WEEKLY PRESS – MARCH 6, 2008

Last year (2006-2007), the East Hants Sportsplex rented a record number of ice hours and we hope to approach that level again this year. It would be a natural assumption to say that as our usage increased that our power bill would also see a corresponding rise. After all, the lights are on more, the heat to dressing rooms is on more, the ice has to be brought to the correct temperature longer, the Zamboni is requiring more hot water to do more floods, etc. Well, here’s a pleasant piece of news. Karl Schermerhorn, our Chief Engineer, and his team of engineers consisting of John Piek and Steve Lawson, have worked diligently over the last two years and have actually not just kept power consumption static over this extra ice use, they’ve actually dropped it by 20 percent! That’s right – 20 percent! That unbelievable drop in power was done without any equipment changes or additions. It was achieved by reconsidering how we did everything that involved power – our ice plant, our heat, our lights, our hot water demands – everything was thought through and adjusted so as to save power without effecting service or our ice. Congratulations to Karl, John and Steve for a job well done!
As mentioned in a previous article, the Atom AA Minor Hockey team recently held a fundraiser as hosts of the Atom AA Provincial Hockey Championships. The place was packed and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely. The business community was generous in their donations of auction items, and the attendees were generous with their bidding. In all, the night was a great success by any measurement and I’m sure the organizing committee are now focusing their energies on the hockey event itself. It will be entertaining, and worthwhile for our community to support by attending at least the games featuring our own East Hants Atom AA team.
The East Hants Business Expo, hosted by the East Hants and Districts Chamber of Commerce, will be held on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 (3:00pm to 8:00pm) at the Sportsplex. Local businesses should ensure they’re involved in this show – it will be a perfect method of promoting what you do to other businesses (business to business) and to consumers as well. In our area, one of the tougher things to do is reach specific markets, and this show will assist in that goal admirably. Watch this newspaper for more information on this fantastic opportunity.

Upcoming events include the Junior Penguins playoffs, and the Penguins have advanced to the Nova Scotia semi-final round – the dates were not confirmed as of the writing of this article. The Annual Ettinger-Smith Minor Hockey Tournament is being held March 8 to 12. The East Hants Atom AA hockey team will be hosting the Atom AA Provincial Championships on March 28, 29 and 30. The annual ice show presented by East Hants Skating Club will be held on Sunday, March 30 (show time is 6:00pm). Also on March 30, the Molson Hockey League will be holding their league Championship games. SEDMHA return to our community for their Annual Tournament on April 3, 4 & 5. Our final on-ice event of the year will be to host the Annual Turner tournament on April 6 and 7.Our Parent and Tot Skates (Wednesdays, 10am), our Adult Skates (Wednesdays, 11am) and our Public Skates (Thursdays 3pm to 5pm and Sundays 1pm to 3pm) will continue until Sunday, April 6.

For more information, please email ehsportsplex@ns.aliantzinc.ca or call 883-9906.  As well, visit our website at www.easthantssportsplex.ca.

WEEKLY PRESS – FEBRUARY 20, 2008

As I highlighted last week, available ice time is getting more and more of a rarity at the Sportsplex. I probably get a dozen calls every week from people not directly associated with the Sportsplex that are amazed that they can’t book ice at convenient times. Did you know that we’re booked virtually solidly (with rare exception) on weekdays from 3pm to midnight and on the weekends from 6am to midnight? That second rink can’t come soon enough, and we’re doing everything we can to speed that process along and we know that’s what the great majority of our community want us to do.

Besides our second rink, I also wish that we had the multi-purpose fieldhouse up and running – all this snowy and rainy cold weather is driving all of us a bit stir-crazy> It would be great to be able to “play” in this warm and bright facility, whether it be running on the track, practicing golf swings, chasing a soccer or rugby ball, lawn bowling… you name it, and it can likely happen in this facility!

The Atom AA Minor Hockey team is hosting the Atom AA Provincial Championships at the Sportsplex and as a fundraiser for this event, they are holding an AUCTION on Saturday, February 23 at the Enfield Fire Hall. I’m looking forward to showing my support by attending and hopefully successfully bidding on an item or two. The tickets are $10.00 and include a Roast Beef Dinner. Support this great effort and have a great time at the auction!

It’s just been confirmed that the East Hants and Districts Chamber of Commerce are going to host the East Hants Business Expo on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at the Sportsplex. More details will be forthcoming shortly and as I’m assisting in putting on this event, I’ll keep you in the loop on future developments. Also, keep a lookout for information from the Chamber over the next couple of weeks in this newspaper and via email. If you’re involved in a business in the local area, this is a show you should be at as an exhibitor. It’s an ideal time to promote your “message” to other businesses as well as to the general public.

Upcoming events include the Junior Penguins playoffs – the dates were not confirmed as of the writing of this article. The Annual Ettinger-Smith Minor Hockey Tournament is being held March 8 to 12. The East Hants Atom AA hockey team will be hosting the Atom AA Provincial Championships on March 28, 29 and 30. The annual ice show presented by East Hants Skating Club will be held on Sunday, March 30 (show time is 6:00pm). SEDMHA return to our community for their Annual Tournament on April 3, 4 & 5. Our Parent and Tot Skates (Wednesdays, 10am), our Adult Skates (Wednesdays, 11am) and our Public Skates (Thursdays 3pm to 5pm and Sundays 1pm to 3pm) will continue until Wednesday, April 2.

For more information, please email ehsportsplex@ns.aliantzinc.ca or call 883-9906.  As well, visit our website at www.easthantssportsplex.ca.

WEEKLY PRESS – Feb.13, 2008
Our already busy schedule at the Sportsplex will be put to the test over the next eight weeks. This time of year is always a nightmare to shoehorn all our clients in with their extra end-of-season needs, but this year it gets tougher because Easter is in March and folks aren’t lining up to book that weekend. Then, there’s the fact that our annual Provincial Minor Hockey Championships that are normally held on a March Break weekend are being held two weeks later. Things were so jammed that President Danny Hines of the East Hants Gents League had to take his Championship weekend to another rink – not a great situation, but perhaps the best choice – both March Break weekends saw many of his players out-of-town on vacations.
In total, we have to find/make ice time available for the annual (Atom AA this year) Provincial Minor Hockey Championships, East Hants Molson League Championships, the annual Turner Tournament, the annual Ice Skating show (along with some extra practice time associated with the show), the (now) annual SEDMHA Hockey Tournament, the Pharmasave Junior Penguins playoff run, the Ettinger-Smith Minor Hockey Tournament, and maybe a few other events. How do you create time for these worthy events in a few short weeks at the end of the season in a fully-booked facility? It’s done by doing your best to work with each client and asking each of them to be understanding of our situation in East Hants – with one rink and enough demand for two rinks, at some point something has to give. While we try our best to satisfy every need, it’s virtually impossible to do. I thank everyone for their patience and understanding, and for anyone without either of these for the situation, I would welcome the opportunity to hear your solution.
David Kjarbo’s recent passing still has us reeling on a number of levels. Beyond missing his humour, his insights and his knowledge, we are also keenly coming to fully understand all that he did for so many of us. Each group that David was involved with are still scrambling to fill in the many holes that exist in their operations because David is no longer doing what he did so easily. It will probably take the balance of this hockey season to get it squared away, and it still won’t be to the high standard that we experienced with David (no offense to the many people who are now doing David’s activities, just respect and admiration for David). While a bit personal, I’m pleased to advise you that your generous financial contributions to the David Kjarbo Memorial Fund have allowed his family to benefit significantly and have also given a great start to the David Kjarbo Foundation (the Foundation will be used annually to purchase skates for those not able to afford them – David’s legacy will live on). By the way, donations to the David Kjarbo Foundation will always be accepted at any Scotiabank branch.
Upcoming events include the Junior Penguins playing at 7:30pm on February 14 vs. Brookfield Elks. The Annual Ettinger-Smith Minor Hockey Tournament is being held March 8 to 14. The East Hants Atom AA hockey team will be hosting the Atom AA Provincial Championships on March 28, 29 and 30. The annual ice show presented by East Hants Skating Club will be held on Sunday, March 30 (show time is 6:00pm). SEDMHA return to our community for their Annual Tournament on April 3, 4 & 5. Our Parent and Tot Skates (Wednesdays, 10am), our Adult Skates (Wednesdays, 11am) and our Public Skates (Thursdays 3pm to 5pm and Sundays 1pm to 3pm) will continue until the ice comes out in early April.
For more information, please email ehsportsplex@ns.aliantzinc.ca or call 883-9906.  As well, visit our website at www.easthantssportsplex.ca.

A LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the East Hants Sportsplex, I thought I’d throw a few points together to inform the community of some items that we think should be shared.

First, it must be stated that the goal of the Board is to provide a facility that benefits as many people in our community as possible. Those benefits can be measured in physical, social, recreational and cultural ways, and the Expansion Plan that the Board now has addresses each of these components. The Board is confident that the direction we’re following is the right one for our residents and businesses alike.

The second skating rink will allow for the growth of Minor Hockey (now limited by availability of ice time), growth in Learn-To-Skate opportunities, growth in Gents Leagues as well as increased opportunity for more Public Skating hours. Further, we at present cannot even offer many programs such as ringuette, sledge hockey, adult skates, teen skates, and so much more. The pent-up demand is huge for a second skating surface.

Our multi-purpose fieldhouse (with a walking/running track) will be heavily used by many user groups, the largest of which is the East Hants Soccer Association, which currently boasts over 1,200 members! As well, activities including rugby, golf, football, baseball, lawn bowling, lacrosse, track and field events, walking/running, and just plain “playing” will be components of a very busy facility. We’re especially pleased with the initiative of the East Hants Soccer Association who came to us with a detailed Business Plan and floor plans for the fieldhouse. Both the rink and the fieldhouse come with current high demand from many potential users and therefore virtually guaranteed income will ensure that the Sportsplex will not be a financial burden on any government level for ongoing operational support.

We envision a community/cultural room that will again have a varied market and can host anything from community meetings, trade shows, receptions of all types, and a myriad of other events. As many of our users will come from our community’s large demographic of young families, we wanted to include a child-care area we’ve termed “the Kidzone”, which will include modern and exciting amenities. The fitness facility and its accompanying studio have a tremendous synergy with the rest of the facility and the Sportsplex, once expanded, will be the mecca for the community as a true wellness centre. Finally, we’re very pleased to have our Curves for Women gym as a key component of our expanded facility.

The Board has even considered the prospect of including a swimming pool at some future date – the Municipality’s current pool has been wonderful, but it’s approaching the end of its lifespan and a new Municipal swimming pool will have to be built somewhere. We think that the Sportsplex site is a tremendous option.

A few months ago, Tom Hunter and I presented our Municipal Councillors with this updated Expansion Plan highlighting the above. The Councillors were understanding of the Plan, and seemed excited to see a private group offer to do so much for the community. They saw that their support of the Sportsplex Board was well justified.

Tom Hunter, our Chair of the Expansion Committee, has put a tremendous amount of time and energy into bringing this project to reality. Tom recently stated “The community is exceptionally supportive of our plans, and while we can’t be all things to all people, we are hearing loud and clear that the community strongly supports what we’re trying to accomplish. That support makes the Board’s efforts all worthwhile.”

This facility will be a year-round facility which will provide employment, business for our local businesses from those outside our community who come to play and/or compete at the Sportsplex and mainly a place for everyone in our community. It will be a place to play, to meet neighbours, to engage in all types of activities, to learn… in fact, as our logo suggests, it will be “a place for community”.

Steve Pottie
Executive Director
East Hants Sportsplex

WEEKLY PRESS – JANUARY 30, 2008

My first comments will be to thank all those who either attended the DAVID KJARBO MEMORIAL CELEBRATION            or provided much appreciated funds for the family and the David Kjarbo Foundation, or both.

