| Number 32 | April 1, 2004 |
A SMART MOVE
The Beck House is getting more publicity. The story of its renovation was told recently in a new column in the weekly insert, Homes, in the Halifax Daily News. Jennifer Corson, author of The Resourceful Renovator, is writing a column by the same name for the publication. The paper enjoys wide circulation in the Halifax area and it claims that 51% of Metro adults (143,200 people) now read The Daily News in the course of a week.
Ms Corson says it often makes sense to move a building to a new location rather than tear it down. She says relocating buildings is a common occurrence and the key to success is selecting a mover who has had lots of experience.
Ms Corson then relates the story of the Beck House that was moved up the road a short distance in Guernsey Cove by Sandra Strain and Lorin Brehaut Jr.(1.4.4,7,3,2.1.) She said they bought the house, including the cut sandstone blocks used in the foundation, for $6,000.
Sandra and Lorin already owned another historic home, the old Brehaut house, located on waterfront property less than a mile up the road. They decided to attached the two buildings and restore them for rental to summer visitors.
Ms Corson said this effort was a prime example of sustainable building – the cost was reasonable and at the same time preserved a piece of Prince Edward Island and family heritage.
Many who attended the Beck Reunion in July, 2003 got a tour of the houses conducted by the owners along with an explanation of the restoration work.
WELCOMING THE TOURISTS
The Murray Harbour Waterfront Development Committee has plans to attract more visitors. Wayne Harris,(1.4.6.5,3.1.) a member of the committee, says, “Tourism is the biggest industry in the world and we should be part of it.” He was speaking at a public meeting in the village to unveil phase one of a community enhancement project. It includes the expansion of the Confederation Trail with an outdoor railroad interpretive area and a lookout platform on the bridge.
Jill Harris,(1.7.2,6,5,2,) another member of the development committee, says the bridge lookout is central to the entire plan. It will feature a small viewing platform, decorative coloured posts and some landscaping. There will also be a slip to accommodate kayaking and other water sports.
“We know a lot of people already stop at the bridge,’’ Jill said. “The water is a great attraction to many people who don’t live near any.”
“The Southern Kings region is very beautiful,” Wayne added, “and people love it for the natural and unspoiled beauty it has to offer.”
The Guardian carried a story on the committee meeting in an article written by Jeff Daley.
The committee hopes to have phase one completed this year, but still needs to arrange the financing. If phase one is a success, there are plans to build a boardwalk on the south side of the harbour and renovate the local fire hall.
A WEEK IN SUNNY SWITZERLAND
By Peter Murdoch and Janice MacPherson Murdoch (1.6A.4,6.1,1.1)
Imagine our surprise when a planned week of Spring skiing turned into a warm and sunny vacation! We headed to the Alpine foothills of central Switzerland in the middle of March, cross-country ski equipment in tow, only to be greeted by blazing sunshine and temperatures in the mid-20 Celsius range. This unexpectedly perfect weather dominated most of the week, providing us with great opportunities for walking and touring the area.
Our home for the week was a cozy chalet in Chateau-d’Oex, a small town nestled between jagged snow-covered mountains and lush green hillsides. Rustic chalets are scattered throughout the valley, and many are perched precariously on the sides of the hills, with no visible means of access. A closer look, however, will detect what is little more than a cart path winding back and forth across the face of the incline.
The highlight of our week was a cable car ride up the mountain in the La Braye ski area of Chateau-d’Oex. It was a beautiful clear day, and as we transferred from cable car to chair lift, we could see for miles. The view at the top was spectacular – mountain peaks stretched into the bright blue sky, and towering fir trees dotted the landscape. As we enjoyed lunch on the outdoor terrace, basking in the sun and breathing the fresh clean mountain air, we really felt like we were on top of the world!
LEARNING TO READ MUSIC
A course in music theory offered in Murray Harbour this winter is being described as a “great” success. Jill Harris (1.7.2,6,5,2,) organized the course after hearing a number of people say they would love to be able to read music. She booked Rob Kromer, a professional musician and a retired music teacher, to teach the course and then crossed her fingers hoping that enough people would sign up to support the course. She needn’t have worried – 29 people enrolled with some of them coming from as far away as Charlottetown.
