ATOTK SUMMER 2022

SUMMER 2022

A Taste of the KAWARTHAS FOOD, SHOPPING & CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

Debra Salmoni

Debra Lillian Designs

Sandor Johnson

Potter Settlement Winery

Justin Rutledge Award Winning Musician

Top Patio Picks

Tips

For a Well Trained Dog

THC

And Your Pets

Gardening

FREE PUBLICATION - PLEASE TAKE ONE

In Extreme Weather

Contents

SUMMER 2022

For Online Interactive magazine go to www.atasteofthekawarthas.com

Features 22 15 Best Patios

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Beautiful Scenery

28 Sandor Johnson

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Gardening

30 Debra Salmoni

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Justin Rutledge

ATOTK Favourite Spots Model, Actor, Artisan Winery Owner Designer - Scott’s Vacation House Rules

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Columns

28

Photos by Linda Kassil In Extreme Weather

Juno Award Winning Musician

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Palatable Pleasures 10 Kickin’ Recipes - Chef Brian Henry 14 Chef Costas Dedes - Olympia Restaurant 17 Carol’s Kitchen - Three Cheese Grilled Pizza 20 Global Getaways - Potter Settlement Winery 22 15 Best Patios - ATOTK Favourites

Lifestyle 18 When Bees Swarm 20 Global Getaways - Potter Settlement Winery 22 15 Best Patios - ATOTK Favourites 28 Sandor Johnson - What a Life!

30 Debra Salmoni - Scott’s Vacation House Rules 42 Beautiful Scenery - Photos by Linda Kassil Day Tripping 48 Home - Little Surprises 20 Global Getaways - Potter Settlement Winery 49 Organize Your Cottage 22 15 Best Patios - ATOTK Favourites 51 Gardening - In Extreme Weather 38 ATV Trails - The Kawartha ATV Association 53 Justin Rutledge - Juno Award Winning Musician 56 Navagating Alzheimer’s Disease Pets 58 Pets - 5 Tips for a Well Trained Dog 61 Vets - Marijuana (THC) Poisoning 4

Real Estate 44 Real Estate Talk - A Seller’s Market 47 Home Inspections - Summer Maintenance

A note From the Editor

Here we are - it’s Summer! A time to relax, recharge and just Breathe. Feel the sun on your face and go outside. Plant your gardens and watch them flourish with fresh vegetables and beautiful flowers. Read a good book and listen to your favourite music in the backyard. Dance. It will be make you smile and cheer you up. If you are anything like me, winter means catching up on tv programs and huddling down on the couch drinking tea and eating homemade soups so it’s time to get out and play again!

We got the news that most businesses have already received - printing costs have gone up exponentially.

There is a major paper shortage out there, so we will have to pivot. That means we are expanding the online version, so it’s worth your time to check it out. There will be added pages with more photos plus videos and extended articles. I’m excited about putting it together, although it will entail a lot more time and effort.

We are featuring Sandor Johnson, owner of Potter Settlement Artisan Winery in this issue. Sandor is extremely passionate about his vineyard. If you are looking for something fun to pass the time, head over to Tweed and taste some of the best award winning wine you will ever have. Take the tour and see what a beautiful spot it is.

As usual, we welcome your input and comments and love to hear from you! Keep on sending those emails!

We pride ourselves on not being an advertorial publication.

Karen Irvine - Editor, Video Editor, Videographer, Photographer, Social Media Diva & Motorcycle Enthusiast Email - atasteofthekawarthas@gmail.com Facebook - A Taste of the Kawarthas Magazine

Contributors

Margaret Swaine Author, Travel, Wine, Golf, Spas & Spirits Columnist Travel & Spirits Editor Karen Laws Ontario Dog Trainer Danielle French South Pond Farms Dr. Kelly Wasylciw Veterinarian

Website - www.atasteofthekawarthas.com Instagram - @atasteofthekawarthas

Carol Turner Carol’s Kitchen Signe Langford Signe’s Kitchen Vikki Whitney Extreme Weather Gardening Dr. Jennifer Ingram Dementia Series

Dianne Guzik The Art of Home Inspections

Chef Brian Henry Chef Extraordinaire & ATOTK Food Editor Jay Lough Hayes Real Estate Broker Jay Cooper Musician, Graphics Designer Nicole Cooke Organized by Design Carolyn Richards Kawartha ATV Association

Publisher - Slither Productions Editor - Karen Irvine Creative Director - Jay Cooper Advertising Sales - (705) 772-8074 Email - atasteofthekawarthas@gmail.com

Photographers

Karen Irvine, KATVA, Virginia MacDonald Photographer Inc., HGTV Canada, Kristine Hannah © 2021 by A Taste of the Kawarthas Magazine (ATOTK) is a free publication distributed locally an is supported by our advertisers. A Taste of the Kawarthas Magazine or Slither Productions do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced an reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

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Chef Brian Henry Food Editor

Chef Brian is the owner of The Spice Co and Angle Iron Kitchen in Lakefield, Ontario.

Brian has been cooking for over 30 years all over the world. At one point, for three years he followed The Grateful Dead selling pizza!

He settled in Lakefield because he loves the Kawarthas.

He is an active member of the Lakefield Ice Festival and not only has the restaurant and spice company but caters as well. Chef is also a teacher at Durham College.

Brian is married with two girls. thespiceco.ca Angle Iron Kitchen

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Jay Cooper Graphic Designer, Musician & Feature Interviewer

Jay is our Graphic Designer.

We are so proud to say that he won two awards this year for his designs!

He does all the feature interviews for ATOTK. In the past, Jay interviewed international musicians under Slither Speaks for Slither Productions.

Continuing on his creative streak, Jay is a talented musician with four albums to his credit. He plays guitar, bass, drums and piano. He has also produced and edited other musicians albums.

Having done all this, he also designs the covers for the magazine.

Meet Th Danielle French South Pond Home

Danielle French was the founder of South Pond Farms, a destination for authentic culinary experiences, weddings, celebrations and homemade food products. She hosted the television series Taste of the Country formerly on Netflix.

Danielle has started a new adventure called Design your Escape offering help for those wanting to start their own event based business. She comarkets her product line with Walton Wood Farm.

South Pond Home FaceBook

he Writers Jay Lough Hayes Real Estate Representative

Jay is ATOTK’s go-to person for all things Real Estate.

Everything Jay needs to get her through life, she learned in Kindergarden. She says, “Treat others the way you want to be treated. I pride myself in looking after my customers and clients! I work together with my husband, Grant and have been enjoying working with buyers and sellers in real estate for 28 years.” Jay believes Home Ownership is an attainable goal for all Canadians, “I enjoy working with people to achieve their real estate dreams. I have been a member of the Peterborough Real Estate Board for 28 years.

She has served as volunteers on the real estate board in many capacities. She enjoys what she does, and says, “I do what I enjoy!” www.homesinpeterborough. com

Margaret Swaine Travel, Spirit & Food

Margaret is the Global Getaway columnist for Kawarthas Magazine covering travel, golf and food destinations.

Margaret has contributed feature artices for the National Post, Zoomer magazine, Best Health, USA Today, LA Times, ScoreGolf, Foodservice Hospitality, Travelweek Bulletin, Expressions, Arrival, Nuvo, Wine Access, Elle Canada, Hello!

Canada, Fairways, ClubLink NewsLink, WestJet Up! magazine, Toronto Star newspaper, Globe & Mail newspaper, Baltic Air magazine, EnRoute magazine, Ski Press magazine, Chic magazine, national newspaper groups such as CanWest and many other publications. www.margaretswaine.com

Carol Turner Recipes

Carole has been contributing to ATOTK for over a year now with her recipe creations.

She has a deep understanding about what works with what, and her creations are OH SO GOOD! Follow Carol on Instagram for more inspiration! w w w. i n s t a g r a m . c o m / c a r olturner9319/

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Meet Th

Nicole Cooke Organized By Design

Nicole is the owner of Organized by Design, a professional organizing company based in Ennismore, Ontario. Her customers include residential clients as well as small, medium and large businesses.

Nicole developed a love for organization and systems throughout her previous careers and saw first-hand how the absence of these impacted people’s stress levels and overall happiness. As a result, she left her job and developed a business that could help people of all ages and backgrounds, as well as businesses. Her goal is to teach people how to bring calmness and productivity to their homes and offices.

Nicole is married with three daughters. She works both locally and virtually. www.organizedbydesign.co

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Carolyn Richards President Kawartha ATV Assoc.

Carolyn has been the President of the Kawartha ATV Association since 2013. She has been the best advocate for ATV’s in the Kawarthas, and has brought the club to new heights! Her accompishments within the KATVA are too numerous to list. Advocating for safe an responsibe use of ATVs. KATVA is a community based ATV club that proudly promotes and offers safe and enjoyable ATVing in the Kawartha Lakes and Peterborough County. Members enjoy dense forest tracts, natural vistas, historic stops, wildlife viewing an majestic outlooks. www.katva.ca

Dianne Guzik The Art of Home Inspections

Diane lives in Millbrook and is our go-to expert for everything to do with home inspections.

She is a retired certified home inspector, and sat on the board of directors for Ontario Association for Certified Home Inspectors.

She is married with six grown children and eight grandchildren.

