The Telegram

Province accepting applications for accessible taxi program grants

Tue, 29 Aug 2017 13:09:42 EDT

Through the program, taxi operators will be able to improve the accessibility of their vehicle fleet.

A news release states that the Accessible Taxi Program will provide two grants of up to $25,000 each in 2017-18 to individuals, companies or agencies that are able to commit to delivering an accessible taxi service on a 24/7 basis.

Grants will be provided to successful candidates to assist with costs of retrofitting a taxi vehicle to meet accessibility standards or to assist with the purchase of a new taxi vehicle which can accommodate passengers with mobility devices such as wheelchairs and scooters.

Grant recipients will be selected based on who can best demonstrate local demand for an accessible taxi, along with their ability to provide such a service.

The deadline for applications is 4 p.m., Sept. 21.

“Through the Accessible Taxi Program, our government continues to remove barriers and support inclusion throughout Newfoundland and Labrador,” Lisa Dempster, minister responsible for the Status of Persons with Disabilities.

“This program has been very successful to date and accessible taxi services are continuing to grow throughout the province. Having accessible transportation is essential to participate fully in society, and this program enables even more taxi companies to provide a broader range of transportation options.”

More information on the Accessible Taxi Program, including program guidelines, is available at 709-729-6048, toll-free 1-888-729-6279, TTY 1-709-729-5000 or toll-free TTY 1-888-729-5440, or text 709-725-6344.

Paradise Intermediate to open off McNamara Drive in 3-4 years

telegram@thetelegram.com (Telegram Staff) — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 12:59:00 EDT

The school, which will be for grades five to eight, is expected to open at some point during the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

Two million dollars were allocated in Budget 2017 to get the planning and design of the school started.

NSO, guests to feature entire ‘Sergeant Pepper’ album at major fundraiser

telegram@thetelegram.com (Telegram Staff) — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 12:47:25 EDT

The orchestra is teaming up with Art of Time Ensemble for the NSO ExxonMobil Big Ticket fundraiser, taking place Oct. 27 at the Arts and Culture Centre in St. John’s.

The concert will feature the music of The Beatles’ “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album, performed by Art of Time — with Sloan’s Chris Murphy, The Skidiggers’ Andy Maize and pianist Andrew Burashko — and the entire orchestra.

“This is going to be an amazing night of entertainment as acclaimed Canadian performers Art of Time and the NSO perform the entire Sergeant Pepper album along with a few surprises,” Hugh Donnan, CEO of the NSO, said in a news release.

“This fundraiser is a very important one for the NSO and it will be a full evening of festivities. After the concert we will hold a reception in the concourse of the theatre, with food and beverages, all included as part of your ticket.” 

The NSO ExxonMobil Big Ticket fundraising concert is expected to become an annual event, taking the place of the NSO Gala and NSO Silver Ball.

Tickets are $125, and $75 tax receipts for the charitable portion can be provided. To purchase a ticket or for more information, call 722-4441.

TechnipFMC wins contract for West White Rose project

telegram@thetelegram.com (Telegram Staff) — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 12:04:36 EDT

According to a news release from Technip, the company will supply and installation of subsea equipment, including tie-in manifolds, flexible flowlines and control umbilicals. The latter will connect the West White Rose platform to the SeaRose floating, production, storage, and offloading vessel.

“TechnipFMC is honored to be awarded the next phase in the Husky White Rose field development,” said Hallvard Hasselknippe, president of subsea projects for TechnipFMC, in the release.

“It continues TechnipFMC’s strong positioning within Canada’s East Coast offshore industry.”

The main White Rose field is at the eastern edge of the Jeanne d’Arc Basin, about 350 km east of St. John’s.

Forgery charges dismissed against Marystown Mayor Sam Synard

Tue, 29 Aug 2017 09:47:00 EDT

The 57-year-old veteran municipal leader was charged in July over an allegation he forged an affidavit. He entered a not guilty plea earlier this month at Grand Bank Provincial Court. The trial took place Tuesday.

'Marystown Mayor Sam Synard charged with forgery'

Visit the Southern Gazette's website later today for more on this story.

St. John’s-based Choices for Youth aims to expand reach across N.L.

telegram@thetelegram.com (Telegram Staff) — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 09:58:12 EDT

The St. John’s-based organization assists more than 1,200 young people every year through a variety of programs, and is now hoping to extend its reach to other areas of the province.

“We know that many of the young people we serve in St. John’s are from communities all over the province, and we also know that many of these young people would be better served if they could stay closer to home. We’re looking forward to meeting people from the area who are interested in working together to help make this happen,” said Joshua Smee, the organization’s provincial expansion co-ordinator.

Forums on the island have been scheduled for Stephenville (Sept. 6), Corner Brook (Sept. 7), St. Anthony (Sept. 11), Grand Falls-Windsor (Sept. 13), Marystown (Sept. 14), Carbonear (Sept. 18), and Conception Bay South (Sept. 26). Forums in Labrador will be scheduled for later in the fall.

Anyone is welcome to attend.

For more information or to register, visit www.choicesforyouth.ca/regionalsessions.

Funerals for four people killed in TCH crash set for later this week

telegram@thetelegram.com (Telegram Staff) — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 09:06:47 EDT

Sarah Anne Stride, 18, died this week in a collision on the Trans-Canada Highway. Her funeral will be held in Lewisporte Friday.

Michael Ernest Ryan, 41, Paula Marie Ryan (Vivian), 34, and their 11-year-old son Michael Anthony Wallace Ryan of Topsail will take place Thursday morning at Christ the King Church in Southern Harbour, Placentia Bay.

All three died in the accident when their SUV, which was heading east, crossed the centre line into the west-bound lane, police say.

Sarah Anne Stride, 18, the driver of the other SUV who is said to be from the Burin Peninsula, was also killed as a result of the collision that happened on the TCH near Chapel Arm exit at around 5 p.m.

A 16-year-old male, the passenger in the SUV with the 18-year-old woman, was critically injured and was taken to hospital in St. John’s.

The Ryan’s funeral notice ended with, "Those we love can never be more than a thought away...for as long as there's a memory they live in our hearts to stay."

On her Facebook page, Paula’s mother, Dianne Sexton said, “I am sitting here this Morning with My heart torn to Shreads.... Theres no other word for it... My Soul is Gone .. with what Life that I have right now.. is going to need all of my Friends & Families Support.”

Stride’s funeral is set for Friday morning at the Salvation Army Church in Lewisporte.

Her obituary stated, "Sarah Anne was one of a kind; her smile could light up a room. She was vivacious, fearless, always willing to try something new. She was fun-loving, caring and a champion for the special needs and less fortunate. Her love for animals was undeniable; her cat Hunter received more love and squishing than anyone else. She loved make up and fashion which caused storage issues in her closet. Sarah Anne was a lover of the arts... especially music and musical Theatre which she was a big part of at school."

telegram@thetelegram.com

Scope: all things industrial

Tue, 29 Aug 2017 07:55:47 EDT

What are your signature products/services?

Fred Wheeler doing maintenance on a Husqvarna lawn tractor.

Office Manager Sarah Gill says the company is a Stihl Dealer and a Husqvarna Dealer. They also operate a small-engine service shop. “We repair all brands of outdoor power equipment. We also have a Janitorial division; we carry a wide array of janitorial supplies and industrial cleaners for all types of businesses as well as supplies for fish plants.

What is the secret to your success?

MS170 Chainsaw - The most popular STIHL product

Excellent Customer Service and we actually answer the phones!

What brands (equipment, parts) do you carry?

Husqvarna, Stihl, MTD, Yard Machines, Yard Man, Briggs & Straton, Poulan & Jonsered, to name a few. And we have too many janitorial brands to list!

What inspires you to be the best in your field?

Peter Meldrum, one of The Scope Industrial Team, at the Husqvarna display.

Through a teamwork process, we strive to provide consistent high quality customer service in a timely manner while keeping the customer’s complete satisfaction as our goal. We always continue to improve our organization as we work towards meeting and exceeding our client’s expectations.

People are Surprised to know …

That we carry so many janitorial supplies. And our prices are very competitive too. We have sales people on the ground ready to quote for your organization or business.

Contributions to the community?

Support Local! We contribute to local sports teams and we also give back to our local customers for community fundraisers.

Don’t leave our business without trying …

Location: 858 Torbay Road.

A tune-up on your snow blower or lawnmower. You’ll be surprised what a little tender loving care can do for your outdoor power equipment!

Scope Industrial
858 Torbay Road,
Torbay, NL.
Telephone 709-364-4452.
Toll free: 1-8977-964-4452.
www.scopeindustrial.ca

Always in Vogue

Tue, 29 Aug 2017 07:49:54 EDT

At Always In Vogue, you aren’t only buying a jacket, you are buying a garment that is guaranteed to be top quality. That guarantee is backed up by 50 years of remarkable history. Darren Halloran explains that the family-owned business has always put quality and service at the forefront. And they won’t comprise on either. Always in Vogue’s fur jackets and coats, footwear, handbags – and more – are known far and wide. The products are bywords in comfort and style.

What are your signature products/services?

Darren Halloran says Always in Vogue creates quality, high-end outdoor clothing and accessories. They offer made-to-measure services that assure the perfect fit for each and every customer.

What is the secret to your success?

“I have to say it’s service. And along with this exemplary service, we create apparel that becomes a source of pride to the owner of the garment. We have been building on this kind of valued policy for more than half a century.”

What brands do you carry?

“In addition to our own ‘Always in Vogue’ (AVI) brand, we carry Mallia cashmere clothing. That is a world-renowned name in apparel.”

What inspires you to be the best in your field?

“We have always taken pride in our customizing – we’ve been offering the service for over 40 years. We put our customers in coats and jackets made only for them. We take exacting measurements and then design and create the item here at our St. John’s store. It’s fair to say each of us is proud of what we make.

People are Surprised to know

Kathy shows a Sealfur Blanket created at Always in Vogue from scraps, and trimmings of in different shades. Surprisingly the blanket is light and cozy. It measures 5 x 8 ft.

That all our seal products are made in-house. Also … that we launched our business in Sydney, Cape Breton back in 1964. We have been based here in St. John’s some 33 years and we have a store in Moncton. We have grown to embrace more customers much farther afield too, with a store in Shenyang, a city of over 8 million people in China. Customers’ measurements are conveyed to us here in St. John’s where we tailor-make our coats and jackets. We do repairs and cleaning too, and we have a vault where we can store furs in the off-season.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Making quality fur items for my little girl! Presley is not yet two but she already has a wardrobe of custom-fitted items.

