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| Number 9 | June, 2000 |
The Canadian Hockey season came to a close in Halifax on May 28 with the Rimouski Oceanic defeating the Barrie Colts to win the Memorial Cup, and recognition as the best Canadian Junior Hockey team in the country.
For 18-year-old Thatcher Bell (1.4.6.5,3.6,3) of Guernsey Cove it was the thrill of a lifetime. Interviewed on national television after the game, Thatcher said, "It's something I've dreamed about since I was a little boy. Now it's hard to sum the feeling up in words."
It was a moment that climaxed a year that had some ups and some downs. His season almost ended on February 21 when he broke his collar bone in a collision with an opposing player. That resulted in an 11-week layoff and he didn't return to action until the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League finals against the Hull Olympiques.
Thatcher saw limited action at first, but was starting to hit his stride by the time Hull was eliminated in the fifth game.
Then it was on to Halifax for the Memorial Cup which included the top Junior teams in the country: the Kootenay Ice from the Western Hockey League; the Barrie Colts from the Ontario League, and the host Halifax Mooseheads, also of the Quebec League. Rimouski defeated each of them in turn, and Barrie twice, to win the cup.
A lot of the credit for the win went to another Islander, Brad Richards of Murray Harbour. He was the Canadian Hockey League scoring champion with 186 points, and was voted Most Valuable Player in the Memorial Cup tournament scoring four goals and six assists in four games. Between Brad and Thatcher, they guaranteed that a lot of national attention was focussed on eastern PEI during Memorial Cup play.
Now that the season is over, Thatcher will be eyeing the NHL entry draft coming up in mid-June. He is ranked 23rd among North American prospects and there were a lot of scouts in the stands last week watching his play. Many of the older players in the tournament have already been drafted - Brad was in negotiations with the Tampa Bay Lighting and reached a contract agreement sometime yesterday, May 31st. Details have not been released yet but it appears that he got what he was asking: $975,000. US. Thatcher is eligible for two more years of Junior Hockey which means two more years to improve his play before serious contract negotiations. He scored 69 points in 53 games before his injury in February.
Tampa also has their eye on him. "We know he works very hard," said Rick Dudley, general manager of the Tampa team.
"Size is a little bit of a concern, but not a major one. He's a kid who seems to do most things well."
Thatcher, at six-feet and 183 pounds, is still developing and should be able to hold his own in the National hockey League when he gets there.
MUNN GIRLS BOOST WATER SAFETY
Boating safety in Canada and the United States is getting an extra boost this year thanks to a life-size replica of a children's TV tugboat. Theodore Too, fresh from the builders, arrived in Halifax on May 6, to the delight of hundreds of young fans of the TV show, Theodore Tugboat. The program, created by Cochran Entertainment of Halifax, is seen in more than 70 countries. It's become so popular that the creator of the show, Andrew Cochran, felt it was time for a real Theodore to get out and meet his young fans and promote the theme of water safety just like the TV tugboat.
The 65-foot, million-dollar replica, built at Snyder's Shipyard in Dayspring, N.S., is much in demand. After only a day at his home port,Theodore Too was already gearing up for his first ocean-going assignment as the safe-boating ambassador for the Canadian Coast Guard, the United States Coast Guard and the U.S. National Safe Boating Council.
The Halifax waterfront was crowded with hundreds of young fans and their parents on May 6 when Theodore Too sailed into port for his first public appearance.
It was decided that it would be appropriate to have a youngster who is involved in water safety to cut the ribbon. Cochran Entertainment contacted Michelle Munt, the supervisor of the Dalhousie Aquatics Club, to see if she could recommend a candidate. Michelle, who also coaches swimmers at the Halifax Trojans Aquatic Club, said she would like to recommend two young swimmers, Stephanie and Patricia Munn (1.4.2.2,2.2.1.1 and 2), as both are excellent swimmers and involved with water safety.
Cochran's agreed and the girls jumped at the opportunity and were up bright and early that Saturday morning for what Stephanie referred to as, "my big day."
The Cochran people were surprised and delighted to discover the girls were much younger than they expected, Stephanie is 8, and Patricia is 6, and so not much older than the main viewing audience for Theodore Tugboat.
After speeches by various dignitaries, civic officials, Andrew Cochran, and Denis Doherty, the "harbourmaster" on the show, Theodore Too, with a grin as wide as his smokestack, slipped into his dock and tied up in front of his young, adoring fans.
