Kristopher Snarby, president of the Seaside Centre in Beach Meadows, says volunteers and the community have helped revitalize the community centre. (Rick Conrad)

Volunteers in the Beach Meadows area have revitalized their local community centre, bringing it back from the brink just two and a half years ago.

When a new board of directors took over the Seaside Centre in Beach Meadows in November 2021, many in the community feared it would close.

But in the time since, the centre has reclaimed its integral place in the community. 

Kristopher Snarby is president of the Seaside Centre. He was one of those new board members. 

“We came into a situation where people were tired and they just couldn’t keep going with the way things were. And we had a group of energetic people step in. The community made it clear they wanted to keep the building. We had a huge turnout at that meeting. It was evident from that that people wanted to make sure that we kept this facility in the community.”

Over the past couple of years, board members and other volunteers have raised thousands of dollars to renovate the centre. It’s now holding more regular community events and even has a couple of regular tenants renting space to help pay the bills.

They have installed new insulation and heat pumps throughout the facility to make it more energy efficient. And they plan this year to install a new metal roof and metal siding to help it withstand the harsher weather conditions on the coast.

They also invested $80,000 in a new generator to make the building a comfort centre during periods like hurricanes or power outages.

“These projects are huge capital projects that in theory should take a long time to achieve and we’ve done a lot in the short term. … That’s almost $300,000 in capital improvements to the centre in two or three years. So it’s been busy and we’re investing in the centre to ensure it keeps on going for a long time and it’s really positive.”

The centre held its annual general meeting this week, where the board highlighted some of the successes of the past year. The facility recorded a $28,842 surplus last year.

Snarby says the Seaside Centre wouldn’t have been able to do it without its group of about 100 volunteers and the community’s support. More than half of its revenue comes from fundraising and individual donations.

“We’ve had huge amounts of support both in terms of volunteer hours but also donations. We’ve gotten donations anywhere from $20 to $1,000 or $5,000. So we’ve had big donations, small donations. It all goes into the pot to make that happen. Without that, none of this would have been achievable. All of our grants have required 20 to 25 per cent contribution from the community. Every event we’ve had people are super generous with donations and coming out to support the centre.”

“The community support it’s allowing to push through and really get this done.”

He said after the work on the exterior of the building this year, the next long-term project may be to update their kitchen facilities. 

“And then also just continuing to put on events and to be a place where people can come and gather. We have weekly groups that get together for yoga, for crafting, quilting. We’d like to expand that into some other weekly groups that attend here and just have more events for the community.”

Snarby says they’re always looking for more volunteers or for people to put on more events at the centre. You can find more information at their website at seasidecentre.ca or by joining their Facebook group.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

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Road crews were working on the Mount Pleasant Road repaving on Thursday in Brooklyn. (Rick Conrad)

It’s that time of year again. The sounds of trucks and heavy machinery along with the smells of freshly laid asphalt will be popping up around Queens County as road work season gets underway.

Public Works Minister and Queens MLA Kim Masland said Thursday that more than $20 million is being spent this summer and fall on sprucing up roads and bridges around the county.

It’s part of the $583 million the government is setting aside for road and bridge work around the province this year.

“We have been very successful in advocating for some roads. But also, we have some very poor quality roads here,” Masland said.

“We are certainly getting our fair share (of work) this year. It seems like there’s never enough money to do all of the road work. But I certainly feel as MLA and certainly as minister that we’re playing catchup on some of these roads.”

Masland said that many roads in Queens County appeared to have been neglected when the Tim Houston government took over in 2021.

“I’m really happy with the work we’ve been able to do since becoming government.”

Some of that work has already begun. The 1.6-kilometre stretch of Mount Pleasant Road in Brooklyn is being repaved. That counts for about $1 million.

“That’s needed some work for a while. That’s one of the roads I really advocated for,” Masland says.

Queens MLA Kim Masland. (Rick Conrad photo)

About $8 million will be spent on ongoing work to replace the Pleasant River Bridge in North Queens.

And the long-rumoured repaving project for the Brooklyn Shore Road is slated to begin this summer, Masland says. That’s 5.5 kilometres at a cost of about $3 million from Brooklyn Wharf Road to Eastern Shore Road. 

Known locally as the “shore road”, it’s the scenic route to the popular Beach Meadows Beach.

“That will be done this summer. Very, very bad road. When you drive that, you’re literally having to go over on the opposite side of the road.

“With the Brooklyn Shore Road, it has deteriorated very badly and it’s a safety issue now, so that’s why they have brought that forward as a candidate to be repaved.”

Masland says officials from her department are always driving and inspecting roads and bridges in their areas. She says that as MLA and as minister, she also nominates projects after hearing from constituents.

“The public are the ones that really drive concerns. I actually go drive many of these roads myself. If somebody calls me with a complaint about a road, I go and drive that road myself.”

