Thorburne Stepping Aside As Bridgewater Fire Chief

Willing to listen, ready to serve; the words Wayne Thorburne has followed since becoming fire chief. The saying carries new weight as the 65-year-old has decided to step aside as chief and fulfill his new role on town council. Thorburne has been fire chief for almost eight years, and has spent close to 40 years as a member of the Bridgewater Fire Department. He says he's enjoyed his time as chief.



Thorburne says he will become a regular firefighter, once a new chief is elected, until his planned retirement in June. Deputy Chief Michael Nauss has been nominated to replace Thorburne as chief while Captain Andy Wentzell has been nominated to take over as deputy chief. A decision is expected December 10.

New Bridgewater-Halifax Bus Route Proposed

An eleventh hour deal is in the works to revive the South Shore's only bus service into Halifax. The owner of Trius Tours is proposing to establish a daily round-trip between Bridgewater and Halifax. Mike Cassidy is trying to find a solution after a private operator withdrew an application yesterday to provide bus service into Halifax for residents of the South Shore. Cassidy is proposing to introduce the Bridgewater-Halifax route on a six-month trial basis and offer more convenient departure and arrival times.



Trius took the Halifax-Yarmouth route over from Acadian Lines in 2006. However, low ridership is forcing the company to eliminate the run on December 1st. Cassidy would need approval from the province's regulatory board before the company could offer the new bus route.

Lumberjacks Add Groom In Yarmouth Deal

Another player is coming to the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks from the Yarmouth Mariners. The deal, first reported Tuesday included the Jacks receiving defenseman Brendan Nickerson of Shelburne County in exchange for a fifth round pick in 2013. The Lumberjacks will also receive 18-year-old forward Ryan Groom. The Glace Bay native has one goal and three assists in 19 games this season.

Veteran Councillors Have Public Transit Concerns

A pair of veteran councillors in Lunenburg feel there are too many unknowns surrounding public transit. Citizens for Public Transit have been working to secure partners for a three year pilot project to test out a fixed route system to serve Lunenburg county. The group made another presentation to town council last night in hopes of securing financial support to get their pilot project off the ground. However, John McGee is skeptical the system will work. He says taxpayers in Lunenburg are a little nervous about making such an investment.



McGee believes a decision on the town's potential involvement is still a ways down the road. Meanwhile, councillor Peter Zwicker is applauding the work of the CPT, but also has concerns with the costs associated with the pilot project. He says any decision falls on the taxpayers of Lunenburg.



Should the town sign onto the pilot project, it would mean Lunenburg would need to invest a dollar amount that could exceed $20,000. The CPT is hoping to cost share the pilot project with the provincial government and four municipal units within the county.

MODL Concerned About Lost Bus Service

The Municipality of Lunenburg has concerns after learning a bus service will no longer serve the South Shore. CKBW/HANK-FM News reported yesterday Bernie Melanson of Bernie's Shuttle Service has decided to withdraw his application to replace Trius Tours' Halifax to Yarmouth route. The decision means a bus service could vanish from the South Shore as early as December 1. Mayor Don Downe says there needs to be a service for residents.



The municipality is currently reviewing the situation and plan to outline their concerns to the province.