Poppies Tax Exemption

Seems it was all a misunderstanding. The Municipality of Lunenburg was asked for a letter of support regarding a request to the Prime Minister to exempt Legions from paying the 5 percent GST on the purchases of red lapel poppies. The initial request came from St. Catharine's City Council. However, further clarification was sought and Mayor Don Downe says it was determined that there is no sales (HST/GST) charged by Dominion Command to Provincial Commands and Branches. There is HST charged on the manufacturing of Poppies but this is paid by Dominion Command at the time of purchase. Further, poppies are not sold, monies received are donations which are then deposited in the Poppy Trust Funds for the benefit of veterans and their families across Canada.

Service Capacity/Operational Review for MODL

Ramp Up Consulting of Halifax, the winning proposal to conduct a Service Capacity/Operational Review for the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg. Council budgeted 35 thousand dollars for the review in the 2010.11 operating budget and has received 10 thousand in funding from the province for completion of the project. Seven proposals were submitted and based on the evaluation criteria, Ramp Up Consulting although not the lowest price, scored the highest. Council awarded the proposal at a cost of 43 thousand 300 dollars. Three councillors and the C-A-O will work with the consultant. A preliminary report is expected by December.

Trucking Services for LRCRC

Maughan's Construction of Bridgewater has been awarded a two year contract to supply on-site trucking services for the Lunenburg Regional Community Recycling Centre. Four bids were received but two were rejected because they were incomplete. Lunenburg Municipal Council awarded Maughan's the tender for 44 thousand 827 dollars, 53 hundred under budget.

SCHOOL TRIPS SCALED BACK

Students on the South Shore now have a quota on their field trips.

The South Shore Regional School Board has limited the number of bus trips per day.

Only eight extra-curricular treks will be provided by Transportation Services.

Organizers will also have to give a full weeks notice and trips will be granted on a first come first served basis.

School Board member, Gary Mailman says the new rules could be problematic for sports teams who can't give full notice or for students in rural districts who rely heavily on provided transportation.

STUDENT GRAY ZONES IN QUESTION

The South Shore Regional School Board is attempting to streamline it's bus routes.

The board is seeking feedback from parents and guardians on some proposed plans to limit which school a student may attend.

Superintendent Nancy Pynch-Worthylake says no changes will be made before thorough consultation.

"Once the board hears from the public, the board will make a decision; will they continue to offer busing to more than one school or will they make a decision that student in a certain geographic would go to particular school? ," says Pynch-Worthylake.

Pynch-Worthylake says saving money on transportation will help direct increased funding at educational programs for children.

School Board representative,Trish Smith says districts where students have the option to attend a number of schools are in question under the proposed changes.

Smith says all options provided in the prospsed plans allow students to be grandfathered at their current school.

For more information on the month-end meetings visit ssrsb.ca

Missing Motor

The Mounties are on the look-out for a missing boat motor. The theft occurred during the overnight hours of September 23rd, The Honda, four-stroke 15 horse power outboard motor, silver in colour was taken from 396 Old Kettle Road in Mill Village. The motor had been chained to a boat was was stored on the property.
Anyone having information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Liverpool RCMP or CRIMESTOPPERS.

Drug Charges

A Bridgewater man is facing charges following the seizure of a quantity of prescription medication at a residence on Henley Drive . The 41 year old is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and will appear in court for plea November 24th. Meantime a 34 year Maitland resident will appear in court the same day on charges of illegal production of Marihuana and possessing marihuana for the purpose of trafficking . A quantity of processed marijuana was seized during a search of a residence on Highway 325 in Maitland.

Truck Tips Over

A bit of a scare but no series injuries when a garbage truck flipped in the ditch in Newburne yesterday. Apparently the driver of the truck pulled over to the side of a narrow dirt road to let another vehicle pass by. The shoulder of the road gave way beneath the truck and it tipped over. An RCMP spokesman says it was a pretty minor incident with less than a thousand dollars damage.

