Eastern Graphic

Boats block Beach Point plant despite injunction

Thu, 05/09/2013 - 21:22

Fishermen in Beach Point were playing a waiting game as three lobster boats blocked access to the fish processing plant Thursday evening. An injunction was granted in Supreme Court earlier in the day to have the boats moved. Even though the boats are not on the processors’ property, they’re still in the way of the main entrance to the Beach Point Processing Company. Beach Point fisherman Donnie Johnston spoke tongue-in-cheek on the situation. “The boats look nice there. They’re not hurting anything,” he said as he stood in the rain outside the plant. Mr Johnston said he doesn’t think fishermen should have to move ...

Thu, 05/09/2013 - 20:08

Fishermen and supporters are getting comfortable on the street outside Seafood 2000 processing plant in Georgetown for yet another overnight vigil. They’d have been there blocking the entrance to the processing plant since Wednesday, Day 1 of the lobster price protest, and had no plans to leave until they saw an increase. Fisherman Nick Martell was there from the beginning of the protest and so had his boat. “We’re not letting anything in or out,” he said. Friends and family supported the fishermen by bringing food as the protestors took shifts in the protest. A couch and lawn chairs were set up in between ...

Thu, 05/09/2013 - 13:56

The eastern PEI business community is looking down the nose of an economic wallop as lobster fishermen, plant workers, fish buyers and others involved in the fishing industry remain idle Boyd Leard at Lea-Mac in Souris said it’s the price of lobster, not the protest, that is affecting his business. “I supply and sell things to the fishermen. When the fishermen are making below the cost of what it costs to bring in, they’re certainly not buying things from me,” Mr Leard said. He said higher prices for fishermen will mean better news for local business. “I wish lobster was $10 a pound. At ...

Thu, 05/09/2013 - 13:04

The price of a one-way ticket to Alberta, about $475, has been on the minds of some lobster fishermen as frustration grows over the prospect of receiving $3 per pound for catches. Fisherman Ivan Jenkins of Annandale said he goes west to work every year to earn money to pay his bills and he’s not alone. Mike McGeoghegan, President of the PEI Fishermen’s Association has also joined the Maritime migration to western Canada. “If you’ve got a family, a truck and a house, you need to be able to pay for it,” Mr McGeoghegan said. Both Mr McGeoghegan and Mr Jenkins were among a ...

Thu, 05/09/2013 - 11:17

Boats remain tied up at the wharves this morning as lobster fishermen watch the clock in the second day of a protest for higher prices. Fishermen are only allowed to leave their traps in the water for 72 hours at one stretch. They last hauled their traps Tuesday. The lobster industry involves more than 1,200 fishermen across the province. Last year they landed more than 27 million pounds of lobster. “After that we’ll go out and collect the equipment, and put it on the warf. The lobsters will go back in the water,” Nick Martell, Captain of Catchy A in Georgetown said. “I ...

peicanada.com - Fishermen discuss prices and protesting at Naufrage Harbour

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 21:29

Fishermen gathered at wharfs across the Island Wednesday to decide how long they should tie up in protest of low lobster prices. Wharfs across the island tied up on Wednesday morning, but there was some concern of how long boycotting would take. In Naufrage, 150 fishers came out. John MacPhee, who lives in and fishes out of Souris, said there’s no money if they did go back. He said fishermen aren’t asking for a lot. “We just want to make a living, the same as everyone else. We’re not looking to get rich in one year, we’d like $4.50 and $5. We’re not asking ...

Plant workers say provincial travel allowance decision is biased

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 05:20

Mariner Seafood employees who were forced to take jobs elsewhere this season are crying foul after the Department of Innovation said it won’t give them any mobility funding. For the past two years, the department provided gas money for workers that would have been employed at Ocean Choice. In 2011, both North Lake and Ocean Choice in Souris closed unexpectedly a week before the processing season. The plant was expected open in 2012 but when that didn’t happen the province offered the workers travel assistance. Last year, the department budgeted $185,000, or an average of $2,466 per worker, to cover travel expenses ...

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 05:20

The majority of North Lake fishermen say they will tie up their boats as early as mid-week to protest plummeting lobster prices. The group met earlier this week after hearing they would get a low price of $3 per pound for their catch. Fifty-five of 90 of the north side fishermen agreed to take action. North Lake fisherman Glenn Sweeny said his harbour is looking for support from fishermen across the province. “It’s time fishermen got together on this,” he said. The fishermen spent Monday evening contacting other harbours. At the beginning of the lobster season in May 2012, canner lobsters were selling for an ...

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 05:20

Patricia McGowan and Dusty (Errol) MacLure of Montague claim runoff from a farmer’s field just above their cottage caused $10,000 to $12,000 damage to their summer property along the Montague River. Ms McGowan said the runoff shook the supports under the couple’s cottage and carried soil away creating long deep crevices in the lane leading up to their property. “The only thing that stopped the close to 30-year old cottage from going over the bank was the deck on the front side of it,” Ms McGowan said. Brian Annear of Lower Montague owns the field and rents it to a local farmer. Mr ...

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 05:20

Myers Industries owner Garth Myers said his business will follow guidelines and be mindful of the community if a plan to expand his recycling facility goes ahead. Mr Myers said he has an option to buy 10 acres of property on Alleys Mill Road in Cardigan. The expansion would replace his facility that burned last month and would include his existing bottle recycling depot. Three new buildings would be created: an office, a main facility and a storage unit as well as two parking lots. But some residents who live on the same road, just north of Pooles Corner, oppose the expansion. Jim ...

