Lower Northfield Man Killed In Weekend Crash

Mounties are releasing the name of person killed in Saturday's crash north of Bridgewater. Peter Bentley of Lower Northfield died in a collision with another vehicle around 8 o'clock. The 37 year old died at the scene. A 59 year old woman remains is serious condition in Halifax. Police say the Northfield Road has been re-opened to traffic. The cause of the collision is still under investigation.

Dramatic Rescue To Start Lobster Season

Some tense moments and a dramatic rescue just hours after the official start of the lobster fishing season. Four fishermen have been rescued just off the coast of Liverpool when their boat began taking on water. The mayday call was issued around 10 o'clock this morning. It's reported two men were plucked from a life raft while two others rescued from the water by a nearby fishing boat. The condition of the men is not known. Both the Canadian Coast Guard and Joint Rescue Coordination Centre were called for duty. The fishing season in LFA's 33 and 34 began this morning at 6am.

UPDATED: Fatal Crash On Northfield Road

Mounties are investigating the third fatal car crash in the past nine days in Lunenburg County. Police say a man is dead after a collision between a car and an SUV this morning in Lower Northfield. It occurred shortly after 8:00am. A woman also involved in the crash has been airlifted to the QE II in Halifax. She has serious injuries. An RCMP traffic analyst has been called to help with the investigation. On November 15, a 23 year old man was killed in a single vehicle crash in Blockhouse while an elderly man died after a head on collision in Hebbs Cross on Wednesday.

Bridgewater: Town Approves Noise By-Law

Bridgewater residents are going to have to start keeping noise at a respectable level. The town has approved a noise by-law by a 4-3 vote. The document includes maximum decibel limits of 75 decibels between 10pm and 6am.  It increases to 90 decibels during the day. Meanwhile, the town is in the middle of reviewing all of its by-laws to see which ones are necessary and which ones can be scrapped. Mayor David Walker says it doesn't make sense to add another by-law in the middle of the process.



Walker voted against the by-law along with councillors Michael Graves and Jennifer McDonald. The by-law won't take effect right away. There is training and decisions around enforcement that need to be ironed out.

Limited Parking At Queens General Hospital

Parking spaces will be at a premium for the next few weeks at Queens General Hospital. The site is being prepared for paving and other ground work. South Shore Health is advising the public to park in the lower parking lot near the old main entrance when visiting the hospital. Other parking space will be limited. Staff and the public are encouraged to carpool, or use drop off and pick up when possible. Paving is expected to be complete by mid-December.

Safety Crucial For Successful Lobster Fishing Season: Fisheries Minister

The annual lobster fishing season in our region finally gets underway Saturday morning in districts 33 and 34.
Its been delayed for almost a week because of bad weather. Nova Scotia fisheries minister Keith Colwell says its a very important industry, valued at more than 400 million dollars. He says for the fishermen, its a harsh environment in which to work.



Hundreds of vessels, stacked with lobster traps and manned by their crews will set out at 7 o'clock Saturday morning.

Nova Scotia: Ombudsman Set To Retire

Nova Scotia's long time ombudsman will retire at the end of the year. Dwight Bishop has served as the province's Ombudsman since 2004. Premier Stephen McNeil thanked Bishop for his dedicated service saying the people of Nova Scotia were well served during his term. Bishop did not wish to seek reappointment. He was appointed in 2004 and reappointed in 2009. The recruitment process for a new Ombudsman will begin shortly.

Sports: Panthers Play Titans, Mooseheads Look For Tenth Straight Win

The Park View Panthers boys hockey team gets ready for their toughest challenge this season. The high school team travels to Canning tonight to take on the top-seeded Northeast Kings Titans. Park View sits in third in the Valley League with five wins and a shootout loss.
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The Halifax Mooseheads try for their 10th straight win tonight when they travel to Cape Breton. The Moose sit in second place in the Quebec Junior League with a record of 21-8.
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The Bridgewater Triathlon Club will present a cheque to the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg in support of the local P.R.O. Kids program. The group will make the presentation at 10AM Saturday at The Local Public House in the Bridgewater Mall. The donation represents profits from the club's annual Riverport Duathlon race.

