Temporary Traffic Lights for Haven Drive

Trying to get on North Street from Eisenhaur Place or Lahave Heights will get a little easier in the near future. Town Council has awarded the tenders for temporary traffic lights at Haven Drive. Solar Signals Inc. of Ontario has been awarded almost 19 thousand dollars for the supply of the majority of the components. The one exception, a separate tender for 22 hundred dollars to Tacel Ltd. of Ontario for the pedestrian push buttons. That company's push buttons are more rugged and vandal resistant than all the other manufacturers. The target date to have the lights operational is November 1st.

Cemetery Commission to be Dissolved

Bridgewater Town Council is in the process of undertaking the dissolution of the Brookside Cemetery Commission. Deputy-Mayor David Walker who also chairs the Cemetery Commission says it was discussed for a private operation to come in, however, the cemetery will be run and operated by Town staff. The Commission itself recommended to Council to begin the dissolution process conditional on the development of a mechanism to assure community input and involvement. The Commission manages the Brookside Cemetery which is owned and operated by the Town. The management function of the Commission allows its members to make "Binding" agreements for the perpetual care and maintenance in good order, or for any designated time of any lot, grave, tomb, monument or enclosure in the Cemetery. The Cemetery Commission for the Town of Bridgewater has managed Brookside Cemetery since 1930.

Bridgewater Listed by WCB

It's a list the Town of Bridgewater doesn't want to be on. The Worker's Compensation Board has named the town on its list of employers with bad safety records. The list is 16 percent longer this year. WCB reports that 92 employers will receive a surcharge in 2011, up from 79 this year. An employer’s claims costs must be at least three times their industry average for at least four consecutive years to be surcharged. Surcharges are cumulative and can add an additional 20 per cent to a firm’s base rate each year. Before they are surcharged, employers receive two warnings – one in each of the preceding two years.
Mayor Carroll Publicover says the CAO is looking into the matter and will report on the impact on the town in terms of dollars, and how to get off the list. Publicover says he doesn't have the specifics, but they're probably public works kind of accidents that made the list and the police force could even come into play.

LIFE RAFT AND WRECKAGE RE-IGNITE SEARCH

Search Boats are back out on the water today after a life raft capsule and life ring were found.

Both items, marked with "RLJ" were found yesterday evening by two fishing vessels headed to sea.

Police say the life raft capsule appeared to be intact and it is believed the raft is still inside.

The fishing vessel "RLJ" was last heard from on September 10th. At the time she was six nautical miles from St. Martins, New Brunswick.

RCMP from Digby Detachment and RCMP Patrol Vessel "Preventor" continue to search the waters of the Bay of Fundy today.

The initial search effort was called off on September 14th.

THIRD PARTY WILL CONDUCT CENSUS

The village of Chester is planning on distributing a census.

The voluntary questionnaire will be used to gather information regarding residents and business owners within the village limits.

Iris Tolliver with the Chester commission says council came up with the idea when planning for Lido pool.

"When they were going to do their renovations with the Lido pool. The question came up, 'how many people who use the pool live within the village boundaries?' The information was no where to be available and the idea gained momentum from that," says Tolliver.

Tolliver says both council members and Chester citizens questioned the merit, privacy and accountability of a commission-made report.

That's when council decided to bring in a third party.

Tolliver says the party has not been selected and the cost of the project is still undetermined.

PARK PLAN PROCESS SLOW, SAYS MAYOR

Mahone Bay Town Council is getting the cold shoulder.

Town council has seen a slow response to their proposal to turn the waterfront into a designated park.

Mayor Joseph Feeny says he has yet receive word from the three churches and the proprietor of the Teazer gift shop has said they're not interested.

Feeny says some people who use the area bring with them loud music, noisy cars, foul language and drinking. But not everyone uses the space the same way.

"The problem for the RCMP officer is, if he tells me to leave because I'm being noisy. He has to tell you to leave, regardless of whether your being noisy or not because that's the way it is. Everyone has to be treated the same," says Feeny.

