Municipal Partners Managing Resource Website

A website focusing on businesses and services in Lunenburg and Queens Counties is sticking around. Municipal partners including the District of Lunenburg, Bridgewater Development Association, Municipality of Chester and the Region of Queens will manage 'WhyHere.ca' until a new economic network is formed. The move follows a decision by the South Shore Business Growth Association to stop managing the site at the start of April. Economic Development Officer for the Municipality of Lunenburg, Dave Waters, says the website is critical for attracting people to the area.



A plan is also in place to expand the website to include Shelburne. Waters expects it may cost the group a couple hundred dollars to manage the site.

Proposed South Shore Crematorium On Hold

A proposal for a funeral home crematorium in Liverpool will not be moving ahead for now. Chandler's applied to Region of Queens Council to allow the establishment of the facility adjacent to the existing funeral home.However, the company has now withdrawn its application with manager Kevin Samuels saying public opposition played a role.



Region of Queens had given approval in principle to the project but subject to further study. Samuels hasn't ruled out bringing the proposal back to the table in the future for a different site.

Court Appearance Today For Those Accused In Homeless Death

The accused in the bus shelter death last fall of a homeless man in the Annapolis Valley are in court today. 26-year-old Daniel Wayne Surette of Berwick and 25-year-old Kyle David James Fredericks of nearby Berwick District were charged Friday with first-degree murder. 62 year old Harley Lawrence was found dead in a burned out bus shelter in Berwick on Oct. 23. Lawrence is said to have begun using the shelter for refuge as temperatures dipped last fall.

Baillie Skeptical About Gas Deregulation Promise

The province's Official Opposition Leader says he'll believe it when he sees it! Jamie Baillie says Premier Stephen McNeil's claim his government will look at gasoline price deregulation this fall comes with a big question mark. He believes deregulation should happen now, not later, to quickly eliminate the tax on tax at the pumps and give everyone a break.



Baillie also says the HST should be lowered by a cent or two now .. not later! He believes lowering that and deregulating gas prices would be helpful in fanning the flames of economic growth across the province.

NS Gasoline Industry Faces Possible Price Deregulation

With gasoline prices through the roof at South Shore pumps, the province is now seriously considering deregulating prices. Premier Stephen McNeil says prices are way out of control and something may be done in the fall, aimed at deregulating them.



Prices across the province increased by more than two cents on Friday for regular self serve and more than a cent for diesel. Regular gas is now at $1.46.2 a litre at South Shore pumps. Thats the highest its been in years.

Day Of Mourning Event Held In Bridgewater

Nova Scotia is joining the rest of Canada to remember people who were injured, killed or became ill at work. The International Day of Mourning is marked today. There were 34 workplace deaths last year in Nova Scotia, while just over 25,000 people were injured on the job. There have also been two deaths so far this year. President of the South Shore Labour Council, Lisa Mason, says it's something that needs to stop.



An event is planned for today in Bridgewater at 1pm at Shipyards Landing. Other ceremonies are planned for Halifax, Sydney, Kentville, and Port Hawkesbury.

Yarmouth: RCMP Arrest Man In Possession Of Firearm

A Yarmouth man is in court Monday after he was arrested with a loaded gun in a shopping area. RCMP say the man was taken into custody around noon on Saturday near the back of a grocery store. The Mounties say the 49-year-old man appeared to be intoxicated. A short time later, RCMP received a report of a break and enter at a home where a .22 calibre rifle was allegedly stolen. Police believe the two incidents are related. The man is facing several charges.

Teens In Custody Following Kings County Fires

Two teenage boys are in police custody following a pair of fires in Kings County. RCMP say they are investigating the fires, which happened Sunday in Aylesford. Police and firefighters responded to the call of an abandoned house and abandoned barn fire around mid-afternoon. Both buildings are a complete loss and the fire is being treated as suspicious. No one was injured. The Fire Marshal's Office is determining the cause. A 15-year-old boy and 17-year-old boy were still in police custody as of Sunday night.

Rail Museum Readies For New Season

Just like "The Little Engine That Could", there's a South Shore Museum that's working to keep the area's railway history alive! Duane Porter owns and operates the Halifax and Southwestern Railway Museum in Lunenburg and he says his company is one that will not be going, hat in hand, to government seeking financial support. He says the rich history of the former line is strong enough to keep tourists dropping by each year and in turn financially supporting the museum. Porter says the rail line's unique characteristics endeared itself to South Shore communities for 80 years.



