Bridgewater Police at the Olympics

Two of Bridgewater's finest are heading off to the Olympics... but not as competitors. Deputy-Chief John Collyer and Constable Jamie Dearing will be part of a 6 thousand strong security force tasked with providing security at the various venues of the games. Collyer says about a year and a-half ago the RCMP put out a call for volunteers and he put his name forward. Because there was so much competition for the other spot, they had a draw and Cst. Dearing was the winner. The Deputy Chief leaves for the Games on Friday and will be stationed at the Cypress Mountain venue while Cst. Dearing will be deployed to Whistler. Both members return March 1st.

Beware of Scam

A fraudulent scam is making its rounds in Lunenburg County. A resident of Garden Lots was contacted by phone and advised her grandson was incarcerated in jail in the Montreal area. She was then requested to send 5 thousand dollars to bail him out. When the woman asked specific questions about her grandson, the male on the other end got annoyed and hung up. RCMP are advising the public to be mindful of these possible scams and be wary asking for large sums of money. If the public is suspicious, they should hang up and call the police.

Bridgewater School Board Contract

The final two School Board CUPE groups in Bridgewater have ratified their new contract in strong numbers. Betty Jean Sutherland, the CUPE National Representative says close to 500 members of Local 3890, employees of the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board, voted 88% in favour of the five-year deal. Meanwhile, CUPE National Representative Carl Crouse says employees with the CSAP, the French school board, voted 98% in favour of the package.

Navy Celebrations set for Lunenburg

The date hasn't been set but the Town of Lunenburg will be hosting a celebration this year in honour of the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Navy. Mayor Laurence Mawhinney says he 's been contacted by Rear Admiral P.A. Madison on behalf of the Navy. Mawhinney says it is the intent of the Navy to honour each of the 320 Canadian communities whose names have been shared with Canadian warships since 1910. Lunenburg is one of those communities, and Mawhinney says the Town will undertake plans with the Navy to make it a memorable occasion.
Meantime the Town is aiming for May 17th, the Norwegian national holiday to have the Norwegian Plaque moved to the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic so more visitors will be able to share the story it tells.

Spring Break Concerns

CORRECTION..on school calendar for 2011-12

The South Shore Regional School Board is objecting to the 2011-12 school calendar which gives Halifax Region and area students a spring break in February. Following that comes a Canada-Games-break that will allow them to attend or participate in the Games. Students in the rest of the province , however, get their spring-break in March.
The South Shore Board says spring break should be consistent for all schools across the province. The Board will send a letter to Education Minister Marilyn Moore expressing its concerns the calendar denies other students in the province an equal opportunity to attend the Games.

S.O.S...Shovel Out Seniors

Their motto is "Be Prepared"...now they're committed to helping seniors shovel snow. The local 3rd Bridgewater Scout Troop is getting set to dig out local seniors with a new program called Operation S.O.S. The service is for seniors who do not have the means or connections to have their walks or driveways shoveled after a snowstorm. Shoveling is offered as a stop-gap measure until seniors can find family, friends, or a paid service to help them out. The program was started after Bridgewater Police Service received a call from an elderly woman who needed help to clear her driveway. Her son, who usually cleared her driveway, was away taking his children to university. With serious health concerns, the snow filled driveway was considered a safety issue, and the request was passed to the town's Seniors Safety Coordinator, Beth George, who contacted Scouts Canada - South Shore Area to see if they could help. Area Commissioner & Troop Scouter Peter Biddle came to the rescue, and offered to visit the woman to see how the Scouts could help. The visit turned into a quick shovel job, and the problem was resolved. The incident gave rise to an idea to offer a pilot project to have Scouts shovel out seniors that need their snow cleared.
Seniors can register for the pilot program through the Bridgewater Police Service. or contact Peter Biddle at 543-2445 .

