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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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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Region of Queens administration building. Photo Ed Halverson

Region of Queens council packed a light agenda as they took their meeting on the road this week.

Residents took the opportunity to ask questions of council during the public comment and question portion of the meeting held in the Seaside Centre. The first was a request to repave or repair a section of School St. in Milton prior to the winter of 2023. The second was to ask if council were aware of a home being built on eagle head placing large rocks to prevent the ocean overflowing their property.

Mayor Darlene Norman says School St. is maintained jointly by the province and the municipality and any work would have to go out to tender. She says the province has already allocated their shared road repair budget for this year and it would be unlikely a tender would come back in time to complete the work before this winter.

Regarding the large rocks being placed on the eagle head property Norman says that responsibility also falls to the province.

The lone recommendation was a request to approve fixed roof overnight accommodation in south Brookfield. The petitioners Jasmine and Matthew Mallay want to build a collection of cottage rentals on 19 acres of property which requires a development agreement between the owners and the municipality.

The property is close to Cameron’s Brook provincial day park and Norman expects a development like this in a remote area would be welcome.

“People need to get out in nature,” said Norman. “Everybody’s not camper, everybody doesn’t go to provincial parks or national parks. Some people just like to get out in nature and have the comfort of a fixed roof and a bed.”

Council approved the development agreement and schedule a public hearing for November 28th in council chambers for residents to weigh in.

Next council discussed appointments to the planning advisory committee. Three member’s terms expired and all three wished to remain on PAC. Council reappointed the committee members but directed staff to examine the policy to determine if longer terms or term limits would be appropriate.

Finally, council discussed sending a letter of support to Municipal Affairs Minister John Lohr for a bill currently working its way through the legislature which updates interactions between the province and municipalities across Nova Scotia.

Norman says the new deal would put $400,000 back in the Region of Queens coffers representing four cents on the tax rate.

The next Region of Queens council meeting is scheduled for November 14th at 9:00 AM in council chambers.

To hear the full interview with Mayor Norman click play below.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com

Outgoing president Sandy Cross is recognized by the Region of Queens for her years of service. From L-R: Sandy Cross, Volunteer Brian Muldoon and Mayor Darlene Norman. Photo Ed Halverson

Residents braved Monday’s storm to save Seaside Community Centre.

The meeting was called after president of the Seaside board, Sandy Cross announced she is stepping down.

A new executive board was needed to keep the Centre from closing.

Fourteen people stepped forward from the crowded hall and volunteered to serve.

Having worked with the community centre for 27 years Cross described the results of Monday night’s meeting in one word.

“Relief. Relief that this place is going to see new blood and it’s going to survive.”

Seaside Centre serves the communities of Beach Meadows, Eagle Head, West Berlin and East Berlin.

According to the board’s bylaws, members of the executive must belong to one of those communities.

Cross says one of the first priorities of the new board should be to change that bylaw.

“We talked about it before, about opening it up because that will allow more people to come in with more ideas. Not only that, new blood is good.”

Cross was surprised when towards the end of the meeting, Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman came forward to read a proclamation from the municipality recognizing her long years of service to Seaside Centre.

“That was totally, that just blew me,” said Cross. “It really did ‘cause I was not expecting that at all. I’m pleased. They even got me my favourite flowers. Everyone should have this opportunity.”

Mayor Norman is glad to see so many people offer their time to keep the centre going.

“This strikes a heart in the people of this community and that’s what’s important,” said Norman. “That people came forward and rallied behind Seaside Recreation Centre.”

The new board will meet December 1 to select their executive and begin devising future plans for the centre.

Cross says while she is stepping away, she will continue to support the Seaside Centre and the new executive.

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

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Seaside Centre. Photo Damien van den Berg

The Seaside Centre in Beach Meadow needs a to find a new board of directors after President Sandy Cross announced she will step down from her role November 30.

Currently, Cross is the only executive at the community centre and says it can’t continue to operate as a one-woman show.

“Well, if nobody steps up on the 22 of November, when we have the special meeting, then we have to look at selling off the stuff that’s in the building and then selling the building,” said Cross.

The public meeting is being held in a last-ditch attempt to recruit community members to form a new board.

The Seaside Centre currently provides rental space and regularly hosts quilters, crafters, fitness classes, yoga, and a cheer team in addition to sporadic special events and suppers.

Cross is also concerned as the centre is more than just a recreation hub, serving as a centre where residents can fill water jugs, take a shower or do laundry in the event of an emergency.

The province handed over Seaside Centre to the municipality in the 1990s when it stopped being used as a school.

Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman says if the centre goes up for private sale, there’s nothing the region can do.

“There’s no clause in the agreement that reverts this property back to the municipality,” said Norman. “You and I know people are willing, very willing, to purchase beachfront property.”

After being involved with Seaside Centre since 1994, Cross is hopeful the community will rally to keep it going.

“Bring in new ideas and new blood, new set of hands and feet because there is so much potential for that building,” said Cross

The public meeting will be held 6:30pm November 22 at the Seaside Centre for anyone interested in volunteering.

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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