Oh Christmas Tree !

A 39-year tradition of gratitude and holiday cheer continues today when a Christmas tree from Nova Scotia takes centre stage at the annual tree lighting ceremony in Boston. Every year, since 1971, Nova Scotia sends a Christmas tree to the people of Boston, in recognition for the help provided following the Halifax Explosion on Dec. 6, 1917. This year's tree is a 15-metre white spruce from Gary and Roseann Misner of North Alton, Kings County.  The ceremony will take place at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. in Boston) and will be televised to an estimated audience of 300,000 on WCVB Boston Channel 5, an ABC affiliate available in Atlantic Canada on cable.

Lunenburg in Solid Financial Position

An audited statement of Lunenburg. shows the town is in a solid financial position.  Mayor Laurence Mawhinney says the operating surplus was around 17 hundred dollars in a budget of over 4 million.  He says it's worthy of note that as a small community Lunenburg is not at risk as some communities may be as to their financial stability.  Mawhinney says it's very commendable that in a time when others are still looking to  find monies to pay for major capital investment, the Town spent over 7 million dollars this past fiscal year installing a new water treatment plant and only owe one million. The Mayor adds the Town is taking a very prudent and wise approach to fiscal management by waiting to source available provincial and federal funds.

Dog Park Considered for Lunenburg

By next summer there could be an area set aside in the Town of Lunenburg where Fido or Rover will be able to run free.  Council is exploring the feasibility and costs to set up an off-leash dog park.  Three sites have been recommended with one on Blockhouse Hill toward the back harbour being favoured. There have been complaints about some dog owners allowing their dogs to run off-leash on the Back Harbour Trail and on town sidewalks intimidating humans and other animals. Under the current By-law dogs do not need to be leashed but must be under effective control by their owner.

SHELBURNE COUNTY MAN GETS PRISON SENTENCE

Its off to prison for 14 months for a Shelburne County man.

37 year old Jonathan Wade Smith has been sentenced after being convicted earlier of setting fire to his girlfriend's home in January 2009.
Kristie Kaye Brannon was inside the home at the time and managed to escape the flames.
Smith's lawyer attempted to have his client set free, based on time already served but the judge didn't accept it. He did allow 16 months credit for 8 months already spent in jail. Smith also has to pay more than 231-thousand dollars to an insurance company for damages and close to 6-thousand to Brannen.

LUCKY LOTTO WINNERS COLLECT THEIR WINNINGS

Over a month ago, we were the first to let it be known that four people from the Bridgewater area had won a million dollars on a lotto scratch ticket.

Tanya Ernst, Barbara Kelley, Andrew Slauenwhite and Tina Silver all work at the Petro Can gas station on North Street in Bridgewater.
Because of that, they had to wait a month for Atlantic Lotto officials to make sure the win was legitimate.
They checked out OK and yesterday, the happy four travelled to Moncton to collect their winnings ... a cool one million... that they will split four ways.
What do they plan to do with all that money? Well, travel some and buy new vehicles, among other things!
They won the money with a Fortune scratch ticket.

Bump In the Night

In response to speeding and other dangerous driving habits in the Arena/Community Centre parking lot, Lunenburg Town Council has approved installing speed bumps.  The rubber speed bumps will be removable to accommodate snow removal. Council has agreed to increase its capital funding for parking lot improvements in this fiscal year to 88 hundred dollars so a full set of 67 speed bumps can be purchased for installation next spring. As the province is proposing to use a large section of the parking lot for the new Bluenose Academy staff and visitor parking, the Town is asking the Department of Education to contribute 50 percent of the cost of the speed bumps.

Oh Deer

A Lunenburg couple seeking a hunting prohibition within the town limits is out of luck. Susan Dennis and Darrell Tingley requested Council to implement a by-law making it illegal to bow hunt for deer. Dennis says she's disappointed with Council's decision. She says there's plenty of area within the County for hunters that they don't have to engage in the sport within the town boundary's. Tingley says next year it could be wide open with irresponsible hunters. He says as well, with no restrictions, hunters could well decide to go after bear. Mayor Laurence Mawhinney says despite the couple's concerns, the status quo will remain. He says there are regulations through the province that currently prohibit hunters from discharging firearms within the town limits.

