Legions along the Shore ready for Remembrance Day

By Mark Squibb

Royal Canadian Legions along the Southern Shore have prepared for Remembrance Day  well in advance of the day itself.

In Bay Bulls, a service will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, followed by a parade from the church to the war memorial at the Town Hall. The wreath laying ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. Individuals or community groups interested in laying a wreath may contact Patricia Hearn at (709) 334-2833.

In Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove, a Remembrance Day Service will be held on November 11 at the cenotaph, with a social at the community centre to follow. Folks interested in laying a wreath may contact Mayor Ron Doyle at (709) 745-1106.

In Riverhead, a parade will march from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 62 at 10:30 a.m. for a wreath laying and service at the cenotaph. Any veterans or organizations participating in the parade must meet at the Legion before 10:30 a.m. Anyone wishing to lay a wreath may phone the Legion at (709) 525-2712. Folks are invited to return to the Legion following the service for refreshments and entertainment by Brian Finn.

And over in Ferryland, a Remembrance Ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the cenotaph. Folks are invited back to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 34 for refreshments. If you wish to lay a wreath, contact Joe Arsenault at (709) 363-2447.

RNC seek help with suspected Goulds arson

The RNC are asking the public for information following a suspicious vehicle fire in the Goulds.

At approximately 10 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22, police responded to a report of a vehicle fire on the Main Road just south of the Ruby Line. Upon arrival, police found two vehicles engulfed in flames in a commercial parking lot.

Police say that an individual was seen in the area carrying a gas can prior to the discovery of the vehicles. The subject appeared to be wearing a black hat, brown jacket, dark pants and dark boots.

The police are asking the public for information, including video footage such as CCTV and dash camera images, of the area from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on the night in question.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the RNC at 709-729-8000.

Bay Bulls opts for hourly rate on snow clearing

By Mark Squibb

The Town of Bay Bulls last month awarded the 2024-2225 snow clearing and ice control contract to the lowest compliant bidder, O’Brien’s Trucking, at a cost of $281,725, plus HST.

That total amount is based on the average amount of snow clearing needed over the last couple of years, so the actual amount spent this winter could be more or less depending on the amount of snowclearing and ice control needed by the end of next spring. Council last year opted to tender snow clearing as a lump sum rather than pay an hourly rate, but decided to go back to the hourly rate this season citing high costs from last winter.

Council also awarded the contract for ditching services to the lowest qualified bidder, Harbour Construction Ltd., at a cost of $9,949, plus HST, and also released a request for quotes for catch basin cleaning services.

Council also approved the purchase of a pest management program to address a rodent problem along the Sheldon Drive and Dunne Drive areas, as numerous residents have complained, at a cost of $2,364, plus HST.

Bay Bulls allows temporary road for groundwater assessment

By Mark Squibb

Bay Bulls council last week ratified an earlier e-mail vote to allow construction of a temporary road to conduct a groundwater assessment for a potential subdivision off Cemetery Road West.

The e-mail vote of September 18 granted Southern Construction permission to construct a temporary access road, a maximum of four meters in width, that followed the route of the concept plan included with the application. The Town was not to be held responsible for any expenses incurred by the contractor regardless of the outcome.

Development of the subdivision is contingent on approval of a Crown Land application and further approval of council.

Council approved construction of the temporary road unanimously.

Following that motion, council also approved a ratification of a change order to phase two of the Long Pond Walking Trail project.

The change order, the second for this phase of the work, was for an increased quantity of materials used during construction. The contractor found some areas of the trail wetter than anticipated and thus required more materials to satisfy a walking standard. The total cost of the additional quantities amounted to $20,064, HST included.

Phase two of the project will see an additional 1.5 kilometres of trail added to the existing 2.5 kilometres. Phase two was estimated at a cost of $484,292. The provincial government agreed to contribute $290,575 towards the project, and the Town successfully applied for federal Capital Investment Plan (CIP) funding to cover its portion of the work, some $193,717.

Bay Bulls recycling depot to reopen

By Mark Squibb

Bay Bulls council last week was glad to welcome back a recycling depot to town.

Councillor Ethan Williams moved that council approve a business permit for a new recycling depot at 297-299 Southern Shore Highway, the site of the former depot, and council approved the motion unanimously.

“Both Bay Bulls and the surrounding communities felt the loss when they closed up, so it’s good to see them back,” said Williams.

The depot closed its doors on May 31. Residents looking to cash in their recyclables had to bring them to Mount Pearl.

Petty Harbour Councillors given the all clear on microbrewery conflict claim

By Mark Squibb

Four Petty Harbour councillors accused of potentially being in a conflict of interest have been cleared to vote on what Mayor Ron Doyle has called perhaps one of the hardest decisions this council has had to make.

