It is said that art can bring people together. This is a belief held by Walled City Entertainment (WCE), a not-for-profit formed by Upper Island Cove residents who hope to support their community and foster connection.

The organization’s name was inspired by Upper Island Cove’s longstanding nickname, The Walled City, a reference to its location at the bottom of steep cliffs.

Director of Public Relations Nancy Lieff said the board members are people who love their community, recognize the wealth of talent in their town and the surrounding area, and want to strengthen community spirit and raise money to go back into the town.

All seven board members live in Upper Island Cove, with more than half of them having been raised there.

“To be honest, a lot of the people on our board and who are involved with the acting, you can tell entertainment is in their blood,” said Lieff.

Lieff has always been interested in the arts, playing musical instruments and enjoying creative writing and drawing from a young age. She majored in English literature before deciding to study addiction science and become a therapist. After spending time in Alberta, she returned home to Newfoundland to raise her family. She connected with several board members through their involvement in St. Peter’s Anglican Parish, where Lieff serves as organist.

WCE got its unofficial start four years ago when the members organized a comedy show to raise money for the church. Following this, the members began to think they would enjoy performing themselves. The next two years they put on their own plays, recruiting others from the area to join the cast. They realized they might be able to support other institutions and hoped to encourage youths to join WCE and give them experience and the confidence to perform. This year, WCE became an official not-for-profit.

Lieff praised the talent of those in her hometown. “I think people from Upper Island Cove are literal born entertainers,” she said.

WCE currently focuses on musical performances and theatre. The members hope to collaborate and work with local talent, and this is not limited to Upper Island Cove. They also welcome performers regardless of their level of experience.

“You don’t need to be fully experienced. You just need to love arts, and want to try, and be committed,” said Lieff. “We’ve got people from all backgrounds.”

Cast members range in age from 12 to over 80, and includes neurodiverse individuals.

When asked why groups like WCE are important, Lieff said, “It cannot be said enough, in my    opinion, the need for belonging and the need for connection. And that makes people well…  You want to keep your town strong and have a lot of sense of pride. People from Upper Island Cove are known for having a strong sense of community pride and ingenuity, very original thinkers and creative people. So, I think that’s why groups like Walled City Entertainment exist.”

WCE’s board consists of Lieff, President Brent Peddle, Vice President Robert Clarke, Treasurer and director of production Darren Mercer, director of arts Sharon Spry, director of grants and funding Nicole Walsh, and Secretary Janean Peddle.

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Paradise council appears amenable to waiving the rental fees at the St. Thomas Line Community Centre for an upcoming Arts in Paradise show that looks to build on a successful visual arts exhibit held in July.

Council had previously waived the fee of $455 for the July event and expressed support for doing the same for a show proposed for either late November or early December.

“This is a free community event for all residents. It’s a wonderful opportunity to come out, enjoy the artwork, meet some local artists and show your support,” said councillor Jennifer Hiscock in presenting the item at council’s September 1 committee of the whole meeting. “Whether you’re looking to purchase something you need for your home or just appreciate greater creativity in our community, the support makes a difference.”

The July exhibit included a diverse range of works including photography, paintings, sculptures, textiles, and other forms of visual art. Hiscock said the event exceeded expectations in both artist participation and public attendance, demonstrating strong community interest and support for local arts and culture.

“The exhibition provided a valuable opportunity for local artists to showcase and sell their work, while also creating a welcoming space for residents to connect, engage with the arts, and celebrate the creativity within the community,” Hiscock said. “The event contributed to community vibrancy, supported local talent, and enhanced access to cultural experiences for residents of all ages.”

The rental rate at the St. Thomas Line Community Center is $65 per hr. The total rental fee to be waived is $455, HST included.

Hiscock said supporting the request will further demonstrate the Town’s commitment to fostering local arts, culture, community engagement, and economic opportunities for local artists.

Deputy Mayor Kimberley Street, who chaired the meeting, pointed out that all the artists were from Paradise and that it’s encouraging to support local and infuse arts in the community. Council agreed to hold a formal vote on the request at its next public council meeting.

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The Shree Hari Group, the new owners of the Terra Nova Shoes building in Harbour Grace, is telling Harbour Grace council that immigration issues are the reasons for the company being behind schedule in moving equipment and people from India to Newfoundland.