The province released its five-year highway improvement plan last December. 

Masland said the gravel road work budget this year is about $55 million, more than double what it was in 2021. And the province has also increased the bridge rehabilitation budget to $60 million. And her department is devoting $22 million toward the rural impact mitigation fund, which handles things like pavement patching and brush cutting.

“So it shows you the costs of doing these projects. They are not cheap. So to try to manage people’s expectations is certainly very difficult. Everybody’s road that they travel on is the most important. And that’s what makes it very difficult. … If I could pave everyone’s road, I would certainly pave everyone’s road because i understand that the road you travel on is the one that’s important to you.

“But there’s just not enough money to pave every road.”

She said she’s also happy to see the ongoing Highway 103 twinning project, which now reaches from Halifax to Hubbards. 

“Many people from Queens certainly travel the 103 to Halifax for medical appointments, school. It just blows my mind the amount of close collisions that almost happen every day. Twinning does save lives. It is costly but you can’t put a price on a life. “

Masland says that although maintaining roads and bridges is expensive, she’s proud of the work her department is doing. 

“I’m just really glad where we are now. The team’s doing great work. Our maintenance supervisor is out there talking to people, thinking outside the box on how to resolve issues and to try to get work elevated, and Queens County should be very proud of that.”

List of road and bridge projects in Queens County this summer and fall:

• Brooklyn Shore Road, from Brooklyn Wharf Road to Eastern Shore Road
• Mount Pleasant Road, from Trunk 3 to Brooklyn Shore Road
• Reinstating two segments of retaining wall along Shore Road
• Old Port Mouton Road: from Highway 103 Exit 20A to end of service
• Old Westfield Road: from Trunk 8 easterly
• Carters Beach Road and parking lot upgrades
• East Port L’Hebert road repaving
• Albany New Road, rebuilding gravel road
• Trunk 3: from Broad River Road easterly to White Point Road
• New Grafton Road: from Trunk 8 southerly
• Pleasant River Bridge, Route 208

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

Tim Nickerson, Lyn Oakley and Rosalee Smith at the Seaside Centre in Beach Meadows on Tuesday. (Rick Conrad photo)

By Rick Conrad

For Lyn Oakley, having more fish farms near her home boils down to one thing.

“My biggest concern is poop,” the Eagle Head resident says, referring to the fish waste produced at the facilities. “There is no way that the ocean with its tides is flushing that area. It’s not capable of doing that.”

Oakley was at the Seaside Centre in Beach Meadows on Tuesday with other residents working on their letters to the Nova Scotia Aquaculture Review Board to oppose a proposed fish farm expansion in Liverpool Bay.

The review board will hold a public hearing on an application by Kelly Cove Salmon to expand its current fish farming operation off Coffin Island, near Liverpool, from 14 pens to 20. It also wants to create new sites off Brooklyn and Mersey Point. The new locations would add another 40 pens to their operation.

The hearing begins March 4 at the Best Western Plus in Liverpool. 

If successful, Kelly Cove would farm up to an estimated 1.8 million salmon at the three sites. It currently raises about 400,000 at its location near Coffin Island.

The grassroots group Protect Liverpool Bay is one of five groups granted intervenor status at the hearing. The others are the Region of Queens, the Brooklyn Marina, a group of 23 lobster fishermen and Kwilmu’kw Maw-Klusuaqn, which is representing the Acadia First Nation.

As part of the review process, anyone can submit comments to the board by Feb. 12. But they must address at least one of eight factors the review board considers under the province’s aquaculture regulations.

That’s why some residents gathered on Tuesday to make sure their letters were in a format that would be accepted by the review board.

Oakley said the session was helpful to learn from other community members.

“These kinds of information sessions make sure that my objections are going to be accepted into the record and my voice will be heard.”

Rosalee Smith, who also lives in Eagle Head, said it’s important for the community to be heard.

“I think numbers speak. The people on the ground, the people who are gonna live next to this, the people who will have to look at this, the people who will be suffering because of this I think need to speak up and say, ‘No, we don’t want it.’”

Protect Liverpool Bay has been fighting the fish farm expansion since 2018. It was on hand to offer any other information to residents about the review hearing process. 

Beach Meadows resident Tim Nickerson said he’s working on his own letter, but also wanted to help others with theirs.

“I just think that the ask for the bay is just excessive. It’s just too much for that space to handle.”

Local residents say they are worried about the fish farm’s effects on the lobster fishery, the area’s beaches and other uses of the bay.

They’re also concerned that more fish in more enclosed spaces will mean more pollution, pesticides and antibiotics released into the ocean. They point to sea lice infestations, fish escapes, equipment debris and fish kills.

