Kombucha business fermented before taking off

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June 17, 2021

Haliburton County’s Public Library is requesting money from the County’s COVID-19 relief fund for a new website.

On June 9, the County’s library board voted to submit a request for funding to County council for $60,000 to finance upgrading the site, which library staff say is outdated.

The funds, if approved, would come from the $2.87 million the County received from provincial COVID-19 relief funding.

Erin Kernohan-Berning, branch services librarian and deputy CEO, said that a new website would make administrating – and accessing – library services much more efficient.

“It was increasing difficult to get those services on the website we have now,” Kernohan-Berning said.

From 2019 to 2020, the Haliburton County Public Library saw a 43 per cent jump in demand for online services such as e-books and audio rentals.

“When we first shut down in March 2020, we really pushed so much of our services online,” she said.

The current website was designed around 10 years ago. Kernohan-Berning said it can’t effectively handle many new services the library provides.

The library board’s funding request outlines how a new website will also allow streamlining of the library’s events: right now announcements and event management services are spread out across multiple platforms.

So far, the library estimates that the project would cost $50-$60,000. That’s due to the extensive digital infrastructure needed for memberships, renewals, cross-library loans, event-management software and more.

Kernohan-Berning said that’s why the first estimates seem so high.

“The complicating factor with updating our website is it’s tied into our integrated library system,” she said.

The Highlander asked an industry expert, who said websites with those kinds of advanced functions require ongoing service and support, and usually require a large team to develop the site and provide training to library employees.

Since the library launched online registration in March 2020, it has had 385 new registrations across eight branches.

In 2021, the service has had more than 18,000 items reserved online, or rented digitally. Digital services make up over half of the library’s circulations so far this year.

If council approves the use of funding, the library will receive bids for the project.

Board member David O’Brien said he hoped the library could use local developers to build the site.

“If we can use them for our work, I think that would be a real advantage,” he said.

‘Unprecedented’ surplus

While COVID-19 has meant a halt on all in-person library programs, it’s had a positive impact on the budget: the service is running its largest ever surplus coming into fiscal year 2021.

COVID-19 meant staff layoffs, and extended leave for some library staff, including the CEO. That’s resulted in a $199,296 surplus.

The board voted to establish a reserve fund, which allots funds for operating expense and new purchase of books, equipment and other items.

Under the suggested reserve system, the board would use $22,300 for new computer monitors, branding refreshes, E-books and audio purchases, an outdoor public address system, new storage cabinets and other needs.

The library will also develop an operating reserve of $120,000 which will be used in case of unexpected funding delays or shortages.

Tourism group seeks funds for app for adventure

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June 17, 2021

Adventure Haliburton plans to introduce a new app which it hopes will attract tourists to Haliburton adventure experiences.

Randy Pielsticker, vice-president of Adventure Haliburton, presented their new Driftscape app initiative to Haliburton County council June 9.

Driftscape is an app and online platform which marks businesses on a map and provides interactive descriptions, tours and more.

“It’s a great navigation tool to help tourists find adventures locally,” Pielsticker said.

The Driftscape program requires a $4,800 annual subscription to host set numbers of points of interest in an area. Part of that fee pays for interactive map elements and tours; “gamifying” the experience of exploring the County.

Adventure Haliburton proposes the costs would be primarily carried by their membership fees and topped up by County contributions. Only members would get a spot on the map.

The organization is requesting a one-time $5,000 contribution from the County to assist with initial costs including hiring an external marketing consultant, as well as $2,500 annually to help with advertising, marketing and outreach.

“This will be something that will be an investment for the long-term,” Pielsticker explained. If County council chooses to pitch in, Pielsticker hopes to purchase a higher-level Driftscape package which allows more points of interest. That means they could add local landmarks and municipal trails and other local attractions.

Adventure Haliburton is an incorporated group of Adventure experience providers, resorts and restaurants, with a tiered membership program. The goal of the organization is publicizing Haliburton as a adventure tourism destination.

After COVID-19 put an end to Adventure Haliburton’s promotion of their members through tradeshows and in-person events, Pielsticker said Driftscape is a logical new direction for promotion.

“It really provided a solution to many of our challenges and answers many of our initiatives,” he said.

Exclusivity concerns

Some councillors voiced concerns about helping to fund an exclusive tourism program.

“For me, the membership requirement is a problem,” Algonquin Highlands Mayor Carol Moffatt said. “Pay-to-play isn’t an even playing field for all the players.”

County Warden Liz Danielsen agreed.

“I still have a problem funding something that will only serve certain services in the County,” Danielsen said.

