Volume 2 Issue 8 December 2015

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Merry Christmas and Best Wishes in 2016

Eastern Shore

Cooperator Easternshorecooperator.ca

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The Big Wedge in Porters Lake will be opening soon where Jessie’s pizza used to be

Musquodoboit Harbour is having a Christmas lights display contest

Youth of Porters Lake & area have raised over $2500 for Christmas Daddies at the local dances.

Mercer’s Best Built Structures has gone out of business

NS Liberal Government plans to privatize Nova Scotia’s regis-tries of land, motor vehicles and joint stocks.

Bridge on Hwy 107 by Exit 18 still not completed. Will it be before the snow plows start?

Major water leaks in roof at ES Arena

Surf’s Up

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Content Page

Editorial 3

Future of The Shore By Richard Bell

Editorial……….………..……………..............................................3

News……..………………........................................................4, & 5

The Birches Update.………….…...............................................6

Community……..……...................................................................7

Local Sports..….…………………………………..……...…...8 & 9

Community Life……....………………...…………......….10 & 11

Councillor’s December Communiqué…..................…....12

History……………….....……………………….…………...…........13

Art Scene…………..….…..………….…….…….……….…....…...14

December Events PIN IT Up …….......................................15

Since its first issue in July of 2014, the Cooperator has covered the controversy that began with MLA Kevin Murphy’s proposal to create what he called a “campus” in the Eastern Shore Industrial Park in East Chezzet-cook. Murphy called for replacing three major institu-tions—the high school, the ice rink and recreation cen-tre, and The Birches nursing home—with new versions of each institution located in a cluster.

Murphy’s proposal addressed one of the more com-mon complaints about the Eastern Shore, that people were not more actively engaged in improving the aging facilities that they relied upon for educating their chil-dren, providing recreational opportunities, and caring for the elderly. As you will see in this issue, Murphy has succeeded in jump-starting this conversation.

The first fallout from Murphy’s announcement hap-pened soon afterwards. The city’s planners had pro-posed downgrading Musquodoboit Harbour status as a Rural District Growth Centre in the city’s 2014 Regional Plan, a change that would have been a death knell for substantial funding for new facilities.

Instead of simply accepting this change, people organ-ized a successful grassroots campaign to retain the vil-lage’s status. Their arguments before Council, which other groups appearing on other issues before Council went out of their way to support, were so effective that Mayor Savage quipped that the next person who used the words “Musquodoboit Harbour” was going to be fined $2. Council responded to this grassroots presen-tation by voting to continue Musquodoboit Harbour’s status as a Rural District Growth Centre.

Murphy initiated the next step in the fall of 2014, call-ing together a meeting of people whom he selected because of their support of his “campus” proposal. Some of the participants at this gathering decided to set up their own group to lobby for the “campus” con-cept, which is now the legally chartered society, Com-munity Campus Vision Association. Both Murphy and CCVA long ago untethered their support of a “campus” from Murphy’s original industrial park location. This fall, the members of CCVA presented the results of their research on the “campus” proposal at a commu-nity meeting that we reported on in the November 2015 issue.

Murphy’s proposal also pre-sented the newly form Musquodoboit Harbour & Area Chamber of Commerce & Civic Association with a se-rious challenge: the loss of the high school, the rink, and The Birches would take the heart out of the village’s eco-nomic and social life. Since the summer of 2014, the members of MHACCCA have devoted themselves to ad-dressing this challenge.

In this issue, we are pleased to be able to bring together the different approaches of the CCVA and the MHACCCA to the future of the Eastern Shore. Jean McKenna, the head of the CCVA, has written a response to our coverage of CCVA’s public meeting in which she describes the CCVA’s definition of a “community.” Meanwhile, the MHACCCA has released its own position paper on the future, with a contrasting definition of “community”.

We look forward to hearing your reactions to these two documents. You can leave your comments on our Face-book page, or you can send us a (maximum 300 word) letter to the editor.

Easternshorecooperator.ca

News www.easternshorecooperator.ca 4

Silence Implies Consent By Musquodoboit Harbour Chamber of Commerce and Civic Affairs

We are responsible for providing fact based information and garnering more support for our community. While “shop local”, “buy local”, “hire local” are still obvious themes, they are not enough. 82,775 currently live in rural HRM—21% of the total HRM population. Another alarming statistic: 45% of all Nova Scotia's population lives in close proximity to towns and villages of 5,000 people or less. That's almost half.

Rural planning must encourage and assist our way of life. It must offer a true rural living experience to all potential newcomers to the area. Instead of losing our infrastruc-ture to potential plans to build west of us, we must en-hance and expand on our own core services.

We are rural Nova Scotians. We chose to live this way. That does not make us better or lesser than urban Nova Scotians, but it does make our needs different. Our greatest strength is our people, and we cannot do it without you.

“Musquodoboit’s strong natural and physical assets, as well as its amazing community spirit assure

the success of this project” - Ekistics

Article by the Board of the MHACCCA / December 2015

Contact us by email: mhchamberandcivic@gmail.com

www.musquodoboitharbourchamber.com

If we don't come together and try to fix our own prob-lems, other people's ideas of a solution will be imposed upon us. They will take advantage of the lack of direction on our part, and what results might not end up being the best solution for the majority of people.

If we do nothing, we have no right to be shocked or up-set when it happens.

So, based on the success achieved by a similar rural com-munity (Sheet Harbour), we have taken solid steps for-ward. On January 20 2016, we invite you to learn about the future of Musquodoboit Harbour and to be a con-crete contributor to that future.

