COLLEEN GREEN The Standard SCUGOG: Local jazz musician, Lynn MacDonald is inviting the community to an evening of music, friendship and fundraising, in support of families and communities in Cuba. The fundraiser takes place Saturday, September 26th, beginning at 6 p.m., at The Hall (Church of the Ascension), 266 North Street, Port Perry. The evening will feature an outstanding lineup of musicians, including the Cubano Band, with Sean Bellaviti on piano, “Gato” Bill McBirnie o

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: Artists across Kawartha Lakes and surrounding communities are being offered a new opportunity to turn creative ideas into reality. The Kawartha Lakes Arts Council (KLAC), the official Community Arts Council for the City of Kawartha Lakes, has launched its new Creative Futures Grant Program, providing financial support to artists looking to develop their creative practices, explore new ideas, o

KELLY WHYTE VCST KAWARTHA LAKES: Did you know the Victoria County Studio Tour (City of Kawartha Lakes) is the second oldest studio tour in Ontario? Our tour offers a diverse range of art sure to satisfy visitors from across the province. If you crave a local landscape, created in oils, watercolours or acrylics, we’ve got it! Jewellery designed to dazzle, wood-turned bowls, fabric art creations and pottery that will make your guests green with envy- we have it all! And the bes

COLLEEN GREEN The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: Residents can celebrate Kawartha Lakes’ 25th anniversary by displaying the municipality’s official flag, at their homes, cottages, businesses and community spaces. A new supply of City flags are now available for purchase, at Municipal Service Centres, in Bobcaygeon, Coboconk, Lindsay and Omemee. The 36-by-72-inch flags cost $45, plus HST, and are made in Barrie, Ontario. Kawartha Lakes adopted its official flag in 2007, following a

by Lauren Walker Complacency is the enemy of creativity. It's no different in my profession as a personal trainer. When I worked in a gym, I used to watch people do the same routine over and over and never get anywhere. They became comfortable, but the problem is they never got any stronger. If you are locked in a predictable routine, then how will you get any stronger as an artist? Shake it Up Many years before becoming an artist, I was locked into a pattern I didn't like. I

COLLEEN GREEN The Standard The Royal Canadian Legion is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a new commemorative $2 circulation coin honouring a century of service, remembrance and support for Canada’s veterans and military community. The Royal Canadian Mint has released the 2026 commemorative coin in recognition of the Legion’s official centennial, which marks 100 years since a special Act of Parliament incorporated the organization on July 17, 1926. The Legion traces its

DARRYL KNIGHT, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: There is still plenty of time for local residents to make the most of the summer, at Scugog Public Library, with reading programs, a new collection of puzzles, community displays, and a chance to win gift cards to some of Port Perry’s local businesses. The library’s Summer Reading Club continues through to August 31st, and more than 500 people have already signed up for the summer program. It is not

SCUGOG: This year The Port Perry Fair will be hosting a ticketed concert, at 7p.m., on the Friday night of the fair. Headlining the concert is the James Barker Band. James Barker Band is proof that big dreams can grow from small-town roots. Made up of James Barker (lead vocals/guitar), Connor Stephen (drums), Taylor Abram (guitar/background vocals) and Bobby Martin (bass), their big break came in 2015 at the Emerging Artist Showcase at Boots and Hearts Music Festival, where t

PAUL PUCKRIN President, Port Perry Agricultural Society PORT PERRY: Amateur bakers will have the chance to earn bragging rights and a share of generous prize money, when the Port Perry Fair's popular Women's Only and Men's Only Baking Contests return, over the Labour Day weekend. Open to bakers of all ages, both competitions offer a grand prize of $1,000 and celebrate the creativity and tradition of home baking. The Men's Only Baking Contest will be held at noon, on Sunday, S

COLLEEN GREEN The Standard UXBRIDGE: Two Uxbridge family physicians are inviting readers behind the scenes of medicine, with their new book, Family Rooms, a collection of stories exploring the humour, heartbreak, privilege and challenges of family medicine. Written by Dr. Carlye Jensen and Dr. Jennifer Wilson, the book takes readers into clinics, emergency departments, hospital wards, patients’ homes and other unexpected settings where doctors make decisions in real time and