Contributions to the community

We are always committed to helping local charities.

Don’t leave our business without …

Darren and daughter Presley.

Having your measurements taken and allowing us to quote you on a jacket or coat. Remember, we offer apparel in cloth (cashmere), leather, and seal and mink furs – in fact, all furs.

Always In Vogue
167 Water St.
St. John’s, NL, CA
A1C 1B1
Phone: (709) 722-9432
Email: admin@alwaysinvogue.ca

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Sew Many Stitches

Tue, 29 Aug 2017 07:42:10 EDT

What are your signature products and services?

Donna MacTavish (left) and Valerie Northover matching threads with fabrics.

We carry Brother sewing machines and we are a representative for APQS (American Professional Quilting Systems). We are the only location in Newfoundland and Labrador to offer long-arm certification and rental services. With technicians on our team, we service all brands of machines on-site. We carry an extensive inventory for quilting but if there’s something you need and we don’t have it, we can likely find it for you.

What is the secret to your success?

I’d say it’s passion! Quilting is so satisfying. And I consider it an honour when people bring me their quilts to ἀnish. I think it’s fair to say we have a solid reputation for being supportive and helpful in this craft.

What brands do you carry?

Elsa Flack using a Brother NQ700 Machine.

We carry Brother machines and accessories, APQS equipment, Arrow and Kangaroo sewing tables and cabinets and a whole variety of brand-names in notions and other tools of the craft.

What inspires you to be the best in your field?

The love of the craft and the satisfaction of creating something. I love teaching and sharing knowledge. And quilt-making is such a rewarding activity - I never tire of seeing people with their finished work and the expression on their faces when they say “I made this!”

People are surprised to know

How big the quilting industry is. It is known by every culture and it is worldwide ... it is ancient and yet modern. Here at Sew Many Stitches, we lean toward modern.

What is your guilty Pleasure?

I don’t get to do a lot of sewing any more, so I thoroughly enjoy times when I can do it – I enjoy fabric-shopping too. And as to this question, you know what? If it’s a pleasure – don’t feel guilty!

Contributions to the community?

A quilt by Debbie Northover. Its name? “Hieroglyphics”.

There are guilds that make quilts for charity so we offer the long-arm work on those. We also refurbish older machines and will donate them to local organizations such as Iris Kirby House and the Association for New Canadians. The quilts that we complete in our certification classes are lap and wheelchair size and these will also be donated to various charities.

Don’t leave our business without trying ...

A fabric collection display including quilt pattern (a quilt kit), place mats and a variety of other items.

Test sew on a Brother machine...they are smooth, quiet, and very user friendly. Try the long-arm machine. It can take a quilter up to 10 hours to finish a quilt on their domestic machine. On the long-arm you can be done in 3 hours effortlessly. The machines are ergonomically designed and float across the quilt with ease, every stitch perfectly regulated.

Sew Many Stitches
62 Pippy Place
St. John’s
Tel. 709-237-3655.
Email: info@sewmanystitches.ca
Website: sewmanystitches.ca

HOURS
Weekdays 10:00 to 5:00.
Monday & Wednesday evenings 7:00 to 9:30
Saturday 10:00 to 4:00
Open Sundays when special workshops are held.

PitCrew Topsail Road

Tue, 29 Aug 2017 07:34:05 EDT

The two-site business was planned and built by Hubert Alacoque, principal consultant at Innovative Development and Design in St. John’s. The first was opened in 2004 at 649 Topsail Road, St. John’s (near the junction of Burgeo Street). Such was the success of the service that Alacoque opened another on Major’s Path, St. John’s, at the junction with Torbay Road. Today, he owns and operates the business with the assistance of a manager and two experienced and skilled on-site teams.

What is your signature product/service?

Drive-thru oil change service, vehicle detailing and rust proofing. Those are our three prime services at each location.

What is the secret to your success?

Customer service and branded products.

What brands do you carry?

We use several well-known and proven brands in our work, including Quaker State, Chevron Havoline, Penzoil and Royal Purple motor oils and Fram filters.

What’s your inspiration to be the best?

We are dedicated to giving fast, professional service and good – in fact, very competitive – prices. I like to make the point that if we do your car in five minutes, then no more time was needed!

People are surprised to know …

They usually think we are a franchise. Actually, we are a two-location local company. Apart from that, people are often surprised to see that we do drive-through.

Contributions to the community?

At PitCrew we believe in supporting our community - we don’t believe in sending money out of the community! Locally we contribute to various sports teams.

PitCrew maintenance services include engine oil changes, air filter replacement, transmission services, radiator services, air filter replacement, SUV and 4x4 services, starting and charging system diagnostic serviced, bulb replacement and we also have rust-proofing services.

Vehicle detailing includes full service car wash, interior vacuum, shampoo and detailing, exterior hand wash and wax.

PitCrew Drive thru services
649 Topsail Road,
St. John’s.
Tel. 747-2739 Ext. 1.
Major’s Path
(at junction with Torbay Road)
St. John’s
Tel. 747-2739 Ext. 2
Visit www.pitcrewdrivethrough.com

Washington fish spill ‘a sad case of déjà vu,’ NL-CAR says

telegram@thetelegram.com (Telegram Staff) — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 07:23:11 EDT

White, a spokesperson the Newfoundland and Labrador Coalition for Aquaculture Reform (NL-CAR), said the escape of 305,000 Atlantic salmon on the west coast is “a sad case of déjà vu.”

“This type of negligence and large escapes have occurred from day one in Newfoundland with severe and irreversible consequences,” he said in a news release.

NL-CAR points to several fish spills, including the loss of tens of thousands of fish from a Cooke Aquaculture plant in hermitage Bay in 2013. Originally estimated at 20,000, the Liberals — in opposition at the time — said closer to 50,000 were lost.

“The Liberal release asked if the government was ‘being responsible stewards of our wild stocks, or have they sold out to the aquaculture industry,’” NL-CAR said.

“Now the Liberals have come full circle embracing a failed open-net pen technology. NL-CAR has several times requested a meeting with the premier and related ministers to no avail.”

NL-CAR says the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) estimated in 2013 that the number of escaped salmon, trout and char in Newfoundland was about 750,000. Interbreeding has been confirmed through genetic testing in 17 of 18 rivers on the south coast, and the Atlantic salmon population there is being considered for “threatened” status.

“What has happened in Washington, and what continues to happen here in Newfoundland underscores the need for all new aquaculture proposals to complete a full environmental assessment,” White said.

Recently, the provincial government decided to appeal the Supreme Court’s ruling that a full environmental assessment be done in the case of a proposed aquaculture project in Placentia Bay. NL-CAR sees that project as a huge risk.

“The company, Grieg NL, has plans to place seven million fish in vulnerable net-pens in Placentia Bay. In the winter of 2017 Placentia Bay was full of ice. If the Grieg net pens had been in place there would have been seven million farmed salmon escaped into this sensitive environment,” NL-CAR said.

Disturbance in east end of St. John’s leads to charges against 31-year-old man

telegram@thetelegram.com (Telegram Staff) — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 06:28:07 EDT

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says a 31-year-old man was arrested after someone reported the disturbance around 9 p.m. Along with criminal harrassment and break and enter, he was charged with breaching a court order.

The man was kept in custody overnight with a court appearance expected in the morning.

Potential tropical cyclone expected to reach Canadian waters as post-tropical system

telegram@thetelegram.com (Telegram Staff) — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 06:07:19 EDT

Tuesday morning, Potential Tropical Cyclone Ten was just off the coast of the southeastern U.S.

“Regardless of whether or not this system gets named today, its energy will develop into an intense post/extra-tropical system as it tracks northeastward across southern Canadian waters later on Wednesday and Thursday,” the weather statement reads.

Most of the rain from the system and the strongest winds will likely remain offshore, but some rain and gusty winds could touch southeastern Newfoundland and Nova Scotia Thursday. Ocean swells of up to three metres could also reach those coastal areas.

Environment Canada says gale- to storm-force winds will affect Canadian marine waters, with the potential for hurricane-force winds over extreme southern areas.

An update is expected Tuesday afternoon. For up-to-date weather information, visit weather.gc.ca.

This story has been updated.

Editorial: Going to extremes

Tue, 29 Aug 2017 04:51:00 EDT

You can’t be the head of a government in a state or a province without having a clear understanding that, at any time, you might be facing a calamity as serious as the one unfolding in Texas right now.

It might not be as large and dramatic, but the risk is always there that your action, or more precisely, your inaction, might cost someone their life. It could be as simple as last winter’s ice storm in New Brunswick, or Newfoundland and Labrador’s 2014 “Dark NL,” when the power grid collapsed on the island part of the province.

It must always be in the back of your mind: the need to prepare for the worst.

Earlier this month, a group of U.S. scientists released the draft report of the Fourth National Climate Assessment — it’s been suggested that the report was released in draft form to ensure that it wouldn’t be altered for political purposes.

What it points out is that governments have to be prepared not only to face extreme weather events, but to expect them more frequently, and to expect them to be more severe.

“Extreme precipitation events will very likely continue to increase in frequency and intensity throughout most of the world,” the report said. “For Atlantic and eastern North Pacific hurricanes and western North Pacific typhoons, increases are projected in precipitation rates and intensity. The frequency of the most intense of these storms is projected to increase in the Atlantic…” (That sounds strangely prophetic, given this weekend’s events in Houston, but bear in mind, Houston is one storm, and the report is referring to the long-term direction our climate is taking.)

The report has other concerns as well: snowpack melt in the west, increased incidence of large forest fires in the west and northern U.S. It also points out that Atlantic and Gulf Coast cities have seen an increase in minor nuisance flooding — not major floods, but still with considerable localized damage — by five to 10 times over what they saw just a few decades ago. “Tidal flooding will continue increasing the depth, frequency and extent this century,” the report says.

Perhaps the governors and premiers talked about that, too, about the fact that infrastructure that used to be sufficient for rainfall and coastal flooding isn’t up to the task anymore, and that more and more dollars have to be directed towards improving and increasing mitigation measures.

Or maybe, like they had originally said they would, they talked cross-border trade.

Long term-infrastructure planning in a changing world isn’t sexy.

It doesn’t earn you instant votes.

It does save lives.

Russell Wangersky: The ones that got away

rwanger@thetelegram.com (Russell Wangersky) — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 04:45:00 EDT

Russell Wangersky

They bring shellfish and finfish to market, species grown fat and large by aquatic farm husbandry.

Mussels and oysters hang in socks from ropes beneath buoys, salmon and sometimes steelhead trout swim in circles in ocean cages.

