Lindsay column
New weekly column of Lindsay, City of Kawartha Lakes news debuts
Lisa Gervais’s column debuts
While it might seem counter-productive to walk or run five or 10 kilometres and then eat ice cream, that’s exactly what hundreds of Lindsay and area residents did this past Sunday, July 21.
For 35 years, the Lindsay Milk Run has attracted walkers and runners who have no caloric-guilt about finishing the iconic race and enjoying the spoils on hand thanks to the key sponsors, City of Kawartha Lakes Dairy Producers and Kawartha Dairy.
One Lindsay resident shared an amusing story. When she asked a friend how her run had gone, the reply was “butterscotch ripple!”
“Everybody comes for the ice cream and milk,” agreed City of Kawartha Lakes race director Jared Barrieau.
He said reaching the 35-year milestone is a testament to the town’s fitness goals as well as its ability to put together and support a community event. “And I think it has its quaint quality.”
Barrieau said the run attracts its Lindsay regulars but is continuing to grow, drawing people from a wider area, including Peterborough.
Lindsay Milk Run organizers also rely heavily on volunteers. The call went out in May and although there is always a bit of a panic prior to the event, the volunteers come. “They are not runners but they love to come out and support the Lindsay Milk Run,” Barrieau said. He added they couldn’t stage the event without helpers. Residents along the route also assisted by running their sprinklers for hot runners.
“It seems like such a big undertaking but everything just comes together at the end,” Barrieau said.
FLOOD FUNDING
The City of Kawartha Lakes disaster relief committee recently accepted a $5,000 donation from the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC).
Disaster relief committee chair Gord Miller said the July 10 donation had gotten the fundraising campaign off on the right foot. It follows on the heels of last month’s $5,000 donation from the Kawartha Lakes Community Futures Development Corporation.
The committee is raising the money following significant damage after severe flooding in April on the Burnt, Black and Gull River systems.
The City of Kawartha Lakes has applied for provincial funding through the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program (ODRAP) however there is the need for local fundraising. Money raised locally will be matched two to one by the province up to a maximum of 90% per eligible claimant. The committee has set a fundraising goal of $137,000. The IBC donation has brought the total to approximately $12,500 so there is still a long way to go. As the flood waters have receded, so has the community’s memory of the devastation. And, in some cases, the plight of Minden has overshadowed that of CKL residents. However, the need for assistance is still very real. The committee and various politicians insist that no donation is too small.
Donations can be made at municipal service centres in Bethany, Bobcaygeon, Coboconk, Kirkfield, Lindsay and Omemee or online through PayPal at www.city.kawarthalakes.on.ca or the Lindsay branch of the Royal Bank.
Meanwhile, CKL committee project manager Bob Smith told us that all city residents who completed a property damage assessment form have been contacted either by phone or e-mail and all have been sent a letter requesting they complete the ministry’s official forms. These forms have to be received by the city no later than noon Friday, July 26. The forms may be submitted at service centres. Forms are also available at www.city.kawarthalakes.on.ca on the home page under ODRAP or they may be picked up at any of the centres. Any individual that did not submit a form can still complete the claim forms and submit prior to the deadline. Smith said all claimants are reminded that the ODRAP program is to assist with the financial burdens associated with replacing/repairing life’s basic essentials and does not cover seasonal residences or items deemed to be non-essential.
JEWELRY, COINS
When one of those jewelry and coin exchange companies came to Lindsay last week, I decided to satisfy my curiosity and headed off with some gold jewellery that I had purchased when I was doing volunteer work in Guyana some years ago.
I was greeted by a man named Arnold Silver. Silver? I know. I didn’t believe him either until my constant badgering had him finally produce his driver’s licence. Silver took my necklace, pendant and bracelet over to a testing station where he did a scrape test. He literally scraped a piece of jewelry onto a hard surface and then poured acid on the scraping. Each acid had a different karat number so if the mark disappeared it was not that karat size. My mark remained at 14 karats. He then weighed my four grams of gold and said it was 58.5% pure. With gold selling for $1,300 an ounce, he calculated that he would pay me $72.
