DID YOU KNOW?

The Graham Mercer Children's Animal farm closed exactly ten years ago; on October 31st 1990. Don Barter the Chair of the Commission at the time, announced that the farm had become just too expensive to operate in view of the funding cutbacks being experienced. The farm had opened first in 1977 on the former Hanlon property and had moved to newly built quarters (now the Rainbow Riders) further west on Mt. Scio Road in 1983. The farm was extremely popular with children and adults alike. Graham Mercer, Chair of the Commission from 1979-84 had been an especially keen promoter of the farm and used to visit it regularly with his wife even before he became Commission Chairman. There were cattle sheep, goats two Llamas, a donkey, pigs, rabbits and in the Children's Petting Room every kind of small animal you could imagine.

All the local Daycare Centres, the Cubs and Brownies and other youth groups were regular visitors. There were up to 20,000 visits to the farm each year during its heyday. The local media carried pictures of the animals interacting with the children at every opportunity. Even today people still phone to ask about bringing their children or grandchildren to visit the farm!

The 1933 FOREST FIRE. Jack A White recalled in his series of articles on the Streets of St. John's how a great forest fire started on Gillies Road on July 5th. 1933. The fire came over the hill and narrowly missed the O'Brien Farm on Oxen Pond Road then swept along the escarpment towards the Kelly (Shamrock) Farm buildings that are still standing behind the new Janeway Hospital. These were saved only by the Kellys hauling 50 pound blocks of ice from their nearby icehouse and levering them up onto the roof of their barn. They saved the barn and their dwelling but the henhouse and milk house were destroyed. These surviving buildings are once again threatened, this time by perceived redundancy. How can we save them?

Most of the watershed for Rennies River originates in Pippy Park. One of the most encouraging features of the river is that close to 90 % of its watershed is protected by being in the park. The main contributors are Leary's Brook which originates mostly from the Juniper Ponds between Groves Road and Thorburn Road, the Nagles Hill Brook which originates from the Three Pond Barrens and the area between Mt. Scio Road and the Outer Ring Road and the third contributor comes from Clift's Marsh by the Trailer Park and the runoff from the Marine Institute hillside.

The land north of Long Pond on which Mt. Scio House is built was originally granted to John Quirk in 1863 for which he paid the sum of nine pounds fourteen shillings and nine pence. The extent of the land was 4 acres - 2 roods and 24 perches and the survey was certified by John H Warren, Surveyor General on June 26th. 1863 John H. Warren also owned a considerable amount of land in the park. Does anyone remember how large a "rood" or a "perch" is?

CHRISTMAS IN PIPPY PARK

FAIRIES SHEPHERDS AND BABY JESUS
1996

On Sunday December 17th. At 4.00 p.m. the barn at the Rainbow Riders will be alive with all the animals of the Christmas tradition and a few extra woodland creatures. A Salvation Army Band will be there accompanying a choir made from the Junior Forest Wardens and the general public. Carols will be sung and the children of the Rainbow Riders will recreate the manger scene. Joseph will lead a pony with Mary and the baby Jesus to the manger set up inside the barn.

A Christmas Tree will be formally lit and a short Ecumenical Service will take place.

The whole event will last less than an hour but it will be a real treat for any children and parents who would like to come along. Snacks will be available in exchange for a donation to the food bank.

This will be the second year we have held the event inside the Rainbow Riders Barn. The weather had been so cold and unpredictable when we had held it outside on Nagles Place especially for the Rainbow Riders themselves that we all agreed it should take place right where they "live".

Everyone is welcome, but be warned, we may have to limit the number of people so as not to overcrowd the barn. Last year we had a very full house!

The event is sponsored by the Rainbow Riders, the Friends of Pippy Park and the Pippy Park Commission.

COMMISSION CHAIR RETIRES

Dr. Phil Warren Retires Dec. 14th.

After six productive years Dr. Warren will be greatly missed. He has done more than anyone during his time as Chair to make the Commission a more open and responsive authority. He has personally encouraged more input into the policies of the Commission from more people than ever before. He has encouraged a dialogue with the Pippy Park Landowners and Residents Association, worked closely with the Friends of Pippy Park and all of the numerous other groups and individuals who have an interest in the Park. He established advisory committees such as the Heritage Committee which is made up of representatives of a wide variety of interests such as the Folklore Department of MUN, the MUN Botanical Garden, the Dept. of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, Pippy Park Landowners and Residents Assn., the Johnson Family Foundation/Grand Concourse Authority, the Friends of Pippy Park. He has also arranged a number of special meetings of the Commission where organizations or guests have been invited to participate.

He has during his Chairmanship seen many improvements to the Park. Perhaps the most positive one is the major contribution made by the Grand Concourse Authority and the Johnson Family Foundation with the many structures and network of walks within the Park which culminated in the spectacular rebuilding of the Newfoundland Coat of Arms in front of Confederation Building. With Dr. Warren's help the magnificent Golf Courses and Clubhouse at the top of Nagles Hill have now become established features of St. John's and the new developments at the University Campus and Health Sciences Centre have reminded everyone of the original purpose for establishing the Park.

The most significant achievement and the one from which he will, perhaps take most satisfaction is the major review of the Pippy Park Master Plan which is receiving input from so many different stakeholder and citizen groups. This will, we hope, come to a climax in a public meeting on December 5th. when the future direction and shape of the Park will be fully discussed.

