In its final public act for 2009, the Carbonear Town Council passed a controversial motion last week, which will effectively see residents of Bunker Hill lose a service they have enjoyed for years - snow clearing of a service road which gives them access to the steep and narrow hill from the top rather than the bottom.

The motion passed by a slim 4-3 majority, but not before considerable and sometimes heated debate at a raucous Dec. 21 public council meeting during which a citizen referred to Councillor Gladys Mercer as "a witch" before storming out of the council chambers.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Table Tennis Association is holding its Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador Open at Carbonear Collegiate Saturday Jan. 16.

Association spokesman Barry Hicks says, "this is the first time the tournament has been held in the area and it is an excellent opportunity for local players of all ages and skill levels to compete against other like players.

Dear Edtior,

I have read a lot of Westcott's columns and find this one (Columnist worships water Williams walks on) much the same as the others - out of touch with the reality of Newfoundland and Labrador politics.

When I take the time to read his articles I sense not the little corner boy from down around the bay but a wanderer around the shopping malls of Florida. He must have many friends who have been fed with the Conservative spoon over the years and have since moved south.

Dear Edtior,

In his 'opinion' column of Dec. 15, Bill Westcott makes a scathing attack on his fellow columnist Peter Pickersgill (Pic).

He states: "We must remember Pic. is not even an island born Newfoundlander." Not island born! What a slimy statement that is!