Mayor to Meet with Class Afloat

Lunenburg Mayor Laurence Mawhinney will meet with Class Afloat officials today to discuss the schools future plans and ongoing role in the community. The group rents space at the Lunenburg Academy. Mawhinney says having all come through a very traumatic week in their lives Class Afloat are now looking at what the future will hold and will be doing an assessment of what their needs may be. He says the Town will be open to looking at ways to encourage them to continue with the excellent work they have done. Mawhinney says he's approaching the dialogue with an open mind and positive attitude
The tall ship S-V Concordia sank off Brazil last Wednesday. All 64 students and crew were rescued after spending up to 40 hours in the Atlantic.

Digital Mammography Unit for SSRH

South Shore Health is getting some new modern machinery thanks to funding by the province. CEO Alice Leverman says the District is one of 5 in the province that will be receiving funding for a new digital mammography unit. The 600 thousand dollar cost is being fully funded by the Department of Health. The District will spend an additional 50 thousand on renovations to the Diagnostic Imaging Department. The new machine is expected to be in operation next month. Meantime, a new CT scanner will be operational in April. The Department of Health has provided 1.1 million towards the purchase of the new scanner to replace the current 11 year old model. South Shore Health will be looking to the hospital foundations to help raise the difference in cost of an additional 92 thousand dollars.

Farmington Fire

Five fire departments were called to battle a blaze in Farmington which started before six p.m.last night. New Germany got the initial call to a house fire at 451 Charles Hill Road at 5:37pm. The structure was fully engulfed when they arrived. Tankers were called in from Northfield, Hemford, Cornwall and Springfield Fire Departments to assist New Germany. Bridgewater was on standby for the Northfield Fire Department. The Red Cross was also contacted to provide assistance to the family.

Shelburne Family Escapes Fire

A Shelburne family is being assisted by the Red Cross following a weekend fire that is being deemed suspicious. All three family members were asleep when the fire broke out in their duplex which was extensively damaged around 3 o'clock Sunday morning . They escaped without injury and are staying with relatives for now. Shelburne firefighters prevented flames from spreading to the other half of the duplex. An investigation is ongoing.
The Red Cross has provided personal-care items and covered the cost of emergency purchases of clothing and food.

Agricultural Review Public Hearing

Residents of Lunenburg and surrounding area are invited to
the Provincial Agricultural Review public meeting this Wednesday night.
It's one of a series of public meetings focusing on determining the future of Nova Scotia's agricultural lands. A brief presentation from the Agricultural Land Review Committee Chair, Richard Williams will open the public discussion. Wednesday's meeting is scheduled for 7 o'clock a the Lunenburg Fire Hall

New CT Scanner for South Shore Health

A new CT scanner should be up and running at South Shore Regional Hospital in April. South Shore Health CEO Alice Leverman says the Department of Health contributed 1.1 million to purchase a new machine to replace their current 11 year old scanner. The cost is a little bit in addition to the money given by government, so Leverman says they'll be looking to the hospital foundations for support in filling the gap of 92 thousand dollars.
The Health Department is also providing 600 thousand dollars for a new digital mammography unit for South Shore Health. That's expected to be in place in March.

New Town Street

He owned a tannery, a boot and shoe factory and mercantile store. Now he's being honoured with a street named after him. Bridgewater Town Council has approved the new street leading to the future Lawton's store be named Waterman Street. The recommendation was put forward by the Heritage Advisory Committee. J.E. Waterman and Company , later called Waterman Tanning Limited was located on Victoria Road. In 1871 the company employed 6 men and 1 woman. The original tannery was torn down in 1904 and rebuilt on the same site.

Grants Policy on Hold

Bridgewater Town Council will see another budget year go by without having established a "Grants to Organizations Policy". Mayor Carroll Publicover says its been kicked around more times than most footballs in the playgrounds of the county. He says in the end of it all, it may not be something that a policy solves.He says there's always an exception to the rule, and it might be an issue Council has to sit down and use its best judgement and decide how much is given to which group and for what purpose. Publicover says it wouldn't be fair to the people who have already submitted requests for grants to change the process at this stage. However, he says a policy will definately be in place for the next fiscal year.

Quality Improvement Plan for South Shore Health

South Shore Health is in the process of creating a Quality Improvement Action Plan. C-E-O Alice Leverman (LEE-ver-man) says the Plan will focus on quality improvements that make the best use of their limited resources. She says their goal is to ensure they are delivering their services as effectively and efficiently as they can in order to maximize their human and financial resources, while at the same time improve patient and client outcomes and experiences.
Leverman says the Quality Improvement Action Plan is part of the District's efforts to move forward with their Strategic Plan.

LUNENBURG SHIP SINKS OFF THE COAST OF BRAZIL

A Lunenburg-based tall-ship has capsized and sunk off the coast of Brazil.
The Department of Foreign Affairs reports that all 64 people aboard the "S-V Concordia" have been rescued.West Island College "Class Afloat" is a Lunenburg-based alternative educational program. It offers high school and university-aged students courses aboard a sailing ship.

Schooner Cove Marine goes up in flames

A fire that broke out this morning at a business in Boutiliers Point is under control according to officials. The Hubbards fire Department received a call shortly after 5:30 this morning to a blaze at "Schooner Cove Marine" in Boutillier's Point. Firefighters are still on scene digging out hot spots, no word yet on the cause of the fire but no injuries were sustained.

