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Volume 1 Issue 3

Uniting the South Shore LaHave River Communities In the Company of Strange Birds
Rumours aboundsome supernatural and others full of whimsy, though each entirely plausibleabout the bright and fully-plumed peacock strolling our stretch of Highway 331. One resident announced to her family that she had seen the reincarnation of Earl perched on his woodpile, while another arrived late for work last week; she had encountered the bird on her morning commute and had to summon friends nearby to contemplate his strange beauty. What is this bird doing here? Is this the beginning of some strange new migratory pattern? Is there a Turkish princess new to the area? Or perhaps an ugly duckling cast away by his flock at an early age? With time on his hands and a notebook in his pocket, this intrepid reporter set off to find out. It only took a stroll down the Bush Road to come across Donald Bush, who is well acquainted with the bird. "Earlier this year. we got called out to see it up six feet in the air, a fox hot in pursuit," he says, "It's mating season, so he's usually not hard to find, tail feathers up, making all kinds of noises." He says they're all pretty used to it now. I

June 2013

ommunity is friends and neighbours, folks who work together towards common goals. Were all about community here at the Monitor. And were an organic offshoot of another expression of community: the West Dublin Market. The Market is a labour of love, the result of a deep and stirring commitment to our area and its potential. Now in its third year, the Market is run by a small, dedicated group of volunteers whose vision, passion and perseverance have invigorated local farmers, bakers, chefs, artisans craftspeople and musicians to unite to offer their best and make this place that much more special. The goodwill, support and roll-up-your-sleeves hard work of those who care makes all the difference. Its easy to laud the benefits of that which shapes and sustains our communities. But none of these nourishing pillars of social support would be possible without contributions. Volunteer your time to a worthwhile cause or organization. Or see a need, start up something of your own and watch it grow. Youll find the rewards far out weighs any expense. Working together we are able to improve our surroundings and help ourselves while helping each other. Take part and join in. RR+JR

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It is that time of year again when all the birds are singing and the babies are hatching! With spring also comes the desire to get outside and walk the dog on the boardwalk or on the beach. And who doesnt love to watch the sheer joy of your beloved dog bounding gaily off leash sniffing everything? However, after doing a little research going right to the source, I learned that allowing your dog off leash, especially in provincial parks can be an expensive endeavor. I dont think as soon as you are caught with your dog off leash you will necessarily get a fine(s)...one being $169.91(with fees, if paid without going to court), unless real mayhem has been created. However, if you are non-compliant or a constant repeater, then you could find yourself paying out money you were not expecting. And if you are caught in a posted area where there is endangered wildlife such as the Piping Plovers at Cherry
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Hill....ooolala! Then the fines are even greater! Dog fines are there not only to protect wildlife, and others, but also to protect the pets themselves. When you allow your dog off leash even on a supposedly deserted beach, not only is there the risk your dog will endanger local nesting birds and wildlife, there is also the risk your dog will encounter another animal bigger than itself whether it is a larger dog (feral or otherwise) or wild life who start feeling threatened (or hungry!). Wild animals (foxes or coyotes) will attack dogs, or even humans, especially if they feel their young are being endangered. So, just a friendly reminder, life is about choices, and if you choose to let your dog off leash, you also may find you are choosing to pay for it in one form or another! Roz Morgan SpiritSpeakPortraits.com

was surprised to learn that the bird got out last year. "Fella up the road used to keep two of them, penned up together, and this one escaped and somehow made it through the winter." Donald points across his lawn. Not at the peacock, but at another bird. "The other mystery's this partridge. The other day, as I was unloading wood, he hops up onto each plank I unload. He's been strutting around for a few weeks now." Apparently neither peacock or partridge want anything to do with one another. We follow the partridge till he reaches the shuttered basement window of an empty house next door. "He always loves coming to this window and looking in there. I don't know what he sees, or if he's just looking at his own reflection." One mystery begets another. The partridge leads us around the corner to the edge of the woods where we find the peacock in all its glory. We stand there for a moment in the company of strange birds,

watching as he makes his way to the road. I bid Donald farewell and head homeward, only to see a Honda come to a screeching halt on the highway, the peacock darting for the ditch. I walk through the fresh smell of burnt rubber thinking about how maybe we're all just feral birds trying to make our way through the mysteries that overwhelm us. I look back to see another car driving slowly along the shoulder cooing out. Stefan Kirkpatrick Illustration by Rebecca Roher