"Hi, Theodore," they chanted. "Welcome to Halifax,"
Then it was time for the ribbon cutting and Patricia held it while Stephanie wielded the scissors. The girls then signed the guest book, the first two names among the countless thousands who will sign in during the tug's many visits around North America and throughout the world. The crowds were held back allowing the two girls and their parents, David and Barb Munn, to lead the way aboard for the first official tour.
Water safety comes naturally to the girls. Both were taken to the pool as infants by their mother and learned to swim before they could crawl. Stephanie is involved in competitive swimming and takes part in half a dozen meets a year, setting new personal best marks every time out. During the annual swim-a-thon staged by Canadian swim clubs six weeks ago, Stephanie swam 162 laps of the Dalhousie pool, more than four kilometres, in the allotted two hour time period. She is also taking a water safety course called "Rookie Patrol" conducted by the Canadian Life Saving Society.
Patricia is also an excellent swimmer, but she takes a different approach than her older sister. She is not interested in the regimentation required for competitive swimming and is happy to take lessons and then swim recreationally. Michelle is giving her private lessons, and while Patricia is too young to enroll in a life saving course - you must be eight for that - she is being taught rescue techniques.
"Save me," Michelle shouts to Patricia before plunging face down into the pool. Patricia dives in, swims to her side and with her little legs churning drags her teacher, who outweighs her three to one, to the side of the pool and places her hands on the deck. She then reaches around and grabs her teacher's hair and yanks her face out of the water. Each time they do this every life guard in the pool area rushes over to watch, almost in disbelief.
So getting an opportunity to help Theodore promote water safety was a thrill for both girls. Less than two weeks after the ceremony in Halifax, Theodore Too cruised up the Potomac River to Washington to meet American fans and kick off safe boating week. The event took place at the Washington Harbour Patrol wharf on May 18. Guest speakers included Admiral James M. Loy, Commandant of the US Coast Guard. Theodore's official duties were followed by a week of public tours and special events in the US Capitol.
From Washington, Theodore Too headed for New York City for a series of media events and public tours.
Local fans will still be able to get close to their hero, even when Theodore's not home in Halifax Harbour. An exhibit based on the models and sets used on the popular series can be seen at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. The exhibit features Theodore, Bedford Buoy, Digby the Cable Ship, Barrington Barge and Owen the Oil Rig.
The rest of the world can check on Theodore's activities on his web site at Theodore Too
HELP FOR TROUBLED STUDENTS
There is a new source of help available for students who are having trouble fitting into their school routine. Josie Herring (1.4.2.6,2.1.1) is one of three community outreach youth workers assigned to the Eastern School Board in P.E.I. Sally Cole of the The Guardian recently wrote about Josie's work at Stonepark junior high school in Charlottetown.
Ashley Quinn, a Grade 8 student, was having a lot of trouble at school until she met Josie. She hated school and often wouldn't show up until noon hour. Because of this she fell behind in her work and efforts to catch up left her discouraged and frustrated.
The situation started to improve last fall after Josie arrived on the scene. Over the past school year Josie met with Ashley and 19 other students to talk, keep tabs on their attendance and help them to find ways to express themselves. In only a few months, Ashley's attendance was back up again. "Now I like to write a lot. That's because I often have trouble saying what's on my mind," Ashley says.
Not only can Ashley see the changes, others can too, Josie says. "Her teachers say that Ashley is much more positive about how she feels about herself. She's also softer and more approachable. Just the fact that she's here before 8:30 a.m. is a huge difference."
The outreach program is sponsored by Human Resources Development Canada.
"Very often with the students that I work with, attendance issues haven't just started overnight," says Josie, a graduate of the University of Prince Edward Island and the Youth Worker program at Holland College. "They have followed them through elementary school, now they're in junior high. And if we don't connect with them, they may end up not graduating from high school."
It appears that Josie is doing a very good job of connecting with her students.
Weale honoured for his Literary Work
David Weale, (1.6A.4,6.2.1,) headed a group of 30 Islanders recognized for their writing in a ceremony hosted by the Prince Edward Island Council of the Arts in early May. The winners were selected from among 140 entrants.
Several of the winners in the nine categories were familiar names, but probably none as familiar as David. For many years he has entertained and engaged both readers and live audiences with his books and stage presentations.
His work has ranged from stories of pioneer life on the Island to a children's Christmas book, The True Meaning of Crumbfest.
The afternoon's proceedings ended with David receiving the Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Literary Arts on P.E.I. "Let there be stories," he said in concluding his acceptance remarks.
A couple of weeks later David won the Brimer Award for Children's Literature with the Crumbfest book. The award includes a $1,200. cash prize.
