Budget for Bluenose II rebuild jumps by $1-million

The cost of rebuilding the Bluenose II has jumped by $1-million. Sources say the province has agreed to increase the project's budget to $15.9-million on advice from an international regulatory agency. Project manager Craig Chisholm says the shipbuilding agency called for changes to make sure the schooner is safe, including a requirement for steel reinforcements in the deck. The $14.8-million project, funded by the provincial and federal governments, began last fall. It was expected to be completed this spring, but the province now says the replica will set sail next summer. The last plank was attached to the ship's hull last month.

Mustangs President upset by lack of communication from Bridgewater Council

The president of the South Shore Canadian Tire Mustangs is firing back at the Town of Bridgewater. Lionel Haughn says he's received no word from Town Council about what the Mustangs should be doing to be considered for free ice time. He says he should be told the next step in the process.

"I think somebody should have the courtesy from the town or from the town council, to send me some sort of letter or communicate some way. I mean this is crazy, I'm not going to act on what I've heard, like I said before, in the parking lot."

The team is looking to have the cost of its Friday morning practice time waived. Town Council is looking for the club to present a business plan, comparing them with other teams in the Major Midget hockey league.

South Shore Health trimming 3% from 2012-13 budget

South Shore Health has been asked to cut spending in 2012-13. The provincial government is looking to trim three per cent of health care costs for the nine district health authorities and the IWK Health Centre in Halifax. The director of communications with South Shore Health, Theresa Hawkesworth, says they will be working with other health authorities and the IWK on ways to trim their budget. She says a three per cent budget cut represents over $2.1-million. Hawkesworth says none of the money is expected to be taken from patient care.

Playground Equipment to be Removed

It's a short term solution until the Municipality of Lunenburg decides what to do with the former Riverport Elementary School. Deputy-Mayor Lee Nauss says Council has authorized staff to remove the playground equipment that is considered to be dangerous and unsafe. Nauss says with the closing of the school it reverted back to the ownership of the Municipality and even though the community wants the playground equipment to remain, there's a liability issue at stake. Council will maintain the other playground equipment and grounds of the school until a final decision is made on the reassessment or disposal of the property. The school board formally returned the school to the Municipality in July.

Foster Family Appreciation Week Celebrated

Nearly 800 foster families are being recognized this week for opening their hearts to children in need of a loving stable home in Nova Scotia. The province is celebrating Foster Family Appreciation Week held annually on the third week of October.
      Community Services Minister Denise Peterson-Rafuse thanks all foster families for providing children with the safe and nurturing home they deserve. At celebrations across the province this week certificates of recognition will be presented to foster families for the difference they have made to a child in need.

Best in Business to be honoured

The best in South Shore business will be honoured Tuesday night in Bridgewater. The Lunenburg-Queens Business Excellence awards get underway at 6pm at the Bridgewater Best Western Hotel and Convention Centre. The executive director of the Lunenburg Queens Regional Development Agency, Andrew Button, says the night highlights the quality of business on the South Shore. Here are the finalists in each of the six award categories.

Entrepreneurial Award :

Helping Nature Heal Inc
School House Gluten-Free Gourmet Ltd.
Van Dyk's Health Juice Products Ltd

Hospitality Award :

Atlantica Hotel and Marina Oak Island
Comfort Inn Bridgewater
Best Coast Coffee Gallery

Large Business Award : 

Mahone Auto
Kelly Oickle Enterprises Ltd. (Swiss Chalet)
Brady Home Building Centre

Export Achievement Award :

DPM Solutions
PRO Oceanus Systems Inc
TecBox
RU Safe Inc.

New Business Award :

Best Western Plus Bridgewater
Lahave River Chiropractic and Health Centre
Ironworks Distillery

Small Business Award :

Helping Nature Heal Inc.
New Germany Building Supplies (2004) Ltd.
Chester Pharmasave

School Bus Safety

Bridgewater Police want drivers to be extra cautious when approaching school buses. School Bus Safety Awareness Week begins Monday and Police are asking motorists to stop for a school bus when it displays its flashing red lights. Drivers who don't could faces fines beginning at $397.71 and up to $1260.21 for a third offence. Bridgewater Police are also asking students to remain in the drivers sight and cross in front of the bus. Roughly 33 school buses transport more than 1,200 students in Bridgewater every day. "Be Aware: Know the Danger Zone" is this year's theme when it comes to school bus safety in the town.

