Cougars win nail biter

Caption2: Game winning run Jeremy Koughan is greeted at the plate by Brad Power as the Cornwall Cougars defeated the Hantsport Shamrocks 7-6 to win the Summerside Midget A invitational on Sunday afternoon at the V.I.V. baseball field in Summerside.

McKenna’s walk off gives Cornwall tournament championship

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

Dylan McKenna hit the game winning single as the Cornwall Quickstop Cougars defeated the Hantsport Shamrocks 7-6 to win the Summerside Midget A Invitational tournament Sunday afternoon at the V.I.V. baseball field in Summerside.

McKenna went 2 for 2 on the day with two singles and was hit by two pitches. Zach Marsh also went 2 for 2 with two singles and reached base once on an error. Brady McQuaid was the winning pitcher.

Blake Atwell led the charge for Hantsport going 2 for 2, also reaching base with a walk, but was also attributed with the loss as the pitcher.

Cornwall coach David McQuaid said his team’s clutch hitting in the final inning was the reason they won.

“We started with the bottom three in the order and it didn’t look good but they clutched up and we ended up coming back and winning,” he said. “The bottom of the order came through.”

He said he was telling his team in the bottom of the seventh that the game was never over.

“(The coaches said to the kids) close game, let’s dig down deep,” he said. “We’re only down by a run, believe in yourselves.”

McQuaid said though the teams previously met in the round robin, with his team coming out on top 6-3, they didn’t take them lightly.

“The Shamrocks really put in a good effort. We played them on Friday and they didn’t hit that well against us,” he said. “They really upped their game between now and then.”

Hantsport’s coach, John Bishop, said it was a great game.

“Anybody could have won that game, they just happened to do it.”

He said though they lost, he was happy with his teams composure in the game.

“They stayed in there and fought back. We were down four nothing and we came back.”

After Cornwall took an early lead in the first couple innings to go up 4-0, Hantsport answered back with a Hantsport answered back with a six-run fourth inning to take the lead.

Cornwall came back in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 6-5 game. There was no more scoring until the bottom of the seventh when McQuaid drove in the game tying run with a single and McKenna finished off the thrilling game driving home the game winning run with a single.

McKenna went 2 for 2 on the day with two singles and was hit by two pitches, Zach Marsh also went 2 for 2 with two singles and reached base once on an error. McQuaid was the winning pitcher.

Both teams started the day with cross-over games. Hantsport dispatched St. John 5-4 in the first game while Cornwall beat the Truro Bearcats 3-2 in extra innings.

Local Artist's wonderland

CAPTION: Pat Doucette shows off his Original Six National Hockey League team kitchen Saturday afternoon at his home in Summerside.

Local artists turns kitchen into hockey Mural

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

SUMMERSIDE- Pat Doucette remembers going to his uncle’s house Saturday night growing up in Miminegash to watch Hockey Night in Canada. On a black and white television, he remembers upwards of fifty people gathering around the television to catch all the action of the Original-Six era of the NHL.

About three months ago, the 75-year old decided to redecorate his kitchen in his Summerside home and pay tribute to his favourite time in the hockey history.

After a couple weeks Doucette had painted the logos of the Original Six NHL teams, the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens, on the floor of his kitchen, which all surround a giant version of the of Doucette’s favoured Canadiens’ logo. On his cupboards under the kitchen counter he painted all six teams’ logos with a Stanley Cup, the National Hockey League championship trophy, next to them.

After a couple of weeks of nighttime work, his kitchen was transformed into a mural.

The long time Montreal Canadiens fan said the idea came when he was lying in bed one night.

“Laying in bed at night you think of those things.”

Jean Doucette, wife of Pat for 47-years, said she was skeptical when he first started the piece, but was happy with the finished product.

“Now that I know it’s his game, his team, I think it looks pretty good,” she said. “I’m not a (hockey) fan really, I just watch (the Canadiens) at the end, maybe the last game. But you know he really likes it and he did a great, great job.”

The project isn’t finished yet either.

“I’m going to paint (hockey) gloves hanging,” Doucette said pointing at his cupboards above the kitchen counter.

When walking into the kitchen for the first time, people are usually taken aback said Doucette.

“They peek around the corner, and they’re like, Whoa.”

But artistry doesn’t stop in the kitchen of Doucette’s home. Walk up his stairs you’ll see a life sized paper mache of rock and roll singer Elvis Presley, his son David’s favourite musician. Walk in the house, you’ll be greeted by Elvis’ Christmas songs album cover. Take a walk to his basement? You’ll see works of three-dimensional art including a waterfall, with rocks made of bags and water made of silver tinsel.

His house is a testament to his love of art, which he says was influenced by his father.

“He got me where I am today,” he said. “He use to carve lobsters, he’d carve the old fashioned figures like a farmer with a plow and the old lady churning (butter) and all that stuff and he’d give it to the museum in Miscouche.”

Though his father influenced his love of art, it’s his son and wife who inspire his current artwork.

“I’ve got to give my wife credit, she never, ever, ever growls,” he joked. 

Elton John sells out concert

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

SUMMERSIDE- Selling out the Elton John concert was bittersweet for Summerside, said Event Development Officer JP Desrosiers.

“I’m very, very pleased the show sold out, I mean we got great support for this event, it’s just tough to see all these people who waited in line.”

The highly anticipated concert sold out in two hours, leaving many at Credit Union Place in line to get tickets very disappointed. Those who were left without tickets were put on a list to purchase technical and management tickets if any become available.

Some in the crowd were angry with how the box office was handled.

Tara Snively arrived at 10 a.m. for tickets, while her husband tried using two computers to purchase tickets. She said the city’s organization of the event was bad.

“Why were there not enough tickets allotted to be held at the box office for people that were coming here? It’s ridiculous,” she said. “The people in charge made no effort to keep the 350 people in line informed of what was going on.”

Desrosiers said Live Nation helped them decide how to sell the tickets.

“Our goal was to be as fair as possible from the start and put everything on sale all at one time,” he said. “I really wanted to make sure everybody in line got tickets but at the same time (Live Nation) they want to make it as fair to the true fan as possible, so if there is a fan from Souris, P.E.I. who can’t get to Summerside, should have equal access online.”

Tracy Brown, who was at the Credit Union Place at 6:00 a.m. Friday morning, said she wished the city better regulated the amount of tickets one person could purchase.

“They’re allowing people to buy eight tickets and I feel it should be lower because there is people in front of me buying 16 tickets and it’s not fair to those who came and made an effort to be here and stand in line.”

Desrosiers said the ticket amount per purchase was sent to them by Live Nation.

“I think eight is a good number because if you get in line first and you want to buy for four of your friends, then you’d be able to do that,” he said. “Again, we’re so new at this type of thing it’s not easy for me to say, oh yeah, we should have went with four. But when Live Nation, the biggest promoting company in the world says eight, you go with eight.”

Some people complained they were charged for tickets from the website, but didn’t receive them. Credit Union Place is urging those people to contact the centre to have the issue resolved.

Heritage Presser

Federal, Provincial and city representatives praise infrastructure improvements

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

Federal, Provincial and City of Summerside representatives held a press conference at Heather Moyse Heritage Park Wednesday morning to announce the completion of several projects in Summerside.