We have requested funding from all three levels of gov-ernment to help us fund an “Ekistics Master Conceptual Plan” (http://www.ekistics.net/). Based on our members' ideas, Ekistics will put together a full, well planned, well conceived plan for our community, turning our “visions” to projects which are “shovel-ready”. Since these plans will be complete with costing, we will be in a position to move to the front of the governmental funding line. Rob LeBlanc from Ekistics will be at our meeting on January 20 to answer all your questions.

So far, our Municipal Councillor, David Hendsbee, has committed to contributing $10,000 to this plan. We await commitment from our Provincial and Federal rep-resentatives and are optimistic they will see the benefit in supporting our rural way of life. In our first year of ex-istence, our Chamber has raised $4,800 solely from membership dues, donations, and good stewardship.

As memberships renew (January 2016) and increase, and we add in community fundraisers, the Chamber could feasibly be able to write a cheque for $10,000.

By speaking up for ourselves and taking responsibility through this plan, we no longer consent to being put on hold. Armed with the Ekistics plan, its details clearly stated in black and white, our government representa-tives will have what they need to make the prosperous future of our area a reality. We will create an atmos-phere worthy of increased economic investment, cultural diversity, and social well being. We will not be “passed over” anymore, because every question will have been answered.

The MHACCCA represents the voices of the people living between Ship Harbour to the Gaetz Brook line. That in-corporates a whole lot of voices. Everyone within those boundaries has suggestions for the betterment of our area, and it is up to the MHACCCA to capture those ideas.

Eastern Shore Cooperator

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Editors Note: The Musquodoboit Harbour & Area Cham-ber of Commerce & Civic Affairs has prepared this docu-ment laying out a call to come together to create a bet-ter future for the communities of the Eastern Shore. We are printing this document in its entirety as a public ser-vice. We on the Shore cannot afford to stay silent anymore. To build a future, we as communities must become the au-thors of our own destinies.

The Musquodoboit Harbour and Area Chamber of Com-merce and Civic Affairs is listening. We want to hear our community’s voice.

For years our “rural district growth centre” (which we prefer to call a “village”) has been sidelined, our immedi-ate concerns appeased as the various, ever-changing government bodies include us in the “next study”, the next “strategic plan”. As a result, we have quietly shiv-ered on the benches while the coach focused on the ma-jor players. The trouble is, the “coach” has basically for-gotten about us. The top players (urban) are shining stars demanding a great deal of their time, and that means the sideliners (rural) will have to wait. Except the clock is ticking, and we're running out of time.

It's time to grab a mitt and get in the game, folks. We need you on our team. Check out our website (http://www.musquodoboitharbourchamber.com), come to our January meeting, buy a membership, and help us hit a home run for the Shore.

Musquodoboit Harbour has joined the growing list of “declining rural communities”, overwhelmed by urban planning strategies, tax increases, and urban-centric By-Laws. Who should be the most concerned? Communities east of the Harbour: West Jeddore, Head Jeddore, East Jeddore, Oyster Pond, Ostrea Lake, Clam Harbour, Lake Charlotte, Ship Harbour, Debaie's Cove, and everyone in between. Those living to the west need not be overly anxious, since their proximity to the city guarantees their growth. But if you live farther east of the economic cen-tres of commerce like Musquodoboit Harbour and Sheet Harbour, the decline means life could get a whole lot more difficult for you and your family. If the gas station, grocery store, hardware store, or lunch spot you use on a regular basis ever closes down, life just got complicated. You might even decide it's just too expensive and time-consuming to live in this area anymore. Every time that happens, our team loses a player.

We are not alone in this dilemma. Rural communities exist all across Canada, and many are in decline due to the urban-centric political focus. What happens if these towns and villages cease to exist?

Municipal Councillor, David Hendsbee,

has committed to contributing $10,000

News 5

Response to the Cooperator By Jean McKenna This is in response to Richard Bell's recent comments in the Cooperator:

Richard Bell wears two hats, in his Eastern Shore Coop-erator November edition. Under “news”, wearing his journalist hat, he opines about the future of the Birches, with a collateral kick at the Community Campus concept, and then under “Opinions”, he takes another (paternalistic) swipe at the campus concept, suggesting that those supporting the campus are well meaning, but misguided souls. .

Mr. Bell argues that to issue an RFP for construction of a new Birches will put the operators of the Birches in a “bidding war” against “deep pocketed national for-profit nursing home corporations”. This comment reflects a misunderstanding by Mr. Bell of the system of senior care by the Department of Health in Nova Scotia. The defacto “operators” of the Birches is the Department of Health, through a hard working volunteer board of direc-tors. Mr. Bell's choice of words seems intended to strike fear in the hearts of his readers – “deep pockets, na-tional, for profit, corporation”; everything in that little package but great white sharks. But Mr. Bell does not deny the need for the new Birches. Nor does he deny, and in fact strongly supports, the need for a new school.

Mr. Bell's thoughts emerge from his pursuit of the issue from the outset, (a community meeting of Musquodo-boit area residents in the late summer of 2014), and most recently, his attendance at a public meeting, or-ganized by the Community Campus Vision Association, on October 28, 2015. CCVA have spent a year examining all aspects of a campus, which would include a senior's facility, recreation facility (to possibly include 2 ice pads, exercise space, and even, dare we hope, an swimming pool), a school to replace Eastern Shore District High and Gaetz Brook Junior High, including a decent auditorium, and an Acadian school, to provide continuation of french language education to the present Ecole Beau Marais, now at best only able to provide such education to grade six.

There can be no doubt that there is a real need for all of these facilities, and the various bodies responsible for them, will provide them. Even Mr. Bell acknowledges the need for a new high school, and a second ice pad, and he correctly notes that a replacement for the Birches is on the way. What he questions is the need for such facilities to be co-located. He asserts that the 'campus concept' is having a negative impact “,,,on the lives of the people of the Eastern Shore”. He describes “...strong opposition on display at the October 28 meeting”.

