Curlers Raise Over $500 Towards Winter Games Opportunity

A group of South Shore curlers trying to reach the 2015 Canada Winter Games held a successful fundraiser over the weekend. Eight youth, including six from Bridgewater and two from Yarmouth, raised just over $500 towards the effort. The group held a bottle drive at the Bridgewater Curling Club on Saturday. They collected over 7,000 bottles as well as monetary donations. The money will help them buy new equipment like grippers and broom heads. Two local teams are into the elite six play-downs, which are scheduled for Shelburne, Bridgetown and Halifax between January and March.

Bridgewater: Town Denies Land To Church

The town of Bridgewater has denied a request for land from the Bridgewater Open Bible Church. The church was looking to lease or acquire under an acre of land on the corner of Jubilee Road and Exhibition Drive. The church's Trustees Board chair says they have a congregation of roughly 170 people and need to expand parking. However, Mayor David Walker says there could be plans for the land.



Walker says there is land across the street from the church that could be purchased and provide additional parking spaces.

South Shore: Windy/Wet Evening Expected

It looks it will be a nasty evening - weather wise - on the South Shore. High wind and rain is expected to hit Shelburne, Yarmouth, Lunenburg and Queens counties. Environment Canada predicts wind gusts will reach 80 kilometres in some communities with 15 to 20 millimetres of rain expected tonight. There are a few power outages to report but none in our region. Nova Scotia Power crews are working to restore electricity to about 7,000 customers in Dartmouth and Amherst. The largest outage is in the Amherst area where the cause is being investigated. We'll be sure to keep you updated if any power outages are report in our region.

Yarmouth's Graves Suits Up In Subway Super Series

A Yarmouth native prepares to join some of the best Quebec Major Junior Hockey players in the Subway Super Series. Ryan Graves will suit up for the opening game Monday night against a team of Russian stars in Gatineau, Quebec. The 18-year-old defenseman plays for the Charlottetown Islanders. He has two goals and three assists in 23 games this season. The former South Shore Mustang was selected in the fourth round of this summer's NHL draft by the New York Rangers. Three Halifax Moosehead players are also playing for the 'Q' team including Jonathan Drouin, MacKenzie Weegar and Zachary Fucale. The series lasts six games. The Russians will play two games each against stars from the QMJHL, the Ontario Hockey League and the Western Hockey League.

Witty & Creative Nova Scotia Book - A Best Seller

It's a hot item on bookshelves and the backdrop is based right here in Nova Scotia. "You Might Be From Nova Scotia If..." was released in September and has become a national best seller. It's a compilation of witty and creative cartoons with a humorous spin highlighting everyday life as a Bluenoser. Chronicle Herald cartoonist Michael De Adder is the mind behind the sketches and says people can relate to the book. He feels that's why it has become so popular.



De Adder put the pencil to may of the cartoons in the book at his cottage just outside of Bridgewater. He'll be stopping by the Bridgewater Mall for a book signing on December 1st. The book is backed by publisher John MacIntyre (MacIntyre Purcell Publishing).

Optimism Buyer Will Be Found For Former Sawmill Site

The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg still hopes a buyer will eventually come along for the former Oakhill Sawmill site. The mill was closed more than a year ago when Resolute Forest Products shutdown both the Bowater Mersey Mill in Brooklyn and its Oakhill operation. MODL Mayor Don Downe says the potential for the site is being examined closely by officials in Lunenburg and Queens Counties, the province and Ottawa.



The Oakhill sawmill employed 125 workers prior to closing in 2012. Resolute still owns the property, although its now quiet and most equipment and stock removed. A potential buyer would also have to consider an environmental cleanup after generations of sawmill operations.

Chester: Turbine Almost Ready At Kaizer Meadow

A wind turbine is nearing completion at the Kaizer Meadow landfill in Chester. Warden Allen Webber says they anticipate energizing the 98-metre, two mega-watt wind turbine on November 26. It's expected to provide enough green electricity for around 350 homes. Webber says the date is flexible.



Webber says they're still looking at a target date to feed electricity into Nova Scotia Power's grid by December 1. They will receive money from the Department of Energy's COMFIT program once that happens.

Stand By For Lots Of Rain + Strong Winds

You can expect some nasty weather as the day rolls on. The forecast is calling for periods of rain through the morning and afternoon and the wind from the Southeast with gusts as high as 80 later by times. As much as 40 mm of rain is forecast to fall before things start to clear up late tonight. Sunshine to start Tuesday but cloud and showers and flurries roll in for the afternoon.

Lumberjacks Fall In Overtime To Dieppe

Jacob McNutt had the only goal as the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks were edged by Dieppe Sunday 2-1 in overtime. Billy Clarke stopped 45 shots in the loss. It was the Lumberjacks third game in three days after a shootout win on Friday and a loss on Saturday. The Jacks will take on the Valley Wildcats Friday night at the Clearwater Seafoods Arena.

Glen Murray: Forest Heights Crowned Champs

Forest Heights are the 2013 Glen Murray High School Hockey Tournament Champions. They beat Park View in Sunday's final 4-3 in double overtime at the Bridgewater Memorial Arena. It's the second year in a row Park View has lost in the championship game. This is the tournament's 11th year.

Dexter Stepping Down As NDP Leader

Darrell Dexter is stepping down as leader of the province's New Democratic Party. Dexter submitted his letter of resignation at a meeting yesterday in Halifax. His term as leader will end next weekend. Dexter says it has been a privilege to serve New Democrats across Nova Scotia over the past 12 years. He led the NDP to its first provincial government in Nova Scotia history in the June 2009 election.  However, the NDP fell to third party status in this fall's election, garnering only seven of 51 seats in the legislature. Dexter also lost his riding of Cole Harbour-Portland Valley to Liberal Tony Ince. Maureen MacDonald will be nominated as Acting Leader at a meeting on Saturday in Halifax. A process to elect the new leader of the party will be announced at a future date.

