The Grapevine July 23 - August 20, 2020

ARTS | CULTURE | COMMUNITY July 23 – August 20, 2020 | Issue No. 17.07

Summer Staycation A Few Valley Picks, p.12

Chris Dalton Explores the Harvest Moon Trail, p.9 120 Days: Ken Schwartz on the Pandemic and Two Planks and a Passion, p.13 Who’s Who: Field Guide Authors Carole Donaldson and Howard Williams, p.4 Black Lives Matter in the Valley, p.3 Kim Barlow’s Canning Kitchen Parties Are Heating Up, p.14 Festival of Dance Annapolis Royal Adapts and Returns This August, p.3 A FREE PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN THE ANNAPOLIS VALLEY

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Cover photographers: Chris Dalton, Genevieve Allen Hearn, Emily Leeson, and @milo.and.me (on Instagram).

VALLEY FAMILY FUN

DAY TRIPS FROM THE ANNAPOLIS VALLEY Laura Churchill Duke

Our family has always been really big on day trips and exploring our own backyards! You can head out in almost any direction and find fun things to do for all ages. Here are our top three day trips from the Valley. More details about each of these locations can be found by searching the Valley Family Fun website (valleyfamilyfun.ca).

1. Rawdon Hills to Shubenacadie: Drive through the Rawdon Hills. No matter what route you take, there are things to see! Along Route 215, along the shore, stop at Burntcoat to visit the lighthouse and walk along the beach. Or, along Route 236, make a quick detour into Gore where you can see the site of a former courthouse for the area. Although the building is long gone, stand there and you can see five counties in the province at once!

Or, have a picnic at Smiley’s Provincial Park off Route 14! Then, make your way to the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park, and come home via the highway.

2. Lunenburg Beaches and Trails: Head south of Lunenburg and walk the Indian Path Common hiking trails. There are several loops for all ages and abilities or combine several of them to make your own trail. Then, keep driving south to Rose Bay to what is known as Sand Dollar Beach. There is a beautiful sandy

beach, and at low tide, you might be able to find sand dollars! On the way home, head towards Sherbrooke Lake on the Newburne Road to Indian Falls, a municipal park with a great swimming hole, waterfall, and area where teens love to jump in the water. Return via Route 12.

3. Eastern Shore: Drive to Cole Harbour and visit the Cole Harbour Farm Museum, a wonderful vista amidst the city. Then, end your day at Lawrencetown Beach, back towards the city on Route 207, for a great swim at this lifeguarded beach. Don’t forget your boogie board! valleyfamilyfun.ca

Submitted

FODAR, which has been a fixture on the national dance scene for half a decade, will mark its sixth year when it opens on Wednesday, August 19 with Dance on Film at King’s Theatre. In addition to two live performances at the theatre, FODAR will also be staging performances at the Annapolis Royal Farmers and Traders Market. Getting the festival off the ground has taken some fancy footwork on the part of FODAR Artistic Director Randy Glynn, Associate Artistic Director Michael Caldwell, Kathleen Doherty (Co-Founder of Halifax-based Votive Dance), and dancer/choreographer Vanessa Goodman, who has created a new work which will have its world premiere at the festival. The performance will also be livestreamed. “I think the fact that we have been able to get the festival running for 2020 illustrates the collegiality of the dance community in Nova Scotia and its determination to get dance out there, despite the huge challenges we face right now,” said Glynn. In fact, the seven dancers performing at FODAR are all based in Halifax: Julie Robert, Lydia Zimmer, Kathleen Doherty, Jessica Lowe, Anastasia Wiebe, Gillian

Seaward-Boone, and Michèle Slattery. Lydia Zimmer is returning to FODAR for the second year in a row. In 2019 she performed her work “Sonderling” at the festival.

While there will be no charge for the Market performances, donations will be gratefully accepted. Organizers are also ensuring that audience health and safety is taken into account.

Physical distancing will be maintained at all events and masks will be required for King’s Theatre and are recommended for the market.

The Festival Rundown: • August 19: Dance on Film screening Carlos Saura’s classic film CARMEN featuring legendary flamenco artist Antonio Gades and his Company.

• August 20: MARKET DANCES Annapolis Royal Farmers and Traders Market • August 21: Preview of a new work – STRIKE TONE by Vanessa Goodman, King’s Theatre • August 22 World Premiere and Live Stream of STRIKE TONE King’s Theatre More information on the Festival as it evolves will be found at FODAR.ca, and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @FODARdance For more information visit FODAR.ca.

Genevieve Allen Hearn

The video of George Floyd’s murder sent chills up the spines of everyone watching. As the world reacted, Nova Scotians tried to find our place in the movement. You may have attended a Black Lives Matter protest. Perhaps you watched videos, read articles, ordered books, or shared social media posts about systemic racism. So, what now? If you are like me, this nagging question is on your mind.

I spoke to two individuals about this question: Valley African Nova Scotian Development Association (VANSDA) CEO Robert Ffrench, and Municipality of the County of Kings Diversity & Outreach Specialist Brittany Mastroianni.

Both delivered very similar messages: use your privilege.

FESTIVAL OF DANCE ANNAPOLIS ROYAL SET TO RUN IN AUGUST 2020 It’s down to the wire, but Festival of Dance Annapolis Royal (FODAR) is set to run August 19 –22 2020. The final decision to mount the festival was confirmed in early July after COVID-19 restrictions were loosened by the province.

BLACK LIVES MATTER IN THE VALLEY: WHAT NOW?

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“Recognizing your own privilege as being part of the dominant culture is the first step,” Ffrench said. “Then use your privilege to have a weighted influence. You don’t have to be a person of colour to change the system. Speak up when you see discrimination. Find the openings that have always been there. Black Lives Matter is not a phrase to be used, it is a phrase to be lived.”

Mastroianni emphasized the importance of self-education and implored that we “stop looking to racialized or diverse communities to teach you. It’s a lot to ask of people that may be living with multigenerational trauma.”

Some concrete ways Mastroianni suggested people could use their privilege is to pass on opportunities to be on boards, panels, and other public platforms, in order to make space for diverse voices (and communicate to organizations why you are doing so). She says it’s important to ask, how we are contributing to over-representation? This had me thinking: Municipal elections are approaching – perhaps this is an opportunity for each of us to encourage and support diverse populations to run for council.

Ffrench pointed out that Nova Scotia’s hands are not clean when it comes to systemic racism and marginalization of communities of colour: “Let’s not forget that the laws in the South came from British colonies such as Nova Scotia.” He stressed the importance of getting to know our own history of colonization and racial discrimination, and pointed to Birchtown as an example of what is left out of our school curriculum.

Ffrench is cautiously optimistic about what he sees today. “Finally people are listening and there is potential for change. But the change is going to come in small increments.” In recognizing that the Black Lives Matter movement is largely led by young people, Ffrench believes it’s vital to balance this energy by people who know how to work within the system. Social justice work requires cross-generational participation and takes a multiplicity of skills and experiences. Working together is key — this movement requires the admission

Left to right: Lydia Zimmer, Julie Robert, Gillian Seaward-Boone, Jessica Lowe, and Anastasia Wiebe.

Photo by Vanessa Goodman

by dominant cultures that they have benefited from a system that is unequal, and a willingness to make personal sacrifices in order to move toward a more equitable system.

Mastroianni is working with a Diversity Committee to develop an Action Plan for Ending Racism & Discrimination in Kings County.

The action plan will include a vision forward for the promotion and delivery of diversity and inclusion programs, suggest ways to make Kings County a safer, more inclusive, and welcoming place, and recommend how the County should participate in the reconciliation process of Indigenous peoples, among other objectives.

VANSDA is also a participant in the African Nova Scotian Decade for People of African Descent Coalition (DPAD), which put forward one hundred recommendations on how to address challenges impacting people of African descent. The Nova Scotia provincial government responded with an action plan entitled Count Us In: Nova Scotia’s Action Plan in Response to the International Decade for People of African Descent 2014-2024, which outlines the province’s commitment to reducing barriers and discriminatory practices, and tackling such issues as low unemployment rates, widening academic achievement gaps, and poor health outcomes in communities of African descent.

There is work being done. Let’s all find ways to support this work, call out injustices, strive for equity in all facets of community living, and use our place of privilege to lift up diverse voices. The Count Us In action plan ends with an African proverb: If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together. We all mourned the senseless murder of George Floyd. It is now time for us to take collective action.

Writer’s Note: When you are planning your staycations this summer, make it a priority to take time to learn about our province’s African heritage. It is an important step to being an ally and learning why the Black Lives Matter movement is just as relevant here, as anywhere else. Here are a few resources to help build your itinerary: - The African Nova Scotian Cultural Tourism Network created a cultural assets brochure and tourism guide vansda.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/African-Nova-Scotian-Cultural-Tourism-Guide.pdf - Visit the 12 sites of historical significance on the Mathieu Da Costa African Heritage trail, spanning Windsor to Annapolis Royal vansda.ca/ heritage-trail/panel-locations/ - The province of Nova Scotia identifies 4 heritage sites that are worth a visit including the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in Birchtown and the Africville Museum novascotia.com/travel-info/ about-us/african-nova-scotia

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July 23 – August 20, 2020 | 3

VISUALLY SPEAKING

INTRODUCING 7ARTS OF KINGSTON-GREENWOOD Anna Horsnell Issue No. 17.07 July 23 – August 20

Valley Family Fun / FODAR .................................. p.3 Black Lives Matter in the Valley ............................ p.3 7Arts / Who’s Who ............................................... p.4 Classifieds ............................................................ p.5 Star Drop / Free Will Astrology ............................ p.6 Golfing in the Valley ............................................. p.7 Charles Macdonald House ..................................... p.9 Harvest Moon Trail ............................................... p.9 Wolfville Page .....................................................p.10 What’s Happening ...............................................p.11 Staycation Picks / Mike Uncorked / Tides.............p.12 Ross Creek Centre ................................................p.13 Dinner Out / Community News .............................p.14 Acadia Page ........................................................p.15

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4 | July 23 – August 20, 2020

Amber Juby and Vanessa Raven-Vipond are passionate about art. They are also dedicated to their community of Kingston-Greenwood.

Together they have thrown their enthusiasm and energy behind the non-profit society, NOVA Seven Arts Council, more simply referred to as 7Arts. The name says it all. NOVA is the acronym for New Opportunities for Valley Artists, and Seven sums up the focus on painting, drawing, photography, writing, music, design, and craft.

The 7Arts mission statement is “to engage our local community by providing an inclusive, creative environment that will teach, support and promote the arts and art education in a family-friendly, accessible building.” To that end, they have established a makerspace in the Central Court building directly across the street from Dwight Ross Elementary School in Greenwood. This location not only gives them ideal proximity to the school, but the building is also street-level for complete accessibility, on a bus route, and offers room for both a makers area and a small gallery for local artists.

First, a little history. Juby and Raven-Vipond both ended up in Greenwood through the Canadian military and both come from a varied background in business and the arts.

