HIGHWAY 4 UPDATE - Survey crews have been seen  on the hills at both ends of the area.  Gordie MacNeil, project engineer for the eastern section advises that no decisions regarding construction have been made.  Mr. MacNeil said that his people are doing a survey and cost estimate for a three kilometer ‘realignment’ from the Loch Lomond Road to just beyond the eastern end of Glen  Albert Drive. Project engineer for the Middle Cape section was not available for comment at print time.

IS BIG POND ‘SEPARATING’? -  It didn’t take the CBC and the Cape Breton Post long to catch up with the Big Pond Council’s discussion of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM), Richmond County and the RCMP.  President Mel Currie was taken from his bed early Wednesday, January 26, to be interviewed by Ian MacNeil of local CBC and followed almost immediately by a call from the Post.  CBC was initially  under the impression that the January 19 meeting had been a ‘special’ meeting to consider the CBRM policing situation.  Of course it wasn’t but who would not be surprised that it would be raised the day after the decision was taken to terminate our policing by RCMP.  Concern with the CBRM generally and the policing decision specifically is not ‘just a Big Pond gripe’; it seems quite widespread in the rural areas.   “Relocation” (local governmentally that is)  to Richmond County is not a new subject either.  It was almost exactly a year ago, January 7, 1999 to be exact, that the Council meeting became quite energetic in a post agenda discussion of the CBRM and the “Richmond County option”.   High and increasing municipal taxes, minimal and declining services and a seeming inability to address, or disinterest in, “rural” on the part of  the CBRM were the discussion themes, if memory serves.  These themes are as inexorably relevant as erosion.  At that time, for example, consultation on the size of regional council was being conducted.  Meetings were being held in Sydney, Glace Bay and North Sydney.  The time of year with bad weather, poor roads and no rural venues pretty much told us how interested they were in rural.  A year later it is the police service.  The status quo, which one could safely bet was the will of every area served by the RCMP, was not even on the agenda.  So much for rural sensitivity.  What has happened to the initiative of that small band of  courageous councillors who dared to focus on rural last spring?

CBRM Council and administration seem preoccupied with their traditional inter urban competition exacerbated by current and future financial crises. Let’s be fair though, amalgamation was imposed on the  whole region; the province downloaded without appropriate resources, steel and coal are in final crises.  But, let’s also be realistic. Municipal taxes have increased substantially since amalgamation.  Our tax rate, that rate applied to the provincial assessment, is almost double that of Richmond County.  Can we say with confidence that the tax recognition of our rural status balances off the costs we bear to dig our wells, put in our septic systems as well as repair and maintain them?  Or does it reasonably compensate for the fact that we are not consumers of CBRM road or side walk construction, maintanance or snow clearing.  Summer residents pay twelve months taxes for four to six months service.  At least they can cancel the Post delivery, MT&T and  NSP.  How many of us were impacted by service loss during the thirteen week outside workers strike? 

Yes, our forty kids are CBRM bound each day.  We are told that some forty percent of our taxes go to education.  Their best interests are paramount.   Dispersed to six or more schools, from East Bay to Holy Angels, these kids probably spend more time on the buses than they do in the class room.  Not the best situation but certainly less onerous than a daily trip to St. Peter’s or Lousidale.

What are the options? Roll over and be quiet or speak out yet still roll over?  Humourously, we could consider creating the sovereign state of Big Pond and ‘force’ St. Andrew’s Channel,  Loch Lomond, and Middle Cape into a new “BPRM”.  More realistically we could compare our service status and costs with those of Richmond County keeping a quiet eye on their rural perspective as well as the regulatory hoops that might be part of  consideration of the “relocation option”.  That in fact is what Community Council decided.

1999 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT Last issue we spoke off the ( then) upcoming 1999 Big Pond- Eskasoni Christmas Bird Count.  Readers may be interested in how the day went.

About 7:30  most birders began gathering In Big Pond. Not all however. Some as usual headed  directly for the areas they took responsibility for.  Dave Harris and George Ball headed directly for Shenacadie  and would come down along the shore to Benacadie where they would  meet Allan and Cathy Murrant who had headed up the Northside and through Eskasoni and beyond.

