Lumberjacks Coach remains positive despite shaky start

The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks are off to a shaky start this season.

The club dropped its first three games, was outscored 22-13 and fell to the bottom of the Bent Division standings.

Head Coach Terry Rhindress says although he's concerned, it's still early in the season.

"We knew going in when we lost some veterans to University and injuries and stuff like that and didn't come back, that we were going to be younger and that we're going to need to be patient. So I mean, no, I think it's too early to hit the panic button."

Rhindress says he's raised the level of intensity in practices in hopes of helping the team compete late in hockey games.

The Jacks look to rebound from their tough start by welcoming the Woodstock Slammers to Bridgewater Saturday night at 7pm.

Conrad holding another Community Office Day

The MLA for Queens County is taking her office on the road again.

Vicki Conrad will be at the Middlewood Fire Hall September 30 from 10am until 2pm.

Conrad says a community office day gives the public an opportunity to meet their MLA and discuss relevant issues affecting the area and residents.

Conrad has already held office days in North Queens, Petite Riviere, West Queens and Greenfield since June.

South Shore schools selected for Indigo Adopt-a-School program

A pair of South Shore schools have been selected as part of this year's Indigo Adopt-a-School program.

New Germany Elementary and New Ross Consolidated will be accepting donations to fill their libraries with new books.

The principal at New Germany Elementary, Bill Bruhm, says it's a great chance to expand the school's library.

Bruhm says his school is supported by Coles in the Bridgewater Mall, while New Ross Consolidated has been adopted by Chapters in Bayers Lake.

You can help by making a donation at the local book store, or online at http://www.adoptaschool.indigo.ca/ and searching school number 439.

Bayside Opening Celebrations

Opening celebrations are planned for the this Friday for a Barrington long-term care facility. Premier Darrell Dexter will join residents and staff of Bay Side Home to celebrate the opening of their expanded facility, September 23rd. The long-term care facility has been expanded with 40 new beds. Bay Side Home previously housed 22 mentally challenged and physically disabled residents, and now has capacity for elderly residents as well. Opening celebrations begin at 1 p.m. and there will be tours of the facility.

Moose Alert

If you head into the city on a regular basis, RCMP are cautioning motorists to watch out for moose. The Mounties received a report Tuesday (Sept. 20th) of a large bull moose along the 103 highway near Timberlea at Exit 3. Motorists are advised that at this time of year which is mating season, moose are more mobile and likely to be moving across highways. Drivers should be diligent while travelling the highway especially during foggy conditions.

South Shore Weather -- Wednesday, September 21, 2011

TODAY

Clearing this morning then sunny for the rest of the day. High 22.
(((**UV index 5 or moderate**))).

TONIGHT
Clear. Low 8.

TOMORROW
Increasing cloud with showers beginning late in the morning. (Amount 2 to 4 mm). High 17.



THE FIVE DAY FORECAST

Friday
Cloudy with a chance of showers. Low 14. High 21.

Saturday
Cloudy with showers. Low 14. High 18.

Sunday
Cloudy with a chance of showers. Low 17. High 22.

Monday
A mix of sun and cloud. Low 12. High 18.

Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud. Low 9. High 17.



THE TIDES

Low- 9:15am
High- 2:50pm
Low- 9:55pm

Visitor restrictions remain in place at South Shore Regional Hospital

The 4th floor Medical Unit at South Shore Regional Hospital continues to be closed because of ongoing issues with MRSA.

South Shore Health says the antibiotic-resistant organism is creating longer than normal delays for people with non-urgent matters.

The VP of Medicine and Acting CEO, Dr. Peter Vaughan, says they're continuing to fight the outbreak and is optimistic things will turn around soon.

Family members who are assisting with a patients care are now permitted to visit, but restrictions remain in place for the general public.

MRSA does not pose a threat to the public or health care employees who are healthy.

Meeting to discuss future of Generations Active Park

A meeting to discuss the future of Generations Active Park will be held Wednesday night at the Bridgewater Days Inn.

