Residents can have their say about Haliburton County tourism planning

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December 15, 2022

The County of Haliburton’s tourism department is asking residents for their opinion on the Highlands visitor economy.

Tourism manager Tracie Bertrand said, “research shows that people want to visit a place for the very same reason people want to live in a place” and “great destinations are using a community-based approach to responsible tourism development.”

The first annual resident sentiment survey (RSS) comes on the heels of the five-year destination management plan (DMP), adopted by County council in 2002-21.

The plan is a framework to help optimize the economy year-round, provide greater benefits for all residents across the County and manage the destination for future generations to enjoy, Bertrand said.

The public might remember the town halls held between May 2019 and December 2020, which helped to formulate the plan. The three strategic priorities that emerged from the plan were strengthening community collaboration, diversifying destination development, and enhancing the destination brand.

Since then, the County has brought on board director of economic development, Scott Ovell, and Bertrand. “In 2022, staff began to execute on the DMP,” Bertrand said. She noted she has had an opportunity to meet and speak to many tourism stakeholders, has provided visitor experience and destination training to welcome centres and was involved in the first annual tourism and business summit in collaboration with HaliTAC at Sir Sam’s Ski/Ride. She added the tourism website continues to be updated and innovated for an “exceptional” visitor experience, and there’s now an industry page for stakeholders to find what they need in one place.

Bertrand said the next logical step was to reach out to residents of the Haliburton Highlands. “The goal is to collect resident opinions on the visitor economy to inform decisionmaking around sustainable and responsible development of the tourism sector and managing Haliburton Highlands as a destination,” she said.

The tourism manager added the key objectives are: engaging a breadth and diversity of residents; gauging residents’ attitudes and opinions on the visitor economy; gathering insight on desired actions related to the visitor economy in the future; and benchmarking and tracking resident sentiment about the visitor economy over time.

The survey is available on Wade In Haliburton, on social media, or go to surveymonkey.com/r/COHResidentSentimentSurvey. Paper copies can be found at the township office in Minden (705-286-1333) and local libraries. The survey closes Sunday, Dec. 18.

Dorset rec centre still months from reopening

By

Mike Baker

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December 15, 2022

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Algonquin Highlands staff are hoping to reopen the Dorset Recreation Centre by the end of next year.

Speaking at a Dec. 8 council meeting, Adam Thorn, public works manager with the township, said it was difficult to provide an exact date for when the facility could reopen considering there’s still some investigation to be done before repairs can begin.

“As much as we want to have this open for the public tomorrow, it’s something we need to make sure we’re thorough with… I would love to say [we’ll be in a position to reopen] somewhere between six and 10 months from now,” Thorn said.

The facility has been closed since March 2020 after staff found extensive mold and moisture damage while carrying out a small renovation in a downstairs bathroom. Further investigation showed the issue was prevalent throughout the building.

The centre is home to an air-conditioned squash court, weight and fitness room, meeting rooms, two kitchens, showers and a gymnasium equipped with volleyball, basketball, floor hockey and pickleball equipment. There are also public computers on-site.

Thorn noted that, prior to its closing, the building was used mainly for recreational purposes, though was available for people to rent to host meetings, workshops, dances and weddings.

Dorset resident Dave Mullins feels the community has been waiting far too long for one of its main hubs to reopen. He delivered a petition to Algonquin Highlands council, signed by 388 people, calling for the township to make the renovation a top priority.

“The citizens of Dorset have been eminently patient regarding the closure. The patience has worn thin,” Mullins wrote in his submission.

“This venue is used by people from Port Sydney to Huntsville, through Baysville and the south shore of Lake of Bays. It draws in the large population on Kawagama and the surrounding smaller lakes down Hwy. 35… In a small village like Dorset, the rec centre serves as an important meeting place for the community, yet it remains shuttered with no clear indication of when, or if ever, it will re-open.”

Mayor Liz Danielsen said she was very concerned about the amount of time the building has been closed, but that staff had to follow the correct processes to ensure any renovations are properly completed.

Thorn said, before any work can begin, the township should bring someone in to take another look at the building.

A previous study was completed by consulting and engineering firm Cambium last winter, but Thorn noted the mold had likely worsened since then.

