Thursday, January 23, 2014

Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation Celebrating 20 Years

An environmental group is celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. The Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation is marking the milestone with a get together this evening in Lunenburg. The evening will focus on the Foundation's 20 years of leading the protection, enhancement and restoration of the ecosystem and will include special guests like former town mayor Laurence Mawhinney. The group's chair, Rick Welsford, says the goal for the group started in 1993 by trying to bring a sewage treatment plant to Lunenburg.



Welsford says he's excited about new projects including one with Acadia University, to provide summer day camp opportunities for kids in the area. He says the first 20 years went quickly but says it's been rewarding work to be a part of.

Curling: Fay, Mayhew Back In Action In Liverpool

Both Nova Scotia teams control their own destinies, heading down the home stretch, at the M and M Canadian Junior Curling Championships. Mary Fay of Chester is in third place in the championship pool with a 6-2 record. If she wins her last two games she's guaranteed a playoff spot. If she splits them she can do no worse than a tiebreaker. The Nova Scotia girls face Saskatchewan tonight at 6:30pm before facing Quebec tomorrow morning (Friday) at 8am.  Robert Mayhew of Windsor is in a tougher spot. With a 5-3 mark, he must win his remaining two games to assure a tie-breaker. That task won't be easy. Nova Scotia faces Manitoba today at 2 o'clock followed by a match Friday morning at 8 against Saskatchewan. All contests are at the Queens Place Emera Centre. The Junior Womens Final goes Saturday at 4 with the Mens Championship game on Sunday at 4. Both matches will be shown live on TSN.

Chester Keeping Warden System Of Government

Chester is staying put with a warden. Council voted unanimously today to keep a warden style of government instead of switching to a mayoral system. The on-going consultation with community residents is complete after only 50 people responded to council out of a population of 11,000 in the municipality. Warden Allen Webber says he was hoping for a better response.


The municipality operates in a warden system, which allows councillors to choose the head of council. The other option gives voters in the municipality the choice. The issue was brought up late last summer because the municipality is required to review its electoral boundaries this year. Webber says he doesn't expect any further discussion to happen until after the next municipal election.

Lobster Industry Future To Be Discussed

Maritime fisheries ministers will meet in March to discuss the future of the lobster industry. The meeting will focus on recommendations made by an independent panel the provinces created to combat slumping lobster prices. Among other things, it called for a levy on each pound of lobster caught to pay for a marketing campaign aimed at boosting the fishery's profile. The panel estimated the levy would raise about $2.5 million a year. The meeting in March is being organized by the Lobster Council of Canada and will also include representatives from Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec.

MODL: Councillor Removes Street Lights; Staff Review Policy

The councillor for Dayspring and area is taking a bit of heat after removing six street lights along the Leary Fraser Road. Frank Fawson says he was under the influence the Municipality of Lunenburg's policy allowed for a 10% reduction or addition of existing street lights in a fiscal year. However, the move concerns the LaHave Manor Corporation, which is located near Fawson's home. They fear for the safety of their 66 clients and employees at the facility with the loss of lighting. Fawson says the lights have bothered him for many years.



The LaHave Manor Corporation is looking to have the lights reinstalled. Municipal staff will issue a report back to council providing options for a process to be followed.

Fay & Mayhew Win Evening Matches At Curling Championships

Chester's Mary Fay played giant killer last night at the M & M Canadian Junior Curling Championships in Liverpool. The team handed Alberta's Kelsey Rocque her first loss of the event, 6-3. The win gives Nova Scotia a 6-2 record, tied for second place with BC in the championship pool. Alberta leads at 7-1. The top three teams will advance to the weekend playoffs. Fay's next match is against 4-4 Saskatchewan this evening (Thursday) at 6:30.
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In the Mens division Nova Scotia's Robert Mayhew kept his playoff hopes alive with a convincing 10-5 win over Northern Ontario. The Windsor team has a 5-3 record, tied with four others for third place. Manitoba leads at 8-0 with New Brunswick next at 6-2. Mayhew battles unbeaten Manitoba this afternoon (Thursday) at 2 o'clock. All of today's draws are at Queens Place Emera Centre.

Its Cleanup Day Again!

Its a cleanup day on the South Shore as we dig ourselves out from under a huge snowfall. About 30 centimeters in all came down here yesterday, most of it during the afternoon and it was blown around by wind gusts up to 60km/hr. Plows have been busy all night but there's still much to be done. As far as school closures are concerned, all schools are closed today on the South Shore, including the French school in Cookville and the Waldorf School in Blockhouse. Schools are also closed today in the Tri-County area, which includes Shelburne, Yarmouth and Digby Counties. However, all NSCC campuses are open today.


Mahone Bay: Town Moving Towards Clear Plastic Garbage Bags

The town of Mahone Bay is trying to become part of the majority when it comes to using clear garbage bags instead of dark ones. More than 85% of municipalities in Nova Scotia use clear garbage bags during collection. Mayor Joe Feeney says three local municipalities including them, the town of Bridgewater and the Municipality of Lunenburg are moving towards the change. Feeney says under the new by-law, each home will be allowed opaque personal bag per collection. He says they are changing their approach to comply with sorting rules for the province's diversion target.



The town has already gone through first reading for a new by-law earlier this month. The next reading of the by-law is planned for February. Feeney says if it goes through, they will delay making it law until the fall so residents and businesses can prepare for the change.