Former Premier Speaks

It's a special guest speaker for a special meeting. This will be the first Annual General Meeting in a long for members of the Lunenburg Progressive Conservative Association where there is not a sitting MLA from the riding. The Association says it's membership is working hard, taking on challenges with a renewed optimism in the rebuilding process. Their A-G-M is being held at the Barss Corner Community Centre on Saturday November 28, 2009. And the guest speaker is the Honourable Senator John Buchanan, QC. John Buchanan served as Premier of Nova Scotia from 1978 to 1990 and member of the Senate from 1990 to 2006.

Torch Run Money

The Town of Lunenburg is receiving $15,000 as they host celebrations during the Olympic Torch Relay’s visit. MP Gerald Keddy announced the funding support for the Town yesterday. Keddy says "When the Torch comes to Lunenburg, the Olympic spirit will touch each and every one of us." The Torch will visit the Town of Lunenburg on Friday, November 20th for an evening community celebration on the Lunenburg waterfront (Fisheries Museum Parking Lot). Celebrations are from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm with a fireworks display wrapping up the evening.

Lunenburg Burial Ground Request

The Mi'kmaq Burial Grounds Research and Restoration Association wants to erect a monument in Lunenburg's 250th Anniversary Park behind the fire hall. Ellen Hunt in a presentation to Lunenburg Council says the children's playground would have to be moved as it is sitting on top of a burial site. Mayor Laurence Mawhinney says it's too premature to make a decision. He says council is going to research the matter further by looking at their own files and check with government departments who may have information. They want to firmly establish what was there and where it was located. Mawhinney says they've also asked the Mi'kmaq elders to come forward with a schematic for what they would like to see there. But he cautions they haven't given approval yet but are still working on gathering all of the necessary information before taking a decision. Mawhinney says there have been other occupants of the land including the C-N-R, and Council wants to make sure any action taken is for the right reasons.

Lunenburg Light Concerns?

Maybe it's something they should consider in the town of Lunenburg office. A recent power outage has Antigonish council rethinking a plan to install energy efficient lighting throughout their community. The Town had been installing L-E-D lighting in street lamps after 60 of the units were provided free-of-charge on a trial basis. But none of the L-E-D lights came back on after power was restored following last week's outage. Mayor Carl Chisholm says plans to convert the entire town to energy efficient lighting may have to be put on hold. Lunenburg Council is getting ready to install 48 L-E-D streetlights that have been provided to them - along with several other Nova Scotia municipalities for evaluation and testing.

Lunenburg School Site

Lunenburg's new school will be built on the same site as the town's old school. Education Minister Marilyn More says the future home of the Primary to Grade 9 building will be the location where the existing Junior-Senior High school building is. The minister advised members of the South Shore School board in a letter that said the property at 12 Knickle road was the most appropriate for the new facility. It was one of three proposed by the Board which were then reviewed by the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. Construction of the new school is expected to get underway in mid-2010 and to be completed in late in 2011. Student populations of Lunenburg Junior High, Lunenburg Academy, Riverport & District Elementary and Centre Consolidated School will be moved to the new $23-million facility. Lunenburg Jr/Sr High was turned into a grade 6 to 9 school and the senior students were sent to Parkview or Bridgewater.

Lunenburg Crimes

A break and enter being reported at the Golf Course in Lunenburg. RCMP say it happened overnight Friday or early Saturday morning. Someone busted into the Bluenose Golf Club and took off with a substantial amount of alcohol. Police think a vehicle was likely involved in the crime. They are asking for anyone who saw any suspicious activity around the Lunenburg golf course after hours this weekend to call them. They are also reporting damage to property on Maple Avenue in Lunenburg. That was Saturday. Lawn ornaments were thrown around and a vehicle was damaged.

A first for both the province and a newbie south shore MLA. Pam Birdsall rose in the House of Assembly as the first government member to respond to the Speech from the Throne. Birdsall moved that the first NDP Government Speech from the Throne be accepted as read by the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, the Honourable Mayann Francis. She calls it an honour adding it is a special day for her as a new MLA and for the first NDP Government in Nova Scotia. The House of Assembly re-convened yesterday for the 61st sitting.

