By Jenn Watt You couldn’t have asked for a more humble response from a Highlander of the Year recipient. On Saturday evening Joanne Barnes manager of both the Minden Community Food Centre and Fuel for…

By Jenn Watt Norman Yan had a refreshing message to impart on Saturday when he addressed Environment Haliburton’s membership during their AGM: there’s reason for optimism. A career scientist who has worked on some of…

By Jenn Watt Belatedly Jack Frost made his way to the Highlands last weekend with bitter temperatures between -41ºC and a relatively balmy -17 by Sunday afternoon. It was more than we bargained for. Over…

By Jenn Watt If you’ve been grocery shopping in the last couple of months you’ve noticed the incredible increase in the cost of some fruits and vegetables. And if you’ve been paying attention over the…

By Jenn Watt Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kawartha Lakes Haliburton needs the men of this county to join them in their mission of empowering kids and teenagers to fulfill their potential. The organization which…

By Jenn Watt “Cancer’s resonance today lies in our perception that it is inevitable preventable and deserved.” – Malignant Metaphor: Confronting Cancer Myths by Alanna Mitchell Cancer has taken over the North American psyche. It…

By Jenn Watt It may be time for the tourism information centre to close on Highway 35 in Minden. The centre just a few metres north of Bobcaygeon Road has long hosted the cozy cabin…

By Jenn Watt Our expectations of people and their capabilities – and inherent value – can do much to improve or hinder their lives. The way we perceive those around us and the respect we…

By Jenn Watt This week we dedicate 13 pages to 2015 in all of its triumphs and losses. Looking over the hundreds of pages of stories about local events it’s hard to reduce a year…

By Jenn Watt D espite international causes demanding attention and troubling economic news nationally in Haliburton County it seems generosity springs eternal. Speaking with representatives of charities most likely to rely on Christmas oriented donation…

By Jenn Watt Kids say the most hilarious things. They also say the most heartening and enlightened things too. It’s always fun each year to leaf through the stack of stories wish lists and drawings…

By Jenn Watt Christmas shopping is not only a time to show appreciation for loved ones in your life – it can also be a time to appreciate your community. By choosing to put your…

By Jenn Watt More attention and resources need to go into caring for the aging in this country this province and this region. There are now more Canadians over 65 than under 15 nearly 15…

By Angelica Ingram Say the word Armatec in this community and you are still met with faces of discomfort or strain especially amongst area politicians. The proposal that involved bringing a military testing site to…

By Kate Butler This Remembrance Day we mark the 100th anniversary of the second year of the First World War – a year punctuated by such momentous battles as Loos and Ypres the first use…

By Jenn Watt Reactions to the topic of climate change range from flat-out denial to full-blown panic but in between rest possibilities. An acknowledgement of the problem action to slow its effects and adaptation to…

By Jenn Watt Canada’s federal election is happening this Monday Oct. 19 and it shouldn’t need to be said that everyone should get out and vote. We’ve spent plenty of ink over the years encouraging…

By Jenn Watt H aliburton’s downtown is becoming increasingly unsafe. Not unsafe in the way a city street is unsafe – we’re still all smiling and waving to each other as usual – but the…