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Sabrina Jody-Lynn Jatsura 52 years of Georgian Bay Township was arrested and charged criminally with Theft Under $5000- Shoplifting and Possession Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000 – in Canada after being identified as the individual who was observed by store security security leaving with unpaid merchandise.

Officers observed the accused operating a vehicle in Victoria Harbour after the occurrence and made an arrest, seizing the stolen property.

The accused was released from custody to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on September 21, 2023.

In related news, numerous preventable thefts occurred over the July 20-24, 2023 period as thieves preyed on victims who did not employee the simple tactics of “Lock It or Lose It”. Motorists and home owners are reminded that locking your vehicle or bicycle prior to walking away can help save you a lot of grief replacing all of those papers and documents left behind in an unlocked vehicle. A number of bicycles gained new owners as they were left unattended in unlocked out buildings or unsecured outside of businesses or homes.

The post Honey Harbour Resident Charged In Midland Area Shoplifting Investigation appeared first on Muskoka411.

On July 19, 2023, just after 3:30 p.m, members of the OPP Southern Georgian Bay detachment, responded to a marina in the village of Honey Harbour, Georgian Bay Township.

Responding officers were assisted at the scene by Simcoe County and Muskoka Paramedic Services as well as Georgian Bay Township Fire Service.

Officers learned that a vehicle had driven into the water and a quick effort was made by citizens in the area as well as an officer who entered the water in a rescue attempt. A lone occupant was removed from the vehicle and life saving measures were performed.

The victim was transported to a local hospital however, sadly, a 79-year-old Hamilton resident was pronounced deceased. The OPP Central Region Technical Traffic Collision Investigation (TTCI) is on scene and are assisting detachment members in determining the cause of the incident.

The post Death Investigation After Vehicle Enters Water In Honey Harbour appeared first on Muskoka411.

Local owners will be on location too. 

PizzaForno, Canada’s only automated pizzeria chain that serves up pizza 24/7, hot & ready in less than 3 minutes, is kicking off its cottage country summer tour with games like the wheel of pizza, prizing, including chances to win free, delicious, pizza – as well as an opportunity to meet the locally owned operators of the kiosks, at select locations.

The PizzaForno team will also be giving away samples of its pizza selection that now feature a tastier crust, more mouthwatering toppings, and sauce, starting from $9.99 with flavours including BBQ Chicken, Meat Lovers, Four Cheese, Pepperoni, Veggie, and Hawaiian.

PizzaForno customers have the benefit of touchless ordering. They can use the new PizzaForno app to pre-order to make the experience even speedier –  or order directly at the kiosk from an automated screen. A robotic arm takes the refrigerated pizza and puts in into an oven for baking and less than three minutes later, a pizza emerges from a slot. A take-and-bake option is also available.

Summer Tour Stops

Thursday 22^nd June

Port Severn 1:30 – 3:00

3274 Port Severn Road, Port Severn,

Midland Bayport Marina 5:00 – 6:30

156 Marina Park Ave, Midland

Friday 23^rd June

Port Carling 12:00 – 1:30

3658 Muskoka District Rd 118 W.

Honey Harbour 4:00 – 5:30

2604 Honey Harbour Rd, Georgian Bay

Sunday 25^th June 

Southampton 12:00 – 1:30

23 Albert St S.

Chatsworth 3:40 – 5:10

317080 6 & 10 Hwy, Chatsworth

PizzaForno has more than 60 units across North America. The chain anticipates to have 25,000 units in operation by 2028, and uses patented state-of-the-art technology to serve consumers the best in food, flavor and convenience.

More about PizzaForno 

Founded in Toronto in 2018 by Canadian entrepreneurs William Moyer and Les Tomlin, PizzaForno is North America’s only automated pizzeria that introduces delicious pizzas hot and delicious, in less than three minutes. Accessible 24/7 at the tap of a digital screen, PizzaForno offers a selection of innovative menu options, each made with high quality ingredients, with an authentic approach. Utilizing technology made popular in France by ADIAL, PizzaForno has built its brand on a proven machine with already 2,000 operating in Europe. PizzaForno currently has 61 operating locations and over 100 additional locations committed in the U.S. alone, with the first 15 U.S. locations already established in Michigan, Texas, and Louisiana. In 2020, PizzaForno was honored with the Restaurants Canada 2020 Innovation Award. To learn more about PizzaForno, visit https://www.pizzaforno.com/. To inquire about the licensee opportunity, visit https://www.pizzaforno.com/become-a-licensee/.

