I was raised to believe in things that are not of this world. The more ‘mysterious’ the better for me and mine. My mom’s father was a bit of a character. A very religious man, he had quite a few superstitions and beliefs that many would consider different. As a farmer and a businessman, Pop followed a way of doing things that he felt worked, so that was that.

There was a sign from above to plant, and yet another when it was time to harvest. You get the picture. It’s interesting to note this, however; as much of a Bible believer as that man was, he was also out there too.

Crossed-off career

Pop ‘crossed-off,’ as they called it back then, or treated other people’s warts and whatnot using a potato that he later buried. The belief was, as the potato rotted in the ground the wart fell off or the healing happened. Pop used to chant a few things as he did this, and one of his last warnings to the potato patient was this: “Believe this will help, or it won’t.” I swear this on both my youngster’s lives – I saw Pop’s magical potatoes work with my very own eyes more than once.

I also get some unique ways from my Nan on Dad’s side of the family too. That woman could tell ghost stories. I still, to this day, believe each and every one. One ghostly figure passed Nan as a young girl on her way home across an ocean path at night and the cool chill made Nan swoon where she stood. 

Others she knew ‘saw things’ that made either their hair turn instantly white or took their ability to speak from them. That stuff happened, b’ys, cause Nanny didn’t lie. Neither does NASA. 

On June 15, 2022, the official Twitter account for NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover shared the news that a piece of trash had been found on Mars. Space junk or evidence of an alien’s bad habit?  Interesting. So, do aliens really exist? 

One of NASA’s astrobiologists, Lindsay Hays, said that while extraterrestrial life has never been discovered, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. In fact one of NASA’s key goals is the search for life out in the universe. 

Just days ago the NASA James Webb Space Telescope shared stunning new images of Jupiter and a haunting audio clip taken from a black hole. 

So, what does all this mean? Are God, superstitions, magical potatoes, ghosts and ETs from outer space all connected somehow? Who knows, but I do know we all keep looking up with wonder from time to time. Just recently a string of lights over top of St. John’s left more than a few livyers astonished. 

Sheerr to the rescue!

While NTV’s Eddie Sheerr later issued a “do not be alarmed,” message on social media, explaining that the lights were not an alien invasion but “most likely (99 per cent chance) just the SpaceX StarLink satellites,” it still was cool – if just for a little – to think otherwise. 

Bottom line; for anything to really exist, you pretty much have to believe it does – or could – right?

Just like my Pop’s wart healing ways. Would the potato-thing have worked if no one believed it could? No one was willing to take the chance, and who could blame ‘em? I’d rather believe in a rotting potato with magical powers than have a wart. I’d much rather believe that a ghost made Nanny faint than to think she had low blood sugar or (gasp) that she was drunk.

That even aliens forget to pick up their bit of tin of milk trash is more fun to think about than space junk. And who knows? There’s a one per cent chance that Eddie was wrong that night and that those lights above the city were visitors from another planet. Believing  it possible makes life a little more thrilling, and there’s nar thing wrong with that.

Pam Pardy, The Herald’s Managing Editor, can be reached by emailing pghent@nfldherald.com

Sharon Snow finds it incredible when she reflects on her career at NTV. “22 years with Places to Go and 30 with NTV. It’s been quite a ride, and it’s not over yet,” she said with a laugh.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Snow one-on-one, then take our word for it: she’s just as incredible off camera and she is on. More so, if that’s even possible.

When we spoke, Snow was on vacation with family, but she didn’t miss a beat when she answered her phone. 

“That’s okay, my treasure, you called at a perfect time,” she opened. 

Of course, Snow is quite proud of Places to Go, sharing that each segment is like having a friend say, “I’ve been there, I loved it, go check it out!” 

“I was able to go to my hometown, and that was very special. There was so much to see and do in Fogo and so we kind of hit the road on Father’s Day weekend, and Tony (Barrington, camerman extraordinaire) joined me that Monday and we did a whole bunch of shoots which are still airing. We literally shot Places to Go nonstop, and that’s super cool that there’s so many amazing places to go,” she said. 

Tony Barrington has been enjoying going along for the ride, Snow said with a laugh as she reflects on the fun she’s had with her “side-kick.” 

“He loves to hang out with me. I mean, seriously, what’s not to love about going to fabulous places and experiencing amazing things? I keep telling him I got him spoiled rotten.”

22 years of Places to Go

Snow’s Places to Go is very popular with NTV fans. What is it that fans love so much, we ask. 

“We’re highlighting places within the province and it’s been going for 22 years so it’s kind of like a friend telling you, ‘Hey, you know, I was at this place, you should go. It’s super cool. I know you’re going to love it.’ So I think that’s kind of how people look upon the feature. They know me. They have been watching for 22 years. They like to know what this place is about and they like having some suggestions,” she said. 

Thinking back, we ask Snow about what she thinks of the last 30 years. She almost didn’t take the job, she admitted. But timing is everything, she added. 

“I was happy where I was, but the second time (the job was offered) it was at just the right time. So I absolutely believe timing is everything and I do believe it was meant to be.”

Some of her career, like the television pieces, were “by accident” she added. 

“I was hired for sales so the rest was by accident. Like they say; the best things are unplanned and they often turn out to be the most wonderful times of your life. And that’s the case as I look back now and say ‘30 years. Wow.’”

The friendships she’s made with chefs and with business owners, as well as with coworkers, has been a gift, she said.

“We did things like Supper with Sharon. I don’t know if you remember that, but that was a long time ago and we did it as part of live weather hits. We would literally go into local celebrities homes – into their kitchens – and make dinner for them from the ingredients in their cupboard and in their refrigerator. And those relationships are still special.”

But there’s the Frosty Festival and the Health Care foundation too. 

”What we do for them as a company  and the relationship that we have with them all, it’s all part of serving the community and that’s the mandate for television, for NTV. In doing so, by achieving that and by working on that and keeping that as a goal, then all of those beautiful relationships have been forged.” 

