Vol 36 • No 04
$4.99
September 2023
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Storytelling Festival Turns 20
Back to School Recipes 31 Reasons to Love Libraries
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life is better Published monthly in St. John’s by Downhome Publishing Inc. 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3 Tel: 709-726-5113 • Fax: 709-726-2135 • Toll Free: 1-888-588-6353 E-mail: mail@downhomelife.com Website: www.downhomelife.com Editorial Editor-in-Chief Janice Stuckless Assistant Editor Nicola Ryan Editor Lila Young
Warehouse Operations Warehouse / Inventory Manager Carol Howell Warehouse Operator Josephine Collins Shipping/Receiving Clerk Jennifer Kane
Art and Production Art Director Vince Marsh Illustrator Mel D’Souza Illustrator Snowden Walters
Retail Operations Retail Floor Manager, St. John’s Jackie Rice Retail Floor Manager, Twillingate Donna Keefe Retail Sales Associates Crystal Rose, Jonathon
Advertising Sales Account Manager Barbara Young Account Manager Ashley O’Keefe Marketing Director Tiffany Brett Finance and Administration Accountant Marlena Grant Accountant Sandra Gosse
Organ, Erin McCarthy, Kim Tucker, Heather Stuckless, Katrina Hynes, Destinee Rogers, Amy Young, Emily Snelgrove, Brandy Rideout, Alexandria Skinner, Emily Power, Colleen Giovannini, Rachael Hartery, Julie Gidge, Austin Wheeler
Subscriptions Customer Service Associate Lisa Tiller Founding Editor Ron Young Chief Executive Officer/Publisher Grant Young
Operations Manager, Twillingate Nicole Mehaney
President & Associate Publisher Todd Goodyear General Manager/Assistant Publisher Tina Bromley
To subscribe, renew or change address use the contact information above. Subscriptions 1-Year term total inc. taxes, postage and handling: for residents in NL, NS, NB, PE $49.44; ON $48.58; QC, SK, MB, AB, BC, NU, NT, YT $45.14. US $54.99; International $59.99
Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement #40062919 The advertiser agrees that the publisher shall not be liable for damages arising out of errors in advertisements beyond the amount paid for the space actually occupied by the portion of the advertisement in which the error occurred, whether such error is due to the negligence of the servants or otherwise, and there shall be no liability beyond the amount of such advertisement. The Letters to the Editor section is open to all letter writers providing the letters are in good taste, not libelous, and can be verified as true, correct and written by the person signing the letter. Pen names and anonymous letters will not be published. The publisher reserves the right to edit, revise, classify, or reject any advertisement or letter. © Downhome Publishing Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.
Printed in Canada Official onboard magazine of
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a damnable place
Contents
SEPTEMBER 2023
42 Pet of the Year Meet the winner, an extraordinary animal friend!
52 Fiona Followup Pam Pardy checks up on some folks she introduced us to last year, after post-tropical storm Fiona upended their lives.
70 This Place Rings a Bell Investigating the lore, legends and landscape that help define the upcoming Damnable Trail Festival. Dennis Flynn
76
hometown show www.downhomelife.com
76 You Are Here Come From Away comes home to Gander with a brand new Newfoundland production. Nicola Ryan September 2023
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Contents
SEPTEMBER 2023
homefront 8 I Dare Say A note from the Editor 10 Letters From Our Readers Gushing Over Gushue, Birthday Greetings to Pop, and a Tasty Success
18 Downhome Tours Dubai 20 Why is That? Why are moths attracted to light? Linda Browne
22 Life’s Funny Deadpan Delivery Pat Day
23 Say What? A contest that puts
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triple threat
words in someone else’s mouth
24 Lil Charmers Freshly Picked 26 Pets of the Month Creature Comforts
28 Reviewed Denise Flint reviews Where the Crooked Lighthouse Shines by Joshua Goudie
30 What Odds Paul Warford knows the sound guys are always listening.
22 delivery id
32 Fresh Tracks Wendy Rose reviews Cereal Milk’s The Long Drive Home 36 Adventures Outdoors Guides: A League of Their Own Gord Follett 40 In Your Words The Truth is Past Ivan J. White
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berry bounty 4
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58 seeing the light
features 58 Life in Focus How photography and social media set Cory Babstock on a new path. Jason Sheppard 66 Lighting the Fire Special Olympics torch bearer Andrew Hynes personifies heart and perseverance. Dillon Collins
explore 82 Talk of the Town For two
82 gifts of gab
www.downhomelife.com
decades, the St. John’s Storytelling Festival has been helping preserve and promote this traditional art form. Linda Browne
88 Libraries for Life Thirty-one things to check out for free at your public library, and most of them aren’t books. Nicola Ryan September 2023
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Contents
SEPTEMBER 2023
104 kiddie fare
home and cabin 92 Stuff We Love Exploring Indigenous Cultures Nicola Ryan
94 Ask Marie Anything Marie Bishop
100 Todd’s Table French Onion Soup Todd Goodyear 104 Downhome Recipes For the Kid in Everyone
92 steeped in history
110 Down to Earth The Real Beauty of Rugosa Roses Kim Thistle 6
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116
way back when
118 a bitter berry
reminiscing 116 Flashbacks Classic photos of people and places. About the cover Cory Babstock likes photos that tell a story. This one tells his. Read about how photography brightened his darkest days (p. 58), and check out his amazing portfolio at OldBonesPhoto.com.
