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.

Bay Bulls to address tangly intersection

Bay Bulls councillor Jason Sullivan.

By Mark Squibb

Bay Bulls council has approved the reconfiguration of a troublesome intersection.

During a meeting held earlier this July, councillor Jason Sullivan moved that council approve a reconfiguration of the intersection of Southside Road, Quays Road, and Lower Road.

“I think this needs to be fixed,” said Sullivan. “It’s a tangle that doesn’t need to be there.”

Deputy Mayor Jason O'Brien said that he himself had met oncoming traffic heading in the wrong direction.

Councillor Ethan Williams seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously, except that Mayor Keith O’Driscoll was not in attendance and thus did not vote.

Councillor Corey Ronayne allowed the suggested fix will be an easy one.

Lower Road and Quay’s Road both intersect Southside Road from opposite directions, creating a tangled web of possible routes drivers may take.

Cape Broyle Chase the Ace heating up

By Mark Squibb

The cards are heating up as the Cape Broyle Church Committee’s Chase the Ace enters it’s thirty-sixth week this weekend with only 16 cards left and a jackpot approaching 20K.

Committee member Wayne Kenny says he couldn’t tell you exactly how many people have been showing up these last few weeks, as it’s hard to count heads when you’re cutting cards, but said that as the jackpot grows, the crowds have been getting bigger.

Kenny said the committee is especially thankful for a core group of supporters who have been chasing the elusive Ace from the get-go.

“We’re very thankful for the people who did come out over the long, cold winter,” said Kenny. “There’s a core group of people who have been supporting us since day one, and we’re very, very appreciative of those people. They’re out almost every week. Now that the jackpot is growing and we’re getting more people, we’d like to thank the regulars, the people who have been out all winter.”

Some folks have begun coming from as far as the Goulds to chase the ace — you’ll likely remember that a Chase the Ace game hosted by St. Kevin’s Parish some years back drew thousands of folks to the Goulds as the jackpot hit millions.

The Cape Broyle Church Committee, meanwhile, began raising funds in August 2022, and last year successfully raised enough money to purchase the Immaculate Conception Church at a cost of about $77,700. The committee continues to raise money for ongoing maintenance and repairs, as well as to pay the monthly bills for heat and insurance. Just recently, the committee arranged to have some of the historic stained-glass windows removed and sent for repair.

Down the road, the committee hopes to upgrade the church’s electrical system and install a septic system, amongst other upgrades.

Kenny said the committee aims to repurpose the building so that it can be enjoyed by the entire community, while also staying true to its religious purpose.

“We’re trying to turn this into a multi-functional building,” said Kenny. “We do have church services every week, but we also trying to expand it’s usage, while still maintaining the sanctity of the church, as it is. We’re slowly turning this into something more than a church building. We want it to be part of the community again.”

Chase the Ace is held each Sunday evening at Riverside Lounge. The doors open at 6 p.m., and the card draw is at 7:45 p.m.

This Sunday’s jackpot starts at $17,741.

Kenny said the committee is very happy for the support from Riverside Lounge, who have allowed the group to host the card game each Sunday evening.

Mobile Central High players selected to compete at Women's National Championships

Two basketball players from Mobile Central High have been selected to compete at the 2024 15U and 17U Women’s National Championships, which will be held in St. John’s this August.

Abby Mullowney (left), 16, will play with the 17U team. Gracie Dalton, (right), 14, will compete with the U15U team.

“I’ve had these kids since they were both eight years old, and we’re in the gym two or three times a week,” said coach Gerilynn Devereaux, who has seen them put in the hard work both on-and-off the court over the years. “They’ve won some wonderful banners and accolades along the way, and both girls are leaders on their teams,” said Devereaux. Both girls have made National teams before, although this is the first time they will be competing at a national level in their home province. Submitted photos.

Bay Bulls opts to pay as they go on snow

By Mark Squibb

Bay Bulls council has decided to not take advantage of a provision to re-new it’s current snow clearing contract, but instead will issue a new tender for the upcoming winter season.

The motion to call a new tender for snow clearing and ice control was approved unanimously at last week’s public council meeting.

“I think we need to get back to the hourly rate just because certainly I don’t think anybody saw the prices coming that we got last year, so we’re going to have to revisit that,” said councillor Jason Sullivan. “Our winters are getting milder but our costs are going through the roof.”

Council awarded the snow clearing contract to Southeast Construction at a bid price of $329,900 plus HST back in October. Council paid an additional $5,000, plus HST, for additional work following a particularly rough storm in February and another in March.

“That backfired,” summarized Deputy Mayor Jason O’Brien. “We’ll pay as we go. That will work better for the town.”