Ryan Maher (left) of Petty Harbour Maddox Cove will represent Canada at the 2025 U23 Men’s Softball Pan American Championship from May 1-11 in La Pampa, Argentina. Maher, who has already competed in a number of national tournaments in recent years, is following in the foot-steps of his father Chris, who played for Team Canada in 1997, and cousins Mitch and Mark Stack, who played for Team Canada in 2016 and 2023 respectively. Adrian Green of Carbonear has also been named to Team Canada. Picture, from left, are Ryan Maher, Mitch Stack, and Mark Stack.
Speed humps to be located in same spots as last year
By Mark Squibb
Bay Bulls council has approved the installation of a number of speed humps in recreation and playground areas.
Approval for the work came at the March 11 public meeting of council, which saw just three of the five person council in place as councillors Corey Ronayne and Jason Sullivan were both absent.
Deputy Mayor Jason O’Brien said the speed humps will be installed along Sheldon Drive, Island Cove Road and Cemetery Lane West in the same locations as last year, and that no other speed bumps will be installed this calendar year.
There are two slated for Sheldon Drive near the playground, two near the Island Cove Road playground, four at the Bay Bulls Regional Lifestyle Centre parking lot, and two along Cemetery Lane West in front of the Bay Bulls Regional Lifestyle Centre.
Bay Bulls planning trail run to celebrate Long Pond Trail
By Mark Squibb
Lace up your running shoes, because the Bay Bulls Regional Lifestyle Centre is hosting a five-kilometre fun run on June 7 in recognition of International Trails Day.
The Town is partnering with the centre and sponsoring the event to the tune of $2,500.
“Staff at the centre are hard at work to make sure that this is a great day,” said councillor Ethan Williams, who described the event as an opportunity for Bay Bulls to showcase its beautiful trail system.
The Long Pond Loop 5 KM Walk/Run will, as the name implies, take place along Long Pond Walking Trail.
More details will be made available closer to the event.
Speaking of the town’s trail system, council last week awarded the contract for installation of solar lighting and poles around the final stretch of the Long Pond trail. O’Brien’s Trucking Ltd., was awarded the work at a cost of $495 plus HST.
Witless Bay Kinsman named a Life Member
Witless Bay Kin Club member Brian Harte was recently named a Kin Canada Association Life Member – the highest honour the club can bestow upon a member.
The award recognizes members who have made outstanding contributions to both the club and the community.
“I'm extremely honored and proud of the award,” said Harte. “Most volunteers don't do what they do for accolades, including myself, but it is very nice to be recognized for our efforts. If more people knew the personal satisfaction that you get from helping others, there would be no shortage of volunteers. The guys in our club and many other volunteer organizations understand this, and it keeps us going.”
Harte joined the club at age 19 and has served for over 30 years. He has held all executive positions within the club at one time or another and held positions with the club at a provincial and Atlantic level as well. He has chaired various projects over the years, including the annual Santa Claus parade, Puffin Festival, community cleanups, and various other fundraising initiatives.
More recently, Harte spearheaded the idea to build a community pantry. The project received national recognition from the Kin organization.
Kin Canada Atlantic Vice Governor Craig White (right) presented Witless Bay Kin Club member Brian Harte with a Life Member designation earlier this month. The recognition is the highest honour the club can bestow upon its members. Witless Bay Kin Club photo
Council approves firefighting FIT testing
Witless Bay council, during the January meeting, approved FIT Testing for members of the Volunteer Fire Department to be conducted at a cost of $1,270, plus HST.
The test is to confirm that each member is wearing their respirator properly so as to be comfortable and provide maximum protection.
The department also recently brought into service two brand new self-contained breathing apparatuses and 12 additional ‘one-hour’ air canisters.
In other council news, council approved the purchase of 50 hours of professional IT services from Pinnacle Engineering at a cost of $5,625, plus HST, plus a monthly recurring payment of $75.
Town CAO Jennifer Aspell estimated the contract would secure the services for the Town for about two years, and that securing the 50 hours in advance is more feasible than phoning the company and paying by the hour as the need arises.
Council also adopted a municipal plan amendment and development regulation amendment necessary to rezone a plot of land at 45 Southern Shore Highway from residential to commercial. A public hearing will also be held, but should the Town receive no written responses to a public notice, the hearing will be cancelled.
Young guns to suit up against alumni for 9th annual Mavericks charity game
By Mark Squibb
The St. Kevins High School Mavericks will suit up against Mavericks alumni players for the 9th Annual St. Kevin’s High School Alumni Hockey Charity Classic on March 9, and while the game may not attract quite as many eyes as the USA and Canada championship, the fans in the stands may be just as passionate.
The event has grown year over year. Last year, some $11,725 was raised for various local charities, about $4,000 above the previous year’s record.
Organizer Jason Snelgrove said it’s hard to imagine the charity event is in it’s ninth year.
“Last year, when they brought out the slip of paper with the amount raised, I was floored, I couldn’t believe it,” said Snelgrove, who recalled in years past he had joked about one day raising upwards of $10,000. “From the beginning, whether it was $1,000 or $5,000 or $10,000, whatever money we make from an alumni community event, is great. It’s going to go to a worthwhile cause, charity, organization, or family. It’s money that we’ve raised that they wouldn’t of had access to otherwise.”
But just like in hockey, Snelgrove said the goal is always to do one better than last year. To date, the event has raised about $48,000, and Snelgrove is hoping to cross the $60,000 mark this year.
This year’s major recipient will be the Curtis Hudson Memorial Fund.
In years past, the event committee has earmarked a minimum of $1,000 donation for the memorial fund, which aims, amongst other things, to build a playground in memory of Curtis Hudson of Goulds Elementary, and it was once featured as a major receipient.