The mussels, however, stay in one place, attached by the sticky strands know as byssus threads, their own special strong yet stretchy bungee cords. The oysters aren’t going far, either, at least not after they turn from free-floating larvae to oyster seed.

But the finfish?

Well, they can be quite a bit more transitory, a fact that became particularly clear last week after a west coast salmon farm, filled with 300,000 fish weighing 3 million pounds, came apart two weekends ago. The farm was owned by Cooke Aquaculture Pacific, a subsidiary of New Brunswick’s Cooke Aquaculture, which now has operations in Canada, the U.S., Scotland, Uruguay, Chile and Argentina.

It’s not clear how many fish got away into Puget Sound, but fishermen are currently allowed to take as many fish as they can catch, with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife saying in a statement, “State salmon managers are encouraging anglers to fish for thousands of Atlantic salmon that escaped recently from a salmon farm near the San Juan Islands.”

Putting fish into the oceans in pens is one thing: trying to find them after there’s been a catastrophic pen collapse is something else again.

Most interesting?

Perhaps that the stated cause of the collapse — an eclipse-related tidal and current pulse overwhelming the facility — might not have happened. The company said in a news release that, “Exceptionally high tides and currents caused damage to a salmon farm that has been in operation near Cypress Island for approximately 30 years.”

But consider these two paragraphs from a Seattle Times article on tides the day of the collapse: “Parker MacCready, an oceanographer at the University of Washington, noted tide data do not support the company’s claim. ‘The data speak for themselves: there were large tidal ranges around the day of the eclipse, but not out of the ordinary, and in fact they were smaller than during some recent months.’

“Jonathan White, author of ‘Tides the Science and Spirit of the Ocean’ (Trinity University Press, 2017), said there were 105 tides this year as large or larger than those experienced over the weekend. ‘If they were not prepared for this tide, they were not prepared for any tide,’ he said.”

It’s a catastrophe worth watching, even as aquaculture expansion continues on this side of North America. A subsidiary of a Norwegian aquaculture giant, Grieg NL, is planning an unprecedentedly large salmon venture for Newfoundland’s Placentia Bay, and the government of the province is going back to court to try and overturn a legal decision requiring all aspects of the project to undergo full environmental assessment. The site would be one of the biggest farmed salmon ventures in Canada, with a larger and newer cage technology and a type of triploid salmon not grown in the region before.

Meanwhile, Washington State’s governor, Jay Inslee, has ordered the state’s Department of Ecology to put all applications for permits for salmon net-rearing cages on hold until further notice.

What do you need for safe aquaculture? The best and the most accurate information possible, up front and public and open for review. Regular, ongoing and thorough inspections of the physical aspects of the facilities, as well as their operations, methods, and any treatment of their stock with drugs or other materials.

You earn trust. You shouldn’t expect it.

Aquaculture pens and lines may lie peaceful in our waters; government oversight can’t.

Russell Wangersky’s column appears in 35 SaltWire newspapers and websites in Atlantic Canada. He can be reached at rwanger@thetelegram.com — Twitter: @wangersky.

Letter: Heritage will be the loser in this election

Tue, 29 Aug 2017 04:30:00 EDT

If these are the only candidates who offer themselves, we may as well cross off “the oldest city in North America” as a viable description of the character of this city. There would be nothing left after four years of such a regime.

Judy Gibson
St. John’s

Letter: Hydro is prudent in managing risk

Tue, 29 Aug 2017 04:30:00 EDT

The Bay d’Espoir generating facility provides about half of the power needed across the island every day. The safe and effective operation of the facility is essential to the integrity of our provincial electricity system.

In October 2016, hurricane Matthew brought intense rainfall, causing significant flooding and damage to roads and other infrastructure, particularly in southern and central parts of the island. Roads leading to the plant and spillway in the Bay d’Espoir area were washed out and completely impassable. As a result, land access was cut off to a key water management structure. This was an unprecedented situation in the operation of the facility, which just marked its 50^th anniversary.

Water levels were rising overnight into Oct. 11. The Long Pond reservoir levels were being closely monitored remotely on Hydro’s energy management system, and it was determined that the rate of rise allowed time to have personnel helicoptered in the following day to open the spillway gates to release water. However, the lack of access presented a new risk to the management of the hydroelectric facilities, particularly if poor weather conditions had persisted at the time, delaying access by air and causing reservoir levels to rise more rapidly.

Hydro reviews operational risks and, as circumstances change or new information is available, we will propose new measures to mitigate new risks. The loss of access to, and therefore operation of, the Salmon River gate structure was a new risk not previously encountered. Based on this experience, Hydro proposed to the regulator that a system be installed to allow the spillway gates to be controlled remotely as exists at other structures. We believe this is a prudent capital investment that enhances operational effectiveness of the facility and minimizes risk.   

While the rising reservoir level during hurricane Matthew ultimately did not reach a point that posed an immediate threat to dam structures, there were certainly increased risks given the circumstances. These are precisely the kinds of risks for which Hydro, as the utility responsible for managing our electricity assets safely and responsibly, must plan and mitigate where possible based on our experience operating the system.

Jennifer Williams
Vice-president, production
Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro

Letter: A man with a great heart

Tue, 29 Aug 2017 04:30:00 EDT

Potholes on Highway 91.

It was too late to detour when two of my car’s right tires were broken by a pothole on Highway 91 en route to Cape St. Mary’s ecological reserve in Newfoundland. Tears broke out from my daughter Samantha’s eyes when she realized that we were stranded on the road. She desperately waved to a car passing by till it stopped. The driver, Gordon Collins, was a man around 60 years old and who lives in Mount Pearl. He realized what happened and told me the name of a car service shop 10 minutes down the road. As I had no telephone number for the service station, he voluntarily drove back there and gave me the phone number of another car repairman the store suggested. However, when I called and realized it was not possible for the car repairman to come, Gordon said, “I won’t leave you stranded on the road.”

John Huang (left) and Gordon Collins.

He then helped me to change a spare tire to the back and spoke with another man passing by who voluntarily replaced my broken front tire with a used one, which eventually made me possible to drive back to St. John’s.

Gordon refused any cash I offered him for the big help. We were deeply touched by the very friendly Newfoundland people. “We’ve seen many beautiful things on this island: the whales, the birds, and the iceberg,” I told Samantha, “but what is the most beautiful is not the iceberg, it is the great heart of people here!”

John Huang
Halifax

Letter: City of St. John’s salaries, spending out of whack

Tue, 29 Aug 2017 04:30:00 EDT

I am not aware of what any of the new candidates seeking election stand for. I have seen few produce a platform upon which we can judge their candidacy. How will their election help the city move forward? How do they feel about residential and commercial taxation? How do they feel about employee salaries and benefits? I believe the salary and benefit increases to the city’s unionized employees are passed on to the non-unionized employees as well. If this is true, what incentive or motivation is there for city directors — the city manager and a tier of assistant city managers who form part of the bargaining committee of the city — to firmly negotiate a fair settlement with the union if they know that regardless they will or historically have received the same benefits?

The settlements already negotiated, especially the latest increases of 18 per cent compounded over four years, are excessively high. These increases are 3.5 to 4.5 times the rate of inflation. The raises are going to people who also have a defined benefit pension. I have been negotiating collective agreements for close to 40 years and I have never seen anything like this.

The argument to justify these increases is that “new employees” will no longer be in a defined benefit pension plan but a defined contribution plan. Well, don’t expect the savings to flow in anytime soon as a miniscule number of people leave the employ of the city because their existing salaries and benefits can’t be matched elsewhere, and I mean in the provincial government, federal government or the private sector.

The accumulation of sick leave benefits by employees, especially management personnel, is ridiculous. Sick leave is a benefit all employees should have, but no employee pays for this benefit and therefore it costs them nothing to benefit from it. Why would those same employees receive a monetary benefit for not using a reserved benefit that costs them nothing in the first place when they leave the employ of the city?

I have great concerns about the city’s ability to address infrastructure needs. The streets are in a deplorable condition, yet according to one mayoral candidate, 57 per cent of every dollar collected by the city goes to service salaries and benefits and everything else has to be addressed by the 43 per cent remaining. Should this ratio, if correct, not be at least reversed?

Metrobus is a bureaucracy we must address, with 70 passenger buses running through the city occupied fractionally most of the time. Yet there are musings from some current councillors about new electric buses. Perhaps we could reduce the number of buses serving the city and not look to increase routes. With the current subsidy from council general revenues exceeding $10 million annually to Metrobus, the whole system should be more open to public review.

I have some thoughts on what concerns developers have in getting projects approved. We need more economic activity around here.
The legal department of the city has grown, yet any significant legal issues to which the city is a party, and the costs related to the defence or prosecution of those issues, are farmed out to outside counsel at significant cost. Should we ask why? Should we re-examine the role of the city’s legal department?

Whether you are a current member of council running for re-election or a new candidate, the status quo is not an option. The rates of taxation are too high for both residential and commercial taxpayers.

I would appreciate some feedback from incumbent and prospective councillors and mayoral candidates as to where they stand on these subjects.

Charles Elton
St. John’s

Lone occupant unharmed in fire at Corner Brook residence

gkean@thewesternstar.com (Gary Kean) — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 22:30:00 EDT

The Corner Brook Fire Department encountered heavy smoke upon responding, but quickly located and extinguished the fire in a crawl space in the furnace area of the basement. Deputy Chief Craig Harnum said there was some light fire damage, but more extensive smoke and water damage to both the upstairs and downstairs apartments.

The home’s occupant has been displaced and, according to the RNC, was being assisted by the Canadian Red Cross.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is investigating the fire and no cause had been determined as of deadline Monday.

Coastal erosion a real concern at Shoal Point: Ontario couple

fgale@thewesternstar.com (Frank Gale) — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 22:30:00 EDT

During the past winter coastal erosion resulted in their shed being toppled over because more than six feet of the embankment was eaten away. Now this just leaves twelve and a half feet from the bank to their cabin, which they purchased 10 years ago.

She said the cabin was originally a fishing facility and the shed housed fishing gear. When they purchased the property that had about 30 feet of land from the beach and there was a gradual incline to the shore. Now if they want to go down to the shore they have to do so on a ladder.

Smith said there was a huge fishing stage and it was scary to see that rip up from its moorings and take off down the beach during a storm when they were home one summer.

They also have a capstan that was located near the stage and they’re after moving that twice. She believes their soon going to have to move their cabin further inland but said that will be a difficult task since its located atop a peat moss marsh.

