UPDATED: Jury Members Set To Deliberate In Eisnor Trial

The fate of a Barss Corner man will be in the hands of a 12 member jury beginning Wednesday. Fifty year-old Wayne Eisnor is facing a first degree murder charge in the shooting death of his estranged wife more than three years ago in New Germany. Closing arguments were presented today in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Bridgewater. Crown Prosecutor Lloyd Tancock told court evidence against the accused - which include hand written notes laced with profanity  - indicate planning and deliberation in Tina Mae Eisnor's death. Defense lawyer Roger Burill argued Eisnor was not capable of planning a sophisticated murder plot. In total, 28 witnesses were called over the course of the two week trial. A first degree murder charge carries a penalty of a life sentence in prison.

Closing Arguments Expected In Eisnor Trial

Closing arguments are expected today in the first degree murder trial involving a Barss Corner man. Fifty-year-old Wayne Paul Eisnor is accused of shooting and killing his wife, Tina Mae, in a New Germany grocery store parking lot on June 30, 2010. He then turned the gun on himself resulting in serious brain damage. Dozens of witnesses have been called over the course of the trial which began earlier this month. Eisnor took the stand yesterday and testified he had no recollection of the alleged shooting. He also claimed he did not shoot his wife. The jury is expected to begin deliberations tomorrow.

Local Food Showcased In Lunenburg-Queens

Local food is in the spotlight this week. The Lunenburg-Queens local food team is hosting the first annual awareness week across both counties. The group is hoping to highlight food produced in the area, along with processing and production methods supporting sustainability and healthy living. President of the Lunenburg-Queens Federation of Agriculture, Peter Morrine, says he's hoping the week receives a good response to help make it an annual event.



The group is made up of residents, businesses and other community groups. Events are planned in areas including Caledonia, Mahone Bay, Bridgewater and Liverpool. A link to scheduled events can be found here .

Peewee, Bantam Seahawks Lose Weekend Games

A pair of losses over the weekend for the South Shore Seahawks football club. In peewee play, the Valley Bulldogs topped the Seahawks 47-12 on Sunday. Keegan Baker scored both Seahawks touchdowns on runs of 25 yards and 60 yards. The club plays their next game against the Fall River Dragons on Saturday at 1pm at Kinsmen Field. In bantam action, a good crowd was on hand at the Kinsmen field Sunday as the South Shore played the Truro Freightliners. The final was 63-0 for Truro. Next game is in Fall River on Sunday against the Dragons. The atom squad had a bye and will play Saturday at Kinsmen Field at 11am against the Truro Tide.

Whalen Finishes Fourth At Francophone Games

It was a fourth place finish for Chelsea Whalen at the Francophone Games in Nice, France. Whalen had a top throw in the shot put of 15.09 metres. She returns to Tallahassee, Florida for her senior year at Florida State University. Canada won 22 medals in total at the games.

RCMP: Fox Point Man Facing 51 Charges

The RCMP say a man faces 51 charges after a number of items were stolen from vehicles. Twenty-six year-old Matthew James Wright of Fox Point will appear in Halifax provincial court Monday on charges including theft under $5,000, possession of stolen property and trespassing. The charges stem from thefts that occurred in Hammonds Plains and the Fall River-Waverley area. Police say they're also looking for possible links to more than 60 other theft complaints from motor vehicles in Tantallon and Fox Point in the last month. RCMP remind people to lock their car doors and remove valuables from their vehicles to reduce the risk of break-ins.

Lumberjacks: Board To Discuss Arena Options

The waiting game continues for the opening of the Clearwater Seafood Arena. The owner of the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks, Ken Petrie, confirms the team is reviewing its options after the general manager of the LCLC told him the arena won't be available for their upcoming games. The Lumberjacks are scheduled to play Friday night and Sunday afternoon in Bridgewater. Petrie says the team's board of directors will decide whether to play both games at the Memorial Arena, play one in Bridgewater and the other in Liverpool or play Friday and reschedule Sunday. He says a decision on the issue is expected Monday evening.

