Liverpool School Teacher Jailed

A Queens County teacher has been sentenced to six months in jail for having sex with his teenage student. Forty-three year old Derrick Joseph Redden was also placed on probation for six months after pleading guilty to a charge of sexual exploitation. Court was told that the relationship between the Liverpool Regional High School teacher and the girl, began on February 18th of 2009 when the girl was 16. Her father found sexually explicit text messages which had been exchanged between the two when he was tipped off by an anonymous caller that he should investigate the relationship. Redden and the teen admitted to having sex four to five times a month. The relationship ended when Redden was arrested in March and the girl was 17
The South Shore Regional School Board placed Redden on leave with pay pending the outcome of his court case, however, he resigned his teaching position the first week of June. The Board says it has no comment on the outcome of the trial as Redden is no longer their employee.

Smile...You're on Camera!

You could soon be caught on camera in certain areas of downtown Bridgewater. Town Council approved the purchase of video surveillance equipment from Maritect Investigations and Security Ltd., at a cost of 29 thousand dollars. Mayor Carroll Publicover says there was 40 thousand put in this years budget for a surveillance program to update primarily the security in the downtown area. The sites to be surveilled include the area around the Tavern, corner of King Street and Victoria Road, the parking lot area at the Bridgewater Mall servicing the lounge and on King Street in front of King of Donair. Police currently have the capability of monitoring both high schools, Brookside Cemetery and the Veteran's park area.

Sustainability Festival 2010

Growing Green...is the theme of a Sustainability Festival being hosted by the Town of Bridgewater this fall. The festival was a key recommendation of the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan. Together with the Farmer's Market and the Bridgewater Century Ride, the Festival is planning activities and entertainment.
It will be a "Family Friendly" sustainable event which hopes to leave a lasting positive "green" impression on the community long after it is over.
The Sustainability Festival is set for Saturday,August 21st from 8:30 am to 3:30 p.m.

Student Scholarship

A Park View High School student has received a scholarship from the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation.

Janine Bressmer won a $10,000 award for her essay entitled: Population-Based Health Research Conducted in Nova Scotia.

One scholarship was presented to a student in each of the nine school districts in the province.

This is the 10th year the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation has provided scholarships to students preparing to study health-related fields at a post-secondary institution.

New Lighting for Arena

S-E-S Lighting & Energy Consultants has been awarded a 24 thousand dollar contract to replace the lighting at the Bridgewater Memorial Arena with high efficiency components. Town Council received eight proposals for the project ranging in cost up to 79 thousand. The budget for the work has been set at 31 thousand 390 dollars of which over 80 percent of the cost will be co-funded by other partners. The project is highly time sensitive because lighting upgrades must be completed before ice is installed in the arena during the week of August 16th.

Special Purpose Tax

Bridgewater businesses and property owners will be paying an equal commercial and residential tax rate of point 08 cents per 100 dollars of assessment to help pay the Town's share of the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre. Council voted 4 to 2 to implement option 1 of a special purpose tax to help fund the facility. Mayor Carroll Publicover says creating an unbalanced rate could create division. He says everybody has to dig in and support this project. Publicover says the business community has the capacity to deal with an increase, probably a little better than the residential side has to.
The Mayor had favoured implementing the special tax over a 20 year period. He says that a reasonable length of time to pay that capital investment off and then deal with the capital improvements from that point forward, and there will be capital reserves built into the operating of the facility. Council will determine the time frame at a later date before the special purpose tax is implemented next year.

Pleasantville Man Receives Veterans Honour

A Pleasantville man is being recognized for his work in the Veteran community. Roger Purnell will receive the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation during a ceremony in Halifax on Tuesday. (June 29th)
Purnell served in the United Kingdom's Royal Marines Commando from 1964-1979, with tours of duty in Borneo, Malaysia and Indonesia. He immigrated to Canada in 1991 and became active with the Navy League of Canada and The Royal Canadian Legion. He served as Zone 13 Commander of The Royal Canadian Legion until 2009 and was subsequently elected to District "E" Commander supervising 18 branches of the South Shore of Nova Scotia. Purnell serves on the Executive of Branch 24 and was President from 2002 to 2005.
Purnell's achievements include organizing many commemorative events such as the "Support our Troops Rally," "Family Forces Day," and a massive rally in June 2008 called the "Red Rally Support our Troops Day." He also assisted in the organization of the First Special Service Force- Devil's Brigade Reunion which was held in August, 2009 and will be involved with the Legion's Biennial Convention scheduled to be in Halifax in 2012. In 2005, Mr. Purnell devoted countless hours to developing The Veteran's Memorial Park in Bridgewater,
Purnell will be one of 12 people from Nova Scotia and Newfoundland to receive the award this year.

LCLC Special Purpose Tax

Bridgewater Council will make a decision at tonight's meeting regarding a special purpose tax to help pay the town's share of the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre. Council put forth three options and was seeking public input from residents. The options include an equal commercial and residential rate of point 08 cents per 100 dollars of assessment, the commercial rate half of the residential rate and the commercial rate three quarters of the residential rate. The special purpose tax which will be a line items on property owners bills for the next 20 years will be implemented in 2011/12.

Bus Road-e-o

The South Shore Regional School Board is testing its bus drivers to see how they rank against each other. The Board is holding a "Road-eo" on Monday,(June 28th) which will feature a series of events, including an obstacle course, backing up, and a series of turns through tennis balls. Each event will be scored out of 10. While time will not be a factor, the bus must remain in constant motion. Once the bus is stopped, the judges will consider the event finished for that driver. The Road-eo gets underway at noontime at the School Board's Bus Garage.