Smith said losing six feet of land is the biggest loss they’ve seen in one winter and while there were several spots to come up on the land on all-terrain vehicles from the beach in the past, neither of those exist any longer.

She said the next cabin down, owned by Herman Marche, has a pier that was shored up with rock cribs and that didn’t even work as the water came up behind it.

“The rate of erosion is a real concern here,” Smith said of Shoal Point.

The couple originally brought the concerns of oil seepage into Port au Port Bay five years ago and she said despite the temporary fix back in the fall of 2015, the oil is still dripping out at a fairly rapid rate from the middle well, which used to be on land.

The Port au Port Fishery Committee has met with provincial government officials on the issue and government is leaning towards a permanent fix with help from the Federal Government; however, it is yet to be determined whether or not that help will come.

Ontario couple claim aging pipes releasing petroleum at Shoal Point

Dump truck collides with travel trailer in Corner Brook

gkean@thewesternstar.com (Gary Kean) — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 22:30:00 EDT

The 50-year-old woman who was driving a pickup truck that was towing the trailer was taken to Western Memorial Regional Hospital with what the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary believed to be minor injuries.

According to police, the pickup and trailer were entering the Lewin Parkway from Cpl. Pinksen Memorial Drive when it was struck by the dump truck that was travelling along the parkway.

The dump truck driver was not hurt and his vehicle received only minor damage.

Contractor suing Steady Brook, consultant for water project contract work

gkean@thewesternstar.com (Gary Kean) — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 22:30:00 EDT

In a statement of claim filed in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in Corner Brook in February, Pittman’s Enterprises Limited said the Town of Steady Brook and its consultant, Anderson Engineering Consultants Ltd., owe the company $195,404.80 for both approved and disputed work associated with the project completed in August 2016.

The St. Paul’s company had successfully bid for the contract valued at $589,609.14 earlier in 2016.

According to the court documents, the consultant had approved extra work in the amount of $97,487.32 claimed by the company, but disputed payment for another $97,917.48.

Despite the approval of some of the work, the town has not remitted payment for either the approved or disputed work.

The outstanding claims involve costs associated with Pittman’s having sufficient equipment, personnel and materials on stand-by in the event that an alternative approach used during the construction had failed. The alternative approach did work.

There were also claims for additional excavation work because of unexpected subsurface bedrock conditions, the installation of a water tank liner the company claimed was not in the original plan and work on the pump house component of the system.

In its statement of defence to the legal action, Anderson Engineering stated some of the extra work claimed by Pittman’s Enterprises was part of the original contract and the company made excessive claims that were not justified.

The town also filed a statement of defence, claiming any losses incurred by the contractor were as a result of the company’s own actions or negligence.

The matter is scheduled to be called in court in Corner Brook to deal with an application in the case Thursday.

Brett Budgell keeps his options open

jason.malloy@theguardian.pe.ca (Jason Malloy) — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 21:07:53 EDT

The key part to that sentence, for Charlottetown head coach and general manager Jim Hulton, comes in the last two words.

Budgell has informed the Islanders, who selected him with their top pick (25th overall, second round) in June’s QMJHL draft, that he wasn't prepared to play in the major junior ranks in 2017-18. The 16-year-old hasn’t committed to an American University, although the decision not to play with the Islanders was certainly made to protect his NCAA eligibility.

That was also the reason why Budgell did not participate in any games for Charlottetown in a recent exhibition rookie tournament involving QMJHL teams from the Maritimes.

The NCAA views the QMJHL and other major junior leagues as professional circuits and has strict rules on how collegiate eligibility can be affected by a player’s participation in these leagues. Suiting up in just a single major junior game, even in the preseason, or anything beyond a short-term stay in training camps can mean a player will never be able to compete in an NCAA hockey program.

The Islanders’ second pick in the 2017 draft, P.E.I. native Brad Morrissey, also won’t be suiting up with the team this season and has committed to the University of Maine.

Still, Hulton hasn’t closed the book on either Budgell or Morrissey — who are both entering Grade 11 next month — eventually playing in Charlottetown.

“Maybe it didn't work for the here and the now, (but) I’m not going to give up on the fight,” he said. “I still think at some point both Morrissey and Budgell will wear our jersey.

“It just might not be this year.”

The Islanders knew Budgell was considering the NCAA route when they drafted him. In fact, the thought he might be leaning towards a university career was seen as a reason why the skilled forward — who was ranked as a first-round pick heading into the draft — wasn’t selected until the second round.

Hulton admitted selecting Budgell and Morrissey amounted to educated gambles, but insisted neither engaged in posturing in order to obtain a better major QMJHL deal as some other drafted players have done in the past.

“Neither one asked for any more over and above their packages that were offered; nobody asked to be traded,” Hulton said. “There was none of that. In both cases, they didn't feel comfortable playing at our level this year.

“They have been nothing but professional about it. They have been extremely honest.”

Budgell, a 5-10, 185-pound centre, is still eligible to play in the midget ranks, but Hulton said he understood there was a possibility of the Newfoundlander heading to the British Columbia Hockey League. The BCHL is a junior A circuit and isn’t subject to the same NCAA prohibitions as major junior leagues.

After starring with the St. John’s Hitmen bantam team in 2015-16, Budgell played last season with the London Junior Knights midget team in Ontario, recording 58 points in 32 games.

Bruce makes the most of a walk in the park

sports@thetelegram.com (Telegram Sports) — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 21:00:36 EDT

The 18-year-old from Corner Brook and the Humber Valley Resort, shot a five-over-par 76 to finish four strokes ahead of Dylan Yee of Clovelly in St. John’s and Matthew Bonnell of Blomidon Golf Club in Corner Brook.

Tely Tour Logo

Yee was awarded second place by retrogression.

Earlier this season Bruce won the 2017 provincial junior championship at Grande Meadows on the Burin Peninsula, finished third at the Future Links Atlantic junior championship in Dartmouth, N.S., and had the province’s best finish at the Canada Games in Winnipeg.

In juvenile division play Monday, Ethan Efford of Bally Haly Country Club finished first with a 79 and fiving him an eight-stroke win over Nathan Nanayakkara also of Bally Haly. Nathan Young carded a 91 to finish in third place.

Karsen Best of Bally Haly won the bantam boys division, played over the front nine, with a score of 40. Jack Pelley-MacHardy of Grand Falls Golf Club was second with a 44 to finish a stroke ahead of Evan Snow of Gander Golf Club.

Junior female golfer Taylor Cormier of Blomidon had a score of 90, while Paige Allen, also of Blomidon, won the bantam girls title.

Tely Tour Championship Scorecard

sport@thetelegram.com

Avalon Expo founder would never hurt anyone, organizers say

tbradbury@thetelegram.com (Tara Bradbury) — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 20:51:27 EDT

The annual three-day sci-fi/fantasy/comics convention ended in controversy Sunday night, with at least one celebrity guest saying he was stiffed by Power, and Power being the subject of a missing person report with the police.

“At the eleventh hour, the team learned that there were a number of logistical and organizational issues that we were not aware of, and things fell apart despite our best efforts,” Avalon Expo volunteer organizing team member Justin Foley told The Telegram Monday, declining to elaborate.
“Our lead organizer, Jeff, has always been an honest man and passionate about the geek community and would never deliberately do anything to hurt our guests, volunteers or the fans.”

Foley said once Power was deemed safe, the team’s priority would be rectifying what seems to be a messy situation.

“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” star René Auberjonois was one of the celebrity guests at this year’s Avalon Expo, and took to Twitter Sunday afternoon to express his frustration.

“We’re being stiffed and (Power has) run out on the hotel bill, so this is a total clusterf**k,” the actor tweeted.

“Hope you find the squirrely promoter,” a Twitter user responded.

“He better hope I don’t,” Auberjonois replied.

Power reportedly vanished sometime between Saturday night and Sunday. The RNC confirmed Monday morning it had received a missing person report about Power around 9 p.m. Sunday. Later Monday, police said Power had presented himself to them and was fine.

“The guests are right to be upset,” organizer Bonnie Glenn wrote on Facebook. She said the “death knell” has rung for the convention. “Promises were made on one person’s part and those same promises fell through in a huge way. We have done our best to repair relations with them. The guests understand the rest of us are not to blame.”

Power founded the Avalon Expo convention in 2015, and in previous years it was held at the Re/Max Centre and Centre des Grand-Vents. Having been reportedly forced to turn away vendors last year due to a lack of space, Power moved the convention to Mile One Centre this time around.

This year, Avalon Expo announced three scholarships for students going into post-secondary studies, with $500, $300 and $200 awards.

Along with Auberjonois, celebrity guests this year included “Doctor Who” actor Colin Baker and voice actors Linda Ballantyne and Katie Griffin of “Sailor Moon.”

On Twitter, Auberjonois noted the event’s volunteers were doing everything they could to “make this less of a mess than the promoter has left them with,” and said volunteers and fans “couldn’t have been more gracious and concerned.”

Once Power was deemed safe, Auberjonois tweeted again.

“I hope he repays all the folks who took care of us when he dropped out,” he wrote. “I wouldn’t mind getting paid either.”

tbradbury@thetelegram.com

Twitter: @tara_bradbury

St. John's senior baseball league starts has started to do some making up

sports@thetelegram.com (Telegram Sports) — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 20:50:15 EDT

In Mount Pearl, the Blazers, still looking for their first win of the season, will host the Holy Cross Trinity Pub Crusaders, while the Knights and league-leading OMT Shamrocks tangle at St. Pat’s.

Both games have 6 p.m. starts.

The league can be said to have reached the extra-inning part of its schedule, since these contests and all remaining games from now to Sept. 7 are make-ups for postponements earlier in the season.

Fatal accident on TCH sparks demand for extension of divided highway

rmullaley@thetelegram.com (Rosie Mullaley) — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 20:48:14 EDT

“(The divided highway) should be right across the island,” Cody Mercer told The Telegram Monday. “It certainly would prevent a lot of accidents because you wouldn’t see these head-on collisions.

“It’s nerve-wrecking driving with traffic coming towards you, especially in bad weather.”

Mercer, who works in Long Harbour, was one of hundreds of motorists delayed due to the fatal TCH collision that happened Sunday evening between Long Harbour and Bellevue.

All three people in one of the vehicles — a 41-year-old man, a 34-year-old woman and an 11-year-old boy, a family from Conception Bay South — died in the accident when their SUV, which was heading east, crossed the centre line into the west-bound lane.

An 18-year-old woman — the driver of the other SUV, who is said to be from the Burin Peninsula — is also dead as a result of the collision that happened on the TCH near the Chapel Arm exit at around 5 p.m.

