Yearly Archives: 2018
Winners announced just in time for Christmas
The names of two lucky winners were picked from hundreds of tickets at a draw during the Dec 10 monthly meeting of the Stanley Bridge Memorial Society (SBMS). The meeting was held at the Kensington home of vice-president Helen MacEwen. St John’s NFLD resident Chris Pearsey won a beautiful painting of the Stanley Bridge wharf by acclaimed Margate artist Karen Slater. Stanley Bridge area resident Marilyn Simpson won a stunning mural sized photo of the Confederation Bridge, shot by North Granville photographer Clayton Smith, who is also the SBMS’s president. The Stanley Bridge Memorial Society would like to express its gratitude to everyone who bought a ticket for this important fundraiser.
Storm toppled trees in PEI National Park could pose fire risk in Cavendish
Is it possible massive numbers of fallen and uprooted trees in the PEI National Park, in Cavendish, could set the area ablaze during the summer season?
According to members of the Resort Municipality’s planning board the PEI National Park could face the same fate as much of California, which endured record-breaking wildfires in November.
Dislodged trees are everywhere following a fierce wind and snow storm recently that plunged much of the Island into darkness for days.
“They’re down everywhere, all the way out from Green Gables to Rainbow Valley,” said CAO Brenda MacDonald.
“It’s a complete mess…It’s terrible out there.”
Parks Canada’s representative on the planning board, Barbara MacDonald, said Parks Canada would investigate those concerns and take remedial action if it was necessary.
Brenda MacDonald said she had to called the Department of Transportation during the storm to remove trees that had fallen across and blocked Highway 6.
Once fallen trees dry out someone walking along on a hot day, flicking a cigarette butt into the woods, could start a devastating fire, said a board member.
Planning Board Chair George Clark-Dunning echoed President Donald Trump’s quote about how the Finns protect their forests from fires by “raking” the underbrush.
“It started a whole cavalcade of (humorous) tweets,” he said of Trump’s misstatement.
“We’ve had at least 15 complaints from property owners since last week saying what is Parks (Canada) doing about this mess, and businesses as well,” said Brenda MacDonald, adding Council would be addressing those concerns at the Dec 10 meeting.
“Spruce trees don’t send down a deep root system, they run across the ground. When it’s wet and windy they wobble. When they’re planted together as thickly as that they’re tall and spindly (and go down),” said board member Arnold Smith, adding it doesn’t take long for them to rot and dry out.
Even before the storm trees were dangling over the boardwalk, ready to fall over, said Brenda MacDonald.
Morrison cottage to be demolished on December 14
By Jim Brown
A mysterious building on Clark’s Lane in Cavendish that few Islanders ever get to see, but has been a favored haunt of visiting dignitaries and eight of the past 12 premiers, will be demolished on Dec 14.
Parks Canada officials made that decision some time ago, despite a letter from Resort Municipality Chair Matthew Jelley urging them to spare The Morrison Cottage.
According to Brenda MacDonald, the Resort Municipality’s CAO, Parks Canada staff have already been to the building several times removing items of importance and perhaps even the windows.
There has been significant interest by business and residential owners in the resort municipality in acquiring the building, including leasing it or moving it.
The three bedroom bungalow’s fate was brought up at the Resort Municipality’s planning board meeting on Dec 5. It will surface again at the monthly meeting of Resort Municipality Council on Monday, Dec 10.
The Morrison Cottage, built in the 1950s, is owned by Parks Canada but managed by the Province in a deal struck in the 1970s. The Province also handled bookings. Over the decades it’s served as an upscale bunk for visiting dignitaries as well as premiers.
According to a Charlottetown Guardian article in 2016: “Little has been done in the way of major upgrades to the property. It has a garage, hardwood wall interiors, a stone fireplace and chimney and typical cottage-style furniture.”
An internal Parks Canada report, prepared by KPMG, is investigating the feasibility of unloading “non-core” Parks Canada assets to earn hundreds of millions in revenues, perhaps more than a billion dollars.
The most wonderful time of the year for shopping
There were lots of beaming smiles on the faces of vendors and holiday shoppers alike on Saturday, Dec 1 at the Christmas craft fair held at the Stanley Bridge Hall (Sterling Women’s Institute). Many lucky shoppers came away with the perfect gift to slide under the tree or into a Christmas stocking.
Jim Brown photos
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Huddling together at the gas station
Nearly everyone on the Island lost their power on Thursday, Nov 29, with Stanley Bridge residents finally getting their lights back on at 6:20 pm. Shortly after 8 am, the Race Trak gas station at the Stanley Bridge roundabout was filled with customers and passersby. Many had lost their power earlier that morning, and then rejoiced when it came back on, only to be cruelly disappointed when everything went black again, this time for more than nine hours.
Bad weather forces North Rustico Remembrance Day ceremonies indoors
Fierce winds and plunging temperatures moved Remembrance Day ceremonies indoors in North Rustico.
Hundreds of people packed the North Rustico Lions Club for the ceremonies, marking the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that silenced the guns of World War 1. Attendees included District 18 MLA Brad Trivers and PEI’s Senator from Cavendish, Mike Duffy.
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An early start to Christmas shopping season
New London Community Complex Craft Fair held Nov 4
Story and photos by Jim Brown
Auxiliary power may have been needed to keep the lights on, but the annual New London Community Complex Christmas Craft Fair still went ahead on Sunday, Nov 4, drawing hordes of shoppers looking for that perfect item to slip into a stocking or under a tree.
By early morning close to 3,000 Maritime Electric customers were still without power after a fierce windstorm, with gusts as high as 100 km an hour, lashed PEI. No doubt a good number of them found their way to New London.
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