Feeny says erecting signs with closure times for the area would help give police some control.

If plans for Edgewater Park are approved the area would be closed to the public from 11 pm to 5 am, every night.

Mahone Bay Purchases Watershed Lands

Mahone Bay is taking steps to better protect its water supply.

Town council has purchased two parcels of land bordering Oakland Lake.

Mayor Joe Feeny says the ten acres was acquired as part of an ongoing attempt to protect the town's watershed.

It was six months ago when the town first bid on the property.

Chief Administrative Officer, James Wentzell, says purchasing the land through a tax sale led to processing delays, but removed large leans on the property from the previous owner.

The town now owns six lake-side properties.

Drug Sentencing

Production and trafficking marijuana has netted a Queens County man a year and a-half on house arrest. Thirty-six year old Craig Allan Whynot of Brooklyn received a conditional sentence which includes house arrest to be followed by a year on probation.Whynot was also charged with careless use of a firearm. Police discovered a large quantity of freshly harvested marihuana drying in an outbuilding in Milton, and a large quantity of marihuana at Whynot's property in Brooklyn. Whynot was also fined 31 hundred dollars after pleading guilty to possession of illegal cigarettes. His spouse, 35 year old Jennifer Lynn Westhaver was sentenced to 12 months probation and fined 15 hundred dollars on a charge of possession of marijuana.

School Gray Zones Meetings

The South Shore Regional School Board will be hosting public meetings to discuss current gray zones in specific catchment areas. The Board is reviewing areas from which students are attending more than one school. Options will
be discussed at the meeting where the public will have an opportunity to ask questions and share ideas. The first meeting was held last night and other sessions are set for September 27th, 28th and 29th.
MEETING DETAILS:
Location: Forest Heights Community School
DATE: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH 2010
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Schools involved: Chester District Elementary School and Gold River Western Shore Elementary School
Current Option Area: Route 12 from cr. Hwy 3 in Chester Basin to and including the Lacey Mines Road.
o These students currently have the option of going to either Chester District Elementary School or Gold River Western Shore

DATE: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Place: Bridgewater Junior/Senior High School
Schools involved: Bridgewater Elementary School, Pentz Elementary School and Hebbville Academy
Option Area: Gravel section of Hillside Drive, Meadowbrook Subdivision.
o These students currently have the option of going to Bridgewater Elementary, Pentz Elementary or Hebbville Academy

Location: West Northfield Elementary School
DATE: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Schools involved: New Germany Rural High School and Park
Option Areas:
o From Bridgewater Town Limits, to and including, the Bruhm Road along Highway 10
o Junction of Hwy 10 and Pine Grove Road to the Dauphinee Road (across from cemetery on Pine Grove Road)
o From Bridgewater Town Limits to and including the Bruhm Bridge along the Lower Branch Germany Rural High and
Park View Education Centre.

Break,Enter & Theft Charges

A Bridgewater man is facing charges in connection with the theft of laptops from a Wileville residence. The 19 year old male has been charged with break enter and theft in relation to an incident on July 22nd. The teen is also facing charges of assault, threats and breach of undertaking on unrelated matters. He has been released on conditions and will appear for pleas in Bridgewater Provincial Court on October 6th.

Queens Place Open House

The public is invited to an open house and information session regarding Queens Place Recreation and Community Facility. Staff and architects will be available to discuss all aspects of Queens Place including design and construction, operations and programs, budgets and fundraising and opportunities for development. The open house is slated for next Wednesday, September 22nd from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Best Western.

International Student Orientation

International Students who will be attending South Shore schools will undergo two days of orientation at White Point Beach Resort beginning today. Trish Smith, Communications Director for the South Shore Regional School Board says on the first day students will relax, get to know one another, and take part in recreational activities and have opportunities to practice English and share cultures. Day two will cover cultural information and Canadian law, among other things. Smith says this is a time for students to meet other International Students as well as staff and host parents involved in the program.

