Calls For Early Childhood Strategy

The Nova Scotia Council for Early Childhood Development is calling on the provincial government to create an early childhood development strategy.
The call comes as the council marks National Child's Day and the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The council says Nova Scotia should follow recent recommendations in Ontario which call for full day learning programs for 4-and-5 year olds - and - enhanced parental leave among other things.

Real Estate Market Cools Slightly

The real estate market has cooled a bit along the South Shore.
The Nova Scotia Realtors Association reports sales off by six percent between August and October compared to the same period a year ago.
But the Association reports the average price in our area is up just over two percent and now stands at just under 170-thousand dollars.
The Yarmouth area saw a 50-percent increase in sales between August and October this year compared to 2008 -- but -- the average price there has dropped five percent to just over 115-thousand dollars.

Black Ice Conditions Reported

The temperature may feel warm as you head out this morning - but - don't be fooled.
There is a lot of black ice on bridges - overpasses - and - now some roads mainly in the northern part of the county with a couple of accidents reported already.
Transportation Department crews are out with salt and sand -- but -- they're advising caution.

Man Hit With Big Fine For Illegal Cigarettes And Pot

A Mount Pleasant man has been hit with ove 22-thousand dollars in fines for possessing illegal cigarettes.
54-year old Ronald Nelson Veinot was also charged with possession of marijuana.
Police swooped down on his home last March and seized over 140 bags of smokes and dried marijuana bud.
He claimed the pot was for his own use and he was storing the cigarettes for a friend.

Flu Still Taking A Toll Across The Province

The H-1-N-1 flu continues to take a toll on Nova Scotians. Public Health reports there were 51-people admitted to hospital between November 8th and 14th.
Health officials also say the number of people reporting to emergency rooms with flu like symptoms remains high but has actually dropped slightly from earlier in the fall.
The province has also recorded it's third H-1-N-1 related death in the Capital District Health Authority -- the woman was over 65.

Another Flu Death Reported

The Public Health Agency of Canada says another Nova Scotian has died as a result of complications from the H-1-N-1 flu virus.
The death occurred between last Thursday and yesterday according to a posting on the agency's web site.
It would be the third flu rated death in the province -- the provincial Chief Medical Officer of Health is expected to release more details this afternoon.

Tourism Holding Its Own

Despite the sluggish economy earlier this year -- tourism numbers are up one percent between January and September compared to the same period a year ago.
The provincial tourism department says that translates into 1.6-million visitors during the period.
The number of people driving to our province is up eight percent while the number of air travellers coming to visit dropped 13-percent compared to last year.

Flu Assessment Clinic Hours Changing

The regional health authority is changing the hours of operation for the Flu Assessment Center at the South Shore Regional Hospital.
Beginning on Monday -- the center will be open between one and 4 through next Friday.
The authority says fewer people have been visiting the center over the past week -- and -- reducing the hours of operation will free up staff to resume other services that have been relocated or deferred.
The health authority says it will continue to monitor the situation and make changes in services as required.

Home Heating Assistance Applications Available

Applications are now being accepted for the provincial heating assistance program.
The program is aimed at Nova Scotians with a combined family income of under 42-thousand dollars a year or single people earning less than 27-thousand dollars.
Those eligible can get up to 200-dollars if they heat their homes with oil - electricity - wood - propane - wood pellets - natural gas - or - coal -- that's 250-dollars less than last year.
More than 54-thousand applications have been mailed out to people who received a rebate last year.

School Support Strike Vote Underway

The new year could bring a strike by unionized school support staff across the province.
The 37-hundred members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees are currently conducting a strike vote with results tallied on the 27th of this month.
The bus drivers - janitors - teacher's aides - and - other support staff have been without a contract since March of 2007.
The union is looking for the same 2.9-percent salary increase granted recently to public school and community college teachers.

Seniors Grants Now Available

Seniors across the province will now have access to a 220-thousand dollar provincial program to help with aging projects.
The Positive Aging Fund will offer grants of up to 10-thousand dollars to non-profit groups to help with their projects.
More information can be found here.

