January 28, 2009

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Flo Colwell of Martinon with her 8-year-old great granddaughter Keisha Boudrea listening to Christmas stories for children at Brundage Point. Kids, parents & grandparents enjoyed treats and holiday tales on December 21st.

Jason Loiselle, 2-yr old Sophie and 5-month old Eden came all the way from Darling’s Island to participate in the Family Skate sponsored by the River Valley Chamber of Commerce. (More photo’s at rivervalleynews.ca)

The ferries have been stuck in the ice on and off since Christmas making life difficult for people living on the Kingston Peninsula. DOT crews have been using excavators to clear ice at a cost of up to $10,000 a day. (For more on the story & photos go to rivervalleynews.ca)

The students of River Valley Middle School raised $600 in support of TheHarbour Lights Campaign. The money was raised by selling paper lightbulbs. The cheque was presented on CBC radio by Sean Downing, BenPeterson and Alec Alston.

Christmas Stories for Kids

New Year’s Eve Family Skate

Ice Jam at the Westfield Ferry

River Valley Students Support Area Food Banks

January 28, 2009

January 28, 2009 • River Valley News

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In This Edition

The River Valley News is a community newspaper published bi-weekly by Midwood Media Inc.

PO Box 3069, Grand Bay-Westfield, New Brunswick E5K 4V3

Publisher and Editor - Gary Mittelholtz

Graphic Designer - Cindy Price Advertising - Ian Lambert 645-1501

Printed by Acadie-Presse, Caraquet, NB For advertising and content:

Phone 506-217-0224 or 506-645-1501 Fax 506-217-0225

Email: [email protected] Webpage: rivervalleynews.ca

Issue #488 published on January 28,2009The deadline for the next issue is the Friday of

the week the current issue is published.Next issue: February 11th, 2008

Deadline for content & advertising: Friday, January 30 2009

Trail Magic, Psychology for Living, Doing Stuff Outdoors and others. Some regular contributors are missing because of changes in emails and addresses but I’m sure they’ll return. We also have some new features including a gardening column from the River Valley Garden Club and a weekly photography contest sponsored by Subway. Other new and exciting columns are in the works and I’ll have more to say about them in future issues.Finally, there is one other

major change in the paper I want to mention. People’s media habits are changing all the time. In the new media world we live in, print alone is no longer enough. That’s why this newspaper is turning to the internet in a big way. The name on our masthead, RiverValleyNews.ca has even been changed to reflect that reality. Along with this printed issue of the paper we’re launching a new website at rivervalleynews.ca. There you’ll find the entire paper available as a download in PDF format. You’ll be able to read it at your convenience on your computer and do so a full week before it’s avail-able in print. As well all back issues of the paper starting with the last one will always be there for you to read. In addition, selected features from the paper can be found online with more information and additional photographs. But what we’re all really excited about is a new online feature called River Valley Radio. In every issue, several of the stories featured will be available in audio format. In this issue for instance, we have a feature interview with MLA, Jack Keir. You can read it in the paper and then go to the website to listen to the full interview with Jack. We also have audio interviews with Holly Johnson and the bird watchers featured in the Doing Stuff Outdoors column. In the future we’ll also have video on the website. We’re hoping RiverValleyNews.ca will become the online portal for all news and information about this area.Another big change in distri-

bution is the return to home delivery by mail. I know many of you miss having

Welcome to the first edition of River Valley

News for 2009. You no doubt will have already noticed a few changes in the newspaper. We have a new masthead and logo at the top of the first page. The green hills and blue river, the trees and the bird you see, depict the River Valley in all its natural beauty. This river and the valley are what connect us. The St. John flows through all our lives from West Saint John through Grand Bay-Westfield and on upriver past houses, farms and communities, all the way to Gagetown. It defines the geographic area of this paper and in many ways contributes to its content.Every newspaper has a

look and a personality. For many, many years the River Valley News was lovingly cared for and nurtured by the late Diane Bormke. She loved this newspaper and the community it served. As editor she put a lot of herself into these pages every issue and the paper in many ways became a reflection of Diane. It’s only natural that with a new Publisher and Editor, the personality of the paper is going to change. And it’s not just being guided by me. We have a team. The masthead and new design of the paper is the work of Graphic Designer, Cindy Price. She lives here and operates her own communications company. In addition to updating the

look of the paper, Cindy is also turning her artistic eye to the advertisements you see in the paper. The other member of the team is Ian Lambert, an old broadcaster like myself. He lives in a house beside the river that’s been in his family for many years. Ian is applying his long experience in broadcast sales to our tiny advertising department at River Valley News. Together we want to make this paper an important and vital member of our community. But we need your help.This is your community

newspaper. You have a stake in it as much as we do. This is where we hope you’ll turn every issue to read stories of interest to this area and learn about community events. More than just reading we want you to be an active contributor to the paper. Email your stories, comments, photographs, letters to the editor and we’ll find a place for them on these pages. If you’d like to write a column about your club or organization or something that interests you, contact me and we’ll talk about it. If you have something to communicate and share with the River Valley community, this is where you can do that. We want to hear from you on a regular basis.In this issue you’ll find

many familiar columns that have been in the paper for a long time like the Rambler,

the paper come directly to your home every two weeks. We’re looking at changing that beginning with the E5K postal code. If you live in Grand Bay-Westfield and up to Welsford and Browns Flat you’ll soon have the River Valley News delivered by mail again. Hopefully other areas can be added in the future. If you pick up the paper at your local store, it will still be avail-able there as usual.I know change is sometimes

difficult for people but I’m hoping you’ll enjoy the changes we’re making to River Valley News. Please contact me at any time with your comments and suggestions. The new telephone number for the paper is 217-0224, Fax 217-0225 and the email is [email protected]. Also please note the new address for the paper listed at the bottom of this page. I want to thank all the readers,

contributors and advertisers who have supported this paper in the past. I hope you’ll continue to support it. Together we can make this area a better place to live, work and do business. It’s all about building community for the benefit of all. Let’s do it together.Gary MittelholtzPublisher-Editor

LettersRwanda

On Tuesday, January 13, Emily Hayter made a presentation to our Political Science and history classes discussing the history and present situation of Rwanda. Hayter, a 2004 graduate of SJHS, took a year off after earning her double major in English and History in order to pursue her dream of living in Africa whilst also helping others. Rwanda was previ-ously a nation controlled by imperialism, particularly under Belgian rule which lead to a division of the Tutsis and the Hutus, preex-isting social classes within the nation. Within this divi-sion, Tutsis were favoured by the Belgian imperialists

as they were regarded as more ‘European.’ As impe-rialism fell out of favour and Belgium abandoned the country, the Hutus began to gain more power. Tensions continued to rise, ultimately leading to a genocide in 1994 where Hutus murdered nearly a million Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Romeo Dallaire wrote a book about it that was turned into a movie “ Shake Hands with the Devil”.Since the end of the geno-

cide, Rwanda has rebuilt itself under the guidance of the nation’s president, Paul Kagame. Rwanda has recov-ered amazingly from the atrocious genocide found within the nation’s history, and is now known as a safe nation with the highest rate of post-secondary enroll-ment in the region. However, despite the advances made, Rwanda remains a nation experiencing the ravaging affects of war. Miss Hayter presented the staggering statistic that in 2001, there were 613,000 orphans in Rwanda as a result of the genocide, as well the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and malaria. Since her time in Rwanda, she has worked with two organizations: Orphans of Rwanda and the Rebero Orphans Centre. Orphans for Rwanda is a support program which provides university scholar-ships to gifted orphans and vulnerable young people. The Rebero Orphans Centre deals with similar children, and was founded by Emmanuel Ngabire and Leonce Mupene out of a mutual desire to help others. Both organizations are in need of supplies such as university textbooks, calcu-lators, USB sticks, children’s book, educational games and toys, as well as sports equip-ment. For more information on Orphans of Rwanda, visit www.orphansofrwanda.org.

