Gas Prices Rise Again

Gas prices are up again today. Regular self serve is selling at South Shore pumps for $1.30.1 per litre.  That's an increase of just over a cent. High test has gone up by a similar amount to $1.39 per litre. Diesel has also increased in price to $1.30.8. That is about 1.5 cents higher than yesterday. Gas prices in the Halifax area are traditionally about half a cent lower than those on the South Shore.

White Point Wins Marketing Award For Main Lodge Rebuild

White Point Beach Resort has picked up a marketing award for rebuilding their main lodge. The Queens County destination received the award recently in Halifax at the Atlantic Interactive Marketing Conference. The resort used different methods to gather ideas for the main lodge including facebook, twitter and online blogs. They also used construction webcams to keep the public involved in the building process. Marketing and Product Development Manager, Donna Hatt, says it's a special award for the resort.



Hatt says they felt it was important to keep the public involved through the rebuild, with all the support they received following the November 2011 fire. She says the award sits near the front desk inside the main lodge. (Photo Courtesy: Michelle Doucette Photography)

Groups Seek Volunteers For Maintenance Work At Gaff Point

A pair of conservation groups are doing some maintenance work to the Gaff Point trail in Lunenburg County and are looking for some extra help. The Nature Conservancy of Canada, along with the Kingsburg Coastal Conservancy are in need of volunteers to cut extra brush, put in boardwalks where water has collected and move trail boundaries where cliffs are starting to erode. The work will be done to roughly one kilometre of the three-and-a-half kilometre trail. A coordinator with the NCC, Doug van Hemessen, says it's routine work that's done every year.



van Hemessen says they're looking for a handful of people to donate some time from 10-4 on Saturday. People are asked to submit their names to the volunteer sign-up on the Nature Conservancy of Canada's website, which can be found here . (Photo Courtesy: Gerald Hallowell)

MODL: Council Debate Road Signage Policy

The Municipality of Lunenburg is directing staff to look at all options before implementing a road signage policy. Councillors debated the issue earlier this week, with some of those in favour saying the policy needs to be in place to help emergency service vehicles locate a scene quickly. Those against the issue don't want to see tax bills increase to affected property owners. John Veinot agrees safety needs to be considered but voted against the matter.



The mayor feels the municipality should be setting a standard that is acceptable throughout the district. Don Downe says they're going to explore if there's potential partnership opportunities.



Currently, 163 roads are without proper signage.

'Afterglow' Arts Event Looking To Return To King Street

A local arts and culture event is looking to return to the streets of Bridgewater. Ashton Rodenhiser recently presented to town council about hosting 'Afterglow' on King Street towards the end of September. Over 50 artists participated in last year's event, providing dance or theatre performances, film and video or mobile art. Rodenhiser says it's about bringing people to the area.



The Afterglow group is looking for in-kind support from the town including use of electrical outlets, provide event banners and be covered under the town's liability insurance. Council referred the matter back to staff to look at the financial impact of the group's request.

Acadia Broadcasting Applies To Purchase Moncton Station

Acadia Broadcasting is moving to add another radio station to its stable. The parent company of CKBW/HANK-FM has filed an application with the Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission to purchase CKNI-FM - News 91.9 in Moncton from Rogers Broadcasting. The Saint John based company currently owns ten stations here in the Maritimes and Ontario. Vice-President Jim MacMullin says he looks forward to bringing our brand of community focused, quality local radio to Moncton. The CRTC is expected to rule on the application later this year.

Deadline Today For Yarmouth Ferry Proposals

Today is the deadline to submit business plans for a proposed revival of the ferry service between Yarmouth and Maine. The provincial government will make the results known tomorrow. The minister of economic and rural development and tourism, Graham Steele, will outline the submitted proposals and where things go from here. The government previously extended the deadline for business plans by two weeks. The government rejected two bids earlier this year, saying neither met the criteria for a viable operation.

15th Annual 'Hit It For Health' Raises $28,670

A sold out 'Hit It For Health' golf event helped raise $28,670 towards a new fetal monitor at South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater. One hundred and forty-four golfers teed-off Wednesday in the event at Osprey Ridge. Development Officer, Bernadette Jordan, says a new monitor costs roughly $30,000, so they're really close to purchasing it. She says it's time for a new one.




She also praised the community for their support.



This is the 15th year for the event, and Jordan says it has raised more than $400,000 towards the purchase of necessary equipment.

Lohnes Chasing Double Gold At Judo Nationals

A Bridgewater judoka is hoping to build off of two bronze medals from last year's Canadian Judo Championships. Twenty-year-old Whitney Lohnes says her goal at nationals this year is double gold. She will compete in the seniors and women's under-21, 48 kilogram divisions. The national competition gets underway Thursday in Richmond, B.C. .

Local Historian Offering Brookside Cemetery Tours

Former business owners, community leaders and prominent women will be the subject of guided tours from a local historian. Peter Oickle is offering the tours at Brookside Cemetery to local residents who want to learn more about the people who made an impact on the town. He says the tours will look at more than just people.




