School Board: District Four Candidates Forum

School review, future challenges and agreeing or disagreeing with the decision to fire the previous board were among the topics discussed during Tuesday night's candidates forum at Hebbville Academy. The four people running for school board in district four each voiced their opinions in front of about 50 people. Candidate Brian Eisener says there has to be change to make students more successful in learning.



Meanwhile, another candidate, Karen Reinhardt, says it all starts with the younger children.



On another issue, candidate Fred Daugherty says it was a good choice to reduce the amount of school board seats.



Another candidate, Jennifer Naugler, agrees.



School Board elections for district four will be held Saturday until 7pm.

Sod Turning For South Queens School In Liverpool

The sod will be turned for the new South Queens School project tomorrow in Liverpool. Premier Darrell Dexter will join MLA Vicki Conrad for the ground breaking ceremony. The province has committed $16 million dollars towards the project. The South Queens School will be home to grades 6 to 8, with grade 9 students moving to Liverpool Regional High School. It's expected to be ready for classes in September 2013. The ceremony begins at 11AM at the school construction site on Waterloo Street.

School Board Candidates Forum At Hebbville Academy

School Board candidates from district four will take part in a forum tonight at Hebbville Academy. The school advisory councils from Hebbville, Pentz, Petite and Newcombville are hosting the event. The candidates in that area include are Brian Eisener, Karen Reinhardt, Jennifer Naugler and Fred Daugherty. The forum gets underway at 7pm.

MODL Mothballs Riverport School

Steps are starting to be taken to demolish the former Riverport School. The Municipality of Lunenburg has decided to mothball the school and continue to lobby the province to take responsibility of the building. Councillor for the area, Don Zwicker, says it's time to cut their losses on the school. He says they have to do what's right for the municipality and the community.



Zwicker says the common theme with residents is to get rid of the building. A recent assessment revealed the municipality could spend roughly $300,000 to demolish the school.

Second Day Of Advance Polls Open

Today is the second and final day for advanced polling in several communities around the South Shore. Advance polls opened at noon for residents living within the Municipality of Lunenburg, Town of Lunenburg, Region of Queens, Mahone Bay, Town of Shelburne and Municipality of Shelburne. Residents will be able to vote via the paper ballot at their designated polling stations. Voting will take place until 8PM. E-voting continues in Bridgewater and Chester in advance of election day on Saturday. Election day is October 20th.

Jordan Bay Family Provides Boston Christmas Tree

A Shelburne County family has been selected to donate this year's Nova Scotia Christmas tree to Boston. The province chose Paul and Jan Hicks of Jordan Bay. This year's tree is about 70 years old and stands close to the road on the Hicks' front yard. Each year since 1971, the province has sent Boston a large Christmas tree for the help provided after the devastating Halifax Explosion of Dec. 6, 1917. Close to 2,000 people were killed and hundreds were left hurt and homeless. A crew from Natural Resources will cut the tree on the Hicks' property during a public ceremony November 13. The province will truck the 50 foot white spruce to Boston as part of the annual tradition. The tree lighting will take place on the Boston Common on November 29.

Lunenburg Mayoralty Candidate Seeks More Openess & Public Consultation



Ron Stockton

He wants to be mayor of the Town of Lunenburg and Ron Stockton believes he's got a good shot of winning in this Saturday's municipal election. The former labour lawyer says there are a lot of residents willing to help him move things forward while keeping the town's heritage intact. Stockton is promising openess of government and greater public consultation if elected. He says in this day and age, its a must that government is managed that way.



Stockton says he'd also like to have more co-operation with neighboring municipalities. He and former Lunenburg deputy mayor and councillor Rachel Bailey are seeking the mayor's office, being vacated by the retiring Laurence Mawhinney.

CTF Calls For Investigation Into Illegal Cigarette Sales

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says its almost criminal whats happening with tax-free cigarettes being provided by Ottawa to native reserves across this province. Last year, the CTF revealed millions of dollars were being lost in black market tobacco products. Now, spokesman Kevin Lacey tells the problem is even worse. He says according to numbers obtained by FOIPOP from Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations, over 137,000 cigarettes were sold tax-free for the personal use of Status Indians in 2011-12. There are only 14,989 status Indians in Nova Scotia, making up 1.5 per cent of the entire population. Yet, 13.3 per cent of all tobacco sold in the province was sold on reserve, officially for the personal use of Status Indians. He says tax-payers are on the losing end and tens of millions of dollars are involved.



Lacey says tobacco products are being sold off-reserve. The CTF is calling for an investigation.

Election Most Interesting One In Years: Political Scientist

For the first time in years, the municipal election on the South Shore has sparked considerable interest. Thats the conclusion of political scientist Agar Adamson of Wolfville. He tells us, with 3 mayors not re-offering after many years in office, the political landscape will change to some degree after October 20th. Thats particularly true with Lunenburg mayor Laurence Mawhinney and District of Queens mayor John Leefe leaving after a combined 45 years of service.



Mawhinney has been mayor of Lunenburg for 33 years and Leefe has been mayor of the District of Queens for 12 and an MLA and cabinet minister for years prior to that. Mayor Carol Publicover of Bridgewater is also leaving office after 8 years.

