Swain gets her legal fees back

By Mark Squibb

Witless Bay council has paid out $3,324 for the wrongful dismissal and reinstatement of councillor Margaret Swain.

Swain was kicked off council this past February after an alleged conflict of interest regarding a proposed Ragged Beach Crown Land Reserve. Soon after being acclaimed to council last November, Swain had allegedly remarked, during a private meeting of council, that she would not be voting on the matter because she knew landowners in the area. Shortly after, during her first public meeting of council, Swain proposed council delay voting on the matter so that she could get up to speed on the issue.

During a private meeting held on January 30, councillor Ralph Carey accused her of being in a conflict, and at yet another private meeting in February, Carey, then Deputy Mayor Lorna Yard and her husband and fellow councillor Alan Richards, along with councillor Gerard Dunne voted to fire Swain over the alleged conflict. Mayor Trevor Croft and councillor Jacob Hayden voted against the motion to dismiss Swain.

Yard and Richards have since both quit council.

Following her dismissal, Swain indicated to the Irish Loop Post that she intended to appeal the decision and bring the matter to Supreme Court, paying for her lawyer’s fees out of pocket.

However, in June, before the matter made it into court, council reinstated Swain, and has since agreed to cover her legal costs.

The motion to reimburse Swain the $3,324 worth of legal fees was moved by new councillor Justina Nawaz at a private meeting held on July 29. Both Carey and Swain declared a conflict of interest on the matter and did not vote on the motion to pay the legal bills. The remainder of council voted unanimously to pay the bill.

As the Municipalities Act requires that decisions of council made in private be ratified in public, council did just that during Tuesday’s public meeting

Carey and Swain again both declared conflicts and did not participate in the public vote. The remaining four members of council all approved the motion to ratify the decision.

Prisoners to build benches for Long Pond Walking Trail

By Mark Squibb

Bay Bulls council this week approved a number of upgrades to the ongoing construction of the Long Pond Walking Trail.

Councillor Ethan Williams moved to ratify an earlier e-mail vote of council to approve a change order for the installation for additional culverts and landscaping at a cost of $7,000 plus HST. Williams also moved that council ratify a second e-mail vote of council to install lights along a 1.3 kilometre stretch of trail, at a cost of $41,800, HST included. Bay Bulls is on the hook for $22,642, with the rest cost-shared with the provincial government.

Deputy Mayor Jason O’Brien added the goal is to install lights along the whole length of the trail from start to finish. Mayor Keith O’Driscoll said the lighting will be a great addition to the project.

Later in the meeting, council approved the purchase of $2,373, plus HST, worth of building materials from Hickey’s Timber Mart to build six benches and two garbage boxes to be placed along the trail.

Councillor Williams said he was glad to see council purchase from a local business, while O’Brien noted that all three bids were close.

The materials will be delivered to inmates at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary, who will assemble the benches and boxes.

“This gives some incarcerated adults an opportunity to hone their skills while they are completing whatever sentencing they are required to,” said Town Manager Ashley Wakeham. “It’s always nice to see a program like that that helps people better themselves for when they do actually get released back into society.”

Just over a million dollars has been allocated for the project thus far, much of which has come courtesy of the provincial and federal governments.

Second annual Witless Bay Days well attended

The Torque Titans was one of six softball teams that registered for the Witless Bay Days Adult Softball Tournament. In the back, from left, are Courtney Stevens, Robyn O’Rielly, Alax Giddens, Alyssa Dalton, Desiree O’Brien, Cheryl Harrigan and Erica Rideout; and in front, from left, are Alyssa Power, Erica Ryan, Leona Carew, Hilary Tobin, Brittany Bennett and Ashley Lundrigan.

The second annual Witless Bay Days was a great success, says committee member Meagan Carew. The organizing crew included, starting in the back, from left: Anne MacFarlane, Lucy Carew, Cathy Campbell, Lena Doyle, Meagan Carew, and Lisa Putt; and in the front, from left: Rosalie Walsh, Hilary Tobin, Hilda Carter, and Sharon O’Driscoll. Missing from the photo is Mark Tobin.

