Hi Tops Restaurant Sign Looking for Foster Home

The famed and iconic Hi Tops Chinese Restaurant sign is looking for a new temporary home following the closure of Hot Belly Mama’s back in March announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

Hi Tops has been in business from 1908-2012 by the late Edwin Hum. Photo Courtesy of Bill Kimball.

Bill Kimball, the sign’s owner, made the post seeking a new storage spot for the sign with several suggestions from the community since it must be removed within the week. The sign does not have to be on display for fostering its storage.

The long-term goal is to have the sign restored but needs to be kept in a safe place in the meantime according to Kimball. During its storage, plans and funding for the restoration will be made.

Improvements include installing the neon, replacing any missing parts and a paint job. Fortunately, nearly all of the neon has been saved and will be reused once the sign has been restored. Kimball has had several offers from neon lighting experts to help restore the sign.

“It’s an exciting thing to view and quite pleasurable to look at it,” remarked Kimball. “It’s a work of art. I’m so impressed by the craftsmanship and artistry.”

While Kimball was asking for community suggestions, the Peterborough Museum & Archives was an option. After speaking with them, the sign would be displayed in its original state.

Several offers have been made to store the sign but a location has not yet been determined according to Kimball.

“I’m quite thrilled by the overall response and encouragement,” he exclaimed. “A solution for the immediate need for storage will come out of this. I’ve already had enough offers for space.”

Kimball is looking for a way to transport the sign once a storage location has been established. The iconic piece of lighting is in two pieces measuring roughly eight to nine feet long each.

Kimball volunteered to take the sign during the deconstruction of Hi Tops. He serves as the Public Energy Performing Arts executive director. Photo Courtesy of Bill Kimball.

Although concrete plans for funding the sign have not yet been made, now could be the time to begin its restoration process Kimbell tells PTBOCanada. A GoFundMe is a possibility that he would highly consider as a starting point.

Hi Tops closed in 2012 and is currently occupied by Real Thai Cuisine. The sign made its home at The Spill until 2017 followed by Hot Belly Mama’s.

“I consider it quite a commercial work of art,” remarked Kimball. That’s what it is and you know, the last remaining remnants of the heyday of neon signs.”

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New Canadians Centre Launches Children's Book Inspired by Newcomers to Peterborough

Author and illustrator Casandra Lee has brought six children’s stories to life in her new book, “Building a Home” during a book launch at the New Canadians Centre (NCC) on Monday.

Jorge Escalera (far right), poses with his family at Monday’s book launch. Escalera is one of six children whose story inspired Building a Home. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

The book draws inspiration from children experiencing new cultures for the first time after immigrating to Canada.

Bhisham Ramoutar, NCC communication and engagement specialist, had the idea for a book two years ago when a newly immigrated family was served pizza for the first time.

“We got thinking about all the big things and the small things that children have to face when they come to a new country,” said Ramoutar. “We wanted to find a way to share those unique experiences.”

When Lee began volunteering at the NCC, Ramoutar knew he had found the perfect candidate to bring his idea to life.

Lee met with the six children that were from Syria, Kazakhstan, Mexico and Pakistan. They currently live and attend school in Nogojiwanong–Peterborough.

“Writing ‘Building a Home’ was really a dream come true for me,” she said. “Working directly with children and then translating that into a written, illustrated children’s book was really special.”

Casandra Lee reads Building a Home at the launch on Monday. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

Over the course of five weeks, Lee met with the children over Zoom. They spoke about shared experiences they were faced with when coming to Peterborough. A recurring theme was their love for their mothers cooking, opposed to new foods they were offered in Canada.

Jorge Escalera, 11, came to Canada from Monterrey, Mexico in 2016 when he was six after his father received a job opportunity at Quaker Oats Peterborough. He was one of the six children that shared his story.

“I was very excited when my mom told me I could participate,” said Escalera. “I was so happy, it felt amazing.”

There are free 400 copies of “Building A Home” available from the David Goyette & Victoria Pearce Arts Fund at the United Way of Peterborough and District. Copies can be ordered here and picked up at the NCC office in Peterborough and Cobourg. A digital copy of the book is available for free online.

Educators are invited to book a reading of “Building a Home” by Lee or other newcomers associated with the New Canadians Centre depending on the timing of the reading. To book a reading email bhisham@nccpeterborough.ca.

“Building a Home” is available in English, Arabic, Bengali, French, Korean, Mandarin and Spanish.

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Peterborough's Urban Forest With 481 Trees Planted Along Rotary Trail

Volunteers from the Rotary Club of Peterborough planted 481 new trees along the Rotary Trail in Peterborough to strengthen the city’s urban forest on Saturday.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

This tree-planting initiative was sponsored by RBC Dominion Securities with a $3,000 donation through the RBC Foundation. Assistance was provided by the City of Peterborough’s forestry division.

