Water Testing

South Shore Health will introduce changes to water testing next month in order to meet new accreditation standards for water testing. Water samples must now be stored between 1 and 10 degrees Celsius(not frozen) and delivered within 24 hours of collection. Samples that have a temperature higher than 10 degrees will no longer be accepted for testing. Drop off hours are also being reduced . Testing will not be done on Fridays, weekends or Holidays. Water samples will only be accepted 8 am to 2 pm Monday to Thursday at the Business Office at South Shore Regional Hospital, 8 am to 11 am Monday to Thursday at Queens General Hospital and during scheduled blood collection clinics in New Germany, New Ross and Chester.
The Department of Environment recommends testing your well water for bacteria every six months.

Chester RCMP Investigate Break-ins

A pharmacy and fire department were the target of thieves over the last week. Chester RCMP are investigating a break and enter at the Chester Pharmasave on Sunday March 28th between 5 to 6:40 a.m. Money and narcotics were stolen during the break. The Hubbards Fire Department was also broken into sometime between 9:30pm March 25th and 4:30pm March 26th. Two radios vital to the operation of the fire department and some tools were stolen. As well, damage was done to some equipment inside the building. Anyone with information concerning the incidents is asked to contact the Chester RCMP or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-9477 (TIPS)

Partners to Protect Watershed

The Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation and the Nova Scotia Salmon Association have partnered to improve efforts to protect and restore local watersheds and improve Nova Scotia's water quality. Using the proceeds of its annual ECO SALE, The liquor corporation has made a five-year, $500,000 commitment to the NSLC Adopt-A-Stream program. The NSLC presented the salmon association with the first $100,000 installment Monday, March 29, which will be used to fund stream, river and headwater projects across Nova Scotia.

**News release courtesy of NSLC**

Pharmacists to Assist Doctors

Amendments to the Pharmacy Act now mean that pharmacists in Nova Scotia will be able to administer vaccinations and order some diagnostic tests. Health Minister Maureen MacDonald says the goal is to take advantage of a pool of qualified professionals in order to free up doctors to concentrate on other areas of health care. The Minister says although the move will create efficiencies in the health system, she's currently unable to put a dollar figure on any potential savings. She also can't say for certain whether a user fee will be put in place, although she adds it's not currently planned.Regulations are being worked on and it's hoped the first qualified pharmacists will be able to carry out their new duties some time this year.
The move by Nova Scotia follows similar initiatives in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and New Brunswick.

AbitibiBowater Mersey Paper Company Limited

Employees at the AbitibiBowater Mersey Paper Company in Liverpool could soon be having a 5 week vacation.

A tentative date of April 16th until May 19th is the time period in which the plant will stop production due to the economic downturn.

AbitibiBowater produces a wide range of newsprint, commercial printing papers, market pulp and wood products. It is the eighth largest publicly traded pulp and paper manufacturer in the world.

Region of Queens meeting tonight

A meeting will be held tonight to discussing ways to maximize the opportunities presented by the upcoming Festival and Event season in the Region of Queens.

The Festival organizers and Queens businesses are holding the meeting this evening at 7pm in the Council Chambers at the Region of Queens Municipality’s offices.

Discussion will be focused on methods that can engage the whole community in celebration and create a memorable experience for visitors.

Three new by-laws for The Municipality of the District of Shelburne

Three new by-laws were passed this month at The Municipality of the District of Shelburne's regular Council meeting.

A new repeal bylaw eliminates many outdated bylaws, while the A Shelburne County East RCMP Advisory Board Bylaw establishes a new merged RCMP advisory board for the three municipalities in eastern Shelburne County.

The third bylaw was an Emergency Management Response Bylaw that provides the structure for the Municipality to function with the Town of Lockeport and the Town of Shelburne in the Shelburne County East Emergency Measures Organization.

SSRSB to Split Services

The South Shore Regional School Board is following the provincial model and will separate student services/student programs.Superintendent Nancy Pynch-Worthylake says presently the Board has a unique model in the province with a coordinator responsible for programs and student services at the elementary level, and a coordinator responsible for programs and student services at the secondary level. She says that will be reorganized to align with the provincial model which is a
a coordinator of programs for grades primary to 12 and a separate coordinator for student services for grades primary to 12.
The recommendation to match the provincial model was supported by the Board and will be implemented for the new school year in September

Investigation into East River Highway Fatal

The Lunenburg District RCMP continue their investigation into the cause of a traffic accident in Lunenburg County that has claimed the life of a 47-year-old man.

The two-vehicle accident occured shortly before 5:30 Saturday afternoon on Highway-103 between Exit-6 and Exit-7.

Two other people were taken to hospital from the scene of the head-on collision in East River with "non-life threatening" injuries.

The RCMP report that an autopsy has been conducted on the body of the Halifax man, whose name the Mounties have not released at the request of his family.

Hubbards Gas Station Robbery

The RCMP are investigating a robbery at a service-station in Lunenburg County.

The Mounties report that the "Irving" gas-station in Hubbards lost a large-amount of cash during a break-in that took place either late Thursday night or early yesterday morning.

If you can help the Chester RCMP with information that could lead to an arrest, give them a call at 275-3583 or dial "Crimestoppers" at 1-800-222-8477.