Summer Theatre Proposed Christy Beck (1.4.3B.7.2.2.2,)and Bob Nicholson have plans for a summer institute of musical theatre in Montague. A few weeks ago the two high school teachers submitted a proposal to the Southern Kings Arts Council seeking funding for the project.
Bob Nicholson said the idea is to get money to hire a researcher/administrator who could prepare a two-week session in late August. The event would feature guest lectures and instruction in acting and production. The hope is that it would grow into a full-time summer theatre event and a tourist attraction.
Christy and Bob, who teach music and English respectively, are known for their award-winning work in the Montague High School's musical productions and video presentations.
Christy was also involved in another school project that drew some attention in mid-April. The school's band and chorus staged a 24-hour "play-a-thon" to raise money for a trip. The musicians swung into action at 11:30 am Friday, April 14, and played and sang for 24 hours. Although the band instructor didn't make it all the way, Christy, the vocal instructor, was still playing the piano and leading the group when activities ended.
DEATHS WHITE, Ross Stirling - (1.12,2.1A.2.) The death occurred at Oshawa, Ontario, on March 18, 2000, of Ross Stirling White, formerly of Murray Harbour, P.E.I., aged 86 years. He was predeceased by his wife Vivian (Cavender). He was the father of Jean Parrino, (Bucky), and grandfather of Angelo and Ross. He taught school in P.E.I., N.S., Quebec and Ontario and was vice-principal of Anderson High School in Whitby, Ontario, when he retired. He served with the RCAF in the Second World War. He is survived by sisters, Jean and Fern, and was predeceased by a brother, Alva, and sisters, Gertie, Doris and Anita. Funeral and burial took place in Oshawa, Ontario.
BIOGRAPHY Caroline Matilda (Carrie) White, (1.12,6,) was born at Cape Bear on Dec. 12, 1871, the sixth child of Thomas White and Margaret Beck. Eugene Strickland, a grandson, said the Whites owned property just west of the Cape Bear Lighthouse. Carrie married Philip Strickland, a native of Newfoundland, in August, 1890. They lived at Beach Point and had six children. She and her husband, Philip, are listed among the 13 members of the Church of Christ at Murray Harbour when it opened in 1899. The women were active in fund raising and the existence of a Women's Aid Society is recorded as early as 1901. The women held bazaars and tea parties and Carrie would have been involved too because she was a great cook.
Gene remembers his grandmother's cooking and the good food she served. "She always made her own butter," he said, "and they had a dug well and in the summer time she'd keep the butter down in the well to keep it cool. I remember going to visit and having a meal and the homemade biscuits were huge. You'd slather the homemade butter on them and there'd probably be some old rat trap cheese too."
He said his Grandfather drank black tea with about three spoonfuls of sugar, and Gene liked it that way too. "So we'd drink this tea with the biscuits, homemade butter and old cheese. Oh man, what a meal!"
Carrie White died April 1, 1952, and is buried in the Murray Harbour Cemetery.
Skating Club Crisis Averted
Volunteers have come forward to take over the future operation of the Montague Figure Skating Club. In April the outlook for the club appeared uncertain, and Debby Beck told the Eastern Graphic that if volunteers didn't join the executive, the Club would close.
The Iceland Skating Club is one of the oldest on the Island and has been in operation for about 40 years. It has a membership of 80 to 100 children and normallly has about 10 to 12 members on the executive, but Debby said there were only three active members in the past year.
"They are retiring because their own children are no longer skating," Debby said, and there is a definite need for new volunteers. The annual meeting was slated for April 26 at Montague Computer, Debby's company.
"If people don't come to the meeting, we can't start in October. They have to come out now and show their support."
The appeal worked. Debby told me in an email that the skating club will be continuing as there was a good turnout in response to the article in the Graphic.
"We have elected a new executive with our first male president, Andrew VanWiechen," Debby wrote. "As my daughters are no longer in the skating club," she added, "I have resigned from the executive."
Cardigan Development Plans Taking Shape
The work of the provincial development officer for Southern Kings and Queens, Melody Beck, (1.11.8.3.2.2) is starting to pay off. Residents of Cardigan have reacted enthusiastically to a chance to make local improvements.
Response to a development survey circulated earlier this year shows that Cardigan area residents think civic pride has almost as much development potential for the region as recreation and tourism.They see development potential in recreation and tourism, followed closely by civic pride, waterfront development, and heritage and culture. About 50 people turned out for a public meeting in mid-May to discuss the results of the survey.
"No sooner had the meeting ended when we were inundated with volunteers," said Melody.
"And they held another meeting the very next night to get their development group off the ground."
