Eastern Graphic

Protesters decry cancelled Souris K-12 at Province House

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 12:24

More than 200 protesters came out to Province House Tuesday night to support a K-12 school in Souris. Souris Consolidated Home and School member Shelley Keenan called on Education Minister Alan McIsaac to “stand up and make this government accountable to your promises.” She suggest the government work with the federal Department of Canadian Heritage to make the school a monument and legacy to future generations. She was also concerned about levels of radon in the school. “Any risk of lung cancer to children is too much of a risk,” she said. “The people of eastern Kings are feeling a sense of betrayal,” Souris High ...

Property owner waits for province to move on roundabout project

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 05:20

New Perth business owner George Branton says his hands have been tied for about a year with a planned expansion which is on hold until construction begins on the new $1.7 million roundabout at Pooles Corner. The property in question is at the Pooles Corner intersection next to Kaylee Hall where Mr Branton plans to set up a new component of his existing business, The Real George’s Deck & Recovery. ...

Montague couple to breathe life into former Gen XX building

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 05:20

The former Generation XX building in Montague, abandoned since 2007 and in disrepair, is in the process of being sold to new owners who have started cleaning up the property. Trevor and Kim Hicken will purchase the 3,000-square foot facility from previous owners D P Murphy Inc, who put the building up for sale in 2008. The deteriorating state of the building was discussed this past winter when a resident filed an unsightly premises complaint with the Town of Montague. The individual said one wall had mould while another was covered with graffiti, and pigeons were housed in holes on the ...

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 05:20

Styrofoam isn’t biodegradable and broken buoys strewn across some Island beaches aren’t going to blend into the landscape like broken traps and glass that turn into driftwood and beach glass. Ryan Cain, a former Cardigan resident, said if no one does anything about it the problem will remain and only get worse. Mr Cain, who currently lives in Edmonton, Alberta said he recently walked along the shore at South Degros Marsh Road and found the number of broken buoys and plastic netting disturbing. “Of all the waste that comes up on the beaches the Styrofoam is the worst because it breaks apart,” Mr ...

Government sweetens the pot for honey entrepreneur

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 05:20

Island Abbey Foods, owned by Montague native John Rowe Jr, has received $550,000 in grants and loans from the province to help the company move into a larger space at the new Bio-Commons Research Park in Charlottetown this summer. The company, which produces the popular Honibe dried honey product available in thousands of retail outlets across North America, is currently located across the street from the Bio-Commons, in the West Royalty Business Park. A spokesperson from the Department of Innovation said the provincial funding for “the move and fit-up of the new facilities” includes a $200,000 grant as well as a $350,000 ...

Supporters plan march to demand dialysis unit stays in Souris Hospital

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 05:20

Supporters of the dialysis unit at Souris Hospital will protest its planned closure at Province House next week. All Islanders are invited to attend, PEI Dialysis Patient Support Group spokesperson David MacDonald said. “It seems this sitting of the legislature the thing to do is go visit the politicians.” Premier Robert Ghiz recently announced a delay to those plans, but Mr MacDonald said that’s not enough. “We’re waiting for the status quo, we’re not waiting for a delay.” The group has tagged the change the “Dewar Dialysis Disaster” in reference to Health PEI CEO Keith Dewar. “We’re not going to find Mr Dewar (at Province House) ...

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 05:20

The Town of Georgetown’s Victoria Day Tea was marked by the appearance of three former residents of the Capital of Kings County, including, from left, Sister Carmelita Soloman, 97, Patricia Brooke, 74, and Estelle Bolger, who is Mrs Brooke’s mother and Sister Carmelita’s cousin and is 102 years of age. Mrs Bolger, born a Soloman in Georgetown, is well-known for having been the first female barber on PEI when she was only 16 years old and followed in her father Frank’s footsteps. After the Second World War, she moved to Summerside and married Lenie Bolger, and remained a hairdresser until ...

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 05:20

Six year-old Connor Chaisson of Souris is delighted to get his hands on a cupcake at the CN Park in Souris Monday. Doling out the treats is Patty Rose, town administrative assistant. More than 400 people descended on the park for a community picnic, held on Victoria Day. The town used a Jubilee grant to foot the bill for free picnic lunches, packed in reusable cooler bags, for everyone. Le comité acadien et francophone de l’Est (CAFE) sponsored a variety of events for children and entertainment was provided by Borderline. Events coordinator Joeanne Roche said the hope is to inspire ...

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 05:00

A wellspring of young talent in Georgetown will be showcased Thursday, May 24 at 7pm when the school’s drama club puts on a variety show at the Kings Playhouse. Admission to the event is free but donations to the Kings Playhouse will be accepted. The drama club is a reflection of the youth of Georgetown, with more than 50 of the 93 students of Georgetown Elementary as members. The club was created last year by Dawn Sadoway, and is now being run by Toby Murphy, although Ms Murphy hastens to add that she “can’t come close to filling her (Ms Sadoway’s) ...

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 05:00

The former Annandale United Church was moved about half a mile down the road last Tuesday. The church, opened in 1881, hadn’t been used for about three years and was bought by realtor Sharon Ogawa to be used as a private cottage. The pews and the old organ, as well as two bridal wreath plants, went with the church while the other items stayed with the congregation. Photo courtesy of Jane Dunphy ...