Porter says the railway museum is known all over and has become a "must-see" spot in tourism circles.
It re-opens for the summer season, May 2nd.

Author MacLeod Returns Home

A church in a tiny section of Cape Breton will celebrate the life of an author known around the world. A memorial service is being held today in Broad Cove for Alistair MacLeod. The church is located only a short drive from where the decorated writer grew up and later spent his summers with his family. MacLeod died last Sunday in Windsor, Ontario with his family at his side. He's credited with writing timeless novels such as No Great Mischief and Lost Salt Gift of Blood. MacLeod was 77.

Two Men Charged In Harley Lawrence Death

RCMP in Nova Scotia have charged two men with first degree murder in the death of an Annapolis Valley man. Twenty-six-year-old David Wayne Surette and 25-year-old Kyle David James Fredericks of the Berwick area were arrested and charged in the death of Harley Lawrence. Lawrence was found dead in October after a fire at a bus shelter. Both men have been remanded into custody and will appear in Kentville court on Monday.

Group Looking To Bring 'Awesome' Ideas To South Shore

Are you ready to be awesome? A group of people are willing to pay $1,000 to see just how awesome you can be. Awesome South Shore is offering money to people who have ideas that could bring great events to the local area. Trustee Andrew Button says it could be anything from a lego party to using the money to recreate a scene from a famous movie. He says they want to inspire people.



The group is made up of 30 people. Every month 10 people donate $100 to create a $1,000 grant for an idea. They are collecting ideas on their website and will give out their first $1,000 during a May 28 event at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic in Lunenburg. The website where you can submit ideas can be accessed here .

Program Attracting Doctors To South Shore Expanding

Introducing student doctors to rural Nova Scotia in the last year or so of their residency is the focus of the province's rural retention program. It offers encouragement to settle in places like the South Shore where its always a challenge to retain doctors. Premier Stephen McNeil says the program will be continued and expanded.



McNeil says there has been too much focus in the past on Halifax and having many doctors and specialists centred there. He says every effort is now being made to provide incentives to new doctors to settle here on the South Shore and in other rural areas of the province where the need is greatest.

Waldorf School Heading Toward The Finish Line

A South Shore independent school is in the middle of the pack in the hunt for first prize in a major national competition. The Waldorf School in Blockhouse is a candidate for winning the National Trees of Knowledge online competition. Parent Anastasia Malay says winning the $20,000 top prize will allow for an expansion of the school's tools of learning.



The Waldorf School is in sixth place and voting online runs until May 5. You can vote for the school at least once a day until then and stand a chance to win $10,000 for doing so. You can vote here .

Gas Prices Hot Topic In Legislature

Gas prices are up across the board today at South Shore pumps. Regular self serve has increased overnight by more than 2 cents a litre to $1.46.2 and diesel is up by a similar amount to $1.42.7 in many locations. With prices today now having reached record-breaking territory, the issue of double taxing gas has hit the floor of the province's legislature during question period. Opposition PC Leader Jamie Baillie led the attack on the McNeil government.



Some industry watchers predict gas prices will balloon past $1.50 before the start of the summer.

Berwick: Arrests Made In Death Of Homeless Man

There are new developments in the case involving the suspicious death of a homeless man in the Annapolis Valley. Mounties say they have two people in custody in connection with the death of Harley Lawrence. Lawrence died in a bus shelter in Berwick last year. The shelter was set on fire in October. Police say one person was arrested in Berwick around midnight and another was taken into custody around 1:30 a.m. in the Sackville area. They are being interviewed by members of the RCMP's Major Crimes Unit.  However, police say no further details are being released.

Extensive Repairs Completed At Lunenburg Academy

The roof and chimney at Lunenburg Academy are now repaired, but not without more funding from the federal government. The town of Lunenburg was given almost $31,775 last summer for the work. However, significant roof rot and more repairs to the chimney were identified. Ottawa has since provided an additional $33,048 in infrastructure funding to complete the work. Mayor Rachel Bailey says she was happy to see the feds step up.



The Castle on the Hill has been a mainstay in Lunenburg since it opened its doors in 1895. It served as a school for 117 years until 2012. The town is looking to re-purpose the building for future use by community members and businesses.

Nova Scotia Looks For More US Visitors

Nova Scotia is looking to an old friend in hopes of boosting tourism. The province launched a ambitious marketing campaign in the Boston area to attract more first time US visitors. The tourism agency is leading the efforts which will focus on TV, newspaper and online ads. CEO Patrick Sullivan says the return of the Yarmouth ferry may also give tourism a boost this summer.



