River Valley Sun April 2020

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Serving to Better-Connect Communities in New Brunswick’s Upper St. John River Valley

Volume 2 Issue 4

RIVER VALLEY SUN April 15 to May 15, 2020

FREE ONLINE @ www.rivervalleysun.ca

MEETING THE CHALLENGE DURING A ‘HORRIBLE’ TIME

‘WE HAVE TO TRAP PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE’: ANITA SCOTT OF SCOTT’S SPECIAL CARE HOME BYJIM DUMVILLE

W

ith people forced to stay home and search for innovative ways to carry out once-routine tasks safely, local specialcare home operators find those demands multiplying as they strive to keep staff and residents safe from a potentially deadly virus sweeping the globe.

“It’s horrible,” said Anita Scott, owner of Scott’s Special Care Home in Upper Woodstock, “and I’m not a dramatic girl.”

Scott said regulations force residents in her

home to abandon daily routines and undergo tight restrictions they often don’t fully understand.

“We have to trap people in the house,” she said.

Noting many of the residents are intellectually challenged, Scott said, they don’t always comprehend what is happening.

“They’re not adapting well,” she said, noting some don’t understand the province enforced the regulations, but blame her and the staff for the new rules.

Scott said she and her staff pay close attention to the ever-changing recommendations and regulations enacted by the province through New Brunswick Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jennifer Russell, implementing them as quickly and efficiently as they can.

“Every morning, we get an email with new standards,” said Scott, “In the afternoon, we’ll get another one.”

Continued on page 2

Anita Scott is a Registered Nurse and the owner/operator of Scott’s Special Care Home. (Tabitha Clark-Burrell photo)

VALLEY FOOD BANK READY TO SERVE CRISIS HASN’T HIT HARD YET, BUT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SAID IT’S READY WHEN NEEDED

By JIM DUMVILLE

Valley Food Bank in Woodstock. (Jim Dumville photo)

T

he Valley Food Bank has yet to see a significant influx of new clients as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, but ex-

ecutive director Sandra Olmstead expects that to change soon.

“It’s going to come,” she said.

While it’s been “pretty good so far,” Olmstead said staff is preparing for what awaits.

To date, she said, the Valley Food Bank in Woodstock, which serves a region from Nackawic to River de Chute, has registered 12 clients related to the ongoing novel coronavirus crisis.

“We have a separate COVID-19 application,” Olmstead said.

She said she expects the government will want accurate numbers at some point.

While awaiting the growth in client numbers,

Olmstead said, the staff is making the necessary adjustments to meet clients’ needs while meeting the physical distancing guidelines.

She said the first step was to cancel all services other than food distribution. To that end, she explained, Valley Food Bank temporarily suspended the clothing distribution, as well as cooking and other classes.

It also limited contact between staff and clients.

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CHALLENGE

Continued from page 1

She said she is happy to accept and implement those recommendations, praising Dr. Russell, Premier Blaine Higgs, other party leaders and the entire health-crisis team for keeping New Brunswickers as safe as can be expected under trying times.

“They’re doing a great job,” said Scott.

Social distancing and stay-at-home requirements force special-care home operators to develop new ways of doing basic things such as buying groceries. She explained it is common to purchase more than $1,500 worth of groceries at a time, but anti-hoarding regulations restrict the amount of some items they buy at one time.

She said they try to find other ways to purchase groceries but continue to support local businesses like Superstore, which employs local residents.

As Scott’s Special Care Home faces significant new challenges, it must meet those challenges with a reduced staff. Scott said the team of nine, plus herself, has been reduced to six as three

FOOD

Continued from page 1

ing,” she said. “We’re serving them outside.”

Olmstead said the food bank is open between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

She said the food orders are placed outside for clients to pick up.

Understanding the probable increase in food bank clients as the crisis takes a significant economic toll on the region, Olmstead said, staff are making adjustments to streamline the process.

“We’re trying to rethink our process and create fewer hurdles,” she said.

She said a new client needs only to provide an address and a Medicare card.

Olmstead said they are also looking at ways to improve access for clients, noting the food bank’s outreach program provides delivery for cli-

staff members couldn’t continue working through the COVID-12 crisis. She explained one member of her staff was pregnant, another was in her 60s and married to a trucker who travelled back and forth to the U.S., while a third staff member is out on sick leave.

The staff level may decrease even further, Scott said, as a “new dilemma” recently emerged. She explained two members of her staff are licenced practical nurses, who also work at the Upper River Valley Hospital. She said health officials recommend against medical staff working at two different sites.

Through it all, Scott said her staff is doing a fantastic job dealing with the challenges. She also praised the support the special care home has received from the Department of Social Development.

Scott said the department already provided the home with personal protection equipment to be used if someone contracted the virus.

With special-care home clients restricted from going further than home’s verandah, health and other

appointments become a challenge, said Scott.

While most health issues can be dealt with through virtual appointments, one of the clients has an appointment for a medical procedure that can’t be handled remotely.

Arranging transportation becomes an issue, said Scott, noting she or staff can’t drive them because they don’t officially reside at the same address.

She said she called police to see if the issue can be resolved, but hasn’t got a clear answer yet.

While the challenges are significant, Scott said, the focus remains the same. Keep residents safe, noting many have underlying conditions that increase the danger should they contact the virus.

Through the crisis, Scott said, the kindness and generosity of the community continue to shine, pointing to the several charitable groups helping those hit the hardest.

What Scott didn’t say, until questioned about it, was her role in supporting the surrounding community.

When the River Valley Sun requested on Facebook for COVID-19 “shoutouts” to people go-

ing “above and beyond,” Scott and her staff were among the recipients for special kudos.

“The amount of people she has helped in the community is too large to list from cooking to deliveries and the dedication to the safety of her residents and staff. Nothing she is doing is going unnoticed,” said Brianna O’Donnell.

Scott said she makes about 70 sandwiches daily to be delivered to truckers, saying she’s doing whatever she can to help the front-line workers who remain on the job during the crisis.

She said she is proud to see so many in the community stepping forward to make a difference.

“That’s what we should be doing for each other,” Scott said.

She wants to see everybody do their part to quickly reduce the spread of the virus, most importantly, by following the self-isolation and physical distancing recommendations. That is the fastest way to bring this horrible situation to an end.

“That’s what we’re all waiting for,” Scott said. “To be able to go out, go to the store and be around each other.”

ents outside Woodstock, but not to clients inside town limits.

Since self-isolation protocols prohibit people from separate households from driving in the same vehicle, clients can no longer have someone drive them to the food bank.

Olmstead said clients could have somebody pick up their food, but they will have to have a signed consent form.

To help in delivering food to those without a means to pick it up, Olmstead said the food bank plans to reach out to groups like Grocery Angels and others with a system of food distribution for area residents already in place.

Olmstead said she is also aware that some people who need to use the Valley Food Bank services may be hesitant to do so because they worry about the stigma.

She urges people not to feel that way, saying it is there for temporary help if needed.

“Take advantage of the social services that are available, your taxes pay for them,” Olmstead said.

As the local food bank prepares for busier times, Olmstead said, the community has stepped forward with donations to

ensure it is ready to meet the needs of local residents.

“People are really rallying for us,” she said.

In addition to an increase in donations from across the region, Olmstead said, both Irving and McCain Foods have stepped up with milliondollar contributions in support of food banks.

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The River Valley Sun is a free, editorially independent monthly newspaper serving the Upper St. John River Valley of New Brunswick. “Our mission is to share feature stories, a variety of viewpoints, and information about local community events, minor sports, and municipal news that isn’t always covered by mainstream media. We believe a community is stronger when people know and understand their neighbours.”

Editorial Policy: The River Valley Sun welcomes letters on subjects of interest to our readers and prints columns on a variety of topics. Use of any material is at the discretion of the editors, and we reserve the right to omit or edit letters to meet space requirements, for clarity, or to avoid libel or invasion of privacy. Letters and columns published do not necessarily reflect the editorial policies or beliefs of the newspaper.

IN CRISIS?

Here are the numbers to call: RCMP/Woodstock Police

911

Upper River Valley Hospital

375-5900

Hôtel Dieu – Perth-Andover

273-7100

Woodstock Mental Health

325-4419

Perth-Andover Mental Health

273-4701

After Hours Mobile Crisis 1-888-667-0444 CHIMO

1-800-667-5005

Telecare

811

Nackawic Health Centre

575-6600

Tobique Valley Comm. Health

356-6600

Brought to you by the Woodstock Suicide Prevention Committee

Help for DRUG ADDICTION

Tele-care 811 Tele-Care is a free, confidential, health advice and information line. Dial 811 to access bilingual, registered nurses, 24/7.

Chimo Helpline 1-800-667-5005 Chimo is a provincial crisis phone line, accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to all residents of New Brunswick.

Hope for Wellness Helpline 1-855-242-3310 The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate help to all Indigenous peoples across Canada. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to offer counselling and crisis intervention.

Woodstock Addictions and Mental Health 506-325-4419 / Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Perth-Andover Addictions and Mental Health 506-273-4701 / Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Mental Health Mobile Crisis Unit 1-888-667-0444 - 7 days a week from 2 - 10 pm Inpatient Detoxification Services: access by self-referral only; all admissions are voluntary. The detoxification unit provides inpatient treatment for the withdrawal from mood altering substances such as alcohol, cocaine, opiates and other drugs.

Fredericton Detoxification Unit 506-452-5525 / Located at 65 Brunswick St., Fredericton, NB A 10-bed unit that provides medical support, education, and recovery planning for substance abuse and gambling. Phone 452-5525; accepts messages only, calls are returned to plan admissions Monday through Friday.

Miramichi Detoxification Unit 506-623-6175 / Located at 500 Water St., Miramichi. NB. Moncton Detoxification Unit 506-856-2333 / Located at 81 Albert St., Moncton, NB. Ridgewood Addiction Services 506-674-4300 / Located at 416 Bay St., South Bay, Saint John, NB provides a range of services for individuals, youth and family members affected by substance abuse and gambling.

Residential rehabilitation facilities Ridgewood Centre (Saint John) 506-647-4300 / 416 Bay St., South Bay, Saint John, NB Campbellton Regional Addiction Services 506-789-7055 / 53 Gallant Dr., Campbellton, NB Rising Sun Treatment Centre (First Nations) 506-627-4626 / 31 Riverview Rd., Eel Ground, NB Portage Atlantic 1-888-735-9800 / Cassidy Lake, NB, is a nonprofit organization established in 1995, operates a residential drug addiction rehabilitation centre for Atlantic Canada youth (14-21) in New Brunswick.

Early Recovery Group, Woodstock - each Wednesday (unless school is closed due to weather) from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. at Bicentennial Boardroom (1st Floor), 200 King Street, Bicentennial Place, Woodstock, NB Early Recovery Group in Perth-Andover - each Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the Mental Health and Addictions at 35F Tribe Rd., Perth-Andover, NB Harvest House Woodstock hosts MAMA Meetings (Mothers Against Meth Addiction) on Mondays at 7 pm. This is a women-only group, providing a safe place for women struggling with family members whose lives are being destroyed by drug abuse. For more information contact Natasha Smith at 323-9315. *In an emergency, call 911 or visit a local ER*

River Valley Sun Box 1000, Woodstock, NB, E7M 0E9 (506) 325-2552 MANAGING EDITOR: Jim Dumville (506) 325-8523 jim@rivervalleysun.ca PUBLISHER/DESIGN: Theresa Blackburn (506) 324-5700 theresa@rivervalleysun.ca PUBLISHER/DISTRIBUTION: Stephen Chisholm (506) 324-5711 www.rivervalleysun.ca ISSN # 2562-3893 Canada Post Mail Agreement # 43021515 The River Valley Sun follows Canadian Press Style guidelines. *Unauthorized bulk removal of the River Valley Sun from any public location, or tampering with our distribution, including unauthorized inserts, is prohibited.

RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA

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Extra-Mural home visits continue during COVID-19 crisis

Precautions put in place to protect staff and patients

By Jim Dumville

L

ike medical personnel in hospitals and other health-care facilities around New Brunswick, caregivers with the Medavie Blue Cross ExtraMural Program (EMP) are taking extra precautions as they deliver healthcare services to patients’ homes during the ongoing global pandemic.

In an effort to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus, said Medavie Blue Cross director of communication Chisholm Pothier, the Extra-Mural Program developed a plan which reduces home visits and provides extra protection when visits are required.

