Groovy: New Online Payment System For Large Article Collections

A new online tool will allow City of Peterborough residents to arrange for curbside collection of their large articles from the comfort of their home.
Visit the City’s Waste Management webpage. Under “Current News” there, select “Large Article Collection Info”. Then click on “On-line Purchase” and then choose the collection date you prefer, the items you want collected, and set up an account with your credit card number for payment.

You can also go old school, as Large Article Collection can also be scheduled in person at City Hall, 500 George Street North or the Public Works Office, 182 Townsend Street. The cost for large article collection remains at $15 for the first item, plus $5 for any additional items. The next Large Article Collection takes place on Monday July 28, 2014. Payment must be made by the Thursday preceding collection (July 24th). Call 705-742-7777, ext 1657 for more information.

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If You See Smoking Rising Out Of Sewers In Peterborough That Is Only A Test

The City of Peterborough has announced in a release they are conducting a sewer smoke testing program the next couple months.

The backstory is this: They are working with Cole Engineering Group Ltd. on an Inflow and Infiltration Reduction study. The study’s objectives are to identify sources of rain water entering the sanitary sewers and to develop a plan to reduce these flows.

The sanitary sewer system collects wastewater produced by houses, businesses, and industries and directs it to the treatment plant where the water is treated before being discharged into the river. Inflow and infiltration occurs when rain and ground water enters the sanitary sewers through cracks or holes in the pipe network or other connections such as catch basins or roof downspouts. This increased volume reduces the capacity of the sanitary sewer pipe network and the treatment plant. This also increases the risk of overloading the pipe network and potential basement flooding.

To identify sources of inflow and infiltration, Cole Engineering is conducting the sewer smoke testing program throughout July and August. The smoke test consists of blowing a harmless coloured vapour into City sewer manholes and pipes and observing where the smoke exits from the system. The smoke is expected to exit primarily out of manholes on the street and the sewer plumbing stack at the top of your house. It is also possible for smoke to exit stormwater catch basins and downspouts on your house. The smoke used in the test has no odour, isn’t harmful to your health, and will disappear after a few minutes.

Residents in affected areas will receive a detailed fact sheet prior to the commencement of testing.

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Today Marks The 17th Anniversary Of The Peterborough Flood: Share Your Memories

On July 15, 2004, Peterborough experienced 175 mm of rainfall over the city. During the hour between 3:30 am and 4:30 am alone, 78.8 mm came down. All hell broke loose. Cars were floating (and some people were trapped in them), basements and buildings were flooded, roofs collapsed under the weight of the rain. A State of Emergency was declared by Mayor Sutherland. It made national and international news. It was a day people who lived here will never forget. There is even a "City of Peterborough Flood 2004 Fact Sheet" about that day.

Share your memories of that day with us here in our comments section, on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada using hashtag #PTBOFlood, and on our Facebook page.

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A Beautiful Story About A Peterborough Woman's Plan To Retrace Her Late Dad's Bike Trip In Ireland In 1973

[UPDATE (July 7th): Huffington Post picks up our post.]

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ORIGINAL POST (July 6th)

Peterborough's Megan Murphy was broken and lost when her mother and father passed away—her Dad, Marty, in 2004 at age 57, and Mom, Mary, in 2012 at age 65.

She was depressed after their deaths—both lost battles with cancer, and Megan had been by their side all along—and had lost her spirit for life. She could barely breathe. And so, she did this a lot...

Her parents had been everything to her...

On the eve of her 35th birthday, she found herself returning her engagement ring to her newly titled “ex”-fiance after a five year relationship, packing up her small car with all her belongings, and moving back to her childhood home after her Mom's death...

Once there, she began going through all her parent's old belongings...

Among the belongings, tucked away in a long ignored box, was a diary of her Dad's she’d believed had been lost years before in a house fire. She read the diary. She was enthralled. In the wonderfully descriptive journals, her father wrote about a solo bicycle trip he had taken through southern Ireland in 1973 at age 26 when he was trying to "find himself". The diary chronicled his trip in the beautiful country, his ancestral home, and how this essentially became his journey into manhood.