Bernard Valcourt, federal minister of state for the Atlantic Canada opportunities agency and la Francophonie, Gail Shea, federal minister of national revenue, Ron McKinley, provincial minister of transportation and infrastructure renewal, Janice Sherry, provincial minister of community services, Mayor Basil Stewart and Ron Perry, president of the Summerside Regional Development Corporation talked about several completed infrastructure projects totaling about $13 million in combined federal, province and municipal spending.

The completed projects were upgrades to the Heather Moyse Heritage Park,

 reconstruction of the marina seawall near the Summerside Yacht Club, which received about $500,000 in additional funding from the SRDC, road, water service and sewer reconstruction, improvements on the West End walkway and installing shoreline protection at the West End of Summerside.

Perry emceed the event while Valcourt, McKinley and Stewart gave speeches, complimenting each other on their ability to work together on the projects. Shea and Sherry introduced the speakers.

These types of improvements are happening all over Canada as part of the Economic Action plan.

During his speech Valcourt said the improvements were to help upgrade the quality of life in Summerside.

“And they are important to the growth and development of key local business sectors like tourism.”

Valcourt said the creation of jobs while improving local infrastructure were reasons the federal government investments were made.

“We have through out Canada today 540,000 Canadians more working than before the recession,” he said. “We want to continue in the direction that we have established.”

McKinley said the investments have helped the Island.

“It’s all good for tourism in the province of Prince Edward Island and when tourists come here the province picks up 10.5 per cent of everything they spend and we need the money the way we’re spending.”

My half of Elton John story

At about 12:50 p.m., the city’s Event Development officer, JP Desrosier came down the foyer to announce that the tickets for the Elton John concert at Credit Union place had been sold out.

He told the crowd, those left in line could leave their names on a call list for if tickets became available for the event.

The people still waiting in line for tickets groaned in disappointment as their opportunity to see the famed performer had become slim to none.

While some held faith and stuck in the line to get their name on the list, others left Credit Union Place upset.

Debbie Stewart was one of those leaving empty-handed.

“I’ve been in line since 6:45 this morning. I’m very disappointed”

Luke Schic, a life-long Elton John fan was another in the crowd without one of the coveted tickets.

“I feel really devastated, I can’t believe tickets are sold out already,” he said. “I got my name on the list which is good so if they give me a call I should be able to get a ticket.”

Guy Savoie arrived at 9 a.m., but said he should have arrived earlier.

“I’m very disappointed, I should have been here yesterday I guess,” he said. “If they would have had twice as much room for people they would have sold it out too.”

Tracy Brown was in the line up since 6 a.m., phoning for tickets and trying to buy them online with her Blackberry.

“Three people sat up there for ten minutes picking their seat,” she said. “It should’ve been a case of here’s your money and here’s my tickets and I randomly get tickets for the section I paid for.”

Sea Exercise

CAPTION: Auxiliary Coast Guard boat, Kenny B, pulls one of the rescue dummies out of the water Wednesday afternoon during the Search and Rescue exercise in the Northumberland Strait.

Search and Rescue exercise a success

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

About three hours after the exercise rescue dummies found themselves placed in the water by Search and Rescue Preparedness officers, the last one of four was picked up and declared inanimate in the Northumberland Strait Wednesday afternoon during the Search and Rescue exercise.

The exercise was a simulation of a downed aircraft that crashed in the ocean after losing contact with the air base in Moncton.

Members from the Summerside Coast Guard, Auxiliary Coast Guard, and RCMP were part of the exercise in boats, while the Civilian Air Search And Rescue Association (CASARA) took part in an airplane.

The exercise began with the preparedness officers leaving an Emergency Locator Transmitter, what is used on aircrafts to trace locations, on a buoy showing a crash site. The officers then put four rescue dummies into the water, about a mile apart, with the last dummy about 4 miles west of the Confederation Bridge at about 10 a.m. Wednesday morning. At about 12 p.m. Search and Rescue teams deployed, with the CASARA aircraft detecting the emergency location transmitter, giving its location to the boats. The vessels were then commanded by the Coast Guard and preparedness officers for search patterns, while the airplane searched from the air.

At about 12:40 the first mannequin was spotted and rescued. About twenty-five minutes later the other three had been found and retrieved.

During the period before the simulation began, the Cap Nord, a 47-foot Search and Rescue lifeboat, ran hoisting exercises in Cape Egmont with a Comront helicopter from Greenwood, Nova Scotia during the morning.

John Drake, one of the preparedness officers, said they ran the hoisting exercises while they deployed the dummies so they would have the boats farther away from the target.

“A lot of times, if we have them pre-deployed, (boats) come out of the harbour somebody picks it off right off the bat and then it’s lights out, game over for the exercise. So we wanted to get these guys further to the west, we’d head out east to the Confederation Bridge, drop everything off and get it all in position.”

During a de-briefing after exercise, the participants were all positive to the experience.

Drake said the exercise was a successful.

“Communications were definitely on the upper side of the exercise, no problems at all,” he said. “The resources, when they were tasked to positions, they all seemed to find the positions and find the gear.”

Drake said the exercises are good for the organizations to become familiar with each other so they will work together better in the future.

“We don’t spend enough time working together, all the resources, and that’s kind of a drag. You got a lot of local resources between the auxiliary, local fire, the Coast Guard and the RCMP, and it just seems like everybody is living in their own world when it comes to this stuff. It’s unfortunate,” he said. “A lot of times what happens is somebody has to come from somewhere else to organize a big exercise which doesn’t have to happen. You could have a smaller one and still get everyone out practicing.”

flag football

Summerside Flag Football teams to compete at Nationals

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

Two Summerside flag football teams will be representing P.E.I. at the 2011 Canadian Flag Football U-16 National Championships at Dalhousie University in Halifax.

The Summerside Raiders are competing in the boys division coached by Trevor Bridges, while the Summerside Giants are competing in the girls division and coached by John Turner in the tournament, which begins Friday.

In the boys division, the Raiders will compete in a 3 game round robin with the three other teams in their pool, before moving into cross over game with a team from the other pool. If they win the cross over game, the team will move on to semi-finals and finals. There are eight teams representing eight provinces in the division including Summerside, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia.

The Giants will play five games in a round robin. The top four teams will then move on to semi-finals and then to finals. Six provinces will be represented on the girl’s side, including Summerside, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia.

Bridges said the goal for the Raiders is to get into the top four.

“I would think that with the competition we’re going to face, we’re probably going to be middle of the road, lower end in the beginning. But as the week goes on we’re hoping to peak near the end.”

He said that defense is his team’s strength.

“Offensive game plan is just to move down the field periodically, just five or ten yards at a time, and have everybody do a good job on their play and make sure we execute our game plan and if we do that, we should be alright on offense.”

 With a young team, only two on the team Brohan Brennan and Tyler Snyder have played at the national level before, the first few games will be about experience said Bridges.

Turner said he thinks the Giants are good enough to make it into the semi finals.

