Chamber Appointments

Cy Mayo has been appointed President of the Bridgewater and Area Chamber of Commerce. He takes over from Past President Craig Collins. The Board of Directors recently held the first meeting of the new fiscal year with the main agenda item, the appointment of the executive committee. Sandra Richards is the Vice-President and Barry Smith the Treasurer. Other Board members are: Shawn O'Hara, Jerry Porodo,
Dave Hadley, Glen Hall, Aidan Matchett and Judy Koster .More information on the Chamber's initiatives and current projects can be found at www.bridgewaterchamber.com.

Hospital Overcrowding a Challenge

Hospital overcrowding continues to be a challenge for South Shore Health. C-E-O Alice Leverman says it has been a very busy week with anywhere from 6 to 10 people waiting in Emergency for a bed. She says there's usually a spike in the early morning Leverman says while the opening of new long term care beds has provided some relief, the situation is difficult to predict because it's dependent on a lot of factors. She says overcrowding is expected to be an ongoing challenge due to the age and health status of the population. Since the opening of Ryan Hall on May 19th, 19 alternate level of care patients have been moved from hospital into long term care facilities. A total of 28 additional long term and residential care beds are scheduled to open in Lunenburg County over the next few months. Leverman says hospital overcrowding causes a lot of concern and frustration for patients and families. They may experience delays in admission, long wait or transfers to another hospital for care. Surgeries may also be cancelled. Leverman says it also creates a stressful working environment for staff.

Town Gets New-Used Truck

Queens Chrysler Limited the supplier of a used 4X4 three quarter ton truck for the Town of Bridgewater. There were four responses to the Town's Request for Proposals to supply a used vehicle. Two of those did not meet the required specifications. Queens Chrysler was the lowest of the two remaining bids and was awarded a tender for 33 thousand, 335 dollars to supply a 2006 Dodge Ram, 25 hundred truck. The vehicle has 64 thousand 200 kilometres but there is an extended warranty available. The truck will be used for operations at the Brookside Cemetery.

Name Change for School

A rose by any other name..... in this case, a name change for the South Shore Alternate/Adult School. Principal Glen Matthews says the name change incorporates all three campuses of the South Shore Alternate and Adult School (Gorham Memorial Education Centre campus in Liverpool; the South Shore Alternate School Bridgewater campus located at the NSCC, and the Mahone Bay campus, located at the Mahone Bay Centre. Matthews says the new name better reflects the innovations that have been brought forward in educational delivery to those students who benefit from our uniqueness, and what we have plans for in the future to better serve our students at all three sites (plus our satellite campus), at the Middle Level, High School, and Adult High school. The new name,the South Shore Innovative Learning Centre was unanimously approved by the South Shore Regional School Board

School Boundary Changes

The South Shore Regional School Board has deferred decisions regarding boundary changes for a number of catchment areas. Board Chair Elliott Payzant says a number of students and parents will be affected by the proposed changes and the Board passed a motion to to defer any decision making until after public consultation can be held in the fall.
There are currently a number of grey areas where students can choose which school to attend. They include the Lacey Mines Road where students can attend either Chester District Elementary or Gold River. The Meldrum Avenue area in which students can choose to attend Hebbville, Pentz or Bridgewater Elementary schools, and the Pine Grove and Lower Branch areas where students are given the choice to attend New Germany Rural High or Park View Education Centre. Meeting dates will be communicated with the communities affected by the possible changes.

Bus Stop Concerns

The relocation of a school bus stop in Pleasantville has some parents concerned for their children's safety. Tracey Wagner made a presentation to the South Shore Regional School Board Wednesday night regarding the move of a bus stop from Northwind Road. She spoke about the community concerns with the safety of the new bus stop location and asked the Board to have the stop moved back to the original location. Board Chair Elliott Payzant says the matter has been referred to the Finance and Operations Committee to look at including an appeals process in the policy. He says the Board followed all the guidelines of the current policy and the bus stop site has been inspected and deemed safe by the provincial Utility and Review Board. The buses had been going into the Northwind subdivision for over 20 years before the stops were moved in April.

Probation for Italy Cross Facebook Threat

A Lunenburg County man has been sentenced to 18-months "probation" for using Facebook to threaten his mother's ex-boyfriend.