The School Board and the Province have just authorized the expenditure of $20,000,000 for a new high school in Eastern Passage, despite the fact that it will pull approxi-mately 50% of the students out Cole Harbour High School, an excellent facility. That same has NOT put ESDH on their wish list, despite the fact that the water supply must be trucked in, the shared septic is a source of pollution in Petpeswick inlet, and asbestos has just been discovered, used as pipe wrap in the lines supply-ing heat to the facility.

You can be sure of one thing, if you listen to those op-posed, there will be no new school, and you will have to put up with the old, inadequate, asbestos riddled ESDH, there will be no new fitness facility in Musquodoboit Harbour, or anywhere else, there will be a seniors home isolated from the communities, and Musquodoboit Har-bour and east will be unattractive destinations for new young families and business, because of the absence of such amenities in the community. Everyone from Lake Echo to Ship Harbour will lose out.

Mr. Bell says we should abandon the campus vision, claiming there can never be support from Musquodoboit Harbour and east. Mr. Bell is not listening; the CCVA in fact has active, engaged, members from Musquodoboit Harbour, and east, and west. Our small group meetings were inclusive of all areas, and in all areas, found abun-dant support.

The glaring difference between the thinking of those opposing the campus, and the CCVA is the idea of what constitutes a community. For the small, well meaning group of individuals opposing the campus, a 'community' seems to be Musquodoboit Harbour and its surrounds, but only as far as Gaetz Brook. (And incidentally, the SAC of Gaetz Brook Junior high fully supports the campus).

Continue Reading on Page 6

I am not sure that Mr. Bell and I were at the same meet-ing.

The meeting took place after the members of the CCVA spent a year of research, and discussions with numerous local organizations, such as school advisory committees, community associations, sports organizations, etc. There was, and is, in fact, strong support for the concept, and the need. The purpose of the large community meeting was to provide information, clear away misconceptions and rumors, and to provide a forum for people to ask questions. The audience for the most part was courte-ous, their questions well thought out, and responses were easily provided, by members of the committee, other members of the community, our MLA Kevin Mur-phy, and HRM Councilor David Hendsbee. Misconcep-tions and rumors, such as “a site has been selected”, and the CCVA was a “secret committee” supposedly formed by Mr. Murphy, were easily dispelled. There was abso-lutely no “strong opposition”; the only negatives were expressed by a small group of individuals (opposed since day 1), who continue to fight the concept unless the campus is located in Musquodoboit Harbour. The newly formed Musquodoboit Harbour Chamber of Commerce and Civic Affairs endorsed the concept, both before and at the meeting, but again, couching their support in a Musquodoboit Harbour location. Apparently they have revisited their position, in that they now say they don't support a “campus vision”, but a “community vision”.

Mr. Bell argues difficulty in assembling the large amount of capital – but make no mistake, there are and will con-tinue to be capital expenditures made for seniors facili-ties, recreation facilities , schools, etc. throughout this municipality and elsewhere in the province. Currently some $4,000,000 is slated for 2 all weather soccer fields to be built on the site of what was once Gordon Bell School (built, incidentally, long after ESDH, and since torn down). Ground was just turned by Minister Karen Casey for a new P-12 school in Tatamagouche, and she commented “I commend the residents of Tatamagouche for recognizing that combining the students into one new modern facility was good programming for the stu-dents, and it was also a better option than putting mil-lions of dollars into old buildings”.

CCVA have spent a year examining

all aspects of a campus

Eastern Shore District High School built in 1965

Eastern Shore Community Centre and Arena man-

aged by the Eastern Shore Recreation Commission

opened in 1973. Easternshorecooperator.ca

Continued . . . 6

with those students and the rest of the “community”.

Envision the old ESDH building converted to some 20-30 apartment units, meeting some of the housing crisis for so many in our community. (And there is significant funding available for any developer who takes on such a project).

That is my vision, and I believe, is the vision of the CCVA.

One of the last comments at the October 28 meeting said it all. “I will not say where I am from; that doesn't matter. This campus is good for all of us.”.

Jean McKenna is a member of the Community Campus Vision Association

then up the river. But don't stop there; visit the railway museum, and head east, to the Fisherman's Life Mu-seum in Jeddore, and then on to Lake Charlotte, where you can drop in a canoe or kayak and explore that beau-tiful Lake. Then roll on to Memory Lane and Clam Har-bour Beach. Continue the loop up through Lower Ship Harbour, back up to the number 7. This is our commu-nity; the community of everyone from newborns to cen-tenarians, who deserve and will benefit from a campus facility. Envision, if you will, students crossing a campus to do volunteer service or complete a social studies project, with the community’s elders in a senior's facility; those elders sharing their wisdom and memories, passing on the culture of our unique region. Envision those same seniors, perhaps no longer driving, but certainly ambula-tory, strolling or in a wheelchair across a campus path-way to attend a game or performance at the school, us-ing the fitness facility, and stopping in a cafe, shared

Response... Continued from page 5 When Mr. Bell returns to Nova Scotia next summer, I would ask him, and the rest of the naysayers, to explore a different view of what is ' community'. Start with a drive to the top of Harbour Ridge Golf; look east, west, north and south and see a portion of the community, including beautiful Martinique Beach; that is part of our community. Then drive 20 minutes west, to the top of range road in Grand Desert; gaze all the way past Mar-tinique and Bayer's Islands to Jeddore Rock and Pleasant Point. That is our community. Watch the surfers on Law-rencetown Beach. Stop at the Acadian Museum, boat or paddle up Porter's Lake, tie up for a swim in the clear water at Devil's Bed, talk to the fishermen at the govern-ment wharf in East Chezzetcook; hop on a bike and ride along the old rail line, soon to provide a complete, safe, route all the way back to Musquodoboit Harbour, and

The Birches Update

Since 1979, The Birches Nursing Home has been an important part of this community. As a not-for-profit, community governed organization; we are dedicated to provid-ing compassionate and caring support to people as they age. The Birches has been privileged over the years to have the sup-port of the community, both financially through your generous donations and through your participation in the daily lives of our residents.