Lumberjacks Host Ramblers; Lose Nickerson To Suspension

The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks will be without one of their young defenseman tonight. Brendan Nickerson has been suspended eight games following an incident that happened in last Friday night's game against Valley. Nickerson received a match penalty during the game and was suspended for physical harassment of an official. The Barrington native has four assists in 24 games this season. The Lumberjacks will host the Amherst Ramblers at 7pm at the Clearwater Seafoods Arena. The Bridgewater club has lost four in a row.

Sports Day In Canada Comes To Lunenburg County YMCA

An open house at the Lunenburg County YMCA in Bridgewater will give people a chance to try different activities. It's all part of RBC Sports Day in Canada. People will have a chance to try pickleball. They can also watch a local Para-Olympic Para-Canoeist demonstrate training modules. A director with the local YMCA, Jonathan Gregorash, says there are many benefits to hosting the event.




The 'Y' will also set up an information booth with programming information for all ages and levels of fitness. The local YMCA will be shown during nationally on CBC, as part of the day. The event will be held Saturday from 11am-4pm.

Hundreds Of Charges Laid In South Shore & Valley Area Break & Enters

More than 300 charges have been laid against 2 men and a woman after a series of break and enters in Lunenburg, Queens, Kings and Annapolis Counties. The RCMP say the arrests follow a 5-month investigation into at least 46 B & E's over the past year. Jewelry and in a few cases firearms were targetted and the break-ins into the homes were carried out mainly during daylight hours. RCMP Sgt. Rocky Calhoun says many of the victims didn't even know they had been robbed.



The three suspects, 42-year-old Perry Fader, 56-year-old Kerry Laffin and 24-year-old Brittany Green, face charges of break and enter, possession of stolen property and conspiracy to commit break and enter.
The suspects are all from Annapolis County and they'll be appearing in Annapolis Royal court in the coming week. The RCMP says some of the stolen property has been recovered and more charges are likely.

Lobster Fishing Season Set To Go Tomorrow Morning

The annual lobster fishing season begins Saturday morning in districts 33 and 34. The area involved is large, from Halifax along the South Shore to Yarmouth and around to Digby. Former fisheries minister Sterling Belliveau, a former lobster fishermen himself and now the MLA for Queens-Shelburne, says "dumping day" is always a rush.



Hundreds of vessels, stacked with traps and manned by their crews will set sail for the rich lobster fishing areas at 7 o'clock tomorrow morning (Saturday). The start of the season has been on hold since last weekend because of bad weather conditions. Tomorrow is expected to be clear with little wind.

Gasoline Prices Up Again

Gas prices at South Shore pumps have increased overnight. Regular self serve is up 2 cents a litre to $1.32.1 High test is up by the same amount to $1.41.1. Diesel is up almost 5 cents a litre this morning to $1.41.8. These increases come about as industry analyists say there's no real reason for hikes because oil supplies are good. In fact, the world price of oil has been dropping all week.

Liverpool: RCMP Investigate Possible Threat To School

A high school in Queens County was placed under a safety procedure this afternoon due to a possible threat made to the school. Students and staff at Liverpool Regional High School were under "hold and secure"  which means no one allowed inside or out of the building. The procedure was put in place over the lunch hour and Queens County RCMP were called to investigate a possible weapons threat to the school. Corporal Scott MacRae says police were stationed at the school to ensure the safety of students and staff. He says no arrests have been made.



Classes will take place as usual on Friday.

Memo sent home to parents via South Shore Regional School Board web site:

November 28, 2013

Dear Parents/Guardians:

During lunchtime, school administration received a phone call that a non-student was rumored to be coming to our school with weapons. Immediately, the Liverpool Detachment Royal Canadian Mounted Police were advised and responded by coming to our school. Our school went into a “Hold and Secure” mode.

Upon arrival of police, students were advised to return to classrooms with their teachers, to insure everyone’s safety. Afternoon classes went ahead as usual with staff and students receiving updates.

I am very pleased with the reaction of our students and staff. The Liverpool Detachment Royal Canadian Mounted Police responded promptly, effectively and remained at school until student dismissal. Their efforts will continue with investigative work.

