Gord Haugh, Guest column We have seen parades of first responders and supporters driving past hospitals to say thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff who daily go to work to take care of patients who are in critical condition. Many of these health care workers end up comforting some who reach the end of […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — “It’s all part of being part of a community.” Pam Rennie summed up her simple act of kindness yesterday, outside Trinity United Church, at the new weekly GAP giveaway. She and her daughter, Carley, were Sherpas helping cart almost 100 hampers of food up six stairs, outside to the […]
MUSKOKA LAKES TWP. — A homeowner who forced a break-and-enter suspect to flee was quickly caught after police called in their police dog last night. Provincial police at Bracebridge say that on Wednesday, May 13, at 10:30 p.m., officers were dispatched to the B&E in Muskoka Lakes Township. They say the homeowner was present and […]
MUSKOKA — Local hospitals are getting some help from a Muskoka hydro provider. Elexicon Energy’s Gravenhurst advisory committee recommended a donation of $2,500 to support the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund at the South Muskoka Hospital Foundation and the Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital Foundation. It’s part of a larger $50,000 in donations to help hospitals in […]
BRACEBRIDGE — Tests of more than 300 residents and staff that the Pines for the corona virus have come back clean. The province forced the District of Muskoka and other retirement homes to conduct COVID-19 testing at the long-term care home, which took place in Bracebridge May 4-7. The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit released […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — Your neighbours are hurting and you can help. It may take a village to raise a child — but it takes a town to feed a community affected by COVID-19. Every Thursday food packages are prepared and delivered by two dozen G.A.P. (Gravenhurst Against Poverty) volunteers to those in […]
GRAVENHURST — It’s curtains this summer at the Opera House. Due to COVID-19, the Town of Gravenhurst has announced the cancellation of the 2020 Muskoka Summer Theatre season at the Gravenhurst Opera House. Scott Lucas, the town’s director of community growth and development said in a release today: “This was a very difficult decision to […]
HUNTSVILLE — An auto theft that led to a police chase today and apprehension has a Huntsville man facing a dozen break and enter and drug charges. Provincial police here say that on Tuesday, May 12, at 4:35 a.m., officers attempted to pull over a pickup truck westbound on Hwy. 60, in the Hidden Valley area. […]
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: In these times of COVID-19 cats take your mind off the terrible things that are happening. Every winter for the past few years I have helped various animals with food and shelter. The turkeys got scratch grain. The squirrels got peanuts by the bird feeder and also peanuts tucked into a […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com ORO — Muskoka missed an inspiring Canadian spectacle this morning. The Snowbirds took off from Lake Simcoe Regional Airport at 9:45 a.m., en route to Thunder Bay via Sault Ste. Marie. I caught a fleeting glimpse of them just as they zoomed across Hwy. 11 near Burl’s Creek, after their takeoff […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA – You’ll have to look southwest this morning if you want to catch a glimpse of the tail of the Snowbirds this morning if you want to catch their national COVID-19 salute. After landing in Oro Sunday evening, they’re due to to fly out of Lake Simcoe Regional Airport at […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com BRACEBRIDGE — Ever wonder where Muskoka got its name? Patrick Boyer talks about it in his latest Modern History of Muskoka podcast Saturday, May 9. He says “my purpose is to put familiar Muskoka events in their larger context.” Boyer says Muskoka is named after Chief Musquakie, a member of Canada’s […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com ORO — Look … up in the sky. It’s the Snowbirds. Operation Inspiration is expected to fly into Simcoe Country this afternoon just before 5 p.m. today. But with a few flurries this afternoon that’s up in the air. The national COVID-19 aerial salute is due to land at Lake Simcoe […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com PORT SYDNEY — What’s good for the goose is not good for the ganders. Or at least the Easter Bunny. Our colleagues in the press report that Premier Doug Ford slipped up to his Port Sydney cottage Easter weekend. Just a quick pit stop to check on his pipes, he said. […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com BRACEBRIDGE — As mental health and youth mental health week ends, there was exciting news on the housing front for young Muskokans “who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.” Nancy Alcock, chair of the district’s community and planning services, said a supportive housing and services “hub” to be built in […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — United they stand — divided they say we’re not. Muskoka politicians afraid to bite the hands that feed them got their marching orders Wednesday and are beating the unity drum by pitting those concerned about COVID-19 cottage visits as un-Canadian local yokels. Are they right? In a rare joint […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — Much ado about nothing new. Doug Ford’s teleconference Wednesday with Ontario mayors and municipal officials offered little help or guidance on the cottagers coming-out controversy. The hyped “heart-to-heart” meeting between the premier and district and regional representatives on how to handle boatloads of seasonal residents into Muskoka — and […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com HUNTSVILLE — COVID-19 testing for the 102 residents here at the Fairvern long-term care (LTC) home continues today. Executive director Carolyn Zacharuk told MuskokaTODAY.com this morning that testing went well yesterday for the 75 staff. The testing is all being done in-house by staff and the nasal swabs are being couriered […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com HUNTSVILLE — The latest person from Muskoka confirmed with COVID-19 is a Huntsville retirement resident in her 90s. “I can confirm that Chartwell Muskoka Traditions Retirement community has one resident confirmed as positive for COVID-19,” Sharon Ranalli told MuskokaTODAY.com in an email resply today. “We appreciate the media helping us share […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — After a slow start the first week, Muskoka’s two Muskoka COVID-19 assessment centres (AC) now report they have assessed and tested almost 1,000 people for the coronavirus. Janine van den Heuvel, executive director of the Algonquin Family Health Team co-ordinating the sites in Bracebridge and Huntsville, says as of […]