The Our Town - Clarenville Blog by Paul Tilley

On Thursday, Feb 25, the Clarenville Chamber of Commerce celebrated the achievement of small businesses in our region, and recognized the contributions of key community builders with its 9th annual Business Excellence Awards. See full coverage in THE PACKET Here are video segments of this year's recipients: VIDEO SEGMENT 1: Small Business: Community Vet Hospital  VIDEO SEGMENT 2:   Medium Business: Eastlink VIDEO SEGMENT 3:  The Corwin Mills QC Community Cares: Clarenville Habitat for Humanity   VIDEO SEGMENT 4:  The 2015 Inductee to the Business Hall of Fame: Mr. Owen Blundon OWEN BLUNDON Bio Owen is the oldest son of Chesley & Effie Blundon from Shoal Hr. At a young age he showed signs of wanting to own his own business selling animal feed while still in school. He went to Horwood High in Clarenville where he met his wife Marlene Lethbridge. After high school Owen went on to Trade School to take a Carpentry course. O...

R alph Lethbridge is not your typical 71 year old  Entrepreneur, Husband, Dad and Grandfather.   He's what we call in Newfoundland & Labrador - a "Character".   He is Boonie. Boonie Lethbridge is one of those characters that you will find throughout small town Canada.   Boonie (as he is affectionately known) has been the go-to person to buy real, local Christmas trees in the Clarenville area since 1984.   EVERYONE knows him and kids in particular love him because he bears a striking resemblance to Santa!! That's not the only resemblance - his heart is as big as Santa's too!   His trade-mark white beard is the reason, and very few people remember seeing him without it.  Over the past few years several prominent citizens of Clarenville have died from ALS, including Corwin Mills,  Dolores Balsom &  Pat Cole . T his fall after the death of Mr. Mill's,  Dolores' husband Alex and Boonie were chatting.  Boonie suggeste...

Clarenville's Budget 2016 In her first budget as Chair of Finance, Deputy Mayor Ashling Avery presented Council’s 2016 planned revenues and planned spending for the Town of Clarenville for the 2016 year ahead.  The preparation of the 2016 budget was challenging.   Council has committed to significant renewal – new skilled staff as many long-time town employees retire, upgraded infrastructure to meet the needs of a modern growing town, and stronger commitment to community development to foster livability, growth and sustainability. At the same time, these commitments are met with significant challenges. The 2016 budget is a well-considered balance between the Town’s needs and the ability of taxpayers to pay.  THE BUDGET The budget was presented in light of the fact that growth has slowed and natural revenue growth has not been able to keep up with the demands of operating the town.  The balanced budget laid out plans for the projected collectio...