26jul2010: Shelburne carver Sam Holden to give demonstration at Islands Park...  The summer event series continues on Wednesday, July 28 at 2:00pm at Islands Park this week with a demonstration by noted local carver Sam Holden. Holden carves in wood and other materials and is known for his excellent work in creating historic accoutrement. His work can be seen at historical reenactments and throughout the movie, "A: The Scarlet Letter".  >>> see samples of Holden's work here.

23jul2010: Shelburne Municipality announces $40,000 in community grants... The Municipality of the District of Shelburne announced Wednesday that it had committed more than $40,000 in grants to 48 community groups, including fire halls, churches and cultural and recreation groups.  >>> read complete list here

23jul2010: Irving increasing commitment to area by purchasing Shelburne Ship Repair... could result in 60 jobs.... After leasing the property for 13 years from the Province, Irving Shipbuilding Inc plans to effects its option to purchase the site, which is currently going through a major upgrade using a $9 million loan from the Province. 
     Shelburne Municipal CAO Kirk Cox told SCT that the Municipality could not be more pleased about the decision. "We lobbied hard to have them stay in the area and an increase in their activity here can only mean more jobs and prosperity." Cox says the commitment by Irving fits well into the economic development plans the Municipality has for the area surrounding the shipyard. >>> story  

23jul2010: Alex Buchanan brings alt pop to Sea Dog in Shelburne... This week's Friday Hootenanny at the Sea Dog features Alex Buchanan, piano-based songwriter and singer, specializing in alt-pop music. His solo CD will be on sale. There is a $5 cover.  http://www.shelburnenovascotia.com/hootenanny.htm

23jul2010: Confusion over priorities for Yarmouth flight school... The people behind the company that wants to bring a flight school to Yarmouth say they have moved on from difficulties in the past and continue to focus on setting up an operation by the fall. A news story in the online version of the Yarmouth Vanguard suggests that owners are telling different stories about where the flight centre will focus.

23jul2010: Yarmouth facing urgent shortage after losing two doctors, Tories insist immediate funding is needed. South West Health District is launching a campaign to recruit new doctors after two more physicians have said they are leaving Yarmouth... >>> CBC news  >>> see Herald story  Former Health Minister and current PC Health Critic Chris d'Entremont told SCT that the NDP government should immediately commit the necessary funding to solve the problem. "If this was halifax," said d'Entremont, "the situation would be solved like it was for the emergency room doctors in April." The Argyle MLA added, “When our Party was in government, the NDP were full of fail-safe proposals to reduce patient wait times, but now they have the opportunity to implement ideas and we have not seen any direction. Instead, we have seen the commissioning of reports to re-examine details and collect more information on a situation that has already been documented to the hilt. Now is the time for action.”

23jul2010: Sheriffs deputy guilty of beating immigrant in Shelburne Lions Club fracas.... an off-duty Nova Scotian sheriffs deputy was one of three men charged in the beating of a Lebanese immigrant after a dance in September 2009r >>> story

15jul2010: Shelburne featured in new Nova Scotia tourism blog...  Historic Shelburne is one of a few destinations in South West Nova Scotia featured in "Summer Days with Wally Hayes", on the new Explore Our Shores web site. For the past three decades, Hayes has been the official tourism photographer for Nova Scotia and his images have appeared in countless newspapers, magazines, slideshows and web sites. Explore Our Shores is a web designed to bolster a flagging tourism economy in South West Nova Scotia. The blog also includes stories about Annapolis and Fundy Shore, the South Shore and Yarmouth and Acadian Shore.

15jul2010: More SWSDA funds missing... an innovative tourism project in South West Nova Scotia almost fell off the rails after monies invested by stakeholders went missing in the tumultuous demise of the South West Shore Development Authority. Up to fifteen years of financial irregularities at SWSDA while former CEO Frank Anderson was at the helm have been investigated by the Ombudsman, the department of Economic Development and private auditors.
     At a recent recent meeting of SWSDA members, reports circulated showed as much as a $3 million deficit has been uncovered by the auditors and provincial officials have stated repeatedly that the nine municipal units in the area must cover the shortfall. Discover Shelburne County Tourism Association recently sent a letter to SWSDA officials inquiring about funds it believes are missing from stakeholder investments and payments due to consultants for an Shelburne County Tourism program.