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: The Kawartha Art Gallery is inviting artists to submit work, for its 2026 Annual Juried Exhibition, which will focus on the relationship between women, art, and political change. Voices & Visibility: Women, Art, and Political Change will run from October 7th to December 19th. The exhibition will explore themes including: democracy, advocacy, leadership, identity, protest, belonging, representa

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: A centuries-old craft, with deep roots in Canadian history, is now taking centre stage at City Hall, where residents can explore a colourful new exhibition, celebrating both local artistry and the City of Kawartha Lakes' 25th anniversary. The latest installment of the City's Art in the Halls program features the work of the Lindsay and District Rug Hookers, whose handcrafted creations are on d

LILY PETTIT Community Services - Events SCUGOG: The Township of Scugog is thrilled to announce the return of Movie Nights in the park! Join us at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22nd, at Palmer Park, Port Perry, for a movie night under the stars. This year, we will be screening the live-action How to Train Your Dragon movie! This PG-rated, action-packed adventure follows the story of young Viking Hiccup, who forms an unlikely friendship with a feared dragon named Toothless. Toge

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: Young readers across Kawartha Lakes are invited to make a splash this summer, as Kawartha Lakes Public Library launches its 2026 Summer Reading Club, a season-long program, designed to inspire a love of reading, while keeping children and families engaged through fun activities and community events. This year's theme, “Dive In,” draws inspiration from the lakes, rivers, and waterways which hel

by Lauren Walker So what do you do when your Instagram video takes off? I posted a video on my Instagram page, @theartistwithin86, and it blew up past my wildest expectations. By the time this article gets published, I'll have almost 3 million views. It is overwhelming, to say the least. Uncharted Territory This is uncharted territory for me. I believe these moments are rare and fleeting, so I feel like I'm riding a wave, until it settles back in to the vast social media ocea

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: A family-friendly evening of entertainment and community spirit, is set to take place in Sunderland, this week, as residents are invited to a free Community Movie Night, at the Sunderland Town Hall Auditorium. The event, scheduled for Friday, June 19th, will feature a screening of the new Super Mario Galaxy Movie and is open to residents of all ages. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with the movie beginni

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: The Township is updating the way film and television productions operate within the municipality, following Council approval of a revised Film Policy, during its meeting, on the evening of Monday, May 25th. Included in the meeting’s agenda was a staff report, from Lori Bowers, Director of Communications and Strategic Projects, outlining proposed changes, aimed at supporting continued economic opportun

By Lyn Whitham After a chance introduction to The Tragically Hip’s lawyer, Mike Crowe had an intriguing idea. What if the two iconic Canadian institutions struck up a partnership and Mr. Crowe, the Kawartha Dairy’s director of product development and a third-generation member of the Dairy’s founding family, created a new ice cream to celebrate the collaboration. It sure seemed to make sense. Both the Hip and Kawartha Dairy are loyally and passionately Canadian. They both shar

JEFFERY ROSS, Special to The Standard UXBRIDGE: The Uxbridge Youth Centre (UYC) is proud to announce the return of Open Mic Night, following a debut event, in April. The UYC was filled to capacity and showcased eight performers and acts from across the local youth community. Additional seating was required on the night to accommodate the enthusiastic turnout, a clear signal Uxbridge youth and their families are hungry for this kind of programming. The second Open Mic Night wi

by Barb Pratt UXBRIDGE: Every summer for the past 30 years, selected Uxbridge and area residents have opened their gardens to visitors during the Annual Gardens of Uxbridge Tour. This year’s Tour will take place on June 20th, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For the 30th anniversary, there are some very special additions to the day’s outing. Molly Shannon, of Canadian Succulents, will be on hand to host two workshops at The Historic Leaskdale Church, at 9 a.m. and at 4 p.m. Molly will