*This Article Is Sponsored By PizzaForno

The post Pizza Forno Kicks Off Cottage Country 2023 Summer Tour June 22-25 appeared first on Muskoka411.

Fuhrmann, a retired businessman and a writer known by the pen name Mark Ervin, was born in Atikokan, Ontario, but he’s spent much of his life living in Norway. He returned to Canada in June to start his trip in Halifax before travelling through the St. Lawrence Seaway and into the Rideau and Trent Severn canals. He’s about a third of the way into the “Greater Loop,” which will bring him down to the Gulf of Mexico and back up to Halifax. He plans to complete his trip next June, a year from when he started, with the goal of kayaking 40 kilometres a day.

“This trip has been extremely challenging, more challenging than any kayak trip I’ve had,” Fuhrmann said. “The east coast of Nova Scotia was treacherous, the St. Lawrence, that was very, very demanding, and the Rideau Canal and the Trent Severn Waterway, they were just easy and nice.”

However, the respite was short-lived. After passing through Port Severn and Honey Harbour, Fuhrmann now faces the winds and shoals of Georgian Bay and the North Channel. Even with his experience travelling 5,900 kilometres by kayak on a 2018 trip from Oslo to Athens, the conditions on his North American excursion have proven to be some of the toughest he’s ever experienced.

Fuhrmann feels hopeful about the rest of his trip despite the growing physical and psychological pressure. Along with finishing a route never before completed on a kayak, he hopes to raise 100,000 euros for Captains Without Borders and Doctors Without Borders.

After working in communications for the maritime industry, Fuhrmann chose Captains Without Borders in order to support their goal of improving diversity in shipping and seafaring. He chose Doctors Without Borders in honour of his late wife, his soulmate, who worked as a physician. With those causes as part of his motivation, he’s been able to persevere.

“The best part of the trip is knowing that you can actually go further than you thought,”  he said. “That’s the number one thing for me is that I’ve been able to go forward despite my fears, despite not knowing what’s ahead of me, despite not knowing what tomorrow is going to be like. I can still move forward.”

In addition to raising money, Fuhrmann hopes to spread his message of “reversing the bad.” He encourages people to take whatever setbacks and hardships they’ve faced and do what they can to create something positive out of it. 

Whether it’s connecting with others who have faced the same pain or creating some good to counteract the bad, the people he’s met have shared their stories of reversing the bad, and that’s not all they’ve shared. Supporters have made signs, showed up for selfies, and offered supplies and sustenance. 

He’s shared many meals as well as a beer here and there with the folks he’s met during long days on the water. Some people have let him pitch a tent on their lawns while others have offered their own homes and beds. He’s been able to reconnect with long-lost cousins and even celebrated his 65th birthday with a group in Fenelon Falls.

“I’ve met people from all walks of life,” Fuhrmann said. “I’ve stayed in a trailer park. I’ve stayed in what we would call mansions. People open up their homes, and we’re all the same.”

He’s a firm believer in small acts of kindness and the impact they can have, and the people he’s encountered along the way have exemplified that belief. He hopes to continue making those connections as he heads toward the colder months ahead.

The only place he’s been able to explore so far on the trip was Quebec City, so even though he’s not even halfway through his journey, he’s already making plans to return.

“I would like to come back to Ontario and visit some of the places I’ve been to and possibly some of the people I’ve met along the way,” he said. 

He’s “overdosed on the beauty of Ontario,” especially Georgian Bay. The spectacular views remind him of his home in Norway, so when he makes his way back for a visit, Muskoka is undoubtedly on the list. Next time, though, he may forego the kayak and opt for a car.

