Chester: Warden Concerned About 2014-15 Budget

Municipality of Chester Warden Allen Webber says 2013 was a good but challenging year. In a year-end interview, Webber points to issues including the South Canoe Wind project and Our Health Centre that were significant for the area. He says he's optimistic both projects will continue to move forward in 2014. Webber says one of his major concerns next year is the budget.



Webber adds they also need to develop more effective ways to generate public interest in issues concerning the municipality.

Bridgewater: Coordinator Needed For Outdoor Rink

The future of the outdoor rink near Kinsmen Field in Bridgewater might be on thin ice. The coordinator for the last few years has fulfilled his duties and is looking to pass the torch. Town councillor Andrew Tanner says they need to have someone in place to help schedule volunteers for certain tasks. He says there is very little work for the coordinator.



Tanner says there is a group of 15 volunteers ready to help build and maintain the outdoor rink. However, he says work won't be done until a coordinator is found.

Queens County Comeback Impresses Labour Leader

Whats viewed as federal anti-union legislation, proposed cutting of postal services and changes to EI affecting seasonal workers. Those are among the many issues the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour is aiming-at in reviewing developments in the past year. On a positive note, President Rick Clarke says he's impressed with the way job losses in Queens County have been handled since the closure of Bowater.



Clarke says its something like the "Ships R Us" campaign where the province was promoted to the feds as not just deserving it but instead, very capable of building world-class ships. Meanwhile, Clarke is pleased with efforts by the province to improve workplace safety and the planned easing of restrictions by the first contract arbitration law implemented by the previous NDP government.

Let the Boxing Week Sales Begin!

The stores are all open today ... the first time since Christmas Eve day! Lineups outside HRM stores this morning are said to have been small though. Its the start of Boxing Week with most stores offering-up bargains to help them through the post-Christmas Season. There were all kinds of line-ups and heavy traffic in stores across the rest of Canada on Thursday. This week’s ice storm did little to deter shoppers in southern Ontario. They were out in force. On the west coast in Vancouver, a Future Shop owner there says business boomed in his store as people snapped up deals on TV`s, computers and other electronic gadgets.

Grinch Does His Best At Gas Pumps

The Christmas grinch was late showing up at South Shore gas pumps. He made a stop overnight though with the help of the province's utility and review board. As a result, the price of gas was jacked up overnight to the tune of almost 5 cents a litre. The increase means that a 50 litre fill up will cost you $2.40 more today than it would have yesterday. Diesel prices have also increased by nearly 4 cents a litre.