The school board's director of finance believes there needs to be some school closures this year to help balance the budget. The board is facing a 1.5 per cent funding reduction from the province for their 2013-14 budget, an almost $1-million loss. There is also expected to be an $850,000 cut for wage and cost of living increases. Wade Tattrie feels there's not too many other options to consider.
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The president of a Bridgewater company confirms he's looking beyond a King Street property to move his business. Swain and Associates along with Cafe 12 are the two groups under consideration for the library building space, once the public library moves into their new home near the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre. John Swain says they have been growing for the past few years and are in need of a new spot. He says they had to explore other opportunities.
The Shelburne Kayak Festival is back for another year and officials are in search of volunteers. The event is entering its second year and will feature a series of instructional activities for people who already kayak, or may be interested in getting started. Volunteers are needed to help the group that is returning from last year. Manager of Community and Economic Development, Jerry Locke, says they're looking for help right away.
The provincial government has announced money for six South Shore communities to develop after-school programming. The 'After the Bell' initiative was designed to provide physical activity in 12 to 15-year-olds. Lunenburg MLA Pam Birdsall announced details recently in Mahone Bay. She says the program can help address some glaring issues that need to change.
Bridgewater council is mulling over a request to allow off-road vehicles along a portion of the Centennial Trail. Council received a letter from the co-owner of the Best Western Plus in Cookville asking members for an informal meeting to explore the option. The hotel property is connected to the trail and the co-owner feels ATV traffic could be a key resource and bring people to the area. Mayor David Walker says he has mixed emotions.
Nathan Townsend scored the OT winner for the Barrington Ice Dogs to hand them a 1-0 series lead over the Chester Clippers, in the best of seven Junior C Championship Series in Liverpool. Tyler Quinlan, Matt Goodwin and Chad Newell each scored once in Barrington's win. Luc Way, Scott MacSween and Ryan Horsman replied with a single goal each for Chester. Chad Harris stopped 17 shots for the win, while Ben Bailey made 21 saves in the loss for Chester. Game two takes place Saturday night at 8:30pm at Queens Place Emera Centre.
A Bridgewater property owner is requesting the town to re-evaluate a parking levy. R and C Sagors' Bookstore on King Street wants council to remove a service charge from their current tax invoice. The president and co-owner says they haven't operated the business since 2011 and no longer require customer parking. Councillor Bill McInnis agrees with the request.
The Federal Government is providing money to a local group to help improve air quality and reduce water consumption. MP Gerald Keddy announced the Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation will receive $20,000 over two years. BCAF will partner with the Town of Lunenburg in helping local residents there and in Queens County reduce waste. The group will also promote the 'Blue W' campaign, which encourages people to refill their drinking bottles by using municipal drinking water rather than buying bottled water. The project's goal is to involve more than 1,000 participants in the campaign, which will reduce both water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Funding is being provided through Environment Canada's 'EcoAction Community Funding Program.'
It's an all South Shore final as the Junior 'C' championship series begins tonight in Liverpool. The top-ranked Chester Clippers host the second place Barrington Ice Dogs in game one of the best of seven final. The Clippers won three of four games against Barrington in the regular season. However, Chester President and General Manager, Jehad Assaff, says Barrington is no push over.
The Bridgewater Police Service has one youth in custody after a number of break and enters into out buildings and motor vehicles late last month. Members of the service's Community Response Unit used a combination of monitoring areas of town with an unmarked cruiser, along with foot patrol throughout the nights. Officers made their first arrest of a male youth shortly after 3am Wednesday. Police have recovered some of the property stolen and remind the public to lock doors to buildings and vehicles.
Two South Shore groups are among 23 organizations receiving new provincial grants to help people living with mental illness and addictions. Lunenburg West MLA and ministerial assistant for Health and Wellness, Gary Ramey, released details of Together We Can, the province's mental health and addictions strategy. The South Shore Improving Partnerships Advisory Committee is getting a one year grant worth $45,000 to build a community health network to help improve the quality of care for people with dementia, addictions and mental illness, and support their families and caregivers. The Split Rock Learning Centre Association in Yarmouth will receive $29,000 until 2015 as a three-year grant.