Juby had gotten involved in teaching art and various art events in the local area when she became aware of the community’s desire for a more permanent place where anyone could come to learn and make art. She also realized

that, although the Annapolis Valley is a region steeped in art and culture, there seemed to be fewer art opportunities in the combined villages of Kingston and Greenwood. In June 2018, a gathering of like-minded friends and parents from the area resulted in the decision to create an arts council, and by October 2018, they had registered as a non-profit. Raven-Vipond joined as an artist and board member in August 2019 and quickly became very dedicated and instrumental to the group’s success.

After investigating many buildings, the group settled on the Central Avenue location with an open house in November 2019.

Juby describes how the Council very much wants the community to help guide the evolution of what 7Arts becomes in the years ahead. To begin however, the group has decided on several phases of development. First is the opening of the makerspace, and the creation of an artist club (NOVA Club) offering a social network for local artists and promotional opportunities for their art. Next, they are initiating “Wellness Wednesdays” to begin linking mental health and wellness with art creation. A third goal will be to incorporate culture and heritage. The possibilities and opportunities are almost endless and the Art Council Board welcomes input from all generations within the community.

These powerhouse ladies have also been busy reaching out to neighbouring communities, schools, and local art groups to make connections, share ideas, and build awareness

of 7Arts presence. Now that they have a permanent location, people are starting to come through the door, and both interest and support is growing. The 7Arts website includes a monthly calendar listing weekly classes and workshops for children and youth of all ages.

Day or family passes are available. Dreams for the future? Juby smiles and lists hopes for, “running continuous programs, building more partnerships, making art accessible to everyone, and simply seeing the excitement of kids discovering art.”

The 7Arts MakerSpace and Gallery is located at 619 Central Avenue, Unit 1, in Greenwood.

Their website is 7arts.ca and they are also on Facebook @7arts2. Interested artists, parents, teachers, or anyone who would like to learn how to make art may email 7arts@7arts.ca.

Artists interested in offering art classes are also encouraged to make contact by email.

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WHO’S WHO

CAROLE DONALDSON AND HOWARD WILLIAMS: WILDFLOWERS OF WOLFVILLE Mike Butler

Hello Summer! For days now, the sun has been shining and Facebook has lit up with hundreds of photos of gardens, greenery, walking trails and all things outdoorsy! This is a wonderful time of year to go out and see the beauty of the Valley, tend to your own property, and embrace the landscape and everything nature has to offer. We are so fortunate to have such diverse flora and fauna here, and I am just becoming aware of how vast the interest is in this field. Have you heard of the Blomidon Naturalists Society? Well, we can get to that later. For now, let me introduce you to two of its members: a delightful couple who frequent TAN Coffee who I just adore: Howard Williams and Carole Donaldson.

Carole and Howard have lived in Wolfville for three years. They’re originally from the UK, and have enjoyed living and working in Denmark, Sierra Leone, Canada, and New Zealand.

“We came back to Canada to retire and be closer to family,” Howard says. “We had been told by friends that Wolfville was a pleasant place to retire, with full amenities and a varied landscape. It has more than lived up to expectations. We enjoy the variety of people who live in the eastern part of the Annapolis Valley, the natural environment, especially the birds and wildflowers. Living in Nova Scotia also allows us to visit the coast and enjoy the contrast between the Fundy and South Shores.”

Howard is a retired geoscientist specialising initially in structural geology. He then changed course and became a hydrogeologist.

He has worked as an academic, a government researcher and scientist, and a private consultant. Carole is a retired environmental issues analyst and facilitator working for various levels of government and as a private consultant. Her specialty was bridging the

films at the Al Whittle, and last, but not least, frequent the Wolfville coffee houses. Obviously we have a special interest in the natural environment and are often seen on the trails photographing birds and wildflowers. Howard is kept busy on the boards of many community organisations and is the editor and a contributor to the Blomidon Naturalists Society quarterly newsletter. I enjoying being a quilter, fibre crafter, and keen gardener, and I volunteer in the herbarium at the university.”

gap between communities, scientists, and government to find solutions to environmental and sustainability issues.

In retirement, Carole and Howard have become avid members of the Blomidon Naturalists Society (BNS) and are now the authors of Wildflowers of Nova Scotia, a fascinating pocket field guide to common native flowers and shrubs of our beautiful province. The BNS is a field naturalists club centred around the eastern Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia and they’re always looking for new members. The BNS began in 1974 and currently has about 100 family and individual members. They hold lectures, field trips, and other activities to boost interest in the natural beauty of the Valley. For more information on the BNS and how to join, visit blomidonnaturalists.ca Now, back to Howard and Carole. Besides this new literary adventure, Carole and Howard bask in the joys of retirement in many ways.

“We fill our time with a mix of attending talks (now by Zoom), and going for walks in the surrounding area with Douglas, our greyhound,” Carole says. “We enjoy all parts of Nova Scotia and visit other places often (particularly Cape Breton). We read a lot, enjoy the local theatre group productions and

With thy clear keen joyance Languor cannot be: Shadow of annoyance Never came near thee: Thou lovest - but ne’er knew love’s sad satiety.

*

Satiety (noun): The quality or state of being fed or gratified to or beyond capacity.

(Excerpt from “To a Skylark” by Percy Bysshe Shelley)

And now back to Wildflowers of Nova Scotia!

Carole and Howard lived in Ontario and a naturalist group there had published a series of pocket-sized guides to all sorts of natural things which they found very handy when out walking. The idea was taken to the Blomidon Naturalists Society with the suggestion that they could do something similar for Nova Scotia wildflowers. A well-GUIDED decision!

“We think the book fills a niche,” Howard says. “To our knowledge there are no other pocket-sized guides to native wildflowers and shrubs for Nova Scotia. Non-specialists need to have something they can slip into a pocket and use when they see plants that they cannot recognise. The photographs, along with brief but informative text, are designed to assist in the identification of native wildflowers. Obviously it does not contain all 600+ possibilities – it would not be pocket-sized if it did – but does contain the most commonly seen species.”

Howard and Carole were fortunate to have several organisations and individuals who helped fund the publication of the book. Any profits will be used to fund conservation and education projects that benefit the natural environment. It’s a win-win for naturalists and the organisations! The guide is being launched in early July and is available from the Blomidon Naturalists Society. They anticipate that it will be available mainly through the website at this time but keep an eye out!

The guide costs $20 (plus postage). If you would like to buy a copy, either go to the Blomidon Naturalists website or contact Howard directly at gruncle.howard@gmail. com. To Carole, Howard, and all those who appreciate and promote our beautiful area: thank you!

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PRODUCTS & SERVICES: ‘The Perfect Home For You’ with Deborah Nicholson Decor+Design: Whether a small design dilemma or an entirely new home, as an award-winning certified home design professional with 20+ years of industry experience, I’ll guide you with creative solutions and sound advice every step of the way. You’ll feel confident you’ve made great choices that add timeless value to your investment and to your everyday life! INFO: deborahnicholson.ca / 902-691-2931 Professional Branding, Logo and Web Design, Writing, Translation, & Training: Helping you convey your message effectively since 2006. We offer a remarkably responsive, dependable, and results-driven approach. INFO: 902-691-2932 / michaelgabrielcommunications.com Interior Painting and Cabinets: Women in Rollers is the Valley’s full-service decorating company. We do accurate quotes, show up on time, and perform to perfection. We even leave your home neat and tidy! We have great references! Complimentary design and colour consultations. Call today for your free estimate. INFO: Pamela, 902-697-2926 Traditional Chinese Medicine: Combining Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology to enhance your wellness. 17 years experience! Specializing in Anxiety and Depression, Insomnia, Menstrual and Menopausal issues, Digestive health, Ear Acupuncture for Addictions. INFO: Jane Marshall D.TCM, D.Ac located at 112 Front St, Suite 209, Wolfville. 902-404-3374 janemarshallacupuncture.ca Voice And Piano Lessons: W/Susan Dworkin, NSRMTA, NATS. 27+ years experience. Private lessons.

All ages and levels. Quality, professional instruction.

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LITTLE FREE LIBRARY There’s a new little Library in Wolfville!

Located on Main Street, between Willow Park and the Blomidon Inn. Take a book, leave a book.

❧ Photo by Kate Dalton

Supporting Local Exciting News for Wolfville!

A Home and Design shop is coming in Late August!

We at ReFresh Home and Design are looking for locally sourced goods.

Alcoholics Anonymous: If you want to drink, that’s your business. If you want to stop, that’s ours. INFO: 902-691-2825 / www.area82aa.org/district3/ Wood Flooring Repair and Restoration: Make your old floors beautiful again. Sanding, repairing, refinishing of soft and hardwood floors. Great for a refresh. Locally owned, free quote, reasonable rates.

INFO: Steven, 902-542-0664 / cell 902-300-5903 / stevenrhude13@gmail.com

BUY & SELL:

Raymond Treadle Sewing Machine: Free to good home. Some surface damage to top. Must be able to pick up, Kentville area. INFO: Contact G Gordon, 902-678-4535

GENERAL:

Tapestry: Women’s Cancer Support Group: We meet the 2nd Thursday of the month. Please call for time/location.

INFO: Dorothy, 902-538-3374 / Pat, 902-678-9100 / Margot, 902-542-1466 / margotwithat@hotmail.com Welcome back to the West Brooklyn SpeakEasy!: Saturdays, 7–10pm. The popcorn will be pre-packaged and we’ll wear masks when appropriate. Call or email to reserve your seat so we can safely situate groups and individuals. Hope to see you soon! INFO: Ruth, 902-542-5424 / jrlegge@eastlink.ca Kentville Heritage Centre Now Open: Tues–Sat, 10am–4pm in the former Via Rail station. Our feature Exhibit is “KCA through the Years” and one of our rooms is devoted to artifacts and memorabilia from KCA. INFO: lmpulsifer@hotmail.com AV Regional Library Summer Reading Club 2020: Activities and challenges for kids, teens, and adults. Log your reading and complete activities to enter to win prizes. Sign up online or by giving us a call, and start reading! INFO: 902-538-2665 ext. 601 / valleylibrary.ca “Common Threads” – Virtual Fibre Arts Exhibit: Through Aug 29. Join our collective of museums and artisans as we weave through 8 weeks of fibre art virtual experiences from sheep shearing to needlework. Photographs, live videos and project tutorials. Find the virtual exhibit on the Kings Hants Heritage Connection Facebook page. INFO: facebook.com/KingsHantsHeritageConnection

ReFresh Home and Design RETHINK

REMODEL

REPURPOSE

CALLING ALL ARTISANS LOOKING TO SELL THEIR UNIQUE WARES IN A NEW HOME AND DESIGN SHOP IN WOLFVILLE! These items can be metal art, wall art, wooden art, all paintings, furniture, pottery, sculptures, knitting, hooked rugs, weaved art, or anything in between.

Please send all photos to refreshhomeanddesign@gmail.com.

If we feel they are a good fit for the shop, we shall be in touch.

Thank you for supporting Local Businesses!

