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April 28, 2015

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Keeping Kentville Connected



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Keeping Kentville Connected

Mystery of the Lyons
There is an air of mystery around James Lyons.
 
James Lyons was an important business man in Kentville. He arrived from Ireland, purchased the Stage Coach Inn and later operated the Lyons Hotel on Aberdeen Street. Lyons was a successful businessman only because he kept his religion a secret. This was in a period when Catholics weren't accepted in society.
 
James Lyons in buried in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church graveyard and on  the tombstone it is written that he was born in 1819 and died in 1893.  
However, all the documentation shows that James purchased the Stage Coach Inn in 1830. Do the math. He would have been 11 years old! Now, that’s a young entrepreneur!
 
To further add to the mystery, James Lyons’ name was actually James Malone when he left Ireland. There are a few theories to explain this discrepancy. First, it's possible the ship leaving from Ireland only had so many allotted seats for passengers. Perhaps a man named Lyons was no longer able to travel so he forfeited his seats to James and his brother. Therefore, to get on the ship, James had to assume Lyons’ identity. Are the dates on the tombstone those of the real Mr. Lyons?
 
Or, could it be that when James Lyons – or Malone – arrived at the pier in Halifax, the authorities decided that his name was too Catholic. So, to make him sound more Protestant, he was given the British name Lyons. Or, perhaps believing they would be discriminated against if their Irish surname revealed they were Catholics, the Malones changed it themselves to Lyons.
Perhaps the dates on the tombstone then, are just an honest mistake!
 
Take your pick of theories, or make up your own! We will probably never know the true reason.
Story courtesy of Louis Comeau, a descendent of Lyons

What's Happening in Town?

Event Highlights! 
1. Spring Turkey Supper & Sale at St. James Anglican Church, April 29
2.Death Cafe - An open discussion about death by the Palliative Care Team in Annapolis Valley, April 29
3. Bluesmobile Fundraiser Entertainment and Dance for NKEC, May 2
4. Tree Swallow Nest Monitoring Workshop, May 2
5. Literacy Mile for the Valley Community Learning Association, May 9

Find out about what is happening in Kentville by visiting these websites:




In the News
Kentville Mayor Urges Patience With Potholes - crews are out trying to patch up the worst ones, but with overnight temperatures still dropping below freezing, and lots of water still in the holes, conditions are far from ideal. Read more.

In the Community
Valley Community Learning Association Literacy Mile: is an opportunity to raise awareness of and support for the literacy needs of Annapolis Valley residents. There are hot dogs and refreshments for sale, live music, a silent auction, and activites for the whole family. All proceeds raised go toward supporting local literacy and English as an additional language programming. 

The 11th  annual Literacy Mile promotional and fundraising event will be held Saturday, May 9, from 1-3pm, outside our Kentville offices at 49 Commercial Street in Kentville.

Apple Blossom Festival Temporary Tattoo Contest: Open to children in grades P-6, the ABF Temporary Tattoo contest is accepting Tattoo designs for this year’s competition!  If you are a student in the Annapolis Valley and think you have a great idea for a Temporary Tattoo that represents what this year’s theme means to you, we want to see it!  More information

Save the Date! Kentville Baptist's Daily Vacation Bible School: SonSpark Labs DVBS at Kentville Baptist Church (503 Main St.) - July 6-10, at 9 am daily. Songs, snacks, games, stories, crafts, activities and more. Kids ages Primary - grade 6. Free registration (call 902-678-3162), www.KentvilleBaptist.org, all welcome.

Thank you to our Volunteers!
This year's recognized volunteers included
Kentville Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary: Sara Bigelow
Bethany Memorial Baptist Church: Jennie Enman  
Kentville Volunteer Fire Department: Scott Hamilton
Open Arms: Neil Munroe
The Red Cross: Bonita Dykens
Kings County Academy: Dawn Hare
The Silver Gliders: Denise Huntley-Cameron
Kentville Baptist Church: Art Hamilton
Evergreen Home for Special Care: Heidi Owen
 
2015 SPECIALTY AWARDS
Volunteer of the Year Award: Paula Huntley
Mayor’s Corporate Award: Kentville Development Corporation Limited (KDCL)

Recreation News
Book the Kentville Rec Centre for your next event!

Kentville Minor Baseball Registration Dates

Kentville Minor Baseball Association is holding registrations on the following dates, times and places    
-May 9th - Final Registration: KCA - 11 AM to 1 PM

All players must register online and bring a copy of the completed Registration Form, Code of Conduct Form and registration payment to the KCA registration location on one of the dates noted above. Look for our Code of Conduct Form under the HANDOUTS tab at the online registration page.

If you have missed registration or have any questions, please contact Karen McNutt - registrar@kentvilleminorball.com          

Arts and Culture
CentreStage Theatre Presents: The Hallelujah Girls
 

Hilarity abounds when the feisty females of Eden Falls, Georgia, decide to shake up their lives. The action in this rollicking Southern comedy takes place in SPA-DEE-DAH!, the abandoned church-turned-day-spa where this group of friends gathers every Friday afternoon. After the loss of a dear friend, the women realize time is precious, and if they're going to change their lives and achieve their dreams, they have to get on it now! Join Carlene, Nita, Mavis, Crystal, Sugar Lee, Bunny ,Bobby Dewayne and Porter in this side-splitting, joyful comedy that will make you laugh out loud and shout, “Hallelujah”!
 
The Hallelujah Girls is written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten. It is directed by George Henry and Peter Booth.
 