Lisa Banks, Saint John High School


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Letters to the Editor

Council BriefsDecember 8th, 2008 Meeting

The main item on the agenda was the town budget for 2009. Here are the highlights: General Revenue FundThe assessment base for the Municipality has increased from $254,544,128 to $284,208,775. The

increase of $29,664,648 provided an additional $406,406 in revenue for the year 2009.The Budget reflects maintaining the tax rate at $1.37.Total expenditures have increased from $4,078,130 to $4,480,102, an increase of $401,972.The Unconditional Grant provided to the Town by the Province has been remained the same

for 2009 at $384,878.The cost of Policing Services provided by the RCMP has increased from $586,034 to $607,200,

an increase of $21,166.The Town’s total long-term debt outstanding as at December 31, 2008 will be $542,000. Fiscal

Services provide for a reduction in debt of $172,000. In addition, $150,000 has been allocated to the General Capital Reserve Fund for future capital purchases and construction projects.The Fiscal allocation includes $500,000 for Capital Expenditures from Operating for Capital

Work.The Budget reflects the Municipality’s financial commitments as a member of the Greater Saint

John Region totaling $98,012 as well as a commitment to the River Valley Community Center (Arena) for $186,441.General Government Services reflect a Cost of Assessment fee of $56,842 paid to the Province

of New Brunswick, an increase of $5,933.SEWERAGE Revenue FundThe annual user fee has been maintained for 2009 at $270 per unit. The previous rate of $245

per unit was held constant from incorporation on January 1, 1998 until 2006.Total expenditures for the Budget are $468,423.

January 12th, 2009 MeetingMayor Losier was unable to attend the meeting for medical reasons and Deputy Mayor Tammy

Archer chaired the session. An unusually large crowd attended to hear the presentation of the Proposed Municipal Plan. Representatives of ADI Ltd. began the presentation by outlining the community consultation

process undertaken to date. A number of issues came out of that, both positive and negative. People surveyed said they liked the sense of community found in Grand Bay-Westfield, the friendliness of neighbours, recreational opportunities and the safety and quietness of the community. But at the same time they said we lacked stores, restaurants and facilities for youth. Some were fearful of development and saw it as a threat to the way of life here. The consultants draft plan identifies the Route 7 interchange and new collector road as key to development in the town. They’re also proposing the introduction of a new Mixed Land Use designation and planning for sewer extensions and a future municipal water system. The plan supports a regional transit system and the protection of wetlands. They also outlined a need for more affordable housing and seniors housing and youth programs. Managed municipal garbage collection is also something they said should be looked into. A full copy of the draft plan is available in the town office and should also be available on the town website. The public has 30 days to review the plan and make written comments on it in advance of Council’s February 16th meeting.Council approved the payment of bills totaling $178,808.15. The town manager reported that

as of the end of the year there was still $12,195.14 owing on sewerage bills. Councilor Brenda Murphy reported the town has made a three year commitment to support

the Comex bus service. That means the town agrees to cover all operational costs associated with the Comex service that are not covered by fares. Councilor Diane McGowan reported the town has installed the community’s first automated defibrillator at the Brundage Point River Centre. Deputy Mayor Tammy Archer said bike lanes won’t be built through town, at least right now, because of the requirement to have lanes on both sides of the road and the lack of space on the roadway to provide for that. Councilor Murphy hinted a major waterfront event is being planned for the town this summer. Details will be announced at a later date.Corporal Rob Landry of the Westfield RCMP presented the crime statistics for the month of

December, 2009.Criminal Code

Theft - 6 Drugs - 1

Harassing Phone Calls - 2 Assault - 2

Impaired - 3

Break & Enter - 1 Property Damage - 2 Other Criminal Code

Offenses - 2 Municipal By-Laws

Noise - 1

Provincial Statutes Traffic Tickets - 43

Traffic Warnings - 66 Collisions - 3

Other Moving Traffic - 6 Other Provincial Statutes -12

The FutureBy Gary DavisEvery few years towns and

cities in New Brunswick have to update what is called their “municipal plan”. It is a longish document that deals with land use and other important issues in the community. It includes envi-ronmental matters and other subjects of interest to citizens, along with zoning and roads and sewers. The Grand Bay-Westfield

municipal plan has been going through its revision process since last spring. The latest stage was a “Background Report” presented to the town council in mid-January.The report reviews the

process used to get informa-tion from permanent members of the community. (Summer residents were ignored.) The report lists what are called “community strengths” and “perceived weaknesses” (as if the strengths are real but the weaknesses are imagined). I was a bit disappointed to find a few errors and inconsistencies, but they are relatively minor, like the usual misspelling of “Millican Brook”, but they will probably be corrected in the final report. Overall, the consultation with the public seems to have been useful and a good investment. The Community Profile

section of the report is also interesting. There are signs that the characteristics of the Town are changing. House prices in the Town have risen faster than those in nearby communities, including Rothesay and Quispamsis, indicating that people with more money are moving out this way. Unfortunately it also means that assessment will rise for longtime residents. The number of one-parent families was higher than I thought. In the decade 1996-2006 the

average age of the population increased by 5 years, which is quite a lot. But this is a tricky statistic because it mixes people getting older or dying with young families coming in. Of those who work, about 90% work outside the Town. No surprise, but that is good news and bad news. For example, many of them

will also spend their earnings outside the Town when they are at work. It also means that municipal services have to be geared to residential proper-ties, not businesses. There are sections on land

use, community organiza-tions and municipal services. Transportation got a lot of attention. There is a brief section on goals and actions. I might write about these in a future column. One subject that the

Background Report does not deal with is the big changes to municipalities proposed by the Provincial Government in 2008. The Government report did not specifically mention changes to Grand Bay-Westfield, but the possi-bility exists that this will be proposed, or even forced. Grand Bay-Westfield should include this possibility in its municipal planning process so it can be proactive if the change move forward. My view is that moving the

southern boundary of Grand Bay-Westfield would be good. There is a lot in common between the residents of the Town and those who live from Martinon to South Bay. A deeper analysis of popula-tion data and municipal services for these two areas would show that the South Bay-Martinon area has much more in common with Grand Bay-Westfield than it does with the rest of Saint John. A logical boundary would be from the South Bay bridge westward following roughly a line parallel to Gault Road, but not including the homes along Gault Road, with the boundary veering roughly westward towards Ferguson Lake and from there to some point on the western boundary of Saint John County. This would put the Crane

Mountain Landfill site entirely within Grand Bay-Westfield. The landfill is of the greatest interest to people who live from South Bay to Grand Bay, who are affected by potential water contamination from Crane Mountain. The new nature site on the

boundary of Martinon and Grand Bay-Westfield is also of great common interest,

PLEASE SEE FUTURE, Pg 5


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River Valley LifeHolly’s Half Marathon

When I met up with Holly Johnson she had already been walking on the treadmill for over two hours. She had covered just over seven miles. This day she wanted to put in three and a half hours, non-stop on the treadmill. It’s the time she has to make when she tackles her first half marathon at Disney World in January.

Holly spends much time these days walking and working out in the gym at the Human Performance C e n t r e in Grand

Bay-Westfield. Until the cold and the snow arrived she was putting in the miles walking around the new running track beside the arena. She’s a woman on a mission and nothing is going to stop her from reaching her goal.“You have a choice.” Says Johnson, “You can get healthy or

you can get sick and that’s the way I was headed and I love my kids and my husband too much to let that happen.”Holly has had an issue with weight all of her life but it

wasn’t until the birth of her twins a year ago that she decided to really do something about it. She says it sounds corny but she realized she might not be around for her family if she continued the way she was going. Johnson says diabetes and heart disease runs in her family and she knew she was at the point where something had to be done. “I could keep going on eating the way I was and not moving or I could start living,” she says. “This is like a rebirth.”Johnson began her rebirth by going to Weight Watchers

with a friend. She’s stuck to it and has lost over a hundred pounds. The exercise didn’t become part of her routine until about six months ago. She says she was 37 years old and had never exercised before in her life. An email from the Canadian Diabetes Association informing her about the event in Florida persuaded her to become part of Team Diabetes. She got to work raising the $4,500 required for the event and whipping herself into shape to complete the 13 mile course. With the added exercise of walking the track and treadmill and working out in the gym, Holly figures she’s about a 150 pounds lighter than her peak weight. She says she feels a lot better and the change has affected not only her life but that of her entire family.“It used to be the kids would ask are we going to

MacDonalds?” says Johnson, “ Now it’s are you going to the gym?” Holly says her five year old son says they shrink her

when she goes to her Weight Watchers meetings. She says losing weight, being active and getting healthier is the best thing she’s ever done personally and it’s great for the entire family. Johnson says they talk about eating healthy food and now check the ingredients of the food they eat.She says it’s the little things

that really make a differ-ence. Just the other day she was in a fitness store trying on some new clothes and running shoes and she says she’s never had the confidence to do that before. She says people who don’t have weight issues take it for granted that you can go into a fitting room and try on anything. Holly says this has been like a rebirth for her.“Life’s too short,” she says.