Birdsall Carrying NDP Flag In Lunenburg

The NDP have a familiar face leading the orange charge in Lunenburg. Pam Birdsall is hoping to be re-elected as MLA after she was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in 2009. She says roads and access to health-care remain the top issues in the constituency. Birdsall says she disagrees with the Liberal and PC notion to remove most of the district health authorities in the province.


Challenging Birdsall in Lunenburg is Suzanne Lohnes-Croft for the Liberals and Brian Pickings for the PC's.

Bulldogs Finish Second At Baseball Atlantics

The Bridgewater Bulldogs settled for second place at the Bantam 'AAA' Atlantic Baseball Championships in St. John's, Newfoundland. The local club fell 5-1 in the final to Kennebacasis Valley, New Brunswick. The Bulldogs advanced to the final after going 4-0 during the round robin.

Mustangs Dump Tradesmen

Keith Getson and Alex Nauss each had two goals and two assists as the South Shore Mustangs dominated the Cape Breton Tradesmen 10-2 on Sunday. The major midget club allowed the first goal then unloaded for nine straight on home ice. Colby Muise turned aside 27 shots to help the Mustangs improve to 2-0 in the regular season. The Mustangs will travel to Pictou County for two games this weekend.

UPDATE: Military Item Removed From Desbrisay Museum

A military item on display for more than 50 years at the Desbrisay Museum in Bridgewater was removed as a safety precaution over the weekend. Director Barb Thompson says the item (identified as a "shell" or projectile") was flagged Saturday afternoon after officials were asked to examine some of the museum's war-time collection.



Bridgewater Police secured the building until a team from 14 Wing Greenwood was able to get to the museum  and properly remove the item. Thompson says it's not unusual for this type of thing to happen at a museum from time to time.

Jacks Lose, Mustangs Win, Bulldogs In Atlantics Final

The Yarmouth Mariners spread out the offense as they defeated the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks last night in Yarmouth. The Mariners got goals from five different players in a 5-1 over the Jacks. Josh Shatford provided the lone goal for the Bridgewater club while Cory Peterson allowed five goals on 38 shots. The Lumberjacks' next game will be Friday night when they host Campbellton.
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Keith Getson scored twice, including the game-winner in overtime as the South Shore Mustangs opened up their regular season with a 6-5 win over the Cape Breton Tradesmen. Riley Merry, Christian Tufts, Quinten Johnson, and Jered Scott also scored while Nick Dawe stopped 23 shots in the win. The two teams square off today at noon at the Bridgewater Arena.
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The Bridgewater Bulldogs are one game away from another Atlantic Baseball title. The local bantam 'AAA' team won both there games Saturday to finish the round robin with a 4-0 record. The club beat the hosts from St. John's, Newfoundland 18-2, before narrowly topping New Brunswick 3-1 to clinch a spot in today's championship game. The final is slated for this evening.

Aberdeen Road Water/Sewer Work Begins - Expect Delays

The next few weeks could be slow moving around a section of upper Aberdeen Road. The Town of Bridgewater will be doing some water and sewer upgrades on the busy street. Work begins on Monday and should last for the next five weeks. It means a section of upper Aberdeen Road will be closed to through traffic between the North Street/Glen Allen Drive intersection and Miller Drive. Motorists should think about using alternative routes whenever possible to minimize traffic congestion.

Military Bomb Squad Defuse Live Ammo At Desbrisay

Some tense moments at a Bridgewater museum. A military bomb squad team based out of 14 Wing Greenwood was called in to remove some live ammunition on display at the Desbrisay Museum. Members of the Bridgewater Police Service evacuated the building until the bomb squad arrived to take a look at the shell which was determined to be active. The incident unfolded Saturday afternoon, but it's not known how the live ammo ended up inside the museum. However, there were military and World War II displays at the museum this weekend. The ammunition was removed safely and will be properly destroyed by military personnel. Nobody was hurt.

