By Charlotte MacAulay
Roger MacPhee, pastor of St. John Presbyterian Church says he always finds inspiration when he’s exploring the outdoors.
About 7 years ago he was on his daily walk when he noticed the stump of a tree with some new shoots sprouting out of it.
“That is a wonderful symbol of what the church is all about,” he thought.
The church was built in 1824, making it one of the oldest on the Island, yet the church community prides itself on doing new things and changing with the times.
The stump gave him the idea to have a celebration for people to come together to renew their spirit and that is when the first weekend revival was born, he said.
For the fourth time in the past 7 years the St. John Presbyterian Church in Belfast will hold a interdenominational weekend conference filled with music and motivation.
‘Revival in Belfast’ will take place May 13-16.
“The format changes from year to year depending on the ideas of the people who organize it, he said.
This years conference will feature music by Robin Mark and talks by Paul and Priscilla Reid all from Belfast, Ireland as well as Father Gerry Tingley, Kings County pastor.
The music has a Celtic connection which is something that will make the Maritimers feel at home.
The conference is becoming more popular every time and 400 people are expected to attend this year said Rev MacPhee.
There are people from not only PEI, but from all over the Maritimes.
“I hope that people leave here refreshed, positive and hopeful about what God’s doing in their lives, but most of all, I hope they leave having enjoyed the company of everyone involved,” Rev MacPhee said.
There is no registration fee for the weekend. A free will offering will be collected nightly. For more information or to register call 838-3663 or visit www.belfast2010.ca.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Time to set sail for summer again
Models for the upcoming ‘set sail for summer’ fund raiser for the Montague Curling Club are from left Edythe Docherty, Judy Koke, Alisa Beck and Julie VanDenbroek.
The ladies will by modeling summer fashions from Belle’s Boutique and footwear from Proude’s shoes.
By Charlotte MacAulay
The third annual fashion show fund raiser, ‘Set sail for summer’, for the Montague Curling Club is taking place on Friday April 23 at the Curling Club.
Organizer Judy Koke said the fund raiser was a yearly event when Belle’s Ladies wear was in business.
Since Belle’s Boutique opened for business, owner Nancy MacKinnon has revived the annual event.
This is a licensed event and lunch will be available.
All of the clothing being modeled is from Belle’s Boutique and the footwear is from Proude’s .
Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at Belle’s on Main Street in Montague.
Yeast plant not up and running yet
By Charlotte MacAulay
An engineering firm is still working on the design of an addition to the future yeast manufacturing plant in Summerville PEI said company President.
Garth Greenham of Phyterra Yeast Inc. said, a 557 square metre addition will be added on to the former MacGowan Tractor building to house a fermentation suite.
The company will receive more than $3 million in government funding to convert the building.
The production of commercial scale yeast will take place at the plant.
“We are hoping to start construction in the next four to six weeks and that should bring us to opening in the first quarter of 2011,” Mr Greenham said.
Currently the company has 18 employees on PEI, mostly in the research and development area and they are based at research facilities at UPEI.
Some of those employees will be moving from UPEI to the new facility when it begins operation, but the university will still be used by the company , Mr Greenham said.
“It is very convenient to be able to lease lab space that is already set up,” he said.
The facility will bring 20 new jobs to the Island when the plant is up and running.
There have already been employment inquiries from students in the Holland College Bioscience Technology program Mr Greenham said.
In addition to the jobs at the plant, local companies will be given opportunity to bid on the manufacturing of equipment for the plant.
The addition will house fermentation tanks, some as big as 20,000 litres.
Mr Greenham said his looking forward to working with more local companies in the construction of the yeast plant.
Diversified Metal Engineering in Charlottetown made a lot of the equipment for Maritime Pulse Drying, a plant in Graham’s Pond that is also run by Phyterra Yeast Inc.
Operations manager Doug Clark said the drying facility is in the process of doing samples for potential clients and are awaiting their certification from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Once that happens the plant should be running full tilt with the potential to have four shifts and 10-12 people working in total, said Mr Clark.
The Graham’s Pond plant will also be used to dry the yeast from Phyterra’s Summerville operation, said Mr Clark.
An engineering firm is still working on the design of an addition to the future yeast manufacturing plant in Summerville PEI said company President.
Garth Greenham of Phyterra Yeast Inc. said, a 557 square metre addition will be added on to the former MacGowan Tractor building to house a fermentation suite.
The company will receive more than $3 million in government funding to convert the building.
The production of commercial scale yeast will take place at the plant.
“We are hoping to start construction in the next four to six weeks and that should bring us to opening in the first quarter of 2011,” Mr Greenham said.
Currently the company has 18 employees on PEI, mostly in the research and development area and they are based at research facilities at UPEI.
Some of those employees will be moving from UPEI to the new facility when it begins operation, but the university will still be used by the company , Mr Greenham said.
“It is very convenient to be able to lease lab space that is already set up,” he said.
The facility will bring 20 new jobs to the Island when the plant is up and running.
There have already been employment inquiries from students in the Holland College Bioscience Technology program Mr Greenham said.
In addition to the jobs at the plant, local companies will be given opportunity to bid on the manufacturing of equipment for the plant.
The addition will house fermentation tanks, some as big as 20,000 litres.
Mr Greenham said his looking forward to working with more local companies in the construction of the yeast plant.
Diversified Metal Engineering in Charlottetown made a lot of the equipment for Maritime Pulse Drying, a plant in Graham’s Pond that is also run by Phyterra Yeast Inc.
Operations manager Doug Clark said the drying facility is in the process of doing samples for potential clients and are awaiting their certification from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Once that happens the plant should be running full tilt with the potential to have four shifts and 10-12 people working in total, said Mr Clark.
The Graham’s Pond plant will also be used to dry the yeast from Phyterra’s Summerville operation, said Mr Clark.
royalty hardwood
-Gui Poggio, employee at Royalty Hardwoods, puts a board through the molder. Floor boards are just one of the many products avaliable at the wood manufacturer at Poole’s Corner.
By Charlotte MacAulay
Spring is the time of year people turn their thoughts to being outside and sprucing up the yard.
Royalty Hardwoods Ltd. at Poole’s Corner has all the wood needed to build a Gazebo or fix up the deck.
In fact they have wood to suit any need.
“If it’s wood we can make it,” said Martinus Rose , owner/ operator.
Not only do they manufacture products for both the interior and exterior of homes such as flooring, moldings, butcher block counter tops, siding and decking materials.
They are also the suppliers to industrial companies across the Maritimes and western Canada and local farmers and fishermen.
All species of wood in PEI are used to make the products at Royalty Hardwoods.
Twenty people are employed at the Poole’s Corner plant where they take the raw product from felled tree to finished product all in the one location.
On sight there is a sawmill, dry kilns and two production plants.
There is no wood waste at Royalty Hardwoods because they use all the waste wood to heat the production facilities.
The biggest thing Mr Rose would like to get out there is Royalty Hardwood retails directly to the public and no request is to small or to big.
They will even take a customer’s own wood and make it into a product for them.
So if you come across a broken arbor or a board that needs replacing on the deck just go to Royalty Hardwood at Poole’s Corner and see what they can do for you.
Historical monument stands alone
This plaque is part of a school erected in 1926 as a memorial to soldiers of the First World War. It can be seen on the side of the former Montague school at 112 Fraser Street.
By Charlotte MacAulay
A plaque commemorating the fallen soldiers in the First World War is perched on the north side of an abandon building on Fraser Street.
The building was erected in 1926 as the Montague Memorial school and remained the school until consolidation during the 1960s when it was sold to the Royal Canadian Legion #8.
In 1996 when the legion could no longer afford to keep the building it was sold to Oak Acres Children’s Camp Inc.
The most recent group to use the building was the Generation XX youth group, but it now sits empty and is for sale by the company.
When asked if the building had any historical value the Legion, President, Gilbert Murphy, said they did look into acquiring the plaque a few years ago, but were not able to.
He said since the building is for sale they could ask the owners if anything could be done. All they could say is no he said.
Local historian Donna Collins made an attempt to have the building preserved in 2007.
“Heritage is a part of the building, I can remember moving from that school to the new one,” Ms Collins said.
She did the research and applied to the PEI Register of Heritage Places to have the building registered but it was declined.
The heritage places review board reviews applications based on a number of criteria, one of which is alterations from the original state.
Charlotte Stewart, Heritage Officer with the province said the building had too many alteration inside and out that detracted from its heritage character.
Our space
One hero makes many
It was 30 years ago Canadian hero, Terry Fox began his incredible journey, the Marathon of Hope.
He was victim of cancer, but he didn’t let anything stand in the way of his dream of a cure.
He walked across Canada and inspired Canadians to fight for a cure right along with him.
To date over half a billion has been raised for research because of what he started.
Terry is not the only one who has inspired millions to become heros themselves.
In the coming months over two thousand Islanders will participate in the Relay for Life.
The relay began in the US with the inspiration of one man, Dr Gordy Klatt, who raised money for the local cancer society.
Now millions of people world-wide participate every year.
There are six relays being held this year one of which is on June 18 in Montague.
Teams will gather to celebrate survivors, remember loved ones lost and fight back in the hope of finding a cure.
By Charlotte MacAulay
One hero makes many
It was 30 years ago Canadian hero, Terry Fox began his incredible journey, the Marathon of Hope.
He was victim of cancer, but he didn’t let anything stand in the way of his dream of a cure.
He walked across Canada and inspired Canadians to fight for a cure right along with him.
To date over half a billion has been raised for research because of what he started.
Terry is not the only one who has inspired millions to become heros themselves.
In the coming months over two thousand Islanders will participate in the Relay for Life.
The relay began in the US with the inspiration of one man, Dr Gordy Klatt, who raised money for the local cancer society.
Now millions of people world-wide participate every year.
There are six relays being held this year one of which is on June 18 in Montague.
Teams will gather to celebrate survivors, remember loved ones lost and fight back in the hope of finding a cure.
By Charlotte MacAulay
Horse stock breeds new life into a local farm
By Charlotte MacAulay
It was eight years ago when Ken and Theresa Mellish decided it was time to get out of dairy farming and into horse breeding.
In 2002 the Mellishes were faced with a choice of expanding the dairy operation to stay competitive or changing their focus.
They had always had some horses and their daughter, Martha, rode show horses so it seemed a natural fit to get into the horse breeding industry.
New Perth Farms now breeds Dutch Warmbloods, a breed of horses originating in the Netherlands, which are used for show jumping and dressage.
They started by importing from Holland a foundation stock of six young horses that had just been weaned.
The horses are bred through artificial semination with frozen semen imported from Dutch Warmbloods in Holland.
Mr Mellish saw a good potential on PEI for getting into the breeding industry.
“It is a huge industry in Europe and there aren’t too many breeders in Canada,” he said.
In fact, Mr Mellish sold one horse last year to a lady in BC who said New Perth Farms was the closest place to buy.
They have customers all over Canada, mostly the Maritimes and some of the states.
Most people who buy the horses from the Mellishes ride as a hobby, but it is an expensive and serious hobby as there is not only the cost of the animal, but also equipment, horse care and travelling to shows and clinics.
“There are quite a number of people on PEI who ride,” Mr Mellish said.
Even though New Perth Farms has been in the business for eight years, they still have what is considered young stock.
Show horses have along career as most are 20 by the time they retire.
“If you are training a horse for jumping they don’t usually start the higher jumps until they are eight- years-old,” Mr Mellish said.
The riders who have bought horses from New Perth have had a lot of success in the young horse classes.
This past summer at a show at Gingerwood Farm in Stanhope inspectors from Holland came to look at New Perth’s stock and they were credited with having the number one yearling in North America.
This time of year is spent training the young horses and around the end of the month it will be busy in the barn with new foals arriving.
This year five new foals will be joining the stock at New Perth.
