KAWARTHA LAKES: The Annual Spring Train Show, held each year, since 1974, continues to attract large crowds of ardent train fans, as well as families seeking entertainment. However, It’s all about the kids.

A Thomas the Tank interactive layout will be appearing this year, along with a Lego Train Layout presented by our Junior Member, Keevan Fitch.

For the bigger kids, the moms and dads, there is plenty to see, with replica vintage layouts, to fantasy layouts created from the minds of existing railroad modeling enthusiasts.

The 44th Annual Lindsay Train Show will be Saturday, April 7th and Sunday, April 8th this year. The event will be held at the Victoria Park Armoury, 210 Kent Street West in Lindsay. Admission for adults is $5, children six to twelve are $2 and children under six years old are free.

This year, the Lindsay & District Model Railroaders will be sponsoring our Annual Model Train Show, once again featuring some of southern Ontario’s best operating model train layouts and hobby dealers, an enduring attraction for both model railway enthusiasts and residents alike.

Thank you to all who contributed to that success, the City of Kawartha Lakes, exhibitors, dealers, the media and the many volunteers.

DAN CEARNS The Standard

SCUGOG: The Scugog Community will be getting a taste of Scottish tradition when the annual Tartan Day celebrations return, on Sunday, April 8th.

The festivities get underway at 2 p.m., with a parade going up Queen St., from Palmer Park to Reflection Park. Then, the event will continue at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, with the 78th Fraser Highlanders holding a Kirkin of the Tartan service.  

“Tartan Day was started by a lady in Nova Scotia and is celebrated more in North America than it is in Scotland. A parade is held in New York City every year, so we at The Wee Tartan Shop decided that we should do a parade in Port Perry, and so it started in 2009. We have done a parade in Port Perry ever since,” read a press release from organizers from The Wee Tartan Shop.

At 4 p.m., the event will continue at the Port Perry Legion, located at 484 Bay St. The legion portion will include official speeches, music and dancing, the Famous Scot look-a-like contest and dinner.

Tickets for the Legion celebrations are $20, and must be purchased in advance. You can buy the tickets at The Wee Tartan Shop in Port Perry.

For more information, call The Wee Tartan Shop, at 905-985-6573.

CHRISTOPHER GREEN The Standard

SCUGOG: Local church, Victory Christian Centre, is holding a screening of Canadian Christian film, “Adam's Testament”, on Saturday, April 7th.

According to the Internet Movie Database, the plot line is as follows. “Adam a young musician had the perfect life until one day everything changed. His father, detective Joseph Gable continues on a relentless path to save Adam's soul as angels and demons are disguised as humans. This ancient spiritual war between good and evil will test their faith as a dark stranger descends on modern day Toronto.”

For executive producer, Todd Yuill, and co-executive producer, Philip Moran, the film was a labour of love. Also credited as an executive producer, is Elva Yuill, Mr. Yuill's late mother, who wanted a wholesome film attached to her name.

“Mum and I, we are the ones that paid for the movie. Mum passed away one day before she was able to see the film.” said Todd Yuill. Through the creation of this film, Mr. Moran and Mr. Yuill grew closer, with Mr. Moran saying he had “adopted” Mr. Yuill into his family.

For his part, Philip Moran, both co-executive producer and lead actor, said he found the film to be a learning experience that grew him. “I see films, as how I do them and how I play them, as really a great journey of learning and expanding what I know and what I've learned.” he said. “I took this very seriously... it worked out perfectly.”

Mr. Yuill believes this film and it's story of redemption, even amid darkness, will be able to reach people, “Mum and I ... we both got the message that there was something for someone in this movie.”

Pastor John, of Victory Christian Centre, told The Standard how the church came across the film. “It was brought to us by the [executive producer] and one of the actors.” he said. “We're always looking for a Christian perspective on movies, so they invited me to see it... To me it's a story line that people can relate to. Sometimes in life things happen but we discount the spiritual side to things, and this movie brings out the spiritual side to life; the good side and the evil side... it shows how the good needs to overcome the evil.”

The movie is likely to get people thinking about spiritual matters, and Pastor John said the church and pastoral staff are available to help those with questions.

The movie was approved by the Dove Foundation, a website which reviews the content of films said to be faith-based films. However the film does deal with some thematically dark material and therefore the Dove Foundation recommends it for adults eighteen or older. The 18+ rating is described as follows on their website, “the 18+ seal is reserved for God-glorifying messages that have more mature elements according to our criteria.”