Missing 10-year-old found

South Shore RCMP say they have found a 10-year-old boy who wandered away from a children's centre. Police say the boy was found about 10 kilometres from the Dayspring Children's Centre in Lunenburg County at about 2pm Sunday. They said he left the facility without permission at about 10:25pm Saturday. Police say he was in good health.

RCMP looking for missing 10-year-old

Lunenburg RCMP is asking for the public's assistance in locating a 10-year-old boy who left the Dayspring Children's Centre Saturday morning without permission. The boy is described as a young male of First Nations descent, approximately 4'7" tall, 78 pounds, with short brown hair and green eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue button up shirt and grey pyjama pants, with no shoes. RCMP believe he may be heading to Cape Breton. If you have any information, please contact the RCMP at 634-8674.

Grand Opening of Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute Expansion

The Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute is holding a grand opening this weekend to show off the new expansion.  Senator Kelvin Ogilvie will be on hand for the ceremonies slated for Saturday, October 15th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The grand opening will give the public a chance to see the improvements to the field station and observe green technology being used. The improvements to the field station were designed for it to be a carbon neutral building within the Southwest Nova Scotia Biosphere Reserve in rural Queens County. The 200 thousand dollar project received funding from ACOA, the ECO-Nova Scotia Environmental Technology program and through private donations.

Portraits of Honour in Bridgewater

The Portraits of Honour  mural depicts the 157  fallen Canadian service men and women in Afghanistan. It arrived in Bridgewater over the noon hour and will be open for public viewing until 9 p.m. tonight (Fri. Oct. 14th) in the parking lot of the Bridgewater Legion Branch # 24, Churchill Street.

Gasoline Price Hike

Gasoline prices have taken another jump.

The price of a litre of self serve regular has shot up by six cents overnite.
Its selling at South Shore pumps today for $1.31.1 per litre.
Thats a ten cent increase in a week.

Freedom Riders raising money for stroke victim

Mar Croft, President of Freedom Riders

Members of a South Shore bike club are gearing up for a halloween-based fundraiser. The Freedom Riders Motorcycle Club will be on the road Saturday in support of Chester's Christopher Simms, who suffered a stroke. The president of Freedom Riders, Mar Croft, says all donations raised will go towards Simms. The event starts at 1pm Saturday at the Tim Hortons on the corner of Dominion and High Street in Bridgewater.The ride will be escorted through town by the Bridgewater Police and will make stops to collect donations. Riders are encouraged to dress up in costume or decorate their bikes.

Council mulls free ice decision; ask Mustangs for presentation

Bridgewater Mayor Carroll Publicover

Bridgewater town council is looking to hear from the South Shore Canadian Tire Mustangs. The Mustangs are looking to acquire some free ice time, but Mayor Carroll Publicover says council wants a formal proposal from the local 'AAA' hockey club.

"The Mustangs need to come and make a case for us if they believe that other teams that play 'AAA' hockey are given certain privileges and concessions by their communities to help them, we'd like to hear that, and maybe we'll step up and do the same thing."

The Mustangs are looking to waive the cost of their Friday morning practice time. Town council previously waived practice time for the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks, on the condition the full team relocated to Lunenburg County. The request would cost taxpayers roughly $2,500 for the season.

Bridgewater Councillor frustrated with Jo-Lo Development

Councillor David Mitchell

It looks like there may be another delay for the The Village at Glen Allan project. Bridgewater town councillor David Mitchell says Jo-Lo Development hasn't installed a fence, which was part of the non-substantive amendment to the development agreement in June. Mitchell says the developer has until October 15.

"It's beyong frustrating because as a council, we pride ourselves on our whole town; the staff, the planning department, engineering, on being so proactive with developers and yet I feel that we've been taken advantage with a developer that keeps pushing and pushing and pushing."

Mitchell says he expects council will debate extending or discharging the development agreement if the fence isn't installed after Saturday.

Dates Set for Murder Trial

Eleven days have been set aside beginning next May 7th for the Supreme Court trial of a Liverpool man accused of killing his fiancee . Thirty-two year old James Leroy Leopold pleaded not guilty when he was formally arraigned today (Thursday, October 13) on a charge of second degree murder in the death of 47 year old Laura Lee Robertson. She was reported missing on April 14th. Her remains were found off Highway 210 outside Greenfield, Queens County almost two weeks later. Leopold who has been in custody since his arrest in April was committed to stand trial following a preliminary hearing earlier this month.

