DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: The sound of engines roaring, the midway coming to life, and the unmistakable buzz of a late-summer fair will soon fill the air in Port Perry. However, this year, the Port Perry Fair is getting started a little earlier. For the first time, the Fair is adding a Friday night concert to its Labour Day weekend festivities, bringing country music stars 'the James Barker Band' to town, with special guest Ro

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard NORTH DURHAM: For residents with a question about policing, a concern about their neighbourhood, or simply a desire to get to know the officers who serve their community, there will soon be an easy place to start, over a cup of coffee. Durham Regional Police Service’s (DRPS) popular 'Coffee with a Cop' initiative is returning this autumn, with North Division officers making stops at coffee shops, in Uxbridge,

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: Sunshine, warm temperatures, and plenty of community spirit combined Saturday, to make the 159th annual Blackstock Fair a memorable celebration of rural tradition. With temperatures reaching the mid-twenties, under beautiful sunny skies, families, farmers, exhibitors, and visitors made their way to the Blackstock Recreation Centre and Fairgrounds, on August 29th, for the one-day celebration. From earl

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: Getting around Kawartha Lakes without a car could look very different over the next decade, if the City’s draft Regional Ten-Year Transit Master Plan becomes reality. Council received the draft plan during its Tuesday, August 25th regular meeting, opening the door to a potential expansion of public transit, beyond the existing Lindsay Transit system. The proposed 10-year roadmap calls for a mo

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: A major investment in Brock Township’s rural road network continued recently, as crews carried out road maintenance work on four local routes. Lane restrictions began Thursday, August 27th, for the application of Flexible Asphalt Cold Technology (FACT), a self-healing road treatment, designed to help extend the life of existing road surfaces while reducing future maintenance and upkeep costs. The work

PAM PUTMAN-KIMMETT Outreach Team, Cambridge Street United Church KAWARTHA LAKES: Cambridge Street United Church, Lindsay, is partnering with local supporters to help the Canadian Foodgrains Bank to provide “A Christian Response to World Hunger”. Ten acres of soybeans have been planted near Oakwood, with funds raised by the church, on farmland donated by the Bruce VandenBerg family, and with help from local suppliers, namely: Huitson Farms AgriServices, in care of Bayer; Littl

JAY THIBERT North Durham Nature Club SCUGOG: Julie-Ann will share her enthusiasm for a small shorebird which nests and dwells in Ontario, on a few exposed sand and gravel Great Lakes’ beaches. Piping Plovers returned to Ontario in 2007, after a 30-year absence. In 2026, we celebrated their 20th breeding season in Ontario. Join us to learn how you can help this charismatic shorebird and ensure we celebrate many more successful seasons to come, on Tuesday, September 22nd, at th

by Shawn Lackie If you have been in this business, for any length of time as an agent, you probably get asked, “When is a good time to buy a number of times?” The answer? Who knows. Especially in the last three plus years. This whole market is like playing with stocks. The old adage used to be, 'Buy Low and Sell High' and to a certain extent that still carries some weight. The trick is in figuring out the timing. 2016- 2019 put an entirely different spin on things. When the p

MAC CLARKE Media Relations Coordinator CNE KAWARTHA LAKES: As the newly minted winner of the 2026 CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) Ambassador of the Fairs, Olivia will receive a cash prize of $3,500 and participate in a series of official duties at Canada’s largest fair over the next two weeks, including special appearances, while also representing her local agricultural community. The exclusive year-long role of Ambassador of the Fairs will take her across Ontario as a rep