Smells Like Christmas

You'll be able to guarantee your Christmas tree is fresh if you buy it from a retailer displaying a banner from the Christmas Tree Council of Nova Scotia. This is the first year the Council in partnership with the three regional Christmas tree grower associations is introducing the Christmas Tree Retail Code of Practice. To be eligible to display the signs Christmas tree retailers must agree to provide clean, freshly cut trees. The contract also calls for the maintenance of neat, orderly retail  space, customer service, and  proper tree care.

Fishermen Facing Favourable Conditions

It's the second day on the open seas for hundreds of lobster fishermen on the South Shore.


A region that stretches from Digby County along the South Shore to Halifax is considered one of the most fertile fishing markets in Atlantic Canada.

DFO Director for South Western Nova Scotia, Ian Marshall says the the first and most dangerous day of the season passed without major incident.

Marshall says two boats fishing out of Wedgeport and Westport are facing mechanical problems and will be towed to shore by Coast Guard vessels this morning.

Last year's regional fishery was worth 215  million dollars.

Lobster Exporters Face Tough Markets

South Shore markets are being flooded with lobster fresh from the sea.

A region stretching from Digby County, along the South Shore to Halifax, is considered to be one the most lucrative fishing grounds in Atlantic Canada.

As hundreds of fishermen haul traps on open water, those on shore are trying to determine a price for their product.

Denny Morrow of the "Nova Scotia Fish Packers" says exporters are doing their best to keep prices high in an unhealthy market.

"The economies of North America and Europe are better than they were two year ago, somewhat better than last year but there are still great difficulties," says Morrow.


Morrow says the bulk of the lobster being caught during this season will be shipped to the United States and Europe where debt is high, employment is low and banking systems are unsound.

Morrow says exporters are increasing sales by diversifying their product lines and expanding markets in Europe and China.

Morrow says he expects lobster to sell for "four and a quarter" per pound this season.

Last year's regional fishery was worth 215 million dollars.

Christmas Festival Funding

The federal government is getting in the festive mood by providing forty seven hundred dollars in funding for the annual "New Ross Christmas Festival".
The region's main industry growing and exporting Christmas trees and festival celebrates that with live entertainment, workshops and artisan exhibits.

M-P Gerald Keddy and Minister James Moore made the announcement this morning.

Moore says the event is a fun and festive way to boost the local economy while bringing the community together.

The contribution is provided through the "Building Communities through Arts and Heritage" fund.

The festival gets underway on December 3rd.

SEVERAL LOBSTER FISHERMEN FACE CHARGES

Several South Shore lobster fishermen are facing charges related to yesterday's start of the season.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Shelburne has charged three fishermen with hauling their traps on the same day as they were set.
A 4th lobster fisherman has been charged and charges are pending against several others for leaving port early yesterday, prior to the 7am start time.

LCLC Public Meeting

The latest design for the proposed Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre will be unveiled tonight  (Tuesday .,Nov.30) at a public meeting at the Best Western. Chair of the LCLC, Paul Belliveau says the restructured and revamped design of the facility will be presented to the public as well as the next phase of the budgeting process for the capital program for the project .  Belliveau says they're still working on completing the project by late fall of 2012. He says the next step will be to have the land cleared. Tonight's meeting is set to get underway at 7pm . The 32 million dollar Lifestyle Centre will house an indoor aquatic centre, one NHL sized rink, a new library, multi purpose and active living space.

