Roundabout adopted

Bridgewater Town Council has confirmed the acceptance of a proposed modern roundabout for the intersection of Aberdeen Road and North Street. It's been determined the roundabout is the way to go as a more efficient and effective as well as safer manner to configure the intersection. Additional land will have to be purchased to accommodate a second lane for left turns to North Street. Agreements are being prepared to purchase adjacent properties . The proposal for a roundabout was first discussed at a public meeting last January.

New Germany House Fire

A family in New Germany is homeless after a fire claimed their home. A mother, her adult son and five-year-old grandson were not home the time the fire broke out.The Canadian Red Cross says they're currently staying with extended family for now.Donations to help the family can be made through the red cross or by calling the New Germany Lions Club.

H1N1 Vaccination Clinic (Thursday, 17th)

Nova Scotia's chief public health officer says the second wave of the H-1-N-1 outbreak appears to be over. Although there are no new lab-confirmed cases or hospitalizations related to the virus, Dr. Robert Strang says there are still unofficial reports of the flu around the province. And with the possibility of a third wave in the new year, he continues to urge people to get vaccinated.There will be a vaccination clinic today from 3 until 7 at the public health offices in New Germany, Chester, Lunenburg and Liverpool. Appointments are necessary and can be made by calling 543-0850.

H1N1 Clinic

There will be an H1N1 Vaccination Clinic today from 1-6pm at the Nova Scotia Community College, in Bridgewater.
Adults & Students are reminded to bring their health card with them, no appointment is necessary.

Red Cross assists after South Shore Fire

A mother, her adult son and five-year-old grandson are temporarily homeless after a fire last night destroyed the house they rented in New Germany, Nova Scotia, about 25 kilometres northwest of Bridgewater.
They weren't home at the time so there were no injuries. The Canadian Red Cross says they're staying with extended family for now. One its volunteers will meet with them today to determine any emergency needs.
The cause of the fire, at 5249 Trunk 10, is under investigation.

8th Day of RCMP Christmas Tips

On the eighth day of Christmas the RCMP said to me…buckle up and ensure your seat belt is worn correctly.
S/Sgt. Dan McNaughton, RCMP Traffic Services says, "A properly worn seat belt is key to surviving a motor vehicle crash or collision.
Vehicle operators should also ensure that children are secured in the appropriate car or booster seat."
Before heading out on the road this holiday season, vehicle operators and passengers should note the following:
● It is mandatory that drivers in Nova Scotia wear a seat belt. If
you are caught driving without your seat belt on, you will get 2 points
(demerits) on your licence.
● Seat belts must be maintained in good working order and not
altered in anyway as this can reduce their effectiveness.
● Air bags do not take the place of a seat belt.
● Only one person to a seat belt.
● Young children must be in approved "child restraint system" car
seats suitable for their age, height, or weight.
● Wearing your seat belt properly will dramatically increase your
chance of surviving a motor vehicle collision.
● For every one per cent increase in seat belt usage, five lives
in Canada are saved (Source: Transport Canada).
The RCMP is committed to making Canadian roadways the safest in the world under the Road Safety Vision 2010 and is asking all road users to ensure they do their part to help keep Nova Scotia’s road and highways safe this holiday season.

Beware of Slippery Roads

Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Halifax District are advising motorist that the highways and roads are becoming very slippery and black ice is forming as the temperature starts to drop.
RCMP would like to remind the public that winter driving conditions are upon us and drivers need to use caution when travelling on the roads and highways. Remember to reduce your speed to weather conditions, maintain a safe following distance, be on the look out for potential hazards. Slow down and take your time while traveling and get to your destination safely.

Man struck by car in Blockhouse

A 56 yr old male is in serious condition after being struck by a vehicle on Hwy 324 in Blockhouse yesterday afternoon.According to the investigation the man stepped out onto the road without looking both ways. The man when trasported to South Shorth Regional Hospital then onto the QE 2 in Halifax.The occupants of the car were transported to Fisherman's Hospital for shock sumptoms. The road conditions were wet pavement and fog at the time of the accident.

Visitor Information Kiosks Coming

Bridgewater Town Council has approved the site of the former VIC off Aberdeen Road and the Centennial Trail Parking Lot off Victoria Road as locations for the installation of two Visitor Information Kiosks. Thirteen of the kiosks will be located between Bridgewater and Peggy's Cove. Half the funding for the construction and installation of the kiosks is being provided through the province's Visitor Information Services Enhancement Program as a cost effective alternative to a staffed visitor information centre. Mayor Carroll Publicover says its a short term solution but he would like to see a partnership of neighbouring units to construct a regional tourist bureau that would be fully staffed.

Active Transportation

The Town of Bridgewater has received provincial funding to continue its efforts to become a leading active transportation friendly community. An action plan was approved last June and in recent months the Active Transportation Committee has developed a multi year public engagement action plan. Provincial funding of 25 thousand dollars has been approved for the three year initiative. As part of the funding arrangement, Town Council pre-approved funding for the next two fiscal years of 5 thousand in cash, and 5 thousand in-kind.

Campaign 911

A campaign to prevent impaired drivers from being on the roads was launched today. Campaign 911 encourages and empowers Nova Scotians to call 911 to report a suspected impaired driver. Bill Estabrooks, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, joined Margaret Miller, president of MADD Canada, and law enforcement officials to launch the Campaign which was introduced by MADD Canada in 2007 and now has programs in nine provinces. Effective 911 programs increase impaired driving arrest rates by up to 50 per cent.

