On Friday’s Tantramar Report:

Hospital visits restricted

Starting today, no visitors are allowed at the Sackville Memorial Hospital, with some exceptions for patients who need designated support people. Horizon Health Network made the announcement Thursday, saying that the high number of people in hospital with COVID-19 in the province was cause for the enhanced visitor restrictions at all hospitals and health care facilities. More details here.

Drew awaits test results as another resident dies

Another resident of the Drew Nursing Home passed away with the disease on Wednesday. That brings the total deaths at the Drew from this outbreak of COVID-19 to seven. Testing of staff and residents of the Drew was conducted on Tuesday, but as of Thursday, director Linda Shannon said she was still waiting to hear the results.

The last round of testing at the Drew revealed two more cases of the disease, and showed 18 active cases still in the home.

A COVID-19 upate for Oct. 7 from the province. Photo courtesy of the Government of New Brunswick.

Council to decide on fee rebate for some sports

Sackville town council will decide on Tuesday whether or not to go ahead with a recreation subsidy plan to help cover half the cost of youth programs in hockey, lacrosse, swimming, and skating. Councillors discussed the issue at the meeting Monday, and we’ve got a summary of the plan and the concerns with it on Tantramar Report and online here.

Tori Weldon talks her favourite Sackville stories

From the mythical Midgic Airport to the Tantramar Community Pasture, Tori Weldon has told many a Sackville story throughout her 14-year career as a journalist for CBC Moncton. Weldon recently moved on from the CBC, and CHMA caught up with her to find out about her new gig, and hear about some of her favourite moments from coverage her hometown.

Mount Allison gets number two in rankings

The annual MacLean’s university rankings report is out again and Mount Allison has place second in it’s category: primarily undergraduate universities in Canada. The school got knocked out of first place by the University of Northern British Columbia based in Prince George, BC.

Mount Allison ranked first in scholarships and bursaries, second in student awards, and third in student to faculty ratio.

The Sackville school has come in first 22 times over the three decades MacLeans has published the rankings, and the school has always placed in the top four.

Average property values released for 2021

Property assessments have increased significantly this year throughout Sackville and the rest of the province. On Thursday, the province released numbers showing the total property assessment values for municipalities across the province. In Sackville, the total amount of assessments has gone up by 6.42 per cent. That’s an average increase across all properties in the municipality, so some properties would have much higher increases, and some lower.

Sackville was roughly middle of the pack in terms of increases. The highest average increase was in Dieppe, with property values going up an average of 12.75 per cent. In Memramcook, values went up 9.62 per cent. In Port Elgin, 10.95 per cent, and in Dorchester, 3.66 per cent.

Friday Night Lights

The Mounties men’s football team will play tonight against the St. FX University X-Men at 7 p.m. at Alumni Field. The game is ticketed, and proof of vaccination is required to attend.

Over at the Tantramar Veterans Memorial Civic Centre, the Mountie women’s hockey team will take on St. FX University X-Women. That game also starts at 7 p.m., there is no admission, and spectators should enter at the lower entrance to the civic centre. Anyone in attendance must show proof of vaccination, and wear a mask while inside.

Sappyfest looking for a creative director

Sappyfest organizers recently posted a call for applications for the position of creative directer. The festival says it’s looking for someone to “take the imaginative lead” for both a three-day festival in July 2022, and for a presentation or series of presentations over the coming winter.

The call makes note that throughout the pandemic, Sappyfest has managed to find alternative ways to present works, including the popular Cube projections in 2020, and a 26-hour livestream broadcast this past summer.

More information is available at sappyfest.com, and applications will be reviewed starting Oct. 25.