Lunenburg Academy Of Music Performance Gets Significant Donation

The Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance has received a major donation. Susan and Guenter Reibling have pledged to give LAMP $100,000 to help the group edge closer to their financial goal of raising $1.2-million over the next three years. The Reiblings have already given $25,000 of the money to help the group secure office space and search for a general manager. Board of Directors member, Ellen Wathen, says they've had to adjust their vision and start small with the program.



The new plan was proposed by community leaders after it was revealed in August that funding sources for the project had fell through. A two-week academy is proposed to start next October at the Lunenburg Academy building.

Long Weekend: RCMP Blitz Nova Scotia Roads

It was a busy weekend for RCMP on Nova Scotia highways. Mounties had a strong presence on the road over the Thanksgiving long weekend. They issued just over 700 speeding tickets and fines to over 100 people for not wearing a seat belt. Constable Kerri Leyte says they also caught 45 people for using their cell phones while driving.



She says police have been cracking down on cellphone use or texting while driving since the law came into effect a few years ago. RCMP also caught nine impaired drivers and issued 15 suspensions.

Focus On Jobs/Economy As Parliament Resumes

The two-year countdown to the next federal election begins tomorrow with a new speech from the throne. Parliament is set to resume Wednesday. It should be an entertaining few days as the opposition is sure to hammer Prime Minister Stephen Harper over the senate spending scandal that has simmered through the summer. South Shore St. Margaret's MP Gerald Keddy says the Conservatives are set to put a strong focus on jobs and the economy.



Keddy has represented the South Shore at the federal level since 1997. He says the job is still fulfilling and is looking forward to getting back to Ottawa.

Local Hockey Players, Coach Win Gold At Challenge Cup

A pair of South Shore hockey players have returned home with gold medals from this year's Atlantic Challenge Cup in Moncton. Chester's Jacob Myra and Lunenburg's Walter Flower each represented Nova Scotia on the under-15 boys team that won the championship game 3-1 over New Brunswick. Myra scored two goals in four games while Flower was held off the scoresheet. Both players play for the BMO Western Hurricanes major bantam hockey team. Meanwhile, the team's coach also had success in the tourney. Brad Muise was an assistant for Nova Scotia's under-14 boys team that went 4-0 and cruised to the championship title.

Bridgewater Receives Senior Friendly Designation

The town of Bridgewater is being recognized as the province's first senior friendly town. The Senior Friendly program is owned by the Alberta Council on Aging. A representative from the group will present town council with the designation during its meeting on October 28. Program Coordinator Beth George says a lot of hard work has gone into the program since it started in 2009.



The program teaches volunteers to conduct check-ups on town facilities and teach organizations how they can improve access and safety for seniors. The group plans to issue a report to the town later this fall, identifying other ways it can become more senior-friendly.

Lunenburg: Town Still Needs To Discuss Power Partnership

The mayor for the town of Lunenburg is open to the idea of joining a group of municipalities in their quest to generate their own power. The towns of Mahone Bay and Berwick are in the middle of setting up a partnership to own a 16-megawatt windfarm in the Windsor area. It could be up and running sometime in 2015. Meanwhile, Lunenburg and Riverport have been mentioned as possible suitors to benefit from the alternative source of energy. However, Rachel Bailey says it's too early to tell what the town will do.


Bailey says council has yet to discuss the matter, but she expects talks to be held. Lunenburg currently purchases electricity from Nova Scotia Power and re-sells it to residents.

Charges Laid After Threats Made At Barrington High

A man has been charged in connection with alleged threats made toward Barrington Municipal High School and its students. Over the weekend, Yarmouth RCMP arrested a 44-year-old man shortly after RCMP became aware of the threats. The suspect is facing four counts of Uttering Threats to Barrington Municipal High School and the school's students. He's been held in custody since Saturday night and will be in Yarmouth court today. During their investigation, the RCMP searched a home to collect potential evidence. They also searched Barrington High School and found nothing suspicious. There will be a police presence at the school today to reassure students and  parents that its safe.

Mustangs Drop Third Straight Game

The South Shore Mustangs have lost three in a row following a pair of weekend losses. The major midget club fell 6-2 to the Newbridge Academy Gladiators Sunday in Dartmouth. Alex Nauss and Keith Getson scored the goals while Nick Dawe took the loss in nets. On Saturday night, the Cole Harbour Wolf Pack got by the Mustangs 4-1. The South Shore club host the Valley Wildcats this Saturday.

Lumberjacks Edge Capitals, Earn First Win

The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks have stopped the bleeding. The Lumberjacks got three goals from Jesse McInnis en route to a 3-2 win over the Summerside Capitals. The victory broke a 10-game winless streak to open the regular season. Cory Peterson stopped 42 shots in the win. The Lumberjacks host Summerside Friday night at the Clearwater Seafood Arena at the LCLC.

Mustangs Host Wolf Pack

The South Shore Mustangs look to bounce back from an earlier loss to Cole Harbour when they host the Wolf Pack Saturday night in Bridgewater. The major midget club fell 2-0 to Cole Harbour Wednesday night. The Mustangs hope home ice at the Clearwater Seafoods Arena will be kind to them, and help the club break out of a three-way tie for third in the league standings. Game time is 8pm Saturday night.