‘I love everyone’

Snow is known for her kindness. She’s known as a hard worker. And she’s known for her fashion sense too. 

She laughed. Tops for her? Her work family, she shared.

“Oh, my gosh. I love everyone. We get along. We support each other. We lift each other up. And that’s very important. There are so many things that you could say or do, but when you choose kindness it just works. That’s so important that we support each other.”

Anything else she wanted to add before she heads back to vacation mode, we ask?  “It’s been a great ride over 30 years. Who would have thought that?  22 years of Places to Go. And I just know I’m looking forward to the next number of years.”

But it won’t last forever, she teased. She has plans to settle down eventually and enjoy life at home. “Oh, there will be retirement. Oh, it’s going to happen. So I’m working on that, but even retirement promises to be exciting.”

Eileen (just call her ‘mom,’ everyone does) and Calvin Sansome love what they do. They started their holding tank for live lobsters, called a lobster pool, back in 1999. They admit they had no idea if the venture would even work.  It did. In 2005 they added “a little take out” to the lobster pool serving (what else) lobster, and things took off from there, she said. 

 “By 2011 we took the old shed down that was there and the old stage my father-in-law used we built into a restaurant.”

Inside the sea-side restaurant there’s underwater cameras to watch as the fish swim around the wharf while dining.   

Eileen laughs. “That was my idea. I would like to have one out in the lobster pool as well to watch the lobsters, but my husband says, ‘that’s too much. You’re going too far.’” 

Food is to die for!

The two laugh as Calvin fishes around inside one of the holding tanks for a lobster. “Word of mouth in this business is important but in this industry, hospitality is number one. When you  hire excellent people and you have great food made from scratch, then people spread the word that this is a place to visit.” 

And the food is to die for! Seafood chowder, fish and chips, fish cakes, crab legs and of course lobster! All amazing! And the blueberry cheesecake? Also amazing! “We go over menus and we try things and we see what works, and then the chef takes over and it all works,” she said glowing. One secret she doesn’t mind sharing; their lobster and crab are cooked in sea water. “Anyone who knows can tell the difference,” she said.

Hospitality & grub

Their combination of hospitality and grand grub is working. Sansome’s isn’t on any main drag, and is located in an out of the way area making theirs a “destination” and not a “drop in” spot.   

“You’re not on any main drag. People have to come to us. They hear about it and they come from all over the world. Word of mouth is unbelievable.”

If planing on visiting, come early, as the parking lot fills fast and there’s usually a line up at the door. 

With a staff of nine, it’s a busy spot in season, but they both love the work, she said. “We love meeting people and this is my husband’s home. My father-in-law was in the lobster fishery for years and years and years so this made sense to us. I used to work at other things, but I didn’t get to see enough people. Now, there’s no shortage of that!”

For more, like Doyle W. Sansome & Sons Super Lobster Pool on Facebook

The Dynamic Duo: The Quay & Baccalieu Trail Brewing Co.

Dave Collins, owner/operator of The Quay restaurant in Brigus and Mark Burry, entrepreneur/managing Director of Baccalieu Trail Brewing Company Ltd., a microbrewery located in Bay Roberts, have no problem sharing their best creations. 

On the day we visit The Quay, we dig in to the dishes presented before us by the enthusiastic Collins. One of the many wins? The Quay’s  crab cakes which comes with a delightful and incredibly touching story. Collins had never really had a dream to own a restaurant, he shared. 

“I’ve always been a foodie … always did a lot of cooking for family, friends, or for charitable groups, and a good friend of mine, his name was Gary Corcoran – and I say was because he passed away – and Gary was a phenomenal chef and an unbelievable individual.”

Corcoran raised “millions for charity over his lifetime,” Collins said and the two friends did a lot of cooking together. Corcoran even penned a cookbook titled In The Kitchen with Gary Corcoran: Recipes from Home and Away. Corcoran developed ALS shortly after Collins purchased The Quay. “Gary was not of good health and I used to see him every week, and we used to talk about what items to potentially use on the new menu.”

One of his friend’s suggestions? Crab cakes. “I made some and  had my family and friends in and it was loud and clear that crab cakes were as a keeper so I put them on the menu as Gary’s Crab Cakes as it’s our way of celebrating him on the menu.” 

‘Ten out of ten’

The Cuban sandwich is also something that reminds Collins of his late friend, as it was one of the meals he requested towards his final days. Collins shared that Corcoran gave The Quay’s Cuban sandwich “a ten out of ten.”

Such stories make the menu meaningful and personal, said Collins. 

Mark Burry  of Baccalieu Trail Brewing Company Ltd. said that he got into the micro brewery business as a passion. 

“My grandfather was an entrepreneur all his life,” he said. 

Burry, who had been brewing beer at home, just felt that it was time to make the move. One of the best parts about being in business is the relationships you get to have, like the one he has with Collins and The Quay. The Quay serves the brewery’s beer and Baccalieu Trail brewing Company serves The Quay’s food. 

“We have a good business relationship with many other businesses in the Baccalieu Trail region and we all want to see one another be successful,” he said.  

NTV’s Rock Solid Builds 

Both agree that shows like NTV’s Rock Solid Builds helps the region by showcasing the beauty of the area. Burry’s products, including their creatively designed and brewed Grab 4 and Explore pack, are available in many locations, but if you wants great food – as well as entertainment – why not visit them in Bay Roberts. 

Whether it’s a lager to enjoy on a hot day or sipping an  Irish  red; there’s a beer to please any taste bud. Collins smiles. “There’s so much to take advantage of in this amazing province. See the sights and enjoy the  food and the beverages.”

For more destinations pick up next week’s NL Herald! Plus, more on The Doctor’s House Inn & Spa, the Dildo Brewery, Dunrovin in Lethbridge and Iceberg Alley B&B!

