pleased with the investment in Peterborough County through our Community Care specialized transit bus,” adds J. Murray Jones, Warden, Peterborough County. “The investment will support the enhanced cleaning needs in our Caremobiles to ensure rider safety.”
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Turtle Crossing Signs Installed At Curve Lake First Nation To Raise Awareness For Conservation
/Anishnabemowin and English language turtle crossing (Mikinaak Aazhga aatigong) signs have been installed at Curve Lake First Nation as part of a project funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada, in partnership with Otonabee Conservation and Curve Lake First Nation. Elders from Curve Lake worked together to translate the signs into Michi Saagig, the local dialect of Anishnabemowin, and graphics for the sign were provided by the Toronto Zoo Turtle Island Conservation Program.
“Installing signs in areas where mikinaak [turtles] have been observed crossing the roads is a simple way to remind residents and visitors to Curve Lake First Nation to be aware and take steps to avoid turtles when driving,” says Lorenzo Whetung, Curve Lake First Nation Community Member who initiated the project.
“There are eight species of turtles in Ontario, all of which are listed as Species at Risk by Environment and Climate Change Canada,” says Meredith Carter, Manager, Watershed Management Program for Otonabee Conservation. “Reducing road mortality is an important step in the conservation and protection these important species.”
Mikinaak (Turtle) nesting season is end of May to early July. Females are vulnerable to collisions with vehicles during this time as they travel to and from nesting sites, which often requires crossing roads. Mikinaak (Turtles) can hatch and dig themselves out of their nest chambers from August to October and will then move to water, which may also require crossing roads so be aware of turtles during these times, too.
Staff from The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre remind everyone that if you do stop to assist a mikinaak (turtle) crossing the road, ensuring your own safety is critical.
Make sure you are safe from other vehicles and be sure to wash your hands after touching a mikinaak (turtle). Only lift a snapping turtle from the behind, as they can bite, but please never lift a mikinaak (turtle) by the tail! It is also vitally important to help the mikinaak (turtle) continue in the direction it was originally heading.
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Otonabee Conservation Opens The Gates To Conservation Areas
/Otonabee Conservation fully opens the gates to their Conservation Areas starting Friday (June 26th), after a delay in the season that was caused by COVID-19.
While hiking, walking, and biking have been available at their Conservation Areas during the pandemic, the gates fully open on Friday allowing access to further amenities such as parking facilities, campsites, beaches, picnic shelters, boat launches, and more, with physical distancing measures in place.
New gatehouse at Warsaw Caves (photo courtesy Otonabee Conservation)
There is a newly built gatehouse at Warsaw Caves Conservation Area and a brand new washroom facility at Beavermead Campground, which is owned by the City of Peterborough and operated by Otonabee Conservation.
Both new buildings are fully accessible, offering barrier-free access for visitors. Additionally, Beavermead Campground offers four fully accessible campsites with barrier-free picnic tables, a paved surface pad, and close proximity to the new accessible washroom.
Campers wishing to reserve a campsite at Beavermead Campground and Warsaw Caves can do so online at otonabeeconservation.com. Here, campers are offered the convenience of choosing their campsite, selecting their required check-in and check-out dates, and paying online. Campers are asked to utilize the online reservation system to book their sites ahead of time, in order to minimize face-to-face contact at the gatehouse upon arrival, and to ensure a campsite is available for them.
New washroom facilities at Beavermead Campground (photo courtesy Otonabee Conservation)
Campground washrooms are open and basic supplies such as firewood and ice are available for sale. Some amenities and services will not be available this year, such as showers, boat rentals, and laundry facilities. Some trails remain closed, such as the Caves Trail at Warsaw Caves, where physical distancing cannot be ensured. All closed amenities will be clearly marked.
“Camping will look a little different this year,” says Jessie James, Otonabee Conservation’s Manager of Conservation Lands. “But it is a safe summer staycation option that is close to home for those living in the Peterborough region. We hope that families will choose to camp with us and enjoy hiking, swimming, fishing, and all the beauty that our watershed has to offer.”
Selwyn Beach will also open its gates for the season on Friday. Visitors must follow public health guidelines for physical distancing, not gather with more than ten people, and only with those who are from within their social bubble.
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A Peterborough Man Who Is Turning 100 This Fall Is Walking A Marathon In Support Of PRHC
/UPDATE (July 9th):
PRHC says in a release that they checked in with Guy to see how he’s doing after Week 1 of his marathon: Since Canada Day, he has walked 12.6 km and raised $11,575! He’s thrilled with the response he’s had from the community, and is determined to reach his goal of 42.2 km walked and $42,200 raised.
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ORIGINAL POST
Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation has announced that longtime hospital supporter, 99 year old Guy Aiello, is walking the distance of a marathon—42.2 kilometres—to raise funds for equipment and technology at PRHC.
His official marathon kilometre count begins on Canada Day. Already an avid walker, Guy plans to walk 1.8 kilometres every day except Sundays throughout July.
Photo of Guy courtesy PRHC Foundation
A PRHC Foundation donor and former hospital volunteer for almost 30 years, Guy was raised to be kind to everyone and to share what he had.
Now, in honour of his 100th birthday this fall, he wants to do something challenging and unforgettable—something that not only reflects his personal determination, but inspires others to support their regional hospital through the spirit of philanthropy.
Photo of Guy courtesy PRHC
“We are grateful to Guy for his ongoing support of our hospital,” says PRHC Foundation President & CEO, Lesley Heighway. “As a donor, and now by fundraising through his walking challenge, he’s helping make sure PRHC’s doctors, nurses and staff have access to the very best tools and technology that support innovative and compassionate care for patients from across our region.”
Anyone inspired to help Guy achieve his goal can donate online at prhcfoundation.ca. To donate over the phone, call (705) 876-5000.
Check out this video to learn more about Guy’s journey…
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Wading Pools In Peterborough Open June 27th
/With more hot weather on the way, it is welcome news for many that wading pools in City of Peterborough parks will open for the season on Saturday, June 27th with lifeguard supervision from noon to 4:30 p.m., seven days a week.
The City has four supervised wading pools in the community:
Knights of Columbus Park, at Park Street and Lake Street
Turner Park, at High Street and Chamberlain Street
Chelsea Gardens Park, at Southlawn Drive and Severn Road
John Taylor Memorial Park, at McKellar Street and St. Catherine Street
Photo courtesy City of Peterborough
