On May 23, 1998 the 2nd Annual Senior's Relay & Expo, hosted by the Cove Guest Home, took place at Center 200. Twenty six teams, almost tripling last year's total, were piped out - Olympic Style - by Courtney MacPherson. They marched from one end of the arena to the other and gathered around the track in anticipation of the opening ceremony.
Emcee, Richard Fogarty introduced Dan Yakimchuck, V.P. of the Cape Breton Council of Senior Citizens & Pensioners, who officially welcomed everyone to the day. Next, Mayor David Muise said a few words of encouragement and Cut the Ribbon to officially open the event.

The first event was the 45's cards tournament, with 40 tables set up for the first round. It was a knock-out system where the winners moved on to the next round. In the end, Ruth Rogers & Dorothy Mancini of the Canada Trust Recycled Teenagers, won the tournament.

The second event was the dart tournament, with 37 dart boards set up for the first round. The same rules applied and the Champs were Viola Axworthy & Marg Tucker of the Royal Bank Pier-ettes.

The final event was the walking relay. One person from each team lined up at the starting line and walked around the track once then passed their baton to their teammate. Their lap was recorded by a volunteer - by putting a penny in a cup to equal a lap walked. This went on for close to an hour and in the end there was a tie at 85 laps between the Retirement Cape Breton Scotchtown Road Runners and the Hicks Financial Solutions Hot Shots.

A huge congratulations to the Burke's Countrywide Furniture Go-Getters for grabbing the Over-all Winners Trophy, collecting 158 points. Job well done!!! They get to show off the trophy all year.

The Canadian Tire Sydney Store Cape Breton Swingers went all out again this year to repeat as pledge collection champs, pulling in $402.50. A notable runner-up was the Burke's Countrywide Furniture Go-Getters collecting $382.50. Good work to all who participated.

The day wouldn't have been such a success without the following:

Tim Horton's for supplying coffee and Timbits for the day. Thanks.
Schwartz & Co. for donating a 25" TV for the Door Prize. Thanks.
All of the businesses that donated toward the Merchandise Bingo. Thanks.
All of the businesses who participated in the Expo. Thanks.
The local entertainers who kept the teams pumped up. Thanks.
Arrow Games for their time and equipment for the Bingo. Thanks.
The Relay Committee and over 50 volunteers. Thank you very much.

The Expo grew by seven more booths this year, to 35 in total. There were a lot of words of encouragement by both spectators and exhibitors themselves. Such as Sandra Small from the Royal Bank, "Congrats on the strong turnout".
And Claudette Taylor form ICONS, "A great day for all! Well organized! Can't wait for next year". Also, Odilia MacDonald from Marco Hearing Health Center, "Congratulations! That was definitely a job well done. It was well organized and executed!"

The awards were handed out at the end of the day in the closing ceremonies. The event this year raised $7,000 toward the Cove's Building Fund. A special Thank you has to go to the Event Sponsors:

• ATV/ASN
• Cape Breton Post
• C.B. Regional Municipality Recreation
• Center 200
• K94/CJCB
• Sheraton Casino Sydney
• Resident Review
• Tim Horton's Donuts
• Transoverland Ltd.
  

I would like to introduce you to another Cove resident, Thelma Tuttle. Thelma was born in Akron, Ohio in 1900. At the age of ten her family moved to Providence, Rhode Island, where she graduated high school and business college. Then, she was hired as a secretary for American Radiator Co.

Thelma worked there for six years before a young Donald Tuttle from Nova Scotia became "smitten" for her and in 1924 they were married. "Donald was in real estate, so we decided to move to Miami, Florida where the business was booming," Thelma explained. A short time later they started a family, a girl Dawn and a boy Donnie.
On a vacation back to Nova Scotia, a friend of Donald's found out that he was interested in starting up a flower shop. He said Donald should open a shop in Sydney, which he did. In 1933 Tuttle's Flower Shop was officially opened on Charlotte Street and is still around to this day. Thelma, a hard working florist and homemaker for most of her life, decided to move into the Cove in 1992. "This is a beautiful place, but some of my fondest memories are of playing cards and scrabble with my good friends at the old Cove, Nelsie Hutchins and Blanche Brown."

Forever pleasant, Thelma is always willing to give a helping hand whenever needed. Through her expertise as a florist, she teaches a flower arranging class to the residents. Also, she is on the Executive of the Resident's Council at the Cove.
Thelma works hard at giving a strong voice for the residents when there are issues that concern them. In fact, she loves getting involved in planning bus tours for the Cove. Thelma is a true asset to our family at the Cove.


Cove Sponsors Team

Saturday, June 20, 1998 all hands were on deck for a whale of a good time, when the Rotary Club of Sydney - Sunrise presented the first annual Stroke for Stroke Whaler Boat Races in support of the Heart & Stroke Foundation. Fifteen teams of 11 members turned out to make a splash at the Royal C.B. Yacht Club, testing their rowing skills, winning prizes, and enjoying local entertainers.

The Cove sponsored a team calling themselves the "Cove Silver Sailors." Our team raised an amazing $800 through pledges from family and friends. It was a fun time for a great cause, and at the end of the day, they had raised more than $10,000.
The Heart & Stroke Foundation is grateful for the wonderful efforts by the organizers and participants. A special thanks to the Rotary club and the Cove Guest Home Team.

Cove Chaplaincy

There is the Fable of the yeast cake and the frog sitting side by side on a park bench. Someone inadvertently spilled water on the yeast cake and it began at once to ferment, with corresponding expansion. The more it expanded, the more it crowded the space available to the frog. At length in desperation, the frog protested "Yeast cake, why don't you stop pushing me, crowding me off the bench?" In dismay, the yeast cake replied, "I'm not pushing you, I'm just growing."

Someone inadvertently has spilled water on me, and like the frog in the Fable, during this first year, "I'm just growing" as the Cove Chaplain. And I'm not referring to the expansion indeed as a result of the endless availability of birthday cake.

The growth is the end result of my orientation to the Cove and the general education that comes from meeting with persons in other Long Term Care Facilities.

During the process of this year, I have been working out the details of job description, policy and procedure manual, goals and objectives, etc.

Next year I shall further define the relationship and role of Chaplaincy Services in the day-to-day function within the Cove among the residents, management team and staff. I shall need to refine the functions and responsibilities, and formalize them into a policy and procedure manual.

The Pastoral concern of the Chaplain extends to the staff as well as to the residents. The Chaplain does not seek to replace a relationship with Community Clergy but the Chaplain is available for Pastoral care and counseling when he is sought out by the staff.
Familiarity and a common work setting often make the Chaplain accessible to staff who have Pastoral needs. I shall have to co-ordinate Pastoral Services to the Cove staff.

Rev. Thomas G. Whent
Chaplain