Old Town Accident

Lunenburg RCMP are investigating a hit and run accident that took place in the town over the weekend. The Mounties are requesting the public's help in identifying a vehicle involved in the hit and run which happened Saturday September 12th around 6 p.m. at the intersection of Falkland Street and Victoria Road. A male driving a Green Ford Ranger pickup was seen fleeing the scene. Anyone who can identify the driver of the vehicle is asked to contact the Lunenburg RCMP at 634-8674.

Schooner Launch

It's a page out of the history of Lunenburg Harbour. But this weekend it's living history. For the first time in nearly four decades, a newly-built wooden schooner is being launched. The Dory Shop has been building watercraft in Lunenburg since 1917 at the east end of Bluenose Drive. Tomorrow (Saturday) around noon as the tide is coming in, they'll be launching Kitty Cochran from the shop. David Westergaard is the builder and the owner and captain is Duncan Veasey. A ceremony will be taking place and people are being invited to take it all in. This weekend is also when the Lunenburg Waterfront Seafood Festival is happening with International Dory Races, greased pole and the celebrity shucking contest featuring CKBW's Joan Fillmore.

Baker Named to Order

Long time cabinet minister and Lunenburg MLA Michael Baker who passed away in March is being honoured posthumously as a recipient of the 2009 Order of Nova Scotia. Baker is one of five Nova Scotians being recognized this year for their outstanding contributions and achievements. Baker was first elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in 1998, representing the constituents of Lunenburg. He served in cabinet as the Minister of Transportation and Public Works, Minister of Communications Nova Scotia, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, and Minister of Finance. During the final years of his tenure, he continued to provide exemplary service to the people of the province despite his own personal battle with a life-threatening and debilitating disease. His untimely death cut short a lifetime of dedicated, and committed service to Nova Scotia and its residents. The 2009 recipients will be recognized at an Investiture Ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at Province House. The Order of Nova Scotia was established in June 2001 and is the highest honour bestowed by the province.

Picton Pause

An unexpected stopover in Burgeo, Newfoundland for the crew of Picton Castle. The tallship hauled in to wait out Hurricane Bill over the weekend. Captain Daniel Moreland says it wasn't a port they were planning on visiting as they were wrapping up their latest voyage. But he says all the same, it was a delightful visit. In the past 15 months, Picton Castle and her crew have visited 65 ports of call in 28 countries, traveling more than 18,000 nautical miles. Now homeward bound, Picton Castle is expected to arrive in Lunenburg on Saturday (August 29th) where she will spend the winter before embarking on a fifth voyage around the world in May 2010.

Fraudster in Lunenburg

It's an age-old scam. But that's probably because it still works. A Lunenburg woman was taken in by a scammer last Tuesday according to RCMP. They say she was called at home by a man who told her he was with Internal Security from a local bank. He told her there was an internal theft investigation underway and that he needed her help. She was told to go withdraw a large amount of cash and meet him at a location uptown. She did. And then he told her to go home and not discuss the matter with anyone else for a few days. When the woman got back home, he called her again and asked her to do the same thing. The third time, she was told to go to a bank in Bridgewater. She met him in the mall parking lot this time. And that was the last she heard from him. She later was told by her bank she was the victim of a fraud. RCMP are telling you about this so you don't fall for the scam.

E-I Fine

A hefty fine for a Lunenburg man who defrauded Employment Insurance over a 20 month period. Thirty-nine year old Leonard Clarke pleaded guilty to 39 counts of EI fraud between October 2004 and May 2006. He was fined $200 on each count for a total of $7,800. Clarke was also placed on house arrest for 6 months as part of a conditional sentence. Authorities say Clarke also received Workers Compensation benefits and was working some of the time he filed for unemployment. EI is recovering the fraudulent payments internally, and Clarke has already repaid more than $6,000.

Shipshape Help Wanted

Lunenburg will be the only tall ships stop on the South Shore. And organizers expect a very busy two-day festival of historic sailing ships, displays, musical entertainment and a variety of family activities. Because of that, they are looking for help. Linda Baker of the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic says there were more than 50 volunteers at the 2007 event. They took on roles including shuttle drivers, security, staffing admission gates and retail sales. Baker says if you have an hour or two to spare, they could use your help. All you have to do is get in touch with the museum in Lunenburg. The 2009 Lunenburg Tall Ships Festival is a partnership of the Town of Lunenburg, the Lunenburg Board of Trade and the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic.

