Number 64 August 1, 2009
LOBSTER CRISIS ON PEI
The lobster industry is feeling the pressure of hard times. Prices are lower than they've been in many years, and operating expenses are soaring putting the squeeze on fishermen. The situation is worse in southeastern PEI, where most Beck relatives fish, because landings are down too.
Sarah Jackson (1.4.6.8B.4,) who fishes with her husband, Hughie, summed up the situation in a few words.
“I think that there is about the same amount of lobsters but the price was bad last year and worse this year,” Sarah told me in an email. “There are no factories working in Beach Point or Murray Harbour, and plant workers are driving to Souris, Georgetown and Montague to work. We could only sell our lobster's to Milligan's from Alberton.”
Lobster factories have operated in the Beach Point area from about 1850, but that came to an end this spring when Ocean Choice centralized its canning facilities at its plant in Souris. The company also left Milligan's to act as buyers in the area.
Prices ranged from $2.75 for canners to $3.50 for markets. A spokesman for the PEI Fishermen's Association said the decision to allow fishermen to sell directly to the public was a real boost for the industry. About 50 fishermen took advantage of that offer and were able to sell some of their catch at the roadside for $5.00 and $6.00 a pound. (We had a story in the last edition of a Beck relative, Robbie Hicken of Alliston (1.5,4.2B.5.1,3.), who did just that.)
The federal government is taking steps to assist the industry. The Minister of Fisheries, Gail Shea, recently announced a $65-million package containing both short and long-term assistance. However, some fishermen expressed concerns about the details.
"Anything the government does, they can frig it up, I'll tell you. I don't think they'll be doing anything that will help us too much," said Fred White, (1.4.6.7,2.1.) who fishes out of Murray Harbour.
For those whose income is down more than 25 per cent this year, there is a $15-million fund for direct aid. Terry White, (1.4.6.7,2.1.1.) Fred's son, says he will qualify. Without help, he told CBC News, he would not be able to make the loan payments on his boat and gear. "There's a majority of fishermen around here who aren't going to be able to, especially on the south side," he said.
Some of the federal assistance will be earmarked for the buy back of lobster licenses. The minister said how that will work will vary from one fishing area to the next, and the details will be worked out with fishermen and their associations in each area. The industry has lobbied the federal government for years to buy and retire lobster licences.
A History of Charlottetown, PEI
It's been a long time coming, but a book relating the history of Charlottetown is finally here. Dr. Peter Rider, Atlantic provinces historian at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottawa, received funding to research the history of the city in the early 1980s.
The book, which focuses on the era between incorporation in 1855 and amalgamation in 1995, took nearly 30 years to complete.
It was welcomed by historians and politicians alike.
Dr. David Keenlyside, executive director of the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation, explained that although Dr. Rider was able, with the help of research and graduate students, to amass a considerable amount of history on the city, his other duties demanded his full attention and the book was put on hold.”
Dr. Keenlyside added that, “recently Peter was able to return to the project and the P.E.I. museum publishing committee readily agreed to publish it, with the Canadian Museum of Civilization as co-publisher.”
Carolyn Bertram, minister of communities, cultural affairs and labour, said “hehas made the preservation of history a priority throughout his long and distinguished career and we are grateful that he chose to research and document the history of our capital city.”
Boyde Beck,(1.4.3A.3.6.4.) curator of history with the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation, said that the book is well worth the wait.
He added that “Charlottetown: A History” is a very impressive book: 480 pages, lavishly illustrated, “and written in a scholarly but very accessible style.”
The official book launch was held at Charlottetown City Hall on Tuesday, June 16, with Dr. Rider on hand to autograph copies.
PAIN LEADS TO EMERGENCY SURGERY
Barb Beck (1.4.6.6.1.) suffered abdominal pain last Tuesday evening, July 21. The pain continued all night and she was sure that it was the same bowel kink problem she had had five years ago.
Barb and Jim went to the Sparrow Hospital ER in Lansing, MI at 1:00 pm Wednesday afternoon and she was admitted.
After a series of tests the problem was diagnosed as acute appendicitis. Barb was thankful because that was much better than the bowel problem! She had surgery starting about 10:30 pm on Wednesday. She came home on Friday, July 24, and is progressing slowly. Barb's husband, Jim, got some more good news this week. He had an MRI scan of his brain on Tuesday. He has received a written report couched in medical terms, but it appears very encouraging. It says that there has been no noticeable change in what's left of the tumour since his last MRI a couple of months ago. He will learn more when he talks with his doctor, but it appears that the cancer is under control at the moment.
