Members of Saints Peter and Paul Parish made the first ever donation to the Bay Bulls community food pantry. Donations were collected by parishioners over a number of weeks and dropped off at the pantry, located just outside the Town Hall, by youth from the church’s Living Faith Program last month. Resident Margaret Dinn is credited with bringing the idea of a community pantry to town staff for consideration, and last November council purchased $1,000 worth of materials and partnered with the Carpentry Program at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary to bring the idea to life. Pictured, from left are Parker Clowe, Joel Windsor, Patsy O’Brien, Nathan Windsor, and Jack Clowe. Town of Bay Bulls photo
Speed humps to be placed near retirement centre
By Mark Squibb
Witless Bay council has approved the installation of a number of speed humps throughout the community, as well as a number of other road maintenance contracts, a sure sign that spring is on its way.
Two speed humps will be installed near the recreation grounds along Southside Track, one on either side of the grounds, and two will be installed near Alderwood Estates Retirement Centre on Harbour Road, one on either side.
Council approved the new speed humps unanimously.
During the same meeting, council also awarded the traffic line painting contract to lowest bidder Three-In-One Contracting Inc., at a cost of $1,850, plus HST, and the road sweeping contract to lowest bidder Clean Sweep Property Maintenance Ltd., at a cost of $1,200 plus HST.
Both votes were unanimous.
Witless Bay approves firefighters social
By Mark Squibb
Witless Bay council this past April approved an expenditure of $2,000 to host a social for members of the Witless Bay Volunteer Fire Department.
Councillor Ralph Carey said the event will be similar to the annual Firefighters Ball of years past.
During the April Fire Department committee report, councillor Justina Nawaz noted the department is looking forward to doing more outdoor training as the spring approaches, and that all equipment, including vehicles, is currently undergoing inspection to make sure everything is up to scratch.
The department boasts a membership of 31 volunteers and a paid chief.
Bay Bulls awards curb sweeping contract
By Mark Squibb
Bay Bulls council approved two routine contracts during last week’s public meeting.
Council awarded curb sweeping services to Baird’s Asphalt at a cost of $1,050, plus HST, and waste disposal services to O’Brien’s Trucking for $2,300, plus HST. Council also approved the purchase of $3,166, plus HST, worth of maintenance tools and equipment.
On the development front, council approved the demolition of a home at 15-21 Irish Town Road and the construction of two new homes on the same property, as well as a business application for a new retail store on 131 Winnonish Drive and another business at 63 Southside Road.
Council also gave single-purpose approval to a developer who had submitted both a residential and commercial application regarding property at 710 Southern Shore Highway, meaning the developer can choose one use or the other.
Mayor Keith O’Driscoll noted that it was nice to see some new businesses opening up in town.
Biscay Bay hosts a first for Canada with sighting of rare Sand Plover
This cute little creature photographed in Biscay Bay on the southern Avalon between Portugal Cove South and Trepassey is a rare sight in North America. It’s only the third time a Greater Sand Plover has been spotted on this continent. Photo by Richard Thomas.
Saturday April 12 was a day that avid Portugal Cove South birder Richard Thomas will never forget. Late that afternoon he spotted a small plover – a type of shorebird – on a sand bar upstream of the Biscay Bay River bridge. Since any small plover is a rarity on the southern Avalon in spring, he checked its field marks using his binoculars and then a spotting ‘scope.
“I almost fell over with shock,” said Thomas. “It was a Sand Plover – a bird I’d only seen previously in the Middle East, Thailand and Australia.”
Overcoming his astonishment, Thomas set about obtaining the photos necessary to prevent his sighting claim being met with universal disbelief by the birding community.
There are two basic, closely related types of Sand Plover, Thomas explained; the Lesser and Greater. Determining the identity of a lone Sand Plover can be a tricky business especially, as in the case of the Biscay Bay bird, it shows a mix of Greater and Lesser characteristics. After some debate, Greater Sand Plover has emerged as the consensus identification. The species breeds from Turkey across to Central Asia and winters on the coasts of East Africa, Arabia, India, Southeast Asia and Australia.
“One can only wonder where this bird came from and why on Earth it ended up at Biscay Bay,” said Thomas.
If accepted by the relevant ornithological authorities, this will represent the first record of a Greater Sand Plover for Canada and the third for North America, after lone birds were spotted in California in 2001 and Florida in 2009. Thomas said that after birding for 40 years this is by far the biggest rarity he has discovered and seriously doubts he’ll ever be able to top it.
The next morning, from 6 a.m. onward, a couple of dozen birders and bird photographers gathered at Biscay Bay. In Britain, where Thomas hails from originally, travelling to try and see a rare bird is called “twitching.” Thomas said one thing he appreciates about Newfoundland is that any twitches are comparatively small in scale, whereas in Britain the occurrence of a rarity of equivalent magnitude would undoubtedly have resulted in a couple of thousand people trying to connect with the bird.
As it was, the behaviour of a few of the participants in the Greater Sand Plover twitch left a lot to be desired in terms of field craft, common sense and respect for the star attraction itself, according to a report. In one case, a dog was let out of a vehicle and flushed the bird.