“You only have one body so take care of it and I sure didn’t do that for 36 years.”

Listen to the full audio inter-view with Holly Johnson on

River Valley Radio. Go to our webpage at rivervalleynews.

ca, click on River Valley Radio and follow the links to Hol-ly’s story. We’ll find out how Holly made out in Florida in the next issue of River Valley News. Part 2 of Holly’s inter-view will also be featured on

River Valley Radio.

Our theme for January is “Ride the Changes”School District 8 challenges us to look at change as

possibility. Let’s see it from a new perspective as an opportunity to grow and learn.

Thought for the Month:“Take a chance! All life is a chance. The man who goes

the furthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare.” Dale Carnegie January’s EYE SPY NuggetWe would like to share some

of the wonderful responses we received during our “EYE SPY what’s RIGHT” week held in the last week of May. These responses come from our community, our school staff and our students in District 8. Enjoy!∑ I want to celebrate my teacher Mme.Sawyer. She works

very hard teaching 3 classes of French and Social Studies. Something happened to a relative of our math teacher and Mme.Sawyer took on the role of teaching us Math on top of her normal subjects. Another thing is that I went into French Immersion this year and I really did not know how to speak French one bit! Here I am now, speaking French as if I knew French better than English. I just want to point this out ‘cause people don’t realize how much of her time (and all other teachers) she put into, 1-Learning the language of French. 2-Teaching others the language of French. Au revoir!!!!From a Grade 6 student at River Valley Middle SchoolFor more information on the Celebrate what’s RIGHT

with the world initiative, contact Joan Wilkins, Coordinator, School District 8 at 643-6884http://www.district8celebrate.org

Peter’s Pine Works

(506)-763-2921 Folding Adirondack Chairs

$85 each Peter Walsh - Hardings Point

River Valley Preschool, Daycare & After School Program

Westfield After School Program

RiverValley Radio

Areas only Licensed Full-Service Childcare Children Ages 2-12 Preschool Ages 2-4 506-738-8103


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River Valley LifeChristmas at Inglewood Manor

Greenwich Rec Association

The residents of Inglewood Manor on Inglewood Drive in Grand Bay-Westfield celebrated with one another at a Christmas party in the lounge on December 20th. Several games were enjoyed along with a Yankee swap that proved to be a lot of fun. A delicious hot and cold buffet was enjoyed at the close of the evening. Left to right Elizabeth Askwith (seated) Shirley Logan, Eleanor White, Percy Perrin, Marjorie Pay, Bill Charlton, Wanda Gallant, Pat Perrin, Peggy Charlton (seated)

Minister Jack Keir presented the Greenwich Recreation Association with approval for funding of $3,700 from RDC for the installation of an air conditioning unit.

Bill Fairbairn646-9000 [email protected] BILLWILL.CA Your Area Specialist

and this would simplify its management. There are other reasons as well, such as attending the same churches, shopping in the same stores notably between the Co-Op to the Grand Bay Post Office, and of course common interest in water recreation on the river and activities in the woods. On top of this, many residents of the River Valley part of Saint John are dissatisfied with their treatment by the City of Saint John. It might even help lower taxes both in Grand Bay-Westfield and in Saint John, by easing the burden on their services and by making ours operate with greater economies of scale. The revision of the Municipal

Plan for Grand Bay-Westfield provides an excellent oppor-tunity to open this topic for public discussion.

FUTURE from Page 3 Biodegradable Plastic Bags are Not the Answer

The Fundy Region Solid Waste Commission is asking resi-dences to double check plastic bags before recycling them at the Blue Bins or using them in their Green Cart Compost bin. Recently, some retail outlets have been introducing biode-

gradable plastic bags. Unfortunately these bags, including degradable and oxo-biodegradable bags cannot be recycled at the Blue Bins, nor can they be used in the Green Cart Compost program. Only compostable bags, which are marked with the

Biodegradable Product Institute’s logo (see below) are accept-able in the Green Cart Compost program. Biodegradable plastic bags do not meet compostable standards and will not break down in the compost program. “There is a big distinction between biodegradable and

compostable. Compostable means it will be consumed by microorganisms, biodegradable, on the other hand, simply means that it will change to a lower quality than its original form,” says Marc MacLeod, General Manager of the Fundy Region Solid Waste Commission.As for recycling these biodegradable bags, they are a source

of contamination when mixed with regular plastic bags. As well, the biodegradable bags are difficult to distinguish from other plastic bags. “Initiatives like NB Liquor’s decision to phase out degrad-

able plastic bags, and to encourage their customers to bring a reusable bag is the direction we should be heading,” comments MacLeod. “We have two great diversion programs in the Fundy Region. Our recycling which can recycle plastic bags and the compost program for food and yard waste. Biodegradable, degradable or oxo-biodegrad-able plastic bags do not fit into either of these programs and consequently threaten both of them.”

An unusually large crowd packed the GBW Council Meeting to hear details of the proposed Municipal Plan. Residents have until the February 16th Council Meeting to make written comments in support or opposition to the plan.

James Bogart CA Accounting Services

Gagetown, NB Tel: 488-2415 Fax: 488-3188

Donald G.J. CormierBarrister - Solicitor - Notary Tel: 674-1464 Fax: [email protected]

Real Estate & Morgages Will & Estates

Power of Attorney

doingstuffoutdoors.com


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Earlier this month I dropped by the Grand Bay-Westfield office of MLA Jack Keir. I wanted to find out from him what his main issues and priorities are for 2009. Keir is probably one of the busiest politicians in Fredericton. He’s not only the MLA for Fundy River Valley but also the Minister of Energy, Minister Responsible for Energy Efficiency and the Minister of Supply and Services. We covered a lot of ground in the interview and you can hear the entire audio interview by going to our webpage at rivervalleynews.ca and clicking on River Valley Radio. Here is a brief description of some of the highlights.The biggest issue Keir sees for 2009 is the affect of the uncer-

tain economy. He feels our area is going to be somewhat cushioned because of developments in the energy sector but he says we’re still going to feel it. Keir says we need a provincial stimulus package that will put people back to work.Keir says he expects to hear a positive announcement

regarding the next phase of Point Lepreau ll within the next couple of months. The next step includes an Environmental Impact Assessment and a site licensing application. He says he’s 80% confident the next stage will move forward but it doesn’t necessarily mean a second reactor will be built. But he’s hopeful. The final decision is still two or three years away.On the alternative energy front, Keir says he’s most proud

of what the government has done with renewable energy over the last couple of years. He says wind farms are coming on line and tidal power is being seriously considered for the Bay of Fundy. He says 15 potential sites are now being analyzed.Closer to home, Keir says he appreciates the impact the

problems with the Westfield Ferry are having, especially for people living on the Kingston Peninsula. He says the ferry freezing up in the ice was a problem last winter as well. He says the Department of Transportation is doing all it can to remedy the situation. Keir says staff have been working since Christmas Eve trying to free the ferry. He doesn’t know why it’s happening but he says it has to be resolved.Keir says the Welsford Bypass is progressing. He says the

budget is in place and agreements have been worked out with most of the landowners. Construction is due to start in the spring.He also says the Route 7 Interchange at Highland Road

Interview with Jackand the new collector road are getting closer. Keir says it’s needed if the town of Grand Bay-Westfield is going to grow. He says he’s been working hard with the mayor and the federal government on this project.