Twillingate-New World Island Dinner Theatre

The food is second to none and the entertainment? Well that almost has to be seen and heard to be believed. With performances by talented locals like Chelsea Cox, Denise Dove, Sandra Gillett (who has been performing since 2002), Gary Rogers, Jody Hale and Wayne Gillett, there’s no shortage of side-splitting comedy and spine tingling musical performances. 

On the day we visit, to say there are people from all over the world there would be an understatement. Canadian. Americans. Australians. Almost too many to mention – though the performers make sure to give a round of applause to all who visit from near and far. Owners/operators of this merry crew are Cathy Brown and  Ernie Watkins who were born and raised in the Twillingate area.

When The Herald spoke to Watkins he was in his shed which also serves as a kitchen. He had not long ago tied his boat off and was boiling the water to prepare 90 lobsters and 75 pounds of muscles for that evening’s feed.  But that’s not the only thing on the menu. Salmon and cod is brought in fresh daily as well.  When asked if he’s also the fisherman for the feed provided, Watkins stands tall. “This is the boat, that brought in everything. I’m a fisherman, absolutely,” he said proudly.

The dinner theatre came about seven years ago, he said. How did it start?

“A lot of people want to experience old fashioned shed parties when they come here to visit and that’s what this dinner theater is about. There’s a lot of traditional Newfoundland music, but often Newfoundlanders make fun of Newfoundlanders and our ways and that’s what we started to do, so it’s music and comedy,” he said. 

What is it about his home that he loves so much, we ask. “It’s just the rustic look. The cliff lines and the shorelines and what we’ve got to offer the world. Icebergs when they’re here, but it’s the way of life and it’s the people that make this place a destination.”

Giving back is important too, he shared. The dinner theatre seats between 14-15,000 people each year and they sell fifty-fifty tickets to anyone interested. This year they are hoping to sell 60,000 tickets and the funds raised help those less fortunate in the area over the holidays via their Twillingate/NWI Christmas Hamper Fund. “This is our home. Whatever we can do to make it a great place for everyone, we will do.”

For more visit Twillingate-New World Island Dinner Theatre on Facebook.

Jodi Cooke is one of NTV’s most seasoned journalists and perhaps the province’s most dynamic.

She embodies the spirit of NTV News, where versatility and professionalism are paramount. Cooke, who’s been with NTV for over 15 years, is willing to tackle any story, asking tough questions and delivering the product with accuracy and acumen.

Equally comfortable behind the desk as in the field, she perhaps shines brightest on live television. Her poise and comfort in front of a live television audience, as a reporter, is second to none in Newfoundland and Labrador broadcasting – no small task when considering the material she delivers is often technical and complicated.

Cooke also has the unique ability to make viewers feel like they’re listening to a trusted friend. That’s why you’ll see her fronting those “live hits” for national television, covering stories like the recent Royal Visit or major breaking news events that speak to a national audience.

Sunday Evening News

But like so many of her colleagues, Cooke doesn’t take herself too seriously. Yes, she takes her career seriously but is game for any challenge. 

A self-described adrenaline junkie – who has a penchant for adrenaline sports like skiing – it’s no surprise she tackles her journalism career with the same passion and vigor. 

She’s the first to raise her hand for participatory journalism assignments, from training with a search and rescue team to, wait for it, repelling from a helicopter. 

Those assignments, she admits, are among her most fun days at the office. Versatile is a word that best defines Cooke and, well, many of her colleagues.

She’ll file a major story one day and sit in the anchor chair the next. Cooke will anchor Newsday, First Edition and co-anchor The NTV Evening Newshour, and will be back reporting in the field just a day later. That’s the type of virtuosity that separates NTV News from the competition.

She’s not alone. Like Cooke, Amanda Mews has hosted everything from morning news and entertainment checkpoints, from Newsday to First Edition and the Evening Newshour. You can also find her, on occasion, delivering the weather forecast when Eddie Sheerr is out of the office. Did we mention she’s Cooke’s co-host on the The Sunday Evening Newshour?

Mews is also the station’s popular entertainment reporter, has a weekly feature (Backstage Pass) and hosts a weekly half-hour entertainment show. Oh, and is the main reporter for the daily Your Community feature.

Like Cooke and Mews, veteran journalist David Salter has hosted many of the same programs from time to time – news and entertainment checkpoints, Newsday and even First Edition, The Evening Newshour and Sunday on occasions. Salter also hosts his own weekend news program, Eyewitness News.

When he’s not anchoring, Salter is filing top news stories as a general assignment news reporter.

The station’s commitment to news – provincially, nationally and internationally – is what makes it a news leader. The NTV Evening Newshour has been the province’s top newscast for two decades, averaging over 100,000 viewers each night in this province alone. 

In fact, it’s not only the top newscast but is the most-watched program in Newfoundland and Labrador. There are nights, for example, when over 120,000 people in this province are tuning in, astonishing for a province of about 500,000.

“It says a lot about the incredible work this team does,” says Mark Dwyer, NTV’s Director of News and Current Affairs. 

“Hard work, consistency, a commitment to local news and a very talented team of people has earned us the trust of our viewers. We take that responsibility very seriously.”

‘Commitment to news’

NTV’s news team features many of the province’s top journalists. The anchor team is led by veteran broadcasters Toni-Marie Wiseman and Michael Connors, among two of the most trusted names in local news. Wiseman, of course, began her career with NTV over three decades ago. 

“I’ve been very fortunate to work with some great people over the years but, honestly, this team is incredible,” says Wiseman, who also anchors First Edition.

Her co-anchor, Michael Connors, is one of the province’s most trusted journalists. Connors was NTV’s legislative reporter since 2005, replacing Glen Carter at the desk when he retired earlier this year.

“I think our success stems from the Stirling family’s commitment to news,” says Dwyer. “In an era when other networks are looking for ways to cut, we look for growth. I’m very fortunate to be part of a team that works together to tell the stories that matter in this province, and around the world.”

