Kawartha Baseball Umpires Association Is Seeking Umpires For The 2022 Season

The Kawartha Baseball Umpires Association (KBUA) is offering to cover clinic costs for all new umpires and provide a local field clinic in hopes to keep up umpire recruitment.

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“Essentially we just cannot keep up umpire recruitment and there is now a risk of less or no house league baseball because a lack of umpires,” said Nolan Frazer, KBUA.

According to Frazer, pay rates for umpiring have gone up significantly over the last few years to try and entice more members.

“It makes for an awesome summer job for teens and students or a little cash on the side,” he said.

Umpires with KBUA chose what days and hours they would like to work. Age groups vary from youth to men’s league.

The KBUA covers all baseball games in the area, with most requiring two umpires and some up to three. They also cover games for Peterborough high schools, Trent University and Fleming College.

Umpires with the KBUA can cover house league, select and rep divisions.

“Peterborough has a great history of baseball and some really good competition and talent at all ages,” said Jamie Graham, KBUA.

To participate in the clinic, learn the sport and become a certified umpire contact Jamie Graham at 705-760-4153 or graham.jamie15@gmail.com.

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Hospice Peterborough Seeking Applications For New Members

Hospice Peterborough is accepting applications to be on their Board of Directors any of their Standing Committees announced on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of Hospice Peterborough.

Applications are open to anyone living in Peterborough county. Board members serve for a three-year term beginning in June and attend monthly meetings on the fourth Thursday of the month from 6 to 8 p.m.

Hospice is also looking for community members who wish to serve on various committees such as Resource Development, Quality, Governance and Finance.

The following are applicant qualifications:

• Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills

• Organizational and leadership skills

• Ability to work collaboratively

• Interest and expertise in legal matters, fund development, finances and accounting or first-hand experience with Hospice’s programs and services as a client or caregiver

Resumés and cover letters must be sent by March 29 to admin@hospicepeterborough.org with the subject line “Attention: Chair, Board Recruitment Committee.”

Interviews are held on April 20 from 4:30 to 7 p.m., by video conference unless otherwise stated.

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Electric City Football Club Sign Award-Winning Midfielder and a Rookie Standout

Electric City Football Club (ECFC) has signed League1 Ontario’s All-Time Best Midfielder Award winner Mohammad Reza Nafar and CCAA Rookie Standout Aysia King on Wednesday.

Aysia King (pictured) signs her contract with the new League1 Ontario side. Photo courtesy of Electric City Football Club.

Nafar, 25 years old, is a midfielder who is originally from Tehran, Iran and moved to London with his family when he was a child.

He has played in League1 Ontario for FC London before jumping to FC Laval in the Premiere Ligue de soccer du Quebec (PLSQ) and Concordia University.

“Reza was a player we immediately wanted to connect with and share what we were doing here at ECFC,” said Rob Jenkins, ECFC president. “Reza aspires to be a professional and we believe he has all of the qualities to do so.”

Last season with the Concordia Stingers, Nafar was named a Second-Team All-Canadian. He was the leading scorer in the RSEQ conference with seven goals and four assists for 11 points in 12 games. He earned four Player of the Game honours this season.

“The ambition that ECFC has for the future and all the effort that’s been done to make me feel comfortable is what attracted me to play for the club,” said Nafar. “It means a lot that a club of this calibre was interested in me and to be a part of the first group of players to represent the club is something special.”

The women’s team signed attacker Aysia King, a 19-year-old from London who most recently played for Fanshawe Falcons.

Last season as a rookie, King led the Falcons to bronze at the CCAA National Championships, where she scored an assist en route to the third-place finish. She scored four goals and had one assist in the OCAA Regular Season.

“Aysia will be one of the bright young talents in our Women's team this season. We feel she has the ability to be one of the top young players in L1O this upcoming season,” said Randy Ribeiro, ECFC women’s head coach “Her technical ability and confidence to take on defenders makes her very exciting to watch.”