We are grateful to all those who have made donations to Valley Hospice Foundation in April, May and June to honour these individuals:

In Memory: John A. Akin Gerald Ansem Edna Josephine Atwell Grace and Earl Beach Ivan Joseph Bishop George W. Butt Emma Jean Carey R. Caul Sarah Christie Carolyn Coffill Lorna Coleman Peter Cornu Donald Arthur Cyr Lois Kathleen Daye Freda Fox Daryl Cedric Fraser Aida Fritz Lillian Gesner Libby Goucher

Ruth E. Betzy Hazen Janet and Robert Hickman Barbara Ann Jensen Leslie Leigh Jordan Alden Keddy Ella Kennedy Roland Langille Paula Marlene Lockhart E. MacBride Gordon Ernest Macdonell Rosella (Rose) McCann Frank Henry Moore Marilyn and John Morse Vivian Alfaretta Morse Melvin Nunn Richard Oldford Audrey J. Parker Beverley-Dawn Richardson Pauline Rae Sanford Fred Scaife

Colin Smith James Arthur Smith Jerrold David Tribble Claudia Tugwell Margaret Rose Vaughan Gwynneth and Robert Wallace Linda Wheeler Edna Jean Woolaver Katharine Sarah Worton In Honour: Brenda Allen Diana Patterson “Our patients and their families”

A tribute gift to Valley Hospice Foundation honours someone special and will help others who will use the services of Hospice and Palliative Care. Thank you.

Contact: 902.679.3471 or visit www.valleyhospice.ca

Most Wanted Jazz Blues Rock Heavy Metal Pop Collection appraisals too!

Contact April at 902.300.5070 or email curatedvinylrecords@gmail.com on Instagram @curated_vinyl July 23 – August 20, 2020 | 5

© 2020 Rob Brezsny • freewillastrology.com • Horoscopes for the week of July 23rd

ARIES (March 21-April 19): “The creation of the world did not take place once and for all time, but takes place every day.” Aries playwright Samuel Beckett made that observation, and now I’m passing it on to you as you glide into an extracreative phase of your astrological cycle. I hope you will regard Beckett’s idea as an open-ended encouragement to improvise and experiment. May it rouse you to brainstorm about novel possibilities.

May it inspire you to explore fresh trends you could launch. May it mobilize you to imagine the new worlds you might *Big Bang* into existence.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Author Diane Ackerman tells us, “So often loneliness comes from being out of touch with parts of oneself.” That’s the kind of loneliness I worry you may be susceptible to right now, Taurus. You’re a bit out of touch with aspects of your psyche that are crucial for you to include in your total sense of self. You’ve been neglecting to nurture certain soulful qualities that keep you healthy and wise. Please note: It won’t be useful to try to find those parts of you in other people; you will have to locate them in your own depths. Here’s the good news: The coming weeks will be an excellent time to do just that.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “Someone ought to do it, but why should I?” Author and activist Annie Besant identified that sentence as the motto of people who are moral cowards: those who know about an injustice but do nothing to address it. Very few of us have completely avoided that behavior. Most of us, including me, have now and then chosen to serve our need for comfort instead of standing up against corruption or unfairness.

But I think it’s more important than usual that you Geminis don’t engage in such moral cowardice now. More depends on your integrity and bravery than you realize.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Born in 1936, Cancerian author and activist June Jordan was a black feminist bisexual born to Jamaican immigrant parents. When she was growing up, her father beat her and her mother committed suicide.

Later, she raised her child alone as a single mother.

Despite the challenges she faced, she published 28 books, won numerous awards, and wielded significant influence. How did she do it? She was a highly evolved Cancerian in the sense that she put a priority on treating herself well. “I must undertake to love myself and to respect myself as though my very life depends upon self-love and self-respect,” she testified. I’d like to make that your keynote for the rest of 2020. Your task is to achieve June Jordan-levels of self-care.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “How can I communicate to wild bunnies that I am their ally?” asked a Twitter blogger named Ghost Girl. That question is a good place to start my oracle for you. In the coming weeks, I think you’ll be wise to meditate on how to enhance your relationship with all kinds of wild things: animals, people, weather, landscapes, and your own exotic thoughts and fantasies. In my opinion, you will upgrade your intelligence and well-being by increasing your access to influences that don’t necessarily play by conventional rules and that draw their energy from primal sources.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): It’s never too late to have a rebellious adolescence—hopefully bigger and better and smarter than any you’ve had before. And according to my analysis, now would be a favorable time to get started. Is there any stuffy authority you’d be wise to flout? Any dumb and oppressive conventions you would benefit from breaking? Any stale old traditions you’re primed to ignore so you can create some lively new traditions? In my estimation, you will generate good fortune for yourself if you try some benevolent mischief and creative experiments.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Your word of power for the coming weeks is *ubuntu*, a Zulu term meaning “I am because we are” or “the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity.” Nobel Prize-winning theologian Archbishop Desmond Tutu writes, “A person with

6 | July 23 – August 20, 2020

*ubuntu* is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper selfassurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished.” I hope that between now and August 25, Libra, you will put *ubuntu* at the center of everything you do. Make it an intensely practical practice.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve them,” says Scorpio-born Liberian politician Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. “If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.” I trust you’ve arrived at this realization on your own in the past few weeks. And I hope you have audaciously expanded and supercharged your dreams so that they do indeed surpass your current ability to accomplish them. If you have not yet done this daring work, please attend to it now. If you have done it, move on to the next step: making definite plans to acquire the power and resources necessary to achieve your new, improved dreams.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “The soul should always stand ajar,” wrote Sagittarian poet Emily Dickinson, “That if the heaven inquire, / He will not be obliged to wait, / Or shy of troubling her.”

I’m confident that this will be a fertile meditation for you in the coming weeks. So what does it mean? By “heaven,” I assume Dickinson meant marvelous interventions, sacred revelations, and lucky accidents—and maybe also soulful invitations, out-of-the-blue opportunities, and supernatural breakthroughs. What do you think, Sagittarius?

What can you do to make your soul ajar for phenomena like those?

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “Everything is complicated,” wrote poet Wallace Stevens. “If that were not so, life and poetry and everything else would be a bore.” I agree! And therefore, I conclude, you should shed any resentment you might feel for the fact that our world is a crazy tangle of mystifying and interesting stories. Drop any wish that life will stop being so fascinatingly messy and confusingly intriguing. Instead, why not celebrate the deep riddles? And revel in the intriguing complexity? And give holy thanks for the paradoxical beauty? Everything I just said should prepare you well for the next four weeks.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You’ll be extra sensitive to stimuli in the coming weeks. Every little event will touch you more intensely than usual. Every perception will flow into you with an unusually strong potential to move you and influence you. That’s why I think you should be vigilantly self-protective. Erect a psychic shield around yourself. Make sure your boundaries are firm and clear. Affirm your unshakable commitment to deflecting vibes that aren’t of use to you and welcoming vibes that will enhance your well-being.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Actress Gwyneth Paltrow founded Goop, a company that markets exotic, expensive health treatments. She claims that far-infrared gemstone therapy and crystalbased sound-healing baths will dissolve your negativity. Allowing bees to sting your scars will supposedly cause the scars to fade. Drinking “sex juice,” a blend of watermelon and alkaline water, will enhance your libido. The “collagen martini,” which is a mix of vodka, vermouth, olive juice, and collagen peptides, will smooth your skin’s wrinkles.

I’m favorably disposed to you taking strong actions to improve your well-being in the coming weeks, Pisces, but I recommend that you try cheaper, more reliable modalities than those Paltrow recommends. Like what? Ample sleep and good food, for starters, along with fun exercise, time in nature, enjoyable meditation sessions, and tender expressions of love.

Homework: Are there any ways in which you would benefit from becoming more well-balanced? Testify at FreeWillAstrology.com.

GOLFING IN THE VALLEY Margot Bishop

Enjoy a wonderful golfing experience without breaking your budget. There are a number of excellent golf courses in our beautiful Valley, but if you are looking for something for the beginner or less experienced golfer, try the Hummingbird Par 3 course at Island Green Golf Club, located at 7005 Highway 12 in North Alton. Because of Covid-19, the owners, Sherri and Marty Davison, are being very careful (for

example: no rakes in sand traps. You can contact them at islandgreengolf.ca).

I was looking for a way to exercise since the Covid-19 virus has stopped all gym and pool activities. I used to golf (I wasn’t very good), but most of the people I know are good and can afford to pay more in green fees. I mentioned this to a widow friend of mine, and she

agreed to play a round. Well, we had so much fun that we agreed to a second round a week later. Again, we had a blast. I even dropped 3 strokes off my score, and this is using some of my grandmother’s clubs, 2 of which have wooden shafts and are over 100 years old.

for more than 12 years. At 15 dollars for the Hummingbird Trail, we have decided that we can afford this great way to exercise, have fun, and still be safe with distancing and no physical contact.

We feel that we have discovered a hidden gem, even though they have been operating

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We are going for our third round this week.

Fundy Dental is Open Again!

Summer Office Hours: MON to FRI, 8:30AM to 4:30PM Closed on Saturday

August 19-22, 2020 FODAR.ca

YOUR SAFETY IS IMPORTANT TO US. Please note: physical distancing of 2 metres is required at all events.

Masks are required at performances at King’s Theatre and are recommended for Market shows.

August 19

DANCE ON FILM King’s Theatre August 20

MARKET DANCES

Annapolis Royal Market

PLEASE DO NOT WALK-IN WITHOUT A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT We still offer same-day treatment, however, we must follow social distancing precautions and now assign specific times for emergency examination and treatment.

TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL 902-681-9111 Thank you and stay safe!

August 21 Preview of STRIKE TONE

a new work by Vanessa Goodman

King’s Theatre Randy Glynn Artistic Director

August 22 World Premiere and Live Stream of STRIKE TONE King’s Theatre

Michael Caldwell Associate Artistic Director

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Wednesdays & Saturdays by shopping local every Saturday 9am-12pm at Wolfville Farmers’ Market’s Safely Summertime Outdoor Market.

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DONATED PAINTING JOINS EXHIBIT AT CHARLES MACDONALD CONCRETE HOUSE Wendy Elliott

LET ME HELP YOU SELL YOUR HOME

As a kid Geof Turner remembers seeing magical animals on the lawn outside the Charles Macdonald Concrete House Museum in Centreville. The magical creatures are still there thanks to Turner and other dedicated board members, and the unique museum is always worth visiting.

I would also love to hear from you if you are looking to buy a home CONTACT ME TODAY!

Exhibits change each season at the museum and this year one highlight is a recent donation. Old Dyke Road is one of Macdonald’s largest paintings.

The beautiful pastoral work was received about six weeks ago from a local family, and summer curator Davlyn Laing says the gift “was so exciting and we are so grateful.” Laing says the exact location and date of the 27 x 35 inch painting are a mystery she would love to solve. The art currently on display is all by Nova Scotia-based artists, and visitors, while fewer in number this year, are reacting positively.

According to Laing, the second gallery space is being renovated, and other upgrades are planned for the future. Inside and out of the house, long-time board member Kevin West has been setting up pieces from the Uncommon Common Art series. Many of them relate to the Centreville artist’s folk art and socialist history. He pointed out the expanded grounds were cleared this spring for picnic tables and parking. Additionally the surface of the picnic tables is primed for chalk drawings. Volunteer Rick Ramsey contributed his gardening skills recently to prime the museum for opening.

