Update: Chester Rink Eyes Provincial Title

Chester's Mary Fay is just one win away from the Provincial Junior Women's Curling Championship. In semi final action this morning the Fay rink stole three points in the fourth end on their way to a 9-2 victory over Mayflower's Emily Dwyer. Fay meets defending champ Mary Myketen-Driscoll of Truro in the 2 o'clock final at the Lakeshore Curling Club. In their only meeting this week Fay scored a 10-3 win. Meantime Robert Mayhew of Windsor captured the Junior Men's title with an 8-3 decision over Matthew Manuel of Mayflower. Mayhew won seven of eight games at the Lower Sackville event. He'll represent the Province at the M & M Meat Shops Canadian Junior championships in Liverpool next month.

2014=More Taxes!

2014 is bringing with it even more taxes to be paid by South Shore residents and others in the province. Kevin Lacey of the watchdog group, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, says life won't be any cheaper for residents here when you factor-in increased EI and CPP premiums and bracket creep. Thats when you earn a bit more than usual and the taxman grabs most of it.



Lacey says what the new increases mean is a South Shore family of 4, including 2 kids, earning $60,000. a year, will pay about $130. more in taxes in the new year than in 2013. Thats in addition to high gas taxes, income tax and the HST at 15 percent.

"Our Health Centre" Looks For 2014 Opening

The multi-millon dollar health centre project in Chester is moving forward with a vigorous fundraising campaign. Officials with "Our Health Centre" are looking to raise $6 million dollars to fund construction, equipment and start up costs for project. In addition to public and private donations, they've received $500,000 through the Nova Scotia government over the past year. In a year end interview, Chester Warden Allen Webber says council is still mulling over what kind of support they can offer the project.



The collaborative health centre is expected to be open late in 2014. According to its web site, they want to raise between $3.5 to $4 million before construction begins on the project. It would be located in Shoreham Village.

Winter Sport Fishing Begins

Get your rods and reels ready because the winter sportfishing season kicks off tomorrow (New Years Day). Selected lakes on the South Shore and elsewhere will open for rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, chain pickerel or perch. Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Keith Colwell says winter sportfishing is a great way for Nova Scotians of any age to enjoy the outdoors and he encourages anglers to use caution when fishing in boats, on the ice or from shore. A 2013 general fishing licence is required to winter fish and can be purchased at Department of Natural Resources offices. More information is available on the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture website.