Kentville's Devil's Half Acre June 16th 2018

 

 

 

 

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Apple Blossom Festival 2023

 

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A stunning announcement from ABF,,

 

 

* Troubling news in 2023 *

 

There's been an absolutely heartbreaking new development. Apparently in a new younger generation there are those who harbor resentment towards our nations history, for English colonialism, and even for the monarchy ? Other minority groups have voiced animosity and discontent over the diversity and inclusion issue ? And it seems that the current ABF Board of Directors has listened to the concerns and complaints of these small minority groups and have apparently ignored and excluding the overwhelming majority of Valley residents ? And it appears that this Board has chosen to resolve this discontent by moving to implement and to use the final solution ? And so. therefore after 87 successful years in a row, the extremely popular family oriented multi village Apple Blossom Princess competition and Queen Annapolisa Pageant along with the prestigious Royal Coronation ceremonies held in Wolfville have all been terminated forever by this current board of Directors ?

 

 

Will a drag Queen replace an apple blossom Queen in Kentville ? www.nsbuzz.ca/life/kentville-all-ages-drag-show-draws-pro...

 

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-----------------------It's The End of an Era-----------------------------

 

 

Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival 2023 - ABF Board of Directors has announced drastic new changes in format and even deeper cut-backs to the People's Festival ? Concerns about ceremony, symbolism and British colonialism, and concerns over the inclusion and diversity issue, must have compelled current ABF Directors to update the historic Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess pageant and bring it up to a new standard that they view as being more relevant to current times ? And so it seems the Directors had held a very private 'think' tank last Winter and without caring, considering or consulting any of the heavily involved participating Valley community entrants they must have decided that rather than trouble themselves any further with these complaints that why not just take the easy way out and simply get rid of the event ? And so it appears they had made a decision last Winter and have chosen to use the extreme and last resort action of using the 'final and fatal solution' to end the historic 87 year old Pageant and competition forever ? And so, one of the longest lasting, most popular ever, most well known, most identifiable, most highly anticipated, most participated by all, Valley proud, all inclusive family events that has always benefited all age groups and all Valley residents, has suddenly been terminated forever ?

And so, an unconditional act of finality will end the long running reign of her royal Heiness Queen Annapolisa and the 7 to 10 Apple Blossom Princess contestants plus child attendants representing 7 to 10 different Valley communities, as well as their beautifully hand crafted award winning Princess floats that highlight Grand Street Parade, and it also means the end of the ultra glamorous Queen and Ladies-in-waiting Crowning ceremonies held annually at Acadia University in Wolfville ? This decision will also put an end to all popular Princess Tea events held throughout the area, and it will also end Royal Party visitations to local Schools, hospitals, and old folks homes that are so welcomed and appreciated by Students Seniors and shut ins ? It also signals the end of traditional Royal Party appearances at the Kentville Children's Parade, at the Memorial Park Friday night concert and fireworks, along with Royal attendances at many other events held annually throughout the Valley and Province ?

Current ABF Officials led by President Logan Morse along with Kentville town rep Lindsey Young seem to have taken concerns of the LGBTQ+ community and others into account and not only interrupted the Pageant when postponing it in 2022, but have now terminated the event entirely explaining that a critical decision was made to improve, include, modernize and evolve the long running beauty and leadership pageant ? This termination ends the almost 90 years that the Pageant has existed and the loss will not only leave a huge gaping hole in the Apple Blossom Festival itself but will also adversely affect many of the nearby participating Valley communities that always submit contestants ? By ending the historic Pageant and taking away the better half and main feature of the Festival the question arises of what they plan to do with all the savings incurred from such a massive cut in content ? And what about all of the local towns and villages that play such a major role in both the Queen and Princess competition and in the Grand street parade ? What are they suppose to do ? And what about our Valley youth and every little girls dream to one day be an Apple Blossom Princess - what plans are there for an equal or better replacement for them ?

You have to wonder how the current Directors at ABF could ever believe that Valley residents are stupid enough to think that by the cancelling and taking away of their most cherished and long running all inclusive live local event, that they have in some perverted way moved the Valley forward, improved or modernized anything ? It seems far more likely that they have just taken the Valley backwards and robbed the people of a beloved community production that has always been enormously successful each and every year for almost 90 consecutive uninterrupted years ?