The city’s regular tree-planting program plants about 400 trees annually, the 481 trees planted on Saturday were in addition to those.

Urban trees improve soil and water conservation, store carbon, moderate local climate by providing shade, increase wildlife habitat and improve the land's capacity to adapt to climate change.

“This has evolved into a wonderful community project and we sincerely thank our partners,” says Councillor Lesley Parnell, Chair of the City’s arenas, parks and recreation portfolio. “These 481 new trees, in addition to the City’s yearly complement, are most welcome. In Peterborough, we love our trees and the Rotary trail. A variety of trees, native to our zone, will be planted for an authentic look and resilience. Special thanks to our forestry division at the City of Peterborough for their assistance.”

The trees are planted adjacent to the Rotary Centennial project shade shelter near the west end of Hazlitt Street.

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Schools To Be Served Healthy Food Through Student Nutrition Programs

Over 50 student nutrition programs will be run in schools supported by Food for Kids Peterborough and County announced on Tuesday.

Photo Courtesy of Peterborough Public Health.

Choices include whole fruit, sliced vegetables, whole grain muffins and packaged cheese. Nutrition programs are an important part of academic and personal success according to Luisa Magalhaes, Peterborough Public Health dietitian.

“Nourished students learn and behave better”, she explains. “Water and a variety of vegetables, fruit, whole grains and protein foods help keep us healthy. This is even more important during a pandemic.”

Growing evidence shows connections between healthy eating and positive mental health Magalhaes adds.

Last school year, Food for Kids worked with community partners to help feed hungry students. School food boxes with local produce and cheese fed at-school learners.

Vulnerable families of school-age children received food baskets for at-home learners, grocery gift cards and fresh produce boxes.

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Virtual Homecoming and Head of the Trent Rowing Regatta Return

Trent University’s annual Homecoming will be virtual for the second year in a row, with the annual Head of the Trent Rowing Regatta being open to athletes and coaches only.

File photo.

‘Homecoming from Home’ will include virtual coffee houses, a virtual scavenger hunt and live streams of varsity games from Monday - Friday.

“While we are delighted to have our Trent University students back on campus for in-person learning, health and safety remains of paramount importance,” said Julie Davis, vice-president of External Relations & Development, Trent University. “We are looking forward to connecting with alumni virtually for Homecoming celebrations and to cheering on our Trent Excalibur student-athletes safely from home.”

To view the full virtual homecoming schedule click here.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Head of the Trent Regatta, due to last years event being cancelled.

The Head of the Trent Regatta, hosted by the Peterborough Rowing Club, will be open to athletes and coaches only.

The regatta beer garden will not take place and no social events will be held on campus or at the Rowing Club.

Visit the Regatta Central website for full details.

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Second Annual Lakers Alumni Golf Tournament Tees Off To Support Peterborough Lacrosse

Over 90 golfers were hitting the green at the Keystone Links Golf & Country Club for the second annual Peterborough Lakers Alumni Golf Tournament held on Friday.

In addition to promoting lacrosse within the Peterborough area community, Peterborough Lakers Alumni strengthens ties between past and present players. Photo By David Tuan Bui.

The tournament hosted professional lacrosse players, former Peterborough Lakers and avid golfers to play in the annual tournament. Past and present players such as John Grant Sr., Paul Evans and Shawn Evans were in attendance among several other alumni.

All proceeds go towards the Peterborough Lakers Alumni that support the sustainability and growth of lacrosse in the Peterborough area.

“This tournament is a fundraising and social event,” said Jamie Batley, Alumni president. “Not only is it fundraising but it’s an opportunity for the Lakers, ex-Lakers and all the lacrosse people in the Peterborough area to get together.

Former lacrosse players Howie Stevenson (top left), Art Batley (top right), Bill Ogilvie (bottom left) and Bobby Allen (bottom right) performing their ceremonial first drives at Keystone. Photo By David Tuan Bui.

Former lacrosse players Howie Stevenson, Art Batley, Bill Ogilvie and Bobby Allen kicked off the tournament with the ceremonial first drives at the course’s first hole.

The inaugural tournament in 2019 did not have any women participating. The second-year event had a welcome change with a small handful of female golfers. Batley says he hopes to see more women participating in future events.

The tournament had prizes for lowest score, closest-to-pin shots and longest drives for both the male and female categories.

Prizes such as Alumni golf shirts, gift certificates and gift baskets were given out to the golfers. Photo By David Tuan Bui.

The third annual Peterborough Lakers Alumni Golf Tournament will be held on June 24 next year at Keystone.