Ekistics Planning and Design is creating the Master Plan for the park, and is looking for public input.

Bridgewater town councillor David Mitchell says it's important for people to have their say about what's included in the park.

An off-leash dog park is one idea considered for the space.

The meeting will begin Wednesday night at 7pm at the Days Inn Bridgewater.

MARC North

The Municipality of Lunenburg has acquired 115 acres of land in the northern part of the County for future park development. Mayor Don Downe made the announcement today
(Tuesday, Sept. 20th) at the Pinehurst Community Hall calling it a major milestone. The land acquired is located just before Guppy's on public highway, Trunk number 10. Downe says the MARC North has been a priority for the Municipality since the Open Space Strategic Plan was adopted back in 2003. He says over the last nine years, properties have been looked at, and it was only recently a piece of property that was affordable and suitable became available.

COMFIT Applications

More than 60 community groups across the province including the Municipality of Chester, have applied to be part of a unique, made-in-Nova Scotia initiative to develop community based green energy projects. The Community-Based Feed-in Tariff, or COMFIT, opened Monday. The program encourages community groups to get involved in renewable energy development while reducing green-house gas emissions, securing a supply of clean energy at stable prices and

creating jobs. Almost 100 community projects are registered with the department from a variety of eligible groups.

Projects can include wind, biomass, in-stream tidal and run-of-the river tidal developments. Eligible groups include municipalities, First Nations, co-operatives and not-for-project groups. For more information on the program and to apply, visit herehttp://www.nsrenewables.ca/

Healthy Community Resource Centre

Details of the next steps in the proposal to build a Healthy Community Resource Centre in the Village of Chester will be revealed Wednesday night (Sept.21st). Following months of public consultation, the committee spearheading the Centre will announce its intentions to the public at a meeting at Forest Heights Community School at 7:30 p.m. Chairperson Barb Grigsby will discuss funding the centre, fundraising possibilities and informally discuss the visual concept of the proposed centre. The community health complex would be an expansion of the Heath Resources Centre at Shoreham Village over a a 5 to 10 year span. The concept will see a number of health related professionals including doctors and nurse practitioners together in a central location.


For more information visit here http://www.HealthCentreInfo.com

Shelburne Clearwater Lobster Fleet To Join Union

Clearwater's Lobster Fleet fishermen out of Shelburne have voted to join a union. The province's Labour Board has certified a recent vote by the fishermen, allowing them to become members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 864.

Chris Mayberry is a UFCW organizer. He says one of the main issues for the fishermen has been the disparity between time spent at sea and time home.
Mayberry says: "Equal time ashore, equal time at home. A lot of the guys have families and the company would come in and you'd go out on a trip for 5, 7 possibly 9 days and then you'd come back and they'd ask you to come back the next day and get on the boat again. So a lot of the guys though that was a big issue as far as shore time."
Clearwater and the UFCW will begin talks soon on a collective agreement for the fishermen.

South Shore Weather -- Tuesday, September 20, 2011

TODAY

Sunny. High 19. (((**UV index 6 or high**))).

TONIGHT
Increasing cloud and a chance of showers. Low 12.

TOMORROW
Clearing late in the morning then sunny. High 20.



THE FIVE DAY FORECAST

Thursday
Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 10. High 17.

Friday
Cloudy. Low 14. High 20.

Saturday
Cloudy with showers. Low 14. High 22.

Sunday
A mix of sun and cloud. Low 13. High 19.

Monday
A mix of sun and cloud. Low 11. High 19.



THE TIDES

Low- 8:10am
High- 1:50pm
Low- 8:55pm

Test

This is a test

Residents water concern passed to Public Service Commission

It's something David Wilkie has never encountered before.


The Bridgewater resident is complaining about his tapwater leaving a red-pinkish stain and black deposits on different fixtures in his bathroom.

Wilkie made a presentation to Council Monday night, explaining his situation.

Mayor Carroll Publicover says, while Council can't do anything, Wilkie should bring the matter up to the Public Service Commission.

