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.

Academic Excellence

2009-05-29 06:11:33

Fourteen students attending South Shore schools have been presented with the 2009 Lieutenant Governor’s Medal. The Education Medals first approved in 1961 are awarded to one male and one female in each school and the award is open to all Grade 11 High School students and to students in the 1st year vocational school program.  This years medal recipients are: Mason Jordan and Madison Acker of Bridgewater Junior Senior High School, Lindsay Doucet and Keith Parker of Forest Heights Community School, Cassandra Rose Fralic and Graham John Muise of Liverpool Regional High School, Alana Barry and Ryan Eisner of New Germany Rural High, Erika Brittany Noreen Huskins and Aaron John Joudrey representing North Queens Rural High, Graham Mann and Samantha Rompkey of Park View Education Centre, and Marla Russell and Nicholas Gear of Lunenburg Junior Senior High School.  The awards ceremony was held this week at Lunenburg Junior/Senior High.

Green Leader

2009-05-29 06:01:01

Nova Scotia's Green Party is trying to offer an alternative for voters in this campaign.  Party Leader Ryan Watson tells CKBW they have a candidate in all 52 ridings to provide that option.  He says some people are running full campaigns while others are letting their name stand to give that choice.  Watson acknowledges a full slate does also give them money for every "x".  Watson says he's proud they have 20 women running for seats - the most of any party - especially since that is the way it turned out, not because of any specific policy.  Be listening for more from the leader of the Green Party of Nova Scotia this weekend on South Shore Sunday Morning.

Adult School Spared

2009-05-28 09:43:13

A reprieve for the Adult High School in Bridgewater.  The South Shore Regional School Board has been able to rework its budget and continue to fund the adult program Lunenburg campus.  Superintendent Nancy Pynch-Worthylake says the school was on the chopping block because there  were not enough funds in the Boards budget to continue its operation. The Board approved a draft balanced budget but has yet to receive its final revenue figures from the Department of Education.

Fatal Accident

2009-05-28 06:26:11

A 17-year-old has been killed after being struck by a car as he was walking in the Springfield area of Highway 10.     Police haven't released the young man's name since family are still being notified.    An RCMP news release says the collision occurred at about 3:45 p.m. as the teenager was walking in Springfield, on Trunk Road 10 between Middleton and Bridgewater.

Lunenburg West Forum

2009-05-28 06:24:32

Three of the four candidates were on hand to offer their views and opinions on a submitted list of questions. The Green Party's Emily Richardson declined to take part. Liberal Mark Furey, Conservative Carolyn Bolivar Getson and Gary Ramey for the NDP addressed the issues of health care, economic revitalization and roads.  The topics were put forward by the debates sponsor, the Bridgewater and Area Chamber of Commerce. Other questions from the audience centered on help for low income families,twinning the 103, gas regulation, grants to Michelin and the proposed provincial curfew for teens. It was a mild almost cordial debate with the candidates wrapping up the evening with a pitch why they deserved the voters ballot. Tune in this morning to CKBW to hear what the candidates had to say.

Slowing Mahone Bay

2009-05-27 06:27:40

The Town of Mahone Bay will launch the Pace Car program  this Saturday, joining 18 other Nova Scotian communities already implementing the anti-speeding initiative. Residents pledge to become mobile speed bumps and display the Pace Car emblems on their vehicles, helping to slow traffic in their community.  The program launch will include an opportunity for residents to sign up for the program, the Mahone Bay and Area Lions Club will be hosting a Bicycle Rodeo and local RCMP members are organizing a guided youth hike during the day.The event is set for 9:30 to noon this Saturday, May 30th at the Mahone Bay Legion Hall, 21 Pond Street.   The Pace Car Program is a partnership of the Ecology Action Centre, Canada's home, car and business insurers and the NS Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal.