By Mark Squibb

The second annual Witless Bay Days, held earlier this month, went off without a hitch, said committee member Meagan Carew.

“We had incredible weather, we had beautiful weather the whole week,” said Carew, excepting that one event had to be rescheduled.

There was something for everyone over the four-day festival.

“The softball tournament always brings lots of people out whether they play softball or not,” said Carew. “The flotilla and fireworks on Friday night is always a big one that gets folks out on the beach.”

Carew said that over 90 people registered to play softball, with upwards of 100 watching at any given time. Over 75 people registered for cornhole, and over 100 passed through the Fire Hall during an Open House. About 70 youths participated in the sports day, and about 80 people came out to the Captain’s Table for the community breakfast.

Carew said there are more volunteer hours put into hosting a festival of events like Witless Bay Days than one might think, as folks need to plan the events well in advance and work at the events on the day to ensure things run smoothly.

She said the committee is already looking ahead to next year’s festival.

“Folks are more than welcome to join the committee,” said Carew. “We can’t be thankful enough for the support from the community and from the businesses in the community.”

The first ever Witless Bay Days, held in 2023, was an offshoot of the 2022 Come Home Year Celebrations.

Annual Golden Tulips Awards

The Town of Bay Bulls has announced the winners of the annual Golden Tulips Awards. Pictured is Mayor Keith O’ Driscoll (right) presenting Mark Traverse the 2024 Golden Tulip Award for Best Beginner Garden. Traverse was accepting the award on behalf of his wife Kelly, who has the greener thumb of the two. Mary and Armand Williams were awarded the 2024 Golden Tulip Award for Best Vegetable Garden. The 2024 Golden Tulip Award for Best Overall Residential Property went to Greeley’s Garden. Aimee Greeley nominated the garden in honor of her late husband, musician Justin Greeley, who passed following a short but courageous battle against cancer. Town of Bay Bulls photo

Father-son duo strike softball gold in national competition

Father-son duo Chris and Ryan Maher of Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove celebrate a national fastpitch win in Kitchener, Ontario, this past week. Submitted photo

By Mark Squibb

The Murno Mariners have been named the 2024 U23 Men’s Canadian Fastpitch Champions after an intense week of competition in Kitchener, Ontario, made none the easier by the sweltering heat, but the win is especially sweet for father-son duo Chris and Ryan Maher of Petty Harbour— Maddox Cove.

“The guys fought hard the whole week through the heat,” said assistant coach Chris Maher. “The guys were exhausted by the end of the week, but in the end, we took it home. The boys played great. Winning a national title is pretty amazing and winning it with your son on the bench makes it a little more exciting.”

Ryan said that having his dad on the team made the gold medal win all the sweeter.

“As soon as the gloves went up in the air and we were celebrating he was the first one I was looking for on the diamond to go give a hug,” said Ryan.

Chris has been playing ball for over 30 years and has competed on national and world stages, and has evidently passed his love for the game onto Ryan.

“Ryan loves the game, just like I do,” said Chris. “That’s pretty much all we think about, is softball. It is pretty amazing to see the young man he’s become. He’s a leader on that team.”

Ryan, meanwhile, credits his dad with the success he’s found on the diamond.

“He was someone to talk to after every single game,” said Ryan. “We talk ball almost every day. He’s my coach, my mentor, he’s taught me pretty well everything I know.”

The team members have been playing together for nigh on a decade, and have formed a close bond over the years.

“This group is very close,” said Ryan. “The comradery on the team is second-to-none. Outside the field, and on the field, we were cracking jokes. We didn’t feel the pressure, the moment didn’t feel too big for us. We were just having fun and playing together, and I think that’s what helped us win.”

This year’s gold medal win marks the first time a team from Newfoundland has won the tournament since 2012.

Despite the win, Ryan isn’t packing away his gear and calling it a season just yet. He’ll be heading to Saskatoon at the end of the month with the Galway Hitmen for the Senior Men’s Nationals.

