A Taste of the Kawarthas Magazine October/November 2019

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

FOOD, SHOPPING & CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

A taste of the KAWARTHAS Bruce Turner

Actor, Writer & Director Host of Style By Jury

Vinyl Revisited

What’s the allure?

Next Generation Leahy Featured Chef Justin Ladouceur

Royal Wood

Music Artist, Producer

Golf, Sip and Eat A review by M.Swaine

FREE PUBLICATION - PLEASE TAKE ONE

Motorcycles & ATVs

Contents

OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2019

For Online Interactive magazine go to www.atasteofthekawarthas.com

Features 24 Bruce Turner

Actor & Host of Style by Jury, Stripsearch

29 Chloe Black

44 The Next Generation Leahy Carrying on the Tradition

46 Royal Wood

Singer - Songwriter from Lakefield

Professional Cyclist

40 Vinyl Revisited

Why the fascination with records?

24

29

44

46

Columns Palatable Pleasures 4 Kicken’ Recipes 6 Chefs of the Kawarthas 8 French Wine & Cheese Pairing 10 Where to eat in Peterborough 11 Comfort of the Harvest 12 Where to shop & eat in Lakefield 13 Pastrami Short Ribs Recipe 14 Restaurants of the Kawarthas

The Arts 29 Jackson Creek - Where are you?

40 Vinyl Revisited - What’s the fascination?

Get Out and Play 19 Women & their Motorcycles 20 ATV riding in the Kawarthas

Pets of the Kawarthas 34 The Purple Poppy - Lest we Forget 35 Vet’s Corner with Dr. Kelly

Real Estate 38 Real Estate in the Kawarthas 39 Home Inspections Global Getaways 16 Sips, Eats & Golf in the Maldova

Published by Slither Productions www.slitherproductions.com Page 2

A note From the Editor The Fall to me is like a beginning and an end. I hate to see the end of Summer, yet I anticipate the beginning

of a new season. We live in an area that has the most beautiful fall colours, so hopefully you wil all get out for a drive to celebrate this amazing place we call home. Watching the Vinyl article come together was very exciting! Realizing that the music industry destroyed vinyl albums to make money made me just a little bitter. It was wonderful reconnecting with my friend Bruce Turner as well. I was actually the fourth candidate in the TV show, ‘Style by Jury’. So enjoy reading! And send me your feedback!

Karen Irvine - Editor, Video Editor, Videographer, Photographer, Social Media Diva & Motorcycle Enthusiast

Email - atasteofthekawarthas@gmail.com Website - www.atasteofthekawarthas.com Facebook - A Taste of the Kawarthas Magazine Instagram - @atasteofthekawarthas Twitter - @atasteofthekaw1 Margaret Swaine, Author, Travel, Wine, Golf, Spas and Spirits Columnist

Chef Brian Henry, Chef Extraordinaire & Newspaper Journalist

Elwood Jones, Historian Trent Valley Archives & Newspaper Journalist

Jay Lough Hayes, Real Estate Broker Jay Cooper, Musician, Graphics Designer, Motorcycle Enthusiast

Heather Jackson, Boating Enthusiast Fenelon Falls Marina

Nadene Nicholas, Snowmobile Enthusiast, Twin Mountains Snowmobile Club

Gina Livy, Personal Coach & Weight Loss Guru Susan Porter Dunkley, Pet Enthusiast Danielle French, Business Owner South Pond Farms

Carolyn Richards, ATV Enthusiast, Kawartha ATV Association Aarin Crawford, Trent Severn Waterways

Steve Irvine, Home Sweet Home Inspections

Publisher - Slither Productions Editor - Karen Irvine Creative Director - Jay Cooper Advertising Sales - (705) 772-8074 Contributors

Real Estate - Jay Lough Hayes Rockin’ Musicians - Jay Cooper Boating - Heather Jackson Kickin’ Recipes - Chef Brian Henry Cover Story Interviews - Jay Cooper Chefs - Karen Irvine Global Getaways - Margaret Swaine Pets - Susan Porter Dunkley Comfort of the Harvest - Danielle French Snowmobiling - Nadene Nicholas Historian - Elwood Jones Home Inspections - Steve Irvine ATV - Carolyn Richards Trent Waterways - Aarin Crawford

Photographers

Karen Irvine, KATVA, Margaret Swaine (Global Getaway), Cover photo courtesy by Doug Robertson A Taste of the Kawarthas Magazine is published bimonthly. Articles do not necessarily reflect A Taste of the Kawarthas Magazine or Slither Productions policy. All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or whole without permission is prohibited. © 2019

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Kickin’ Recipes

by Chef Brian Henry www.thespiceco.ca www.chefbrianhenry.com Owner of Angle Iron Kitchens & The Spice Co.

GETTING ALL

FIRED UP!

A fter the inconvenient adjustment to saving daylight, our eating habits begin to shift

as we enter the darker months. We retreat into our homes in search of familiar creature comforts which often are only satiated by food.

It is also a time for us to dust off the slow cookers and dig out the Dutch ovens as we delve into heartier meals. The longer slow cooking processes of comfort foods build anticipation for the next meal as their aromas. We are genetically wired to seek out more caloriedense foods as food historically speaking was often scarce at best in winter and we sometimes need to put some meat on our bones for the cold weather ahead of us. .

Bones are full of minerals, mainly calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. Connective tissue like tendons, ligaments, and cartilage is still attached to them which contain glucosamine.

Bones are porous and transfer heat slowly which in turn slows down cooking times. The benefit to this is that meats will not cook as fast allowing the proteins to denature and relax which guarantees tender meat that is juicy and flavorful.

The following recipe for southern fried chicken is a bone in comfort food that is easy to prepare and is best served with mashed potatoes, slaw, gravy some fresh baked rolls to ensure that your plate is clean when you’re done.

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FRIED CHICKEN INGREDIENTS: 1 whole chicken 2 -3 pounds 3 eggs ½ cup butter milk 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 1/4tsp. powdered ginger A pinch of both salt and pepper Vegetable oil or peanut oil, for frying METHOD: Using a knife break the chicken down into smaller cuts and pat the pieces dry with paper towel to remove any moisture.

Preheat your deep fryer to 350 °f and your oven to 200 °f.

In a medium size bowl, whisk together the eggs and buttermilk and set aside. In a separate bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, garlic and ginger powders with salt and pepper.

PUT S O M E M E AT ON YO U BO NES !

Dip the chicken pieces one at a time into the egg mixture, then evenly coat them in the flour mixture and gently submerge them into your preheated fryer. Make sure each piece of chicken has plenty of space to cook in the fryer without touching anything. If necessary fry the chicken in small batches and transfer the cooked pieces using tongs or a slotted spoon onto a baking tray line with a roasting rack in your preheated oven.

Fry the chicken until brown and crisp, about 10-12 minutes depending on the size of the pieces. More importantly you will need to ensure the chicken is cooked to a proper internal temperature of 74 °c / 165°f. This is best checked with a food thermometer.

CHEFS OF THE KAWARTHAS

By Karen Irvine

CHEF JUSTIN LADOUCEUR

Justin Ladouceur, Chef at One Fine Food, has been cooking professionally since he was 15 years old.

“I’ve always had a passion for fresh food. My mom cooked the freshest meals and did it on a budget. I love people being happy, enjoying their food and walking out with a smile on their face”, he says. Justin has been the Chef at One Fine Food for the past 1-1/2 years. Before that he was at Peterborough Golf and Country Club and also worked at Black Bean Steak House in Port Hope. “I’m from Huntsville and I worked at a lot of resorts and restaurants there.”

Justin moved to Peterborough to attend Fleming College for a Culinary Management Degree. That’s also where he met the love of his life. He says, “The plan is to get a house and then have kids. I can’t wait to cook with a little kid around. I’m super excited.”

I asked Justin where his passion for cooking came from. “My mom is Polish Ukrainian. She always produced gorgeous home cooked food and I work with those kinds of recipes as well.

I love using things that my mom taught me, and I think it really comes out in the comfort food that I produce. When I left home my mom gave me a recipe book with all the recipes that she made for me.” Justin continued, “I always had a passion for food and I found a chef who was willing to work with me. You need experience to get a good job and at the same time no one wants to hire someone without experience. At One Fine Food we work with co-op Page 6

students and people who are fresh in the industry.

We provide that path to give them a better knowledge of food.“ I a s k e d J u s t i n w hy h e s t ays h e re. “ I l ove Peterborough. The atmosphere and food scene is

“Most restaurants around here have a respect for food and use local grown.� amazing. The food in this region is insane. There is so much going on and so many varieties.�

Justin feels that the Kawarthas should be a food destination. “You can get the best BBQ you’ve ever had in Keene or Italian, Greek, and Asian Korean Fusion food. It’s amazing. Most restaurants around here have a respect for food and use local grown. I appreciate that. It’s so nice to see restaurants working with local suppliers.� “Everything we bring in is fresh and as local as possible. You can get milk, cheese, beef, pork, chicken and vegetables within a hundred miles of here. We work a lot with grass fed beef, corn fed chicken, organic foods. We dry age our own beef for 60 to 120 days�, he says.

The Chef culture here is very close knit. “I know a lot of the Chefs around here and it’s because you hear about what they are doing with food.

Local Chefs recognize each other. Everybody is producing great food and anybody substantial

is doing it right. I think there’s a respect between Chefs for that.�

Justin is proud of the food he serves and says, “People who we feed here at One Fine Food come back. We get returning customers all the time to the point where I see the same faces and I know what they want. Our cooking is always the same, and it’s always consistent. We make our own sauces. We serve home cooked casual fine dining with a twist on Italian food.“ Chef Justin works 5-6 days a week. “I love being here and everyone I work with is like family. The service industry is very close knit�, he says. Stop by and visit One Fine Food. You will be pleasantly surprised and will definitely be back.