The students ranged from fiddlers to guitarists to vocalists. Jill said most people in the area play by ear and this course was designed to broaden their knowledge of music. She said they loved the way the teacher presented the course, and a common remark voiced by the students was, “I didn’t realize it would be so much fun.”
Mr. Kromer said people often think that learning to read music can be intimidating, but it doesn’t need to be. “If you approach it slowly you’ll soon get the hang of it, and then it will improve your music.“
Jill says that because of the success of this first course, they will definitely be offering it again next year.
DEATHS
JACKSON: Alvin Arthur Jackson (1.9.2A, 2,7.) died February 2, 2004, at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown, P.E.I. at the age of 78.
He was a resident of Murray Harbour, and was predeceased by his wife, Geraldine (Halliday). He is survived by three children, Frank (Karen), Montague; Ruth (Roland) MacConnell, Lyonsbrook, N.S.; and Esther (David) Byrne, of Morell. He is also survived by two sisters, Helen Stewart, Charlottetown, and Ruby MacNeill, Beach Point. He was predeceased by his sisters, Muriel Varner, Evelyn Davey and Kathleen Cohoon, his brother, Eric Jackson and his granddaughter, Laura Lee.
The funeral service was held in the chapel of Ferguson’s Funeral Home in Montague, with interment in the Murray Harbour Cemetery.
MACFARLANE: Andrew Vere MacFarlane (1.6B.5.3,2.) of Guernsey Cove died in hospital in Halifax on March 23rd, 2004, at the age of 73.
He is survived by his wife, Marguerite (Saunders), a son Kenny (Letichia), High Bank, and daughter Deborah (Paul) Jordan, White Sands, and by a grandson, Andrew MacFarlane.
He was predeceased by his parents, Robert and Eunice (Beck) MacFarlane.
The funeral service was held on Friday, March 26 at 2 p.m. at the Murray River United Church with interment later in the Murray Harbour Cemetery.
BIOGRAPHY
Frances Kent Potts (1.4.2.4.8,2,) was born on September 28, 1950, in New Glasgow, N.S. She was the second of two children of the late Clarence A. Potts and Lucie L. (Beck) Potts. Fran was a talented and versatile musician. Her many successes in that field included receipt of the New Glasgow Kiwanis Music Festival Junior Trophy in 1962 for the most promising performer in voice, piano, violin and recorder. Five years later she won the Centennial Award as the top vocalist in Nova Scotia. Fran continued her love of music throughout her life and in more recent years was a dedicated member of the Grace United Church Choir in Dartmouth, N.S.
Fran graduated from New Glasgow High School in 1968 and went on to Dalhousie University in Halifax where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1971 and her Law Degree in 1974. She returned to New Glasgow and articled with the firm of MacIntosh, MacDonell and MacDonald, and was admitted to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1975. She returned to Halifax in 1976 and was engaged in private practice until 1978 when she was hired as an Assistant Prosecuting Officer with the provincial Attorney General’s Department.
Fran married William Barr and they had two children, Nicolas and Ashlea. During this period, she established a professional reputation as a distinguished litigator respected by judges, colleagues, defence counsel and police officers alike. In January 1988, Fran was appointed a Judge of the Provincial Court, in recognition of her talent and hard work, becoming only the second woman to hold that position. During her 15 years on the Bench Fran was well respected and supported by her fellow judges, courthouse staff and the counsel who appeared before her. In the last five years, when her illness became a challenge, her colleagues repeatedly demonstrated their support for her by assisting with her docket. Fran remained a Provincial Court Judge until her death on Christmas Day, 2003.
Besides her husband and children, Fran is survived by her mother, Lucie, her sister Susan, Susan’s husband, David Meadows, and their son, Jason.
