Mixing mindfulness with martial arts

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February 24, 2021

JQ - Mental Health martial arts - 2 — Point in Time is bringing back its programs that combine mindfulness with martial arts. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

Point in Time is partnering to remotely deliver a mental health martial arts program to kids and youth this month.

The charity is bringing back its Mindfulness Martial Arts and Young Warriors programs, which combine martial arts and yoga with behavioural therapy techniques. The programs, for ages 12-18 and 8-11 respectively, will be delivered online through the Youth Hub for the first time.

The courses will last 18 weeks. Point in Time Family Support’s Melanie Jones said mindfulness practices can be valuable at any time, but even more so at times such as during a pandemic.

“The program really focuses on bringing yourself to the present moment, being with uncomfortable feelings, uncomfortable thoughts and then not judging them,” Jones said. “Change how our thoughts impact us.”

The Mindfulness Martial Arts Program was adapted locally through Haliburton Highlands Secondary School in 2014 but was sidelined by the pandemic. Jones said organizers worked for months to find a way to deliver it remotely, collaborating recently with the Integra Child Development Institute for a new online model.

Kelly Outram is a martial arts instructor with K.O. Martial Arts who is teaching the course for the first time. He said the concept inspired him, as he used both mindfulness and martial arts to help overcome his mental health struggles. He added martial arts offers a good way to improve oneself and gain physical benefits as well.

“You recognize you’re able to do things you could only imagine doing when you started,” Outram said. “If you’re able to stay consistent about it, you get a lot of physical health benefits as well that also keep your mind fresh.”

The programs were previously delivered in-person, but Jones said there are some benefits to online delivery, including home comfort. Parents in the younger course will also take an active role in participation, she said.

With Point in Time also starting a campaign to address connectivity issues for youth in need, Jones said they are willing to work through internet problems.

“We’re willing to work with every family to try and eliminate all of those barriers, whatever they might be,” Jones said.

Outram said he had some reservations on the format, but there is plenty in martial arts that can be taught remotely, even without a partner. He added the mindfulness side of the program should translate well.

“Especially in this pandemic, which has given everyone a whole host of new stresses, and we need new ways to respond to these stresses,” Outram said. “Mindfulness practices is one of the best ways to do that.”

Young Warriors begins Feb. 23 while Mindfulness Martial Arts will have an information night Feb. 22. Information is available by contacting 705-457- 5345 or melaniej@pointintime.ca.

Dysart agrees to boost roads funding in 2021

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Lisa Gervais

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February 24, 2021

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JQ - Dysart road reserves - 2 — Dysart is close to finalizing its 2021 budget, with an expected 1.16 per cent tax rate increase. File photo.

Dysart et al council opted to spend an additional $300,000 for 2021 road projects and washout contingency by drawing from reserves.

Council decided Feb. 12 to draw from a 2020 maintenance budget surplus to fund the initiative, placing $225,000 in a development reserve for 2021 road projects and $75,000 for roadside washouts. Council intends for the funding to help revert more gravel roads to hardtop, if possible. The funding is in addition to $1.52 million committed in 2021 for road capital projects.

“It’s really important we address some of these roads and start fixing them,” Coun. Walt McKechnie said. “Just delaying it doesn’t help.”

The initiative should not impact the Dysart portion of the tax rate, which stands at a 1.16 per cent increase, finalized Feb. 23.

The resurfacing issue has dominated Dysart budget talks. Council is trying to make good on a commitment to revert hardtop roads the municipality previously pulverized to gravel, with priority based on traffic counts. In a report, director of public works, Rob Camelon, said the municipality did this on 37 kilometres of roads, with an estimated cost of $3.3 million to reinstate.

The maintenance reserve from 2020 stems from relatively milder winter weather. Mayor Andrea Roberts and staff expressed some concern about not putting more into maintenance for worse seasonal weather in the future.

“We often hear about the 100-year storm,” treasurer Barbara Swannell said. “The 100-year storm is just a term. The reality is those 100-year storms are happening much quicker.”

Coun. John Smith said it made sense to put less into reserve transfers this year. He said the municipality has plenty of borrowing capacity for a “100-year storm.”