Seniors Funding for New Ross Area

The Forties Communities Centre getting some federal funding for its “Greetings & Wildlife Preservation.” project. The project will provide local seniors with the opportunity to teach other seniors the art of card making and the construction of wood duck nesting boxes. Once the wood duck nesting boxes are constructed, seniors will partner with local youth to place and care for these nesting boxes to protect the endangered wood duck. MP Gerald Keddy announced federal support of 12 thousand ,420 dollars under the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.

CAP costs Region of Queens

The Region of Queens is losing about 500 thousand dollars in revenue as a result of the provincial CAP. Mayor John Leefe says the Cap Assessment Program has reduced in Queens the amount of taxable property by 130 million dollars, and that's a lot of money. Leefe says the largest cost for the Region is Education which is roughly two and a-half million. Policing is in the 1.5 to 2 million dollar range and there are landfill fees and others costs as well.
A presentation to Council by Property Valuation Services shows residential and commercial properties in the Municipality are valued at 932 million. However, that figure drops to 802 million because the CAP protects more than 8 thousand properties from large assessment hikes .

Queen's Manor Requests Sidewalk

It's been an ongoing issue since 1994. Queen's Manor was back before Municipal Council on Monday to request the installation of a sidewalk on Hollands Drive leading from Waterloo Street to the Manor. The Board of the Directors would like the project to be considered for this budget year citing safety reasons. Mayor John Leefe says the initial request goes back to Liverpool Town Council and was for a full blown sidewalk, curb and gutter, which is an expensive proposition. Leefe says the Board has since agreed a walkway will be sufficient, and will agree to asphalt being used for the surface rather than concrete. Leefe says the matter will be taken into account when the Municipality does it budget.

Bogus Bills

Some bogus bills are making their way around Lunenburg County. During the past week, approximately ten counterfeit 100 dollar bills have been offered as genuine currency to various retailers in Lunenburg County. RCMP say the bills in question were part of the 1986 series of bank notes often referred to as the "Birds of Canada" series. All Canadian bank notes have security features that are reliable, quick and easy to use. Police say by making it a habit to check two or more of the features when you accept cash, you can avoid being stuck with a counterfeit.
For further information on Canadian banknotes and the security features, you can refer to the Bank of Canada website. www.bankofcanada.ca

Council Concerned over Crown Office Closure

The Region of Queens Municipal Council will put up a fight to keep a Crown prosecutor's office in Liverpool. Amid reports the office could be one of a number considered for closure, Mayor John Leefe is going to the top. He's writing the Director of Crown Prosecutions expressing councils concerns over the potential office closure. Leefe says such a move will impact witnesses for the Crown, costs to the defendant, the RCMP and the Municipality itself. He says it would pose a challenge in terms of time and transportation. The Mayor sought input from the Region's solicitor Jim Dipersio and Queen's RCMP Staff Sergeant Bruno Deveau . Leefe says there are all kinds of very valid reasons with respect that the justice system functions properly that the Crown office remains in Liverpool, and that will be his core message to Martin Herschorn.
As well, Leefe has taken the matter up with MLA Vicki Conrad who plans to speak to the Justice Minister on the issue.

Up in Smoke

A Yarmouth County man has been handed one of the highest fines ever imposed in Bridgewater Provincial Court last Thursday,February 11th for having illegal cigarettes. Fifty-two year old Richard Lee White was fined a total of 335 thousand dollars under the provincial Revenue Act and federal Excise Act. White was arrested following a routine traffic stop near Maitland on March 19th/2008. Police found 50 cases containing 500 thousand illegal smokes in the cube van at the time the vehicle was stopped on Highway 103. His lawyer says it will take years , maybe his client's entire lifetime to pay off the fines.

Transit Service Still a Possibility

The possibility of a transit system for Lunenburg County is still very much alive. The Municipality of Lunenburg defeated a motion calling for a hybrid/Lunenburg County model integrating fixed services with on demand services. TRIP funding would be allocated for a detailed analysis and action plan. The recommendation by the Joint Transit Committee was defeated by a vote of 7 to 6. Mayor Don Downe says that doesn't mean the project is dead. He says the matter has been referred back to the Transit Committee to do some due diligence and bring back a recommendation that Councillors can see first hand what is needed to move forward. Bridgewater Town Council had concerns that without the Municipality's support the other partner units would not be able to proceed. The next meeting of the Joint Transit Committee is set for February 23rd.

Teen Place Youth Nights Grant

New Germany Area Promotion Society, Teen Place Youth Nights is one of 15 organizations involved in community recreational activities to receive $12,000 from the province's Lighthouses Program,
The program helps community groups provide recreational, educational, cultural and life skills programs for Nova Scotia youth. Justice Minister Ross Landry says it's important to prevent crime before it happens and these grants will help youth get involved in after school recreational programs. The grant applications were reviewed by a crime prevention advisory committee. An additional $180 thousand dollars will be awarded again next year.

J.C. Wickwire Study

A feasibility study of the Dr. J.C. Wickwire Academy in Liverpool concludes the school was not designed to accommodate expansion.. Superintendent Nancy Pynch-Worthylake says the province requested the South Shore Regional School Board to carry out the study to determine the appropriateness of renovating the facility to address the need to replace the existing South Queens Junior High School. The architects suggest a new middle school could be constructed for approximately the same cost as renovating J.C. Wickwire.
Currently Dr. John C. Wickwire Academy includes grades two to six , in a 45 thousand square foot building that was constructed in 1995. Pynch-Worthylake says the Board passed a motion to request a new grades 6 to 8 middle school, and also wants a meting with the Minister of Education to discuss the matter.