A New Germany woman is returning to the South Shore after recovering from double-lung transplant surgery. Thirty-three year old Jessica Carver will begin the drive home Thursday from Toronto with her father, three months after surgery in mid-December. Carver has Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic disorder which critically affects the lungs, and also the pancreas and liver. She says there's mixed emotions with leaving.
The deputy mayor for the Municipality of Lunenburg says council doesn't have a stance on a proposed construction and demolition diversion facility in the Blockhouse-area. Don Zwicker says there is a process items must go through before they reach the council table. Halifax C and D Recycling has applied for a development agreement for property off the Cornwall Road near Exit 11. Zwicker says he questions some people who feel this will be a 'waste' facility.
It's do or die tonight for the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks. The local Junior 'A' hockey club head out on the road tonight with their season hanging in the balance. The Pictou County Weeks Crushers are up one game to none in the best of three MHL mini series and will look to put away the Jacks. Bridgewater hopes to pull out a win and force a winner take-all showdown on Thursday. Tonight's contest is a 7 o'clock start at the Pictou County Wellness Centre in New Glasgow.
An application has been presented to the Municipality of Lunenburg to develop a pub in Riverport. Local resident Peter Knowles has submitted the document for a development agreement to build 'The Heron Pub and Marina' at 30 Lower LaHave Road. A letter to the municipality reveals the building space would be roughly 3000 square feet. Deputy mayor and councillor for the Riverport-area, Don Zwicker, says it would be a nice addition to the community.
The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks squandered a 3-0 lead on route to a 5-3 loss to the Pictou County Weeks Crushers in game one of the MHL's mini-series. Shawn Boudreau, Shaun MacEachern and Luc Ramey all scored first period goals while captain Michael Crawley chipped-in with two assists. Crawley says the club took too many penalties and paid the price.
A proposed waste facility in Blockhouse is being met with some resistance from business owners. Halifax C and D Recycling has applied for a development agreement off the Cornwall Road near the new visitor information centre. One owner, Nancy Wentzell, believes there's too many negatives to consider including increased volume of trucking, smell and noise pollution. Meanwhile, Doug Johnson owns the Happy Cooker restaurant. He believes land near the community recycling site in Whynott's Settlement is a better option.
The Liverpool Fire Department is replacing its current ladder truck with one from Chicago. Officials asked Queens council to borrow some $79,000 to purchase the 1998 model vehicle, to replace the current ladder truck of over 30 years. Council decided to amend a previous loan with the group to include $59,000, and also surprised the department members with a $20,000 grant. Mayor Chris Clarke says the grant should cover the cost of shipping the truck to Liverpool.
Federal dollars will be pumped into making improvements to the Yarmouth waterfront area. $375,000. will result in improvements to the entertainment venue and some side streets. Also, there will be new heritage murals painted and a feasibility study looking at setting up a new market. Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood says the improvements come at a good time. She says: "there will be a little bit of work from the waterfront development up to Hawthorne Street where we have a market. So a little bit of a connection will be made. All those things just to allow more people to enjoy the area." The improvements will also include a better Wi-Fi infrastructure and an improved town website. The mayor is ruling out any connection with possible renovations to the old ferry terminal. However, she says upgrades to the waterfront and ferry terminal would compliment each other.
The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks open the Maritime Hockey League playoffs tonight at home against the Pictou County Weeks Crushers. The fifth-place Jacks finished 38 points behind the Crushers in the Eastlink Division with Pictou taking five of six games against the locals. The clubs meet tonight at 8 o'clock in Bridgewater.The best of three mini-series will shift to New Glasgow for game two on Wednesday night. A third game, if required, would be played Thursday in New Glasgow.
