Students, Residents Hear From Chester-St. Margaret's Candidates

Roughly 200 students and area residents attended the first of several forums for candidates in Chester-St. Margaret's. Janet Irwin of the Progressive Conservatives, Tim Harris of the Liberals, and NDP MLA incumbent Denise Peterson-Rafuse spoke on issues including the economy, fracking and the current state of education. Another topic was road paving in the riding. Peterson-Rafuse says the NDP developed a five-year road plan for paving across the South Shore and the province. She says paving isn't politically motivated.



However, Irwin disagrees.



Harris also disagrees with Peterson-Rafuse.



Another four forums are planned between the candidates, including one Thursday morning at Sir John A MacDonald High School in Upper Tantallon.

Queens Establishes Business Development Association

The Region of Queens Municipality hopes to inject more life into the economy with the establishment of a business development association. A team of eight business leaders from the community will be part of it. Mayor Christopher Clarke says the group's focus is clear.



The Queens Business Development Association will meet every three months. Its viewed as another means to improve the region's economy in light of the closure of Bowater last year and the resulting impact.

Shelburne: 40 Unit Seniors Complex Almost Ready

A large seniors complex under construction in Shelburne County should be ready by the end of November. It's being built in Sandy Point and will feature 40 new units. The Seniors Independent Housing Initiative in Shelburne has been working for more than three years to make the project a reality. Spokesperson Joan Bowers says living space targeting seniors is badly needed in the area.



Another 40 unit complex will be built next year on the same property. The $7 million dollar project is being led by a non-profit Moncton based developer.

Bridgewater: Charges Laid After Robbery In New Glasgow

A trio of Lunenburg County residents are facing charges after a robbery in New Glasgow earlier this week. Police say two men stole a woman's purse outside Shopper's Drug Mart on Monday night.
The woman was sprayed in the face with a substance before the men took her purse. They left the parking lot in a get-away truck driven by a female. Further investigation led police in New Glasgow to believe the stolen goods were taken to Bridgewater. That information led police to Marlboro Drive where all three people allegedly involved in the theft were arrested and a vehicle was also seized. Justin Arthur Peircy and Jayden Piercy of Spectacle Lake have been charged with robbery, wearing a mask and possession of stolen property. Meanwhile, Rosina Ernst of Bridgewater has been charged with robbery and possession of stolen property.

Chester-St. Margaret's Candidates Hold Public Forum

The three candidates in Chester-St. Margaret's will talk about their party's platforms and local issues today at Forest Heights Community School. Liberal member Tim Harris, Janet Irwin of the PC's and NDP incumbent MLA Denise Peterson-Rafuse are scheduled for a candidates forum at 10:30 this morning. The event is open to the public.

URB: Hearings Held For Proposed Blockhouse Facility

Hearings are about to start regarding a proposed demolition debris transfer facility in Blockhouse. The province's Utility and Review Board will hear arguments from both sides in the case. Halifax C and D are looking to set up the facility on the Cornwall Road while the Municipality of Lunenburg refused to issue a development agreement for the project. A group of concerned business owners and residents from the Blockhouse-area is also involved as interveners. One of its members, Paul Young, says they're not opposed to the idea, just the location.



Young points to Whynotts Settlement and Otter Lake as appropriate places for a facility, not in Blockhouse, where houses and businesses are close to the proposed location. The first hearing is scheduled for Wednesday morning at 9:30 at the Blockhouse fire hall. An evening meeting involving members of the public is planned for 6:30 Wednesday night.

Bridgewater: Town Excludes Saturday From Parking Enforcement

The town of Bridgewater has taken swift action to change parking enforcement on Saturdays. Mayor David Walker says the town approved a motion to change their parking bylaw immediately to exclude Saturday from parking meter enforcement. The decision means parking meters will be enforced from Monday-Friday. He says the town also decided to consider all parking meter violations from last weekend as a warning after more than 20 were handed out. Walker says they dropped the ball and didn't communicate well with the public.



