Bridgewater: Bottled Water Ban Among 'Blue Community' Request

Bridgewater has been approached with a request to ban bottled water in public facilities and at municipal events. The 'Blue Communities Project Guide' is driven by the Council of Canadians and CUPE. The two groups are hoping to make Bridgewater a 'Blue Community' by giving the town a framework that will also promote publicly financed owned and operated water and waste-water services. Mayor David Walker says the town plans to research the idea and bring it back to the table for further discussion.



The groups are hoping municipalities will also sign a declaration recognizing water as a human right.

MODL List Priority Projects

A parcel of land in Wileville is one of 10 priorities for the Municipality of Lunenburg. The municipality held an open space workshop recently, revealing projects they would like to complete over the next three to four years. Negotiations are underway for the Wileville land, which the municipality would like to develop for swimming, boat access, a picnic park and parking. Mayor Don Downe says the issue has been front and center for a while.



Other priorities for council include creating a day park on Big Tancook Island, a possible donation of land in Petite Riviere, developing 115 acres of land in New Germany, a boat launch in Oakland, and acquiring the Rose Bay wharf.

Queens: Joint Funding Supports Curling Championships

Queens County is gearing up to host the Junior Curling Championships in a few short weeks. Liverpool will be home to 28 curling teams, their families and hundreds of fans when the event kicks off January 18th. South Shore-St. Margaret`s MP Gerald Keddy announced just over $91,000 this afternoon to support renovations at the Liverpool Curling Club. Keddy called it a long term investment for the area.



The province of Nova Scotia is also committing $85,000 to help put on the event. The 2014 Canadian Junior Curling Championships will be held at the Liverpool Curling Club and Queens Place Emera Centre.

Lockeport's Crescent Beach Centre Gets Federal Support

Ottawa is contributing to upgrades being made to the Crescent Beach Centre in Lockeport. South Shore-St. Margarets MP Gerald Keddy says the federal government will provide $128,586. It will help with installation of a new heat pump system, floor and ceiling upgrades, improvements to the exterior of the building and improvements to the showers and changing rooms. The renovations at the Crescent Beach Centre are expected benefit local businesses and tourism operators with an increasedc traffic flow and extended tourism season.

South Shore School Board Holds AGM

Members and staff with the South Shore Regional School Board will hold their AGM this evening. A new chair and vice-chair will be elected during the meeting. Jennifer Naugler has served as board chair for the past year while Elliott Payzant has held the vice-chair role. The chair is the spokesperson for the board and works with staff to set meetings and agendas. Naugler, who represents District 4, was elected chair last November in just her first year as a member of the board. The meeting begins at 8 o'clock at the board office in Bridgewater.

Patient Intake Set For This Evening

The phone lines will open this evening for those in needing a primary care provider in the Bridgewater area. Roughly 150 spaces are available for this intake. The number to phone is 527-4814. The lines will open at 5:30pm.

Information:

·Call 527-4814 beginning at 5:30 pm

· Please have your health care number, date-of-birth, address and a valid current telephone number ready

· Callers may only register immediate family members from the same household (ie spouses, children).

Callers who are successful in getting through the line, will hear a message telling them to stay on the line.

These callers will then be entered into a queue and processed in order. This takes time. Please be prepared to wait on the line for several hours.

Tree For Boston Heading South Of The Border

The tree for Boston has been cut, and after it stays overnight in Halifax, it begins its trek south of the border. Community members along with hundreds of young students watched today as the 15-metre white spruce was cut and lowered onto a flatbed truck. Mary Lou Milligan donated this year's tree from her property in Mill Cove. She says she always thought about donating a tree to Boston.



The tree will be transported by the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal on the Digby ferry, across the Bay of Fundy to Saint John, New Brunswick, then down through Maine and on to Massachusetts. This is the 42nd year of the Boston tree tradition, in thanks for the medical personnel and supplies Bostonians provided following the Halifax explosion on December 6, 1917. The special tree-lighting ceremony will be televised to over 300,000 people. Milligan will travel to Boston with her daughter and two grandsons for the ceremony on December 5.

UPDATE: Province, STM Quest Reach Ferry Agreement

The Yarmouth to Maine ferry service is back. The province has signed a deal with STM Quest to re-establish the link starting May 1, 2014. The service will be known as Nova Star Cruises. Economic and Rural Development and Tourism Minister Michel Samson made the announcement Tuesday afternoon in Halifax.



The province has committed up to $21-million of financial support over seven years, including $10.5-million in start-up costs. Both sides agreed to make amendments to the letter of offer announced in September including more auditing rights for the province. There are still challenges for the Yarmouth to Maine ferry to start next May including having border services in both ports, and getting all licenses and permits needed to operate a ferry service.

