Snow turning to Rain

It may end up more wet than white by later in the day. According to Environment Canada, a low pressure centre is forming off the Carolina coast this morning. It is expected to deepen rapidly as it passes off the Shelburne coast after midnight on it's way to lie just east of Cape Breton Island late Friday. Strong northeasterly winds will develop overnight over the province and strengthen considerably out of the north on Friday as the low passes by. Rain is expected where winds blow onshore off the warm sea. Wet snow is expected tonight inland especially over higher terrain. Areas away from the sea may have amounts of wet snow up to 10 Centimetres. However..the weather office says these same areas will see increasing amounts of rain rather than snow through Friday as temperatures moderate. They are asking people to keep an ear on the forecast as conditions and details may change.

Inflated Tire Demand

With snow in the forecast, snowtires are top of mind. And it's extremely busy at the tireshops on the south shore today. Wally Pike with Goodyear Tire Center says it's been non-stop for the past few days since the talk started about the upcoming snowfall. He says they were there until late last night and it will likely be the same story in the next few days. Valley Tire staff has been busy as well trying to fit in all of the customers who have been stopping in for winter treads. And Rick Womboldt of G-C-R tire center says it's the same at their shop. He feels winter tires are more top-of-mind this season because of what happened last year. There was a shortage of tires in the maritimes because Quebec had legislated the use of winter tires. He says it sparked interest and has educated drivers about the benefits of snow tires. Most of the shops that sell or service tires are very busy with some booking appointments for next week even with extended hours trying to catch up to the demand.

Gearing Up

It's the first forcast snowfall of the season. And crews with the Department of Transportation are gearing up for whatever comes down tomorrow. Snowfall of between 2 and 10 centimeters could be hitting inland areas through tonight and tomorrow. It's expected to be rain along the coastal areas of the south shore. There's a good supply of salt on hand and the mechanics are getting the ploughs ready for the snow tomorrow. But the biggest factor will be how drivers deal with the first snowfall. And D-O-T crews are hoping people will use care and caution as they head out on potentially slippery roads.

Registry Wounded

The federal long-gun registry was in the crosshairs of Parliamentarians. A bill to dismantle the registry came up for a vote where it passed 164 to 137. South Shore/St. Margaret's M-P Gerald Keddy says he has been clear from the very beginning, he's never changed his position and never wavered on this bill against the registry for rifles and shotguns. Keddy says along with saving money, the streets will be safer because of more police officers being available with the money that will be saved. Meantime, Quebec's public safety minister has written to all M-Ps in the province, demanding they vote against the private member's bill tabled by the Conservatives. The legislation now goes to committee for further study and possible changes.

Mr Leonard's Opus

A long-serving Park View music teacher is being held up as one of the best according to a music education charity. Scott Leonard is the fifth annual winner of the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award. Anne Murray presented him with the honour at a ceremony this week. Leonard has been a devoted mentor to music students for 24 years - 21 of them at Park View. The group says he epitomizes the spirit of the award as his commitment to music education extends far beyond the classroom. He was director of Park View's first school musical and he also teaches at the Lunenburg County Band Camp. Leonard teaches guitar, band, and embraces innovative new ideas, having created his own class - Recording Arts Technology. He will receive a $10,000 cash award, plus an additional $10,000 for his school's music program, a hand-crafted statuette created by JUNO Award statuette designer, plus an all-expenses paid trip to the 2010 JUNO Awards in St. John's.

Pregnant Clinic

Officials have been saying their supressed immune system should put expectant moms at the front of the line. South Shore Health is holding an H1N1 vaccination clinic today for pregnant women. They will be able to get the H1N1 vaccine at the obstetrics clinic at South Shore Regional Hospital. And in order to reduce wait times, the clinic is scheduling women based on trimesters. Women six to nine months pregnant should come from 9 a.m. to noon; women three to six months pregnant should come from 1 to 4 p.m.; and women less than three months pregnant should come from 4 to 7 p.m. And a Shelburne clinic planned for today, (Wed. Nov. 4) has been cancelled according to Southwest Health.

Clinic Busy

Business is brisk at the Flu Assessment Centre located at South Shore Regional Hospital. Communications Director Theresa Hawkesworth says the numbers have been steady since the clinic opened on Monday. The centre is open 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday. Most cases of H1N1 are mild and will clear up in a few days by resting at home. However, people are encouraged to visit a flu assessment centre, instead of hospital emergency department, if they have flu-like symptoms and get sicker instead of better after a few days. People who are severely ill – especially with breathing difficulties -- should seek immediate help by going to your nearest Emergency department or calling 9-1-1.

