Peterborough Blogs
East Peterborough Lions Club Seeking Turkey and Ham Donations For Its Great Turkey Exchange
/The East Peterborough Lions Club is collecting donations and distributing turkeys and hams as part of their The Great Turkey Exchange for hungry families this Christmas.
Lions Theresa Hewitt (left) and Lucas (right) during last year’s Great Turkey Exchange. Photo courtesy of the East Peterborough Lions Club.
The program operated from 2009 until 2020 but went on hiatus in 2021 after supply chain shortages made it difficult to get donations according to the Lions Club. Now, the East Peterborough Lions Club is picking up the torch to continue the grassroots program, previously run by Volunteer Peterborough founder Lois Tuffin.
The program has delivered 17,500 Christmas dinners in the Peterborough area as stated in a press release.
“Our club has helped out by delivering turkeys to groups and we saw how grateful people are to have strangers help feed their families,” says Frank Hewitt, District Governor of District A-3. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to resuscitate the program and fill such a great need in our community.”
The community can help in two ways:
Donate turkeys and hams (for those who don’t have access to an oven)
Donate cash to purchase these items
Donations will be welcomed at Kawartha Food Share at 665 Neal Dr. or by pickup if you email your address to greatturkeyexchange@gmail.com.
The food items will be distributed to families who cannot afford a turkey or ham and would have to go without them. Families in this situation should email greatturkeyexchange@gmail.com and ask to be on the donation list.
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Suspect Sought For Attempted Robbery of Downtown Business
/The Peterborough Police Service is investigating after a robbery Wednesday afternoon.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
At roughly 3:15 p.m., officers were called to a business in the Charlotte Street and George Street area. Officers learned that a woman had entered the store and started grabbing items before fleeing. The business owner chased the woman out to the street and attempted to grab the items when the suspect pushed her to the ground and stomped on her glasses before fleeing westbound on Charlotte Street. The business owner did not require medical attention and the stolen property was retrieved. Officers searched the area but did not locate the suspect.
The suspect was described to police as:
White female in her 20s
Average build
Dirty blonde hair
Glasses
Open coat
Sparkly pink gym bag
Light coloured toque
Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.
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VIDEO: Whistle Stop To Shut Its Doors After 15 Years of Business
/After 15 years of business, The Whistle Stop Café is closing on Dec. 17.
Pete Dalliday talks with Peggy and Liz Shaughnessy of Whistle Stop Café about the decision to close the business and their future plans to help the community with Right to Heal Peterborough.
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TASSS Students Bringing 'Mean Girls' High School Drama In Theatrical Production For December
/The famous film and book ‘Mean Girls’ is being brought to life by the students of Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School (TASSS) in a theatrical production slated for four December dates.
Hannah-Marie Toll (left) and Mattie Davies (right) rehearse for TASSS’s upcoming production of the popular film/book, ‘Mean Girls.” The production is slated for four shows on Dec. 7, 8 and 9 (twice). Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Director Jessica Sisson and music director Michaela Hetherington have been preparing for the production since June — and informed the students then — and have worked diligently to prepare the production for December.
The students have worked equally as hard according to both Sisson and Hetherington.
“We have a certain standard here that we like to meet each year. We help support students and push them towards meeting that standard and they have not disappointed,” said Hetherington. “They give up lunches, after schools, they've given up their evenings; there are some upcoming weekend rehearsals that they're going to have to attend and participate in.”
“For many of them, this is their first time doing something like this so they're learning curve is so substantial,” said Sisson. “For me, that makes it even more rewarding because to watch them go from never having sung on stage to belting out a number as a lead is pretty incredible to watch.”
Twenty-five cast members will receive two course credits for being involved in the production —vocal and acting/dance — and are mainly comprised of Grade 11 students. The workload of acting in a play and juggling other courses teaches time management to the actors and actresses, including grade 11 student Kelly Hoang, who plays Cady Heron as one of the lead roles.
“A lot of it comes down to planning my time and knowing when everything is,” she explained. “If I have an English essay due tomorrow, then maybe I should focus more on that rather than focusing on this which has a further deadline.”
The production has several musical numbers and choreographed dances. Any funds raised from ticket sales and concessions fund the school’s next theatrical production. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
More than 70 students in other grades are contributing to the school’s production.
