GRAVENHURST — A hydro rates hike for residents here served by Elexicon Energy was delayed today due to the COVID-19. In a release April 30, they said they are postponing a 1.7 per cent increase in distribution rates until at least Nov. 1. They said the move to postpone the scheduled May 1 hike, which […]
BRACEBRIDGE — A Bracebridge man and woman face almost two dozen major drug and gun charges after an arrest in a Hortons parking lot takedown yesterday. Provincial police say it’s the result of an OPP investigation this month by the Muskoka Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU). Arrests and search warrants were executed with the help […]
HUNTSVILLE — Officials here and across Muskoka appear optimistic that re-opening the economy will soon happen and that farmers market will be able to sell food only to the public. At its council meeting today — April 29 — Huntsville town councillors met electronically to discuss COVID-19 impact, questions and concerns from residents. Among updates, they […]
GRAVENHURST — Neighbour to neighbour, Gravenhurst Rotarians are reaching out to help. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the need in the community has greatly increased, they say in a release today. And while government assistance programs are being rolled out, some residents still find themselves and their families trying to bridge the gap between shrinking […]
BARRIE — Re-opening the economy may be premature if new plans to open a Regional Pandemic Response Unit (RPRU) at Barrie’s Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) are any indication. Tuesday RVH reported that construction on a 70-bed, 8,250 square-foot MASH-like unit is underway. They say it will be “temporary.” It will be located in […]
MUSKOKA — More help is on the way for health-care and front-line workers with no alternatives for child care during COVID-19. The province has approved a bid by the District of Muskoka to open an emergency child care centre for up to 20 spaces. While it says the safest option continues to be for children […]
BRACEBRIDGE — A head-on collision yesterday landed one person in hospital and another in court. Provincial police at Bracebridge say today that on Tuesday April 28, just before 2:30 p.m. officers received a report of a two vehicle head-on collision on Manitoba Street near Gibbs Road. They say officers responded along with Muskoka Paramedic Services […]
LETTER TO EDITOR: There are many problems in caring for seniors in nursing homes that are directly caused by greed by the owners and/or shareholders. For-profit nursing homes have statistically fewer staff-to-resident ratios. Why is this? This is because hiring part-time staff saves the owners paying benefits. Three part-timers are cheaper than one full time […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — How are Muskoka’s hospitals coping with COVID-19? We sent Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) 10 questions for an update yesterday. CEO Natalie Bubela answered in an email this afternoon. Here are her responses, on April 28: 1. Has MAHC had any COVID-19 cases? Yes. MAHC has tested just over 550 […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — Pandemic pictures say a 1,000 things. Here’s a quick look at COVID-19 through our camera lens. Night and day you’re observing social distancing and showing your heart and soul. It says a lot about you and what you believe in and stand for. Send us your photos and observations […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com BRACEBRIDGE — A year ago today the Heart of Muskoka was knee-deep in flood waters. This morning it was high and dry — as we deal with a deeper, deadlier spring uprising. Bracebridge Falls had barely a trickle of water falling under its iconic bridge. Compared to the cascades that overwhelmed […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SOBERING SECOND THOUGHTS SUNDAY: What’s a lifetime’s work worth? Four dollars an hour? Or so it seems if you’re in LTC and you pray your PSW will help you live long-term. Saturday’s $4-an-hour raise for all LTC workers seems too little, too late. Or is it better late than never. And […]
MUSKOKA — As promised, local homebuilders are building on their promise to help area residents cope with COVID-19. In less than two weeks, the Muskoka-Parry Sound Relief Fund reached its first goal, raising more than $100,000 led by team leaders with the Muskoka Builders Association. After donating to food banks the frist week, Thomas Cowden, […]
MUSKOKA — Cooped up kids have yet another place online to call home. SafeSpot.ca www.safespot.ca. — a new free anonymous webchat service — went live yesterday for the Parry Sound and Nipissing districts. It is available twice daily — three days a week — from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3-5 p.m. The chat service […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — A day of mourning here for victims of the Nova Scotia shootings began this afternoon and concluded this evening with a virtual hug and TV tribute. Karen Ramer heard last night about the idea of stopping to remember at 1 p.m. today. She said she has no personal connection […]
HALIFAX – A shooting scare here Friday afternoon proved false, the RCMP said after a few hours. CBC and other media were reporting another shooting Friday afternoon about 3:30 p.m. ET in Halifax. That after an official emergency alert went out and one report said it’s an active shooter and shots had been fired. Residents […]
GRAVENHURST – Mayor Paul Kelly said today that this is the third day without a case of COVID-19. In his seventh pandemic report Friday, April 24, he also spoke of a number of local groups that received funds from the province, including GAP, the Salvation Army, the United Church, the Catholic Church and the Bukers’ […]
GRAVENHURST — Financial help for local COVID-19 sufferers is reaching closer to home with a special fund by the town. The town is also seeking a slice of upper tier relief funds as it deals with the municipal fallout that could cost it an estimated $1.2 million in staffing and lost revenue. Gravenhurst is also […]
BRACEBRIDGE — A wide-open community fund to help groups that are supporting pandemic assistance programs has been established by the town. Yesterday, council created the COVID-19 Community Relief Fund (CRF) to offer grants to impacted organizations in specific areas. An initial $40,000 is available in the first intake period until May 8, but could be […]
BRACEBRIDGE — A “preferred” design for the town’s new multiuse community centre (MUCC) was approved by councillors today with major new library changes. When it will be built still remains a question of additional funding from provincial and federal governments. But when they’re ready to put the shovel in the ground — beyond general site […]