Terry Doucette

Principal

Liverpool Regional High School

UPDATED: Liverpool High School Under "Hold & Secure"

Liverpool Regional High School in Queens County is under a "hold & secure" procedure due to "potential issue". That means no one is allowed to enter or leave the school. Communications Manager for the South Shore Regional School Board, Trish Smith says the move is precautionary. RCMP are involved. This is all the information we have and will update when we have more to report.

Update 1:15pm: Liverpool High School will remain in hold and secure until dismissal. The school has been working with the RCMP on a potential threat. All are safe.

Update 1:25pm: RCMP in Queens County looking for a person of interest in relation to hold and secure at Liverpool Regional High School.

Update 1:32pm: RCMP were called to investigate a possible weapons threat at the school - which led to the hold and secure. They are following up to find out if the threat is legit. Students safe, classes continue as normal.

Update 1:44pm: South Shore Regional School Board says students will be dismissed at regular time, RCMP will be on site when students get on their buses.

Update 1:50pm: School board says a memo will be sent home to parent letting them know what took place at the school and the reason for the "hold and secure". Students being dismissed and are being transported home.

Victim Of Fatal 103 Crash Identified

A Mill Village man has been identified as the victim of a two-vehicle crash yesterday on Highway 103 at Hebbs Cross. 73 year old George Warner Smith died Wednesday afternoon when the mini-van he was driving east between exits 14 and 15 collided with an SUV heading west. Two other people were sent to hospital with serious injuries. The cause of the crash hasn't been determined but driving conditions on the highway were poor at the time with heavy rain and wind. The RCMP are continuing their investigation.

Storm Cleanup Continues

Heavy rain and hurricane-force wind gusts last night created a lot of problems across the province for a lot of people. The biggest impact was on power. At the height of the storm, close to 50-thousand Nova Scotians lost their electricity, including thousands along the South Shore from St. Margaret's Bay to Yarmouth. Nova Scotia Power has been trying to fix a pair of snapped poles on North Street in Bridgewater, which is causing some minor traffic delays. Company spokesman David Rodenhiser says crews have been working on the issue for more than 12 hours.



Wind gusts last evening were close to 100 km/hr at times which tore limbs from trees, destroyed fences, ripped shingles off rooves and toppled trees, power poles and lines. RCMP Sgt. Al LeBlanc says first responders were swamped with calls.



There are still about 14-thousand Nova Scotia Power customers without electricity with the most outages in the eastern part of the province and Cape Breton. NSP hopes to have everyone re-connected as the day goes on. There have also been numerous delays or cancellations of flights at Halifax's Stanfield International Airport.

Gas Prices Expected To Rise Again

Gas prices here on the South Shore will likely rise about a cent tonight when the utility and review board sets the coming week's prices at midnight. In New Brunswick this morning, there's an increase in gas prices there. Self serve regular is at $126.9 a litre with diesel at $1.42 a litre.

Bridgewater: NSP Working To Fix North Street Power Poles

Over 14,000 people province-wide remain without power following yesterday's rain and wind storm. Crews with Nova Scotia Power worked through the night to fix situations on the South Shore including several outages in the Bridgewater-area, Chester and Queens. NSP is still trying to fix a pair of snapped poles on North Street in Bridgewater, which is causing some minor traffic delays. Company spokesman David Rodenhiser says crews have been working on the issue for over 12 hours.




Rodenhiser says workers are putting up new poles and installing wiring. He expects the issue to be cleared up in the next few hours.

South Shore Cleans-Up After Powerful Storm

Heavy rain and hurricane force wind gusts created a lot of problems last night in Nova Scotia. The biggest impact was on power. At the height of the storm, close to 50,000 people lost their electricity, including thousands along the South Shore from St. Margaret's Bay to Yarmouth. Wind gusts were close to 100 km/h at times which tore limbs from trees, destroyed fences, ripped off shingles and toppled power poles. There are still about 20,000 Nova Scotia Power customers without electricity with the most outages in the eastern part of the province and Cape Breton. NSP hopes to have everyone re-connected as the day goes on. There have also been numerous delays or cancellations of flights this morning at Halifax's Stanfield International Airport.