“This year we decided to go back to them as a major recipient because they’re doing great work in Curtis’ honour,” said Snelgrove.
The committee has also committed to donating at least $1,500 to Big Brothers Big Sisters 75 Door Campaign, which serves to connect mentors and youths.
Snelgrove said it’s the first time donating to the organization, and the committee is excited to do so.
Funds will also be raised for the Newfoundland and Labrador Down Syndrome Society, as has been done the last number of years.
New this year, the committee introduced a full set of Mavericks trading cards and team poster, representing members of the current St. Kevin’s hockey team. All proceeds from sale of the bundles, priced at $25, will go to the Curtis Hudson Memorial Fund. The bundles were sold on a first come, first serve basis, and only 50 were made available.
Snelgrove said the cards were mainly intended for younger fans of the high school team.
“The young kids in the community, they look up the Mavericks high school team,” said Snelgrove. “So, hopefully we’ll get some hockey cards and posters in their hands that they can get autographed.”
Snelgrove said he hopes that the annual event leaves a lasting impression on people, especially the young ones.
“For me, showing the young people that they can make a difference, that there’s value in volunteering, that there’s value in raising money for charity, there’s value in giving back to people in the community, that’s the big goal,” said Snelgrove. “I was born and raised in the Goulds, currently living in Petty Harbour, and to be able to give back to people in the community is special.”
Local U7 and U9 teams will once again hit the ice during the second intermission. There will also be a free family skate ahead of the alumni game.
There is no admission at the door, although donations will be accepted. Snelgrove said the event is open to all.
“We want people to celebrate the Goulds community for what it is,” said Snelgrove. “We want people to come out to the rink, stand in the stands and cheer and have some fun. It’s a family night out that doesn’t have to cost any amount of money.”
A raffle of 50-50 tickets will also be sold during the event.
Maverick Coach and alumni player Michael Pritchard battles Maverick Colby Hawkins for the puck while alumni player and Mavericks assistant coach Matthew Chafe and Maverick Ben Hardy look on during last year’s St. Kevin’s High School Alumni Hockey Charity Classic. The Mavericks and alumni laced up their skates and did battle once again Friday, March 7th. Proceeds form the event goes towards a number of local causes. Stacey Birmingham photography
Silver Medal for the Mavericks
The St. Kevin’s High School Grade 9 girls volleyball team earned silver medals earlier this month after competing in the Regional Winter Carnival Volleyball tournament hosted by Mobile Central High. In the back, from left, are Meadow Richards, Abby Smith, Chloe Stack, Olivia Mackey and Mia Harte. In front, from left, are Avery Best, Chloe Kieley, Alexa Melvin and Kaileigh Crane. Missing from the photo is Rachel Maher, Katelyn Clarke, assistant coach Krystal Burton and head coach Lorelei Best. St. Kevin’s High School photo
Bay Bulls seeks funding for trail lights
Members of Bay Bulls council, during the February 10 public meeting, approved a motion to apply for Active NL funding to help cover the costs of the new solar lights that are to be installed along the Long Pond Walking Trail.
During that same meeting, council approved the purchase of 60 poles at a cost of $4,770, plus HST, and 60 solar light heads, at a cost of $11,539, plus HST.
Council also voted to release the request for proposals for the actual installation of the solar lights.
The Town recently undertook a number of upgrades to the trail, split over two phases. The cost of phase one, valued at about $475,444 (less HST), was split evenly among municipal, provincial, and federal governments. Phase two was valued at $484,292, and split 60/40 between the provincial and municipal governments respectively.
The Town submitted a Capital Investment Plan (CIP) application to cover its portion of phase two. The project aim was to both extend and improve the popular community trail.
Busy start to the new year for Witless Bay Fire Department
By Mark Squibb
Members of Witless Bay council last week approved first aid training at a cost of $3,000 and hazmat training at a cost of $2,000 for members of the Witless Bay Volunteer Fire Department, as requested by the brigade.
January has been a busy month for the department, with crews responding to 32 calls for service, including a structure fire, as noted in the department’s January update, read at last week’s meeting by councillor Justina Nawaz.
The Town of Witless Bay also declared January as Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month during the January 14 public meeting.
As per the Town’s proclamation, research has shown that firefighters face direct exposure to known cancer-causing chemicals and particles. To that end, firefighters have a nine percent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14 percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general population.
The Witless Bay Volunteer Fire Department recently announced it would be switching out their firefighting hoods for new LION Redzone Hoods, which have superior filtration capability, thus reducing exposure to harmful carcinogens.
50 Years of Lions service
This past November members of the Trepassey Lions Club gathered with residents of the communities of St. Shott’s, Biscay Bay, Portugal Cove South and Trepassey to celebrate 50 years of service to the region. Also in attendance were fellow Lions from our Zone 9. “We welcomed many family members of our founding president, the late Mr. John Devereaux including his sons Mr. Jerome Devereaux and Mr. Neil Devereaux, who are also founding members,” said club spokesperson and current King Lion Aloysius Corcoran. “A fitting tribute was given to her dad by his daughter Mrs. Sylvia Corrigan. The Trepassey Lions Club appreciates all who have supported the club for the past 50 years. We pledge to continue to live up to the motto of the Lions Club – ‘We Serve!’ On hand for the gathering, were, starting in the back row, from left: Michael Power and Clarence Cave; Third Row: Gary McNeil, Wayne McNeil, Clarence Molloy, Mark Dillon, and Linda Power; Second Row: Virginia McNeil, Joan Power, Philomena Butler, Rita Pennell, Elaine Pike, Loretta Cave, and Jose Waddleton; and in the front: founding member Jerome Devereaux, King Lion Wish Corcoran and founding member Neil Devereaux. Missing from the photo are Mary Perry, Melvin Cave and Lifetime Member Pat Curtis.