Most of all Dr. Warren will be missed for his warm, cheerful and approachable nature. We wish him well in future endeavors and we hope he will continue to maintain his personal interest in the Park.

ANDREA GILLIES MEMORIAL EQUESTRIAN CENTRE DEDICATED
The RAINBOW RIDERS celebrated "ten wonderful years" by dedicating the excellent facility on Mt. Scio Road to the memory of the late Andrea Gillies, the founder and tireless mentor of the Therapeutic Riding Assn./Rainbow Riders. There was a wide variety of invited guests at the emotional ceremony held at the barn on November 24th. Kim Windsor was Master of Ceremonies and Adam Warren wrote and performed a tribute to Andy's memory; Paul Thorne, Ashley Hanlon and parent Annette Furneaux from Rainbow Riders, Dr. Gill Lawrence of the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Assn. Hon. Lloyd Matthews and Dr. Phil Warren all spoke. Tim Horton's, Portugal Cove Rd. and the RR parents provided snacks.

MASTER PLAN UPDATE 2000 RELEASED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
The Grand Concourse Authority hosted an open house at City Hall November 22nd. For the public to view and comment on the major review of the Pippy Park Master Plan they have been working on as consultants to the Commission. The display showed three different ways the park could be guided in the future, one emphasizing the CONSERVATION of the natural environment, one entitled A NATIONAL PARK, emphasizing recreation and symbols of Newfoundland in all their forms and the third emphasizing the importance of FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY for the Commission. It is anticipated that the final plan will be a blending of all three alternatives. There will be a PUBLIC MEETING ON THE MASTER PLAN on DECEMBER 5TH. 7.00-10.30 AT CITY HALL. We Hope this will attract a large attendance of interested people.

"PIPPY PARK PRESENTS"
CALENDER OF EVENTS

MUN BOTANICAL GARDEN, 306 Mt. Scio Road. Phone 737-8590 website: www.mun.ca/botgarden E-mail: garden@mun.ca Office hours Mon-Fri 8.30-4.00

"Friends of Garden" memberships can be purchased now - they include free season passes. How about this for a Christmas Gift?

THE GARDEN IS CLOSED FOR THE WINTER - NOVEMBER 30TH. TO APRIL 15th. (Weather permitting)

ST. JOHN'S PUBLIC LIBRARIES; , Arts & Culture Centre. Phone 737-2133/3950; website: www.publib.nf.ca Open Tuesday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Admission Free

Events: Wed. Dec 6th. 4.00-7.00 Library Open House Join them for Holiday Season Refreshments at the A.C. Hunter Library.

Wed. Jan. 3rd. @7.00pm. Book Club Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom and Rare Birds by Ed Riche, Everyone welcome

Participate in the Fall Ticket Draw to purchase talking books for the visually impaired. Draw Date Dec. 6th.

ART GALLERY OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR, Arts & Culture Centre, phone 737- 8209. Open Tuesday-Sunday 12 noon to 5 p.m. Admission Free. Website; www.mun.ca/agnl E-mail; agnl@mun.ca.

EXHIBITIONS
Permanent Collection:- LIGHT PROOF An exhibition about photography from the AGNL permanent collection. Drawings by Christopher Pratt, photographs by Manfred Buchheit, Marlene Creates, Stephen Livick and Steven Payne.

Oct. 20th. - Jan. 7th. CANADIAN CHILDREN'S BOOK ILLUSTRATION: THE CANSCAIP COLLECTION an exhibition of the work of 50 illustrators sponsored by the national Eastern Horizons Conference.

Nov. 9th. - Feb. 4th. ART IN THE PARK collection of works at Gros Morne National Park - Parks Canada

Nov. 17th. - Jan. 21st. BIG NORTH: THE PAINTINGS OF JOHN HARTMAN (Georgian Bay and Newfoundland)

Jan. 12th.-March 25th. PICTURES AND PATTERNS Victorian Illustrated Book and Bindings from the Peattie Collection

Jan. 26th. - March 25th. PRIVATE EYE: THE ART OF JIM HANSEN

ARTS & CULTURE THEATRE
Nov. 30th. -Dec 1& 2nd. "SCROOGE"
Dec. 4,5,6,7 & 8TH. NLTA CHRISTMAS SUITE
Dec. 7th. Debut Plus Concert - Patricia O'Callaghan
Dec. 9th. FRANK MILLS
Dec. 11th. VOCM Happy Tree
Dec. 13th. HURON CAROL
Dec. 15,16,17th. NUTCRACKER by Kittiwake Dance Theatre
Jan. 11,12,13,14TH. & 18,19,20,21 REVUE 2OOO
JAN 13TH. NSO Music and Spirit
Jan 26.27th. NSO Shout!
Website: www.artsandculturecentre.com

OTHER PARK ACTIVITIES
DEC. 5TH. PIPPY PARK MASTER PLAN PUBLIC MEETING 7.00-10.30 AT CITY HALL

DEC. 17TH.. 4.00 p.m. "CHRISTMAS IN PIPPY PARK" at the RAINBOW RIDERS BARN, Mt. Scio Rd. Carols, Creche, Parade of Holy Family etc.

For more information on the Pippy Park activities check the Arts Depot website; www.artsdepot.net and the new Pippy Park website; www.pippypark.com