Food service workers in our region now have more options for getting certified. 

The Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit says it is now offering online-only training for the provincial Food Handler Certification. However, exams must still be taken in-person.  

The health unit is also partnering with Fleming College to provide in-person courses for the certification. 

According to officials, all food premises in the province need at least one certified food handler on site at any operating hour. 

You can sign up for the health unit’s training via its website, and Fleming’s in-person registration can be found here. 

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The Friends of Algonquin Park say now is the prime time to spot a moose along Hwy. 60 in Algonquin Park.

However, in a post on its Facebook page, the non-profit organization recommends drivers stay alert because moose and other animals “are often surprisingly hard to see, especially after dark." 

"The application of salt to Hwy. 60 during winter road maintenance operations attracts moose to roadside ditches," it says in the post. "Moose with salt-deficient winter diets capitalize upon this unnatural source of salt. “From mid-April when roadside ditches thaw, to about mid-May when roadside ditches dry out, chances are good you will observe several of these magnificent animals during a leisurely drive along Hwy. 60." 

They suggest keeping your eyes peeled for animals darting from one side of the road to the other. Also, they point out that if another driver flashes their lights at you while near Algonquin Park, they're likely warning you about an animal running across the road.  

It’s noted in the post that moose and other wildlife are occasionally hit by vehicles. The group says the best course of action is to drive slow to “help save the lives of Algonquin Park’s moose and possibly even your own.” 

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Roughly 2,000 local students are at risk of being suspended for incomplete vaccination records. 

The Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR) is issuing second notices to parents and guardians to update their kids’ records ahead of the May 13 suspension date.  

Officials say students will be suspended for up to 20 days if their records are not up to date.  

HKPR says to attend school in Ontario, children aged four to 17 need to be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, whooping cough, chickenpox, and meningococcal disease—or have a valid exemption. 

“To prevent suspensions, we urge parents to ensure their child’s vaccination records are up to date with the health unit,” says Marianne Rock, manager of communicable disease prevention and control for the Health Unit. “Many students who receive notices already have their vaccinations. They just need to have their records updated. That’s because we don’t automatically receive updates from health care providers.” 

You can update a vaccination record online, by calling 1-866-888-4577 x 1507, faxing 905-885-5352, or emailing immunization@hkpr.on.ca. 

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A number of local residents will be at Queen's Park this week to call for increased healthcare funding.  

A press release from the Reopen the Minden ER group states it would "once again" be taking its fight to Queen's Park on Monday to participate in public hearings over Ontario's Budget.  

The release stated “the 2024 Budget, 'Building a Better Ontario,' offers a four per cent increase in overall healthcare spending. However, the current budget fails to address the specific challenges faced by rural communities like ours."  

Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) announced the emergency department closure last April, citing "serious staffing shortages" and the inability to retain healthcare workers.   

The press release added that "the Minden community continues to suffer, and urgent action is required to stabilize our region and reopen the Minden ER." 

**Written by Rick Lowes 

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Most load restrictions are being lifted across Haliburton County on Monday. 

They’ll be lifted for County Roads 1 to 7, 9, 10, 14 to 20, 48, 507, and 648. Until further notice, restrictions remain in place for County Roads 8, 11, 12, 13, and 39. 

Officials say the restrictions are in place for trucks and other heavy vehicles to protect roadways during the spring thaw, adding signs are posted where measures are in effect.

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Two local schools are raising money to replace their shared aging playground. 

Lauren Adelson, head of the parent council’s fundraising committee, says the current equipment is “expiring” and needs to be replaced with something safe and accessible. 

“The play structure should include slides, swings, and other pieces that will support diverse sensory play and encourage physical activity,” says Adelson. 

According to Adelson, they’re looking to raise $300,000 to make the upgrades over two phases and are currently sitting at around $25,000.  

Adelson says the first phase will focus on equipment for grades one to eight, while phase two will upgrade the climber for kindergarteners and soccer nets for the shared field. Rather than one long construction period, she adds equipment will be available to students at the end of each phase. 

“As a parent of two young kids, it means my kids will have safe and accessible playground equipment to enjoy while they’re students at the schools,” says Adelson. “I have a son in Junior Kindergarten, and I know he loves climbing and playing on the playground at recess. I personally think having a playground is really important for the kids’ development as well as their physical and mental health.” 

You can donate directly or buy products through affiliate links to support the fundraiser. Adelson adds they’ll take in-kind donations of materials or labour once the fundraiser gets to its later stages. 

“We’re just really hoping the community pulls together and helps us raise the funds to get a new playground for the kids,” Adelson says. 

The post Stuart Baker and JD Hodgson fundraising for new playground  appeared first on My Haliburton Now.

