Dirt Bike Community Rallies Around Local Family After 8-Year-Old Boy Airlifted To Sick Kids

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Nixon Parsons, 8, of Peterborough suffered a bad dirt bike accident at Burnt River Off Road Facility on Saturday.

Community, friends and family are rallying around the Parsons family to see them through this trying time.

According to Kieran Gillooly, family friend and member at Burnt River, Parsons, his brother and dad are regular riders and Burnt River members. His mom and baby sister can often be found cheering on the sidelines.

On Saturday, Parsons was air lifted to sick kids in critical condition, where he has had multiple CT scans and MRI’s. His neurology team is focusing on his brain.

Parsons suffered small contusions on his brain, some swelling and bruising. On Sunday hospital staff started to bring him off his medication. Gillooly says he is moving all limbs, ‘but only flickers in his left hand’.

Doctors and nurses are monitoring brain activity for brain seizures.

He has also suffered a broken nasal cavity, broken orbital bones and has lost many of his teeth.

As of Monday, Parsons has undergone surgery to close gashes around his mouth. That surgery will be followed by stitching in his mouth to help close a hole in his pallet and to try and reattach pieces of his gum. He will also need to undergo facial bone surgery.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Parsons mother let friends and family know that surgery went well.

According to Gillooly, Parsons is still using a breathing tube and is responding to his parents touches with small movements of his body.

“Our entire dirt bike community is feeling the heart ache for Nixon and his family,” said Gillooly in a social media post. “It is a parents worst nightmare come true.”

Parsons’ parents, Jake and Bennica, are by his side constantly, though the hospital only allows one parent from 9 p.m. - 6 a.m. Bennica and Parsons’ 5-month-old sister have been staying in a hotel.

To help lessen the financial strain, Gillooley asks those that are willing and able to send e-transfers directly to Parsons’ mom at bennicabrown@outlook.com. Funds will be automatically deposited and used for hotels, food and to keep up with bills at home.

“Nixon is only eight years old and is battling the biggest race right now and needs everyone’s prayers and to cheer him on,” wrote Gillooly. “He is the toughest kid I have ever met, and his continued forward progress shows just how much of a fighter he is.”

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Canada's Dinosaur Park Creates GoFundMe For New Habitat Building After Alleged Contractor Issues

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Non-profit reptile zoo Canada’s Dinosaur Park has set up a GoFundMe for their new habitat building on Wednesday after its contractor Total Construction Management Services Inc. (TCM) allegedly abandoned the construction.

File photo.

The fundraiser is set for $200,000 to complete the new building, cover legal costs to file a lawsuit against TCM and pay the sub-contractors and workers according to the GoFundMe page.

Sharper Construction LTD, Steel Con Contracting, Peterborough Crane Rentals and Zenner Concrete Pumping were the supposed unpaid subcontractors.

TCM was hired in September last year to complete the building for the next month and was given $300,000 as stated by the Dinosaur Park staff.

The park claims TCM abandoned construction in December and never returned to the job site since. The contracting company embezzled the money without paying workers and disappeared according to park director Byr Loyst.

“It’s sad that someone would do that to the animals and to a charity, he said. “I can’t believe someone is that awful a person.”

TCM owner James Gillingham has been contacted several times and by PTBOCanada by the park but did not respond. The director claims that TCM’s lawyer said the park would be reimbursed by Gillingham but was delayed by several months.

According to Loyst, he received a phone call from the TCM’s lawyer on Wednesday and the latter allegedly was lied to by Gillingham and did not have his retainer paid. The call left the park to create the GoFundMe.

If the fundraiser’s goal has been achieved, the park’s intention to take legal action would be in question. The decision would be decided by their board of directors said Loyst. He claims that the law firm he spoke with requires roughly $50,000 to pursue legal action.

Ultimately, the park’s director just wants the building finished for the reptiles and the workers to be properly compensated for their work. The incomplete building prevents admission income to maintain the park to be open to the public.

“I’m more concerned about the animals than anything else,” said Loyst. “The tortoises are stuck inside, not able to go in and out as they please and we have not been able to open.”