We have been motivated by Dianne’s knowledge and are thrilled to have her on board.

he Writers Dr. Kelly Wasylciw Veterinarian

Dr. Kelly is a Veterinarian in Norwood Ontario.

We love how much she really cares for animals! Kelly is actually the Vet who Karen Irvine (our Editor In Chief ) and Jay Cooper rely on to look after their Great Dane.

Kelly is very knowledgeable, caring and understanding.

Karen Laws Ontario Dog Trainer

Karen has been working with dogs in some capacity since she was a child.

In the mid-1980’s Karen connected with her first dog-training mentor – the late Cassandra (Sanna) Carey of Lakeridge Kennels in Aiken South Carolina. Sanna willingly took Karen on as her student and was very generous with her time, her wisdom and her resources. They worked together for many years. She was the first person to show Karen what ‘chunking’ and ‘conditioning’ actually looked like. Karen learned the value of breaking complex concepts into small chunks and repeating each one just enough to provide clarity and to motivate the dog without grinding him down.

Karen was hooked. www.ontariodogtrainer.com

Dr. Ingram Kawartha Centre

Dr. Ingram is a specialist in Internal and Geriatric Medicine, and the Founder and Medical Director of the Kawartha Centre – Redefining Healthy Aging, a community-based senior’s medical clinic and research site.

She is the Ontario Co-investigator for Research on the Organization of Healthcare Services for Alzheimer’s Disease, assessing Primary Care Dementia Services in Ontario Quebec and New Brunswick, funded by CIHR. Dr. Jennifer has been recognized by the research organization C5R, the OMA and Trent University for her outstanding community service and excellence in research and care.

A relentless advocate for improvements in health care delivery for all seniors, Dr. Ingram has a special place in her heart for those families who are living with dementia. www. kawarthacentre.com 9

Kickin’ Recipes

GETTING ALL

by Chef Brian Henry Culinary Editor www.thespiceco.ca www.chefbrianhenry.com

Owner of Angle Iron Kitchens & The Spice Co.

FIRED UP!

CHIMICHURRI - Grilling on the Cheap!

Hosting backyard barbecues is a great

way to bring people together outdoors in the summer. Hosting these gatherings can also break the bank with today’s out of control food prices. If you cook like a buffet chef you won’t have to sacrifice flavor or refinance the house. This means setting up a food line that goes from the cheapest items to the most expensive so that guests load their plates with the less expensive goods leaving less room for higher priced items. Also forgo the massive plates, step it down a size and maybe you will enjoy some leftovers by generating less waste at the same time.

Premium cuts of protein are the most expensive part of any meal, so forgo the expensive cuts and utilize sirloin, ground beef cut with ground pork, brisket, or flank steak or steer away from red meats and go with bone in cuts of chicken like legs or thighs. When grilling meats you 10

might want to try cooking whole cuts and cutting the meat into strips, giving people the option to eat as much or as little as they want.

Load up your barbecue buffet with grilled vegetables like thick-cut cauliflower oiled and dusted with some Curry in a Hurry, or eggplant steaks with grilled tomatoes, zucchini, and peppers seasoned with our Italian Scallion seasoning. A hearty potato salad seasoned with a bit of our Kick Ass Cajun seasoning will help fill up your guests. Also drop the buns from your shopping list as people tend to take a larger helping of ingredients to fill a bun for a sandwich, but they can’t fit that much into a small sized tortilla.

Chimichurri is an all-time favorite and what makes Argentine barbecue stand apart from all other barbecue styles is that it’s inexpensive to make and can be refrigerated for a few days.

This Argentinian condiment is a simple concoction made from parsley, oregano, and garlic infused into oil and vinegar. Some versions add hot pepper, cilantro, basil or onion. The amount of each ingredient varies depending on personal taste.

The origins of Chimichurri are as varied as the recipes to make it which is strong enough to be served with beef but delicate enough to be savored with vegetables or simply enjoyed by dipping some bread in it.

Chimichurri Verde INGREDIENTS:

1 bunch flat leaf parsley 6 cloves garlic, minced ½ cup canola oil 1⁄4 cup red wine vinegar 1 tsp. lemon juice 1 tablespoon diced red onion 1 teaspoon dried oregano ¼ - ½ tsp. cayenne or chipotle pepper (optional) 1 tsp. fresh cracked black pepper 1⁄2 teaspoon salt

METHOD:

Roughly chop all the ingredients and combine in a bowl. You can chop it all by hand for a chunky final result or pulse it in a blender but do not make it a puree.

Let it sit for a few hours in the fridge before serving.

Chef Brian Henry is Owner of Angle Iron Kitchen in Lakefield, and The Spice Co. - Best Damned Chef in The Kawarthas!

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Chefs of the Kawarthas Chef Costas Dedes

By Karen Irvine Editor, ATOTK

The Olympia has been around since 1906,

starting as an ice cream and candy shop.

In 1930, it was bought by Chris Tozios and became The Olympia Tea Room. In 1980, Mrs. (Ma) Tozios sold The Olympia to Chris and Cathe Karkabasis. With a focus on honoring the enriched history of the location and their own Greek roots, while staying relevant in the community the Karkabasis consistently provided a warm, friendly place to dine.

Their daughter, Nicki Dedes, and her husband, Chef Costas Dedes, have been operating the Olympia for 27 years - and recently, their two children. Modern Mediterranean décor sets the stage for a warm atmosphere, while antique Olympia memorabilia placed throughout the restaurant lets guests remember the restaurant’s rich history with each visit.

The healthy Mediterranean menu includes classic comfort dishes. Products from Greece feature prominently on their menu (notably the Kalamata olives and olive oil) are imported from their parents’ Greek village. In the summer, the garage door front opens, welcoming everyone to alfresco patio dining. In the winter, a cozy fireplace and frequent jazz nights give locals and a warm reprieve from the cold.

I was welcomed with open arms. It was a unique interview starting with Costas very emphatically saying, “I do not take credit alone for our meals. It is due to the dedication of our team as a whole.”

Prior to living in Lindsay, Costas learned all aspects of operations at the fine dining restaurant, La Castile in Mississauga, owned by his family members. I lived in Brampton before 14

Olympia kitchen staff

relocating to Peterborough in 2005, and I can tell you La Castile is well known as THE place to go for fine dining.

Costas says he is motivated by the textures, colours and the density of each dish. “I’m always combining different ingredients. I deconstruct the soups and reassemble them as I go. I start with something but may change it because of the colour, the texture. I’m trying to create something unique that the customer will connect to,” he says.

The tzatziki is better than I’ve ever tasted before - it’s creamier, tastier and richer. Costas says, “We make the extra effort. The most important things I’ve learned over the years is, one - you need a really good soup because that’s the first thing the customer will taste and, two - a really good coffee because that’s the last thing the customer will taste. We take the time to do it right.”

“I do not take credit alone for the meals. It is due to the dedication of our team.”

Costas says, “The goal of bringing Greek cuisine to Lindsay is to introduce the palate and the spices to our customers. We want to not just create it, but to use the best ingredients sourced from Greece along with local products. The foundation is the olive oil, which is imported from Greece.”

The spanakopita, feta cheese, oregano, and lemon juice are also imported from Greece. The meat is sourced from a cattle farm near Janetville. The steaks are certified Angus steaks. Other local items are the ice cream from Kawartha Dairy and the bread from Mickael’s Bakery in Lindsay. Nicki says, “It brings joy to the heart.”

I truly enjoyed my time spent with Costas and Nicki. It’s not possible to simply talk about Costas alone in this article. They are a beautiful couple and their success is a combination of family and staff as a whole. Their love for each other is palatable and is what makes this feature so special for me.

Chicken Souvlaki Costas & Nicki Dedes

p a t i o | d i n e - i n | t a ke - o u t 7 0 5 -3 2 8 -1 4 4 4 | o l y m p i a r e s t a u r a n t . c a Ol y m p i a Re s t a u r a n t

@olympialindsay

Spanikopia

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Carol’s Kitchen

By Carol Turner @carolturner9319

Three Cheese Grilled Pizza with Summer Vegetables

The advantages to cooking pizza on the grill are it not only keeps your oven off and your

kitchen cool on hot summer days but produces the crispiest most flavourful pizza ever! This vegetarian pizza recipe utilizes fresh summer produce but feel free to use any meat, vegetables and cheese you prefer. Just remember to keep your toppings light as the perfectly grilled crust is the star of the show.

SERVES 4 INGREDIENTS: - 1 pizza dough at room temperature (freshly prepared or store bought) divided into 4 portions - 1 package Boursin cheese (basil & chive or garlic & fine herbs) at room temperature - 2 cups grated Mozzarella cheese - 1 red onion sliced in 1/4 inch rounds, grilled - 2 medium zucchini sliced diagonally in 1/4 inch pieces, grilled - 1 medium eggplant sliced in 1/4 inch rounds, grilled (optional) - 3 fresh Heirloom tomatoes thinly sliced (or tomatoes from your garden!)

- 5 oz plain goat cheese, crumbled handful of fresh herbs of your choice (I use basil, parsley and oregano) DIRECTIONS: 1. Heat grill to 425 F (medium-high heat) then lightly oil or spray with Pam Grilling. If possible set up for two-zone grilling (direct and indirect heat) 2. Stretch or roll dough into desired size (I like oblong) and thickness on a floured work surface then place on floured baking sheets.

browned (2-3 minutes) Flip and cook the other side for roughly 45 seconds.