“The problem with the reserves is we’re taking that from the taxpayers,” Smith said. “Some of whom need it.”

He later noted transfers are still solid in other areas such as the working fund reserve, given a $545,660 2020 budget surplus. Roberts said the municipality would have been in a deficit position were it not for the provincial Safe Restart funding.

With budget talks nearing completion, Roberts expressed pride in the draft.

“(Roads) is our biggest expenditure that we have control over. It is where we’re really trying to put tax dollars and use them well and wisely,” Roberts said. “I feel that we’re really, really making progress here in Dysart.”

Local vaccine delivery expected this week

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Lisa Gervais

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February 22, 2021

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With more COVID-19 vaccine shipments expected this week, the local public health agency will be initiating vaccination clinics for the next group to be completed under the provincial vaccine distribution plan.

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPRDHU) said in a Feb. 22 media release that it is expecting to receive more than 4,500 doses of the Pfizer vaccine this week, as well as another 1,700 doses of Moderna.

The Moderna vaccine will be used to provide the second dose to those residents of long-term care and high-risk retirement homes who had received their first dose last month.

The Pfizer vaccine will be used to vaccinate staff of long-term care and retirement homes, essential caregivers in those facilities, and health care workers in area hospitals. Persons receiving Home and Community Care, as well as other members of the community who are 80 years of age and older are scheduled to be vaccinated next, possibly beginning in March.

“We are hearing that the shipment of vaccine expected this week is the beginning of an abundance of available vaccine that will be sent out across the province,” said Dr. Ian Gemmill, acting medical officer of health for the HKPR District Health Unit. “We know that people have been anxiously awaiting their turn to be vaccinated, and I want to assure them that their turn is coming. We just all need to be patient as we receive more vaccine.”

The HKPRDHU is working with local hospitals and health care partners to vaccinate long-term care and retirement home staff, as well as the hospitals’ own staff.

Once additional amounts of vaccine are received, HKPRDHU will begin offering clinics for residents aged 80 years or older.

As soon as clinics for older adults are confirmed, and the registration process finalized, details will be provided to the community on how residents over the age of 80 years can be vaccinated, said Dr. Gemmill.

“Our goal is to ensure that we get the vaccine into as many arms as possible, as quickly as possible,” Dr. Gemmill said. “As soon as we have the vaccine and the details for clinics, we will share that information with our residents so they can get vaccinated.”

Based on the province’s vaccine distribution plan, the next phase of vaccinations will focus on older adults living in the community under the age of 80 years and other higher risk parts of the population, and then eventually all members of the community who wish to be vaccinated.

Haliburton BIA reduces rates

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Lisa Gervais

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February 21, 2021

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JQ - Businesses re-open - 2-web — Haliburton businesses are waiting to see more support from government. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

The Haliburton BIA is reducing its levy eleven per cent due to the impact of the pandemic.

The BIA announced the measure at its annual general meeting Feb. 11. President Luke Schell said it is due to the pandemic cancelling the organization’s usual events, leaving them with an $18,000 surplus in 2020. In total, the BIA will collect $45,000 in 2021, down 11 per cent from $49,980 the previous year.

Schell said the reduction could carry on beyond 2021 as well.

“It’s been a strange year,” Schell said. “We will reduce it over the next couple of years – partly because we just don’t know what’s going to happen.”

The BIA is still budgeting for its usual slate of events in 2021 – including Frost Fest, Colour Fest, the Santa Parade and Ladies Shopping Night. But treasurer Nelly Ashworth said the levy could decrease again if those events cannot go ahead.

“Slowly, once we hopefully get out of this and life’s going to come back to relatively normal, we can slowly increase it again should need be,” Ashworth said.

However, she noted the BIA was still able to do other things in the pandemic such as increasing its advertising and Buy In and Win contest funding. In an address, Mayor Andrea Roberts said it has been a difficult year for the downtown.

“I do want to share with you at this time how proud I am of how the businesses in the downtown BIA have adapted and accommodated and shifted in this everchanging world of the pandemic,” she said. “Some of you are busier than you’ve ever been and some of you are hurting immensely.”

