A BIG thank you to the more than 100 people who attended our grand opening this past Saturday in Bancroft! We had a wonderful donation of a couch, chairs and table brought in on Saturday. Check out some pictures of our new store and come on in to check it out.

Wow, the new store is looking good. We will be open this Saturday, April 20! Hope to see you there at 141 Hastings Street North, in downtown Bancroft.

Are you over 60 and have some time to share with another senior?  Are you hooked on shows like Who Do You Think You Are and Finding Your Roots? Do you love talking about family history with others but wish you knew more about your own?

A new program SIRCH is launching will help you find your Family Roots! Beginning this April, the year-long pilot project is seeking ten senior (60+) volunteers who will be trained by project coordinator and local genealogist Donna Gagnon. As part of the thorough training, you’ll learn to research your own family history back 3 generations.  Then you will help other seniors, who may be more isolated and needing to connect with their community, to research their own family history. By being that mentor and buddy, you’ll change someone’s life!

The program will provide a fun and social environment, with refreshments, weekly meetings, quarterly “reveals” and much more.  There is a time commitment, but it’s a project that will make your heart sing if you like to connect, give back, and are intrigued by the past.

The Family Roots program is made possible by a grant from the Government of Canada New Horizons for Seniors Program. It will be supported by the Haliburton Highlands Museum, and Haliburton Highlands CARP Chapter 54.

Space is limited so register today by emailing info@sirch.on.ca or calling 705-457-1742.

There is a saying that goes, March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. The old proverb has to do with the weather and many believe if the month starts out with bad weather, it will end with a sure sign of spring. As Canadians we are obsessed with weather and I know by March, many are ready for spring to appear.

Well we’ve got a bit of sunshine to brighten up your March with the news that Cook It Up is returning to Molly’s Bistro Bakery in Minden! Starting March 12, and running until May 7, every Tuesday you can enjoy a free, 3-course meal at Molly’s from 12-2pm.

This will mark the fifth season of Cook It Up, which is a food services training program aimed at helping unemployed or underemployed individuals find career opportunities. The meals at Molly’s offer the trainees a chance to hone their skills and the public an opportunity to enjoy delicious food and offer feedback. This year the participants will be offering international/regional cuisine. We will post the menu, along with the trainee’s profile, on the Monday preceding the Tuesday lunch.

Cook It Up provides on-the-job training and employment opportunities for 8-12 participants, but it is done with some unique key elements that ensure its success:

• A gratitude platform/philosophy that underpins the training
• Partners with a restaurant owner to take over their restaurant on a day it is typically closed, and preparing, cooking and serving an upscale 3-course lunch (free to the public)
• Promoting meaningful ongoing interaction between the trainees and the public.

So for the next few months spend your Tuesdays at Molly’s, regardless of the weather, and you will be sure to leave with a smile on your face and some spring in your step!

To learn more about Cook It Up click on this link.

Tomorrow will be the last Cook It Up Thursday for awhile.  Because they were meant to be primarily a training ground for Cook It Up participants and grads, we are putting them on hold for awhile until the new trainees start their placement at Molly’s and have an opportunity to feel comfortable as cooks.  We are hoping to resume in a few weeks…

We encourage everyone to visit Molly’s starting March 12th to enjoy a free 3-course lunch.  The themes this year are international/regional so there will be some great lunches.  We will post the menu, along with the trainee’s profile, on the Monday preceeding the Tuesday lunch.