Those who gathered in Big Pond  had a cup of coffee and then headed for their particular areas,  and the count  was  underway.

This year the weather was as it has been in recent years: no snow, no ice in the Lake, reasonably comfortable temperatures.

Our goal was to  match or better our last year's record of fifty species.

At 12:00 birders began gathering at Christie's for the noonday meal and they began comparing notes. Sightings were noted on the bristol board. It was soon clear that things weren't going too well. We had perhaps 35 species. But the Northside  polls were still to be heard from. Finally they arrived, and  some other  species went on the board. But towards the end of the day we had but 47 species. Our goal was in jeopardy. But Melvin went home- he lives in what Mary Ann Kate called The Valley of the Owl- and discovered  both Barred and Great-horned Owls were calling in the hills; and, as a bonus, a Sharp-shinned Hawk was making a last pass about the White property before retirng for the night. We had our fifty species! Later that evening Terry Boone called from the North- side, adding a Pilieated Woodpecker to the list. Fifty-one species! Something to shoot for in the 2000 CBC.

Species: Common Loon, Black Duck, Mallard, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Eagle, Northerrn Harrier,

Sharp-shin, Flicker, Goshawk, Red-tail. Ruffed grouse, Black-hreaded Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Iceland Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Dove, Mourning Dove, Barred Owl, Great-horned Owl, Common Redpoll, Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Gray Jay, Crow,    Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Raven, Black-capped Chicadee,  Junco, Boreal Chicadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Shrike,Starling, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Colden-crowned Kinglet, Tree Sparrow,

Yellow-rumped Warbler, Song Sparrow, White-throated sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, Pine Grosbeak, Purple Finch, Hoary Redpoll,  Goldfinch, Evening Grosbeak, and House Sparrow.

Participants: George Ball, Donald F. Campbell, Theresa Cash, Linda Courey, George and Sharon Digout, Joe Donovan, Lynn Ellis, John Gainer,

Dave Harris, Dennis and Carol  MacDonald, Margaret MacDonald, George MacInnis, John W. MacInnis, Alanna MacNeil, Ann Marie MacNeil, Brian MacNeil, Duncan MacNeil, Jack MacNeil, Dave McCorquodale, Geraldinee and Junior Metcalfe, Bernard Murphy, Allan and Cathy Murrant, Dayna and Pat Nelder;  Elliott, Jim, Pauline and Wendy Fay Siteman; Fred and Melvin White. (Jack MacNeil)

FOCUS ON YOUTH - I think that we have a lot of musical talent here in Big Pond!  During the Christmas Eve mass at St.Mary’s Church there was a wonderful display of enjoyment and melodies. Christine McDonald and Allison Nelder played the flute while Colin MacPherson showed off his new saxophone.  Trudy MacPherson, Megan MacLeod, and Theresa MacMillan were three talented young ladies that tilled at the piano. Great job!

I am very sorry, but in the January issue I believe that I forgot about Jamie MacPhee.  Jamie is enrolled in  Grade One at East Bay Elementary.

The Big Pond Winter Carnival is going to be running from February 12 to February 19.  The actives that will interest children the most are: Sunday February 13 there is a sleighride from 1:00-2:00pm followed by coasting at Joe Donovan’s with some treats!  On Wednesday February 16 at 6:00pm there is skating at Mary Clory’s Pond, and after there will be fireworks!  On Saturday there will be a Community Walk down Glengarry Road at 10:00am. Then at 1:00-3:00pm there will be a fishing Derby at Frank’s Pond with hot dogs and hot chocolate. But before all this goes on there is a snow sculpturing contest at 10:00am on Saturday February 5. And don’t forget to keep your Christmas lights on for the carnival! (Theresa MacMillan)

BIRD COUNT ADDENDUM - Jack MacNeil’s article in this issue tells most, but not quite all about the Christmas Bird Count. Yes, Big Ponder at heart, Mr. J.W. MacInnis was at it again. Off on his own this year J.W. was still contemplating nature as the other participants gradually assembled at mother Christy’s for the famous post-count chowder lunch.  Appetites sated and species recorded someone finally noted his absence.  At about the same time apparantly, J.W. found his way to a telephone to advise that he was stranded and the rescue team was, as usual, dispatched.

