Chester: Kaizer Meadow Wind Project

The Municipality of Chester is set to move ahead with a wind project at its Kaizer Meadow Landfill Facility. The $5.5 million dollar project will be fully owned by the municipality and will feature a large 2.3 megawatt turbine. The project was approved in December but was officially announced by Energy Minister Charlie Parker this morning. Warden Allen Webber called it a good investment for everyone involved. "It's about doing your part to reduce our carbon footprint by producing energy from a renewable resource such as the wind, that can be used locally by our own residents so they can feel good...they're doing their part. But, there's a economic side of this too, and once the switch is turned on this will be a positive revenue generator right from the first year," Minas Basin Pulp and Power of Hantsport has been contracted for project management, operation and maintenance. Webber expects the turbine will be operational early in 2013.

Bowater Mersey Plans Biomass Project

Bowater Mersey is one of four successful applicants under the province's COMFIT program. Officials at the Brooklyn based-mill are planning a 3.3 megawatt combined heat and power biomass project. The company will install a turbine and generator to improve waste heat recovery from steam generated at the facility. The captured steam would then be turned into electricity. Energy Minister Charlie Parker made the announcement near Chester this morning. He also announced Community Feed-in Tariff approvals for the Halifax Regional Water Commission, Town of New Glasgow and Celtic Current of Mulgrave. Each individual project must go through environmental assessments but today's announcement will allow each group to proceed to the next stage of development. The water commission is proposing an 11.5 megawatt large-wind project in Lake Major, near Preston. Nine projects in total have been approved so far under the COMFIT program, generating about 25 megawatts of electricity.

Soccer club concerned about losing Centre fields

The impending shutdown of Centre Consolidated School is creating concern for a local soccer organization. The West Nova Fuels/Lunenburg United Soccer club is worried the school's closure in March, could affect their use of its two soccer fields. The club has approached the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg proposing the two enter into a long-term agreement to operate the fields. Instead, council has decided to move ahead by establishing an ad hoc committee to look into the issue. Mayor Don Downe says the committee is the best option at the moment.

"The committee would be a representative of our council and their soccer association and taking a look at the short-term requirements that will be there and also, looking at the more important issue, the long-term aspect of how do we retain that soccer pitch."

Deputy Mayor Frank Fawson, Councillor Basil Oickle and Councillor Cathy Moore have shown their support to be part of the ad hoc committee. The nominating committee is expected to make its recommendations for the ad hoc group by next Tuesday's council meeting. The two Centre fields are roughly 25 and 50-years-old and the original lower turf is considered to be one of the best natural fields in the province.

New Logo for Bluenose Academy

The logo for Bluenose Academy is out. The school received 30 entries for the contest, which closed January 30. Of the 30 submitted, four were chosen for students to vote on Monday. The voting results are in and Darlene McCarthy's entry was selected as the new logo.

COMFIT: Kaizer Meadow Announcement

The province is set to announce more successful applicants under its COMFIT program this morning. Energy Minister Charlie Parker will make the announcement at the Kaizer Meadow Solid Waste Facility, near Chester. The Community Feed-in Tariff is part of Nova Scotia's Renewable Electricity Plan and will help the province reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The goal of the program is to enable communities to benefit from renewable electricity programs at the local level. The government has set targets of 25% renewable electricity by 2015, and 40% renewable electricity by 2020. COMFIT is one element designed to help the province meet its renewable energy goals. We'll have more details later today.

SSRSB Superintendent supports new Education Plan

Nancy Pynch-Worthylake

The Superintendent of the South Shore Regional School Board is reacting to the Education Minister's new Kids and Learning First plan. Nancy Pynch-Worthylake says its too early to tell how the plan will impact schools because they don't know their upcoming budget yet. Still, Pynch-Worthylake says there are some positives in the plan.

"We're completely supportive of changes in the math curriculum and we've been asking for that for some time. We have a lot of work going on, on the South Shore, in grade nine with inquiry-based learning, so we're very happy to see that. We certainly support attention to school mental health."

The plan, introduced late last week by Ramona Jennex, includes 39 initiatives, totalling a $6.7-million investment over three years to:


-- bring more services for kids and families into schools in every county

-- begin a Discovering Opportunities program for struggling Grade 9 students

-- introduce a manufacturing trades course linked to shipbuilding

-- double the number of schools offering skilled trades courses

-- triple the number of students taking courses through virtual school and double the number of its courses

-- expand career development support, including more career coaching workshops for parents

-- introduce a new grants program to allow more community groups to use schools for physical, cultural and education activities

For more information on the Kids and Learning First plan, visit www.ednet.ns.ca .

