Eagle 2006 March

March, 2006
Vol. 15 Issue 7

The Brookfield Men's Club have been sampling the high life recently; January saw them hosted by the Brookfield Fire Department at the new Hall, and in February we marked the 69th Anniversary of the BMC's founding with a special dinner meeting. Following the feast the men listened to Peter MacKinnon, CEO of Colchester- East Hants Health Authority. MacKinnon outlined the reason for, and the status of the new Colchester Hospital project. He discussed many issues including the site, the plans for the new hospital which they hope will make it much easier to attract qualified staff. Mr. MacKinnon answered several questions after his presentation from the attentive Clubmen.

The BMC's next meeting will coincide with the Vernal Equinox (first day of spring) on Monday, March 20, at 7:30 PM in the Baptist Church basement. Congratulations goes to Donald, (Pibby) Henderson, Kraig MacKenzie, Josh McCallum and Jared Bent, who won the Brookfield Curling Club Men's Open Bonspiel in convincing fashion. A round of applause, please, for towering Tyler Veenhuis of South Branch, a former Brookfield Junior High star, who was Rookie of the Year in the Atlantic University Volleyball Conference for UNB. The Central Nova Girls Midget Volleyball Club team is off to a strong start; they have won their first three tournaments. Coach Darren Retson led the South Colchester Academy's curling team to the regionals in Amherst - the mixed team of skip Karla Armsworhty, Matt Locke, Cassandra Sears and David Pierce won the event, and will attend Provincials at Mayflower C.C. in late March, in Halifax. The boys team of Jeremy Locke, Josh Melvin, Chad MacKinnon and Ben Grosvenor played very well but came up a bit short.

We had to look far to the west to find births to celebrate, Sheila Johnston travelled to Fort Liard, NWT to be with son (RCMP officer) Mike and daughter-in-law, Melaine Genest for the birth of her and Wayne's first grandchild, a boy. Jeff and Nikki (Sutherland) Graham were blessed with a baby girl in Alberta. Great grandmother Freda Sutherland, accompanied by daughter- in- law, Lorna, travelled to Wild Rose County to welcome the new addition. Here's a happy pairing that doesn't quibble over one partner being on the golf course too much - Laura McCallum happily accepted fellow golf pro Shane Grinton's engagement proposal. They are working at courses in Florida for the winter, but will return to the Maritimes with the fine weather. The South Colchester Academy Senior girls basketball team travelled to Port Hawkesbury to participate in the Nova Scotia Championship and made a strong showing, finishing fourth Coach Shelly Roberts preached an up tempo style and the Wolves responded. The team looks to be strong again next year, losing only Seniors Holly Killen and German exchange student Ineke Schydlo. Very happy to see the Department of Housing giving the Sunrise Crest Seniors residence a much needed renovation - the building looks much better after the work. Congratulations to MLA Brooke Taylor, on his appointment as Minister of Natural Resources in the provincial government.

Kudos to the wonderfully-talented Jonathan Munro, who received the Portia White Protégé Award (and the $7,000 that goes with it!) for his outstanding singing performances, despite his tender age of 15. Many have heard Jonathan's surreal voice as he regularly performs with the Brookfield Jazz Combo, guided by Rick Hiltz. (It is not yet confirmed, but hoped that this group will be a part of the entertainment package at Ladies Night!). Great to have Brad Gushue and his Newfoundland and Labrador rink win the Curling Gold Medal at the Winter Olympics in Italy. A sense of justice prevails with long time standouts (on and off the ice) Nicklas Lidstrom, Mats Sundin and Peter Forsberg helping win the gold in hockey for Sweden, over a spirited, but injury-riddled Finland squad. We hope some other nations soon catch up to Canada in women's hockey, less that event be dropped from the games due to lack of competition.