Most mares foal in the middle of the night and foal quickly so they have installed security cameras in the stalls.
This helps alleviate unnecessary trips out to the barn in the middle of the night, Mr Mellish said.
It was eight years ago when Ken and Theresa Mellish decided it was time to get out of dairy farming and into horse breeding.
In 2002 the Mellishes were faced with a choice of expanding the dairy operation to stay competitive or changing their focus.
They had always had some horses and their daughter, Martha, rode show horses so it seemed a natural fit to get into the horse breeding industry.
New Perth Farms now breeds Dutch Warmbloods, a breed of horses originating in the Netherlands, which are used for show jumping and dressage.
They started by importing from Holland a foundation stock of six young horses that had just been weaned.
The horses are bred through artificial semination with frozen semen imported from Dutch Warmbloods in Holland.
Mr Mellish saw a good potential on PEI for getting into the breeding industry.
“It is a huge industry in Europe and there aren’t too many breeders in Canada,” he said.
In fact, Mr Mellish sold one horse last year to a lady in BC who said New Perth Farms was the closest place to buy.
They have customers all over Canada, mostly the Maritimes and some of the states.
Most people who buy the horses from the Mellishes ride as a hobby, but it is an expensive and serious hobby as there is not only the cost of the animal, but also equipment, horse care and travelling to shows and clinics.
“There are quite a number of people on PEI who ride,” Mr Mellish said.
Even though New Perth Farms has been in the business for eight years, they still have what is considered young stock.
Show horses have along career as most are 20 by the time they retire.
“If you are training a horse for jumping they don’t usually start the higher jumps until they are eight- years-old,” Mr Mellish said.
The riders who have bought horses from New Perth have had a lot of success in the young horse classes.
This past summer at a show at Gingerwood Farm in Stanhope inspectors from Holland came to look at New Perth’s stock and they were credited with having the number one yearling in North America.
This time of year is spent training the young horses and around the end of the month it will be busy in the barn with new foals arriving.
This year five new foals will be joining the stock at New Perth.
Most mares foal in the middle of the night and foal quickly so they have installed security cameras in the stalls.
This helps alleviate unnecessary trips out to the barn in the middle of the night, Mr Mellish said.
Senior in training
Charlotte Conrad of Sturgeon stretches after her Sunday morning walk. Mrs Conrad is training for the half marathon in Ottawa on May 30.
Charlotte Conrad of Sturgeon starts out on her daily walk on a sunny Sunday in April. Mrs Conrad is training for the half marathon in Ottawa on May 30.
Senior in training
By Charlotte MacAulay
She can be seen walking the roads around Sturgeon, but she’s not just taking a leisurely stroll, she’s in training.
On May 30, Charlotte Conrad will join her two daughters and thousands of other people in Ottawa to participate in the 35 annual Ottawa Marathon, which is a fund raising event for the Ottawa region hospitals.
Mrs Conrad, a retired teacher and her husband Sterling who is retired from the Air Force lived in Ottawa before they retired in 1996 to Mr Conrad’s old stomping grounds on the Old Wharf Road.
The Conrad’s still have family in the Ottawa region and when they go visit Mrs Conrad and her daughters often take walks together.
It was on one of these walks that they decided to participate in the marathon.
Mrs Conrad will be participating in the half-marathon leg of the event, a total of 21 km.
Most days Mrs Conrad goes for a walk, but since February she has been on a strict training schedule that rotates from day to day.
One day she will do a 14 km walk from her home on the Old Wharf Road to Ferrez Farms and back. The next day she will do a shorter more intense walk and the third training element is hill training. Mrs Conrad usually goes to Cambridge to do this. She has to go up and down the hill seven times at a fast pace.
“It’s good to follow a schedule.
“I think I will be in good shape for the Marathon this year.
“Last year when I finished the race I could have kept going I wasn’t tired at all,” Mrs Conrad said.
This is the second year Mrs Conrad has been in the marathon, but she has always been competitive and physically active from a young age.
“I can remember when I was in elementary school we use to practice for the track and field meet by the wood pile.”
The saw dust was a good soft place to land when practicing for the ‘hop, skip and jump’ and the long-jump she said.
She has a shoe box full of ribbons from winning meets in school. In high school she was an avid softball player and she broke the javelin record one year.
During her teaching years Mrs Conrad always stayed active and encouraged her children to do the same.
She participated in numerous 5km runs over the years.
Mrs Conrad’s zest for a healthy lifestyle goes beyond her own physical well being.
Since moving to PEI she has become active in several community groups.
“When I first came I thought it would be a good way to meet people.
“You could sit home and knit all day, but you can’t meet anyone that way,” Mrs Conrad said.
Every week Mrs Conrad holds an exercise class for the residents at MacKinnon Pines community care.
“It gets them out of their rooms and moving around.
“Everyone should be doing whatever they are able to do,” Mrs Conrad said.
Mrs Conrad took part in an Island annual event in the past.
She is a breast cancer survivor and was a member of the sunflowers relay team and in the past has participated in numerous relays.
These days she is an active member of the 50 plus club where she teaches crafts and helps with the line-dancing class.
Gardening is another favourite pass time of Mrs. Conrad. It’s good for the body and the mind she said.
Mrs Conrad’s words to live by “Always stay active, you can’t spend your life moping around.”
Jet-lag makes for good fishing
Katie Doucet, the four-year-old granddaughter of Barbara and John Webster of the Millburn Road caught a three pound 19 inch trout on opening day.
Katie is visiting her grandparents from Pangirtung, Nunavut.
By Charlotte MacAulay
Her first catch on PEI was no small potatoes for Katie Doucet of Pangirtung, Nunavut.
Katie, the four-year-old granddaughter of John and Barbara Webster of the Millburn Road, went fishing with her Grammy on opening day of the PEI angling season and hooked a three pound 19 inch trout within minutes of putting her line in the water.
Mrs Webster said she baited Katie’s hook and before she could get her own on, Katie had a bite.
“She reeled it in a bit, but lost it, so I baited her hook again and she hooked it again right away,” Mrs Webster said.
“We had to haul it in and let the line go three times before we could get it in the net,” she said.
“It was really big and messy,” said Katie.
Even so she can’t wait to go out again.
Katie and her grammy had a bit of a late start on opening day because the day before Katie had travelled all day changing planes four times to get to PEI from her home in Nunavut.
This is the perfect time for a visit and they will be making lots of trips to Long’s Spring for more big trout said Mrs Webster.
“Only a few of us know where Long’s Spring is and I’m not giving out directions to anyone,” Mrs Webster said.
The trout are big there. The Websters usually only catch one or two a day. “We don’t want to take more than we can eat,” she said.
1700 residents still without a family doctor in Souris
By Charlotte MacAulay
All effort is being made to continue recruitment of doctors for the Souris area said Arlene Rose, Public Health Primary Care Coordinator(East) for the department of Health and Wellness.
In February Dr. Tamer Toma and Dr. Soha Rizk announced they were moving their practices to Nova Scotia leaving two doctors and one nurse practitioner to cover the community’s health care needs.
Dr Ambrose Kennedy was able to take on some of the patients left without a family doctor.
The rest have two options said Ms Rose.
“They have the opportunity to see the nurse practitioner or they can access the walk-in clinics,” she said.
So far they have been able to keep the clinic open everyday Monday-Friday and every second week-end.
Although the doctors hours haven’t been increased, they are on call for the inpatients at the hospital more often than before.
Some physicians have been inquiring about the recruitment and the department is working on getting someone to fill in on a temporary part-time bases, said Ms Rose.
“We do have one physician who has made a verbal agreement to sign on for a two-year term in the near future, but no contract has been signed as of yet,” she said.
All effort is being made to continue recruitment of doctors for the Souris area said Arlene Rose, Public Health Primary Care Coordinator(East) for the department of Health and Wellness.
In February Dr. Tamer Toma and Dr. Soha Rizk announced they were moving their practices to Nova Scotia leaving two doctors and one nurse practitioner to cover the community’s health care needs.
Dr Ambrose Kennedy was able to take on some of the patients left without a family doctor.
The rest have two options said Ms Rose.
“They have the opportunity to see the nurse practitioner or they can access the walk-in clinics,” she said.
So far they have been able to keep the clinic open everyday Monday-Friday and every second week-end.
Although the doctors hours haven’t been increased, they are on call for the inpatients at the hospital more often than before.
Some physicians have been inquiring about the recruitment and the department is working on getting someone to fill in on a temporary part-time bases, said Ms Rose.
“We do have one physician who has made a verbal agreement to sign on for a two-year term in the near future, but no contract has been signed as of yet,” she said.
Just one more cast
By Charlotte MacAulay
All the poles are ready and the dew worms were dug up last week said Gordon Gallant, Montague.
Mr Gallant is an avid fisherman to say the least and he is ready for April 15, the day angling season starts on PEI.
“Where there’s water and fish I’m there.
“I’m always ready,” Mr Gallant said.
He started fishing when he was about nine years old.
“Back then I’d just get a stick out of the woods and tie a string to it.
“There was no such thing as a reel.”
The improvements since then have made it easier to catch fish , said Mr Gallant.
Even so some times it takes hours to catch something.
“If I go to a place I know there’s big ones and fish, I’d stay all day to get just one.”
Mr Gallant has the patience to sit and wait when he knows there will be a big pay-off in the end.
“It’s quite a thrill when you hook a big one and have to fight them.”
Mr Gallant use to fish both trout and salmon, but he doesn’t enjoy the catch and release that is now mandatory in the salmon fishery.
“When I catch a fish I like to take it home and eat it.”
He said the best way to cook a trout is to dip it in flour and then into the hot oil in the frying pan.
What Mr Gallant and his wife Helena don’t use they can always find someone who would like a feed of trout.
These days grandson’s Max and Willis VanWiechen are usually Mr Gallant’s fishing partners, but in the past there have been many times when Helena and their four children would join him on the water.
“They didn’t have much patience for me.
“When the boys were growing up they’d say, ‘Let’s go home Dad,’ and I’d say ‘just one more cast.’”
Mrs Gallant confirms this story.
“I’ve heard ‘just one more cast’ a lot more times then I can remember,” she said.
Mr Gallant has been retired for 15 years so fishing is isn’t just a hobby anymore, it’s a way of life.
“There’s not too many days you’ll find me home during the fishing season.
“I miss it during the winter, but the fishing shows on TV help me through.”
All the poles are ready and the dew worms were dug up last week said Gordon Gallant, Montague.
Mr Gallant is an avid fisherman to say the least and he is ready for April 15, the day angling season starts on PEI.
“Where there’s water and fish I’m there.
“I’m always ready,” Mr Gallant said.
He started fishing when he was about nine years old.
“Back then I’d just get a stick out of the woods and tie a string to it.
“There was no such thing as a reel.”
The improvements since then have made it easier to catch fish , said Mr Gallant.
Even so some times it takes hours to catch something.
“If I go to a place I know there’s big ones and fish, I’d stay all day to get just one.”
Mr Gallant has the patience to sit and wait when he knows there will be a big pay-off in the end.
“It’s quite a thrill when you hook a big one and have to fight them.”
Mr Gallant use to fish both trout and salmon, but he doesn’t enjoy the catch and release that is now mandatory in the salmon fishery.
“When I catch a fish I like to take it home and eat it.”
He said the best way to cook a trout is to dip it in flour and then into the hot oil in the frying pan.
What Mr Gallant and his wife Helena don’t use they can always find someone who would like a feed of trout.
These days grandson’s Max and Willis VanWiechen are usually Mr Gallant’s fishing partners, but in the past there have been many times when Helena and their four children would join him on the water.
“They didn’t have much patience for me.
“When the boys were growing up they’d say, ‘Let’s go home Dad,’ and I’d say ‘just one more cast.’”
Mrs Gallant confirms this story.
