Bars feeling the pinch of new restrictions

By Patrick Newhook/December 30, 2021

With the province bumped back to Alert Level 3 following the spread of the Omicron variant, businesses like bars and lounges have been prohibited from opening in order to try to slow the spread.

This came as a blow to establishments who, after months of lockdowns and heavy restrictions, where eager to welcome folks getting together with their friends on Tibb’s Eve.

The province moved into the new alert level that very morning.

GolfShotz is a golf simulator/bar located in Mount Pearl, and owner Trevor Hefferan says that as the winter months are their busiest, business had been doing well.

“This is our peak season being an indoor golf facility so the last two months it really did pick up and it really was catching on,” said Hefferan. “We run a men’s league here so that kind of took off, bringing us right into Christmas holidays, so yeah it was good.”

GolfShotz opened in December, 2019. By March it had to shut down due to restrictions. According to Hefferan, the winter is the busiest season for the business so seeing the province entering Level 3 at this time is tough.

“I hope it [ Alert Level 3] doesn’t last too long,” said Hefferan. “This is our third shut down in a row. We’ve only been open two years and this will be our third winter which is our peak season. It’s tough to say, hopefully it don’t last too long,”
Since GolfShotz is both a bar and a golf simulator, folks can come in to golf, just not to drink.

“We’re still allowed to allow people to rent the simulator, but not the bar and the lounge,” said Hefferan. “So, we’re more or less operating as a recreational facility at half capacity.”

GolfShotz also usually has an annual New Year’s Eve party. Under Alert Level 3 that won’t be happening now.

“We average thirty to forty people every year with live music and pretty good bar sales and the Golf Simulator going but that’s been cancelled now,” said Hefferan.

Other establishments have had to close their doors entirely under the new restrictions.

Fabian Power, owner of the Mount Pearl Westside Charlies, has had to shut down his business completely following the move into Alert Level 3.

He said that running a bar during the last two years hasn’t been easy.

“Challenging, that’s all I can,” said Power. “With the vax pass it kind of makes it a little bit easier, we kind of know who’s coming in and out…moving forward it’s going to be even more challenging.”

He said they’ve seen a major reduction in revenue as some folks still don’t feel comfortable going out for a night on the town.

“People do not just come out, you’ll have a few die-hards who don’t care but the majority will not come out,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Power is confident that everyone will make it through.

“This is just going to be a challenge and we just have to get through, we’ll all survive, the government money will help pay our portion of our rent and pay a few key employees, keep them around and stuff like that,” said Power. “We’ll get through it. I’ve been in business for 25 years, been lots of ups and downs.”

City reckons on climate change

By Patrick Newhook/December 30, 2021

With climate change becoming as dominant an issue as coronavirus, the City of Mount Pearl is trying to be proactive in dealing with it.

 The City’s latest budget outlines the steps Mount Pearl has taken and will continue to take to fight Climate Change.

 Last year, the city implemented LED lighting at the Glacier. Mount Pearl is spending $60,000 to put such lights in City Hall in 2022.

 “Our focus on climate change remains firm,” said Councilor Jim Locke, who chair’s council’s finance committee, “as evidenced by the over $200,000 investment made this year in LED lighting at the Glacier, which has multiple proven benefits including a reduction in Green House Gas emissions and electricity cost savings.”

 Locke cited other climate initiatives the city took on in 2021 such as a compost pilot project and installing solar lighting in bus shelters.

 The City is spending $150,000 on urban forestry development and $70,000 on protecting Powers Pond by putting in a storm receptor. Mount Pearl will also explore putting charging stations in the city.

 “Climate action will be front and centre in the $150,000 investment in urban forestry planned for next year, implementing a long-term plan for the planting of trees and shrubbery in key locations throughout our community,” said Locke. “In addition, we have allocated $70,000 for important preventative measures to protect Power’s Pond from any future oil contamination with the investment in and installation of a storm receptor.”

Mount Pearl says outdoor rink is ready to go

By Mark Squibb/December 23, 2021

Get ready to lace up your skates, because the City of Mount Pearl has announced that the outdoor rink on the Upper Soccer Field at Team Gushue Sports Complex is open and ready for fun.