At the annual Truro Sports Heritage Sports Awards Dinner there was a distinct local flavour. Eldon Chapman, former Elk pitcher of the late 60's and mid 70's was inducted into the local area's Honour Roll, as was the Canadian Junior Ladies Curling Champions of 1997, skipped by Meredith Doyle. The featured guest speaker was Sarah Maxwell, who is one half of Canada's top ranked beach volleyball team, and the leading contender to represent the country at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Sarah is the niece of Monty Patton, her mother is his sister Toni, and her father is former Elks hockey star (circa late 60's) Darrell Maxwell. Zach Sill captured the Male Athlete of the Year award for his outstanding 2005 in which he captained his major midget team (Cole Harbour) to an Atlantic Championship and also starred at the Canada Games and Midget Softball Nationals, as well as leading South Colchester Academy boys softball team to a provincial silver medal. Also named as Male Athlete of the Year (under 16) was Christopher McKenney of Shortt's Lake, who has made very strong showings provincially and nationally in karate competitions. The Curves Midget Bearcats Hockey Team was named Female Team of the Year - this squad included Katrina Wallace and Sarah Rutherford. The South Colchester Senior girls soccer team, and the CC Riders Under 16 soccer team (both were NS Champions with lots of local input) were finalists in the Team of the Year. Other finalists included the indefatigable Lloyd Osborne (Volunteer of the Year), SCA soccer, badminton and track coach Rob Adams (Coach of the Year), Adam Salsman (Male Athlete). Bob Hazelton was the guest of honour at his 40th birthday celebration hosted by Jeff and Janet Hazelton. We are so happy to report Bob is doing quite well after his cancer treatments. Brother Peter and wife Kelly were home from Oshawa. Lara, Bob's wife and children were there, and special a surprise was Lara's mother and brother who came in from Boston. Many local friends were on hand to offer their thanks and best wishes for Bob continued good health. Ivy and Sonja Haasen visited from Ontario with parents and grandparent Ed and Edna Graham.

The Brookfield Community Assembly is proud to announce the launch of it's new updated web site the easy to remember address is brookfieldnovascotia.ca. The BCA owes a huge debt of gratitude to Wayne Paquet who toiled for many hours as webmaster, and has done a terrific job. The BCA prevails upon all community organizations to submit information on their groups so the web site can truly be useful to people both here and far away. Once you tour the site you will see numerous other points of interest ,including a calendar of community events, biographic information on many of the community's businesses, organizations, recreation, and educational opportunities. There are directions on the site on how to submit information, so please make sure your organization's information is up- to- date and submitted. The Elder Transcripts project is now completed, and the project team would like to thank everyone involved in making this such a success. The project team was honoured recently by the Colchester County Historical Society at their annual awards meeting. You can access the transcripts of the 18 elders interviewed by viewing them on the world wide web at www.etbrookfield.org or you may borrow the individual books and video tapes or the introductory video/DVD from the Regional Library or purchase your own copies. The book has also been donated to the Colchester Archives for the enjoyment of future generations. You are invited to use the standard set of interview questions on the web site to interview your own family and create a personalized family heritage record - it's fun to do. For more information or orders please call Kathy Putnam at 673-2451. Bruce Gamble and son Tyler are the cover boys for the NS Anglers Handbook.

The Eagle has received kind donations from Eloise Yorke, Gordie and Carol Campbell and from Riverview NB Don and Sidnee Rutherford. Thank you all very much for your continued support.

Sorry to report of the passing in Ontario of Stan Tanner's brother Dan, and Eric Sandeson's mother, Loleta. Margaret Johnson's brother, Willie Russell, died in Scotland. Cathy Fisher's mother, Peg MacPhee died in Belmont. Ruth Bezanson's sister-in-law Arleigh Hardy died in Westville, and popular dentist Dr. Roy Davis died in Truro; he was an uncle and godfather to retired RCMP Staff Sergeant Fred Davis, husband of Karen (Hamilton). The Eagle extends condolences to all who have lost loved ones.