Stunting Charges

A second "stunting" charge has been laid within four days by the Integrated Impaired Driving Enforcement Unit based out of Chester.. The charges are the result of drivers travelling at speeds in excess of 50 km/h over the posted speed limit of 100 km/h. In one case, the speed exceeded the posted limit by 80 kilometres per hour. Two males ages 19 and 20 were issued immediate 7 day licence suspensions, fines of 24 hundred dollars and had their vehicles seized for 7 days. The incidents took place at Exits 8 and 9 on the 103 Highway.

Share the Warmth

It's only Fall but the cold weather will be on us before you know it. Atlantic Fabric's in Oakhill is presenting its ninth annual "Share the Warmth" next Monday and Tuesday, September 27th and 28th from 9am till 9pm at the Bridgewater Fire Hall. Atlantic Fabrics is donating quilt batting, thread and backing for quilts and customers are being asked to donate their scrap fabrics for the quilt tops. People are also being asked to volunteer some time to make up the quilts which will be distributed to the areas shelters for bedding.
In the past six years, volunteers have collectively made over 28 hundred quilts which are now being enjoyed at over 14 shelters and organizations across the province.

Solar Energy for Town Hall

It came down to quality. Bridgewater Town Council has approved a tender for the supply and installation of of a solar thermal energy system at Town Hall. Scotian Renewables was awarded the contract for 102 thousand 721 dollars, over budget by 22 thousand dollars. Mayor Carroll Publicover says despite the overrun, it was the best way to go. The company achieved a better all-round design with higher quality components, a stronger offering of customer service, and better and more qualified corporate experience. Funding for the project is coming from the Federal Gas Tax. The Town can expect to achieve a simple payback of its solar costs in about 6 to 8 years.

Business Excellence Awards

Eighteen businesses in Lunenburg and Queens have been selected as finalists from more than 100 nominations received for the Lunenburg Queens Business Excellence Awards.The category winners will be announced at the gala Awards Dinner being held this year at Atlantica Hotel & Marina Oak Island on October 4th, 2010. As well as the honour of being deemed leader in their category, the finalists will be vying for a beautiful plaque crafted by Amos Pewter of Mahone Bay. The Nominations are:

ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARD:
Helping Nature Heal, TecBox, and The Nodding Group
EXPORT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:
MacIntyre-Purcell Publishing Ltd., HEKA Electronics Inc., and LP East River (Canexel)
HOSPITALITY AWARD:
Fleur de Sel Restaurant, Bridgewater Comfort Inn, and White Point
LARGE BUSINESS AWARD:
High Liner Foods Inc., J.M. Reynolds Pharmacy, and Julien’s Pastry Shop Ltd.
NEW BUSINESS AWARD:
School House Gluten-Free Gourmet, Able Engineering Services Inc., and Apple Berry Farm Market
SMALL BUSINESS AWARD:
Windhorse Farm, Meisner & Zwicker Construction Ltd., and Safe Home Security

The guest speaker at this years awards ceremony is Aileen Reid, Founder and CEO, A.P. Reid Insurance Stores Limited.

BIDDING FOR MUSIC

The Region of Queens Municipality is funding a bidding war.

Council awarded ten thousand dollars to a group trying to bring Nova Scotia Music to the Region of Queens in 2011.

Mayor John Leefe says there is no guarantee, but hopes their contribution will land them the winning bid.

"We anticipate that this will be a good investment at a low tourism time of the year, to encourage people to come and stay in Queens and enjoy all the wonderful things that are here, including wonderful music, " says Leefe.

The municipality will find out if they won the bidding war during this year's Music Week which gets underway in Yarmouth on November 4th.

CAP SYSTEM 'UNFAIR', MAYOR LEEFE

The Region of Queens Municipality Mayor says the Provincial CAP system is hurting the people its supposed to protect.

John Leefe says many of his constituents don't realize how harmful the taxation system is to the value of their homes and their savings in the bank.

"The people who capping was supposed to assist most is people on low incomes, which almost always is people who live in modest housing. Modest housing does not increase in value as much as rapidly as more upscale housing, yet it's upscale housing that tends to be capped," says Leefe.

Leefe says homeowners who want to maintain a cap on their homes are also reluctant to sell, and that's stunting the real estate market.