“I’ve heard ‘just one more cast’ a lot more times then I can remember,” she said.
Mr Gallant has been retired for 15 years so fishing is isn’t just a hobby anymore, it’s a way of life.
“There’s not too many days you’ll find me home during the fishing season.
“I miss it during the winter, but the fishing shows on TV help me through.”
Retired in Souris
Therese Peters has retired after working 26 years at Access PEI in Souris.
Therese Peters received a certtificate of merit from the government in October 2009 for all her years in the cuivil service. She retired after working 26 years at Access PEI in Souris.
By Charlotte MacAulay
The disbursement of government services in Souris have changed a lot over the years, and there has been one employee who has stayed with the service centre through those changes.
But the familiar face of receptionist, Theresa Peters won’t be a part of it anymore. She retired in October of 2009 from her job at Access PEI.
Everyday for 26 years she pointed clients in the right direction and greeted fellow workers.
“I’m really going to miss the contact with people especially when I enjoy talking with people so much, Mrs Peters said.
Although she will miss the day to day, Mrs Peters is happy she will be able to spend more time visiting her family.
She had five children who all have families of there own.
“I have 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren who I’m sure will keep me busy,” she said.
Mrs Peters daughter Tammy is happy her mom will be able to come and visit now without having to rush back to work.
“We are really proud of her for all she has accomplishments and we’re glad she’s going to take the time to spend more time with us.”
Mrs Peters has never travelled much, being busy with work, and since some of her children live off Island, she is looking forward to future excursions.
Mrs Peters has done office work all of her adult life as before working at the service centre she and her husband, the late Joey Peters has a trucking business out of their home in Souris West.
She has seen a lot of changes in the workplace over the years.
The service centre being moved to it’s present location on Green Street in the 1990s, the move from type writers to computers and the biggest was the amalgamation of government services to form Access PEI to name a few.
Mrs Peters said her job never really changed that much over the years.
“I was always still the one clients went to first and in the later years I used e-mail more than letters, but in the end I still had the same amount of contact with people,” she said.
Mrs Peters said she was never one to party, but she is looking forward to seeing people at an open house being held in her honour at St Mary’s Hall Main St, Souris on Friday April 16, from 6-9 pm.
Montague town council gets a raise
By Charlotte MacAulay
charlotte@peicanada.com
At the monthly town council meeting all but one councillor voted in favour of raising the money councillors and mayor receive for their work on council.
A motion was put forward on April 26 by Finance Chair, John MacFarlane, to raise the remuneration $500 each bringing the numbers up to $4,500 per councillor and $6,000 for the mayor.
Councillors Peter Doucette, Marion Robertson, John MacFarlane, Peggy Whitlock and Janice MacBeth all voted for the motion while Deputy Mayor David Mabon voted against.
Coun Mabon said he thinks a survey should be done to compare municipal remunerations in the smaller towns in PEI.
One obtained by the Graphic shows as of April 1, 2010, Montague remuneration for councillors was 60 per cent higher than Souris, Georgetown , Alberton and Kensington.
Coincidentally Souris council voted on the same night to raise their remunerations bringing their numbers to $3,500 per councillor and $5,000 for the mayor.
Coun Mabon recalled getting $800 his first time on council many years ago and said that was a good exchange for his work.
“I’m voting against the raise.
“I’m well satisfied with what I get,’ Coun Mabon said.
In discussions before the vote councillors Peter Doucette said the town is growing and they work hard to make that happen.
“We’re valuing the contribution we make to municipal affairs.
“All the improvements in the town don’t happen by accident,” Coun Doucette said.
All the remaining councillors agreed and said they do the work and earn the money they receive.
Coun MacBeth said there is no comparison between Montague and the other smaller municipalities on PEI.
They don’t have the population or the infrastructure Montague has, she said.
“I’d do it for less, but if the money is there we deserve it,” said Coun Macbeth.
charlotte@peicanada.com
At the monthly town council meeting all but one councillor voted in favour of raising the money councillors and mayor receive for their work on council.
A motion was put forward on April 26 by Finance Chair, John MacFarlane, to raise the remuneration $500 each bringing the numbers up to $4,500 per councillor and $6,000 for the mayor.
Councillors Peter Doucette, Marion Robertson, John MacFarlane, Peggy Whitlock and Janice MacBeth all voted for the motion while Deputy Mayor David Mabon voted against.
Coun Mabon said he thinks a survey should be done to compare municipal remunerations in the smaller towns in PEI.
One obtained by the Graphic shows as of April 1, 2010, Montague remuneration for councillors was 60 per cent higher than Souris, Georgetown , Alberton and Kensington.
Coincidentally Souris council voted on the same night to raise their remunerations bringing their numbers to $3,500 per councillor and $5,000 for the mayor.
Coun Mabon recalled getting $800 his first time on council many years ago and said that was a good exchange for his work.
“I’m voting against the raise.
“I’m well satisfied with what I get,’ Coun Mabon said.
In discussions before the vote councillors Peter Doucette said the town is growing and they work hard to make that happen.
“We’re valuing the contribution we make to municipal affairs.
“All the improvements in the town don’t happen by accident,” Coun Doucette said.
All the remaining councillors agreed and said they do the work and earn the money they receive.
Coun MacBeth said there is no comparison between Montague and the other smaller municipalities on PEI.
They don’t have the population or the infrastructure Montague has, she said.
“I’d do it for less, but if the money is there we deserve it,” said Coun Macbeth.
Private sector taking over golf course
By Charlotte MacAulay
charlotte@peicanada.com
The Northumberland Community Development Corporation (NCDC) has sold the Eagles View golf course.
Previous members of the course received a letter dated March 18, 2010 part of which it states “NCDC is proud to announce that they have finalized a deal that will see the golf course turn over into the private sector. Additional details on NCDC’s new parteners will be provided shortly.”
There has been no further communication with members, but the Graphic has found the only director of the purchasing company is Sterling Stewart, President of Black Eagle Construction in Mirmichi New Brunswick.
Neither Jamie Richards, chairman of NCDC or Mr Stewart wanted to comment on the deal or say if any changes will be coming to the course.
Eaglesview is a nine-hole par 36 course that was opened by the NCDC in 2002.
The course was constructed around and over MacLures pond, the Province’s largest body of fresh water.
In addition to the course the NCDC runs walking trails and an interpretive centre in the area.
It is unclear at this time whether these assets are part of the deal.
It is due to open on May 1 as in previous years said General Manager Gary Sheehan.
The course has wintered well and the greens are in great shape for the season, Mr Sheehan said.
He said he doesn’t know at this time of any changes in operations happening with the new owners.
charlotte@peicanada.com
The Northumberland Community Development Corporation (NCDC) has sold the Eagles View golf course.
Previous members of the course received a letter dated March 18, 2010 part of which it states “NCDC is proud to announce that they have finalized a deal that will see the golf course turn over into the private sector. Additional details on NCDC’s new parteners will be provided shortly.”
There has been no further communication with members, but the Graphic has found the only director of the purchasing company is Sterling Stewart, President of Black Eagle Construction in Mirmichi New Brunswick.
Neither Jamie Richards, chairman of NCDC or Mr Stewart wanted to comment on the deal or say if any changes will be coming to the course.
Eaglesview is a nine-hole par 36 course that was opened by the NCDC in 2002.
The course was constructed around and over MacLures pond, the Province’s largest body of fresh water.
In addition to the course the NCDC runs walking trails and an interpretive centre in the area.
It is unclear at this time whether these assets are part of the deal.
It is due to open on May 1 as in previous years said General Manager Gary Sheehan.
The course has wintered well and the greens are in great shape for the season, Mr Sheehan said.
He said he doesn’t know at this time of any changes in operations happening with the new owners.
Montague council takes care of business on April 12
•Montague council wants to meet with health authorities
Montague mayor Richard Collins said it’s past time for government to say when the ER
will open.
It was April 20, 2009 when the health department announced a temporarily
closure
of the Kings County Memorial Hospital ER between the hours of 10pm and
8am daily. The closure came into effect on April 22, 2009 and is still
in effect.
The original reason was due to a shortage of diagnostic staff.
Now mayor Collins said they are telling us reason is due to shortage of
nursing staff.
A motion was put forward on April 12 at the regular monthly town council
meeting by Coun John MacFarlane to request a meeting with Minister
Bertram regarding the closure.
Another motion was put forward by Coun MacBeth to request a meeting with
local Hospital Authority also.
After some discussion it was decided to request both meetings.
•Montague resident says bylaw needs amending
Debbie Johnston of MacDonald Avenue said she was surprised to find a
large capacity day care opened up in a residential zone (on her street)
without any consultation from the residents in the area.
Ms Johnston said she doesn’t oppose day cares. She’s used them often enough and knows the need for them, but this one is licensed for 17
children and traffic safety is a real concern, because it is on a hill she said.
She noted to the council, bylaw 10.1 partially states day cares to be one of the things permitted in a residential zone and she thinks the by law should be amended so an impact study can be done before a permit is issued.
Mayor Collins said the Planning Board would take it under advisement.
•New street light on dark corner
Coun John MacFarlane put forward a motion to install a streetlight near
the end of Connolly Crescent.
Coun MacFarlane said he received the request from a resident who thinks
there is potential danger at night.
Council agreed unanimously to install the light.
•Plant the town red
Coun Marion Robertson reported the communities in bloom projects are well underway in the town.
This year the theme is red to remember the soldiers who have lost their lives over the years.
The committee is always looking for volunteers and residents are reminded to plant red if they can said Coun Robertson.
Montague mayor Richard Collins said it’s past time for government to say when the ER
will open.
It was April 20, 2009 when the health department announced a temporarily
closure
of the Kings County Memorial Hospital ER between the hours of 10pm and
8am daily. The closure came into effect on April 22, 2009 and is still
in effect.
The original reason was due to a shortage of diagnostic staff.
Now mayor Collins said they are telling us reason is due to shortage of
nursing staff.
A motion was put forward on April 12 at the regular monthly town council
meeting by Coun John MacFarlane to request a meeting with Minister
Bertram regarding the closure.
Another motion was put forward by Coun MacBeth to request a meeting with
local Hospital Authority also.
After some discussion it was decided to request both meetings.
•Montague resident says bylaw needs amending
Debbie Johnston of MacDonald Avenue said she was surprised to find a
large capacity day care opened up in a residential zone (on her street)
without any consultation from the residents in the area.
Ms Johnston said she doesn’t oppose day cares. She’s used them often enough and knows the need for them, but this one is licensed for 17
children and traffic safety is a real concern, because it is on a hill she said.
She noted to the council, bylaw 10.1 partially states day cares to be one of the things permitted in a residential zone and she thinks the by law should be amended so an impact study can be done before a permit is issued.
Mayor Collins said the Planning Board would take it under advisement.
•New street light on dark corner
Coun John MacFarlane put forward a motion to install a streetlight near
the end of Connolly Crescent.
Coun MacFarlane said he received the request from a resident who thinks
there is potential danger at night.
Council agreed unanimously to install the light.
•Plant the town red
Coun Marion Robertson reported the communities in bloom projects are well underway in the town.
This year the theme is red to remember the soldiers who have lost their lives over the years.
The committee is always looking for volunteers and residents are reminded to plant red if they can said Coun Robertson.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Variety is the spice of life for manor residents
- Riverview Manor residents Margaret Fraser, Mary Henneberry and Louise Herman learn the finer points of landscape painting from local artist Lorraine Vatcher at their final painting class on March 26.
Riverview Manor residents, Margaret Fraser, Lena MacPhee, Mary Henneberry and Dora Lea finish off a quilt during the Thursday morning quilting class at the manor.
By Charlotte MacAulay
“I’ve made lots of quilts in my lifetime. Nothing fancy, but they served the purpose,” said Mary Henneberry, resident of Riverview Manor.