Tallship Columbia Announcement

A Lunenburg County company will be making history by making a full set of sails for the replica of the schooner Columbia. Michele Stevens Sailloft of Second Peninsula is partnering with the Eastern Shipbuilding Group and Covey Island Boatworks in the new construction of the replica. Stevens is a fourth generation sailmaker whose work includes the construction of the largest working mail sail in the world for the Bluenose ll and several sails for the Concordia. Covey Island Boatworks will oversee the project and provide the spars and rigging for the new vessel.
            The Columbia, a 140 foot Gloucester fishing schooner was originally launched in April 1923 and participated in the International Schooner Races.

Vital Initiatives Coordinator Appointed

The Lunenburg County Community Fund has appointed a Vital Initiatives Coordinator. Joel Stoddart who grew up in Clarks Harbour, will work with the LCCF Board to further the development of projects that were identified by volunteers and community meetings over the last year. Stoddart who has extensive experience working in rural communities has worked on economic development projects and has good connections in the sector within Lunenburg County.  Vital Initiatives was born from the report Vital Signs of Lunenburg County, and reflects the action plans and projects that have emerged since the release of the report in October 2010. Four key areas were identified in the report as impacting on the long term sustainability of Lunenburg County.  The economy, literacy, health and wellness and youth are target areas. For more information on the report you can visit
http://lunenburgcountycommunityfund.ca/

Composites Atlantic Senior V-P excited about $10-million provincial investment



Premier Darrell Dexter (left) and Derek Kinsman, senior vice-president and chief operating officer at Composites Atlantic, chat after an announcement in Lunenburg.



The senior vice-president and chief operating officer of Composites Atlantic says it's an announcement his company plans to take advantage of. The Lunenburg business welcomed a $10-million announcement for aerospace and defence companies and suppliers from the provincial government. Derek Kinsman says it's a positive situation for Composites Atlantic to be in.

"Packages, such as this, which give you an ability to bring financing into play, and when you're successful you pay it back, I mean, that's a perfect win-win situation from our perspective."

Kinsman says Composites have a number of projects that could qualify to access some of the $10-million available. He says the company is competing against others worldwide, and are challenged by emerging economy countries such as Mexico, China and India.

Utilization Meetings start at CAMS

The South Shore Regional School Board will hold its first utilization meeting Thursday night at Chester Area Middle School. The meeting will look at utilization of schools including Chester District Elementary, New Ross Consolidated and Forest Heights. The chair of the South Shore Regional School Board, Elliott Payzant, says its a chance to explore each schools needs or if its meeting all regulations. Members of the school community, including Principals, Student Advisory Councils and Student Leaders have been invited to attend. The meeting is not open to the general public.

White Point Named Finalist for Canadian Tourism Awards

A South Shore resort is one of the finalists for the 2011 Canadian Tourism Awards, presented by The Toronto Star.  Forty-three finalists including individuals and organizations from all ten provinces as well as Canada's North have been named in 14 award categories. White Point Beach Resort in Queens County is among three finalists for the CTHRC Award for Excellence in Human Resources Development. The Canadian Tourism Awards will be presented at a gala dinner in Ottawa on November 24, 2011 at the Chateau Laurier.
           The Canadian Tourism Awards were established in 2003 to recognize success, leadership and innovation in Canada's tourism industry, and to honour those people, places, organizations and events that have gone above and beyond to offer superior visitor experiences to travelers in Canada.

Province Seeks Feedback on Proposed Adult Learning Act Regulations



Marilyn More, Minister of Labour
 and Advanced Education


South Shore residents are invited to have their say on proposed regulations for the Adult Learning Act. The regulations will provide a guide to help administer the act, which was passed in the legislature in December 2010. The regulations are to provide consistency for operations among organizations that teach adult education, including how they qualify to get public funding, what records they must keep, and how they report what they do. They also state adult learner responsibilities and what must be included in the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning annual report to the minister of Labour and Advanced Education. Consultations are being held throughout the province with adult learning partners. The deadline for feedback is Monday, Oct. 31.
For more information you can visit the Department of Labour and Advanced Education's website at www.gov.ns.ca/lae/.