Follow Justin on Instagram @thatlinecook FaceBook JustinR.Ladouceur

EXPERIENCE ONE

One Fine Food is an Italian-themed, $ & %&* ,! "" %&"$ ! $ %& '$ !& ! "+ $% % "## ! ! "" )# $ ! '! !*& ! % "! ,! "" "

$% ! ( & $ "$"'

Delectable French Wine and Cheese Pairing Event As a guest at Delectable Fine Foods French Wine and Cheese Pairing event in October, I was excited to taste the calibre of French dry wines and cheeses. We had 7 tastings and they did not disappoint with my favourite being the Morbier cheese paired with the Domaine Paul Mas Viognier 2017 wine. Other delightful pairings were Coeur de Savoie raw milk cheese with Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Cotes du Roussillon Blanc 2017 wine and Saint Nectaire pasteurized semi-soft Jura cheese with Chateau Bellevue La Foret 2016 wine. You can purchase all of the wines from the LCBO for a very reasonable price (between $13 - $16). Owner Christel Rumgay was well versed in the cheeses, while Sommelier Christopher Wilton addressed the wines in an easy to understand way. The comraderie with my fellow tasters was excellent and I had a lot of fun with the ladies beside me. It was interesting to see how everyone had a different favourite by the end of the night. I highly recommend you book this event by subscribing to the Delectable Fine Foods newsletter on their website (www.delectablefinefoods.ca) or call the store. At $45 per person it is a great value and a chance to learn about pairing. With a maximum of 20 guests per event, I suggest you book early, as they fill up fast!

A Taste of the Kawarthas Food Tours Walking Culinary Tours in Peterborough READY, SET, GO! Explore local restaurants with a behind the scenes experience in food,

drink, boutique shops, chefs & community. “During the food tour Karen expertly introduced us to a variety of local establishments. At each location we were greeted and made to feel welcome. We were provided with an abundance of delicious and varied food samples. Karen provided background not only about each locale, but also shared interesting historical facts.�

A 5-Star AIR BNB Experience www.atasteofthekawarthas.com/booking-dates www.airbnb.ca/experiences/197292

Where to Eat Downtown Peterborough Always fresh. Always homemade.

Authentic Spanish cuisine. Simply different. Local products. Affordable. Catering. Personalized service.

Downtown. 373 Queen St. (705) 559-7731

NaKeD Chocolate Professional Chocolatier, Warren Eley and Jazmin Slocum craft each recipe to ensure that every bite is a memorable delight. Discover his inspired flavor combinations using fruits, flowers, spices and herbs from around the world.

142 Hunter Street West, Peterborough (705) 775-6253 www.nakedchocolate.ca

Tiny Greens Plant Cafe

Authentic Caribbean Cuisine Dine in, Take out and Catering. Downtown.

Making homemade, authentic Caribbean food.

427 George St. N (705) 743-9320

Vegan, Gluten-Free Cafe located Downtown. We harvest greens daily from our microgreen gardens. Downtown.

431 George St. N. (705) 874-7554 www.tinygreens.ca

Kit Coffee

Upscale Casual Dining Located in the lively Hunter Street Cafe District.

Enjoy this warm and relaxing atmosphere with a beautiful patio. 224 Hunter St. W (705) 874-1500

A Great place to have a coffee or meal and relax Coffeehouse, delicious breakfast and Lunch plus Bakery and Catering Services.

Gluten free options available

Authentic Mexican Cuisine

Espresso Bar & Bake Shop. It’s fresh, delicious, simple and grounded. It’s familial, calm, and warm. It’s about people eating, sharing, breaking bread together, and the connection between them. 144 Hunter St. W (705) 927-6703

Plant Based, Gluten Free 100% plant based cafe. Containing no meat, dairy or eggs (Vegan). Downtown at 135 Hunter St. W www.foodforestcafe.com (705) 874-1888

Healthy Gourmet Bakery Experience the most delicious deserts from this gourmet and healthy bakery offering a wide variety of choices for every lifestyle - gluten free, vegan, low calorie, regular plus more! maison-du-chocolat.negocio.site (705) 761-1089

Brew Pub Atmosphere Warm, rich pub atmosphere with simple yet delicious food and a perfectly hand-crafted selection of ales.

380 George St. N, Peterborough (705) 745-0495 www.oldestone.ca

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The Cheese Shop The Cheese Shop is located in the heart of downtown Peterborough and offers more than 200 imported and domestic cheeses, and a fantastic selection of specialty foods. Known for its fabulous selection of specialty foods and great homemade hot meals to go, catering and lunches. Downtown. 158 Brock Street www.thecheeseshop.ca (705) 745-9221

Comfort

Of The Harvest

by Danielle French South Pond Farms www.southpondfarms.ca

The fall is the season,

like spring, that is thoroughly welcome. We have waited, not necessarily always patiently, through cold months and ready to shed heavy clothes and watch the ice leave the front porch (or sidewalks) in favour of green shoots and the smell of soft earth. This fall, with the summer having been so hot, I know I am happy about sweaters and cooler evenings.

These past years, it seems the spring begins later and the warm weather stays longer in the fall. Here in the farmhouse, we start the fire in the stove early evening and let the sun warm up the house during the day. The frost always takes me by surprise, I haven’t cut all the flowers I want to dry nor taken the last tomatoes out of the garden.

Fall is all about the harvest, having time to gather and preserve and to celebrate with food. Truthfully here in the Bethany Hills, by the time the official fall calendar switches, we may have already experienced frost and much of the garden is out.

But since I have lived here at the farm, we are still enjoying the bounty of the hard summer work, picking the last tomatoes, digging out the root vegetables and picking apples. Shawn is not a lover of root vegetables. It’s a funny thing since he grew up on the land - his family and many others that I’ve met here have potatoes and carrots on their plates, turnips maybe, but not parsnips, celery root and definitely not squash or sweet potatoes. I may have converted him to squash - but in small doses.

Apples, on the other hand, are always in fashion with him but picked fresh on a cool day, sipped in apple cider, roasted in the oven with onion or in the best pie with a piece of sharp cheddar (a touch of my New England roots) is hard to beat.

Growing up with my German mother, the harvest vegetable basket had onions, leeks, cabbages, kohlrabi, carrots and of course potatoes. Squash and sweet potatoes were not vegetables she was familiar with but having settled in New England, she became familiar with cooking squash early on. It is a staple in a hearty Vermont diet. My parents had a vegetable garden and grew a variety of things including squash. I remember one year they produced a giant hubbard squash. It was a deep dark greenish colour with bumps and a spot of yellow. It was so big, the two of them had to hold it on the counter for my dad to cut it up. The flesh inside was a deep golden yellow orange colour and when

Photos by Jodi Pudge Photography

my mom baked it - simply with a butter on top, it had an earthy flavour that I will never forget. Today you don’t see many of the hubbard squashes - they are just too big to handle in the grocery stores. Who can fit them in a cart? Their flavour isn’t as sweet as some of the other squashes (like acorn or butternut). I find that roasting all of the harvest vegetables is the easiest way to keep them tasting best all the way into the cold winter months. Here is the way my mother does it. I like this method especially leading up to the holidays.

She uses acorn squash. The mighty hubbard also works but is quite a bit more effort. Preheat the oven to 350. Cut the squash in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds. Place on a roasting pan or baking sheet with sides so it won’t tip over. Sprinkle with salt and squeeze out the juice of an orange and partially fill the cavity with the juice. Roast in the oven for 1 hour or until tender - about 1 hour. Scoop out the squash and the juice into a bowl and with a potato masher, mix together adding a small about of butter. Serve with a sprinkle of nutmeg on top.

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Where to Shop & Stop In Lakefield

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PASTRAMI SHORT RIBS A R E C I P E F ROM CHE F J U S T I N L AD OUC EUR CURE:

3 RACKS 3 LTRS 3 TBSP 1-1/2 C 8 CLOVES 1-1/2 C

SHORT RIBS DISTILLED WATER PRAGUE POWDER #1 KOSHER SALT GARLIC (CRUSHED) BROWN SUGAR

PASTRAMI RUB: 4 TBSP 3 TSP 2 TSP 2 TSP 2 TBSP 2 TBSP

COURSE BLACK PEPPER PAPRIKA GARLIC POWDER ONION POWDER GROUND CORIANDER MUSTARD POWDER

METHOD:

1. CUT OFF THE RIBS FAT CAP. 2. ADD ALL CURE INGREDIENTS TOGETHER. WHISK UNTIL BROKEN UP. 3. PUT RIBS IN TO THE CURE FOR 2-3 DAYS 4. RUB WITH DRY INGREDIENTS AND SMOKE AT 200° F FOR 3 HOURS OR COOK AT 275° F IN THE OVEN FOR 2-1/2 HOURS.

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Boardwalk Board Game Lounge

By Susan Irwin

W hether you are a games person or not, you will love the experience at Boardwalk

Board Game Lounge. Chef Connor Reinhart and his brother Dylan offer something unique in Peterborough.

Why a board game lounge? Connor (who is a Red Seal Chef ) says, ‘The restaurant industry is really hard, and I’ve been doing fine dining for the last 10 years. I became tired of the energy. I really enjoy that style of cooking, I just wanted to do something that was totally different. Dylan is an outdoor educator and worked at a leadership centre in Haliburton. We grew up playing board games. Dylan started going to board game cafes in Toronto where he realized that people standing over a table teaching him to play board games was fundamentally the same skills that he was using to teach kids. And myself being a chef, we had this A-HA moment where we realized that this was the perfect intersection of both of our skills. We’d both been looking for a change and we decided to go all in on it.

You don’t see a lot of cell phones out at Boardwalk Board Games Lounge unless there is a social accompaniment within the game. Connor says, ‘It’s a compliment to the experience, like a narrated timer or something. The guests are interacting. We aren’t anti-technology, we are super active on Facebook and Instagram, and we understand that’s how people want to communicate these days, but we also understand that people are looking for an outlet to disconnect. Not permanently, but have an evening that’s not technology based. As we dig in deeper to it and spend more time in this business, we’ve found that the generation that’s looking for it is 25 to 35. Which is a surprise on the surface, but when you really think about it, it makes sense. I love technology, but it’s still nice to have an analog experience.’

They have something for everybody. On snow days, children accompanied by an adult can play for free. ‘I imagine snow days are stressful for parents. So we just want to let them know that there is something for that generation in Peterborough’, says Connor.

Boardwalk Board Game Lounge hosts a meet up night on the third Tuesday of the month where people can come in and play with strangers. ‘We started it so that people who don’t have a group of friends that play can still meet Page 14

people with similar interests. We serve food and drinks and facilitate the experience to help connect people to games that they might like and that will allow them to find common ground.’

