Eastern Graphic

Sisters go hand in hand down the trail to nursing

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 ...

Tyler Gallant of St Margarets has a huge following of the artwork of Tairu Panda

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 05:00

Tyler Gallant’s popularity lies in his panda. The St Margarets native is a graphic designer with a diverse body of work, but his international fans love his drawings of Tairu Panda best. Mr Gallant, now living in Moncton, has been drawing Tairu for six years, a sweater-wearing panda that does everyday activities from buying computer games to going to the beach to drinking Tim Hortons. Tairu has a fan base of 15,000 and Mr Gallant is inundated with commission inquiries, fan art, and requests for lessons. Mr Gallant said he was even recognized at the Further Confusion Convention (FurCon) in California last January. While ...

Lesa Fitzpatrick is holding a Grand Reopening at Second Glance Interiors.

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 05:00

Lesa Fitzpatrick at Second Glance Interiors has taken over the business in the Down East Mall in Montague and she is excited about continuing to offer unique styles and great service. As part of the celebration and appreciation to customers, she plans to hold a store-wide sale on the Mother’s Day weekend. There will be sale items from May 9 to May 11 offering from 20 to 80 per cent off on mattress pads, duvets and duvet covers. There will be cake, a draw prize, and lots of great deals. “I want to show my thanks and invite people to check out the ...

Rhonda MacPhee of Little Harbour is an RN who works in the primary care unit.

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 05:00

Rhonda MacPhee of Little Harbour has seen the role of registered nurses change dramatically in her 30-year career. Over those three decades RNs have taken on the roles of clinicians, leaders, educators, administrators, and researchers. Ms MacPhee works in primary care at the Eastern Kings Health Centre in Souris. She educates people who suffer from high blood pressure, lung conditions, arthritis, and other chronic conditions on how they can improve their lives. May 6-12 is National Nursing Week and it presents an opportunity to recognize the valuable lifesaving and life altering work all nurses do. This year’s theme is “Nursing: A Leading Force ...

Morell to get community garden

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 05:00

Cross Keys Bar and Grill, the Morell and Area 4-H Club, Morell High School students and interested individuals are joining together to “plant the seed” of a community garden in Morell. Space, prepared soil and water access will be available for you to grow your own vegetables and herbs. Plots will be available on the property of the Cross Keys Bar and Grill this spring. If you would like to get your hands dirty call Cross Keys at 739-7788 to reserve your garden plot or to find out how you can get involved. ...

Montague Duplicate Bridge

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 05:00

Montague Duplicate Bridge results for Thursday, May 2, 2013 are: First: Foster Campbell and Frank McQuaid Second: Kevin Daly and Blair Moore Third: George Beck and Sheila Mallory Fourth: Sandra MacDonald and Anne White Fifth: Pat Curley and Joe MacPhee The Montague Duplicate Bridge Club meets Thursdays at 7pm in the Montague Intermediate School Library except during July and August. If you need a partner or would like more information, please call Carol at 838-2795 or Janet at 838-2777. ...

North Lake fishermen threaten to tie up boats in protest of low prices

Tue, 05/07/2013 - 12:00

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 unofficially 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 ...

Drugs seized from Knights Avenue home in Souris Wednesday morning

Wed, 05/01/2013 - 10:37

Drug charges are pending for a 55 year old Souris man following a drug seizure in Souris early Wednesday morning. Kings District RCMP seized an ounce of marihuana, scales, and packing supplies from a home on Knights Avenue at 3am. The man hasn’t been formally charged but will face charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Citizens are encouraged to report any drug activity to police at 838-9300. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). ...

Wed, 05/01/2013 - 05:20

Rhonda Gallant’s youngest child, seven-year old Neila, was in a new classroom Monday. Neila is one of 57 students who were moved out of the basement of Souris Consolidated after high levels of radon were found in that part of the school last week. Ms Gallant wonders if she should keep her child in the school at all. “I don’t want to pull her out of school, but I don’t want to jeopardize her health either,” she said. Last Friday, teachers used their PD day to move all of the equipment from the basement to accommodate students in the upper levels of the school. Tara ...

Wed, 05/01/2013 - 05:20

A plea from a nine-year old boy to improve the province’s health care system was part of Monday night’s Better Access, Better Care information session in Montague. The meeting, held at the Cavendish Farms Wellness Centre and attended by 150 people, was the sixth in a series across the province. Gerard Holland, an employee with Island EMS, who believes sufficient funding isn’t being provided for their services, read the Little Pond youth’s letter out loud. In the letter, the boy said a few weeks ago he had trouble breathing and his parents called an ambulance. ...

Rocket rep says no government money involved in team’s sale

Wed, 05/01/2013 - 05:20

Despite rumours to the contrary, the vice president of operations for the PEI Rocket says the Ghiz government is not financing the purchase of the team by a group of Island investors. Trent Birt says he did attempt for 10 days to convince government on the merits of supporting the purchase, pointing to an independent study that shows the team generates $3 million annually in economic activity. However, he says his efforts were futile. “They had zero appetite to finance.” Mr Birt says no government money is involved and it is no one’s business how the operation is financed. A group of 13 to ...

