Green Beacon Blog

So much to do in the Dieu!!

Some dates to remember for the month of May ….

- The Big Wave Cafe will be closed temporarily. All events held weekly at the Centre including Tai Chi, Cards/Bingo, the library and the Crafter’s Group are still a go!

- May 10th, 2012 is the Annual Community Clean-up for Main-a-Dieu and surrounding communities. You will able to pick-up gloves and garbage bags at the Coastal Discovery Centre at 5:00 pm. Be sure and come back to the Centre afterwards for hot-dogs and refreshments. Please contact the Centre at 733-2258 of you need to make other arrangements to pick up supplies.

- The Seniors Footcare Clinic will be held Tuesday, May 15th. All appointments are now filled.

- The Annual General Meeting for the Main-a-Dieu Community Development Association is scheduled for Tuesday, May 22nd. Door prizes will be drawn for and snacks and refreshments will be served.

- The Main-a-Dieu Library will be hosting a reading with author Terry Dwyer on Tuesday, May 29th at 4:00pm. Terry is the author of “Wreck Hunter -The quest for Lost Shipwrecks”.

Happy Spring, everyone!

Positions available!

There are currently two positions available at the Coastal Discovery Centre. We are looking for someone to manage the Big Wave Cafe; this person will be responsible for baking, preparing meals, managing summer staff and inventory. The work week will be approx. 30 hours and salary will be negotiated based upon experience. The second position is for a part-time cleaner; work week will be between 5 and 10 hours and paid $10.50 an hour.

If you or anyone you are interested, please contact Amanda McDougall at 733-2258 or email reception@coastaldiscoverycentre.ca

Income Tax Program

Do you need a hand preparing your income tax return? The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program in once again coming out to Main-a-Dieu!

The Coastal Discovery Centre in Main-a-Dieu will be providing free income tax preparation for eligible taxpayers who have low income or are seniors.

Date : Friday, March 30th, 2012
Time: 1:00PM – 4:00PM

To find out if you are eligible or to make an appointment please call Mary Price at 733-2813 or visit www.cra-arc.gc.ca/volunteer/

PANCAKES!!!!

Pancake Breakfast

To be held at the Coastal Discovery Centre
2886 Louis-Main-a-Dieu Road

Saturday, March 10th, 2012
9:00 am – 11:00 am

Meal includes pancakes, bacon, sausage, juice, tea and coffee

ADULTS $7.00 CHILDREN $5.00

There will also be a Bake Sale and 50/50 draw

For info or tickets please contact 733-2258

Progress with MV Miner removal

The Main-A-Dieu Community Development Association has been actively working to have the MV Miner, which washed up onto the shores of Scaterie on September 20th, 2011, safely removed from the island. Our community along with those from the surrounding area fear that if this vessel remains as is, our already fragile fishing industry stands to be further comprised.

This past weekend we finally had some encouraging news; the Hon. Charlie Parker announced that the province of Nova Scotia is in negotiations with salvage companies contracted by the owner of the MV Miner to remove the wreck from Scatarie.

We will be announcing a Public Meeting to discuss what the removal plan should include and hope that members from all communities come out to share their insight.

Please check out the links below from the Cape Breton Post for up to date information regarding the MV Miner.

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2012-01-13/article-2864238/Province-negotiating-with-salvage-companies-for-MV-Miner-removal/1

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Opinion/Editorial/2012-01-14/article-2864184/Glimmer-of-hope-from-Scatarie/1

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Opinion/Letters-to-the-Editor/2012-01-11/article-2859838/Damaged-seawall%2C-grounded-freighter-illustrate-government-inaction/1

The Dieu Vs. The MV Miner

Here is the Press Release sent out oh behalf of the Main-A-Dieu Community Development Association regarding the MV Miner ….

PRESS RELEASE
Thursday December 8, 2011

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION DISMAYED AND FRUSTRATED AT LACK OF FEDERAL RESPONSE TO EMERGENCY APPEAL ON
MV MINER

On November 1, the Main-à-Dieu Community Development Association wrote to the Federal Minister of Transport, Denis Lebel, requesting an emergency meeting to discuss the removal of the retired bulk freighter the MV Miner, wrecked and disintegrating on the shoals of Scaterie Island – a protected wilderness area at the heart of our ecologically sensitive lobster and scallop fishery – since September 20. Over a month later, we have yet to receive a reply, notwithstanding the visit to Sydney on November 23 of the Minister of State for Transportation, Stephen Fletcher, to meet with ‘all concerned parties’ – excluding, perversely, our community, the party most directed affected and concerned of all.

The official snub of our appeal stands in striking contrast to the proactive and concerted efforts of political leaders and representatives in the province – foremost among them NDP Premier Darrell Dexter, Liberal MP Rodger Cuzner and Liberal-appointed Senator Jane Cordy, Conservative MP Alfie Macleod, and our CBRM Councillor (District 1) Brian Lahey – to seek an adequate and timely Federal response. On November 15, the Cape Breton Regional Municipality unanimously adopted a resolution urging Minister Lebel to immediately elaborate “an action plan to remove the wreck”. As the resolution correctly states, “the licensing of the craft, which was evidently unfit for towing by tug across the Atlantic, was a Federal decision on which Provincial authorities had no say”; in addition, the license was “unconscionably” issued “with no stipulation that the owners” – as it transpires, a shell company with no assets – “insure the vessel against mishap.”

In the face of its clear legal, jurisdictional and moral responsibilities, the Federal government’s repeated assurance that the MV Miner poses no threat to either navigation or the environment holds no more water than the wreck itself. Even before the full descent of winter, the situation is inexorably worsening. The waters in the immediate vicinity of the vessel are frequented both by working fishing boats and pleasure and tourist craft; portions of the hull’s steel plating have already washed away, to reach land who knows when or where, and potentially harmful materials may soon enter the ecosystem and food chain.

Given the certain consequences of continued delay, prevarication and evasion of duty, we repeat our call to the Minister for a crisis meeting; for concerted action, rather than the insult of silence, in response to our just demands.

For more information, please contact
Amanda McDougall, Project Coordinator
Main-à-Dieu Coastal Discovery Centre
733-2258 or 733-2020

JP Cormier & the Elliott Brothers are coming to the Dieu!

JP Cormier and Elliott Brothers Concert to be held December 8th, 2011 at the Coastal Discovery Centre in Main-A-Dieu.
Concert starts at 7:30 pm and tickets are $20.00.
Children 12 and under are free.
Email reception@coastaldiscoverycentre.ca or call 733-2258 for more info!