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
Bay Bulls extends public comment deadline on industrial application
By Mark Squibb
The Town of Bay Bulls has extended the deadline for public comment on a proposed liquid asphalt storage and offloading terminal at 2-36 Northside Road to allow the proponent to reconfigure the application and provide more information for the public.
Originally, public submissions were due October 9. That deadline has now been pushed back to November 6.
Town Manager Ashley Wakeham said that the town has already received a number of e-mailed and hand-delivered submissions, in addition to a number of comments on the Town’s social media page.
“The Town would be remiss to not consider the social media tone around this proposal,” said Wakeham. “However, we would prefer that comments be formalized and submitted to awakeham@townofbaybulls.com or hand delivered to the Town Office at 2 Southside Road by 4:00 pm on November 6.”
Concerns raised by residents include a potential spill of hazardous material and possible impacts on the tourism industry.
Witless Bay sets date for nominations
By Mark Squibb
Voters in Witless Bay will be heading to the polls again this fall.
Witless Bay council has set November 5 as a Nomination Date for anyone interested in vying for an open seat on council. Should enough candidates step forward, a by-election will be held on November 27.
The by-election is pending ministerial approval to delay the date of the contest, which council also requested at last week’s council meeting.
“This is just a formality,” said Chief Administrative Officer Jennifer Aspell. “Legislation requires that a by-election be held within three months of a seat becoming vacant. We have had two Nomination days, Justina Nawaz was acclaimed at one, and the second we had no candidates. But because the legislation requires a by-election within three months, the formality is to ask the minister for permission to delay it.”
Nawaz was acclaimed to council in June, filling one of three vacant seats at the council table. Councillor Margaret Swain was booted from council this winter but then re-instated this summer after she appealed the decision and lawyers for the Town advised she had been dismissed without cause. That left one seat up for grabs.
All motions passed unanimously, except that Mayor Trevor Croft and councillor Swain were not in attendance.
Broncos qualify for Provincial Championships
The Baltimore Broncos Senior Girls softball team have qualified for the provincial AA softball championships after winning the School Sport Newfoundland and Labrador (SSNL) regional Qualifier Tournament held September 26-29. Baltimore also hosted the tournament. In the back, from left, are Janna Reddy, Shyanne Rossiter, Jane Coady, Rachel O'Brien, Gracie Doyle, Julia Kavanagh, Isabella O'Leary, Brooklyn Jordan, and Allie O'Brien. In the front, from left, are Allissa Caddick, Emily Kavanagh, Addison Mayo, and Ava Gibson. The AA provincials will be held in Twillingate, Oct. 24-27. Baltimore School photo
Witless Bay Chief sees value in teaching children fire safety
By Mark Squibb
When was the last time you tested your smoke alarm?
“A lot of people have smoke detectors, but not everyone checks that their smoke detectors are up to date,” said Witless Bay Fire Chief Jack Gatherall. “A 25-year-old smoke detector from when you purchased the house is not sufficient.”
The theme for this year’s Fire Prevention Week is ‘Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You,’ and members of the Witless Bay Fire Department are visiting local schools, including day cares, to instill that message in younger audiences.
“We’re trying to target the young kids and make sure that they get the information,” said Gatherall. “This year’s theme is a little bit more advanced than previous themes, like ‘Hear the Beep While You Sleep,’ but kids are smart, and if you tell kids they have to check their smoke alarms, they will check those smoke alarms. They’ll certainly get on mom and dad to check those smoke alarms.”
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends you install a smoke detector in every room, and that you check your smoke detectors every six months. You can check a smoke alarm by pressing and holding the test button on the alarm.
Gatherall added that if anybody has a question about their smoke alarms, or fire safety in general, they can phone the town hall, email firechief@townofwitlessbay.ca, or message the Witless Bay Volunteer Fire Department on Facebook.
The department boasts 30 members, and Gatherall said that as the region grows, the number of emergency calls has increased. Most calls, as is common across the country, are medical calls.
“Our department takes an ‘all hazards approach,’” said Gatherall. “So, we respond to pretty much any type of emergency: anything from a hazmat incident to a residential structure fire to a water rescue and everything in between.”
He said anybody wishing to join the department may submit an application.
“We’re always actively recruiting; however, we’re trying to take our recruitment in bunches,” said Gatherall. “So, if anyone is interested in joining, they can certainly submit an application and when we reach a certain number of applications, we’ll take in a group and go through a proper training process.”
From left, Witless Bay Fire Chief Jack Gatherall, firefighter Josh Glynn and firefighter Stephanie Croft get ready to perform a rope rescue training exercise. Witless Bay Volunteer Fire Department photo
Ferryland Fire Chief says education prevents emergencies
Members of the Ferryland Volunteer Fire Department attend the Holy Trinity Catholic Church’s annual Blue Mass for emergency responders. In the front row, from left, are Chief Algy Windsor, Father Emmanuel Iroulor, Loyola Kavanagh, and Barry Kavanagh. In the back row, from left, are Justin Kavanagh, Desi Johnston, Doug Stoodley, retired firefighters Annie Furlong and Martin Brazil. Ferryland Volunteer Fire Department photo
By Mark Squibb
Fire Chief Algy Windsor says members of the Ferryland Volunteer Fire Department will be meeting as usual with Baltimore students and reminding them of the importance of smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, escape plans, and more, this Fire Prevention Week.
Windsor said he’s always impressed by students’ fire knowledge and eagerness to learn more.