Wed, 05/01/2013 - 05:20

Radon won’t be a problem when the new Souris K-12 playing field is built, according to the Department of Transportation. Last week, Souris Consolidated had higher than safe levels of radon, forcing 57 students out of the basement. When the Souris Consolidated building is demolished, a playing field and a parking lot will be built on the property. A section of the playing field will overlap where the school is now. However, moving the soil the school sits on now won’t be necessary. Deputy Chief Officer of Health Dr Lamont Sweet said radon occurs naturally in the environment and only becomes dangerous when it ...

Wed, 05/01/2013 - 05:20

Total Assets Fitness facility in Pooles Corner is looking for online votes in a national grant competition and is in the running to get their wishes granted. As of Monday night, Total Assets was in fifth place out of 1,000 business across Canada in the Love Our Local Business competition, which will award $5,000 grants to 15 small businesses. “Any grant like that that’s nonrepayable is worth trying to get, especially for a small business,” owner Ledean Cairns-MacLeod said. Ms Cairns-MacLeod said the money would go for little things that aren’t easy to get done on a fixed budget, from the parking lot ...

Celebrity chef says community must be proactive to solve problems

Wed, 05/01/2013 - 05:00

Chef Michael Smith was the guest speaker at the North East Community Alliance’s first annual general meeting at the Fortune Community Centre last month. About 60 people gathered to hear Chef Smith and the alliance’s board of directors speak about NECA’s plan for the development and revitalization of northeastern Kings County. “We, as a community, are going to have to solve our community’s problems,” Chef Smith said. “If we’re going to stand around here and wait for government to do something, nothing is ever going to happen.” The crowd applauded after the organization’s newly appointed development leader, Wallace Rose, delivered a presentation outlining their ...

Peter Doucette joins Island health board

Wed, 05/01/2013 - 05:00

PEI Health Board’s newest member, Peter Doucette, says his heart is in Kings County but his focus is on providing the best quality of health care across all PEI. The Montague resident was appointed to the board of directors this month after what he described as an “intense” interview process. Mr Doucette joins the board at a turbulent time, with a protest last week at the legislature against recently announced changes. “It’s a huge challenge trying to make the heath care system suit the needs of Islanders,” Mr Doucette said. But, he said, it’s a challenge he’s looking forward to. “We have an aging population ...

Wed, 05/01/2013 - 05:00

Brittany Ross says if she can learn to run five kilometres, anyone can. A few years ago, when she wasn’t in as good shape as she is now, she participated in a learn to run class and then in the annual Rollie Run in Souris. “I was mostly nervous about running in front of all those people. But once I did it I was proud of myself for doing it,” she said. Given that Kings County is one of the most out of shape places in the country, she hopes to get people out and active. Last year she led the class and she ...

Wed, 05/01/2013 - 05:00

Lisa Hurd performed her one woman show, Dance Like a Butterfly, to an audience of 100 volunteers at the 17th annual Souris and Area Volunteer Recognition Event at St Mary’s Hall last Thursday evening. Along with the play, the evening had door prizes as well as dessert and refreshments. The melancholy, but humorous, play tells the tale of an 85-year old woman who is gradually losing her independence. Health PEI, which organized the event, estimates eastern Kings has 350 volunteers. Specific thanks were given to volunteers at Colville Manor, Souris Hospital and Home Care and Public Health and Housing. Ms Hurd is ...

Wed, 05/01/2013 - 05:00

Montague Mayor Richard Collins helped raise the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s flag at the town’s firehall last Thursday. He was joined by MS Person of the Year Shirley Allen, left, of Murray River, and Ethel Knox, chairwoman of the Montague and Area Carnation Committee. May is Multiple Sclerosis month and the trio encourages people to buy carnations at the Montague Sobey’s and Atlantic Superstore on the weekend of May 8, 9 and 10. Jonathan ...

Wed, 05/01/2013 - 05:00

Montague Rotary members Laird King and Dr. A.E. Bud Ings, present a cheque to Jeannie Garnhum for $2,255.58. Mrs Garnhum, representing the Kings County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, picked up the cheque on Wednesday, April 24 at Perrin’s Marina Villa in Montague at the weekly Rotary meeting. The money was the charity proceeds from the week #59, April 15 draw. To date, the weekly toonie draw has donated more than $130,000 to a dozen charities in eastern PEI. If you’d like to play and are 19 or over, please see the Gold Mine message on page 6 of this week’s Eastern Graphic for ...

Souris Duplicate Bridge

Wed, 05/01/2013 - 05:00

Souris Bridge results for April 23 are: 1) Pat Curley & Joe McPhee 2) Dave Townshend & David White 3) John Whalen & Frances Gallant 4) Carol Lesperance & Danita McInnis 5) Ron Henbest & Kenny Mallard ...