A 16-year-old male, a passenger in the SUV with the 18-year-old woman, was critically injured and was taken to hospital in St. John’s.

Mercer knows that stretch of road well. With the divided highway stretching only from St. John’s to Whitbourne, there’s been a few close calls, he said.

“It’s a bad spot,” he said. “There are lots of turns and the roads have ruts. There’s a lot of potential for hydroplaning. There are no guardrails in one place there, either, and there’s one spot where you’re just six or eight feet from the water.

“You get people passing and it can be scary.”

Melissa Royle was in one of hundreds of cars caught up in the long line of traffic that was delayed in both directions for hours due to the accident.

The St. John’s lawyer, who was driving back from Trinity after a weekend outing, said considering the tragedy, the delay was the least of their concern.

But she agrees something must be done with the condition of the highway.

“It’s a dangerous stretch of road after the divided highway ends,” said Royle, who travels the TCH a few times a month. “Many drivers stick to one side of the lanes to avoid the water-filled ruts.”

Royle said the roads were wet at the time, as it had been raining much of the weekend.

The cause of the crash has not yet been determined. The investigation into the incident is continuing.

Transportation and Works Minister Steve Crocker was travelling Monday and was unable to comment.

However, a statement issued by the department said, “The Department of Transportation and Works expresses its condolences to the families of those involved in the tragic accident this weekend.”

Regarding the potential road projects, “a project of this nature would be considered as part of government’s multi-year infrastructure plan. The first year of this plan was released in March 2017.

While a TCH divided-highway extension has not been identified this year as one of the projects selected, the plan is updated every year.

Public consultations will take place later this fall to help inform the government regarding the identification and selection of potential projects.

“The department reminds all motorists to drive to posted speed limits and weather conditions at all times to help ensure the safety of themselves and other travellers,” the department statement said.

rmullaley@thetelegram.com

Twitter: TelyRosie

Note: This story has been edited to correct the ages of the deceased. A news release from police had provided different ages.

Loreburn commemorates fifty years since resettlement

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 16:30:00 EDT

The sign commemorating the reunion this month.

But today, the cemetery is well groomed, and the abandoned harbour is abuzz with hundreds of people reconnecting and telling stories about the way things were.

Loreburn is a resettled fishing and lumbering community in Southwest Arm, a short boat ride from St. Jones Within. It was resettled in 1967.

People who once lived here, and even more of their descendants, came for a weekend of activities planned to commemorate 50 years since resettlement.

“I remember the stages and the flakes set out with saltfish drying in the sun,” retired Reverend Silas Rodgers recalls in a sermon in the newly-built community centre. The centre is built on the very spot where the old church once stood, and where Rev. Rodgers gave his first sermon at the beginning of his career.

Sitting near the back of the community centre, and paying particular attention to the old stories of life in Loreburn, is Tim Richards.

Richards travelled to Loreburn from Colorado. He was raised in Colorado by his adoptive parents, who lived on an American army base in Newfoundland in the 1950s. When Richards’ birth mother became pregnant as a young, single woman, she put him up for adoption and moved from St. John’s to Loreburn shortly after.

“I came here because I thought maybe I could hear some stories of what life was like here back then,” he said.

It is an emotional visit for Richards because his adoptive parents are now dead, and he did not find his birth family until after his birth mother had also died.

“You get overwhelmed with emotion. I had just about no family when I met everybody here, and now there’s, what? Hundreds.”

Richards says he’s visited a lot of places around the world, but he feels at home in Loreburn.

“I know that may sound silly because I didn’t grow up here, but it’s peaceful here. I came awful close to growing up here, and my mom lived here for a long time, and brothers and sisters lived here … and maybe that’s why.”

Others who grew up in Loreburn say they have mixed emotions while marking 50 years since they left.

Audrey King was 20 years old when she resettled from Loreburn to nearby St. Jones Within. A couple of years ago, King built a cabin in Loreburn.

“It’s sometimes sad, and sometimes beautiful to be able to get back,” King said. “It’s sad to think back about how many is gone since we left.”

Hector Meadus was 24 years old when he resettled. He recalls the move being especially hard on his late parents.

“When they was going out the harbour here, they looked back at their house, and ‘twas a lot of tears. Nobody wanted to go, but you had to. It wouldn’t a party like it was here yesterday … we had to go to St. Joneses. We had no land; we had to start all over again. My father was 60 years old, and he had to start off to day one. So it was tough on him, and my mother-- when they moved out of here, with seven kids.”

Those kids, now adults, are in Loreburn for the resettlement reunion. While there is much festivity, many conversations reflect on those who aren’t here to celebrate.

What might those people buried in the cemetery think about the big crowd in the community this weekend? At its peak, Loreburn had only about 50 people. But the small harbour is bursting at the seams this weekend, with roughly 300 people there for the event. And today, Loreburn has nearly as many cabins as there were once homes.

But Reverend Rodgers ponders the future during his sermon.

“Who knows, in 50 years time, there may be a celebration here of another type — different people, a different time.”

Man faces child pornography charges

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 16:19:04 EDT

The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of Newfoundland and Labrador (CFSEU-NL) Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit executed a search warrant on Thursday at a Gander residence following a child pornography investigation that began in May.

The man was held in police custody over the weekend and was released on Monday with strict conditions. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 31.

Paradise Flowers

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 15:19:00 EDT

Carol-Ann Hatcher owns and operates Paradise Flowers where, she says, “one of our specialties is bridal – we do brides’ bouquets, centerpieces for the tables, fresh décor pedestals for the reception and the church, and also boutonnieres and corsages.

Destination weddings: “We also offer high-quality silk flowers for the bride to take with her. We prepare them ‘ready to fly’.

With the store’s mascot, a fine German shepherd named Mya. Left to right, Nikita Parsons, Joanne King and Carol-Ann Hatcher. Mya also has another career as a therapy dog.

At Paradise Flowers they carry everything in the fresh flower line, from the ever-popular fresh cuts, to the exotic and the unusual. “We make arrangements for all occasions and we also offer gift lines – toys, teddy bears and terrariums – for example,” Carol-Ann notes. At the store in Paradise there’s a selection of themed vases for special occasions ... there are decorative pieces, jewellery and more.

Customized “dish gardens” make a particularly attractive gift. Paradise Flowers can also make home/office arrangements from beautiful artificial blooms, leaves, stems and vines.

They are specialists in funeral arrangements. Paradise Flowers delivers around northeast Avalon.

What brands you carry?

Well one good example is our Bearington teddy bear collection – Bearington is a family owned and operated business committed to creating award winning teddy bears. Bears in this collection are loved by plush enthusiasts around the world.

What is your guilty pleasure?

So often I’d just love to be back home, on the water, fish! And home is Burgeo.

People are surprised to know

That here at Paradise Flowers we have an incredible combined – and there are only three of us! I like to think that and talent go hand-in-hand!

What is the secret to your success?

Hard work and determination. I did interior design and while that helps, you also must have a natural flair for flower arranging. When I was determined to start my own flower service, I had to learn the science of flowers – important points like temperature, quality of water, food for plants – in all, you really have to know what you’re doing!

Contributions to the community?

We like to help Children’s Wish, for one, and I am particularly interested in the welfare of Heavenly Creatures.

Paradise Flowers
Open 6 days/week.
Members of Teleflora and FTD.
No. 1495 Topsail Road, Paradise.
Telephone 782-7673 or 697-1547.
Email: paradiseflowers@nf.aibn.com
Website: paradiseflowersnewfoundland.com
Order online through our user-friendly website.

Furniture House

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 15:13:28 EDT

FHauction.ca is an online platform that allows consumers to purchase and bid on new furniture at hugely discounted prices. Consumers enjoy discounts from 35%-65% off on new tables and chair sets, sofa sets, bedroom sets and more.

With our free delivery anywhere in Newfoundland or Nova Scotia everyone has an equal opportunity to purchase regardless of where they live.

Go online. Click on the categories of home furnishings you’d like to see and view the selection. Ron’s business offers both retail sales and online auction-buying. With this unique two-way buying process – retail or auction – you will very likely come away with an incredible bargain. The St. John’s showroom is open to the general public for viewing allowing customers to try before they buy.

And Ron sticks by quality. “I want my customers to be happy with what they buy. I want to make them repeat customers!”

What are your signature products/ services?

“Our selection of high quality furniture is sourced from around the world using many different manufacturers to provide superior selection and quality. We deal with a lot of different manufacturers of furniture for all rooms in the house – but I can say that we insist upon good quality. We want our items to be an asset to the home.”

What is the secret to your success?

“Our partnerships with manufacturers allow us to improve and design much of our selection to ensure the quality of our products. I’ve been in the retail business for four years and in that space of time I’ve learned what customers want. Most of them like a bargain. And there’s no more genuine bargain than a good price (as in auction bidding) for a fine piece of furniture. It was clear to me that people looking for furniture wanted either the opportunity of buying it “from the floor” at a competitive price or going online and trying their luck in an auction.”

What brands do you carry?

“Well, we have a number of brands so the best thing I can say is that we carry a great selection in colours and styles of sofa sets, bedroom and dining room furniture, occasional pieces – and more – we have bedding too and we buy from all around the world, but particularly from American and Asian manufacturers. Our furniture comes in a variety of woods and materials, including top quality leather.

“It’s important to know that we have stock coming in at all times. That means there’s always something new and appealing to see.”

People are surprised to know ...

“That we are able to sell our furniture at the discounted pricing. And that we deliver all over Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia. We’re shipping-in all the time so we have vehicles on the roads.”

Don’t leave our business without trying ...

“The auction! Go online at FHauction.ca and check us out. We like to refer to ourselves as a cross between eBay and Wayfair. You’ll really enjoy looking for that extra special bargain when you start bidding. Our site appeals to the bargain-hunter. It’s fun!

At the FHauction.ca website there’s always an auction in progress. And you can contact Ron if you have any questions (709-739-9617). In St. John’s, you can drop by the premises at 394 Kenmount Road (it’s the new mall where Wing’n It is located). Check out what’s on the floor right now!

Auction closing times are posted, and as a bidder, the system keeps you informed by email.

Furniture House Factory Outlet
FHauction.ca
394 Kenmount Road
St. John’s, NL. A1B 3R2.
709-739-4844.

High Performance Sports Equipment

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 15:04:34 EDT

High Performance Sports Equipment is located at no. 251 Main Conception Bay South Highway (opposite St. George’s School).

Athletes work hard perfecting their skills to achieve their goals. Their equipment should help them not hold them back! We use our knowledge and expertise to ensure every athlete has equipment that is the right ἀt and right strength for them.

