Changes in my personal and work life have made it impossible for me to keep coehillworld.com updated routinely. It’s a reality I don’t see changing any time soon.

The website started as a hobby that grew into a several-hours-a-day effort for a while; it consistently took at least an hour daily to keep it fresh. Nor do the pennies I receive from advertising come close to paying the cost of web hosting.

One day, I would like to revive coehillworld.com. That will only happen when my personal life priorities allow me to do the job properly.

For now, however, I do intend to leave the website active, so all archived stories and photos will remain available.

Kevin Swayze

Webmaster

Several maple syrup buckets were damaged in the area.

Anyone with information about this mischief is encouraged to contact the Bancroft OPP at 613-332-2112 or CRIMESTOPPERS at 1-800-222-8477.

OHTO will undertake a research project in an effort to better understand the accommodation sector in the region.

“Understanding the current state of our accommodation base is a crucial step towards increasing tourism to the region,” says Nicole Whiting, OHTO Manager. “We are promoting Ontario’s Highlands as a place to experience several unique and outstanding attractions, activities, and events, and as a region we need to ensure we have the capacity to meet the needs of consumers looking to extend their length of stay.

“In order to conduct this research, the OHTO has contracted Pollara Inc., a leading national public opinion research firm, to execute a two-phase study. The first phase is the information gathering phase where contact and general business profile information will be confirmed.

The second phase will be an opportunity for accommodators to offer their opinions through an anonymous survey intended to capture challenges and opportunities the OHTO can address.

“We are calling out to all accommodators to participate in this research project to help us understand how our organization can support this important sector of the tourism industry,” adds Ms. Whiting.

“Beyond the obvious strategic intelligence we will gain from this project, we are hoping this will also become a great way to strengthen the relationship our organization has with our accommodators.”

The research project is expected to conclude in May with results of the survey provided to the OHTO Board of Directors in June. Further information regarding this initiative is available on the OHTO website at www.ohto.ca

The OHTO is a not-for-profit organization mandated by the Province of Ontario to increase tourism within the counties of Haliburton, Lanark, and Renfrew and portions of Frontenac, Hastings, and Lennox and Addington.

The OHTO works in collaboration with eight sub-regional marketing organizations, tourism agencies and authorities including: Algonquin Nation, Bancroft & District Chamber of Commerce, ComfortCountry.ca, Haliburton Highlands, Lanark County Tourism, Land O’ Lakes Tourist Association, Ottawa Valley Tourist Association, and the Rideau Heritage Route Tourism Association.

Find out more about the OHTO at http://www.ohto.ca

For more information, please contact Nicole Whiting, Manager, at nicole.whiting@ohto.ca

Wollaston Fire Department pumper truck.

Submitted by Bonnie Purdy

COE HIL — Last year we held our 1st Annual Wollaston Firefighters Spring Event. We were able to raise just over $5,100 last year for the fire department, and would love to surpass that mark this year.

We are having another Silent Auction, Dinner and Dance on April 21st at the Community Centre in Coe Hill. Happy hour starts at 5 p.m. and dinner is served at 6 p.m.

Please mark your calendars. We hope to see you there.

Tickets are available at the Country Market, the Township Office, the Library or at the door for $25.00 a couple and $15.00 for a single.

If you have any new or gently used items that you would be willing to donate to the auction we would love to have them. I can pick them up or they can be dropped off at our house (42 Stephenson Lane) or the Library.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and please remember that we can’t make it a success without your help.

Ontario Provincial Police press release

BANCROFT – On Tuesday the 20th of March 2012, the Bancroft detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received the report of mischief to buildings in the Town of Bancroft.

Sometime overnight graffiti was sprayed on several buildings in the area of Billa Street and Hastings Street North near McCaskie TV and Stereo. Graffiti was also found at the Skateboard Park and Mr. Video on Cleak Avenue.

Anyone with information about these incidents is encouraged to contact the Bancroft OPP at 613-332-2112 or CRIMESTOPPERS at 1-800-222-8477.

Canadian Bronze Medalists Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier will perform at the North Kawartha Skating Carnival on March 24 at the North Kawartha Community Centre. Photo by Melanie Hoyt, via North Kawartha Community Centre.

APSLEY — The North Kawartha Skating Club presents “For the Love of Music” Sat, March 24. 2012, at 2 pm at the North Kawartha Community Centre.

Local skaters from the North Kawartha Skating Club will be taking the ice to various styles of music that they love. Cost is $5 for adults, $3 for Seniors and Students, Free for children 6 and under.

For more information, please see our website at www.northkawartha.on.ca

Featuring guest skaters Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, the 2012 Canadian Ice Dance Bronze Medalists.

Paul Poirier and Vanessa Crone were Ice Dance Skating partners for 10 years.