The Celebration, held on January 24, saw hundreds of people come and pay their respect and show their appreciation for all David did. Each organization that David worked or volunteered with was very well represented that night, with many coming significant distances.

Each person that spoke that night added immensely to its success. Gary Smiley was wonderful as a Master of Ceremonies for the evening, and his many comments and direction throughout the night were perfect. Neil Miller, a friend of David’s, gave a touching eulogy that certainly brought home to everyone how valued David was to each and every thing with which he involved himself. Reverend Angus “Gus” MacDonald added the perfect amount of spirituality to the evening, and through his message brought everyone closer to David. Debbie Kjarbo warmed everyone’s heart with her tender words speaking of her husband in a way that only his wife could. Tom Hunter, on behalf of a grateful community, presented Debbie with a plaque commemorating David. RCMP Constable David Forsyth ushered in the family and walked them out at the Ceremony’s end, adding a touch of class to the evening. Players in jerseys from our Minor Hockey Association lined the red carpet on both sides as the family entered and left their seating area, which was a fitting tribute to David. Finally, as people left the seating area, the song “The good old hockey game” by Stompin’ Tom Connors played to everyone’s amusement. Many comments were heard saying that it was a perfect song for the occasion. In all, the Celebration was a moving and superb event to highlight a man that had no equal. God bless you, David.

Upcoming events include the Junior Penguins playing (all at 7:30pm) on February 7 (vs. Windsor Royals) and February 14 (vs. Brookfield Elks). The East Hants Atom AA hockey team will be hosting the Atom AA Provincial Championships on March 28, 29 and 30. The East Hants Skating Club’s annual ice show will be held on Sunday, March 30. SEDMHA return to our community for their Annual Tournament on April 3, 4 & 5. Our Parent and Tot Skates (Wednesdays, 10am), our Adult Skates (Wednesdays, 11am) and our Public Skates (Thursdays 3pm to 5pm and Sundays 1pm to 3pm) will continue until the ice comes out in early April.

For more information, please email ehsportsplex@ns.aliantzinc.ca or call 883-9906.  As well, visit our website at www.easthantssportsplex.ca.

WEEKLY PRESS – JANUARY 16, 2008

The community is still reeling from the recent death of David Kjarbo, and his loss is being keenly felt in very tangible ways by all those David volunteered and/or worked with. As of the writing of this article, it was only nine days ago that David passed away. Yet in that short time, much has been done by a group of community volunteers, most of these individuals representing large organizations, to pay proper tribute to this unsung hero.

A DAVID KJARBO MEMORIAL CELEBRATION will be held on Thursday, January 24 (6:00pm) at the East Hants Sportsplex, where it is expected that over 1,000 people will be in attendance to honour David. Everyone is encouraged to attend – it will provide a bit of closure to David’s family as well as the community as a whole to pay homage with this show of support.  The Celebration will have a balance of spirituality, respect, honour and I think a light note or two, as it is hoped that those attending will walk out at its conclusion with a more joyful heart than what they had when they first entered. As well, the organizations that David touched are all very earnest in their desire to assist the family in their time of need, and have offered financial donations that are wonderfully generous. Further, there will be a DAVID KJARBO FOUNDATION set up so that David’s legacy of caring will carry on – funds from this Foundation will purchase skates for local underprivileged children for years to come. Donations can be made at any branch of Scotiabank. I’d be pleased to answer any questions in regards to the plans being made with David in mind.

Upcoming events include the Junior Penguins playing (all at 7:30pm) on January 17 (vs. Cumberland County Blues), January 24 (vs. Bay Ducks), February 7 (vs. Windsor Royals) and February 14 (vs. Brookfield Elks). The East Hants Skating Club’s annual ice show will be held on Sunday, March 30. Our Parent and Tot Skates (Wednesdays, 10am), our Adult Skates (Wednesdays, 11am) and our Public Skates (Thursdays 3pm to 5pm and Sundays 1pm to 3pm) will continue until the ice comes out in early April.

For more information, please email ehsportsplex@ns.aliantzinc.ca or call 883-9906.  As well, visit our website at www.easthantssportsplex.ca.