Refusal of Roadside Screeing Charges

Two Lunenburg County men are facing charges of refusal of a roadside screening device demand following a weekend traffic stop and collision. A 48 year old Wileville man was stopped at a checkpoint on St. Phillips Street. Police noticed signs the man had been drinking but he refused a demand to provide a breath sample. Meantime, a 26 year old man from First Peninsula refused a roadside demand after being involved in a a collision. South Shore Traffic Services came across a vehicle overturned in a ditch on Highway 10 in Cherryfield around 3 a.m. on Saturday November 27th. The driver was found walking a short distance away. Both men are scheduled to appear in Bridgewater Provincial Court on January 26th.

Pizza Parlour Faces Disciplinary Hearing

A Lunenburg pizza parlour will have a disciplinary hearing before the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board in the new year.  J3 Pizza of 50 Montague Street is facing allegations of infractions under three sections of the Liquor Licensing Regulations. The company holds an eating establishment liquor licence.The disciplinary hearing has been scheduled for Friday, January 14th at 10:30 a.m. in Lunenburg Council Chambers.

Tourism Plan Launched

Nova Scotia has launched its 2011 provincial tourism plan (Nov. 29) to provide direction for building the industry and growing the economy. Presented at the 2010 tourism summit, the annual plan anticipates a competitive global market for visitors by focusing on innovation, helping businesses develop a competitive edge and capitalizing on the province's unique experiences and services. Tourism Culture and Heritage Minister Percy Paris says the department has advanced a plan for 2011 that will allow Nova Scotia to compete on the world stage as a top travel destination.  In the Maritimes region, a new approach will allow every Nova Scotian the opportunity to become a star. In spring, auditions will be held for regional television commercials, with Nova Scotians sharing favourite local experiences.

The tourism plan for 2011 is available on the department's website at www.gov.ns.ca/tch/tourism.

Christmas on the LaHave

The sound of singing filled the streets and lights flooded the sky as Bridgewater celebrated the festive season last night.

Record numbers turned out for the town's annual "Christmas on the LaHave" celebrations which included live entertainment, fireworks and a parade of more than thirty floats.

Event organizer and town councillor Bill McInnis says the event brings out the festive spirit in all who attend.

"People look forward to these types of events, when they become an annual event, in particular that time of year. And it give the community a sense of community... and anyone who at that function last evening would agree, there seems be an awful lot of happy people," say McInnis.

McInnis is guessing more than five thousand people attended the festivities.

The event is in its sixth year of operation, the parade was added the event bill four years ago.

Lobster Season Opens

Hundreds of vessels are scouring the coast of southern Nova Scotia today.

Lobster fishermen are setting traps in open waters stretching from Halifax to Digby County in the first day of the regional season.

Ian Marshall DFO Director for South Western Nova Scotia says some were not so lucky , despite favourable weather conditions.

"A vessel struck a rock and is basically inoperable at this moment and as well there were... three incidents in LFA 34 .So overall unfortunate for the four individuals, but overall not too bad when you consider roughly seventeen hundred vessels sailed...this morning," says Marshall.

Marshall says the four men were not injured in the accident and were able to safely beach their damaged vessel in a nearby port.

LOBSTER SEASON BEGINS ALONG SOUTH SHORE

One of the most lucrative fishing seasons in the Atlantic region opens today off the southern coast of Nova Scotia.

Roughly 1,700 lobster licence-holders can set their traps in an area stretching from Digby County, around to the South Shore and to Halifax.
The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans says the lobster fishery in areas 33 and 34 produced landings last year worth about $215 million.
Most of the lobster is exported to the United States.
The department notes that stepped-up security along the Canada-U.S. border has caused significant delays in lobster shipments in recent years.
The department says those delays could be reduced if fishermen and shippers ensure their lobster meets all the Canadian fishery regulations and U.S. entry requirements.

Shooting in Kings County

Kings County RCMP are investigating after a shooting Saturday morning.

Police say a bullet entered the 2nd floor of a West Brooklyn residence injuring a nineteen year old occupant.

The victim of the shooting has since been released from hospital.

Anyone with information on the crime is asked to contact Kings County RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

Investigators say the suspect may not be aware that their shot reached a home or human flesh.