14jul2010: Olde Tyme Musick Frolik coming for Founders' Days.... Founders' Days Celebrations will have a new sound this year, with an 18th Century Olde Tyme Musick Frolik Friday night at the Sea Dog Saloon. The event features Pat Melanson and Patricia Demolitor, with perhaps some special guests. Melanson is a multi-instrumentalist and founder of Celtic band Killick, as well as founder of The Pipers Guild, Nova Scotia's only piping and Celtic music booking agency. Pat Demolitor has one of the purest voices in the area and is the driving force behind The Demolitor Family music nights at The Osprey. The show is part of the Loyalist Encampment and the Summertime Hootenanny series, with an 8:00pm showtime and $5 cover. Supper is served until 9:00pm and features a special of $10 for Loyalist Stew and biscuit.  See HERE for more information about the weekend.

13jul2010: Doctor recruitment a challenge in SW Nova.... With the population of Nova Scotia edging around one million, five per cent in the don't have a family doctor, according to the Yarmouth Vanguard. To add to the seriousness of the situation, 25 per cent of Nova Scotia’s physicians plan to retire in the next five years. >>> full story here

13jul2010: Shelburne street dance a go... Despite a strong complaint from a local business, the Shelburne Street Dance, set for Aug. 7, is still a go...    >>> full story here   read letter to town council here...

12jul2010 ... Living history on Shelburne waterfront this weekend... 18th century encampment, military drills, dancing, games, shopping... Shelburne's waterfront is due to see its largest encampment ever this coming weekend as the 3rd New Jersey Volunteers, Prince of Wales Dancers and others present the "living history" of the Loyalist and Revolutionary War era.
     Dozens of reenactors from Shelburne and beyond will establish a encampment in Bill Norman Park, including tents for the soldiers and officers and their wives, a full, authentic camp kitchen, civilian characters with a variety of historic impressions and sutlers, or merchants, where visitors can purchase authentic woven baskets, clothing and accoutrements of the era and recreations of historic signs.
    Some of the characters performing include Captain Abraham Van Buskirk and his wife,  Sgt. Doug Brannen and his family, Abigail Hammel, surgeons wife, Alexander Robertson, merchant, the Prince of Wales Dancers and others. 
     There will be public performances of period dancing by the Prince of Wales Dancers and performances of "People of the 18th Century, as well as military drill, mock cannon battle with ship sinking, pay parade, washing woman and a flogging or two. Friday night features an Olde Tyme Musick Frolik.  A more complete schedule is online here.  A photo essay of 2008 living history encampment is here.

12jul2010: Trout Point Lodge featured in 'culinary getaways" in USA Today travel section... The famed Kempt lodge and cooking school at the cutting edge of culinary touirsm. "This year, there's been a spike in interest — almost all classes are filled," Vaughn Perret told USA Today. "I think people are less dazzled with commercial (food)" and want to make their own."  >>>see story here

8jul2010: Farmers and country markets growing in Shelburne County... Country markets in Barrington and Sable River and a farmer's market in Shelburne are providing ample opportunity for Shelburne County shoppers to avail themselves of fresh, local produce, meats, eggs and comestibles.
     The Barrington Country Market (see flyer here) has two locations each week, appearing on Friday from 9:00am to 2:00pm beside Shoppers Drug Mart near the causeway and on Saturday 9-2 in the parking lot across from the public library. More information is at 637-2217
     The Sable River Country Market occurs Thursdays at Deckers Esso from 10:00am to 2:00pm and on Saturdays moves to the Irving Garage from 10-2.
     The Shelburne Farmer's Market runs every Saturday from 8:00am to 12 noon at the Loyalist Plaza on Water Street. (see web here)  Shelburne Market is looking for volunteers for one hour per Saturday once a month. Call 875-2202