“The Extra-Mural Pro-

gam has developed a business continuity plan that allows it to continue to offer excellent care to its patients while reducing as much as possible close contact to ensure safety for both patients and staff,” Pothier told the River Valley Sun. Through the pandemic, he said, extra-mural staff continue to fulfill their mandate of providing care in homes and keeping patients out of hospital if possible.

“We are prioritizing care to ensure that referrals to our program are aligned with our mandate in offering care to those patients who must receive it in their home or resi-

dential setting,” Pothier explained. “We have established a practice of screening our patients prior to every visit to identify COVID-19 exposure risks.”

He said the screening helps extra-mural personnel identify potential exposure requiring further testing.

“In the event that you require testing, we will arrange for this to occur in your home,” said Pothier.

He said the result of the screening will also determine beforehand if the EMP provider will be required to wear protective equipment such as a mask, goggles or a visor, a gown and gloves during

the visit.

Pothier said the screening will also determine who will get tested, adding Extra-Mural Program staff can conduct the test.

“We are also testing people who are not our patients but can’t access the established COVID-19 RHA (Regional Health Authority) assessment centres due to mobility issue or other challenging circumstances,” said Pothier.

In addition, he said, extra-mural employees are actively screened to reduce potential exposure to patients.

During the pandemic, Pothier said, the Extra-

Mural Program will when possible provide patients with written information to allow them to actively participate in the management and care of their condition.

Under those circumstances, he said, EMP staff monitor the patients’ progress by phone or, if possible, through the use

of other technology.

Although the program is actively trying to reduce home visits when possible, Pothier said home visits will continue when needed.

“Be assured, he said, “if our patients need home visits for their care, they will continue to get home visits.”

Woodstock considering water-bill deferral process

Council looks to support residents hurt by ongoing coronavirus crisis

By Jim Dumville

W

ith Woodstock residents, like those around the world, feeling the deep financial pain associated with the coronavirus crisis, Woodstock council and administration are seeking ways to alleviate some of the stress.

At the request of councillors Catherine Sutherland and Theresa Blackburn, and with the support of all council colleagues, town chief administrative officer Ken Anthony and director of administration Ann Marie Vautour will study the possibility of deferring payment of water bills.

Water bills may not be a significant bill, said

Sutherland, but it could be tough for some to cover the cost at this time.

“It might be a small number,” said Sutherland, “but for someone sent home from work, it’s a large number.”

Blackburn said, if possible, she wants to see those who need the help be able to delay payments over a few months.

She also stressed the deferral should be available to everyone, including homeowners and landlords. She noted with the province instituting a no-eviction policy, some landlords may also be facing a tight cash-flow problem.

Council debated the issue Monday evening during an unprecedented teleconference as the town observed the social distancing regulations by conducting, for the first time in its history, a council meeting by telephone.

Mayor Art Slipp sought input from all councillors on the deferral discussion.

Coun.

Bill Hogan agreed with the recommendation, suggesting a 90-day deferral, after which point council could re-evaluate the situation.

Deputy Amy Anderson and Coun. Jeff Bradbury expressed support for Hogan’s suggestion. Coun.

Randy Leonard also fully supported the idea of the water-bill deferral.

Anderson added the deferral must include Woodstock businesses, saying many have been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis.

Anthony said he and Vautour would examine ways to institute the deferral, noting the plan should be available to those who need it but allow those who want to pay as usual to do so.

Vautour agreed but noted the town also has bills to pay and must be conscious of its own cashflow issues.

She suggested the

town develop an application process to allow residents to request the deferral.

Sutherland said she didn’t want the application process to limit those who can take advantage of the deferral program.

“I’m not in favour of any means test,” she said.

Because of social-distancing restrictions limiting access to the town hall, Mayor Slipp said, any application process will have to be done online or through other ap-

propriate means.

Vautour told council members the town’s past practices included working with residents struggling to cover water bills to set up a payment schedule.

“Shut-off is always a last resort,” she said, adding it’s a rare occurrence.

The debate concluded with the mayor and council leaving the issue in the hands of staff to develop a workable process and report back to them as soon as possible.

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NB schools will not reopen this year

RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA

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Home-learning option developed to close out year

By Jim Dumville

N

ew Brunswick students will not be returning to school this year.

Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Dominic Cardy made the official announcement Thursday, April 2, in a press conference outlining the province’s plans to continue its continuity of learning in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis.

Noting the earlier allparty cabinet committee decided to take the early step to temporarily suspend classes, Cardy said the developing circumstances surrounding the fight to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus indicates no immediate end in sight.

“Today it’s abundantly clear we made the right call,” said Cardy.

He said the province sees little chance circumstances will allow schools to reopen in the near future.

“Unless the situation drastically improves, the schools in New Brunswick will be closed for the rest of the 2019-20 school year,” he said. “Nor will the school calendar be extended.”

In the absence of regular classes, the minister

said, all sectors of the province’s education system worked to develop a home-learning option.

He said representatives from schools across New Brunswick will be in direct contact with parents and students to share those home-learning options.

Cardy, who was accompanied at the press conference by deputy ministers George Daley (Anglophone) and Marcel Lavoie (Francophone), explained students whose marks in January showed they were on track to advance or graduate will do so in June. The deputy ministers added students who were slightly below the credit threshold in January will have an opportunity to earn the additional credits needed to graduate or advance to the next school level.

Daley explained that in the Anglophone district students need 17 credits to graduate. He said any student with 12 credits in January was considered on track to graduate and will receive their high school diplomas. Those who are one credit short will still have a chance to earn the necessary credit, he added.

Daley said individual

schools will work with students to map out a plan for them to get the credits they need to graduate.

As for graduation ceremonies and other associated events, Cardy said those decisions will be made at a later date, based on the recommendations of health experts.

Cardy said his department is also working with universities, community colleges and all groups and organizations involved in handing out scholarships, bursary and awards to ensure they will still be fully available to the Class of 2020.

During the press conference, Cardy said the continuity of learning options will take into consideration the several hurdles that must be overcome, noting every family dynamic is different. While he called on parents and guardians to encourage their children to spend one to two and a half hours per day, depending on grade level, doing schoolwork, he does not expect them to replace teachers.

He said teachers will be connecting directly with families.

Cardy also recognized not all families have the internet access needed to

complete studies online, explaining teachers will be asked to develop a system to reach all students while respecting the ongoing physical distancing requirements.

“Personal contact is a priority,” said Daley.

“Teachers are asked to find resources to match their curriculum needs.”

Cardy said all sectors of the province’s education system, including unions, worked in unison to develop the continuityof-learning plan.

In a letter sent out to all families with children in New Brunswick schools, Cardy said starting this week each school district will outline methods for students to remotely access guidance counsellors and child and youth teams.

Within the next week, the letter explained, the student’s teacher or another teacher at their school will reach out directly to share the framework of the home-learning plan.

It said a social connection will be maintained with a weekly check-in on the student and schools will work with the student to develop a personal learning plan.

Cardy said the home-

New Brunswick Education Minister Dominic Cardy. (Photo submitted)

learning plan also includes a focus on mental health, noting health-care officials and others are cognizant of the stress levels on both students and parents. He encourages families to have an open discussion of the pressures and challenges surrounding this unique situation.

“We understand families have been anxiously awaiting more information on how we will support students during this uncertain time,” said Cardy.

“While our immediate concern continues to be public health and safety, we are committed to helping students continue their education while school facilities are closed.

The minister encouraged New Brunswickers who have questions and concerns to reach out to officials at schools or the department, giving out his own personal contact information, including email dominic.cardy@gnb.com or phone 1-506-238-5850.

Sounds of hope ring through Woodstock

‘Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands’ : Psalm 100.1

By Jim Dumville

W

oodstock came alive with the “Sounds of Hope” at noon hour on Sunday, March 29, as local churches rang their bells in unison in recognition of our shared battle with COVID-19.

At the Bethel Assembly Pentecostal Church on St. James Street, which does not have church bells, Rev. Ron Ecker participated by playing the shofar, a bugle made of an animal horn dating to Biblical times.

“When the Bible refers to the playing of the trumpet,” he explained, “this is what it is referring to.”

Ecker explained a shofar is most commonly a ram’s horn, but he chose to play one created from an antelope horn. As a few members of the congregation and people from the neighbourhood looked on while still acknowledging social distance guidelines, Rev. Ecker’s shofar joined the sound of bells echoing

from the distance.

St. James United Church, St. Luke’s Anglican, St. Gertrude’s Catholic Church in downtown Woodstock, along with the Grafton Baptist Church across the river were among the churches participating in the delivery of a message of comfort and hope during the ongoing global crisis.

Woodstock Coun and former mayor Randy Leonard said he was honoured to be asked to sound the bells at St. James United Church on Chapel Street.

“I hope it makes people smile,” said Leonard.

Ecker said the Sound of Hope for the community is meant to bring people together even as they find themselves separated by self-isolation.

“This is a reminder that we are still here, loving our neighbours and serving our God,” he said.

The plan is to continue to Sound of Hope each Sunday until the self-isolation is lifted.

Rev. Shirley Noseworthy of St. Luke’s Anglican Church said the Woodstock and District Ministerial, made up of several area churches, organized the Sounds of Hope on a suggestion from Leonard.

Noseworthy said members of the Ministerial quickly got on board to begin the project on March 29.

“The Sounds of Hope will continue each Sunday at noon for five minutes

while we are under lockdown during this Coronavirus crisis as a reminder that we are still here loving our neighbours and serving our God,” said Noseworthy.

She said the list of participating churches include St. Luke’s Anglican, St. Gertrude’s Catholic, St. James United, Bethel Assembly, Christ Church Anglican, Woodstock Wesleyan, Grafton Baptist, St. Mark’s Anglican in Jackson Falls, Holy Trin-

Richard Wetmore rings the St. Luke’s Anglican Church bell on Palm Sunday, April 5. (Photo courtesy Anglican Parish of Woodstock Facebook site)

ity Anglican in Hartland, Temperance Vale Bap-

tist, Debec Trinity United Church and others.

6

Being okay with not being okay

My Big Fat Life

By Theresa Blackburn

T

hroughout my life, I’ve been a gal that has been the go-to person to get things done.

Maybe it’s my upbringing, perhaps it’s my genes, but I have always tried to step up when situations arise. I take on a lot, and when I give my word, it means you can count on me to follow through.

But these last weeks are different. I have more ‘time’ but can’t seem to organize myself. I have ‘less to do’ but seem overwhelmed with my to-do list. My brain is in a fog, and my body seems to have followed suit.

I’m not okay, and I know I’m not alone.

Last week the house was the messiest it’s been in a year, and yet, the schedule has been less filled.

Dishes sat in piles for days. At one point, I didn’t shower for four days. I have burst into tears on more than a few occasions, and I procrastinated getting things lined up for the paper.

I’m writing this on Easter Saturday. The paper is due to be at the printer on Easter Monday at 8 a.m., and I worry I won’t be ready.

I am a woman who usually works from home; this should be a piece of cake, right? Wrong.

The ‘new normal’ we are all trying to adjust to is hard. I can’t imagine doing this with young children. I can’t imagine doing this as a single parent. I still have a hard time believing all of this is real.

So I’ve grasped onto things I know for sure. My life preservers in this sea of uncertainty have been some essential things.

When my son was sick, I had no time to try and help myself cope. I had two anxiety attacks, fell into a mild depression, and often felt overwhelmed. I think that experience better prepared me for our current situation.

In the last few weeks, I’ve actively tried to do things to help when I know I’m about to crash.

Here are some of my go-to self-care activities.

Walking the Dog Getting outside has been what lifts my spirits. Exercise has been the key to me not falling apart on days where I was close to the edge. Sometimes, when I walk with my husband and the dog, I reach out to hold Stephen’s hand. It feels like I’m somehow ‘safer’ this way.

Reaching Out The Grocery Angels project we started has, I believe, been the only thing that has kept me close to sane in these insane times.

Knowing we are doing something to help those who are struggling has been the best distraction.

Puzzles and Crafts I have used puzzles to distract my brain. It’s worked. Mind you, the swearing I do while I try and put these things together means I’ll be a month in a confession box after this, but that’s a whole other story. My daughter and I also started a baby quilt last week. That has been a lovely chance for us to bond and for her to advance her sewing skills.

Human Touch I hug my husband more often. He and I are isolating together with our two young-

est kids, so social distancing isn’t needed here, but if you can hug someone, do it.