BIRTH
BECK: Windsor Foster Beck was born June 3, 2009, to David and Kathryn Beck of Ohio. Many of you will remember meeting David and Kathryn at the last Beck reunion last summer along with David's parents, Alan and Sarah Beck.
The name “Windsor” points back to Windsor Beck, the last man to farm the Beck homestead in Guernsey Cove.
Alan's parents visited the Beck farm in the early 1930s and were so impressed with Windsor's kindness and hospitality that when Alan was born they named him Alan Windsor. The name continues now in Alan's grandson.
Alan says David and Kathryn enjoyed their week in Murray Harbour so much last summer that they wanted to name their first son, Windsor. They are making plans already to take Windsor to PEI for the next reunion.
Big Break Prince Edward Island
Golf comes to the fore as contestants from all across North America compete on PEI. The Big Break is a TV reality show, now in its 11th season, on the Golf Channel. This is the first time the show has been filmed in Canada, and the competition took place at the Mill River course in western PEI.
Twelve contestants, six males and six females, competed for their chance to make it to the pro tour. They faced a variety of challenges that tested physical skills and mental toughness, with the winner awarded their “Big Break.” One player was eliminated each week until the final two battled it out over 18 holes for a cash prize of $100,000.
Derek Gillespie of Oshawa, Ontario, defeated Blair O'Neal, a fashion model from Tempe, Arizona, for his Big Break.
It appears that Island Tourism was a big winner too!
Big Break PEI reached as many as 110 million homes, including 80 million in the U.S. and Canada. The provincial government invested $800,000 in a two-year deal with the Golf Channel.
The investment appears to be paying off in increased bookings to Island golf courses.
Barry MacLeod, (1.11.8.2,5,1.)the head of Golf PEI, a marketing consortium of Island courses that operates a reservation service, says Web traffic is up 30 per cent from last year.
The percentage of American visitors is up from nine percent last year to 22 per cent this year.
Barry says the Big Break has made Prince Edward Island one of those “notch in the belt’’ destinations for golfers who like to play popular venues.
“The awareness is certainly there,’’ he said.
“We have got a lot of media exposure from it."
He believes Mill River’s sharp hike in bookings so far this year is directly related to the TV coverage on the Big Break.
BRUDENELL STILL NUMBER ONE
The Mill River Course may have stolen the headlines in the past few months, but it can't compete with the course at Brudenell. That layout has long been recognized as the most popular course on the Island. It's appreciated by members and visitors alike, and is rated by SCORE Golf Magazine as one of the top six best golf resorts in Canada.
Many of the golfers in southern Kings County are members at Brudenell. Ken Beck (1.4.3A.3.4.3.) is the president of the Brudenell Golf Association this year. And golf at Brudenell has been a family affair for Ken and his wife, Debbie, for many years. Debbie has been a member of the Association for more than ten years, and is a past President of the Brudenell Golf Association.
This spring the Kings County Golf Association donated $2,500 to the Brudenell group to help replace the clubhouse floor. The County Association made a smaller donation of $1,500 to the Montague and Area Wellness Centre for its work.
The association raised funds at a number of events over the past several years including Canadian Tour events at Brudenell and the Skins Game held at Crowbush.
Irene Spriet, director of the Kings County Golf Association, made the presentation which was accepted by Ken Beck, on behalf of the Brudenell Golf Association.
COMMUNITY LEADER DIES
One of Montague's most colourful and community-minded citizens died on July 9 at the age of 81.
Alan H. (Bardy) Nelson was a going concern in the town for many years. He was a member of the Montague Town Council for 17 years and served as deputy mayor for a number of terms.
He was known as an outspoken councillor who left no doubt of where he stood on any issue. He volunteered with many other town organizations, but friends said his real love was the Montague Fire Department. He served on the department from 1950 to 1977, and was a captain for a number of years.
Tributes poured in from many sources including local politicians and ordinary citizens.