These days Ms Henneberry and some other residents spend Thursday mornings making quilts with the help of Heather Kemp and Jeannie Clow.
Ms Kemp has been volunteering at the manor since her mother, Margaret Fraser, became a resident last year.
“It’s rewarding to be able to do my bit. And they always make us laugh,” said Ms Kemp.
The residents aren’t sure yet where the quilts will go but they do want them to go to any home that could use them Ms Henneberry said.
Another activity residents at the manor enjoy delving into is painting.
Little Sands artist, Lorainne Thatcher, was funded by Learning Elders Art Program (LEAP), a program sponsored by the Department of Tourism and Culture which partners Island senoirs with local artists.
Activities assistant Darlene Dunn said 15 residents participated in the art program. An art exhibit including the residents work and work of local seniors participating in the Home care day program was held on March 30 at the manor.
A seaside landscape was just one of the many paintings Margaret Fraser completed during the 10 week program.
“I find it relaxing. You just have to listen. She (Ms Vatcher) doesn’t tell us what to do, she advises,” said Ms Fraser.
Ms Dunn said aside from the quilting and painting the residents have day trips, play cards, hold bingo and are always up for some good entertainment.
“We are always looking for volunteers to entertain or share their talents,” she said.
Residents getting behind petition
By Charlotte MacAulay
A petition calling on the provincial government to bring back overnight emergency service to the Kings County Memorial Hospital has had overwhelming response said Phyllis Nolan.
Hundreds of signatures have been collected from Souris to Montague , she said.
Ms Nolan started the petition in late February because she thinks it is important to have full emergency service for the people of Kings County.
The emergency department has been closed from 10pm - 8am every night since a temporary closure was put in place by the PEI health department almost a year ago.
People with a medical emergency have had to go to Charlottetown and Ms Nolan said there is more than one problem arising from this.
Not only is there a bigger time lapse for the patient getting the service they need, but it is also overloading the main hospital.
Sending people to town and have them lying on a stretcher in the hallway doesn’t say much for our healthcare system, she said.
The petitions can be found in stores and restaurants throughout Kings County and will be left until the end of the month for people to sign.
In addition to the petition, Ms Nolan is also sending a letter to all Island MLAs saying they are betraying the people by leaving them hanging.
Ms Nolan said she hopes others will write to their MLAs and speak out.
She said many people have told her they are worried about having to go all the way to Charlottetown for emergency care.
If people send their concerns to the MLAs a stronger message will be sent to government to reopen.
She said she won’t give up until a solution is found.
Ms Nolan will be at the Downeast Mall on Saturday March 20 with a petition for people to sign.
“I’m still optomistic and I’m not letting up.”
Montague Kilmiur MLA Jim Bagnall said the government’s promises to reopen have gone on too long and he is more than happy to bring the petition to legislature.
“The petition goes to show the people want the room back open. It’s about time the people in rural PEI stood up and took the government to task.”
A petition calling on the provincial government to bring back overnight emergency service to the Kings County Memorial Hospital has had overwhelming response said Phyllis Nolan.
Hundreds of signatures have been collected from Souris to Montague , she said.
Ms Nolan started the petition in late February because she thinks it is important to have full emergency service for the people of Kings County.
The emergency department has been closed from 10pm - 8am every night since a temporary closure was put in place by the PEI health department almost a year ago.
People with a medical emergency have had to go to Charlottetown and Ms Nolan said there is more than one problem arising from this.
Not only is there a bigger time lapse for the patient getting the service they need, but it is also overloading the main hospital.
Sending people to town and have them lying on a stretcher in the hallway doesn’t say much for our healthcare system, she said.
The petitions can be found in stores and restaurants throughout Kings County and will be left until the end of the month for people to sign.
In addition to the petition, Ms Nolan is also sending a letter to all Island MLAs saying they are betraying the people by leaving them hanging.
Ms Nolan said she hopes others will write to their MLAs and speak out.
She said many people have told her they are worried about having to go all the way to Charlottetown for emergency care.
If people send their concerns to the MLAs a stronger message will be sent to government to reopen.
She said she won’t give up until a solution is found.
Ms Nolan will be at the Downeast Mall on Saturday March 20 with a petition for people to sign.
“I’m still optomistic and I’m not letting up.”
Montague Kilmiur MLA Jim Bagnall said the government’s promises to reopen have gone on too long and he is more than happy to bring the petition to legislature.
“The petition goes to show the people want the room back open. It’s about time the people in rural PEI stood up and took the government to task.”
Our space
Why does the code put them above the law
Don Cherry said it’s not important to him what the majority of canadians think about fighting in hockey.
A recent poll done for the Fifth Estate said 60 percent of Canadians don’t think there should be fighting allowed in hockey.
Mr Cherry said all that matters is 70 per cent of people actually involved in hockey say fighting is needed to keep serious injuries down. This isaccording to Mr Cherry the code all players should live by, to fight to prevent more serious fighting.
I don’t see any logic there.
What could be more serious than the death on Dec. 12, 2008 of Don Sanderson, 21, a defenceman with the Whitby Dunlops of the Ontario Hockey Association.
If you are anywhere else but on the ice playing hockey, assault is a criminal offence.
If the penalty box was used to it’s full potential for offenses on the ice maybe some of that 60 per cent of Canadians would enjoy watching the real skill of players chasing the puck and not each other.
Charlotte MacAulay
Don Cherry said it’s not important to him what the majority of canadians think about fighting in hockey.
A recent poll done for the Fifth Estate said 60 percent of Canadians don’t think there should be fighting allowed in hockey.
Mr Cherry said all that matters is 70 per cent of people actually involved in hockey say fighting is needed to keep serious injuries down. This isaccording to Mr Cherry the code all players should live by, to fight to prevent more serious fighting.
I don’t see any logic there.
What could be more serious than the death on Dec. 12, 2008 of Don Sanderson, 21, a defenceman with the Whitby Dunlops of the Ontario Hockey Association.
If you are anywhere else but on the ice playing hockey, assault is a criminal offence.
If the penalty box was used to it’s full potential for offenses on the ice maybe some of that 60 per cent of Canadians would enjoy watching the real skill of players chasing the puck and not each other.
Charlotte MacAulay
Delicious and healthy food served here
Here is a piece of the best pizza in the town of Montague. It’s good and good for you says Owner/ operator Ivan MacInnis.
By Charlotte MacAulay
Ivan MacInnis, owner/ operator of Old World Pizza admits he is a self-taught pizza maker, but that’s not a bad thing he said.
Anyone who has the determination to do the research and try new things will be successful he said.
Old World Pizza will be four years old this June and Mr MacInnis said there have been a lot of changes for the better over that time.
Through lots of research and experimenting he has made a recipe for pizza dough that has eliminated the trans fats and enhanced the taste.
“It is the perfect dough with a special flavour that can only be achieved by aging.”
To entice even more people to come in and have the Old World experience Mr. MacInnis is currently in the middle of renovations to the outside of the building.
The building will be more uniform and hopefully easier for people to notice when they are sitting at the traffic lights and once the people enter the cosy, licensed, atmosphere they won’t be disappointed, he said.
Mr MacInnis has always been improving the business to better suit his customers.
It was his own hands that did a lot of the work, from the first strike with the jackhammer to tiling the walls.
The most recent changes will be done in time for the summer when business usually picks up.
“When the weather gets nicer people decide to avoid heating up the kitchen and come to Old World,” he said. He and his staff of two full-time and two part-time don’t mind heating up their kitchen for their customers.
One customer makes a special trip from Charlottetown a couple of times a month to have a taste of Old World said Mr MacInnis. He told Mr MacInnis it’s the best pizza he’s ever had on PEI. That’s a real compliment considering the man is the retired owner of a national pizza franchise said Mr MacInnis.
Pizza isn’t the only thing on the menu at Old World. There is a wide variety of donairs, subs, salads and panzerottis as well some appetizers and side dishes. Some of the local favourites are the steak and cheese sub and the greek salad. There are daily specials to please everyone’s taste.
Mr MacInnis is looking forward to showing everyone how delicious his new healthy dough recipe really is.
.
-Provincial Engineer, Tyler Richardson and Project consultant Lyman Douglas relax in the library at the New High School. The fireplace is just one of the many innovations at the school to make students enjoy being there. MacAulay Photo
Painter Paul Cameron puts the finishing touches of stain on a hallway bench in the New High School. Provincial Engineer Tyler Richardson said 85 per cent of the contract work for the school has gone to Island companies. MacAulay Photo
Nick White of the PEI carpenter’s Union secures the bleachers in the gym at the new Montague High School. The bleachers fold out with the touch of a button and the centre front section folds back to accommodate spectators in wheel chairs. MacAulay Photo
On March 14 these Morell High school students were at the Charlottetown airport waiting for a flight to take them across the big pond . From left Angela Corrigan, Jesse Belford, teacher Jonathan Murphy, Abbey MacCormack, Stephen Gallant, Nichol Kelley and Chelsea MacEachern are spending their March Break touring Spain and France on a school trip in conjunction with five students from Bluefield High. Macaulay photo
Paralympic athlete inspires students to move mountains
-Paralympian Mark Arendz tells the students at Vernon River Consolidated about his experience at the 2010 Paralympic Games in Vancouver.
By Charlotte MacAulay
“It’s an honour to give the younger generation inspiration to follow their dreams,” said Paralympic athlete, Mark Arendz at a recent trip to Vernon River Consolidated.
Mr Arendz, 20, has overcome many obstacles in his short life to end up as an elite athlete representing team Canada as a biathlete in the 2010 Vancouver Paralympic games.
Even though at the age of seven he lost his arm in an accident on the family farm, he has always been involved in sport and found at the age of 12 he was born to ski when he won his very first biathlon race.
From then on he has made his way through provincials and nationals and was competing in the world cup by age 17.
The entire student body at Vernon River Consolidated were treated to a presentation by Mr Arendz on April 1 in which he told them all about what it is like to be a world class athlete.
The students got to see and hear about the training it takes to be at the top and Mr Arendz made sure they all knew anyone who wants to can succeed.
It’s a lot of hard work he said but it is possible to move a mountain if you move it one stone at a time.
Mr Arendz talked about the heros in his life such as Terry Fox and Rick Hansen who have inspired him to keep striving for his goals and Librarian Cathy MacIssac told him he was an hero to all the students.
Mr Arendz passed around the uniform he used in Vancouver, his athlete’s pass and one of his targets that he uses to keep himself focused on doing his best.
Mr Arendz said he didn’t expect to win any medals at his first paralympic games and he was very happy with his finishes in the five races he did. His goal is now to medal at the Paralympics in Russia in 2014.
Tapping into nature
Maple syrup farmer, Robert MacLean, explains the process of making maple syrup at his sugar bush operation on the family farm, Hallaig Farm on the J. Angus MacLean Road. -There are two or three taps per tree.- Mr MacLean explains the boiling process.
By Charlotte MacAulay
It’s a sure sign of spring when the sap starts running said maple syrup maker Robert MacLean.
Mr Maclean and his wife Melissa Mullen have been harvesting the syrup from a seven acre area on their heritage farm, Hallaig Farm on the J. Angus MacLean Road, for the past seven years.
“It’s a nice product that people look for and it’s a great way to get a bit of income and leave the forest standing,” Mr MacLean said.
Mr Maclaen said the forest has never been clear cut as far back as he knows.
“It was 90 years ago when my grandfather cut down one of the trees and saw it was 400 years old at that time,” He said.
In that same forest today there are 1,250 taps all connected to a tubing system that winds through the trees and brings the sap from the sugar and red maple trees to a large vat with the help of a vacuum pump.
The ideal weather conditions to have a steady flow of sap are nights below freezing followed by days that are a couple of degrees above zero.
The season can be anywhere from 2 to six weeks and that all depends on how many good days said Mr MacLean.
