White Point Beach Resort Starts Penny Challenge

It's an indication South Shore fire departments believe a penny saved is a penny earned. White Point Beach Resort, along with the Fire Service Association of Nova Scotia, has started a competition called 'Pennies for Protection' to help raise money for volunteer departments. Each participating department will gather pennies and the one with the most will be crowned 'King Penny 2012.' The marketing and product development manager at White Point, Donna Hatt, says volunteer departments are critical to communities.



Residents are urged to provide pennies to local departments. Each participating department will gather pennies with a weigh-in scheduled for June 30 at the Liverpool Fire Department. More details can be found at http://www.whitepoint.com/blog/2012/06/05/2050/ .The following fire departments are participating in the competition :

1) Alma Volunteer Fire Department
2) Annapolis Royal Volunteer Fire Department
3) Charleston Fire Department
4) Chester Basin Volunteer Fire Department
5) Cornwall & District Fire Department
6) Greenfield & District Fire Department
7) Liverpool Fire Fighters Association
8) Lunenburg Volunteer Fire Department
9) Maitland Volunteer Fire Department
10) Oakhill & District Fire Department 
11) Port Hastings Volunteer Fire Department
12) Port Medway & District Fire Department
13) United Communities Fire Department
14) Whycocomagh Volunteer Fire Department

26th Lobster Fest In Shelburne County

It's a tradition to celebrate the success and importance of the lobster industry in Shelburne County. The 26th lobster festival kicks off today with a full slate of activities planned over the next four days. Director of Parks and Rec Marilyn Johnson says the festival serves as the kick off to the summer season.



Opening ceremonies will be held on Friday at the Barrington Arena at 7 o'clock. Festivities will be held throughout the county. For a complete list of events - click on the link below.

http://www.municipalityofshelburne.ca/pdfs/2012/2012%20program%20lobster%20festival%20for%20display.pdf

Health Authority Receives High Marks From Accreditation Canada

South Shore Health is close to having top marks from Accreditation Canada. The local health authority received a 95% on its required standards in the organization's final report. Incoming CEO Dr. Peter Vaughan says they scored very well overall but still need to do things better. He says staff need to ask patient identifiers, like their names and date of birth, consistently, to meet requirements.



Vaughan says if improvements are made in patient identification and client and family safety, South Shore Health could reach accreditation with commendation.

Birthday: Town of Lunenburg Celebrates 259th

The town of Lunenburg is set to blow out the candles for its 259th birthday today. A number of celebrations are planned to mark the occasion including a gathering at Bluenose Academy at 1PM on Thursday. Mayor Laurence Mawhinney says a portion of the celebration with focus on the youth of the community.



Meanwhile, the Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation will host their inaugural "World Ocean's Day" at the Captain Angus Walters house on Tannery Road beginning this afternoon. There will be live music, educational displays and demonstrations beginning at 3 o'clock. The celebration runs until 9PM this evening.

Bluenose II: NS Gov' Contacts Lunenburg Council

Some members of Lunenburg town council are calling on the Nova Scotia government to provide more information on the launch of the Bluenose II. But the province's heritage minister says they can't because they don't know when it will happen. Lunenburg Mayor Laurence Mawhinney and Councillor Jamie Myra say they want the government to be more upfront on the precise launch of the Bluenose II so the region can capitalize on possible tourism benefits. However, Heritage Minister Leonard Preyra says the government isn't trying to be secretive on the launch date -- it simply doesn't know when it will happen. Preyra says the schooner will launch by the end of the summer, but they don't want to set a date and not meet it. Work crews are expected to begin removing the temporary shelter housing the Bluenose II on Thursday.

More Students Graduate From Verge House

"Verge House" in Bridgewater has celebrated nearly three decades of service to the area with its 2012 Graduation Ceremonies.  Among the speakers at yesterday’s event, were District of Lunenburg Mayor Don Downe and Bridgewater High Vice-Principal Deanna Rawding.  Special guest speaker was former school board member,  Mary Ellen Clancey. 

Over the past 29 years, Verge House has been teaching young Lunenburg and Queens County adults with special needs.  There, they prepare themselves for employment, and learn how to lead independent and productive lives in the community. 

The six students who graduated yesterday from the Transition Program are:  Benjamin Feltham, Chad Herman, Laura-Lee Hynick, Jenny Lastimosa, Brett Veinot and Nathan Whynot.

