Friday: Lumberjacks Game Postponed

The impending blizzard has forced the postponement of tomorrow night's MHL game in Bridgewater.  The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks were scheduled to host the Woodstock Slammers at the Clearwater Seafoods Arena at 7 o'clock. The contest will be re-scheduled at a later date. The Jacks' first game of the New Year is now slated for New Glasgow against the Pictou County Weeks Crushers on Saturday evening.   

Watchdog Group: Use Gas Taxes To Improve The 103

There will probably be no change overnight tonight in gasoline prices at South Shore pumps.  Canadian Taxpayers Federation Atlantic Director Kevin Lacey says thats a good thing. However, he says gas would be a lot cheaper without the tax on tax at the pumps.  Lacey says money collected through all those taxes though should be used to improve our roads, particularly the dangerous highway 103.



Lacey says directing gas tax money to improve the 103 would not only boost driver safety but also improve the local economy.

Wanted: Health Care Professionals, South Shore & Beyond

Nova Scotia's health minister expects to unveil a committee in the coming few weeks to look at ways of recruiting doctors to the province. In a CKBW and HANK-FM News interview, Leo Glavine says thats not all that is the focus of attention at the health department these days.



Glavine has been warned the province could face alarming shortages across a range of professions in the health-care system.  That as workers approach retirement, which includes a shortage of 800 nurses within five years.  In briefing notes when he first became minister, the notes tell Glavine professions requiring close monitoring include physicians, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, continuing care assistants and lab and diagnostic imaging staff, to name a few.

MODL: Mayor Pleased Old Schools Will Be Reviewed

A South Shore mayor is pleased the provincial government is looking at taking the pressure off municipalities when schools are closed. Under the current system, when a school closes it reverts back to the municipality and in some cases causes financial pressure for taxpayers and council. Don Downe says he welcomes the news given the Municipality of Lunenburg took control of three former schools over the past few years.



However, Downe says the news isn't all bad as the facilities in Riverport, Blockhouse and Centre each have potential. He says council is involved in discussions with a number of potential tenants for those former schools.

School Review Meetings Begin Next Week

Meetings to discuss the way schools are closed in Nova Scotia will be held this month. Nine public sessions will be held including stops in Bridgewater, Yarmouth, Halifax and Berwick. Bridgewater's meeting will be January 13 at Park View Education Centre. Yarmouth's meeting will be the next night at Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School. All meetings will be held from 7-9pm. The first meeting of the process will be held January 6 in Sydney. The meetings will examine the school review process and look into what's done with old schools when they are closed or new facilities are built. A consultations committee is gathering input from the public, school boards, the teachers' union, and municipalities on the school review process. The feedback will be used to develop recommendations that will be given to the education minister by the end of February.

South Shore: Kraft Hockeyville Contest Underway

Residents of the South Shore can nominate their community or town for the Kraft Hockeyville contest. The wildly popular contest brings hockey communities together in the quest to receive $100,000 in arena upgrades from Kraft Foods and the NHL. Also, the successful community gets to host an NHL pre-season game. Last year, Yarmouth made it through to the second last round of voting. The top 16 communities that will compete for Kraft Hockeyville will be revealed on Hockey Night in Canada on March 8th. The winner will be announced in April. You can nomination your community here

Chester Rink Captures Provincial Title

A team based in Chester is off to the Canadian Junior Curling Championships. Mary Fay's rink captured the provincial title on New Years Eve. She beat defending champ Mary Myketyn-Driscoll of Truro. Final score was 9-4 at the Lakeshore Curling Club. The curling championships kick off January 18th in Liverpool.

Big Snowstorm Headed Our Way

For all you winter weary folks, as if we haven't had enough in recent weeks, get set to be dumped upon yet again by lots of snow. An added feature this time will be very high wind gusts. Environment Canada has issued a blizzard warning for the South Shore and most of the province. It's expected we could get a total of between 20 and 35 centimeters of heavy snow over the next day or so. It should peter out on the weekend with sunshine for cleaning up on Saturday and temperatures above zero on Sunday and Monday.

Update: Chester Rink Eyes Provincial Title

Chester's Mary Fay is just one win away from the Provincial Junior Women's Curling Championship. In semi final action this morning the Fay rink stole three points in the fourth end on their way to a 9-2 victory over Mayflower's Emily Dwyer. Fay meets defending champ Mary Myketen-Driscoll of Truro in the 2 o'clock final at the Lakeshore Curling Club. In their only meeting this week Fay scored a 10-3 win. Meantime Robert Mayhew of Windsor captured the Junior Men's title with an 8-3 decision over Matthew Manuel of Mayflower. Mayhew won seven of eight games at the Lower Sackville event. He'll represent the Province at the M & M Meat Shops Canadian Junior championships in Liverpool next month.

2014=More Taxes!

2014 is bringing with it even more taxes to be paid by South Shore residents and others in the province. Kevin Lacey of the watchdog group, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, says life won't be any cheaper for residents here when you factor-in increased EI and CPP premiums and bracket creep. Thats when you earn a bit more than usual and the taxman grabs most of it.



Lacey says what the new increases mean is a South Shore family of 4, including 2 kids, earning $60,000. a year, will pay about $130. more in taxes in the new year than in 2013. Thats in addition to high gas taxes, income tax and the HST at 15 percent.

"Our Health Centre" Looks For 2014 Opening

The multi-millon dollar health centre project in Chester is moving forward with a vigorous fundraising campaign. Officials with "Our Health Centre" are looking to raise $6 million dollars to fund construction, equipment and start up costs for project. In addition to public and private donations, they've received $500,000 through the Nova Scotia government over the past year. In a year end interview, Chester Warden Allen Webber says council is still mulling over what kind of support they can offer the project.