Sullivan says as part of the campaign they have bought room for signage behind home plate at Fenway Park for 10 games beginning April 29. However, he says the ads will really heat up in May.

Lunenburg: Music Academy Close To Accepting First Class

Over 140 musicians from 27 countries have applied to be a part of the Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance. The group announced they will accept 14 of them for their Rossini Opera Academy, which opens up in October. Maestro Alberto Zedda will conduct the intense two-week course in Lunenburg. Artistic Director Burt Wathen says a pair of Canadians will be included in the class.


Wathen says the 14 students will be notified in early May about their acceptance into the program. The Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance has also planned a number of outreach concerts in the community between October and December. Wathen says the group has come a long way and are close to realizing a dream.

NS Liberal Government Accused Of Building Two Slush Funds

The McNeil government is taking heat over writing-off debts or giving loans to big companies with Liberal connections. That's something when in opposition, the Liberals criticized the Dexter government about over and over again. Current PC Opposition Leader Jamie Baillie went drilling for answers from Premier Stephen McNeil during question period in the Legislature. He wanted to know why the government is carrying on with big, forgiveable loans.



Premier Stephen McNeil took Baillie up on the challenge.



Baillie alledges the Liberals are padding a couple of slush funds for political rainy days with money supplied by companies loyal to the party. McNeil wrote off Baillie's comments as nonsense!

Governments Accused Of Making Fortune Off High Gas Prices

Gas prices at South Shore pumps are expected to take another jump overnight tonight by at least a couple of cents a litre. Canadian Taxpayers Federation Atlantic director Kevin Lacey says last fall's pre-election political rhetoric about forcing prices down has lost its lustre. He says governments are slow to react now because they're making a fortune in taxes.



Prices are expected to increase tonight at South Shore pumps by at least two cents a litre for regular self serve. That'll push the price past $1.46, the highest in a couple of years. Diesel is also expected to rise by a penny or so tonight.

Gas Prices Rise To Record Levels

A dubious record has been set this morning at South Shore gas pumps!
Prices are blowing already set records out the door. Regular self serve is up about 2.5 cents to $1.46.2 per litre, busting a record of almost a cent less in April 2012. Meanwhile, Canadian Taxpayers Federation Atlantic director Kevin Lacey tells us last fall's pre-election political rhetoric about forcing prices down has lost its lustre. He says governments are slow to react now because ... they're making a fortune in taxes.




Gas prices are about 20 cents more a litre than they were a year ago and diesel is almost 40 cents higher.

Program To Prevent Child Sexual Abuse Introduced In Queens

Youth in Queens County are about to learn better ways of preventing sexual abuse. The Canadian Red Cross introduced its 'Be Safe!' program Wednesday afternoon at Dr. John C. Wickwire Academy in Liverpool. The program gives kids ages five to nine-years-old educational tools to recognize and prevent situations that may lead to sexual abuse. School Board Communications Manager, Trish Smith, says the program engages kids through activities.



'Be Safe!' will also be available at North Queens Community School. Both Queens County schools are the first to offer the program in Nova Scotia. Additional information about the Canadian Red Cross program is available online here .

Bridgewater Youth Shelter In Limbo

The future of a youth shelter in Bridgewater is unclear. Empire House for youth who are homeless or at risk of being homeless is transitioning. It has been run by the province since 2007 but the Nova Scotia government is looking for a community organization to take over control. However, it's not known what will become of the current shelter on Empire Street. The home opened in 2002. The new service model will begin in July. Four youth workers will be re-assigned within the department. The province says the program will link youth with health providers, school, housing, employment and other social support.

No Need For Bridgewater Memorial Arena: Deputy Mayor

What started as an outdoor arena in 1948 appears to have at least one more year of service left. Town council has tentatively approved another year of operation for the Bridgewater Memorial Arena. It was a 4-3 vote in favour of providing almost $155,000 to keep the rink open for 2014-15. Deputy Mayor Bill McInnis voted against. He feels arenas in Chester, Lunenburg and Liverpool could fill the void if the rink at the new Lifestyle Centre is booked.



McInnis says the recent Ivany Report calls for more regional services and feels this could be one way to take advantage of it. A final decision is expected to be made on this topic and the town's budget on Monday.

