Adoption Awareness Month

South Shore residents and all Nova Scotians are encouraged to consider adopting school-age children. November is being marked as Adoption Awareness Month. 
Community Services Minister Denise Peterson-Rafuse says there are many children, most of whom are between six and sixteen years old, who are waiting for a loving, caring place to call home. More than 120 children were adopted by Nova Scotia families last year, but there are still many more waiting for a permanent home. Peterson-Rafuse says many of the nearly 350 children in permanent care and custody available for adoption are older, have siblings, or have special needs.
        The Department of Community Services offers information and training sessions to families when they choose to adopt. Ongoing support and financial assistance are also available for families who adopt a child with special needs. More information about adoption, and how families can take the first step toward adopting a child in Nova Scotia, is available by calling 1-866-259-7780 or watching the department's online adoption video series at www.gov.ns.ca/coms .

Recreational Fishing Meetings Scheduled

A series of meetings gets underway next week inviting Nova Scotians to discuss angling regulations and provide input on sportsfishing issues . One of the six scheduled meetings to be held across the province is set for Tuesday, November 8th at 6:30 p.m. at the Shelburne Fire Hall/Community Centre. The Recreation Fishing Advisory Council meetings are an opportunity for the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture to share information on research, fish stocking programs, education and extension programs, and discuss regulatory issues with the public. Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Sterling Belliveau says sportsfishing generates about $94 million annually in economic activity and is one of the most popular outdoor activities. Information on angling and meeting dates can be found at www.gov.ns.ca/fish/sportfishing or by calling 902-485-5056.

14-year-old girl charged after alleged stabbing in West Dublin

Lunenburg County RCMP say a 14-year-old girl faces charges including aggravated assault after a stabbing in West Dublin. Police say they went to the community Friday after a 21-year-old man was stabbed once in the left shoulder. He was treated in South Shore Regional Hospital for injuries police describe as not life-threatening. The girl is also accused of possession of a weapon dangerous to the public.

Evening of Remembrance

It's a gathering honouring military men and women from past and present. The Evening of Remembrance will be held Sunday night, November 6, at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Bridgewater. The coordinator, Dan Hennessey, says this is the first year for the event.

"It's just going to be an evening of relection and remembrance that's going to be done through music and images. So, it's a gathering of people, and for lack of better words, it's a lead-up to events on Remembrance Day, November 11."

Hennessey says the evening will include the video "Time to Remember", as well as music from a variety of South Shore artists. The event gets underway at 7pm Sunday night at St Paul’s Lutheran Church.

Mustangs, Titans square off in first-place battle

The South Shore Canadian Tire Mustangs will face their toughest opponent of the year this weekend. The Mustangs travel to St. Margaret's Bay for a two game set against the top-ranked Halifax Titans. The Mustangs, who sit in second place, play a Halifax team that has only lost once in 13 games this season. Mustangs Head Coach Tim Boyce says he's not worried about Halifax's record.

"They're definitely beatable. You have to play a good game to beat them, there's no question about that, they are a very good hockey club but any team in the league is beatable."

The two clubs square off Saturday and Sunday afternoon at 3pm at the St, Margaret's Community Centre.

Time to Change Your Clocks !

Daylight Time ends this weekend so don't forget to set your clocks back one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday
November 6th,  or before going to bed Saturday night. Watches and clocks are not the only items that need adjustment. Microwave ovens, answering machines, car clocks, automatic timer lights, mobile devices and computers may need to be turned back as well. It is also a reminder to change batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Smoke detectors should be tested monthly and replaced every 10 years. Remember FALL BACK...SPRING AHEAD !

Heating Assistance Rebate Applications Available

The Heating Assistance Rebate Program is being offered again this year to benefit those most in need. The application based program offers a rebate of up to $200 for eligible applicants who heat their home with oil, natural gas, wood, wood pellets. propane, electricity or coal. Households with net annual incomes of less than $42,000 and single people making less than $27,000 and who purchase home heating fuels, qualify for the rebate. Last year, more than 50,000 Nova Scotians received the rebate. Applications have been mailed to last year's recipients to encourage them to re-apply. They must meet all program requirements for this year to receive the rebate. Applications are available at Access Nova Scotia centres, MLA offices, Department of Community Services' offices, online at http://www.homeheatinghelp.ca/ , or by calling 1-800-670-4357.

