Peterborough Public Library Closed Due to Water Main Closure
/The Peterborough Public Library announced on Monday that due to the water main to the building being shut off, the building will be closed until Wednesday.
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Peterborough Blogs
Christmas at the Marshland Centre Returns With Hand Picked Artists After a Year Off
/The 15th Annual Christmas at the Marshland Centre show will be returning to Lakefield the weekend of November 13 and 14, 2021.
Art featured at the 2019 event. Photo courtesy of Christmas at the Marshland.
The annual show and sale event was not held last year, due to COVID-19 restrictions.
There will be approximately 20 local artisans taking part, showcasing and selling creations like gourd art, pottery, paintings, wood turning, jewellery, woven items, silk scarves, knitted socks, felting and paper art.
Ceramics artist Mary Sullivan has been part of the show for the past four years. She makes beautiful hand made functional pieces with stoneware clay. Her pieces feature whimsical characters designed to make you smile. She says that the excellent quality of the art that is for sale at the Marshland Centre makes this event very special.
“The show has a limit on how much of one type of art is shown and that makes for a much more varied event,” she said. “It is in a beautiful location and it is laid out like a gallery with everyone’s work complementing each other’s throughout the room.”
Christmas at the Marshland Centre will be held at the Marshland Centre at 64 Hague Blvd. in Lakefield and will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 13 and 14.
Due to COVID masks must be worn at all times and there will be restrictions on the number of people allowed inside to allow for social distancing.
For more information contact Barbara Bellchambers at 705-652-5115 or at Christmas.marshland@gmail.com
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Ontario Government Announces Arena Guidelines Changes
/The province has announced A Plan to Safely Reopen Ontario and Manage COVID-19 for the Long Term according to Peterborough Public Health (PPH) announced Monday.
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PPH has confirmed that facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities including areas for spectators within those facilities, can make updates to their facility safety plans. Below are some of the key highlights of the announcement:
Effective 12:01 a.m. on Mon. October 25th, 2021:
Proof of vaccination (POV) is required for every person 12+ entering the indoor facility unless they have an approved exemption.
In the Peterborough Public Health region, there is a letter of instruction in effect for indoor facilities where organized sports are played or practiced that must be implemented, which requires POV for coaches, volunteers, and officials 12 years of age and older (effective Oct. 18th), as well as for active participants 12-17 (which commences Nov. 26).
For more information about approved exemptions, refer to the guidance document, beginning on page 4.
Capacity limits for facilities can be removed; which means confirming proof of vaccine is exceptionally important.
Physical distancing requirements in spectator and non-spectator areas can be removed.
Contact tracing requirements remain for everyone entering the facility
Active screening requirements remain for everyone entering the facility
Facilities are still required to have safety plans
Organized sports leagues and organized events must submit a safety plan to the facility prior to being granted a permit to use the facility
Everyone must wear a mask indoors, limited exemptions apply (including when a person is engaged in athletic or fitness activity)
Enhanced cleaning & disinfection is still required
Photo Courtesy of Peterborough Public Health.
Reopening/Exit Step Guidelines-General:
1. Hand sanitization upon entry of the facility is highly recommended.
2. Masks are required in indoor areas. Some exemptions apply as per the provincial regulations.
3. All individuals entering must provide proof of vaccination (POV) before entering the facility. Individuals must be fully vaccinated (two doses plus 14 days) against COVID-19 and provide their proof of vaccination along with approved Identification in order to access all indoor sport and recreation facilities. Limited exemptions are permitted.
4. All individuals entering an arena facility must actively screen to record the name(s) and contact information of every member of the public entering the facility. This includes all participants including coaches, athletes, and spectators from both home and visiting teams, using the following link (https://www.peterborough.ca/ArenaScreen/). Confirmation is presented in digital (email/screenshot) or printed paper copy form to security/city staff prior to entry
5. Floor markers, signage and enhanced cleaning measures using disinfectant with a DIN# are implemented to control the risk of transmission.
6. An approved safety plan is required from each user group prior to facility access or rental
Reopening/Exit Step Guidelines- Arenas:
Groups are to enter using designated entry points and adhere to all directional signage and staff direction while inside and while exiting the facility.
Prior to entry, all individuals including players, coaches/trainers, instructors, officials/ timekeepers, and all spectators must provide POV and completion of screening to on duty security/city staff at designated entry points of each facility
No capacity limit to on ice participants, unless identified (i.e. Public Skating/Programs)
Full access allowed during the following hours (Mon-Fri 4pm-11pm or Weekends 7am-11pm), but designated entrances must be utilized
Controlled access is still effective for all nonprime hours Mon-Friday 6a-3pm. Access to be provided by city staff 30 mins prior to permitted time at designated point of entry.
Changerooms provided with no capacity restrictions. Please note rooms may not be available immediately but will be no later than 30 mins prior to permitted time
Changerooms are to be exited by all players/coaches 20 mins following permitted time to permit required cleaning and sanitizing by City staff.
Showers will be available to all user groups
Off-ice training and activities (i.e shooting pucks/balls) are not permitted inside the facility. Warm up activities such as stretching will be permitted but should be minimized within the facility.
