Good News for North Queens - Spring 2023

SPRING

2023

Good News for North Queens

The Good News for North Queens community newsletter is published quarterly by the North Queens Medical Centre Association - Since 1998 Public submissions are welcome and should be sent to submissionsnqmc@gmail.com The deadline for next issue's submissions is May 15, 2023

The Hope of Spring Arises Well, who’da thunk that 2022 would be over so quickly, and that the best part of winter has slipped by? Happy 2023 everyone, and hopefully it will bring a really early spring and a great garden-summer season.

We have much to be thankful for here in our little part of the world despite the rising costs and ever teetering medical system. It is sounding very much like we will soon have a gas station once again. Hallelujah! We are blessed with a grocery store under new ownership, our local Home Hardware, the pharmacy, a local restaurant, the NSLC, a thriving postal service, a great community school, a fantastic fire department, a nursing home, a caring food bank, a national park, an ever increase ballpark facility, a strong and hard-working Board of Trade, many small local businesses and community churches.

And to boot, we have been extolled with a new doctor. So, as we roll into early Spring you will help out your mental and physical health by getting ready for gardening, cleaning your yard, making plans to do more walking and taking time to talk with neighbours in the fresh air. Talk about our newly paved roadway, the awe-inspiring landscape we live in, the open winter we were fortunate to have, the possibility of not having to drive miles to get gas only to arrive home with a quarter tank used up already, the hope of spring arising in the leafing woods and forest and the warmth of the growing days as the sun stays around longer each day. Think about the joy of catching a delicious trout, and which hockey team (of course we all want it to be the Habs!!) will win the Stanley Cup. Let us remind ourselves of how good we really have it here in our North Queens communities. Don’t forget to keep yourself and your loved ones protected from the on-going COVID issue. We encourage you to keep your vaccinations up to date and wear a mask when in larger crowds of people. This will also be beneficial to those whose surgeries have been postponed due to rising number of COVID patients in our hospitals.

The North Queens Medical Centre Association continues with the upkeep of the Medical Centre. The people in the area have been generous and with the help of new members on the board we are getting ready for a fund-raising event in the early spring. You will notice that we have a new Facebook page. The old page will direct you toward the new one if you go into it. We are having difficulties deleting the old page from the cyber community called the WWW. At any rate what you will notice is that the new Facebook Page is carrying our new fund-raising event, “Collective Caring”. This on-going, on-line fundraiser, which will begin the first week of April will be explained and we are encouraging you to generously support it. When you sign into the fundraiser, there will be an explanation of how it works and how you can take part in it. The association will continue to take on medical centre projects and upkeep. The fundraiser from this particular Facebook effort will be used to help purchase and install a self-activation generator in the event that the electricity goes off. This will be helpful for the refrigeration of drugs and vaccines that are used on a daily bases by the medical staff. Rumor has it that the Nova Scotia Health Authority will purchase a new medicine refrigeration system for the health centre.

The new generator will also keep the heating and computer systems up and running.

We are also, as we have been stating, getting ready to do inside work on the building.

We continue, along with the help of the Hub, to produce this quarterly Newsletter.

Have a most wonderful and productive spring, neighbours, and keep well.

Blessings on you all.

There’s A New Doctor In Town Welcome Dr. Leanne DeLong!

Yes indeed, we have a new physician in North Queens Medical Centre! Leanne, on behalf of the North Queens communities I would like to welcome you and your family to our North Queens Medical Centre in Caledonia. We appreciate your coming to our area and look forward to a long, happy partnership.

Leanne grew up in a close family relationship in Vernon, British Columbia. She has two sisters who reside in Edmonton as do her parents. It was nice to hear her chat about her family both here and there in Alberta. It was very clear that family is a priority in her life.

