DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: The sights and sounds of horns, sirens, and heavy equipment will once again fill the Port Perry Fairgrounds, as the popular Port Perry Touch-a-Truck returns, on Friday, July 10th, promising an evening of hands-on family fun, supporting a worthy local cause. The event will run from 4 to 8 p.m. The 3rd Annual Port Perry Touch-a-Truck, presented by Brass Inc., invites children and adults, alike, to climb

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: The future of one of Scugog's most recognizable community gathering places will take centre stage, later this month, as local councillors convene for a special meeting, to consider the final recommendations from the Port Perry Fairgrounds Visioning Exercise. Council will meet, on Monday, July 13th, at 5:30 p.m., to receive the Port Perry Fairgrounds Visioning Exercise Final Report, along with a staff

SCUGOG: Motorists travelling along Regional Road 57 in the Township of Scugog should expect lane restrictions throughout much of the summer as the Regional Municipality of Durham undertakes road rehabilitation work. The project is scheduled to begin during the week of July 6th and continue until August 31st, although the timeline may be affected by unfavourable weather conditions. Lane restrictions will be in effect on two sections of Regional Road 57: from approximately 100

by Faye Ashton June left us very hot! Our July first celebrations were disrupted in the late afternoon by very strong winds and a downpour. Our hydro stayed on, but many surrounding areas were left without hydro for some time until trees and large branches were removed. Well, this heat really did make things grow, and the weeds in my garden took advantage of the ideal weather too. Again, Gremlins got the dates wrong in last week's news. It should have been Tuesday the 30th an

BRANDON CLARK The Standard NORTH DURHAM: The Townships of Scugog and Uxbridge are warning residents about an unauthorized third party, who is selling products with the Uxbridge-Scugog Animal Shelter's logo. The animal shelter is aware of online advertisements, giving out clothing and hats which have the Uxbridge-Scugog Animal Shelter logo on them. Neither of these are associated with the animal shelter or Uxbridge Township. The issue was brought forward by a community member,

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: Additional dwelling units are expected to become easier to understand, and safer to build, following the launch of a new Township of Scugog guide and registration framework, designed to help homeowners create legal secondary living spaces. Approved by Council, on June 22nd, the new Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU) Guide and ADU Registration By-law build on housing policies, first adopted in March of 202

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard NORTH DURHAM: Residents and motorists, in the boundary area between Brock and Scugog, are being advised to prepare for several months of traffic disruptions, as the Regional Municipality of Durham moves ahead with a full replacement of the Saintfield Road Bridge over the Layton River. Durham Region has awarded the construction contract to Looby Construction Limited, and crews are expected to arrive the week o

by Faye Ashton The June full moon (flower) on Tuesday the 29th will light up the evening sky, adding greater brightness to our Canada Day fireworks celebration on July 1st. This week is predicted to be quite warm, giving the corn an extra jump to be all knee-high by the first of July. As I think of Epsom Church celebrating 155 years, we know the public school also has 1876 as its birth year. So many young lives have been challenged to go out into the world, become excellent w

BRANDON CLARK The Standard PORT PERRY: Residents of Port Perry, Ontario, Canada are invited to take part in a full slate of Canada Day festivities this year, with events taking place throughout Historic Downtown Port Perry and at the Scugog Shores Museum Village. The celebration features a packed schedule of entertainment, family activities, food, and fireworks. Festivities begin early in the morning with the Canada Day Parade at 10:30 a.m. The parade, featuring “Vettes-for-V

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: A proposed mixed-use development which could bring between 950 and 1,375 new homes, employment lands, commercial space, parks, and a long-term care component to Port Perry, took its first public step through the planning process, at a Statutory Public Meeting, held by Scugog Township's Planning and Community Affairs Committee, on June 15th. The proposal affects approximately 64 hectares (157 acres) of

COLLEEN GREEN The Standard Summer has arrived, and with it comes one of Ontario's most beloved seasonal traditions—strawberry picking. Across Kawartha Lakes and Durham Region, local farms are welcoming visitors to their fields, offering families a chance to enjoy fresh air, beautiful countryside, and baskets full of ripe, juicy strawberries. Pick-your-own strawberry farms provide a fun and affordable family outing. Children enjoy searching for the biggest berries, while adult

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: Families across Scugog will once again have access to a summer favourite, as the Township’s Park and Play program returns for another season of free recreation activities, for local children. Running weekdays, from July 6th to August 28th, Park and Play brings the excitement of Camp Scugog directly into neighbourhood parks, offering games, sports, crafts, themed activities and more, for children aged

by Helen Nicolaou June has had many windy, cool days which have made working in the garden, pleasant. It’s been an unusual time, having perennials bloom weeks later than anticipated. The upside of the cool weather is, it gives us time to enjoy a longer bloom time. Driving around, you will find many u-pick strawberry farms which are open to the public. What a true delight, picking and tasting locally grown, in-season strawberries. There seems to be endless possibilities, of ho

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

by Faye Ashton It’s Sunday, June 21st, the longest day of the year. It was beautiful, minus the strong winds we have experienced lately, sunshine and no prediction of rain even. The farmers went full tilt with three clear days without rain. Hope it holds a bit longer. There are many graduation ceremonies as students of all ages move on to the next class or higher education. Nothing can top little 4-year-olds moving from pre-school to junior kindergarten, so small, so excited

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard NORTH DURHAM/KAWARTHA LAKES: A handful of young hockey players, from North Durham and Kawartha Lakes, took a major step toward their junior hockey dreams, over the weekend, as the Ontario Hockey League held its 2026 Priority Selection, in Kingston. While no local players were selected, during Friday night's opening round, several area standouts heard their names called, throughout rounds two through 15. This highlighted the strength of local hockey

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard NORTH DURHAM: Families looking for an affordable way to enjoy the outdoors this summer will have two opportunities to cast a line in the waters without purchasing a fishing licence, as Ontario’s annual Free Fishing Weekends return, later this month. Anglers of all ages can fish for free, during Father’s Day Weekend, on June 20th and 21st, followed by Family Fishing Week, from June 27th to July 5th. The initia