“Every skater is different,” says Carolyn. “I focus on putting each skater in the correct skate. Going too high, too quickly in the types and levels of skates is not necessarily a good thing.”

We are in the process of building our inventory for all sports and as we do this we would love to hear from local athletes on what they are looking for in particular. If there is something you want to see or want more information about please tell us and we will do our best to order it in for you. We may even add it to our regular inventory.

What are your signature products/services?

One Team is a world-wide movement with the goal of having synchronized skating included in the Olympics. Each shirt sold adds dollars to the cause!

Skating is our main sport as that is what we started out with. We custom-fit each skater to make sure they are in the right skate for their level. It’s not simply about fit. It’s also about strength. We also sharpen skates and Carolyn Walsh (owner/operator) has spent many years training with top figure skate sharpeners including the inventor of the Incredible edger sharpening machine, which is used by Olympic Organizations around the world.

We are the only distributor of the Champion Skating Harness. We custom-order, so if we don’t carry an item in our regular inventory we will try our best to get it for you.

What is the secret to your success?

It’s not really a secret but Carolyn says, “I truly love what I do, I don’t feel like I am going to work, even if it’s a matter of spending 12+ hours sitting at a rink! I have a passion for sports and love meeting new customers and getting to know them.”

What brands do you carry?

High Performance carries Riedell, Gam, Edea, Mondor, Jerry’s Skating World, CCM, Bauer, Kiss & Cry, Gaiam, Spri, 360 Athletics.

What inspires you to be the best in your field?

“My love of sports and fitness, and my passion for people-pleasing. More than making a sale, I want my customers to be happy with the products they use. When a skater tells me they love their new skates and returns for another pair, that’s the best thanks I can get!”

People are surprised to know…

A display of yoga and fitness products such as foam rollers, A pull-up assister and gravity trainers.

“We are not just into figure skating. I currently have stock in Dance, Gymnastics, Hockey, Yoga, Fitness and Hockey and am constantly growing my inventory. We have a rental space upstairs at 251 Conception Bay South Highway and it’s perfect for a fitness class or meeting

What is your guilty pleasure?

“I so much enjoy opening new stock and even trying out the products. In this way, I get to know the inventory well.

Contributions to the community?

“I am very involved with the community. I was on the committee for Hockeyville when it was won by CBS in 2011. I was also a member of the NL Summer Games Host Committee when the games were held in CBS in 2016. I volunteer with our local skating club and any chance I get I try to support community fundraisers from the business and personal sides.

High Performance Sports Equipment does an annual food drive for the local food bank and we do other fundraisers throughout the year for other charities in need. Two of our other favorites to support of Jorja’s Journeys and The Gathering Place. We also support One Team MVMT which works to support the development of synchronized skating at the local and global level, defined by their four pillars of success, Promote, Support, Develop and Unite.

Don’t leave our business without trying…

Get custom-fitted for a pair of skates to find the best pair for you. Test out our Champion Skating Harness, it’s an amazing off-ice training tool that can help skaters get their perfect position for spins and jumps.

High Performance Sports Equipment
251 Main Highway
Conception Bay South
Carolyn Walsh: 709-834-8653
hpse@outlook.com
www.highperformancesportsequipment.ca

Vio’s Bistro, Conception Bay South

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 14:50:12 EDT

Vio’s Bistro in Conception Bay south (705 Main Highway) is A comfortable place for lunch, dinner and even that mid-day snack! They offer a varied menu of homemade dishes and a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

Come join us for a delicious steak dinner or our beautifully prepared salmon. Vio’s is open Tuesday through Sunday. Lunch, mid-day snack, dinner in the evening? They reopen from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM each day. And their menus are posted on Facebook.

What are your signature products and services?

Vio (left) is the owner and Tammy is her Red Shield Chef. Their specialty is great food served in a great environment!

“Our menus will show that we have a little of everything” says Vio. “We have steaks, pastas, chicken dishes, and local fare including cod and cod tongues. I came to Canada from Chile and while the theme in our Bistro is South American, you’ll find there’s plenty of delicious variety on our menu!” both the corporate traveller and families

What is the secret to your success?

All desserts at Vio’s are homemade

“Well … what can I say, I think it’s probably a combination of good food and friendly atmosphere. We like people. We enjoy serving people. And we love to know they’re enjoying the food we prepare.”

What inspires you to be the best in your field?

“Our aim was to have a small restaurant where guests could enjoy different courses prepared with skill and attention, … we want our guests to sip a glass of wine or other beverage and simply relax at the table with a choice of dishes. I think we’ve achieved that. We have a lot of repeat customers and that is certainly a compliment. Favourable word-of-mouth is working well for us, too!”

People are surprised to know …

Samantha shows a generous plate of cod tacos with fries and coleslaw, all homemade!

“That we insist upon fresh and local wherever possible” says Vio. “Customers are probably also surprised to know that even our desserts are homemade … like our cheesecakes and our apple crumble and let’s not forget the carrot cake.”

At Vio’s, they’re always experimenting with new taste treats. New things are frequently added to the menus. At the same time, at Vio’s they know that consistent good quality is very important for happy customers.

Vio’s Bistro
705 Main Highway
Conception Bay South
Telephone 709-834-3339
Reservations and drop-ins welcome.
Also take-out service.
We do parties – birthdays, anniversaries.

Mining company seeks OK to bury tailings from N.S. operations in N.L. open pit

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 14:00:46 EDT

And the junior miner wants to fill it, likely starting with the tailings of ore from its Guysborough County’s Goldboro gold property about 185 km northeast of Halifax, N.S.

Robert Dufour, Toronto-based Anaconda Mining’s chief financial officer, said in an interview recently the company is hoping to get the green light to turn the open-pit mining operation into a giant tailings pit soon.

It’s 150 metres deep and 350 metres across. Turning it into a tailings pit would be a major coup for the junior miner. Another tailings pit Anaconda Mining just finished building last year cost it $1.9 million and is nowhere near that size.

“It would give us the possibility of 15 years of tailings,” said Dufour. “I’ve seen that done elsewhere and once you fill it back up, you can cap it and vegetate it. It can return to its natural state.

“It’s pretty fascinating to see it after the fact,” he said.

The plan to use the dying open pit mine for tailings has been in the works for years. And it comes just as Anaconda Mining is also eyeing its newly acquired gold-rich Goldboro property, a deposit it picked up in a share swap with Orex Exploration earlier this year. Under that deal, Orex became an Anaconda Mining subsidiary.

The company, which is still undertaking its preliminary economic assessment of the Goldboro site, is buzzing with excitement over the results of samples from holes drilled on the property for geotechnical and engineering work.

Those early indicators suggest the Nova Scotia property has ore that is almost four times as rich in gold as the stuff being mined at the Pine Cove pit in Newfoundland, said Dufour.

“We’ve gotten the highest grade of gold ore they’ve ever seen,” he said. “What we can do with Goldboro is pretty exciting.”

That preliminary economic assessment is expected to be completed before the end of this year. If it’s a go, Anaconda Mining is planning to mine the ore, ship it to its Pine Cove mill, process it there, and put the tailings in the already-built pit.

“We’re looking at leveraging the infrastructure we have at Pine Cove,” said Dufour. “All that infrastructure is already built. The mill is permitted and licensed and there is a tailings facility.”

Anaconda Mining’s current mining operation, its Pine Cove pit, which is part of its Point Rousse project near Baie Verte in Newfoundland, has just come off a solid year of production.

During its 2017 fiscal year which ended May 31, the company sold 15,562 ounces of gold, only marginally less than in 2016, even though it mined lower-grade ore.

In 2017, Anaconda Mining took nine per cent more ore out of the ground but it was a lower grade as the crews went further down. Inclement weather also limited the mine’s operations to 58 days during the fourth quarter of the year.

That lower-grade ore recovery is expected to continue through into this year until the Pine Cove pit is shut down permanently. The current plan is to then move to the company’s nearby Stog’er Tight deposit in the same Point Rousse project.

Despite the slight drop in production, Anaconda Mining recorded a roughly 5.3 per cent increase in revenues in 2017, up to almost $25.7 million from about $24.4 million the previous year.

Stronger gold prices fuelled that revenue growth, with the company enjoying a nine per cent increase in its realized gold prices, up to $1,651 per ounce from $1,520. Anaconda Mining also generated about $938,000 from the sale of waste rock to be used as aggregate last year, something it did not have the previous year.

The company's bottom line, though, is still in the red.

Anaconda Mining ended the year with a net loss of more than $3.6 million, up more than 165 per cent from its loss of almost $1.4 million in 2016.

According to Dufour, the losses stem from the company re-investing into its mining operations and also higher-than-expected costs on the books for the depletion of its mining resources at Pine Cove and the depreciation of that mining equipment. Those costs rose 36.5 per cent last year.

Anaconda Mining invested roughly $3.4 million from its operating revenues back into its mine last year, including about $700,000 for mill upgrades and the $1.9 million for the new tailings facility and a pond to treat wastewater.

The junior miner, whose stock is traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ANX ticker, has a market capitalization of $28.6 million.

Government invests in Fogo Island

josh.healey@ganderbeacon.ca (Josh Healey) — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 13:23:47 EDT

Scott Simms, MP for Coast of Bays-Central-Notre Dame, announced the Atlantic Opportunities Agency (ACOA) would be investing nearly $324,000 into the island.

“The Government of Canada is working with community and business partners to capitalize on opportunities in tourism and the fishery to create new employment and economic growth,” said Simms.

Furthermore, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation (TCII) also promised a contribution of $100,000 for projects.

With these investments, the Town of Fogo Island is planning to upgrade and expand its network of hiking trails.

The Fogo Island Co-operative Society Limited is planning to use its share of the money to develop international markets for sea cucumber in an attempt to diversify the fishery.

Derrick Bragg, MHA for Fogo Island-Cape Freels, said he was pleased by the intergovernmental cooperation.

“These investments in Fogo Island are an excellent example of what can be achieved when our federal and provincial governments work together,” said Bragg. “I am looking forward to the upgraded network of trails, and the business development that will take place at the Fogo Island Co-operative Society Limited.”

Twitter: @joshrjhealey

josh.healey@ganderbeacon.ca

Noia speaks out on proposed changes to environmental assessment regulations

telegram@thetelegram.com (Telegram Staff) — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 13:10:08 EDT

Noia issued its feedback to federal Natural Resources Minister James Carr in a news release Monday, recalling his comments at the 2017 Noia conference in June: “Canada’s oil and gas industry is a cornerstone of our economy, our current economy and our future economy.”