Donations for the GoFundMe or CanadaHelps for Canada’s Dinosaur Park can be made online.

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Community Rallies Around Kit Coffee After Trying Two Years

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Kit Coffee, a locally owned coffee shop on Hunter Street, is reaching out to the community with a GoFundMe in hopes to keep the café open.

Kit Coffee is located at 144 Hunter Street. Photo by Luke Best.

Helen McCarthy started Kit Coffee in 2018 with a business partner. Initially, they operated out of the Peterborough Regional Farmers Market, and did pop-up shops at Hello Baby on Charlotte Street.

As the business grew the two were faced with the decision of opening a brick and mortar shop. After contemplating, it was decided that McCarthy would carry on with Kit Coffee alone, and she opened up shop on Hunter Street in July 2019.

“This had been something I wanted to do since I was 15,” said McCarthy. “This spot came available and it was already a coffee shop so it really was serendipitous that it was available then and I dove in.”

Since opening, Kit Coffee has faced many hurdles, while still providing downtown Peterborough with fresh coffee and handmade, baked goods.

In January 2020 McCarthy broke her ankle, which prohibited them from working in the shop, meaning she had to pay more employees.

Shortly after that the COVID-19 pandemic shut down Kit Coffee and the local business world took a great hit.

In July 2020 McCarthy broke both of her ankles, sidelining them from her own business yet again.

“It’s a combination of COVID and the fact that I was off work for the better part of two years. 2020 was a terrible year.”

@ptbo_canada hanging out at the lovely @KitCoffeePtbo today! Check out the gofundme in the comments to help the coffee shop with 🤌🏻 vibes out #localbusiness #CoffeeShop #LocalCafe #GoFundMe ♬ As It Was - Harry Styles

Facing lockdown after lockdown, then loosing product after the Derecho that caused power outages all over Peterborough, McCarthy says Kit Coffee is now struggling to stay afloat.

“With the price of things right now everyone is feeling scrunched and I totally get that.” she said. “That being said I have such amazing regulars.”

She launched a GoFundMe on Monday in hopes to gather support from the community.

“It’s so hard to ask for help and to ask for money to support your dream,” she said. “I don’t feel entitled for people to donate, I don’t expect people to donate but people have told me they would like the opportunity to help.”

Since its launch, the GoFundMe has raised over $3,000. McCarthy says the money will go to paying off debt that accumulated over the last two years, and to completing some much needed repairs.

“It hasn’t even just been money. People have offered their time, people have made a point to come in and buy a coffee, they’ve offered kind words, it’s been great.”

To donate to the GoFundMe click here.

Kit Coffee is a safe space for the queer and BIPOC communities of Peterborough. They host music during Peterborough’s ‘First Friday Art Crawl’. McCarthy says in the future they hope to be able to host more events to showcase local talent.

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Emma Purdie Remembered Ten Years After Her Passing With Golf Tournament

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The Emma Purdie Memorial golf tournament will take place at Black Diamond Golf Club on July 7.

Photo courtesy of Barb Purdie.

Ten years after the tragic passing of Emma Purdie at 20 years old, friends and family are gathering at Black Diamond Golf Club to remember her and to raise money for the two scholarships in Purdie’s name.

The EP scholarship is awarded to two students, one at Thomas A. Secondary School (TASS) and the other at Queen’s University.

At TASS the winner of the EP Memorial scholarship must exemplify a love of the arts, a passion for performing, a spirit of bringing people together to achieve a common goal and an ability to support others in realizing their dreams.

At Queens the scholarship recipient will be a member of Dance Pak, a dance team that Purdie was a part of during her studies. The recipient is chosen by the team and represents Emma’s vivacious and outgoing personality.

Those interested in golfing can sign up by emailing bpurdie@xplornet.com.

In addition to golfing there are various prizes to be won.