Yesterday’s ceremonies were bittersweet for the Transition Program.  Genevieve McCarthy is retiring from her position as head teacher after more than a quarter-century of service.

South Shore Gasoline Prices May Be Lower Friday

Here's an indication that gasoline prices here on the South Shore may head downward overnight tonight.  In New Brunswick this morning, there's a break at the pumps.  Regular self-serve is down 3.6 cents per litre.  The new maximum price per litre in New Brunswick today is just over $1.25 per litre.

RCMP Nab Man Driving 109km/hr Over Speed Limit

Talk about driving over the speed limit. A 21-year-old Chester Basin man has been charged with stunting after South Shore RCMP clocked him driving 209 km/hr in a 100 km/hr zone. The incident happened around 6:45 Thursday morning between exits five and six on highway 103. The man's 1996 Volvo was immediately seized at the scene. He faces a fine of over $2,400 if found guilty.

VIDEO: Four Schools Removed From Review Process

Four schools have been taken off the school review list. Bridgewater Junior-Senior High, New Germany Rural High School, New Germany Elementary and Newcombville Elementary will no longer be reviewed after Wednesday night's special school board meeting. Board member Judith Sullivan-Corney says there were a number of options that went into her decision.



The result means six schools are still up for review. She says it wasn't a surprising decision.



Sullivan-Corney also made a motion to take the transfer of grade 6-9 students from Hebbville Academy to Bridgewater High off the option list. She also chose to eliminate the option of sending students from Gold River-Western Shore Elementary to Bayview Community School.

BREAKING: Bluenose II Re-Launch Update

The Nova Scotia government will announce the re-launch date for the Bluenose II later this month. The historic sailing vessel is undergoing a $15.9 million dollar refit on Lunenburg's waterfront. In a release, the province's department of community, culture and heritage says workers will begin dismantling the temporary shelter enclosing the vessel tomorrow. The department also says tracks to move the boat into position for launch will be installed in the coming weeks. The schooner is expected to return to the water in early July, though no public sailing is scheduled for this year. Once the vessel hits the water, it will take another three months to install the masts, sails and boom upon completion. Bluenose II was built in 1963 and transferred to the province in 1971.

Queens: Hospital Fundraising Enters Home Stretch

The community fundraising campaign in Queens County is entering the home stretch. The fundraising team has raised just over $1.24 million dollars towards their overall goal of $1.5 million. The money is needed to cover the remaining estimated costs for construction on the Queen General Health Project. Chair of the fundraising committee, Christopher Clarke says the campaign has brought the community closer together.



A work tender for the $16 million dollar project is expected to be awarded in July with construction scheduled to begin in August. The project includes a new primary care clinic and the redevelopment of the 22-bed in-patient unit at the hospital in Liverpool.

Property Taxes Hold Steady in Lunenburg

Residents of Lunenburg don't have to worry about a heavier tax bill this year. The town will maintain its tax rate despite absorbing the cost of maintaining Lunenburg Academy. The residential rate has been set at $1.27 per hundred of assessment while the commercial rate is $3.26 cents. Overall, the town will operate with a budget of $12 million dollars which includes its electric and water utilities. Just over $3.1 million dollars will be spent on capital projects this year.

Bus Service Coming To Shelburne County

A Shelburne County organization is close to bringing a bus service to its residents. The Sou'west Nova Transit Association's application to the province's Utility and Review Board has been approved. Now, they just need to train bus drivers before they can begin offering the service. Co-chair of the Association's board of directors, David Meyer, believes a bus would be frequently used by residents.



Meyer says they hope to start training drivers in the next week. He expects the bus service to be up and running by the end of the month. For more information, head to http://www.souwestnovatransit.ca/ or call Renata Tweedy at (902) 637-2592.

Lunenburg: Council Baffled By Bluenose II Secrecy

 

Members of town council in Lunenburg are calling for more transparency surrounding the launch of the Bluenose II. The historic sailing vessel is expected to reach the water in July. However, the provincial government is releasing few details on its launch official launch. Councillor Jamie Myra says he can't understand why the province is holding back information surrounding it's launch.



Meanwhile, mayor Laurence Mawhinney says the launch of the schooner will garner international attention and he wants the milestone event to get the attention it deserves.



The historic sailing vessel is undergoing a $15.9 million dollar refit Lunenburg's waterfront. Once the vessel hits the water, it will take another three months to install the masts, sails and boom upon completion. The schooner will feature a crew of 20 people when it resumes sailing in 2013.