He said 15 more days of running this year will make it a good season for yield.
Once enough sap is gathered it is pumped into an evaporator and goes through a series of boilings until it is just the right consistency.
One has to be very precise with the temperature or it will be too running or burn said Mr MacLean speaking from experience.
One of the first batches he made got too hot and was burnt.
“It was heartbreaking to see, but we learn from our mistakes,” he said.
The evaporator, which resembles the oven one would image the witch used in Hansel and Gretel, is made of stainless steel and the bottom sits directly on the fire.
Mr MacLean said they go through 10 cord of wood in a season. A batch can come to a boil in a half hour or less then it moves to another section of the evaporator for another boiling session. The last stop before bottling is through a filter and a third boiling.
It takes 45 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup.
Mr MacLean and his sister visited sugar bushes throughout the Maritimes and read up on the subject when they first came up with the idea.
Mr MacLean said advice of others in the industry is ongoing and that is the main reason they added the vacuum pump to the operation this year.
It always worked on gravity and the natural pushing of the tree before, but now the vacuum allows a steadier flow and it also helps detect any leaks in the system.
Hallaig Farm’s sugar bush operation is in the middle of a sloping valley a mile away from main roads in all directions.
It’s quite a little trek to get to, but Mr MacLean said someday tours could become a part of the operation as he enjoys explaining the operation just as much as he enjoys making the syrup.
.
Curling makes a great comeback in Souris
-Ian MacAulay, professional ice maker said an ice scrapper is one of the pieces of equipment that needs to be on hand when you make curling ice.
By Charlotte MacAulay
“I’ve never seen so much laughter and smiling faces in one spot at the same time,” said professional ice-maker and summer resident Ian MacAulay.
Mr MacAulay was at the Eastern Kings Sportsplex Easter weekend monitoring the ice conditions and reliving the days when Souris had a curling club.
A curling tournament was organized by the staff of the sportsplex after part-time manager, Colin Lavie, found the rocks from the old Souris Curling Club stored under the stands.
The discovery coupled with a lot of idle ice time sparked a renewed interest in the sport of curling in the town.
When Mr MacAulay was approached by Mr Lavie, for some tips on how to make curling ice he not only gave advice, but also came home from Ottawa, with all of his equipment, to give a lesson on how it’s done.
“It would be nice to get the club going again and there’s certainly been a lot of talk about it around here this week,” Mr MacAulay said.
A substantial investment would have to be made in order for the arena to be able to convert the ice for curling Mr MacAulay said.
“To get started a bare minimum of $20, 000 is what would be needed for an ice scraper,” Mr MacAulay said.
Other equipment that ensures good ice conditions are a shaver and temperature probes he said.
Local historian Waldron Leard said Mr MacAulay’s expertise took the event to a whole other level.
“For him to volunteer his time and show people more about what’s behind the scenes makes it more doable for the community,” Mr Leard said.
Another person who was instrumental in making the event a great success was Mr Lavie.
“He was the instigator of all this and with the help of 22 volunteers working hard all week the event was flawless,” said Mr Leard.
“It turned out exactly the way we wanted and now adding curling to the recreation available for next year is definitely closer to reality,” said Mr Lavie.
The help from everyone involved was invaluable he said.
Mr Lavie said the curling ice will remain at the sportsplex until Sunday April 11.
There is open ice time available on Thursday and anyone who wants to use it and they are still looking for a few teams to participate in thus weekend’s funspeil. To register or for more information call the sportsplex at 687-2323.
Mr Leard chronicled the event which had over 160 participants and over 200 observers throughout the weekend.
He said he did this with sponsorship for future events in mind.
“The tremendous community spirit involved in this event will ensure any future events will be successful,” Mr Leard said.
Rollie Jenkins was just one of the participants who thoroughly enjoyed the tournament.
It’s been six years since Mr Jenkins who is in his 70’s stepped out on to curling ice and he said it was an excellent bonspeil.
It felt really good being on the ice again and he said he tips his hat to all the hard work everyone put into it.
“I was quite amazed with everything,” he said.
Mr Jenkins team won two and lost two.”
The festivities ended on Sunday evening with the awarding of the ‘Annual Lobster Trap’ trophy donated to the funspeil by Wesley MacPhee.
The trophy is a souvenir from the former Souris club that was last given out in the 1980’s.
Cutline -Ian MacAulay, professional ice maker said an ice scrapper is one of the pieces of equipment that needs to be on hand when you make curling ice.
Farmer sees soybean stocks as form of alternative energy
By Charlotte MacAulay
Using the stocks from soya beans to make burning pellets could now be an alternative for a St. George’s farmer.
Billy Somers, who farms beef and dairy with his brother and father, said he is working on his application for government funding that was announced on March 29 by the provincial department of agriculture.
Farmers have been asking the government for solutions to help lower energy costs said Wayne MacKinnon with the department of agriculture.
The funding, cost shared 60-40 by the federal and provincial governments, provides up to $1,500 to farmers for an energy audit to see if renewable energy is an option for them. In addition, up to $50,000 is available for installation of renewable energy systems such as wind, solar or biocrop burners.
Mr Somers hopes to be able to manufacture the soy bean pellets for their own use as well as have the opportunity to sell them for extra income.
He has already done some experimenting and the prospects look good.
“They burn a lot hotter than wood pellets because of the oil left in the pods and if we had it set up we could heat all our houses and the hot water for the milk house,” Mr Somers said.
Normally the stocks are just left in the field after the soy beans are harvested and this way there will be no waste he said.
The energy savings would be huge for the Somers’ as now the barn is run totally by electricity.
Mike Nabuurs from the PEI Federation of Agriculture said this is a good step towards helping the farmers reduce energy costs and save money.
“This program will help address the issue, but policy changes need to be made to ensure farmers can sell any excess energy they produce,” Mr Nabuurs said.
Further steps need to be taken to put cash in their pockets he said.
Gerritt Visser and Sons Potato Warehouse in Orwell already has a renewable energy source in a windmill.
Randy Visser said they installed it last year with the help of an immigrant investor’s grant.
Mr Visser says the new funding program is a good idea because if there was no assistance at all farmers wouldn’t be able to afford to do it.
“But the agriculture industry has significant challenges and at the end of the day we should be trying to figure out how to get more value out of what we are producing to generate more revenue,” Mr Visser said.
Using the stocks from soya beans to make burning pellets could now be an alternative for a St. George’s farmer.
Billy Somers, who farms beef and dairy with his brother and father, said he is working on his application for government funding that was announced on March 29 by the provincial department of agriculture.
Farmers have been asking the government for solutions to help lower energy costs said Wayne MacKinnon with the department of agriculture.
The funding, cost shared 60-40 by the federal and provincial governments, provides up to $1,500 to farmers for an energy audit to see if renewable energy is an option for them. In addition, up to $50,000 is available for installation of renewable energy systems such as wind, solar or biocrop burners.
Mr Somers hopes to be able to manufacture the soy bean pellets for their own use as well as have the opportunity to sell them for extra income.
He has already done some experimenting and the prospects look good.
“They burn a lot hotter than wood pellets because of the oil left in the pods and if we had it set up we could heat all our houses and the hot water for the milk house,” Mr Somers said.
Normally the stocks are just left in the field after the soy beans are harvested and this way there will be no waste he said.
The energy savings would be huge for the Somers’ as now the barn is run totally by electricity.
Mike Nabuurs from the PEI Federation of Agriculture said this is a good step towards helping the farmers reduce energy costs and save money.
“This program will help address the issue, but policy changes need to be made to ensure farmers can sell any excess energy they produce,” Mr Nabuurs said.
Further steps need to be taken to put cash in their pockets he said.
Gerritt Visser and Sons Potato Warehouse in Orwell already has a renewable energy source in a windmill.
Randy Visser said they installed it last year with the help of an immigrant investor’s grant.
Mr Visser says the new funding program is a good idea because if there was no assistance at all farmers wouldn’t be able to afford to do it.
“But the agriculture industry has significant challenges and at the end of the day we should be trying to figure out how to get more value out of what we are producing to generate more revenue,” Mr Visser said.
Our space
By Charlotte MacAulay
We do a lot of complaining about things that are not up to our standards today. One thing that gets a lot of negative attention is the medical system. Recently I had a chat with someone who worked in the field from the 1940s-1980s. Looking at it from that person’s perspective ‘we’ve come a long way baby’ from the days when polio patients were treated with an iron lung to a simple vaccination shot that has allowed some fatal diseases to all but disappear and from an operation on a kitchen table with little or no anesthetic to the life flight services we have that can take a critical patient to a trauma centre hundreds of miles away. No, everything is not always perfect, but we should take what’s wrong and learn from it. Lets not take for granted our universal health care and hope it can be managed and sustained for future generations.
We do a lot of complaining about things that are not up to our standards today. One thing that gets a lot of negative attention is the medical system. Recently I had a chat with someone who worked in the field from the 1940s-1980s. Looking at it from that person’s perspective ‘we’ve come a long way baby’ from the days when polio patients were treated with an iron lung to a simple vaccination shot that has allowed some fatal diseases to all but disappear and from an operation on a kitchen table with little or no anesthetic to the life flight services we have that can take a critical patient to a trauma centre hundreds of miles away. No, everything is not always perfect, but we should take what’s wrong and learn from it. Lets not take for granted our universal health care and hope it can be managed and sustained for future generations.
Fishermen vote
By Charlotte MacAulay
Lobster fishermen in area 26A are voting today on whether or not to support a sustainability plan to be presented to DFO.
The vote is being held on the second floor of the Wellness Centre from 9 a.m. -3p. m. Georgetown fisherman Cameron King supports the plan .
“It means fishermen would have some say in what’s going to happen down the road,” Mr King said.
There are 408 fishermen in area 26A. Fisheries consultant Jim Jenkins said they would like to have a big a turn out as possible, but there is no quorum and the majority wins.
There has been a steady flow the first hour with 50 votes cast so far.
Some of the concerns voiced by voting fishermen were concerning how many traps they will lose and carapace size increase.
The plan proposes a 36 trap reduction where they are asking DFO to buy back the traps so there will be no financial loss to the fishermen, and a carapace size increase to 72mm that will allow lobsters to spawn one more time before they are removed from the water.
One fisherman didn’t want to say which way he was voting, but did say if the lobsters are there the amount of traps used to catch them isn’t going to make any difference at the end of the season and if we have to leave some behind because of the change in size then there’s more to multiply for the next season.
update
By Charlotte MacAulay
The votes have been counted and the fishermen in area 26A have voted 176- 60 in favour of the proposed sustainability plan said chairman Bobby Jenkins.
Over half of the 408 area fishermen voted and 74 per cent said yes .The plan proposes a buy back of 36 traps per lease , a carapace size increase to 72mm and a electronic reporting system will be sent to DFO in Moncton early next week and then it’s up to the government to accept or not said Mr Jenkins.
Lobster fishermen in area 26A are voting today on whether or not to support a sustainability plan to be presented to DFO.
The vote is being held on the second floor of the Wellness Centre from 9 a.m. -3p. m. Georgetown fisherman Cameron King supports the plan .
“It means fishermen would have some say in what’s going to happen down the road,” Mr King said.
There are 408 fishermen in area 26A. Fisheries consultant Jim Jenkins said they would like to have a big a turn out as possible, but there is no quorum and the majority wins.
There has been a steady flow the first hour with 50 votes cast so far.
Some of the concerns voiced by voting fishermen were concerning how many traps they will lose and carapace size increase.
The plan proposes a 36 trap reduction where they are asking DFO to buy back the traps so there will be no financial loss to the fishermen, and a carapace size increase to 72mm that will allow lobsters to spawn one more time before they are removed from the water.