“I would really like to not have to come back here in three, four, 10 years and say ‘we missed something’, so taking another look is important,” Thorn said. A previous cost estimate of $900,000, pitched last summer, now appears low, though Thorn stopped short of providing a new projection.

Thorn has been working alongside Travis Wilson, a consultant with Peterboroughbased Engage Engineering, to come up with a plan to redevelop the centre. Addressing council last week, Wilson said he put out an expression of interest to firms interested in taking the project on. He received five responses.

All companies were asked how they would proceed with the project, and when they could expect to start and complete the work. All five companies said they could begin early in the new year, with only three providing completion dates – one being six months, another 10 months, and a third giving a completion date of Aug. 23. Wilson said he will work on putting an official RFP out by mid-January, with a final recommendation coming to council later that month.

Staffing remains ‘major issue’ for Haliburton Highlands Health Services

By

Mike Baker

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December 15, 2022

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It has been a precarious year for Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS), with the organization reporting there have been more than two dozen “close calls” in 2022 where emergency departments in Haliburton and Minden have been on the brink of a temporary closure.

President and CEO, Carolyn Plummer, told a Dec. 8 board meeting that staff shortages continue to be the number one challenge facing HHHS, with the Haliburton department most impacted. The organization is spending approximately $290,000 per month on agency nurses to keep its services operational.

“On the nursing side, we’re between 40 and 50 per cent of our total nursing hours being provided by agency staff right now. This is happening mostly in emergency, but we’re also using agency on the inpatient side as well,” Plummer said. There’s a shortage of physicians too, Plummer noted.

Around 60 per cent of all doctor shifts in Haliburton are being covered by temporary workers through the Ontario Physician Locum Program. To maintain adequate service levels across its emergency departments, HHHS mandates that one physician and two registered nurses (RNs) must be on-site at all times. During daytime shifts, the hospital also retains a registered practical nurse (RPN).

“The reason we’re running into so many issues is that we have five mobile physicians that provide emergency department care in Haliburton, with three of them also providing primary care across other services. So, they often have limited availability,” Plummer said.

Issues surrounding potential closures arise when physicians or nurses call-in to cancel a shift, Plummer added, leaving senior administration scrambling to fill shifts.

Board chair David O’Brien told The Highlander it has been a challenging 12 months for everyone involved with HHHS.

“One minute you think ‘OK, we’re all covered for the weekend’, then two minutes later we get a call, and we find out we’re not. That’s the reality we’re dealing with,” O’Brien said. “Our job at the hospital is to provide health care services to our community, and we will do that to the best of our ability. But it’s very discouraging when you come so close to not being able to do that. And it’s got nothing to do with how you run your operation, it’s just that a doctor gets ill, like we all do, or a nurse has a family situation, like we all do. These things pop up, and you’ve just got to deal with them.

“Carolyn and her team have done such a fabulous job keeping these hospitals open in the face of such extraordinary pressures,” he added.

While recruitment efforts are ongoing, Plummer said several issues, including a lack of housing and salary limitations, are impacting HHHS’ efforts to hire.

The organization hasn’t brought a new physician onboard since 2021, while they’ve only hired one full-time RN this year. Plummer said the hospitals could use an additional 12 full-time RNs and several doctors.

Plummer said the threat of a potential emergency department closure remains. She is encouraging residents to only visit emergency departments if they have a lifethreatening, or serious situation. Other care options, she said, include visiting a family doctor, or going to HHHS’ COVID-19 assessment centre.

If a visit to the ER is required, Plummer said people should call ahead to make sure the department is open.

Cash flow issues

As of Dec. 9, HHHS is waiting on just over a million dollars in outstanding COVID-19 relief funding from the Ontario government.

The organization has had to dip into its line of credit to cover operational costs over the past three months, averaging $2,500 on that account monthly. Plummer said she has met with representatives from Ontario Health East to discuss these challenges, which she said have been ongoing for some time.

“The issue of funding delays is not new, as it also presented challenges for HHHS at the same time last year, as well as the year before. It relates direct to funding that is meant to cover incremental expenses related to the pandemic. At the same time, HHHS’ deficit has grown as a result of the health human resource shortages we have been experiencing, and the need to rely on outside support to keep our services open,” Plummer said.

“This has meant the impact of the delays has been greater, as the amount is larger and has been difficult to cover for hospitals, like ours, with limited resources and reserves.”

