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January 2020
Volume 31, Issue 5
HAPPY NEW YEAR to our readers
far and wide - may it be a healthy, happy,
and fulfilling twelve months. Despite what
the mass media says, we are NOT embarking on
a new decade, but commencing the last year
of the second decade of the 2000s. So, the
Eagle will happily resist the urge to
publish any inane, and mathematically
incorrect "best of decade" lists, as the
newspapers, television networks, etc., can't
seemingly wait to do.
Last January, the Eagle gave
the provincial government a VERY generous 6
year time-frame to replace the Creamery
Brook bridge on Highway 289 - a year is in
the books, and nothing definite has come
from the province or the Department of
Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal.
An unofficial indication suggests work may
be slated for 2022, which, if honored, would
satisfy the ultimatum, but too-often dates
like this grow legs! So, the Brookfield
Mens' Club (BMC), the Brookfield Community
Assembly (BCA), and our local elected
representatives will continue to apply
pressure.
The BMC-ers enjoyed a
spirited Christmas meeting and party, led by
the program committee of John Matheson,
Charlie Burnett, Herb MacFarlane, and Don
Hamilton, who arranged a terrific lunch, a
carol sing, and several challenging
contests. Prexy Win Matheson mused that we
may need to provide a shuttle service to the
meetings, as the list of absentees was too
long?!? The missing were deprived of a
heaping dose of the Holiday spirit, and in
turn we missed them - we are confident that
improved attendance/less truancy is among
the members' New Year's resolutions!
The BMC
was delighted to oversee the Christmas
Decorations
Contest
- a van full of judges looking like
the Judean shepherds (surely not the
Wise Men??!?), travelled the area looking
for the perfect light! There was no
single star shining over a manger, but
several very worthy recipients of treasured
BMC citations: Best Magical Theme - Colin
and Jacqueline MacPhee of Cottage
Lane; Best Neo-Modern Theme - newer
Brentwood residents (Trunk 2) Brandon and
Katelyn David; Best Christmas Tree Theme -
Bev and Keiver Read, also on Trunk 2 in
Brentwood; Best Winter Scene - Stephen
Henderson and Tracey Williams of Densmore
Lane; Best Commercial - Brandt Lane
Apartments; Best Christmas Card Theme - Gord
and Myrna Matheson of Carter Rd.; Best
Religious Theme - Audrey MacDonald Hwy
289; Best Garden Theme - Betty Roop,
Hwy 289; and Best Overall - Brian and Sherry
Stewart, Hamilton Avenue. Much thanks to all
who beautified the village and environs -
the BMC tree and star at the "corner"
survived over six weeks of battering by the
gales.
The
Brookfield Athletic Association (BAA)
announced the winners of their 83rd Annual
Sports Draw and Hunt Contest - the hunt
portion, after the deer season closed in
December. The winners of large cash prizes
were: Heaviest buck - 252 lbs., bagged
with a muzzle loader, - Kevin Cooke of Great
Village; runners-up at 248.5 and 239,
respectively were Marty Henneberry of Sambro,
and Chad Atkinson of Shelburne. David White of
Salmon River had the Heaviest Buck with bow and arrow, and it
had the longest antler (28.5 inches). Tyler
Henneberry of Sambro had the rack with the
most points (29), and Rickey Gray of New Ross
had the widest antler (27"). Matt Boyd of
Tatamagouche had the largest doe (163 lbs.),
with Steve Brown of Upper Stewiacke on deck at
149 pounds. Lauren Cooke of Great Village took
home the Ladies heaviest at 142 lbs. The BAA
wants to thank all who participated buying and
selling tickets, and its many volunteers
(especially those who served as weighers), who
made the 83rd edition a great success, and
will enable the BAA to continue to sponsor the
many activities in our area!
The BAA encourages schools,
organizations, and/or individuals to submit
nominations to the Truro Sports Heritage
Society s Annual Awards more details
on their website or at the Marigold. These
should be submitted before the end of January.
Speaking of
contributors, thanks again to annual donors to
the Eagle, Ken and Sharon (Trenholm) Bird, who
sent their bulging Christmas card from
Thamesford, Ontario, where they eagerly await
each edition of the Ol' Bird's scratchings.
Thank you very much! Birthday wishes are
extended to two fine ladies of the community -
Edna Graham on her 90th and Freda
Sutherland on her 98th. Edna s
daughter Ivy (and spouse Frank) Haasen came
from Ontario, and eldest son Vernon (and)
Linda came from HRM.