The collaborative health centre is expected to be open late in 2014. According to its web site, they want to raise between $3.5 to $4 million before construction begins on the project. It would be located in Shoreham Village.

Winter Sport Fishing Begins

Get your rods and reels ready because the winter sportfishing season kicks off tomorrow (New Years Day). Selected lakes on the South Shore and elsewhere will open for rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, chain pickerel or perch. Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Keith Colwell says winter sportfishing is a great way for Nova Scotians of any age to enjoy the outdoors and he encourages anglers to use caution when fishing in boats, on the ice or from shore. A 2013 general fishing licence is required to winter fish and can be purchased at Department of Natural Resources offices. More information is available on the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture website.

For Review: MLA's Pension, Salary & Travel

A three member panel set up to review MLA compensation has been finalized. Roy Salmon, Janet Hazelton, and John Merrick were appointed to the panel.They will review salaries, benefits, pensions, travel and constituency allowances for MLAs. Salmon served as auditor general of Nova Scotia for 14 years will be the panel's chair. Hazelton has served as president of the Nova Scotia Nurses' Union since 2002. Merrick previously worked on the public inquiry into the Westray Mine Disaster. The panel will begin its deliberations early in the New Year and will present its findings by March 31.

New Doctor Accepting Patients In Yarmouth County

A new family doctor working in Pubnico will begin accepting patients next month. South West Health says Dr. Asif Sardar will accept 100 patients during the first intake with priority given to residents of Yarmouth County. The intake process will be done over the phone on January 4. It is expected the new doctor will be able to accept a maximum of 1,000 patients over time.


Contact Information:

Patients will only be accepted by phone on Saturday, Jan. 4, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and on Saturday, Feb. 8, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. The number to call for telephone registrations is 902-742-9538.

When calling in to register, people are asked to have their MSI number, date of birth, civic address and current phone number available. People will only be considered who do not now have a primary health provider (a family physician or nurse practitioner) in South West Health ( Yarmouth, Digby or Shelburne counties.) First priority will be given to the residents of Yarmouth County.

People are asked not to phone in with a list of friends or extended family members. Dr. Asif will only consider a person and their immediate family members (spouse, parent or children) as patients.

Update: Fay Rink Improves to 4-1

Mary Fay of Chester leads the way at the AMJ Campbell Provincial Junior Curling Championships. The Fay foursome improved to 4-1, and clinched a playoff spot, with a 7-0 win this morning over Emily Manuel of Mayflower. Micayla Dorey from Chester was eliminated after a 10-2 loss to Mayflower's Hayley McCabe. McCabe and Fay battle this afternoon for a spot in the "C" division final. Three other girls' teams are still alive. The winning squad will head to the Canadian Junior championships in Liverpool next month.

Lunenburg County Salvation Army Reaches "Kettle" Goal

The Lunenburg County Salvation Army has reached its target with its annual Christmas Kettle Campaign. Ten days ago, it was 19-thousand dollars short. An appeal to the public helped in surpassing the goal.
Salvation Army Captain Felipe Vega is astounded by the success.



The final total was $57,149. It will be used to fund the children and family support programs offered through the year in the area by the Salvation Army.

Greenfield Airport Targetted By Thieves

For the second time in eight months, there has been a breakin and theft at the airport in Greenfield. Over the weekend, someone pried-open a locked door on a hanger, smashed out a window on a Cesna 172 aircraft, stole earphones, a GPS unit and welding gear and also damaged an ultra-light aircraft. Bluenose Flying Club member and hanger co-owner Barry Mercer says he's feeling frustrated by it all and he's going to take action.



The most expensive piece of gear taken was a GPS unit. Mercer says no one else can use it except pilots.



Mercer say the estimated cost of the lost gear and damage is close to 4-thousand dollars. The RCMP is investigating.

Primary Care Is Primary Focus For South Shore Health

Improving access to doctors and primary care will be a key focus for South Shore Health heading into 2014. President Dr. Peter Vaughan says they welcomed five new physicians over the past year. They've also hired four nurse practitioners and a geriatrician. Vaughan says the health authority will continue to work on attracting new staff while focusing on keeping the professionals they already have in place.



Vaughan believes the new family health centre in Bridgewater and collaborative clinic in Liverpool will improve access and help bring new doctors to the area. Both of those facilities are expected to open in the new year.

Curling: Chester Rink Nears Provincial Title

Chester's Mary Fay is one win away from the playoffs at the AMJ Campbell Provincial Junior Curling Championships in Lower Sackville. Fay faces Mayflower's Emily Manuel this morning at 9 in the "B" division qualifier. Both rinks are 3-1. Defending champ Mary Myketyn-Driscoll of Truro has already earned a playoff spot. Micayla Dorey of Chester, with a 2-2 record, is also still alive. In the boys division, Matthew Manuel of Mayflower and Robert Mayhew of Windsor lead the way with 4-1 marks. All three South Shore teams have been eliminated. This week's winners will advance to the M & M Meat Shops Canadian Junior Championships in Liverpool in mid-January.

Local Chamber Of Commerce Ready For 2014

The new year will see the beginning of major changes in the town of Bridgewater and the area Chamber of Commerce intends to be front and centre. Manager Dan Hennessey says his organization is changing to meet the times. He says 2014 will be a busy year.



Hennessey says the past year has been one of transition for the Bridgewater Area Chamber of Commerce. He says its expanding to become more community and business oriented.