She did her undergrad in nutrition and kinesiology at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. It was during this time that she met Matthew (Matt) and the two obviously fell for each other in a big way. They were married, and then returned to British Columbia in Prince George. After graduation she took up her residency term through Dalhousie University in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. After completion of her residency, she took a Family Physician and Hospital In-patient position in Shelburne, Nova Scotia from 2017 to 2022. Presently she is practicing out of the North Queens Medical Centre in Caledonia, Nova Scotia. She has also taken on the Medical Directorship for the North Queens Nursing Home.

Leanne and Matt have two daughters. Mabel is six, and Violet is three. As a family, they are very outdoors orientated. They love kayaking, camping, nature walking and in general being in the woods and on or in the water. It is nice to know that our area of North Queens will be able to afford them this luxury. I had the sense that they will be happy in our area. (Matt DeLong grew up in this area, and many of the people from the area know him well.)

In talking with Leanne, I had perceived that she is very community minded with many ideas for the health centre and community. The more we talked to more I could see that she is a wonderful fit for us. I am sure that we will be a wonderful fit for her and her family also.

Leanne, Matt, Mabel and Violet, welcome to your new home. We are so very blessed to have you with us.

We trust that, as you get to be closer to family and friends, you feel the same way.

Thank you so much for what you are giving our communities.

Fast Facts on Lyme disease Lyme disease is caused by the bite of an infected black-legged tick. Black-legged ticks are typically 3mm or smaller and thrive in damp forests and tall grasses. To transmit Lyme disease, the tick must be attached to the skin for at least 24 hours. Early symptoms of Lyme disease appear around day 7-10 after the tick bite and may include a bull’s eye rash or other type of rash, and flu-like symptoms such as fever, joint aches and pains, headache and fatigue. Left untreated, Lyme disease can progress to cause facial palsy, arthritis and heart problems. Treatment involves a course of antibiotics for at least 2 weeks.

Tips to prevent Lyme disease: Keep the yard sunny and dry: prune trees and bushes, clear leaf litter and mow the lawn short, Reduce tick migration by applying a barrier between the yard and woods, and around the house, such as with gravel, wood chips or stone. When hiking, avoid trails with tall grasses, wear long-sleeves and pants, and close-toed shoes, and use insect repellent with DEET (not to be used on babies less than 6 months old).

After outdoor activity, routinely check for ticks, especially behind the ears, armpits, groin and back of the knees.

Clothing can be placed in a dryer for 10 minutes on high heat to kill any remaining ticks. If bit by a tick, grasp the tick with tweezers close to the skin and gently pull it straight out. Record the location and date of the tick bite, and contact your care provider if you develop a rash or flu-like symptoms. ~Dr. Leanne DeLong Queens County Transit “Seniors Walk and Ride Free Fridays Program” As part of the New Horizons Program QCT has offered free rides in Queens County and free walks at Queens Place Emera Centre for Seniors. If you took advantage of the free program, especially the rides please drop us an email at info@queenscountytransit.ca and tell us what you enjoyed and what programs we could offer to help seniors in the future.

The walk free at the QPEC was not as successful as we had hoped so in order to fulfill our obligation to the program we would like to offer 100 seniors a $25 punch card to use for walking at QPEC. This will be available after March 15th and can be picked up at QCT office - While supplies last.

To book a ride please call Queens County Transit at 902-356-2670

Scholarship Program Launched in North Queens The John Cormac Carten Foundation announced the creation of a new program to award undergraduate scholarships to recent high-school graduates who reside within the district of North Queens Community School. Starting with the Class of 2023, the program supports post-secondary education at trade schools, community colleges, or universities. Eligible students must have continuously resided within the school district from grades 10 through 12 AND been accepted at a designated or accredited educational institution.

The Foundation’s website, https://cartenfoundation.com, contains a complete list of scholarship criteria and guidelines. Online applications for the 2023-2024 academic year will be available through the website beginning January 3, 2023. The maximum value of a one-year scholarship has been set initially at $1,000 USD. An eligible student can receive as many as four one-year awards except for those with special needs who can receive five awards.