Boardwalk Board Game Lounge has a unique take on how they select their alcohol. ‘All of our alcohol is either produced in Peterborough or within an hour of town. We serve Persian Empire Spirits, Black’s Distillery spirits, Kawartha Country Winery cider (which is Connor’s favourite), Rolling Grape wines. We are aiming to bring in as many unique styles of craft beer from as many from as many different breweries as possible within an hour of town. We want to showcase everyone. There’s a lot of great beer produced here.’

The brothers serve great food and put a lot of love into it. Connor says, ‘I just need to give people a really good experience, but the experience that they are looking for. That’s how we crafted the menu.

We want to echo the game experience. People can come in and play whatever game they want and have whatever experience they want.‘ The Mac and

“People are looking for an outlet to disconnect.”

Parcheesi is delicious, and the Pasta Panic Chef Boyardee inspired pasta was crafted to remind you of when you were a child.

But it doesn’t end there. There is local roasted coffee, deli sandwiches and the best charcuterie in Peterborough.

Connor says, ‘Dylan is really, really good at being the face of this place, I just hide in the back and make saucy comments. (he laughs) We always wanted to support local and focus on allowing Peterborough to have a fully social activity.‘ What a great concept, and the perfect place to relax and have fun.

261 George Street N, Peterborough ON 705-312-7529 www.boardwalkptbo.ca Pasta Panic Chef Boyardee

The Colonel Mustard

Charcuterie

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global

GETAWAY

by Margaret Swaine Columnist and Author www.margaretswaine.com

10 REASONS TO VISIT MOLDOVA NOW Never heard of Moldova? You’re not alone. It’s Europe’s least visited and poorest country. The republic wants to change that and it has geared up to beckon tourists. When I visited this August I discovered some gems and so give you ten reasons to visit the Republic of Moldova now.

Accommodations at Castel Mimi

Castel Mimi

Cheese Pie at Vinuri de Comrat

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Musicians in Chisinau

Stump Your Neighbours When I told people I was heading to Moldova, their first response was puzzlement. No one I spoke to knew there was even a place called Moldova, let alone where it was. This small landlocked country wedged in-between Ukraine on the north, south and east and Romania to the west is not even well known among Europeans. The region, formerly known as Bessarabia, was a part of the Romanian principality of Moldavia until 1812, when it was ceded to Russia. After World War I, it became a part of Greater Romania. It reverted to Russian control in 1940–41 and again after World War II. Upon the collapse of the Soviet Union in August 1991, the republic declared its independence and took the name Moldova.

It’s Easy to See it All Moldovans have a joke they like to tell which goes like this: “I’m taking a vacation and I will drive all through Moldova.”

Friend answers, “Great idea. What are you going to do in the afternoon?” It is a small country, about 150 kilometres by 300 kilometres. With a total area of 33,843 square km it is only slightly larger than the state of Maryland for example. You could see all of it in under a week. Major roads are generally fine though drivers can be aggressive.

Wine is their Trump Card Moldova has a long history of wine making dating back to around 3000 BC. With a little imagination, you could agree with Moldovans who claim the map of today’s republic is shaped like a bunch of grapes. When they were part of the USSR, state produced wine emphasized quantity over quality – in 1982 they produced 12 million hectolitres of wine and every fourth bottle consumed in Russia was from Moldova.

Today they have refocused on quality by establishing protected geographical indications (PGI) for their traditional vine growing areas and replanted indigenous grape varieties

“The underground galleries (Milestii Mici wine cellar) are likely the longest in the world.”

among other measures. There are now 187 wineries of which 64 have registered for PGI wines.

Sip Wine from Grapes Unique to Moldova Part of the fun of visiting a country is trying something local and unique to the place. Local grape varieties Feteasca Alba, Feteasca Regala, Feteasca Neagra and Rara Neagra are becoming increasing important as a point of difference and to offer something with real Moldovan character. While at the moment they are only 5% of the production, they are good and worth searching out.

A Guinness Book of Records Wine Collection The underground galleries of the Mileştii Mici wine cellar are likely the longest in the world, stretching for over 200 kilometres. Visitors can drive their cars through these huge limestone tunnels, dug out originally for their stone building blocks. They now contain more than 1.5 million bottles of wine representing the largest wine collection in the world, recorded by the Guinness Book of Records in 2005. After experiencing the dramatic cellars, visitors can settle into a tasting room for wines paired with traditional dishes such as meat stews, mămăligă (a cornmeal porridge) with goat cheese and sarmale (cabbage rolls). Cricova is another winery with an impressive ‘underground city’ of over 70 kilometres of tunnels housing 30 million litres of wine.

Visitors take an electric train for a visit that goes as deep as 80 metres below ground and includes a short film in their underground cinema and wine tasting paired with cheese, nuts and cookies. Above ground is a full service restaurant and bar. www.milestii-mici.md www.cricova.md Fresh and Tasty Food Moldova is renowned for its rich fertile black soils.

Home grown vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplant, peppers and zucchini are super tasty. At the small artisanal winery Mihai Sava in the village of Costeşti we were served a huge variety of local dishes all cooked by his wife Valentin. We had plates of fried vegetables from their garden, fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, plăcintă (hot pastry stuffed with cheese), tiny sarmale (the smaller the cabbage roll the more talented the cook’s fingers) served with sour cream, stuffed red

peppers, fried meats and more. It was a typical country meal and one that winemaker Mihai offers to visitors along with a wine tasting for about $30. Facebook.com/ MihaiSava.GT Beautiful Vistas and Architecture There are perhaps a surplus of soviet style ugly apartment blocks in the capital Chisinau but a quick drive outside the city takes you to some gorgeous wineries that offer lovely accommodation and restaurants. Castel Mimi was founded in 1893 by Constantin Mimi, the last governor of Bessarabia who planted vines on his estate in the Anenii-Noi district. When it became a state-run business in 1940, it was one of the largest industrial wine factories in the USSR. Later after decades of inactivity and ruin, an ambitious restoration project was begun in 2011. Today it has been listed among the top 14 most beautiful architectural masterpieces of the winemaking world by Vivino. On property is a lovely ozonated pool and seven gorgeous contemporary stone lodges designed by Italian architect Arnaldo Tranti for overnight accommodation. The restaurant serves traditional dishes reinterpreted as modern haute cuisine using fresh local

Cricova Underground Cellars Page 17

global

10 REASONS TO VISIT MOLDOVA NOW

GETAWAY

Dining at Chisinau

ingredients. Chateau Vartely, a modern winery founded in 2004, is also a culture and leisure resort with tasting rooms, an excellent 220 seat restaurant where they hold gastro tastings and 14 rooms divided among three guest lodges. It was here I enjoyed a local dessert baba neagra (a moist dark cake) paired with an impressive Riesling Icewine 2017. www.castelmimi.md www.vartely.md The Price is Right I stayed in the modern, centrally located, City Park Hotel on a pedestrian street lined with restaurants with outdoor seating in the capital of Chisinau. My large deluxe room was around $100 a night. Even the fancy digs at Castel Mimi were only about $220 a night and included breakfast, mini bar and unlimited access to the pool. Wine tours with tastings and snacks started at around $15. A tour, tasting and big delicious full meal feast at Castel Mimi is around $74. A traditional meal with wine at Vinuri de Comrat in the south in Gagauzia in the Budzhak steppe was even less and included shurpa (lamb/beef soup with vegetables and lovage), pide (savoury cheese pastry), and all kinds of grilled meats, veggies and charcuterie. www.citypark.md www.vinuridecomrat.md Page 18

Wine Tasting at Chateau Vartely

Over a Dozen Wine Bars in Chisinau If you don’t want to drink and drive, there are over a dozen wine bars in Chisinau such as the Tasting Room WineMd which offers 400 different wines from 60 producers. A tasting of three wines with snacks here is about $11. A rib eye steak is $6, a plate of pasta with shrimps $7 and an enormous, more than you can eat pork hock dish is $16. www.wine.md October 5 – 6 Moldovan National Wine Day Celebrations This weekend in October at the 18 edition of The National Wine Day, over 60 producers will pop open thousands of bottles of wine in a village street fair.

Dozens of restaurants will have stalls serving up traditional festive dishes cooked on the spot. The artistic program includes Moldovan orchestras, dance ensembles, brass bands and pop stars. There’s also a handicraft fair, wine tutorials and guided tours. http://wineday.wineofmoldova.com/?lang=en

Women and Motorcycles

Contributed by Susy Silverman

Featuring

Donna Maguire

Donna Maguire is a beautiful, bubbly mother of 5 children, 10 grand kids and has been riding motorcycles for 15 years.

“I started riding in 2004 - before my kids were born. They would just say, ‘There goes Mom. She’s doing something crazy again’.

If you asked them now, they love it. My daughter wants to ride and the grand kids love being on the bike.“ Her bikes have included a 1981 650 Yamaha Maxim, a 1600 Yamaha, and now a Yamaha Road Star 1700.

So why did Donna start riding her own bike? “I was tired of being on the back of a bike, waiting for someone to take me for a ride.

So instead of being on the back, I was in control.“ Her brother rides and her husband is an ice racer as well as a street rider with the same bike as hers. “The day I went to pick up my 1600, I thought OMG what have I done? Did I bite off more than I can chew? It’s all about respect. You have to respect the throttle.”

Every rider has that “AH” moment where they understand why riding is more than transportation. I asked Donna when hers was. “I never knew the whole concept of Wind Therapy until I started riding. Ten years into riding, I loved it. It’s freedom, it’s the smells in the air, the things you see and the roads that you wouldn’t normally go down. But it wasn’t until my mom got sick with cancer, and my head was congested with worry and concern for her. A friend said I needed to go for a ride. I thought, no I can’t because my head isn’t in a good space. But it was amazing! Because when I was riding I wasn’t thinking about anything else but riding and the freedom. That cleared out the space in my head. It was a couple of hours that I thought about nothing but riding. That was when I realized what Wind Therapy was.”

Donna started a Club called Classy Sassy Riders in 2009. “The Club went on a hiatus because back then women riders weren’t as prevalent as they are today. Last summer I started it up again.”

She also heads up Desiree’s Angels Charity Ride in Peterborough. “We just had first annual ride this summer. It was amazing!

I was blown away! We had over 100 people come out. We have two charities – Victim Services and Peterborough Crossroads Women’s Shelter. We raised $1500 for each charity.” www.desireesride.com Crossroads Shelter has a special meaning for Donna. She stayed there after her first marriage broke up. She

Donna with her husband, Martin

understands how important this women’s shelter is to help women out of bad situations.