School Board: Special Meeting on Review Process

Its providing information as early as possible in a transparent way according to Superintendent Nancy Pynch-Worthylake. A special school board meeting will be held Wednesday night to give the public an update on work completed by consultants on school review and impact assessment reports. Deloitte Inc. was hired by the board to help them through the review process. Pynch-Worthylake says they're hoping to shed light on the consultants findings so far.



The public meeting will be held at 7pm Wednesday night at the board's office in Bridgewater.

Nine Year Old Raises Money And Hope For Diabetes Cure

Regan Howard

She's only 9 years old but she is very "grown-up" in her outlook on life!  What makes Regan Howard stand-out too is the fact she is a ... diabetic.  The Saint John resident who would like to be a ballet dancer has Type-1 diabetes, also known as Juvenile Diabetes.  However, Regan doesn't flinch a bit about special diets, exercise, insulin pumps and needles.  She's had the disease since age 5 and she's not about to let it get the best of her!



Regan is giving back ... raising nearly 40-thousand dollars for diabetes awareness and research. She even has her own fund-raising website and this year she's 94 percent on the way to raising another 10-thousand.  Her father, Gary, says every contribution makes a difference.



For more information and how to make a contribution, ... google "Regan's Dream Team". By the way, the annual Walk To Cure Diabetes takes place this month in many Canadian cities.  Halifax next Tuesday and Saint John on Sunday.

Queens Adult High School Moving To New Location

The Queens Adult High School is changing its address. The school, originally planned to move into Liverpool High for 2012-13, will instead be located at the Rossignol Cultural Centre. School Board Superintendant Nancy Pynch-Worthylake says it was a convenient location.



Pynch-Worthylake adds they decided to switch locations to make it easier to access for parents. The Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning provided the Board with $15,000 to help with expenses.

Court: Sentencing Delayed For Bridgewater Woman

A 22 year-old Bridgewater woman will be sentenced later this month for intentionally stabbing her former boyfriend. Katelin Whitney-Joudrey was scheduled to be sentenced on Monday but was delayed at the request of her lawyer. Her lawyer wanted more time to gather information to include in a pre-sentence report. Whitney-Jourdrey was convicted of stabbing a man 12 times in an incident that took place on New Year's Eve in 2010. Judge Jim Burrill is expected to hand down a sentence on June 26th in Bridgewater Court.

Inflow Reduction System: Phase 3 Work Expected To Start

Concerns around flooding, parking and emergency access are on residents minds' when it comes to the third phase of Bridgewater's inflow reduction system. A handful of people turned out to Monday night's meeting at town hall to see what the project will look like and how it will affect them. Amber Construction is expected to start work immediately on Dominion Street from the bottom of King Street to High Street. Linda Richards lives on Glenridge Avenue off of Dominion Street. She's concerned about first responders accessing her home in an emergency situation.



Meanwhile, Paul Belliveau operates a business on Dominion Street, which will also be affected by the work. He says there isn't much the company can do but prepare clients.



Consultants expect the project to take between five and seven months to finish.












The consultants expect the project to take between five and seven months to complete.

Record Breaking Fundraiser for SHAID

It was a record breaking fundraiser for the annual SHAID Tree Animal Shelter yard sale. The largest yard sale on the South Shore was held last weekend at the Exhibition grounds in Bridgewater and raised 45-thousand dollars. Vice President Colleen Baker says money will help keep the shelter operating and pay for things like food and veterinarian bills.



SHAID primarily serves Lunenburg and Queens but has been known to rescue animals as far away as New Brunswick.

File Not Closed On Cold Case Crime

David Keddy

People in the Middleton area and RCMP investigators are remembering a brutal crime that occurred twenty-five years ago. On June 5th, 1987, the body of David Keddy was discovered floating on a wooden raft in an isolated part of the Annapolis River near an old railway bridge between Middleton and Nictaux.  Autopsy results showed that he had died as a result of foul play.  RCMP media-relations officer Sgt. Brigit Leger says back then and even now, there are few leads in the case.



Keddy was last seen alive during the early morning hours of June 3rd 1987, after visiting his girlfriend in Nictaux.  His older brother Garnet says its been difficult dealing with his brother's killing, not knowing the circumstances or who killed him.



