The Wolf 101.5 Rocks 30th Anniversary With Commemorative Beer to Benefit Kawartha Food Share

The Wolf 101.5 is rocking its 30th anniversary with a commemorative “Howler” beer in a partnership with Bobcaygeon Brewing Company where part of the proceeds goes towards Kawartha Food Share (KFS) in a product launch on Saturday.

Brian Ellis, Wolf morning show host (left) with Brigitte “Gitty” Donaghy, Wolf promotions coordinator (right) broadcasting live on site at Bobcaygeon Brewing Company for the radio station’s 30th anniversary. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The beer titled ‘Howler’ is a four per cent cream ale developed by the local brewery. The Wolf promoted the beer’s launch at the brewery into Saturday afternoon while broadcasting on site.

"They actually created three different beers for us to sample," said Brian Ellis, Wolf morning show host. "We picked the one we picked and we're glad we did because that's the one Bobcaygeon Brewing would hope we picked too."

‘Howler"‘ is a four per cent cream ale that celebrates the Wolf’s 30th Anniversary. The commemoration is printed on the can including the charity aspect on its side. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Each beer sold gets 25 cents towards Kawartha Food Share. The demand for food banks has risen in Peterborough and fundraising for them was an easy decision according to Ellis.

"There's unfortunately a need in the city for their services," he said. "When you look in the past few years, there are more people using Kawartha Food Share, our local food bank in our area and surrounding area than there were two years ago."

Ellis and other Wolf staff a the launch say they are grateful for the community supporting them for three decades. The beer and donating to KFS were one way they wanted to give back to the community.

"You look across the country, across North America and there are not very many radio stations that have been around like we have," explained Ellis. "It goes back again to us trying to give back to the listeners, our sponsors, our advertisers that have kept us in business for 30 years.”

The beer is available at the brewery while supplies last.

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New Downtown Doughnut Shop 'Tragically Dipped' Becomes Instant Hit

Arriving early for a bite at local downtown doughnut shop Tragically Dipped may be a good idea as the new joint sees daily sellouts since its soft opening last week Wednesday.

The name “Tragically Dipped” is an homage to the popular Canadian band “The Tragically Hip” and also references Frampton’s past work as a biohazard technician. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

"We were sold every day last week and we're sold out for pre-orders every day this week," said Mike Frampton, Tragically Dipped owner.

The new business owner says he makes roughly 485 doughnuts a day for preorders. He makes them available on Mondays at 10 a.m. but typically sells out by 4:30 p.m.

Frampton is overjoyed by the customer base and volume he’s attracted in his first week open.

"I couldn't have asked it to be busier so no complaints,” he said. “It's exactly what I wanted it to do and it's doing it."

Frampton’s doughnuts are all nut-free including tree nuts (almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts, etc.). Some doughnuts include gluten-free crullers, fritters, Boston cream, lemon-filled, jelly-filled, maple and honey dips that are available on rotation.

The shop also sells coffee and tea with homebrew options.

Frampton started the business as a change of direction and a mental health break from his previous job. He was a biohazard technician for 15 years, cleaning up contagions such as death scenes or hoarders’ homes.

The doughnut entrepreneur said he was finished with his past career’s trauma and wanted to go from ‘death to doughnuts.’

"Everyone in the city would know me as the 'death guy' before this and now I'm the 'donut guy' and I'll take it," he said. "This is so much better for my mental health.”

@ptbo_canada Move over Tim Hortons there’s a new Canadian favourite in town @TragicallyDippedDonut has no-nuts donuts made from scratch every day! #LocalEats #tragicallyhip #CoffeeShop #DonutShop #PTBOCanada ♬ Ahead By A Century - The Tragically Hip

Frampton had the storefront since May last year but ran into roadblocks and financial hiccups before opening last Wednesday.

Prior to the brick-and-mortar store, Frampton operated Tragically Dipped out of a food truck after receiving a $5,000 startup grant from the Peterborough and the Kawartha Economic Development in March last year.

In an effort to bolster and promote the community, Tragically Dipped will host First Friday Art Crawls to invite artists and chefs to do pop-ups to feature their work.

Customers can view local art and purchase it from the artists or enjoy food made by the chefs that come to in Tragically Dipped.

"Chefs to me are just as artistic as someone who is painting," remarked Frampton. "I would host a chef and they would come up with maybe a fun doughnut-themed or maybe not and we'd do food here and art."

The new entrepreneur thought his vision of a doughnut shop was not going to happen but was relieved to finally get his store open. He was overwhelmed by the response and publicity he received after his first week of business.

"This city is everything to me so to be able to do this in this city is fantastic. I wouldn't do this anywhere else,” reflected Frampton. “I'm blown away. Every time I peek out that door, there's a lineup of people and we're selling out.”

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Family-Owned Downtown Restaurant "Rare" Is Up For Sale

After three years of owning Rare, owners Kassy and Tyler Scott have put the business up for sale announced on their social media on Tuesday.

Two couple rebranded the restaurant to “Rare” in less than one year after purchasing the business. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The husband and wife are selling the business since taking over from previous owner Brad Watt — who owns Publican House Brewery — in the summer of 2019. Tyler was hired as a sous chef by Watt in 2013 at the previously named “Rare Grill House” before becoming the executive chef.

Two couple rebranded the restaurant to “Rare” in January 2020.

They are selling Rare to spend more family time with their two daughters and take care of their mental health. The pandemic was an influence on the decision but ‘not in ways most people would think’ according to the couple. It gave them time to reflect and meditate to recognize what means the most to them.

The two work tirelessly in the restaurant. Kassy works social media, marketing and in-house duties for the restaurant. Tyler worked roughly 80-hour weeks in a six-day span which barely affords him any time to see his children.

“Being able to have evenings, for now, to be able to spend with them as they grow is going to be really refreshing and really important,” said Tyler.

"Our kids are so involved in what we do here," said Kassy. "We look around this space and there's a memory that somebody can't see. Our kids have never known a relationship with their dad outside of their dad being a chef and working super hard in this industry doing super cool things."

The couple wanted to shift their professional focus and rekindle their love for nature in their new “outdoor guided culinary experience” venture called Rare Escape.

They started this endeavour to help tell stories of local food systems including how nature plays a role in getting what you eat to a table.

"A restaurant is a great place to experience each other and experience company and intimacy," said Tyler. "It's a bit of a different setting where you can go and experience your own thoughts and own connections to nature. It's about experiencing nothing else but your own feelings."

The two have stressed that they are not leaving the community since the restaurant’s mandate and philosophy is to support local as much as possible. Their new venture gives them a new outlet to support the surrounding area while leaving behind an outlet for someone to continue that motto.

"We are engraved in this community,” said Kassy. ‘We are going to continue supporting local and to find special ways to implement our community and in our next step and adventures.”

The couple has received inquiries about the business’s sale however they will provide updates on if and when it gets sold.

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