Eagleridge Estates Gets Green Light

The former Olde Town golf course is expected to be transformed in the next few years. Bridgewater council held a public hearing recently and heard no arguments against the housing project being proposed for the land. The project, led by Genivar Inc., will include 157 housing units including 128 in phase one. The plan for Eagleridge Estates includes town-houses, semi-attached dwellings and a pair of apartment buildings. Construction isn't expected to start until 2014-15. The public has two weeks to apply to the UARB to appeal the decision.

LaHave Manor Employees Unionize - Join CAW

Employees at LaHave Manor in Bridgewater have unionized, joining the Canadian Auto Workers Union. The CAW is one of Canada's largest labour unions with nearly 200,000 members. About 70 people work at LaHave Manor and will now be able to negotiate a collective agreement with their employer. The Adult Residential Centre is a long-standing fixture in the Bridgewater area and is owned by LaHave Manor Corporation. LaHave operates three other homes in Bridgewater, including Compassion House, Fernwood House and Pleasant Street Group Homes.

Yarmouth RCMP Target Distracted Drivers

RCMP in Yarmouth have handed out fines to 20 motorists nabbed for texting or making phone calls while driving. Police conducted a blitz along Starrs Road on Friday. They had a plain clothed officer report clear violations to other members who were parked nearby. The project allowed police to issue 23 tickets to motorists for not wearing seat belts. Similar initiatives to halt distracted driving are also planned in Digby and Shelburne Counties in the near future.

School Board Forum In Bridgewater/Chester

Local residents are getting a chance to meet their school board candidates in the town of Bridgewater.A candidates forum is being hosted by the Bridgewater Junior/Senior High school advisory council for Monday night for Cheryl Fougere and Jerome Tanner. The forum gets underway at the high school at 7pm. Forest Heights will also host a Chester candidates forum Monday night.

South Shore: More Advanced Polls Open

A few more South Shore residents will be able to cast their ballots in advanced polls for the municipal and school board election. Those living in the Municipality of Lunenburg and Town of Mahone Bay can vote today between 12PM and 8PM. E-voting is underway in the Town of Bridgewater and Municipal of Chester and will continue until October 20th and October 18th respectively. Polling day is October 20th.

Community Play Area Opening In Pine Grove

The first phase of the Pine Grove outdoor play area will open this weekend. A grand opening is planned for Saturday from 10am-2pm at 72 Charlie Lane. A rain date is planned for the same time on Sunday, should the weather not co-operate. Municipality of Lunenburg councillor Sandra Statton says it will fill a need in the community.




The outdoor play area will feature a ball hockey or ice hockey pad, depending on the season, basketball nets, a swing set and mountain bike hills. A ball hockey tournament will be held Saturday to mark the event, with an entry fee of $2. Statton says phase two is expected to begin next October.

E-Votes Pouring In Around South Shore

It appears residents of Bridgewater and Chester are liking the option of casting their ballots either by phone or online. Chester has recorded 543 total votes through evoting since the polls opened on Thursday. The break down has 173 votes via TelVote and 370 votes via WebVote. In Bridgewater, 357 residents have already voted with 305 via Internet and 52 over the phone. E-voting in the Town of Bridgewater and Municipality of Chester will continue until October 20th and October 18th respectively. Meanwhile, advanced polls will also open tomorrow for residents who live within the Municipality of Lunenburg and Town of Mahone Bay. Voting those those jurisdictions will take place between 12PM and 8PM on Saturday with the traditional paper ballot system in place.

Lunenburg Mayoralty Candidate Says She Has The Right Stuff



Rachel Bailey

 For the first time in more than a generation, the municipal election ballot in Lunenburg will "not" contain the name ... Laurence Mawhinney! The venerable mayor of 33 years is retiring and "that" has some people in the town concerned about life after the MaWhinney era. However, mayoralty candidate Rachel Bailey says no fears .... she's ready to step up to the plate and take-on the challenge.



Bailey has experience on Lunenburg town council and as deputy-mayor. Ron Stockton is the other candidate seeking to replace Laurence MaWhinney. Election day is October 20th.

Health Authority Earns Highest Accreditation Level

South Shore Health has received a distinction few organizations can boast about. The authority has been accredited with exemplary standing. It's the highest honour possible from Accreditation Canada. CEO for South Shore Health, Peter Vaughan, says staff is well-deserving of the honour.



Vaughan says they moved up to exemplary standing after developing strategies to address issues in patient identification and client and families role in safety. He says this is the first time South Shore Health has received the recognition.

Yarmouth Company Providing South Shore Shuttle

Bernie Melanson

A surprising twist came out of Thursday night's Utility and Review Board hearing in Bridgewater on a new regional bus service. Trius Tours was looking to abandon their service on the South Shore, but instead, Yarmouth-based Bernie's Shuttle Service has stepped up and will carry-on the service. The company has one eight-passenger and two six-passenger vehicles to service the route to Halifax. Owner Bernie Melanson says it's a new challenge.



Meanwhile, Trius Tours owner, Mike Cassidy, says the timing of Acadian Lines decision to shut down its business played a factor in abandoning service to the South Shore.



Melanson says its too early to say where the route will stop or how much it will cost. He looks forward to providing the service and feels its important to local residents.

Gas Prices Fall (& Rise) At South Shore Pumps

As expected, gasoline prices have decreased overnight on the South Shore. One particular grade is up though. While regular self serve is down almost 4.5 cents a litre, diesel is up almost 3 cents. Self serve regular is a dollar-37-point-3 while diesel is selling at a dollar-38. High test gas is also down a bit this morning.