Freedom Riders raising money for stroke victim

Mar Croft, President of Freedom Riders

Members of a South Shore bike club are gearing up for a halloween-based fundraiser. The Freedom Riders Motorcycle Club will be on the road Saturday in support of Chester's Christopher Simms, who suffered a stroke. The president of Freedom Riders, Mar Croft, says all donations raised will go towards Simms. The event starts at 1pm Saturday at the Tim Hortons on the corner of Dominion and High Street in Bridgewater.The ride will be escorted through town by the Bridgewater Police and will make stops to collect donations. Riders are encouraged to dress up in costume or decorate their bikes.

Council mulls free ice decision; ask Mustangs for presentation

Bridgewater Mayor Carroll Publicover

Bridgewater town council is looking to hear from the South Shore Canadian Tire Mustangs. The Mustangs are looking to acquire some free ice time, but Mayor Carroll Publicover says council wants a formal proposal from the local 'AAA' hockey club.

"The Mustangs need to come and make a case for us if they believe that other teams that play 'AAA' hockey are given certain privileges and concessions by their communities to help them, we'd like to hear that, and maybe we'll step up and do the same thing."

The Mustangs are looking to waive the cost of their Friday morning practice time. Town council previously waived practice time for the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks, on the condition the full team relocated to Lunenburg County. The request would cost taxpayers roughly $2,500 for the season.

Bridgewater Councillor frustrated with Jo-Lo Development

Councillor David Mitchell

It looks like there may be another delay for the The Village at Glen Allan project. Bridgewater town councillor David Mitchell says Jo-Lo Development hasn't installed a fence, which was part of the non-substantive amendment to the development agreement in June. Mitchell says the developer has until October 15.

"It's beyong frustrating because as a council, we pride ourselves on our whole town; the staff, the planning department, engineering, on being so proactive with developers and yet I feel that we've been taken advantage with a developer that keeps pushing and pushing and pushing."

Mitchell says he expects council will debate extending or discharging the development agreement if the fence isn't installed after Saturday.

Dates Set for Murder Trial

Eleven days have been set aside beginning next May 7th for the Supreme Court trial of a Liverpool man accused of killing his fiancee . Thirty-two year old James Leroy Leopold pleaded not guilty when he was formally arraigned today (Thursday, October 13) on a charge of second degree murder in the death of 47 year old Laura Lee Robertson. She was reported missing on April 14th. Her remains were found off Highway 210 outside Greenfield, Queens County almost two weeks later. Leopold who has been in custody since his arrest in April was committed to stand trial following a preliminary hearing earlier this month.

Tallship Columbia Announcement

A Lunenburg County company will be making history by making a full set of sails for the replica of the schooner Columbia. Michele Stevens Sailloft of Second Peninsula is partnering with the Eastern Shipbuilding Group and Covey Island Boatworks in the new construction of the replica. Stevens is a fourth generation sailmaker whose work includes the construction of the largest working mail sail in the world for the Bluenose ll and several sails for the Concordia. Covey Island Boatworks will oversee the project and provide the spars and rigging for the new vessel.
            The Columbia, a 140 foot Gloucester fishing schooner was originally launched in April 1923 and participated in the International Schooner Races.

Vital Initiatives Coordinator Appointed

The Lunenburg County Community Fund has appointed a Vital Initiatives Coordinator. Joel Stoddart who grew up in Clarks Harbour, will work with the LCCF Board to further the development of projects that were identified by volunteers and community meetings over the last year. Stoddart who has extensive experience working in rural communities has worked on economic development projects and has good connections in the sector within Lunenburg County.  Vital Initiatives was born from the report Vital Signs of Lunenburg County, and reflects the action plans and projects that have emerged since the release of the report in October 2010. Four key areas were identified in the report as impacting on the long term sustainability of Lunenburg County.  The economy, literacy, health and wellness and youth are target areas. For more information on the report you can visit
http://lunenburgcountycommunityfund.ca/

Composites Atlantic Senior V-P excited about $10-million provincial investment



Premier Darrell Dexter (left) and Derek Kinsman, senior vice-president and chief operating officer at Composites Atlantic, chat after an announcement in Lunenburg.



The senior vice-president and chief operating officer of Composites Atlantic says it's an announcement his company plans to take advantage of. The Lunenburg business welcomed a $10-million announcement for aerospace and defence companies and suppliers from the provincial government. Derek Kinsman says it's a positive situation for Composites Atlantic to be in.

"Packages, such as this, which give you an ability to bring financing into play, and when you're successful you pay it back, I mean, that's a perfect win-win situation from our perspective."

Kinsman says Composites have a number of projects that could qualify to access some of the $10-million available. He says the company is competing against others worldwide, and are challenged by emerging economy countries such as Mexico, China and India.

Utilization Meetings start at CAMS

The South Shore Regional School Board will hold its first utilization meeting Thursday night at Chester Area Middle School. The meeting will look at utilization of schools including Chester District Elementary, New Ross Consolidated and Forest Heights. The chair of the South Shore Regional School Board, Elliott Payzant, says its a chance to explore each schools needs or if its meeting all regulations. Members of the school community, including Principals, Student Advisory Councils and Student Leaders have been invited to attend. The meeting is not open to the general public.