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.
Bay Bulls council approves new businesses
By Mark Squibb
Members of Bay Bulls council last week welcomed three new businesses to town, but also acknowledged the closure of a fourth.
Council approved a new business at 151 Southside Road, a medical clinic at 588-610 Southern Shore Highway, and a new commercial development at 130 Winnonish Drive.
Council also removed Dovetail Contracting, located at 52-54 St. Johns Road, from the Town’s business tax roll effective January 1, 2025.
Council also approved, in principle, a new home to be built at 129A Northside Road.
A light for the darkness
By Mark Squibb
The Town of Bay Bulls will be requesting a new light pole after a resident raised a safety concern about a particularly dark section of town.
Council, during the January public meeting, approved a motion to ask Newfoundland Power to install a pole light along the hill as you leave Bay Bulls and head towards Maggoty Cove Pond along the Southern Shore Highway. The exact cost has not been identified.
Members of council shared the same safety concerns as the resident, noting how dark it is in that area.
In other news, council adopted a new by-law to be know as the Arrears By-law.
Town Manager Ashley Wakeham explained the new by-law is essentially the same as the Town’s former collection policy, but that the provincial government’s new Towns and Local Service District Act, which came into effect this year, requires towns to mandate certain by-laws, such as an arrears by-law.
Council also approved repairs to the Town Hall’s HVAC system at a cost of $8,478, plus HST, and agreed to donate $1,600 to Mobile Central High School for the annual senior and student outreach dinner. The neighbouring community of Witless Bay donated the same amount.
St. Mary's Bay 4-H Club celebrating 50th anniversary
By Mark Squibb
The Zodiac 4-H Club of St. Mary’s Bay is thriving — the club boasts a membership of 34 students, meaning that roughly half of Dunne Memorial Academy students are members.
Some $500 in funding courtesy of Farm Credit Canada (FCC), released just before Christmas, will be put towards a 50th anniversary celebration to be held this spring.
“It’s great to have that extra money,” said club coordinator Patti Corcoran. “It goes a long way to making things that you want to do with the club more feasible.”
In years past, the club has been able to buy sports equipment and other items through the funding.
Aside from the anniversary celebrations, the club will host provincial competitions later this year. Students of all ages will give speeches and perform demonstrations before a panel of judges. The competition will be followed by a large banquet.
The organization, which has been active in Canada for over 100 years, is rooted in agriculture and community outreach. Members of the Zodiac Club participate in a wide range of activities, from cooking to crafts to outdoor games.
The club also partners with local Branch 62 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Riverhead. The club uses the Legion building for meetings and in turn its members participate in the Poppy Drive and Remembrance Day parade.
Children can join at six years of age. Those interested in helping as a volunteer leader must have a vulnerable sector check, as with any youth organization.
The club currently boasts eight adult leaders.
Joint council wants better cellular service
By Mark Squibb
Members of the Southern Shore Joint Council have two major concerns on their minds that they want to see addressed — poor cell phone service and damage caused by coastal erosion.
Bay Bulls Deputy Mayor Jason O’Brien, who sits on the council along with representatives from other municipal councils and local service districts along the shore, told his fellow Bay Bulls council colleagues during the January 13 public meeting that the two topics were major subjects of discussion during a recent joint council meeting.
“We’re looking for an approach to get better cell coverage for the Southern Shore,” said O’Brien. “It goes blank in a lot of areas and is very poor in others.”
He said the committee was looking at reaching out to both Bell and the provincial government regarding the issue, and the problem appears to be a case of “more users on the same old equipment.”
The deputy mayor added that many communities along the shore have suffered coastal erosion, particularly following recent storms.
Mayor Keith O’Driscoll applauded the joint council’s action on both items — particularly in regard to the poor cell phone coverage.
“Cell coverage has diminished completely,” said the mayor. “Hopefully we can make some traction and get things changed.”
The issue of poor cell phone service is not limited to the Southern Shore— the town councils of Conception Bay South and Holyrood have also raised a fuss over poor cellular service in recent years.
Additional trail costs get the okay from council
Bay Bulls council last week ratified an email vote conducted by council earlier in the month to approve $17,560, HST included, worth of additional work for phase 2 of the Long Pond Walking Trail upgrade project.
Town Manager Ashley Wakeham explained the extra work was for additional quantities of material and the addition of extra culverts to prevent washouts.
The addition of a tow-along snow groomer will also keep the trail in good, useable condition, for either hiking or snowshoeing, throughout the winter months.
Phase 2 of the project consists of building 1.5 kms of walking trail at Long Pond, effectively closing the trail loop.
The project, valued at $484,292, was cost shared with the provincial government on a 60/40 split. The town successfully applied for gas tax funding to cover its portion of the project cost ($193,717.)
Bay Bulls approves new mental health clinic
By Mark Squibb
Bay Bulls council has approved the operation of a mental health clinic on Southside Road.
Deputy Mayor Jason O’Brien, during last week’s public meeting, moved that council approve the business application for a mental health counseling clinic for 151 Southside Road, adding the service will benefit the region as a whole.
Councillor Ethan Williams seconded the motion.
“God knows there are a lot of people that are struggling that may go unnoticed by the community, especially here in a small town,” said Williams. “A lot of people are fighting those battles (with mental health) so a big thank you to the applicant for taking the initiative to start this here in the community.”
Mayor Keith O’Driscoll concurred with his colleagues, and the application passed unanimously, excepting that councillors Corey Ronayne and Jason Sullivan were absent from the meeting.