The Foundation was organized as a Trust in the Commonwealth of Virginia by the descendants of John Cormac Carten. John Carten migrated to Liverpool about 1830 from County Derry, Ireland. He married Martha Webster, daughter of the town doctor in 1833. They raised 8 daughters and 4 sons. Many of the daughters married into families of North Queens such as Baxter, Devenney, Ennis, McBride, and Nixon.More recently, Thomas "Tom" Carten, grandson of John Cormac Carten, operated a country store at South Brookfield corner from about 1933 to 1960. The building originally was a millinery (purveyor of women's hats) and general store run by Mercy E. Smith and Olivia Hunt. After Tom's death, the store passed to his long-time friend and employee, Jane M. Mosher, for the sum of 1 dollar. Education was as important to John Carten as it is to his descendants. Many of his children and grandchildren received post-secondary instruction from institutions in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, including Université Sainte Anne (Church Point), University of Saint Joseph's College (Memramcook), Sacred Heart Convent School (Halifax), Halifax Ladies' College (Halifax), and Dalhousie University (Halifax).

The trustees of the Foundation are Rick and Liz Carten of Virginia. In Nova Scotia, Tim McDonald, Marie MacLeod, and Amanda Flemming serve on the Advisory Committee. The Carten Foundation’s scholarship program is modeled after the highly successful program administered by the J. D. Shatford Memorial Trust for the area around Hubbards. The Shatford Foundation has awarded scholarships to over 1,000 students since 1960. Befittingly, J. D. Shatford was a brother-in-law of Lillian M. Smith, granddaughter of John Cormac Carten.

Prospective applicants are urged to notify their guidance counselor of their interest and visit the Foundation website for more information. Questions may be directed to the Foundation through the website.

What is the most useful when it’s broken? An Egg! I finally watched that documentary about clocks. It was about time.

Does February march? No, but April may!

Hello everyone...Hope you all had a great Christmas and are ready to face 2023 with a smile. 😊 It sounds a bit weird to me. But having said that, when I was a much younger person, 1960 sounded strange. But there you go. Anyway, as I write this, we are facing a "deep freeze". One can only hope that somehow it will not be as cold as was reported, but listening to the wind as it blows the snow about, that hope is perhaps a pipe dream. I for one could not live in the North of Canada...but that's just me. -60C or -70C wind chill would definitely cause me to be a hermit. I am an 80*F person. In other words, I am not a winter "liker". If you are, then that's great....

At this time of the year, not much is happening with the North Queens Heritage Society,but we are gearing up to re-open again on July 1st and we hope to have a new Fact, Fiction and Folklore Volume 5. Watch for the BBQ at Mary Lake Home Hardware. Tickets will be available by February 10th. A big thank you to Mary Lake Home Hardware, Caledonia Pharmachoice, and Clover Farm for all they do for the Heritage Society. Also, our Ham and Potato Salad Luncheon/Dinner on April 21st. Tickets for that event will be available on March 1st. Our venue this year has changed from the Masonic Hall to the United Church Vestry, for the take-outs, due to the sale of the Masonic Hall. And of course, our publications and Calendars are still available at all the local businesses in Caledonia. Isn't it wonderful that we are getting our Service Station back again. Good Luck to the new owners and every success in your new venture. We will be waiting patiently for opening day.

O.K. Stay warm and take care of each other. ~No one has ever become poor by giving, especially when it comes from the heart All the best, Marilyn Woodworth, Secretary North Queens Heritage Society

South Shore Hospice Palliative Care Society - Healing the Loss Courage and resilience during great change A good half of the art of living is resilience” ~ Alain de Botton Loss can happen in slow increments. You may be anticipating the time when life will change greatly if you have a loved one with a terminal illness. Or loss can happen so suddenly that you remain in shock at its catastrophic occurrence far longer than you thought possible. Over time, the impact and repercussions of a primary loss are known as secondary losses. This is something that is not generally acknowledged but most always experienced.

