Spotlight: Needles in the Hay Yarn Shop Is The Place To Be For Knitters

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With a strong passion for "all things wool," Bridget Allin moved to Peterborough with the impression that we had an existing yarn store. When she found out that the one here had recently closed, she killed two birds with one stone by creating a job for herself and opening a store of her own: Needles in the Hay.

Bridget found herself busy right from the get-go, as Peterborough is home to lots of organized knitting groups. "The reception to the store has been amazing as knitting is a hobby embraced by all ages," she says.

Bridget feels that knitting has been making a resurgence in recent years. With websites such as Ravelry (a site that lets you network with others and share knitting patterns) and KnittingHelp.com (for knitting explanations and techniques), knitting has become more accessible, she believes. More knitting conferences are starting to spring up as the culture starts to grow and people pay more attention to the materials of products and where they are sourced.

Although yarn is available from box stores, if you are looking for a natural fibre yarn or one with a luxury fibre in it (such as cashmere), Needles in the Hay is the place to be. Bridget's passion shows and she is very knowledgable. Classes will be added in 2011 to help people of any knitting or crocheting level. One of the classes will be a knitting refresher course as many people have tried knitting at some point in their life and just need a helping hand to get started again.

Needles in the Hay (705-740-0667) is located at 385 Water Street. It's open Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., and is closed on Mondays. For more info, email Bridget here.

[Words & Pictures by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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PtboPics: Focus Fair At The Spill

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Jamie Campbell (@uniformgrey on Twitter) showing off her handmade BloopA wide variety of arts and crafts from Lucky Jackson (luckyjackson.etsy.com)

[Focus Fair]

[Pictures by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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Peterborough's Tim Dalliday Needs A Liver Transplant

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Tim Dalliday—older brother of Pete Dalliday—has been on the waiting list for a liver transplant for a year, CHEX Newswatch reports, and another potential donor fell through recently. None of his siblings are eligible donors. Anyone who is healthy and a blood match can donate. Please spread the word.


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PtboPics: Arkells At The Red Dog

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Thanks to Michael Hurcomb for supplying these great shots to PtboCanada from the Arkells amazing sold-out gig last night that may go down as one of the best performances ever at The Red Dog.




To view more of Michael's photos from the gig, click here.

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PtboCanada Interview: Jeremy Fisher (Who Plays The Red Dog This Tuesday)

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Photo by Rob WaymenVancouver's Jeremy Fisher will be playing The Red Dog this Tuesday (November 30th) in support of his new album Flood. Fisher has spent the better part of the last decade building support for his hook-filled pop music. Recently, PtboCanada had a chance to ask Fisher some questions. Besides having the best hair in Canadian rock, Fisher is also a pretty good interview. Here it goes:


PtboCanada: Help our readers get to know you a little by letting us in on what music gets you going. Tell us your vote for best album ever— one set of songs that from beginning to end makes you smile. Shake your ass. Inspire.

Fisher: I couldn't possibly choose one album, but the first one that comes to mind that is still fresh 25 years later and gives me all those things would be Paul Simon's Graceland.


PtboCanada: Your new album, Flood, was released last month. How have you found fans reacting to the new material? What tracks seem to get the best response?

Fisher: The reaction seems positive to me. I'm definitely starting to notice people are familiar with some of the songs on the road. "Laissez Faire" appears to be a stand out as well as "Shine A Little Light".


PtboCanada: Speaking of "Shine A Little Light", that's the first single from Flood. What do you think makes a good lead single? What made this track fit that mould?

Fisher: That's a tough question for me to answer. I usually leave it up to the wonderful team of people I work with to make that decision. I'm so close to the songs by the time I'm done a record that I feel like they all have potential as lead singles.  


PtboCanada: You're on Wind-up Records in the United States, which is a label known to be heavily weighted towards the commercial alternative end of the spectrum. On Wind-up, you are label mates with the Canadian group Finger Eleven, which seems like a more natural fit amongst bands like Seether and Evenescence. How does Jeremy Fisher fit in with this mix?

Fisher: I don't know that I do, but I guess opposites attract for better or worse.


PtboCanada: You just released the holiday single "Snowflakes". What made you want to release a seasonal track?

Fisher: Every year I do something around the holiday and this year with the record coming out and me being on tour, I couldn't really take the time to make a video or anything. I just wrote "Snowflakes" one morning and thought it would make a good winter/holiday song.


PtboCanada: What seasonal/holiday tracks affected you when you were growing up?

Fisher: "Little Drummer Boy", "Carol of the Bells".  I used to like playing "Sleigh Ride!" in high school band because it uses a vibraslap in the percussion section.


PtboCanada: Sticking with the holiday theme, how will you be spending yours?

Fisher: Rum and eggnog, tobogganing, hanging with family—never gets old.

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[Q&A by PtboCanada's Jeffrey Macklin]

[Jeremy Fisher; The Red Dog]

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Tweet Of The Week (And Month, And Maybe Year) In The Patch Is...

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[From our Fire Chief @TrentGervais]

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PtboPic: Santa At The Lakefield Santa Claus Parade

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Santa will be rocking the Peterborough Santa Claus parade December 4th.

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Peterborough Father and Son Go Into The Dragons' Den To Try And Sell Stake In... Monster Truck Business

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Yet another duo from Peterborough took their idea to the den in last night's episode of Dragons' Den. The father and son owners of Bucking Bronco, Kevin and Ray Lubsen, were asking for $98,000 for a 33 percent stake in their monster truck biz. Unfortunately, the Dragons weren't convinced and said it was nothing more than a hobby, so no deal was made.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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PtboPics: Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School Anti-Bullying Event

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Kim Driscoll (middle) pictured with students

The colour pink is prominent today at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School as they are holding an anti-bullying event spearheaded by teacher Kim Driscoll. The theme was to wear pink to send a message that students are taking a stand against any form of bullying.



Anti-bullying programs work, schools say, and more and more are focusing on stamping it out at their schools with such events. Kim Driscoll had T-shirts made for the event. Every one of them sold out.

Pink was chosen as the colour to be highly visible to help spread the message that the issue exists and for sympathy to those affected by it. Kim feels that it is a very real issue and is pleased by the involvement of the students and the teachers.

Even teachers participated in the event

[Words & pictures by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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PtboPics: Royal Wood Performing at Gordon Best Theatre

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Piano rocker Royal Wood played to a sold-out show at the Gordon Best Theatre recently with Hannah Georgas. To the delight of the crowd, he mentioned that he grew up in Lakefield.

Royal Wood had his song "A Mirror Without" featured on Grey's Anatomy.

Royal Wood's newest album is called The Waiting. You can also check out a behind-the-scenes-video of his tour with Hannah Georgas.

[Words & pictures by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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