CAPTION: The Summerside Giants’ Lydia Schurman tries to avoid Northwest Territories U-18 players Orie MacGregor, back, and Skyler Lane, front, at an exhibition game Wednesday morning at the Summerside Intermediate School’s football field in Summerside.

“We got a good team and a good quarterback in Laura O’Neill and we got a lot of speed so hopefully that will be what we need to win a few games.”

He said his team has been practicing defense, particularly tackling.

“If you play good defense you’ll be in every game so if we do a good job of tackling we’ll be successful.”

He also has worked on a new offensive strategy with the girls to try and catch opposition defenses off guard.

“We plan on using that in our first game, just going into the hurry-up offense to start the game,” he said. “They probably haven’t seen that all year.”

Artists in Motion

CAPTION: Lucie Bellemare shows off her painting Tuesday morning on Water Street in Summerside for the Wyatt Heritage Properties Arts in Motion.

Chuvalo, Wood congratulate winner

CAPTION: Sydney Gallant nine-year old from Summerside, left, accepts the Boy’s and Girl’s Clubs Play Fair Play award from famed Canadian boxer George Chuvalo, centre and Olympic silver medalist John Wood Tuesday afternoon at the Boy’s and Girl’s Club in Summerside. 

Walter Gretzky picks a winner

CAPTION: Walter Gretzky hands Roger Wells, owner of the St. Eleanor’s Dairy Bar, a ballot at the business’ Bike Draw Monday afternoon at the Dairy Bar in Summerside. Debbie Snow was the eventual winner and the business will be taking some of the proceeds made from the draw and donating it to the Boy’s and Girl’s Club.

Clark putts, he scores!

Wendell Clark watches his putt at the Boy's and Girl's Club's Celebrity Golf Tournament at the Summerside Golf and Country Club Tuesday afternoon. PHOTO QUIGLEY / JOURNAL PIONEER

Environmental groups look for research proposal of Northumberland Strait

Environmental groups look for research proposal of Northumberland Strait

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

Two environmental organizations are looking for research proposals on estuaries in the Northumberland Strait.

The Canadian Water Network and the Northumberland Strait-Environmental Monitoring Partnership, a group of organizations already monitoring other parts of the Northumberland Strait, is aiming to get researchers monitoring the cumulative effects, such as sentiments, nutrients and contaminants, man-made activities have had on wildlife, such as fish, invertebrates and water vegetation, and the body of water in areas where the ocean and river meet along the Northumberland Strait.

The Canadian Water Network are looking for proposals for those interested in research, preferably Universities or those associated with Universities, to provide up to a three-year grant. Simon Courtenay, a University of New Brunswick Biology professor and leader of the program, will collect the research for a database for study.

The research will be brought before the Maritimes Regional Committee on Coastal and Ocean Management, made up of provincial and federal government representatives from around the Maritimes, where they will use the research to make decisions on where to proceed.

The deadline for proposals is September 14 and the research period will begin in April 2012 to March 2015.

Three other projects were approved by the Canadian Water Network in Manitoba and two in Ontario.

They are hoping to be able, at the end of the research, to have established a regional monitoring network, which will be able to use fish, plants and wildlife in the area to be able to determine the quality of the Strait or estuary.

Courtenay said he believes the research is important because of the reliance a lot of Maritime industries have in these estuaries and the Strait itself.

“We all benefit from the fisheries, which many depend on the estuaries, tourism depends on the estuaries, our recreation depends on the estuaries, so we’re all very dependent both economically and for quality of life, on the estuaries. They’re a very big part of what we do in the Maritimes.”

He said in a 2006 stake holders consultation by the Department of Oceans and Fisheries people showed a growing concern with the Northumberland Strait.

“People felt that things were changing, in terms of the resources, like the fishery resources whether it be lobster or herring or scallops but also the quality of the environment in the Strait,” he said. “So there was a real concern things were changing and not in a good way.”

One of the concerns they are looking into would be a decline in eel grass in the estuaries, said Courtenay.

“We’re seeing more blooms of Sea Lettuce, the Ulva, which is an opportunistic annual algae that comes in and grows very, very rapidly and then as it dies it breaks down and uses up all the oxygen in the water,” he said. “These are the kinds of things people are seeing and are very concerned about.”

Canada's Worst Driving Habits

Study shows Canadians feel bad driving habits are rampid

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

Next time you find yourself in a fit of rage reaching out the window of your car to one-finger salute the driver ahead of you while screaming expletives at him, keep in mind three out of four Canadians find you to have an annoying habit.

In a recent study by the Canadian Automobile Association they found that about 75 per cent of Canadians find driver’s bad habits have become worse in the last five years. Twenty-one per cent said drivers exhibit the same amount as before while only two per cent feel it has been getting better.

The top five bad habits mentioned were the usual suspects, such as road rage at 86 per cent, cutting people off at 86 per cent, texting while driving at 85 per cent, following to closely at 78 per cent and talking on the phone at 78 per cent,

The poll consisted of 5, 044 Canadians and considered accurate to within 1.38 per cent 19 times out of 20.

Stewart Brookins of Safe Drivers P.E.I. agrees with the study.

“I teach driver’s ed. obviously, so I see a lot of (bad habits).”

Brookins said he notices cell phone usage the most, especially texting.

“I see it probably three or four times a week at least and that would be the texting.”
He said it’s not always just the young drivers that are doing the texting.

“I’m actually seeing lots of middle aged drivers doing it just the same, so I wouldn’t say the kids anymore than the adults.”

Brookins said it does make him nervous to see people driving with bad habits like texting.

“It’s beyond my control, I just drive defensively at the end of the day.”

Gary Howard, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for CAA said in a press release that it shows Canadian’s driving habits are getting progressively worse but there is a silver lining.

“The good news is these are all correctible behaviors. If we concentrate more on good driving habits and on being courteous to fellow motorists, we will all benefit.”

Retiring Champion

Steven Rogers retires from MMA as Elite 1 MMA Lightweight champion

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

Two days after Steven Rogers retired from Professional Mixed Martial Arts following his win over Jason MacKay Saturday night at the Casino New Brunswick in Moncton, he was still happy with his decision.

“I’m just wondering what I’m going to do with all my free time,” he said. “Maybe trout fishing.”

The 34-year old Elite 1 MMA Lightweight champion, who’s been in the sport for four years, let promoters know after the fight it was his last. It was a decision he made before his controversial fight with Ricky Goodall back in May, which was ruled a no-contest after it was reviewed and determined a low-blow was given to Rogers by the MMA commission in Moncton, but he decided to put off retirement in favour of a rematch.

After Goodall dropped out of the fight, Rogers remained, citing that he didn’t want to disappoint those who paid money to see him fight and the opportunity to fight someone of MacKay’s quality.

Though retired, Rogers plans on remaining relevant in the sport and will help train friend Matt MacGrath for an upcoming fight.

Rogers said the closing of his MMA training facility Island Impact because of the cost of upkeep was a big part of the decision as well as being tired of devoting so much time to the sport.

“They have a really good club up in Charlottetown and stuff but I don’t know that I want to travel, three or four days a week an hour each way, to train,” he said. “After working all day it’s like ah geez, it’s a beautiful day outside and I got to drive to Charlottetown and sweat for two hours and get punched in the face a bunch of times.”