There are two more information sessions planned at the Seaside Centre, on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

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The Seaside Centre in Beach Meadows was one of the community groups last year that received a grant through the operating investment fund. (Rick Conrad photo)

By Rick Conrad

Non-profit groups in Queens County who need help with some expenses can now apply for the operating investment fund through the municipality’s community investment fund.

The deadline for the operating fund is Jan. 31.

The region is also holding an information session about the various funding options available, at the Seaside Centre in Beach Meadows on Jan. 22 from 2-4 p.m. To register, email ssereda@regionofqueens.com.

Under the community investment fund, annual cash grants are awarded to non-profits or societies in Queens County focused on sports or recreation, education, environment, culture, community, heritage or social activities.

Groups can apply under five different categories: capital, operational, event or tournament, training, and travel assistance. 

There are three different funding levels in the operating grant category, depending on what the money is used for: Up to $10,000 annually for groups that own their own facility or have a long-term lease where programs or services are well established; up to $5,000 for community groups to offer year-round services; and up to $1,000 for groups to offer new or expanded programs or seasonal services for residents.

Mayor Darlene Norman says it’s a great opportunity for groups throughout the region to help with certain expenses.

“There seems to be the same groups applying year after year and it’s my thought that there may be other groups who are unaware that these grants do exist for them, so I strongly encourage anyone with non-profit organizations who are struggling with their non-profit expenses to investigate this very good grant opportunity which is funded by the taxpayers of the Region of Queens.”

Nine community groups were approved last year for up to $60,000 operational funding.

More information and application forms are available at regionofqueens.com. 

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

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Property map of proposed triplex development. Photo Region of Queens agenda

Most of the units in a proposed Beach Meadows triplex will be reserved for long-term renters.

The developers, Albert and Paula Doucet asked Region of Queens to issue a development agreement permitting all three planned units, to be used for short-term rentals.

The proponents wanted the property zoning changed from Hamlet Residential (HR) to Hamlet Core (HC) to allow the rentals.

During a public hearing held ahead of the last Region of Queens council meeting, residents spoke overwhelmingly in favour of maintaining the current planning rules which limits the number of short-term rentals to one.

Mayor Darlene Norman says the residents who spoke were passionate about keeping their community residential.

“And they see the possibility of three short-term rental units as the demise or negative to their residential way of life in that community.”

After a discussion, a majority of council agreed that the area is residential and should remain so.

They voted to maintain the status quo and allow one short-term and two long-term rentals on the property.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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A house in Halifax feels the effect of Hurricane Fiona. Photo Ed Halverson

Hurricane Fiona blew by Queens saving its full fury for other parts of Nova Scotia.

Power is almost completely restored in Queens and clean-up is underway in the wake of Hurricane Fiona.

The South Shore managed to avoid the devastation experienced in northern parts of the province and Cape Breton.

Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman says municipal staff were getting ready well in advance of the storm.

“Probably about a week ahead when it looked like something was coming our way our public works department started clearing out storm drains, ditches, picking up as much debris as possible,” said Norman. “When it became very clear that Fiona was indeed going to impact Nova Scotia then equipment was put down, you know any unneeded signs, people noticed the Main Street area that detour signs those were put away. At Beach Meadows we put away our mobi mat. We prepared ourselves.”

Norman says residents also took the warnings seriously and took steps to weather Fiona.

“It was also great to see people preparing themselves. People were flipping their trampolines and they were putting away lawn furniture and they themselves were getting prepared.” Said Norman.

According to Nova Scotia Power over 50,000 customers were affected in the Western Zone of Nova Scotia, including Queens.

Most of the power failures were a result of trees either falling on or bringing down power lines.

Restoration efforts got underway Friday night and as of Monday morning only a few homes in Queens County remain in the dark.

Many people were unable to communicate following the storm as cell service across all providers was down in many areas of the province.

Life in Queens is returning to normal as schools across the South Shore reopened Monday.

Several comfort stations that were opened immediately following the storm have been closed with the exception of Queens Place which is still offering access to showers, by appointment.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
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Garbage collected from beach clean-up at Hirtles Beach. Photo Angela Riley

The founder of an environmental clean-up group wants people to remember Mother Earth when celebrating their mothers this weekend.

Angela Riley with Scotian Shores has organized a province-wide beach clean-up effort this May 8 Mother’s Day.

Riley says it’s a great opportunity to teach a valuable lesson to kids and do something good for the environment.

“I love for my kids to come out and see all the people cleaning and working together and taking care of the earth. For me, as a mom that is something that I really want to pass on to them. It really means a lot to me,” said Riley. “I think there’s a lot of moms that are coming out that are very excited to be like, this is a perfect Mother’s Day thing.”

Riley founded Scotian Shores at the start of the pandemic in the summer of 2020 when she was spending a lot of time on the beach with her kids.

Everyday her family would watch as more and more garbage was washed up on the shore.

