DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: The Little Britain Merchants and the broader community are mourning the passing of, founder and longtime volunteer, Art Field, a man whose impact on local sport and labour advocacy spanned more than five decades. Born in 1934, Mr. Field devoted his life to building opportunities for others, whether at the rink, on the ball diamond, or through his work supporting working-class families. Best kn

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: The dream of a national title came to an end for Blackstock, on Saturday night, but the pride and momentum built, through the 2026 Kraft Hockeyville campaign, will carry on, long after the final votes counted. During the live broadcast, on the evening of Saturday, March 21st, it was announced, Taber and Tumbler Ridge had been selected as the Top two communities in this year’s competition, leaving Blac

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: After two years at the helm of the Township of Brock’s administration, Chief Administrative Officer, Michelle Willson has announced she will be stepping down from her role, effective April 10th, as she prepares to pursue a new opportunity outside the area. The Township of Brock is preparing for a leadership transition, following the announcement Michelle Willson will be stepping down from her role. Ms.

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: A proposed overhaul of purchasing rules, in the City of Kawartha Lakes, is aiming to strike a balance between supporting Canadian businesses and complying with complex trade laws. At a Committee of the Whole meeting, on Tuesday, March 10th, Launa Macey, Supervisor of Financial Services, Procurement, presented a Procurement Policy Update report, co-authored with, City Solicitor, Robyn Carlson.

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: The Kawartha Art Gallery is set to shine a spotlight on the next generation of local talent, with its upcoming Young Musicians Showcase, bringing together students from across the community, for an evening of music and inspiration. The concert, part of the Gallery’s 2025/26 Music Series, will take place on Wednesday, April 15th, at 7 p.m., at Celebrations, in Lindsay, located at 35 Lindsay Str

by Lauren Walker "Whether you are a beginner or seasoned artist, don't make the same mistakes many artists make. It's imperative to keep your skills sharp and know how to value your work. 1) Never Under Value Your Work I start with an hourly rate, and price my work based on that. I take in to account my time, effort, and materials. Your hourly rate should reflect your skill level. Price per hour × hours to complete painting, + materials, + travel time (if required for materia

by Helen Nicolaou At last, it's official, Spring arrived, as of Friday, March 20th. Quickly, our minds begin to make notes, prioritizing garden duties. Carefully assessing the yard will help to decide which areas need attention. The melted snow reminds us of the unfinished jobs, such as the fallen leaves which had been covered by the early snowfall, last November. Just a reminder, it's good to wait and leave the fallen leaves as cover for the sleeping pollinators until they a

Lisa Salapatek, Community Media Volunteer SCUGOG: Mark your calendar and come join the fun, on Saturday, April 25th, as the Greenbank stage welcomes the adventurous musical spirit of Danny Michel. Doors open at 7 p.m. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35. The Greenbank Folk Music Society offers some of the best folk music in Canada, in a cozy and intimate setting, which connects the audience with talented musicians and storytellers. Danny is known for his thoughtful

Jim Corrigan , Communications Canterbury Commons SCUGOG : The over 600 residents of the Canterbury Common neighbourhood, in Port Perry, are holding an Easter Food Drive, in support of Operation Scugog, on Saturday, March 28th. All Residents are encouraged to drop off their food or financial donation at the Centre, at 127 Waterbury Crescent, on Saturday. The event will be capped off with a sold out concert, starting at 7:30 p.m. The concert, with, singer-songwriter and recordi

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard The Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) Orr Division championship series is off to a fast and physical start, with the Uxbridge Bruins and Clarington Eagles splitting the opening two games of the Cougar Cup final over the weekend. Uxbridge drew first blood on Friday, March 20th, at the Bear Den, skating to a commanding 6-1 victory on home ice. The Bruins wasted no time setting the tone, striking twice in a 12-second span early in the first perio

by Shawn Lackie In one of my previous missives, I talked about having crazy neighbours and ended the piece by mentioning we were fortunate to have neighbours like Ross and Debbie, who weren’t afraid to help out. That means a lot. One of the big things about Port Perry has always been that the town is home to a great number of people who genuinely care. For the welfare of the community, the buildings, the environment and the people who inhabit the area. Take a look around at w

Melissa Briggs USC There’s been plenty of action happening at the Uxbridge Swim Club (USC) lately, and lots more on the horizon. 2025 Japan Cultural Exchange Tour Team with Swim Ontario Over the winter break, USC swimmer, Chloe Walker, travelled to Japan as part of the 2025 Japan Cultural Exchange Tour Team with Swim Ontario. This was a huge experience for Chloe, offering international racing and training opportunities in Sagamihara, Japan. The exchange also allowed her to e

By Faye Ashton The end of March is approaching, and Spring temperatures are still eluding us. It will take a while for the snow piles in our area to melt. At this time in 2012, Rob’s records show he had the fields worked. What a difference a few years make. Please plan to attend the potluck breakfast to support the Canadian Foodgrains Bank Project at Epsom United Church on Good Friday. Come for a visitation at 9 a.m., with breakfast at 9:30 a.m. This year is Epsom United Chur

by Pat Asling So, we suffered through the first day of Spring! I am wondering if someone was trying to be smart and decided to pull an early April Fool’s Day joke on us because it sure wasn’t very Spring-like, at least the kind we were hoping for! Nor does this week past (by the time you read this) seem to be pointing in the right direction either. However, there are some positive signs. Although my crocuses are still snow-covered, I have several hellebores (commonly called C

By Patricia Dawson Bring the family out for a free event with crafts, an egg hunt, games, and Easter bunny photos. This event will take place at the Lindsay Recreation Complex, located at 133 Adelaide Street South, in Lindsay, on Saturday, March 28th, at 9 a.m. This is a free, fun-filled family event featuring numerous activities for children. They ask participants to bring a non-perishable food donation to support the Lakes Food Source. St. Andrews Presbyterian Church holds

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: The small North Durham community of Blackstock is celebrating national recognition, after being named Ontario’s provincial winner in the 2026 edition of the Kraft Hockeyville competition. The announcement was made during the March 14th broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada, placing the Blackstock Arena among 13 communities across Canada selected as provincial and territorial winners. The recognition mea

Darryl Knight – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter / Brandon Clark – The Standard News SCUGOG: Plans to develop a long-term vision for the Port Perry Fairgrounds are moving into their next stage following strong community participation in the first round of public consultation. At a special meeting on Monday, March 9th, Scugog council reviewed an interim report on the “Your Voice, Your Fairgrounds” land-use visioning project and agreed to move the process forward as the c

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: Regional priorities, ranging from housing and transit to economic development and public safety, were outlined during a recent update, delivered to Brock Township. At council’s meeting, on Monday, March 9th, Regional Chair John Henry presented Brock councillors with the annual Regional Municipality of Durham update, offering a broad overview of major initiatives and the region’s long-term vision. Mr.