On this 25th anniversary, the RCMP is urging anyone who has information to come forward, regardless of how insignificant the information may seem.  There is a 150-thousand dollar reward for information leading to the killer or killers of David Keddy.  You can contact the following:

A. The Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes Program at 1-888-710-9090.
B. Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca.

Chester Company To Receive Environmental Award

A Chester company is the lone South Shore recipient of a Mobius Environmental award this year. Haven Productions will be recognized with the Large Business of the Year honour during Tuesday's ceremony in Halifax. Overall, 13 groups or individuals will be recognized at the luncheon. The awards are given to individuals or groups who go above and beyond to champion waste reduction in the province.

Murray Inducted Into N.S. Sports Hall Of Fame

The best hockey player to ever come out of Bridgewater is headed for the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame. Former South Shore Mustang Glen Murray is a member of the 2012 Inductee Class announced Monday. The 39-year old Murray played 16 NHL seasons with Boston, Pittsburgh, and L.A.. He tallied 337 goals and 651 points in 1,009 regular season games. He also posted 20 playoff goals. His best season came in 2002-03 when he notched 92 points in 82 games. Other inductees include Olympic Bronze medalist Steven Giles and one-time Blue Jay pitcher Vince Horsman. The official induction ceremony will take place November 3rd.  

South Shore: Provincial Parks Review

A review of Nova Scotia's provincial park system will hit the South Shore this week. A series of public meetings are planned over the next two days to discuss the value of provincial parks and how they should be managed in the future. The review is part of government's natural resources strategy which calls for a review to develop a more sustainable parks system. Director of Park and Recreation for the province, Harold Carroll, says information gathered will be used to develop a draft plan on how to manage provincial parks going forward.



The province has nearly 300 properties in the provincial park system, including 122 day-use parks. Public consultation meetings will be held in Bridgewater, Shelburne and Yarmouth this week. Details are listed below.

All meetings are from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the following locations:

Tuesday, June 5

-- Bridgewater: Days Inn and Convention Centre, 50 North St.

-- Yarmouth: Rodd Grand Hotel, 417 Main St

-- Kentville: Fire Hall, 463 Main St.

Thursday, June 7

-- Shelburne, Royal Canadian Legion, 120 Water St.

-- Digby, Royal Canadian Legion, 92 Mount St.

Western Shore Nominated For Celebration Tour

You can add Western Shore to the list of local nominations for the Kraft Celebration tour. The community, just outside Mahone Bay, joins the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre in Bridgewater and Queens Place in Liverpool as South Shore areas trying to receive $25,000 to improve active living in the area. The nomination was made by resident Richard Corkum, who says the community playground and baseball field are in great need of upgrades. The nomination period ends June 10.
Previous Nova Scotia winners include Pictou, Sackville and Port Hood. To have your say go to http://www.kraftcelebrationtour.ca/ .

Election Poll: South Shore Voters Have Favourites

The results of our "election" poll over the past week are in and have produced some interesting results. We asked the question "If a provincial election were held today, how would you vote?". The results of the "unscientific" poll have 47 percent of those who voted in favor of Jamie Baillie's Progressive Conservatives. The Liberals under Stephen McNeil came in with 35 percent support and Darrell Dexter and his governing NDP finished with 18 percent of the popular vote. PC Leader Jamie Baillie believes its a sign his party's message is getting out.



Liberal leader Stephen McNeil says he has more work to do to show South Shore voters his party is electable and would be a reliable alternative to the Dexter government. He plans to continue talking with people about how he would solve many economic and social problems.  McNeil says he's particularly happy with potential Liberal candidates for the South Shore.


Premier Darrell Dexter has decided not to comment.  A spokeswoman from the premier's office said in an email that 'the poll is not representative of the region and we are not interested in commenting.'

Mustangs Hold Banquet, Prepare For Golf Tourney

The South Shore Canadian Tire Mustangs awarded some hardware to players during their May 27th closing banquet. The 2011-2012 recipients are: 

• Unsung Hero- Brandon Challoner
• Coach's award- Jamie Blair
• Rookie Defenseman- Alex Mann
• Rookie Forward- Morgan Messenger
• Forward of the Year: Avery Clarke
• Defenseman of the Year- Brennan Bailey
• Most Valuable Player - Shaun McEachern

The Mustangs also had a few records broken this year. Defenseman Brennan Bailey broke three long-standing records including most points in a season by a defenseman, most career points by a defenseman and most goals by a defenseman. Meanwhile, the sixth annual Mustangs Major Midget Golf Tournament goes this Friday June 8 at 12:30pm at Osprey Ridge Golf Club. Entry fee is $500 for a four-person team. Details can be found at http://mustangs.goalline.ca/ .