An OCAA and CCAA Championship Tournament All-Star in 2021, King was also named a CCAA Athlete of the Week.

“The community and culture in Peterborough is a huge reason I wanted to be a part of Electric City FC in their first season,” King said. “The amount of support and the fanbase is already amazing. ECFC has a huge future ahead of it and I am super excited to be part of it.”

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4000 Rep Challenge Aims To Raise Awareness And Start Conversations About Mental Health

Peterborough local Joe Keating will host the second annual ‘4000 Rep Challenge’ to promote open and honest dialogue regarding mental health.

Joe and his daughter Alexis during last years event. Photo courtesy of Joe Keating.

In 2021 Keating started the 4000 Rep Challenge after struggling with depression his whole life.

“I saw something saying that 4000 people commit suicide every year in Canada,” said Keating. “I’ve had personal experience with suicide, I’m very open with my own mental health issues. One of the ways I help to mitigate my symptoms is through exercise.”

Keating, who is a certified kettlebell instructor, says the 4000 Reps Challenge is a way to recognize people who have taken their own lives and a way to open up conversations that may help someone from getting to that point.

“Exercise helps me overcome some of my struggles,” he said. “For me exercise combined with medication helps me with my symptoms everyday. It’s not for everyone but I would encourage everyone to exercise even 20 minutes a day to help them out. It’s like a physical meditation - if that makes any sense. It may not be the answer for everyone but it certainly can’t hurt to try.”

The challenge invites participants to join Keating virtually via Facebook on April 23, and complete 4000 reps of any physical activity.

Keating says he will start the day at 10 a.m. and complete 1000 reps per hour until 2 p.m. His daughter will join him lifting kettlebells while his other children will encourage them throughout the day. His wife plans to go for a 4 km run, then cheer Keating an his daughter on for the rest of the day and manage the Facebook group.

The 4000 Rep Challenge is not a fundraiser. Keating says he considered it, but ultimately decided to simply invite people to have a conversation and to let others struggling with their mental health know they are not alone.

Participate in the 4000 Reps Challenge by joining the Facebook group here.

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Ontario Funds Over $5 Million In Program For People Experiencing Homelessness

The Ontario Government has invested $5,164,300 in Peterborugh for their new Homeless Prevention Program to help anyone experiencing or at-risk of homelessness announced on Tuesday.

Sheldon Laidman, City of Peterborough commissioner of community services (left); MPP Dave Smith (middle) and Coun. Keith Riel (right) outside Peterborough City Hall where the announcement was made. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

It launches on April 1 that combines the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative, Home for Good and the Strong Communities Rent Supplement Program.

Service managers will have more flexibility to target funding where it is needed and allow for greater financial accountability by measuring their progress in reducing and preventing homelessness according to MPP Dave Smith.

“Addressing homelessness is a complex issue and one key component is the personal relationship before social workers and outreach workers and their clients,” said MPP Dave Smith. “The new program is easier, streamlined and client-focused.”

The streamlined program plans to help anyone with resources find a place to live.

Access to the funding is based on a “by-name list” that meets provincial requirements while containing accessible information for anyone needing the program to be connected with local support.

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Fleming College Faculty Strike To Begin on Friday

Fleming College announced they will begin a full strike this Friday unless management agrees to return to bargaining or accept final interest arbitration.

Fleming College last had a strike in late 2017 college strike that lasted from roughly five weeks. Roughly 500,000 Ontario students were affected by the provincial college strike. Photo courtesy of Fleming College.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) represents roughly 16,000 faculty staff at 24 Ontario colleges. They notified the College Employer Council of the deadline, gave an open letter to college presidents and asked them to agree to the union’s proposal.

"Our members are fighting for the best education for students," said JP Hornick, OPSEU bargaining team chair. "We haven't made any unreasonable demands, and everything we have asked for is easily achievable."