Drama within the sport, especially with the Goodall fight, began to take its toll too, said Rogers.

“There was a lot of people criticizing me and stuff online. One guy was saying why doesn’t Steve defend himself but I don’t talk shit about anybody. Never have, ever,” he said. “Training in MMA was an outlet for me. When that stuff starts to cause me drama instead of being an outlet that’s it. I mean everyone has to retire.”

The only regret Rogers has leaving the sport as a competitor is the way his fight with Goodall ended.

“If there was (a fight) I could do over or have another smack at, that would be the one.”

He said he feels he had some great accomplishments in his MMA career, including winning the Lightweight title for the Elite 1 MMA promotion.

“People say if you haven’t defended it enough times you’re not really a champion, to me I can’t believe they would say something like that. I don’t understand how that would make four years work to get the belt any less valuable to me. Even if I lost it in the very first fight I ever had and it wouldn’t even matter how I lost it, I still earned that title. That’s an accomplishment that I’ll always have.”

Rogers said his retirement is final and doesn’t plan on having a Brett Favre like change of heart.

Lobster Carnival president predicts big weekend

Lobster Carnival president predicts big weekend

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

The Lobster carnival’s week-long celebration in Summerside will be coming to a close this weekend.

Saturday will host some of the marquee events such as the Governor’s Plate Harness Race at the Red Shores by Summerside at 7 p.m., Master Packaging Cardboard Boat Race at 12 p.m. at Spinnakers’ Landing, the finals of the Journal Pioneer Talent Showcase at Credit Union Place starting at 7 p.m.

The beginning of the first annual Summerside P.E.I. Bluegrass Festival at Credit Union Place starting at 1p.m. and the Waterfront will be hosting the Lobster Trap Challenge finale at 6 p.m.

Sunday will close with the Blugrass festival’s continuation and Anne and Gilbert the Musical starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Harbourfront theatre.

The Lobster Carnival’s 2011 President Robert Palmer said so far weather has been a big factor for the events.

“If you look at most of the events, the indoor events are doing really well, the outdoor events not so much. I guess we could all figure out why that would be, it’s pretty fall-ish out there right now.”

One of the events doing well this year is the lobster suppers taking place at the Royal Canadian Legion, he said.

“The talent shows and anything going on inside Credit Union Place and anything else we have going on indoors is doing extraordinarily well. Lobster suppers are way up, lots of people coming in and enjoying the meals.”

With nice weather predicted for the weekend, big crowds are expected for the events this weekend, said Palmer.

“I mean we seen some really big crowds for the parade for the parade and it was down pouring,” he said. “I think a lot of people will be surprised. I think everybody’s waiting for that nice day they can get out and enjoy themselves.”

“I think we’ll see crowds of 10,000 to 15,000 people down on the waterfront on Saturday and certainly for the talent show and the Governor’s plate, you know, we’re looking for a huge day on Saturday,” he added.

Herbicide WARNING

Weedman complies with government request

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

Weedman P.E.I. owner David Thompson says the company will comply with the provincial governments request to cease usage of the herbicide Oracle in residential areas.

In June 2010 the manufacturer added a precautionary label to the product stating it was not to be used in residential or where people may be present after spraying such as homes, schools, parks, playgrounds, playing fields and public buildings.

Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency allows a transition period on the selling of the product if there is no perceived risk to human health or natural environment.

December 31^st is the federal government’s last day before they make it mandatory to pull the product, however the provincial government asked lawn care professionals to stop immediately.

Thompson said the company will generally comply with requests from the government.

“Whether or not we’re mandated to do something, if we get a request from the government, and it’s a reasonable request and something we can accommodate, we’re going to do that.”

Lobster Carnival president predicts big weekend

Lobster Carnival president predicts big weekend

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

The Lobster carnival’s week-long celebration in Summerside will be coming to a close this weekend.

Saturday will host some of the marquee events such as the Governor’s Plate Harness Race at the Red Shores by Summerside at 7 p.m., Master Packaging Cardboard Boat Race at 12 p.m. at Spinnakers’ Landing, the finals of the Journal Pioneer Talent Showcase at Credit Union Place starting at 7 p.m.

The beginning of the first annual Summerside P.E.I. Bluegrass Festival at Credit Union Place starting at 1p.m. and the Waterfront will be hosting the Lobster Trap Challenge finale at 6 p.m.

Sunday will close with the Blugrass festival’s continuation and Anne and Gilbert the Musical starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Harbourfront theatre.

The Lobster Carnival’s 2011 President Robert Palmer said so far weather has been a big factor for the events.

“If you look at most of the events, the indoor events are doing really well, the outdoor events not so much. I guess we could all figure out why that would be, it’s pretty fall-ish out there right now.”

One of the events doing well this year is the lobster suppers taking place at the Royal Canadian Legion, he said.

“The talent shows and anything going on inside Credit Union Place and anything else we have going on indoors is doing extraordinarily well. Lobster suppers are way up, lots of people coming in and enjoying the meals.”

With nice weather predicted for the weekend, big crowds are expected for the events this weekend, said Palmer.

“I mean we seen some really big crowds for the parade for the parade and it was down pouring,” he said. “I think a lot of people will be surprised. I think everybody’s waiting for that nice day they can get out and enjoy themselves.”

“I think we’ll see crowds of 10,000 to 15,000 people down on the waterfront on Saturday and certainly for the talent show and the Governor’s plate, you know, we’re looking for a huge day on Saturday,” he added.

Bright Future

Bright Future

Future Seafoods lands on list of Signature Canadian Experiences

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

FERNWOOD- A Prince county company has been included in the Canadian Tourism Commission’s Signature Experiences Collection.

Future Seafoods was one of two Island companies and one of 48 Canada wide selected by the program which aims to lure international travelers to Canada by marketing unique and exotic experiences.

Tranquility Cove Adventures in Georgetown is the other Island experience that made the list.

Future Seafoods contribution offers a Tong and Shuck experience, where part owners Brian and Erskine Lewis take customers out on a boat to their Oyster farms on Salutation Cove.

After coming in they are treated to an Oyster party at the company’s plant in Fernwood, where co-owner Ted Boutilier shows off how to properly shuck an oyster while educating them on the oyster farming and selling business. 

Customers are also treated to a box of oysters and the trying Future Seafoods Oysters Rockyfellas, a signature food from the company.

Boutilier said Reader’s Digest is coming to do a story on the unique tourist opportunity.

Boutilier said the CTC had asked if they wanted to be part of the Signature Experiences in the preliminary stage but never thought they would actually be chosen.

“The first reaction (when they found out) was wow, us, Future Seafoods. We’re just three guys. It struck me,” he said. “I’m very proud of it, because it shows us we provide a good time.”

Boutilier said this is their third summer doing the program, which they’ve done in conjunction with Experience P.E.I. and they have always received positive feedback.

“They’re very entertained when they leave here,” he said. “This is the most fun we have.”

Boutilier said opinions differ when asked what the favourite part of the experience is.

“If you ask Brian or Erskine, they say their favourite part is the water. If you ask me, the favourite part is here eating oysters.”