Dieppe Score Six Straight, Cruise Past Lumberjacks

Lucas Batt scored twice and added a helper as the Dieppe Commandos got by the Bridgewater Lumberjacks 6-1 Friday night. It was the Lumberjacks first game ever in the Clearwater Seafood Arena at the LCLC. Shane Dallaire also added a pair of goals to help pace the Dieppe offense. Campbell Pickard scored the lone goal for the Lumberjacks while Billy Clarke stopped 22 shots in the loss. The Lumberjacks travel to Summerside for a matinee game at 2pm on Sunday.

Bridgewater: Five People Charged After Vehicle Thefts

Five people including two youths are facing charges after a number of recent thefts in Bridgewater. Twenty-one year old Tyler Briffett of Bridgewater is charged with theft after allegedly stealing a 2008 Ford Escape on Thursday. The two youths have been charged in relation to thefts of three other vehicles. They also face additional theft under $5,000 charges after items were stolen from vehicles between August and October. Two others were charged and released this morning with a promise to appear in court. Bridgewater Police expect more charges to be laid as the investigation continues.

Mi'kmaq Language Project Receives Funding From Ottawa

A Mi'kmaq language project is receiving financial help from Ottawa. South Shore-St. Margaret's MP Gerald Keddy announced $66,060 to the Mi'kmaq Burial Grounds Research & Restoration Association today at Fort Point in LaHave. The funding will allow the association to offer an intensive language training program to 20 people. It has four phases and will be offered over a nine-month period. Phase one will be a five-day language immersion retreat, and phase two will be a Sunday language class lasting for 30 weeks. Phases three and four consist of activities and tools that will enhance participants' speaking, listening, and reading skills. Keddy calls the program a great opportunity for the Mi'kmaq language to be seen and heard within the community.

NSCC: Local Enrollment Holding Steady

Enrollment at South Shore community colleges in Bridgewater, Shelburne and Yarmouth is steady again this fall. The principal of the NSCC campus in Bridgewater, Craig Collins, says a couple of courses are particularly popular year to year.



Collins believes Nova Scotia Community Colleges in our area are helping retrain many residents affected by the sluggish job market created by the closure of Bowater Mersey last year.

Bridgewater: Skate Park Proponents Hold Community Event

Proponents of a skatepark in Bridgewater will host a community event on Saturday. Members involved with Grinders Square All-Wheels Park are putting on a barbecue, with demonstrations and live music on site near the LCLC. Town Councillor Andrew Tanner says they will have information on-hand regarding the future park.



A temporary park is in the works to be ready for April 1, 2014 in the parking lot near the LCLC on Cook Road. The event gets underway at 1:30.

Lumberjacks Make Debut At LCLC

The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks will be making their long-awaited debut Friday evening at the Clearwater Seafood Arena at the new Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre. The Jacks host the Dieppe Commandoes beginning at 7pm. A tailgate party is planned, beginning at 4:30, with a BBQ to help raise money for Lunenburg County PRO Kids. There will also be live music. The Lumberjacks hope to snap a nine game winless streak.

Seffernsville: Family Wants To Fix Community Spelling

Ruby Seffern says she wants to protect the heritage of her family. The Seffernsville resident is looking to change the name of the community to Seffernville for historical reasons and to reflect the proper spelling. She wants the Municipality of Chester to persuade the Department of Transportation to correct the issue. Seffern says her and her son could be the only people in the area with the last name.



However, the municipality is waiting for a community response before the issue can move ahead. Council would need a majority of the residents to be in favour of changing the community name. Council itself would also have to agree, and supporting evidence would have to support that a change is warranted. The information would then be forwarded to the province for decision.

Liberals Could Introduce February Holiday In 2015

If you didn't pay much attention to the provincial election, maybe this will peak your interest. The Liberal MLA for Clayton Park West, Diana Whalen, has been pushing to introduce a February holiday for nearly a decade. Whalen has introduced a private member's resolution for a new holiday every year since 2005 but it's been turned down every time. The Grits won a majority in Tuesday's election prompting questions as to when the holiday will be implemented. Premier designate Stephen McNeil stopped just shy of promising to make the holiday a reality on Wednesday morning when talking to reporters. However, Whalen says the new Liberal government will have to consult with business leaders to see what kind of impact it will have on their operation. That probably means no new holiday until 2015.

Ottawa Gives Funding For Recreational Fish Conservation

Ottawa will provide up to $112,000 to support recreational fisheries conservation on the South Shore and across the province. Among the projects, the Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation will receive $50,000 for its salmon conservation project on the LaHave River. Executive Director Brooke Nodding says they want to help bring angling back to the river. She says over the next two years the foundation will join its partners to improve fish passage in the North Branch of the river. Work will include bank stabilization and debris removal from culverts.



Meanwhile, $62,000 is being provided for the Nova Scotia Salmon Association's conservation project. A total of six projects in Nova Scotia were approved for funding under the Recreactional Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program. The announcement was made this morning in Lunenburg by South Shore-St. Margaret's MP Gerald Keddy.

Shelburne Man Arrested In Quebec City

A Shelburne County man charged with abducting his baby two years ago has been arrested on a Canada wide warrant in Quebec City. Corporal Nancy Mason says 45 year-old Collin James Lawrence was taken into custody last Wednesday and transported back to Nova Scotia. The warrant was issued September 30th after he didn't show up to his Supreme Court trial child abduction. Lawrence was arrested in 2011 near the New Brunswick border after allegedly taking his newborn child from its mother. The Supreme Court trial regarding the abduction matter has rescheduled for October 28 in Barrington. He's facing five new charges in relation to his failure to appear, those matters will be dealt with on October 16 in Shelburne Province Court.