Follow Donna on Facebook www.facebook.com/donna.harper.75457 Classy Sassy Riders www.facebook.com/groups/125893119935/ Desirees ride Peterborough Chapter www.facebook.com/peterboroughdesride/ Page 19

ATV TrailS

By Carolyn Richards President, Kawartha ATV Association katva.ca

IN THE KAWARTHAS A common assumption made about multi-use trail systems

is that the trail user groups don’t work together or in some cases, even get along on the trails. But that’s not the case in the Kawarthas.

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the 5 points trail system

“Another purpose for 5 Points user group is to work together on trail repairs and maintenance.”

Let’s take a look at the 5 points trail system in Trent Lakes as an example. The 5 points trail system is a large forested area that is bordered by towns such as Kinmount, Gooderham and Bobcaygeon. The forest is made up of crown land and several parcels of private land that was sold off by the Crown over the years. To this day there are still many hunt camps in the forest that have had lease agreements with the Crown and local trappers who have been trapping in the area for generations.

The trail system itself is a multi-use system, which by definition means that no recreational user group is excluded from using it. At any given time on the trails you might meet up with anyone from a hiker or cyclist to an ATV or a Jeep, and everything in between. In winter you will find snowmobilers, dog sledders and cross-country skiers enjoying the trails. While there are some trails that have strict use guidelines, such as those on some private property that only allow snowmobiles in winter and no summer use, for the most part the trails are multi-use.

The best way to manage a multi-use trail system is to bring together all the different user groups and allow each of them to have a voice in the management of the trails. That’s what we’ve done in the 5 Points. In 2011, due to a storm that swept through the area, some of the user groups came together to work as a team to clear the blown down trails. The initial group included Kawartha ATV Association (KATVA), Ontario Federation of 4 Wheel Drive Recreationists (OF4WD), Twin Mountains Snowmobile Club (TMSC) and Haliburton ATV Club (HATVA). The group has expanded over the years to include the Ontario Federation of Trail Riders (OFTR), Kawartha Off Road Motorcycle Association (KORMA) and Buckhorn District Snowmobile Club (BDSC).

cause. KATVA added another $1000 on behalf of their members.

Another important purpose for this 5 Points user group is to work together on trail repairs and maintenance. When the group determines that work needs to be done on a trail, whether it’s as simple as a culvert replacement or as big as a washout, the group pools their resources and splits the costs of the project. This partnership model is incredibly important to multi-use trails, because all these organizations are non-profits and most of them rely solely on membership revenue to keep the trails open to all users. A project that would normally cost one trail group $15,000 can now be split into 5 or 6 shares, which allows all the trail groups to stretch their budgets further. This has been a successful partnership since 2011 and the only one of its kind in Ontario. It’s a model that would benefit other trail systems throughout Ontario.

So the next time you are riding your sled or ATV, or just taking a hike or a bike ride through the 5 points, remember the partnerships that are the foundation of maintaining and making the trails safe for all users.

This group of stakeholders gets together every spring to discuss trail conditions, grant opportunities, events, and partnerships. In the past they have held joint rides to fundraise for local causes such as the Kinsmen Toy Drive. The OF4WD and KATVA members come out, ride the trails together and come back at the end of the day for a barbeque. The cost to attend this event is a toy or cash donation for the toy drive. Each year more than $1500 in cash and truckloads of toys are donated for this worthwhile Page 21

Bruce Turner

Actor, host of style by jury

By Jay Cooper Contributor, Graphic Designer, & Musican

Bruce Turner - photo by Jennifer Spasoski

I met up with Bruce Turner in Haliburton. You will know him from Style by Jury, Strip Search, and CNN’s Race for the Whitehouse. With over 10 years of prime time experience under his belt, Bruce is a true pro when it comes to understanding what it takes to deliver. His charming quick wit is a hit with all audiences. W Network’s top rated show, Style By Jury, garnered him a 2008 Gemini nomination for “Best Host in a Lifestyle Program.” Bruce has been cottaging in the Kawarthas for his whole life.

Page 24

“I’m really not the pretty boy, metro sexual. I’m the one with dirt under my fingernails.”

A Taste of the Kawarthas: Bruce my friend! So glad to chat with you today!

Bruce Turner: Wicked, my brother, anytime!

How are you?

I’m great just a bit chilly out but it’s that time of year.

You know I’m a true Canadian, I like this type of weather, I’m a 20 degrees kind of guy. I really don’t like into the 30’s unless I’m at the cottage on the dock then totally good (he laughs). Now we’re leaning into my time of year.

Well it’s going to get very beautiful with the colours shortly at the cottage.

Oh my brother, I tell you I actually watch the forecast for 100% colour and as you know living in the Kawarthas it is epic. I strategically plan my visits to the cottage around that in the fall. Usually the first week in October but depends on how the weather was and is to bring it out. Check out my YouTube channel and there is footage from a couple years ago I did with my drone at the cottage and was the weekend that was 100% colour.

So let’s talk about your connection to the Kawarthas, which is your family cottage on Haliburton Lake.

My grandfather built the place all by hand by himself and bought it at the Sportsman Show sight unseen in 1950. It was a cookie cutter cottage that they would deliver and he put it all together himself. My mother and father fell in love up there and adopted me in 1969. I just got back yesterday. I go up all year around.

My parents (who have now passed) would pick me up from school, had my bags packed in the car and off we would go every single weekend. Now myself, my sister and my wife own that piece of paradise. My story is that I had the greatest parents in the world. We were a blue collar family but they made sure we were all looked after and even put me through University. So did we stop at Kawartha Dairy every single time? Absolutely. Now my son, Tallon, helps me at the cottage all the time.

I think people who know you from ‘Style by Jury’ would not think of you as a ‘let’s get our hands dirty’ kind of guy.

Exactly, most people think I’m this Metro Sexual from the show but I’m not. I’m actually a handyman. When I met my wife, her friends and Dad, they were like ‘Are

Style by Jury Host Bruce Turner

you sure you know how to drive a tractor?’ Are you kidding me? I’ll do a wheelie right up this road on a dirt bike in two seconds and bang off a door on your washroom if you need it (he laughs). The producers of the show would dress me in these paisley shirts. And don’t get me wrong, I loved Style by Jury, I had a great experience and it bought my house in the beaches but I’m really not the pretty boy, metro sexual. I’m the one with dirt under my fingernails. I just replaced the plumbing under the cottage and I’m building a new dock. I’m not getting up and fixing my hair in the mirror (he laughs).

The other connection to you and Style by Jury is our editor, Karen Irvine who was on that show.

Yes Karen was our fourth guest, Season One and as we know she is so easy to love. The show was also about an internal makeover for people that needed it but Karen never needed that. We were like “Let’s just give this rocker chick a new hairdo and some clothes” (he laughs). The friendship I have with Karen still goes on today. And that was the power of the show. It was the W Network top rated show for many, many years.

It changed people’s lives truly with the simple fact that we’re talking about it still today. After 8 years, the show wasn’t renewed but was syndicated in over 25 countries. Voiced over in Turkey, Israel, Iran and more.

It has crossed all cultural and religious barriers. Why does it touch people so much? It’s because of compassion and it is helping people.

Actor, Writer and Director, lets go into the back story which is truly quite the journey.

Continued on Page 26

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Bruce Turner

Actor, host of style by jury

Bruce with his dogs at the Cottage: Photo by Jennifer Spasoski

Bruce’s baby picture at the cottage

Bruce at the Cottage: Photo by Jennifer Spasoski Page 26

Yeah, for sure. I was in University taking psychology, sociology and I really wasn’t that interested. Then I bumped into a friend of mine at a gas station who had a City TV jacket on. We were chatting and he said, “Do you want to do lunch sometime?” I was like, yeah, I’ll come down to MuchMusic for lunch. Now I was 26 years old, already owned a small bar on the Danforth, which I had just sold and was looking for something to do. I was stripping so I had an income, but nothing during the day. So we met up across from 299 Queen Street West and that is really where my career started. Ironically, that is where my mother and father met. My friend worked in the maintenance department and jokingly asked if I wanted a job.

I said “Yeah sure”. He was like really? It only pays $11.50/ hr. Now, he knows I’m a stripper and I just sold a bar. “This guy is gonna work for that money moving desks around” (he laughs). So yeah, I started in the Maintenance Department. There were a lot of renovations going on so it was very busy and I became the second in command for the Department. But the key was, while everyone was going home or to lunch I would volunteer my time. It was George Lagogianes in the Entertainment Department that would show me how to use the camera and take me out on shoots. I learned how to edit and then eventually got hired as an assistant to the great Jana Lynne White on MuchMore Music for Speak Easy. So I went from the Maintenance Department to that (he laughs).

So you really did start from the basement (laughs) I started from the Sub basement because there was a basement under the basement (he laughs). Then I moved up to the basement and then up to the main floor. Jana will tell you, I was paid for 16 hours a week but I worked 5 days for the same money for her. As she knew, I wanted to go further in the company. She introduced me to the Production Manager and thought that maybe they could give me a few shifts as Floor Director. My first Directing job was on a Saturday and the artist was Nelly (Rap Artist) whom I love and one of the nicest people. But it’s like first day directing and here you’ve got this big time rapper (he laughs). Why not some melodic acoustic dude? But no. (he laughs) I did such a great job they said now you’re the Lead Floor Director. I Floor Directed the MuchMusic Awards for many years and the Live at Much shows. Pretty

“My first Directing job was on a Saturday and the artist was Nelly (Rap Artist).”

much every artist from 1998 to 2004 would know me by name. Beyonce would be like, hey Bruce, how’s it going (he laughs).

So then you went to the show Strip Search?

Yes, our sister company Bravo was commissioned to do the show. No one ever judged me at Much, as I worked 5 days a week as the Senior Floor Director and was stripping on the weekends and they knew it. So they were like, who better to host a stripping show then a guy that’s been stripping for 10 years and he’s in TV (he laughs). They offered me the job, so I go to my boss and ask him “Can I take a couple of months off to go around the country looking for male strippers?” And he was like, well, it’s for Bravo, so yeah, you just have to hire your own replacement. Which I did and now that guy is the Executive Producer on ETalk Canada (he laughs).

Next in your career was the huge hit, Style by Jury.