It’s no secret that the years have taken a toll on our facility. While ongoing repairs and upgrades have been made through the years, The Birches’ layout and design do not meet current standards for long term care facilities. In the Fall of this year, The Birches was included in a list of six nursing homes designated for replacement.

The responsibility for the overseeing a re-placement facility falls to the facility’s Board of Directors. The Birches is fortunate to have a strong, volunteer Board of Direc-tors chosen from and elected by the com-munity. This is a significant undertaking for any Board, but one the current Board is ready to take on. As we move forward, we are committed to engaging with the com-munity and maintaining regular communi-cation. This is our first report to the com-munity.

In June 2015, Health Minister Leo Glavine accepted our invitation to see first-hand the need for a replacement facility. During his visit, the Minister stated that the Gov-ernment would be issuing an open Request for Proposals (RFP). The anticipated date for release of an RFP was September 2015. To date, no RFP has been issued. As we move forward, The Board is committed to ensuring The Birches continues to operate as a not-for-profit, community governed organization.

We hope and anticipate that the Govern-ment will hold discussions with The Birches in the near future and that they will work with the current Board to facilitate the process to replace our facility.

The Board will continue to actively advo-cate for you and work on your behalf to ensure the process is responsive to the needs of our community and those of our residents. In the new year, we will formally host a public meeting to further inform the community and to hear your input.

Thank you.

Board of Directors

The Birches Nursing Home

7702 Highway #7

Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia B0J 2L0

Community 7

A Winter Weather Forecast

By Wyn Jones

Some years back I suffered an accident that, though un-fortunate at the time, left me with a very special talent. A careless moment in front of the kitchen stove brought a pan of boiling pasta across my tummy at the belt line.

Needless to say, I have never felt the same about spa-ghetti again. Excruciatingly painful though it was initially, I eventually recovered, despite a scar right across my middle.

It took some time, however, for me to realise that the scar, as it faded, had somehow developed a remarkable ability to forecast the weather. I’m not talking here about giving a rough guess as to whether it is going to rain tomorrow morning. I’m talking about serious, long-term accuracy, even months away.

My forecasting all has to do with the quality and strength of the “Itch”. A slight tingle on the right side of my scar gives a short term forecast of atmospheric mois-ture, fog, rain or snow. An “itch” in the middle can indi-cate the pressure and the coming wind velocity. And over and around the left side is really bad weather.

So let me share my detailed forecast. This winter will be considerably milder than last year’s awfulnessl. Decem-ber will be rather wet, especially around the middle of month. The 18th and 19th will be a little dodgy, with the possibility of some freezing rain. But for the most part, Christmas will be a green one, with some flurries of snow on Boxing Day. There will be a light snowfall on the 28th turning to rain on the 29th. It will then suddenly be-come very cold for the New Year.

January will see a snowfall of up to 15cm on the 8th and more again on the 12th, but melting will occur on the 13th, and for a week the sun will shine even though it will remain cold. There will then be a change on the 21st, be-coming a little warmer, bringing rain, freezing rain, and wet snow with heavy snow in the highlands and lots of rain along the Eastern Shoreline.

On February 7th we will get a heavy snowfall with high winds, as much as 40cm. But unlike last year, this snow-storm will be followed by a couple of days of warmer weather. There will be more rain for three days, making things difficult in low-lying areas. More snow on St. Val-entine’s Day. More snow towards the end of the month, especially on the 25th, but not enough to cause too many problems.

I’ve discovered that my scar only predicts the weather where my body will be on a given date in the future. Since I’m going to be on holiday near the Equator for the whole of March, the forecast of brilliant sunshine and temps in the low 30s is obviously not accurate for the Eastern Shore. (But my holiday will be lovely!)

I’ll be back in Nova Scotia in April. My scar tells me there will be an exceptionally early spring, with rising temps and a lot of fog throughout the whole month.

So that’s it. You heard it here first. I have shared my predic-tions with you because all these weather forecasters are bound to get it wrong. They rely en-tirely on scientific data, which we all know to be somewhat iffy—compared to my trusty scar.

And besides, after last winter, we all really need a break… don’t we!!

Submissions

Deadline is

December 28 escsubmissions@eastlink.ca

Time to book your Annual Servicing now

that the cold weather is here again!

$116.99 includes nozzle and oil filter.