Prizes include:

A Traeger Pro 780 Peller Grill valued at $1400

Home and Health Package: a day of painting in the winners home with the Friendly Painter Nikolas Cooke, a 50” flatscreen Smart TV (LR Brown Audiovisual) and a photoshoot with Mary Zita Payne Photography valued at $1200

Four Season Package - A round of golf for four with carts at Black Diamond Golf Club, four passes to Brimacombe Ski Resort and one night at Whispering Springs valued at $1300

Two Tickets to a regular season Leaf Game for 2022-23 season and a $200 Keg Gift Card valued at $850

Tickets are 8 for $20 and can be purchased by emailing Barb Purdie at bpurdie@xplornet.com

Please include name, phone number and which prizes you would like your tickets in included in the message.

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Fleming College Students Council Hosting Car Wash For Emergency Food Bank

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Fleming College Student Administrative Council (SAC) will be hosting a car wash to collect non-perishable food donations for the Emergency Food Bank for students experiencing food insecurity, on Thursday.

“Wash Away Hunger Food Drive” will be on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fleming College’s Sutherland Campus in the Spruce Parking lot. There is no charge for car washes other than a non-perishable food item. The car wash is open to anyone to participate.

“Food insecurity among students has increasingly become an issue. With rising food costs and a difficult rental market, students are having to choose between buying groceries and paying rent,” says Alannah Kennedy, Fleming SAC President.

The Fleming Emergency Food Bank was established by Fleming SAC to support students and help address food insecurity. Historically the food bank is stocked through donations from the student community, Fleming faculty and staff as well as through outreach programs. With online learning and various Covid protocols, collecting food donations has been challenging. It is hoped that this event will help restock the emergency food bank to assist students in need.

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Third Annual Lakers Alumni Golf Tournament To Support Peterborough Grassroots Lacrosse Programs

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Roughly 70 golfers teed off at the Keystone Links Golf & Country Club for the third annual Peterborough Lakers Alumni golf tournament held on Friday.

Johnny “Shooter” Davis as one of four Lakers alumni that participated in the ceremonial tee-off. Photo by Luke Best.

Professional lacrosse players, former Peterborough Lakers and golfing fans were invited to participate in the open tournament. Past and present players including members of the undefeated 1974 Peterborough PCO lacrosse team were in attednance.

All proceeds go towards the Peterborough Lakers Alumni that support the sustainability and grassroots lacrosse programs in the Peterborough area.

“We feel that if we don't focus on that area, then we're just going to dissolve after so many years so focusing on that, trying to make sure we have new kids coming into the game and trying to make it non-cost prohibitive for families,” said Jamie Batley, Alumni president.

Lakers alumni Doug Evans, Paul Evans, Brian Evans, Bob Wasson and Johnny “Shooter” Davis all took ceremonial tee shots from the first hole prior to the tournament.

The tournament had prizes for lowest score, closest-to-pin shots and longest drives for both the male and female categories.

“We know as being sports people, if you put your kids in sports, they learn teamwork, they learn communication, they learn how to work in a group. Lacrosse is a great sport to learn all those values,” said Batley.

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Ennismore Cares Challenges Community To Get #WheelingForMark As They Near Their $20,000 Goal

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With the support of the community and local fundraising group ‘Ennismore Cares’, over $16,000 of a$20,000 goal has been raised for Mark Mose, a six year old boy battling a rare disease.

Ennismore Cares is a group of community members that have come together with the goal of supporting Mark and the Mose family to ease the financial burden that is associated with Mark's diagnosis of an ultra rare disease.

“It is incredibly heartwarming, yet not surprising, to see that our community has shown up for this beautiful boy and his family.” said the Ennismore Cares 2022 Chair, Marcy D'Alessandro. “The Mose family is incredibly grateful for all their support and are overwhelmed by the response thus far.”

The second phase of the campaign is a cartwheel challenge, #wheelingformark.

A new Go Fund Me has been created so that the Mose Family has funds for future travel and medical costs. The goal for the second phase is $6,000 which will surpass the total fundraising goal of $20,000.

Local community members are challenged to film themselves on social media, complete a cartwheel, donate $25 to the campaign and challenge 3 other community members to do the same.

Over 400 students at Mark’s school, St. Martin Catholic Elementary School in Ennismore, kicked off the challenge on Tuesday, challenging other schools in the region to do the same.

Funds raised will go towards the purchase of a hospital bed for Mark and a lift system to make the Mose home more accessible.