Noia says it agrees; oil and gas royalties in the province this year are expected to reach $902 million, which is more than transfers from the Government of Canada.

“The proposed regulatory changes referred to in the report have the potential to severely hinder the exploration and development of our industry,” the news release states.

“Our members – and Newfoundlanders and Labradorians – will not accept the loss or delay of the benefits of these valuable resources while we struggle to pay for the demands of an aging population.”

In its letter, Noia proposed several changes to the most relevant environmental assessment processes.

Noia has also launched a campaign, Support Canada’s Offshore Oil & Gas Industry, which encourages people to speak out against proposed changes. http://supportoffshore.ca/

Candice Lewis seeing her condition improved

stephen.roberts@tc.tc (Stephen Roberts) — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 13:08:53 EDT

Now, she’s helping walk her sister down the aisle.

Candice, who has different illnesses including spina bifida, has seen her condition improve markedly since a visit to St. John’s hospital in July.

According to her mom, Sheila Elson, Candice hasn’t been having any seizures, is now able to feed herself, walk with assistance, use her iPad, and is more alert, energetic and communicative since her stay in St. John’s.

“She’s back to about where she was five or six years ago,” says Elson.

After a two-week hospital stay, Candice, along with her mother, walked her sister Glennis down the aisle at her wedding in Dildo in August.

She’s been able to do all this despite the fact that in 2016, doctors suggested that Candice might be dying.

In September of that year, a doctor at Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital in St. Anthony had also suggested to Elson that physician-assisted death could be an option for Candice.

As reported in the July 19 edition of the Northern Pen, Elson felt this was unwarranted and says it caused emotional distress for her and her daughter.

Labrador-Grenfell Health apologized in a letter addressed to Elson, but she wasn’t satisfied.

What is satisfying her these days is her daughter’s health. Since returning to St. Anthony earlier this month, Candice hasn’t required a visit to the hospital.

Elson believes Candice’s condition has improved because she is now on fewer medications.

Doctors in St. John’s, she says, took Candice off a number of the drugs she had been prescribed in St. Anthony. By the time she is completely weaned off all the medications, she’ll be down from about 20 different pills per day to just five. This total includes her seizure medications, which will be cut from eight pills down to one.

“They were all addictive drugs,” says Elson.

She feels those drugs had been keeping Candice immobile. Now, she’s just happy to see her daughter doing so much better.

stephen.roberts@northernpen.ca

Country music star Terri Clark gets help from Allanah Murphy of N.L.

rmullaley@thetelegram.com (Rosie Mullaley) — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 12:56:38 EDT

The country music star asked Murphy to help sing "Better Things To Do." Their performance earned roaring applause from the audience.

Clark also signed Murphy's guitar and gave Murphy her hat.

City Light Buffet

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 12:32:15 EDT

What are your signature products/services?

We are famous for our All You Can Eat Chinese Buffet. We also offer dine-in, takeout and delivery options to suit most eating preferences. Our diverse buffet spread is available six days a week. Our menu features more than 100 Chinese dishes and an exciting selection of delicious Japanese recipes.

What is the secret to your success?

The quality of our food is well matched with the quality of our customer service. We value our customers’ tastes and choices. Our relationship with customers is more like friends and family.

Your inspiration to be the best?

My father always tells me if you put the best into what you do you will have great satisfaction and pride. Customer satisfaction is our biggest priority. To provide the best food and service to all of our customers, it gives me great pleasure.

People are surprised to know …

Our customers are always surprised about the variety of traditional Chinese dishes and Sushi.

Preparing sushi, fresh-made daily.

What is your guilty pleasure?

This is an easy one, Hot Apple and Pineapple Pie with Vanilla Ice cream!

Contributions to the community?

To name a few, we often donate to SOS Children Safety Magazine, Children Hospital activity book, St. John’s Chinese Christian Church, Janeway Hospital, Breast Cancer, Tim Horton’s Children’s Foundation and Canada Red Cross.

May 16, 2016, City light organized a fundraiser event with Canadian Red Cross to help during the Fort McMurray fire. From left to right, Xia Li, Vice-president of City Light Buffet; Anna Power, Manager of Canadian Red Cross. Na Li, Manager of City light Buffet.

City Light Buffet
460 Topsail Road, St. John’s
747-8377
www.citylightrestaurant.ca

The Outport Restaurant, Paradise

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 12:14:57 EDT

Judy Fitzgerald is operations manager for a restaurant that has been serving delicious meals for nine years in business with no sign of its popularity dwindling!

Pan-fried cod with scruncheons, the “run-away” best seller at the Outport. The menu also includes stir fries, wraps, steaks, pork chops and burgers.

What is your signature product/service?

Pan-fried cod. It’s definitely Number One with our customers. We serve it with a choice of potato (baked, fries) or salad and another vegetable. I should also add that our Sunday Jiggs Dinner is “a must”. This is a Newfoundland standby. We serve ours with boiled bread-onion pudding. The meal finishes up with pudding and sauce.

People may be surprised to know...

That our service and our brand of hospitality are truly genuine. Many of the staff have been with us since we opened and we tend to greet customers like they’re family!

What’s the secret to your success?

Bernice Whiteway is ready to help you at the Outport restaurant where they serve traditional Newfoundland home-style food.

Well, two of the things that come to mind immediately are determination and hard work. And I don’t scrimp on quality. Every menu item we serve has to be a quality item. Another reason for our success is our 10-person team. They’re dedicated to this place and that makes all the difference. Also, I have to give credit to my late mother, Nellie Fitzgerald. My childhood home was Conche and my mother certainly taught me about good food. We still serve partridgeberry and blueberry puddings with sauce following her recipe!

Peter Doyle, one of the Outport restaurant team who knows how to prepare truly good food.

When the restaurant review columnist for The Telegram visited us in Spring 2017, he wrote about us very favourably. Karl Wells noted particularly our pan-fried cod, our liver and onions and our chowder. I’m sure his good words directed a lot of people our way.

Do you have a guilty pleasure?

Home-made desserts! Oh my, and that coconut cream pie – we make it fresh daily.

Don’t leave our business without trying …

Among the most popular desserts are chocolate obsession, lemon cheesecake and coconut cream pie. Most desserts are home-made and also including carrot cake, puddings and apple pie.

One of our home-made desserts.

The Outport Restaurant also offers take out. Check the menu, order what you’d like and they’ll have it ready promptly for you to pick up. Hours, menu and more particulars are to be found on the website www.theoutportrestaurant.com

The Outport Restaurant & Pub
1495 Topsail Road, Paradise.
Opens 11:00 AM daily.
Reservations (then walk-in)
709-782-2121

RCMP investigating single ATV fatal collision in Boswarlos

fgale@thewesternstar.com (Frank Gale) — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 12:02:00 EDT

It was about 2 p.m. that members of the Bay St. George RCMP received a report of the single all-terrain vehicle accident.
Officers and paramedics attended the scene and located the all-terrain vehicle and driver, who had sustained serious injuries in the accident and was transported to hospital in Stephenville.
He died of his injuries a short time later.
Police are continuing their investigation into the accident.

No oiled birds spotted in Witless Bay area

glen.whiffen@tc.tc (Glen Whiffen) — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 11:29:34 EDT

In a statement Tuesday, the Canadian Coast Guard said its environmental response surveillance flights — and surveys by boat of the area on Saturday along with the Canadian Wildlife Service — confirmed there was no pollution in the area.

The Canadian Coast Guard is continuing to monitor the area.

That information is supported by the local chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS-NL) which stated on Saturday that there were no sightings of oiled birds but the group has asked people to keep an eye out during the next few weeks.

The group operates the Puffin Patrol on the southern shore in which volunteers rescue young puffins this time of year and safely releases them back into the Atlantic Ocean.

CPAWS-NL member Lorna Yard said the pollutant in question was described as light-grade diesel “which is better than oil.”

“The heavy rains overnight (Friday) seemed to have helped disperse it half decently and kept the puffins in their burrows,” Yard said on Saturday. “There were only 10 puffins found on puffin patrol on (Friday night and Saturday) morning and they showed no signs of being exposed. The tour boats did see a slight sheen on the water (Saturday) morning around Bay Bulls and Witless Bay but it seems to be dissipating fairly well.”

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans said the U.S. fishing vessel Eyelander was removed from the rocks on Green Island on Friday after it was reported to have grounded there.

The vessel has been at dock in Witless Bay since the incident and is under a “stop sail” order by Transport Canada.

The vessel has approximately 5,000-6,000 gallons of diesel fuel on board. It is reported that the vessel lost 10-15 gallons of diesel overboard from a bilge pump during the grounding.

“A Canadian Coast Guard Atlantic Environmental Response crew cleaned up all recoverable pollution from the 10-15 gallons of diesel released from the vessel near Green Island,” a statement read. “The remainder of the non-recoverable diesel sheen dispersed with wave and tidal action.”

Meantime, two dive surveys have been completed on the fishing vessel with no sign of diesel or oil leakage.

“Transport Canada and Canadian Coast Guard Atlantic are working with the owner (of the vessel) on a tow plan to have the vessel towed to a repair facility and taken out of the water for repairs,” the statement read. “Canadian Coast Guard Environmental Response has issued a Letter of Undertaking to the owner to secure funds to cover Coast Guard’s response costs for the incident.”

Seamus O'Regan becoming veterans minister

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 11:12:35 EDT

The move is in response to Judy Foote's announcement last week that she is leaving cabinet and intends to resign her seat in the House of Commons for family health reasons.

Kent Hehr is expected to move from Veterans Affairs to the Sport and Persons with Disabilities portfolio currently held by former Paralympic swimmer Carla Qualtrough.

Foote took a leave from the Public Works and Procurement portfolio in April; Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr has been doing double duty, filling in for Foote.

O'Regan's elevation to the cabinet will ensure a continued seat at the table for Newfoundland and Labrador, since Foote also represents the province.

The Public Works job is one of the toughest in the cabinet, responsible for handling the federal government's troubled Phoenix pay system as well as handling defence procurement challenges.

Trudeau - who has made gender parity in cabinet a big part of his government's identity - will likely tab a veteran to take over, meaning a rearrangement of several other portfolios. Adding O'Regan and losing Foote will upset the gender balance, barring other changes.

O'Regan, a former TV host, was first elected in 2015 and is a personal friend of the prime minister.

He and his partner were among the friends who accompanied Trudeau on a controversial family vacation last Christmas to a private island in the Bahamas owned by the Aga Khan, a billionaire philanthropist and spiritual leader of the world's Ismaili Muslims.

