How much are those speakers?!

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Gooood morning everybody! 

You’ve made it through the week, and we have a beautiful (well deserved) weekend of sunshine ahead. Apple blossom season is just around the corner—and if you’re still searching for the perfect Mother’s Day gift, how about a mini photo shoot among the blooms? It's sweet, thoughtful, and totally Instagram-worthy.

Oh, and we’ve got our first ever interview for you —enjoy!

Stop Settling for Dull Skin

Presented By the Beauty Collective

Feeling like your skin needs a refresh? This Belleville beauty studio is redefining self-care—helping women feel confident, rejuvenated, and radiant with expert treatments designed just for them.

If you’re looking to enhance your natural beauty, The Beauty Collective offers luxurious facials, rejuvenating injectables like Botox and fillers, and restorative massage therapy—all tailored to help you look and feel your best.

Kick-start your glow-up today. Try The Beauty Collective’s customized treatments and experience next-level self-care. Book your appointment now and follow @beautycollectivebyinjct for exclusive updates and offers.

Top Clicks of the Week

• 📍 Press Play Café reveals its new Belleville location

• 👑 PEC woman cracks Top 5 at Miss Regional Canada

• 💔 Why more Canadians are divorcing later in life

• 💐 Where to grab locally grown flowers for Mother’s Day

• 🐶 County Museum’s new ‘Must Love Dogs’ exhibit opens

News Notes

🌅 New villa resort approved near Sandbanks
A 20-cottage getaway called Dunes Lookout Resort is officially coming to West Lake, just a stone’s throw from Sandbanks. The year-round retreat will include a bike café, fire pits, volleyball courts, and dock access for kayaking and swimming — all tucked into the former West Lake Lodge site. Full story 

🏆 Top of the class: HPEDSB salutes standout staff
From a student supervision monitor to the head of IT, 13 unsung education heroes just nabbed Inspiring Excellence Awards from the local school board — and yes, they remembered the teacher who covered three grades during flu season.

Local Biz

🚀 Introducing Founders’ Files

Our new series spotlighting the bold, brainy, and slightly obsessed entrepreneurs building cool things in our community.

First up? Joseph Crowe Audio - meet the mastermind behind some of the world’s most beautiful custom horn speakers, handcrafted right here in our backyard.

Oh, did we mention some of the speakers sell for around $50,000? See why below.

City

🛝 Quinte West’s rec plan? 124 ways to play
From pickleball courts to pop-up events, the city’s new Parks and Recreation Master Plan maps out an ambitious 15-year vision with 124 suggestions—all in the service of making “hanging out” something worth scheduling.

⛴️ Ferry naptime: Glenora crossings on pause next week 
Service will be suspended May 12–13 and again May 14–15 while both docks get some TLC, leaving locals without a floating shortcut for most of the week. Full timing details from the county are here.

🍃 Bag it or drag it: Yard waste pickup returns
Trenton and Frankford folks, mark your calendars—leaf and yard waste collection is circling back in May, and your compostable paper bags better be curbside by 7 a.m. Miss your date, and you’re stuck hosting your mulch another two weeks.
📅 May 12 - Trenton ward
📅 May 26 - Frankford, Murray and Sidney wards
📅 June 2 - Trenton ward

Local business reader recommendations are welcome, go here.

Stop Ignoring Your Hearing

Sponsored By Local Care Hearing Centre

Struggling to hear clearly? Constant ringing in your ears? It’s time to stop guessing and start taking care of your ear health.

Local Care Hearing offers comprehensive ear exams with clear, easy-to-understand results—no referral needed. Whether you're experiencing hearing issues or just want peace of mind, their experts are here to help. Don’t wait until it gets worse. Call 613-961-1180 or visit localcarehearing.ca.