She added the municipality did start a recovery committee, but it is not meeting right now because “we’re not in recovery mode.” But she said they would inform the BIA when the committee reconvenes to discuss how to help local businesses.

Schell said one of the more successful BIA initiatives was working with the municipality to expand downtown patios in the summer due to pandemic restrictions.

“Really appreciated having the municipality fast track that,” Schell said.

He added the BIA will likely do it again this summer. However, he noted it is a debatable subject and there are liability concerns.

“But I think most people are pretty happy with that kind of service on main street,” Schell said. The BIA board once again remained mostly static. There was only one change – Upriver Trading Co. owner Mike Mckeon replacing Sharon Rowden.

“I know that we all enjoy serving our community in this fashion and we look forward to spending another year here,” Schell said. “Hopefully, 2020 is hindsight.”

Dysart eyes action on short-term rentals

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Lisa Gervais

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February 20, 2021

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JQ - Short-term rental ban - 1-web — Photo via flikr.

Dysart et al councillors want to address short-term rentals as part of efforts to improve service delivery.

Council combed through its service delivery review in a special meeting Feb. 16. The document, first presented by consultant StrategyCorp in September, highlighted seven key initiatives for the municipality. Those included recommendations to address short-term rentals, strategic planning, customer service, landfills, the sewage treatment plant, and digitizing the roads department.

StrategyCorp estimated a potential for $700,000 in new cash flow. Council went through the next steps for each of the items. For rentals, they plan to have online platform iHost present about an online licencing system.

“My patience is up,” deputy mayor Patrick Kennedy said. “There’s a lot of work to be done, but I think the time for waiting is over.”

StrategyCorp recommended some type of regulatory response to short-term rentals, whether through a licencing system, a municipal accommodation tax, or both, implemented between 2022-2023. It estimated an effort could bring $75,000- $268,000 in increased revenue to the township.

Kennedy has previously said it is an issue the County should take up, given the struggles all four lower-tier townships are having with it. But both Kennedy and Mayor Andrea Roberts said that is not happening. Still, Roberts said it is important to communicate with the other townships to ensure consistency.

Coun. Tammy Donaldson said she studied the issue extensively. She said licencing is not necessary and suggested providing homeowners with easy-to-access resources on municipal rules to provide to renters.

“Short-term rentals bring more people into the area,” Donaldson said. “Licensing is not the answer to get the homeowners to comply, because the majority do a good job.”

Coun. Larry Clarke said he gets more complaints on the issue than anything else and there is a concern with people purchasing cottages solely to rent them out.

“A short-term rental property that’s primarily for that purpose, it is a business. It is not a residence. It has to be looked at differently,” Clarke said.

Making progress

Council discussed progress made in other areas of the review – and next steps for longer-term initiatives.

They intend to put more policies in place to standardize customer service response times. The digitizing of the roads department is underway, including a platform for online bids and tenders. A short-term waste management review was received by council in January from consultant J2PG with a subsequent education session to come. Recreation facilities and sewage treatment plant changes are longer-term projects without immediate plans, though a land donation for a possible site for a new recreation centre is processing.

As for strategic planning, CAO Tamara Wilbee said $25,000 is budgeted this year. Roberts said she hopes the plan is finished by May 2022, before the election cycle.

Coun. John Smith raised the issue with getting a strategic plan in place so late in council’s term, potentially restricting the next council.

Wilbee responded there will be a four-year planning cycle and an annual review of the strategic plan.

“It’s a very live document. That’s the intention,” she said.

Centre lake development launches consultation

By

Lisa Gervais

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February 20, 2021

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JQ - Centre Lake update - 1 — A map of the Centre Lake Crown reserve under consideration for disposal, at the behest of private developments. Photo via Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

Granite Shores is holding an online public consultation for a massive new cottage and resort development it is proposing on Centre Lake utilizing Crown Land.

The development launched a website to engage the public on the project, which is proposed to include a 60-suite resort and wellness spa, 28 cottage lots and a commercial area tapping into the maple trees in the area. The developer seeks to utilize a 200-foot Crown reserve along the lake. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has agreed to move forward with disposing of the land after a consultation process.