Secondary losses can include the loss of companionship, the loss of income and financial security, the loss of your home, employment or business. The loss of familiarity, of feeling safe and secure. Your role will have changed, and along with it, a loss of identity as a spouse, parent, sibling, family member, friend or caregiver. If the loss is of your own health, it triggers many other losses: loss of mobility, control, functionality, finances. There is the loss of the milestones without your loved one, the family structure, the hoped-for future together. There can be a loss of a sense of purpose, loss of memories, faith, and motivation. You can experience a change of your support systems: your friends, family, church, social life. You may lose your strength and energy to work and to pursue activities you once enjoyed. You may experience sadness because friends distance themselves from you as you learn to navigate your changed life. Many times in life we don’t acknowledge or take the time to grieve an event or loss that has happened to us in the past, for a variety of reasons. Perhaps we are just too busy and have to keep our heads down and keep going. Or perhaps we are told that it doesn’t matter. What can happen at times of great loss is that the accumulated grief from all of the unacknowledged loss over our lives collides with this primary loss and we are completely unprepared for the impact. In order to mourn a loss, we must recognize and acknowledge it as such. We must acknowledge the importance and the validity of the ongoing secondary losses in our lives as we adapt, adjust and change to learn how to live without our loved one in this new role. We can be surprised by our grief, the depth of it, how long it lasts, how it demands to be heard and felt and the physical and emotional consequences of not doing so. Jill LaMoire from the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors says that “the changes death brings are physical, personal, social, spiritual, emotional and psychological. Death alters our environment to include a defined ending and the demand for a new beginning.” She goes on to say that “family and friends also need to recognize secondary losses and the associated grief they bring. In wanting to see their loved ones happy and ‘getting on with life’, they can unwittingly deny or disenfranchise real feelings of grief.

Awareness, patience and understanding can help allow us to move through our grief.” Navigating our way after a profound loss takes a lot of courage. It takes resilience. When a difficult grief-inducing moment happens (and this moment can be as seemingly harmless as “what does your husband do?” or “how many children do you have?” or “do you have any brothers or sisters?”) and you are taken out by the wave of sadness and shock that these simple questions produce. When this happens, acknowledge the grief. Validate and give yourself permission to be sad. You are honouring yourself, and the unique relationship you had with your loved one who died. Carrying on, just simply carrying on after your whole life has changed is courageous , brave and resilient.

Hilary Scott, Advanced Certified Grief Recovery Specialist ® Certified Peer Support Canada® Contact her at hscott@healingtheloss.com, 902 529 0021 ***Healing the Loss on Fb www.healingtheloss.com Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve Association staff members are working on two projects to support protection of habitat and biodiversity in Southwest Nova Scotia. Nick Hill, Shayla Nickerson and Adam Deveau have been helping to identify places where owners may want protection for their land going forward. They also have been identifying sites in our five southwestern counties and sourcing native trees that may be appropriate for planting in these areas as part of the federal 2-Billion Trees initiative. Provincially there are mechanisms that assist in creating wilderness areas or nature reserves. A private landowner with a forested area can request that the property be designated a wilderness area. The property is then evaluated to see if it is an appropriate choice for this designation. If the land is accepted by the province for this designation, the ongoing taxes on the land are paid by the province while the title to the land remains with the landowner. The landowner can request certain exclusions in the development of the agreement. When a particular lot for consideration is small, adjoining landowners may be approached to see if they are interested in having some or all of their land designated as a wilderness area. Once designated, there are restrictions on development on the site unless the development was included in the letter of agreement. The first part of the 2-Billion Trees project will be wrapping up in the spring with a second phase ready to launch. Staff have been sourcing native trees for planting that will restore or enhance the Wabanaki – Mixed Acadian forest. Places to plant trees are being identified. Agreements with landowners can be developed that will allow for planting of trees on lands throughout southwest Nova. Nick Hill has been assisting some of our municipal units in the delineation of wetlands on municipal properties. These lands are important for storm-water retention, carbon capture and as habitats for wildlife. In some cases, these lands may be candidates for restoration through green infrastructure grants. Do you want to know more? Do you have land that you would like designated as a wilderness area? Do you have property that would be enhanced by planting a mixed variety of trees on it? We would love to hear from you. Reach out to us at info@swnovabiosphere.ca

