The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Only in Snow LakeÉ pity! Late last month, Dianna Bartley was driving by the corner of Kerr and Elm Avenue when she says an old Red Rose Tea commercial suddenly came to mind. She noted that she heard what twigged the memory before she saw it. There was David Hart pushing a proper teacart down the street from his home on Parres Avenue to Emma and Steve Denton's home on Kerr Avenue. "It was a bit noisy as it rattled along on the pavement," said Bartley. Sensing first, then seizing the opportunity, Bartley hurried back home and grabbed her camera, poised to capture tea time unfold. There, in the backyard of their home, the Dentons, Hart, and another neighbour were all parked around the teacart, sipping their 4 o'clock tea! The Dentons, originally from Oxfordshire, England, recently moved to Snow Lake and purchased the old McKay home on the corner lot of Kerr Avenue. They are busily trying to get new windows and doors before the cold weather arrives. They will begin on the inside once it is closed in. Knowing the couple were Brits, Hart apparently decided that they needed a tea break from their work. So he very fittingly wheeled his personal teacart, complete with silver tea set, fine china, chairs and even a cake, over to the couple's home. Neighbour Les Teneycke also came over and joined in on the tea party. Bartley said that it sprinkled a bit of rain on them as they had their afternoon tea, but they appeared to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. In municipal news, Bev Atkinson, the town's Community Development Officer (CDO), gave her regular report at the council's September 18 meeting. In it she noted, from a list that she keeps, that there are only 18 vacant houses in the community at this time. This is down substantially from a count given some months ago that listed close to 50. Reporting on cottage subdivision sales and development, Atkinson advised that a number of interior lots in the Taylor Bay Subdivision have recently been sold. She further advised that there are presently 91 people, 50 of whom are from Manitoba, who have indicated interest in the proposed Vikers Bay Cottage Subdivision. Construction of this subdivision is awaiting work that will bring the community's sewage treatment plant up to acceptable standards as well as handle the increased loads. On the topic of attracting a department store to the community, the CDO stated that she has done some research recently on a variety of stores that might prove suitable for Snow Lake. She noted the interest that Co-op had expressed last year; however, at that time they had advised that there would have to be at least 1,000 residents in order for such a venture to approach feasibility. Atkinson explained that with all the exploration and good drilling results in the area, the folks from Co-op are still interested. "Stores are individually owned, and Co-op will provide guidance during set up and later on," said Atkinson in the report. She added that Co-op's stores average 4,000 or more sq. ft. In bringing other possibilities into the discussion, Atkinson said that in smaller locations, V & S and a department store line of Tru-Valu also average about 4,000 sq. ft. "Stores are independent, and V & S provides a line of stock and advice," she said. My Take on Snow Lake runs Fridays.