Public engagement manager, Steven Megannety, said they are responding to some Highlands East council concerns at a Dec. 15 meeting about ensuring a strong public consultation process.

“We want to make certain that there’s robust consultation,” Megannety said. “We figured that the best way to do it was to put all the information out there and say, ‘here’s what the project is’.”

The website includes an FAQ and summary of the project. It also has a series of reports, including applications, planning, economic and environmental analysis. Megannety said they made the website of their own volition, separate from any government plans for consultation. They have already had more than 70 responses.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry regional planner, Pauline Capelle, said the provincial consultation on proposed policy amendment to consider the sale of the Centre Lake Crown reserve is still to come. She said the timing of the consultation is difficult to predict but it should be posted in the coming months. Anyone interested in being added to a mailing list for that can contact pauline.capelle@ontario.ca.

The developers estimate about $40 million in new economic activity in the region, 75 construction jobs and 30-50 new jobs after the project finishes. Megannety said they are also consulting with Indigenous peoples in the area and plan to allot a parcel in the commercial area for them.

Megannety said Granite Shores conforms to County and official plans. The developers are assuring public access to the lake will be maintained – with plans to create a new access road and improve the existing boat launch point. B

But councillors have said there is some public concern. Jacqueline Ziorjen has frequented the area for many years. She said the lake is an oasis and called it “heartwrenching” to see it developed.

“These wonderful places we can access are being developed, so they lose the charm,” she said.

She added even if Granite Shores can maintain accessibility, the extra traffic could mean the spot is never the same.

Regardless of whether the Granite Shores is successful in getting Crown Land, Megannety said they plan to go ahead with privately-owned land nearby. He also said a new County bylaw in the works to restrict development within 30 metres of shorelines would also not stop the development, though added they are watching the bylaw closely.

Megannety said they hope to be in the final planning stages by the end of the year.

“We’re trying to come up with some solutions that make sense,” he said. “Obviously for the development, but also for the community.”

The consultation is available at letstalkcentrelake.ca.

Doing the reopening dance

By

Lisa Gervais

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February 19, 2021

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Balancing our collective desire to stay healthy with our instinct to want to support our local businesses can be a tricky dance.

We’ve taken to the floor again this week, but unlike the summer reopening, we’ve now got three new strains of the Coronavirus to contend with.

At a time when we’re all weary of this pandemic, we have to challenge ourselves to be even more vigilant in order to stave off the predicted third wave.

As most of you know, our health unit area is categorized as orange. That means we have been able to return to local restaurants for in-person dining. Gyms and fitness clubs are getting back to in-studio training. We can go back to retail stores. We can get our hair cut. Some small-scale entertainment can begin again. We can get together with family and friends – up to 10 people indoors and up to 25 outdoors.

But just because we can, doesn’t mean we should.

Acting medical officer of health, Dr. Ian Gemmill, said although the stay-at-home order has been lifted, we still have a moral obligation to do all that we can to stop the spread. He is pleading with people not to gather with others and to continue to stay home and only go out for essential reasons.

He points out the new variants are more easily spread and have just made their way into our health unit area. He is worried about them contributing to sudden surges locally.

Dr. Nell Thomas provides a very good overview of the three new variants in Covid Corner (below).

They have become a game changer. They have altered the battlefield. If you’ve had COVID-19, there’s no guarantee you can’t get one of the variants. Labs have had to change their analysis of swabs. All positive tests are being checked for the variants.

The good news, according to Dr. Thomas, is the current vaccines should still be fairly successful in fighting off both COVID19 and its variants. And more companies are developing new vaccines. In other words, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Now, we just have to make sure our community gets through that tunnel.

While in many ways, choosing how you support the economy is a personal decision, we urge locals to keep community in mind in their choices.

For example, you can dine-in, but the business will make just as much money or more if you opt for takeout.

We don’t know of many local churches that are opening their doors, even though they can. There continue to be very few weddings. For some, being able to have a small gathering of a celebration of life may take precedent. Being able to go into retail shops, versus ordering online and doing curbside pickup, is certainly more convenient for many of us. Some of us badly need a haircut.