Walker says anyone who paid their parking tickets can be reimbursed at town hall. Council also decided to develop a committee to look into matters regarding parking meters, signage and special event parking arrangements. The group will present a preliminary report before the end of November.

Green Party Names South Shore Candidates

The Green Party of Nova Scotia is joining the race for the October 8th election. A number of candidates have been confirmed for South Shore ridings. Madeline Taylor will represent the Greens in Queens-Shelburne, Robert Pierce is running in Lunenburg West and Vanessa Goodwin-Clairmont in Yarmouth. The Green Party's election platform revolves around building healthy communities, having a healthy economy and a healthy environment. The party has never won a seat in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.

Queens-Shelburne Candidates Discuss The Issues

Three candidates in Queens-Shelburne took the stage Monday night in Liverpool to discuss the hot topics. Liberal Benson Frail, Bruce Inglis of the PC's and NDP member Sterling Belliveau highlighted their party's stance on topics including Muskrat Falls, hydraulic fracking and electoral boundaries. Another major topic was the number of district health authorities across the province. Currently, there are nine plus the IWK. Sterling Belliveau says the NDP would maintain the status quo.



However, the PC's are proposing to bring the total down to three including the IWK, one in Halifax and another for rural Nova Scotia. Bruce Inglis says it's about saving money for primary health-care.



Frail says the Liberals are proposing two health boards to try and save roughly $13-million.



Roughly 150 people tuned in at the Astor Theatre.

Hurricanes Split In Cape Breton, Barrington Wins Junior 'C' Tourney

The Western Hurricanes earned a split over the weekend in Cape Breton. Ian MacPhee had the lone goal Saturday as the Hurricanes fell 2-1 to the Cougars. MacPhee continued to find the back of the net Sunday, scoring twice in a 4-2 win. Walter Flower and Ryan O'Toole also scored for the Hurricanes, who host the Truro Bearcats at Queens Place Saturday at 6:15pm and Sunday at 11am.
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The Barrington Ice Dogs won the pre-season Junior 'C' hockey tournament in Liverpool over the weekend. The Ice Dogs defeated Avon 5-2 in the final. Barrington will play the South Shore Wild to open up regular season play Saturday night at 8:30pm at Queens Place.

Mixed Weekend For Seahawks Football

The South Shore Seahawks peewee football club earned their first win of the season over the weekend. Keegan Baker, Zach Hamm, Colton Chaisson and Jaden Wentzell all scored touchdowns as the Seahawks cruised to a 38-0 victory over the Fall River Dragons at Kinsmen Field. Their next game will be Sunday in Timberlea against the Titans. Over to the atom Seahawks, who lost 24-0 to the Truro Tide. A rematch between the two teams is scheduled for Saturday at 1pm in Bridgewater. The bantam Seahawks fell 37-0 to the Fall River Dragons. They welcome the Dartmouth Destroyers to Kinsmen Field at 11am on Saturday.

Chester: Council Weighs Mayoral System

Warden or mayor? That's one of the issues returning to the Municipality of Chester. Council could soon have to determine if they will stay status quo with a warden or choose to move to a mayoral system. The issue was brought up recently because the municipality is required to review its electoral boundaries in the next year. Switching from the warden system would mean reduced districts and realignment to prepare for the mayoral position. Warden Allen Webber says the public would be more involved if the process is switched.



Webber says council has tasked staff to find an effective way to engage the public on the matter. He expects a strategy to be presented to council later this fall.

Premier Campaigns With Belliveau In Queens

The premier will be in Queens County today to canvas with NDP incumbent Sterling Belliveau. Darrell Dexter has planned stops in Greenfield, Milton, Brooklyn and Liverpool Monday afternoon. The new riding of Queens-Shelburne was established after a boundary review was completed last fall. Dexter says all parties have a challenge to try and get elected in the riding.



Dexter says the NDP are working hard for local residents and the party isn't taking any seat for granted on the South Shore. Below is the premier's itinerary for Monday afternoon, which is subject to change.