Speed Limits to be Reduced in School Areas

You might want to pay closer attention driving through school zones. To protect students and make roads safer the province has introduced legislation (November 2nd) to reduce speed limits in school areas. Speed limits in school areas will be reduced from 50 kilometres per hour to 30 kilometres per hour in school areas where the surrounding speed zone is 50 kilometres an hour. In school areas where the surrounding speed zone is higher, the speed limit will remain 50 kilometres an hour. Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Bill Estabrooks says slowing drivers down in school areas will give them extra time to react and help keep children safe. The legislation would go into effect in fall 2012.

South Shore Members Attend National Conference

Three Lunenburg County residents are among 13 Nova  Scotia 4-H members attending a national conference in Toronto which runs through to Sunday November 6th.. The conference is a five-day program in leadership and agriculture for 4-H members between 16 and 21 years old. Eighty-five members from across Canada, two from the U.S.A. and one from the United Kingdom, will attend. Science and technology is the focus of this year's conference. Throughout the week, members will discuss global issues, hear lectures from guest speakers and make a group presentation.  Discussion will include energy, water, land use, soil loss, air and water quality, climate change, plant and animal production, biodiversity, sustainability and biotechnology.
The three Lunenburg County members attending are:

-- Lianne Lenihan, New Ross, Lunenburg Co.
-- Murray Clements, Blandford, Lunenburg Co.
-- Katie Dufresne, Blandford, Lunenburg Co.

During the week, 4-H members will also visit several points of interest in Toronto, including the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Rogers Centre, Toronto Dominion Bank Tower and the University of Guelph.

Province searching for solutions for Bowater Mersey Mill

Premier Darrell Dexter

The Premier of Nova Scotia says officials with the Bowater Mersey paper mill have told him they need help to address increased labour, wood and energy costs. Darrell Dexter attended an emergency meeting in Liverpool Wednesday with staff and management at the mill. He says the company is in desperate need for the province's assistance to find a solution to cut down costs. Dexter says Bowater Mersey has significant price gaps they need to close.

"They need to take the cost of manufacturing price per tonne from $537 to $480. They need to take their labour costs from $97 per tonne to $80 per tonne. So, as you can see, those are very, very significant gaps."

The President and Chief Executive Officer of AbitibiBowater, Richard Garneau, says the Brooklyn mill will remain open, unless they can't reduce costs. He says the mill will close if costs don't improve. Dexter says Bowater Mersey is a vital part of Queens County and the South Shore and he will be actively looking for help to keep the mill open.

Nature Conservancy of Canada acquires two new properties near Shelburne

The Nature Conservancy of Canada has added two new properties to the land it is protecting along the South Shore. The conservation organization says it has acquired two privately held properties totalling about 370 acres southwest of Shelburne. The pieces of land fall within the boundaries of the Bowers Meadow Wilderness Area in Round Bay.
The program manager for Nature Conservancy of Canada's operation in Nova Scotia, Craig Smith, says the land is critically important to the local eco-system.

"The head waters of the Round Bay river are located within the Wildnerness area, which drains out into the Atlantic Ocean, it's a potential habitat for the endangered mainland moose, there are a couple of rare plant species located there and its also a stopover or staging ground for a few different waterfowl species among their migratory roots."

Smith says they purchased the two properties of land for roughly $131,000. He says it took just over a year to purchase the properties. The Nature Conservancy of Canada owns roughly 723 acres of land along the South Shore.

40th Boston Christmas Tree to be Cut

Ken and Donna Spinney of Central Argyle, Yarmouth County, are this year's donors of Nova Scotia's big Christmas tree gift to Boston.
A 45foot white spruce will be cut at the Spinney property during a public ceremony November 15.
The tree-cutting ceremony will include students from three Yarmouth County elementary schools, a town crier declaration and a storytelling and poetry presentation about the Boston tree. Provincial and municipal government representatives and RCMP, in ceremonial red serge, will attend. The truck will leave after being loaded to board the ferry at Digby. After it crosses the Bay of Fundy, it will continue through New Brunswick and the U.S. to Massachusetts. Elementary students and all Nova Scotians will be able to track the truck's progress online through website updates.
         Each year since 1971, Nova Scotia has sent Boston a large Christmas tree in gratitude for help Bostonians provided after the devastating Halifax Explosion of December 6, 1917. Boston provided medical personnel and supplies to help treat explosion victims. The Nova Scotia tree is decorated on the Boston Common and lighted at a ceremony attracting about 30,000 people and broadcast live on television. To learn more about the Yarmouth County tree cutting ceremony, visit http://www.gov.ns.ca/ .