One fisherman didn’t want to say which way he was voting, but did say if the lobsters are there the amount of traps used to catch them isn’t going to make any difference at the end of the season and if we have to leave some behind because of the change in size then there’s more to multiply for the next season.
update
By Charlotte MacAulay
The votes have been counted and the fishermen in area 26A have voted 176- 60 in favour of the proposed sustainability plan said chairman Bobby Jenkins.
Over half of the 408 area fishermen voted and 74 per cent said yes .The plan proposes a buy back of 36 traps per lease , a carapace size increase to 72mm and a electronic reporting system will be sent to DFO in Moncton early next week and then it’s up to the government to accept or not said Mr Jenkins.
Montague construction project could be more than Canadian Tire
By Charlotte MacAulay
Town council voted unanimously on February 12 to extend a building permit to Canadian Tire. The company plans to build a full retail outlet with three automotive bays beside the superstore in Montague. Included with the permit application was a floor plan which says the 24,000 square feet will include three automotive bays, and a small market store. No one at Canadian Tire Corporation could be reached for comment, but the company’s web site has a photo of small market concept as combination store that includes Canadian Tire, Marks Work Warehouse and where applicable, a gas bar.
The permit has been extended to September 30 if at which time construction hasn’t begun another permit will have to be issued.
Montague CAO, Andrew Dagget said they hope to see construction begin this summer.
The PEI construction association spokesperson said no information has been given to them concerning the project. So either it isn’t ready to move forward or the bidding was private, by invitation only.
Town council voted unanimously on February 12 to extend a building permit to Canadian Tire. The company plans to build a full retail outlet with three automotive bays beside the superstore in Montague. Included with the permit application was a floor plan which says the 24,000 square feet will include three automotive bays, and a small market store. No one at Canadian Tire Corporation could be reached for comment, but the company’s web site has a photo of small market concept as combination store that includes Canadian Tire, Marks Work Warehouse and where applicable, a gas bar.
The permit has been extended to September 30 if at which time construction hasn’t begun another permit will have to be issued.
Montague CAO, Andrew Dagget said they hope to see construction begin this summer.
The PEI construction association spokesperson said no information has been given to them concerning the project. So either it isn’t ready to move forward or the bidding was private, by invitation only.
There's nothing biblical about Waddell's Beef, but check the label
By Charlotte MacAulay
If you’ve ever picked up a can of Waddell’s meat products you may have noticed something on the label that doesn’t seem to fit. It’s a bible reference 1 John 5: 12, 13. The passage reads-He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
There’s no big revelation here said employee Sherry Lynn Smith.
The owner’s, Garry and Simonne Smith, bought the company over 20 years ago and when they made the new labels they decided to add the bible reference just to make people think.
Ms Smith said there isn’t any connection between the verse and the business she said it’s just one of their favouraite ones.
There have been a few calls over the years from people who were curious enough to check it out said Ms Smith.
If you’ve ever picked up a can of Waddell’s meat products you may have noticed something on the label that doesn’t seem to fit. It’s a bible reference 1 John 5: 12, 13. The passage reads-He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
There’s no big revelation here said employee Sherry Lynn Smith.
The owner’s, Garry and Simonne Smith, bought the company over 20 years ago and when they made the new labels they decided to add the bible reference just to make people think.
Ms Smith said there isn’t any connection between the verse and the business she said it’s just one of their favouraite ones.
There have been a few calls over the years from people who were curious enough to check it out said Ms Smith.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Fish plant to reopen
By Charlotte MacAulay
“You can see a sense of excitement with people coming in the door these days,” said Otis Butler, owner of the Cloverfarm in Murray Harbour.
Mr Butler is referring to the reopening of the fish plant at Beach Point for the coming season.
Although there has been no official annoucement from the company, Mazzetta, that has purchased the plant from Ocean Choice an advertisment in last weeks Graphic looking for production line workers tells the story that the plant will reopen.
The company says it wants to stay out of the limelight until all the i’s are dotted and the t’s crossed.
Mr Butler said it will be a big boost for the community of 400 in the Murray Harbour area.
“It’s hard to have a business without comers,” he said.
Last year business was down and with the recession even tourism was down he said.
“To see these jobs coming back is a boom to the area, but even so the people are a little reserve,” he said.
They’ve seen first Polar abandon the plant then Ocean Choice so they have to put their faith in yet another big company.
“ Ocean Choice was a decent company while they were here,” Mr Butler said and from everything they have heard so far it sounds like Mazzetti is a company that will be a good corporate citizen too.
Linda Butler said she hopes there will be adequite housing avaliable for any out-of-town workers. There was some struggle in finding housing the last year the plant was open she said.
Arlene Miller of Miller’s Esso in Murray Harbour said the plant reopening will be good news in the community.
“We could see a difference here last year and we’re pretty happy about the plant reopening.
The out of town workers return business will be a boost to business Ms Miller said.
“You can see a sense of excitement with people coming in the door these days,” said Otis Butler, owner of the Cloverfarm in Murray Harbour.
Mr Butler is referring to the reopening of the fish plant at Beach Point for the coming season.
Although there has been no official annoucement from the company, Mazzetta, that has purchased the plant from Ocean Choice an advertisment in last weeks Graphic looking for production line workers tells the story that the plant will reopen.
The company says it wants to stay out of the limelight until all the i’s are dotted and the t’s crossed.
Mr Butler said it will be a big boost for the community of 400 in the Murray Harbour area.
“It’s hard to have a business without comers,” he said.
Last year business was down and with the recession even tourism was down he said.
“To see these jobs coming back is a boom to the area, but even so the people are a little reserve,” he said.
They’ve seen first Polar abandon the plant then Ocean Choice so they have to put their faith in yet another big company.
“ Ocean Choice was a decent company while they were here,” Mr Butler said and from everything they have heard so far it sounds like Mazzetti is a company that will be a good corporate citizen too.
Linda Butler said she hopes there will be adequite housing avaliable for any out-of-town workers. There was some struggle in finding housing the last year the plant was open she said.
Arlene Miller of Miller’s Esso in Murray Harbour said the plant reopening will be good news in the community.
“We could see a difference here last year and we’re pretty happy about the plant reopening.
The out of town workers return business will be a boost to business Ms Miller said.
AMAC has the personal touch
By Charlotte MacAulay
AMAC Electric is a full service contacting company that can take care of all your electrical and plumbing needs.
They are located in the Poole’s Corner Business Park.
There is no job to big or too small for Steve and the staff to handle. They can install a ceiling fan, fix your taps, or wire your new house.
If you are doing a bathroom renovation give them a call. Steve, Billy and Bertha are all ready to sit down with you discuss your needs and help you make choices. Complete financing is also available.
AMAC has five fully equipped vehicle to service their customers. Three are for electrical and two for plumbing. Steve and his 10 employees travel across Kings and Queens County serving both residential and commercial customers.
Are you trying to cut down on your energy costs or carbon footprint?
AMAC has not only geothermal heating units, but efficient oil coal start boilers as well.
The staff at AMAC always keep up with the new technology in the electrical and plumbing field so there customers are insured top quality service. You can contact AMAC at 838-3866 or check out their web site at www.amacelectric.com
AMAC Electric is a full service contacting company that can take care of all your electrical and plumbing needs.
They are located in the Poole’s Corner Business Park.
There is no job to big or too small for Steve and the staff to handle. They can install a ceiling fan, fix your taps, or wire your new house.
If you are doing a bathroom renovation give them a call. Steve, Billy and Bertha are all ready to sit down with you discuss your needs and help you make choices. Complete financing is also available.
AMAC has five fully equipped vehicle to service their customers. Three are for electrical and two for plumbing. Steve and his 10 employees travel across Kings and Queens County serving both residential and commercial customers.
Are you trying to cut down on your energy costs or carbon footprint?
AMAC has not only geothermal heating units, but efficient oil coal start boilers as well.
The staff at AMAC always keep up with the new technology in the electrical and plumbing field so there customers are insured top quality service. You can contact AMAC at 838-3866 or check out their web site at www.amacelectric.com
Grateful to be alive
- Alton Jay, resident of Perrins Marina Villa, needs his walker to get aroud these days after recovering from a fall last year. MacAulay photo
By Charlotte MacAulay
He’s lucky to be alive says a new resident of Perrins Marina Villa in Montague.
Seven months ago Alton Jay, 80, had a fall at his home in Mount Stewart that caused severe life threatening injuries and sent him to hospital for a seven month stay.
“It’s a miracle that I can sit here today and tell you this story and only God can perform miracles,” he said.
Mr Jay began Aug. 9, 2009 just like any other day.
He stepped out his door, but his legs decided to take a break.
The doctors have told him when your 80 sometimes your legs don’t do what they are suppose to do.
He made three steps and then fell face first on the cement.
His son, Alvin, immediately took him the 23 miles to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
When doctors there found he had a broken neck, and several other broken bones in his nose, cheeks, jaw and hand they sent him on to Moncton hospital.
Adding to his troubles while he was in Moncton, Mr Jay contracted pneumonia.
Mr Jay said he doesn’t remember much about his stay in Moncton, but he knows his family was called several times because the doctors thought it was going to be the end.
There was a lot of pain and his face was unrecognizable, swollen to twice it’s normal size.
When he was stabilized Mr Jay was sent back to the QEH to be rehabilitated.
“I had to learn to live all over again and there was lots of help from all concerned.”
Mr Jay was getting his nutrition from a feeding tube for the first little while and when it was time to get back on solid food there was great help from the staff, he said.
“One thing that brought me back so quick was that my appetite wasn’t gone for long,” he said.
Another thing was the outstanding care he received from all the hospital staff.
After spending most of the fall and winter looking at the four walls of a hospital room and working hard to become mobile again, Mr Jay was happy to join the other residents at the Villa on March 1.
Mr Jay is no longer able to live on his own because the doctors said they don’t know if his injuries could be repaired a second time..
He enjoys the independence the walker gives him.
“These walkers are a Godsend. A lot of people, especially here, need them.
“There is great comfort and wonderful care here, but it’s not home,” he said.
Mr Jay said he misses the only home he’s ever known, living all his life in the same house he was born in 80 years ago.
“I know I’m not going to live alone again and I’ll be better off to stay here.”
Advantage, a people business
By Charlotte MacAulay
“We are proud to be 100 per cent Island owned and operated” said the President and CEO of Advantages communications, Kent MacPhee who took over the operations of the company a year and a half ago. Advantage Communications have offices in Charlottetown and in 2003 they set up in Souris, and are located in the Matthew & MacLean Building on Main Street.
Advantage Communications is a community based business that takes calls from everywhere in North America for companies worldwide.
The employees work in three different departments either technical support, customer service or sales. Mr MacPhee said the workplace has an informal atmosphere where employees are relaxed and can pass that calm attitude on to the customers they are dealing with.
There are other employees from Kings County who are able to work from home.
This strategy is convenient for people who can’t afford the added expenses that come with working outside the home, said Mr MacPhee.
This option can’t be offered to everyone and it isn’t something everyone would like to do, but it is good to have another option to give to potential employees, he said.
There are two components to the call centre business , the customers and the employees.
Management at Advantage know how important it is to have happy workers and recently they have developed a new way of thinking that shows the employees how important they are. Everyday the leadership teams find the difference makers and lets them know they are making a difference said Mr MacPhee. “It could be something as simple as coming in an hour early to help fill a shift, or making someone smile who is having a rough day,” he said.
This is most definitely a people business and also a growing business said Mr MacPhee.
Currently there are 12 employees in Souris, but plans are in the works to add 20 more positions in the near future.
“We are proud to be 100 per cent Island owned and operated” said the President and CEO of Advantages communications, Kent MacPhee who took over the operations of the company a year and a half ago. Advantage Communications have offices in Charlottetown and in 2003 they set up in Souris, and are located in the Matthew & MacLean Building on Main Street.
Advantage Communications is a community based business that takes calls from everywhere in North America for companies worldwide.