‘We are not letting our church go’

Portugal Cove South group in fight to keep the community’s church

By Mark Squibb

Charlene Power of Portugal Cove South said that, contrary to rumours, Holy Rosary Church in Portugal Cove South has not been sold.

“We had a community meeting with Father Peter (Golden) this week, and no, the church has not been sold,” said Power, a member of a committee that aims to keep the church ownership within the community.

“Right now, we’re concentrating on making sure our church isn’t sold,” said Power. “Myself and Cynthia Power, the chair of our church committee, composed a letter and sent it to the archbishop stating that we are not happy hearing that our church is still up for sale, and as a committee, and as a community more so than a committee, we are not letting our church go.”

Holy Rosary Church, along with Our Lady of Fatima in St. Shotts, and Holy Redeemer Church in Trepassey, were among church properties listed for sale in 2022 by the Roman Catholic Archdioceses of St. John’s to raise money to settle numerous claims from people who suffered abuse as children at Mount Cashel Orphanage and from some Catholic priests.

Power said that although the building has not been sold, the committee has very little information on the goings on behind the scenes.

“Right now, we’re in limbo,” said Power. “We don’t know if a bid has gone in on the church, and if it was rejected or if the person pulled out and took their bid back. But right now, we’re just going to concentrate on keeping the church in the community. We told the bishop that we will not welcome anybody that buys our church in our community, and we are going to make that known.”

Power said the committee is looking to host fundraisers to pay for the monthly heating and bills of the building. Several years ago, prior to the church being put on the market, the community had raised and spent over $130,000 to complete renovations to the church.

“We were under the assumption that the church would remain ours,” said Power. “Nobody ever expected this coming up, with the churches having to be sold.”

Committee chairperson Cynthia Power said people in other communities have floated the idea of raising funds to purchase churches back from the archdiocese.

That would be easier, she admitted, had the community not already just invested so much in bringing the church up to shape.

“We raised $130,000 to upgrade the church when the church was in deplorable shape,” said Cynthia Power. “At the time, when we did that fundraiser, we were under the impression that the church belonged to the community, that it belonged to the people.”

She added that whether or not Father Peter’s role was filled upon his imminent retirement – he is in his 80s – the community thought it important to preserve the building. In a perfect world, she said, the church will not be sold and remain the focal point of the community that it is today.

“As a community, I don’t know that anything will be welcomed there, other than what’s there,” she said.

Crushing it again

Members of the Southern Shore Crush U17 girls’ softball team were named provincial champions after a competitive weekend of softball in Outer Cove. The girls finished third in the round robin tournament and went up against Conception Bay Centre in the semi-finals. The Crush prevailed after a close game that went an extra inning and then met the undefeated Outer Cove in the finals, whom they bested 10-0. Pitcher Kate Dalton was named the team’s Player of the Game. The same Crush team placed second in Women’s Provincials two weeks ago and will compete at the Eastern championships hosted by Portugal Cove-St. Philips on the weekend of August 16. In the back row, from left, are Gracie Doyle, Brooklyn Dicks, Jane O’Driscoll, Paige Pomroy, and coach Colin Chaytor. In the front row, from left, are Jorja Crane, Jane Coady, Alexis Chaytor, Rachel O’Brien, Sophia Penney, Charlotte Penney, and Kate Dalton. Submitted photo

Organizers pretty pleased with how Ferryland Days turned out

The Ferryland Flyers were named inaugural Dicker Barnable Memorial Softball Tournament champions. In the back row, from left to right, are Colin Swain, Andrew Kelly, Daniel Byrne, Patty O’Leary, Kaleb Swain, Shayne Kavanagh, and Connor Swain. In the front, from left to right, are Emily Kavanagh, Jenna Freeman, and Abby Boland. Submitted photo

By Mark Squibb

Following the Ferryland Days festivities held this last week, committee member Katie Barbour said things went off even better than expected.

“The weather was fantastic, every event that we put off was successful, everybody was in good spirits, there were no issues,” said Barbour. “It was all positive. It was everything we wanted it to be.”