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 05:00

Worshipful Master Edward Baird, of the Mizpah Masonic Lodge in Eldon, left, and Malcolm MacLeod, Past Master, right, presents Barb Dunphy-Gotell, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation Executive Director, with a $1,000 donation as part of their 100th Anniversary celebration taking place this year. The lodge designated this gift toward stroke care, in honour of fellow lodge member, Vernon Glover, who recently received care in the QEH stroke unit. Submitted photo ...

Wood Islands WI to host session on nurse practioners

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 05:00

An open community educational event, hosted by the Wood Islands Branch of the PEI Women’s Institutes, will be held Monday, June 4 in Wood Islands. The subject of the gathering will be Nurse Practitioners: Their Role in the Health Care System. Guest speakers include RNs Karen M Moore-Edwards and Sally MacIsaac. The session, in the Wood Islands WI Hall (old school house) on the Trans-Canada Highway, west of Wood Islands Road, starts at 7pm. Refreshments will be provided and everyone is welcome to attend and bring a friend or family member. ...

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 05:00

Kings District RCMP were out in full force last week as part of National Road Safety Week, with checkpoints set up in various locations in eastern PEI including Belles Hill near Pooles Corner. Constable Jamie Parsons, right, said more than 10 summary offense tickets were issued within a one-hour period Thursday for infractions relating to registration and inspection, as well as one ticket for driving while suspended. Several tickets were also handed out near Montague High School the same day relating to the graduated driver’s program. Heather St-John of St Teresa’s, left, was one of many who stopped at a ...

Public invited to screening of The Freedom Tour May 24

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 05:00

Employment Destinations clients in Montague will host a public screening of “The Freedom Tour” May 24, at 7pm at Red’s Corner in Pooles Corner. “The Freedom Tour” is a documentary following People First advocacy groups as they travelled across the Canadian Prairies to tell people about the problems with institutions for people with disabilities. The tour was in response to the government of Manitoba announcing in 2006 it would spend $40 million to refurbish and reopen the Manitoba Development Centre, an institution built to house people who have been labeled with disabilities. The film shows the tour and gives people an idea about ...

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 05:00

The Montague Intermediate School Grade 8 and 9 concert band are rehearsing for a new unit called The Symphony of Rock, which will meld rock instruments with a full orchestra for a unique sound. Music teacher Jonathan MacInnis said the orchestra will be rehearsing songs from such acts as Coldplay, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Leonard Cohen and others, with a public performance in June. The concert and jazz bands recently came off a big success at the Atlantic Band Festival at Mount St Vincent in Nova Scotia, with both bands receiving gold standing for the second year in a row. ...

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 05:00

For the past two decades, the staff at Prompt Plumbing have strived to be at the forefront when it comes to providing excellent service and installation of heating and plumbing systems. Prompt Plumbing owner Gene Wood brings much experience to the Fortune-based business, which he established in 1992. Mr Wood has been involved in the trade since 1978 and in 1992 he decided to open up his own business. Initially he operated Prompt Plumbing in the basement of his home but he soon outgrew that small space as more customers requested his services and the size of his staff increased. Mr ...

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 05:00

For the past 12 years, ceilidhs at the Murray River Community Hall have netted more than $270,000 for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation. Organizer Garnet Buell said he hopes this year’s performances will break the $300,000 mark. “The reason I do this is for everybody because pretty well everybody is going to use the QEH at one time or another,” he said. Often behind the scenes is a whole army of volunteers to help Mr Buell. They take admission, sell tickets, make mouth watering fudge and prepare the second-to-none lunch which is served on ceilidh nights. “You come in and pay $5, get a ...

Georgetown Provincial Court May 17, 2012

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 05:00

Stephanie Leanne Gregory, 30 of Souris, was sentenced to 30 days in jail for helping a man breach his probation. The man wasn’t supposed to have any contact with Ms Gregory without permission from his probation officer, as a result of a mischief charge after pushing and shoving took place between the two. Prior to this incident he had asked permission through his probation officer but Ms Gregory refused. On April 29 police received a tip that the man was at Ms Gregory’s home, and he would be hiding in a hollowed out couch. Officers went to Ms Gregory’s house and she welcomed them ...

CF to host walk in Mount Stewart

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 05:00

The PEI Chapter of Cystic Fibrosis Canada will hold its annual Great Strides Walk beginning 10am Sunday, May 27 in Mount Stewart. The Mount Stewart walk is among approximately 70 similar events taking place across Canada and is key in marking Cystic Fibrosis Month, which takes place during the month. Registration for the walk begins at 10am at the Hillsborough River Eco-centre in Mount Stewart. Participants will walk the Confederation Trail for about 5km before returning to the eco-centre for a barbecue and a chance to win a number of door prizes. Melvin Jay, regional director of the PEI chapter of CF ...

Birds and Breakfast at the Macphail Homestead

Wed, 05/23/2012 - 05:00

Island woodlands are alive with birds and their songs. While year-round avian residents such as juncos are already raising their young, many migrants are just now building their nests and singing up a storm. All in all, it is a great time for a walk in the woods. On Saturday, May 26, the public is invited to breakfast at the Sir Andrew Macphail Homestead in Orwell and then to take a closer look at Island birds along the trails. The Macphail Homestead will be open at 7am to serve a free “early bird” breakfast. Join other birders beside the fireplace in ...