By Richard Bell
The Nova Scotia Health Authority’s (NSHA) surprise announcement that the emergency room at Eastern Shore Memorial Hospital (ESMH) in Sheet Harbour would be closed for the entire month of January stunned the community, generating a flood of social media posts going as far as questioning whether the province might close the entire hospital down.
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By Richard Bell
As we have discussed in previous issues of the Cooperator, we submitted a FOIPOP request for the entire text of a critical document dealing with the controversial process of selecting a site for a new combined junior/senior high school on the Eastern Shore.
Following a recommendation from Tricia Ralph, Information and Privacy Commissioner for Nova Scotia, the Department of Public Works has released the entire March 20, 2020 report, entitled, “Eastern Shore District HS Campus Site Options—DTIR High Level Analysis.” You can read the report below.
If you have comments or questions, please post them below, or on the Cooperator’s Facebook page.
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By Richard Bell
The fight to allow Robin Clayton to continue to keep his horse Angel at his home on East Petpeswick Road may be headed for a final decision at the January 12, 2023, meeting of the Harbour East-Marine Drive Community Council. Clayton applied for a variance to allow him to keep the horse last spring, and HRM’s Planning Department recently rejected his request, forcing him to make a final appeal to the Community Council.
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By Richard Bell
Sad news for Dobbit Bakehouse fans. We received the press release below this afternoon announcing the closing of Dobbit Bakehouse. The shop's wonderful treats and coffee have fueled all of at the Cooperator since the paper began in 2014. We will sorely miss the many conversations we had there. Best wishes to Paul, his partner Jim, and all the staff. [The photo shows owner Paul Nichol with his "Jake the Baker" national award in 2018 from Bakers Journal for his work mentoring young people and raising funds for community groups.]
Here's the press release:
DOBBIT BAKEHOUSE IS CLOSING!
Musquodoboit Harbour, NS -- After nearly 15 years, the rural artisan bakery featuring baked breads and sweets made with local, natural ingredients announces its closure. Paul Nicholl built and operated the bakery after leaving the IT industry decades ago. The bakery became a hot spot for lively discussion at its café tables, and a source of indulgence with sweets not often found in other bakeries. Dobbit Bakehouse introduced some European styled breads with modest scepticism from locals, but they were quickly embraced alongside its renowned Granny’s Brown and Granny’s White breads. Dobbit Bakehouse is also one of the original vendors at the Musquodoboit Harbour Farmers’ Market.
“This industry is very demanding both physically and emotionally” says Nicholl. “Although not yet ready for retirement, I cannot keep up the pace required and expected of our customers. Ingredient prices are soaring (butter up 56% in 12 months). And the pandemic was a rough ride which required 110%. I’ve nothing left in the tank.”
“I will miss serving our regular customers. Our seasonal customers when they return for the summer. A youngster’s first bite of a meringue,” says Nicholl. “The support from the community has been awesome. I mean, where else would a community start a Go-Fund-Me page for the staff to recover their lost wages when the roof caved in several years ago? The Eastern Shore rocks!”
The bakery will continue to operate until the end of December 2022., [email protected]
The Deanery Project, located on a stunning ocean front property in Ship Harbour, is both a learning centre and a much-loved community space. We offer education and tools to help strengthen our communities and the environment, through innovative, hands-on, and art-inspired programming.
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By Richard Bell
North Preston singer/songwriter/actress Cyndi Cain has won this year’s $25,000 Portia White Prize at the Creative Nova Scotia Awards, a project of Arts Nova Scotia and the Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council.
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By Charlie Palmer, CSW
This is the first of what will hopefully be a monthly column on food and wine. I live here on the Eastern Shore and have travelled North America teaching wine workshops, hosting wine dinners for private clients, and training sommeliers, waiters, and bartenders.
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By Cassandra Grosse
The original Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children (NSHCC) has been renamed the Kinney Place (KP), designed to be a Black business incubator and an intergenerational hub for the African Nova Scotian community.
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By Savayda Jarone, herbalist
Have you ever wondered why certain plants are included in the December holiday traditions?
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By Kelly Corkery
Recently, I had a conversation about letting go of a piece of furniture that was a big ticket purchase several years ago. The individual was in the middle a housing transition from a large family home to a more modest accommodation.
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