Legion Help

Bridgewater Town Council has agreed to supply a letter of support to the local Legion in it's bid to secure capital assistance funding under the New Horizons for Seniors Program. Branch #24 is seeking a grant of $25,000 for the repair of a leaking foundation wall and to make some repairs to the Legion kitchen. Both projects are deemed as high priority for health and safety as well as aesthetics. The application for funding must be post marked by November 5th.

Ship Shape Support

The Town of Shelburne is getting a boost from the province to develop a festival and tourist attraction based on the history of loyalist longboats. The department of Economic and Rural Development committed nearly $47,000 towards the project. The theme of the new longboat festival will be based on last year's Loyalist Celebrations that helped establish the longboat as an icon for the area's tourism industry. The total cost of the project is about $130,000.

And Then Some

South Shore/St. Margaret's MP Gerald Keddy will be handing out more federal funding today. Keddy will be making multiple announcements with respect to the Government of Canada’s investments in the community of Shelburne. The announcements are set for 11 o'clock this morning at the Shelburne Yacht Club. Yesterday Keddy announced more than 400 thousand dollars for Bridgewater's Riverfront Renaissance, to revitalize the LaHave River waterfront and downtown core. He also announced funding of 113 thousand dollars to be used for upgrades to the Mahone Bay Community Centre.

More Money

The Government of Canada is contributing more than $400,000 through the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan for the revitalization of downtown Bridgewater. The announcement was made Thursday by South Shore/St. Margaret's MP, Gerald Keddy. The funding is for Phase 1 of a five-phase concept to revitalize the LaHave River Waterfront and the downtown core of the Town. This phase will include site upgrades and the installation of a fountain in the King Street Court Park as well as a floating gazebo, gangway ramp, stairs, and look off point, site furniture, and interpretive panels and signage. Keddy then travelled to Mahone Bay for another funding announcement.The Town is receiving more than $100,thousand through the Innovative Communities Fund to support a series of upgrades to the Mahone Bay Community Centre. The investment will allow for the creation of resource space for youth, local groups, and entrepreneurs as well as reduce the operating and energy costs of the facility.

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.

More Riding Money

More money is being made available for South Shore towns today. South Shore-St. Margaret's MP Gerald Keddy will be making funding announcement in Bridgewater and Mahone Bay with respect to Government of Canada investments in the communities. The Bridgewater announcement is set for 10 o'clock this morning at the Day's Inn, while the Mahone Bay announcement will take place at noon at the Mahone Bay Community Centre.

S-S Conservative Spending

Two more announcements on the way in South Shore/St. Margaret's from the Federal Conservatives. Gerald Keddy will be at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic this afternoon. That's where he will be speaking on behalf of the Federal Minister responsible for Parks Canada, the Honourable Jim Prentice. The news release says the event is for "the Government of Canada to highlight the National Historic Significance of Captain Angus J. Walters. He was the skipper of the famed schooner from Lunenburg, Bluenose. And tomorrow, Keddy will be on hand to announce federal funding for the Liverpool Ukulele Ceilidh Society. That will happen at the Astor Theatre tomorrow at two o'clock. (Photo from NS Archives)

Queens Gas Money

The Region of Queens Council has approved an aggressive five year Capital Investment Plan to cover the fiscal years through 2014. Mayor John Leefe says the plan must be submitted to be eligible to receive the Region's transfer of the federal gas tax revenues. Leefe says there was some discussion with respect to the Brooklyn sewer and water project and others that must take place over the next five year period. The Region will receive $723,000 in federal gas tax money in each of the next five years.

New Chambers?

It's not in the near future but Lunenburg Municipal Council will explore options for a budget timeline and financing for the construction of a new administration building. Mayor Don Downe says they're looking at putting money aside if they decide to move forward. Downe says a study shows staff have outgrown the current administration building at 210 Aberdeen Road. Former C-A-O Doug Quinn brought the issue to council's attention in his 2004 annual report. At that time he said the three decade old building was overcrowded . Council did set aside over $100 thousand dollars in that year's budget for repairs and renovations.

Trailers Burned

Two 30-foot construction trailers were destroyed by fire at the Department of Transportation depot on Highway Three in Hebbville. And RCMP are trying to locate two teenagers who were seen leaving the area around ten after two yesterday afternoon. Sergeant Dean Warr says they believe the fires were deliberately set. Two youth on bicycles were seen leaving through the woods exiting onto the William Hebb Road. RCMP are hoping someone comes forward who either saw the pair or who may know something about the incident. Members of the Hebbville Fire Department were called in to put out the fires yesterday afternoon. No one was hurt.

Queens Tourism Support

Just over $200,000 in Federal funding has been committed for a new Visitor Information Center in Liverpool. Gerald Keddy was in Queens with the Minister for ACOA this morning to make the announcement. The new visitor information centre in Liverpool will replace a 30 year old building. The project will include improvements to the surrounding waterfront infrastructure and upgrades to walkways and parking facilities. And close to $87,000 was committed for the Seaside Recreation and Community Centre. That project includes creating an access path from the facility to the beach with upgrades to the heating system, and the replacement of windows. The project will also support the installation of informational signage along Highway 103 and Route 3. Region of Queens Mayor John Leefe says the projects will mean superior support for folks visiting their beautiful and historic community.