The announcement came Tuesday, December 21 — just in time for Christmas — with the City promising that rinks at the Murley Drive tennis court and Montclair Street playground would soon be ready as well.

The City introduced the outdoor rinks last January at a cost of about $7,000 and were enjoyed by kids and adults alike.

The City provides the rinks, but asks volunteers to maintain them. Those interested in volunteering to help maintain a rink can contact the recreation department at City Hall.

City joins competition to attract young families

By Patrick Newhook/December 23, 2021

During the last budget meeting, Mount Pearl put forward it’s attempt to counter the prevailing population trend in the province. Newfoundland and Labrador has the oldest population in Canada, and this trend is expected to continue.

Mayor David Aker is hopeful the City’s plan will attract more young residents and families to live in Mount Pearl.

“We are looking at the demographics of not only Mount Pearl, but also the province and we’re very much an aging society,” said the mayor. “We want to somehow, if we can, reverse that trend.”

According to Stats Canada, Mount Pearl’s population in 2016 was 22,957. Out of that, 5,740 were over the age of 60. That means some 25 percent of the population were seniors. In the six years since, as the population continues to age, the percentage of residents falling into the seniors’ category has likely become higher.

The strategy is to make Mount Pearl appealing to young families to entice them into moving into the city.  This involves providing incentives that would make Mount Pearl attractive to younger people.

The city is putting forward $20,000 to determine how they can attract young people to move into Mount Pearl.

Councilor Jim Locke, who presented the budget last week, pointed out some of the ways the City will be try to attract young families.

“In 2022, our city has invested $20,00 to explore best approaches to encourage and to welcome young families. We have invested over $110,000 towards park upgrades and improvements including $84,000 to the St. David’s smart accessible playground,” Locke noted. “Following public health guidelines, we have expanded our youth programming such as swimming lessons and day camps to pre-COVID capacities.”

The population growth strategy seemed to find favour with the rest of council.

“One thing that I am very happy about and excited to see in our budget is attracting young families and reversing the aging population trend,” said councilor Chelsea Lane. “This is very important and as a young mother of course this is something that I can relate to. As an educator and a mother, inclusion is so important and it’s so important for kids to have a safe place to play.”

Soccer Association recognizes 2021's best of the best

By Mark Squibb/December 16, 2021

The Mount Pearl Soccer Association (MPSA) hosted its annual awards ceremony this past month, and honoured a number of players, coaches, and volunteers who do their part to make the beautiful game a better game for all.

Marsha Ransome was named Executive of the Year. Ransome is the MPSA Board of Director’s secretary and serves on a number of MPSA committees, and helps connect parents with board members when the need arises.

Cathy Snelgrove and Dean Banks were named Coaches of the Year. Snelgrove and Banks coached the Boys Under 13 Metro tier 1 Sunsplash Division Champions and the Metro BU13 tier 1 League Champions. Both worked with boys on and off the field to better their game.

Colin Dyer was named both the Youth Player of the Year and Official of the Year. Dyer played with the NLSA Boys Under 15 provincial team, and was picked to participate in the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy with NLSA. He played weekly with the Canada Game soccer training pool, and was named captain of the MPSA Premier Youth League BU15 team, amongst other achievements and volunteer work.

Baileigh Andrews was named Youth Female Player. Andrews was co-captain of the MPSA Girls Under 13 Premier Youth League team, and was a member of the NLSA GU13 team. Andrews was also the first female player from MPSA to earn a spot in the Junior Prospects Whitecaps Program. Andrews also plays basketball and hockey.

Russell Noseworthy was named the Senior Male Player of the Year, while Beth Tremblett was named Senior Female Player of the Year.

Noseworthy returned to MPSA after a six-year break from soccer, but quickly found his feet again playing with the MPSA Men’s Masters Team, who greatly appreciate his scoring prowess. Tremblett, meanwhile, has been playing with the MPSA for the past three years. She played on the recently formed Ladies Intermediate squad. Off the field, Tremblett helped recruit a number of members.

The BU15 team, coached by Andrew Moyst, was awarded the title of Team of the Year.