Name the New Lunenburg School

The South Shore Regional School Board has approved the process to name the new P-to-9 school for Lunenburg. Superintendent Nancy Pynch-Worthylake says the School Steering Committee forwarded the recommendation which was accepted by the Board at its monthly January meeting . Suggested names will be invited from all stakeholders including the students who will be attending the new facility. A shortlist of five names will be voted on by the students with the three names that get the most votes presented to the Board, which will make the final decision.
The new 23 million dollar school will be built on the same site as the old school on Knickle Road.

2nd Annual Memorial Pet Food Drive

The 2nd annual Memorial Pet food drive in honour of Karissa Boudreau was a major success. The event took place this past Wednesday at Cardinal Outfitters in the Bridgewater Mall.
More than $1000 was raised, as well as a truck and van load of pet food and supplies.

South Shore School Board Beliefs

The South Shore Regional School Board has adopted a "Belief Statement". Superintendent Nancy Pynch-Worthylake says it will frame the work of the Board in the region. As part of a multi-year strategic plan the Board has already
approved its Mission Statement. It has three goal areas which are Student Achievement, Efficiency and Effective Operations and Board Governance.
There are seven beliefs in the statement and are as follows:
WE BELIEVE:
1/ Student learning is our primary responsibility.
2/ All students have the ability to learn
3/ Students learn at their own pace and in different ways.
4/ Learning is a partnership among home, school and community.
5/ Schools must be safe, supportive and socially just where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
6/ In the development of the whole person (cognitive, social, emotional physical and artistic)
7/ Learning is a lifelong process

Student Ambassador

A Bridgewater student has been chosen to be an ambassador of bilingualism. Madison Acker will represent Nova Scotia at French for the Future’s National Ambassador Youth Forum in Halifax from February 13th to 16th. During the four-day forum in Halifax, ambassadors will explore topics related to Canada’s Francophone cultures and the advantages and challenges of bilingualism. The Forum brings together 30 high school students from across Canada and is held in a different Canadian city each year.
Madison is a grade 12 student at Bridgewater High School. She is enrolled in the French Immersion program and is the secretary of the student council.

Retirement Allowance on the Table

There's still more bargaining ahead for the South Shore Regional School Board. NSGEU President Joan Jessome was at the Board's meeting Wednesday night to pitch a plea on behalf of the local union . She says one of the issues on the table is the retirement allowance. which comes in many different formulas such as a week of salary for every year of service . Jessome says the proposal they put forward is very very moderate compared to what many public sector employees already enjoy. Jessome admitted it's very irregular for any union to make a pitch at a school board on a labour relations issue that's at the bargaining table.In fact, she says she has never done it before.

School Board Workers Ratify Deal

CUPE school board workers with the South Shore Regional School Board have overwhelmingly ratified their new contract. CUPE National Representative Carl Crouse says the members of Local 46-82 have voted 97% in favour of the five-year deal which sees a 2.9 percent increase retroactive for the years 2007,
08 and 09.. There is also a one percent wage increase for the years 2010 and 2011. The contract contains wage hikes totalling more than 10 percent over the life of the deal. As well the South Shore Board has also agreed to adjust the Head Mechanic rate to $22.46 effective April 1, 2009.

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Big Tancook Elementary School to Remain Open

A victory for the residents of Big Tancook who will get to keep their school. The South Shore Regional School Board voted unanimously last night to conclude the school review process and keep Big Tancook Elementary School open. The Board also voted not to conduct a further review until 2020, or unless enrolment drops below 3 students. One option would have seen the students taking the ferry to Chester, but even Dr. Jim Gunn who authored the consultants report which initiated the formal review process was against having the younger children having to leave the island to attend school.
Hillary Dionne the Chair of the school's advisory council was overwhelmed with emotion when she heard the Board's decision. Her six year old daughter and nine year old son are among the five students currently attending Big Tancook Elementary.

