Local Author Releases Book Excerpt of Tony Hawk's Peterborough Appearance

Local author Tony Cosgray released excerpts of his upcoming book, “Tales From The Dead City” which references legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk and his Peterborough appearance over 30 years ago on Tuesday.

Cosgray’s book, written for his children, tells his life of growing up in Peterborough as a metalhead in the 80s and 90s.

Hawk made an appearance at M&J’s Skatetown in Peterborough in December of 1989 skating with Ray Underhill and local skateboarders. Below is the excerpt of Cosgray’s book describing the legendary skateboarder’s appearance from local witnesses.

I first met Norm Macdonald at Trent Radio. I think he might have been playing Black Flag or Beastie Boys. His music tastes immediately grabbed my attention and we started chatting. First thing that set Norm apart from everyone else at the radio station is that he was much older than the rest of us. He looked like someone’s father. We talked about music for some time. I remember him telling me about Led Zeppelin playing at The Rock Pile [Masonic Temple] with Teegarden & Van Winkle in 1969.

Norm had a couple of shows on Trent Radio. One was an album rock show ‘Never Made it To Top 40’ and another was ‘Sessions - Skate Music’. He explained to me that he was mostly doing the Sk8 show on Trent Radio… where he would play bands like NoFx and Bad Religion to help him market his indoor skate park. At the time, I didn’t even know that we had an indoor skate park in town. My first thought was ‘cool another spot for shows’. Turns out Norm was in fact someone’s father. His two sons Mike and Jamie were heavily into skateboarding so to encourage them Norm decided to open up M&J’s Skatetown [Named after his children] at 810 Rye St. sometime in 1988.

From what I remember… When you went into M&J’s the walls were filled with skate decks for sale. Even after the park closed Norm continued on with the distribution of decks. There was a counter where they sold trucks, wheels, stickers and ‘Thrasher Magazine’. A television sat on the counter which played Sk8 related videos. After the waivers would be filled out, to the left behind the counter there was a hallway that led into the first room in the park. On the right was a couple of back-to-back pipes they called ‘bigtime’. First time I walked past that I saw a kid on a bike come down straight on his neck. I don’t know how Norm didn’t have a heart attack every day watching that stuff.

Further down the hall and through a door was an even larger room with a vert ramp at the back and a few smaller ones closer to the entrance.

In December of 1989 eighteen-year-old legend Tony Hawk and 27-year-old Ray Underhill skating for Powell & Peraltas ‘Bones Brigade came up from California to skate at Norm Macdonald’s M&J Skatetown. There is some various youtube footage of them skating there. An amazing video exists of Tony Hawk clearing the gap between the backroom vert ramp over to the middle ‘playland’ one.

Norm Macdonald remembers:

“...I paid $3,500 appearance fee plus accommodation, food and airfare for Tony [Hawk]. Ray was paid for by Powell Peralta. What are icons and legends to some are guys I have known since they were young. Ray Underhill and I were close right until the day he died…”

Etienne Rene remembers:

“...The first spine ramp in the first room was called bigtime! The back ramp in the second room was a nine-foot vert ramp and the spine ramp that Tony [Hawk] transferred to was called playland. There was also a hip ramp next to playland and a 6 foot next to the hip ramp. Plus a 3 foot as well. The park did change the layout a few times but that was the layout when Tony [Hawk] was there…

Norm Macdonald remembers:

“...Only one Vert ramp, but a series of mini ramps. First Spine ramp was Playland in the back room. Big Time had two spines one which was cut to make the first deck spine in Canada…”

Norm had a loud sound system hanging above the halfpipes that would pump out Ministry, Faith No More and Nirvana.

Norm Macdonald remembers:

“...Tony [Hawk] turned me onto Ministry and Ray [Underhill] to Sisters of Mercy…”

“Although I never skated, I knew enough to be aware that this place was a really, really big deal. M&J’s Skatetown had gone all out, making the spot one of North America’s leading indoor parks.”

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Local Horror Author Strikes Deal With Netflix for Film Adaptation

Author Ian Rogers will have something to scream over as his book “Every House Is Haunted” will become a Netflix movie announced last week.

Ian Rogers won ReLit Award in the “short fiction “ category for Every House is Haunted in 2013. Photo Courtesy of Ian Rogers.

The details of when production is currently unknown but the confirmation was given to Rogers by email about the news over a week ago.

The book is a collection of short horror fiction stories released in 2012 where movie adaptation will feature the novelette, “The House on Ashley Avenue”.

The movie is titled the book’s name over the novelette to make it more recognizable according to Rogers.

Sam Raimi and Zainab Azizi of Raimi Productions are the film producers and have hired Rogers as a consultant. Just having them being involved with the film is an honour to the award-winning author.