Bridgewater Bulldogs Undefeated At Baseball Atlantics

A great start for the Bridgewater Bulldogs Bantam 'AAA' baseball team at the Atlantic Championships in St. John's, Newfoundland. The local club sits at 2-0 after day one of the competition. In their opening game against P.E.I. on Friday afternoon, Zach Zinck, Max Hartling and Riley Nickerson pitched a combined no-hitter in a 10-0 win.  Jaron Bolivar also had four RBI's. In their evening game against Mount Pearl, Matt Sabean, Riley Nickerson and Cameron MacPherson combined for a one hit 4-2 victory. Up next for the Bulldogs will be the host club from St. John's at 2:30pm Saturday afternoon. They also play Kennebecasis Valley, New Brunswick at 8pm.

Lumberjacks Fall To Mariners In Shootout

Sean Fraser scored the shootout winner as the Yarmouth Mariners won a wild game over the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks Friday night at Queens Place in Liverpool. The Mariners held a 4-1 lead heading into the third period before the Jacks stormed back with four straight to take the lead with only six minutes left in the game. Yarmouth scored roughly 40 seconds later to help send the game to overtime and then a shootout. Ryan Groom paced the Jacks offense with two goals and an assist while Billy Clarke turned aside 37 shots in the loss. The two teams face off again Saturday night in Yarmouth at 7:30pm.

Updated: Four Sent To Hospital After Three Vehicle Crash

A section of Highway 103 was shutdown for two hours Friday afternoon after a three-vehicle crash in Middlewood. The incident happened around 2:15. Police say preliminary investigation shows that a westbound vehicle stopped on the road to make a left hand turn and was rear-ended. The impact caused the first vehicle to be thrown into the path of an ambulance in the oncoming lane. The ambulance, which did not have a patient on board, ended up in the ditch after impact. Two women were taken to South Shore Regional Hospital with minor injuries. Two paramedics in the ambulance were taken to hospital for assessment as a precaution.

Bridgewater Matches Funding To Help Recruit Doctors

The town of Bridgewater will match funding to help send a contingent of marketers to New Brunswick. Council recently agreed to equal the $2,000 provided by the Municipality of Lunenburg to send a recruiting team to Miramichi to help bring more doctors to the area. The money will come from other council expenditures, designated for unexpected requests. Mayor David Walker says its important for the town to play a role in bringing health professionals to Bridgewater.


The marketing team will head to New Brunswick at the end of this month.

PC Leader Baillie Makes South Shore Stop

The leader of the Nova Scotia PC party is making his first visit to the South Shore since the writ dropped for the provincial election. Jamie Baillie made stops in a number of communities including Chester, Bridgewater and Lunenburg and he'll also be traveling to Barrington Passage this evening. Baillie highlighted his party's platform in Dayspring at Snyder's Shipyard Friday afternoon. He says their plan "Change That Works" could help create 20,000 jobs, many of them here along the South Shore.



Baillie says the South Shore has been a great area for the PC party in the past because he feels its the only party looking out for rural Nova Scotia.

Mustangs Open New Season

The South Shore Mustangs kick off their regular season this weekend in Bridgewater. The major midget hockey club will be hosting the Cape Breton Tradesmen for two games. Mustangs owner Lionel Haughn tells us his team's greatest quality this coming season will be its enthusiasm and committment to the game.



Saturday night's contest begins at 8 o'clock and the second game will be Sunday at noon, both at the Bridgewater Arena.

Gasoline Prices Drop Significantly!

If you suddenly feel the urge to give a thumbs up or dance a little jig at the gas pumps today, you'll likely be forgiven!  There has been a dramatic drop in prices overnight. Regular self serve has tumbled more than six cents. Its selling today for $1.32.8 per litre. High test is down by a similar amount to $1.41.8.  Diesel is down 3.5 cents, to $1.36.5 per litre.

