Eagle 2013 MARCH

Vol. 24, Issue 7
The March meeting of the Brookfield Men's Club will be held on March 18 at 7:30 PM at the Brookfield Fire Station. All gentlemen of the area are invited to attend; come out for an evening of fellowship! The February meeting saw the marking of the BMC  76th anniversary with a dinner meeting, wonderfully catered by the Baptist Church ladies. The meal was delicious and guest speaker Tim Smith fascinated the Clubmen and their off-spring with his tales of working in the health field in remote places such as an island in the Gulf of Guinea, Siberia, Kazakhstan, and on ships off the coast of Northern Russia, to name a few. We would also remind the citizenry if they wish to pass along any nominations for the BMC Eagle Award, which annually recognizes a citizen who has provided long time community service to Brookfield and area. Please pass along any names (with or without documentation), to Mike by March 28 at 673-2769 or mhenderson[@]stanfields.com. The Eagle award is one of the highlights of Ladies Night which will be held this year on Monday April 15 at 6:30 PM at Knox Hall - please mark your calendars now for that event!
     It has been a difficult month since the big bird last flew in terms of loss of loved ones. A valuable firefighter with BFES, a skilled fly fisherman and father of two, Blair Fleming was laid to rest after a brief battle with cancer. Blair's calmness in dealing with the unkind hand fate dealt him can serve as a lesson to many. Another very strong person who was laid to rest was Ruth Hernden in Halifax - she was the mother of Lindsay Hernden of Shortt's Lake - she really made a difference in her world, through massive efforts in the social work and child welfare areas. Elda (Fulton) Brown who grew up on Carter Road, died in Beaverbank - she was a former member of the Brookfield Community Assembly, and several other organizations. Emma Watson, long time resident and mother to Wayne, died - she had been a Sunday School teacher, like her late husband Maurice at Knox United in younger years. Carol Campbell, R.N. and general caregiver to many, and wife of Gordie Campbell and mother to Jeff, Wendi, and David, passed away. One of the female softball legends in the province, Marie Terrio of Halifax died - she was probably the best pitcher of her era in Nova Scotia, and was a very welcome addition to the powerhouse Elkette teams of the late 60's and early 70's. Claude Totten, a standout hockey player for many teams in the Truro District Hockey League, circa 1940-1960 and who spent a few years in Elk colors, passed away. At Elk Court Katie Teunissen, aunt to Thea (Vissers) Toole died. Former Upper Brookfield resident Susan Gamble's father died in Newfoundland. Ray Miller of Truro passed away - he was a former employee at Brookfield Lumber. Our sympathies are extended to all who lost loved ones.
    Congratulations to former Elks winger Donnie Stevens and his wife Bonnie on celebrating their 50th anniversary they live in of Salmon River. Leo Rovers of Stewiacke East, a past Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Don Henderson Memorial Sportsplex was honoured by the Rotary Club with their prestigious Community Service Award.  Some of the progeny from the past Elks glory days have made quite a name for themselves athletically as well - Colleen Pinkney will again skip the Nova Scotia Senior Women's team at the Nationals in Summerside - she is the daughter of early 50's Elk hockey ace Rylie Marshall. Joining her on the team is Shelley McNutt, daughter of 60's hockey star, Donnie Dennis. Susan Creelman of Stewiacke, cousin to Ron Creelman and Lynne Kennedy is also a member of the team. 
     A big hand goes out to the Riverview Sound Men's Quartet headed by Dennis Grant, and ably complemented by Gary Smiley, Bruce MacRae and Paul Healy (Steve's brother) on the concert they put on at Knox. The music and singing was wonderful, including Paul's wife Martha as piano accompanist and who also soloed on guitar and vocals. There was also a standout performance by ukulele virtuoso Chalmers Doane, and vital accompaniment provided by Rick Hiltz and Joanne Hatfield - it was truly a wonderful evening of music.
     South Colchester Academy Senior Boys Basketball team traveled to the Division 3 provincials in Annapolis Royal and finished with a 1-2 record. This was the first SCA team in the new school's ten year history to advance to the boys' provincials - much credit goes to extremely hard - working coach Kyle Cormier; his team consisted of seniors Joe White, Gregor Dawe, Nathan Sylliboy, Terry Liu, and underclassmen Jacob MacKenzie, Travis Mercer, Alberto Serracin, Matt Joudrey, Ryan Duykers, Brad MacKinnon, Garrett Johnson and Jordan Eastman. Assistant Coaches are Ryan Smith and Brendan David. Lest anyone with short memories think that basketball success is a new thing to the area, we would remind them of the standout teams of the late 60's led by Tom Peters, Larry Kennedy, Paul Gamble, and teams in the mid 70's featuring SCHS all time hoop star Steve Locke, Larry Archibald, and others who were serious provincial contenders. The Wolves Senior Boys curling team advanced to provincials, by virtue of a 3-1 record in the Regional championship - the team is made up of Skip Andrew Burgess, Jacob Bowers, Jared White and Jamie O'Connell. Rowan Sears (Andrew, Jill) and Carson Lanceleve (Lou,Marie) helped the Truro AAA Peewee Bearcats to the N.S. Title - they advance to the Atlantic Championships in Newfoundland. Turk Henderson's grandson, Sam Robertson (Steve, Jill) helped the Bedford Blues win the provincial Midget AAA championship; they will represent Nova Scotia at the Atlantic Championships in Truro in late March. Alicia MacMillian (Ed, Wilma Schenkels) and Kim Duggan (Carolyn, the late Jim-former Cruise Missile) advanced to Skate Atlantica in Lantz on the strength of strong showings at the provincials in Port Hawkesbury - Alicia won gold in her division, and Old Halifax Road sisters Nicole and Megan Arseneau (Vince, Kendra) also performed well there.