And, of course, no topic is more important to people in this province than the weather and that’s why NTV Chief Meteorologist Eddie Sheerr plays such a pivotal role. No one delivers more detailed, in-depth and expert weather forecasting than Sheerr.

The NTV News brand is demanding. There are morning news checkpoints, a half-hour Newsday newscast at noon (weekdays at noon), not to mention 90 minutes of news from 5:30 to 7 (First Edition and NTV Evening Newshour). There’s The Sunday Evening Newshour, an hour-long broadcast anchored by Jodi Cooke and Amanda Mews

There’s news-driven programs like Issues and Answers (hosted by Michael Connors), Eyewitness News (hosted by David Salter), Week-in-Review (a half-hour recap of the week’s top stories), not to mention a half-hour weekly entertainment show (hosted by Amanda Mews). 

There’s also breaking news programs, everything from the provincial budget to election coverage.

“It’s a challenge to deliver all these programs but it truly shows how much depth we have at NTV,” says Dwyer.

One of NTV News’ secret weapons over the past few decades has been photojournalist Bart Fraize, noted for his work in spot news – from tragedies to rescues. His work has elevated NTV as a breaking news leader. 

Acquiring talent

Speaking about outstanding camera work, NTV has two of the best in Tony Barrington and Glenn Andrews. Barrington recently celebrated his 44th anniversary with the company. Andrews is emerging as one of the province’s top feature editors.

And the team keeps getting better with the acquisition of talent. Beth Penney, the 2018 Geoff Stirling Memorial Scholarship winner, has emerged as one of NTV’s top young journalists. Ben Cleary, who pursued a journalism degree after graduating with a political science degree at MUN, was named Atlantic Canada’s Top New Journalist in 2020. 

Cleary is now NTV’s legislative reporter. Bailey Howard and Marykate O’Neill, both outstanding young journalists, have been key additions to the NTV lineup in recent years.

The latest to join the award-winning newsroom is an award-winning journalist herself, Rosie Mullaley. After over three decades at The Telegram, she made the switch from print just weeks before Carter’s retirement.

Of course, that’s the St. John’s newsroom. Two of the province’s most familiar journalists are outside the overpass – Don Bradshaw and Colleen Lewis, the talented west coast and central correspondents who are fixtures with the NTV news brand.

“I challenge you to find a more talented, dedicated, multi-dimensional team,” says Dwyer, answering his own challenge with: “You simply won’t. This is a team I am so proud to be a part of. And when you factor in people like Sharon Snow, who can deliver the weather forecast, file a Your Community and Places to Go feature, you know you have a star-studded team.”

It’s no secret that NTV News has been number one in the ratings for over two decades. Incredibly, as conventional news audiences decrease throughout much of the world, NTV’s brand continues to grow. 

For a province of about 500,000 people, over 100,000 of them tune into NTV each day at 6 o’clock and just under 90,000 for First Edition at 5:30. Numbers continue to climb each year. The Sunday Evening Newshour also grew its audience with over 50,000 viewers tuning in each weekend.

There’s no secret recipe to NTV’s success over the years but the ingredients are obvious. It takes talent, hard work and leadership. It’s about telling stories and keeping viewers informed, and never has there been an era more important for doing just that.

Taking place from June 4-5 the Janeway Children’s Miracle Network Telethon is a yearly benchmark to help highlight stories of bravery and perseverance over illness and injury. Stories of glass half full mentalities and sunny dispositions through storms.

The Janeway Children’s Hospital receives numerous pediatric patients annually, from premature babies weighing less than 1,000 grams to 17-year-olds on the cusp of adulthood. Each and every child has a story to tell, and we at The Newfoundland Herald take pride in highlighting the stories of these champion children.

The 2022 Janeway Champion Child is Xavier Rodrigues, an extraordinary young man whose optimism and courage in the face of Crohn’s Disease serves as an inspiration to any and all who meet him. This is his story. 

*Answers provided by Xavier’s parents Nancy and Lionel Rodrigues

Can you briefly describe your relationships with the staff at the Janeway? Particularly in those early days, pre-diagnosis? Anytime a child is hit with a health event there is obviously stress and it takes a very special staff to help navigate that.

Before Xavier was diagnosed, we were going to the Janeway ER each week, trying to figure out what was going on with him and why he was so sick. Xavier would be sent for more tests to rule out what they thought it might be (virus, infection, etc) and then we would go home. 

It felt like it was taking so long at the time to figure out what was going on. Watching your child get weaker and weaker, not able to eat anything. Eventually after about three weeks he was admitted and diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. After Xavier was diagnosed we learned that sometimes it can take years for a Crohn’s diagnosis. 

The week we spent in the Janeway while Xavier was getting treated and diagnosed was a very difficult and emotional week. The nurses and doctors were so supportive. Dr. Critch got him in for a colonoscopy very quickly, considering how tight the OR schedule is. 

The nurses were so sweet. They got really good at taking his temperature and blood pressure in the nighttime without waking him up. Everyone was really supportive. Dr. Critch immediately focused on what we could do – the treatments available. There’s currently no cure for Crohn’s Disease. 

For a child undergoing treatments on a regular cycle like Xavier, and one who has to navigate certain adjustments with his lifestyle, how important is routine and finding positivity in what can be done as opposed to can’t?

Routine is pretty important, but more so for things like school and extracurricular. Of course the routine of taking medication, getting blood work, diet etc. is important in treatment, but also just being a kid is super important. 

Xavier has had many adjustments to his lifestyle since getting diagnosed. He has been on a special diet for a while now which means he doesn’t eat the same things as his peers. Xavier eats very little processed food, refined sugar and grains which means his school lunches look very different than his peers. 

As a result Xavier’s palette is much broader than the average 13-year-old (or truth be told, the average Newfoundland adult). Xavier is a very positive person overall. He doesn’t focus on what he can’t eat or what he can’t do. He doesn’t dwell on the negative. 

