Published Apr 08, 2025 • Last updated 4 hours ago • 3 minute readIn 2019, the RCMP Pipes and Drums were well represented in the Apple Blossom Festival Grand Street Parade. Last year, the festival board of directors postponed the 88th annual festival due to COVID-19. It still isn’t known if a traditional festival will be held in 2021. FILE PHOTO Photo by File Photo /File PhotoA variety of topics were discussed at the March 31 Kentville town council meeting.Here’s a look at some of them.Paving not connected to annual festivalThe timing of paving work beginning in Kentville around the same time as a possible festival is strictly a coincidence.Mayor Andrew Zebian said there’s a misconception paving is tied to the Apple Blossom Festival. The parade draws thousands of people to the town at the beginning of the tourist season.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle content“The (pavement) plants don’t open until May and Apple Blossom is in May,” he said during the March 31 council meeting.This year’s festival is May 28 to June 2.Zebian said he knows the roads are in rough shape.“We have made many attempts to cold patch them, I have seen the crew out there doing it, but they get washed away and washed out very easily,” he said. “We’re trying our best and that will be a priority of council in this upcoming budget.” A Kings Transit budget crosses the Cornwallis River in Kentville. Photo by FILE PHOTOKings Transit costs increasingKentville taxpayers will be paying more for transit this year and that doesn’t sit well with one councillor.Kentville approved Kings Transit Authority’s 2025-26 operating budget on March 31. The other municipal partners will also vote on it.Kentville’s share of the $3.39-million budget is $392,569 – 13.5 per cent more than 2024-25.The authority is also forecasting a deficit for 2024-25 with the town’s share expected to be about $40,000.“I really struggle with this budget,” Coun. Cate Savage said, noting transit costs continue to eat up more and more town funds. “It’s infuriating.”Article contentInterim chief administrative officer Kevin Matheson said the big driver of the deficit was running a fleet of old buses with maintenance being $207,000 over budget. Fares were also $34,000 less than projected.The County of Kings is the largest partner with its share of the 2025-26 budget being $1.18 million. Kentville and New Minas worked together to create a dog park. It is located behind Miners Landing. Photo by Jason Malloy /Annapolis Valley RegisterKentville reviewing dog park concernsKentville councillors have asked staff to look at the site of the dog park.Coun. Cate Savage said she heard from a number of residents of Miners Landing who weren’t happy with the location of the park during the election campaign in the fall. There are more than 500 residents living in the 210 units at the four-building development on the east end of town.Some residents wrote the town earlier this year and proposed moving the park, located along the Harvest Moon Trail that runs behind Miners Landing, to another site next. They suggested a property next to the skate park, which the town doesn’t own.Interim chief administrative officer Kevin Matheson said the park was a shared project with the Village of New Minas.Article content“It would be a very substantial cost to remove that fencing,” he said.Staff will report back to council in April.Kentville not going to study solar gardenKentville councillors have turned down a proposal to study the feasibility of creating a community solar garden for a second time.The study would have cost $6,000.Councillors voted against the proposal in February and it was brought back to council March 31 by Coun. Cate Savage. Council voted 4-3 against it.Kerri Goode, a member of the town’s environment and energy task team, said in a March 26 letter to the town a community solar garden would generate revenue for the town while lowing residents’ utility bills.Mayor Andrew Zebian said he wasn’t against the study or the project but worried what the cost to implement a solar garden would be given the large projects the town is facing.“It’s about choices,” he said. “Sometimes you have to make tough choices and you have to cut back.”Article content
Speed Read: Kentville’s Apple Blossom paving a ‘misconception’