Local MLA Says Legislature Session Will Be A Rehearsal

The Nova Scotia Legislature will open today (Thursday) for a short fall sitting. Its the first session for recently-elected Premier Stephen McNeil and his 31 other Liberal MLA's. Argyle-Barrington Progressive Conservative MLA Chris d'Entremont says he's anxious to get back in the house to see if the Liberals will live up to their election promises and also work to improve the lobster fishery.



The legislature will open this afternoon with the throne speech read by Lieutenant-Governor J.J. Grant.
The session, expected to last only a week or so, is mainly for house keeping and the introduction of a few bills. d'Entremont says its mainly a rehearsal for a spring session.

UPDATE: Power Outages (10AM)

Last night's heavy rain and hurricane-force wind gusts created a lot of problems. The biggest impact was on power. At one point during the night, close to 50-thousand Nova Scotians lost their electricity, including thousands along the South Shore from St. Margarets Bay to Yarmouth. Wind gusts were close to 100 by times which tore limbs from trees, destroyed fences, ripped shingles off rooves and toppled power poles and lines. There are still about 20-thousand Nova Scotia Power customers without electricity with the most outages in the eastern part of the province and Cape Breton. NSP hopes to have everyone re-connected as the day goes on. There have also been numerous delays or cancellations of flights this morning at Halifax's Stanfield International Airport.

New Lunenburg MLA Readies For First Legislature Sitting

The Nova Scotia Legislature will open today for a special fall sitting. Its the first session for Premier Stephen McNeil and his other recently-elected Liberal MLA's. This will also be the first time Lunenburg Liberal MLA Suzanne Lohnes-Croft has sat in the house. She says it will be a learning experience and she's thrilled she's going to be there.



The legislature will begin sitting this afternoon with the throne speech read by Lieutenant-Governor J.J. Grant. The session, expected to last only a week or so, is mainly for house keeping and the introduction of a few bills.

Thousand Lose Power As Storm Pounds Nova Scotia

An intense storm packing huge wind gusts and heavy rain has knocked out power to more than 40,000 people in Nova Scotia. A complete list of outages and estimated restoration times can be found here

Bridgewater Donates $500 To Aid Philippines

Ottawa has extended the deadline to match funding towards Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts in the Philippines. The federal government has changed the date from December 9th to December 23rd. Closer to home, a number of local municipalities have decided to donate money to the cause. Bridgewater recently approved $500. Mayor David Walker says providing money was an easy decision.



Meanwhile, the Municipality of Chester gave $100, the town of Mahone Bay donated $500 and the Region of Queens offered $1,000 to the relief efforts. Reports say the death toll is over 5,500 but could still climb after the typhoon struck earlier this month.

UPDATED: Fatal Crash On Highway 103

Mounties say one person is dead after a head-on crash late this afternoon on Highway 103. The collision between a SUV and van happened in Hebbs Cross just after 3 o'clock. Sergeant Alain Leblanc says two others have been taken to hospital with serious injuries. A section of the highway has been shut down near the crash scene.  RCMP say they will be on scene for at least a few hours. Traffic is being re-routed through the Old Camperdown Road. The cause of the collision has not been determined but road conditions were poor at time.

Lobster Season Will Open Saturday

The lucrative lobster fishing season in southwestern Nova Scotia will kick off on Saturday. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans and representatives from within the industry made the decision this afternoon after getting a look at the updated forecast. DFO Area Manager Frank Quinn says calmer wind speeds are expected heading into the weekend.



Quinn says he's pleased fishermen are thinking about safety first before heading out on the water. The lobster fishing season was supposed to open on Monday but was delayed because of high wind and rough seas.

Shore Club, Mateus Bistro Among Taste Of NS Award Winners

Lunenburg County restaurants and producers have collected hardware from Taste of Nova Scotia. Four local businesses received 2013 Prestige Awards. LaHave Forests of Blockhouse won innovative product of the year for their Haskapa Haskap juice while Terra Beata Cranberry Farm in Heckman's Island was named producer of the year. Mateus Bistro in Mahone Bay won restaurant of the year for chef-inspired casual dining. Shore Club Lobster Suppers in Hubbards received restaurant of the year - essence of Nova Scotia. The awards celebrate producers and restaurants that provide exceptional culinary products and experiences.