Salvation Army Readies For Local Kettle Campaign

Its a Christmas Season tradition and it'll soon be visible again in shopping areas along the South Shore. Its the Salvation Army's annual Christmas Kettle Campaign. It raises funds to help needy families in the area and it begins next Friday, the 22nd. In Lunenburg County, the Salvation Army's Captain Felipe Vega says despite a sluggish economy in recent years, donations have kept pace.



Vega says money raised through the Kettle campaign goes to help needy families in the area throughout the year, providing food and clothing and helping with heating bills too.

RCMP, Fire Marshal Investigate New Germany Fire

RCMP and the Fire Marshal's office are investigating after a Saturday fire in New Germany. Fire officials from Hemford, West Northfield and New Germany responded to the blaze Saturday morning around 9:20am along Highway 208. Police say there was moderate damage to the home that was vacant at the time of the blaze. There were no injuries.

Hockey: Jacks Lose, Glen Murray Final Set

The Amherst Ramblers dumped the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks 7-2 Saturday night. The Jacks jumped out to a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes. But Amherst stormed back with six second period goals to take control of the hockey game. Connor Hilton and Ryan Groom scored for the Bridgewater club, who are in Dieppe Sunday for a matinee game against the Commandos.
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It will be an all South Shore final at the Glen Murray Hockey Tournament in Bridgewater. The Park View Panthers will take on Forest Heights in the championship game. Park View defeated Barrington 1-0 while Forest Heights blasted West Kings 8-1 in Saturday night's semi-finals. The championship game is slated for 1:30 Sunday afternoon at the Bridgewater Memorial Arena. 

Ottawa Providing Money For Yarmouth Ferry Terminal

The federal government has announced support for the ferry terminal in Yarmouth. The MP for West Nova made the announcement recently in the town. He didn't provide specific figures on the costs of the upgrades. However, the co-chair of the Nova Scotia International Ferry Partnership says the cost is estimated between two to three million dollars. Yarmouth County's three municipalities will cost share roughly 20 per cent, with the feds providing 80 per cent. The terminal must be divested and will eventually be owned by the Yarmouth and Area Industrial Commission. The chair of that commission and warden for the Municipality of Yarmouth, Murray Goodwin, says they need to do some renovations to the existing buildings.



The province and STM Quest signed a deal last week to operate the Nova Star ferry between Yarmouth and Portland, Maine, beginning May 2014. Goodwin expects contractors to begin quoting the project as early as this week.

Hockey: Jacks Win, Glen Murray Results

A long winless streak has finally been broken for the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks. The Junior hockey club won their first home game of the season last night, defeating Pictou County 3-2 in a shootout. Connor MacEachern scored the game-clinching goal. Connor Hilton and Shaun MacEachern scored in regulation while Cory Peterson stopped 44 shots between the pipes. The Jacks are on the road tonight for a game against the Amherst Ramblers.

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The Charlie's Pizza South Shore Mustangs play their final round robin game today in Moncton. The Mustangs square off against Notre Dame at 9am this morning at the Monctonian tournament. The major midget club has a 1-1 record heading into the game.

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The Park View Panthers flexed their muscles at the Glen Murray Hockey Tournament. The Panthers shutout the Bridgewater Vikings 9-0 last night. The win moves Park View to 2-0, while Bridgewater fell to 1-1. Both teams are back in action today. Park View plays Yarmouth at 10:45 while Bridgewater meets West Kings at 12:30. Forest Heights wrapped up their round robin yesterday with a 2-1 record. All games are being played at the Bridgewater Memorial Arena.

Mustangs Fall To Moncton At Monctonian

The Charlies Pizza South Shore Mustangs fell to Moncton today in their second game of the Monctonian tournament in Moncton. Keith Getson scored twice and Ty Duffus added another, but the Mustangs lost 5-3. The loss squares their tournament record to 1-1. The Mustangs will play Notre Dame Saturday to wrap up round-robin play.

Glen Murray: Park View, Bridgewater Renew Rivalry

Hometown pride is on the line tonight as a pair of Bridgewater high school hockey teams square off at the Glen Murray Tournament. The Bridgewater Vikings, fresh off a 3-2 win earlier today over Yarmouth, will meet the Park View Panthers following the tournament's opening ceremonies. Both teams are 1-0. Bridgewater assistant coach Michael Hubley says the rivalry between the two schools is strong.



The game is slated for 8pm this evening at the Bridgewater Memorial Arena.

Curlers Hold Bottle Drive To Help Winter Games Push

Got any spare bottles laying around? A group of curlers are looking for your refundable's to help raise money on their road to the Canada Winter Games. A bottle drive will be held Saturday morning at the Bridgewater Curling Club from 9am until 2pm. One of the organizers, Monique Hillier-Conrad, says there is plenty of local kids to support.



Hillier-Conrad is hoping to raise around $700 for new equipment like grippers and broom heads. Both teams are involved in the Elite Six playdowns, which are scheduled for January in Shelburne, February in Bridgetown and March in Halifax.

NDP's Dexter Could Step Aside Saturday

New Democrats in the province may lose their most familiar face this weekend. Leader Darrell Dexter will make an announcement Saturday in Halifax at the party's provincial executive meeting. Dexter's future has been up in the air after the NDP were knocked from power to third-party status in last month's election. He also wasn't able to win his own seat of Cole Harbour-Portland Valley. Newcomer Tony Ince of the Liberals was able to steal away the seat in the October election in which turned to be a tough night for the NDP. Dexter's announcement will be made at MLA Maureen MacDonald's constituency office, who has taken on the role of leader in the house. The Queens County native has been leader of the party 2001.