“Their equipment was finally released from India, from the Indian authorities,” councillor Lee Rogers told his colleagues at last month’s public council meeting. “They’re still having some issues with immigration, trying to get the people that they need to set up this equipment and one of the owners into the province. So that’s why people haven’t really been seeing much activity up there.”

The Shree Hari Group consists of a trio of companies: Shree Hari Nanotech, SwiftBuild InfraTech, and Harbour Grace AgriTech.

Mayor Terry Barnes suggested the Town contact provincial Minister of Labour Lloyd Parrott about the issue.

“I think a letter of support or something like that from the Town would definitely help,” said Rogers. “Or something like that, or a meeting with Mr. Parrott. I know they’ve had some meetings with different people in town and a couple of different government officials, but things seem to be going in the right direction now. But I think definitely a little poke from the Town would go a long ways.”

Rogers assured the Shree Hari Group is still planning to open its businesses in Harbour Grace, and said he would share any updates. Barnes suggested that council have a meeting with the Shree Hari Group, which Rogers said he would look into arranging.

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By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Olivia Bradbury

She may be the past president, but Georgina King is still at the top of her game as evidenced by her winning the viewer’s choice award at the Seams Like Yesterday Quilt Show held this past summer.

King was formally presented with the award during the Pigeon Inlet Quilters Guild’s first meeting of the 2026-2027 year, held last month at the Avalon Wolverines Search and Rescue building in Bay Roberts.

Quilt show committee co-chairpersons Cynthia Whelan and Darlene Tilley gave a report about Seams Like Yesterday.

Whelan credited the entire Pigeon Inlet Quilters’ Guild with the show’s success.

“Thank you to every member of this guild,” she said. “There was nobody that didn’t contribute in some way.”

Whelan said all aspects of the show went well, and that she had only heard positive feedback about it. “I have not heard one negative comment about the show. The only thing I’ve heard is thank you,” she said.

Over the two days it was held, 687 people visited the show. Whelan noted it was held around the same time as other competing events, and suggested future shows be held earlier in the summer. She also shared details about the show’s cost and revenue. The guild made $9,500 to go towards its next quilt show.

Tilley thanked the chairpersons of the show’s subcommittees, who stood up one by one and received a round of applause.

During the show, visitors could vote for their favourite piece. All of the quilts and other crafts on display were made by past and present Pigeon Inlet Quilters’ Guild members. The viewer’s choice award went to King’s “April” quilt.

King was presented a rosette ribbon from the Canadian Quilters Association and brought along the winning quilt for the guild’s meeting. King said the quilt is 20 years old. It started after she saw a photo of a similar quilt and wanted to learn the technique. She and a friend took a one-day class. Though it was difficult, King said, she persevered until she learned. When King was told by the teacher that she would not be capable of adding a border to the quilt, King refused to take her word for it. She added a border that she is still pleased with today.

King said she will teach the technique at a quilting retreat this year. She also agreed to hold a workshop for the members of the Pigeon Inlet Quilters Guild.

The post Former quilters’ guild president receives viewer’s choice award appeared first on The Shoreline News.

Business growth is continuing apace in Carbonear according to the Town’s economic development officer.

Kerri Abbott made her remarks to council following a report by Deputy Mayor Fred Earle, who chairs council’s economic development committee.

Earle reported that nine new commercial businesses and three new home-based businesses have been established in Carbonear in 2026 so far.

Abbott said she has received 157 inquiries from potential businesses. She explained these only include inquiries for which she has had at least two interactions with the inquirer.

“It can be anywhere from someone with just an idea who’s looking for funding, to someone who’s looking for help to do a business plan, who’s looking for commercial space,” said Abbott. “What I’ve learned through speaking to other economic development officers is that number is always going to be high because there are some obstacles for people who want to start a business. If you don’t have the capital to start, you’ve got to find funding. If you’re not good with business plans, you’re going to need to find someone to help you with it.”

Abbott said there are five businesses currently in the permit process.

“The biggest aspect of that is usually with the Service NL portion of it,” she said. “The forms that we require them to fill out look intimidating to someone who’s basically just got a business idea, they want to open their store, and then all of a sudden they’ve got to know what’s in the walls. It’s intimidating, so we help them with that.”