Queens: Bowater Tenders Issued

A pair of tenders have been issued to do with the former paper mill in Brooklyn. Deloitte Restructuring Inc. has put out a call to sell a paper-making machine and other equipment at Bowater Mersey. The money gathered will go to ReNova Scotia Bioenergy Inc., which took over the site. The second tender is out to demolish some structures on the site. Both tenders have a deadline of December 5.

BREAKING: Update On Yarmouth Ferry Expected

There will be an update on the Yarmouth ferry later today. Economic and Rural Development and Tourism Minister Michel Samson will discuss the latest details on the process to re-establish the ferry service. He will be joined by Steve Durrell of STM Quest and Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood. Natural Resources Minister and MLA for Yarmouth Zach Churchill is also expected to take part in the press conference. The update will take place at 2 o`clock.

Trial Dates Set In Dog Dealer Court Case

A notorious puppy broker will go to trial on fraud related charges in April. Gail Benoit has pleaded not guilty to fraud charges relating to allegations that she sold two boxer dogs that didn't belong to her. The two-day trial will begin April 14 in Bridgewater. Benoit entered not guilty pleas earlier this month to fraud, theft under $5,000 and identity fraud. Those charges relate to an incident where it's alleged Benoit sold two dogs she was hired to look after while the owner was away.

Cape Breton MLA: Ferry Loss Felt Throughout Nova Scotia

An MLA in Cape Breton says even his area has felt the loss of the Yarmouth ferry service. Michel Samson says it's been a difficult adjustment for the entire province since the NDP government cut the subsidy to help run the ferry in 2009. Samson is now Minister of Economic Development and Tourism and working on the ferry file.



Samson says the province is still waiting for a signed agreement from potential ferry operator STM Quest. He says the government needs the company to confirm it has met all the conditions of the deal set out by the province.

Locals Pick Up Hardware At Nova Scotia Music Awards

A pair of South Shore musicians picked up some hardware Sunday at the Nova Scotia Music Awards. Yarmouth's Ryan Cook won Country-Bluegrass Recording of the Year for his album 'Wrestling with Demons.' Meanwhile, Chester's Old Man Luedecke will share Folk Recording of the Year with Dave Gunning. In other news, the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival was named Community Presenter of the Year. The awards were handed out in Sydney.

U.S. Wins World Junior 'A' Challenge

The United States defended its title at the World Junior 'A' Hockey Challenge in Yarmouth. The Americans defeated the Russians 4-1 in Sunday's final. It's the fifth gold medal for the U.S. in the tournament's eight-year history. Canada West won the bronze by beating Switzerland 5-3. The Czech Republic finished in fifth, beating Canada East 7-5 Saturday night in Liverpool.

Mustangs Fall To McDonalds

The Halifax McDonalds blew open a close game with three goals in the third period to dump the Charlie's Pizza South Shore Mustangs 7-4 Sunday afternoon in Bridgewater. It was the second home loss of the weekend for the local Major Midget Hockey club who fell 5-1 to Newbridge Academy on Saturday.

Lockeport: Funding Announcement Tuesday

The MP for the South Shore will be in Shelburne County for a funding announcement this week. Gerald Keddy will unveil details on new money earmarked for a community project in Lockeport. The announcement will be made Tuesday afternoon at the Crescent Beach Centre.

Mustangs Look For Weekend Split

In Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League action last night in Bridgewater Newbridge Academy dumped the Charlies Pizza South Shore Mustangs 5-1. Keith Getson gave the Stangs a 1-0 lead in the game's first minute but it was all Newbridge after that. The Mustangs are back on home ice today as they host the Halifax MacDonalds at 12:00pm at the Clearwater Seafoods Arena.

Minister: Lobster Fishery Needs Industry/Govn't Cooperation

Fisheries Minister Keith Colwell says he's eager to get to work on implementing recommendations contained in a report examining what's wrong with the lobster fishery. However, Colwell says government, fishermen, buyers and processors all need to work together to strengthen the industry. He made the comments after a three member panel released its report along with dozens recommendations to help turn the industry around. Colwell says a number of factors play a big role in shaping the price of lobster.



The lobster panel would like to see the creation of a formal system where the industry would know the price of lobster before fishermen head out on the water. Meanwhile, dumping day for LFA's 33 and 34 is November 25.

Bridgewater: Patient Intake Rescheduled For Wednesday

There will be another patient intake Wednesday for residents of the Bridgewater area in need of a family doctor. It's a rescheduled intake after a glitch in the phone system wouldn't allow anyone to get through last week. Communications Director with South Shore Health, Theresa Hawkesworth, says tests were conducted on the phone lines to make sure everything is working properly for this Wednesday's intake. The phone lines will open that evening at 5:30pm. Just a reminder, if you hear a busy signal, it means the cue has filled up. The number to call is 527-4814.

AUS Football: Mounties Rally To Beat Huskies

The Mount Allison Football Mounties are heading to the Uteck Bowl. Yesterday in Halifax, Mount A scored ten points in the last three and a half minutes to upset Saint Mary's 20-17. The Mounties will host Laval next Saturday.