The first tour will be held Thursday evening around 6:50pm at the Brookside Cemetery. Tours will also be held July 11, August 1st and August 8th. Tickets cost $5 and can be purchased at the Desbrisay Museum or people can bring exact change to the tour and pay there.

VIDEO: Crews Douse Vehicle Fire In Bridgewater

No injuries after a car caught fire in the parking lot of the Bridgewater Days Inn. The incident occurred around 10:45 Wednesday morning. Fire Chief Michael Nauss says the female driver noticed smoke coming from underneath her hood and pulled into the hotel parking lot. He says there was very little smoke coming from the vehicle when it was first reported.



Town police and EHS also responded to the call. Video below shows fire officials dousing the vehicle, to make sure the blaze was out.

Chester School Receiving New Tablets In The Fall

A Lunenburg County school is benefiting from a pilot project funded by the Nova Scotia government. Roughly 90 grade seven students at Chester Area Middle School will receive new tablets in September. The $1-million pilot, announced by the Department of Education, will teach math by providing students free online lessons in the Khan Academy program. Director of Programs and Student Services with the South Shore School Board, Jeff DeWolfe, says he's happy a local school was one of four selected across the province.



The exact cost per tablet isn't known because the school will select the model that works for them. DeWolfe says its a one-year project, but is hopeful the project will be carried over at the end of the year based on student success.

Liverpool Parking Meters Headed For Quick Fix

The cost of repairs has been growing since payment-card parking meters were installed four years ago in Liverpool.  A design flaw has created confusion for drivers. They've been clogging the meters with coins instead of the specially-designed cards. Region of Queens Mayor Christopher Clarke says there's a quick fix.



Each time a parking meter has been clogged by a coin, it costs $100 to repair and those repairs have been mounting. All meters should be safely accepting coins and tokens in a couple of weeks. By the way, tokens can be purchased at the Region of Queens municipal office.

Charges May Be Laid After Gold River Incidents

Two people are in custody in connection with an incident Tuesday night in Gold River. The RCMP say the two men were arrested after a couple of assaults. They say the two incidents were related. Investigators have released few details other than to confirm the arrests. Its not known if anyone was injured. The RCMP say charges are pending.

Former Lumberjacks Forward Recruited By Royal Military College

A former CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjack will continue his hockey career at the Royal Military College of Canada. Luc Ramey will suit up in the Paladin red and white after he was recruited by the school. Ramey scored 35 points in 49 games with the Lumberjacks last season. He was also awarded the 100 per cent award by the club during the team's year-end banquet.

Town Supports Brookside Cemetery Street Names

The roads in Bridgewater's Brookside Cemetery will soon have names. Town council recently supported nine names recommended by the heritage advisory committee. Council also agreed to help fundraising efforts by looking for financial support from local businesses and the private-sector. Staff will also install 17 posts and 34 signs when they are purchased. Heritage Advisory Committee Chair, Patrick Hirtle, says he's happy with council's decision.



The street names include Memory Loop, Timber Arch, Brookside Way, Sawmill Arch, Wandering Loop, Pondside Path, Veterans Bend, Glory Bend, and Edgewood Path. Hirtle says there's no timetable for the signs to be installed but is hopeful it will be complete by late fall.

MODL: Resident Ordered To Clean-Up Unsightly Property

A Lunenburg County man is being told to clean up his property or face the consequences. The Municipality of Lunenburg voted in favour of ordering Daniel Lloyd to remove construction debris, auto parts, derelict vehicles and garbage from his camp on Mines Road #2 in Hebbs Cross. The Municipality first received a complaint on the property in 2011. A building inspector with the municipality says Lloyd has received four different extensions to remedy the unsightly condition. Lloyd must improve the property's condition and remove junk and derelict vehicles or he could face charges under the Municipal Government Act.

Tax Rates Unchanged In Lunenburg

The town of Lunenburg will hold the line on taxes over the coming year.  Council has set the residential rate at $1.27.9 per $100. of assessment.  The commercial rate will be $3.26 per $100 and the seasonal tourism tax rate will be $2.44.6.  The rates are unchanged from last year and Mayor Rachel Bailey says it was a challenge to avoid increases.




Lunenburg town council approved an operational budget for 2013-14 of $6,571,150.  The capital budget for the town is $3,027,100.  The lions-share of that goes toward infrastructure projects like repaving a portion of Victoria Road and improvements to water and sewer lines.

Heavy Rain Heading For South Shore

As if we haven't had enough of it, there is more rain on the way for today and in some places on the South Shore and in the Tri-County area, a lot of it. As much as 70 mm of rain is predicted by Environment Canada to drench Queens, Shelburne, Yarmouth and Digby Counties today.  Rainfall warnings have been issued for those areas. Lunenburg County could get as much as 25 mm.

Waters Selected For Third World Championship

A local paddler is getting another chance to make his mark in Canadian colours. Dave Waters has been selected to represent the country in three premiere events across the world. This is the third year the Fox Point paddler has been named to the world team. Waters will compete July 6 and 7th in Lake Placid for the International Regatta. He will also hit the water in the paracanoe World Championships from August 27 until September 1 in Germany and the Pan American Championships in Puerto Rico October 17-20. Waters is hoping to build off a third place finish during last year's World Championships in Poland.