“I know it’s cliché to say but it’s a dream come true,” said Rogers. “This is massive for my writing career. Having Sam Raimi wanting to do my film together, it’s like Stephen King asking me to do a book together.”

Ian Rogers (pictured) currently resides in Peterborough with his wife Kathryn Verhulst-Rogers, a manager of Communications at Trent University. Photo Courtesy of Ian Rogers.

Rogers’s book is inspired by his normal life with imaginary twists. He says his stories are inspired by places he is close to such as Nova Scotia, Toronto and Peterborough where his family lives, his hometown and his current residence respectively.

The House on Ashley Avenue is inspired by his neighbourhood walks in Toronto he tells PTBOCanada.

“Ashley Avenue is not a real street, I used to go for walks and I was walking in that area,” he said. “It was this really beautiful summer day and there was this immaculate house. When you put a twist, you ask, “What could go wrong on a day as beautiful as this?’”

“Shards” is Rogers’s latest book release where five friends rent a cabin but only four come out alive. His book is available to read online for free. Photo Courtesy of Ian Rogers.

Every House is Haunted has been out of print but Rogers plans to print another edition in time for the movie’s release as stated on his book’s official website.

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Peterborough Public Library Rolls Out Curbside Pickup Starting June 3rd

The Peterborough Public Library has announced that starting June 3rd, library material will be available for curbside pick up at the Main Library on Aylmer Street.

The library remains closed to the public, but members will be able to begin placing holds on library material as early as Thursday, May 28th. To place a hold by phone, call the library at 705-745-5382 ext. 2340 or you can place holds online through their catalogue, using My Account.

Members will receive a notification from the library when their items are ready to be picked up. The library will not be able to accommodate walk up requests. Items must be placed on hold prior to visiting the library.

Photo courtesy Peterborough Public Library

Curbside Pickup times are as follows:

Wednesdays, 10 am to noon and 2 pm to 4 pm

Thursdays, 1 pm to 3 pm and 5 pm to 7 pm

Saturdays, 10 am to noon and 2 pm to 4 pm

-> During Curbside Pickup, staff will be practicing physical distancing measures, frequent handwashing as well as using personal protective equipment when it is appropriate to do so. 

HOW TO RETURN MATERIAL

Material can be returned at any time to the exterior return slot on the north side of the library building (off Simcoe Street and the Library Commons parking lot). All returned materials will be isolated for the recommended 72 hours before being returned to the library inventory for circulation. 

The library continues to offer digital resources through the Browse tab of the website ptbolibrary.ca where cardholders can access eBooks, eAudiobooks, magazines, streaming video, and eLearning opportunities.

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Hunter Street Books Moves Into Meta4 Gallery, Forming Unique Partnership

Hunter Street Books has announced they are closing their physical store but will remain virtually open for online orders and delivery—and have two shelves at Meta4 Contemporary Craft Gallery, just a stone’s throw away in the same building.

Indeed, starting June 1st, Meta4 will feature a shop-within-a-shop for in-person book browsing, creatively curated by Hunter Street Books owner Michelle Berry, and will become the place to pick up online orders.

It’s a clever pivot for Hunter Street Books to partner with Meta4 as they share many of the same customers interested in art and books. The collaboration is an elegant solution in terms of still having a bricks-and-mortar “pop-up” type space for Hunter Street Books.

“I enjoyed the physical store for almost four years but with Covid-19 and a rent increase and my health, it was time to, as you say, pivot,” Berry tells PTBOCanada. “Most of my customers would order books in the store or online anyway, so changing to all online orders and free delivery felt right.”

sneak peek at the new shelves going up at Meta4. Bonnie, Birgitta and Jen are working hard! They are open wed-Saturday, 11-4pm next week! pic.twitter.com/0CtvTcqVQJ

— Hunter Street Books (@Hunterstbooks) May 22, 2020

“I can't imagine someone browsing books for a while, until Covid is under control, and I can't afford the rent, the staff, the utilities, the insurance, etc.,” Berry adds. “Customers are loving the free delivery and now they also have the option of picking up books at Meta4.”

The collaboration was a natural fit for Meta4 and Hunter Street Books, as people would come from Meta4’s art classes straight into her store all the time and vice versa. “When I can't deliver to someone's apartment, or care home, or if they are from out of town, now they have the option of picking up their online orders at Meta4—it’s a brilliant solution,” she adds. “I will miss sitting behind my desk at Hunter Street Books and welcoming customers but I won't miss the floor cleaning in winter!”

You will be able to find a couple bookshelves of selections at Meta4 gallery now, as Berry is stocking them, and will be refreshing them constantly, with the selections of books from Hunter Street Books' stock.