The Rez lives on as former owner buys back Haliburton Village property

By

Mike Baker

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December 15, 2022

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After a nervous few months, tenants of The Rez in downtown Haliburton breathed a collective sigh of relief last week after former owner, Nick Adams, confirmed he had completed a deal to re-purchase the property.

The future of the apartment complex, which houses 15 low and fixed-income residents, has been up in the air for much of this year.

After selling the property in November 2021 and relocating with his family to New Brunswick, Adams returned to Haliburton temporarily in August after learning the new owners had allowed the property to fall into arrears.

The holders of the primary mortgage were threatening to foreclose and send the property to power of sale, which would have forced eviction on all residents.

Adams has spent weeks trying to avoid that, working on a deal to reassume ownership.

He confirmed that, as of Dec. 9, he was once again the legal owner of 213 Highland St. “I am doing what I am doing not because I want to, but because I have to… These people are my friends, and I couldn’t just sit by and watch them get kicked out onto the streets,” Adams previously told The Highlander. “Losing this space [would have been] the worst case scenario for Haliburton. There’s nothing else like this operating in the County. There [would have been] nowhere for these people to go.”

Since he first became involved with The Rez in 2013, Adams estimates more than 100 people have lived there.

Due to the nature of the residence, which is split into two sections and boasts two communal living areas, including kitchens, bathrooms, lounges and 15 bedrooms, Adams has had difficulty securing insurance. He has recently signed an agreement, and noted that, due to the conditions, he would be returning to Haliburton full-time in the new year and taking up residence at The Rez.

Haliburton County food banks gearing up for Christmas

By

Sam Gillett

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December 15, 2022

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Minden Community Food Centre volunteers share conversation and laughs, but rarely an idle moment on a frosty Monday morning in early December.

In the kitchen upstairs, Wendy Harding carefully spoons apple sauce into meal kits, while Cliff Harding cleans the meat slicer, which just helped provide more than a dozen families with hearty protein.

Downstairs, Joan Stoner is one of three women sorting groceries, clothes, and bulk foods. “I’ve been so lucky in my life. This is my chance to give back,” she said.

Each holiday season, dozens of fundraisers funnel non-perishable food or monetary donations to food banks across the Highlands. As volunteers such as Stoner prepare to distribute Christmas hampers, vouchers, holiday meals, and warm clothes, the 2022 festive season arrives alongside rising food and energy costs.

It’s driving demand for food bank services up. “We are struggling to keep up, there are times I come into the food bank and volunteers are so busy, they are struggling to keep the shelves stocked,” said Tina Jackson, executive director for the Wilberforce Central Food Network.

She said, on average, the centre had 176 visits every month in 2022. Last year, it was 158. She said more new people, who haven’t previously accessed food bank services, are coming through the doors. Judy MacDuff of the Haliburton 4Cs food bank said 20 new clients started regularly coming to the food bank in 2022.

The 4Cs will distribute food vouchers to 178 families and individuals Dec. 15. A letter to Minden Hills council from Don Veno, Minden Community Food Centre board chairperson, claims the centre has seen a 15 per cent rise in usership, with 800 local households accessing its services in 2022. Once non-perishable food donations arrive at the Minden Community Food Centre, they go into a storage area before being sorted by volunteers such as Sue Waite.

“I’m fairly new to the community,” Waite said, as she hoisted paper bags of food just donated by Dollo’s Foodland in Minden. “I thought it would be a good way to give back.” She added she’s enjoyed getting to know the other volunteers. Donated food is brought to “the pantry,” a sort of miniature grocery store separated into food categories.

“We do have a large variety of foods we try and cover,” Minden Community Food Centre manager Jean Munroe said. The grocery area, complete with a counter, shelves and lots of choice, is designed with the shopper in mind. Starches, produce, snacks and more are all separated into sections. “We don’t make them feel like they’re taking from us, we make them feel comfortable, we joke around with them,” Munroe said.

Other donations arrive through Feed Ontario, a provincial food bank charity, or other goods purchased, in part, with community donations. “It’s very important, and very timely, especially at this time that we have donations,” Munroe said. Meat, fresh produce and more gets stored until the kitchen crew upstairs puts it to use in carefully planned meals ready for pick-up. Up the staircase, the industrial kitchen buzzes to life each morning the centre is open.