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New Non-Profit Organization Launches in Peterborough

Hearts 4 Joy, a non-profit organization servicing adults over 21 with intellectual exceptionalities, celebrated their official launch on Sunday.

Artists Carly, Derek, Jessica, Jory, Josh, Kacee, Karsen and Luke celebrate Hearts for Joy official launch with MPP Dave Smith on Sunday. Photo courtesy of Hearts 4 Joy.

Hearts 4 Joy is a volunteer-run group that meets three times a week in President Norma Christensen’s backyard to create hand-crafted items.

Christensen and a group of parents started this group to help their kids and others gain independence, build relationships and gain experience in a workplace setting. Profits from sales go to paying participants a wage and purchasing more supplies.

“The idea is to provide something that families with intellectually exceptional young adults can have something to aspire to or become interested in,” said Christensen. “They can develop some real working skills and that’s what we hope to grow in the future.”

The group is currently working on their fall and Christmas inventory.

“We try to use recycled or environmentally-friendly supplies,” said Christensen.

The group sells hand-painted journals, wine glasses and lanterns. Their seasonal items include decorative pumpkins for Halloween and gnomes and Santa plates for Christmas.

“This gives them the idea that they all can be so productive,” said Christensen. “We just need to find the thing they’re passionate about. It’s about providing them those opportunities so that they can learn and they make money while they do it.”

Christensen hopes that soon their organization can find a space to host their meetings and store their inventory so they can continue working even through the winter.

“I actually considered moving my furniture outside so we could work in my house,” said Christensen. “We’ll do whatever it takes to keep it going.”

Hearts 4 Joy is having a pop-up sale at Avant-Garden shop on Sherbrooke Street, Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

You can e-mail hearts4joyptbo@gmail.com for questions or more information.

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Temporary Road Closures for Hunter Street and Monaghan Road

The City of Peterborough has announced a temporary road closure planned for sections of Hunter Street East and Monaghan Road from Monday to Friday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Tempoprary closures are due to road resurfacing and utilities service connections work.

Hunter Street East between Armour Road and Rogers Street will be closed from Sept. 28 to Oct 1 for site servicing connections.

Detour routes will be posted. West and eastbound traffic will be directed along Rogers Street and Armour Road via Maria Street.

The sidewalk on the south side of Hunter Street East will be closed. A pedestrian detour route will be posted directing to the north sidewalk on Hunter Street.

Access will be available for local traffic only.

For more information about this closure, contact the City’s Traffic Engineering Technologist at 705-742-7777 ext. 1843 or ext. 1752.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Monaghan Road between Parkhill Road West and Woodland Street will be closed for road resurfacing, from Sept. 27 to Oct. 1.

Detour routes will be posted. The sidewalks on Monaghan Road will remain open.

Detour for westbound traffic on Parkhill looking to travel south on Monaghan Road directs traffic to turn south on Medical Drive, east on Weller Street and south onto Monaghan Road

Detour for eastbound traffic on Parkhill Road West looking to travel south on Monaghan Road directs traffic to turn south on Park Street North, west on Charlotte Street to Monaghan Road.

Detour for northbound traffic on Monaghan Road to travel east along Charlotte Street, north on Park Street North to Parkhill Road West.

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Community Fridge in Peterborough Pops Up To Battle Food Insecurity

The fight for food insecurity takes one step forward as volunteers have launched a stocked community fridge that is open to the public in Peterborough.

The Community Fridge fully stocked. Photo Courtesy of Community Fridge PTBO.

The fridge and pantry are located in front of a private residence at the corner of Dublin and Aylmer.

At a community fridge, food is provided by people who drop off fresh fruits and vegetables, unexpired non-perishables, menstruation products, pet food and personal protective equipment. Restaurants can drop off pre-made meals that list all ingredients contained inside.

Community members are encouraged to “leave what you can, take what you need.” Anyone can drop off or take items at any time with no restrictions.

The project models itself on a growing movement of community fridges across the globe including sites in Toronto, Calgary, Kitchener, Hamilton and cities across the USA.

Volunteers have been working towards launching the Peterborough/Nogojiwanong Community Fridge since the winter of 2020.

After unsuccessfully asking several local businesses and organizations to host the fridge on their property, one of the core volunteers named Sunny, agreed to host the fridge on the front lawn of their house.

“The project has only brought smiles to people’s faces,” said Sunny. “Lots of people from the neighbourhood have already been filling up the pantry and fridge space and the past few weeks the only advertising for the fridge is the pantry itself.”

The newly established community fridge is looking for local citizens and businesses to support the project by dropping off fresh food and dried goods. Dedicated volunteers are also needed to help stock and clean the fridge on a regular basis.

For more information or to get involved, click here.

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