Union members rejected a final offer from the council last month.

If a strike occurs, all in-person, hybrid, and online classes at all Fleming College campuses will be suspended. This includes full-time and part-time classes, on-campus continuing education classes, dual credit classes and apprenticeships. Fleming has yet to address student placements.

All Fleming campuses remain open during the possible strike as College staff will be crossing picket lines.

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4th Line Theatre Fundraising To Repair Performer Saskia Tompkins Damaged Violin

4th Line Theatre has started a GoFundMe page in hopes to raise fund to repair performer and longtime collaborator Saskia Tomkins’ violin after a fall damaged her instrument.

Photo courtesy of 4th Line Theatre.

Tomkins was taking her final bow at 4th Line Theatre in our Christmas show Christmas Comes to Mind, when she missed the last step, off the stage, and she fell.

She was not injured, but unfortunately she fell onto her violin.

The violin sustained three severe breaks. Unfortunately, Saskia did not have insurance at the time and the total amount to cover the repairs is financially prohibitive for 4th Line to cover completely. 4th Line’s insurance is not set-up to cover this kind of accident.

4th Line Theatre is asking the public to help in any way they can with funding the pricey repairs, they will cover any difference between what is fundraised and the total amount needed for the repairs and the devaluation.

The goal of the fundraiser is set at $9,500. To date $7,722 has been raised.

Tomkins is a long time supporter of 4th Line Theatre, and has performed in many shows on their stage.

To donate to the GoFundMe click here.

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Local Woman Wins $50,000 On Instant Bingo

Jean Clancy of Peterborough won a $50,000 top prize with INSTANT BINGO, announced on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of OLG.

The winning ticket was purchased at Shoppers Drug Mart on Lansdowne Street in Peterborough.

INSTANT BINGO is available for $3 a play and the top prize is $50,000. Odds of winning any prize are 1 in 3.79.

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Peterborough Petes Reveal Pink In the Rink Jerseys For Cancer Fundraising Campaign

The Peterborough Petes are adding some rosy colour to their maroon and white, unveiling their Pink in the Rink jersey ahead of their fundraising game announced Tuesday.

Meghan Roy (left) and Doug Gibson (right) are the first to wear the 2022 Pink in the Rink jerseys. Roy became the first female sports anchor at CHEX in 2014. Gibson played three seasons with the Petes from 1971-73. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The 13th edition of Pink in the Rink hockey game on April 9 raises money for the Canadian Cancer Society with a focus on cancer commonly found primarily in women.

The goal is to raise $50,000.

The Pets have raised a total of $812,099 for the Canadian Cancer Society through the Pink in the Rink campaign. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The new jersey is pink and maroon and has the breast cancer ribbon across both sides of the jersey. The Canadian Cancer Society patch is on the left shoulder and a patch honouring Petes Alumnus and Peterborough media figure Gary “Diller” Dalliday on the right shoulder.

Family and friends’ names who battled cancer are throughout the jersey. The names were purchased by Peterborough community members and all proceeds are donated to the Canadian Cancer Society. 

“The Pink in the Rink is so much more than a fundraiser,” said Alison Payne, Canadian Cancer Society special events manager. “It celebrates the people in our community that we have lost, who are in the midst of their cancer journey and who have survived.”

Several Pink in the Rink jerseys in the past going as far back as 2012. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

A live auction is run after the game where fans can bid on game-worn jerseys but tickets must be purchased in order to participate.

A t-shirt and ticket Pink in the Rink bundle is available at the Petes store. Fans can purchase t-shirts at a fraction of the bundle price if they already bought a ticket.

The arena will use a bucket pass to accept cash donations throughout the game from fans to aid in the fundraising process.

The Petes host their Pink in the Rink night on April 9 against the Niagara IceDogs with no capacity restrictions. The game was postponed from Feb. 5 which would have had the game with a half-capacity crowd due to government restrictions.

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