Volunteers make about 15 or 20 sandwiches for local families each day. Munroe just started in her role in March, but said she’s found the community support motivating. “I’m proud to be part of a community that is so supportive and understands the need here,” she said.

Items in need

Men’s jackets are a hot commodity at the Minden Community Food Centre.

“When we have them, they go out the door quickly,” said Stoner as she folded sweaters and jackets onto shelves.

Along with men’s clothes, Munroe said hygiene items such as razors, as well as sheets and towels are sometimes overlooked by holiday fundraisers. Jackson, in Wilberforce, echoed the call for items such as paper towels, deodorant, toothbrushes and laundry soap. “When people are at the store, these items are often the things that are skipped altogether,” Jackson said.

The Minden food bank is also on the hunt for childrens’ toys, especially ones geared towards kids aged 10-13.

Toy Drive drop-off locations can be found on the Minden Food Bank Facebook page. While the Highlands feels the pinch of rising food costs, the community’s charitable spirit continues. At a Haliburton County Huskies game Dec. 12, the Minden Community Food Centre hosted a 50/50 raffle, silent auction, and collected food bank donations.

Before the teams hit the ice, food bank board member and local business owner Brandi Hewson addressed the hockey fans, telling them about the increase in use and demand for help. “We appreciate, and desperately need, your support,” Hewson said.

Rent hike bowls over Minden businesses

By

Lisa Gervais

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December 15, 2022

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A GoFundMe has been launched to try to keep Fast Lane Bowling in Minden open for the winter after the landlord notified owners Ron Crump and Debbie Gerzymisch Dec. 2 of a substantial rent increase.

Owners of other businesses in the Shell complex are also facing big jumps.

However, landlord Hamza Khalid said Bank of Canada interest rate hikes have forced his hand and even with the rent increases, he is still charging less than market rent.

Trina West launched the GoFundMe after Fast Lane notified community members they were likely to close later this month. “The closure of the lanes would affect many seniors, children, adults and our special needs community by preventing us from having this recreational outlet and we don’t want to lose it. Please help,” West said.

Crump and Gerzymisch said they were notified of a pending 140 per cent rent hike that would take it to approximately $3,220 a month with taxes, from $1,350. Khalid said that initially he asked to bump it up to $2,850 a month but has since reduced it to $2,100. That is a 75 per cent jump.

Crump said, “it shuts it down. We just don’t make that kind of money.” Gerzymisch added, “especially in the summer. We’re dead. And in the winter, we have an extra high hydro bill because of the heating.”

Their hope is that the GoFundMe can get them through to the end of the winter bowling season, which now boasts four leagues, as well as parties, fundraising events and drop-ins. “After that, we’ll go back and try to decide, but basically it will be closed,” Crump said. The two added it, “sucks for everybody involved.”

Crump said managing the bowling alley was his retirement plan, to supplement income if there were any profits, but also to give himself something to do. Gerzymisch added they have gotten to know the County bowling community.

She said bowlers will miss their routine, including the Red Wolves Special Olympians.

Red Wolves upset

Tracey Pratt of the Special Olympics said they are “shocked and upset … it’s the only sport where all of our athletes compete.”

She added without the opportunity to bowl locally, they won’t be able to qualify for provincial and national competitions. For example, Pratt’s daughter and other Special Olympians went to nationals in P.E.I. a few years ago for the “experience of a lifetime.” Pratt said even going to the local lanes is huge for Special Olympians, particularly after two years of COVID-19 restrictions. “Everyone was so excited that everyone was back at bowling. It’s not just the bowling. It’s the friendships they’ve made with coaches and volunteers and other athletes. They all look forward to it every week.”

Susan Andresen of Pet-Tyme-Animal Krackers! said she was informed her rent would be tripling. Khalid said he initially told her the increase would be from $500 a month to $1,450 but he has since put it at $1,250. That’s a 150 per cent increase. Andresen conceded she had been paying below market rent. “We’re looking at all options, whether we stay, or whether we negotiate, or whether we move,” she said.

Andresen added while she wishes her business had not been put in this position – and would have preferred incremental increases and not getting the news just before Christmas – she also recognizes the landlord is a business person too. “Certainly, we don’t need to vilify them.” There are three commercial spaces for rent in Minden Hills listed on realtor.ca. The prices range from $4,800 a month to $8,400 a month, with an average $6,633 a month.

