Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Fifty cases reported this weekend — including one in Muskoka — come as the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit ramps up vaccinations clinics on the second-last day of August. Three of them will take place in Gravenhurst on Thursday. The Gravenhurst man, aged 65-79, is under investigation as to […]
RUSTY DRAPER Contributing columnist In my home there is no question as to who ranks as the “superior grandparent.” My wife, Pat, wins hands down. But I ask: “Why?” When we go for a visit to see our grandchildren, I’m the one who brings them all the treats and I’m the first they run to. […]
TARA COLLUM | Contributing columnist A common story is a kid throws a party and no one comes. Even worse are the kids who weren’t even invited to that party. Now imagine all the pictures of all the parties online so kids can see exactly what they are missing out on. Like the pit parties […]
BRACEBRIDGE — Summer’s been a busy time for local police who have charged 20 people with impaired driving since mid-July. Provincial police say they are “disappointed” at the unusual number of drivers charged during the past six weeks. Thursday morning was their latest arrest. They say that on Aug. 26, just before 8 a.m., a […]
GRAVENHURST — A local man charged with impaired driving gave police a brief foot chase before being caught. OPP responded to a complaint of a pick-up truck that crashed into a tree near a residential area on Beaver Ridge Road in Gravenhurst, Tuesday Aug. 24 at 12:30 p.m. Officers arrived and the located the driver […]
BRACEBRIDGE — Union workers with the town here have come to terms with the municipality on a four-year wage hike that will see a 1 per cent increase as of June 1, with further increases each year of 1.5 per cent in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Mayor Graydon Smith confirmed some the terms of the […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Forty new cases in Simcoe show the growing extent of the coronavirus as the greater public clamour for vaccinations becomes deafening — defining and more dividing. This as CBC late Friday afternoon reported that Premier Doug Ford has reversed himself on vaccine passports and that the province will institute […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com BALA — Business may not have been great the past 20 months, but it’s great businesses that know how to survive if not thrive. And celebrate. More than 80 business people and community members from around the lakes were able to finally gather last night for the first in-person Muskoka Lakes […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — With 30 more local cases today — including 1 in Huntsville — the region’s medical officer of health says “it would be prudent for the province to consider and further investigate the potential for” a vaccine certification or verification approach. Dr. Charles Gardner said in statement released today through […]
BALA — Missed milestones are being marked here tonight at Trinity All Saints Church. Lost in the past 20 months have not only been celebrations of life, but opportunities to mark significant other timely events. The church, itself, is 100 years old. And as part of the special Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce after hours […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — A pop-up vaccine clinic in Gravenhurst today was cancelled due to heat and threat of rain. Officials at the Farmers’ Market at the Muskoka Wharf, where “thousands” were on hand for the weekly sale, were expecting the health unit to be on hand from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. […]
KILWORTHY — “Yes!” Adam Samms said “yes” to Encore and “Yes!” when his dad told him he’d won $100,000 in a Lotto Max draw. The 41-year-old recycling industry worker, who matched the last six of seven ENCORE numbers in exact order, says it was his dad who discovered his June 1 win. “I was preoccupied with something […]
BRACEBRIDGE — Forget the fourth wave. A crime wave is sweeping across town here. Right here in Muskoka River city. In the heart of town right where the new nearby MUCC community centre, library, rink and sports fields are planned in a year’s time. And the culprits? A band of people on bicycles and ATVs, […]
BRACEBRIDGE — Memo to wannabe cottagers: Please see related story about John Cleese on MuskokaTODAY.com. And be advised: If the on golden pond price seems too good to be true … it probably is. Local coppers have received several complaints from people who have been victimized by online cottage rental scams. They say scammers are […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — High school homework is history — but not this fall when students (and teachers) can take home COVID rapid test kids. That’s on the provincial books next month for most school boards including Simcoe-Muskoka. This as Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) reports 21 cases Tuesday in Simcoe after 19 […]
HUNTSVILLE — Police here were busy this weekend with three collisions and four impaired driving investigations. Last evening, Sunday Aug. 23, at 6:44 p.m., officers responded to a motor vehicle collision on Balsam Chutes Road in Port Sydney. Police say a witness reported the vehicle left the roadway and hit a tree. Officers located the […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — A young Gravenhurst man, 18-35, is under investigation after testing positive for COVID-19 Friday. He is one of 61 cases reported since then by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU). He was reported Aug. 21 the same day as was his first episode. His is one of 183 […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com PARRY SOUND-MUSKOKA — A Toronto Catholic school French teacher — who has just been recruited by the Liberals to run as their candidate in the next month’s federal election — will be in the riding Monday campaigning to be MP. Jovanie Nicoyishakiye, who sought the Don Valley East nomination two weeks […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — A few passings of late worth note. Bill Monk was not only the go-to surgeon whose knife most south Muskokans went under for decades. But he was also the founder of the Cellar Singers, who began by rehearsing in his basement. Hence its name. The choir has gone on […]
MUSKOKA — Skate Muskoka says it is “thrilled” to announce that preparations are underway for the 2021-22 skating season with two new coaches, wife and husband team Violetta Afanasieva and Pete Dack. Growing up in Russia and Canada Afanasieva and Dack competed at the national level in singles and pairs events, “wowing audiences with their […]