John Gibbons of St. Mary’s was awarded a 75th Anniversary of Confederation Medal earlier this year for helping make his community a better place to live. Sue Finlay photo
Witless Bay Kin Club opens a bigger and better community pantry
By Mark Squibb
Members of the Witless Bay Kinsmen Club have begun accepting donations at their new, walk-in community pantry.
The new pantry is not only much bigger than the old, but the inclusion of a fridge and freezer allows the Kin Club to store refrigerated items such as meat, milk, cheese, and eggs onsite.
“Before, we could only accept donations of non-perishables,” said Kinsman Brian Harte. “So, we would have people drop off a donation of fish or chicken and message us and say, ‘Keep an eye on that, and if it doesn’t go, make sure to put it in the fridge.’ So now, you can just go in and put what you want in there.”
Harte said the new panty makes large donations, such as those collected by local sports teams, more manageable.
Harte noted a number of individuals, community groups, and businesses donate to the panty regularly. Students at St. Bernard’s Elementary in Witless Bay, for example, recently donated potatoes harvested from the school garden.
“Community support has been phenomenal,” said Harte. “We get a lot of food donated. The pantry runs itself pretty much. Every now and then we have to buy some food, but we get a lot of monetary donations as well… I wouldn’t say that the pantry is always full, but there’s always food going in there. I could go in one day and it will be empty, and then go in the next morning and find it full.”
The Kinsmen also partnered with shop class students at Baltimore School in Ferryland to build the pantry.
Harte said the students did the majority of the work.
“One of our members, Jamie O’Brien, is the shop teacher at Baltimore School,” said Harte. “He suggested that if we could throw in the funds for the supplies, he could get his class to do the work.”
The community pantry was first installed a number a years ago in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We realized, very quickly, that the pantry we had wasn’t big enough,” said Harte. “So, this is something that’s been on our plate for a few years now… There’s definitely a need, and I think that need has increased more than anything. It could be that there’s more awareness of the pantry, or there’s more of a need in the community, it’s hard to say.”
Folks can visit the panty at the Puffin Centre, in the same location as the original pantry.
Members of the Kinsmen Club of Witless Bay and Area this October opened a new, walk-in pantry at the Puffin Centre. The Town of Witless Bay recently donated registration fees from a recent flea market and upcoming craft fair, some $260 all told, to the club to help stock the community pantry. From left are Kinsman Adam Carey, Deputy Mayor Jacob Hayden, Kinsman Brian Harte and Kinsman Mark Tobin. Town of Witless Bay photo
Petty Harbour microbrewery application about to be set
By Mark Squibb
Folks in Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove will have to wait a little longer to see if council will approve an application for a microbrewery at the site of the former Roman Catholic Church on Cribbies Road.
Council was set to vote on the application during the November 4 public meeting, but opted to defer the vote until November 18 as a final inspection of the building is required.
Council was initially set to vote on the motion on September 9, but a number of delays pushed the vote to November 4.
Over 100 residents have signed a petition against the proposed microbrewery, citing concerns about increased traffic and a lack of adequate parking, amongst others.
Four councillors were accused of potentially being in a conflict of interest, but all four have been cleared to vote following an investigation by JW Consulting.
Legions along the Shore ready for Remembrance Day
By Mark Squibb
Royal Canadian Legions along the Southern Shore have prepared for Remembrance Day well in advance of the day itself.
In Bay Bulls, a service will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, followed by a parade from the church to the war memorial at the Town Hall. The wreath laying ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. Individuals or community groups interested in laying a wreath may contact Patricia Hearn at (709) 334-2833.
In Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove, a Remembrance Day Service will be held on November 11 at the cenotaph, with a social at the community centre to follow. Folks interested in laying a wreath may contact Mayor Ron Doyle at (709) 745-1106.
In Riverhead, a parade will march from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 62 at 10:30 a.m. for a wreath laying and service at the cenotaph. Any veterans or organizations participating in the parade must meet at the Legion before 10:30 a.m. Anyone wishing to lay a wreath may phone the Legion at (709) 525-2712. Folks are invited to return to the Legion following the service for refreshments and entertainment by Brian Finn.
And over in Ferryland, a Remembrance Ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the cenotaph. Folks are invited back to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 34 for refreshments. If you wish to lay a wreath, contact Joe Arsenault at (709) 363-2447.
RNC seek help with suspected Goulds arson
The RNC are asking the public for information following a suspicious vehicle fire in the Goulds.