But Pielsticker argued that other Countyfunded tourism initiatives and festivals are only available to businesses who pay to be involved.

“There are lots of other expenses that do not promote the County as a whole and ask for much more money than this.” Pielsticker said. He also mentioned how tourists and locals exploring with the app would filter tourism dollars to businesses around the County – even if they weren’t involved in the project.

Dysart et al Mayor Andrea Roberts voiced her support for helping to fund the program.

“There are lots of organizations where you have to be a member to take advantage of opportunities: I’m really excited about this,” Roberts said.

A ‘digital concierge’

The app is available across all phone platforms and provides more features and depth than a map platform such as Google Maps. Users can find out local history of landmarks, listen to audio descriptions and dive into local adventures through themed tours.

Pielsticker said that Adventure Haliburton will use the app as a “digital concierge” for adventure activities, restaurants and accommodations.

Craig Bowker, owner of Adventure Haliburton member business Ski-Mazing Watersports School and president of Adventure Haliburton, said Driftscapes could be the key to exposing Haliburton’s wide array of outdoor attractions.

“There’s a lot of locals who still don’t know how much there is to do, and how much is offered here,” Bowker said. “We have adventure activities unparalleled by other municipalities or counties.”

Bowker said COVID-19 restrictions meant a boom in local tourism for his business last summer. He said Driftscape could attract more locals and nearby tourists too – even after COVID-19 travel restrictions are lifted.

Driftscape is a software company located in Toronto. Municipalities across Ontario, such as Fenelon Falls and Huntsville, have signed on to the app.

County council requested more information from Adventure Haliburton before deciding if it will contribute funding. If councillors decide not to pitch in funds, Adventure Haliburton will purchase a lower-level subscription from Driftscape which shows fewer points of interest on the map and has fewer interactive options.

With a July 1 launch date in sight, Pielsticker encouraged County council to make a quick decision.

“We would like to know as soon as possible if we can do this with your funding or if we’ll have to find different ways to move forward,” he said.

Scouts, Guides relocation prompts talk about fire hall

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June 17, 2021

Helping the Scouts and Guides find a new home in Minden Hills prompted discussion of repurposing the old downtown fire hall during council’s June 10 meeting.

The suggestion came about after director of community services, Craig Belfry, updated council on talks with the Scouts and Guides, who have been ejected from the Scouts Hall at the newly-refurbished arena and community centre to make room for the Haliburton County Huskies hockey team.

Belfry said equipment and materials used by the groups were being voluntarily moved by the Junior A Hockey club to a temporary recreation complex location until September. He said he was also investigating purchasing mobile storage racks for the community centre, which could be rolled in and out for programming. He said there is grant funding for them.

He added the Scouts and Guides had not yet found a new place for their programming, although he is suggesting the community centre.

Mayor Brent Devolin thought mobile storage was a good idea not just for Scouts and Guides but other community group users.

At this point, Coun. Pam Sayne lambasted herself and council, as well as staff, for treatment of the Scouts and Guides, before recommending the township refurbish the old fire hall for them and other community users.

Sayne said she was “embarrassed” they had not discussed the issue earlier.

“I’m afraid that I relied too much on others who have been around longer than me to ask that question, why is it called Scouts Hall? Why are we giving it away?”

She said 2016 statistics indicated that six to 10 per cent of Minden Hills youth are in Scouts and Guides. “we need to support this in every way that we support hockey.”

She added she has been told Rotary put $300,000 into the meeting space “and that’s an atrocious amount of money on faith. If we don’t have a legal right, we certainly have a moral right to support this group.”

She said they should repurpose the old fire hall into a community space. She said it’s central, visible, and could be shared, whether it’s Scouts and Guides, for markets, or a gathering place out of the elements.

“So, I strongly urge everyone to support the idea of looking into this in great detail and seeing what we can do to convert this old fire hall into looking fabulous,” she said.

Belfry said staff did look at the old fire hall but it’s “not in any great state right now” and would cost “hundreds of thousands of dollars” to be viable.

Devolin said when the new fire hall was being built a few years back, there was talk of repurposing the old fire hall. He was interested in kick-starting that process.

He said the Scouts and Guides problem “may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back – comes front and centre as part of our dialogue and long-term strategy – whether we want to consider it.”

Deputy Mayor Lisa Schell said it was time council made a decision on the building, although it is not in the 2021 budget. She said it is derelict-looking but has “amazing” potential and would demonstrate, “we’re not just a hockey town. It would be nice to accommodate other kids.”