Xavier is really good at letting things roll off his back, and moving on to the next thing. 

Many say the staff at the Janeway are like family, particularly when you make frequent visits. Have you grown to make connections to staff? I’m sure they know your names and faces by now.

We have been very blessed with the staff at the Janeway. Dr. Critch, GI specialist, has been very accommodating to us. If Xavier is suddenly ill he will call us back as soon as he can. 

He has been very patient with explaining options, etc. to us. Jackie Connolly, GI nurse, also is very quick to respond and has been a huge support to us, going above and beyond regular duties. She is an angel for sure. 

And then there are the Janeway Medical Daycare staff. I’m sure the best of the best are chosen to work there. Such beautiful, compassionate, empathetic, thoughtful and kind people. They are like family now that we have been going so regularly for the past six-plus years.

For any family tackling health struggles for a child, would there be any advice you can offer, particularly as far as staying optimistic and living life with a glass half-full mentality? 

For any family tackling health struggles for a child, the best advice we could give is to take care of yourselves. When your child is sick you can become like a machine, doing what needs to be done. But sometimes, especially when you have gotten through a rough patch, you realize how exhausted you are. Or how emotional you are. 

We forget to take a moment, or to take a breath for ourselves. Reach out to people in the same boat. We forget that there are people out there with the same or very similar struggles. Allow people to help you, to listen, to step up. It does get better. It becomes a “new normal.” 

Xavier says all the time that he forgets he has Crohn’s. That to us is success. He is still able to be a kid, and this disease doesn’t define him. Xavier finds the good in everything, and we could all aspire to be more like that.

Tune in to the Telethon

Saturday, June 4th, 6:30^pm – 9:30^pm* Sunday, June 5th, 12:00^pm – 7:00^pm*

“No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it. That’s no truer anywhere than it is here at NTV News.” — Glen Carter

That piece of wisdom came from respected anchor Glen Carter during his retirement address to NTV viewers on March 4, 2021.

And while NTV News may have lost its revered conductor that night, the band plays on. And make no mistake it remains a finely-tuned orchestra, positioned to entertain audiences for many years to come.

Despite Carter’s departure, NTV is blessed with some of the province’s most talented and trusted journalists. Carter’s long-time co-anchor, Toni-Marie Wiseman, has been a constant with the station for over three decades and is one of the most identifiable faces in broadcasting. 

Joining her at the anchor desk is friend and colleague Michael Connors, best known for his outstanding work as NTV’s legislative reporter for the past decade.

‘A strong friendship’

“Michael and I have worked closely together for many years (our desks are side by side) and because of that, we’ve developed a strong friendship,” says Wiseman. “We know each other so well that sometimes we can read each other’s minds. It’s been a pretty seamless and effortless transition from working together in the newsroom to anchoring together on the Evening Newshour desk.”

The NTV Evening Newshour, weekdays at 6 p.m., remains not only the province’s top newscast, but is also the most-watched television program in Newfoundland and Labrador. Wiseman, one of Newfoundland and Labrador television’s most iconic personalities, remains at the helm. 

Connors, of course, has won the respect of viewers for his work at NTV and is the perfect choice to fill Carter’s place at the desk. Aside from the flagship supper-hour show, the newsroom generates a host of NTV News programming. There are daily morning news checkpoints, a half-hour Newsday program (weekdays at noon) and the popular NTV News: First Edition (weekdays at 5:30), hosted by Wiseman. There’s also The Sunday Evening Newshour, an hour-long broadcast anchored by Jodi Cooke and Amanda Mews.

In fact, Wiseman’s 5:30 p.m. show, First Edition, is also one of the province’s most-watched programs. “Our commitment to news has never wavered. While our competitors have found ways to reduce local news programming, we continue to grow,” says Mark Dwyer, Director of News and Current Affairs. 

“There’s a real appetite for local news and it’s our mandate to do just that.”

And just like any good orchestra, or team, there’s a host of performers who deliver. “There’s so much versatility and talent in our newsroom. It’s not uncommon for a reporter to leave the field to sit at the anchor desk, from one day to the next,” Dwyer adds. “We are fortunate to have a team of journalists who are very passionate about their work and informing viewers.”

Speaking of versatility, Jodi Cooke, co-host of The Sunday Evening Newshour, is also a regular host of NTV Newsday and is one of the most-seasoned television reporters in the province. 

Cooke is noted for, among many of her attributes, her ability to go live – dissecting information to deliver key news to the audience.

Like Cooke, Amanda Mews has hosted everything from morning news and entertainment checkpoints, to Newsday to First Edition and the Evening Newshour. You can also find her, on occasion, delivering the weather forecast when Eddie Sheerr is out of the office. 

Backstage Pass

Did we mention she’s co-host of The Sunday Evening Newshour, and as the station’s popular entertainment reporter, she has a weekly feature (Backstage Pass) and hosts a weekly half-hour entertainment show. Oh, and is the main reporter for the daily ‘Your Community’ feature.

Like Mews, veteran journalist David Salter has hosted many of the same programs from time to time – news and entertainment checkpoints, Newsday and even First Edition and Sunday on occasions. Salter also hosts his own weekend news program, Eyewitness News. 

When he’s not hosting Salter is filling news stories as a general assignment news reporter.

Ben Cleary is another reporter impacted by Carter’s retirement and he has also stepped up to fill the void. 

With Connors replacing Carter on the anchor desk, Cleary has assumed Connors’ place as the newsroom’s legislative reporter. Cleary, who has political science and journalism degrees, has earned his chops with his excellent coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, among other things. In fact, Cleary was named most promising young journalist at the 2021 Atlantic Journalism Awards.

And perhaps NTV’s secret weapon is assignment editor Bart Fraize, who has been covering the courts and breaking news for many years. Fraize’s work ethic is unrivaled. 