5. Transfer to baking sheet with less cooked side up and let cool slightly.

6. Spread 1/4 package of Boursin cheese over each pizza leaving a 1/2 inch border.

7. Sprinkle 1/2 cup grated Mozzarella cheese over Boursin then top with grilled vegetables and thinly sliced tomatoes.

3. Brush lightly with olive oil.

8. Return pizzas to cooler part of grill and cook until the cheese has melted and the bottoms are crisp and golden brown, about 3-5 minutes.

4. Place pizza dough, one or two at a time, on hottest part of the grill and cook until bottom is lightly

9. Removed from grill and top with crumbled goat cheese and fresh herbs.

Follow Carol on Instagram @carolturner9319 17

When Bees Swarm

ONLINE BONUS FEATURE

By Hunnabees Honey + Co

A swarm of bees occurs when the bees outgrow their home. For this to occur, a few things have to line up.

Prior to swarming, the bees anticipate in two ways. As a hive mind, all the bees in the hive collectively know they are beginning to swarm. Nurse bees begin to starve the queen - the queen is well fed and can’t fly very far!

Meanwhile, other worker bees start to build ‘swarm cells’ honeycomb cells that are built in a downward elongated shape housing the developing queen bees. The bees always build multiple swarm cells just in case something goes wrong with one of them. Any female egg that is 1-3 days old can be turned into a queen bee just based off of the diet that it is fed! Once the colony swarms, expect the new un-mated queen to emerge. Shortly after emerging, she will take off on a matting flight, once she returns the hive will begin to repopulate itself.

Resources must be in abundance. A colony of bees will not leave its hive if there are not enough resources in the wild to sustain them. When a colony swarms, they often don’t go to another man-made beehive. They find a tree trunk, a branch, a shed, or even walls of homes. When they get there, they must start from scratch. To build honeycomb bees need a lot of nectar (honey), with nectar bees can build beeswax. Once the bees have some wax comb

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made, the queen bee can start laying eggs and the hive can begin to reproduce. Once the warm weather is here in late spring, there are often many flowers, bushes, and trees in bloom.

The population of the colony must be substantial.

Late spring and early summer is the most common time for high populations - the queen has had a chance to lay a few cycles of eggs. When a colony swarms, half of the bees along with the old queen bee will leave the hive to find a new home. Half of the colony stays and creates a new queen bee. The bees quickly leave the hive, creating a cloud of tens of thousands of bees. They find a temporary tree branch, fence, or post and send scout bees to find a permanent home. The first phase is the easiest and best way to catch them. Once they find a permanent home after a few hours, they may travel a long distance and will be difficult to find. A strong population ensures that both the old hive and new hive have a chance of survival. In nature, this is the way that bees increase the likelihood of survival – creating new hives!

global

GETAWAY

POTTER SETTLEMENT ARTISAN WINES

by Margaret Swaine Columnist and Author www.margaretswaine.com

TWEED, ONTARIO

There has never been a story I have felt more compelled to tell. In the wine region nowhere land in Tweed Ontario there’s a winey that has been winning awards around the world…for hybrid grapes. Theses are grapes normally dismissed as not worthy of attention and yet Potter Settlement’s 2017 Marquette brought home medals from all 23 of the international wine competitions it entered. That includes 94 points (gold) at the San Francisco International Wine Competition and in 2021 gold at the Challenge du Vin Bordeaux, France’s largest and oldest competition.

So what’s the story behind this winery and its owner? That’s as fascinating as their wines. The farm located at 1445 Potter Settlement Road, has been in the same family since 1836. “Our ancestors were dairy farmers, and my great-great-great-uncle Charles LaBarge used the milk that his sister, my great-great-great grandmother Elizabeth, made here on our farm to make cheese,” said Sandor Johnson, owner of Potter Settlement Artisan Wines. “He owned several cheese factories in Eastern Ontario and sold his patents for powdered milk and powdered/processed cheese in 1927 to the Kraft Borden’s Co. in Chicago for several million dollars at the time, making him quite wealthy. His mansion and the old estate is just down the road from our winery.”

Johnson said they started planting grapes on the farm in the 1980’s, mostly German and Austrian vitis vinifera varietals, with much lost to the cold winters. “Our successes came with pioneering new grape varieties to Canada - particularly with the Honeycrisp Apple inventors’ Marquette and Frontenac grapes. We are recognized by the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario for being the first winery to experiment with these new grapes which are cold and disease resistant. Making fine wines from them took many years of experimentation and fine-tuning to get our recipes correct before we introduced them to the public.”

Photos supplied by Sandor Johnson

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The winery is one of the most northern in North America, located in Hastings County right against the 100 metre cliffs that are the start of the Canadian Shield. The grapes are grown in the “shadow of the shield” protected by the north winds. The County is the “Mineral Capital of Canada” with a terroir that has 242 minerals – as a point of comparison - the soil of Niagara’s wine region has 19 minerals and Prince Edward County’s has 13.

“Cordova won gold at the New York International Wine Competition” “We are firm believers that the more mineral the terroir, the greater the wine quality. Hastings County is an untapped winegrowing area,” he says. Their most successful plantings are the hybrids created by the Honeycrisp apple inventors at the University of Minnesota in 2006. Marquette for example is a cross between pinot noir (France) and landot noir (Quebec). Other successful hybrids grown on the farm are petite pearl, and frontenac gris, noir and blanc. “We also grow pinot noir and cabernet franc, but they aren’t nearly as prolific,” said Johnson.

“Potter Settlement is indeed an experiment.

Experiments cost money as they are often bound to fail. And we had varieties here that we ripped out as we simply just couldn’t make world class wines out of them. Most people in the industry scoffed and laughed at us when we told them that we were creating a winery and a vineyard here. ‘What are you making wine out of? Pine cones?’ was just one of the responses we would get. We decided to keep quiet. Keep experimenting. Keep endeavoring to make brilliant, small-batch, high-end wines.”

Johnson’s two younger brothers have chemistry degrees and have worked in the wine industry in Niagara and British Columbia. “I spent many years working in Sonoma at Ravenswood Winery in Healdsburg in the mid-2000’s and in Napa, California, so essentially my family and I pooled our talents and built this project,” said Johnson.

Their most successful grapes to date are Marquette and ‘Chinon-style’ cabernet franc with 23 medals from 23 international competitions apiece. Their Pinot Noir Rosé took gold in New York City and the cabernet franc/marquette proprietary blend called “Cordova” also won gold and was the highest point-rated wine there as well as at the New York International Wine Competition in Manhattan for 2021.

But there’s much more to Sandor Johnson’s background than that. An impossibly handsome 52 year old, with university degrees in both Arts and Journalism, he’s been an actor on the ABC Soap All My Children where he played a recurring role, a lawyer by the name of Chance Heaton, had a stint at CNN in Atlanta and Tokyo, before he finally succumbed to the lure of the fashion modeling world. As he puts it, “A day-rate of modeling was more than a month of what I earned as a journalist.”

“Though based in New York City, I spent 30 years being flown around the world - pin-balled from photo shoot to photo shoot - and coming home to Canada to work on the family winery and vineyard dream…. more importantly, touring every winery I could around the world on my modeling ventures and learning from the hands of the world’s winemaking masters when I lived in Bordeaux, Milan and Munich,” said Johnson.

“In the early years when the grapes were young there wasn’t much work required - but as they matured, I found myself spending more and more time here at home in Canada to steer them correctly to fruition. So, ultimately I found myself leaving my penthouse apartment on New York City’s Upper West Side and my urban social circles to a more grounded and soul-satisfying existence back home here on the farm.”

Potter Settlement winery is just an over an hour drive from Peterborough. They are open year round to drop-ins, but suggest folks call the winery to book a tasting especially now with the Covid19 pandemic – so they can safely socially distance groups (613-478-1478). Hours are 1-6 p.m. daily.

Right now, they’re just focussing on the wines but a pizza oven is in the works, and they are also currently working on blasting a wine cave into the cliffs behind the winery.

They also deliver throughout Eastern Ontario near the winery from Peterborough to Kingston to Ottawa and everywhere in between. In order to offer free delivery, they usually announce their delivery dates on Facebook so they can just make a day of driving around. Generally, they deliver a two bottle minimum and always announce what is available for sale. sandorjohnson@gmail.com or email the winery: wines@pottersettlementwines.ca A tip from me Check out my Instagram on their amazing Portage wine and the story behind it and the Marquette. https://www.instagram.com/margaret.swaine A tale of wines for the century.

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ATOTK Top 15 Patios

OUR FAVOURITE SPOTS! (in no specific order)

By Samantha Silvers

What’s better than enjoying culinary treats in the summer than an outdoor patio with the sun shining, drinks flowing and excellent food? Here are ATOTK’s favourite patios in the Kawarthas. Patios are not listed in any specific order - they are all THE BEST! Bobcaygeon Inn, Bobcaygeon Summertime sizzles on this large Patio. Pull up your boat or walk in to enjoy a bite and a cold beverage. One of the largest patios in the Kawarthas offering a full range of local beverages. Beautiful views overlooking the water. www.bobcaygeoninn.com Bobcaygeon Inn

Hobart’s Lighthouse, McCrackens Landing Experience exceptional food, atmosphere and service in this casual dining restaurant while enjoying stunning views of Stoney Lake.

