The latest edition of our seasonal community newsletter, The Heart of the Harbour, is now available!
You can read the Fall 2024 edition of the newsletter now on our website here:
To hear an audio readout of the newsletter, call (709) 596-3631 ext. 7 or listen online here: https://on.soundcloud.com/YqSoF2B6AzRf7n6MA
Paper copies are available at the Town Hall now. Additionally, paper copies will be available at the following locations:
Hotel Harbour Grace (Water Street)
Kay’s Restaurant (Harvey Street)
Ultramar (Harvey Street)
Needs Convenience (Harvey Street)
Riverhead Irving (Harvey Street)
Riverside Mini-Mart (Harbour Grace South)
War Memorial Public Library (Harvey Street)
Newsletter photos courtesy Judy Ash, Stephanie Butt, Kelly Peddle, and Glenn Phelan. We had over 25 photos submitted for the newsletter – thanks to everyone who submitted!
Photo ID: A photograph of coloured fall leaves frozen on the forest floor. There is an orange header above the photograph featuring the title of the newsletter in white text.
Full newsletter text follows:
THE HEART OF THE HARBOUR (FALL 2024)
TOWN OF HARBOUR GRACE NEWSLETTER
MESSAGE FROM COUNCIL:
On behalf of my colleagues on Council and all residents of the historic Town of Harbour Grace, I’m proud to present the summer 2024 edition of the Heart of the Harbour, our seasonal community newsletter.
We have had a busy summer so far, with more to come. The opening of the Otterbury Schoolhouse and dedication to Mr. Roger Pike was a great success. The Pirates to Pilots Festival takes place from July 19 – 27, and the 162nd Annual Harbour Grace Regatta happens on July 27. We’ll also help host soccer during the upcoming NL Summer Games from Aug. 10 – 17 at St. Francis Field. I wish to send a special thank you to the many volunteer committees who are helping organize these events during summer 2024—your work is truly commendable.
The capital works projects at LeMarchant Street and Bannerman Lake Bridge will start soon. I wish to thank Mr. Randy Wrice for his three years of service to the Town of Harbour Grace as a Councillor. The upcoming byelection will be held on Aug. 27 and I encourage anyone interested to put themselves forward for nomination day on July 30.
Let’s keep the positive momentum going. Our doors are always open—Let Yourself In. It’s a great place, our Harbour Grace.
YOUR COMMUNITY:
- October 6 – 12 marked Fire Prevention Week across the country. This year’s theme was “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you.” Roughly half of fire deaths happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Take a small amount of time to test your home’s smoke alarms every month.
- Register for the 1st Harbour Grace Girl Guide Unit today! Sparks: Grades K-1, Mondays, 6:15 – 7:30 p.m. | Embers: Grades 2-3, Mondays, 6:15 – 7:30 p.m. | Guides: Grades 4-6, Tuesdays, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. To register, visit www.girlguides.ca.
- The Harbour Grace War Memorial Public Library is looking for donations of LEGO blocks for a new drop-in LEGO play group starting this fall! They’re looking for all styles of LEGO bricks, mini figures, connectors, base plates, etc. If you have any to donate to this new program, please drop off to the library during opening hours: Tuesdays, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., 1 – 4 p.m. | Wednesdays, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., 1 – 4 p.m. | Thursdays, 2 – 5 p.m., 5:30 – 8 p.m. | Saturdays, 12 (noon) – 4 p.m.
- Congratulation to our winners of the Communities in Bloom MiracleGro ‘Best Garden Selection’ contest for 2024! The six winners received a lawn sign and a selection of MiracleGro products. The winners: 8 Alec Moores Ct, 111 Kildare Rd, 300 Harvey St, 23 Mount Pleasant Rd, 38 Water St, and 325 Water St. Thank you to the nominees and winners for participating!
- The Splash Centre and NL Health Services are recruiting volunteer bus drivers to join their team. As a volunteer driver, you’ll play a crucial role in providing transportation services to residents of Conception Bay North. If you’re passionate about helping others and making a difference, contact the Splash Centre at (709) 596-2400 or email [email protected].
- The Splash Centre’s VolunTeens Program is open to youth ages 12-30 and focuses on recreation, personal wellness, educational exploration, career development, and community engagement. Ideal for participants in seeking the mandatory 30 volunteer hours needed to complete the Career Development 2201 course or those just wanting volunteer experience. Reach out to the Splash Centre for more info!
