December 2014
Volume 26 Issue 4
The Brookfeld
Mens Club (BMC) will host their annual Christmas
party at their monthly meeting on Monday,
December 15, starting at 7:30 at the Fire Hall.
Members and guests are asked to bring their
caroling voice, a hearty appetite for food and
fun, and a gift to exchange(maximum - $10). The
Brookfield Fire and Emergency Service hosted the
BMC's November meeting - as usual they put on a
splendid lunch and an interesting program, as
they invited David Birkett and Gina MacInnis,
President and Environmental officer,
respectively, of Alta Natural Gas Storage. The
duo presented much information on the
$130,000,000 project, and answered several
questions from the keen BMCers.
December rolled in
with some fluctuating weather - the first three
days of the month saw daytime high temperatures
of +14, -8 (with a blustery North wind for added
chill), +11 - what a swing! It did provide
some nice days for Brookfielders to put up their
Christmas decorations, in anticipation of the
annual BMC contest, which will award prizes in
several categories after judging the evening of
December 22. Gene Retson was so keen on winning
a prize, he took a quick 12 foot drop down the
front of his house as his ladder let go -
fortunately his fall was cushioned by the bushy
shrubs saving him broken bones or worse! While
talking decorations, we must direct harsh
condemnation at the cretins who cut wires to the
lights on the fabulous tree Brian Stewart
and Sherry Cole had decorated on their property
in the middle of the village. They would have
been shoo-ins for a prize, and probably should
be recognized anyway-it certainly made the BMC
tree at the corner look pedestrian. To those who
somehow saw reason to destroy the work of
others-WAKE UP!
Several Brookfielders
continue to hit the roads or the airways to
watch Zach Sill play for the Pittsburgh Penguins
- recent game in Toronto saw nearly an entire
row at the Air Canada Centre filled with
locals/ex-pats. Among those were father Grant
Sill, Uncle Dan Dean, Aunt Julie Dean in from
Peterborough, cousin Mark Dean, Mike Henderson,
Bill Boyle, Michele MacDonald, who lives near
the ACC, and popular Hurricane Heidi's server
Karley O'Neill took a night off from her studies
in Oshawa to take the GO train to the game. Zach
arranged passes to attend the game-day skate,
and met with the throng after the game-he truly
cherishes the support from home! Cousin Holly
Dean went to Montreal to see Zach play the Habs.
Kyle Henderson trekked up Maine's tallest
peak, mile high Mt. Katahdin.
Congratulations to Donna Matheson's mother,
Merle Nelson who celebrated her 106th birthday
at the Senior's room November 24 at the
Sportsplex. The next day saw the birth of a son,
Xavi, to Dane Henderson and Danique Rowsell; a
grandson for Mike and Brenda Henderson, and
great-grandson for Bill Stewart and Shirley
Comeau. Xavi arrived on his grandmother
Yasmine's birthday, and missed his late
great-grandmother Marge's 101st by a day. Adding
to our village's incredible array of musicians,
Amanda Greaves, a very accomplished
violin/fiddle instructor, has moved to Densmore
Lane - we welcome her!
Josh Archibald, who bought
the former Benjamin/Peterson house on Hwy. 2, is
walking on air these days - the beautiful Dr.
Karla Armsworthy accepted his engagement
proposal! The most recent listing of people
earning the prestigious designation as Chartered
Accountants (CA) has three with Brookfield
connections. Bryan Shupe, whose father Gord
served on the Sportsplex Board of Directors, was
one - Bryan is an SCA grad, who now shuttles
between Halifax and his business dealings in
Russia; Luke Anthony is the son of Terry Anthony
of Shubenacadie - Terry was a member of the 1980
Canadian Championship Elks team, and a big RBI
guy on the 1990 NS title team; and Jarret
MacKeil of Belnan - his parents Mike and Heather
are members of the Brookfield Curling Club.
Thanks to all who organized
or participated in the very fitting Remembrance
Day service at the Veterans Memorial. Special
mention to both ministers (Gale and MacKinnon),
the SCA band led by Holly Hartlen, the 569 G. N.
Henderson Air Cadet Squadron, the veterans and
fire service personnel, and to principal BMC
coordinator/organizer, Bob Lawrence. The Baptist
Church Choir, led by director Belinda Adshade,
daughter of Ruth (Locke) and Leon Colburne, made
two presentations to large crowds, of their
musical, "Season of Joy" - very well done!
Reverend Keith Gale was overjoyed by the large
turnout at Middle Stewiacke United Church for
his covenanting service. A big tip of the cap to
the Cobequid Salmon Association for their
ongoing work on the Little River restoration.
This group has spent over $75,000 annually to
help restore salmon habitat in the river that
flows through Brookfield.
Unit 3 of the UCW want to extend their
thanks to all for their support of the 19th
annual Christmas House Tours. To homeowners Edna
Graham and the MacDonnell/Kennys at Shortts
Lake, the Senior's room at the Sportsplex, which
was transformed magically (and in less than 2
days!) by the Campbell sisters, Patsy, Nancy,
and Betty, and the Train Station Directors for
their North Pole creation, complete with Mrs.
Claus and the elves! All were very well done,
and added to the festive spirit. The Forest Glen
Greenhouses were breathtakingly beautiful;
thanks to the Thompson and Whidden families.