Panthers Nearing End Of Overseas Journey

The Parkview Panthers are in the final stages of a trip to the Republic of Slovenia -- coach Eric Dolliver says the 14-boys on the exchange trip are gaining a wealth of education and history.
Dolliver says the Republic is a hotbed for basketball and the boys have been meeting with some of their experts as well as taking part in a hoop tournament where they finished fourth of out six teams.
They head for home on Saturday.

Liverpool Receiving A Connection To John Lennon

It's the only municipality in Canada invited to take part this year -- Liverpool is capitalizing on its relations with Liverpool - England and is receiving the commemorative White Feather Candle from the John Lennon White Feather Foundation.
Spokesperson Phaedra Charlton-Huskins tells us the candle will be lit during the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony on the 27th -- but -- it won't be just a public official lighting the candle -- it will be the winner of an essay contest for the kids.
She says a picture will be taken during the ceremony and sent to the Foundation in England where it will be featured with other photos of similar ceremonies around the world.
The foundation was started by Julian Lennon in honor of his father to promote environmental and humanitarian issues

Food Challenge Underway

The challenge has been issued -- and -- the Bridgewater Interchurch Food Bank will be the ultimate winner.
The Bridgewater Police Service and South Shore paramedics are trying to fill their vehicles with the most food items.
The police are taking donations to stuff their van at the police station on Exhibition Drive while the paramedics are trying to fill an ambulance at their North Street base.
A special food drive is also planned for next month at the Superstor parking lot.

Lock Your Vehicle!

With Christmas shopping beginning to ramp up -- Barrington R-C-M-P are issuing a reminder.
The Mounties are asking you to remember to remove valuables and loose change from your vehicles -- and -- make sure they're locked.
The R-C-M-P have been dealing with a rash of reports of things being removed from vehicles -- in most cases -- they were left unlocked.

Tree Gift Begins Journey To Boston

Our annual gift to the people of Boston is on its way -- the 15-meter white spruce was cut down yesterday on the Fox Point property of Floyd and Elaine Shatford.
The Christmas tree will be set up on the Boston Common with a tree lighting ceremony set for December 3rd.
The province sends a tree each year as a thank you to the people of the New England city for their help in the wake of the Halifax explosion.

Speed And Lack Of Seat Belt Singled Out In Fatal Crash

The lack of a seatbelt is being singled out as contributing to the death of a Lunenburg County man Friday night.
R-C-M-P say the 39-year old man died of injuries suffered in the single vehicle crash on Highway 332 in First South.
So far - no name has been released.

Nova Scotia Stands To Lose More Residents

A new report is predicting Nova Scotia will lose 100-thousand workers by 2046.
The study by the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies also shows we have been successful in getting more people into the workforce - especially women.
On the other side of the coin -- the report also points out something which is no real secret -- more of us are moving into the older demographics.
And the report points out that's going to have a significant impact on the region's ability to generate output and income as well as virtually all other aspects of the economy.

Annual Tree Cutting Set For This Morning

A tree cutting ceremony is planned for this morning to mark Nova Scotia's annual Christmas gift to Boston.
This year's selected tree is a white spruce from Fox Point that belongs to Floyd Shatford, the Deputy-Warden of Chester.
Every year since 1971 the province has sent a Christmas tree to the people of Boston in appreciation for their help during the aftermath of the Halifax Explosion.
Students from Aspotogan Elementary and Shatford Memorial schools will be taking part in the tree cutting ceremony.
The event which is also open to the public takes place at 10 o'clock this morning, at Highway 329, Fox Point Shore Road, house number 823.

Group Wants Money To Recruit Doctors

A community group in Chester is looking for 58-thousand dollars from the municipal council.
The group wants to use the money to help recruit new doctors to the area by expanding the Health Resource Center at Shoreham Village.
Council is looking at the request to see if it can find the money in its budget -- the group has also proposed an interest free loan from the municipality as an alternative to the direct cash grant.