“Adam's Testament” will be shown on Saturday, April 7th, at 7 p.m., at Victory Christian Centre, located at 593 Alma Street in Port Perry. For more information visit victorychristiancentre.net or www.adamstestament.com.

SCUGOG: Stretch your artistic perspective and explore a world of fluid and diverse beauty in the upcoming exhibit "Bathing Beauties and Blue Lagoons", by Suzanne Moreau and Nancy Simmons Smith. The opening Reception will begin Saturday, April 7th, 2018, at 2 p.m. The show will run April 7th – May 3rd, 2018, in the Kent Farndale Gallery at the Scugog Memorial Public Library, 231 Water Street in Port Perry.

Throughout history artists have painted women bathing. Suzanne Moreau was inspired to do the same, by women at the Peterborough YMCA pool. The subjects of her Bathing Beauties series are devoted aqua-fit participants and athletic synchronized swimmers, whose pleasure in the pool is apparent. Blue Lagoons are abstract and non-objective paintings, created by Nancy Simmons Smith to complement these wonderful portraits. They explore the interaction of blue hues, inspired by the watery environment in Suzanne Moreau’s lovely and sensitive Bathing Beauties, with the aim of creating a cohesive show of portraits and non-figurative work.

The Kent Farndale Gallery is open 7 days a week during library hours. Please call 905-985-7686 for more information.

CHRISTOPHER GREEN The Standard

BROCK: Like Maria in “The Sound of Music”, Chatfield Room owner Kim Biggar enjoys collecting her favourite things.

Ms. Biggar said, “My site has something for just about anyone, although that's not really been my goal. I just find things I like or find interesting and hope other people will, too.”
The Chatfield Room, a brand new online store in Cannington, has bargains, brand new and vintage, to be found at www.chatfield-room.com.

The business has a wide variety of items and is a great local source for brand-new duvet sets, comforters, sheet sets, and cushions. It also has new jewellery with insurance certificates, which is sold for a quarter of the insurance value. You can find new, vintage, and antique dishes, home decor, and furniture as well.

The list of items The Chatfield Room sells is not limited to the above, because new items are added regularly.

Ms. Biggar's prices are significantly lower than the same items on well-known e-commerce sites. "I check prices and can always offer items for well less than the regular prices on other sites, because I have very little overhead: no employees, no rent or heat expenses. I can pass on the great deals I get to local shoppers."

While it is a local endeavour, Ms. Biggar will also deliver locally. She said, “It says on my site that I don't ship. Generally, that's true, because I can't afford to offer discounted shipping rates, which people pretty well expect nowadays. My idea with this business was to provide good stuff locally at great prices. However, I will deliver locally, and will sometimes be able to do so without charging a fee. If I plan to go in the buyer's direction in the near future, and the buyer is willing to wait, I will drop off items. If the person lives somewhere that I don't generally go, I'll deliver but will charge a fee to cover the gas.”

"If you see something you like, get in touch with me through the website, and I'll hold the item until you can come to see it,” Ms. Biggar said, adding that payments can be made by cash or e-transfer only.

To find your new favourite things, visit www.chatfield-room.com and place an order today.

KAWARTHA LAKES: During the Summer of 2015 the members of the Kawartha Lakes Cultural Centre Committee, a special project committee of the Kawartha Lakes Arts Council and the Heritage Network Council, had the opportunity to meet with our City Councillors and officials, to discuss three future goals of the Cultural Centre Committee:

1. To promote the adoption of the Cultural and Heritage Master Plans, through a municipal task force
2. To ensure a permanent Arts, Culture and Heritage Development Officer position in Economic Dev.
3. To explore the feasibility of a shared Cultural Centre

As of June 2016 the Cultural Centre Committee’s first two goals were met, and now, as we move forward into 2018, the committee has an announcement regarding their third goal, and we would like to invite you to join us as we share this exciting news with our community. The announcement will be made on Thursday, March 29th, at 7:00 p.m. The meeting is to be held at Mackey Celebrations Inc., 35 Lindsay Street North, Lindsay.
For more information, please contact Susan Taylor, at board@kawarthagallery.com

CHRISTOPHER GREEN The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton provides mentoring programs to children and youth aged 6 to 16 years.

Children are matched to screened and trained volunteers, once they are accepted into the program. The matches are then monitored by staff, to ensure a strong relationship is developing and everyone feels safe and secure in the friendship.