In 2010, they placed 2nd at Canadian Nationals, securing them a spot on the team for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. They placed 14th at the Olympics and later in the season at Worlds, they enjoyed a 7th place finish. 2011 saw Paul and Vanessa win Nationals and then they later placed 10th at Worlds.

They split following Worlds in 2011 and Paul teamed up with Piper Gilles a few months later. Prior to their pairing, Piper, who is from the States, competed on the Junior stage where she has a Silver and two Bronze medals at American Nationals.

She skated at the World Junior Championship in the 2009-2010 season where she and her partner placed 9th. After Paul and Piper paired up, their first major competition came in December at the Canadian Challenge, where they won first place by a large margin, ensuring their spot at the National competition, competing against the best skaters in Canada.

At Nationals, being a newly formed team, they surprised everyone and won the bronze medal. Unfortunately, because Piper has not received her release from the States yet, they cannot go to Worlds this year, but with another strong showing at Nationals next year, they will secure their spot at the 2013 World Championship in London, ON.

Piper is receiving her release from the States in April and Paul and Piper will be on the Canadian team for the Grand Prix circuit in the 2012-2013 season. We have been lucky enough to secure Paul and Piper to skate at the 2012 North Kawartha Skating Carnival on March 24th at the North Kawartha Community Centre.

Ontario Provincial Police Press release

BANCROFT –  On March 15th 2012 officers of the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, Drug Enforcement Unit – Project Longarm, Project Round Up, Bancroft OPP and OPP Canine, executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant at a residence on Hastings Street North in the Town of Bancroft.

A quantity of schedule one and schedule two drugs, cash and other offence related property was located and seized.

A 15 year old male young person from Scarborough has been arrested and charged with Possession of morphine pills and Possession of marihuana for the Purpose of Trafficking. He is currently in custody and is scheduled to appear in Belleville bail court on Friday the 16th of March 2012.

A 15 year old male young person of Faraday Township has been arrested and charged with Possession of morphine pills and Possession of marihuana for the Purpose of Trafficking. The male was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in Bancroft Youth court on the 26th of April 2012.

A 38 year old male of Hastings Highlands has been arrested and charged with Possession of morphine pills and Possession of marihuana for the Purpose of Trafficking. Keith was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in Bancroft court on the 17th of April 2012.

A 21 year old male of Bancroft has been arrested and charged with Possession of morphine pills and Possession of marihuana for the Purpose of Trafficking. McCormick was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in Bancroft court on the 17th of April 2012.

A 33 year old female of Hastings Highlands has been arrested and charged with Possession of morphine pills and Possession of marihuana for the Purpose of Trafficking. Worsnop was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in Bancroft court on the 17th of April 2012.

A 19 year old female of Bancroft has been arrested and charged with Possession of Marihuana. Macdonald was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in Bancroft court on the 17th of April 2012.

Project Longarm is a joint-forces drug enforcement team comprised of officers from the Ontario Provincial police drug enforcement unit, Belleville Police Service, Quinte West, Bancroft, Centre Hastings and Prince Edward Ontario Provincial Police detachments.

Ontario Provincial Police press release

MARMORA & LAKE – On March 16, 2012 at approximately 2:10 p.m. Central Hastings OPP were called to a serious Motor Vehicle collision on Hwy 7 one kilometre east of Deloro Road between Madoc and Marmora.

An eastbound pickup truck crossed the centerline and struck a westbound compact car head on.

The female driver of the westbound compact car forty-two year old Tracy Ann Clinton of Rockhaven Cresent in Marmora has succumbed to her injuries. The sixty-nine year old male driver of the eastbound pickup truck remains in Hospital in Kingston.

The collision is still under investigation.

COE HILL – Need a computer?  Drop by the Coe Hill library and enter a closed-bid auction on used computers.

The Library has three desktop computers, 2 colour inkjet printers and two black laser printers ready to go to good homes.

Bids will be opened March 21st and items will be ready to go March 22, 2012.

Ontario Provincial Police press release

PETERBOROUGH COUNTY– With the current streak of warm weather across Central Ontario and temperatures forecast in the double digits next week, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are advising all residents to be aware of hazardous ice surfaces and open water.

As spring rapidly approaches we also see water levels rise with creek and river banks becoming unstable due to the melting snow runoff and fast moving very cold water.

Residents should be aware of the dangers present around lakes, rivers and creeks and to be mindful of children who may be curious and venture too close to these potentially dangerous areas of unstable ice and open water.

The Provincial Police strongly urge parents to take the time to properly educate their children of the dangers of spring runoff conditions.

Furthermore, the OPP wish to remind snowmobilers and other ice going adventurers to check before travelling on or across any of our lakes and rivers.

Be sure to plan ahead, stop to be sure and proceed only if it’s safe to do so.