UPDATED: Lunenburg's Mayor Will Not Re-Offer

After 33 years, Laurence Mawhinney will not seek re-election for the mayors seat in Lunenburg. He came to the conclusion after several lengthy discussions with his family over the past few months. Earlier this year, Mawhinney told reporters he was ready to seek another term as mayor. However, he had a change of heart after speaking with his friends and family.



He says a high point during his time as mayor occurred just this week when Canada's premiers and aboriginal leaders toured the waterfront.



He also spoke fondly about the town's designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. He says the UNESCO connection has been a wonderful experience and believes the town will continue to flourish. Mawhinney has held the mayors title since 1979. He'll stay on as mayor until municipal elections in October.

Most Remaining 'Zellers' Outlets Will Close

It could cost thousands of people their jobs. The Hudson's Bay Company has decided to close most of its 64 remaining Zellers stores in Canada. Other Zellers stores are being converted to new Target stores after the U-S chain bought them up. The closures will throw 64 hundred people out of work. It's not known how or if this announcement may affect the Bridgewater Zellers location. The South Shore location employs approximately 30 to 40 people. No date has been given for the closures, but the stores won't be open beyond next March. A Bay official says each the stores just aren't considered viable.

Premiers Leave Unique Gift For Bluenose II

Bluenose II will carry a piece of every Canadian province and territory the next time it sets sail. A table built with materials from across the country was dedicated to Nova Scotia's sailing ambassador today by the Council of the Federation which held meetings in Halifax and Lunenburg. The council often gives a special item as a legacy to the province hosting the summer meeting. It reflects the premiers' leadership, deliberations, commitment, and work to improve the lives of Canadians. Some of the building material from the table include red spruce from Nova Scotia, Sugar Maple from New Brunwick, Douglas Fir from BC and a gold nugget from Yukon.  The table was built by Colin O'Toole of Covey Island Boatworks, one of the three companies restoring the Bluenose II in Lunenburg. It will be permanently installed on the vessel.

Official building materials:

-- Red spruce from Nova Scotia

-- Red oak from Prince Edward Island

-- Spruce from Newfoundland and Labrador

-- Sugar maple from New Brunswick

-- Black walnut from Ontario

-- Spruce from Quebec

-- White spruce from Manitoba

-- White birch from Saskatchewan

-- Lodgepole pine from Alberta

-- Douglas fir from British Columbia

-- Granite from Nunavut

-- Piece of four billion-year-old Acaster Gneiss rock from the Northwest Territories

-- Gold nugget from the Yukon

Police Report 'Quiet' Start To Big Ex

Bridgewater Police say its been fairly quiet after two nights at the South Shore Exhibition. However, officers responded Wednesday night after a woman had a little too much to drink. Police arrested the 39-year-old Lunenburg County woman after security informed them of a disturbance behind one of the main buildings. She spent the night behind bars for public intoxication and was released this morning. Police ask people to be responsible while consuming alcohol.

DOT Minister Agrees Forties Road In Rough Shape

The poor condition of the Forties Road in Lunenburg county has caught the attention of the province's transportation minister. However, when it could see some new paving is still any one's guess. In a letter to the Municipality of Chester, Minister Maurice Smith acknowledged the road is in need of upgrades as soon as funding becomes available. Smith was not able to say when new pavement could be put down but confirmed the road will be earmarked as a priority. He says the Forties Road will be given consideration when the province's five-year highway improvement plan is updated. The road runs between New Ross and East Dalhousie.

South Shore Receives Recreation Funding

The province is spending more than $325,000 to give recreation facilities along the South Shore a boost. Ten grants have been set up under the Recreation Facility Development Program. Environment Minister Sterling Belliveau says recreation organizations and facilities provide leadership and help create healthier communities across the province. The program helps community groups, municipalities and other not-for-profit organizations develop facilities to increase public participation in sport and physical recreation. Belliveau made the announcement on behalf of Health and Wellness Minister David Wilson. The list of investments on the South Shore includes:

• Shelburne County Arena Association, Shelburne, structural and electrical upgrades to the Shelburne Arena, $80,000
• Woodland Multi-use Trail Association, Municipality of the District of Barrington, develop phase 4 of the trail, $40,000
• Municipality of the District of Barrington , Barrington Passage, develop a playground, $10,000
• Acadia First Nation, Gold River,  Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, develop recreation park and outdoor court, $14,000
• Voglers Cove Community Hall, Voglers Cove, Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, develop multi-purpose outdoor recreation spaces, $40,000
• LaHave River Yacht Club, Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, electrical and accessibility upgrade to yacht club, $40,000
• Bull Run Trail Association, Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, develop trail, $20,000
• Adventure Trail Association, Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, develop abandoned rail to trail, $18,000
• LaHave River Trail Association, Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, develop trail, $13,000
• Hubbards Sailing Club, Fox Point, build a new youth sailing club, $50,000

McNeil: Three Solutions For Better Health Care

The province's Liberal Leader says nurse practitioners are one of three solutions to improving health care. Stephen McNeil made the comments after 800 available spots with Bridgewater's nurse practitioners were filled after two public intakes. He says a Liberal government would target university students to help alleviate the issue.



McNeil also believes a separate residency program should be set up for Nova Scotia students who move home after studying outside the province. Bridgewater's nurse practitioners can handle up to 1,400 patients with a third intake planned for the fall. Nurse practitioners are the first step towards a new Collaborative Health Centre in Bridgewater to help meet the needs of the community.

Gas Prices May be Lowered Some Tonight

Gas prices along the South Shore may drop some tonight ... if New Brunswick is a good measure of what might happen.  New Brunswick's Energy and Utilities Board reset gas prices at midnight last night with the maximum price of regular unleaded falling by almost a cent to $1.27.3 per litre.  Strangely, the price of diesel went in the opposite direction though, up by just under two cents to a maximum of $1.32.5 a litre.  In case you're interested, the world markets price of oil was up yesterday by just under 50 cents to $88.95 a barrel.