Go to rivervalleynews.ca to listen to the full ten minute interview with

Jack Keir. Click on River Valley Radio and play the edition called ‘Inter-view with Jack’. Visit the website often for addition-al stories and photographs as well as audio and video

features. rivervalleynews.ca

“Anxiety in children is originally nothing other than an expression of the fact they are feeling the loss of the person they love” ~ Sigmund Freud

It is not only adults who suffer from anxiety. It is quite common in children, although it manifests in different ways and may occur at different stages. A newborn baby may not really notice who is holding him, or care, so long as he is comfortable. A few months later, the baby may begin “making strange.” This is an early form of anxiety about the unknown. The toddler who resists going to

bed and keeps calling for Mom or Dad may be experiencing separation anxiety. The child who is afraid of the dark, or fears monsters is anxious about what cannot be seen. The older child who becomes afraid of “robbers” is

experiencing the anxiety that comes from realizing there are “bad” people out there and we may all, to an extent be vulnerable. All of these forms of anxiety are quite normal and generally

are outgrown in time. The child needs lots of reassurance when experiencing these fears. Getting angry or impatient will only raise their anxiety levels. More concerning is the anxiety that spills over into other

aspects of daily living, and begins to negatively impact the life of the child. If worry thoughts interfere with schoolwork, the problem clearly is more serious. If fears hold the child back from normal activities, more help is needed. The problem with anxiety is that it can tend to spread. As

the child fears more things and restricts activities more, he/she becomes more isolated and dependent on having parents near. This then makes it even harder to step out into the world. If reassurance and patience on your part does not seem to

be making things better for the child, it may be worthwhile to seek professional help.Gwen Randall-Young is an author and award-winning

Psychotherapist. Visit www.gwen.ca

Anxiety in Children


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Crane Mountain Enhancement Inc. (CMEI) is a council of 12 Directors which was created to fulfill one of the conditions for obtaining the operating approval of the Sanitary Landfill at Crane Mountain. The Directors are elected by the people who live near the landfill and represent their interests; the people who live near the landfill are called “the Host Community”. CMEI is also registered as

a New Brunswick Company and has an annual Operating Grant from the Fundy Region Solid Waste Commission (FRSWC) of approximately $22,000 per year. However, the Directors receive no pay and their services are given voluntarily. CMEI has also been known as the ‘Fundy Future Environment and Benefit Council’ (FFEBC) as this name was believed to describe what they do; however most people don’t understand its meaning and so it was recently changed back to Crane Mountain Enhancement Inc. which was the original name for the Council and is more descriptive as it shows the connection with the Crane Mountain landfill site.Many people in the Host

Community will remember the controversy when it was proposed in the late 1990’s that a Sanitary Landfill site be located at Crane Mountain. Feelings ran high and some residents posted signs on their property to lobby against the siting of a landfill at this location. Nonetheless, the old landfill site at Lorneville was full, the smaller uncontrolled dumpsites around the Province were being closed and a new site for a landfill for the solid waste from the Fundy Region had to be found somewhere.Because there was opposi-

tion to any new landfill site

by local residents, a team was created to establish the method by which the regional solid waste should be handled and to propose potential sites where a new landfill could be constructed. This team named Fundy Solid Waste Action Team (Fundy SWAT) was instructed to obtain extensive input from the public on all aspects of solid waste management. From their report, and after much heated discussion at all levels of government, the Crane Mountain site was selected and was legislated as the Fundy Regional Landfill site by the Provincial Government. More details of this selection process can be found on the Fundy Region Solid Waste Commission web site at www.fundyre-cycles.com Final approval for the construction of the landfill at Crane Mountain was given subject to certain terms and conditions, one of which was the establish-ment of a “Community Environmental Monitoring Committee”.As a concession to the

interests of the surrounding population and to conform to the terms and conditions for construction imposed by the Province, it was decided to create the Council now called CMEI to monitor and safeguard the interests and wellbeing of the Host Community and to require that a Host Community Enhancement Fund to be paid from the landfill tipping fees to provide benefits to the local area to compensate for the disadvantages of hosting a sanitary landfill site.In order to protect the

welfare and interests of the Host Community, CMEI were given a mandate to monitor the way in which the landfill is designed and operated, to become an inter-mediary by which concerns of residents of the Host

Community could be heard and brought to the attention of the Fundy Region Solid Waste Commission who control the operation of the landfill; to educate the public on the ways in which they can help to reduce waste, and to make recommenda-tions to the FRSWC on how the community enhance-ment money (about $75,000 per year) should be spent in the best interests of the Host Community. Considerable progress has

been made on all these activi-ties since the landfill opened in 1997. A comprehensive report on most aspects of the operation of the landfill was commissioned and paid for by CMEI and carried out by ADI Ltd., a New Brunswick Consulting Engineering firm with extensive experi-ence with landfill design and operation. ADI’s report “External Review of the Crane Mountain Landfill” came out in November 2005 and is available on the CMEI website www.cmei.ca . This report has been most useful and many of its recommen-dations have been adopted. A follow-up to this report is now being prepared and will be available (and posted on the website) sometime later this year.Two sets of aerial photo-

graphs are taken every year, one in the Spring and one in the Fall. These photos which are available on the website show the progress at the landfill in such areas as the building of new cells to contain the garbage, capping them, leachate management, groundwater and drainage management and the operation of the composting program. Scholarships have been

established for residents of the Host Community studying at UNB and the Community College. Grants have been given to local schools for environmental projects undertaken by the students. Visits to the land-fill by classes of students from local schools have been organized. Finally, recom-mendations have been made each year to the FRSWC on how the Community Enhancement grant money

should be spent. To date more than $500,000 has been provided to various community organizations for activities and projects in the Host Community area.These activities are

described in more detail on the CMEI website at www.cmei.ca and we encourage you to visit our site and see what we are doing. If you have a concern about landfill activities, contact one of our Directors or send us an email and someone will get back to you. Part of our mandate is to represent your concerns to the FRSWC.The Directors of CMEI

have been concerned that many people in the Host Community do not know about CMEI and what they do. It is important that support be given to our activities. If there is no support we may lose some of the rights and privileges that we were given when the landfill was opened. The people who live outside our community have no interest in maintaining these benefits and indeed the tipping fees would be reduced if these benefits were not paid. You can support us by coming to our annual meeting, or by letting your MLA (Jack Keir) know that you agree (or disagree) with what we are doing, or by sending us an email or letter with your questions or suggestions. Even better, come to our Annual General Meeting (date and location will be posted in this paper – it is usually held in April or May) and stand for election as a Director or vote for someone you want to be a Director.We will post more informa-

tion in this newspaper about our activities and encourage you to visit our website www.cmei.ca to learn about what we are doing.

Crane Mountain Enhancement Inc What is it?

What does it do for you?by Roger McKenzie, Treasurer, CMEI

New Year’s Eve Family Skate. Skating, hot dogs, hot chocolate and hot apple cider were again enjoyed by many of the area’s residents as we said “good-bye” to 2008 and welcomed in the New Year. Crane Mountain

Enhancements Inc.; River Valley Community Center Foundation Inc.; Town of Grand Bay-Westfield; Kiwanis Club of Western Kings; Pizza Shack; Tim Hortons; Scholtens; River Road Co-op; Sobeys; Laurie Boakes; Ann McGinley; Trish Smart; Jennifer Lockhart; Rachelle Bastarache; Dallas Urqhuart; Eric Estabrooks; Roibe, Hayley and fiends. From the goodwill donations

made at the door, the Chamber was able to present cheques of $250 each to the Ketepec Scouts, the River Valley Food Bank and the River Valley Community Center.Yours truly,Mr. Wayne GanongPresident RVCC

LettersDear Editor,The River Valley Chamber

of Commerce and our 75 members wish to express our gratitude to the following organizations, businesses and individuals who assisted the Chamberin its 4th Annual

Poverty Lesson Cross Curriculum

LearningA very good cross curriculum

learning experience that worked for my class was a visit by the Urban Core Support Network . Four Ladies held a poverty work-shop with 3 of our classes . The kids really enjoyed it and found the learning experience very practical and relevant . The students had to work out a budget (Math and Economics) and discuss social issues (Poli-Sci, World Issues, Sociolgy, Family Studies, Grade 9 Social Studies, Health and Phys Ed). The students realized understanding , empathy and compassion are very important character traits. The Ladies can do more than one class at a time. For me as a teacher it helped me to understand where many of my kids are coming from . This would also be a great PD session for teachers.Contact Lyn King 648-4745Sincerely, Barry Ogden


8

Westfield Teachers Defeat RCMP Team

The Westfield school teachers played their 3rd annual ball hock-ey game vs. the Westfield RCMP. The teachers won the game 9 to 2. The RCMP members who played are: Cst. Bourgeois, Cst. Murray, Cst. MaKinnon, Cst. Desrosiers and their goalie Tristan Desrosiers. The members of the teachers team were: M. Lavoie, Mme Deschenes, Mrs. Turner, Mrs. Shipley, Mrs. Venedam, Mrs. Desrosiers and their goalie Keegan Hartery.


9

Attention Photographers! Send us your best digital pictures of interesting people, places and things in the River Valley. It can be a landscape, nature photo, action shot... whatever you want. Be Creative. The photos

should reflect some aspect of life in the River Valley. We’ll publish the best of the

photographs we receive and the shooter of the top picture wins a Foot-Long Meal Deal courtesy Subway in Grand Bay-Westfield.