Bridgewater Resident Earns Bronze Medal at International Skills Competition in London, England

A Bridgewater resident has brought home a bronze medal in car painting from across the pond. Aaron Hebb travelled to London, England as part of Team Canada to represent the country's most skilled youth at the 2011 WorldSkills International competition, October 5 - 8. Team Canada was made up of 34 youth from across Canada. Hebb earned his spot at WorldSkills by winning gold at the Skills Canada National Competition in 2010. As a champion in his trade, he took his skill to the next level and won a bronze medal in Car Painting among his international peers. This was first time a Nova Scotian competitor has received a medal at the global event.

Province Helps Aerospace and Defence Sector Compete, Create Jobs

Nova Scotia's aerospace and defence companies and suppliers will gain a competitive edge thanks to a 10 million dollar investment from the province. Premier Darrell Dexter made the announcement this afternoon (October 12th) at Composites Atlantic in Lunenburg. Dexter says 10 million will be accessible to the industry for costs such as equipment, tooling and engineering. The funding will help create jobs and help companies become, and remain globally competitive. Dexter says aerospace and defence is a growing sector with thousands of high-quality jobs across the province and this investment will help our companies acquire major international contracts, keeping and creating jobs here in Nova Scotia. This is a one time allocation of funds through the Industrial Expansion Fund.

SMU Observatory Director quashes South Shore meteor rumour

The observatory director at Saint Mary's University says its highly doubtful people on the South Shore seen a meteor or fireball over the weekend. Phone calls to our newsroom and messages on facebook from residents in Lunenburg, Queens and Shelburne Counties suggest people may have seen something in the sky Saturday night. David Lane says he hasn't heard any buzz about any potential sightings.

"I haven't had any reports at all here at the observatory, so, that tends to make me believe it was something local, rather than something, you know, far up above the Earth, such as a meteor."

Lane says the 'Draconid Meteor Shower' happened over the weekend but wouldn't be noticeable to the untrained eye. He says although the description sounds like a fireball, he believes it wasn't of astronomical nature.

Premier making Aerospace and Defence announcement in Lunenburg

The Premier is visiting the South Shore Wednesday afternoon. Darrell Dexter will make an announcement about aerospace and defence at 1pm. The event will take place at Composites Atlantic, 71 Hall Street in Lunenburg.

South Shore Health releases Public Flu Clinic Schedule

South Shore Health has released its public flu clinic schedule for people looking to get vaccinated. People are encouraged to get the flu vaccine including the elderly, babies aged six to 23 months, pregnant women and anyone with chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, asthma, and diabetes. Flu shots are free of charge for all Nova Scotians and are considered the most important type of prevention.


Fall 2011 Public Flu Clinic Schedule

Bridgewater - October 24 from 1-7pm and November 28 from 2-6pm at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, 78 Alexander Avenue.

Caledonia - October 18 from 1-4pm, October 20 from 1-4pm & 6-8pm, October 25 from 1-4pm and October 27 from 1-4pm & 6-8pm at North Queens Health Centre, 9698 Highway 8.

Chester - October 21 from 9am-Noon at Chester Community Clinic, 17 Shoreham Village.

Liverpool - November 7 from 2-8 at the Liverpool Family Resource Center, 108 Collage Street.

Lunenburg - October 27 from 1-4pm at the United Church Hall, 283 Lincoln Street.

New Germany - November 1 from 9am-5pm, November 23 from 3-7pm at Rosedale New Horizon's Club, Highway 10.

New Ross - October 18 from 6:30-8:30pm, October 25 from 6:30-8:30pm at the New Ross Family Resource Centre, 4689 Highway 12.

Tancook Island - October 20 from 11:30am-1pm at the Recreation Centre.

VIC Extension

The Municipality of Lunenburg has approved a lease extension to allow for a temporary Visitor Information Centre at Exit 12. The Municipality formed a partnership with the Town of Bridgewater to operate a temporary VIC in Cookville while seeking a permanent long term location. An Expression of Interest had been issued, but Deputy Mayor Lee Nauss says the proposals did not come in on time to make a decision for next season. In the meantime, Council voted to extend the lease with SmartCentres till November 2012 to allow the VIC to open next spring and summer. The approval is subject to an equal financial contribution from the Town of Bridgewater for 15 thousand dollars.