How about Brent Walters! - the local
netminder (Glen, Susan) wore the Maple Leaf
sweater with distinction, backstopping
Canada's team to a Silver Medal at the
Deaflympics in Italy! Brent, who can be seen
in action Thursday nights as a Cruise
Missiles cage cop, was chosen Best
Goaltender at the event, and MVP of Canada's
penultimate game versus America. The red and
white fell a bit short to the U. S. in the
final, but Brent was stellar between the
pipes. Mum Susan made the trip, and toured
Milano and St. Moritz - no word if she
schussed in those Swiss Alps, past site of a
Winter Olympics, or trod the fashion runways
for Armani in the fashion capital!
Thanks to the organizers and the impressive
talent who made the Food Bank Concert a big
success - kudos to Producer Leah Bowers and
her team including sound engineer, Rod
Nielsen, and MC s Lisa Henderson and Joel
Dawe. Musical icons Joanne Hatfield and Tim
Ross, guided and supported many of the
performers. The entertainers were: Anna
Hamilton, Shelley MacLeod, Dale Fisher,
Wayne Hingley, Joanne's Ukulele group,
Village Blend, Anitra Whidden, Cherry Lane,
Chill n Sound, Sarah Alexander Williams,
Charles Bowers, Megan Isenor, Isabella
Johnson, Kayla Kennedy, Abby Fisher, Jake
Smyth, and the Middle Stewiacke United
Choir. The Don Henderson Memorial Sportsplex
Board of Directors will be capably led by
Chairman Jack Roop and Vice Chair Mark
Kennedy again in 2020 - it is terrific to
see their generation stepping up in
leadership roles for vital community
organizations. Other post-Boomers on the
Board are Alison Read, Jamie Reid, Andrew
Sears, Garth Perrin, Claudette McDonald, and
Pibb Henderson - well done folks! The BAA s
Annual Meeting put the bow on a fulfilling
year; and the organization is in a very
healthy position as it heads into 2020. Some
new younger, (<55!) blood would be an
important supplement to the current rump of
decision makers. Contact Julie (waltersjulie[@]gmail.com)
or Putty (rputnam[@]live.ca)
as to how you can become involved.
BMC
Past President Jim Feener and better half
Marlene went to Ontario to celebrate
Christmas with daughter Shelley and her
family. Paul Campbell, Sr. visited
eldest son Mac in Ottawa, while his sister
Betty Roop made her quarterly visit to
Sherry and Jay's in Hogtown. "Delta" Dawn
Carter-Henderson s chosen destination was
Alberta. Terry Canning and Krista McMullin
visited both their daughters; Janelle and
Joanna and families for the holidays in
British Columbia.
Our
village lost a couple of very
community-minded citizens (and dedicated
hockey players even into their 70s!) with
the passing of Upper Brookfielders Kevin
Clarke and Darrell Wright. Kevin was a
retired RCMP officer, and served several
years on the Sportsplex' Board of Directors
- he leaves wife Rosalynd, son Shawn, and
daughter Shannon McCallum. Darrell was one
of the softball Elks most ardent fans (as
well as the Maple Leafs), was a bastion in
the Baptist church, and an extremely kind
man. His wife Gail and their three sons
mourn his passing. Former Elks
Shortstop Dave Williams' Dad, Ralph died in
Milford - he was another 'salt-of-the-earth'
type. Winnie Bowers, mother to six,
including Carter Road's Charles, died in
Stewiacke. Former regular at the Brookfield
Golf Club, and at third base on ball
diamonds, Pat MacPhee, sister to Elkettes
star Annie Woodworth, died in Shubenacadie.
Betty and Jack Pratt s son, Derrick, died at
57 in Tatamagouche; and Ruby MacLean, mother
to Paulette Mattinson and Darlene Conway
passed away. Bev Read's mother, Mary
MacDonald died in PEI, and Elk Court
residents Christina Wilson (Lantz), Joyce
Stewart (Old Barns) passed away. Marilyn
McKillop s daughter Allison MacLeod died in
Truro. Two Dave's lost a parent - Burrows
Drive's Dave Percival's mother Marguerite,
died in Ontario, and Dave Butler's Dad,
Larry, passed away in Port Dufferin. Debbie
Ross' cousin, Tammy White died in North Noel
Road, and former Brookfield Little League
Dodgers' hurler, Marlin Tanner, brother to
Bev Gibbons died in Stewiacke. Brenda
(Peterson) Steele, originally from South
Branch, and sister to Bob, Jim, Wayne,
Connie, and others, died in Cape Breton. We
extend condolences to all who lost loved
ones.