All photos received will also be featured on our webpage at rivervalleynews.ca

Email your photos to

[email protected]

Ski tracks at Westfield Golf Course

Now that we are well into January and the Holiday Season far behind us, what is there for the “Virtuous Gardener “ to do? Well, the “VG” can enjoy the pleasures of a fireside chair and all the gardening catalogues and magazines that have appeared in the mail since last December. For the rest of us who have not completed the chores left over from the last gardening season there is work to be done.I am ashamed to

admit that, lurking in one corner of the garage, there is a wheelbarrow full of dirty, rusty and splin-tery gardening tools. In another corner is a pile of dirty flower pots and containers just waiting to be prepared for the 2009 season, and around and about is the lawn mower and other power tools totally neglected since last year and waiting for attention. What to do? Where to start? Getting rid of the pots and containers is a simple job. Wash them in soapy water to remove

dirt. Then rinse them in a bucket of bleach solution (2 Tablespoons/1 gallon water or 30 ml / 4 litres water) When all the pots have been washed and bleached rinse them in fresh water (plant roots are damaged by bleach) and stack them according to size. Tools take more effort and time but a small amount of care will increase their life. Wash

them in soapy water to remove dirt. Inspect working surfaces and handles for damage. Clean metal surfaces with steel wool to remove rust. Sharpen spades, hoes and edgers with a mill file using the coarse side first then the fine side for smoothing the final edge. Wipe them with an oily cloth to prevent rust from forming. Wooden handles should be smoothed with sandpaper to remove splinters and oiled with linseed oil. Shears, pruners and loppers should be disassembled to clean and sharpen them properly.

This is easily accomplished with wrenches and pliers available in most households. Scrub each part with kerosene using an old toothbrush. This will remove sap that has built up over the season. I then sharpen them using a diamond sharpening stick which is fine enough to give them a nicely sharpened edge without removing too much metal. When this is done reassemble them, oil the hinges and put grease on the springs. Pruning saws I just clean and oil. Many now come with replaceable blades and it is cheaper

to replace the blades than to get them professionally sharpened. If you have a greasy thumb, a degree in engineering, a comprehensive set of tools and/

or a masochistic streak, there is no reason why you cannot service the power equipment yourself. I find it much easier to take my machines to the service centre. January is an excellent month to do so as they are less busy than in the Spring and the machines will be returned in good time for the start of the gardening season. When all this work is completed the now “Truly Virtuous Gardener” deserves the comfort-

able fireside chair!

Virtuous Gardener A Column from the River Valley Garden ClubBy the Greenish Thumb


10

The Good Old Days inGrand Bay-Westfieldby Muray Gault

Thoughts on Retirement Everywhere I go, people inevitably ask me

how retirement is going. I’m amazed so many people know that I retired just before Christmas, but then when you’re on the radio everyday and you’re coming retirement is mentioned over and over, it makes sense that listeners are going to be aware of it. So given all the questions, I’ve decided to write a little about this new phase of life called retirement. I’ve done a lot of research on the topic. You have to because there’s a lot you need to know and many decisions you must make before taking the plunge. The biggest concern of course is financial. All the literature you read on retirement and the seminars you attend all recommend you find a good financial planner to help your through the process. I wasn’t going to do that because I thought I understood most of the financial implications, but I didn’t. There are so many details, it’s almost impos-sible to do it all on your own. So I went to a planner and I’m glad I did. The other important decision you have to make is what you’re going to do in retirement. I can’t imagine just deciding one day to retire because you can and then trying to figure out what to do with the rest of your life. We don’t work that way. You just can’t suddenly stop doing what you’ve been doing every weekday for thirty or more years and do nothing. You need a plan. In my case I knew I was going to continue working even before I agreed to take over this newspaper. I had a number of projects in the works. Once the River Valley News came into the picture, my retirement became more of a career change than the traditional kind of retirement our parents practiced. There are no winters in Florida or spending time under a palm tree by a pool for me and for many others who retire in their mid 50’s.

Last fall I did a special CBC radio program about retirement. I spoke to retired people from all over the Maritimes who are in this next stage of their lives. Some no longer work but most do. They either do part time work that interests them or they are self-employed. Even those who don’t have a job, spend a lot of time volunteering and helping others. One thing they all agree on is how busy they are. Most of the retired people I know say they’re so busy now they don’t know how they ever had time to work. So far that certainly applies to me. Since taking over this newspaper at the beginning of the year, it’s been busier than I expected it to be. There’s a lot to setting up a business and so many details that have to be dealt with. There’s a steep learning curve involved when you’ve never done it before. With any business there are frus-trations and delays that you’re forced to deal with. So it’s busy, especially in the initial stages of setting things up and making sure everything gets done. I’m sure that will change but even though it’s busy, it’s still a lot of fun. That’s the common denominator I’ve found with all the retirees I’ve talked to. They’re all enjoying themselves, whether they’re working or not. They look at retirement as perhaps the best time of their lives. They’ve paid their dues and aren’t afraid to say no when they’re asked to do something they don’t want to do. Even if they don’t have as much money as they had before, they’re in control of their lives and their future. Retirement can be very liberating. A recently retired man about my age said it best. He told me at first he worried about money but soon realized he didn’t need as much as he thought he did. He said those ‘Freedom 55’ style commercials where they say you need a zillion dollars to retire comfortably, are just meant to scare you. He says if you think you have enough money to retire, you probably do and just do it. Don’t worry about it. He says life is short and we all get only one kick at the can. He says there’s more to life than going to that same job you’ve been doing for years. Life is an adventure, he says. Live it and do those things you really want to do. He’s right.

River Valley Rambler by Gary Mittelholtz

It was in 1948 that my father bought the store in Grand Bay and moved the family to Westfield. My two sisters and I were completely against the move as we would be leaving our familiar surroundings and friends and going to the country where we would know no one or could find nothing to do. We rented a lovely house in Hillandale from Mrs. Gregg (the mother of the Most Venerable Reverend Arthur Gregg of Country Club Drive), which is now owned by Doug and Connie Allen. This was to see if we could adjust to country living. We were sixteen, fourteen and twelve years old at a very adaptable stage in our lives and soon were in love with the wonders of our new surroundings. The next year, Dad bought a house in Ononette which is now owned by Hayward and Linda Aiton. This home had a small apple orchard in the backyard which attracted deer and beyond that was the Westfield Golf Course (first hole).Soon after moving in, I decided to walk to Ivan Keirstead’s

store (now Westfield country Store) and when I came to Frosty Hollow, at the foot of the Backland Road, I noticed a path that started up through the field where Timberlee Manor Road is now. There was a small gravel pit and a family of foxes had made a home in there. It was very exciting as I had never seen a fox before. I saw one large one and several cubs who were wrestling and playing on the grass and gravel. After watching them for a while I continued to follow the path which led me up to the top of the hill and into a wooded area. After a few minutes, I came

to a cleared space with a circular track about a quarter mile in circumference. The track was directly beyond the gravel pit on Ballantyne Drive, although you couldn’t tell from the track due to the woods on all sides. The existence of this circular track or path was a mystery to me and it was much later that I was told it was a race course for the horses that Mr. L.V. Lingley kept. The Lingley’s lived in the large house next to the Westfield United Church and kept cows and horses. We bought our milk from them for a short period. I do not claim this use of the track to be true and I will stand corrected if Mr. Lingley’s daughters, Marilyn Patstone and Lois Sherwood, wish to do so.I haven’t been back to that path in many years and it prob-

ably doesn’t exist anymore, but the last time I was there behind the gravel pit, about half of the race track had been gouged away for gravel. No doubt the rest of it is now part of the fill at Brundage Point.The path continued through the woods and eventually

came out in the field at the top of the hill behind Ivan’s store. From this vantage point, I could see the little pond made from a dammed up brook that we later used for our first skate of the year.Ballantyne Place was named for Miss Ella Ballantyne who

lived in the large house at the foot of the road on the left, which contained the Westfield Centre Post Office. The rail-road station, which was just across the road had a sign that called it Hillandale. Further up the road there was another railroad station (Glen ‘Snooks’ Caulfield agent) which read Westfield Beach, although the post office in that area was just Westfield. Snooks and Eloise Caulfield were great friends of my parents even though there was quite an age difference. The Caulfields still live there on the Hall Road.

