COLLEEN GREEN The Standard SCUGOG: There’s something refreshing happening at the Port Perry Dairy Queen, and it goes far beyond a cone or a Blizzard. Since taking ownership, in November 2025, this hardworking husband-and-wife team of Mahir and Meeda Patel, has brought new energy, warmth, and creativity to a location they had admired for years. Their journey to ownership wasn’t overnight. Both came to Canada with big ambitions and a willingness to work. From early days, at pla

BRIAN J. EVANS Special to The Standard UXBRIDGE: The Uxbridge Prayer Breakfast has expanded to become the North Durham Prayer Breakfast, with the 2026 edition uniting Uxbridge, Scugog and Brock townships. Taking place on Wednesday, May 20th, from 7 to 9 a.m., at Mill Run Golf Club, in Uxbridge, the popular breakfast will feature keynote speaker Dr. Steven Russell. In 2016, Dr. Russell became the first chair of the Board of Oak Ridges Hospice, a palliative care facility, locat

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: Fresh ideas, as well as some lingering concerns, are expected to surface as the Township of Scugog prepares to host a new round of community workshops, focused on the future of the Port Perry Fairgrounds. Set for Wednesday, May 13th, at the Township Municipal Office, the sessions mark the next phase of the “Your Voice, Your Fairgrounds” community visioning exercise. Residents will get their first look

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard/BRANDON CLARK The Standard BROCK: A long-running community tradition continues to support local groups across Brock Township, as more than $18,000 raised through the Annual Township of Brock Charity Golf Tournament has been distributed to community organizations. At a late-April council meeting, township officials celebrated the funding, which was awarded to 14 organizations spanning youth sports, arts, cultu

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: A deteriorating rural crossing, west of Old Simcoe Road, is set for a major upgrade, after council endorsed a modular bridge solution, aimed at improving safety while saving both time and money. At its meeting, on April 27th, council approved a plan to replace a failing concrete box culvert, on Scugog Line 2, with a prefabricated modular bridge system, awarding a single-source contract, valued at roug

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: Rising demand for affordable living options is prompting a closer look at how more people are sharing space under one roof, across City of Kawartha Lakes. With population growth and housing pressures continuing to mount, municipal officials have launched a public consultation on high-occupancy housing, an umbrella term which includes accessory dwelling units, room rentals, and other shared liv

by Shawn Lackie How long have you been living in the home you are currently in? It used to be, many years ago, you would buy a home and pretty much live there all your life, unless you had a job transfer or some other upset in your life (i.e. family death, divorce). My grandparents lived in two homes their entire married life. The first was a small home, then they built a large four bedroom home, to move into and start their family. It was also on the same street, so that is

HELEN NICOLAOU, Special to The Standard True signs of spring have daffodils blooming in gardens. What a delight to wake to songbirds and their cheerful twittering, on these spring mornings. The arrival of purple martins, is no surprise, it also means the mosquitoes are back for the season as well. On Saturday, April 25th, the members from the Pine Ridge Garden Club attended the District 17 AGM, at Club Caribe, in Oshawa. We enjoyed morning refreshments, enjoyed some delicious

By Shawn Lackie Think about this for a minute. You want to sell your home and an agent advertises, “I can list your home and if it doesn’t sell in 30 days or less, I will buy it.” Too good to be true, right? Pretty much. Sure, they will buy it, for well under market value. Remember those lovely faux hand written pieces you used to get in the mail, from “buyers” willing to buy your home, without you even having to go through the arduous process of listing it? Well, this is ano

DARRYL KNIGHT, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: Potholes, ruts, and washboard surfaces have become a daily frustration for drivers across Scugog Township this spring, as lingering frost and wet weather delay much-needed grading on the area’s gravel roads. Following a harsh and unpredictable winter, many rural roads are in rough shape, prompting residents to ask when repairs will begin. Timing is critical for grading operations. As frost leaves the

One of Ontario’s most historic paddling events is back. The 46th annual Marsh Mash will hit the water on Saturday, May 9th, welcoming canoeists, kayakers, stand-up paddleboarders, and outrigger paddlers from across the province. The canal, which surrounds the Holland Marsh, provides one of the best canoe racing courses in Ontario. Marsh Mash offers a wide range of recreational and competitive race categories. Distances range from five kilometres to 28 km, including adult and

DARRYL KNIGHT, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: A proposal which could reshape how school boards are governed across Ontario is drawing concern at the municipal level, with Brock Council throwing its support behind a request for further oversight and public consultation. At its Monday, April 13th meeting, Brock Council endorsed a motion supporting the Durham District School Board (DDSB) in its call for the Ombudsman of Ontario to review the potenti

DARRYL KNIGHT, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: 2025 was a year defined by extremes, and a financial balancing act few municipalities ever face. A report, presented at the Tuesday, April 21st council meeting, detailed how a series of severe weather events and economic pressures pushed the municipality toward a potential $44 million deficit in 2025. In the end, staff outlined a plan to absorb the hit through reserves, rather than passing th

SCUGOG: The township of Port Perry is set to become an international hotspot for equestrian sport this spring, as Restoration Ranch welcomes riders, from across North America, for a four-day Working Equitation event, from May 28th to May 31st. The show will serve as a critical qualifying event, for the World Equitation Games, scheduled to take place in Spain this September. Hosted by Working Equitation Canada (WECAN), the event will feature riders, from Ontario, Vermont, Nort

DARRYL KNIGHT, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: A year of transition and tempered growth defined development activity across the Township of Scugog in 2025, as municipal staff took on full responsibility for planning approvals while navigating broader economic headwinds. The Planning and Community Affairs Committee received the 2025 Planning and Building Development Activity Report during its April 20th meeting, offering a detailed look at how shi

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: Potholes, washouts, and soft shoulders have become a familiar, and frustrating, sight, across Brock’s rural concessions, this spring, prompting council to take urgent action, at a special meeting on Friday, April 17th. With more than 100 millimetres of recent rainfall and lingering frost beneath the surface, road conditions, across the township, have deteriorated rapidly in recent weeks, drawing concer

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: Councillors heard, at their Monday, April 13th meeting, during a detailed presentation, a regional push to strengthen the rural economy is gaining traction across Brock. Stacey Jibb and Jessica Rhynas, of the Region of Durham, outlined progress on the Growing North Durham: Rural Economic Development Action Plan, pointing to a year of increased collaboration, business support, and targeted investment ef

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: A refreshed approach, to how streets, parks, and municipal facilities are named, is moving one step closer to adoption, with committee backing for a policy update, designed to reflect growth, inclusivity, and community input. During a Committee of the Whole meeting, on April 7th, members reviewed a report, from Deputy Clerk Joel Watts, outlining proposed updates to the City’s Street, Municipal

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: Floodwaters are surging through communities across the region, leaving a trail of damage, emergency rescues, and anxious residents along the Burnt River and beyond. In the Burnt River area, homes and cottages, particularly downstream from the village, have been inundated, as water levels continue to rise. Roads have disappeared beneath the floodwaters, while Wrex Road effectively turned into a