Former Slammer becoming Sea Dog

A former Woodstock Slammer will jump from the Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).

Mackenzie Brown, seventeen, of Tobique First Nation spent the 2011-12 season with the Woodstock Slammers, while affiliating with the Sea Dogs.

Mackenzie Brown 

Saint John Sea Dogs head coach Mike Kelly told CJ 104 radio that Brown's year with the Slammers was positive for his development.

"He's exactly what we had hoped," Kelly told CJ 104. "He was a good player last year, and he's better now."

"He plays with lots of confidence, and its a huge benefit for him to have played Junior A last year."

Kelly added that Brown is dedicated to his development, and is progressing as the Sea Dogs had hoped upon drafting him from Midget AAA hockey last year.

"I know that Mackenzie has put a lot of work in this summer in Fredericton working out," Kelly said. "He has worked hard and is pretty committed to his hockey."

"For a kid like that, it takes a lot of sacrifice. We can see where he is a bit stronger, and with that comes more confidence."

Kelly is also the Sea Dogs' general manager, and he says that Brown has earned his spot on Saint John's roster.

"Its good for him," Kelly said. "He's worked hard, and he deserves it. Its a natural progression for him because he has been given the opportunity to play for a higher level team last year, which was good for him and he will reap the benefits."

"Hopefully someday down the road, someone else will be able to reap the benefits of him playing with our program."

Brown has played two preseason exhibition games with the Sea Dogs, scoring two goals and assisting one.

At this point, Kelly says he isn't sure what type of role Brown will play with the team in the upcoming season, but figures he will get a significant amount of ice time.

Brown played 39 games with the Slammers last season. The winger scored five goals and racked up five assists for a total of ten points.

With files from CJ 104

Downtown Woodstock on boil order after power outage

Hundreds of area residents were left without power for a few hours as a result of an overnight outage on Friday night, August 31st, in Woodstock.

But the power outage also affected a water reservoir, forcing the town to issue a boil order as a precaution.

Woodstock Mayor Art Slipp realizes the inconvenience of the boil order, but said it is a safety precaution.

"We are certainly aware that this is a major inconvenience for the citizens of the Town of Woodstock," Slipp told the Bugle-Observer. "As soon as town officials were aware of the problem, they immediately began remedial action."

"We ask for the continued patience of citizens. We hope to have the boil order lifted as soon as possible."

Slipp added that the boil order is necessary due to an apparent technical malfunction at one of the water reservoirs caused by the power outage Friday night. The outage continued throughout the night.

"It is being investigated by town staff to see the nature of the problem and why the system failed," Slipp said.

He noted that the handling of the situation was done according to safety protocols, and the boil order was instated as a public safety measure.

"We are waiting for the results of tests so the boil order can be lifted."

The Town of Woodstock says that any water which will be ingested (used for drinking, brushing teeth, making ice cubes, or washing raw vegetables) should be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute.

The water is safe to use for taking showers or baths or washing dishes with hot water and soap, and it will not impact the safety of swimming pools.

Streets affected by the boil order include Main Street (from Cambridge Street to Upham Street), Connell Street (between Main Street and St. James Street), Boyne, Bridge, Broadway, Bell, Bull, Carleton, Cedar, Cemetery, Centre, Chapel, Church, College, Cross, Division, Douglas, Elm, Emerald, Foundry, George, Gold, Green, Grover, Guelph, Hartley, Harvey, King, Maple, Orange, Park, Pine, Prince Albert, Prince William, Queen, Queen Street South, Regent, Richmond, St. Andrews, St. Gertrude, St. John, Union, Union Street North, Victoria, Water, Water Street South, and White Street.

With files from the Bugle-Observer and CJ 104

Dooryard Queen Street Marketplace plays host to vendors, live music

Local musicians from left: Josh Farrell, Cameron Corey, Zach
Greer, and Joe Clements.