Follow Fuhrmann’s Facebook page for regular updates on his trip, and visit his website to learn more about his efforts. Watch his most recent video update below.

The post Ontario-Born Kayaker Passes Through Muskoka On 10,500-Kilometre Journey appeared first on Muskoka411.

The Port Severn location has been serving customers since the grand opening on Aug. 2, making it Muskoka’s third machine alongside Port Carling and Honey Harbour. The machines are stocked with seven types of pizza, including classics varieties like Pepperoni, Hawaiian and Vegetarian as well as specialty options like Honey Goat Cheese and BBQ Chicken. All customers have to do is use the screen to make their selection, tap their card or phone to pay, and then wait for their pizza to emerge from the machine. 

“Whether you’re looking to bring home dinner for the family or need a quick snack on the way to the cottage, PizzaForno is a great, 24/7 gourmet food option,” said Jason Lowder, Chief Marketing Officer for PizzaForno. “Customers also have the option to take-and-bake at home, in addition to our fast-bake option.”

For those who choose the take-and-bake option, it’s as simple as removing the pizza from the box, baking it at 430 degrees for two to three minutes, and finishing it under the broiler for another minute or two. With the fast-bake option, pizzas come out hot and ready to eat in just three minutes.

Roni Carli, who owns and operates the Port Severn General Store, decided to partner with PizzaForno as a way to offer convenient and great-tasting food around the clock. Since the pizzas are hand-stretched and prepared off-site, it gives her the chance to offer quality food without working extra hours.

“I feel it’s important to be able to offer hot food conveniently, especially after hours,” Carli said. “We don’t have late fast food restaurants within a 20-kilometre area.”

The store is located in a high tourism area near Lock 45 on the Trent-Severn Waterway, so they often get day trippers and resort guests at their location. Many people are still discovering the machine, but those who have tried it have been pleasantly surprised by how good pizza can be from a vending machine.

In addition to getting a great tasting meal, supporting the Port Severn location can also help support a local cause. One dollar from every pizza sold on Tuesdays until mid-December will be donated to the Baxter Ward Lions Club so they can host a Christmas celebration for local children.

Whether it’s a take-and-bake pie for a night free from food prep or a way to have a hot meal on the go, Carli urges locals to give PizzaForno a try. “The PizzaForno pizzas are always fresh, made with real ingredients, and their own recipe thin crust is beyond exceptional!”

Visit Muskoka’s newest location at the Port Severn General Store at 3274 Port Severn Road. To learn more about PizzaForno, visit their website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

This post is sponsored by PizzaForno.

The post PizzaForno Offers Take-And-Bake And Hot-And-Ready Pizzas At Three Muskoka Locations appeared first on Muskoka411.

Township residents have committed to fund a minimum of 50% of the project and have deposited $100,000 with the Township in trust to date.

Lead fundraisers Rob and Michelle Krizmanich, presented to Council on March 14, 2022 the concept of installing six Pickleball courts at the park and have already initiated a fundraising campaign. Rob and Michelle have already confirmed $165,000 in pledges. To move the project forward, a minimum of $150,000 in donations must be secured.

Pickleball is a racquet sport that is a combination of tennis and ping pong. The game is played with a small solid racquet and a plastic wiffle ball. Pickleball’s popularity has grown at 30% (CBC, Dec 2021) annually because, it’s easy to learn, social, and a great form of exercise for most abilities.

Mayor Koetsier said “Seeing the community come together on this has been inspiring. With funds already accumulating, a plan clearly drawn and eager residents, this is a great project to support. I look forward to participating and seeing the residents get together for games and socializing at the revitalized Honey Harbour Park.”

Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports of all ages. These courts will be nicely situated within the heart of Honey Harbour so that all residents no matter the age or ability can come and enjoy them. If you would like to contribute to the fundraising efforts, you can do so on the Township of Georgian Bay website.

If you would like more information about this topic, contact the Jennifer Schnier, Director of Sustainability, Township of Georgian Bay 705-818-0323 or jschnier@gbtownship.ca

The post Contribute To The Fundraising Efforts To Bring Pickleball Courts To Honey Harbour appeared first on Muskoka411.