Long, all-enveloping hugs have been proven to help relieve stress and release endorphins.

My younger daughter and I often cuddle in bed before bedtime. We talk, sometimes we rub each other’s back, and we remind ourselves that life isn’t all bad.

Positive Self-Talk I have tried to change the ‘record’ that plays in my mind when things feel overwhelmingly bad. I remind myself that things will eventually get back to ‘normal’ and that we are doing what we need to do to keep our family healthy and safe.

Connecting I have started Facetiming my mother and aunt in Halifax daily. I have also regularly reached out to some friends, and on Easter Weekend, the plan is to call every uncle and aunt so I can check-in. My father came from a family of 16, so I might lose my voice by the end of the day, but I will try and make it an Easter to remember.

New Traditions This week, our baby will turn 18. We will try and celebrate and make some new traditions along the way. We are going to get creative and have some fun despite the isolation. We hope to make some of the more fun things we’ve cooked up for the event a regular part of our celebrations.

Forgiving Myself Falling down the rabbit hole does not need shaming. These are emotionally trying times. I have watched too much television, haven’t started my taxes, my office is a mess, and the family has eaten a little too much pasta.

I read a quote that said if you don’t come out of this quarantine with either a new skill, starting something you’ve been putting off, or more knowledge, then you didn’t ever lack the time; you lacked the discipline.

I call bull-shit. Sorry to be so harsh, but

Kathryn piecing together her quilt. (Theresa Blackburn photo)

what we are dealing with is a form of emotional trauma; our lives have been turned upside down. Some of us have lost jobs, income, security, and a sense of wellbeing.

There has never been a more critical time in our society to stop comparing ourselves to others.

How we cope with this crisis will vary from person to person. Now is not the time to judge others on how they spent their ‘quarantine’.

This isn’t like the’ How I Spent My Summer Vacation’ essays we wrote in elementary and middle school.

So when I tell myself to put my big-girl panties on and get to it, that ‘to it’ might be self-care that looks a lot like lollygagging to some but are things that, more often than not, are the key to my emotional wellbeing.

Theresa’s big, fat, busy life includes a firefighter husband, three children, a greyhound, a cat, serving on Woodstock Town Council, volunteering, and her family’s growing publishing business.

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RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA

Look to the shining lights in dark times

7

My Thoughts Exactly

I

By Jim Dumville

’ve written before on these pages, and in other writings, that I moved to Woodstock from Moncton with low expectations of what I would find.

It wasn’t because it was a small town.

Heck, Fleurant Point, where I was born and raised, makes Woodstock look like a vast metropolis. I loved Fleurant then and now. It’s home to many people who stand out in the crowd; albeit, a small crowd.

After 20 years in Moncton, the Hub City was home to me. It offered particular points of interest, and it was home to friends, family and scores of interesting people.

I didn’t see Woodstock replacing what I was leaving behind. Truthfully, it didn’t replace what I enjoyed about Moncton.

Woodstock, I discovered, offered new friends, new interests and a new perspective on life.

I soon discovered Woodstock was special, not because of its beautiful setting beside the St. John and Meduxnekeag Rivers or its quaint Hospitality Town vibe, but because of its people. While impressed by the brilliant instructors and young friends I met at NBCC Woodstock, it was when I began working at The Bugle-Observer that I discovered the real depth of quality people living throughout northern York and Carleton counties.

I met people like John Minard and Harold Hatfield, who made sure the rookie reporter covering his first Rotary meeting felt at home among the strange faces. It was people like then-Mayor Clara Moffatt, who welcomed me to my first Woodstock coun-

Mary Dimock was always up for a celebration. Some of the folks that attended Jim’s surprise birthday part in 2019 were, from left, Rebecca Howland, Stephen Chisholm, Katelin Dean, Jim, Amanda Judge, Doug Dickinston, Mary Dimock, Janice Dimonck, Devon Judge, Dr. Gary Beatty, Ellen Johnston, and Theresa Blackburn. (Kathryn Chisholm photo)

cil meeting. Over the past quarter-century, I discovered these types of character people abound in the area.

The saddest part of living in Woodstock for 25 years means you’re around long enough to say final goodbyes to people like Minard, Hatfield and Moffatt, who died earlier this year.

Late last month, I heard the sad news we lost another of the giant characters of this or any community. Mary Dimmock stood above the crowd with a level of elegance, compassion, humanity and determination so rare in today’s society.

I can’t remember when I first met Mary, but I’m confident it was at her famous Stiles Restaurant. There’s something special about eating in a restaurant that feels like home. Mary had a remarkable ability to make customers at her restaurants think they were dropping by for a family dinner, or her motel clients feel like they were coming home.

In the early 2000s, my late brother-inlaw Mervyn Parent spent approximately a month at Stiles Motel while in town working on a new bridge, near Hartland. As a crane operator who travelled extensively, Mervyn told me he found his stay at Stiles in Woodstock to be extra special.

Not only did he become close friends with Mary and her family, but she introduced him to members in the community who, in turn, introduced him to all the area

had to offer. I rarely met Mary after that point when she didn’t ask about Mervyn and so eloquently shared our family’s grief when Mervyn lost his long battle with cancer.

Over the years, Mary became many things to me: a news source, a news story, a valuable resource for comment, my landlady and, most importantly, a friend.

Even with her full circle of friends and associates, Mary never forgot those minor details about your life.

When Mary, an unabashed cat lover, heard I rescued a stray cat from the bitter winter cold, she never failed to inquire how Storm was doing. Mary’s humanity stood out from the crowd, not because she strived for attention, but because it just came naturally to her. Her kind nature, her genuine compassion, brightened lives around her even as she tried to avoid the limelight and cast the light on others.

Mary drew her last breath just as the social distancing from the COVID-19 crisis cast its shadow on the community she so loved. The crisis denied a grieving family and community a chance to celebrate Mary’s life in a fashion she so richly deserved. Mary would be okay with that. Her first thoughts would be to keep everyone safe.

If Mary were still around, she would be on the front lines with the many heroes who have become shining lights through

gregmacpherson.ca

the darkness of the coronavirus crisis.

Those heroes are around us everywhere. We see them when we make our hopefully rare grocery run. We see them keeping our town services running. We see them in our hospitals and health centres.

We see them behind the wheel of trucks heading down our streets and highways to ensure products we need remain available. We see them volunteering time, money and effort to ensure those in need do not remain in need.

We see them in police cars, ambulances and fire trucks, making sure we remain safe and cared for in times of emergency.

We see them dutifully working from home or just staying home in a collective effort to keep our family, friends, neighbours and strangers safe from the vile virus.

We see them on farms and on production lines risking exposure to ensure the food and other products we need continue to be available.

We are facing dark times, but know the light will shine upon us again. That’s in no small part to the efforts of people like Mary, John, Harold, Clara and the many more who light the way for all of us to follow.

Take care, everyone. Be safe.

Jim Dumville is a resident of Woodstock, a passionate journalist, and the managing editor of the River Valley Sun.

8

POTPOURRI

(... paying homage to late, local radio personalities Bruce Smith and Walter Tompkins)

A Roundup of Interesting Photos and Events

Isolating 101: How some readers are spending their time

Colby Lawrence of Woodstock and his “COVID” snowman. Colby is 6’9” tall, which gives you a sense of just how large his snowman is. (Tara Lawrence photo)

Wade and Billie-Jo Oser with their eight-year-old granddaughter Jorja Clark spent 14 days playing Quarantine Survivor after vacationing in Florida. (Wade Orser photo)

No matter the weather, Olive Stewart, age five, looks forward to and enjoys her daily walks with her mom, Emily.

(Emily Stewart photo)

Isabelle Shirley-Mae Vail has been reading books, like this one from her Auntie Erin, and getting lots of fresh air. (Lise-Anne Grant photo)

Three-year-old Aryan Seth has been keeping busy, thanks to his Mom, Sian. Here he’s pictured with donuts they baked and decorated just before Easter. (Sian Roalf)

Cali Phillips has been keeping up with her studies and reading. She and her mom have been hosting ‘Story time with Cali’ show on Facebook Live. (Chelsey Phillips photo)

The challenges of being physically isolated

An introvert’s personal assessment of the current COVID-19 situation

By Simonne Power

P

hysical isolation has always been easy for me. I am a loner, an introvert with a bit of independence in the mix.

Being in a crowd but on the side, easy! Sitting in a church congregation, but in the last few pews, easy! Going shopping and going directly to the items needed, easy! Having a

few friends rather than being a social butterfly, easy!

That was then ...

I am 75 years old, but I have never experienced “fear” like the kind of fear that is now floating all around me.

Being able to relax and enjoy a good book for hours was a blessing.

Taking a brush in hand and bringing a canvas to

life was a blessing. Sitting with a chosen friend and having a conversation over a coffee was a blessing.

Being embraced by my children and granddaughter was a blessing. And I could go on and on. That was then ...

My “now” is full of uncertainties, of questions, of why, when and how

... My “now” is living in a vacuum, where everyone and everything has been put on hold.

My “now” is living in a state of being unable to concentrate on anything ... a little bit of this, a little bit of that. Nothing is getting finished.

The highlight of my day is going out to walk – from my door to the end of my

street.

I do not walk alone, I walk with the One who has been with me for 75 years. I watch everything around me that He has created.

At this time, the change over from one season to the next reminds me that this, too, will change. We will move from this dark time to brighter days.

Simonne captured a picture of a lone crow on one of her recent walks. (Simonne Power photo)

RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA

Looking back with Muriel Hartley

RIVERSIDE RAMBLINGS

By Carolyn Brown

T

ime changes all things, and we are certainly in “changing times” right now.

We want to assure you that we are respecting the standards to the utmost and following requirements established by our leaders and health care professionals to keep everyone safe.

This month I am going to share the story of one of our residents who live here at MacLeod Riverside Court. Her name is Muriel Hartley.

With 93 years of wisdom, I thought that getting her impressions of

what’s going on in the world now would be insightful.

When comparing past events to current ones, she said the only thing that came close to what we are experiencing now was the polio epidemic in the late 1940s.

As a young teacher, she remembers it was at its worse in the summer months, and classes did not start at the usual time in the fall. Many children were left crippled and affected by this horrible disease.

“I don’t remember that it shut down an entire country,” she remembered. “Why is this so much worse,” she said, wondering aloud.

The technology we have today supports an awareness in the world which was not available back then.

Muriel’s fears are for her four children, 11 grandchildren and

12 great-grandchildren whom, of course, she is missing. She takes comfort in knowing they are safe and well. As with many of us, she says she sometimes has to turn the news off or listen to something else.

Muriel was born and lived her entire life in Tracey Mills. She went to Normal School, (she says she is still trying to figure out why they called it that) and returned home to teach. Muriel remembered just finishing Normal School in May on the day the war ended.

“Everyone was out in the streets shouting and blowing horns and filled with joy. It was noisy and fun,” remembered Muriel.

She married Eric Hartley in 1946, and together they raised five children.

Eric went to Ranger’s School in Fredericton.

Her family has remained close. Her adult children

live in the local area, and she is very proud of each of them.

Life was not without its sorrows. Muriel shared her story of the tragic loss of a son and three grandchildren in a house fire. Muriel said it was extremely difficult for her husband, but together they got through it.

Muriel has only one daughter. She said when “Wendy” was born, she had two big brothers who were reading Peter Pan. Her daughter’s name is Allison, but the brothers wanted nothing to do with that name, insisting they call her Wendy.

“After a while, I just gave up and called her Wendy, too,” she said with a chuckle.

Muriel has been a widow for 19 years but feels blessed in life. After the children were grown, she and Eric travelled, making six trips to England and some European

9

Muriel Hartley of MacLeod Riverside Court. (Carolyn Brown photo)

countries.

Muriel said they often returned because they simply loved the countries, the architecture, and the people. We are thankful that Muriel con-

tinues to have a passion for life.

Carolyn Brown is a Community Relations Associate at Riverside Court Retirement Residence in Woodstock.

Staying close while staying apart IN A ‘MANOR’ OF SPEAKING

By Jane Jones

A

t Carleton Manor, we are home to 110 seniors who are our friends, family and loved ones.

They are our neighbours, and we care very much about one another.

Recently COVID-19 has changed our lives, but we’re thriving – a big thanks to our dedicated staff and you, our loved ones, volunteers and friends. We are missing your visits so much. To keep everyone’s spirits lifted while staying safe, we put our thinking caps on and came up with a few ways to do this.