Gratitude also to the congenial drivers who
chauffeured many guests, the kitchen workers,
and, the musical entertainers. Thanks also
to the businesses, non-profit organizations,
clubs, and individuals who donated a huge
quantity of gifts for the Christmas Index
program. All combined to provide a great
kick-off to the Christmas season.
We were saddened to learn of
the passing of skilled woodworker, Howard Wile,
at 59, in Green's Creek. He was a brother-in-law
to Eric Sandeson. Colchester County lost a
legend when Lorne MacDougall passed in Truro
he served on numerous commissions and
arbitration panels, and was respected by all.
His son, John has been a long-serving member on
the Board of Directors at the Sportsplex. Helen
Kenrick, formerly of Middle Stewiacke, and
mother to Paul, Brian and Ruth died in Truro.
She was a veteran who proudly took part in
Remembrance Day Services. Our sympathies are
passed to his friends and family. We are hoping
for a positive outcome for Jordan Matheson who
suffered fractured vertebrae in an assault, and
has had some paralysis. Helene Henderson and
Leah Bowers both were hospitalized briefly.
The 78th(!!) edition of the
Brookfield Athletic Association's Sportsmens
Contest has wrapped up - the BAA would like to
thank all who took part, by buying/selling
tickets, helping weigh deer, or assisting when
asked. Special thanks to always community-minded
Roop's Esso for hosting the weigh scales, and
employees Koby Crowell, Anthony Rae, Travis
White, and Grahame Maguire. The Grand Prize
winners in the draw were: 1st Prize -
$25,000 - Joseph Murphy, Antigonish; 2nd prize -
2014 Can-Am ATV - Dave Heighton,
Riversdale; 3rd prize - $2,000 Atlantic
Superstore gift card - Vernon Slaunwhite,
Halifax; 4th Prize Honda generator or $
1,000 - Carl White, Springhill; 5th prize
- $500 - Paul d'Entremont,
Aspen. The heaviest buck weighed
242.5 lbs.; heaviest doe was 164.5; for a
complete list of prize winners, go to http://users.eastlink.ca/~elks
and click on Sports Draw.
South Colchester Academy
(SCA) Wolves senior girls and boys volleyball
teams both won Northumberland Regional Division
3 banners and advanced to the provincials. The
boys won the bronze at Middleton while the girls
finished fourth in Digby. Rene Despres was busy,
coaching both teams! The Boys team was Jacob
Bowers, Ryan Duykers, Jonathan Fisher, Garret
Johnson, Jacob McNutt, Dale Sheppard, Luke
Teasdale, Morgan Johnson, Connor Murdock,
Alexander Rhoddy, Jonathan Kaye, and Alex
Termeer. The Girls team had Alyssa Densmore,
Alexis Rains, Rachel Sears, Abby Devlin, Shanea
Fields, Rebecca Rankine, Erica Robertson, Hannah
Fisher, Olivia Hernden, and Jessica McClellan.
Athletes of the month at SCA for November were
volleyballers; Juniors - Hannah Crouse,
Mariah Hatfield, and Luke Fisher; Seniors -
Alexis Rains and Morgan Johnson.
Construction continues on a
new service bay area at Roop's Esso, allowing
more space for automotive work and retail space
in the existing building. Knox United is
installing a geothermal heating/cooling unit,
with 5000 feet of trenching/buried pipe in their
field just north of the church.
Brookfield
Elementary School will present their Christmas concert
on Wednesday December 10 - the evening
performance usually has an overflow crowd, so it
may be easier to attend the 1:00 show that
day! One of the better musical events of
the year is the Food Bank concert, at Knox on
Sunday December 21st, 7 PM - non-perishable
food and/or monetary donations both gratefully
accepted - come and treat your ears! The
Sportsplex held their annual general meeting,
and would like to thank outgoing director Kendra
Arseneau of Shortt's Lake for her valuable
service to the Board. New directors are Robert
Putnam, Jamie Reid, Wilma Schenkels, and Andrew
Sears - we are grateful for their
volunteerism. The Sportsplex' Chase the
Ace pot was claimed by Holly Dean who walked off
with $14,500!!! Those on her Christmas list are
excited! The Sportsplex will resume this
popular fundraiser on January 8. On Friday, December 12 at 6 pm, Knox
United Youth Group will be hosting a free movie night at Knox United for
all ages featuring FROZEN. Come out for some
popcorn and enjoy the movie! Knox United will host a
presentation by Brookfield s own Sarah
MacKenzie (parents, Donna and
Kim) about her time serving Youth With a Mission
in Mexico City, fighting against human
trafficking and bringing love to the broken
women, men and children who are affected by this
injustice on Sunday, December 14, at
6:30 pm. The 6th Annual
Cobequid/Glasgow New Horizons Bands Christmas
Concert will be held on
Tuesday, December 16, at 7:30 pm at The Marigold
Cultural Centre. Tickets are available at the
door for $10 each. All are welcome to the Brookfield Baptist Church's
Christmas Eve Service, with the music and
drama of "This Bethlehem Night", 6:30 PM,
Dec 24.
See you
at the BMC on December 15. Season's Greetings to all from the
Mens Club!!