Tires and RimsTaken

These thieves went to a lot of trouble to take some tires.  Sometime over the holiday weekend between 11:45 pm Sunday October 9th and Monday noon October 10th a vehicle on Elm Street was placed on blocks and the tires and rims were removed. The rims are 15 inch grey aluminium Mag wheels, four bolt pattern, and the tires are WAHL winter tires, 195/65/15/. Also on Saturday overnight, October 8th, a vehicle parked on Season's Drive had its tire slashed. Anyone with information is asked to contact Bridgewater Police.

Taxpayer Group Calls For Probe Of Tax-Free Cigarettes On Reserves

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling for an investigation into the sale of tobacco products on native reserves on the South Shore and elsewhere in the province.

The CTF has collected figures from a freedom of information request showing an 83% loss in tax revenue due to exempt tobacco sales and an increase of 8% in the total number of cigarettes sold on reserves from 2001 to 2010.
The federation's Atlantic director Kevin Lacey says if you consider the size of the native population and if the increased sales are to natives only, that would mean every man, woman and child on every reserve would be smoking at least one pack a day.
He suspects a lot of tobacco products are ending up on the black market and an investigation is needed.
Given that almost all tax-exempt tobacco is sold on Nova Scotia’s native reserves, the CTF made a freedom of information request (FOIPOP) to better understand why so much tobacco is being sold on Nova Scotia’s native reserves, and why it’s increasing.

The FOIPOP shows that tobacco wholesalers sold the equivalent of about 130 million tax-free cigarettes to reserves in the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Lacey says this number becomes even more staggering when you consider there are only approximately 14,330 status Indians in Nova Scotia who are eligible to purchase tax free smokes.
Lacey says there are two reasons why the Nova Scotia government should proceed with an investigation into tax-free tobacco sales.

One interpretation is that the numbers point to a potential health crisis among status Indians in Nova Scotia. If a significant portion of the tax exempt tobacco is actually being consumed by status Indians, their intake is extremely high and it could lead to serious health problems.
Second, given the numbers, its frankly almost impossible to believe that on a per-capita basis every man, woman and youth can consume 33 cigarettes a day or to think about it a different way, that every single Indian home is consuming 3 packs a day.
Lacey says given these numbers there’s potentially a significant portion of the tax-free tobacco bound for status Indians is actually being sold on the black market to non-Indians. The RCMP, in a 2008 study of contraband cigarettes, found that the Maritimes is the second largest consumer of contraband cigarettes in Canada.
Lacey asks: Why is this important?
He says the numbers suggest that the system designed to respect the rights of status Indians to obtain tax-exempt tobacco could be being abused. The lost revenue is then made up from other sources – ultimately, taxpayers! The province is running a huge deficit of over $300 million -- each and every dollar counts. This is an area that warrants investigation and reform, and the payoff could be huge.

Route 332 in East LaHave and Green Bay Road re-opened

A pair of Lunenburg County roads have re-opened. Route 332 in East LaHave and Green Bay Road in Petite Riviére were closed last week after huge amounts of rain fell on the South Shore. Route 332 had been closed between Grimm Road and Indian Path Road because of a culvert washout. Green Bay Road had been closed due to flooding.

Bayview Community School closed October 12

Bayview Community School

Students at Bayview Community School are getting an extra day off this week. The Town of Mahone Bay is shutting off its water Wednesday, forcing the school to close for the day. The South Shore Regional School Board expects the school to re-open Thursday.

Fashion Show for Bleacher Seating

Bluenose Academy

An upcoming fundraiser is helping Bluenose Academy get bleacher seating for the school's gym. The Sea of Colours Fall Fashions will be held Thursday at 7pm in the Lunenburg Community Centre. Early Literacy Leader Gretchen Gerhardt says the seating is important because it allows people to sit down while watching activities in the gym. Tickets cost $5 for children, $10 for adults or $25 for a family of four. They're available for purchase at Kinley's Drug Store, Centre Consolidated and Lunenburg Academy.

Teachers/Province Reach Agreement

The province's 10-thousand public school teachers have accepted a new two-year agreement with the province.   Members of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union ratified the agreement today (October 7th). Education Minister Ramona Jennex says both parties worked very hard to reach an agreement that is fair to teachers, affordable to the province
and in the best interest of public education. The agreement will see teachers receiving a one per cent salary increase in each of the two years. The contract also commits the Department of Education and the NSTU to establishing a joint committee to examine a number of workload issues facing teachers.