We’ve had window visits – friends and family have been able to see each other through their neighbours’ closed windows…lots of kisses are being blown, and hearts filled.

Emails Many of you have been communicating through email. Our neighbours are thrilled when we show up to deliver a new message.

One of our neighbours was lucky enough to become an email pen pal to a young boy who was concerned for our neighbours once he learned we closed to visitors.

Everyone has been

able to reach out to their loved one by emailing reception@carletonmanor. ca from Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

We print off the emails, deliver and read them if necessary.

Virtual Visits (Facetime/ Facebook, etc.)

So far, we’ve managed to coordinate all virtual visit requests. Our neighbours are always impressed with being able to see and hear their loved ones at the same time. Send your request for a virtual visit to reception@carletonmanor. ca from Monday to Friday between 8 a.m.– 4 p.m. and we will coordinate a virtual visit for you E-cards We’ve not received any of these yet; however, it could be another way to reach out to our neighbours… www.123Cards.com might work for you…send your e-cards to reception@ carletonmanor.ca, and we’ll make sure they get delivered from Monday to Friday between 8 a.m.– 4 p.m.

Lots of you have been enjoying seeing our neighbours smiling faces with sweet messages on our Facebook page. These beautiful photos along with the most recent developments and updates will always be shared there and on our website under the news tab at carletonmanor. ca

Glenn and Norma Fletcher visit through the window.

(Cindy Tozer photo)

Drawings lift spirits of manor neighbours. (Jane Jones photo)

A pen pal writes to a Carleton Manor neighbour. (Jane Jones photo)

Activities coordinator Barbara Estabrooks with Carleton Manor neighbour Mavis Gallagher (Jane Jones photo)

Our activity coordinators are wearing many different hats and have adjusted daily activities.

Their efforts help to keep our neighbours happy and

playing Bingo and winning treats, enjoying morning devotions over the intercom system and have regular salon visits.

Thank you, everyone,

healthy. We all miss the way our lives were just a short few weeks ago, but we’ve managed a way to adjust the activities safely.

Our neighbours are still

for being so caring and supportive.

Jane Jones handles public relations at Carleton Manor in Woodstock.

10

’ TAKONUTOMAKONUWAL

(Maliseet word meaning ‘their stories’)

News and Features from Woodstock First Nation

Kakskohs: One of the four sacred medicines

Mother Tongue

By Anatasha Lyons

O

ne of the four sacred medicines of the Wəlastəkokewiyik is kakskohs, also known as Thuja occidentalis, arborvitae, or Eastern White Cedar.

The Latin word arborvitae means the tree of life and speaks to the fact that they can live very long lives. The oldest living Eastern White Cedar on Canadian soil grows cliff side in Ontario, purported germination in 688 A.D., making it 1,316 years old (Ancient Forest

Exploration & Research, 2020). Kelly and Larsen (1997) reported that they found a dead cedar whose age estimated was 1,890 years old (Society of Conservation Biology, 2003).

For me, the smell of cedar conjures up memories of inky blackness inside the sweat lodge, sounds of cedar branches rustling in water and the scorching hiss of branches releasing water onto the glowing red rocks, searing, aromatic steam washing over the face generating ambiance of cleansing. Not only is cedar featured in sweat lodges and ceremony, but also used homeopathically.

This skicinowi-pison (Passamaquoddy-Maliseet Portal, 2020) or native medicine, is well known to be plentiful in Vitamin C and used for a variety of ailments. Currently, at

Woodstock First Nation, many are boiling cedar tips on stove tops to release the aromatic cleansing steam to purify the air; however, it is also utilized to break up chest congestion. Cedar tea made from dried leaves can also shorten the duration of cold and flu symptoms (The Wild Garden, 2015); caution is needed as copious amounts can be harmful. Please visit http:// naeb.brit.org/uses/species/3950/ for more documented uses.

DISCLAIMER: This article is purely educational and is NOT intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe. If sick, please visit https:// www.canada.ca/en/publichealth/services/diseases/ coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html to access the self-assessment tool.

WORKS CITED: (2015, January 2). Retrieved from

The Wild Garden: http:// www.thewildgarden.ca/ writings/eastern-whitecedar (2020, April 10). Retrieved from Ancient Forest Exploration & Research: http://www.ancientforest. org/ontarios-oldest-trees/ (2020, April 10). Retrieved from PassamaquoddyMaliseet Portal: https:// pmportal.org/dictionary/ pisun-npisun Society of Conservation Biology.

(2003, March 3). Retrieved from Conservation Biology: http://casiopa.mediamouse.ca/wp-content/ uploads/2010/05/PRFO1999-Proceedings-p275281-Kelly-and-Larson. pdf Anatasha Lyons is a wife, a mother, and Woodstock First Nation’s Language Coordinator. She is involved in language revitalization efforts in Wolastokuk.

Words of the Month Cedar Kakskohs/Kakskohs Phonetically: GUCKS-goose Native Medicine

Skicinowi-pison/Skicinuwi-pisun

Phonetically: SKI-jin-OO-wee BEE-zoon For pronunciaton help please visit //pmportal.org and type in the English using the Newell-Hale alphabet.

Project Chapina Bonita aimed at helping mothers and children

Woodstock Rotary leads drive to build safe cooking stoves in Guatemala

By Jim Dumville

T

oday, somewhere in Guatemala, a mother is safely cooking a family meal thanks to a group of people in faraway Canada, who dedicate their time and efforts to the Rotary Club.

Woodstock Rotary Club launched the Chapina Bonita Guatemala project to build 600 eco-stoves for families living in remote areas of the Central American nation. Gary Stewart, who heads the project, said the new stoves play a vital role in protecting the health of the women and children in these remote villages.

In these villages, Stewart said families previously cooked all meals on makeshift wood-burning stoves that emit massive amounts of smoke to be directly inhaled by mothers and nearby children.

“It would be equivalent to smoking two packs of cigarettes a day,” Stewart said.

Stewart said experts estimate those stoves are responsible for 5,000 deaths per year globally, many of them children.

Stewart explained the Woodstock Rotary project gets funding support from 13 Rotary Clubs in New Brunswick and Maine, all of which are part of Rotary District 7810.

Project Chapina Bonita, which Stewart explains translates roughly to “sweet young girl,” is built upon the now completed Woodstock Rotary Project GIIVE, which stands for Guatemalan Infrastructure Improvement Venture.

Stewart said Project GIIVE originated with a woman from Presque Isle, who, during visits to Guatemala, recognized needs in the local community. On her initiative, Rotary tackled a couple of health-related needs, including water quality, as a result of its water source lying just three feet below the surface.

To help protect the water, Project GIIVE constructed 40 latrines and installed 125 water filters.

It also built 185 eco-stoves.

Stewart said when the Rotary Club decided to take on another Guatemalan project, they decided to focus on building the stoves.

“It’s best to pick one thing and do it well,” he said.

Leading the project on the Guatemala end is the stove builder Carlos Chavez, a member of the Rotaria de Guatemala Del Este.

Stewart said Chavez is a driving force for the project.

“He’s the stove guy in Guatemala,” said Stewart.

“He’s the stove god if you

will.”

He said Chavez leads the team designing and constructing the stove, which reduces smoke levels by 80 per cent. Stewart said the eco-stoves also burn five times less wood, an essential point in a country where firewood is in limited supply.

As they build the ecostoves, which are constructed of brick and cinder blocks with a top for cooking, Chavez continues to make improvements, said Stewart.

“Every time they build one, they make it better,” he said.

In addition to creating a safe cooking stove for residents, Stewart said Chavez is also using the construction as a teaching tool for young Guatemalan men. He said teenagers are hired as masons to work on the stove while learning the trade.

Few children in Guatemala go beyond Grade 3 in school, noting the higher grades generally are in schools much farther from the villages. He said the Rotary Club contributes to a scholarship helping at least some children to get over that education hump.

Stewart said his passion for the project grew after a few visits to the villages and meeting the people.

“It’s the people that I value the most,” he said.

Woodstock Rotarians, from left, Ray Kierstead, Kippy Taylor, Barb Kierstead, Terry Thomas, and Gary Stewart stand by one of the new stoves being built during Project Chapina Bonita. (Submitted photo)

“They’re so grateful for what they have even though they don’t have a lot.”

On one trip to Guatemala, he said, he took boxes of clothes. He expected a wild rush of children to grab something as the mothers opened the boxes. Instead, he said, the mothers picked out items one by one and the children calmly waited their turn.

Stewart said other Woodstock Rotarians, including Barb Kierstead, who made two trips, share his passion for the people and the project after visiting Guatemala. Other Rotarians involved in Project

Chapina Bonita include Ray Kierstead, Terry Thomas, Matt Box, Kippy Taylor and Paul Flemming.

Stewart said John Slipp, who now sits as Rotary district governor, was a driving force during Project GIIVE and currently serves as a mentor to him for Project Chapina Bonita.

He added former UNB engineer professor and renowned humanitarian, Dr. Eugene Lewis, well known in the area for his help in the construction of the Sgt. Mark Gallagher Vocational School in Haiti, is also highly involved in Project Chapina Bonita.

Stewart said Lewis col-

lects the data as Chavez builds the stoves. In the end, Stewart said, Rotary members will know every family who received a cooking stove.

While 600 stoves seem like a lot, said Stewart, it only scratches the surface of the 650,000 the UN estimates are needed worldwide.

Stewart said he is willing to help any group, Rotarian or otherwise, who is interested in starting a stove project of their own.

In the meantime, he said, Woodstock Rotary and other district clubs will push forward on Project Chapina Bonita.

RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA 11

WELLNESS

Your Guide to Healthy Living in the St. John River Valley

Wellness, governmental changes, and happiness

Mere Mortal

By Kathy Sherwood-Orser

W

ell, pandemic, social distancing, quarantine, COVID are all new words and new realities. As we all cope in our own way, time and things change. As we all stay home (or are supposed to), as we maintain social isolation and protect ourselves and our families, work still happens.

Wellness files such as tobacco cessation, vaping and risk reduction, mental fitness and food security have been transferred, with their budgets, to the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health or OCMOH. Yes, that beautiful lady we see every day on TV or Facebook is now responsible for wellness in our province. The social, physical and financial responsibilities for the wellness networks have also been transferred to OCMOH. This move is awesome because this branch of health is responsible for protecting New Brunswickers by

health surveillance and disease prevention. They are also responsible for population health and creating environments that enable or support wellness through promotion and programs such as Public Health. So, in my opinion, this is an upwards swing for wellness.

So how do we continue to move onwards and upwards during our new realities? I think that differs for all of us. Happiness is a word we use so often, and it usually comes with a qualifier. I would be happy if - if I had more money, if my health was better, or if my kids were well behaved, or whatever fits for you. We are living in a time of prosperity and have many conveniences and possessions that make life more comfortable, and yet people continue to find happiness to be an elusive quality.

Many people today claim that they aren’t happy. In Canada, rates of depression are growing, and depression is striking at younger ages (Statistics Canada).

Happiness is an essential pursuit because it can bring about improvement in our quality of life and general well-being.

When moods brighten, our thinking is sharper, we are more creative and productive, we feel better

about ourselves, our relationships are healthier, and we are more hopeful.

Happiness is something that you have to seek out for yourself. No one else can make you happy.

Although some people are genetically more likely to have a cheerful disposition, we can learn how to shape our lives so that our happiness quotient increases. Happiness is within our personal control.

Research shows that happiness is associated with “time affluence” (spending time on activities you enjoy) rather than “material affluence” (having many possessions and riches).

Steps taken to simplify life and allow more time for emotionally important activities can lead to greater happiness. Hence in my mind, our new reality has allowed us to simplify. Simplify by spending more time at home, simplify by spending more time doing what we love.

We are often happier when we experience less pressure; this enables us to be more productive, effective, and creative.

You can increase your happiness by allowing yourself quiet, uninterrupted time to think, breathe, feel, and be.

This new reality may teach us to say “no,” as

we are not able to go places, do things or over schedule ourselves to the verge of exhaustion. Experts (OCMOH) advise us to turn away from technology regularly, to stop our over stimulation.

Here are a few pretty simple tips to help us be happier in our current reality: Permit yourself to be human: We are not comfortable having painful emotions.

It’s important to recognize that having negative or painful emotions is what makes us human. Sometimes it’s hard to accept feeling sad, anxious, envious, or angry because our culture tends to disapprove of such emotions.

