Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Mr Leonard's Opus

A long-serving Park View music teacher is being held up as one of the best according to a music education charity. Scott Leonard is the fifth annual winner of the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award. Anne Murray presented him with the honour at a ceremony this week. Leonard has been a devoted mentor to music students for 24 years - 21 of them at Park View. The group says he epitomizes the spirit of the award as his commitment to music education extends far beyond the classroom. He was director of Park View's first school musical and he also teaches at the Lunenburg County Band Camp. Leonard teaches guitar, band, and embraces innovative new ideas, having created his own class - Recording Arts Technology. He will receive a $10,000 cash award, plus an additional $10,000 for his school's music program, a hand-crafted statuette created by JUNO Award statuette designer, plus an all-expenses paid trip to the 2010 JUNO Awards in St. John's.

Pregnant Clinic

Officials have been saying their supressed immune system should put expectant moms at the front of the line. South Shore Health is holding an H1N1 vaccination clinic today for pregnant women. They will be able to get the H1N1 vaccine at the obstetrics clinic at South Shore Regional Hospital. And in order to reduce wait times, the clinic is scheduling women based on trimesters. Women six to nine months pregnant should come from 9 a.m. to noon; women three to six months pregnant should come from 1 to 4 p.m.; and women less than three months pregnant should come from 4 to 7 p.m. And a Shelburne clinic planned for today, (Wed. Nov. 4) has been cancelled according to Southwest Health.

Clinic Busy

Business is brisk at the Flu Assessment Centre located at South Shore Regional Hospital. Communications Director Theresa Hawkesworth says the numbers have been steady since the clinic opened on Monday. The centre is open 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday. Most cases of H1N1 are mild and will clear up in a few days by resting at home. However, people are encouraged to visit a flu assessment centre, instead of hospital emergency department, if they have flu-like symptoms and get sicker instead of better after a few days. People who are severely ill – especially with breathing difficulties -- should seek immediate help by going to your nearest Emergency department or calling 9-1-1.

Most cases of H1N1 are mild and will clear up in a few days by resting at home. However, people are encouraged to visit a flu assessment centre, instead of hospital emergency department, if they have flu-like symptoms and get sicker instead of better after a few days; or they have the flu and are in a high-risk group, which includes those: with a chronic medical condition, women who are pregnant, and children under 5.