    At the Truro Sports Heritage Awards Dinner there was a heavy representation of Brookfield and South Colchester winners. Caila Henderson was named Female Athlete of the Year in the 21 and over category; and SCA track, soccer, and curling star Karlee Burgess won the same award for 15 and under females. 2011-12 Colchester Cyclones Peewee female team shared the Under 15 team of the year - it included Chloe Bowers and Hannah Lynds. Tieing with the Cyclones for the award was the CC Riders Tier 2A girls soccer team - this included the aforementioned Karlee Burgess, and Rebecca Rankin, daughter of Sheila (Osborne) Ross Rankin. The Truro AAA Midget Bearcats won the team award for 16-20 years, Ben Lynds (Jeff and Shawn) was a member. Of course it is quite prestigious just to be named as a finalist and some of the locals to achieve that designation were the SCA Junior Boys soccer team in the Junior High team category and their coach Patti McKenzie, a finalist for the Coach of the Year Award; the SCA Senior Boy's curling team was a finalist for the High School team award after winning the provincial championship, and Sarah Sears and Taylor Clarke were members at the provincial junior curling team which was a finalist in the club team category. Andrew Burgess was a finalist in the male athlete 16-20 category for his prowess in curling and track and field. A big thank you goes out to Beth (Retson) Brogan of Dartmouth and Arizona for her kind donation to the Eagle.
    Myrna Clarke and Daisy Hingley travelled to the warm beaches of Cuba, while siblings Nikita and Josh Archibald joined their parents for a yacht cruise along Florida's Gulf Coast. Lexie Stewart went to Jamaica, while Dave and Anitra Whidden vacationed in Mexico. Three generations went to Calgary - Elaine Ross, her daughter, Megan Sutherland and granddaughter, Meah; and Betty Dickie visited Bruce and family in Alberta. Pibby and Dawn Henderson took a Caribbean cruise, Joan Campbell visited son Mac and family in Ottawa. Leah Roop shepherded several of her SCA French students to Quebec City. Edna Graham went to Timmins, and then on to Toronto to visit her newest great - granddaughter.
    We missed club man Jim Feener at the anniversary dinner; he had been slowed by painful kidney stones. Joe Toole, often thought to be indestructible, has been slowed by a broken hip. Former Elk hockey stars and current Cruise Missiles Brent Harrison and Chipper VanTassell both had mishaps on the ice; Brent suffered a concussion from a fall in his yard, and Chipper had ribs damaged in a Missiles game. Herb McCallum also cracked a rib. Adrian Rovers is sporting a cast on his injured wrist, the result of a motor vehicle mishap, and Kadon Merriam broke his leg. Edna Graham broke her wrist in a fall.
    Debbie Messervey has moved into the Brandt Avenue Apartments. Lindsay Wood (Steve, Sandra) and Taron Merriam had a baby boy, a great-grandson for Dot Nielsen. Katelyn Stewart (Tammi, Brian), a student at Dal, became engaged to Kenton McNutt of Bible Hill. Bailey Campbell (Bob, Linda) a Dean's List senior at UNB, was accepted by the Fredericton institution's Law School, starting September '13.
    The descendants of Mac and Laura Campbell had a family skating party, pot luck supper and games night at the Sportsplex to mark Patsy McCallum's retirement from Tandus Carpets - among those travelling home from distance for the occasion were Jay and Sherry (Roop) Ovsenny and daughters from Toronto, and Shane and Laura (McCallum) Grinton and three kids from PEI. Patsy was given a bicycle - please keep an eye out for her on the roadways!! Craig, Kim (Whidden) and Jesse Kennedy visited Dave and Anitra. Paul Rodd and Karla MacKenzie have purchased and moved into the former Kevin MacKenzie house on Crystal Lake Drive.
    We have mention already of Ladies night Monday, April 15 at 6:30 at Knox - please join us for a wonderful meal and some "unique" entertainment. Kyle Henderson, third year Bachelor of Fine Arts student at Mount Allison, has an art display in the Marigold gallery for the month of March - there is no admission charge, his work is thought-provoking - the Marigold is open weekdays, and when there are performances in the theater. Birch Hill native, and former Brookfield Junior High student Will Fisher (Kelvin, Patricia) was nominated for an East Coast Music Award for Jazz Recording of the Year for Will Fisher's Coastal Quartet album "Portage". The very talented drummer, composer, and arranger had his musical start under Rick Hiltz' tutelage at BJHS, and now holds a Masters degree in music from the University of Louisville (Ky.). Larry Harrison, who is retiring as minister of Knox and Middle Stewiacke United Churches in August has announced he is seeking the nomination of the Progressive Conservatives for the Colchester - Musquodoboit Valley riding for the next provincial election. We wish Larry well in his newest endeavour. The Brookfield Elks of the NS Junior Hockey league defeated the Bay Ducks 4 games to 1 in the quarter-finals; they open the Division finals against the Sackville Blazers this week. Goaltender Spencer Scott and defenseman Andrew Kennedy were named to the league's first All-Star team. Games 2 and 4 at the Sportsplex will be March 14 & 21 - note the switch to THURSDAY nights. Check the Brookfield Junior Elks website for more details (or the BCA community website) with regard to schedule of games, come make your voice heard at the Sportsplex - cheer on the red and gold!
Remember the next BMC meeting on March 18 at 7:30 PM - May you all have a peaceful and Happy Easter!