Local band "Red Herring" includes, from left, Harry Teague,
Neal Hanson and Cameron Corey. Missing from photo: Joe
Clements

The following is a video of "Red Herring" performing an original song, Yellow Sun 

George Peabody sold some bulbs and garlic varieties at his
booth at the Queen Street Marketplace

The publishing firm Goose Lane also had a booth at the open
air marketplace

Artists also worked and sold pieces at the popular
marketplace

Artist Katy Karnes, niece of locally renowned artist Catherine
Karnes Munn, worked hard to paint on a piece of canvas.

A large crowd braved the lackluster weather and attended
the marketplace on Saturday, August 11th.

Woodstock Mayor Art Slipp

Krissy's Place had a booth set up on the doorstep of the
popular restaurant

Dunroamin' Stray and Rescue also had a booth set up

Local woodcarver Kerry O'Toole carved some wooden ducks
at the marketplace. 

Carving wood takes great patience and skill.

Dooryard begins with film showcase/contest, concerts in downtown

Dooryard Arts Festival volunteer and local military expert Aaron
Bouma, left, poses with Phil Hawkins, who oversees Films in the
Valley. Bouma was featured in the film Operation Patriot.

Phil Hawkins introduced the film festival, held at Connell House
on Wednesday, August 8th. Hawkins also gave periodic updates
between film showings. 

The following is a You Tube video of Phil Hawkins introducing the Dooryard Film Festival

Joe from the NB Nature Trust spoke prior to the showing of a film created by the nature trust in partnership with the provincial government.

Andrea Gatton appeared in the nature trust film, and spoke about her experience in the film prior to the showing.

Woodstock Deputy Mayor and Dooryard Arts Festival organizer
Amy Anderson spoke on behalf of the River Valley Arts Alliance.

Carleton County Historical Society executive director Kellie
Blue-McQuade served as bartender at the cash bar at Connell
House.

Painting of the stage at the concert held at the corner of Main
and Queen Streets in downtown Woodstock

CJ 104 announcer Brad Perry chats with artist Sharon EP1C,
who painted the scene at the concert at the corner of Main and
Queen Streets.

Woodstock Mayor Art Slipp chats with town councillor Theresa
Blackburn and family while taking in the concert on the corner
of Main and Queen Streets.

Sharon EP1C painting the stage while Cedric Noel Motherhood
performs in the background

CJ 104 announcer Brad Perry chats with Ellen McKinley while
they sit comfortably in the back of the CJ 104 cruiser.

CJ 104 announcers Brad Perry and Caitlin Doucette pose with
the CJ 104 cruiser.

Cedric Noel Motherhood performed at the stage on the corner
of Main and Queen Streets on Wednesday, August 8th.

Here is some You Tube of Cedric Noel Motherhood's performance:

Phil Hawkins of Films in the Valley, along with local military expert Aaron Bouma and Films in the Valley member Charlie McCartney agreed to an interview with The Shiretown Blogger on the porch of Connell House after the film showcase. 

From left: Aaron Bouma and Phil Hawkins, along
with Charlie McCartney (standing in back) pose
for a photo with one of the columns at Connell House

Creative decoration outside The Painted Sock in downtown Woodstock

RiVA staff, volunteers work hard to organize Dooryard festival

Dooryard Arts Festival volunteer Jason Wilson, left, and RiVA
summer student Jilly Hanson are among many volunteers who work
tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that the Dooryard festival
goes without a hitch. Wilson and Hanson were working at the
festival office, located in Royal Plaza at the corner of Main and
Connell Streets in Woodstock's downtown.

Vacant lot in Woodstock's downtown being put to good use for Dooryard Arts Festival

The vacant lot at the corner of Main and Queen Streets in
downtown Woodstock is finally being used for something for
the Dooryard Arts Festival. A stage has been set up on the
former MacLauchlan Building location and several
performances will be held here during the Dooryard Arts Festival.