Events

Savour the Sips This Weekend | Saturday | 12–3 pm | Downtown Belleville
Sixteen downtown Belleville businesses are shaking things up with Savour the Sips, where guests can sample creative non-alcoholic drinks and vote their favourite to victory in this friendly flavour showdown.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS EXPO | Saturday | 10am – 3pm | Quinte West City Hall
This Saturday's Community Connections Expo brings over 30 local organizations, a peek at the Public Library's new Idea Box, and a youth centre BBQ to City Hall for a feel-good day of networking, creativity, and community support.

Announced

Creasy's Apple Blossom Festival | May 17 & 18 | 10am–4pm | 3091 County Road 8
Creasy's Apple Dabble Family Farm is throwing its 3rd annual free Apple Blossom Festival with face painting, BBQ, wagon rides, crafts, sweet treats, and orchard views piled high with pie and cider.

Women In Golf Week | June 1 2025 | 5:00 PM | Trillium Wood Golf Course
This no-green-fee 9-hole, two-person scramble is all about celebrating Women in Golf Week with friendly competition, on-course prizes, and spa-day-worthy rewards for the top team—no partner needed, just show up ready to play.

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

Hosting an event? Submit it here.

Looking to feature an event? Go here.

Trending Coast 2 Coast

✈️ Ontario man stranded in Dominican Republic 
Despite charges against him being dropped, an Ontario man remains unable to leave the Dominican Republic. He's been stuck for months, with no clear timeline for return, according to Global News.

🛑 PowerSchool hack: School boards face new ransom demands months after leak
Turns out the December breach wasn’t the final exam—at least three Canadian school boards say hackers have resurfaced with fresh ransom notes. The twist? No word yet on what student or staff data might be in play this round.

📦 Ontario greenlights construction of Canada's 1st mini nuclear power plant — Ontario government has approved the first small modular reactor, expected to power 300,000 homes and create thousands of jobs over the next 65 years.

By The Numbers

💰 $1.7 million. That’s what the average Canadian thinks they need to retire comfortably — though retirement reality is all about how flexible and diversified your lifestyle (and portfolio) really are.

📺 3.2 million. The average viewers that the Battle of Ontario drew per game in Round 1 of the NHL playoffs—proof that maple syrup isn’t the only thing Canadians pour on thick when their teams face off, according to Sportsnet viewership data.

🍽️ 100 restaurants. Contemporary cuisine leads the pack in Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list, outpacing Italian, French, and even sushi-heavy Japanese spots.

Hot Links

• Peas are back, and they're not just for the side dish — think pancakes, dumplings, even pesto.

• These once-iconic baby names have nosedived since 2005 — farewell, Alexis, Tyler, and Destiny, your vibe screams “MySpace and low-rise jeans.”

• Forest bathing might boost anti-cancer cells for a whole week — and you don’t even have to break a sweat.

• These pretty blue flowers can burst through frozen ground—and poison your dog.

• These are Canada's best fast food spots—Swiss Chalet drives thru competition because yes, someone flew from Finland just for the chicken.

• 🛒 Small businesses, we see you. Promote your biz for just $50. Our a la carte storefront makes it easy to get seen by thousands—no contracts, no fluff. Start here.*

From Bee-Curious to Beekeeper in One Season

PRESENTED BY NOD APIARY PRODUCTS

They buzz, they build, they make honey—and they’re ready to teach you a thing or two.
This beginner program runs every other Sunday in Quinte West and covers it all:

🐝 Work with live colonies under expert guidance
🐝 Learn the craft in small-group sessions
🐝 Follow the full beekeeping season—from May to September

15% off for first responders + military.
Spots are limited. Register by May 14 →

Weather

Friday
High 12°C 🌡️ Low 3°C | ☀️/🌥️ | 10% | NW 20 km/h

Saturday
High 14°C 🌡️ Low 6°C | 🌤️ | 20% | SW 15 km/h

Sunday
High 17°C 🌡️ Low 7°C | ☀️ | 0% | S 10 km/h

🌡️ View current weather here.

🚗 See live traffic here.

⛽ Check out local gas prices here.

Signing Off

Have a great weekend, and happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! Catch ya next week.

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