Local Sports www.easternshorecooperator.ca 8

Eastern Shore High School Sports Scene

Boys Basketball Schedule

Home games played at ESDH Gym

December 11 at 6pm: Cole Harbour @ Eastern Shore

December 15 at 8pm: Eastern Shore @ Grammer

December 17 at 6pm: Eastern Shore @ Cole Harbour

January 8 at 6:30pm: Eastern Shore @ Fountain

January 11 at 7pm: Lockview @ Eastern Shore

January 18 at 5:30pm: Armbrae @ Eastern Shore

January 19 at 5:30pm: Eastern Shore @ Sackville High

Playoffs Start February 1

Girls Basketball Schedule

Home Games Played at ESDH Gym

January 6 at 6pm: Armbrae @ Eastern Shore

January 14 at 6pm: Eastern Shore @ Sacred Heart

January 22 at 6pm: Halifax Grammar @ Eastern Shore

February 1 at 6pm: Sacred Heart @ Eastern Shore

February 3 at 4:30pm: Eastern Shore @ Dartmouth High

Playoffs Start February 8

Boys Hockey Schedule

Home Games on Wednesday 7pm at ES Arena

December 9 at 7pm: Halifax West @ Eastern Shore

December 11-13 Tournament in Yarmouth

December 16 at 7pm: Sir John A MacDonald @ Eastern Shore

December 19 at 7pm: Sledge Hockey Halifax Ginders @ Eastern Shore

December 21 at 5pm: Alumni Game

January 5 at 6:30pm: Eastern Shore @ Auburn

January 6 at 7pm: CPA @ Eastern Shore

January 13 at 7pm: JL Isley @ Eastern Shore

January 14 at 7pm: Eastern Shore @ Millwood

January 20 at 7pm: Lockview @ Eastern Shore

February 4 at 5:30pm: Eastern Shore @ Cole Harbour

Playoffs Start in February

ESDH has a strong sports scene. We’ve listed the schedules below in case you

would like to catch the action.

Eastern Shore Bantam Finally Wins GOLD

at SEDMA Tournament

Well, they finally succeeded. These 11 players have been together since Atom and have al-ways wanted that token SEDMHA banner and Sunday they were able to finally take the championship lap around the ice letting the banner fly over head as they skated around.

For these girls it was a great achievement as they had to overcome some adversity in their 4th game. After going 3 and 0 throughout the tournament, they came up against a formidable opponent – Cole Harbor Wings – who proceeded to hand them a sound defeat. Any other team may have succumbed to the pressure of having to come through the backside of the draw in order to win gold. But, the Eastern Shore Bantam Mariners were more than up for the challenge.

After a good night’s rest, our girls came out on fire soundly defeating the Halifax Hawks 7 – 2 moving them in to the final game in the afternoon, a rematch against Cole Harbor Wings. The first 5 minutes of the game it looked as though CH was going to take it as they kept the pres-sure on and scored the first goal, catching our girls sitting back on their heels. But slowly, the momentum shift began; ES scored about halfway through the period and then went ahead on a late tally just 40 seconds before the period end. From then on it seemed as though CH had lost the desire to win and our girls kept the pressure on the rest of the way. When it was all said and done, our Eastern Shore Female Mariners won convincingly with the final score being 5 – 1.

It is too difficult to single any one player out. All 11 girls played exceptionally well and have earned the right to call themselves 2015 SEDMHA Bantam Champs!

Well done Girls!! Well done to the coaching staff, volunteers and parents too!

Photos By Jill Bellefontaine

On The Ice

- Novice Advanced team pictured in the 3 photos along the top

- Atom B team picture to the left

- Novice Intermediate Goalie is always practicing whether at the rink or in the back yard (bottom left)

- Novice Ice Breakers (below) waiting to play their game of the season.

Local Sports 9

A passion for growing the game

By Jacqueline Sanford PLSA president, Gina Dunn, was recognized and awarded for her long-

standing contributions to the sport at the first annual Soccer NS Night of

Excellence, held recently at MSVU. At a gala evening event, Dunn received

the Volunteer of the Year Award, for the Harbour East District. Also recog-

nized during the evening were exceptional coaches, players, teams and offi-

cials.

The Porter’s Lake Club has held official status for the past 10 years, growing

to include over 350 players last year. This success, in large part, is a direct

result of Dunn’s involvement. She has filled virtually every role within the

club, from coach and team manager, to program coordinator to equipment

manager to club president. This has provided her with extraordinary experi-

ence and in-depth knowledge of all aspects of leading a quality sports pro-

gram, as well as the ability to recruit and teach new volunteers how to get

the job done. One board member commented that Gina is “the most re-

sourceful person I know when it comes to sourcing revenue streams, equip-

ment sponsors, donations or other resources” and has been “instrumental

in ensuring not just the continuation, but the steady growth and success of

this club.”

Dunn says she just loves to see the kids developing their soccer skills and

their love of the game. You will still see her on the sidelines, cheering on

one of our teams even when her own boys aren’t on the pitch. Committed

to community based soccer on the Eastern Shore, she has plans to advocate

for a new field for the area for the 2016 playing season.

Members of the Porters Lake Soccer Executive at the Soccer Nova

Scotia awards ceremony.

Tim Mattatall (left) Gina Dunn (centre) and Jacqueline Sanford (right)

Community Life www.easternshorecooperator.ca

Don’t Replace Street Lights: Turn Them Off! By Colin Cameron

If a house were in darkness, a criminal would need to carry a flashlight. Streetlights provide enough light to operate inside a house without turning on lights or using a flashlight. In rural areas, streetlights light up the house, yard, sheds and vehicles etc. for better viewing, whether you want it or not. Motion sensors on yard lights are much more effective in that they startle would be crimi-nals.

Nor do streetlights make driving at night in rural areas safer.

It takes the human eye 9 seconds to completely adjust to radically different light levels. If you are driving in a rural area with streetlights on every second pole it means that your pupil adjusts to the light, does not have time to adjust to the darkness in between lights.

Add a black thick o’ fog, rain or snow and each street-light creates a ‘wall’ of light, beyond which you can see nothing. It is the same as a theatre lighting trick using sharkstooth scrim cloth. If you shine lights on the audi-ence side of the cloth, creating a ‘wall of light,’ you can’t see activity behind it. Light reflecting off water/ice parti-cles has the same effect.

In rural areas, streetlights turn blind corners and hills into 24/7 blind corners and hills. Once upon a time, blind corners and hills were ‘blind’ only in daylight hours be-cause at night one could see an approaching vehicle’s headlights reflecting off hydro wires and trees. Now, with streetlights being installed on blind hills and cor-ners, the light from the streetlights cancels out the ap-proaching lights of an oncoming vehicle. And streetlights also reduce the effectiveness of reflective signage and road markings.