BIG CHANGES IN THE PEI LOBSTER INDUSTRY
Polar Foods International has sunk in a sea of red ink, marking the end of the largest lobster processing company in Prince Edward Island. Polar was formed in 1998 through the amalgamation of six Island lobster processors. However, the company lost money almost every year of its existence and owed the Bank of Nova Scotia about $50 million. The bank called its loan in February after the Province refused to guarantee the debt. The Province bought up the debt so it would have control over the future of the operation. The company was put up for sale and Ocean Choice of Newfoundland stepped in and bought up the bulk of the assets.
Ches Penney, chief executive officer of Ocean Choice, said a new company, Ocean Choice P.E.I., would take over all the Polar Food facilities in Eastern PEI.
He said the company plans to carry out processing at the Beach Point and Souris plants and to use the plants in Victoria, Gaspereaux and Morell, as purchase and storage facilities. The company expects to employ all the “core” workers at the plants, about 600 people. The United Food and Allied Workers, the union representing workers at the Beach Point and Souris plants, greeted the deal with relief as their contract will be honoured by the new company.
However, many more plant workers are facing uncertainty as factories at the western end of the Island are not expected to re-open. The government has promised to make every effort to find work for those people, but so far there is nothing definite in sight.
The provincial government is expected to lose about $27 million on the deal.
A CHANCE TO PLAY AT HOME
The regular season is behind him and for Danny Stewart (1.4.6.5,1.2A,1.1) it's now a question of how far his team, the Rimouski Oceanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, can advance in the playoffs. Danny had a good regular season scoring 25 goals and assisting on 42 for a total of 67 points, a sharp increase from the 40 points he had last year.
One of the biggest thrills for Danny was a chance this year to play some hockey on Prince Edward Island. The Montreal Rocket moved to Charlottetown last fall and Danny was thrilled to get the opportunity to play in front of family and friends.
Danny's family was thrilled too. His father, Jim, said, "It's great to be able to see a couple of games on the Island." In the past the family has driven as far as Bathurst, N.B., to see Danny play.
The Eastern Graphic devoted a full page to coverage of Danny when the Oceanic visited Charlottetown in late January.
If things work out in post-season play, there is always a possibility that Danny will get to perform in some playoff games in Charlottetown.
LETTERS WARN OF ATTACKS ON PEI.
Threatening letters received in Charlottetown say the Island will suffer for Canada's participation in the conflict in Afghanistan. The unsigned letters suggest the Birthplace of Canada will pay for the deaths of Muslim children in Afghanistan. The letters were sent to The Guardian, the CBC, The Supreme Court, and the Provincial Court House in Charlottetown.
They brought back memories of similar letters sent in recent years by Roger Charles Bell, (1.4.1,10,5,2.) He not only made threats, he carried them out by setting off four bombs in public places over an eight year span from 1988 to 1996.
Roger was captured in 1997 and sentenced to 10 years in jail. He is now out on parole and living in Halifax. But police refused to say whether he is a suspect or whether he has been questioned in regard to the letters sent to media outlets and the courts. They do confirm that they are using some of the skills acquired in their search for him in the investigation of the latest letters.
Roger is a Murray Harbour native and he signed his letters with the alias, Loki 7.
TIPS FOR A HEALTHY COMPUTER
There’s a new column running in The Eastern Graphic now called, “Floppy – The MCI Guy.” It appears once a month and deals with common computer problems and offers tips on how to deal with them. “Floppy” is not identified by name but is described as MCI’s in-house technology specialist.
MCI is the computer company in Montague operated by Debbie Beck (1.4.3A.3.4.3.). It’s also the company that donates hosting services to us for The Beck Bulletin.
The March column deals with backing up your data. Floppy says that only four per cent of business computers are backed up regularly. No mention is made of private users, but the percentage there is probably a lot less. Floppy says business users should back up files on their network if they have one. If not, you can use portable media such as tapes, CDs or zip disks. And Floppy advises that whichever solution you use, you should test it regularly to be sure that it’s working and your data is safe.
February’s column dealt with virus protection and stressed the importance of following safe computing practices. The column described some of the latest threats circulating on the Internet, including the “My Doom” worm. Floppy recommended that computer users install one of the quality anti-virus programs on the market, and make sure to update virus definitions regularly. Just following the advice in those two columns alone would go a long-way to keeping your files safe from loss.
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