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Conquer All Music Is Here

Conquer All Music is a music store, recording studio, and rehearsal hall located in Conquerall Mills. I, Stefan Ramey, am a graduate of the NSCC Recording Arts and Technology program (RART 2011) with over 11 years experience in audio engineering. I am the owner of Conquer All Music. The store specializes in music accessories, boutique guitar effects, professional recording, and livesound equipment. Instrument/ amplifier repair, and PA rental services are also available. The recording studio is spacious, sound-proof, and acoustically treated to insure highfidelity recordings. Studio services include: musical recordings, audio advertisements, sound design, pre production, live-sound engineering and live-sound recordings. The rehearsal hall is a (dimension) room that is acoustically isolated from the outside environment. This means that anyone can jam as late as they want, without generating a noise complaint. If you have an upcoming musicrelated show, event, or festival, please contact Conquer All Music. CAM will help promote and

(And if youre not on email, thats fine. Drop it off at the LaHave Bakery.)

Well post each and every entry to our Facebook page. 4 Most Likes wins. 5 Great prizes, TBA. 6 Enter by June 23. 7 Anything goes! Have fun.
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advertise whatever you have going on for free, via our bulletin board, website, and social media. Stefan Ramey ConquerAllMusicStore.ca

Lunenburg West Boundary Change

Over the past number of weeks I have spent considerable time in Voglers Cove, Cherry Hill, Broad Cove, Petite Riviere, Crousetown, Middlewood and Italy Cross. Many residents and small business owners I have

spoken with in these areas are not aware of the recent changes to the provincial electoral boundaries. In August of 2012, I attended and submitted recommendations to the Electoral Boundaries Commission, recommending these communities be

returned to the provincial constituency of Lunenburg West. Government made changes to the boundary with the Queens constituency, and effective October 25th, 2012, the communities of Voglers Cove, Cherry Hill, Broad Cove, Petite Riviere, Crousetown, Middlewood and

Italy Cross were returned to the Lunenburg West constituency. Should you have any questions, I encourage you to contact Elections Nova Scotia at ElectionsNovaScotia.ca or 1-800-565-1504. Mark Furey Liberal.NS.ca/Candidates/ Lunenburg-West/

CABIN OH CABIN
Water, tell me the story of your travels? What whales, what boats have you greeted along the way? What weight have you dragged with you this time? This mark is the end of your line, you push back and begin again like a swimmer doing laps in a pool. Gather this wind and take it back home. A filter of oxygen. Trees rock and cradle with each gust. Protect this cabin with your fibers! Please! Knit a weave tight enough to protect our shelter! The windows shiver with each hit like an aggressive one-sided conversation. Protect the insides, the heart, the woodstove! Our Insides are strong, built from instincts of ancestry and stories sent through bloodlines. A mother's love travels through this wind and makes a home in these hands. Each sun tans another memory and protects the trust of distance. Its all for a better life, for endless possibilities, for spark! Send this wisdom into the wind. Let it bring us comfort, safety and trust. A reminder to dance with the current and land where you will.

Andrea Thorne

Klarka Weinwurm, KlarkaWeinwurm.bandcamp.com

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Tips to Help You Maintain Clean, Safe Drinking Water

meaning it should look, smell and taste good. Almost half of Nova Scotians rely on groundwater from dug or drilled wells for their private water supply. If you own your own well, you are responsible for it. you must make sure it is constructed to provincial standards. You must also arrange to have your water tested regularly. For public water sources, we have put in place a multiple-barrier water management system. Our system has three main lines of defence: keeping clean water clean, making it safe, and proving it's safe. We recommend the same vigilant approach for those of you with private wells. This guide offers some tips to help you maintain clean, safe drinking water. Why should I test my well? Your health, and the health of your family, is dependent on clean, safe water. The only way you can be sure your water is safe is to have it tested. Water for drinking, cooking, and other domestic uses should be of good quality. That means it should be free from organisms that may cause disease and from chemical substances that may pose a health risk. Your water should also be aesthetically pleasing, Steps to Safe Well Water Locate and construct your well properly Protection starts with the proper location and construction of your well. If you are planning to construct a well, get the advice of a certified well contractor. Protect your well Continued maintenance of your well and the area surrounding your well is essential to obtaining safe drinking water. Test your well Regular monitoring of your well water quality is the only way to be sure your water is safe. The bacterial quality should be checked every six months. Test the chemical quality at least every two years. Test earlier if you notice any changes. Treat your well When problems do occur it is essential to take corrective action immediately. You may want to obtain the services of a certified professional to evaluate your well construction. Joseph Carnevale, Services Technician, South Shore Water Sampling Services Ltd sswsssampling.wordpress.com