But Thomas remains excited and is happy to have been able to share the discovery with the rest of the birding world.
“The bird was last reported on Saturday, April 19 but might still be in the area,” Thomas said.
St. Kevin’s High School students recognized for artistic talents
Two St. Kevin’s High School students have recently been recognized for their artistic talents. Grade 10 student Meredith Parsons, above, was awarded the provincial Arts and Letters Junior Division (15 & Under) Visual Arts Award for her gouache painting “Fish Studies.” The winning artwork is currently on display at the Rooms. Grade 11 student Alyssa Byrne was awarded second place in the Royal Canadian Legion Poster Design contest’s Senior Black & White category. As part of her prize, Byrne, along with seven other students, will travel to Beaumont Hamel at the end of June. Pictured below is Bill Hickey of the Ferryland Legion presenting Byrne with her certificate.
24th annual Art Hicks Memorial Basketball Tournament
Stella Maris Academy hosted the 24th annual Art Hicks Memorial Basketball Tournament this past week. Between team registrations, door prizes, and 50/50 ticket sales, organizers raised just over $2,000 for the school’s sport program. The family of the late Art Hicks made a financial donation and also donated a number of team hats, while members of the Trepassey 50 plus club volunteered to cover the door all weekend. Five teams participated and Sable Contracting nabbed tournament gold. Plans for the 25th annual tournament are already underway. From left to right are Kyle Collins, Trevor Ivany, Brant Williams, CJ Clowe, Conor McCarthy, Nathan Mulcahy, and Noah Power. It was the first time in some years that the tournament was held. Hicks was a respected businessman in Trepassey who operated a hardware supply business and was a big supporter of the community’s sports teams.
Goulds Elementary staff at Ronald McDonald House
Goulds Elementary staff members served up a delicious dinner for sick children and their families at Ronald McDonald House this last March through the organization’s ‘Home for Dinner’ program. On the menu was lasagna, garlic bread, rolls, and lots of desserts, including cakes, muffins, cookies, and ‘dirt cups’— cups filled with cookies, gummy worms, and other tasty treats. The meal was sponsored by Frontier. From left to right are Donna Dalton, Krista Finn, Allison Lee, Jaime Snow-Parsons, Wanda Cassell, and Jill Hann. Those interested in participating in the ‘Home for Dinner’ program can contact Ronald McDonald House Charities NL. Submitted photo
Petty Harbour fielding new microbrewery application at old church site
By Mark Squibb
Members of Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove town council will once again be voting on whether or not to approve a microbrewery at the former Roman Catholic Church on Cribbies Road.
The previous application was narrowly defeated last November after three members of council voted in favour of the application and three members voted against it. A tie-vote, according to provincial legislation, results in a defeated motion. Deputy Mayor Richard Raymond, councillor Ed Dyke, and councillor Irene Stack voted against the application. Councillors Agatha Balsom, Kayla Parsons, and Dave Balsom voted in favour of the motion. Mayor Ron Doyle was unavoidably absent from the meeting.
Petty Harbour resident Nancy Hannaford, who last year circulated a petition signed by 118 residents opposing the microbrewery application, said that minor adjustments found in the new application do not address concerns such as increased traffic, inadequate parking, increased noise, light, and odour pollution, and potential environmental impacts.
In a letter addressed to the Town she also argued that, given the building’s history as a church property, the “proposed development desecrates a sacred or historic site, erasing its cultural significance.”
Town staff could not tell the Irish Loop Post how many letters council received in regard to the application until that information has been tabled at an upcoming council meeting.
While the window for public comment has closed, council is still undertaking a preliminary review of the application.
Witless Bay Kin Club hosts provincial conference
By Mark Squibb
The Witless Bay Kin Club hosted the All Newfoundland and Labrador Spring Zone Conference in Gander this last month.
Over 130 Kin members, including District Governor Bill McFadden of Nova Scotia and Vice Governor Craig White of St. John’s, attended.
Witless Bay Kin Club President Adam Carey said the conference is an opportunity for Kin members to meet with other Kin, discuss the club, hold meetings, enjoy some live music, and have a bit of fun.
Carey said fellowship and camaraderie are a big part of being a Kinsman, but the main goal is to serve the community, and, true to the Kin spirit, members raised over $3,000 in memory of Aurora Keats, a Grade 9 student killed in an ATV crash in Gander this past March, during the conference. The family asked that the money be donated to the local gymnastics club of which Aurora was a member.
One of the topics at the conference was how to entice younger folks into joining a Kin club. To that end, the Kin Club of St. John’s is looking to begin a Kin Campus Club at Memorial University for students. It will not be limited to Memorial students only.
Carey said that interestingly enough, the Witless Bay Club boasts a younger demographic than some of the other clubs across the province.
The Witless Bay Club is busy throughout the year, from organizing the annual Santa Claus Parade, hosting dart tournaments and selling 50/50 tickets for different community causes. Just recently, the club opened a new, walk-in community pantry, free of charge to those in need.
“There’s a little bit of work involved in it, but at the end of the day it makes you feel nice that you can help people out and do things for your community,” said Carey.
The club currently boasts 8 full-time members, and anyone interested in joining it can email witlessbaykin@gmail.com for more information.