It was about a year later. I was back at Much and the producers of Style by Jury got hold of me and told me I was perfect for their show. That lasted until 2010. Then I realized getting older and hosting a show with the competition for those jobs, much younger guys, that I should go into the dramatic world meaning acting and voice-over work. I’ve done voice-over for 200 television shows so I know I can do that. The cool thing about voice-over work is that you can do that until your 90.

No one wants to look at me at 90 but they’ll still listen to my voice (he laughs). And, of course acting and I still do short films, which is a lot of fun.

What advise would you give to young aspiring actors?

There is an expression called “Staying in the Pocket”, and as I meditate 3 hours per day, you need to find that pocket that doesn’t get you riled up. Stay steady, stay straight and don’t work at outward emotions, work at inward emotions. Subtle acting is where it’s at and the directors are asking for it. I just like people to be themselves and be kind. And if you are, good things will happen.

You are starring in CNN’s Race for the Whitehouse?

Yes, well CNN must likes me because they keep hiring

On the set of CNN’s Race for the Whitehouse Season 2

me (he laughs). It is the second season where I play John F. Kennedy and it’s an important role as he was an iconic man.

And played by a Canadian (laughs) Yeah, played by a Canadian and directed by a Brit (he laughs). The production company is British and the actors are Canadian but maybe that’s a good thing (he laughs). We just wrapped up the second season in July and honestly wearing the suit and portraying the scenes is very powerful and such a great history lesson.

Alright, best gig or show you ever had?

Oh what a great question! To be honest my favourite time was Floor Directing for MuchMusic. Your a music guy, so just imagine being in front of Green Day as they are just belting out American Idiot or Metallica and you’re three feet from them cranking in sound check.

Christina Aguilera with that voice, I was surprised she didn’t shatter my eardrums from a few feet away. That voice is incredible. Just an amazing time!

Continued on Page 28

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Bruce Turner

Actor, host of style by jury Worst gig or show you’ve ever had?

I’ve loved all my gigs, but floor directing Live at Much with Tom Cruise. We took him outside to meet the fans on the street and he insisted on no security. So it was just he and I and the camera guy. Women started throwing themselves over the barrier at him. He was laughing the whole time and I was pulling women off of him. When we went to commercial he was like “Thanks Man…I’m grabbing a water. Do you want something from the cooler?” I said sure and in that moment I was like, holy shit, Tom Cruise is getting me a drink and delivering it to me. He was an awesome guy. But I had a couple of bruises from fighting off the fans (he laughs).

It’s always a pleasure hanging with you Bruce, and thank you for talking with me.

Wicked! I always love connecting with you and Karen and look forward to the magazine.

Bruce Turner, host of Strip Search Photo credit:Suddenly SeeMore Productions Inc.

Follow Bruce on Twitter @bruce_turner Instagram @bruceturner1 FaceBook Bruce Turner YouTube Bruce Turner

2010 & 2011 Model and Spokesperson for NaKeD Underwear

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Jackson Creek THE UNDERGROUND CREEK

By Elwood Jones Trent Valley Archives

Jackson Creek runs underneath the buildings in the downtown core of Peterborough to this day. Why did this happen and how?

Jackson Creek flowed from the Cavan swamps, passed through Peterborough and entered the Otonabee River near Townsend Street. The Creek was the major source of waterpower for the earliest industries in Peterborough because unlike the Otonabee River it was not fast flowing. The Otonabee was harnessed by short canals, called raceways, by the 1860s, and by the 1880s the Otonabee was the best river in the province for producing electricity; there were over 20 generating plants between Trenton and Bobcaygeon by 1900.

of Brock and Aylmer was crossed by bridges. This is scarcely visible now, but if you walk the area one can see Jackson Creek flowing from the northwest to the southeast. The creek was then visible to Hunter Street, where a Hunter Street bridge was built over the creek.

The creek is visible again in the Charlotte Mews before it passes under the Charlotte Street bridge. The creek is open off and on to the river. Even so, the creek’s course was altered in different areas.

Jackson Creek seems to have weighed heavily with Richard Birdsall who surveyed the town in the summer of 1825. The longest blocks, east west, were between George and Aylmer. These blocks had seven town lots compared to two for the other blocks between Park and the river.

It seemed worthwhile to bridge the creek in several projects because of the compactness of the walking town. Peterborough’s population doubled every 20 years until 1920, So land was at a premium. As well, Birdsall’s survey effectively ignored the creek in laying out the lots. In some parts of downtown buildings, including the parking garages on Simcoe Street and King Street, proved to be the bridges.

This presented some problems as the town developed, as bridges were needed wherever the creek crossed the town lines. Quite early, the intersection

There have been discussions since the 1950s about making the creek more visible in the downtown area.

However, much of the land is owned in small parcels.

Where Jackson Creek runs underneath Peterborough

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Chloe Black

Professional Road & Track cyclist What makes Chloe Black a high performance road

and track competitive cyclist on the pro circuit in Canada and her winter home in Tucson, Arizona?

Growing up in Peterborough, she raced for 27 years and retired in July 2013. She was inducted in the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.

Chloe was a member of the National Team from 19952000. She won a bronze medal while representing Canada in Cuba in 1999. She was the 1994, 95, 96 Ontario Sprint Points Race and Pursuit Champion. In 2013, she won the Elite Women’s 37.9 km race at the Ontario Criterium Cycling Championship in Toronto. She was the Chair of Ontario Cycling Association Development Committee from 2005 to 2007. She coached the Team USA Men’s Paralympics Tandem team to a World Championship and to a spot on the London 2012 Paralympics Team. Chloe has dedicated her life to the sport of cycling and in retirement, has transitioned from a pro cyclist to sharing her love and passion for the sport. As a certified instructor with the League of American Bicyclists, she gives back to the sport by providing skills programs and as a coach and mentor to cycling.

I asked Chloe about her first and last race wins. “My first win was the Tour of Robertsonville in Quebec. It was just east of Montreal and was an 88 km race. In my head I knew I wanted to win, but it was the first time I realized you have to have a plan. It may not work, but you have to have one. I got dropped on the first hill, chased back on and had so much momentum I went right through the field and won. My thought was that I don’t know how this is happening. I felt unqualified even though I had won the race. There were women on the National team there, so I felt like a fraud”, said Chloe.

She continued, “My last win was in Toronto in the one hour race at CNE CHIN Picnic in 2013. It was the last time I raced. It’s one of my favourite races. My dad asked to come with me and he had a great time. I remember being on the line and realizing that I was the oldest woman on the field at 44 years of age. I also remember thinking there are women there racing Masters that were youngPage 30

By Guest Contributotor Steven Ryder

“I had fractured my L3 vertebrae in a crash in 1993.”

er than me. And I thought, why did I register for Elite? But it was too late, and it was an aggressive race. I was playing a conservative part, which isn’t like me, as I like to be in the mix. I really wanted to win. There were a couple of breakaways and I remember thinking do I participate in the chase? You only have so many bullets and I like to use them wisely. I was being very uncharacteristic in my conservatism. At one point, my dad said I was in over my head (she laughs). I won it in a photo finish. That last race, it was like every single thing I did worked, and that doesn’t usually happen.

Just over a month after that last race, I started getting pain in my leg and I thought it was an overuse injury. It wouldn’t go away.

Eventually I saw a back researcher, and he assessed me. I had fractured my L3 vertebrae in a crash in 1993. I didn’t know it at the time, but it made sense looking back since it was an excruciatingly painful injury. I had broken my ribs during the same accident.

Racing for the National Team was an honour because you get to represent your country and they cover all your expenses to get to the races. For women and some men, it was a lot of hustling to get you out there. You were self-motivated and unapologetic about your drive. Back then, you did it because it’s in your DNA, you didn’t get much money. Even though you are doing it for way less money than you should be, the option of not doing it isn’t an option.”

If Chloe had not been injured would she still be racing? “There was a time when I would have been hands down yes, absolutely.

When I was racing it was big it was because Steve Bower and Greg Lemond were doing good in North America and it was a novelty we hadn’t seen in quite awhile. I was really lucky to race in the 90’s because that was right at the end of their big wins. North America exploded with it for a while. And women in particular did quite well. Now it’s less about the competitive element and it’s more about being seen in spandex and they can sell you a $12,000 bike and get you going to somewhere in Europe to be part of a group where they can sell you more stuff there and post on social media. If I was purely money hungry I could try to go after that element of it, but I’m such a believer in the religion of cycling that it bothers me to capitalize and not try to move it forward as far as it’s soul. Just for the purity of it. The best parts of my memory of cycling is being out in Warsaw on a November day when the snow is starting to fly and realizing that my season is coming to an end and being the only person out there. It was more of an adventure. “ Chloe gives riders the tools to be safe and focused and get their results. “I call it a combination of coaching and driver’s education as you are training on the roads,” she laughs.

Facebook - Coach Chloe

Instagram - @critgirl

Twitter - @cbhammer Page 31

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On October 20, 2019 For more information or to register, please visit our website.

There are a growing number of persons across Canada confronted with unexpected transport challenges where they are geographically distanced from care facilities and their transportation needs are out of reach because they lack the financial means to cover those costs.

Since 2007 GACO has been filling the gap for financially burdened patients of all ages with critical medical transportation needs. We assist with the costs of air transportation and ground transportation. We negotiate costs on behalf of patients and their families wherever we can.

DID YOU KNOW? Recently, the cost to transport a bedridden person by ground, from Peterborough, who had an urgent medical appointment in Toronto, was $1100.00 return. DID YOU KNOW you are responsible for these costs when the transport is not an emergency.

Page 33

Pets of the Kawarthas The purple poppy Each year on November 11th we take a moment of silence to remember our fallen soldiers. Since 1921, the traditional red poppy – the Remembrance Day flower, has been worn to show a sign of respect for people lost in military conflict.

Did you know that there is a “Purple Poppy” dedicated for the animals that died in the war? In 2006, the purple poppy was created in New Zealand to remember the animal victims of war. The purple poppy symbolizes remembering all animals who have died during conflict.

War is often regarded as the greatest downfall of humankind. Indeed, no other species commits such wanton destruction on such a grandiose scale and with such horrifying efficiency. It is tragic too that, as humanity has domesticated wildlife, we have incorporated them into our fights and conflicts.

It is often overlooked that animals have been indispensible used for centuries during as messengers,

Page 34

By Susan Porter Dunkley, Peterborough’s Well Known Pet Lover

for detection, scouting and rescue, and as beasts of burden on the front line.