8jul2010: Yarmouth port has seven suitors, no proposals for 2011 ferry service.... CBC reported today that Yarmouth port manager Dave Whiting told federal officials in Halifax on Monday  that he had seven parties interested in providing ferry service from Yarmouth to the USA. None of the proponents, said Whiting, had presented proposals or business plans as yet.
     Whiting told CBC that he advised federal transportation officials that, unless local control of the Yarmouth ferry terminal could be gained somehow by September, service for 2011 was unlikely.
     One of the proponents is US-based Shores Atlantic LLC, according to their Canadian agent and former Shelburne mayor, Parker Comeau. Shores Atlantic principals Eugene Hartigan and Guy Conrad, once proposed a ferry service from Boston to Shelburne, but nothing came of that plan. Both the pair are former Republican fundraisers and Conrad once had strong ties to native gaming interests in the USA.

8jul2010: $300,000 oil and gas study a sham.... veteran fisheries reporter Alain Muese called the recent report released by the Dexter government on oil and gas development on Georges Bank a "sham" in the July issue of The Navigator. Muese describes the 3-year extension of a Georges Bank moratorium a "broken promise" after Dexter and company campaigned on a platform of no drilling on Georges Bank... ever. read Muese's article here. 

8jul2010: More trouble for US real estate speculators with foreclosure notice and drunk driving plea delay... When it rains, it seems to pour for Jim Kendrick and erstwhile partner Mary Barstow, the hapless couple who have spent the better part of three years trying to make a go of several failed businesses operated out of the former Canadian Forces station at Sandy Point. 
     Paulette Scott, official agent for the couple's firm, Seacoast Entertainment Arts, was served recently with a notice of imminent foreclosure from South West Shore Development Authority, after the pair failed to make any payments on the property they purchased in 2008. Municipal taxes have also not been paid for two years.
     Recent visitors to the sound stage and dormitory facility have described the property as a "terrible mess" and posited that, in its current condition, it would not bring more than $500,000 on the open market. The duo have been flogging the property on various internet real estate sites for $20 million, after having paid just one million of the $2.75 purchase price in 2008. Sources close to SWSDA say that there are rumors of a new buyer waiting in the wings. That issue, and the legal hassles of foreclosure and eviction were  apparently discussed at a secret SWSDA meeting last week.
     The real estate deal was arranged by former SWSDA CEO Frank Anderson, whose employment with SWSDA, the new RDA in Yarmouth and Yarmouth Industrial commission recently ended in a cloud of investigations by the Ombudsmans Office, the Nova Scotia Government and Ernst and Young. Under Anderson's leadership, SWSDA has apparently accrued a debt estimated at close to $3 million, which, according to government leaders, must be paid by the nine municipal units comprising the RDA.
     This morning in the Yarmouth court of Justice Jim Burrill, Kendrick's lawyers requested a further postponement of two charges relating to a 2009 arrest for impaired driving. Convictions on either charge would result on Kendrick being forbidden to legally enter Canada unless he were granted a pardon at a later date.

The Barnwells are featured in this Friday's (June 9) Waterfront Hootenanny at the Sea Dog Saloon on Shelburne's waterfront. The duo plays good old fashioned bluegrass, some with a distinct Appalachian flavour and with some country tunes tossed in. Tom plays guitar and Aina strums a mean stand-up bass and they both sing. Tom's ancestors hail from Jordan and they live in the family home there summer and fall. While in Nova Scotia, they also often play with a "Down East" fiddle band -- they are the rhythm section. The Hootenanny gets going at 8pm and cover is $5. Next weeks show features an 18th Century Olde Tyme Musick Frolik and on the 23rd we see the return to town of that songwriting prodigy, Alex Buchanan. You can download and print a poster for the Barnwells, too. The shows are brought to you by Destination Shelburne and The Pipers Guild.

Book of Negroes hits Oprah's summer reading list at #3...   When it was published in Canada in 2007, The Book of Negroes—named for a historical document that listed every slave who sailed to Nova Scotia under British protection—became an instant, prizewinning hit. Published here as Someone Knows My Name, Ontario native Lawrence Hill's novel was also well received, if far more quietly. Two titles, one mesmerizing story: Aminata Diallo is abducted from her West African home at age 11, forced to walk in a "coffle," a line of slaves who are sold off one by one.