THE BIG POND TIMES

JANUARY 2002        VOLUME IX No.1

RELOCATION OF CLUB LICENSE APPROVED

 

ANOTHER HURDLE CLEARED

On 4 December the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board came down with a favourable decision on the relocation of the Club License for the Big Pond Volunteer Fire Department. This followed a public hearing held at the Fire Hall in East Bay on 25 September, attended by sixty individuals.

Counsel for the Fire Department was H.F. MacIntyre, Q.C. Charles Broderick represented the objector, Beverley MacPherson.

In his summary board member David J. Almon noted: “The cost of maintaining the hall and equipment is placed upon the citizens of the community. In addition, the members must find ways to generate the revenue to pay for building and equipment maintenance, and ongoing operations. A liquor license serves as a revenue source to ensure there is no decline in the level of community service.

            The Board is always concerned with the potential for interference with the quiet enjoyment of property from noise and nuisance emanating from such premises. However, based on the evidence before it, the Board is persuaded that the relocation of the club liquor license will have no adverse effect to those living in close proximity.”

            The thirteen-page decision was widely welcomed by most people in the community. Completion of the interior of the new building is surging ahead. The fire trucks are now in out of the weather, in the new, heated garage.

 HELPFUL IN HALIFAX

As you are all aware at this point, Paula MacInnis, Mary MacInnis & myself, along with my husband Chris White, put together an unforgettable evening of music to raise money for the rebuilding of the fire hall.

Several people were involved in making the evening a success. Firstly, the concert was held at the Old North Street Church in Halifax, which is a building that was a Church but has been turned into an entertainment venue.  The venue was perfect with its old home character & acoustics. 

The ticket price was $15.00, which included door prizes, chili & corn chowder.  The MC for the evening was Chris White.  J. P. Cormier put his “all” into the benefit, with the evening ending with a standing ovation and an encore.  J.P. had a brand new CD available for sale that evening and he donated 15% of those sales to the benefit, which totaled to $90.00.   J.P. made a point of expressing his wishes to be the first musician to “volunteer” to play at the opening of the new hall.

We had over 25 door prizes donated to give away.  The prizes were donated by:  Lauchie MacLean – a bottle of Glen Breton, Olands Breweries – a mans winter jacket, Moosehead – a gym bag & golf shirt, Tropicanna – 6 t-shirts & a fleece jacket, The Mortgage Centre (Mary’s employer) – a fleece blanket & jacket, Boyne Clarke – a fleece vest, The Halifax Fireman’s Association – 2 t-shirts & a trinket box, Claytime Painting Pottery – a mug, First Canadian Title – a golf shirt, Citadel Inn – an evenings stay, Sobey’s - $20.00 gift certificate, Superstore - $50.00 gift certificate, Halifax Shopping Centre - $50.00 gift certificate, the Halifax Herald – watch & mugs, Casino NS – t-shirt & hat, and the Plaid Place – NS hat & scarf.

The ingredients for the chili & chowder were purchased with the gift certificates.  Mary & Paul made chili along with Paul MacLellan (Paul donated a large stock pot of chili) & I made the chowder.

Volunteers included some old faithfuls from Big Pond, which included my mom working the kitchen along with my sister Kim.  Greg MacMillan, Frank Sampson, Roy MacInnis, Joe Donovan & Gerry Thomas handled the bar.  Anne Thomas assisted with bar ticket sales and sold 50/50 tickets for the entire evening. We were amazed to have Big Ponders come all the way to Halifax – helping us, helping them!!

In the end there were 185 tickets sold. We were able to pay all our expenses that evening and mail off a cheque to the Fire Department for $1,695.24. Bar proceeds were around $700.

Jo-Anne Donovan

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MORE HELP

On 20 December Rodger Cuzner, MP for Bras d’Or-Cape Breton, announced that Big Pond would be receiving $75,000 to help complete the community center portion of the new building. It is the first project in the riding to receive funds from the Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF).

            According to Mr. Cuzner, “this community has been working diligently to replace its community center and this funding complements their efforts.” The total estimated cost to complete the building from its present stage is an additional $254,726. The $75,000 makes a sizable dent in that objective.