The museum was built in 1910 of reinforced concrete by Macdonald, who had created a cement factory in Kentville. During the 1930s, he also created a series of unique concrete

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Macdonald was born in 1874 and raised in Steam Mill. He served as a ship’s carpenter from 1898 to 1908. After his years at sea, he travelled extensively, creating watercolours and studying architecture. As a committed socialist, he left his concrete business to his workers when he retired in 1951. Since 1995, the Charles Macdonald House of Centreville Society has managed the property as a Nova Scotia cultural and artistic landmark. The provincially registered heritage property, at 19 Saxon Street in Centreville, is open from 10am to 5pm daily.

Make some art This month Wolfville artist, teacher, and board member Terry Drahos has organized Sunday Funday Craft Days at the museum for children ages 6-12. They will continue through August. Participation is limited to six children.

Anyone wanting to pre-register can do so by emailing your child’s name and age to concretehousestudents@gmail.com or by calling (902) 678-3177.

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RIDING THE HARVEST MOON TRAIL Chris Dalton

Most Valley dwellers have heard of it, and many have walked, run, or biked a section of the beautiful Harvest Moon Trail. This 110 kilometre section of the historic Dominion Atlantic Railway (DAR) winds its way along slow tidal rivers, lush orchards and farms, and quiet backyards of sleepy small towns.

From Grand-Pré to Annapolis Royal, the trail boasts a unique perspective on usually hidden beauty.

As a resident of Wolfville, I often use the sections of trail close to home. Friends have biked most of the trail in years past, before it was fully completed. After hearing their reports I wanted to ride the full route in a day to see how long it would take, while assessing the conditions for future rides with others.

Another inspiration for my journey was family connection. My great-great-uncle was the first stationmaster at the Wolfville train station, my great-grandfather was a rail bridge engineer for the DAR, and my grandfather was a summer tour guide at the park GrandPré (built by the railway) in the 1950s. I know they and their families spent much time on the train, the railway being a primary mode of transportation in Nova Scotia at that time.

Biking this path gives me a window into what my ancestors saw and experienced in the past.

I set out at six o’clock on a late June morning on a tired yet reliable hybrid bike, scored by my wife Kate at a yard sale for fifty dollars, and tuned up by my friend John. I was immediately rewarded for my early start with cool morning air, a stunning sunrise, and calm winds. Mist was hanging over freshly mowed hayfields, and bird life was awake with enthusiastic song. Deer grazed beside the Cornwallis River, and pheasants squawked in the tall grasses – all seeming unaware of my passing.

To me, the most memorable part of the ride is how the trail passes through farm fields, and within metres of people’s backyards. You hear the farmers talking, see townsfolk tending gardens, and smell laundry hanging out to dry. It was also peaceful to bike along both the Cornwallis and Annapolis Rivers for a large portion of the ride. I hope to return to one of

AUGUST 2020 VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS! them for a canoe or kayak before the summer is over.

The Middleton train station made for a good spot to break for lunch. It was a treat to be immersed in the Valley’s countryside, rather than just passing by it at highway speed and in muted air-conditioned comfort. It was all very reminiscent of The Mountain and the Valley by Ernest Buckler.

I arrived in Annapolis Royal at half past noon, slightly pained but feeling that it was worth the effort. The ride gave me a broader view and greater appreciation of where I’m from.

Time at home is something we’ve all recently had a lot of. The Harvest Moon Trail reminds us that our backyard extends beyond the fence, and to look a little further.

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ET K C I T Y A W EA GIV

Nova Scotia Works is hosting a variety of workshops on topics related to job search, resumes and more!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Coping with Job Loss - Aug. 5th, 10am - 11:30am Job Search - Aug. 13th, 10am-12pm Networking & Hidden Job Market - Aug. 18th, 10am - 12pm How to Succeed In the Workplace - Aug. 19th 10am-11am Resume and Cover Letters - Aug. 20th, 10am - 11:30am Ace the Interview - Aug. 25th, 11am - 12pm Dress to Impress - Aug. 27th, 11am -12pm

To register contact Tara! phone: 902-679-7469 or email: irs@communityinc.ca

Visit our facebook page for more information and to view additional workshops. https://www.facebook.com/CommunityIncKentville

No ticket giveaways at this time.

To see what’s happening around the Valley, check out ValleyEvents.ca.

July 23 – August 20, 2020 | 9

902.542.5767 | wolfville.ca

A cultivated cultivated experience experience for for the the mind, mind, body, body, and and soil. soil.

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Brought to you by

Send your events to listings@grapevinepublishing.ca THURSDAY, JULY 23

Taekwondo — Baptist Church, North Alton 6:30–7:30pm • Wagner’s Taekwondo Kentville Tues & Thurs 6:30– 7:30pm (Kids 4–14), 7:30–8:30pm (Adult). 1st week is FREE TIX: 1st week is FREE INFO: 902-670-8714 / devin@ennissecurity.ca Ladies Cardio Kickboxing — Baptist Church, North Alton 8:30–9:30pm • Classes are Tues & Thurs 8:30–9:30pm. TIX: 1st week of Classes are FREE INFO: 902-670-8714 / devin@ennissecurity.ca

FRIDAY, JULY 24

Free Guided Nature Walk — Kentville Gorge, 53 Gladys Porter Dr., Kentville 10:30–11:30am • 5k, moderate difficulty walking loop. No registration necessary. All ages are welcome! INFO: recreation@kentville.ca Hot Dog & Sausage BBQ! — Rockwell Home Hardware, Kentville NS 11am–1:30pm • Every Friday! TIX: Hot dog and drink — $3. Sausage and drink — $5 INFO: 902-680-2740 / vintagemusic1@hotmail.com Jimmie Dog BBQ — The Apple Capital Museum, Berwick 11:30am–1pm • Every Friday! Proceeds go back to help the museum. TIX: no charge INFO: 902-538-9229 / berwickvic@outlook.com Story Time — Willow Park, Wolfville 3pm • Get comfy while Jennie reads children’s stories to you outside by the Pond in Willow Park. All ages welcome! INFO: jenniferaegraham@gmail.com Mark Bezanson Trio at the O — Oqwa’titek Amphitheatre, Annapolis Royal 6–8pm • Social distancing will be observed and there will be a gathering limit of 100. Dance the night away! TIX: no charge INFO: jbezanson@annapolisroyal.com Caleb Miles brings That Friday Feeling — Winegrunt Wine Bar, Windsor 7–9pm TIX: no cover INFO: 902-472-2863 / info@winegrunt.com

SATURDAY, JULY 25

Safe Summertime Outdoor Market — Farmers Market, Wolfville 9am–12pm • Every Saturday!

Expect an awesome variety of vendors, lots of smiles and a safe environment. TIX: no charge INFO: communications@wolfvillefarmersmarket.ca North Mountain Market — North Mountain United Tapestry, Harbourville 9am–1pm • Every Saturday!

Local fruits, vegetables, berries, herbs and flowers, locally-produced baked goods, preserved and prepared foods, locally-roasted coffee and a variety of arts and crafts by local artists and artisans. TIX: no charge INFO: unitedtapestry@gmail.com Canning Kitchen Party — Shipyards Park, Canning 1pm • This week: Mama’s Broke, Sam Wilson INFO: kimbarlow77@gmail.com / facebook.com/musicincommunitiesns Try it in Wolfville – Woods Walk and Whittling Workshop! — Rec Centre, 7 Victoria Ave., Wolfville 2–4:30pm • Learn basic cuts and techniques for whittling things from wood to create both artistic and useful projects. We will also learn about trees, how they grow, and how/where to harvest our whittling material on a forest walk. For ages 15 and up. W/Steve Abbott of tumbleweednaturalist.com TIX: No charge.

Email to register. All tools/materials provided. INFO: events@wolfville.ca Deep Roots COVID Concert — Deep Roots Festival Tent, Wolfville 3pm • Online concert featuring Maxwellton and The Gilberts. Streaming on Deep Roots YouTube, Facebook, & Instagram pages. TIX: no charge INFO: facebook.com/DeepRoots Matthew Martin — Winegrunt Wine Bar, Windsor 7–9pm • Matt Martin brings his magical blend of classical, Latin, and jazz guitar. TIX: no cover INFO: 902-472-2863 / info@winegrunt.com

SUNDAY, JULY 26

Wolfville Summer Concert Series! — Waterfront Park, Wolfville 2–4pm • Every Sunday of the summer! This week: Mark Riley INFO: wolfville.ca

MONDAY, JULY 27

Treasure Island Camp — Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, Canning 9am–5pm • Ages 5–7. We’ll create our own Treasure Island through theatre, visual art, and storytelling, and maybe even find a pot of gold! TIX: $325 INFO: 902-582-3842 / mail@artscentre.ca Fabulous Fashion Camp — Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, Canning 9am–5pm • Ages 8–11. Have fun with Maggie MacCormick, while learning to make your own wardrobes and accessories – includes cool activities to collect materials and inspiration! TIX: $325 INFO: 902-582-3842 / mail@artscentre.ca Arts Studio Camp — Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, Canning 9am–5pm • With a focus on painting and printmaking techniques, this five-day workshop gives emerging young artists the opportunity to explore their creativity and artistic skills with Bree Hyland. TIX: $325 INFO: 902-582-3842 / mail@artscentre.ca Graphic Design Studio Camp — Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, Canning 9am–5pm • Make a wicked poster, capture your audience, and blend virtual reality with real events in this five-day workshop with Colleen MacIsaac. TIX: $325 INFO: 902-582-3842 / mail@artscentre.ca

JULY 23 – AUGUST 20, 2020

TUESDAY, JULY 28

Coffee & Tea Social — Community Hall, 1542 White Rock Rd., White Rock 9:30am–12pm • The Wolfville Legion Coffee & Tea Social resumes temporarily at a new location. Tuesdays, July 7–August 25. Everyone welcome! TIX: $2 for tea, coffee, snacks INFO: 902-542-5869 / wolfvillelegion@gmail.com Microsoft Excel — Community INC, Kentville 10am– 12pm • Have you ever wondered how to: compare quotes, manage project expenses, track your personal expenses, create a monthly budget for yourself, how to use the power of Excel for your business? Here is your opportunity to learn how to create, customize and use a spreadsheet to help you manage your finances. TIX: no charge INFO: 902-679-7469 / irs@communityinc.ca Employability Skills — Community INC, Kentville 1:30–3pm • This is the second workshop in our Employability Series! Time Management, Stress Management – Setting and following priorities, schedules, breaks, etc. Handling workplace stress without it impacting performance. Learn to adapt with change, both expected and unexpected. TIX: no charge INFO: 902-679-7469 / irs@communityinc.ca Tech Tuesdays – How to Browse Job Bank & Apply for Jobs — PeopleWorx, Coldbrook NS 2–3pm • Learn how to create a Job Bank account and view the opportunities that are available, from job opportunities to grants and labour market information. Email to register. TIX: no charge INFO: lgeorge@peopleworx.ca Marine & Coastal NS Webinar — Online, online 7–8pm • Join us for an hour Q&A webinar session with three experts who will answer your questions on the biology, geology and marine life surrounding our quintessential Nova Scotian landscape. TIX: no charge INFO: katiemclean@annapolisriver.ca