Streetlights also contribute to the negative health ef-fects of nighttime lighting. Doctors at the 2012 annual meeting of the American Medical Association adopted a report on nighttime lighting that focused on light-induced disruptions of the body’s circadian biological rhythms. The study found that such disruptions have “potential carcinogenic effects related to melatonin sup-pression, especially breast cancer. Other diseases that may be exacerbated by circadian disruption include obe-sity, diabetes, depression and mood disorders, and re-productive problems.”

Given all these problems with rural lighting, I urge our municipal officials to stop squandering our tax dollars on lights that serve no purpose and have no benefit other than guaranteeing the 9.5% return on NSP’s shareholder annual dividends.

I learned from Councilor Hendsbee’s latest monthly communiqué that HRM is replacing our existing orange sodium streetlights with brighter blue LED lights. Accord-ing to HRM, this change of some 44,000 streetlights will result in “improved visibility and safety for all users.”

LED lights are cheaper to operate. But the city is missing a golden opportunity here to save even more money by just turning off some streetlights for good, especially in rural areas.

But wouldn’t that make our streets more dangerous, and encourage more crime? People are being lured into a false sense of security when they believe that street-lights will somehow make them and their property safe from criminal activity. Numerous studies demonstrate that lighting has little or no effect on rates for some crimes, and can actually increase certain crimes like car theft, vandalism and burglary.

In a survey of incarcerated felons for crimes of vandal-ism, car theft and robbery, over 98% made no reference to lighting as a factor in what time of day or night they committed their crimes until prompted. Then the study revealed that they preferred to ‘work’ in lit areas with only 2% preferring darkness.

10

Editor’s Note: For more information about the impact of light pollution, see:

The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, http://rasc.ca/lpa-resources

International Dark Sky Association, http://darksky.org/light-pollution

Globe at Night, http://www.globeatnight.org/downloads

British Astronomical Association on human health prob-lems, http://www.britastro.org/dark-skies/health.html?7O

Zoning Process For Dump on Hwy 7 Grinds to a Halt By Richard Bell

The rezoning process for the C&D-2 process-ing facility proposed for Hwy 7 has ground to a halt. Deb Day, the Chair of The Coalition for Safe and Healthy Communities for Preston, Mineville, Lake Echo & Porters Lake, recently posted the following update on the group’s Facebook page:

“HRM is still waiting for information from Kiann Management before taking their next step in the rezoning process. We are still waiting on word when the Public Informa-tion Meeting is going to occur and will inform the residents on this page, on our website, by email and via Twitter. HRM will also inform residents using their traditional methods. We don't know when the meeting will be. The Coalition will be having another Community Conversation meeting in Mineville in January and we will let you know when the date is once it is confirmed.”

Community Life 11

“Paddle to the Sea” on the Eastern Shore

By Richard Bell

With the addition of Nova Scotia Nature Trust’s latest land purchase on the Tangier River, the Eastern Shore is only a few steps away from being a “paddle to the sea” outdoor colossus surpassing even the offerings of the South Shore’s Kejimkujik National Park.

“We’ve got three wilderness areas—White Lake, Ship Harbour Long Lake, and Tangier Grand Lake—which are all in the process of being connected by wilderness corridors,” said Barbara Markovitz, co-chair of Eastern Shore Forest Watch Asso-ciation. “If you take them together, they’re as large as Kejimkujik, with three times the number of lakes and rivers. And you can put a canoe in the water in the inte-rior and paddle to the ocean.”

The new Nature Trust land lies along the west side of Eel Brook, Tangier River, and Tangier Lake. The 140-acre property includes over a kilometer of shoreline on the Tangier River and 2 kilometers on Tangier Lake.

In announcing the acquisition, Nature Trust Execu-tive Director Bonnie Sutherland emphasized its stra-tegic importance: “Our new Tangier River Conserva-tion Lands protect a bit of everything, from lakes, rivers and wetlands to ocean shore. Most exciting though, the property is a natural corridor linking a vast 40,000 acre inland freshwater wilderness to the 100 Wild Islands. It creates connectivity that is sig-nificant for nature and for people too.”

The 100 Wild Islands coastal wilderness was already promising to be a great tourist attraction. The 7,000 acre archipelago is a paradise for boaters of all sorts, stretching for 30 km along the coast from Clam Har-bour and Mushaboom Harbour. There are some 282 islands altogether, of which 127 are over an acre in size.

The Nature Trust has driven the creation of this unique ocean resource, bringing more than 70% of the once privately owned 100 Wild Islands into con-servation. And under the program to protect Crown land, the province has kicked in by protecting an additional 4,000 acres of Crown-owned islands.

The three Eastern Shore wil-derness areas are not easily accessible from Route 7. The Tangier River Conservation Lands will in time make it eas-ier for hikers and paddlers to enter the eastern end of the Tangier Grand Lake wilderness.

For more info: Nova Scotia Na-ture Trust: http://www.nsnt.ca

100 Wild Islands: http://www.100wildislands.ca

Merry Christmas and Happy and Healthy New Year from the Eastern Shore Cooperator

TANGIER QUILTER, EILEEN BRADLEY HAS 70 YEARS OF PRACTICE

By Maelissa Watson

History 13

It is that time of year, Quilting Time on the Eastern Shore. Eileen Bradley, a talented, dedicated, and experi-enced quilter graciously agreed to share her life story. Growing up as a child in Tangier, she watched her Mother, Edna Hawes Cooper nee Mason sew. Her Mother took patterns from Eaton’s and Simpson’s cata-logs drew the design on paper; measured the child that needed a dress, skirt, trousers, or a coat and pronto per-fect fashion. Eileen has fond memories of the numerous beautiful coats and dresses her Mother made for her. Clippings of all the materials left over were carefully stored in a basket for quilts or hooked rugs,

Her childhood family home had quilts on every bed, but Eileen did not continue that practice. All the quilts that she has made have been given as gifts or donated to Charity. Eileen has made a hundred or more quilts in her lifetime, “I never kept track of them.” Eileen watched her Mother make all the traditional patterns, Dutch Girls, Mariner’s Compass, Log Cabin, Rose of Sharon, Bears Paw, Wandering Foot, and the Double Wedding Ring. The latter is popular today because of the symbol-ism of the interlocking wedding rings; since it fosters romance and marriage, joining two souls on their jour-ney through life.