South Shore: Early Tourism Numbers Show Promise

It's been a solid start to the season for many tourism operators along the South Shore. Several operators report a higher than normal traffic flow for the month of May. In Lunenburg, mayor Laurence Mawhinney believes the conference scene in Halifax and the nice weather has played a significant role in boosting visits in the town. However, Mawhinney says its hard to predict how the rest of the season will fair, especially during an election year in the United States.



The town has also thrown its support behind efforts to restore the Yarmouth to Maine ferry service. Mawhinney called it the missing link right now for many tourism operators along the South Shore.

Lunenburg Lighthouse Nominated For Protection

A historic lighthouse in Lunenburg has been nominated for special designation. The Lunenburg Waterfront Association has nominated the Battery Point Lighthouse for designation under the federal Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act. The lighthouse was de-commissioned in 1987 but the structure as it's known today has been standing since 1951. Chair of the Waterfront Association, Allen Cresser says the structure has a storied past since its been perched at the end of the Battery Point Breakwater.



Approximately 350 lighthouses across the country have been nominated for such designation with nearly 95 of them located in Nova Scotia. The federal government will determine which lighthouses will be designated as heritage over the next three years.

More Bike Lanes Coming To Bridgewater

Cyclists are about to get more space on Bridgewater roads. The town's planning department is expecting to start work as early as this week on new shared bike lanes. The lanes will be installed on a portion of North Park Street, York Street and Alexandra Avenue. Director of Planning, Eric Shaw, says the bike lanes provide people with another option to travel.


Shaw says the town will also be putting up signage to help educate motorists on how the lanes work. He says they don't anticipate many traffic holdups, with the work occurring in the early morning hours.

Weekend Closure For Fisherman's ER

A South Shore Hospital Emergency Department will be closed for several hours over the weekend. The ER at Fishermen's Memorial in Lunenburg will close at 10:30 Saturday night and will re-open at 3:30 Sunday afternoon. The closure is a result of a staff shortage. Officials at Fishermen's advise people who have emergency situations to call 911 or proceed to the ER at South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater.

Bridgewater: Two-Car Collision

A 25-year-old Lunenburg County woman and her one-year-old son suffered minor injuries after a car accident last night. Bridgewater Police responded to a two-car collision just after seven o'clock at the intersection of King Street and Jubilee Road. A Dodge pick-up was travelling north turning on to Jubilee Road when it paused for a pedestrian at a crosswalk. The pedestrian waved the driver through to make the left turn when it struck a Honda Civic heading south. Both vehicles suffered extensive damage. The driver of the Dodge, from Lunenburg County, was not injured. Bridgewater Police Cst. William Creamer encourages people on the South Shore to take their time when driving.



No charges have been laid at this time, the accident is still under investigation.

South Shore Health Celebrates Excellence

Three women have been awarded South Shore Health's Celebrating Excellence awards. Sylvia Mailman, Susie Wood and Kathy Jo Rumboldt received the awards during Thursday night's ceremony at the Bridgewater Best Western. Mailman won the spirit award for her outstanding commitment to the organization's values including excellence, integrity and leadership. Wood took home the Community Health Leadership award while Rumboldt received the Exemplary Service honour. The Outstanding Quality Initiative award went to local executives of South Shore Health's union partners NSGEU, CUPE, and NSNU. Celebrating Excellence Awards are presented by South Shore Health's Board of Directors annually to recognize innovation, dedication, commitment, teamwork, service and leadership in health.

Park View Celebrates First Year Of New Wing

Park View is celebrating the first year of its new wing. An open house was held Wednesday to showcase its two-level music room and skilled trades workshop. Skilled trades students recently built a three-unit model apartment. Principal Charles Williamson says the students were proud of their work.



Students completed every aspect of the build including carpentry, electrical, plumbing, drywall and painting. Park View is the first school in the South Shore region to offer recently developed skilled trades courses.

Sportfishing Weekend in Nova Scotia

South Shore residents are encouraged to try their hand at sportfishing on the Nova Scotia Sportfishing weekend this Saturday and Sunday. Residents and non-residents can fish without a general fishing licence during the annual event. Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Sterling Belliveau says sportfishing weekend is a wonderful opportunity for Nova Scotians of all ages and skill levels to enjoy the popular outdoor sport. He encourages all anglers to put safety first. The sportfishing weekend is supported by more than 20 community organizations, with fishing derbies throughout the province offering fun and prizes. A full list of events is available at http://novascotia.ca/fish/sportfishing/troutderby2012.pdf .