            The SCIF provides $135 million, over five years, to help Atlantic Canada communities. It is also a component of the $700-million Atlantic Investment Partnership and is administered by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

COMMUNITY NOTES        

Derrick MacPherson recently received a  promotion. He is now officially “The Derrickman” on the Rowan Gorilla 2, based in the Gulf of Mexico. Congratulations.

 

COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Meeting opened by President Mel Currie. Minutes of last meeting read by Ruth MacNeil It was moved by Gerald Thomas and seconded by Melvin White that the minutes be adopted as read.

The lease for the Fire Hall property is now ready to be signed.

Gerald Thomas gave a report on the Fire Hall.  The garage is all gyprocked and will be heated in a few days. Volunteers are making a great difference in the progress. The Big Pond Fire Hall has received its liquor license.

There has been a break-in on the Loch Lomond Road, at Georgie Murphy’s. Several items were stolen and a bedroom was ransacked.

Under new business a discussion took place regarding the Big Pond Concert for the next year.  Maybe two or three small venues at the new Fire Hall. Frank Sampson indicated we might be able to host two venues for the Celtic Colours next year.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned by Anne Marie Donovan, seconded by Sharise McKeigan.  The next meeting will be held Wednesday, January 9, 2002.

 

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LOCAL HISTORY

Some Diary Notes From 20 Years Ago

10 January 1981: Spending time last few days trying to get my den in Order (about this time Father John MacGregor said to me, upon hearing my good intentions: "You will never get your den in order and I will never get  my mine in order. We will die with our

dens in disorder.”  My friends who visit my den know what has transpired. JMN)

18 January:  Car snowed in this morning. Brother opened driveway with his machine. Sixth major storm of month in Maritimes according to evening news. Classes canceled for tomorrow. Left car in drifts on Anthony's Hill this evening. Philip and John Willy and Gene Magliario tried to get me out but gave up until tomorrow at my urging.

19 January: No school. Benny and Duncan freed my car from drift this morning. Snowbirds at house. Special meeting of community Council re proposed 2-4-D spraying.

20 January: Some thirty students absent because of flu. Cold. Drifting snow. Anthony's Hill blocked in afternoon.

29 January. Diane Murphy missed school today because of flu. Hadn't missed a day in at least three years.  Ann MacKenzie substituted.

Spoke with Brookes Diamond on phone. He's trying to locate Rita.

15 February: Mrs. Alex Goldie died " early this morning" according to notice at mass.

17 February: Father MacGregor taken to hospital by Brother late tonight. Pain in stomach.

18 February: Elaine Campbell buried from Big Pond church at 11:00. Father Greg MacLeod celebrant as Father MacGregor is still in hospital. Church packed. Rita MacNeil sang.

22 February. John Joe MacPhee probably near death in St. Rita Hospital. Saw him and Father MacGregor and Allie MacFarlane this evening. Warm spell of last week continues. No one seems to recall

such a " break" before in February.  50+ F. tonight.

23 February: John Joe died.

24 February: Mild. Some students went to Coxheath rink for skating. I went out with remainder of my class, playing basketball on tennis court.

25 February: John Joe buried from Big Pond church at 11:00 a.m. Father Abbass officiated for Father MacGregor who is still sick. John Duncan, Stevie John S, Alex A.A., Mike MacInnis, Ralph Morey, and

Charlie Digero were honorary pallbearers.

27 February: Brenda Thomas 13 today. Calum MacPhee 6 today.

28 February: 61 degrees F. at Benny's at 9:30 a.m. Archie Carmichael, Malcie MacPhee, and Philip MacInnis began erecting soccer goals today.

1 March: out to Joe Peter's with Father Abbass to get some pictures.

5 March: Allie MacFarlane died early this morning. To wake at Curry's Parkview this evening. Call from Hamilton this evening that Willy S. MacNeil died ( today, I presume).

7 March: Allie MacFarlane buried at 9:00 this morning. Service by Father MacGregor assisted by Father MacFarlane of East Bay.

Pallbearers: Archie Carmichael, Winston Kennedy, Dave Udle, Alfie MacLeod, Brother, and myself. Sons of Skye began recording their first LP today. Dave Miller doing recording. Equipment set up in kitchen and living room at Johnny

Mick's.