Irish delegation to visit PEI this month

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 05:00

The Fort Augustus Irish Descendants Association will host a delegation of five from County Monaghan, Ireland from May 21, 2013 to May 29, 2013. This delegation includes Councillor Hugh McElvaney, Mayor, Councillor Paudge Connolly, Councillor Noel Keelan, Councillor Mary Carrol from Monaghan Town Council and Willie McKenna, previous Councillor. The delegation will be staying with host families from the association. While on the Island the delegation will travel from St. Peter’s to Tignish. On Thursday they will spend the day in Emyvale, tour and cross the Confederation Bridge, tour Right Off The Batt Pottery, Prestige Kitchens, Red Shores in Summerside and M&M ...

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 05:00

Montague Consolidated Novice Boys won the Provincial Wrestling Championships in April for the third consecutive year, with many students winning medals in multiple categories. Medal winners included, from left: Chloe Loan, Alex Bourgeois, Ean King, Zach MacNevin, Jason Thompson, Nathan Purchase, Hunter Wight, Trey VanColen, Ben Collings-McKay, and Marshall Dorsey. Front: Ethan McMaster, Ethan Barker, William King, Allie Collings, Kenzie Hawkins, Hailey Ferguson, Erin Morris, and Nathaniel O’Connor. Heather Jordan Ross photo ...

Learning about native trees and shrubs

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 05:00

The public is invited to a workshop on native trees and shrubs at the Sir Andrew Macphail Homestead in Orwell on Saturday, May 11. Led by staff of the Macphail Woods Ecological Forestry Project, the workshop begins at 10am at the nursery and will focus on all things related to native trees and shrubs. Some plants, such as the American fly honeysuckle and red maple, naturally awaken early from their winter sleep. Bluebead lilies, trilliums and starflowers are starting to poke their heads out of the ground. Most of our migrant songbirds have returned to the woodlands as well. ...

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 05:00

Rotary President Dr. Pius Murnahan presents Montague Rotary Librarian Swarna Chairdrasekera with a cheque for $2,210.40. The Montague Rotary Library was the week # 60, April 22nd, Charity of the week in the Rotary Gold Mine Draw. The Rotary Gold Mine Lottery is a $2 weekly lotto which has donated more than $130,000 to more than a dozen charities in eastern PEI since it began last March. To play, please see the Gold Mine message on page 6 of this week’s Eastern Graphic. Barb Mazerolle photo ...

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 05:00

Wanda MacLean of Sturgeon was at the Montague Rotary Meeting at Perrin’s Marina Villa in Montague on Wednesday, May 1 to pick up the week # 60, April 22nd Rotary Gold Mine cheque for $4,605. Ms MacLean received her cheque from Montague Rotary members Laird King and Dr. A.E. Bud Ings. The Rotary Gold Mine has awarded more than $135,000 in prize money in the last 60 weeks. Barb Mazerolle photo ...

Exclusive 5-Hall pass on sale for Fifth Annual Small Halls Festival

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 05:00

The PEI Mutual Festival of Small Halls is back. Celebrating its fifth anniversary of traditional music, dance and storytelling, this exceptional Island festival will be taking over local halls across the Island from June 13-23. Unique to this celebration the festival box office is offering a limited number of special 5-Hall Fifth Anniversary passes which will give exclusive access to five specific venues across the Island at a premium price of $75. The shows included in this pass are: The “Eastern Fiddle Summit” at Dundas Heritage Hall on June 15, the” Western Fiddle Summit” at Centre Expo in Abram Village on ...

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 05:00

The 10th annual Co-ed Softball Tournament for a Child with Autism will be played Saturday, May 19 in Cardigan. This photo shows some of the children and families who have benefitted from this fundraiser over the past decade. They include, back row from the left, April Ennis, Brandon Ennis, Benjamin Ennis and Cole Koleff-Sanderson. Front: K.J. Quinn, Drew Somers, Jimmy Shepard, Dan Shepard, Connor Koleff-Sanderson, Tyler Garnhum, Issac Koleff Sanderson, Ian MacCallum and Curtis MacCallum. Missing: Dean Gordon, Mazzie MacDougall-White and Sarah Blackett. The tournament is all about families helping families. The recipient of this year’s proceeds will be Issac and Cole, ...

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 05:00

Montague Consolidated students Gabe Inman, left, and Colin Curran placed first in doubles competition in Novice Boys at the recent PEISAA/Black Knight provincial badminton championships. Colin also placed second in singles. ...

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 05:00

His friends and family call him a Jamaican bobsledder: a national snowboard competitor from Prince Edward Island. Mark Morrison, 14, said announcers joke about him as he goes down the slopes. “They’ll say ‘Mark Morrison, all the way from PEI. Might be at a bit of a disadvantage from altitude sickness.’” But for a boy from Montague with few slopes and next to no training, Mark is good. Really good. Mark competes in Quebec and Nova Scotia provincial competitions, since there are no PEI provincials. In the Nova Scotia provincials last March, he won gold for Snowboard Cross (SBX) racing in the 13-14 year old ...

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 05:00

Bear River sisters Elizabeth, Christina, and Charlotte Steele always planned to work in health care, but they didn’t imagine they’d all graduate as nurses - especially not at the same time. “We’re each two years apart. No this wasn’t planned,” Christina, 24, said laughing as the three sat at their kitchen table. “It was completely fluke.” Christina had always wanted to be a nurse, but decided to do another degree before going into nursing. In 2009, after two years in psychology, she decided it was time enough and applied to School of Nursing at UPEI. At the same time, Charlotte, now 27, was ...