In response to the challenging times that we are experiencing together regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to give props to some stellar local businesses who are stepping up to serve our great community.
Twin Maples Farm, located in Severn Bridge, Ontario is owned and operated by Christine Jameson and in 2019, celebrated their 20-Year Anniversary. Twin Maples Farm provides horse-drawn wagon rides for all occasions; including private family rides, public events, resorts and parades as well as romantic carriage rides for weddings, anniversaries or date nights. Families can take rides directly at the Farm, or the horses can be brought to the the chosen event site.
In March, when the COVID-19 restrictions began, Twin Maples Farm had a full week of wagon rides booked with local resorts that had to be cancelled. In the days that followed, the Ontario Equestrian Federation laid out restrictions for all barns to close their doors to all but essential staff involved in the upkeep of the horses’ health and safety. As one could imagine, this was a very stressful time for Twin Maples Farm. Not only were they not allowed to offer wagon rides or have the boarders visit their horses, but the Farm still needed to purchase hay and grain to keep the horses fed.
With several winter events that make up a large portion of the revenue required to look after the horses cancelled this year, Twin Maples Farm spent time brainstorming and creating a safe, holiday experience for families to visit on the Farm. After consultation with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit to ensure all COVID Safety Protocols were being met and that sanitation stations were available throughout the Farm, Twin Maples Farm has proceeded with the launch of their special holiday event.
‘Christmas on the Farm’ is running every Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM until December 20th. This is Twin Maples Farm’s first year hosting this event which includes a wagon ride, pony rides, photos with Santa, letters to Santa drop-off, farm animals, vendors, bonfires, hot drinks, snacks, and a fry truck. The Farm is also booking private family rides for the holidays that are an hour in length.
We can’t imagine how difficult it must have been through the Spring with having to maintain upkeep for the horses and the Farm… let alone not being allowed to have Boarders visit their horses. That’s why we want to acknowledge all the amazing hard work and perseverance of all those involved with the Twin Maples Farm team and operation. We hope things go smoothly and successfully with the Christmas on the Farm event and that it becomes an annual tradition.
In response to the challenging times that we are experiencing together regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to give props to some stellar local businesses who are stepping up to serve our great community.
Full Paw’tential Pet Grooming, located at 114 Muskoka Road South in Gravenhurst, just celebrated their 6th anniversary of being in business! They have grown from a part-time, one-woman grooming salon to an 1,800 square-foot, modern salon with food, retail and grooming supplies for the public. Full Paw’tential has four compassionate and skilled employees with complementing personalities. They are super excited because one of their staff is excelling in her training and will be attending a prestigious grooming school in January.
Like all businesses, the arrival of Covid-19 forced Full Paw’tential to take a step back and re-evaluate how they could continue to serve the community. After being closed for 8 weeks, Full Paw’tential bounced back and discovered a renewed appreciation for their clients and the community at large. They implemented a wide range of safety measures and were able to resume their much-needed pet services. Full Paw’tential tells us that the are feeling the love and feeling needed with each and every day and they are so pleased to be providing their services again.
Looking ahead, Full Paw’tential told us that they have Treat & Toy Christmas deals coming in the weeks leading up to the holidays and will be hosting their first-ever Seniors Day on December 1st. Additionally, their walk-in nail trim Thursdays, which have become a huge hit, and they will be continuing as well.
As pet lovers ourselves, we know just how important it is to take care of our furry friends and it is a testament to the Full Paw’tential team’s love of animals and our community that they have endured these challenging times with such gusto and care. We want to acknowledge all of their hard work and thank them for the work they are doing to support our great community. Well done to all involved! That’s worth of a high-paw for sure!
November 13th is World Kindness Day so we turned to RandomActsofKindness.org for some ideas on how you can spread some love and kindness to those around you. In fact, they have a list of 7 ways you can make kindness part of your normal daily routine, so let’s dive in!
#1 Send an uplifting text to a friend or family member.
You can make someone’s day just by sending them a quick message to let them know you’re thinking of them. Maybe you’re thanking them for something that did for you recently or just saying how much you appreciate them.
#2 If you drive, let someone merge in front of you, or let someone else go first at a stop and do it with a wave and a smile.
We’re all in a hurry to get somewhere, which means it can really have a big impact to let someone go ahead of you when out on the road. Maybe it’s letting someone have that prime parking spot, or pull ahead of you at the drive-thru, but certainly don’t underestimate the impact of such a gesture when driving.
#3 Include intentional moments of laughter and delight in your daily routine.
Is there any better medicine than laughter? If you find it, let us know! In the mean time, we highly recommend a good ‘ole belly laugh at least once a day. Whether you pull up something funny to watch on YouTube, or you can find humour in the world around you, be good to yourself and let yourself have some fun each and every day.
#4 Go slightly outside of your comfort zone once a day to make someone smile.
Alright, you don’t need to hang up-side-down from a tree to pull this one off! The sentiment here is that we all might be missing a chance to show kindness because we’re too shy to seize the moment. Well, we say go for it. If that means being a bit silly, or being the butt-end of a joke, it’s all fun if it helps someone smile.
#5 Share an appropriate compliment with a co-worker or friend.
We can all agree that sometimes being at work isn’t the number one place you’d choose to be at any given time, so why not offer a pick-me-up to those around you by sharing a compliment with one of your co-workers. Tell them that they handled an interaction with a customer well, or that you appreciate their work and you can have an huge impact on someone!
#6 Reach out to a friend or family member of you haven’t spoken to in a while.