All permit holders are responsible for ensuring their groups and participants adhere to all governing body sport regulations and policies (e.g., Hockey Canada, Ontario Hockey Federation, Skate Ontario etc.).
All permit holders must ensure that groups of participants and spectators adhere to all Arena Guidelines and Facility Code of Conduct.
Peterborough Public Health has Announced Influenza Vaccine Clinics in Time for Flu Season
/Peterborough Public Health announced on Monday it is holding several free influenza immunization clinics in the coming months targeted to groups who otherwise can not access the flu shot.
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“While the flu shot is widely available for most residents through pharmacies and their healthcare provider, we recognize this isn’t the case for everyone and are pleased to offer these dedicated clinics to make flu vaccinations as accessible as possible,” said Patti Fitzgerald, Manager, Infectious Diseases Program. “Getting the flu shot is the best way to prevent you and your loved ones from feeling ill. The flu season can be unpredictable, and it remains important to keep people feeling well and out of hospitals.”
Fitzgerald noted that young children, pregnant women, and seniors are particularly at risk of complications from the flu.
A series of flu shot clinics are also taking place exclusively for families with children under two years old who do not have a healthcare provider (pharmacies do not vaccinate children under two years). Appointments can be booked by calling 705-743-1000, ext. 507, and all clinics take place at Peterborough Public Health on 185 King St. in downtown Peterborough. Booking will open up approximately three weeks before each clinic date:
Thursday, November 18, 2021 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 16, 2021 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 13, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
On Monday, November 15, 2021 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Public Health Nurses will be in Millbrook to provide flu vaccine to all area residents. The appointment-only clinic is taking place in the Community Hall in the Cavan Monaghan Community Centre, 986 County Road 10 in Millbrook. Due to COVID-19 precautions, appointments are required and can be booked in advance by calling 705-743-1000, ext. 507. There will not be a walk-in option this year.
In addition to getting the flu shot, following current COVID-19 precautions can help prevent the spread of the flu:
• Stay home if feeling unwell
• Wash your hands frequently
• Clean and sanitize commonly-used surfaces frequently
• Cough or sneeze into your sleeve or tissue and washing hands afterwards
• Remain 2 metres distance from those outside of your household
• Wear a face covering
For more information, please visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca.
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Otonabee Conservation has Issued a Flood Watch for Peterborough and Surrounding Area
/Otonabee Conservation issued a flood watch to Peterborough and surrounding municipalities on Sunday, that will be in effect until Tuesday.
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The flood watch has been issued to the Municipalities of Selwyn, Douro-Dummer, Asphodel-Norwood, Otonabee-South Monaghan, Cavan Monaghan, City of Kawartha Lakes, City of Peterborough and Trent Hills.
A slow-moving, moisture-laden Colorado low-pressure system is bringing widespread rainfall to the Region. It started overnight on Sunday and will continue through Monday and Tuesday.
Total local rainfall amounts of 30-50 mm are expected before the system leaves the Region. The Region will get a break from the soaking rain through mid-week, starting Wednesday. However, this period of fair weather will be short-lived, ending Friday, October 29th as another potent Colorado low-pressure systems will again bring total local rainfall amounts of 30-50mm over the weekend. During both rainfall events, localized amounts of 50+ mm are possible if heavy downpours also occur.
Expected rainfall and especially heavy downpours, combined with already moderately elevated water levels/flows in the Region’s lakes, rivers, streams, creeks, and wetlands may cause minor flooding in low-lying areas.
As a minimum, water pooling on roads and in low-lying areas and higher than normal water levels and flows can be expected, especially in the vicinity of culverts and bridges. Higher than normal water levels and flows will continue throughout the week and next weekend as the expected rainfall from the two events flushes through our waterways.
Residents are advised to be extremely cautious around all local lakes, rivers, streams, and creeks because shorelines/riverbanks will be slippery and could be undercut, and currents will be strong. Road-side ditches, wetlands and other low-lying areas may experience unsafe ponding conditions. Dams and other water control/water conveyance structures are especially dangerous and should always be avoided.
Otonabee Conservation is advising all area municipalities and residents to prepare themselves for possible flooding. Area water data and information can be monitored on-line at:
1) Trent-Severn Waterway’s Water Management InfoNet
2) Water Survey of Canada Real-Time Hydrometric Data
3) Otonabee Conservation Precipitation and Water Level Data
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StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Chaska, Package Plus, Katmat Nutrition and Castle Building Centre
/PTBOCanada is delighted to be running StoosNews columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…
CHASKA is an East Indian word for Obsession. It is also the name of a Chain of Toronto restaurants that have now added Peterborough to their list of locations.
Located at 441 George St. in the former Pete’s Subs location, Chaska offers a wide variety of dishes inspired by the sights, sounds and flavours of the truck stops, food carts and open-air markets of India.
CEO Naveen Seth is “obsessed” with eating happy, not heavy, which influences their menu of fresh, prepared daily, locally-sourced foods, savoury spices, herbs and marinades.