Shelburne County Business Excellence



Business Excellence



Fifteen businesses in Eastern Shelburne County have been selected as finalists for the 2011 Business Excellence Awards. In addition to the honour of being deemed a business leader in their category, the finalists will be showcased at the Business Excellence Awards dinner. Category winners will be announced at the Awards dinner at the Osprey Arts Centre on October 20th. Guest speaker for the event will be Emily Tipton, Sustainable Development Coordinator/Municipal Engineer. The Awards are hosted by the Community Business Development Corporation and The Shelburne and Area Chamber of Commerce. The top three finalists in their respective categories are:
Export Achievement Award:
Cotter’s Ocean Products Inc.
Kenny & Ross Ltd.
Ven Rez Limited

Green Award:
Harmony Bazaar Festival of Women & Song Society, Grace Poole
NSCC, Donna Bower & William Nickerson
ReHouse Timberframes, Chris Bird

Employee of the Year:
Cora Beck, Charlotte Lane Cafe
Dee Harding, H & B Car Sales Ltd. and Goulden’s shell
Joey Reynolds, Dexter’s Service Centre Ltd.

Entrepreneur of the Year:
Clark Blanchard, CBMC Engineering Limited
Nick Stewart, Nick Stewart Concrete Work
Sam Stewart, All 4 One Graphics

Business of the Year:
Don Atkinson Trucking Ltd., Bill & Sherri Harris
Harlow Construction Ltd., Robbie & Jeffery Harlow
TLC Pharmacy, Tami Crosby

High Liner Foods Inc. one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2012

A local seafood processor has cracked Canada's top 100 employers list. High Liner Foods Inc. in Lunenburg was named to the list for 2012 after being named one of Nova Scotia's and Atlantic Canada's top employers in 2011. The Vice-President of Human Resources at High Liner Foods, Joanne Brown, says they're very excited to make the list.

"We view High Liner as a very positive company to work at and it is important for us when entering into a competition like this, so we could show other people the good things we do within our company that make it attractive as a place to work."

High Liner Foods received top marks for training and skills development and community involvement. This is the first time the company has been recognized as one of Canada's top employers.

Man stable after medical distress call in Queens County

A 54-year-old man is reported to be in stable condition after going into medical distress while on a canoeing trip with friends on Lake Rossignol, Queens County. The Annapolis County native was located and rescued by a Joint Rescue Coordination Centre helicopter around 10am Thursday morning. Queens RCMP, EMO, the Department of Natural Resources, local Department of Fisheries officials and North Queens Ground Search and Rescue aided in the search. The man was airlifted from a cabin along Lake Rossignol to South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater.

Lumberjacks head to NB for three-game road trip

The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks are off to New Brunswick Friday for a three-game road trip. The Jacks, who sit at 2-5 this season, visit the Campbellton Tigers Friday night at 8pm. The local junior club will then travel to Miramichi for a Saturday night contest, and then head to Woodstock for a Sunday afternoon date with the league-leading Slammers.

Hatfield praises perserverance and determination to South Shore Health



Derek Hatfield


A world-renowned sailor took some time recently to tell his story to members of South Shore Health. Derek Hatfield of Indian Point is the second Canadian to race around the world alone and first to do it twice. He was a guest speaker at South Shore Health's Annual General Meeting in late September. Hatfield says the story of his journey can motivate others to do great things. He says health-care is a very important issue for all Canadians and believes his speech about perserverance and overcoming major obstacles relates to it.

Framework eases into South Shore Schools

An Early Literacy Leader with the South Shore Regional School Board says the introduction of the new Framework has been a smooth transition. Gretchen Gerhardt says students are beginning to get comfortable with the program. She says she's glad the Framework starts with children in primary because it helps target kids at a younger age. Gerhardt says it's still early to tell if the Framework will have better results than Reading Recovery. She says the Department of Education has commended the School Board for their quick adjustment of adopting the Framework into their schools.