BBBS assists children with reaching their full potential.

According to Kawartha Lakes-Haliburton chapter Executive Director, Jim DeFlorio, “Children who have a mentor through BBBS, are more likely to complete high school and attend post secondary education. They are less likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol, are less likely to depend on social assistance, and will have better relationships with peers and family.”

The community has supported BBBS for the past 38 years through donations, attending fundraising events, volunteering in the various mentoring programs, or at fundraising events.

Big Brothers Big Sisters receives United Way funding, but must raise the bulk of their operating revenue through fundraising events.

One upcoming fundraiser is their annual spring dance, featuring The Enforcers, on April 21st, at The Victoria Park Armoury. Tickets are available in advance or at the door. The also have a big dinner and auction, on Thursday, June 7th, at The Victoria Park Armoury. Tickets are only available in advance for this event.

“I take so much pride that I have had such a big influence in a person’s life.” 'Big sister' Renee said, speaking from personal experience with the program, “Hannah [my 'little sister'] is quickly growing to be one of my best friends, and I wouldn’t dream of having this experience with any other little sister.”

A parent of a different mentored child also told her story, “Since Lawrence has come into our lives Spencer [my son] embraces change freely and [tries] new things! I am so thankful that my son has been a part of the Big Brother program, it has helped him grow and learn vital skills for becoming a confident adult.”

If you would like to be involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters in Kawartha Lakes-Haliburton, you can: volunteer as a mentor; volunteer with their fundraising committee; become a board Member; hold a third party fundraiser, with the approval of the organization; or make a donation to support mentoring programs.

Interested individuals can call the office, at 705-324-6800, for more information. They can also visit the website, at www.bigbrothersbigsisters.info, to learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kawartha Lakes-Haliburton.

DAN CEARNS The Standard

SCUGOG: 18-year-old Victoria Leask will be representing Durham Region at the Miss World Canada Nationals competition in Toronto, in July.

On Sunday, January 21st, Ms. Leask competed in the regional pageant, and was named one of the finalists that will compete to be crowned Miss World Canada.

“I’m so excited to represent Port Perry, but also Durham Region. I’m excited to be a role model for children in small communities,” Ms. Leask told The Standard.

Ms. Leask first applied to compete after her sister saw an ad for it on Facebook.

“She said ‘it would be cool if you applied,” the Miss World Canada contestant said.

Ms. Leask went on to say the competition focuses on “Beauty with a Purpose”, showcasing contestants’ “inner and outer beauty.” This means contestants are judged both on how they present themselves as well as how they give back to their communities.

For a number of years, Ms. Leask has run a charity initiative titled ‘Victoria’s Gifts For Sick Kids’, where she would annually collect and send DVD movies and craft kits to Sick Kids hospital.

Victoria said she wants people to know that they can make a difference, even if they live in a small community. She encourages girls who may want to try doing something like this in the future.

“I definitely encourage them. I was shy, and this definitely brought me out of my shell,” she said. “When I first showed up, I was very nervous.”

She said, despite the stereotype of pageant girls being “stuck up”, what she found, in her experience, was “everyone was so kind and welcoming.”

She added that the support from her family and friends has been “amazing” and she said she was “excited” to be named a finalist.

DAN CEARNS The Standard

UXBRIDGE: The owner of the Port Perry Smokehouse decided to expand by recently opening another restaurant in Uxbridge, at 114 Brock St. West, called Uxbridge Smokehouse.

Manager Brendan Heffernan said people can expect “a nice family restaurant” when they come through the doors of the Uxbridge Smokehouse.

“It’s all smoked food, fresh every day. Everything is fresh, besides a few appetizers we have that are frozen product. French fries are fresh, coleslaw is fresh, all of our meat is fresh.”

Mr. Heffernan said there are a few non smoked items on the menu, but overall the menu is mainly smoked food.

“Comfort food at its best, we say,” he said.

He added that the menu is mainly the same as the Port Perry location, but Uxbridge Smokehouse will be carrying on the Mad Millies tradition of Broaster Chicken.

“It’s a good product, Port Perry doesn’t have that, but otherwise our menus are exactly the same.”

When asked what he enjoys most about the business, Mr. Heffernan said it is the satisfaction he gets when people love the food.

“You want everyone to be happy every time they come, and I enjoy making people happy,” he said.

For more information on Uxbridge Smokehouse, phone them, at 905-862-9002, or visit the restaurant on Brock St.