Bridgewater MD Reprimanded

Bridgewater doctor, Anthony Atkinson has been reprimanded by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia. Atkinson, who has a history of drinking problems has been ordered to abstain from drinking alcohol, be tested for alcohol and get treatment. He denies being drunk while practicing medicine or on call. Communications Director Theresa Hawkesworth says Atkinson was suspended last July pending the results of an internal investigation and resigned his privileges on July 30th before the investigation was complete. She says Dr. Atkinson has not worked within South Shore Health since that time. In a released statement, the College said Atkinson had been repeatedly warned about his use of alcohol because of the risk presented to his practice.

Bowater Mersey Mill closing for one week

The Bowater Mersey Paper mill in Brooklyn is shutting down for one week later this month. The company is examining the mill's future and is expected to close from November 14-21, mainly due to market conditions. The director of public affairs with Abitibi Bowater, Pierre Choquette, says the Brooklyn Mill needs to address issues including power rates and labour costs. Choquette says the company is also in talks for another closure from December 19 until January 2, 2012, but the dates are tentative because no decision has been made.

Petite Riviere Elementary turns 50

Petite Riviere Elementary is celebrating the 50th anniversary of opening its doors. The school will celebrate the past and present during a celebration Tuesday night. Former principal and teacher at Petite Riviere, Janet Baxter, says the community helped her through each position.

"It was a huge growing experience for me to move from classroom teacher to prinicipal, but I was supported by both staff and community members and students and so, again, it was a very positive experience."

Baxter adds the community is behind the school, despite having less than 100 students. The 50th anniversary celebrations kick off Tuesday night at 6:30 until 8 at the school.

One dead, another injured after collision in Conquerall Mills

One person is dead and another in hospital after a car struck a power pole Monday night in Conquerall Mills. A 21-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene while a 19-year-old man was seriously injured and is in stable condition at South Shore Regional. The collision forced a road closure and caused a power outage for several hours in the Conquerall Mills area. Lunenburg County RCMP are investigating the cause of the collision but believe speed was a factor.

Leopold jailed four months for assaulting ex-girlfriend

A Liverpool man has been sentenced to four months in jail for assaulting a former girlfriend by sitting on her and cutting off her air supply. James Leroy Leopold already had a previous conviction for assaulting and threatening another former girlfriend. The 32-year-old Leopold was sentenced in Bridgewater provincial court Monday after pleading guilty to assaulting Debbie Lohnes when she broke up with him in June 2010. The court was told that as Leopold sat on Lohnes's stomach and she struggled to breathe, he threatened to kill himself. Leopold has a criminal record that includes assaulting another former girlfriend in 2006 and two counts of threatening her last year.

MODL Approves 5 Year Capital Investment Plan

The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg has approved a five year capital investment plan through 2017. Deputy-Mayor Lee Nauss says there's over 2.3 million dollars worth of projects planned for next year and Council has not included any borrowing for any of the projects. He says they plan to do it all out of revenue or existing monies.  An agreement regarding the transfer of federal gas tax monies requires municipalities to prepare and submit a 5 year capital budget each year.

RCMP Remind Drivers to Slow Down Tonight.

On Halloween night, the scariest thing a motorist can encounter is a neighbourhood swarming with trick-or-treating children. Here's a few tricks to ensure everyone gets home safely with their treats. Motorists are reminded to stay well below the speed limit and be prepared to stop at any time. Children dressed in dark costumes can dart out from anywhere. It's also important not to pass any stopped cars as they may be dropping children off. Newly licensed drivers should also be extra careful on Halloween night as there are many distractions on the road.

Park View boys win JV soccer provincials, clinch berth in Division 1 provincials

It was a successful weekend for Park View's boys soccer teams. The JV team defeated Halifax West 3-0 to win the provincial title on home soil. Chance Harnish scored twice and Lucas Wile also tallied. Also, the Division 1 Boys provincial qualifier final was held at Park View. The home town Panthers beat Halifax West 2-1 and advances to provincials at Dr. J. H. Gillis in Antigonish this weekend.