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29

Tumblebugs in the Park — Oakdene Park, Kentville 10–11am • Every Wednesday through Aug 26! A 7-week parent-child interactive program which teaches basic movement activities and modified gymnastics for children ages 3.5–5. TIX: pay what you can INFO: 902-679-2539 / recreation@kentville.ca Farmers Market — Centre Square, Kentville 10am–1pm • Every Wednesday! The best of locally produced food and artisan items. Fresh produce, ethically raised meats, and fresh baked goods as well as artisan beer, cider, and spirits. Locally made soaps and household items. TIX: no charge INFO: marketmanager@kentville.ca Family Pop-Up Play Day — St. Mary’s Elementary School, Aylesford 10am–12pm • It’s like recess in the summer! A time for families to come and play with borrowed equipment and get some fresh air! Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied with someone above the age of 15. TIX: no charge INFO: 902-599-1556 / sfevens@countyofkings.ca Job Search — Community INC, Kentville 10am–12pm • Today’s job hunt is a combination of old-fashioned footwork, online brand building and using social media effectively, as well as reaching out to the right people through networking. Let us help you learn the skills that will help you find employment. TIX: no charge INFO: 902-679-7469 / irs@communityinc.ca Career Cruising — PeopleWorx, Coldbrook NS 11am– 12pm. ALSO August 5, 12, & 19 • Career Cruising is an Internet-based exploration and planning tool. It can be used to explore career and college options, as well as developing a career plan. Emaili to register. TIX: no charge INFO: rspears@peopleworx.ca Yoga in the Park — Oakdene Park, Kentville 5:30–6:30pm • Every Wednesday! INFO: facebook.com/townofkentville

THURSDAY, JULY 30

Youth Job Search — PeopleWorx, Coldbrook NS 2–3pm. ALSO Aug 13 • With an emphasis on youth, our workshop will teach you how to use social media effectively to aid in your job search, as well as how networking can be beneficial. Email to register. TIX: no charge INFO: rspears@peopleworx.ca

FRIDAY, JULY 31

Virtual Job Fair — PeopleWorx, Coldbrook NS 10am– 12pm • Employers are still being recruited for the event and will be publicized as soon as they sign on. Job seekers are encouraged to contact Ronda by email. TIX: no charge INFO: rspears@peopleworx.ca Skills Online — PeopleWorx, Coldbrook NS 11am– 12pm. ALSO Aug 7 • SkillsonlineNS offers a wide variety of online workshops that can help you gain new skills or refresh your existing skills. Join our virtual workshop and we can help you get started! Email to register. TIX: no charge INFO: rspears@peopleworx.ca Jazz Mannequins — The Blomidon Inn, Wolfville 6:30–9pm. ALSO Aug 7 & 14 • TIX: no charge INFO: ibrownstein@ns.sympatico.ca Mike Aubé — Winegrunt Wine Bar, Windsor 7–9pm • Mike Aubé’s Alt-Folk brings That Friday Feeling to Winegrunt. TIX: no cover INFO: 902-472-2863 / info@winegrunt.com

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1

Canning Kitchen Party — Kingsport Beach, Kingsport 1pm • This week: Terra Spencer & Tyler Messick INFO: kimbarlow77@gmail.com / facebook.com/musicincommunitiesns

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2

Wolfville Summer Concert Series! — Waterfront Park, Wolfville 2–4pm • Every Sunday of the summer! This week: Kristen Martell INFO: wolfville.ca

MONDAY, AUGUST 3

Unicorns & Dragons Camp — Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, Canning 9am–5pm • An amazing week of Unicorns and Dragons! Campers ages 5–7 will learn about art, nature, and fantasy, while exploring the studio and the forest. TIX: $325 INFO: 902-582-3842 / mail@artscentre.ca Urban Art Camp — Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, Canning 9am–5pm • Urban meets rural in this popular five-day art workshop! Create a unique piece that lives at Ross Creek for years to come, and build a sketchbook of ideas and tools to bring your ideas to reality with Bryson Chisolm. TIX: $325 INFO: 902-582-3842 / mail@artscentre.ca Teen Arts Academies Camp — Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, Canning 9am–5pm • A day program version of our Teen Arts Academies, this two-week intensive provides a condensed version of our interdisciplinary creative collaboration program for ages 14–18! TIX: $600 for 2 weeks INFO: 902-582-3842 / mail@artscentre.ca

TUESDAY, AUGUST 4

Employability Skills — Community INC, Kentville 1:30–3pm • This is the final workshop in our Employability Skills series. If you missed the previous workshops contact us to see when the next series will start. Presentation, Teamwork, Confidence Focuses on the way a person appears to others in terms of dress, hygiene, etiquette and manners; how to work as a team and to handle conflict and anger appropriately; having a belief in one’s own competence. TIX: no charge INFO: 902-679-7469 / irs@communityinc.ca Tech Tuesdays – How to use Microsoft Word — PeopleWorx, Coldbrook NS 2–3pm • Learn how to use the word processor Microsoft Word, and various features within the program. Email to register. TIX: no charge INFO: lgeorge@peopleworx.ca

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5

Family Pop-Up Play Day — Coldbrook & District School, Coldbrook 10am–12pm • It’s like recess in the summer!

A time for families to come and play with borrowed equipment and get some fresh air! Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied with someone above the age of 15. TIX: no charge INFO: 902-599-1556 / sfevens@countyofkings.ca

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7

Skills Online — PeopleWorx, Coldbrook NS 11am– 12pm. ALSO Aug 14 • SkillsonlineNS offers a wide variety of online workshops that can help you gain new skills or refresh your existing skills. Join our virtual workshop and we can help you get started! Email to register. TIX: no charge INFO: rspears@peopleworx.ca

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8

Canning Kitchen Party — Shipyards Park, Canning 1pm • This week: Acadian & Original songs w Cristianne Theriault & Melissa Comeau, Scottish guitar-whiz Andy Webster hosting. INFO: kimbarlow77@gmail.com / facebook.com/musicincommunitiesns Deep Roots COVID Concert — Deep Roots Festival Tent, Wolfville 3pm • Online concert; artist TBA. Streaming on Deep Roots YouTube, Facebook, & Instagram pages.

TIX: no charge INFO: facebook.com/DeepRoots

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9

Medicinal and Edible Plant Walks — Wolfville (meet at the library), 10:30am • Join us for a plant walk to learn about edible and medicinal native species of NS. Rain or shine. TIX: $20 per person, $35 (family) donation to North Mountain Animal Sanctuary. INFO: 902-538-3662 / singingnettlesclinic@gmail.com / Facebook: Singing Nettles Herbal Medicine Clinic Wolfville Summer Concert Series! — Waterfront Park, Wolfville 2–4pm • Every Sunday of the summer! This week: The Hupman Brothers INFO: wolfville.ca

MONDAY, AUGUST 10

Wild World! Camp — Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, Canning 9am–5pm • Kids 5–7 will learn about amazing creatures and their habitats, from the jungle canopy to the meadow at Ross Creek, and create a variety of vibrant art projects! TIX: $325 INFO: 902-582-3842 / mail@artscentre.ca Lights! Camera! Action! Camp — Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, Canning 9am–5pm • Learn to write, storyboard, shoot, and act in a short film, all in one week of film camp for kids ages 8–11 with Henry Colin! TIX: $325 INFO: 902-582-3842 / mail@artscentre.ca Blood Donor Clinic — Lions Club, Berwick 12–3pm & 5–7pm • Canadian Blood Services Donor Clinic.

Appointments only: 1-888-2DONATE TIX: no charge INFO: 902-844-1440 / tomdothenley@eastlink.ca

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11

Tech Tuesdays – How to use Google Drive — PeopleWorx, Coldbrook 2–3pm • Learn how to use the file storage service Google Drive, and how you can use it to access your files on various devices. Email to register.

TIX: no charge INFO: lgeorge@peopleworx.ca David Filyer Trio Open Mic — The Port Pub, Port Williams 7–9:30pm • TIX: no charge INFO: ibrownstein@ns.sympatico.ca

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12

Family Pop-Up Play Day — Benedict Community Park, Port Williams 10am–12pm • It’s like recess in the summer! A time for families to come and play with borrowed equipment and get some fresh air! Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied with someone above the age of 15. TIX: no charge INFO: 902-599-1556 / sfevens@countyofkings.ca

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14

Virtual Job Fair — PeopleWorx, Coldbrook NS 10am– 12pm • Employers are still being recruited for the event and will be publicized as soon as they sign on. Job seekers are encouraged to contact us by email. TIX: no charge INFO: rspears@peopleworx.ca

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15

Canning Kitchen Party — Location TBA, 1pm • This week: South American music w Cristian Quirivan, Gaelic & Acadian songs w Robyn Carrigan & Mary Beth Carty. INFO: kimbarlow77@gmail.com / facebook.com/musicincommunitiesns Chicken BBQ — Community Hall, White Rock 4–8pm • 1/2 chicken, homemade fries or baked potato, broccoli salad & roll. Prepay and take out only TIX: $14. Contact Sheila to order. INFO: Sheila Langille, 902-542-7073

SUNDAY, AUGUST 16

Wolfville Summer Concert Series! — Waterfront Park, Wolfville 2–4pm • Every Sunday of the summer! This week: Hush INFO: wolfville.ca

MONDAY, AUGUST 17

Up, Up and Away! Camp — Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, Canning 9am–5pm • Weather, rockets, birds, and clouds, all are part of this imaginative week-long workshop where campers ages 5–7create unique artworks that explore the power of the sky. It’s a bird!

It’s a plane! It’s Up, Up, and Away! TIX: $325 INFO: 902-582-3842 / mail@artscentre.ca Animation Nation! Camp — Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, Canning 9am–5pm • During this week-long session of day camps for kids 8–11, try your hand at various styles and techniques of animation. TIX: $325 INFO: 902-582-3842 / mail@artscentre.ca Summer Dance Intensives! Camp — Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, Canning 9am–5pm • Get ready to dance!

This week-long program for ages 11–18 is based on our acclaimed Dance Summer Dance, with Bridget Lappin and Katie McFarlane. TIX: $400 INFO: 902-582-3842 / mail@artscentre.ca

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19

Family Pop-Up Play Day — Rainforth Park, Berwick 10am–12pm • It’s like recess in the summer! A time for families to come and play with borrowed equipment and get some fresh air! Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied with someone above the age of 15. TIX: no charge INFO: 902-599-1556 / sfevens@countyofkings.ca Festival of Dance Annapolis Royal — Kings Theatre, Annapolis Royal, and outside at the Market • FODAR running Aug 19–22! There will be two live performances at King’s Theatre and performances outside at the Annapolis Royal Farmers and Traders Market by several dance artists. All of the dancers featured will be from Halifax. The Festival will open with Dance on Film. This year the dance classic film will be Carlos Saura’s Carmen featuring the historic Antonio Gades and his troupe. More details coming soon! INFO: facebook.com/FODARdance

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20

Show for Shelter — Valley Drive In Theatre, Cambridge 7:30pm • A retro themed movie night, hosted by de Vries Barnard & Associates. Come enjoy an 80’s classic on the BIG screen! Film TBD – either Goonies, Stand By Me, or Dirty Dancing – more details soon!

All proceeds will go directly to Chrysalis House through the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. INFO: facebook.com/events/611551506152191

July 23 – August 20, 2020 | 11

STAYCATION: A FEW VALLEY PICKS! This is the summer to celebrate what’s on offer in the Valley. It is, for sure, a summer like no other, but we’re all in this together, so let’s safely get out and about while we can. Have fun, stay safe, support our local businesses, wear masks where physical distancing may be hard to ensure, re-connect with our community, and enjoy the summer sun!