Just as animals have found versatile uses in civilian life, they also have many roles in warfare, from scouts and trackers, to bomb detection and intimidation. Over the years a staggering number of dogs, horses, mules & donkeys, camels, elephants, pigeons, canaries even insects!

This Remembrance Day, let us remember to look back and honour not only the men and women who fought valiantly, but also the animals that tragically fought and died, in our name.

VETS corner plants that are poisonous to your pet Have you ever wondered if the plant that your four-

legged friend is chewing on is harmful to them? Well, the first thing to remember is that if you aren’t 100% sure if your animal should be chewing on something, then stop them! The following short article contains valuable information concerning your pets and poisonous plants they may encounter.

In most circumstances, if your pet isn’t going to eat the plant, there is very little risk of them getting any side effects from it. Most cats and dogs don’t get any side effects from touching plants as they are covered in a fur coat, so they have less potential of getting a skin reaction. This means that a lot of the issues with plants that we humans have with plants such as poison ivy, are normally a ‘non-issue’ for pets. Sometimes dogs and cats can have allergies to different plants just as we can, but these effects are rarely life threatening compared to poisonous plants they may ingest.

In some cases the leaves of a plant may not be harmful but other parts of it may be, so if they continue to chomp away at something, they could get into trouble quickly.

Trying to summarize all of the types of plants that your pets could encounter and their potential for being poisonous is just not possible in a short article. Listed below are just a few of the plants that contain toxins that people may encounter that can be harmful to their four-legged friends. The following plants are toxic to both dogs and cats if ingested:

By Dr. Kelly Wasylciw, Veterinary Services

Narcissus, Daffodil, Jonquil – higher concentrations of toxicity are found in the bulbs, but really all parts will cause some sort of reaction if ingested.

Holly – the fruit has the highest concentrations of toxins, so be especially careful if using it for decoration around the holidays.

Other notable plants to be warry of around pets are the Poinsettia, Dumb Cane, Pothos, Arrowhead Vines, Kalanchoe and Foxglove.

Cats are normally more susceptible to being affected by plants. A. Because their bodies are typically smaller and B. Because they are the ones most likely to be caught sitting and munching away on a plant! Watch out for these additional plants if you have a cat as they need don’t need to chew on very much of these plants to have some serious side effects. Those plants are Dogs while more resilient when it comes to most of the toxins found in the aforementioned plants, have one additional plant that affects them and not cats. This plant is the English Yew. Remember, if you do notice your beloved pet chewing away on something and you aren’t sure if it is something harmful to them or not, stop them, investigate what sort of plant it is and also contact your local veterinarian to find out if further intervention is needed to ensure your pet lives a long and healthy life.

Water Hemlock – be especially careful if you are pulling it up, as the roots have a higher concentration of the toxicity that can be harmful to your pet.

Cherry – if the leaves are damaged (wilted, frozen) they are the most harmful, as this will cause the release of more of the toxin to the surface in a higher concentration.

Amanita and Gallerina species of mushrooms - do not allow them to ingest!

Lily of the Valley – including those very pretty berries!

Monkshood – the roots and their seeds have higher concentration of toxicity, so be wary of those parts if you are moving this plant.

Some of the plants listed that are poisonous

Page 35

Renovation Talk

Advice You Want to Hear

Contributed by Bonnie Moore Patefacio Design Inc.

As a self-taught kitchen designer/design manager for a large builder, I must say that I am in a small

category of people that can visualize and conceptualize from a floor plan or blueprint. Most people need to see it.

When beginning any project, whether it be swapping a faucet, a weekend project or a full kitchen renovation, it begins with the concept of your idea, your dream and your vision. A designer helps guide your vision into reality. Sometimes the reality is different from the expectation. Inevitably, issues will arise. This is how avoid those pitfalls. Plan, plan, and then plan again. The more prepared you are for a renovation or change, the more smoothly the project will move ahead.

Start with the simple things to execute. Keep detailed notes. Meetings, phone calls, receipts and selections.

Your headaches will be eased if you keep track.

If your General Contractor doesn’t keep the area tidy, hire a cleaning lady. It’s important to keep it clean of debris, not only for your safety, but to actually see the progress moving ahead. Your time is valuable, hire someone to assist and ease the agony of staying on top of it all. Keep in mind that trades are required to wear their safety boots in your home.

It is imperative to set and stay on (or close to) your budget. Many clients say they are not sure of the budget, which is a sure fire way to go over. Work with your designer to determine a close estimate. You may believe that $10,000 is a reasonable amount when in reality you have envisioned $230,000 worth of work.

Additionally, factor in a 5% contingency for overlooked costs.

I hear horror stories of people get into a renovation and half way through the project they realize that they cannot afford to finish it as they envisioned, which are heartbreaking! Here are some steps to help bring the financial anxiety of renovating to a minimum.

Change Orders. It is going to happen where there will be a change of plan, design or product. Original quotes are created from your plan. Your trade’s people will adjust this for any changes. So when something changes, the client should expect a change order fee to be attached to the final invoice.

Order Extra. Particularly when it comes to a special order item. It is my recommendation that you always order 10% extra more tiles. If you need to move a wall or change the layout you will have enough to cover it.

If you need to order more later, you run the risk of it being out of stock, being more costly, having a long shipping time, or an even larger problem of possibly no colour match! I also recommend that you keep a few extra tiles to replace a broken tile later on.

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“It is imperate to stay on (or close to) your budget.”

Deadlines. Be ready for your project to go over in time, have extra meals prepared, a few extra dollars tucked away and plan a yoga class to reduce your stress! With each renovation you need several trades such as framers, plumbers, electricians, tilers and flooring installers. Many times there can be 2-8 people on the premises at the same time. When a project begins, you or your General Contractor will set a schedule of who is there and when.

Search for qualified trades. Although referrals are excellent, it is also a good idea to look into how long your contractor has been in operation. It will speak to their longevity. Look at work they have done. Are they licensed, bonded and insured (Liability, WSIB, etc.)? Do they carry the New Home Warranty?

There will be something that just can’t be completed to perfection. Staircases, framing dimensions, trim that may change, windows that can’t be moved; not every item can be symmetrically installed to 100% accuracy. The backsplash in my own project is a daily bee in my bonnet! Because of the shape of the tile I chose and the location of the window, it has 1-1/2 tiles on one side of the window and a full tile on the other side to keep the pattern in line throughout the whole backsplash. This really bothers a designer who thinks in symmetry!

To confidently go full steam into a renovation, plan, plan, and plan again. The more prepared you are for a renovation, the smoother the project will move ahead. Just remember two things. One, it’s a renovation and you are in a temporary situation. Two, this is a bonus that is of huge benefit to your home and the function of your family. So, relax, enjoy some meals out, and keep your minds eye on the end result!

Follow Bonnie at FaceBook - Patefaciodesign

TODAYS REAL ESTATE IN A NUTSHELL

Contributed by: Jay Lough Hayes, Sales Representative Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd. 705-772-1025

Bathroom renovations is one of the top five home renovations. Any real estate sales rep-

resentative will tell you that bathrooms and kitchens sell homes. As long as a woman can waltz into a house, produce a healthy meal and wash the family in a clean environment, chances are that house instantly becomes a home and you have a sale.

I grew up on a farm in The Ottawa Valley, a typical farmhouse kitchen and an outhouse for those quiet times when you needed to be alone. No indoor plumbing; we upgraded to a flush toilet sometime when I was a teenager, living in the lap of luxury … running water inside the house. Our grandfather hooked up a motor to the handpump from the well to water the livestock long before we had running water in the house. And don’t even get me started on Ma Bell and our party phone line.

Years ago, my husband at the time, dropped the cap off a shampoo bottle during his shower. With while everything was open, we had a new baththe bottle cap lodged somewhere in the drain or room window installed. The old tub, heavy as the plumbing, the water just sat in the bathtub. dickens, was lugged down the 100 year old hardWith a “Help!!” call, my father-in-law showed up wood stairs. Norm’s provided us with a lovely new with tool box in hand. After yelling at my hus- tub complete with a drain stopper. Well, why not band in Italian while standing in the kitchen below enjoy a new vanity and mirror while we’re at it? the bathroom, he deduced where the lodged cap My Italian father-in-law proved to excel as a tile should be. With crowbar and skill saw in hand, he installer, laying down a lovely, white ceramic tile removed the 100 year old kitchen ceiling. That bathroom floor. New baseboard trim was painted $3.00 bottle of shampoo was going to get expen- and installed and after only 2 weeks of showersive. The ceiling, now on kitchen floor, exposed ing at the in-laws’ house, our bathroom reno was the bathroom plumbing. Copper plumbing, the complete. Why stop there? expensive kind we can’t afford today, 2” copper drain. With the water shut off to the house and all plumbing from the 2nd floor drained, our expensive copper piping was cut open and the elusive bottle cap retrieved. But, not before we decided that while the kitchen ceiling was on the floor, we could and should replace the toilet with a new one and give it that modern look by angling it into the corner. Home Depot hadn’t expanded to Peterborough yet so Norm’s Cash and Carry got all our business. Of course, when this house was built, they never installed a bathroom window so, Page 38

We must have been bored or crazy. It took another few weeks to renovated the kitchen. As luck would have it, while the 9 foot kitchen ceiling was down, we decided to lower it 12 inches. New drywall, tape, mud and paint looked pretty nice. So nice that we decided to replace the vinyl kitchen floor that was beat up when the ceiling was removed.

New kitchen cupboards were installed complete with a new counter top. Why stop now? This calls for a celebration with fresh paint for the walls. Yippee! By the time all these renovations were completed, we decided to get married. If we could live

“Homeowners spend from $20,000 ... to $65,000 on an upscale bathroom” through this renovation business, we could live through anything. I found the perfect venue –a new (to us) house. We moved and enjoyed a beautiful outdoor wedding by our new pool.

Today we sell homes that have been upgraded to resemble a spa. Big fluffy white towels folded just so on heated towel racks, odd shaped sinks boasting magnificent taps and hardware, automatic hand soap dispensers, ceramic tile shower floors resembling little stones, marble flooring, waterfall walls, heated toilet seats, bidets, free standing bath tubs, floating vanities, open designs, and the list goes on.

Unfortunately too many homeowners will “make do” with the bathroom they originally purchase with the house and only when the time comes to move, do they renovate to sell. On average, homeowners spend from $20,000 for a midrange bathroom reno, and nearly $65,000 on an upscale bathroom.

