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Community Chronicles
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Just Getting Started
by Angela Sanford We are fortunate to live in an area rich in musical talent, where local musicians are often the heart and soul of community events, providing the entertainment that brings people together. East Hants has produced its share of musical talent. Artists such as Classified and Buch 65 hail from the area, and not too long ago, a younger JD Clarke roamed the halls of Hants North Rural High before pursuing a career in the music industry. The talented musician,
Angela Sanford
6 days ago4 min read
It's All in the Numbers
by Angela Sanford One night, late June, of exploring the cost of a trip to Nashville and the price tag was “too good to be true”, but it was indeed true and well worth the numbers that followed. 2 family members, Mother and Daughter, packing and planning for a destination adventure. 3 am start, to drive to Truro to catch a bus, only to make 4 more stops in New Brunswick to the remaining passengers. 55 people, mostly strangers, who all made the same decision for destination ad
Angela Sanford
Oct 92 min read
To be a Student and to Have a Life
by Raegan Densmore Photo Reference: https://i.pinimg.com/736x/29/62/50/296250b3f1d82c588058c2ca151db1e1.jpg October; the time of orange, cinnamon, and spooky movies. For me, however, it is also the time of midterms and mid-semester assignments. It’s quite unfortunate that when the holiday seasons roll around, that's when all of the assignments are due. It makes me feel like I am missing out. Last year, I hardly ever thought about it being the holiday season. I would not
Angela Sanford
Oct 73 min read
One Person. Many Roles. One Community.
by Angela Sanford Running a small business in rural Nova Scotia is both energizing and challenging. There is a certain freedom that comes with running a local publication, but there is also a tremendous amount of responsibility. I am an overachiever by nature, and I set high standards for my own work. I want the High Tides Bulletin to be something our community can count on. What people see as a weekly publication, however, is the result of one person wearing a lot of
Angela Sanford
Oct 24 min read
From Noel Shore to the Newsroom
by Angela Sanford Submitted Photo Having taught thousands of students over more than 30 years, each one becoming, in some small way, “my kid,” my family has grown quite large—and sometimes challenging to keep up with. That, however, has never diminished my interest in where they go, what they do, and the stories that unfold along the way. Whenever I have the opportunity to reconnect with one of my former students, I’m happy to hear about their families, career path
Angela Sanford
Sep 254 min read
Gone, But Not Forgotten
by Angela Sanford Like everything else, as the years pass , so do the seasons—and the local geography. Our shoreline changes along the Bay through erosion. Community members move in and out. Each generation experiences its community from its own perspective. But does the community really change? Or does history simply repeat itself? Like seasons on a farm, things have a way of coming back around. At the corner of Routes 236 and 354, in the heart of Kennetcook, sit
Angela Sanford
Sep 183 min read
When Memories Find a Melody
by Angela Sanford Sometimes we look back on the moments of our lives and wonder why they happened the way they did. How did one ordinary moment become something we would carry with us for decades? And how, without knowing it at the time, did everything come together at just the right moment? For Barb Gould, it began with the loss of her father and the quiet nostalgia that fond memories bring. It was the early 1980s shortly after Barb’s father had passed away and she
Angela Sanford
Sep 83 min read
September: A Season for the Senses
by Angela Sanford September plays a significant role in Canadian culture. From coast to coast, teachers, students and their families begin—or return to—school. For many of us, the school year has always been more instrumental than the actual calendar in organizing our lives, our routines and even our events. August brings a sense of year’s end—a final rush to complete all those summer goals before the new beginning arrives. And despite how quickly August flashes before
Angela Sanford
Sep 43 min read
Back to School Again
by Raegan Densmore It is September already, which seems strange to say. This summer feels like it flew by, but when I think back to the past four months, it seems like it has been a long time. Like May was ages ago. Probably because it was quite a while ago, but time feels both fast and slow. I have been in Toronto for almost a week now, although school does not start until the 8th, I wanted to enjoy the summer in Toronto briefly before going back to school. I am both exci
Angela Sanford
Sep 23 min read
Dolly Parton: The Soundtrack of a Life
by Angela Sanford Dolly Parton: 1946-2026 Source:Dolly-Parton-1.jpg (2880×1478) We've all got a little Dolly Parton in our lives. Even if you aren’t a country music fan, Dolly is an icon. Long ago, she transcended country music, moving effortlessly into film, television, songwriting and so many other corners of our world. But perhaps her greatest gift was giving us songs that became attached to our own lives. Many of us remember our lives
Angela Sanford
