Tantramar Report: Ghost story season kicks off Wednesday; rapid test kits in town Tuesday; council meets tonight

The exterior of an old house with an iron gate around it, pumpkins in the front yard and a full moon in the night sky
Still from a promotional video for The Book of Darkness and Light, presented by Performers’ Theatre Company. Photo submitted.
Erica Butler - CHMA - SackvilleNB | 25-10-2021
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The Book of Darkness and Light opens Wednesday

A blurred still of people in period costumes for a play.
Still from a promotional video for The Book of Darkness and Light, presented by Performers’ Theatre Company. Photo submitted.

Sackville’s spooky season has started, and the Performers Theatre Company is a major contributor to the All Hallow’s Eve atmosphere this year. The community theatre company is staging The Book of Darkness and Light, a trio of ghost stories by UK playwright Adam Robinson that is making its North America debut here on Wednesday.

Robinson and local director Stephen Puddle dropped by CHMA studios to talk about the play and about the “pleasing terror” that the ghost story genre can engender. More details on the web story here.

Town celebrates end of Drew Nursing Home outbreak

The outbreak at the Drew Nursing Home in Sackville was declared over on Friday night at midnight. In celebration, the town of Sackville organized a “hero’s drive-through” on Friday morning, inviting the local RCMP, Ambulance NB, and the Sackville Fire Department to convoy past the home, to express thanks to the Drew staff and other frontline workers.

Starting today, residents of the Drew Nursing Home will start to get their booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine, along with their seasonal flu shots. The boosters were first announced for long term care residents just over two weeks ago, after the National Advisory Committee on Immunization came down with a recommendation in favour. For more on boosters from local pharmacist Charles Beaver, check our web story here.

Mobile rapid test distribution comes to Sackville Tuesday

Sackvillians won’t have to travel to Moncton to pick up a rapid testing kit starting this week.

A Horizon Health Network van will be handing out rapid test kits in the parking lot of the Tantramar Memorial Civic Centre this Tuesday starting at 10am and continuing to 2:30 p.m., or until supply runs out. The Horizon van will visit to distribute tests once a week. More details in our web story here.

Pop-up vaccination clinic Wednesday

This week, Vitalité Health Network is operating a vaccination clinic in Sackville. On Wednesday, Oct. 27, a pop-up clinic will open from 9am to 5pm at the Sackville Visitor Information Centre. The clinic will offer pre-booked and drop-in appointments for both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. More information on Horizon and Vitalité clinics at gnb.ca.

The Corner Drug Store also continues to offer appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations and annual flu shots. We spoke with Charles Beaver on Friday about first doses, booster shots, and when we might expect a kids vaccine. You can check out the web story here.

Council budget Q&A tonight

Sackville town council meets tonight to take a thorough look at the proposed budget for 2022.

Town staff released a proposed budget last week, calling for a flat tax rate which will translate into a 6% increase in revenue for the town. Increased spending is proposed to cover cost increases in areas such as policing, insurance, and labour contracts. A number of new initiatives are also planned, such as a youth sports subsidy, an active transportation plan, and increased asphalt patching.

At the 7 p.m. meeting, treasurer Michael Beal will answer questions about the budget from councillors, and council will hear a presentation from the Mayor’s Roundtable on Climate Change discussing the proposed capital budget.

To attend in person, contact town clerk Donna Beal. The meeting will also be live streamed with links on the town website.

Mount A student takes home Music NB Award

Incoming CHMA host and Mt A student Heidi-Lyn O’Connor took home a Music New Brunswick award this year. O’Connor’s business, East Track Mind, won Champion of the Year in the annual music awards.

East Track Mind creates playlists of East Coast music for play in local shops and businesses. O’Connor is also a photographer and the East Track Mind website features loads of images of east coast artists. You can check out the playlists and the photos at easttrackmind.com

Potential public exposure in Aulac Saturday

New Brunswick public health has listed a potential public exposure at the Aulac Big Stop for a one hour period on Saturday, October 23, from 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. Other potential public exposure sites are listed daily on gnb.ca, including dozens in the Moncton area. Public health advises that if you have been vaccinated and visited a potential public exposure site, you simply need to monitor for symptoms. If you are not vaccinated, public health recommends booking a test online or via 811.