“He was someone vitally interested in the welfare of the town,” said deputy fire Chief Jock Beck, (1.4.3B.7.2.2.) who also served with Bardy on the municipal council. “He was extremely direct and didn’t mind standing alone on an issue he believed in,” Jock told Steve Sharrat of the Charlottetown Guardian. “He was one of the most colourful characters on the fire department and will be truly missed,” Jock added.
Bardy operated a service station, then worked at McGowan Motors and was with the Department of Highways for more than 20 years before retiring.
But retirement didn't sit well with him and he soon organized a Retired Firemen's Association and was active in it until his death.
One of his pet projects was the restoration of one of the original fire trucks used by the Montague brigade. The 1961 Ford was the first “real” fire truck the brigade had after years of using old war surplus trucks and tankers. The antique truck was often seen in many parades with Bardy behind the wheel.
TIME TO CLEAN UP THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
Residents of one of the oldest sections of Montague want to spruce up the area.
A group, led by Rick Beck, (1.11.8.3.4.1.) are painting and cleaning their properties, and they want the town to put pressure on the owners of some neglected homes.
The streets involved are Locust and Elm, located just off Main Street in an area between Stewart and Becks and the river. Rick has lived on Locust Street for the past 12 years and also manages several properties on the street. He and some of his neighbours have been wielding paint brushes and doing some landscaping.
Rick says there are some vacant properties in the area that have been neglected and have become eyesores. He has filed a complaint with the town in an effort to get some action.
“The town has bylaws to deal with issues like this and we want to see those bylaws enforced and we want to see it cleaned up,” he told Stephen Brun of The Eastern Graphic. He added that over the years the town has been sending out warning letters, but they have been ignored and no action has been taken.
Montague's Chief Administrative Officer Andy Daggett agrees that it's time for action. He says if the owners don't improve their properties then the town will designate the homes as unsightly premises. If that doesn't work, then court action could follow.
Mr. Daggett said, “we’re hoping to do some paving and fixing up a few things on Locust Street. It could be one of the jewels in Montague but there are some blights in the area that have to be cleaned up.”
Rick said, “the residents are amazing and they’ve put a lot of pride into their properties. It could be a great place to raise kids, but the derelict and vacant properties are a danger. This is old Montague and it’s got oodles of history. We want to see life and cleanliness put back into the street.”
DRUG PROBLEM LEADS TO THEFT
A teacher's assistant at the Montague Consolidated school has been fired for stealing money from colleagues at work.
Linda Diane Irving (1.11.2,1.3.2.1,) pleaded guilty to the charge in provincial court in Georgetown in mid-July and Judge Nancy Orr requested a pre-sentence report. The thefts started in late November and when they continued, police were called in to investigate.
A “sting” operation was set up in which a chemically treated purse with $30 inside was left in a staff room. Linda was found with the chemical on her hands.
She was represented by legal aid lawyer, Brenda Picard, who said her client has left an abusive relationship and is taking treatment to break her drug dependency. She said a doctor’s assessment indicated that she was improving.
Judge Orr will pass sentence on September 3.
A MAN OF MANY HATS
Garnet Buell (1.6B.6.5,2.)continues to demonstrate that he's the go-to-man for any project going on in Southern Kings County. This time he was acting as a tour guide at the Wood Islands Train Station and Interpretative Museum. Garnet donned his railroad hat recently to explain to a Grade One class from Belfast Consolidated School the importance of the Canadian National Railways to Prince Edward Island's past.
Garnet, a former section hand on the Murray Harbour rail line, talked to the group about the many artifacts on display at the Wood Island station. He donated many of the items himself.
The children had many questions about the artifacts, how things worked and why he had used them. (The section hands maintained the rail line, replacing ties and rails as required.)
The Wood Islands Train Station and Interpretive Museum is open for the second year and welcomes tours. It opens weekly for visitors during July and August.
The guide work at the Museum is only a small part of Garnet's community work. He has turned the family farm in Abney into a wildlife sanctuary and has led the Murray River Ceilidh Committee in its annual fund raising drive for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The committee has raised nearly $200,000 in the past nine years. He was named to the Order of Prince Edward Island last year in recognition of his community work.
The Vere Beck Family Home Page
We're always looking for news of Beck family members. If you know of any interesting events drop me a line with the information. imunn@accesswave.ca
That's it .. please share it with relatives who aren't on line. The next edition will be out on October 1, 2009. 
Copyright © 2009 The Beck Bulletin