Coyote Awareness

The province is continuing its four-part plan to help people be safer from aggressive coyotes including the pelt incentive program. Natural Resources Minister Charlie Parker says the plan included hiring a wildlife conflict biologist, launching a public awareness campaign called Be Coyote Smart, training 13 trappers, and paying for marketable pelts. The same $20 incentive amount is being offered again this year, only during the regular trapping season which runs Oct. 15 to March 31.
       The number of incidents of coyotes showing aggressive behaviour this year has dropped significantly. During the April to September period of 2010, 10 incidents of coyotes showing aggression or too much familiarity with people led to 32 animals being trapped and removed. During the same period, this year, one incident was recorded, leading to the removal of two coyotes. The Be Coyote Smart educational materials, are available at: www.gov.ns.ca/natr .

BUS DELAYS ALERT

Due to heavy rainfall and flooding, Tanner Settlement Road has been closed at as has a portion of Hwy 332, on the LaHave side, between Grimm Road and Indian Path Road. This closure is affecting bus services for some children going to Centre Consolidated School and Park View Education Centre.  The following buses will not service the above mentioned areas this afternoon; however buses will stop as close possible to the barricades to drop-off students from those areas:

Route 214 with Sid Strowbridge


Rout 206 with Liz Drake


Route 215 with Lisa Tanner

Guardians of students from the affected areas may contact Cathy at 541-8252 for updates.  Please note: all other students travelling on these buses, who do not live in the affected areas, may be delayed as a cause of the above closures.

Proposed Scrap Metal Legislation Targets Thieves

The province is proposing legislation to make it harder for thieves to sell stolen metals, such as cooper pipe and  power lines. Justice Minister Ross Landry says thieves who are stealing oil pipes, telephone cables and power lines are threatening the safety of Nova Scotians, harming the environment and hurting the economy of the province. He says government intends to make it harder for them to profit from their crimes and he wants input on the proposed legislation.   Before the legislation is introduced, Landry is asking for input from Nova Scotians, including the scrap metal industry.  The legislation would require scrap metal dealers and recyclers to keep a record of transactions, including the
identity of seller, and to notify police when they receive certain items, such as industrial copper wire. The penalties for not complying with the legislation would be a fine of up to $5,000 or one year in jail.

Laughs for Leukemia and Lymphoma

Ryan Joudrey

A Maitland man is coming home to Lunenburg County to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada. Ryan Joudrey was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia nine years ago, but has since beat the disease. Now, the 30-year-old Joudrey lives in Halifax and is hoping to raise funds through comedy to help patients and families who have been affected by the disease. He says it will be an entertaining night with a variety of different comedians. The Stand-up Comedy Fundraiser will take place at the Bridgewater Days Inn October 15 at 8pm. Advance tickets are available for $10 at the Days Inn or $15 at the door. Tune into South Shore Sunday Morning October 9 to hear Ryan's full interview.

Seniors Driving Course offered in Pleasantville

Seniors Safety Coordinator Beth George

Bridgewater Police and Chester RCMP are teaming up to give seniors more confidence behind the wheel. The "55 Alive" driving course is a training program developed by the Canada Safety Council and works to improve awareness and adjust driving skills. Seniors Safety Coordinator, Beth George, says they'll discuss issues like traffic hazards and laws, new technology and correcting bad driving habits. The program is free to seniors 65 years of age or older, who have a valid Nova Scotia drivers license and have never taken a safe driving program before. The six-hour classroom-based course will be held at the Pleasantville Fire Hall on October 12 from 9am until 4pm.

Weather Causing Problems for School Busses

Closure of Hwy 332 affecting drop off of some students on Route 206 (Centre Consolidated & PVEC)


Due to heavy rainfall and flooding, a portion of Hwy 332, on the LaHave side, has been closed between Grimm Road and Indian Pass Road. This closure is affecting bus services for some children on bus 206 from Centre Consolidated School and Park View Education Centre. School administration are contacting the guardians of those students who are affected.

Students who travel on Bus Route 206, but who do not live between these areas, will still be transported home; however, please do anticipate delays in their arrival.  Also as of 3:20 p.m., bus 307, Amy Levy for Chester Area Middle School is running 30 minutes late.