Boutilier said Future Seafoods’ program is suited for the higher spending tourist who wants to experience a real part of Islander life.

CAPTION: Ted Boutilier, co-owner of Future Seafoods, demonstrates how to shuck an oyster at the company’s plant in Fernwood Thursday afternoon.

“(The higher spending tourist) doesn’t want to go to Anne of Green Gables, that’s what it seems like to me. They don’t want to go to Cavendish, to all the traditional venues. They want to go off the beaten track to see what Islanders really do,” he said. “We’re promoting a way of life.”

Eurobobble

Eurobobbles comes to Summerside for the weekend

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

People at Spinnakers’ Landing on the dark and dreary Thursday were having fun flipping, flopping and falling in a large plastic ball.

The ball was part of the Eurobobble set up Wayd McNally and his family set up this week in Summerside as part of the Lobster Carnival.

The Eurobobble is much akin to a hamster ball for humans, except it is completely sealed as to not allow water in, and allows you to, if you can, walk around a pool of water 15-20 inches deep. The pool where the participant takes part allows three Eurobobbles at a time, while the experience lasts an average of five minutes.

The McNallys, along with business partner Craig MacEwan, designed their own set up for those looking to try to be perfectly safe.

The Eurobobble, however, is very controversial. Thomas Gatzunis, Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Safety commissioner recommended they be banned according to an article in the Boston Herald in December.

However McNally said he knows it’s safe.

 “We’ve designed it to be safe, we’re all parents as well and we want to make sure if we’re comfortable putting our own kids in it that we’re comfortable putting other people’s kids in it,” he said. “It’s actually a very well controlled environment.”

The Eurobobble has been a lot of places recently, including the Cavendish Beach Music festival, and received warm receptions from those wishing to try, said McNally.

“We’ve put literally hundreds of people through this thing. We’ve had no issues and only lots of very positive feedback.”

Sophie Betts, a 12-year old from Summerside, was the first person to ride the waves in the Eurobobble Thursday morning. She was very happy with her experience.

“It was really great, really fun. I’ve never done anything like that before, it was fun to try and walk on water,” she said. “I thought I’d be better at it but it’s harder than it looks.”

Sophie’s sister, Chloe Betts, an 8-year-old from Summerside, said her success in moving the ball was inspired by an animal.

“I found out the only way to move it is to do it like a hamster wheel.”

Samantha Beck, a 12-year-old from the Miscouche area, said it was a hard but fun experience.

“(It’s) really hard because the ball is moving at the same time you’re trying to get up.”

CAPTION: Sisters Sophie Betts, left, and Chloe Betts, right, try to walk on water in the Eurobobbles Thursday morning at Spinnakers’ Landing.

The Eurobobble will be at Spinnakers’ Landing from Thursday to Saturday and will be operating from 11 a.m. to about 9 p.m.

SPELLING BEEEEEEEEE

Eleven-year-old Darren Archibald of Albany won the Lobster Carnival Spelling Bee Wednesday morning at the Summerside Legion

Lobster Eating

Caption: Joanne Doucette and Sarah Kowalski eat lobster fast as they can at the JMK lobster eating competition Wednesday afternoon at the JMK lobster eating contest. Jimmy Blacquiere was the eventual winner. (3)

50th Birthday

Gencheff camp has 50^th anniversary party next week

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

Jack Cutcliffe remembers being impressed with the camp when he took his son to Camp Gencheff over 25-years ago when he brought his son there for the first time.

“My impression was how much enjoyment and satisfaction some of these individuals got from being at, what they considered, their camp.”

Camp Genchiffe, which is located outside of Stratford near the Bellevue Cove, is welcoming all to its 50^th anniversary celebration on July 22 with an open house from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. 50 years to the date after F. Walter Hyndman, Lieutenant Governor at the time, cut the ribbon to officially open the camp.

The camp is aimed towards children, teenagers and adults with special needs and to provide them a structured residential camping experience.

Cutcliffe, now 82-years old, has been a board member for over 25-years. He said he is proud to see the camp celebrate its 50^th birthday.

“I’m very happy, very proud to (be a board member) and make my small contribution to the ongoing facilities that are there and keeping the camp going.”

Cutcliffe said the camp helped him and his wife with their worries about their child.

“We often wondered, what would happen if something happened to us and he was left,” he said. “After coming home from the camp, they could realize and now the parents would be satisfied, that now these children could, if anything happened to those parents, that individual could cope with other people looking after them.”

He said one of the biggest benefits with his son was the feeling of independence.

“He got a sense of independence by being able to attend that camp. That’s one of the major benefits I think.”

Cutcliffe said his son was enjoying the program so much, he decided to join the board to help out.

“(His son) passed away eight years ago, but I stayed on the board to payback some of the appreciation we had for what was being done at that camp.”

Cutcliffe hopes to see the camp go into the future.

““It’s very satisfying to know that it’s been carried on for 50-years,” he said. “My hope is it will carry on. If you could attend and see the faces on some of these children.”

Local Man receives prestigious position

Local man receives prestigious position

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

Summerside native Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Harris was named Administrative Officer of the 8 wing/Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario after 20-years at the base.

Harris, who grew up in Summerside and attended the University of Prince Edward Island, where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration, was appointed to the position on June 23 after the previous Administrative Officer left for a position with the National Defence Headquarters.

He had originally been stationed in Trenton from 1990 to 1999, then after a five years in Winnipeg, he was back again. He then was stationed in Toronto and Kingston while his wife, Beth, lived with their kids in Trenton. He is now moving back to what he considers “home”.

Harris, a Logistics Officer by trade, will now be responsible for the management of human and financial resources and Lodger units. He will also be responsible for overseeing Physical Education and Recreation, Medical Support Services, Chaplain services, Messes and Clubs, Accommodations, the Official Languages and computer training centres and Financial services for the base.

The 8 wing/CFB Trenton is home to Canada’s Air Mobility aircraft fleet and employs about 4,000 military and civilian people.

Harris, who still regularly visits Summerside, said he was excited to hear about receiving the position.

“I really couldn’t wait to tell my wife and children when I got home, which was right at Christmas time,” he said “It was very exciting to come home tell them the news I was going to be posted back to Trenton, because I had been serving in Kingston for the last three years.”

“I really feel good about coming back here,” he added.

He said he felt the position to be highly sought after.

“(This is) something I’ve been looking for in my career and wanted to move up to this position.”

Harris originally enlisted in the Canadian forces in 1988 and has served internationally and domestically. He was in Operation BOREAL in Russia and Operation AIRBRIDGE in Italy serving in Afghanistan.

Harris’ dad served in the air force as an air force technician and was located in Summerside. He said that it might have been a small inspiration.

“I lived the life but never really considered it until my university years,” he said. “Out of any job in the world, this is the one I’d want to do.”

BOOKS FOR SALE!

CAPTION: Tom MacDonald look around at books Tuesday afternoon at the Friends of the Library book sale at the Summerside Rotary Library. The Friends of the Library will be holding their annual meeting July 18.

Midway Fun day

CAPTION: Krissa Reeves-Baker, of Kensington, has fun on the swing ride at the Midway on it’s first day at Credit Union Place in Summerside on Tuesday afternoon.