Not bad, I thought, since I had run into Claire Gunsolus on the way in and she had only made $10. Gunsolus had a jar of bills and coins that belonged to a neighbour. In the end, Maple Leaf Jewelery and Coin Exchange bought three 50 cent silver coins and a silver pendant fromher. She didn’t think her pal would be disappointed though as he hadn’t expected anything. “I’m sure he’ll be quite pleased,” she said of the 10-spot.
But how many of us show up to these things thinking we have a real treasure only to be sadly disappointed?
Silver said it isn’t a secret formula. He said that when it comes to Canadian coins, they are looking for key dates and low mintage years. For example, only 18,700 ’48 silver dollars were ever minted so they are valuable. By contrast, the ’67 silver dollar saw close to 7 million minted so it is nowhere near as rare.
He said pre-1967 minted silver coins are often worth bringing.
Calendar
Concerts in the park: In Lindsay’s Victoria Park, Wednesday, July 24 from 7 to 9 p.m. and Sunday, July 28 from 2 to 4 p.m.; in Bobcaygeon on Thursday July 25, 5:30 to 8 p.m., Gazebo Lock 32, Trent Severn Canal, featuring Washboard Hank and The Fitzgeralds; in Kinmount, Thursday, July 25, 6:30 p.m., Austin Sawmill Park, featuring Johnny Burke. All concerts are free. Library events: July 23: “Where in the World is Flat Stanley?” at the Kinmount branch at 11 a.m.; “Travelling Tots” at the Lindsay branch at 10:30 a.m.; “Mrs. Twist, Balloonologist” at the Bethany branch at 1 p.m.; “Flying High” at the Dunsford branch at 3 p.m. ; “Cyber Camp for Kids” at the Oakwood branch. July 24: “Read to the Dog” at the Dunsford branch 10 – 11:30 a.m; “Woodlands Wildlife Sanctuary” at the Lindsay branch at 2 p.m.; “Cyber Camp for Kids” at the Bobcaygeon branch. “Discover Travel” at the Fenelon Falls branch at 1 p.m. ; July 25: “Cyber Camp for Kids” at the Lindsay branch; “Preschool Summer Reading” at the Bethany branch at 11:15 a.m. ; “Crafts to Go” at the Lindsay branch at 2 p.m. ; “Woodlands Wildlife Sanctuary” at the Coboconk branch at 3 p.m; “Mrs. Twist, Balloonologist” at the Kirkfield branch at 2 p.m. July 26: “French Storytime” at the Lindsay branch at 10:30 a.m.; “Cyber Camp for Kids” at the Woodville branch. July 29: “Safety First! with Constable Lanning and partner OPPie” at the Little Britain branch at 11 a.m.; “Mrs. Twist, Balloonologist” at the Omemee branch at 11 a.m. .; “Travel the ocean” at the Coboconk branch at 11 a.m. Interview skills/networking workshops: free workshops for youth starting July 23 at various CKL public libraries. Learn effective networking strategies; use social networking to navigate the hidden job market and learn how to prepare for an interview. Contact: Tyler Minnie, Email: tminnie@careerservices.org or call 705-328-0180 Student summer job search workshop: July 23, 4 to 5 p.m. at VCCS Employment Services, 370 Kent St. W. Free for youth. Learn to write an effective resume and cover letter and other job search skills. Contact Garnet Tosswill, Email: gtosswill@careerservices.org or call 705-328-0180 Lindsay Al-Anon: St. Andrews Presbyterian Church (side entrance, ring bell) every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. For relatives, friends and children of problem drinkers. For more info call 1-888-425-2666. Yoga classes @ Carden Rec Center: free yoga classes run Wednesdays at the Carden Recreation Centre from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. For more information call 705-833-2294. Lake open house — It's all about your lake: Wednesday, July 24, 7 to 9 p.m., Coronation Hall, 1 King St. W. Omemee and Fenelon Falls, Monday, July 29, 7 to 9 p.m. at the Fenelon Falls Community Centre. Walk and Talk: at Fenelon Falls United Church – Thursday, July 25, 10 a.m. to noon, 123 Colborne St., join in the church parking lot any Thursday morning at 10 a.m. for a fun walk, sharing stories and making friends. Bring a lunch to share after. Beverages will be provided.