“Some of there questions are pretty intense,” he quipped. “They’re only children but they ask some heavy questions. They ask questions that we have to think about. There might be three or four of us there and we’ll have to discuss the answer. They ask a lot of questions, and that’s great.”
Windsor, who has served with the department for nearly 50 years now, said emergency calls have dropped since the department began meeting with students some 30-odd years ago.
“The kids are bringing the information home to their parents,” said Windsor. “And that certainly makes a big difference.”
He said Fire Prevention Week activites also allows students a chance to see the bunker gear up close and become familiar with the otherwise imposing figure a firefighter decked out in full gear might cut.
“The boys will dress up in their bunker gear and have on their SCBA masks and everything, and we tell the kids, if you see someone like this coming into your house or into your bedroom, don’t run away and hide, it’s a firefighter coming to help you out and take you out of harm’s way,” said Windsor. “Some of our fellows are over 6’2” and with the big yellow tank on their back and the big pile of bunker gear and the mask and the lights flashing on their harness, it could be intimidating. We make sure the kids know who we are.”
The volunteer department currently boasts 22 members.
Brewery application puts Petty Harbour council in a tight spot
By Mark Squibb
An application to convert the former Roman Catholic church (left foreground) in the picturesque community of Petty Harbour has some residents concerned about parking problems.
By Mark Squibb
An application for a microbrewery and eatery at the site of the former St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Petty Harbour has not gone over well with some residents, among them Nancy Hannaford, who says the idea is a poor fit for the Cribbies Road property.
Over a hundred residents have signed a petition against allowing the microbrewery, the application for which in one form or another has been before council since the spring of 2023. Along the way, council approved motions to accommodate commercial uses at the address and to add “Microbrewery” to a list of discretional uses ahead of possible approval of the business.
Chief among the residents’ concerns are increased traffic and inadequate parking, common problems in Petty Harbour during tourist season.
“When there were weddings or masses at the church, there were cars parked all along the little side roads, at the community centre, on the church parking lot, and you tolerated it because it was an hour a day, 75 days out of the year,” said Hannaford. “But you can’t tolerate that 12 hours a day, seven days a week.”
The brewery is expected to seat upwards of 75, and will employ about 30 people, with additional employees brought on as need be for marketing and distribution of products. The applicant would also excavate to make way for a 21-car parking lot.
According to its application, the owner, who also operates Chafe’s Landing Restaurant and Tinker’s Ice Cream Parlour in other locations in the harbour, plans to install traffic signage, work with Newfoundland Tours to secure shuttle services from St. Johns, hire a traffic cop during peak times, and “encourage alternative transportation options like ride sharing” to mitigate traffic congestion. The applicant also suggested hiring from within town and encouraging employees to walk to work.
Those mitigation measures, said Hannaford, just don’t cut it.
“Encouraging ride sharing is ludicrous,” said Hannaford. “It’s not an actionable plan. You can’t control what other people do.”
A traffic report commissioned by council, prepared by Harbourside Transportation Consultants, estimated a traffic volume increase of 17 precent should the application be approved, and that the proposed 21 parking spaces will not be enough to meet demand, and that off-site parking will be necessary.
A commissioner’s report, presented to council in October of 2023, took many of those same concerns into account.
“I was given a petition against the proposed Amendments containing 118 signatures and it was clear to me that residents of the area are against the possibility of a microbrewery being developed on the former church property,” wrote Stanley N. Clinton in his decision. “They would be the ones affected by such a development whether by increased traffic, noise and odors.”
Clinton noted that local roads are little more than one lane wide and do not have sidewalks, and that the microbrewery would generate “significant extra activity.”
Clinton recommended that a microbrewery should not be considered for the area (although council allowed the amendment naming a microbrewery as a discretionary use to stick), and that council should consider other commercial uses for the property.
“It is clear that it should be put to some use and not left unused and likely to deteriorate,” said Clinton.
Hannaford, meanwhile, said the findings of the commissioner’s report validated residents’ concerns.
Regardless, council may yet approve the application.
Mayor Ron Doyle said he feels torn on the matter.
“This is probably one of the most difficult decisions we’ve had to make,” said Doyle. “It’s pretty controversial… It’s difficult, you’re caught between a rock and a hard place, because you’re trying to do what’s best for the community, which basically is tourism, and trying to keep a half-decent way of living in what was always a quiet community. We have narrow streets and lots of traffic. But I’ll make up my mind in the next couple of weeks.”
Doyle said he understands the concerns raised by residents in regards to parking and traffic congestion, amongst other matters, but also admitted a microbrewery such as the one proposed could be a huge benefit to the town.
“Tourists now look for an experience,” said Doyle. “Tourists coming to Petty Harbor want to go to Chafe’s Landing, they want to go on the zipline, they want to go down to the mini aquarium, and this one will be one more part of that experience.”
Doyle added the business would create upwards of 30 much-needed local jobs.
“The future is tourism, and we’ve got to try and make as best we can,” said the mayor.
From a council perspective, there is a hurdle yet to overcome before the vote is cast. The Department of Municipal Affairs, at the behest of residents, is investigating possible conflicts of interest among some members of council in regard to the application.
Doyle said four members of council have been named as possibly being in conflict. He did not name those four members.
Doyle said it will likely take a week or so for the conflict of interest matter to be sorted out, and he hopes council will be able to vote on the application during the October 21 public meeting.
“Hopefully by the 21st this will be put to bed one way or another,” said the mayor.
Hannaford, meanwhile, said that should council approve the application, residents will appeal the decision.
