Town Pre-Approves $7,000 For Growing Green Festival

A festival entering its fifth year has received pre-approval of funds from the town of Bridgewater. The Growing Green event has been a fixture in the community since 2008, though no event was held in 2009. The town pre-approved $7,000 for the festival. Funding for the event has grown each year since it was held. It's information that hasn't gone unnoticed by Mayor David Walker.



Festival co-chair Patrick Hirtle says he appreciates the help the town provides. However, he says the festival is growing and provides a unique opportunity for the town.


Hirtle suggests if funding is scaled back, they would have to change their approach and what could be offered at the event. The two-day festival is usually held in the summer and features events across the county.

School Board Bracing For Cuts In 2013-14

The South Shore Regional School Board received some unwelcome news today from the Education Minister. Ramona Jennex says school boards will get $1.047 billion in 2013-2014, $3-million more than they received this year. However, Jennex revealed the local board is facing a reduction. She says the province is cutting 1.5% of funding from the South Shore, resulting in a $995,000 loss. Jennex blamed declining student enrollment for the cuts. It's still too early to tell how the cuts will affect the board.

Clippers Dominate Phantoms For 2-0 Series Lead

The Chester Clippers downed the Fundy Phantoms 12-2 last night to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five Nova Scotia Junior 'C' Hockey League quarter-final series. Alex Armstrong notched three goals, while Scott MacSween also added a pair. Scoring single goals for the Clippers was Ryan Horsman, Luc Way, Kyle Dilosa, Jack Strowbridge, Mathieu Bourgeois, Josh Thompson and Jeremy Church. Chester's Doug Barrier stopped 24 shots in the win, and was relieved by affiliate goalie Daniel Lohnes in the third period who stopped three shots. Chester outshot Fundy 56-29. Game three goes tonight at 9pm at the Don Henderson Sportsplex in Brookfield.

Chester: Council Works On Climate Change Action Plan

The Municipality of Chester is in the midst of a rigorous pre-planning process to mitigate the effects of climate change on its coastal communities. Councillors and staff are working to create a Climate Change Action Plan as mandated by the Federal Government in order to access funding known as "Gas Tax". The funding is administered through Infrastructure Canada and helps municipalities pay for various public projects such a improving drinking water and upgrades to waste water treatment. Warden Allen Webber says they are taking a proactive approach with long term planning in mind.



The plan will focus on expectations the sea level will rise and the area will be hit by harsher weather patterns in the coming decades. Councillors are mulling over a draft plan presented to them earlier this month. The plan is due on the federal government's desk before the end of this year.