Barbour said the goal of the committee was to host an inclusive festival with a little something for everyone, and said that all events, ranging from a free senior’s lunch at Bernard Kavanaugh’s Million Dollar View Restaurant to a youth sports day at the local field, were all well attended.

Also well attended was the first annual Dicker Barnable Memorial Softball Tournament.

“Dicker Barnable was fundamental in keeping the Farm — our local softball field — in tip top shape,” said Barbour. “He spent his whole life dedicated to the sport and recruiting young people to play… so it was a real honour to create a tournament in his honour.”

Eight teams from along the Southern Shore competed. Fittingly enough, the Ferryland Flyers took home the inaugural trophy.

The community breakfast, Song & Stories session, and Thursday night community concert were also very well attended.

The festivities culminated in the Shamrock Folk Festival Outdoor Dance on Saturday night and an all-day concert Sunday. This year makes the 39th year for the folk festival.

The committee is already looking forward to next year’s festival.

“We’re eager to get the ball rolling and start planning for next year,” said Barbour.

Young entrepreneur opens museum for second summer

Fourteen-year-old Jaden Melvin outside Melvin’s Mini Museum in Bauline East. The museum is now open for it’s second season. Submitted photo

By Mark Squibb

Fourteen-year-old Jaden Melvin might just be the province’s youngest museum curator.

Melvin runs Melvin’s Mini Museum out of his garage in Bauline East.

Over the years he has collected many a relic of everyday life, which he now displays proudly at the museum.

“I have fishing gear, make and break engines, old bottles, old farming gear, an old stove,” said Melvin. “I have a little bit of everything.”

Folks can visit the museum to have a look at the artifacts and learn more about the olden days in coastal Newfoundland.

The make and break engines, said Melvin, are a particular favourite of visitors.

Make and break engines, also called putt-putt engines, were known for their distinct thudding sound, a rhythm that was once synonymous with small harbours and coastal outports.

In fact, Melvin had to close his museum last Saturday to participate in the 5th annual Dildo Make and Break festival. Melvin was one of seven boaters to parade across the cove — and certainly the youngest.

The museum is typically open from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., although the schedule varies from time to time. Melvin’s rule of thumb is that if the door is open, the museum is open. This summer marks his second year of operations.

“I’ve been collecting now for about five years,” said Melvin. “And so, I said, ‘I might as well open up a museum.’”

Admission is by donation.

Mutual aid agreement with Ferryland good news for region, says Gatherall

By Mark Squibb

Witless Bay Fire Chief Jack Gatherall says a mutual aid agreement between the volunteer fire departments in Ferryland and Witless Bay approved earlier this year and since put into effect is good news for the entire region.

“There’s only so many volunteers, and so much equipment, and so much water to go around, so if we can utilize those resources, it keeps everyone safe,” said Gatherall.

The agreement means that if Ferryland firefighters need extra equipment or bodies to help battle a blaze, the members of the Witless Bay Fire Department will lend a hand, and vice versa.

“This is going to lead to better protection for everybody and a better response as a whole,” said Gatherall. “Fires and other large incidents were not meant to be handled by 10 people. These incidents require large numbers of personnel.”

Gatherall said that, as per the agreement, no area will be left without adequate fire protection.

“When a call for help comes in, it’s going to be up to the fire chief of that jurisdiction to make sure they have proper staffing in their area,” said Gatherall.

The two departments hope to schedule a group training session in the future, he added.

A thorn in the side of both departments — especially in hot, dry weather conditions ripe for forest fires — is a lack of fire hydrants along the Southern Shore. Firefighters often have to draw water from ponds and streams to battle blazes.

“Both have great, successful fire departments, and well-trained members, but the problem is that there’s not a lot of water sources in our region, and further down the Shore there are lots of areas that don’t have town water,” said Gatherall. “This means we only have a limited amount of water on our truck until we can get more water.”

The two coverage areas converge near the La Manche Road suspension bridge.

The Ferryland brigade and the Fermeuse Volunteer Fire Department have a similar mutual aid agreement in place for that part of the Shore.