When we first met Ella Ballantyne she was quite an age but as sharp as a tack. She also owned the gravel pit which is now owned by my nephews, Paul and Peter Hobart (Keel Construction). It kept Ella busy counting the trucks as they came from the pit with a load of gravel. If you had to call the post office, you would ask the operator for the two digit number and Ella would answer by saying, “Start talkin”. She kept a close watch on the mail arriving in case it contained cheques and if so, she would call and ask for it to be picked up because “I couldn’t sleep with all that money in my house. Of course Dad always pretended that the cheques were a lot larger than they really were.If you have stories or phot-

graphs from the past, get in touch with us here at the paper. We’d like to feature your memories in future issues. Call or email us at 217-0224 or [email protected] -Gary


11

Trail Magic (Sept. 6 & 7, 2003)by Lorne Blagdon

the night. We missed the trail

to her truck the first time and had to double back. We started hiking to Dalton. By chance when we crossed US 20 highway we met Rob Bird letting off some SoBos (Southbounders). Rob Bird was a “Trail Angel” who opened his home up to thru-hikers passing thru Dalton. We planned on staying at his place for the night.Ever since we left the

state of New York, the forest looked more and more like it does at home but today I knew I was getting close to home because I saw my first moose track. When we crossed a road we stopped at the home of the “Cookie Lady’s”. This woman made cookies and gave them to thru-hikers. There was a “hiker box” on her door step. (A hiker box is a box full of stuff that hikers did not want but put it into the box because it could be useful to another hiker). I pulled a bag of pink crystals out of the box thinking that I had just scored some delicious drink. Upon sticking my wetted finger into the bag and into my mouth I got a very unpleasant surprise. It was laundry

We left our campsite early on September 6th. We hiked to Upper Goose Pond.. There was a beautiful cabin there on a lake. It had a fireplace and two stories and was equipped with propane lights and a propane stove down stairs. The caretaker Mary Pat was a nice woman and very friendly and hospitable. There was a man visiting her which I assumed to be her boyfriend. He looked older than me but of course I thought I was 20.Naomi and I got ourselves settled in. Later a couple of

section hikers showed up. They were a nice couple who were falling in love. They too, looked older. It appeared that they were getting over previous marriages.Anyways, I lugged about a half dozen pails of water from

the lake for the camp. Naomi cooked supper on the stove and I had a coffee. Mary Pat and her boyfriend built a fire in the fireplace. We all sat around the fire while I sang and played my guitar. I sang just about every song I knew and they all seemed to thoroughly enjoy it even though I felt as if I was somewhat out of practice.The next morning Mary Pat cooked all-you-can-eat

pancakes. I did not record how many I ate but I remember that I stopped well short of being full because I was embarrassed of the amount I consumed. I did not want to keep Mary Pat working. She told us where she parked her truck and said that we could leave our packs in it and she would take them to Dalton, Massachusetts. Dalton was our destination for

detergent! YUK! We arrived at Dalton at

7pm and the guy at the Shell gas station gave us direc-tions to Rob Bird’s place. We just missed Rob taking thru-hikers to an All-You-Can-Eat restaurant. “Bear Bait” and “Half Step” were there. Naomi and I ordered a pizza. Later Rob returned with Jeff and Alex (two SoBo thru-hikers) and had us sign a birthday card for Jeff. I stayed up until 2am jamming with Jeff and Rob, who was a professional musician. When I sang a song that I had written entitled Trail Magic, one of the hikers said, “I’d pay to hear that song.” This inspired me because earlier in the day when I told Naomi that I was thinking of making an Appalachian Trail CD she posed the question, “Who is going to pay to hear your songs, Dad?”I went to bed a happy man.


12

Riding ReportHon. Jack Keir

MLA Fundy River ValleyMinister of

EnergyIn December a record $661.4 million capital budget was

announced for New Brunswick, the largest capital invest-ment in the province’s history. It is the beginning of a two year $1.2 billion capital investment plan. This is great news for our Province and will help provide jobs for New Brunswickers and assist us in moving forward with our Self-Sufficiency Agenda. This will provide much-needed construction activity in highways, educational facilities and the health-care sector across the province.Education: Of the more than $160 million being spent on

our colleges and universities, Saint John will receive $44 million for an expansion of it’s community college. In the K-12 system, a total of $ 49.5 million will be invested in new construction and renovations in 2009-10. Transportation: Major projects include the beginning of

the $60 million for the Route 7 Welsford bypass. Also $268.1 million will be invested to construct and upgrade provincial roads, highways and bridges.Health Care: Capital investments of $67 million in the

health-care system will be made in 2009-10. Funding will be provided to continue work on the new emergency depart-ment with Level 1 trauma designation at the Saint John Regional Hospital and renovations will also be made in Saint John to help accommodate the new English-language medical education program. Investment will be made in improving radiation therapy technology at Saint John Regional hospital.Municipal Infrastructure: Investments will include $12.4

million to improve infrastructure across the province. Also $10 million is being invested to provide safe drinking water and more effective waste water treatment facilities.Safety and Security: More than $40 million will be invested

in this sector. Saint John, through public-private partner-ships will continue the process for the new courthouse

facilities.Tourism: The tourism

sector will receive $4 million in infrastructure invest-ments for improvements to landmarks and continued repairs to the Sentier NB Trail bridges.This capital spending plan

will encourage consumer and business confidence, and provided much need jobs throughout the province.If you have comments

regarding this article or any other subject please contact my office at 738-8696 or email me at [email protected].

False 911 Calls Hinder District

3 RCMPIt is a three digit number

that can save your life and have emergency personnel on their way in just moments; however, it is a number that is being abused on what seems to be a regular basis.District 3 RCMP have

collected the statistics for 2008; within those stats, a number that would surprise most. 1, 047 false 911 calls were made throughout the year, a number that makes it a cause for concern. Because of these concerns; we thought that we would share some facts with you. EFFECTS OF FALSE 911 CALLS:-Dispatched personnel

believe they are on their way to a crisis

-Every 911 call must be attended to; therefore, during times of false calls, members are being taken away from other duties of importance-In the event of a real

emergency, there could be a lack of members available to attend (if others are called away on a false 911)CONSEQUENCES OF

MAKING FALSE 911 CALLS:Making false 911 calls is

a criminal offense with a maximum sentence of up to two years.FOOD FOR THOUGHT:-Never have 911 saved into

your speed dial, either at home or on your cell phone-Only use 911 for emergen-

cies which by definition is, a sudden unforeseen crisis usually involving danger that requires immediate action-Never call 911 for

informationRemember that false 911

calls take your members away from active duties, and can jeopardize every-one’s well being and safety; especially those that need immediate assistance and cannot have access to it at their time of need.

CONTACT NUMBERS: Emergency: 911 GrandBay-Westfield Detachment: 506-757-1020After-hours (after 4:30 PM

and weekends): 1-888-506-7267

Volunteer Opportunity

The Town of Grand Bay-Westfield is seeking individuals to work with its Tourism Committee to help encourage and grow tourism opportunities in our Town. With the addition of Brundage Point River Centre, this is an exciting time to promote our entire community as a unique tourism destination. We are looking for individuals who have an interest, experience or expertise in the areas of marketing, fund develop-ment, promoting the history of our Town, and planning community events including the free family orientated Community Sundays which are held at Brundage Point River Centre. As well, we are planning to host an annual community event that will be held mid-June with a river focused theme. The Tourism Committee’s

vision is “to be a vibrant, friendly community that is well recognized for sustain-able and respectful use of natural resources and year-round recreation and cultural activities”. We know Grand Bay-Westfield is a wonderful community to live in, to visit and to explore. We would welcome your talent, your ideas and your experience. If you are interested in serving on the Tourism Committee in any of these roles, please submit your name and tele-phone number to the Town Office by calling 738-6404. The Committee Chairperson will contact you to provide further information about the Tourism Committee.