North Queens Ground Search and Rescue Spring 2023 Edition GNFNQ Volunteer Opportunity North Queens invites you to join our team: Help your community, gain new skills North Queens Ground Search and Rescue is looking for new team members! We respond to lost or missing persons and emergency situations in Nova Scotia. We are a not for profit that is entirely volunteer run and based out of Caledonia, Nova Scotia. We work together with EMO, RMCP, municipal police, Parks Canada (Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site) and other search teams.

Your local team is made up of volunteers from the community and is looking for new recruits. We need new members to learn or share outdoor skills for searches and fill other positions to support search efforts. No experience required but welcomed! Skills to learn include search techniques, map and compass, radio systems, first aid, GPS, tracking, survival and more. New team members are also needed to support efforts including fundraising, spreading awareness, driving and vehicle maintenance, radio and computer operations and food services. We meet year-round for training sessions and have one meeting a month.

Monthly 50/50 Draw You can support our organization by entering our monthly 50/50 draw. Tickets are available for purchase online at 1 for $5, 3 for 10$, 20 for $20 or 100 for $50 https://www2.rafflebox.ca/raffle/nssar/13 For more information contact us at: Email: nqgsar@gmail.com Mail: PO Box 151 Caledonia, NS B0T1B0 Website: https://www.sarnovascotia.com/north-queens-ground-search-and-rescue Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/North-Queens-Ground-Search-Rescue-168953503621211/

The North Queens Business Centre & Innovation Hub, located at the back of the Fire Hall in Caledonia, offers co-working space, meeting & event space rentals as well as access (and rentals) to a variety of technology, resources and supports for business, school and personal use.

Bring your computer or rent one of ours!

The Hub is a Cooperative, which means you can become a member. Membership is a one-time fee of $5.00 and, as a member, you can have a say in what we do and how we operate.

Members are welcome to attend membership meetings and be included on email communications to give their input and are also eligible to apply to vacant Board of Directors positions.

The Hub is actively pursuing the offering of events, workshops and information sessions that are valuable to not only our local Small Business owners, but the population of North Queens as a whole.

To learn more about how to get involved, what services we offer or if you have ideas or inquiries, contact Karin Rawding, Hub Manager at info@northqueenshub.com, or phone 902-682-2154.

Be sure to follow us on Social Media via Facebook and Instagram!

Caledonia Fire Hall Events Wed nights: Bingo at 7:15pm Thur nights: Chase the Ace 7-9pm, and cards Card Parties 2nd and 4th Mondays of the Month Breakfasts 3rd Sunday of the Month, 9:00am-1:00pm Eggs, bacon, sausage, beans,hash browns, toast, tea/coffee/ juice Adults $10.00, for take out call 682-2696 Feb 25-Fire Karaoke 8pm, canteen, bar, door prize Mar 4 & Mar 5- indoor yard sale, 12-4 pm, tables $5 or 3 for $12; same price for 1 or 2 days. 682-2073 Mar 11- Fire Karaoke 8pm, canteen, bar, door prize Mar 18- Dance 19yrs & over, IDs, Bar open. DJ Rob Ramey 9pm-1am.

Apr 8 - Fire Karaoke 8pm, canteen, bar, door prize May13 -Fire Karaoke 8pm, canteen, bar, door prize Jun 3 - Early bird penny auction12-3 & 6-8pm, Jun 4 - penny auction, 12-3pm, draw at 3pm.