Khalid said his new rents are not even half of the average on realtor.ca He added with the Bank of Canada continually increasing its rates, it has affected his mortgage, with an anticipated increase of $800-a-month in January.

“After increasing the interest rate, the Bank of Canada left no choice for us [but] to increase the rent. We don’t want to increase but we have no choice.”

Boil Water advisory issued for areas in Minden

By

Sam Gillett

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December 13, 2022

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A boil water advisory has been announced for certain properties on Bobcaygeon Road and Fleming Road in the village of Minden.

The advisory encompasses the following addresses: 155 to 211 Bobcaygeon Rd. and 1969 to 1993 Fleming Rd.

“For your protection and until further notice, it will be necessary to boil all water, which is to be used for human consumption, for at least one minute,” states a Dec. 13 notice from the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA).

Minden Hills’ director of public works Mike Timmins said a valve in the water system malfunctioned, causing a pressure drop in the system servicing those roads.

As of Dec. 13 at 10 a.m., he said there wasn’t a firm estimate for when the system would be fixed.

OCWA offered the following guidelines for residents in the affected area:

– Water used for drinking, making baby food, mixing formula or fruit juices, ice, washing fruits and vegetables, or teeth brushing must first be boiled. Begin timing for one minute only after the water has reached a full rolling boil on your stove or in your kettle.

– Store the cooled, boiled water in a container, which has been sanitized and has a lid or other means of covering the container. Sanitize the container by washing it in a solution of 750 mL (3 cups) of water plus 5 mL (1 teaspoon) of unscented household bleach. Clean your countertops, sinks dishes and utensils using this solution as well. Do not drink this solution.

– Thorough hand washing with soap is an important step in preventing the spread of bacteria. Make sure hands are properly washed after using the toilet, handling diapers, pets, livestock and before preparing food. Wash your hands with soap under running water. After hands are washed and thoroughly dried, apply 60 per cent alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Rub hands together with the amount specified on the label until the hands are dry. Cover all surfaces of the hands. The alcohol content of the sanitizer completely evaporates as it dries. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are disinfectants that contain at least 60 per cent alcohol, ethanol, isopropanol or a mixture of both.

– Adults may shower with untreated water as long as no water is swallowed. Adults or young children should sponge-bathe instead of using tub baths. Use a clean supply of water if possible.

Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit is monitoring the water quality incident. You will be notified when the problem is resolved. For more information visit hkpr.on.ca or call 1-866-888-4577 ext. 5006

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A breath of fresh air for Haliburton Life

By

Lisa Gervais

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December 9, 2022

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The Carnarvon-based Voima Group has purchased social community platform Haliburton Life. Owners Amanda Virtanen, a former County of Haliburton director of tourism, and her partner, Geoff Schultz, announced the acquisition Nov. 14.

Jen and Pasi Posti launched Haliburton Life in 2014. Virtanen and Schultz said it was originally created for the Postis to share their love of Haliburton.

“The social community quickly grew with user-generated content from across the Haliburton Highlands. The social platform showcases a true taste of the Haliburton life,” Voima’s co-owners said. In 2020, the Postis sold to Jessica Lawrence, owner of Haliburton Lake Wear.

Jessica has managed the community since, however, Virtanen said she is busy with her own work so decided to pass it on to the Voima Group.

“It seemed a natural progression for us to take on Haliburton Life, as it’s an incredible community of people who share the same passion for Haliburton as we do,” Schultz said. “Our love for the Haliburton Highlands is at the core to everything we do, at work and in life.”

Virtanen added, “when the opportunity to acquire Haliburton Life came up, it seemed a natural fit for us personally, professionally and with my past experience as Haliburton County’s tourism director.” Lawrence said she was also pleased with how things turned out.

“I’m excited that Haliburton Life will carry on and I know it’s in good hands with Geoff and Amanda. I look forward to working with them on some projects in 2023.”

The Voima Group said Haliburton Life will remain community-driven and, “continue to showcase all that the Haliburton Highlands region has to offer to the audience of nearly 10,000 followers.”

They said it is early days and did not want to elaborate on some of their ideas going forward, other than to say they have some, “exciting plans to expand the lifestyle brand into 2023.” The platform can be found on Instagram @ HaliburtonLife.

