The Newcastle Gardening Club (formerly the Newcastle Horticultural Society) kicked off planting season with their annual plant sale. Maria Biscardi (left) brought flowers from her grandmother, Margery Freethy’s garden. Club president Sarah Powell was on hand with other volunteers, to answer questions about plants or about the NGC. The Newcastle Gardening Club meets the second Tuesday of the month at the Newcastle United Church.
Orono resident Megan Terry distinguished herself among Ontario’s top emerging talents at the Skills Ontario Competition. As the nation’s largest skilled trades and technology event unfolded at the Toronto Congress Centre on May 6 and 7, Terry clinched a remarkable silver medal in the Heating Systems Technician category, showcasing her expertise in the field.
Ryan Keeping, a 26-year-old Halifax native is attempting to run 7386 km across Canada in 99 days to raise money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The ‘ultra’ marathoner set out from Newfoundland on April 1, with his eye steadily focused on reaching Victoria B.C.
Last year, amidst growing concerns over fair compensation for content creators, the Canadian government passed the Online News Act, compelling major social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to remunerate Canadian news organizations for their original content shared on these platforms. Meta’s response? A nine-month ban on news outlets, effectively removing a vital avenue for information dissemination and discourse for millions.
The repercussions of Meta’s retaliatory action reverberate far beyond the boardrooms of tech giants and the halls of government. The real losers in this high-stakes game are the small media outlets, the unsung heroes of journalism who rely on social media platforms to amplify their voices and reach wider audiences. For these outlets, Facebook and Instagram were not just platforms for engagement but lifelines for survival in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.
The conversation continued at the May 6 General Government meeting around the growing epidemic of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in Ontario and Durham Region. Laura Burch, executive director of Bethesda House, appealed to council the need for increased funding, staffing, and resources.
The audio version of a local history book is for many of us more interesting than the written word. There are certain nuances and side stories that a voice can channel that a book can’t always convey.
The Aurora Borealis animated the skies over Lake Ontario in Newcastle, east along Lakeshore Road last weekend.
Newtonville and area residents hurried home from school or work to greet Ryan Keeping as he and his team swept into town last Wednesday. From left, Kate and her puppy Harvey, Chad, and his daughter Evie and son Glenn, Ulrike and Joanne waited patiently and braved the intermittent rain showers to greet him. Young Glenn, no doubt inspired by Ryan’s fund-raising, did a bit of his own. He participated in NPS Pedal for Hope initiative, which saw people raise money for getting their heads shaved. Glenn raised $1,700!
Last Saturday afternoon, live theatre buffs were treated to five short plays put on by Theatre on the Ridge in Port Perry. Local playwright David Simpson is flanked by actors Lisha Van Niewenhove and Conrad Boyce who brought to life his entry to the event, ‘Thai Green Curry’. The actors double as writer and former publisher respectively for The Uxbridge Cosmos. Patrons were asked to vote for their favourite play, which will be a difficult task as each play dealt with different, relatable situations. There was much laughter and a few tears over the course of the afternoon; time well spent. Results of the com-petition will be announced later in the week.