UPDATED: Power Outages Reported

Power outages are being reported in Nova Scotia. It's part of a late fall storm that's ready to pound most of the province. According to Nova Scotia Power, outages are affecting roughly 5,500 residents in Bridgetown, Kingston and Windsor. No outages on the South Shore have been reported. Wind gusts in the region could top 100 km/h. They could reach up to 130 km/h in some parts of Cape Breton. Environment Canada is also predicting upwards of 50 millimetres of rain. Meanwhile, the Confederation Bridge has restricted certain classes of vehicles from crossing until the current high wind situation changes.

Chester: Gingerbread Festival Opens For Fifth Year

The smell of brown sugar and molasses will linger through Chester for the next few weeks. The fifth annual gingerbread festival kicks off this weekend in the village. Chester will be decorated with hundreds of outdoor flat gingerbread men. Over a dozen people will also build gingerbread houses that will be judged and displayed at the area's Art Centre. Co-coordinator Suzie Fraser says the event helps get people in the spirit of Christmas.



There will also be a tree lighting, outdoor displays and craft markets over the next two weeks. The festival officially opens Saturday and goes until December 15. More information can be found here .

Curl For Kids Supports Big Brothers Big Sister

Local organizations and teams are gearing up to support Big Brothers Big Sisters at their Curl for Kids event in Bridgewater. This weekend will mark the 24th annual curling bonspeil in support of the non-profit organization which helps deserving children around the South Shore. Executive Director Sandra Murray says it's an important fundraiser to support their programs.



Murray says they have roughly ten teams signed up for this weekend's event including a pair of entries from CKBW and HANK FM. The curling kicks off Saturday at the Bridgewater Curling Club.

"We Day": Local Schools Represent South Shore

South Shore schools have sent a contingent of students to the Halifax Metro Centre today. They are there for the youth empowerment "We Day", sponsored by the Free the Children charity. Roughly 8,000 students and educators from across the region are attending and it can be watched online with streaming here - locally 25 student in Grade 6 at New Germany Elementary made the trip along with students from North Queens. The show will be featuring a star-studded lineup of performers and inspirational speakers, including Shawn Desman, Hedley and former governor-general Michaelle Jean. "We Day"started in 2007 and has grown into a cross-country tour with nine Canadian stops. (Photo: Nova Scotia Teachers Union Twitter feed)

Minister Announces School Review Consultations

Consultations on the way schools are closed in Nova Scotia will begin next month with a slate of public meetings set to take place in January. Education Minister Karen Casey made the announcement today in Halifax. A discussion paper was also made public which will assist in gathering input toward creating a new review process. Public meetings will be held in Bridgewater and Yarmouth.  Chair of the South Shore Regional School Board, Jennifer Naugler says she is pleased meetings will be held locally.



The key issues around the review process are declining enrolment and the way the province currently funds school boards. Since 2002, enrolment on the South Shore and Tri County has declined by 25 percent - or just over 2,000 students in each region.

Bridgewater: University Students To Research Plastic Bag By-Law

A plastic bag by-law in Bridgewater will be delayed until at least 2015. The town has decided to allow students in Dalhousie University's Management without Borders program to provide research on the issue. The program is only offered in September, and would be scheduled for next fall. Councillor Andrew Tanner brought the idea to the table. He says it makes sense to see how the community feels.




About a dozen students would complete a report involving feedback from the public, retail sector, and solid waste industry on plastic bag regulations. The students could also focus on a best practices approach to regulation in the Bridgewater and surrounding area.

DFO: Fishing Season Could Still Open Friday

Officials in the lobster fishing industry will get together for a conference call tomorrow to see if they can set their traps this week. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans will consult with meteorologists and representatives from lobster fishing areas 33 and 34 before making a final decision. The season was supposed to start Monday but was delayed because of poor weather conditions. Area Manger for DFO Frank Quinn says high wind is their biggest concern.



Quinn says they are still looking at beginning the season on Friday. However, he adds it still to early to determine if that will happen based on the weather.

