Eagle 2013 April

April, 2013 Vol. 24, Issue 8

    If any of the local citizenry thinks that members of the Brookfield Men's Club are displaying expanding waist- lines, it may very well be the case - the blame lies on the extravagant (dare we say decadent?) lunches being served at their meetings. That alone is reason enough to attend meetings, never mind the fellowship and good community deeds this organization is doing in its 76th year. The meeting held last month was yet another food- fest; the men are gearing up for an even larger feast this month. April brings the BMC's Ladies Night festivities, when they welcome all women from the community and surrounding area to join them for a celebratory dinner, a brief peek at their inner workings, and hopefully a wonderful evening of entertainment. Part of the program will include a guest speaker with deep ties to Brookfield. The Red Tide is likely to perform, and the evening will be capped by the presentation of the prestigious BMC Award to a deserving citizen (or citizens) who has provided much service to the community over the years. The doors of Knox open at 6:30 on Monday April 15 - we certainly hope to see you then!

    We had several kind contributors to the Eagles' cause - a big thank you goes out to Mervyn Dickey, Jennifer Henderson of Dartmouth, and to Jim and Shirley McNutt. The ongoing support of the community and public keeps the Eagle aflight in all its versions; and we are very grateful for your kindness.

    We pass along congratulations to former Brookfielders Bruce and Mary Currie who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Masstown - Bruce is a brother to Marilyn Stewart. For the second spring in a row Don and Marg Fisher of Hilden welcomed a new grandchild into the world - their daughter Amy and husband Rod MacLean of Hilden brought home daughter Mairi to balance the gender scale with one year old Owen. Hopefully Mairi does not have her grandfather's sharp elbows!

    Too many times in the past month were final farewells said to friends, neighbours and relatives of Brookfielders. At Elk Court, Mary Mowatt, long time Upper Stewiacke resident passed away, and Mae Cook's sister, Eva Dixon died in Lattie's Brook. Jamesie Adams' brother, Peter Johnstone died in Truro; and Alden Kennedy passed away in Middle Stewiacke. Debbie Ross, wife of BMC veep Austin, lost her mother Gladys May Curry of Upper Kennetcook. In Princeport, Margaret Bushie died; she was Dana Reid's mother -in- law. Helen McCarthy died in Truro, she was mother to Carol MacMillian and grandmother to Tammi Hollis, both of Shortt's Lake. Barb Delaney, former Brookfield resident and true unsung hero in her quiet way in her UCW group, passed away. SCA French teacher Tammy Deveau's mother Julie Helene Deveau passed unexpectedly in Cheticamp. Ronda (Reade) Brenton, George's wife died. Sympathies to all who lost loved ones.

    Anitra Whidden is sporting a cast after having surgery on her thumb/wrist area to try to correct an arthritic condition in her thumb. Emma Lou (Messervey) Cox is recovering in the QEII from leg surgery.

    Some people headed south to catch some rays - Wayne, Hilary, and Meredith Paquet went to Cuba, and Lexie Stewart went to the Dominican Republic with some pals from Upper Stewiacke. Kim McBurnie and her children, Macey and Austin, went to Florida. Austin and Debbie Ross vacationed in Orlando. Debbie's daughter visited them, and they took in a Blue Jays' Grapefruit League game. Headed to ski hills were Jonathan and Jodie Woolfitt, Charlie and Kathy Weatherbee, and Larry and Jennifer Fisher and kids who went to Sugarloaf in Maine, while Andrew and Jill Sears and children tackled Mont. Ste. Anne outside Quebec City.  Vic and Linda Penny visited Myrtle Beach; while there Vic had heart surgery.
    Jerad Stewart is working in Saskatchewan. Home for visits were Jill Dean from Whitehorse, Ally Campbell from Ontario and Neil Works.

    There were lots of winners on the curling ice. South Colchester Academy won the Regional championship in Junior Girls curling, going undefeated in the process. Members of the team were skip Karlee Burgess, mate Emily Melvin, 2nd Rebecca Rankine, leads (who alternated games) Chloe Bowers, Shanea Hill, and Erica Robertson. The Brookfield Curling Club hosted the 24th Great Community Curling Classic sponsored by the Brookfield Athletic Association and B&J Electric. The winning teams were as follows in the four divisions; Lee Millertime - Lee Miller, Andrew Webb, Blaine Hamilton, Peter Harris; Colchester Construction - Jamie Barr, Peter Neily, Bruce Stewart, and Glen Ross; Roop's Esso - Paul Campbell, Wade Densmore, Steve and Pam Olmstead, and Leroy Burns Electrical - Leroy Burns, Andrew Webb, Harold and Rob Campbell. Leroy also won the overall closest to the button contest. The Club will hold their annual awards banquet this Friday, marking the completion of their 37th year (!!) - it was a successful one and we would encourage you to now plan on making the BCC part of your plans in October. The various league champions were crowned as follows. (Playoff winners listed first and regular season title holders second). Monday night: Steve Mombourquette, Bob Wilson, Brian Degeer, Peter Jeffery, and George Searle; regular season champs were Ken Retson, Ernie Glinz, Jim Thomson and Elmer Archibald. Tuesday night - winning both the regular season title and playoffs were Tom Gingrich, Louise Parker, Lenny and Tim Gallant. Thursday night playoff champs were Mike Henderson, Carolyn Marshall, Kendra Aresneau and Dennis Grant; regular season winners were Earle McCurdy, Wally Kirkwood, Bill Ellis and Gary Doyle. Friday night regular season winners were: Ken Retson, Elmer Archibald, Stacey Harrison and Jason Steele.