Most cases of H1N1 are mild and will clear up in a few days by resting at home. However, people are encouraged to visit a flu assessment centre, instead of hospital emergency department, if they have flu-like symptoms and get sicker instead of better after a few days; or they have the flu and are in a high-risk group, which includes those: with a chronic medical condition, women who are pregnant, and children under 5.

Mersey Hydro Open House

They've done this in the past, but it's been a few years. And it's part of the process for a license renewal. Nova Scotia Power is holding an open house to talk with residents about the Mersey hydro system. Those who attend will learn more about how the system operates, and the ongoing environmental monitoring done by NS Power. Employees will be on hand later today (3pm-8pm) to answer questions at the Best Western in Liverpool. The open houses are part of the re licensing process for the province's hydro systems. They are held every 10 years for renewal of the system's operating approval. Another session is planned for next Thursday (Nov 12th) in Tusket Falls.

Hebbville Academy Power

Power was only out for about a half hour at Hebbville Academy this morning. There was a fire in a transformer behind the school just before 8:30 that was blamed for causing the outage. The electricity was back on just after nine. The students were kept inside waiting for the lights to come back on. Apparently they booed when the lights came back on...hoping for a bit of a break from classes.

Flu Assessment Clinic

Health officials are doing what they can to help people deal with the changing information in regards to H-1-N-1. South Shore Health points to the newly announced priorities for the vaccination: pregnant women; children younger than five (six months to 59 months); people living in First Nations communities; and health-care workers who provide direct care to patients. And in response to more people coming to their emergency departments by people with flu-like symptoms, there is an influenza assessment centre at South Shore Regional Hospital. The clinic will be open 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday. The Walk-in Clinic will be held as usual. The Health authority wants to be clear, the Centre is not providing vaccinations or H1N1 testing. They say you should come to the centre if you think you have the flu and get sicker instead of better after a few days; or you have the flu and are in a high risk group.

Lunenburg Burial Ground Request

The Mi'kmaq Burial Grounds Research and Restoration Association wants to erect a monument in Lunenburg's 250th Anniversary Park behind the fire hall. Ellen Hunt in a presentation to Lunenburg Council says the children's playground would have to be moved as it is sitting on top of a burial site. Mayor Laurence Mawhinney says it's too premature to make a decision. He says council is going to research the matter further by looking at their own files and check with government departments who may have information. They want to firmly establish what was there and where it was located. Mawhinney says they've also asked the Mi'kmaq elders to come forward with a schematic for what they would like to see there. But he cautions they haven't given approval yet but are still working on gathering all of the necessary information before taking a decision. Mawhinney says there have been other occupants of the land including the C-N-R, and Council wants to make sure any action taken is for the right reasons.

Lunenburg Car Show?

It could be a dream come true for antique car buffs. Bruce Smith, Executive Director of the Great Atlantic Antique Automotive Show pitched a proposal to Lunenburg Council to have a one day show on the waterfront next July 3rd. The public will not be charged to attend. Mayor Laurence Mawhinney says Council supports the idea in principle, but wants to consult with the Board of Trade and the Fisheries Museum before giving the go-ahead. Smith told Council there could be up to 500 antiques vehicles taking part in the one day show which he hopes can become an annual event. A similar request to provide funding for a two day car show at the MARC this past July was turned down by Bridgewater Town Council.

Film to Remember

It's "Time to Remember". And for hundreds of students, it will be a chance to see and hear from those who served our country overseas generations ago. The video project will be unveiled today (November 2nd) at Empire Theatres in Bridgewater. The project was started in October 2008 and dealt with interviewing some of our World War Two vets in front of a video camera. These interviews have now been edited and the by-invitation only screening is happening today. Officials with the South Shore Regional School Board will be bussing children to the theatre from Nov 3rd to the 6th to view the videos as part of the Media Literacy Project. It's expected more than 1,800 kids will get to enjoy these memories and the DesBrisay Museum will be adding the collection to their facility to help all of us Remember over time.

Vaccinating High Risk Only

South Shore Health’s H1N1 Vaccine Clinics scheduled for this week (November 2 through 6) in Lunenburg and Queens Counties will be targeted at specific high risk groups. Because of national vaccine supply issues, H1N1 vaccine will be limited to those most at risk from the virus.
These are:
· Pregnant women
· Children younger than five (six months to 59 months)
· People living in First Nations communities
· Health-care workers in district health authorities, long-term care facilities and home-care agencies who provide direct care to patients. This includes family physicians, family practice nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. If you do not belong to one of these groups you will not receive vaccine at this time.