“Even if we stopped littering every little piece of garbage today, the whole entire world, we’re still going to be cleaning it up for years because, [in] the Bay of Fundy we can see a ton of garbage wash ashore in one day,” said Riley.

The mostly volunteer organization works with residents and municipalities to organize clean up days.

Scotian Shores supplies gloves and bags and arranges disposing of the garbage at local recycling facilities or landfills.

An event held in Yarmouth drew hundreds of volunteers and resulted in 10 tons of garbage being removed from the beach over two days.

Riley says it’s satisfying for people to see the results of the efforts after just a couple of hours.

“To get a group of 50 people there and then see a dumpster full at the end, I mean, you’re sad that that’s all there but you’re also really happy because you’re like, yeah, I made a difference,” said Riley.

In Queens, the Mother’s Day clean-up will be held Sunday at Beach Meadows Beach beginning at 10:00am.

For more information, follow this link.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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Seaside Centre. Photo Damien van den Berg

Residents have voted down a request for an area rate to support the Seaside Recreation Centre.

The centre’s board is asking Region of Queens council to impose a tax of four cents per hundred dollars of assessment on property owners in Assessment District 7, which includes Beach Meadows, Eagle Head, East Berlin, West Berlin, and Port Medway.

Of the 223 people who turned out at the Seaside Centre Wednesday night, 192 were against the area rate while only 30 cast ballots in support.

Spokesperson for the Seaside Recreation and Community Centre Association Damien van den Berg was surprised by the lopsided result.

“I was probably thinking it would have been more evenly split,” said van den Berg.

The vote itself is non-binding on regional council but the results will be taken into account when they consider the rest of the area rate application at an upcoming meeting.

Based on this result, van den Berg suspects the group may have some work to do.

“I don’t think we’re going to get exactly what we applied for. If we get something, great, if we get nothing, that’s okay too,” said van den Berg. “But if you don’t ask the question, you don’t get an answer.”

Council can decide to award the proposed rate, decrease the amount or not agree to the request at all.

While funding is still an issue for the Seaside Centre, van den Berg says a silver lining could still come out of this.

“I think there’s individuals that may not have been aware of the situation that are stepping up and potentially going to volunteer or potentially donate or look at other ways of helping support so we’ll see how that all works out.”

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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Seaside Centre. Photo Damien van den Berg

A local community centre is looking to collect funding from area residents property tax bills.

The Seaside Recreation and Community Centre is asking Region of Queens council to approve an area rate of four cents on every hundred dollars of assessed property value for residents of Beach Meadows, Eagle Head, West Berlin, East Berlin and Port Medway.

On a $150,000 home, the area rate would amount to an extra $60 on the homeowners property tax bill.

The treasurer of the volunteer board operating the Seaside Community Centre Damien van den Berg understands no one wants to see their taxes go up, but hopes when people understand the situation they will get on board.

“Even just putting paint on the wall is difficult unless you’ve got money to do that,” said van den Berg. “Primarily the challenge has been operating a building versus operating a community centre.”

van den Berg says the board would like to focus on repairing the basketball courts, fixing up trails and painting lines for pickleball to attract more users but can’t because they’re working on keeping the lights on every month.

Figures submitted by the board to the Region of Queens show an operating deficit of over $6,000 for 2020.

During the year, Seaside Centre received almost $2,000 in donations and raised $358 from an online raffle.

The group has applied to the federal and provincial government for grants to make the basement level fully accessible. The federal funding will build a ramp and renovate the existing washrooms. While the money from the province will go to install 7 heat pumps to lower the heating costs and provide better control over the temperature and humidity.

But neither of those grants will assist in the day-to-day operations of the recreation centre.

van den Berg is concerned the centre cannot continue to rely on donations to fund their activities and needs to find a steady stream of income to go forward. The area rate is expected to provide $35,000 each year

“The cost associated to that increase is quite low year over year, like $50-$60 a year isn’t a significant amount of money from an assessment perspective in order to have a facility that supports the community,” said van den Berg.

He believes the community is looking for the Seaside Centre to be more than it is. And if the area rate is approved, they will have the stability to return their focus from maintaining a building to upgrading the facility and improving their offerings.

“I like to say I’d rather buy a bunch of hockey sticks and hockey nets for the kids that are in the community than being able to turn the lights on,” said van den Berg.

Area residents will have a say in whether or not they’re willing to foot the bill.

A vote will be held on the proposed area rate at the Seaside Centre on March 3.

To cast a ballot, a person must be 18 years of age, a Canadian citizen and permanently reside in Beach Meadows, Eagle Head, East Berlin, West Berlin, or Port Medway on March 3, 2021.

The vote itself will not determine whether or not the area rate will go ahead. The results will be presented to Region of Queens council and used as part of their process as they decide whether or not to introduce the area rate during their annual budget deliberations over the next month.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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