The Hallelujah Girls
plays on May 1,2,8,9,10m,15,16, 22,23,24m,29,20.
Showtime: Evenings 8 PM; Matinee 2 PM on May 10 and 24
Doors open at: 7:15 and 1:15
A Comedy
 Tickets $15/$12 (Call 678-8040 for reservations).
For more information visit www.centrestagetheatre.ca

KCA School News
Donations Needed! The Learning Centre can always use donations of healthy snacks for the students who come to school without food.
The breakfast program can always use donations of sugar-free whole-grain cereals!
Any donations can be dropped at the main office.
Thank you for your generosity!

Citizen Question
Question: I heard that there was a proposal to adapt Oakdene Park and begin opening up Community Space for Urban Agriculture. What is this all about?

Answer: The Kentville Community Garden will act as a pilot project for showcasing how communities can increase their food security. Located at the top of Oakdene Park, the Kentville Community Garden will be able to offer a wonderful opportunity for outdoor recreation in that community.

In the first year the group hopes to have two demonstration Keyhole Gardens at the entrances of the park.  A keyhole garden is an excellent design platform for teaching about sustainability and directly linking people back to their food system. 

In coming years the hope is to expand the garden to include a rainwater collection system for irrigation, a large composting system, a social community rest area, individual as well as community plots, storage, outdoor kitchen features, forest garden components, rain gardens and much more. The garden will not use harmful pesticides or other chemicals, and will promote healthy ecosystem development.

Kentville Businesses!
Nichols Wealth Management
Everyone has a vision of how they would like to live and what they wish to be able to accomplish. Some visions are very clear, others are vague. Until you identify your dreams, no one can assist you in achieving them.

By engaging us to help you navigate through our "Your Life, Your Plan" process, Nichols Wealth Management can help you identify your potential and achieve the results you desire. A plan without any implementation will not produce results. A goal without a strategy is just a dream. Let them help you turn your dreams into reality.

Nichols Wealth Management is located in both Kentville and Middleton.
Contact them today to make your appointment to start working towards your dreams!
Phone: 902 365-7117
Toll Free: 855-360-7117
info@nicholswealthmanagement.ca
http://nicholswealthmanagement.ca/

Your Town Council
The Next Council Advisory Committee Meeting will be held on Monday, May 11 at 1:30 pm in the Council Chambers. It is open to the public.

Updates about the Kentville Library! Q&A
Having received numerous and frequent inquiries through the office
of the Mayor regarding the status of the relocation of the Kentville Public Library, the Town of Kentville has issued the following release in Q & A format to inform citizens, visitors and library patrons of the
process being undertaken to determine the future location of the library, and clarify what has been done, is being done and what will be done.

Q: How long has the Town been considering the relocation of the Kentville Library?
A: Dating back to the “Friends of the Kentville Library” group, the discussion around a new library location began about ten years ago.

Q: What is the current status of the Friends of the Library and how much money has been raised?
A: The Friends group was instrumental in raising awareness in the community about the need for a new library space and advocating for that new space. The group contributed significantly in the area of research and community feedback gathering. That data has been reviewed by Council and staff, and will continue to be referenced as we move ahead on the library project. The Friends disbanded before reaching the point of fundraising, and have been inactive for the last few years. It is anticipated that there will be a need for a remobilization of the group to assist with space design, functionality and fundraising.

Q: When is the library required to be moved?
A: The Library will require a new home by the spring of 2016 due to construction of a new Cornwallis River Bridge that will commence at that time. Bridge construction will change the landscape of that particular section of Kentville which will necessitate the demolition of the current library building.

Q: What is Town Council’s position on a new space or building?
A: The Town is seeking an appropriate space to rent that can house the library and support its successful operation. Town Council’s preference would be to see the library fill a currently vacant space downtown, but proposals from developers for new buildings have also been considered. It is not the
intention of the Town to build and own a new building for the library.

Q: Do you have a location selected?
A: There are four proposals currently under consideration by Council as a result of the issued RFP. All potential locations are within the downtown area.

Q: What does the library cost, and who pays for it?
A: The cost of operating the Kentville library is shared. The Town of Kentville pays for building related expenses such as rent, heat, lights, cleaning, and overall maintenance. The current cost to the Town is about $35,000 annually. All program related expenses including the books, library staff, computers, and
program delivery are paid for by the Annapolis Valley Regional Library Service. Future costs are unknown and will be determined through examination of the current proposals and selection of a new site.

Q: Who are the users of the Kentville library?
A: As of February 2015 there are 5290 users of the Kentville Library. 53% of users are citizens of the Town of Kentville and 47% are residents from the surrounding areas of Kings County.

Q: Will funding be sought from other levels of government to support the new library?
A: It is the Town’s intention to request support from the County of Kings for the new library, as well as from Provincial and Federal levels of government.
The Town of Kentville is committed to finding the best possible space in which to place the library. Council is weighing options and potential locations with the goal of achieving a balance that considers functionality, sustainability, size, location and cost.

Additional questions about the library relocation can be directed to Mayor David Corkum, 902-679-2502 or dcorkum@kentville.ca or CAO Mark Phillips 902-679-2501 or mphillips@kentville.ca

Group photo of Kentville Committee Members
Back:  Tony Bently, Eric Bolland, CAO Mark Phillips, Mark Pearl, Bernie Cooper
Front: Town Clerk Carol Harmes, Bill Boyd, Mayor David Corkum, Nola Folker-Hill

Your Town Council wants to hear from you! Have a question you'd like answered about your community? Suggestion for content? Reply to this email and we'll try to include your voice in a future issue of our newsletter.



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This e-newsletter was compiled by Laura Churchill Duke on behalf of the Town of Kentville.
Laura is the operator of www.valleyfamilyfun.ca