Over 100 residents signed a petition against a proposed microbrewery at 11 Cribbies Road, the site of the former Catholic Church in Petty Harbour, citing concerns about increased traffic and a lack of adequate parking, amongst other concerns.

Council hired JW Consulting to investigate as four members of council had been named as being possibly in conflict on the matter by a member of the public opposed to the application. Mayor Doyle, when speaking with the Irish Loop Post earlier this month, did not disclose the names of the councillors accused of potentially being in conflict.

The consultant did find that councillor Ed Dyke was in conflict when discussing and voting on issues related to Chafe’s Landing, Tinker’s Ice Cream Shop, and other properties owned by Todd and Angela Chafe, the proponents behind the brewery application, while his daughter worked at Tinker’s.

Any motions that Dyke voted on while his daughter was working at Tinker’s were then vacated and voted on again by council.

JW Consultants noted that there was no malicious intent or intent to deceive on Dyke's
part.

Council hopes to vote on whether to approve or reject the microbrewery application this November.

Alderwood Estates residents don the red and white

Alderwood Estates residents in Witless Bay were among many people across the province who donned red-and-white socks and walked in support of the Ronald McDonald House this past September. Ronald McDonald House Charities Newfoundland and Labrador hosts the Red Shoe Crew — Walk for Families Walk each September to raise funds for the St. John’s Ronald McDonald House, a home-away-from-home for families of children requiring medical treat at the Janeway. All told, the folks at Alderwood raised over $1935 for the charity. Pictured here are Mrs. Marie Guiney and Mrs. Florence Shortall; in the top photo, Mr. Walter Finley sporting red-and-white stripped socks for the Ronald McDonald House; and in the centre photo, from right to left are Mrs. Betty Sutton, Mrs. Alice Kavanagh accompanied by her daughter Mary Alice Kavanagh, Mr. Sam Skinner accompanied by employee Amanda Hann, and Mrs. Angela Chidley accompanied by family member Robert Walsh. In the back are Mrs. Patsy Mooney, Mrs. Betty Swain and Mrs. Margaret Vickers. Submitted photos

Witless Bay awards bevy of contracts

By Mark Squibb

Witless Bay council approved a number of contracts during the October 8 public meeting.

Council ratified an e-mail vote held on September 20 to award the 2024-2025 snow clearing contract to O’Brien’s Trucking at a cost of $227,650, plus HST.

Councillor Gerard Dunne declared a conflict of interest as the company he works for bid on the tender. The rest of council voted numinously in favour of awarding the contract to O’Brien’s.

Later in the meeting, council approved the purchase of a spotting scope for the Lower Pond trail at a cost of $9,579, plus HST, and audio equipment at a cost of $1,578, plus HST.

Council also released the request for quotes for stormwater drainage upgrades along Southside Track and entered into a funding agreement with the provincial government for the purchase of two new self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA), 12 cylinders, and two masks, for the Witless Bay volunteer Fire Department on an 80/20 cost shared basis. The fire department’s portion of the cost is $14,594.

Premier Andrew Furey announced some $3 million in funding for more than 300 SCBA units this September, however failed to note that the funding would be contingent on cost-sharing agreements with communities.

Witless Bay appoints committee members

Witless Bay council last week approved a number of new committee appointments.

Deputy Mayor Jacob Hayden and councillor Margaret Swain were appointed to the recreation committee; councillors Ralph Carey and Gerard Dunne were appointed to the public works committee; councillors Ralph Carey and Justina Nawaz were appointed to the finance committee; and Deputy Mayor Jacob Hayden and councillor Justina Nawaz were appointed to human resources.

Mayor Trevor Croft sits on all committees.

The committee appointments are the first since a number of members, including Nancy Burke, Lorna Yard, and Alan Richards, resigned earlier this year and since Nawax and Swain had been elected to council.

The appointments were approved unanimously, excepting that Swain and Mayor Croft were absent.

Dunne Memorial Academy Runners

A number of runners from Dunne Memorial Academy in St. Mary’s participated in the Newfoundland and Labrador Athletic Association’s (NLAA) X-Country Series, held over three weekends in Bowering Park each Fall. Some days are beautiful for running, and others are not, but the weather doesn’t deter the runners from Dunne Memorial. In left photo, going from left to right, Dalton Corcoran, Noah Van De Bulk, Kellan Tobin (who placed first in two out of his three races and second in his third), Connor Corcoran, Katie Toope, Skye Corcoran and coach Karen Hearn. Meanwhile, Heather Squires, Kain Tobin, and Noah Van De Bulk represented the school at the School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador (SSNL) Cross Country Running regional tournament held in Carbonear earlier this month. In right photo are coach Karen Hearn, Heather Squires (who placed 14th in the senior girls race with a personal best time), Kain Tobin (who placed second in the senior boys race), and Noah Van De Bulk (who placed third in the junior boys race). Submitted photos