Megan also found his 1973, 10 speed Peugeot hanging in the rafters of the family garage. It was on this bike, she writes, that her father discovered on his Ireland trip "the beauty of the country that was his ancestral home, the sacredness of solitude, the sting of loneliness, the joy of laughter and the value of his fellow man. He stopped. He took a moment to stand on the precipice and just breathe."

Megan became obsessed with the idea of re-creating her Dad's trip. 

"Maybe if I go backwards and recreate this journey, I can find my own path forward," she writes. And live again. Be this Megan again...

Megan took that old, 40-year-old bike with such a rich history and refurbished it. And now it's this...

She brought it back to life and is training on it because she has an amazing plan. A beautiful plan. She's taking the bike, his journal and a film crew to Ireland to retrace his steps. To find her lost spark—"to find my whimsy again," she says.

Megan now, her Dad then

Megan, an actor, comedian and radio show host in Peterborough, is calling this documentary she'll be doing in Ireland, appropriately enough, Murphy's Law. She's funding it through inheritance money from her parents, and by raising money through an Indiegogo campaign. Her goal is $25,000, and she has raised more than $8,000 so far. She needs your help to keep the momentum going, and there is plenty...

Because really, her journey isn't just a personal one about finding herself and learning more about her Dad, her parents, her life, and what makes her happy. It's a universal one we all go through with finding ourselves, finding the meaning of life—and where we're supposed to fit in that. One Hollywood ending could have her meeting an Irishman and riding off into the Irish countryside on that bike with him...

And maybe marrying that Irishman, and having an awesome wedding and marriage like her parents...

Another narrative could be Megan just finding her true purpose in life. And being this again...

...and not this..

As Megan writes, an Irish proverb says “Some journeys aren’t meant to be taken alone." So, yes, somehow it feels like we're all taking this journey with her.

Every day.

—post by Neil Morton

Give to her campaign here, follow her journey here, and watch her Indiegogo video below...

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The Inaugural Meeting Of Courage Peterborough Is June 19th

Image from Courage Peterborough Facebook page

Thursday, June 19th, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. is the inaugural meeting of "Courage Peterborough".

Where: It takes place at Seeds of Change Peterborough (534 George Street North).

Why: As the Facebook events page says, this is a "chance for local individuals and organizations to meet, and discuss responses and solutions to addressing hate crime and speech in Peterborough. Artists, social justice workers, social workers, local business owners, allies, and anyone who has ever had the courage to walk the streets of Peterborough, despite having experienced unwanted comments, hate or abuse.... Please come, and we will make a PLAN."

Great idea. Sign up here and invite others!

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A Love Letter From PTBOCanada To You On Our 4th Anniversary

Dear PTBOCanada.com Readers,

Today (May 27th) marks the 4th anniversary of PTBOCanada.com—a local, independently owned digital media company born on May 27th, 2010. How time flies!

We want to thank all of you for your amazing support. We love this gem of a city—it truly is one of the best in Canada, if not anywhere (Exhibit A: Jason Dunn's love song to Peterborough). Peterborough is a way of life sotospeak. As that saying goes, "You can take the person out of the Peterborough, but you can't take the Peterborough out of the person." And as that famous tee says, "I'd Rather Be In Peterborough".

We view PTBOCanada.com and our social media channels—Twitter, Facebook and Instagram—as a conversation and collaboration with you, an extension of the spirit of this city. You constantly energize us with your amazing ideas, insights, humour and pictures you feed to us over social media, our tips line and our comments section.

The most unique people are right here in Peterborough—a beauty town on the Otonabee. You care about others, you're compassionate, you want to make a difference, you give a damn.