And you have to wonder why current stewards in charge of ABF and responsible for the presentation of this popular annual event thats been going on forever can't just do the job they're paid to do and do what their predecessors have always done so well every year for the past 87 years often in far more trying circumstances and in far less prosperous times than now ? that is,, up until this group of quitters came along ? " Whatever happened to the # 1 rule in business that says if you can't do your job because of inexperience, immaturity, inability, incompetency, bias, or just plain stupidity, then,,,, You're all FIRED ! (and a Class action recovery suit filed by the patrons may be forthcoming ! ) "

 

 

Logan Morse and a revolutionary 2023 ABF Board of Directors have moved to terminate the 88 year old Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess Pageant? www.pressreader.com/canada/annapolis-valley-register/2023...

 

The Peoples Pageant has been Cancelled ! Directors say bold action was needed to improve, evolve and modernize the historic pageant ? www.saltwire.com/atlantic-

 

Exploiting a Queen in a photo op at the official opening of the 2023 Apple Bossom Festival ? Politicians pretend that there's still a Pageant knowing full well that Queen Annapolisa will not be a part of this years Festival ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/53755100811/in/album-7...

 

Disregard for safety shown in the 2023 Kentville Grand Street Parade ? Numerous Senior citizens seem precariously perched on a large unstable moving platform ?

www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/53900780519/in/album-7...

 

Nov 16 2023 - Apple Blossom Princesses call for a return of Queen Annapolisa,

www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/communities/former-apple...

 

 

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Is Kentville facing an Identity Crisis ?

 

Can an identity crisis be looming in the town of Kentville ? A proud and neighborly salt of the earth working class small community with easy going friendly citizens and a rich railroading, agriculture and farming background is losing many longtime identifiable local trademarks, themes, and traditions as they gradually and systemically disappear while elected officials seem to stand still and watch ? Having always been identified as the main Provincial railroading center ever since the old Dominion Rail days dating back to 1869, the town has since lost all passenger and freight train rail service in and out including a modern passenger Dayliner service that used to travel back and forth to Halifax every day ? And after the railway had been shut down it seemed they couldn't close and clear out the brand new station, dig up tracks and demolish the old roundhouse fast enough ? And so now, in what may be seen as an act of cruel mockery, the only railroading that is left in Kentville from the past glory days and from what was once the most important railroad hub west of Halifax, is a weather beaten picture of a train painted on the side of one of the downtown Kentville buildings ? Unfortunately the loss of this vital transportation link wasn't to be the last and the town was even further isolated from the outside world when for no apparent rational or reasonable reason, the aviation community at Waterville municipal Airport CCW3 were told to get out when they had no place else to go ? And so an extremely popular Canadian sky diving academy and internationally known long time pilot training and licensing facility along with numerous privately owned aircraft and many more aviation businesses were lost to the Community and were themselves homeless ? The uncaring eviction imposed on this major local Airport enterprise had also left our young Air Cadets at Camp Aldershot base less, and showed an uncaring disregard for the future of our next generation of youngsters who will now have to grow up without this invaluable training and education facility ? This cold and calculated Council order has now further isolated the area leaving it without either air transport or railway transport to the outside world ? And now all that can be seen at the old site where a once active, thriving and fully established busy Aviation complex once operated, is a barren piece of unmaintained raw land grown over by weeds and where unsupervised children play and ride bikes up and down deteriorating and disintegrating asphalt that was once a runway that was used to land commercial aircraft ? To add even further pain, The forced closure of Waterville Airport was being described by Council, ( and the prestigious Ivany Report Committee ) as being a bold and brilliant business move that will greatly benefit the area ? After months of homelessness and terrible uncertainty about the future, a few evicted tenants were finally redirected to a different location that just happened by chance to be in the Warden's home riding of Greenwood ? And so in the end, Kentville's loss was the gain of many others and the Town must now carry on without these crucial businesses and services ?

After the original KCA town School closed down, high school students were separated from their identifiable home school and were now to be bused to the different town of the nearby village of Canning to attend High School there ? The segregating of this part if the student population left only Grades 1 to 8 age groups to identify with Kentville as their home school, a situation that remains today ? The Kentville movie theater has been closed forever, and the popular Edge sports bar, cafe and pool hall closed down and never was replaced ? Harvey's hamburgers closed down and was never replaced ? The longtime nearby bowling alley in New Minas was bought out by developers and replaced with a business office complex ? We lost the local salvage, reclamation and disposal site in South Alton when it was ordered shut down by Provincial Government, but these same people never offered to replace it with anything else, and so they have left the community without any such vital facility ? One day a portion of roof blew off a long time town funeral home and it never re-opened leaving only one such establishment in town ? And just this year, as citizens were told that both the Apple Blossom Princess and Queen Annapolisa pageants were to be cancelled after 87 years, while at the same time there was an all age Drag Queen show getting ready to play at the Kings Arms Pub in a total flip flop from Kentville's traditional and more identifiable entertainment selections like Irish Rovers or Scottish pipers ? Numerous identifiable local restaurants and small businesses have come and gone - mostly gone - and the main town supermarket Jasons IGA had a fire and forced to close down for over a year so was unable to serve citizens ? The popular multi venue Wandlyn Inn with its hotel rooms, indoor swimming pool whirlpool and sauna area, a large nightclub, dual convention centers and dual restaurants had burned down and subsequently all access to any of these venues was lost forever ? As the old site was never replaced once lost, the local area has been left with only one lone MacDonald's now taking the place of all of these amenities that were previously available in the past ?