Serving lunch and dinner, the menu is well priced and absolutely delicious. www.hobartslighthouse.ca Hobart’s Lighthouse

One Fine Food, Peterborough Dine Al Fresco at One! Join us on our newly renovated patio…rain or shine. Enjoy lunch, dinner or just drop by for a cocktail and appetizer or two! Open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week. Reserve your table.

Ciao! www.onefinefood.com One Fine Food

Pie Eyed Monk Brewery, Lindsay If you like live music and delicious food this is the place for you! Enjoy their in-house Lindsay Brewing Co craft beers inspired by the deep history of this incredible town. The menu offers a wide selection of pub favourites, along with feature items for all tastes. www.pieeyedmonkbrewery.com Burleigh Falls Inn, Burleigh Falls Overlooking Stoney Lake, this is a perfect blend of casual fine dining, bar, snacks and porch favourites. Drive up or boat up to the dock.

On Friday evenings enjoy the ultimate dining experience with music from local artists, cocktails and appetizers. www.burleighfallsinn.com 22

(Continued on Page 16)

Pie Eyed Monk

Burleigh Falls Inn

Kawartha Lakes Most Popular* Restaurant & Waterfront Patio A must for anyone visiting Bobcaygeon.

Winner of 28 Kawartha Lakes Readers’ Choice Awards for 2022, comprising of 18 Diamond and 9 Platinum Awards! This includes Best Overall Service Ͳ Restaurant, Best Wings, Best Outdoor Patio, Best Restaurant with a view, Best Family Restaurant, and Best Lunch. See the complete list on our Facebook Page.

Come on foot, by boat or by car to enjoy great food, great views and great service.

The Bobcaygeon Inn has been a landmark in Bobcaygeon for over a century.

Open 362 days a year, we are always here to serve you and your family. See

Kawarthas’ Largest Waterfront Patio

you at the Inn!

705Ͳ738Ͳ5433 | 31 Main St. (Front & Main) Bobcaygeoninn.com www.facebook.com/bobcaygeoninn * Based on K.L. 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards

TOP 15 PATIOS

(Continued from page 14)

Kawartha Country Wines, Buckhorn Enjoy delicious wood fired pizza on the patio while sipping tasty wines or ciders. There is also a gluten free option. Afterwards, head inside for free wine tasting. A truly Canadian experience, their wine making facilities, tasting room and gift shop are housed in an 1866 authentic pioneer log cabin and 1889 board and batton house. www.kawarthacountrywines.ca

Kawartha Country Wines

Silver Bean Café, Peterborough Located downtown Peterborough in Millennium Park along the beautiful Otonabee River. A full cafe menu, ice cream, kids area, & 100+ seats overlooking the river. A short walk from the Peterborough city docks. www.silverbeancafe.com

Silver Bean Cafe

Mainstreet Landing, Buckhorn Serving great food for over 15 years. Located just steps from Lock 31.

It’s the perfect place to sit by the locks and watch boats go by while enjoying delicious food, a cold drink and friendly service.

1939 Lakehurst Rd. (705) 657-9094 Rhino’s Roadhouse, Bewdley Overlooking Rice Lake. Rhino’s is famous for chicken wings and fresh cut halibut. www.rhinosroadhouse.com

Mainstreet Landing

Rhino’s Roadhouse

Elmhirst Resort Dock your boat or floatplane at Elmhirst’s Resort for live music and smokin’ hot BBQ every Tuesday, or stop in to the Wild Blue patio. Also serving Sunday brunch in the Hearthside overlooking Rice Lake. www.elmhirst.ca Elmhirst Resort

Riverside Grill and Gazebo, Peterborough Enjoy the summer in a relaxing atmosphere while listening to great music and enjoying delicious lunch and dinner with their light BBQ menu. Live entertainment three times per week. Located at the Holiday Inn in Downtown Peterborough. www.holidayinnpeterborough.com 24

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Riverside Grill & Gazebo

Our table is your table.

2281 McCracken’s Landing Road, Lakefield 705.652.0557 hobartslighthouse.ca

It’s Patio Season V I S I T O U R R E STA U R A N T

BOOK NOW @onefinefood.com

800 Erskine Ave, Peterborough, ON K9J 5T9

TOP 15 PATIOS

(Continued from page 16)

Capra Toro, Peterborough Peterborough’s best Italian dining spot. A wide variety of authentic Italian dishes, wood fired pizza, and great music. Capra Toro is your place for good food, good times, and good music. www.capratoro.ca Fresh Dreams, Peterborough Authentic spanish cuisine in the heart of the city. The ambiance is relaxing, service is excellent and food is delicious! Just a 5 minute walk from Little Lake.

373 Queen St. Peterborough (705) 559-7731

Capra Toro

Old Bridge Inn, Yonge’s Point Built in 1887, this historic gem offers casual fresh market dining and a serene waterside patio overlooking Lock 27 on the Trent Waterway System. www.theoldbridgeinn.com Fresh Dreams

Burleigh Falls Inn Gateway to the Kawarthas SUMMER VENDOR MARKET Sundays starting July 3rd

Old Bridge Inn

Burleigh Falls Inn

Viamede Resort, The Boathouse The Boathouse blends fine dining with a warm, casual dockside setting on Stoney Lake in an actual former boathouse. A great place for a summer lunch or a family dinner. Reservations required. www.viamede.com

www.burleighfallsinn.com

4791 HWY 28 • North Kawartha • 705-654-3441

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Viamede Resort

Having a special event at the cottage?

Group Rates • Weddings • Rehearsals • Birthdays • Anniversary

Sandor Johnson

By Jay Cooper

Sandor Johnson is one of the most interesting men I have ever met. I took a trip down to Potter Settlement Winery, in Tweed ON, to meet the man behind the success. Margaret Swaine gave us a wonderful insight into the winery, Sandor and the history, but I wanted the back-story.

Congratulations on the multiple new awards.

Must make heads turn when you say it’s in Tweed Ontario? Sandor replies “Thank you, we are very proud on the continued achievements.

It’s a small family farm and winery, which is one of the most northerly wineries on the continent”.

Were you raised on the farm? “The farm has been a part of the family for 4 generations. My mother took a teaching job in northern Ontario when I was an infant and I was raised there in a little place called Hornepayne. We still have the family cottage up there”.

What was your first career move after university? “I got my Masters in Journalism at Carlton and I did the classic move when you’re a kid, I called CNN and asked them if there was any openings (Laughs). I called from Ottawa and they said there is a position in Tokyo, so then I phoned Japan and talked with the bureau chief and said I was referred to them from CNN. The response was ‘Ok when are you coming?’

(Laughs). I went there in July and started working right out of school.”

So how did you get into modeling from CNN? “One of my friends was a fashion model and said ‘If your interested in making some money on the side you should try it out’, so I did and found I made more money in a day modeling and acting than I would in a month. I then took a break from journalism and never went back and it’s been 30 years now”.

day as fast as you can go. I played Chance Heaton on All My Children. You get your script, there are 8 sets shooting at the same time and they just pull you from one set to the next. You get one chance so don’t screw it up, or it will be, ‘Today the role of Chance will be played by Ryan Lavery or whomever. You have to know your lines and it’s absolutely fast paced. The money is great but it was a side gig as the fashion paid all the bills”.

You run your career much like a brand? “I’ve always treated it like I was my own multi-national corporation, where my product is a look.

Right now in Demark there could be a casting for a bank or car company that looks like me.

I had 46 agencies around the world and they kept calling New York. I thought I could base myself here to work the winery or Toronto. TO is a B or C market and the A markets are Manhattan, London or Paris so I based myself out

Acting on a soap opera is fast paced and challenging? “Yes it’s the catalogue of acting where you throw a suit on and bang out 20 shots a Photos supplied by Sandor Johnson

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“Barrack Obama sampled his wine, and he loved it.” of New York and they phone the Ford Agency. I had a very successful career and still doing fine to this day.

You have met Barrack Obama whom sampled your wine and loved it. Are there others that you would like to meet and try it? “Yes I did and that’s an excellent question. I have a lot of respect for President Biden so he would be one and this one will sound crazy but Jim Carey, as I find him very funny. For me the tri-factor of having the Canadian Prime Minister, President of the USA and Royalty would be the ultimate.

I think the Royal family does owe a visit to Hastings County as back in the 1800’s Prince Albert was on a ship making stops in Toronto, Cobourg and scheduled for Belleville but he was too hung over to get off the boat. The entire city was standing waiting on the dock to greet him but he wouldn’t do it. The ship then just sailed away and that was it “(Laughs).

We look forward to seeing that plan come to fruition. Pun intended.

To see what all the buzz is about with Potter Settlement, head over for a tasting and tour.

He’s very entertaining and you will learn a lot.

Along with all the history of the farm, you will see the beautiful vineyards and what a special ambiance Sandor as created.

And tell Sandor that Jay Cooper says Hi!

