Maple Madness + a Big-Screen Comeback

Presented By Rhonda Schmidt at Centum Mortgages

Gooood morning everybody! Welcome to our 215 new subscribers. This is BOQtoday. This weekend’s storm dumped 33 cm of snow on the region, with 27 cm falling on Sunday alone—smashing the previous February 16 record of 22.4 cm set in 2016. If you're still digging out, maybe it's time to embrace it and build a snow fort.

Today Around The Bay:

• Sweet March Madness

• Trenton Centre Theatre Update

• Savour the Chill

And much more…

Presented By Rhonda Schmidt at Centum Mortgages

Get Expert Advice Today

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🌡️ WEATHER

Wednesday, February 19

-9°C 🌡️ -17°C | 🌥️ | 0% | NNW 35 km/h

Thursday, February 20

-5°C 🌡️ -13°C | 🌥️ | 0% | NW 35 km/h

March Madness Goes… Maple?

It’s almost officially maple season in Prince Edward County, and PEC March Maple Madness is bringing the goods every weekend in March. If you’re into fresh local syrup, sugar shack tours, and maple-infused eats, this is the event to check out.

Over 70 local businesses are getting in on the action. Grab pancakes at Walt’s Sugar Shack, hit the trails at Sugarbush Vineyards, and wash it all down with a maple brew at Gillingham Brewery. Restaurants, wineries, and cideries are rolling out limited-time menus, and if you want to make a weekend of it, there are plenty of Sweet Accommodations to keep the adventure going.

We caught caught up with the folks behind all the madness, read about it by going to the link below.

📰 THE MID-WEEK SKIMM

🎬 Trenton’s Centre Theatre is Making a Comeback | Lights, camera… action! The iconic Centre Theatre in Trenton is set to reopen as Film.Ca Centre Cinemas in Spring 2025, bringing back the magic of the movies. The CEO, Jeff Knoll, and his team are on a mission to create a fun, affordable, and community-driven moviegoing experience—just like they’ve done in Oakville and Petawawa.

They’re raising $10,000 for essential upgrades, and you can help bring the theatre back faster. Perks for supporters include VIP movie passes, seat plaques, private screenings, and even year-long advertising for businesses. Learn more here. (BOQtoday)

🏅 Honouring local heroes | MP Ryan Williams awarded 20 Bay of Quinte residents with King Charles Coronation Medals for their outstanding contributions to community, service, and leadership. See the list of recipients here. (QuinteNews)

😷🩺 It’s Not Just You—Everyone’s Sick | If you’ve been dodging coughs like it’s a sport, you’re not alone. Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) declared a respiratory outbreak at H.J. McFarland Memorial Home on February 17, 2025. Testing is underway to determine the cause. Residents have been isolated, and visitors are advised to take precautions. Stay safe out there. (PEC)

👼 Angel Auction Supporting The Children’s Foundation | The Guardian Angels Gala is just two weeks away, and its online auction is now live, featuring 100+ items up for grabs. Proceeds support the Reach for Success program, helping local youth pursue post-secondary education. This year’s Guardian Angels, Tom and Golda Lafferty, are longtime community champions, supporting causes like Three Oaks Women’s Shelter, YMCA Strong Kids, and BGH Foundation. Want to bid? Check out the auction online now. (QuinteNews)

🏓 Pickleball Registration Opens This Week | Ready to hit the court? March pickleball registration opens Feb. 18 for Belleville residents and Feb. 21 for non-residents. Spots fill fast, so sign up early! Register online here: QSWC Pickleball Registration. (QSWC)

💼 Job Alert: PEC Career Fair This Thursday | Looking for work? Prince Edward County is hosting a Career Fair at the Prince Edward Community Centre in Picton this Thursday from 2-6 p.m. Over 50 employers will be offering 150+ positions across industries like carpentry, landscaping, healthcare, and hospitality. Bring your resume and be ready for on-the-spot interviews! (InQuinte)

🥅 Merilainen Makes B-Sens History | B-Sens goalie Leevi Merilainen locked in his franchise-record fifth shutout in a 3-0 win over Utica, stopping 34 shots. Belleville is now just two points out of a playoff spot. Next up: a rematch in Utica on Wednesday. (B-Sens)

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Need stunning real estate visuals? Go here www.iguidebythebay.ca and view our full list of services, portfolio and book online.*

🤝 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

In Partnership With Volunteer In Quinte

Gateway Community Health Centre is seeking volunteers to assist community members in Tweed to complete their Income Tax and Benefit Returns. Training is provided for volunteers from Revenue Canada. Computers are provided.

