ALS Walk In Lunenburg

Its a walk for South Shore residents to raise awareness for ALS. The event will be held Saturday morning in Lunenburg at the town's curling club on Green Street. Chair of the walk's committee, John Garroway, says money is needed to help people with the disease.



Garroway says 60 percent of money raised will go towards families, while the other 40 percent goes towards research. Registration starts at 9am with the event kicking off at 10am Saturday.

Martin Still Searching For Olympic Nod

It's down to crunch time for Bridgewater's Jenna Martin. The current 400 metre Canadian champion hasn't secured a berth into the Olympics with 49 days to go until they begin. Martin will suit up for a race Saturday in Clermont, Florida still trying to crack her Olympic 'A' standard time. She's been very close to reaching the mark already, missing by just 14-hundreds of a second. Her coach, Charles Scarrow, says in an email, he thinks Saturday will be her day.

Million Dollar Milestone for Bridgewater Relay'

Organizers for this year's Relay for Life in Bridgewater say it might be their best event to date. Thirty-nine teams took part in the relay which raised more than $114-thousand dollars. Leadership chair Sarah Sweeney says it was another great year for the relay despite a drop in the teams.



This year's event marked the tenth anniversary of the Relay for Life in Bridgewater. Since 2002, residents have raised more than $1-million dollars towards cancer research, prevention and advocacy.

UPDATE: Old Bridge Re-Open in Bridgewater

Traffic flow in Bridgewater should ease up a little this weekend. Motorists will be happy to know work on the Old Bridge is finished and the bridge re-opened this afternoon. It was undergoing some regular maintenance over the past week.

South Shore Students Awarded Diamond Jubilee Scholarships

Thirteen South Shore students have won commemorative scholarships in the name of the Queen. Sixty Diamond Jubilee Awards have been awarded to students across the province, one for each year of Queen Elizabeth II's reign. The scholarships are awarded to graduating Grade 12 students who have demonstrated leadership and made significant contributions to their communities and the province. The awards are worth $2,000 each. The following South Shore students have been named winners:

Samy Abidib - Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School
Lauren Blinkhorn - Shelburne Regional High School
Meghan Brodmann - Park View Education Centre
Chantale Comeau - Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High
Josiah Cormier - Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School
Justin Cotteau - Barrington Municipal High School
Darren Deinstadt - Shelburne Regional High School
Elizabeth Dunford - Park View Education Centre
Garret Fancy - Park View Education Centre
Mariele Guerreo - Park View Education Centre
Daniel Prest - Bridgewater High School
Alexandra Stephenson - Liverpool Regional High School
Kelsey Torak - Shelburne Regional High School

World Oil Price Tumbles Ahead Of Fall In South Shore Gasoline Prices

Gloomy signs about the sputtering American economy are credited for sending the price of oil down by $2.50 this morning.  Oil is trading at $82.32 U-S a barrel -- down 22 per cent since the start of last month. That's putting downward pressure on the dollar, which dropped six-10ths of-a-cent this morning. The loonie is trading at 96.67 cents U-S.
----
In our area, gasoline prices took a tumble overnight. A litre of regular self serve is selling this morning at South Shore pumps for a dollar-25-point-9 ($1.25.9).  Thats just over a 3 cent a litre drop from yesterday.

NDP Leader Mulcair Set To Speak At NDP Convention

The federal NDP leader makes his way to the South Shore this weekend. Tom Mulcair will join provincial New Democrats during their convention at Atlantica Oak Island in Western Shore. Lunenburg MLA Pam Birdsall says she's looking forward to hearing what Mulcair has to say.



Mulcair is expected to speak Saturday afternoon after Premier Darrell Dexter.



Members are expected to elect a new provincial executive and approve a new party constitution at the convention. The convention starts Friday evening and goes until Sunday afternoon.

White Point Beach Resort Starts Penny Challenge

It's an indication South Shore fire departments believe a penny saved is a penny earned. White Point Beach Resort, along with the Fire Service Association of Nova Scotia, has started a competition called 'Pennies for Protection' to help raise money for volunteer departments. Each participating department will gather pennies and the one with the most will be crowned 'King Penny 2012.' The marketing and product development manager at White Point, Donna Hatt, says volunteer departments are critical to communities.



Residents are urged to provide pennies to local departments. Each participating department will gather pennies with a weigh-in scheduled for June 30 at the Liverpool Fire Department. More details can be found at http://www.whitepoint.com/blog/2012/06/05/2050/ .The following fire departments are participating in the competition :

1) Alma Volunteer Fire Department
2) Annapolis Royal Volunteer Fire Department
3) Charleston Fire Department
4) Chester Basin Volunteer Fire Department
5) Cornwall & District Fire Department
6) Greenfield & District Fire Department
7) Liverpool Fire Fighters Association
8) Lunenburg Volunteer Fire Department
9) Maitland Volunteer Fire Department
10) Oakhill & District Fire Department 
11) Port Hastings Volunteer Fire Department
12) Port Medway & District Fire Department
13) United Communities Fire Department
14) Whycocomagh Volunteer Fire Department

26th Lobster Fest In Shelburne County

It's a tradition to celebrate the success and importance of the lobster industry in Shelburne County. The 26th lobster festival kicks off today with a full slate of activities planned over the next four days. Director of Parks and Rec Marilyn Johnson says the festival serves as the kick off to the summer season.



Opening ceremonies will be held on Friday at the Barrington Arena at 7 o'clock. Festivities will be held throughout the county. For a complete list of events - click on the link below.

http://www.municipalityofshelburne.ca/pdfs/2012/2012%20program%20lobster%20festival%20for%20display.pdf

Health Authority Receives High Marks From Accreditation Canada

South Shore Health is close to having top marks from Accreditation Canada. The local health authority received a 95% on its required standards in the organization's final report. Incoming CEO Dr. Peter Vaughan says they scored very well overall but still need to do things better. He says staff need to ask patient identifiers, like their names and date of birth, consistently, to meet requirements.



Vaughan says if improvements are made in patient identification and client and family safety, South Shore Health could reach accreditation with commendation.

Birthday: Town of Lunenburg Celebrates 259th

The town of Lunenburg is set to blow out the candles for its 259th birthday today. A number of celebrations are planned to mark the occasion including a gathering at Bluenose Academy at 1PM on Thursday. Mayor Laurence Mawhinney says a portion of the celebration with focus on the youth of the community.



Meanwhile, the Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation will host their inaugural "World Ocean's Day" at the Captain Angus Walters house on Tannery Road beginning this afternoon. There will be live music, educational displays and demonstrations beginning at 3 o'clock. The celebration runs until 9PM this evening.

Bluenose II: NS Gov' Contacts Lunenburg Council

Some members of Lunenburg town council are calling on the Nova Scotia government to provide more information on the launch of the Bluenose II. But the province's heritage minister says they can't because they don't know when it will happen. Lunenburg Mayor Laurence Mawhinney and Councillor Jamie Myra say they want the government to be more upfront on the precise launch of the Bluenose II so the region can capitalize on possible tourism benefits. However, Heritage Minister Leonard Preyra says the government isn't trying to be secretive on the launch date -- it simply doesn't know when it will happen. Preyra says the schooner will launch by the end of the summer, but they don't want to set a date and not meet it. Work crews are expected to begin removing the temporary shelter housing the Bluenose II on Thursday.

More Students Graduate From Verge House

"Verge House" in Bridgewater has celebrated nearly three decades of service to the area with its 2012 Graduation Ceremonies.  Among the speakers at yesterday’s event, were District of Lunenburg Mayor Don Downe and Bridgewater High Vice-Principal Deanna Rawding.  Special guest speaker was former school board member,  Mary Ellen Clancey. 

Over the past 29 years, Verge House has been teaching young Lunenburg and Queens County adults with special needs.  There, they prepare themselves for employment, and learn how to lead independent and productive lives in the community. 

The six students who graduated yesterday from the Transition Program are:  Benjamin Feltham, Chad Herman, Laura-Lee Hynick, Jenny Lastimosa, Brett Veinot and Nathan Whynot.

Yesterday’s ceremonies were bittersweet for the Transition Program.  Genevieve McCarthy is retiring from her position as head teacher after more than a quarter-century of service.

South Shore Gasoline Prices May Be Lower Friday

Here's an indication that gasoline prices here on the South Shore may head downward overnight tonight.  In New Brunswick this morning, there's a break at the pumps.  Regular self-serve is down 3.6 cents per litre.  The new maximum price per litre in New Brunswick today is just over $1.25 per litre.

RCMP Nab Man Driving 109km/hr Over Speed Limit

Talk about driving over the speed limit. A 21-year-old Chester Basin man has been charged with stunting after South Shore RCMP clocked him driving 209 km/hr in a 100 km/hr zone. The incident happened around 6:45 Thursday morning between exits five and six on highway 103. The man's 1996 Volvo was immediately seized at the scene. He faces a fine of over $2,400 if found guilty.

VIDEO: Four Schools Removed From Review Process

Four schools have been taken off the school review list. Bridgewater Junior-Senior High, New Germany Rural High School, New Germany Elementary and Newcombville Elementary will no longer be reviewed after Wednesday night's special school board meeting. Board member Judith Sullivan-Corney says there were a number of options that went into her decision.



The result means six schools are still up for review. She says it wasn't a surprising decision.



Sullivan-Corney also made a motion to take the transfer of grade 6-9 students from Hebbville Academy to Bridgewater High off the option list. She also chose to eliminate the option of sending students from Gold River-Western Shore Elementary to Bayview Community School.

BREAKING: Bluenose II Re-Launch Update

The Nova Scotia government will announce the re-launch date for the Bluenose II later this month. The historic sailing vessel is undergoing a $15.9 million dollar refit on Lunenburg's waterfront. In a release, the province's department of community, culture and heritage says workers will begin dismantling the temporary shelter enclosing the vessel tomorrow. The department also says tracks to move the boat into position for launch will be installed in the coming weeks. The schooner is expected to return to the water in early July, though no public sailing is scheduled for this year. Once the vessel hits the water, it will take another three months to install the masts, sails and boom upon completion. Bluenose II was built in 1963 and transferred to the province in 1971.

Queens: Hospital Fundraising Enters Home Stretch

The community fundraising campaign in Queens County is entering the home stretch. The fundraising team has raised just over $1.24 million dollars towards their overall goal of $1.5 million. The money is needed to cover the remaining estimated costs for construction on the Queen General Health Project. Chair of the fundraising committee, Christopher Clarke says the campaign has brought the community closer together.



A work tender for the $16 million dollar project is expected to be awarded in July with construction scheduled to begin in August. The project includes a new primary care clinic and the redevelopment of the 22-bed in-patient unit at the hospital in Liverpool.

Property Taxes Hold Steady in Lunenburg

Residents of Lunenburg don't have to worry about a heavier tax bill this year. The town will maintain its tax rate despite absorbing the cost of maintaining Lunenburg Academy. The residential rate has been set at $1.27 per hundred of assessment while the commercial rate is $3.26 cents. Overall, the town will operate with a budget of $12 million dollars which includes its electric and water utilities. Just over $3.1 million dollars will be spent on capital projects this year.

Bus Service Coming To Shelburne County

A Shelburne County organization is close to bringing a bus service to its residents. The Sou'west Nova Transit Association's application to the province's Utility and Review Board has been approved. Now, they just need to train bus drivers before they can begin offering the service. Co-chair of the Association's board of directors, David Meyer, believes a bus would be frequently used by residents.



Meyer says they hope to start training drivers in the next week. He expects the bus service to be up and running by the end of the month. For more information, head to http://www.souwestnovatransit.ca/ or call Renata Tweedy at (902) 637-2592.