13

Ottawa Report

As this column is written, Parliamentarians and Canadians are waiting for the Budget presentation, a Budget designed to guide the country through these uncertain times. The serious challenges facing the global economy have left many Canadians worried about their jobs, their savings and their pensions. Even though these problems originated outside our country, there rightly remains an expectation for stable leadership to protect our economy for the future. That this kind of leadership has been provided can be seen through the actions of the government since 2006 including paying down a significant portion of the federal debt, reducing corporate, personal and sales taxes, helping senior citizens through various measures including the protection of pensions and providing support to sectors such as one-industry towns and the auto industry. As part of the current process, members of Cabinet and the Prime Minister have been reaching out to the provinces and municipalities, businesses, workers, economic experts and other political parties. The Budget will be designed to accelerate infrastructure

investments to create needed jobs. It will help workers and communities left at risk by the recessions. It will ensure that individuals and businesses have access to the credit they need. Because the country’s debt was reduced, there is now room to run a deliberate short-term deficit without putting our children’s future at risk. That deficit could be in the range of $20 Billion to $30 Billion but will avoid any long-term structural deficit. As in previous budget documents, this one is expected to provide tax relief. Those previous measures have made a significant contribution to the bottom lines and financial flexibility of individual Canadians and businesses. The Tax Free Savings Account announced last year is a flexible savings vehicle with room for contributions of up to $5,000 per year with no tax applied to investment income including capital gains and withdrawals. When the 2008 tax returns are processed this year, taxpayers will enjoy a 25% reduction in the required minimum RRIF with-drawal to help retirees affected by the market downturn by allowing them to keep more of their savings in RRIFs. The Registered Education Savings Plans have been made more responsible to the changing needs of families and students. The Registered Disability Savings Plan helps parents to save to ensure the long-term financial security of a child with a severe disability. Employers now have more flexibility to offer phased retirement programs and to increase the reward to older workers to allow them to receive pension benefits while also receiving further benefits subject to certain constraints. Long-haul truck drivers have been able to enjoy increased deductions for the cost of food and beverages. The general corporate income tax rate and the small business tax rate were both reduced last year. There is in effect a temporary incentive for manufacturing and processing machinery and equipment and incentives for mineral exploration and clean

energy generation as well as for scientific research and experimental development. Most people will recall that the Goods and Services Tax, the GST, was reduced from 7% to 6% and then to 5%. Budget 2008 expanded the list of tax exempt health care services to include training to help individuals cope with disabilities or disorders such as autism and for such assistive devices as service dogs.The government considers

it has a clear mandate to continue to be responsible in the management of the economy and will neither compromise on that respon-sibility nor when it comes to national unity.(Greg Thompson is MP for

New Brunswick Southwest and Minister of Veterans Affairs.)

Hon. Greg ThompsonMP New Brunswick

SouthwestMinister of

Veteran’s Affairs

Make TFSA transfers without the pain of tax gainBy now, you probably know

about the Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) that became available on January 2nd. And you may be wondering if it’s a good idea to transfer some of your existing non-registered assets into a TFSA to avoid future taxation on the investment income. Here’s your answer: Yes it is a good strategy – as long as you are aware of the tax implications.First let’s review the benefits

of a TFSA:- It allows you to use your

savings to invest in eligible investment vehicles and the capital gains and other investment income earned in your TFSA will not be taxed.- Eligible’ investments are

generally the same as those allowed in an RRSP – mutual funds, publicly-traded secu-rities, government bonds, GICs, and segregated funds.- But investment income,

including capital gains, earned in the TFSA will

not be taxed, even when withdrawn.- TFSA funds can be with-

drawn at any time for any purpose.- Withdrawn amounts can

be put back into a TFSA without reducing contribu-tion room.- Unused TFSA contribution

room can be carried forward to future years.Now let’s look at how

to make tax-advantaged transfers:In most cases, you will be

‘selling’ an existing invest-ment and re-investing the money in your TFSA.If you’re selling a GIC-type

investment, no problem – you’re moving from an investment with fully taxable income into a tax-free invest-ment vehicle.However, if you are selling

non-registered investments that produce capital gains or losses, factor in the tax consequences:If your non-registered

investment is in a ‘gain’ position, making an ‘in-kind’ transfer directly into your TFSA will trigger a

‘disposition’ and you’ll pay tax in the year of the transfer on 50% of the gains.If that investment is in a

‘loss’ position and you make an ‘in-kind’ disposition into your TFSA, you will lose the loss because the CRA will deem it to be ‘nil’.

But … as long as you transfer the investment into another investment inside the TFSA you will trigger the loss and be able to use it against ‘gains’ made in the past three years, this year, or in the future. If you wish the TFSA to hold the original investment, you must wait at least 30 days before the TFSA purchases this investment to be able to use the loss.Tax planning and the

effective use of TFSAs are essential parts of almost any financial plan.This column, written by

Investors Group Financial Services Inc., presents general information only and is not a solicitation to buy or sell any investments. Contact a financial consul-tant for specific advice about your circumstances.

Tax Tips

Keith Hermack, Investors

Valentines Day is Coming

February 14th

One way to tell that special person in your life what they mean to you

is through a Valentines

Classified in River Valley News. Special Rates

Call 217-0224 for details.


14

Church Service DirectoriesRiver Valley

Wesleyan Church

45 Ridge Way - Valley View Estates Pastor: Rev. Dave McElhinney

Office Phone: 738-3669

Sunday Services

Morning worship - 10:30 am Preschool Kid’s Park -

10:45-12:15 Sunday School Kid’s Time -

11:00-12:15 Youth Gathering - Friday

Night at 7pm

St. Matthew Catholic Church

P.O. Box 3100 Grand Bay-Westfield, NB

E5K 4V3506-757-2274

[email protected]: Rev. Brian Hansen

Mass TimesSaturday - 5:30 pmSunday - 11:00 am

Reconciliation (Confession) following the 5:30 Saturday

Mass

Grand Bay Baptist Church77 Woolastook Drive

Grand Bay-Westfield ~ 738-8423

Sunday Worship at 8:30 & 11:00am, Sunday School 9:45am

Parent/Child Group (0-4 yrs) – Tuesday 10:00am-noon

TeamKID – Wednesdays 6:30pm

Friday Youth Groups7:00-8:30pm - Grades 6/78:00-9:30pm - Grades 8/9

7:00-9:00pm – Grades 10-12

Senior Pastor: Edward Powell, Associate Pastor of Youth: Adrian Gardner

Westfield School Sports

The Canadians won the Grade 5 Boys ball hockey intramurals.

These girls won the Grade 5 girls soccer intramurals.

Westfield school won the 2nd District 8 Grade 5 Girls Soccer Tournament.

The Avalanche won the Grade 5 mixed soccer intramurals.

Westfield school won the 2nd District 8 Grade 5 boys soccer tournament.

The Westfield teachers won the Scotia Bank Cup against a team of Grade 5 students.

TWO RIVERS PASTORAL CHARGE

Bayswater-Summerville Long Reach Westfield

United Churches

Minister: Rev. Elizabeth Stevenson Church Office: 757-2201 Website: www.2riversunited.com

Feb 1 Summerville 9:30 am Westfield 11:00 am Westfield Sunday School 10:45 am

Feb 8 Summerville 9:30 am Westfield 11:00 am Westfield Sunday School 10:45 am


15

ClassifiedsFOR SALE MEMORIAMS

For Hire: 30 H.P. Kubota Tractor for digging, ditching and landscaping.Snow plowing only

within 1 mile of Brandy Point Estates.

Call Bruce at 738-8057

SMITH, DAVID - In loving memory of my husband David who passed away 16th January 2004.

They say there is a reason. They say time will heal. But neither time, nor reason will change the way I feel.

My heart still aches with sadness. My secret tears still flow. In my Heart forever. I will never let you go.

Forever loved and remembered, LOVE LINDA

In memory of Jody Marr - January 7, 2007 A special smile. A special face. In our hearts, a special place.

Nicole, Alex, Ty, Jesse, Lorna, Frank, Shawn, Kim, Wyatt

In memory of our Dad Jody Marr- January 7, 2007 We think of you in silence No one can see us weep

Many tears are shed when others are asleep Love you Dad

Sons Alex, Tyler & Jesse

LORD, MISTYDAWN E. In sad and loving memory of my wife, Misty whom God called home,

February 4th. 2007 Misty, I can’t reach out and touch you. But I know you are near.

You will always walk beside me. As I face another year. As I travel down life’s pathway. And the days turn into years, You are always in my memory. Behind the smiles and tears.

Forever and always in my heart, Your loving husband, Dennis

LORD, MISTYDAWN E. In sad and loving memory of our daughter-in-law and sister-in-law

Misty, whom God called home February 4th. 2007 Misty, Time may hide the sadness, Like a smile that hides the tears.

But precious memories never fade, Despite the passing years. You were and shall always be,

The brightest rose in the middle of a field of flowers, in the winter time. We all miss you so very much.