Potter Settlement Artisan Wines www.pottersettlementwines.ca

Sandor’s favourite acting gig was for L’Oreal lipstick commercial with Beyoncé and Milla Jovovich. “It was 3 days of them kissing me. You can you tube it called Beyoncé L’Oreal Commercial lnfallible Lips from 2007 (laughs).”

Potter Settlement hires locally. Sandor says, “There are people right here that need a job. It brings local pride to the town as we are winning medals and we did this together.”

Future plans for the winery? “I want to put on an event I would call the The Eastern Ontario Wine Festival. Have all of them come to the property, set up a booth, sell your wine, with food trucks and when you come here you are only getting the best wine eastern Ontario has to offer. My good friend John from Kawartha Country Wines would be here to, so it would be the wine community coming together from every direction,” he says.

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DEBRA SALMONI D e s i g n e r - S c o t t ’ s Va c a t i o n H o u s e R u l e s

By Jay Cooper

Well, I finally got the chance to interview the real star of ‘Scotts Vacation House Rules’ Debra Salmoni. She is exactly as you would imagine, so I truly found it hard not to chat longer. Married to the incredible Dave Salmoni (Animal trainer and entertainer), she gave me a view into her life and her successful business, the show and much more.

JAY COOPER (ATOTK): Thank you for taking the time today. You’re a woman in demand these days.

DEBRA SALMONI (DS): Nice connecting with you.

Being in demand is a good problem to have definitely, but for my poor children it’s like, I love you guys but mommy has to work late again today.

ATOTK: You’ve checked out the magazine and are working here in the Kawarthas so much. I am thrilled you are a part of it.

DS: Of course! The magazine is lovely and it’s my pleasure. I’m always happy to spread the word about the show.

ATOTK: What do you love about the Kawarthas?

DS: It’s stunning and the ice cream is amazing (laughs). The landscape is beautiful with rolling hills, trees, rock formations and lakes. Besides the geography, the people are so lovely, kind and welcoming.

ATOTK: You are a mother, wife, successful designer, TV celebrity and dog lover?

DS: I am. I have 2 dogs - Honey and Moe. Honey is a 120 pound Mastiff who is a rescue and the best dog I have ever had. Moe is a Cavalier King Charles, just so sweet and affectionate to his momma. Aside from my dogs, I have my beautiful children. Thomas is 6 and Elizabeth just turned 5. My husband Dave, we could talk about all day long. As you know he’s also in television.

ATOTK: Dave is a whole other interview.

DS: Oh my gosh! Yes, he is! I was looking for someone that was passionate about their career. I had

been in relationships with people that just had a ‘job’. I’m so passionate about design and it almost felt like I was resented. It’s like, “Oh God, how can you love your career that much?” When I met Dave it was wonderful and he loves animals as much as I love design.

ATOTK: You grew up in Brampton?

DS: Yes, youngest of four, an Italian Canadian family where everyone is very loud (laughs). When we met, my husband would say, “Everyone’s always yelling at each other” and I would say that’s normal (laughs).

ATOTK: So you liked design, but you ended up taking business and marketing at Seneca College?

DS: Yes. We had a great childhood, but no one I knew had used an interior designer and I thought it’s not a successful career path. But I wanted to own my own business and would have all the tools to succeed once I figured out what business to own. After getting my diploma I did some travel and some sales jobs, which I loved.

ATOTK: So this is the point where everything became focused?

DS: I met a gentleman at a party who was an interior designer with a business and he asked if I was interested in working on a project. I excelled in the field and worked for TJ Design for 10 years.

ATOTK: You then branched out on your own with Debra Lillian Design?

DS: Yes, I started about 4 years ago and now have 8 employee’s and 45 projects with two resorts Continued on page 24

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DEBRA SALMONI

Continued from Page 23

we’re working on. It’s just exploded - in a good way (laughs). The show has also brought many additional clients.

ATOTK: How did you get involved with HGTV? DS: This is so funny! My husband has been on TV for 25 years - his makeup artist on one of his shows met me when I was on set one day. She put my name forward to a casting director to be Scott’s designer. She thought I could match his energy on the show. She reached out to me a few times on Instagram and I thought it was a joke. I eventually replied and they set up a meeting on site with Scott. They filmed it, submitted it to the network and a week later I was shooting the first episode of Scott’s Vacation House Rules. I had never done TV before and had no intention of doing so.

ATOTK: Your chemistry with Scott - it’s so successful.

DS: When we first met it felt like he was a best friend already. We immediately had that buddy buddy, pal connection. And now he’s like an older brother, obnoxious like you want to give them a noogie (laughs).

ATOTK: The show is in its 3rd season?

DS: You can view season 3 now and we’re shooting season 4. It’s always interesting because every year we keep amping up the design. The themes get stronger and more interesting and people are pushed out of their comfort zone.

ATOTK: My favorite episode was the boathouse DS: I know! Isn’t it great and unique? Makes you think, “Hey I’ve got a boathouse, I never thought of doing something like that.” Your assets are your opportunity to rent it out and make some money.

People are doing it with their homes and secondary properties, lane houses, cars, bicycles. I find it so fascinating and creative.

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Continued on page 26

DEBRA SALMONI

Continued from Page 24

ATOTK: Do the clients on the show have a say in the design of the project?

DS: Homeowners apply to the show. During the application process they say what they’re envisioning or hoping for and the colours they like or don’t like. Once selected, we meet on site and walk through the property and then it’s, “All right, final chance, is there anything else you want to pass along to us?” At that point they lose all creative control of the project.

ATOTK: Are the furnishings with the staging included in the cost?

DS: Most pieces are and some are not. The thing with TV and staging is that it’s overdone in person. On the screen it looks perfect but standing there it’s like, Oh my gosh, I can’t even sit on the sofa, because there are 8 pillows. You dress it up

so much that there is little counter space to use in a functional way. So, once complete we scale it back and undress it a bit, so to speak, before we pass the keys back to the owner.

ATOTK: Have you had unsatisfied owners on the show?

DS: I think in season 2 we had one that felt it was below what they expected and a few repainted their spaces white after we’ve left. But that’s fair because the show is about a theme and colour, being different and creative. By all means change it however you like, but you signed up for this to upgrade, get noticed and get a little buzz about your property.

ATOTK: What’s your favorite part of the design phase?

DS: That’s tough, but seeing the actual design comContinued on page 29

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Photo by Virginia Macdonald

DEBRA SALMONI

Continued from Page 26

pleted is so exciting. And to see the owners so thankful, grateful and appreciative of all the hard work is so nice. They can make some money to pay for their mortgage or retirement or whatever they want.

I say do you really want my opinion because I’m not holding back (laughs). And they say, “What do you mean? I just renovated” (laughs). I can’t lie, so be careful what you ask for.

ATOTK: Travel inspires your designs?

DS: Definitely. For example, when I went to Banff last year and I want to inject all the colour pallets I see into my design. Or South Africa or Alaska, with the rich saturated blues and the colour of the mountains. It’s a design injection and rejuvenates my soul to see the different cultures live in their own spaces.

ATOTK: Social media presence?

DS: Instagram 100% is where you can find me.

People reach out all the time and I try to reach out to as many as possible to say thank you for the kind and supportive words. People are wonderful and awesome, so I really appreciate them being kind and caring.

ATOTK: Do you find relatives or friends are trying to tap your mind for design help?

DS: Oh yeah (laughs), all the time. It’s those times

ATOTK: Words of Wisdom?

DS: Push yourself out of your comfort zone and that’s where the magic happens.

Instagram @debra_salmoni

Website www.debraldesign.com

ATV TrailS IN THE KAWARTHAS

By Stephanie Yankovic Kawartha ATV Association katva.ca

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

“Into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” Influential environmental

philosopher, John Muir understood the transformative power of nature and spent his life advocating for the preservation of the North American wilderness. This particular quote resonates deeply with me. As an avid outdoors woman and off-road rider here in Ontario, I feel my happiest when I’m riding my dirt bike in the woods. Dirt biking is more than just a sport to me, it’s a passion that provides purpose, connection and community in my life.

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“The Kawarthas is a mecca for off-road riders.”

I’m a strong advocate for women riders and my greatest pleasure is encouraging and empowering women to join the off-road community. I’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to live in some of the most beautiful places in the world, each with their own iconic landscapes. As a life-long traveller, I’m driven by a wanderlust to explore far away lands, often thinking that the proverbial grass will be greener when I arrive at my chosen destination, and forgetting the abundance of beauty that we have in our very own backyard. We are blessed to have an extensive trail system in Ontario, and some of the very best trails can be found right here in the Kawartha Region.

The Kawarthas a mecca for off-road riders. The diversity of the trail systems cater to all skill levels and styles of riding. It’s not unusual to come across dirt bikers, ATVs, SXS, and even trials riders, all in one day, not to mention the hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders and nature lovers who all share the multi-use trail network. With over 250 kms of trails stewarded

by KORMA/KATVA, riders can delight in flowy single-track trails that wind through beautiful pine forests, stop to take a breather at one of the many scenic overlooks, or play on the unique rock features that typify the Canadian Shield landscape. There is something for everyone, whether you’re new to the sport and looking for beginner or family-friendly trails in the Somerville Forest tract, or you’re a seasoned rider seeking a more extreme off-road experience and the challenge of riding the gnarly, rocky terrain at Greens Mountain.