Lumberjacks Open Regular Season Against Yarmouth

Another season of Lumberjacks hockey gets underway tonight in Liverpool. The Bridgewater club takes on their South Shore rivals from Yarmouth at Queens Place Emera Centre. The Lumberjacks are hoping to build off a disappointing campaign last year, that saw them only garner 10 wins in 52 regular season games. Twenty-year-old defenseman Mitchell Hennebury feels this year is going to be different.



Hennebury says a new rink, and new coach have helped bring a winning attitude to the club. Puck drop is at 7:30 tonight in Liverpool.

Gabrielle Brings Wet Weather To South Shore

It looks like the South Shore should brace for more than 40 millimeters of rain. Tropical storm Gabrielle continues to travel towards the Maritimes and Newfoundland. A special weather statement from Environment Canada affecting Lunenburg, Queens and Shelburne Counties says Gabrielle is expected to bring heavy rain, which could reach the South Shore by Friday morning. Steve Mills with the province's Emergency Management Office says people should clean up any loose material in their yards.


Mills says people should also prepare for flash flooding if the rain comes down quickly. The rain is expected to spread to the rest of the Atlantic coast and Eastern Nova Scotia by late in the day Friday.

Chester Fire Chief ''Disappointed'' About Silencing Siren

Chester's fire chief says he's not happy with a decision to silence the community's siren. The Chester Village Commission decided to shut down the siren following a recommendation from an independent auditor. Duke Chafe says there were advantages to having the siren including alerting residents of a fire and notifying drivers that fire trucks would soon be on the road. He says he can turn the siren back on if the occasion calls for it.



Chafe says the commission is looking into an alternative system, but he didn't expect it to be in place for a few months.

Sports: Hockey, Baseball And Track And Field

The Halifax Mooseheads will open up defense of their President Cup title Thursday night on home ice. The herd takes on their maritime rivals, the Moncton Wildcats at 7pm at the Metro Centre. A pre-game ceremony is planned where the organization will raise the Memorial and President Cup banners.
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In major bantam hockey, the Western Hurricanes get their regular season started this weekend. The team hosts the Bedford Barons in a pair of games at Queens Place Emera Centre in Liverpool. The two teams meet Saturday evening at 6pm and Sunday morning at 11.
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In baseball, the Bridgewater Bulldogs Bantam 'AAA' team heads to St. John's, Newfoundland for the Atlantic Championships. The team opens up play Friday afternoon at 2:30 against PEI.
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Overseas, Liverpool's Chelsea Whalen competes for Canada at the Francophone Games in Nice, France. She competes Saturday in the shot put. It's Whalen's first competition since she won two gold medals at the Canada Summer Games in mid-August.

Queens Council Nixes ATV Use On Trestle Trail Bridge

The president of the Queens County ATV Association says they may have to bypass Liverpool in their travels. The Region of Queens Municipality recently voted to stay the course and not allow any ATV use along the Trestle Trail Bridge and the former rail line leading to Bog Road. Brian Hatt says the decision leaves no direct access into Liverpool for ATV riders. He says the group was hoping to provide some economic spin-offs.



Hatt says the group is considering their options, including crossing the Mersey River north from Brooklyn and linking up with their existing trail in Summerville to keep riding down to Yarmouth.

South Shore Keeps Terry Fox's Dream Alive

It's time to celebrate one of the most inspiring figures in Canadian history. Terry Fox Run's are slated to take place this weekend throughout the South Shore. In 1980, with one leg having been amputated, he embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research. Fox, was forced to end his quest near Thunder Bay after 143 days and more than 5,370 kilometres. However, his efforts resulted in a lasting, worldwide legacy. Here's Fox being interviewed as he announced his run was over.