NS Gov't will Pave Rough Section of Highway 14

It's some good news for motorists who travel a rugged section of Highway 14 near Chester. A nine kilometre stretch from Canaan Road to Kaizer Meadow Road will see some fresh paving this summer. The section was a late addition to the province's five year highway improvement plan last year. Area Manager for Lunenburg and Queens County Matt Covey speaks on behalf of the Department of Transportation. "It does have very high traffic, as we all know the surface is very poor and those two factors are why we are going there instead of somewhere else," Chester-St. Margaret's MLA Denise Peterson-Rafuse says 1,300 kilometres of roads have been paved over the last two years with another 500 kilometres planned this year. Nova Scotia's first ever five-year paving and highway plan was released in 2010 and is entering its second year.

Bridgewater man wins truck through NFL contest

Nothing like winning a truck while watching the Super Bowl. Bridgewater native Neil Thompson is the new owner of a 2012 Nissan Frontier after it was announced in a commercial break during Sunday's big game. Thompson is the grand prize winner of the Nissan NFL Score More Contest. The truck is valued at over $38,000.

Windsor Road in Rough Shape

The Municipality of Chester is asking its residents to take their concerns surrounding the condition of the Windsor road to their MLA. The municipality has been trying to get sections of Highway 14 re-paved for years with no success. Warden Allen Webber says council has written numerous letters to the province indicating the poor condition of the road. He says its now up to residents to individually contact their MLA. "We don't mind taking the calls, but people have to understand that we are not the authority responsible for road maintenance, road construction, repaving, snow removal and that they are way better served by calling their local MLA themselves because the more she hears in this case from them personally, the better chance of action," Webber says the road has been high on the municipalities priority for as long as he can remember.

Mining & Forestry Need Government Promotion: Baillie

We told you a few days ago a quartz mine in Shelburne County has been forced to cease operations because of poor world market conditions. Black Bull Resources owns the White Rock Mine and has been losing money. Now, the province's Conservative leader Jamie Baillie says there's been little support from the Dexter government for resource industries. He's calling on the government to provide breaks on taxes and power rates for rural industries in general. Ballie would also like to see increased government promotion of the mining and forestry sectors on the South Shore and elsewhere in the province.

New Head Officer At Barrington RCMP Is A First For Province

   There's a new head of operations at the Barrington District RCMP. What's special about it is the fact Sgt. M.J. DeLuco is the first woman to command an RCMP district in the province, in charge of finances, the budget and being the face of the Mounties in the area. DeLuco has already headed up the RCMP office in Windsor Town and Windsor Rural and she's also been based in Nunavut. She takes on her new role beginning today at the Barrington District RCMP office.

Play-off Bound: Mustangs Lock-Up Third Seed

Shaun McEachern's big game helped the South Shore Canadian Tire Mustangs earn a 6-4 win in Cole Harbour in their regular season finale yesterday. McEachern notched four goals as the Stangs locked up third place in the League standings. The Stangs tied the franchise record for most wins and most points in a season with 19 and 41. The Mustangs will open the Nova Scotia Major Midget playoffs this weekend against the Valley Wildcats. The best of five series opens with games Saturday night at 8 and Sunday morning at 10:30 at the Bridgewater Arena.  

High Liner Boss to chair National Fisheries Institute

Henry Demone

A little bit of history made for the top dog at High Liner Foods. The president and CEO of the Lunenburg-based business, Henry Demone, has become the first ever Canadian to chair the National Fisheries Institute. The Institute is the largest seafood trade association in the U.S. Demone says the association can help draw resources from top performers inside multiple companies. He says becoming chair is a chance for the entire seafood industry to come together and evolve as a group.

Adult High School offered in Chester

An Adult High School course is once again being offered in Chester. South Shore SchoolsPlus are offering a free English course to people over 19-years-old and trying to earn their high school graduation certificate. The facilitator for SchoolsPlus, Shirley Burris, says the course offers a fairly flexible schedule.

"I think the beauty of this program is we gear it to the schedules of people who may be parents and so, the course begins after elementary schools go in, after their children may be in school, they're finished by noon time and so that allows them not to have to take family time away."