It’s an intangible that separates him from his peers – the willingness to answer every call, good or bad, day or night, rain or shine. And he does so without fanfare, evading praise like it’s a punishment. “I’m just doing my job,” he quips, shrugging his shoulders.

Beth Penney is journalism’s answer to the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ – someone who can be relied upon to fill just about any role in the newsroom, a talented reporter who has the skillset to do so much more – anchor work and feature reporting. You’ll also see her regularly host the ‘Your Community’ feature.

NTV’s New talent

A pair of newcomers to the business, Bailey Howard and Marykate O’Neill, are relatively new additions to the newsroom, but both bring a talent beyond their years – covering all sorts of stories.

And, finally, the most recent hire in the newsroom may be a newcomer to television, but not to journalism. After over three decades at The Telegram, Rosie Mullaley made the switch from print just weeks before Carter’s retirement. 

Of course, that’s the St. John’s newsroom. Two of the province’s most familiar journalists are outside the overpass – Don Bradshaw and Colleen Lewis, the talented west coast and central correspondents who are fixtures with the NTV news brand.

“I challenge you to find a more talented, dedicated, multi-dimensional team,” said Dwyer with admiration and pride. “You simply won’t. This is a team I am so proud to be a part of.”

It’s a go-go business and all these players contribute to the performances viewers see every night. It’s a common scene inside NTV’s fast-paced newsroom as reporters craft their stories and camera operators gear up for the evening’s live hit. 

The production crew, led by Donnie Decker, prepares for the 5:30 and 6 o’clock live shows. It’s hectic, but the team appears in total control, each focused on the task at hand. 

There’s also the usual newsroom banter as reporters share the developments of the day. It’s like a fine-tuned engine. And like Decker, there are others behind the camera you don’t see, camera operators like Tony Barrington and Glenn Andrews, both incredibly talented and veterans of the business. 

Barrington has seen it all in his 43-year career with NTV where he has served in a multitude of roles, including producer, while Andrews is noted for his creativity and excellence as both a shooter and editor.

And while some could argue that his orchestra lost its conductor when Carter retired, it has retained the true mastermind of this excellent news team, news director Dwyer who guides, supports and encourages his staff to reach their full potential.

Dwyer, of course, is known to many as the longest-serving sports reporter in the province’s history, but is also, as Carter pointed out, the glue that holds the team together.

“Our audience is loyal. They depend on us (for information) and we take that responsibility very seriously,” says Dwyer, who’s been leading the station’s newsroom since 2013. “However, our talented team continues to attract new viewers and that’s a result of talent, old-fashioned hard work and commitment.”

It’s no secret that NTV News has been number one in the ratings for over two decades. Incredibly, as conventional news audiences decrease throughout much of the world, NTV’s brand continues to grow. 

For a province of about 500,000 people, over 100,000 of them tune into NTV each day at 6 o’clock and just under 90,000 for First Edition at 5:30. Numbers continue to climb each year. The Sunday Evening Newshour also grew its audience with over 50,000 viewers tuning in each weekend.

There’s no secret recipe to NTV’s success over the years, but the ingredients are obvious. It takes talent, hard work and leadership. 

It’s about telling stories and keeping viewers informed, and never has there been an era more important than doing just that.

Instead, she added, “there’s only admiration” for anyone who has heard the calling of journalism and praise for the people who tell all our stories. 

No one knows that better than viewers of NTV News. That crew has faced lock downs and epic snow storms with grace under fire. The flagship show – the NTV Evening News Hour – must go on and everyone put their best foot forward. In spite of the chaos and the unknowns, the NTV team saw the light and the love in Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and reported on inspirational people doing exceptional things while also sharing the dismal COVID facts of the day. 

There is always hope between the headlines and we were grateful. And while the Oscars gave us the slap heard around the globe – an entertainment world bummer – the 65th annual Grammys were the opposite. 

An unexpected feel-good highlight happened when Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the world in a pre-recorded video which included a passionate plea for support for his people. 

“Our musicians wear body armour instead of tuxedos, they sing to the wounded in hospitals … but the music will break through anyway,” Zelensky said. He concluded: “Fill the silence with your music! Fill it today, to tell our story…To all our cities the war is destroying: Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Volnovakha, Mariupol and others, they are legends already, but I have a dream of them living. And free. Free like you on the Grammy stage.”

While mixing war and musical awards might seem an odd combination, artists taking a stand for the greater good isn’t new. From the recording of Do They Know its Christmas by BandAid, to the recent charity song Lean On Me by artist CAN, a 2020 charity single featuring a who’s who of Canadian music legends, musicians have long offered support and now many have teamed up yet again to form a Stand Up for Ukraine initiative in a show of solidarity.

In real ‘Give Peace a Chance’ style, Doctors Without Borders received a $10,000 donation on behalf of Yoko Ono and Sean Ono Lennon, reminiscent of the days when John Lennon’s Bed-ins for Peace as the Vietnam War raged made the news. 

Herald founder Geoff Stirling and his son and publishing successor Scott Stirling had a profound encounter with John and Yoko in 1969. Inspired by one of their songs, the senior Stirling wrote a note to the couple that read, “I heard your Come Together, so here I am: Geoff Stirling,” further evidence that entertainment, news-makers and anti-war efforts often go hand in hand. As for those in the news business, they do their part. 

The Award Winning NTV News team has covered disasters at sea, DARKNL and Snowmageddon plus provided up-to-the-minute pandemic coverage, going above and beyond to educate and inform. However beyond the facts and figures, there’s good news yarns –  like one recent story about a local artist who uses her jewelry to help those living in Ukraine. 

Such stories provide hope – a light at the end of the tunnel tale so that at the end of a tough news day, there’s proof we’ll all make it. For that balance, those who tell our stories – good and bad– for a living are worthy of an extra dose of admiration.