Terry Fox Run's are set to take place on Sunday from Hubbards to Woods Harbour. A complete list of events are listed below


Bridgewater - Event begins at 9:30AM at NSCC Lunenburg Campus

Liverpool - Event begins at 1:00PM at Queens Place Emera Centre

Municipality of Shelburne - Event begins at 1:00PM at Shelburne Regional High School Track

Barrington - Event begins at 12:00PM at Royal Canadian Legion

Chester - Event begins at 1:00PM at Royal Canadian Legion

West Green Harbour - Event begins at 10:00AM at West Green Harbour Recreation Hall

Woods Harbour - Event begins at 1:00PM at the Upper Woods Harbour Ball Field

Lunenburg - Event begins at 1:00PM at the Lunenburg Community Centre

Hubbards - Event begins at 1:00PM at the Shore Club

Caledonia - Event begins at 1:00PM at Kejimkujik Administration Centre

Weather: "Gabrielle" Could Bring Heavy Rain

A tropical storm making it's way up the coast could bring heavy rain and gusting wind to parts of the South Shore. Environment Canada is monitoring the path of "Gabrielle"  as it picks up momentum in the Atlantic. The weather agency says the radar indicates the storms remnants will push toward Eastern Nova Scotia, PEI or Newfoundland on Friday. Depending on the storms route it could miss the South Shore entirely. Environement Canada expects to have a better idea later today on wind speeds and rainfall amounts.

South Shore Health Welcoming New Family Doctor

A new family doctor is coming to Bridgewater. South Shore Health says Dr. Sheila Dwyer will start a new practice and will begin taking patients as early as next week. Dr. Dwyer graduated from Dalhousie University's Medical program in 2011 and completed her family medicine residency training in June 2013. She's expected to take 150 new patients when she begins taking phone calls September 18. South Shore Health expects the new doctor will accept a minimum of 1,000 patients over time. Dr. Dwyer will join the team in the new Bridgewater and Area Family Health Centre when it opens later this fall. People who do not currently have a Family Physician or Nurse Practitioner or who are travelling outside the District for care are eligible. People who wish to be considered as a patient are asked to call 527-4814 beginning at 6:30 pm September 18. People should have your MSI number, date-of-birth, and a valid current telephone number when you call. Callers may only register immediate family members from the same household. After the first 150 patients are accepted, the telephone line will close. After these patients are processed and seen by the doctor for an initial intake appointment, the phone line will re-open and additional patients will be accepted. South Shore Health says accepting only 150 patients at a time will avoid the creation of a large list of patients that takes many months to process, and hopefully reduce the frustration of patients waiting for an appointment.

Police Charge Woman After Vehicle Collision

A motor vehicle collision late Saturday night has left a woman facing several charges. Bridgewater Police say an argument between a man and woman escalated in a parking lot on LaHave Street. The man left the scene on his motorcycle. Police say he was hurt after he collided with a car driven by the woman. He was taken to South Shore Regional hospital and released later that night. The woman was taken into police custody. She was released with charges of assault, assault with a weapon and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. She will be in Bridgewater court next week.

Local Firefighters Crack Personal Bests At FireFit Nationals

Two Bridgewater firefighters finished in the top 60 at the National FireFit competition in Edmonton. Ryan Buck finished 38th after posting a time of one minute, 28 seconds, while Steve Freeman finished 58th after running the obstacle course in one minute, 33 seconds against over 200 other firefighters. Both Bridgewater men posted new personal bests with their times. Buck says he's happy to reach his goal for the competition.


Buck also posted the second best time individually as a volunteer firefighter. The Bridgewater team weren't pleased with their two-man race results of one minute, 45 seconds after a fall cost them some time. He says the team will take a break for a few weeks before training starts back up in October.

NS Elexn: Lunenburg West PC Mitchell Campaigns For Job Growth & Health Care Improvements

He was a two term town councilor in Bridgewater. Now, he's the Progressive Conservative candidate in the riding of Lunenburg-West. David Mitchell says he took the challenge in hopes of making a difference. He says he'd like to help the provincial party, if elected to power, jump-start the area's economy, creating jobs so South Shore residents don't have to seek employment elsewhere.



