Brookside Cemetery should be heritage property: Historian

Photo Courtesy of George Newbury

A South Shore historian is trying to get Brookside Cemetery in Bridgewater registered as a municipal heritage property. Brookside Cemetery was opened in 1879 by Dean Wile, who was manager of the local carding mill. He conveyed the property to the town in 1902. Peter Oickle says a cemetery provides a community with a sense of itself.

"When you look at the historical and cultural value of them, people want to make sure they're preserved and they're protected. When you look at it, you'll see names that we would recognize immediately like the Dawson family, the Davison family, the Gow's; each of these people made Bridgewater what it is today and contributed to the development of the town."

Among the notables buried at the cemetery is Mather Byles DesBrisay; a judge, politician and author who founded the local museum. Its also the resting place of Victoria Ernst, who became the first female doctor in Bridgewater.

Liberals: NS Gov't Should Reveal All Information on ISA Scare

It could be a few more weeks before the Canada Food Inspection Agency can confirm or dismiss a suspected virus affecting salmon at a Shelburne County aquaculture operation. The Provincial fisheries and environment departments have released little information. Liberal leader Stephen McNeil says the government has been too quiet. "When government withholds the kind of information that they have it just allows the misinformation or quite frankly the growing concerning about potential cross over from aquaculture into the regular fishery,"  Cooke Aquaculture operates nine of the provinces 13 salmon farming operations with four of them located in the Shelburne Harbour and McNutt Island areas. The operation in question is believed to be one in Shelburne Harbour.

VIDEO: Resource Bag Encourages Education at Home

The Department of Education is putting more focus on childhood learning within the household. Lunenburg MLA Pam Birdsall announced a new resource initiative this morning in Mahone Bay called the Play-Talk-Learn resource bag. The tools inside the bag include hands on items like books, crayons, letters and numbers and is designed to assist primary aged students with their language, writing and reading development. Early Learning Coordinator Nancy Taylor says it's important to make learning for young children entertaining both in the home and the classroom.

"And we also know when parents are well connected with their children education then their children are going to be more successful. This resource that we've put together with learning activities is designed to encourage children and their families to play together,"

The resource bags are being introduced to primary students in the South Shore, Annapolis Valley, Cape Breton-Victoria and Strait Regional school boards. Province wide distribution is set for September.

Ramey wins fifth shotput title at AUS Championship

Bridgewater's Garrett Ramey has won gold at the Atlantic University Sports Championship in Moncton. It's the fifth year in a row he's won the shot-put event. His winning numbers were 7.26 kilograms (16 pounds) and throwing 15.18 meters. Ramey also won a bronze in the 35-pound weight toss with a personal best of 13.27 meters. He now heads to the CIS Championships in Alberta in two weeks.

Curl for a Cause raises over $35,000 for Fisherman's Memorial

The Health Services Foundation of the South Shore exceeded their fundraising goal for Curl for a Cause. The event, held over the weekend at the Lunenburg Curling Club, raised $35,660 for Fisherman's Memorial Hospital. Managing director for the Foundation, Arlene Stevens, says she's happy they raised enough money with equipment costs on the rise.

"It's interesting. When I look at the list of the pieces of equipment that we committed to purchase this year, we surpassed what we needed by about $35 so we were right on the mark as far as what we had agreed to buy and the money we had raised."

The money will be put towards nine pieces of equipment including a specialized stretcher, overbed tables for the veterans' unit, vitals monitor and ultrasound. Stevens says the 12th annual event was a huge success with non-stop curling from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening.

South Shore Ventures Co-op leasing Blockhouse school

The abandoned Blockhouse school is getting new life from the South Shore Ventures Co-op. The group will hold an open house after agreeing to a three-year lease with the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg. Councillors came to terms with the agreement during their February 14 meeting. The South Shore Ventures Co-op is hoping to transform the old school into a model for how to become more self-sufficient and sustainable in areas including food, shelter and employment, according to their website. The open house will be held Wednesday from 3:30-5pm at the Blockhouse Fire Hall. Mayor Don Downe and other District of Lunenburg councillors are expected to be on-hand to officially sign the lease on the old school. It will be followed by an evening of celebration featuring musical acts, supper and door prizes. More information can be found at http://www.theblockhouseschool.org/ .

Park View J.V. Boys win provincial basketball bronze

A bronze medal finish for the Park View Panthers JV boys basketball team. The local club wrapped up third place at provincials with a 77-46 victory over Sydney Academy.  C.P. Allen outscored Citadel in the final to become provincial champions.

Minor football coming to Bridgewater?

Minor football could soon be a reality in Bridgewater. Town council put its support behind the idea after a presentation by the South Shore Seahawks minor football club earlier this month. There were no financial commitments but an agreement in principle that the group would submit a letter with funding indications to council. The group, led by Gary Linthorne and John Peters, is hoping to base the team out of Bridgewater and play games at the Kinsmen Field. The Seahawks are hoping to have 60 kids play for two teams in different age groups. Peters says football would get more kids active in the community. The Seahawks are projecting to spend close to $30,000 on equipment including pads, jerseys, pants, helmets and insurance. Mayor Carroll Publicover says he's concerned about the timing because its close to budget, but would like to see other municipal units get involved. Minor football is in every region across Nova Scotia except the South Shore.