The
Read kids (Troy, Meaghan, and Coady) were
home from Halifax and the West respectively
for their grandmother's funeral. Peter and
Katie Kennedy and boys came from the Land of
10,000 Lakes to spend Christmas with Larry,
Lynne, Mark and Jill Kennedy. Nice to see
Jim Willie Parks and gal pal Omi Gibba home
from Victoria at his Mum s (Judy MacKay).
Peter Campbell and family came from Ontario
to Brian and Gwen's; and the afore-mentioned
Ovsennys, with daughters Charlotte and Emily
were at Betty Roop's. Charlotte attended a
Missiles hockey game, and couldn't decide
who to cheer for - "I have an uncle on each
team ?!!". Andre Garneau and Kristen Stewart
and kids came from Quebec City to Patty
Stewart s. Delighted to have Tiffany
MacDonald and Chase Thomson back in the
village. She is grand-daughter of Marlene
Johnston of Bell Road - Tiffany is an
accomplished hockey player and is teaching
with Jill Sears at Bible Hill Elementary.
They are happy living in the former Marg
Osborne home on Trunk 2! Heather MacFarlane
and Greg Loewen and family from Maine
visited Herb and Betty MacFarlane.
Hospitalized were Matthew Miller s grandson
his partner Janet was effusive in her
praise for BFES for their rapid and skilled
response to the medical emergency. Young
Madeline Sill (Bob, Aschaelle) needed
hospital care for a long-lingering bronchial
condition. Geraldine Hamilton, who lives in
the Sunset Court apartments, had hip surgery
after a fall.
The
South Colchester Community Health Board
and Colchester County s Recreation
Department are presenting a Try It Day,
on the holiday Monday, February 17 at
the Sportsplex. From 1-3 PM you
can have a go at skating, ringette, curling,
sledging, and snowshoeing!! Please dress for
the weather if snowshoeing, most equipment
will be provided (skate sizes limited for
adults). Prizes to be won; light snacks
available. From 3-4 P.M. there will be
Family Skating. There is also Family
Skating every Sunday until March 22 at the
Sportsplex from 4 5:30 P.M. Get
active and enjoy the season; it will make
winter fly by!
The February 17 meeting of the BMC will
be their Anniversary Meeting and Dinner;
note the special start time of 6:30. All members,
as well as any members of the public wishing
to attend MUST reserve their seat and
meal, by contacting Club Secretary Mike
Henderson (mdhenderson[@]eastlink.ca
, 673-2769) BEFORE February 13. Last year saw
40 BMC-ers, family, and community members
enjoy the dinner and proceedings. Menu and
price TBD at this time, but save the date.
This dinner will follow by a few days Knox
Church's Valentine Dessert Extravaganza
- watch for announcements on that in the near
future. After these two feasts, the SCA
Fitness Centre may be seeing more
visitors! - the gym is open free-of-charge
on days school is open (Mon-Fri, 5:30-8
PM) - contact Colchester County's
Recreation Department for more details.
The Brookfield
Curling Club will host an
open-to-all Bonspiel
on Saturday February 8 - this
low-cost, low - pressure event promises lots
of smiles. Other upcoming events at the BCC
include their giant
auction on Saturday February 29 -
come enjoy food and beverage, and get some
great buys - doors
open at 6:30, bidding at 7:30.
Other BCC events include the Mayor's Challenge (Feb.
1) the St. Paddy's Day spiel on
March 21 and the grand-daddy of them all, the
31st Annual Great
Community Curling Classic, March 27-29;
reserve your spot as one of the 128 curlers in
the GCCC now! The BCC has enjoyed success in
the inter-club play, recently posting away
victories against Truro (3-0-1) and Windsor
(6-1-1); the return matches
at the Sportsplex are January 24 and 31
respectively. Drop in and watch 9:30 A.M.
starts.
President Susan Stevenson advises of lots of
activity at the All
Around the Circle Seniors Club
at the Sportsplex. Joyful Chair Yoga
continues Monday and Thursdays at 10;15 AM,
cost only $5, Card parties (Crib, 45s) go
every Wednesday at 7: 30 PM. The Good Time
Fiddlers practice every Friday (excepting
last one in month), 10 AM, and the
Brookfield Garden Club gathers there the
second Tuesday of each month at 7 PM - new
members welcome! The monthly AAtC luncheon
will be Tuesday January 21 at 12 noon.
Plan now to answer "Here" to
the BMC roll call on Monday January 20, 7:30
PM; or Win may hunt you down!
The
Eagle.
Interact
with neighbours at the Village of
Brookfield, Nova Scotia facebook group
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