WINDSOR The Windsor/West Hants Parks and Rec are offering stand-up paddle board rentals for free! Loans are available for up to 4 days and they must be pre-booked. There are two adult and two youth boards available. Contact Bekah at 902-790-9647 or activeliving@ westhants.ca for more info.

And if you’re in West Hants, check out westhantstrails.ca for the best spot to stretch your legs and take a hike.

While you’re in the area, be sure to take the time to visit Evangeline Beach. With stunning views of Blomidon, it’s perfect for a walk at low tide or a swim at high tide.

WOLFVILLE The Wolfville Farmers’ Market is back on Saturday mornings, now as the Safe Summertime Outdoor Market. Every Saturday 9am to noon, visitors can grab their goods directly from vendors, just like old times. Fresh vegetables, local meet, seafood, craft beer, jewelry, soap, grab-and-go meals, chocolate, and baked goods — it’s all back and in-person!

KENTVILLE The Kentville Family Zone is bringing lawn games, sports equipment, and craft supplies to parks twice a week to encourage families to get outside and have some fun. Mondays 6pm to 8pm at Memorial Park on Soccer Field #2, and Wednesdays from 2pm to 4pm at Oakdene Park.

AYLESFORD Oaklawn Zoo is open! The zoo has made lots of updates to accommodate opening for this season — new pathways make space for social distancing and the zoo is touch-free this year, with no pony rides or petting — but it still feels like the same special spot for folks to spend a pleasant afternoon.

PORT WILLIAMS The Port Williams Park, located on Highway 358 across from Centennial Drive, is a hidden gem. The park includes a fantastic playground, a basketball court, picnic tables, a shelter, and plenty of space to run-around.

For a little history, and a beautiful view, check out the Wellington Dyke located along Wellington Dyke Road between Starr’s Point and Lower Canard. Built by local farmers between 1817 and 1825, this dyke protects more than 3000 acres of farmland.

GRAND-PRÉ Grand-Pré National Historic Site is reopen with limited visitor services. Parks Canada interpreters will be roaming on site to answer questions, and indoor bathrooms will be available. By July 30, additional aspects of the park will open: the Visitor Information Centre and exhibit, the Memorial Church, and the Forge.

are now providing dine-in service in the lower dining room and on the lower deck. Take-out will still be available and there are several picnic tables on site. The beach is also, as always, worth a stroll, and who doesn’t love to check out the boats in the harbour?

Did you know that Aylesford Lake has free kayak rentals? On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am till 2pm, by reservation only, onehour kayak loans are available. Call 902-6906124 to make your reservation, as walk-in rentals will not be available.

BERWICK The splash pad in Rainforth Park is open!

Right next to a playground and tennis courts and with lots of picnic tables in shady spots, it’s easy to pack a picnic and spend the day — or better yet, check out some of Berwick’s fantastic restaurants.

HALLS HARBOUR The Halls Harbour Lobster Pound and Restaurant has undergone big renovations and they

MIDDLETON The town of Middleton is again offering canoe and kayak loans for free. Available daily Monday through Saturday and available only through reservation, call 902-825-8143 for more information.

Mike Butler

Well, we live in a very different world right now. Following weeks and then months of isolation, quarantine, being off work, and having a lot of businesses shut down, we have partially re-opened our little business world and it’s fantastic to be back.

I work in the restaurant and cafe industry, and if I had a wish, it would be to make everyone on this planet work in this industry for at least one day to absorb all that happens within. It’s not all fun and rainbows folks.

And now that we’re in mid-pandemic mode, restaurants and cafes are doing what they need to do to help staff and customers stay safe, and we all need to do our part. Here is a few things to keep in mind when dining out and enjoying these reopened spaces! Please read carefully!

1. Courtesy: Do not walk into a coffee shop and up to the counter while talking on your cell phone or texting. If your conversation is that important, keep it outside and out of the line.

It’s one of the rudest things you can do to a barista or server.

2. Pay attention to the environment! All restaurants and cafes have gone through a bit of trauma lately, and have had to make changes in order to reopen. Read the signs about seating arrangements and any other new rules or policies. You are a guest, so ask questions rather

12 | July 23 – August 20, 2020

3. Follow the Arrows! I know we have “reopened” but that does not mean the virus or the previous rules have gone away. Where are the arrows usually placed? On the floor! Please be aware of new routes to enter and exit, be cautious of spacing with other guests, and don’t just barge into an establishment like you own it and the rules don’t apply to you.

4. Cleanliness: We live in a world now where cleanliness is next to godliness in every sense of the phrase. Have you every cleaned and sanitized so much in your life? Well, working in both a cafe and a restaurant it’s become evident that people don’t quite get how clean we have to be. Please keep in mind that eating establishments have tons of rules regarding sanitizing and cleaning that can be handled much more easily with customer cooperation. For instance,

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Always check this source for accurate tides: Canadian Fisheries & Oceans. www.waterlevels.gc.ca

RESTAURANT ETIQUETTE IN THE TIME OF COVID than making demands. Check with servers and baristas before just doing things your own way.

For cafes: find out where dirty dishes, compost, and recyclables go, what items are available, and where the books and magazines and papers are kept. If you read the newspaper, then put it back together and place it neatly in the proper spot where you found it. Please feel free to get cozy, but remember that you are in a business and not your living room so don’t put your feet up on the tables, make sure you purchase something, and don’t abuse the free internet! Also, limited seating means you should limit your time taking up tables to ensure space is available for other guests. And don’t mess up the bathroom. If you think the barista doesn’t know it’s you after you leave the bathroom in a disastrous state, you’re mistaken! We know everything!

MARGARETSVILLE Check out the new accessible boardwalk at the new Accessible Boardwalk at the Margaretsville Shore Park! It the perfect spot to enjoy some take-out from The Dock of the Bay Cafe!

The park is operated by the Margaretsville Shore Society and offers fire pits and picnic tables. The boardwalk wharf is at you own risk, and the Society asks that you take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints.

(Photo from The Dock of the Bay Cafe)

While you’re in Middleton, be sure to check out their Water Clock -- one of roughly only 20 on display across the world, the clock is located adjacent to Town Hall on Commercial Street. Water temperature and pressure

MIKE UNCORKED

A few years ago I wrote an article about proper wedding etiquette and I listed some dos and don’ts to follow. The responses poured in and I still receive comments on that article.

fluctuations slightly impair the clock’s accuracy; but nonetheless, it is an interesting piece of timekeeping history.

everything you touch in a cafe or restaurant needs to be cleaned afterwards. That includes bathrooms, menus, tables, glassware, debit machines, and beyond.

5. Masks, Gloves, and Shields: So, how has Nova Scotia done so well with this whole pandemic? Because we listened to the rules and followed them. Congratulations! As stated before, it’s not over yet! So just because we have a little freedom to roam, eat, drink, and shop does not mean we shouldn’t still be following the rules.

It is mandatory for staff at a lot of restaurants to wear masks so please respect those protecting themselves and you by doing the same.

6. Patios and Seating: Yes, it’s the summer and everyone loves being outside. Most restaurants and cafes have had to change up their seating plans a bit, so customers need to be aware and be patient with outside seating and understand that switching seats is not permitted in most places. As well, establishments cannot take larger groups of more than 8-10 so call ahead to check how they’re operating!

Be prepared for wait times, weather, and bugs.

Don’t leave it up to the restaurant to provide bug spray and sunscreen if you’re dying to sit outside.

Thank you all for supporting your local restaurants, cafes and businesses! Now, more than ever, it’s great to get out and do that. Stay safe everyone, keep aware, and have a wonderful summer!

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JULY 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 AUG 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

HIGH 3:31pm 4:19pm 5:10pm 6:03pm 6:59pm 7:28am 8:30am 9:32am 10:33am

LOW 9:15am 10:03am 10:52am 11:44am 12:39pm 1:38pm 2:39pm 3:41pm 4:41pm

11:32am 12:26pm 1:18pm 2:05pm 2:51pm 3:34pm 4:15pm 4:56pm 5:37pm 6:20pm 7:06pm 7:32am ••8:25am 9:21am 10:17am 11:11am 12:01pm 12:50pm 1:37pm •2:23pm

5:39pm 6:33pm 7:23pm 7:51am 8:36am 9:19am 9:59am 10:40am 11:20am 12:01pm 12:45pm 1:34pm 2:28pm 3:24pm 4:21pm 5:15pm 6:06pm 6:55pm 7:42pm 8:08am

THERE ARE NORMALLY TWO HIGH AND TWO LOW TIDES EACH DAY.

•Highest High: 42.7 feet ••Lowest High: 33.1 feet

120 DAYS Ken Schwartz

As I write this, it’s been 120 days since I huddled around a radio at the Ross Creek Centre for the Arts with my colleagues to listen to a bulletin from the provincial government.

Within hours I was driving a group of youth leaders to destinations around the province, and the Centre was closed to the public. Everything changed, for nearly all of us.

YOUNG LEADERS AT ROSS CREEK

In the weeks that followed, Two Planks and a Passion Theatre’s 2020 season was postponed until 2021.

Submitted

Teenagehood can be fraught, but not for a group of eighteen youth ages 13-18 who recently joined the Ross Creek Centre for the Arts for their summer-long youth leadership program, along with their leader.

Many teens struggle with the balance of wanting and needing independence while not being quite ready to strike out on their own. Even without a global pandemic, anxiety levels for teens across North America are high, and this year there have been many disappointments.

From missing graduations and opportunities for travel, to sport and productions cancelled, uncertainties abound. For eighteen young people from across Nova Scotia, and even as far as Ontario, Ross Creek is offering a sense of purpose and normalcy through learning new skills and being part of the centre’s summer camp team, with a chance to find that balance of independence and safety in a supportive environment. Not only are the youth in the program finding respite from a world gone upside down, but so is this year’s program coordinator, Hannah Gold-Apel, whose regular camp in Quebec was cancelled this summer because of the pandemic.

Ross Creek’s Executive Director Chris O’Neill understands that this story is repeated worldwide, but says she feels lucky to be able to provide a space for talented youth to come together and make their own contributions to the next generation through the Leadership Program. “While Hannah was sad not to be able to spend her last camp year with her home camp, we are so lucky to have her bring her knowledge to our program and our community this year.”

O’Neill is clearly proud of the program that has grown from a handful of young people a year over ten years ago into its full capacity this year. The concept hasn’t changed since its beginning, giving young people a chance to learn new skills in a variety of arenas and encouraging their artistic development in whatever discipline they choose - but she is excited about how much more the centre can offer the teens. “We are able to give more youth more opportunities to learn from a highly-trained staff, whether in the workshops, the garden, or the kitchen, all while encouraging personal and educational growth.”

O’Neill says the program has roots in similar programs in other camps, but she believes the diverse nature of Ross Creek means that kids get to try things that might not go together in other settings. “We were seeing lots of university students coming for summer jobs with no skills to take care of themselves. We decided the leadership program could give arts camp leadership skills along with real-world survival skills like cooking, growing food, first aid, and even how to build simple things, all while emphasizing safety and creativity.”