School Closure Still Up To Elected Board

Elected board members will have the final say when deciding whether or not to close schools in Nova Scotia. Education Minister Karen Casey introduced changes in legislation today around school review. Casey says the new process puts an emphasis on better planning and more collaboration when a school is up for review. No schools are currently under review and none can be put forward until the new process is in place. A review committee was established last year to look at the process in depth and come up with a modified system. The new school review process will be in place by September.

For more information:

The recommendations and Casey's click the link Department of Education.

Funding Boost For Family Resource Centres

Family resources centres in Nova Scotia are getting a boost. The provincial government is increasing its annual funding to the centres by two million dollars. The money will be spread out equally throughout the province's 26 facilities. It will mean roughly $75,000 more in funding. New money will also be made available for training. Local family resources centres are located in New Ross, Bridgewater and Yarmouth. They offer support and programs for parents, children and families before and after birth - normally up to age six.

"Government Supporting New Grads" - Samson

The Liberal government is firing back at both of Nova Scotia's opposition parties over the availability of jobs for graduating university students. The Tories and NDP are accusing the government of coming up short when it comes to incentives for new graduates to stay and work in the province. Economic Development Minister Michel Samson told the Legislature during question period, they're trying to set up an economically-friendly working environment in the province.



New Brunswick, Manitoba and Saskatchewan offer thousands of dollars in rebates to students who stay and work in those provinces following graduation. Samson says nothing like that is being considered for here.

Any Oak Island Treasure & Artifacts Need Protecting Says MLA

Protecting Oak Island from being plundered and historic artifacts spirited out of the area for international sale is the focus of a bill being introduced in the Nova Scotia Legislature. Chester-St. Margarets NDP MLA Denise Peterson-Rafuse is leading the charge in the house, drawing attention to the consequences if fellow members, opposition and government, don't guarantee its passage.



A reality show on the History Channel has renewed interest in the tiny Mahone Bay island, with many viewers indicating their wish to pay a visit. The latest intriguing theory claims not only Captain Kidd's treasure may have been buried on Oak Island centuries ago. There may also be significant religious artifacts connected to the Knights Templar and even Shakespeare.

QMJHL: Moose Stage Huge Comeback, Look For More

Just when most people had written off the Halifax Moosehads last night as headed for defeat in Game 3 of their Q-League playoff series something happened that turned the tables on Val D'Or. After trailing 5-1 to Val D'or, the Moose stampeded out of the gate with sticks and goals flying to send the game into overtime. Jessie Lussier  scored the winner. The final score 6-5 Halifax. The Mooseheads still trail the series 2-1. They'll try to even it in game 4 tonight, again in Val D'Or.

Roseway Manor: Head Colds Shut Down Visitation

There is a visiting ban in place at Roseway Manor in Shelburne. Administrator Sharon Callan says roughly 10 residents are dealing with head and chest colds. She says the move is precautionary.



She advises loved ones to call and speak to their staff if they have any further questions. Callan says they will let the public know when the visitation ban is lifted.

Top Doc Saying Goodbye To South Shore Health

The CEO for South Shore Health says it's an emotional week as he wraps up his time at the position. Dr. Peter Vaughan spent almost two years as CEO. He is moving on to be the province's deputy minister of health, wellness and seniors next Monday. Vaughan says he enjoyed his time at the helm and feels South Shore Health is well-positioned for the future.



He points to collaborative health centres in Lunenburg, Bridgewater, New Germany, Caledonia and another in the works for Liverpool as good foundations. Vaughan says he would have liked to see more work done on redeveloping the emergency rooms in Bridgewater and Lunenburg. A replacement CEO has not been named.

Nova Scotia: "New Health Model Will Improve Service"

The process to streamline the health care system is underway. CEO of Pictou County Health, Patrick Lee has been appointed to lead the efforts as Nova Scotia moves to consolidate its 10 health authorities into two. Lee has spent 33 years in the health care system. He says he believes in the idea to reduce the health authorities.



The province is hoping to complete the process by next April. The new system would mean one health authority for the province and another for the IWK Health Centre in Halifax.

Yarmouth Native Receiving Medal Of Bravery

A Yarmouth native is one of three Nova Scotians who will receive a medal of bravery at a ceremony in Ottawa. The Governor General of Canada, David Johnston, will present 43 medals at Rideau Hall on Thursday morning. Among those being honoured is Angel Margaret MacEachern. She rescued a boy in July 2011 who was in danger of drowning at Ingonish Beach in Cape Breton. MacEachern swam out against the strong current without rescue equipment to reach the boy and struggled in the choppy water to bring him safely to the beach. Other provincial recipients include Constable Andrew Robert Aucoin of Centreville and Jeffrey Wakeham of Dartmouth.