Bridgewater: Michelin Plans To Build Natural Gas Station

The largest industrial employer in Bridgewater is looking to expand its services. Michelin is trying to access a development agreement from the town to construct a compressed natural gas receiving station at 347 Logan Road. The company needs to build the new station to accommodate some changes at Imperial Oil's Eastern Passage refinery. Mayor David Walker feels it's the company's best remaining option.



The station would be near the existing plant. A public participation meeting on the issue is planned for December 11 at town hall.

Province Reviewing Aquaculture Industry Regulatory Process

The regulatory process for Nova Scotia's aquaculture industry is being reviewed by the provincial government. Fisheries minister Keith Colwell says there are questions surrounding the establishment of fish farms in Shelburne County and elsewhere. He wants assurances the traditional fishery will not be seriously impacted.



Colwell says the last thing thats needed is lower-quality foreign fish being dumped on the market here.
He hopes the review with recommendations can be completed within the next several months.

South Shore: Weather Warnings Issued

It could be a busy few days for Nova Scotia Power crews. A high intensity storm is expected to pound the entire South Shore on Wednesday bringing wind gusts up to 100 km/h and up to 50 millimetres of rain. Environment Canada has issued weather warnings for Lunenburg, Shelburne, Digby, Queens and Yarmouth counties. Rain will begin in the morning and intensify into the afternoon and evening. The weather agency predicts wind and rainfall warnings will need to be extended to other sections of the province for overnight Wednesday into Thursday as the storm moves into the region.

Planned Power Outage At Fishermen's Memorial Hospital

A temporary power outage is planned for this coming Saturday morning at Fishermen's Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg. It'll happen between 7am and noon. The outage will force the emergency department to close and visitation at Fishermen's will be restricted. South Shore Health says the power outage is necessary to complete a critical upgrade to the electrical system and the power should be restored by noon. The health authority advises anyone requiring emergency services to call 911 or visit South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater or Queens General Hospital in Liverpool. Patients with non-emergencies should contact Health Link 811 for medical advice.

Tuesday: School Review Update Expected

A discussion paper dealing with the school review process is set to be released Tuesday. Education Minister Karen Casey will provide an update on the process during a media conference in Halifax. A committee has been working since April to produce a discussion paper that will lead to a new school review process. It's expected to examine what is working within the process, areas to improve and ideas for surplus schools. School review has been highly controversial in rural communities throughout the province. It has long been used as a method behind school closure or amalgamation of smaller schools. Members of the South Shore Regional School Board will be in attendance tomorrow afternoon when the discussion paper is released.

Local Teachers Recognized For Making A Difference

A local teacher and guidance counsellor have been recognized as teachers who make a difference. The Nova Scotia Teachers Union honoured nine of its members for making an impact in the lives of their students. Michelle Longley, a grade seven english teacher at Chester Area Middle School and Roland Hannem, a guidance counsellor at South Centennial and Yarmouth Central schools are among the recipients. They will both receive a $300 donation towards their school's breakfast or library program. This is the second year for the 'teachers who make a difference program.' It encouraged students to nominate a teacher who has made a big difference in their lives, and contributed to their school and community.

Hurricanes Collect Silver At Halifax Tournament

A tough loss for the BMO Western Hurricanes at the Esso Major Bantam Hockey Tournament in Halifax. The Hurricanes fell 2-1 in the championship game to the Cape Breton Cougars. Walter Flower had the lone goal for the Hurricanes. Meanwhile, Flower was named a first team all-star on defense. Matt Barron joined him as a first team all-star at forward. Parker Rowter and Adam Grimmitt were named top goaltenders and Jacob Myra received the most dedicated player of the tournament.

Health Authority Approves Alcohol Position Statement

The local health authority is taking a view on alcohol. South Shore Health has approved an 'Alcohol Position Statement', which explains their thoughts on issues including access and availability of alcohol, pricing, advertising and sponsorship. The statement is one of three created in the past two years dealing with tobacco, food and alcohol. Director of Community Health Services, Todd Leader, says the document clarifies information for staff to be able to have a stance.