It's that time of year when people normally start to tire of the winter and look southward. We didn't know if that was going to be the case this year, as winter was only a rumor until Valentine's Day - in the two weeks following it has bared its fangs (at least in terms of cold temps) and chased some of the locals to warmer climes. Exotic South Padre Island off the Gulf Coast of Texas was the locale of choice for Norm and Val Taylor and Keiver and Bev Read. As usual the Dominican Republic was a popular spot as Dave and Janice Peterson, Richard and Ellen Sutherland and Dan and Lexie Stewart sampled those beaches. Cuba attracted Greg Sutherland, Jack Roop and Laura Coupar. Don and Marg Fisher and family and went to Florida, as did Bruce and Susan Gamble and children, and Steve, Krista, Charlene and Cody Locke. Ken and Kaye Retson vacationed in Arizona. Frank Taylor and Ryan Sutherland joined a bunch of former Brookfielders in Edmonton. Larry and Lynn Kennedy travelled to the land of Ten-Thousand Lakes to witness and participate in son Peter's Seniors Night ceremony as the University of Minnesota's Golden Gophers hockey team season winds down.

Doreen Frank had a knee operation, and Gerry Brenton lost his argument with a bull and suffered a broken leg. The Junior B Elks hockey club, despite finishing second in the West Division in the regular season, bowed out of playoffs with a 4-1 series loss to the St. Margaret's Bay Ducks, whose lineup featured Adam MacPhee, son of two time Stanley Cup champion and Nova Scotia's Sports Hall of Famer Mike MacPhee. The Elks won league awards - Danny Burgess was named Coach of the Year, and standout netminder Connor MacNeil was Rookie of the Year. Former Elk Bobby Sill, attending NSCC in Port Hawkesbury and playing for the Strait Pirates, was named the loop's top puckstopper. A reminder the Sportsplex will host the Nova Scotia Bantam AA championships on March 24-26. You will be guaranteed to see some exciting action that weekend. The following two weekends after that, the excitement switches to the other side of the concrete wall as the Great Community Curling Classic featuring 64 curling teams ranging from neophytes to veterans hits the ice. Call the Sportsplex at 673-2063 or drop into the curling club anytime to enter this enjoyable event.

Sherry (Roop) Ovsenny came home from Toronto to help celebrate mother Betty Roop's birthday. Jay Thomas visited his mother, Lil Heffernan. Brad Westerman was home from Belgium to visit his mother Barb Nicholson, then detoured through Turin for the Winter Olympics, where he was photographed with Wayne and Walter Gretzky.

A reminder that the Coming Home to Brookfield celebrations will be held from July 22-30. Plans and a theme have not been finalized, but one highly anticipated attraction this year will be a reunion of all Brookfield Elkette softball teams over the years dating back to the late 40's. More details will follow on Home Coming but it is interesting to note that the folks at the Colchester Regional Development Association (CORDA) know a good idea when they see one and are promoting Come Home to Colchester in 2006. This program encourages expatriates to return for a visit (or permanently) and reconnect with what this great area has to offer. There is an opportunity to win free airfare for four from North American locations - enter by March 31 by sending in the mailout you have received or call 893-0140 or online at www.comehometocolchester.ca. Another CORDA initiative of interest to parents and guardians of students at post-secondary institutions is the Colchester Care Kit, which is filled with goodies guaranteed to fend off exam-induced stress and remind them that people at home are thinking of them. Register to send a Colchester Care Kit to someone you love by calling 893-0140 or online at www.corda.ca before March 29. This free service is made possible by the generous support of the business community, who are committed to encouraging tomorrow's leaders to choose Colchester as a place to live, work, and grow. The Brookfield Railway and Heritage Train station is having a noon luncheon (eat in or take out) and silent auction on April 29 to raise funds for maintenance on the train station. More details on the April Eagle.

Readers near and far are urged to submit nominations to the BMC (c/o The Eagle Box 195) for the annual Eagle Award. This prestigious citation is awarded to someone who has given long and meritorious service to the community in any facet of life, be it education, recreation, religion, you name it. Applications should be received by April 3. Again a reminder of the March 20 meeting, 7:30 PM - come and join the crowd at the BMC.

The Eagle