Pam Pardy, The Herald’s Managing Editor, can be reached by emailing pghent@nfldherald.com

Now, with her turn in the true-crime series The Thing About Pam on NTV, The Newfoundland Herald looks back at the storied career of Hollywood A-lister Renée Zellweger. From Jerry Macguire to Chicago and all the major moments in between. 

JERRY MACGUIRE

She had us at hello. After appearing in several low budget film and small roles in television – including Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation and The Whole Wide World – Zellweger’s breakthrough came in the 1996 romantic-comedy Jerry Macguire (1996), where she starred opposite Tom Cruise and Cuba Gooding Jr. 

For her role as Dorothy Boyd, Cruise’s love interest in the film, Zellweger received widespread acclaim, earning a Screen Actors Guild nomination as well as a Critics’ Choice Movie Award and National Board of Review Award.

NURSE BETTY

Renée Zellweger would earn her first major awards win in film with the 2000 black comedy Nurse Betty (2000).

Starring opposite Chris Rock, Morgan Freeman and Greg Kinnear as a widow tackling post-traumatic stress disorder and an obsession with a soap star, Zellweger would win the Golden Globe for Best Actress  in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. A further step into comedy would lead to worldwide success a year later.

BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY

Zellweger’s star would skyrocket with her casting of Bridget Jones in the film adaptation of the 1996 novel Bridget Jones’s Diary, with the film grossing over $280 million on a $25 million budget.

Zellweger would earn her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for the role, with the film series spawning a franchise, with Zellweger returning to star in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason in 2004 and Bridget Jones’s Baby in 2016.

 CHICAGO

Another year, another Oscar nod. Zellweger would turn to the world of musicals in the big screen adaptation of the 1975 stage musical Chicago (2002). 

Leading the film in the role of Roxie Hart alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere and Queen Latifah, Zellweger would pick up her second straight Oscar nod, winning a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, as well as BAFTA and Screen Actors Guild honours. The film would gross over $300 million worldwide.

COLD MOUNTAIN

Call it a three-peat! 

For the third straight year Zellweger found herself in the conversation for an Academy Award, finally landing the big gold trophy for Best Supporting Actress for her role as the abrasive yet lovable Ruby Thewes in the war epic Cold Mountain.

Zellweger would run the awards table in Supporting Actress categories that year, winning a BAFTA, SAG and Golden Globe Award for her transformative performance. 

SHARK TALE

Taking a break from clearing out space on her mantle for awards, Zellweger would pivot to the world of animation in 2004 with the Dreamworks animated comedy Shark Tale.

Voicing Angie the angelfish opposite a massive ensemble cast that included Will Smith, Robert De Niro, Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Martin Scorsese and Ziggy Marley, to name a few, the film was a commercial hit, grossing over $374 million at the box office.

MISS POTTER

Zellweger’s time away from critically acclaimed efforts would be short lived, as she’d return in 2006 with the biographical drama Miss Potter.

Starring as celebrated children’s author and illustrator Beatrix Potter, creator of the timeless The Tale of Peter Rabbit, while also serving as executive producer, Zellweger would earn a Golden Globe Award nomination once again for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.

The good times can’t possibly last forever. Following the success of a slew of films in the mid 2000s, Zellweger would helm a series of relatively unsuccessful pictures before entering a self-imposed hiatus from acting from 2010-16.

JUDY

It was her 2019 turn as the incomparable Judy Garland that signaled her return to prominence in a major way. 

Zellweger, as the aging starlet in the biopic Judy, would sweep the awards season, coming in nearly unrivaled to claim her second Academy Award and first for Best Actress, earning yet another Golden Globe, BAFTA and SAG Award. It was regarded as one of the biggest comebacks in modern cinema.

THE THING ABOUT PAM

Zellweger’s time in television has been limited, though she’s fixing to change that in a major way, helming and producing the American crime drama The Thing About Pam.

Zellweger stars, in her network television debut, as Pam Hupp in the series that chronicles the bizarre circumstances surrounding the 2011 murder of Betsy Faria. The ensemble cast includes Josh Duhamel, Judy Greer and Katy Mixon.

“I wouldn’t change anything for the world,” Randy Spracklin shared during our chat at his Newfound Builders office in Brigus.  

Speaking of their popular series, Rock Solid Builds, he had nothing but positive things to say about the entire experience. 

“I hope it just keeps on going. We’ve had such good fun. And like I say to everyone, the team behind the scenes and our team that you see on the show, I can’t say enough positive things about any of them. I’m often left speechless because I’m just having so much fun doing what I love,” he said.

As for some of the footage the cameras catch? He laughs. “They’re there with us almost every day filming, that’s why it’s so, so real. You never know what they are going to catch on film because you never know from one moment to the next what will happen with the crew and with the jobs,” he said.

It’s almost like a documentary, he added. “It’s real life because they’re just chasing us with cameras. At any given minute, you could find something hidden in a wall or uncover a problem no one knew about until we actually start taking things apart.” As for the fun everyone has?  That’s real too. 

“The tricks that we play on each other are never planned. It’s just like spur of the moment, like, ‘Hey, look, let’s throw that at Nikki to do.’ So the crew kind of has to be on their toes and so does the camera crew follow us everywhere we go. They capture it all, and that’s the way we like it because that’s us. That’s who we are.”

Rock Solid Builds is back on HGTV Canada for season two and season one of the popular series can now be seen on Saturdays at 2:30 P.M. on NTV

It’s not like the folks at Newfound Builders – a Brigus-based family-owned construction business – haven’t knocked it out of the park over on HGTV Canada, but knowing the crew will now be swinging hammers and nailing one-liners in their unique Newfoundland style on Canada’s Superstation is a bit of a win-win. The rookie of the crew, Nikki Spracklin, says that she’s thrilled with the news that season one will now be shown on NTV while season two airs on HGTV Canada. 

“I think it’s a great opportunity for everyone to get caught up, as some may have missed some of season one, and now they’re getting a chance to watch.”