Leader says the statement acts as a beginning to changing the way people think about alcohol. Roughly 230 deaths are attributed to alcohol use annually in Nova Scotia. He says they will take the statement to talk with their community partners to set up further discussions. The position statement can be viewed here .

Local Students Win "National Child Day" Poster Contest

Two students from the South Shore have submitted winning entries for a "National Child Day" poster contest. Adina Brewer of New Germany Elementary and Ally Symonds of Forest Ridge Academy in Shelburne County were identified as successful entries. Manager of Youth and Senior Services with the Ombudsman's Office, Kay Rogers-Lidstone, says the poster contest is an opportunity for students to share their talent and knowledge of children's rights. She says they are hoping to present the local students with their prize before Christmas.



National Child Day is celebrated annually to mark the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. More than 500 entrees were submitted province-wide. More information, including the winning artwork, can be found here.

The winners are:

-- Grade Primary: Emma Baker, Maitland District School, Hants Co.
-- Grade 1: Ainsley Brightman, Maitland District School, Hants Co.
-- Grade 2: Nicholas Sherman, Maitland District School, Hants Co.
-- Grade 3: Ally Symonds, Forest Ridge Academy, Shelburne Co.
-- Grade 4: William Fox-Rodriguez, Park West School, HRM
-- Grade 5: Adina Brewer, New Germany Elementary, Lunenburg Co.
-- Grade 6: Lucas Brocklehurst, Colby Village Elementary School, HRM
-- Grade 7: Hanna Elford, Halifax Central Junior High School, HRM

Food Bank To Benefit From Fund-Raiser

Thousands of dollars in cash and food donations could go a long way in helping to re-stock a South Shore food bank for the holidays. The Bridgewater Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a fund-raiser Wednesday over the supper hour. Chamber manager Dan Hennessey says its in support of the Bridgewater Inter-Faith Food Bank.



The fund-raiser begins at 5pm and runs until 7 at the Best Western in Cookville. All you need to get in for snacks, drinks and to listen to the Bridgewater fire department quartet is a cash and non-perishable food donation.

Men Arrested For Cashing Forged Cheques

Stealing cheques has landed two men with a court appearance in the new year. The Bridgewater Police Service charged 26-year-old Bryden Whynot of Wileville and 24-year-old David Wagner of Bridgewater after the cheques were allegedly stolen from a local business, forged and cashed. The two men are charged with theft, possession of stolen property and uttering forged documents. They will appear in court in Bridgewater on January 15.

Bachman Helps Rink Qualify For Provincials

A Lunenburg native has helped her team qualify for provincials. Raquel Bachman, curling out of Lakeshore Curling Club, captured the Under-21 Junior Women's Eastern Curling Zones in Truro on Sunday. The team breezed through the competition with a 3-0 record. Fellow team mates are skip Hayley McCabe, Alicia Brine, and Emily Mackenzie. The team is coached by Bridgewater native Brian Rafuse. Provincials will take place from Dec 27-31 at the Lakeshore Curling Club.

Park View Boys Win Basketball Tournament

The Park View division one boys basketball team are off to a good start to their year. They won the Anse MacDonald Tournament in North Nova this past weekend.  Adam Hebb was the Tournament MVP. Meanwhile, both the girls and boys division-one teams will play their home openers on Wednesday. The girls play at 5:30pm and the boys play at 7:30pm.

Lobster Season Delayed Due To Weather

The start of the lobster season has been delayed because of bad weather. Dumping Day will now take place for fishermen from Halifax to Digby this Friday. The season was originally set to begin Monday. A pair of conference calls Sunday determined the forecast made it too dangerous to dump traps. There will be another call Wednesday in case the forecast changes. 

NDP Name MacDonald Interim Leader

The provincial NDP have chosen a new interim leader. MLA Maureen MacDonald was appointed acting leader during the party's Provincial Council meeting on Saturday. MacDonald accepted the position after former NDP leader Darrell Dexter stepped down earlier this month. She has won six consecutive elections and served as Nova Scotia's first female Minister of Finance. President of the Nova Scotia NDP, David Wallbridge, believes MacDonald will be an excellent leader during this period of transition for the party. A process to elect a new leader will be announced at a later date.