The province will re-assess its vaccine supply on an ongoing basis, and will offer vaccine later to other groups, based on risk, as vaccine supply allows. Physician’s offices will not receive H1N1 vaccine until further notice. Physicians who have already received vaccine will be asked to only immunize people in the groups listed. Workplace immunization clinics for H1N1 will be postponed until further notice. http://www.ssdha.nshealth.ca/H1N1%20and%20Seasonal%20Flu%20Vaccine%20Poster.pdf

For an updated list of clinics visit www.ssdha.nshealth.ca or call HealthLink 8-1-1.

Halloween and Later

A quiet and uneventful Halloween night in the Town of Bridgewater. Police report three individuals were arrested and charged for intoxication in a public place, while another three people were charged with liquor control offences. One person was issued a 24 hour suspension of his driver's licence. Members of the Bridgewater Fire Department were patrolling the streets of the Town, and Police also send their thanks to the general public for making Halloween a safe and happy event.

Bridgewater Police are investigating a break-in at Lawton's Drug Store on Lahave Street around 3 a.m. Sunday morning. Police responded to a complaint of a Break and Enter in progress and upon arrival discovered a quantity of money missing from within. Bridgewater GIS and K-9 were called to the scene and conducted a follow-up investigation. The matter is still under investigation at this time and Police are asking for public assistance in identifying those responsible.

Celebration of Honour

Thirty-nine Canadian flags are posted to honour the veterans whose names are listed on the cenotaph in Mahone Bay during the Celebration of Honour. The ceremony was held Sunday November 1st, in Mahone Bay on the waters edge across from the three churches at 1:00 pm. In collaboration with the Mahone Bay Legion Branch #49, the celebration included a ceremony that posted a Canadian flag on the water’s edge for each of the soldiers, forming a Field of Flags. Each soldier’s next of kin was invited to post their relative’s flag. The flag will be given to the family after it has stood sentry in the Field of Flags until November 12th. Lieutenant- Governor, Mayann Francis was there to lay a wreath on behalf of the Veterans.

Woman Attacked

Police say a woman wasn't seriously hurt after allegedly being attacked in the streets of Bridgewater early this morning. Officers say they were called about ten to five by the adult female who told them she had been sexually assaulted in the area of York and Phoenix Streets. The incident happened between 3:30 and 4:30. The story as relayed by Bridgewater Police is that she was approached by two males. One of them grabbed her, knocked her down and assaulted her. Both men then ran off, northbound on York Street. Police describe them as white, early to mid-forties, five and a half feet tall, 170 pounds. One was wearing a black sweatshirt and blue jeans and a goatee. The other was wearing a hoodie and black jeans. A police dog was brought in and several streets were blocked off for awhile this morning while police were looking for them. So far, no one has been arrested and police are still looking for them.

Clocks Change

Nova Scotians will experience brighter mornings beginning Sunday, Nov. 1, when daylight saving time ends. People are reminded to set their clocks back one hour at 2 a.m., or Saturday evening before going to bed. Three years ago, Nova Scotia extended daylight saving time to mirror changes made in the United States. Daylight saving time now begins three weeks earlier in the spring and lasts one week longer in the fall. Along with watches and clocks, don't forget to set microwave ovens, VCR and DVD players, answering machines, car clocks and automatic timer lights. It is also a reminder to change the batteries in smoke detectors. Smoke alarms should be fully replaced every ten years. People are advised to check computer calendars to ensure appointments are up to date when the time change takes effect.

Shelburne Crier Passes

He was a grown man who wasn't afraid to cry. In fact, he was one of the best. Residents and fellow town criers are remembering Perry Wamback as the loudest man in Nova Scotia. The 65-year old Jordan Falls man passed away at home on Monday. An electrician by trade, he won several town crying competitions including the Nova Scotia, the Atlantic, the North American Championship and International Championships in both Halifax and England. He was appointed the Town Crier in Shelburne in 1982 and was highly regarded for carrying on a tradition dating back to the 18th Century. Wamback is survived by his wife Nancy, daughter Pam and Son Rob. A memorial service for the late Perry Ivan Wamback will be held this (Friday) afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Shelburne Community Centre.

Assessment Clinic Opening

South Shore Health will be opening an Influenza Assessment Centre this coming Monday, November 2nd, beginning at 9 a.m. The flu assessment centre is in response to increasing visits to local emergency departments by people with flu-like symptoms, The assessment to be located in the third-floor Ambulatory Care Centre at South Shore Regional Hospital will operate Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until further notice. Adults and children with worsening flu-like symptoms who wish to see a health care professional should visit the Assessment Centre instead of going to hospital emergency departments. This will ease congestion in emergency departments and help prevent the spread of flu to other patients. It is anticipated that wait times for flu complaints will be shorter at the Assessment Centre than at an emergency department.