The employees work in three different departments either technical support, customer service or sales. Mr MacPhee said the workplace has an informal atmosphere where employees are relaxed and can pass that calm attitude on to the customers they are dealing with.
There are other employees from Kings County who are able to work from home.
This strategy is convenient for people who can’t afford the added expenses that come with working outside the home, said Mr MacPhee.
This option can’t be offered to everyone and it isn’t something everyone would like to do, but it is good to have another option to give to potential employees, he said.
There are two components to the call centre business , the customers and the employees.
Management at Advantage know how important it is to have happy workers and recently they have developed a new way of thinking that shows the employees how important they are. Everyday the leadership teams find the difference makers and lets them know they are making a difference said Mr MacPhee. “It could be something as simple as coming in an hour early to help fill a shift, or making someone smile who is having a rough day,” he said.
This is most definitely a people business and also a growing business said Mr MacPhee.
Currently there are 12 employees in Souris, but plans are in the works to add 20 more positions in the near future.
Seniors stay active
-Ethel MacQuarrie is working on a braided mat at the weekly meeting of the 50 Plus senior’s Club in Montague on March 24.
By Charlotte MacAulay
The bus tours are a great way to pass the time when your a senior said Brudenell woman.
The 50 Plus Club is a seniors club in Montague that has been going strong for 29 years.
The club is currently located in the basement of the Montague Baptist Church on Brook Street and they meet every Wednesday from September till May.
The day begins with a line-dancing class where there are anywhere from 8-17 participants.
“It dwindles a bit during the winter when a lot of people go away,” said instructor Ethel Nicholson who has been line-dancing for 12 years.
After a lunch together, members spend the afternoon doing crafts and playing uker.
A lot of the members enjoy the bus tours the club offers.
The last one was to Nova Scotia to see the Anne Murray Museum and The Joggins Fossil Cliffs on the Fundy coast.
Club member Ethel MacQuarrie, Brudenell, took a break from the dancing at last Wednesday’s meeting to work on a braided rug and talk about the club.
Ms MacQuarrie, 80, has been coming to the club for a number of years.
She looks forward to the activities every week.
“It (line-dancing) is real good exercise and I love the bus tours.”
The tours are something her and her husband can do together and it’s a great way to spend a day.
“I didn’t even know that (Joggins) was there. It’s an amazing site to see,” Ms MacQuarrie said.
She said the club is lucky to have such a nice room to do their activities in even though they do have to pack up their equipment every week.
“It’s a nice space we have here and the kitchen has everything we need,” Ms MacQuarrie.
The club, which has members from all the surrounding communities, holds a monthly meeting on the first Wednesday and it is usually attended by over 30 members, Ms Nicholson said.
“We always had to rent and move around a lot since it was first formed in 1981.” she said. Ms Nicholson said they would really like to have their own space and have tried , but things have never quite fallen into place at the right time.
The 50 plus club is one of 12 in Kings county and by the end of this year there could be as many as 20. Thousands of seniors are active in clubs located all across the Island said Linda Jean Nicholson, Executive director of the PEI senior’s federation.
The federation is the umbrella organization for the Island that helps provide access to different programs for the clubs.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Murray River Bible school
-Murray River fire fighters Michael Higginbotham and Carri Ferguson showed their equipment to the kids at Murray River bible school on March 17.
By Charlotte MacAulay
Youth in Murray River had a lesson in fire safety from three Murray River fire fighters during March Break.
The Murray River Pentecostal Church held a week long bible school.
Pastor Scott Herring said the 60 kids participating spent the week doing activities centered around fire safety.
On March 17, fire fighters Dean Livingstone, Karri Ferguson and Michael Higginbotham were on hand with one of the departtment trucks.
The kids, ranging in ages from three to twelve, had a tour of the truck and got to see a hands on demonstration of some of the equipment they could expect to see if they were ever involved in a fire.
Mr Higginbotham demonstrated the fire fighter’s breathing apparatus while Ms Ferguson told the kids how important it is not to panic and to keep in mind the firefighters are there to help even though they look and sound strange with all the equipment on.
Mr Livingstone said the 27 member department does this type of presentation whenever they are asked.
Mr Herring said the fire department’s participantion really made the week special.
Thbible school is just one thing the church does to reach out to youth.
Mr. Herring said the church saw a need for activities for youth in the community, especially during the winter months.
A major renovation was done to a building already on the church’s property and it was christened ‘The youth barn.’
Games, music, activities with bible based values are all part of what goes on in the barn for the kids, said Mr Herring.
Knights spread community spirit
Charlotte MacAulay
The Reverend Edwin B. Steele Council of the Knights of Columbus is giving school kids a chance to speak out on drug and alcohol abuse.
Students in Souris from grades 3 to 12 will have from now until April 8 to submitt a poster that depicts the pitfalls of drug and alcohol abuse.
A panel of judges from the community will decide winners in each age group.
Council member Pat O’connor said this is the third annual poster contest.
“It’s good to get the kids thinking about the subject.”
The contest is a spin off of an international one the knights sponsor every year, but the Souris council elected to just do it locally and give monetary prizes to the winners in each age group said Mr O’Connor.
The Knights of Columbus is a catholic fraturnal organization with more that 1.7 million members worldwide.
The Souris council is 88 years old and currently has 85 members.
Members of this organization are catholic men over the age of 18 and the programs are centered around church, family and community.
Another way the council was involved in the community recently was a basketball freethrow competition for kids 8-14 years old held on March 9 in Souris. For twenty years the knights have sponsored this event with the objective of encouraging participation in sport.
Participants from Souris and Vernon River were on hand to show off their talent and six finallists will go to compete at the provincial level at Slemon Park on March 27.
Harbourview Training Center in Souris was a recipient of a $6,000 donation from the council.
The center is a non-profit organization located in Souris which provides vocational training, onsite employment and a host of support services to clients with intellectual disabilties who live in the Morell to East Point area.
Manager Judy Hennessey said the centre is now in the second phase of a major renovation that includes an addition so the wood workshop can be moved to a more accessible level.
The Knights showed a genuine interest in what goes on in their community when they attended a tour and presentation of what goes on at the centre, she said.
“They got to really see where their money is going and we appreciated their involvement.”
The donation is a part of the $90,000 the center has to raise as their contribution to the $224,000 project. Skills P.E.I. and the provincial government share the rest of the cost.
The Souris Knights of Columbus will be giving their own public presentation on March 21 from 5:30-7p.m. at the St. Mary’s Parish Hall in Souris when they hold an open house. This is a recruitment of sorts where potential members can come and see what the council is all about, said Mr O’Connor.
For more information call 687-2193
The Reverend Edwin B. Steele Council of the Knights of Columbus is giving school kids a chance to speak out on drug and alcohol abuse.
Students in Souris from grades 3 to 12 will have from now until April 8 to submitt a poster that depicts the pitfalls of drug and alcohol abuse.
A panel of judges from the community will decide winners in each age group.
Council member Pat O’connor said this is the third annual poster contest.
“It’s good to get the kids thinking about the subject.”
The contest is a spin off of an international one the knights sponsor every year, but the Souris council elected to just do it locally and give monetary prizes to the winners in each age group said Mr O’Connor.
The Knights of Columbus is a catholic fraturnal organization with more that 1.7 million members worldwide.
The Souris council is 88 years old and currently has 85 members.
Members of this organization are catholic men over the age of 18 and the programs are centered around church, family and community.
Another way the council was involved in the community recently was a basketball freethrow competition for kids 8-14 years old held on March 9 in Souris. For twenty years the knights have sponsored this event with the objective of encouraging participation in sport.
Participants from Souris and Vernon River were on hand to show off their talent and six finallists will go to compete at the provincial level at Slemon Park on March 27.
Harbourview Training Center in Souris was a recipient of a $6,000 donation from the council.
The center is a non-profit organization located in Souris which provides vocational training, onsite employment and a host of support services to clients with intellectual disabilties who live in the Morell to East Point area.
Manager Judy Hennessey said the centre is now in the second phase of a major renovation that includes an addition so the wood workshop can be moved to a more accessible level.
The Knights showed a genuine interest in what goes on in their community when they attended a tour and presentation of what goes on at the centre, she said.
“They got to really see where their money is going and we appreciated their involvement.”
The donation is a part of the $90,000 the center has to raise as their contribution to the $224,000 project. Skills P.E.I. and the provincial government share the rest of the cost.
The Souris Knights of Columbus will be giving their own public presentation on March 21 from 5:30-7p.m. at the St. Mary’s Parish Hall in Souris when they hold an open house. This is a recruitment of sorts where potential members can come and see what the council is all about, said Mr O’Connor.
For more information call 687-2193
kings county chrysler
By Charlotte MacAulay
There have been many advances in the auto industry over the past 25 years and Kings County Chrysler has always kept up with those changes for it’s customers.
The newest piece of technology Islanders are looking for is the Bluetooth hands free device.
Since the law banning talking on cellphones while driving was put in place the end of January there has been a demand for the device said employee Derek Foote.
He said he has installed over a dozen units since the ban started.
It is a wireless system that clips on to the sunvisor. Because it has caller ID displayed right at eye level and a voice activated dialing system, customers have said it isn’t distracting.
The system can be installed in any vehicle, but has to be programed to a bluetooth phone.
Mr Foote is one of the 16 employees at Kingc County Chrysler who are availible to help customers with sales, parts and service.
They are located in Brudenell on Highway 319 just outside Montague.
Business gives back to the community
The heavy duty wrecker from George’s Deck & Recovery sports a picture of Tow Mater from the Disney movie Cars. They have a fleet of vehicles to meet all your towing needs.
By Charlotte MacAulay
From participating in local parades to sponsoring a curling tournament, George Branton, owner of George’s Deck and Recovery says it’s important to support the communities that support your business.
George’s Deck and Recovery hosts a yearly curling bonspeil for the Island under twelve teams. Mr Branton said he saw a need this for when his grandson Cody said they didn’t have a special event for the under twelve age group. The last one held in December 2009 at the Montague curling club was won by the Owen Collier rink from Montague.
“We saw an opportunity to give the kids something to play for.”
Last summer Mr Branton loaded up his big deck truck with a version of Tow Mater, the tow truck in the disney movie Cars and headed of to the various parades throughout the communities of Kings County.
“The kids thought it was the greatest thing,” he said.
George’s Deck & Recovery does business across the Island and the Maritimes. “You never know where you’ re going to end up if an Island trucker breaks down and needs to be towed home,” he said.
He has had to take his heavy duty wrecker as far as the N.B.-Quebec border to pick up a tractor trailer.
George, his son Stephen and son-in-law Brett MacDonald are all certified tow operators. They have the largest wrecker in Kings County. It was added to the fleet in September. The company is affiliated with CAA and all major car companies roadside assistance plans.
They are available all hour of the day or night and can tow anything from your family car to your company dump truck.
Southern Kings one step closer to a community care facility
By Charlotte MacAulay
An election promise made in 2007 is finally seeing the light of day, said secretary of local seniors committee.
Jim Evans said $10,000 provincial funding has been allocated to begin the planning stage of a project to bring a community care facility to southern Kings communities.
The facility will be located on a piece of land next to the old tennis courts in Murray Harbour donated by the Village, and will service communities from Wood Islands to Cambridge and all points south said Mr Evans.
This land is an ideal spot because it is on the line for the sewage system and within walking distance from the store, library and community centre he said.
A study done in 2007 by Atlantic? found there was a significant need in the area for this so a committee was formed and a business plan developed.
“We had some hoops to jump through to get here,” said Mr Evans.
The funding will allow the committee to hire an architect to make the building plans.
The facility will have 30 units, a common dining and sitting area for the residents as well as an outreach program for seniors in the area who aren’t ready to move out of their own home, but may need some services.
Mr Evans said an added benefit will be the full time jobs available for people in the community.