Mitchell says while campaigning door to door, he's been taken aback by stories he's heard from voters about long waits for hospital ER's and surgeries. He says that situation is disgraceful and must be changed.



Mitchell's fellow candidates in Lunenburg-West are Mark Furey of the Liberals and incumbent NDP MLA Gary Ramey.

Election: Doctors Bring Health Care To Forefront

Doctors Nova Scotia wants to bring health care to the forefront during the election campaign. The association is focusing on four key areas in the lead-up to the October 8th vote. President Dr. Mike Flemming says they include ensuring everyone has a family doctor, reducing wait times along with investing in programs and health services. The group has launched a website to support health-care advocacy during the campaign. The website shares the responses of the three main political parties on key health-care questions and can be found by clicking here. The group is also encouraging people to speak with their local candidates about health care.

Seahawks Deliver $25,000 Cheque To Bridgewater

The town of Bridgewater has received the $25,000 cheque presented to the South Shore Seahawks as part of the Kraft Celebration Tour. Executives with the Seahawks Minor Football Club turned the cheque over to the town during last night's council session. Mayor David Walker expects staff will get analysis from turf professionals, and will then present options on what work would need to be done to Kinsmen Field to improve drainage. He says he would like to see something prepared by next spring.



Walker says he's unsure how much money would be needed to complete the work at Kinsmen Field.

Premier Campaigns At Drumlin Hills

Premier Darrell Dexter says the NDP aren't taking things for granted on the South Shore. The party has an orange wave across the region except in Yarmouth and Argyle-Barrington and won the Lunenburg and Lunenburg West ridings for the first time during the last election. Dexter says the MLAs for those areas earned the seats, and will continue to work hard to retain them. He says the NDP's focus continues to be on important issues.



Dexter was making the rounds across two counties Monday afternoon including stops in Liverpool, Bridgewater, Lunenburg and Chester. Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil was also in Lunenburg County yesterday while PC Leader Jamie Baillie hasn't announced his South Shore stops yet.

Ramey Ready For Second Mandate

NDP member Gary Ramey says he feels encouraged by the amount of support he's received early in his election campaign. Ramey is the incumbent in Lunenburg West running against the Liberals Mark Furey and the PC's David Mitchell. He says the condition of roads is a big concern in his constituency. Ramey says the party's five year road plan took care of major roads and a new plan will focus on back roads.



Ramey also points to the Better Care Sooner Plan that he feels is working to provide health care quickly to those who need it. The election is slated for October 8th.

Lumberjacks Win Final Pre-Season Game Against Valley

The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks skated past the Valley Wildcats 3-1 in MHL pre-season action Monday night in Kentville. Jesse MacInnis scored twice while Connor Hilton rounded out the scoring for the Jacks. The Bridgewater club finished exhibition play with a 2-2 record. The locals will open the regular season this Friday night in Liverpool against the Yarmouth Mariners.

Chester: Council Ponders Gold River School

The Municipality of Chester continues to explore its options on the future of the Gold River-Western Shore Elementary school. Warden Allen Webber says no decision was made following an in-camera discussion recently. Webber says council has discussed selling, keeping and demolishing the structure. He says the roof remains one of the concerns.



Webber says a decision would also need to be made regarding the playground equipment at the school. He says he doesn't consider the school a liability, but an opportunity for the municipality.

McNeil: Nova Scotia Election About "Trust"

Liberal leader Stephen McNeil says the South Shore is an election battleground with key seats up for grabs when residents head to the polls October 8th. Currently, the NDP hold seats in Lunenburg, Chester-St Margaret's, Lunenburg West, and in the Queens-Shelburne region. McNeil toured the area with local Liberal candidates Mark Furey, Suzanne Lohnes-Croft and Tim Harris on Monday. In an interview with CKBW, McNeil says the Liberals will focus on a number of key areas.