Aug 284 min read
Road Construction Season in NS
by Angela Sanford Definitely not getting caught for speeding! A quick trip to Toronto can give you a whole new appreciation for the traffic we experience here in Nova Scotia, especially rural Nova Scotia — and for the roads we sometimes take for granted. Earlier this month, a short detour on Highway 202 was necessary while repairs were being made to a culvert. Through Upper Rawdon, the detour added an extra minute or two to travel time and with the higher volume of comm
Angela Sanford
Aug 213 min read
Live Experience vs Home Comfort
by Angela Sanford My husband, Dan, and I are opposites in many ways, but perhaps nowhere more so than when it comes to watching sports or attending live events. Dan prefers the advantages of watching from home: the ability to watch the replays, being able to pause the moment, the comfort of his own couch and bathroom, and of course, the lower cost. I can agree with him on that last point and on the washrooms (though Roger’s Centre was very clean and never did I have to
Angela Sanford
Aug 144 min read
When Hard Work Meets a Little Mickey Magic
by Angela Sanford Sophie Hamilton - making her dreams come true in Paris 2026. Submitted Photo. While some people might squeeze in a couple of hours of dancing on a Friday or Saturday night, Sophie Hamilton dedicates more than 15 hours each week to something she loves and has been doing so for years. Her dancing shoes carry dreams, goals and countless hours of hard work—and this summer, one of those dreams became a reality, making every step of her routines even more mean
Angela Sanford
Aug 132 min read
Beyond the Postcards
by Angela Sanford As with any trip, it's easy to come home with far too many stories to tell. If I tried to share everything from our recent adventure through southern Europe, this column would quickly become a book. So instead, here are a few moments that will stay with me long after my suitcase is unpacked. La Sagrada Familia One of our first memorable stops was La Sagrada Família in Barcelona. Anyone who knows me knows that whenever I travel, I have two priorities: s
Angela Sanford
Aug 74 min read
Enjoying Summer
by Raegan Densmore Work does not stop once school is over. Two days after I got home from school for the summer, I started a full time summer job. It keeps me busy, I have quite a bit of freedom, and even some independence, but nevertheless, it's a job. It's work that I have to be at for the majority of my summer. When I come home, I am tired and do not want to do anything, on my days off it's the same. I also worry about spending money as well. So I restrain myself from a
Angela Sanford
Aug 53 min read
Savouring the Iberian Coast
by Angela Sanford One of the essential parts of any trip to a new destination, for me, is sampling foods that are authentic to the region. This trip took us to three different countries along the Iberian coast, so I was excited to experience new flavours and traditional dishes. The best part? I could try whatever I wanted without worrying about the digestive consequences. Having to navigate food restrictions because of celiac disease while travelling is no fun, so havin
Angela Sanford
Jul 314 min read
Farmer's Daughter
by Cathy Arscott We have been having a busy summer, so far! My father, Jake and my Mom, Gail, have been running a “market garden” on our farm for the past 50 years. I remember, as a kid, working in the garden, which was acres and acres. We had beef cattle and milking cattle. We made our own butter and there was always an abundance of cream and milk. We had bee hives, so we had fresh honey, honey comb to chew on and my Mom also made candles from the beeswax. We would get up a
Angela Sanford
Jul 292 min read
Opposite Sides of the Atlantic
by Angela Sanford As I write this, I'm on a plane heading back home to Nova Scotia after an unforgettable vacation through Spain, Gibraltar, and Portugal. Although I was thousands of kilometres from home, I was surprised by how often I found reminders of our little province. The first similarity was one I could have done without: internet frustrations. Reliable access to the online tools I use every week to produce High Tides Bulletin wasn't always possible. At first, I
Angela Sanford
Jul 272 min read
Back in the Saddle
by Angela Sanford Long before I had a driver's licence, there were bicycles. They were simply part of childhood—circling the dooryard with family and friends or riding around the occasional campground. By my early teens, they had become my primary mode of transportation, carrying me to friends' houses or to the local store for a pocketful of candy. I remember saving money from babysitting and selling ice cream so I could buy my first speed bike – a 20-speed bicycle.
Angela Sanford
Jul 173 min read
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
by Angela Sanford In order to end on a positive note, let’s start with the ugly — the elephant in the room, so to speak. It’s a topic that, at one point, I actually found somewhat laughable. Frustrating, yes, but still something I could joke about. Unfortunately, it has now moved well beyond the point of being funny. In 2013, I gave up my landline and my television provider and decided to rely solely on my cell phone. Over the years, many of us have made the same transi
Angela Sanford
Jul 103 min read
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