So, do those things if you must. However, to repeat what we now hope is the obvious: masks must be worn, people need to stay two metres apart from anyone who is outside of their household, wash those hands.

And perhaps most importantly, if you are serious about boosting the local economy, stop with the Amazon and other out-of-town orders and confine your spending to Haliburton County. Don’t view this as a green light to jump in the car and head to Huntsville, Bancroft, Bracebridge, Lindsay and Peterborough.

Never too late for snow removal tips

By

Lisa Gervais

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February 18, 2021

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The health unit has provided some snow removal tips

by Kirk Winter

With winter not quite over, the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit has shared some reminders about snow removal.

Clearing snow and ice from your driveway and around your house is a necessary, but not always pleasant, activity for most of us, said health promoter Joanne Brewster.

Brewster said snow shoveling, especially for some older adults, can be a challenge. In some cases, especially after a bad snowstorm, it can also be a high-risk activity.

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, the physical demands of shovelling combined with cold temperatures can pose fatal risks on the heart.

Brewster said there was plenty of proof of that in a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in February 2017. Using 20 years of data from Quebec, the study found a direct link between the quantity of snow and length of snowfall and an increased risk of hospital admissions or deaths due to heart attacks. This was especially true for men.

“Some experts suggest that older adults (men especially) should not shovel snow due to the potential health effects and injury risks,” Brewster added.

Here are some health unit-suggested snow-removal safety tips to consider:

• Consult a health care provider. Anyone who is older, overweight, out of shape and/or has a history of heart disease in the family should seek advice from their doctor before taking any chances.

• Warm up first. Shovelling is just like any other exercise. It’s a good idea to limber up with some basic stretches before you begin.

• Layer upon layer. The body quickly generates heat when shovelling. By dressing in thin, breathable layers, you can avoid overheating.

• Avoid a full stomach. Be sure to digest your meals before picking up the shovel. A full stomach can cause strain on the heart during physical activity.

• Take your time. Take a break. Don’t forget to give yourself a breather in the middle of strenuous shovelling. A rest is good for the muscles, especially the heart.

• Push the snow before lifting it. If you do lift snow, use a small shovel or only partially fill the shovel to reduce the load.

• Stop immediately if you feel dizzy or tightness in your chest.

• Use the buddy system. Even shovelling is better when you do it in twos. You cut your work in half and you have a pal to keep you company. Plus, you can look out for one another should anything serious happen.

• Get with the program. Check with your local municipality or communitybased programs to see if there is help for snow removal, especially if you are a senior. One suggestion Brewster made is 211 Ontario.

• Pay the price and get help. Consider getting a snow blower to make snow removal easier. Hiring a snow removal service to do the job can also be money well-spent.

Giving the gift of safety for 22 years

By

Lisa Gervais

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February 18, 2021

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LG-Paula Pepping — Paula Pepping stands outside the HERS shelter in Minden Feb. 16, during her last week of work. She is retiring after a 22-year career of helping Haliburton County women and children

Cleaning out her files during her last week with the YWCA Peterborough-Haliburton, Paula Pepping is coming across cards from some of the “many, many, many” clients she has worked with during a 22-yearcareer. “

I have had some lovely cards from women saying how grateful they are for our support because it’s not just me. We’re a team,” Pepping said in a Feb. 12 interview.

She started her community development work in 1998 with The Women’s Safety Network. They provided outreach to abused women with two part-time staff. The office and resource centre was in Haliburton and a community-built emergency house was located behind the Dysart et al fire department.

With no ongoing permanent funding, they had to close the emergency house and Pepping was involved with the transition that would eventually come under the YWCA umbrella and lead to the development of the Haliburton Emergency Rural SafeSpace or HERS in Minden.

Pepping recalls some of the highlights of earlier community development work with “lots of programs for women, from Cardiff to Minden, Haliburton … wherever.”

With the health unit’s Rosie Kadwell, there was an early food box program that is continuing today. There was a lunch program at Cardiff Elementary School.