Grade 12 students are aiding in the play’s development in a production class. Behind-the-scenes work such as stagehands, dressers, ushers and front-of-house concessions are done by Grade 9 and 10 volunteers.
Dance students aided in choreography, the construction class helped create set pieces, those studying fashion did costume design and anyone in media aided in the technology aspect.
“As much as it’s a class that we teach, it is a whole school journey that happens to bring it to the stage,” explained Sisson.
With only eight days away from the first show, the numerous rehearsals and heavy workloads have helped the students bond and create chemistry to provide genuine quality theatre.
“It's been phenomenal,” exclaimed Emma Robertson, Grade 12 student playing Glenn Coco. “We're always complimenting each other which is awesome. I feel very comfortable with the team.”
“We all support each other and cheer each other on,” added Hoang.
Performances are scheduled for the following dates and times:
Dec. 7: 7 p.m.
Dec. 8: 7 p.m.
Dec. 9: 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased for $20 through School Cash Online or at the door at TASSS (cash only).
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Video Teaser: Whistle Stop To Shut Its Doors After 15 Years of Business
/The Whistle Stop Café is closing after 15 years in business. Pete Dalliday talks with Peggy and Liz Shaughnessy of Whistle Stop Café about their closing and what’s next for them.
Full details and video for 9 a.m. on Nov. 30.
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Demand For Services Surge Causes Shortfall For Salvation Army; Monetary and Other Donations Sought
/The Salvation Army’s Peterborough Christmas Assistance program claims they are already facing shortfalls due to a surge in demand for their services, with several weeks left of their campaign announced on Wednesday.
The CHristmas Kettle Campaign began outside Lansdowne Place’s food court on Nov. 16. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SALVATION ARMY PETERBOROUGH TEMPLE.
The non-profit began registering families and individuals two weeks ago and has signed up about 2,000 applicants.
“We're seeing more community service and general applicants,” said Billi Balment, Salvation Army community family services supervisor. “In the past two years, there's been an increase in single people seeking help in the latter half of the program.”
Meeting needs this year has been challenging due to near-full bookings and dwindling resources and funds according to Balment.
“We have a plan for the expected influx but public support is crucial this year more than ever,” she said.
Families visiting The Salvation Army Toy Shop have shown great interest in practical items like hats, mittens, toys and puzzles as stated in a press release.
“We ran out of mittens last Thursday. I bought 200 more, and they were gone by Friday,” Balment said.
Monetary donations continue to come in for the non-profit organization however The Salvation Army says they have slowed compared to the initial surge during the Hope For All Seasons Christmas Appeal. The organization is seeking donations of mittens, games, puzzles, toys for ages nine to 13 and teen toiletry sets.
“There's still time to help,” Balment added. “We have the Christmas parade this weekend where food and toy donations can be made, with volunteers from Country 105 and Move 99.7 and Chemong Home Hardware on hand to collect them and bring them to the church on Saturday.”
Monetary donations can be mailed to 219 Simcoe St., Peterborough, ON, K9H 2H6 or made in person and at kettles across the city. Donations by phone can be made by calling 705-742-4391, ext. 257. Toy and mitten donations are accepted at the church doors on Simcoe Street.
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41-Year-Old Peterborough Man Charged With Robbery and Damaging a Boiler Room
/A 41-year-old Peterborough man is facing a robbery and mischief charge from an incident Tuesday evening.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
At roughly 8:45 p.m., officers were called to the Reid Street and Brock Street area about an unwanted male in a secure building. Officers learned the boiler room of the building had been damaged and that the suspect had forced his way into an apartment, pushed the tenant to ground and took off with some items.
Officers located a man matching the description given to police in the Hunter Street and Downie Street area. The suspect was taken into custody without incident.
The man was arrested and charged with:
Robbery with Violence
Mischief Over $5000
The accused is being held in custody and will appear in court Wednesday.
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Runner's Life Seeking Skaters To Make World's Longest Conga Line At Peterborough Lift Lock
/Runner’s Life Ltd is calling all skaters in the area to create the world’s longest Conga line along the Lift Lock canal on Feb. 4.
File Photo.