McNeil helped officially open Lunenburg West candidate Mark Furey's campaign headquarters on King Street. Furey says he's been hearing health care, education and rural jobs are a top priority for residents of Lunenburg West. PC candidate David Mitchell is also challenging for the seat in the legislature. The incumbent in the riding is NDP candidate Gary Ramey.

Election Campaign Underway: Liberals Roll Into South Shore

The election campaign is in full swing - Liberal leader Stephen McNeil told CKBW news he feels the South Shore is an election battleground with a number of key seats up for grabs. He toured Lunenburg West, Chester-St.Margaret's and Lunenburg riding's Monday. The NDP currently hold each of those seats in the legislature. Here's a shot of the official opening of Lunenburg West candidate Mark Furey's campaign HQ in Bridgewater.

Election Preview: Lunenburg West Riding

Seeking election in Lunenburg West:  Here is a preview and a brief bio on the candidates vying for election. *Indicates incumbent candidate.




NDP: *Gary Ramey, was elected in 2009. Prior to becoming an MLA, he taught high school, university and college for more than 30 years. Ramey is the co-founder and Vice President of Adventus Interactive. He's a member of the Gulf of Maine Institute project and former board member of Bonny Lea Farm. He has a Ph.D from the University of Alberta, an M.A. from Mount Saint Vincent University and a B.Ed and B.A. from Mount Allison University.

Liberal: Mark Furey, is a retired police officer. He retired from the RCMP in 2012 after 32 years. He served with detachments throughout Nova Scotia including Halifax, Cape Breton and the South Shore where he served as the District Commander for Lunenburg County. Furey has recently worked with the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre, Jenna Martin (2012 Olympian) "Go For Gold", and Habitat For Humanity Fundraising Committees.

Progressive Conservative: David Mitchell, is a former municipal councillor in Bridgewater and was first elected to town council in 2004. For the last seven years, Mitchell has been a Wealth Advisor at ScotiaMcLeod in Bridgewater.  He is also an active community volunteer, helping with the Inn from the Cold program, and serving as a youth group leader and Junior Church teacher.

Election Preview: Queens-Shelburne Riding

 

Seeking election in Queens-Shelburne: Here is a preview and a brief bio on the candidates vying for election. This is a new riding created when Nova Scotia's electoral boundaries were redrawn last fall.



Seeking election in Queens-Shelburne

NDP: Sterling Belliveau, a self-employed fisherman, was elected to office in the 2006 election. Prior to election, Belliveau served as a councillor in the Municipality of Barrington. He also served two terms as Warden in the municipality.

Liberal: Benson Frail, a resident of Caledonia, has spent the past six years as project foreman in the oil patch in Western Canada.  He has worked for several years as a consultant, focused on marketing Queens County and attracting business to the area from across Europe and North America.

Progressive Conservative: Bruce Inglis, is a financial advisor for Sun Life and is serving his second term as councillor for the Region of Queens Municipality. He has also served as former president of the PC Association of Queens County.

Election Preview: Lunenburg Riding

Seeking election in Lunenburg: Here is a preview and a brief bio on the candidates vying for election. *Indicates incumbent candidate.

NDP: *Pam Birdsall, was first elected in 2009. She is a longtime resident of Mahone Bay and has been the co-owner and operator of Birdsall-Worthington Pottery since 1977. Prior to election, Birdsall was a founding member of the Mahone Bay Business Association, now known as the Mahone Bay and Area Chamber of Commerce. She is a recipient of the Women of Excellence Award from the Halifax Progress Club.

Liberal: Suzanne Lohnes-Croft, is a long-time resident of Mahone Bay.  She attended the old Mahone Bay School, and later Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax.  As an Early Childhood Educator, she taught at Point Pleasant Child Care Centre and the Mount Saint Vincent Child Study Centre. Presently, she works as a Program Support Assistant for the South Shore Regional School Board.