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Community Rallies Around Havelock Families After Losing Their Home And Business To Fire

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Local woman Holly Bohnsack lost her home, her business and her pets after a fire destroyed her Havelock home on Sunday.

Photo courtesy of Nicole Ephgrave.

Two tenants that lived upstairs, Steve and Lois Wright were able to get out safely, but also lost everything.

Bohnsack and her two daughters, Sterling and Lakelyn, were not home when the fire started though they lost their beloved dog Otis in the accident.

According to her lifelong friend Nicole Ephgrave, Bohnsack runs her cookie business, April and August, from her home. This means that until she is able to find a new home or a space to bake and replaces the lost equipment she will not be able to run her business.

“Even if she did find a kitchen, she lost all of the tools she needs to make her creations,” said Ephgrave. “They literally lost everything.”

When Ephgrave heard about the fire, she knew she wanted to do something to help.

“Everyone was trying to reach out to see what she needed, but she’s just in shock right now and unsure where to start,” said Ephgrave. “I though we could all contribute and help her start to recover and figure things out over the next little while.”

Currently, Bohnsack and her daughters are staying with a friend and, while they lost everything, Ephgrave thought helping financially would be better for the time being rather than donating household items and clothing.

Less than 24 hours after the GoFundMe was started friends, family, past customers and community members have donated $3,640 to the family.

To donate to the Bohnsack family click here.

A family member of the Wrights also started a GoFunMe, and are accepting physical donations of clothing and necessities as well as monetary donations for both families at The Cottage in Havelock.

To donate to the Wrights click here.

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YWCA Challenge For Mom Raises Over $31,000 To Support Programs For Women Affected By Gender Based Violence

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Participants of the YWCA Challenge for Mom, held between May 1 and Mother’s Day, raised more than $31,000 in support of core YWCA programs serving women and children affected by gender-based violence in Peterborough and Haliburton County.

File Photo.

“Locally, the need for emergency support has increased by 30% since the pandemic began,” explains YWCA’s Ria Nicholson. “With the rising cost of living, women trapped in violent situations - particularly mothers - have even fewer options available than before. Services like Crossroads Shelter, HERS (Haliburton Emergency Rural SafeSpace), Transition and Court Support, and Nourish food programs provided by the YWCA are absolutely essential to women’s safety.”

Many local businesses in Peterborough contributed by donating prizes.

Prizes included a Self and Home Care Prize valued at $800, donated by Euphoria Wellness Spa and Swish Maintenance Ltd., a Décor Prize valued at $750, donated by Leon’s Peterborough and a Foodie Prize valued at $475, donated by Ashburnham Alehouse, Primal Cuts, Morello’s Independent and Millbrook Mercantile. Prize winners were notified personally following the draw on May 31.

YWCA Peterborough Haliburton receives only partial government funding and relies on annual fundraising initiatives to cover basic operating costs. Anyone wishing to add their support is encouraged to visit ywcapeterborough.org or contact Ria Nicholson, Lead Philanthropic Advisor, at 705-743-3526 x113 or rnicholson@ywcapeterborough.org.

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United Way For The City Of Kawartha Lakes Giving is Believing Golf Tournament Teeing Off This Month

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United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes has announced the Giving is Believing golf tournament fundraiser in support of local Community Agencies and the Edwin Binney’s Community Garden will take place on June 22.

Stock Photo

The tournament will take place from noon to 7:30pm at Wolf Run Golf Course, located at 51 Golf Course Road.

Participants can enjoy 18 holes of golf with a cart, a BBQ chicken dinner and prizes for $150 per person.

“We are very excited to be hosting our first in-person fundraising event since 2020, the funds raised from the tournament will help us support Community Agencies in Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County with local programming and continue our food security initiatives,” said Penny Barton Dyke, Executive Director United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes.

Golfers can register as a foursome or an individual by emailing Shantal at communityinvestment@ckl.unitedway.ca

Businesses interested in sponsorship opportunities can contact Jen at jbain@ckl.unitedway.ca.

For more information visit https://ckl-unitedway.ca/uwckl-giving-is-believing-golf-tournament/

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