Say Goodnight to the Magic Guy

Final Harry Potter movie sells out quick for midnight premier

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

There will not be an empty seat at Summerside’s Empire Theatres Studio 5 Thursday night when they premier the final movie in the Harry Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part two” at midnight.

Theatre manager Dave MacDougall said the movie sold out faster than any other one in Summerside for a midnight showing.

“(Compared to other movies selling out) this is by far the best.”

The series, which were based on the popular books about a young boy who finds out he is a wizard and fights against his arch nemesis Voldemort, was a successful movie series with the first seven grossing over $6 billion in worldwide ticket sales.

MacDougall said the last of the tickets were sold in the last four or five days.

“Everything’s sold out, completely,” he said. “Lots of tickets left for the day after.”

MacDougall, who has watched every other one in the series so far, said at the premier of the last Harry Potter film, eager Potter fans began showing up at around 7 p.m. some dressed as their favourite characters.

The 230-seat theatre will be filled with Summerside residents, like Alexandra Appleton, looking for one last adventure with the famed wizard and his friends.

Appleton, 19, has been reading the books since she was 12, is looking forward to the movie but knows it will be sad to see it go.

“It’s going to be really, really sad and I’m probably going to be really upset after I watch it because I’ll know it’s all over,” she said. “I’m a pretty big fan.”

Maggie Finkle-Aucoin, 15, who has attended most of the film premiers with her uncle Jay Hammer dressed as her favourite character, isn’t going to be at this premier because they couldn’t get tickets before they sold out.

She said she still plans to go with her uncle and dress up for one of the showings.

“Usually I go as Hermione Granger, she’s like one of my favourite characters ever, and my uncle I’m still trying to get him to go as Voldemort one day.”

She said she won’t be too upset when the credits roll on the film.

“It feels almost like this big part of your life is ending,” she said. “Even though there won’t be new ones every movie will still hold the magic that it does each and every time you watch it.”

Scott Holmes, 23, has been a fan of the series since his friends and him started reading the book in grade six. He said he will be sad to see the series go.

“I’m going to be pretty bummed out about it I think cause it is like the end of a generation,” he said. “It’s just like a series you don’t want to see come to an end.”

Island health officials stay vigilant with C. difficile

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

Prince Edward Island hospitals are always vigilant about preventing Clostridium difficile, say Health P.E.I. officials.

There were 66 reported cases of the more commonly known C. difficile on P.E.I. last year, none of which resulted in fatalities.

The bacterial strain is widely distributed in the environment and the bacteria can produce different toxins and can cause severe diarrhea, stomach cramps and other forms of intestinal illness. Three to five per cent of people though will feel no ill effects from the bacteria.

It can become fatal if the victim is already having troubles with their immune system. The elderly and those who have underlying conditions with their immunity are at the most risk.

Stacey Burns, provincial infection prevention and control program coordinator, said it is not unusual for her to see at least one case a week of someone with C difficile.

“In our health care facilities we are constantly looking for any sort of diarrheal illness and we have precautions put in place whenever we see that to decrease any spread,” she said. “We follow a guideline here on P.E.I. just to make sure our cleaning is being done appropriately, that we’re identifying our cases early and getting them on precautions and that our hand hygiene in our facilities and health care areas is as good as it can be.”

Recently in parts of Southern Ontario, outbreaks of the bacteria have occurred. Among the 100 cases, 20 fatalities have occurred.

Burns said people get sick with C. difficile after being on antibiotics for long periods of time but don’t always get it at the hospital.

“It doesn’t only spread through the hands of health care workers and through equipment,” she said. “People can also have the symptoms in the community. So if they were taking antibiotics for whatever reason they may have diarrheal illness go back in to see their physician give a stool specimen and find out they have C. difficile.”

Outbreak management is taken seriously by the province, said Burns.

“(If diagnosed) We keep them in a private room if at all possible, hand hygiene measures would be very important, be washing with soap and water and wearing gowns and gloves to take care of these folks and we would probably have some visitor restrictions if there was an outbreak,” she said. “The cleaning is different for C. difficile. Friction is very important, as it always is, but after an area is actually cleaned with friction and detergent, it’s then disinfected with either a bleach solution or a special sporicidal disinfectant.”

Lamont Sweet, Deputy Chief Health Officer, said there are different strains of the bacteria, some more dangerous than others, but should all be taken seriously.

“What our understanding is there are more serious strains of the illness, such as the one that hit Quebec a few years back now,” he said. “But also if it happens to get in an area where there is a lot of people who are more likely to get ill and it starts spreading, particularly people who have underlying illnesses and they’re all in one area, then there can be an outbreak there with garden variety types of the illness.”

New Salon

CAPTION: Brenna Beck, visiting with her parents from Hay River, Northwest Territories, has her hair styled by Marilyn Graham at her new salon, Rippling Wave Botique in the Town Centre Mall in Summerside. Graham has 38-years experience and this is her first shop in Summerside.

Hill of Dreams

Local man’s band to play with music icons

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

A dream came true for Ryan Gallant Friday night.

His band Death Valley Driver, for whom he’s the drummer, won the Rock the Hill’s Clash of the Bands finals at Monte’s Showbar in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and will be one of the opening bands for metal-music legends Metallica, Thursday at the Citadel Hill “Rock the Hill” concert in Halifax.

“It was just a dream come true for all of us,” he said. “Everybody in the band are just obviously the biggest Metallica fans ever, we were just so overwhelmed, I don’t think any of us said a word for the first twenty minutes. We were just in shock.”

The Clash of the Bands Death Valley Driver won, was a contest to find a local act to take part in Metallica’s long anticipated concert in the Martime’s biggest city. Regional Clash of the Band’s were held in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and P.E.I. before the finals in Dartmouth.

Metallica is multi-platinum recording act and is often considered one of metal-music’s most influential acts.

Gallant, the only member of the band that lives in Summerside, said Metallica has had an influence on Death Valley Driver’s sound.

“You can really hear it,” he said. “If you like metal, you like Metallica. It’s pretty much influenced everybody I know including our whole band.”

“It’s like playing with the Beatles,” he added.

He said if he could meet any member of the hard rock band, it would be drummer Lars Ulrich.

“I don’t even know what I’d say to him, I’d probably just say ‘it’s an honour’. I don’t want to be that guy, you know, who breaks down crying or nothing like that,” he said. “I’m definitely going to let him know how much influence he was on my (music) career.”

The crowd may be bigger than he is use to but the drummer said he won’t be nervous when the band steps on stage in front of the Metallica hungry crowd.

“I don’t think being nervous is anything to deal with for any of us,” he said. “We like to think of ourselves as professionals so we’re pretty excited just to be able to do it. If anything it’s just going to make us more intense on stage.”

Though he won’t be nervous, Gallant said he and the band might still be in shock.

“I don’t think any of us are really going to understand what’s going on until we walk onto that stage and that’s going to be the moment we all look at each other we’re like, ‘We’re here.’”

He said if he could meet any member of the band, it would be drummer Lars Ulrich.

“I don’t even know what I’d say to him, I’d probably just say ‘it’s an honour’. I don’t want to be that guy, you know, who breaks down crying or nothing like that,” he said. “I’m definitely going to let him know how much influence he was on my (music) career.”