Sewer Service for Shore Road Residents

Shore Road residents say they no longer want to be responsibility for dumping raw sewage in Lunenburg harbour. The properties in the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg border approximately 500 meters of Lunenburg harbour shoreline in an area almost at the centre of the eastern side of the harbour. Municipal Council has accepted the residents' petitions and authorized staff to explore the feasibility of extending the services to the properties. Mayor Don Downe says until a study is done to determine the actual cost and have acceptance from the Town to work on the issue, it will still be a few months in the process.

Facilitator for Oakland Area Advisory Committee

The Municipality of Lunenburg is providing a facilitator to work with the Oakland Advisory Committee in hopes of healing a division within the group. The community has been at odds since a proposed development of a subdivision a number of years ago. Mayor Don Downe says Council is trying to show leadership and attempt to bridge the views of the groups members. The Municipality has approved a thousand dollars to hire a facilitator to conduct at least one meeting with the Advisory Area Committee.

MAHONE BAY TO MAKE THEIR OWN WAY

Mahone Bay will have to fund the paving of two roads without the help of the Province.

Council submitted cost-sharing proposals to both the Department of Highways and Transportation and the Department of Municipal Services for the paving of Edgewater and Main Street.

Both departments declined to provide financing.

Mayor Joseph Feeny says that means plans for repairs to the town wharf will have to wait until next year.

He says council has seen a steep decline in provincial support.

"We've always argued because our main street is part of the provincial government highway system it's not fair we get treated (this way). We one time used to get assistance from the Department to help with ditching and snow plowing and maintenance... well that's now since gone by the by, " says Feeny.

The paving of both roads will cost approximately 250 thousand dollars.

PURCHASE OF LAKESIDE PROPERTY CONFIRMED

Mahone Bay is expanding its real estate horizons.

Town council has purchased two parcels of land bordering Oakland Lake.

Mayor Joseph Feeny says the ten acres was acquired as part of an ongoing attempt to protect the town's watershed.

"We, over the past three to five years, have been gradually, when the opportunity arose, purchasing pieces of property as they became available on the market," says Feeny.

It was six months ago when the town first bid on the properties.

Chief Administrative Officer, James Wentzell, says purchasing the land through a tax sale led to processing delays, but removed large leans on the property from the previous owner.

The town now owns six lake-side properties.

PLEASANTFIELD THEFT

Queens County RCMP are investigating a theft.

Police say thieves entered a property on Highway 8 in Pleasantfield.

Two large batteries were removed from a truck and a quantity of electrical wire was taken from a sawmill located on the property.

Anyone with information on this crime is asked to contact Queens County RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

MAHONE BAY AT LOW RISK OF WASTE-WATER OVERFLOWS AND SPILLS

Mahone Bay has been designated as a low risk region for wastewater overflow and spillage.

That rating means council won't need to upgrade the system for thirty years.

The designation is part of a Canada-wide strategy by the Public Works Department to determine the sewage treatment needs of each region based on their size, industrial activity and proximity to coastal regions.

The evaluations were conducted by the "Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment" for the" Management of Municipal Wastewater Effluent".

MAHONE BAY TO GET NEW LIGHTING AND A TRUCK

Mahone Bay town council has decided to light up Main Street with some new LED lighting.

Forty dark-sky friendly lights will be installed by "LED Roadway Lighting" of Amherst.

The tender was awarded at Tuesday night's council meeting at a cost of more than 33- thousand dollars.

Fifty percent of that cost will be subsidized by an Eco grant from the Nova Scotia Department of Environment.

Mayor Joseph Feeny says eventually the lights will be installed throughout the whole town.

Council also approved the purchase of a new 4WD 1-ton Dodge truck, complete with a plow and Combination Dump-Box Spreader, at a cost $64,800.00

SEARCH ENDS FOR MISSING SCALLOP DRAGGER AND ITS CREW

The search for four crewmen from a scallop dragger that failed to return to port from a fishing trip on the Bay of Fundy has ended in heartache.

The search for the dragger R-L-J was called off last night after officials conceded no one could have survived whatever happened to the vessel.

The 13-metre boat from Digby went out last week and was supposed to return home Sunday.