The team placed first overall in the BU15 Premiere Youth League, and nine players on the team played on provincial teams. Off the field, the boys donated to the Salvation Army food drive and Frosty Festival Food Drive, participated in the City of Mount Pearl’s 20 Minute Makeover, and hosted skills camps for kids 6-12, donating $1,000 in proceeds to First Light NL.  

And last but not least, Jonathan ‘Jonny’ Andrews was named the Volunteer of the Year. Andrews, the current MPSA Senior Director, can often be found at the field coaching, mending nets, or watching his three girls play ball.

City's $52.2 million budget aims for residential growth

By Patrick Newhook/December 16, 2021

While revenues are expected to decrease slightly, the mil rate will stay the same for residents and businesses in Mount Pearl.  

That was a key point of the $52.2 million plan that was presented by finance committee chairman Jim Locke on December 14. 

Mayor Dave Aker said despite the difficulties COVID-19 has caused, the city is committed to moving forward. 

“We’ve faced tough decisions in this budget process to find savings that enable our city to manage expenses while also guaranteeing our residents and businesses continue to receive the premier municipal services they are used to,” said Aker. “Council recognizes how we have all been impacted by the pandemic, and Budget 2022 focuses on living in a post-pandemic reality, with ignited determination to propel our city into a prosperous future.”  

The budget projects the city’s revenues to go down by $139,000 in 2022. Mayor Aker said that’s due to lower property assessments.

“One of the reasons that the revenue is down for this coming year is property assessments were down 2.1 per cent,” he said. “Council could have chosen to raise the mil rate, which would have offset that, however we saw the assessments coming in and we chose to pass on (enacting) a tax increase to the residents and the businesses here in the city of Mount Pearl.”  

Water rates and commercial taxes will also stay the same. 

“The investments and action items found within each of these themes demonstrate that council has clearly heard the message from citizens and the business community,” continued Aker. “They want to grow their businesses and their family while enjoying a comprehensive lifestyle that includes a full suite of services and opportunities. The City supports these values by delivering first class municipal services as well as community and recreation facilities.”

 One key aspect of Budget 2022 will be community safety, said Locke, during his presentation. The city intends on increasing park patrol coverage, and is dedicating $150,000 to upgrading current surveillance systems. 

The city is also investing $20,000 to look at ways to encourage young people and families to move into the city. Mayor Aker said that in order to keep growing, the city is going to need to curb the aging population trend. 

“We want to somehow, if we can, reverse that trend,” said Aker, “One of the strategy outcomes this year is to start that discussion about how do we go about providing incentives for families to move into Mount Pearl.” 

That move won approval from new councilor Chelsea Lane. “One thing that I am excited to see in this budget is attracting young families and reversing the aging trend,” she said. “This is very important and as a young mother, of course this is something that I can relate to.”

As part of the residential growth strategy, the spending plan includes upgrades to Kenmount Hill and a focus on developing trails and walkways, earmarking some $330,000 towards the City’s 60 plus kilometres of trails.

 The city will also see money flow into modernizing infrastructure, ponying its funds on top of provincial and federal programs. All told, the City is budgeting some $3.5 million on updating and improving infrastructure. Another $100,00 will be allocated towards assessing the condition of its infrastructure.

 Mount Pearl is more fortunate than many municipalities in that it has a large business base to draw upon for commercial taxes. Residential property taxes make up 30 per cent of tax revenue, while business tax comes a close second at 23 per cent and commercial property tax at 16 per cent.

“It’s the mix that we have in the city,” said Aker. “The combination of properties that are the 10,000 houses that are residential versus what we have in the commercial and business side of the city,” he explained. “We’ve always had a healthy commercial tax base in the city, but property versus business is two separate taxes on the commercial side, with our residents you’ve got a property tax and you’ve got a water tax.”

Locke’s motion to accept the motion passed unanimously.

“Budget 2022 is focused on restoring our community roots by enhancing our outreach, programming, and services” said Locke. “This budget competitively positions our city to embrace the future with measured achievable goals that support sustainable growth and development while balancing the best interests of our residents and businesses.”