Old Bridge Closing For Repairs

The Old Bridge is closing down for construction. The bridge will close Sunday to replace the expansion joint on the west side of the span by the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. Its expected to re-open Saturday June 9. Traffic will not be permitted across the bridge until repairs are complete. Pedestrians will still have access to the walkways. The portion of Old Bridge Street will remain open from Lahave St. to the entrance of Bridgewater Mall and T.D. Bank entrance. The Veteran's Memorial Bridge will be open for vehicles and pedestrians.

New Trail Opens On Brier Island

The bridges are built, the gravel is hauled and the signs are in. Digby County students and the Nature Conservancy of Canada put the finishing touches on a new and improved trail on Brier Island yesterday. The five-kilometre trail was built to give tourists and residents a scenic view of the southern coast and to protect the property. Craig Smith from Nature Conservancy says the idea of teaming up with students came from Cobequid Trails Consulting.



Among many jobs the students hauled gravel, planted two signs, and built five 20 foot bridges over creeks.

Liberal Leader Begins Summer Tour On South Shore

Stephen McNeil

Nova Scotia's Liberal leader is convinced his party will make inroads with the South Shore electorate in the next provincial election.  Stephen McNeil believes the party might be able to unseat one or more of the area's sitting NDP members of the legislature.  Because of that, he intends to be visible in the area through the summer.  This morning, McNeil kicked off his annual summer tour across the province.  He says the South Shore was chosen deliberately as the starting point.



McNeil is meeting today with business leaders in Chester, Lunenburg, Mahone Bay and Bridgewater. He expects to be back on the South Shore in a few weeks to visit Queens and Shelburne Counties.

Fourth Season Of Farmers' Market

Spring means warm weather, barbeques, and the Bridgewater Farmers' Market. This Saturday the market opens for it's 4th season on the King Street parking lot. Ran by members and a not for profit society, the venue features more than 14 vendors selling local fruit, veggies, meats, candles, baked goods and more. The season kick-off will also feature music from international singer/song-writer Darren Arsenault.

As well as local performers, the market has a community booth that promotes causes and raises funds. It opens this Saturday from 8:30 until noon and will run weekly until Thanksgiving.

Lunenburg: New Rescue Boat

Lunenburg's Volunteer Fire Department will be the owner of a new rescue boat. The 25 foot fibreglass boat is about 9 feet bigger than the departments original. The $87,000 purchase was made between fundraising, federal funding and through a joint account between the fire department and the town of Lunenburg. Assistant Deputy Chief Trevor Lohnes says the boat will be able to go farther in an emergency.



The boat will also feature a cut-out door for personal rescue, radar and a water pump for fire fighting on islands and boats. It will arrive from Halifax in about 3 weeks.

Surprise Turnout At SSRSB Candidates Meeting

A surprising turnout for School Board officials at Wednesday night's candidates information session. Roughly 50 people attended the meeting to learn more about what it takes to be part of the school board. Board member Judith Sullivan-Corney says it was nice to see that many people take in the meeting.



The public learned about the qualifications needed to run, who makes up the board and the roles of board members. Hebbs Cross resident Jennifer Naugler says the meeting helped answer her questions.



Naugler says she hasn't decided whether she will run or not. Meanwhile, Elmer Garber says the meeting touched on some key information.



School Board nominations close September 11. Sullivan-Corney says she is open to holding another meeting in case people were undecided or unable to attend.

Video: Governor General's Visit To Yarmouth

Mayor Phil Mooney

It was a warm welcome for the Governor General of Canada in Yarmouth on Wednesday. David Johnston was greeted by Yarmouth mayor Phil Mooney before heading into an informal meeting with community leaders and citizens at Town Hall. During his whirlwind tour of south western Nova Scotia, Johnson took in a first hand look of a lobster pound and embarked on a two hour boating excursion to do some lobster fishing in the harbour. On Thursday, Johnson will visit West Pubnico. It will mark the first time a Governor General of Canada has visited the historic Acadian community of Pubnico.