7th Day RCMP Tip

On the Seventh Day of Christmas Crime Prevention the RCMP Street Crime Unit said to me..... "When leaving your house empty, protect your valuables from a potential robbery."

Many of us take vacation during the holidays, leaving our homes unattended for an extended period of time. Before you leave consider the following . . .

● Can you look inside your window and see expensive items? Keep
valuables out of view and keep blinds and drapes closed when you’re not home. Don’t hang keys in the home where they are visible through windows.
● Keep valuable belongings (jewellery, papers, certificates, etc.)
out of sight. If possible, keep them in a safety deposit box away from home. Other valuables should be engraved with your name and phone number which will help police identify your property.
● Consider recording the serial number of valuable items and
taking photos of these items, note any identifiable markings.
● Arrange to have a trusted friend or family member check your
residence while you are away. Ask them to collect your mail and newspapers, clear snow from your doorway to make it appear someone is home.
● Consider Forming a Neighbourhood Watch group. Take note of any
suspicious people or vehicles in your neighbourhood.
● Consider an alarm, notification system or timers for lighting
and electronics.

Oxfam Protest

Oxfam Canada and Ecology Action Centre are hoping MP Gerald Keddy gets the message after they display a giant mock oil barrel at his office today to let him know they want him to tell the South Shore MP and his Conservative colleagues that it's time for an oil change.Group members and area residents plan to gather at Keddy's office on Aberdeen Road at one o'clock this afternoon to deliver the 15 foot oil barrel and sing a few modified "Climate Carols".The stunt is part of thousands of events planned in hundreds of countries as part of “The World Wants a Real Deal”campaign to urge world leaders to take bold and immediate steps to sign a binding climate deal in Copenhagen.

Campaign 911 launches today

The launch Campaign 911 will be launch today at 10am. Bill Estabrooks, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, will join Margaret Miller, president of MADD Canada, and law enforcement officials to launch the Campaign 911 which encourages and empowers Nova Scotians to call 911 to report a suspected impaired driver.

New Apartment Complex Approved

A major housing development for the Town of Bridgewater is another step closer. Town Council approved a proposed development agreement to construct 5 three-story apartment buildings at Jubilee Road and Exhibition Drive. Mayor Carroll Publicover says the phased-in project will be a major development for the West side of the town. The proposal calls for 27 units in each of the five buildings with the first building to be constructed early next spring. The project will be phased in over a five year period.

Regional Transit Service

The Town of Bridgewater has agreed to continue its collaborative efforts towards developing a regional transit operation. Mayor Carroll Publicover says Council approved a motion to proceed with a detailed routing analysis, governance and costs, based on Model D over the next six months.Funding has been allocated through the Transit Rural Incentive Program with costs to be shared equitable between the partner units of Mahone Bay, Lunenburg, and the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg. The Joint Transit Committee has been asked to provide a progress update on implementation planning within the next six months.

Message for MP Keddy

They're hoping MP Gerald Keddy gets the message. Oxfam Canada and Ecology Action Centre will be using a giant mock oil barrel to tell the South Shore MP and his Conservative colleagues that it's time for an oil change. Group members and area residents will gather at Keddy's office on Aberdeen Road at one o'clock this afternoon to deliver the 15 foot oil barrel and sing a few modified "Climate Carols". The stunt is part of thousands of events planned in hundreds of countries as part of “The World Wants a Real Deal”campaign to urge world leaders to take bold and immediate steps to sign a binding climate deal in Copenhagen.

Woman hit in Rosebay

A 68 yr old lady is currently in serious condition after being hit by an on coming vehicle last night in the Rosebay area.Around 7 o'clock last night the woman was crossing the road when she was struck, she was then taken by ambulance to the South Shore Regional hospital and then air lifted to the Queen Elizabeth II .The investigation into the matter is currently ongoing but police say they have ruled out alcohol as not being a factor.

6th day of Christmas tip

On the Sixth Day of Christmas Crime Prevention the RCMP said to me, "When purchasing gifts on line make sure you protect your identity."

- Shop only from your home computer - it’s much safer than shopping at a terminal.
- Use different user ID and passwords for different accounts
- Go directly to a store’s website by manually typing its address into your web browser. Don’t click on links in an e-mail message even if you know who sent it.
- Verify secure connections. When shopping on-line, do not enter any financial information if you see a broken-key or open padlock symbol on your Internet browser. This means the transaction is not secure and could be intercepted by a third party. When the key is complete or the padlock is locked, your browser is indicating a secure transaction.
- Consider using a company acting as escrow (reliable third party), a credit card with a low credit limit or a single use payment card.
- Unlike secure order forms on a web site, e-mail messages are not private. Do not send confidential personal or financial information by e-mail.
- Avoid spam (unsolicited marketing e-mail) by being careful about disclosing your e-mail address both on and off-line.
- Monitor your bank and credit card and statements on-line. Electronic statements allow you to review your purchases and payments as they happen rather than waiting until the end of the month to review your paper statement.
- Immediately report any discrepancies to your bank or to the company that issued the credit card.

Thinkwell Research survey results for NS

The results are in from a Thinkwell Research survey, and it appears that Nova Scotians are feeling less optimistic about the direction of the provincial economy than they were in earlier this fall.
According to the survey, less than one in three Nova Scotians believe that the Nova Scotia economy will get stronger over the next six months, down 9 points since September.
These results are consistent with national trends. According to the Conference Board of Canada, consumer confidence in Canada fell in October and November, after increasing steadily through the summer months and into September.