EVENTS & HAPPENINGS:
- The Firefighter’s Hydrant Club has resumed its weekly Friday evening Social Building openings, which start at 4 p.m. All profits go directly to the Volunteer Fire Brigade to purchase life-saving equipment. Spread the word and stop by!
- Harbour Grace Civic Events’ Fall Photobooth is back! Take your picture at one of the three fall displays in the community. You can find the photobooths near the Kearney Tourist Chalet in Riverhead, at the S.W. Moores Memorial Park, and on the traffic island by The Old Courthouse. Post your image on Facebook or Twitter with the hashtags #fallintofun and #letyourselfin. Your name will be entered in for a prize draw to be announced at the upcoming Guy Fawkes Night.
- Earhart’s 50+ Club will host a Healthy Eating Session with Melissa Caravan of NL Health Services on Oct. 15 at Otterbury Schoolhouse, starting at 2 p.m. Snacks provided and all are welcome!
- Earhart’s 50+ Club’s Open Doors at Otterbury Schoolhouse is back! Stop by the Schoolhouse from 2 – 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays to socialize with friends.
- Earhart’s 50+ Club’s Happy Feet group meet every Wednesday at 10 a.m. for a 4km community walk. Upcoming schedule: Oct. 16 (meet at the Railway Station), Oct. 23 (meet at St. Joseph’s Church, Riverhead), and Oct. 30 (meet at end of Southside Rd – Feather Point Trail). All welcome!
- The Conception Bay Museum will host The Churchyard: A Haunting Experience on Oct. 25, starting at 7:30 p.m. on the grounds of the former Immaculate Conception Cathedral. Admission: $10 per person. There’ll be a meet and greet with the historical characters afterwards at The Old Courthouse. (Rain date: Oct. 27.)
- Harbour Grace Civic Events will host a Halloween Kettle’s On community cold plate luncheon at the Community Centre on Oct. 26, starting at 12 p.m. (noon). Tickets: $14 each and available from any committee member. (Halloween costumes are encouraged!)
- 2nd Annual Trunk-or-Treat event at the Harbour Grace Regatta Grounds, Lady Lake, will take place on Oct. 27, from 2 – 4 p.m. Tickets: $3 per person and available at Riverhead Irving. If you wish to register your trunk for the event or purchase a ticket, contact Rebecca Vokey at (709) 896-1615 or Cathy Spicer at (709) 680-0030.
- Harbour Grace War Memorial Public Library will host a Halloween Storytime & Craft event on Oct. 30, from 3 – 3:30 p.m. Ages 0-6. Please visit, call, or message the library to register.
- Harbour Grace Civic Events will host a Ukrainian multiculturalism event at St. Francis School on Nov. 3, starting at 2:30 p.m. Stop by for a presentation of traditional Ukrainian dance by “Dolya” Dance Company, with live music from Brian Cherwick of the Kubasonics and delicious pastries from Borsch Ukrainian Cafe. Free admission!
- The annual Guy Fawkes Night community bonfire will take place at the Kearney Tourist Chalet on Nov. 5, starting at 6:30 p.m.
- The Annual Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade Santa Claus Parade will take place on Dec. 7.
- Stay up to date with events in the town by visiting our website’s events’ page: www.townofharbourgrace.ca/residents/events. If you scroll to the bottom of our homepage, you’ll find our interactive community calendar, with events and reminders listed on each day throughout the month.
COMMUNITY CENTRE:
- The Community Centre hosts a General Public Skate every Sunday, from 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. Admission: $5 per person.
- Parents & Tots Skate takes place from Monday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Admission: $3 per person.
- Adult Skate takes place from Monday – Friday, 12 (noon) – 1 p.m. Admission: $3 per person.
- Indoor Walking Track Schedule for the rest of 2024 will be Sunday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Friday – Saturday: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- The Cee Bees Stars’ first home game of the 2024-25 AESHL season will be on Oct. 26 against the Clarenville Caribous. The game starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Community Centre. The home game schedule can be viewed on our community event calendar at www.townofharbourgrace.ca.
- 4th Annual Christmas in the Harbour Craft Fair will take place on Dec. 7 & 8, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission: $3 per person (free for U12 when accompanied). For details on booking a table, contact Michelle at (709) 596-6201 or (709) 597-1340, or email [email protected].