“Keeping the seniors might keep the young people as well.”
The South-East Seniors committee is now an incorporated body that will hold an annual general meeting on April 22 to vote in a board of directors to oversee the project. Any members of the public who wish to come to the meeting and have a vote must join before. For details on how to become a member call the Village office at 962-3835.
Mr Evans said the project couldn’t have been possible without the work of MLA for Belfast-Murray River, Charlie McGeoghegan,
Mr McGeoghegan found there was a need for senior care during his door to door campaign in the 2007 general election.
When first elected to the legislature he started the ball rolling and it will remain a priority for him until the building is complete and seniors are in residence he said.
“People want to stay where they spent their whole life if at all possible,” said Mr McGeoghegan.
He hopes the community will show their support for the project now that it is getting closer to a reality.
An election promise made in 2007 is finally seeing the light of day, said secretary of local seniors committee.
Jim Evans said $10,000 provincial funding has been allocated to begin the planning stage of a project to bring a community care facility to southern Kings communities.
The facility will be located on a piece of land next to the old tennis courts in Murray Harbour donated by the Village, and will service communities from Wood Islands to Cambridge and all points south said Mr Evans.
This land is an ideal spot because it is on the line for the sewage system and within walking distance from the store, library and community centre he said.
A study done in 2007 by Atlantic? found there was a significant need in the area for this so a committee was formed and a business plan developed.
“We had some hoops to jump through to get here,” said Mr Evans.
The funding will allow the committee to hire an architect to make the building plans.
The facility will have 30 units, a common dining and sitting area for the residents as well as an outreach program for seniors in the area who aren’t ready to move out of their own home, but may need some services.
Mr Evans said an added benefit will be the full time jobs available for people in the community.
“Keeping the seniors might keep the young people as well.”
The South-East Seniors committee is now an incorporated body that will hold an annual general meeting on April 22 to vote in a board of directors to oversee the project. Any members of the public who wish to come to the meeting and have a vote must join before. For details on how to become a member call the Village office at 962-3835.
Mr Evans said the project couldn’t have been possible without the work of MLA for Belfast-Murray River, Charlie McGeoghegan,
Mr McGeoghegan found there was a need for senior care during his door to door campaign in the 2007 general election.
When first elected to the legislature he started the ball rolling and it will remain a priority for him until the building is complete and seniors are in residence he said.
“People want to stay where they spent their whole life if at all possible,” said Mr McGeoghegan.
He hopes the community will show their support for the project now that it is getting closer to a reality.
Flowers don’t smell so nice to some people
By Charlotte MacAulay
King County Memorial Hospital isn’t a scent free environment said emergency room patient.
Teri Morris, Pembrooke, said on a recent trip to the emergency room for an allergy reaction she had trouble getting flowers removed from the front desk.
Ms Morris said even though she called ahead, because she knew an encounter with flowers would make her symptoms worse, there were still flowers when she walked in the door.
For her it isn’t a mild allergy. When there are strong scents in the air around her, symptoms can be as bad as her throat swelling. The hospitals throughout PEI have signs that read scent free environment.
“ People just don’t realize that flowers fall into that group,” said Mr Morris.
“People need to be aware it’s a matter of life and breath for some of us,” she said.
She had to be put on a vaporizer for a half hour when she was finally seen at the hospital. Once she received medication she was on her way immediately.
“I moved fast to get out of the hospital before someone else came through the door wearing scents, and or/carrying flowers.”
Director of Corporate services for Health and Wellness, Glen Doyle said he can’t comment on specific cases. “There is a policy that has been in effect since 2002 that generally states the employer will provide as much as possible a scent free environment for staff and patients at all health care facilities in the province, Mr Doyle said.
All staff go through an orientation one how to regulate the policy. “Policing is sometimes a challenge and we have asked people to go home and change from time to time,” Mr Doyle said.
The only hospital in PEI that has added flowers to their policy is the Prince County Hospital, he said. A staff member had a severe reaction to the scent of flowers and now they have some kinds banned outright and the local flower shops are made aware of what can be brought in and where.
“It is becoming more and more of an issue these days,” Mr Doyle said.
The low scent policy they have in effect at Souris Hospital discourages the use of scented cleaning and laundry products said Edna Miller, director of nursing.
As far as visitors go they are informed of the policy if staff finds they are wearing a strong scent. “If a patient is in distress we have asked people to wash it off and people are usually quite okay with that.” Flowers are allowed in the hospital, but they are removed if the need arises.
Ms Morris said she has learned to adapt her life to avoid having a reaction, but when she does all she can and nobody listens it is disheartening.
Ruth Van Duiven, Montague, has to adjust her lifestyle to avoid scents a too. Ms Van Duiven has a scent allergy as well, but she said she is lucky her symptoms don’t get as severe.
Fresh flowers aren’t the only scented thing in the hospitals she said. The hand sanitizers are not scent free.
“I cope by bringing my own hand cleansers with me and I try to avoid places where I know scents will be strong.”
There are times when she can’t avoid it either. “If I go out in my back yard and someone close by is using a scented dryer sheet I have to go back inside”, she said.
If there were more fragrance free products available for people to chose then it would be easier for them to keep their scents down so the rest of us could breath a little easier she said.
King County Memorial Hospital isn’t a scent free environment said emergency room patient.
Teri Morris, Pembrooke, said on a recent trip to the emergency room for an allergy reaction she had trouble getting flowers removed from the front desk.
Ms Morris said even though she called ahead, because she knew an encounter with flowers would make her symptoms worse, there were still flowers when she walked in the door.
For her it isn’t a mild allergy. When there are strong scents in the air around her, symptoms can be as bad as her throat swelling. The hospitals throughout PEI have signs that read scent free environment.
“ People just don’t realize that flowers fall into that group,” said Mr Morris.
“People need to be aware it’s a matter of life and breath for some of us,” she said.
She had to be put on a vaporizer for a half hour when she was finally seen at the hospital. Once she received medication she was on her way immediately.
“I moved fast to get out of the hospital before someone else came through the door wearing scents, and or/carrying flowers.”
Director of Corporate services for Health and Wellness, Glen Doyle said he can’t comment on specific cases. “There is a policy that has been in effect since 2002 that generally states the employer will provide as much as possible a scent free environment for staff and patients at all health care facilities in the province, Mr Doyle said.
All staff go through an orientation one how to regulate the policy. “Policing is sometimes a challenge and we have asked people to go home and change from time to time,” Mr Doyle said.
The only hospital in PEI that has added flowers to their policy is the Prince County Hospital, he said. A staff member had a severe reaction to the scent of flowers and now they have some kinds banned outright and the local flower shops are made aware of what can be brought in and where.
“It is becoming more and more of an issue these days,” Mr Doyle said.
The low scent policy they have in effect at Souris Hospital discourages the use of scented cleaning and laundry products said Edna Miller, director of nursing.
As far as visitors go they are informed of the policy if staff finds they are wearing a strong scent. “If a patient is in distress we have asked people to wash it off and people are usually quite okay with that.” Flowers are allowed in the hospital, but they are removed if the need arises.
Ms Morris said she has learned to adapt her life to avoid having a reaction, but when she does all she can and nobody listens it is disheartening.
Ruth Van Duiven, Montague, has to adjust her lifestyle to avoid scents a too. Ms Van Duiven has a scent allergy as well, but she said she is lucky her symptoms don’t get as severe.
Fresh flowers aren’t the only scented thing in the hospitals she said. The hand sanitizers are not scent free.
“I cope by bringing my own hand cleansers with me and I try to avoid places where I know scents will be strong.”
There are times when she can’t avoid it either. “If I go out in my back yard and someone close by is using a scented dryer sheet I have to go back inside”, she said.
If there were more fragrance free products available for people to chose then it would be easier for them to keep their scents down so the rest of us could breath a little easier she said.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Youth learns new skill
Teenager Cole Condon of Lower Montague enjoys going to school at night. That's because every Monday night the 13-year-old goes to fly-tying class.
He is just one of the many students taking advantage of the classes at the Montague community school.
After a two-year closure due to lack of organizers, it has started up again.
Chair David MacNearney said there have been a few hiccups, but for the most part the school is running smoothly.
There are 65-70 people registered in the nine classes being offered, MacNearney said.
When Merril Condon, Cole's grandfather, showed him the list of courses he saw fly-tying.
"I could take that," Cole thought.
Cole, who has been trout fishing for his 'whole life', said he received a fly-tying kit for Christmas two years ago and really liked it so when he saw the course being offered he was excited.
Cole said bait fishing is fun, but he likes fly-fishing the best.
"It's different cause you have to always keep it(the line) moving. You get a better workout. Your arms get pretty sore after a full day of fly fishing," he said.
Trout fishing season on P.E.I. is from April 15-Sept. 15. Cole can be found casting his line most days during the season.
On school days he doesn't start fishing til 4.p.m, but if there's no school his day on the water starts as early as 9:30 a.m. and he goes till dark.
Cole said a couple of good spots to go are Sutherlands Hole near Valleyfield and Whitlocks Dam near Upton.
He said he can still get his fishing fix even when his dad, Bradley , or grandfather, Merrill, can't drive him.
"I can walk or peddle bike to a couple of spots around here."
But there's one spot Cole wouldn't give directions to.
He said the biggest fish he caught, a seven pounder, was there and only he, his dad and grandfather know about it.
There was one day his dad caught a 14 pounder at the same spot he said.
Cole is happy to spend his Monday nights making flys in preparation for April 15.
There are 14 people who are spending their Monday nights learning tai chi, a martial art geared towards personal health and well being.
Instructor Michael Page said he is teaching the form that is the most common in China.
Another popular class is quilting. There is a mixture of experienced and new quilters in the group.
Other courses include armchair travel, computer, guitar and rug-braiding.
Cancer survivor says it's time to live life to the fullest
When he was 26 Shawn Campbell, formerly of Orwell, was living an active life not thinking his life was about to be turned upside down.
He began to lose weight and had little energy.
"One night I was lying in bed and I felt my neck and there was a lump there. That's when it started."
After a couple of tests doctors found out he had Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
"I got the call on a Sunday evening from my family doctor about 9 p.m."
The next day Campbell went to see Dr. D. Dryer, an oncologist at the Queen Elizabeth hospital, and treatment was started right away.
Campbell said he felt only relief when he found out.
"I was expecting it. It was kind of a relief to know what it was and then we could battle it."
On the inside he was thinking "Why me?" but he didn't let that show. Only his determination to fight it came out.
He spent the next few months going through chemo treatments, surgeries and radiation therapy.
Campbell had his radar set to survival mode.
"I wanted to know all the facts and what I had to do to beat it. That's what I concentrated on. That's how I got through it."
His cancer has been in remission for seven years.
Campbell now lives and works in Charlottetown and is busy raising his three children Jordan, Avery and Jude.
According to news release from the Canadian Cancer society in 2009 stastistics show lymphoma is one of the most common cancers for young males. The death rates have decreased by 1.5 per cent , but there is still little known about what causes cancer in young people.
Campbell volunteers with the P.E.I. branch of the Canadian Cancer Society in the Cancer Connection program.
Barb Gibson, director of support serves with the P.E.I. branch , said the program started in Ontario in the mid 1990s and caught on nationally from there.
"It is a telephone peer support program."
Within two days of some one calling the support line they are matched with a trained volunteer who has gone through a similar crisis.
Because this is a phone program people can be matched from anywhere.
P.E.I. has 15 vounteers who particapate.
Being a volunteer allows him to help someone who is in the middle of their own cancer nightmare, by sharing his story and being a sounding board for them, said Campbell.
When someone in P.E.I. is first diagnosed with cancer they receive an information packet which contains a pamplet outlining all the support services offered to patients.
Anyone can get more information by going online to www.cancer.ca or by calling 566-4007.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)