She says that this year, new funding from the Telus Friendly Future Foundation is making

a big difference. “We have been able to bring in new mentors this year, including Mi’kmaq teacher and performer Trevor Gould, who spoke with the teens about Mi’kmaq history, ways to integrate Mi’kmaq knowledge into the Ross Creek camps, and the importance of antiracism.” She says that their training also includes specialists speaking about camp topics like working with kids with autism and first aid training, which gives these young people extraordinary knowledge at a young age, which they can then put into practice right away.

The teens go from short-term volunteering to moving through the program’s levels for at least two years, in some cases moving into paid positions when they finish. O’Neill says an obvious example of a success story of the program is Ian Funke-McKay, a former Ross Creek Youth Leader who went on to study art at NSCAD and is now the Centre’s full-time programming director, who is now in turn, mentoring the youth leaders. “Having someone who understands the possibilities of the program and sees the potential of the youth so fully is amazing.”

This year’s group of youth leaders, from all across Nova Scotia, and Ontario, are especially exciting to O’Neill, even though they are at the beginning of their journey. “In a time of so much uncertainty, they and their families committed to this program and this experience, and they have grabbed the opportunity with such good spirits, it is inspiring and humbling.” O’Neill says that they commit to spend at least one, and often many summers at Ross Creek, becoming de facto big brothers and big sisters to younger campers, learning to grow the food for camp, assisting in the kitchen, keeping the centre clean and safe, and creating magic and memories through the rec program.

120 days later, what is it like to work in the performing arts?

The word “unprecedented” gets used a lot these days, and there’s a good reason- none of us in the performing arts have ever faced a world like the one we face now. It’s not that we are unused to adversity, or that we can’t be creative in solving problems. Performing artists are excellent, by and large, at dealing with restrictions and making it look easy. But this is different.

Live performances depend on the congress of people. People sharing the same space, the same atmosphere. When we began to discover that the lifeblood of our artistic expression was a potential health hazard that was territory none of us had ever seriously planned for, or even imagined outside of the confines of a disaster movie. But now it’s a reality.

What does the future look like?

At Two Planks and a Passion Theatre, we are looking to the 2021 summer season (our 30th anniversary!) with optimism that we will be able to carry out an outdoor season of theatre safely and without compromising our artistic vision. The administrative, artistic, and institutional work we need to accomplish in order to do this is huge, but we are rolling up our sleeves and tackling the problems one day at a time.

In the meantime, our sector is reeling, and the most important resource we have- the freelance artists who create the work presented on our stages- are now among the most vulnerable and precariously placed workers in our society. And that is a big part of what has changed. Artists are constantly advocating for their own survival in a much more urgent

way than they have before, and that’s saying something.

Our orchestras, dance companies, theatres, and operas are empty shells without the performers that take the stage, no matter how large or small. A big part of my job now is advocating for the very people who have made my career as an artist possible. And, of course, the big question that looms over everything when we look to the future is this one: Will audiences come back?

If the feedback from our own patrons is indicative, then our future is bright. It will take some time for all of us to become used to new protocols and procedures, but after 120 days, we have all become used to those.

One bright spot for those of us in the performing arts is how much the public has gratefully consumed artistic content while we were locked down for several months (or longer). The absence of the live experience in our lives has, in many cases, reinforced its importance as we begin to re-emerge. It is also important to remind the public that much of the free content that was consumed over social media in the early days of Covid-19 was offered as a generous gift by performing artists, many of whom are now facing unprecedented challenges.

So, what is it like now?

We have not lost faith in what we do or why it is important. If anything, our role in society has never been more vital. But if we are to retain generations of performing artists working in Canada today, it will take a collective effort to support the people who, in so many ways, make life in this country what it is, and show us what it could be.

120 days later, I’m hopeful, a little nervous, inspired, and sometimes relieved. But I have never been more committed to the art of live theatre as I am today.

Consider this your invitation to the opening night of Two Planks and a Passion’s 30th anniversary season in July, 2021, at the Ross Creek Centre for the Arts. What a time we’ll have.

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O’Neill says she is never sure who is most impacted by the program, because as she puts it, “We give them new knowledge, skills, and opportunities, and they give us hope for the future.”

Camps are still taking registrations for this summer at Ross Creek. For any information on programs at Ross Creek, visit our website at artscentre.ca, give us a call at 902-5823842, or email mail@artscentre.ca Photo, left to right: Samara Whitelaw, Kay Murgatroyd, Roza Zalot, Juliana Sepe, Andrew (Andy) Waite, Max (Alfie) Gros, Jacob Hazelwood, Maya Vaz-Gibson, Ruby Gill, Avery Crowe, Marah LaForge, Hannah Gold-Apel (Youth Leadership Director and Camp Co-Director), Max Miller, Lilith Richter-Stephenson (Counselor), Claire Embanks (Counselor), Zach MacDonald (Counselor), Felix Belanger, Jonah McKay (Counselor), Eva Adamson (Special Projects). Missing from photo: Carmen Gessel, Jassem Ammar. Photo by Camp Director Eamonn Schwartz.

THE MOUNTAIN AND THE VALLEY PROJECT

COMMUNITY STORY CIRCLES AT ROSS CREEK CENTRE FOR THE ARTS If you missed the online programs to create a piece for our Mountain and the Valley project, or if you prefer the old fashioned way, or are all zoomed out, we have a few upcoming in-person story-circles.

Share your stories for the Mountain and the Valley project! For local residents on Ross Creek Road, we’ll be offering an in-person group meeting for individuals and community groups here at the centre, with coffee and cake. For folks in the Canning, Scots Bay, and Wolfville communities, we’ll host small

after-supper sessions in each community at 6:30pm in late July and early August. Please let us know if you would like to participate by calling 902-582-3842 or emailing mail@ artscentre.ca. We are hoping for words and images that represent the diversity of this land, from those who sprang from it to those who have newly arrived. To submit your contribution on your own, please visit our web site artscentre.ca/mountain-and-valley.

Let’s stay connected, stay creative, and stay safe!

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Oil Painting Workshops in August!

July 23 – August 20, 2020 | 13

AVRL NEWS: WE ARE OPEN! Tim Jackson

Annapolis Valley Regional Library (AVRL) libraries are now open to the public. In order to provide the best service and safest environment for both our patrons and our staff, AVRL is making changes to our library locations and procedures. While we are working with our municipal units to make these changes, we will continue to offer our Library Take-Out service as well as our online services through our website. Each of our branches is different, but we all have new procedures in place to keep us and our patrons safe. The Kingston branch is currently under construction and will continue to offer Library Take-Out only.

Summer Reading Club As you may have noticed, many of our regular library services have moved online. Summer Reading Club is no exception! This year, we have an online SRC for kids, teens, and adults.

You don’t have to read online, but we are asking you to log your reading online. We can even help you get signed up, so if you have questions, phone Mon-Fri, 9am - 3:30pm, toll-free at 866-922-0229 or 902-538-2665 ext. 1304.

Families can sign up all in one account, or give the kids and teens their own login if you like.

It is easy to do, and then when you read, you login and add it to your account. You can also print a handy log-sheet, or you can make your own!

This year we have missions and activities the whole family can participate in. Each mission completed earns you an automatic ballot for our grand prizes. SRC ends on August 20.

Further details and updates can be found on the AVRL website at valleylibrary.ca.

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CANNING KITCHEN PARTY 2020 NEWS FROM MUSIC IN COMMUNITIES CO-OP Kim Barlow Clockwise from top left: Serrano ham and pickles, East Coast Oysters, S’Mores Parfait, Pan-roasted Digby scallops.

DINNER OUT: JUNIPER RETURNS! Scott Campbell

Juniper is open again. After being closed for several weeks, as Covid-19 swept the globe, Juniper has re-opened. They had to remove a couple of tables inside to be able to accommodate social distancing, but they also have a new patio open which gave them back a few tables. On a nice day/evening, they can still accommodate as many guests as before.

So, I took advantage of this opportunity to have a great meal out and was certainly not disappointed.

The menu, as always, changes frequently and features a selection of tapas (small plate) items. These are great for sharing with your table and everyone gets to try as many of the dishes as possible. Juniper is also great at making fantastically original cocktails. One is the Rhubarb Gin Sour. Made of Portobello Road gin, elderflower and rhubarb syrup, lemon, and egg white this is a tasty and refreshing cocktail that was perfect for the hot July day when we visited. A great way to start our meal.

For our appetizers we had a plate of Serrano ham and pickle, a crispy potato waffle, and some East Coast oysters. The ham was Juvilles ham from Spain that had been aged 20 months. It was served with pickled daikon and romanesco. The tang of the pickles went perfectly with the buttery ham. We also opted for a half dozen PEI oysters with a mignonette accompaniment and some hot sauce. The potato waffle was served alongside a salmon tartar mixed with fresh summer beans. The smooth salmon was full of rich flavour that was enhanced by the beans. A generous scoop of salmon tartar on a small wedge of the potato waffle made for a delicious bite. The oysters were fresh and briny and served with a sprig of oyster plant. I had never had the opportunity to try oyster plant before but it

does taste remarkably like a combination of oyster and dulse.

For our main dishes we enjoyed chorizo sausage a la plancha and pan-roasted Digby scallops. Both of these options are incredible.

The chorizo sausage was grilled perfectly and served alongside asparagus and under a fried egg, and then everything bathed in a rich delicious piri piri sauce. Every mouthful of this spectacular dish was bursting with flavour – definitely a favourite. However, the Digby scallops were not to be outdone. The scallops themselves were grilled perfectly – not overdone at all – but the fresh peas and mortadella and couscous mixture that they were served with was amazing and arguably the star of the dish. Make no mistake, I savoured each of the tender scallops, but by the time I was nearing the end of that dish, I had a spoon in my hand and was scraping the bottom of the bowl to get every drop of that delicious sauce. I highly recommend you try this if it’s on the menu when you’re there.

If any of you have followed my column before, you’ll know that I’m a fan of dessert. One of the options this night really caught my eye – the s’mores parfait. It arrived in a stout little mason jar and was a parfait consisting of rich chocolate pudding, a chocolate and almond crumb layer, and was topped with a toasted marshmallow crust. It wasn’t exactly your typical campfire s’mores but it was a perfect ending to a fantastic meal. Cheers.

❧ Follow Scott on Instagram @ScottsGrapevine

ACADIA REGIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA Elizabeth Sircom

The Acadia Regional Youth Orchestra is happy to announce that we are accepting registrations for the 2020/2021 season. We experimented with an online version of our program this spring and have designed a flexible program to offer which allows for both in-person or online teaching. We offer string instruction (violin/viola/cello/double bass) at the beginner/elementary level and two levels of string orchestra, for young people ages 10-24. Our Fiddle Group is open to all ages, 10 through adult. For more information check out our website, acadiaregionalyouthorchestra.ca or email us at aryostrings@gmail.com.

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14 | July 23 – August 20, 2020

The Canning Kitchen Party is a series that started last summer, as a residency for “Kim Barlow & Friends” at the Village Coffeehouse.

The first show had a sold-out crowd and was busting at the seams. As a consequence, Music In Communities Cooperative Ltd was founded. We expanded our scope and started placing shows in different local businesses around town, featuring fantastic local musicians and traditional music of many genres. It was a great success. It turns out people were craving live music. This summer, we’re craving it even more.