Although the trails are the main attraction for riders, the rich off-road history and sense of community in the Kawarthas is what I think truly keeps riders coming back for more. This was most evident last September when almost 20 women riders showed up for the inaugural KORMA Ladies Thrill & Chill trail ride, held in

the Somerville Forest in Kinmount, ON. These intrepid ladies rode a variety of dirt bikes and dual sport motorcycles, eager to challenge themselves and experience the spectacular and abundant single-track in Somerville. I was humbled and inspired by how positive and supportive these women were to one another as they repeatedly helped each other up and over obstacles, and pushed themselves to tackle water crossings, hill climbs, log hops and rock steps, challenging themselves throughout the day. Trail rides such as this, or the historical Corduroy Enduro (affectionately known as “Canada’s Toughest Race”) that has taken place every September in Gooderham, ON, since 1953, help to not only bring awareness, tourism and revenue to the area, but they foster a sense of community and showcase the bio-diversity and beauty of the region.

With the help of organizations like the Ontario Federation of Trail Riders (OFTR), local clubs and land stewards like KORMA/KATVA and the Haliburton Trail Riders, we can promote responsible trail use and both grow the sport of off-road riding while enriching the Kawarthas community.

So, when you’re planning your next moto adventure, think local. There really is no place like home.

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OUR READERS SHOW US WHY THE KAWARTHAS ARE SO SPECIAL. SEE IT THROUGH THEIR EYES. .FEEL THE CALM AND IMAGINE YOURSELF BEING HERE. PHOTOS BY LINDA KASSIL. ENJOY.

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Real Estate Talk A Seller’s Market

By Jay Lough Hayes, Peterborough Realty Inc. 705-772-1025

What goes up must come down. Record house prices due to low inventory and low interest rates

is a Seller’s market. Isaac Newton published a comprehensive theory of gravity in 1687. Though others had thought about it before him, Newton was the first to create a theory that applied to all objects, large and small, using mathematics that was ahead of its time. Real estate and our housing prices imitate his theory.

In January 2019, the average home price on the Peterborough market was $416,500. Then came Covid19. In February 2020 prices increased to $500,000 and by January 2021 prices rose to $625,000 only to be feared by January 2022 prices of $825,000 and 1 month later, hold your breath.

February 2022, $875,000 with 9,431 home owners looking to cash in on our ‘overvalued market’.

April 2022 shows 15,217 new listings and most homes selling within 1 week. 8 weeks later, the average sale is down to $800,000.

Peterborough has a new title: Most overvalued city for housing (Peterborough Examiner). This came after Moody’s Analytics released its Q4 2021 assessment of housing price valuations (he should have waited for February 2022). Peterborough took the top spot as the most overvalued housing market in southern Ontario - coming in at 107.8% over value.

Based on the average household income ($70,000 after taxes), a household would typically be approved for a mortgage of about $300,000 - not nearly enough to afford a local house let alone be competitive in the current market.

What causes a rise or fall in the real estate market?

1) Demographics on age, income, regional preferences of buyers, % of retiree buyers and % of those buying for vacation or investment. Peterborough needs more affordable housing, giving rise to bungalows being converted to legal in-law suites by investors. Investors looking at 44

real estate as a commodity now accounts for 1/4 of Ontario new homebuyers. A huge number have left the big cities looking for more affordable housing in rural areas or smaller cities, putting pressure on subsidiary markets. Heightened foreign investment and immigration pressure in the latter half of 2021 further tightened supply in those urban areas, with over a million new immigrants projected to settle in Canada over the next few years. It’s unlikely we’ll see inventory freeing up or sudden and widespread property value decline.

2) The overall health of the economy is generally measured by GPD, employment data, manufacturing activity, the prices of goods, etc. When the economy is sluggish, so is real estate. As of April 1, 2022, the unemployment rate in Peterborough is 3.9% with 1,700 more full time jobs in April compared to a month earlier. Peterborough is proud to have good, solid employers. It appears our overall economy is healthy.

3) Lower interest rates bring in more buyers, but also expand the demand for real estate which can then drive up prices. In 2022, Ontario will experience consistent interest rate increases, designed to stabilize the market without risking sudden home value decline. Dec 2021 was 3.45%, April 2022 was 4.19% with more increases coming.

4) The government is boosting foreign homebuyer tax from 15% to 20% province-wide. There are tax credits, first time homebuyers tax credits, land transfer exemptions for first time homebuyers

“Peterborough real estate - The Most Overvalued in Canada.” and tax deductions. Limited buyer’s purchasing power, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation increased the mortgage stress test qualifying rate from 4.79% to 5.25%.

The Ontario government says new regulations that take effect next year will help make the home buying process more transparent and enable home sellers to disclose details of competing bids on their properties “if they choose.”

Under the current blind bidding system, potential homebuyers submit their offers but don’t know the contents of competing bids. The law states that real estate brokerages must disclose the quantity of written bids but not the details.

Under the new regulations, sellers have the option to disclose details of competing bids. But if the seller is looking for the most amount of money, why would they disclose what other buyers are offering? This takes effect next year after the market cools.

The Ford government has tabled a bill that, in part, takes aim at delays within planning at the municipal level, suggesting that the approval process in place slows down construction and drives up prices. This bill should create more housing, faster.

The proposals include increasing density of singlefamily homes. 2022 promises to be an exciting year.

Jay Lough Hayes has been a real estate sales representative for 36 years and services the Peterborough, Victoria, Durham, Northumberland Counties and all points in between.

Photo by Shelley Fine

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Home Inspections Summer is here!

By Dianne Guzik The Art of Home Inspection 705-741-8692 aohi2007@gmailcom

With interest rates rising, the housing market is beginning to relax a bit. The good news is that

home inspections are coming back. This is great for both the buyer and seller. The buyer can have an inspection and an idea of what they are getting. This can alleviate anxiety on what to expect. For the seller it’s a chance to take a look after things that would come up in an inspection report. Most sellers freshen up the place - paint, declutter, stage but there are always things that may not have been considered. Safety or DIY projects that may be substandard, often come up.

Summer is a great time to seal your house up.

Caulking around windows, doors and penetrations through the housing envelop, paint/protect all wood exterior cladding or trim, remove plant growth that is too close the house or roof, lubricate hinges of doors, garage doors and windows, repair walkways, stairs and driveways. Get the chimney swept for wood burning stoves and fireplaces. Check your roof shingles and plumbing stack penetrations.

Monitor the humidity level in the basement and use a dehumidifier if levels are sixty percent or higher. Make sure all the plumbing drains are primed. For condensation on plumbing pipes or toilet tank, insulation kits are available. Check for loose or missing stair rails. Make sure windows open and close smoothly. Even if you rarely have them open it’s a safety issue. Always stay ahead of the issues to avoid greater costs down the road. Now enjoy the summer!

HOME

Little Surprises

by Danielle French South Pond Home

It’s been almost a year since I left the farm in Pontypool and moved into Peterborough. It was a

change for sure. Large acreage,vegetable gardens and flower beds, events to be planned and executed, recipes devised, bouquets made and lots of maintenance to today a very simple existence with just a few planters to water.

The transition wasn’t that easy these past months, moving from a daily whirlwind of constant purpose and direction to a life with not much real structure other than walking the dogs and booking a pickleball court. New ideas will come to fruition but until then, life seems to unfold slowly as it should.

One of many unexpected surprises and pleasures I found here in town was discovering that the Centennial Fountain on Little Lake is in direct view from our terrace. The fountain comes on every day and stays on for eight months, shooting water 75 meters up into the air. It is the highest jet fountain in Canada. At night, there are coloured lights and on windy days, I might feel the spray when I sit outside.

I have lived in the Kawarthas for over 16 years and hardly knew Little Lake existed. Surprisingly, I now live directly on it. Little Lake is really a widening of the Otonabee River and was an important passage from the Kawartha Lakes to Lake Ontario when steamships passed through the area. Since leaving the farm, the dogs need constant walking in comparison to the country freedom they enjoyed. We walk endless kilometers exploring locks and trails along the river, with the fountain in sight helping get us back home.

The fountain was built in 1967 to mark the Centennial 100th anniversary celebration of the Canadian confederation. It was planned and built by the local business community. A donation by General Electric helped pay for engineering and materials for its construction. The pump has specialized parts and nozzles in order to control the water pressure making it one of the only pumps of its kind in the world. Today it is operated by the City of Peterborough and is a tourist feature.

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From our vantage point, I watch water fowl come and go, look out for their babies, watch people paddling, swimming, walking or picnicking along the bank of the lake. It is a lovely spot and the fountain makes the experience of being an on looker all the more beautiful.

A documentary Shining Waters on the history of the fountain can be found on YouTube. https://youtu.be/_ybTPrrKoB4 Danielle French was the founder of South Pond Farms, a destination for authentic culinary experiences, weddings, celebrations and homemade food products. She hosted the television series Taste of the Country formerly on Netflix.

Danielle has started a new adventure called Design your Escape offering help for those wanting to start their own event based business. She co-markets her product line with Walton Wood Farm.

I acknowledge I am living as an uninvited guest on the traditional Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg Territory. We are located on the land associated with the Williams Treaty of 1923 and Rice Lake Treaty #20 of 1818.

ORGANIZE Your Cottage

Nicole Cooke Organized by Design

Cottage season is here!