We’ve come to believe that we must always appear happy and upbeat.

The truth is that experiencing a wide range of emotions is healthy and normal – again, it’s what makes us human.

Be physically active and use the mind-body connection: Studies continue to underscore the vital relationship between the mind and the body, being physically active and feeling good. We can’t say enough about how important it is to exercise every day, especially for

well-being and alleviating depression or “down” moods.

Focus on and appreciate the positives in your life: Happiness is not limited to external events in our lives; it’s more about our interpretation of those events. You may know some people who appear to have so many good things in their lives, and yet, they aren’t happy because they focus on the negatives. On the other hand, some people may have a debilitating disease, struggle financially, or have lost a child, and yet they can live happy lives. When we appreci-

ate what we do have, we increase our happiness quotient.

The question we need to ask ourselves is: Did things have to get this bad before we recognize how wonderful life is?

We can learn to appreciate all the small, lovely moments and the positives in our lives – the food on our table, a job that provides a salary, family, and friends, and so forth.

Kathy Sherwood-Orser is the Western Valley Wellness Network Co-Chair and Wellness Champion who lives with her family in her childhood home in Hartland.

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW NEEDS HELP WITH FOOD

PLEASE REACH OUT! Please send a private message through the Western Valley Wellness Network Facebook page, or call or call (506) 328-5314 Western Valley Wellness Network Serving communities from Nackawic to Plaster Rock

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Still confused about your recycling or garbage day?

Never fear! Recycle Coach is HERE! Call us at (506) 276-3610 ext. 201 Visit our website at www.rsc12.ca Or find us on Facebook at WVRSC-Waste Management Division Western Valley Regional Service Commission 3143 Main Street Unit 2 Centreville, NB E7K 3E8 (506) 276-3610

12

Dooryard Arts Festival cancelled for 2020

COVID-19 forces festival committee to announce tough decision

By Jim Dumville

A

n event built upon the community coming together in a celebration of music, arts and friendship doesn’t work in an era of social distancing.

As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis, the Dooryard Arts Festival planning committee announced the cancellation of Dooryard 2020. It will return in 2021.

“It was a difficult choice

to make, but it’s the only responsible position at this time,” Dooryard Executive Director Gloria Yachyshen told River Valley Sun’s Theresa Blackburn during an interview on the Morning Sun Facebook show.

With the ticket sales set to begin in May, Yachyshen said the committee realized it had to make the decision now.

She said planning a festival requires a great deal of collaboration, and there

was too much uncertainty to proceed.

“Artists are in the same position as we are,” she said.

If the situation improves to allow social gathering later this year, Yachyshen said Dooryard might host some fundraising shows and events.

“Dooryard is not going away,” she said. “These are times we need what the arts bring us.”

FAMILY VIOLENCE

During this time of crisis, dealing with violence in family relationships becomes more of an issue. Violence can result when families are under stress due to financial concerns, job lay-off, alcohol related problems and possibly health related concerns. Often victims suffer in silence and secrecy. Hitting or punching, threats, out-of control arguments, forced sex, constant put downs, controlling behaviour, taking money and destruction of property are all forms of violence. Some victims feel what happens in the privacy of their home is their own business. Violent behaviour is a crime and no one should have to live with it. If you or someone you know is a victim of family violence, help is available.

GARBAGE DISPOSAL

Crime Stoppers and the Provincial Government are asking the public for their help in resolving an on-going problem, that being garbage disposal on Crown Lands and private property. Disposing of debris, garbage, construction material, appliances or vehicles on Crown Lands is illegal and an offence under the Crown Lands and Forests Act. Any person convicted of this offence could be fined a minimum of $500 for the first offence, and may be ordered to restore the land to its original state. Disposing of debris can be harmful to wildlife, can increase the risk of forest fires and is an environmental problem. Help keep New Brunswick clean, and report those who litter.

While disappointing, Yachyshen said the Dooryard committee is looking to the future.

“Our committee has been so strong and excited,” she said. Certainly, there was some sadness but we are not giving up.

We’re going to proceed as planned and come back with the best festival in 2021.”

The following is a statement released by Yachyshen, in conjunction with the RiVA board of directors and Dooryard Arts Festival Steering Committee on April 7: “For the past decade, our community has gathered during the finest days of summer to bask in the beauty of art, live music, and the familiar landscape of Downtown Woodstock. Seeing one another ‘in the Dooryard’ has become, as much as anything, a celebration of being together.

“As the COVID-19 crisis continues to impact our local and global communities, we find our routines, rhythms, and traditions being disrupted as we quickly adapt to a ‘new normal’ and are challenged to re-conceptualize what togetherness can look like.

“The effects of the

pandemic on this year’s Dooryard Arts Festival has been a topic of discussion for a number of weeks in our Steering Committee meetings.

While meeting virtually by video conference, we have explored many possibilities – from adjusting dates to scaling down the event to taking the festival online – all in the interest of continuing this wonderful legacy without missing a beat. We realized, however, that no option would guarantee the safety of our community and artists while delivering the quality of experience that Dooryard aims to create.

It is clear now, more than ever, that there simply is no replacement for being together.

“After deep consideration, our committee has come to the unanimous decision to postpone our festival until July 2021.

“While we know this announcement will bring some disappointment, this is not a message of sadness. We want our artists and supporters to know we remain committed to enriching, energizing, and engaging our local and regional arts community. We are as excited as ever to continue working and planning so

that the festival we envisioned for 2020 can come to life in 2021. Community partnerships remain at the core of what we do, and we now look at how we can support the many businesses and individuals who have supported us over the years. Last but not least, we are inspired by all the creativity that is brewing online during this difficult time and will be working on new ways to bring you doses of Dooryard virtually until we can all meet again “In closing, we want to express a great sense of pride in how our community has responded in this time of crisis. Each day we see an abundance of kindness, charity, and solidarity demonstrated through acts large and small. With so much uncertainty upon us, it is comforting to see that the true colours of our community remain the same.

“Please stay safe, find joy in the arts, and keep looking forward to being together in the Dooryard again. You’ll be hearing more from us soon.”

Gloria Yachyshen Executive Director RiVA Board of Directors Dooryard Arts Festival Steering Committee

Remember: It is a criminal act and subject to a fine if ATV and Quad operators are on NB trails prior to April 15, 2020. To be legal your machine must be registered, a Trail Pass must be displayed and protective head-wear worn. Ride safe, do not congregate and socialize due to Covid-19.

Check out the Crime of the Week on Facebook: Western NB Crime Stoppers To provide an anonymous tip call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)

Lonesome Jim performs under the tent to a large crowd at the 2019 Dooryard Arts Festival in downtown Woodstock. COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the 2020 festival, but organizers plan to be back stronger than ever in 2021. (Jim Dumville photo)

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RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA 13

Woodstock motel seeking annexation by town

Canada’s Best Value Inns and Suites makes official request

By Jim Dumville

T

he owners of a motel sitting just beyond Woodstock’s border have formally requested to become part of the town.

At the March 23 meeting, held by teleconference, Woodstock council accepted a letter from ARC Motels, owners of Canada’s Best Value Inn and Suites, requesting the town annex two parcels of land it owns, including the land upon which their motel sits.

Council passed a motion to forward the request to the Planning Advisory Committee and will ask the New Brunswick Department of Energy and Local Government to prepare a report on the potential annexation.

Woodstock Mayor Art Slipp told the River Valley Sun the information is now in the provincial department’s hands, and the town is awaiting approval to allow the annexation to proceed.

“We’re working with DELG, trying to move this along as quickly as possible,” he said.

Slipp explained any property can request annexation by the town as long as part of the property touches the town boundary and remains contiguous throughout the property. He said Canada’s Best Value Inn and Suites’ two lots meet those requirements.

Slipp said the area in question is home to two motels, with the Howard Johnson Inn sitting on the other side of the road.

He said both motels approached the town about a possible annexation, but only Canada’s Best Value Inn and Suites have the legal work done to allow it to proceed at this point.

Rather than wait, Slipp said, they decided to move ahead with the one motel and look at the other at a later date.

While he hopes the province can complete its annexation report as soon as possible, he recognizes the current COVID-19 crisis could create delays in a lot of departments.

Municipal Plan With the 30-day public comment period now

complete, council has forwarded the plan to the planning advisory committee, with hopes to finalize it and pass it soon.

In her report to council, the director of administrative services Ann Marie Vautour said the 30-day period saw no public comments directly to the town or Dillon Consulting.

However, she said, there were comments added to the Idea Page of the Woodstock Plan Review website within that time. Although these comments do not meet the legislative requirement, they were summarized and included in the report for informational purposes.

“Council may use these comments to inform changes or updates to the Municipal Plan previous to third reading,” said Vautour in the report.

The report listed some of the points raised on the idea page, including: - Provision of walking areas along roads without sidewalks through line painting.

- Incentivize the conversion of the vacant

school building to housing units and community use.

- Increase amenities like mile markers and benches along trails.

- Provide active recreation opportunities like outdoor stationary strength training equipment.

- Encourage urban agriculture.

- Encourage more nightlife and space for music and art.

- Introduce voluntary questionnaires for newcomers to determine their experience moving to or reasons for leaving Woodstock.

Ice plant tender awarded Council approved the awarding of one part of the AYR Motor Centre ice plant upgrade to CIMCO Refrigeration, a division of Toromont Industries Ltd. In a report, Woodstock director of public works Andrew Garnett said the CIMCO bid totalled $652,857. He added the price didn’t include HST because it was a recreation project.

Garnett said CIMCO’s tender was the only one

Canada’s Best Value Inns and Suites, formerly the Wandlyn Motel, requested its property be annexed by the town of Woodstock. The town is now awaiting a report from the New Brunswick Department of Energy and Local Government. (Jim Dumville photo)

submitted, and he recommended accepting it.

The ice-plant upgrade is part of a major energy conservation measures project now underway at the AYR Motor Centre.

Teleconference meetings After a successful launch of its teleconference meetings on March 23, Woodstock will return to that model for its Tuesday, April 14 meeting.

Mayor Slipp said these

meetings would continue as long as physically distancing regulations remain in place.

While there are challenges, Slipp said, town staff are doing as well as can be expected as they adapt to the protocols surrounding the COVID-19 crisis.

The ice-plant upgrade is part of a major energy conservation measures project now underway at the AYR Motor Centre.

Tobique-Mactaquac MP/ Député

Richard Bragdon 157 Otis Drive Nackawic, NB E6G 1H3

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Grand Falls, NB E3Z 2J9

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14

NEIGHBOURHOOD NEWS Information and Updates from Your Towns, Villages, and Local Service Districts

Florenceville-Bristol Grant deadline extended The deadline for the Beautification Grant applications has been extended to April 30, 2020.

Town property owners can apply to receive up to $750 reimbursement for improvements made to their property facing the street or NB Trail. Visit the town web site for full details and applications. www.florencevillebristol. ca/policies Emergency notification The Town of Florenceville-Bristol has a Notification System that can push out messages through email, phone or text on a variety of topics, including public safety situations like COVID-19.

All residents are encouraged to sign up for the system to stay informed as we work through the COVID-19 pandemic.

You can sign up at www. florencevillebristol.ca/notification-system or leave a message with your name and phone number at 392-6763 ext 200, and town staff will manually add those without access to the internet to the sys-

tem.

Town events & programs All events and programs have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic until further notice.

Once things can resume, the public can find out what is going on on the town’s Community Calendar at www.florencevillebristol.ca/communitycalendar or the town’s Recreation Facebook page at www.facebook. com/florencevillebris tolrecreation/ and on the town’s Tourism and Events Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Florenceville-Bristol-Tourism-106836729404350/

Woodstock Inductions delayed Organizers of the Woodstock Wall of Fame announced its induction ceremonies scheduled for May 9 will be postponed until the fall.

Police monitor compliance Woodstock Police Force has reported, as of April 6, it has issued one compliance order and no fines in regards to regulations issued by the New Brunswick Chief Medical

Officer. The Woodstock Police Force advises the public it is documenting and investigating complaints as they are received. In the event compliance orders are not followed, police officers may issue fines and charges where necessary. Police are encouraging residents to follow the instructions from the Chief Medical Officer of Health to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Spring clean-up dates The Town of Woodstock has set its pick up schedule for spring clean up as May 5 or 6. It instructs residents to place their brush and bagged leaves (paper bags only) in a neat pile near the edge of the road before brush removal week begins to ensure it is picked up. Carleton West local service districts, and Woodstock/Benton/Debec will be May 25. The Wo o d s t o c k / R i c h m o n d area will be May 26, with Upper Woodstock/ Wakefield/Wilmot on May 27. Please note these dates are subject to change depending on the COVID 19 situation

Unable to purchase needed groceries for your family? THERE IS HELP! Visit the River Valley Sun Facebook page to find a list of groups and organizations helping those in need during COVID-19.