It’s natural to want to feel included and thought-of by those we care about, so instead of waiting for that extended family member to reach out, why not be the first to say hello. A thoughtfully-written letter, e-mail or text will go a long way at not only nurturing that relationship, but spreading kindness and joy in all you do.
#7 Gift someone to a small treat – maybe it’s a friend, a stranger, or even yourself!
This one is our favourite because it’s something you can do for a stranger, a loved one or even for YOURSELF! Yes, YOU! We all deserve kindness, so why not pay yourself some kindness by treating yourself to a little something-something. Maybe it’s a delicious snack, or just going for a cruise with the tunes up, be kind to yourself and you will see an immediate impact on your well-being.
How many things from this list have you done today? What about this week? Well, with World Kindness Day on November 13th, we’re reminding you to be kind to those around you, your friends, your family and to yourself.
In response to the challenging times that we are experiencing together regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to give props to some stellar local businesses who are stepping up to serve our great community.
Featured this Week:
EarlyON Child & Family Centres, Muskoka Facebook Page: EarlyON Muskoka
EarlyON Child and Family Centres throughout Muskoka are directly operated by the District of Muskoka to serve families and caregivers with children under the age of six years. They offer a variety of programs across the District, such as: Baby Talk, Parent Chats, free drop-in programs, networking and support for families. Through EarlyON, families receive support that helps them navigate the journey of childhood, build on their own strengths, make connections and develop relationships so that everyone can learn and grow together. They currently serve over 700 families throughout Muskoka and connect with many other children service agencies across the District to ensure families are fully supported.
EarlyON is funded by the Ministry of Education and on March 13, 2020 they were told to close all drop-in centres due to Covid-19. Just days later, EarlyON began offering virtual programs; a variety of which have evolved and grown over the past nine months. Despite the need to close the drop-in centres they knew staying connected was critical for families. They began Wellness Calls to check-in with everyone and ensure they understood the supports that were available – from the food banks to how to apply for CERB. EarlyON then began Zoom programs, in particular, Baby Talk (for families with little ones from 0 – 18 months) so new moms could connect and form a virtual community. They also invited numerous guest speakers to address needs within the community. EarlyON launched a Parent Chat Zoom, providing a space for parents to share not only concerns but also a giggle. Through the summer they began doing Pop-ups in public spaces to inform families of our services and hand-out activity bags. It was a great way to have in-person connection that was physically safe. The EarlyON team has been innovative throughout the pandemic, always striving to find creative ways to support families.
EarlyON’s plan is to continue to provide virtual programs and Wellness calls, as not all families will be comfortable returning to in-person programs. Come December, they hope to begin outdoor in-person programs in each of the six municipalities across Muskoka. These will emphasize the importance to get outdoors for everyone’s mental health as well as model how simple and impactful outdoor play can be on a child’s development. EarlyON is committed to adhering to the health and safety guidelines provided by the local health department.
We think it is amazing what EarlyON has done not only for children in our community, but for parents and entire families. That they were so quick to respond to the closure of their drop-in centres with virtual programming is an incredible testament to their teams’ dedication and passion to serving families in our great community. We want to acknowledge all of their hard work and thank them for everything that they do. Keep up the great work!!
In response to the challenging times that we are experiencing together regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to give props to some stellar local businesses who are stepping up to serve our great community.
Lake of Bays Brewing Co. opened their doors in 2010, starting out as a brewery in Baysville, Ontario. Since then, they’ve expanded their beer lineup to include everything from Light Lagers to Double IPA’S to Stout’s. In 2018, they ventured off into the world of restaurants and opened the Huntsville Brewhouse, known for their delicious locally sourced menu and in-house brews. After the success of the Brewhouse, Lake of Bays Brewing Co. wanted to introduce their wide array of beers and menu options to the beautiful town of Bracebridge, and that’s how the Bracebridge Barrelhouse came to be. Located at 295 Wellington Street, the Barrelhouse has quickly become a favourite among locals eager enough to venture into the beautiful new space.
The original plan for the Barrelhouse was to open the restaurant back in the Spring. However, when COVID-19 hit, that put a delay on their plans. But, their team worked extremely hard they were able to open their doors in mid-August.
Since then, they have put several measures in place to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable visit at both the Huntsville Brewhouse and Bracebridge Barrelhouse. You’ll be met by their lovely host who will ask you to sanitize your hands before being seated. Tables are spaced out 6ft apart, making sure guests are staying socially distant. All staff are required to wear their masks, and continually sanitize areas in the restaurant. For those who prefer, the Barrelhouse is taking limited reservations every day. They are also offering take-out, so you can still take home their delicious menu.
The Bracebridge Barrelhouse currently has a beer on tap called Paws of the North, where a dollar from every pint is donated to Paws of the North Rescue here in Muskoka! They also just launched their Toasty Toes pack this year, which features two mystery beers, and 1 of 4 socks in each pack. Lastly, they are constantly rotating their taps at the restaurants since they brew-in house, so there is always something new and exciting to try!
We think it is incredible what the Bracebridge Barrelhouse has been able to do in such a short period of time, especially through these challenging times! It is certainly a testament to their dedicated, hard-working team to have pulled this together and we are grateful to have this new, exciting restaurant destination right here in the heart of Muskoka. Keep up the amazing work!
Be sure to follow the Bracebridge Barrelhouse on Facebook & Instagram.
If you know a local business who deserves a shout out, send us a direct message with a photo and why they should be featured.