Community Learning Alternatives – Board of Directors Community Learning Alternatives is seeking community-minded volunteers to join its Board of Directors. Ideal candidates will have an interest and/or experience in governance, finance, communications, or human resources. Residents of Quinte West, Madoc, Marmora, Tweed, and Deseronto are encouraged to apply.

Canadian Cancer Society – Volunteer Drivers The Canadian Cancer Society is seeking volunteer drivers in the Madoc, Tweed, and Marmora areas. Volunteers will pick up clients from their homes and drive them to and from cancer-related appointments.

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No more second-guessing. No more settling. Just top brands, expert advice, and personalized service from a local, family-owned business. Give your pets the best—shop Skinkle’s today.*

🐾 ADOPT-A-PET

Raichu might be a little timid at first, but under all that fluff is a sweet soul just waiting for a loving home! This 4-year-old Domestic Medium Hair came to HSHPE as a stray and is looking for a patient adopter to help him come out of his shell. Could that be you? Go here for more on Raichu.

🎟️ WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

Friday, Feb. 21

🎲 Rotary Winter Games 2025 | 6-11 p.m. | Belleville Club Ltd. | Enjoy an evening of games, music, dancing, prizes, and fun at the 3rd annual Rotary Winter Games! (More info on Eventbrite)

💃 Salsa Dancing | 7-10 p.m. | Little Texas Bar and Grill | Join a basic salsa dancing lesson from 7-8 p.m., then dance the night away to a variety of Latin beats. (Contact: Jennifer Pacheco, 613-813-2528)

🎸 Ambush at Legendz | 8-11:30 p.m. | Legendz Pub | Get ready for a high-energy performance as Ambush takes the stage at Legendz Pub! (More info on Eventbrite)

Saturday, Feb. 22

🥣 Savour The Chill 2025 | 12-3 p.m. | Downtown Belleville | The 21st annual Savour The Chill soup competition is back! Sample delicious soups from 19 downtown restaurants and vote for your favourite. Bring your spoon, cash, and arrive early before the soup runs out!

🎶 County Jam at The Waring House | 7:30 p.m. | The Waring House, Prince Edward | About 20 local musicians will take the stage, performing their favourite tracks in this lively jam session. Proceeds support the Waring’s Creek Improvement Association.

🎸 Dead Root Revival Live | 7:30-11 p.m. | Signal Brewery | Experience Dead Root Revival live at Signal Brewery for the first time! (More info on Eventbrite)

_{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 an awesome list of events for the area, hit the button below!

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📸 COMMUNITY SNAPSHOT

A shot of the Moira river from above, in a secret location near Foxboro. Despite the freezing temperatures and relentless snow, the Mighty Moira flows on.

Want to see your photos in our community snapshot section? Tag us on instagram @BOQtoday or send us a message!

🏛️ CIVIL NEWS

BELLEVILLE

📊 Belleville Council to Discuss 2025 Budget | Belleville City Council will meet Thursday and Friday to review the 2025 draft operating budget, which includes a 9.4% tax levy increase ($11.88M)—though residents would see an increase of under 5%. Key drivers include policing costs ($2.86M), wage agreements, and legislative compliance. A proposed $250K Family Physician Appreciation Fund could be funded from the Casino Contingency Reserve. Meetings start Thursday at 9 a.m. at City Hall. (Quinte News)

QUINTE WEST

📋 Quinte West Council Meeting This Week | Quinte West Council meets Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 4:30 p.m. to discuss key local issues. View the agenda highlights or the full agenda. Public input can be given in person or sent to [email protected].

PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

🏒 Rotary Club Renews Naming Rights at Wellington Arena | The Rotary Club of Wellington presented $25,000 to Prince Edward County yesterday to renew its naming rights for the Rotary Room at the Wellington and District Community Centre. The funds will go toward upgrading the roadside sign to a high-resolution, full-colour LED display with an automatic dimmer.

HASTINGS COUNTY

🏡 Hastings County Reopens Amalgamation Talks | Centre Hastings Mayor Tom Deline is calling for a fresh discussion on municipal amalgamations in Hastings County. He raised the issue at Tuesday’s finance committee meeting, proposing a March discussion on shared services and potential mergers to help manage rising tax pressures. While no decisions are being made yet, councillors unanimously approved the motion to start the conversation. More details to come. (The Intel)

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