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Checking in: Jamie Eldridge enjoys phoning friends who live alone, mostly seniors, to check them during COVID 19. He is shown here as he chats with, Robin, a lifelong friend. People appreciate the calls which makes him feel useful while staying home to help prevent the virus. (Monica Inman-Riley photo)

Carleton County Spring Show & Sale to be held ONLINE April 15 - 17 Faced with the social-distancing recommendation, Carleton County Spring Show and Sale organizers are taking the sale online.

Jardine Auctioneers will begin taking bids online at noon on April 15. Bidding will continue until 4 p.m. April 17. Bidding will start at $2.50 per lbs for all lots.

To register, go to www.jardineauctioneers.com and follow instructions. Once completed, the registration will go to the Jardine Auctioneers office, after which the applicant will receive an email with a username and password.

2020 Carleton-Victoria Outstanding Citizen Awards

Cancelled

It is with regret that the committee members for the Carleton-Victoria Outstanding Citizen Awards announce that the 2020 awards will be cancelled due to the on-going Covid-19 pandemic. At a time when so many are stepping forward selflessly to serve their communities, it is unfortunate that we must forgo the opportunity to recognize such efforts. Any questions about or nominations for next year’s Carleton-Victoria Outstanding Citizen awards can be sent to Barb Dingee at barbdingee@hotmail.com. Thank you for your understanding.

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The Infectious - Social Distancing Local musician collaborate for online project

By Ken Moir

I

was born in the mid-’60s, which means as a music fan, I have some staunch views on music creation.

For myself, I never understood the concept of making an album without having all band members in the studio at the same time. If they weren’t in the same room with each other, how could they be inspired in the moment, or feed off each other’s creativity?

But recently, we’ve all had to adjust as a society. People around the world are thinking outside the box and finding new ways to have some sense of normalcy while we are amid a global pandemic.

Our local music community is no different.

Faced with working from home and self-quarantining, local musician Josh Farrell created a Facebook group called Corona Jams. He invited friends to join, with the hope they could all exchange musical ideas with one another as a way to keep being creative and help promote each other during this self-isolating

period.

One afternoon he posted a guitar riff he had been working on to the group.

Another well-known local musician and sound engineer, Randy Ross liked Farrell’s riff so much he added drums, bass and keyboards.

He then posted back to Facebook. The combined effort caught the interest of musician Andrew Bull.

Inspired by the music he was hearing, Bull wrote and sang a verse and chorus and sent the progressing music file back to Ross to mix.

When the three musicians heard the fantastic results of only a partial song, they decided to complete the tune. The final result of this collaboration is the catchy, satirical song called Social Distancing.

“It’s the most attention for the least amount of work that they have ever done on a musical project,” said Ross.

The final mix and video posted to YouTube took a mere three hours. And all of 10 hours total to com-

plete the project from start to finish.

The video had over 1,000 views in less than 72 hours. In addition to being a potent commentary on the times we’re living, the quality song also drove interest.

When asked if this would be a one-off collaboration, Farrell said that wasn’t the plan.

“Over the years, the three of us have always talked about doing something musically, and now that we have. We definitely have plans for more recording in the future, indeed,” Farrell said.

The musicians decided to call the newly formed group The Infectious and now have their own Facebook page.

The Facebook Group Farrell created is now up to 43 members, offering different backgrounds and different ideas with the sole purpose of supporting one another through this trying time.

May it continue long after this crisis is over.

Stay safe and take care, everyone.

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16

CONNECTION

Celebrating Inclusion, Diversity, and Community

Being neighbourly during the COVID-19 crisis

BEING NEIGHBOURLY

By Dot MacElwain

D

uring these last few weeks, watching out for your neighbor has taken on a new meaning.

Neighbours in our area of rural New Brunswick are checking on each other, phoning to help pass the time, offering to pick up groceries and prescriptions or be of other help – from a distance. That is the way life should be, especially right now.

Let’s give a shout out to our neighbours who have taken seriously twoweek quarantine, selfisolation and personal distancing. In particular, kudos to those who have practiced these measures after returning from the southern US, the Caribbean, Central America, and especially those who have returned from Europe and Asia. Our hope is that the spread here in New Brunswick will be lessened because of citizens acting responsibly.

Unfortunately, there are those who have ignored the directives.

There are those who don’t see the point of distancing. Some have not adhered to the strong urging to stay home. Those are

people we need to avoid.

As you consider your family and circle of friends, ask yourself, “Which one of these people do I think I want to live without?”

At times like these, people can become desperate. Sometimes they make choices that impact others in a negative way.

During this time when mums, dads, guardians and children are all at home together, the cases of child and spousal abuse are likely to increase. Those in abusive relations normally have work or school as a safe zone; but that is no longer the case, now that many work places and schools are closed.

As a Neighbourhood

Watch group, we want to mention that scammers are trying to take advantage during these unprecedented times.

Be especially careful and never give your personal information through unsolicited phone calls, as legitimate as they may seem.

We want to remind you to be vigilant with your personal belongings. LOCK your vehicles – EVERY night. Do not leave DVDs, pocket change, your laptop, a phone or other expensive items in plain view in your vehicle. Many of the vehicles stolen during this past winter had been left idling and/or had the keys left in the ignition.

LOCK the doors to

MACC makes adjustments

Changes will better serve clients during Covid-19

By Melissa Fitzherbert

A

lthough the doors of the Multicultural Association of Carleton County (MACC) are closed until further notice, MACC staff are available to serve the needs of their clients.

The same services, such as Settlement, English Language Training and Community Involvement, are available to newcomers. However, how these services are being delivered has changed. MACC staff are relying on email, Facebook messenger and video chat apps to help newcomers to Canada with their settlement needs.

Newcomers can contact MACC’s Settlement Worker Stephanie Ham-

e an o mak Call t ent today! ntm appoi

ilton with their settlement inquiries by emailing stephanie@maccnb.ca or sending a message to Steph Macc on Facebook.

Michael Brown, Client Services and Program Support Worker, is also available to provide settlement and AIPP (Atlantic Immigration Pilot Project) assistance. He can be reached by emailing progsupport@ maccnb.ca or sending a message to Mike Macc on Facebook.

While group activities have been postponed, social networking activities such as Conversation Partners are available to clients, volunteers and community members through online sources like Zoom. Anyone interested in taking part in these on-

line social activities can contact MACC’s Community Involvement Coordinator Melissa Fitzherbert by emailing melissa@ maccnb.ca or sending a message to Melissa Macc on Facebook. Everyone is welcome to participate.

If you need some social time and friendly chitchat, MACC can help!

Also, MACC staff are checking phone messag-

es regularly. You can call our office number (506) 426-0950 and leave a message, and someone will return your call.

As we face these new challenges, we would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding. We want to assure our clients that MACC is here for you to provide support, friendship and guidance during this difficult time.

your home at night. Ensure all windows are tightly locked. Be sure all out buildings are locked and that your ATV, snowmobile, chainsaws, tools and other valuable items are well secured. Extra external lighting or motion cameras around our homes and out buildings are helpful to deter would-be thieves.

Our response to this time in history will have an impact on future generations. When this is

all over – and it will be eventually - remember to continue to check on your neighbours, especially the elderly.

Dot MacElwain lives in Temperance Vale. Dot was recognized by the NB Crime Prevention Association for her work with Neighbourhood Watch and is a recipient of Nackawic’s Ron Berube Volunteer of the Year Award. She can be reached at dotmacelwain@gmail.com

NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE HAVE THE TIME TO READ Why not curl up with a page-turning crime-thriller set in New Brunswick and written by a Plaster Rock native?

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RIVER HEAT Kyle McKinley is a former RCMP undercover cop and internationally acclaimed artist. While spending the summer at his cabin and studio on a northern New Brunswick river, a dead girl turns up on a beaver lodge with an interesting tattoo.

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OFF THE GRID

By Darius Shahrokhi

I

have never experienced such a global event in my whole life!

How did this event get more publicity and of course action by the governments than other diseases, outbreaks, genocides, wars, famines, environmental catastrophes ever did?

I am happy to see full shelves, folks not behaving badly, no internet disruptions etc. Yes, an item or two were temporarily sold out, snapped out by a few hoarders or folks trying to make a quick buck,

What’s good about it? but the store shelves were full on the whole.

Do you know who makes the most money at these times? No, not that guy selling toilet paper out of his trunk. The social media platforms.

We are conditioned to be staring at some shape of a screen on a normal day.

Now take away the jobs, schools, errands, appointments, vacations, sporting events, and what do you get? The gadgets and social media.

Of course, gadgets are not our only options. I mean, what did people do only 15 years ago?

The natural world existed at least a couple of years before the age of the gadgets. Sarcasm aside, nature is still out there, looking at us with our heads down, staring at our phones, tablets, computers,...

There is still time to

enjoy this gift of a mild winter. Go snowshoeing or find a quiet place to go for a walk and listen to the songbirds announcing the early arrival of spring.

Fortunately, we live in a country wealthy enough to compensate most people for lost wages, at least in part.

Financial institutions, car manufacturers deferring interest on loans. Yes, it’s cheaper than having to deal with folks defaulting on their loans but still.

No price hikes on the necessities.

All of which could have unfolded differently.

It is said that something good always comes out of something bad. So what’s good about it?

Here are just a few; Some folks are coming together. Families spending more time together.

People are able to spend time in nature if

they so choose and destress from their jobs.

We were made aware of how quickly life can change. How connected we are to others halfway around the globe. How unsustainable our lifestyles are and how quickly we can turn things around if we wanted to.

And finally for my favourite side-effect, a significant reduction in pollution around the globe, yay!

What we are going through is not the end of the world. It is, however, a wake-up call. A call to action about how destructive we are with respect to nature. How we urgently need to build up our immune systems.

How someone’s action or well being halfway across the world can affect us here and quickly. How we are all so connected.

They said that it’s im-

A black-capped chikadee waiting for spring in western New Brunswick. (Submitted photo)

possible to turn things around and that we have gone too far to fix things.

Nonsense, we just did it!

The pollution has dropped significantly around the globe in less than a month!

So I wonder, will we go back to status quo or will we take this event as a lesson and a fork in the road. Carry on as if nothing happened and forget about it all OR stay with it. Do with less, continue reducing our footprint on the planet, less work, more time for the loved

ones, to play, to discover, less fossil fuels and more renewables, to look up, to recognize, protect and enjoy the natural world, to breathe, to slow down.

Chicka-dee-dee.

Darius Shahrokhi is an inventor, writer, environmentalist, foodie, technology enthusiast, gardener, and photographer. He works as a sustainable living coach and consultant and lives off-grid with his family near Knowlesville. Reach him at greenearthling@gmail.com

Learning how to deal with uncertainty

FINDING ME

By Rebecca Dykeman

I

’ve never liked the unpredictable.

I’ve always felt the need to have a plan for every situation and stick to it. A prime example of this is when I would go over to friends’ houses when I was little. Every time, I would schedule when precisely to arrive and leave, and would rarely stay later. It was kind of silly. I didn’t know why I did that at the time, but now I think it’s because knowing every chunk of my day makes

me feel more secure and in control of my life. When plans change at the last second or something is up in the air, it stresses me out.

Clearly, my Grade 12 year isn’t going according to plan. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all public schools in New Brunswick will probably be closed until September. Because of this, I’ve lost many moments I’ve been looking forward to for years. I won’t get to perform in my last school musical or sing in my final choir concert. I won’t get to dance in the “crush” area of Woodstock High School with my friends on the last day. We don’t even know when or if we can celebrate prom and graduation.

Further still, I worry about what might happen to my friends, family, or myself if

any of us get sick.

Despite these worries and cancellations, I’m surprised at how quickly I was able to adjust to the uncertainty of this situation.

Early on, I realized that while I can’t control what’s happening in the world, I can manage my reaction.

Rather than be pessimistic, I’m trying my best to stay positive and use this time productively.