As Canadians, we need to make the most of the 3-4 months of prime summer weather while we can, so keeping things simple at the cottage is a must! Here are a few ideas to help keep you organized and ready for fun at the lake.

PERSONALIZED TOWELS This really is brilliant. At beginning of the summer, let every family member pick out a new, good quality beach towel. This is now THEIR towel for the entire summer. If they misplace it, they get to air-dry after swimming! Once a week, wash the towels and return to their owner.

KEEPING WATERFRONT TIDY Life jackets, ski ropes, paddles, fishing rods are all used on the water but often get thrown in a shed.

Install a pegboard near the dock and use hooks to hang them. Plastic pegboard is best for outdoor use.

KEEP MOSQUITOES FROM RUINING YOUR FUN Plants are great for repelling mosquitoes, including lavender, citronella, marigolds, nasturtiums, rosemary, basil and mint. Plant in beds or in pots around the property and beside doors so mosquitoes don’t come. Rub leaves for frangrance.

KEEP A COOLER OUTSIDE Fill a cooler with ice and drinks and leave it outside to avoid running in and out of the cottage. A quality cooler keeps drinks cool for 48-72 hours.

INVEST IN AN ICE MAKER Use an ice maker reduces the need a freezer full of ice, leaving space for popsicles, freezies and ice cream! Plus, no one likes a warm gin & tonic.

CREATE PRIVACY Often at the lake, privacy is at a premium. A portable partition screen creates privacy in rooms with multiple beds or people sleeping on the pull-out.

If you need help at your cottage, I’m your girl!

Happy Organizing!

Follow Nicole on FaceBook & Instagram @organizedbydesign www.organizedbydesign.co 49

MEET THE GRIFFINS Meet Ann, Jack, Vikki and Kyle – Griffins is a true family run operation.

A daughter of Dutch immigrants, Ann grew up in her family-run greenhouse business, Parkhill Nurseries. She began a small seasonal greenhouse at her home in 1976 as a way to supplement her “stay at home” income. She worked alone with children, Vikki and Kyle, and other family members helping out as needed. In the early days husband Jack worked in sporting good sales on the road and helped on weekends. As the demand for their exceptional quality plants grew, Jack retired from sales in 1997 and began working the greenhouse business full time, alongside Ann and a few hired hands, expanding the season to include Fall plant offerings and Winter décor. In 2001 Vikki left her teaching career in Belleville, moved back to Peterborough with husband and two children and “helped out” by becoming the General Manager.

Vikki continued to expand the business adding several series of workshops and becoming the “spokesperson” at speaking engagements, extending the reach of the business. In 2006 Kyle chose gardening over Photojournalism and he became the Greenhouse Manager, streamlining many processes and adding to the Display Garden.

Now the grandchildren, Ben (20 years old), Olivia (pictured, 17), Jake (16) and Mitchell (15) help out regularly – a true family business!

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GARDENING IN extreme weather

By Vikki Whitney Griffin’s Greenhouses

Instead of three or five small pots scattered on the stairs to your front door, consider one or two large pots at the base of the stairs.

Weather-wise, we don’t know what we’ll get until we get it. This past Spring has taught us that. With that in mind, it is important to take steps in our container planting to be prepared for weather extremes.

If we get a hot and dry summer, it is practical to replace small pots (less than 14” in diameter) with larger, deeper pots. BIG pots hold a lot of soil and soil holds water. It’s quite simple: large pots dry out less frequently than small pots. Plants that do not experience the extreme stress/destress/stress/de-stress patterns remain lush, full of bloom and healthy.

bottom of the pot or pieces of large Styrofoam.

At least 50% of the large pot should be soil to make the moisture retentive soil work in your favour.

Therefore, instead of three or five small pots scattered on the stairs to your front door, consider one or two large pots (18”+) at the base of the stairs. A visitor’s eye will be instantly drawn to it and its largesse will allow for spectacular and welcoming plant arrangements, with minimal care.

In case of a wet, cloudy summer, do take care that any pot you choose has drain holes for excess water to escape. Yes, water will leak out of the holes and get on your deck or patio, but it’s just water. Sweep or mop it away. It is extremely important that plants not sit in excess water or in constantly wet soil.

A large pot can be expensive to fill with proper Container Soil. Remembering that soil holds moisture, find a balance between using “filler” and topping up with soil. If the environment is windy, add bricks or rocks to the bottom of the pot. If the need to move the pots easily is priority, then use unused nursery pots flipped into the 51

Occupational Health & Safety Services Welcome Jay Hennessy!

Dan Beal, CEO, and Angela Beal, President of HRS Group Inc., welcome Jay Hennessy as General Manager to their team!

Located at the gateway to the Kawarthas, HRS Group Inc. is Peterborough’s leader in Occupational Health and Safety training & services.

Dan & Angela, with their shared passion for health & safety, built HRS Group by developing strong relationships with clients, and delivering a quality service.

Jay Hennessy joined the firm as a trainer/consultant in 2020 and was quickly promoted to General Manager in 2021. Jay has his sights set on growing the business to new levels, while maintaining what their clients have come to expect.

Jay comes to HRS Group with 15 years of experience in health & safety and a passion to help others – highlighted by his 10 years of service as a volunteer firefighter and fire service instructor. Jay also believes that continuing education is a lifelong commitment and is cur-

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rently working towards obtaining his COHSES (Certificate in Occupational Health, Safety, and Environmental Systems) through the University of Fredericton.

When asked: “Why health & safety?”. Jay responded: “I have been involved in two serious workplace accidents in the past 10 years and they were a direct result of my employers not taking health & safety seriously. These accidents could have been prevented with adequate hazard controls and proper training. I don’t want the same thing to happen to other workers. I have a beautiful family at home, that I want to see at the of end of the day. Every worker deserves the same opportunity to return home to their loved ones.”

Find out more about this local business by visiting www.hrsgroup.com – their dedicated team is always ready to help!

Having featured designer Sarah Keenleyside in the spring issue, it was an easy

Justin Rutlede

progression to feature her Juno award winning singer-songwriter husband, Justin Rutledge in this one. Nine albums in and there is no stopping him, with a new one coming out in 2023. Also, having your butt patted by Dolly Parton is the makings of a legend - in my mind anyway.

How is Justin connected to the Kawarthas? He explains, “Growing up, all my friends had cottages in the Kawarthas around Bobcaygeon and Buckhorn and, of course, I’ve played in Peterborough. I’m friends with Jimmy Bowskills and just saw him last week. I have a solid connection with Blue Rodeo. So yeah, I love and appreciate the area.”

Growing up, Justin had a love of writing and took English Literature at U of T, but when did the music itch come into play? “I started playing music in high school, so I guess I started a little later and never really took songwriting seriously. I was in a few bands, went to U of T for three years, took a year off and finally made my first record, No Never Alone.

It got picked up by a label in the U.K. and that started the ball rolling with great press and reviews from respected magazines. So I’ve never made it back to University to finish my degree”.

By Jay Cooper

Being a multi-instrumentalist what was his first instrument? “I started on the guitar and it was my Dad’s old Washburn, that I still have and it still sounds great and that’s the one I played on my first record.”

Self taught or did Justin take lessons? “No, self taught.

I picked up things from friends in high school who played. Actually, the first lessons I took were during the Pandemic. I had gotten into some bad habits over the years and get to play with really great musicians so I wanted to up my skill level.”

Nine albums deep and you’re putting out another soon? “Yes it will be my tenth and two years in the making. I’m just finishing up mixing and then it gets mastered. I’ll put it out next year since there is just so much out there right now with the two year hiatus in the music business. I just can’t stop being creative.”

Continued on page 52

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Justin Rutledge

Continued from page 51

“You want to create but there’s a very technical business side to it as well.”

Do you record in a home studio to get your ideas down? “I never really had that, but when Covid hit, I thought, since I can’t go and record I should set something nice up and I did.

It’s turned into a cool little enclave with keyboards, synths, amps and guitars.”

To write and record a huge amount of material, what inspires your creative mind? “Mostly fiction actually since I’ve never sat down to write about people or an event I’ve witnessed. That has never come easily to me, as I’m not the best recounter of stories (laughs). A lot of my songs are about these characters in my mind and things that haven’t happened to me, but that’s what I love about literature and movies.

They didn’t happen but they’re entertaining.”

Through the last two years Justin just didn’t sit and wait for an opportunity; he created his own. “The phone stopped ringing and all the gigs were cancelled so I went back to school for Arts Administration at Humber College. I’ve worked with Massey Hall for my own shows in the past and it’s a great organization. I will say, I did an internship there from my program and once it was finished they had a position to fill and I love working with them. I’m not working outside of the music business, I’m working within it.”

Justin’s music is available on all platforms - including vinyl, but what are his thoughts on the new way people find and search for it? “I like to give the fans different options as I also listen through Apple Music but I buy at least three or four albums a month because it’s more tactile and I feel you’re attached to it. Digital music is a little disposable I guess with no real connec54

tion to it. It’s like going to a video store years ago and picking out a movie to watch. Now, you sit on your couch and spending 45 minutes on Netflix looking for something to watch because there’s too many options (laughs).”