The municipality is recommending the CAP system be phased out and replaced with a series of low income exemptions and deferral programs.

The province says the system was introduced in 1995 to protect Nova Scotians from dramatic increases in market values.

OPERATION IMPACT

Lunenburg County RCMP will be undertaking a traffic initiative from October 8th to the 11th. Called OPERATION IMPACT, the enforcement-driven initiative is designed to increase public compliance with safe driving measures and ultimately, to save lives. Part of the activities will involve targeted enforcement in the areas of impaired driving. The other part is an education campaign to address the importance of safe driver behaviour. The Mounties also want to raise the public's awareness of Road Safety Vision 2012- to make Canada's roads the safest in the world.

Supporting the Arts

The province is seeking advice and opinions from the arts and culture sector on government's role in supporting and fostering artistic and cultural activity. Public meeting are scheduled for a number of communities including the Town of Liverpool on Wednesday Ocober 6th from 7 to 9:30pm at the Lions Hall on Gorham Street. Percy Paris, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage says with the consultation, government is taking the first step toward keeping its commitment to address governance and funding for the arts and culture sector. A summary report will be made public after the consultation process.
Information regarding the online, mail and fax surveys is available at www.gov.ns.ca/tch/culture-consultation.asp .

Anterless Deer Stamps Available

Hunters are getting another shot at for antlerless deer stamps. The Department of Natural Resources has announced that 688 antlerless deer stamps are still available for deer management zone 103, which includes Lunenburg County,Halifax and parts of Hants, Queens, Kings and Annapolis counties.
The remaining stamps will be available on a first-come,
first-serve basis starting at 7 a.m.,today Wednesday, September 22nd. Applicants are reminded that antlerless deer stamps are not transferrable or refundable and you may apply only once.
To apply for one of the zone 103 stamps applicants must:
-- be a resident of Nova Scotia
-- be eligible to hold a 2010 deer hunting licence
-- be 16 years of age or over
-- hold a Nova Scotia Wildlife Resources Card
-- not already hold a 2010 antlerless deer stamp in any deer management zone
-- not have suspended hunting privileges

Applications will be accepted by phone at 1-900-565-3337 or at www.gov.ns.ca/natr/draws/deerdraw/ for $7.25 plus HST. Calls cannot be made from cellphones.

ROCKY ROAD FOR THE REGION OF QUEENS

The Mayor of the Region of Queens says the municipality should not be paving the way for the province.

John Leefe says the municipality should not have to pay the Department of Transportation for maintenance of J-class roads in the region.

"They're are not municipally owned roads, yet the province is requiring the municipality to take property taxes for maintenance and service. Really, we shouldn't have to pay anything towards them...but we are required and we have no choice, " says Leefe.

Leefe says the the municipality is being discriminated-against.

He says they pay more than 250 thousand dollars in annual maintenance when regions, like Clare, pay nothing.

Leefe says the same bureaucrats who created the payment mandate in 1995 are still in power today.

PURCHASES APPROVED, REGION OF QUEENS MUNICIPALITY

Region of Queens Municipal council has approved a 14 thousand dollar budget for new computers and a server system for their offices.

Mayor John Leefe says the current system is seven years old and is long overdue for the garbage heap.

The purchase will be funded from the Computer Equipment Reserve.

Meanwhile, council has also approved the purchase of a 2010 Chevrolet Canyon four-wheel drive truck.

The extended cab pickup truck will replace the Bylaw Enforcement Department truck that was recently damaged in an accident.

STAND-OFF ON ITALY CROSS ROAD

A Lunenburg County man is facing charges after an armed standoff with police.

Lunenburg County RCMP responded to a complaint last night of a combative, intoxicated man at an address on Italy Cross Road.

Police say they were immediately engaged in standoff with a male suspect who was brandishing a knife.

After a few minutes, the subject was subdued and taken into custody.

He will appear in Bridgewater Court later today to face charges of 'Breach of Probation' and 'Possession of a Weapon Dangerous to the Public Peace'.

Anyone with more information on this incident is asked to contact Lunenburg County RCMP or Crime Stoppers.