Pepping was jokingly referred to as the “condom lady” since she wanted to tackle high rates of unplanned pregnancy in the community by ensuring there were free condoms. She recalls how high school girls would come to the office to “use the bathroom” but would inevitably dip into the free condom basket. At the time she said it cost $25 for 144 condoms, so she would cajole her friends to donate $12.50 for a half pack. It was a precursor to today’s sexual health programs at the local health unit.

Starting with the Y, her focus shifted more to working with women in the community who were living in, leaving, or had left abusive relationships. She was involved in offering support, driving women to services or connecting them to them. It was also a time of formulating partnerships with community services and increasing the YWCA profile in the County.

She said that profile has been greatly increased and fundraising a key. “Many individuals have contributed and continue to. We could not survive without those contributions. Haliburton County is really an amazing community. Generous and kind.”

Pepping said, “My work has always been really close to my heart. All of the services we provide to the community. I have experienced much tragedy and also seen women have successes.”

She said their ethos is to support women in their choices, whether it is to stay, go back, go back-and-forth, or eventually leave.

“We work with women where they are at, inch by inch, sometimes by leaps and bounds. I think I did a good job with my team and with the community. And with the support the community gives, it gives the gift of safety for the women we work with to the best of our capacity.”

One example that stands out is a woman who came to the shelter with holes in her shoes, no underwear and just the clothes on her back. She worked two jobs to get back on her feet. She showed up at Christmas one year with a box of brand-new slippers as a donation.

In addition to the ‘thank you’ cards, Pepping recalls some of the phone calls over the years from women who had left abusive situations and “bloomed.” She said the common thread is, “I’m so thankful for your support. Without you I couldn’t have done this.” She added sometimes women call after a number of years to tell her, “Hey, Paula, I’m doing ok. That means a lot to me.”

At 65, Pepping said, “It’s just time for my next chapter in life.”

Tearing up, she said it is bittersweet. She will miss her co-workers. “

I feel really honoured that I was able to do this work in this community. I love the direct contact and grassroots work I’ve done. That has been my passion, I am going to miss it.”

Tips to get children ready for kindergarten

By

Lisa Gervais

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February 18, 2021

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by Carolyn Alder

Kindergarten registration is now open for the 2021-2022 school year.

While parents start helping their children with learning letters, numbers and preprinting, early interventionist with Point in Time, Tiffany Jones, offered some suggestions to help get your child ready for kindergarten with skills one might not think of.

“The things we can do to help prepare them for kindergarten can be done throughout our everyday life,” Jones said. “It can be fun and enjoyable and the kids don’t even know that you are teaching them skills.”

One of the more important goals to work on, according to Jones, is for new students to recognize their name.

“Their name is going to be on their desk, their belongings and their work. So being able to recognize their name will help when gathering up their belongings.”

One way to encourage name recognition and spelling is to have your child’s name printed at eye level on their bedroom door and go over the letters every night before bed.

Other skills for children to practice are packing and unpacking their backpack, putting shoes on and taking them off, putting their coat on by themselves and zipping it up, and washing their hands.

Jones encourages parents to remember they are already teaching their children when it comes to self help.

“Self help is a little bit extra but a lot of it is things that parents are already doing in their everyday life, with their children that their children are naturally learning through seeing siblings or parents do, that the skills are already starting but maybe need some more practice.”

Archie Stouffer Elementary School kindergarten teacher, Bonnie Tokar, said a child’s nature is also important.

“Establishing important character traits such as being motivated, patient, kind and respectful are of utmost importance. Academic skills come much easier when students adhere to these positive character traits.”

Jones advises to not lose sleep if you feel your child isn’t ready compared to other children their age.

“Try not to stress about it because your child is going to learn these skills in school. Teachers, early childhood educators and their peers will help teach them. However, if you feel they are struggling or aren’t picking it up as they should be, have a conversation with the school so the teachers can be aware and give more help.”

Parents can also call Point in Time at 705- 457-5345 for more support.

Point in Time also has video tips on how to help your child get ready for kindergarten on their Facebook page.

Kindergarten registration closes at the end of February