Jonathan James Dagley of Italy Cross appeared at provincial court in Bridgewater yesterday after pleading "guilty" to threatening to harm Allan Vernon Brown of Branch LaHave in March.

Brown went to the RCMP on March 2nd with several computer printouts showing threats Dagley had made against him on the social networking site.

The court was told that Brown dated Dagley's mother for several years before it ended four or five years ago.

In addition to being placed on probation, Dagley was ordered to have no contact with Brown and to take mental health and anger management counselling as ordered by his probation officer.

Dagley received six-months "probation" in 2004 for "uttering threats" and a further 12-months "probation" in 2007 for the same crime.

Learn to Fish (L2F) Program

Volunteers from South Shore Bassmasters and the Hants West Wildlife Association who will be helping students across the province learn how to sportfish. The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture's Inland Fisheries Division has helped teach volunteers from the groups how to deliver the Learn to Fish (L2F) program to reach more classrooms. More than 30 groups across the province received training this year, which means another 13-hundred youth will know about beginner sportfishing.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Sterling Belliveau says sportfishing is a great way to enjoy our lakes and rivers in a safe and serene family setting.

Employees Buy Time

The Town of Bridgewater has approved a policy that allows its employees more flexibility in their work schedule. Staff will be allowed to purchase additional time off and pay for it in equal increments over the course of a year. The plan is one option that can help employees balance multiple commitments while making sure their work gets done. The policy must fall within the constraints of operational requirements and is only available to permanent, full-time ,non-union staff. The policy is modelled on one that is currently in place in Halifax Regional Municipality.

Bicycle Lanes for Bridgewater

Bridgewater will soon have a number of bicycle lanes and signage installed along Glen Allen from Aberdeen Road to LaHave Street. Mayor Carroll Publicover says they have a specific plan for infrastructure to be put in place as part of the Town's Active Transportation improvements. The cost is being matched by the province through the Green Mobility Capital Grants Program. Council approved an unbudgeted 66 hundred dollars for the installation of 46 sets of shared bicycle lanes as well as 11 share the road signs. The Town's contribution is Gas Tax eligible. Publicover says he's looking forward to the day when more people are walking and biking. He says it won't happen unless the Town shows some leadership and takes some initiative..

Special Purpose Tax

Bridgewater residents will see a new line item in their tax bills next year. A special purpose tax which could total 80 dollars a year, is being implemented in 2011/12 to help pay the capital costs of the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre. Mayor Carroll Publicover says property owners will be able to see how much the Lifestyle Centre will be costing on their property tax bills for the next 20 years. Council is seeking public input on three proposed options. The commercial and residential rate the same , the commercial rate half of the residential rate and the commercial rate three quarters of the residential rate. Residents have until June 28th to voice their concerns when Council will make a decision on which option to implement .

Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Today is Elder Abuse Awareness Day today in the Province. It coincides with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Minister of Seniors Denise Peterson-Rafuse says the most
effective way to prevent abuse is by increasing awareness of the
signs and forms of senior abuse.

Signs that an older adult may be experiencing abuse or neglect
include:
● adult say they are being harmed
● show signs of depression or anxiety
● seem fearful around certain people
● become socially withdrawn (having less contact with people who they have been close to in the past)
● become passive and very compliant
● have unexplained physical injuries
● lack food, clothing and other necessities
● show changes in their hygiene or nutrition (e.g. signs of
malnutrition)
● suddenly become unable to meet financial obligations
● have unusual withdrawals from their bank or other financial institutions.

Beach Access Restricted

Protecting piping plovers at Cherry Hill Beach could put humans at risk. Part of the roadway behind the dunes is blocked by boulders to restrict vehicle traffic. The beach is a nesting habitat for the endangered birds. The Municipality of Lunenburg will contact DNR to see if arrangements can be made to gate the access road. District 12 Councillor Eric Hustvedt who brought the matter to Council's attention, says it's important the Fire Department be able to access the far end of the beach for emergency situations. He says there have been occasions where the fire department has had to respond to swimmers in distress at the far end of the beach, and with boulders blocking the access the van with the lifesaving equipment might not be able to respond in a timely manner. Hustvedt says if the access road is gated, the area Fire Chief could have a key which he or someone in the chain of command could use in an emergency.