Bridgewater Budget

2009-05-27 06:21:49

It's still not a done deal but Councillors did some bare bones cutting to the proposed Bridgewater budget Monday night. Mayor Carroll Publicover says all were in agreement that there be no increase in residential tax rates. Publicover says pre-approving previous requests has backed them into a corner in some ways. Council still has to finalize the amounts for the Grants to Organizations. A special Council meeting will be held next Monday night, June 1st when the final budget will be tabled and the tax rates set.

Electronic Theft

2009-05-26 06:35:38

At least five people in the Bridgewater area have been victims of electronic identity theft.    In one case, a woman says she lost about $1,000 from her bank account.    John Collyer, the town's deputy police chief, says they aren't sure yet if the money was taken through an automatic teller machine or by another means.    He won't say if they have any suspects but adds that in past cases they have been able to identify people through video surveillance.    Police are advising people to check their bank statements carefully and to notify them or the bank if there are any unusual transactions or withdrawals.

Another Debate

2009-05-26 06:31:24

A busy week for candidates on the south shore as the campaign heads into the home streatch.  Chester/St. Margaret's is the latest riding to announce a debate.  Tomorrow night at the Chester Legion Hall, the four candidates will be discussing the issues that will decide the upcoming election.  Ryan Cameron of the Green Party, Liberal Jo-anne Grant, Denise Peterson-Rafuse of the NDP and P-C Judy Streatch will be in the hot seat.  The event is being put on by the Village of Chester Tourism and Development Association.  Wednesday night will also see the candidates of Lunenburg West and Queens squaring off in debate.  And Lunenburg candidates will be in debate on Thursday.

Candidate Forums

2009-05-25 06:16:34

Another south shore riding will be giving voters a chance to hear directly from the candidates ahead of the June 9th vote.  The South Queens Chamber of Commerce is holding their event on May 27th at the Junior High School Auditorium in Liverpool.   Vicki Conrad of the NDP, Wayne Henley of the Liberals and Kerry Morash of the Conservatives will be there and organisers say the Green Party has also been invited.  All will be asked six questions that include school board autonomy, government involvement in the economy, support for volunteer fire departments, fiscial responsibility, health care in Queens and forestry growth and protection.  And people in the audience will also get to submit questions.  That same night, Lunenburg West candidates will be holding a forum at the Michelin hall and the next night, The five Lunenburg candidates will be having their say.

Deed Transfer Hike

2009-05-22 12:10:11

It's only been four years since they've been charging a tax on every property sold in the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg.   And now they are looking at increasing the deed transfer tax.  Council is proposing to bump up the rate from three quarters to a full one percent of the value of the property transferred.  Second reading of the changes to the Deed Transfer Tax Bylaw will be held in the county council chambers in Bridgewater on June 9th.  The tax came into effect in the municipality in September 2005. According to the municipality's figures, the tax earned them $541,554 in the last budget year.

House Prices

2009-05-22 12:08:22

No housing market crash in this part of the country.   Average house prices on the south shore are at a record high according to the Nova Scotia Association of Realtors.  In April the average residential price was just under 207-thousand dollars - a five-point-four percent increase over last year.  The national average was down 3-point-2 percent.  Residential properties on the south shore went up by 11 percent, second only to the Valley Region where prices were 15 percent higher.  The Association says the number and value of sales were down in April compared to last year and new listings were also down for the fourth consecutive year-over-year.  President of the Nova Scotia Association of Realtors says the bridge between buyer demand and housing supply is continuing to narrow. Linda Smardon says that helps maintain stability in housing prices.   The average house price in the South Shore Region is $173,853.

Leader's Tour

2009-05-22 07:12:26

The Conservatives and New Democrats are kicking off their election activities today (Friday) with campaign statements in Dartmouth.  Premier Rodney MacDonald has scheduled a morning news conference at the Dartmouth East campaign headquarters. While the premier speaks, N-D-P Leader Darrell Dexter will talk about the future for young people at the community college's waterfront campus before heading to the south shore. He'll be campaigning with Garey Ramey and Pam Birdsall this afternoon. Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil will spend the afternoon campaigning with Mark Furey in Bridgewater, Wayne Henley in Liverpool and Darian Huskilson in Shelburne. MacDonald is also fanning out with several candidates later today.

