Best of the Valley 2008
Published Friday December 26th, 2008
The end of a year elicits an instinct to look back at what has happened in the last 365 days ... here is a list of the biggest and best - specifically in KV
As editor of KV Style newspaper, I’ve been given the chance to write about the most notable moments in the Valley this year ... and there have been plenty.
Ice was talked about as much as it was in 2007, but this year provided some solutions. New businesses opened many doors in the Valley in 2008, and then there was the hype over Rothesay almost becoming Hockeyville last winter. This year Rothesay also lost one of its most cherished residents, who gave all he could to the town he lived in his whole life.
From a Saint John resident who spends almost all of her time in the Valley interviewing dozens of its residents, here is a list of the biggest, best and most memorable things to happen in KV in 2008.
Biggest news story in the Valley:
This year, the incoming Q-Plex recreation complex made the news more than any other issue in the Kennebecasis Valley.
In January, believers in the Q-Plex project rallied to get the ball rolling. Later in the year a municipal election had politicians who wanted a seat make the completion of the complex a campaign promise on many occasions.
In the spring, construction drawings were given the OK and last summer, Quispamsis extended an invitation to Rothesay to join on the $20-million project. After months of back and fourth, Rothesay officially declined the option to partner on the complex.
In October, the recreation project was given an environmental OK by the province, and most recently, it was announced that the Q-Plex will be one of the most environmentally friendly and energy efficient complexes in New Brunswick.
Last year, the issue of lacking ice time was named the biggest news story in the Valley, and it’s fitting that this year a solution to that problem takes the title.
The Q-Plex is expected to open in 2010.
Best place to photograph the Valley:
Telegraph-Journal photographer Noel Chenier has named two spots to bring your camera if you’re out and about in the Kennebecasis Valley. For the winter, Chenier named the same spot that took this title last year: the Quispamsis Arts & Culture Park. The winter lights display allows for creative, festive photos with lots of colour and composition opportunities.
For the summer and fall, Chenier named Brunswick Nurseries garden centre and petting farm as the place to be with a camera in hand.
“All the colourful flowers, farm animals, and the wooded trail provide an amazing amount of photo opportunities,” he said.
If you want to get photos of the lights at the Arts & Culture Park now, follow Chenier’s tips:
• Use a tripod and the self timer or remote shutter release modes when shooting.
• Use manual exposure mode because the camera will not give you the correct exposure for Christmas lights in automatic mode.
• Be creative by putting the lights out of focus, zooming, panning, jiggling or rotating the camera.
Best place to eat in the Valley:
An impromptu survey asking Kennebecasis Valley virtuosos which is the best restaurant here resulted in a unanimous name: Pomodori.
The 60-seat pizzeria on Hampton Road is well known for its wood-fired, thin-crust pizza and homemade gelato.
After its June opening, the restaurant gained popularity and made its name as community-oriented and environmentally conscious.
Pomodori has a year-round recycling program where local community groups can collect recyclables from the restaurant to raise money and just recently it offered $5 off an event’s admission if customers walked or car-pooled instead of driving their own car.
“The fresh ingredients make a difference, especially with the whole wheat crusts” one customer raved. “The gelato is to die for.”
The customer said the chicken pesto pizza is her favourite menu item.
Co-owners Stephen Goddard and Janice MacPherson say they want to produce the best-tasting food they can and judging by the reaction to this category, they are.
Best ambassador for the Valley:
New Brunswick’s only National Hockey League player is the best ambassador for the Kennebecasis Valley this year.
Quispamsis native Randy Jones visits home often and says he wants to see children from this area pursue their dreams.
The Philadelphia Flyers defenceman organizes an annual hockey camp in Saint John with his brother Tim and he’s known to sign autographs for anyone who asks.
Last July, Jones was spotted driving in Quispamsis and stopped by a fan, who asked if the hockey player would mind meeting his ten-year-old stepson. Jones said it was no problem.
“He’s a good kid,” David Morrell said after Jones met his stepson. “It was just kind of funny, there was like no hesitation. I was really happy he was open to doing it. He doesn’t know me, I’m a stranger. I think it has a lot to do with the fact it’s the Maritimes and he was raised here.”
Best good news story for the Valley:
Last fall, Eugene Belliveau resurrected the Kennebecasis Valley High School football team with his colleagues at the Rothesay Regional Police Force.
When the former Canadian Football League defensive lineman saw that KVHS didn’t field in team in 2007, he started looking forward to bring pride back to the school sport.
“We cleaned out our old locker room and repainted it,” Belliveau said at the time. “It’s a symbol that we’re here to stay. We lost our team last year and we’re rebuilding.”
It took some time to get the players warmed up to having cops as coaches, but when they did, Belliveau said the lessons went beyond the game.
“We realized what our role was and it wasn’t about our egos or winning, but what we could teach these kids about respect, discipline and self-esteem,” he told the Telegraph-Journal.