The previous Christmas, O'Regan spent the holidays in a “wellness centre” where he received treatment for alcoholism. He has openly discussed his struggles with alcoholism and mental illness.

Quality Care Hearing

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 11:11:07 EDT

Who are you and what do you do?

Krista: I do what I love most in this world! How many people get to say that? I change lives every day, making people feel happy and smile again. I get to share in the joy of reconnecting people with family and friends and all the sounds around them they have been missing. It’s a pretty amazing and rewarding feeling. My name is Krista Hearn; co-owner of Quality Care Hearing, along with my business partner and friend Anne Marie Murphy.

What are some interesting tidbits?

Krista: Quality Care Hearing is not a franchise, and is not manufacturer owned. We are locally owned and operated which allows us to offer products that best suit a patient’s lifestyle and needs.

People are always surprised at the fact that I wear a hearing aid! I usually get a response, “you are too young…” or “can I see it?” That makes me smile. I always say hearing loss does not discriminate, it can affect anyone at any age. My story is too long to share, but it can be found on our website at www.qualitycarehearing.ca!

Our Facebook page is always kept up to date with nice photos and videos of patients sharing their own personal experiences. There are some really touching stories, I suggest everyone check them out. You may read/watch some that may relate to you.

What’s new and exciting with Quality Care Hearing?

Krista: We now have the *smallest rechargeable hearing aid in the world! This is exciting news and patients are just loving it! They can say bye bye to batteries and hello to freedom! They never have to worry about being in an important meeting or family gathering, etc. and their hearing aid battery dying. The hearing aid is always ready to go when you are.

We also have a completely wireless to iPhone hearing aid. No more streamers or remotes needed! The client is always in control with an iPhone app that is easy to use. With the app they can fully customize their hearing aids, control volume, the way music sounds, and they can even track their hearing aids if they lost them!

In May we were chosen by the National Post for an interview. That was pretty exciting to know all our efforts to change the face of hearing loss is being noticed! I am an advocate for the use of trial hearing aids and using new technologies to improve the outcome for patients. Being an advocate for changing my approach within my practice, I was also chosen in May to represent Canada in an International Conference, with 150 people from over 35 countries from all over the world! This was an experience I won’t soon forget!

In February we won “The Top Choice Award” for hearing health services in St. John’s for the second year in a row! We are pretty proud of that! We would like to personally thank the community for all your support and loyalty. We certainly would not be where we are without you. We are of the firm belief that building strong relationships with our patients is the foundation to our own success.

What do you attribute to your success?

Krista: It isn’t just one thing that makes us successful. I believe it’s a combination of different things working together. First and foremost our clients, the manufactures, the products – and I like to keep up to date with all the latest technology.

However, I have to say that Anne Marie is at the root of our success. I couldn’t do the job without her. I believe the person you see when you walk in the door is the most important person on staff. Anne Marie has a true gift working with people and the patients feel at home with her.

*Moxi Fit R is the smallest rechargeable hearing instrument in the world based on exterior dimensions, compared to other products in its class.

Quality Care Hearing
709.739.0999
57 Old Pennywell Road, St. John’s
www.qualitycarehearing.ca

Call us to today to book an appointment!

When you need to hear, we listen.

Fred Hutton leaves VOCM, joins CBC Radio

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 11:05:00 EDT

The CBC says Hutton, who will take over from Anthony Germain and co-host the show with Krissy Holmes, will begin with other assignments before later moving into the morning hosting position.
Hutton is leaving his role as news director at VOCM to join CBC. Prior to radio, Hutton spent more than two decades as an anchor of the NTV Evening News.

Respiratory Therapy Specialists Inc.

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 11:02:51 EDT

What Are your Signature products/services?

Jessica Welsh is shown in the product display area of RTS premises, Pippy Place, St. John’s.

Jaime Williams notes that RTS provides home oxygen equipment services for in-home clients, conducts sleep apnea testing and provides CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) devices for relief from this stressful condition which can have a number of consequences.

What is the secret to your success?

Jaime credits the “localness” of the company’s approach for much of their success. Patients and clients can rest assured that RTS is at-hand and staffed by a team ready to make direct contact. He also notes that RTS over its 25 years in operation has insisted upon a dedicated person-to-person approach to the people it serves.

What brands do you carry?

Among the proven products which RTS provides are such industry-leading names such as Philips Respironics, Resmed and Fisher & Paykel.

What inspires you to be the best in your field?

We take a sense of satisfaction from knowing that our clients are at ease, comfortable and happy. To that end, RTS takes steps to monitor sleep apna patients’ compliance and record their progress. With today’s advanced cellular technology we can do our monitoring remotely.

We also make a concerted effort to inform people of the consequences of sleep apnea. These consequences can and do include daytime fatigue, lack of energy and more challenging conditions such as high blood pressure. There is a correlation between sleep apnea and diabetes and it is known to have adverse effects on heart health.

People are surprised to know

That we cover all of Newfoundland and Labrador. Says Jaime, “I have travelled up the coast of Labrador, and to Goose Bay and other points to serve clients; the place of residence in the Province should not impact adversely on a client receiving needed therapies.

People are also surprised to know how common sleep apnea is – there are varying statistics but it is safe to say anywhere from 5% to 10% of the population can suffer from sleep apnea. It is prevalent in adults from young adults to older. It’s also good for people to know that getting around and travelling with oxygen is getting easier all the time. We now carry the smallest portable oxygen concentrators on the market.

Contributions to the community

At RTS we assist a number of charities, notably we partner with Muscular Dystrophy Canada on fund-raisers and locally, RTS supports the regatta, other sports events and teams, firefighters and police associations and more.

Respiratory Therapy Specialists Inc.
51 Pippy Place
St. John’s, NL., A1B 4H8
Tel. 709-579-3749
Toll-free: 877-420-0202
www.rtsatlantic.com

Movie rentals still popular throughout rural Newfoundland and Labrador

kyle.greenham@northernpen.ca (Kyle Greenham) — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 10:49:27 EDT

Finding a place to rent films can be nearly impossible in many booming and populated Canadian cities. But in the outports and small towns of Newfoundland and Labrador, it is rarely a challenge to find a gas station or corner store that offers DVDs and Blu-rays for rent.

Of seven communities the Northern Pen successfully contacted for this story, from the tips of the peninsula and down as far as Port au Choix, only one did not have a movie rental location.

Online streaming services like Netflix brought a quick death to most of the industry, killing off major conglomerate chains like Blockbuster. Jumbo Video, the popular video chain in Newfoundland and Labrador, closed the doors on its last store in 2015.

Rhea Earle, who works at Hedderson’s Store in St. Lunaire-Griquet, says even with depleted demand from services like Netflix, their location still manages to rent out roughly 30 titles a month. Earle says they have the usual locals who rent, but they also rent to many visitors during tourist season.

The Irving gas station in St. Anthony also has a selection of films that still get rented.

Lidstone’s Irving and Convenience store in Roddickton stands as one of the more successful chains of the peninsula. With over 100 films in their selection and two new titles arriving each week, Brenda Randell says the store has a faithful base of local renters.

“Some weeks we rent out about 15 or 20 movies, sometimes more,” said Randell. “They do very well.”

While the availability is still there, success is not being found in some spots of the province.

Forteau Sales and Service in Labrador has a selection of films, but has seen a steady depletion in the number of movies it rents. As well, Northern Motors in Flower’s Cove has around 50 titles, but owner Kerry Gould says they rarely leave the shelves nowadays.

“The last month or so we haven’t gotten any new movies in,” said Gould. “We don’t rent them out much so we’ve pretty much given it up now.”

Stores like Forteau Sales and Service and Northern Motors may end up selling off most of their movies in the near future.

Faye Buckle, owner of the C&V Variety in Port au Choix, says the rise of streaming services has done a lot to collapse the success of the movie rentals her business offers. Buckle can recall the days when renting out films was a staple of the store’s business, but those days are gone.

“Online you can steal movies wherever you want now, it killed us completely,” said Buckle. “We might rent one out one night, but there might be five nights we rent out neither one.”

Still, Buckle say she receives new titles every two weeks. Although, the routine topping up of her movie collection has an uncertain future.

“I want the gentleman who brings the movies here to take them, that’s how few rentals there are now,” she said. “It’s just a waste of space on the wall. We rent them, but we’ll never make money on it.”

Today the sight of movies for rent remain a commonplace of rural Newfoundland, but for many areas it appears to be going the same way as Blockbuster.

While small outport gas stations and stores stand as a last vestige of the movie renting experience, these businesses are still being threatened by the easy accessibility to movies provided by streaming services and illegal downloading.

kyle.greenham@northernpen.ca

Skincare Studio

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 10:36:15 EDT

What are your signature products/services?

Skincare Studio is located at 181 Mundy Pond Road, St. John’s. A recently renovated building with ample parking.

We continue to offer services and products that are hypoallergenic, free and clear of perfumes and dyes. Certified Canadian where possible and verified with Health Canada as properly vetted manufactures and suppliers. That concept is our “Signature”. Our popular lines such as Green Cricket and VMV cosmetics and those adorable Puffin Gear Hats remain with us. Currently we are very proud to introduce Lunatik Athletiks compression socks. They are hip, trendy, and come in athletic performance and medical grade compression.

What is the secret to your success?

Not being afraid of change. We expand and change because we spend a lot of time really getting to know and respect our clients. We listen to their wants and needs! It’s an honest and simple approach to people as we create for them their ‘all about you’ experience.

What inspires you to be the best in your field?

LPN’s with medical backgrounds and studio training. Michelle Earle (standing) with Jodi Skinner.

Simply put, our clients inspire us to be the best. When they’re satisfied, we are satisfied. In our type of work, nothing is quite as rewarding as knowing you have made someone feel good about themselves with products and services that really work.

People are surprised to know …

That we now offer a full range of cosmetic aesthetic services in addition to our medical component. Included in the aesthetic services are makeup, manicures and pedicures, waxings … and so much more! Come in and meet us!

Don’t leave our studio without …

New décor in the manicure/pedicure room.

Talking to Melissa. We want you to meet our new Manager of Aesthetics. We promise you will not regret letting her create an honest all about you skincare experience. Pedicures, Manicures, Waxing, Facials, Relaxation Massage, Brow shaping, Lash lifts and tints. Just some of the new things we can now bring to you.

Skincare Studio
181 Mundy Pond Road
St. John’s, NL.
Tel. 709-738-8420
info@skincarestudio.ca
skincarestudio.ca