The highly anticipated day of fun, food, speeches, and entertainment held yearly on July 1st Canada Day at the Kentville wading Pool was curtailed by the Town due to budget considerations ? And so if you want to enjoy July 1st entertainment or fireworks you have to go to New Minas, Hantsport or Berwick ? Access to drinking water is one of the most entitled and identifiable of all essential town services yet Kentville water commission charges potential customers 10,000 dollars just to turn the water on at the road and then the customer still must handle yard and household work expense on his own ? In return for the imposition of such a large financial burden to be placed on the client, the newly acquired valued customer gets to receive a bill in the mail each month from the Kentville water commission ?

They've even managed to take away Kentville's most famous and most identifiable of all landmarks in the iconic hotel name of Cornwallis Inn ? This is a well known trademark hotel name that is synonymous with the name of Kentville, and represents so many fond memories for so many local area residents and for people living all over the World ? They even changed the identifying name of the historic town bridge traversing the Cornwallis River ?

Back in the year 2017 ABF Management had even tried to take away Kentville's identifiable community Parade, and the town was forced to claw and battle its way back just to get its own main yearly event returned back to it after hosting it for the last 80 + years ? And in yet another huge step backwards during that same year ABF and the Town decided to cancel and remove all ABF Wednesday, Thursday and weekends of fun, food, music, displays, amusements, local student performances, etc. that had always been held at Memorial Park ? This drastic cut in public outdoor entertainment abruptly ended a long running tradition that provided local citizens with many enjoyable evenings of entertainment during the week of Apple Blossom Festival ? No explanation was ever given and no replacement was ever offered by the Town for such a major loss to the community ? And now, in yet another step backwards, Kentville has lost maybe its most identifiable of all public events, that being the famous Apple Blossom Princess Kentville competition, when the current ABF Management showing extreme insensitivity, disregard and disrespect for a peoples history, have suddenly and selfishly presumed to take it upon themselves to suddenly end the historic Queen Annapolisa competition forever after 88 years ? This monumental loss to Kentville means that all public appearances including Princess Teas, the Children's Parade, social Royal visitations to schools shut-ins and hospitals normally made by the Queen and Princesses will no longer take place ?

In 2022 the Grand Street Parade had quite understandably been a short version of the normal parade following the 2 previous cancellations made due to Covi, but this years 2023 weak effort didn't seem to be much better ? The unique diversity that is always shown by our nearby Valley communities from Windsor to Digby was unfortunately not to be any longer included ? And many long time parade patrons expressed disappointment when their Apple Blossom Princess Kentville and her child attendant were not to be seen nor included in Grand Street Parade as it traveled down main street Kentville on Apple Blossom Saturday ? And so sadly, it seems that the town had lost even another highly identifiable and wonderful Ambassador who has always performed so well in the job of advertising, identifying, and promoting the town of Kentville whenever and wherever she went ?

After the long running timeline of 3 consecutive weekdays of afternoon and evening outdoor entertainment down at Memorial Park were all eliminated and Apple Blossom Week entertainment had been downsized to a lone one night Friday night event, ( which btw will no longer include the highlight of the evening Royal Party visitation and performances by Eddy's Basement ), it seemed that Officials were still dissatisfied with cutbacks and eliminations and had found yet another way to take away even more ? And it seems that this year they will charge inflation stressed local patrons to see entertainers like Matt Minglewood and Kevin Davison when in the past these entertainers appeared publicly free of charge ? Cut backs were also apparent in the always amazing Fireworks, (which btw are no longer officially started by Queen Annapolisa at the official Royal visitation to the Park following their Coronation ceremonies in Wolfville), when this years 2023 presentation seemed not up to par and some spectators were saying they looked like something that was purchased at Giant Tiger in New Minas ?