9 March: after school took some pictures of recording equipment, Sons of Skye, etc., at Johnny Mick's. Sheldon wrote and recorded song for Joe Neil MacNeil. Took pictures of Joe Neil, hearing song for the first time. He was thrilled.

16 March: Brother on radio this morning being interviewed re recent settlement with N.S. Forest Industries re spraying of  DDT in Glengarry. Company has agreed not to apply for permit this year. ( I think any attempt in the future will be met by similar opposition.)

22 March: Christie MacInnis showed me check for $500 she received from Canadian Nature Federation to help in fight  against 2-4-D spraying.

1 April: Danny Shaw drowned in Loch Lomond today.

5 April: Donnie Brother, Danny Thomas, and Sandy MacIsaac got nice gads of trout - in Johnny Mick's pond, I believe, though they weren't saying where.

10 April: my first Blue Heron of year, flying over Sydney River.

11 April: Joey MacNeil won Junior High division of Cape Breton Science Fair. Will go to national competition in Ottawa. ( Joey is now Professor of Chemistry at Chatham College in Pittsburgh. JMN)

14 April : space shuttle returned to earth about 2:25 Atlantic Standard Time. First vehicle to be piloted back to earth from outer space. Watched landing in school.

17 April: at  Fred and Jean White's housewarming this evening.

3 May: To see Angus MacDonald in hospital. Mike MacDougall, fiddler, buried today in his home community of Ingonish

10May: Sharpshin Hawk chased small bird into tree where I was erecting nest box. A couple of weeks ago Larry Doiron gave me one he picked up after it had been struck by a car. A hawk crashed through a window at Michael Frank's yesterday (probably a sharpie). Benny saw one around his feeder on the day that Larry picked up the dead one. Charlie Lea pitched first no-hitter at Olympic Stadium for Montreal this afternoon.  

18May: Walter Gillis plowed below barn today and tried plowing little hill to south west of barn but couldn't get along- years ago is was plowed and not disked. Perhaps when it becomes drier he'll have some luck, (No, the little hill was never ploughed,

but I planted Red Pine and White pine  there and that's the nice grove of trees, now good sized, that you see behind the south pond.

JMN)

23 May: First bobolink of year. To Frenchvale Church for Michael MacPhee-Patricia Musgrave wedding.

25 May Loretta MacFarlane won $ 500 on draw where she buys her groceries. Alf MacLellan gave me dozen pine seedlings- Red and white- planted them near highway.

6 June: At county track meet: Sandy MacIsaac won 200 and 400 meters.

Dougie MacNeil won high jump and long jump. Donald MacInnis placed second in 60 meters and 200 meters. Patricia Donovan placed second in shot put.

© Jack MacNeil

 

SKI BEN EOIN is gearing up for another fine season. For general ski information call 828-2222. The main office can be contacted at 828-2804. The website is

www.skibeneoin.com

 

LESS HEAT, MORE LIGHT

Emera Inc. is the parent of Nova Scotia Power. It recently acquired the international coal pier and the Devco railway infrastructure and a lease on other facilities. Financial details are confidential, although no tenders were called. Devco halted all coal handling in mid-December although the board will continue, along with sixty management/administrative individuals. Then came Emera’s application to increase power rates that, to the average customer, will mean an increase of around $100 yearly. It needs this because Nova Scotia Power is seeking a return on investment for its shareholders of 11-12 per cent. Besides, coal, which generates 80 per cent of the province’s power, is more expensive now that we are buying it from Venezuela, Columbia and the United States. Merry Christmas Emera Inc., you’re on a bit of a roll.

BIG POND TIMES is financially supported by the Big Pond Community Council.  Contact Don MacGillivray, 7271 East Bay Hwy, Big Pond, Cape Breton, B1J 1V2.  dmacgill@uccb.ns.ca “It is a newspaper’s duty to print the news and raise hell.”-Chicago Times, 1861.

For subscriptions contact Josephine McCarron, 7584 East Bay Hwy., Big Pond, NS B1J 1Y6.  Rates: Canadian address $7.00; American $8.50; International $13.00.  This issue was brought to you by Sharise McKeigan, Don MacGillivray, Josephine McCarron, Anne MacPherson, Jack MacNeil, Ruth MacNeil.