But Coun. Bob Carter said he thought the Scouts and Guides issue should be separate to the future of the old fire hall and its surroundings. He said council needed “more of an overall plan” for the building and area.

Council accepted the report as information, asking for a future plan on temporary and long-term storage for the community centre and a report on the future use of the old fire fall.

Board rejects call for in-person graduations

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June 17, 2021

By Kirk Winter

The Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) has decided to stand its ground on hosting virtual graduations for Grade 8 and 12 students again this year.

At the June 8 board meeting, Director of Education, Wes Hahn, told trustees the planning for these events has been ongoing for months. He said the provincial recommendation for in-person outdoor graduations came too late and after discussions with the two local health units, the board was told in-person outdoor graduations would be unsafe.

On June 1, Premier Doug Ford announced that the provincial government would allow outdoor graduation ceremonies for Ontario students.

“There is no reason that in a year like no other, school boards can’t think outside the box and do all they can do safely to give Ontario students the send-off they rightfully deserve,” Ford said.

Ford added he “wanted students in all grades to have outdoor graduation ceremonies.”

Public backlash was almost immediate, with the Ontario Principals’ Council (OPC), which represents almost all of Ontario’s school administrators, saying in a press release that “outdoor ceremonies for all classes are not possible this late in the game.”

The OPC added schools have been planning virtual ceremonies for weeks and months, and “don’t have the time to pivot to an outdoor in-person gathering.”

They called the request, “both disrespectful and unrealistic to Ontario educators to expect them to organize events on this scale this late in the year.”

Sinead Fegan, communications officer for the board, confirmed with The Highlander after the meeting that TLDSB graduations will be virtual this year.

“Graduations take a lot of time and careful planning to put in place. TLDSB administrators have had school graduation plans in place for several weeks.

In-person gatherings would mean multiple celebrations throughout the day and with (two) weeks remaining in the school year there is not sufficient time to coordinate and organize these events outdoors.”

Fegan added public health has advised the board virtual celebrations are “the safest path forward.”

Hahn did hold out the possibility of graduates interacting with their teachers one more time when he told trustees, “staff are sad that goodbyes at graduation are not possible this year. We are hoping that when students drop off their tech there will be a chance for staff and students to say goodbye. More information about this will be forthcoming to parents soon.”

County grad plans

David Waito, principal of J.D. Hodgson Elementary School in Haliburton, said, “We recognize that graduation ceremonies are especially important to mark the rites of passage for both our Grade 8 students and their families, so we will do what we can to celebrate these moments and make them special.”

Lori Sergeant, the administrative assistant at the Adult Education Centre in Haliburton, said they’ll do something for their 16 grads. Sergeant said they are not 100 per cent sure what this year is going to hold, but unless there are drastic public health changes, something similar to last year may be planned again this June.

Jane Austin, principal at Archie Stouffer Elementary School in Minden, said, “We will be having a virtual ceremony as per the directive of the TLDSB. It will be filmed and then posted on June 21 for families to enjoy and celebrate.”

Austin added the format will depend on the regulations still in place by the government.

“If we can gather, we will film a stage crossing like last year. If we cannot, it will be entirely done the virtual way with certificates being mailed out to families,” she said.

This year’s grads:

• Haliburton Highlands Secondary School – June 29 (120 students)

• JD Hodgson Elementary School – June 22 (51 students)

• Adult Education – June 25 (16 students)

• Archie Stouffer Elementary School – June 21 (45 students)

• Wilberforce Elementary School – June 16 (seven students)

• Stuart Baker ES and Cardiff ES are K-3 schools without graduations.

People accessing lakes without ‘civility and respect’

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June 17, 2021

Minden Hills mayor Brent Devolin has declared war on people lacking “civility and respect” using township-owned strips of land to access Haliburton County lakes.

Devolin raised the issue at a June 10 council meeting.

The mayor discussed one particular area in his township – Murdoch Road leading to the Gull River – but said it is happening across the County.

In the case of Murdoch Road, he said people had chopped trees, used machinery to build roads, were partying and urinating and defecating on neighbouring privately owned property.

He said despite the fact there are five access points to the river, the Murdoch Road situation has “mushroomed.”

“It has to be dealt with. It is patently unfair to private landowners. The Gull Lake Cottagers Association has weighed in because it can happen anywhere there’s an unopened road allowance,” Devolin told The Highlander in an interview after the meeting.

“The status quo is not acceptable,” he added. “I think we need to do whatever it takes to deal with this, to deal with all of them. All townships have it ongoing to varying degrees and it’s been escalating exponentially.”