And so, to sum up, the citizens of Kentville have become disappointed and frustrated with the many losses, steps backwards, and major town cutbacks that never seem to be replaced by the town once gone even though town budgets have been spared in many recent years by enormous savings made due to mild winters ? There was the closures of both the Railway and the Airport resulting in a loss of all major freight and human transportation routes to the outside world, and loss of the regular stop-over for Acadia Van lines, and there was also the destruction of the Wandlyn Inn complex and all of its services with no replacements for any of these services ever returning, and there was also the extreme cut backs made to the historic Apple Blossom Festival that saw a fun filled period of public entertainment that was a week long cut down to a minimal Friday night affair with fireworks followed the next day by a shortened parade ? There was also the budget saving cancellations that saw community celebrations of statutory holidays being halted by the Town ? Concerns also remain about the lack of an in-Town High School, the loss of a key funeral home, the loss of key businesses like the movie theater, Leons, Harveys burgers, one of the 2 Tim Hortons, the pizza parlor, the Chinese food take out and restaurant, the fruit and vegetable market, the town bakery, and also the loss of the important local disposal site ordered shut down by the Province but no replacement ever offered by those who ordered it shut down leaving the area without one ? And then there was the complete and total cancellations of entertainment events held on Apple Blossom week days at Memorial Park ? There was also the loss of the unique diversity of many local neighboring villages when they were excluded from this year's Grand Street Parade, as well as the sad ending of our long running Apple Blossom Princess when she was terminated in 2023 ending her participation in the now cancelled Acadia U Coronation ceremonies, and forever silencing Kentville's main ambassador ? There was also the erasing and the changing of the name of Kentville's biggest and most identifiable attraction the internationally known Cornwallis Inn name logo that is instantly recognizable world wide as associated and synonymous with Kentville ? There's also the serious problem of the shortage of rooms and dining spots created in the local hospitality and tourism industries after the multi business Wandlyn hotel complex burned down and not one of its many popular functions was ever replaced ? And more recently, we are seeing more and more of our very identifiable small businesses from all over the Valley that not only hire from the local community and provide employment but also serve as popular meet and greet gathering spots for friends and neighbors, that are now changing hands completely after being turned over to total strangers that are not from Halifax or from N.S. nor even this Country but have come from another Continent ? This highly unusual phenomenon of foreign take overs of management, control and even the current labor force of many long time Valley fast food and coffee businesses has become a major concern and so far includes : Petrocan New Minas, some of the Tim Hortons, Subway, KFC, DQ, Burger King N.M., and Mary Brown's to name a few ? And there are indications of nepotism shown in the re-hiring of workers at these workplaces after being taken over by the new foreign management ? Another Major local employer Eassons Trucking also seems to have been affected by the influx of foreign workers with reports of untrained unlicensed unqualified, (and Government subsidized) drivers behind the wheel, and some rumors of units with multiple drivers on board and a hole being drilled in the floor of the sleeper cabin to accommodate a long piece of ABS plumbing pipe that serves to allow sewage to be exhausted directly from the interior of the truck onto the highway below ?

And,, regarding the Mayoralty election Kentville 2024, it looks like, unfortunately, all candidates running are relatively new to the area after having moved here from elsewhere and appear unawares of both the past history of Kentville and the many major problems facing it today with some candidates naively describing the town as a blissful, Hallmark, Who-ville movie set type village packed with quaint shops and restaurants, to clearly show that they have no idea of the current outstanding issues that need to be addressed in the town they want to lead ?

 

 

March 10th 2014 - A Date That Will Live on in Infamy - the cruel calculated forced eviction of Waterville Airport CCW3.

www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/28588465413/in/album-7...

 

 

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On the recent 2023 edition of the Grand Street Parade,,

 

 

"it looked like some of the spectators along the way had just joined in and began walking along to become part of the parade ? "

 

 

