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 Tina Y. Gerber – McCurley Appreciating life is about learning to see the value in what’s already in your hands. Family, friends, health, or the simple luxury of enjoying your morning tea. Those are the things which truly matter. Life is a collection of stories, moments, growth and flashes of wisdom. We spend so much time chasing more, thinking those things will make us happy. Yet, in the small ordinary moments, we often overlook, happiness can reside. There are days when y

by Lauren Walker Purpose and passion. How do you live your life? I'm turning forty this year and I feel like I'm finally coming into my own. I was vacuuming my house this morning and I realized, while I dislike doing it, I can be joyful doing it. Vacuuming gave me the idea for this article, so thank you! A Joyful Shift A shift happens when you get older. I spent my twenties wondering who I was and what I wanted to be. I wasn't experiencing very much joy at all. Going through

KIM COULTER RMH Foundation KAWARTHA LAKES: Standing atop the CN Tower, on July 31st, 2021, Sandra Jack celebrated surviving cancer for five years, post-surgery. More than that, she was paying forward the care she was receiving and fundraising, to help more people survive cancer. Helping others was her lifelong mission. Sandra touched lives through her career in education, her public service on municipal council, her advocacy on community committees, and her many passions. The

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: A proposal to expand the stage, at Sunderland Town Hall, is moving ahead for further study, after receiving endorsement in principle at Brock Township’s Monday, April 27th council meeting. The plan, brought forward by the Sunderland Youth Theatre Group, calls for a permanent extension to the historic auditorium stage, an upgrade supporters say would improve safety, enhance performances, and better supp

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

by Faye Ashton I hope you didn’t miss the full moon (flower) these last few evenings, but if you did, May 31st, a blue moon will be back to shine even brighter. With this full moon, we had to endure minus temperatures and even snowflakes so large on Saturday morning it took us back a few months. There's always a blessing with these cooler temperatures as we watch the spring flowers last so much longer. The daffodils with their bright yellow colours are an array of lasting bea

By Patricia Dawson Celebrate your mom on May 9th for the 'Just for Mom Extravaganza', at the Victoria Park Armory in Lindsay, 1010 Kent Street West, in Lindsay. Admission is $2 and doors open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Many vendors and a lunch canteen are available. Join us for a day of unique shopping in one place! One day only Saturday, May 9th, if you're looking for something fun to do with mom or even moms-to-be, this is the place to be. The Beaverton Curling Club is hosti

by Pat Asling Another week of “let’s wait and see”! Of course, it could apply to a lot of situations right now, both personal and worldwide, as the world holds its breath over the Israel/US standoff with Iran and all the local things, like downtown Uxbridge! However, there are wonderful signs of spring with daffodils, tulips, narcissi, and some shrubs in full bloom. Some time ago, I set a pot outside with a dead geranium in it and was surprised today to find a plant growing i

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: Girls hockey continues its rapid rise in Kawartha Lakes, with hundreds of young athletes taking to the ice, in recent weeks, including a busy tryout weekend, of April 25th and 26th, and sessions continuing into May, for the Lindsay Lynx girls hockey program at the Lindsay Recreation Complex. In recent weeks, girls aged 9 to 17 have been showcasing their skills, in hopes of earning a spot on one of the

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 Lauren Walker What a lot of work and time spent! For the second year in a row, I helped to organize the Oshawa Artist Association Juried show at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery. What is a Juried Art show? For those of you unfamiliar with a Juried Art Show, it is when artists submit their work to a gallery for judging by a selected pair or individual. These judges are reputable and professionals in their field. If your work is selected, it will be included in an exhibition at

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

By Geoff Carpentier Each spring, as the snow melts and seasonal rains soak the landscape, shallow pools appear in depressions, within forests and meadows. These short-lived waters, known as vernal ponds, may last only a few weeks or months. Yet during their brief lives, they become some of the most biologically productive and important habitats in temperate ecosystems. Vernal ponds are seasonal wetlands which typically appear in late winter or early spring and dry up by mid t