The course is offered at no charge and the first class will be held February 7 at Chester District Elementary School. If people are interested in being a part of the class, you can contact Shirley at (902)521-6360 or email her at sburris@ssrsb.ca .

Mustangs look to clinch third against Dartmouth

A huge game with playoff implications Saturday night for the South Shore Canadian Tire Mustangs. The local major midget club can wrap up third place with a win against Dartmouth. A victory would secure a first round playoff match up against either Cape Breton West or Valley. A loss Saturday night would mean they would have to win against Cole Harbour Sunday in order to finish third. Puck drop at 7:30 at the Dartmouth Sportsplex.

Awards For Local Architects & Their Designs



Two Hulls


A pair of South Shore homes and their architects have won some prestigious, international acclaim. Two Hulls, built on the rocky shoreline in Port Mouton and Shobac Campus, a collection of several buildings in Upper Kingsburg, have been recognized for their excellence in design.
Two Hulls has picked up a North American citation for innovative wood design and a Canadian Architect Award of Excellence.
Shobac Campus has been given the North American Wood Design Program's Ron Thom Award for outstanding creative talent and design.
It has also received the American Institute of Architects Honor Award for building design. Both projects are the creations of architects Brian MacKay-Lyons and Talbot Sweetapple who say they were designed to meet the challenges of their coastal surroundings.

Liberal Leader Calls For More Daycare Space In Schools

As changes are made to education, some people fear education budgets will be cut again and schools closed. In a CKBW News (Hank-fm News) interview, Liberal leader Stephen McNeil says the growing amount of space in schools still operating and those facilities that close should be used for daycare.
He says: "On the South Shore, we've talked an awful lot about school closures. They're happening in many rural areas. There's a wonderful opportunity inside of that debate to ask .. can we create a public daycare space, not making it a part of the education system, but allowing that public space to be used by community and daycare operators."
Meanwhile, Conservative leader Jamie Baillie says the government is saying one day its going to phase out day care subsidies and the next day, its telling parents not to worry, subsidies won't be cut.
He says the mixed messages surrounding whats an essential service for many South Shore parents is becoming very upsetting for them.
Baillie is calling on the Premier to reaffirm support for working parents.

Low Turnout at 1688 Lobster Meeting in Liverpool

Only a small turnout took-in a meeting to learn more about a new fisherman's group along the South Shore. Roughly 15 people attended the "1688 Professional Lobster Fishermen Association" gathering in Liverpool Thursday. The group's chair, James Mood, says they have signed up approximately 650 members since establishing over three weeks ago. He says they haven't lost momentum, despite low numbers at their recent meetings.

"Fisherman are waiting to see what this Association can do for them. I don't blame them. Some people joined up instantly, some people want to wait and see if this Association is going to stay and we are going to stay and keep the course."

Mood is hoping to see at least 80 percent of lobster fishermen in LFA's 33 and 34 district join the association. He expects meetings to be scheduled in Sambro and Lockeport in the next few weeks.

LCLC Tender Process extended until February 9

The tender process for the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre has been extended until February 9. The deadline was supposed to be February 2. But, the chair of the Lunenburg County Multipurpose Centre Corporation, Paul Belliveau, says changes to the tender have pushed the deadline to next Thursday.

"Contractors review the tender documents and if they come up with questions about changes or suggest changes or difference of materials and things like that within the tender documents then it will cause an addendum if the design team feels appropriate to make those changes. So, it's the time that's required to make those changes and inform all the contractors that the changes have been made."

Belliveau says he estimates around eight contractors have submitted bids so far to build the LCLC. The project is expected to include an NHL sized ice surface, an aquatic centre and library and is scheduled to be complete by March 2013.

Mariners drop Lumberjacks at Queens Place-Emera Centre

Andrew Wigg haunted his old club in Queens County Thursday night. The former Lumberjack scored once and added two assists as the Yarmouth Mariners dumped the Jacks 6-2. Head Coach Terry Rhindress says his club gave Wigg too much respect early in the game. Shawn Boudreau and Michael Crawley scored for the Jacks while Billy Clarke stopped 24 shots in the loss. A crowd of 1,120 took in the game at the new Queens Place-Emera Centre in Liverpool. The Lumberjacks get back on the ice Friday night when they host the Amherst Ramblers at 7pm at the Bridgewater Memorial Arena.