While the excitement builds with each episode, the show’s success still is surprising, she said. “None of us expected this to be what it is. We thought it was a joke at first and now for this to be as big and popular as it is, it’s mind blowing. It’s like ‘b’ys, are you serious? You all seriously want to know what we’re doing?’ Our job is hilarious to us, and we have fun, but that others want to watch us is mind blowing,” she shared with awe and gratitude.

Believe it, Nikki!  Tour buses are even coming by to have a peak, we’re told.  “In the summer, it was priceless. We’re at the shop in the mornings then head out to a site and when we come back, our shop guys say, ‘we were bombarded with people again today.’ We have everybody coming to visit, and it’s bringing in a lot of people to the island to see the beauty we have here in Newfoundland,” she shared.

All about trust

Is she still considered the rookie, we ask.  She laughed. “I’m starting to lose the rookie title a little bit. I’m gaining a little bit of confidence. I trust me more and Randy trusts me more. I’m not afraid as much to take on the risk and take on a bit more responsibility. It’s nice to gain a little bit more responsibility and trust on the job. It’s a good feeling.”

When you watch the show, you see how close the crew seem with one another. It all looks so genuine. 

“It’s 100 per cent genuine. We went into this wanting to stay true to who we were, staying true to our traditions and to the way we carried on at work. We believe in what we do, and we have a really great brother/sister relationship,” she said. 

Staying true to who she was meant not changing for a camera, and they stuck to that, she added. “We carry on  all the time at work every day, whether the camera’s there or not. We’re there for a good time. And you know what? For me, I’m glad it’s put across that way on the show, and I’m glad people get to see our true selves. It’s 100 per cent authentic, and what you see is what you get.”

 We ask if there’s been a favorite project so far. “We did a road trip … and we did a special job for a child and a mother. That job really hit my heart being a mom myself. But there’s a couple of jobs throughout the season where you got to know the homeowners and we still connect with and talk to them on a regular basis.”

But then most jobs are special for a variety of reasons, she added.  “A lot of the jobs are special because you take it right from the ground up. You get the keys from the homeowner and they let complete strangers in their homes. Over time, before you hand the keys back, you really get to know these people.”

We have to be nosy and ask about her home life with her partner Blair and the kiddies. How is she balancing it all, we ask. 

“Depending on the weather sometimes we do get some time off but for the most part, we work year round. I’m juggling being a mother and working 40, 50, 60 hours and it has been a challenge, I’m not going to lie.”

She, like most, simply does the best she can, she shared. “I try my best to make my family time count when I can, and we make the most of our family time when we can. We love being outdoors so when I’m free, we make the best of it. My partner Blair has been a great help.
He’s took on a lot of extra responsibilities. We’re just a mom and a dad trying to juggle it all, and it’s working most times.”

A no-brainer 

Being a woman in the trades means she has become a bit of an inspiration for other women.  Spracklin nodded. 

“I hear that a lot, and it touches my heart because I didn’t plan on being an inspiration, and I didn’t expect the reaction from women. I’ve received messages from all over Canada. I’ve had women reach out to me and say, ‘Thank you. You go, girl.’ And it’s like, You know what? We’re no different than the man next to us on a job site. If they can do it, you can do it.”

Sometimes, she’s so touched from the feedback that she actually cries, she shared. “To hear that a child wants to grow up and follow in your footsteps really touches you. That means so much,” she said. While Spracklin might come across as if she’s right at home around the bay, she actually grew up in St. John’s. 

“I guess I’m a townie through and through. When we got married, we figured it was better to raise the kids around the bay so we moved here to Brigus. There’s so much outdoor activity between quad rides, and we love to hike so it was a no-brainer to be out here living.” 

Now, the team get to showcase their unique lifestyle to the rest of the world. Spracklin nodded, adding that’s one of the best parts. “When Randy first said this was happening, I laughed at him. I said, ‘Oh, really?’ To be honest, we thought he was crazy because at first we were all like, ‘no way’, right? But he said, ‘Come on, let’s have a laugh with it.’ Then when they actually landed on the ground and the cameras were there it was like, ‘Oh man, this is real. Here we go,’” she laughed. 

Sprackin shared that the filming lasts for months so when she sits down to watch the show with family she hardly remembers what had happened. Good thing too sometimes, she laughed. 

“I got to tell you, the weather sucks in Newfoundland. The only thing that drives me nuts in Newfoundland is the weather and sometimes I look back and can’t believe we went to work in that. But when you get a good crew around, it’s a little bit easier to take. Yes, sometimes you’d like to go home out of it, or when you got so much to do and you only got so  much time to do it in, you want to say shag it but you suck it up and do it because by the time lunchtime comes, you’re already halfway through the day.”

So, we know she isn’t a fan of the working conditions weather-wise sometimes, but is there any one thing she loves most about her job, we ask. 

“The people. That’s really it for me. But the projects too. These projects are unique. How many carpenters can say they worked on a root cellar or on a treehouse? That’s the fun part of work. Randy and Newfound Builders, they don’t care what it is, he’ll take on anything. That’s the fun part of being on the residential side of carpentry. You’re going to experience so many different things. I love when we get a unique, different project because it’s a learning experience and it’s also a very big bonding experience for all of us when we go in and try something new or something challenging,” she said.

Does she tackle projects at home? 

“Oh no, my dear. When I leave here at five o’clock on Friday, my tool belt stays here, so I come back Monday morning and put it back on. I leave it there, and it will stay there. I go home and enjoy my family.”  Anything else she’d like to share, we ask. “No, maid, I’m good,” she said. 

We both laugh. Last questions: What does her family think of it all?

“My dad thinks it’s great that he has a daughter on TV, and he’ll call me after and say he stayed up late just to see the show. It’s hilarious but we all love it.”

For more Rock Solid Builds, tune into NTV or HGTV Canada