Many people know Bruce Stewart of Package Plus on Rink Street. Bruce started a video transfer business out of his basement in 1986 and rented a mailbox at Package Plus eventually taking over the business in 1998.
His son Adam is transitioning into the ownership role as Bruce slowly transitions into retirement. You will still find Bruce behind the counter though, watching over a business that provides a wide variety of business services, from courier services to printing, to yes, video transfer and mailbox rentals. Visit packageplus.ca for details.
Kathryn Matheson has spent the past three years studying nutrition in anticipation of launching her own business.
A graduate of the Institute of Holistic Nutrition and a certified Metabolic Balance Coach, Kathryn Matheson Nutrition provides nutritional consulting to individuals and organizations and with a particular focus on metabolic and mental health.
Whether it is a simple meal plan, a highly individualized nutrition program or some team coaching within your business, visit katmatnutrition.com or call 705-243-6485.
Frank Nunes and Tom Main are a growing concern out in the Havelock area. Their companies are On Demand Trims and HBM Metal Roofing and Trim which is also a Castle Building Centre.
The Castle Building centre is a hardware store with a bit more of an agriculture focus including supplying farm feed and seed. HBM Metal Roofing is a distributor of metal roofing and siding for residential, commercial and agricultural cladding and On Demand Trim is a custom trim shop, fabricating anything from window cladding to roof trim, eaves, gables, starters and more.
Visit the 11th line of Belmont, just West of Havelock, hbmmetalroofing.com or ondemandmetaltrim.com.
All Saints Peterborough Aims to Bolster the Community with Spooky Walk and Food Program
/All Saints Peterborough continues to reach out to the community throughout the pandemic, with their growing food program and their Halloween Spooky Walk.
All Saints’ volunteer Lois Cook is bagging essential food items which help support over 200 community members each week as part of their food security outreach. Photo Courtesy of All Saints’ Peterborough.
When the COVID pandemic began, All Saints’ provided Prince of Whales Public School with Breakfast Bags, a meal program available to students. Now, that program has grown to become the All Saints' Peterborough weekly Outreach Food Program.
The program provides close to 40 families with increased food security.
Volunteers gather weekly at All Saints’ to bag groceries that help supplement the groceries of neighbouring families in the community. These ‘grocery bags’ include many essential items, including breakfast items (fresh eggs and bread products), peanut butter, canned beans and tuna, and frozen and canned vegetables.
Reverend Suzanna McMillan (left) and Reverend Samantha Caravan (right) in front of one of five vegetable garden boxes that will continually grow crops for local communities. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
For more information regarding Food Security programs at All Saints’ or to sign up to volunteer contact Suzanne McMillan at 705-760-6640. Donations are welcome and can be made by visiting www.allsaintspeterborough.org, clicking ‘Donate’, and selecting Food Security from the menu.
All Saints’ Peterborough is hosting its third annual Spooky walk on Oct. 31 from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The free event will include family friendly frights, a pumpkin walk, games, prizes and more. For more information or to sign up as a volunteer, please contact Cormac Culkeen by email at youth@allsaintspeterborough.org.
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The Pumpkin Painter Embraces the Halloween Spirit and Raises Funds for Cystic Fibrosis
/Local artist Samantha Hirdes is busy painting and selling pumpkins to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Canada, despite the annual charity night being cancelled due to COVID-19.
Photo courtesy of Samantha Hirdes.
For the last 12 years Hirdes has been helping out at a local Cystic Fibrosis Benefit night.
“Six years ago, I started painting pumpkins and doing a 'paint your own' table at the fundraising event so the kids attending had something fun to do, and it's just evolved from there,” said Hirdes. “I care a lot about the cause, so I ended up finding a way to overcome that barrier of COVID and continue to deliver pumpkins.”
Hirdes has set up a website so that those interested can order a painted pumpkin. 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to Cystic Fibrosis Canada.
A pumpkin can take Hirdes anywhere from one to four hours to paint, depending on the intricacy of the design, chosen by the customer.
At the in-person charity event, Hirdes estimates she makes an average of $280 yearly, which is all donated to CF Canada. Last year, the first year Hirdes painted pumpkins outside of the in-person fundraiser, she raised over $600.
The pumpkins come in three sizes, and are completely customizable. They are all donated by Leahy’s Farm Market.
“They always donate all of the pumpkins, we just show up and they hand them right over they say take whatever you want - which is amazing.”
This year Hirdes has painted over 35 pumpkins, and is still taking orders. While her ultimate goal is to fundraise, Hirdes is a one woman show and there is limited availability in the amount of art she can create before Halloween.
Cystic fibrosis is a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time. While Canada is at the forefront of Cystic Fibrosis research, there is no government funding.
Because of extensive research, made possible by fundraising, this year a new medication is being approved, in almost all the provinces and territories to treat the two most common types of CF.
To order a pumpkin, or to make a monetary donation visit ThePumpkinPainter.com
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Ontario Government Releases Plan For Province's Safe Reopening
/The Ontario Government plans to lift all COVID-19 public health measures including mask mandates by the end of March announced at a press conference in Queen’s Park in Toronto on Friday.
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