With all the gigs you have done, I heard you opened for Dolly Parton? “Yes, it was 2006 at the Molson Amphitheatre and she was really lovely. We got to chat after the show, she’s a very sweet woman. She patted me on the butt, and told me I had a great little butt (laughs).”

What’s your advice for aspiring artists? “I produced a record for a girl last year and once it was done it sounded great, but I said that was the fun part. Now comes the hard part - to market yourself, book shows, get an agent or manager.

It’s the business side of it which many don’t pay enough attention to. It’s tough because you want to create but there’s a very technical business side to it as well. So keep track of that side of it. It can come back and bite you.”

Any bad gig memories you can share? “Yah, you know those stories you hear about playing to no one? I was on tour in a place out side of Philly and it had never happened before, but it was just me and the bartender. She was very nice and bought a record after my set. No one bought a ticket but I made one sale (laughs).”

Favorite season? Winter or summer and why?

“Give me winter because I don’t like wearing shorts. I just feel like an idiot in them (laughs).” www.justinrutledge.com Instagram @justin_rutledge

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NAVIGATING ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

More Positive Caregiver Outcomes

Everyone with Alzheimer’s Disease needs helpers along the way. These helpers are primarily

their children (58%) or spouse (32%). Canadian data reveals that caregivers provide an average of 26 hours of care weekly, substantially higher than the 17 hours provided for those without dementia. This care is often provided in the home. Only 13% of people with dementia live alone compared with 21% of seniors without dementia.

The Unpaid caregivers assist with a range of activities. These include household chores, meal preparation, transportation, bathing, and dressing. Compared to general senior care, those with dementia also require caregivers to provide emotional support, manage challenging behaviours, and ensure medication compliance.

Even in a retirement or nursing home, the person with dementia still needs caregivers to bolster care and act as intermediaries with staff.

Changes in interpersonal relationships between the caregiver and the individual with dementia mirror the functional changes caused by the dementia. We often forget this is ultimately a fatal illness. Every new observation of functional decline generates a sense of loss. This creates a recurring cycle of grief, similar to grieving a death.

With each significant observation of decline, caregivers describe feelings of loss. Alzheimer’s Disease is called the long goodbye.

Almost 50% of caregivers of seniors with dementia exhibit symptoms of caregiver distress twice that of those caring for someone without dementia. This manifests as anger or depression.

Caregivers often feel depleted and have nothing left to give. Even the mild stages of dementia cause caregiver distress.

Dementia is a costly illness. Despite government programs, out of pocket costs are significant – home renovations, in-home personal support workers, rehab services, non-covered prescription medications, and assistive devices can cause financial burden.

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While each relationship is unique, close relationships prior to the onset of dementia, can be predictive of more positive caregiver outcomes. A positive outcome could mean lower perceived burden, or more satisfaction with the caregiving role. It could also mean that the caregiver experiences less depression or can more easily manage the behavioural symptoms of the disease. Closer prior relationships may help the caregiver feel positive about their quality of life despite the dementia demands.

Paradoxically, close pre-dementia parent – child relationships may cause caregiver guilt. A sense of obligation with competing demands can cause mental health difficulties and/or resentment. This is not as common in spouses who generally accept increasing responsibilities as part of their marital duties.

Communication and interactions develop over a lifetime together. Alzheimer’s Disease upends these norms. Children describe a reversal of the parent-child relationship. Spouses find the usual banter of married life can produce unexpected reactions, antagonism, or irritability. Some caregivers isolate and withdraw as a protective mechanism. Developing emotional detachment can, in fact, be therapeutic and should not be judged. Caregivers learn to become benevolent strangers.

Caregivers are the backbone of dementia management. Without them our healthcare system would collapse. We need to acknowledge the importance of this role, commit to better support for caregivers, and celebrate their contributions.

By Dr. K. Jennifer Ingram, MD FRCPC Founder and Medical Director Kawartha Centre - Redefining Healthy Aging

RESOURCES: Unpaid caregiver challenges and supports https://www.cihi.ca/en/dementia-in-canada/unpaid-caregiver-challenges-and-supports First Link®: Information and support for people living with dementia https://alzheimer.ca/en/help-support/programs-services/ first-link The Ontario Caregiver Association https://ontariocaregiver.ca/ Dr. Ingram, a specialist in Internal and Geriatric Medicine, is the Founder and Medical Director of the Kawartha Centre – Redefining Healthy Aging, a community-based senior’s medical clinic and research site.

As a Qualified Investigator, Dr. Ingram has been engaged in ground-breaking pharmaceutical research in the quest to find a disease modifying agent for Alzheimer’s dementia.

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Pets CORNER 5 TIPS FOR A WELL-TRAINED DOG

By Karen Laws www.ontariodogtrainer.com

When it comes to having your ‘best-trained dog’, there is no ‘magic wand’ you can wave to instantly create the perfect pet. Following these 5 daily tips will easily build your bond and create the behaviour you want!

Talking with your dog means your dog’s focus Teach your dog to self-calm by sitting on his leash is on you - not on every scent or moving thing. with just enough slack to lie down. Practice no Does this sound like you with your dog? touching, talking, or eye contact. Sitting on the Following these 5 daily tips will easily build your leash without fussing teaches your dog to relax within a set boundary. By keeping other pets and bond and create the behaviour you want! people away, your dog will feel safe in your shared 1. CREATE A PREDICTABLE DAILY ROUTINE. A space. simple daily routine includes a walk together before each meal followed by rest, and brief play or just hanging out with you at the end of For more free training tips visit www.ontariodogtrainer.com/BLOG the day.

2. REWARD THE BEHAVIOUR YOU WANT – even if you don’t ask for it! Include the command in your verbal praise – “Good sit!” to create a positive association with your dog’s actions and your words. Put some of your pup’s food in your pocket to reward the exact moment when your pup does something spectacular – like coming to you when you call. Your pup will learn that doing what you want earns a paycheque.

3. NO JUMPING! When you guide your pup to have all four feet on the ground before offering attention, they quickly learn that they get paid when their feet are NOT on you.

4. RELIABLE RECALL. Create a ‘reliable recall habit’ - give your dog a treat each time it comes to you, even if you don’t ask! After 14 days, give a treat every other time. After 21 days, every third time and only randomly beyond that. Never punish your dog for coming to you. Your dog should always anticipate that good things happen when they come to you.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/bPJGw9vwBxU 5. WATCH TV AND TRAIN YOUR DOG. Doing nothing together is a skill that must be taught.

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VETS CORNER Marijuana (THC) Poisoning

By Dr. Kelly Wasylciw, Norwood Veterinary Services

The legalization for recreational use of marijuana in Canada has been seen with any other medi-

cation - the increased accessibility to the drug has led to an increase in accidental exposure in pets.

Marijuana can cause severe toxicity to your pet.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is considered the most active and main psychoactive agent and varies from 1% to 8%.

Owners having any products with THC in their householdshould take great care to ensure their animals can’t get into it. Dogs and cats will readily eat THC products (including the plant itself ), so it’s the most common way an animal will be intoxicated by the drug, but not the only one. Animals can also become intoxicated by inhaling second-hand smoke, so keep pets away when smoking inside.

Dogs and cats have more cannabinoid receptors in their brains. A small amount is all it takes to cause toxicity compared to humans.

Common signs of marijuana toxicosis in dogs and cats are depression, stumbling (ataxia), low heart rate (bradycardia), lower body temperature (hypothermia), vocalization, hypersalivation, vomiting, diarrhea, urinary incontinence, dilated pupils (mydriasis) and, in severe cases, even seizures or coma.

These signs can begin within 30 minutes of ingestion and can last up to 72 hours.

THC is stored in fat tissue and moves easily into these areas. It gets into the liver, brain and kidneys and can be stored there before leaving the body.

This is why the effects can last so long, as all of the stored THC has to be metabolized by the body and excreted before the effects fully wear off.

Diagnosis is based on history of exposure, typical clinical signs and can usually be confirmed by a urine drug test, which will quickly show results in clinic. Sometimes, just like any test, it is possible to get a false negative, so veterinarians need owners to be honest about their pet’s potential to ex-

posure and consumption of THC. Ruling out THC poisoning is absolutely critical for these patients to get the care they need.

If the exposure is very recent, induced vomiting (emesis) can be considered, however there are two factors that may interfere with this approach. The first is that the signs of toxicity may manifest only after the drug has been absorbed, meaning it is too late to make the animal vomit.

The second is that cannabis has an anti-emetic effect, which inhibits vomiting.

Symptomatic treatment and monitoring should continue until all clinical signs have resolved. This can be done at home safely or at other times it is in the pet’s best interest to be at a clinic for care.

For severe marijuana toxicosis, IV lipid emulsion solution may be considered to help remove the THC. This emulsion pulls the THC out because it binds to the lipids (fats) in the IV solution.

Although intoxication is seldom fatal, some medical grade products or edibles have extremely high levels of THC and can cause a lethal overdose. This is why it’s important to provide that information to your veterinarian to direct treatment options.

Other compounds found within Marijuana, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have shown promise for medicinal use and are being researched further.

If you believe your pet has been exposed to Marijuana, contact your veterinarian & provide all relevant information, so they can properly treat your pet. Also, most veterinarians are not concerned with your ‘extra-curriculars’ and won’t judge you.

They are there to assist in helping your pet feel better.

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