Make this a local Christmas

By

Lisa Gervais

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December 9, 2022

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The Bank of Canada increased interest rates, again, Dec. 7, this time by 50 basis points, to 4.25 per cent. In other words, if you’ve got a variable rate mortgage, the ‘ouch’ continues. The rate started the year at 0.25 per cent and was 3.75 per cent prior to Wednesday.

Some say there are signs the economy and inflation is slowing, however, the labour market remains stubbornly strong. We’ve also been told that Canadians should brace for further ballooning of their grocery bills next year. The most recent edition of Canada’s Food Price Report predicts another five to seven per cent price jump.

That means a family of four can expect to pay $16,222.80 in 2023 for groceries – an increase of $1,065.60 from 2022 prices – according to the report. Energy prices are also expected to soar. The federal government is unlikely to dole out much of a helping hand.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation claims Canada’s federal debt is growing by $878 per second, which is $52,701 per minute, $3.1 million per hour, or $75.9 million every single day. The debt clock is currently over $713 billion and Canada’s federal debt continues to grow daily. At the provincial level, the Government of Ontario’s debt is $348.9 billion and growing.

As Minden Hills mayor Bob Carter said during his council’s inaugural council meeting, no white knight, no Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and no Marvel Comics character is going to bail out Haliburton County residents. We have to do it ourselves.

Let’s start with Christmas.

Statista, a retail and trade website, states the average Canadian household spends about $2,375 on Christmas. That includes $451 on food, $616 on decorations and $1,308 on presents. Faced with rising interest rates, inflation, government and personal debt, why in the world would we do that again this year?

The Globe and Mail reported this week that consumer debt in Canada topped $2.36 trillion in the third quarter, up 7.3 per cent from last year It’s time we collectively lowered our holiday expectations. It may seem trite but why not buy fewer, less expensive, gifts?

There have been plenty of Christmas craft markets featuring locally-made items at reasonable prices, where you can eyeball the very person you are giving your money to.

As always this time of year, we also implore you to shop at local businesses, and not online.

When you purchase at locally-owned businesses rather than nationally-owned, more money is kept in the community because local businesses often purchase from other area businesses, and service providers. Purchasing local helps grow other businesses, as well as the local tax base.

While out for my daily walk, I ran into a chap who has had a good financial year. He told me he practices the ancient art of tithing. In olden days, people would give one tenth of their crops to the landlord. Others have given to their churches.

Today, tithes are voluntary and often paid out to charities. If you can pay it forward, we urge you to do so. Many in our community cannot give onetenth of their net earnings.

Curtain rises on Highlands Opera Club

By

Sam Gillett

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December 9, 2022

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Many teens and young adults might not realize how their passions intersect with the world of opera.

The Highlands Opera Studio’s new Opera Club is aimed at helping youth explore music, performance arts, set design, wardrobe creation, makeup and more, all through the lens of the operatic arts.

“It’s a really great way for youth and young adults in the community to experience opera and see it’s allowing us more access to different types of music and theatre,” said club director Corina Mansfield. “It all kind of goes together for opera.”

Any young adult older than 13 is invited to attend, “even if it’s not the opera that they love,” Mansfield said.

“Maybe they’ve discovered something in the musical arts that they want to aspire to, or even just have opera as a wonderful hobby. We don’t have to be great at things to love them.”

While the group kicked off meetings with a meet-and-greet Oct. 24 and a trip to Toronto to watch Carmen, regular events and activities will depend on the interests of group members. “It’s not going to be like every week or anything like that because I know that youth in the community are busy,” Mansfield said.

She and Highlands Opera Studio hope to show how the skills picked up in learning about opera can be transferred to other artistic practices, whether painting set backdrops or composing music.

Mansfield gave the example of sitting directly behind the conductor during a performance and being able to see how the music on the page translates onto the stage.

“The dork in me just goes insane,” she said. If a teen is interested in cosmetics, for instance, they could spend their time in the club picking up how different methods help tell stories about characters or accent how they appear to the audience.

“All these different interests, all these different professions, all these different careers and they come together to seamlessly make this amazing thing that you don’t think about it when you’re watching it.”

For more information on future meetings, contact Mansfield at info@highlandsoperastudio.com