Eileen creates her own design based on the fabric and colors she has chosen. Her pieces can be geometric, cir-cular, or trapezoidal. The sunflower is her favorite tradi-tional pattern. Eileen has pleasant, happy memories of Eastern Shore social and fundraising quilting. In her early days quilts were auctioned off for the Schools. Eileen, Theresa Cooper, and Winnie Hawes formed “Quilting Bees” at Sheet Harbour Nursing Home, and with the help of seniors there, diligently quilted numerous creations; with needed proceeds going towards the Nursing Home.

I asked Eileen a few questions about “Eastern Shore Su-perstitions”: “Every quilter makes one small mistake to avoid bad luck”? “If a woman had not made a quilt by her 21st Birthday she would never marry?” ”If a quilter breaks a needle while quilting, it was bad luck?” she laughed her hearty laugh, her response was “never heard them”. In that Philosophical vein we addressed another question about weather, climate and quilting. “Nova Scotia has a reputation for dark, dreary, cold win-ter days, hence most Eastern Shore quilts have a white background to banish grey days”? Eileen said “I always use a white background because I like bright, cheerful colours not for environmental or psychological reasons”.

Eileen has created a pictorial art legacy for her Children, Grandchildren, and Great Grandchildren. “I think I have made a quilt for each one, but there are so many Great Grandchildren, I am not sure.” She has one surviving quilt left for a Granddaughter when she gets married.

“I never have kept a quilt for myself” she said. The writer’s Granddaughter has been honored by Tangier Resident Anne Thomas, since her Grand-mother does not have the

ability to create a quilt. Anne Thomas’s English born Mother Alice Walker, had indescribable artistic talent and left Anne many treasures. Anne gifted an heirloom quilt, brilliantly designed, hand sewn, to my Grand-daughter Avocet Mac-Dougal on her first visit as an infant to Pleasant Har-bour. The Eastern Shore is

fortunate that Eileen’s, Alice’s and other neighbourhood quilter’s artistic legacies, will live on cherished by the beneficiaries in perpetuity.

Nominate Your Favorite Volunteer

If you know people who’re doing out-standing volunteer work, now’s your chance to give them the recognition they deserve. HRM, the Mayor, and Regional Council are accepting nominations for individuals and groups whose volunteer efforts are making life better for the citizens of Halifax. The deadline for 2016 Volunteer Award nomina-tions is December 11, 2015. Not everyone will win an award, but all nominees get a letter thanking them for their service.

You can find the nomination form at this webpage: http://www.halifax.ca/volunteerservices/awards/index.php

Any questions please call 902-490-1573

Young Eileen with her

mother outside the

General Store in 1922.

Spinning My Way On “The Rock” By Leslie Hauck

Arts Scene 14

I was so excited to be chosen as an instructor for a “The Year of Craft” Fibre Arts Conference organized by the Newfoundland and Labrador Craft Council. There were fourteen crafters covering the fibre arts of quilting, net making, felting (both high fashion and nature-inspired sculpture) embroidery, dying and printing, tapestry weaving, paper making, sculptural knitting, and me, hand spinning yarn –from Canada, the U.S., England, and India.

I applied to teach not only because it would be a great and fun experience, but because I would be paid handsomely if I taught all three days—and with all expenses paid! The work-shop and accommodation venues were strung out in various buildings spread over three contiguous communities that lay on Bonne Bay, a large and complex configuration. My work-shop was in the Visitor's Centre for Gros Morne National Park, where someone spotted a moose strolling by outside our big windows at the edge of the forest.

We were fed each day by the local ladies' auxiliaries of fire and church: moose meat in the soup, “bottled moose” spread in sandwiches, a divine moose stew that hinted of good red wine and sour cream, and my favourite: Newfound-land Flakey—made from layers of saltine crackers, Dream Whip (my friends in Nova Scotia know me as very anti-Dream Whip!), and custard made from a box.

My students were enthusiastic, wonderful, and fun. All the attendees, being fibre fanatics, were kindred spirits. We were witnesses to the meeting of mountain and ocean scen-ery, sunrise colour on western flank, the green of spruce gen-erously flecked with the yellow of fall birch all the way up to the top of the mountains, all except Gros Morne, which is solid rock, alternately displaying grey or purple, and whose name, I was told, means “Big Gloomy” There was snow on top by the last day.

I spent two days after the conference in and around Trout River walking two trails in hail and sleet, with a landscape that was redolent of the Wild West. My B&B host intro-duced me to a ninety-one-year-old spinner who was born in an outport on the Western peninsula, and I pumped Edna for tales of her life for two hours. Since another couple and I were there hiking “off season,” B&B owners Doris and Tom Sheppard made sure we were nourished with full hot meals for supper. Then we were easily drawn into card games each night. My idea of perfection!

With the drop in temperature and white stuff on the undu-lating roads, it was an easy decision to head home to West Jeddore. Gros Morne, I'll back!

Leslie Hauck, owner of The Spinner’s Loft (www.thespinnersloft.ca) in West Jeddore, has been spinning anything spinnable for 35 years.