Rugby: Park View Girls Host Kings Edgehill

An explosive start to the rugby season for Park View's girls team. The team recently defeated North Kings 74-0 and West Kings 60-0. They host Kings Edgehill in their home opener at 5pm Tuesday evening at the Kinsmen Field in Bridgewater.

Delicate Issue Coming Before Queens Council

Region of Queens Council will have to deal with a delicate issue later this week. Council will decide whether to re-zone a piece of land in Liverpool to allow for eventual construction of a crematorium. The land is behind Chandler's Funeral Home, which is behind the project. General manager Kevin Samuels says public perception of cremation has changed in recent years.



Samuels says the demand for cremation has increased 75 percent along the South Shore over the past decade or so. Chandler's is looking at increasing the availability of it on the South Shore. Right now, cremation facilities are available in Yarmouth, Bridgewater and Halifax.

Digby: Stabbing Sends Teen To Hospital

Two teenagers are in police custody after a stabbing in Digby. Police say a 17 year-old was taken to hospital last night. He was stabbed in the side following an incident near the Post Office in Digby. His injuries are not serious. RCMP say an 18 year-old was arrested shortly after the incident while another teenager was taken into custody this morning. They are facing charges of assault with weapon.

South Shore Teachers Recognized During Education Week

A pair of South Shore residents are among a number of teachers being recognized for their work with students. Julie Ramey of North Queens Community School and Krystal Snyder of New Germany Elementary will each receive awards as part of Education Week. This year's theme is Active Citizenship: Get Involved, Take Action, Be the Difference! It recognizes outstanding educators who integrate active citizenship into their daily lessons. Ramey leads the Social Justice group at North Queens, and provided opportunities for her students to participate in 'We Day' in Halifax, a fundraising effort to build a school in Mexico, and hosted a 30-hour Famine event at their school. Snyder is a primary teacher in New Germany and has developed skills to teach young students about responsible citizenship and how to contribute to the community. A ceremony will be held in Bedford Tuesday afternoon.

Habitat For Humanity Looking For Land In Lunenburg County

The South Shore chapter of Habitat for Humanity is in search of their next project in Lunenburg County. The group is looking for space to build a home around Bridgewater, Mahone Bay or Lunenburg. They have built four homes since 2008 including one in Liverpool and two in Mahone Bay. Board member Hank Middleton says they want to acquire more land.



Middleton says the land needs to be on an allowable lot, preferably with sewer and water infrastructure. He asks anyone who is interested in donating land to contact the South Shore chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

UPDATE: Wanted Man Found

A Halifax area man, on the lam from police for several days, has been arrested and is in custody this morning. The Quinpool Road Superstore in HRM was robbed of cash yesterday afternoon and a few minutes later, regional police arrested two men on Gottingen Street. One of them was 38 year old Richard Hartlin. He had been wanted on a Canada-wide warrant after not returning to his half way house last week.
Hartlin is alledged to have been involved in two other armed holdups last week in the Halifax area.

Chester: Exploring Funding Options For 'Our Health Centre'

Chester appears ready to financially support 'Our Health Centre.' The municipality has created a pair of options that would see them provide $300,000 to the collaborative health facility over two years. It would see a $200,000 investment this year and $100,000 next year or $100,000 this year and $200,000 in 2015. Warden Allen Webber says the money is a good starting point.



Officials representing 'Our Health Centre' originally asked the municipality for $1-million last year, but that request was denied. The health facility has raised over $2.25-million and hope to have the project complete late in 2015. Chester council will look at their budget figures this week to see if either option will work.

Canada-Wide Warrant Issued For Halifax Man

A Canada-wide warrant is out for a Halifax man connected to a pair of recent robberies. Thirty-eight year old Richard Lee Hartlin did not return to his halfway house as expected last week. He's considered armed and dangerous. Police say Hartlin is a potential suspect in a robbery at a Sobeys on Windsor Street on Wednesday. The other robbery occurred at a gas station on Herring Cove Road on Saturday. Hartlin is white, about six feet tall and a 190 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.  Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call Halifax police right away. (Halifax police photo)

Shelburne: Seniors Program Boosted By Federal Money

A number of programs targeting seniors in Shelburne County will benefit after some new money invested by the federal government. MP Gerald Keddy made a series of funding announcements last week across the South Shore. The Wood's Harbour Community Centre will get $25,000 to help buy a new stove, cooler, freezer and dishwasher. Meanwhile, the Sable River Community Hall also received $25,000 to replace its roof and repair the exterior walls. The Wesley Heritage Community Seniors Association has received $25,000 to replace its building windows and upgrade the plumbing. The Sou’West Nova Transit Association is getting $16,000 to help with transportation needs in the Shelburne area.