The Rothesay police were honoured for their work at KVHS with a Crime Prevention Association of New Brunswick certificate of recognition in November.
Other members of the Rothesay Regional Police Force who took part and were honoured include Shawn Coughlan, Matt Marsh, Aaron Haines, Jason Murray, Jeff Wilson, Chika Ikejiani and Steve Palmer.
Best event to hit the Valley:
KV Style arts columnist Jeff Liberty has named the Two Hours Traffic show at the Quispamsis Arts & Culture Park as the best event this year.
With a full slate of entertainment over the summer, both the Arts & Culture Park and the Rothesay Commons had regular crowds come to the parks with lawn chairs and blankets in arm.
“Two Hours Traffic was definitely the high point for live music in the Valley this past summer at the Arts & Culture Park,” he said. “You can’t go wrong with a picturesque venue like the park and the Maritimes’ answer to the young saviours of power pop.”
It didn’t hurt that it was on a beautiful evening, either. The boys played their catchy tunes with a glowing sunset behind them on Aug. 27.
“Two Hours Traffic is one of the most exciting bands to come out of East Coast since Sloan and are a visual treat live reminiscent of the youthful swagger of 70’s-era Rolling Stones with some of the catchiest songs that are sure to lock in your head,” Liberty said.
It was obvious that Kennebecasis Valley residents were familiar with the band’s songs, as most sang along and nodded their heads through the performance.
Best day trip in the Valley:
Just a quick ferry away, the Kingston Peninsula takes the title of best day trip in the Kennebecasis Valley for the second year.
On a Saturday morning, visitors can make their first stop at the Kingston Farmer’s Market, where vendors-a-plenty set up bright and early with food, art, crafts, jewelry and more. Most times, produce was harvested that morning and brought to the market to sell.
The peninsula is full of picturesque scenery for a weekend drive, and with stops at an apple orchard or a pumpkin field, this day trip is especially great in autumn.
In the summer, the peninsula is just as easily a perfect day trip. With cottage life in full swing, there is usually a kitchen party or two to be found with local musicians performing.
To have an insolated, green, vast peninsula so close to the bustling Kennebecasis Valley is unique, and has to be the best day trip opportunity locally.
Best hero in the Valley:
When Arthur J. Miller gave $1 million to help build a sports field in Rothesay, he said it was easy.
“Just like that,” he said last June. “I gave them the land, too.”
When he spoke of his generosity, Miller was very matter-of-fact.
“They needed to build it,” he said of Rothesay’s $2.4 million field project.
The Rothesay philanthropist died Oct. 12 at the Saint John Regional Hospital at the age of 85.
“It’s nice to be helping other people. If you’re successful in life, you should pass it on.”
Miller’s philosophy was simple: he made money so he could give it away.
He said his 2006 donation of $200,000 towards the Quispamsis Arts & Culture Park was just as easy.
“The kids wanted a skating rink,” he said at the time. “I thought it was important to give it to them.”
Miller stepped out of his notoriously private life in June to talk to KV Style about his family, his community and his pride. At the time, he was planning his annual August garden party, when hundreds of seniors from across the province and country flocked to the Millers’ home for the summer celebration.
As one of the most community-minded people to ever live in the Kennebecasis Valley, Miller easily takes the title as best hero here this year.
Best moment for the Valley:
Last February, Rothesay almost became Hockeyville.
Efforts to have the town win the CBC competition by organizer Elaine Whitney were wildly embraced by Rothesay residents. People in the old-fashioned town dressed up their business signs and gathered at the Rothesay High School gymnasium to watch the results of which 10 cities would square off for the title. The bid’s Facebook group had more than 1,000 members.
Rothesay lost its bid to be named Hockeyville to Port aux Basques, N.L., but Whitney’s community spirit was not forgotten. She was honoured by Rothesay Town Council last fall as a New Brunswick Merit Award winner. At that ceremony, Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop thanked Whitney for her dedication to the competition and the community. He said it brought a new level of pride to Rothesay, and for that reason, it was one of the Valley’s best moments of the year.
Best new addition to the Valley:
On June 14, an opening ceremony was held for the best new addition to the Kennebecasis Valley in 2008.
The set of two artificial turf fields in Rothesay were named after Arthur Miller, who not only donated the 11 acres (4.5 hectares) the fields are built on, but contributed $1 million toward the $2.4-million construction price tag.
The Arthur Miller Fields were built behind the Rothesay Elementary School.
The upper field is designated as multipurpose. Lines are painted on it for both football and soccer with Arthur J. Miller written in big white letters in both of the blue end zones.
The field is the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada thanks to the special turf designed by the FieldTurf.
The lower field is strictly a soccer pitch.
Together, the two surfaces address a major need for recreation fields in the Saint John area, and are the best addition to the area this year.
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