Westfield Hall Event Mar 18- 6:00-8:00pm Homemade ice cream&pie sale Apr 8 – 2:00pm Cribbage tournament Apr 29 – 10:00am-2:00pm Penny auction Early bird Apr 28 6:00-8:00pm May 6 – 7:00pm Variety show Jun 17 – 1:00-4:00pm Westfield Community Fun Day Jul 15 – 4:00-6:00pm Strawberry supper Card parties Mar 6,Apr 3,May1 Seniors A-Day-Out-Club Mar 8,Apr 12,May 10,Jun 14

Pleasant River Hall Spring Penny Auction on Sat. Apr 1st, from 11AM to 2PM.Early Bird Friday evening Mar 31st from 6PM7PM.Canteen services available on Saturday. Mostly new items on the penny auction tables. There will be tables with plants, baked goods, items of interest to children, and many other treasures. Separate tickets on a grocery box and at least one other item. Proceeds for the Pleasant River Community Club.

North Queens Board of Trade is holding their AGM on May 2nd at 6:00pm at the Caledonia Firehall, followed by a Gateway to Kejimkujik public engagement meeting. We are inviting community members to come out, view the latest plan put together by Ken Shannon, hear about the newest updates and gather feedback.

February has drawn to a close and what a winter we have had! I’ll admit to not being a snow lover but that’s only from a “hard to get around perspective”. It does look pretty from the inside looking out.

Muriel’s Closet is set to open on February 25th and what a welcome that will be (probably by the time you are reading this we will have had our reopening). The volunteers take a bit of time off in December and January but are back at it in February getting the place ship shape. We really appreciate all the love and support we are shown from this community and beyond.

Our Facebook page has a large “Muriel’s” following where I often post photos of items we have – some weird and some wonderful. Muriel’s runs on donations of all kinds so please keep us in mind when you are doing your spring cleaning and are looking for a place to donate all your purged items. Clean, good quality items are so appreciated. All funds raised at Muriel’s Closet go to support the wonderful mission of the Community Food Resource Network.

AGM – Our Annual General Meeting is coming up in March. Please join us at the NQ Community School Gymnasium on March 27th at 7pm. Our guest speaker will be C. Renate Bennett, RN NP. We are so fortunate to have her as part of our community and I’m looking forward to listening to her speak on nutrition and its impact on our health.

Each time I drive into the parking lot of CFRN I gaze at that fence and garden boxes and get excited for what’s ahead in 2023. Talks are already under way for this year’s plants, soils and fertilizers. We will talk about what went wrong last year and how to head those things off and get a better crop this year. Last year was a very hot, dry summer! It’s also time to start thinking PLANT SALE. Our first sale was a huge success so let’s try it again.

There are so many ways to donate to the Community Food Resource Network and many of you are choosing eTransfer. We ask that when using this method you include your mailing address in the message box. This makes it easy for our treasurer to get your tax receipt mailed out. Our address for e-Transfer is resourcenetwork9868@gmail.com. You are always welcome to mail a donation to us (PO Box 113, Caledonia B0T1B0) or drop it off on Monday’s at our building located at 9868, Hwy 8. Every donation helps!

CFRN is always looking for new, active members. Membership is easy - a $5 yearly fee and a signed confidentiality agreement is all it takes. Meetings are monthly and are a wonderful way to learn and share your thoughts and maybe even take on a project. Come see me Monday mornings at CFRN, 8:30-11 or contact one of our members for the confidentiality agreement.

Until next time…

Dianne Huskins, Coordinator NORTH QUEENS ACTIVE LIVING The AL committee has been busy developing new ways to encourage an active lifestyle during our brisk winter months!

We’d like to take a moment to shine some light on a huge accomplishment this year; having developed a local volleyball club which currently offers developmental programming for six to eight winter weeks to youth in grades 6-12. The establishment of the club, registered with Volleyball Nova Scotia opens doors for future competitive and development opportunities for youth during the off season.