Island Style at Home

Island sense of style

Island women’s chic beach house design featured in national magazine

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

SUMMERSIDE- It was only a year ago in August Susan Snow had finished her job of designing the interior of a summer home for Shane and Susan Stark, from Calgary.

The home, which overlooks the Northumberland Strait, was chosen by the magazine after Snow submitted a picture of it.

A year later, Snow was surprised to see her design on the front cover promoting an eight-page spread and article about the home.

“It really is a designer’s dream,” she said. “I knew it was probably going to be about a year before it was in the magazine, but I didn’t have any idea it would be the cover.”

Snow had been featured in the magazine twice previously, her store Moving Designz (which was located in Summerside but now in Charlottetown) home and cottage was featured and she wrote a column for P.E.I. shopping in their “Shops etc.”, but this was the first time a house she worked on was featured.

The home was the first article featured in the “Cottage Chic” section and was given the biggest page spread.

Snow said the home was a team effort by both her and the Stark’s.

“They had in mind how they wanted their house finished off, they just needed me to complete the task for them.”

Susan described the house’s interior of the home as a very classic and simply done, calling it “Beach house chic.”

“It is a dream house and they will be retiring there so it’s very large but all the spaces have a purpose.”

 She said she thought the magazine did a great job in showing the house and it’s design.

“They represented my work extremely, extremely well. Even when they did the photography.”

Snow, who has been doing interior design professionally for six years, said it felt wonderful to get the recognition from the magazine.

“It’s validating and of course, you know, it ads to the credibility,” she said. “If someone would have told me ten-years ago that your work is going to be featured in a national magazine, I would have laughed.”

She said it is good for business to have her work featured on the nationally distributed monthly magazine.

“There was one gal and her husband and the husband came over the cashier as (his wife) was shopping and said, ‘My wife saw the magazine, and since we were coming, she wanted to come in and see your shop.”

Low Percentage in preservation report

P.E.I. scores low in nature preservation report

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

P.E.I.’s large amount of private land is a big factor on why P.E.I. scored lowest on nature preservation report, said Island Nature Trust executive director Jackie Waddell.

The report issued by Global Forest Watch Canada had Prince Edward Island scoring the lowest of all provinces at 2.6 per cent of natural land preserved in 2010 compared to most provinces, which are around 10 per cent.

Currently on P.E.I. only about 10 per cent of the Island is owned by the government.

Peter Lee, executive director at Global Forest Watch Canada, said he also thinks the high amount of private land was a big factor for P.E.I.’s low finish.

“When you start looking at the details, you understand why (the per cent) is that way,” he said. “There’s very little Crown land left in P.E.I., most of it is privately owned.”

The Island Nature Trust is a non-governmental organization that works with people who would like to donate parts of their land with natural significance, a forest with hardwood or mixed wood trees, cliff, trees and other natural beauty.

It is then put under the Nature Areas Protection act, where it can no longer be used

Lee said the organization was one of the most credible in Canada.

“Working with groups like that would be relatively easy for the government at least to identify the most important biologically rich areas.”

Waddell said most other provinces have more crown land to work with.

“A lot of the other provinces, their Provincial government and Federal government, have jointly protected the vast majority of the land.”

Waddell said in the 90s the World Wildlife Federation had set goals for the provinces and land protection. P.E.I.’s was the lowest.

“They set goals of 12 per cent for all the provinces and territories except P.E.I. because we were so small and had so little public land they had a (goal) of seven per cent.”

She said there are many reasons some people won’t donate land, but economics is a large one.

“Economics comes into it to, it always does because when you protect land like that it lowers it’s overall value and permanently restricts its future use because designation under the act is permanent.”

Waddell said that education and awareness could speed up P.E.I.’s natural protection growth.

“It’s private land owners knowing there’s ownership problems they can solve through protection. One of them is that any person or company that owns land, if they designate that land under the Natural areas protection act, it’s removed from the aggregate total.”

If anyone would like to donate land, Waddell encourages them to contact the Island Nature Trust.

Bronze Boys

Caption: From left, Glendon Arsenault, Mark Ramsay and Travis Perry stand together Wednesday morning in Summerside days after winning a bronze medal at the Special Olympics in Athens, Greece.

Prince County’s bronze boys

Four Prince county men win bronze at Special Olympic games

Caption: From left, Glendon Arsenault, Mark Ramsay and Travis Perry stand together Wednesday morning in Summerside days after winning a bronze medal at the Special Olympics in Athens, Greece. 

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

The Canada East men’s softball team arrived home from the Special Olympic games in Athens, Greece with a special souvenir from the trip.

The team beat host nation Greece in the bronze medal game 16-5 and included three Prince county men as players, Glendon Arsenault, Mark Ramsay and Travis Perry with Lew Champion, an assistant coach with the team from Prince county as well.

The team went 2-2 in the tournament, including their win in the bronze medal game, losing to both Russia and the United States while beating Greece twice.

Champion said he was proud to see his team walk away with a medal.

“It was unreal, but I think the biggest thing was after they presented the medals,” he said. “(All the teams) were shaking hands, high fiving, one another, like real friends. That was something.”

Champion, who traded hats with one of the Americans, said the sportsmanship wasn’t just at the congratulatory greetings at the end of the tournament.

“In one of the games the guy got a hit and ran like hell for first base and tripped and fell. The American first basemen came and helped him up.”

Champion had nothing but compliments for the host nation of Greece.

“We were so well received in Greece,” he said. “The people in Greece were just so unbelievably friendly.”

The teammates were ecstatic about their medal win.

“It feels good to come home and show my parents how proud I am,” said Perry. “My friends, my family back home I was thinking about them.”

“It feels great. I never represented Canada before but when I heard the crowd in the background it got my adrenaline going,” said Ramsay.

“Great. It was nice seeing the parents at the airport,” said Arsenault. “And the fans.”

The three men talked about what they thought was key to their medal win.

“We hit the ball,” said Perry. “We tried to do our best and that’s what we did and that’s how we won the bronze.”

“I’d say (the crowd) was a big factor cause there was our country, the USA was cheering their team on and Russia too,” said Ramsay. “We played real well.”

“Everyone was playing good,” said Arsenault. “The crowd support too."

EVANGELINE RINK

CAPTION: Cedric Gallant stands proudly Wednesday afternoon at the new Evangeline Recreation Centre as crew work on the cement laid for the ice surface in the rink. The rink plans to be opened in September and have ice in October.

Family watches new couple

CAPTION: Guirong Lin, left, with son Brian Zhang, centre, and husband Yang Zhang, right, were at the Summerside Wharf to see the Royal couple Monday afternoon. Now from Summerside, the couple moved from Tzanjin, China two years ago.

Royal Watchers

CAPTION: The crowd at the Summerside Wharf greeted the royal couple’s helicopter with cheers while waving miniature British and Canada flags Monday afternoon.

Royal Watchers

Summerside Wharf visit gets mixed reviewers from spectators

By Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

Mixed reviews came from the thousands attending the royal visit at the Summerside wharf Monday afternoon.