Customers can still email her recommendations here and she’ll be happy to help them find the right book. All book orders can be done through Hunter Street Books’ web store here. There is free delivery to porches or open mailboxes in Peterborough during COVID-19, or pick up at META4 Art Gallery on Hunter Street West.

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Here Are Some Of The Most Popular Books Reserved At Peterborough Public Library

Inquiring minds want to know, what are the most popular books being checked out at the Peterborough Public Library over the last year?

Thanks to Becky Waldman, Marketing & Communications Coordinator at the library, for taking us between the covers to give us insights on local reader habits when it comes to cracking the spine. (The list includes a novel by Peterborough-bred Jennifer Robson.)

Photo courtesy Peterborough Public Library

ADULT FICTION

1.  Kingdom of the Blind, by Louise Penny -> 205 checkouts

2.  Clockmaker’s Daughter, by Kate Morton -> 200 checkouts

3.  Past Tense, by Lee Child -> 189 checkouts

4.  Dark Sacred Night, by Michael Connelly -> 173 checkouts

5.  The Reckoning, by John Grisham -> 170 checkouts

6. The Tattooist of Auschwitz, by Heather Morris -> 169 checkouts

7.  Long Road to Mercy, by David Baldacci -> 161 checkouts

8.  Washington Black, by Esi Edugyan -> 152 checkouts

9.  A Spark of Light, by Jody Picoult -> 139 checkouts

10. The Gown: a Novel of the Royal Wedding, by Jennifer Robson -> 135 checkouts

ADULT NONFICTION

1.  Becoming, by Michelle Obama -> 217 checkouts

2.  Educated, by Tara Westover -> 116 checkouts

3.  12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, by Jordan B. Peterson -> 73 checkouts

4.  Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and The Courage to Stand Alone, by Brené Brown -> 69 checkouts

5.  The Library Book, by Susan Orlean -> 61 checkouts

6.  Fear: Trump in the White House, by Bob Woodward -> 57 checkouts

7.  Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don't Know, by Malcom Gladwell -> 48 checkouts

8.  Homes: A Refugee Story, by Al Rabeeah, Abu Bakr, Winnie Yeung -> 47 checkouts

9. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo -> 46 checkouts

10. The Woo-Woo : How I Survived Ice Hockey, Drug Raids, Demons, and My Crazy Chinese Family, by Lindsay Wong -> 45 checkouts

YA FICTION

1.  The Hate You Give, by Angie Thomas -> 39 checkouts

2.  A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle -> 34 checkouts

3.  The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins -> 32 checkouts

4.  P.S. I Still Love You, by Jenny Han -> 32 checkouts

5.  To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, by Jenny Han -> 29 checkouts

6. The Marrow Thieves, by Cherie Dimaline -> 26 checkouts

7.  Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins -> 24 checkouts

8.  The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green -> 24 checkouts

9.  The Giver, by Lois Lowry -> 23 checkouts

10. Four: A Divergent Collection, by Veronica Roth -> 20 checkouts

KIDS FICTION

1.  Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by JK Rowling -> 89 checkouts

2.  Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever 6, by Jeff Kinney -> 85 checkouts

3.  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, by JK Rowling -> 81 checkouts

4. The Sea of Monsters, by Rick Riordan -> 80 checkouts

5. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by JK Rowling -> 73 checkouts

6.  Playing with Fire, by Yannick Grotholt -> 73 checkouts

7.   Dance Class. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, by Crip Béka -> 72 checkoutes

8.  Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, by Bill Martin -> 72 checkouts

9.  The Titans Curse, by Rick Riordan -> 67 checkouts

10. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, by Mo Willems -> 65 checkouts

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Maryam Monsef On Her Inspiring Chat With Angelina Jolie At TIFF

Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef and her mother Soriya Basir had an inspiring meet with actor/activist Angelina Jolie on Sunday (September 10th) at the TIFF screening of The Breadwinner, an animated film Jolie executive produced about an 11-year-old girl in Afghanistan living under Taliban rule.

MP Maryam Monsef and Angelina Jolie at TIFF screening of Jolie's The Breadwinner

The film, about a headstrong young girl who disguises herself as a boy in order to provide for her family, is based on the bestselling book by Canadian writer Deborah Ellis.

Monsef says the book and movie speaks to her for many reasons: "It's the story of an 11-year-old Parvana's journey of survival in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and her attempt to help her family as the breadwinner. Breadwinner tells the story of Afghanistan through the eyes of a child. For years, Ellis has shined light on the struggles and resiliency of Afghan people and the strength of women and girls of Afghanistan. With the animation of The Breadwinner, we are all reminded once again to never underestimate the power of a girl."

Monsef tells PTBOCanada that she and her mom had a memorable few minutes with Jolie: "She is proud of Canada's role in the world as we progress gender equality and promote diversity. She also said that of all the places she goes to, she is happiest when she is surrounded by the women of Afghanistan. She doesn't know what it is about them, she just feels connected to them."