Through sponsorship by the Queens Community Health Board, we have also obtained and installed a skating rink within the court / skate park area at Harmony park for the winter months.. We encourage all community members to take advantage of this space!

As well; again this winter season, we have snow shoes and walking poles available for loan in varying sizes. For updates surrounding ice fitness and events or to arrange your equipment loan, please follow or reach out to our page on Facebook.

We are also thrilled to share with the community the news that we have obtained funding through Sport NS to oversee a transportation pilot to support youth in sport and recreation locally. Transportation being one of two top barriers that our youth athletes face, we hope to enable many more athletes to participate in sport and recreation with ease. As part of the pilot, we are seeking individuals who are interested in becoming a member of a carpooling group, who may be available to occasionally assist with athlete transportation. Volunteerism is a very large part of the work we are able to conduct.

If you are such a person, and would like to express interest in becoming a member of this support group or volunteering in any capacity with NQAL, please reach out via Facebook, or email northqueensactiveliving@gmail.com. If you seek transportation support for local youth in connection with sport and recreation, please scan the QR code to complete the intake form for support.

Stay active, stay healthy!

Region of Queens Municipality Budget Deliberations 23/24 – Overview and Council Priority Identification Region of Queens Municipality's Council has started its budget discussions for the 2023 - 2024 fiscal year. Council invites residents to attend to learn about the budget process, and where Council is considering making investments in 2023 - 2024.

The first of the budget meetings is to identify budget priorities during a budget overview presented by staff, with second and possible subsequent meetings required for Council to finalize the draft budget.

Friday, March 3 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Budget issue identification Thursday, March 9 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Discussion of preliminary draft *Tuesday, March 21* 9:00 a.m. - 12 noon Discussion of preliminary draft Thursday, March 30 6 p.m. Discussion of final draft (* as needed) The meetings will be held in the Council Chamber, Region of Queens Administration Building, 249 White Point Road, Liverpool, NS. All are welcome to attend.

Bringing Council Meetings to Residents Did you know that four times a year, Region of Queens Municipality’s Council meetings are held off-site, in community centres in different locations in Queens County? Regular Council meetings are scheduled on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays monthly (in July and August, there is only a meeting on the 2nd Tuesday of the month). On the 2nd Tuesday of the month, the meeting starts at 9 a.m. and on the 4th Tuesday of the month, the meeting begins at 6 p.m.

Four times a year, the evening meeting is held off-site, in the community. Locations in 2023 are January 24 - Brooklyn Community Hall April 25 - West Queens Community Centre June 27 - Greenfield Fire Hall October 24 - Seaside Centre There is time allotted for public comments early in the agenda at all Council meetings. Come to a Council meeting, and see your local government at work.

Visit engageQueens.ca Are you interested hearing about the activities of the Municipality and Council, and ways you can be involved? As part of Council’s ongoing work to provide timely and relevant information to residents, engageQueens.ca was created as a way for residents to sign up for direct emails on topics of most interest to them. The website shows current Municipal issues and opportunities in which the public may be interested in becoming involved. It’s easy to sign up for email alerts – go to www.engageQueens.ca and follow the instructions to subscribe at the bottom of the page.

Welcome to Queens Since September 2018, well over 300 new families have moved to Queens County. Newcomers are moving into communities throughout Queens for the quality of life, the natural beauty that surrounds us, affordable housing prices, opportunities for employment, and to experience life in rural Nova scotia. If someone from outside of queens county has recently (ie; within the past 12 months) moved in near you, or if YOU are a newcomer to Queens, you can request a Welcome to Queens package be delivered. The Welcome package is filled with print resources to help someone settle into a new community – maps, a community guide, waste collection schedule and more, along with a few small gifts. Please contact Heather Cook, Communications and Engagement Coordinator (902-354-5741, email: hcook@regionofqueens.com ) with the name and civic address of a new resident, and the Municipality will help to give them a warm Queens County welcome!