Cover Index Pet of the Year• 42 Welcome to the Rock • 76 Stronger Than the Storm • 52 Life in Focus • 58 Storytelling Festival Turns 20 • 82 Back to School Recipes • 104 31 Reasons to Love Libraries • 88 www.downhomelife.com
117 This Month in History The myth of Corte-Real
118 Visions and Vignettes Adventures of two young scallywags in an imaginary outport of days gone by. Harold N. Walters
124 Puzzles 136 Colouring Page 138 Classifieds 140 Mail Order 144 Photo Finish September 2023
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homefront 08-19_Homefront - Letters 7/27/23 9:48 AM Page 8
i dare say
Does anyone else remember their first camera? Mine was a Kodak Instamatic that took 126 film. I loved that camera, not just because it took pictures, but also because it allowed me to look at the world through a different lens. I was the youngest in my class, with a pageboy haircut and big glasses. I was the “brainiac” and my dad was a teacher. Yeah, I got picked on in school. When teasing, or anything, got me down, I’d escape to the woods or the beach and turn my focus on the beauty I could see through the camera lens. I, like many readers probably will, immediately identified with Cory Babstock, when he speaks of finding the light on his darkest days by hiking with his camera. Read his inspiring story (and swoon over his photos) beginning on page 58. Resilience and perseverance are themes that resurface in several of this month’s features. It’s felt in the words of Port aux Basques residents, reflecting on what they suffered last September and how they’ve carried on since (“Fiona Followup,” page 52). It underlines the essay by Ivan J. White, a Mi’kmaw from Flat Bay, about growing up Indigenous in Newfoundland, and Truth and Reconciliation (“The Truth is Past,” p. 40). And it defines Special Olympian Andrew Hynes (“Lighting the Fire,” page 66), who believes strongly in following your dreams. “Don’t listen to other people if they doubt you, just don’t listen to that,” he wisely advises. Aside from photography and philosophy, people find emotional support in their pets, mental relief in cooking and gardening, escape in reading and writing. If you need them, seek out healthy outlets for pain and helpful tools for finding peace. Maybe you’ll even find some in this issue. And, kids, don’t let the bullies win! Thanks for reading,
Janice Stuckless, Editor-in-chief janice@downhomelife.com 8
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Submission Guidelines and Prize Rules
You could WIN $100! Every reader whose PHOTO, STORY, JOKE or POEM appears next to this yellow “from our readers” stamp in a current issue receives $10 and a chance at being drawn for the monthly prize: $100 for one photo submission and $100 for one written submission. Prizes are awarded in Downhome Dollars certificates, which can be spent like cash in our retail stores and online at shopDownhome.com.*
Submit Today! Send your photo, story, joke or poem to
Downhome, 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3 or submit online at: www.downhomelife.com *Only 1 prize per submitter per month. To receive their prize, submitters must provide with their submission COMPLETE contact information: full name, mailing address, phone number and email address (if you have one). Mailed submissions will only be returned to those who include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Downhome Inc. reserves the right to publish submissions in future print and/or electronic media campaigns. Downhome Inc. is not responsible for unsolicited material.
Hidden somewhere in this issue is Corky Sly Conner.
Can you find him? Look carefully at all the photographs and in the text of the stories. If you spot Corky, send us your name, address and phone number, along with a note telling us where he’s located. Your name will be entered in a draw and the winner will receive a coupon worth 25 Downhome Dollars redeemable at our store, or through our website.
Send your replies to: Corky Contest 43 James Lane St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3
mail@downhomelife.com www.downhomelife.com Deadline for replies is the 25th of each month.
Congratulations to Debbie Richards of Port aux Basques, NL, who found Corky on page 70 of the July issue!
*No Phone Calls Please. One entry per person
www.downhomelife.com
September 2023
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homefront 08-19_Homefront - Letters 7/26/23 1:24 PM Page 16
life is better Lobster pots in Smith’s Harbour, NL Dave Wheeler, Grand Falls-Windsor, NL
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life is better Some day on clothes. Jillian Murphy, St. Andrew’s, NL
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Announcements
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It is with great sadness, yet immense gratitude for a beautiful life together, that I share the news of the passing of my best friend, soulmate and love of my life. Beloved husband of 45 years to Marion (Cushing). Lloyd’s greatest joy was his family, his four girls Teresa (Brendon), Pam (Cam), Diane (Dave), Sharon (Mark) and his pride and joy, his 7 grandchildren Simon, Bradley, Tyler, Demi, Carleigh, Matthew, Kailey and his Great Granddaughter Avery. Left to mourn him is his sister Marie and her children Karen (John), Steve (Darlene), Mike and their families. Dave (Marie) who is his cousin but more like a brother and his best friends Jack Perry and Lloyd Pelley. Also Marion’s family, James (Sarah), Gary, Paul (Lynn) and Christine (Peter). Lloyd had a lot of friends and cousins who will also mourn his passing in Toronto and Twillingate, Newfoundland. He grew up in Twillingate and loved the many summers we spent in our cabin by the sea.
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