At resale, midrange renovations recoup 67.2% of their costs, while upscale renovations recoup 60.2%.

Labour averages 50% of the total project price at about $65 per hour so if you can DIY, do, but if not, please, hire a professional. It’s so worth it!

Thinking of Buying or Selling in the Kawartha area?

Call Peterborough Realty Inc. 705-745-4704

Home Inspections Winterizing a house you will continue living in for the winter is much less work

By Steve Irvine

than closing down a cottage for months. Both should be done before the 1st frost.

Home Sweet Home Inspections Pick what of the following applies to you.

Thoroughly clean gutters and downspouts. Check for leaks and make any repairs. You want water runoff to move away from the structure. When water freezes it expands. If it expands in a confined area the pressure can split a pipe. It is important to not only turn the water off, but to drain the pipes as much as possible. Shut off exterior water and drain the pipes leaving the outside tap open. Cover the top of the air conditioner.

If you are closing down a cottage with or without heat, you still need to follow the same procedures. If your heating unit goes out while you are not there, burst pipes make big messes and expensive opening weekends. Shut off all water & drain all pipes (feed and drain) including the hot water heater & pressure tank if applicable. Unplug the water pump to prevent it from accidentally turning on. Open all taps to help drain the system and relieve pressure. Pour a little antifreeze into each drain and trap. Run the dishwasher and washing machine with the water shut off to pump out any residual moisture. Flush toilets and add a little antifreeze in the bowl. Unplug all appliances except a sump pump if present. It must remain powered to protect against snow melting. If you have a wood burning fireplace make sure the damper is closed and secure. Showing up in the spring to find a squirrel family residing in your place will not be an easy cleanup.

Secure sheds, boats and exterior furniture to prevent vermin damage. Disconnect propane tanks from barbecues and space heaters. A good closing makes for an uneventful and less expensive opening.

Steve Irvine has been a Home Inspector for 17 years and has an Engineering Degree. When he’s not working, you will probably see him on the road riding his Triumph Storm or on the ice pretending to be a goalie.

You can reach Steve at www.steveirvine.ca or by Email steve.irvine.1960@gmail.com Follow Steve on Facebook at Steve Irvine’s Home Sweet Home Inspections Inc. Page 39

Vinyl Revisited Drop the Needle

By Jay Cooper Contributor / Musican

There is nothing quite like the feeling of unwrapping a new album, reading the cov-

er and dropping the needle in anticipation of listening to a new record. Growing up in the 1970’s was a different time. We had very few TV channels and played outside.

There were no computers or internet to distract a young mind. But there was one thing that gave that generation huge pleasure and inspired conversation amongst your peers - Vinyl records.

The fact that the music industry intentionally killed records to sell CDs in the mid to late 1980’s, the sales numbers and expanding retail outlets show that vinyl is anything but dead.

The question is easy - Do you remember your first record or do you remember your first download? For me and countless others, our first record is the easy answer. Still having hundreds of albums myself, I wanted some insight from industry professionals and avid collectors on this subject.

I spoke to Bob Roper, who is a music industry icon and has worked at WEA (Warner/Elektra/Atlantic) Records, Capitol Records, EMI Music, A&M Records and is now the Vice President and Chair of the Arts Management Program at The Harris Institute. He has worked with bands such as RUSH, Gowan, Van Halen, Supertramp, Blue Rodeo, The Nylons, Glass Tiger, Rik Emmett, Molly Johnson, Styx, Honeymoon Suite, Ian Thomas, Spirit of the West, AC/DC, Doobie Brothers, Burton Cummings, Trooper, and many more. He is also a lover and avid collector of vinyl.

Bob Roper Page 40

Having seen first hand the dark days of the end of vinyl, Bob explains, “Companies are hell bent on killing CDs, which isn’t unlike when I sat in the board room at WEA and cried the day Warner and everyone else decided not to press vinyl. We’re going to make them buy a CD. We’re going to make them pay two and a half times what it costs us to make a record and they’re going to have to re-buy their entire collection. So what I do is buy those records that were not released in the 80’s and 90’s on vinyl that are being released now. At one point I had over 17,000 records and one day I moved some stuff and realized that the floorboards were about two inches lower than they should have been. I had put them on a wall that didn’t have

“I sat in the board room at WEA and cried the day Warner ... decided not to press vinyl.”

enough support. I’m surprised the entire floor of the house didn’t collapse. Since then, I have decreased my collection to about 2,700 pieces of vinyl, which is the cream pick of the stuff I listen to.”

When CDs were released, the allure of reading the inserts and covers was diminished. Bob says, “The thing you missed with cassettes and CDs is you need glasses or a magnifying glass. With CDs, a lot of artists and companies didn’t put extensive booklets in them.

Digitally, good luck finding any credits anywhere. I like to know who wrote the songs, played the instruments, produced and engineered the record. That’s the magic of opening up a traditional piece of vinyl, as I spend just as much time looking and reading as I do listening. It’s an organic connection to the artist. An interesting fact is when I was working at Capitol Records and I got a test pressing of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon to take home and listen to, as I had to promote it. The first pressing had no band cuts on the record. There were no individual songs, just straight through. They held it back because they realized radio plays singles and have to put the tone arm down (he laughs).”

Bob says, “My first records my Dad bought me singles on 78’s, like Fats Domino, and then I switched to 7” singles. But my first album my Mother brought home from Eaton’s was a Connie Francis record - when you bought a certain product you got a free record. My birthday was the next week and they bought me a Bobby Rydell album, as it was the Pop movement (at that time). I know I’ve been yelled at and told I’m full of crap, but I think vinyl (analog) sounds better than CDs (digital).”

Bob’s five favourite records are Jimmy Reed Live at Carnegie Hall, Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon, Waiting for Columbus by Little Feat, Emilylou Harris and Willie Nelson Red Headed Stranger.

Al Joynes, CEO of Joyndt Productions, was a DJ at Q107 radio station in Toronto, Durham Radio Inc. The Rock in Oshawa and CJ92 in Calgary. With over 30 years in radio broadcasting and a very popular Podcast, Al gives his insight to the past and present of vinyl.

Al Joynes

He says, “The first record I heard was a 45 of The Beatles, I Saw Her Standing There. I loved vinyl from the first time I saw it and listened to it.

The whole magic got lost with CDs and the little booklet (that came with it). I loved opening it up and reading the notes and lyrics and credits. I’m looking right now at the Roger Waters album, The Life We Really Want, and reading the liner notes.

Even to this day it’s magical stuff. I used to have about 2,000 albums and took them out to Calgary for work. When I got back in 1986, my first son was born and we were light on cash flow, so I sold some of my records. I now have around 700. I’m always looking for more and just ordered Queen II off of Amazon on vinyl. I still go to the flea markets a couple times a year looking for records. My brother got me The Party by Max Webster - it’s a piece of history. I worked with Kim Mitchell (singer for Max Webster) at Q107. The first single I ever bought was Steppenwolf’s Magic Carpet Ride and played it endlessly. My father bought me the whole album so we could listen to something else (he laughs). I played the first CD on air at CJ92, which I believe was Dire Straits, Brothers in Arms.

(When I returned to Toronto) at Q107 they still played vinyl and I was like YES!!!”

“Another interesting part of records is buying one with no knowledge of who the artist is just for the Continued on Page 42

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Vinyl Revisited Drop the Needle cover or artwork. That’s how I got into Frank Zappa (he laughs). My parents were like, who the hell is this guy but I have a ton of Frank’s work and bought it because he looked cool,” Al says.

He continues, “A humorous on-air vinyl faux pas was in Calgary at CJ92. It was the middle of the night and I had some friends come over after the bar to have a look at the station. We had this Album Replay, like they do on Q107, and you just let the album roll. I don’t remember which album it was but I put it on and started the tour of the station and only 30 seconds in, it started to skip. The tour lasted 20 minutes, we come back and the phones are ringing like a sales office and I’m like WTF? It had skipped for 19 minutes and 30 seconds (he laughs).”

Al’s five favorite records are Frank Zappa Absolutely Free, Neil Young American Stars ‘n Bars, Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street, King Crimson In the Court of the Crimson King and Alice Cooper Killer.

Craig Collett is a musician, the owner and president of Coll Audio Backline and is an avid collector of vinyl. Craig says, “I’m a huge fan of vinyl and have been my whole life and the reason is, it sounds better. If you put a digital recording through the same stereo as your album, the difference is astounding.

My collection of vinyl is slightly north of 10,000 pieces and I’m still adding. I find myself buying used records I missed out on the first time around. A friend owns a record store and the demographics of their customers span from young to old. I have never been without LPs or a turntable. In the late 1980’s, companies killed the LP for CDs. You can fit a ton more CDs into a warehouse than records. In the dark days of the early 1990’s, I would go to yard sales and find 500 albums in milk crates and offer $50 for all of it. The guy would say I don’t think so and the wife would be like SOLD (he laughs). I also buy records based on the cover and never heard of, like this German Prog band Nektar, for instance”.

Craig also has the tools to keep his collection of vinyl flat and clean. “I have a Vinyl Flat, which is 2 Page 42

Craig Collett

heavy pieces of aluminum with a protective cover inside and I’ve flattened out warped records with no difficulty at all”, he says. Another product is the Vinyl Revirginizer, which is a liquid that coats the record. When it dries, you peel it off, removing the dirt between the grooves of the LP. And another option is the Disco Antistat or Spin Clean, which also cleans the dirt out.

Craig’s five favourite records are Beach Boys Pet Sounds, The Beatles Sgt Pepper, Rush Farewell to Kings, Todd Rundgren Something/Anything? and Elvis Aloha for Hawaii.

James McKenty is a Music Producer/Audio Engineer/Musician (The Spades)/Music Event Planner here in Peterborough. He says, “My father was an avid record collector. I spent countless hours listening to a very diverse body of music from those albums. I learned how to play from listening to vinyl. My Dad had a stereo where I would press pause and record on the tape deck, plug a guitar into it, throw a record on and play along. My love of vinyl is the act of doing it, of physically getting up turning the record over and putting the needle down. It’s that tactile stuff compared to a file or online. The format is where there’s an A side and

“The whole magic got lost with CDs and the little booklet (that came with it).”

B side and you follow how the story goes on those sides. With The Spades, Tom Street and I had a little label and would have a single every month.

