UPDATE: Wind & Rain All That Remains Of "Sandy"

It's been a relatively quiet night weather wise for much of the South Shore. According to Nova Scotia Power's outage map and their twitter feed, there are no power outages to report as of 10 o'clock on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, Nova Scotia's Emergency Management Organization is also reporting a quiet night thus far in relation to tropical storm "Sandy". Residents in Cape Sable Island, Yarmouth and Lockeport told CKBW/HANK FM via our Facebook page that thundershowers had passed through the area but they didn't lose their power. Others living in Chelsea, Bridgewater, Liverpool, Shelburne told us their power flickered but their lights are still on at their homes. The Tancook ferry services was halted due to high winds on Monday. No word on when the service will resume. Meanwhile, Bay Ferries Limited cancelled it's Digby-St. John trip earlier today. Passengers are being asked to call in advance to check on future runs for Wednesday and Thursday.

Math Change Makes Sense To New Board Member

A newly-elected member of the South Shore Regional School Board believes increasing time students spend on math is a good decision. The province's education minister has announced Grade 10 students will spend twice as much time sharpening their math skills when they go to a full-year course in 2013. Students will receive 220 hours to study math in the classroom, up from 110 hours currently offered under the semestered system. The changes also include a beefed-up math curriculum to include lessons on how to keep a budget and calculate interest. Jennifer Naugler says the changes make sense.



The new curriculum will be phased in over three years, starting in September with grades primary to three and grade 10.

Momentum Builds For Chester-Based Health Centre

Fundraising efforts are underway to bring a collaborative health care facility to Chester. "Our Health Centre" will be built near Shoreham Village and feature six doctor's offices, examining rooms and a blood donor clinic. Spokesperson Jim Pattillo says the health centre will be funded, built and maintained by the community.  He says the fundraising committee has set a goal to raise nearly six million dollars for the OHC over the next 15 months.



"Our Health Centre" will be a multi-use facility and provide primary health care to a population of 15,000 in Chester, Hubbards and Tancook Island. Pattillo is hopeful the doors to the health centre will be open in 2014.

One Crewmember Dead, Captain Missing In Bounty Tragedy

HMS Bounty Capt, Robin Walbridge

A search is underway for missing ship captain, Robin Walbridge, off the coast of North Carolina. A woman who was rescued in the Atlantic after abandoning the vessel in rough weather yesterday churned up by Hurricane Sandy has died. Ironically, crew member Claudeen Christian was a descendent of Fletcher Christian, the mastermind behind the real-life mutiny on the original Bounty in 1789. 14 other crew members were rescued from their lifeboats by the US Coast Guard. Meanwhile, a retired shipbuilder who worked on construction of HMS Bounty at the former Smith & Rhuland yard in Lunenburg in 1960 says the vessel's sinking and loss of two crew members is a great tragedy. 76 year-old Gerald Zwicker says he and other workers are saddened by the event.



The replica of the orginal HMS Bounty was built for the 1962 MGM movie "Mutiny On The Bounty". Historians estimate ... about 45 people worked on her construction on the Lunenburg waterfront. The Bounty became a regular visitor to Lunenburg over the years and stopped off for a weekend visit in early August.

South Shore: No Major Power Outages

No major power outages on the South Shore after last night's strong wind and rain. Scattered outages affected a few hundred residents in Chester, Yarmouth and Liverpool. The longest occurred in the Liverpool area and spanned just over three hours. Meanwhile, firefighters in Mahone Bay were able to contain a small fire on a power pole near the government wharf. Officials say a transformer caught fire around 10 o'clock last night but it was quickly contained. The brunt of Superstorm Sandy is expected to reach the region later this evening and bring upwards of 50 millimetres of rain to Shelburne, Queens and Yarmouth counties. Lesser amounts are expected for Lunenburg County.

Region Of Queens Swearing-In New Council

Newly-elected members for the Region of Queens will be sworn-in tonight. Christopher Clarke will replace John Leefe as the new mayor, after winning this month's election over David Dagley, Owen Hamlin and Mervin Hartlen. Other members being sworn-in include Brian Fralic for District 3, Susan MacLeod for District 4, Jack Fancy in District 5 and Raymond Fiske in District Six. Darlene Norman, Bruce Inglis and Peter Waterman round out the council. The ceremony gets underway this evening at 7:30 in the community room at Queens Place Emera Centre.