May 27th, 2023 - Dismay, disillusion and extreme disappointment prevail in Kentville over the shocking changes and many missing regular entrees absent from this years 2023 Grand Street Parade ? Where is our famous Queen Annapolisa and where are the many Apple Blossom Princesses and child attendants all proudly riding in their beautiful hand crafted decorated floats ? Where's the town criers ? And what about the dazzling majorette groups, the Scottish pipers, and the large multi instrumental marching bands that always come up from Halifax ? And where are the Hantsport and Windsor floats and their large delegations ? And where are Aylesford, Digby, Annapolis Royal, Lawrencetown, Middleton, Wolfville, Canning, Greenwood and more ? Why aren't these diverse towns and villages that always normally participate not included in this years Parade ? Why the sudden non participation by so many veterans of tje past parades ? And it was also very strange and disappointing not to see Kentville's traditional Apple Blossom Princess (aka Miss Kentville) included in this years parade ? Many Kentville citizens both young and old identify with their Apple Blossom Princess at this time of year and her royal absence was certainly missed ? However the longtime town Princess float was still able to join the parade but this time the royal float excluded Apple Blossom Princess Kentville who was no longer present nut replaced by a group of town residents who were gathered together in a social scene meant to emphasize Kentville's open, diverse and inclusive identity ? The official New Minas Apple Blossom Princess float also did not include their Apple Blossom Princess this year, however her float was transformed into an advertisement for the famous New Minas UFO incident which is identifiable to all village of New Minas residents. Unfortunately, the Berwick float didn't include their normal Princess Berwick this year either but the float was transformed to proudly identify with the towns upcoming Centennial celebrations. And the Kingston float also did not include their Apple Blossom Princess Kingston this year but did promote and advertise the very identifiable Kingston Steer Barbecue. The RCMP contingent was very good but noticed there was only 1 other large marching band in the parade when usually at least 4 or more come up from places like Cape Breton, Bridgewater, Dartmouth etc ? And where have all the pets and animals gone - there were no horse teams, wooden wagons, riders or livestock on display this year ? And the usual greyhounds weren't there this year ? Noticed that some spectators must have joined in with the parade and began walking along with it, and others must have come over from the Children's parade with their strollers and also joined in ? There were the usual variety of advertisers, many from out of town and some local ? There were various Political parties represented with the biggest delegation coming from Liberals who were vigorously shaking hands and waving their flags that didn't seem to include the official Canadian red maple leaf flag that most Parade spectators can identify with ? All in all, this Year's parade seemed poorly managed, and a bare minimum weak austere effort that did not include any notable celebrity, nor any royal pageantry, nor the normal highlight of the parade that being the 7 to 10 spectacular Princess floats, nor were there any of the usual big marching bands and majorette groups that come in from from out of town, nor many of our local agriculture, historical and livestock entrees, nor the many popular Scottish piper marching bands that usually attend, nor the multi diversity that had always been provided by the many now missing nearby out of town contingents who normally travel to Kentville to participate ? This amateur hour version of Kentville's famous grand street parade did not come close to the high standards and professionalism set by all previous Grand Street Parades held prior to Covi ? And it was clear that what was being hailed by some as a newer, bolder, more inclusive, and a more up to date with the times version of the famous Parade, was now lacking in much of the diversity and tradition that had always been contributed in the Parade by so many (now absent) large delegations that normally come in from other nearby Valley communities accompanied by a Princess and Child attendant who would participate in all of the many traditional events that go along with the world famous Queen Annapolisa competition including the prestigious Pageant Coronation ceremony held and broadcast from Acadia University in Wolfville, and the Royal party attendance at the local Saturday morning Children's Parade followed that afternoon with a Royal ride in the Apple Blossom Princess float down Main street in the famous Grand Street parade ?

And so, to quickly sum up, can this embarrassing, hastily thrown together, scattered, confusing, strange and unfamiliar weak-looking effort of a Parade that is now missing Queen Annapolisa and her Apple Blossom Princesses, as well as their 7 to 10 handcrafted Princess Town floats, and also missing all of the unique diversity usually contributed from so many of our nearby Valley community entrants that were excluded from the Parade this year, now signal the ending of the once glorious Grand Street Parade era ?

 

 

2011 Grand Street Parade Kentville 79th ABF

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVgh3Dh2xn8&t=208s

 

 

2012 Grand Street Parade Kentville www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB1VBx50b18

 

 

2014 Kentville Grand Street Parade www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEo14IZKxp8&t=11s

 

 

2015 Kentville Grand Street Parade

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBifeG2SdPY&t=47s

 

2016 Kentville Grand Street Parade www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2wedvN5_Iw&t=8s

 

2017 Kentville Grand Street Parade www.youtube.com/watch?v=JozwyGpvfSY&t=1978s

 

 

2018 Kentville Grand Street Parade www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOK1GmiLmNk&t=986s

 

2019 Kentville Grand Street Parade www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMdEx8Zf-q0&t=1492s

 

Kentville Grand Street Parade May 27th 2023 - Unfortunately many of our uniquely diverse local communities were not included in this year's Parade ? Where's Canning, Digby, Annapolis Roysl, Hantsport or Windsor ? Where's Queen Annapolisa ? Where's all the Apple Blossom Princesses and their floats,, including Kentville ? Complete lackluster 2023 Kentville Grand Street Parade shown here ? www.dailymotion.com/video/x8lchie

 

 

A Concerned Kentvillian has got to speak out !

www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/44424045874

 

 

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Kentville is an incorporated town in Nova Scotia. It is the most populous town in the Annapolis Valley. As of 2021, the town's population was 6,630.

 

 

 

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