Baker's Settlement Break-in

The Mounties continue their investigation into a robbery at a Lunenburg County home.

The RCMP say that someone stole a safe from a residence in Baker's Settlement earlier this week.

The safe contained various items -- including money, jewelry and tools.

If you have any information that could lead to an arrest, call the Bridgewater RCMP at 527-5555 or dial "Crimestoppers" at 1-800-222-TIPS.

High Value Trees

Owners of small private woodlots and forestry contractors in Lunenburg County can learn how to grow high value trees through a free educational program. Growers are invited to learn about uneven-aged management and quality improvement silviculture at a workshop in the West Northfield area April 24th. The workshop will be followed by a visit to a nearby woodlot where uneven aged management has been practiced for many generations.
Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. Call 902-673-2278 or email outreach@asforestry.com. Sponsored by the Association for Sustainable Forestry's Uneven-Aged Management Outreach Project, http://www.asforestry.com/Category7Program.htm

1 Million for Ross Farm Museum

A million dollar investment by the federal government a major step forward for the construction of the first phase of an environmentally sustainable Learning Centre for the Ross Farm Museum. The investment, will assist in the design and construction of the first 9,600 square feet of the facility—its foundation and main level—as well as upgrades to the Museum’s parking lot. Once completed, the building’s main level will consist of public space, including a foyer, programming rooms, washrooms, meeting rooms, an open hearth room, a commercial kitchen, a gift shop, an office for the local Historical Society, research space and controlled storage for artifacts. The building’s upper level will house administrative space, a staff kitchen, a first aid room and space for the production and storage of period costumes. The New Ross District Museum Society has operated the Ross Farm Museum since 1970. The Museum depicts the authentic experience of a typical 19th and early 20th century working upland family farm in Nova Scotia.
The funding through ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund,was announced today by South Shore St. Margaret's MP Gerald Keddy.

Liverpool man charged with Cemetery mischief

A Liverpool man have been charged in the damaging of headstones at a Liverpool cemetery.

The 18-year-old, charged with mischief, is scheduled to appear in Provincial court in Liverpool on June 1st.

The incident took place some time around March 12th at the Catholic Cemetery located on College Street in Liverpool.

Hockey for Haiti

In an effort to raise money for Haiti a Hockey game is set for tomorrow at the Queens memorial arena in Liverpool.

The pee-wee Rep Cougars will take on the "Celebrity no stars" from Liverpool at 2pm.

Admission is a free will offering and doors open at 1:30 with activities going on throughout the afternoon.

Break & enter at Wendy's restaurant

Bridgewater Police are investigating a break and enter at the Wendy's restaurant shortly before 1 a.m on Sunday. Police responded to two alarm calls at local businesses adjacent to each other. They discovered someone had made a forced entry into Wendy's. Witnesses in the area reported seeing the suspects leave in a grey car. Anyone who may have information about the break-in is asked to call the Bridgewater Police Service or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8447.

Last Students for Riverport Elementary

Only nine students will be attending the Riverport and District Elementary School next year. The school is slated for closure when the new Lunenburg P to 9 school is built. Nancy Pynch-Worthylake, Superintendent of the South Shore Regional School Board says until the new school is built, those attending Riverport were given the choice to stay there or attend classes at Centre Consolidated. There will be one class including grades one and three at Riverport Elementary next September. Music and gym classes will be delivered by specialist teachers who are serving more than one school.

Cancer Care Lecture Series

South Shore residents can take part in the Cancer Answers lecture series available by video conference at three area sites . They include the South Shore Regional Hospital, Roseway Hospital, Shelburne; and Shoreham Village, Chester; The series is designed to provide
Nova Scotians with quality cancer information. The next session " Long-term side effects of chemotherapy - The road less traveled," is scheduled for
April 13 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The lecture will be presented by Dr. Daniel Rayson, Medical Oncologist, Capital Health Cancer Care Program.

NS. Throne Speech

Government unveiled its four-year vision to make life better for Nova Scotia families while providing the strong leadership to improve the province's finances and ensuring it lives within its means. Lt.-Gov. Mayann Francis opened the Second Session of the 61st General Assembly of Nova Scotia with the Speech from the Throne today. In it, Premier Darrell Dexter outlined government's plan to meet the challenges ahead with the determined, focused effort needed to get the province's finances back to balance while making life more affordable for Nova Scotians.
Government's four priorities presented in the speech are: Better Health Care for You and Your Family, Creating Good Jobs and Growing the Economy, Making Life More Affordable, and Getting Back to Balance and Ensuring Government Lives Within Its Means.

***Courtesy of Communications Nova Scotia***

Team Southwest

The Municipality of Shelburne is supporting federal government efforts to establish Its mandate will be to address the severe economic challenges in southwestern Nova Scotia. The Municipality intends to be a full participant in the Team Southwest process and to work cooperatively to meet common objectives relative to economic development. Meantime, the Municipality
has developed its own strategic plan to help address some economic challenges and is looking forward to working with the other levels of government to partner on a number of proposed initiatives including:

· The Eastern Shelburne County Energy Strategy.

· A Municipal Investment Strategy

· Shelburne Industrial Park Development

· The Municipal Sewage Treatment Facility

· The Development of a State of the Art Medical Clinic

· Physician Recruitment