The memorable 2020 Canning Kitchen Party is going down exclusively outdoors. We’re maintaining a regime of physical distancing and ten-person bubbles, sanitizing surfaces, donning masks, and staying safe. We’re getting together to play music while the weather is fine, for the sake of our mental health and battered spirits. It’s been a hard go and it looks like it’s going to be strange for a while to come.

Our first two shows were planned when we were still only allowed to have gatherings of ten people, so they were tiny shows beside the Merrit Gibson Library in Canning, with the Bombadils and Zakary Miller in the most exclusive performances they’ve probably ever given.

The first jam we had, at Kingsport Beach after Chris Robison and Sarah McInnis’s great show, was a little miracle, and yes I cried a bit.

Much of the line-up for this year’s series was already booked before Covid hit, and we have

added more in order to help get working musicians back on stage. It has been hard to watch the calendar dates go by and see so many gigs, festivals, and tours that would have been but are no more. And who knows when the next gig will be! These shows remind us who we are and why we do what we do, in a time when the performing artist’s existence feels very uncertain. It’s a chance for these musicians to shine their brightest for you again, something that was perhaps undervalued in the before-times.

We are putting more focus on the jam sessions, too, because people are itching to play.

Lockdown was an interesting time for online performances, and it became an unexpected opportunity for many folks to share their music with a lot of people. It highlighted how music brings us together and gets us through hard times.

Music In Communities is also busy developing songwriting/beat-making/improvising workshops for teens, who have had so many activities cancelled this summer. We’re also looking at hosting some jam sessions outdoors, because so many of the community hall jams have been shut down for months. If you’d like to get involved, let us know! Check The Grapevine listings for upcoming shows and events. You can also visit the event page on Facebook, called “Canning Kitchen Party” or contact kimbarlow77@gmail.com for details.

Come share some songs with us!

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Summer Happenings acadiau.ca

ACADIA’S RE-OPENING PLAN IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT Submitted

Acadia University is continuing a phased approach to reopening its campus, which began on July 6, starting with essential employees and research activities and clients of privately-run sports therapy and performance training businesses in the Athletics Complex.

Although most buildings remain closed, members of the general public are now permitted to walk across the campus providing they follow Acadia’s social distancing and mask protocols, and do not gather in groups, linger, or hold any activities on the grounds.

The plan is to eventually see full operations in September, although some employees will continue to work from home, and safety and health restrictions will be in place. Right now, those who work from home will continue to do so.

Acadia University’s fall semester will begin on September 21, and residences will open September 2 for staggered move-in to allow time for quarantine and University 101 programming, President Peter Ricketts announced in a message to the Acadia community. Courses will be available in a mix of formats – in-person, virtual, and hybrid – and will be offered as scheduled or unscheduled, where students can take them in their own time. Acadia will offer a reduced Reading Week on November 12 and 13. The Fall Term last day of exams will be December 20, and residence will close on December 21.

A Collaborative Effort “The success of this effort will require the cooperation of all members of our community,” said Dr. Ricketts. “Each of us will need to change our typical behaviour and rethink how we conduct our studies, our work, and our social lives.” He applauded the collaborative

working relationships with student and community partners in responding to the global pandemic and working together on plans for a return to campus in Fall 2020.

University officials have worked in lockstep with the Province of Nova Scotia and its Medical Health Officer as well as sister institutions, the Maple League of Universities, and the Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents, and local government. “Wolfville isn’t the same without the Acadia community being here,” said Wolfville Mayor Jeff Cantwell. “As we move through the Town’s reopening plans, we are reassured by the robust planning taking place at Acadia to reopen in the fall safely.

Together, we can make this work for our residents and the University community.”

Acadia’s Student Union President Brendan MacNeil agreed that collaboration is key to the success for Fall 2020. The ASU executive team has been communicating regularly to the student body to listen to concerns and bring them to the planning table. “What I am hearing from students is that they want to return to Acadia. Students want to be a part of this caring and engaged community, and they understand the importance of following safety measures to make this a success,” MacNeil said. “The ASU is working with the University and Town of Wolfville to communicate both ways on student needs as well as the importance of these measures. Students are excited for a fall experience that is at once new and the same.”

Ricketts recognized the real challenges of bringing students and employees back to campus. “Though it will be difficult at times, it is necessary, and I have no doubt it will be worth it. Ultimately, I believe these plans can and will succeed because we are a community that

WHAT’S GROWING: IN YOUR BACKYARD

Melanie Priesnitz, Conservation Horticulturist, Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens The natural world is a great place to make new discoveries and embark on explorations close to home. Even the very best naturalist will always find that there’s something new to be learned in the great outdoors. Nobody knows for sure how many species live on this planet.

Several million plants and animals have been identified to date, and scientists estimate there to be upwards of 8 million species in total. It’s possible that more than 80% of the species that exist are yet to be discovered! So, if you hear anyone say to you this summer that they are bored, tell them to go outside and explore.

You don’t have to travel very far in nature to learn new things. A walk in the woods with an inquisitive mind, a field guide, or a smartphone can open the door to a wealth of discoveries and learning opportunities. Personally, I have been trying to learn the names of dragonflies and butterflies this summer. I have spent much of my life focusing on plants down on the forest floor, so I’ve now decided to expand my knowledge and look up for a change! It started while I was walking in the woods hunting waterfalls and began seeing yellow butterflies everywhere. I learned that these are eastern tiger swallowtails and that they are amazing creatures. The larvae of these majestic insects have some amazing tricks to protect themselves from predators.

They transform into something resembling a snake head when disturbed, and if that doesn’t work, they have specialized glands called osmeteria that produce a foul-smelling acid secretion to ward off predators.

I’ve just started observing the differences in the dragonflies that I see and I’m beginning to learn their whimsical common names. Sedge sprite, dragonhunter, petite emerald, and

rusty snaketail are among my favourites! With over 6500 species of dragonflies and damselflies in the world and just over 200 in Canada, I have a lot of learning yet to do!

If you’re not already familiar with iNaturalist, it’s a great app by the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society for exploring and observing the natural world.

Download it to your phone, take photos of the species that you want to identify, and you’ll have a wealth of knowledge and experts at your fingertips. iNaturalist is also used to catalogue biodiversity so maybe one day with your help, we’ll know just how many species we share this fine planet with.

The Acadia University campus, including the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens, remains closed to the public this summer, however there are lots of great natural areas to explore in the Annapolis Valley, including your local parks and trails, and your own backyard if you have one!

You can visit us virtually by following the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens on Facebook or Instagram.

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cares greatly for each other and this institution,” he said.

Safety First Acadia’s faculty, program, and department heads are completing distinct plans for a return to campus operations to ensure safety.

In addition, all Acadia employees and students will receive information about safe movement on campus, hygiene, and the use of personal protective equipment and masks. Each will also be provided non-medical masks and agree to check for symptoms daily.

“As always, the health and safety of our community is our top priority,” Ricketts said.

“While we know that we will never be able to eliminate all risk, our goal is to reduce it as much as possible by introducing multiple layers of protection and asking each member of our community to protect their health and remember their obligation to help protect the health of others.”

The University is hiring an occupational health and safety nurse coordinator, implementing social distancing guidelines, mask-wearing requirements, strict hygiene practices, health screenings, contact-tracing protocols, and supporting access to COVID-19 testing. Acadia will be reducing the density of classrooms and residence halls, and have a process established for students who need to be in quarantine or isolation. For those students who are unable to attend classes in person, many courses will be taught virtually.

Details on course-specific information is being released in mid-July.

Residential spaces will be single room only; co-curricular activities will change; and dining facilities will eliminate self-service buffets, increase grab-and-go options, and reduce

dining hall density. There will be no third-party events held on campus this fall. Learning spaces and common spaces will see social-distancing measures, signage, and increased cleaning protocols to reduce contamination.

Scenario Planning Because of the range of schools and services that make up the University and their varied programs and needs, more detailed information will follow soon from the schools and departments with which students, faculty, and staff are affiliated.

Even though Acadia will be adopting multiple layers of protection to reduce risk, the University is also planning for the possibility that some cases of COVID-19 could emerge.

In such an eventuality, students exposed to or diagnosed with COVID-19 will quarantine in their existing residential spaces and be supported by Acadia employees. Faculty and staff exposed to or diagnosed with COVID-19 will not be permitted on campus until achieving a negative test result.

Learn More Dr. Ricketts’ message to campus provided a high-level review of campus planning. Incoming students can register for online information sessions.

The University’s COVID-19 information and Student Life websites will have answers to the most common questions about the transition.

“In some cases, we won’t yet have answers, and we ask for your patience as we develop plans in what will be the most complex undertaking in the history of Acadia University,” Ricketts said.

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INSIDE: ACADIA UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY SEEKS SUBMISSIONS FOR COVID-19 PHOTO PROJECT The Acadia University Art Gallery is seeking your photographs for inside, an exhibition drawn from the lived experiences of our community during COVID-19 and the period of self-isolation.

The photographs will be presented online through gallery social media channels, and in our gallery annex at a date to be determined based on campus re-opening. We will also digitally archive the entire project.

We are seeking photographs of your home office, your pet supervising daily tasks, or you doing something creative. This project is open to members of the Acadia campus and the local community. You can submit a maximum of two jpeg photographs.

Email submissions to artgallery@acadiau.ca

by August 15, 2020.

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Acadia University Art Gallery Beveridge Arts Centre, Acadia University Wolfville

CALL TO PROFESSIONAL NOVA SCOTIA ARTISTS GROUP EXHIBITION AT THE ACADIA UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY “ALONE”. This pandemic has shown how integral art is to our daily lives, sense of community, and well-being. Visual art is a powerful tool to understand this complex moment in time. The Acadia University Art Gallery is pleased to announce an open call to professional Nova Scotian artists, for a group exhibition, “ALONE.” Around the world museums and artists are documenting this pandemic; “ALONE” creates the opportunity for professional Nova Scotian artists to be part of this global dialogue through a curatorial project. The project is seeking artists who have created works that directly respond to or reflect upon the impacts of COVID-19.

Due to the pandemic and opening protocols, “ALONE” will exist in several formats: a group exhibition in the Acadia University Art Gallery in Spring 2021, an exhibition catalogue of

artworks and artist interviews, and digital content in the form of an exhibition archive, online studio visits, and other content on our of social media channels and website in Fall 2020. Artist fees will be paid.

This project is supported through the FRIENDS Fund of the gallery. Want to support our programs? You can donate at: bit.ly/acadia-art-donate.

Submission Guidelines: Please submit the following materials by August 20, 2020 to: artgallery@acadiau.ca • Detailed images of artwork (either completed, in progress, or planned) • Professional artist cv • Artist statement related to the project theme & artwork, 150 words max Questions about the project can be sent to: artgallery@acadiau.ca.

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July 23 – August 20, 2020 | 15

Back row l-r: Kailey Brown, RMT, Marina Rennie, Manual Therapist, Jessica Innis, R.Ac. Front row l-r: Ashley Beaton, RMT, Pam Saunders, Admin, Susan Ritcey, BSc, ND, Jen George, Office Manager

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