When people began to filter into the wharf parking lot, Spinnakers and the boardwalk, it was with great anticipation. Royal watchers from Summerside to Nova Scotia to Oklahoma to the Bahamas gathered in celebration of the regal pair’s long awaited visit to the Western capital grew closer and closer.

Members of the grade four and five College of Piping band marched up and down the lot performing while Keith Broderick could be heard playing classic rock tunes.

Kids were seen running around, delivering British and Canadian flags to those who wanted them.

One spectator, Brenda Benson said, she like many people, was interested in the royal family and remembered watching Charles’ and Diana’s wedding when she was young.

“My heritage is British so I wanted to see what it was all about. I brought my two little kids down,” she said. “They’re really excited too.”

Hazen Mellish was excited to see the couple having previously attended visits from William’s grandfather Phillip, father Charles and brother Harry during his tenure at the Canadian Forces Base in Suffield, Alberta, before returning home about four years ago.

“I think it’s good to have them (come here). We’re still connected to them and it’s good publicity.”

Others such as Marvin Minns, from the Bahamas in Summerside attending the Holland College Marine training centre, just wanted to see what the came down to see what all the attention was about.

“I was in the area and I heard it was going to be something big to see.”

Emily Schurman was handing out flags with the P.E.I. Segway tours was excited for the opportunity for Summerside.

“We are the centre of the universe for 35-minutes.”

As the helicopter landed with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on it, the crowd welcomed the famed couple with a warm reception of cheers. Those on the boardwalk and at Spinnaker’s Landing stood tip toed with camera flashes lighting up the grey-skied day.

While the couple watched the coast guard’s search and rescue simulation, the crowd hoped for just one more glimpse of the Prince and Princess.

While some eventually left, most gathered chanting “Will and Kate” near the exit of the wharf.

Unfortunately for those who waited until the end, the couple zoomed through on their way to the airport.

Some of those that stuck around were disappointed leaving with only a peak at the future King and bride, not an up close look they desired.

Others such as Laura Apblet from Oklahoma, were happy with the experience. She had watched the Royal wedding in class and got a photo of the couple.

“I’m here visiting my grandmother and I wanted to see Will and Kate so I came to the Waterfront,” she said. “I never seen them before and really wanted to see them.”

Samantha Gui-Turchan, of Summerside, said it was a cool experience seeing the couple on P.E.I.

“It kind of sucked we weren’t actually able to see them at the waterfront other than that it was neat to see them on the Island and come to a small Island like this.”

Susan Newcombe and her husband Michael, of Port Hill, were part of the lucky few to have a close encounter with William and Kate after receiving an invitation to attend from Gail Shea’s office.

“We shook hands with William first and (Kate) asked if we were cold. They were very polite and very nice,” she said. “I didn’t think we’d get that close to them. It was exciting.”

Local sailor completes lonely voyage home

76-year-old local man sails home alone from Florida

By Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

Dick Wedge’s sailboat, White Cap, has finally come home as he arrived in Summerside on Sunday after sailing for over 5-weeks alone from Florida.

The trip was the longest he’s ever made alone, but Wedge’s sailboat has some mileage.

Wedge, 76 year-old Summerside native, and his wife Mary have had the boat all over the Pacific and Atlantic coasts from Chicago to Texas to Cancun to the Northwest Caribbean Islands since first shipping out almost 13 years ago.

The couple would dock the boat in the summers to come to Summerside, then travel back and sail again in the winters.

This went on consistently until about two years ago when Wedge fell ill and had to have a heart procedure.

During this period of time he had his boat docked in Fort Pierce, Florida at a marina. This year, Wedge who feels quite healthy now, decided to finally take the boat home rather than pay the marina fees.

“I decided rather then pay money down there to keep the boat, I’d go down and get her and sail it home.”

Wedge said the boat is a Morgan-34 sailboat but was only an empty fiberglass hull when he bought it.

“I bought a bare hull in 1968 in Florida and I towed it home back to Canada,” he said. “I built her from there. The rest is our own design and our own handy work with friends.”

His trip home brought him through the Intracoastal Waterway, through New York City and to meeting a couple friends he had not seen for 38-years, Dan and Mimi Dyer in New England, where he picked up medication his wife sent him.

“When I visited my friends in Rhode Island, when they took me to their house to get my medication, above the front door they had the Summerside, P.E.I. flag,” he said. “They had the flag since they were here in 1973. This is the first time they had it out since.”

Wedge said the boat is a Morgan-34 sailboat but was only an empty fiberglass hull when he bought it.

“I bought a bare hull in 1968 in Florida and I towed it home back to Canada,” he said. “I built her from there. The rest is our own design and our own handy work with friends.”

He said the experience of sailing home was a positive one other people should try.

“Everybody should do it once in their life.”

Other than a few instances, including having to pump water out of the boat because of a leak he couldn’t find, Wedge said though he it was a good trip he was happy to get home.

“There was a whole pile of people out on the dock when I came in, so I was quite surprised. I thought I’d sneak in, in the middle of the night,” he said. “It was quite a nice feeling to have all these people come and greet me.”

Finally getting off the ocean and home, the first thing Wedge did was sit down to dinner with his wife and some friends.

“We had a dinner of mussels,” he said. “Can’t get away from the sea. But they tasted some good,” he chuckled.

Artists take Residency in PEI

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

The Prince Edward Island Council of the Arts and the city of Summerside have awarded the first two positions for the PACE Self-Directed Artists in Residency program starting in July.

Troy Little, author of the graphic novel Angora Napkin and Eisner award nominee and Nancy Cole, a visual artist, were selected after an application process to take part in the program.

The two artists will complete a two-month program inhabiting the house on Notre Dame street. The artists will be given stipend for food and essentials while living there.

Little, who will be going from July to August, will be working on a new graphic novel titled “The Allusion of Life” plans to have a 24-hour comic event, where he will encourage people to come down and do as many pages for a comic as they can within the 24-hour frame.

Little said he will be setting something up to let people know when he’s around and when he’s not if they want to come check out some of his work.

“I think it’s really neat in that anyone can come in and check it out. Hang-out, talk, in my case, comics, animation, art, whatever you know, that’s what I’m there for.”

He said he’s done the 24-hour comic event before and would like to be able to share it with the community.

“It might be kind of a fun thing to have people drop in at two in the morning and see what’s going on or take part in it,” he said. “It’s the Iron man marathon of comics.”

Cole will be doing her residence during September and October where she plans to do a conceptual piece about youth diets. She will be getting submissions from kids about their favourite foods, tracing them into a quilted textile. For visual purposes, she will colour each piece of the textile the colour of the food.

“I want to see what the nature of their favourite foods is. Is it all going to be junk food, is it all going to be bars and chips? Or is there going to be any element of health? I’m hoping it will be sort of a reflection of the state of our diet.”

Cole said she will be looking for participants to help work on the piece with what she calls “quilt busking.”

“It’s not for money, but basically to be demonstrating and have a couple extra chairs if people want to sit down and try it. Get a needle and thimble and have a chat. I’m going to try to pick good locations on good days.”

Cole ran Perrywinkle Bears with her husband John Perry out of their house for 10-years and at 53-years old is now a full time artist.