As our readership and reach continues to grow—along with our growing base of amazing advertisers who support us—we hope to continue to make a difference big and small in this community. PTBOCanada.com is about positivity, about uplifting others and this city, and bringing people to together to share ideas. City building. Community building. This is just the beginning. Please help us continue to build this, and spread the word. You are the everything. 

Love, The PTBOCanada.com Team

Historic Winston's Inn Near Fowlers Corners Hosting Tea Party & Psychic Readings Event

On Saturday, June 21 from 12:30 to 4 p.m., the historic Winston’s Inn (475 Lindsay Rd, 3.5 km east of Fowlers Corners) is presenting a Tea Party & Psychic Readings event.

Space is limited for this event, which includes the tea party gathering itself, draw prizes, and a 20 minute appointment with the reader of your choice! Readers include: Darlene McGann, Heather Home, Sue Christopher and Judy Delaney.

For more information and to book your tickets and advanced time slots, see their Facebook page or contact one of the following:
Heather Home at 705-745-8815; Sue Christopher via email at suechristopher.alypsis1@gmail.com; or Winston’s Inn at 705-742-5450.

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Large Article Pick-Up Dates In Peterborough For 2014

The City of Peterborough Waste Management Division is holding large article collection events in 2014. The first collection took place in April, but there are five more left (lucky you).   

They are as follows:

•    Monday, May 26th
•    Monday, June 23rd
•    Monday, July 28th
•    Monday, August 25th
•    Monday, September 29th

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Peterborough Police Remind You To Not Shake Your Neighbours All Night Long

Since May 1 and the warmer weather, Peterborough Lakefield Community Police have answered more than 25 calls for service related to loud noise. These calls are handled by officers attending and informing residents of Peterborough’s 24 hour noise by-law, and/or laying charges for excessive or ongoing problems. One charge under the noise by-law was laid during this period. Residents are reminded of the Peterborough 24 hour Noise By-Law.  The following is information about the by-law:
 
·         Noise is described as “noise likely to disturb the inhabitants thereof”.
·         Construction noise within 500 feet of an occupied dwelling is limited to between the hours of 7 am to 9 pm daily, or noon to 9pm Sundays.
·         Lawn mowers within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling is limited to between the hours of 7am to 9pm during the week, 9am to 9pm on Saturday, and noon to 9pm on Sunday.
·         Music, voices, animal noise is not permitted 24 hours a day if it is “noise likely to disturb the inhabitants thereof”.
·         The penalty for a first offence is a $125 fine.
·         The penalty for a second offence is an automatic Court date which has a maximum fine of $2000.
 
So respect your neighbours. If you're listening to this loud, close your windows.

Music video by AC/DC performing You Shook Me All Night Long. (C) 2009 Leidseplein Presse, B.V..

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There Are Lonely New Benches In Downtown Peterborough Just Waiting To Be Sat On #BenchesPTBO

[UPDATE May 13th]: We asked City of Peterborough Urban Design Planner Brian Buchardt why some of the benches we're installed facing toward the buildings, and here's what he had to say: "I was able to get the benches for free from the company who recently installed the large burgundy waste and recycling containers in the Downtown. I gave the company the locations for the benches. However, I never dreamed they would install some of them facing the wrong way! We will ask them to come back at some point and have the benches turned around. They may have been following the examples of other municipalities, which have their benches facing inward—rather than outward to the street. The thing is though, benches facing inward are usually much closer to the street. I do not subscribe to this orientation anywhere because personally, I would always want to be facing the action on the street."

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[ORIGINAL POST: May 12th] The city has installed brand new benches along the sidewalks of our downtown core. Some of the new benches face inward toward buildings. The other benches have views looking outward toward the street. The benches are lonely right now. They want people to sit on them. We’d like to hear your thoughts about the benches. Which ones would you sit on—facing out toward the street or looking in toward the buildings? Or does it depend on your mood? And which bench locations do you prefer around the downtown? Tell us in our comments section below or on our Facebook page. See pictures below...

—Scott Arnold

Lots of Thrills

More Thrills

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