10,000 volunteers drop out; Tokyo Olympics open in 50 days

Beausejour biz has a bit of everything and a lot of buzz

BEAUSEJOUR — Andrea Swain, co-owner of Pennyweight Market, a combination bulk food outlet, ice cream parlour and good, old-fashioned general store situated in Beausejour, laughingly opines that one of the challenges of launching a new venture in a small community such as theirs is that “everybody in town knows your business.”

Among the benefits? That’s easy, she says: everybody in town knows your business.

Not long after they acquired the space four summers ago, rumours abounded as to what it was going to be when it reopened, Swain continues, seated next to her associates Kimberley Friesen and Laurie McLean, inside their cute-as-a-button shop at 802 Park Ave. The previous owner had been around for more than 20 years, and ice cream and milk shakes were two of her main drawing cards, so there was some concern — OK, a lot — on the part of the high school students down the street that the three of them were going to turn it into a (here she lowers her voice to a whisper) health-food store.

Friesen, who, like Swain, grew up in Beausejour, located 45 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, was at a neighbourhood pool party in July 2017, a few weeks before Pennyweight’s grand opening. She recalls being peppered with questions, including one from a 10-year-old girl splashing about in the shallow end who was under the impression the former locale’s beloved “candy island” was about to become a thing of the past. The second Friesen told the youngster not to worry, that the colourful array of gummies, licorice and chocolates wasn’t going anywhere, she came bounding out of the pool to give her a big, albeit wet, hug.

Youth centre library cancellation baffles

It’s difficult to understand why Manitoba Corrections would shut down a library program that cost taxpayers nothing, was popular with young inmates and was designed to help them learn.

But that is what happened at the Manitoba Youth Centre, where a volunteer-run pop-up library has been cancelled by the province.

The Prison Libraries Committee, part of the Manitoba Library Association, provided the program at no cost to Corrections. Once a month, volunteer librarians brought books into the youth centre, helped young people find reading material, assisted with school research and provided something that can be in short supply in a correctional institution — positive interaction with people from outside its walls.

The program became so popular that the youth centre asked for it to be offered more frequently.

Today’s horoscope

MOON ALERT: Avoid shopping (except food and gas) and important decisions after 1:30 p.m. The moon is in Virgo.

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Even though your work routine might be interrupted, this is a productive day. Parents should be extra vigilant because this could be an accident-prone day for kids. Social plans might suddenly change. Athletes should be careful to avoid injuries.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

Ribbon cutting marks new roads, buildings start in Water Tower District

Work is underway transforming land previously home to the massive Canada Packers building into St. Boniface’s latest development.

Alberta-based Olexa Developments and Winnipeg’s Shindico Realty Inc. held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday to unveil the names of two completed streets running through the new Water Tower District and mark the start of building construction.

Crews broke ground last month on the first multifamily residential building, which is expected to have 500 units. The developers have City of Winnipeg approval for 2,800 units across the 165-acre community, up from the previous 2,000-unit limit.

Dan Cristall, founder and CEO of Olexa, said the project has high potential because it can utilize existing infrastructure by being an inner-city development.

‘You’re just feeling so emotional’: Americans reunite with loved ones as the Canadian border reopens

Americans waiting to come to Canada finally got their wish as the border reopened.