Abbott said the business networking sessions the Town hosted this year went over well.

“There was a good uptake on it to the point that I’m now being called by businessowners asking when the next one is,” Abbott said. “So we are going to do one in October. I’m going to send you out some possible dates to see what works for council, and we’ve had some funding agencies who asked if they could come and speak at it.”

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Upon entering the Holyrood Town Hall, you’ll be greeted by stacks of bottled water.

It’s a reminder of the predicament the town found itself in this past August when leaks in municipal water lines lowered the water pressure throughout much of Holyrood leading to temporary business closures and some residents having to go without water for several days.

During last week’s council meeting, councillor Mable Tilley said some people on social media have been questioning why the town hadn’t called a state of emergency.

“I just wanted to do a huge clarification there,” said Tilley. “The state of emergency is there for when the town cannot cope with the emergency. So, it was a no-brainer with the fire. The wildfire was spreading…. That was something that had to be done… With our water (emergency), our CAO, our public works, all our staff, all our council, mayor, we all came through this. We never had a boil order, we had enough staff, we handled it without having to have a state of emergency called. So, I just wanted to clarify the difference between a water emergency and a state of emergency.”

Councillor Bruce King also called out those spreading negativity on social media especially against staff, council, or other residents.

“You really need to think before you type,” said King. “Because some of this stuff was downright rude, it was downright ignorant, it was downright mean. And it’s almost like you think the people up here went and popped all the watermains just so we could all sit around and have a big laugh about it. People worked a long time during the crisis, or whatever you want to call it, here in this building, out in the holes in the ground, trying to get the water back as fast as humanly possible. But you can only dig a hole so fast, and you have to find the leak and you have to fix the leak, so getting on social media and barking about stuff is not going to change nothing. But it’s disheartening for the people that are out there putting 100 percent effort into everything, only to go home after a 12-hour shift and turn on social media and see Joe Blow or whoever cutting you down to the dirt. There’s no need of that.”

Meanwhile, council has approved a new emergency preparedness plan to help navigate future emergencies, be they fire or drought.

Tilley said she was “very excited” to bring the motion forward.

“It is ready to go, it has been vested through council, and it has gone back and forth to the government, and it is ready to roll,” said Tilley.

Mayor Laura Crawley said the plan will be uploaded to the Town’s website for the public to view.

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By Mark Squibb

After serving nearly four years with the Conception Harbour Fire Department, including three as Chief, John Wells, along with wife Kim, who served alongside him, have packed their bags for Chance Cove.

The department is the third that Wells has served at in his lifetime, having learned the art from his father Don.

“Firefighting is a bit of a family business,” said Wells. “My dad was deputy chief for 25 years in a wee town in Ontario where I grew up, and it was instilled in me at a very early age that if you’re the son of a firefighter, you participate. So, we used to go caroling at the old folks’ home and throw out candy during the Santa Claus parade and all that good stuff.”

Wells said that during his time at the Conception Harbour department he worked to better the department’s critical incident reporting, community outreach, and fundraising, while also working to maintain the department’s truck, which he added is one of the oldest in the province, as well the equipment and schedule training sessions for members.

Wells applauded the neighbouring fire departments in Conception Bay Centre and their fire chiefs for their camaraderie and words of encouragement over the years.

“I had so much help,” said Wells. “Everybody was fantastic in helping me adjust to the role.”

Wells encouraged others to consider volunteering with their local departments.

“Firefighting can be one of the most rewarding things that you ever do,” said Wells. “Every firefighter has every other firefighter’s back.”

That’s not to say, of course, that the position doesn’t come with challenges.

“My dad said, ‘You join up, hoping like hell you’re not going to see what you know you’re going to see,’” said Wells. “But somebody has to do it. And I’ll tell you, the mental health support for firefighters now is second to none.”

Since moving to Chance Cove, John and Kim have already been in touch with the fire department about becoming members.

The post Conception Harbour fire chief bids farewell appeared first on The Shoreline News.

By Ivan Morgan

I have always hated authority of any kind, and that has often made my life unnecessarily hard. Here’s one of the times it didn’t.

Many decades ago, I was the single father of four kids, trying to keep everybody’s bodies and souls together, and like most 40-year-olds I was awash in a sea of responsibilities and troubles.  In addition to the several jobs I worked to pay for everything, I was a volunteer for activities my kids were in. I was a soccer coach and a cub leader. As you can imagine I was a very busy boy.