Bridgewater: Budget Survey Response Disappoints Mayor

Bridgewater's mayor says he's disappointed by the number of completed budget surveys. The documents were handed out last month to gauge the public's opinion on where they felt money should be doled out. However, only 118 surveys were received in a town with a population of over 8,000. The town communicates to the public through their website, social media, and monthly newsletter. David Walker says it doesn't seem to be enough.


Residents indicated in the survey they would like more money spent on road repairs and less money on town police. Walker says he would like to see the survey done earlier, so they can analyze responses before dealing with the budget. Council will continue its 2014-15 budget deliberations Tuesday evening at 6pm at town hall.

School Board Wants To Hear From Parents

The South Shore Regional School Board is reaching out to its communities through a series of meetings. Superintendent Geoff Cainen says it's an open floor for parents to share ideas and concerns about their school. He says they want to hear about important education issues.



The first meeting will be held at New Germany Rural High this evening starting at 7 o'clock. Meetings will be held throughout Lunenburg and Queens Counties over the next few weeks.

Meeting Schedule:


New Germany High School: Tuesday, April 22 7PM

Liverpool Regional High School: Tuesday, May 6 7PM

Bridgewater Junior Senior High School: Wednesday, May 7 7PM

Park View Education Centre: Monday, May 12 7PM

North Queens Consolidated School: Tuesday, May 13 7PM

Forest Heights Community School: Tuesday, May 27 7PM

Curling: Martin Leaves Game A Champ

He went out as a champion. Curling legend Kevin Martin capped off his brilliant career yesterday with a 4-3 win over Brad Jacobs in the Grand Slam of Curling championship game in Summerside. Martin announced his retirement earlier this weekend. His resume includes an Olympic Gold Medal, a World title, and four Brier championships. Jennifer Jones won the Women's crown with a 5-2 victory over Rachel Homan.

Acclaimed Cape Breton Author Passes

Acclaimed Cape Breton author and short story teller Alistair MacLeod has died. He was 77. MacLeod grew up in Inverness County. He is credited for writing classics such as "Lost Salt, Gift of Blood" and "No Great Mischief". MacLeod spent his summers in Dunvegan in Cape Breton. He was a professor during the winter months at the University of Ontario. He was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2008. MacLeod leaves behind his wife Anita and six children.

New Twist In Rehtaeh's Online Bullying Case

There's another disturbing development in the online bullying case connected to Rehtaeh Parsons. A teenager in Eastern Passage has been charged with making death threats against the young girls father. Police wouldn't not confirm the relationship between the accused and the victim, but a source told our newsroom the threats were made online against Glen Canning last year. The 19 year-old was arrested Thursday. His name has not been released. Multiple media reports suggest the teenager is also connected to the child porn charges laid following Rehtaeh's death. A court date has been set for May 20 to deal with the charges. Parsons attempted suicide last year because of intense cyberbullying after lewd photos of the young girl went around the Internet . She was taken off life support a few days later.

Premier Says Town Identities Will Not Disappear

So far, at least four Nova Scotia towns have either ceased to exist or are headed that way. The latest is Hantsport in the Annapolis Valley, with town fathers saying they can't cope anymore with a low tax base, created by last year's closure of Minas Basin Pulp And Paper. Hantsport is following in the footsteps of Canso, Springhill and Bridgetown, which is Premier Stephen McNeil's home-town. He says while these areas will cease to exist as towns, their identities will remain intact.



As for Hantsport, it has applied to join the neighboring West Hants Municipality.

South Shore Legion Branch Benefits From New Horizons Money

The Royal Canadian Legion in Bridgewater is back in the business of cooking fund-raising breakfasts and for special events. Branch-24 has all new kitchen appliances resulting from a federal government grant presented this past week by local Member of Parliament Gerald Keddy. Legion branch President Wayne Hunt says the improvements were long overdue.



Ottawa has come through with $17,499. for the project. Groups other than the Legion who will benefit include the fire department auxiliary, the band, churches and other groups not having kitchen facilities. The funding is through New Horizons.