Queens Money

Gerald Keddy, Member of Parliament for South Shore-St. Margaret’s, announced over $12,000 for the Queens County Fair Association through the Community Action Fund. The money will be used to upgrade the Fair Grounds- drainage improvements to the new barn and riding ring; roof replacement and electrical enhancements for the main building; site leveling; and road grading. The Queens County Fair, over 5,000 spectators and participants annually. Queens County Fair Association director Elliott Payzant says the funding will help increase year-round tourism opportunities and celebrate the rich agricultural tradition of the area. ACOA says Keddy will be with Minister of State Keith Ashfield in Liverpool this morning for two funding anouncements. You can hear more from Gerald Keddy this weekend on South Shore Sunday morning.

North Queens Hall

Four years ago the North Queens Fire Association pitched a proposal for a new fire hall and community centre in Caledonia to Region of Queens Council. Since then feasibility studies and conceptual plans have been completed but the project is still nowhere being shovel ready. Following an updated presentation earlier this week, Mayor John Leefe says Council has agreed in principle it wants to be a significant contributor to the project. The Fire Association would like to replace its current building constructed in 1974 with a a new, 19-thousand square foot fire hall/community centre. The estimated cost of the project is 3.1 million dollars plus HST.

Underground Power

The Region of Queens is borrowing $280,000 for the installation of power and street lights for Queens Place Drive. That's the site of the proposed Queen's Recreation Complex and the newly opened Best Western Hotel. Mayor John Leefe says Council took the decision they did not want the area cluttered up with power poles. He says the powerlines will be run underground. Council also gave approval to the Best Western to locate a sign adjacent to the right of the entrance of Queens Place Drive with the electrical connection to be underground.

Cookville Improvements

A call for tenders has been approved by Lunenburg Municipal Council for the second phase of Champlain Drive infrastructure. The first phase completed in July was to provide an access road for the provincial government to build the new French School in Cookville. Municipal Engineer Pierre Breau says the next phase of the project is to install a water line and sewer system to provide municipal services to the Ecole-de-la Rive Sud currently being built. The budgeted cost for the work is $496,000.

Blacktop Topup

Four different roads in Lunenburg County on the list of road improvements announced yesterday by the province. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Bill Estabrooks says the department is determined to keep the road builders of Nova Scotia busy by getting these jobs into their hands during the current construction season. The seven projects have an estimated value of almost 12-million dollars, and include paving, repaving and other road improvements. All seven projects are scheduled for completion before the end of 2009. Among the tenders is 7.8 kilometres of repaving on four different roads in Lunenburg County.

Gold River Bridge

Lunenburg County residents and visitors have a new modern six-million-dollar bridge. Gold River Bridge on Trunk 3 has been replaced and the new bridge is now open. Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Bill Estabrooks says that the replacement of the bridge was an important project in maintaining the beauty of the historic Lighthouse Route. The replacement project began in early 2008, as the original structure approached the end of its structural life. Work to dismantle the temporary detour bridge will take place over the next two to four weeks. Drivers are asked to proceed with caution in the area during this time.

Recreational Center Holding

An architectural firm has been retained and legal and financial expertise is being put in place but the proposed Lunenburg County Lifestyle Facility is not yet at the "Shovel-Ready" stage. Deputy Mayor David Walker says they still haven't heard anything about federal funding. He says they are still optimistic there will be something coming. But he adds it doesn't make it any easier knowing they are ready to go and are waiting for the last piece of the puzzle to come from Ottawa. The two councils jointly announced a proposed multi-use facility back in 2004.

No Parking-lot

Another school year with the same limited parking lot at Parkview Education Centre. Construction to separate school bus and private vehicle traffic has been delayed by the South Shore Regional School Board. The project will now be carried out next summer. Superintendent Nancy Pynch-Worthylake tells CKBW the late date in the current construction season and concerns for student safety drove the decision. Pynch-Worthylake says school and school board officials will work with students to address any safety concerns that may arise.

Justice Opening

Bridgewater's new Justice Centre on High Street opened for business a month ago, but today there will be a formal ceremony to officially open the centre. Premier Darrell Dexter and Attorney General and Justice Minister Ross Landry will be on hand to officially open the new building at 3 o'clock this afternoon. Public tours of the new building will take place from 3;30 to 5 p.m. The new justice centre was first announced in 2003 with construction not getting underway until 2007. The 49,000-square-foot facility was originally pegged to cost 10 million dollars, but the most recent figures released by the Department of Justice put the cost close to 16.8 million dollars ($20.2 million including land, design and construction management). The building was dedicated in February to Lunenburg M-L-A Michael Baker, just weeks before he died of cancer.