A newly formed Eastern Shore refugee support group has raised $14,000 in just 6 weeks, putting it on schedule to welcome a refugee family as early as January, 2016.

In our November issue, we reported that Musquodo-boit Harbour residents Adrian Blanchette and his wife Elisabeth Schwarzer were leading an effort to bring local churches and communities together to sponsor a refugee family.

At a public information meeting on November 8, more than 40 people showed up. “It was a very, very posi-tive response,” said Blanchette. “There were no ques-tions at all coming from fear. We gave out lots of pledge cards, and 16 people signed up as volunteers.”

Support is also building among other local churches. “After the November 8 meeting, the local United Church of Canada asked to join us,” Blanchette said. “So we’ve renamed the group: the Musquodoboit Harbour St. Philip Neri Church—United Church of Can-ada Refugee Sponsorship Committee”

Blanchette said he was pleasantly surprised by how fast things were moving. “We’ve already almost half of the $29,700 you need to bring in a family of four. Our fundraising is going so well that we’ve just put in our application for a family of 4 or 5. We thought we

wouldn’t be ready until April, but we may have people here by early January.”

In addition to raising money, the support group has also got team coordinators to make sure that the fam-ily is welcomed and integrated into the community: accommodations and furniture, clothing, education, and health care.

While the ISIS attacks in Beirut and Paris have pro-duced backlashes against refugees in some parts of the world, Blanchette says that’s not what’s happen-ing in Nova Scotia. “The attacks have just made peo-ple here more resolute and wanting to do something. Those refugees are fleeing from real terror.”

In addition to accepting direct donations, the refugee support group is also running a special community fundraising effort in the parking lot at St. Philip Neri. “We’ve got a big Christmas tree,” Blanchette said. “For $2, you can buy a light for the tree. So over the next weeks, people driving by will see the tree filling up with light.”

For more information, or to make a pledge, please contact Adrian Blanchette by email at shorefuge@gmail.com or by phone at 902-889-3086.

Local Group Prepares to Welcome Refugee Family By Richard Bell

December Pin It Up’ 15

Musquodoboit Harbour Farmers Market Sundays 9am - 1pm

December 13 & 2 and January 10, 24 67 Park Road, Musquodoboit Harbour at the Bingo Hall.

www.mhfarmersmarket.ca. info@mhfarmersmarket.ca.

Join us for a handmade Christmas at your farmers’ mar-ket on the Eastern Shore!! Over 40 vendors- food,

crafts, art, Christmas arrangements and linens, jewelry, pottery, music, pet gifts, clothing, books, Christmas

basket draw, door prizes, and more! For more informa-tion:info@mhfarmersmarket.ca or call 902-220-9114.

See Ad on Page 14 for more details

NEW FOR Winter Market 2016

MH Farmer’s Winter Market will start up again

January 10.and occur every two weeks at our same

location at 67 Park Roadfrom 9 am-12 pm. Signup

for our newsletter for who is at the market

at www.mhfarmersmarket.ca or check out our

Facebook page (mhfarmersmarket). For more in-

formation: info@mhfarmersmarket.ca or call 902-

220-9114. Thank you for a great 2015 year!

Porters Lake Seniors Group Wednesday 1:30pm in the Porter's Lake Commu-nity Centre. Music, games, etc. Everyone wel-come! Contact: Ruth 902 827-2814.

Coastal Voices Men’s Choir Begins 2016 Season

Coastal Voices Men’s Choir will begin weekly re-

hearsals on January 7, 2016 (7-9pm.) Men inter-

ested in singing with this group are encouraged to

attend the first rehearsal at the

Harbour Lights New Horizon Club

167 Meaghers Grant Rd

Musquodoboit Harbour

While musical experience is an asset, it is not nec-

essary. Voice lessons/vocal coaching for men are

also available from Allan Banks for a small

fee. For more information about the group or to

indicate an interest in joining, please call Allan

Banks at 889-3179 or abanks@ns.sympatico.ca.

The membership fee will remain at $50 for the sea-

son and will help to cover the cost of our important

and talented professional staff. ALSO, be mindful

that we are continuing to look for new singers.

New Years Eve Celebrations

* NEW YEAR’S EVE* DANCE

@ Petpeswick Yacht Club

featuring " Ruckus" Band (formerly 10-2-Midnite)

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Door & Bar Open: 8 pm Dance: 9 pm - 1 am

Great Dance Music, Champagne & Midnight Snack, Party Favours!

$35 per person … Business Casual Please

Plan ahead … Call Now … Ring in 2016 @ PYC !

Tickets & Group Reservations: Paula @ 902 889 2435

MUSQUODOBOIT HARBOUR &

DISTRICT LIONS

Christmas Tree Lot opens Dec. 1 at the

Railroad Museum.

Trees – $27 Wreaths $15

Trees are locally grown and of good

quality.

You may also drop off used glasses

and hearing aids and supplies for the

Food Bank.

Hours of Operation: Weekdays: 2 – 5

PM, Weekends: 9 AM – 5 PM.

HELP US HELP THE COMMUNITY!!

FREE Community Listings Page Submit your event on our new web site under events Deadline December 28 for paper, anytime for online. Paper & Online - more info about the event online.

Updated List of community events on our web site www.easternshorecooperator.ca

Musical Friends Community Chorus presents

a concert of Christmas music and other musical

selections. The concert will also feature the

Halifax Regional School Board East Elemen-

tary Voices and Youth Voices. Join us for a

very special evening of music that will warm

your heart and put you in the spirit of the sea-

son.

Sat Dec 12, 7:00 p.m. at St. Philip Neri Roman

Catholic Church, Musquodoboit Harbor.

Free-will offering.

Merry Christmas and

Happy & Healthy 2016

from your friendly

neighbourhood

newspaper