Fight Injury

2009-05-22 07:11:20

One man was taken to hospital following a fight at the Lunenburg Community Centre earlier this week.  RCMP responded to a complaint of a fight between two men just after 5 p.m. Wednesday evening, May 20th.  Police and Emergency Health Services also responded and a 19 year old male was taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries.  Preliminary investigation indicates the 19 year old intoxicated man became involved in a fight with a 17 year old youth.  The 19 year old fell and struck his head on the pavement during the incident and was taken to Fishermen's Memorial Hospital then to South Shore Regional.  The youth as well as witnesses at the scene were interviewed by police who are continuing their investigation.

Drug Arrests

2009-05-22 07:01:37

A Milton couple is facing charges following a seizure of marijuana and stolen property.  Queens RCMP with assistance from the Shelburne and South Shore Street Crime Enforcement Units executed a search warrant on a Milton residence on May 19th.  As a result of the search, 31 year old Michael Samuel Fancy has been charged with trafficking in marijuana, possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of stolen property.  Twenty-six year old Tanya Dawn Bent is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking marijuana and possession of stolen property.  About $6,000 worth of marijuana and drug paraphernalia were seized during the search.

Independant Candidate

2009-05-21 06:31:40

He says by running independently he will be able to work with all of the parties for the betterment of the people in the Lunenburg riding.  Municipal councillor Milton Countway is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.  And he's doing it without being associated with any of the major parties.  Last May, he lost a bid for the nomination of the NDP to Pam Birdsall who is running this time against Rick Welsford of the Liberals and Peter Zwicker of the Conservatives.  Countway made his announcement to run as an independent in Lunenburg in front of a group of supporters in the Blockhouse Fire Department parking lot last evening.

Picton Arriving

2009-05-21 06:29:00

Picton Castle will be returning to Lunenburg this Saturday, having completed a year-long voyage around the Atlantic Ocean. The ship is expected  to round Battery Point at about 2 o'clock. After a few weeks refit she'll embark on a nine-week summer program sailing along the coast of the Eastern United States and Canada.   In the United Kingdom, the Picton Castle visited ports from the ship's past as a North Sea fishing trawler and World War II minesweeper. Crew members also visited the ship's namesake castle. In Northern Europe, she attended Tall Ship events, then it was on to  Sainte Nazaire, France, where in 1942 she was one of a convey of vessels to participate in a successful raid on a Nazi-held shipyard there. That visit was followed by calls in Spain, Portugal, the island of Mallorca,  Morocco, the Canaries, Senegal and Cape Verde before making passage to the Caribbean where the Picton Castle has been island hopping for the last number of weeks.  The next big adventure for the sail training ship  will be fifth circumnavigation of the world beginning in May, 2010.

Uranium Issue

2009-05-21 06:26:46

Environment and politics, where does the rubber meet the road?   For groups like the Atlantic Chapter of the Sierra Club of Canada, they want to hear the position all of the political parties on issues like uranium mining.  Gretchen Fitzgerald says the Conservatives had suggested there may be a lift on a ban on mining the radioactive element.  She says results from a 22 community tour by Natural Resources seemed to suggest a united public opinion against mining uranium anywhere in Nova Scotia.  Questionnaires have been given to all of the parties ahead of next month's election and Fitzgerald says they will be releasing the responses in the next few days.

Older Workers

2009-05-20 06:22:29

Hundreds of Nova Scotia's unemployed older workers will continue to benefit from programming that will help them build skills and find work. The Department of Labour and Workforce Development will continue to support the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers program thanks to a federal/provincial three-year funding extension of 4-point-two-million dollars.   Since 2007, 23 projects with almost 300 participants have been completed, with 40 per cent of participants gaining employment or opening their own businesses.  Organizations who support older workers are encouraged to
apply for funding.