People would subscribe and they would get a vinyl record in the mail. Being the guy that does so many studio sessions, a lot of my favourite musicians now are the guys that you don’t hear about - that show up on these albums. So sitting with a vinyl record, I’m constantly reading the credits, who played on this, Oh Wow, he played on that one too. You start to connect the dots of the musical communities and learn the names of the musicians. I don’t think you learn their names by going on a YouTube clip or Spotify, as this is digging deep stuff.”

James continues, “The thing that made the vinyl resurgence for me, was I had two of these binders (that hold) 200 CDs, and they were stolen from my car. I said I could re-buy (them all) or dust off the stereo and come back to records. Ever since, it has been nothing but buying vinyl. I do buy new and reissued releases, but it’s those garage sale finds

when you buy the whole milk crate for $5. I still drive around with my wife and say yard sale and she’s like no way (he laughs).”

James says, “I’ve made recordings that now end up on vinyl and with the resurgence, bands I’m working with are pressing vinyl. All that hard work, now pressed and packaged with beautiful artwork.

It’s in my DNA. I’m recording an album, even if that’s not where it’s going to end up (he laughs).

Does the music sound better for me with vinyl compared to digital? I’m not too sure if it does. But it makes the meal look more appealing on the plate (he laughs). When you get done recording and mixing and then it goes to mastering, that mastering engineer is usually trying to make it as loud as everything else out there. But they also do a vinyl master where they are not as concerned with it. So the audio sounds better because they treat it with more delicate hands, so to speak, and keep the dynamics of the music.”

“Buying an album just because of the cover - I have done that tons of times. A new one, believe it or not, is Bongo’s Flutes and Guitars. I thought, I like all those instruments, I wonder what they sound like together and the cover was a midcentury modern art piece. So that’s one of my new favourite records. It’s all studio musicians and not a band,” he says.

James’ five favourite records are Myles Davis Kind of Blue, Neil Young Tonight’s the Night, Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers, The Beatles Revolver and Jimi Hendrix Electric Ladyland.

So pull out your records, drop the needle, listen to the music, read the liner notes, and enjoy. Whether Vinyl is the new/old alternative for a listener of any age group, or just a nostalgic highway that we all love once again and love to travel on. It’s keeping our love of music alive and well.

James McKenty Page 43

The next generation Leahy

By Jay Cooper Contributor / Musican

Following the Family Tradition The

Leahy family are not only known and loved throughout the world, but they are also the pride and joy of Lakefield Ontario.

The eleven siblings worked hard with countless shows and their efforts are definitely noticed with a Platinum Album, three Juno Awards and an Academy Award for a short film about the family. So now it’s time for The Next Generation Leahy kids to take centre stage.

Sitting down with father Doug and the children was a history lesson and what’s to come in the future.

The conversation started with Doug explaining, “I’m 5th generation Irish. Michael Leahy came over here with his family in 1825. My mom is from Cape Breton Nova Scotia and met my father in the Ottawa Valley at a fiddle contest. The Leahy farm is a busy place on Hwy 28 just east of Lakefield. Throughout spring till fall, the Leahy Market is where the family all work together. Doug says, “Mom and Dad bought this farm 50 years ago, I took it over in 2000 with my wife Jennifer and we have nine children”.

Why do they love Lakefield and the Kawarthas? “It’s amazing to have the opportunity to travel the world with our music, but when you go away makes you appreciate what home is. We love the landscape, trees and water. And the proximity to Toronto is wonderful for traveling. The land, crops and cattle are what I grew up with and I’m passing it along to our children. It’s a wonderful environment to raise a family.

The stage and the travel are fantastic but there has to be balance between both. And home is home”, says Doug.

How is it possible that all these siblings can play different instruments and dance so well? Doug explains, “My Dad was the youngest of nine boys and they all played instruments and he didn’t. They had a Page 44

“You will find yourself surrounded by the beautiful landscapes” party and the others were playing and it drove him crazy (he laughs). The next morning he asked one of his brothers to teach him to play the fiddle. That was how badly he wanted to do what the rest could do. Now with all the Leahy’s there are 38 grand children and most of them play music. It’s an environment that our kids are surrounded by. They love and want to play and perform so nothing is forced. The kids also listen to different styles of music and play those styles and when you bring those flavours together you create something new and exciting.”

Doug continued, “The Next Generation Leahy’s evolved because my parents had a band that played at dances and weddings. When the kids got older they would do a number and then my generation started to take over the spotlight without my parents. Now the same thing is happening again. Our children did a few songs with us but people started to want a full show with them. So we built a show over about a year, as we want to do everything very well. Then it took off and we have toured most of North America and have been invited to go to Scotland, Ireland and even China. They are now the show and the odd time they bring us out which is awesome (he laughs).”

As the kids explain, “With some early shows we would come out with a few of us as Mom was home taking care of the little ones. But now we go as a whole family, travel the world and we love it. Celtic Music has an edge in with fairs, festivals, theatres and community events where it’s desired and wanted. Some other genres have not as many options. Two of our favourite gigs are The Milwaukee Irish Fest, which has so much energy, and our Christmas Tour across Ontario. And this year we will be at Showplace here in Peterborough on November 22nd”.

The Leahy’s are a talented family spanning many generations.

Thank you Doug, Jennifer, Adele, Gregory, Angus, Cecilia, Joseph and Evelyn for taking the time to speak with me. It’s been a pleasure. www.thenextgenerationleahy.com

Royal Wood Singer - Songwriter - Producer

By Jay Cooper Contributor / Musican

I had the chance to speak to Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer and arranger Royal Wood. Royal has a farm in Lakefield Ontario and loves the Kawarthas.

What is it that Royal loves about the Kawarthas?

“Growing up, Lakefield was home and no matter where I am now, it is still home. There were five kids in our family, and we had incredible parents.

Music and nature was such a huge part of it as we lived on 100 acres of farmland. The Kawarthas is one of the most beautiful places in Canada. It’s a pretty easy place to grow up and be inspired to make music when you’re surrounded by that kind of beauty and have that kind of culture. And you have a lot of time on your hands as a country kid and you create your own fun. I wasn’t a kid to pick up a hockey stick, but instead grabbed an instrument and just ran with it. I took my guitar outside and wrote songs. I love it here and now own the farm I grew up on. I’m blessed to still have a piece of my childhood into adulthood.” Because Royal travels so much, being close to an airport is a necessity so he also has a condo in Toronto, “But any chance I get, I go back to the farm”, he says.

Playing music has been a lifelong passion. Royal started playing piano by ear at the age of 4. “I was such a fortunate kid as my parents loved music.

With a piano and guitar in the house I had access to find where my talents lie.” He continued, “All my siblings play music in one way or another. My brother Luke and I made a career out of it and my parents are very proud.”

Royal has definitely ‘made it’ in the music industry, yet he says, “What is making it? (he laughs) I don’t even know what that means. I mean, people on my level don’t know, people on a bigger level don’t know, so it doesn’t matter as long as you’re happy making music and it’s heart felt.

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Then I think you’ve made it.”

So what are Royal’s influences? “I was a kid surrounded with all types of music. My Dad liked country, big bands to jazz, my Mom loved classical and my 3 brothers were playing newer music and classic rock songs that they thought were cool. I had an uncle that passed and we got all his vinyl and reel-to-reel music, and it was Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Cat Stevens and Billy Joel while most of my friends were into New Kids on the Block. So I don’t sit down to write a certain way, just all those influences are in the songs.”

“Connecting with musicians and the audience is such an addictive moment.”

and read along as you listen to the record. I only buy vinyl now myself.”

When asked about where he likes touring, Royal says, “I just love the moments on stage. Connecting with musicians and the audience is such an addictive moment, and I love it. But to play in Canada and Ontario or Peterborough is a very special time being a Canadian; it brings me back to my childhood.”

His band is truly a band of brothers and not just hired guns. “My core band has been with me since 2006.

I try to keep singers all of the time, but we have to change that up at times. My bass, drums and keys have been part of it for a long time, so I’m very blessed that way.”

From the Milk Weed EP in 2003 to Love will Linger in 2018, Royal has been cranking out albums every couple of years. “I think I would put out even more music if I was allowed to. I’m always writing and have something to say. I always said I would stop the day I didn’t have something to say but, as I said to my wife when we met, you realize this is never going to stop,” he laughs.

There is a Documentary and live recording coming out soon. “It was a live recording when I headlined Massey Hall last year and there is a short documentary that will be included with Sam Roberts and Jim Cuddy saying nice things,” he laughs.

When asked what Royal thought about streaming services, he responded, “Well it’s not a revenue generator but a way to get your stuff out there. And we can’t fight it, so I like to be a part of it and know how to navigate through it. Touring is a huge part of it since I’ve always toured, but streaming is the wild west with no answers. I will figure it out like everyone else. I do believe it’s an A.D.D. society now, where a whole body of creativity is ignored by listening to just one song.”

You can get Royal’s work on vinyl as well as CD’s.

He says, “Absolutely, I’ve been on that train since 2008. I tour with it, meet fans and sign it for them.

It’s become a bit of an enterprise and you sell far less CD’s in this day. So cool to read all the credits

I asked Royal what his best gig was, to which he responded, “Wow, that’s a tough one. I’d have to say the day I quit my job and did this full time. The first gig after that was a properly ticketed show. It was in Toronto and we sold out instantly. I took the risk and it all worked out, so that would be it.”

Next, I asked what his worst gig was, and he laughed, “Oh that one’s easy. Before I quit my job, I made a record, hired promo people, a full band and touring van and booked all my shows. The first place I played was in Guelph Ontario. I thought people would show up at this place I had never been to and the record was only out for one week. (he laughs) We load in, sound check and are ready to play. The doors open and nobody is walking in. So the opening act plays and still no one is there. Then we go on and I’m playing to the bartender and literally no one showed up. And I was like OK, that was not the best thing to do. (he laughs) I learned a very valuable lesson to build an audience first.”

I asked Royal what he would like to say to all his fans.

His closing line was, “You keep listening and I’ll keep creating the music and I truly thank you for that.”

It was great chatting with one of our Kawartha family members who has made an impact on all our lives.

Royal Wood is a down to earth, true musican, singer and songwriter who speaks from his heart. Once you listen to him, you won’t forget him.

Website: www.royalwood.ca Facebook: www.facebook.com/RoyalWood Page 47

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