DIARY NOTES  1967

January 1, 1967: mass at 10:00. Father A.J. MacLeod. Dinner at Duncan Mick's.  Marie and Charlie there, preparing to leave for Toronto  (married on 26th of December). Correcting exams in the afternoon.Went with Dan Joe and Christie to Waterford,  to  Joe D. MacPherson's. Picked up Neil and Phyllis MacKinnon and took them along. Among those present at gathering: Dougie and Margaret MacPhee, Paddy LeBlanc and Muriel, Duncan MacQuarrie, Tommy Basker, Teddy Snow, Father Angus Morriss, Joe Burke, and Mr and Mrs Harold LeJeune.  Left at 4:00 a.m. and arrived home about 5:00. Travelling good. Winter still open. Alex S. at house- has been for past three or four months.

January 2: slept until 1:00. Played Gary Christie few games of crib. Watched Rose Bowl game on TV. Roads slippery tonight. Perhaps most unpleasant day this winter.

January3: Back to school today. Second year at the Academy.  Brother started at Trade school  (Point Edward). At Aunt Mary MacDougall's as usual for dinner. At Duncan Mick's, Benny's, and Dan Joe's during evening. Mom went to Halifax on bus for checkup.

Janury 4: School. In evening went into Aunt Ethel's for party. Dan Joe, Christie and Dan Hughie MacEachern went with me.  Also there were Benny, Catherine and Mary Ann;  Fathers Angus Morris, Regis Halloran, J.J. MacDonald, Owen Connoly, and Gar Aucoin, all of whom were friends of Everett in the seminary; and Donald and Rita. Snowing quite heavily on way home. Got to bed about 3:30.

January 5: Roads very bad. Lots of snow down. Took 1  3/4 hours to get to Sydney.  Johnny Murphy and Joe MacInnis went off road at Boudreau's.  Home and to bed at 7:00 p.m.

January 6. To Neilly's in evening for card game. Joe, Duncan and Brother also there. Dan Joe and Christy went in. Dan Joe made tape for radio program.  Weather good today.

January 7. Woke late. John Willy took my car to North Sydney for hockey game.  Big Pond versus Mainadieu. 2-2 tie.  Martin MacInnis fractured cheek bone at game. Played cards with Gary Christie in afternoon. Went to Sydney in evening to see Everett MacDow who returns to Holy Heart seminary on Monday. At Dan Joe's in evening to watch hockey game.  Montreal 4- Detroit 3. Pleasant day though a little on the cool side.  Mom came home from Halifax on 9:30 bus.

January 8. Mass at 10:00.  To Duncan Mick's for dinner.  At Dan Joe's in evening. Louis Sampson and Frank there.

January 11. Sir John A.  MacDonald's birthday. School holiday. Went to Sydney in afternoon. Spent some time at Neilly's.

January 12. Heavy snow last night. Brother had to plow driveways before we left for work. Joe and Josephine had to go in with me. Got car realigned at Woolco.  Big Pond Bowling League began this evening.  At Benny's this evening. (Jack MacNeil)

BIG POND TIMES – Founded in 1994; published by the Big Pond Community Council with a circulation of 300.  Contact Don MacGillivray,Big Pond, Cape Breton, B0A 1H0,, dmacgill@uccb.ns.ca,  or Dennis  MacDonald, Big Pond den.carol@ns.sympatico.ca. “It is a newspaper’s duty to print the news and raise hell”, Chicago Times, 1861.  Contact Josephine McCarron, Big Pond, for subscriptions.  New rates: Canadian addresses $7.00; American $8.50; International $13.00.  This issue is brought to you by Dennis and Carol MacDonald, Josephine McCarron, Jack MacNeil, Theresa MacMillan. Editor for the March edition is Don MacGillivray; last date for submissions is Feb.25.