Fire Destroys Parkdale Cottage

The chief of the New Germany Fire Department says a weekend blaze has so badly damaged a cottage in Lunenburg county that they may not be able to determine it cause. Blair Lantz says the cottage on the Rusells Cove Road in Parkdale was fully engulfed in flames when they arrived yesterday afternoon. He says his department received a call at 3:05 Sunday afternoon and that no one was in the cottage at the time of the outbreak. Chief Lantz says the fire destroyed the cottage, a boat house, a boat and half-an-acre of woodland. Cornwall, Springfield and New Ross Firefighters were called-in to the scene. Blockhouse Northfield, Chester Basin and Bridgewater fire departments remained on "standby" status.

Queens County Fatal Single-Car Crash

The Liverpool detachment of the R-C-M-P are investigating the cause of a weekend car accident that has left a man dead.

The Mounties say the single-car crash occurred at around 6:00 o'clock Saturday afternoon when a vehicle rolled into a ditch near the intersection of "Shore Road" and "Western Head Road".

The man driving the car died at the scene.

Two other men and two women were taken to hospital with "undetermined injuries".
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Three Men Arrested on Fishery Charges

Three Lunenburg County residents will appear in court in August on fisheries related charges.

Fisheries officers from the Liverpool detachment apprehended three men on Bush Island on Saturday evening.

The three men each face a charge of "fishing for, and being in possession of, lobster during closed-time".

Fisheries officers seized three lobster traps, an outboard engine and a boat.

They appear at court in Bridgewater on August 11th.

Funding for Conversion of Streetlights

The Towns of Lunenburg and Mahone Bay among 7 municipalities receiving funding to convert conventional streetlights to energy-efficient LED streetlights The money is coming from the province's ecoNova Scotia Fund for Clean Air and Climate Change. Lunenburg will receive $178,268 to convert the remaining 532 streetlights to LED, while Mahone Bay gets $16,839 to convert 44 streetlights to LED. Premier Darrell Dexter also announced 230 thousand dollars toward other alternative energy projects in the Amherst area.

Renewable Electricity Plan

Bridgewater and Liverpool two of the communities where meetings will be held to receive public input on draft regulations for the province's Renewable Electricity Plan. The meetings are being hosted by regional development authorities, in conjunction with the Department of Energy.The draft regulations outline how rates paid to community groups that generate renewable electricity will be set, and a special rate to support the next stage of tidal development. They also establish a renewable electricity administrator to choose the winning bids from independent power producers. Earlier this spring, government introduced its plan to achieve 25 per cent renewable electricity by 2015, and set a goal of 40 per cent renewable electricity by 2020.
MEETING DATE:
-- June 24: Bridgewater, 8:30-10 a.m., Days Inn, 216 North St.
-- June 24: Liverpool, noon to 1:30 p.m., 63 Queens Place Dr.

Nine New Long Term Care Homes Open

Ryan Hall in Bridgewater one of nine new long term facilities officially opened Friday, June 11th. Premier Darrell Dexter says the opening of the modern, state-of-the art facilities is helping Nova Scotia's seniors live more independently in their communities. Ryan Hall , with 65 beds and eight other facilities will add 431 new nursing home beds in Nova Scotia. The other facilities are:
-- Bible Hill, Vimy Court 60 beds
-- Sydney, Celtic Court, 36 beds
-- Amherst, Northumberland Hall, 36 beds
-- Kentville, Orchard Hall, 62 beds
-- Greenwich, Blomidon Court, 50 beds
-- Brookfield, Elk Court, 36 beds
-- Cole Harbour, Bissett Court, 50 beds
-- Debert, Debert Court, 36 beds

The new nursing homes provide employment for more than 600 people.
Shannex will operate the nine new facilities.

Argyle Inn Fire

Eleven people have been forced from their rooms after fire extensively damaged one of the annexes of a motel in Bridgewater. Those affected by the fire are long term residents in one of several buildings of the Argyle Inn. There were no injuries among tenants at the motel on Aberdeen Road, although several pets died in the fire, which was reported around 5:00 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The Canadian Red Cross has assisted the eleven adults with emergency purchases of clothing or cleaning materials, food and personal-care items. The inn's owners have relocated the residents to another building on the site. The fire gutted several rooms of the one storey wooden annex, while the remainder received extensive smoke and water damage.