Progressive Conservatives: Brian Pickings, Pickings was born and raised in Upper LaHave. He is self-employed, owning and operating his own carpentry business. He is an active member of the Masonic Lodge. Pickings has also been a District Captain for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, has volunteered at food banks and is an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Election Preview: Chester-St. Margaret's Riding

Seeking election in Chester-St.Margaret's: Here is a preview and a brief bio on the candidates vying for election. *Indicates incumbent candidate.



NDP: *Denise Peterson-Rafuse was first elected as MLA in 2009. Prior to her election, she was Program Coordinator for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia in Hants, Lunenburg, Queens and Shelburne counties. She has also worked as a mortgage consultant for Premiere Mortgage Centre and she worked for the Halifax Regional Municipality for 10 years.

Liberal: Tim Harris is a long time resident of Chester. Harris is the Broker and the sole owner of Tradewinds Realty Incorporated, a residential real estate brokerage with five offices (Chester, Lunenburg, Bridgewater, Annapolis Royal & Halifax) in Nova Scotia.

Progressive Conservative: Janet Irwin is a long time resident of Bayswater. Irwin retired from the CBC after a 31-year career in 2011. Irwin also worked as television reporter and producer of radio programs such as Maritime Noon.

Yarmouth Town Readies For Ferry's Return

With ferry service between Yarmouth and Maine to be restored in time for the next tourism season, the Mayor of the town is anxious to get cracking at preparing for it. Pam Mood is organizing a community meeting this coming Wednesday evening. She says things have been allowed to slide a bit cosmetically in the town since the original ferry service was shutdown in 2009. However, the mayor says that has got to change and everyone needs to work together.



Economic Development Minister Graham Steele says the province has reached a deal with STM Quest to begin operating the new ferry service starting May 1st.  He anticipates there will be sailings out of Yarmouth each morning and overnight sailings from Portland.

Town Wants Meeting To Discuss Off-Leash Dog Space

The town of Bridgewater is looking to hold a meeting with proponents of a space for dogs in Generations Active Park. Mayor David Walker says the town could potentially set up a partnership with local veterinarian clinics, and other community organizations for a leash-free dog space. Walker says the town can't afford to shoulder the entire cost of a dog space estimated around $200,000. He says they want to discuss other options.



Walker says they hope to meet with the various groups after they further understand the cost breakdown for the dog park.

Football: Mixed Results For Seahawks At Home

The South Shore Seahawks atom club earned a 'W' in their home-opener Saturday. The Seahawks beat the Bedford Saints 16-14 at Kinsmen Field. Meanwhile, the Bantam club wasn't as fortunate. They fell 30-6 to the Cape Breton Panthers. The peewee Seahawks are in action Sunday against the Halifax Argos in Halifax.

BREAKING: Election Set For October 8th

Nova Scotians will head to the polls in a provincial election October 8th. Premier Darrell Dexter made the announcement during a stop today in Port Hawkesbury. It puts to rest weeks of speculation. Dexter visited Lieutenant Govenor JJ Grant to dissolve the legislature sending Nova Scotians into a provincial election for the first time since 2009. The NDP, Liberals and PC's have been in campaign mode for weeks leading up to today's election call. At dissolution, the NDP hold 31 seats, the Liberals have 12 and PC's seven.

Annual Fishermen's Service Held In Lunenburg

A ceremony honouring fishermen who have lost their lives at sea goes Sunday in Lunenburg. The annual Lunenburg Fishermen's Thanksgiving Service begins at 2pm on the town's waterfront. It will be held near the Fishermen's Memorial and Tribute. The Roll of Honour will be read by Mayor Rachel Bailey. It's expected to include names of fishermen lost in the years ending in three covering the last century. The Bridgewater Fire Department Band will provide music. After the service, people will be asked to proceed to the eastern finger wharf of the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic. Wreaths will be placed on a fishing boat and taken out to sea.

Mustangs Drop Opener In Cape Breton

The South Shore Mustangs dropped their opening game at the early bird tournament in Cape Breton. The Mustangs fell 2-1 last night to the Cape Breton Tradesmen. The major midget club gets back on the ice at 10am against Dartmouth.