At approximately 10 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22, police responded to a report of a vehicle fire on the Main Road just south of the Ruby Line. Upon arrival, police found two vehicles engulfed in flames in a commercial parking lot.
Police say that an individual was seen in the area carrying a gas can prior to the discovery of the vehicles. The subject appeared to be wearing a black hat, brown jacket, dark pants and dark boots.
The police are asking the public for information, including video footage such as CCTV and dash camera images, of the area from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on the night in question.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the RNC at 709-729-8000.
Bay Bulls opts for hourly rate on snow clearing
By Mark Squibb
The Town of Bay Bulls last month awarded the 2024-2225 snow clearing and ice control contract to the lowest compliant bidder, O’Brien’s Trucking, at a cost of $281,725, plus HST.
That total amount is based on the average amount of snow clearing needed over the last couple of years, so the actual amount spent this winter could be more or less depending on the amount of snowclearing and ice control needed by the end of next spring. Council last year opted to tender snow clearing as a lump sum rather than pay an hourly rate, but decided to go back to the hourly rate this season citing high costs from last winter.
Council also awarded the contract for ditching services to the lowest qualified bidder, Harbour Construction Ltd., at a cost of $9,949, plus HST, and also released a request for quotes for catch basin cleaning services.
Council also approved the purchase of a pest management program to address a rodent problem along the Sheldon Drive and Dunne Drive areas, as numerous residents have complained, at a cost of $2,364, plus HST.
Bay Bulls allows temporary road for groundwater assessment
By Mark Squibb
Bay Bulls council last week ratified an earlier e-mail vote to allow construction of a temporary road to conduct a groundwater assessment for a potential subdivision off Cemetery Road West.
The e-mail vote of September 18 granted Southern Construction permission to construct a temporary access road, a maximum of four meters in width, that followed the route of the concept plan included with the application. The Town was not to be held responsible for any expenses incurred by the contractor regardless of the outcome.
Development of the subdivision is contingent on approval of a Crown Land application and further approval of council.
Council approved construction of the temporary road unanimously.
Following that motion, council also approved a ratification of a change order to phase two of the Long Pond Walking Trail project.
The change order, the second for this phase of the work, was for an increased quantity of materials used during construction. The contractor found some areas of the trail wetter than anticipated and thus required more materials to satisfy a walking standard. The total cost of the additional quantities amounted to $20,064, HST included.
Phase two of the project will see an additional 1.5 kilometres of trail added to the existing 2.5 kilometres. Phase two was estimated at a cost of $484,292. The provincial government agreed to contribute $290,575 towards the project, and the Town successfully applied for federal Capital Investment Plan (CIP) funding to cover its portion of the work, some $193,717.
Bay Bulls recycling depot to reopen
By Mark Squibb
Bay Bulls council last week was glad to welcome back a recycling depot to town.
Councillor Ethan Williams moved that council approve a business permit for a new recycling depot at 297-299 Southern Shore Highway, the site of the former depot, and council approved the motion unanimously.
“Both Bay Bulls and the surrounding communities felt the loss when they closed up, so it’s good to see them back,” said Williams.
The depot closed its doors on May 31. Residents looking to cash in their recyclables had to bring them to Mount Pearl.
Petty Harbour Councillors given the all clear on microbrewery conflict claim
By Mark Squibb
Four Petty Harbour councillors accused of potentially being in a conflict of interest have been cleared to vote on what Mayor Ron Doyle has called perhaps one of the hardest decisions this council has had to make.
Over 100 residents signed a petition against a proposed microbrewery at 11 Cribbies Road, the site of the former Catholic Church in Petty Harbour, citing concerns about increased traffic and a lack of adequate parking, amongst other concerns.
Council hired JW Consulting to investigate as four members of council had been named as being possibly in conflict on the matter by a member of the public opposed to the application. Mayor Doyle, when speaking with the Irish Loop Post earlier this month, did not disclose the names of the councillors accused of potentially being in conflict.
The consultant did find that councillor Ed Dyke was in conflict when discussing and voting on issues related to Chafe’s Landing, Tinker’s Ice Cream Shop, and other properties owned by Todd and Angela Chafe, the proponents behind the brewery application, while his daughter worked at Tinker’s.
Any motions that Dyke voted on while his daughter was working at Tinker’s were then vacated and voted on again by council.
JW Consultants noted that there was no malicious intent or intent to deceive on Dyke's
part.
Council hopes to vote on whether to approve or reject the microbrewery application this November.
Alderwood Estates residents don the red and white
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