Authority in my mind has always extended to calendars. The calendar said it was mid-October, well into Fall. The calendar said one thing, but the weather said another. I listened to the weather.

In those days I worked on Water Street and lived in St. Phillips. I remember it was an aggravating day at work. What about I don’t remember. I remember a government official, with a bad haircut and polyester tie and jacket reading me the riot act. He was angry and aggressive. What about? I don’t remember. I was told under no circumstances was I to be late in the morning. Again, I don’t remember why.

I was getting flak from all sides. I do remember the day was bright and warm on Water – a moody late summer afternoon with a hot sun and no wind. I decided to leave early. Not ask to leave early, just go. It was such a glorious day. Too lovely for what I was going through.

I was home when the school bus dropped the kids home. They were astonished. I never did that. I was the responsible one. The one that made sure everything was done. The glue, if you will, that held everything, and everyone, together. Any single parent reading this knows exactly what I am talking about.

We were well into the school year; it was a typical weekday with our tasks, duties and lives mapped out for us: supper, homework, laundry, meals prepped for tomorrow, TV and bed. Another busy day tomorrow. On that glorious afternoon I just didn’t care.

I said to the kids, “Let’s go swimming then have a barbecue.” Swimming? Seriously?

There was no resistance. No “What about homework?”  No “But my favourite show is on soon.” No “But it’s a school night.” It was a golden evening, and we soon found ourselves on the wharf.

I took the lead, plunging into the water. Soon we were all in. I can still remember the smell of warm creosote and cool ocean. After a glorious dip, wrapped in towels, we ambled back to the house.

I fired up the barbecue, we all got dry clothes, and sat around the deck. My oldest made a salad. It was dusk by six, a red sun shining gold over the ocean and bathing us in that lovely fall light. The leaves were turning but it was warm. Magic.

I was in a funny mood. I told the kids we are all staying home tomorrow – no school, no work, just pipping off. That way we could stay up late and sleep in.  Again, no argument. We sat in the dark roasting stuff on the barbecue. Later we curled up and watched movies. Hell, I even had a few beers – a total weekday no-no for me.

I remember that evening because I learned something. The calendar assigns holidays, the state, your employer and the school system enforce when and what you do: weekends, shifts, semesters: when to work and when to relax.

Sometimes you have to make your own holiday. Sometimes pipping off is key to living. Sometimes – not often – you have to just say to hell with it.

We all know the world today is overwhelming. It was then too. I am not saying drop out or run away. Stay an active member of society, teach your young ones the same. But also teach them how to pip off. Teach them not to be ruled by calendars, timetables and everyone else’s drama.

If it’s a nice day, once in a while choose not to be stuck in traffic, not to make sure the homework is all done, not to address the latest work crisis.

If it’s a nice day, turn your back on all of that, pip off and take everyone swimming.

Ivan Morgan can be reached at ivan.morgan@gmail.com

The post Sometimes you just have to ‘go fishin’ appeared first on The Shoreline News.

The Town of CBS is asking the provincial government for $2.95 million in federal Gas Tax money to upgrade and extend Gateway Drive in Kelligrews at the site of the new community centre which is expected to start construction next year.

If approved, it will allow the Town to use additional money other than what it had already allocated for the upgrades, which have turned out to be costlier than expected. The provincial Department of Municipal Affairs administers the federal Gas Tax money.

Council is also seeking permission to transfer savings leftover from sidewalk projects last year and in 2023 – $5,606 and $537, respectively – as well as $308,095 in savings from funds it received to upgrade the water transmission main and use the combined monies for the Gateway Drive upgrades as well.

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Repairs are underway to the Emma Hennessey Bridge at Sgt. Neg Nugent’s Park in Kelligrews.

The bridge connects the area near the softball field to the path leading to the rugby pitch.

“During those repairs there may be some days whereby the bridge will be closed to the public,” said Ward 3 councillor Gerard Tilley. “This is basically a notice for walkers who utilize that bridge to gain access to the upper trail up towards the stadium (CBS Arena).”

The work is being carried out by Eric Taylor Limited of Foxtrap at a cost of $340,150, including HST, and is expected to be finished around mid-November.

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