A local student is heading to provincial qualifiers this weekend for the Royal Canadian Legion’s public speaking competitions. 

Grade 12 student Carolyn Yungblut will be in Shelburne on Saturday to represent Huntsville High School (HHS) in the competition. If she wins, she’ll head to Toronto on May 3 for the provincial finals. 

“I’m very excited,” says Yungblut. “My whole family is coming to watch, cheer me on, and I’m just trying to stay calm and keep in a positive mindset. And if you believe you’re going to do well, that’s usually how it goes.” 

Yungblut has already won three levels of the Legion’s competition, taking home a trophy for HHS. She says her speech focuses on youth health, wellness, and fitness—going into the importance of staying active, and backed up by statistics and things you can do.  

“It’s just something I’ve been passionate about, and it was something I could write a speech about too,” says Yungblut. “I really love public speaking, and I’m very humbled to have won at these three levels so far. I’m just excited to see what’s coming next.” 

Yungblut has also run a series of fitness sessions for HHS students over the past few months, thanks to a grant of a few thousand dollars from the Public Health Agency of Canada. She says the sessions involved about 20 students doing circuit exercises in 45-second increments. 

“The school has been super helpful, I’ve had so many teachers help me out, and so it’s been a really fun program so far,” says Yungblut. “We just had our last session on Tuesday. It was fun, a really great seven weeks. We had a lot of people come out and a lot of people getting fit.” 

As she’ll soon be graduating, Yungblut says she hopes the sessions can go on without her.  

“I would love to continue the program,” she says. “Finding someone to lead this is probably going to be a little bit tricky, but I’m hoping someone can take it on because it’s been a lot of fun.” 

Yungblut adds she’s also working with HHS’ athletic council over the next few weeks to organize fitness-related spirit days, and will be giving her speech at an upcoming assembly. She thanks the Legion for giving her a chance to get her message out. 

 “I would also like to thank the Legion, because they’ve given me the platform to speak about this, which has been really helpful,” says Yungblut. “My ideas are actually being heard, so I’m really grateful for all of their help.” 

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The Haliburton County Home Builders’ Association needs employers for a job fair next month. 

Executive Officer Aggie Tose says they’re looking for as many businesses as possible to set up in the cafeteria of Haliburton Highlands Secondary School on May 8. She says before the pandemic, they’d get up to 35 businesses involved at a time, but they have room for more this year. 

“We’re not limiting to anyone because we’d like to see everybody in the county hire as many possible young people as we’ve got out there,” says Tose. “If people have larger pieces of equipment or tools they want to show to the students, we have that space too.” 

According to Tose, students will have a chance to speak with and hand off their resumés to potential employers. She adds there will be help on site with preparing, updating, or printing off resumés. 

Tose says employers need to be proactive, as despite her 30 years in the construction business, she hasn’t seen a summer student resumé in upwards of five years. She adds many other local businesses might be in the same spot. 

“We can’t just sit back and wait for the kids to come to us,” says Tose. “We need to go out and be in the place where they’re most comfortable, which is at their school. So if we’re there, we might just meet the next summer student or co-op placement, or someone who might volunteer for something.” 

Any employers interested in taking part can contact Tose at 705-457-6901 or info@hchba.com. 

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The Haliburton County Snowmobile Association (HCSA) has given $2,000 to Haliburton Highlands Health Services for diabetes education.

The association says it'll be used to purchase a doppler, which measures blood flow in patients.

The HCSA had turned one of its trail groomers into a fundraising machine over the winter, turning tracks on The Rail Trail. Officials say it raised one dollar for each hour of grooming time, and was topped up with volunteer cash donations as well as a bottle drive.

"With the poor winter that challenged us it was great to see the team pull together to raise money for this project," says HCSA President Neil Vanderstoop.

**Written by Rick Lowes

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Our health unit is warning of a confirmed case of whooping cough in the City of Kawartha Lakes. 

The Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit reminds parents to make sure their children’s immunizations are up to date and on file, as whooping cough spreads easily in those who are unvaccinated or under-vaccinated. 

Clinically known as pertussis, officials say it’s a serious bacterial infection of the respiratory system which was a common cause of child deaths before the vaccine was developed. 

“Immunization remains the best way to protect your child or yourself from getting sick with pertussis,” says Medical Officer of Health Dr. Natalie Bocking. “Please familiarize yourself with the symptoms of pertussis and seek medical care if your child has these symptoms. Pertussis can be treated with antibiotics. Lastly, and most importantly, always ensure your child’s routine vaccinations are up to date and have been reported to the local public health unit.” 

The health unit adds it can take up to 20 days after infection to develop symptoms, starting with a runny nose, and progressing to frequent and severe coughing followed by a “whoop” sound which can induce vomiting and make it hard to breathe. 

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