Melody is one of six Community Development officers hired by the province to help community groups develop projects across the Island.
JACKSON ACCOMPLISHED DANCER
Nine-year-old Nigel Jackson (1.4.6.8.3,4,1)
of Beach Point has been dancing up a storm.He attends the Judy MacLean
School of Dancing and this year
received the award for most improved
dancer for his age category.He also came away with ribbons
in the province-wide competition
at the Charlottetown Skyplex in March.Nigel posed for the Eastern Graphic
in the livingroom of the home of
Sarah and Hugh Jackson, his grandparents. He's holding the ribbons he won.
Damaged House Upsets Some Montague Residents
Rick Beck (1.11.8.3.4.1) is considering running for Town Council in an effort to do something about a fire-damaged home on his street. He says the on-going controversy over the unoccupied building has left some residents of Locust Street angry and frustrated.
The house was seriously damaged by fire in 1996. It has been unoccupied ever since and the neighbours want it either torn down or repaired. The Town wrote the current owner, Annette Callaghan, demanding the house be fixed up. When no action was taken the Town ordered that the house be demolished, but that order was rescinded on the advice of the Town solicitor.
Rick is not happy with the the situation and says that if he is still in Montague in November and his house hasn't sold he will be running for council.
"The residents of Locust Street are not in a financial position to help themselves, and that's why we have the Town," said Rick.
In a later development, Ms Callaghan announced she is planning to sue the Town to recover expenses she incurred while fighting to keep the property.
Refugees - One Year Later
Our work with the two families of Kosovar Refugees is entering its second year and the newcomers are well on their way to becoming productive citizens. You will remember that Sheila and I are part of a group of 14 people - mainly CBC retirees - who sponsored the two families last spring. Since then we have assisted them with the numerous details that are part of every day life, but which can be very daunting when you not only do not speak the language, but don't understand the system.
We found them places to live, frunished their apartments, set up bank accounts, found doctors and dentists, enrolled the children in school and helped the men look for work. The two families, headed by Envar Halili and Nuh Koprani, are quickly adapting to life in this country. They have attended English classes and now can get by quite well in English. Both men have their driver's licenses and Nuh has bought an older car which was in good condition.
The members of the sponsor group divided the responsibilities to make the load lighter. Sheila with her banking experience found a branch that would provide bank accounts free of charge. She also enrolled the Koprani boys, Muharram and Labinot, in school and acted as liaison with the teachers to sort out any problems. Since I'm a volunteer tax preparer, matters of that nature were turned over to me. I filed papers right away to get the child tax credit for the two Koprani boys and for Adrian Halili, who was born in Halifax on May 18, 1999, two days after they arrived. I also filed their regular returns for them this spring. Since we live closest to them, we also took care of unexpected medical problems by driving them to the Emergency Department.
Others handled other details. One couple found a doctor willing to care for them and lined up an interpretator, as the doctor did not want any misunderstandings in the early days. They also arranged appointments and provided transportation. Others gave driving lessons and took them for their tests, and also found a vehicle and assisted with the financing.
Our group leader, Peter Loucks, kept a close eye on them almost on a daily basis and helped them find work. Nuh spent some time working in a local restaurant, and then moved on to an auto repair business. His dream is to get work as a driver and he would be willing to tackle anything from operating a taxi to delivering pizzas. Envar got woodworking training under a government grant and that led to permanent employment in the business.
The families are becoming more independent. Today, June 1, they are moving to Halifax to be closer to other Kosovar families. They found apartments on their own and only notified us after the details were worked out. They've rented a truck and are handling the move themselves, assisted by their friends in the Kosovar community. It's good to see them starting to make their own way. Now we can stand back and watch their progress, ready to lend a hand when an unexpected emergency arises.
BOOKS STILL AVAILABLE
While the latest version of the Beck listings is sold out, there are still copies of the 1983 book, The Descendants of Vere Beck. This is the professionally printed and bound volume and it includes generations 1 to 6 and some of generation 7.
It's more than adequate for people interested in tracing their line back to Vere and Elizabeth Beck, or for browsing through the early generations of the family. If you're interested you can get a copy from:Dr. Mac Beck,
5 West Street,
Charlottetown,
PEI.
C1A 3S3.Mac's phone number is 902-894-3544 and the price is $10.00.
The Vere Beck Family Home Page
The Marfleet Home Page
Ivan Munn's Home Page
We're always looking for news of family members. If you know of any significant events drop me a line with the information. imunn@accesswave.ca
That's it for this edition .. please share it with relatives who aren't on line. The next edition will be out on August 1st.