Pandemic has sped up growth

Devolin said that historically, members of the public have used municipal road allowances to access lakes but they have done so with “civility and respect.” However, he said something has changed and municipal bylaw enforcement and the Ontario Provincial Police have to step in because “it’s not acceptable in our community.”

During the council meeting, he said he’d had dozens of pieces of correspondence from private, adjacent landowners, and the cottage owners’ association.

He thinks the problem is due in part to growth and urbanization, exacerbated by COVID-19.

“There’s more and more people coming here that may not be sensitive to historical norms. We have persons coming onto public properties that are interfering with public rights to exercise and enjoy their property. I think this is the thin edge of the wedge on a whole bunch of fronts.”

Coun. Bob Carter said he knows of two other sites where the township has road allowances leading to the lake. He said some real estate agents are selling properties that are not on the lake but suggesting that the road allowances provide beach and boat access to the lake.

“So that you buy the piece of property across the road that isn’t on the lake and you can just use this access to go down to the water. Which you can, but the way it is worded in terms of boat access, there’s one case with a treed bush that happens to be the road allowance. So, nobody’s getting a boat down there without cutting down some trees and putting in a path or trail or whatever and people are going to start building docks.

“So, I agree with you [Devolin] that we have to come up with something that will apply to Murdoch Road and others. This is a situation that is going to grow quickly over the next short while, like perhaps this summer.”

Coun. Pam Sayne said she’s getting other calls in her ward as well, complaining not just about new people to the area or travellers, but sometimes long-term residents.

“I do think that we need to have much better bylaw enforcement and I’d like us to try to coordinate our efforts with the OPP.” She added if trees are cut down or property damaged, people should be fined.

Devolin called for a staff report for the July council meeting saying while Murdoch Road is a “flashpoint one” for him, it’s part of a bigger picture.

“Because this is an animal that’s grown and I think it’s going to grow exponentially. If we wait too long, this will get away from us and we will never be able to reel it back in.”

Vaccine information update

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June 17, 2021

People 18 and older who meet provincial guidelines including the following criteria are eligible to attend the clinics:

Update on vaccination clinic location

People who received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at an immunization clinic in Haliburton will need to visit a new location for their second dose.

As of June 9, the clinic at the A.J. LaRue Arena has closed. The clinic, which was hosted by the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, was one of two mass immunization clinics held in Haliburton County. The second location, at the S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena in Minden, continues to operate.

The health unit said on June 16 that area residents who received their first dose at the Haliburton clinic will have had a second dose appointment booked already. These appointment dates and times remain the same, but individuals will now need to visit the clinic in Minden for their vaccination.

Residents who are eligible for their second dose can also contact their local pharmacies to see about booking an appointment. As well, residents can also check with their primary health care providers to see if they can book an appointment, the health unit said.

“We are thankful for the municipal and community support that allowed us to set up a mass immunization clinic in Haliburton for a period of time,” said Dr. Natalie Bocking, medical officer of health for the HKPR District Health Unit.

“As the vaccine rollout has increased and evolved, there are now a number of different options available to residents to book their appointments as well as the clinic in Minden,” she said.

The Health Unit will be sending letters and emails to area residents who received their first dose at the previous Haliburton clinic. As well, there will be signage at the Haliburton arena to help direct individuals to the Minden clinic site. Residents are also encouraged to continue checking the Health Unit’s website for clinic location updates: hkpr.on.ca.

No appointment nights in Lindsay

Ross Memorial Hospital and the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit are working together to make it even easier for area residents to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations.

No Appointment Needed Nights are being held at Ross Memorial’s drive-thru vaccination clinic at the Lindsay Exhibition on June 17, 22, and 24 from 4 -7:30 p.m.

· This will be your first vaccine dose.

· It has been eight weeks after first dose of AstraZeneca.

· It has been 28 days after first dose of Moderna.

· It has been 28 days after first dose of Pfizer.

These No Appointment Needed Nights are the result of an increased Moderna vaccine supply in the region. All individuals in the vehicle at RMH’s vaccination clinic must wear a mask covering their mouth and nose when interacting with clinic personnel. Individuals being vaccinated are advised to wear a loose, comfortable shirt and must bring their Ontario health card. Following their vaccination, individuals are monitored in their vehicles for an additional 15 minutes, or 30 minutes if they have a history of allergic reactions.

(Health news compiled by Lisa Gervais)

Sports Hall of Fame inductees revealed

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June 11, 2021

The Haliburton Highlands Sports Hall of Fame has announced its first inductees.