    Congratulations to Caila Henderson who is taking over the role as President of the Mount Allison University chapter of Right to Play. This organization is dedicated to helping teach the positive aspects of sports such as determination and work ethic, as well as teaching life and health skills, especially to those in disadvantaged situations, and in developing countries around the world.
     The Eagle congratulates the organizers of the second annual Crohn's and Colitis Chilly Dip held on April 7 at Shortt's Lake - the funds from this event go towards research to stem the tide of these diseases. The Eagle apologizes for failing to make mention of this in the March edition; and was glad to see there was a strong turn out both of people jumping into the frigid lake, and supporters names on pledge sheets. Well done to principal organizer Megan Isenor and her crew for raising over $2300!
    The Brookfield Elks of the Nova Scotia Junior B Hockey League, under the guidance of coach Hugh Matheson, gave their ever-growing number of supporters an exciting play-off run, first defeating the Bay Ducks before extending the Sackville Blazers to game 7 in the league semi-finals. The Elks fell valiantly before a packed house in Sackville, after having staved off elimination with a rousing win in game 6 before one of their biggest crowds at the Sportsplex.
    There was lots to celebrate at SCA, where their students did very well at the local Science Fair and in other competitions. In the intermediate category Jared Schenkels (Frank,Luanne) won gold in the Innovation category, and his cousin, Alicia MacMillan (Ed, Wilma) won silver in the Agriculture sector with her presentation. These two will travel to the Canada Wide Science Fair in Lethbridge, Alberta! Rachel Brown won a bronze medal in the Senior division (Health), and Alyssa (Blair,Patty) Densmore captured bronze in the Intermediate Environmental division. Another strong showing under teacher Cheryl Williams.
    At the Skills Nova Scotia competition at the NSCC Waterfront Campus in Dartmouth, two teams competed in the TV / Video competition - Joe White / Aiden Schenkels, and Emily Reade / Vanessa Leck. At the Truro campus of NSCC, Hanna Forrester and Chad Lynds won silver medals in 2D Character Animation. In Sydney, Kirk Richardson (welding), and Cody Graham (Work Place Safety) both attained personal bests.
    A contingent of SCA students, under the leadership of teachers Gary Renouf, Dale Roberts, and Christine Sandeson, travelled to London and Paris.
     At the Atlantic AAA Midget Hockey Championships in Truro, Team Nova Scotia's Sam Robertson (Steve, Jill, grandson to Turk Henderson), was the event's leading scorer; alas his Bedford team fell in the final to PEI. Sam would look good in an Elks sweater next year!?!
     Knox United Church is faced with an issue they haven't for three decades - Reverend Larry Harrison is retiring in late August of this year after piloting the flock since 1981! This unprecedented length of service at one Pastoral Charge speaks volumes about what esteem Harrison is held in (and how fond he was of his congregations in Brookfield and Middle Stewiacke). Reverend Boyd Vincent will be the service minister at Knox and in Middle Stewiacke until a permanent replacement is installed, that expected to happen in the spring of 2014. Larry, never one to let the grass grow under his feet, has moved on to a new challenge, and has been named the Progressive Conservative candidate in the next provincial election for the Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley riding.

    The Brookfield Community Assembly will hold their annual Community Clean-up Day on Saturday, May 18 - note the new date. If you can meet at the United Church at 9 AM and give three hours of your time, that day, and join with other like-minded citizens to help clean the litter from the sides of the road and ditches along many of the roads in Brookfield it would be much appreciated. Susie Smith and company will lead the charge to make sure all minions are well fed and watered for their efforts.        
    The Brookfield Fire Commission will host the annual Ratepayers meeting on Thursday, May 2 at 7 PM at the Fire Hall. All who pay property tax are welcome to attend and cast their vote on matters pertaining to the fire service.
    The All Around the Circle Senior Citizens Club will hold their annual monthly luncheon on Tuesday April 16 at 12 noon at the Sportsplex - cost of the meal is $5.

See you at Ladies Night!!