Greetings from the Medway Community Forest! With few opportunities to get out for a ski, snowshoe, or lake skate this winter… we hope you’ve been staying warm by a crackling fire and are enjoying the days growing longer. The sugar maple taps have begun to flow and warmer weather on its way. We have a few updates to share as we’re back to negotiating for a long-term license agreement and preparing for some exciting spring projects and growth.

Negotiations Update If you can believe it, the MCFC signed our original pilot project agreement over 8 years ago, on January 31, 2015.

Earlier this year, our negotiation committee began meeting again with the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables staff to negotiate a long-term license agreement and build the parameters to support self-sufficiency and investment capacity. Upon the termination of our pilot agreement in March of 2020, we opted to sign a threeyear extension, which is coming to an end. We are currently in the process of negotiating a new agreement and are hopeful to have exciting news to share in the spring.

Forest Operations Update MCFC’s recent winter operations included harvesting, silviculture, and road building activities in the Northfield and East Branch areas. Derek Lohnes and his team at Lohnes Forest Tech Ltd of Mahone Bay took advantage of the above average temperatures and below average snowfall this winter to complete pre-commercial thinning work at two sites in the Medway region of MCFC’s license area.

Caledonia’s R&C Weare Logging Ltd completed a 55-ha Gap Shelterwood harvest that was part of our species-at-risk Bird Beneficial Management Practices project with Dalhousie University. The team at Weare’s also built a 450m road extension that provides access to part of approximately 100-ha of upcoming harvests in several sites in the Northfield area that will feature Single-Tree Selection, Group Selection, Commercial Thinning and Expanding Gap Group Selection (EGGS) harvest approaches. With winter operations complete, we are shifting our focus to operational and long-term forest management planning. We are finalizing our 2023 operations plan and beginning the process of updating MCFC’s Forest Management Plan in advance of receiving new guidelines for long term forest stewardship MCFC’s staff and RC Weare Logging Ltd at a Gap planning on Crown land.

Shelterwood harvest being undertaken are part of MCFC’s MCFC saw an increase of harvesting activity in 2022 over recent years, and SAR Bird Beneficial Management Practices project with Dalhousie University. we are hopeful to be able to continue this momentum through 2023.

These restorative harvests and capacity to market wood contribute to our goal of building community benefits and investment from ecosystem-based, multi-value management across the license area.

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Treatment Program

MCFC’s HWA Project Coordinator Donna Crossland demonstrating proper drilling technique during an HWA stem injection treatment

Working in partnership with both the departments of Environment and Climate Change and Natural Resources and Renewables, MCFC helped launch a Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) treatment program in October. Since the end of the treatment season, we have been working to lay the foundation of a volunteer-supported treatment program which we plan to launch this spring.

Stay tuned to learn more about MCFC’s “Hemlock Heroes” initiative! We are also planning several events for woodland stewards and forestry, or landscaping service providers, who want to learn about techniques for protecting hemlocks against this destructive pest. Keep an eye on MCFC’s website and social media for more information about conserving our hemlock forests.

Outreach Update The Woodland Conference partners are once again planning for three in-person regional conferences on Saturdays through April. Join us for a day where woodland owners, forestry professionals, researchers, and nature-lovers gather around forest stewardship and ecological forestry! Listen to presentations, view exhibits, and network with others interested in forestry in Nova Scotia. To register and learn more visit NSwoods.ca, under the Events tab.

As we gear up to welcome spring campers at the new Community Forest Camping sites, we’ll be hosting a few volunteer days to setup boardwalks over a few wet areas, assemble some picnic benches, and other fun hands-on tasks. Come help out, test out a tent pad or two, and take a hike through the new footpaths… email Jennika@medwaycommunityforest.com if you’re interested in joining us!

The first blooms of Spring always make my heart sing. ~ S. Brown