Monsef's mother even received this hug from Angelina...

Photo courtesy Maryam Monsef

Monsef, who says Angelina is beautiful inside and out, adds that she told the actress this at the meeting: "I thanked her for helping to tell the story of Afghan people, and she said she would continue to do so."

Monsef also "fan-girled huge" when she met the Breadwinner author Ellis (pictured 2nd from left below)...

Monsef came away very moved by her experience at the TIFF screening:

"Teachers in Peterborough often call me and Mom to come in and talk to their students after they read The Breadwinner," Monsef tells PTBOCanada. "The kids always had many questions and such compassion. Seeing all the kids in the audience yesterday and talking to Angelina and others involved made me appreciate the deliberate efforts to focus content like this on children as the audience. They will grow up to fix this broken world and it's never too early to teach compassion."

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"Lakefield: Sketches To Remember" About Town's Rich History Will Be A Must Read

UPDATE: June 22nd -> Lakefield: Sketches to Remember will be released on July 1st at the Lakefield Isabel Morris Park by the arena. Arnold and Ridpath will be there from 4-7 p.m. to sign the book, which retails for $30. It will also be sold at Happenstance in Lakefield and The Examiner building in Peterborough.

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ORIGINAL POST

Without a brother’s love, a family so important to Lakefield’s history may not have existed. Without the strength and courage of war veterans, the village would have not had its lumber company, insurance firm, hardware store and some strong family connections.

Those are just a few of the 40 stories and illustrations included in an upcoming book, Lakefield: Sketches to Remember, by author Ed Arnold and Lakefield-based artist Drew Ridpath. The two have been putting together their Canada 150th birthday gift to the village for more than a year.

The front cover image was taken by Ed's son, PTBOCanada's Scott Arnold...

Lakefield: Sketches to Remember is filled with explosive, emotional and hidden stories about some of the people behind the incredible black and white drawings of buildings displayed throughout the book—which is slated for release on Canada Day.

Arnold and Ridpath will be speaking to an audience at Christ Church in Lakefield at 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 21st about the book and a few of the buildings featured in it. They will also be announcing when and where it will be officially launched.

“When we moved to my family's hometown more than 40 years ago, I loved the people, history and beauty of this area," Ridpath says. "I started drawing pen and ink sketches to capture the unique character of our village. Ed's storytelling and the sketches combine to show how Lakefield has changed over time but still maintains the charm and feeling of a special village.”

The back cover and all the illustrations in the book are by Drew Ridpath...

Ed Arnold, an award-winning journalist who has written 16 local books, has this to say about the impact of writing, researching and collaborating on this book...

“When I started this journey with Drew, I had no idea how powerful the stories would be. Some made me laugh, others brought tears. It was an incredible trip through Lakefield’s past and present."

The Christ Church event on June 21st is a fundraiser for the museum with admission $10 at the door with limited seating.

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The Inside Story Of The 1916 Quaker Fire Released

A massive explosion and resulting fire levels the Quaker Oats plant in Peterborough, Ontario. In the wake of the disaster, 22 workers are dead—two more would later die as a result of their injuries—with the total damage set at a then unfathomable $2,250,000, not including an estimated $225,000 damage to neighbouring structures. 

As the Peterborough community rallies around shattered families and contemplates a possible future without the plant at its center, Quaker officials arrive from Chicago to survey the devastation firsthand, lend their assistance and investigate the opportunity to rebuild the plant.

Featuring a gripping you-are-there narrative as well as numerous archival photographs and newspaper clippings, A Dark Day In Peterborough: A Time To Remember December 11, 1916, is the most comprehensive account of the Quaker explosion and fire, and its aftermath, yet published.

Researched over a 12-year period and written by local historian Gord Young with the assistance of several Lakefield Heritage Research volunteers, its 200-plus pages recount a dark period in Peterborough’s history, the tragedy’s effects on the many the disaster touched and investigates the many theories as to what caused the explosion.    

A Dark Day In Peterborough: A Time To Remember December 11, 1916 will be launched Friday, November 18th, at 1 p.m., at the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce boardroom, 175 George Street North, and author Gord Young will be there.

A Dark Day In Peterborough: A Time To Remember December 11, 1916 is available for purchase for $30 at Chapters, 873 Lansdowne Street West; the Canadian Canoe Museum, 910 Monaghan Road; Sullivan’s Pharmacy, 71 Hunter Street East; Trent Valley Archives, 567 Carnegie Avenue; in Lakefield at Happenstance Books and Yarns, 44 Queen Street and Lakefield IDA Pharmacy, 32 Queen Street; and in Selwyn at Craftworks at The Barn, 124 Lindsay Road.

—guest post by Paul Rellinger

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