Postal Review Details

All rural mailboxes in Lunenburg county are being assessed to see if they are in a safe place. Canada Post spokesperson Genevieve Latour says the company is obliged by law to review 800-thousand mailboxes Canada-wide because of employee safety concerns. The review will take until the fall. She says a team will evaluate each mailbox and will let the homeowners know what they've found. She says the process involves speaking with people and letting them know what's taking place. And Latour adds this isn't just happening in our area, rather it's a county-wide review that was ordered after workers' complaints. Latour says there is absolutely no plan to get rid of rural mailboxes in Canada adding this inspection issue is about occupational health and safety. You'll be able to hear more about this review coming up this weekend on South Shore Sunday Morning.

Lunenburg Tallships 2009

Bluenose II is one of five vessels that will be in her home port of Lunenburg for the 2009 Tallships event. Organizers have two days of events planned for the seaside UNESCO town. Along with the replica of the Grand Banks schooner, visiting ships include: the full-rigged Friendship of Salem, the recently restored Boston schooner Larinda, the gaffed rigged schooner Peer's Fancy, and the topsail schooner Unicorn. Other events will be held along the Lunenburg Waterfront in and around the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic. And along with the music and entertainment there will be a discussion on Tall Ships of Lunenburg with Ralph Getson. The event in Lunenburg is being held on Wednesday and Thursday. Be listening for more on the event on this weekend's South Shore Sunday Morning.
**NOTE - CORRECTION** - Lunenburg Recreation director Robin Scott tells CKBW, Friendship of Salem has reported seaworthy issues and will NOT be a part of Tallships in Lunenburg. He says Caledonia will be arriving instead.

Political Mailboxes

The NDP member for Lunenbug West says Canada Post must make rural delivery a priority. Gary Ramey says rural mailboxes are a necessity for many seniors, people with disabilities and those living on fixed incomes, Ramey says. Canada Post needs to ensure this essential service will continue. His comments come in light of a flyer being circulated by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. The flyer says Canada Post is replacing rural mailboxes with community boxes to ensure the safety of mail carriers. Lunenburg County residents who are concerned about their mail delivery should call the Canada Post customer service line or contact South Shore-St. Margaret’s MP Gerald Keddy.

Composites Trade Show

A delegation of 17 Atlantic Canadian aerospace and defence companies and organizations have returned home following a successful trade mission to Paris, France. They attended the Paris Air Show, an international trade show for aerospace equipment and technology. Mission delegates , including Composites Atlantic in Lunenburg, were able to establish and build business contacts and take part in a number of industry-related meetings, roundtables and information sessions.

Power of Change

Rodney MacDonald has attended his last official function as the premier of Nova Scotia. This week, MacDonald went to a ceremony to recognize 10 young Nova Scotians with a leadership award. One of the winners of the Power of Change Award is Kelsie Mosher. The grade eight student from Lunenburg goes to Centre Consolidated. After dealing with a difficult period from being bullied, Kelsie took charge of the situation and brought awareness to the dangers and effects of bullying. She approached her Home and School Association for funding to organize Pink Day at her school, and inspired other schools in her community to do the same. She is working closely with elementary students and has pledged to put an end to bullying. Congratulations Kelsie Mosher from all of us.

Lunenburg Infrastructure Work

2009-05-29 06:17:48

The Town of Lunenburg has received over half a million dollars in funding under the shovel ready projects program.  Town Engineer Marc Belliveau says they filed two applications for funding under the Canada/Nova Scotia Building Canada Fund and received $554,650 to be used  for street water and sewer upgrades on Kalbach Street.  The total cost of the project which must be completed by March 31st, 2011 is almost $832,000.   Council approved funding the remaining one-third cost from this year's budget and if  not completed, it will be carried over to the 2010/11 capital budget. Belliveau says the next step is to issue a call for proposals for project engineering services.