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Contributions due June 23

Community events

Scout Caught in a Rosebush by Rebecca RoherScout lives at Pennybrook!

MUSIC Pennybrook Festival Benefit Concert: Pennybrook and Friends. June 8, 8pm. West Dublin Hall. Party Pennybrook SolsticeA Birthday BBQ and Bonfire Bash: Fun filled weekend with great friends, food, and likely music and many laughs! Bring food for the BBQ. Space to camp out. All weekend from June 21, 5pm-June 23, 5pm, Pennybrook Farm, 4774 Hwy 331. Anniversary Lunenburgs 260th Birthday Bash: Saturday June 8, 9pm-1am. Music by Blue Bay. Costumes encouraged, prizes for Best Lunenburg Dress! Tickets $15 available at door or in advance at Lunenburg Town Hall & Kinley's Pharmacy. Lunenburg Community Centre. MUSIC LaHave Bakery Open Mic: Every other Tuesday. Great sessions. Next one: June 11, 7:30pm, $2. Party Late Night at the Library: Games, divination, late-night river walk, sing-a-long, movies, story-telling, kids' treasure hunt, snacks and friends! June 15, 6pm-June 16, 10am. Open house with kids activities: June 15, 6-8pm (donations welcome). Grown-up activities: June 15, 8pm-June 16, 8am (suggested donation $10, reserve a space at the Library for sleeping over). Gourmet Healthy Breakfast: June 16, 8am-10am (minimum donation $10). Tickets available at the Bridgewater Library, 547 King Street, Bridgewater 543-9222. Funds raised will be used for the childrens area at the new library. MUSIC Little River Folk: Zac Crouse & Steven MacDougall. Friday, June 14, 8pm. Petite Riviere Winery, 1300 Italy Cross Road. Postponed YOGA with Marita Tanner: Wednesday night drop-in. Beginners at 4:30pm. Experienced at 5:30pm. The Marc, Dayspring, (902) 634-7261 Interested in forming a community choir? Email Jude@AloneStone.com. Chorale Reading Group: Looking for lots of voicesyoung/old, high/low. Our first project will be the reading of a poem at a fundraising event for Sherbrooke Lake Camp, June 15. Hope you can join us. Contact Paulette Gardner at cornsens@eastlink.ca for information.

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Ask A LaHave River Ferryman

The ferrymen of myth were silent guides on spiritual journeys. Our own LaHave River Ferrymen are equally elusive. The Hambone The Hambone, real name withheld, has been crossing the river for 15 or 16 years, he cant exactly remember. When asked what the craziest thing hes ever seen on the ferry, his cryptic response goes like the Great Trash Heap, we know all and tell nothing, surely a charming Fraggle Rock reference. As for insider tips, the Hambone says, I'll have to think on that and get back to you. Ask a Ferryman has already proven popular, so well be back indeed to see if the next ferryman is more forthcoming. A sincere thank you to Mr. Hambone. JR

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Learnt Wisdom

Publisher Jonathan Rotsztain Editor-in-chief Rebecca Roher Copy Editor Alex Hickey branding/LAYOUT ALL CAPS Design Web guru Ulo Greer All work copyright its author. contact us Editor@WestDublin.ca

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West Dublin Market
Fun! Food! Friends! All of our favourite people and things! West Dublin Hall 10 Huey Lake Road
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Markets every Saturday from June 22September 14, and on September 28, Oct 12 and Oct 26

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Brunch 101 Market 114

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