I’ve had more time than usual to do things I enjoy, like reading, writing, and baking. I’ve also tried some new activities, like building a blanket fort in my room, working on a rug hooking project, and even taking an online course from Yale.

Having the opportunity to pursue these interests has helped me stay sane during these weeks of being stuck at home.

I don’t want to come

across as tone-deaf in writing this. We are living in frightening times. Many people have lost their jobs or are worried about the health of their loved ones or themselves. Healthcare workers and essential workers are putting their lives on the line every day.

I don’t want to seem insensitive to those issues.

However, strangely, I’m grateful that this crisis has taught me how to better cope with uncertainty. I feel better equipped to deal with life’s unpredictabilities, and I think this lesson will serve me well when this all comes to an end.

Rebecca Dykeman is a Grade 12 student at Woodstock High School.

Last fall she interned with the River Valley Sun through her school’s co-op program.

Hooked: This rug hooking is one of several projects Rebecca is using to remain positive and productive during these unusual times. (Rebecca Dykeman photo)

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IN FOCUS

Putting the Spotlight on People in Your Community

Day & Ross steps up during crisis

Trucking giant works with Valley Food Bank, Moonshine Creek RIVER VALLEY SUN

A

s a committed member of the community and an essential service, Day & Ross is showing its support for frontline healthcare workers and local agencies in need of critical supplies in New Brunswick.

In a press release issued April 9, Day & Ross announced the company’s donation of 12 skids of goods to Valley Food Bank to help support its vital work as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Some of these items will also be distributed through

local charities Hartland Helpers and Grocery Angels to support families in need.

This food donation is in addition to the $3,000 Day & Ross donated to Hartland and Woodstock charities last week.

“We are so thankful that we have a community that rallies together and works together,” said Sandra Olmstead, executive director of Valley Food Bank in Woodstock.

“It is wonderful to see that we have the business sector stepping up. They have picked up the flag

and are continuing to go with it.”

Day & Ross also worked with Moonshine Creek, a distillery in Waterville, near Hartland, to switch over their production to alcoholbased hand sanitizer, an item in high demand during the pandemic.

Day & Ross said the company supported Moonshine Creek’s effort by donating ingredients and supplies, manual labour, and delivery/ transportation.

As part of this initiative, 1,000 litres of hand sanitizer was donated to the Horizon Health Network for

the healthcare teams in its facilities.

“At Day & Ross, we’ve been serving our local community for 70 years, and we’re committed to giving back in this time of need,” said Kevin Chase, CFO. “This was a team effort with Moonshine Creek, and we’re encouraged by how our community has rallied together during this crisis.”

Day & Ross, based in Hartland, employs more than 8,000 employees, drivers, and owner-operators in Canada and the U.S.

Day & Ross truck driver Jason Law delivers a dozen skids of food to the Valley Food Bank in Woodstock.

(Submitted photo)

More Isolation 101: how readers are passing the time

Anderson and Seth Munro have been busy. The brothers have been working hard on a special project - a fire pit chair for their Papa’s 70th birthday. (Jane Munro photo)

Evan Sercerchi (11), Ava Sercerchi (7), and Finn Sercerchi (3), plant seeds for the family’s vegetable garden this year.

(Leah McCurdy photo)

Stephanie MacDougal and her children have done a few walks, including one hike to Hay’s Falls via the Maliseet Trail. (Stephanie MacDougal photo)

Find us at our NEW location – 101 Sherwood Drive, Woodstock

“Be in control of your body and not at its mercy.”

- Joseph Pilates ASK ABOUT OUR ONLINE CLASSES!

www.pilateswithpurpose.ca hannah@pilateswithpurpose.ca 506 . 328 . 1820

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Please visit our CAREER pages to see what new opportunity could be waiting for you!

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20

ARTFELT

Arts and Culture News from Western New Brunswick

Expressions of love and recording history

ARTiculate

By Victoria Hutt

W

e are fans of the reality TV program Big Brother. It consists of weekly competitions, and evictions to determine which contestant will win.

The show is continuously filmed in a house that prevents the contestants from connecting with the outside world. This month, we watched as Big Brother Canada’s season deteriorated before our eyes.

It started quietly - in episode three, they didn’t have their eviction night audience. A couple of episodes later, their host was filming from home. Then they gave the contestants a rare update on news from outside their walls, informing them about the pandemic. An episode later, they ended the season, sending the contestants home a quarter-way through the season. For

whatever reason, this was the event that struck me with a sense of dread.

Until that point, I had been blissfully trying to enjoy a pause in our lives, thinking the kids would have a week or two off school, and then we’d get back to our busy normal.

I would soon be watching my kids on stage and the rugby field. What was a niggling feeling turned into a stark realization; our comfortable first-world bubbles are indeed not impenetrable, and what we are going through is not a small blip on the radar of our lives.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a psychology model that outlines five-tiers of human needs.

The needs are, from bottom to top: physiological (food and shelter), safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. Once the first level is met, then we can worry about the next one.

(Unfortunately for many, these first-level needs are difficult to meet. I have watched many dedicated healthcare workers, and volunteers work tirelessly behind the scenes in our

region to support those finding themselves newly food insecure. And this emergency is exacerbating so many other existing problems. But that’s a topic for a whole other column.)

For many of us, we have the luxury of riding out this storm from the comfort of our warm homes – maybe even visiting our fridge a little too often! So if our needs are met, why do we feel so shook?

I find myself giving myself little pep talks – “Everything is fine. We’re fine. I have no reason to be stressed.” But in reality, we are struggling emotionally because every other need suddenly feels jeopardized.

So what have we done – those of us who have shelter, full bellies, and feel somewhat safe?

We’ve turned to each other online, with a profusion of expressions of love and belonging.

In a time when it feels like art isn’t important, art has never played a more critical role. These unprecedented days are being recorded in history by the

Peter McLaughlin, hosting a virtual Tuesday Night Singalong at Second Wind Music Centre in Florenceville/Bristol. (Victoria Hutt photo)

artists and the entertainers, and maybe, most powerfully, through music.

Pre-pandemic I originally intended to write this month’s column about Peter McLaughlin and his Second Wind Music Centre in Florenceville-Bristol, and all of the great programming they do there.

They weave together wellness, generations, and community through music.

They tell me Peter moved here from Grand Falls, but to me, it seems he must have always been a part of that loft, directing the choir, singing and play-

ing his guitar.

To make a long story a shorter long story, he taught music at Carleton North High School and built a thriving band program.

Upon retiring, he bought a church down the road from that high school, revived it, and created the Second Wind Music Centre, where he continues to build programming second to none.

This month, Peter has been feeding our souls by hosting Tuesday Night Sing-a-Longs, virtually, of course, on the Second Wind Facebook page. The

song list is posted, you can follow the lyrics, and away you go, joining in (live or later) with a sea of voices.

When I listen, I can almost see the voices rising from homes across our valley, across our country, in the act of beauty and solidarity that celebrates all that makes us human, simultaneously fragile and strong.

family, my wife Cheyanne is the love of my life and my manager. I definitely have more love in my life now than I did in my younger years,” he said.

Track 6 With an Open Mind Culbert, who lost his father when he was just 25, wrote this song about that loss and the effects it had on him. It’s a great way to close out the original songs on the album.

The covers Rounding out the album are covers of Tears for Fears’ Head over Heels and Journey’s Faithfully.

Culbert plans to donate

all the proceeds from the sales of his record to mental-health efforts in the community. He said funds will be divided equally between the suicide prevention group in Woodstock and the Connecting for Life group.

“I have been impacted by several recent suicides and want to do something, even if it’s a small amount,” he said.

“I’m so glad to have music as an outlet, “said Culbert.

I think those who buy this album will also be happy he has music as an outlet.

Victoria Hutt is an artist and freelance graphic designer in Florenceville-Bristol, NB. A former gallery director and curator, Victoria is a NSCAD design graduate and sits on the ArtsNB Board of Directors.

TimmyC - Waiting for Spring Woodstock’s Tim Culbert launches digital album

By Ken Moir

L

ocal singer-songwriter and guitar player Tim Culbert recently released his first digital album, under the moniker TimmyC. The release, titled Waiting for Spring, can be purchased and downloaded via this link on the internet https://timmyc2. bandcamp.com.

For Culbert, this album was a labour of love spanning some 20 years. The songs on this album can be put into three chapters.

He wrote some as a teenager and a few during his time in university. Rounding out the CD are cover versions of some of the biggest songs recorded in the 80s.

In recording the album, Culbert enlisted some of the best talents in Carleton County.

The following is a question and answer trackby-track breakdown of Waiting for Spring’s original songs. Culbert also shares the process of how he learned to reflect on his

past but not live in it.

Track 1 So What?

This opening song dates back to 1998-99 at the height of Culbert’s teenage angst. This rocker recalls grunge’s finest elements. It is a song about lost relationships and change.

I asked Culbert how he thinks he has changed in the past 20 years.

“Well, I feel I am definitely mellower now than when I was in high school.

Now that I am a family man with a career, I wish I could have a conversation with my 19-year-old self and tell him life isn’t that complicated, and things will work out for the best.”

Track 2 Obsolete The song is another rocker with the late ‘90s and classic rock influences that Culbert wrote in high school at a time when he was questioning the world around him. He still questions the world around him, but it’s with a completely different at-

titude.

“I’ve learned not to be so frustrated and more nuanced in my thinking in today’s disposable society. Things change quickly and sometimes not for the better. I definitely feel I am more patient.”

Track 3 Short Leash Featuring a mid-tempo pace, this song is about overcoming obstacles in your life and succeeding at becoming your own person. Since music has always been a big part of Culbert’s life, I asked him how music has helped him come into his own.

“Music has always been my method of handling stress in my life. I do my best thinking after I have played guitar for an hour in the basement.

I am not one to take my frustrations out on people.

Music gives me self confidence that I am on the right path”.

Track 4 Spring The title track features Culbert singing lead vo-

cals for the first time on the record. This song features one of the coolest parts on the album. There is a section in this song that comes out of nowhere that doesn’t fit, but it fits perfectly. I asked Culbert to give me an example of something that doesn’t fit in his life anymore. He once again references the angst he felt as a teenager within the music.

“I listen to a song now that I loved as a teenager and think, wow, that was a dark point of view. Although I appreciate it still, I can sing the chorus from Man in the Box, but I no longer think I am the one trapped inside it.”

Track 5 Graceful My favourite song on the album and one that was written for his daughter Grace, with the hope it would inspire her, just as Culbert says his family inspires him.

“The best thing I have in my life and my greatest accomplishment is my

RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA 21

SUNNY-SIDE UP Crossword Puzzle Summer is near Providing Readers with a Challenge, a Chuckle, and a Smile

Did you KNOW?

RVS Crossword #15 Warmth Ahead 1

Find the answer key to your LOCAL crossword at rivervalleysun.ca

2

April’s ‘Sunnyside Up’ was compiled by Rebecca Dykeman.

•The world’s tallest trees, the sequoia sempervirens (also known as redwoods), can grow up to 379 feet tall.

•The world’s oldest tree is a Great Basin bristlecone pine named Methuselah. Methuselah is 4,851 years old and is located in the White Mountains of California.

3 4

•The Balsam fir is the only fir tree native to eastern Canada.

5

RVS TONGUE TWISTER

My mother’s making me marry Mary Mac. Will I always be so merry when Mary’s taking care of me?

Will I always be so merry when I marry Mary Mac?

6

CARLETON COUNTY

7

Colloquialisms

8

libary

9

DOWN: 1. On May 4, this sci-fi film franchise is celebrated. (2 words) wn: 2. Flower that starts blooming in early May. flower film considered cancerissymbol.

On May 3.

4,Yellow this sci-fi franchise 5. On May Day, people traditionally make these.

celebrated. (2 words) Flower that starts blooming in early May. Yellow flower that blooms in early spring.

On May Day, people traditionally made these.

By John Morris

\’lie-bear-ee\ – noun Library, especially a public lending library; ‘Let’s go to the libary and get some books.”

ACROSS: 4. Make sure to carry this object with you when giv’er it rains. \’giv-er\ – verb 6.Across: These begin to grow on trees in springtime.

To put extra emphasis into an acticity, especiallly a physical 7.4.

Synonym forsure a rainto jacket.

Make carry this object with you activity; “C’mon, Bubba... giv’er!” See also: come right 8. April is when the Annual Carleton County ___ when it rains.