12:30pm: Tour of Hillsview Acres Home for Special Care With Sterling Belliveau, NDP candidate in Queens-Shelburne
14 Middlefield Road, Greenfield

1:30pm: Visit at Hatt’s Garage With Sterling Belliveau,
374 Hwy 8, Milton

2:00pm: Canvassing with Sterling Belliveau,
Meeting at Anglican Church parking lot
Brooklyn Shore Road, Brooklyn

3:30pm : Canvassing with Sterling Belliveau,
Meeting at Belliveau’s campaign office
32 Waterfront Plaza, Henry Hensy Drive, Liverpool

Nature Conservancy Rated Number One

For the 4th year in a row, the environmental charity, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, has been listed as tops in the country. Among many projects along the South Shore the NCC has been involved with recently are land assemblies in Port Joli, Deep Cove, Round Bay and Johnson Pond on the Aspotagan Peninsula.
According to the NCC's Nova Scotia program manager Craig Smith, the Tusket River watershed project has been among the largest.



According to Smith, MoneySense Magazine's ranking of the Nature Conservancy doesn't come with any trophy or award. Its just the recognition which helps in attracting potential donors.

Get A Parking Ticket In Bridgewater? Be Warned

If you got a parking ticket (expired meter) in Bridgewater this weekend, consider it a warning. More than 20 tickets were handed out along King Street on Saturday. Most of those were for expired meters. However, some people were upset when they saw the tickets on their windshields because the meters haven't been policed consistently. However, Chief John Collyer says that's going to change.



He says anyone who got a ticket for an expired meter on Saturday, doesn't have to pay the fine. Collyer says they want give people a break but adds parking will be more strictly enforced in the future. Not everyone is getting off easy, those who recieved a ticket for things such as improper parking, still have to pay the fine.

Lunenburg West: Candidates Forum Thursday

An all candidates forum will be held later this week in the riding of Lunenburg West. The Bridgewater and Area Chamber of Commerce will host the event. Manager Dan Hennessey says it's an opportunity for members of the business community and local residents to hear candidates talk about the issues.



The forum will be held Thursday at the Best Western. It gets underway at 7 o'clock. The candidates include incumbent NDP MLA Gary Ramey, PC candidate David Mitchell, Liberal candidate Mark Furey.

Bridgewater Set To Host 4-H Conference

Members of 4-H clubs will have the chance to show their skills at the 36 Annual Nova Scotia 4-H Show at the South Shore Exhibition Grounds in Bridgewater this weekend. Members are eligible to compete at the show after achieving top honours at a local exhibition with their life skills or livestock project. The annual family event is an opportunity for people to experience the 4-H youth leadership program  in an interactive way. The event will be held beginning Saturday, September 27th.

Shopping For Firewood? Don't Get Burned

If you're looking for a place to buy wood for the stove or furnace for the winter, watch out that you don't get burned. Many places are selling wood now including "fly-by-night" sales on Kijiji and in the classified ads which leave many consumers vulnerable to fraud. Jill Atkinson of the Better Business Bureau suggests you first check with neighbors or friends who have bought wood in the past and ask if they were happy with what they got!



Its also suggested you accept any purchase delivery in person so you can stack and measure the wood. Atkinson also says get a receipt with the company name, address and other pertinent information.

Mustangs Face Crushers In Pictou

The South Shore Mustangs are on the road this weekend in Pictou. The Mustangs square off against the major midget Weeks Crushers at 7:30 Saturday night and 1pm Sunday afternoon. Both games are slated for the Pictou County Wellness Centre.

Tigers Beat Lumberjacks In Shootout

The Campbellton Tigers got by the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks Friday night in Bridgewater. Francis Savoie scored the only goal in the shootout as the Tigers beat the Jacks 5-4. Connor Hilton, Layton Parsons, Josh Shatford and Chad Cullen scored for the Lumberjacks. Billy Clarke stopped 34 shots in the loss. The Lumberjacks continue their homestand Sunday afternoon against the Pictou County Weeks Crushers. Game time is 4pm at the Bridgewater Memorial Arena.