After being scammed, Tammie and Dan lost the deposit they had sent for first and last month’s rent, so without an apartment to live in, they started staying at motels. The second motel they ended up at was fine for a few months until new owners took over and it became rampant with drug use, which led Tammie, a recovering addict and alcoholic, to relapse. Their room was broken into around the same time, so after her relapse and getting robbed, Tammie knew they couldn’t stay.

“I took a chance and I started calling around to various cottages, just for the winter until we could get an apartment,” Tammie said. “Hall’s Cottages here in Honey Harbour, where we’re at right now, are the only people that understood us, understood our story.” 

Rick Vanderwal, who owns and operates Hall’s Cottages with his wife Diane, answered the phone when Tammie called. Being 36 years sober himself, he decided to help them out. The Vanderwals opened up one of their cottages for the winter and the Swartzes moved in on Nov. 27, but the help didn’t stop there.

When May 1 rolled around and cottage rental season had come, the Vanderwals gave Tammie and Dan a trailer to live in so they could continue to stay at the property. Rick and Diane redid the floors, installed a porcelain toilet in place of the trailer toilet and overall spruced up the trailer to make the Swartzes comfortable. 

“Sometimes people need a little bit of help here and there,” Rick said. “So we just gave her a little bit of help here and there. It’s really that simple.”

To Tammie, their help has meant the world. Diane has provided emotional support and walked with her to help her become more active, Rick has had their yard sprayed for ticks to protect her dogs, and the Vanderwals have helped her cover expenses like gas and prescriptions when her disability payments didn’t come in on time.

Having lost her own mother and father years ago, Tammie now considers the Vanderwals her parents. Between their help and the help she’s received from Marc Mantha at Gravenhurst Against Poverty and Stephanie Kehoe from the Métis Nation of Ontario, Tammie said she’s been saved from homelessness and living in her car.

“I don’t know how to thank these people enough for what they’ve done for us,” Tammie said. “They’ve given me my sobriety, they’ve given me my life.”

Mantha first came into contact with Tammie when she reached out to ask a question while applying for her Métis card, and she shared her story with him a few weeks later. He thought of her and Dan when Feed it Forward, a food rescue program and partner with Gravenhurst Against Poverty, delivered a load of food.

“I added Tammie and Dan to my route just in time to bridge the gap for their food insecurity. Then, I kept them on my list,” Mantha said. “There are no heroics here. Everything I do is because of the shoulders I stand on. The partners and the volunteers that manage all the logistics, without whom, there would be nothing.”

Mantha visits Honey Harbour once a month to deliver food to the Swartzes and despite their move to the trailer and “the labyrinth of cabins and trailers” at the property, the first door he knocked on was always the Swartzes’. Tammie credits that to the Creator. 

She prays every day that no one else ends up in the situation she was in and thanks the Creator for the help she and her husband have received. They now have a new permanent residence they’re renting at the reserve on Manitoulin Island, so their last day at Hall’s Cottages will be July 9.

As Tammie says goodbye to having Hall’s Cottages as her home, she can’t overstate what the Vanderwals’ love and support has meant to her.

“I’m going to be leaving Mr. and Mrs. Vanderwal, but before I go, I think it needs to be said and noted that these people came out of nowhere into my life and took me from homelessness and made me a woman again,” Tammie said. “I have self worth again because of Mr. and Mrs. Vanderwal. I have a reason to live.” 

Those experiencing homelessness in Muskoka can call the District of Muskoka’s homelessness team at 705-645-2412 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for assistance, or visit the district’s website to learn more.

The post Honey Harbour Business Owners Help Local Family Escape Homelessness appeared first on Muskoka411.

“This is a good reminder that all fire places and and structures that have a chimney need to be maintained and cleaned by a professional to reduce the chance of a chimney fire.” said Deputy Fire Chief Chad Dowell

The post Chimney Fire In The Honey Harbour Area appeared first on Muskoka411.