Festival usually takes place. begin toflowers.” grow on trees in the Hear this word pronounced at www.dooryard.ca.

9.6.

“AprilThese _____ bring May

7.

8.

9.

springtime.

Synonym for a rain jacket.

April is when the Carleton County ___ Festival takes place annually.

“April ___ bring May flowers.”

To help reduce the spread of COVID19, the AYR Motor Centre will be CLOSED until further notice.

WOODSTOCK CLOSURES Other town amenities CLOSED are:

•Playgrounds: Connell Park Road Jules Drive This includes: Eastwood Drive Slipp Street •After school Skiddle Club Poole Street •Liddle Skiddle Club Build your own custom worksheet at education.com/worksheet-generator Grant Street •All rooms  © 2007 - 2020 Education.com •Indoor pool •McCain Community Theatre •Tim Hortons Wellness Centre •Community 15 passenger Van (fitness centre) •Field house What Town facilities are closed?

•Arena Town Hall, Public Works Garage, •McCain Walking track Woodstock Fire Hall closed to the public, •Payment Centre Woodstock Police Force office to the pub•Tourism Office lic, and the LP Fisher Public Library and •Recreation Office ®

*Please note all memberships will be extended for the period of the closure.

Thompson Centre

Stay Well Everyone!

22

RURAL ROOTS

Stories About Country Life in Western New Brunswick

Ruth and Abner Sipprelle and why we need to flatten the curve

LIVING HISTORY

By Doris Kennedy The following is a fictional account of a true story.

A

bner heard the familiar sound from a distance in the field where he was picking potatoes with his 11-year-old son Scott.

Ruth, his energetic wife, pregnant with their eighth child, was hitting vigorously inside a triangle rod hanging from the porch post with a long slim iron rod that projected a clanging noise indicating supper was ready.

The crisp air with the colourful falling leaves meant he needed to put a push on to get his crop of potatoes out of the ground and into his cellar. The big garden produced an abundance of vegetables this year, and Ruth scurried to put the vegetables in their cold room of the dirt floor basement or hung them in the back shed among the freshly slaughtered a cow hanging from the rafters and a few fowl.

Abner was pleased with himself. He felt he would have enough food to get them through the winter. He and his father, Ezekiel, had already harvested their wheat. This year there was enough to pay the King’s bounty with some leftover to go to market. Abner and his family lived in the southern sec-

tion of his father’s farm in Somerville.

With a bit of a bounce in his step, Abner opened the vertical slat wooden door into the shed. He made his way through another door into the kitchen with Scott on his coattail.

Smells of meat cooking mingled with fresh bread made his mouth water.

His short little wife was gushing about the kitchen as his eyes scanned the table, and again it happened. The terrible sharp pain in his gut that took his breath away reminded him of his loss, their loss.

There were four empty places. Just for a second, he was in deep sorrow that immediately went to anger.

He blamed God for taking four little children from him. All had lived only long enough to steal his heart.

His thoughts would be kept to himself, especially since his father, Ezekiel, was a man of the cloth. He didn’t want to hear again, that it was ‘God’s will.’ He shook the demons from his mind and concentrated on the three beautiful children at the table, Lilly (Lillian), a beautiful woman of 18, little Guy, aged five, and Scott, who slipped quickly into his chair.

Little Charlie was three, and Martha was just a year old when they died in 1873, only seven days apart. Ten years later, Leslie, aged five, and Roy, age three, also died seven days apart. There was no reason given, but cholera and smallpox were the epidemics during those times. His thoughts went to those long nights when his crying children were being consoled in his arms or his

An early photo of the very beautiful Ruth Sipprelle. (Photo submitted)

wife’s. He knew they were sick, but he did not expect they would be taken from him. Abner would not let his inner thoughts show, but he knew his wife was thinking the same thing.

The spark in her eyes was dimmer. And with her being ‘with child’ again, and this soon may be terrifying to her. He would try to avoid the topic and put on a brave face.

The New Year in 1886 brought another little boy into the household on January 2. Halden let his presence be known with strong cries and a hungry appetite. As Abner rocked little Hal, he closed his eyes and prayed God would be kind to this little one.

Every year that passed, they held their breath when the flu season came around. Usually,

by spring, Abner felt the flu season was over, and with almost a sigh of relief, he concentrated on getting on his land, planting then harvesting in the fall.

It was mid-October 1889 when Abner heard his wife screaming for him.

He could tell by the pitch of her voice that it was serious. Dark thoughts went through his head.

Hal was only three, but he seemed healthy when he left him this morning. The other two boys, Scott and Guy, were with him, so he knew it must be Hal. Entering his house, the little boy greeted him, wrapping his arms around his legs. “Come. Come!” Hal repeated. “Sissy, Sissy.”

His little voice echoed in my ears.

Abner’s dark thoughts were justified. He lost his

Ruth Sipprelle and daughter Lillian who died in 1889, just a few weeks shy of her 22nd birthday. (Photo submitted)

only daughter that evening. He was broken; she wasn’t yet 22 years old.

A sad story but a true story of my great grandfather Scott’s family. During those times of early settlements, hygiene was minimal and preventable illness took loved ones randomly. Today we are educated on what we need to do: Wash your hands frequently Prevent it from enter-

Let us know what’s going on !

PLEASE SUBMIT BY THE FIRST OF EACH MONTH! Email details to theresa@ rivervalleysun.ca OR jim@ rivervalleysun.ca REMEMBER: WE CAN’T SHARE IT IF WE DON’T KNOW ABOUT IT !

ing your body by keeping two meters apart from others and do not touch your face, and isolate.

No one will protect you or your loved ones like you can.

Doris Kennedy is a retired nurse, writer, and historian.

Married with four children and 11 grandchildren, she owned the Covered Bridge B & B in Somerville for years, and is the author of five books.

We are here for you!

Please contact us to arrange hearing aid repairs or battery mail orders.

(506) 328-8723 info@ritceyhearing.com or reach us on Facebook Messenger

We check messages daily and can arrange drop off or pick up services for batteries and repairs.

Check our Facebook page for the latest updates! Stay safe!

RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA 23

An abundance of time

ADVENTURES OF AN ACCIDENTAL FARMER

By Ellen Culbert-Johnston

S

tarting this column, I was hoping to be writing about newborn calves, however no baby calves yet.

My heart wanted to write about new life on the farm, to lift people’s spirits. I wanted to write about how despite the COVID-19 virus, life still moves forward, and that spring is slowly moving upon us during these times of selfisolation.

Being a farmer in selfisolation has been filled with time to learn some things.

I’ve been researching farm groups on social media and have learned about feed, pasture, and some scary things that can happen during calving.

All this calving information has caused me anxiety, with my mama cows to be.

I have been using my nervous energy to do a lot of checking and waiting, then more checking and waiting on calves to be born.

I’m checking on the cows frequently, to the point the cows are probably saying, ”Oh, it’s her again!. Will she just leave us alone and let us have our calves in peace!”

I need to remember to breathe and let nature take its course.

I’ve learned how to play cribbage, and I won four out of five games the other day. Marty says beginner’s luck; I say I had a good teacher.

He has also taught me the frustration and patience it takes to put a puzzle together. I learned I don’t enjoy putting puzzles together.

This abundance of time has allowed me to look for signs of spring.

The ice on the St. John River is slowly breaking up in Hartland, and the snow is melting at a gradual rate in the countryside.

I picked pussy willows along the road, and I’m patiently waiting for the yellow forsythias to bloom in my yard.

While the ground in Newburg is snow-covered, cold and hard, my brother Johnny shared pics of strawberry plants he planted the other day in Massachusetts.

Sometimes 400 miles of distance doesn’t seem that far away, while at other times, it feels too far away.

A sign of spring at the farm is that the fence posts are popping out of the ground!

Each day there seems to be another fence post on the ground, and when I try to put it back in place, the point hits the ice.

The other day, while I was trying to place a fence post back in the ground, I got a large clump of old dead burdocks in my hair.

A sign that I desperately need a haircut.

Those burdocks were in there tight and seemed to be getting tighter by the minute. I should have taken a selfie of my new hair barrette design.

Getting burdocks out

There’s been a lot of checking and waiting before we get to see this spring’s newborn calves. (Ellen Johnston photo)

of my hair took more than a few minutes. But that’s okay. At the moment, I have an abundance of time on my hands.

The overabundance of time on my hands allowed me to reflect on the people helping others self-isolate.

I am filled with gratitude and appreciation for first responders, health-care workers and law enforcement for keeping us safe.

I’m grateful to the grocery, postal, and garbage

workers, who help our lives maintain some sense of normalcy during these trying times.

I am blown away with love and joy exhibited by people helping others throughout the community by delivering groceries, preparing and giving meals away and others who are reaching out by phone to check in and say hello.

I want to acknowledge and thank farmers for their

hard work and dedication with putting food on tables near and far.

The food we need to sustain ourselves is delivered to us by the caring truck drivers who leave their families to keep our families healthy together.

Thank you, all.

Ellen Culbert-Johnston is a teacher who loves to read, learn, travel, and walk in the woods with her dogs in Newburg.

Spring is here, but we can’t gather on the trails...yet

BEAUTIFUL BUMBLES

By Linda McHatten

H

ello Spring! I have waited for you all winter to be able to get out on the trails to enjoy the peace and tranquillity that nature has to offer. Life sometimes gets hectic and to be able to watch the leafless trees turn into green foliage and then back to a maze of autumn colours changes all that.

I am looking forward to seeing babbling brooks,

waterfalls, wildlife, wildflowers and, most of all, what new adventures lie ahead of me.

Unfortunately, with COVID-19 there have been changes made to the trails. On March 23, 2020, QUADNB (formerly known as NB ATV Federation) announced that the provincial quad trails would remain open except those closed because of spring conditions. Members are reminded that the Province of NB is in a state of emergency, and social distancing is mandatory. All warming huts/ shelters will be closed until further notice. All club rallies and events will be cancelled until further notice.

If members do not follow these recommendations, QUADNB will be forced to

close the quad trails in NB. PLEASE let’s all abide by the recommendations. We all want to be able to enjoy some time outside in these very trying times.

I am looking forward to my first bumble out, to where I don’t know, but I do know it will be a solo bumble where I pack a lunch and head out. Meeting friends on the trail means a wave and moving on. Remember, when this pandemic is over with we will enjoy our get-togethers as usual, but for now, we will abide by the recommendation made by QUAD NB. One of my annual trips was to McAdam Railway Station. We would pack up the quads and leave Woodstock on a Sunday morning to ar-

rive at the railway station around noon. Sundays at the station were “Railway Pie” days, where 24 different varieties of pie would be served. It was a re-creation of the “social pie” days. Most people lining up would be dressed in their “Sunday best,” but not us. We would get some “rolling eyes” looks with our dusty trail clothes, but we just laughed it off.

Volunteers would bake 60 to 70 pies every week during the summer tourist season and would sell between 300 and 350 slices of pie. Over the nine years that volunteers did this, $150,000 was raised for the upkeep of the historic railway station. In September 2018, this ended as, like many other groups, the older volunteers found

Many ATVers enjoyed trips to McAdam for a slice of ‘Railway Pie.’ (Linda McHatten photo)

it too much. Well, until my next adventure, stay safe, and hopefully, we will pass each other on the trails with a wave and a smile until we get to meet up again. Happy Bumbles!

Linda McHatten is a retired LPN who now spends her time nursing her love for the outdoors. She and her husband live in Rosedale and have three grandchildren.

24

Spring can be an exciting time for river valley communities.

The thaw brings a promise of fun and adventure for the summer ahead. It’s also a time NB Power keeps watch on the ice and weather forecasts so we can manage the river flow and minimize flooding along the river valley.

NB Power’s hydro team is committed to making that transition as safe as possible. Why? Because your safety is core to our values.

Learn more at nbpower.com/freshet

Le printemps peut être une saison très agréable pour les communautés des vallées fluviales.

Le dégel apporte avec lui un sentiment d’espoir que l’été approche. Le printemps est également la saison où Énergie NB surveille la glace et les prévisions météorologiques afin de gérer le débit fluvial et minimiser les inondations le long de la vallée.

L’équipe responsable de l’exploitation hydroélectrique d’Énergie NB est engagée à rendre cette transition aussi sûre que possible. Pourquoi ? Parce que votre sécurité est notre priorité absolue Pour en savoir plus, visitez energienb.com/crue.