"If it were me, I'd be on the doorstep on the Public Service Commission saying what's going on and hopefully he'll get an answer. He's saying it's also in other neighbours water, and so it's not just one individual crying in the wilderness, there's something there that needs to be looked at."

Councillor Bill McInnis explained to Wilkie that the red-pinkish stains are most likely bacteria.

Council suggested Wilkie to make a presentation at the next Public Service Commission meeting in mid-October.

Martin returns from World University Games and World Track and Field Championships

South Shore native Jenna Martin says competing overseas at the World University Games and World Track and Field Championships was an eye-opening experience.


Martin returned to Bridgewater from China and South Korea last week after a sixth place finish and setting personal best times in the 4 x 400 metre relay.

She says she has more confidence heading into future events.

"I know after coming from this experience and running how well I did in the relay, I know I can make an Olympic final or World Championships final."

Martin says she didn't run the 400 metre event at the World Championships because her body didn't recover enough from the World University Games.

Martin is enjoying some time off before getting back into practice sessions around the first week of October.

Shelburne Shipyard Re-Opens

Shelburne is back in ship shape, busy repairing ships again, thanks to the province's 8.8 million dollar investment in Irving Shipbuilding's Shelburne Ship Repair. Irving Shipbuilding invested 16.6 million dollars in the upgrades to modernize the cradle and marine railway, as well as the wharf. The restoration, completed in August, will strengthen the
economy and sustain employment for local residents in the long term. Irving's purchase of the yard was a condition of the province's investment. Most of the upgrades were completed by Shelburne Ship Repair employees. There are currently 38 employees in the yard with repair work underway and bids for more work submitted.

Beach Access Acquired

The Municipality of Lunenburg has acquired a piece of property providing public access to Mason's Beach. Mayor Don Downe says the property was donated to the Municipality by Paul Young and his mother. Downe says Young talked about the issue of pride of culture, pride of community and pride of our people and history. The Mayor says having this open space given to the Muncicpality by a local individual for access to the beach is a remarkable thing to do and will add to the amount of property that will be kept in perpetuity for the community and people allowing access to the waterways.

Downe says Council recognized Young with a certificate.

Copper Wire Theft

RCMP have a theory concerning the theft of copper wire from the Lunenburg Electric Light Department . The copper wire was taken from the Town's utility trucks. One incident happened June 27th in which two chainsaws were also stolen. The other incident took place in July. In his quarterly report to Lunenburg Town Council, Corporal Derek Smith says they have not yet identified any suspects. Corporal Smith says police aren't getting a whole lot of help from scrap dealers where the wire might be sold. He says the stolen copper wire is also hard to trace.

Local Veterans Receive Commendation

Two local residents have been honoured for their commitment and dedication to Veterans. Richard Halliday and Gerald Sigrist were presented with the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation at a ceremony in Halifax today. (Tuesday, September 13th). Halliday is a retired Canadian Forces Naval Veteran from East Clifford. He has been heavily involved with naval organizations since his retirement serving  as President of the South Shore Naval Association (SSNA) from 1994 1997 and was instrumental with the affiliation of SSNA with the Royal Canadian Naval Association. Halliday currently serves as Parliamentary and Veterans Affairs Officer on the National Executive of the Royal Canadian Naval Association and continues to assist Veterans in obtaining benefits. Sigrist is a retired Canadian Forces Naval Veteran from Bridgewater. He is the founding President of the South Shore Naval Association, which was established in 1985 and changed its name to the Admiral Desmond Piers Naval Association (ADPNA) in 2003. He is currently Director of the ADPNA, Divisional Vice President for the Maritimes, and National Executive Secretary.
             In April 2001, Her Majesty the Queen approved the design of a special bar to be worn with decorations to be known as the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation. The Commendation is awarded annually to individuals who have contributed in an exemplary manner to the care and well-being of Veterans or to the remembrance of the contributions, sacrifices and achievements of Veterans. To date, more than 600 individuals have received the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation.