New Hunting Regulations In Effect

New hunting regulations came into effect this week. Hunters can now use crossbows for deer hunting, and rifles up to twenty-three calibre are allowed for species such as coyotes during the regular deer hunting season. The changes will make it easier to control wildlife that cause damage or pose other threats, and will help more Nova Scotians get involved in hunting and ensure its sustainability. Natural Resources Minister Charlie Parker says hunting has long been a part of our heritage and the province is working to  ensure it has a healthy future.

Metro-Company Appeals Proposal For Diversion Facility

A metro-based recycling company is appealing a decision by municipal council which rejected their proposal for a diversion facility in the Blockhouse area. Halifax C & D filed the appeal with the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board on Tuesday. The issue has been a contentious one for residents in Lunenburg County. Business owners in the area are concerned because they feel the facility shouldn't be located near a new visitor information centre and will flood the area with more vehicle traffic and pollution. The Municipality of Lunenburg officially turned down the proposal earlier this month. The regulatory board has yet to set dates for a hearing before the panel.

Enviro Group Must Continue 3 Year Lease Of Blockhouse School

An environmental group will not be allowed to buy the former Blockhouse School for a buck, at least not for now! Municipality of Lunenburg Council decided last night to continue with a three year lease with the South Shore Society Venture Co-Op. Mayor Don Downe says he and council are impressed though with the sustainable development work of the group.



The group is entering the second year of its three year lease on the building with the municipality. The Mayor says if it meets its targets, including paying the rent and shows its a reliable group, then serious consideration will be given to allowing it to buy the school property.

Wolter Named To National World Youth Track Team

A Conquerall Mills runner has been named to the 2013 Canadian World Youth Track and Field team. Tobias Wolter will dawn the red and white during the competition from July 10-14 in Donetsk, Ukraine. He's expected to run the men's 2,000 metre steeplechase event. The 15-year-old was ranked number one in Canada after he beat the qualifying standard time by 14 seconds. Only the top two times were eligible to qualify. Wolter and Bluenose Athletics coach Tanya Daniels will represent the South Shore at the event.

Bridgewater To Purchase And Install LED Lights

The town of Bridgewater has decided to look after their own street lights instead of renting from Nova Scotia Power. Council decided to move ahead with replacing existing rented NSP street lights with LED lights purchased and installed by the town. The lights would be owned and maintained by the town. Council had to make a decision by the end of the month. Mayor David Walker says the decision could help save up to $30,000 a year, making it the best choice for taxpayers.



The town has to convert all their street lights to LED by 2020 under the mandate of the province. The approximate cost for 20 years is $3.7-million. Staff will get back to council on issues including the pros and cons and purchasing options for the LED lights.

Chester Basin House Fire Deemed Accidental

The provincial fire marshal's office has confirmed that the cause of Monday morning's house fire in Chester Basin was accidental. The deputy fire marshal wrapped-up his investigation today after spending most of Monday at the scene of the blaze at 20 Kitchener Daw Lane. A man and a woman along with two pets escaped the blaze around 4 a.m. The woman was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation and was later released. Chester Basin fire officials along with four other volunteer fire departments responded to the blaze.

Commanding Officer Leaving Bridgewater Squadron

The commanding officer at the 14 Construction Engineering Squadron in Bridgewater is leaving the position after her three-year mandate. Major Sarah House took over the position in July 2010 and will move to Trenton, Ontario for a job at the Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre. House, who is originally from Shelburne, says she enjoyed her time but knew this day would come.



House will be replaced by Major Rick Leighton, who was previously at the Engineering School in Gagetown. The change of command ceremony will be held Thursday afternoon at the Best Western in Cookville.

Pool, Arena Under Town's Microscope

An evaluation is expected to be done to discuss the future of the Memorial Arena and outdoor swimming pool in Bridgewater. The two recreational facilities are under the microscope with the opening of the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre just a few months away. Mayor David Walker says they will take a closer look at the facilities in the fall. He says they want to make sure both facilities are still being used.



Walker hopes a committee will be created with council members, staff and residents to discuss options and come up with recommendations. The rink will remain open for at least a year after the LCLC opens.

Local Women's Group Set For Summer Camps

The Second Story Women's Centre is preparing to to host their annual summer camp for girls aged nine to 12. It's the tenth year the non-profit organization will offer the camps throughout Lunenburg and Queens Counties. The four day retreat is designed to bring issues like bullying, self-esteem and body imagine to the forefront for girls getting set to enter junior high school. Facilitator Julie Venoit says its been extremely successful in the past.



Camps will be held in Bridgewater, New Germany, Liverpool, Lunenburg and Chester throughout July and August. Venoit says there are only 12 spots available for each camp and encourages those interested to pre-register.


The camps will be held:

 July 8-11 in Bridgewater
(St. Paul's  Lutheran Church Hall)

July 15-18 in New Germany
(Elementary School Gym)

July 22-25 in Lunenburg
(Central United Church Hall)

July 29-August 1 in Chester
(Forest Heights Community School)
   
August 6-9 in Liverpool (Queen's Family Resource Centre)
   
If there is enough interest we will hold a second camp in Bridgewater August 12-15,
location to be determined.

For more information, call 543-1315 ext. 15 or 640-3044 ext. 15. E-mail girltalk@eastlink.ca.

Delays Expected At New South Queens Middle School

The new South Queens Middle School in Liverpool will not be ready for classes in the fall. Instead, students and staff will remain in the existing school until some time in November. Officials with the local school board say they want to make sure the new building is safe, healthy and meets the needs of the students and staff. The delay will give workers more time clean up the school properly and ensure air quality standards are met. Sod was turned on the $15 million South Queens Middle School last fall. The new middle school would be home to students in Grades 6-8. Construction on the school is expected to be complete in October.

Canada Wins First Leg Of 61st Annual International Dory Races

It was a rare victory for the Canadian team of dory racers at the Jodrey State Fish Pier in Gloucester, Massachusetts over the weekend. Teams earned two victories in three races in the first leg of the 61st Annual International Dory Races. The Canadians surprised many, as rowers from Gloucester have been difficult to beat on their home turf in recent years. In mixed doubles, it was the Americans beating the Canadian pair of Kelly George and Robert Fox. Canada's Gail Atkinson and Kathryn Moore won the women's division and Markus Schmidt and Joel George got by the U.S. in the men's category. The second leg of the event will be held in Lunenburg August 24. Full results are below.

Mixed Doubles:

USA-Mike Frontiera and Elin di'Angelo 6:27
CAN-Kelly George and Robet Fox 6:35

Women's Division: 

CAN-Gail Atkinson and Kathryn Moore 6:48
USA-Samantha Rose and Alexandria Pizzimenti 7:53

Men's Division:

CAN- Markus Schmidt and Joel George 9:45
USA-Tom Jarvis and Jimmy Tarrantino 9:54

Seahawks Seek Town Support For Celebration Tour

The South Shore Seahawks Football Club are calling on the town of Bridgewater to rally behind them if they're selected for the next step of the Kraft Celebration Tour. The group asked council to help them further promote the chance to win $25,000 through the town's facebook and website. The Seahawks are hoping to be chosen, to help put money towards improving drainage at Kinsmen Field. One of the club's organizers, John Peters, says they're hoping to keep the field in good condition.



The group recently signed up more than 90 kids this season for teams in the atom, peewee and bantam divisions. The Seahawks will find out if they have been named to the final 20 nominations later this week.

Sportchek Moving Into Bridgewater Mall

A sports equipment and apparel store is coming to Bridgewater. The manager of the Bridgewater Mall, Jim Chambers, confirms in an email that Sportchek is expected to occupy some space in the former Zellers building. Chambers says construction will start soon. The email also suggests Dollarama will roughly double in size to 15,000 square feet. Chambers says two more tenants of 30,000 and 10,000 square feet will be announced shortly. He believes the changes will bring new and exciting retail offerings to the local market.

Spts-Bridgewater Baseball Team Loses In Tournament Final

The Bridgewater Bulldogs Bantam Triple-A baseball team travelled to Dieppe, New Brunswick over the weekend. The team competed in one of the largest and most competitive tournaments in Atlantic Canada.
The Bulldogs defeated Charlottetown, Miramichi, Fredericton and Riverview but ultimately lost to the host team Dieppe Cardinals 2-0 in the final. Zack Zinck threw a 1 hitter to lead the Bulldogs.

Spts-South Shore Boys 'n Girls Soccer Teams Have Up & Down Weekend

In Under-14 Tier-1 Girls Soccer action over the weekend, South Shore United girls shutout Valley United in Kentville. 3-0 was the score. Kaye Dorey was the shutout goalie while McKenzie Sinclair scored two goals and McKenzie Kelley had one. The under-14 boys soccer team didn't fare as well, they were defeated by Dartmouth FC, 2-1.

New CT Scanner Coming To Yarmouth Regional

A new CT Scanner should be in place at Yarmouth Regional Hospital later this fall. The scanner will cost about $1.4 million. The Nova Scotia government has announced it will contribute one-million dollars toward the new equipment while South West Health will pick up the remainder of the tab. The new scanner will provide high quality scans faster and give health care staff more time to focus on patients. Last year, more than 7,500 scans were performed at Yarmouth Regional Hospital. The hospital serves about 60,000 people in Yarmouth, Digby and Shelburne counties.

Six-Figure Lottery Ticket Sold In Bridgewater

Someone in Bridgewater could be sitting on $100,000. The Atlantic Lottery Corporation's website indicates a six-figure ticket for Friday night's Lotto Max TAG draw was sold in the town. The website doesn't say what store sold the ticket. The winning number is 110530. The winner must contact the ALC regional offices in Dartmouth, St. John's or Moncton to claim their prize.

Woman Injured In Chester Basin Fire

One person was injured in a fire earlier Monday morning in Chester Basin. The blaze broke out around 4 o'clock in a home on Kitchener Daw Lane. Those living in the home were apparently awakened by smoke detectors and escaped but a woman suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to hospital. Chester Basin Fire Chief Doug Rines says there was little fire fighters could do to save the home except keep the blaze from spreading.




Several fire departments responded to Chester Basin's call for help including Martin's River, Western Shore, Chester and New Ross. The fire marshal and RCMP are expected on scene later today to determine the cause of the fire.

CUPE School Board Locals Reach Tentative Agreement

Non-teaching school board workers appear to be avoiding a strike. A tentative agreement has been reached between the Nova Scotia School Board Council of Unions and the Department of Education. The council represents the seven CUPE locals in the province, including the hundreds of non-teaching staff across the South Shore and Tri-County who voted in favour of a strike mandate. CUPE School Board coordinator, Kathy MacLeod, says it's a positive step.



Details aren't being released until members have had a chance to vote. The tentative agreement was reached through conciliation after more than 15 hours of discussion late last week.

South Shore Communities Gear-up For Canada Day

The federal government is helping more than a dozen communities along the South Shore celebrate the country's birthday. MP Gerald Keddy has announced over $36,000 to assist with Canada Day events across the region. Organizers of the celebration in New Germany were given just over $9,000. While the Region of Queens and Town of Lockeport received $7,500 to help host their events. Meanwhile, Canada Day of the LaHave in Bridgewater was awarded $2,200, while the Town of Clark's Harbour was given $2,000. Many communities host their own firework displays on July 1st with a number of family orientated events scheduled throughout the day. In total, 16 community groups received funding from Ottawa for Canada Day celebrations.

In South Shore – St. Margaret’s, a total of $36,805 has been awarded to the following organizations:

• New Germany Canada Day Committee - $9,000 (New Germany)
• Region of Queens Municipality - $7,500 (Liverpool)
• Town of Lockeport - $7,500 (Lockeport)
• Canada Day on the LaHave Committee - $2,200 (Bridgewater)
• Town of Clark’s Harbour - $2,000 (Clark’s Harbour)
• Nova Scotia Guides Association - $1,500 (Caledonia)
• North Queens Board of Trade - $1,300 (Caledonia)
• Hubbards Heritage Society - $1,100 (Hubbards)
• Shelburne Association Supporting Inclusion - $1,050 (Shelburne)
• North Queens Nursing Home - $800 (Caledonia)
• Queens Home For Special Care Society (Queens Manor) - $750 (Liverpool)
• Through the Years Daycare & Community Centre - $600 (Hubbards)
• Town of Lunenburg - $500 (Lunenburg, NS)
• Riverport District Fire Protection Commission - $500 (Riverport)
• Charing Cross Garden Club - $300 (New Ross)
• Shoreham Village Senior Citizens Association - $205 (Chester)