NDP: Dexter Shuffles His Cards As Election Nears

A major shake-up within the majority NDP government in Nova Scotia. Premier Darrell Dexter has shuffled his cabinet, appointing Maureen MacDonald as the province's first female finance minister. MacDonald takes over for Graham Steele, who announced on Wednesday that he will not seek re-election after an 11-year career in politics. Steele made his announcement during a speech to the Bridgewater and Area Chamber of Commerce.




Meanwhile, Bill Estabrooks also announced he will not run again after 14 years in public life, and his former job as transportation minister will be filled by NDP backbencher Maurice Smith. Dave Wilson will become the new health minister, and Leonard Preyra enters cabinet for the first time in Wilson's former job as communities, culture and heritage minister. Steele was first elected to the provincial legislature in a 2001 and sworn in as finance minister when Nova Scotia elected its first NDP government in June 2009.

Buyer Walks Away From Old Post Office Sale

Talks have broken down on a potential sale of the old Canada Post building on King Street in Bridgewater. CKBW and HANK-FM News first reported the potential sale of the property in March after a company spokesperson confirmed negotiations were underway. Mayor Carroll Publicover says the potential buyer has decided against the purchase.



Publicover wouldn't comment but a tentative plan was to create a microbrewery in the building. The mayor says there are other parties ''unofficially'' interested in purchasing the 109-year-old landmark. The spot has been for sale since 2010.

Lohnes Finding Stride Before Nationals

A Bridgewater judoka continues to excel on the mat. Whitney Lohnes finished first in the under-20 division and third in the seniors category at the Ontario Open in Toronto. She also placed third recently at the U.S. Open in Miami and fifth at the Miami World Cup. Lohnes will continue training ahead of junior and senior nationals, which are scheduled for early July in Toronto.

Seniors Warned About Door To Door Pitchmen

The Better Business Bureau is warning South Shore residents, especially seniors, to be extremely cautious when answering the door this summer to traveling alarm system sales people.  There have been complaints right across the continent of people being subjected to high-pressure sales tactics and felt deceived by the salesperson into buying an expensive personal safety alarm system.  The BBB's Atlantic President Don MacKinnon says many of these so-called sales people don't have a license to sell door-to-door or legally sell and install alarm systems.  He warns seniors to use caution.



You can always contact the Better Business Bureau for advice.  Last year, several South Shore residents were cohearsed into buying these systems and handed over thousands of dollars.

Bridgewater E-Voting By-law Passes First Reading

A by-law concerning electronic voting in Bridgewater has passed first reading. Council approved its first look of the 'Alternative Voting Method' for the October elections during their Monday night meeting. The potential move would see e-voting, like telephone and internet, available for residents 10 days before the ordinary polling day scheduled for October 20. The returning officer and staff believe paper ballots should also be provided. Mayor Carroll Publicover disagrees.



Second reading is expected to be held at council's June 25 meeting.

E-Voting Scrapped In Lunenburg Until 2016

The town of Lunenburg won't offer e-voting when voters head to the polls this October. Council and staff felt they didn't have enough time to properly implement the new voting system in time for municipal elections. Mayor Laurence Mawhinney says they didn't want to confuse voters so close to an election. Voter turnout in the last municipal election in Lunenburg was around 55 percent - well above the province average. Council is working to draft a by-law to introduce e-voting for municipal election in 2016.

Lunenburg: Active & Vibrant Despite Greying Population

Town of Lunenburg mayor Laurence Mawhinney says the town is a vibrant and active community. He was responding to questions surrounding census data released by Statistic's Canada on Tuesday. The latest figures indicate Lunenburg has the highest median age among the main communities in the province at almost 53 years. However, Laurence Mawhinney says the town continues its work to attract young families to the area.



In regards to employment, Mawhinney says major companies such as High Liner, HB Studios and Composites Atlantic are committed to the town and each feature a median age of 45 years and younger. Several new homes are also under construction which Mawhinney says is another positive step.

Governor-General In Yarmouth Today, West Pubnico Tomorrow

Governor General David Johnston

The town of Yarmouth will be hosting a special visitor today.  Governor-General David Johnston will be there to learn more about the area.  He will get a first hand look at a lobster pound, do some lobster fishing and have a private meeting with Mayor Phil Mooney to discuss the loss of the ferry service two years ago.
The Mayor says it was at the Governor-General's insistence that he better understand the impact of the ferry loss on the area.


 
The Governor General will present awards during a late-afternoon reception.  He will also visit West Pubnico on Thursday and then return to Halifax later in the day.