What Just Happened?!

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Gooood morning Bay of Quinte! Hope everyone made it through the ice storm in one piece — seriously, Mother Nature, was that really necessary?
Also: anyone catch the partial eclipse? This local on Reddit sure didn’t… and their view says it all.

Experience The Difference

Presented By Thairific

Thairific offers more than just food truck services; we provide full catering for private dinners, office lunches, or holiday gatherings.

Whether you're hosting a small team lunch or a large party, we can accommodate your needs with a customizable menu that includes a variety of dishes—from savoury appetizers to mouthwatering entrees. Follow us on facebook and instagram to see our delicious food and offers.*

Weather

Monday
12°C 🌡️ -3°C | 🌧️ | 90% | SW 30 km/h

Tuesday
4°C 🌡️ -7°C | 🌤️ | 10% | NW 25 km/h

Hey — want a newsletter just for your city/town?

We may be cooking up something new — ultra-local updates, events, and deals delivered fast, fun, and straight to your inbox (much shorter emails). But first, we need your input.

If there’s one thing we ever ask of you, it is to please take 30 seconds and answer this survey :).

The more responses we get, the better we can tailor it to what you actually care about.

News Notes

Ice storm chaos

ICYMI: We got walloped overnight Saturday — power outages, trees down, roads taped off.

Quinte’s sky lit up around 1:40 a.m. as transformers blew and up to 5,000 homes went dark. West Hill, East Hill, and nearby areas were hit hardest.

Big shoutout to Elexicon, Hydro One, and local crews who worked through the night clearing trees and getting the lights back on. Cleanup continues today — and OPP’s still urging folks to stay off slick roads unless absolutely necessary.

This post in Belleville neighbours gives a good look at the chaos and crews helping out. (The Intelligencer)

Region gears up for Summer

Tourism in Prince Edward County is heating up — bookings are rising, new projects are rolling out, and locals are cautiously optimistic.

Right now:
• PEC bookings are way up — the Royal Hotel is up 30%, the June Motel is up 10%, and cottage rentals near Sandbanks have jumped by 87%.
• Visit The County says Airbnb and VRBO projections are trending 30–40% higher than last year.
• Most visitors are coming from the GTA, Ottawa, and Montreal — with a few Americans trickling in.

What’s new in the County’s 2025 Tourism Management Plan:
• New EV chargers in Picton ($20/hr)
• Uride returns this summer (up to 5 cars/day)
• A proposed new transit route linking Belleville, Bloomfield, Picton + Base31
• More funding for signs, trails + accessibility projects
• A Made in The County brand initiative is in the works (pending grant funding)
Full breakdown here. (CountyLive)

$124K raised, RV won, and a Corvette’s next

Belleville General Hospital Foundation’s latest Camp4Cancer Lottery pulled in $124K to fund new oncology equipment — part of a broader $2.5M upgrade coming this year. Winners included RV champ Langa Mtimkulu (Kanata), a $12K 50/50 winner from Dunrobin, and a $10K travel voucher scooped by a lucky Etobicoke ticket-holder.

The next prize? A Corvette Stingray worth $134K. Stay tuned for the next draw. (BGH Foundation)

Feel good fitness starts here.

Presented by The Fit Collective

If you’re looking for a gym that’s equal parts welcoming and fully equipped, The Fit Collective has you covered. With a mix of free weights, machines, and expert-led classes — all in a friendly, down-to-earth space — it’s designed to help you build confidence while crushing your fitness goals.

Explore membership options and class schedules, and follow @fitcollectivebelleville for all the latest events, challenges, and gym news.*

Events

Monday

Brewers Tasting Event – Ticketed | Meyers Creek Brewing Co., Belleville
Sample your way through a curated selection of craft brews at this exclusive tasting night.

Monday Trivia at Boston Pizza | 8–10 p.m. | Boston Pizza, Belleville
Smartphone in one hand, beer in the other — team up and test your trivia chops.

Tuesday

Buck(ish) Shuck Oysters at The Local Social House | 3–10 p.m. | The Local Social House, Belleville
Fresh Raspberry Point oysters for $1.50–$1.75 a pop every Tuesday — first come, first slurp.

Craft Collective: Embroider, Knit or Crochet Group | 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m. | Trenton Branch, Quinte West
Needles, yarn, and conversation — bring your current project and connect with fellow crafters.

Wednesday

Belleville Senators vs. Syracuse Crunch | 7 p.m. | CAA Arena, Belleville
Big North Division points are on the line — come cheer on the Sens in a playoff push.

_{Note: Events may be cancelled or have changed times. Be sure to see our event calendar and reach out to the venue before going.}

🔗 To see more info on these events and many more, hit the button below

Hosting an event? Submit it to our calendar here.

Looking to feature an event? Go here.

Unplug & Recharge

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If you’re constantly feeling drained, dealing with sore muscles, or just need a break from the chaos of daily life, floating might be exactly what you’re looking for. A one-hour float in a weightless, sensory-free environment has been shown to reduce stress, improve sleep, and even enhance creativity.

Try a float session and experience total relaxation—mind and body. Book now.*

Business

New B&B opens in Old East Hill
Next Door Bed and Breakfast is officially open at 161 Albert St., offering two cozy guest rooms and a menu of seasonal, locally sourced eats. Meet the owners and take a peek inside.
(City of Belleville via Facebook)

Local Sports

Sens grab 3 points, eye playoff spot

The Sens battled hard this weekend, beating Lehigh Valley 3–2 Friday and taking a point in a 2–1 shootout loss to the Marlies Saturday.

The Sens now sit just 1 point back of Syracuse for the final playoff spot — and guess who they play next? Yep, Syracuse. Catch up on all the Sens news.
(Belleville Senators)

Quinte West makes history with U13AA title

This squad just punched their ticket to the OHF Championships in Aurora (April 18–20) — becoming the first-ever Quinte West team to reach the tourney at the AA level. Big win, even bigger milestone. Full post here.

Hot Links

Got old paint, batteries, or tech? Here’s where to ditch them in 2025 – Quinte Waste Solutions released this year’s hazardous waste schedule.

Belleville’s own Postc3rd just dropped a new single — So They Say is out now and built to blast — give it a listen here.

Basement renos aren’t cheap — and neither is flood damage. With water risk on the rise, here’s how to protect your space before spring storms hit.

April’s carbon rebate is your last chance to cash in — but if you don’t file your 2024 taxes by April 2, you could be waiting up to two months to get it. Here’s what to know.

Want to make pizza and tiramisu like a pro? Fawn Over Market’s new Yes Chef! class series lets you learn straight from their chefs — grab your spot here.

Signing Off

Thanks for reading, share this with someone who was on vacation for this mess.

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