For updates, see ssrsb.ca

Turkey Talk

Tis the time to talk turkey. According to the Turkey Farmers of Canada, during Thanksgiving alone, over three million whole turkeys are served nationally during the holiday. Increasingly, many of these turkeys are being cooked throughout the Fall by deep frying in an outdoor cooker or turkey fryer. Before attempting to cook these moist, tasty and crispy delights users should be aware that the use of outdoor gas appliances could also pose a risk of fire or injury if not used carefully and in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
Before You Begin

 -Read and carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions and be aware of all warnings.
- When purchasing a turkey fryer, make sure it carries the mark of an accredited certification agency, such as the CSA International Certification Flame indicating that it meets applicable national standards.
- To avoid overheating of the liquid propane cylinder, ensure it is located as far away as practical (depending on the length of hose provided) from the fryer burner. Situate the fuel tank and fryer so that any wind will blow the heat from the fryer away from the tank.
- Turkey fryers should only be used outdoors and at least three metres (10 feet) from structures - including garages, carports and overhangs - vehicles, and combustible materials.
- Always use a turkey fryer on a level, stable, non-combustible surface, and never on a wooden deck or any structure that can catch fire. Be sure to use only the pot that came with the outdoor cooker and that it is centered directly over the burner.

Turkey Frying Time
- Never cook a partially or fully frozen turkey! A frozen turkey can cause the oil to splatter and boil over, posing a potential risk of fire and burn injuries. Prior to cooking, turkeys should be thawed in a refrigerator at least 24 hours for every 2.5 kg (five pounds) of bird.
- Dry the turkey before putting it in the oil. Pay special attention to drying the cavity of the bird as it has the greatest potential for water or ice to accumulate. Avoid marinades that may react with the hot fryer oil.
- When filling the pot with oil, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions and never over-fill the turkey fryer. This can cause the oil to overflow posing a potential risk of ignition from the burner flame.
- Never heat the oil above 200°C (400°F) and always use the thermometer supplied with the turkey fryer to measure the oil temperature. Check oil temperature frequently. If the oil begins to smoke, turn gas to 'off'.
- Use well-insulated oven mitts when touching a pot lid, handles or when adding or removing food to prevent the risk of burn injuries.
- Slowly lower the turkey into hot oil with caution, being careful to avoid any overflow.
 Never leave a turkey fryer unattended.
- Young children and pets should be kept away from the area where turkey fryers are being used, even after use.

Alert: Fire!
- If any portion of the turkey fryer catches fire, do not attempt to extinguish or fight the fire. Immediately remove all people from the vicinity of the turkey fryer, and contact the fire department or 9-1-1. Do not attempt to extinguish fire with water!

Calling It A Day
- Never move the pot or drain the oil from the pot until the oil has cooled to a temperature of 45°C (115°F) or less.

Light Up the Night

Over two thousand Jack-O-Lanterns will shine at Kejimkujik National Park this Thanksgiving weekend. For the 12th year in a row, Keji will be lit by the glow of carved pumpkins and the moon. Kejimkujik has become a Thanksgiving family tradition for so many that it is one of the park's busiest weekends of the year. Visitors cook their Thanksgiving feasts on camp fires and enjoy the rich fall colours of Kejimkujik as their backdrop. The additional lure for visitors is the incredible programming and the thrill of a challenge. The Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest is a huge hit and people's creativity shines. For those interested in less manual labour, on Saturday night, (October 8) Parks Canada and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada invite visitors to drop by the Sky Circle for International Observe the Moon Night. Between 7p.m. and 10p.m., volunteers from RASC will help visitors observe the splendour of the moon and of Kejimkujik's pristine night sky through telescopes. And at 8p.m., there will be a 1.5 hour night hike to explore the forest by the light of the moon. On Sunday morning, it's the Annual Cold Turkey Dip based on a cold turkey swim done in 1908, captured in the book "The Tent Dwellers".
          The weekend will culminate at the Outdoor Amphitheatre and the Annual Thanksgiving Weekend Awards Gala where winners of the pumpkin carving contest and the Friends of Keji Photo Contest are announced. For more information visit http://www.parkscanada.gc.ca/keji

Ferry Out of Service

Due to dangerous weather conditions the Tancook Ferry is out of service until further notice.

World Teacher's Day

Premier Darrell Dexter and Education Ramona Jennex honoured the province's 10-thousand teachers, including community college, and Atlantic Province's Special Education Authority teachers, today (October 5th). Premier Dexter says World Teachers' Day is an opportunity for Nova Scotians to say thank you for the work teachers do educating students. He says teachers are owed thanks and appreciation every day of the year. World Teachers' Day is celebrated annually to highlight the important role of teachers. The theme for 2011 is teachers for Gender Equity.