A Gift of Nature

An important natural area near Shelburne has been secured by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. It's almost 300 acres of natural habitat at Johnstons Pond, near Shelburne along Nova Scotia’s south shore. The coastal habitat is one of 10 Gifts to Canadians announced this week in celebration of Canada Day.
Situated between the Sable River and the Port L’Hebert Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Johnstons Pond is an undisturbed estuary separated from the Atlantic Ocean by an extensive barrier beach. The sandy barrier beach provides viable breeding habitat for the endangered Piping Plover as well as the Spotted Sandpiper and a small Common Tern colony. The salt marshes, ponds and mudflats found at Johnstons Pond are also important habitat for migratory birds such as Canada Geese and the Semi-palmated Sandpiper. The property also contains a mature coastal forest consisting of spruce, Red Maple and American Larch.

Mill Village man pled guilty

The man from Mill Village who was apprehended on May 12th by Fisheries officers in Liverpool appeared in court this week. Anthony Wayne Greer pleaded guilty to fishing for lobster with obstructed escape nets and was fined 25 hundred dollars and the forfeiture of five lobster traps that had escape vents blocked. His violation dates back to May 12th.

Bayport man fishing lobsters during closed time

A resident from Bayport area will appear in Court in August after being apprehended for fishing lobsters during a closed time. On June 23rd, Fishery officers from Liverpool and Bridgewater caught the man and seized an out port motor and an 18 foot vessel, as well as 79 under sized lobsters which they returned to the water. The man is scheduled to appear in court on August 18th.

School Board Regional Space Review

The Blockhouse School could be going on the auction block. The building will become vacant and surplus when École de la Rive-Sud moves into a new building in Cookville this September. The South Shore Regional School Board has decided not to take over the Blockhouse school for regional office space so it will revert back to the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg. Board Chair Elliott Payzant says they are considering other options including relocating to the Lunenburg Academy. Payzant says there's no rush to make a decision as the lease on the current space on Wentzell Drive is good for at least another four years.

Transition House Funding

Harbour House in Bridgewater, is receiving a little more than 21 thousand dollars in provincial funding while Second Story Women's Centre, in Lunenburg will get almost 28 thousand., The province is providing 500 thousand dollars to transition houses and women's centres allowing the 18 facilities to continue providing quality services and programs to benefit women and their children. Community Services Minister Denise Peterson-Rafuse says the facilities provide an important lifeline to women and their children who experience violence and increasing the funding is the right decision to make. It is the first increase in 10 years.

No Frills coming to Bridgewater

The Save Easy in the Bridgewater Plaza on Dominion Street will be soon taking down its sign, as Loblaw launches one of many No Frills across Atlantic Canada. The companies recently announced they plan to open six No Frills banner stores in Atlantic Canada, including one in Bridgewater. No Frills stores deliver low prices, popular President's Choice and no name products. No Frills will open in the fall of this year.

CAMs Classes Cancelled Again

Chester Area Middle School classes are again cancelled today ( Wednesday, June 23rd ) for grades 6 and 7 while the wing of the school is cleaned up after flooding in their classrooms. Also SCHOOL's OUT for SUMMER. Today (Wed. ) is the last day of school for South Shore Regional School Board students.

Economic Development Strategy

The Region of Queens Municipality has approved an Economic Development Working Strategy for 2010 and beyond. Deputy-Mayor Darlene Norman says the working document will be used to provide staff with direction regarding Council's views on where they want to see the Region of Queens go in the future. It will also provide staff with clear-cut guidelines that they can provide new residents, current presidents, and people wishing to develop in the community a good black and white..this is what the Region has to offer and its positive points. Norman says Council expressed a desire to provide vision and direction to the Economic Development Department of the Region in the fall of 2009.

Bell Times to Change

A change in the bell times for students at Bridgewater Junior Senior High School when they return to classes after the summer break. The Principal has asked the South Shore Regional School Board to approve a change in the start and end bell times by 10 minutes effective in September. In the morning the bell time will be moved from 9:10 to 9:00am, and from 3:10 to 3:00pm in the afternoon. The request was endorsed by the School Board.

Renewable Electricity Plan

Here's a chance to have your say on the province's draft renewable electricity plan and regulations. Public meetings are being seeking pubic input. The sessions are being hosted by Regional Development Authorities in conjunction with the Department of Energy. A meeing in Bridgewater is set for Thursday morning (June 24th) from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. at the Days Inn on North Street. There will also be a meeting in Liverpool from noon to 1:30 p.m., at the Best Western, 63 Queens Place Drive. For a view of the plan and draft regulations, click here. http://www.gov.ns.ca/energy

Migrant Vessel

A migrant vessel that arrived at the Port of Shelburne Saturday evening has been secured by the RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency. The RCMP Immigration and Passport Section and Integrated Border Enforcement Team have confirmed that there were 10 individuals from Eastern Europe onboard (five women and five men). The vessel was traveling north from Bermuda and was spotted off Shelburne by Canada Coast Guard ship 'Earl Grey'. The individuals are being processed and an investigation is being conducted to determine any possible connection to organized crime, including human smuggling, ensuring Canadian Law is upheld and maintaining the safety of those onboard the vessel displaying the name 'Valletta' .