Eleven athletes, three ‘builders’ and three teams will be celebrated in an exhibit on the upper level of the A.J. LaRue Arena.

A wide range of athletes were recognized: football stars Michael Bradley, and Taly Williams; track and field Olympian Lesley Tashlin and university track star, Anna Tomlinson; hockey players Cody Hodgson, Ron Stackhouse, Bernie Nicholls, Donald Beverley “Joe” Iles, Glen Dart and Marla MacNaull, and curler Jake Walker.

Those honoured in the builders category – supporting sporting culture in the area – include Linda J. Brandon, Albert John (Ab) LaRue and Lenny Salvatori.

Famed hockey teams throughout history also get a nod: the 1934 Haliburton Huskies, 1956-58 Minden Monarchs and the 1971 Haliburton Junior D Huskies will be recognized for their accomplishments on the ice.

“This is a group of people and teams that truly reflect the depth and the breadth of athletics in the Highlands,” said Scotty LaRue, chair of the Hall of Fame board.

“We have 11 athletes, three builders and three teams whose excellence and commitment deserve to be celebrated and that is exactly what we are doing.”

LaRue and the rest of the Hall of Fame board will host an induction ceremony on October 23.

“These individuals have contributed so much to their sports and to their communities and we want to ensure these contributions are never forgotten,” LaRue said in a press release.

The Haliburton Highlands Sports Hall of Fame will occupy a temporary space in A.J LaRue Arena’s community hall.

The Hall of Fame is part of the Haliburton County Community Co-operative, and raised funds for the exhibition’s display cabinets, website, and promotional materials with help from community donations.

The Highlander will be profiling each athlete, builder and team in upcoming issues.

Lions let the kids loose in enchanted forest

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June 11, 2021

Rocks, wooden discs, and PVC pipes took centre stage as the Haliburton and District Lions Club presented Abbey Gardens with a collection of loose parts toys on June 4.

Loose parts refers to a style of play many early childhood educators recommend, gathering natural and manmade objects which kids can rearrange and get creative with. The toys, either made by the Lions or collected in nature, will reside in Abbey Gardens’ Enchanted Forest Play area.

“The idea of loose parts play is no one will tell them what to do with it, they’ll do it themselves,” said Gail Stelter, chair of the Lion’s Enchanted Forest Service Project.

The Lions started working with Abbey Gardens to outfit the play area after it was vandalized two years ago. Abbey Gardens put out a call to local community groups for help rebuilding the area: Stelter said the Lions immediately jumped on board.

As several Lions members unloaded a protective bin, PVC pipes, round river rocks and other creative toys into the Enchanted Forest area, Stelter explained how the Lions felt drawn to support Abbey Gardens’ natural play place.

“For me personally, and for the Lions, children are dear to all of our hearts,”

Stelter said. Stelter organized the effort to find and create creative toys for the loose parts play area. Woodlands Wildlife Sanctuary donated much of the PVC pipe which kids will be able to use to roll balls down, build roadways with and more.

Irene Heaven and Cara Steele from Abbey Gardens said they were excited to receive the toy delivery.

“You can tell that the Lions are really trying to tell in how children are playing, in the construction zone, what materials are going to be meaningful to them,” said Steele.

Heaven said she appreciates that the Lions value investing in younger generations.

“I think it’s very valuable on so many levels,” said Heaven, “not just providing stuff, but providing that input into how the space is being used by younger people.”

The Enchanted Forest is a free playground on Abbey Gardens’ property. Between tree trunks and bushes, kids can read at the Lion’s donated library stand, play with puppets once COVID-19 protocols allow and now experiment and play with the new loose parts toys.

“We want a safe place for children to play, for families to visit,” said Stelter.

As the Lions chatted with Abbey Gardens staff, they were already suggesting new ideas: cars and trucks and balls to roll around the PVC tubes and chutes in the loose parts area.

The Enchanted Forest play area will also be a key part in Abbey Gardens’ summer day camp program.

With COVID-19 protocols in place, kids will get a chance to explore the surrounding property and spend lots of time amid the trees and play areas.

“They’re in a safe spot outside,” explained Heaven. “They’re in nature, they’re exploring our big back yard together.”

“I think that’s a very important experience anytime, but after being isolated from one another it’s going to be something extremely important this year.”

Stelter said the Lions will continue to work with Abbey Gardens – they still have space in the fundraising budget for more Enchanted Forest projects.

“Anything that we can do to help children is important,” Stelter said.

“We want to promote to our community that the Lions are here for kids.”

Riding for ‘Rowdy’ on D-Day anniversary

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June 11, 2021