Heartbreakingly missed by, Mother-in-law, Susan, Father-in-law, Dennis

The Lord Families, The MacEachern Family, The Billiard Family The LeBlanc Family, The Hooper Family

Community EventsBREAKFAST

Queenstown Orange Hall Sat Jan. 31 Sat., Feb. 14 & 28

8 AM--10 AM Adults $6, Children $3. Sponsored by LOL & LOBA. Menu: Bacon, Eggs, Sausage,

Pancakes, Coffee, Tea. Come out and share time with

your neighbours. Card parties every Wed. 7:30 PM

Queenstown Orange Hall

River Valley Garden Club Join us Thursday, February 12

2009 as we present William Sutton who will bee sharing his

knowledge on “Bees & other pollinators”. Are bees becoming

extinct? How will we grow flowers, fruits and vegetables

without pollination. How can we help. Join our discussion.

We meet every second Thursday of the month at 7 pm in the

Grand Bay Room at the Centrum in Grand Bay. For more info.

contact Joanna Hare, 738-2485. Next month, Bob Osborn from Corn Hill Nursery talks about Rhododendrons & Azaleas.

The first Human Performance Centre education session is

Thursday Feb 5/2008 at 7:00PM in the Activity Room in the River Valley Community Centre (Rink). Trish Sennett will be discussing

the topic of female urinary incontinence. The session will

last one hour and is free.

February programs at the West Branch Library

Super Saturday February 7, 2:00 - 4:00 pm.

Make a special Valentine for someone you lov. This program is

for children of all ages. Heritage Tea

Friday, February 13, 2:30 pm. “All Aboard”, Steve Boyko, New Brunswick Railway Museum &

Gary Hughes, Curator of History and Technology, New Brunswick

Museum together will give a presentation on the history of

trains, sheds and round houses of Saint John & New Brunswick. The

model train display is courtesy of The Saint John Society of

Model Railroaders. Tea and light refreshments.

Vacation Destination for You and Me March Break 2009

Kick-Off – Saturday, February 28, 2:00 – 4:00pm. Have your picture taken with the Library’s favourite animated characters. Snap It!

Print it! Frame it! No cost! Pick up a March Break Flyer on your

next visit.

Heritage Week at Market Square Please join us in the Atrium

at Market Square to celebrate Heritage Week by enjoying “A

Look At Our Past, Saint John and Area” exhibition.

Old Photo Displays, Aviation and Railroad Displays, Books, and lots more! Saturday February 7

10am-4pm Free Admission For more information, 672-8601

or 658-1430A big thank you to Kevin, Barb

and Ben McCrossin of GrandBay-Westfield who came to our aid

on Christmas Eve after we rolled our truck on Highway 7. You were

there for us when we needed help. You’re kindness will never be forgotten. Also thanks to Paul and Karen Hobart for picking us

up on the highway that night. Lloyd and Marlene Chappel

THANK YOU

I wish to thank everyone who helped to make my 90th birthday

celebration such a special event. Thanks to my friends and neighbours, to my family, and to Greenwich Branch # 87 Legion members and friends.

You all helped to make it a day to remember.

Gordon Richards

In loving memory of our Dad, Allison (Joe ) Briggs who passed away on February 23, 2008. It is hard to believe Dad it has been a year all

ready. We miss the Sunday drives with you. But we know that you and Mom are together again now and happy, so we can’t be sad. We will all

be together one day again, so for now, rest in peace. Miss and love you Jane & Chris, Ken

The family of the late Zelda Briggs wishes to show their deep

appreciation to all their friends and neighbours who visited during our time of sorrow. Special thanks

to cousin Paulina Morgan and daughter Lori for traveling from

Ontario to be with us. Mom would have been so pleased. Thanks for

the special care that was given to Mom on 4B South. Thank you

to Archdeacon Vicars Hodge and Eleanor Dryden for their part

in the service. Sincere thanks to Brenan’s Bay View for their

kindness to us at this time. Thank you to Marie Hamilton for all the memories of Aunt La La (Eulogy) It was most appreciated. In lieu of replies to memorial cards, a donation has been made to the

Head Trauma Unit at the Regional Hospital

God Bless Sincerely

Jane and Chris Byers Kenneth Kelly

50/50 BINGO AT THE

WIRRAL HALL SATURDAY, FEB. 7, 2009

7:00 PM WIRRAL HALL

50/50 DRAW & CANTEEN SPONSORED BY THE WIRRAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION FOR MORE INFORMATION,

CALL 687-4585/687-4300

February 18th 2009 How to Control Liability

and Risks (Insurance and Liability for non-profit or other

organizations.)

At this session you will learn what coverage Non Profits and private agencies should have to protect

the Organization and the people it serves. This workshop will focus on increasing your organizations

knowledge of the insurance industry, its products, and provide answers to your questions about

adequate coverage. Location: Saint John Volunteer

Centre, 66 Waterloo Street, Training Room Suite 224

Pre register call 506-658-1555 or Toll free 1-877-332-1555 or email

[email protected] Registration: 11:30 am to 12 Noon

Workshop: 12 Noon to 1: pm Fee: $15.00

One way to tell that special person in your life what they

mean to you is through a Valentines

Classified in River Valley News. Special Rates Call

217-0224 for details.


16

Doing Stuff Outdoors by Gary MittelholtzAt first it was difficult hearing the birds for all the dogs barking.

It was early in the morning and we were down a side road near the KBM. I’m sure anyone looking out their window and seeing three men with binoculars standing in the middle of the street would have been a little suspicious. Our presence sure wasn’t overlooked by the neighbourhood dogs who started yapping the minute we arrived. But soon the birds found us too. We had a little help in our mission from an iPod with the sound of a screech owl coming out of its attached speakers. This really brought out the birds but more about that later.Just after Christmas I accompanied long time birders Richard

Blacquiere and Harvey McLeod on the annual Christmas Bird Count. They were responsible for surveying a 24 kilometer circle of West Saint John for this years count. The region included the Harbour Bridge, an area along the River Road and the Crane Mountain

Landfill. They invited me along and our job that morning was to identify and count as many different bird species and indi-vidual birds as possible and record the information.The Christmas Bird Count has a long tradition. This is the

109th edition of a practice that began in the early days of the 20th century. Prior to the turn of the century people took part in a holiday custom known as the Christmas ‘Side Hunt’. The goal was to go out with guns and shoot as many birds and animals as you could. The side with the biggest pile of feathers

and fur won. Conservation was beginning about that time and soon binoculars replaced the guns. That first bird count in 1900 attracted 27 birders from Toronto to Pacific Grove, California and they identified a total of 90 species. Farmer William H. Moore of Scotch Lake, near Mactaquac, reported a list of 10 species seen near his home on Christmas Day, 1900. But for the next fifty years only a handful of counts were conducted here. That changed in the mid 50’s and this years count brought out tens of thousands of volunteers from all over the America’s including many from here in New Brunswick. That first stop by the KBM proved to be gold. For some reason

the sounds from the iPod attract the birds like bees to honey. This practice is common around New Brunswick but frowned upon in some parts of the birding world. But the audio entice-ment did the job and soon we were surrounded by twenty to thirty birds. We counted eight bluejays, numerous chickadees and to our surprise two robins. They usually head south for the winter but some hang around if the food is there. Obviously these two were finding enough to eat.Our next stop was truly the birding Mecca of this area. We

spent over an hour at the Crane Mountain Landfill. There were thousands and thousands of birds. This place is like a giant fast food restaurant for our feathered friends. They flock here to eat the stuff we don’t. Next time you go to the landfill keep your eyes open and you’ll be amazed what you see.On the drive from the gate to the main

office we spotted nine bald eagles. Most of them were juveniles perched in the trees surveying the landscape. If it weren’t for the others pointing them out, I would have probably missed them even though these are big birds. The eagles are the top of the food chain but we also saw a hawk chasing what appeared to be thousands of European starlings. There were too many gulls, crows and

ravens to even count. Harvey McLeod loves the

surprise factor you get when you go bird watching. He compares the hobby to that line from the Forest Gump movie about life being like a box of chocolates and you never know what you’re going to get. He told me earlier that morning they were surveying the Harbour Bridge and discovered seven or eight thousand starlings roosting under there. Who knew?Both Harvey and Richard

like the outdoors aspect of birding. It gets you outdoors in all kinds of weather with like minded people and Richard says you can’t beat the thrill of the chase. This years Christmas Bird Count provided us the thrill and at the same time contributed to a better understanding of the health of the bird population in our area.

Listen to a special edition of River Valley Radio on the

Christmas Bird Count at rivervalleynews.ca

January 28, 2009

Documents

Transcript of January 28, 2009