Honours for the Blues man

A hometown honour for the late Dutch Mason known as the "Prime Minister of the Blues.". Lunenburg Town Council approved a procedural policy for the recognition of Prominent Lunenburgers and Mason will be among the inaugural honorees. The event is in the planning process as Council would like to see a minimum of five names submitted for the initial ceremony. Council also set guidelines to only consider people who have passed away for a minimum of three years.
Mason was born in Lunenburg in 1938 and lived in Masons Beach for 11 years before moving with his family to Kentville. He died December 23rd, 2006

Karissa Boudreau memorial pet food drive

Friends and Family of the late Karissa Boudreau are holding a memorial pet food drive today to honour her memory.
From 11am until 6pm outside of Cardinal Outfitters in the Bridgewater Mall the "Karissa Boudreau Memorial Pet Food Drive" will be taking place. All donations will be going to the Lunenburg County SPCA.
Karissa had aspirations of one day becoming a veterinarian,and would be greatly pleased knowing that animals in distress are being helped in her memory.
Some donation suggestions are:cat and kitten food,kitty litter,water dishes,pet beds,pet toys,etc.

Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=mb#/event.php?eid=241433239575

LED Lights for Lunenburg

It could be another first for the Town of Lunenburg. The UNESCO designated site could become the first such one in North America to be completely lit with L-E-D roadlights. There's already 60 of the energy efficient mercury-free lights installed as part of a pilot project. Mayor Laurence Mawhinney says the Town will seek funding through ECO-Trust Nova Scotia to cost share in replacing the remaining 532 street lights.
LED Roadway Lighting says the Town could recover it's investment of 178 thousand dollars because of reduced energy costs. The company is also offering a 10 year guarantee which would cover off the period during which the lights would be paid for

Energy Retrofits for Town Buildings

The Town of Bridgewater is going for more funding from Eco Nova Scotia for solar and oil heating retrofits. Mayor Carroll Publicover says Council pre-approved up to 85 thousand dollars pending 50 percent co-funding to implement the projects as part of the Town's Energy Management Plan. Town properties to be retrofitted include Town Hall, the public works garage, the fire hall, police station and DesBrisay Museum. The Town was recently notified it will receieve 58, 000 dollars to upgrade 11 buildings based on recommendations from an energy audit.

Terms of Reference for Parks,Recreation & Culture

Town Council has adopted amendments to the terms of reference for the Bridgewater Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission. Mayor Carroll Publicover says the Commission will now become strictly an advisory committee to Council as opposed to a body that can make a determination of direction.
The selection criteria has also been expanded to include citizens from not only the Town of Bridgewater, but also from the whole of Lunenburg County.
Along with six citizens, two councillors from the Town will also sit on the the committee. The new terms of reference take effect April 1st.

Councils Donate to Haitian Relief

The Mayors and Warden of Lunenburg County are collectively donating 5 thousand dollars for relief efforts in Haiti . Mayor Don Downe of the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, Bridgewater Mayor Carroll Publicover, Mahone Bay Mayor Joe Feeney, Lunenburg Mayor Laurence Mawhinney and Warden Alan Webber of the Municipality of the District of Chester says the team effort is on behalf of their respective councils and residents. The funds will be directed through Maritime Command and are targeted for the coastal area of Jacmel where the sailors of HMCS Halifax are involved in restoration efforts. It's also the home of the mother of the Governor-General.

H1N1 Shots

South West Health continues to encourage people to get their H1N1 flu shot.
In South West Health, you can get the H1N1 Flu Shot at Public Health Offices in Digby, Shelburne and Yarmouth Counties. Since the start of the H1N1 immunization program, there has been over 34, 000 doses of vaccine distributed in South West Health through a variety of means, including public immunization clinics, primary health care providers, hospitals, long term care facilities and schools.
In South West Health, you can get the H1N1 Flu Shot at Public Health Offices in Digby, Shelburne and Yarmouth Counties. Here is how to get an appointment:

1. Call the nearest Public Health Office (phone numbers below)
2. Leave your name and contact information
3. Public Health staff will call you back to make an appointment

PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICES
Yarmouth 902-742-7141
Shelburne / Barrington 902-875-2623
Meteghan 902-645-2325
Digby 902-245-2557

Some physicians are also giving flu shots to their patients. Call your doctor to check.