YMCA expanding King Street location for youth centre

Emma Sutherland

The YMCA Lunenburg County is offering more programming to youth. The organization is expanding its King Street location in Bridgewater to include a youth centre. The spot offers an after school program at the moment from 3-6pm daily. The new youth centre would offer more programs Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings along with weekends. A member of the YMCA's youth leadership program, Emma Sutherland, says the inclusion of a centre would be beneficial for local youth.

"A youth centre connects us to the local community engaging us to volunteer and make a difference in our neighbourhood. A youth centre can assist us in developing positive friendships and growing up healthy. A youth centre can provide us with a place to gather and be ourselves."

The YMCA has asked both the town of Bridgewater and Municipality of Lunenburg to consider setting aside $22,000 in their upcoming budgets to support the centre. Bridgewater Mayor Carroll Publicover says its a lot of money, but adds, council will determine what they can manage. The YMCA says they will start working on the new centre as of April 1.

Suspect Salmon Virus Pinpointed to Shelburne Harbour

Cooke Aquaculture says fish samples from Shelburne Harbour are being tested for a deadly salmon virus. The company confirmed the location to remove suspicions cast by opponents of another farming site in St. Mary's Bay. Spokeswoman Nell Halse says no signs of ISA is present at any of its other nine fish farms in the province. Thousands of fish from Shelburne Harbour were destroyed after routine testing suspected the virus on February 10th. Meanwhile, the federal agency has yet to release the test results after samples were sent to Moncton earlier this month. The agency says it will take weeks to confirm the results. ISA is not harmful to humans but is considered the more feared virus within the industry.

Update: Tips Wanted in Armed Robbery Investigation

Police have some leads, but are asking the public to help with the investigation into an armed robbery in Hebbville. Mounties say a masked man, armed with a gun, walked into an Irving gas station on Friday night and demanded cash. The robbery took place just before 10 o'clock but wittnesses inside the store weren't able to identify the suspect or the get away car. The man was able to take an undisclosed amount on money from the cash register and sped off in a vehicle left running outside the gas station. Police are hoping to hear from anyone who may have seen something around the time of the incident. Tips should be directed to the Lunenburg County RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

Bridgewater Council supports Minor Football

Minor football is coming to the South Shore. Bridgewater council awarded a one-time commitment and pre-budget approval of $7,816.55 for the South Shore Seahawks to start playing this summer. The cost to the town is expected to drop with an in-kind donation of $1,500 and the towns implication to apply for a provincial Health and Wellness grant worth $2,243. Mayor Carroll Publicover says he would like other municipal units to chip-in funding.

"It should be 50/50 because these kids are going to come from the entire South Shore area, no way half of them will come from Bridgewater; can't happen, there won't be enough with a focused attention on football, they'll come from Chester right through to Queens County."

The Seahawks' team plan indicates the club would like to recruit players and hold identification camps as early as next month or April. Goal posts are expected to be installed at Kinsmen field in the next few months. Tryouts would then be held in August with league play starting in September. The Seahawks are hoping to attract at least 60 players to field two teams.

Mahone Bay recognizes volunteer of the year for 2012

A nice way to honour a long-time volunteer. Charles Uhlman has been named Mahone Bay's volunteer of the year for 2012 for his 43 years of service with the Lions Club and constant work in the town. Uhlman coached and mentored students at the former Mahone Bay school and also volunteers with the Victorian Order of Nurses. He says it was never his intention to be recognized for an award. Uhlman says he likes being involved in the town.

"The rewards that you get are the good feeling that you have when you're doing things for your community, you know, you're doing things for people, you're trying to make the place a better place in which to live."

Uhlman will represent Mahone Bay in Halifax at a provincial awards ceremony for volunteers in April.